Vibrational spectra of single-crystal topaz

A single-crystal of topaz was studied by Raman spectroscopy to assign the internal modes of the high-frequency range and to compare with infrared data. All active modes exhibit an important Davydov splitting (150 cm^?1) but we have found a small Bethe splitting (14.5 cm^?1) consistent with a very regular SiO₄ tetrahedron. Because of a high value of v ₁ (～920 cm^?1) the Raman active modes present a mixed v ₁/v ₃ character. Finally the substitution of OH for F splits an A _g internal mode and lead to some proper modes at 3650 cm^?1, 3639 cm^?1 and 1165 cm^?1.     

The carbon dioxide solubility in alkali basalts: an experimental study

Experiments were conducted to determine CO₂ solubilities in alkali basalts from Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli volcanoes. The basaltic melts were equilibrated with nearly pure CO₂ at 1,200°C under oxidizing conditions and at pressures ranging from 269 to 2,060 bars. CO₂ solubility was determined by FTIR measurements. The results show that alkalis have a strong effect on the CO₂ solubility and confirm and refine the relationship between the compositional parameter Π devised by Dixon (Am Mineral 82:368–378, 1997) and the CO₂ solubility. A general thermodynamic model for CO₂ solubility in basaltic melts is defined for pressures up to 2 kbars. Based on the assumption that O²⁻ and CO₃²⁻ mix ideally, we have:

The effect of cultivation method on erosion in agricultural catchments: integrating AHP in GIS environments

The cultivation method used in agricultural catchments can have a great effect on erosion processes; as such, determining the effects on form and degree is crucial. One commonly held hypothesis is that a shift to minimum tillage methods should reduce the rate of erosion. Here, we examine the effect of cultivation methods and environmental conditions on soil erosion risks in field crops and orchards in an agricultural catchment in northern Israel. The examination was conducted using AHP (analytic hierarchy process) and GIS (geographic information system)‐based computer simulations. Field validation of the simulations was conducted during the 2009–2010 winter season. The spatially explicit data on cultivation method, combined with environmental and climatic data, yielded an explanation of most of the variation in erosion risks in the catchment (kappa =0·93). Of the 10 criteria examined, the cultivation method and slope were the two variables with the greatest effect on increased soil erosion. Furthermore, soil loss risks were reduced substantially as a result of substituting conventional tillage with reduced tillage; substituting reduced tillage with conservation tillage; and changing the tillage direction to perpendicular to the direction of the slope. These results are reasonable in light of the modifications that mechanical tools cause in the soil structure, as observed in the penetration depth and the aggregate stability measurements used in this study. Despite the difficulty in collecting spatially explicit data on cultivation methods, we believe that it is of utmost importance to use such data to study erosion risks in agricultural catchments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O solubility of alkali basaltic melts: an experimental study

Experiments were conducted to determine the water solubility of alkali basalts from Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius volcanoes, Italy. The basaltic melts were equilibrated at 1,200°C with pure water, under oxidized conditions, and at pressures ranging from 163 to 3,842 bars. Our results show that at pressures above 1 kbar, alkali basalts dissolve more water than typical mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). Combination of our data with those from previous studies allows the following simple empirical model for the water solubility of basalts of varying alkalinity and fO₂ to be derived: \textH ₂ \textO( \textwt% ) = \text H ₂ \textO_\textMORB ( \textwt% ) + ( 5.84 ×10 ^{- 5} *\textP - 2.29 ×10 ^{- 2} ) ×( \textNa₂ \textO + \textK₂ \textO )( \textwt% ) + 4.67 ×10 ^{- 2} ×\Updelta \textNNO - 2.29 ×10 ^{- 1} {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {{\text{wt}}\% } \right) = {\text{ H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}_{\text{MORB}} \left( {{\text{wt}}\% } \right) + \left( {5.84 \times 10^{ - 5} *{\text{P}} - 2.29 \times 10^{ - 2} } \right) \times \left( {{\text{Na}}_{2} {\text{O}} + {\text{K}}_{2} {\text{O}}} \right)\left( {{\text{wt}}\% } \right) + 4.67 \times 10^{ - 2} \times \Updelta {\text{NNO}} - 2.29 \times 10^{ - 1} where H₂O_MORB is the water solubility at the calculated P, using the model of Dixon et al. (1995). This equation reproduces the existing database on water solubilities in basaltic melts to within 5%. Interpretation of the speciation data in the context of the glass transition theory shows that water speciation in basalt melts is severely modified during quench. At magmatic temperatures, more than 90% of dissolved water forms hydroxyl groups at all water contents, whilst in natural or synthetic glasses, the amount of molecular water is much larger. A regular solution model with an explicit temperature dependence reproduces well-observed water species. Derivation of the partial molar volume of molecular water using standard thermodynamic considerations yields values close to previous findings if room temperature water species are used. When high temperature species proportions are used, a negative partial molar volume is obtained for molecular water. Calculation of the partial molar volume of total water using H₂O solubility data on basaltic melts at pressures above 1 kbar yields a value of 19 cm³/mol in reasonable agreement with estimates obtained from density measurements.