藏南吉隆地区大喜马拉雅结晶杂岩的新生代变质作用和构造意义

大喜马拉雅结晶杂岩位于喜马拉雅造山带的核部,其变质作用的研究是揭示碰撞造山作用和动力学的关键。本文对喜马拉雅造山带中部吉隆地区的大喜马拉雅结晶杂岩中的片麻岩和片岩进行了岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学的研究,表明这些高级变质岩经历了高角闪岩相的变质作用和部分熔融,以及近等温降压的退变质过程。片麻岩和片岩的峰期变质矿物组合为斜长石+钾长石+黑云母+白云母+石英±石榴子石±钛铁矿和石榴子石+蓝晶石+斜长石+黑云母+白云母+钛铁矿+石英,晚期退变质矿物组合为斜长石+钾长石+黑云母+白云母+夕线石+石英±石榴子石和石榴子石+夕线石+斜长石+黑云母+白云母+钛铁矿+石英。相平衡模拟研究表明,岩石的峰期变质条件为685~755℃和9.5~12kbar,退变质作用条件为675~685℃和6~7.4kbar。锆石U-Pb年代学表明,高级变质岩的部分熔融时间为38~16Ma,熔体结晶时间为17~15Ma。本次研究表明,大喜马拉雅结晶杂岩中、上部并没有普遍经历高压麻粒岩相变质作用,部分地区包括吉隆地区经历的是高角闪岩相变质作用。此外,本文在吉隆地区高级变质的大喜马拉雅结晶杂岩中识别出较低级变质的特提斯喜马拉雅岩系单元。结合已发表的藏南拆离断裂的主要活动时间,本文认为构造楔模型更适用于研究区喜马拉雅造山过程的解释。     

南阿尔金尤努斯萨依花岗质高压麻粒岩的发现及其地质意义

南阿尔金尤努斯萨依地区首次发现一套高压麻粒岩相特征矿物组合的含蓝晶石石榴子石的花岗质片麻岩,其矿物组合为Grt+Ky+Per(+Ksp)+Ru+Q。依据矿物内部一致性热力学数据,基于THERMOCALC 3. 40程序平台,计算出P-T视剖面图,并结合矿物等值线、矿物组合稳定域及三元长石温度计等,确定其早期变质温压条件为T=970～1010℃,P=23. 2～25. 3kbar,达到了榴辉岩相变质条件。同时,根据岩相学观察获得的矿物共生组合与矿物变质显微结构以及P-T视剖面图,可识别出该岩石在早期变质之后还经历了以矿物组合Grt+Ky+Per(+Ksp)+Pl+Ru+Q为代表的麻粒岩相、以及Grt+Ky+Ksp+Pl+Bi+Ru+Ilm+Q为代表的麻粒岩-高角闪岩相和以Ky+Ksp+Pl+Q+Bi+Mu+Ru+Ilm为代表的角闪岩相三期退变质作用,它们共同构成了一个顺时针型降温降压的退变质P-T演化轨迹,指示出与大陆俯冲-深俯冲相关的高压变质事件和俯冲碰撞后的折返事件。利用LA-ICP-MS进行的锆石原位微区U-Pb定年和微量元素分析表明,该高压岩石峰期变质年龄497. 8±2. 7Ma,与南阿尔金地区已发现的高压-超高压岩石的峰期变质时代完全一致,表明它们应属同一变质岩带;其原岩形成时代为900. 2±4. 1Ma,与南阿尔金已报道的正变质的高压-超高压岩石原岩的形成时代基本一致,指示它们可能具有相同的原岩属性。这套花岗质高压麻粒岩的确定为进一步约束南阿尔金早古生代高压-超高压变质岩带的时空分布规律提供了新的限定。     

阿尔金淡水泉早古生代泥质高压麻粒岩及其P-T演化轨迹

南阿尔金构造带淡水泉一带出露的含石榴石蓝晶石黑云母片麻岩是一套典型的泥质高压麻粒岩,其峰期特征矿物组合为石榴子石+蓝晶石+钾长石+金红石+石英.根据矿物内部一致性热力学数据和Thermocalc 3.23程序计算,确定其峰期变质温压条件为T>850℃和P>11kbar.结合岩相学研究和P-T视剖面图计算,可识别出该岩石经历了4个阶段的变质演化,构成了一个早期快速等温降压,后期近等压降温的顺时针型的退变质P-T演化轨迹,为与陆壳俯冲碰撞有关的高压变质事件的产物.该岩石锆石阴极发光图像显示其内部具有明显的核.边结构,核部为残留的原岩碎屑锆石,边部则表现为面状或扇状生长的变质锆石的特征.微区原位LA-ICP-MS微量元素分析表明,核部测点的重稀土含量较高,对应Th/U接近于0.4,具有岩浆锆石的特征;边部测点的重稀土相对亏损,重稀土配分曲线平坦,对应Th/U比值均小于0.1,显示与石榴子石平衡共生的变质锆石特征.LA-ICP-MS微区定年获得其变质年龄为486±5Ma,该年龄值与阿尔金江尕勒萨依和英格利萨依两地超高压变质岩石的变质年龄相近,进一步证明沿阿尔金构造带南缘断续存在一条早古生代的高压-超高压变质岩带.另外,本次研究在获得该泥质高压麻粒岩峰期变质时代的同时,还获得该岩石原岩的形成时代上限值约为719Ma,从而限定阿尔金构造带南缘阿尔金群的形成时代可能不属古元古代,而应属新元古代.     

浙西南八都杂岩早中生代泥质麻粒岩变质作用及构造意义

遂昌-大柘泥质麻粒岩出露于华夏地块东北部的浙西南八都杂岩中,该岩石保留了典型的减压反应结构.但其变质演化特点、变质作用时代及构造意义目前尚不明确.通过系统的岩相学、矿物化学和同位素年代学分析,结果表明遂昌-大柘泥质麻粒岩记录了4个阶段的变质矿物组合,其中早期进变质阶段M₁的矿物组合为石榴石+黑云母+石英;压力峰期变质阶段M₂的矿物组合为石榴石+铝绿泥石+金红石+蓝晶石+刚玉+黑云母+石英±十字石,该矿物组合可能预示着岩石曾经历了超高压变质作用过程;峰期变质阶段M₃的矿物组合为石榴石+黑云母+夕线石+石英±钾长石±斜长石±钛铁矿;峰后近等温降压M_4-1阶段的矿物组合为石榴石+黑云母+夕线石+堇青石+石英+钛铁矿±尖晶石±斜长石±钾长石;M_4-2阶段的矿物组合为石榴石+堇青石+夕线石+斜长石+黑云母+石英±钾长石.相平衡模拟结合传统地质温压计限定其峰期变质阶段的温压条件为T=780~810 ℃、P=8.0~9.2 kbar;峰期后近等温降压的M_4-1阶段的温压条件为T=780~860 ℃和P=5.7~6.0 kbar,M_4-2阶段的温压条件为T=~700 ℃和P=~4.4 kbar,具有典型的顺时针近等温减压型P-T轨迹特征.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果表明其麻粒岩相变质作用时代为233.5~238.9 Ma.变质作用历史说明浙西南地体可能卷入了古特提斯洋域内印支-华南-华北板块之间的俯冲-碰撞过程,并经历了早中生代的麻粒岩相变质作用后快速折返至地表.      

