A cystoid with two left facets: the significance of Tetracystis in the evolution and classification of the Callocystitidae (Echinodermata,Glyptocystitoida)

Revision of some North American Silurian callocystitid cystoids shows that Tetracystis Schuchert has the first two brachioles to the left in ambulacra B and D (B D different pattern), whereas Troosticystis Paul and Lovenicystis Regéll have only the first brachiole to the left in all four ambulacra (B–E the same pattern). ‘Apiocystites’ elegans Hall is transferred to Tetracystis because it has the B D different pattern. Lovenicystis kopfi sp. nov. is characterized by four short ambulacra. Salirocystis gen. nov. has the B D different pattern and two hydropores. All callocystitids that lack ambulacrum A are assigned to a new subfamily, the Tetracystinae; those with five ambulacra are referred to informally as ‘lepadocystines’. The previously recognized subfamily Callocystitinae is reduced in rank to a tribe within the ‘lepadocystines’. Preliminary character analysis suggests that the loss of ambulacrum A was the most significant evolutionary event within the family Callocystitidae, but has been overlooked in taxonomy. Character analysis also shows that all ‘lepadocystines’ had the B D different pattern of primary brachioles, which is retained in four tetracystine genera, Lepocrinites Conrad, Sphaerocystites Hall, Tetracystis and Salirocystis. Since Salirocystis has the plesiomorphic B D different pattern plus the apomorphic double hydropore, one cannot define a monophyletic taxon characterized by the B–E the same pattern plus one characterized by a double hydropore. Both alternatives are equally parsimonious. Here a new monophyletic tribe Lipsanocystini is defined characterized by a double hydropore. The B–E the same pattern evolved independently twice. Among current characters the loss of ambulacrum A, development of the B–E the same pattern and development of two hydropores are the most significant evolutionary events. Number of periproct border plates, length and structure of ambulacra are less significant. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Occurrences of major earthquakes by groups in North China

The earthquakes with magnitude M 6 which occurred in North China (30°–42°N, 105°–124°E) from 780 B.C. to 1978 A.D. have been analysed. Most of them appear in groups, each of which is confined to a definite region and period of time, called respectively the active region and active period. From 780 B.C. to 1000 A.D., groupings of earthquakes were not apparent, due to scanty data. Since 1000 A.D., 16 groups of earthquakes can be recognized. Statistics show that about 73% of the earthquakes occurred in groups. This implies that grouping of earthquakes of M 6 is a characteristic feature of seismic activity in North China. On this basis, a concept of a unified seismogenic process of major earthquakes has been proposed with the support of the geodetic data. Finally, the significance of this concept with regards to earthquake prediction has been discussed.     

中建南盆地新生代层序地层特征

中建南盆地是在晚白垩世末南海中南部的一次张性构造运动──礼乐运动作用下开始形成的。盆地的发育经历了中、晚始新世之间的西卫运动造成区域抬升,使中建南盆地的下伏地层遭受变形、隆升和剥蚀;晚渐新世─中中新世的南海中央海盆扩张──南海运动;中中新世末期的万安运动和中新世末期南海整体沉降作用。共划分了6个层序组,8个层序,即A层序组(含A层序)、B层序组(含B层序)、C层序组(含C1层序和C2层序)、D层序组(含D层序)、E层序组(含E1层序和E2层序)和F层序组(含F层序)。     

泥石流沉积相模式

共划分泥石流沉积为6种类型或相即A相泥石流层,B相类泥层,C相冲刷层,D相泥流层;E相泥流层,A1相细粒泥石流层。标准的泥石流相模式是从底层的泥层D相开始,往上为A相、C霜。且以C相为沉积间断标志。     

The Migif–Hafafit gneissic complex of the Egyptian Eastern Desert: fold interference patterns involving multiply deformed sheath folds

