New Evidence for a Cretaceous Age for a Mesozoic Nonmarine Bivalve Assemblage from Paekto-dong, Sinuiju City, The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

The Sinuiju Formation in Paekto-dong, Sinuiju City in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has yielded Mesozoic nonmarine bivalve fossils, which is the first occurrence of such in the DPRK. Based on these fossil specimens, a new Cretaceous bivalve assemblage, the Arguniella yanshanensis-Sphaerium anderssoni Assemblage is erected. This assemblage includes Arguniella yanshanensis, A. lingyuanensis and Sphaerium anderssoni and can be compared with the Jehol Biota. The age of the Sinuiju Formation is also clarified and on the basis of the bivalves and the presence of a Eosestheria–Ephemeropsis–Lycoptera(E–E–L) assemblage, the formation is not Upper Jurassic, but Lower Cretaceous in age.     

New Schizolepis Fossils from the Early Cretaceous in Inner Mongolia, China and its Phylogenetic Position

Three Schizolepis species collected from the Lower Cretaceous layer of the Huolinhe Basin,Inner Mongolia,China are described.These fossils are Schizolepis longipetiolus Xu XH et Sun BN sp.nov.,which is a new species,Schizolepis cf.heilongjiangensis Zheng et Zhang,and Schizolepis neimengensis Deng.The new species is a well-preserved female cone,slender and cylindrical in shape.The seed–scale complexes have long petioles and are arranged on the cone axis loosely and helically.The seed scales are divided into two lobes from the base.Each lobe is semicircular or elongate ligulate in shape,widest at the middle or the lower middle part,with an obtuse or bluntly pointed apex.The inner margin is almost straight and the outer margin is strongly arched.On the surface of the lobe,there are longitudinal and somewhat radial striations from the base to the margin.The seed is borne on the adaxial surface at the base or middle of each lobe.Schizolepis was established in 1847,and,although more than twenty species have been discovered and reported,its phylogenetic position is controversial because of the imperfection of fossils.Most authors have considered there to be a close evolutionary relationship between Schizolepis and extant Pinaceae.Here,we analyze characteristics and compare Schizolepis with Picea crassifolia Kom,which is morphologically most similar to Schizolepis.The results indicate that the genus probably has a distant evolutionary relationship with extant Pinaceae.A detailed statistical analysis of the global paleogeographic distribution of Schizolepis showed that all the fossils of this genus appeared in strata ranging from the Upper Triassic to the Lower Cretaceous in the North Hemisphere,being rare in the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic,but being very common from the Middle Jurassic to the Lower Cretaceous,and particularly abundant in the Lower Cretaceous.According to the statistical results,we speculate that the genus originated in Europe in the Late Triassic then spread from Europe to Asia between the Late Triassic and the Late Jurassic.In the Early Cretaceous most species existed in China’s three northeastern Provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and adjacent areas.Combining the paleogeographic distribution of the genus with ancient climatic factors,we deduced that Schizolepis began to decline and became extinct in the Early Cretaceous,and the reason for its extinction is closely related to the icehouse climate during the Early Cretaceous.     

Cretaceous Phytoplankton Assemblages from Songke Core-1,North and South(SK-1,N and S) of Songliao Basin,Northeast China

Abstract: Cretaceous phytoplankton from the newly completed core hole (SK-1, N&S) in the central Songliao Basin was studied. The target interval is from the upper Quantou Formation of Upper Cretaceous to Mingshui Formation. Twelve genera of dinoflagellates, six of acritarcha and three of chlorophyta were identified in 588 samples from the 2300-m deep core. Ten phytoplankton assemblages have been classified: Tetranguladinium-Subtilisphaera-Botryococcus, Botryococcus-Pediastrum, Pediastrum, Dinogymniopsis-Chlamydophrella-Vesperopsis bifurcate, Dinogymniopsis minor-Balmula, Pediastrum-Botryococcus, Schizosporis-Campenia, Kiokansium-Dinogymniopsis-Botryococcus, Dinogymniopsis-Granodiscus-Filisphaeridium and Granodiscus. According to the findings mentioned above, the age of the upper Qantou Formation is Cenomanian, the Qingshankou Formation belongs to upper Cenomanian-Turonian, the Yaojia Formation to Coniancian-Santonian age, the Nenjiang Formation is of Campanian age, and Sifangtai-Mingshui formations are referred to Maastrichtian stage. The ecology of phytoplankton is closely related to water salinity. Each type of phytoplankton is within a certain living water mass whose evolution type reflects salinity change of the Songliao Lake. The assemblages from the SK-1 indicate that water salinity changes with the cycle of freshwater–slight brackish water–brackish water–slight brackish water–freshwater in the lake.     

