Atmospheric chemical abundances and the evolutionary status of the spectroscopic and speckle-interferometric binary 9 Cyg

We have performed speckle interferometry with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory and spectroscopy (at 3700–9200 Å) with the 2-m telescope at Peak Terskol of the spectroscopic and interferometric binary 9 Cyg, which is a composite-spectrum star with an orbital period of 4.3 yrs. The atmosphere of the system’s primary component is analyzed in detail. The luminosities of both components estimated to be L ₁ = 103.8 L _⊙, L ₂ = 55.2 L _⊙, where L _⊙ is the solar luminosity, and their effective temperatures to be T _e (1) = 5300 K and T _e (2) = 9400 K. The abundances of C, N, O, Fe, and other elements in the primary’s atmosphere have been derived. The chemical composition shows signatures of mixing of material from its atmosphere and the region of nuclear reactions. The evolutionary status of 9 Cyg has been determined. The binary’s age is about 400 million years; the brighter star is already in the transition to becoming a red giant, while the secondary is still in the hydrogen-burning stage near the zero-age main sequence. We suggest an evolutionary model for the binary’s orbit that explains the high eccentricity, e = 0.79.     

Physical and dynamical parameters of the multiple system HD 222326

We present the results of our study of the physical and dynamical parameters of the multiple system HD 222326. A new method for determining the individual radial velocities of components in wide binary and multiple systems in the case of small radial-velocity differences (δV _r ≤ the FWHMfor the line profiles) is suggested and tested for both model systems and the binary HD 10009. This testing yielded the component radial velocities V _{r 1,2} for HD 10009, enabling us to derive the center-of mass velocity, V _γ, for the first time. We determined the radial velocities of the components of HD 222326 from high-resolution spectra, and refined the orbital parameters of the subsystems using speckle-interferometric observations. A combined spectroscopic and speckle interferometric analysis enabled us to find the positions of the components in the spectral type—luminosity diagram and to estimate their masses. It is likely that the components are all in various evolutionary stages after leaving the main sequence. We analyzed the dynamical evolution of the system using numerical modeling in the gravitational three-body problem and the known stability criteria for triple systems. The system is probably stable on time scales of at least 10⁶ years. The presence of a fourth component in the system is also suggested.     

First U-Pb age of detrital zircons from sandstones of the Upper Emsian Takaty formation of the Western Urals with regard to the problem of primary sources of the Uralian diamond placers

Several alternative points of view currently exist on the origin of the primary sources of diamonds from the Cenozoic Western Urals placers. Some researchers suppose that their economic diamond resource potential is related to diamonds from tuffisitic facies of the mantle kimberlites-lamproites or impact structures. Other researchers suggest that diamonds originated from the eroded sandstones of the Upper Emsian Takaty Formation of the Lower Devonian, which represents ancient (fossil) placers or intermediate reservoirs. It is assumed that these reservoirs collected diamonds from worn kimberlite bodies, which were located in the Urals or on the East European platform (EEP). This paper presents the first U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) age of detrital zircons from quartz sandstones of the Takaty Formation, which spans a range from 1857.5 ± 53.8 to 3054.0 ± 48.0 Ma. The absence of detrital zircons younger than 1.86 Ga excludes that the structural complexes of the Uralian, Fennoscandian, and Sarmatian EEP parts were the provenance areas that supplied the clastic material to the sedimentary basin, which accumulated the Takaty Formation. The similar age of our zircons and ancient crystalline complexes of the Volga-Uralian EEP part allows consideration that it was a single provenance area. If we assume that the diamond resource potential of the Western Urals is completely or partly related to the ancient diamond placers from the Takaty Formation, then the intermediate diamond reservoirs from its structure originated due to redeposition of destruction products of primary diamond-bearing rocks of the Volga-Uralia area. Thus, within the Volga-Uralian part of the EEP basement, we may expect identification of a previously unknown stage of kimberlite formation, which is significantly older than that responsible for the diamond resource potential of the Arkhangel’sk province.     

The Neotectonic Structure of Deception Island (Antarctica) Inferred from the Results of Structural and Geomorphic Analysis

Doklady Earth Sciences - We present the results of analysis of the Strombolian-type Deception volcano after its explosive caldera-forming eruption. The volcano studied, located in the South...     

Rb-Sr and U-Pb systematics of metasedimentary carbonate rocks: The Paleoproterozoic Kuetsjarvi Formation of the Pechenga Greenstone Belt, Kola Peninsula

The Rb-Sr and U-Pb systematics have been studied in the metasedimentary carbonate rocks from the Paleoproterozoic Kuetsjarvi Formation. Samples were taken from the borehole drilled in the northern zone of the Pechenga Greenstone Belt in the northwestern Kola Peninsula. The carbonate section of the formation is made up of three units (from the bottom to top): (I) dolomite (68 m), (II) calcareous-dolomite (9 m), and (III) clayey calcareous (1 m) ones. Dolomites (Mg/Ca = 0.55–0.61) from the lowermost unit I contain 70.3–111 ppm Sr. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in them varies within 0.70560–0.70623 and characterizes the primary continental-lacustrine carbonate sediments. Calcareous dolomites (Mg/Ca = 0.39–0.59) and dolomitic limestones of units II and III (Mg/Ca = 0.02–0.36) are enriched in Sr (285–745 and 550–1750 ppm, respectively). Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in these rocks (0.70406–0.70486 and 0.70407–0.70431, respectively) fall within the range typical of the Jatulian seawater, which indicates that the carbonate sediments of two upper units were formed in an open marine basin. Study of dolomites from unit I showed that the Svecofennian metamorphism more significantly affected the U-Pb systems of carbonate rocks as compared to their Rb-Sr systems. In the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb diagram, most data points corresponding to the carbonate constituent of dolomites define isochron with an age of 1900 ± 25 Ma (MSWD = 0.5). The same samples define a positive correlation in the ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb plot. Since sedimentary carbonates usually do not contain Th, this correlation points to secondary enrichment of the studied dolomites in Th or thorogenic ²⁰⁸Pb. Hence, the obtained Pb-Pb dating can be regarded as the age of the Svecofennian metamorphic event. Three samples from dolomites of unit I lack any disturbance of the initial U-Th-Pb systematics, but their trend in the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb diagram deviates from the 1900 Ma isochron. Based on these samples, the model U-Pb premetamorphic age of the Kuetsjarvi carbonate sediments is 2075–2100 Ma. This interval is consistent with the age range of the Lomagundi-Jatulian event, which was responsible for the formation of carbonate sediments with high positive δ¹³C values.     

