Introduction: For approximately the last eight years the Laser Section of the National Physical Research Laboratory (NPRL) has been interested in inter alia, pulsed solid-state lasers and in particular, Nd:YAG. Investigations of various resonator types were undertaken with a view to the improvement of the laser parameters such as output energy, pulse width, beam quality and sensitivity to mirror misalignment. In 1980 a Nd: YAG laser employing a rotating prism Q-switch was constructed (Preussler (1980)). It involves rotating one of the two cavity reflectors so that they are parallel for only a brief instant in time. Typically the prism must rotate at a speed of 20 000 r.p.m. to ensure a single pulse output. Such lasers suffer from the tendency to emit multiple pulses, they are very noisy and they require frequent maintenance because of the short lifetime of the bearings. A resonator employing conventional curved mirrors and an electro-optical Q-switch was constructed in 1980 (Robertson & Preussler (1982)). In 1981 an electro-optically Q-swi tched laser making use of a crossed Porro-prism resonator was investigated due to its relative insensitivity to misalignment of the reflectors compared with the conventional mirror resonator (Nortier (1981)). Improvements in terms of output power, beam divergence and beam quality can be achieved by making use of a so-called unstable resonator. Such a laser has been investigated and is reported on in this study. Chapter 2 provides some background into laser theory and operation while chapter 3 deals with the theory of the unstable resonator. Chapter 4 provides details of the experimental equipment and techniques used in the work and chapter 5 discusses the evaluation of the project and results obtained.

By engaging with ‘realism’ in the context of Socialist Realism in Bulgaria, a notion that inhabits the space in between fine art, ideology and art history, this practice-based research offers new insight into the examination of continuities between fine art during Communism and post-Communism, exploring the relationship between the abstract and the figurative and their functioning both within, and exceeding, the pictorial space of painting. The two main research questions that inform the studio work and underpin this study have been: How can art practice explore the official representations of Socialist Realism in post-Communist Bulgaria in the axis between photography and painting? How can this process affect an understanding of the relationship between abstract and figurative painting within the context of ‘realism’ of Socialist Realism and contemporary fine art in the country? By focusing on these research questions, this study conceptualises the relationship between the abstract and the figurative in the context of Socialist Realism in fine art in Bulgaria and its official representations after the collapse of the Communist regime. This relationship marked one of the central oppositions in fine art during the Communist era in the country, often constituting a dividing line between what was considered ‘acceptable’ and ‘unacceptable’ art. This study is concerned with the differences in the definitions of ‘realism’ within Socialist Realism in Bulgaria over the years, differences which may be considered as ruptures in its development. Yet it acknowledges these differences within the framework imposed by the Communist ideology. The latter remained unchangeable, yet had a determining impact on the development of fine art throughout the Communist period. Furthermore, the study explores how fragments of this framework are transferred into the post-Communist period, and how they function in state-funded institutional representations of Socialist Realist works and in examples of former ‘official’ artists’ works, as well as in the readings of Socialist Realism after the fall of the Communist regime, readings which fluctuate between the oppositions of ‘official or unofficial’ art, praise or disavowal of Socialist Realism. In order to explore both the ruptures and the continuities, the research looks at Socialist Realism and its specificities in Bulgaria in relation to Socialist Realism in fine art in the Soviet Union and other post-Communist countries in Eastern Europe. The relationship between the abstract and the figurative is situated within this context and explored through a series of transformations of photographic sources into paintings. These transformations are performed by my practice, engaging with the photographic sources’ production, dissemination and display in relation to ‘realism’ in Socialist Realism.

tA/v\Am (the Audio/Video Analysis Machine) is an interactive analysis engine optimized for audio/visual mediums, such as film, video games, and music. I designed tA/v\Am to allow users to pace the playback speed of videos containing sub-title style analytical text, without affecting the pitch content of the audio. The software affords writers the opportunity to display the relevant sensory data (i.e., analytical text and sound/visual media) more efficiently than the paper format. It also serves as a flexible medium; the writer may, for example, compress extensive text into a short amount of time, causing the reader to pause or slow down the rate of the video and thus suspending him/her in the sensorial moment which the writer describes. G®¡ND for Alto Saxophone, Percussion & Electronics is an exploration of the tipping point between signal and noise. Through tablature notation, MIR tools, granular synthesis, and the deconstruction of the saxophone, I have assembled a palette of inordinately contrasting sounds and threaded them together based on action profiles obtained by computer assisted analysis. With them, I have set varying physical conditions of friction that dictates whether the sonic energy is to become focused to one resonant point, or distributed equally/randomly throughout the spectrum as noise. In my critical essay, I use the software to analyze independent video games, showing how tA/v\Am is a highly appropriate tool for such analysis as it is an analogous medium. I then show the software's capabilities as a multimedia platform in analyzing acoustic music, as well as my own electroacoustic work, G®¡ND. In doing so, I advocate for a media-driven analyses, and maintain that one can communicate nuanced ideas using minimal verbal/textual explanation.

