Platinum‐group elements and rhenium in mantle xenoliths from the East Sayan volcanic field (Siberia,Russia): evaluation of melt extraction and refertilization processes in lithospheric mantle of the Tuva‐Mongolian massif

We determined the concentrations of platinum‐group elements (PGE) and rhenium in granular spinel lherzolites entrained as xenoliths in the Late Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the East Sayan within the Sarkhoi palaeo‐arc block of the Tuva‐Mongolian massif. Major element, PGE and rhenium variations in the East Sayan xenoliths can be explained by impregnation of up to 15% of arc‐type melt into initially depleted mantle harzburgite. Such a refertilization process probably took place in the Middle Neoproterozoic, when the Tuva‐Mongolian massif was in a subduction environment. East Sayan xenoliths show close similarities to Vitim xenoliths, whose host basalts erupted within an off‐cratonic crustal block. Both East Sayan and Vitim xenoliths are different from cratonic and circum‐cratonic peridotite xenoliths of worldwide localities.     

Quaternary paleolake formation and cataclysmic flooding along the upper Yenisei River

A suite of geomorphological and sedimentological features in the catchment of the upper Yenisei River in the Sayan mountains of southern Siberia testifies to the occurrence of cataclysmic floods that flowed down the river. Evidence of large-scale high-energy flood events includes: 1) gravel dunes, up to a few meters high and spaced 50 to 80 m apart, in the Kyzyl Basin 2) landforms such as hanging valleys and paleochannels and 3) flood sediments in a tributary valley. The origins of the Yenisei floods were likely diverse due to complex hydrological processes operating in the Sayan mountains. The possibilities include failures of multiple, variably impounded (ice, sedimentary, tectonic scarp, and lava flow dams) paleolakes in the two large intermontane basins of Darkhadyn Khotgor and Todza, and other minor basins, in the upper Yenisei River catchment. Dating techniques applied to the paleolakes in the Darkhadyn Khotgor and Todza basins revealed their formation during various periods in the middle–late Pleistocene and Holocene. Flooding from the Darkhadyn Khotgor appears to explain many of the inferred flood features, although contributions by flooding from other paleolake basins cannot be ruled out. Computer simulation of the flooding caused by a Darkhadyn Khotgor paleolake ice-dam failure indicates a probable peak discharge of  3.5 × 10⁶ m³ s^− 1, approximately one-fifth that of the floods that formed the Channeled Scabland in the U.S.A. Many of the outburst events probably occurred in the late Quaternary, but earlier floods could also have occurred.     

Composition and origin of holotype Al‐Cu‐Zn minerals in relation to quasicrystals in the Khatyrka meteorite

We investigated the khatyrkite–cupalite holotype sample, 1.2 × 0.5 mm across. It consists of khatyrkite (Cu,Zn)Al₂, cupalite (Cu,Zn)Al, and interstitial material with approximate composition (Zn,Cu)Al₃. All mineral phases of the holotype sample contain Zn and lack Fe that distinguishes them from khatyrkite and cupalite in the Khatyrka meteorite particles (Bindi et al. 2009 , 2011 , 2012 , 2015 ; MacPherson et al. 2013 ; Hollister et al. 2014 ). Neither highly fractionated natural systems nor geo‐ or cosmochemical processes capable of forming the holotype sample are known so far. The bulk chemistry and thermal history of khatyrkite–cupalite assemblage in the holotype sample hint for its possible industrial origin. Likewise, the aluminides in the Khatyrka meteorite particles may also be derived from industrial materials and mixed with extraterrestrial matter during gold prospecting in the Listvenitovy Stream valley.     

The Aspen–Amsterdam void finder comparison project

Despite a history that dates back at least a quarter of a century, studies of voids in the large-scale structure of the Universe are bedevilled by a major problem: there exist a large number of quite different void-finding algorithms, a fact that has so far got in the way of groups comparing their results without worrying about whether such a comparison in fact makes sense. Because of the recent increased interest in voids, both in very large galaxy surveys and in detailed simulations of cosmic structure formation, this situation is very unfortunate. We here present the first systematic comparison study of 13 different void finders constructed using particles, haloes, and semi-analytical model galaxies extracted from a subvolume of the Millennium simulation. This study includes many groups that have studied voids over the past decade. We show their results and discuss their differences and agreements. As it turns out, the basic results of the various methods agree very well with each other in that they all locate a major void near the centre of our volume. Voids have very underdense centres, reaching below 10 per cent of the mean cosmic density. In addition, those void finders that allow for void galaxies show that those galaxies follow similar trends. For example, the overdensity of void galaxies brighter than   m _B =−20  is found to be smaller than about −0.8 by all our void finding algorithms.     

