High-pressure decomposition of MCr2O4 spinels (M=Mg, Mn, Zn) by ab initio methods

The high-pressure equation of state of the normal spinels MgCr₂O₄ (picrochromite), MnCr₂O₄ and ZnCr₂O₄, and their reaction of decomposition into Cr₂O₃ (eskolaite) and MO (rocksalt-type) component oxides, were investigated by periodic unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations. All-electron basis sets, and an a posteriori correction for the electron correlation energy, based on Density-Functional-Theory, were employed. Interpolation of results by the P-V Murnaghan equation of state yielded the equilibrium volume and energy, and the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative, for each of the seven phases (three spinels, three rocksalt oxides and eskolaite) considered. The simulated behaviour of interatomic distances vs pressure shows similar compressibilities of M-O bonds in both octahedral and tetrahedral coordinations. Binding energies and formation enthalpies of spinels from oxides are also computed and compared to available experimental data. The predicted decomposition pressures of Mg, Mn and Zn chromium spinels are 19, 23 and 34 GPa, respectively. The greater stability of ZnCr₂O₄ is related to Zn²⁺ being better suited to tetrahedral coordination than the other M²⁺ cations. Such results are strongly supported by the excellent agreement previously obtained between simulated (11 GPa) and experimental (13 GPa) pressures of the decomposition of MgAl₂O₄ spinel into corundum and periclase. Received: 9 February 1998 / Accepted: 12 October 1998     

基于IAP AGCM4的欧亚大陆春季雪水当量可预报性评估

欧亚大陆积雪是重要的气候预测因子,评估其在气候模式中的预测潜力可为季节气候预测和模式发展提供重要参考。本文利用IAP AGCM4的多年集合后报结果,分析了欧亚大陆春季雪水当量的可预报性。结果表明该模式对提前1月后报的欧亚大陆春季雪水当量的空间分布,主要模态及变化趋势具有较好的可预报能力。此外模式对欧亚中高纬积雪的年际异常也具有较高的预报技巧,特别是高纬度区域。可预报性来源分析则表明,大气初始异常对欧亚中高纬积雪可预报性的影响与海温异常相比显得更为重要。     

基态位涡径向分布对浅水涡旋系统演变的影响分析Part Ⅱ:扰动发展和结构变化

本文在基态位涡（Potential Vorticity,PV）径向分布和基态涡旋强度对热带气旋（Tropical Cyclone,TC）类涡旋系统稳定性特征影响的研究基础上,结合理想试验和数值模拟诊断分析基态PV径向分布对扰动增长和系统结构变化的影响.基于线性正压浅水模型,设计三种典型基态PV中空结构下基态涡旋强度对系统稳定性影响的敏感性试验.结果表明：基态涡旋的强度主要影响稳定性的强弱,强度越强,不稳定增长率越大,而基态PV径向分布对系统最不稳定波动性质起着决定作用.分析不同波数下扰动的发展及不同波数间扰动的相互作用可知,对于宽且实的PV环,系统稳定性主要取决于低波数不稳定,且最不稳定波数扰动的发展具有明显的优势地位;对于窄且空的PV环,系统稳定性主要取决于高波数不稳定,且多个高波数下增长最快模态的不稳定增长率值十分接近.利用模态线性叠加法讨论扰动增长对系统结构变化的影响表明：最不稳定波数的扰动发展对系统结构变化有关键影响,而多个波数的扰动不稳定增长相当时,不同波数的扰动发生相互作用从而影响系统结构变化.最后,利用实际个例模拟资料分析基态PV径向分布及其变化对TC结构和强度的影响表明：TC内核区出现的多边形眼墙结构与当前时刻基态PV径向分布所决定的最不稳定波数有很好的对应关系,同时基态PV径向分布变化所反映出的系统动力稳定性强弱与TC强度发展阶段具有很好的相关性.     

