High—Resolution Dating of Stalagmites and Reconstruction of Paleo—Environments

The discovery of abrupt paleo-climate change events and the prediction of environmental changes in the future time have raised an urgent request for high-resolution paleo-environmental records.This paper reviews the progress made in hronology and paleo-environment of stalagmites from karst caves in China and presents some of the results of TIMS-U-series dating of stalagmites composed of secondary carbonates,taken from the Dongge,Longquan and Yamen karst caves in Libo County and the Qixing karst cave in Duyun,Guizhou Province,on a MAT-262 mass spectrometer.     

The calculation of hydrocarbon-generating temperature——Theory and practice

How to quantitatively evaluate the maturity of crude oils is still an open question. Mango discovered a remarkable compositional invariance of four isoheptane ratios in crude oils, and proposed a steady-state catalytic model for the origin of light hydrocarbons. According to this model, 2,4/2,3 dimethylpentane ratio is a pure temperature parameter. Bement, Mango et al. established the functional equation between the two parameters-light hydrocarbon temperature and burial temperature and applied it to the calculation of hydrocarbon-generating temperature, which provided a new choice for the study of oil maturity. In this paper, the Mango's parameters for hydrocarbons from the Tazhong area were calculated, the average K1 value is 1.06, which is in good consistency with the Mango's proposal that the K1 value is relatively stable. Calculated with the functional formula of hydrocarbon-generating temperature, the hydrocarbon-generating temperatures are with the range of 120-129℃, and the converted vitrinite reflectance (Ro) varies from 0.88% to 0.90%. This is well consistent with the maturity characteristics of neohopanes. The results have verified the reliability of this method.     

Genesis of magnesite deposits — models and trends

Magnesite is relatively frequent as a mineral, there are, however, only two types of economically important deposits:The world's largest reserves are found in deposits of theVeitsch type. These are strata-bound lensoid and nearly monomineralic bodies consisting of coarsely crystalline »spar« magnesite hosted by marine platform sediments. Conspicuous are sedimentary and diagenetic features of the magnesite bearing suites, which indicate formation within a subtidal, evaporitic environment closely associated with sabkhas, mudbars or other inter- to supratidal highs. The coarse crystallinity of these magnesites is a product of diagenesis.As spar magnesites as a rock are mainly characterized by diagenetic features it is now often concluded that the main phase of magnesium concentration would also have taken place during late diagenesis or early metamorphism from fluids formed by these processes. In that case, their origin would be by hydrothermal replacement.Contrary to this trend it is here concluded by integrating important data that Veitsch type magnesites are essentially ofsyngenetic origin. A genetic model is presented, which stresses their kinship with shallow water marine chloride type evaporites.Deposits of cryptocrystalline magnesite of theKraubath type are much smaller and less frequent than spar magnesites, although they are quite important because of their high quality product. Deposits include veins and stockworks of snow-white magnesite in ultramafic country rocks.Genetic models of Kraubath type magnesites include the extremes of supergene alteration versus hypogene-hydrothermal formation. In this paper, arguments are discussed which favour the second interpretation, illustrated by a model asSynearsurface epithermal deposits.

