The Age and Character of the Yu''erhong Flora from Yumen, Gansu

From a fresh field investigation, it has been ascertained that the Late Palaeozoic Yu'erhong (Yuernhung) flora from Yu'erhong, Yumen, Gansu, northwestern China, studied by Bohlin in 1971 includes plants from the Westphalian Yangfukou Formation and the Stephanian to Sakmarian Taiyuan Formation. The Yu'erhong flora from the Yanghukou Formation is dominated by Euramerican elements with a few elements of the Cathaysian flora. No Angarian elements have be found in this section for lack of Late Permian strata. The specimens studied by Bohlin might possibly come from the upper part of the Upper Permian at tne southeastern corner . of the Yu'erhong basin. Those fossils from different horizons and localities might be mixed with each other during collection ;so they fail to reflect the exact horizon of certain plant fossils.     

Dinosaur material from the Lower Greensand Group of Upware,Cambridgeshire, and the age of ‘Wealden’ vertebrates from the ‘Bedfordshire Straits’

Post-Wealden dinosaur remains are rare in the UK, so any material from late Early or Late Cretaceous deposits is potentially of palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographical significance. Four dinosaur specimens collected from the Woburn Sands Formation (Aptian) of Upware, Cambridgeshire were described briefly by Walter Keeping in 1883, but have not been reappraised since. These specimens are identified herein as a ?turiasaurian sauropod tooth and indeterminate iguanodontian ornithopod remains (a tooth, middle caudal vertebra, pollex ungual). Although collected from the Woburn Sands Formation, it is likely that all of these fossils were reworked from older (now absent) sediments and they have usually been regarded as either ‘Wealden’ or Neocomian in age, presumably due to previous identifications of some of these specimens as Iguanodon. However, consideration of UK dinosaur faunas and regional geology indicates that these fossils could potentially be older. Further work is needed on the derived terrestrial fossils of the Lower Greensand Group in order to constrain their ages more precisely so that they can be incorporated into broader studies of regional diversity and palaeoecology.     

Sources of Magmatic Rocks from the Deep-Sea Floor of the Arctic Ocean and the Central Atlantic: Evidence from Data on the U–Pb Age,Hf Isotopes,and REE Geochemistry of Zircons

The results of geochronological (U–Pb), isotope–geochemical (Lu–Hf), and geochemical (REEs) studies of young (MZ, KZ) and xenogenic (AR, PR) zircons from magmatic rocks of the Central Arctic rises of the Arctic Ocean (AO) and the crest zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) are presented. The data obtained show that the depleted mantle could be a source of young (KZ) zircons of the MAR, whereas young (MZ) zircons of the MAR and all xenogenic (AR, PR) zircons of the AO and MAR are from crustal rocks of the continental lithosphere.     

Challenging power from the bottom up? Community protocols,benefit-sharing,and the challenge of dominant discourses

This article discusses the ways in which community protocols might challenge the dominant discourses that guide environmental law and policy at the local, national and international levels and makes suggestions about the conditions that need to be fulfilled if such a challenge is to be effective. Community protocols have attracted the attention of many scholars as they are recognised in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Nagoya Protocol. They are argued to hold the potential to achieve fair and equitable benefit-sharing by allowing local community voices to express their customary law, worldviews, and ideas of benefit and development among other things. While much of the existing literature discusses community protocols as legal tools, they are also tools that may challenge the dominant discourses argued to guide environmental law and policy. The article takes up this question on the basis of findings from five original case studies. It is argued that community protocols may challenge dominant discourses by: facilitating and articulating the recognition of local communities and indigenous peoples; providing a source for understanding their worldviews; and by empowering them in the long term. In order to achieve these outcomes, community protocol must be understood as processes and pay attention to legal and political contexts, how communities organise, the role of supporting actors, and the articulation of benefits.     

