Technical note: In situ U–Th–He dating by 4He ∕ 3He laser microprobe analysis

In situ U-Th-He geochronology is a potentially disruptive technique that combines laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) with laser microprobe noble gas mass spectrometry. Despite its potential to revolutionize (detrital) thermochronology, in situ U-Th-He dating is not widely used due to persistent analytical challenges. A major issue is that current in situ U-Th-He dating approaches require that the U, Th, and He measurements are expressed in units of molar concentration, in contrast with conventional methods, which use units of molar abundance. Whereas molar abundances can be reliably determined by isotope dilution, accurate concentration measurements are not so easy to obtain. In the absence of matrix-matched U-Th concentration standards and accurate He ablation pit measurements, the required molar concentration calculations introduce an uncertainty that is higher than the conventional method, an uncertainty that is itself difficult to accurately quantify. We present a solution to this problem by using proton-induced 3He as a proxy for ablation pit volume and by pairing samples with a standard of known U-Th-He age. Thus, the U-Th-He age equation can be solved using relative rather than absolute concentration measurements. Pilot experiments show that the new method produces accurate results. However, it is prone to overdispersion, which is attributed to gradients in the proton fluence. These gradients can be measured, and their effect can be removed by fixing the geometry of the sample and the standard during the proton irradiation

Sand-spits systems from Benguela region (SW Angola). An analysis of sediment sources and dispersal from textural and compositional data

Sand spits are important coastline features in western Angola, but only limited knowledge on their recent evolution and sediment sources were obtained so far. The present study is focused on the Baía Farta and Lobito sand spits of coastal Benguela that develop to the north (i.e. downdrift) of the Coporolo and Catumbela river outlets. We used grain-size distributions, heavy-mineral suites and clay-mineral assemblages of sediments in the Coporolo-Baía Farta and Catumbela-Lobito coastal stretches to characterize the main depositional units and investigate sediment provenance. From the combined grain-size and mineralogical variability in mud and sand samples it is possible to infer sediment sources and dispersal in the two coastal stretches. Kaolinite is mainly derived from the Angola hinterland, and is particularly common in finer grained floodplain sediments from the Catumbela River. Expansive clays (smectite and illite-smectite mixed layers) are inferred to be mainly sourced by Meso-Cenozoic units of the Benguela Basin, being abundant in coarser grained fluvial deposits and in lagoonal deposits near Baía Farta. Sand supplied by the sedimentary units from Benguela Basin and their basement rocks tends to be enriched in epidote associated with blue-green hornblende. The Coporolo River sand is progressively diluted during the longshore northward transport by sand supplied by coastal units. Conversely, beach deposits in the Catumbela-Lobito coastal stretch are mainly sourced by the Catumbela River. A divergent longshore transport from Catumbela river-mouth occurs at Catumbela delta. Sand spit morphology and evolution reflect the patterns of dispersal of bedload and suspended load in settings of contrasting orography and human influence

Improved methods for high-precision Pb-Pb dating of extra-terrestrial materials

Dating meteoritic materials by the Pb–Pb isochron method depends on constructing linear arrays typically defined by mixtures of initial and radiogenic Pb after the removal of terrestrial contaminant Pb. The method also depends on minimizing the amount of laboratory Pb blank added to the sample during processing and analyses. With the aim to analyze smaller sample sizes and decrease processing times, we have devised a new method for the construction of isochrons using the stepwise dissolution of meteoritic materials that better defines reduced amounts of Pb blank, reduces the risk of random anomalous Pb contamination, and increases sample throughput. Samples are processed in a PFA Teflon™ pipette tip fitted with a frit inside a heated, sealed chamber that can be manually over-pressured to expel reagents directly into a PFA Teflon™ vial below. With four independent chambers, three samples can be processed simultaneously with a fourth position to assess the Pb contribution of the combined blank and spike for each step. The matched blank-spike Pb for each step provides a specific blank estimate for each step that ensures a more accurate correction for non-sample Pb and, therefore, reduces the uncertainty on each analysis. We assess the performance of this new method by reporting the results of dating a fragment of a chondrule from the well-characterized CBa chondrite Gujba and compare these results with previously published data for this meteorite. The improvements reduce the minimum sample sizes that can be successfully dated by the Pb–Pb method, an important development for size-limited materials such as small chondrules and samples returned from space missions

Sandstone provenance analysis in Longyan supports the existence of a Late Paleozoic continental arc in South China

