Bursting the limits of time： the reconstruction of geohistory in the age of revolution

Bursting the Limits of Time by the distin- guished historian of geology Martin Rudwick is a massive, two-part book. The first part contains what he calls a synchronous history of what eventually became historical geology in western Europe between the time of de Sans- sure＇s epoch-making ascent of Mont Blanc in 1787 and the discovery of the Kirkdale hyaena cave by Buckland in the winter of 1821-1822,     

Sedimentary Evolution of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in Cenozoic and its Response to the Uplift of the Plateau

We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene–Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and lithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. (1) The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan–Garzê and Gangdisê belts, depression (lakes and pluvial plains) in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. (2) The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdisê–Himalaya and Karakorum regions (marked by the absence of sedimentation), fluvial transport (originating eastward and flowing westward) in the Brahmaputra region (marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate), uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan–Garzê, and depression (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. (3) For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity (ca. 23 Ma) in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining–Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18–13 Ma, and north–south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13–10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. (4) Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil–Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam.     

A Study of the Rhenium-Osmium Geochronometry of Molybdenites

This study deals with the first application of the isotope dilution - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the rhenium-osmium geochronometry in China. The chemical separation procedure included decomposition of samples by means of alkali fusion, extraction of rhenium by acetone and extraction of osmium by distillation. The recovery of both elements in the entire process was more than 90% . The blanks of analyses were 0.07 ng for rhenium and 0.01 ng for 187Os. The mineralization ages of molybdenites from four molybdenum deposits in China were determined by using this method, with a precision (2σ)of about ±3% . These results agree satisfactorily with their geological backgrounds. The Re-Os method can directly determine ages of metal deposits and reflect the true ages more reliably than other dating methods that only determine the ages of country rocks from which mineralization ages are inferred. As many hydrothermal sulphide deposits usually contain molybdenites, this method has bright prospe     

Notes on the Adjustment of the English Edition of Acta Geologica Sinica

Acta Geologica Sinica (formerly the Bulletin of the Geological Society of China) beganpublication in 1922, and was published mainly in English through 1952. Since then, thejournal has been published in Chinese with English abstracts. In March 1988, ActaGeologica Sinica appeared in English language translation. The journal is a full translationof the Chinese edition, and follows the Chinese edition by two issues.     

Dynamic Analysis of Deformational Structures of the Xiannüshan Fault Zone in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

Field investigation and laboratory work reveal that inhomogeneity of the deformation of the Xiannüshan fault is mainly characterized by lateral zonation, longitudinal segmentation and downward stratification. Based on these results, a 3-D deformational structure model of the fault was established and its geometrical and kinematic characteristics in two main deformational stages i.e. the main Yanshanian and Himalayan were discussed. The directions of principal and the differential stresses in these two stages were determined by using conjugate joints, striations of fault planes and microstructures of the fault zone. The direction of (1 is N-S in direction with differential stresses of 150(250 MPa in the Yanshanian, and N70E with a differential stress ranging from 80-120 MPa in the Himalayan.     

Tectonic Interpretation of the Earthquake istribution in the Contiguous Continent of the United States

With increasing high-quality geological and geophysical data it becomes clear that seismicity of the continents is characterized by linear patterns which are closely associated with tectonic features. The aim of this paper is to give reasonable interpretation for the earthquake distribution in the contiguous continent of the United States. Seismic lines and earthquake concentrated zones are defined, which reflect the characteristics of the continental seismotectonics. Similarities and differences in seismotectonics between the continental part of China and the contiguous continent of US are analysed. It is demonstrated that the spatial distribution of earthquakes can provide the information of the active structures in the earth's crust. The authors consider that the patterns of continental seismotectonics are not only controlled by the pre—existing tectonic frameworks and the current boundary dynamic conditions, but also possibly affected by dynamic factors of global tectonics at a higher level.     