The Wadi Hafafit Complex (WHC) is an arcuate belt of orthogneisses, migmatites and other high-grade metamorphic rocks, which marks the boundary between the Central Eastern and the South Eastern Deserts of Egypt. In the WHC, gneissic meta-gabbro outlines macroscopic fold interference patterns characterized by elliptical to irregular culminations cored by gneissic meta-tonalite to meta-trondhjemite. The five main culminations of the WHC have previously been labeled A (most northerly), B, C, D and E (most southerly). A detailed structural investigation of B, C, D and E reveals that these structures are a result of the interference of four macroscopic fold phases, the first three of which may represent a single deformation event. The first folding involved sheath-like fold nappes, which were transported to the N or NW, assisted by translation on gently dipping mylonite zones. The regional gneissosity and mineral extension lineations formed during this folding event. The fold nappes were deformed by mainly open upright small macroscopic and mesocopic folds with approximately NE-trending hinges. As a probable continuation of the latter folding, the sheaths were buckled into large macroscopic folds and monoclines with the same NE-trends. The fourth macroscopic folding resulted from shortening along the NE–SW direction, producing mainly NW–SE-trending upright gently plunging folds. Gravitative uplift is disputed as a component of the deformation history of the WHC. The peculiarities of the fold interference pattern result from the interesting behaviour of sheath folds during their refolding.     

Compositional diversity in insoluble organic matter in type 1, 2 and 3 chondrites as detected by infrared spectroscopy

Insoluble organic matter (IOM) isolated from 22 carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites spanning a wide range of groups and petrologic types were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Based on common IR spectral features, it is observed that IOM falls into 4 molecularly distinct groups (designated here as A through D). Spectral group A includes type 1 and 2 chondrites and exhibits intense aliphatic C-H and carboxyl vibrational peaks. Spectral group B includes the least metamorphosed type 3 chondrites and Tagish Lake, and exhibits weaker aliphatic and carboxyl vibrational intensity. Spectral groups C and D include metamorphosed type ?3.1 chondrites and a heated CM chondrite. The carbonyl stretching features in spectral groups C and D differ from that in spectral groups A and B and from each other. In spectral group C, the carbonyl stretching is assigned to cyclic unsaturated lactones; in spectral group D carbonyl exists predominantly in the form of unsaturated ketone moieties. Both spectral groups C and D have a relatively narrow band structure around 1210 cm⁻¹ (assigned to aromatic skeletal modes) as compared with spectral groups A and B, which is consistent with the formation of more condensed aromatics by extensive thermal metamorphism. The differences in carbonyl structures in spectral groups C and D are not the result of different effective metamorphic temperatures, rather these differences likely result from variation in the activity of water and oxygen at different stages of parent body metamorphism. Such environmental variations must be local phenomena in the parent bodies as there is no correlation between spectral grouping and chondrite class or group.     

Variations of factors affecting rice productivity in Central Luzon,Philippines

Factors affecting rice productivity in Central Luzon, Philippines, among four classes of level, namely Class A — fully irrigated, Class B — partially irrigated, Class C — lowland rainfed, and Class D — upland rainfed, are examined in this study. An attempt is made to identify the ajor underlying dimensions of rice productivity and to ascertain the set of postulated factors that best determines variations associated with rice productivity. While principal-axes factor analysis is applied to isolate the underlying dimensions associated with rice productivity for 200 farms, stepwise multiple regression analysis is employed to determine which among the thirty-eight hypothesized variables have the strongest influence in accounting for variations associated with rice productivity in Central Luzon.The results showed that the economic and institutional factors accounted for most of the variations in rice productivity among the four classes of farms. Whereas the economic variables were concerned with the amount and manner in which economic inputs were used and with the amount of fixed asset in rice production, the institutional factors were focused mainly on membership in the government rice production program and the amount of loan available to farmer members.     

Evidence for the recurrence of large-magnitude earthquakes along the Makran coast of Iran and Pakistan

The presence of raised beaches and marine terraces along the Makran coast indicates episodic uplift of the continental margin resulting from large-magnitude earthquakes. The uplift occurs as incremental steps similar in height to the 1–3 m of measured uplift resulting from the November 28, 1945 (M 8.3) earthquake at Pasni and Ormara, Pakistan. The data support an E—W-trending, active subduction zone off the Makran coast.The raised beaches and wave-cut terraces along the Makran coast are extensive with some terraces 1–2 km wide, 10–15 m long and up to 500 m in elevation. The terraces are generally capped with shelly sandstones 0.5–5 m thick. Wave-cut cliffs, notches, and associated boulder breccia and swash troughs are locally preserved. Raised Holocene accretion beaches, lagoonal deposits, and tombolos are found up to 10 m in elevation. The number and elevation of raised wave-cut terraces along the Makran coast increase eastward from one at Jask, the entrance to the Persian Gulf, at a few meters elevation, to nine at Konarak, 250 km to the east. Multiple terraces are found on the prominent headlands as far east as Karachi. The wave-cut terraces are locally tilted and cut by faults with a few meters of displacement.Long-term, average rates of uplift were calculated from present elevation, estimated elevation at time of deposition, and ¹⁴C and U–Th dates obtained on shells. Uplift rates in centimeters per year at various locations from west to east are as follows: Jask, 0 (post-Sangamon); Konarak, 0.031–0.2 (Holocene), 0.01 (post-Sangamon); Ormara 0.2 (Holocene).     

