Metamorphic and basin fluids in quartz–carbonate–sulphide veins in the SW Scottish Highlands: a stable isotope and fluid inclusion study

Metalliferous (Fe–Cu–Pb–Zn) quartz–carbonate–sulphide veins cut greenschist to epidote–amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks of the Dalradian, SW Scottish Highlands, with NE–SW to NW–SE trends, approximately parallel or perpendicular to regional structures. Early quartz was followed by pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, barite, late dolomite–ankerite and clays. Both quartz–sulphide and carbonate vein mineralisation is associated with brecciation, indicating rapid release of fluid overpressure and hydraulic fracturing. Two distinct mineralising fluids were identified from fluid inclusion and stable isotope studies. High temperature (>350°C) quartz‐precipitating fluids were moderately saline (4.0–12.7 wt.% NaCl equivalent) with low (approximately 0.05). Quartz δ¹⁸O (+11.7 to +16.5‰) and sulphide δ³⁴S (?13.6 to ?1.1‰) indicate isotopic equilibrium with host metasediments (rock buffering) and a local metasedimentary source of sulphur. Later, low‐temperature (T_H = 120–200°C) fluids, probably associated with secondary carbonate, barite and clay formation, were also moderately saline (3.8–9.1 wt.% NaCl equivalent), but were strongly enriched in ¹⁸O relative to host Dalradian lithologies, as indicated by secondary dolomite–ankerite (δ¹⁸O = +17.0 to +29.0‰, δ¹³C = ?1.0 to ?3.0‰). Compositions of carbonate–forming fluids were externally buffered. The veins record the fluid–rock interaction history of metamorphic host rocks during cooling, uplift and later extension. Early vein quartz precipitated under retrograde greenschist facies conditions from fluids probably derived by syn‐metamorphic dehydration of deeper, higher‐grade rocks during uplift and cooling of the Caledonian metamorphic complex. Veins are similar to those of mesothermal veins in younger Phanerozoic metamorphic belts, but are rare in the Scottish Dalradian. Early quartz veins were reactivated by deep penetration of low‐temperature basin fluids that precipitated carbonate and clays in veins and adjacent Dalradian metasediments throughout the SW Highlands, probably in the Permo‐Carboniferous. This event is consistent with paragenetically ambiguous barite with δ³⁴S characteristic of late Palaeozoic basinal brines.     

Northern Ireland,employment and the law

Employment Equality in Northern Ireland, vols I‐III Eithne McLaughlin (series ed.), 1997 Belfast, Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights ISBN 0.9527.5280.8

Vol. I. Fair Employment Law in Northern Ireland: Debates and Issues Denise Magill & Sarah Rose (eds) pp. 202

Vol. II. Policy Aspects of Employment Equality in Northern Ireland Eithne McLaughlin & Padraic Quirk (eds) pp.197

Vol. III. Public Views and Experiences of Fair Employment and Equality Issues in Northern Ireland John McVey & Nigel Hutson (eds) pp. 170     

Private Profits – Public Drought: The Creation of a Crisis in Water Management for West Yorkshire

This paper examines the political and corporate constructions of the 1995–96 drought crisis in West Yorkshire, when an unprecedented public furore was provoked by the threat of water-supply cut-offs. A key outcome of this process was a profound crisis of confidence over the governance of water resources, which can be linked to the privatization of the industry and, more broadly, to the processes of redrawing the boundaries of the state. The water industry illustrates the contestability of neoliberal reforms seeking to inspire market-led growth with minimal government intervention. In particular, political dogma about the anticipated benefits of market competitiveness failed adequately to take into account public concern for the 'common good'.     

