Der Original-Beerbachit im Odenwald,ein Amphibolit-Hornfels in Pyroxen-Hornfelsfazies

With this petrographic re-investigation of the beerbachite (Chelius, 1892) from Odenwald/Germany geochemical and phase-petrological data are given for the first time.By petrofabric relics (Fig. 7) and geochemical characteristics (Figs. 8–11) is shown that the beerbachite-xenoliths are due to blocks broken down from the surrounding amphibolite series. They are present high grade hornfelses.Beerbachite, porphyroblastic by plagioclase (here porphyroblastic beerbachite, Bbp) (Chelius' Gabbroporphyrit) (Fig. 6) frequently forms marginal zones of beerbachite blocks and is explained as beerbachite-metablastite.Phase relation (Fig. 13) and mineral reactions with increasing metamorphic grade from amphibolite to amphibolite-hornfels (containing hornblende) finally to beerbachite are demonstrated and discussed.The first step may be the mineral reaction: plag_I(An 35–40)+hbl_I+sphene= plag_II(An 50–60)+hbl_II+cpx+opx+magnetite/ilmenite+H₂O. The pyroxene-hornfels facies respectively the orthopyroxene subfacies of the K-feldspar-cordierite-hornfels facies (Winkler, 1967) is only reached with the typical assemblage: plag(An 55–70)-cpx-opx-mt/ilm±(quartz) of beerbachite.On condition that the load correspondends to 3–4 km the maximum temperatures may not have exceeded 720–750° C. This valuation would result from experimental data of Choudhuri and Winkler (1967) of the model reaction: hbl=en+di+an+H₂O, if . The natural conditions will differ from this experimental model because of resp. P _load (p. 81)The very probably required temperature for the mineral assemblage of beerbachite would still be within sub-solidus temperatures of the corresponding model system, according to Fig. 13d. Therefore, the coarse grained plagioclases of Bbp (p. 69) could not be formed from cotectic pockets, too.Finally, convergences and divergences to the beerbachite concept are discussed out of the recent literature.

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Herrn Dr. E. Knauer vom hiesigen Institut danken wir sehr für die Bestimmung des Chemismus zweier Pyroxen-Paare aus Beerbachit bzw. Hornfels mit der Mikrosonde (CAMEGA MS 46), Leihgabe der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft. Den Herren Prof. E. Nickel und Dr. M. Maggetti vom Mineralogischen Institut der Universität Fribourg (Schweiz) und Dr. H. D. Trochim, Mineralogisches Institut der Universität Bochum, verdanken wir Vergleichsproben oder Einsichtnahme in vorhandene Dünnschliffe.     

Talc-chlorite-amphibole felses of the KTB pilot hole,Oberpfalz, Bavaria: Protolith characteristics and phase relationships

Summary The metagabbro-amphibolite sequences in the KTB pilot hole contain intercalations of talc-chlorite-amphibole felses (or hosbachites), which show transitional contacts to the adjacent metagabbros. The hosbachites are characterized by relics of a primary igneous texture and still contain igneous minerals like clinopyroxene, biotite and pseudomorphs after olivine, while brown Ca-amphibole was presumably formed in a late-magmatic stage. The geological, textural, mineralogical and geochemical evidence indicates that the hösbachites were derived from ultramafic cumulates, differentiated from a basaltic magma, either in the inner parts of dolerite sills or in small gabbro intrusions. A pervasive metamorphic overprint under medium-pressure, amphibolite-facies conditions which was accompanied by penetrative deformation led to assemblages with green Ca-amphibole ± anthophyllite ± cummingtonite ± tremolite/actinolite + clinochlore + talc + olivine + ilmenite ± Cr-bearing spinel + sulfides. Phase relationships are consistent with a prograde P-T path leading to the formation of anthophyllite from olivine + talc at peak metamorphic temperatures of 640–700°C, at assumed pressures of 8-10 kbar, similar to those derived from mineral assemblages in the adjacent metabasites and metasediments. High-pressure relics locally present in coronitic metagabbros and retrograded eclogites of the KTB pilot hole were not recognized in the hosbachites. A retrograde overprint under greenschist-facies conditions led to the total replacement of igneous or metamorphic olivine by aggregates of antigorite + magnetite, chloritization of biotite and the formation of late tremolite/ actinolite.