---

Zusammenfassung Magnesit ist zwar ein relativ häufiges Mineral, seine wirtschaftlich bedeutenden Lagerstätten erscheinen aber nur in zwei Typen:Die größten bergbaulichen Reserven liegen imVeitsch Typ vor, das sind schichtgebundene, linsige Körper von nahezu monomineralischem, grobkristallinem »Spatmagnesit« in marinen Plattformsedimenten. Besonders auffällig sind charakteristische sedimentäre und diagenetische Merkmale dieser Lagerstätten und ihrer Nebengesteine, welche insgesamt auf Bildung in einem subtidalen, evaporitischen Milieu in enger Nachbarschaft zu naheliegenden Sabkhas oder Schlammbänken und anderen inter- bis supratidalen Hochzonen verweisen.Daß Spatmagnesite ihre Hauptprägung offenbar während der Diagenese erfahren führt dazu, daß heute auch die erstmalige Konzentration des Mg in den Lagerstätten in diese Phase verlegt wird. Daraus ergäbe sich eine hydrothermal-metasomatische Entstehung durch Fluide, deren Herkunft zur Zeit meist in Zusammenhang mit diagenetischen oder metamorphen Prozessen gebracht wird.Im Gegensatz zu diesem Trend wird hier auf Grund einer Zusammenschau aller wesentlichen Daten zu diesen Lagerstätten eine im wesentlichensyngenetische Entstehung der Spatmagnesite vertreten. Es wird ein Modell vorgestellt, in dem die Ähnlichkeit mit chloridischen Seichtwasserevaporiten betont ist.Ogerstätten von kryptokristallinem Magnesit desKraubath Typs sind seltener und relativ klein, doch infolge der Rohstoffqualität besonders gesucht. Es sind Gänge und oberflächennahe Stockwerkkörper von schneeweißem Magnesit in ultramafischen Nebengesteinen, der oft kolloforme, selten auch faserige Texturen zeigt.Genetische Modelle der Bildung solcher Magnesitlagerstätten liegen zwischen den unvereinbaren Extremen einer supergenen Entstehung durch Verwitterung und einer hypogen-hydrothermalen Bildung. Es werden Argumente für das zweitgenannte Modell angeführt, wobei auffällige Parallelen zuoberflächennahen, epithermalen Lagerstätten festgestellt werden.

---

Résumé Bien que la magnésite soit un minéral relativement fréquent, elle ne constitue que deux types de gisements d'importance économique:Le premier est le type Veitsch dont les gisements comportent les plus grandes réserves de magnésite du monde. Il s'agit de corps lenticulaires «strata-bounds», formés de magnésite grossière («spathique») presque monominérale et contenus dans des sédiments marins de plate-forme. Diverses structures sédimentaires et diagénétiques dans les roches de ces séries indiquent une formation dans un milieu sub-évaporitique, en association étroite avec des sabkhas, des «mud bars» et d'autres milieux inter- à supratidaux. La cristallinité grossière de ces magnésites est d'origine diagénétique. Comme ces magnésites spathiques portent surtout l'empreinte du stade diagénétique, on tend aujourd'hui à rapporter aussi à ce stade la phase principale de concentration du Mg. Ceci impliquerait une formation par métasomatose hydrothermale de carbonates pré-existants, les fluides responsables de ce métasomatisme étant d'origine diagénétique ou métamorphique.Contrairement à ce modèle courant, et se basant sur une revue de l'ensemble de données actuelles, on conclut ici que les magnésites du type Veitsch sont essentiellement d'origine sédimentaire. L'auteur présente un modèle génétique qui fait appel à une relation étroite avec des évaporites marines du type chloruré.La deuxième source économique de magnésite est représentée par les gisements du type Kraubath, dont les réserves sont beaucoup moins importantes mais la qualité supérieure comparées à celles des magnésites spathiques. Il s'agit de filons et Stockwerks de magnésite d'un blanc de neige dans des roches ultramafiques.Les interprétations génétiques avancées pour les gisements du type Kraubath comportent des modèles extrêmes: origine par altération supergène d'une part et formation à partir des fluides hydrothermaux d'autre part. Les arguments discutés dans la présente note sont en faveur de la deuxième interprétation; ils sont illustrés par un modèle de gisements épithermaux peu profonds.

---

, . Veitsch, - «» . , - , . , , , , , . , , . , , . . . , . Kraubath . - . , ; , . : - . , .

     

P’yŏngyang — ancient and modern —the capital of North Koreangyang — ancient and modern —the capital of North Korea

The capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) is both the oldest and the newest settlement in Korea. The basic concepts in its early urban development made it the model for Korean cities of later ages. In the 6th and 7th century AD P’yôngyang was one of the largest cities in Asia, second only to the imperial capital of China, but it later declined. It partly recovered its former position when it became the capital of North Korea after World War II. Its reconstruction since the Korean War has made it one of the most striking examples of socialist city planning.     

