Particle size dependent response of aerosol counters

During an international workshop at the Institute for Experimental Physics of the University of Vienna, Austria, which was coordinated within the Committee on Nucleation and Atmospheric Aerosols (IAMAS-IUGG), 10 instruments for aerosol number concentration measurement were studied, covering a wide range of methods based on various different measuring principles. In order to investigate the detection limits of the instruments considered with respect to particle size, simultaneous number concentration measurements were performed for monodispersed aerosols with particle sizes ranging from 1.5 to 50 nm diameter and various compositions.The instruments considered show quite different response characteristics, apparently related to the different vapors used in the various counters to enlarge the particles to an optically detectable size. A strong dependence of the 50% cutoff diameter on the particle composition in correlation with the type of vapor used in the specific instrument was found. An enhanced detection efficiency for ultrafine hygroscopic sodium chloride aerosols was observed with water operated systems, an analogous trend was found for n-butanol operated systems with nonhygroscopic silver and tungsten oxide particles.     

A mathematical hysteretic model for elastomeric isolation bearings

An analytical model for high damping elastomeric isolation bearings is presented in this paper. The model is used to describe mathematically the damping force and restoring force of the rubber material and bearing. Ten parameters to be identified from cyclic loading tests are included in the model. The sensitivity of the ten parameters in affecting the model is examined. These ten parameters are functions of a number of influence factors on the elastomer such as the rubber compound, Mullins effect, scragging effect, frequency, temperature and axial load. In this study, however, only the Mullins effect, scragging effect, frequency and temperature are investigated. Both material tests and shaking table tests were performed to validate the proposed model. Based on the comparison between the experimental and the analytical results, it is found that the proposed analytical model is capable of predicting the shear force–displacement hysteresis very accurately for both rubber material and bearing under cyclic loading reversals. The seismic response time histories of the bearing can also be captured, using the proposed analytical model, with a practically acceptable precision. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial structure of the old open cluster NGC 2420

The spatial structure of the intermediate and outer regions of the old open cluster NGC 2420 is analyzed using data from the catalog of Paparó. The differential and integrated distributions of the projected [ΔF(r) and F(r)] and spatial [Δf(r) and f(r)] stellar densities are obtained for various subsystems of cluster stars using Kholopov’s star-count method. Analysis of these curves shows that: (1) the cluster has at least three distinct spatial zones with different stellar-density gradients, (2) the each cluster subsystem has a layered structure, and (3) the spatial structure of the cluster changes systematically in the transition to subsystems containing fainter main-sequence stars. Empirical relations describing the structure of the cluster are also derived. Similar structural features can also be found in other globular and open clusters.     

Seismic Hazard for Selected Sites in Greece: A Bayesian Estimate of Seismic Peak Ground Acceleration

A procedure for estimating maximum values of seismic peak ground accelerationat the examined site and quantiles of its probabilistic distribution in a future timeinterval of a given length is considered. The input information for the method areseismic catalog and regression relation between peak seismic acceleration at a givenpoint and magnitude and distance from the site to epicenter (seismic attenuation law).The method is based on Bayesian approach, which simply accounts for influenceof uncertainties of seismic acceleration values. The main assumptions for the method are Poissonian character of seismic events flow and distribution law of Gutenberg-Richter's type. The method is applied to seismic hazard estimation in six selected sitesin Greece.     

Influence of gold mine on groundwater quality (Efemçukuru, Izmir, Turkey)

. Currently, exploration of gold ores is under discussion in Turkey, without considering its adverse affect on the environment. Studying the adverse affect on environment is extremely important because significant civic activities are already taking place on the geological units that contain gold ore bodies in Turkey. Such an area is located at the southeast of Izmir City (Turkey), and approximately 2-km-long gold-bearing ore veins occur close to the Efemçukuru Village. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics and seasonal variation of the groundwater chemistry and pollution of the aquifer in the ore deposit site, and to determine the impact of ore deposits on groundwater quality. The gold-bearing formation is highly weathered and fractured. The fractures in the geological units control the permeability and the depth of groundwater in the area. The concentrations of Al, Ag, Cu, Cd, Cr, Fe, Pb, Mn, Zn, Ni, and Sb were determined for four well samples and two stream waters for wet and dry seasons. The results showed that the concentrations of most of these elements were below the USA EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) limits; however, Pb and Cd concentrations are slightly above the limits. The results indicate that minerals in gold bodies do not dissolve although the weathering of formations is high. The low concentration of elements in groundwater and streams may be attributed to the high velocity of ground and surface water.     

Kankan diamonds (Guinea) III: δ13C and nitrogen characteristics of deep diamonds

Diamonds from the Kankan area in Guinea formed over a large depth profile beginning within the cratonic mantle lithosphere and extending through the asthenosphere and transition zone into the lower mantle. The carbon isotopic composition, the concentration of nitrogen impurities and the nitrogen aggregation level of diamonds representing this entire depth range have been determined. Peridotitic and eclogitic diamonds of lithospheric origin from Kankan have carbon isotopic compositions ('¹³C: peridotitic -5.4 to -2.2‰; eclogitic -19.7 to -0.7‰) and nitrogen characteristics (N: peridotitic 17-648 atomic ppm; eclogitic 0-1,313 atomic ppm; aggregation from IaA to IaB) which are generally typical for diamonds of these two suites worldwide. Geothermobarometry of peridotitic and eclogitic inclusion parageneses (worldwide sources) indicates that both suites formed under very similar conditions within the cratonic lithosphere, which is not consistent with a derivation of diamonds with light carbon isotopic composition from subducted organic matter within subducting oceanic slabs. Diamonds containing majorite garnet inclusions fall to the isotopically heavy side ('¹³C: -3.1‰ to +0.9‰) of the worldwide diamond population. Nitrogen contents are low (0-126 atomic ppm) and one of the two nitrogen-bearing diamonds shows such a low level of nitrogen aggregation (30% B-centre) that it cannot have been exposed to ambient temperatures of the transition zone (̿,400 °C) for more than 0.2 Ma. This suggests rapid upward transport and formation of some Kankan diamonds pene-contemporaneous to Cretaceous kimberlite activity. Similar to these diamonds from the asthenosphere and the transition zone, lower mantle diamonds show a small shift towards isotopic heavy compositions (-6.6 to -0.5‰, mode at -3.5‰). As already observed for other mines, the nitrogen contents of lower mantle diamonds were below detection (using FTIRS). The mutual shift of sublithospheric diamonds towards isotopic heavier compositions suggests a common carbon source, which may have inherited an isotopic heavy composition from a component consisting of subducted carbonates.     

