A large-clawed theropod (Dinosauria: Tetanurae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Australia and the Gondwanan origin of megaraptorid theropods

Megaraptoridae comprises a clade of enigmatic Gondwanan theropods with characteristic hypertrophied claws on the first and second manual digits. The majority of megaraptorids are known from South America, although a single genus (Australovenator) plus additional indeterminate material is also known from Australia. This clade has a controversial placement among theropods, and recently has been interpreted alternatively as a carcharodontosaurian or a tyrannosauroid lineage. We describe new fragmentary but associated postcranial remains from the opal fields of Lightning Ridge (middle-Albian, Griman Creek Formation) in north-central New South Wales. The new unnamed taxon exhibits a number of unusual features that suggest the presence of a hitherto unrecognised Australian megaraptorid. From an Australian perspective, the Lightning Ridge taxon predates Australovenator by ca. 10 Ma and is minimally coeval with megaraptoran material reported from the Eumeralla Formation of Victoria (but potentially 6.1–9.5 Ma younger). It is also notable as the largest predatory dinosaur yet identified from Australia and is only the second theropod known from more than a single element. A Bayesian phylogenetic approach integrating morphological, stratigraphic and palaeogeographic information tested both the carcharodontosaurian and tyrannosauroid placements for Megaraptora. Regardless of the preferred placement among Tetanurae, rigorous palaeobiogeographic analyses support an Asian origin of Megaraptora in the latest Jurassic (about 150–135 Ma), an Early Cretaceous (about 130–121 Ma) divergence of the Gondwanan lineage leading to Megaraptoridae, and an Australian root for megaraptorid radiation. These results indicate that Australia's Cretaceous dinosaur fauna did not comprise simply of immigrant taxa but was a source for complex two-way interchange between Australia–Antarctica–South America leading to the evolution of at least one group of apex predatory dinosaurs in Gondwana.     

Paleo-depths reconstruction of the last 550,000 years based on the transfer function on recent and Quaternary benthic foraminifers of the East Corsica margin

In this study, the model H(i) = 109.6103 + C₁ × F1(i) + C₂ × F₂(i) + … + C₃₃ × F₃₃(i) obtained from depth modelling based on 33 recent benthic foraminifer species distribution, has been applied to the fossil benthic foraminifers from the borehole GDEC-4-2 drilled at a water depth of 491 m, in the East-Corsica basin, covering the last 550,000 years. The obtained variations of the paleo-depths show a medium correlation with the oscillations of the relative sea level and also with the fluctuations of the oxygen isotopic ratio (δ¹⁸O G. bulloides and δ¹⁸O C. pachyderma–C. wuellerstorfi). This newly developed transfer function is accompanied by an error margin of ± 86 m, suggesting that this model will probably be more suitable for a time scale of the order of a million years where sea level variations are recorded with larger amplitudes. Without considering these problems related to amplitudes, it also turns out that the “eustatic” signal of the microfauna is accompanied by a “trophic” signal, which should not to be neglected, especially at a millennial scale time resolution. Thus, the application of this method would require taking into account the bottom trophic effects strongly controlling the distribution of benthic foraminifer assemblages.     

“Dedolomitization reactions” driven by anthropogenic activity on loessy sediments,SW Hungary

In the Szigetvár area, SW Hungary, shallow groundwaters draining upper Pleistocene loess and Holocene sediments are considerably contaminated by domestic effluents and leachates of farmland fertilizers. The loess contains calcite and dolomite, but gypsum was not recognized in these sediments. The anthropogenic inputs contain significant amounts of Ca and SO₄. The Ca from these anthropogenic inputs is promoting calcite growth, with concomitant consumption of carbonate alkalinity, undersaturation of the system with respect to dolomite, and dolomite dissolution; in brief, is driving “dedolomitization reactions”. Geochemical arguments supporting the occurrence of “dedolomitization reactions” in the area are provided by the results of mass balance and thermodynamic analyses. The mass balances predicted the weather sequence dolomite > calcite > plagioclase > K-feldspar, at odds with widely accepted sequences of weatherability where calcite is the first mineral in the weathering sequence. The exchange between calcite and dolomite can be a side effect of “dedolomitization reactions” because they cause precipitation of calcite. The thermodynamic prerequisites for “dedolomitization reactions” are satisfied by most local groundwaters (70%) since they are supersaturated (or in equilibrium) with respect to calcite, undersaturated (or in equilibrium) with respect to dolomite, and undersaturated with respect to gypsum. The Ca vs. SO₄ and Mg vs. SO₄ trends are also compatible with homologous trends resulting from “dedolomitization reactions”.     

