The Age of Nb Rare-Metal Mineralization of the Ilmeny–Vishnevogorsky Alkaline Complex (South Urals)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The results of local U–Th–Pb-SIMS-SHRIMP-II analysis of the collection of pyrochlores from Nb rare-metal deposits of the Ilmeny–Vishnevogorsky alkaline...     

The system of detailed seismological observations in Kamchatka in 2011

This paper presents the main results from the development of the detailed seismological observation system in Kamchatka and the information on the system as of 2011. We describe the networks of seismological stations, the systems for the acquisition, storage, and processing of seismological observations and their technical, methodological, and software support. We discuss the basic characteristics of the recording channels and the system as a whole. We present the information resources of the Kamchatka seismological data bank that provide for basic research in earth sciences. In 2011, the system of seismological observation in Kamchatka was a specialized network for acquisition (recording), storage, transmission, and processing of seismic and geophysical data that provides support for the effective monitoring of seismic and volcanic activities, as well as tsunami warning.     

Composition and age of metaorthopyroxenite xenoliths and host enderbite gneisses in the Pobuzhie granulite complex,Ukrainian Shield

The SIMS U-Pb isotopic age of zircons from enderbite gneisses and their metaorthopyroxenite xenoliths in the Pobuzhie granulite complex, Ukrainian Shield (48°13′57.3″ N and 29°59′21.5″ E, WGS84 system), was determined. The chemical compositions of these rocks and composing minerals were studied. Enderbite gneisses contain quartz, antiperthite plagioclase, K-feldspar, clinoenstatite, diopside, amphibole, and a small amount of biotite; accessory minerals are ilmenite and apatite. The age of zircon from enderbite gneiss is estimated at about 3.15 Ga. Metaorthopyroxenites are composed of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, phlogopite (up to 6% TiO₂), and plagioclase. The age of magmatic zircons from metaorthopyroxenite determined by the upper intercept of the discordia with the concordia is 3485 ± 33 Ma (MSVD = 1.6), and the age of metamorphic zircons is 2742 ± 22 Ma (MSVD = 0.22). Hence, the enderbite gneisses studied pertain to a young group of enderbites in the Pobuzhie granulite complex, while the age of metaorthopyroxenites from xenoliths in these rocks is similar to that of ancient Pobuzhie enderbites and pyroxenites of the Novopavlovsk complex in the Azov Region.     

The U-Pb geochronology of the Mukhal alkaline massif (western Transbaikalia)

We present results of U-Pb (SHRIMP II) geochronological study of the rocks of the Mukhal alkaline massif in the Vitim alkaline province, western Transbaikalia. The available K-Ar and Rb-Sr dates for the alkaline rocks (Saizhen complex) of the Vitim province, including the Mukhal massif, vary over a broad range of values. The obtained age of crystallization of the Mukhal urtites refines the time when the regional alkaline magmatism began. The age of zircons and magmatic processes within the Barguzin area (315–275 Ma) is close to the peak of main events, which occurred between 295 and 275 Ma. These processes took place at the early stage of evolution of the Late Paleozoic rift system in Central Asia, whose activity was associated with the activity of mantle superplume.     

The paleoproterozoic vurechuaivench layered Pt-bearing pluton,Kola Peninsula: New results of the U-Pb (ID-TIMS,SHRIMP) dating of baddeleytte and zircon

The Vurechuaivench layered PGE-bearing pluton (VP) is located in the central part of the Kola Peninsula, at the southeastern contact of the Monchegorsk layered complex with the Paleoproterozoic Imandra-Varzuga rift structure. The VP is composed of gabbronorites with a layered horizon of intercalated gabbronorites and anorthosites, containing sulfide and PGE-bearing mineralization. The U-Pb (ID-TIMS) age of baddeleytte from gabbronorite of the ore zone (sample M-42) was determined on a Finningan MAT-262 (RPQ) seven-channel mass-spectrometer in the Laboratory of Geochronology at the Geological Institute, Kola Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. Zircons from anorthosites and gabbronorites of the ore zone (samples B-1 and B-2, respectively) were studied on a SHRIMP-II secondary-ionic microprobe in the Center of Isotopic Studies of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise VSEGEI (St. Petersburg). The reliable age of formation of various VP rocks was determined by single grains of accessory baddeleytte and zircon based on additional studies of sample M-42 (2498.2 ± 6.7 Ma) and new studies of samples B-1 and B-2 (2507.9 ± 6.6 and 2504.8.4 Ma). The identical U-Pb ages of anorthosites and gabbronorites from the ore reef indicate that anorthosites are a dependent phase and were formed along with gabbronorites during the intrachamber melt differentiation and crystallization.     