东喜马拉雅构造结石榴角闪岩变质作用P-T-t轨迹:相平衡模拟与锆石年代学

东喜马拉雅构造结南迦巴瓦杂岩由多种类型的高级变质岩组成,包括片岩、片麻岩、大理岩、石榴角闪岩和基性麻粒岩。石榴角闪岩呈透镜状产出在片麻岩中,可见不连续分布的规模不等的浅色体。石榴角闪岩由石榴石、角闪石、黑云母、斜长石、石英、金红石、钛铁矿和榍石组成,石榴石变斑晶可见由浅色矿物组成的"白眼圈"。岩相学、矿物化学和相平衡模拟表明石榴角闪岩经历了一条顺时针型的P-T演化轨迹,可划分为两个阶段:(Ⅰ)升温升压的进变质阶段,由石榴石和斜长石斑晶记录,峰期矿物组合为石榴石+角闪石+黑云母+斜长石+石英+金红石+钛铁矿。运用石榴石变斑晶边部和斜长石变斑晶边部成分在视剖面图上的投点确定出峰期温压条件为~11.5kbar、790℃,达到了高压麻粒岩相条件,并经历了部分熔融,产生至少9%的熔体;(Ⅱ)降温降压的退变质阶段,由石榴石边部"白眼圈"冠状体记录。运用平均温压法计算冠状体中黑云母+斜长石+角闪石+石榴石组合的形成温压条件为~7kbar、~750℃。该阶段金红石消失,熔体结晶,并与早期矿物发生回反应。在石榴石角闪岩的锆石中获得了从29.2Ma到10.2Ma的连续变质年龄。由于锆石通常在熔体结晶过程中生长,因此确定该组年龄代表石榴石角闪岩退变质年龄。本文和以前的研究结果表明,南迦巴瓦杂岩中的高温和中温麻粒岩相亚单元具有相似的降温降压P-T轨迹,但高温单元具有较高的变质压力条件,表明其俯冲到了更大的深度。     

柴北缘欧龙布鲁克地块中元古代晚期麻粒岩相变质作用——来自石榴夕线堇青石片麻岩的岩石学、相平衡模拟和U-Pb年代学的制约

在欧龙布鲁克地块乌兰北部地区察汗河岩群中识别出麻粒岩相石榴夕线堇青石片麻岩,其矿物组合为石榴子石、夕线石、堇青石、黑云母、斜长石、钛铁矿和少量钾长石等。岩相学观察显示,M1阶段矿物组合有斜长石±钾长石+石榴子石+夕线石+石英,M2阶段矿物组合有斜长石±钾长石+石榴子石+夕线石+石英+钛铁矿+黑云母,M3阶段矿物组合有堇青石+黑云母+钛铁矿+石英+石榴子石+斜长石±钾长石。相平衡模拟计算结果显示,该岩石的峰期温压条件为p=0.92～1.08 GPa,峰期温度t>790℃,峰期之后经历升温降压的p-T演化轨迹。锆石和独居石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究获得的变质年龄分别为1 133±14 Ma和1 125±37 Ma, 1 133～1 125 Ma应代表了该期麻粒岩相变质作用的时代。结合区域地质资料和已有的研究成果,我们认为乌兰北部察汗河岩群的石榴夕线堇青石片麻岩可能形成于大洋俯冲作用下的弧或弧后构造环境,乌兰北部的岩浆-变质杂岩带经历了从中元古代晚期-新元古代早期俯冲增生到碰撞造山的演化过程,是全球Rodinia超大陆汇聚过程的响应。     

东南极拉斯曼丘陵夕线石榴二长片麻岩的格林威尔期变质作用和构造意义

东南极拉斯曼丘陵出露的中-高级变质岩是普里兹湾基底岩系的主要组成部分,是研究普里兹湾高级区组成与演化的理想对象。本文对拉斯曼丘陵米洛半岛地区的夕线石榴二长片麻岩进行了岩石学、相平衡模拟和地质年代学研究。研究结果表明拉斯曼丘陵夕线石榴二长片麻岩矿物组合为石榴子石+堇青石+斜长石+钛铁矿+夕线石+石英±黑云母±钾长石,经历了格林威尔期(～980Ma)高温变质,其峰期阶段(M1)的矿物组合为石榴子石+斜长石+钾长石+钛铁矿+夕线石+石英,变质温压条件为:～820℃、～9. 6kbar。夕线石榴二长片麻岩的岩浆锆石比变质锆石具有更低的LREE和更高的HREE含量,其原岩的沉积年龄不早于～1073Ma,物源主要为中元古代岩浆岩(S-型花岗岩)。拉斯曼丘陵在格林威尔期经历了陆-陆碰撞,进而快速折返、剥蚀作用的过程。     

