P-T paths and problems of high-temperature polymetamorphism     

L. L. Perchuk  T. V. Gerya  D. D. van Reenen  C. A. Smit 《Petrology》2006,14(2):117-153

Many Precambrian granulite-facies metamorphic complexes contain so-called straight gneisses, which are massive rocks with a clearly pronounced blastomylonitic texture, lineation, and gneissosity. These rocks occur exclusively in high-temperature ductile shear zones, which can develop either during the primary exhumation of rock complexes or during the overprinting by high-temperature dynamometamorphism. The main criterion for distinguishing between these two types of straight gneisses is the configuration of their P-T trajectories, which are recorded in the mineral assemblages in these rocks and their host gneisses. Ductile shear zones developed in Archean granulite gneisses simultaneously with their exhumation, and, hence, their P-T trajectories are segments of decompression and/or isobaric cooling paths. Straight gneisses in Proterozoic polymetamorphic complexes commonly compose high-temperature ductile shear zones overprinted on Archean granulite complexes, and the P-T paths of these rocks are Z-shaped. This means that, at a constant pressure in the middle part of the continental crust, the T _min of the older P-T trajectory corresponded to T _max of the younger trajectory, and often T _max–T _min > 100°C. Such ductile shear zones commonly have a strike-slip morphology and can be easily seen in aerial photographs and discerned during structural geological surveying. These zones can overprint older gneisses without any notable thermal effect on the latter. Relations of this type were identified in the granulite complexes of Limpopo in South Africa, Sharyzhalgai in the southwestern Baikal area, and Lapland in the Kola Peninsula. The results of our research propose a solution for the well-known problem of the significant discrepancies between the isotopic ages in high-temperature-high-pressure complexes and the partial or complete distortion of radiogenic isotopic systems under the effect of a newly inflowing metamorphic fluid. The application of geochronologic techniques to these situations is senseless, and only P-T trajectories provide insight into the actual age relations between the discrete tectono-metamorphic stages. It is thus expedient to conduct not only structural studies of metamorphic complexes but also their detailed petrological examination and the calculation of their P-T paths before geochronologic dating.  相似文献   

Predictive elements of large-body impacts in geologic history     

J. Smit 《International Journal of Earth Sciences》1997,86(2):464-470

Large-body impacts cannot be predicted, although the probability (size-frequency) of large impacts on the Earth has been worked out, yielding frequencies of the order of one impact of a 1-km body every 500?000 years. Another type of prediction, however, is that forthcoming from the consequences of a large-body impact. Prediction as validation of theory. What can be predicted are the consequences of a large impact, ranging from local and regional ejecta blankets to global climate changes leading to mass extinctions. It is the fulfillment of such predictions that has rendered strength to the impact-extinction theory for the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary, in contrast to predictions attached to widespread volcanism, such as at the Deccan traps in India, or sea-level changes.  相似文献   

A furrow runs through it: An example of sustainable traditional irrigation in Western Cape Province,South Africa     

H. A. P. Smit  J. A. Jacobs 《GeoJournal》2004,61(2):191-196

Water and water related matters are important issues in water scarce countries like the Republic of South Africa. This is especially true for the agricultural sector that relies heavily on the availability of water for irrigation to ensure a secure food supply. In South Africa, present day irrigation projects rely on government subsidies and are usually large undertakings beyond the reach of individuals or small communities. The sustainability of such large irrigation projects is still a matter of debate. A 100 years ago a different set of rules applied. Irrigation could only be achieved by hand-dug furrows that supplied water in relatively small quantities to small farming communities. This paper investigated such a small community, the Leeukloof farming community in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. For the past 93 years this community has maintained a furrow that supplies water not only to farms bordering the Perdeberg River, which supplies the furrow with water, but also to farms not bordering the river. The authors try to reconstruct the changes in agricultural practices brought about by the furrow, methods of water extraction during each phase, as well as the development and role of the furrow system. The perception by the community of the necessity of this method of water extraction from the river system is also investigated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

Petrology and geochemistry of a diamondiferous lherzolite from the Premier diamond mine, South Africa     

K.S. Viljoen  Ren Dobbe  Braam Smit  Emilie Thomassot  Pierre Cartigny 《Lithos》2004,77(1-4):539-552

This paper reports on the petrology and geochemistry of a diamondiferous peridotite xenolith from the Premier diamond mine in South Africa.

The xenolith is altered with pervasive serpentinisation of olivine and orthopyroxene. Garnets are in an advanced state of kelyphitisation but partly fresh. Electron microprobe analyses of the garnets are consistent with a lherzolitic paragenesis (8.5 wt.% Cr₂O₃ and 6.6 wt.% CaO). The garnets show limited variation in trace element composition, with generally low concentrations of most trace elements, e.g. Y (<11 ppm), Zr (<18 ppm) and Sr (<0.5 ppm). Garnet rare earth element concentrations, when normalised against the C1 chondrite of McDonough and Sun (Chem. Geol. 120 (1995) 223), are characterised by a rare earth element pattern similar to garnet from fertile lherzolite.