Tropical northeast Africa in the middle–late Eocene: Paleomagnetism of the marine-mammals sites and basalts in the Fayum province,Egypt

The mid-late Eocene “Valley of Whales” in the Fayum province of Egypt contains hundreds of marine-mammals’ skeletons. Given its paleontological importance, we carried out a paleomagnetic study of the fossil-bearing formations. A sequence of basalts directly overlying the upper Eocene rocks in three distant clusters within a 25 km-long NW–SE graben in the southwestern part of the area was also studied. Thermal demagnetization of three-axis IRM was used to identify and eliminate sites dominated by hematite and/or goethite as potential remanence carriers. Progressive thermal demagnetization of the NRM isolated a characteristic NNE–SSW dual-polarity direction with a shallow inclination that passes both tilt and reversal tests. The mean tilt-corrected direction of the sedimentary formations is D/I = 16°/30° (k = 50, α₉₅ = 3°) yielding a paleomagnetic pole at 70°N/159°E. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) indicated that the observed inclinations were free from inclination shallowing, as did the nearly identical characteristic remanence of the overlying basalt flows (with a tilt-corrected reversed-polarity direction of D/I = 198°/−28° (k = 38, α₉₅ = 7°) and a pole at 68°N/158°E). The new paleopoles place the Fayum province at a lower paleolatitude (15–17°N) than today (29.5°N), and point to the possible prevalence of tropical climate in northeast Africa during mid-late Eocene times. This tropical position is nearly identical to the paleolatitudes extrapolated from the mean of 36 coeval poles rotated from the other major cratons and from Africa itself. The declinations show a minor easterly deviation from those predicted by extrapolation from other continents. This is interpreted as due to a small clockwise rotation internal to NE Africa, possibly related to Red Sea/Gulf of Suez rifting after the late Eocene. The alternative explanation that the geomagnetic field had a non-zonal non-dipole field contribution is not favored.     

Assessment of trace metal and rare earth elements contamination in rivers around abandoned and active mine areas. The case of Lubumbashi River and Tshamilemba Canal,Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Active and abandoned mine activities constitute the sources of deterioration of water and soil quality in many parts of the world, particularly in the African Copperbelt regions. The accumulation in soils and the release of toxic substances into the aquatic ecosystem can lead to water resources pollution and may place aquatic organisms and human health at risk. In this study, the impact of past mining activity (i.e., abandoned mine) on aquatic ecosystems has been studied using ICP-MS analysis for trace metals and Rare Earth Elements (REE) in sediment samples from Lubumbashi River (RL) and Tshamilemba Canal (CT), Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Soil samples from surrounding CT were collected to evaluate trace metal and REE concentrations and their spatial distribution. The extent of trace metal contamination compared to the background area was assessed by Enrichment Factor (EF) and Geoaccumulation Index (I_geo). Additionally, the trace metal concentrations probable effect levels (PELs) for their potential environmental impact was achieved by comparing the trace metal concentrations in the sediment/soil samples with the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). Spearman's Rank-order correlation was used to identify the source and origin of contaminants. The results highlighted high concentrations of trace metals in surface sediments of CT reaching the values of 40152, 15586, 610, 10322, 60704 and 15152 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu, Co, Zn, Pb, Fe and Mn, respectively. In the RL, the concentrations reached the values of 24093, 2046, 5463, 3340, 68290 and 769 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu, Co, Zn, Pb, Fe and Mn, respectively. The ΣREE varied from 66 to 218 and 142–331 mg kg⁻¹ for CT and RL, respectively. The soil samples are characterized by variable levels of trace metals. The EF analysis showed “extremely severe enrichment” for Cu and Co. However, no enrichment was observed for REE. Except for Mo, Th, U, Eu, Mo, Ho and Tm for which Igeo is classified as “moderately polluted and/or unpolluted”, all elements in different sites are classified in the class 6, “extremely polluted”. The trace metal concentrations in all sampling sites largely exceeded the SQGs and the PELs for the Protection of Aquatic Life recommendation. Cu and Co had positive correlation coefficient values (r = 0.741, P < 0.05, n = 14). This research presents useful tools for the evaluation of water contamination in abandoned and active mining areas.     

Carbonate recrystallisation and organic matter maturation in heat-affected sediments from the Shaban Deep,Red Sea

Parasound profiles across the Shaban Deep in the Red Sea indicate turbiditic transport of surface sediments from the topographic height (basalt ridge) into the interior of the deep. This is supported by petrographical and (isotope-) geochemical evidence in the East Basin of the Shaban Deep where the presence of variable mixtures of authochtonous and allochthonous sediment compounds had been found.The uppermost 170 cm of both sediment cores 17008-1 and 17009-3 reveal “normal” stable oxygen isotope values for the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber near ?1‰ which is indicative for carbonate formation in Red Sea surface water around 27 °C. However, below 182 cm in core 17008-1 highly variable δ ¹⁸O values for G. ruber between 0.26 and ?10.68‰ occur which are not the result of temperature-controlled oxygen isotope fractionation between foraminiferal carbonate and Red Sea surface water. The lowest δ¹⁸O values of ?10.68‰ measured for highly-altered foraminifera shells suggests carbonate precipitation higher than 90 °C.Organic petrographical observations show a great diversity of marine-derived macerals and terrigenous organic particles. Based on petrographical investigations sediment core 17008-1 can be subdivided in intervals predominantly of authochtonous character (i.e. 1, 3, 5 corresponding to core depths 0–170 cm, 370–415 cm, 69–136 cm), and allochthonous/thermally altered character (e.g. 2 and 4 corresponding to core depths 189–353 cm and 515–671 cm). Allochthonous/thermally altered material displays a wide to an extremely wide range of maturities (0.38–1.42% R_r) and also natural coke particles were found.Similarly, the organic geochemical and pyrolysis data indicate the predominance of well-preserved, immature algal and bacterial remains with a minor contribution of land plant material. Sediments below 170 cm (core 17008-1) contain contributions of re-sedimented pre-heated material most likely from the area of the basaltic ridge. This is documented by individual coke particles reduced hydrogen indices and elevated T_max values up to 440 °C.An “oil-type” contribution (evidenced by mature biomarkers, hopene/hopane ratios, elevated background fluorescence, n-alkane distribution) is also present in the sediments which most likely originated at greater depth and impregnated the surface sediments.The heat source responsible for recrystallisation of foraminiferal carbonate and maturation of organic particles in Shaban Deep sediments most likely is attributed to modern basalt extrusions which now separate the Shaban Deep subbasins.     