High precision 147Sm-143Nd geochronology of garnet is performed in two localities to solve problems in tectonics. In Chapter 1, the age of the basal amphibolite unit of the Ballantrae Ophiolite complex in Scotland is dated at 477.6 ± 1.9 million years old. This age constrains the duration of Grampian orogenesis to 12.6 ± 3.1 million years and allows us to conclude that classic metamorphism by overthickening of continental crust cannot account for the very short-lived event in this region. In Chapter 2, we report ages from a Variscan relict (318 ± 130 Ma) to a range of Cenozoic ages from 35.5 ± 2.1 Ma to 9 ± 10 Ma in the Betic Cordillera of southern Spain. This alone indicates prolonged orogenesis in the region. These ages are linked directly to a microstructure known as a Foliation Intersection Axis (FIA). Results are inconclusive, but they generally indicate that there may be a relationship between broad scale plate motion and FIA orientations at a regional scale.

A model relating the gain of a Nd³⁺ -glass laser amplifier to its input pumping energy is developed in this thesis. This model, which is based on the Nd³⁺ rate equations, is tested experimentally, using a giant pulse as the input to the amplifier. The results of these experiments conform well to the model. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Magnetos de Nd-Fe-B produzidos por metalurgia do pó são altamente susceptíveis à corrosão devido à porosidade intrínseca e à sua microestrutura complexa. Por outro lado, tais ímãs apresentam excelentes propriedades magnéticas tendo por isso várias aplicações. Na área nuclear, os ímãs permanentes à base de terras raras-metais de transição-boro (Nd-Fe-B) são utilizados na fabricação de suportes magnéticos (levitação magnética) para ultra-centrífugas utilizadas no enriquecimento isotópico do urânio natural de utilização em reatores nucleares. Em Odontologia são utilizados para fixar próteses totais e parciais sobre implantes, em Ortodontia, para corrigir maloclusões e fazer movimentações dentárias e em Cirurgia buco-maxilo-facial para fixar próteses de grandes defeitos da face. Em equipamentos eletrônicos, os magnetos são utilizados em balanças, cadeados, motores elétricos e principalmente na confecção de discos rígidos de computadores.Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de corrosão do magneto e testar tratamentos superficiais a fim de substituir principalmente os tratamentos com cromato que hoje em dia não estão sendo mais utilizados principalmente devido à sua toxicidade e altos custos dos tratamentos dos resíduos. A avaliação da resistência à corrosão foi feita através da análise de curvas de polarização potenciodinâmica, espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica, medidas de potencial de corrosão versus tempo e microscopia eletrônica de varredura a fim de associar a microestrutura ao comportamento de corrosão apresentado pelas amostras. Os resultados obtidos mostram que estes magnetos são altamente susceptíveis à corrosão e esta ocorre preferencialmente na fase rica em Nd, localizada nos contornos da fase matriz e magnética (). Tratamentos para proteção da superfície com revestimento de silano, revestimento de conversão de cério, moléculas auto-organizáveis (SAM), Cr hexavalente, fosfato tricatiônico seguido por passivação em solução de trióxido de cromo, e revestimento de fosfato obtido por imersão por 24 h em solução de NaH2PO4 (pH= 3,8) seguido de imersão em solução de sulfato de zinco não melhoraram a resistência à corrosão do magneto. Dentre os tratamentos utilizados, o de fosfatização por 24h em solução de NaH2PO4 (pH= 3,8) foi muito superior, conferindo maior proteção contra corrosão quando comparado com os outros tipos de tratamentos testados. ABSTRACT Nd-Fe-B magnets produced by powder metallurgy are highly susceptible to corrosion due to their complex microstructure and intrinsic porosity due to their fabrication process. Moreover, these magnets have excellent magnetic properties and find many applications. In the nuclear area, permanent magnets based on rare earth transition-iron-boron (Ne-Fe-B) are used in the manufacture of magnetic media (magnetic levitation) for ultra-centrifuges used for isotopic enrichment of uranium employed in nuclear reactors. In dentistry these types of magnets are used to fix total and partial prostheses on implants; in orthodontics to correct dental