Geochemical characteristics of crude oils from Well Zheng-1 in the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China

Well Zheng-1 is located in the combined area of the central uplift and the north Tianshan piedmont depression in the Junggar Basin. Two oil-bearing beds are recognized at 4788–4797 m of the Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Formation (K1tg) and 4808.5–4812.5 m of the Lower Jurassic Sangonghe Formation (J1s). The geochemical characteristics of family composition, carbon isotopic composition, saturated hydrocarbons, sterane and terpane biomarkers and carotane of two crude oils are described in this paper. The results show that the geochemical characteristics of the two crude oils are basically similar to each other, indicating they were all derived mainly from the high mature, brine, algae-rich lake facies sediments. Oil-source correlation revealed that crude oils of the two beds were derived mainly from the source rocks of Permian and mixed by the oil derived from the source rocks of Jurassic and Triassic. This is consistent with the geological background with several sets of source rocks in the area studied.     

Late Silurian to Early Devonian Palynomorphs from Qujing, Yunnan, Southwest China

Well-preserved and diversified spores, cryptospores, and acritarchs have been recorded from a relatively continuous sequence that encompasses the Silurian–Devonian boundary in Qujing, Yunnan, southwest China. Four spore assemblage zones from Late Silurian to Early Devonian in age are proposed based on the first appearance datum (FAD) of characteristic spore species. In ascending stratigraphic order, they are Ambitisporites dilutus–Apiculiretusispora synorea (DS; Late Ludfordian to Early Pridoli), Synorisporites verrucatus–Apiculiretusispora plicata (VP; Pridoli), Apiculiretusispora minuta–Leiotriletes ornatus (MO; Lochkovian), and Verrucosisporites polygonalis–Dibolisporites wetteldorfensis (PW; Pragian). The acritarch assemblage from the upper part of the Yulongsi Formation, the Xiaxishancun Formation, and the lower–middle parts of the Xitun Formation indicates an age of Late Silurian. Based on palynological evidence, the upper part of the Yulongsi Formation is considered Late Ludfordian to Early Pridoli in age; the Xiaxishancun Formation is believed to be Pridoli in age; the Xitun Formation is considered Late Pridoli to Early Lochkovian in age; the Guijiatun Formation is considered Lochkovian in age; and the Xujiachong Formation is Late Lochkovian to Pragian in age. The Silurian-Devonian boundary is recognized between the VP and the MO spore biozones, and occurs within the middle part of the Xitun Formation.     

