Interlobate ice-sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

This research reconstructs ice-sheet processes operating during the Late Devensian in northeast England. The article assesses the lithostratigraphy of the Devensian glacial tills of Whitburn Bay, eastern County Durham, and presents the first detailed analysis of petrological, geochemical and biostratigraphical data to reconstruct lithostratigraphy, provenance and iceflow pathways. Two Devensian tractions tills (the Blackhall and Horden tills) are separated by a boulder pavement, pointing to a switch in ice-bed conditions and the production of a melt-out lag prior to deposition of the upper traction till, the Horden Till. The Blackhall Till contains Magnesian Limestone, Carboniferous Limestone, Whin Sill dolerite and Old Red Sandstone, suggesting a northwesterly source, probably from the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The Horden Till contains erratics and heavy minerals derived from crystalline bedrock sources in the Cheviot Hills and northeast Scotland. Within the Horden Till are numerous sand, clay and gravel-filled canals incised downwards into the diamicton which are attributed to a low-energy, distributed, subglacial canal drainage system. Coupled with hydro-fractures and the boulder pavement, this suggests that a partially decoupled, fast-flowing ice stream deposited the Horden Till. The uphill, landward direction of ice movement indicates that the ice stream was confined in the North Sea Basin, possibly by the presence of Scandinavian Ice.     

Pyroxene-Olivine-Quartz Assemblages in Rocks Associated with the Nain Anorthosite Massif, Labrador

Unusually iron-rich pyroxene and olivine occur in rocks associatedwith the Nain anorthosite massif, Labrador. Adamellite and granodioritecontain orthopyroxene (inverted from pigeonite) as iron-richas Ca₆Fe₈₂Mg₁₂; comparison with experimental data suggests aminimum pressure of crystallization of 5 kb. Some of these iron-richpyroxene crystals have broken down, apparently upon decreasingpressure, to yield intergrowths of less iron-rich orthopyroxene(near Ca₇Fe₇₂Mg₂₁), ferroaugite, fayalite (near Fo₉), and quartz.Other rocks, monzonites, contain pyroxenes with calcium-poorcores and ferroaugite rims, as well as crystals composed ofbroad lamellae of ferroaugite and orthopyroxene in sub-equalproportions. Analysis of one such crystal with unusually thinand closely spaced lamellae yielded a bulk composition of Ca₂₄Fe₅₈Mg₁₈.Such pyroxenes probably crystallized near or above the crestof the augite-pigeonite two-phase region, probably above 925°C. This high temperature suggests that the monzonites crystallizedfrom relatively dry magmas. If they represent a residual fractionderived from the same magma as the anorthosite, then that magmamust have been nearly anhydrous. Pigeonite rather than orthopyroxene was the primary magmaticCa-poor pyroxene in most of the Nain rocks studied here. Nucleationrates apparently were low under subsolidus conditions, and low-Capigeonite (Ca₂Fe₇₈Mg₂₀) is present in grains where orthopyroxenedid not nucleate as pigeonite cooled and exsolved ferroaugite.Iron-rich orthopyroxene (Ca₂Fe₇₉M₁₉) crystallized instead ofpigeonite in a Greenland quartz syenite that contains more abundanthydrous phases.     

Degradation and Metamorphic Differentiation of the Keweenawan Tholeiitic Lavas of Northern Michigan, U.S.A.

The Portage Lake Lava Series of the Keweenaw Peninsula, northernMichigan, is composed of over 5000 m of tholeiitic lava flows.Chemical and petrologic study of thin undifferentiated flowsfrom this sequence shows that the bulk of the flows are olivinetholeiites; highly ironenriched tholeiites comprise up to 10per cent of the volume. In addition, a few small rhyolitic intrusives,exceedingly rich in alkalis, are exposed in the region. Duringburial the amygdular tops of each flow acted as channelwaysfor migrating fluids during a regional metamorphic event thatproduced a progressive sequence of secondary phases within theflow tops. In the upper part of the stratigraphic section, laumontite,analcime, albite, and chlorite dominate assemblages characteristicof the zeolite facies. Stratigraphically deeper. flow tops arecharacterized by metamorphic assemblages of the prehnite-pumpellyitefacies. Within the higher rank facies, rocks along fractureshave been transformed to calcium-rich monomineralic domains(metadomains) of epidote or pumpellyite. These metadomains gradeoutward through incompletely reconstituted rocks containingalbitized feldspars, and finally, in flow centers, to basaltdisplaying few signs of mineralogical readjustment. Extremechemical disparity exists within the altered flow tops, particularlywith respect to calcium and sodium content. Calculations revealthat bulk compositions of metamorphically adjusted flow topsare similar to unaltered basalts. Thus, the chemical variationdisplayed by the metamorphic rock types resulted from localizedmetamorphic differentiation. The Keweenawan sequence displays progressive dehydration fromthe top to the base of the stratigraphic section. At the topchlorite (H₂O = 12 per cent) and pumpellyite (H₂O = 6 per cent)metadomains formed by dehydration. The fact that most of theserocks were hydrated strongly suggests that fluid pressures wereless than total pressures during the metamorphic event. In rocksundergoing hydration in the uper part of the stratigraphic section,therefore, water pressures decreased away from channelways.As a result, the most hydrous rock types formed in these regions.Conversely, in rock undergoing dehydration water pressures increasedaway from channelwasys, so that the most dehydrated rocks formedin such regions. Water content of an individual rock is dependenton both position in the stratigraphic pile and position withrespect to fluid channelways.     

