The oxygen isotopic composition as an indicator of the genesis of “Basaltic” corundum

This paper reports an oxygen isotopic study of corundums and associated minerals from the Yogo lamprophyres (Montana, US), plagioclase-corundum inclusions in alkali basalt (Tunkin depression, Russia), and from modern alluvium of Podgelbanochnyi alkaline basaltic volcano (Primorye, Russia). It is shown that all sapphires genetically related to mafic magmatic rocks have a similar oxygen isotopic composition (the variations of δ¹⁸O are within 2.5‰) with most values plotting between +4.5 and +7.0‰ SMOW. The oxygen isotopic ratios in the associated minerals (olivines, pyroxenes, mica, and others) and host rocks are plotted in the same interval. This indicates that the sapphire crystallized during evolution of the parental mafic magma. However, there are xenogenic corundums, which were only transported by basaltic magma to the Earth’s surface. They have a sharply distinct oxygen isotopic composition, which suggests their disequilibrium with the host lavas, and, correspondingly, a different genetic nature.     

Features of the Influence of Weather Conditions on the Deformation Processes of the Upper Layer of the Earth’s Crust

Doklady Earth Sciences - The influence of the temperature and moisture content of the near-surface soil layer on variations of the barodeformation interaction of the boundary layer of the...     

Thermodynamics of arsenates,selenites, and sulfates in the oxidation zone of sulfide ores. X. thermal stability and dehydration features of synthetic analogs of the cobaltomenite–ahlfeldite solid solution series

The aim of this study is the experimental investigation of the synthetic analogs of cobaltomenite, CoSeO₃ ? 2H₂O, ahlfeldite, NiSeO₃ ? 2H₂O, members of the cobaltomenite–ahlfeldite solid solution series (Ni _x Co_1–x )SeO₃ ? 2H₂O, and singularities of their dehydration and dissociation. The intermediate members of the cobaltomenite (CoSeO₃ ? 2H₂O)–ahlfeldite (NiSeO₃ ? 2H₂O) series have been synthesized and studied with a combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and the simultaneous application of thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) within the temperature range from 25 to 640°C. The complete solid solution series corresponds to the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. Unit-cell dimensions decrease in all crystallographic directions as the amount of Ni increases. The angle β increases from 98.82(1) (cobaltomenite) to 99.05(1)° (ahlfeldite). It has been established that CoSeO₃ ? 2H₂O and NiSeO₃ ? 2H₂O dehydrate at 120–340°C through two stages apparently corresponding, to the formation of intermediate hydrated species CoSeO₃ ? H₂O and NiSeO₃ ? 1/3H₂O. The reaction enthalpies for each dehydration stage of CoSeO₃ ? 2H₂O and NiSeO₃ ? 2H₂O have been determined. Changes of the unit-cell dimensions and dehydration temperatures are rationalized in terms of the Co and Ni site occupancy in the structure of the cobaltomenite–ahlfeldite solid-solution series members.     

Self-Generating Processes in the System Atmosphere–Earth’s Crust

Doklady Earth Sciences - Based on analysis of experimental data, the self-generating processes in the system atmosphere–Earth’s crust are considered, in which energy is sequentially...     

Thermodynamics of arsenates, selenites, and sulfates in the oxidation zone of sulfide ores: VI. Solubility of synthetic analogs of ahlfeldite and cobaltomenite at 25°C

The understanding of the mechanisms of the selenium behavior under near-surface conditions is an urgent problem of modern mineralogy and geochemistry, and is very important for solving environmental problems. The objective of this study is to synthesize analogs of ahlfeldite and cobaltomenite and to estimate their solubility in water. These analogs have been synthesized by mixing aqueous solutions of cobalt and nickel nitrates, respectively, and sodium selenite acidified with a solution of nitric acid. The obtained samples have been identified by X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The solubility has been determined by the isothermal saturation method in ampoules at 25°C, while the solubility products have been calculated using the Geochemist’s Workbench (GMB 7.0) software package. The solubility products of ahlfeldite and cobaltomenite are 10^?9.20 and 10^?9.44, respectively. The Eh-pH diagrams were calculated and plotted with the GMB 7.0 software package. The Eh-pH diagrams of the Ni-Se-H₂O and Co-Se-H₂O systems have been calculated for the average contents of these elements in underground water and their contents in acidic water of the oxidation zone of sulfide deposits. The formation of ahlfeldite and cobaltomenite under near-surface conditions is discussed.     

Application of laser strainmenters to the study of earthquake physics

The paper considers possibilities of applying laser strainmeters for the study of earthquake physics. One of laser strainmeters is described. A high efficiency of using the laser strainmeters for the study of earthquakes and their precursors is shown. In records of the spaced laser strainmeters, anomalous deformations propagating from the east to the west with the speed comparable with that of migration of earthquakes were found.     