malocclusion and make moves; in buco-maxillo-facial surgery for setting facial prostheses of large defects of the face. In electronic equipment, they are used in scales, locks, electric motors and particularly in the manufacturing of hard drives of computers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the magnet tested and surface treatments that could replace chromating that generates toxic residues and present high cost of processing waste with treatments that are environmentally friendly. The evaluation / Nd-Fe-B magnets produced by powder metallurgy are highly susceptible to corrosion due to their complex microstructure and intrinsic porosity due to their fabrication process. Moreover, these magnets have excellent magnetic properties and find many applications. In the nuclear area, permanent magnets based on rare earth transition-iron-boron (Ne-Fe-B) are used in the manufacture of magnetic media (magnetic levitation) for ultra-centrifuges used for isotopic enrichment of uranium employed in nuclear reactors. In dentistry these types of magnets are used to fix total and partial prostheses on implants; in orthodontics to correct dental malocclusion and make moves; in buco-maxillo-facial surgery for setting facial prostheses of large defects of the face. In electronic equipment, they are used in scales, locks, electric motors and particularly in the manufacturing of hard drives of computers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the magnet tested and surface treatments that could replace chromating that generates toxic residues and present high cost of processing waste with treatments that are environmentally friendly. The evaluation of the corrosion resistance was carried out through the analysis potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, monitoring of corrosion potential as a function of test time and scanning electron microscopy to try to correlate the magnet microstructure with its corrosion resistance. The results show that these magnets are highly susceptible to corrosion that occurs preferentially in the Nd-rich phase, located in the boundaries of the magnetic matrix phase (). Treatment with silane, cerium, sam, Cr 6+, tricationic phosphate followed by bath of chromium trioxide and in NaH2PO4 solution for 24 hours followed by bath of zinc sulphate did not improve the corrosion resistance of the magnet. Among the treatments used, immersion in NaH2PO4 solution for 24 hours pH=3.8 was the one that provided the best corrosion protection against corrosion, when compared with the other types of tested treatments.

La croûte de granitoïdes de la Terre Primitive la plus ancienne qui ait été préservée remonte au Paleoarchéen et se compose principalement de granitoïdes sodiques tonalite-trondhjémite-granodiorite (TTG) qui se sont formés par fusion partielle de métabasaltes hydratés. En revanche, les granites (stricto sensu) sont en général postérieurs aux TTG et apparaissent tardivement dans les cratons anciens.Cependant, l’existence de zircons Hadéens préservant des suites d’inclusions minérales qui sont compatibles avec la cristallisation à partir d’un magma granitique peralumineux, indique que les roches granitiques faisaient aussi partie de la croûte felsique de la Terre Primitive; même si nous n’avons pas de preuves directes et que cette dernière n’ait pas conservée. Dans cette thèse, je présente une variété inhabituelle de granites et rhyolites peralumineux qui sont marqués par un forte teneur en K2O et une faible teneur en CaO et qui possèdent du rutile. Ces roches sont situées dans le conglomérat basal du Groupe du Moodies (Afrique du Sud). Elles défient la vision commune que l’on a de l’évolution des cratons Archéens puisqu’elles ont été produites en même temps que des magmas TTG, pendant trois cycles magmatiques qui ont affectés la ceinture de roches vertes de Barberton (CRVB). Ces roches ont été par la suite mises en place, comme galets, dans un conglomérat plus jeune.L’étude des inclusions minérales localisées dans des zircons présents dans les granites et les rhyolites qui font le sujet de cette étude, montre que les inclusions de feldspaths alcalins sont plus abondantes que les inclusions de plagioclases et démontre que les principales caractéristiques de ces granites, c’est à dire qu’ils sont riches en K et pauvres en Ca, ont une signature magmatique. La signature isotopique de l’oxygène de ces