New Data of Phosphatized Acritarchs from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation at Weng＇an, Guizhou Province, Southwest China

Abundant phosphatized acritarchs are preserved in the late Precambrian （Ediacaran） Doushantuo Formation at Weng＇an, Guizhou Province, southwest China. Most of them are large with various spinous ornaments and multilayered outer walls. The general characters of these fossils are quite similar to those found from the homochronous deposits of the Yangtze Gorges, southern China. Therefore the Doushantuo Formation in the Weng＇an area can be correlated directly with the Doushantuo Formation of the Yangtze Gorges. Four species in four genera, including two new genera, two new species and one uncertain species are systematically described for the first time from the studied locality. The taxa are Bacatisphaera baokangensis Zhou, Brasier et Xue, 2001, Taeniosphaera doushantuoensis gen. et sp. nov., Rugospinasphaera speciosa gen. et sp. nov. and Meghystichosphaeridium sp. The new data enriches the famous Weng＇an biota, especially the marine microplankton flora in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation.     

Three“first places”for Ediacaran Period

Definition of a new geologic period for the Iast interval of the Proterozoic Eon, the Ediacaran, was recently ratified by the IUGS. The Ediacaran Period is the first Proterozoic period to be recognized on the basis of chronostratigraphic criteria, the first internationally ratified, chronostratigraphically defined period of any age to be introduced in more than 120 years, and the first to be defined by a “golden spike” in the Southern hemisphere.     

Acanthomorph Biostratigraphic Succession of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the East Yangtze Gorges, South China

Large acanthomorphic acritarchs have been found in chert of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation at several localities in South China, including the East Yangtze Gorges of Hubei Province, Weng’an area of Guizhou Province, and elsewhere. However, their potential for biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of Ediacaran successions is limited by facies control, taphonomic biases, and taxonomic problems. In the Yangtze Gorges, the Doushantuo Formation is generally subdivided into four lithologic members. However, in the Weng’an area, the Doushantuo Formation comprises just a lower and upper part separated by a mid-Doushantuo erosional surface. In the Yangtze Gorges at the Zhangcunping section, the Doushantuo succession is similar to that at Weng’an. So far, the correlation between the Yangtze Gorges and Weng’an area, and elsewhere has been an issue of debate. To resolve the debate, we selected eight sections in the Yangtze Gorges area and systemically sampled chert nodules of the Doushantuo Formation, focusing in particular on the upper Doushantuo Formation. Our data confirm two different assemblages appearing separately in the second and third members, which are separated by a negative δ13C excursion (EN2). The lower assemblage is characterized by Tianzhushania and a diverse suite of large acanthomorphic acritarchs. The upper assemblage is distinguished from the lower assemblage, by (1) absence of Tianzhushania; (2) occurrence of abundant, 100–150 μm, smooth-walled spherical microfossils; (3) occurrence of highly diverse acanthomorphic acritarchs including species extending from the second member and new forms in this member; (4) occurrence of unnamed new forms of protist; and (5) occurrence of the tubular microfossil Sinocyclocylicus guizhouensis. Since the Tianzhushania-dominated assemblage is not present in Australia, it seems that only the upper acanthomorph assemblage is present and thus the lower Doushantuo acanthomorph assemblage is missing in Australia.     

There is no such thing as the ‘Ediacara Biota'

The term‘Ediacara Biota’(or many variants thereof)is commonly used to refer to certain megascopic fossils of Precambrian and early Palaeozoic age e but what does the term actually mean?What differentiates a non-Ediacaran‘Ediacaran’and an Ediacaran‘Ediacaran’from an Ediacaran non-‘Ediacaran’?Historically,the term has been used in either a geographic,stratigraphic,taphonomic,or biologic sense.More recent research and new discoveries,however,mean that the term cannot actually be defned on any of these bases,or any combination thereof.Indeed,the term is now used and understood in a manner which is internally inconsistent,and unintentionally implies that these fossils are somehow distinct from other fossil assemblages,which is simply not the case.Continued use of the term is a historical relic,which has led in part to incorrect assumptions that the‘Ediacara Biota’can be treated as a single coherent group,has obscured our understanding of the biological change over the PrecambrianeCambrian boundary,and has confused research on the early evolution of the Metazoa.In the future,the term‘Ediacaran’should be restricted to purely stratigraphic usage,regardless of affnity,geography,or taphonomy;suffcient terminology also exists where reference to specimens on a geographic,taphonomic,or biologic basis is required.It is therefore time to abandon the term‘Ediacara Biota’and to instead treat equally all of the fossils of the Ediacaran System.     

