Solution of H2O in diopside melts: a thermodynamic model

Structural similarities between dry diopside melt and superhydrous albite melt (X _w >0.5) — both lack three-dimensional silicate units — suggest that thermodynamic relations may be similar. A model based on that assumption successfully predicts diopside melting relations and H₂O solubilities. For the model, the three partial differential equations describing solution of H₂O in albite melt for X _w >0.5 have been integrated for diopside melt from X _w =0 to X _w at least as large as 0.76, with two exceptions: an alternative partial differential equation for Henrian solution of H₂O in dilute melts was applied for X _w <0.20, and an alternative differential equation for the pressure dependence of a _w at pressures below 2 kbar was developed. The latter alternative equation yields relatively small ¯V_w's at low pressures rather than the large ¯V_w's calculated from the equation from the albite system. Available experimental solubility data are not precise enough to offer a choice between the small-¯V_w and large-¯V_w equations. Integration of all the partial differential equations was constrained solely by the P and T of a single experimentally-determined point on the H₂O-saturated solidus.Solubilities calculated by a Henrian-analogue solution model (a _di=X _di ² ) from the experimental H₂O saturated solidus lie outside experimental solubility constraints for dilute melts. On the other hand, a Henrian model (a _di=X_di) successfully predicts solubilities in dilute melts. The formulation of the Henrian model and magnitudes of model molar entropies of solution are consistent with the hypothesis that H₂O dissolves in diopside melt as an essentially undissociated species with little ordering on melt structural sites. That species could in turn be consistently, if not uniquely, interpreted to be molecular H₂O or a hydroxylation (OH^–) complex formed from nonbridging oxygens.     

Age of the Vastan lignite in context of some oldest cenozoic fossil mammals from India

A highly diverse assemblage of mammal and other continental vertebrate fossils is reported in recent years from Vastan lignite mine (21°25′47″ N; 73°07′30″ E). Its importance in testing palaeobiogeographic hypothesis of mammalian dispersal in to or out of India has necessitated a definite age of the sequence. Nummulites burdigalensis is the only age diagnostic foraminifer in the section. This species is widespread in the Indian sedimentary basins and used to mark Early Eocene strata. In the present study two subspecies of Nummulites burdigalensis, viz., Nummulites burdigalensis burdigalensis and Nummulites burdigalensis kuepperi, are distinguished which led to further biostratigraphic refinement. Their concurrence in the section implies basal Cuisian age and shallow benthic zone SBZ 10 (most likely the lower part). The examination of this species from Kutch indicates the occurrence of evolutionarily advanced subspecies Nummulites burdigalensis cantabricus of middle Cuisian age (SBZ 11). Contrary to some recent reports, the study rules out the occurrence of N. globulus or any other Ilerdian foraminifer from the mine section.     

An experimental determination of rare earth partition coefficients between a chloride containing vapor phase and silicate melts