zircons révèle que ceux-ci ont conservé la valeur du δ18O du magma à partir duquel les granites se sont formés. De plus ceci montre que la valeur du δ18O de la source des granites etait proche de celle de TTG contemporains. La poursuite de l’étude des zircons montre que leur système isotopique Lu-Hf reflète la signature crustale du magma dans lequel ils ont cru. L’étude Sm-Nd des granites et rhyolites indique que l’âge minimum du protolithe de leur source est de près de 3,9 milliards d’années, ce qui est en accord avec la signature Lu-Hf des zircons. De plus, je montre dans cette thèse que le caractère peralumineux des granites et des rhyolites, avec leur forte teneur en Sr et basse teneur en Ca associés à leurs Eu / Eu * ~ 1, est une conséquence de la fusion partielle de phengite dans une source métagrauwacke à des pressions supérieures a celle de la stabilité du plagioclase. Mon travail montre donc que des granites peralumineux riches en K et pauvres en Ca ont été générés durant le Paléo et Méso-Archéen, aux côtés des TTG sodiques, par la fusion partielle de sédiments, à haute pression. Non seulement ce processus a démontré la capacité de la Terre Primitive à recycler du matériel relativement jeune et ce, dès 3,9 milliards d’années; mais il a également contribué à chaque épisode de croissance crustale à travers le Paleo- et Méso-Archéen dans la CRVB, malgré l’absence de pluton mis en place à des profondeurs identiques à celles des TTG. / Earth’s oldest preserved granitoid crust dates back to the Paleoarchean and consists predominantly of sodic tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) granitoids that arose through the partial melting of hydrated metabasalts. In contrast, granites (sensu stricto) typically postdate the TTG and appear late in the plutonic record of the old cratons. However, the existence of Hadean zircons with mineral inclusion suites that are consistent with crystallization from peraluminous granitic magmas indicates that granitic rocks formed part of the earliest felsic crust; although we have direct evidence, this earliest felsic crust is not preserved. In this PhD I present an unusual variety of markedly CaO-poor, K2O-rich, rutile-bearing, peraluminous granite and rhyolite that are located in the basal conglomerate of the Moodies Group (South Africa). These rocks challenge the common view of the Archean craton evolution as they were produced concurrently with TTG magmas during three magmatic cycles in the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB) and were later emplaced, as clasts, in a younger conglomerate. The study of mineral inclusions located in the zircons present within the granites and rhyolites, shows that alkali feldspar inclusions are abundant relative to plagioclase inclusions and demonstrates that the main characteristics of these granites, i.e. they are K-rich and Ca-poor, are a magmatic signature. The oxygen isotope signature of these zircon grains reveals that the zircons have preserved the δ18O value of the magma from which the granites originated and that the source of the granites had a magmatic oxygen isotope value close to the one of the regional coeval TTG. Further study of the zircons shows that their Lu-Hf isotopic system reflects the crustal signature of the magma into which they grew. Sm-Nd study of the granites and rhyolites whole rock indicates that the minimum age of the source’s protolith of the granites and rhyolites is close to 3.9 billion years, which is in agreement with the zircons’ Lu-Hf signature. Additionally I show in this thesis that the peraluminous character of the granites and rhyolites, along with their high Sr and low Ca content associated to their Eu/ Eu* ~ 1 is a consequence of phengite melting in a metagreywacke source at pressures in excess of plagioclase stability. My work therefore illustrates that K-rich, Ca-poor peraluminous granites were generated in the Paleo and Meso Archean, alongside with the sodic TTG, through partial melting of sediments at high pressures. Not only has this process demonstrated the ability of the early Earth to recycle relatively young material since 3.9 billions years ago, but it has also contributed to each episode of continental crustal growth through the Paleoarchean to Mesoarchean in the BGB, despite leaving no plutonic record at the typical mid-crustal level of exposure that the TTG plutons around the belt represent.

