Age and origin of the Nigerian mesozoic granites: A Rb-Sr isotopic study

Sixty-four Rb-Sr and two K-Ar isotopic measurements from seven ring complexes in central Nigeria provide evidence for a systematic age trend along a 200 km zone ranging from 174±5 m.y. in the north to 154±4 m.y. in the south. A peak of anorogenic magmatism occurred in the Jos Plateau region about 164±4 m.y. ago. Although a small syenitetrachyte complex at Zaranda, near Bauchi, gives an age of 190±15 m.y., unpublished ages of 290–330 m.y. for the southern Niger ring complexes confirm the existence of an overall southerly decreasing age trend in the Niger-Nigeria province of West Africa. Isotopic measurements on two small, oversaturated syenite intrusions at Zaranda and Pankshin suggest that syenitic liquids had initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7048—not significantly different from the mantle range of values, but that related peralkaline silicic variants from the same complexes are depleted in total Sr and have higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratios characteristic of the earth's crust. This variation of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in syenite-related granitic liquids of the peralkaline spectrum has also been noted at the Shere Hills, near Jos, and at Liruei, near Kano, and may be representative for all syenite-granite occurrences in the Nigerian Younger Granite province. Such isotopic variations in the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio may be attributed to “crustal enrichment” of syenitic liquids whose source lies in the mantle. Coarse-grained, peraluminous biotite granites have consistently low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the range 0.706–0.709 (similar to the ca. 600 m.y. Pan-African granites of the basement), and may represent further modifications of originally syenitic liquids in the crust, or the granites may have originated from an independent source within a “dioritio” lower crust. Although the magmatic trends show small variations in the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio, much higher initial ratios are recorded in granites which have been modified within their roof zone by deuteric (autometamorphic) and/or metasomatic processes.     

Age of the rhyolites of the Lord Howe Rise and the evolution of the southwest Pacific Ocean

Drilling at site 207 (DSDP Leg 21), located on the broad summit of the Lord Howe Rise, bottomed in rhyolitic rocks. Sanidine concentrates from four samples of the rhyolite were dated by the⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar total fusion method and conventional K-Ar method, and yielded concordant ages of 93.7 ± 1.1my, equivalent to the early part of the Upper Cretaceous. At this time the Lord Howe Rise, which has continental-type structure, is thought to have been emergent and adjacent to the eastern margin of the Australian-antarctic continent. Subsequent to 94 my ago and prior to deposition of Maastrichtian (70-65 myBP) marine sediments on top of the rhyolitic basement of the Lord Howe Rise, rifting occurred and the formation of the Tasman Basin began by sea-floor spreading with rotation of the Rise away from the margin of Australia. Subsidence of the Rise continued until Early Eocene (about 50 myBP), probably marking the end of sea-floor spreading in the Tasman Basin. These large scale movements relate to the breakup of this part of Gondwanaland in the Upper Cretaceous.     

Manganiferous smectite from tirebolu (NE-Turkey)

A pink-colored (HUE 5R-7/4), predominantly calcium saturated, clay mineral from Tirebolu, NE-Turkey, is shown to be a dioctahedral, high-charge manganiferous smectite. It is probably an alteration product of volcanic tuffs of rhyodactitic composition. Ionic formula: (Si_7.71Al_0.29)^IV(Al_3.04Fe _0.12 ³⁺ Fe _0.02 ²⁺ Mg_0.92Mn _0.07 ²⁺ )^VI O₂₀ (OH)₄ 0.79 M⁺ Cation exchange capacity: 92 me/100 g (air dry sample). Unit cell parameters (ca. 20 ° C; ca. 40% RH): a₀9.02 Å b₀5.21 Å Mg⁺⁺... Mn-smectite: c₀14.65 Å Ca⁺⁺... Mn-smectite: c₀14.83 Å K⁺... Mn-smectite: c₀12.10 Å

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Zusammenfassung Ein rosa (HUE 5R-7/4), weitgehend Calcium-gesättigtes Tonmineral von Tirebolu (NO-Türkei) wurde als ein dioktaedrischer, hochgeladener manganhaltiger Smektit identifiziert. Er ist wahrscheinlich ein Umwandlungsprodukt eines rhyodazitischen Tuffs. Strukturformel: (Si_7.71Al_0.29)^IV(Al_3.04Fe _0.12 ³⁺ Fe _0.02 ²⁺ Mg_0.92Mn _0.07 ²⁺ )^VI O₂₀ (OH)₄ 0.79 M⁺ Kationaustauschkapazität: 92 me/100 g (luftgetrocknet). Gitterkonstanten (ca. 20° C; ca. 40% RF): a₀9.02 Å b₀5.21 Å Mg⁺⁺... Mn-Smektit: c₀14.65 Å Ca⁺⁺... Mn-Smektit: c₀14.83 Å K⁺... Mn-Smektit: c₀12.10 Å

     

Bimodal early proterozoic volcanism in the Grythytte field and associated volcano-plutonic complexes,Bergslagen, Central Sweden

The Grythytte field sequence forms a NNW belt of acid-basic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. The geology shows characteristics of a dynamic process of trough-forming and infilling which to a large extent post-dates the Hjulsjö volcanoplutonic complex situated to the east. In the latter complex acid metapyroclastics strike around a centre of granite and granophyre, which cut and are cut by basic sills and dykes. Field and petrochemical evidence points to a distinct bimodal magmatism that ist manifested during one short phase of a rifting period.