Because of the limited magmatic and metamorphic record, the Late Paleozoic tectonic setting in South China remains controversial. This paper presents sedimentologic data and provenance analysis of Upper Paleozoic sandstones in Longyan, which are rich in quartz (73–90%) and poor in lithic fragments (2–12%) and feldspar (3–25%). Devonian sandstones contain mostly metamorphic lithic fragments (e.g., quartzite), whereas Carboniferous-Permian sandstones contain mostly felsic volcanic and subvolcanic lithic fragments indicating provenance from felsic volcanic rocks. Detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra of Devonian-Carboniferous sandstones display modes at ~440 Ma and 420–380 Ma, with subordinate Mesoproterozoic age components, pointing at the Nanling terrane and the western-middle part of the Wuyi terrane as most likely ultimate sediment sources. Permian sandstones inherited the age components mentioned above, but also include peaks at ~290 Ma and ~1850 Ma. The ~290 Ma component corresponds to the age of Late Paleozoic magmatism in southeastern China and southwest Japan. Numerous detrital zircons aged at 350–250 Ma also occur in Permo-Triassic strata exposed across South China and southwest Japan. Based on regional data and on the ages and Hf isotope signatures of detrital zircon, we infer that a Late Paleozoic continental arc existed in the coastal area of southeastern China and contributed detritus to the adjacent sedimentary basins. The Permo-Triassic igneous rocks locally exposed in the area may represent the remnant of that continental arc. Arc growth may have been responsible for the westward retreat of a broad Upper Paleozoic carbonate platform

Oligocene-Early Miocene river incision near the first bend of the Yangze River: Insights from apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He thermochronology

The southeastern Tibetan Plateau is deeply incised by three parallel rivers, the Salween, the Mekong and the Yangtze. The river incision and surface uplift histories of this landscape are hotly debated. This study presents bedrock apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He data from a ~ 1800 m vertical profile, located near the first bend of the Yangtze River. Ages range from 20 to 30 Ma, indicating an Oligocene-Early Miocene phase of moderate river incision at a rate of ~ 0.10–0.18 mm/yr. This is considerably older than elsewhere in the region, but consistent with a previously proposed phase of Eocene surface uplift inferred from stable isotope geochemistry. We consider the implications of the new data under two different tectonic models. If the surface uplift and river incision resulted from lower crustal flow, the new results require such flow to have commenced at Oligocene-Early Miocene time rather than during the previously proposed Late Miocene. Alternatively, Oligocene to Early Miocene plateau growth might have resulted from transpressional deformation in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

22q11.2 deletion syndrome

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is the most common chromosomal microdeletion disorder, estimated to result mainly from de novo non-homologous meiotic recombination events occurring in approximately 1 in every 1,000 fetuses. The first description in the English language of the constellation of findings now known to be due to this chromosomal difference was made in the 1960s in children with DiGeorge syndrome, who presented with the clinical triad of immunodeficiency, hypoparathyroidism and congenital heart disease. The syndrome is now known to have a heterogeneous presentation that includes multiple additional congenital anomalies and later-onset conditions, such as palatal, gastrointestinal and renal abnormalities, autoimmune disease, variable cognitive delays, behavioural phenotypes and psychiatric illness - all far extending the original description of DiGeorge syndrome. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving paediatrics, general medicine, surgery, psychiatry, psychology, interventional therapies (physical, occupational, speech, language and behavioural) and genetic counselling. Although common, lack of recognition of the condition and/or lack of familiarity with genetic testing methods, together with the wide variability of clinical presentation, delays diagnosis. Early diagnosis, preferably prenatally or neonatally, could improve outcomes, thus stressing the importance of universal screening. Equally important, 22q11.2DS has become a model for understanding rare and frequent congenital anomalies, medical conditions, psychiatric and developmental disorders, and may provide a platform to better understand these disorders while affording opportunities for translational strategies across the lifespan for both patients with 22q11.2DS and those with these associated features in the general population

Molecular cytogenetic characterisation of a mosaic add(12)(p13.3) with an inv dup(3)(q26.31 --> qter) detected in an autistic boy

BACKGROUND: Inverted duplications (inv dup) of a terminal chromosome region are a particular subset of rearrangements that often results in partial tetrasomy or partial trisomy when accompanied by a deleted chromosome. Associated mosaicism could be the consequence of a post-zygotic event or could result from the correction of a trisomic conception. Tetrasomies of distal segments of the chromosome 3q are rare genetic events and their phenotypic manifestations are diverse. To our knowledge, there are only 12 cases reported with partial 3q tetrasomy. Generally, individuals with this genomic imbalance present mild to severe developmental delay, facial dysmorphisms and skin pigmentary disorders. RESULTS: We present the results of the molecular cytogenetic characterization of an unbalanced mosaic karyotype consisting of mos 46,XY,add(12)(p13.3) [56]/46,XY [44] in a previously described 11 years old autistic boy, re-evaluated at adult age. The employment of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and multicolor banding (MCB) techniques identified the extra material on 12p to be derived from chromosome 3, defining the additional material on 12p as an inv dup(3)(qter --> q26.3::q26.3 --> qter). Subsequently, array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) confirmed the breakpoint at 3q26.31, defining the extra material with a length of 24.92 Mb to be between 174.37 and 199.29 Mb. CONCLUSION: This is the thirteenth reported case of inversion-duplication 3q, being the first one described as an inv dup translocated onto a non-homologous chromosome. The mosaic terminal inv dup(3q) observed could be the result of two proposed alternative mechanisms. The most striking feature of this case is the autistic behavior of the proband, a characteristic not shared by any other patient with tetrasomy for 3q26.31 --> 3qter. The present work further illustrates the advantages of the use of an integrative cytogenetic strategy, composed both by conventional and molecular techniques, on providing powerful information for an accurate diagnosis. This report also highlights a chromosome region potentially involved in autistic disorders

