Determining volcanic eruption styles on Earth and Mars from crystallinity measurements

Both Earth and Mars possess different styles of explosive basaltic volcanism. Distinguishing phreatomagmatic eruptions, driven by magma-water interaction, from 'magmatic' explosive eruptions (that is, strombolian and plinian eruptions) is important for determining the presence of near-surface water or ice at the time of volcanism. Here we show that eruption styles can be broadly identified by relative variations in groundmass or bulk crystallinity determined by X-ray diffraction. Terrestrial analogue results indicate that rapidly quenched phreatomagmatic ejecta display lower groundmass crystallinity (<35%) than slower cooling ejecta from strombolian or plinian eruptions (>40%). Numerical modelling suggests Martian plinian eruptive plumes moderate cooling, allowing 20-30% syn-eruptive crystallization, and thus reduce the distinction between eruption styles on Mars. Analysis of Mars Curiosity rover CheMin X-ray diffraction results from Gale crater indicate that the crystallinity of Martian sediment (52-54%) is similar to pyroclastic rocks from Gusev crater, Mars, and consistent with widespread distribution of basaltic strombolian or plinian volcanic ejecta.

Some cardiovascular effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors in unanaesthetized rats

The effects of four monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors on the blood pressure of conscious normotensive and DOC-salt hypertensive rats were measured. Harmaline (20 mg/kg p.o.), pargyline (100 mg/kg p.o.) and tranylcypromine (10 mg/kg p.o.) all lowered blood pressure significantly in both normotensive and hypertensive rats whereas methylaplysinopsin (10 mg/kg p.o.) had no effect on blood pressure. The effects of these MAO inhibitors on blood pressure responses to serotonin, tyramine and beta-phenylethylamine were determined in conscious normotensive rats. Pargyline and tranylcypromine shifted the dose-response curves for tyramine and beta-phenylethylamine, but not serotonin, to the left, indicating inhibition of type B MAO. Harmaline and methylaplysinopsin shifted the dose-response curves for tyramine and serotonin but not beta-phenylethylamine, to the left, indicating inhibition of type A MAO. Since the four antagonists tested inhibited at least one form of MAO, and yet not all of these MAO inhibitors lowered blood pressure, we suggest that our results are consistent with the view that the hypotensive action of MAO inhibitors is not necessarily related to inhibition of MAO.