Platinum-Group Elements in Sulphide Minerals, Platinum-Group Minerals, and Whole-Rocks of the Merensky Reef (Bushveld Complex, South Africa): Implications for the Formation of the Reef

The concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE), Co, Re,Au and Ag have been determined in the base-metal sulphide (BMS)of a section of the Merensky Reef. In addition we performeddetailed image analysis of the platinum-group minerals (PGM).The aims of the study were to establish: (1) whether the BMSare the principal host of these elements; (2) whether individualelements preferentially partition into a specific BMS; (3) whetherthe concentration of the elements varies with stratigraphy orlithology; (4) what is the proportion of PGE hosted by PGM;(5) whether the PGM and the PGE found in BMS could account forthe complete PGE budget of the whole-rocks. In all lithologies,most of the PGE (65 up to 85%) are hosted by PGM (essentiallyPt–Fe alloy, Pt–Pd sulphide, Pt–Pd bismuthotelluride).Lesser amounts of PGE occur in solid solution within the BMS.In most cases, the PGM occur at the contact between the BMSand silicates or oxides, or are included within the BMS. Pentlanditeis the principal BMS host of all of the PGE, except Pt, andcontains up to 600 ppm combined PGE. It is preferentially enrichedin Pd, Rh and Co. Pyrrhotite contains, Rh, Os, Ir and Ru, butexcludes both Pt and Pd. Chalcopyrite contains very little ofthe PGE, but does concentrate Ag and Cd. Platinum and Au donot partition into any of the BMS. Instead, they occur in theform of PGM and electrum. In the chromitite layers the whole-rockconcentrations of all the PGE except Pd are enriched by a factorof five relative to S, Ni, Cu and Au. This enrichment couldbe attributed to BMS in these layers being richer in PGE thanthe BMS in the silicate layers. However, the PGE content inthe BMS varies only slightly as a function of the stratigraphy.The BMS in the chromitites contain twice as much PGE as theBMS in the silicate rocks, but this is not sufficient to explainthe strong enrichment of PGE in the chromitites. In the lightof our results, we propose that the collection of the PGE occurredin two steps in the chromitites: some PGM formed before sulphidesaturation during chromitite layer formation. The remainingPGE were collected by an immiscible sulphide liquid that percolateddownward until it encountered the chromitite layers. In thesilicate rocks, PGE were collected by only the sulphide liquid. KEY WORDS: Merensky Reef; Rustenburg Platinum Mine; sulphide; platinum-group elements; image analysis; laser ablation ICP-MS     

Quantitative characterization of plastic deformation of zircon and geological implications

The deformation-related microstructure of an Indian Ocean zircon hosted in a gabbro deformed at amphibolite grade has been quantified by electron backscatter diffraction. Orientation mapping reveals progressive variations in intragrain crystallographic orientations that accommodate 20° of misorientation in the zircon crystal. These variations are manifested by discrete low-angle (<4°) boundaries that separate domains recording no resolvable orientation variation. The progressive nature of orientation change is documented by crystallographic pole figures which show systematic small circle distributions, and disorientation axes associated with 0.5–4° disorientation angles, which lie parallel to rational low index crystallographic axes. In the most distorted part of the grain (area A), this is the [100] crystal direction. A quaternion analysis of orientation correlations confirms the [100] rotation axis inferred by stereographic inspection, and reveals subtle orientation variations related to the local boundary structure. Microstructural characteristics and orientation data are consistent with the low-angle boundaries having a tilt boundary geometry with dislocation line [100]. This tilt boundary is most likely to have formed by accumulation of edge dislocations associated with a 〈001〉{100} slip system. Analysis of the energy associated with these dislocations suggest they are energetically more favorable than TEM verified 〈010〉{100} slip. Analysis of minor boundaries in area A indicates deformation by either (001) edge, or [100](100) and [001](100) screw dislocations. In other parts of the grain, cross slip on (111), and (112) planes seems likely. These data provide the first detailed microstructural analysis of naturally deformed zircon and indicate ductile crystal-plastic deformation of zircon by the formation and migration of dislocations into low-angle boundaries. Minimum estimates of dislocation density in the low-angle boundaries are of the order of ∼3.10¹⁰ cm⁻². This value is sufficiently high to have a marked effect on the geochemical behavior of zircon, via enhanced bulk diffusion and increased dissolution rates. Therefore, crystal plasticity in zircon may have significant implications for the interpretation of radiometric ages, isotopic discordance and trace element mobility during high-grade metamorphism and melting of the crust.     

