Masirah—the other Oman ophiolite:A better analogue for mid-ocean ridge processes?

Oman has two ophiolites – the better known late Cretaceous northern Oman (or Semail) ophiolite and the lesser known and smaller, Jurassic Masirah ophiolite located on the eastern coast of the country adjacent to the Indian Ocean. A number of geological, geochronological and geochemical lines of evidence strongly suggest that the northern Oman ophiolite did not form at a mid-ocean ridge but rather in a supra-subduction zone setting by fast spreading during subduction initiation. In contrast the Masirah ophiolite is structurally part of a series of ophiolite nappes which are rooted in the Indian Ocean floor. There are significant geochemical differences between the Masirah and northern Oman ophiolites and none of the supra-subduction features typical of the northern Oman ophiolite are found at Masirah. Geochemically Masirah is MORB, although in detail it contains both enriched and depleted MORB reflecting a complex source for the lavas and dykes. The enrichment of this source predates the formation of the ophiolite. The condensed crustal section on Masirah (ca. 2 km) contains a very thin gabbro sequence and is thought to reflect its genesis from a cool mantle source associated with the early stages of sea-floor spreading during the early separation of eastern and western Gondwana. These data suggest that the Masirah ophiolite is a suitable analogue for an ophiolite created at a mid-ocean ridge, whereas the northern Oman ophiolite is not. The stratigraphic history of the Masirah ophiolite shows that it remained a part of the oceanic crust for ca. 80 Ma. The chemical variability and enrichment of the Masirah lavas is similar to that found elsewhere in Indian Ocean basalts and may simply reflect a similar provenance rather than a feature fundamental to the formation of the ophiolite.     

Understanding the Interactions between Climate Change, Landscape Evolution, Surface Processes and Tectonics in the Earth System: What Can the Studies of Chinese Deserts Contribute?

Due to large deserts on Earth surface a thorough understanding of climate change, landscape evolution and geomorphological processes having occurred in deserts is crucial for Earth System Science. The landscapes in deserts are, however, diverse and different over the globe with regard to their geomorphological nature, human activities and geological histories. In the last decades a great number of efforts have been put to the investigation of the initial timing of the occurrence of arid climate, e. g. in northwestern China. Silty sediments in the downwind directions have been used to deduce the histories of deserts. In general, there is a lack of knowledge about processes and landscapes in Chinese drylands between the initial Miocene silt sedimentation at desert margins and the late Quaternary multiple occurrences of wetter climate with assumed large lakes in many of the deserts in northern China. The geomorphological concept of three primary triggering factors, i.e., the sediment supply, sediment availability and transport capacity of wind, and additionally the underground geology need to be fully considered for a better understanding of the environmental histories of sand seas which should not be viewed as equivalent for deserts because sand seas cover between < 1% and ca. 45% of the desert areas in various continents dependent on a complex interaction between various processes of both exogenous and endogenous origins.     

从地球系统科学角度浅析中国地貌若干问题研究的新进展

以地球系统中各圈层的相互作用为主线,分析总结了我国沙漠地貌过程、流水地貌过程、冰川地貌过程及风沙地貌过程等领域研究的部分进展。由于我国沙漠地理位置的特殊性,其形成和演变与岩石圈构造变动即青藏高原隆升有着紧密的联系,所以,对我国沙漠形成、演变的研究能为探讨青藏高原隆升历史提供重要佐证。近30年来,有关我国沙漠形成时代的认识更新较快。新的沉积记录显示,我国西北地区的沙漠在中新世时就已经出现了,但沙漠沙丘大规模扩展可能是在中更新世才开始的。既使在晚更新世以来,我国沙漠地区的气候也有过明显波动、沙漠地貌的特征也发生过显著变化。沙漠通过为沙尘暴提供物源,对全球变化产生驱动作用。从地表过程来看,风沙地貌的形成演变不仅受风力作用,而且受流水、湖泊等多种地貌动力过程的影响,地貌类型是各种动力过程共同作用的缩影。古冰川地貌曾是最早发现的第四纪气候变化的证据。随着新的测年技术的出现,学术界对我国第四纪古冰川地貌演化过程有了较系统、全面的认识。流水地貌过程应该是地球上作用区域最广的一种地貌动力过程,对流水地貌过程的认识目前正在向微观和宏观深入。     

