Genesis of the Eastern Adamello Plutons (Northern Italy): Inferences for the Alpine Geodynamics

The Corno Alto–Monte Ospedale magmatic complex crops out at the eastern border of the Adamello batholith, west of the South Giudicarie Fault (NE Italy). This complex includes tonalites, trondhjemites, granodiorites, granites and diorites exhibiting an unfoliated structure suggesting passive intrusion under extensional-to-transtensional conditions. Major, minor elements, REE and isotopic analyses and geochemical and thermodynamic modelling have been performed to reconstruct the genesis of this complex. Geochemical analyses unravel a marked heterogeneity with a lack of intermediate terms. Samples from different crust sections were considered as possible contaminants of a parental melt, with the European crust of the Serre basement delivering the best fit. The results of the thermodynamic modelling show that crustal melts were produced in the lower crust. Results of the geochemical modelling display how Corno Alto felsic rocks are not reproduced by fractional crystallization nor by partial melting alone: their compositions are intermediate between anatectic melts and melts produced by fractional crystallization. The tectonic scenario which favored the intrusion of this complex was characterized by extensional faults, active in the Southalpine domain during Eocene. This extensional scenario is related to the subduction of the Alpine Tethys in the Eastern Alps starting at Late Cretaceous time.

Evaluation of COVID-19 vaccination websites using DISCERN and Quality Evaluation Scoring (QUEST) Tools

Background: The objective of this paper was to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine registration website across UN-recognized member states for their portal quality, reliability, Ease Use and help to the general population in informed decision making.Methods: 12 UN member states (Countries) were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned in the methodology section of this paper. PPS technique was used for sampling and selection of 12 countries from 193 UN member states. Post selection of UN member states the study used 2 step evaluation techniques, Step 1 The DISCERN checklist consists of 16 questions in three sections and is aimed to assess the reliability of information and quality of information; Step 2 The QUEST tool consists of 6 items with a subitem, Authorship, Attribution, Conflict of Interest, Complementarity, Currency, Tone. The authors developed a standard set of instructions for evaluating Vaccination Portals to bring uniformity in understanding and context setting.Results: DISCERN tool overall reliability score on the Likert scale of 0 to 5 was 4 (SD ± 1.28). On Quality of information regarding treatment choices, the average score was 3.4 (SD ± 1.67). The QUEST tool on ease of use, concision, and comprehensiveness demonstrated an average score of 18.1 (SD ± 8.3) out of 28.The vaccine registration portal of the Czech Republic was found to be most informative and was able to provide a piece of scientifically valid information on safety, efficacy, long-term short effects, choice of vaccine with attributable authors details. India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, South Africa scored relatively low to missing critical information on the website. The United Arab Emirates, Republic of South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, and Argentina had minor elements missing.Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination portals vary in the quality of information, and many were found unable to provide critical information for decision making on getting vaccinated.

XRF elemental analysis of inks in South American manuscripts from 1779 to 1825

The Regional Archive of Cusco in Peru guards valuable history collections with exceptional regional and international value dating from the sixteenth century to the present. Historical manuscripts are part of the identity of all people; they constitute a tangible cultural heritage that must be studied, valued, and protected. In this sense, the objective of this research was to identify the chemical compositions of inks and paper, with the goals of setting the background of their originality, identifying relationships between them, and glimpsing antecedents that generated degradation due to the compositions of the inks. This study is the first of its kind in Peru and reveals the chemical elements present in the writing ink, the seal, and the paper of five documents from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Duplicate in situ nondestructive analyses were carried out using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence spectrometer under ambient conditions in soil mode, configured with three sequential shots, and energies from zero to 40, 40, and 15 keV, respectively. The elements S and Fe were present as components of iron gall inks. Cu and Zn were less abundant; probably, they provided less corrosion and more color intensity to the inks. The minor elements Pb, As, and especially Ag in all manuscripts differentiate them from European inks of the same period. Additionally, the five documents reflect the same elemental compositions but with different concentrations. This could mean that writers used local raw materials and Spanish ink recipes. Finally, the analyses of standard reference material, SRM 1646a and SRM 196b, gave results with acceptable precision. Graphical Abstract

Batusatam physical and chemical properties review: A Billitonite tektite in Southeastern Belitung Island, Indonesia

Batusatam considers as Billitonite, a rare Australian strewnfield tektite. Regrettably, the scientific information of this object slightly, especially about the origin, the process of formation, and its uniqueness in the earth’s geological history. This paper reviewed the physical and chemical properties of unearthing Batusatam in Southeastern Belitung Island, Indonesia. Physical properties are examing based on object shape, surface texture pattern, dimensions, volume, mass, density, and hardness. We also analyzed major and minor elements using portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and compared them with another Australian tektite. Rod and tear-drop-shape, the unique shapes of Batusatam, were discovered. It had a higher FexOy, CaO, MnO proportion. Also, Sn (tin) is present significantly compared to other tektites. This significant uniqueness of Billitonite could clarify its origin, formation process, and role as a geoheritage.

Meteorite from Astomulyo Village, Central Lampung, Indonesia: Investigation of its chemical properties

In early 2021, a rare extraterrestrial object passed at high speed, followed by a powerful boom, with a bright flare crossing the atmosphere and falling in Astomulyo Village, Punggur, Central Lampung, Indonesia. This object has been scientifically determining as a meteorite. Toward the spot where we first found it, we presented this object named Astomulyo meteorite. This research investigated its chemical properties using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. As the result, the major composition of this meteorite is Si (28.3-27.1%), Fe (22.1-19.8%), Mg (17.3-15.2%), Al (2.9-2.4%), Ca (1.7-1.9%), and S (1.0-0.97%). Its minor elements are Mn, Ni, Cr, P, and some trace elements such as Co, Ti, Sb, Sn, V, Cd, Zn. This meteorite suggested classifying as the H-Chondrites group. Fe, Ni, Al, and Ti enrichment occur on the meteorite’s surface. It is probably related to this meteorite origin and continuously processes until it falls to the Earth’s surface.

Art Casting in Portuguese 19th Century Industrial Foundries: A Multi-Analytical Study of an Emblematic Copper-Based Alloy Monument

The outdoor sculpture of the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques (c. 1109–1185 AD), placed in Guimarães (North Portugal), is one of the most emblematic national sculptures. Created in 1887 by António Soares dos Reis, it possesses a remarkable symbolic value in the presumed birthplace of the king. In addition to the artistic and heritage importance of the monument, it is one of the few sculptures cast by a Portuguese industrial foundry in the 19th century. This study obtained data on the sculpture’s elemental composition and corrosion products, gathering important historical and technical information. For this purpose, a multi-analytical approach consisting of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) was carried out to characterise the bulk metal and corrosion layers. The data revealed a ternary alloy of Cu, Sn and Zn, with Pb, Fe, As, Bi and Mn as minor elements. The alloy matches that of other sculptures cast in that period. In terms of corrosion, it is characterised by the presence of oxides. These results represent the first step for applying an appropriate conservation strategy for bronze sculptures with similar characteristics.