A-type granite and adakitic magmatism association in Songpan–Garze fold belt, eastern Tibetan Plateau: Implication for lithospheric delamination

The Songpan–Garze fold belt covers a huge triangular area (> 200,000 km²), confined by the South China (Yangtze), North China and Tibetan Plateau continental blocks. In the Songpan–Garze fold belt, Triassic adakitic granitoids have been identified. However, whether there are Triassic A-type granites is unclear. Here, we report our first finding of an A-type granite (Nianbaoyeche), which occurs in the central part of the Songpan–Garze fold belt. The Nianbaoyeche granite ( 820 km²) is characterized by arfvedsonite in its mineral assemblage. Using both LA-ICPMS and TIMS U–Pb zircon dating methods, we obtain a magma crystallization age of 211 ± 1 Ma, which is slightly younger than Triassic adakitic granitoids (216–221 Ma) in the Songpan–Garze fold belt. The Nianbaoyeche granite is enriched in Si, K, Na, Rb, REE, HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf), with elevated FeO^tot/(FeO^tot + MgO) and Ga/Al ratios, but is depleted in Al, Mg, Ca, Ba and Sr. The REE compositions show moderately fractionated patterns with (La/Yb)_N = 2.67–7.54 and Eu/Eu = 0.09–0.34. These geochemical characteristics indicate that the Nianbaoyeche granite has an A-type affinity. Geochemical data and U–Pb zircon age, combined with regional studies, show that the Nianbaoyeche granite formed in a post-collisional tectonic setting. Sr–Nd isotopic data for the granite exhibit I_Sr = 0.7090–0.7123 and ε_Nd(t) = − 2.72 to − 4.26 with T_DM = 1.15–1.51 Ga, suggesting that the magma has a dominantly crustal source, though a minor contribution from the mantle cannot be ruled out. Melting to produce an A-type granite may have resulted from Triassic lithospheric delamination after Triassic crustal thickening of the Songpan–Garze fold belt due to convergence between the Yangtze, North China and North Tibet continental blocks. The lithospheric delamination model also helps to explain the Triassic adakitic magma generation in the Songpan–Garze belt. We conclude that association of A-type granite and adakitic granitoids in post-collisional environment could be a useful indicator of lithospheric delamination.     

Late Pleistocene Environments of the Central Ukraine

The Vyazivok loess sequence from the Dnieper Plain, Ukraine, documents regional environmental changes during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Pedological and palynological analyses and low-field magnetic susceptibility document changes from dense temperate forest during the last interglacial maximum to open, harsh, loess–steppe during the latest Pleistocene. The Vyazivok section overlies hillwash derived from a lower Pleistocene terrace and consists of two stratified soil complexes (Kaydaky and Pryluky; marine isotope stage [MIS] 5 equivalent) separated by a layer of eolian dust (Tyasmyn silt). The lower soils in both complexes formed within forest. These soils are overlain by the Uday (MIS4) and Bug (MIS2) loess units, which are separated by boreal soils of the Vytachiv (MIS3) complex. The coldest conditions within the record occurred in the youngest loess. Holocene soils cap the Bug loess. The Vyazivok section shows remarkable similarities with other classical loess sequences in western Europe, the Czech Republic, and Austria. The Kaydaky, Pryluky, and Vytachiv deposits, correlate with the PKIII, PKII, and PKI soil complexes, respectively, of the Czech Republic. The Tyasmyn and Prylyky silt layers correspond to marker horizons from central Europe.     

Die Nitratsituation in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Altogether 10… 20 kg/ha·a N from precipitation are introduced into the soil. The fertilization of the agriculturally used area increased from 50 to 120 kg/ha·a N between 1950 and 1982. The nitrogen concentration is theoretically increased by 0.4 mg/l due to infiltration of surface water and wastewaters. The data prove agriculture to the main source of the nitrate load of groundwater, especially in regions with predominantly intensive agricultural use there is delivered drinking water with nitrate concentrations of more than 50 mg/l. The fixing of the limit value for drinking water at 50 mg/l nitrate (value recommended by the EC: 25 mg/l) is justified by new findings. Since the technology of nitrate elimination from water is very expensive, mainly the preventing of too high nitrate concentrations should be aimed at by agricultural measures of ground-water protection.     

Late Pleistocene Climatic Variations at Achenheim, France, Based on a Magnetic Susceptibility and TL Chronology of Loess

New field investigations of the Achenheim sequence (Alsace, France) allow for the characterization of variations in the low-field magnetic susceptibility over most of the last climatic cycle, i.e., the past 130,000 yr. New stratigraphic data and thermoluminescence measurements permit reassessment of the previous chronological interpretation of the Upper Pleistocene at Achenheim. A high-resolution analysis of magnetic susceptibility discloses the occurrence of a fine-grained “marker” horizon which was also found recently in another section. This horizon is interpreted as a small-scale dust layer deposited prior to the main interval of loess deposition. The horizon, deposited at the marine isotope stage (MIS) 5/4 boundary, has been found in other loess sequences and is especially prevalent in central Europe. It is characterized by low susceptibility values and a grayish color. New thermoluminescence dates indicate that the loess deposition took place after the MIS 5/4 boundary, i.e., after 70,000 yr. These results are consistent with the Greenland GRIP ice-core dust record which also demonstrates a dusty atmosphere after 72,000 yr ago. On a more regional scale, the Achenheim loess sequence demonstrates a reliable correlation between the western side of the Eurasian loess belt and the dust record of the Greenland ice cores.     

Datation par la méthode U/Th d'un travertin quaternaire du Sud-Est marocain : implications paléoclimatiques pendant le Pléistocène moyen et supérieur

A large travertine outcrop south of Errachidia, southern Morocco, was studied and U/Th dated. The carbonate fraction was provided by groundwaters then, as now, from the eastern High Atlas percolating through the regional Infra-Cenomanian aquifer. There were two main periods of accumulation at ca 262 kyr BP and 20–11.5 kyr BP separated by a long discontinuity with some limited weathering and erosion and correlated in part with a period of erosion at 30–20 kyr BP further to the west. The two travertine-deposition periods suggest increased rainfall and/or cooler thermal conditions in the eastern High Atlas source regions. Massive travertine accumulation ceased at the end of the Upper Pleistocene. To cite this article: L. Boudad et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).To cite this article: L. Boudad et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Mosaic surface storages of a small boreal catchment

Recent studies have suggested that the hydrologic connectivity of northern headwater catchments is likely controlled by antecedent moisture conditions and land cover patterns. A water storage model (EWS), based on water levels (WLs), specific yield (Sy) and surface elevation (SE) changes, was compared with a basic water budget of a small, boreal, patterned fen (13 ha) during the ice‐free period. Results showed that the EWS model reproduced well storage variations derived from the water budget. These results suggest that storage variations can be properly represented by the fluctuations of WLs when we consider the heterogeneous soil properties. However, storage deviations occurred at the daily scale and could be explained by a lack of information on water retention in unsaturated layers, canopy interceptions and preferential flows. Despite the significant impact of SE changes on the different peatland cover storage budgets (strings and lawns), using Sy mean values had a low impact on storage estimations. This can be explained by the large proportion of pools and high WLs throughout the fen. At the fen scale, high storage in the pools seemed to reduce the Sy difference between strings and lawns. The results of this study provide new insights about the complex hydrological behaviour of northern catchments and allow for conceiving new hydrological modelling perspectives. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.