Oxygen isotope composition and geothermometry of granulite to greenschist facies metamorphic rocks: a study from the Neoproterozoic collision-related nappe system, south of São Francisco Craton, SE Brazil

Oxygen isotope studies were carried out across units of a Neoproterozoic nappe system, south of São Francisco Craton. A temperature decrease toward the base of the system is found, consistent with a previously recognized inverted metamorphic pattern. The tectonic contact of the basal unit and the reworked southern São Francisco craton show a steep temperature gradient, suggesting that low temperature thrusting acted as the dominant tectonic process. The contrasts between the δ¹⁸O values of the Três Pontas-Varginha and Carmo da Cachoeira nappes and the differences among the samples and minerals are consistent with the preservation of sedimentary isotopic composition during metamorphism. The small differences in the δ¹⁸O values between the undeformed and the deformed calc-silicate samples (1.6‰) suggest that the δ¹⁸O value of mylonitization fluids was close to that which equilibrated with the metamorphic assemblage. The distinct δ¹⁸O values of metapelitic and calc-silicate samples and the great temperature difference from one type to the other indicate that no large-scale fluid interaction processes occurred during metamorphism. Oxygen isotopic estimations of both Três Pontas-Varginha undeformed rocks and Carmo da Cachoeira unaltered equivalents indicate δ¹⁸O values of up to 18‰. Comparison between these values and those from the ‘basement’ orthogneisses (8.3–8.5‰) indicates the latter are not sources for the metapelites.     

Determination of High Field Strength Elements, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Tl and Bi at ng g−1 Levels in Geological Reference Materials by Magnetic Sector ICP-MS after HF/HClO4 High Pressure Digestion

Six low abundance rock reference materials (basalt BIR-1, dunite DTS-1, dolerite DNC-1, peridotite PCC-1, serpentine UB-N and basalt TAFAHI) have been analysed for high field strength elements (Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Th and U), Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Tl and Bi at ng g⁻¹ levels (in rock) by magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after HF/HClO₄ high pressure decomposition. The adopted method uses only indium as an internal standard. Detection limits were found to be in the range of 0.08 to 16.2 pg ml⁻¹ in solution (equivalent to 0.08 to 16.2 ng g⁻¹ in rock). Our data for high field strength elements, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Tl and Bi for the six selected low abundance geological reference materials show general agreement with previously published data. Our Ta values in DTS-1 and PCC-1 (1.3 and 0.5 ng g⁻¹) are lower than in previously published studies, providing smooth primitive mantle distribution patterns. Lower values were also found for Tl in BIR-1, DTS-1 and PCC-1 (2, 0.4 and 0.8 ng g⁻¹). Compared with quadrupole ICP-MS studies, the proposed magnetic sector ICP-MS method can generally provide better detection limits, so that the measurement of high field strength elements, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Tl and Bi at ng g⁻¹ levels can be achieved without pre-concentration, ion exchange separation or other specialised techniques.     

Early‐middle Holocene land snail shell stable isotope record from Grotta di Latronico 3 (southern Italy)

This paper compares stable isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) records of early–middle Holocene land snail shells from the archaeological deposits of Grotta di Latronico 3 (LTR3; southern Italy) with modern shell isotopic data. No substantial interspecific variability was observed in shell δ¹⁸O (δ¹⁸Os) of modern specimens (Pomatias elegans, Cornu aspersum, Eobania vermiculata, Helix ligata and Marmorana fuscolabiata). In contrast, interspecific shell δ¹³C (δ¹³Cs) variability was significant, probably due to different feeding behaviour among species. The δ¹⁸Os values of living land snails suggest that species hibernate for a long period during colder months, so that the signal of ¹⁸O‐depleted winter rainfall in their δ¹⁸Os is lost. This suggests that δ¹⁸Os and δ¹³Cs values of Pomatias elegans from this archaeological succession provide valuable clues for seasonal (spring–autumn) climatic conditions during the early–middle Holocene. The δ¹⁸Os values of fossil specimens are significantly lower than in modern shells and in agreement with other palaeoclimatic records, suggesting a substantial increase of precipitation and/or persistent changes in air mass source trajectories over this region between ca. 8.8 cal ka BP and 6.2–6.7 ka ago. The δ¹³Cs trend suggests a transition from a slightly ¹³C‐enriched to a ¹³C‐depleted diet between early and middle Holocene compared to present conditions. We postulate that this δ¹³Cs trend might reflect changes in the C3 vegetation community, potentially combined with other environmental factors such as regional moisture increase and the progressive decrease of atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils

The permeability and structure of four fine-grained soils were observed to be changed by freezing and thawing. In all cases freezing and thawing caused a reduction in void ratio and an increase in vertical permeability. The increase in permeability is attributed to the formation of polygonal shrinkage cracks and/or to the reduction of the volume of fines in the pores of the coarse fraction, the mechanism controlling the process depending on material type. No definite relationships are established; however, it appears that the largest increase in permeability occurs for the soil of highest plasticity.     

