Internally consistent gahnitic spinel-cordierite-garnet equilibria in the FMASHZn system: geothermobarometry and applications

The equilibrium (Mg, Fe, Zn)₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂+2Al₂SiO₅=3(Mg, Fe, Zn)Al₂O₄+5SiO₂ garnet + sillimanite/kyanitc = spinel + quartz was calibrated in the piston-cylinder apparatus between 11 and 30 kbar, and over the temperature range of 950 to 1200°C. Three experimental mixes of Mg no. [100^*MgO/(MgO+FeO)] 40, 47 and 60, in the FeO –MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–ZnO (FMASZn) system were used under low oxygen fugacities and anhydrous conditions. We derive a ternary Fe–Mg–Zn symmetric mixing model for aluminous spinels in equilibrium with garnet, to quantify the increase in gahnitic end-member of spinel with increasing pressure and descreasing temperature. Further experiments in the spinel-cordieritequartz-sillimanite field were combined with garnet-cordierite data from the literature to produce a consistent set of equations describing the exchange reactions in FMASHZn relevant to quartz-sillimanite bearing rocks at granulite facies conditions. As spinel is an important mineral participating in many rocks of aluminous composition at granulite-facies conditions, and as zinc contributes to an enlargement of spinel's stability field towards higher pressures and lower temperatures, the thermobarometric calibrations presented here will be most significant in delineating the prograde and retrograde trajectory of P-T paths.     

How a wet tropical rainforest copes with repeated volcanic destruction

The Holocene Period for the province of West New Britain, Papua New Guinea, is characterised by periodic catastrophic volcanism. The region is mantled in dense wet tropical rainforest, and has been occupied by people since the Pleistocene. Analyses of peat from two nearby sites within a lowland rainforest environment provide us with a macro-level landscape account of the periodic destruction and recovery of the coastal forests during seven periods of volcanic activity in the latter part (2900 yr ago to present) of the Holocene. Radiocarbon dating shows the very close correlation of the peat and tephra layers at both sites, yet the pollen analysis reveals different vegetation communities. These initial results allow us to begin identifying the processes of recovery, and to recognise different ecological pressures placed on vegetation at these neighbouring sites. Evidence of hydrological changes are observed beginning with a marine incursion recorded at Garu Site 3 1360 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The distinct differences in the vegetation re-establishment and community regeneration rates suggest the greater level of disturbance at Garu Site 1 could be related to the depth of the ashfall, although the proximity of a known human settlement may also be a contributing factor. Of note, palynologically, we found that the fern spore flora is particularly rich and believe it will be useful for ecological interpretation.     

Sm–Nd ages of mafic rocks from the Coastal Cordillera at 24°S, northern Chile

We investigated the Sm–Nd systematics of mafic granulite and undeformed layered gabbro, which form a midcrustal section of the Jurassic magmatic belt in the North Chilean Coast Range, south of Antofagasta. Mineral isochrons indicate ages between ca. 171 and 150?Ma for the granulite and an age of ca. 161 Ma for the gabbro. These ages are interpreted as closure time of the Sm–Nd system in the area. The age of metamorphism is Late-Jurassic. The minimum intrusion age of the protolith of the granulite is likely Early Jurassic (ca. 200?Ma), but an exact intrusion age could not be derived from the data. The intrusion age of the gabbro is ca. 185 Ma. Granulite generated from mantle-derived gabbroic magmas has ?_Nd200 between 6.28 and 7.05 and the gabbro that intruded the granulite has ?_Nd185 between 5.89 and 6.09.     

Field Demonstration of the Horizontal Treatment Well (HRX Well®) for Passive In Situ Remediation

The horizontal reactive media treatment well (HRX Well®) uses directionally drilled horizontal wells filled with a treatment media to induce flow-focusing behavior created by the well-to-aquifer permeability contrast to passively capture proportionally large volumes of groundwater. Groundwater is treated in situ as it flows through the HRX Well and downgradient portions of the aquifer are cleaned via elution as these zones are flushed with clean water discharging from the HRX Well. The HRX Well concept is particularly well suited for sites where long-term mass discharge control is a primary performance objective. This concept is appropriate for recalcitrant and difficult-to-treat constituents, including chlorinated solvents, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), 1,4-dioxane, and metals. A full-scale HRX Well was installed and operated to treat trichloroethene (TCE) with zero valent iron (ZVI). The model-predicted enhanced flow through the HRX Well (compared to the flow in and equivalent cross-sectional area orthogonal to flow in the natural formation before HRX Well installation) and treatment zone width was consistent with flows and widths estimated independently by point velocity probe (PVP) testing, HRX Well tracer testing, and observed treatment in downgradient monitoring wells. The actual average capture zone width was estimated to be between 45 and 69 feet. Total TCE mass discharge reduction was maintained through the duration of the performance monitoring period and exceeded 99.99% (%). Decreases in TCE concentrations were observed at all four downgradient monitoring wells within the treatment zone (ranging from 50 to 74% at day 436), and the first arrival of treated water was consistent with model predictions. The field demonstration confirmed the HRX Well technology is best suited for long-term mass discharge control, can be installed under active infrastructure, requires limited ongoing operation and maintenance, and has low life cycle energy and water requirements.     

Application of the normalized surface magnetic charge model to UXO discrimination in cases with overlapping signals

This paper presents an application of the normalized surface magnetic charge (NSMC) model to discriminate objects of interest, such as unexploded ordnance (UXO), from innocuous items in cases when UXO electromagnetic induction (EMI) responses are contaminated by signals from other objects. Over the entire EMI spectrum considered here (tens of Hertz up to several hundreds of kHz), the scattered magnetic field outside the object can be produced mathematically by equivalent magnetic charges. The amplitudes of these charges are determined from measurement data and normalized by the excitation field. The model takes into account the scatterer's heterogeneity and near- and far-field effects. For classification algorithms, the frequency spectrum of the total NSMC is proposed and investigated as a discriminant. The NSMC is combined with the differential evolution (DE) algorithm in a two-step inversion procedure. To illustrate the applicability of the DE–NSMC algorithm, blind test data are processed and analyzed for cases in which signals from nearby objects frequently overlap. The method was highly successful in distinguishing UXO from accompanying clutter.