Shuram-Wonoka carbon isotope excursion:Ediacaran revolution in the world ocean's meridional overturning circulation

The late Ediacaran Shuram-Wonoka excursion, with δ~(13)C_(carb) values as low as-12‰(PDB) in marineshelf deposits and spanning up to 10 Myr, is the deepest and most protracted δ~(13)C_(carb) negative anomaly recognised in Earth history. The excursion formed on at least four continents in low(≤32°) palaeolatitudes, and in China is associated with a major phosphogenic event. Global and intrabasinal correlation, magnetostratigraphy, isotope conglomerate tests and further geochemical data are consistent with a primary or syn-depositional origin for the excursion. Continental-margin phosphorites are generated by oceanic upwelling driven by surface winds, and δ~(13)C_(carb) negative anomalies are explicable by oceanic upwelling of 13 C-depleted deep oceanic waters, arguing that a feature common to these exceptional Ediacaran events was unprecedented perturbation of the world ocean. These events occurred during the transition from an alien Proterozoic world marked by low-palaeolatitude glaciation near sea level and strong seasonality to the familiar Phanerozoic Earth with circum-polar glaciation and temperate climate, suggesting that the Shuram-Wonoka excursion is related to this profound change in Earth's climate system. Of various hypotheses for Proterozoic low-palaeolatitude glaciation, only the high obliquity(54°) hypothesis, which posits secular decrease in obliquity to near the present-day value(23.5°) during the Ediacaran, predicts an unparalleled revolution in the Ediacaran world ocean. The obliquity controls the sense of the world ocean's meridional overturning circulation, which today is driven by the sinking of cold, dense water at the poles and upwelling driven by zonal surface winds.When the decreasing obliquity passed the critical value of 54° during the Ediacaran the meridional temperature gradient reversed, with the equator becoming warmer than the poles and Hadley lowlatitude(30°-35°) atmospheric zonal circulation reversing. This reversal of the temperature gradient is unique to the Ediacaran Period and caused reversal of the oceanic meridional overturning circulation,with upwelling of anoxic, 13 C-depleted deep oceanic waters producing a deeply negative and protractedδ~(13)C_(carb) signature on late Ediacaran marine-shelf deposits.     

Geochemical reasons for high vulnerability of northern taiga ecosystems on hard gypsum outcrops

Northern taiga ecosystems on hard gypsum outcrops were studied at the area of Plnega State Reserve in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia. Landscapes on gypsum outcrops are very specific and characterized by a dissected karst topography and predominance of soils formed on hard gypsum. Phytocenoses confined to soils on hard gypsum are oligotrophic and significantly differ from generally known boreal forests. In the northern taiga, these are open woodlands characterized by the prevalence of suppressed pines and larches and the presence of rare arcto-alpine species （e.g. Gypsophylla uralensis subsp, pinegensis） in the lower tiers. It was found that ecosystems on gypsum outcrops are very vulnerable for fires with slow processes of vegetation recovery. Chemical methods of rocks, soils and plants samples investigation include pH （potentiometrically）, humus （T＇urin＇s method）, nitrogen （K＇eldal＇s method） and total content of other 20 macro- and microelements （X-ray fluorescence analysis）. The analysis of hard gypsum and the local geochemical background of the Pinega region （glacial loamy deposits） showed that gypsum rock is enriched only in S, Ca, and Sr： it consists of 99% CaSO4＊2H2O and is non-calcareous according to pH levels and negative result of qualitative reaction with HCl. The contents of Br, Pb and N are close to those of moraine. But most of nutrients have concentrations insufficient for normal plant growth, e.g. K and Mn are found in quantities of 1/400 and less than 1/1000 of their contents in silicate loamy soils of the study area. Distribution of all chemical elements in the profiles of soils formed on gypsum shows that there is no accumulation of any eluvium during soil formation because of total dissolution of disintegrated gypsum material. In this specific soil litter is the main horizon of most of nutrient concentration and, therefore, its role for plants nutrition became more important than in soils on glacial loams. The fires destroying soil litter, which is extremely precious for the whole ecosystem on geochemically pure gypsum, also causes an intensive denudation of organic horizons on slopes of karst landforms.     

