A new type of orthopyroxenite xenolith from Takashima, Southwest Japan: silica enrichment of the mantle by evolved alkali basalt

We found fine-grained Fe-rich orthopyroxene-rich xenoliths (mainly orthopyroxenite) containing partially digested dunite fragments of Group I from Takashima, Southwest Japan. Orthopyroxenite veinlets, some of which contain plagioclase at the center, also replace olivine in dunite and wehrlite xenoliths of Group I. This shows high reactivity with respect to olivine of the melt involved in orthopyroxenite formation, indicating its high SiO₂ activity. The secondary orthopyroxene of this type is characterized by low Mg# [= Mg/(Mg + total Fe) atomic ratio] (down to 0.73) and high Al₂O₃ contents (5–6 wt%). It is different in chemistry from other secondary orthopyroxenes found in peridotite xenoliths derived from the mantle wedge. Clinopyroxenes in the Fe-rich orthopyroxenite show a convex-upward REE pattern with a crest around Sm. This pattern is strikingly similar to that of clinopyroxenes of Group II pyroxenite xenoliths and of phenocrystal and xenocrystal clinopyroxenes, indicating involvement of similar alkali basaltic melts. The Fe-rich orthopyroxenite xenoliths from Takashima formed by reaction between evolved alkali basalt melt and mantle olivine; alkali basalt initially slightly undersaturated in silica might have evolved to silica-oversaturated compositions by fractional crystallization at high-pressure conditions. The Fe-rich orthopyroxenites occur as dikes within the uppermost mantle composed of dunite and wehrlite overlying pockets of Group II pyroxenites. The orthopyroxene-rich pyroxenites of this type are possibly common in the uppermost mantle beneath continental rift zones where alkali basalt magmas have been prevalent.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alteration of basalt in the Kuroko mine area, Japan: implications for the evolution of a Back Arc Basin hydrothermal system

Basalt in the Furutobe District of the Kuroko mine area in Japan is characterized by abundant chlorite and epidote. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that chlorite is formed at lower temperatures (230–250°C) than epidote (250–280°C). The seawater/basalt mass ratio for the early chlorite-rich alteration was high (max. 40), but that for the later alteration was low (0.1–1.8). The CaO, Na₂O and SiO₂ of the bulk rock correlate negatively with MgO, while FeO and Σ Fe correlate positively with MgO. These changes in the characteristic features of hydrothermal alteration from early to late are generally similar to those for a mid-ocean ridge geothermal system accompanying basalt alteration.The MgO/FeO ratios of chlorite and actinolite and the Fe₂O₃ concentration of epidote from the basalt are greater than those of mid-ocean ridge basalt probably owing to the differences in the Fe₂O₃/FeO and MgO/FeO ratios of the parent rocks. The lower CaO concentration and the higher Na₂O concentration of the bulk rock compared with altered mid-ocean ridge basalt can be interpreted in terms of the difference in original bulk rock compositions.The Furutobe basalt, as well as other submarine back arc basalts, contains more vesicles filled with hydrothermal minerals (epidote, calcite, quartz, chlorite, pyrite) than do the mid-ocean ridge basalts. The abundance of vesicles plays an important role in controlling the secondary mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermally altered submarine back arc basin basalts.     

Coronal structure observed at the total solar eclipse of 11 June, 1983 in Indonesia

From the photographs taken at the total solar eclipse of 11 June 1983, we derived the electron density for the north polar rays and for the thread-like fine structures above the active region, which are 10⁸ at 1.4 solar radii and 3×10⁹ at 1.15 solar radii, respectively. The brightness distributions of the corona at the polar region and above the active region, and the flattening index were also derived.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Distribution of trace elements during breakdown of mantle garnet: an example from Zabargad