The Petrology and Geochemistry of Calc-Alkaline Andesites on Shodo-Shima Island, SW Japan

Petrographical and geochemical characteristics of calc-alkalineandesites on Shodo-Shima Island, SW Japan, having bulk compositionslargely identical to the continental crust, are presented. Thefollowing petrographic observations suggest a role for magmamixing in producing such andesite magmas: (1) two types of olivinephenocrysts and spinel inclusions, one with compositions identicalto those in high-Mg andesites and the other identical to thosein basalts, are recognized in terms of Ni–Mg and Cr–Al–Fe³⁺relations, respectively; (2) the presence of orthopyroxene phenocrystswith mg-number >90 suggests the contribution of an orthopyroxene-bearinghigh-Mg andesite magma to production of calc-alkaline andesites;(3) reversely zoned pyroxene phenocrysts may not be in equilibriumwith Mg-rich olivine, suggesting the involvement of a differentiatedandesite magma as an endmember component; (4) the presence ofvery Fe-rich orthopyroxene phenocrysts indicates the associationof an orthopyroxene-bearing rhyolitic magma. Contributions fromthe above at least five endmember magmas to the calc-alkalineandesite genesis can also provide a reasonable explanation ofthe Pb–Sr–Nd isotope compositions of such andesites. KEY WORDS: calc-alkaline andesites; high-Mg andesites; magma mixing; continental crust; SW Japan     

Equilibrium and Disequilibrium Trace Element Partitioning in Hydrous Eclogites (Trescolmen, Central Alps)

Despite the widespread presence of hydrous phases in subduction-related systems, experimental D^Min/Fluid trace element valuesfor many hydrous phases are lacking. To fill this gap, we presenta set of D^{Min/Clinopyroxene} values (where Min indicates amphibole,zoisite, phengite, paragonite or apatite) derived from equilibriumparageneses of eclogites from Trescolmen (Central Alps, Switzerland).These data can be combined with experimental data for D^{Clinopyroxene/Fluid},to estimate D^Min/Fluid values for the hydrous phases, thus circumventingexperimental problems with the direct determination of suchvalues. We analysed Li, Be, B, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Ce, Nd, Sm,Pb, Th and U in coexisting phases by laser ablation microprobeinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Many of the valuesare extremely low; for example, Nb, Ba, Ce, Th and U are inthe lower ppb range in clinopyroxene. Attainment of equilibriumwas evaluated by textural, and major and trace element characteristics.Non-equilibrated assemblages are common in most eclogite localities,including Trescolmen, and using such samples would lead to thederivation of erroneous values for equilibrium partitioning.However, four of the 10 studied eclogites from Trescolmen havinghomogeneous clinopyroxene compositions and preferred orientationof high-pressure phases yielded consistent D^{Min/Clinopyroxene}values in all four samples (where Min indicates amphibole, phengite,paragonite, apatite), and hence were studied in detail. Thelow abundances in some phases result from strong preferentialincorporation of trace elements into other minor phases. Fromthe investigated hydrous phases (amphibole, zoisite, clinozoisite,phengite, paragonite, apatite and talc), zoisite was found tobe the most important carrier of Sr, light rare earth elements,Pb, Th and U, whereas phengite hosts Ba and is, along with clinopyroxeneand paragonite, an important phase for B. However, because oftheir low modal abundance in eclogite-facies rocks, phengiteand paragonite do not control the B whole-rock budget. We inferthat estimated D^{Min/Clinopyroxene} values from equilibrium assemblagescan be used as a good approximation for partition coefficientsunder the given PT conditions (     

Evolution of Crystallizing Interstitial Liquid in an Arc-Related Cumulate Determined by LA ICP-MS Mapping of a Large Amphibole Oikocryst

High-resolution chemical mapping of a large, single, oikocrysticamphibole grain from the Eriksberg gabbro, by laser ablationinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS), documentsthe progressive evolution of interstitial liquid in a hydrousbasaltic system. The amphibole has a nearly constant mg-numberand only minor variations in most major elements, in part becauseof the resorption of olivine buffering the liquid composition.However, non-buffered trace elements including Sc, V, Nb, Zr,Th, U, and the rare earth elements (REE) show at least an orderof magnitude variation. For example, V varies from <1 to>1000 ppm, Zr from 4·3 to >1000 ppm, Nb from 0·14to 12·3 ppm, and the REE patterns range from bowed upwith a negative Eu anomaly to bowed down with a positive Euanomaly—all within a single crystal. The distributionof amphibole compositions indicates that the interstitial liquidwas not uniformly distributed as crystallization proceeded.Rather, the compositional variations reflect progressively morechannelized flow of interstitial liquid during compaction. Whenthe interstitial liquid evolved so that the crystallizing amphibolehad