Distribution and mode of occurrences of radionuclides in phosphogypsum from the Aqaba and Eshidiya fertilizer plants, Jordan

Phosphogypsum is a waste by-product of the phosphate fertilizer industry that has relatively high concentrations of some U decay-series radionuclides such as ^226Ra and ^210Pb. The distribution and environmental mobility of radionuclides in phosphogypsum are an important concern because this gypsum by-product is used for wallboard, in agriculture and as a soil amendment. This study determined the distribution of ^226Ra, ^210Pb, within phosphogypsum stacks of varying age and among three size fractions （coarse： 〈0.212 mm; medium： 0.212-0.053 mm; fine： 〈0.053 mm）, in phosphogypsum derived from Aqaba and Eshidiya fertilizer plants. The results indicated that ^226Ra and ^210Pb were generally uniformly distributed in phosphogypsum stacks and showed no significant difference in the concentration of these elements with the age of stack. In the Aqaba phosphogypsum ^226Ra was slightly 10% enriched in the coarse fraction, while ^210Pb was 10% enriched in the free size fraction. In the Eshidiya phosphogypsum ^226Ra and ^210Pb contents were both relatively enriched （10%） in the fine size fraction.     

Composition and conditions of crystallization of zircon from the rare-metal ores of the Gremyakha–Vyrmes Massif,Kola Peninsula

The first data on the composition and inner structure of zircon, one of the main ore minerals of the rare-metal metasomatites of the Gremyakha–Vyrmes alkaline-ultramafic massif, are reported. Early zircon generations are enriched in Y and REE and contain numerous inclusions of rock-forming and accessory minerals of metasomatites, as well as syngenetic fluid inclusions of calcite, thorite and thorianite. Late generations differ in the elevated Hf content and contain no inclusions. The elevated concentrations of Ca and Th in the central zones of crystals are related to the presence of numerous micron-sized inclusions of calcite and thorium phases. All zircon varieties have extremely low U and Pb contents. Concentrations and distribution patterns of incompatible and rare-earth elements in zircon from the metasomatites of the Gremyakha–Vyrmes Massif are similar to those of syenite pegmatites and magmatic carbonatites around the world. Mineral from these associations shows a positive Ce anomaly and elevated HREE contents. According to the compositions of zircon and thorite inclusion in it and experimental data on the simultaneous synthesis of these minerals, the crystallization temperature of zircon was 700–750°С. Using Ti-in-zircon temperature dependence, late zurcon was formed at temperature of 700–750°С. The rare-metal metasomatites are formed at the final stages of the massif formation, presumably after foidolites. Carbonatites could initiate metasomatic reworking of foidolites and accumulation of trace metals in them. The evolution of the primary alkaline–ultramafic melt toward the enrichment in trace elements was mainly controlled by crystallization differentiation.     

A geochemical study of the peat and soft-brown coal from the Zhenan basin,Western Yunnan,China

Little is known about the geochemistry of peat and soft-brown coal The analytical chemical dataof forty eight samples have been obtained for the peat and soft-brow n coal in the 7henan basin, western Yunnan. njection of continental detritus into theswamp is favourable for the degradation of plant remains and thefor-oration of humic acid. The oxide compositions of the ash of the peat and soft一)rown coal and their distribution-typeshave indicated that the continental detritusome from two kinds of parent rocks.The Al₂O₃ and SiO₂have a positive correlation with humic acid(Hmz)，showing that the organic matter is ad-vantageous to the formation of aluminosilic;ate mineral(mainly kaolinite, authigenic organic clay minerals). The TiO₂ enrichment is mainly related to mineral materials. The Ge content in the peat and soft-brown coalranges from 0. 2- 2.6×10-6, and it is mainly bound to those minerals with Al₂O₃and organic matters. The GaContent is from 2. 3- 19.1×10-6，and it is associated with minerals that are MgO一Baring aluminosilicate minerals.The uranium (0.3- 4.9×10-6) is mainly bound in the Ca-and Mg-bearing minerals. They are not enriched andnot related to organic matter.     