ENSO-coupled precipitation records (1959–2004) based on shells of freshwater bivalve mollusks (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Margaritifera falcata</Emphasis>) from British Columbia

We present the results of sclerochronologically calibrated growth and stable isotope analyses of the freshwater bivalve Margaritifera falcata collected from an agricultural, suburban setting near Vancouver, BC. The oxygen isotope range of shell aragonite can be explained by the temperature range during the growing season, assuming the water δ ¹⁸O composition remained constant. However, shell growth is strongly influenced by local summer precipitation and potentially runoff of nutrient-rich stormwater. About 44% of the variability of annual shell growth can be explained by amounts of local summer (June–September) rainfall. Local winter precipitation and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) strength during the preceding year exert a weak, but significant control on shell growth. In combination, summer and winter precipitation can explain up to 50% of the variability in annual shell growth. Spectral analyses substantiate the effect of precipitation on shell growth and demonstrate that shell growth and ENSO are coupled by precipitation. Common spectral density was found at periods of 6.5–9 years, particularly between 1985 and 2004. Higher frequency oscillation corresponding to periods of 3–5 years occurred during the early 1970s, early to mid 1980s, and later 1990s. These results suggest that skeletal records of bivalve mollusks provide suitable archives of ENSO-coupled precipitation in areas where other climate proxies such as tree-rings and speleothems may not be available.     

On equilibrium rotation of the central object of an accretion disc

The hydrodynamic interaction of an accretion disc with its central object is reanalysed within the framework of the slim-disc approximation. Arguments are presented against an interpretation of the total angular momentum flux as an eigenvalue of the system. A simple intuitive consideration is provided, which shows that the central object may be in a state of stationary rotation even if the disc imposes the constraint of a finite angular momentum flux into it. It is argued that equilibrium rotation is characterized by vanishing viscous torque rather than by zero total angular momentum flux. As a consequence, the central object can be in a state of stationary rotation below the break-up limit, although its angular momentum increases. Despite accretion, even for positive total angular momentum flux and subcritical rotation, central objects are spun down within a considerable range of their parameters. The results are illustrated by application to FU Orionis systems.     

Progressive crustal contamination of the Bushveld Complex: evidence from Nd isotopic analyses of the cumulate rocks

We report the first Nd isotopic data on the cumulate rocks of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. We analysed 17 whole-rock samples covering 4700 m of stratigraphy through the Lower, Critical and Main Zones of the intrusion at Union Section, north-western Bushveld Complex. The basal ultramafic portions of the complex have markedly higher ɛNd(T) (−5.3 to −6.0) than the gabbronoritic Main Zone (ɛNd(T) −6.4 to −7.9). The rocks of the Upper Critical Zone have intermediate values. These results are in agreement with new Nd isotope data on marginal rocks and sills in the floor of the complex that are generally interpreted as representing chilled parental magmas, and with published Sr isotopic data, all of which show a larger crustal component in the upper part of the intrusion. In contrast, the concentrations of many highly incompatible trace elements are decoupled from the isotopic signatures. The basal portions of the complex have higher ratios of incompatible to compatible trace elements than the upper portions. The variations of isotopic and trace-element compositions are interpreted in terms of a change in the nature of the crustal material that contaminated Bushveld magmas. Those magmas that fed into the lower part of the complex had assimilated a relatively small amount of incompatible trace-element-rich partial melt of upper crust, whereas magmas parental to the upper part of the complex had assimilated a higher proportion of the incompatible trace-element-poor residue of partial melting. Received: 5 October 1999 / Accepted: 7 July 2000     

The Minispiral in the Galactic Center revisited

We present the results of a re-examination of a [Ne II] line emission data cube (λ 12.8μm) and discuss the kinematic structure of the inner 3×4 pc of the Galaxy. The quality of [Ne II] as a tracer of ionized gas is examined by comparing it to radio data. A three-dimensional representation of the data cube allows us to disentangle features which are projected onto the same location on the sky. A model of gas streams in different planes is fitted to the data. We find that most of the material is located in a main plane which itself is defined by the inner edge of the Circum-Nuclear Disk in the Galactic Center. Finally, we present a possible three-dimensional model of the gas streams.     

