Multiple stellar populations in the Sextans dwarf spheroidal galaxy?

We present wide-field     multiband ( BVI ) CCD photometry (down to     of the very low surface brightness dwarf spheroidal galaxy Sextans. In the derived colour–magnitude diagrams we find evidence suggesting the presence of multiple stellar populations in this dwarf spheroidal. In particular, we discover (i) a blue horizontal branch tail that appears to lie on a brighter sequence with respect to the prominent red horizontal branch and the RR Lyrae stars, very similar to what was found by Majewski et al. for the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal, (ii) hints of a bimodal distribution in colour of the red giant branch stars, (iii) a double red giant branch bump. All of these features suggest that (at least) two components are present in the old stellar population of this galaxy: the main one with     and a minor component around     . The similarity to the Sculptor case may indicate that multiple star formation episodes are also common in the most nearby dwarf spheroidals that ceased their star formation activity at very early epochs.     

The mass of the Andromeda galaxy

This paper argues that the Milky Way galaxy is probably the largest member of the Local Group. The evidence comes from estimates of the total mass of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) derived from the three-dimensional positions and radial velocities of its satellite galaxies, as well as the projected positions and radial velocities of its distant globular clusters and planetary nebulae. The available data set comprises 10 satellite galaxies, 17 distant globular clusters and nine halo planetary nebulae with radial velocities. We find that the halo of Andromeda has a mass of together with a scalelength of 90 kpc and a predominantly isotropic velocity distribution. For comparison, our earlier estimate for the Milky Way halo is Although the error bars are admittedly large, this suggests that the total mass of M31 is probably less than that of the Milky Way . We verify the robustness of our results to changes in the modelling assumptions and to errors caused by the small size and incompleteness of the data set.
Our surprising claim can be checked in several ways in the near future. The numbers of satellite galaxies, planetary nebulae and globular clusters with radial velocities can be increased by ground-based spectroscopy, while the proper motions of the companion galaxies and the unresolved cores of the globular clusters can be measured using the astrometric satellites Space Interferometry Mission ( SIM ) and Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics ( GAIA ). Using 100 globular clusters at projected radii 20 R 50 kpc with both radial velocities and proper motions, it will be possible to estimate the mass within 50 kpc to an accuracy of 20 per cent. Measuring the proper motions of the companion galaxies with SIM and GAIA will reduce the uncertainty in the total mass caused by the small size of the data set to 22 per cent.     

Comparison of parallel group velocity of ECH waves with electron resonant velocity: Implication for electron diffusion by ECH waves

We have investigated the role of group velocity in the calculation of pitch-angle diffusion coefficients by electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves in planetary magnetospheres. The assumption which is generally made that the parallel group velocity can be neglected in comparison with particle parallel velocity is examined in detail. It is found that for lowest harmonic band this assumption is quite good. It is found that in general it is not possible to ignore the parallel group velocity. However, for lowest harmonic band this assumption is quite good at low electron temperatures.     

论江苏东海早白垩世地层

主要论述了江苏东海南古寨村一带产恐龙足印化石地层的岩石地层归属和地质时代,认为这套地层应归于大盛群,而不宜归于青山群或孟疃组,时代为早白垩世晚期。江苏东海南古寨村一带大量恐龙足印化石的发现不仅填补了江苏不产恐龙化石的空白,而且也为该县增添了新的旅游资源。     

Are the South and North Liaohe Groups of North China Craton different exotic terranes? Nd isotope constraints

The Liaohe Group is an important Paleoproterozoic stratigraphic unit in the northeastern part of the North China Craton and is traditionally subdivided into the North and South Liaohe Groups. Associated with both the North and South Liaohe Groups are voluminous Paleoproterozoic granitoid rocks, named the Liaoji granitoids. Different tectonic models, including terrane amalgamation, continent–arc collision and rift closure, have been proposed to interpret the tectonic setting and evolution of the North and South Liaohe Groups and associated Liaoji granitoids. At the centre of the controversy between these models is whether or not the North and South Liaohe Groups developed on the same Archean basement. Nd isotopic geochemistry of the Liaoji granitoids provides important constraints on this controversial issue. The Liaoji granitoids associated with the North and South Liaohe Groups display similar ε_Nd values, restricted to a narrow range from 0 to 2, implying that these granitoid rocks were derived from the same or a similar magma source. Moreover, the Liaoji granitoids associated with the North and South Liaohe Groups have similar Nd model ages (T_DM), ranging from 2.4 to 2.6 Ga, suggesting that the protoliths of the Liaoji granitoids associated with both groups may have formed simultaneously, and that the basement rocks underneath the Liaoji granitoids and associated North and South Liaohe Groups belong to the same continental block rather than two different blocks. Combining lithological, structural and geochronological considerations, we interpret the North and South Liaohe Groups as having developed on a single late Archean basement that underwent Paleoproterozoic rifting associated with the intrusion of the Liaoji granitoids and the formation of the Liaohe Group, and closed upon itself in the Paleoproterozoic.     

