On the consistency of proposed models for the Pyrenees with the structure of the eastern parts of the belt

The structure of the eastern Pyrenees consists mainly of south-directed thrusts involving basement and cover rocks. An antiformal stack developed by the piling up of basement thrust sheets which outcrop in the Axial zone. These structures account for a thin-skinned thrust model rather than a vertical fault model in which the Axial zone would be essentially autochthonous, and the North-Pyrenean fault the axial plane of a fan thrust system. New data from the Eastern Pyrenees and the thin-skinned model suggest that(1) the structure east of the Pedraforca nappe is similar to that of the Central Pyrenees; (2) the cover rocks of the South-Pyrenean units and of the Axial zone-after restoration—built up a northwards-thickening prism consistent with the existence of a unique Pyrenean sedimentary basin during Mesozoic time; (3) the Axial zone is only a complex antiformal stack developed as a part of South-Pyrenean system related to the Paleogene thrusting-tectonics. The Axial zone palaeogeographic area had no special meaning during Mesozoic time.     

The Tendencies of the Development of the Mineral-Resources Sector at the Turn of the Century

Important tendencies in development of the world mineral-resources sector at the beginning of the 21st century were an increase in production and consumption of mineral materials differentiated by types of metals and nonmetallic mineral raw materials, by countries and regions, as well as the concentration of the production of mineral raw materials in a small number of countries, and a reduction in industrial reserves of minerals in the world economy, even at the current stage of their extraction. These tendencies should be taken into account in working out a strategy for development of the Russian mineral raw-material base.     

Deviation of the major axis of the inertia ellipsoid of the Moon from the direction toward the Earth

It is known from observations that the center of mass of the Moon does not coincide with the geometric center of its figure, and the line connecting these two centers is not aligned with the direction toward the center of the Earth, instead deviating toward the Southeast. This stationary deviation of the axis of the inertia ellipsoid of the Moon to the South of the direction toward the Earth is analyzed. A system of five linear differential equations describing the physical libration of the Moon in latitude is considered, and these equations are derived using a new vector method taking into account perturbations from the Earth and partly from the Sun. The characteristic equation of this system is obtained, and all five oscillation frequencies are found. Special attention is paid to the fifth (zero) frequency, for which the solution of the latitude libration equations are stationary and represents a previously unknown additional motion of the rotational axis of theMoon in a cone with a small opening angle. In contrast to the astronomical precession of the Earth, the rotation of the angular-velocity vector is in the positive direction (counter-clockwise), with the period T ₃ = 27.32 days. On this basis, this phenomenon has been named “quasi-precession.” This quasi-precession leads to a stationary inclination of the major axis of the inertia ellipsoid of theMoon to the South (for an observer on Earth), making it possible to explain one component of the observed deviation of the center of mass of the Moon from the direction toward the Earth. The opening angle of the quasiprecession cone is approximately 0.834″.     

On the reconstruction of the surface structure of the spotted stars

We have developed and tested a light-curve inversion technique for photometric mapping of spotted stars. The surface of a spotted star is partitioned into small area elements, over which a search is carried out for the intensity distribution providing the best agreement between the observed and model light curves within a specified uncertainty. We have tested mapping techniques based on the use of both a single light curve and several light curves obtained in different photometric bands. Surface reconstruction artifacts due to the ill-posed nature of the problem have been identified.     

Peculiarities of the Formation of the Interference Structure of Scalar-Vector Acoustic Fields on the Shelf of the Sea of Japan

The results of experimental study of the spatial structure of the scalar-vector acoustic field formed during towing of a tone low-frequency emitter over the shelf of the Sea of Japan are discussed. The experiment was accomplished by towing the source of a tone signal with a frequency of 134 Hz at a depth of 20 m over various acoustic tracks at distances up to 10 km from an integrated receiving system consisting of a receiver of acoustic pressure and three orthogonal components of the acoustic pressure gradient. Special attention has been focused on study of the interference structure of the scalar and vector fields with provision of the technical reliability of the method and the results of the experiment under controlled hydrological conditions. We discuss the quantitative characteristics and peculiarities of the interference formation along tracks that differ in depth. The unique results of comparing the horizontal and vertical components of the fields are most interesting of all. They allowed us to reveal the existence of eddy structures in the acoustic field of the source over several tracks. We analyze the possibility of practical application of the results of our research.