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Climate: Historical-Geological Aspects

Insignificant role of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the total balance of this gas in the atmosphere is shown. Relationship of the atmospheric CO₂ content with climate in geological history of the Earth and history of mankind is ambiguous. It is assumed that the influence of greenhouse effect on global climate was less significant than was thought previously. Its impact is governed by complex relationship of cosmic and terrestrial factors, including the position of continental massifs.__________Translated from Litologiya i Poleznye Iskopaemye, No. 4, 2005, pp. 368–380.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuznetsov.     

Minor elements in quartz from hydrothermal-metamorphic veins in the Nether Polar Ural Province

Vein quartz from the Nether Polar Ural Province was examined by atomic emission spectrometry, gas chromatography, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electron microscopy. According to atomic emission spectrometric analysis, the total concentration of Al, Fe, Mg, Ti, Ca, Na, K, and other minor elements in the quartz varies from 8 to 47 ppm. The lowest concentrations of minor elements were detected in the granulated quartz. Giant-crystalline milk-white quartz is noted for higher concentrations of minor elements, including Na, K, and Ca, because it contains gas-liquid inclusions. The fine-grained quartz contains very small mineral inclusions and is thus noted for elevated concentrations of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Ti. Gas chromatographic data on the gas phase separated from the quartz at its heating indicate that this phase contains H₂O, CO₂, and other components. The H₂O concentration reaches 429 ??g/g, while the CO₂ content is commonly no higher than 20 ??g/g. Gas separation is at a maximum at temperatures of 100?C600°C, when gasliquid inclusions decrepitate, as is typical, first of all, of the giant-crystalline milk-white quartz. Gas separation continues at higher temperatures (below 1000°C) but is much less intense. The electron microscopic examination of quartz grains after their acid treatment indicates that the surface of these grains is covered by caverns of various morphology and size, which were produced by the partial dissolution of the quartz and the opening of its gas-liquid and mineral inclusions occurring near the surface; the inclusions were not, however, completely removed. The crystal structure of the quartz contains minor Al, Ge, Na, Li, Ti, and Fe. The lowest concentrations of Al and Ge paramagnetic centers are typical of the granulated (recrystallized) and fine-grained quartz. The giant-crystalline quartz, including its transparent varieties, and individual quartz crystals, first of all their smoky-citrine varieties, contain higher concentrations of minor elements. In the Nether Polar Ural Province, granulated quartz is potentially promising for producing especially pure quartz concentrates. The quality of the translucent coarse-to giant-crystalline quartz, which predominates in the resources and reserves, is deteriorated by gas-liquid inclusions in it and requires deep processing of the raw minerals.     

Ozone content over the russian federation in the second quarter of 2012

The review is compiled on the basis of the results of the operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring in the CIS and Baltic countries functioning in the operational regime at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses the data from the national network with M-124 filter ozonometers under methodological supervision of the Main Geophysical Observatory. The quality of the functioning of the entire system is under operational control based on the observations obtained from the OMI satellite equipment (NASA, the United States). The basic TO observation data are generalized for each month of the first quarter of 2012 and for the quarter as a whole. Some results of regular observations of surface ozone content carried out at different organizations in Russia are also considered.     

Corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks in the Central Pamirs

The Muzkol metamorphic complex in the Central Pamirs contains widespread occurrences of corundum mineralization, sometimes with gem-quality corundum. These occurrences are spatially related to zones of metasomatic alterations in calcite and dolomite marbles and crystalline schists. The calcite marbles contain corundum together with muscovite, scapolite, and biotite; the dolomite marbles contain corundum in association with biotite; and the schists bear this mineral coexisting with biotite and chlorite. All these rocks additionally contain tourmaline, apatite, rutile, and pyrite. The biotite is typically highly aluminous (up to 1.9 f.u. Al), and the scapolite is rich in the marialite end member (60–75 mol %). The crystallization parameters of corundum were estimated using mineral assemblages at T = 600–650°C, P = 4–6 kbar, X _{CO 2} = 0.2–0.5 at elevated alkalinity of the fluid. The Sr concentration in the calcite and dolomite marbles is low (345–460 and 62–110 ppm, respectively), as is typical of recrystallized sedimentary carbonates. The variations in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in the calcite and dolomite marbles (0.70852–0.70999 and 0.70902–0.71021, respectively) were controlled by the introduction of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr during the metasomatic transformations of the rocks. The isotopic-geochemical characteristics obtained for the rocks and the results of numerical simulations of the fluid-rock interactions indicate that the corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks developed after originally sedimentary Phanerozoic carbonate rocks, with the desilication of the terrigenous material contained in them. This process was a manifestation of regional alkaline metasomatism during the closing stages of Alpine metamorphism. In the course of transformations in the carbonate reservoir, the juvenile fluid flow became undersaturated with respect to silica, which was a necessary prerequisite for the formation of corundum.