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Zusammenfassung Talk- Chlorit-Amphibol-Felse der KTB-Vorbohrung, Oberpfalz: Eduktcharakteristik und Phasenbeziehungen Die Metagabbro-Amphibolit-Folge in der KTB-Vorbohrung enthält Einschaltungen von Talk-Chlorit-Amphibol-Felsen (Hosbachite), die graduelle Übergänge zu den benachbarten Metagabbros aufweisen. Die Hosbachite sind durch Relikte von primären magmatischen Gefügen gekennzeichnet and führen noch magmatische Mineralrelikte wie Klinopyroxen, Biotit and Pseudomorphosen nach Olivin, während brauner CaAmphibol wahrscheinlich spdtmagmatisch gebildet wurde. Verbandsverhältnisse, Reliktgefüge und Reliktminerale sowie Haupt- und Spurenelement-Geochemie sprechen dafür, daß die Hosbachite auf ultramafische Kumulate zurückgehen, die aus einem basischen Magma differenziert wurden, and zwar entweder im Innern von doleritischen Lagergängen oder in kleinen Gabbro-Intrusionen.Eine durchgreifende metamorphe Überprägung unter Bedingungen der Mitteldruck Amphibolitfazies, die von einer penetrativen Deformation begleitet war, fuhrte zu Mineralparagenesen mit grünern Ca-Amphibol ± Anthophyllit ± Cummingtonit + Tremolit/Aktinolith + Klinochlor + Talk + Olivin + Ilmenit + Cr-haltigem Spinell + Sulfiden.Die Phasenbeziehungen weisen darauf hin, daß sich im Zuge eines prograden P-TPfades Anthophyllit aus der Paragenese Olivin + Talk bildete. Als P-T-Bedingungen beim Hbhepunkt der Metamorphose können Temperaturen von 640–700°C in einem angenommenen Druckbereich von 8-10 kbar abgeschätzt wurden, ähnlich wie sie auch aus den Mineralparagenesen in den angrenzenden Metabasiten and Metasedimenten der KTB-Vorbohrung ableitbar sind. Hochdruckrelikte, die gelegentlich in koronitischen Metagabbros and retrograd überprägten Eklogiten der KTB-Vorbohrung auftreten, wurden in den Hösbachiten nicht gefunden. Eine retrograde Überprägung unter grünschieferfaziellen Bedingungen führte zu einer vollständigen Verdrängung von magmatischem und metamorphem Olivin durch Aggregate von Antigorit + Magnetit, zur Chloritisierung von Biotit und zur Bildung einer späten Generation von Tremolit/ Aktinolith.

     

Submarine landslides at the eastern Sunda margin: observations and tsunami impact assessment

Our analysis of new bathymetric data reveals six submarine landslides at the eastern Sunda margin between central Java and Sumba Island, Indonesia. Their volumes range between 1 km3 in the Java fore-arc basin up to 20 km3 at the trench off Sumba and Sumbawa. We estimate the potential hazard of each event by modeling the corresponding tsunami and its run-up on nearby coasts. Four slides are situated remarkably close to the epicenter of the 1977 tsunamigenic Sumba M _w  = 8.3 earthquake. However, comparison of documented tsunami run-up heights and arrival times with our modeling results neither allows us to confirm nor can we falsify the hypothesis that the earthquake triggered these submarine landslides.     

Stability of almandine in the system FeO-(Fe2O3)-Al2O3-SiO2-(H2O) at elevated pressures

Almandine, although decomposing in the presence of metallic iron into the anhydrous subsolidus assemblage fayalite + ferrocordierite + hercynite solid solution at low pressures, melts incongruently to hercynite_ss + quartz + liquid at 10 kb. At pressures between about 12 and 20 kb the products of incongruent melting are hercynite_ss + liquid only, and at still higher pressures almandine melts congruently. For the intermediate pressures between 2 and 10 kb not investigated a sequence of probable breakdown and melting relations involving the phases ferrocordierite, fayalite, hercynite_ss, quartz, and liquid is derived through Schreinemakers' analyses.The lower temperature stability limit of almandine in the presence of water at low oxygen fugacities and pressures of 15 to 20 kb lies between 550° and 600° C as at low pressures. It is marked, however, by the breakdown to a hydrous assemblage involving chloritoid and the new phase aluminous deerite. Since the anhydrous melting at these pressures occurs between 1300° and 1400° C, the thermal stability range of almandine increases drastically with pressure. Its upper breakdown limit shows in principle a similar behavior as those of other garnet end members.     

The Linum Chondrite

Abstract— Based on optical microscopy and electron microprobe analysis, Linum is classified as an L6b chondrite that contains olivine (Fa₂₄), orthopyroxene (Fs₂₀), clinopyroxene (Wo₄₅En₄₇Fs₈), plagioclase (An₁₀Ab₈₄Or₆), nickel-iron, troilite, chromite and accessory amounts of chlorapatite and whitlockite.     