A New Progress of the Proterozoic Chronostratigraphical Division

The Precambrian, an informal chronostratigraphical unit, represents the period of Earth history from the start of the Cambrian at ca. 541 Ma back to the formation of the planet at 4567 Ma. It was originally conceptualized as a "Cryptozoic Eon" that was contrasted with the Phanerozoic Eon from the Cambrian to the Quaternary, which is now known as the Precambrian and can be subdivided into three eons, i.e., the Hadean, the Archean and the Proterozoic. The Precambrian is currently divided chronometrically into convenient boundaries, including for the establishment of the Proterozoic periods that were chosen to reflect large-scale tectonic or sedimentary features(except for the Ediacaran Period). This chronometric arrangement might represent the second progress on the study of chronostratigraphy of the Precambrian after its separation from the Phanerozoic. Upon further study of the evolutionary history of the Precambrian Earth, applying new geodynamic and geobiological knowledge and information, a revised division of Precambrian time has led to the third conceptual progress on the study of Precambrian chronostratigraphy. In the current scheme, the Proterozoic Eon began at 2500 Ma, which is the approximate time by which most granite-greenstone crust had formed, and can be subdivided into ten periods of typically 200 Ma duration grouped into three eras(except for the Ediacaran Period). Within this current scheme, the Ediacaran Period was ratified in 2004, the first period-level addition to the geologic time scale in more than a century, an important advancement in stratigraphy. There are two main problems in the current scheme of Proterozoic chronostratigraphical division:(1) the definition of the Archean–Proterozoic boundary at 2500 Ma, which does not reflect a unique time of synchronous global change in tectonic style and does not correspond with a major change in lithology;(2) the round number subdivision of the Proterozoic into several periods based on broad orogenic characteristics, which has not met with requests on the concept of modern stratigraphy, except for the Ediacaran Period. In the revised chronostratigraphic scheme for the Proterozoic, the Archean–Proterozoic boundary is placed at the major change from a reducing early Earth to a cooler, more modern Earth characterized by the supercontinent cycle, a major change that occurred at ca. 2420 Ma. Thus, a revised Proterozoic Eon(2420–542 Ma) is envisaged to extend from the Archean–Proterozoic boundary at ca. 2420 Ma to the end of the Ediacaran Period, i.e., a period marked by the progressive rise in atmospheric oxygen, supercontinent cyclicity, and the evolution of more complex(eukaryotic) life. As with the current Proterozoic Eon, a revised Proterozoic Eon based on chronostratigraphy is envisaged to consist of three eras(Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic), but the boundary ages for these divisions differ from their current ages and their subdivisions into periods would also differ from current practice. A scheme is proposed for the chronostratigraphic division of the Proterozoic, based principally on geodynamic and geobiological events and their expressions in the stratigraphic record. Importantly, this revision of the Proterozoic time scale will be of significant benefit to the community as a whole and will help to drive new research that will unveil new information about the history of our planet, since the Proterozoic is a significant connecting link between the preceding Precambrian and the following Phanerozoic.     

Correlation analysis and partial least square modeling to quantify typical minerals with Chang＇E-3 visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometer＇s ground validation data

In 2013, Chang＇E-3 program will develop lunar mineral resources in-situ detection. A Visible and Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer （VNIS） has been selected as one payload of CE-3 lunar rover to achieve this goal. It is critical and urgent to evaluate VNIS＇ spectrum data quality and validate quantification methods for mineral composition before its launch. Ground validation experiment of VNIS was carried out to complete the two goals, by simulating CE-3 lunar rover＇s detection environment on lunar surface in the laboratory. Based on the hyperspectral reflectance data derived, Correlation Analysis and Partial Least Square （CA-PLS） algorithm is applied to predict abundance of four lunar typical minerals （pyroxene, plagioclase, ilmenite and olivine） in their mixture. We firstly selected a set of VNIS＇ spectral parameters which highly correlated with minerals＇ abundance by correlation analysis （CA）, and then stepwise regression method was used to find out spectral parameters which make the largest contri- butions to the mineral contents. At last, functions were derived to link minerals＇ abundance and spectral parameters by partial least square （PLS） algorithm. Not considering the effect of maturity, agglutinate and Fe~, we found that there are wonderful correlations between these four minerals and VNIS＇ spectral parameters, e.g. the abundance of pyroxene correlates positively with the mixture＇s absorption depth, the value of absorption depth added as the in- creasing of pyroxene＇s abundance. But the abundance of plagioclase correlates negatively with the spectral parame- ters of band ratio, the value of band ratio would decrease when the abundance of plagioclase increased. Similar to plagioclase, the abundance of ilmenite and olivine has a negative correlation with the mixture＇s reflectance data, if the abundance of ilmenite or olivine increase, the reflectance values of the mixture will decrease. Through model validation, better estimates of pyroxene, plagioclase and ilmenite＇s abundances are given. It is concluded that VNIS has the capability to be applied on lunar minerals＇ identification, and CA-PLS algorithm has the potential to be used on lunar surface＇s in-situ detection for minerals＇ abundance prediction.     

Annelid from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation in Northeastern Guizhou, China

Wenghuiia jiangkouensis gen. et sp. nov., characterized by modern annelid taxonomy in morphology and functional biology, is found in black carbonaceous shale from the Neoproterozoic Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation （about 555 Ma） near Wenghui, Jiangkou, northeastern Guizhou Province. The elongate, cylindrical body is composed of many homologous metameres with a true coelom and coelomic pouches. The mouth is at the front of the first segment and the anus at the end of body. A long 11th or 12th segment is probably functionally for procreation, being a clitellum. There are parapodia on the venter of the segments from the rear of the second segment to the front of the clitellum. The setae on all metameres, on the parapodia, and around the anus, differ. In the centre of body, a line probably represents the alimentary canal passing through the body from mouth to anus. A closed vascular system consists of a dorsal vessel at least. W. jiankouensis might represent the oldest discovered ＇modern＇ annelid but it is not a primitive type. It lived on the depositional surface of a shallow sea with an environment of calm-water and abundant light.     

A new schedule for copper chemical speciation analysis in soil and water sediment

The speciation of heavy metals is very important to evaluate their environmental impact. This issue has become an interested topic many decades ago and many significative studies were carried out such as direct detecting, calculation with mathematical model represented in recent years as well as Tessier＇s work in 1979, BCR＇s work in 1993, etc. In all of them, the methods recommended by Tessier and BCR are most often used in practical study today. But it should be seen that experimental schedule and agents define these methods including BCR＇s method, which improved on Tessier＇s method, only. In many cases, there always are deviations between analytical results and real content of the speciation. Otherwise, steps of the extraction experiment are always strict and excessive in the experimental process. The method, which is fitting to extract the speciation of bioavailability and easy to assess the effect of metals in the environment, is very anticipant. In this paper, the sequential three steps schedule of speciation analysis of copper in soil and water sediment is discussed as an example based on the comparative results of experimental analysis with the schedules of BCR＇s （mended by Rauret et al. in 1999） and TDPA （diethylenetriamine pentacetic acid） extraction, respectively. The results from sequential three steps method and other methods recommended by prevenient work suggest that the analytical schedule of sequential three steps of separating speciation （the speciation of easy effect to life-form, the speciation available to life-form, and the speciation of no effect to life-form） is valuable for copper speciation analysis in soil and sediment. Because of easy process and saving time to evaluate its availability for life form,     

New Data of Macrofossils in the Ediacaran Wenghui Biota from Guizhou, South China