40Ar/39Ar and U–Pb dating of the Fish Canyon magmatic system,San Juan Volcanic field,Colorado: Evidence for an extended crystallization history

The ∼ 5000 km³ Fish Canyon Tuff (FCT) is an important unit for the geochronological community because its sanidine, zircon and apatite are widely used as standards for the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and fission track dating techniques. The recognition, more than 10 years ago [Oberli, F., Fischer, H. and Meier, M., 1990. High-resolution ²³⁸U–²⁰⁶Pb zircon dating of Tertiary bentonites and Fish Canyon Tuff; a test for age “concordance” by single-crystal analysis. Seventh International Conference on Geochronology, Cosmochronology and Isotope Geology. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication Canberra, 27:74], of a ≥ 0.4 Ma age difference between the U–Pb zircon ages and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar sanidine ages has, therefore, motivated efforts to resolve the origin of this discrepancy. To address this controversial issue, we initially performed 37 U–Pb analyses on mainly air-abraded zircons at ETH Zurich and nearly 200 ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar measurements on hornblende, biotite, plagioclase and sanidine obtained at the University of Geneva, using samples keyed to a refined eruptive stratigraphy of the FCT magmatic system.Disequilibrium-corrected ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages obtained for 29 single-crystal and three multi-grain analyses span an interval of ∼ 28.67–28.03 Ma and yield a weighted mean age of 28.37 ± 0.05 Ma (95% confidence level), with MSWD = 8.4. The individual dates resolve a range of ages in excess of analytical precision, covering ∼ 600 ka. In order to independently confirm the observed spread in zircon ages, 12 additional analyses were carried out at the Berkeley Geochronology Center (BGC) on individual zircons from a single lithological unit, part of them pre-treated by the “chemical abrasion” (CA) technique [Mattinson, J.M., 2005. Zircon U–Pb chemical abrasion (“CA-TIMS”) method: Combined annealing and multi-step partial dissolution analysis for improved precision and accuracy of zircon ages. Chemical Geology, 220(1–2): 47–66]. Whereas the bulk of the BGC results displays a spread overlapping that obtained at ETH, the group of CA treated zircons yield a considerably narrower range with a mean age of 28.61 ± 0.08 Ma (MSWD = 1.0). Both mean zircon ages determined at ETH and BGC are older than the ∼ 28.0 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar eruption age of FCT – even when considering the possibility that the latter may be low by as much as ∼ 1% due to a miscalibration of the ⁴⁰K decay constants – and is thus indicative of a substantial time gap between magma crystallization and extrusion. The CA technique further reveals that younger FCT zircon ages are likely to be associated with chemically unstable U-enriched domains, which may be linked to crystallization during extended magma residence or may have been affected by pre-eruptive and/or post-eruptive secondary loss of radiogenic lead. Due to their complex crystallization history and/or age bias due to Pb loss, the FCT zircon ages are deemed unsuitable for an accurate age calibration of FCT sandine as a fluence monitor for the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method.Even though data statistics preclude unambiguous conclusions, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of sanidine, plagioclase, biotite, and hornblende from the same sample of vitrophyric Fish Canyon Tuff supports the idea of a protracted crystallization history. Sanidine, thought to be the mineral with the lowest closure temperature, yielded the youngest age (28.04 ± 0.18 Ma at 95% c.l., using Taylor Creek Rhyolite [Renne, P.R. et al., 1998. Intercalibration of standards, absolute ages and uncertainties in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. Chemical Geology, 145: 117–152.] as the fluence monitor), whereas more retentive biotite, hornblende and plagioclase gave slightly older nominal ages (by 0.2–0.3 Ma). In addition, a laser step-heating experiment on a 2-cm diameter feldspar megacryst produced a “staircase” argon release spectrum (older ages at higher laser power), suggestive of traces of inherited argon in the system. Thermal and water budgets for the Fish Canyon magma indicate that the body remained above its solidus (∼ 700 °C) for an extended period of time (> 10⁵ years). At these temperatures, argon volume diffusion is thought to be fast enough to prevent accumulation of radiogenic Ar. If this statement were true, an existing isotopic record should have been completely reset within a few hundred years, regardless of the phase and initial age of the phenocryst. As these minerals are unlikely to be xenocrysts that were incorporated within such a short time span prior to eruption, we suggest that a fraction of radiogenic Ar can be retained > 10⁵ years, even at T ∼ 700 °C.     

