Reducing model complexity for explanation and prediction

Numerical models can be useful for explaining poorly understood phenomena or for reliable quantitative predictions. When modeling a multi-scale system, a ‘top-down’ approach—basing models on emergent variables and interactions, rather than explicitly on the much faster and smaller scale processes that give rise to them—facilitates both goals. Parameterizations representing emergent interactions range from highly simplified and abstracted to more quantitatively accurate. Empirically based large-scale parameterizations lead more reliably to accurate large-scale behavior than do parameterizations of much smaller scale processes. Conversely, purposefully simplified representations of model interactions can enhance a model's utility for explanation, clarifying the key feedbacks leading to an enigmatic behavior. For such potential insights to be relevant, the interactions in the model need to correspond to those in the ‘real’ system in some straightforward way. Such a correspondence usually holds for models constructed for predictive purposes, although this is not a requirement. The goals motivating a modeling endeavor help determine the most appropriate modeling strategies, as well as the most appropriate criteria for judging model usefulness.     

∼3,850 Ma tonalites in the Nuuk region,Greenland: geochemistry and their reworking within an Eoarchaean gneiss complex

The Eoarchaean (>3,600 Ma) Itsaq Gneiss Complex of southern West Greenland is dominated by polyphase orthogneisses with a complex Archaean tectonothermal history. Some of the orthogneisses have c. 3,850 Ma zircons, and they vary from rare single phase metatonalites to more common complexly banded migmatites. This is due to heterogeneous strain, in situ anatexis and granitic veining superimposed during younger tectonothermal events. In the single-phase tonalites with c. 3,850 Ma zircon, oscillatory-zoned prismatic zircon is all 3,850 Ma old, but shows patchy ancient loss of radiogenic Pb. SHRIMP spot analyses and laser ablation ICP-MS depth profiling show that thin (usually < 10 μm) younger (3,660–3,590 Ma and Neoarchaean) shells of lower Th/U metamorphic zircon are present on these 3,850 Ma zircons. Several samples with this simple zircon population occur on islands near Akilia. In contrast, migmatites usually contain more complex zircon populations, with often more than one generation of igneous zircon present. Additional zircon dating of banded gneisses across the Complex shows that samples with c. 3,850 Ma igneous zircon are not just a phenomenon restricted to Akilia and adjacent islands. For example, migmatites from Itilleq (c. 65 km from Akilia) contain variable amounts of oscillatory-zoned 3,850 Ma and 3,650 Ma zircon, interpreted, respectively, as the rock age and the time of crustal melting under Eoarchaean metamorphism. With only 110–140 ppm Zr in the tonalites and likely magmatic temperatures of >850°C, zircon solubility–melt composition relationships show that they were only one-third saturated in zircon. Any zircon entrained in the precursor magmas would thus have been highly soluble. Combined with the cathodoluminesence imaging, this demonstrates that the c. 3,850 Ma oscillatory zoned zircon crystallised out of the melt and hence gives a magmatic age. Thus the rare well-preserved tonalites and palaeosome in migmatites testify that c. 3,850 Ma quartzo–feldspathic rocks are a widespread (but probably minor) component in the Itsaq Gneiss Complex. C. 3,850 Ma zircon with negative Eu anomalies (showing growth in felsic systems) also occurs as detrital grains in rare c. 3,800 Ma metaquartzites and as inherited grains in some 3,660 Ma granites (sensu stricto). These demonstrate that still more c. 3,850 Ma rocks were present, but were recycled into Eoarchaean sediments and crustally derived granites. The major and trace element characteristics (e.g. LREE enrichment, HREE depletion, low MgO) of the best-preserved c. 3,850 Ma rocks are typical of Archaean TTG suites, and thus argue for crust formation processes involving important contributions from melting of hydrated mafic crust to the earliest Archaean. Five c. 3,850 Ma tonalites were selected as the best preserved on the basis of field criteria and zircon petrology. Four of these samples have overlapping initial ɛ_Nd (3,850 Ma) values from +2.9 to +3.6± 0.5, with the fourth having a slightly lower value of +0.6. These data provide additional evidence for a markedly LREE-depleted early terrestrial mantle reservoir. The role of c. 3,850 Ma crust should be considered in interpreting isotope signatures of the younger (3,800–3,600 Ma) rocks of the Itsaq Gneiss Complex. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Distribution of platinum-group elements in the Platreef at Overysel,northern Bushveld Complex: a combined PGM and LA-ICP-MS study