All diamonds recovered are colourless. Most crystals are sharp-edged octahedra, some with minor development of the dodecahedral form. A number of crystals are twinned octahedral macles, while aggregates of two or more octahedra are also common. Mineral inclusions are rare. Where present they are predominantly small black rosettes believed to consist of sulfide. In one instance a polymineralic (presumably lherzolitic) assemblage of reddish garnet, green clinopyroxene and a colourless mineral is recognised.

Infrared analysis of the xenolith diamonds show nitrogen contents generally lower than 500 ppm and variable nitrogen aggregation state, from 20% to 80% of the ‘B’ form. When plotted on a nitrogen aggregation diagram a well defined trend of increasing nitrogen aggregation state with increasing nitrogen content is observed. Carbon isotopic compositions range from −3.6 ‰ to −1.3 ‰. These are broadly correlated with diamond nitrogen content as determined by infrared spectroscopy, with the most negative C-isotopic compositions correlating with the lowest nitrogen contents.

Xenolith mantle equilibration temperatures, calculated from nitrogen aggregation systematics as well as the Ni in garnet thermometer are on the order of 1100 to 1200 °C.

It is concluded that the xenolith is a fertile lherzolite, and that the lherzolitic character may have resulted from the total metasomatic overprinting of pre-existing harzburgite. Metasomatism occurred prior to, or accompanied, diamond growth.  相似文献   

Sensitivity of crop yields and land resource potential to climatic change in Ontario,Canada     

Barry Smit  Michael Brklacich  Robert B. Stewart  Ray McBride  Murray Brown  Deborah Bond 《Climatic change》1989,14(2):153-174

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ and other greenhouse gases are expected to contribute to a global warming. This paper examines the potential implications of a climatic change corresponding to a doubling of atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ on crop production opportunities throughout Ontario, a major food producing region in Canada. The climate is projected to become warmer and drier, but the extent of these shifts are expected to vary from region to region within Ontario. The effect of this altered climate on crop yields and the area of land capable of supporting specific crops varies according to region, soil quality and crop type. Most notable are the enhanced opportunities for grains and oilseeds in the northern regions, and the diminished production prospects for most crops in the most southerly parts of Ontario.  相似文献   

南非开普省北部金伯利岩侵位的年代     

Smit.  CB 《国土资源信息化》1989,(1):21-23

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Stratigraphic filtering and source penetration depth     

Mirko van der Baan  James Wookey  Dirk Smit 《Geophysical Prospecting》2007,55(5):679-684

Seismic exploration underneath highly heterogeneous layers such as basalt flows is possible by lowering the principal source frequency. Unfortunately this also reduces resolution. Wave‐localization theory is a multiple scattering theory that can be used to study stratigraphic filtering in chaotic lithologies. It predicts the apparent attenuation due to scattering of a plane wave traversing a layer with high velocity fluctuations. It can therefore predict the optimum principle source frequency in the trade‐off between loss of resolution and increased penetration depth. We show how this can be done with the help of a few statistical parameters derived from a well‐log analysis; namely, the average background velocity, the expected standard deviation in the velocity fluctuations, the typical scale length of the heterogeneities and the thickness of the basalt layer. In the likely situation that no local well logs exist, a multitude of scenarios can easily be examined at low cost.  相似文献   

Accuracy of ozonesonde measurements in the troposphere     

S. J. Reid  G. Vaughan  A. R. W. Marsh  H. G. J. Smit 《Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry》1996,25(2):215-226

Measurements of atmospheric ozone at concentrations typical of the free troposphere have been compared for ECC sondes and a UV-absorption photometer, using a Bendix chemiluminescent analyser as a transfer standard. Comparisons were conducted in the laboratory and in the tropospheric part of the atmosphere. It was found that the measurements agreed to within 4% provided that the background current for the ECC sonde was measured before exposure to ozone in the preparation procedure, and was assumed to be constant throughout the sonde flight. These results confirm those of earlier experiments and mean that the methods currently used to correct for the background current in the troposphere need to be revised.  相似文献   

Multiple exposures and dynamic vulnerability: Evidence from the grape industry in the Okanagan Valley, Canada   总被引：7，自引：1，他引：7  

Suzanne Belliveau  Barry Smit  Ben Bradshaw 《Global Environmental Change》2006,16(4):364-378

This paper assesses the vulnerability of grape growers and winery operators in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia to climate variability and change, in the context of other sources of risk. Through interviews and focus groups, producers identified the climatic and non-climatic risks relevant to them and the strategies employed to manage these risks. The results show that the presence of multiple exposures affects the way in which producers are vulnerable to climate change. Producers are vulnerable to conditions that not only affect crop yield, but also affect their ability to compete in or sell to the market. Their sensitivity to these conditions is influenced in part by institutional factors such as trade liberalization and a “markup-free delivery” policy. Producers’ ability to adapt or cope with these risks varies depending on such factors as the availability of resources and technology, and access to government programmes. Producers will likely face challenges associated with the supply of water for irrigation due to a combination of climatic changes and changing demographics in the Okanagan Valley, which in turn affect their ability to adapt to climatic conditions. Finally, adaptations made by producers can change the nature of the operation and its vulnerability, demonstrating the dynamic nature of vulnerability.  相似文献   

An Analysis of the Determinants of Farm Enlargement in Northland, New Zealand     

Barry Smit 《New Zealand geographer》1975,31(2):160-177

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