Pan-African eclogite facies metamorphism of ultramafic rocks in the Shackleton Range, Antarctica

In the Shackleton Range of East Antarctica, garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks occur as lenses in supracrustal high-grade gneisses. In the presence of olivine, garnet is an unmistakable indicator of eclogite facies metamorphic conditions. The eclogite facies assemblages are only present in ultramafic rocks, particularly in pyroxenites, whereas other lithologies – including metabasites – lack such assemblages. We conclude that under high-temperature conditions, pyroxenites preserve high-pressure assemblages better than isofacial metabasites, provided the pressure is high enough to stabilize garnet–olivine assemblages (i.e. ≥18–20 kbar). The Shackleton Range ultramafic rocks experienced a clockwise P–T path and peak conditions of 800–850 °C and 23–25 kbar. These conditions correspond to ∼70 km depth of burial and a metamorphic gradient of 11–12 °C km⁻¹ that is typical of a convergent plate-margin setting. The age of metamorphism is defined by two garnet–whole-rock Sm–Nd isochrons that give ages of 525 ± 5 and 520 ± 14 Ma corresponding to the time of the Pan-African orogeny. These results are evidence of a Pan-African suture zone within the northern Shackleton Range. This suture marks the site of a palaeo-subduction zone that likely continues to the Herbert Mountains, where ophiolitic rocks of Neoproterozoic age testify to an ocean basin that was closed during Pan-African collision. The garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks in the Shackleton Range are the first known example of eclogite facies metamorphism in Antarctica that is related to the collision of East and West Gondwana and the first example of Pan-African eclogite facies ultramafic rocks worldwide. Eclogites in the Lanterman Range of the Transantarctic Mountains formed during subduction of the palaeo-Pacific beneath the East Antarctic craton.     

Petrology and U-Pb Zircon Geochronology of Amphibole-rich Cumulates with Sanukitic Affinity from Husky Ridge (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica): Insights into the Role of Amphibole in the Petrogenesis of Subduction-related Magmas

A microanalytical trace element and geochronological study wascarried out on mafic amphibole-rich cumulates (quartz diorites)cropping out in northern Victoria Land (Antarctica). Associatedtonalites and basement rocks were also investigated. Rock texturesand major and trace element mineral compositions reveal thepresence in quartz diorites of two mineral assemblages: (1)clinopyroxene-I + brown amphibole ± dark mica; (2) clinopyroxene-II+ green amphibole + plagioclase + quartz. Both mineral assemblagescontain mafic phases with elevated Mg-number, but their traceelement signatures differ significantly. In situ U–Pbzircon geochronology was carried out to support petrogeneticand geological interpretations. Quartz diorites were emplacedin the mid-crust probably at 516 ± 3 Ma. Parental meltsof quartz diorites were computed by applying solid/liquid partitioncoefficients. The melt in equilibrium with the first mineralassemblage (melt-I) is extremely depleted in heavy rare earthelements (HREE), Y, Ti, Zr and Hf (at about 0·2 timesnormal mid-ocean ridge basalt) and enriched in B, Th, U, thelarge ion lithophile elements and light REE (LREE). It sharesmany similarities with sanukitic melts (e.g. Setouchi andesites),which originated by equilibration of subduction-derived sedimentmelts with a refractory mantle. The melt in equilibrium withthe second mineral assemblage (melt-II) is characterized bya steep LREE enrichment (La_N/Yb_N up to 39), a U-shaped HREEpattern and low Ti, which is depleted relative to HREE. Thetrace element signature of melt-II can be acquired through amphibolecrystallization starting from a sanukitic melt similar to melt-I,probably in a deeper magma chamber. Our results allow us toconstrain that melts from the subducted slab were produced ona regional scale, in accordance with literature data, belowa large sector of the east Gondwana margin during the mid-Cambrian.Implications for the role of amphibole in petrogenesis of subduction-relatedmagmas are also discussed. KEY WORDS: amphibole; sanukite; high-Mg andesites; Ross Orogeny; Antarctica     

