Rb-Sr and in situ 40Ar/39Ar dating of exhumation-related shearing and fluid-induced recrystallization in the Sesia zone (Western Alps, Italy)

The Sesia zone in the Italian Western Alps is a piece of continental crust that has been subducted to eclogite-facies conditions and records a complex metamorphic history. The exact timing of events and the significance of geochronological information are debated due to the interplay of tectonic, metamorphic, and metasomatic processes. Here we present new geochronological data using Rb-Sr internal mineral isochrons and in situ Ar-40/Ar-39 laser ablation data to provide constraints on the relative importance of fluid-mediated mineral replacement reactions and diffusion for the interpretation of radiogenic isotope signatures, and on the use of these isotopic systems for dating metamorphic and variably deformed rocks. Our study focuses on the shear zone at the contact between two major lithological units of the Sesia zone, the eclogitic micaschists and the gneiss minuti. Metasedimentary rocks of the eclogitic micaschists unit contain phengite with step-like zoning in major element chemistry as evidence for petrologic disequilibrium. Distinct Ar-40/Ar-39 spot ages of relict phengite cores and over-printed rims demonstrate the preservation of individual age domains in the crystals. The eclogitic micaschists also show systematic Sr isotope disequilibria among different phengite populations, so that minimum ages of relict assemblage crystallization can be differentiated from the timing of late increments of deformation. The preservation of these disequilibrium features shows the lack of diffusive re-equilibration and underpins that fluid-assisted dissolution and recrystallization reactions are the main factors controlling the isotope record in these subduction-related metamorphic rocks. Blueschist-facies mylonites record deformation along the major shear zone that separates the eclogitic micaschists from the gneiss minuti. Two Rb-Sr isochrones that comprise several white mica fractions and glaucophane constrain the timing of this deformation and accompanying near-complete blueschist-facies re-equilibration of the Rb-Sr system to 60.1 +/- 0.9 Ma and 60.9 +/- 2.1 Ma, respectively. Overlapping ages in eclogitic micaschists of 60.1 +/- 1.1 (Rb-Sr isochron of sheared matrix assemblage), 58.6 +/- 0.8, and 60.9 +/- 0.4 Ma (white mica Ar-40/Ar-39 inverse isochron ages) support the significance of this age and show that fluid-rock interaction and partial re-equilibration occurred as much as several kilometers away from the shear zone. An earlier equilibration during high-pressure conditions in the eclogitic mica schists is recorded in minimum Rb-Sr ages for relict assemblages (77.2 +/- 0.8 and 72.4 +/- 1.1 Ma) and an Ar-40/Ar-39 inverse isochron age of 75.4 +/- 0.8 Ma for white mica cores, again demonstrating that the two isotope systems provide mutually supporting geochronological information. Local reactivation and recrystallization along the shear zone lasted >15 m.y., as late increments of deformation are recorded in a greenschist-facies mylonite by a Rb-Sr isochron age of 46.5 +/- 0.7 Ma

Differential contribution of PB1-F2 to the virulence of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus in mammalian and avian species

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (HPAIV) of the H5N1 subtype occasionally transmit from birds to humans and can cause severe systemic infections in both hosts. PB1-F2 is an alternative translation product of the viral PB1 segment that was initially characterized as a pro-apoptotic mitochondrial viral pathogenicity factor. A full-length PB1-F2 has been present in all human influenza pandemic virus isolates of the 20(th) century, but appears to be lost evolutionarily over time as the new virus establishes itself and circulates in the human host. In contrast, the open reading frame (ORF) for PB1-F2 is exceptionally well-conserved in avian influenza virus isolates. Here we perform a comparative study to show for the first time that PB1-F2 is a pathogenicity determinant for HPAIV (A/Viet Nam/1203/2004, VN1203 (H5N1)) in both mammals and birds. In a mammalian host, the rare N66S polymorphism in PB1-F2 that was previously described to be associated with high lethality of the 1918 influenza A virus showed increased replication and virulence of a recombinant VN1203 H5N1 virus, while deletion of the entire PB1-F2 ORF had negligible effects. Interestingly, the N66S substituted virus efficiently invades the CNS and replicates in the brain of Mx+/+ mice. In ducks deletion of PB1-F2 clearly resulted in delayed onset of clinical symptoms and systemic spreading of virus, while variations at position 66 played only a minor role in pathogenesis. These data implicate PB1-F2 as an important pathogenicity factor in ducks independent of sequence variations at position 66. Our data could explain why PB1-F2 is conserved in avian influenza virus isolates and only impacts pathogenicity in mammals when containing certain amino acid motifs such as the rare N66S polymorphism