Detailed mineralogical and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry studies have revealed the physical manifestation of the platinum-group elements (PGE) within the Platreef at Overysel, northern Bushveld Complex, South Africa. The PGE in the Platreef were originally concentrated in an immiscible sulfide liquid along with semi-metals such as Bi and Te. As the sulfide liquid began to crystallize, virtually all the Os, Ir, Ru and Rh partitioned into monosulfide solid solution (mss), which on further cooling, exsolved to form pyrrhotite and pentlandite with Os, Ir and Ru remaining in solid solution in both phases with Rh prefentially partitioning into pentlandite. Platinum, some Pd and Au were concentrated in the residual sulfide liquid after mss crystallization, and were then concentrated in an immiscible late stage melt along with semi metals, which was expelled to the grain boundaries during crystallization of intermediate solid solution (iss) to form Pt and Pd tellurides and electrum around the margins of the sulfide grains. Tiny droplets of this melt trapped in the crystallizing mss and iss cooled to form Pt–Bi–Te microinclusions in all sulfide phases, whilst the excess Pd was accommodated in solid solution in pentlandite. Minor redistribution and recrystallization by hydrothermal fluids occurred around xenoliths and at the very base of the mineralized zone within the footwall, however, the overall lack of secondary alteration coupled with the volatile-poor nature of the gneissic footwall have allowed the preservation of what may be the most ‘primary’ style of Platreef mineralization. The lack of PGM inclusions within early liquidus phases suggests very early sulfur saturation in the Platreef, lending support to theories involving S saturation occurring prior to intrusion of the Platreef, possibly within a staging chamber.     

The radio frequency dielectric properties of the stratified UG1–UG2 geological unit in the Bushveld Complex

A new measurement technique enables the complex dielectric properties of the geological strata comprising the UG1–UG2 (Upper Group 1–Upper Group 2) unit of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa to be determined with unprecedented detail at radio frequencies (RF). Results of non-destructive laboratory measurements of representative diamond drill core samples from the UG1–UG2 unit are presented at 25 MHz. These data establish that the UG1 and UG2 chromitite layers are embedded in rock strata (norite, pyroxenite and anorthosite) which are translucent in the HF spectral band, whereas the chromitite layers themselves exhibit significant velocity contrast, making them good radar reflectors. The data presented here is useful for calibration of the radar system, and for predicting the range and resolution performance of borehole radars operating in both the hanging and footwalls of the economically important platiniferous UG2 reef.     

阜平杂岩年龄及其地质意义：兼论前寒武高级变质地体的定年问题

本文通过对比锆石TIMS（热电离质谱法），SHRIMP（高灵敏度离子探针）及ICPMS－LP（等离子体质谱－激光探针）分析方法对阜平杂岩中主要岩石获得的年龄结果，讨论了阜平杂岩中几种主要岩石的形成时代及其地质意义。研究结果表明阜平杂岩是由不同时代、不同成因的各种高级变质岩组成，其主体是2．51Ga的TTG片麻岩并包裹了少量2．7Ga的大陆残片。同时阜平地区还发育一期2．05Ga的岩浆活动。阜平杂岩中的湾子表壳岩可能沉积发育于2．5Ga和2．1Ga之间。本文还通过比较三种锆石同位素定年方法的特点，进而讨论了几种方法在高级变质地体定年上的可行性，特别强调了锆石内部结构、化学组成等成因矿物学方面的研究对锆石年代学的主要意义。     

