U-Pb Zircon Calendar for Namaquan (Grenville) Crustal Events in the Granulite-facies Terrane of the O'okiep Copper District of South Africa

The O'okiep Copper District is underlain by voluminous 1035–1210Ma granite gneiss and granite with remnants of metamorphosedsupracrustal rocks. This assemblage was intruded by the 1030Ma copper-bearing Koperberg Suite that includes jotunite, anorthosite,biotite diorite and hypersthene-bearing rocks ranging from leuconoriteto hypersthenite. New sensitive high-resolution ion microprobeage data demonstrate the presence of 1700–2000 Ma zirconas xenocrysts in all of the intrusive rocks, and as detritalzircon in the metasediments of the Khurisberg Subgroup. Thesedata are consistent with published Sm–Nd model ages ofc. 1700 Ma (T_CHUR) and c. 2000 Ma (T_DM) of many of the intrusivesthat support a major crust-forming event in Eburnian (Hudsonian)times. In addition, U–Th–Pb analyses of zirconsfrom all major rock units define two tectono-magmatic episodesof the Namaquan Orogeny: (1) the O'okiepian Episode (1180–1210Ma), represented by regional granite plutonism, notably theNababeep and Modderfontein Granite Gneisses and the Concordiaand Kweekfontein Granites that accompanied and outlasted (e.g.Kweekfontein Granite) regional tectonism [F₂(D₂)] and granulite-faciesmetamorphism (M₂); (2) the Klondikean Episode (1020–1040Ma), which includes the intrusion of the porphyritic RietbergGranite and of the Koperberg Suite that are devoid of regionalplanar or linear fabrics. Klondikean tectonism (D₃) is reflectedby major east–west-trending open folds [F₃(D_3a)], andby localized east–west-trending near-vertical ductilefolds [‘steep structures’; F₄(D_3b)] whose formationwas broadly coeval with the intrusion of the Koperberg Suite.A regional, largely thermal, amphibolite- to granulite-faciesmetamorphism (M₃) accompanied D₃. This study demonstrates, interalia, that the complete spectrum of rock-types of the KoperbergSuite, together with the Rietberg Granite, was intruded in ashort time-interval (<10 Myr) at c. 1030 Ma, and that therewere lengthy periods of about 150 Myr of tectonic quiescencewithin the Namaquan Orogeny: (1) between the O'okiepian andKlondikean Episodes; (2) from the end of the latter to the formalend of Namaquan Orogenesis 800–850 Ma ago. KEY WORDS: U–Pb, zircon; O'okiep, Namaqualand; granite plutonism; granulite facies; Koperberg Suite; Namaquan (Grenville) Orogeny     

Bounce Rock—A shergottite‐like basalt encountered at Meridiani Planum,Mars

Abstract– The Opportunity rover of the Mars Exploration Rover mission encountered an isolated rock fragment with textural, mineralogical, and chemical properties similar to basaltic shergottites. This finding was confirmed by all rover instruments, and a comprehensive study of these results is reported here. Spectra from the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and the Panoramic Camera reveal a pyroxene‐rich mineralogy, which is also evident in Mössbauer spectra and in normative mineralogy derived from bulk chemistry measured by the alpha particle X‐ray spectrometer. The correspondence of Bounce Rock’s chemical composition with the composition of certain basaltic shergottites, especially Elephant Moraine (EET) 79001 lithology B and Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94201, is very close, with only Cl, Fe, and Ti exhibiting deviations. Chemical analyses further demonstrate characteristics typical of Mars such as the Fe/Mn ratio and P concentrations. Possible shock features support the idea that Bounce Rock was ejected from an impact crater, most likely in the Meridiani Planum region. Bopolu crater, 19.3 km in diameter, located 75 km to the southwest could be the source crater. To date, no other rocks of this composition have been encountered by any of the rovers on Mars. The finding of Bounce Rock by the Opportunity rover provides further direct evidence for an origin of basaltic shergottite meteorites from Mars.     

