During the run-up to eruption, volcanoes often show geophysically detectable signs of unrest. However, there are long-standing challenges in interpreting the signals and evaluating the likelihood of eruption, especially during the early stages of volcanic unrest. Considerable insight can be gained from combined geochemical and geophysical studies. Here we take such an approach to better understand the beginning of eruption run-up, viewed through the lens of the 1999 sub-Plinian basaltic eruption of Shishaldin volcano, Alaska. The eruption is of interest due to its lack of observed deformation and its apparent long run-up time (9 months), following a deep long-period earthquake swarm. We evaluate the nature and timing of recharge by examining the composition of 138 olivine macrocrysts and 53 olivine-hosted melt inclusions and through shear-wave splitting analysis of regional earthquakes. Magma mixing is recorded in three crystal populations: a dominant population of evolved olivines (Fo(60-69)) that are mostly reversely zoned, an intermediate population (Fo(69-76)) with mixed zonation, and a small population of normally zoned more primitive olivines (Fo(76-80)). Mixing-to-eruption timescales are obtained through modeling of Fe-Mg interdiffusion in 78 olivines. The large number of resultant timescales provides a thorough record of mixing, demonstrating at least three mixing events: a minor event similar to 11 months prior to eruption, overlapping within uncertainty with the onset of deep long-period seismicity; a major event similar to 50 days before eruption, coincident with a large (M5.2) shallow earthquake; and a final event about a week prior to eruption. Shear-wave splitting analysis shows a change in the orientation of the local stress field about a month after the deep long-period swarm and around the time of the M5.2 event. Earthquake depths and vapor saturation pressures of Raman-reconstructed melt inclusions indicate that the recharge magma originated from depths of at least 20 km, and that mixing with a shallow magma or olivine cumulates occurred in or just below the edifice (<3 km depth). Deformation was likely outside the spatial and temporal resolution of the satellite measurements. Prior to eruption magma was stored over a large range of depths (similar to 0-2.5 km below the summit), suggesting a shallow, vertical reservoir that could provide another explanation for the lack of detectable deformation. The earliest sign of unrest (deep long-period seismicity) coincides temporally with magmatic activity (magma mixing and a change in the local stress state), possibly indicating the beginning of eruption run-up. The more immediate run-up began with the major recharge event similar to 50 days prior to eruption, after which the signs of unrest became continuous. This timescale is long compared to the seismic run-up to other basaltic eruptions (typically hours to days). Other volcanoes classified as open-system, based on their lack of precursory deformation, also tend to have relatively long run-up durations, which may be related to the time required to fill the shallow reservoir with magmas sourced from greater depth. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ; NSF GeoPRISMS programNational Science Foundation (NSF)NSF - Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) [EAR-1456814, EAR-1456939]; Alaska Geological Society ; We would like to give thanks to our reviewers, Margaret Hartley and one anonymous reviewer, and our editor, Tamsin Mather, for thoughtful comments that improved the paper. We would like to express great gratitude to Philipp Ruprecht, who helped reduce the olivine data, and Glenn Thompson, who provided continuous seismic data from Shishaldin. Special thanks are also due to Louise Bolge, Adrian Fiege, W. Henry Towbin, Lowell Moore, and Charles Farley, who helped with analyses. This work was supported by the NSF GeoPRISMS program [grant numbers EAR-1456814 and EAR-1456939]. Additional support came from the Don Richter Memorial Scholarship awarded to DJR by the Alaska Geological Society. ; Public domain authored by a U.S. government employee
A Raman spectroscopic study of Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-x%BaTiO3 (NBT-x%BT) single crystals with x=0 and 5.6 has been performed as a function of temperature from 25 to 600 degrees C. The general features of the Raman spectra for the various compositions were similar over the region of the phase diagram investigated, with only subtle changes between rhombohedral (R), tetragonal (T) and cubic phases. The peaks were broad, with no significant narrowing on cooling through a phase transition. We find evidence of an oxygen octahedral rotational mode in the paraelectric state. On cooling near and below the ferroelectric Curie temperature, a gradual change in intensity of the A-O and B-O peaks occurred with decreasing temperature. Evidence of a ferroelectric -> antiferroelectric transition was found near 200-250 degrees C, consistent with the onset of dispersion in the dielectric constant. The phase transition mechanism was discussed. The findings indicate the presence of a broad distribution of quasistatic local structural distortions, which only have subtle differences in the various average structures. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3587236] ; National Science Foundation (U.S.). Division of Materials Research. Materials World Network - DMR-0806592 ; United States. Department of Energy - DE-FG02-07ER46480 ; National Natural Science Foundation (China) - 50602047 ; Shanghai Municipal People's Government - 08JC1420500
