Occurrence and Distribution of Moganite and Opal-CT in Agates from Paleocene/Eocene Tuffs, El Picado (Cuba)

Agates in Paleocene/Eocene tuffs from El Picado/Los Indios, Cuba were investigated to characterize the mineral composition of the agates and to provide data for the reconstruction of agate forming processes. The volcanic host rocks are strongly altered and fractured and contain numerous fissures and veins mineralized by quartz and chalcedony. These features indicate secondary alteration and silicification processes during tectonic activities that may have also resulted in the formation of massive agates. Local accumulation of manganese oxides/hydroxides, as well as uranium (uranyl-silicate complexes), in the agates confirm their contemporaneous supply with SiO2 and the origin of the silica-bearing solutions from the alteration processes. The mineral composition of the agates is characterized by abnormal high bulk contents of opal-CT (>6 wt%) and moganite (>16 wt%) besides alpha-quartz. The presence of these elevated amounts of “immature” silica phases emphasize that agate formation runs through several structural states of SiO2 with amorphous silica as the first solid phase. A remarkable feature of the agates is a heterogeneous distribution of moganite within the silica matrix revealed by micro-Raman mapping. The intensity ratio of the main symmetric stretching-bending vibrations (A1 modes) of alpha-quartz at 465 cm−1 and moganite at 502 cm−1, respectively, was used to depict the abundance of moganite in the silica matrix. The zoned distribution of moganite and variations in the microtexture and porosity of the agates indicate a multi-phase deposition of SiO2 under varying physico-chemical conditions and a discontinuous silica supply

Geomorphologischer Atlas Sachsens: Geomorphologische Analyse tektonischer Einheiten in Sachsen

Diese Schriftenreihe präsentiert eine moderne tektonische Karte Sachsens. Die Ergebnisse dieses Projekts erlauben es, junge tektonische Hebungen und Senkungen von älteren Strukturen zu unterscheiden und die zeitliche Reihenfolge der Aktivität von Störungen abzuleiten. Die Veröffentlichung richtet sich sowohl an geologisch interessierte Laien ohne fachlichen Hintergrund als auch an ein Fachpublikum. Redaktionsschluss: 15.08.201

Multiple Growth Mechanisms of Jadeite in Cuban Metabasite

Samples of rocks reported in the literature to be jadeite jade from the subduction-zone complex of the Escambray Massif in\ud central Cuba have been studied by optical and transmission electron microscopy, electron microprobe and hot-cathode cathodoluminescence\ud (CL) microscopy. Although these rocks are indeed rich in jadeite, the bulk rock composition generally conforms to\ud MORB, with Na2O enriched by . 3 wt% and CaO depleted by .2 wt%. Al2O3 contents are unchanged. These changes are attributed\ud to early pre-subduction spilitization of the ocean-floor protolith. Relics of magmatic augite preserving an ophitic texture are common.\ud Disequilibrium textures are the rule. Extensively recrystallized rocks show fine, felty intergrowths of predominantly Al-rich\ud glaucophane and jadeite, the latter with rims and patches of omphacite. TEM observations indicate extensive replacement of\ud pyroxene by amphibole. Glaucophane developed rims of magnesiokatophorite and edenite. Chlorite and epidote are also present.\ud Late development of actinolite, chlorite, epidote and albite is observed. Quartz is present. Less recrystallized samples with numerous\ud large (.1.5 mm) grains of augite show several types of sodic and sodic-calcic clinopyroxene development: (1) Topotactic\ud replacement of magmatic pyroxene by jadeite and omphacite along a broad front encroaching upon the augite grain from the rock\ud matrix. Jadeite dominates where presumably plagioclase was formerly present. Omphacite dominates where augite is internally\ud replaced along cleavage and fractures. Late chlorite, taramite and ferropargasite replace these pseudomorphs. (2) Former plagioclase\ud laths of the ophitic fabric are replaced by jadeite together with lesser omphacite in epitactic relationship with the enclosing augite.\ud Former plagioclase-augite grain boundaries remain preserved. Late pumpellyite is associated with the omphacite. (3) Jadeite þ\ud omphacite þ pumpellyite þ chlorite with irregular grain boundaries dominate in the rock matrix between the augite relics, with\ud idiomorphic crystals of epidote scattered throughout and in chlorite–epidote clusters. Pumpellyite is interpreted to be a late retrograde\ud product. Quartz is present. (4) Jadeite þ omphacite þ chlorite assemblages, in which monomineralic sheaf-like jadeite aggregates are\ud common, fill very thin (500–1500 mm) fractures criss-crossing the sample, including ophitic augite remnants. Cathodoluminescence\ud microscopy shows that jadeite in the veins is distinctly different from CL in the other types of jadeite, showing features like oscillatory\ud growth zoning indicative of crystallization from a fluid. Generally omphacite develops irregularly along jadeite rims, but recrystallization\ud may lead to pairs with straight grain boundaries suggestive of phase equilibration. Comparison with published solvus\ud relationships suggests temperatures of 425–500 C. This unusual occurrence of different types of jadeite in a metabasic rock suggests\ud two contrasting sources. The first – in the rock matrix, as topotactic alteration of igneous pyroxene and as plagioclase replacement\ud epitactically growing on augite – can be explained as due to local domain equilibration in a rapidly subducted ‘‘spilitized’’ gabbroic\ud rock. The second, in very thin fracture fillings, conforms to an origin as a crystallization product from a pervasive fluid. Conceivably,\ud ‘‘pooling’’ of the fluids flowing through the fractures in larger cavities could lead to larger masses of jadeitite. These have not yet been\ud conclusively documented in the Escambray Massif

