内蒙古中部达来地区晚侏罗世A型花岗岩:地球化学特征、岩石成因与地质意义

A型花岗岩的成因研究是揭示重要壳幔相互作用和伸展型地球动力学过程的重要窗口。离子探针锆石U-Pb测年指示内蒙古中部达来地区的达来庙钾长花岗岩岩株大约于晚侏罗世(160.1±1.8Ma)侵位。岩体Si O2含量介于69.8%~73.9%,富碱铁,贫钙镁;富集大离子亲石元素和Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等高场强元素,发育明显的Eu负异常(Eu/Eu*=0.20~0.68)。这指示达来庙花岗岩具有A型花岗岩的元素地球化学特征。同时岩石具有低全岩Sri(87Sr/86Sri=0.70504~0.70523),低正全岩εNd(t)(+2.1~+2.3)以及高正的锆石εHf(t)(+7.0~+11.5)和高锆石δ18O(6.7‰~7.7‰)等同位素特征。元素同位素地球化学示踪指示达来庙花岗岩可能源于新增生中基性地壳物质的部分熔融及其后的结晶分异作用。一方面,达来庙花岗岩和蒙古-华北北部地块分散分布的其他A型花岗岩共同见证了有别于早白垩世大规模上地壳伸展的中晚侏罗世弥散状中下地壳伸展行为;另一方面,蒙古-华北北部地块晚中生代两段式的地壳伸展轨迹记录了蒙古-鄂霍茨克构造域造山后的重力垮塌过程。     

甘肃大佛寺、金佛寺花岗岩体的锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf-O同位素和全岩地球化学特征及地质意义

走廊过渡带大佛寺花岗岩为弱过铝质(A/CNK=1.03~1.06),SiO_2(76.7%~78.9%)、全碱(Na2O+K2O=7.7%~8.3%)、Rb(303×10~(-6)~383×10~(-6))、Nb(32×10~(-6)~42×10~(-6))、重稀土(Yb~8×10~(-6))含量以及和FeOT/MgO(6.3~7.6)、Ga/Al(3×10-4)、Rb/Ba(3.0~6.2)比值较高,MgO(~0.1%)、CaO(0.5%~0.6%)含量较低,Ba、Sr、Eu、Ti强烈亏损,属A型花岗岩,其源岩可能为泥质岩。大佛寺花岗岩中锆石δ18O和εHf(t)值分别为7.8‰~8.6‰(平均8.24±0.13‰)和-4.8~-2.0,Hf同位素两阶段亏损地幔模式年龄1540~1717Ma,岩浆温度达到~820℃以上。北祁连造山带北缘金佛寺花岗岩为过铝质(A/CNK=1.0~1.1),SiO_2(65.5%~75.0%)、MgO(0.6%~2.2%)、Fe2O3(1.9%~5.2%)、TiO_2(0.3%~0.8%)含量变化较大,其主量和微量元素特征与北祁连造山带的柴达诺花岗岩相似,源岩可能包括杂砂岩和角闪岩。金佛寺花岗岩的锆石δ18O为7.4%~9.7‰(平均8.03±0.36‰),εHf(t)在-0.5~+1.9之间,Hf同位素两阶段亏损地幔模式年龄为1289~1439Ma,岩浆温度达到800~900℃。走廊过渡带大佛寺花岗岩、北祁连造山带北缘金佛寺花岗岩的锆石U-Pb SIMS年龄分别为426.1±2.8Ma、424.0±1.6Ma,不同构造单元发育同时期岩浆活动以及A型花岗岩的出现,表明在~425Ma北祁连洋盆已经闭合,北祁连造山带及邻区进入到后碰撞拉伸阶段。     

西藏冈底斯带东段早侏罗世英云闪长岩的岩浆起源及其对拉萨地体地壳演化的意义

西藏冈底斯岩浆岩带除了大范围分布的晚白垩世以来的花岗岩类以外,还发育少量晚三叠世—侏罗纪花岗岩,目前关于其岩石成因还存在很多争议。为了进一步认识冈底斯早侏罗世花岗岩的岩浆起源,本文选择代表性的加查县香木村英云闪长岩开展了岩相学、岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素研究。所研究的英云闪长岩主要由斜长石、石英、黑云母和少量的角闪石组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果表明其结晶年龄为184±4Ma。锆石εHf(t)值均为正值,变化范围为7.9~10.3。在全岩地球化学组成上,英云闪长岩为中钾钙碱性、准铝质,并具有埃达克质岩石特征:高SiO2、Al2O3、Na2O/K2O(1)和Sr/Y(35.5~106),低Y(4.46×10-6~12.9×10-6)和Yb(0.51×10-6~1.39×10-6),富集Rb、Ba、K、Pb等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素。在稀土元素配分图中呈现轻稀土元素富集、中稀土亏损的右倾"凹"型的式样,无明显Eu异常。岩石地球化学和锆石Hf同位素特征表明其岩浆可能起源于下地壳基性物质的部分熔融,残留相主要为角闪石、石榴子石,无斜长石。综合前人资料,冈底斯晚三叠世—早侏罗世花岗岩的锆石Hf同位素具有由西向东、由南向北逐渐富集的规律,反映古老地壳组分的贡献逐渐增多,这暗示了南冈底斯带东部也可能存在古老的地壳基底。     

华北克拉通南缘A型花岗岩的年代学和Nd-Hf同位素组成:对古元古代晚期伸展事件的制约

河南上店和登封古元古代晚期A型花岗岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学和Nd-Hf同位素研究为讨论华北克拉通南缘中部古元古代晚期构造演化提供了依据。结果表明,上店花岗斑岩和登封正长花岗岩中锆石发育振荡生长环带,结合高的Th/U比值(0.36~1.64),表明其为岩浆成因,岩浆锆石的207Pb/206Pb加权平均年龄分别为1801Ma、1801Ma和1795Ma,即它们形成于古元古代晚期;上店花岗斑岩具有高SiO_2(70.30%~71.83%)、富碱(K2O+Na2O=8.76%~11.01%)、贫Ca O(0.18%~0.36%)、P2O5(0.12%~0.15%)和MgO(0.02%~0.20%)的特征,富集LILEs(Cs、Rb、Ba和K)、贫HFSEs(Nb、Ta、Zr和Hf)和强烈亏损Sr、P、Ti元素,具有负的Eu异常(δEu=0.44~0.59),结合高的FeOT/(FeOT+MgO)比值(0.94~1.00)和10000×Ga/Al比值(2.70~3.74),暗示其为A型花岗岩,具造山后A2型花岗岩特征;上店花岗斑岩的全岩εNd(t)值变化于-8.94~-6.87之间,tDM2=3243~3049Ma,锆石εHf(t)值介于-14.1~-6.5之间,tDM2=3030~2655Ma;登封正长花岗岩的锆石εHf(t)值介于-11.3~-8.4之间,tDM2=2887~2744Ma。上述结果暗示,上店和登封A型花岗岩均来源于幔源岩浆底侵作用下的中-新太古代基底物质的部分熔融,形成于华北克拉通东部和西部陆块碰撞造山后的伸展环境。     

安徽张八岭隆起南段中生代岩浆作用:岩石成因和构造指示意义

郯庐断裂带南段的张八岭隆起区广泛发育燕山期岩浆岩。其岩石类型以花岗岩、花岗闪长岩、二长岩、闪长岩、花岗闪长岩和石英二长岩为主。包括主要分布在张八岭隆起北段的高镁埃达克岩和南段肥东地区的低镁埃达克岩。本研究选取肥东地区竹园张岩体做研究对象,发现竹园张岩体沿郯庐主断裂带侵位,岩性为闪长岩。通过锆石LA-ICPMS精确定年得到竹园张岩体的年龄为128.2 Ma±2.3 Ma(1个样品),这一年龄与张八岭地区晚中生代燕山期岩浆作用的峰期一致,属于白垩世早期产物。竹园张岩体为中性侵入体,2个样品测定其SiO_2质量分数为57.99%~61.27%,富K(w(K_2O)2.72%~3.35%,属于高钾钙碱性准铝质系列,并具有与埃达克质岩类似的地球化学特征,无明显的Eu异常(Eu/Eu~*=0.95~1.06),富集w(Ba)(1 745×10~(-6)~2 100×10~(-6)),w(U)(1.21×10~(-6)~1.18×10~(-6)),w(K)(3 536×10~(-6)~4 614×10~(-6))等大离子亲石元素,亏损w(Nb)(7.9×10~(-6)~8.9×10~(-6)),w(Ta)(0.4×10~(-6)~0.6×10~(-6)),w(Ti)等高场强元素,A/CNK值小于1,属于准铝质I型花岗岩。竹园张岩体的~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr(t)初始比值为(0.706 1~0.706 2),ε_(Nd)(t)为(-16.66~-19.38)。综合地球化学研究表明,竹园张埃达克质岩石不是由年轻的洋壳部分熔融或同化混染分离结晶(AFC)或岩浆混合形成的,较低的ε_(Nd)(t)、较低的放射性成因Pb(~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb_i=16.495~16.514)进一步岩石成因可能是拆沉下地壳的部分熔融,并可能经历了一定程度的分离结晶作用,岩浆侵位过程中没有明显的中、上地壳混染。     

