Retrograde replacement of andalusite by Ca–Na mica in chloritoid-bearing metapelites. PTX modelling of rocks with different Al content in the MnNCKFMASH system

Andalusite porphyroblasts are totally pseudomorphosed by margarite–paragonite aggregates in aluminous pelites containing the peak mineral assemblage andalusite, chlorite, chloritoid, margarite, paragonite, quartz ± garnet, in a NW Iberia contact area. Equilibria at low P–T are investigated using new KFMASH and (mainly) MnCNKFMASH grids constructed with Thermocalc 3.21. P–T and T–X pseudosections with phase modal volume isopleths are constructed for compositions relatively richer and poorer in andalusite to model the assemblages in an andalusite‐bearing rock that contains a thin andalusite‐rich band (ARB) during retrogression. Their compositions, prior to retrogression, are used in the modelling, and have been retrieved by restoring the pseudomorph‐forming elements into the current‐depleted matrix, except for Al₂O₃ which is assumed to be immobile. Compositional differences between the thin band and the rest of the rock have not resulted in differences in andalusite porphyroblast retrogression. The absence of chloritoid resorbtion implies either a pressure increase at constant reacting‐system composition, or that its composition changed during retrogression at constant pressure, by becoming enriched in the progressively replaced andalusite porphyroblasts. T–X pseudosections at 1 kbar model this latter process using as end‐members in X, first, the restored original rock and ARB compositions, and, then the same process, taking into account the change in composition of both as retrogression proceeded. The MnNCKFMASH pseudosections of rocks with different Al contents facilitate making further deductions on the rock‐composition control of the resulting assemblages upon retrogression. Andalusite eventually disappears in relatively Al‐poor rocks, resulting, as in this study, in a rock formed by chloritoid–chlorite as the only FM minerals, plus margarite–paragonite pseudomorphs of andalusite. In rocks richer in Al, chlorite would progressively disappear and a kyanite/andalusite–chloritoid assemblage would eventually be stable at retrograde conditions. The Al‐silicate, stable during retrogression in Al‐rich rocks, indicates pressure conditions and hence the tectonic context under which retrogression took place.     

The effects of temperature and substrate on ontogenetic behavior of bastard halibut, Paralichthys olivaceus (T. et S.)

1 INTRODUCTION Scientific management of aquacultural andnatural populations studies on the early life historyof flatfishes in the aspects of their metamorphosisand benthic settlement accompanying pronouncedtransitions in morphology, behavior and habitatecology have received much attention (Youson,1988). Accumulated data showed that temperatureand substrate played a main role in the recruitmentsuccess of flatfish during their early development(Rijnsdorp et al., 1995, Gibson and Robb, 2000…     

Evolution of regional metamorphism in the Cape Smith Thrust Belt (northern Quebec, Canada): interaction of tectonic and thermal processes

Abstract Syn-metamorphic re-imbrication of the internal part of thrust belts can result in distinct pressure–temperature–time–deformation ( P–T–t–d ) pathways for different structural–metamorphic domains. In the early Proterozoic Cape Smith Thrust Belt (Canada), an external (piggyback-sequence thrusting) domain is characterized by thermal peak metamorphism occurring after deformation. In contrast, thermal peak metamorphism in an internal domain occurred during re-imbrication by out-of-sequence thrusting. The interactions of tectonic and thermal processes have been studied using three methods: (i) qualitative evaluation of the timing between mineral growth and deformation; (ii) analytical P–T paths from growth-zoned garnet porphyroblasts; and (iii) numerical modelling of vertical heat conduction. Derived P–T–t–d pathways suggest that uplift in the external domain resulted in part from erosion and isostatic unloading. In contrast, paths for the internal domain indicate that the out-of-sequence portion of the thrust belt may have experienced faster unroofing relative to the external domain. This is attributed to thickening by out-of-sequence thrusting and possibly to extensional faulting at (now eroded) higher structural levels. Observations on the timing of metamorphism, coupled with numerical modelling, suggest that the thermal peak metamorphism documented in the external domain is a consequence of the emplacement of the out-of-sequence thrusts stack in the internal portion of the thrust belt.     

