Geology, landscape and human interactions: examples from the Isle of Wight

The British Geological Survey has recently re-mapped the Isle of Wight at a scale of 1:10,000. This has added to a wealth of geological research already published. Within this paper, we highlight the importance of geology to the heritage of the Isle of Wight and its impacts on everyday life. There is a growing cultural awareness of the variety of landscapes and resources, the geology that underpins them, and the need to manage and understand them in a sensitive and sustainable way. ‘Geodiversity’, which collectively embraces these themes, is defined as “… the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (land form, processes) and soil features …” (Gray, 2004). This paper will focus on the geomorphological features; that is, the link between geology, the landscape it influences, and the human interactions with it. Examples from the Isle of Wight of the influences of geology on landscape include the landslides at Ventnor; geotourism at The Needles, Alum Bay and various dinosaur sites; and the artificial landscapes resulting from resource extraction. The geological issues and examples that we have used are some of the most applicable to everyday life, and therefore ones that many people will be able to relate to, such as geohazards (e.g. landslides), water supply, economic value (e.g. quarrying) and tourism. The paper is aimed at the non-specialist and students but also may provide a contextual element to professionals.     

Interest in geological and palaeontological curiosities by southern African non-western societies: A review and perspectives for future study

Compared with other parts of the world, the study of geomythology in southern Africa, and the associated documentation of non-western awareness of palaeontological and geological phenomena, is in an early phase. We focus on examples of rocks and fossils as items of special interest and curiosity, and we search for evidence of an indigenous palaeontology and geology. We review twenty-one sites or cases for which published accounts exist, and we describe a newly identified trilobite manuport site. In combination these sites provide various levels of evidence of palaeontological and geological awareness exhibited by non-western cultures in southern Africa, and how these cultures incorporated this knowledge into their understanding of their world. We anticipate that in time a diverse heritage of such ‘natural knowledge’ may become evident in southern Africa, aided in part by recognition of the possibility that rock art images may be associated with awareness of body fossils and trace fossils. We suggest ways in which further analysis may bolster this contention.     

申报建立林州国家地质公园的地质环境综述

林州市2046km^2的面积内分布有太古代、元古代、古生代、中生代和新生代四个地质时代的地层，三大类30种岩性的岩石，丰富的古生物化石，以及极富观赏价值的地质地貌景观，这些具有科学意义的多种地质旅游资源，通过建立国家地质公园可以更好地得到保护，促进旅游业的可持续发展。     

江油国家地质公园地质遗迹景观资源特征及评价

江油国家地质公园特色突出,地质遗迹景观品质高、互补性强,配套性好,具有极高的科研、观赏和旅游开发价值。本文在资料收集和实地考察的基础上,总结了江油国家地质公园地质遗迹景观资源的特征,划分了地质遗迹景观的类型,并对地质公园内主要的地质遗迹景观进行了定性和定量评价。该地质公园地质遗迹景观主要有岩溶洞穴、岩溶漏斗、泥盆纪标准地层剖面和古生物化石,以及山岳、峡谷地貌等,其中属国家级地质遗迹景观的有11处,省级地质遗迹景观的有12处。      

Features and values of geological heritage resources in Shunping County,Hebei Province

Hebei Province is rich in geological heritage resources due to its diverse landforms and unique natural conditions. However,detailed investigation and study of the resources are still limited,and a systematic survey conducted on a small scale has not been fully implemented. In this paper,the resource types and characteristics of the geological heritage in Shunping County are systematically discussed,on the basis of field investigation and scientific evaluation. With reference to the existing criteria for geological heritage resources survey,the heritage values and corresponding levels were assessed by using multi-factor quantitative evaluation approach. The results show that there are 33 geological heritage sites in Shunping County,which fall into 3 categories,10 classes and 17 subcategories. Among them,2 heritage sites are above the provincial level,14 heritage sites are at the provincial level and 17 ones are below the level. These heritage sites are not only natural resources with great tourism potential,but also valuable asset in geological research,human history,ecological conservation,scientific education and some other aspects. It is hence of great significance to conduct the scientific and reasonable appraisal for having a better understanding,good protection and development of the geological heritage resources in Hebei Province.     