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Zusammenfassung Die Grythytte Schichtenfolge bildet einen NNW verlaufenden Gürtel aus sauren und basischen Metavulkaniten und Metasedimenten. Die geologischen Befunde weisen auf einen dynamischen Entstehungsprozeß von Grabenbildung und Füllung hin. Im weiter östlich gelegenen vulkanisch-plutonischen Hjulsjö-Komplex streichen älteren metamorphen pyroklastischen Gesteine rund ein Granit-Granophyr Zentrum. Dieser Komplex durchschneidet und wird durchschnitten von basischen Sills und Gängen. Feldgeologische und geochemische Untersuchungen weisen deutlich auf einen bimodalen Magmatismus hin, der während einer kurzen Phase der Grabenbildung stattfand.

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Résumé La séquence de Grythytte forme une ceinture de roches métavolcaniques et métasédimentaires de direction NNO. La géologie fait apparaître les caractéristiques d'un processus dynamique de formation de fosse et de remplissage, qui s'est produit, pour la plus grande partie, après la formation du complexe volcano-plutonique de Hjulsjö situé à l'Est. Dans ce dernier complexe des produits pyroclastiques acides sont disposés autour d'un centre granitoïde et granophyrique, qui à son tour recoupe et est recoupé par des sills et des dykes basiques. Les observations de terrain et les faits pétrochimiques indiquent un procèssus magmatique distinctement bimodal qui s'est manifesté pendant une phase courte dans une période de «rifting».

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Grythytte , NNW . . Hjulsj -- . . , , .

     

Hydrogeochemical exploration for uranium within the Athabasca Basin, northern Saskatchewan

As part of our exploration programs for unconformity-related uranium deposits, we have studied the chemistry of deep ground waters from throughout the Athabasca Basin. Samples have been collected from routine, small-diameter, exploration diamond drillholes, and we have placed considerable emphasis on ensuring that they represent true ground waters.We have measured both major and minor constituents, including various uranium daughter products. Ground-water samples collected from the vicinity of uranium mineralization have consistently high levels of uranium, radium, radon and helium. Although we have not been able to establish the maximum extent of the hydrogeochemical anomalies in this environment, we have detected anomalies at distances of up to tens of meters from known mineralization.     

Paleomagnetism of the latest Precambrian/Cambrian Unicoi basalts from the Blue Ridge, northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia: evidence for Taconic deformation

Three components of magnetization have been observed in ninety-six samples (twelve sites) of amygdaloidal basalts and “sedimentary greenstones” of the Unicoi Formation in the Blue Ridge Province of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. These components could be isolated by alternating field as well as thermal demagnetization. One component, with a direction close to that of the present-day geomagnetic field is ascribed to recent viscous remanent magnetizations; another component, with intermediate blocking temperatures and coercivities, gives a mean direction of D = 132°, I = +43°,α₉₅ = 9° for N = 10 sites before correction for tilt of the strata. This direction and the corresponding pole position are close to Ordovician/Silurian data from the North American craton and we infer this magnetization to be due to a thermal(?) remagnetization during or after the Taconic orogeny. This magnetization is of post-folding origin, which indicates that the Blue Ridge in our area was structurally affected by the Taconic deformation. The third component, with the highest blocking temperatures and coercivities, appears to reside in hematite. Its mean direction, D = 276°, I = ?17°,α₉₅ = 13.8° for N = 6 sites (after tilt correction) corresponds to a pole close to Latest Precambrian and Cambrian poles for North America. The fold test is inconclusive for this magnetization at the 95% confidence level because of the near-coincidence of the strike and the declinations. We infer this direction to be due to early high-temperature oxidation of the basalts, and argue that its magnetization may have survived the later thermal events because of its intrinsic high blocking temperatures. A detailed examination of the paleomagnetic directions from this study reveals that the Blue Ridge in this area may have undergone a small counterclockwise rotation of about 15°.     

