Scientific applications of downhole measurements in the ocean basins

Abstract The well logging activity of the Ocean Drilling Programme, which deploys the most technically advanced suite of downhole measurements available for routine use, is providing new opportunities for advancement in marine geoscience. Particular examples are cited of the application of wireline data to problems associated with global environmental changes, crust/ mantle interactions, crustal fluid circulation in the context of a global geochemical budget, lithospheric stress and deformation, and evolutionary processes in oceanic communities. Further technological developments will expand the scientific role of downhole measurements still further, especially in terms of the integration of geophysical data at different scales of measurement, and the interpretation of these data in accordance with; global scientific themes.     

Effects of large sea‐level variations in connected basins: the Dacian–Black Sea system of the Eastern Paratethys

Sea‐level changes provide an important control on the interplay between accommodation space and sediment supply, in particular, for shallow‐water basins where the available space is limited. Sediment exchange between connected basins separated by a subaqueous sill (bathymetric threshold) is still not well understood. When sea‐level falls below the bathymetric level of this separating sill, the shallow‐water basin evolution is controlled by its erosion and rapid fill. Once this marginal basin is filled, the sedimentary depocenter shifts to the open marine basin (outward shift). With new accommodation space created during the subsequent sea‐level rise, sediment depocenter shifts backwards to the marginal basin (inward shift). This new conceptual model is tested here in the context of Late Miocene to Quaternary evolution of the open connection between Dacian and Black Sea basins. By the means of seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Miocene‐Pliocene evolution of this Eastern Paratethys domain, this case study demonstrates these shifts in sedimentary depocenter between basins. An outward shift occurs with a delay that corresponds to the time required to fill the remaining accommodation space in the Dacian Basin below the sill that separates it from the Black Sea. This study provides novel insight on the amplitude and sedimentary geometry of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) event in the Black Sea. A large (1.3–1.7 km) sea‐level drop is demonstrated by quantifying coeval sedimentation patterns that change to mass‐flows and turbiditic deposits in the deep‐sea part of this main sink. The post‐MSC sediment routing continued into the present‐day pattern of Black Sea rivers discharge.     

On depletion of an exhausting natural resource

This paper addresses some of the issues currently surrounding natural resource depletion in national income accounting and makes an argument that user costs associated with exhausting natural resources ought not be treated as costs of production and subtracted from net national product in order to arrive at a “net” net national product. Depletion charges should be reflected in income accounts only to the extent that they are actually taken, in which case they should be treated as saving, rather than as a cost. Purely notional disappearances of natural resources should be recorded in off-balance sheet accounts or satellite accounts, not income statements. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the WSSA conference in Albuquerque, NM in April 1997.     

Numerical models of a subsidence mechanism in intracratonic basins: application to North American basins

McKenzie's model of sedimentary basin evolution and its modification, widely used in geophysics, sometimes fails to explain discrepancies between predicted and observed values of extension, thinning and subsidence of the Earth's crust, as for the North Sea. We develop a numerical model of sedimentary basin evolution based on the mechanism suggested by Lobkovsky. In the course of rifting, accompanied by thinning of lower parts of the lithosphere, the roof of the underlying asthenosphere moves upward. the material of the mantle lifts and partially melts owing to the reduction of pressure. the density difference between the melt and the crystalline skeleton results in the filtration of the lighter melt and its accumulation in the form of a magmatic lens. Due to changed P-T conditions, the material of the lens undergoes the gabbro-eclogite phase transformation. the resultant anomalously heavy eclogite lens sinks in the surrounding material. This induces a viscous flow, changing the surface topography and forming a sedimentary basin. We construct a 2-D numerical model describing a viscous flow induced by subsidence of a heavy body and compute changes of surface topography. to compute the flow we employ the Galerkin-spline approach, with modifications allowing for density discontinuities and time dependence of the phase transformation. We apply the model to the cases of the Illinois, Michigan and Williston basins. the computed and tectonic subsidence curves agree well for these cases. the proposed model is compatible with the seismic structure of the crust and upper mantle below these basins. the model is also consistent with gravity data. the approach is applicable to other intracratonic basins.     

Tectono-sedimentary evolution of active extensional basins

We present conceptual models for the tectono-sedimentary evolution of rift basins. Basin architecture depends upon a complex interaction between the three-dimensional evolution of basin linkage through fault propagation, the evolution of drainage and drainage catchments and the effects of changes in climate and sea/lake level. In particular, the processes of fault propagation, growth, linkage and death are major tectonic controls on basin architecture. Current theoretical and experimental models of fault linkage and the direction of fault growth can be tested using observational evidence from the earliest stages of rift development. Basin linkage by burial or breaching of crossover basement ridges is the dominant process whereby hydrologically closed rifts evolve into open ones. Nontectonic effects arising from climate, sea or lake level change are responsible for major changes in basin-scale sedimentation patterns. Major gaps in our understanding of rift basins remain because of current inadequacies in sediment, fault and landscape dating.     

Cartographic model of river basins of European Russia

An analysis made of the worldwide existing geoinformation systems (HydroSHEDS, CCM, Ecrins, WBD, etc.) suggests that there are as yet no models of adequate quality for the basin boundaries of small rivers in the European part of Russia. For the territory of the European part of Russia with a total area of more than 4 mln. km2 the GIS technology tools were used to construct the electron vector map of river basins and their interbasin spaces. The map thus obtained displays the basins of first-order rivers for a given level of generalization (sc 1:1 000 000). The GMTED2010 model was used as the digital elevation model. A total of 63 553 basin geosystems were identified on the map, averaging 68 km2 in area. Accuracy verification of identifying the basin boundaries showed a good agreement of areal and geometric characteristics of the method used with expert approach. In test areas, the men difference of the indicators of the area of the basins identified automatically and by use of the expert approach made up 3.6%. For areas with weakly dissected lowland topography this error does not exceed 5% while it is about 2% in areas with relatively dissected elevated topography. The basin geosystems thus identified are operational-territorial units with respect to which the geospatial data base is generated to characterize the natural-resource potential of the European territory of Russia. An example is provided for the generation of the geospatial database containing hydrological information covering 1763 hydrological stations collecting streamflow data.     

Constructal view of scaling laws of river basins

River basins are examples of naturally organized flow architectures whose scaling properties have been noticed long ago. Based on data of geometric characteristics, Horton [Horton, R.E., 1932. Drainage basin characteristics. EOS Trans. AGU 13, 350–361.], Hack [Hack, J.T., 1957. Studies of longitudinal profiles in Virginia and Maryland. USGS Professional Papers 294-B, Washington DC, pp. 46–97.], and Melton [Melton, M.A, 1958. Correlation structure of morphometric properties of drainage systems and their controlling agents. J. of Geology 66, 35–56.] proposed scaling laws that are considered to describe rather accurately the actual river basins. What we show here is that these scaling laws can be anticipated based on Constructal Theory, which views the pathways by which drainage networks develop in a basin not as the result of chance but as flow architectures that originate naturally as the result of minimization of the overall resistance to flow (Constructal Law).     

