Variations in composition and δ18O values within the Kaffo albite—Riebeckite granite of Liruei Complex,Younger Granites of Nigeria

The peralkaline Kaffo albite—riebeckite granite is an albitised, low-temperature intrusion in Liruei Complex, one of the oldest of the ring-complexes in the Younger Granite province of Nigeria. Analyses of borehole samples from different parts of the intrusion show it to be compositionally heterogeneous, especially in respect of Si, Al, Na, K and F distribution and this, in part, can be correlated with the variable degree of albitisation. Isotopically the granite is a normal plutonic type with δ¹⁸ O values of $\text{+ 8.1 ± 0.2‰}$, and albitisation does not seem to have been accompanied by exchange of isotopes between albitising fluid and the granite. Co-existing riebeckitic-arfvedsonite and aegirine pairs from borehole samples show extreme enrichment in Na and Fe; the amphibole also shows considerable substitution of Fe by Ti, Zn and Mn, and of OH by F. Isotopically the amphibole and pyroxene are different from others, having low, variable δ¹⁸ O values (+5.3–+6.4 and $\text{+4.4–+5.1‰}$, respectively), and the fractionation value Δ Px — Am is always large, negative and constant (—$\text{1.2 ± 0.2‰}$). The low δ¹⁸ O values are considered to be due to special features of the crystal chemistry of the alkali amphiboles and pyroxenes, and the spread of each set of values may be due to sub-solidus isotope exchange between the minerals and albitising fluid.     

Reversals of the geomagnetic field,magnetostratigraphy, and relative magnitude of paleosecular variation in the phanerozoic

The percentage of normal and reversed magnetization in land-based paleomagnetic studies of Phanerozoic rocks (0 to ? 570 m.y.) have been compiled in order to determine the long-term variation in polarity bias of the geomagnetic field. Where possible the results are compared with the record from marine magnetic anomalies. Only rarely is there an even balance between normal and reversed polarity. During the past 350 m.y. two quiet intervals can be recognized when few reversals occurred, the Cretaceous (KN about ? 81 to ? 110 m.y.) and Permo-Carboniferous (PCR about ? 227 to ? 313 m.y.). Less firmly established are two other quiet intervals, one in the Jurassic (JN about ? 145 to ? 165 m.y.), and one in the Triassic (TRN about ? 205 to ? 220 m.y.). Between these quiet intervals there are disturbed intervals when reversals were comparatively frequent. From ? 680 to ? 350 m.y. the paleomagnetic record is inadequate to delineate a succession of quiet and disturbed intervals although one is probably present. Maximum entropy spectral analysis reveals three periodicities, a dominant one at about 300 m.y. and others, less well-defined, at 113 and 57 m.y. The variations in polarity bias are compared with the paleosecular variation, and it is shown that the magnitude of the paleosecular variation is greater in disturbed than in quiet intervals. This indicates that the magnitude of paleosecular variation and polarity bias are governed by variations in the balance between non-dipole and dipole components of the field, and that these variations probably had their origin in processes near the core—mantle interface. The correspondence between the dominant periods of 300 m.y. and plate tectonics is noted and a causal relationship suggested.     

Observation of temporal and spatial variations in the Fe/O charge composition of the solar particle event of 4 July, 1974

Comprehensive measurements of the temporal variations of the Z 6 charge composition in the 4 July 1974 solar event made with experiments aboard IMP-7 and 8 show that large variations in the charge composition occur in three-hour-averaged intensities. Hourly averaged fluxes show variations as large as factors of 3 to 4 from one hour to the next and 3 hour averages show nearly a factor of 10 peak to minimum over the event. The precision of the measurements are limited by counting statistics of the Fe-group channel. Iron to oxygen variations are established by both rate channel and pulse height analysis techniques. Comparison of measurements from IMP-7 and 8, separated by about 70 R _E shows that, while significant differences in composition and intensity exist for brief periods, the gross compositional variations are reproduced well at both spacecraft. These observations provide particularly stringent conditions for theories of the acceleration, release, and propagation of solar energetic particles.     

Ionospheric techniques for the detection of transient X- and γ-ray bursts

Calculations are presented of the amount of excess ionization produced in the lower ionosphere by various transient X- and -ray bursts under different assumptions about the incident spectrum and the ion recombination rates in the ionosphere. These calculations show that the bursts will have only a small effect on the ionosphere, due in part to their short duration. An experiment has been started to measure the power spectrum of the phase and amplitude of the night-time fluctuations of a CW signal in order to determine if it is possible to improve the sensitivity of the ionospheric technique by using the transient nature of the bursts. Preliminary results from this experiment are presented.Paper presented at the COSPAR Symposium on Fast Transients in X- and Gamma-Rays, held at Varna, Bulgaria, 29–31 May, 1975.     