Ion probe investigations on mineral phases forming the Al-Di pyroxenites from the Zabargad peridotite body indicate that porphyroclastic pyroxenes in composite mafic layers record an unusual HREE, Zr, Sc enrichment not registered by pyroxenes in spinel websterites. Orthopyroxene in the opx+sp clusters forming the inner, cpx-free zone of layered pyroxenites shows strongly fractionated REE patterns (HREE_N/LREE_N>1000; Yb>100xch) and very high Zr, Sc and Y abundances (up to 30,672 and 60ppm, respectively). In the outer, cpx-rich zone porphyroclastic clinopyroxene is strongly HREE enriched (HREE_N/LREE_N29; Yb 269xch) and displays very high Sc and Zr abundances (up to 819 and 164 ppm, respectively). It is suggested that the unusual trace element abundances are inherited from a precursor garnet. Composite pyroxenite layers are interpreted as former garnet clinopyroxenites characterized by gnt/cpx modal zoning. The sp+opx(cpx-free) assemblage in the inner part is a product of the break-down reaction of garnet upon decompression, with Ca of the original garnet completely entering the enstatite solid solution. The temperature at which the breakdown reaction occurred is estimated to be higher than 1000°C (P in the range 20–30 kbar). In the outer part, decompression caused the garnet to form a sp+opx assemblage; however, the grossularite component participated in the formation of new clinopyroxene which reacted with the clinopyroxene present in the original mode before the decompression reaction, thus forming a cpx₂+sp+opx assemblage. As a result of garnet breakdown, pyroxenes have peculiar HFSE anomalies. Progressive upwelling during the Red Sea rifting produced incomplete reaction under pl-facies conditions. The geochemical signatures of precursor garnet in pyroxenes were partially crased during the recrystallization from granular spincl-bearing to granoblastic plagioclase-bearing assemblages, being preserved only in a few porphyroclast relies. The finding of pyroxenes with trace element characteristics of precursor garnet has important geodynamic and geochemical implications. Al-Di pyroxenite layers had a long history within the mantle, before the continental lithosphere rifting and thinning took place in the region. It is suggested that Al-Di pyroxenites were formed by deep-seated tholeiitic magmatism unrelated to the Red Sea evolution, thus representing the earliest event in the Zabargad upper mantle. Garnet breakdown significantly preceded the metasomatism induced by hydrous fluids (crystallization of Ti-rich pargasite) and the later intrusion of hydrous (Cr-Di) pyroxenite dykes. During the stages of mantle evolution, the HFSE anomalies in pyroxenes varied significantly. We note that the study of HFSE anomalies in mineral phases reveals complex geochemical histories which are not recorded by the whole-rock system.     

Infiltration of refractory melts into the lowermost oceanic crust: evidence from dunite- and gabbro-hosted clinopyroxenes in the Bay of Islands Ophiolite

Up to 3 km of dunitic rocks occur below crustal gabbro in the Blow Me Down massif (Bay of Islands Ophiolite, Newfoundland). Analyses of dunite- and gabbro-hosted clinopyroxene grains (cpx) for rare earth elements (REE), Zr, and Ti reveal three types of chondrite-normalized patterns: N-group patterns are similar to cpx grains as they would form by fractionation from a range of mid ocean ridge basalts (MORB). They are typical for a few higher level dunitic samples as well as mafic cumulates. F-group patterns show light REE depletion, very strong middle REE fractionation and a positive Zr anomaly and occur in dunites only. R-group patterns are severely depleted in both light and heavy REEs relative to MORB-like cpx and two samples of the group display a positive Ti anomaly. They are also restricted to dunitic rocks. The patterns are explained in a two stage model in which an established dunite sequence, dominated by MORB-type cumulate signatures (N-group), was infiltrated by extremely refractory melts. During infiltration of the refractory melt chromatographic fractionation occurred, transforming N-group dunites into F-group and R-group dunites. The F-group patterns are composite patterns: heavy REE, Ti ± Zr reflect the original MORB-like cumulate dunite host, light REEs indicate equilibrium with the infiltrating, refractory melts. Steep slopes in the middle REEs reflect the position of the chromatographic front. For more intense percolation of refractory melts, R-group patterns with a positive Ti anomaly will form by the same process. The rest of the R-group patterns displaying no positive Ti anomaly may represent either the most intensely reacted host rocks or these dunites derive directly as cumulates from refractory melts. Only small volumes of refractory melt (a 5 m column) are required to imprint the observed trace element pattern on the thick original dunite sequence. One of several possible origins for the refractory melts is transformation of original MORB-type melts by way of chromatographic fractionation within the highly depleted, residual uppermost mantle. In the framework of an oceanic spreading centre, the migrating, refractory liquids are considered a late event following the main constructive stage dominated by aggregated melts. The study demonstrates that highly refractory melts can exist under oceanic spreading centres dominated by a MORB-like cumulate and volcanic sequence. Received: 2 September 1996 / Accepted: 20 November 1997     