Tectonic evolution of sedimentary basins of northern Somalia

Regional seismic reflection profiles tied to lithological and biostratigraphic data from deep exploration wells have been used to determine the structure and evolution of the poorly known basins of northern Somalia. We recognize six major tectonostratigraphic sequences in the seismic profiles: Middle‐Late Jurassic syn‐rift sequences (Adigrat and Bihen Group), ?Cenomanian‐Campanian syn‐rift sequences (Gumburo Group), Campanian‐Maastrichtian syn‐rift sequences (Jesomma Sandstones), Palaeocene post‐rift sequences (Auradu Limestones), Early‐Middle Eocene post‐rift sequences (Taleh Formation) and Oligocene‐Miocene (Daban Group) syn‐rift sequences. Backstripping of well data provides new constraints on the age of rifting, the amount of crustal and mantle extension, and the development of the northern Somalia rifted basins. The tectonic subsidence and uplift history at the wells can be explained by a uniform extension model with three episodes of rifting punctuated by periods of relative tectonic quiescence and thermal subsidence. The first event initiated in the Late Jurassic (~156 Ma) and lasted for ~10 Myr and had a NW‐SE trend. We interpret the rift as a late stage event associated with the break‐up of Gondwana and the separation of Africa and Madagascar. The second event initiated in the Late Cretaceous (~80 Ma) and lasted for ~20–40 Myr. This event probably correlates with a rapid increase in spreading rate on the ridges separating the African and Indian and African and Antarctica plates and a contemporaneous slowing down of Africa's plate motion. The backstripped tectonic subsidence data can be explained by a multi‐rift extensional model with stretching factor, β, of 1.09–1.14 and 1.05–1.28 for the first and second rifting events, respectively. The model, fails, however, to completely explain the slow subsidence and uplift history of the margin during Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous. We attribute this slow subsidence to the combined effect of a sea‐level fall and regional uplift, which caused a major unconformity in northern Somalia. The third and most recent event occurred in the Oligocene (~32 Ma) and lasted for ~10 Myr. This rift developed along the Gulf of Aden and reactivated the Guban, Nogal and Daroor basins, and is related to the opening of the Gulf of Aden. As a result of these events the crust and upper mantle were thinned by up to a factor of two in some basins. In addition, several distinct petroleum systems developed. The principal exploration play is for Mesozoic petroleum systems with the syn‐rift Oligocene‐Miocene as a subordinate objective owing to low maturity and seal problems. The main seals for the different plays are various shales, some of which are also source rocks, but the Early Eocene evaporites of the Taleh formations can also perform a sealing role for Palaeogene or older generated hydrocarbons migrating vertically.     

Structural development of Neogene basins in western Greece

Abstract An account is given of the structural setting of the various Neogene sedimentary basins of western Greece. Compressional basins are attributable to foreland loading by the Alpine fold and thrust belt of the Outer Hellenides, and to active subduction in the adjacent western Hellenic arc. Late extensional basins are related to N-S crustal extension in the Aegean marginal basin and, in western Greece, are superimposed on the earlier compressional structures. The local seismicity provides evidence that the main E-W-trending basin-bounding faults of the extensional basins form a linked system that includes NW-SE- and NE-SW-trending transfer zones of transtension. The transfer zones are themselves the sites of small extensional basins.     

Purana basins of peninsular India: a review

Seven supracratonic, Proterozoic basins, occupying more than a fifth of the Precambrian exposures in the Indian Peninsula, comprise the Purana basins. A comprehensive review of the current status of knowledge of these voluminous orthoquartzite-carbonate-shale suites in the context of their contemporary lithostratigraphy, depositional environments and structural disposition is presented. Stromatolite biostratigraphy and available geochronological data are compared, to discern their age limits.
These basins contain perhaps one of the most elaborate records of Middle to Late Proterozoic (Riphean-Vendian) sedimentation preserved in an unmetamorphosed and only slightly deformed state. Further sedimentological and structural studies could lead to a better understanding of the Proterozoic craton-margin processes. Their close association with the Middle Proterozoic Mobile Belt of peninsular India is that of two contrasting tectonic regimes, contemporaneously adjoining each other. The existing lithostratigraphic classifications of many of these sequences may not stand the test of process - response considerations as demonstrated by the recent revisions in the stratigraphy of the Cuddapah and Bhima basins. The prolific stromatolitic, micro-organic and trace-fossil communities preserved in them require much more detailed, but cautious study, and may yield information on the Riphean-Vendian biota. However, these studies must be undertaken in association with elaborate geochronological determinations which are sparse at present.
Inadequacy of the existing knowledge of these basins is highlighted, with the view of inviting the attention of the geological community to these unique basins from peninsular India.     

Structural evolution of African basins: stratigraphic synthesis

The structural and stratigraphic character of African interior sedimentary basins is highly variable, indicating contrasting basin-forming mechanisms and subsequent subsidence histories. A stratigraphic database has been compiled for African interior depositional basins for the purpose of better understanding basin thermal and structural development. Data are recorded in the form of stratal age, lithology, thickness and elevation of top with respect to present sea level. The data are obtained from published structure contour maps, well sections, and outcrop geology and elevation. There are various degrees of data coverage of the basins, proportional to the amount of water and oil drilling activity. Consequently, there is excellent coverage of North African basins such as the Algerian basin and the Sirte basin, while there is little known about the subsurface of the Congo basin. The stratigraphic data are used to reconstruct the depositional history of the basins, while backstripping leads to the quantification of the thermo-tectonic component of basin subsidence. The nature of basement subsidence can provide constraints on lithospheric flexural rigidity. In addition, the depositional and thermo-tectonic history of each basin bears upon the mechanisms of basin formation and subsidence. Virtually all types of basins are represented in interior Africa, including thrust-loaded basins (Algerian), passive-margin rift basins (Algerian, Sirte), modern active rift basins (East African), ancient rift basins (Benue, Abu Gabra), basins caused by uplift of their margins (Congo, Chad, Illumeden) and even basins that may be related to thermal subsidence of hot-spot domes (Algerian, Sirte).     