苏鲁构造杂岩带乳山地区（石榴）斜长角闪岩P-T演化轨迹及其地质意义——来自岩石学、矿物化学及相平衡模拟的约束

大量来自于华北陆块的高压变质岩被发现发育于苏鲁构造杂岩带中,给俯冲带上盘物质如何卷入陆-陆俯冲碰撞作用的研究带来新的契机.通过对乳山地区（含榴）斜长角闪岩进行岩石学、矿物化学及相平衡模拟的研究,发现其保留有3个不同变质演化阶段的矿物组合,峰前矿物组合为粗粒石榴子石+斜长石+角闪石+石英+钛铁矿;峰期矿物组合由石榴子石+单斜辉石+斜长石+角闪石+石英+钛铁矿组成,为典型高角闪岩相矿物组合;峰后退变质阶段矿物组合为角闪石+斜长石+石英+石榴子石+钛铁矿,发育有典型的“白眼圈”结构.相平衡模拟与温压计算表明,乳山午极石榴斜长角闪岩峰前变质阶段的P-T条件分别为P=6.4~7.0 kbar、T=610~640℃,表明其俯冲至30 km左右的地壳深度;峰期变质阶段P-T条件分别为P=9.3~10.0 kbar、T=700~730℃,表明其已俯冲至36~40 km的地壳深度,峰后退变质阶段P-T条件分别为P=5.2~5.8 kbar、T=680~710℃.锆石U-Pb定年结果表明乳山午极石榴斜长角闪岩原岩时代为1 734±24 Ma,龙角山水库斜长角闪岩变质时代为1 849±28 Ma,研究表明二者均来源于华北构造岩片.结合前人研究资料,推测乳山地区石榴斜长角闪岩原岩可能经历三叠纪俯冲作用并发生变质;其与杂岩带中来自华南的构造岩片发生混杂,共同构成华北-华南板块间宽约80~100 km的构造杂岩带.      

华南云开高州紫苏花岗岩及其两类石榴石的成因：岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学证据

云开地块早古生代的构造背景至今仍存有争论。对云炉-龙修一带出露的含石榴石紫苏花岗岩进行研究可为该区构造-变质演化提供重要制约。详细的岩相学研究表明紫苏花岗岩中存在两种成因的石榴石(石榴石Ⅰ和石榴石Ⅱ),并识别出该岩石保留了三阶段演化的矿物组合(M_1-M_3)。峰期前矿物组合(M_1)由紫苏辉石变斑晶中的包裹体矿物石榴石+黑云母+斜长石+钛铁矿+石英组成。峰期变质-深熔矿物组合(M_2)由基质中平衡共生的斑晶矿物石榴石Ⅰ+紫苏辉石+黑云母+石英+斜长石+钛铁矿构成。退变质矿物组合(M_3)以紫苏辉石和黑云母以及钛铁矿边部降温生成石榴石Ⅱ+石英冠状体("红眼圈")和黑云母+石英后成合晶为特征。传统地质温压计、平均温压法及在NCKFMASHTO模式体系下的相平衡模拟结果表明,紫苏花岗岩峰期前矿物组合形成条件为720℃/70kbar(M1),峰期变质-深熔结晶条件为835～810℃/65～58kbar(M_2),退变质条件为740℃/56kbar(M_3)。岩相观察和P-T计算结果表明紫苏花岗岩的形成可能反映了一条顺时针的P-T轨迹,且以峰期前略微减压并伴随明显的升温和峰期后具有近等压冷却(IBC)过程为特征。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学结果显示锆石核部加权平均年龄为～431Ma,锆石边部加权平均年龄为～243Ma。我们认为峰期深熔作用和岩浆结晶石榴石Ⅰ的形成可能发生于早古生代(加里东期),而晚期退变质作用和变质重结晶石榴石Ⅱ的形成可能发生在早中生代(印支期)。本研究也表明云开地区含石榴石紫苏花岗岩的形成与早古生代扬子和华夏陆块碰撞后抬升过程有紧密联系,并遭受了早中生代印支期构造热事件的明显叠加。     