Mesozoic “Red Beds” and its Evolution in the Hefei Basin

The Hefei Basin is the largest basin in the North China landmass with complete and well-preserved Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata. In the basin there developed a suite of extremely thick “red beds” in the Mesozoic. Owing to complex evolution processes and a lack of paleontological traces, there have been controversies regarding the division and correlation of this suite of red beds. Based on results obtained in recent years in drilling, seismic and surface geological investigations and in consideration of relationships between seismic sequences and regional tectonic events, as well as evidence in paleontology, petrology and isotopic dating, this paper preliminarily puts forward the following ideas about the sequence stratigraphic framework of the continental “red beds” in the Hefei Basin. (1) The Zhougongshan Formation and the Yuantongshan Formation have similar lithologic, geophysical and paleontological characteristics, so we incorporate them into a single formation, called the Yuantongshan Formation, and the original Zhougongshan and Yuantongshan Formations are regarded as the upper and the lower parts of the newly defined Yuantongshan Formation. Its age is the Middle Jurassic; (2) the Zhuxiang Formation belongs to the Upper Jurassic Series and (3) the age of the Xiangdaopu Formation is the Lower Cretaceous. Furthermore, signatures of depositional evolution are analyzed in the paper based on features of seismic reflection, outcrops and drilling data. The Early and Middle Jurassic is characterized by a foreland basin, which is influenced mainly by uplift and longitudinal compression of the Dabieshan Mountains; the Lower Jurassic System has a relatively small depositional area; the Middle Jurassic strata are distributed extensively over the whole basin, marking the summit of basin development; a flexure basin is characteristic of the Late Jurassic, manifesting a joint effect of the Dabieshan and Zhangbaling Mountains with the former being more significant. In the Early Cretaceous, the Xiangdaopu Formation was distributed in the Daqiao depression, evidently affected by extension of the Tanlu fault; in the Late Cretaceous, the Hefei Basin was subjected to dismembering and the Zhangqiao Formation was distributed in the east-west direction along the downthrown side of the fault.     

Lower Cretaceous turbidites in the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone,Asa area,Tibet:Constraints on the evolution of the Meso-Tethys Ocean

Turbidites from the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone(SNMZ) record critical information about the tectonic affinity of the SNMZ and the evolutionary history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean in Tibet.This paper reports sedimentologic,sandstone petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronologic,and clastic rocks geochemical data of newly identified turbidites(Asa Formation) in the Asa Ophiolite Mélange.The youngest ages of detrital zircon from the turbiditic sandstone samples,together with ～115 Ma U-Pb concordant age from the tuff intercalation within the Asa Formation indicate an Early Cretaceous age.The sandstone mineral modal composition data show that the main component is quartz grains and the minor components are sedimentary and volcanic fragments,suggesting that the turbidites were mainly derived from a recycled orogen provenance with a minor addition of volcanic arc materials.The detrital U-Pb zircon ages of turbiditic sandstones yield main age populations of170–120 Ma,300–220 Ma,600–500 Ma,1000–700 Ma,1900–1500 Ma,and ～2500 Ma,similar to the ages of the Qiangtang Terrane(age peak of 600–500 Ma,1000–900 Ma,～1850 Ma and ～2500 Ma) and the accretionary complex in the Bangong–Nujiang Ophiolite Zone(BNMZ) rather than the age of the Central Lhasa Terrane(age peak of ～300 Ma,～550 Ma and ～1150 Ma).The mineral modal compositions,detrital U-Pb zircon ages,and geochemical data of clastic rocks suggest that the Asa Formation is composed of sediments primarily recycled from the Jurassic accretionary complex within the BNMZ with the secondary addition of intermediate-felsic island arc materials from the South Qiangtang Terrane.Based on our new results and previous studies,we infer that the SNMZ represents a part of the Meso-Tethys Suture Zone,rather than a southward tectonic klippe of the BNMZ or an isolated ophiolitic mélange zone within the Lhasa Terrane.The Meso-Tethys Suture Zone records the continuous evolutionary history of the northward subduction,accretion,arc-Lhasa collision,and Lhasa-Qiangtang collision of the Meso-Tethys Ocean from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

From arc-continent collision to ocean closure: Lower Cretaceous Shamuluo Formation in the western segment of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone,central Tibet