Possibility of degradation of phenylarsonic acid in the presence of ferrihydrite

Although inorganic species are predominant in natural systems, but there are many kinds of organoarsenic species such as methylated and phenylated arsenic compounds. Phenylarsonic acid （PA） is a degradation product of organoarsenics used for chemical warfare agents, which has been detected in well water at the disposal site of the agents in Japan. There are few reports studying behavior of PA in soil. In this study, PA was adsorbed onto ferrihydrite and its chemical forms were determined using high performance liquid chromatography connected to inductivity-coupled plasma mass spectrometry （HPLC-ICP-MS）. 100 mg/kg of PA was mixed with 0.03 g of 2-line ferrihydrite. For each suspension, pH was adjusted by HNO3 or NaOH. Each sample was incubated for more than 19 hours and the final pH was measured. After filtration, the chemical form of arsenic in the filtrate was measured using HPLC-ICP-MS. In addition, ferrihydrite separated by filtration was dissolved by 3 ml of 0.5 M HCI and the arsenic species in the solution was detected by HPLC-ICP-MS （column： Tosoh TSKgel SuperlC-AP, eluent： 0.01 M HNO3）. It was verified that PA is not degraded by heating in 0.5 M HCl solution. At pH 3.1, any arsenic compounds were not detected from the solution, because almost all arsenic species were adsorbed onto ferrihydrite at lower pH. At pH= 12, however, 7%-10% of inorganic arsenic was detected in the solution. In solid phase, there are some problems to determine the precise ratio of inorganic and organic species. When the solution includes Fe ion at 0.01 M level, the retention time of arsenic species drifted compared to those in standard solution, which makes it difficult to determine precisely the arsenic species adsorbed on ferrihydrite. Therefore, more study is needed to determine the ratio of inorganic and organic species in the system.     

The Principle of the Drilling by Impregnated Diamond Bits and the Classification of Rocks

Recently impregnated diamond bits have been widely applied in drilling hard and me-dium-hard formations in the world.It is quite necessary to study the fracturing mecha-nism of the impregnated diamond bit and the classification of rocks,which can realizeoptimum drilling.Using multi-parameter rotary test stand can monitor and print nineparameters.The diamond size and concentration for experiment are various and there arenearly200 types of samples,numbering over1000 pieces.The results of laboratory arethe same as those in the field.Besides,this paper expresses that the diamond concentra-tion of impregnated diamond bits effect the bonding strength of diamond imbedded in ma-trix.During drilling by impregnated diamond bits three ways are used to cool the bits.The contact area between impregnated diamond layer and flow,and the drilling flowthrough annulus carrying away heat with conduction form can be shown by equations.Itis impossible to classify the rock drillability only by using single factor.The best met     

Geological Setting of the Porphyry Copper Deposit Series of China

In accordance with the terms global minerogenic series, regional metallogenic series and ore depositsystem which are put forward here, metallogenic environments at different levels are discussed for theporphyry copper deposit series in China. It is considered that the porphyry copper deposits in China arecontrolled not only by the boundaries of convergent plates but, more importantly, by the boundaries ofintraplate divergent mobile belts and those between continental blocks. Besides, the emplacement ofhypabyssal and supper-hypabyssal calc-alkaline magmas and the temporal-spatial distribution of China'sporphyry copper deposits are governed by the superimposition of fracture systems of the pre-Alpine base-ments. Meso-Cenozoic cover and continental-margin new-born crust. Such a superimposition has also re-sulted in the polycyclicity of the mineralization.     

Environmental behaviors of mercury and lead in the soil of polymetallic deposit areas in western Hunan Province

Western Hunan Province is one of the most typical assembling areas of cryogenic metallic deposit in China, as well as a main ore-forming zone for some heavy metals. In the region, Hg and Pb pollution was caused by abnormally high concentrations of Hg, Pb in the natural environment and Hg, Pb exploiting/smelting and other human activities, which make the damage to human health more complicated. Generally, heavy metal pollutants in soil are often long-lasting and consequent, with their emission and/or transport into the environment, resulting in growing hazards to human health posed by elevated heavy metal concentrations in air, water, and food. Therefore, monitoring and understanding their behaviors in soil environment is the most important and urgent task. In this paper, the environmental behaviors and pollution characteristics of soil polluted by Hg and Pb in typical Hg and Pb mining areas in western Hunan were studied. Main results are presented as follows： （1） Western Hunan Province is a high regional geochemical abnormal region on Hg and Pb. The concentrations of Hg and Pb in soils in mercury mining areas were 1 315 and 3. l times higher than the average background of soils in China, respectively. While those in soils in lead mining areas are 14.1 and 6.1 times higher. By using the index of geoaccumulation （Igeo）, it was found that either mercury mining area or lead mining area in western Hunan Province has been polluted by the two elements, the majority of soils in mercury mining areas are seriously polluted by Hg, moderately or light polluted by Pb, while the majority of soils in lead mining areas are moderately or moderately-highly polluted by Pb and moderately-highly polluted by Hg. （2） By the BCR extraction procedures, both Hg and Pb in soils are dominated by residual form, followed by organic-sulfide form. Fe-Mn oxides and acid-exchangeable form are rather low. The total concentrations and each species of Hg and Pb in soils show positive correlations with the concentrations of sands, and negative ones with the concentrations of clays in soils.     