Slitless spectrograph for small telescopes: First results

A slitless UBVR spectrograph has been built for use on small telescopes. Test observations on the Zeiss-600 telescope at the Terskol peak demonstrated that the spectrograph is an efficient instrument for studying high-speed processes in variable stars with a high temporal resolution. The spectrograph resolving power R ≈ 100 in the vicinity of λ = 480 nm and the error in the determination of the wavelength is approximately 3 nm. The spectrograph provides a moderate signal-to-noise ratio for stars up to 16 ^m . It permits one to measure equivalent widths of unblended lines down to 0.1 nm. The developed special software based on the theory of quantum statistics makes it possible to detect relative variations in the spectrum of approximately 10^?5–10^?6 of the bolometric flux of the star. Observations with the spectrograph made it possible to detect variations of emissions in Balmer lines and Ca II H, K lines in the EV Lac flare star in the subsecond range. The spectroscopic monitoring permits one to study stellar flares with small amplitude, to carry out a comprehensive colorimetric analysis of flare plasma, and to determine temperatures and sizes of flares in the light intensity maximum. Observations of the transit of the HAT-P-1 B exoplanet demonstrate that the chromospheric activity power of the parent star does not vary during the transit. The slitless spectrograph with a low resolving capacity opens new prospects in studying active processes occurring on stars’ surfaces.     

Study of the State and Variability of the Northwestern Japan Sea in the Autumn–Winter Period on Cruise 62 of the R/V Akademik Oparin

Oceanology - The results of research carried out on cruise 62 of the R/V Akademik Oparin from December 14 to 29, 2020 continued monitoring of the interannual variability of the Japan Sea water...     

The age of metamorphism of sillimanite-bearing schists at the Kyakhtinskoe deposit (southwestern Transbaikalia)

Results of U-Pb (SHRIMP II) and Rb-Sr dating of sillimanite schists in southwestern Transbaikalia are presented, which testify to high-temperature metamorphism in the Late Mesozoic. The metamorphism might have been related to the formation of metamorphic cores or tectonoplutonic activity accompanied by the formation of rift structures in Transbaikalia and Mongolia.     

Post-collisional melting of crustal sources: constraints from geochronology,petrology and Sr,Nd isotope geochemistry of the Variscan Sichevita and Poniasca granitoid plutons (South Carpathians,Romania)

The Sichevita and Poniasca plutons belong to an alignment of granites cutting across the metamorphic basement of the Getic Nappe in the South Carpathians. The present work provides SHRIMP age data for the zircon population from a Poniasca biotite diorite and geochemical analyses (major and trace elements, Sr–Nd isotopes) of representative rock types from the two intrusions grading from biotite diorite to biotite K-feldspar porphyritic monzogranite. U–Pb zircon data yielded 311 ± 2 Ma for the intrusion of the biotite diorite. Granites are mostly high-K leucogranites, and biotite diorites are magnesian, and calcic to calc-alkaline. Sr, and Nd isotope and trace element data (REE, Th, Ta, Cr, Ba and Rb) permit distinguishing five different groups of rocks corresponding to several magma batches: the Poniasca biotite diorite (P₁) shows a clear crustal character while the Poniasca granite (P₂) is more juvenile. Conversely, Sichevita biotite diorite (S₁), and a granite (S₂*) are more juvenile than the other Sichevita granites (S₂). Geochemical modelling of major elements and REE suggests that fractional crystallization can account for variations within P₁ and S₁ groups. Dehydration melting of a number of protoliths may be the source of these magma batches. The Variscan basement, a subduction accretion wedge, could correspond to such a heterogeneous source. The intrusion of the Sichevita–Poniasca plutons took place in the final stages of the Variscan orogeny, as is the case for a series of European granites around 310 Ma ago, especially in Bulgaria and in Iberia, no Alleghenian granitoids (late Carboniferous—early Permian times) being known in the Getic nappe. The geodynamical environment of Sichevita–Poniasca was typically post-collisional of the Variscan orogenic phase.