Structural defects in microcrystalline silica

The structure of the microcrystalline silica varieties chalcedony, flint, moganite, opal-C and -CT is characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The role of impurities is investigated by infrared spectroscopy and chemical analysis. Microcrystalline opal, chalcedony and flint have a disordered intergrowth structure composed of cristobalite and tridymite domains in opal, and quartz and moganite domains in chalcedony and flint. Each constituent phase has different cell dimensions and symmetry. The main impurity is water which is enriched at the intergrowth interfaces. Density and refractive indices of microcrystalline silica depend on the water content.     

Identifying Accessory Mineral Saturation during Differentiation in Granitoid Magmas: an Integrated Approach

Numerical reconstructions of processes that may have operatedduring igneous petrogenesis often model the behaviour of importanttrace elements. The geochemistry of these trace elements maybe controlled by accessory mineral saturation and fractionation.Determination of the saturation point of accessory mineralsin granitoid rocks is ambiguous because assumptions about crystalmorphology and melt compositions do not always hold. An integratedapproach to identifying accessory mineral saturation involvingpetrography, whole-rock geochemical trends, saturation calculationsand mineral chemistry changes is demonstrated here for a compositionallyzoned pluton. Within and between whole-rock samples of the BoggyPlain zoned pluton, eastern Australia, the rare earth element(REE)-enriched accessory minerals zircon, apatite and titaniteexhibit compositional variations that are related to saturationin the bulk magma, localized saturation in intercumulus meltpools and fractionation of other mineral phases. Apatite isidentified as having been an early crystallizing phase overnearly the whole duration of magma cooling, with zircon (andallanite) only saturating in more felsic zones. Titanite andmonazite did not saturate in the bulk magma at any stage ofdifferentiation. Although some trace elements (P, Ca, Sc, Nb,Hf, Ta) in zircon exhibit compositional variation progressingfrom mafic to more felsic whole-rock samples, normalized REEpatterns and abundances (except Ce) do not vary with progressivedifferentiation. This is interpreted to be a result of limitationsto both simple ‘xenotime’ and complex xenotime-typecoupled substitutions. Our data indicate that zircon REE characteristicsare not as useful as those of other REE-rich accessory mineralsas a petrogenetic indicator. KEY WORDS: saturation; zircon; apatite; titanite; magma differentiation; trace elements; REE patterns     

Late Quaternary primary tephras in Sacred Lake sediments, northeast Mount Kenya, Kenya

In this paper, a sequence of five Late Quaternary tephras occurring as discrete, well-preserved horizons in lake sediments on the northeastern flank of Mount Kenya are characterised and their ages determined by a combination of high-resolution indirect radiocarbon dating and direct dating. The grain size characteristics suggest that the tephras are of fairly local origin. These Na---K-rich alkali pyroclasts with a trachytic chemical composition have a highly correlated chemistry and mineralogy, suggesting that they were probably derived from the same genetic series and possibly erupted from a single source vent. Morphological differences are attributed to the peculiar characteristics of each eruption episode. The magma source was probably a small, highly differentiated magma chamber following the olivine basalt-trachyandesite-trachyte-phonolite series, which broadly reflects the Quaternary rock suite of Mount Kenya.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of eclogites from the Mariánské Lázně Complex,Czech Republic: Implications for Variscan orogenesis

The Mariánské Lázn complex (MLC) is located in the Bohemian Massif along the north-western margin of the Teplá-Barrandian microplate and consists of metagabbro, amphibolite and eclogite, with subordinate amounts of serpentinite, felsic gneiss and calcsilicate rocks. The MLC is interpreted as a metaophiolite complex that marks the suture zone between the Saxothuringian rocks to the north-west and the Teplá-Barrandian microplate to the south-east. Sm-Nd geochronology of garnet-omphacite pairs from two eclogite samples yields ages of 377±7, and 367±4 Ma. Samples of eclogite and amphibolite do not define a whole rock Sm-Nd isochron, even though there is a large range in Sm/Nd ratio, implying that the suite of samples may not be cogenetic. Eclogites do not have correlated _Nd values and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Five of the eight eclogite samples have high _Nd values (+10.2 to +7.1) consistent with derivation from a MORB-like source, but variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7059) which probably reflect hydrothermal seawater alteration. Three other eclogite samples have lower _Nd values (+ 5.4 to –0.8) and widely variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7096). Such low _Nd values are inconsistent with derivation from a MORB, source and may reflect a subduction or oceanic island basalt component in their source. The MLC is an important petrotectonic element in the Bohemian Massif, providing evidence for Cambro-Ordovician formation of oceanic crust and interaction with seawater, Late Devonian (Frasnian-Famennian) high- and medium-pressure metamorphism related to closure of a Saxothuringian ocean basin, Early Carboniferous (Viséan) thrusting of the Teplá terrane over Saxothuringian rocks and Late Viséan extension.     