克拉美丽气田石炭系火山岩复杂岩性岩电特征

准噶尔盆地东部克拉美丽气田石炭系火山岩岩石类型复杂多样,且同一岩性由于结构、构造和成分的差异,电性特征差异亦较大,岩性识别困难。本文通过对该区14口井取心段岩电关系研究,认为自然伽马、电阻率、密度三种曲线岩性特征响应明显; 电阻率、中子、密度、声波四条曲线对火山岩岩石构造特征响应明显。并编制了岩性和岩石构造测井识别交会图版11张。进而利用电测资料识别出该区11种火山岩岩石类型: 正长斑岩、二长斑岩、玄武岩、粗面岩、英安岩、流纹岩、霏细岩、沉凝灰岩、熔结凝灰岩、火山角砾岩和熔结火山角砾岩; 识别出5种岩石构造类型: 正长斑岩中气孔及块状构造和玄武岩中杏仁、碎裂及块状构造。通过本区12口钻井取心后验,测井识别结果与钻井岩心分析结果吻合良好,可作为地区性火山岩测井岩性、岩石构造识别模式。     

岩石样品中低含量铂族元素和锇同位素比值的高精度测量方法

铂族元素（Os,Ir,Pt,Ru,Rh,Pd)具有强亲铁性和强亲铜性，为一组地球化学性质相近的相容元素，铂族元素包含两个同位素衰变体系（^190Pt-^186Os和^187Re-^187Os)。近年来，铂族元素和Re-Os同位素在研究各类不同地持作用过程中，尤其是在地幔岩石的研究中，作用独特，效果显著。由于地幔岩石的铂族元素含量较低，因此高精度，高灵敏度的分析测试方法的研究就显得十分重要。以往的分析方法（如常规的ICP－MS和中子活化分析方法），对含10^-9-10^012级低含量铂族元素的产品分析精度一般较差（＞15％－100％）。所采用的分析流程通常也无法同时获得样品的铂族元素含量和Os同位素比值。本文采用新的熔样方法（HAP－S高温高压釜酸溶法），新的化学流程（溶剂萃取和阴离子交换树脂柱）和新的分析仪器（多接收等离子体质谱MC－ICPMS和负离子热电离质谱N－TIMS）。用同位素稀释法对低含量地幔橄榄岩样品同时测定的铂族元素含量和Os同位素比值，获得了高精度的分析结果。对所分析的地橄榄样品中的铂族元素分配曲线和Os同位素组成的地质意义进行了初步探讨。     

A Crustal Progenitor for the Intrusive Anorthosite--Charnockite Kindred of the Cupriferous Koperberg Suite, O'okiep District, Namaqualand, South Africa; New Isotope Data for the Country Rocks and the Intrusives

The Koperberg Suite comprises some 1700 small bodies of intrusiverocks largely composed of andesine anorthosite, biotite diorite,and leuconorite, norite and melanorite-hypersthenite; 30 mineshave been established in the O'okiep District in the cupriferousrocks of this anorthosite-charnockite kindred. The suite isintrusive into a sequence of granite gneiss and metavolcanicand metasedimentary rocks, and intrusive granite, that wereelevated to the granulite fades of regional metamorphism.TheSm-Nd model ages for the country rocks and the Koperberg Suiteare all 1700 Ma (T_CHUR) and 2000 Ma (T_DM) supporting a majorcrustforming event in this portion of Namaqualand at the endof Lower Proterozoic times. The granulite fades metamorphismin the O'okiep District is recorded by a Rb-Sr isochron ageof 1223 48 Ma on the Nababeep Granite Gneiss, and by (1197 15)-Ma-old inherited cores of zircons in the Koperberg Suite.The time of intrusion of the Concordia and Rietberg Granitesis believed to be reflected by their Rb-Sr whole-rock age of1105 24 Ma. The mean U-Pb age of 1029 10 Ma on individualzircon grains and zircon rims from the Koperberg Suite recordsthe time of its intrusion, and this is supported by the Sm-Ndwhole-rock age of 1022 42 Ma for the suite. Subsequent coolingand reheating events are recorded by the Ar-Ar ages of 800–850Ma for the Koperberg Suite, and of 500–550 Ma for thesuite and certain country rocks, respectively.An Nd value of-7,and its volume and composition, suggest a crustal-melt sourcefor the intrusive Concordia Granite. Moreover, the age-correctedhigh l_Sr (07061-07272) and low Nd (-9), and the high µ₂(101), that characterize the Koperberg Suite also imply a crustalsource, and a model is presented for the generation of the majorpart of the suite by partial melting of granulites of overallintermediate (diorite) composition in the lower crust. Corresponding author     

