The formation of graphite upon the interaction of subducted carbonates and sulfur with metal-bearing rocks of the lithospheric mantle

Experimental studies of the Fe⁰–(Mg, Ca)CO₃–S system were carried out during 18–20 h at 6.3 GPa, 900–1400°C. It is shown that the major processes resulting in the formation of free carbon include reduction of carbonates upon redox interaction with Fe⁰ (or Fe₃C), extraction of carbon from iron carbide upon interaction with a sulfur melt/fluid, and reduction of the carbonate melt by Fe–S and Fe?S–C melts. Reconstruction of the processes of graphite formation indicates that carbonates and iron carbide may be potential sources of carbon under the conditions of subduction, and participation of the sulfur melt/fluid may result in the formation of mantle sulfides.     

Correlation dependences of electromagnetic and deformation parameters

In-situ monitoring observations are carried out, and correlation analysis aimed at estimating the dependences between the electromagnetic parameters (variations of apparent resistivity, the impedance phase, components of the impedance tensor, and deformations of the daylight surface on the territory of the Bishkek geodynamic polygon) is performed. A new approach to the explanation of the physical mechanism forming variations in electrical conductivity of the medium is proposed on this basis.     

Experimental modeling of the interaction of subducted carbonates and sulfur with mantle silicates

Experimental studies in the system Fe,Ni–olivine–carbonate–S (P = 6.3 GPa, T = 1050–1550°C, t = 40–60 h) aimed at modeling of the interaction of subducted carbonates and sulfur with rocks of the silicate mantle and at investigation of the likely mechanism of the formation of mantle sulfides were performed. It is shown that an association of olivine + orthopyroxene + magnesite + pyrite coexisting with a sulfur melt/fluid with dissolved Fe, Ni, and O is formed at T ≤ 1250°C. An association of low-Fe olivine, orthopyroxene, and magnesite and two immiscible melts of the carbonate and S–Fe–Ni–O compositions are formed at T ≥ 1350°C. It is shown that the reduced S-bearing fluids may transform silicates and carbonates, extract metals from the solid-phase matrix, and provide conditions for generation of sulfide melts.     

Aspects of reproduction of the brown mussel Perna perna at the Iture rocky beach near Cape Coast,Ghana

Aspects of the reproductive biology of the brown mussel Perna perna at the Iture rocky beach near Cape Coast, Ghana, were studied from September 2014 to August 2015. The current study was aimed at providing information useful for managing the mussel fishery in this locality and also that would form the basis for designing appropriate culture methods for the species. Microscopic examination of fresh smears of gonadal material, as well as histological preparations of the gonad, were used to study the sexuality and breeding pattern of the species. Monthly gonadal and condition indices were also determined. Perna perna exhibited gonochoristic sexuality with a sex ratio of approximately 1:1 throughout the study period. Sexes were identifiable at shell lengths of 15.0–19.9 mm. Five stages of gonadal development were identified in both sexes. Gametogenic activity was continuous throughout the year, with two major spawning activities, from April to June and from August to December. These periods coincided with the major and minor rainy seasons, respectively, as well as the major upwelling period in August. Condition indices suggest that the mussels were in better condition for harvesting in March and August prior to the major spawning events.     

New data on the deep structure of the South Kochkor zone of concentrated deformation

Based on a complex study of the upper crust structure in the southern margin of Kochkor basin (Northern Tien Shan), including study of the structure of the Cenozoic sedimentary cover, the deep geoelectrical structure, the structural unconformities, and occurrences of recent deformations in the basement rocks, new geological–geophysical cross sections are constructed. The cross sections show both fault structures that penetrate the cover from the basement and flat interplate detachments with related fold-overthrust structures. The comparison of the cross sections has established the absence of common planes of fault extensions along the entire margin of the hollow, except for the zone where the margin and the hollow adjoin, which can be caused by the zones of dynamic influence of secondary faults, the zones of fracturing, and the zones of cataclasis of blockwise disintegrated granite massifs.     

The lithospheric structure of the Central and Southern Tien Shan: MTS data correlated with petrology and laboratory studies of lower-crust and upper-mantle xenoliths

Magnetotelluric soundings (MTS) in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan along 74° and 76° E profiles reveal conductors in the crust which delineate the boundaries of the At-Bashi accretionary-collisional zone and the Issyk-Kul microcontinent. Correlated to earthquake converted-wave patterns (v_P) along the MANAS profile collected in 2007, the geoelectric model for the At-Bashi zone lends support to the hypothesis that the position and dip of large thrust sheets, as well as the way and direction of exhumation of eclogites in this zone, are similar to those in Northwest China. Petrological analysis, geothermobarometry, and elastic P-wave velocities measured in laboratory on lower-crust and upper-mantle xenoliths indicate that at the time when the xenoliths were dragged to the surface about 70 Ma ago, the Moho was 20 km shallower than now (35 km against 55 km) and the heat flux was 20 mW/m² higher (80 against 60 mW/m²).     

