Temporal and environmental significance of microbial lamination: Insights from Recent fluvial stromatolites in the River Piedra,Spain

Despite extensive research, the environmental and temporal significance of microbial lamination is still ambiguous because of the complexity of the parameters that control its development. A 13 year monitored record of modern fast‐accreting calcite stromatolites (mean 14 mm year^?1) from artificial substrates installed in rapid flow in the River Piedra (north‐east Spain) allows comparison of the sedimentological attributes of successive six‐month depositional packages with the known climatic, hydrophysical and hydrochemical parameters of the depositional system. The stromatolites are formed of dense, porous and macrocrystalline composite laminae. The dense and porous composite laminae, which are composed of two to eight laminae consisting largely of calcified cyanobacteria, are characterized by: (i) dense composite laminae, up to 15 mm thick, mostly with successive dense laminae and minor alternating dense and porous laminae; and (ii) porous composite laminae, up to 12 mm thick, consisting mainly of porous laminae alternating with thinner dense laminae. Most of the dense composite laminae formed during the warm periods (April to September), whereas most of the porous composite laminae developed in the cool periods (October to March). Each dense and porous composite lamina represents up to or slightly longer than six months. The alternation of these two types of composite laminae parallels seasonal changes in temperature. The dense and porous laminae result from shorter (for example, intraseasonal) variations in temperature, insolation and hydrological conditions. The macrocrystalline laminae, with crystals >100 μm long, occur isolated and grouped into composite laminae up to 1·7 mm thick. Their occurrence suggests the absence or poor development of microbial mats over periods of weeks to several months. Thus, stromatolite lamination can record different‐order, periodic and non‐periodic changes in the magnitude of environmental parameters over a single year. These results hold important implications for the temporal and environmental interpretation of lamination in microbial structures.     

Seismic characterization of switching platform geometries and dominant carbonate producers (Miocene,Las Negras,Spain)

The primary goals of seismic interpretation and quantification are to understand and define reservoir architecture and the distribution of petrophysical properties. Since seismic interpretation is associated with major uncertainties, outcrop analogues are used to support and improve the resulting conceptual models. In this study, the Miocene carbonates of Cerro de la Molata (Las Negras, south‐east Spain) have been selected as an outcrop analogue. The heterogeneous carbonate rocks of the Cerro de la Molata Platform were formed by a variety of carbonate‐producing factories, resulting in various platform morphologies and a wide range of physical properties. Based on textural (thin sections) and petrophysical (porosity, density, carbonate content and acoustic properties) analyses of the sediments, eleven individual facies types were determined. The data were used to produce synthetic seismic profiles of the outcrop. The profiles demonstrate that the spatial distribution of the facies and the linked petrophysical properties are of key importance in the appearance of the synthetic seismic sections. They reveal that carbonate factory and facies‐specific reflection patterns are determined by porosity contrasts, diagenetic modifications and the input of non‐carbonate sediment. The reflectors of the seismograms created with high‐frequency wavelets are coherent with the spatial distribution of the predefined facies within the depositional sequences. The synthetic seismograms resulting from convolution with lower frequency wavelets do not show these details – the major reflectors coincide with: (i) the boundary between the volcanic basement and the overlying carbonates; (ii) the platform geometries related to changes in carbonate factories, thus sequence boundaries; and (iii) diagenetic zones. Changes in seismic response related to diagenesis, switching carbonate producers and linked platform geometries are important findings that need to be considered when interpreting seismic data sets.     

Exploring the impact of diagenesis on (isotope) geochemical and microstructural alteration features in biogenic aragonite

For the Quaternary and Neogene, aragonitic biogenic and abiogenic carbonates are frequently exploited as archives of their environment. Conversely, pre‐Neogene aragonite is often diagenetically altered and calcite archives are studied instead. Nevertheless, the exact sequence of diagenetic processes and products is difficult to disclose from naturally altered material. Here, experiments were performed to understand biogenic aragonite alteration processes and products. Shell subsamples of the bivalve Arctica islandica were exposed to hydrothermal alteration. Thermal boundary conditions were set at 100°C, 175°C and 200°C. These comparably high temperatures were chosen to shorten experimental durations. Subsamples were exposed to different ¹⁸O‐depleted fluids for durations between two and twenty weeks. Alteration was documented using X‐ray diffraction, cathodoluminescence, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, as well as conventional and clumped isotope analyses. Experiments performed at 100°C show redistribution and darkening of organic matter, but lack evidence for diagenetic alteration, except in Δ₄₇ which show the effects of annealing processes. At 175°C, valves undergo significant aragonite to calcite transformation and neomorphism. The δ¹⁸O signature supports transformation via dissolution and reprecipitation, but isotopic exchange is limited by fluid migration through the subsamples. Individual growth increments in these subsamples exhibit bright orange luminescence. At 200°C, valves are fully transformed to calcite and exhibit purple‐blue luminescence with orange bands. The δ¹⁸O and Δ₄₇ signatures reveal exchange with the aqueous fluid, whereas δ¹³C remains unaltered in all experiments, indicating a carbonate‐buffered system. Clumped isotope temperatures in high‐temperature experiments show compositions in broad agreement with the measured temperature. Experimentally induced alteration patterns are comparable with individual features present in Pleistocene shells. This study represents a significant step towards sequential analysis of diagenetic features in biogenic aragonites and sheds light on reaction times and threshold limits. The limitations of a study restricted to a single test organism are acknowledged and call for refined follow‐up experiments.     