Petrochemistry of metapsammitic rocks from the Patom Highland: Reconstruction of the protolith composition

Precambrian psammitic rocks of the Patom Highland as constituents of metasedimentary groups belong to the quartz-polymictic family, which is divided in each group into the following five petrochemical types: (A) highly silicic quartz sandstones, (B) silicic quartz sandstones, (C) alkali silicic quartz sandstones, (D) Fe-Si polymictic sandstones, and (E) Fe-Al-Si polymictic sandstones. The mineralogic-petrographic classification elaborated by Shutov (1967) may be applied to the calculated quantitative mineral and component compositions of metasandstone protoliths. According to this classification, the petrochemical types A–E may be correlated with monomictic (A′), oligomictic (B′), and mesomictic (C′) sandstones, feldspar-quartz graywacke (D′) and graywacke proper (E′), respectively.Quartz-polymictic sandstones make up the direct petrographic (mineralogic-petrographic) series A′-B′-C′-D′-E′ and the almost mirror inverse series E′-D′-C′-B′. The direct series A′-E′ represent the transgressive branches of sedimentary cycles that begin with the crustal redeposited products of chemical weathering, including high-Al schists and monomictic (A′) and oligomictic (B′) quartz sandstones. As the humid climate became arid, the sandstones gave way to the mesomictic sandstones C′ and to the polymictic sandstones D′ and E′ in the middle sections of sedimentary cycles. The polymictic sandstones mark culminations of tectonic activity that led to the formation of high mountains. The inverse series E′-B′ begin from the periods of mountainous topography and characterize regressive branches of sedimentary cycles that mark the decreasing tectonic activity. Polymictic sandstones E′ and D′ are replaced by oligomictic sandstones B′ in these branches. Thus, petrographic or mineralogic-petrographic series reflect the compositional evolution of psammitic rocks between epochs of peneplanation. The termination of these epochs and resumption of orogenic movements are documented by deposition of the Teptorgo-Mama, Kadalikan, and Bodaibo sedimentary groups. The onset of tectonic events fell on the terminal Paleoproterozoic, Early Riphean, and the Middle-Late Riphean. The composition of sedimentary rocks underwent progressive changes during the tectonic evolution of the continental margin of the Siberian Craton and the concomitant variation of paleoclimate.     

Organic facies and depositional palaeoenvironment of lignites from Rio Maior Basin (Portugal)

The Rio Maior Basin (Portugal) is a tectonic depression, filled by a Pliocene sequence that comprises, from floor to roof: (i) kaoliniferous fine sands, (ii) diatomites and lignites, (iii) recent deposits of sandstone and clay. The diatomites and lignites form a small dissimetric syncline with alternating seams. Ten lignite seams were identified and named from floor to roof as F, E, D, C.2, C.1, C, B, A, a and a′. Seams A, D, E and F are considered to be the main seams.The organic fraction consists mainly of macerals of the huminite group, with small percentages of inertinite and liptinite groups. However, the petrographic composition of each seam is distinct, particularly with regards to macerals of the huminite and liptinite groups.Calculation of petrographic indices permitted to plot the coals in facies and palaeoenvironment diagrams. Five facies have been defined: (i) aquatic, (ii) herbaceous swamp, (iii) mixed swamp with forest and herbaceous vegetation, (vi) forest swamp (wetter) and (v) forest swamp (drier).These lignites are humic coals formed from organic matter of terrestrial origin. The peat biomass at the origin of these coals formed from a very diverse vegetation comprising gymnosperms and angiosperms. In seams F, and occasionally in seams E and D, Botryococcus algae have also contributed to the biomass. Peat deposition corresponded to a rheotrophic hydrological regime: the water level always remained above the topographic surface of the basin. Nevertheless, during the deposition of seam A in the northern part of the basin, the water level was slightly below the topographic surface. The organic matter was preserved in anaeorobic conditions.     

Large earthquakes in the New Guinea-Solomon Islands area, 1873–1972

A catalogue of 1873–1972 earthquakes with M > 6.9 for the New Guinea—Solomon Islands region (130–165° E) is compiled. There are 152 events listed. Duda's (1965) results for 1900–1968 are improved for the Papua New Guinea area (141–156° E) because of the availability of historical data for that area.Although there is evidence of rapid Holocene uplift in the main seismic zones, there is little historical evidence for visible uplift or subsidence resulting directly from modern major earthquakes. Coastal subsidences commonly reported as a result of earthquakes are of smaller extent and appear to be due to settlement. However, the occurrence of tsunamigenic earthquakes does suggest that surface deformations do take place off-shore.Using Davies and Brune's (1971) method, regional fault slip rates over 5° -segments of the shallow seismic zone are determined from the seismicity catalogue. The slip rate for the island of New Guinea (Gutenberg and Richter's Region 16) is found to be at least 4.4 cm/y which is almost double the very anomalously low rate of 2.3 cm/y found by Davies and Brune (1971). If allowance is made for shear movement without seismicity and for the approximately ratio of dip-slip versus strike-slip faulting indicated by fault plane solutions, the agreement with Le Pichon's (1970) approach value of 10.7 cm/y for the Pacific—India (Australia) plates is reasonable. The fault slip rate in the area between east New Britain and Bougainville at the Pacific—Bismarck—Solomon triple junction is extremely high (20.6 cm/y at least). The smallest slip rate (1.5 cm/y) is found for westernmost New Guinea (130–135° E).Temporal cumulative summation of moments curves show a periodicity of approximately 25 years in the seismic activity at the triple junction (150–155° E). Elsewhere the rate of seismic activity is aperiodic.     

Structural zones and continental collision, Central Alps

The traverse of the Central Alps between Lake Constance and Lake Como (eastern Switzerland, northern Italy) allows the reconstruction of a cross-section through a collision belt some 140 km wide and 40 km deep. It can be described in terms of a series of structural zones (A–F), defined by the age and character of the latest phase of penetrative deformation affecting both basement and cover rocks, each zone showing a characteristic structural history. These zones do not coincide with the well-known tectono-stratigraphic Alpine subdivisions (Helvetic, Pennine, Austroalpine) which are based on gross geometry, facies and petrography. Zones A and B, in the north, developed during late Oligocene and Miocene times, affecting the Helvetic realm and the already overlying Pennine and Austroalpine units. Zone A is characterized by a steeply dipping penetrative cleavage S_A, zone B by the same cleavage later modified by nappe-forming movements. Zone F, in the south, also developed during the late Oligocene and Miocene, first as a monoclinal flexure, later as a steeply dipping zone of mylonitization and cataclasis (foliation S_f), affecting Pennine and Austroalpine units. The final manifestation of these movements was the Tonale line and their net result was the uplift of the region to the north by about 20 km. Between these two belts lay an area in which late Oligocene-Miocene movements had little effect — structural zones C (Pennine), D (Pennine-Austroalpine transition) and E (Austroalpine). In zones C and D, the latest phase of penetrative deformation, resulting in large recumbent fold structures and a penetrative foliation S_c zone C, can be dated as late Eocene-early Oligocene. This seems to be related to the overriding of the Austroalpine nappe complex (zone E), which already showed the effects of a late Cretaceous orogeny.Unravelling these events backwards, reveals, at the Eocene—Oligocene boundary, a southward dipping subduction zone in the process of locking. Its mouth is full of upper Cretaceous-Eocene flysch; its throat is choked by the Pennine nappe complex, undergoing the s_c ductile deformation. Before subduction, the Pennine nappe complex can best be described as a mega-mélange-a tectonic mixture of large fragments of continental basement, oceanic basement, trough-facies cover and platform-facies cover, already showing a complicated structural history. It is supposed that collision started in mid-Cretaceous times, not at a single subduction suture (trench), but by complicated surficial processes across a wide zone, as non-matching, rifted and thinned continental margins approached and small oceanic remnants were obducted. Post-mid-Oligocene events are essentially intra-plate compressional effects, combined with isostatic response.     