热带大气中30～60天低频振荡的CISK-Rossby波理论

本文根据低纬热带大气中的风压场平衡关系对CISK-Rossby波进行了研究,指出对于弱对流加热,CISK-Rossby波既可以向东西方向传播,又可以向南北方向传播,并且这种弱对流加热所激发的CISK-Rossby波是一种稳定的减幅波;对于强对流加热,这种CISK-Rossby波减速并向东和向北传播,其传播特征与30～60天低频振荡的特征比较一致,并且这种CISK-Rossby波又是一种不稳定的增幅波,在10°N和17°N地区,经向波长为6000km的CISK-Rossby波的e倍增幅时间分别为6天和8天。因此,CISK-Rossby波可能是30～60天低频振荡的触发机制。     

P–T conditions for the Arendal granulites, southern Norway: implications for the roles of P, T and CO2 in deep crustal LILE-depletion

Abstract The orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene, garnet-orthopyroxene and garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometers, and the garnet-orthopyroxene-plagioclase, garnet-clinopyroxene-plagioclase and anorthite-ferrosilite-grossular-almandine-quartz geobarometers are applied to metabasites and the garnetplagioclase-sillimanite-quartz geobarometer is applied to a metapelite from the Proterozoic Arendal granulite terrain, Bamble sector, Norway. P–T conditions of metamorphism were 7.3 ± 0.5 kbar and 800 ± 60°C.
This terrain shows a regional gradation from the amphibolite facies, into normal LILE content granulite facies rocks and finally strongly LILE deficient granulite facies gneisses. Neither P nor T vary significantly across the entire transition zone. The change in 'grade'parallels the increasing dominance of CO₂ over H₂O in the fluid phase.
LILE-depletion is not a pre-condition of granulite facies metamorphism: granulites may have either 'depleted'or 'normal'chemistries. The results presented herein show that LILE-deficiency in granulite facies orthogneisses is not necessarily related to variations in either P or T . The important mechanisms in the Arendal terrain were (a) direct synmetamorphic crystallization from magma, with primary LILE-poor mineralogies imposed by the prevailing fluid regime, and (b) metamorphic depletion, involving scavenging of LILEs during flushing by mantle-derived CO₂-rich fluids. The latter process is constrained by U–Pb and Rb–Sr isotopic work to have occurred no later than 50 Ma after intrusion of the acid-intermediate gneisses, and was probably associated with contemporary basic magmatism in a tectonic environment similar to a present day cordilleran continental margin.     

Second Tesseral Harmonic Torque Due to the DynamicS of the Oceanic Surface Layer as Detected by TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimetry 1993-2000

Estimates of the second tesseral torque due to the variations in the radial space position of the mean ocean surface as monitored by TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter system are derived. The magnitude of the studied torque may be compared to the tidal torque and to the tesseral torque caused by deformations due to the Earths rotation. However, such torque estimates strongly depend on the thickness of the ocean surface layer adopted in the spherical model of which the dynamics is believed to be responsible for the derived torque. The dependence on the thickness is discussed.     

Dehydration melting, fluid buffering and decompressional P–T path in a granulite complex from the Eastern Ghats, India

A suite of metapelites, charnockites, calc-silicate rocks, quartzo-feldspathic gneisses and mafic granulites is exposed at Garbham, a part of the Eastern Ghats granulite belt of India. Reaction textures and mineral compositional data have been used to determine the P–T–X evolutionary history of the granulites. In metapelites and charnockites, dehydration melting reactions involving biotite produced quartzofeldspathic segregations during peak metamorphism. However, migration of melt from the site of generation was limited. Subsequent to peak metamorphism at c . 860° C and 8 kbar, the complex evolved through nearly isothermal decompression to 530–650° C and 4–5 kbar. During this phase, coronal garnet grew in the calc-silicates, while garnet in the presence of quartz broke down in charnockite and mafic granulite. Fluid activities during metamorphism were internally buffered in different lithologies in the presence of a melt phase. The P–T path of the granulites at Garbham contrasts sharply with the other parts of the Eastern Ghats granulite belt where the rocks show dominantly near-isobaric cooling subsequent to peak metamorphism.     