The abundance and diversity of macrofossils in the Ediacaran have attracted much attention. The upper Doushantuo macrobiotas in South China, including the Miaohe biota from Hubei and the Wenghui biota from Guizhou, are mainly preserved as the carbonaceous compressions and dominated by macroscopic algae and metazoans. Here, we describe 10 genera and 10 species (including 6 new genera and species) of macrofossils from the Wenghui biota. At present, the Wenghui biota yields macrofossils in more than 31 genera and 33 species, excluding those given no image and established on a few unascertained specimens. Based on the occurrence and distribution of macrofossils in both Miaohe and Wenghui areas, the middle-late Ediacaran (back shales of the upper Doushantuo Formation) in South China can be subdivided into two assemblage biozones in biostratigraphy: (i) the Protoconites–Linbotulitaenia–Eoandromeda–Anomalophton assemblage biozone characterized by abundant and diverse macrofossils and by the ranges of Protoconites, Linbotulitaenia and Anomalophton; and (ii) the Baculiphyca–Gesinella–Cucullus–Beltanelliformis assemblage biozone characterized by the acme of the longer macrofossils Baculiphyca and Gesinella, and by few shorter and discoidal macrofossils.     

Study on rain-runoff process in the peripheral mountainous area of the Sichuan Basin

Studies on rain-runoff process in the peripheral mountainous area of the Sichuan Basin, which is regarded as a key ecological shelter, will contribute to flood control and environmental protection for the Upper Yangtze River Basin. In two typical catchments--the Fujiang River Catchment and the Wujiang River Catchment, rainfall simulations have been conducted to study the rain-runoff processes of yellow soil and limestone soil in three types of land use--forestland, farmland and grassland. Results showed that （1） within the same rainfall process, overland flow occurs first on farmland, then on grassland, and finally on forestland; （2） soil surface coverage has a great impact on the occurrence and amount of overland flow. The runoff amount can increase 2-4 times after the coverage is removed; （3） the infiltration before the occurrence of overland flow will decrease because of higher gravel contents of soil, but it takes no effect on infiltration once overland flow becomes stable; （4） the runoff coefficient of the limestone soil forestland is greater than that of the yellow soil forest land, but less than that of the farmland; （5） three empirical infiltration models, including Horton＇ model, Kostiakov＇ model, and modified Kostiakov＇ model, were compared by using the observed results under rainfall simulation. The results showed that the Kostiakov＇ model performed better than both the Horton＇ model and modified Kostiakov model. According to the results of this research, the Kostiakov＇s model can be used to simulate rainfall infiltration when water erosion is modeled in the peripheral mountainous area of the Sichuan Basin.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167498711400067X

The Proterozoic Bamble Sector, South Norway, is one of the world＇s classic amphiboliteto granulite- facies transition zones. It is characterized by a well-developed isograd sequence, with isolated ＇granulite-facies islands＇ in the amphibolite-facies portion of the transition zone. The area is notable for the discovery of C02-dominated fluid inclusions in the granolite-facies rocks by Jacques Touter in the late 1960＇s, which triggered discussion of the role of carbonic fluids during granulite genesis. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of the Bamble Sector, with an emphasis on the Arendal-Froland-Nelaug-Tvedestrand area and off shore islands （most prominantly Tromay and Hisoy） where the transition zone is best developed. After a brief overview of the history of geological research and mining in the area, aspects of sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic petrology of the Bamble Sector are discussed, including the role of fluids. Issues relevant to current geotectonic models for SW Scandinavia, directly related to the Bamble Sector, are discussed at the end of the review.     

Application of Seismic Anisotropy Caused by Fissures in Coal Seams to the Detection of Coal-bed Methane Reservoirs

Coal-bed methane is accumulated in micro-fissures and cracks in coal seams. The coal seam is the source terrace and reservoir bed of the coal-bed methane (Qian et al., 1996). Anisotropy of coal seams is caused by the existence of fissures. Based on the theory of S wave splitting: an S wave will be divided into two S waves with nearly orthogonal polarization directions when passing through anisotropic media, i.e. the fast S wave with its direction of propagation parallel to that of the fissure and slow S wave with the direction of propagation perpendicular to that of the fissure.This paper gives the results of laboratory research and field test on the S wave splitting caused by coal-seam fissures: The results show that it is, feasible to detect fissures in coal seams by applying the converted S wave and finally gives the development zone and development direction of these fissures.     