Volatiles in the cometary nuclei

The argument for the similarity of the composition of cometary volatiles to that of interstellar molecules has been strengthened by the analysis of CO⁺ and CO ₂ ⁺ emission of the comet West. The strong 6300 Å emission of oxygen atoms can be interpreted in terms of photodissociation of OH by the solar Lyman-alpha radiation, and not as being due to photo-dissociation of CO₂ of speculatively large amount.     

Absolute Volume Transports of the Oyashio Referred to Moored Current Meter Data Crossing the OICE

During November 2000–June 2002, both direct current measurements from deployment of a line of five moorings and repeated CTD observations were conducted along the Oyashio Intensive observation line off Cape Erimo (OICE). All the moorings were installed above the inshore-side slope of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Before calculating the absolute volume transports, we compared vertical velocity differences of relative geostrophic velocities with those of the measured velocities. Since both the vertical velocity differences concerned with the middle three moorings were in good agreement, the flows above the continental slope are considered to be in thermal wind balance. We therefore used the current meter data of these three moorings, selected among all five moorings, to estimate the absolute volume transports of the Oyashio referred to the current meter data. As a result, we estimated that the southwestward absolute volume transports in 0–1000 db are 0.5–12.8 × 10⁶ m³/sec and the largest transport is obtained in winter, January 2001. The Oyashio absolute transports in January 2001, crossing the OICE between 42°N and 41°15′ N from the surface to near the bottom above the continental slope, is estimated to be at least 31 × 10⁶ m³/sec. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characteristics of SSH Anomaly Based on TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimetry and in situ Measured Velocity and Transport of Oyashio on OICE

An observation line along the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) ground track 060 was set to estimate the Oyashio transport. We call this line the OICE (Oyashio Intensive observation line off-Cape Erimo) along which we have been conducting repeated hydrographic observations and maintaining mooring systems. T/P derived sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) was compared with velocity and transport on OICE. Although the decorrelation scale of SSHA was estimated at about 80–110 km in the Oyashio region, the SSHA also contains horizontal, small-scale noise, which was eliminated using a Gaussian filter. In the comparison between the SSHA difference across two selected points and the subsurface velocity measured by a moored Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), the highest correlation (0.92) appeared when the smoothing scale was set at 30 km with the two points as near as possible. For the transport in the Oyashio region, the geostrophic transport between 39°30′ N and 42°N was compared with the SSHA difference across the same two points. In this case the highest correlations (0.79, 0.88 and 0.93) occurred when the smoothing scale was set at 38, 6 and 9 km for reference levels of 1000, 2000 and 3000 db, respectively. The annual mean transport was estimated as 9.46 Sv in the 3000 db reference case. The Oyashio transport time series was derived from the T/P SSHA data, and the transports are smaller than that estimated from the Sverdrup balance in 1994–1996 and larger than that in 1997–2000. This difference is consistent with baroclinic response to wind stress field. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optical imaging of impact sites of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 at Bisei Astronomical Observatory

The impact sites of the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 are observed with the 101-cm telescope at Bisei Astronomical Observatory until the end of August with B, V, R, I, and methane-band (0.89m) filters. The outline of the observation is briefly described.