Fractal and Multifractal Propertiesof the Spatial Distribution of Natural Fractures——Analyses and Applications

The Cantor's dust theory is applied to investigate the scaling properties of the spatial distribution of natural fractures obtained from detailed scanline surveys of 27 field sites in the Appalachian Plateau of western New York, USA. The results obtained in this study indicate: 1) fracture spacing is characterized by fractal and multifractal properties. On small scales analyses yield an average fractal dimension of 0.15, which suggests a very high degree of clustering. In contrast, on large scales, fractures tend to be more regular and evenly distributed with an average fracture dimension of 0.52; 2) fractal dimension varies with different sets in different orientations, which can be attributed to interactions between pre-existing fractures and younger ones, as well as variations of the intensity of the stresses under which the fractures were formed; 3) a time sequence of fracture set formation can be proposed based on fractal and multifractal analyses, which consists of (from old to young): N-S, NW, EN     

Age,Mechanism and Direction of Eash Qinling—Dabieshan Lithosphere Delamination——Petrological Evidence and Stipulation

Throughy studies of P-T-t paths and decompressive retrograde metamorphic textures of metamorphic rocks in the East Qinling-Dabieshan region,the authors determined the Mesozoic crust rapid uplifting age,and then inferred that in the East Qinling-Dabieshan region lithosphere delamination occurred from T3 to J1.The Yanshanian granites produced by delamination are developed well in the East Qinling-Dabieshan region.But due to the Gondwana plate effect,magmatism in the region caused by delamination lagged until J3 when the northern Tibet terrane and the Eurasian plate completely amalgamated.Additionally,due to western Pacific plate subducting underneath the Eurasian plate,in the East Qinling-Dabieshan region the stress state was transformed from compression to extension.So in the region from J3 to K2 magmatism was most intensive,and liberalization was also relatively strong.Geophysical data reflect that in the East Qinling-Dabieshan region the asthenosphere rose to the shallow level,the Moho is flat with no mountain root,and the crustal thickness is less than 40 km on average. These features agree with those of collisional orogenes in which delamination has occurred.Through contrastin differences in surface and interior depth between east and west Qinling we believe that elamination proceeded from east to west.     

Potential Applications of Nano—Scale Science and Technology in Geosciences and Experimental Studies of Nanometer—Sized Gold Adsorption on Minerals and Rocks

Potential applications of Nano-scale science and technology are discussed in mineralogy,ore deposits,cosmochemistry and environmental sciences.Adsorption of nanometersized gold was experimentally studied on a variety of minerals and rocks.     

Geochemical Mapping——Evolution of Its Aims, Ideas and Technology

The development of geochemical mapping progressed from local geochemical prospecting through regional geochemical exploration and regional geochemical mapping to national and global geochemical mapping. This paper discusses the evolution of aims, ideas and methodology of geochemical mapping in Western countries, Russia and China. The sophistication of geochemical mapping methodology will make great contributions to solving resources and environmental problems in the 21st century.     

Dissipative Structures of Rock—and Ore—forming Systems in Faults

The dissipative structure is an ordered structure.When a ssyterm is far from reaching equilibrium in the condition of non-equilibrium and exchanges some energy and material with the surroundings,this structure will be formed and preserved.Starting with the analysis of practical data,we attempt to use this theory to discuss the tectono-geochemical problems of some rock and ore-forming systems in faults.1.Ordered structure:Under the geological condition,due to the opening of a system in which energy and material are involved in geochemical action,the entropy tends to reduce gradually and substances evolve from non-ordered to ordered in structure.In the processes of formation of rocks and ores in faults,various layer-bands will be formed in rocks.2.Functional action:The physico-chemical activities which include pressure-creeping and thermal-diffusion as well as liquid diffusion have been shown.3.Fluctuating cycle:In the process of metamorphism,various changes in pressure,temperature and liquid are of fluctuation and periodicity.These may play an important role in the formation of rocks and minerals and the occurrence of ordered structures in fault zones.A few examples of mineral deposits in the middle and lower Yangtze River Valley are presented here,and the dissipative activities of rock-forming minerals and mineral-forming elements have been preliminarily established.     

Geochemical Mapping——Evolution of Its Aims,Ideas and Technology

The development of geochemical mapping progressed from local geochemical prospecting through regional geochemical exploration and regional geochemical mapping to national and global geochemical mapping.This paper discusses the evolution of aims,ideas and methodology of geochemical mapping in Western countries,Russia and China.The sophistication of geochemical mapping methodology will make great contributions to solving resources and environmental problems in the 21~(st) century.     