First rocks sampled in Antarctica (1840): Insights into the landing area and the Terre Adélie craton

In January 1840, Dumont d’Urville's expedition landed along the coast of “Terre Adélie” and took three rock specimens, the first ever sampled on the Antarctic continent. The petrological and geochemical study of these samples, stored at the “Muséum national d’histoire naturelle”, in Paris, characterizes them as migmatitic cordierite + microcline-bearing paragneiss and mesocratic quartz + biotite-bearing amphibolite. The paragneiss reached 670 °C at 3.2 kbar, suggesting an abnormal high-T gradient of ca. 60 °C/km during the regional metamorphism that affected the “Terre Adélie” craton 1.7 Ga ago. The studied samples are identical to the rocks observed at the “Rocher du Débarquement”, confirming that this was the actual landing place. On the other hand, quartz diorite and volcanic rocks reportedly sampled in Adélie Land during the same expedition and stored at Le Mans and Toulouse Museums do not originate from Antarctica. The examination of Dumont d’Urville's map suggests an icecap shrinking by 9 km in the landing area since 1840.     

Safe management of actinides in the nuclear fuel cycle: Role of mineralogy

During the past 60 years, more than 1800 metric tonnes of Pu, and substantial quantities of the “minor” actinides, such as Np, Am and Cm, have been generated in nuclear reactors. Some of these transuranium elements can be a source of energy in fission reactions (e.g., ²³⁹Pu), a source of fissile material for nuclear weapons (e.g., ²³⁹Pu and ²³⁷Np), and of environmental concern because of their long-half lives and radiotoxicity (e.g., ²³⁹Pu and ²³⁷Np). There are two basic strategies for the disposition of these heavy elements: (1) to “burn” or transmute the actinides using nuclear reactors or accelerators; (2) to “sequester” the actinides in chemically durable, radiation-resistant materials that are suitable for geologic disposal. There has been substantial interest in the use of actinide-bearing minerals, especially isometric pyrochlore, A₂B₂O₇ (A = rare earths; B = Ti, Zr, Sn, Hf), for the immobilization of actinides, particularly plutonium, both as inert matrix fuels and nuclear waste forms. Systematic studies of rare-earth pyrochlores have led to the discovery that certain compositions (B = Zr, Hf) are stable to very high doses of alpha-decay event damage. Recent developments in our understanding of the properties of heavy element solids have opened up new possibilities for the design of advanced nuclear fuels and waste forms.     

The late- to postorogenic transition in the Apiaí domain,SE Brazil: Constraints from the petrogenesis of the Neoproterozoic Agudos Grandes Granite Batholith

A remarkable change in the typology of granite magmatism occurred during the late evolution of the Agudos Grandes Batholith (Apiaí domain, SE Brazil), marked by the appearance of A-type granites some 10–15 Myr after the last manifestations of the compressional period. The elemental and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry of the approximately 600 Ma, “late-orogenic”, moderately peraluminous Piedade, Serra dos Lopes, and Pilar do Sul granites shows that the middle crust was heated to approximately 820–850 °C during the latest stages of the compressional period and generated large amounts of melt through biotite dehydration–melting of gneiss protoliths. These crustal magmas either formed independent intrusions or mixed in varied proportions with raising high-K calc-alkaline magmas, as suggested by continuous trends toward more mafic granites (65–70 wt% SiO₂), which have the geochemical signature of contaminated calc-alkaline magmas. The postorogenic granites occur as two subgroups with different age (∼585 and ∼565 Ma), both with the chemical fingerprints typical of A-type granites (low mg#, Ba, and Sr; high Zr, Hf, Nb, and Y), interpreted as a result of crustal melting at lower P, fO₂, and a(H₂O) and higher T (up to 870 °C, indicated by zircon saturation). Significant trace-element and radiogenic isotope contrasts (e.g., εNd_T = −16 vs. −11) show that the two postorogenic subgroups derived from different sources. A Sr–Nd isotope signature nearly identical to the “end-member” late-orogenic crustal melts suggests that the older postorogenic granites derived from a similar (but probably less fertile) source. The less negative εNd_T of the young subgroup is unmatched by known crustal sources in the Apiaí domain and may have resulted from either an infracrustal component or mobilization of an unexposed section with less crustal residence time.     