Ecological function regionalization of cultural heritage sites in Turpan,China, based on GIS

The protection for historical and cultural heritage and their surrounding environments is much more important than any other preventive efforts made by humans, so how to protect them and achieve sustainable utilization should be a priority. Regionalization is an efficient and a sustainable tool to manage the protected areas. In this study, based on regionalization of natural protected areas theory, we used ecological sensitivity analysis to regionalize the heritage sites in Turpan, China. Factors for the analysis are topography, ecological environments, human activity, and landscape resources. Based on the analysis of environmental status and spatial variation of ecological sensitivity in Turpan, this paper aims at developing a regionalization scheme and provides a scientific basis for protection and restoration of vulnerable historical and cultural sites. Our study results showed that 75% of the heritage sites in Turpan have sensitivity which is under dangerous condition and requires better planning and protection. This study provided a reliable and scientific way to regionalize heritage sites in the study area and which also can be transferred to other locations with similar situation.     

Geoheritage in New South Wales — a reassessment of sites from the register of the national estate

The geology of New South Wales is diverse, spanning Paleoproterozoic to modern materials and their various associated landforms and soils. In recognition of the intrinsic geological value of the State, around 150 geological sites were nominated to the now defunct Register of the National Estate, with the objective of geoconservation. However, these sites did not encompass the full range of geology of New South Wales; neither did they offer registered sites any protection. Analysis shows that the types of sites nominated were biased towards sedimentary and igneous rocks, and fossils, with under representation of metamorphic rocks, site-restricted soils, geomorphology and hydrogeology. To test the utility of the Brocx and Semeniuk ‘Geoheritage Toolkit’, a subset of the Register listings was re-examined, focusing on the Sydney Basin. Within the Sydney Basin, 59 nominated sites were reassessed using various geoheritage categories and the hierarchical framework of scale of the Toolkit. Four sites within the Sydney Basin were found to have features of international to national significance, and to have national historical value. These sites will need to be renominated for State and National listing. Clearly, to ensure that University teaching sites, as well as stratigraphic and lithologic type sections and reference sites, reflecting the geodiversity of New South Wales are conserved for future generations, a greater number of sites need to be put forward for heritage listing.     

北京城市地质工作服务的新方向——地质遗迹景观资源的开发利用

本文在阐述北京城市地质工作和地质遗迹景观资源开发利用现状的基础上,通过地质公园建设实例,从推动地方经济发展和当地居民就业、加快城镇基础设施和生态环境建设、提升地学旅游品位和公众保护地质遗迹意识等三个方面论证了地质公园在保障城市经济健康和可持续发展中发挥的重要作用,从而有力阐明了开发利用地质遗迹景观资源是北京城市地质工作服务的一个新方向。本文还提出了今后北京地区地质遗迹景观资源开发利用对策。     

Rural diversification in Albania

This paper examines the prospects for Albanian rural diversification with particular reference to rural tourism. In the early 1990s, tourism was identified by the Albanian government and Western development consultants as a likely vehicle for an appropriate and sustainable development strategy, given the relative wealth generated by international tourism in neighbouring Greece, Italy and Croatia. Pressure has been exerted by commercial developers for mass coastal tourism and permission for around 40 new tourist development has been granted. But Albania embraces a considerable wealth of natural and cultural heritage, which provides opportunities for the development of small scale rural tourism carefully integrated into the local economy with respect to organic farming, quality wine production and sustainable fishing. But sensitive social integration is vital where it is difficult to identify rural communities where there is a conspicuous absence of local consensus. The resurgence of traditional social systems and the empowerment of local actors in cases where organised crime has taken root pose major problems for rural diversification. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

