Experimental determination of REE partition coefficients between zircon,garnet and melt: a key to understanding high‐T crustal processes

The partitioning of rare earth elements (REE) between zircon, garnet and silicate melt was determined using synthetic compositions designed to represent partial melts formed in the lower crust during anatexis. The experiments, performed using internally heated gas pressure vessels at 7 kbar and 900–1000 °C, represent equilibrium partitioning of the middle to heavy REE between zircon and garnet during high‐grade metamorphism in the mid to lower crust. The D_REE (zircon/garnet) values show a clear partitioning signature close to unity from Gd to Lu. Because the light REE have low concentrations in both minerals, values are calculated from strain modelling of the middle to heavy REE experimental data; these results show that zircon is favoured over garnet by up to two orders of magnitude. The resulting general concave‐up shape to the partitioning pattern across the REE reflects the preferential incorporation of middle REE into garnet, with D_Gd (zircon/garnet) ranging from 0.7 to 1.1, D_Ho (zircon/garnet) from 0.4 to 0.7 and D_Lu (zircon/garnet) from 0.6 to 1.3. There is no significant temperature dependence in the zircon–garnet REE partitioning at 7 kbar and 900–1000 °C, suggesting that these values can be applied to the interpretation of zircon–garnet equilibrium and timing relationships in the ultrahigh‐T metamorphism of low‐Ca pelitic and aluminous granulites.     

An adaptive finite element model for wellbore breakout simulation

A finite element formulation is proposed and implemented for analysing the stability of excavated wells using the DiMaggio-Sandler constitutive elastoplastic model with a typical carbonate reservoir configuration. The quality of the finite element approximation is ensured by applying smooth curved elements adapted to the wellbore geometry, and h − p adaptive finite element meshes in the plastic zone. General purpose procedures are defined to transfer the elastoplastic deformation history to newly created integration points. A breakout damage criterion is proposed based on the second invariant of the deviatoric plastic deformation tensor. This damage criterion is used to apply a mesh movement algorithm to represent material collapse. The automatic successive application of the breakout damage criterion results in elliptical realistically looking geometries obtained in experiments reported in the literature.     

Discharge‐sediment processes of the Zhadang glacier on the Tibetan Plateau measured with a high frequency data acquisition system

In high elevation cold regions of the Tibetan Plateau, suspended sediment transfer from glacier meltwater erosion is one of the important hydrological components. The Zhadang glacier is a typical valley‐type glacier in the Nyainqentanglha Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau. To make frequent and long period records of meltwater runoff and sediment processes in the very high elevation and isolated regions, an automatic system was installed near the glacier snout (5400 m a.s.l) in August 2013, to measure the transient discharge and sediment processes at 5‐min interval, which is shorter than the time span for the water flow to traverse the catchment from the farthest end to the watershed outlet. Diurnal variations of discharge, and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were recorded at high frequency for the Zhadang glacier, before suspended sediment load (SSL) was computed. Hourly SSC varied from the range of 0.2 kg/m³ to 0.5 kg/m³ (at 8:00–9:00) to the range of 2.0 kg/m³ to 4.0 kg/m³ (at 17:00–18:00). The daily SSL was 32.24 t during the intense ablation period. Hourly SSC was linearly correlated with discharge (r = 0.885**, n = 18, p < 0.01). A digit‐eight hysteresis loop was observed for the sediment transport in the glacier area. Air temperature fluctuations influence discharge, and then result in the sediment variations. The results of this study provide insight into the responses of suspended sediment delivery processes with a high frequency data in the high elevation cold regions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An examination of snow redistribution over smooth land‐fast sea ice

An understanding of temporal evolution of snow on sea ice at different spatial scales is essential for improvement of snow parameterization in sea ice models. One of the problems we face, however, is that long‐term climate data are routinely available for land and not for sea ice. In this paper, we examine the temporal evolution of snow over smooth land‐fast first‐year sea ice using observational and modelled data. Changes in probability density functions indicate that depositional and drifting events control the evolution of snow distribution. Geostatistical analysis suggests that snowdrifts increased over the study period, and the orientation was related to the meteorological conditions. At the microscale, the temporal evolution of the snowdrifts was a product of infilling in the valleys between drifts. Results using two shore‐based climate reporting stations (Paulatuk and Tuktoyuktuk, NWT) suggest that on‐ice air temperature and relative humidity can be estimated using air temperature recorded at either station. Wind speed, direction and precipitation on ice cannot be accurately estimated using meteorological data from either station. The temporal evolution of snow distribution over smooth land‐fast sea ice was modelled using SnowModel and four different forcing regimes. The results from these model runs indicate a lack of agreement between observed distribution and model outputs. The reasons for these results are lack of meteorological measurements prior to the end of January, lack of spatially adequate surface topography and discrepancies between meteorological variables on land and ice. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extended finite element framework for fault rupture dynamics including bulk plasticity

