Stability and phase relations of nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes in the join diopside-Ca-Eskola component at high pressures

The stability of nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes in the Di-CaEsk join was experimentally studied, and phase diagrams were constructed for this join at pressures of 2.0 and 3.0 GPa. It was found that melting in the diopside part of the join occurs at anomalously low temperatures, and nonstoichiometric clinopyroxene coexists with a phase approaching diopside in composition. Phase relations along the Di-CaEsk join can be described and consistently interpreted only assuming that the diopside phase (α-diopside) is thermodynamically stable. The following phase volumes were observed along the solidus of the join at a pressure of 3.0 GPa: Cpx, αDi+Cpx, αDi+Cpx+Qtz, αDi+Cpx+Grt+Qtz, Cpx+Grt+Qtz, Cpx+Grt+Ky+Qtz, Grt+Ky+Qtz. Melting occurs via the eutectic reaction αDi+Cpx+Grt+Qtz=L at a temperature of about 1200°C in the diopside part of the system and via the eutectic reaction Cpx+Grt+Ky+Qtz=L at a temperature of 1400°C in the calcium-rich part of the system. At a pressure of 2.0 GPa, melting occurs at temperatures of 1200–1300°C via the eutectic reaction αDi+Cpx+ An + Qtz=L. The invariant equilibrium (L, An, Cpx, Grt, αDi, Qtz) lies within the pressure range 2.0–3.0 GPa. Nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes form complex solid solutions, the compositions of which are not strictly confined to the Di-CaEsk join and depend on temperature, pressure, and phase association. Grossular garnets coexist with nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes and α-diopside.     

Geochronology and genesis of subalkaline basaltic lava rivers at the Dzhavakheti highland,lesser Caucasus: K-Ar and Sr-Nd isotopic data

The paper reports newly obtained K-Ar isotopic-geochronological data on the age of three lava flows (Khrami, Mashavera, and Kura), which begin at the Dzhavakheti volcanic highland in southern Georgia. All of the dated rocks, including those from the Kura Flow, which was previously considered as the Pleistocene, are demonstrated to have a Pliocene age. The lavas of the longest Khrami Flow were erupted at 3.25–3.10 Ma, and those of the Kura and Mashavera Flows at 2.20–2.05 Ma, a fact testifying to two pulses of volcanic activity at the Dzhavakheti Highland. The petrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics of the rocks (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7039–0.7042; ∈_Nd = 3.4–5.1) indicate that they are subalkaline within-plate basalts formed by the fractional crystallization of a basic mantle melt with the usually discontinuous selective or rarely continuous contamination with material that was not in geochemical equilibrium with the melt. The volcanics of the Khrami Flow are characterized by the less radiogenic Sr isotopic composition and the highest ∈_Nd values, while the younger rocks of the Mashavera and Kura Flows have similar and more “crustal” isotopic signatures. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the Dzhavakheti subalkaline basalts are close to the initial Sr isotopic ratios of the Quaternary and Middle Pliocene dacite lavas from the same territory. Considered together with petrogeochemical and geological data, this suggests that all young rocks in Southern Georgia were produced in similar tectonic and geodynamic environments.     

Large to intermediate-scale aquifer heterogeneity in fine-grain dominated alluvial fans (Cenozoic As Pontes Basin,northwestern Spain): insight based on three-dimensional geostatistical reconstruction

Facies reconstructions are used in hydrogeology to improve the interpretation of aquifer permeability distribution. In the absence of sufficient data to define the heterogeneity due to geological processes, uncertainties in the distribution of aquifer hydrofacies and characteristics may appear. Geometric and geostatistical methods are used to understand and model aquifer hydrofacies distribution, providing models to improve comprehension and development of aquifers. However, these models require some input statistical parameters that can be difficult to infer from the study site. A three-dimensional reconstruction of a kilometer scale fine-grain dominated Cenozoic alluvial fan derived from more than 200 continuously cored, closely spaced, and regularly distributed wells is presented. The facies distributions were reconstructed using a genetic stratigraphic subdivision and a deterministic geostatistical algorithm. The reconstruction is only slightly affected by variations in the geostatistical input parameters because of the high-density data set. Analysis of the reconstruction allowed identification in the proximal to medial alluvial fan zones of several laterally extensive sand bodies with relatively higher permeability; these sand bodies were quantified in terms of volume, mean thickness, maximum area, and maximum equivalent diameter. These quantifications provide trends and geological scenarios for input statistical parameters to model aquifer systems in similar alluvial fan depositional settings.     

Experimental Petrology of a Highly Potassic Magma

The melting behaviour of a highly potassic biotite mafuriteof the Central African olivine leucitite kindred has been studiedexperimentally as a function of pressure (to 30kb) temperature,and water content (0%, 5%, 15%, 25%, and 40% H₂O). Olivine isthe liquidus phase up to 30 kb for all water contents studiedexcept for anhydrous (clinopyroxene on the liquidus) and 15%H₂O (phlogopite on the liquidus) conditions. Analyses of phasescrystallizing from the biotite mafurite show that pressure hasvery little effect on the composition of clinopyroxene whichis extremely calcium-rich, and low in Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ for allconditions investigated. Phlogopite has low TiO₂ content andtitanphlogopite cannot be a refractory phase in the upper mantlecausing Ti-depletion in partial melts in equilibrium with titanphlogopite.There are apparently no conditions where the extremely potassicbiotite mafurite could be a partial melt from pyrolite but derivationfrom an olivine+clinopyroxene+phlogopite+ilmenite assemblageoccurring as ‘enriched’ patches in the upper mantle,is possible. Liquids in equilibrium with phlogopite as a residualphase at 30 kb would be olivine nephelinites with approximately5% K₂O, Na₂O/K₂O 1 and TiO₂ > 5+. Crystal elutriation withtransported residual phlogopite reacting (phlogopite+liquid1 olivine+liquid 2) at lower pressures provides a mechanismfor K-enrichment and generating Na₂O/K₂O < 1.     