大兴安岭北部新林石英二长岩-花岗岩的地球化学特征及其成因

对额尔古纳地块东南部新林镇附近的侵入岩进行了锆石U-Pb年龄测定、Lu-Hf同位素和岩石地球化学研究。结果表明,岩体形成于141.1~123.8 Ma,是早白垩世岩浆活动的产物。新林石英二长岩-花岗岩高硅较富铝贫镁,属于准铝质、高钾钙碱性系列;具有中等-弱负Eu异常(δEu=0.53~0.72),轻重稀土分异比较明显[(La/Yb)_N=12.42~25.38];相对富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、U和LREE,高场强元素Ti、Nb、Ta、P和HREE表现出亏损。新林石英二长岩-花岗岩具有高Sr、低Yb及低Y的特征,且相对富K,属于C型埃达克岩,形成于加厚下地壳的部分熔融。Lu-Hf同位素研究显示其ε_(Hf)(t)为2.1~6.2,二阶段模式年龄(T_(DM2))为1025~786 Ma,认为其岩浆源区为新元古代增生的地壳物质。     

宝鸡花岗岩体锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学和Hf同位素组成

宝鸡花岗岩体出露于商丹缝合带北部,是秦岭构造带中规模较大的复式深成岩体之一,呈不规则岩基产出。该花岗岩体具有多期次侵位的特征,前人对其岩石地球化学特征及其成因研究相对薄弱,其形成时代存在不同认识。因此,进一步的岩石学、地球化学、年代学和同位素组成研究可以为理解秦岭造山带中生代造山过程和岩浆作用提供基础科学依据。岩石学和地球化学特征表明,宝鸡花岗岩体主体为石英二长岩、二长花岗岩和钾长花岗岩,属亚碱性系列、高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩。其Si O2质量分数为63%~73%,富Al2O3(13.3%~15.6%),相对富K2O,K2O/Na2O比值多数大于1,铝饱和指数(A/CNK)为0.87~1.10,属于准铝质—弱过铝质系列。轻重稀土元素分馏,但程度相对弱,富集大离子亲石元素(如:Rb、Ba、Th、U),亏损高场强元素(如:Nb、Ta、Zr、P、Ti),部分岩石具有高Sr/Y比值,弱Eu负异常。中重稀土元素分馏现象不强烈,且中稀土元素亏损,可能暗示源区没有石榴石残留,而有角闪石残留相。不同类型的花岗岩具有相似的微量、稀土元素组成,暗示相似的源区和或构造环境。本文分析了具有代表性的14个岩石样品的锆石U-Pb年龄。锆石多呈柱状或短柱状,内部振荡环带清晰,Th/U比均大于0.1,具有负Eu异常和正Ce异常,是典型的岩浆成因。锆石U-Pb年龄变化范围较大,195~217 Ma,而且晚期酸性脉体U-Pb年龄~170 Ma。4个样品的锆石Hf同位素分析结果显示,不同期次和不同岩性样品具有不同的Hf同位素组成特征。石英二长岩(217 Ma)初始εHf值为-3.6~+1.1,Hf模式年龄~1.5~1.2 Ga;二长花岗岩(212Ma)初始εHf值为-1.3~+4.4,Hf模式年龄~1.3~1.0 Ga;二长闪长岩(213 Ma)初始εHf值为-15.1~-9.3,Hf模式年龄~2.2~1.8 Ga;晚期钾长花岗岩(196 Ma)初始εHf值变化范围较大,为-18.8~-5.0,Hf模式年龄~2.4~1.6 Ga;表明岩浆源区组成较复杂,具有古老的地壳物质和地幔或新生地壳物质参与。结合同位素年代学和地球化学特征,宝鸡花岗岩复式岩体可能由三期岩浆侵位构成,第一期为石英二长岩,岩浆源区以中、晚元古代壳源岩石为主,有部分幔源组分或新生地壳物质的贡献;第二期为二长花岗岩,原岩以新生地壳或幔源物质为主;第三期钾长花岗岩岩浆源区可能为更古老的地壳物质。     