The environmental significance of ventifacts: A critical review

Ventifacts (wind-abraded clasts or rock surfaces) are common features of many terrestrial hot and cold deserts, coastal, periglacial and mountain environments, as well as on Mars, and have a long history of investigation. This review paper discusses some of the main themes in terrestrial ventifact research including their formation and geomorphic controls. The varied morphological forms of ventifacts in terrestrial environments, and their environmental significance as indicators of past and present wind direction and sediment mobility, are critically evaluated. Future research directions are identified.     

Noble gases and nitrogen in Martian meteorites Dar al Gani 476, Sayh al Uhaymir 005 and Lewis Cliff 88516: EFA and extra neon

Meteorite “finds” from the terrestrial hot deserts have become a major contributor to the inventory of Martian meteorites. In order to understand their nitrogen and noble gas components, we have carried out stepped heating experiments on samples from two Martian meteorites collected from hot deserts. We measured interior and surface bulk samples, glassy and non-glassy portions of Dar al Gani 476 and Sayh al Uhaymir 005. We have also analyzed noble gases released from the Antarctic shergottite Lewis Cliff 88516 by crushing and stepped heating. For the hot desert meteorites significant terrestrial Ar, Kr, Xe contamination is observed, with an elementally fractionated air (EFA) component dominating the low temperature releases. The extremely low Ar/Kr/Xe ratios of EFA may be the result of multiple episodes of trapping/loss during terrestrial alteration involving aqueous fluids. We suggest fractionation processes similar to those in hot deserts to have acted on Mars, with acidic weathering on the latter possibly even more effective in producing elementally fractionated components. Addition from fission xenon is apparent in DaG 476 and SaU 005. The Ar-Kr-Xe patterns for LEW 88516 show trends as typically observed in shergottites - including evidence for a crush-released component similar to that observed in EETA 79001. A trapped Ne component most prominent in the surface sample of DaG 476 may represent air contamination. It is accompanied by little trapped Ar (²⁰Ne/³⁶Ar > 50) and literature data suggest its presence also in some Antarctic finds. Data for LEW 88516 and literature data, on the other hand, suggest the presence of two trapped Ne components of Martian origin characterized by different ²⁰Ne/²²Ne, possibly related to the atmosphere and the interior. Caution is recommended in interpreting nitrogen and noble gas isotopic signatures of Martian meteorites from hot deserts in terms of extraterrestrial sources and processes. Nevertheless our results provide hope that vice-versa, via noble gases and nitrogen in meteorites and other relevant samples from terrestrial deserts, Martian secondary processes can be studied.     

末次冰期以来中国季风区西北边缘沙漠演化研究

我国季风区西北边缘的沙漠是全球中纬度敏感带的重要组成部分.本文选取区内的毛乌素沙地、共和沙地和腾格里沙漠,通过对末次冰期以来地层年代学、沉积相和地层空间分布的研究,重点探讨了末次冰期和全新世时期两个特征时段的沙漠演化.其中末次冰期是沙漠的持续发展、扩张期,奠定了沙漠的空间格局;全新世早期沙漠总体趋于固定、缩小,中期沙漠大部处于固定、缩小状态,晚期沙漠有所扩大,但未达到末次冰期的最大规模.     

The evolution of settlement patterns in the eastern Oman from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (6000–2000 BC)

The region of eastern Oman (called Ja’alan) is often compared to the Arabian deserts, which are typically arid and depopulated areas. Today, this geographical definition is correct: the geographic and climatic conditions (low precipitation, pronounced dryness, high evaporation) indicate an arid region, and the area is sparsely populated. Between the Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age, the geographic and climatic conditions did not change much, and were slightly more humid than at present. Although the term “green Ja’alan” does not describe this area, we observe that the region was occupied by a quite substantial population. Since 1985, surveys and excavations have been carried out and more than 4000 archeological structures are now listed. The spatial distribution of these sites differs for each period, from Neolithic seasonal camps to oasian settlements of the Early Bronze Age.     