From the Early Paleozoic Platforms of Baltica and Laurentia to the Caledonide Orogen of Scandinavia and Greenland

The Caledonide Orogen in the Nordic countries is exposed in Norway, western Sweden, westernmost Finland, on Svalbard and in northeast Greenland. In the mountains of western Scandinavia, the structure is dominated by E-vergent thrusts with allochthons derived from the Baltoscandian platform and margin, from outboard oceanic （lapetus） terranes and with the highest thrust sheets having Laurentian affinities. The other side of this bivergent orogen is well exposed in northeastern Greenland, where W-vergent thrust sheets emplace Laurentian continental margin assemblages onto the platform. Svalbard＇s Caledonides are disrupted by late Caledonian faults, but have close affinity with the Laurentian margin in Northeast Greenland. Only Svalbard＇s Southwestern terrane is foreign to this margin, showing affinity, to the Pearya terrane of northern Ellesmere Island in arctic Canada. Between the margins of western Scandinavia and eastern Greenland, the wide continental shelves, now covered by late Paleozoic and younger successions, are inferred to be underlain by the Caledonide hinterland, probably incorporating substantial Grenville-age basement. In northernmost Norway, the NE-trending Caledonian thrust front truncates the NW-trending Neoproterozoic Timanide orogen of northwest Russia. Much of the central and eastern parts of the Barents Shelf are thought to be underlain by Caledonian-deformed Timanide basement.
Caledonian orogeny in Norden resulted from the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and Scandian collision of continent Baltica with Laurentia. Partial subduction of the Baltoscandian margin beneath Laurentia in the midlate Silurian was followed by rapid exhumation of the highly metamorphosed hinterland in the early Devonian, and deposition of Old Red Sandstones in intramontane basins. Late Scandian collapse of the orogen occurred on major extensional detachments, with defor mation persisting into the late Devonian.     

Rapid natural acid weathering, physical erosion, and debris-flow hazards in scar areas developed on hydrothermally-altered rocks along the Red River Valley near Questa, New Mexico, USA

Prominent erosional scars on hillslopes along the Red River Valley have steep, denuded slopes and associated down-gradient debris fans. The scars developed naturally on stockwork-veined, quartz-sericite-pyrite （QSP）-altered volcanic rocks proximal to porphyry-Mo deposits, including those mined at the Molycorp＇s Questa mine. Downcutting of the Red River, following development of the Rio Grande rift to the west, initiated scar formation. Mineralized rocks in the scars were decomposed chemically （by pyrite oxidation and acid weathering） and physically （by freeze-thaw action and volume expansion from secondary gypsum formation） to produce a weathered veneer of sand- to pebble-size fragments of unweathered rock in a matrix of secondary gypsum, clays, and jarosite. Unoxidized QSP-altered bedrock crops out in steep scar gully bottoms, indicating that the weathered veneer is at most 3-30 m thick. Acidic （pH 2.6 to 4.4）, metal-rich waters develop in the weathered veneer and near-surface bedrock of the scars. Carbonates in the unweathered, QSP-altered bedrock are sufficient to neutralize acid in deeper ground waters, which have near-neutral pH （5.7 to 7.6） and lower metal contents. The scars grow along steep headwalls by slope failure of the weathered veneer.     

Effects of human activities on mercury in the environment in Xi＇an area, China

Effects of mercury on ecosystems and human health are well documented. Human activities have significant impacts on transport, transformation, and fate of mercury in the natural environment. In this study, a gold mining area （Tongchuan）, an urban area （Xi＇an）, and a historical site （Qinshihuan Tomb） in Shaanxi Province, China, was chosen to study the effects of human activities on the transport, transformation, and fate of mercury in the area. Samples of atmospheric precipitate, soil, sediment, pomegranate, corn and those from wells and the rivers that flow through or flow by the city and from the mining area were collected. The EPA methods were used for sample preparation and analysis of these samples. These methods combine acid digestion, chemical reduction, purge and trap with Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry （CVAFS）. Preliminary results showed high total mercury concentrations in the water samples collected from a river in Tongguan County. The total mercury concentrations ranged from 133 to 188 ng/L in the water samples collected from the rivers flowing through Xi＇an City. The amount of total mercury in the soil/sediment samples which were collected in the vicinity of Xi＇an ranged from 31.8 to 83.2 ng/g. The total mercury concentrations in the samples of atmospheric precipitate （including rain and snow collected from Sep. 2005 to Jan. 2006） ranged from 106-298 ng/L.     