     

Development of the peoples of the north during the Soviet epoch

The author examines in her article the destinies of over a score of small peoples of the North inhabiting the northern outlying regions of the USSR who have, during the Soviet period, traversed a path of rapid progress in their economy and culture. Data from the two most recent censuses (1959 and 1970) are adduced to show the numbers of these peoples.     

Geodynamics of the Riphean stage in the evolution of the northern passive margin of the East European Craton

The nearly parallel northwest-trending Onega-Kandalaksha, Kerets-Leshukonsky, and Barents paleorift zones located in the northeastern part of the East European Platform are interpreted as a common structural assemblage that was formed in the Middle-Late Riphean as a result of horizontal extension of the continental margin. Therefore, it is reasonable to combine these paleorift structural features into the common White Sea Rift System instead of subdividing them into two or more systems as done previously. The White Sea Rift System originated owing to the breakup of the ancient Paleopangea supercontinent 1300–1240 Ma ago. The latter event occurred as a result of the divergence of the Baltia and Laurentia continental plates that most probably was caused by mantle spreading within the hot equatorial belt of the Earth. The diffuse rifting of that time occurred in the form of near-parallel rifts developing progressively from the inner part of the continental plate toward its margin. A pericratonic sedimentary basin eventually formed at the passive margin of Baltia as a system of roughly parallel rift zones. The geologic and geophysical data show that the passive margin of the East European Platform formed in the Riphean, a phenomenon that corresponds with a model of large-scale extension of the lithosphere after the stage of early ocean-floor spreading. In the course of this process, the brittle upper crust was detached from the ductile lower crust. The geodynamic regime of the Riphean passive margin of the East European Platform probably was similar to the regime of the present-day Atlantic-type passive margins. The White Sea Rift System differs from the transverse Mid-Russian Paleorift System both in origin and age. The Mid-Russian Paleorift System is considered to have formed in the Late Riphean as a result of transtension along a mobile zone in the ancient basement. The lithosphere of northeastern Fennoscandia has experienced horizontal extension since the Middle Riphean, a phenomenon that is closely related to the evolution of the White Sea Rift System, i.e., to the formation of the passive margin of the Baltia continent.     

Estimation of the heat-impact potential for stimulating the development of the deposits of the Bazhenov Formation according to the results of experimental studies

The influence of temperature on rock samples of the Bazhenov Formation is shown. The samples underwent pyrolysis at 300–480°C, as well as in closed autoclaves in the presence of water under formation pressure. The temperature impact at 400°C resulted in a decrease in the S2 pyrolytic peak by 90–95% and almost complete formation of the generation potential of the rocks. Microtomographic studies of samples combined with raster electron microscopy revealed a correlation between the variable reservoir properties of the rocks. At 350°C, the rocks are characterized by a system of fractures; as a result of impacts, the porosity and permeability can increase from several to several tens of times. Our results will allow more precise modeling of the influence of tertiary processes on the rocks of the Bazhenov Formation in order to increase the final oil recovery of the bed.     

Processes of the development of the molecular world at early stages of its formation: Evidence from the investigation of the behavior of the vibrational entropy of molecules

We analyzed the possibility of explaining empirical relations in the evolution of the molecular world on the basis of fundamental physical laws and theories of the behavior of the entropy of a system. Quantitative expressions were evaluated describing the entropy of internal motion of atoms in a molecular ensemble (vibrational entropy), which is a term of total entropy with a clear physical meaning. It was shown that vibrational entropy is controlled primarily by the structure of the compound rather than the number and identity of atoms in the molecule. During the early stages of evolution, the appearance of acyclic structures is more advantageous than that of cyclic structures. An increase in the complexity of the molecular world inevitably leads to the appearance of molecules with a complex skeleton formed mainly by bonds of the same elasticity as C–C. The necessity of helical structures, whose spatial elasticity is provided by hydrogen bonds, was explained.     

A reassessment of the status of the benthic macrofauna of the Raritan estuary

The benthic macrofauna of the Raritan estuary, at the mouth of New York Harbor, has been reported to be severely impacted by pollution, with a significant change occurring between surveys in the late 1950’s and the early 1970’s. We review this assessment using five-fold more macrofaunal data (including biomass), not reported or used before, from a 1973–1974 survey. These data are compared to previous and similar studies in the area. This reassessment suggests benthic community structure is not as degraded as previously reported and is, in many ways, similar to other relatively unpolluted middle Atlanic estuaries.     

GIS技术在生态环境地质评价中的应用

针对生态环境地质调查与评价的特点,建立了应用GIS技术进行生态环境地质评价的基本思路和技术流程,提出了相关图形-属性数据库建立的要点,阐述了生态环境地质评价的基本步骤,并对有关指标体系的选取、分析评价模型等做了重点分析。     

Evolution of the oceanic sulfur cycle at the end of the Paleoproterozoic

Here, we present new measurements of ³²S, ³³S, ³⁴S, and ³⁶S in sedimentary sulfides and couple these measurements with modeling treatments to study the sulfur cycle of a late Paleoproterozoic marine basin. We target the transition in ocean chemistry from the deposition of Paleoproterozoic iron formations (Gunflint Formation, Biwabik Formation, Trommald Formation, and Mahnomen iron formations) to the inferred sulfidic ocean conditions recorded by overlying shale (Rove Formation). The data suggest that certain features of the global sulfur cycle, such as a control by sulfate reducing prokaryotes, and low (mM) concentrations of oceanic sulfate, were maintained across this transition. This suggests that the transition was associated with changes in the structure of the basin-scale sulfur cycle during deposition of these sediments. Sulfide data from the iron formations are interpreted to reflect sedimentary sulfides formed from microbial reduction of pore-water sulfate that was supplied through steady-state exchange with an overlying oceanic sulfate reservoir. The sulfide data for the euxinic Rove Formation shales reflect the operation of a sulfur cycle that included the loss of sulfide by a Rayleigh-like process. We suggest that the prevalence of large and variable heavy isotope enrichments observed in Rove Formation sulfide minerals reflect a sustained and significant net loss of sulfide from the euxinic water column, either as a result of a shallow chemocline and degassing to the atmosphere or as a result of a water column pyrite sink. The inclusion of ³⁶S measurements (in addition to ³²S, ³³S, and ³⁴S) illustrates the mass-dependent character of these sedimentary environments, ruling out contributions from the weathering of Archean sulfides and pointing to at least modest levels of sustained atmospheric oxygen (>10⁻⁵ present atmospheric levels of O₂).     

东濮凹陷北部沙河街组三段中亚段沉积环境分析

东濮凹陷北部沙三中亚段广泛发育盐岩和烃源岩,这两个看似不能共存的物质却在这里互层共生。该时期研究区沉积特征为多盐韵律与多层烃源岩互层共生、连续沉积,单个盐韵律厚度从几米到十几米,烃源岩有机质丰度高、类型好。平面上,两者在湖盆沉积沉降中心共生;垂向上,高有机质丰度、好干酪根类型与高盐度地层具有较好的对应关系。因而成为恢复古气候和古环境的重要研究对象。通过岩石学、古生物学以及Sr/Ba、B/Ga、(V+Ni+Mn)、Fe/Mn、Sr/Cu、Mg/Ca、V/(V+Ni)、稀土元素含量和氯同位素等方法对凹陷北部沙三中亚段的沉积环境进行研究。结果表明,凹陷北部沙三中亚段为深水沉积的还原环境,古盐度较高,达到半咸水-咸水沉积;微量元素和孢粉化石特征表明研究区沙三中亚段为温暖潮湿的环境。     

