Thermal equation of state of majorite with MORB composition

In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments were conducted using the SPEED-1500 multi-anvil press at SPring-8 on majoritic garnet synthesized from natural mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), whose chemical composition is close to the average of oceanic crust, at 19 GPa and 2200 K. Pressure-volume-temperature data were collected using a newly developed high-pressure cell assembly to 21 GPa and 1273 K. Data were fit to the high-temperature Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, with fixed values for the ambient cell volume (V₀ = 1574.14(4) Å³) and the pressure derivative of the isothermal bulk modulus (K^′T = 4). This yielded an isothermal bulk modulus of K_T0 = 173(1) GPa, a temperature derivative of the bulk modulus (∂K_T/∂T)_P = −0.022(5) GPa K⁻¹, and a volumetric coefficient of thermal expansivity α = a + bT with values of a = 2.0(3) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ and b = 1.0(5) × 10⁻⁸ K⁻². The derived thermoelastic parameters are very similar to those of pyrope. The density of subducted oceanic crust compared to pyrolitic mantle at the conditions in Earth's transition zone (410-660 km depth) was calculated using these results and previously reported thermoelastic parameters for MORB and pyrolite mineral assembledges. These calculations show that oceanic crust is denser than pyrolitic mantle throughout the mantle transition zone along a normal geotherm, and the density difference is insensitive to temperature at the pressures in lower part of the transition zone.     

C chronology for ice retreat and inception of Champlain Sea in the St. Lawrence Lowlands, Canada

AMS radiocarbon cross-dating of plant debris and marine shells trapped in a lake basin on Mount St. Hilaire (Québec, Canada) provides a direct assessment of a reservoir effect totaling ca. 1800 ¹⁴C years during the early stage of Champlain Sea. Pollen-based extrapolation of bottommost ages on terrestrial plant macrofossils in sediments of this lake, and of another lake nearby support an estimate of 11,100 ± 100 ¹⁴C yr B.P. for marine invasion in the Central St. Lawrence River Lowlands. Results indicate a 400–1000 years younger regional chronology of ice retreat, now congruent with the one inferred from the New England varve chronology. This is a summary of a longer paper to be published in French.     

The structure of SrTiOGeO4 and its solid solution with CaTiOGeO4

Solid solubility and structural phase transitions in (Ca _x Sr_1-x )TiOGeO₄have been studied by means of in situ high temperature X-ray powder diffraction. The displacive A2/a–P2₁/a phase transition analogous to titanite has been followed across the solid solution. Strain analysis indicates a transition temperature of T _c=594 ± 10 K for SrTiOGeO₄ and the additional occurrence of an isosymmetric anomaly at T _i =800 ± 25 K, in analogy to the isomorphous compound CaTiOGeO₄. Lattice parameters as a function of temperature and composition have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction between room temperature and a maximum temperature of 1123 K. The e ₁₁ and e ₁₃ components dominate the strain tensor. All compositions across the solid solution exhibit close to tricritical phase transitions P2₁/a–A2/a. The critical temperature remains almost unaffected by substitution of Sr for Ca, but the magnitude of the spontaneous strain drops significantly with even small amounts of Sr present.     

A three-dimensional radially anisotropic model of shear velocity in the whole mantle

We present a 3-D radially anisotropic S velocity model of the whole mantle (SAW642AN), obtained using a large three component surface and body waveform data set and an iterative inversion for structure and source parameters based on Non-linear Asymptotic Coupling Theory (NACT). The model is parametrized in level 4 spherical splines, which have a spacing of ∼ 8°. The model shows a link between mantle flow and anisotropy in a variety of depth ranges. In the uppermost mantle, we confirm observations of regions with   V_SH > V_SV   starting at ∼80 km under oceanic regions and ∼200 km under stable continental lithosphere, suggesting horizontal flow beneath the lithosphere. We also observe a   V_SV > V_SH   signature at ∼150–300 km depth beneath major ridge systems with amplitude correlated with spreading rate for fast-spreading segments. In the transition zone (400–700 km depth), regions of subducted slab material are associated with   V_SV > V_SH   , while the ridge signal decreases. While the mid-mantle has lower amplitude anisotropy (<1 per cent), we also confirm the observation of radially symmetric   V_SH > V_SV   in the lowermost 300 km, which appears to be a robust conclusion, despite an error in our previous paper which has been corrected here. The 3-D deviations from this signature are associated with the large-scale low-velocity superplumes under the central Pacific and Africa, suggesting that   V_SH > V_SV   is generated in the predominant horizontal flow of a mechanical boundary layer, with a change in signature related to transition to upwelling at the superplumes.     