Effects of fluid-rock interaction on Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology in high-pressure rocks (Sesia-Lanzo Zone, Western Alps)

In situ UV laser spot 40Ar/39Ar analyses of distinct phengite types in eclogite-facies rocks from the Sesia-Lanzo Zone (Western Alps, Italy) were combined with SIMS boron isotope analyses as well as boron (B) and lithium (Li) concentration data to link geochronological information with constraints on fluid–rock interaction. In weakly deformed samples, apparent 40Ar/39Ar ages of phengite cores span a range of ∼20 Ma, but inverse isochrons define two distinct main high-pressure (HP) phengite core crystallization periods of 88–82 and 77–74 Ma, respectively. The younger cores have on average lower B contents (∼36 μg/g) than the older ones (∼43–48 μg/g), suggesting that loss of B and resetting of the Ar isotopic system were related. Phengite cores have variable δ11B values (−18‰ to −10‰), indicating the lack of km scale B homogenization during HP crystallization. Overprinted phengite rims in the weakly deformed samples generally yield younger apparent 40Ar/39Ar ages than the respective cores. They also show variable effects of heterogeneous excess 40Ar incorporation and Ar loss. One acceptable inverse isochron age of 77.1 ± 1.1 Ma for rims surrounding older cores (82.6 ± 0.6 Ma) overlaps with the second period of core crystallization. Compared to the phengite cores, all rims have lower B and Li abundances but similar δ11B values (−15‰ to −9‰), reflecting internal redistribution of B and Li and internal fluid buffering of the B isotopic composition during rim growth. The combined observation of younger 40Ar/39Ar ages and boron loss, yielding comparable values of both parameters only in cores and rims of different samples, is best explained by a selective metasomatic overprint. In low permeability samples, this overprint caused recrystallization of phengite rims, whereas higher permeability in other samples led to complete recrystallization of phengite grains. Strongly deformed samples from a several km long, blueschist-facies shear zone contain mylonitic phengite that forms a tightly clustered group of relatively young apparent 40Ar/39Ar ages (64.7–68.8 Ma), yielding an inverse isochron age of 65.0 ± 3.0 Ma. Almost complete B and Li removal in mylonitic phengite is due to leaching into a fluid. The B isotopic composition is significantly heavier than in phengites from the weakly deformed samples, indicating an external control by a high-δ11B fluid (δ11B = +7 ± 4‰). We interpret this result as reflecting phengite recrystallization related to deformation and associated fluid flow in the shear zone. This event also caused partial resetting of the Ar isotope system and further B loss in more permeable rocks of the adjacent unit. We conclude that geochemical evidence for pervasive or limited fluid flow is crucial for the interpretation of 40Ar/39Ar data in partially metasomatized rocks

Effects of fluid-rock interaction on 40Ar/39Ar geochronology in high-pressure rocks (Sesia-Lanzo Zone, Western Alps)