3D-Modellierung des Tertiärs in der Lausitz: Tektonische und geomorphologische 3D-Modellierung der tertiären Einheiten der sächsischen Lausitz

In der Broschüre werden die Ergebnisse einer 3D-Modellierung tertiärer Einheiten der Nieder- und Oberlausitz zusammen mit einer geomorphologischen Analyse der Landoberfläche auf der Grundlage digitaler Höhenmodelle vorgestellt. Über diese Methoden konnten tertiäre und jüngere tektonische Bewegungen in der Lausitz indiziert werden. Die Broschüre richtet sich vor allem an Fachleute, die ein spezielles Interesse an 3D-Modellierungen geologischer Einheiten verbunden mit tektonischen Fragestellungen haben. Die geomorphologische Analyse zeigt anschaulich und nachvollziehbar auch interessierten Bürgern, welche modernen Methoden die tektonische Beurteilung einer Region ermöglichen

Position Measurements with Micro-Channel Plates and Transmission lines using Pico-second Timing and Waveform Analysis

The anodes of Micro-Channel Plate devices are coupled to fast transmission lines in order to reduce the number of electronics readout channels, and can provide two-dimension position measurements using two-ends delay timing. Tests with a laser and digital waveform analysis show that resolutions of a few hundreds of microns along the transmission line can be reached taking advantage of a few pico-second timing estimation. This technique is planned to be used in Micro-channel Plate devices integrating the transmission lines as anodes

Health care costs, utilization and patterns of care following Lyme disease

BACKGROUND:Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector borne infection in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that approximately 10% to 20% of individuals may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome - a set of symptoms including fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and neurocognitive complaints that persist after initial antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease. Little is known about the impact of Lyme disease or post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms (PTLDS) on health care costs and utilization in the United States. OBJECTIVES:1) to examine the impact of Lyme disease on health care costs and utilization, 2) to understand the relationship between Lyme disease and the probability of developing PTLDS, 3) to understand how PTLDS may impact health care costs and utilization. METHODS:This study utilizes retrospective data on medical claims and member enrollment for persons aged 0-64 years who were enrolled in commercial health insurance plans in the United States between 2006-2010. 52,795 individuals treated for Lyme disease were compared to 263,975 matched controls with no evidence of Lyme disease exposure. RESULTS:Lyme disease is associated with $2,968 higher total health care costs (95$3,798 higher total health care costs (95% CI: 3,542-4,055, p<.001) and 66% more outpatient visits (95% CI: 64%-69%, p<.001) over a 12-month period, relative to those with no PTLDS-related diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS:Lyme disease is associated with increased costs above what would be expected for an easy to treat infection. The presence of PTLDS-related diagnoses after treatment is associated with significant health care costs and utilization

Tiefengeothermie Sachsen

In drei Gebieten Sachsens wurde durch einen Forschungsverbund unter Leitung des LfULG die Nutzung der petrothermalen Geothermie zur Strom- und Wärmegewinnung untersucht. In der Elbezone im Raum Dresden, in Freiberg und Aue-Schneeberg wurden geologische, petrophysikalische und thermische Daten aufgearbeitet und dreidimensionale Modelle bewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine Stromerzeugung durch Tiefenaufschlüsse bis 5 km Tiefe in allen drei Untersuchungsgebieten möglich ist. Die Temperaturmodelle weisen in 5 km Tiefe Werte zwischen 105 und 190 °C auf. Dabei verfügt das Untersuchungsgebiet Aue-Schneeberg über die besten Voraussetzungen für die Errichtung eines Geothermiekraftwerkes

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s=7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb(-1) of root s = 7 TeV proton-proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results. (C) 2012 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved