西藏札佐晚白垩世中期埃达克岩年代学、地球化学及其构造意义

为解释南冈底斯晚白垩世埃达克质岩石成因及其地球动力学机制,本文对西藏扎囊县札佐地区二长花岗岩开展了锆石U-Pb年代学、Hf同位素和全岩地球化学分析。札佐二长花岗岩锆石U-Pb定年为80.43±0.62 Ma,其SiO₂为66.19%~66.84%,Al₂O₃为15.17%~15.48%,MgO为1.67%~1.91%,Mg#为47.4~51.5,K₂O为3.86%~4.09%,A/CNK=0.91~1.01,属准铝质高钾钙碱性岩石。岩石轻稀土富集明显,高Sr（492×10^-6~670.2×10^-6）,低Y（8.27×10^-6~14.99×10^-6）,Yb（1.07×10^-6~1.79×10^-6）,高Sr/Y（35.0~81.0）,高La/Yb（17.4~21.4）,弱负Eu异常,具埃达克岩地球化学特征。相对富集大离子亲石元素（LILE）,亏损高场强元素（HFSE）和重稀土。锆石ε_Hf（t）值为10.5~14.1,单阶段Hf模式年龄（t_DM1）为184.8~326.1 Ma,平均为203.4 Ma,二阶段Hf模式年龄（t_DM2）为247.2~476.0 Ma,平均为287.1 Ma,略大于侵位年龄,指示岩浆物质来源于俯冲洋壳,并可能卷入俯冲沉积物。岩石中地幔组分印记Mg#值和相容元素Ni、Cr含量较高,表明熔体在上升过程中与上覆地幔楔发生反应。研究分析表明,在新特提斯洋洋脊俯冲作用下,高温热流透过板片窗导致洋壳（及俯冲沉积物）部分熔融形成札佐埃达克质二长花岗岩。同时表明,在80 Ma左右,新特提斯洋仍处于洋脊俯冲阶段。     

北山柳园地区中志留世埃达克质花岗岩类及其地质意义

北山柳园地区发育的埃达克质片麻状花岗闪长岩为钙碱性岩浆系列,具有较高SiO₂ (>56%),Al₂O₃ (>15%)和较低的MgO (<3%)含量,Na₂O>K₂O; 并且具有高的Sr含量(>400×10^-6)和Sr/Y比值; 样品轻重稀土强烈分异(La/Yb)_N ＝18~86,强烈亏损重稀土Yb与Y,具有不明显的Eu异常(δEu＝0.90~0.95); 富集LREE和大离子亲石元素(LILE),而亏损HREE、高场强元素(HFSE: Nb、Ta),与世界上典型的俯冲洋壳熔融形成的埃达克岩相似。然而样品具有相对高的(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_I (0.70635~0.70636)和相对低的ε_Nd(t) (-0.8~-0.9),以及锆石具有相对较低的ε_Hf (t) (-0.8~+2.7)同位素特征,比典型的俯冲洋壳熔融形成埃达克岩具有更多的放射成因,推测可能是源区加入了地壳物质/沉积物/或特殊的洋壳(OIB/E-MORB)熔融,以及侵位过程中地壳物质的混染所造成的。埃达克质片麻状黑云母花岗岩锆石LA-ICPMS年龄为424±4Ma,代表了花岗岩埃达克花岗岩的结晶年龄。花牛山岛弧带在中晚志留世时期具有较高的地热梯度,发育了大面积高ε_Nd(t)钙碱性花岗岩和区域围岩发生了高温变质作用。因此,柳园埃达克岩是由于热的洋壳向花牛山岛弧地体俯冲过程中熔融形成的,俯冲洋壳熔融是本地区早古生代大规模地壳增生的重要方式之一。     

东天山哈尔里克山区二叠纪高钾钙碱性花岗岩成因及地质意义

本文从岩石学、地球化学和同位素等方面讨论东天山克拉麦里-哈尔里克岛弧东段八大石和小铺东两个岩体的特征和成因。八大石岩体和小铺东岩体主要为二长花岗岩,SiO₂含量分别为61.92%~74.40%和69.17%~74.92%,K₂O+Na₂O的含量分别为6.50%~8.32%和7.74%~8.14%,绝大部分岩石具有高钾钙碱性花岗岩特征;∑REE分别为105×10^-6~210×10^-6和100×10^-6~172×10^-6,(La/Yb)_CN分别为4.1~8.9和9.1~15.3,配分模式右倾,δEu分别为0.40~0.93和0.59~0.80,为中-低负异常;两个岩体均富Rb、Ba等大离子亲石元素和Th、U、Hf、Zr等高场强元素,而贫Ta、Nb、Sr、Ti等。通过LA-ICP-MS分析得到八大石岩体中锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为298±2Ma,表明岩体形成于早二叠纪,计算得到八大石和小铺东岩体的模式年龄t_DM分别为944Ma和648Ma;八大石和小铺东岩体的ε_Nd(t)u分别为+3.06和+4.47,(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i分别为0.70475和0.70384,表现出高ε_Nd(t)u 低(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i。综上所述,认为哈尔里克高钾钙碱性花岗岩可能为碰撞后挤压-伸展转折阶段的产物,主要由来自新生地壳的中钾钙碱性岩浆经过结晶分异作用而成。     

内蒙古道郎呼都格地区A型花岗岩年代学、地球化学及地质意义

道郎呼都格钾长花岗岩体位于华北克拉通北缘白乃庙构造带。SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年获得139.6±1.7Ma岩体侵位年龄。岩体富硅(SiO₂=75.79%~78.07%)、富碱(K₂O+Na₂O=7.39%~8.29%)、贫钙(CaO=0.22%~0.59%);稀土配分曲线呈现"海鸥式"分布特征,显示强烈的Eu负异常(δEu =0.03~0.12);微量元素特征显示具有较高Ga(21.2×10^-6~26.6×10^-6)、Zr(173×10^-6~417×10^-6)、Nb(32.3×10^-6~42.4×10^-6)和Y(24.6×10^-6~53.9×10^-6)含量,较低的Sr(14×10^-6~44×10^-6)、Ba(18×10^-6~211×10^-6)含量,在微量元素原始地幔标准化蛛网图上显示明显的Ba、Sr、P、Eu和Ti的负异常。以上特征表明道郎呼都格钾长花岗岩为A型花岗岩,为高温低压下长英质地壳的部分熔融及其后长石、榍石等的分离结晶作用的产物。结合区域构造演化,本文认为该区钾长花岗岩形成于板内伸展背景。在晚中生代期间,华北板块北缘的构造体制经历了重要的转变,由挤压体制转变为岩石圈减薄和地壳伸展,在伸展体制下,软流圈地幔上涌对上覆长英质地壳的直接加热作用促使其部分熔融形成该区A型花岗岩。     

拉萨地块中北部晚白垩世(约90Ma)拔拉扎含矿斑岩地球化学特征及其成因

拉萨地块中北部形成于90~88Ma的拔拉扎含矿斑岩具有明显的埃达克质岩特征:高SiO₂(>69%)、Al₂O₃(平均为15.89%)、Sr (平均为354×10^-6),低Y(平均为12.97×10^-6)、Yb(平均为0.95×10^-6)含量,轻重稀土强烈分异((La/Yb)_N平均为19.8);同时它们有着高Mg^#(平均为65)、Cr(平均为107×10^-6)、Ni(平均为13×10^-6)含量。研究区这些具有埃达克质岩特征的含矿斑岩并非源于俯冲洋壳、底侵或加厚下地壳部分熔融的产物,也不是玄武质岩浆结晶分异的产物,而很可能是拆沉下地壳部分熔融的结果。另一方面,南向俯冲的Slainajap洋壳或班公湖-怒江洋壳的断离也可能诱发板片窗上部的壳幔物质发生部分熔融而形成研究区的含矿斑岩。     

西秦岭印支期高Sr/Y花岗岩类的成因及动力学背景——以同仁地区舍哈力吉岩体为例

西秦岭印支期花岗岩类分布十分广泛,形成时代集中于248~234Ma和224~211Ma两个阶段.其中,夏河岩体(248~238Ma)和温泉岩体(223~216Ma)的部分样品被厘定为埃达克岩(Sr>400×10^-6,Yb<2×10^-6),指示陆壳厚度大于50km.本文对西秦岭同仁地区舍哈力吉岩体进行了锆石U-Pb定年、岩石学、地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素研究.舍哈力吉岩体主要由石英二长岩组成,同时含有许多暗色镁铁质微粒包体(MME).寄主岩中发育少量的钾长石巨晶,并且部分巨晶具有环斑结构.舍哈力吉石英二长岩化学成分比较均一,而且也显示出类似埃达克岩的一些地球化学特点,如富SiO₂(66.07%~67.52%)和Al₂O₃(14.85%~15.95%),高Sr(560×10^-6~692×10^-6),低Y(11.4×10^-6~12.9×10^-6)和Yb(0.99×10^-6~1.09×10^-6),并具有较高的(La/Yb)_N比值(27.8~34.3)和微弱的负Eu异常(δEu=0.77~0.95).锆石U-Pb测年结果为234.1±0.5Ma,表明其形成于印支早期.岩石为偏铝质、高钾钙碱性系列且K₂O/Na₂O>1,高Mg^#(59~60)、Cr(69.1×10^-6~81.2×10^-6)和Ni(31.6×10^-6~36.1×10^-6),以富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、Th、U)而相对亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ti、P)为特征,(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i=0.7075~0.7077,ε_Nd(t)=-6.3~-6.1,亏损地幔模式年龄为1.25~1.33Ga.舍哈力吉石英二长岩起源于石榴角闪岩相古老下地壳的部分熔融,之后经历了壳幔岩浆混合作用和以斜长石为主的分离结晶作用.寄主岩的环斑结构和相对一致的地球化学特征,很可能是高温幔源熔体对壳源富钾高黏度岩浆改造所导致的晶粥快速再活化的结果.西秦岭在印支早期可能并未经历显著的地壳加厚过程.西秦岭印支早期花岗岩类形成于活动大陆边缘局部伸展环境,可能与古特提斯洋壳俯冲极性的改变有关.     

湘东北地区连云山花岗岩的成因及地球动力学暗示

江南古陆是华南地区一个重要的花岗岩和金及金多金属矿床集中区。位于该区中段的连云山晚中生代花岗岩具有高的SiO₂ (69.41%~75.14%)和Al₂O₃ (13.61%~17.46%)、相对偏低的铁镁质 (0.92%~3.14%)以及变化范围较大的Na₂O (2.04%~3.83%)、K₂O (1.94%~4.94%)和CaO (0.82%~3.24%)等氧化物含量;在微量元素和稀土元素组成上,Y (5.2×10^-6~18.0×10^-6)和Yb (大多数在0.29×10^-6~0.70×10^-6)丰度普遍偏低、而Sr/Y (多数在55与82之间)和(La/Yb)_N (大多数在31与111之间)比值较高,且普遍表现LREE强烈富集的REE配分特征。结合Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i=0.71008~0.73852)-Nd (ε_Nd(t)=-9.95~-12.37)-Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb _i=17.972~19.959)同位素组成,以及野外地质和岩相学特征,连云山岩体为典型的强过铝质花岗岩,并显示埃达克质岩地球化学亲和性,是玄武质岩浆底侵作用下由加厚的下地壳部分熔融产生的岩浆经同化混染和分异结晶而形成,其源岩可能主要为变杂砂岩、长英质片麻岩和变英云闪长岩。结合区域构造演化,我们推测晚中生代连云山花岗岩是三叠纪时期华北板块和扬子板块碰撞导致地壳加厚及随后的太平洋板块向华南大陆俯冲导致华南大陆伸展、减薄的联合作用构造背景下,主要由古元古代连云山群(?)物质部分融熔而产生。连云山花岗岩的成因及地球动力学背景的研究将有助于深刻揭示湘东北地区金和金多金属矿产形成的地球动力学机制。     

大兴安岭北端洛古河东花岗岩的地球化学、SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄和岩石成因

大兴安岭北端漠河县洛古河东岩体主要岩石类型为二长花岗斑岩、正长花岗斑岩和石英二长斑岩,内部可见闪长质微粒包体,属高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩。花岗岩的元素地球化学和锆石SHRIMP铀-铅年代学研究结果表明,洛古河东岩体形成于早白垩世,其花岗斑岩体的锆石SHRIMP铀-铅年龄为129.8±2.2Ma。花岗岩的SiO₂含量介于68.03%~74.32%之间,Al₂O₃含量介于13.06%~14.55%之间,Na₂O/ K₂O介于0.45~0.86之间,铝饱和指数为0.94~1.11,Mg^#指数介于18~42之间且多小于30。稀土元素总量为160.00×10^-6 ~ 235.15×10^-6,δEu介于0.31~0.52,(La/Yb)_N介于8.99~17.87,为轻稀土富集型。岩体Sr含量低,介于118×10^-6 ~ 268×10^-6之间,而Y含量高,介于16.9×10^-6~ 26.1×10^-6之间,Sr/Y比值低,介于5.62~13.81之间,属低锶高钇型岩石。在原始地幔标准化的微量元素蛛网图中,Rb、Th、U、K、Zr、Hf和轻稀土元素（如La、Ce、Nd和Sm等）富集,Ba、Sr、P和Ti等元素强烈亏损,Nb和Ta具有中等-弱亏损。主量、稀土和微量元素特征表明,岩石具后碰撞花岗岩类的地球化学特征,属后碰撞花岗岩。岩体ε_Nd (t)值介于-3.45~-2.64,平均-3.01;亏损地幔Nd模式年龄介于969~1131Ma之间,平均1018Ma;锶初始比值 (I_Sr)介于0.702486~0.707269之间,平均0.705434;钾长石²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb、²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb和²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb比值变化范围分别为18.5939~18.6721、15.6019~15.6058和38.4058~38.5249,平均值分别为18.6426、15.6035和38.4613;岩体中的钾长石氧同位素组成很低,δ¹⁸O (‰)值介于-8.1 ~ 4.1之间,多为负值,表明洛古河东岩体为低¹⁸O花岗岩。Nd、Sr、Pb和O同位素组成显示洛古河东岩体形成于含有较多幔源成分的源区物质的部分熔融作用,推测源区主要为Rodinia超大陆会聚过程中（中元古代—新元古代之交）形成的初生地壳。由于古亚洲洋和蒙古-鄂霍茨克洋分别于古生代末期和二叠纪—中侏罗世闭合,因此大兴安岭北端早白垩世花岗岩应该形成于中朝-蒙古大陆与西伯利亚大陆碰撞造山过程的后碰撞阶段。     

大别造山带研子岗碱性岩体成因及其构造意义：锆石U-Pb年龄和地球化学制约

出露于大别造山带西南部的研子岗碱性杂岩体侵位于元古代和新太古代随县群中,本文采用锆石LA-ICPMS U-Pb定年方法,获得岩体的主体岩性角闪正长岩的岩浆锆石年龄为133± 1Ma,代表岩体的结晶年龄,这一年龄也是大别造山带中已知形成时代最早的早白垩世碱性岩体的结晶年龄（单颗粒锆石U-Pb法）。研子岗碱性杂岩体具有碱性岩典型的富碱（K₂O＋Na₂O＝8.38%~11.26%）、低硅（SiO₂＝63.41%~66.51%）的特点。主要矿物为微斜条纹长石,暗色矿物主要为镁角闪石。地球化学特征表明,全部岩石均具有高Ba-Sr花岗岩类高Ba（1230× 10^-6~4865× 10^-6）、高Sr（583× 10^-6~2088× 10^-6）和无负Eu异常（Eu/Eu^*＝0.97~1.12）等特征,并具有A型花岗岩的部分地球化学特征。岩石的Y/Nb比（0.46~1.09）较低,具洋岛玄武岩的部分地球化学特征,(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i初始比值（0.70513~0.70543）较低,表明岩体的物源主要来源于幔源。Nd二阶段模式年龄(t_2DM=1859~1942Ma)和锆石Hf二阶段模式年龄(t_DM2=2130~2330Ma）较老,ε_Nd(133)值(-12.5~-11.4）和ε_Hf(133)值(-18.2~-15.4）较低。综合分析表明,岩体主要为古老的富集岩石圈地幔物质低程度部分熔融和随后地壳物质轻度AFC（混染和分离结晶作用）过程的产物,源岩熔融的热量主要来源于软流圈物质的上涌底侵作用提供。研子岗岩体形成于碰撞后构造环境,岩体的形成预示着大别造山带早白垩世造山过程的即将结束,板内时期的即将来临。     

