Parâmetros físicos pré-eruptivos do magmatismo ácido da província magmática do Paraná: Resultados preliminares

A set of 12 samples of acid rock types Palmas (ATP) and Chapecó (ATC) was used to determine the chemical composition of plagioclase and pyroxene by electron microprobe, with the purpose to get information about the pressure and temperature of crystallization of these rocks. The results show that the pyroxene of ATP rocks (3,2 ± 1,2 kbar, max = 5,1 kbar and 1028 ± 38°C) were formed under pressure conditions higher than those ATC (1,8 ± 0,9 kbar, max = 3,4 kbar and 995 ± 26oC). However, the pressures obtained from plagioclase showed higher pressures for ATC (3.2 ± 1 kbar, max = 6,4 kbar and 1033 ± 12°C) than ATP (1,9 ± 1 kbar, max = 4,8 kbar and 1043 ± 5°C), suggesting that the crystallization of rocktype ATP began with the formation of pyroxene and plagioclase almost simultaneously at a depth of around 17 km while the ATC, began with the crystallization of plagioclase at a depth of about 21 km (assuming a gradient of 3,3 kbar/km). The geothermometry of plagioclase allow us to calculate the concentration of water from about 1 ± 0,3% H2O for both acid rock types. Additional calculations allow us to get the depth of water exsolution of magmatic liquid at 30m below the surface. Although the data are still preliminary and insufficient to model the extrusion of these rocks, they point out to an effusion mechanism of a partially fluidized magma by volatile, which would spread to large areas with small friction with the surface that would increased with the increase of viscosity caused by the loss of volatile and decreasing of temperature, developing coherent structures as lava flows.

Quimioestratigrafia do vulcanismo ácido mesozóico da província magmática do Paraná: porção SE do estado de Santa Catarina

The Mesozoic acid volcanism of the Paraná-Etendeka Province can be considered as one of the biggest events of its kind in the Earth's surface, and its study have attracted special interest in characterizing the end of magmatism that preceded the rupture process and the formation of continental Africa and South America Although significant, the acid volcanism featuring Members Chapecó Palmas and Serra Geral Formation represents only 2.5% of the total generated by the magmatic rocks and perhaps therefore the existing literature on these rocks is well less significant than that on the basalts. However, there are still aspects still unclear about the origin and evolution of these rocks in relation to the associated basalts. Thus, two profiles were selected, called RA and TA, which be a systematic collection of samples from the base where the Botucatu Formation sandstones occur at the top, where they observe Palmas acid rock type. These samples should be analyzed for major, minor and trace elements and treated in specific diagrams to define the vertical variation lithochemistry and their possible relationships with the associated basalts

(Table 1) Geochemistry of ash layers at DSDP Leg 57 Holes

The study of the main characteristics of ash layers in Leg 57 cores shows that they are suitable for an analysis of the effect on eruptive activity of their distribution. We found (1) sediment recovery good and ash layers numerous; (2) sedimentary environment generally free from terrigenous clastic material; (3) reworking limited; (4) volcanic glass very acidic, ranging from rhyolitic to rhyodacitic composition; and (5) alteration and diagenesis negligible above the lower Miocene. The curves of explosive volcanic activity in Holes 438, 439, and 440 display two stages of high activity: an early one around 16 m.y. and a late one starting 5 m.y. B.P., both stages being separated by an upper Miocene quiescence. Detail in these results is limited by the chemical composition of the glass and accounts only for trends in explosive acid volcanism. Nevertheless, results are roughly in agreement with other data from the Northwest Pacific, although some discrepancies in the correlation of intensity of the episodes occur. The data from Leg 57 support the hypothesis of synchronous pulses in explosive volcanism.

Environmental effects of Deccan volcanism across the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition in Meghalaya, India

The Um Sohryngkew section of Meghalaya, NE India, located 800–1000 km from the Deccan volcanic province, is one of the most complete Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary (KTB) transitions worldwide with all defining and supporting criteria present: mass extinction of planktic foraminifera, first appearance of Danian species, δ13C shift, Ir anomaly (12 ppb) and KTB red layer. The geochemical signature of the KTB layer indicates not only an extraterrestrial signal (Ni and all Platinum Group Elements (PGEs)) of a second impact that postdates Chicxulub, but also a significant component resulting from condensed sedimentation (P), redox fluctuations (As, Co, Fe, Pb, Zn, and to a lesser extent Ni and Cu) and volcanism. From the late Maastrichtian C29r into the early Danian, a humid climate prevailed (kaolinite: 40–60%, detrital minerals: 50–80%). During the latest Maastrichtian, periodic acid rains (carbonate dissolution; CIA index: 70–80) associated with pulsed Deccan eruptions and strong continental weathering resulted in mesotrophic waters. The resulting super-stressed environmental conditions led to the demise of nearly all planktic foraminiferal species and blooms (> 95%) of the disaster opportunist Guembelitria cretacea. These data reveal that detrimental marine conditions prevailed surrounding the Deccan volcanic province during the main phase of eruptions in C29r below the KTB. Ultimately these environmental conditions led to regionally early extinctions followed by global extinctions at the KTB.

No evidence for association of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene T2119C and C3161G amino acid substitution variants with risk of breast cancer

Background There is evidence that certain mutations in the double-strand break repair pathway ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene act in a dominant-negative manner to increase the risk of breast cancer. There are also some reports to suggest that the amino acid substitution variants T2119C Ser707Pro and C3161G Pro1054Arg may be associated with breast cancer risk. We investigate the breast cancer risk associated with these two nonconservative amino acid substitution variants using a large Australian population-based case–control study. Methods The polymorphisms were genotyped in more than 1300 cases and 600 controls using 5' exonuclease assays. Case–control analyses and genotype distributions were compared by logistic regression. Results The 2119C variant was rare, occurring at frequencies of 1.4 and 1.3% in cases and controls, respectively (P = 0.8). There was no difference in genotype distribution between cases and controls (P = 0.8), and the TC genotype was not associated with increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval = 0.59–1.97, P = 0.8). Similarly, the 3161G variant was no more common in cases than in controls (2.9% versus 2.2%, P = 0.2), there was no difference in genotype distribution between cases and controls (P = 0.1), and the CG genotype was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval = 0.85–1.98, P = 0.2). This lack of evidence for an association persisted within groups defined by the family history of breast cancer or by age. Conclusion The 2119C and 3161G amino acid substitution variants are not associated with moderate or high risks of breast cancer in Australian women.