One of most hotly debated topics concerning the Late Mesozoic evolution of Tethyan and the Tibetan Plateau is the timing of the closure of the Meso-Tethys ocean, which is represented by the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone. The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Shamuluo Formation, which unconformably overlies the older Mugagangri Group accretionary complex, provides important information on the closure of the Meso-Tethys Ocean. This paper precisely confines the depositional age of the Shamuluo Formation in the western segment of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone, extending it from the Late Jurassic to the Albian. Combined with the results of previous studies, we suggest that the Shamuluo Formation in the Awengco–Baerqiong region mainly contains a bathyal Berriasian–Hauterivian subunit and a shallow-marine Albian subunit. Provenance analysis indicates that the Berriasian–Hauterivian subunit was mainly derived from the Jurassic southern Qiangtang magmatic arc, while the Albian subunit was derived from the coeval volcanic rocks and the Upper Carboniferous–Upper Permian strata in the southern Qiangtang terrane. Thus, the two subunits of the Shamuluo Formation have significant distinct sedimentary facies and provenances, indicating that they were deposited in different tectonic settings.Based on the regional geological data, we suggest that the bathyal Berriasian–Hauterivian subunit and the shallow-marine Albian subunit of the Shamuluo Formation should be interpreted as a record of the oceanic arc-continent collision and the Lhasa–Qiangtang soft-collision, respectively. Thus, the closure time of the Meso-Tethys Ocean is at least limited to the Albian.     

Continental- Margin Structure of Northeast China and Its Adjacent Areas

The continental margin of Northeast China and its adjacent areas is composed of two tectonic belts. The inner belt is a collage made up of fragments resulting from breakup of an old land with the north part related to the evolution of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean and the south part to the evolution of the Palaeo - Pacific Ocean. The outer belt is a Mesozoic terrane, which is a melange made up of fragments of the Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic oceanic crust and the Late M esozoic trench accumulations.There existed another ocean-the Palaeo - Pacific Ocean during the period from the closing of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean to the opening of the modern Pacific Ocean or from the Devonian to Jurassic, and the ocean-floor spreading of the Palaeo - Pacific Ocean led to the formation of the above-mentioned tectonic belts. The development of the strike-slip fault system after the Late Jurassic and the formation of an epicontinental volcano -plutonic rock belt in the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary are attributed to the i     

Paleotectonic stress field and its evolution in central part of the intraplate yanshan orogenic belt during middle jurassic and early cretaceous: Constrains of stress inversion of fault slip vectorsEI北大核心CSCD

The Mesozoic structural deformation and sedimentation as well as the volcanism in the Chengde area, central part of intraplate Yanshan orogenic belt, have been systematically investigated in the last two decades. The paleostress fields leading to these complicated tectonic deformations remain unrevealed. Paleostress inversion of fault slip vectors, combining with the newly defined structural levels and the latest age dating results on the key lithostratigraphic units, is employed to establish the paleostress fields in the Chengde area during Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Three generations including five phases of paleostress fields have been identified in this study. The first generation is believed to be the Middle Jurassic NNW compression (D1) after the sedimentation of the Xiahuayuan Formation and previous to that of the Tiaojishan Formation volcanism (~173 Ma-165 Ma); The second generation includes two phases, the Late Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous N-S compression (D2-1) during and after the sedimentation of the Tuchengzi Formation(~152 Ma-139 Ma) followed by the NNE compression (D2-2) post to the Tuchengzi Formation and predate the Zhangjiakou Formation (~139 Ma-135 Ma). The third generation of paleostress field is inferred to be later than 125 Ma and characterized by a widespread multidirectional extension (D3-1) induced from vertical compression, followed by a leading and weak NW-NNW compression (D3-2). It is inferred that the contraction regime dominated in the Chengde area during the Middle Jurassic and the early Early Cretaceous, with the maximum principal stress axes (σ1) rotated ca 60° clockwise from NNW to NNE, and the sedimentation of the Tuchengzi Formation occurred in this compressive tectonic setting. Extension regime characterized the Early Cretaceous in the central Yanshan belt, even a weak compression once occurred during this period. There is no nearly W-E or NW-SE compressional stress field previously inferred as far-field response to the suspected subduction of paleo-Pacific Plate or Izanagi Plate have been identified in this area, which is likely resulted from intracratonic heterogeneous deformation or strain. ©, 2015, Science Press. All right reserved.     