Magnetos de Nd-Fe-B produzidos por metalurgia do pó são altamente susceptíveis à corrosão devido à porosidade intrínseca e à sua microestrutura complexa. Por outro lado, tais ímãs apresentam excelentes propriedades magnéticas tendo por isso várias aplicações. Na área nuclear, os ímãs permanentes à base de terras raras-metais de transição-boro (Nd-Fe-B) são utilizados na fabricação de suportes magnéticos (levitação magnética) para ultra-centrífugas utilizadas no enriquecimento isotópico do urânio natural de utilização em reatores nucleares. Em Odontologia são utilizados para fixar próteses totais e parciais sobre implantes, em Ortodontia, para corrigir maloclusões e fazer movimentações dentárias e em Cirurgia buco-maxilo-facial para fixar próteses de grandes defeitos da face. Em equipamentos eletrônicos, os magnetos são utilizados em balanças, cadeados, motores elétricos e principalmente na confecção de discos rígidos de computadores.Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de corrosão do magneto e testar tratamentos superficiais a fim de substituir principalmente os tratamentos com cromato que hoje em dia não estão sendo mais utilizados principalmente devido à sua toxicidade e altos custos dos tratamentos dos resíduos. A avaliação da resistência à corrosão foi feita através da análise de curvas de polarização potenciodinâmica, espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica, medidas de potencial de corrosão versus tempo e microscopia eletrônica de varredura a fim de associar a microestrutura ao comportamento de corrosão apresentado pelas amostras. Os resultados obtidos mostram que estes magnetos são altamente susceptíveis à corrosão e esta ocorre preferencialmente na fase rica em Nd, localizada nos contornos da fase matriz e magnética (). Tratamentos para proteção da superfície com revestimento de silano, revestimento de conversão de cério, moléculas auto-organizáveis (SAM), Cr hexavalente, fosfato tricatiônico seguido por passivação em solução de trióxido de cromo, e revestimento de fosfato obtido por imersão por 24 h em solução de NaH2PO4 (pH= 3,8) seguido de imersão em solução de sulfato de zinco não melhoraram a resistência à corrosão do magneto. Dentre os tratamentos utilizados, o de fosfatização por 24h em solução de NaH2PO4 (pH= 3,8) foi muito superior, conferindo maior proteção contra corrosão quando comparado com os outros tipos de tratamentos testados. ABSTRACT Nd-Fe-B magnets produced by powder metallurgy are highly susceptible to corrosion due to their complex microstructure and intrinsic porosity due to their fabrication process. Moreover, these magnets have excellent magnetic properties and find many applications. In the nuclear area, permanent magnets based on rare earth transition-iron-boron (Ne-Fe-B) are used in the manufacture of magnetic media (magnetic levitation) for ultra-centrifuges used for isotopic enrichment of uranium employed in nuclear reactors. In dentistry these types of magnets are used to fix total and partial prostheses on implants; in orthodontics to correct dental malocclusion and make moves; in buco-maxillo-facial surgery for setting facial prostheses of large defects of the face. In electronic equipment, they are used in scales, locks, electric motors and particularly in the manufacturing of hard drives of computers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the magnet tested and surface treatments that could replace chromating that generates toxic residues and present high cost of processing waste with treatments that are environmentally friendly. The evaluation / Nd-Fe-B magnets produced by powder metallurgy are highly susceptible to corrosion due to their complex microstructure and intrinsic porosity due to their fabrication process. Moreover, these magnets have excellent magnetic properties and find many applications. In the nuclear area, permanent magnets based on rare earth transition-iron-boron (Ne-Fe-B) are used in the manufacture of magnetic media (magnetic levitation) for ultra-centrifuges used for isotopic enrichment of uranium employed in nuclear reactors. In dentistry these types of magnets are used to fix total and partial prostheses on implants; in orthodontics to correct dental malocclusion