A New Specimen of Shansisuchus shansisuchus Young, 1964 (Diapsida: Archosauriformes) from the Triassic of Shanxi, China

Shansisuchus shansisuchus Young,1964 was restudied on the basis of a new specimen.Some anatomical features that were either briefly or not described at all in the original study were detailed.The new specimen not only provides further information on the skull anatomy and the vertebral column but also expands the range of the geographical distribution of the taxon.With new information,the diagnosis of S.shansisuchus was emended and its phylogenetic relationships were further analyzed.S.shansisuchus differs from other archosauriforms primarily in the presence of a large subnarial fenestra anterior to the antorbital fenestra,tongue-in-groove articulations between the ascending process of the premaxilla and nasal and between the premaxilla and maxilla,a tall and posterodorsally directed ascending process of the maxilla,a knee-shaped process of the postorbital projecting into the orbit,a broad descending process of squamosal distally well forked and a large,deeply bow-shaped intercentrum tightly anchoring/capping the sharp ventral edges of two neighboring centra together in cervical and at least first eight dorsal vertebrae.With additional information derived from the new specimen,the phylogenetic relationships of S.shansisuchus were reanalyzed;it is closely related to Erythrosuchus-Vjushkovia clade.     

Tectono-magmatic evolution of the Gaoligong belt,southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau: Constraints from granitic gneisses and granitoid intrusions

The Gaoligong belt is located in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, and is bound by the Tengchong and Baoshan blocks. This paper presents new data from zircon geochronology, geochemistry, and whole-rock Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopes to evaluate the tectonic evolution of the Gaoligong belt. The major rock types analysed in the present study are granitic gneiss, granodiorite, and granite. They are metaluminous to peraluminous and belong to high-K, calc-alkaline series. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) analyses of zircons from nine granitic rocks yielded crystallization ages of 495–487 Ma, 121 Ma, 89 Ma, and 70–63 Ma. The granitoids can be subdivided into the following four groups. (1) Early Paleozoic granitic gneisses with high ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values of − 1.06 to − 3.45 and − 1.16 to 2.09, and model ages of 1.16 Ga to 1.33 Ga and 1.47 Ga to 1.63 Ga, respectively. Their variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Pb values resemble the characteristics of the Early Paleozoic Pinghe granite in the Baoshan block. Our data suggest that the rocks were derived from the break-off of the Proto-Tethyan oceanic slab between the outboard continent and the Baoshan block, which induced the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic pelitic sources mixed with depleted mantle materials. (2) Early Cretaceous granodiorites with low ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values of − 8.92 and − 4.91 with Nd and Hf model ages of 1.41 Ga and 1.49 Ga, respectively. These rocks have high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.711992) and lower crustal Pb values, suggesting that they were derived from Mesoproterozoic amphibolites with tholeiitic signature, leaving behind granulite residue at the lower crust. (3) Early Late Cretaceous granites with low ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values of − 9.58 and − 4.61 with Nd and Hf model ages of 1.43 Ga and 1.57 Ga, respectively. These rocks have high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.713045) and lower crustal Pb isotopic values. These rocks were generated from the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic metapelitic sources resulting from the delamination of thickened lithosphere, following the closure of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean and collision of the Lhasa–Qiangtang blocks. (4) Late Cretaceous to Paleogene granitic gneisses with low ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values of − 4.41 to − 10 and − 5.95 to − 8.71, Nd model ages ranging from 1.08 Ga to 1.43 Ga, and Hf model ages from 1.53 Ga to 1.67 Ga, respectively. These rocks show high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.713201 and 714662) and lower crustal Pb values. The data suggest that these rocks are likely related to the eastward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Oceanic slab, which induced partial melting of Mesoproterozoic lower crustal metagreywacke. The results presented in this study from the Gaoligong belt offer important insights on the evolution of the Proto-Tethyan, Bangong–Nujiang, and Neo-Tethyan oceans in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.     

A New Species of Huaxiapterus （Pterosauria： Pterodactyloidea） from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Liaoning, China with Comments on the Systematics of Tapejarid Pterosaurs

A new species of tapejarid pterosaur, Huaxiapterus coroUatus sp. nov. is erected on the basis of a nearly complete skull and postcranial skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China. Huaxiapterus coroUatus sp. nov. is characterized by a hatchet-shaped rectangular process on the premaxilla, whose short axis is perpendicular to the anterior margin of the premaxillae. Except for this process, other characters of the skull such as the breadth of the snout between the anterior margin of the nasoantorbital fenestra and the anterior margin of the premaxilla are similar to that of Huaxiapterus jii. Huaxiapterus and a second Chinese tapejarid, Sinopterus, share several unique cranial characters in common with Tapejara and these three genera appear to be more closely related to each other than to other azhdarchoids. The Chinese tapejarids （Sinopterus and Huaxiapterus） have relatively elongate skulls and weakly developed cranial crests and seem to be less derived than Tapejara, with its shorter, deeper skull and large cranial crest. Tupuxuarids （Tupuxuara and Thalassodromeus） have often been associated with tapejarids in the family Tapejaridae, but this relationship is controversial because some phylogenetic analyses have supported the pairing of tupuxuarids with Azhdarchidae. We propose that Tapejaridae be restricted to Tapejara, Sinopterus and Huaxiapterus.     

