The lattice energy of forsterite. Charge distribution and formation enthalpy of the SiO 4 4− ion

In the lattice energy expression of forsterite, based on a Born-Mayer (electrostatic+repulsive+dispersive) potential, the oxygen charge z _o, the hardness parameter ρ and the repulsive radii r _Mg and r _Si appear as unknown parameters. These were determined by calculating the first and second partial derivatives of the energy with respect to the cell edges, and equalizing them to quantities related to the crystal elastic constants; the overdetermined system of equations was solved numerically, minimizing the root-mean-square deviation. To test the results obtained, the SiO ₄ ^4? ion was assumed to move in the unit-cell, and the least-energy configuration was sought and compared with the experimental one. By combining the two methods, the optimum set of parameters was: z _o=?1.34, ρ=0.27 Å, r _Mg=0.72 Å, r _Si=0.64 Å. The values ?8565.12 and ?8927.28 kJ mol^?1 were obtained, respectively, for the lattice energy E _Land for its ionic component E _L ⁰ ,which accounts for interactions between Mg²⁺ and SiO ₄ ^4? ions only. The charge distribution calculated on the SiO ₄ ^4? ion was discussed and compared with other results. Using appropriate thermochemical cycles, the formation enthalpy and the binding energy of SiO ₄ ^4? were estimated to be: ΔH _f(SiO ₄ ^4? )=2117.6 and E(SiO ₄ ^4? )=708.6 kJ mol^?1, respectively.     

The petrogenesis of peridotitic komatiites: Evidence from high-pressure melting experiments

The compositions of liquidus olivines and orthopyroxenes of natural specimens of spinifex- and quench-textured peridotitic komatiites from the Belingwe Greenstone Belt, Rhodesia have been determined for pressures between 10 and 40 kbars. In conjunction with the chemical variation exhibited by these peridotitic komatiites it is concluded that the more magnesian lavas cannot be derived by concentration of olivine phenocrysts, fractional crystallisation or equilibrium partial melting. The peridotitic komatiites could evolve by polybaric assimilation and complete melting of garnet lherzolite into an initial liquid containing about 24% MgO.     

Late Pleistocene sea level history of Bermuda

The timing of eustatic sea level fluctuations over the vertical range + 15 to ?11 m has been deduced from ${}^{230}\text{Th}{}^{234}\text{U}$ dating of Bermudan corals and speleothems. On this tectonically stable carbonate island, interglacial periods are characterized by platform submergence, development of patch reefs, and the deposition of littoral and eolian carbonates, whereas glacial periods are times of platform emergence, carbonate diagenesis, soil development, and the deposition of speleothems in caves extending below present sea level. Interglacial periods are observed at about 200,000, 130,000 to 90,000, and 10,000 yr BP to present. The sea level history of the last interglacial period (130,000 to 90,000 yr BP) is complex, consisting of at least two short, distinct episodes of high sea stand (at 125,000 and 97,000 yr BP) superimposed on a longer period of general platform submergence. The sea level data derived from this study are compatible with those from other stable areas such as the Bahamas, but in addition suggest that eustatic sea level changes can be rapid, on the order of 5 to 10 m/1000 yr.     

Generalized Regularization Techniques with Constraints for the Analysis of Solar Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra

Hard X-ray spectra in solar flares provide knowledge of the electron spectrum that results from acceleration and propagation in the solar atmosphere. However, the inference of the electron spectra from solar X-ray spectra is an ill-posed inverse problem. Here, we develop and apply an enhanced regularization algorithm for this process making use of physical constraints on the form of the electron spectrum. The algorithm incorporates various features not heretofore employed in the solar flare context: Generalized Singular Value Decomposition (GSVD) to deal with different orders of constraints; rectangular form of the cross-section matrix to extend the solution energy range; regularization with various forms of the smoothing operator; and preconditioning of the problem. We show by simulations that this technique yields electron spectra with considerably more information and higher quality than previous algorithms.     

Mesozoic to Tertiary tectonic history of the Mirdita ophiolites, northern Albania

Abstract In this paper, a summary of the tectonic history of the Mirdita ophiolitic nappe, northern Albania, is proposed by geological and structural data. The Mirdita ophiolitic nappe includes a subophiolite mélange, the Rubik complex, overlain by two ophiolite units, referred to as the Western and Eastern units. Its history started in the Early Triassic with a rifting stage followed by a Middle to Late Triassic oceanic opening between the Adria and Eurasia continental margins. Subsequently, in Early Jurassic time, the oceanic basin was affected by convergence with the development of a subduction zone. The existence of this subduction zone is provided by the occurrence of the supra‐subduction‐zone‐related magmatic sequences found in both the Western and Eastern units of the Mirdita ophiolitic nappe. During the Middle Jurassic, continuous convergence resulted in the obduction of the oceanic lithosphere, in two different stages – the intraoceanic and marginal stages. The intraoceanic stage is characterized by the westward thrusting of a young and still hot section of oceanic lithosphere leading to the development of a metamorphic sole. In the Late Jurassic, the marginal stage developed by the emplacement of the ophiolitic nappe onto the continental margin. During this second stage, the emplacement of the ophiolites resulted in the development of the Rubik complex. In the Early Cretaceous, the final emplacement of the ophiolites was followed by the unconformable sedimentation of the Barremian–Senonian platform carbonate. From the Late Cretaceous to the Middle Miocene, the Mirdita ophiolitic nappe was translated westward during the progressive migration of the deformation front toward the Adria Plate. In the Middle to Late Miocene, a thinning of the whole nappe pile was achieved by extensional tectonics, while the compression was still active in the westernmost areas of the Adria Plate. On the whole, the Miocene deformations resulted in the uplift and exposition of the Mirdita ophiolites as observed today.     