内蒙古鄂尔多斯盆地下白垩统罗汉洞组剑龙类化石新材料

鄂尔多斯盆地下白垩统志丹群产出丰富的四足类动物化石:龟类、离龙类、鳄形类、鹦鹉嘴龙类、剑龙类、甲龙类、兽脚类、鸟类和早期哺乳类。采自内蒙古杭锦旗老龙豁子志丹群罗汉洞组剑龙类关联的荐椎与肠骨化石新标本,其形态特征显示该标本可被归为鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙(Wuerhosaurus ordosensis)。该标本解剖学研究表明,鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙腰带还具有以下特征:上髋臼面前缘向后凹而后缘内侧更加内凹。鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙(Wuerhosaurus ordosensis)和新疆准噶尔盆地的平坦乌尔禾龙(Wuerhosaurus homheni)在腰带上存在明显区别:(1)鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙肠骨前突延伸较短,肠骨前突背缘向后逐渐向背侧拱曲、高度逐渐加大,而平坦乌尔禾龙肠骨前突后端背腹缘大致平行;(2)鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙上髋臼面较小;(3)鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙左右肠骨前突延伸方向与中轴线之间的夹角略小于平坦乌尔禾龙。这些区别进一步表明,鄂尔多斯乌尔禾龙和平坦乌尔禾龙是不同的种。     

桂北地区丹洲群碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

桂北丹洲群顶部拱洞组粉砂岩的碎屑锆石的阴极发光图像和Th/U(0.2~2.4)值显示,它们均为岩浆成因的锆石。锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)Pb年龄分布在730~769Ma和771~850Ma之间,这些锆石的Hf同位素成分范围较大,ε_(Hf)(t)值和二阶段Hf模式年龄(T_(DM2))分别为-18.4~11.4和1020~2812Ma。此外,样品中还有一些年龄较老的锆石颗粒,~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄为1910~3140Ma,ε_(Hf)(t)值和二阶段Hf模式年龄(T_(DM2))分别为-13.6~3.4和2740~3635Ma。结合前人的研究推测,桂北丹洲群拱洞组沉积年龄小于等于706±10Ma,物源主要由扬子板块新元古代岩浆岩组成,也有少量太古宙岩浆岩的加入。推测中国华南地区存在对应于Rodinia超大陆聚合相关的格林威尔运动的响应。根据已测锆石的ε_(Hf)(t)值和Hf二阶段模式年龄推断,研究区地壳生长主要经历3个阶段:(1)3.64~3.25Ga,初生地壳出现在3.64Ga;(2)2.98~2.37Ga;(3)2.19~1.28Ga,地壳生长的主要时期。     

新疆北部友谊峰一带喀纳斯群碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄及其对阿尔泰造山带构造演化的启示

新疆北部阿尔泰山西段友谊峰一带发育的喀纳斯群碎屑沉积岩中保留了大量的古陆缘演化及沉积、变质等地质信息。采集了2个层位的碎屑锆石进行同位素年龄研究, 结果显示:2套碎屑岩的锆石U-Pb年龄分布特征相近, 最年轻的岩浆锆石年龄分别为546±4 Ma和545±4 Ma, 代表了沉积时代的下限;较老的锆石年龄可分为太古宙的3063±16 Ma、2548±18 Ma和2541±18 Ma, 古—中元古代的2223~1463 Ma, 新元古代的985~781 Ma, 据此推断, 沉积物源存在前寒武纪结晶基底;较新的锆石变质年龄为421~429 Ma, 与阿尔泰地区强烈的岩浆活动时间相近, 可能与地层遭受后期的热液变质事件有关。结合地质构造演化, 表明新疆北部地区大致经历了太古宙陆核形成阶段、Columbia超大陆形成和演化阶段、Rodinia超大陆汇聚和裂解阶段、震旦纪—寒武纪复理石沉积阶段, 以及加里东期剧烈岩浆活动阶段。     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带东段白垩纪混杂岩归属及其构造意义

采用野外地质点观察、岩相分析及碎屑锆石U-Pb定年方法,对雅鲁藏布江缝合带东段南侧的朗县白垩纪混杂岩（KL）进行研究。分析结果显示,以乃东-金东-莫洛断裂为界,该断裂南侧具有以板岩/千枚岩为主夹砂岩、粉砂岩的特征,属于海底扇沉积,其碎屑锆石年龄谱有230Ma和530Ma 2个峰值,与南部的上三叠统复理石郎杰学群极其相似;而该断裂北侧狭长地带的KL则主要为陆棚相板岩与大理岩,属于拉萨南缘沉积。为此认为,南部主体属于上三叠统郎杰学群,暗示印度大陆与欧亚大陆在西藏东南部的缝合碰撞边界可能是乃东-金东-莫洛断裂,而不是北侧的泽当-加查-朗拉岗则断裂或南侧的乃东-曲松-白露断裂。