High-pressure relics in meta-sediments intercalated with the Weissenstein eclogite,Münchberg gneiss complex,Bavaria

The mineral assemblages in the eclogites and meta-sediments of the Münchberg gneiss complex suggest minimum pressures of about 15 kbar, and temperatures of 600±30° C for the eclogite-facies metamorphism. Both rock types underwent a subsequent amphibolite-facies metamorphism at almost the same temperature range. In the Weissenstein borehole the eclogites and meta-sediments show an intimate interlayering on a centimetre scale. Contacts between the two rock types are often sharp and untectonized suggesting in-situ metamorphism of the eclogites. The following features indicate that the gneisses were subjected to eclogite-facies metamorphism:

1. Phengite relics and phengite inclusions in garnet contain up to 3.45 Si per formula unit while amphibolite facies phengites have considerably lower Si-contents (3.0–3.25 p.f.u.).
2. Omphacite relics occur in the form of Na-augite (6–9 mol% jadeite)-oligoclase symplectites.
3. Garnets with up to 40 mol% of the pyrope component occur.

The geological and mineral-chemical data indicate that large volumes of crustal material have been buried to depths possibly exceeding 70 km. The preservation of primary eclogitic textures as well as symplectitic textures in the presence of a fluid phase, are indicative of a rapid decompression. This would suggest a tectonic uplift (e.g. underthrusting) as is also indicated by the virtually constant temperature range during the uplift.     

Sensitivity of high-resolution Arctic regional climate model projections to different implementations of land surface processes

This paper discusses the effects of vegetation cover and soil parameters on the climate change projections of a regional climate model over the Arctic domain. Different setups of the land surface model of the regional climate model HIRHAM were realized to analyze differences in the atmospheric circulation caused by (1) the incorporation of freezing/thawing of soil moisture, (2) the consideration of top organic soil horizons typical for the Arctic and (3) a vegetation shift due to a changing climate. The largest direct thermal effect in 2 m air temperature was found for the vegetation shift, which ranged between −1.5 K and 3 K. The inclusion of a freeze/thaw scheme for soil moisture shows equally large sensitivities in spring over cool areas with high soil moisture content. Although the sensitivity signal in 2 m air temperature for the experiments differs in amplitude, all experiments show changes in mean sea level pressure (mslp) and geopotential height (z) throughout the troposphere of similar magnitude (mslp: −2 hPa to 1.5 hPa, z: −15 gpm to 5 gpm). This points to the importance of dynamical feedbacks within the atmosphere-land system. Land and soil processes have a distinct remote influence on large scale atmospheric circulation patterns in addition to their direct, regional effects. The assessment of induced uncertainties due to the changed implementations of land surface processes discussed in this study demonstrates the need to take all those processes for future Arctic climate projections into account, and demonstrates a clear need to include similar implementations in regional and global climate models.     

Weathering behaviour and construction suitability of dimension stones from the Drei Gleichen area (Thuringia, Germany)

The construction suitability of a dimension stone depends on its weathering properties along with the petrology and the petrophysical properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the dimension stones from the “Drei Gleichen” area for construction and replacement purposes. In total, six sandstones (Ingersleben, Wachsenburg, Hindfelden, Seeberg, Röhnberg, Gleichenberg; Upper Triassic) as well as two carbonates (Wachsenburg sinter; Quaternary, Wandersleben dolomite; Middle Triassic) were analysed. The results from our laboratory and on-site studies of the dimension stones show that rocks from the same stratigraphic layer, like the sandstones from the upper Triassic, can show major differences in their petrophysical and weathering properties. These differences are attributed to their different diagenesis, resulting, e.g. in varying pore space, water balance and strength properties. The pore size distribution can be divided into four different groups based on their occurring maxima and micropore content. The determined water balance properties as well as moisture expansion and salt attack depend on these groups. Next to this, the mineralogical composition significantly influences the weathering resistance. Sandstones with a high content of altered lithoclasts show a high amount of moisture expansion, low strength and, in consequence, a low weathering resistance against salt attack. Based on the results of the present study, an evaluation of construction suitability could be accomplished. From the analysed sandstones, only the Seebergen sandstone is suitable for construction purposes due to its good availability, good strength properties (high compressive and tensile strength, low softening degree) as well as a low porosity. Furthermore, the Wachsenburg sandstone also shows good petrophysical and petrological properties, but exploitable deposits are too sparse to be of commercial interest. From the carbonates, the Wachsenburg sinter shows very suitable rock parameters, but only sparse outcrops occur, which are not appropriate for mining.