The migration of fluid-filled grain boundaries in recrystallizing synthetic bischofite: first results of in-situ high-pressure, high-temperature deformation experiments in transmitted light

The effect of fluids on recrystallization behaviour is well known; however, the detailed microscale distribution of fluid in grain boundaries and the influence of fluid on grain boundary migration are still unresolved. In this study, in‐situ deformation experiments in transmitted light microscopy were undertaken, as this allows continuous and direct observation of the whole range of processes involved in fluid‐assisted grain boundary migration. A new see‐through deformation apparatus was developed to enable the control of fluid pressure. Bischofite containing small amounts of aqueous fluid was deformed at temperatures between 50 and 90 °C, over a range of fluid pressure from 0.5 to 1 MPa, and strain rates of 5 × 10^?6 to 1 × 10^?4 s^?1. The rates of grain boundary migration were measured at different temperatures and strain rates. Detailed observations during and after the deformation illustrate the evolution of migrating fluid‐filled grain boundaries and show that the incorporation of fluids from inclusions as well as their pinch‐off is dependent on the grain boundary velocity, the thickness of the grain boundary and the size and shape of the inclusions. Direct evidence is presented for the contraction of the grain boundary fluids into isolated inclusions after equilibrium conditions are attained.     

Geological structure of the Mediterranean Sea floor (based on geological—Geophysical data)

According to geophysical data, the Mediterranean Sea depressions are noted for a peculiar type of the earth's crust. The sedimentary rock sequence is of great thickness (8–15 km) and is of platform-type dislocation. Several structural stages are distinguished in the sedimentary complex. The youngest of them are the Messinian (evaporite) and Pliocene—Quaternary stages. The consolidated part of the earth's crust shows small thickness and is divided into large blocks. Vertical dislocations of the large crustal blocks which were conditioned by condensation—rarefaction and the upper mantle substance migration were at the base of Mediterranean sea floor transformation.     

Mineralogy of morphogenetic types of ferromanganese deposits in the world ocean

The mineralogy and structural features of the main types of ferromanganese deposits—nodules, micronodules, Co-bearing crusts, crustlike nodules, and low-temperature hydrothermal manganese crusts and ferruginous ochers—are considered. The correlation between their mineral composition and structure is shown. The proposed classification of mineral types is based on characteristic assemblages of Fe and Mn minerals.     

Nature of polymerization and properties of silicate melts and glasses at high pressure

The structures of sodium silicate and aluminosilicate glasses quenched from melts at high pressure (6-10 GPa) with varying degrees of polymerization (fractions of nonbridging oxygen) were explored using solid-state NMR [¹⁷O and ²⁷Al triple-quantum magic-angle spinning (3QMAS) NMR]. The bond connectivity in melts among four and highly coordinated network polyhedra, such as ^[4]Al, ^[5,6]Al, ^[4]Si, and ^[5,6]Si, at high pressure is shown to be significantly different from that at ambient pressure. In particular, in the silicate and aluminosilicate melts, the proportion of nonbridging oxygen (NBO) generally decreases with increasing pressure, leading to the formation of new oxygen clusters that include 5- and 6-coordinated Si and Al in addition to 4-coordinated Al and Si, such as ^[4]Si-O-^[5,6]Si, ^[4]Si-O-^[5,6]Al and Na-O-^[5,6]Si. While the fractions of ^[5,6]Al increase with pressure, the magnitude of this increase diminishes with increasing degrees of ambient-pressure polymerization under isobaric conditions. Incorporating the above structural information into models of melt properties reproduces the anomalous pressure-dependence of O²⁻ diffusivity and viscosity often observed in silicate melts.     

Aqueous uptake of uranium onto pyrite surfaces; reactivity of fresh versus weathered material

In order to better understand the interaction between aqueous uranium and pyrite (FeS₂) the uptake of uranium onto the surfaces of both weathered and freshly generated pyrite surfaces was examined using batch sorption experiments. Analysis was performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results clearly indicate that freshly polished pyrite surfaces are efficient scavengers of uranium from solution, while weathered surfaces exhibit only limited uptake. Results also indicate partial reduction of uranium at the pyrite surfaces, with a heterogeneous distribution of U(IV) and U(VI) species.     

An investigation of landslide problems in spoil piles in a strip coal mining area, West Virginia (U.S.A.)

Spoil piles in coal mine areas in north-central West Virginia suffer from numerous landslide problems. An investigation to determine the causes of these slides showed that the stratigraphic composition, the nature of the foundation soils, the seasonal high water table and the mining technique contributed to the instability. The presence of red shales is identified as a key problem.

Several models of failure were investigated based on inclinometer data. These data suggest that multiple failure surfaces may develop in spoil piles. In such cases, the initial failure surface is better defined than other movement surfaces, which either represent subsequent failures that occur in response to placement of additional spoil materials, or are shear zones of readjustment following initial failure. Results show that failures are most likely initiated along the spoil-natural ground interface and propagate slowly into the spoil mass.     

Sulfides in petroleum

The homologous series of terpenoid sulfides previously reported to be present in Athabasca bitumen have been detected in a variety of petroleums from the Western Hemisphere. All 22 samples examined, ranging in age from Devonoan to Cretaceous, contained the terpenoid sulfides. A method is described for the isolation of sulfides from petroleums based on the selective oxidation of sulfides to more polar sulfoxides which are easily removed from the mixture and their subsequent reduction to sulfides. The sulfide content in the petroleum maltenes examined ranged from 0.3 to 16.1% w/w. In addition to the bicyclic and tetracyclic terpenoid sulfides a new series of tricyclic terpenoid sulfides has been identified, and the details of the isoprenoid side chain have been elucidated for all three homologous series. The distributions by carbon number of the bicyclic and tetracyclic homologous series of terpenoid sulfides show pronounced variations which are attributed to thermal maturity and degree of water washing of the petroleum, thus the ability to identify terpenoid sulfides should provide a useful tool for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlation studies. The bicyclic and tricyclic terpenoid sulfides have the same carbon framework as the carotenoids which suggest that these sulfides were accessory pigments in photosynthesis.     

Scandium,chromium, iron,cobalt and nickel in some basic and ultrabasic rocks from west Norway

Sixteen eclogites and ultrabasic rock samples from west Norway have been analyzed for Sc, Cr, Fe, Co and Ni by instrumental neutron-activation analysis.In gneiss-eclogites, Sc and Co give values from about 30 to 60 ppm and Cr and Ni from 180 to 700 ppm. An eclogite surrounded by a peridotite body shows nearly the same content of Sc and Co as do the gneiss-eclogites, but up to 20 times more Cr. Ni is only slightly more enriched in this particular eclogite than in the others.The ultrabasites have only a few ppm Sc, Co concentrates around 100 ppm while the Cr and Ni values are mainly found between 2 and 3,000 ppm.Fe shows an average value of nearly 10%.