and make moves; in buco-maxillo-facial surgery for setting facial prostheses of large defects of the face. In electronic equipment, they are used in scales, locks, electric motors and particularly in the manufacturing of hard drives of computers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the magnet tested and surface treatments that could replace chromating that generates toxic residues and present high cost of processing waste with treatments that are environmentally friendly. The evaluation of the corrosion resistance was carried out through the analysis potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, monitoring of corrosion potential as a function of test time and scanning electron microscopy to try to correlate the magnet microstructure with its corrosion resistance. The results show that these magnets are highly susceptible to corrosion that occurs preferentially in the Nd-rich phase, located in the boundaries of the magnetic matrix phase (). Treatment with silane, cerium, sam, Cr 6+, tricationic phosphate followed by bath of chromium trioxide and in NaH2PO4 solution for 24 hours followed by bath of zinc sulphate did not improve the corrosion resistance of the magnet. Among the treatments used, immersion in NaH2PO4 solution for 24 hours pH=3.8 was the one that provided the best corrosion protection against corrosion, when compared with the other types of tested treatments.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A área estudada está inserida na Faixa Ribeira, Segmento Central da Província Mantiqueira (Almeida et al., 1973, 1977, 1981), que representa um cinturão de dobramentos e empurrões gerado no Neo-proterozóico/Cambriano, durante a Orogênese Brasiliana, na borda sul/sudeste do Cráton do São Francisco (Almeida, 1971, 1977; Cordani et al., 1967, 1973; Cordani & Brito Neves, 1982; Teixeira & Figueiredo, 1991). Neste contexto, o Complexo Quirino é o embasamento retrabalhado do Terreno Paraíba do Sul (Heilbron et al., 2004). O Complexo Quirino é formado por extensos corpos de ortognaisses foliados a homogêneos, leuco a mesocráticos, de granulometria média à grossa, composicionalmente variando entre granitóides tonalíticos/granodioríticos a graníticos, e apresentando enclaves de rochas ultramáficas, máficas e cálcio-silicáticas (ricas em tremolita). Os ortognaisses tonalíticos/granodioríticos apresentam porfiroblastos de plagioclásio e a hornblenda como máfico principal, contrastando com os de composição granítica que apresentam porfiroblastos de K-feldspato e biotita predominante. Como acessórios aparecem zircão, titanita, apatita e epidoto. Também estão associados a estes ortognaisses, granitóides neoproterozóicos que formam corpos individualizados ou lentes anatéticas no conjunto paleoproterozóico. Estes são compostos predominantemente por biotita gnaisse e hornblenda-biotita gnaisse. A análise litogeoquímicas dos ortognaisses do Complexo Quirino demonstrou a existência de duas séries magmáticas distintas. A primeira pertencente à série cálcio-alcalina de alto-K apresenta uma composição mais expandida granítica-adamelítica/granodioritica/tonalítica e é correlacionável aos bt-ortognaisses e alguns hb-bt-ortognaisses. Os ortognaisses da série médio-K apresentam composição predominantemente tonalítica, sendo correlacionáveis à maioria dos hornblenda-biotita gnaisses. Enclaves lenticulares de metapiroxeníticos e anfibolíticos ocorrem em muitos afloramentos. Também ocorrem granitóides neoproterozóicos de composição graníticas a quartzo-monzoníticas O estudo isotópico de Sm-Nd e Sr demonstrou que os ortognaisses da série cálcio-alcalina de alto-K e aqueles da série cálcio-alcalina de médio-K possuem idades modelo TDM variando entre paleoproterozóicas a arqueanas, consistentes com dados U-Pb em zircão publicados na literatura. A série cálcio-alcalina de alto-K é mais antiga (2308 9,2 Ma a 2185 8 Ma) do que a série calcio-alcalina de médio-K (2169 3 a 2136 14 Ma) e a existência de zircões herdados com idades mínimas de 2846 Ma e 2981 Ma para série de médio-K e 3388 16 para série de alto-K. Os granitóides brasilianos possuem idades de cristalização neoproterozóica correlacionada a Orogênese Brasiliana (602 a 627 Ma) (Viana, 2008; Valladares et