Characterization of the chemical structures of natural and synthetic aluminosilicate gels and sols by infrared spectroscopy

Infrared spectra in the 300–1400 cm^?1 region indicate that the non-crystalline products of interaction between hydroxyaluminium species and orthosilicic acid in dilute aqueous solutions of pH < 5 differ markedly in structure from those formed in near-neutral and alkaline solutions of pH > 6. The compound formed in acid solution has an infrared spectrum similar to imogolite, and is termed proto-imogolite; like imogolite, it contains orthosilicate groups and 6-coordinated aluminium, and has an ideal Si:Al ratio of around 0.5, but it can incorporate some excess alumina or silica and it does not have the regular tubular structure of imogolite. Compounds formed in alkaline solutions that are not too dilute have infrared spectra resembling the feldspathoid group of minerals and are termed hydrous feldspathoids. They incorporate a condensed tetrahedral framework with an Si:Al ratio greater than one, but can also contain 6-coordinated aluminium.Natural allophanes of the proto-imogolite and hydrous feldspathoid types exist. The allophane of weathered pumice, however, contains a condensed silicate anion that incorporates little tetrahedral aluminium. Proto-imogolite forms stable sols at pH < 5 and must play an important role in the transport of aluminium in acidic natural waters containing dissolved silica.     

Trace-element study and age dating of zircon from chromitites of the Bushveld Complex (South Africa)

The layered Bushveld Complex hosts a number of chromitite layers, which were found to contain significant amounts of zircon grains compared with adjacent silicate rocks. Cathodoluminescent-dark, partially metamict cores and transparent rims of composite zircon grains were analyzed for trace elements with SIMS and LA-ICPMS techniques. The cores are enriched in REE, Y, Th and U and are characterized by distinctly flatter REE patterns in contrast to those of the rims and transparent homogenous crystals. Zircon from the different stratigraphic units has specific Th/U ratios, the highest of which (1.5–4) occurs in a Merensky Reef zircon core. The Ti content of Bushveld zircon ranges from 12 to 52 ppm correlating to a crystallization temperature range of 760–930 °C. The geochemical characteristics of the first zircon generation are consistent with its high-temperature crystallization as the first major U, Th and REE acceptor from a highly-evolved residue of the high-Mg basalt magma, whereas the rims and coreless crystals have crystallized from percolating intercumulus liquid of new influx of the same magma. U-Pb SHRIMP dating of zircon cores and rims does not reveal a distinguishable difference between their ages indicating the absence of inherited zircon. Concordia ages of 2,051?±?9 Ma (2σ, MSWD?=?0.1) and 2,056?±?5 Ma (2σ, MSWD?=?0.05) for zircons from the Merensky Reef and the Upper Platreef located equally near the top of the Critical Zone are in agreement with published ages for the Merensky Reef. Zircon from the deeper-seated Lower Group, Middle Group and Lower Platreef chromitites yields younger concordia ages that may reflect prolonged late-stage volatile activity.     

Perception of landslides risk and responsibility: a case study in eastern Styria, Austria

This paper presents a case study about the perception of landslide risk. Following a major set of landslides in the eastern part of Austria in June 2009, we surveyed local experts, residents who had suffered losses from the landslides, and others living in the affected communities. Overall, the risk perception was significantly higher among those who had been personally affected by a landslide, had knowledge of the geology in the study region, had been affected by another natural hazard, or spent a lot of time outdoors and in touch with nature. Non-experts viewed natural factors as the main causes for the occurrence of landslides, while experts viewed anthropogenic factors as more important. Likewise, non-experts placed a greater emphasis on hard measures (such as retaining walls) to reduce the risk, whereas the experts tended to focus on better information and land-use planning. In terms of responsibility for mitigative actions, a majority of inhabitants believed that public authorities should undertake most of the costs, whereby those who had personal experience with landslides were more likely to favor the government paying for it.     