Unity of the national and the international in the socio-cultural development of the peoples of the USSR

International unity is becoming ever stronger in this country owing to an increasing similarity in the development of the cultural environment. This comprises the provision of all the country's republics with a sufficient number of schools, theatres, and other institutions and cultural information media in accordance with the needs of the population. An important part is played by the rise in ‘the general educational level, as well as the level of professional qualifications and skills. Among all the Soviet nations and nationalities, this rise being more rapid among formerly backward peoples. Prominent among the factors of internationalization is the progressive development of the nationalities’ cultural resources, while professional culture is being increasingly brought within the reach of the masses.The implementation of the nationalities policy promotes the all-round development of all Soviet nations and nationalities, their drawing together, the upsurge of the individual capabilities of every Soviet citizen.     

Report of the restudy of the defined global stratotype of the base of the Silurian System

The Global Stratotype Section and Point （GSSP） for the base of the Silurian System was defined in 1985. Since that time, a number of researchers have suggested that this section has serious deficiencies for use as a GSSP. As a result, in 2000, the Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy （SSS） proposed undertaking a formal restu@ of this GSSP, which was subsequently approved by the International Commission of Stratigraphy （ICS）. The result of this restudy was the formal proposal that the current GSSP, at 1.6 m above the base of the Birkhill Shale, at Dob＇s Linn, Scotland, should be maintained as the same locality and stratigraphic level, but the bios- tratigraphical definition of the boundary should be revised. The previously defined, basal Silurian grapto- lite zone, the Parakidograptus acuminatus Zone, should be subdivided into a lower Akidograptus ascensus Zone and a higher E acuminatus Zone. The base of the A. ascensus Zone, marked by the first appearance of A. ascensus, should be regarded as the biostratigraphic mark for the base of the Silurian. This proposal has now been formally approved by the SSS and ICS, and ratified by International Union of Geological Sciences. This is the first GSSP to undergo formal restudy and redefini- tion, and the proposal also included a recommended procedure for restudy of GSSPs.     

Deviation of the major axis of the inertia ellipsoid of the Moon from the direction toward the Earth

It is known from observations that the center of mass of the Moon does not coincide with the geometric center of its figure, and the line connecting these two centers is not aligned with the direction toward the center of the Earth, instead deviating toward the Southeast. This stationary deviation of the axis of the inertia ellipsoid of the Moon to the South of the direction toward the Earth is analyzed. A system of five linear differential equations describing the physical libration of the Moon in latitude is considered, and these equations are derived using a new vector method taking into account perturbations from the Earth and partly from the Sun. The characteristic equation of this system is obtained, and all five oscillation frequencies are found. Special attention is paid to the fifth (zero) frequency, for which the solution of the latitude libration equations are stationary and represents a previously unknown additional motion of the rotational axis of theMoon in a cone with a small opening angle. In contrast to the astronomical precession of the Earth, the rotation of the angular-velocity vector is in the positive direction (counter-clockwise), with the period T ₃ = 27.32 days. On this basis, this phenomenon has been named “quasi-precession.” This quasi-precession leads to a stationary inclination of the major axis of the inertia ellipsoid of theMoon to the South (for an observer on Earth), making it possible to explain one component of the observed deviation of the center of mass of the Moon from the direction toward the Earth. The opening angle of the quasiprecession cone is approximately 0.834″.     

