'Forbidden zone' subduction of sediments to 150 km depth— the reaction of dolomite to magnesite + aragonite in the UHPM metapelites from western Tianshan, China

The solid‐state reaction magnesite (MgCO₃) + calcite (aragonite) (CaCO₃) = dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂) has been identified in metapelites from western Tianshan, China. Petrological studies show that two metamorphic stages are recorded in the metapelites: (1) the peak mineral assemblage of magnesite and calcite pseudomorphs after aragonite which is only preserved as inclusions within dolomite; and (2) the retrograde glaucophane‐chloritoid facies mineral assemblage of glaucophane, chloritoid, dolomite, garnet, paragonite, chlorite and quartz. The peak metamorphic temperatures and pressures are calculated to be 560–600 °C, 4.95–5.07 GPa based on the calcite–dolomite geothermometer and the equilibrium calculation of the reaction dolomite = magnesite + aragonite, respectively. These give direct evidence in UHP metamorphic rocks from Tianshan, China, that carbonate sediments were subducted to greater than 150 km depth. This UHP metamorphism represents a geotherm lower than any previously estimated for subduction metamorphism (< 3.7 °C km^?1) and is within what was previously considered a ‘forbidden’ condition within Earth. In terms of the carbon cycle, this demonstrates that carbonate sediments can be subducted to at least 150 km depth without releasing significant CO₂ to the overlying mantle wedge.     

Interlayer and Si content of phengite in HP–LT carpholite-bearing metapelites

Phengite occurring along with carpholite±lawsonite and/or chloritoid in HP–LT domains shows not only variable Si–(Mg+Fe) contents, but also variable interlayer contents (IC). To determine whether these chemical variations are coherently related to variation in P–T conditions on a regional scale, c. 100 rock samples were sampled in metapelites metamorphosed at conditions varying from 350 °C, 8 to 12 kbar to 450–500 °C, 18 to 20 kbar (Schistes Lustrés complex, franco‐italian Western Alps). Based on microstructural and habit criteria, four types of phengite were differentiated that are related either to the rock mineralogy (carpholite vs chloritoid bearing samples) or correspond to various generations of phengite occurring in the same rock sample or thin section. Microprobe analyses reveal that each type of phengite is characterized by a specific composition and that phengite associated with carpholite has a lower interlayer content than phengite associated with chloritoid. The successive generations of retrograde phengite overgrowing carpholite point to a large decrease of interlayer content (c. 0.9–0.7 pfu) and (Fe+Mg) content (c. 0.25–0 pfu) with decreasing P–T conditions. This change is best accounted for by a gradual increase of the pyrophyllite component. In contrast, phengite from higher‐temperature, chloritoid‐bearing rock samples shows an almost constant interlayer content (c. 0.9–0.95 pfu) but a larger decrease of (Fe+Mg) content (c. 0.6–0.1 pfu). Hence, (1) the composition of the different phengite generations occurring (metastably) in the same rock sample may be used to retrieve points in P–T loops and (2) the pyrophyllitic substitution in phengite is large at low‐temperature conditions and cannot be ignored. Thermobarometric estimates based on the Si‐content alone will therefore result in pressure over‐estimates. We propose a tentative location of the phengite Si and IC isopleths in P–T space which could allow a direct determination of the P–T conditions in carpholite‐bearing rocks. Especially in some carpholite‐bearing rocks, new thermodynamic models accounting for tschermak and pyrophyllitic substitution are also required prior to making reliable thermobarometric estimates in HP‐LT metapelites.     