新疆西天山呼斯特杂岩体岩石学、锆石U-Pb年龄及Hf同位素特征

呼斯特岩体是新疆西天山博罗科努岛弧带上的一个与矽卡岩成矿有关的复式杂岩体,由二长花岗岩、花岗闪长岩、正长花岗岩、花岗细晶岩、闪长玢岩、辉长岩和中基性包体等组成。本文对该岩体不同岩相岩石开展了岩石学、锆石LAICP-MS U-Pb同位素定年和Hf同位素研究,探讨岩石成因及构造意义。锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,正长花岗岩、闪长玢岩、花岗闪长岩和二长花岗岩加权平均年龄分别为380.2±4.6Ma、372.8±5.9Ma、367.7±4.5Ma和366.2±4.5Ma,岩体侵位时代为晚泥盆世,在大约15Myr期间,至少发生了3~4次岩浆侵入。在地球化学组成上,除辉长岩外,岩体为准铝质-弱过铝质、高钾钙碱性-低钾(拉斑)系列的I型花岗岩,轻重稀土分馏明显,具Eu负异常;富集Th、U,亏损Ba、P和高场强元素(如Nb、Ta、Zr、Ti),为晚古生代北天山洋向南俯冲于伊犁地块背景下岩浆活动的产物。二长花岗岩锆石Hf同位素组成较为均一,εHf(t)值为1.3~3.0,二阶段Hf模式年龄为1171~1280Ma,远大于成岩年龄,说明原始岩浆从地幔分异后经历了较长时间的地壳滞留。研究认为,高钾中酸性岩(花岗岩、闪长玢岩和中基性包体)由元古代新生基性下地壳部分熔融而成,伴有受俯冲沉积物熔体交代的幔源岩浆混合。低钾花岗闪长岩高Sr、低Y和Yb,属O型埃达克岩,与同源的辉长岩一起由俯冲的大洋板片部分熔融形成,源岩为低钾的拉斑玄武岩。     

内蒙古东乌旗巴彦都兰二长花岗岩年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

为了解晚古生代西伯利亚板块南缘增生造山过程中的岩浆活动特征,对东乌旗巴彦都兰二长花岗岩岩相学、锆石U-Pb年代学、锆石Hf同位素和岩石地球化学进行了研究,并讨论了岩石成因和构造环境。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果为(277.2±0.7)Ma,以正的锆石εHf(t)(6.8~14.1)为特征,具有年轻的锆石地壳模式年龄(tcDM)(865~655 Ma),属于早二叠世晚期岩浆活动产物。二长花岗岩以高钾[w(K)=3.63%~4.95%,K2O/Na2O=0.91~1.47]、富碱[w(K2O+Na2O)=7.52%~9.16%]、准铝质-弱过铝质(A/CNK=0.96~1.15)为特征;稀土元素总量较低(38.82×10-6~193.20×10-6),(La/Yb)N为3.91~23.08,轻、重稀土元素分异较明显,呈弱负铕异常(δEu为0.34~1.17);富集部分大离子亲石元素(LREE、Rb、K等);Zr弱负异常、Hf弱正异常,亏损Sr、Nb、Ta、P、Ti,显示后造山花岗岩特征。综合分析表明,巴彦都兰二长花岗岩形成于伸展的构造环境中,是贺根山洋盆闭合后的后造山阶段产物,为865~655 Ma前洋壳俯冲形成的先成地壳部分熔融而成。     

松潘造山带马尔康强过铝质花岗岩的成因及其构造意义

松潘造山带广泛出露印支期后碰撞型花岗岩类, 其中包括埃达克质花岗岩类、A型花岗岩和I型花岗岩, 但目前人们对该区印支期强过铝质花岗岩尚未有深入的研究.松潘造山带马尔康花岗岩属于强过铝质花岗岩(A/CNK=1.10~1.20), 其岩石类型主要为中粒二云母花岗岩和中细粒二云母花岗岩.利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年方法, 获得中粒二云母花岗岩的岩浆结晶年龄为208±2Ma, 中细粒二云母花岗岩的岩浆结晶年龄为200±2Ma.马尔康强过铝质花岗岩K₂O/Na₂O=1.13~1.75, 富Rb、Th和U, 贫Sr、Ba、Co和Ni等元素; 稀土元素组成上显示存在强到中等的负Eu异常(Eu/Eu*=0.15~0.65);全岩初始87Sr/86Sr比值(ISr) 为0.70712~0.71137, εNd (t) =-10.36~-8.43, 锆石εHf (t) =-11.8~-1.1.地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成一致表明, 它们的岩浆来自于地壳物质的部分熔融, 其中中粒二云母花岗岩的源岩类型主要为地壳中的泥质岩类, 而中细粒二云母花岗岩的源岩主要为地壳中的杂砂岩类.结合松潘带的地质背景、区域构造-岩浆事件及其岩浆岩的组合分析, 印支期岩石圈拆沉作用可以用来解释马尔康强过铝质花岗岩的形成机制.在松潘带, 印支期岩石圈拆沉作用导致软流圈物质上涌, 这不仅促使了加厚下地壳物质发生部分熔融, 如松潘带印支期埃达克质和I型花岗岩浆的形成, 而且还诱发了中地壳物质的部分熔融, 如马尔康强过铝质花岗岩的形成.这表明松潘带印支期岩石圈拆沉作用已使地壳不同层次发生部分熔融作用.      

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.