Numerical Simulation of the Graben-Forming Process in Southern Xizang

I.INTRODUCTION It iS generally accepted that the stress state in the upper crust and upper mantle in the southernQinghai—Xiz~g Plateau is essentially extensional(Molnar and Tapponnier,1978;Chen and Molnar,1983:Armijo et a1.,1986).Data offocal.mechanism     

Lithospheric Geothermal Structure in Yunnan, China

In this paper,the characteristics of the lateral variations of the deep heat flow and Hthospheric geotemperature distribution in Yunnan have been studied,and the lithospheric geothermal structure has been divided into three types,i.e.the geothermal structure in the typical modern tectonically active region,transitional geological region and stable geological region.Finally,the relationship between the geotherm and seismicitv has been discussed.     

Geochronological Study of Caledonian Granulite and High-Pressure Gneiss in the Dabie Mountains

Using the single-zircon evaporation technique and U-Pb method, the authors have conducted an isotope geochonological study of the Huilanshan granulite and Shima garnet-bearing plagioclase gneiss (" country rocks" of the Shima eclogite) in the Dabie Mountains. The study shows that these rocks have peak metamorphic ages of 443-455 Ma, which are essentially consistent with that of the Caledonian high-ultrahigh pressure eclogites. This indicates the existence of the Caledonian collisional orogeny in the Dabie Mountains.     

The Characteristics of Spinels in Mantle-derivedXenoliths in Cenozoic Basalts from Eastern Chinaand Their Thermal States

The colours and chemical composition variations of 160 spinels in peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths from Cenozoic basalts in eastern China and their petrogeneses have been studied in detail. The relationships between major elements of spinels are discussed. The equilibrium temperatures, pressures and oxygen fugacities of spinels and their coexisting olivines, orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxenes have been determined using the Brey-kohler' s T-P calculation methods (1990) and Ballhaus' fo2 calculation method (1991). The relationships betweenthe composition and the equilibrium temperatures, pressures or oxygen fugacities of spinels in peridotite xenoliths from the basalts and the stable field of the spinels in the upper mantle have been shown.     

Mechanism and Modes of Microbial Minerogenesis of Polymetallic Nodules on the Ocean Floor

This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the relations of the occurrence of polymetallic nodules with the geochemical actions of microbes in the seawater, pore water and sediments at the bottom of the eastern Pacific Ocean basin. Emphasis is laid on the relations of the activity intensity and biochemical transformation rate of aerobic bacteria (iron bacteria, Thiobacillus thioparus, halobacteria and manganese-oxidizing bacteria) and anaerobic bacteria (sulphate-reducing bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, Thiobacillus denitrificans) with mineralization. The experimental research on the migration and accumulation of ore-forming elements caused by microbial and chemical actions shows that the microbes have changed the conditions of oxidation and reduction in the system, and their effect on the element precipitation is much stronger than the chemical actions and accelerates the enrichment of Fe and Mn. It demonstrates that the microbes can change the environment to promote the accumulation of ore-formin     

Five-Stage Model of the Palaeozoic Crustal Evolution in Xinjiang

The great majority of the Palaeozoic orogenjc belts of Central Asia are of the intercontinental type, whose evolution always follows a five-stage model, i.e. the basal continental crust-extensional transitional crust-oceanic crust-convergent transitional crust-new continental crust model. The stage for the extensional transitional crust is a pretty long, independent and inevitable phase. The dismembering mechanism of the basal continental crust becoming an extensional continental crust is delineated by the simple shear model put forward by Wernike (1981). The continental margins on the sides of a gently dipping detachment zone and moving along it are asymmetric: one side is of the nonmagmatic type and the other of the magmatic type with a typical bimodal volcanic formation. In the latter case, however, they were often confused with island arcs. This paper discusses the five-stage process of the crustal evolution of some typical orogenic belts in Xinjiang.     

Distribution Patterns of Pentacyclic TriterpenoidHydrocarbons in Low-Mature Source Rocksfrom Eastern China

Four typical distribution patterns of pentacyclic triterpenoid hydrocarbons (types A-D) are distinguished in the low-mature source rocks from eastern China. Type A has a relatively high content of pentacyclic triterpenes. It exists in immature sediments and the distribution and abundance of triterpenes vary with the maturity of the sediments. An unknown C30 triterpene (UCT2) has also been detected in very shallow sediments. This compound is very unstable and disappears rapidly with the increase of depth. Type B is characterized by a relatively high amount of 17α(H), 21β(H)-30-homohopane. This kind of distribution pattern is common in coals and terrestrial sediments of low maturity. Type C has a relatively high content of diahopane and neohopane series. The analysis shows that this distribution pattern may have an indirect relationship with the input of higher plants despite its microbial source. There are C30-unconfirmed triterpane (UCT2) and a relatively high content of C35 hopane in type D. The dist     

Accelerated Exhumation During the Cenozoic in the Dabie Mountains: Evidence from Fission-Track Ages

Zircon and apatite fission-track dating indicates that the exhumation of the Dabie Mountains tended to be accelerated in the Cenozoic and that the exhumation of the eastern Dabie Mountains was more and more intense from south to north, which is in accordance with the more and more intense dissection from south to north, as is reflected by the modern geomorphologic features of the Dabie Mountains. The accelerated exhumation during the Cenozoic was related to the high elevation of the Dabie Mountains resulting from Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene detachment faulting and subsequent fault-block uplift and subsidence. The average elevation at that time was at least about 660 m higher than that at the present. The intense exhumation lagged behind intense uplift.     

Reform of Carbonate Rock Subsurface by Crustose Lichens and Its Environmental Significance

Crustose lichens are distributed extensively in karst areas in Southern China. They can be found on the surface of carbonate rocks. Through biophysical and biochemical processes, crustose lichens reform the subsurface of carbonate rocks and in the meanwhile change their physical and chemical properties: (1) the mechanical strength decreases by 17.04° on average (up to 33.2° ); (2) the chemical solution surface area increases from 28.26% to 75.36% (lichen microholes considered only); and (3) the water-holding capacity is greatly improved. Comparative field experiments between biokarst samples underneath crustose lichens and fresh rock samples with the same composition and texture show that the corrosional rate of carbonate rocks of the former is 1.264-1.643 times higher than that of the latter. Crustose lichens are considered as an activator of the surface corrosion of carbonate rocks.     

A Simulation Study on the Evolution of Groundwater Circulation Systems in Cenozoic Basins of Northern China

Three Cenozoic basins-the Qaidam basin, the Weihe graben-type basin and the North China plain-which are different in climatic conditions, geological settings and run-off types, are selected for the study. Based on an analysis of background information of the transect along the middle-latitude region, studies of groundwater dynamics, geochemistry, simulation of water circulation of the main elements as well as isotopic chronology, the information on global changes is collected, the formation of groundwater circulation systems and their evolution under stacked impacts of natural conditions and human activities are discussed, and a correlation is made between the evolutionary features of the above systems in these basins since 25 ka B.P. All these have laid a good foundation for further generalizing the evolutionary model of land water in northern China.