The Raman spectra of pure N-2, CO2, and CH4 were analyzed over the range 10 to 500 bars and from -160 degrees C to 200 degrees C (N-2), 22 degrees C to 350 degrees C (CO2), and -100 degrees C to 450 degrees C (CH4). At constant temperature, Raman peak position, including the more intense CO2 peak (nu+), decreases (shifts to lower wave number) with increasing pressure for all three gases over the entire pressure and temperature (PT) range studied. At constant pressure, the peak position for CO2 and CH4 increases (shifts to higher wave number) with increasing temperature over the entire PT range studied. In contrast, N-2 first shows an increase in peak position with increasing temperature at constant pressure, followed by a decrease in peak position with increasing temperature. The inflection temperature at which the trend reverses for N-2 is located between 0 degrees C and 50 degrees C at pressures above similar to 50 bars and is pressure dependent. Below similar to 50 bars, the inflection temperature was observed as low as -120 degrees C. The shifts in Raman peak positions with PT are related to relative density changes, which reflect changes in intermolecular attraction and repulsion. A conceptual model relating the Raman spectral properties of N-2, CO2, and CH4 to relative density (volume) changes and attractive and repulsive forces is presented here. Additionally, reduced temperature-dependent densimeters and barometers are presented for each pure component over the respective PT ranges. The Raman spectral behavior of the pure gases as a function of temperature and pressure is assessed to provide a framework for understanding the behavior of each component in multicomponent N-2-CO2-CH4 gas systems in a future study. ; National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation (NSF) [EAR-1624589, OCE1459433] ; National Science Foundation, Grant/Award Numbers: EAR-1624589, OCE1459433 ; Public domain authored by a U.S. government employee
The Coles Hill uranium deposit, with an indicated resource of about 130 Mlb of U3O8, is the largest unmined uranium deposit in the United States. The deposit is hosted in the Taconian (approx. 480-450 Ma) Martinsville igneous complex, which consists of the Ordovician Leatherwood Granite (granodiorite) and the Silurian Rich Acres Formation (diorite). The host rock was metamorphosed to orthogneiss during the Alleghanian orogeny (approx. 325-260 Ma), when it also underwent dextral strike-slip movement along the Brookneal shear zone. During the Triassic, extensional tectonics led to the development of the Dan River Basin that lies east of Coles Hill. The mineralized zone is hosted in brittle structures in the footwall of the Triassic Chatham fault that forms the western edge of the basin. Within brittle fracture zones, uranium silicate and uranium-bearing fluorapatite with traces of brannerite form veins and breccia-fill with chlorite, quartz, titanium oxide, pyrite, and calcite. Uranium silicates also coat and replace primary titanite, zircon, ilmenite, and sulfides. Sodium metasomatism preceded and accompanied uranium mineralization, pervasively altering host rock and forming albite from primary feldspar, depositing limpid albite rims on igneous feldspar, altering titanite to titanium oxide and calcite, and forming riebeckite. Various geothermometers indicate temperatures of less than similar to 200 degrees C during mineralization. In situ U-Pb analyses of titanite, Ti-oxide, and apatite, along with Rb/Sr and U/Pb isotope systematics of whole-rock samples, resolve the timing of geologic processes affecting Coles Hill. The host Leatherwood Granite containing primary euhedral titanite is dated at 450 to 445 Ma, in agreement with previously obtained ages from zircon in the Martinsville igneous complex. A regional metamorphic event at 330 to 310 Ma formed anhedral titanite and some apatite, reequilibrated whole-rock Rb/Sr and U-Pb isotopes, and is interpreted to have coincided with movement along the Brookneal shear zone. During shearing and metamorphism, primary refractory uranium-bearing minerals including titanite, zircon, and uranothorite were recrystallized, and uranium was liberated and mixed locally with hematite, clay, and other fine-grained minerals. Uranium mineralization was accompanied by a metasomatic episode between 250 and 200 Ma that reset the