PLACING KANGWANE IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA*

ABSTRACT. The South African homelands were central to the apartheid ideology of racial segregation and separate development and as a result became the location for large segments of the African population. Apartheid‐era theorizations of the homelands tended to emphasize their importance to the state, with less attention directed to the divergent and unique social formations that often existed within them. Recent geographical research has been intent on evaluating the spatial imprint of these geographies for resident populations, as well as the varied class, gendered, and institutional formations that accompanied the democratic transition. Using a case study from the former KaNgwane homeland, this article examines the diverse ways in which rural households access environmental and economic resources to produce livelihoods. It is argued that a focus on community variation is needed to interrogate the differential encounters of these places with the local politics and development processes that are emerging in the new South Africa.     

青藏高原热状况和海温异常对亚洲季风季节转换年际变化的影响

本文根据季节转换前后副高脊面附近经向温度梯度变号的本质，利用相关分析和合成分析等方法研究了季节转换年际变化与外部影响因子的联系. 结果表明，冬春季青藏高原热状况和ENSO（El Nio/Southern Oscillation，厄尔尼诺/南方涛动）是决定亚洲季风区季节转换年际变化的主要因素. 当冬、春季海温呈现El Nio异常时，Walker环流减弱，于是西太平洋暖池区对流活动受到抑制，而赤道东太平洋对流活动加强则强迫赤道印度洋地区产生绝热下沉运动，使得印度洋地区大气偏暖，结果增大了南北向温度梯度，季节转换往往偏晚. 反之，季节转换偏早. 初春高原上空对流层中高层的气温异常对于判断季节转换迟早有很好的指示意义.     

南羌塘侏罗纪盆地的沉积－构造转换与烃源岩

沉积盆地层序地层和岩相古地理研究以及沉积-构造转换过程分析，是探讨沉积体系时空演化的重要思路。通过沉积-构造转换的分析。指出羌南地区在侏罗纪经历了从被动大陆边缘到夭折前陆，最后隆升剥蚀的演化历史；初步厘定了南羌塘地区烃源岩形成环境。在经历4次海侵的过程中。相应发育了两个陆源碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩沉积旋回。在这4次沉积-构造转换过程中．发育3套黑色页岩沉积：分别属于被动大陆边缘烃源岩和前陆盆地两个阶段烃源岩。是南羌塘侏罗纪盆地的油气评价的物质基础。     

Rural settlements in transition – agricultural and countryside crisis in the Central-Eastern Europe

The paper presents a synthesis of French and Bulgarian researches on the transition in villages in Central Eastern Europe. The main points focus on three questions, the rural unemployment and the crisis of small towns, the demographical deterioration, the new relations between villages and towns. A generalization of the rural central places' visual change and metaphors is proposed, completed by a typology of rural settlements. The question of the rural administrative divisions is discussed, with its implication for the future. As a whole the paper gives a contribution to the problematic of the likely development in the rural evolution pattern throughout Europe. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Opportunities, constraints and pluriactivity in rural Romania during the transition period; preliminary observations

This paper presents some initial implications of the changes brought about by recent economic transformations within the Romanian rural sector during the current transition period. As a case study of those trends, within the context of pluriactivity and constraints to rural development, it looks at some characteristics of agricultural production in the Subcarpathian region of the county of Valcea, an area where collectivisation, and thus its influences, had been partial and limited. The paper links micro and macro view points. At the micro level, it looks at the coping strategies, based on pluriactivity, adopted by rural households under changing economic conditions. At the macro level, the paper discusses some of the possible factors supporting as well as hindering rural welfare levels and agricultural development under current economic conditions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

巴颜喀拉-川西边缘前陆盆地演化

巴颜喀拉古特提斯洋的消亡过程反映在巴颜喀拉残留盆地到边缘前陆盆地转化的沉积记录中。鉴于这个前陆盆地与其向克拉通延伸的组成部分——四川盆地现为龙门山逆冲带所分隔,以致已往的沉积盆地研究多将其相割裂,本文将结合巴颜喀拉洋的消亡过程,把这两个盆地视为一个统一整体来加以分析,研究其演变历程。
晚二叠世,扬子板块向西楔入的同时,发生向北（昆仑-柴达木陆块）和向南（羌塘-昌都陆块）的双向俯冲消减。本文提出了巴颜喀拉洋的主体闭合,从而开始转化为边缘前陆盆地阶段的时间是在拉丁（T₂²）中晚期,而不是晚三叠世的见解。这点可由拉丁中晚期时,四川盆地川中广大地区形成与前陆挠曲沉降相对应的前陆隆起得以证明。此时期发生的前陆沉降,结束了被动边缘的饥饿（T₁—T₂¹）沉积盆地状态,充填了厚逾2,000—10,000m的类复理石沉积,并向扬子克拉通边缘超覆。随着逆冲带的由北向南推进,在诺利一瑞替期形成了滨海含煤磨拉石和陆相含煤磨拉石（逆冲褶皱带地区大多后期被剥蚀）。晚三叠世中晚期,逆冲带侵位推进到四川盆地西部边缘的龙门山地带,从而前陆盆地迁移入四川盆地内,进入陆内汇聚的后造山陆相磨拉石前陆盆地阶段。晚白垩世一早第三纪,因四川盆地晚期的抬升,这一前陆盆地便逐渐萎缩消亡。