Analytical derivation of water retention for random monodisperse granular media

The mechanics of water retention in unsaturated granular media is of critical importance to a broad range of disciplines including soil science, geotechnical engineering, hydrology and agriculture. Fundamental to water retention is the relationship between degree of saturation and suction, referred to as the water retention curve (WRC). The majority of WRC models are empirically based and seldom incorporate physically meaningful parameters. This study presents an analytical model for the WRC that considers separate contributions from fully filled pores and partially filled pores containing liquid bridges. A recently established unique k-gamma pore volume distribution function for randomly assembled monodisperse granular materials is adopted to determine the contributions of fully filled pores. Calculation of the contribution of residual pore water retained in partially filled pores is undertaken by representing pores as individual cells shaped as platonic shapes of various sizes and determining the volume of all liquid bridges suspended between particles within the pore cells. Weighting factors for the various cell types are obtained from the pore volume distribution to determine the relative contribution of different pore cell geometries to the total residual pore water. The combined model accurately describes experimental data for monodisperse spherical glass beads for both wetting and drying, even though the underlying assumptions do not reflect exactly the complex, interconnected and highly irregular geometry of the pore space. A single parameter provides the lateral shift between the wetting and drying curves. The results of this study provide a geometric understanding of the mechanisms of water retention in granular media.     

含硫化物镁铁质-超镁铁质侵入体中橄榄石Mg、Ni含量的制约:原理、模式及Voisey's Bay侵入体样品研究

镁铁质-超镁铁质岩浆结晶分离早期形成镁铁矿物,镁铁矿物中的Ni和Mg是相容元素。随着结晶分离作用的进行,Ni、Mg在硅酸盐岩浆及后形成的硅酸盐物质中的丰度下降。橄榄石中Ni含量及硅酸盐物质MgO/FeO比值都与母岩浆的相关值相关,据此可推断母岩浆的信息,它们之间可由实验测得的系数相联系。当岩浆饱和硫化物时,在结晶分离过程中硫化物珠滴会与镁铁硅酸盐物质一道析出,同时,与硫化物非饱和岩浆相比,过多的Ni会随之析出。这也反映在Ni、Mg含量比无硫化物分离时有更迅速的降低上。Ni、Mg含量变化值可以在VoiseysBay侵入体的模式曲线上反映出,加拿大Labrador的这一侵入体赋存了一个世界级的Ni-Cu-Co硫化物矿床。过去的作法是将侵入体中橄榄石的Ni、Mg含量与Simkin和Smith得出的各种火成岩中橄榄石的Ni、Mg含量相比较以确定Ni亏损,进而假定橄榄石来自硫化物饱和、有经济价值的岩浆。现在的研究显示这种简单的对比会导致错误。将样品数据与模式曲线对比并反映出侵入体矿物结晶堆积特征是重要的方法。使用这一方法,样品数据能很好地被模式曲线拟合。以在VoiseysBay的研究为例,当硫化物液相与硅酸盐矿物被去除后,硫化物非饱和的分离作用期就会显现出来,随后是硅酸盐结晶作用期。     

Subsolidus and melting relationships for calcite,magnesite and the join CaCO3-MgCO3 36 kb

Subsolidus and melting relations for the CaCO₃-MgCO₃ join at 30 kb have been determined using piston-cylinder apparatus. Data are also presented for the melting curve of CaCO₃ to 30 kb, the decomposition and melting curves of MgCO₃ to 36 kb, and the calcite-aragonite transition at 800°C, 950°C and 1100°C. At 30kb, the melting loop for the CaCO₃-MgCO₃ join extends from 1610°C (CaCO₃) to 1585°C (MgCO₃) through a liquidus minimum at 1290°C (near 42 mole% MgCO₃). The dolomite-magnesite solvus barely intersects the 30 kb melting loop to produce a peritectic reaction at 1385°C. Integration of the new experimental data with other published data permits construction of a complete P-T projection and a sequence of isobars for the CaCO₃-MgCO₃ join for pressures between 5 and 30 kb. The phase relations for this join provide part of the essential framework of the model peridotite system CaO-MgO-SiO₈-CO₂-H₂O, which has particular application to the origin of carbonatitic and kimberlitic magmas. In light of the accumulating evidence for CO₂ in various forms within the upper mantle and of its effect on magmatic processes, analysis of the melting relations in this system is of considerable importance.