Geochronology of the Duguer range metamorphic rocks,Central Tibet: implications for the changing tectonic setting of the South Qiangtang subterrane

The Duguer area represents one of the few occurrences of high-grade metamorphic rocks in the ‘Central Uplift’ zone of the Qiangtang terrane, central Tibet. The metamorphic rocks consist mainly of orthogneiss, paragneiss, and schist. To better understand the formation of these rocks, seven samples of gneiss and schist from the Duguer area were selected for in situ zircon U–Pb analysis and Ar–Ar dating of metamorphic minerals. The results suggest two distinct metamorphic stages, during the Late Triassic (229–227 Ma) and Late Jurassic (150–149 Ma). These stages correspond to the closure of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean and northward subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Neo-Tethys oceanic crust, respectively. We suggest that the Late Triassic metamorphic rocks of the Duguer area in the central South Qiangtang subterrane provide evidence of continental collision between the North and South Qiangtang subterranes, following the subduction of oceanic crust. It is likely that deep subduction of oceanic crust occurred along the Longmu Co–Shuanghu–Lancangjiang suture zone (LSLSZ), which would have hindered exhumation owing to the high density of oceanic crust. Subsequent break-off and delamination of the subducted oceanic slab at ~220 Ma may have resulted in exhumation of high-pressure and high-grade metamorphic rocks in the South Qiangtang subterrane. The Late Jurassic ages of metamorphism and deformation obtained in this study indicate the occurrence of an Andean-type orogenic event within the South Qiangtang subterrane. This hypothesis is further supported by an apparent age gap in magmatic activity (150–130 Ma) along the magmatic arc, and the absence of Late Jurassic sediments.     

基于氮气吸附-核磁共振-氩离子抛光场发射扫描电镜研究川西须五段泥质岩储层孔隙结构

微观孔隙作为泥质岩的有效储集空间,其孔隙结构参数是作为气藏评价及资源量估算的重要依据。本文应用氮气吸附法(NAM)、核磁共振法(NMR)、氩离子抛光及场发射扫描电镜(AIP-FESEM)研究川西须五段泥质岩微观孔隙特征,结果表明:1氩离子抛光及场发射扫描电镜在表征微观孔隙形态与类别时有一定优势,但定量表征孔隙参数时,受图像二值化阈值的影响,表征结果偏差较大,可结合氮气吸附法来定量表征其孔径大小;2核磁共振受岩石骨架影响小,能够更精细反映岩石的物性条件,可定量计算孔隙度与可动流体饱和度,但对样品的孔隙形态反映较差;3综合上述三种方法,在须五段泥质岩中可识别出一定量的纳米级中、大孔,孔径大多介于几十纳米到几百纳米之间,孔隙连通性差,孔隙度主要介于2.3%~7.4%之间,孔隙类型以粒间孔、晶间孔最发育,有机孔隙、微裂缝次之,粒内孔隙最不发育。总体而言,融合了三种技术方法能更精确、更全面地反映泥质岩孔隙结构特征,能得到更完善的储层孔隙结构参数,在定量表征泥质岩孔隙结构中具有广泛的应用前景。     

高灵敏度元素分析仪-连续流同位素质谱法对硅酸盐岩中碳及碳同位素组成的精确测定

硅酸盐岩中含有微量的碳,对其精确地分析可以示踪流体的来源和形成过程。元素分析仪-同位素质谱方法(EA-IRMS)是一种使用样品量小、快速的分析方法,本文将EA-IRMS技术应用于硅酸盐岩中微量碳同位素组成的测定,基于一系列条件实验,确认了硅酸盐岩中微量碳分析的EA-IRMS连续流方法的关键条件参数。标准物质选择和归一化处理使用以下方法:(1)选择较宽碳同位素组成范围且合理的碳同位素分布的标准物质,以高纯石英粉末与之混合来模拟天然样品中的基质。(2)利用与样品类似含量的3个标准物质的测量值和标准真值建立校准曲线,对天然样品的测量值进行标准化,从而实现了对硅酸盐岩中低至600!g/g微量碳含量和同位素组成的精确测定。用国家标准物质GBW04416作为未知样品检验了不同含量下拟合的线性方程,在碳含量不低于600!g/g时,标准偏差分别约为0.02‰、0.04‰、0.05‰、-0.07‰、0.11‰;在MERCK+USGS24混合物中,测量的δ13C值在标准误差范围内与理论值是一致的。因此,对于碳含量不低于600!g/g的30 mg硅酸盐岩样品,本方法能够获得高精准度的碳同位素分析结果。根据不同碳含量的标准混合物的峰面积(峰强度)和相对应的含量所建立的线性曲线获得样品的碳含量,碳含量的分析误差在10%以内。     