P–T–t paths and tectonic history of an early Precambrian granulite facies terrane, Jining district, south-east Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract The widespread khondalite series of south-east Inner Mongolia consists largely of biotite–sillimanite–garnet gneiss and quartzo-feldspathic gneiss with some marble and mafic granulite layers. It has experienced two metamorphic events at c. 2500 and 1900–2000 Ma.
A pre-peak stage of the first metamorphism at T = 600–700°C and P > 6–7 kbar is recognized by the relict amphibolite facies assemblage Ky–Grt–Bt–Pl–Qtz and 'protected'inclusions of biotite, hornblende, sodic plagioclase and quartz in garnet or orthopyroxene. The peak stage, with T = c. 800 ± 50°C and P 8–10 kbar, is characterized by the widespread granulite facies assemblages Sil–Grt–Bt–Kfs–Pl–Qtz in gneiss and Opx–Cpx–Pl ± Hbl ± Grt in granulite. The P–T–t path suggests that the supracrustal sequence was buried in the lower crust by tectonic thickening during D1–D2.
The beginning of the second metamorphism is characterized by further temperature rise to 700°C or more at lower pressure. This stage is manifested by the appearance of cordierite after garnet, fibrolite (Sil2) after biotite in gneiss and transformation of Hbl1 into Opx2 and Cpx2 in granulite. Coronas of symplectitic Opx2 + Pl2 surrounding Grt1 and Cpx1 in mafic granulite are interpreted as products of near-isothermal decompression. The P–T–t path may be related tectonically to waning extension of the crust by the end of the early Proterozoic.     

Metamorphism of an Early Palaeozoic continental margin, western Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland

Metamorphic mineral assemblages and textures from Early Palaeozoic continental margin rocks in north-western Newfoundland indicate that different structural levels have contrasting metamorphic histories. Rocks of the East Pond Metamorphic Suite, which represent the older, structurally lower level of the margin, experienced an early high-pressure–low-temperature stage of metamorphism (10–12 kbar minimum, 450–500°C) which produced eclogite in mafic dykes and phengite–garnet assemblages in pelites. This was overprinted by higher temperature–lower pressure amphibolite facies metamorphism (700–750°C, 7–9 kbar minimum) which produced complex symplectic textures in rocks of all compositions. Rocks of the Fleur de Lys Supergroup, which were deposited in the stratigraphically higher levels of the rifted margin, reached pressures of 7–8.5 kbar at about 450°C during the early stages of metamorphism, overprinted by assemblages which indicate maximum temperatures of 550–600°C at about 6.5 kbar. The metamorphic history of both units is interpreted to be the result of thermal relaxation following initial burial of a continental margin by overriding thrust sheets. Since there is no evidence that maximum pressures or temperatures within the Fleur de Lys Supergroup were ever as high as those reached in the East Pond Metamorphic Suite, these rocks may have followed parallel, 'nested' P–T–t paths, with the more deeply buried East Pond Metamorphic Suite subjected to greater thermal relaxation effects. Quantitative modelling of P–T–t paths is not possible with the present data, owing to both large uncertainties in P–T estimates, and in the time of metamorphism.     

Metapelites of the Kanskiy Granulite Complex (Eastern Siberia): Kinked P-T Paths and Geodynamic Model

The Southern Yenisey Range (Eastern Siberia) consists of thegranulite-facies Kanskiy complex bordered by the lower-gradeYeniseyskiy and Yukseevskiy complexes. Samples of metapeliteof the Kanskiy complex typically show characteristic garnet-formingreaction textures and near-isobaric cooling P–T paths.An important new result of this study concerns the differencein shape of the P–T paths from different parts of theKanskiy granulite complex: metapelites collected 8 km from theboundary with the Yeniseyskiy complex followed a linear pathwith dP/dT 0·006 kbar/°C; metapelites collected3 km from this boundary reveal a kinked P–T path withan interval of burial cooling (dP/dT –0·006 kbar/°C).The difference in the shape of the P–T paths is supportedby the chemical zoning of garnet studied in the second groupof samples. A mechanism of buoyant exhumation of granulite issuggested by comparison with the results of numerical modelling,which indicate that such a diversity of P–T paths mayresult from a transient disturbance of the thermal structureby rapid differential movement of material from different crustallevels. To arrive at a correct tectonic interpretation, thewhole assemblage of interrelated P–T paths of metamorphicrocks collected from different localities within the same complexmust be studied. KEY WORDS: crustal diapirism; exhumation; granulites; numerical modelling; P–T path     

Zipf’s Law: A Viable Geological Paradigm?