浅谈天然林保护工程的科技创新

<正> 天然林资源保护工程等林业重点工程实施以后,对林业科技的发展提出了一个重大课题,那就是如何推进林业科技进步和创新,实现林业跨越式发展。现在大家基本上形成了一种共识:要实现林业的跨越式发展,首先必须实现林业科技的跨越式发展。要实现林业科技的跨越式发展,必须依靠科技创新。 首先,天保工程实施以后,标志着我国林业开始从以木材生产     

Classification of lake basins and lacustrine deposits of Estonia

Based on extensive data from a long-term investigation, a new genetic classification of lake basins is proposed for Estonia. Eight lake groups are distinguished, tectonic-denudation, glacial, chemical, fluvial, coastal (neotectonic), telmatogenic, cosmogenic and artificial, containing 13 subgroups and 19 basin types. Also proposed is a new lithological classification of Estonia's organic and calcareous lake sediments, based on analyses of more than 2000 sediment samples from 90 contemporary and 50 late-glacial (extinct) lakes. Of the ca. 1150 Estonian lake basins that formed on mineral substrate, the two largest basins are of preglacial, tectonic-denudation origin, later modified by glaciers. Eight hundred lakes are of glacial origin, and 300 of other origins in the Holocene. In addition, ca 20 000 bog pools formed on peat in the Holocene. Only minerogenous sedimentation occurred in the lakes in the late-glacial period. After that, organic (gyttjas) and/or calcareous sediments have formed. Azonal factors have been largely responsible for the wide variation in Estonia's lacustrine deposits.This article belongs to a series of papers to be published by this journal that was presented in the paleolimnology sessions organized by R. B. Davis and H. Löffler for the XIIth Congress of the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA), which took place in Ottawa, Canada in August 1987. Dr. Davis is serving as guest editor of this series.     

Variability in biomarkers of different saline basins in China

42 samples (sediments and crude oils) from 5 different saline/hypersaline basins of China were examined using variety of geochemical techniques. A pronounced even over odd distribution ofn-alkanes is observed for the Ejinur, Jianghan samples. Abundance of isoprenoid alkanes, dominated by phytane (C₂₀ up to 20 per cent in EOM), and C₂₅ and C₃₀ components is another outstanding feature of these studied lacustrine hypersaline settings, indicating important contributuions from archaebacteria. Gammacerane is a major component of some Eocene Jiangham samples and Cretaceous Taian sediments. Absolute concentration of phytane and gammacerane appears to be linearly related to chlorine and residual (reduced) sulfur contents of sediments from Jianghan basin, suggesting sulfur incoporation might have played an important role in the enhacement of these biomarkers in the anoxic hypersaline, alkaline settings. Wide range of organic sulfur compounds in immature samples of Jianghan Basin reflects a significant pathway for sulfur incorporation under hypersaline, extremely anoxic/reducing conditions, although for some structures a direct origin from some sulfur archaebacteria can not be excluded. Brackish salt marsh sediment and oil from Lenghu depression contain abundant lupane, strong OEP inn-alkane series, and predominance of C₂₉ steranes, suggesting a markedly input from vascular higher plants. The marginal marine evaporate sediments from the hypersaline Triassic Yangtze Platform is unique for its predominant, complete series of isoprenoid alkanes up to C₃₆ (abundant) and C₄₀ (trace). These long-chain isoprenoids are probably derived from phytoplanktons in addition to archaebacteria. The marked difference in biomarker distributions from the various suites of samples support that application of these biomarkers to help effectively characterize different saline basins. The molecular variation is, however, not only due to their discrepancy in biological sources, but also the extension of sulfate reduction and the availability of metal ions during early diagenesis.