Lithological subdivision and petrology of the Great Himalayan Vaikrita Group in Kumaun,India

The Vaikrita Group made up of coarse mica-garnet-kyanite and sillimanite-bearing psammitic metamorphics constituting the bulk of the Great Himalaya in Kumaun is divisible into four formations, namely theJoshimath comprising streaky, banded psammitic gneisses and schists, the Pandukeshwar consisting predominantly of quartzite with intercalations of schists, thePindari made up of gneisses and schists with lenses of calc-silicate rocks and overwhelmingly injected by Tertiary pegmatites and granites (Badrinath Granite) leading to development of migmatites, and theBudhi Schist comprising biotite-rich calc-schists. The Vaikrita has been thrust along the Main Central Thrust over the Lesser Himalayan Munsiari Formation made up of highly mylonitized low-to meso-grade metamorphics, augen gneisses and phyllonites. Petrological studies demonstrate contrasting nature of metamorphism experienced by the Vaikrita and the Munsiari rocks. Sillimanite-kyanite-garnet-biotite-muscovite (±K-feldspar and ± plagioclase).—quartz metapelites and interbanded calc-schists and calc-gneisses with mineral assemblages of calcite-hornblende-grossular garnet, labradorite (An₅₀?An₆₅), (± K-feldspar)-quartz (± biotite), and hornblende-diopside ± labradorite ± quartz, suggest medium to high grade of metamorphism or indicate upper amphibolite facies experienced by the rocks of the Vaikrita Group. The associated migmatites, granite-gneisses and granites of the Pindari Formation were formed largely as a result of anatexis of metapelites and metapsammites. While, the sericite-chlorite-quartz and muscovite-chlorite-chloritoid-garnet-quartz, assemblages in metapelites and epidote-actinolite-oligoclase (An₂₀)-quartz and epidote-hornblende-andesine (An₂₉) ± quartz in the metabasites suggest a low-grade metamorphism (greenschist facies) for the Munsiari Formation, locally attaining the lower limit of medium-grade (epidote-amphibolite) facies. The inferred P-T conditions obtained from textural relations of various mineral phases and the stability relationship of different coexisting phases in equilibrium, suggest that the temperature ranged between 600° and 650° C and pressure was over 5 kb for the Vaikrita rocks. The mineral assemblages of the Munsiari Formation indicate comparatively lower P-T conditions, where the temperature reached approximately 450° C and pressure was near 4 kb. The rocks of the two groups were later subjected to intense shearing, cataclasis and attendant retrograde metamorphism within the zone of the Main Central (=Vaikrita) Thrust.     

Outlook on farming systems and root-knot damage to crops in Eastern Nigeria

Modern System of farming in E Nigeria deliberatly concentrates a single crop in a relatively small area to promote maximum production through land management. This system provides favourable conditions for the severe attacks on crops by the root-knot nematodes. Cultural practices in traditional farming have an effect of reducing severity of root-knot damage to crops.     

Phosphorus and ChlorinE Content of Eight New U.S.G.S. Standard Rocks

Data on the content of phosphorus and chlorine in eight new U.S.G.S. standard rooks obtained by radiochemical neutron activation analysis are presented and discussed.     

1.8 Ga Svecofennian post-collisional shoshonitic magmatism in the Fennoscandian shield

At least 14 small (1–11 km across) 1.8 Ga Svecofennian post-collisional bimodal intrusions occur in southern Finland and Russian Karelia in a 600-km-long belt from the Åland Islands to the NW Lake Ladoga region. The rocks range from ultramafic, calc-alkaline, apatite-rich potassium lamprophyres to peraluminous HiBaSr granites, and form a shoshonitic series with K₂O+Na₂O>5%, K₂O/Na₂O>0.5, Al₂O₃>9% over a wide spectrum of SiO₂ (32–78%). Although strongly enriched in all rocks, the LILE Ba and Sr and the LREE generally define a decreasing trend with increasing SiO₂. Depletion is noted for HFSE Ti, Nb and Ta. Available isotopic data show overlapping values for lamprophyres and granites within separate intrusions and a cogenetic origin is thus not precluded. Initial magmas (Mg#>65) in this shoshonitic association are considered to be generated in an enriched lithospheric mantle during post-collisional uplift some 30 Ma after the regional Svecofennian metamorphic peak. However, prior to the melting episode, the lithospheric mantle was affected by carbonatite metasomatism; more extensively in the east than in the west. The melts generated in the more carbonate-rich mantle are extremely enriched in P₂O₅4%, F12,000 ppm, LILE: Ba9000 ppm, Sr7000 ppm, LREE: La600 ppm and Ce1000 ppm. The parental magma underwent 55–60% fractionation of biotite+clinopyroxene+apatite+magnetite+sphene whereupon intermediate varieties were produced. After further fractionation, 60–80%, of K-feldspar+amphibole+plagioclase±(minor magnetite, sphene and apatite), leucosyenites and quartz-monzonites were formed. In the west, where the source was less affected by carbonatite metasomatism, calc-alkaline lamprophyres (vogesites, minettes and spessartites) and equivalent plutonic rocks (monzonites) were formed. Removal of about 50% of biotite, amphibole, plagioclase, magnetite, apatite and sphene produced peraluminous HiBaSr granites. The impact of crustal assimilation is considered to be low. At about 1.8 Ga, the post-collisional shoshonitic magmatism brought juvenile material, particularly enriched in alkalis, LILE, LREE and F, into the crust. Although areally restricted, the regional distribution of the post-collisional intrusions may indicate that larger volumes of 1.8 Ga juvenile material resides in unexposed parts of the crust.