Discussion on “A rapid loess flowslide triggered by irrigation in China” by D. Zhang,G. Wang,C. Luo,J. Chen,and Y. Zhou

Catastrophic debris flows hit many areas in the world. Surprisingly, the features of the materials which are involved are often very similar as well as the causes of rupture and the mechanics of resulting movement. A continuous exchange of ideas among people involved in studies and investigations could be highly beneficial in the setting up of reliable criteria for risk mitigation.     

Jurassic Tectonic Revolution in China and New Interpretation of the “Yanshan Movement”

With acquisition and accumulation of new data of structural geological investigations and high-resolution isotopic dating data, we have greatly improved our understanding of the tectonic events occurring in eastern China during the period from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and may give a new interpretation of the nature, timing and geodynamic settings of the “Yanshan Movement”. During the Mid-Late Jurassic （165±5 Ma）, great readjustment of plate amalgamation kinematics took place in East Asia and the tectonic regime underwent great transformation, thus initiating a new tectonic regime in which the North China Block was the center and different plates converged toward it from the north, east and southwest and forming the “East Asia convergent” tectonic system characterized by intracontinental subduction and orogeny. As a consequence, the crustal lithosphere of the East Asian continent thickened considerably during the Late Jurassic, followed immediately by Early Cretaceous substantial lithospheric thinning and craton destruction featured by drastic lithospheric extension and widespread volcano-magmatic activities, resulting in a major biotic turnover from the Yanliao biota to Jehol Biota. Such a tremendous tectonic event that took place in the continent of China and East Asia is the basic connotation of the “Yanshan Movement”. In the paper, according to the deformation patterns, geodynamic settings and deep processes, the “Yanshan Movement” is redefined as the Late Jurassic East Asian multi-directional plate convergent tectonic regime and its associated extensive intracontinental orogeny and great tectonic change that started at -165±5 Ma. The substantial lithospheric attenuation in East China is considered the post-effect of the Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny and deformation.     

Reply to D. F. Lascelles. Discussion on ‘Microplaty hematite—its varied nature and genesis’ by R. C. Morris and ‘Genesis modelling for the Hamersley BIF-hosted iron ores of Western Australia: a critical review’ by R. C. Morris and M. Kneeshaw

Abstract

The third (Es₃) member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation is the main hydrocarbon source rock interval in the Raoyang Sag of the Bohai Bay Basin. The lower Es₃ (Es₃^L) and upper Es₃ (Es₃^U) submembers display clear differences in source rock quality. The formation mechanisms of the source rocks are investigated via geochemical methods using 60 samples from three wells to reconstruct the paleo-environment during deposition. The major element parameters exhibit changes in paleoclimate from humid to arid. Indicators such as Sr/Ba, B/Ga, the gammacerane index and isotopic data suggest fresh–brackish and hydrological open lakes with unstable water column stratification likely occurred during deposition of the Es₃^L submember and saline and hydrologically closed lakes with stable water column stratification likely during deposition of the Es₃^U submember. Carbon isotope values of organic matter, trace elements and biomarker parameters suggest that the Es₃^L submember had moderate productivity, with a significant contribution from terrigenous organic matter whereas the Es₃^U submember had slightly enhanced productivity, with no or minor contributions from terrigenous organic matter. Furthermore, the pristane/phytane ratio and the enrichment of Mo and U indicate that the euxinic bottom-water conditions (sulfidic) of the lakes during deposition of the Es₃^U submember were best for preserving organic matter. Comparison of the models of source rock deposition of the Es₃^L and Es₃^U submembers indicates that the redox conditions play an important role in the formation of organic-rich source rocks in the Raoyang Sag.     

Discussion on the article “Paleoseismological analysis of an intraplate extensional structure: the Concud fault (Iberian Chain,Eastern Spain)” by P. Lafuente,L. E. Arlegui,C. L. Liesa,and J. L. Simón (Int J Earth Sci)

This discussion is focused on three aspects of the paper published by Lafuente et al. (Int J Earth Sci, doi: 10.1007/s00531-010-0542-1, 2010) on Concud Fault, constitute the fundamental basis to assess the seismic potential of this capable structure: (1) A slip rate estimated for the Concud Fault based on an erroneous displacement value and a questionable correlation, obviating previously published datings, markedly different to those used by the authors. The wrong displacement value introduces an error of more than 25% in the calculated Quaternary slip rate. (2) A new paleoseismological interpretation of the outcrop of Condud Fault at Los Baños, adding two improperly justified paleoearthquakes to the four events previously inferred. (3) The attribution of faults affecting a young terrace to the most recent recorded earthquake on Concud Fault, ruling out implicitly the likely option of a gravitational origin for them, either landsliding or subsidence due to evaporite dissolution.     

Reply to the comments of D.L. Pinti,R. Mineau and V. Clement,and of A.O. Marshall and C.P. Marshall on “Biogenicity of Earth's earliest fossils: A resolution of the controversy” by J. William Schopf and Anatoliy B. Kudryavtsev,Gondwana Research 22 (2012), 761-771

The abundant and diverse assemblage of filamentous microbial fossils permineralized in the ~ 3465 Ma Apex chert of northwestern Australia — among the oldest records of life — are arguably the “best studied,” by the most workers using the most advanced techniques, in the history of science. Despite the extensive body of data establishing the biogenicity of the demonstrably cellular carbonaceous Apex fossils, Pinti et al. (2013) and Marshall and Marshall (2013) have raised issues regarding the interpretation of their studies of the Apex chert presented in our recent review article (Schopf and Kudryavtsev, 2012). We agree with the assessment of both of the relevant papers by Pinti et al. (2009, 2013): the observations they report do not apply to the bona fide microscopic fossils of the Apex chert. Similarly, like the minute objects reported by Pinti et al. (2009, 2013), the “quartz and haematite-filled fractures” discussed by Marshall and Marshall (2013) are mineralic pseudofossils that are not relevant to interpretation of the Apex fossil microbes and their suggestion that “multiple populations of carbonaceous material may be a wide-spread issue through out the Precambrian” is without merit.     

Redox problems in the “metallogenic specialization” of magmatic rocks and the genesis of hydrothermal ore mineralization

Considering the history and current state of the problem of the so-called metallogenic specialization of magmatic rocks, the paper places emphasis onto various aspects of the genesis of ore mineralization depending on the redox state of magmas (as a logical continuation of S. Ishihara’s works), fluids, and host rocks. These problems were inadequately poorly explored and discussed by researchers dealing with ore deposits. Various possible variants of ore-forming redox processes for different types of mineral deposits, with ore mineralization affiliated to granites (Ta, Sn, W, Mo, and Be) and mafic magmas (Au, Ag, U, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Sb, and Hg) and, accordingly, to crustal and mantle origin, are discussed. On the basis of analyzed geological data, including those published over the past three decades, it is shown that the redox state of ore-producing magmas commonly significantly impacted not only the ore potential of magmatic complexes but also the genetic type of the ore mineralization. The redox state of the fluids predetermined the transport and precipitation speciation of metals. Influence mechanisms of hydrocarbons from sedimentary country rocks and gaseous products of their pyrolysis on ore deposition of various metals are considered. Understanding these mechanisms can be helpful for predicting the possible precipitation sites of ore mineralization of noble, radioactive, and chalcophile metals.