Climatic and geologic controls on the piezometry of the Querença-Silves karst aquifer,Algarve (Portugal)

Karst aquifers in semi-arid regions, like Querença-Silves (Portugal), are particularly vulnerable to climate variability. For the first time in this region, the temporal structure of a groundwater-level time series (1985–2010) was explored using the continuous wavelet transform. The investigation focused on a set of four piezometers, two at each side of the S. Marcos-Quarteira fault, to demonstrate how each of the two sectors of the aquifer respond to climate-induced patterns. Singular spectral analysis applied to an extended set of piezometers enabled identification of several quasi-periodic modes of variability, with periods of 6.5, 4.3, 3.2 and 2.6 years, which can be explained by low-frequency climate patterns. The geologic forcing accounts for ~15 % of the differential variability between the eastern and western sectors of the aquifer. The western sector displays spatially homogenous piezometric variations, large memory effects and low-pass filtering characteristics, which are consistent with relatively large and uniform values of water storage capacity and transmissivity properties. In this sector, the 6.5-year mode of variability accounts for ~70 % of the total variance of the groundwater levels. The eastern sector shows larger spatial and temporal heterogeneity, is more reactive to short-term variations, and is less influenced by the low-frequency components related to climate patterns.     

The tectonics and stages of the geological history of the Yenisei–Khatanga Basin and the conjugate Taimyr Orogen

A new interpretation of the seismic profile series for the Taimyr Orogen and the Yenisei–Khatanga Basin is given in terms of their tectonics and geological history. The tectonics and tectonostratigraphy of the Yenisei–Khatanga and the Khatanga–Lena basins are considered. In the Late Vendian and Early Paleozoic, a passive continental margin and postrift shelf basin existed in Taimyr and the Yenisei–Khatanga Basin. From the Early Carboniferous to the Mid-Permian, the North and Central Taimyr zones were involved in orogeny. The Late Paleozoic foredeep was formed in the contemporary South Taimyr Zone. In the Middle to Late Triassic, a new orogeny took place in the large territory of Taimyr and the Noril’sk district of the Siberian Platform. A synorogenic foredeep has been recognized for the first time close to the Yenisei–Khatanga Basin. In the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, this basin was subsided under transpressional conditions. Thereby, anticlinal swells were formed from the Callovian to the Aptian. Their growth continued in the Cenozoic. The Taimyr Orogen underwent tectonic reactivation and apparently right-lateral transpression from Carboniferous to Cenozoic.     

Numerical modelling assessment of climate-change impacts and mitigation measures on the Querença-Silves coastal aquifer (Algarve,Portugal)

Predicted changes in climate will lead to seawater intrusion in the Querença-Silves (QS) coastal aquifer (south Portugal) during the coming century if the current water-resource-management strategy is maintained. As for much of the Mediterranean, average rainfall is predicted to decrease along with increasing seasonal and inter-annual variability and there is a need to understand how these changes will affect the sustainable use of groundwater resources. A density-coupled flow and transport model of the QS was used to simulate an ensemble of climate, water-use and adaptation scenarios from 2010 to 2099 taking into account intra- and inter-annual variability in recharge and groundwater use. By considering several climate models, bias correction and recharge calculation methods, a degree of uncertainty was included. Changes in rainfall regimes will have an immediate effect on groundwater discharge; however, the effect on saltwater intrusion is attenuated by the freshwater–saltwater interfaces’ comparatively slow rate of movement. Comparing the effects of adaptation measures demonstrates that the extent of intrusion in the QS is controlled by the long-term water budget, as the effectiveness of both demand and supply oriented measures is proportional to the change in water budget, and that to maintain the current position, average groundwater discharge should be in the order of 50 × 10⁶ m³ yr^?1.     

The Chachil Limestone (Pliensbachian–earliest Toarcian) Neuquén Basin,Argentina: U–Pb age calibration and its significance on the Early Jurassic evolution of southwestern Gondwana

New radiometric U–Pb ages obtained on zircon crystals from Early Jurassic ash layers found within beds of the Chachil Limestone at its type locality in the Chachil depocentre (southern Neuquén Basin) confirm a Pliensbachian age (186.0 ± 0.4 Ma). Additionally, two ash layers found in limestone beds in Chacay Melehue at the Cordillera del Viento depocentre (central Neuquén Basin) gave Early Pliensbachian (185.7 ± 0.4 Ma) and earliest Toarcian (182.3 ± 0.4 Ma) U–Pb zircon ages. Based on these new datings and regional geological observations, we propose that the limestones cropping out at Chacay Melehue are correlatable with the Chachil Limestone. Recent data by other authors from limestones at Serrucho creek in the upper Puesto Araya Formation (Valenciana depocentre, southern Mendoza) reveal ages of 182.16 ± 0.6 Ma. Based on these new evidences, we consider the Chachil Limestone an important Early Jurassic stratigraphic marker, representing an almost instantaneous widespread flooding episode in western Gondwana. The unit marks the initiation in the Neuquén Basin of the Cuyo Group, followed by widespread black shale deposition. Accordingly, these limestones can be regarded as the natural seal of the Late Triassic –earliest Jurassic Precuyano Cycle, which represents the infill of halfgrabens and/or grabens related to a strong extensional regime. Paleontological evidence supports that during Pliensbachian–earliest Toarcian times these limestones were deposited in western Gondwana in marine warm water environments.     

The Hettangian–Early Pliensbachian Evolution Phase of the Anabar–Lena Sedimentary Basin,Nordvik Facies Region

Lithology and Mineral Resources - New data on the structure and formation conditions of the Anabar–Lena sedimentary basin in the Nordvik facies region at the beginning of the Early Jurassic...     

The Electrical Conductivity Structure of the Lanping–Simao Basin and its Implications for Mineralization

正Objective The Lanping–Simao Basin in western Yunnan,located in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau,is tectonically in the transition zone between the Gondwana and Eurasia tectonic domains.It is also the frontier zone of northeastern extrusion of the Indochina Plate towards the     

Synsedimentary ash rains and paleoenvironmental conditions during the deposition of the Chachil Formation (Pliensbachian) at its type locality,Neuquén Basin,Argentina

A detailed sedimentological analysis of the so called “Chachil Limestones” at its type locality around the Mirador del Chachil area, southwestern Neuquén province, Argentina, is presented in this paper for the first time. It is based on a macro/microfacial analysis and their environmental interpretation by means on texture, fabric, bioclasts, intrabasinal and extrabasinal grain amounts, sedimentary structures, bioturbations and hydro-dynamism. Because of the recognition of different facies associations, but no pure limestones, it is more suitable to refer these sediments as the Chachil Formation. The depositional environment of this unit is interpreted to correspond to an internal platform dominated by tides, with carbonate sedimentation disturbed by repeated explosive volcanic episodes, which reduced the sedimentation space, causing retrogradation of the sedimentary system and coastal onlap. In addition, a new recalibration of the U-Pb zircon dating used for the geochronological analysis reveals a small change with regard to previous information that has been used to recalculate the data, is presented in this paper.     

The Permian mafic intrusive events in the northwestern margin of the Tarim Basin and their tectonic significanceSCIEI北大核心CSCD

塔里木大火成岩省是我国境内发现的两个重要的二叠纪大火成省之一,不仅有大规模的溢流相玄武岩喷发,还有复杂多样的侵入岩及其组合。以往的研究主要集中在二叠系等显生宙地层发育区,对于前寒武系等古老层系中是否存在二叠纪岩浆侵入未引起重视。本文通过野外地质调查,在阿克苏地区前寒武系中识别出数条侵入南华系的基性岩墙和较大规模侵入震旦系的基性岩床。岩墙、岩床与围岩之间均显示出典型的侵入接触关系,包括岩体内部结晶粗、边部结晶细的淬冷边结构、岩床顶底面显著的切层现象以及包裹围岩团块等;显微镜下观察表明,辉绿岩具有典型的辉绿结构和嵌晶含长结构。锆石U-Pb年代学结果表明,侵入下震旦统的辉绿岩岩床和侵入南华系的辉绿岩岩墙的侵位时代在误差范围内基本一致,约为290Ma。岩石地球化学特征表明,辉绿岩岩床具有与洋岛玄武岩(OIB)相似的稀土及微量元素配分模式,结合Sr-Nb-Pb同位素测试结果,认为它们来源于碳酸盐化的富集型岩石圈地幔部分熔融,而辉绿岩岩墙具有Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等负异常的地球化学特征,可能来自曾被俯冲相关流体/熔体交代的岩石圈地幔源区。本文的早二叠世辉绿岩岩床和岩墙的形成时代、岩浆源区和岩浆演化...     

The Uplift of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Subsidence of the West Sichuan Foreland Basin

Based on fission track dating of apatite, and measurement of vitrinite reflectance of rock samples from the Longmenshan (Longmen Mountain)area and the West Sichuan foreland basin and computer modelling it is concluded that (l)the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at least by 3-4 km with an uplift rate of no less than 0.3-0.4 mm/a since 10 Ma B.P.; (2) the Longmenshan thrust nappe belt has uplifted at least by 5-6 km with an uplift rate of more than 0.5- 0.6 mm /a since 10 Ma B.P.; (3) the Longmenshan detachment belt has uplifted by 1 - 2 km at a rate of 0.016-0.032 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (4) the West Sichuan foreland basin has uplifted by 1.7-3 km at a rate of 0.028-0.05 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (5) the uplift rate of the area on the west side of the Beichuan-Yingxiu-Xiaoguanzi fault for the last 10 Ma is 40 times as much as that on its east side; (6) the uplifting of the the Songpan - Garze fold belt and the subsidence of the West Sichuan foreland basin 60 Ma ago exhibit a mirro-image correlation, i.e     

Clay minerals in sediments of Portuguese reservoirs and their significance as weathering products from over-eroded soils: a comparative study of the Maranhão, Monte Novo and Divor Reservoirs (South Portugal)

The Southern region of Portugal is subjected to several forms of over-erosion. Most leached products, mainly composed of fine particles containing nutrients, metals or pesticides, are easily transported by river flows. When these are hindered by a physical barrier such as a dam, the particulate load accumulates on the bottom of the reservoirs, often leading to a pronounced decrease of water quality. Bottom sediments from three reservoirs were subjected to grain-size analysis and a study of clay minerals by X-ray diffraction. Most sediments contain a diverse set of clay minerals, mostly illites, smectites, chlorites and kaolinites. The nature of the clay minerals reflects the nature of the parent rocks. During the cycles of transport and temporary deposition, they may undergo significant chemical and physical transformations, which lead to an increase of expandable properties and therefore, to a higher cationic exchange capacity, determining its important role as vehicles of environmental pollutants.     

The mantle rock (“laterite”) of the Gold Coast and its origin

Zusammenfassung Der Verwitterungsmantel (Laterit s. l.) der südlichen Goldküste besteht aus Horizonten, die sowohl verschiedene Entstehungsart als verschiedenes Alter haben. Brekzien oder Steinschichten sind unter aridem Klima als Wüstenpflaster entstanden. Zonen chemisch verwitterten Felses, Horizonte von lehmigem Sand (an deren Aufbau Termiten wesentlich beteiligt sind) und Konkretionen haben sich unter feuchtem Klima gebildet. Harte limonitische Oberflächen-Krusten deuten auf progressive Austrocknung hin. Unter diesen drei klimatischen Bedingungen gebildete Horizonte wiederholen sich mehrfach im Verwitterungsmantel der Goldküste. Ein junger, unvollständiger Zyklus ist weit verbreitet, ein älterer Zyklus tritt nur in begrenzten Vorkommen auf, und ein dritter Zyklus ist fast nur noch in aufgearbeiteten, limonitisierten Bruchstücken erhalten. Die wiederholten Klimaschwankungen machen es wahrscheinlich, daß der Verwitterungsmantel zeitlich dem größeren Teil des Quartärs entspricht. Wahrscheinlich können die Ergebnisse auf weit größere Gebiete angewandt werden.     

