Formation of the Flatreef deposit, northern Bushveld, by hydrodynamic and hydromagmatic processes

New lithological and whole rock compositional data show that the main platinum-group element (PGE) horizons of the Flatreef succession show strong compositional similarities to the Merensky and Bastard reefs of the western Bushveld Complex (WBC), notably in terms of many immobile and incompatible minor and trace elements such as TiO2, Zr, Y, and REE. However, Al2O3, CaO, and Na2O contents are markedly lower in the Flatreef, whereas MgO contents are higher. In view of broadly similar silicate mineral compositions in the Flatreef and the WBC reefs, we suggest that the major element compositional differences between the rocks are largely due to higher modal proportions of orthopyroxene and olivine and lower proportions of plagioclase in the Flatreef. The thickness of the mineralised interval is much greater in the Flatreef than in the WBC (several 10 s of m vs ~ 1 m) and the abundance of sulfides in the Flatreef is typically somewhat higher (on average ~ 1.5% vs ~ 1%). These data, complemented by textural observations, are interpreted to reflect enhanced hydrodynamic crystal sorting accompanied by percolation of sulfide melt through incompletely solidified cumulates. Further genetic constraints are provided by metal data: The concentration of Ni (~ 3000 ppm) in the Flatreef is broadly similar to that in the Merensky Reef of the WBC, but Cu contents are markedly higher (average ~ 1500 ppm vs 700 ppm in the WBC). The concentrations of most PGE are slightly lower (Flatreef ~ 1.5–2 ppm Pt, ~ 100–150 ppb Rh; WBC MR 3.7 ppm Pt, 240 ppb Rh), but Pd has broadly similar contents (Flatreef ~ 1.2–2 ppm; WBC MR 1.54 ppm). The relatively high Cu content of the Flatreef is interpreted as a result of assimilation of Cu sulfides from the sedimentary floor rocks. The reason for the enrichment of Pd relative to Pt, especially in the basal rocks, remains unclear. It could reflect mobilisation of Pd via a fluid phase from the country rocks or the interior of the intrusion, relatively enhanced partitioning of Pd into the sulfides, or relative Pt depletion of the earliest magma pulses in response to Pt alloy fractionation triggered by contamination with reducing country rocks

Gravitational Couplings of Intrinsic Spin

The gravitational couplings of intrinsic spin are briefly reviewed. A consequence of the Dirac equation in the exterior gravitational field of a rotating mass is considered in detail, namely, the difference in the energy of a spin-1/2 particle polarized vertically up and down near the surface of a rotating body is $\hbar\Omega\sin\theta$. Here $\theta$ is the latitude and $\Omega = 2GJ/(c^2 R^3)$, where $J$ and $R$ are, respectively, the angular momentum and radius of the body. It seems that this relativistic quantum gravitational effect could be measurable in the foreseeable future.Comment: LaTeX file, no figures, 16 page

Caenorhabditis elegans Maintains Highly Compartmentalized Cellular Distribution of Metals and Steep Concentration Gradients of Manganese

Bioinorganic chemistry is critical to cellular function. Homeostasis of manganese (Mn), for example, is essential for life. A lack of methods for direct in situ visualization of Mn and other biological metals within intact multicellular eukaryotes limits our understanding of management of these metals. We provide the first quantitative subcellular visualization of endogenous Mn concentrations (spanning two orders of magnitude) associated with individual cells of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans

Compared to conventional, ecological intensive management promotes beneficial proteolytic soil microbial communities for agro-ecosystem functioning under climate change-induced rain regimes

Projected climate change and rainfall variability will affect soil microbial communities, biogeochemical cycling and agriculture. Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient in agroecosystems and its cycling and availability is highly dependent on microbial driven processes. In agroecosystems, hydrolysis of organic nitrogen (N) is an important step in controlling soil N availability. We analyzed the effect of management (ecological intensive vs. conventional intensive) on N-cycling processes and involved microbial communities under climate change-induced rain regimes. Terrestrial model ecosystems originating from agroecosystems across Europe were subjected to four different rain regimes for 263 days. Using structural equation modelling we identified direct impacts of rain regimes on N-cycling processes, whereas N-related microbial communities were more resistant. In addition to rain regimes, management indirectly affected N-cycling processes via modifications of N-related microbial community composition. Ecological intensive management promoted a beneficial N-related microbial community composition involved in N-cycling processes under climate change-induced rain regimes. Exploratory analyses identified phosphorus-associated litter properties as possible drivers for the observed management effects on N-related microbial community composition. This work provides novel insights into mechanisms controlling agro-ecosystem functioning under climate change

Search for the exotic Θ+\Theta^+ resonance in the NOMAD experiment

A search for exotic Theta baryon via Theta -> proton +Ks decay mode in the NOMAD muon neutrino DIS data is reported. The special background generation procedure was developed. The proton identification criteria are tuned to maximize the sensitivity to the Theta signal as a function of xF which allows to study the Theta production mechanism. We do not observe any evidence for the Theta state in the NOMAD data. We provide an upper limit on Theta production rate at 90% CL as 2.13 per 1000 of neutrino interactions.Comment: Accepted to European Physics Journal

Production properties of K*(892) vector mesons and their spin alignment as measured in the NOMAD experiment

First measurements of K*(892) mesons production properties and their spin alignment in nu_mu charged current (CC) and neutral current (NC) interactions are presented. The analysis of the full data sample of the NOMAD experiment is performed in different kinematic regions. For K*+ and K*- mesons produced in nu_mu CC interactions and decaying into K0 pi+/- we have found the following yields per event: (2.6 +/- 0.2 (stat.) +/- 0.2 (syst.))% and (1.6 +/- 0.1 (stat.) +/- 0.1 (syst.))% respectively, while for the K*+ and K*- mesons produced in nu NC interactions the corresponding yields per event are: (2.5 +/- 0.3 (stat.) +/- 0.3 (syst.))% and (1.0 +/- 0.3 (stat.) +/- 0.2 (syst.))%. The results obtained for the rho00 parameter, 0.40 +/- 0.06 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) and 0.28 +/- 0.07 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) for K*+ and K*- produced in nu_mu CC interactions, are compared to theoretical predictions tuned on LEP measurements in e+e- annihilation at the Z0 pole. For K*+ mesons produced in nu NC interactions the measured rho00 parameter is 0.66 +/- 0.10 (stat) +/- 0.05 (syst).Comment: 20 p