Conditions of Formation of Iron–Carbon Melt Inclusions in Garnet and Orthopyroxene under <Emphasis Type="Italic">P-T</Emphasis> Conditions of Lithospheric Mantle

Of great importance in the problem of redox evolution of mantle rocks is the reconstruction of scenarios of alteration of Fe⁰- or Fe₃C-bearing rocks by oxidizing mantle metasomatic agents and the evaluation of stability of these phases under the influence of fluids and melts of different compositions. Original results of high-temperature high-pressure experiments (P = 6.3 GPa, T = 1300–1500°С) in the carbide–oxide–carbonate systems (Fe₃C–SiO₂–(Mg,Ca)CO₃ and Fe₃C–SiO₂–Al₂O₃–(Mg,Ca)CO₃) are reported. Conditions of formation of mantle silicates with metallic or metal–carbon melt inclusions are determined and their stability in the presence of CO₂-fluid representing the potential mantle oxidizing metasomatic agent are estimated. It is established that garnet or orthopyroxene and CO₂-fluid are formed in the carbide–oxide–carbonate system through decarbonation, with subsequent redox interaction between CO₂ and iron carbide. This results in the formation of assemblage of Fe-rich silicates and graphite. Garnet and orthopyroxene contain inclusions of a Fe–C melt, as well as graphite, fayalite, and ferrosilite. It is experimentally demonstrated that the presence of CO₂-fluid in interstices does not affect on the preservation of metallic inclusions, as well as graphite inclusions in silicates. Selective capture of Fe–C melt inclusions by mantle silicates is one of the potential scenarios for the conservation of metallic iron in mantle domains altered by mantle oxidizing metasomatic agents.     

On the question of the interrelation between variations in crustal electrical conductivity and geodynamical processes

The behavior of the variations in the crustal electrical conductivity in a wide range of periods is studied from the data of magnetotelluric soundings (MTS) during the Kambarata experiment (a strong industrial explosion to construct the blast-fill dam on the Naryn river), as well as at Aksu, a stationary geophysical monitoring point. The concept of the interrelation between the stress-strain state of the medium and the change in the apparent electrical resistivity, which is based on the idea of the redistribution of mineralized solutions between the crack networks, is confirmed experimentally. A procedure of azimuthal monitoring is developed, which allowed us not only to identify the anomalous changes in the module and phase of apparent resistivity but also to establish the directions of their maximum increases and decreases (the axes of compression and tension). For 34 points of deep MTS in the territory of Central Tien Shan, the depth intervals in the upper crust that are most sensitive to the changes in the stress-strain state of the medium are established. The variations in the electrical conductivity are compared with the solar-lunar tidal impacts. It is shown that by analyzing the recorded time series, it is possible to recognize the characteristic signs of the changes in the stress-strain state of the medium that are caused by seismic events.     

Graphite and diamond formation via the interaction of iron carbide and Fe,Ni-sulfide under mantle <Emphasis Type="Italic">P–T</Emphasis> parameters

Experimental research in the Fe₃C–(Fe,Ni)S system was carried out. The objective of the investigation was to model the reactions of carbide–sulfide interaction related to graphite (diamond) formation in reduced lithosphere mantle domains. T ≤ 1200°C is the formation temperature of the Ni-cohenite + graphite assemblage coexisting with two immiscible melts such as sulfide (Fe₆₀–Ni₃–S₃₇)_L and metal–sulfide (Fe₇₁–Ni₇–S₂₁–C₁)_L containing dissolved carbon. Т ≥ 1300°C is the generation temperature of a unified melt such as (Fe₈₀–Ni₆–S₁₀–C₄)_L characterized by graphite crystallization and diamond growth. The extraction of carbide carbon during the interaction with the sulfide melt can be considered as one of the potential mechanisms of graphite and diamond formation in the reduced mantle.     

Nature of electric conductive layers of the upper crust and infrastructure of granites of the Central Tien Shan

We studied the infrastructure of granite massifs of the Central Tien Shan and its correlation with the electric conductive layer of the upper crust, which made possible to reveal new peculiarities of the structure of the granite layer in the region and to clarify the nature of low resistivity layers.