We present an explicit extended finite element framework for fault rupture dynamics accommodating bulk plasticity near the fault. The technique is more robust than the standard split‐node method because it can accommodate a fault propagating freely through the interior of finite elements. To fully exploit the explicit algorithmic framework, we perform mass lumping on the enriched finite elements that preserve the kinetic energy of the rigid body and enrichment modes. We show that with this technique, the extended FE solution reproduces the standard split‐node solution, but with the added advantage that it can also accommodate randomly propagating faults. We use different elastoplastic constitutive models appropriate for geomaterials, including the Mohr–Coulomb, Drucker–Prager, modified Cam‐Clay, and a conical plasticity model with a compression cap, to capture off‐fault bulk plasticity. More specifically, the cap model adds robustness to the framework because it can accommodate various modes of deformation, including compaction, dilatation, and shearing. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diel stream geochemistry,Taylor Valley,Antarctica

Unlike temperate and polythermal proglacial streams, the proglacial streams in Taylor Valley (TV), Antarctica, are derived primarily from glacier surface melt with no subglacial or groundwater additions. Solute responses to flow reflect only the interaction of glacial meltwater with the valley floor surrounding the stream channel. We have investigated the major, minor and trace element 24‐h variations of two proglacial melt streams, Andersen Creek and Canada Stream, originating from the Canada Glacier in TV, Antarctica. Both streams exhibited diel mid‐austral summer diurnal flow variation, with maximum flow being more than 50 times the minimum flow. Dissolved (< 0.4 µm) major, minor and trace solute behaviors through diel periods were strongly controlled by the availability of readily solubilized material on the valley floor and hyporheic‐biological exchanges. Anderson Creek had generally greater solute concentrations than Canada Stream because of its greater receipt of eolian sediment. Andersen Creek also acquired greater solute concentrations in the rising limb of the hydrograph than the falling limb because of dissolution of eolian material at the surface of the stream channel coupled with minimal hyporheic‐biological exchange. Conversely, Canada Stream had less available eolian sediment, but a greater hyporheic‐biological exchange, which preferentially removed trace and major solutes in the rising limb and released them in the falling limb. Given the dynamic nature of discharge, eolian, and hyporheic‐biological processes, solute loads in TV streams are difficult to predict. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

局部区域模型重力异常快速算法

地球重力场位系数模型可以用于计算局部重力扰动场元。然而随着地球重力场模型阶次的提高、局域重力场计算范围的增大,其计算速度往往不能满足工程需求。针对这一问题,在对位系数模型泰勒级数展开的基础上提出了采用向量运算、混合编程的方法,同时对连带勒让德函数Belikov递推方法中与经纬度无关的量进行了预先计算,有效提高了计算速度。提出的方法对于利用超高阶次重力场模型快速解算大范围、高分辨率重力场元数据以及累加求和计算具有一定的参考与借鉴意义。     

Upper Maastrichtian shallow marine environments and neoselachian assemblages in North Iberian palaeomargin (Castilian Ramp,Spain)

Upper Maastrichtian deposits formed in a nearshore subtidal environment within the Valdenoceda Formation (Castilian Ramp, North Iberian margin) are described together with two recently found selachian assemblages. Rare earth element concentrations (REE) have been used to assess the degree of taphonomic mixing and reworking, observing that it is minor or non-existent, and differences in degree of preservation and ecologic mixing can be explained by biostratinomic processes. The patterns of REE also helped to obtain a better understanding of the depositional environment, including the diagenetic history from burial to final degree of bone preservation.The fossil assemblages here described are close to that of the late Maastrichtian of Albaina (in the enclave of Condado de Treviño, Burgos), both in the Basque-Cantabrian Region, but their age may be slightly older (early late Maastrichtian). In total, the new assemblages consist of 17 taxa, assigned to 11 genera of shallow-water dwellers combined with individuals from the outer shelf. They represent cosmopolitan taxa (Squalicorax pristodontus, Serratolamna serrata and Rhombodus binkhorsti) together with local species (Rhinobatos echavei, Rhinobatos ibericus). Although there are not significant differences between Albaina and Quintanilla la Ojada faunas, the new assemblages add interesting taphonomic and geochemical information to the few existing uppermost Cretaceous deposits with fossil sharks in southwestern Europe.     

无内标-多外标校正激光剥蚀等离子体质谱法测定磁铁矿微量元素组成

激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)常用于磁铁矿原位微量元素分析,按照校正策略不同,主要分为内标法和无内标法。内标法需要用电子探针(EMPA)预先测定磁铁矿中内标元素Fe的含量,过程较繁琐,且待测元素含量会受到内标元素含量测定的影响。本文采用铁含量较高的玄武质玻璃BCR-2G、BIR-1G、BHVO-2G和GSE-1G作为外标,避免了内标元素含量的测定,建立了无内标-多外标校正LA-ICP-MS测定磁铁矿微量元素组成的分析方法。利用该方法测定了科马提岩玻璃GOR-128g和自然岩浆磁铁矿BC 28的微量元素组成以评估方法的可靠性。结果表明,科马提岩玻璃的测定结果与推荐值及前人内标法的测定值一致,多数元素的相对标准偏差RSD5%;自然岩浆磁铁矿的测定结果与推荐值相比,多数元素的RSD7%,低于前人内标法的RSD(15%)。由此说明无内标-多外标法可以实现富铁硅酸岩或磁铁矿微量元素含量的准确校正,克服了基体效应的影响。因此,无内标-多外标法是一种原位测定磁铁矿微量元素含量的快速、准确方法,具有一定的应用潜力。