An archaeological exploration in southern Borno

For much of the African continent archaeological fieldwork is still at an exploratory stage. There must be a great difference between the known archaeological evidence, on which we base our hypotheses, and the evidence that remains to be discovered. There must, in addition, be a veritable gulf between the archaeological evidence we have and the prehistoric human behaviour that we seek to understand. The following paper discusses recent field work in southern Borno in the light of these ideas. This fieldwork aimed to test an hypothesis about human exploitation of the area before 3000 bp but succeeded instead in revealing a substantial number of later sites in a part of an area already previously investigated by the writer. So far as earlier sites are concerned, this new fieldwork suggests that future archaeological exploration should be concentrated on the northern end of the Mandara Mountains and on the deposits at their base. The overall lesson of this fieldwork, however, seems to be that the harder you look, the more you find—although you may not find what you are looking for.

---

Résumé Presque partout en Afrique, le travail archéologique sur le terrain n'en est qu'au stade exploratoire. Il y a sans doute un grand écart entre les données archéologiques connues sur lesquelles se fondent nos hypothèses, et les faits qu'il reste à découvrir. De plus, il existe vraisemblablement un veritable gouffre entre les données archéologiques que nous possédons et le comportement humain préhistorique que nous cherchons à comprendre. Le présent article discute les recherches récentes au sud du Borno en tenant compte de ces idées. Ces travaux visaient la mise à l'essai d'une hypothèse portant sur l'exploitation humaine de la région avant 3000 ans bp mais en vint plutôt à révéler un nombre considérable de sites plus tardifs dans une aire déjà étudiée par l'auteur dans la même région. Quant aux sites de date plus éloignée, les nouveaux travaux sur le terrain suggèrent que l'exploration archéologique devrait dorénavant se concentrer sur l'extrémité nord des montagnes Mandara et sur les dépôts à leurs pieds. Il en ressort surtout, cependant, que plus on cherche, plus on découvre, bien qu'on ne trouve pas toujours ce que l'on cherchait.

     

The challenge facing population geography

The current status of the study of population geography is examined, with some reference to the situation in the United Kingdom. The authors note that whereas the volume of studies in this area indicate its healthy growth, the subdiscipline has become increasingly distant from mainstream geography and runs the risk of being absorbed into general demography. The authors suggest that "population geographers, while taking a serious interest in the methods and philosophy of the neighbouring discipline of demography, should look elsewhere to find direction for their subdiscipline."     

Australian Labor and the Socialist Tradition

Amidst the turmoil of the so‐called ‘death of socialism’, both in Australia and elsewhere, there has been renewed debate about what socialism should be taken to mean. This paper attempts to come to terms with the competing claims about, in particular, socialism within the Australian Labor Party and, in general, how better to understand the meaning of socialism. A comparison and contrast between the first principles of liberalism and socialism helps to illuminate some of the inadequacies of Marxist criticisms of parliamentary Labor. In addition, the argument is made that if we are willing to give greater emphasis to questions of means and ends, socialism can be seen to be part of Labor's historic mission. Far from being a defence of the Hawke administration, however, the case is made that there has been, under Hawke, a fundamental break with the democratic socialist tradition; that the difference is in kind, not degree.     

Supporting food security for Indigenous families through the restoration of Indigenous foodways

Indigenous families are overrepresented among those within Canada who experience food insecurity. Studies have largely focused on northern populations, with less attention paid to southern and urban communities, including the social, cultural, and geographic processes that challenge food security. In this study, we present findings from a decade‐long community‐based study with the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (London, Ontario) to examine family perspectives related to the social determinants of food security. These topics were explored through qualitative interviews (n = 25) and focus groups (n = 2) with First Nation mothers with young children from the city of London, and a nearby reserve community. Interviewees from both geographies identified a number of socio‐economic challenges including household income and transportation. However, some interviewees also shed light on barriers to healthy eating unique to these Indigenous contexts including access issues such as a lack of grocery stores on‐reserve; loss of knowledge related to the utilization of traditional foods; and the erosion of community, familial, and social supports. Resolving these unique determinants of food security for urban and reserve‐based First Nation families will require a range of economic and culturally specific interventions, particularly those that support development and uptake of Indigenous foodways.