Small-scale spatial variation of the stress field in the back-arc Aegean area: Results from the seismotectonic study of the broader area of Mygdonia basin (N. Greece)

In the present work a detailed seismotectonic study of the broader area of the Mygdonia basin (N. Greece) is performed. Digital data for earthquakes which occurred in the broader Mygdonia basin and were recorded by the permanent telemetric network of the Geophysical Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki during the period 1989–1999 were collected and fault plane solutions for 50 earthquakes which occurred in the study area were calculated with a modified first motions approach which incorporates amplitude and radiation pattern information. Fault plane solutions for the 3 main shocks of Volvi (23/05/78, M_W = 5.8 and 20/06/78, M_W = 6.5) and Arnaia (04/05/95, M_W = 5.8) events and the 1978 aftershock sequence were additionally used. Moreover, data from two local networks established in the Mygdonia basin were also incorporated in the final dataset.Determination of the stress field was realized by the use of the method of Gephart and Forsyth [Gephart, J.W., Forsyth, D.W., 1984. An improved method for determining the regional stress tensor using earthquake focal mechanism data: application to the San Fernando earthquake sequence: Jour. Geophys. Res., v.89, no. B11, p. 9305–9320] for the stress tensor inversion and the results were compared with independent estimates based on the calculation of the average moment tensor [Papazachos, C.B.,Kiratzi, A.A., 1992. A formulation for reliable estimation of active crustal deformation and its application to central Greece. Geophys. J. Int. 111, 424–432]. The obtained stress results show a relatively good agreement between the two approaches, with differences in the azimuth of the dominant extension axis of the order of 10°. Furthermore, comparison with independent information for the mean stress axes provided by the study of kinematics on neotectonic faults [Mountrakis, D., Kilias, A., Tranos, M., Thomaidou, E., Papazachos, C., Karakaisis, G., Scordilis, E., Chatzidimitriou, P., Papadimitriou, E., Vargemezis, G., Aidona, E., Karagianni, E., Vamvakaris, D. Skarlatoudis, A. 2003. Determination of the settings and the seismotectonic behavior of the main seismic-active faults of Northern Greece area using neotectonic and seismological data. Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP) (in Greek)] shows a similar agreement with typical misfit of the order 10°. The stress inversion method was modified in order to select one or both nodal planes of the focal mechanism which corresponds to the “true” fault plane of the occurred earthquakes and was able to select a single fault plane in the majority of examined cases. Using this approach, the obtained fault plane rose diagrams are in agreement with results from various neotectonic studies. Moreover, several secondary active fault branches were identified, which are still not clearly observed in the field.     

Climatic classification of the Tibet Autonomous Region using multivariate statistical methods

A climatic regionalization of the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region (TAR) is developed based on a multivariate analysis of temperature and precipitation records of two data sets from the periods 1971–1980 and 1980–1989. For these two decades 15 selected variables of the 29 meteorological stations — in total more than 50,000, partly handwritten original data — were computed. Three different statistical approaches, Cluster Analysis (CA), Factor Analysis (FA) and Discriminant Analysis (DA) were followed up. The vast expanse (1.2 million km²) and the pronounced relief of the TAR (between 500 m and 8,848 m in elevation), the low density and unequal distribution of meteorological stations, as well as uncertainties inherent in the selection of statistical methods, restricted and hampered the separation of coherent climatic subregions using multivariate statistics. However, a solution comprising of nine clusters, representing the different climatic conditions of Tibet, was found.The results of the multivariate statistical analyses were compared with traditional classification schemes published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The Chinese classifications from the years 1982 (CAS 82) and 1984 (CAS 84) are here presented to the scientific community of the western countries for the first time (Fig 2 and 3). The main aim of these Chinese climatic classifications in Tibet was the delineation of areas with the best climatic conditions for agricultural land-use. In comparison, the aim of this paper was to establish a new classification of Tibet's climate, mainly based on measurements of climatic elements analyzed with multivariate statistical procedures following up the approach of McGregor (1993). The Factor Analysis (FA) included the temperature factor, which explains 46% of the total variance, whereas 32% is explained by the winter moisture and 12% by the moisture factor.For temperatur zonation and, in particular, for the distribution of precipitation, the high mountain topography of Tibet is interpreted as the determining factor. The new climatic classification derived from multivariate statistics allows a more dynamic interpretation of the climatic cluster pattern. First, it shows the channelized influence of the summer monsoon along the southeast-northwest- and east-west-trending broad valleys north of the Gulf of Bengal. This is also obvious in the pattern of the temperature and moisture factors. Second, it can be supposed that a general south-trending influence of the winter monsoon, in combination with a northwest-trending influence from the Bay of Bengal leads to more irregular relief- and wind-dependent pattern, which can be estimated from the distribution of the winter moisture factor.     