Likely “mantle plume” activity in the Skellefte district,Northern Sweden. A reexamination of mafic/ultramafic magmatic activity: Its possible association with VMS and gold mineralization

Most attention has been given to the geology of the extensive VMS and subordinate precious metals mineralization in the Skellefte district. Less attention has been given to indications of deep-seated origins of felsic and mafic/ultramafic volcanic rocks; of VMS and precious metals mineralizing fluids; and the primary origins of these metals. A holistic view of the significance of mafic/ultramafic volcanic rocks to both the geotectonic evolution of the area and the existence of its important base and precious metals deposits has never been presented. These subjects are discussed in this investigation.Primitive mantle normalized spider diagrams of rare-earth-elements (REE) distinguish two groups of mafic/ultramafic volcanic rocks, each with distinct geochemical characteristics: a mid-ocean-ridge “MORB”-type, and a geochemically unusual and problematic calc–alkaline–basalt “CAB”-type which is the main subject of this investigation. The “MORB”-type mafic volcanic rocks are mostly older than the Skellefte Group felsic volcanic rocks hosting the VMS deposits, whereas the more primitive “CAB”-type mafic/ultramafic volcanic rocks are mostly younger.A common source for these “CAB”-type, mafic-(MgO wt.% < 14%) and ultramafic-(MgO wt.% > 14%) volcanic rocks is suggested by their similar and distinctive geochemical features. These are near-chondritic (Al-undepleted) Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios; moderate to strong high-field-strength-element (HFSE) depletion; light-rare-earth-element (LREE) enrichment and moderate heavy-rare-earth-element (HREE) depletion. They outcrop throughout an area of at least 100 × 100 km. Gold mineralization is spatially associated with ultramafic volcanic rocks.Zr and Hf depletion has been shown to be associated with Al-depletion in mafic/ultramafic volcanic rocks elsewhere, and has been attributed to deep-seated partial melting in ascending mantle plumes. Zr and Hf depletion in “CAB”-type Al-undepleted mafic/ultramafic volcanic rocks is therefore unusual. The solution to this dilemma is suggested to be contamination of an Al-depleted mantle plume by felsic crustal rocks whereby Al-depleted ultramafic magmas become Al-undepleted. It will be argued that this model has the potential to explain previous observations of deep-seated origins; the spatial association of ultramafic volcanic rocks with occurrences of gold mineralization; and even the primary origin of metals in VMS deposits.     

Glacial geomorphology and chronology of deglaciation,South Georgia,sub-Antarctic

We mapped and dated the glacial geomorphology of north-east South Georgia, in the maritime sub-Antarctic. The aim was to examine the timing of deglaciation of the island in the context of inter-hemispheric phasing of climate change. Former glacier limits are restricted to the inner fjords, and our detailed mapping of them has demonstrated a consistent geomorphological pattern that is similar across several different glacier types and sizes. The pattern comprises three suites of moraines (categories “a–c”), not all of which are represented at every site because the outer suite is often overridden by younger suites. Category “a” is an outer wide, low amplitude moraine ridge, category “b” comprises 2–4 sharp-crested, bouldery moraines that are often located close to or even over-riding “a”, and category “c” is a series of lower amplitude moraines with overprinted streamlined landforms such as flutings. Analysis of in situ cosmogenic ¹⁰Be in boulders on these moraines has allowed us to determine a deglacial chronology for the older two moraine groups. The age of the inner (youngest) group has been estimated from soil development. The cosmogenic nuclide ages show that the outermost moraine was deposited ca 12.2±1.5 ka BP, but that a subsequent readvance in the mid-Holocene (ca 3.6±1.1 ka BP) reached and, in places, over-rode this earlier moraine. This latter advance coincides with the “Mid Holocene Hypsithermal”. A final Late Holocene advance reached closely similar limits to the previous two fluctuations and is estimated from soil data to have an age of ca 1.1 ka BP. We suggest that the close concordance of Late-Glacial and interglacial limits (in this case associated with warming) can be explained by a change in dominant forcing. During glacials, extensive sea-ice limits precipitation availability and so glaciers are restricted to the inner fjords. During interglacials precipitation is not limited in the same way by sea-ice cover and so during warming precipitation increases and tidewater glaciers on the island have responded by advancing. This study emphasises the importance of a clear understanding of geomorphology in order to interpret chronological information.     

