A space-based decametric wavelength radio telescope concept

This paper reports a design study for a space-based decametric wavelength telescope. While not a new concept, this design study focused on many of the operational aspects that would be required for an actual mission. This design optimized the number of spacecraft to insure good visibility of approx. 80% of the radio galaxies– the primary science target for the mission. A 5,000 km lunar orbit was selected to guarantee minimal gravitational perturbations from Earth and lower radio interference. Optimal schemes for data downlink, spacecraft ranging, and power consumption were identified. An optimal mission duration of 1 year was chosen based on science goals, payload complexity, and other factors. Finally, preliminary simulations showing image reconstruction were conducted to confirm viability of the mission. This work is intended to show the viability and science benefits of conducting multi-spacecraft networked radio astronomy missions in the next few years.     

Shallow Drilling of Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems Using the BGS Rockdrill: Conical Seamount (New Ireland Fore-Arc) and PACMANUS (Eastern Manus Basin), Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT

From September to October 2002, shallow drilling, using the submersible (5 m) Rockdrill of the British Geological Survey and the German R/V Sonne revealed critical information on the subsurface nature of two distinct hydrothermal systems in the New Ireland fore-arc and the Manus Basin of Papua New Guinea. Drilling at Conical Seamount significantly extends the known surface extent of the previously discovered vein-style gold mineralization (up to 230 g/t Au) at this site. Drilling the conventional PACMANUS volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposit recovered complexly textured massive sulfide with spectacular concentrations of gold in several core sections including 0.5 m @ 28 g/t Au, 0.35 m @ 30 g/t Au, and 0.20 m @ 57 g/t Au. Shallow drilling is a fast and cost efficient method that bridges the gap between surface sampling and deep (ODP) drilling and will become a standard practice in the future study of seafloor hydrothermal systems and massive sulfide deposits.     

Modelling the effect of land management interventions and climate change on sediment loads in the Manawatū–Whanganui region

ABSTRACT

SedNetNZ is used to model the effect of erosion control undertaken under the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) and predict the effect of climate change on sediment load in the Manawatū–Whanganui region. Sediment load in 2004 is estimated at 13.4?Mt?yr^?1; by 2018, ≈5000?km² of land had farm plans implemented and annual sediment load reduced by 6.2% of the 2004 load. If SLUI stops at the 2018 level of implementation, by 2038 it is predicted to achieve a 15.7% reduction in annual sediment load. If SLUI continues to implement farm plans, 7949?km² of land will be treated by 2043 and annual sediment load could be reduced by a further 14.7%. Climate change is predicted to substantially increase sediment loads. By 2043 annual sediment load for the region is predicted to increase, compared to 2004, by between 8.3 and 23.7%. However, this can largely be offset by SLUI works. By 2090 an annual sediment load increase of between 53 and 224% due to climate change is predicted. The results suggest climate warming may dominate changes in sediment load in the future.     

Intermediate sodium–potassium mica in hydrothermally altered rocks of the Waterloo deposit,Australia: a combined SEM-EMP-XRD-TEM study

Metastable intermediate Na–K mica represents a product of hydrothermal alteration in volcanic rocks from the alteration halo of the Waterloo massive sulfide deposit, Australia. The XRD pattern of this solid solution between paragonite and muscovite is characterized by a rational series of basal reflections with d values intermediate between the end members. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the intermediate Na–K mica forms thick stacks that belong to a two-layer polytype. Na-rich intermediate Na–K mica typically occurs together with paragonite whereas K-rich intermediate Na–K mica is intergrown with muscovite. The intermediate Na–K mica is interpreted to have formed as a result of the incomplete transformation of K-rich mica to Na-rich mica through dissolution and recrystallization processes driven by compositional changes of the hydrothermal fluids interacting with the volcanic rocks. Alteration must have proceeded under non-equilibrium conditions because the composition of the solid solution falls into the miscibility gap separating paragonite and muscovite.Editorial responsibility: T.L. Grove     

Sulfur isotopic composition of hydrothermal precipitates from the Lau back-arc: implications for magmatic contributions to seafloor hydrothermal systems