Born scattering of longperiod body waves

The Born approximation is applied to the modelling of the propagation of deeply turning longperiod body waves through heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle. We use an exact Green's function for a spherically symmetric earth model that also satisfies the appropriate boundary conditions at internal boundaries and the surface of the earth. The scattered displacement field is obtained by a numerical quadrature of the product of the Green's function, the exciting wavefield and structural perturbations. We study three examples: scattering of longperiod P waves from a plume rising from the coremantle boundary (CMB), generation of longperiod precursors to PKIKP by strong, localized scatterers at the CMB, and propagation of corediffracted P waves through largescale heterogeneities in D". The main results are as follows: (1) the signals scattered from a realistic plume are small with relative amplitudes of less than 2 per cent at a period of 20 s, rendering plume detection a fairly difficult task; (2) strong heterogeneities at the CMB of appropriate size may produce observable longperiod precursors to PKIKP in spite of the presence of a diffraction from the PKP B caustic; (3) corediffracted P  waves ( P _diff) are sensitive to structure in D" far off the geometrical ray path and also far beyond the entry and exit points of the ray into and out of D"; sensitivity kernels exhibit ringshaped patterns of alternating sign reminiscent of Fresnel zones; (4) P _diff also shows a nonnegligible sensitivity to shear wave velocity in D"; (5) down to periods of 40 s, the Born approximation is sufficiently accurate to allow waveform modelling of P _diff through largescale heterogeneities in D" of up to 5 per cent.     

A Temporary Network For Seismological Monitoring In West-Saxony: First Results

Since December 1997 a network of 10 autonomously recording digital seismic stations operates in W-Saxony to monitor microseismic activity generated by tectonic movements in the Gera-Jáchymov fault zone and induced by the flooding of the uranium mining area near Aue. Further goals to be followed with these data are the in situ verification of engineering seismological parameters and the study of the transmission properties of seismic waves across the Gera-Jáchymov fault zone to improve seismic risk evaluation. So far 19 tectonic and more than 50 induced events have been located and source parameters have been determined. Event clusters near Zwickau and within the Aue mining area could be spatially resolved with a master event technique. The cluster near Zwickau occured on a common fault plane striking parallel to the Gera-Jáchymov fault zone and dipping at an angle of about 60° towards ENE. The induced events near Aue occured within a volume of approximately 5 km ³ . The majority of these events were located in the granite body underneath the mining area. Fault plane solutions show a variety of focal mechanisms with no clear relation to the regional stress field.     

Vorkommen natürlicher und synthetischer östrogener Steroide in Wässern des süd‐ und mitteldeutschen Raumes

Distribution of Natural and Synthetic Estrogenic Steroid Hormones in Water Samples from Southern and Middle Germany Natural and synthetic hormones can reach surface waters via domestic sewage effluents. For drinking water production, bank filtration of river waters is a common procedure and hormone contaminations can potentially reach groundwater levels and drinking water sources. In order to analyse steroid hormones in the different aquatic compartments (raw sewage and effluent, surface water, groundwater, raw and drinking water) of South and Middle Germany, a sensitive analytical method was developed and employed to detect the natural steroid hormones estradiol (E2) and estrone and the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE2). Samples which were taken in two subsequent series were subjected to clean‐up and enrichment procedure and subsequently analysed by HPLC‐MS. The limit of quantitation for the method was determined to be 0.05 to 0.5 ng/L, depending on the matrix. By treating the samples with glucuronidases/arylsulfatases, conjugates were amenable to analysis and the sum of conjugates and unconjugated steroids was calculated. In raw sewage, the median of the concentrations of the unconjugated steroids was 7 ng/L for EE2, 1.5 ng/L for E2, and 5.5 ng/L for estrone. After cleavage of conjugates, the medians of total steroids were 9.5 ng/L (EE2), 3 ng/L (E2), and 13 ng/l (estrone). Conjugates therefore contributed up to 50 % of the total steroid concentration in raw sewage. In treated effluents, the concentrations of steroids were much lower than in the raw sewage. The medians of free steroids were determined to be 0.3 ng/L for EE2, 0.2 ng/L for E2, and 2.5 ng/L for estrone. Overall the medians in the effluent were thus less than 10% of those in the influent. Conjugates still contributed significantly (40% and more) to the steroid concentrations (medians: EE2: 0.5 ng/L, E2: 0.8 ng/L, and estrone: 8 ng/L).