New chronological constraints for Cryogenian to Cambrian rocks in the Three Gorges,Weng'an and Chengjiang areas,South China

The Neoproterozoic and Cambrian were two of the most dramatic periods in the history of the Earth, because large multi-cellular animals first appeared then in the so-called “Cambrian Explosion”. To better understand this event, many paleontological and geochemical studies now focus on rocks in South China, because of the fossiliferous succession and good exposure. Since the recognition of the Yangtze Gorges and Chengjiang area as type localities of the Sinian (Ediacaran) and Meishucunian (Early Cambrian) Systems, both sections have been intensively investigated. In order to decipher the relationships between the evolution of life and surface environmental changes, it is necessary to understand their paleontological, geochemical and geo-chronological constraints.This study presents new chronological constraints for the Cryogenian to Cambrian rocks in the Three Gorges, Weng'an and Chengjiang areas, South China. We discovered two tuff layers, one at the base of the Shuijingtuo Fm at Three Gorges and the other at the bottom of the Dahai Member in Chengjiang. In addition, we collected sandstones from Neoproterozoic strata in the Three Gorges, Chengjiang and Weng'an areas for provenance analysis. Zircons, separated from the tuff layers, provide new Nano-SIMS U–Pb ages of 526.4 ± 5.4 Ma at the base of the Shuijingtuo Fm, and 523.9 ± 6.7 Ma at the bottom of the Dahai Member. The tuffaceous beds occur at an unconformity, and nodules are common in the Three Gorges, Meishucun and Taoying sections, indicating that major and relatively wide-scale volcanic and sedimentological events occurred at ca. 525 Ma. Moreover, carbonate carbon isotope chemostratigraphies at Morocco, Siberia, Three Gorges and Meishucun display different characteristics during the Tommotian. One possibility is that the South China Ocean was separated from an outer ocean at that time. Detrital zircons in sandstones have age populations at ca. 2.7, 1.8, 1.6, 1.0 and from 0.9 to 0.75 Ga. indicating that the paleo-hinterland of the Nanhua and Kangdian rift basins was geologically complex. Despite the lack of ca. 1.6 Ga rocks in the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks, these data are nevertheless interpreted to indicate derivation of the zircons from basement rocks in the Yangtze craton.     

The first record of Eocene tuff in a Paleogene rift basin near Nantou,Western Foothills,central Taiwan

Microfossils and a U–Pb age dating on zircon grains in the tuff beds exposed in the axial part of the Tsukeng anticline along the Pinglin River in the Western Foothills near Nantou, central Taiwan, show an occurrence of the Eocene volcanics unconformably beneath the uppermost part of the Latest Oligocene Wuchihshan Formation. This is the first discovery of the Eocene tuff exposed in the Western Foothills.The proposed Miocene “Tsukeng Formation” and “Takeng Formation” of Ho et al. (1956) named for sequences exposed in the Nantou area, Western Foothills, have to be abandoned and the standard Oligocene–Miocene lithostratigraphy used commonly in the Western Foothills of northern Taiwan is properly applicable in central Taiwan. The thick pink–brown–green colored volcanics unconformably beneath the uppermost Wuchihshan Formation is named for the first time as the Pinglin Tuff which contains Late Middle Eocene calcareous nannofossils (Zone NP16) consistent with a U–Pb age dating (38.8 ± 1 Ma) on zircon grains in the tuff. The Pinglin Tuff is overlying the Middle Eocene Chungliao Formation which contains indigenous larger foraminifera Discocyclina dispansa ex. interc. sella-dispansa and calcareous nannofossils of Zones NP14–15. The Middle Eocene Pinglin Tuff and Chungliao Formation represent the Paleogene syn-rift sequence unconformably overlain by the Latest Oligocene–Miocene post-rift sequence. This is the first document with conclusive paleontological data and age dating showing an occurrence of Paleogene marine rift basin exposed in the Western Foothills. This study also confirms similar Tertiary basin architecture between the Taiwan Strait–Pearl River Mouth Basin in the NE South China Sea and the Western Foothills onland central Taiwan.     

Detrital zircon provenance of upper Cambrian-Permian strata and tectonic evolution of the Ellsworth Mountains,West Antarctica

Detrital zircons from the upper Cambrian-Devonian sandstones (Crashsite Group; n = 485) and Carboniferous tillite (Whiteout Conglomerate; n = 81) of the Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica record a steady supply of Neoproterozoic (“Pan-African”) orogeny (~ 550–600 Ma), Grenville (~ 1000 Ma) and Neoarchean (~ 3000–3500 Ma) zircons into the northern marginal basin of Gondwana. The overlying Permian Glossopteris-bearing Polarstar Formation shales (n = 85) have the same zircon provenance as underlying units but also include a dominance of depositional-age (263 Ma) euhedral zircons which are interpreted to be of local, volcanic arc origin. Modeling of detrital zircon provenance suggests that source areas were present in Pan-African and Laurentian crust throughout the Paleozoic. We also report calcite twinning strain results (12 strain analyses; n = 398 twins) for the Cambrian Minaret Fm. in the Heritage range which is predominantly a layer-parallel shortening strain in the direction (WSW-ENE) of Permian Gondwanide orogen thrust transport. There is a secondary, sub-vertical twinning strain overprint. The initiation of localized lower-middle Cambrian rifting (Heritage Group deposition) in Grenville-aged crust as Gondwana amalgamated and the subsequent Jurassic counterclockwise rotation of the Ellsworth-Whitmore terrane out of the Permian Gondwanide belt into central Antarctica each remain tectonic curiosities.     