Valanginian perisphinctid ammonites from the Kisújbánya Basin (Eastern Mecsek Mts., Hungary)

The most complete Hungarian Valanginian perisphinctid ammonite fauna of the Mecsek Mountains (South Hungary) consists of 14 species is reported. Thurmanniceras sp. aff. otopeta, Fuhriella michaelis, F. cf. hoheneggeri, Sarasinella cf. ambigua, Neocomites (Neocomites) subtenuis, Neocomites (Eristavites) platycostatus are reported for the first time from Hungary. The fauna comprises 23 ammonite species and is reported from Valanginian tuffaceous marl, alternating marl–limestone beds and loose limestone blocks. Two studied sections represent the Lower Valanginian Thurmanniceras pertransiens and partly the Busnardoites campylotoxus Zones while ammonites from loose blocks indicate the latter and possibly the Upper Valanginian Saynoceras verrucosum Zone. Variations in the faunal composition of the marl beds and the limestone blocks respectively, refer to the contrast between the ammonite ecological demands. Phylloceratid and lytoceratid ammonites prevail the marl beds, while olcostephanid and neocomitid ammonites prevail the shallower platform-like limestones. Sediment accumulation rate in that palaeo volcano related environment was high and bottom currents frequently washed together ammonite shells or filled their body chambers with smaller ammonite shell fragments. Due to the fast sedimentation the sections represent only partially the recognized ammonite zones therefore long-term or even infra-regional correlation was not possible. Palaeobiogeographically, the ammonite fauna has Mediterranean character and it shows close relationships to the Valanginian faunas of the Bakony Mts. (Hungary), Western Carpathians (Slovakia), Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria), and SE Spain. The presence of Fuhriella species is remarkable and enlarges our knowledge on the distribution of this enigmatic ammonite taxon adding new data to its Valanginian stratigraphic position and geographic distribution.     

Charophytes from the Cretaceous – Paleogene transition in the Pingyi Basin (Eastern China) and their Eurasian correlation

Charophytes from uppermost Campanian to Paleocene deposits in the Pingyi Basin (Shandong Province, Eastern China) are studied from the perspectives of taxonomy, paleoecology, biogeography, and biostratigraphy. The taxonomy of charophytes used by previous authors is revisited based on a study of intraspecific gyrogonite polymorphism, facilitating comparisons between China and Europe. A number of synonymies are proposed. Gobichara deserta is confirmed as a younger synonym of Microchara cristata. The genus Euaclistochara Z. Wang is shown to be a younger synonym of Lamprothamnium J. Groves. Charophyte assemblages from the Pingyi Basin were generally species-poor but showed a high degree of variation depending on the paleoenvironment. During the latest Campanian–Maastrichtian, brackish water assemblages were monospecific, formed by Feistiella anluensis. Permanent lakes were dominated by Microchara cristata and Peckichara praecursoria. Lamprothamnium ellipticum and Mesochara voluta inhabited the overbank ponds near braided rivers. The Paleocene was much more homogeneous and was dominated by Peckichara varians in permanent lakes. A new biozonation is proposed which encompasses two biozones based on species with broad paleoecological requirements and a Eurasiatic distribution. These are the Microchara cristata biozone starting in the latest Campanian and lasting at least until the earliest Danian and the Peckichara varians biozone encompassing the late Danian–earliest Eocene. These biozones allow direct correlation between Chinese and European basins.     

Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Pliensbachian) microfossil biostratigraphy of the Ballinlea-1 well,Rathlin Basin,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom

The thickest section of Early Jurassic strata known from onshore Ireland (total Jurassic thickness 566 m) is reported from the Ballinlea-1 well (Rathlin Basin) situated on the north coast of Northern Ireland. A biostratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental assessment is presented for this section largely based on calcareous benthic microfossils (foraminifera and ostracods). The Early Jurassic Waterloo Mudstone Formation (Lias Group) of Northern Ireland has previously received little micropalaeontological attention, therefore this work provides an opportunity to enhance palaeogeographic and palaeoenvironmental understanding for the Early Jurassic of the province, and this paper illustrates the key microfossil taxa of this age from Ireland for the first time. The records, based on ditch-cuttings samples, demonstrate a stratigraphical range from Hettangian to Early Pliensbachian, consistent with other wells and boreholes in this basin. The assemblage compositions are comparable to those elsewhere in the European boreal Atlantic realm. Hettangian to earliest Sinemurian microfossil assemblages are generally of low diversity and are numerically dominated by metacopid ostracods with occasional influxes of foraminifera. Gradually, foraminiferal abundance (often dominated by species of the Lagenida) come to exceed those of the ostracods in the Early Sinemurian reaching their greatest diversity in the Late Sinemurian. The sediments are considered to represent an inner to mid-shelf environment throughout while the record thickness for this region indicates ongoing syn-sedimentary fault movement along the basin margins within this period.     

The significance of 24-norcholestanes,triaromatic steroids and dinosteroids in oils and Cambrian–Ordovician source rocks from the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin,NW China

Two oil families in Ordovician reservoirs from the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin are distinguished by the distribution of regular steranes, triaromatic steroids, norcholestanes and dinosteroids. Oils with relatively lower contents of C₂₈ regular steranes, C₂₆ 20S, C₂₆ 20R + C₂₇ 20S and C₂₇ 20R regular triaromatic steroids, dinosteranes, 24-norcholestanes and triaromatic dinosteroids originated from Middle–Upper Ordovician source rocks. In contrast, oils with abnormally high abundances of the above compounds are derived from Cambrian and Lower Ordovician source rocks. Only a few oils have previously been reported to be of Cambrian and Lower Ordovician origin, especially in the east region of the Tarim Basin. This study further reports the discovery of oil accumulations of Cambrian and Lower Ordovician origin in the Tabei and Tazhong Uplifts, which indicates a potential for further discoveries involving Cambrian and Lower Ordovician sourced oils in the Tarim Basin. Dinosteroids in petroleum and ancient sediments are generally thought to be biomarkers for dinoflagellates and 24-norcholestanes for dinoflagellates and diatoms. Therefore, the abnormally high abundance of these compounds in extracts from the organic-rich sediments in the Cambrian and Lower Ordovician and related oils in the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin suggests that phytoplankton algae related to dinoflagellates have appeared and might have flourished in the Tarim Basin during the Cambrian Period. Steroids with less common structural configurations are underutilized and can expand understanding of the early development history of organisms, as well as define petroleum systems.     

The Marine Cretaceous in the Western Part of the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang and Its Depositional Environments

The western part of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang is one of the main areas in China where the marineCretaceous is well developed. The Upper Cretaceous Yingjisha Group represented mainly by sediments of lit-toral, near-shore neritic and estuarine facies is divided in ascending order into the Kukebai Formation, theOytak Formation, the Ygezya Formation and the Tuylouk Formation. For about thirty years, the basal beds of the Kukebai Formation had been considered to be the lowermostmarine horizon of the Cretaceous in the western part of the Tarim Basin, which represents the earliest trans-gression of the Cretaceous Sea into this region. Recently. marine trace fossils, Ophiomorpha nodosa, O.tuberosa and Thalassinoides? spp. were found in abundance and fine preservation from the upper subcycle andupper part of the lower subcycle of the Kezlesu Group underlying the Kukebai Formation. The fact indicatesthat the marine transgression there took place earlier than the Kukebaian. Process of transgression and regression and change of environment in the West Tarim Basin during the pe-riod from the late Early Cretaceous to the end of the Cretaceous is also discussed in this paper.     