The seismic parameter b of the frequency-magnitude relation and its association with the geological zones in the area of Greece

The parameter b of the frequency-magnitude relation has been accurately calculated for each of the 21 seismic zones into which the Aegean and surrounding area (34°N–43°N, 18°E–30°E) has been divided on the basis of several seismotectonic criteria. These 21 seismic zones have been geographically separated into three (A, B, C) groups (regions), according to the values of the parameter b. The outer region (A) is characterized by a relatively high value (= 1.03) the middle region (B) by an intermediate value (= 0.84) and the innermost region (C) by a low value (= 0.60). The boundaries of these three groups of zones almost coincide with the boundaries of well-known geological zones. This observation is interpreted in terms of mechanical heterogeneity of the material, and of structural and stress conditions in the area.     

The Higo metamorphic complex in Kyushu, Japan as the fragment of Permo–Triassic metamorphic complexes in East Asia

The Higo terrane in west-central Kyushu Island, southwest Japan consists from north to south of the Manotani, Higo and Ryuhozan metamorphic complexes, which are intruded by the Higo plutonic complex (Miyanohara tonalite and Shiraishino granodiorite).The Higo and Manotani metamorphic complexes indicate an imbricate crustal section in which a sequence of metamorphic rocks with increasing metamorphic grade from high (northern part) to low (southern part) structural levels is exposed. The metamorphic rocks in these complexes can be divided into five metamorphic zones (zone A to zone E) from top to base (i.e., from north to south) on the basis of mineral parageneses of pelitic rocks. Greenschist-facies mineral assemblages in zone A (the Manotani metamorphic complex) give way to amphibolite-facies assemblages in zones B, C and D, which in turn are replaced by granulite-facies assemblages in zone E of the Higo metamorphic complex. The highest-grade part of the complex (zone E) indicates peak P–T conditions of ca. 720 MPa and ca. 870 °C. In addition highly aluminous Spr-bearing granulites and related high-temperature metamorphic rocks occur as blocks in peridotite intrusions and show UHT-metamorphic conditions of ca. 900 MPa and ca. 950 °C. The prograde and retrograde P–T evolution paths of the Higo and Manotani metamorphic complexes are estimated using reaction textures, mineral inclusion analyses and mineral chemistries, especially in zones A and D, which show a clockwise P–T path from Lws-including Pmp–Act field to Act–Chl–Epi field in zone A and St–Ky field to And field through Sil field in zone D.The Higo metamorphic complex has been traditionally considered to be the western-end of the Ryoke metamorphic belt in the Japanese Islands or part of the Kurosegawa–Paleo Ryoke terrane in south-west Japan. However, recent detailed studies including Permo–Triassic age (ca. 250 Ma) determinations from this complex indicate a close relationship with the high-grade metamorphic terranes in eastern-most Asia (e.g., north Dabie terrane) with similar metamorphic and igneous characteristics, protolith assembly, and metamorphic and igneous ages. The north Dabie high-grade terrane as a collisional metamorphic zone between the North China and the South China cratons could be extended to the N-NE along the transcurrent fault (Tan-Lu Fault) as the Sulu belt in Shandong Peninsula and the Imjingang belt in Korean Peninsula. The Higo and Manotani metamorphic complexes as well as the Hida–Oki terrane in Japan would also have belonged to this type of collisional terrane and then experienced a top-to-the-south displacement with forming a regional nappe structure before the intrusion of younger Shiraishino granodiorite (ca. 120 Ma).     