The extent of desertification on Saudi Arabia

Desertification is the process that turns productive deserts into non-productive deserts as a result of poor land-management. Desertification reduces the ability of land to support life, affecting wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and humans. The reduction in plant cover that accompanies desertification leads to accelerated soil erosion by wind and water. South Africa is losing approximately 300–400 million tons of topsoil every year. As vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain fall impact and run-off increases. This paper discusses the extent of desertification, its potential threat to sustained irrigated agriculture and possible measures adopted to control ongoing desertification processes to minimize the loss of agricultural productivity in an arid country such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

The granite hosted gold deposit of Moulin de Chéni (Saint-Yrieix district,Massif Central,France): petrographic,structural, fluid inclusion and oxygen isotope constraints

The Moulin de Chéni orogenic gold deposit is the only granite-hosted deposit of the Saint-Yrieix district, French Massif Central. It occurs in 338±1.5 Ma-old peraluminous leucogranites and is characterized by intense microfracturing and bleaching of the granite in relation to pervasive sulfide crystallization. Formation of quartz veins and gold deposition occurred in two successive stages: an early mesozonal stage of quartz-sulfide (Fe-As-S) deposition, usually devoid of gold and a late epizonal stage of base metal and gold deposition. Both stages postdate peak metamorphism and granite intrusion. The genesis of the deposit is the result of four successive fluid events: (1) Percolation of aqueous-carbonic metamorphic fluids under an assumed lithostatic regime of 400–450 °C, at a maximum depth of 13 km; (2) Formation of the main quartz lodes with coeval K-alteration and introduction of As and S from aqueous-carbonic fluids percolating along regional faults. Arsenopyrite and pyrite deposition was linked to the alteration of Fe-silicates into K-feldspar and phengite at near-constant iron content in the bulk granite. Temperature was similar to that of the preceding stage, but pressure decreased to 100–50 MPa, suggesting rapid uplift of the basement up to 7.5 km depth; (3) The resulting extensional tectonic leads to the deposition of gold, boulangerite, galena and sphalerite in brecciated arsenopyrite and pyrite from aqueous fluids during a mixing process. Temperature and salinity decrease from 280 to 140 °C and 8.1 wt% eq. NaCl to 1.6 wt% eq. NaCl, respectively; (4) Sealing of the late fault system by barren comb quartz which precipitated from dilute meteoric aqueous fluids (1.6 wt% eq. NaCl to 0.9 wt% eq. NaCl) under hydrostatic conditions at 200–150 °C.Editorial handling: B. Lehmann     

Yaxcopoil-1 and the Chicxulub impact

CSDP core Yaxcopoil-1 was drilled to a depth of 1,511 m within the Chicxulub crater. An organic-rich marly limestone near the base of the hole (1,495 to 1,452 m) was deposited in an open marine shelf environment during the latest Cenomanian (uppermost Rotalipora cushmani zone). The overlying sequence of limestones, dolomites and anhydrites (1,495 to 894 m) indicates deposition in various carbonate platform environments (e.g., sabkhas, lagoons). A 100-m-thick suevite breccia (894–794 m) identifies the Chicxulub impact event. Above the suevite breccia is a dolomitic limestone with planktic foraminiferal assemblages indicative of Plummerita hantkeninoides zone CF1, which spans the last 300 ky of the Maastrichtian. An erosional surface 50 cm above the breccia/dolomite contact marks the K/T boundary and a hiatus. Limestones above this contact contain the first Tertiary planktic foraminifera indicative of an upper P. eugubina zone P1a(2) age. Another hiatus 7 cm upsection separates zone P1a(2) and hemipelagic limestones of planktic foraminiferal Zone P1c. Planktic foraminiferal assemblages of Zone Plc to P3b age are present from a depth of 794.04 up to 775 m. The Cretaceous carbonate sequence appears to be autochthonous, with a stratigraphic sequence comparable to late Cretaceous sediments known from outside the Chicxulub crater in northern and southern Yucatan, including the late Cenomanian organic-rich marly limestone. There is no evidence that these sediments represent crater infill due to megablocks sliding into the crater, such as major disruption of sediments, chaotic changes in lithology, overturned or deep dipping megablocks, major mechanical fragmentation, shock or thermal alteration, or ductile deformation. Breccia units that are intercalated in the carbonate platform sequence are intraformational in origin (e.g., dissolution of evaporites) and dykes are rare. Major disturbances of strata by the impact therefore appear to have been confined to within less than 60 km from the proposed impact center. Yaxcopoil-1 may be located outside the collapsed transient crater cavity, either on the upper end of an elevated and tilted horst of the terrace zone, or even outside the annular crater cavity. The Chicxulub site thus records a large impact that predates the K/T boundary impact and mass extinction.