X-ray diffraction study of magnesite at high pressure and high temperature

 P–V–T measurements on magnesite MgCO₃ have been carried out at high pressure and high temperature up to 8.6 GPa and 1285 K, using a DIA-type, cubic-anvil apparatus (SAM-85) in conjunction with in situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. Precise volumes are obtained by the use of data collected above 873 K on heating and in the entire cooling cycle to minimize non-hydrostatic stress. From these data, the equation-of-state parameters are derived from various approaches based on the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state and on the relevant thermodynamic relations. With K′₀ fixed at 4, we obtain K₀=103(1) GPa, α(K⁻¹)=3.15(17)×10⁻⁵ +2.32(28)×10⁻⁸ T, (∂K_T/∂T)_P=−0.021(2) GPaK⁻¹, (dα/∂P)_T=−1.81×10⁻⁶ GPa⁻¹K⁻¹ and (∂K_T/∂T)_V= −0.007(1) GPaK⁻¹; whereas the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state with K′₀ as an adjustable parameter yields the following values: K₀=108(3) GPa, K′₀=2.33(94), α(K⁻¹)=3.08(16)×10⁻⁵+2.05(27) ×10⁻⁸ T, (∂K_T/∂T)_P=−0.017(1) GPaK⁻¹, (dα/∂P)_T= −1.41×10⁻⁶ GPa⁻¹K⁻¹ and (∂K_T/∂T)_V=−0.008(1) GPaK⁻¹. Within the investigated P–T range, thermal pressure for magnesite increases linearly with temperature and is pressure (or volume) dependent. The present measurements of room-temperature bulk modulus, of its pressure derivative, and of the extrapolated zero-pressure volumes at high temperatures, are in agreement with previous single-crystal study and ultrasonic measurements, whereas (∂K_T/∂T)_P, (∂α/∂P)_T and (∂K_T/∂T)_V are determined for the first time in this compound. Using this new equation of state, thermodynamic calculations for the reactions (1) magnesite=periclase+CO₂ and (2) magnesite+enstatite=forsterite+CO₂ are consistent with existing experimental phase equilibrium data. Received September 28, 1995/Revised, accepted May 22, 1996     

Fluid inclusion study of the Higher Himalayan quartzitic pelites, Garhwal Himalaya, India: Implications for recrystallization history of metasediments

Quartzitic pelites forms a part of Higher Himalayan Crystalline of higher geotectonic zone in Garhwal Himalaya. Quartzitic pelites (locally known as Pandukeshwar Quartzite) in Garhwal Himalaya is sandwiched between high grade metamorphic rocks of Central Crystallines and Badrinath Formation. Fluid inclusion studies are carried out on the detrital, and recrystallized quartz grains of quartzitic pelites to know about the fluid phases present during recrystallization processes at the time of maximum depth of burial. The quartzitic pelite (Pandukeshwar Quartzite) essentially consists of recrystallised quartz with accessory minerals like mica and feldspar. Fluid microthermometry study reveals the presence of three types of fluids: (i) high-salinity brine, (ii) CO₂-H₂O and (iii) H₂O-NaCl. These fluids were trapped during the development of grain and recrystallization processes. The high saline brine inclusions and CO₂-H₂O fluid with the density of 0.90 to 0.97 gm/cm³ are remnants of provenance area. CO₂ density in detrital quartz grains characterise the protolith of the sandstone as granite or metamorphic rock. The H₂O-NaCl fluids involved in the recrystallization processes at temperature-pressure of 430-350°C; 4.8 to 0.5 Kbars as constrained by fluid isochores of CO₂-H₂O and H₂O-NaCl inclusions and bulging and subgrain development during recrystallization processes. The re-equilibration of the primary fluid due to elevated internal and confining pressure is evident from features like ‘C’ shaped cavities, stretching of the inclusions, their migration and decrepitation clusters. The observed inclusion morphology revealed that the rocks were exhumed along an isothermal decompression path.     

Sublattice solid solution model and its application to orthopyroxene (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6

The theory of sublattice solid solution model and optimization methods have been described for modelling the geochemically important multicomponentmultisite silicate solid solution systems. Some new X-ray Mg-Fe²⁺ site occupancy data along with some selection from the existing data on heated orthopyroxene in the temperature range 600 to 1000° C have been used in thermodynamic modelling of the orthopyroxene (Mg, Fe)₂Si₂O₆ solid solution using the sublattice solution model. The optimized interaction energy solution parameters are:

Effects of rotation and tidal distortion on the periods of small adiabatic oscillations of the polytropic models of the stars

The averaging technique of Kippenhahn and Thomas (1970) has been used in conjunction with Kopal's method of evaluating various parameters on the Roche equipotentials to determine the effects of rotation and tidal distortions on the periods of small adiabatic radial and nonradial modes of oscillations of polytropic models of the stars.     

Problems of two-pyroxene geothermometry

It is possible to formulate a two-pyroxene (MgFeCa) geothermometer using non-ideal but disordered site models for the pyroxenes. Experimental data on any two of the following three sets are needed: (a) the site occupancy data in orthopyroxene, (b) the site occupancy data in clinopyroxene (both sets of data with varying composition and temperature), and (c) synthetic phase equilibrium data on coexisting pyroxenes. A geothermometer based on site occupancy data is very sensitive to small variations of composition and may be useless for common petrological purposes but immensely useful for studying disequilibrium and kinetic history of the rocks.     

Bathymetry Data Correction Using Global Optimization Method

The bathymetry data of marine bodies have been collected over a century, and the collected data have a wide range of resolution and accuracy. Acquisition of bathymetry data is very costly and time-consuming. One can use the old, low-quality bathymetry data to fill the gap in high-quality, recently acquired bathymetry data after correcting the old data to improve its quality so that it is comparable to the high-quality data. The old data correction can be treated as a nonlinear inverse problem. Simulated annealing (SA) global optimization method was used here in solving this problem. The two sets of data that were used are project survey (PS) and Vietnamese Navy Chart (VNC) data. The PS data were collected in 2000 in an offshore survey from the Vietnam coast in the South China Sea (SCS). The VNC data were obtained by digitizing VNC that was published in 1981. Inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation method was used for forward modeling. Weperformed the SA algorithm run starting at a high "temperature," then lowering the "temperature" gradually up to the "critical temperature" and then staying there for the rest of the run. The best model chosen by the algorithm showed an improvement of 63% from the original model. We then constructed a digital bathymetry model (DBM) of the study area with the combined corrected VNC and the PS data.     

Rationale for measurement of midocean tsunami signature

Abstract

Arguments are presented to justify midocean tsunami measurements and related investigations aimed toward improvement of tsunami prediction and warning. It is postulated that midocean tsunami signatures be measured simultaneously at several locations and correlated with high‐accuracy onshore measurements.     

Silicate solid solutions and geothermometry

The properties of the regular solution are described. A solid solution is assigned certain theoretical values of the heat of mixing and the results of the distribution of a component between two coexisting solutions are shown graphically on Roozeboom diagrams. Such representations may be useful in explaining the distribution of elements observed in natural mineral assemblages.