Geophysical mapping of buried faults in parts of Bida Basin,North Central Nigeria

High‐resolution aeromagnetic data over the Bida Basin, North Central Nigeria has been analysed to investigate the possible continuity of Ifewara fault zone, through the Bida Basin, to Zungeru fault zone. Analytic signal magnitude, horizontal gradient magnitude, and Euler deconvolution methods were applied to the aeromagnetic data to delineate the subsurface structures. The results showed that a prominent NNE–SSW trending fault associated with the Ifewara fault zone extends through the study area. Other faults trending in the ENE–WSW, NE–SW, NW–SE, E–W, and WNW–ESE directions were also mapped. Interpreted models revealed the presence of intrusives and a possible mineralised zone within the study area. We therefore concluded that the inferred fault zones within the basin have affinity with the trend of the Ifewara fault zone, which is an indication of possible extension and linkage with Zungeru fault zone through the Bida Basin.     

Separation of magnetic anomalies into induced and remanent magnetization contributions

Inversion of magnetic data is complicated by the presence of remanent magnetization, and it provides limited information about the magnetic source because of the insufficiency of data and constraint information. We propose a Fourier domain transformation allowing the separation of magnetic anomalies into the components caused by induced and remanent magnetizations. The approach is based on the hypothesis that each isolated source is homogeneous with a uniform and specific Koenigsberger ratio. The distributions of susceptibility and remanent magnetization are subsequently recovered from the separated anomalies. Anomaly components, susceptibility distribution and distribution of the remanent and total magnetization vectors (direction and intensity) can be achieved through the processing of the anomaly components. The proposed method therefore provides a procedure to test the hypotheses about target source and magnetic field, by verifying these models based on available information or a priori information from geology. We test our methods using synthetic and real data acquired over the Zhangfushan iron-ore deposit and the Yeshan polymetallic deposit in eastern China. All the tests yield favourable results and the obtained models are helpful for the geological interpretation.     

Impact of three-dimensional attitude variations of an unmanned aerial vehicle magnetometry system on magnetic data quality

Optically pumped vapour magnetometers have an orientation dependency in measuring the scalar component of the ambient magnetic field which leads to challenges for integration with mobile platforms. Quantifying the three-dimensional attitude variations (yaw, pitch and roll) of an optically pumped vapour magnetometer, while in-flight and suspended underneath a rotary unmanned aerial vehicle, aids in the successful development of reliable, high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle magnetometry surveys. This study investigates the in-flight three-dimensional attitude characteristics of a GEM Systems Inc. GSMP-35U potassium vapour magnetometer suspended 3 m underneath a Dà-Jiāng Innovations S900 multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle. A series of unmanned aerial vehicle-borne attitude surveys quantified the three-dimensional attitude variations that a simulated magnetometer payload experienced while freely (or semi-rigidly) suspended underneath the unmanned aerial vehicle in fair weather. Analysis of the compiled yaw, pitch and roll data resulted in the design of a specialized semi-rigid magnetometer mount, implemented to limit magnetometer rotation about the yaw axis. A subsequent unmanned aerial vehicle-borne magnetic survey applying this specialized mount resulted in more than 99% of gathered GSMP-35U magnetic data being within industry standards. Overall, this study validates that maintaining magnetometer attitude variations within quantified limits (±5° yaw, ±10° pitch and roll) during flight can yield reliable, continuous and high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle-borne magnetic measurements.     

基于数学建模的潜在地震破裂面源检测方法研究

大多数地震破裂面源检测方法都是通过简化地震震源,将地震震源表示成线源或者点源,无法有效描述地震带地震破裂面源产状和大小,不适用地震震级较大的情况下地震危险性检测。因此提出基于数学建模的潜在地震破裂面源检测方法,在地震震级较大时仍能检测出地震危险性概率。选取适宜的地震基岩水平峰值加速度衰减关系,分析地震震级、破裂长度、破裂宽度相互关系,确定地震引起的潜在地震破裂面源大小,计算给定地震动小于在场点处产生地震动的概率,将该概率同地震动加速度衰减关系结合,得到地震动年超越概率,分析地震危险性。经过实验检测发现,所提方法检测出的年超越概率与峰值加速度、最大震级有关,该概率能精准表示地震带地震破裂面源产状和大小,说明该方法检测地震危险性是合理的。     