Experimental Studies of the Solubility of Cassiterite and the Extraction of Tin from Granitic Melts

Experiments indicate that the solubility of cassiterite can be enhanced by increasing either acidity or alkalinity in hydrothermal solutions as a consequence of the duality of tin.The minimum solubility of cassiterite is found in neutral solutions.F-and CL-coordination compounds of Sn can alternate with hydroxyl coordination compounds with changing pH in the solutions.In this case,F^- and Cl^- and OH^- can be substituted with each other.The dissolution reaction of cassiterite is of reducing nature.High temperature and acidic reducing environment are favorable for the dissolution of cassiterite and the trans-port of Sn^2 compounds in fluids or solutions.High-temperature fluoride and chloride fluids can all dissolve,extract and enrich Sn to form F^- and /or Cl-coordination compounds,However,Fplays a more important role than Cl.F-coordination compounds are more stable and efficient than Cl-coordination compounds during the transport an enrichment of Sn in melts or solutions.The solubili-ty of cassiterite and the amount of Sn extracted from granitic melt depend not only on T,P,pH and Eh in the fluids or solutions,but also on the amounts of dissociated F^- and Cl^- in the fluids.     

Diagenesis and Metallogenetic Mechanisms of the Duhuangling Gold Deposit from the Yanbian Area, NE China

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Composition and geodynamic setting of the volcanic rocks from ophiolites of the Ust’-Belaya Mountains,Chukchi Peninsula

In addition to ophiolites in the structure of the Otrozhnaya sheet, the igneous rocks were established within the Middle Devonian-Lower Carboniferous tuffaceous-terrigenous complex earlier considered to be the cover of the ophiolite association. In order to establish their geodynamic formation setting, the geochemical study of igneous rocks was conducted. The volcanic rocks from the ophiolite complex are similar to MORB; subvolcanic rocks of tuffaceous-terrigenous complex have a suprasubduction origin. An abundance of pyroclastic rocks and the type of sediments allow us to conclude about their formation in an island arc setting. The existence of the Middle Devonian-Lower Carboniferous island arc complex within the Ust’-Belaya Mountains gives rise to continue the Koni-Taigonos arc inside the region and testifies to its subsistence in the Devonian.     

Petrology of Al- and Cr-rich ophiolitic chromitites from the Muğla,SW Turkey: implications from composition of chromite,solid inclusions of platinum-group mineral,silicate, and base-metal mineral,and Os-isotope geochemistry

Ultramafic rocks around the city of Muğla in SW Turkey are represented by mantle peridotites depleted to various degrees, ranging from cpx-rich harzburgites to depleted harzburgite and dunite. Cpx-rich harzburgites are thought to be the residua left after extraction of MORB-type basalt, from which high-Al chromitite [49.2 < Cr# = 100 × Cr/(Cr + Al) < 53.5] crystallised with a higher proportion of ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os (average of 0.1361). However, depleted harzburgites are assumed to be the residua left after extraction of hydrous boninitic melt produced by second stage partial melting of already depleted mantle due to a subducting slab, from which high-Cr chromitites (64.2 < Cr# < 85.9) with lower and heterogeneous ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio (average of 0.1324) were crystallised as a result of melt–rock interaction in a supra-subduction environment. Dunites around the chromite deposits are considered to be the product of melt–peridotite interaction. Most of the chromitites contain high-Cr chromite and display enrichment in IPGE (Os, Ir, Ru) over PPGE (Rh, Pt, Pd), with PGE concentrations between 61 and 1,305 ppb. Consistently, laurite-erlichmanite series minerals with various Os concentrations are found to be the most abundant PGM inclusions in chromite. Os–Ir–Ru alloy, irarsite, and kashinite, as well as Pt–Fe alloy and Pt-oxide, which are not common in ophiolitic chromitites, were also detected as magmatic PGM inclusions. Pentlandite, millerite, and, rarely heazlewoodite form the magmatic inclusions of base-metal sulphide. The presence of olivine and clinopyroxene, as well as hydrous silicate inclusions such as amphibole and phlogopite, in high-Cr chromitite supports the idea that high-Cr chromitites were formed in a supra-subduction environment.     

Formation Mechanism of Maceral and Mineral Compositions of the“Barkinite”Liptobiolith from the Jinshan Mine,Anhui Province,China

<正>In order to study the accumulation mechanism of"barkinite",eight Late Permian channel benches(approximately 15-cm across and 10-cm deep) were taken from the Jinshan Mine,Anhui Province,China.The samples were analyzed by microscopical and geochemical methods.The microscopical observations indicate that the occurrence modes of"barkinite"in this area are different from those in other areas of China.The ratios of structureless"barkinite"are much higher in the Jinshan Mine,probably due to the flow-water and marine influenced environments.Furthermore, vitrinite macerals also show a strong fluorescence.The vitrinite fluorescence characteristics have not been observed in the Permian"barkinite"coals from northern China.The composition and variation of minerals in the column section also showed that the swamps in the study area were seriously influenced by seawater in the early and late stage during the peat accumulation.     