石家庄凹陷地热资源研究

地热资源作为一种洁净环保能源被开发利用在石家庄有着悠久的历史.为评估地热资源开发潜力和前景,从石家庄凹陷区地热地质条件、已知地热信息及水文地球化学过程跟踪,归纳出地热水化学类型,分析石家庄地区地热水的形成时代、热储温度、热水动态特征,并对热水补给来源进行同位素分析.结果表明参与混合的冷水年代久远,地热水水温稳定,水量大,有较大开发潜力.     

热年代学方法、技术手段及其在矿床地质中的研究进展

同位素地质年代学是一门传统的定年学科,广泛应用于地质各个领域研究中.随着同位素地质年代学理论创新与技术进步,现在逐步发展成为地质热年代学,即将地质年代数据赋予相应封闭温度属性,使之不仅揭示地质事件年龄,而且反映该事件发生的温度条件.不同定年方法以及测试样品的不同,其对应的封闭温度不同,从而可以揭示地质体在更大温度或年龄范围的形成演化过程,定量研究矿区或矿体的隆升与剥露,评价矿床形成后的保存与变化状况,提高找矿预测效果.主要总结和论述诸如40Ar-39Ar、裂变径迹和（U-Th）/He等中-低温热年代学技术方法及其在矿床地质中的应用研究状况,分析热年代学技术与应用发展趋势,以期为成矿作用研究提供新的应用技术手段.      

全球前寒武—寒武系含油气盆地石油地质特征及成藏主控因素

前寒武—寒武系油气作为我国中西部含油气盆地未来油气勘探的重要接替领域,近年来受到广泛关注。本文以阿曼和东西伯利亚盆地为例,阐述全球典型前寒武—寒武系古老含油气盆地石油地质特征及成藏主控因素,为国内前寒武—寒武系油气勘探取得进一步突破提供参考。阿曼和东西伯利亚盆地烃源岩主要发育在盆地初始裂陷作用区,受埋深及地温梯度控制,在志留纪或泥盆纪之前就已大量生油;储集层岩性以砂岩为主,分布面积广,受表生风化淋滤、胶结物溶蚀及构造裂缝改造等后期作用影响,可形成优质区域性储层;优质的区域性盖层是前寒武—寒武系古老油气藏得以保存的关键性因素,盆地膏盐岩累计厚度都超过1 000m。塔里木盆地寒武系盐下深层含油气层系,同国外古老含油气盆地相比,同样具有多套高丰度优质烃源岩生烃、厚层区域性膏盐岩封堵及长距离运移、多层系成藏特征,具有良好的油气勘探潜力。     

Comparative analysis of groundwater formation in arid and super-arid deserts (with examples from Central Asia and northeastern Arabian Peninsula)

Groundwater formation within arid and super-arid deserts is discussed through comparative analysis. Although fresh groundwater is being formed in both types of deserts, mainly from infiltrated surface runoff, in arid deserts, infiltration is currently taking place, whereas in super-arid areas, it occurred mainly in the Pleistocene pluvial epoch. Groundwater discharge conditions are also different. In arid deserts, the discharge occurs mainly through transpiration by phreatophytes, which form phyto-hydrogeological ecosystems where the dominant factor is an interaction between groundwater and vegetation, with transpiration reaching over hundreds of mm/year and the thickness of the groundwater evaporation zone extending over 10 m. Active subsurface water exchange does not favor the preservation of Pleistocene fossil groundwater. Super-arid deserts, however, have an extremely scarce vegetative cover (low, if any), physical evaporation, a thin zone of evaporation influence, and slow water outflow. Favorable conditions therefore exist for the preservation of relict low-mineralized waters. Furthermore, arid and super-arid deserts differ by types of groundwater accumulation and horizontal and vertical zonalities. In arid deserts, hydrogeological problems are connected with the anthropogenic influence upon groundwater, and with control on rational use of surface water and groundwater. In super-arid deserts, the basic problem is depletion of fossil groundwater.     