Sea ice characteristics between the middle Weddell Sea and the Prydz Bay, Antarctica during the austral summer of 2003

The antarctic sea ice was investigated upon five occasions between January 4 and February 15, 2003. The investigations included: (1) estimation of sea ice distribution by ship-based observations between the middle Weddell Sea and the Prydz Bay; (2) estimation of sea ice distribution by aerial photography in the Prydz Bay; (3) direct measurements of fast ice thickness and snow cover, as well as ice core sampling in Nella Fjord; (4) estimation of melting sea ice distribution near the Zhongshan Station; and (5) observation of sea ice early freeze near the Zhongshan Station. On average, sea ice covered 14.4% of the study area. The highest sea ice concentration (80%) was observed in the Weddell Sea. First-year ice was dominant (99.7%-99.8%). Sea ice distributions in the Prydz Bay were more variable due to complex inshore topography, proximity of the Larsemann Hills, and/or grounded icebergs. The average thickness of landfast ice in NeUa Fjord was 169.5 cm. Wind-blown snow redistribution plays an important role in affecting the ice thickness in Nella Fjord. Preliminary freezing of sea ice near the Zhongshan Station follows the first two phases of the pancake cycle.     

Distribution of dissolved organic carbon in and near the Prydz Bay, Antarctica

INTRODUCTIONDissolvedorganiccarbon (DOC)makesupthesecondlargestofthebioactivepoolsofcar bonintheocean ,secondtothelargestpoolofdissolvedinorganiccarbon .Theglobaldissolvedorganiccarbonpoolisestimatedtobe 6 85Gt,avaluecomparabletothemassofCO2 intheat mosphere (Hedges,1 992 ) .Thesizeofthereservoir,aswellasitsdynamics ,indicatesthatDOCplaysacentralroleintheoceancarboncycle .AsitrelatestogreenhousegasessuchasCO2 andassociatesclimatecycle ,oceanicDOCbiogeochemicalcycleshavebeenoneoftheh…     

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of Iceberg Drift off Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, Detected by Satellite Scatterometers

Seasonal and spatial variations of iceberg drift were studied using continuous satellite scatterometer images off Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. Generally, iceberg drift speed showed a westward increase to the Greenwich Meridian. Seasonal variations of the drift speed were high in autumn—early winter and low in spring, and their magnitudes also increased westward. Seasonal variations of the drift speed were significantly correlated with variations of sea levels at Syowa and Mawson Stations, and hence qualitatively consistent with geostrophic current variations. Thus, the scatterometer data are demonstrated to be useful in monitoring iceberg trajectory and oceanic current variations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

南极长城站附近企鹅栖息地粪土沉积地层放射性核素210Pb定年

用γ谱方法测定了南极长城站附近特有生物群落栖息地沉积物中放射性核素含量,地表沉积物中40K,137Cs,210Pb,226Ra,228Ra,228Th.和238U平均比活度,分别为143,7.56,24.1,3.65,5.36,4.15和6.5Bq/kg.同时测试了阿德雷岛企鹅栖息地粪土沉积地层中放射性核素含量,利用其中的210Pb比活度,210Pb_ex垂向变化特征,推演沉积物的沉积速率和地质历史年代:其中AD1-a柱样时间跨度约为74a(1928~2002年),据此计算了沉积速率为0.063mm/a(r=0.794),并讨论了在南极特定条件下,放射性核素示踪对定年影响以及与区域现代气候环境变化的内在联系.     