Measurements of the light flash produced by high velocity particle impact

The impact light flash produced by electrostatically accelerated iron particles with diameters meters ranging from 5 to 0.05 μm and velocities lying between 1 km/sec and 30 km/sec has been investigated by means of photomultipliers. As target materials mainly gold and tungsten were used. The pulse of the multiplier was registered directly and after electronic integration. The pulse height of the multiplier signal, the amplitude of the integrated signal as well as its rise time were found to be unique functions of the mass and velocity of the impacting particle. For the pulse height of the differential signal the relation I = c₁ × m^1.25 × v⁵ was obtained, and for the integrated signal the relation I = c₂ × m^1.25 × v^3.8, with only c₁ and C₂ depending on the target material. The rise time of the integrated signal follows the relation T = 2.2 × 10² × v^?0.4 using gold as target, and in the case of tungsten material follows the relation T = 9.8 × 10² × v^?1.2, where v is expressed in km/sec and T in μsec. Using the spectral distribution of the light intensity, measured by means of calibrated photomultipliers, the total amount of light energy emitted in the visible range could be calculated. As a result we obtained that for v = 4 km/sec and m = 10^?11 g about 3 × 10^?4 of the kinetic energy of the particle was converted into light energy. The variation of the impact flash intensity with the target material and the measured spectral distribution allowed the temperature of the crater after the impact to be estimated as between 2000 and 3000 K.     

Lunar microwave brightness temperature observations reevaluated in the light of Apollo program findings

Remote observations of the lunar radiowave emission are reexamined in the light of physical property data accumulated through the Apollo program. It is found that thermal and electrical properties determined for a number of different landing sites yield theoretical results in good agreement with remote observations for millimeter and short centimeter wavelengths. Theoretical models incorporating reflecting layers of rock and physical property data from the Apollo program are compared to the longer wavelength (5–500 cm) observational data to estimate a disk average steady state heat flow and a mean depth of the lunar regolith. It is found that a high heat flow, comparable to the heat flows measured at the Apollo 15 and 17 sites, is required to fit the available 5–20 cm wavelength remote data, and that a lunar surface layer relatively free of large boulders within the upper 10–30 m best fits the observations of a decreasing brightness temperature with wavelength for wavelengths greater than ～ 50 cm.     

The T Tauri star RU Lupi and its circumstellar surrounding

From simultaneous spectroscopic and photometric observations of the T Tauri star RU Lup, which was followed for nine consecutive nights, it was found that most if not all of the light variations observed on this star were caused by variable circumstellar extinction. The character and the time-scale of the variations imply that the variations are due to dust concentrations of stellar dimension crossing the line of sight to the star. The implications of this interpretation and its possible bearing on problems of protoplanetary systems are discussed.     

The thermal radiation of Saturn and its rings

Infrared observations of Saturn from 5 to 40 μm are described. There is intense limb brightening at 12.35 μm over the southern polar cap. The C ring is anomalously bright at 10 and 20 μm and has bluer (hotter) colours than the A and B rings. The ring spectra have been extrapolated beyond 40 μm and subtracted from low-resolution far-infrared measurements to show that the far-infrared spectrum of the disk of Saturn is qualitatively similar to that of Jupiter and that Saturn radiates 2.5 ± 0.6 times the energy it absorbs from the Sun.     

On the possibility of creating a radio-astronomical inertial coordinate system based on the measurement of arcs between QSOs with the aid of VLBI

The aim of this paper has been to discuss a possibility of the formation of an inertial system of coordinates, precise within 0″.001, with the aid of the measures of mutual angular distances of quasars by the VLBI technique used in radio-astronomy. Such a system depends on neither the rotation, nor revolution of the Earth around the Sun — a fact which permits a separation of the astronomical and geophysical aspects of the problem. The proposed system should permit us to resolve some general astrometric problems — such as of the precession and nutation of the Earth as well as of the motion of the terrestrial axis of rotation within the Earth, or fluctuations in the angular veoocity of terrestrial rotation.     

The atmosphere of Io from Pioneer 10 radio occultation measurements

The occultation of the Pioneer 10 spacecraft by Io (JI) provided an opportunity to obtain two S-band radio occultation measurements of its atmosphere. The dayside entry measurements revealed an ionosphere having a peak density of about 6 × 10⁴ elcm^?3 at an altitude of about 100 km. The topside scale height indicates a plasma temperature of about 406 K if it is composed of Na⁺ and 495 K if N₂⁺ is principal ion. A thinner and less dense ionosphere was observed on the exit (night side), having a peak density of 9 × 10³ elcm^?3 at an altitude of 50 km. The topside plasma temperature is 160 K for N₂^? and 131 K for Na⁺. If the ionosphere is produced by photoionization in a manner analogous to the ionospheres of the terrestrial planets, the density of neutral particles at the surface of Io is less than 10¹¹?10¹² cm³, corresponding to a surface pressure of less than 10^?8 to 10^?9 bars. Two measurements of its radius were also obtained yielding a value of 1830 km for the entry and 192 km for the exit. The discrepancy between these values may indicate an ephemeris uncertainty of about 45 km. The two measurements yield an average radius of 1875 km, which is not in agreement with the results of the Beta Scorpii stellar occultation.