Climatic zonation and weathering control on sediment composition (Angola)

Complementary mineralogical and geochemical datasets on fluvial, beach and dune samples collected along the Atlantic margin of subequatorial southwestern Africa are used to investigate the relationships between provenance and climatic controls on sediment composition and to test the reliability of different geochemical and mineralogical weathering proxies as climatic indicators. The studied N/S-trending coastal region is characterized by strong latitudinal and inland climatic gradients, and thus represents an excellent natural laboratory in which to study the effects of climatic-induced weathering on sediment composition. Although the mineralogy and geochemistry of suspended-load muds closely reflects the different weathering intensities over both latitudinal and inland climatic gradients, the composition of mud and sand samples are strongly affected by sediment provenance. Consequently, weathering parameters such as the α Al E values (estimating the degree of depletion in element E relative to the UCC standard), display complex patterns of variation especially for sand samples. By assuming a typical order of bulk-sediment mobility Na > Ca > Sr > Mg > K > Ba≈Rb, anomalously high or low α Al values placing a specific element off the expected mobility order are considered as an indicator of source-rock control on sediment composition. The composition of detritus recycled from Meso-Cenozoic strata reflects the cumulative effect of successive sediment cycles, with recycling processes affecting to a different extent the diverse weathering proxies. In particular, α Al Na appears to be more strongly affected by recycling in muds than in sands. Among all mineralogical and chemical parameters, those that correlate best with rainfall in the drainage areas are α Al Na for sands, α Al Mg for muds and smectite content (only in areas of low rainfall). In the geological and geomorphological setting of SW Africa these proxies turn out to be better climate estimators than the classical weathering indices CIA or WIP. This case study reminds us to carefully consider source-rock control and mixing with recycled detritus when drawing inferences on climatic conditions based on weathering indices

Tectono-metallogenetic evolution of the Fe–Cu deposit of Dominga, northern Chile

The Dominga district in northern Chile (2082 Mt at 23.3 % Fe, 0.07 % Cu) shows a spatial and genetic affinity among distinctive structural elements and Fe–Cu-rich paragenetic mineral assemblages. Deep seated, NE-to-E striking structural elements form a right-lateral duplex-like structural system (early structural system, ESS) that cuts a regionally extensive alteration (stage I) zone. The EES system served as a locus and as path for the emplacement of biotite–magnetite alteration/mineralization (stage IIa) as veins and Fe-bearing layers following altered volcano sedimentary strata. NW-striking actinolite–magnetite hydrothermal breccias, coeval with and part of the ESS, include apatite (stage IIb) crystallized at 127 ± 15 Ma (U–Pb, 2σ). The ESS was also the locus of subsequent alteration/mineralization represented by K-feldspar, epidote, and albite (stage IIIa) and Fe–Cu-rich (vermiculite–anhydrite–chalcopyrite, stage IIIb) mineral associations. Shallowly developed, NNE-striking, left-lateral structural elements defining the El Tofo Structural System (ETSS)—probably part of the Atacama Fault System—clearly crosscut the ESS. Minerals associated with alteration/mineralization stage IIIb also occur as veins and as part of hydrothermal breccias of the ETSS, marking the transition from the ESS to ETSS. Molybdenite associated with alteration/mineralization stage IIIb yielded a Re–Os age of 127.1 ± 0.7 Ma (2σ). Both the ESS and ETSS were cut by left-lateral, NW- to E-striking shallowly developed structural elements (Intermediate Structural System, ISS) on which a hematite–calcite assemblage (stage IV) occurs mostly as infill material of veins and fault veins. The ISS is cut by N-striking, left-lateral, and shallowly developed structural elements (Late Structural System, LSS) showing no evidence of alteration/mineralization. Estimated strain and stress fields indicate an overall NW-trending shortening/compression and NE-trending stretching/tension strike-slip regime probably due to oblique subduction during the Mesozoic. However, the orientations of the stress and strain fields calculated for each structural system suggest a back-and-forth rotation pattern during transition from one structural system to the other—as they change between transtension and transpression—and between alteration/mineralization stages