The Baganuur coal deposit, Mongolia: depositional environments and paleoecology of a Lower Cretaceous coal-bearing intermontane basin in Eastern Asia

The investigations involved geophysical, sedimentological, palynological, chemical and mineralogical studies, supported by field-based infrared spectrometry. The Baganuur Basin, Central Mongolia, is among the rift or pull-apart-basins, which subsided at the boundary between the Jurassic and the Lower Cretaceous in East Asia. During the Berriasian, peat accumulation began in the area under study in Central Mongolia. The palynoflora is akin to the Siberian palynological province. Based on the phytoclast assemblages and the ratios of total sulfur content to total organic content, marine transgressions into this intermontane basin may be ruled out. The coal interseam sediments were laid down prevalently under neutral to slightly alkaline conditions; only in some carbonaceous sediments, the pH of intrastratal solutions was lowered. Suboxic to anoxic conditions persisted during almost the entire Lower Cretaceous period in the Baganuur Basin. Based on the distribution of fining- and coarsening-upward sequences and the organic matter, the basin fill has been subdivided into seven depositional units (A: fluvial–swamp, B: fluvial–lacustrine, C: deltaic–fluvial, D: fluvial, E: fluvial–deltaic–lacustrine/floodplain (?), F: lacustrine–deltaic–swamp, G: swamp–fluvial). A conspicuous change in the fluvial–lacustrine regime and an increase in the sediment supply may be observed at the boundary between depositional units B and C. A strong uplift triggered the onset of an intensive delta sedimentation. Lithoclasts, heavy minerals (e.g., apatite, zircon, garnet, anatase, brookite, epidote, sphene, tourmaline) and phyllosilicates (e.g., kaolinite, smectite, mica, chlorite) attest to a mixing of detrital material. One provenance area was abundant in acidic plutonic rocks as shown by the granitic lithoclasts, the other in volcanic rocks, which produced the vitroclastic debris deposited as tephra fallout. Post-depositional alteration of the siliciclastic interseam sediments was favored by a distinctive facies association of transmissive and sealing horizons. It led to a re-deposition of Ca, U and Sr in the siliciclastics. Post-depositional alteration of the organic material converted it into lignite to subbituminous C coal.     

Element partitioning between olivine and silicate melt under high pressure

Element partitioning between olivine and silicate melt has been investigated at pressures 1–14 GPa, by using a 6–8 type multi-anvil high pressure apparatus. In order to observe systematics in the partitioning of trivalent ions, Li was added to the starting materials in order to increase the concentration of trivalent ions in olivine. With increasing pressure, it was found that partition coefficients of most of the elements gradually decreased. Trivalent ions generally showed parabolic pattern on partition coefficient — ionic radius diagram. When pyrolite-like material was used as the starting material, partition coefficient of Al, D_Al, gradually increased with increase in pressure while the partition coefficients of the other elements decreased, and the D_Al deviated from the parabolic pattern of other trivalent ions. The deviation of D_Al from the D pattern of the other trivalent ions was also found when olivine was employed as main component of the starting material. This result may be ascribed to the compositional change of coexisting silicate melt with increase in pressure.     

Characterization of organic-rich material in an evaporitic environment: the Lower Oligocene of the Mulhouse basin (Alsace,France)

Evaporitic sediments from the Max borehole (Mulhouse Potash Basin, southern Rhine Graben) were studied over an interval of about 40 m in the vicinity of sylvite beds. Total organic carbon (TOC) analyses of 450 samples showed that marly layers interbedded within the evaporites have TOC values that fluctuate in a rhythmic manner; the highest values are found near the top of the clay—anhydrite layers and the lowest values are recorded near the top of the halite-rich beds. Geochemical (elemental analysis of kerogen, gas chromatography of bitumen) and palynological studies of 26 samples showed that the organic matter is mainly of algal origin (A and B groups). A third category of organic material (C group) may have been derived from a mixture of continental supply and in situ bacterial productivity.     

西湖凹陷古近系花港组风暴沉积研究

通过岩心观察,发现花港组典型的风暴沉积构造主要包括风暴侵蚀形成的渠模、冲刷沟槽、冲刷面,风暴涡流形成的撕扯构造、菊花状构造,风暴重力流形成的粒序层理,风暴浪形成的丘状交错层理、浪成沙纹层理、平行层理,同生变形构造及生物逃逸构造.运用岩石相组合分析的方法,发现花港组风暴垂向沉积序列发育不完整.其理想的序列由A~G共7段构成。根据花港组垂向沉积序列类型、沉积构造特点总结出了A+B+G、A+B+C、A+B+D、B+C+D、C+E+G、E+F+G等6种风暴沉积序列和原地风暴岩、近源风暴岩和远源风暴岩3种风暴岩类型.