Rare-earth elements in Lower Palaeozoic epicontinental and eugeosynclinal sediments from the Oslo and Trondheim regions

Eight rare-earth elements (REE) have been determined in Cambro-Silurian sediments and volcanics from nine stratigraphic units in the Trondheim Region and ten stratigraphic units in the Oslo Region by neutron-activation analyses. In the eugeosynclinal sediments from the Trondheim Region the REE variations are related to variations in source material, which mainly are volcanic debris of local origin. In the foreland sediments from the Oslo Region significant development of clays has occurred and therefore the REE variations reflect the deposition environment.     

Scandium,chromium, iron,cobalt and nickel in some basic and ultrabasic rocks from west Norway

Sixteen eclogites and ultrabasic rock samples from west Norway have been analyzed for Sc, Cr, Fe, Co and Ni by instrumental neutron-activation analysis.In gneiss-eclogites, Sc and Co give values from about 30 to 60 ppm and Cr and Ni from 180 to 700 ppm. An eclogite surrounded by a peridotite body shows nearly the same content of Sc and Co as do the gneiss-eclogites, but up to 20 times more Cr. Ni is only slightly more enriched in this particular eclogite than in the others.The ultrabasites have only a few ppm Sc, Co concentrates around 100 ppm while the Cr and Ni values are mainly found between 2 and 3,000 ppm.Fe shows an average value of nearly 10%.     

Soil-5, A New IAEA CErtifiEd Reference Material for Trace Element Determinations*

60 geochemical laboratories from the world over, contributing in all 3687 bits of chemical data on 60 elements, haue willingly participated in the study of SOIL-5 as a reference material. The preparation of SOIL-5 in 45 kg and homogeneity teats are described; in addition, all the data compiled are presented. In evaluating the compiled data, the use of four concurrent tests for outlier-rejection at the same level of significance, has been applied. After proper statistical treatment, “recommended values” could be established for 31 elements, most of them trace elements and “information values” for 29 elements. 23 of the recommended values could be given with a “relatively high” degree confidence whereas the other 18 recommended Values with a “reasonable” degree of confidence. An attempt is made to compare the analytical methods employed; the existence of possible sy3tematic differences is pointed ont.     

A possible manifestation of spiral shock waves in the accretion disks of cataclysmic variables

We present the results of three-dimensional numerical simulations of flow structures in binary systems with spiral shock waves. Variations of the mass-transfer rate perturb the equilibrium state of the accretion disk; consequently, a condensation (blob) behind the shock breaks away from the shock front and moves through the disk with variable speed. Our computations indicate that the blob is a long-lived formation, whose mean parameters do not vary substantially on timescales of several tens of orbital periods of the system. The presence of the spiral shocks maintains the compact blob in the disk: it prevents the blob from spreading due to the differential motion of matter in the disk, and dissipative spreading on this timescale is negligible. A number of cataclysmic variables display periodic or quasi-periodic photometric variations in their light curves with characteristic periods ～0.1–0.2P _orb, where P _orb is the orbital period. The blobs formed in systems with spiral shock waves are examined as a possible origin for these variations. The qualitative (and, in part, quantitative) agreement between our computations and observations of IP Peg and EX Dra provides evidence for the efficacy of the proposed model.     

Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental variation in a Texas Gulf coastal wetland

We described seasonal fish-assemblages in an estuarine marsh fringing Matagorda Bay, Gulf of Mexico. Habitat zones were identified by patterns of fish species abundance and indicator species optima along gradients in salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and depth in our samples. Indicators of the lower brackish zone (lower lake and tidal bayou closest to the bay) were gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura), and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) at salinity >15‰, DO 7–10 mg l⁻¹, and depth <0.5 m. Indicators of the upper brackish zone (lake and fringing salt marsh) were pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) at salinity 10–20‰, DO >10 mg l⁻¹, and depth <0.5 m. In the freshwater wetland zone (diked wetland, ephemeral pool, and perennial scour pool), indicators were sheepshed minnow (Cyprinod on variegatus), rainwater killifish (Lucania parva), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) at salinity <5‰, DO <5 mg l⁻¹, and depth ≥1 m. In the freshwater channelized zone (slough and irrigation canal), indicators were three sunfish species (Lepomis), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) at salinity <5‰, DO <5 mg l⁻¹, and depth >1.5 m. In brackish zones, seasonal variation in species diversity among sites was positively correlated with temperature, but assemblage structure also was influenced by depth and DO. In the freshwater zones, seasonal variation in species diversity among sites was positively correlated with depth, DO, and salinity, but assemblage structure was weakly associated with temperature. Species diversity and assemblage structure were strongly affected by the connectivity between freshwater wetland and brackish zones. Uncommon species in diked wetlands, such as tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and fat sleeper (Dormitator maculatus), indicated movement of fishes from the brackish zone as the water level rose during natural flooding and scheduled (July) releases from the diked wetland. From September to July, diversity in the freshwater wetland zone decreased as receding waters left small isolated pools, and fish movement became blocked by a water-control structure. Subsequently, diversity was reduced to a few species with opportunistic life histories and tolerance to anoxic conditions that developed as flooded vegetation decayed.