Hydropyrolysis of insoluble carbonaceous matter in the Murchison meteorite: new insights into its macromolecular structure

The major organic component of carbonaceous chondrites is a solvent-insoluble, high molecular weight macromolecular material that constitutes at least 70% of the total organic content in these meteorites. Analytical pyrolysis is often used to thermally decompose macromolecular organic matter in an inert atmosphere into lower molecular weight fragments that are more amenable to conventional organic analytical techniques. Hydropyrolysis refers to pyrolysis assisted by high hydrogen gas pressures and a dispersed catalytically-active molybdenum sulfide phase. Hydropyrolysis of meteorites has not been attempted previously although it is ideally suited to such studies due to its relatively high yields. Hydropyrolysis of the Murchison macromolecular material successfully releases significant amounts of high molecular weight PAH including phenanthrene, carbazole, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, benzoperylene and coronene units with varying degrees of alklyation. Analysis of both the products and residue from hydropyrolysis reveals that the meteoritic organic network contains both labile (pyrolysable) and refractory (nonpyrolysable) fractions. Comparisons of hydropyrolysis yields of Murchison macromolecular materials with those from terrestrial coals indicate that the refractory component probably consists of a network dominated by at least five- or six-ring PAH units cross-linked together.     

Shock temperature in calcite (CaCO3) at 95-160 GPa

The temperatures induced in crystalline calcite (CaCO₃) upon planar shock compression (95-160 GPa) are reported from two-stage light gas gun experiments. Temperatures of 3300-5400 K are obtained by fitting six-channel optical pyrometer radiances in the 450-900 nm range to the Planck gray-body radiation law. Thermodynamic calculations demonstrate that these temperatures are some 400-1350 K lower than expected for vibronic excitations of the lattice with a 3R/mole-atom specific heat (R is gas constant). The temperature deficit along the Hugoniot is larger than that expected from only melting. In addition to melting, it appears likely that shock-induced decomposition of calcite occurs behind the shock front. We modeled disproportionation of calcite into CaO (solid) plus CO₂ (gas). For temperature calculations, specific heat at constant volume for 1 mole of CO₂ is taken to be 6.7R as compared to 9R in the solid state; whereas a mole of calcite and a mole of CaO have their solid state values 15R and 6R, respectively. Calculations suggest that the calcite decomposes to CaO and CO₂ at ∼110±10 GPa along the Hugoniot. Recent reanalysis of earlier VISAR measurements of particle velocity profiles [1] indicates that calcite shocked to 18 GPa undergoes disproportionation at much lower pressures upon isentropic expansion.     

Plio-Pleistocene climatic transition and the lifting of the Teton Range, Wyoming

Fine-grained lacustrine, riverine and ash-fall sediments of the Shooting Iron Formation, whose late Pliocene age is established by Blancan gastropods and vertebrates, yield a pollen flora that is essentially similar in composition to the modern pollen rain in the Jackson Hole area. The Pliocene assemblage suggests a climate like that of the Jackson valley and foothills today. These spectra also resemble a Pliocene pollen flora from Yellowstone Park dated at ∼ 2.02 Ma. However, the underlying Miocene Teewinot sediments differ by containing pollen of four exotic deciduous hardwoods (Tertiary relicts) that suggest a summer-moist climate, unlike that of today. The Shooting Iron sediments lie with an angular unconformity on and above the Miocene lake sediments of the Teewinot Formation. Both of these deposits probably preceded the main uplift of the Teton Range based on the absence of Precambrian clasts in the Tertiary valley deposits. Because the Pliocene floras were modern in aspect, a Plio-Pleistocene transition would be floristically imperceptible here. The sequence denotes a protracted period of relative stability of climate during Teewinot time, and a shift in vegetational state (summer-wet trees drop out) sometime between the latest Miocene and latest Pliocene. The Pliocene spectra suggest a dry, cooler climate toward the end of Shooting Iron time.     

Using reflectance crossplots and rotational polarization for determining first-cycle vitrinite for maturation studies

Vitrinite reflectance on dispersed sedimentary organic matter is traditionally determined from histograms of vitrinite and inertinite reflectance measured on either whole rock samples or kerogen concentrates, or from particles usually in whole rock preparations chosen by morphology and relative reflectance to be first-cycle vitrinite. This paper discusses an alternative method: discrimination of first-cycle vitrinite using apparent maximum and minimum reflectance data plotted on reflectance crossplots. The use of crossplots increases the confidence that the macerals identified as first-cycle vitrinite are optically similar. The maximum–minimum data, in this study, were collected on a quantitative reflectance microscope outfitted with rotational polarization, a technique that eliminates the usual difficulty in collecting such data on very small macerals by stage rotation.     