基于延时数字摄影测量的积雪过程4D监测技术研究北大核心CSCD

为实现4D(时间+空间)多目标、高精度的积雪监测,本次试验研究采用单台相机延时拍摄结合运动结构重建算法(Structure from motion,SfM),分别获取了祁连山黑河上游站裸露山坡坡面尺度单次降雪的雪深、逐日积雪空间分布和面积,以及祁连山八一冰川1.5m×1.5m的斑块尺度全年雪深及雪面特征数据。坡面尺度积雪观测研究表明:本方法可以准确获取积雪分布信息,但其雪深空间分布获取精度较差。斑块尺度雪深监测研究表明:本方法能够很好地获取连续的雪面特征信息和雪深,且获取雪深与SR50观测雪深的绝对误差小于3.4cm。在不同季节,本方法对积雪监测能力略有差异:春季快速积累期雪面纹理少,照片组对齐并获取点云数据和DEM数据的成功率较低,而冬季和消融季雪面纹理丰富,相应的对齐成功率比例和精度较高。本研究表明基于单台相机的4D摄影测量方法能够实现小范围、连续、高精度、多目标的积雪监测,未来应用前景广泛。     

Structure analysis of geopolymers synthesized from clay originated from Serbia

The paper presents chemical and structural analysis of geopolymer materials which are obtained by alkali-activated calcined clay (metakaolin) originated from Serbia under strictly defined conditions. Characterization of the metakaolin and geopolymers molecular structure has been done using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The paper presents the possibility of obtaining geopolymer structure and differences in chemical and structural characterization of these materials taking into account the concentration of NaOH as a variable parameter. The results of MALDI analysis of metakaolin and synthesized geopolymer structures using various matrix system: 2,4,6 trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic, 2,6 dihydroxyacetophenone and laser desorption/ionization, have shown that THAP matrix is the most appropriate for analysing these aluminosilicate materials.     

以改革为动力以创新求发展--机械工业第六设计研究院“三项制度”改革纪略

机械工业第六设计研究院原隶属于机械工业部,为事业单位,2000年10月转制后隶属于中国机械装备(集团)公司,为企业单位。该院现有在职员工459人,外聘人员300人,离退休人员356人,其中,中国工程院院士1人,中国工程设计大师2人,教授级高级工程师50人,高级工程师近260人,工程师300多人。该院是工业和民用建筑设计双甲级单位,并具有甲级工程总承包和工程监理资质。建院五十多年来,该院先后完成了5000余项大中型工业和民用建筑项目的设计和咨询,为我国国民经济建设和发展做出了卓越贡献。     

Pseudotachylytes from Corsica: fossil earthquakes from a subduction complex

Subduction zones are the most seismically active tectonic environment on Earth. Here we report fault‐rock evidence of palaeoearthquakes from a subduction complex. Pseudotachylyte veins formed by shear heating on faults at seismic strain rates contain dendrites, spherulites and acicular minerals characteristic of blueschist facies conditions. The veins have been found in both mantle peridotite and gabbro. Our discovery from Corsica opens a new avenue of research towards understanding mechanisms related to subduction zone earthquakes and the conditions at which these are released.     

Bavenite from Transbaykal

Accumulations of fine platy crystals of bavenite, colorless or white, often with inclusions of graphite, were discovered in an albitized garnet skarn, in a geological environment in which the mineral, a relatively high-temperature metasomatic replacer of phenacite and feldspar, is definitely not an end-stage product of a hydrothermal process. – IGR Staff.     

Letters from volcanoes

Geology Today often features letters from geologists working on active volcanoes. Some of the most famous letters from a volcano were written by Sir William Hamilton from Vesuvius in Italy, during the 18th century and earned him the title of 'the first volcanologist'.     

Biotite from rapakivi

Summary This paper deals with the chemical composition of biotites from rapakivi granites. For this purpose, 61 chemical analyses of biotites from composite anorthosite-rapakivi plutons in the Fennoscandian and Ukranian shields were used. Figurative points of the biotite composition were plotted on diagrams designed for biotites byFoster (1960),Winchell (1949) andVelikoslavinsky (1972). Consideration of the diagrams shows that a) the biotites from rapakivi granites have exotic composition not characteristic of other biotites from other igneous rocks, b) that they belong to the annite-siderophyllite series and c) that they crystallized at low pressures and high temperatures. Model crystallization temperatures range from 760° (early intrusive phases) down to less than 435° (late intrusive phase).