Compositional Zoning in Pyroxenes from Lunar Rock 12021, Oceanus Procellarum

Electron probe study of the pyroxene phenocrysts in rock 12021of the Apollo 12 sample reveals an extraordinary variety ofzoning phenomena. These phenocrysts have cores of relativelyhomogeneous pigeonite which are mantled by Ca-rich pyroxenes;the mantles are zoned outward from about 20 mol per cent FeSiO₃at the core-mantle boundaries to 70 mol per cent FeSiO₃ at themargins of the phenocrysts. The character of the normal zoningdiffers in each growth sector. Four different trends characterizinggrowth on (110), (100), (010), and parallel to c are described.Pronounced but erratic oscillatory effects are impressed onthe normal zoning in all sectors. Normal zoning in lunar pyroxenes is generally more extensivethan in terrestrial pyroxenes, probably because the lunar lavaswere an order of magnitude more fluid than terrestrial basalts.Turbulent flow in lunar lavas may have caused some of the oscillatoryeffects. The cyclic nature of augite and pigeonite crystallizationin these pyroxenes is probably kinetic in origin; conceivablyit could reflect the presence of an augite-pigeonite peritectic.It is likely that further knowledge of the crystal structureof pigeonite at high temperatures will be required before astructural model can be formulated that will satisfactorilyexplain the details of the sector zoning. Coarse-grained pyroxferroite and subcalcic ferroaugite havecrystallized in apparent ‘equilibrium’ in the finalstages of formation of the groundmass in rock 12021. Nevertheless,the crystallization of the pyroxferroite was probably metastablerelative to the assemblage ferroaugite+ fayalite+ tridymite.Data on the effect of Mg substitution on the stability of pyroxferroitewill be needed to establish this point. We suggest that the pigeonite cores of the phenocrysts in rock12021 crystallized under quiescent conditions, probably in amagma chamber below the lunar surface, and that the stronglyzoned augite mantles crystallized during emplacement of thelava on the surface.     

PHYSICO‐GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF NEEM TREE SOILS AND RELATION TO ORGANIC PROPERTIES

The Neem tree, the oil of which has a long history of pesticide, fertilizer and medicinal use in India, has been studied extensively for its organic compounds. Here we present a physical, mineralogical and geochemical database resulting from the analyses of two Neem soil profiles (epipedons) in India. Neem tree derivatives are used in the manufacture of a variety of products, from anti‐bacterial drugs and insecticides to fertilizers and animal feeds. A preliminary geochemical and mineralogical analysis of Neem soils is made to explore the potential for chemical links between Neem tree derivatives and soils. Physical soil characteristics, including colour, texture and clay mineralogy, suggest the two pedons formed under different hydrological regimes, and hence, are products of different leaching environments, one well‐drained site, the other poorly drained. Geochemically, the two Neem soils exhibit similarities, with elevated concentrations of Th and rare earth elements. These elements are of interest because of their association with phosphates, especially monazite and apatite, and the potential link to fertilizer derivatives. Higher concentrations of trace elements in the soils may be linked to nutritional derivatives and to cell growth in the Neem tree.     

The influence of ornithogenic products on the nutrient status of soils surrounding nests on nunataks in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

The nutrient status of soils surrounding ten snow petrel Pagodroma nivea nests was investigated by sampling along four transects (One up-slope and three down-slope) from each nest. The highest levels for total N and P.% C. nitrite and ammonia (but not nitrate) were associated with the nest itself. Elevated levels of all nutrients still occurred at I m from the nest but dropped to levels similar to those of non-bird influenced soils at 2 m or 5 m from the nest. Highest bacterial and algal numbers were also associated with the nest. An experiment to examine the breakdown of guano showed nitrification levels to be insignificant and nutrient release levels very slow.     

THE GEOPOLITICS OF EUGENICS AND THE EXCLUSION OF PHILIPPINE IMMIGRANTS FROM THE UNITED STATES

ABSTRACT. From 1898 to 1936, Philippine immigrants were routinely excluded from the United States, where incipient practices of eugenic “science” and geopolitics were informing social policy. Concomitant with emergent theories of evolution, a geopolitically informed eugenics forewarned of possible racial competition and societal degeneration. Immigration legislation emerged as an effective social policy to exclude perceived undesirable, and racially distinct, immigrant groups, ostensibly to protect race and state.     

Multiple-Step Predictive Control for Offshore Structures

—Ocean wave propagation is slow,visible and measurable,so a wave theory can be used to approxi-mately predict the imminnent wave force on an offshore structure based on measured,real-time wave elevation nearthe structure.This predictability suggests the development of a more efficient algorithm,than those that have beendeveloped for structures under wind and seismic loads,for the active vibration control of offshore structures.Thepresent study delveops a mutiple-step predictive optimal control(MPOC)algorithm that accounts for multiple-step external loading in the determibation of optimal control forces.The control efficiency of the newly developedMPOC algorithm has been investigated under both regular(single-frequency)and irregular(multiple-frequency)wave loads,and compared with that of two other well-known optimal control algorithms:classical linear optimalcontrol(CLOC)and instantaneou optimal control(IOC).     

大数据驱动下的数字古地理重建：现状与展望

古地理学是一门强数据依赖性学科,古地理重建作为古地理学的核心任务之一,着眼于研究地质历史时期地球表面的地理、生物、气候面貌及其演化规律。随着大数据时代的来临,海量古地理数据的不断积累和计算机技术的高速发展使得标准化、智能化的数字古地理重建成为可能。文章通过介绍国内外与古地理相关的代表数据库及团队,总结其优缺点,提出大数据驱动下的数字古地理重建核心思路:(1)建立标准化的古地理学知识体系;(2)建立开放互动、动态更新的古地理数据库,并利用机器阅读技术等拓展数据来源;(3)建立标准化的古地理学数据质量控制体系;(4)利用机器学习技术建立各类型古地理重建模型,深度挖掘数据;(5)以可实时更新的智能数字地图集或多维动画形式输出成果。