安徽牯牛降A型花岗岩的年代学、地球化学和构造意义

皖南地区牯牛降岩体位于扬子板块东南缘,江南隆起带内。本文报道了牯牛降花岗岩体新的锆石U-Pb年龄和地球化学数据,并对岩体成因及其构造意义进行了探讨。锆石原位LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年表明牯牛降岩体的形成年龄为130.1±1.3Ma (95% confidence, MSWD=0.55)。结合己发表的其他高质量锆石U-Pb同位素年龄数据表明皖南地区花岗岩的形成年龄主要集中在125~130Ma。牯牛降花岗岩为高钾钙碱性、准铝质岩石,SiO₂ 含量为72.21%~74.85%,具有高K₂O含量(>5.11%)、高铁值(FeO^T/(FeO^T+MgO)>0.91)和K₂O/Na₂O比值(>1.61),低MgO和CaO含量的特征。微量元素地球化学性质上表现为强烈亏损Ba、Sr、Eu(Eu^*/Eu=0.29~0.30),富集REE(>419×10^-6)、Rb、Th 和U,较高的高场强元素Zr、Nb、Y和Ga含量。主量和微量元素均表现为A型花岗岩的特征。非常低的Mg^#值(0.14~0.16)和较低Cr含量(Cr=10×10^-6),高Yb(7.08×10^-6~9.02×10^-6)、Y(78.7×10^-6~90.8×10^-6)含量和较高的Th/U比值(5.17~7.79)说明古老地壳物质的部分熔融可能是牯牛降岩体主要形成机制。牯牛降A2型花岗岩特征代表了拉张的碰撞后构造环境。     

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。     

The Importance of the Precipitation and the Susceptibility of the Slopes for the Triggering of Landslides Along the Roads

In order to characterise the influence of the heavyrains on the observed landslides during the 1996–1997hydrological cycle, rainfall records for the last 100years are analysed from 104 stations in easternAndalusia. Regarding the amounts of rain recordedbetween October 1996 and March 1997 in the 104stations studied, 31 presented new all-time records;15 presented values that were 80–100% of thepre-1995 record; 49 stations, 80–50%; and 9stations, < 50%. A map has been devised of thesusceptibility of the materials through which thesouth-eastern Andalusian road network crosses,together with an inventory of the damage caused byinstability phenomena on banks and cuttings of theroad network during the winter of 1996–1997. Therelationships between the rainfall during the studyperiod, the damage caused to the road network and thesusceptibility of the materials affected are analysed.The results indicate that there is a clearcorrespondence between the rainfall recorded and thesusceptibility of the materials with the inventorieddamage. It is concluded that the widespread seriousdamage caused in early 1997 to the roads andsurrounding areas in the Alpujarra region and thecoast of the Province of Granada was mainly caused bythe extraordinarily heavy rains. However, considerablyless damage was observed where the susceptibility ofthe terrain is low, thus highlighting the extremeusefulness of terrain-susceptibility maps for riskprevention and territorial planning.     