A comparison between heavy metals released from soil and its efficient speciation extracted by sequential extraction procedure

A simulating experiment was carried out on the interaction between natural precipitation and soil. The results demonstrated that the contents of heavy metals （V, Co, Cr, and Ni） released from soil into the solution under Earth＇s surface conditions are higher than the contents of those metals bonded to exchangeable species, which were extracted by sequential extraction procedure recommended by Tessier and others in 1979. It is demonstrated that the metals bonded to other 3 species （carbonate, Fe-Mn oxide, and organic matter） except those bonded to the exchangeable species in efficient speciation can be released under the Earth＇s surface conditions, when pH=4 in the reaction system, and the higher correlation coefficient indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals released from soil into the solution vary approximately with reaction time in terms of index regulations.     

Late Paleozoic Fluid Systems and Their Ore-forming Effects in the Yuebei Basin, Northern Guangdong, China

Based on detailed and systematic researches of the geology of ore deposits, fluid inclusions and isotope geochemistry etc., and regarding the Late Paleozoic fluid system of the Yuebei Basin as an integrated object in this paper, we have revealed the temporo-spatial evolution law of the basin＇s fluid system and discussed its ore-forming effects by simulating and analyzing the distribution of ore-forming elements, the fluid thermodynamics and dynamics of evolution processes of this basin. The results show that Late Paleozoic ore-forming fluid systems of the Yuebei Basin include four basic types as follows. （1） The sea floor volcanic-exhalation system developed during the rapid basin slip-extension stage in the Mid-Late Devonian, which affected the Dabaoshan region. It thus formed the Dabaoshan-type Cu-Pb-Zn-Fe sea floor volcanic-exhalation sedimentary deposits. （2） The compaction fluid system developed during the stable spreading and thermal subsidence-compression stage of the basin in the Mid-Late Devonian. The range of its effects extended all over the whole basin. It resulted in filling-metasomatic deposits, such as the Hongyan-type pyrite deposits and pyrite sheet within the Fankou-type Cu-Pb-Zn-S deposits. （3） The hot water circulation system of sea floor developed during the stage of basin uplifting and micro-aulacogen from the late Late Carboniferous to Middle Carboniferous. The range of its effects covered the Fankou region. It thus formed MVT deposits, such as the main orebody of the Fankou-type Pb-Zn-S deposits. （4） The gravity fluid system developed during the stage of fold uplifting and the basin closed from Middle Triassic to Jurassic, forming groundwater hydrothermal deposits, e.g. the veinlet Pb-Zn-calcite orebodies of the Fankou-type Pb-Zn- S deposits. Migration and concentration of the ore-forming fluids were constrained by the state of temporo-spatial distribution of its fluid potential. Growth faults not only converged the fluids and drove them to move upwards, but also the fluids often crossed the faults to the edges of the basin at the bottom of these faults and the lithologic interfaces, and even migrated to the basin＇s edges from top to bottom along the faults, which may be one of the basic reasons for the stratabound deposits to cluster mainly along the contemporaneous faults on the inner border of the basin. The superposed mineralization resulting from the multi-stage activity of contemporaneous faults and ore-forming fluid systems in the basin may be one of the key factors for forming superlarge ore deposits.     

Arrenotokous toxic action and mechanism of atmospheric contamination： Toluene Diisocyanate

Toluene Diisocyanate is an atmospheric contaminant. To evaluate the arrenotokous toxic action and mechanism of Toluene Diisocyanate, diversifications of mice＇s testis tissue in the level of morphology and enzyme were observed and the effect on the content of RNA/DNA in arrenotokous cells was evaluated. Results showed Toluene Diisocyanate induced toxic action on spermatogenic cell, while the chondriosome was its target within the length and concentrations of exposure to TDI. TDI interfered not only with the energy-supply process of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, but also the energy-utilization in testis tissue by affecting enzyme activities. In addition, TDI also damnified spermatogenic cell and led to inreversible harm on spermatogenic epithelium. All resulted in toxic action on male mice＇s genital system. TDI had certain restraining effects on nucleic acid metabolism and DNA composition in arrenotokous cell. All the evidence sufficiently proved that TDI had certain arrenotokous toxic action on the level of morphology, enzyme and gene.