On the Overcontact Binary V2388 Oph and An Improved M–R Relation for Ltcbs

The evolutionary stage of the low-temperature contact binary (LTCB) V2388 Oph has been investigated. V2388 Oph was previously classified as an A-type W UMa star, and is the brighter member of the visual binary Fin 381. When compared to other well-known LTCBs it is evident that the primary component has evolved to the TAMS, and the companion also seems to be more evolved than a ZAMS star. Mochnacki proposed a new subgroup of W UMa stars, namely of OO Aql type, distinct from A and W types. V2388 Oph is suggested to be a member of this new group.     

Determination of Precious Metal Concentrations in a Polymetallic Nodule Reference Sample from the Indian Ocean by ICP-MS

A polymetallic nodule reference sample (No. 2388)collected from the Indian Ocean, and seven other samples, two from the United States Geological Survey, USA (Nod-A-1 and Nod-P-1), three from Russia (OOPE 601, OOPE 602, and OOPE 603), and two from China (GSPN-2 and GSPN-3), collected from different loca tions, are available for calibration purposes and as control samples in the analytical programs for polymetallic nodules and associated sediments to ensure accurate measurements. They are not certified for precious metal concentrations, however, and the data available are very scanty. An attempt has been made to provide working values for platinum, palladium, gold, and silver and indicative values for osmium, iridium, and ruthenium in these eight ferromanganese nodule reference samples, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To assess the accuracy of the method, certified reference materials, WPR-1, WMS-1, WMG-1, and WGB-1 Canadian Certified Materials Project (CCRMP, Canada) were analyzed, and the data obtained were compared with the certified values. The estimate of analytical reproducibility was found to be better than 15 % RSD for most elements with comparable accuracy. The data presented for this set of manganese nodule reference samples may be useful in geochemical studies of manganese nodules and associated sediments.