The Gravity Module Assembly used in airborne full tensor gradiometry surveys

In airborne gravity gradiometry, the Gravity Module Assembly is an optional gravimeter unit that is mounted on the same stabilized platform as the Full Tensor Gradiometer. Direct measurements of the gravity field are needed from this device to constrain the long wavelengths when gradient data are integrated mathematically to form high-resolution gravity fields. The Gravity Module Assembly is, however, capable of providing independent gravity data with a specification approaching that expected from a dedicated airborne gravity system. Presented here is an error analysis of data from this instrument collected alongside the Full Tensor Gradiometer during an airborne survey. By having both gradiometry and gravity datasets, comparisons of the information content in these two types of measurement are made.     

二维位场在有源空间的解析延拓

位场的向下延拓对重、磁等位场资料的处理与解释具有重要意义,但现有的延拓方法在位场向下接近场源时会产生剧烈震荡,计算过程很不稳定,而且理论上都不能越过场源.本文在复数域里定义了一个具有位场和几何双重特性的新函数PFGR,提出了一套新的延拓方法,在理论上实现了位场在包含场源的下半空间里的解析延拓,经过模型试算验证,表明该方法可以延拓越过场源,准确确定场源奇点,计算过程稳定,对测量中的随机噪声也具有较好的抗干扰能力.     

Review paper: Exploration geophysics for intrusion‐hosted rare metals

Igneous intrusions, notably carbonatitic–alkalic intrusions, peralkaline intrusions, and pegmatites, represent significant sources of rare‐earth metals. Geophysical exploration for and of such intrusions has met with considerable success. Examples of the application of the gravity, magnetic, and radiometric methods in the search for rare metals are presented and described. Ground gravity surveys defining small positive gravity anomalies helped outline the shape and depth of the Nechalacho (formerly Lake) deposit within the Blatchford Lake alkaline complex, Northwest Territories, and of spodumene‐rich mineralization associated with the Tanco deposit, Manitoba, within the hosting Tanco pegmatite. Based on density considerations, the bastnaesite‐bearing main ore body within the Mountain Pass carbonatite, California, should produce a gravity high similar in amplitude to those associated with the Nechalacho and Tanco deposits. Gravity also has utility in modelling hosting carbonatite intrusions, such as the Mount Weld intrusion, Western Australia, and Elk Creek intrusion, Nebraska. The magnetic method is probably the most successful geophysical technique for locating carbonatitic–alkalic host intrusions, which are typically characterized by intense positive, circular to sub‐circular, crescentic, or annular anomalies. Intrusions found by this technique include the Mount Weld carbonatite and the Misery Lake alkali complex, Quebec. Two potential carbonatitic–alkalic intrusions are proposed in the Grenville Province of Eastern Quebec, where application of an automatic technique to locate circular magnetic anomalies identified several examples. Two in particular displayed strong similarities in magnetic pattern to anomalies accompanying known carbonatitic or alkalic intrusions hosting rare‐metal mineralization and are proposed to have a similar origin. Discovery of carbonatitic–alkalic hosts of rare metals has also been achieved by the radiometric method. The Thor Lake group of rare‐earth metal deposits, which includes the Nechalacho deposit, were found by follow‐up investigations of strong equivalent thorium and uranium peaks defined by an airborne survey. Prominent linear radiometric anomalies associated with glacial till in the Canadian Shield have provided vectors based on ice flow directions to source intrusions. The Allan Lake carbonatite in the Grenville Province of Ontario is one such intrusion found by this method. Although not discovered by its radiometric characteristics, the Strange Lake alkali intrusion on the Quebec–Labrador border is associated with prominent linear thorium and uranium anomalies extending at least 50 km down ice from the intrusion. Radiometric exploration of rare metals hosted by pegmatites is evaluated through examination of radiometric signatures of peraluminous pegmatitic granites in the area of the Tanco pegmatite.