喂子坪秦岭杂岩麻粒岩相变沉积岩的变质作用p-T演化及其构造意义

秦岭杂岩位于秦岭造山带北秦岭构造带,是研究秦岭造山带早古生代构造演化的重要岩石构造单元。喂子坪地区发育有典型的秦岭杂岩,其中的混合岩是由变沉积岩经历了强烈的深熔作用形成的。本研究对其进行了岩相学、变质相平衡模拟和LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学研究,以深入揭示它们的变质温压演化特征,进而阐明它们指示的构造意义。混合岩的中色体由含石榴子石角闪黑云斜长片麻岩和含石榴子石黑云角闪斜长片麻岩组成。含石榴子石角闪黑云斜长片麻岩只记录了峰期变质矿物组合,为镁铁闪石+石榴子石+斜长石+石英+黑云母+钛铁矿+熔体,而含石榴子石黑云角闪斜长片麻岩记录了3个变质演化阶段,分别是早期进变质阶段（M1）：黑云母+斜长石+石英; 峰期变质阶段（M2）：镁铁闪石+石榴子石+斜长石+石英+黑云母+钛铁矿+熔体; 退变质阶段（M3）：普通角闪石+斜长石+黑云母+石英+熔体。全岩成分视剖面图模拟计算显示含石榴子石角闪黑云斜长片麻岩和含石榴子石黑云角闪斜长片麻岩压力峰期的变质温压条件分别为790~810℃/990~1 040 MPa和840~862℃/1 000~1 190 MPa。含石榴子石黑云角闪斜长片麻岩3组局部矿物组合域成分视剖面图模拟计算得到压力峰期后变质阶段的温压条件为735~814℃/400~810 MPa、721~794℃/430~700 MPa、740~810℃/470~780 MPa。因此,本研究揭示了喂子坪地区秦岭杂岩片麻岩记录了近等温降压的p-T轨迹。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年得到含石榴子石角闪黑云斜长片麻岩和2个浅色体样品中的变质锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄分别为383.2±7.0 Ma、400±3.6 Ma和406.7±7.8 Ma。结合已发表的数据,喂子坪地区变沉积岩麻粒岩相峰期变质作用和强烈的混合岩化作用的时代约为410~390 Ma,而约380 Ma的年龄可能代表退变质冷却到固相线的时代。片麻岩近等温降压的变质演化轨迹指示喂子坪地区秦岭杂岩的变沉积岩在下地壳经历了麻粒岩相变质作用和随后的快速抬升,与碰撞造山引起的地壳增厚和随后的地壳伸展有关。     

Breakage assessment through cluster analysis of joint set orientations of exposed benches of opencast mines

Summary This paper substantiates, through three different case studies, that the breakage assessment of opencast bench blasting can be made scientifically through the analysis of joint set orientations of different exposed benches in association with the corresponding face direction. Joint orientations, dip and strike of bedding planes have a significant influence on rock breakage. They can have decelerating effects on blasting performance, which may be rectified by geological mapping, and subsequently modifying the blast design parameters.     

Palaeoecology and taxonomy of Pentoxylales from the Albian of Antarctica

Reproductive pentoxylalean material from the Albian Triton Point Formation, Fossil Bluff Group of Alexander Island, Antarctica is the youngest record of this group globally. Leaves are referred to Taeniopteris daintreei McCoy, ovulate reproductive organs to Carnoconites cranwelli Harris, and stem material to Pentoxylon sp. Occurring in leaf litter layers on palaeosol surfaces the sedimentology suggests that pentoxylalean plants grew upon areas of the floodplain distal to the river channel, where they covered the forest floor in a similar habit to modern brambles. The forest floor was shared with Equisetales and liverworts, an abundance of ferns [Cladophlebis Brongniart, Gleichenites Goeppert, Phyllopteroides Medwell, Sphenopteris (Brongniart) Sternberg], as well as angiosperms. Bennettitales, Ginkgoites Seward and Nilssonia Brongniart were rare within these communities, as were coniferous trees.     