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Biotit von Rapakivi

Zusammenfassung Diese Arbeit hat die chemische Zusammensetzung von Biotit aus Rapakivi Graniten zum Thema. 61 Biotitanalysen von Anorthosit-Rapakivi Plutonen aus dem fennoskandischen und ukrainischen Schild werden präsentiert. Die Zusammensetzung der Biotite wird unter Verwendung von Diagrammen, die vonFoster (1960),Winchell (1949) undVelikoslavinsky (1972) entwickelt wurden, diskutiert. Diese Diagramme zeigen, daß a) Biotite aus Rapakivi eine, im Vergleich zu Biotiten aus anderen magmatischen Gesteinen, untypische Zusammensetzung haben, b) diese Biotite der AnnitSiderophyllit Serie zuzurechnen sind und c) diese Biotite bei niedrigem Druck und hoher Temperatur kristallisierten. Die Kristallisationstemperaturen reichen von 760° in den granitischen Frühphasen bis unter 435°C in den intrusiven Spätphasen.

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With 3 figures     

Genesis of melilitolite from Colle Fabbri: inferences from melt inclusions

Melilite and wollastonite from the Colle Fabbri stock contain silicate melt and silicate-carbonate inclusions. The homogenization temperatures of silicate inclusions are within the magmatic temperature range of mantle ultrabasic melts: about 1,320?±?15 °С. Their composition is melilititic and evolves to the composition of leucite tephrite and phonolite. The composition of silicate-carbonate inclusions are high SiO₂, Ca-rich, enriched in alkalies and are similar to that of inclusions of carbonatite melts in the minerals of melilitolites of other intrusive ultramafic complexes. They are also similar to the compositions of metasomatized travertine covering the melilitolite stock. The presence of primary silicate and silicate-carbonate inclusions evidences that the melilitite magma from which melilitolites of Colle Fabbri crystallized was associated with carbonatite liquid. This liquid was highly fluidized, mobile and aggressive. Actively interacting with overlying travertine, the liquid enriched them with alkalies, aluminosilicates and incompatible elements, which resulted in the equalization of their compositions. Heterogeneous compositional dominions were formed at the contact between melilitolite and wall pelites. In the minerals of these contact facies high-Si melt inclusions of varying composition have been observed. Their occurrence is related to the local assimilation by the high-temperature melilitite magma of pelitic country rocks. The content of incompatible elements in melilitite melts and melilitolites is higher than the mantle norm and they have peculiar indicator ratios, spectra, Eu/Eu^* ratio, which suggest a peculiar mantle source.     

危地马拉与缅甸含绿辉石翡翠的矿物学对比研究

以危地马拉蓝水料与缅甸油青种翡翠为研究对象,通过显微镜观察、岩石薄片观察、X射线粉末衍射分析、激光拉曼光谱分析、扫描电镜分析、电子探针分析等测试手段对两者进行了常规宝石学特征、结构特征、杂质矿物、化学成分等方面的对比研究。结果表明,危地马拉蓝水料发育等粒变晶结构,主要成分为硬玉,含有绿辉石,硬玉环带以2～3层为主,绿辉石分别以自形颗粒、交代残余、沿微裂隙充填3种形式存在,其中白色点状物为钠长石,绿色点状物为霓辉石和绿辉石的混杂物;缅甸油青种翡翠以硬玉为主颗粒相对粗大,呈柱粒状镶嵌结构,硬玉发育3～5层环带结构,绿辉石以脉状充填硬玉颗粒间隙或被硬玉颗粒交代呈孤岛状。危地马拉蓝水料硬玉颗粒与脉状绿辉石的CaO含量均高于缅甸油青种翡翠,另外由于霓辉石的存在,推测两产地翡翠结晶环境中的Ca、Fe含量可能存在差异。