al., 2002)./Com base nos dados de Sr e Sm-Nd foi possível caracterizar 4 grupos distintos. Os grupos 1 e 2 são formados por rochas de idade paleoproterozóica (2,1 a 2,3 Ga) com idades modelo TDM variando de 2,9 e 3,4 Ga, εNd entre -8,1 e -5,8 e 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0,694707 (Grupo 1) e TDM variando de 2,5 a 2,7 Ga, εNd entre -5,8 e -3,1 e 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0,680824 (Grupo 2), formados no paleoproterozóico com contribuição de uma crosta arqueana. O grupo 3 é formado por rochas juvenis de idade paleoproterozóica, com idades de cristalização variando entre 2,0 e 2,2 Ga e com idades modelo TDM variando de 2,1 a 2,2 Ga e εNd entre + 1,5 e + 1,2. O grupo 4 é formado durante o neoproterozóico (645 Ma) por rochas possivelmente de idade paleoproterozóico com idades modelo TDM igual a 1,7 Ga e εNd igual a -8,3. / The study area is part of the Ribeira Belt, Central Segment Mantiqueira Province (Almeida et al., 1973, 1977, 1981), which represents one of fold-thrust belt in neoproterozoic/cambrian generated during the Brasiliano Orogeny, at the edge south / southeast of the São Francisco Craton (Almeida, 1971, 1977, Cordani et al., 1967, 1973, Brito Neves & Cordani, 1982, Teixeira and Figueiredo, 1991). In this context, the Quirino Complex is the reworked basement of Paraiba do Sul Terrain (Heilbron et al., 2004). Quirino Complex is formed by extensive bodies of foliated orthogneisses the homogeneous, the leuco mesocratic, average particle size of the thick, compositionally ranging from tonalitic granitoids / granodioritic to granitic, and featuring enclaves of ultramafic, mafic and calcium silicate (rich in tremolite). The tonalite orthogneiss / granodioritic present porphyroblasts of plagioclase and hornblende as mafic main, contrasting with those of granitic composition showing porphyroblasts of K-feldspar and biotite predominates. Accessories appear as zircon, titanite, apatite and epidote. Also associated with these orthogneisses, neoproterozoic granitoids that make up individual bodies or lenses in the set anatetics paleoproterozoic. These are composed predominantly of biotite gneiss and hornblende-biotite gneiss. Lithogeochemical analysis of orthogneiss from Quirino Complex suggest the existence of two distinct magmatic series. The first belongs to the high-K calc-alkaline series composition shows a more expanded granitic-adamelític/granodioritic/tonalitic and is correlated to some orthogneisses and bt-hb-bt-orthogneiss. The medium-K orthogneisses series feature predominantly tonalitic composition, and correlated to most of the hornblende-biotite gneiss. Lenses enclaves metapiroxenitics and amphibolites occur in many outcrops. Neoproterozoic granitoids also occur composition of granitic to quartz-monzonitic. The isotopic study of Sm-Nd and Sr showed that the high-K calc-alkaline series orthogneisses and those of medium-K calc-alkaline series, have TDM model ages ranging from Archean to Paleoproterozoic, consistent with U-Pb data zircon from the literature. The high-K calc-alkaline series is older (2308 9.2 Ma to 2185 8 Ma) than medium-K calc-alkaline series (2169 3 to 2136 14 Ma) and occurs the existence of zircons inherited with minimum ages of 2846 Ma and 2981 Ma for medium-K series and 3388 16 for high-K series. The brasiliano granitoids have neoproterozoic crystallization ages correlated to Brasiliano Orogeny (602-627 Ma) (Viana, 2008, Valladares et al., 2002). Based on data of Sr and Sm-Nd was possible to identify four distinct groups. Groups 1 and 2 are formed by rocks of Paleoproterozoic (2.1 to 2.3 Ga) TDM model ages ranging from 2.9 to 3.4 Ga, εNd between -8.1 and -5.8 and 87Sr / 86Sr ratios (t) = 0.694707 (Group 1) and TDM ranging from 2.5 to 2.7 Ga, εNd between -5.8 and -3.1 and 87Sr/86Sr (t) = 0.680824 (Group 2), formed with the assistance of a Paleoproterozoic Archean. The third group consists of Paleoproterozoic juvenile rocks with crystallization ages ranging between 2.0 and 2.2 Ga and TDM model ages ranging from + 2.1 to + 2.2 Ga and εNd between +1.5 and +1.2. Group 4 is formed during the Neoproterozoic (645 Ma) of rocks with Paleoproterozoic age possibly TDM model ages exceeding 1.7 Ga and εNd= -8.3.