The significance of the Variscan orogeny in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Mid Polish Uplands)

The witokrzyski Horst, created during the Laramide phase, is situated in the central part of the Mid Polish Uplands. It is composed of folded Paleozoic rocks partly covered by Mesozoic sediments. In this area two tectonostratigraphic units can be distinguished: the Kielce Unit to the S and the ysogóry Unit to the N.They are separated by the WNW-ESE trending witokrzyski overthrust, along which the rocks of the ysogóry Unit have been transported towards the south over the Kielce Unit. Thrusting took place after the Early Carboniferous, and before the Permian. As it is concluded from the differences of their stratigraphic and tectonic evolution, these two juxtaposed units of the witokrzyskie Mts were originally set at a considerable distance one from another. The present area of these units developed in two blocks of crust differing in structure, thickness and evolution. It is proposed that the important fault situated north of the witokrzyski overthrust and accompanied by magmatic phenomena could be a reactivation of a Variscan suture zone.

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Zusammenfassung Im Zentrum des Polnischen Mittelgebirges entstand während der laramischen Phase der witokrzyski Horst. Er besteht aus gefalteten Gesteinen, die zum Teil mit mesozoischen Ablagerungen bedeckt sind. Es lassen sich in diesem Gebiet zwei geologische Einheiten unterscheiden, die in Bau und Entwicklung wesentliche Unterschiede aufweisen: die Kielce-Einheit im S und die ysogóry-Einheit im N. Diese Einheiten werden von der WNW-OSO vorlaufenden witokrzyski-Überschiebung voneinander getrennt, an der die Gesteine des ysogóry-Einheit nach SW auf die gefalteten Ablagerungen der Kielce-Einheit überschoben worden sind. Dieser Vorgang erfolgte während der variszischen Orogenese, und zwar nach dem Unterkarbon und vor dem Oberen Perm.Die Unterschiede in der stratigraphischen und tektonischen Entwicklung der Kielce-Einheit und der ysogóry-Einheit deuten darauf hin, daß die beiden Einheiten vor der variszischen Gebirgsbildung weit voneinander entfernt gelegen haben: zwischen beiden lag im Unterkarbon ein tiefes Becken. Darauf deuten sowohl die im nördlichen Teil der Kielce-Einheit auftretenden bathypelagischen Ablagerungen aus dem Visé, als auch Spuren vulkanischer Tätigkeit.Die nördlich der witokrzyski-Überschiebung gelegene Störung, an der zahlreiche magmatische und hydrothermale Erscheinungen auftreten, ist wahrscheinlich das Relikt einer während der variszische Orogenese entstandene Suturzone.

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Résumé Le horst de Swietokrzyski, situé dans la partie centrale des «Uplands» de la Pologne moyenne, s'est formé au cours de la phase laramide. Il est constitué de roches paléozoïques plissées partiellement recouvertes de sédiments mésozoïques. Dans cette région, on distingue deux unités tectono-stratigraphiques: l'unité de Kielce au sud et celle de Lysogory au nord. Elles sont séparées par le charriage de Swietokrzyski, d'orientation WNW-ESE, suivant lequel les roches de l'unité de Lysogory ont été transportées vers le SW sur l'unité de Kielce. Ce charriage a eu lieu après le Carbonifère inférieur et avant le Permien. Les différences d'histoires stratigraphiques et tectoniques qui existent entre ces deux unités ainsi juxtaposées indiquent qu'elles devaient se trouver à l'origine à grande distance l'une de l'autre: elles étaient séparées au Carbonifère inférieur par un bassin profond. En témoignent les dépôts bathy-pélagiques viséens, ainsi que des traces d'activité volcanique dans la partie nord de l'unité de Kielce.La faille importante située au nord du charriage, faille jalonée par de multiples manifestations magmatiques et hydrothermales, est probablement la trace d'une zone de suture engendrée au cours de l'orogenèse varisque.

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