[1] The present study is aimed at improving the calibration of the compositional dependence of the Curie temperature (T C ) of titanomagnetite (Tmt) on the basis of temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility (c-T) curves measured on synthetic Tmts in the Fe-Ti-O system. In order to assess the possible influence of high-temperature cation vacancies onto the T C values, we have synthesized two types of assemblages in subsolidus conditions at 1 bar, 1100°C and 1300°C, under controlled oxygen fugacity conditions. Tmts synthesized in equilibrium with ilmenite-hematite ss (Ilm ss ) are expected to have the highest vacancy concentrations, those in equilibrium with wüstite (Wus) the lowest. The composition and homogeneity of the synthetic Tmts were carefully checked with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an electron microprobe (EMP). T C was determined from c-T curves using a kappabridge and, for comparison, from M s -T curves measured with a variable field translation balance. Our data set shows systematically higher T C values for Tmt coexisting with Ilm ss than for Tmt coexisting with Wus. Most c-T curves are nonreversible, whereby the largest DT C (40 K) concern Tmt(+Ilm ss ) of intermediate compositions synthesized at 1300°C. Nonreversibility is interpreted as reflecting cation reordering in Tmt during the high-temperature c-T measurements. T C values obtained from M s -T curves are higher than those obtained from the c-T curves, whereby the difference regularly increases (up to 40 K) with increasing Ti content, up to X Usp = 0.6. Our new calibration curves are suitable to retrieve Tmt compositions in basalts that were rapidly cooled and not oxidized by deuteric or hydrothermal fluids.Citation: Lattard, D., R. Engelmann, A. Kontny, and U. Sauerzapf (2006), Curie temperatures of synthetic titanomagnetites in the Fe-Ti-O system: Effects of composition, crystal chemistry, and thermomagnetic methods,

Two cores from Brazos, Texas, spanning the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-P) boundary, are investigated by a multidisciplinary approach aiming at unraveling environmental changes and sequence stratigraphic setting. In addition, the sedimentology of the K-P event deposit and its correlation with the K-P boundary is studied. Foraminifera and nannofossil stratigraphy indicates that both cores include a latest Maastrichtian (Zone CF1-CF2) and earliest Danian (P0, Pa and P1a) shale sequence with a sandy and Chicxulub ejecta-bearing event deposit at the K-P boundary; a hiatus of unknown duration may be present by the unconformable base of the event deposit. Planktic foraminifera as well as calcareous nannofossil abundance and diversity both decline abruptly above the event deposit (K-P mass extinction), whereas benthic foraminifera show a pronounced faunal change but no mass extinction. Mineralogical and geochemical proxies suggest that-except for the sandwiched K-P event deposit-no facies change took place across the K-P boundary and no evidence for adverse an-or dysoxic sedimentary conditions following the Chicxulub impact was observed. Therefore, the interval bracketing the K-P event deposit is considered as highstand systems tract. Increased coarse detritus input and low planktic/benthic (P/B) foraminifera ratios during the earliest Paleocene (P0 and Pa) both suggest an increased coastal proximity or relative sea-level lowering, although the K-P mass extinction of planktic foraminifera might have influenced the P/B ratios as well. Consequently, the sandy shales of the early Paleocene are considered as late regressive highstand or as lowstand deposit. During P1a, shales assigned as transgressive systems tract overlie a pyrite-and glauconite-rich bioturbated transgressive surface or type-2-sequence boundary. The smectite-dominated clay assemblage, with minor illite, kaolinite and chlorite indicates semiaridhumid climates with no obvious shifts across the K-P boundary. The magnetic susceptibility signature during the Maastrichtian reveals a subtle cyclic (or rhythmic) pattern, whereas a high-amplitude cyclic pattern is present during the early Danian. The K-P event deposit shows a succession of high-energetic debris flows and turbidites derived from multiple source areas, followed by a period of decreasing current energy. Deposition was likely triggered by multiple tsunami or tempestites followed by a prolonged period of reworking and settling. The Chicxulub ejecta at the base of the K-P event deposit consists of Mg-rich smectiteas well as Fe-Mg-rich chlorite-spherules. Their mineralogical composition points to target rocks of mafic to intermediate composition, presumably situated in the northwestern sector of the Chicxulub impact structure. Besides these silicic phases, the most prominent ejecta components are limestone clasts, accretionary carbonate clasts, and microspar, suggesting that the Texas area received ejecta also from shallow, carbonate-rich lithologies at the impact site on the Yucatán carbonate platform. The ex...

