Evolution of the early Earth: Constraints from Nd---Nd isotopic systematics

Combined ¹⁴⁷Sm---¹⁴³Nd and the now extinct [τ(1/2)₁₄₆=103×10⁶ yr] ¹⁴⁶Sm---¹⁴²Nd isotopic systematics are reported for early Archean gneisses from Greenland (Amîtsoq and Akilia associations), and Canada (Acasta gneiss). Using both field relationships and high resolution U---Pb SHRIMP ion-probe ages, it has been possible to identify the most ancient rocks in these terrains for isotopic analyses. Preliminary ¹⁴²Nd analyses of a still limited number of samples have failed to identify terrestrial ¹⁴²Nd anomalies. Effects, if present, are limited to < 10 ppm and we have thus been unable to confirm the +33±4 ppm ε₁₄₂ value claimed by Harper and Jacobsen (1992a, b) for a single sample. From the lack of ¹⁴⁶Sm---¹⁴²Nd effects we infer that large-scale fractionation events that may have occurred in the first 200 Ma of Earth history did not leave a significant nor widespread imprint on the early Archean mantle or crust. If a terrestrial magma ocean, with associated LREE fractionation, formed as a result of planetary accretion, then it had a lifetime of at most 250 m.y. before being remixed into the Earth's mantle.

The samples analysed in this study have a range of ε₁₄₃ values including highly positive values of up to +4.2. This requires that the earliest known Archean crust was differentiated from a reservoir that was strongly depleted in the LREE as compared with chondritic compositions. In the early Archean it is proposed that the depletions in LREE are a consequence of extraction of a limited fraction of the Earth's continental crust ( < 10%) from the upper 200 km of the mantle. A three reservoir model, consisting of the continental crust, depleted mantle and a more primitive mantle reservoir can be extended to account for both the present-day, as well as the evolving Nd isotopic composition of the Earth's crust and mantle. In contrast to previous models, the rate of growth of the continental crust is used as an input parameter to constrain the concomitant growth and evolution of the depleted mantle reservoir. Recycling of large volumes of bulk continental crust into the mantle is not considered to be an important process, nor is the existence of an additional major enriched component in the early Archean mantle.     

Response variability in structural dynamics

This paper presents a technique for treating uncertainties in the dynamic models of a structural system. The formulation of the method is presented for a simple case of a single-degree-of-freedom linear oscillator. The uncertainties are modelled as random variables and are assumed to be time-independent. The solution is expanded as a series involving the random terms, and a system of linear ordinary differential equations for the unknowns of the problem is derived using the weighted residual method. The system of equations is then integrated in time and the response variability is computed. Validation calculations show that the results from the method agree well with those obtained by other solution techniques. Finally, some possible applications and extensions of the present work are discussed.     

Effective barometric admittance and gravity residuals

In the analysis of surface gravity signals that may originate from the Earth's core, the step of correcting for the atmospheric pressure fluctuations is one that must be done carefully. We apply two techniques for determining the local, or effective, barometric admittance function between simultaneous observations of surface gravity and pressure. The first is a frequency domain fit that computes the admittance on a band-by-band basis. Using data from both the Canadian and French superconducting gravimeters we determined that the magnitude of the local, or background, admittance increases smoothly and monotonically from about 0.2 μgal mbar⁻¹ at long periods (> 10 days) to about 0.35 μgal mbar⁻¹ at frequencies greater than 3 cycles per day (c.p.d.); the phase lag is within a few degrees of 180°. By comparison, the effective admittances of the large-scale harmonics of the solar heating tide (S₁---S₇) are much smaller, between 0.1 and 0.3 μgal mbar⁻¹, for most of the harmonics of a day. In the second approach we fit a symmetrical time domain admittance function having lengths between 1 and 19 h using both a standard least-squares fit to a white noise residual and a new, and clearly superior, fit assuming a brown noise residual. Both time and frequency domain approaches give comparable results and contribute to a significant lowering of the residual level in non-tidal bands.     

Climatic change and design criteria in water resources management a regional case study

As a result of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect there is fear of alterations of the world climate, which also may result in hydrological changes and consequently in water resources management. In a case study it was investigated if such changes could be identified for a regional catchment area. Summarized it may be said that the regional analysis of hydro-meteorological data in the catchment area of the Sieg showed the expected effects of the anthropogenic climate change on the regional water cycle. Rises in annual mean temperature and precipitation could be observed over a period from 1892 until 1993. However, a significant relation between evident changes and greenhouse effect could not be stated. Changes in discharge do not show consistent behavior. Especially apparent contradictions show that additional examinations are necessary in order to make the complex natural inter-relationships between climate and regional water cycle with the impacts of existing anthropogenetic interferences visible and applicable for practical engineering tasks.     

Fracture induced emission of alkali atoms from feldspar

Emission of neutral atoms (K and Na) and molecules (H₂O and KOH) observed during fracture of K-feldspar have been accounted for by two independent mechanisms. H₂O and KOH emissions are attributed to the venting of fluid-filled inclusions, while emission of atomic K is due to surface effects accompanying cleavage of crystalline feldspar. The intensity of emitted potassium, at least 6 × 10¹⁴ atoms/cm² of surface area, is sufficient to affect K activities in solution during microbrecciation in the presence of rock-dominated fluids.     