川南黔北白垩—第三纪沙漠相及其意义

虽然从1979年起就有人曾多次提出乐山大佛砂岩是沙漠沉积(李玉文、曾良鍷,1979;王孟筠、曾良鍷,1984;李玉文,1987),但从沉积学的角度进行专门研究,是地矿部成都地质矿产研究所白垩—第三纪课题组从1986年才开展的。本文则是该专题的摘要报道。鉴于沙漠沉积物,特别是古沙漠沉积物,是一个复杂的地质体,本文拟从地质背景、地层概况、沉积物结构构造特征,以及与现代风成砂沉积的对比等诸方面的综合分析,探讨其沉积环境及其意义。     

Geomorphology and geomorphological heritage of the Ifrane–Azrou region (Middle Atlas,Morocco)

Geomorphological heritage is a widely used term in European and North-American countries, but is still scarcely mentioned in Africa. Nevertheless, the attractiveness of the African countries is often intimately connected to its breathtaking and endless geological landscapes. Morocco is one of those countries that has the widest diversity in landscapes and landforms, ranging from the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts over the Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountain chains to the great rocky and sandy deserts in the South. A wide variety of geological units hosting different types of important economic mineral deposits cover a temporal range from Late Precambrian to Quaternary. A detailed geomorphological study has been carried out in the region of Ifrane and Azrou (Middle Atlas, Central Morocco) using a combination of high resolution satellite data and direct field observations integrated by geological maps and scientific literature. In order to describe and evaluate the geomorphological heritage of this area, 40 geomorphosites have been selected comprising springs, karst landforms (polje, dolines, caves, sinkholes, stone forests, cryptokarstic dolines), carbonate depositional landforms (travertines and waterfalls), fluvial landforms (meanders, canyons, palaeo-valleys, etc.), structural landforms (triangular facets, hogbacks, cuestas, residual outcrops, etc.) and volcanic landforms (volcanoes, caldeira, pyroclastic cones, lava tube). The results of this research have been summarised in a thematic map, representing the geomorphosites related to various landscape units.     

鄂尔多斯盆地油气发现历史回顾与经验教训(一)——从鄂尔多斯漫长找油气史看李四光1968年底谈话的历史意义

鄂尔多斯盆地油气勘探历史漫长, 新中国成立之前, 盆地内只开展了少量的油气勘探工作, 大量系统的石油地质调查和勘探开始于新中国成立之后。在1955-1968年的14年间, 虽然积累了大量地质资料和寻找油气的经验教训, 但既未发现工业油气流, 也没有提出可以肯定能发现油气的地区或目标。自1969年起, 遵照李四光"打回老家去"的指示精神, 石油普查工作从渭河与河套外围地堑转回鄂尔多斯大盆地, 先后在庆阳、华池、吴旗地区发现了6个侏罗系油田, 在延安-吴旗以北发现了5个亿吨级大油田, 在盆地中部发现了奥陶系陕北大气田。鄂尔多斯盆地油气发现历史表明, 油气的发现来自于地质学家的观念, 应重视以地质锤和放大镜起家的基础地质工作, 地质调查方法应用及勘查程序上必须有针对性, 既不能把复杂问题简单化, 也不能将特殊问题一般对待, 应按照实际情况确定选区方针, 发现问题并解决问题。      

大厂锡矿田海底热水沉积,后期岩浆热液叠加改造成矿的依据

通过矿田一些地质地球化学等成因依据的研究和长坡矿热水喷口的发现,提出区域地球化学场的存在,中元古界—下古生界原始矿源层的形成,泥盆纪海底火山—热水成矿作用、华力西—印支期大广地区石油的形成—迁移—聚积过程形成富含金属成矿物质的油气田,燕山期岩浆热液叠加改造成矿作用以及燕山期构造—岩浆作用破坏富含金属成矿物质的油气田而成矿等—系列地质作用在大厂地区地质历史上有机组合,形成大厂超大型矿床,而泥盆纪火山及海底热水作用、燕山期构造—岩浆作用则是主导成矿作用.     