The partitioning behavior of cerium, europium, gadolinium and ytterbium between an aqueous “vapor” phase and water saturated silicate melt have been experimentally examined using a new experimental approach employing radioactive tracers and a double-capsule technique. Equilibrium was established by reversing the partition coefficient¹ and by betatrack autoradiography. Aqueous solution compositions were varied by adding different amounts of chloride and in some cases fluoride or carbon dioxide. The H₂O contents of the Spruce Pine pegmatite melts were varied by conducting experiments at 4.0 kb, 800°C and at 1.25 kb, 800°C. A jadeite-nepheline composition (75 wt% Jadeite) also was employed at 4.0 kb, 800°C.The chloride experiments (Spruce Pine 4 kb, 800°C) show a linear relationship between the cube of the chloride molality and the partition coefficients of the trivalent rare earths. Europium, under the experimental fO₂ conditions (quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer), varied linearly as the fifth power of the chloride molality. At the chloride molalities examined (<1.1 mC1), all the rare earths partitioned preferentially into the melt phase (K_P^RE <1). Relative to pure water, the presence of chloride and fluoride fon increased the partitioning of the individual rare earths into the vapor phase, while carbon dioxide did not. Europium anomalies were recorded 1n all experiments, particularly those involving the Spruce P1ne melt at 4.0 kb and 800°C which displayed a large positive europium anomaly at all chloride molalities. Furthermore, a relative fractionation of the trivalent rare earths was also observed in these experiments, such that K_P^Ce>K_P^Gd>K_P^Yb. The smaller ytterbium ion was consistently concentrated in the melt phase relative to the other rare earths in all experiments on the Spruce Pine composition. Experiments on the jadeite-nepheline composition showed no relative fractionation and a positive europium anomaly. The 1.25 kb experiment on the Spruce Pine composition showed a negative europium anomaly in plots of K_p^RE vs. REE.The overall rare earth partitioning at a constant chloride molality (mCl = .914) was such that K_P^SP(1.25 kb) > K_P^SP(4.0 kb) > K_P^Jd-Ne(4.0 kb), where SP = Spruce Pine, Jd-Ne = jadeitenepheli Using the model of Burnnam (1975), It is suggested that the trivalent rare earth partitioning is related to the cube of the melt octahedral site concentration; a property which 1n hydrous melts 1s dependent on melt composition and hydroxyl molality. Excellent agreement was found for the Spruce Pine melt, whereas the jadeite-nepheline melt gave apparent hydroxyl molalities which were too high for the measured partition coefficient. Additional octahedral sites are proposed for this unusual composition perhaps due to some aluminum in 6-fold coordination. The apparent compositional variation of europium partitioning at a constant oxygen fugacity is believed to be related to both the octahedral melt site concentration for trlvalent europium and an 8-coordinated site concentration for divalent europium. Any parameter which affects the numbers of these sites (_PH₂O, melt composition) will affect the rare earth partitioning. The observed dependency of the partition coefficient on the structural state of the melt could be as significant as its dependency on crystalline structural constraints. Furthermore, since _PH₂O can drastically effect the melt structural state, its effects could be reflected in melt/crystal partition coefficients.     

鄱阳湖沙湖越冬白鹤的数量分布及其与食物和水深的关系

为了摸清白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)的食物刺苦草(Vallisneria spinulosa)的资源状况和水深对白鹤活动的影响,于1999～2010年期间,对在鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区沙湖越冬的白鹤数量分布及其与食物刺苦草块茎和水深的关系进行了研究.在沙湖设置固定植物样线,每隔50～l00m记录刺苦草及其块茎的数量和生物量,在视野能覆盖整个沙湖的制高点,定点观测白鹤的数量、分布和白鹤所处的水深.在这12a越冬期间,沙湖白鹤的多年总平均数量为46只,其中2002年、2006年和2009年冬季超过90只.11月至翌年1月是白鹤在沙湖比较稳定的时期,超过50只,其中12月是白鹤数量最多的月份,达到120只.白鹤在沙湖的中部偏南地带活动,北部和南端的数量很少.从栖息的植被带来看,白鹤几乎全部在以苦草(Vallisneria spp.)和眼子菜(Potamogeton spp.)为优势沉水植物的区域活动.沙湖刺苦草块茎的平均干重为5.92 g/m2,2005年、2006年和2008年的干重接近或者超过12 g/m2,2010年最少,仅为0.10 g/m2.在1999～2010年期间,沙湖白鹤数量与刺苦草块茎干重不相关,隆冬12月至翌年1月的白鹤平均数量与刺苦草块茎干重的相关系数为r=0.231.在沙湖,有58.15％的白鹤在水深为5～27 cm的环境中活动;其次,有30.63％的白鹤是在水深为40～45 cm的环境中活动.而没有白鹤在旱地和水深及至腹部(46～50 cm)的环境中活动.2010年鄱阳湖特大洪水对白鹤的影响比较大,发现有白鹤到草地上觅食的现象.     

Ground freezing for support of open excavations

A practical discussion of critical factors for designing and constructing temporary frozen earth ground support and groundwater control systems for large open excavations is reported. Many construction projects require extensive subsurface work which can best be completed in a large open excavation, shaped to accommodate the subsurface structure. Frequently, lateral ground support of adjoining property and groundwater control within the excavation are major problems for completion of subsurface work. Construction ground freezing has now become an economically competitive solution for many such applications, particularly in bad ground.

The general experience gained from completing ground freezing for numerous open excavation projects over the past ten years is reported to assist in the evaluation, design and construction of future projects. The principal emphasis of this report is the practical construction and field instrumentation procedures necessary successfully to complete ground freezing for a project. Examples from past projects ranging from large nuclear power plants to small sewerage pumping stations are employed to emphasize important points.