The calculation of hydrocarbon-generating temperature — Theory and practice

How to quantitatively evaluate the maturity of crude oils is still an open question. Mango discovered a remarkable compositional invariance of four isoheptane ratios in crude oils, and proposed a steady-state catalytic model for the origin of light hydrocarbons. According to this model, 2,4/2,3 dimethylpentane ratio is a pure temperature parameter. Bement, Mango et al. established the functional equation between the two parameters--light hydrocarbon temperature and burial temperature and applied it to the calculation of hydrocarbon-generating temperature, which provided a new choice for the study of oil maturity. In this paper, the Mango＇s parameters for hydrocarbons from the Tazhong area were calculated, the average K1 value is 1.06, which is in good consistency with the Mango＇s proposal that the K1 value is relatively stable. Calculated with the functional formula of hydrocarbon-generating temperature, the hydrocarbon-generating temperatures are with the range of 120-129℃, and the converted vitrinite reflectance （Ro） varies from 0.88% to 0.90%. This is well consistent with the maturity characteristics of neohopanes. The results have verified the reliability of this method.     

Bond—Valence Sum and Distortion of Coordination Polyhedra

By using the Lagrange‘s intermediate value theorem,it is derived mathematically that the structur-al distortion of a coordination polyhedron may lead to an increase in bond-valence sum of the cen-tral atom of ion .The applicabilities of the bond-valence model are discussed in the following two cases:the modeling of crystal structure ,and the indication of distortion degree of a coordination polyhedron.Also it is shown that a distorted polyhedron should be in favor of a longer average bond length or a smaller coordination number.     

The Occurrence and Geochemistry of Di—and Trimethyl—2—（4,8,12—trimethyltridecyl）Chromans and Benzohopanes in Fushun Cannel Coal,Northeast China

The distribution of methy1-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chromans (M-MTTC)is relat-ed to sedimentary environments.5,7,8-tri-Me-MTTC,5,8-di-Me-MTTC and 7,8-di-Me-MTTC have been found in coal for the first time,implying thatM-MTTC is widely spread in sediments.The distri-bution of M-MTTC the presence of C32-C35 benzohopanes,high Pr/Ph ratio,obvious even-odd pre-dominance in C24-C34 alkanes and odd-even predominance in normal alkanes provide strong evidence of a near-shore lacustrine environment.     

Dynamic Features of Angular Unconformity Formation——Extensional and Compressional Angular Unconformities

Angular unconformity is one of the most direct and strongest evidences for approving the tectonic movements of the earth's crust. Its dynamic genesis process has been understood to be mainly related to the compressional setting for a long time. Especially, in a detailed structural analysis for a specific region, when an angular unconformity is discovered people would regard it as the result of orogenic movements of a certain period or a certain episode and neglect the extensional facts. Based on a dialectical point of view of extension-compression, this paper has proved that angular unconformities can be formed not only in compressional settings, but also in extensional ones. Further more, their geological features are compared and he possible genetic mechanisms for angular unconformity under different dynamic settings are studied.     

Distribution and Influence of Iron Phases the Physico—Chemical Properties of Phyllosilicates

Clay minerals from different Cretaceous stratigraphic successions of Egypt were investigated using XRD,DTA,dissolution analysis(DCB),IR,Moessbauer and X-ray Electron Spin Resonance(ESR) spectroscopes.The purity of the samples and the degree of their structural order were determined by XRD.The location of Fe in the octahedral sheet is characterized by absorption bands at-875cm^-1 assigned as Al-OH-Fe which persist after chemical dissolution of free iron.The Moessbauer spectra of these clays show two doublets with isomer shift and quadrupole splitting typical of octahedrally coordinated Fe^3 ,in addition to third doublet with hyperfine parameter typical of Fe^2 in the spectra of Abu-Had kaolinite (H) sample.Six-lines magnetic hyperfine components which are consistent with those of hematite are confirmed in the spectra of both Isel and Rish kaolinite samples.Goethite was confirmed by both IR and DTA.Multiple nature of ESR of these clays suggested structural Fe in distorted octahedral symmetry as well as non-structural Fe.Little dispersion and low swelling indices as well as incomplete activation of the investigated montmorillonite samplas by NaCO3 appear to be due to incomplete disaggregation of montmorillonite particles.This can be explained by the ability of Fe-gel to aggregate the montmorillonite into pseudo-particles and retard the rigid-gel structure.However,extraction of this ferric amorphous compound by dithonite treatment recovers the surface properties of the montmorillonite samples.On the other hand,the amount and site occupation of Fe associated with kaolinite samples show an inverse correlation with the parameters used to describe the degree of crystallinity perfection,color,brightness and vitrification range of these kaolinite samples.     