This study investigates the effects of shock waves on magnetic and microstructural behavior of multidomain magnetite from a magnetite-bearing ore, experimentally shocked to pressures of 5, 10, 20, and 30 GPa. Changes in apparent crystallite size and lattice parameter were determined by X-ray diffraction, and grain fragmentation and defect accumulation were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic properties were characterized by low-temperature saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), susceptibility measurements around the Verwey transition as well as by hysteresis parameters at room temperature. It is established that the shock-induced refinement of magnetic domains from MD to SD-PSD range is a result of cooperative processes including brittle fragmentation of magnetite grains, plastic deformation with shear bands and twins as well as structural disordering in form of molten grains and amorphous nanoclusters. Up to 10 GPa, a decrease of coherent crystallite size, lattice parameter, saturation magnetization (Ms), and magnetic susceptibility and an increase in coercivity, SIRM, and width of Verwey transition are mostly associated with brittle grain fragmentation. Starting from 20 GPa, a slight recovery is documented in all magnetic and nonmagnetic parameters. In particular, the recovery in SIRM is correlated with an increase of the lattice constant. The recovery effect is associated with the increasing influence of shock heating/annealing at high shock pressures. The strong decrease of Ms at 30 GPa is interpreted as a result of strong lattice damage and distortion. Our results unravel the microstructural mechanisms behind the loss of magnetization and the modification of magnetic properties of magnetite and contribute to our understanding of shock-induced magnetic phenomena in impacted rocks on earth and in meteorites.

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We present evidence for an extrusion wedge in the Scandian fold-thrust belt of the central Scandinavian Caledonides (Seve nappe complex). Rb-Sr multimineral geochronology in synkinematic assemblages indicates simultaneous movements at the normal-sense roof shear zone and at the reverse-sense floor shear zone between 434 Ma and 429 Ma. A Sm-Nd age of 462 Ma from a mylonitic garnet mica schist documents prograde garnet growth and possible incipient subduction. Pressure-temperature pseudosection calculations provide evidence for eclogite facies metamorphic conditions and nearly isothermal decompression at ~670 ± 50 °C from 17.5 to 14.5 kbar in garnet-kyanite mica schists during reverse-sense shearing, and from 15 to 11 kbar in garnet mica schists during normal-sense shearing. These data and the presence of decompression-related pegmatites dated at 434 Ma and 429 Ma indicate that the Seve nappes form a large-scale extrusion wedge. This wedge extends along strike for at least 150 km and marks an early stage of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, exhumation, and orogenic wedge formation in this part of the Scandinavian Caledonides predating the major, post-415 Ma ultrahigh-pressure exhumation processes in southwestern Norway. INTRODUCTIONExtrusion wedges are increasingly recognized as major, lithosphericscale structural features in collisional orogens that exhumed ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks during plate convergence, as for example in the Himalayas, Alps, and Hellenides (see Ring and Glodny, 2010, and references therein). They are characterized by simultaneous movements along their normal-sense roof and reverse-sense floor shear zones. We focus on HP metamorphic rocks of the Seve nappes in the Jämtland-Västerbotten segment of the central Scandinavian Caledonides (Fig. 1A). They are bounded by a normal-sense, hinterland-directed shear zone at the roof and a foreland-directed shear zone at the floor (Greiling et al., 1998). This set of opposed-sense shear zones is a structural feature crucial for understanding Scandian orogenic wedge evolution. Based on this geometry, a Himalayantype extrusion of the Seve nappes was hypothesized (Gee et al., 2010). We studied both shear zones to test for simultaneous ductile shear and for their timing within Scandian orogenic wedge evolution.