Sulfur isotopes of the Nairne Pyrite deposit,South Australia

The Nairne Pyrite deposit occurs in at least five horizons in a succession of graywackes, quartzites, and siltstones of Cambrian age. Pyrite and pyrrhotite have been traced along bedding planes for almost 100 km suggesting, of course, a syngenetic origin for the sulfides. Sulfur isotopic analyses of samples from the Nairne Pyrite open-cut project provide S³⁴ values ranging from –12.8 to –20.6 permil. Such enrichment in S³², even though the spread in S³⁴ values is comparatively narrow, is suggestive of bacteriogenic sulfur which corroborates the geological evidence that the deposit is bacteriogenic — syngenetic in origin.

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Zusammenfassung Die Pyrit-Lagerstätte Nairne umfaßt wenigstens fünf Horizonte cambrischer Grauwacken, Quartzite und feine Sand- bis Tonsteine. Pyrit und Magnetkies sind über eine Distanz von fast 100 km schichtgetreu, was auf einen syngenetischen Ursprung der Sulfide hinweist. Schwefelisotop-Analysen von Pyrit aus dem Tagebau-Projekt erstrecken sich über einen S³⁴-Bereich von –12,8 bis –20,6 Promille. Diese Anreicherung weist auf einen bakteriellen Ursprung des Schwefels hin, obgleich die Spannweite der Resultate sehr eng ist. Somit ist die Feldvermutung einer syngenetisch-bakteriellen Entstehung bekräftigt.

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The isotopic analyses included in this paper were supported through the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT (11-1) 1553, for which we are most grateful.     

Geo-electrical investigations of Manganese ore bodies in India

Summary The Manganese ore-bodies in India are producing certain electrical potential-fields on the surface, which are typical for those deposits and which can exactly be surveyed by combined Potentiometer- and Resistivity-Method. The range of the relative Potentials, recorded so far, are generally varying between 150 to 200 millivolts, near deeper burried deposits accordingly lower but not lower than 100 millivolts, the relative resistivities varying from 50 to 400 megohms. The electrical surface indications are so clear that the respective position of an ore body can be located with an evident exactness as it is proved in this paper. Furthermore it is demonstrated how vaste geological areas can be prospected in a minimum of time by this method for the benefit of the mining industry.

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Zusammenfassung Die Manganerzkörper in Indien erzeugen an der Erdoberfläche elektrische Potentialfelder, die für die Lagerstätten typisch sind und durch kombinierte Potentiometer- und Widerstandsmessungen exakt aufgenommen werden können. Die bisher ermessenen Werte der relativen Potentiale bewegen sich zwischen allgemein 150 bis 200 Millivolt, bei tieferer Lage entsprechend niedriger, jedoch nicht unter 100 m V. Die scheinbaren Widerstände schwanken zwischen 50 und 400 megohm. Die elektrischen Oberflächenindikatoren sind so ausgeprägt, dass das Einschieben der Erzkörper mit beachtlicher Genauigkeit bestimmt werden kann wie in diesem Aufsatz nachgewiesen wird. Des weiteren wird dargetan, wie mittels dieses Verfahrens grosse geologische Räume in kürzester Zeit zum Nutzen des Erz-Bergbaues prospektiert werden können, wofür bislang noch keine geeignete Methode erprobt war.

     

Geochemistry and magmatic properties of eruption episodes from Haroharo linear vent zone, Okataina Volcanic Centre, New Zealand during the last 10 kyr

Post-10 ka rhyolitic eruptions from the Haroharo linear vent zone, Okataina Volcanic Centre, have occurred from several simultaneously active vents spread over 12 km. Two of the three eruption episodes have tapped multiple compositionally distinct homogeneous magma batches. Three magmas totalling ~8 km³ were erupted during the 9.5 ka Rotoma episode. The most evolved Rotoma magma (SiO₂=76.5–77.9 wt%, Sr=96–112 ppm) erupted from a southeastern vent, and is characterised by a cummingtonite-dominant mineralogy, a temperature of 739±14°C, and fO₂ of NNO+0.52±0.11. The least evolved (SiO₂=75.0–76.4 wt%, Sr=128–138 ppm, orthopyroxene+ hornblende-dominant) Rotoma magma erupted from several vents, and was hotter (764±18°C) and more reduced (NNO+0.40±0.13). The ~11 km³ Whakatane episode occurred at 5.6 ka and also erupted three magmas, each from a separate vent. The most evolved (SiO₂=73.3–76.2 wt%, Sr=88–100 ppm) Whakatane magma erupted from the southwestern (Makatiti) vent and is cummingtonite-dominant, cool (745±11°C), and reduced (NNO+0.34±0.08). The least evolved (SiO₂=72.8–74.1 wt%, Sr=132–134 ppm) magma was erupted from the northeastern (Pararoa) vent and is characterised by an orthopyroxene+ hornblende-dominant mineralogy, temperature of 764±18°C, and fO₂ of NNO+0.40±0.13. Compositionally intermediate magmas were erupted during the Rotoma and Whakatane episodes are likely to be hybrids. A single ~13 km³ magma erupted during the intervening 8.1 ka Mamaku episode was relatively homogeneous in composition (SiO₂=76.1–76.8 wt%, Sr=104–112 ppm), temperature (736±18°C), and oxygen fugacity (NNO+0.19±0.12). Some of the vents tapped a single magma while others tapped several. Deposit stratigraphy suggests that the eruptions alternated between magmas, which were often simultaneously erupted from separate vents. Both effusive and explosive activity alternated, but was predominantly effusive (>75% erupted as lava domes and flows). The plumbing systems which fed the vents are inferred to be complex, with magma experiencing different conditions in the conduits. As the eruption of several magmas was essentially concurrent, the episodes were likely triggered by a common event such as magmatic intrusion or seismic disturbance.