生命起源、早期演化阶段与海洋环境演变

近年的研究表明,地球生命可能起源于距今39~36亿年之间。除了碳元素以外,水、氮、氢、磷等元素也是生命起源的必备条件,黏土矿物和金属硫化物是有机质合成的重要催化剂,有热液活动的碱性热水环境是最有利生命发生的孵化场。自原核生物在约3.5 Ga出现之后,生命就一直表现为与环境的协同进化关系。大气圈氧化是地球史上最重大的地质事件之一,它不仅改变了地球表层环境条件、加速了表生地质过程和新矿物的产生,而且改变了海洋化学条件和元素循环。大气圈氧化事件的根本在于产氧蓝细菌的出现,元古宙中期海洋化学性质的整体转换也与微生物过程密切相关。新元古代多细胞生物的繁盛和末期后生动物的出现及其在寒武纪初期的快速多样化是生物圈演化的重大飞跃。这个过程也与海洋氧化增强及其导致的海洋化学变化密切相关,其中硫化水域消失和减弱以及海水中微营养元素可得性增加可能是重要因素,这也与微生物过程直接相关。     

Sand dune migration as a factor of geoheritage loss: Evidence from the Siwa Oasis (Egypt) and implications for geoheritage management

Anthropogenic damage of geoheritage is documented widely, but natural processes can also lead to geoheritage loss. For instance, sand dune migration causes submergence of unique geological and palaeontological sites in desert environments of the Sahara. The Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt boasts rich geoheritage, which is represented in many localities. Three of them in the southern part of the oasis are outcrops of highly-fossiliferous limestones. Palaeontological, sedimentary, palaeogeographical, and geomorphological types of geoheritage are recognized there. Sand dune activity on the study area is registered both visually and with remote sensing techniques. Denudation and destruction of naturally-exposed rocks is documented. Evidence of outcrop submergence with sand is found in all cases. The localities are situated in the pathway of rapid (up to ?10 m/yr) dune migration. One locality may disappear within one–two years. Sand dune migration has to be considered as a factor of geoheritage loss in the Siwa Oasis, and the relevant protection of the studied localities is necessary. Geopark creation and improvement of water use in the oasis can also help significantly, as well as the reference to archaeological experience of excavation and protection of heritage sites submerged by sands. More generally, geoheritage conservation should be integrated with a program for sustainable oasis development.     

雅鲁藏布江南带白垩纪地层划分及特征

通过1∶25万区域地质调查,在藏南普兰县拉昂错—萨嘎县旦嘎东雅鲁藏布江结合带南带修康群中发现了大量放射虫化石,通过对该区沉积地层的详细调查,结合放射虫化石对原划修康群进行了充分解体,新厘定出侏罗系至始新统7个组级岩石地层单位,其中白垩系划分为折巴组与桑单林组。折巴组以杂色硅质岩、泥岩和页岩为主,夹砂岩、玄武岩等,与上覆上侏罗统旦嘎组和下伏下白垩统桑单林组呈整合接触关系,含丰富的早白垩世放射虫化石; 桑单林组以杂色石英砂岩、砂岩、泥岩、页岩及硅质岩为主,夹玄武岩等,整合于下白垩统折巴组与古近系蹬岗组之间,含丰富的晚白垩世放射虫与有孔虫化石。白垩系折巴组与桑单林组的建立与研究,丰富和完善了中生代特提斯洋盆区(雅鲁藏布江南带地层分区)的岩石地层沉积序列,提高了地层的研究水平,为研究该区沉积古地理环境和大地构造演化提供了新的基础资料。     

峡东寒武纪三叶虫化石新材料

三峡东部中寒武统化石稀少。本文对在宜昌三斗坪中寒武世覃家庙组二段下部含鲕粒灰岩、细晶灰岩中所采获的三叶虫Xingrenaspis sp.进行了研究和描述,并对含化石地层时代进行了讨论。此次发现,丰富了峡东中寒武世的化石资料,也为本区中寒武世地层划分对比提供了新的依据。     

New petrified forest in Maranhão,Permian (Cisuralian) of the Parnaíba Basin,Brazil

