Searching for Planetary Eclipses in Open Clusters: NGC 7086

In an attempt to discover planetary eclipses, we observed the open cluster NGC 7086. On one night we observed the cluster and standard stars through the B and V filters, enabling us to make a colour-magnitude diagram. Plots of the differential magnitudes were inspected for variability, but no planetary eclipses were found. New variable stars were discovered and their light curves show some of them to be eclipsing binary stars. The location on the colour-magnitude diagram of some of the variable stars is consistent with cluster membership.     

Simplified method of deep-tow seismic profiling

To improve resolution of seismic-reflection profiles in continental slope water depths of 900 to 1500 m, a single hydrophone was towed about 150 m off the bottom to receive reflected signals from a surface-towed sparker sound source. That deep-towed hydrophone data show that valleys which appear V-shaped in records from a surface-towed hydrophone are flat-bottomed, and that subbottom reflections from an erosional unconformity can be much better resolved. The data produced by this technique are very hepful when used in conjunction with records from conventional surface-towed seismic-profiling equipment.     

新疆希勒库都克铜钼矿区岩浆混合作用: 来自锆石U-Pb年代学的证据

新疆北部富蕴县内希勒库都克铜钼矿区的花岗闪长岩及其包体岩相学、矿物化学和岩石地球化学特征及野外地质特征显示其为岩浆混合作用的结果。本文获得花岗闪长岩及其中暗色微粒包体玄武安山玢岩、细粒辉长闪长岩锆石U-Pb年龄为326.8±2.1Ma、327.6±2.4Ma、329.3±2.3Ma,年龄值基本一致,这一结果从年代学角度为花岗闪长岩及其中暗色微粒包体的岩浆混合作用成因提供证据。偏酸性的花岗闪长质与偏基性玄武安山质岩浆混合作用形成了331.9±2.1Ma的安山玢岩脉。     

Application of common reflection angle migration for imaging deformation structures in an inner accretionary wedge,Nankai Trough,Japan

To better image deformation structures within the inner accretionary wedge of the Nankai Trough, Japan, we apply common reflection angle migration to a legacy two-dimensional seismic data set acquired with a 6 km streamer cable. In this region, many seismic surveys have been conducted to study the seismogenic zone related to plate subduction. However, the details of the accreted sediments beneath the Kumano forearc basin are still unclear due to the poor quality of seismic images caused by multiple reflections, highly attenuated signals, and possibly complex geological structures. Generating common image gathers in the subsurface local angle domain rather than the surface offset domain is more advantageous for imaging geological structures that involve complex wave paths and poor illumination. By applying this method, previously unseen structures are revealed in the thick accreted sediments. The newly imaged geometric features of reflectors, such as the folds in the shallow part of the section and the deep reflectors with stepwise discontinuities, imply deformation structures with multiple thrust faults. The reflections within the deep accreted sediments (approximately 5 km) are mainly mapped to far angles (30°–50°) in the common reflection angles, which correspond to the recorded offset distances greater than 4.5 km. This result indicates that the far offset/angle information is critical to image the deformation structures at depth. The new depth image from the common reflection angle migration provides seismic evidence of multiple thrust faults and their relationship with the megathrust fault that is essential for understanding the structure and evolution of the Nankai Trough seismogenic zone.     

Age verification,growth and life history of rubyfish Plagiogeneion rubiginosum

Age verification of rubyfish (Plagiogeneion rubiginosum) was sought using the bomb radiocarbon chronometer procedure. Stable isotopes were investigated for life history characteristics. Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) and stable isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) levels were measured in micro-samples from five otoliths that had been aged using a zone count method. All the core ¹⁴C measurements were ‘pre-bomb’ indicating ages of at least 45 years, and the ¹⁴C measurements across the otolith sections suggested that the zone-count ageing method described herein is not biased. Maximum estimated age was 100 years. There was no significant between-sex difference in the von Bertalanffy growth curves. The δ¹⁸O values indicated that rubyfish are near-surface as juveniles, and move deeper with age. Adults appear to reside in 600–1000 m; this is deeper than most trawl-capture data suggest, but not implausible, and has stock assessment implications. The δ¹³C values reflect fish metabolic rates, trophic feeding levels and oceanographic conditions. The stable isotopes record the environmental life history of each fish, and have value in distinguishing stocks and/or indicating vertical and latitudinal migratory patterns.     