A reappraisal of the structure of the Spanish segment of the Iberian Pyrite Belt

The major structural features of the Iberian Pyrite Belt are described in terms of geometry, deformation mechanisms, scale, timing, kinematics and the mutual relationships among the various architectural elements. The result of such an analysis allows this zone to be considered as a S-verging, thin-skinned, fold and thrust belt propagating southwards over a mid-crustal basal detachment. This was the response in the footwall of the suture to the major phase of Hercynian oblique collision between the South Portuguese Plate and the Ossa-Morena Zone of the Iberian Autochthon. This thin-skinned event inverted a previous extensional structure acquired during the initial stages of the collisional process and intimately linked to the formation of the ore deposits that make this region a world-class metallogenic province.     

基于岩相的鄂尔多斯白垩系盆地含水层系统的结构研究

依据岩性岩相研究、孔隙度研究、物探测井解译等成果,对鄂尔多斯白垩系盆地含水层系统的结构进行了划分与研究。结果表明：盆地北部沙漠高原区为单一结构,表现为强富水与中等富水含水层在垂向上叠置与组合,无区域性连续稳定的隔水层,由下到上构成含水统一体;南部黄土高原区为多层结构,表现为含水层与隔水层上下叠置,垂向水文地质分层明显;盆地南、北含水层结构的结构类型明显不同。利用孔隙度、渗透系数、单位涌水量3个参数,对含水层的富水性级别进行了划分,盆地中共划分出7个强富水含水层、7个中等富水含水层和2个弱富水含水层。盆地南、北比较,北部含水层孔隙度大,富水性强,地下水主要富集于盆地北部地区。垂向上比较,盆地北部由上到下,孔隙度由大变小,富水性由强变弱,地下水主要富集于浅层和中层;南部上部罗汉洞组和下部洛河组孔隙度较大,富水性好,中部环河组相对较差,地下水主要富集于罗汉洞组和洛河组。     

柴达木盆地北缘东段托莫尔日特似蛇绿岩岩石组合特征

出露于柴达木盆地北缘加里东裂谷带东段托莫尔日特地区的一套酷似蛇绿岩的岩石组合 ,其地质、地球化学特征显示它们并不具备洋壳性质 ,而应为形成于陆壳内的 ,即没有洋壳出现的陆缘裂谷环境下的一种似蛇绿岩组合。提出了与蛇绿岩不同的动力学形成模式 ,所讨论的似蛇绿岩可能是并无洋壳出现的陆缘裂谷的较典型代表。     

A new generation of the tectonic-geodynamic model of the earth: Review of the problem

Presented are the review and analysis of a series of works of Russian scientists devoted to the motion of continents and to global tectonics and geodynamics. The increasing number of publications on this subject is accounted for by controversy and imperfection of some theoretical aspects of plate tectonics. This is especially true of processes in deep mantle geospheres. The analysis performed shows that a transition to creating tectonogeodynamic models of a new generation has already started. Important components of the models are the development of the problem of a detached continent drift, primarily, mechanisms of this motion. The publications under consideration provide insight into several such mechanisms: the effect of the tidal forces of the Moon and Sun, which induce discrete wave motion in all mantle geospheres down to the core; the difference in density of oceanic and continental masses; the continental drift over the mantle as a result of cohesion; and the tectonic flow, which implies a structure-forming motion of both minor (at the microlevel) and major rock masses in the Earth’s crust and mantle. The globalization of tectonic and geodynamic models has already allowed the advance of such a timely problem as the history of the geologic evolution of deep geospheres.     