Influence of Random Inclusion of Synthetic Wicks Fibers of Hair on the Behavior of Clayey Soils

Several soil improvement methods are used to enhance the engineering properties of soil, among which, reinforcement by fibers is considered as an effective ground improvement method because of its cost effectiveness, and easy adaptability. The present investigation chooses synthetic wick and vinifera raphia fibers as reinforcement. The synthetic wick fiber was randomly included into the soil at four different percentages i.e. 0, 2, 4, 6% by volume of raw soil. Vinifera raphia fiber was used at one percentage (4%) as control. The main objective of this research is to focus on the strength behavior of clayey soil reinforced with randomly included synthetic wick fiber. The physical and mineralogical characterization was carried out on ten soil samples. The compression, flexion, abrasion, water absorption and capillarity tests were performed on synthetic wick reinforced specimens with various fiber contents. The results of these tests have clearly shown an improvement in the compression strength values from 1.65 to 2.84 MPa for the wicks fibers, and the flexural strength values which varied between 1.08 and 1.96 MPa. Hence, the waste of synthetic wick fibers is therefore an efficient reinforcement for compressed earth blocks, which are very significant for construction of durable and economic infrastructures.     

Detecting inter-aquifer leakage in areas with limited data using hydraulics and multiple environmental tracers,including <Superscript>4</Superscript>He, <Superscript>36</Superscript>Cl/Cl, <Superscript>14</Superscript>C and <Superscript>87</Superscript>Sr/<Superscript>86</Superscript>Sr

The investigation of regionally extensive groundwater systems in remote areas is hindered by a shortage of data due to a sparse observation network, which limits our understanding of the hydrogeological processes in arid regions. The study used a multidisciplinary approach to determine hydraulic connectivity between the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) and the underlying Arckaringa Basin in the desert region of Central Australia. In order to manage the impacts of groundwater abstraction from the Arckaringa Basin, it is vital to understand its connectivity with the GAB (upper aquifer), as the latter supports local pastoral stations and groundwater-dependent springs with unique endemic flora and fauna. The study is based on the collation of available geological information, a detailed analysis of hydraulic data, and data on environmental tracers. Enhanced inter-aquifer leakage in the centre of the study area was identified, as well as recharge to the GAB from ephemeral rivers and waterholes. Throughout the rest of the study area, inter-aquifer leakage is likely controlled by diffuse inter-aquifer leakage, but the coarse spatial resolution means that the presence of additional enhanced inter-aquifer leakage sites cannot be excluded. This study makes the case that a multi-tracer approach along with groundwater hydraulics and geology provides a tool-set to investigate enhanced inter-aquifer leakage even in a groundwater basin with a paucity of data. A particular problem encountered in this study was the ambiguous interpretation of different age tracers, which is attributed to diffusive transport across flow paths caused by low recharge rates.     

豫西沙沟脉状Ag-Pb-Zn矿床地质特征和成矿流体研究

豫西沙沟薄脉状Ag-Pb-Zn硫化物矿床位于华北陆块南缘熊耳山地区,主要由多金属硫化物-石英-碳酸盐脉型和石英-碳酸盐-绢云母-多金属硫化物蚀变岩型两种矿化类型组成。主要矿脉的矿物共生序列可以分为成矿前的石英-黄铁矿阶段(Ⅰ)、闪锌矿-石英-方铅矿-少量银矿物阶段(Ⅱ1)、方铅矿-石英-闪锌矿-含铁白云石-银矿物阶段(Ⅱ2)和成矿后的方解石-(石英)阶段(Ⅲ)。对不同阶段的成矿流体研究表明,石英-黄铁矿阶段(Ⅰ)中的含氯化钠子晶三相(LVH)包裹体(Ⅰ1)可能是直接从饱和水的结晶岩浆熔体中出溶形成或是由岩浆流体的减压沸腾形成,显示该区很可能存在岩浆流体端元。多金属硫化物阶段(Ⅱ1Ⅱ2)捕获富液相包裹体(LV型)和个别CO2包裹体(C型),这两个阶段流体包裹体反映了主成矿阶段流体的基本特征,结合包裹体气相和液相成分色谱分析以及包裹体初融温度,认为成矿流体应该为中-低温低盐度含CO2的H2O-NaCl体系。其中,阶段(Ⅱ2)的均一温度(145～288℃,平均为194℃)比阶段(Ⅱ1)的均一温度(185～357℃,平均240℃)低46℃;同时,阶段(Ⅱ2)的盐度(1.91%～10.86%,平均6.38%)较阶段(Ⅱ1)盐度(4.65%～10.11%,平均7.77%)略低。对这一温度和盐度的总体下降趋势的合理解释是大气水的逐渐混入。多金属硫化物阶段(Ⅱ1Ⅱ2)之后的方解石-(石英)阶段普遍为富液相包裹体(LV型),该阶段显著降低的温度(129～208℃,平均165℃)和盐度(1.40%～4.03%,平均2.50%),进一步佐证大气水的不断混入。而且,流体混合可能在引起矿石矿物从热液中沉淀方面起到重要作用。     

Quantifying and testing differences among means of compositional data suites

Commonly, geological studies compare mean values of two or more compositional data suites in order to determine if, how, and by how much they differ. Simple approaches for evaluating and statistically testing differences in mean values for open data fail for compositional (closed) data. A new parameter, an f-value, therefore has been developed, which correctly quantifies the differences among compositional mean values and allows testing those differences for statistical significance. In general, this parameter quantifies only therelative factor by which compositional variables differ across data suites; however for situations where, arguably, at least one component has neither increased nor decreased, anabsolute f-value can be computed. In situations where the compositional variables have undergone many perturbations, arguments based upon thef-values and the central limit theorem indicate that logratios of compositional variables should be normally distributed.