Effect of Overstrength on the Seismic Behaviour of Multi-Storey Regularly Asymmetric Buildings

In past years, seismic response of asymmetric structures has been frequently analysed by means of single-storey models, because of their simplicity and low computational cost. However, it is widely believed that use of more realistic multi-storey models is needed in order to investigate effects of some system characteristics (such as overstrength, higher modes of vibration, etc.) that make behaviour of multi-storey schemes different from that of single-storey systems. This paper examines effects of the overstrength in element cross-sections on the seismic behaviour of multi-storey asymmetric buildings. It is shown that in actual buildings this characteristic, which is sometimes very variable both in plan and along the height of the building, may lead to distributions of ductility demands different from those expected according to the results from single-storey models. Consequently, torsional provisions, which aim at reducing ductility demands of single-storey asymmetric systems to those of the corresponding torsionally balanced systems, should be re-checked in light of the behaviour of realistic multi-storey buildings.     

Urban mental maps and housing estate preferences of council tenants

This paper offers an exploratory examination of the urban mental maps and housing estate preferences of council tenants. The study area is the council housing market of the city of Birmingham. The data are based on an interview survey of transfer applicants on six Birmingham ‘study estates’ which provide contrasts in terms of age and location. The findings generally offer support for J.S. Adams' sectoral mental maps hypothesis, although important differences are disclosed among the familiarity spaces of tenant groups defined on the basis of the study estates. The results are also suggestive of a general sharpening of preferences for council estates located inside the home sector, with tenants expressing a net preference for older suburban housing areas. Conversely, the least popular estates are located in the inner/middle rings of the city and characterized by relatively large concentrations of New Commonwealth immigrants.     

Mapping of glacial landforms from Seasat radar images

Glacial landforms in the drumlin drift belt of Ireland and the Alaska Range can be identified and mapped from Seasat synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images. Drumlins cover 60% of the Ireland scene. The width/length ratio of individual drumlins can be measured on the SAR images, allowing regional differences in drumlin shape to be mapped. This cannot be done with corresponding Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) images because of lower spatial resolution and because of shadowing effects that vary seasonally. The Alaska scene shows the extent and nature of morphological features such as medial and lateral moraines, stagnant ice, and fluted ground moraine in glaciated valleys. Perception of these features on corresponding Landsat MSS images is limited by seasonal differences in solar illumination. Because SAR is not affected by such differences or by cloud cover, it is particularly well suited for monitoring glacial movement. The disadvantage of distorted high-relief features on Seasat SAR images can be reduced in future SAR systems by modifying the radar illumination geometry.     

The simulation of ore-dressing plants

An efficient and automated ore-dressing plant simulator has been developed.In this simulator, stream variables can be used to describe a large number of unique solid particles that have a wide range of properties. Consequently, a large number of simultaneous equations need to be solved.This paper demonstrates how particles can be categorized and the mass balance for complex recycle systems rapidly achieved. The simulator that has been developed uses unit modules that are linked together by an executive computer programme. The executive, by treating each module in turn, obtains a set of simultaneous equations that are solved iteratively. The sequence in which the modules are treated is determined by partitioning and tearing algorithms that select tear streams, thus rendering the system acyclic. The algorithms are designed to choose the tear set (as there are usually several) that will allow convergence in the fewest possible iterations. This choice is based on a criterion that can be extended to apply to all the convergence methods considered. A simultaneous convergence technique has been developed that is applicable specifically to linear ore-dressing plants, but can also be applied to non-linear systems. This technique, which is called the reduced Newton method, is shown to exhibit local convergence under reasonable conditions and is generally superior to direct substitution and to the bounded Wegstein methods.     

Microphytobenthos contribution to nutrient-phytoplankton dynamics in a shallow coastal lagoon

Nutrient fluxes and primary production were examined in Lake Illawarra (New South Wales, Australia), a shallow (Z_mean=1.9 m) coastal lagoon with a surface area of 35 km², by intensive measurement of dissolved nutrients and oxygen profiles over a 22-h period. Rates of primary production and nutrient uptake were calculated for the microphytobenthos, seagrass beds, macroalgae, and pelagic phytoplankton. Although gross nutrient release rates to the water column and sediment pore waters were potentially high, primary production by microphytobenthos rapidly sequesters the re-mineralized nutrients so that net releases, averaged over times longer than a day, were low. Production in the water column was closely coupled with the relatively low sediment net nutrient release rates and detrital decomposition in the water column. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and silica concentrations in the water column are drawn down at the beginning of the day. The system did not appear to be light limited so photosynthesis occurs as fast as the nutrients become available to the phytoplankton and microphytobenthos. We conjecture that microphytobenthos are the dominant primary producers and, as has been shown previously, that the nutrient uptake occurs in phase with the various stages of the diatom growth.