Mineralogical,micromorphological and geochemical transformations in the initial steps of the weathering process of charnockite from the Caparaó Range,southeastern Brazil

X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and Electron Probe micro-analyser (EPMA) and Wavelength-Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS) were conducted on charnockite from the Caparaó Suite and its alteration cortex to determine the mineralogical, micromorphological and geochemical transformations resulting from the weathering process. The hydrolysis of the charnockite occurred in different stages, in accordance with the order of stability of the minerals with respect to weathering: andesine/orthopyroxene, pargasite and alkali feldspar. The rock modifications had begun with the formation of a layer of incipient alteration due to the percolation of weathering solutions first in the pressure relief fractures and then in cleavage and mineral edges. The iron exuded from ferromagnesian minerals precipitated in the intermineral and intramineral discontinuities. The layer of incipient alteration evolves into an inner cortex where the plagioclase changes into gibbsite by direct alitisation, the ferromagnesian minerals initiate the formation of goethitic boxworks with kaolinitic cores, and the alkali feldspar initiates indirect transformation into gibbsite, forming an intermediate phase of illite and kaolinite. In the outer cortex, mostly traces of alkali feldspar remain, and they are surrounded by goethite and gibbsite as alteromorphics, characterising the formation of the isalteritic horizon that occurs along the slope and explains the bauxitization process at the Caparaó Range, SE Brazil.     

Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of Pyrite from the Dongguashan Cu-Au Deposit, Anhui Province, China

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Magmatism and metallogenic mechanisms of the Baoshan Cu-polymetallic deposit from the Lesser Xing’an Range,NE China: Constraints from geology,geochronology, geochemistry,and Hf isotopes

The Baoshan Cu-polymetallic deposit is a recently discovered skarn deposit in the northern Lesser Xing’an Range, NE China. The orebodies are mainly hosted in the contact zone between granitic intrusions and Lower Cambrian dolomitic crystalline limestones or skarns. We present here zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os age data, whole-rock geochemistry, and zircon Hf isotopic data to constrain the geodynamic mechanisms of igneous activity and metallogenesis within the Baoshan Cu–polymetallic deposit. LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating suggests that a hornblende–quartz monzonite and porphyritic biotite granite were emplaced at 252.45 ± 0.70 Ma and 251.10 ± 0.98 Ma, respectively. Molybdenite separated from ore-bearing quartz veins or skarn-type ores yields a weighted mean model age of 250.3 ± 3.4 Ma, which coincide with the emplacement of the igneous rocks. These data suggest that the Late Permian-Early Triassic magmatic and mineralization event led to the formation of the Baoshan Cu–polymetallic deposit. Granitic intrusions are closely associated with this mineralization and have high contents of SiO₂ (60.90–68.98 wt.%), Al₂O₃ (15.15–16.98 wt.%) and K₂O (2.77–4.17 wt.%), with A/CNK ratios of 0.86–0.96. These granites are classified as metaluminous and high-K calc-alkaline I-type granites, and are enriched in Rb, Th, U, and K, and depleted in Nb, Ta, P, and Ti. Moreover, Moreover, the hornblende–quartz monzonite and porphyritic biotite granite have geochemical characteristics similar to adakites and island arc calc-alkaline rocks, respectively. In situ zircon Hf isotope data on the hornblende–quartz monzonite samples show ε_Hf(t) values from +0.1 to +3.1, and porphyritic biotite granite samples exhibit heterogeneous ε_Hf(t) values from −5.4 to +1.1. The geochemical and isotopic data for the Baoshan intrusions indicate that the Late Permian–Early Triassic continental–continental collision caused over thickening and delamination of the lower crust. Partial melting of delaminated lower crust formed the primary adakitic magmas, which may have reacted with surrounding mantle peridotite during ascent. Hornblende–quartz monzonite was formed by the emplacement of the adakitic magmas, whereas the formation of the porphyritic biotite granite was caused by the mixing of adakitic magmas with ancient crustal materials during ascent. Moreover, ore-forming materials were typically derived from the adakitic magmas with high oxygen fugacity, which incorporated significant amounts of ore-forming elements. Based on the regional geological history and the new geochemical and isotopic data from intrusions, we suggest that diagenesis and mineralization of the Baoshan Cu–polymetallic deposit took place in a transitional tectonic setting from collisional orogeny to extension, after collision of the North China Plate and Songnen Block, during the latter stages of the Xingmeng orogeny.     