The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides and barite from hydrothermal deposits at the Valu Fa Ridge back-arc spreading center in the southern Lau Basin has been investigated. Sulfide samples from the White Church area at the northern Valu Fa Ridge have δ³⁴S values averaging +3.8‰ (n= 10) for bulk sphalerite-chalcopyrite mineralization and +4.8‰ for pyrite (n= 10). Barite associated with the massive sulfides exhibits an average of +20.7‰ (n= 10). Massive sulfides from the active Vai Lili hydrothermal field at the central Valu Fa Ridge have much higher δ³⁴S ratios averaging +8.0‰ for bulk sphalerite-chalcopyrite mineralization (n= 5), +9.3‰ for pyrite samples (n= 5), and +8.0‰ and +10.9‰ for a chalcopyrite and a sphalerite separate, respectively. The isotopic composition of barite from the Vai Lili field is similar to that of barite from the White Church area and averages +21.0‰ (n= 8). Sulfide and barite samples from the Hine Hina area at the southern Valu Fa Ridge have δ³⁴S values that are considerably lighter than those observed for samples from the other areas and average −4.9‰ for pyrite (n= 9), −4.0 and −5.7‰ for two samples of sphalerite-chalcopyrite intergrowth, and −3.4‰ for a single chalcopyrite separate. The total spread in the isotopic composition of sulfides from Vai Lili and Hine Hina is more than 20‰ over a distance of less than 30 km. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides at Hine Hina are the lowest values so far reported for volcanic-hosted polymetallic massive sulfides from the modern seafloor. Barite from the Hine Hina field also has unusually light sulfur with δ³⁴S values of +16.1 to +16.7‰ (n= 5). Isotopic compositions of the sulfides at Hine Hina indicate a dramatic decrease in δ³⁴S from ordinary magmatic values and, in the absence of biogenic sulfur and/or boiling, imply a unique ³⁴S-depleted source of probable magmatic origin. Sulfide-barite mineralization in the Hine Hina area is associated with a distinctive alteration assemblage consisting of cristobalite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, opal-CT, talc, pyrite, native sulfur, and alunite. Similar styles of alteration are typically known from high-sulfidation epithermal systems on land. Alunite-bearing, advanced argillic alteration in the Hine Hina field confirms the role of acidic, volatile-rich fluids, and a δ³⁴S value of +10.4‰ for the sulfur in the alunite is consistent with established kinetic isotope effects which accompany the disproportionation of magmatic SO₂ into H₂S and H₂SO₄. The Hine Hina field occurs near the propagating tip of the Valu Fa back-arc spreading center (i.e., dominated by dike injections and seafloor eruptions) and therefore may have experienced the largest contribution of magmatic volatiles of the three fields. The sulfur isotopic ratios of the hydrothermal precipitates and the presence of a distinctive epithermal-like argillic alteration in the Hine Hina field suggest a direct contribution of magmatic vapor to the hydrothermal system and support the concept that magmatic volatiles may be an important component of some volcanogenic massive sulfide-forming hydrothermal systems. Received: 16 January 1997 / Accepted: 28 October 1997     

Petrology and geochemistry of the shoshonite-hosted Skouries porphyry Cu–Au deposit, Chalkidiki, Greece

The Skouries porphyry Cu-Au deposit, containing an indicated reserve of 206 Mt at 0.54% Cu and 0.80 g/t Au, is hosted by at least four hypabyssal monzonite-porphyry phases. In decreasing age, they are: (1) pink monzonite, (2) main monzonite, (3) intra-mineral monzonite, and (4) late-stage porphyry. High-grade ore is directly associated with the main and intra-mineral monzonite phases. All intrusive phases are cut by late-stage monzonite dykes that are barren. The monzonites have porphyritic textures with phenocrysts of plagioclase, alkali feldspar and amphibole as well as apatite and titanite microphenocrysts in a fine-grained feldspar-dominated groundmass. Mineralized samples are affected to varying degrees by potassic alteration, ranging from weak biotite-magnetite disseminations, through cross-cutting veinlets of hydrothermal orthoclase, to zones with pervasive orthoclase flooding. The high halogen contents of the Skouries intrusions are reflected in the high Cl and F concentrations of mica phases (up to 0.19 and 2.48 wt% respectively). The presence of magmatic magnetite in all intrusive phases implies high oxygen fugacities of the parental melts. All four monzonite phases have relatively evolved compositions, as reflected by their high SiO₂, low MgO and low mg#, and variable but low contents of mantle-compatible elements such as V, Ni and Co. However, their mg# suggests increasing degrees of fractionation of the parental melts with decreasing age. Their high K₂O (up to 5.8 wt%) and K₂O/Na₂O ratios (>1), as well as their high Ce/Yb and Th/Yb ratios (>34 and >21 respectively), which are believed to have been unaffected by alteration processes, are typical of alkaline rocks of the shoshonite association. Importantly, the Skouries intrusions are characterized by very high U and Th contents (up to 18.9 ppm and 62 ppm, respectively) that are consistent with accessory thorite and rare allanite in several samples. The high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7082) for the Skouries intrusions suggest crustal contamination during emplacement. The use of geochemical discrimination diagrams assigns the rocks to a continental arc setting in accord with the interpretation of previous workers.     

Comparison between magmatic activity and gold mineralization at Conical Seamount and Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea

Summary Grab samples from the submarine Conical Seamount, located about 10km south of the giant Ladolam gold deposit, Lihir Island, reveal the highest gold concentrations yet reported from the modern seafloor. Lavas from Conical Seamount are characterized by high K₂O contents, high K₂O/Na₂O ratios, and high Ce/Yb ratios, which are typical of high-K igneous rocks from oceanic (island) arc-settings. The primitive character of the rocks from Conical Seamount implies a magmatic evolution related to a single eruptive phase, which contrasts with the more evolved rocks forming Lihir Island. Geochemical as well as mineral chemical data suggest that the melts from both Conical Seamount and Lihir Island originate from the same magma source. In common with the samples from Lihir Island, elevated oxygen fugacities of 0.7–2.5log units above the FMQ buffer are recorded from the Conical Seamount lavas.There are distinct differences between the mineralization styles at Conical Seamount and at the Ladolam gold deposit, Lihir Island. While early-stage pyritic stockwork mineralization at Conical Seamount is hosted by clay-silica altered basaltic rocks with local alunite±kaolinite alteration, main-stage Au-mineralization occurs in sericite-alkali feldspar altered polymetallic sulfide-bearing siliceous veins. By contrast, early-stage pyritic stockwork mineralization at Ladolam is restricted to biotite–magnetite ± silica-altered monzodiorite, while the main-stage bulk-tonnage mineralization occurs as auriferous pyrite-bearing hydrothermal breccias which, in places, are cut by quartz–chalcedony–illite–adularia–pyrite±marcasite veins containing isolated bonanza gold grades.