This work presents a new fossil plant-bearing area located in the municipalities of Duque Bacelar and Coelho Neto, Maranhão State, Brazil, recovered from lower Permian (Cisuralian) strata of the Pedra de Fogo Formation, northeastern portion of the Parnaíba Basin. The area comprises more than five exposures with assemblages formed mostly of large gymnosperm woods, a number of them in life-position (reaching up to ∼2.30 m in height and 1.15 m in diameter) and, in lesser degree, of horizontal tree-fern stems (up to 5 m in length), some of them being referable to Psaronius sp. The fossils are recorded in sedimentary beds of continental origin that accumulated in shallow, nearshore areas of large lakes, which eventually were affected by rapid burial episodes generated by non-channelized, high energy fluvial systems. The new fossil assemblages are included within lacustrine rocks placed at the base of the Pedra de Fogo Formation, i.e., Sílex Basal Member, near the contact with the underlying Piauí Formation (Pennsylvanian). This observation contrasts with previous studies at the southwestern portion of the basin, where the stratigraphic position of plant fossils is referred to the upper Pedra de Fogo Formation (Trisidela Member) or even to the overlying Motuca Formation. The new sites currently suffer damage from human activities and require urgent actions in order to protect them. Based on the current laws, some measures of protection for these sites are discussed and proposed herein.     

Identification of bacterial fossils in marine source rocks in South China

Based on the results of conventional geochemistry analysis including thin sections and SEM observations, different shapes of bacterial fossils, with size ranging from dozens of nanometers to several microns, were discovered in the low-mature marine source rocks and coal seams in South China, of which the Permian source rocks were dominated by the bacterial fossils derived from symbiotic sulphur bacteria with gypsum, and the Chengkou section in the Cambrian strata were occupied by abundant nanoscale bacterial fossils with rod and bar shapes. In contrast, a large quantity of possible bacterial fossils found in the high-mature Permian, Silurian, and Cambrian source rocks using SEM need to be further explored. Despite this, this study has indicated that bacterial fossils were prevalent in the source rocks, such as mudstone, siliceous rock and gypsum-bearing coal seams in South China, which has been ignored before. It also suggests that the bacterial fossils may play an important role in the formation and accumulation of shale gas in the geological history.     

四合屯-义县地区义县组火山活动的旋回性特征

在岩石学特征分析的基础上,结合本区广为发育的火山间歇期沉凝灰岩、凝灰质粉砂岩以及其中的古生物化石特征等,作者将四合屯-义县地区义县组火山活动分为早、中、晚3个火山活动旋回,即早期以玄武岩、玄武安山质火山岩类为主的基性、中基性旋回;中期以流纹质及英安质火山岩类为主的中酸性旋回;晚期以玄武岩为主的基性旋回.义县组火山活动早期的基性、中基性旋回还可进一步分为4个亚旋回,在其中的沉凝灰岩中发育有以鹦鹉嘴龙为主的古脊椎动物化石.各旋回或亚旋回的底部不同程度地发育有爆发-沉积相的沉凝灰岩或内陆湖泊相沉积岩.包括珍稀动植物在内的热河生物群化石则产于义县组火山活动中期的沉凝灰岩以及钙质页岩之中.     

陕西新元古代末期奇异骨骼化石新发现及其意义

陕西宁强新元古代末期灯影组高家山段上部发现与Cloudina,Sinotubulites等管状动物骨骼化石共生的大量微体奇异骨骼化石，其中的一些似与寒武纪早期的小壳化石有一定的亲缘，如形态奇特的铆钉状化石、腹足类化石等，证实寒武纪与前寒武纪生物界之间存在明显的连续性；奇异骨骼与陡山沱期生物也存在一定的相似性，如一些分枝的管状化石，这一化石组合具有承前启后的作用。该组合包含了可能的矿化后生藻类（具各种分枝类型）、矿化的蓝绿藻类化石等。种种迹象表明，在新元古代末期整个生物界发生了一次强烈的生物矿化事件，这一发现弥补了国内外新元古代末期矿化后生植物资料的空缺；磷酸盐化球状化石的研究已成为国内外研究的热点，本文所展示的球状化石由于形态多样，数量众多，内部结构各异，对其进行深入研究，可望在后生动物起源和早期演化研究方面取得突破。     