The Jiguanshan porphyry Mo deposit in the Xilamulun metallogenic belt,northern margin of the North China Craton,U–Pb geochronology,isotope systematics,geochemistry and fluid inclusion studies: Implications for a genetic model

The Jiguanshan porphyry Mo deposit is located in the southern part of Xilamulun metallogenic belt at the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). In the Jiguanshan mining district, two stages of granitoids intrusions have been recognized: a pre-ore granite porphyry with stockworks and veins of Mo mineralization, and a granite porphyry with disseminated Mo mineralization. Zircon U–Pb data and Hf isotope analyses show that the dissemination-mineralized granite porphyry yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 156.0 ± 1.3 Ma, with a crustal ε_Hf(t) values from − 5.6 to + 0.2, and that the main group of magmatic zircons from the pre-ore granite porphyry have a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 167.7 ± 1.7 Ma with ε_Hf(t) values from − 3.2 to + 1.0. Combined with groundmass Ar–Ar age data of the granite porphyry and molybdenite Re–Os age, it is suggested that the Mo mineralization of Jiguanshan deposit was formed in the late Jurassic (153 ~ 155 Ma) during tectonic and magmatic events that affected northeast China. The Mo mineralization was a little bit later than the host granite porphyry. Besides disseminated in the host granite porphyry, Mo mineralization also presents in middle Jurassic pre-ore granite porphyry, Jurassic fine-grained diabase, Triassic quartz porphyry, and in rhyolitic volcanic rocks as well as syenite of Devonian age.The Jiguanshan mining district was affected by the tectonic events associated with the Paleo-Asian Ocean closure, and later by far-field tectonism, related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate (Izanagi) in the Jurassic-Cretaceous. The tectonic and thermal events linked with the latter are commonly referred to as Yanshanian tectono-thermal event, and consists of a series of geodynamic, magmatic and ore-forming processes, which in the mining district area included the intrusion of the pre-ore granite porphyry, the host granite porphyry, Mo mineralization, and fine-grained diabase. Major and trace element analyses show that the host granite porphyry is characterized by high silica abundances (SiO₂ = 77.16 to 77.51%), high Rb/Sr ratios (13.57 to 14.83), high oxidation (Fe₂O₃/FeO = 34.25 to 62.00) and high alkalies (Na₂O + K₂O = 8.21 to 8.38%). Petrographic and microthermometry studies of the fluid inclusions from Mo mineralized veins, characterized by plenty of daughter mineral-bearing inclusions, showed that the predominant homogenization temperatures range from 250 to 440 °C. Combined with Laser Raman analysis of the fluid inclusions, it is indicated that Mo mineralization is related to a high-temperature, hypersaline and high-oxygen fugacity H₂O–NaCl fluid system, with high F contents.Based on geology, geochronology, isotope systematics, geochemistry and fluid inclusion studies as well as regional geology, we propose, for the first time, a genetic model for the Jiguanshan porphyry Mo deposit. During the Jurassic geodynamic evolution of northeast China, high silicic, high oxidized and alkaline-rich granitic magma probably derived from partial melting of the lower crust, episodically intruded along faults into the country rocks. This fluid system, fractionating from the highly differentiated granitic magma and bearing Mo with minor Cu metals, migrated upwards and interacted with the older wall rocks and associated fractures, in which the ore minerals precipitated, resulting in the development of what we refer to as the “Jiguanshan-type” porphyry Mo deposit.     

Climate and vegetation in Hokkaido, northern Japan, since the LGM: Pollen records from core GH02-1030 off Tokachi in the northwestern Pacific

Vegetation and climate since the LGM in eastern Hokkaido were investigated based on a pollen record from marine core GH02-1030 from off Tokachi in the northwestern Pacific. We also examined pollen spectra in surface samples from Sakhalin to compare and understand the climatic conditions of Hokkaido during the last glacial period. Vegetation in the Tokachi region in the LGM (22–17 ka) was an open boreal forest dominated by Picea and Larix. During the last deglaciation (17–10 ka), vegetation was characterized by abundant Betula. In the Kenbuchi Basin, central Hokkaido, a remarkable increase of Larix and Pinus occurred in the LGM and the last deglaciation, which was assigned as the “Kenbuchi Stadial.” Comparison of climatic data between the core GH02-1030 and that of Kenbuchi Basin demonstrates that variations in temperature and precipitation were larger in inland Hokkaido than in the maritime area of the Pacific coast. During the LGM in the Tokachi region, the August mean temperature was about 5 °C lower, and annual precipitation was about 40% lower than today. In the Kenbuchi Basin, central Hokkaido, the August mean temperature was about 8 °C lower, and annual precipitation was half that of today. During the last deglaciation, August mean temperatures were about 3 °C lower, and annual precipitation was about 30% lower than today in the Tokachi region. In the Kenbuchi Basin, August mean temperatures were about 5–8 °C lower, and annual precipitation was about 40–60% lower than today. Cold ocean water and a strengthened summer monsoon after 15 ka may have resulted in the formation of advection fogs, reduced summer temperatures, and a decrease in the seasonal temperature difference in the Tokachi district, which established favorable maritime conditions for Betula forests.