A model for the emplacement of the eastern compartment of the bushveld complex

The stratigraphy and geological position of the eastern compartment of the Bushveld Complex are described. A mechanical model for the initiation and growth of the eastern compartment of the Bushveld intrusion has been developed using thin elastic plate theory, assuming linked conical magma chambers. It is shown that the contribution to the pressure at the base of a cell by the restitutional force exerted by the roof of Rooiberg felsites is 10⁴ times as great as that of the layers of host in the cone. Both are minimal compared to the lithostatic pressure exerted by the magma pile. Roof deformation is therefore seen to be a more important process than sagging of the floor during intrusion—a feature which probably occurred during cooling, solidification and isostatic readjustment of the area.A stratigraphie model is proposed in which the intrusion of basic rocks into the Transvaal sequence is discussed in the light of continuous basin subsidence. Early submarine sedimentation in an irregularly-floored basin some 620 km in diameter situated on the Archaean craton gave rise to a 7.7 km thick sedimentary pile, to which was added some 7 km of subaerial basalts and felsites. Depression of the floor of the basin into the regime of maximum horizontal compression induced favourable conditions for the intrusion of a total of 2.5 km of diabase sills which further assisted the subsidence. The 9 km thick Bushveld Complex was intruded into the basal sections at points along a 010° trend in a regime characterised by shear failure. Early magma influxes gave rise to a laminated marginal zone forming a shallow cone, with associated sill activity, whilst continued later influxes filled the conical cell, transgressed the floor and uparched the roof. Partial melting in the regions beneath the Complex, exacerbated by continued crustal depression, gave rise to the late Bushveld granites.     

Additional evidence of existence of ancient rocks in the mid-Atlantic ridge and the age of the opening of the Atlantic

A metabasalt dredged at a junction of the median valley with the Atlantis fracture zone (30°01/tN, 42°04/tW) in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge shows complete recrystallization under a metasomatic condition, though the original igneous texture of a coarse-grained basalt is still recognizable. There is strong circumstantial evidence suggesting that this rock is not an ice-rafted erratic, but an authentic Mid-Atlantic Ridge rock. The ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age of this sample is 169 m.y. (Jurassic) which should represent the time of recrystallization. The initial value (^87Sr/86Sr)_O is 0.720, far above the values previously observed in oceanfloor basalts, including both tholeiitic and alkalic rocks (0.701–0.704). Sr with such a high isotopic ratio is considered to have been introduced by metasomatism during metamorphism by a solution coming from a continental mass or masses which were then located very close to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The ⁴⁰Ar−³⁹Ar age of sample AM50 may approximate the time of the commencement of the opening of the Atlantic. All these data support the possible existence of ancient rock masses in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, as was formerly claimed by Bonatti, Melson and others.     

Modeling the subglacial hydrology of the James Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet

To investigate the drainage conditions that might be expected to develop beneath soft-bedded ice sheets, we modeled the subglacial hydrology of the James Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet from Hudson Bay to the Missouri River. Simulations suggest the James Lobe had little effect on regional groundwater flow because the poorly conductive Upper-Cretaceous shale that occupies the upper layer of the bedrock would have functioned as a regional aquitard. This implies that general northward groundwater flow out of the Williston Basin has likely persisted throughout the Quaternary. Moreover, the simulations indicate that the regional aquifer system could not have drained even the minimum amount of basal meltwater that might have been produced from at the glacier bed. Therefore, excess drainage must have occurred by some sort of channelized drainage network at the ice–till interface. Using a regional groundwater model to determine the hydraulic conductivity for an equivalent porous medium in a 1-m thick zone between the ice and underlying sediment, and assuming conduit dimensions from previous theoretical work, we use a theoretical karst aquifer analog as a heuristic approach to estimate the spacing of subglacial conduits that would have been required at the ice–till interface to evacuate the minimum water flux. Results suggest that for conduits assumed to be on the order of a tenth of a meter deep and up to a meter wide, inter-conduit spacing must be on the order of tens–hundreds of meters apart to maintain basal water pressures below the ice overburden pressure while evacuating the hypothesized minimum meltwater flux.