中国南极长城湾及附近海区1993/1994年夏季表层水样无机氮、磷酸盐的浓度及其分布状况

1993／1994年南极夏季对中国南极长城湾及附近海区表层海水四种营养盐浓度及其分布状况作了调查。结果表明，NH4－N、NO3－N、NO2－N及PO4－P的大致浓度分别是2．13、7．07、0．74和1．12μg·dm-3。一般来说，湾内高于湾外氮盐于12月份常出现高值。四种形态的无机盐类之最高、最低浓度出现的时间和站位不尽一致。∑N／P递减次序大致是12月，2月，1月。水温变化与NH4－N、PO4－P浓度和∑N／P的变化常较一致，而与NO2－N则常不一，一些站位上营养盐浓度偏低可能与浮游植物摄取有关。结果显示了调研海区的浅水内湾特征。浮游植物所需营养充分。该湾仍维持正常状态。     

南极长城湾沉积物中的自然金

作者在南极长城湾沉积物中首次发现金矿化、自然金和含金的碲、铋、锑化合物。本文着重报导了自然金特征、成色、共生矿物和物质来源等问题。     

Palaeoclimatic studies in South Shetland Islands,Antarctica, based on numerous stratigraphic variables in lake sediments

The hitherto longest found lake sediment sequence on Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, was analysed with respect to lithology, chronology, diatoms, Pediastrum, pollen and spores, mosses, mineralogy, and sediment chemistry. During the ca. 5000 year long development the sediments were influenced by frequent tephra fall-outs. This volcanic impact played a major role in the lake's history during two periods, 4700–4600 and 2800–2500 BP, but was of importance during the lake's entire history with considerable influence on many of the palaeoenvironmentally significant indicators. The large and complex data set was analysed and zonated with different types of multivariate analysis. This resulted in a subdivision of the sequence into 8 time periods and 21 variables. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of this data set, both without and with the tephra periods, and with 4–6 of the variables as explanatory environmental variables, reveal that climatic/environmental signals are detectable. The palaeoclimatic picture that emerged out of the tephra noise suggests that the first 100 years were characterized by mild, humid conditions. This was followed by a less mild and humid climate until ca. 4000 BP when a gradual warming seems to have started, coupled with increased humidity. These mild and humid conditions seem to have reached an optimum slightly after 3000 BP. At ca. 2500 BP a distinct climatic deterioration occurred with colder and drier conditions and long seasons with ice cover. This arid, cold phase probably reached its optimum conditions at ca. 1500 BP, when slightly warmer conditions might have prevailed for a while. Except for the modern sample with rather mild climate, the last 1400 years seem to have been fairly arid and cold, and the effects of the frequent volcanic activity during this period is only vaguely seen in the records.     

南极海冰、冰穴和冰川冰及其对水团形成和变性的作用

本文利用前人的成果及笔者1992/1993年的南极海冰观测和收集的资料以及水文观测资料数据阐述了南极海冰的特性,特别是南极海冰过程、冰穴以及冰川冰对南极水团(南极表层水、南极底层水、南极陆架水、南极中层水以及南极冰架水)的形成和变性所起的特殊作用。 南极海冰覆盖面积的年际变化,夏季最大年份是最小年份的2倍多,冬季年间变化较小,最大仅为20％;但其季节变化非常大,冬季平均覆盖面积通常是夏季的5倍。南极海冰对大气-海洋间相互作用有重大影响,特别是深海洋区中冬季的结冰和发育造成的垂向对流、夏季的融化是形成南极表层水(含南极冬季水和南极夏季表层水),进而形成南极中层水的主要原因;南极陆架区的的海冰兴衰过程是形成南极陆架水的直接原因,它与变性南极绕极深层水混合并受到冰川冰的进一步冷却作用,成为形成南极底层水的主要水团;南极冰架底部的冷却、融化和冰架以下水体的结冰作用形成的高盐对流过程产生的南极冰架水,亦是形成南极底层水的贡献者。 冰穴是70年代以来卫星观测的重大发现。对其形成和对大气、海洋的影响作用尚不完全清楚,初步的研究成果表明,冰穴中产生的热盐对流对南极水团的形成、变性、大洋深层的翻转以及海洋-大气间的热量传输和气体交换起有非常重要的作用。