The Tendencies of the Development of the Mineral-Resources Sector at the Turn of the Century

Important tendencies in development of the world mineral-resources sector at the beginning of the 21st century were an increase in production and consumption of mineral materials differentiated by types of metals and nonmetallic mineral raw materials, by countries and regions, as well as the concentration of the production of mineral raw materials in a small number of countries, and a reduction in industrial reserves of minerals in the world economy, even at the current stage of their extraction. These tendencies should be taken into account in working out a strategy for development of the Russian mineral raw-material base.     

Causes of the famine among the rural population of the Sahelian zone of the Sudan

Taking the example of W Sudan, an analysis of the climatic incidents leading to the two recent famine disasters is made. On this natural background, the human side is investigated. Focus is directed towards the fragile economic structure of the famine-prone population groups. An early-warning system for famine in the Sahelian Zone is proposed taking grain production and storage, livestock development and the relationship between the prices of livestock and grain as major indicators.     

东濮凹陷北部沙河街组三段中亚段沉积环境分析

东濮凹陷北部沙三中亚段广泛发育盐岩和烃源岩,这两个看似不能共存的物质却在这里互层共生。该时期研究区沉积特征为多盐韵律与多层烃源岩互层共生、连续沉积,单个盐韵律厚度从几米到十几米,烃源岩有机质丰度高、类型好。平面上,两者在湖盆沉积沉降中心共生;垂向上,高有机质丰度、好干酪根类型与高盐度地层具有较好的对应关系。因而成为恢复古气候和古环境的重要研究对象。通过岩石学、古生物学以及Sr/Ba、B/Ga、(V+Ni+Mn)、Fe/Mn、Sr/Cu、Mg/Ca、V/(V+Ni)、稀土元素含量和氯同位素等方法对凹陷北部沙三中亚段的沉积环境进行研究。结果表明,凹陷北部沙三中亚段为深水沉积的还原环境,古盐度较高,达到半咸水-咸水沉积;微量元素和孢粉化石特征表明研究区沙三中亚段为温暖潮湿的环境。     

On the consistency of proposed models for the Pyrenees with the structure of the eastern parts of the belt

The structure of the eastern Pyrenees consists mainly of south-directed thrusts involving basement and cover rocks. An antiformal stack developed by the piling up of basement thrust sheets which outcrop in the Axial zone. These structures account for a thin-skinned thrust model rather than a vertical fault model in which the Axial zone would be essentially autochthonous, and the North-Pyrenean fault the axial plane of a fan thrust system. New data from the Eastern Pyrenees and the thin-skinned model suggest that(1) the structure east of the Pedraforca nappe is similar to that of the Central Pyrenees; (2) the cover rocks of the South-Pyrenean units and of the Axial zone-after restoration—built up a northwards-thickening prism consistent with the existence of a unique Pyrenean sedimentary basin during Mesozoic time; (3) the Axial zone is only a complex antiformal stack developed as a part of South-Pyrenean system related to the Paleogene thrusting-tectonics. The Axial zone palaeogeographic area had no special meaning during Mesozoic time.     

The Importance of the Precipitation and the Susceptibility of the Slopes for the Triggering of Landslides Along the Roads

In order to characterise the influence of the heavyrains on the observed landslides during the 1996–1997hydrological cycle, rainfall records for the last 100years are analysed from 104 stations in easternAndalusia. Regarding the amounts of rain recordedbetween October 1996 and March 1997 in the 104stations studied, 31 presented new all-time records;15 presented values that were 80–100% of thepre-1995 record; 49 stations, 80–50%; and 9stations, < 50%. A map has been devised of thesusceptibility of the materials through which thesouth-eastern Andalusian road network crosses,together with an inventory of the damage caused byinstability phenomena on banks and cuttings of theroad network during the winter of 1996–1997. Therelationships between the rainfall during the studyperiod, the damage caused to the road network and thesusceptibility of the materials affected are analysed.The results indicate that there is a clearcorrespondence between the rainfall recorded and thesusceptibility of the materials with the inventorieddamage. It is concluded that the widespread seriousdamage caused in early 1997 to the roads andsurrounding areas in the Alpujarra region and thecoast of the Province of Granada was mainly caused bythe extraordinarily heavy rains. However, considerablyless damage was observed where the susceptibility ofthe terrain is low, thus highlighting the extremeusefulness of terrain-susceptibility maps for riskprevention and territorial planning.