Review of Late Proterozoic sutures,ophiolitic mélanges and tectonics of eastern Egypt and north-east Sudan

The distribution, structural relations and ages of ophiolites and ophiolitic melanges in the Eastern Deserts of Egypt and north-east Sudan, and their relation to arc and post-arc magmatism, are used to infer the probable positions of sutures and the directions of obduction and subduction. The ages of the successive tectonic stages in the terranes decrease northwards, by about 100 Ma in the region discussed. Obduction was north-westwards. The obducted sheets of ophiolite and ophiolitic melange, extending about 500 km north from the Onib-Sol Flamed suture, may all represent a single back-arc basin. The direction of subduction is still not clearly proved: more geochemical evidence of arc-magmatic polarity is needed. The late tectonic north-westward thrusting, the NW - SE stretching lineation, the transpressional north-south Hamisama Shear Zone and the NW-SE sinistral Najd faults are all attributed to north-westward movement (present coordinates) of terranes towards the older craton west of the Nile. The Najd faults are interpreted as intracontinental transform faults.     

东海晚中生代岩浆弧与陆缘汇聚作用：碎屑锆石U- Pb年代约束

晚中生代是古太平洋板块俯冲东亚大陆的重要时期,也是华南大陆构造-岩浆活动的重要时期。本文通过东海陆架盆地紧邻海礁隆起ECSs611钻井的渐新统花港组(1626～1638m)砂岩和白垩系(1638～1689m)砂岩碎屑锆石U-Pb同位素和微量元素等研究,获得了～163Ma和～120Ma两期岩浆-变质事件的锆石U-Pb年龄记录。两期岩浆锆石均具有结晶温度低(556～732℃)、流体活动元素U富集(含量82×10~(-6)～3412×10~(-6))及高场强元素Nb亏损(含量0.6×10~(-6)～13.8×10~(-6))等特点,它们形成于岩浆弧构造环境。与洋壳锆石相比,两期岩浆锆石元素Y含量(371×10~(-6)～2700×10~(-6))和U/Yb比值(0.2～6.7)偏低,指示其属于大陆锆石类型。其它碎屑锆石年龄(如2.5～2.4Ga,1.7～1.6Ga,320 Ma和256～207 Ma)与华南大陆主要构造事件一致,初步认为东海海礁隆起应属于华南大陆(华夏地块)东延的部分。如果将海礁-虎皮礁隆起作为晚侏罗世至早白垩世岩浆弧一部分,与东海福州凹陷弧前盆地和西南日本至台湾俯冲增生杂岩等单元联结起来,区域上可构成受古太平洋板块俯冲控制的晚中生代东亚大陆边缘构造轮廓,即岩浆弧→弧前盆地→俯冲增生杂岩。     

东海晚中生代岩浆弧和板块俯冲：FZ211井碎屑锆石的约束

晚中生代是古太平洋板块俯冲东亚陆缘的重要时期,也是华南大陆岩浆活动的重要时期.本文选用东海陆架丽水凹陷FZ211井紧邻中生代花岗岩基底的石门谭组(2031～2097 m)和明月峰组(1755～1806 m)的砂岩样品,开展碎屑锆石U-Pb同位素和微量元素等分析,获得了侏罗纪(180～160 Ma)和白垩纪(140～80 Ma)两期主要的岩浆事件记录,以120～80 Ma年龄组分更为发育.两期岩浆锆石均具有结晶温度低(605～792℃)、流体活动元素U、Th和LREE富集以及高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti和HREE亏损特点,它们形成于典型的岩浆弧构造环境,岩浆中侏罗纪俯冲物质的加入明显优于白垩纪.与洋壳锆石相比,两期岩浆锆石U/Yb值(0.1～5.1)与大陆锆石类型一致,白垩纪岩浆锆石呈现向洋壳锆石过渡的趋势.东海渔山隆起应是晚中生代大陆岩浆弧的重要组成部分,120～80 Ma是俯冲和岩浆活动的强烈时期,东亚陆缘从侏罗纪到白垩纪显现出古太平洋板块俯冲回滚的特点.如果将渔山隆起岩浆弧与福州凹陷弧前盆地和SW日本到台湾的俯冲杂岩联结起来,区域上可构成晚中生代东亚陆缘汇聚的构造轮廓,即岩浆弧-弧前盆地-俯冲增生杂岩.     

Late Quaternary climate-driven environmental change in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica, multi-proxy evidence from a lake sediment core

Little is known about the response of terrestrial East Antarctica to climate changes during the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Here we present a continuous sediment record from a lake in the Larsemann Hills, situated on a peninsula believed to have been ice-free for at least 40,000 yr. A mutli-proxy data set including geochronology, diatoms, pigments and carbonate stable isotopes indicates warmer and wetter conditions than present in the early part of the record. We interpret this as Marine Isotope Stage 5e after application of a chronological age-depth model and similar ice core evidence. Dry and cold conditions are inferred during the last glacial, with lake-level minima, floristic changes towards a shallow water algal community, and a greater biological receipt of ultraviolet radiation. During the Last Glacial Maximum and Termination I the lake was perennially ice-covered, with minimal snowmelt in the catchment. After ca. 10,500 cal yr B.P., the lake became seasonally moated or ice-free during summer. Despite a low accumulation rate, the sediments document some Holocene environmental changes including neoglacial cooling after ca. 2450 cal yr B.P., and a gradual increase in aridity and salinity to the present.     

Late Oligocene Sedimentary Hiatus in Deep Sea Area of South China Sea, Result of Calcareous Nannofossils from ODP Site 1148

In order to determine the age of the sedimentary hiatus and its geological significance, a study of the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy was carried out. Detailed strutigraphical data of the Late Oligocene-Eariy Miocene diagnostic species thus obtained. The nannofossil zonation of this interval was subdivided and the Oligocene-Miocene boundary was further determined. Several last Late Oligocene events were recognized, indicating a long-term sedimentary hiatus in the uppermost Upper Oligocene.The time span of the hiatus was estimated for about 2.2 Ma, at least from 23. 9 to 26. 1 Ma. The lithological and geophysical data from Site 1148 indicate some abrupt sedimentary changes that occurred below and above the hiatus. This hiatus at Site 1148 was probably related to the tectonic change, a major ridg ejmnp during the seafloor spreading in the Late Oligocene South China Sea.     

Heavy metals in the benthic foraminifera from the coastal lagoons,Red Sea,Egypt: indicators of anthropogenic impact on environment (case study)

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Cd were measured in several species and genera of Recent benthic foraminifera from three coastal lagoons, namely Abu-Shaar, Umm al-Huwaytat, and Marsa Shuni lagoons located along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. Spatially significant differences in the metal concentrations of benthic foraminifera were recorded among different sites. However, some foraminiferal species display deformation in their coiling, general shape of chambers and the apertures. Abu-Shaar and Umm al-Huwaytat lagoons are virtually influenced by anthropogenic activities while Marsa Shuni lagoon is affected by natural inputs. Benthic foraminifer shows high concentrations of Fe and Mn, especially in Umm al-Huwaytat lagoon. Foraminiferal black tests support this result and reflect selectivity for iron absorption. Among the metals analyzed, Cd, Pb, and Cu showed significant high concentrations in benthic foraminifera at the study areas. The anthropogenic activities and natural inputs are responsible for the abnormalities in benthic foraminifera. Therefore, benthic foraminifera can be used as a good indicator of the environmental changes.