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2013. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B.V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 126 (2014):475-494, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2013.10.023.in situ UV laser spot 40Ar/39Ar analyses of distinct phengite types in eclogite-facies rocks from the Sesia-Lanzo Zone (Western Alps, Italy) were combined with SIMS boron isotope analyses as well as boron (B) and lithium (Li) concentration data to link geochronological information with constraints on fluid-rock interaction. In weakly deformed samples, apparent 40Ar/39Ar ages of phengite cores span a range of ∼20 Ma, but inverse isochrons define two distinct main high-pressure (HP) phengite core crystallization periods of 88-82 Ma and 77-74 Ma, respectively. The younger cores have on average lower B contents (∼36 mg/g) than the older ones (∼43-48 mg/g), suggesting that loss of B and resetting of the Ar isotopic system were related. Phengite cores have variable d11B values (-18 to -10 ‰), indicating the lack of km scale B homogenization during HP crystallization. Overprinted phengite rims in the weakly deformed samples generally yield younger apparent 40Ar/39Ar ages than the respective cores. They also show variable effects of heterogeneous excess 40Ar incorporation and Ar loss. One acceptable inverse isochron age of 77.1 ±1.1 Ma for rims surrounding older cores (82.6 ±0.6 Ma) overlaps with the second period of core crystallization. Compared to the phengite cores, all rims have lower B and Li abundances but similar d11B values (-15 to -9 ‰), reflecting internal redistribution of B and Li and internal fluid buffering of the B isotopic composition during rim growth. The combined observation of younger 40Ar/39Ar ages and boron loss, yielding comparable values of both parameters only in cores and rims of different samples, is best explained by a selective metasomatic overprint. In low permeability samples, this overprint caused recrystallization of phengite rims, whereas higher permeability in other samples led to complete recrystallization of phengite grains. Strongly deformed samples from a several km long, blueschist-facies shear zone contain mylonitic phengite that forms a tightly clustered group of relatively young apparent 40Ar/39Ar ages (64.7 to 68.8 Ma), yielding an inverse isochron age of 65.0 ±3.0 Ma. Almost complete B and Li removal in mylonitic phengite is due to leaching into a fluid. The B isotopic composition is significantly heavier than in phengites from the weakly deformed samples, indicating an external control by a high-d11B fluid (d11B = +7 ±4 ‰). We interpret this result as reflecting phengite recrystallization related to deformation and associated fluid flow in the shear zone. This event also caused partial resetting of the Ar isotope system and further B loss in more permeable rocks of the adjacent unit. We conclude that geochemical evidence for pervasive or limited fluid flow is crucial for the interpretation of 40Ar/39Ar data in partially metasomatized rocks.Funding of this work by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant KO-3750/2-1) is gratefully acknowledged

Scaling of the specific heat in superfluid films

We study the specific heat of the $x-y$ model on lattices $L \times L \times H$ with $L \gg H$ (i.e. on lattices representing a film geometry) using the Cluster Monte--Carlo method. In the $H$--direction we apply Dirichlet boundary conditions so that the order parameter in the top and bottom layers is zero. We find that our results for the specific heat of various thickness size $H$ collapse on the same universal scaling function. The extracted scaling function of the specific heat is in good agreement with the experimentally determined universal scaling function using no free parameters.Comment: 4 pages, uuencoded compressed PostScrip

Literatur-Rundschau

Russell Shaw: Nothing to Hide. Secrecy, Communication, and Communion in the Catholic Church (Ferdinand Oertel)Rene Schlott: Die Friedensnote Papst Benedikts XV. vom 1. August 1917. Eine Untersuchung zur Berichterstattung in der zeitgenössischen Berliner Tagespresse (Michael Schmolke)Anne Kathrin Quaas: Evangehsche Filmpublizistik 1948-1968. Beispiel für das kulturpolitische Engagement der evangehschen Kirche i n der Nachkriegszeit (Benjamin Städter)Thomas Steinmann: Die Rolle der Presse im Reformprozess. Eine Analyse zur Agenda 2010 (Wolfgang R. Langenbucher)Hans-Peter Schwarz: Axel Springer. Die Biografie (Philipp Obergassner)Michael Seufert: Der Skandal um die Hitler-Tagebücher (Petra Hemmelmann)

Perturbative calculation of the scaled factorial moments in second-order quark-hadron phase transition within the Ginzburg-Landau description

The scaled factorial moments $F_q$ are studied for a second-order quark-hadron phase transition within the Ginzburg-Landau description. The role played by the ground state of the system under low temperature is emphasized. After a local shift of the order parameter the fluctuations are around the ground state, and a perturbative calculation for $F_q$ can be carried out. Power scaling between $F_q$'s is shown, and a universal scaling exponent $\nu\simeq 1.75$ is given for the case with weak correlations and weak self-interactions.Comment: 12 pages in RevTeX, 12 eps figure

Scaling of thermal conductivity of helium confined in pores

We have studied the thermal conductivity of confined superfluids on a bar-like geometry. We use the planar magnet lattice model on a lattice $H\times H\times L$ with $L \gg H$. We have applied open boundary conditions on the bar sides (the confined directions of length $H$) and periodic along the long direction. We have adopted a hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm to efficiently deal with the critical slowing down and in order to solve the dynamical equations of motion we use a discretization technique which introduces errors only $O((\delta t)^6)$ in the time step $\delta t$. Our results demonstrate the validity of scaling using known values of the critical exponents and we obtained the scaling function of the thermal resistivity. We find that our results for the thermal resistivity scaling function are in very good agreement with the available experimental results for pores using the tempComment: 5 two-column pages, 3 figures, Revtex