Rb-Sr and U-Pb isotope systems and formed titanium oxide and apatite that are associated and, in places, intimately intergrown with uranium silicate dating mineralization. This event coincides with rifting that formed the Dan River Basin and was a precursor to the breakup of Pangea. The orientation of late-stage tectonic stylolites is compatible with their formation during Late Triassic to Early Jurassic basin inversion, postdating the main stage of uranium mineralization and effectively dating mineralization as Mesozoic. Based on the close spatial and temporal association of uranium with apatite, we propose that uranium was carried as a uranyl-phosphate complex. Uranium was locally reduced by coupled redox reactions with ferrous iron and sulfide minerals in the host rock, forming uranium silicates. The release of calcium during sodium metasomatic alteration of primary calcic feldspar and titanite in the host rock initiated successive reactions in which uranium and phosphate in mineralizing fluids combined with calcium to form U-enriched fluorapatite. Based on the deposit mineralogy, oxygen isotope geochemistry, and trace element characteristics of uranium silicate and gangue minerals, the primary mineralizing fluids likely included connate and/or meteoric water sourced from the adjacent Dan River Basin. High heat flow related to Mesozoic rifting may have driven these (P-Na-F- rich) fluids through local aquifers and into basin margin faults, transporting uranium from the basin or mobilizing uranium from previously formed U minerals in the Brookneal shear zone, or from U-enriched older basement rock. ; Published version ; Public domain authored by a U.S. government employee
Fracture pattern development has been a challenging area of research in the Earth sciences for more than 100 years. Much has been learned about the spatial and temporal complexity inherent to these systems, but severe challenges remain. Future advances will require new approaches. Chemical processes play a larger role in openingmode fracture pattern development than has hitherto been appreciated. This review examines relationships between mechanical and geochemical processes that influence the fracture patterns recorded in natural settings. For fractures formed in diagenetic settings (~50 to 200 °C), we review evidence of chemical reactions in fractures and show how a chemical perspective helps solve problems in fracture analysis. We also outline impediments to subsurface pattern measurement and interpretation, assess implications of discoveries in fracture history reconstruction for processbased models, review models of fracture cementation and chemically assisted fracture growth, and discuss promising paths for future work. To accurately predict the mechanical and fluid flow properties of fracture systems, a processesbased approach is needed. Progress is possible using observational, experimental, and modeling approaches that view fracture patterns and properties as the result of coupled mechanical and chemical processes. A critical area is reconstructing patterns through time. Such data sets are essential for developing and testing predictive models. Other topics that need work include models of crystal growth and dissolution rates under geological conditions, cement mechanical effects, and subcritical crack propagation. Advances in machine learning and 3D imaging present opportunities for a mechanistic understanding of fracture formation and development, enabling prediction of spatial and temporal complexity over geologic timescales. Geophysical research with a chemical perspective is needed to correctly identify and interpret fractures from geophysical measurements during site characterization and monitoring of subsurface engineering activities. ; This manuscript resulted from discussions at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science (SC), Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences (CSGB) Division that was held in Leesburg, Virginia, in May 2016. We are grateful to James Rustad for his leadership, contributions to discussions at the workshop, and encouragement and support during the preparation of this review. S. E. L. appreciates support in organizing and conducting the workshop and preparing the paper from Grant DEFG0203ER15430 from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DENA0003525. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated by Battelle Memorial Institute for the U.S. DOE. Contributions from ORNL, SNL and PNNL are based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. DOE or the U.S. Government. J. L. U. acknowledges funding by the German Science Foundation Project NE 822/341|UR 64/171. We also value discussions with P. Eichhubl, A. Fall, and J. F. W. Gale, contributions to workshop preparation from R. A. Schultz, and discussion and comments from R. Cygan, S.F. Forstner, Q. Wang, and journal reviewers. No data were used in the preparation of this manuscript. ; Published version