Thermodynamics of arsenates, selenites, and sulfates in the oxidation zone of sulfide Ores: Part VII. Solubility of synthetic analogs of erythrite and annabergite at 25°C

Understanding the mechanisms of arsenic’s behavior under near-surface conditions is one of the actual problems of contemporary mineralogy and geochemistry and is important for solving environmental problems. The aim of this study is to synthesize analogs of erythrite and annabergite and to investigate their solubility in water. These phases have been synthesized by the boiling-dry of aqueous solutions of cobalt and nickel nitrates mixed with sodium hydroarsenate alkalized with NaOH. The samples obtained have been identified with electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction, and IR spectroscopy. Solubility has been determined by the isothermal saturation method in ampoules at 25°C. The solubility has been calculated using the Geochemist’s Workbench (GMB 7.0) software package. The measured solubilities of erythrite and annabergite are 10^?35.76 and 10^?36.43, respectively. Eh-pH diagrams were calculated and plotted using the GMB 7.0 software package. The database comprises the thermodynamic parameters of 46 elements, 47 main particles, 48 redox pairs, 552 particles in solution, 624 solid phases, and 10 gases. The Eh-pH diagrams of the Ni-As-H₂O and Co-As-H₂O systems were plotted for the average contents of these elements in the acidic waters in the oxidation zones of sulfide deposits. The formation of erythrite and annabergite under near-surface conditions is discussed.     

Increment of Macroseismic Intensity at Seismic Stations of the Kamchatka Region Relative to the Petropavlovsk Seismic Station

The paper presents the method and results of calculating the increment of macroseismic intensity at seismic stations of Kamchatka. Calculation is based on measurement of the relative level of maximum accelerations of intense earth vibrations in the phase of S-waves of comparatively strong regional earthquakes and the root-mean-square deviation of acceleration in the phase of P-waves of a strong distant earthquake. In the latter case, records of an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1, which occurred in Japan on March 11, 2011, were used. The Petropavlovsk seismic station was used as the reference station. At the foundation of this station rests on rocky soil composed of siliceous shales. An estimate of the increment for the majority of digital stations is presented. Anomalously high intensity values were noted at a number of stations. The data obtained are used to assess the properties of soils in the investigated area. At several stations, the intensity of the horizontal component of soil vibrations above the intensity of the vertical component is much greater than the corresponding design value, which is probably due to the presence of resonant soil layers under these stations. The discrepancy in the incremental intensity estimates from records of intense oscillations from regional earthquakes and from records of a very strong remote earthquake obtained from sensors located in basements of heavy-frame concrete structures is revealed. To avoid distortion in recording ground vibrations, it is desirable to place seismic instruments far from such structures. The results obtained in the study can be used for seismic microzoning of construction sites in the investigated territory.     

Geochemistry of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in minerals and corundum-bearing rocks in northern Karelia as an indicator of their unusual genesis

The paper presents newly obtained data on the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of minerals in corundum occurrences and their host rocks in northern Karelia. Minerals in the Khitoostrov and Varaka corundum-bearing zones have extremely low δ¹⁸O (lower than ?26‰) and δ D (lower than ?215‰), which suggest that the mineral-forming process involved glacial waters and that the minerals preserve the isotopic ratios of their protolith. Aluminous corundum plagioclasites were produced by high-pressure Svecofennian (1.9-1.8 Ga) metamorphism of Paleoproterozoic rocks that had been metasomatized with the involvement of meteoric waters during the Guronian glaciation epoch.     

Interaction between a surface jet and subsurface vortices in a three-layer quasi-geostrophic model

This study focuses on the interaction between mid depth vortices and surface jets and fronts in a three-layer quasi-geostrophic model. Such vortices may be regarded as an idealisation of meddies, eddies of Mediterranean Water in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, interacting with the Azores j t and front. Successively, a single vortex, a vortex doublet and a vortex pair (in the middle layer) are studied. When a single vortex is considered, the jet has a critical effect of its motion, temporarily slowing down its zonal drift and accelerating it meridionally as the vortex crosses the front. On the contrary, if the vortex does not cross the front, it can drift fairly rapidly along it. The merger of a vortex doublet (two like-signed vortices) below a surface jet is possible whatever the relative position of this doublet with respect to the jet axis. Nevertheless, doublets initially located below the front, will undergo stronger shear and merger efficiency will be diminished. The merged vortex will be circled at the surface by a large meander of the jet. Finally, eastward jet-dipole interaction experiments are performed with various orientations of the vortex dipoles. Eastward propagating dipoles below the jet follow it without deformation. Southeastward drifting dipoles finally join the previous evolution. Southward and southwestward directed dipoles cross the surface jet southeastward. The presence of meanders initially on the jet does not prevent its crossing by a single vortex. Characteristics of the surface jet meanders are also described for a possible remote detection of this process.