郯庐断裂南段研究进展与断裂性质讨论

据1：5万区域地质调查和专题研究资料，就郯庐断裂带是否南延与消失的原因，其与大别—苏鲁造山带交截形成的假位错效应，以及与中新生代沉积盆地形成演化的关系等作了新的阐述。在此基础上，讨论了郯庐断裂带是否为巨大的左行平移断层或转换断层。认为郯庐断裂带可能是在“古郯庐带”的基础上于早侏罗世重新活动、白垩纪强烈活动的地堑型枢纽断裂带。     

塘口水电站坝基岩体透水性和渗漏问题分析

塘口水电站大坝基础座落在断层和裂隙较发育的龟裂纹灰岩上,岩体完整性差、透水性强,多年运行后,大坝灌浆廊道和排水廊道出现多处集中性漏水,为确保大坝安全和电站正常发电,根据渗漏性质和成因,采用对灌浆廊道补充帷幕灌浆,对排水廊道进行固结+帷幕+回填灌浆。通过灌浆处理后,效果良好,表明灌浆工程有效的将导致坝基渗漏的上下游的裂隙通道封闭,并顺利的经受了随后的汛期洪水考验,大坝安全得到保障。     

Unity of the national and the international in the socio-cultural development of the peoples of the USSR

International unity is becoming ever stronger in this country owing to an increasing similarity in the development of the cultural environment. This comprises the provision of all the country's republics with a sufficient number of schools, theatres, and other institutions and cultural information media in accordance with the needs of the population. An important part is played by the rise in ‘the general educational level, as well as the level of professional qualifications and skills. Among all the Soviet nations and nationalities, this rise being more rapid among formerly backward peoples. Prominent among the factors of internationalization is the progressive development of the nationalities’ cultural resources, while professional culture is being increasingly brought within the reach of the masses.The implementation of the nationalities policy promotes the all-round development of all Soviet nations and nationalities, their drawing together, the upsurge of the individual capabilities of every Soviet citizen.     

Calculation of the Inverse of the Covariance

In reservoir characterization, the covariance is often used to describe the spatial correlation and variation in rock properties or the uncertainty in rock properties. The inverse of the covariance, on the other hand, is seldom discussed in geostatistics. In this paper, I show that the inverse is required for simulation and estimation of Gaussian random fields, and that it can be identified with the differential operator in regularized inverse theory. Unfortunately, because the covariance matrix for parameters in reservoir models can be extremely large, calculation of the inverse can be a problem. In this paper, I discuss four methods of calculating the inverse of the covariance, two of which are analytical, and two of which are purely numerical. By taking advantage of the assumed stationarity of the covariance, none of the methods require inversion of the full covariance matrix.     

某高速公路下伏煤矿采空区稳定性分析

在论述某高速公路下伏砦脖煤矿采空区地质、采矿和工程地质特征的基础上, 进行了稳定性数值模拟分析, 定性与定量地分析与评价了该煤矿采空区的地表变形特征及稳定性。研究结果表明: 该煤矿采空区的变形尚未完成, 对拟建的高速公路将产生很大的危害, 必须采取相应的工程治理措施。      

Report of the restudy of the defined global stratotype of the base of the Silurian System

The Global Stratotype Section and Point （GSSP） for the base of the Silurian System was defined in 1985. Since that time, a number of researchers have suggested that this section has serious deficiencies for use as a GSSP. As a result, in 2000, the Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy （SSS） proposed undertaking a formal restu@ of this GSSP, which was subsequently approved by the International Commission of Stratigraphy （ICS）. The result of this restudy was the formal proposal that the current GSSP, at 1.6 m above the base of the Birkhill Shale, at Dob＇s Linn, Scotland, should be maintained as the same locality and stratigraphic level, but the bios- tratigraphical definition of the boundary should be revised. The previously defined, basal Silurian grapto- lite zone, the Parakidograptus acuminatus Zone, should be subdivided into a lower Akidograptus ascensus Zone and a higher E acuminatus Zone. The base of the A. ascensus Zone, marked by the first appearance of A. ascensus, should be regarded as the biostratigraphic mark for the base of the Silurian. This proposal has now been formally approved by the SSS and ICS, and ratified by International Union of Geological Sciences. This is the first GSSP to undergo formal restudy and redefini- tion, and the proposal also included a recommended procedure for restudy of GSSPs.     

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″.     

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.