基于卫星影像解析的碳酸盐岩地区地质构造研究——以江苏徐州大北望地区为例

本文通过区域地质背景分析与卫星影像解析,建立了岩性、地层、产状、褶皱和断层发育的影像判识模型,结合野外地质勘察校验与构造变形特征分析,对徐州大北望地区的地质构造进行了研究。研究表明:卫星影像解析对碳酸盐岩地区的岩性、产状和构造均具有很好的判识程度,利于快捷准确地开展地质调查工作,为野外地质工作研究提供了新思路。根据地形地貌、岩层露头、"V"字形法则、地层分布、褶皱和断层识别标志在卫星影像中的响应特征,建立了岩性、地层、产状、褶皱和断层发育的影像判识模型,并对大北望地区进行了构造识别和野外地质校验。大北望地区地质构造较为发育,NE向直立水平家后山背斜构造整体控制该区的地层分布和地形地貌特征,大型NE向纵向和斜交逆断层的发育造成局部地层缺失,NW向和NWW向斜向平移断层的发育造成了局部地层错移和山谷发育。     

山西吕梁地区吕梁群变基性火山岩原岩形成年龄、地球化学特征及形成环境

华北克拉通古元古代中期构造环境及演化至今尚存有争议,该时期相关岩浆作用的成因研究可为这些问题的解决提供重要证据。本文对华北克拉通中部山西吕梁地区古元古代中期形成的吕梁群近周营组基性火山岩开展综合研究,获得2 180±19 Ma 的形成年龄,岩石地球化学低TiO₂、高Al₂O₃ 和K₂O,属钙碱性系列。微量元素富集Rb、Ba、Th、U、Sr 等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti 和P等高场强元素,富集Pb,具轻稀土略富集、铕弱异常的右倾稀土模式,与典型消减带弧岩浆产物特征一致。同位素组成显示正ε_Nd（t）= 1.0～2.6 和ε_Hf（t）= 1.8～9.2, 指示它们来源于亏损地幔,低的Ti/Y（246～385）和Ce/Y 值（0.99～1.77）进一步揭示,地幔源区受到俯冲流体的交代和沉积物的参与,是楔尖晶石二辉橄榄岩与石榴石二辉橄榄岩过渡带略亏损地幔区发生部分熔融,并经历了橄榄石、单斜辉石等矿物分离结晶作用而形成。结合同期埃达克岩-高镁安山岩-富Nb玄武岩-安山岩组合以及弧花岗岩类的出现提出,2 200 Ma 华北中部带已演化至活动大陆边缘弧的构造环境。     

全球洋岛和洋底高原海山中的中酸性岩——数据挖掘及其意义

洋岛类型的海山和洋底高原类型的海山主要由玄武岩组成, 中酸性岩出露很少, 因此很少引起学术界的关注。 我们认为即便中酸性岩很少, 研究他们也是很有意义的, 因为这些中酸性岩不仅可能与洋岛和洋底高原玄武岩的构造背景有关, 也可能与洋岛和洋底高原在形成中酸性岩时的温度和压力变化有关, 这对正确认识洋岛和洋底高原形成的地球动力学背景是很有意义的。 本次研究收集了 GEOROC 数据库中的数据总量为 44 404 个, 经过清洗留下有效数据 3 908 个, 分为洋岛中酸性岩（OIG）、洋底高原中酸性岩（OPG）和洋底高原中酸性岩中的岛弧部分（OPAG）3 类。 学术界通常认为, 洋岛代表热点, 洋底高原温度相对较低, 属于大火成岩省。 然而, 本文对全球洋岛和洋底高原的中酸性岩浆岩的研究表明, 分布在洋岛和洋底高原的中酸性岩主要是板内环境的富碱性的粗面岩和碱性流纹岩, 洋底高原边缘可能受俯冲带的影响, 部分中酸性岩具有岛弧的地球化学特征。 按照中酸性岩的 Sr-Yb 分类, 可知洋岛中酸性岩大多属于南岭型和广西型, 洋底高原海山中酸性岩主要属于南岭型, 广西型很少, 指示洋底高原中酸性岩形成的深度比洋岛浅, 温度也比洋岛低, 同时表明中酸性岩大多形成的压力较低而温度很高, 指示伴有高热中酸性岩的洋岛和洋底高原是地球上的热点。 本文认为, 洋岛和洋底高原中酸性岩并非学术界普遍认为的是玄武岩和碧玄岩分离结晶形成的, 因为洋岛和洋底高原岩浆岩如果是双峰式分布的话, 则不大可能是分离结晶的, 其中的酸性岩部分可能是玄武岩部分熔融形成的。 同时有些岩浆演化的关系表明, 中酸性岩在哈克图解中与玄武岩受不同因素制约, 说明并非演化的关系。