A clinopyroxenite intrusion from the Pilanesberg Alkaline Province, South Africa

<p>A number of circular negative magnetic anomalies (up to 8 km across) exist within the area encompassed by the western Bushveld Complex (150 km by 100 km) on the Kaapvaal craton in South Africa. They are covered by up to 700 m of sedimentary rocks of the Karoo Supergroup, which could not produce these anomalies. Exploration boreholes into one of these magnetic anomalies revealed a hidden volcanic complex, called the Elandskraal Volcano. One of these boreholes intersected an olivine–magnetite–apatite clinopyroxenite body, which we studied. Ages on apatite–clinopyroxene pairs using Sm–Nd dating techniques yield a poorly constrained age of 1207 ± 200 Ma, because there is little variation in Sm–Nd between all the samples. This age correlates with the Pilanesberg Alkaline Province that spans the time period from 1430 to 1200 Ma, but almost all age determinations from this suite give very large errors.</p> <p>Three other clinopyroxenite bodies closely related to the Pilanesberg Alkaline Province have been reported, but no geochemical data have been presented. Our mineral and whole-rock geochemical data permit an interpretation of the genesis of these clinopyroxenite bodies. The basaltic lavas of the Elandskraal Volcano are extremely unusual in having very high TiO<sub>2</sub> (over 7 wt%), high Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (16–21 wt%) and high incompatible element contents. Modelling the crystallization sequence using MELTS of the more magnesian lava compositions yields olivine, clinopyroxene, magnetite and apatite as liquidus phases within a temperature interval of less than 30 °C, which matches that observed in the clinopyroxenite body. In our samples the Mg/(Mg + Fe) value for the mafic minerals and incompatible trace elements abundances in clinopyroxene are consistent with crystallization from these unusual basaltic compositions. Contrasts with other clinopyroxenite bodies in the Phalaborwa Complex and the Bushveld Complex are documented in terms of rock associations and mineral compositions (both major and trace elements).</p&gt

Ultrastructure of trichocysts in Hematodinium spp. infecting Atlantic snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio

Trichocyst morphology and development were explored using transmission electron microscopy in Hematodinium spp. isolated directly from Atlantic snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) hemolymph and from in vitro cultures. Appearance of trichocysts defines the initiation of a morphological transition in the parasites life cycle from vegetative stage to the transmission stage. Trichocysts within sporonts were found in distinct clusters near the nucleus in close apposition to the Golgi. As cells transitioned to more mature dinospores however, trichocysts were found randomly distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Clusters contained both primordial and maturing trichocysts at various stages indicating an asynchronous development. The random distribution of mature trichocysts suggests deployment to the cell membrane for future extrusion. Mature trichocysts of Hematodinium spp. appeared structurally similar to trichocysts from photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Hematodinium spp. trichocysts differed by the presence of peripheral tubules associated with novel cuboidal appendages in the apical region rather than a network of central electron dense fibres as found in photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Additionally, the trichocyst membrane of Hematodinium spp. was in close apposition to the square crystalline core. Trichocyst expulsion was not observed during our study which along with features of development and maturation within Hematodinium life stages should provide insight into proposed roles in host attachment or defense that could further our understanding of the mechanisms of pathogenesis and transmission of the parasite