Post-collisional polycyclic plutonism from the Zagros hinterland: the Shaivar Dagh plutonic complex, Alborz belt, Iran

The petrological and geochronological study of the Cenozoic Shaivar Dagh composite intrusion in the Alborz Mountain belt (NW Iran) reveals important clues to decipher complex relations between magmatic and tectonic processes in the central sectors of the Tethyan (Alpine-Himalayan) orogenic belt. This pluton is formed by intrusion at different times of two main magmatic cycles. The older (Cycle 1) is formed by calc-alkaline silicic rocks, which range in composition from diorites to granodiorites and biotite granites, with abundant mafic microgranular enclaves. The younger cycle (Cycle 2) is formed by K-rich monzodiorite and monzonite of marked shoshonitic affinity. The latter form the larger volumes of the exposed plutonic rocks in the studied complex. Zircon geochronology (laser ablation ICP-MS analyses) gives a concordia age of 30.8 ± 2.1 Ma for the calc-alkaline rocks (Cycle 1) and a range from 23.3 ± 0.5 to 25.1 ± 0.9 Ma for the shoshonitic association (Cycle 2). Major and trace element relations strongly support distinct origins for each magmatic cycle. Rocks of Cycle 1 have all the characteristic features of active continental margins. Shoshonitic rocks (Cycle 2) define two continuous fractionation trends: one departing from a K-rich basaltic composition and the other from an intermediate, K-rich composition. A metasomatized-mantle origin for the two shoshonitic series of Cycle 2 is proposed on the basis of comparisons with experimental data. The origin of the calc-alkaline series is more controversial but it can be attributed to processes in the suprasubduction mantle wedge related to the incorporation of subducted mélanges in the form of silicic cold plumes. A time sequence can be established for the processes responsible of the generation of the two magmatic cycles: first a calc-alkaline cycle typical of active continental margins, and second a K-rich cycle formed by monzonites and monzodiorites. This sequence precludes the younger potassic magmas as precursors of the older calc-alkaline series. By contrast, the older calc-alkaline magmas may represent the metasomatic agents that modified the mantle wedge during the last stages of subduction and cooked a fertile mantle region for late potassic magmatism after continental collisio

A mobile and intelligent device for customized logopedic therapy

An expert system for customized logopedic therapy must allow the training of children depending on its speech disabilities and former progress. The children’s training is accomplished using exercises chosen by the expert system and can be performed either in the doctor’s office or at home for each child using an intelligent mobile device. The expert system generates a set of exercises for each child depending on the doctor’s recommendation. These exercises are transferred from PC to mobile devices using a Universal Serial Bus connection. The mobile device saves the result of each therapy session and when it is connected to PC it transfers the results to the expert system for analysis. Using the results of these analyses the expert system will decided whether a new session is needed and if that is the case, compute a new set of exercises

Geochemistry, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes and geochronology of amphibole- and mica-bearing lamprophyres in northwestern Iran: Implications for mantle wedge heterogeneity in a paleo-subduction zone

Highlights: • Northwestern Iranian lamprophyres have alkaline and calc-alkaline nature. • Studied lamprophyres are emplaced during Late Cretaceous to Late Miocene time. • Lamprophyres originated from different metasomatised lithospheric mantle. Abstract: Lamprophyres of different age showing distinctive mineralogy, geochemistry and isotopic ratios are exposed in northwestern Iran. They can be divided into Late Cretaceous sannaite, Late Oligocene-Early Miocene camptonite (amphibole-bearing) and Late Miocene minette (mica-bearing) and spessartite (amphibole-bearing) lamprophyres. Sannaites have high-Ti amphibole along with high-Ti and Al clinopyroxene, and they are characterised by homogeneous enrichment in incompatible trace elements with troughs at Pb. Spessartites have hornblende and low-Al and Ti clinopyroxene, and they are characterised by enriched incompatible trace element pattern with depletions of Nb, Ta, Pb, and Ti with respect to large ion lithophile elements. Minettes have high-Ti and Al brown mica and low-Al and Ti clinopyroxene, and similarly to spessartite, are characterised by fractionation of high field strength elements with respect to large ion lithophile elements, with troughs at Nb, Ta, and Ti and a peak at Pb. Minettes show high initial 87Sr/86Sr values up to 0.70760 and low initial 143Nd/144Nd down to 0.512463 with a negative correlation, consistent with the trace element distribution related with an enriched mantle source modified after sediment recycling during subduction and continental collision. Cretaceous sannaites and Early Miocene spessartites show low initial 87Sr/86Sr approaching 0.70447 and high 143Nd/144Nd values up to 0.512667, which are consistent with a depleted within-plate mantle source. Minette and spessartite lamprophyres show high initial 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb values, whereas sannaites have lower, but variable, initial 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb values with respect to those of calc-alkaline lamprophyres. Minettes originated by partial melting of a metasomatised lithospheric mantle following siliciclastic sediment recycling by subduction. In contrast, sannaites were generated from the partial melting of a similar lithospheric mantle that was metasomatised by within-plate agents