Zipfs Law originally was proposed as a guide to a statistical distribution in social studies. The law describes a relationship between size and rank of discrete phenomena. It is a variant of Paretos 1927 Law known as the 80/20 rule and is similar to Bodes Law in concept. The relationship described by Zipfs Law is a succession of order data with the largest followed by half the size for the next largest, which in turn, the next is half that size, and so on. In geology, it has been used with moderate success in resource assessment of mining and petroleum. In essence, it predicts how many entities of a certain size may be left in a sequence of decreasing size assuming the largest has been ascertained. Examples of applications would be plotting the rank and size of ore deposits or oil fields to determine how many deposits remained undiscovered and their size. After a flurry of papers in the 1970s and 1980s, application of the law apparently either was successful and thus not reported in way the literature or was determined to be ineffectual and its use discontinued, but either way the law lapsed into obscurity. Examples of oil- and gas-field size in Kansas, the occurrence of historic earthquakes that affected the state, and size of anticlines (plains-type folds) are presented to illustrate application and limits of Zipfs Law.     

A Taxonomic Study of the Genus Tinocladia （Chordariales,Phaeophyta） in China Coasts I. Two new species, T. eudesmoides sp.nov, and T. zhangii sp.nov.

Two new species of the genusTinocladia Kylin (1940)T. eudesmoides Ding et Lu sp. nov. andTinocladia zhangii Ding et Lu sp. nov., are described.T. eudesmoides is mainly characterized by its longitudinally and transversely produced sub-cortical filaments from the medulla, its short uniseriate assimilating filaments, usually composed of 6–10 cells with slightly swollen and narrow ultimate cells, and its unilocular sporangia (60–115)×55–70μm, variable in size.T. zhangii is mainly characterized by its very solid frond, not rip apart by hands, its evident longer primary branches, its short and slender secondary branches, with very evident sub-cortical layer, and filaments divided repeatedly, and its large and small unilocular sporangia, with the latter borne on an evidently swollen pedicel. Project B80981816 supported by the NSFC. Contribution No. 4443 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.     

The Phase Space Structure Around L4 in the Restricted Three-Body Problem

The phase space structure around L ₄ in the restricted three-body problem is investigated. The connection between the long period family emanating from L ₄ and the very complex structure of the stability region is shown by using the method of Poincarés surface of section. The zero initial velocity stability region around L ₄ is determined by using a method based on the calculation of finite-time Lyapunov characteristic numbers. It is shown that the boundary of the stability region in the configuration space is formed by orbits suffering slow chaotic diffusion.     

T213和ECM模式产品在"麦莎"台风预报中的应用和检验

选取T213和ECM数值模式的500hPa高度场预报产品，用天气学方法对影响“麦莎”台风移动路径的东亚西风带低槽和副热带高的演变过程、台风移动路径进行模式稳定性检验和比较。结果表明：两个模式对东亚西风带低槽和副热带高的演变过程预报稳定，预报场逐渐逼近实况分析场，预报时效达120小时。并较准确地预报了台风登陆前西北行路径。预报精度ECM模式高于T213。     

Co-Phased Median Filters, Some Peculiarities of Sweep Signal Processing

Median filters are nonlinear and a theoretical analysis of their behavior is very difficult and so are rarely used for the processing of seismic data. However, they are able to preserve steps, sharp discontinuities and edges that are lost using most other standard filters. As seismic data are mostly harmonic or frequency modulated signals in the frequency range 1 to 10 Hz, the median filter must be adapted so as to suppress noise but not unduly distort the signal. This can be accomplished by using a median filter whose length is n times that of signal period where n is even. By use of weighted-order statistics, samples of the signals closest in phase can be obtained. To illustrate the method, a signal from a frequency band of 6.3–7.5 Hz was processed and the quality of the signal enhanced two fold over the quality of the signal without processing.