The role of hydrogen bonding in the thermal expansion and dehydration of brushite,di-calcium phosphate dihydrate

The unit-cell and atomic parameters of perdeuterated brushite have been extracted from Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data within the temperature range 4.2 to 470 K. The thermal expansion of brushite is anisotropic, with the largest expansion along the b axis due principally to the effect of the O(1)···D(4) and O(3)···D(2) hydrogen bonds. Expansion along the c axis, influenced by the Ow1···D(5) interwater hydrogen bond, is also large. The high temperature limits for the expansion coefficients for the unit-cell edges a, b and c are 9.7(5) × 10^–6, 3.82(9) × 10^–5 and 5.54(5) × 10^–5 K^–1, respectively, and for the cell volume it is 9.7(1) × 10^–5 K^–1. The angle displays oscillatory variation, and empirical data analysis results in = 1.28(3) × 10^–6sin(0.0105 T) K^–1, within this temperature range. The evolution of the thermal expansion tensor of brushite has been calculated between 50 T 400 K. At 300 K the magnitudes of the principal axes are ₁₁ = 50(6) × 10^{–6 K–1}, ₂₂ = 26.7(7) × 10^–6 K^–1 and ₃₃ = 7.0(5) × 10^–6 K^–1. The intermediate axis, ₂₂, is parallel to b, and using IRE convention for the tensor orthonormal basis, the axes ₁₁ and ₃₃ have directions equal to (–0.228, 0, –0.974) and (–0.974, 0, 0.228) respectively. Under the conditions of these experiments, the onset of dehydration occurred at temperatures above 400 K. Bond valence analysis combined with assessments of the thermal evolution of the bonding within brushite suggests that dehydration is precipitated through instabilities in the chemical environment of the second water molecule.     

An experimental performance analysis of real-time kinematic positioning with NASA’s Internet-Based Global Differential GPS

The Global Differential GPS (GDGPS) system developed by JPL aims at seamless global real-time positioning at the dm accuracy level for dual-frequency receivers either fixed or mobile, anywhere and at any time. The GDGPS system relies on GPS data transmitted in real-time to a central processing center at JPL from a global network of permanently operating GPS dual-frequency receivers. At the processing center, the Internet-based Global Differential GPS (IGDG) system, the heart of JPLs GDGPS, generates and disseminates over the open Internet special 1-s global differential corrections (IGDG corrections) to the GPS broadcast ephemerides. The IGDG corrections enhance the accuracy of GPS broadcast orbits and clocks down to the dm level and serve as the key-factor for high-precise real-time positioning of a stand-alone receiver. An experimental verification of the dm positional accuracy of the IGDG system was carried out in the Netherlands, by means of both a static and a kinematic test. During the static test GPS data were collected for 5 consecutive days using a fixed immobile receiver and processed as if in real-time. Within the framework of the kinematic test, an experiment was carried out using a kinematic platform. Our tests confirmed the dm accuracy of stand-alone receiver positioning with IGDG. The standard deviation for positioning both in static and kinematic mode appears to be 10 cm in each horizontal component and 20 cm in the vertical component. More than 99% of the IGDG corrections were received with the expected 1-s interval in the field via mobile communication, the latency of the corrections was generally from 7 to 8 s.     

Incoherent internal tidal currents in the deep ocean

Eleven months current meter observations from the deep Bay of Biscay were examined for the residual (incoherent internal tidal; icIT) signal, left after harmonic analysis using eight tidal constituents (large-scale barotropic or coherent baroclinic signal) within the semidiurnal band. This residual signal comprised 30% of the total tidal kinetic energy and, due to its flat spectral appearance, it was responsible for typically 5–7 days intermittency. Although icIT was part of the red noise internal wave band continuum, it was not attributable to instrumental noise. It consisted of quasi-harmonics at non-tidal harmonic frequencies having amplitudes larger than N₂, the third largest semidiurnal tidal constituent. It is suggested that the kinetic energy at these non-tidal frequencies reflects interaction between semidiurnal tidal motions and the slowly varying background conditions.Responsible Editor: Roger Proctor     

Decadal-scale variations of water mass properties in the deep Weddell Sea

Data from cruises between 1989 and 2003 with FS Polarstern were used to construct section-wide potential temperature and salinity time series of the main water masses in the Weddell Gyre. In tandem with these CTD data, two time series between 1989 and 1995 are presented from moored instruments in the central Weddell Sea. The regional and methodological consistency of the dataset allows us to quantify variations which are not visible in less homogeneous datasets. The data reveal significant temperature and salinity variations of the Warm Deep Water and the Weddell Sea Bottom Water on a decadal time scale. The longest time series were obtained at the prime meridian. Here warming is observed in the Warm Deep Water from 1992 to 1998 followed by cooling. In the Weddell Sea proper, measurements of instruments moored in the Weddell Sea Bottom Water layer recorded a temperature increase over 6 years at a rate of 0.01 °C a^–1. After the mooring period, CTD casts in 1998 point to a weakening of the trend. The warming trend in the bottom water occurs over most of the Weddell Sea, as detected in the additional CTD surveys. The variations are close to the detection level in the voluminous Weddell Sea Deep Water. The initial warming trend of the Warm Deep Water is consistent with warming trends reported in literature of subsurface waters of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The reversal of the trend in the Weddell Sea seems to be related to variations of the atmospheric conditions which can affect both the intrusion of Circumpolar Deep Water from the north and the circulation of the Weddell Gyre. Because the Warm Deep Water is the major source water for the formation of deep and bottom water in the Weddell Sea, it is suggested that its increase in temperature and salinity is likely to at least partly cause the variations which were observed in the bottom water.Responsible Editor: Jörg-Olaf Wolff