Palaeobotany of Gondwana basins of Orissa State, India: A bird's eye view

Gondwana basins of Orissa State constitute a major part of the Mahanadi Master Basin. These Gondwana sediments, ranging from Asselian to Albian in age, contain remnants of three basic floral assemblages i.e. Glossopteris Assemblage, Dicroidium Assemblage and Ptilophyllum Assemblage which can be recognized through the Permian, Triassic and Early Cretaceous, respectively. The megafloral assemblages of different basins of this state are discussed briefly. This report mainly deals with the plant species diversification in different lithological formations and the development of flora in the Gondwana basins of Orissa. A number of successive megafloras are recognized. Among those, leaves are the dominant part of the preserved flora, followed by fruits and roots. No wood parts are preserved in the major basins. These pre-angiospermic floras have been systematically analyzed to depict the evolutionary trends, and palaeofloristics of these basins. The distribution of plant fossils in different formations of these basins depicts provincialism in Gondwana flora within the Orissa.     

Reconstructing the migration patterns of late Pleistocene mammals from northern Florida, USA

We used analyses of the strontium isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) ratios of tooth enamel to reconstruct the migration patterns of fossil mammals collected along the Aucilla River in northern Florida. Specimens date to the late-glacial period and before the last glacial maximum (pre-LGM). Deer and tapir displayed low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios that were similar to the ratios of Florida environments, which suggest that these taxa did not migrate long distance outside of the Florida region. Mastodons, mammoths, and equids all displayed a wide range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Some individuals in each taxon displayed low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios that suggest they ranged locally, while other animals had high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios that suggest they migrated long distances (> 150 km) outside of the Florida region. Mastodons were the only taxa from this region that provided enough well-dated specimens to compare changes in migration patterns over time. Pre-LGM mastodons displayed significantly lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios than late-glacial mastodons, which suggests that late-glacial mastodons from Florida migrated longer distances than their earlier counterparts. This change in movement patterns reflects temporal changes in regional vegetation patterns.     

Occurrence of Cordaitales from lower Gondwana sediments of Ib-River Coalfield, Orissa, India: An Indian scenario

The Ib-River Coalfield in Orissa State is a part of Mahanadi Master Basin. Recent extensive investigations were conducted in this Coalfield to locate fossiliferous beds in the Lower Gondwana deposits and as a result a large cache of plant fossils were recovered from Lower Permian sediments (Barakar Formation) exposed in Jurabaga and Lajkura Collieries. The complete flora includes 23 genera representing nine orders viz., Lycopodiales, Equisetales, Sphenophyllales, Filicales, Cordaitales, Coniferales, Ginkgoales, Cycadales and Glossopteridales. Only the Cordaitales, represented by four genera i.e., Noeggerathiopsis, Cordaites, Euryphyllum and Kawizophyllum are discussed in this paper. Cordaitalean leaves are described for the first time from this coalfield; the remaining plant groups will be considered in a subsequent publication. Cordaitalean leaves attributable to Noeggerathiopsis hislopii, Noeggerathiopsis minor, Euryphyllum whittianum, Euryphyllum maithyi, Kawizophyllum dunpathriensis and Cordaites sp. constitute about 13.90% (111 specimens) of the total plant assemblage collected from this Coalfield. Of the cordaitaleans, N. hislopii is most abundant (47.75%; 53 specimens) followed by E. whittianum (40.54%; 45 specimens). A summary of the distribution of Cordaitales throughout the Indian Gondwana is also presented. Floristic composition varies stratigraphically at the two Barakar exposures (Lajkura and Jurabaga Collieries). Cordaitales are preserved only in the lowermost (4th) horizon (lower floral zone). Strata in these collieries have been assigned to the lower and upper Barakar Formation based on floristic content and an Early Permian (Artinskian) age is assigned.     