是地层单元还是构造单元？

古大陆边缘变质地质体性质的确定对于探讨大地构造演化具有十分重要的意义。由于后期变形变质作用的影响,原先不同的构造单元往往被改造成看似完整的一套地层单元,但在同位素年龄、变质程度、岩浆活动与地层的专属组合及其空间延伸等方面则变化很大,这在华北古陆北缘的单塔子群和南缘的太华群中最为典型。因此,笔者建议用“构造－岩相杂岩体带”填图法来取代以地层为骨架的变质岩区地质制图,这有助于确定该地区的大地构造演化进程。     

吉林延边安图县海沟地区海沟岩群的建立及其意义

吉林延边安图县海沟地区的海沟岩群系1/5万区域地质调查新建的特殊岩石地层单位(Speciallithostrati-graphicunits),由3个岩组构成:团结岩组为碎屑岩夹大理岩;东方红岩组为一套中酸性火山熔岩及其火山碎屑岩夹凝灰质砂岩;四岔子岩组为一套含铁岩系,主要由黑云变粒岩、斜长角闪岩夹磁铁石英岩组成。三者的接触关系均为断层接触,而且四周为元古代、早古生代的花岗岩所侵吞,属华北板块北缘东段残留的的构造岩片堆积产物,其时代为中元古代。这个岩组的建立,对探讨华北板块北缘东段中元古代地层划分和对比、陆缘裂谷的形成演化与成矿作用的关系以及新元古代Rodinia超大陆的形成等均具有重要的意义。     

Air flow analysis in the upper Río Negro Valley (Argentina)

The so called Upper Río Negro Valley in Argentina is one of the most important fruit and vegetable production regions of the country. It comprises the lower valleys of the Limay and Neuquén rivers and the upper Negro river valley. Out of the 41,671 cultivated hectares, 84.6% are cultivated with fruit trees, especially apple, pear and stone fruit trees. Late frosts occurring when trees are sensitive to low temperatures have a significant impact on the regional production. This study presents an analysis of air flow characteristics in the Upper Río Negro Valley and its relationship with ambient air flow. To such effect, observations made when synoptic-scale weather patterns were favorable for radiative frosts (light wind and clear sky) or nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower layer were used. In the Negro river valley, both wind channeling and downward horizontal momentum transport from ambient wind were observed; in nighttime, very light wind events occurred, possibly associated with drainage winds from the nearby higher levels of the barda. In the Neuquén river valley, the prevailing effect appeared to be forced channeling, consistent with the results obtained in valleys where the synoptic scale wind crossed the axis of the valley. In the Limay river valley, the flow was observed to blow parallel to the longitudinal valley axis, possibly influenced by pressure gradient and forced channeling.     

U-Pb Zircon Dating of the Granitic Conglomerates of the Hutuo Group： Affinities to the Wutai Granitoids and Significance to the Tectonic Evolution of the Trans-North China Orogen

1 Introduction The North China Craton (NCC) is considered to be the oldest and largest cratonic block in China. Recent studies to gain understanding of basement architecture of the NCC has led to its division into the Western and Eastern Blocks, separated by a N-S trending Paleoproterozoic Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) (Fig. 1; Zhao et al., 1998, 1999a, 2000a, 2001a; Wilde et al., 2002). Although there is now abroad consensus that the final assembly of the NCC was completed by th…     

Wavefield continuation datuming using a near surface model

When topography and low velocity zone differences vary greatly, conventional vertical static time shifts will cause wavefield distortion and influence wave equation seismic imaging for seismic data acquired on a complex near surface. In this paper, we propose an approach to datum correction that combines a joint tomography inversion with wavefield continuation to solve the static problem for seismic data on rugged acquisition topography. First, the near surface model is obtained by refracted wave tomography inversion. Second, the wavefield of sources and receivers are continued downward and upward to accomplish datum correction starting from a flat surface and locating the datum above topography. Based on the reciprocal theorem, Huygens＇ and Fresnel principles, the location of sources and receivers, and regarding the recorded data on the surface as a secondary emission, the sources and receivers are upward-continued to the datum above topography respectively. Thus, the datum correction using joint tomography inversion and wavefield continuation with the condition of a complex near surface is accomplished.