清河镇动物群化石之否定

在华北陆台北缘“发现”分布达二千公里早寒武世小亮化石带并建立了“清河镇动物群”的报道引起了地质学家们的普遍关注。随着研究工作的进一步展开,相继又在太古代、元古代和古生代的高级变质岩石、糜棱岩、甚至火成岩岩石中发现了该动物群的“化石”.对上述“化石”及其与岩石标本的关系等多方面的综合研究结果证明,这些物体根本就不是化石,而是在用酸处理岩石样品时所形成的化学反应生成物。依据此类假化石进行地层时代划分及填图将会带来极大的混乱。     

四合屯—大康保地区义县组火山—沉积岩地质特征

四合屯－大康堡地区所出露的义县组火山－沉积岩可分为上、中、下3个层位。下部层位是以玄武质、玄武安山岩质以及安山质火山岩类为主的基性、中基性火山－沉积岩;中部是以流纹质及英安质火山岩为主的中酸性火山－沉积岩;而义县组的上部层位是以玄武岩、玄武玢岩为代表的基性火山岩。薄层状的沉凝灰岩、凝灰质粉砂岩及钙质页岩等作为火山活动间歇期的产物,常不同程度地发育于义县组火山溶岩或集块岩的底部。野外工作发现：在义县组下部层位的沉凝灰岩层中发育有以鹦嘴龙为主的古脊椎动物类化石;四合屯－大康堡一带富含有热河生物群化石的沉积层属义县组火山－沉积岩系的中部层位。稀土元素分析表明,在相同层位的火山－沉积岩岩,沉凝灰岩,凝灰质粉砂岩和钙质页岩及其与火山熔岩存在密切的相关性;而不同层位间则存在一定的差异性。稀土元素配分特征不反映出,不同的义县组火山－沉积岩内、凝灰质粉砂岩和钙质页岩及其与火山溶岩存在密切的相关性;而不同层位间则存在一定的差异性。稀土元素分特征还反映出,不同的义县组火山－沉积岩层位之间具有相似的物源关系。     

Organic geochemistry in Precambrian research

Cherts, shales, and carbonates containing small amounts of organic matter occur throughout the Precambrian sedimentary record. The oldest known organic-rich sediments have been dated at > 3,000 million years. Knowledge of the composition, origin, and fate of the organic content of these rocks relates to many facets of Precambrian earth history. Apart from its primary paleobiological significance, organic geochemical research is also concerned with problems in atmospheric and hydrospheric evolution, sedimentation, diagenesis, metamorphism, and ore genesis.Precambrian organic geochemistry to date has rested on the premise that ancient life process can be profitably studied at a chemical level, as well as by examination of the morphological fossils of conventional paleontology. A decade of intensive research on selected Precambrian carbonaceous and bituminous sediments has been made possible by the refinement of analytical techniques (notably gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) which are now capable of detecting and characterizing the minute quantities of complex organic mixtures found in geological materials. It has resulted in the development of criteria which allow discrimination between indigenous and adventitious organic matter. A diverse array of stable organic compounds has been isolated from Precambrian sedimentary rocks. The compounds, termed chemical fossils, are thought to be derived from ancestral microorganisms and as such have contributed to the formulation of the biological marker concept. Despite reports of possible abiotic occurrences, a biological origin for most of the organic matter preserved in Precambrian rocks (whether sedimentary or metamorphic) now appears likely.The possibility of secondary emplacement from migrating formation fluids means that an indigenous chemical fossil need not have been syngenetic with the deposition of its host sediment. No conclusive test of Precambrian age as yet exists for these compounds. The bulk of the organic material (kerogen) in Precambrian rocks is insoluble in organic and aqueous solvents. For this reason, kerogen is almost certainly both indigenous and syngenetic, but clarification of its chemical structure must await the development of new analytical procedures. The nature and extent of the modification that the soluble and insoluble organic fractions have undergone during late diagenesis and incipient metamorphism is still virtually unknown. Correlation of chemical fossils with specific biogenic precursor compounds, or a particular type of primitive organism, therefore remains equivocal. So also comparison of the organic geochemical facies of one sediment with that of another may be complicated by differences in their thermal history and mineralogy.Recent interest in the possible involvement of living and decayed microorganisms in the genesis of certain Precambrian Fe, U, Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn metal deposits signals the beginning of an important new phase in organic geochemical studies.