A call for increased public engagement in geology higher education

Rising fees are forcing higher education institutions to think critically about what students are offered for their money. In geology courses there appears to be a lack of guidance for alternative careers in academia or industry, and even a lack of education about wider social, political and economic impacts of the discipline. It is possible to detect a lack of high‐impact geoscience among the popular science communication communities, such as online multidisciplinary blogging platforms. In order to enhance the student experience and the impact of geoscience on the wider public, universities need to look inwards at what they can do to help inspire and educate students to have broader career horizons and bigger public impacts through their research.     

青海锡铁山铅锌矿床硫同位素地球化学研究——深源与海水硫的混合

锡铁山铅锌矿床发育较为完整的喷流沉积系统,包括管道相、近喷口相、远端沉积相及各种喷流沉积岩,并有后期改造作用形成的脉状铅锌矿体。本文通过喷流沉积系统各部位硫化物硫同位素的分析,不同部位硫化物硫同位素组成不同,且规律性变化。以黄铁矿分析结果为例,网脉状石英钠长岩δ34S=+0.8‰,代表供给系统的硫化物脉2.95‰,非层状矿体4.48‰,层状矿体3.25‰,炭质片岩为+6.26‰,后期改造型铅锌矿脉为+2.93‰。代表管道相的网脉状石英钠长岩黄铁矿具有深源(幔源)的硫同位素组成,而矿体或大理岩上盘炭质片岩具有海水硫来源的特点。矿体的硫介于二者之间,更靠近炭质片岩的硫化物同位素组成,其来源可能更多受海水硫酸盐的制约,即锡铁山矿床硫具有混合来源性质,主要是海水硫酸盐的还原,部分来源于深部卤水的供给。硫的还原方式以生物细菌还原为主。层状矿体中硫同位素组成由早至晚δ34S逐渐降低,表明层状矿体成矿作用过程中,发生了生物成因的H2S的大量加入。     

K-Ar dating of white micas from the Ventersdorp Contact Reef of the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: timing of post-depositional alteration

Summary White micas from metamorphosed and hydrothermally-altered basaltic lavas, conglomerates, quartzites and shales in and around the Ventersdorp Contact Reef of the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, were dated by the K-Ar method to constrain post-depositional thermal and mineralization processes. The minerals were separated into various grain sizes between < 0.4 and 10m, and characterized in terms of composition, paragenetic sequence and texture, by XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The K-Ar isochron of all white micas in the basaltic lavas suggests an age of 1994 ± 60 Ma, and that of the smaller mica particles (< 2m) in the quartzites defines a younger age of 1917 ± 66 Ma. This range is considered to reflect the timing of long-lived hydrothermal alteration in the Ventersdorp Contact Reef. The older age is slightly younger than the intrusion of the Bushveld Complex (2060–2054 Ma) and the Vredefort catastrophism (2020 Ma), which are well-documented events that were superimposed onto the Witwatersrand Basin. The younger age may be associated with the Eburnian orogenesis along the western edge of the Kaapvaal Craton resulting in continental-scale fluid migration and hydrothermal activity that extended throughout the Griqualand Basin and even into the Witwatersrand Basin. The K-Ar ages obtained here for the white mica fractions of the Ventersdorp Contact Reef in the Witwatersrand Basin confirm that the period between 2.0 and 1.9 Ga was significant, as far as alteration, and possibly also gold mobilization, was concerned.

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K-Ar Datierung von Hellglimmern aus dem hentersdorp Contact Reef des Witwatersrand Beckens, Südafrika: die zeitliche Eingrenzung der nach der Sedimentablagerung erfolgten Alteration