Hazard and risk assessment of earthquake-induced landslides—case study

Landslides as secondary seismic effects are causing some patterns of soil failure that are often considered among the most destructive ones. In fact, the impact from triggered landslides has sometimes exceeded damage directly related to strong shaking and fault rupture. The objective of this research study is landslide hazard and risk assessment considering different water saturation and earthquake scenarios, for a selected area in a sub-urban hilly part of Skopje—the capital of Macedonia. The final product is represented by digital maps of expected permanent displacements for a defined earthquake scenario, in different water saturation conditions of the instable soil layer. Qualitative landslide risk assessment is performed taking into consideration the exposure map of the habitants and local road of the area. As to the target area, it can be concluded that it has the potential for instability that, under certain scenarios, could result in economic and social damage (vulnerability of individual houses, vulnerability of infrastructure and alike). The results from this study referring to potentially affected population and infrastructure present solid base for preventive mitigation activities for reducing the consequences of geotechnical hazards in Skopje City associated with earthquakes.     

Age and composition of dykes emplaced before and during the opening of the Tasman Sea—source implications

Abstract

Dykes are common in the wave-cut platforms along the coast from Newcastle to Sydney. According to some authors, they may be related to the opening of the Tasman Sea that commenced ca 84?Ma ago. However, there are few detailed radiogenic dating and geochemical studies to evaluate this. We attempt to resolve this by K–Ar dating of plagioclase in and geochemical studies of, basaltic dykes intruding Permo-Triassic sequences on the wave-cut platforms and Carboniferous and Permo-Triassic sequences inland. The plagioclase separated from the dykes give K–Ar ages ranging from 266 to 53?Ma with the majority older than 84?Ma indicating that most dykes were emplaced before the Tasman Seafloor formation. The dykes are generally mildly alkaline, high-Ti basalts; fewer are tholeiitic and calc-alkaline, low-Ti basalts. Strongly light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched patterns typify the former and flat, LREE-depleted or slightly to moderately enriched LREE patterns, the latter. High-Ti basalts have ocean-island-basalt-like and low-Ti basalts, calc-alkaline or mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like patterns. Most high-Ti and some low-Ti basalts show plume-like characteristics, others N-type MORB and arc-like characteristics. Dykes intruding the Carboniferous sequences show a distinct contamination signature that could be crustal or due to subduction-related metasomatism of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The sources of the basaltic magmas vary substantially and in places changes with time. All alkali basalts are derived from enriched asthenospheric sources at varying depths (90–147?km) and most tholeiitic, low-Ti basalts have been extracted from asthenospheric and depleted asthenospheric–lithospheric sources indicating substantial compositional heterogeneity of the mantle. Further, Nd model ages varying from Neoproterozoic (940–580?Ma) to Paleozoic (460–370?Ma) suggest variation in the age of mantle sources for the basalts.     

Rb—Sr and U—Pb Dating of the Daguzhai and Luobuli Granitic Massifs in South China

Rb-Sr and U-Pb isotopic studies of the two contrasting granite types of the Daguzhai and Luobuli massifs in South China provide new constraints on the interpretation of isotopic age data for plutonic igneous rocks. A Rb-Sr internal isochron age of 146±7Ma for the Luobuli adamellite is interpreted to represent the age of magma crystallization, whereas the whole rock Rb- Sr isochron yields an older apparent age of 161±10Ma which is regarded as resulting from contamination processes affecting the petrogenesis of this adamellite. In the Daguzhai granite the marked scatter of whole- rock Rb-Sr data in isochron diagram is ascribed to the open system behavior of Rb during postmagmatic autometasomatism. Uniformity of initial⁸⁷Sr /⁸⁶Sr ratio in this granite is indicated in a plot of⁸⁷Sr versus⁸⁶Sr. The autometasomatism has also affected zircon U-Pb system, resulting in a spread of data along the concordia curve between 165 and 125Ma. This spread is regarded as indicating the duration of the autometasomatism.