Annual report of IGCP Project No.440 in 2003 Rodinia assembly and breakup

With the latest information on geology, isotop chronology, geochemistry and aerial geophysics, the structural enviroment, geological event characterists and evolution history of component units of Rodinia Supercontinent on a global scale are discussed. And some neo views and genetic pattern are provided. The East Eurppean Craton had a complex evolution history between 1.7 and 0.9 Ga. The arthors propose a new reconstruction of Laurentia acient land and Siberia at ca. 1 050-1 000 Ma. The largest litho-structural record of the Meso-Neoproterozoic orogenic collage in South America made up the western border of the South American Platform African Cratons are the result of convergence of Paleoproterozoic/Archaem Cratonic blocks. A part of Eastern Antarctica attached to southern Africa in Mesoproterozoic.Neoproterozoic felsic magmatic events in New India made the western border of Rodinia Pre-Grevoillian Laurentia was established as a major continental block by the end of the Paleoproterozoic. South China is geologically plausible to be between southern Laurentia and eastern Australia. Yangzi-Tarim connection or neighborhood is proposed. According to the abovementionded, the assembly and breakup paattem of Rodinia proposed by Pisarevsky is tested. It telles that primary break up is along the western border of Laurentia ancient land, which is similar to northern Atlantic. Another characteristic is that some continents are not considered as component parts of Rodinia, eg. India, Congo and San-Francisco.     

Across‐axis variations in petrophysical properties of the North Porcupine Basin,offshore Ireland: New insights from long‐streamer traveltime tomography

The Porcupine Basin is a Mesozoic failed rift located in the North Atlantic margin, SW of Ireland, in which a postrift phase of extensional faulting and reactivation of synrift faults occurred during the Mid–Late Eocene. Fault zones are known to act as either conduits or barriers for fluid flow and to contribute to overpressure. Yet, little is known about the distribution of fluids and their relation to the tectono‐stratigraphic architecture of the Porcupine Basin. One way to tackle this aspect is by assessing seismic (V_p) and petrophysical (e.g., porosity) properties of the basin stratigraphy. Here, we use for the first time in the Porcupine Basin 10‐km‐long‐streamer data to perform traveltime tomography of first arrivals and retrieve the 2D V_p structure of the postrift sequence along a ~130‐km‐long EW profile across the northern Porcupine Basin. A new V_p–density relationship is derived from the exploration wells tied to the seismic line to estimate density and bulk porosity of the Cenozoic postrift sequence from the tomographic result. The V_p model covers the shallowest 4 km of the basin and reveals a steeper vertical velocity gradient in the centre of the basin than in the flanks. This variation together with a relatively thick Neogene and Quaternary sediment accumulation in the centre of the basin suggests higher overburden pressure and compaction compared to the margins, implying fluid flow towards the edges of the basin driven by differential compaction. The V_p model also reveals two prominent subvertical low‐velocity bodies on the western margin of the basin. The tomographic model in combination with the time‐migrated seismic section shows that whereas the first anomaly spatially coincides with the western basin‐bounding fault, the second body occurs within the hangingwall of the fault, where no major faulting is observed. Porosity estimates suggest that this latter anomaly indicates pore overpressure of sandier Early–Mid Eocene units. Lithological well control together with fault displacement analysis suggests that the western basin‐bounding fault can act as a hydraulic barrier for fluids migrating from the centre of the basin towards its flanks, favouring fluid compartmentalization and overpressure of sandier units of its hangingwall.     

Geomorphology of subglacial volcanoes in the Azas Plateau, the Tuva Republic, Russia

The Azas Plateau volcanic field is located in the Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation. The compositions of the Azas Plateau volcanics include low-viscosity trachybasalt and basanite. Volcanic edifices of Middle-Late Pleistocene age are widely distributed in the southeastern part of the volcanic field. There are subglacial volcanoes among the volcanic edifices, and their formation coincided with extensive ancient glaciations in the region. The dominant subglacial volcanoes in the area are tuyas. The general shapes of the tuyas (flat-tops with steep sides) are due to eruptions into meltwater lakes and confinement of ice walls, and effusive subaerial eruptions of basaltic lavas. There are also non-flat-topped subglacial volcanoes and at least one subaerial volcanic edifice in the area. Degradation appears to have modified the primary shapes of the tuya edifices, and such processes seem to include failures of over-steepened slopes, gully formation due to stream runoff and debris flows, cirque/valley glaciation, and modification by rock glaciers. The estimated thicknesses of the ice sheets covering the subglacial volcanoes during their eruptions range 300–600 m on average.     

Methods and some results of investigations of the scattering properties in the crust and mantle

Results derived from analyses of mainly forward-scattered seismic waves are reported. Major findings are that the strongest scattering originates in the crust and upper and lower mantle, while the central parts of the mantle appear relatively homogeneous. In the upper mantle the extent of the heterogeneities exhibits regional variations. Interestingly, scattering observations do not appear to be time-invariant in certain regions, thus being indicative of active evolutionary processes.