Zusammenfassung Hellglimmer von metamorph und hydrothermal überprägtem Basalt, Konglomerat, Quarzit und Pelit aus dem Ventersdorp Contact Reef im Witwatersrand Becken, Südafrika, wurden mittels der K-Ar Methode datiert, um das Alter der postsedimentären thermischen Überprägung einzugrenzen. Mineralkörner wurden in einzelne Fraktionen zwischen < 0.4 und 10m separiert und auf deren Zusammensetzung, Paragenese und Textur mittels Röntgendiffraktometrie und Elektronenmikroskopie untersucht. Das Isochronenalter für alle Hellglimmerproben aus dem Metabasalt liegt bei 1994 ± 60 Ma, jenes für die Glimmer mit einer Korngröße < 2m im Quarzit bei 1917 ± 66 Ma. Diese Altersspanne wird als Ausdruck einer lang anhaltenden hydrothermalen Veränderung des Ventersdorp Contact Reef interpretiert. Das ältere Alter ist etwas jünger als die Intrusion des Bushveld Komplex (2060–2054 Ma) und die Vredefort Katastrophe (2020 Ma) - zwei gut dokumentierte Ereignisse, die das Witwatersrand Becken erfaßten. Das jüngere Alter könnte mit der eburnischen Orogenese entlang des Westrandes des Kaapvaal Kratons in Zusammenhang stehen, während der es zu Fluid Migration und hydrothermaler Aktivität quer über den Kontinent vom Griqualand Becken bis in das Witwatersrand Becken kam. Die neuen K-Ar Alter bestätigen somit, daß die Zeitspanne von 2.0–1.9 Ga wesentlich für die Alteration und möglicherweise auch für die Mobilisierung von Gold im Witwatersrand Becken war.

     

Characteristics of post-depositional fluids in the Witwatersrand Basin

Summary Four metamorphic/hydrothermal fluid systems were identified in detailed microthermometric and spectroscopic investigations carried out on fluids trapped in late-stage quartz veins sampled throughout the Witwatersrand Basin. These include aqueous, H₂O-CO₂-rich, H₂O-CH₄-CO₂-rich and CH₄-N₂-rich fluids. Early inclusion populations are dominated by H₂O- and CO₂-rich fluid systems. Cross-cutting these early fluid populations are trails of inclusions that contain CH₄, C₂H₆, N₂, H₂ and H₂S (vapour-rich inclusions). Fault-related quartz veins, in particular, are characterized by these later fluid types. A common feature of some of these later fluids is the presence of hydrocarbons and daughter crystals. A very late phase of aqueous fluids occurs in most samples as transgranular inclusion trails. P-V T-X considerations as well as chlorite geothermometry, mineral assemblages and burial conditions suggest entrapment temperatures of between 200°C and 400°C and locally up to 500°C. Fluid chemistry suggests that the post-depositional C-O-H fluids affecting the sediments have oxygen fugacities between Q-F-M and Ni-NiO in the range 300°C to 400°C. This accounts for the widespread preservation of detrital uraninite and gold remobilization along major fluid conduits.

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Charakterisierung von post-sedimentären Fluiden im Witwatersrand-Becken

Zusammenfassung Vier verschiedene Arten von metamorphen/hydrothermalen Flüssigkeitseinschlüssen wurden im Zuge von detaillierten mikrothermometrischen und spektroskopischen Untersuchungen an Flüssigkeiten in Proben von spätgebildeten Quarzgängen aus dem Gesamtbereich des Witwatersrand-Beckens identifiziert. Bei diesen Flüssigkeiten konnten wässerige, H₂O-CO₂-reiche, H₂O-CH₄-CO₂-reiche und CH₄-N₂-reiche Typen unterschieden werden. Bei frühgebildeten Einschlüssen dominieren H₂O- und CO₂-reiche Flüssigkeiten. Die frühen Einschlüsse kommen entlang verheilter Bruchflächen vor und werden von einer späteren, gasreichen Generation durchkreuzt, die CH₄, C₂H₆, N₂, H₂, und H₂S enthält. Insbesondere Quarzgänge, die an Verwerfungen gebunden sind, enthalten Flüssigkeitseinschlüsse des letzteren Typs. Einige dieser Flüssigkeiten haben die Anwesenheit von Tochterkristallen und hydrokarbonischer Komponenten gemeinsam. Eine sehr späte Generation von wäßrigen Flüssigkeiten kommt in den meisten Proben in der Form von trans-granularen Einschlussbahnen vor. Berücksichtigung von P-V-T-X Bedingungen und Chlorit-Thermometrie, von Mineralparagenesen und Überlagerungsmächtigkeit weisen auf Bildungstemperaturen zwischen 200 und 400 °C, lokal bis zu 500 °C. Die Zusammensetzungen der Flüssigkeiten deuten an, daß die spät-bis post-diagenetischen C-O-H Flüssigkeiten, die auf die Sedimente einwirkten, Sauerstoffugazitäten im Bereich zwischen Q-F-M und Ni-NiO, für Temperaturen von 300 bis 400 °C, hatten. Dies erkärt, warum detritischer Uraninit in weiten Bereichen des Beckens auftritt und warum Remobilisierung von Gold entlang von Zonen hoher Fluidwegsamkeit stattfinden konnte.