Urban land use mapping: A case study of ahmedabad city and its environs

Proper urban planning and effective implementation requires reliable urban land use statistics. In this context, satellite remote sensing data has been studied using both visual and digital techniques. A portable eight-band radiometer has been used to collect spectral signatures of surface features present in Ahmedabad city and its environs. Using these signatures a suitable approach employing visual and digital techniques has been developed for urban land use/sprawl mapping. Urban land-use maps of Ahmedabad city and its environs were prepared on 1:25,000 scale and for Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority Area on 1:50,000 scale using this methodology. It has been found that edge-enhancement techniques are useful to enhance the contrast among different urban land uses. Classification techniques such as MXL and Bayes classifiers are not successful in discriminating urban land uses. Tonal characteristics alongwith other elements of interpretation are required to classify urban land uses such as residential, industrial etc. Spatial distribution of various urban and uses and the space devoted to each urban land use has been brought out.     

Biophysical models of larval dispersal in the Benguela Current ecosystem

We synthesise and update results from the suite of biophysical, larval-dispersal models developed in the Benguela Current ecosystem. Biophysical models of larval dispersal use outputs of physical hydrodynamic models as inputs to individual-based models in which biological processes acting during the larval life are included. In the Benguela, such models were first applied to simulate the dispersal of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and sardine Sardinops sagax ichthyoplankton, and more recently of the early life stages of chokka-squid Loligo reynaudii and Cape hakes Merluccius spp. We identify how the models have helped advance understanding of key processes for these species. We then discuss which aspects of the early life of marine species in the Benguela Current ecosystem are still not well understood and could benefit from new modelling studies.     

Aragonite and magnesite in eclogites from the Jæren nappe,SW Norway: disequilibrium in the system CaCO3–MgCO3 and petrological implications

Eclogites from the Jæren nappe in the Caledonian orogenic belt of SW Norway contain aragonite, magnesite and dolomite in quartz‐rich layers. The carbonates comprise composite grains that occur interstitially between phases of the eclogite facies assemblage: garnet + omphacite + zoisite + clinozoisite + quartz + apatite + rutile ± dolomite ± kyanite ± phengite. Pressure and temperature conditions for the main eclogite stage are estimated to be 2.3–2.8 GPa and 585–655 °C. Published ultrahigh pressure (UHP) experiments on CaO‐, MgO‐ and CO₂‐bearing systems have shown that equilibrium assemblages of aragonite and magnesite form as a result of dolomite breakdown at pressures >5 GPa. As a result, recognition of magnesite and aragonite in eclogite facies rocks has been used as an indicator for UHP conditions. However, petrological testing showed that the samples studied here have not experienced such conditions. Aragonite and magnesite show disequilibrium textures that indicate replacement of magnesite by aragonite. This process is inferred to have occurred via a coupled dissolution–precipitation reaction. The formation of aragonite is constrained to eclogite facies conditions, which implies that the studied rocks have experienced metasomatic, reactive fluid flow during their residence at high pressure (HP) conditions. During decompression, the bimineralic carbonate aggregates were overgrown by rims of dolomite, which partially reacted with aragonite to form Mg‐calcite. The well‐preserved carbonate assemblages and textures observed in the studied samples provide a detailed record of the reaction series that affected the rocks during and after their residence at P–T conditions near the coesite stability field. Recognition of the HP mechanism of magnesite replacement by aragonite provides new insight into metasomatic processes that occur in subduction zones and illustrates how fluids facilitate HP carbonate reactions that do not occur in dry systems at otherwise identical physiochemical conditions. This study documents that caution is warranted in interpreting aragonite‐magnesite associations in eclogite facies rocks as evidence for UHP metamorphic conditions.