中国北方东部沙质荒漠化的地学观

中国北方东部的土地荒漠化主要受新构造运动以来的权造－沉积特征、青藏高原隆升所引起的全球气候变化、尤其是亚洲季风等地质背景控制。北方东部沙质荒漠化区域地质分类，按其成因可分为就地起沙型、风沙型和土地粗粒化型等3种类型。其中，就地起沙型沙质荒漠化主要分布在东部毛乌素、科尔沁、浑善达克、呼伦贝尔等沙地内，流经这些沙地的古河道，广泛发育河湖相砂质沉积物以及以砂质沉积物为母质的土壤分布区。风沙型沙质荒漠化主要分布在上述沙地的边缘地带，如毛乌素沙地以南的覆沙黄土区等。土地粗化主要分布在内蒙古锡林郭勒草原－河北坝上草原－河北坝上草原，其土壤类型多为含砾沙土，其土壤母质为基岩风化壳、残坡积或冲洪积物。荒漠化发展趋势上，尽管就地起沙型沙质荒漠化在毛乌素、科尔沁和浑善达达沙地的局部地区均有所逆转，但总体上，在北方广大地区，主要以地表土壤粗化为主的荒漠化和风沙型荒漠化等均有不同程度的扩大。上述不同类型的沙质荒漠化，总体上受地背景控制。其中，第四纪以来的构造－沉积特征控制着不同类型荒漠化的区域分布，气候变化控制着荒漠化的进程，人类活动则是在上述背景的基础上进行。     

Trace element and REE geochemistry of fine- and coarse-grained sands in the Ordos deserts and links with sediments in surrounding areas

In addition to mineral analyses, REE and trace element geochemical characteristics of fine- and coarse-grained sands in the Ordos deserts and other sediments in surrounding areas are investigated.Commonly the samples consist of quartz, feldspar and muscovite and less clinochlore, dolomite and ankerite. In few samples muscovite is absent.REE and trace compositions are spatially uniform for the same grain-size sands, suggesting that they could have the same sources or/and were well homogenized. However, fine- and coarse-grained sands in the Ordos deserts show different REE and trace element compositions. Fine-grained sands show higher contents of REE and trace elements than those of coarse-grained sands. They differ in Eu anomalies and (La/Yb)_N ratios although both fractions are characterized by the steep LREE and smooth HREE patterns. The fine- and coarse-grained sands are also distinct in some characteristic element ratios (e.g., Th/Co, La/Sc, Th/Sc and Y/Ni).REE and trace element patterns of the two different grain-size fractions are closely associated with geological properties of individual sources rather than the mineralogical differentiation induced by wind sorting. The coarse-grained sands mainly resulted from sandstone weathering in the Ordos deserts and movements of coarse particles by wind. REE and trace element patterns of fine-grained sands in the Ordos deserts differ from those of sandstones in the Ordos deserts, the alluvial sands in the surrounding mountains and the coarse fluvial sands in the Yellow River. They resemble the fine fluvial sands in the Yellow River. In addition, arid areas of Northwest China such as the Tarim Basin and the Alxa Plateau should not be ruled out as the source of the fine-grained sands in the Ordos deserts because these arid areas reserve plenty of fine-grained sediments and also located in the upwind directions of the Ordos deserts.     