Ostracodes from the Aptian–Santonian of the Santos,Campos and Espírito Santo basins,Brazil

The Lower and Upper Cretaceous deposits from the Brazilian marginal basins present a rich and diversified fauna of ostracodes in continental, marine and mixohaline paleoenvironments. While the Cretaceous ostracodes from the northeastern region have already been the subject of many taxonomic and biostratigraphical studies, data from the southeastern basins are still scarce and restricted to the record of a few species. The present study represents a comprehensive contribution to the systematic knowledge of the Aptian–Santonian ostracodes from the Brazilian southeastern marginal basins. A total of 1045 cutting samples were analyzed from 10 wells drilled offshore in Santos, Campos and Espírito Santo basins. Thirty-eight ostracode taxa were recorded from different depositional environments, including the following six new species: Amphicytherura fragilis sp. nov., Brachycythere multidifferentis sp. nov., Fossocytheridea ballentae sp. nov., Fossocytheridea elegans sp. nov., Nigeroloxoconcha itanhaensis sp. nov. and Paracypris eniotmetos sp. nov.     

Assessing the vulnerability of social–environmental system from the perspective of hazard,sensitivity, and resilience: a case study of Beijing,China

Despite a recent increase in the number of vulnerability analyses there has been relatively little discussion of vulnerability assessment of social–environment system, especially when they face multiple hazards. In this study, we developed an applicable and convenient method to assess vulnerability of social–environment system at a regional scale. Vulnerability is quantified by measuring three critical elements (i.e. hazards, sensitivity, and resilience) through some key variables. The results showed that vulnerability is high in Miaofeng Mountain in Mengtougou District, the hills of Pinggu County and the riparian zones of the lower courses of the Beiyun and Yongding Rivers; but low in the city of Beijing and the southwestern part of the Fangshan District. Areas of very high, high, medium, and low-vulnerability account for 6.19, 25.48, 33.06, and 35.27% of the total area, respectively. The degree of vulnerability decreases in a northwest direction in mountainous areas and declines from watercourses to riparian zones along a lateral direction in the plain. Some adaptive strategies are also proposed.     

Modes of Occurrence and Geological Origin of Beryllium in Coals from the Pu''''an Coalfield, Guizhou, Southwest China

The concentration, modes of occurrence and geological origin of beryllium in five workable coal beds from the Pu'an Coalfield of Guizhou were studied using the inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), floating and sinking experiments (FSE) and sequential chemical extraction procedures (SCEP). The results show that the average concentration of beryllium in coals from the Pu'an Coalfield is 1.54μg/g, much lower than that in most Chinese and worldwide coals. Beryllium in the Pu'an coals was not significantly enriched. However, it should be noted that the No. 8 coal bed from the study area has a high concentration of beryllium, 6.89μg/g, three times higher than the background value of beryllium in coal. Beryllium in coal mainly occurs as organic association and has predominantly originated from coal-forming plants when its concentration is relatively low. The concentration of beryllium occurring as organic association is close to that distributed in inorganic matter when beryllium concentration of coal is similar to its background value, and in addition to coal-forming plants, beryllium is mainly derived from detrital materials of terrigenous origin. When beryllium is anomalously enriched in coal, it mainly occurs as organic association and is derived from volcanic tonsteins leached for a long geological time and then adsorbed by organic matter in peat mire.     

Mineralogical Characteristics and Significance of Wolframite from the Xihuashan Tungsten Deposit, Jiangxi Province, China

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