滇中川街盆地中侏罗世弓鲛(软骨鱼类)化石新材料

云南禄丰县川街盆地中侏罗统产出弓鲛鱼类化石后甸弓鲛(Hybodus houtienensis Young)、新庄弓鲛(新种)(Hybodus xinzhuangensis Sun)、川街弓鲛(新种)(Hybodus chuanjieensis Sun)。后甸弓鲛(Hybodus houtienensis Young)是中国发现最早的弓鲛鱼类之一,正型标本为破碎的鳍棘,副型标本为一枚牙齿齿冠。依据在川街盆地相同层位发现的新化石材料,对后甸弓鲛副型标本进行了增补,补充了描述,建立了2个弓鲛新种:新庄弓鲛与川街弓鲛,丰富了"后甸弓鲛带"弓鲛类群,并讨论了弓鲛属的生物地层、生活的古环境和地理分布特征。     

Scaling variables and interpretation of eigenvalues in principal component analysis of geologic data

The dominant feature distinguishing one method of principal components analysis from another is the manner in which the original data are transformed prior to the other computations. The only other distinguishing feature of any importance is whether the eigenvectors of the inner product-moment of the transformed data matrix are taken directly as the Q-mode scores or scaled by the square roots of their associated eigenvalues and called the R-mode loadings. If the eigenvectors are extracted from the product-moment correlation matrix, the variables, in effect, were transformed by column standardization (zero means and unit variances), and the sum of the p-largest eigenvalues divided by the sum of all the eigenvalues indicates the degree to which a model containing pcomponents will account for the total variance in the original data. However, if the data were transformed in any manner other than column standardization, the eigenvalues cannot be used in this manner, but can only be used to determine the degree to which the model will account for the transformed data. Regardless of the type of principal components analysis that is performed—even whether it is Ror Q-mode—the goodness-of-fit of the model to the original data is given better by the eigenvalues of the correlation matrix than by those of the matrix that was actually factored.     

Spatial and seasonal variation of salt ions under the influence of halophytes,in a coastal flat in eastern China

The high salinity of coastal saline field is a key factor limiting the reclamation. Halophytes have been utilized in the reclamation of saline land. The study area is in Yancheng, China. An analysis of the concentrations of Rb, Cs, Sr, and Ba, the ratio of Rb/Cs, and Sr/Ba in soils in autumn shows that the soil of this study area has great homogeneity. Artemisia halodendron, Gossypium hirsutum, and Sesbania cannabina were selected as the reclamation plants in the present study. In order to know the spatial-temporal distribution of soil salinity, the influence of plant-specific vegetation, and the difference of desalination among these halophytes in coastal flat, the authors analyze the soil-layers and seasonal variation in salt ions. Sodium chloride was accumulated in 0–5 cm topsoil with no vegetation during the winter and spring. The effect of desalinization of halophytes is significant. Of the three plant species, Sesbania cannabina has the greatest desalinization. The difference of ions composition of soils covered with various plant species is significant. It can be concluded that halophytes have better amelioration of coastal soil salinity. Special attention should be paid to the selection of plant species and measures to plant and cultivate crops in the reclamation of saline land.     

A history of the ‘Zambian copper flower', Becium centraliafricanum (B. homblei)

This contribution is a short history of the Zambian copper flower, Becium homblei (recently renamed B. centraliafricanum that has attracted attention as a plant associated with Cu-rich soils. It has a peculiar discontinuous distribution in Central Africa which has been explained in terms of biotype depletion. A field investigation into the ecology of the species shows that it is able to tolerate soil Cu concentrations of up to 15,000 μg/g (ppm), and soil nickel concentrations of nearly 5000 μg/g. B. homblei is also found on areas where soil metals are in trace quantities, and where soil bases, particularly Ca, are low. In spite of its tolerance to a wide range of edaphic conditions, the distribution of the species is very restricted in Zimbabwe, and this is almost certainly due to severe interspecific competition with a closely related species, B. obovatum, which is common on soils not unusually enriched in heavy metals. Pioneering work on geobotanical prospecting by use of Becium homblei was carried out by the late G. Woodward and others in the 1950s and 1960s. This species was used successfully for geobotanical prospecting for Cu. This present report is a brief history of these pioneering studies