Handicrafts in Oman and their role in rural community development

Oman has a long tradition of practising handicrafts, though few are of high aesthetic value. Omani handicrafts have always been functional, made for a rural population which has valued the artefacts for what they do but much less for their appearance. Nevertheless, handicraft skills are very widespread throughout the rural population. In the past they have been used to process raw materials of agricultural origin, notably from the date palm and from livestock, and also from wild trees and minerals. In addition to local resources, Omani craftsmen have worked imported cotton yarn and imported precious and semi-precious metals. The craftsmen not only provided equipment for rural producers and finished goods for domestic use but they also performed the important community roles of linking primary producer with primary producer and consumer, and making both more aware of the raw materials of the environment in which they lived. In doing this, craftsmen, with their mutually respected skills, played a vital role in creating the complex network of interdependencies from which a community is built. However, the Omani and other regional oil industries put great pressure on all rural activities, and particularly on the highly labour-intensive crafts. People sought work in the urban centres and in the armed forces at the same time as a flood of cheap imports prevented craftsmen from raising their prices to keep abreast of inflation and of heightened personal material aspirations. The impact of oil was so rapid that the craftsmen had no time to adapt their techniques or their products to meet the new circumstances. Craft growth and change needed government support to see it through a difficult transitional period. Unfortunately, however, the government of Oman has only played a small and somewhat confused role in the crafts. Many people can no longer practise their inherited skills and the role that they played in maintaining the community has been largely destroyed. Concentrated effort needs to be made, craft by craft, initially at a village scale, to train and to modify techniques where necessary and to expand market openings. Success in a single village can then form the basis of expanded regional or national projects, drawing in other resources such as credit from the Agricultural Bank and using the marketing networks of the Central Marketing Authority. An approach which has been used to redevelop spinning and weaving and to introduce irrigation channel manufacture in a coastal village in northern Oman is providing valuable information that could be used as the basis of other craft projects in Oman and in countries with comparable craft development problems.     

塔里木盆地新生代地质地貌特征及其演化

塔里木盆地是亚洲大陆腹地独特的巨型地质地貌单元，是研究新生代地球系统的天然实验室。新生代以来，它经历 了古近纪海湾、新近纪湖泊—三角洲平原、河流—湖泊—沙漠、沙漠—河流的地质演化过程，古地理格局变化的主要因素 是远程碰撞造山作用，造成盆地的封闭、气候干旱。古近纪以来，海湾盆地西低东高，构造挤压造成周缘山脉隆升和盆地 逐渐封闭，这是盆地演化最主要的动力因素。新近纪南高北低，随着青藏高原隆升，周围山脉持续隆升，早先形成的河湖 等地质地貌单元不断被周边山脉所封闭，形成塔里木盆地，发育大湖泊。第四纪以来，盆地西高东低，经历了最快速的地 球系统演化，形成中国较大的内流水系以及最大沙漠。内、外动力的耦合作用及其相互作用，控制了塔里木盆地新生代地 球系统演化，塔里木盆地周缘新构造活跃，在巨型盆地内发育了河流、湖泊、沙漠、戈壁、雅丹、干盐湖等多种第四纪的 地貌类型。不同地质因素时空上相互作用，塑造着巨型盆地地球系统演化，塔里木盆地展示了极干旱地区地球系统第四纪 快速的演化过程。     

塔里木盆地新生代地质地貌特征及其演化

塔里木盆地是亚洲大陆腹地独特的巨型地质地貌单元,是研究新生代地球系统的天然实验室。新生代以来,它经历 了古近纪海湾、新近纪湖泊-三角洲平原、河流-湖泊-沙漠、沙漠-河流的地质演化过程,古地理格局变化的主要因素 是远程碰撞造山作用,造成盆地的封闭、气候干旱。古近纪以来,海湾盆地西低东高,构造挤压造成周缘山脉隆升和盆地 逐渐封闭,这是盆地演化最主要的动力因素。新近纪南高北低,随着青藏高原隆升,周围山脉持续隆升,早先形成的河湖 等地质地貌单元不断被周边山脉所封闭,形成塔里木盆地,发育大湖泊。第四纪以来,盆地西高东低,经历了最快速的地 球系统演化,形成中国较大的内流水系以及最大沙漠。内、外动力的耦合作用及其相互作用,控制了塔里木盆地新生代地 球系统演化,塔里木盆地周缘新构造活跃,在巨型盆地内发育了河流、湖泊、沙漠、戈壁、雅丹、干盐湖等多种第四纪的 地貌类型。不同地质因素时空上相互作用,塑造着巨型盆地地球系统演化,塔里木盆地展示了极干旱地区地球系统第四纪 快速的演化过程。