Les compositions isotopiques en Nd, Hf, Pb et Sr des sédiments de rivière sont souvent considérées comme étant représentatives de celles de leurs roches sources. Elles sont donc largement utilisées pour tracer la provenance des sédiments ou pour moyenner les compositions isotopiques des lithologies drainées. L'influence des processus sédimentaires sur les compositions isotopiques de ces sédiments est cependant mal connue. L'objectif de l'étude présentée ici est de caractériser l'ampleur de la variabilité isotopique pouvant être générée par les processus de tri minéralogique au cours du transport des sédiments dans le milieu fluviatile. Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé les concentrations en éléments traces et les compositions isotopiques en Nd, Hf, Pb et Sr dans différents types de sédiments de rivière (bedload, suspended load, bank) échantillonnés à plusieurs endroits dans le système fluviatile du Ganges qui draine une partie de l'orogène Himalayenne. Nous avons également mesuré les compositions chimiques et isotopiques de nombreuses fractions minérales et granulométriques séparées de ces sédiments afin de mieux comprendre l'influence de chaque espèce minérale dans le budget isotopique total d'un sédiment de rivière. Dans le cas où les lithologies drainées sont essentiellement cristallines et sédimentaires, nous montrons que les isotopes du Nd dans les sédiments de rivière sont très peu affectés par les processus de tri minéralogique puisqu'ils sont toujours contrôlés par les mêmes minéraux, à savoir la monazite et l'allanite. Au contraire, les systèmes isotopiques de l'Hf, du Pb et du Sr s'avèrent particulièrement touchés par les processus de tri minéralogique. Les isotopes de l'Hf et du Pb sont tous deux affectés par un effet zircon qui génère de larges variations isotopiques entre les sédiments de fond de rivières et ceux transportés en suspension. Pour le Sr, les variations observées entre les différents types de sédiments résultent des proportions variables de micas et feldspath-K qu'ils contiennent. Dans le cas où les principales lithologies drainées présentent de forts contrastes d'érodabilité i.e. basaltes versus roches cristallines, nous montrons que les effets combinés de l'érosion différentielle dans le bassin de drainage et du tri sédimentaire dans la colonne d'eau sont responsables d'importantes variations isotopiques en Nd, Hf et Pb entre les sédiments de fond de rivière et ceux transportés en suspension. Nos calculs suggèrent que les produits d'érosion basaltique, relativement fins, sont préférentiellement transportés en suspension, proche de la surface de l'eau, alors que les produits d'érosion des roches plus cristallines sont préférentiellement concentrés dans les sédiments de fond de rivière. Enfin, nous suggérons que les variations isotopiques observées entre les différents types de sédiments transportés par les rivières sur les continents pourraient avoir d'importantes implications pour les systématiques isotopiques des sédiments océaniques terrigènes et sur l'évolution à long terme du réservoir mantellique si ces derniers sont recyclés au niveau des zones de subduction. / Nd, Hf, Pb and Sr isotopic compositions of river sediments are often considered to be representative of those of their source rocks. Thus, they are widely used to trace sediment provenance or to average the isotopic compositions of the drained lithologies. The influence of sedimentary processes on the isotopic composition of these sediments is however poorly known. The aim of the present study is to characterize the extent of the isotopic variability that can be generated by mineral sorting process during sediment transport in fluvial system. To do this, we analyzed trace element concentrations and Nd, Hf, Pb and Sr isotopic compositions in river bank, bedload and suspended load sampled at several locations in the Ganga fluvial system draining part of the Himalayan orogen. We also measured the chemical and isotopic compositions of numerous mineral and granulometric fractions separated from these sediments to better understand the contribution of each mineral species to the bulk isotopic budget of river sediments. When the drained lithologies are mainly crystalline and sedimentary, we show that Nd isotopes are very little affected by mineral sorting processes because, whatever the sediment type, those isotopes are always controlled by the same minerals i.e. monazite and allanite. In contrast, Hf, Pb and Sr isotopic systems are significantly affected by mineral sorting processes. Both Hf and Pb isotopes are affected by a zircon effect that generates large isotopic variations between bedload and suspended load. For Sr, variations between the different sediment types more likely result from variable proportions of K-feldspar and mica. When the main drained lithologies are characterized by strong differences in erodibility i.e. basalts versus crystalline rocks, we show that the combined effects of differential erosion in the drainage basin and sediment sorting in the water column are responsible for significant Nd, Pb and Hf isotopic variations between bedload and suspended load. Our calculations suggest that basaltic erosion products are preferentially transported in suspension, near the water surface, whereas the erosion products of more crystalline rocks are preferentially concentrated in bottom sediments. Finally, we suggest that the isotopic variations observed between bedload and suspended load on continents may have important implications for the isotopic systematics of oceanic terrigenous sediments and the long-term evolution of the mantle if these latters are recycled in subduction zones.