Physical and chemical changes of water in the deep interior of the Earth—Decrepitation-style mud-volcano-earthquake—A bright lamp to shed light on the mysteries of the deep interior of the Earth

The 2008-05-12 Wenchuan mud-volcano-earthquake was accompanied with eruption of a huge volume of gas and stone, revealing that earthquakes generally result from instant reverse phase explosion of supercritical water (SCW) at the supercritical point. In the deep parts of the crust and mantle there still exists a large amount of supercritical water equivalent in order of magnitude to that of the Earth’s hydrosphere. Soft fluids which exist in the MOHO at the top of the upper mantle are the so-called deep supercritical fluids (SCWD). Supercritical water (SCW) has n×10³ times strong capability to dissolve gas. Its viscosity is extremely low and its diffusivity is extremely strong. Therefore, it can naturally migrate toward a region with relatively negative pressure. In the steep break zone of the MOHO at the 57–65 km depth beneath the earthquake belt, due to mutation of overburden pressure, SCWD can automatically separate out CaSiO₃ and other inorganic salts, evolving into the SCW (H₂O-CO₂-CH₄O system. In going upwards to the 10–20-km depth of the crust SCW will be accumulated as an earthquake-pregnant reservoir in the broken terrain. The phase-transition heat of SCW is estimated at 606.62 kJ/kg and the reverse phasing kinetic energy is 2350.8 kJ/kg. When automatic exhaust at the time of decompression reaches the critical pressure (Pc), the instant explosion reverse phase will be normal-state air water. It will release a huge volume of energy and high-kinetic-energy gas which has been expanded by a factor of 1000, leading to the breaking of the country rocks overlying the earthquake-pregnant reservoir, thus giving rise to a Ms 8.0 earthquake. As a result, there were formed eruptive and air-driven (pneumatic) debris flows whose volumatric flow rate reaches n×10¹⁴ m³/s, and their force greatly exceeds the power of INT explosive of the same equivalent value.     

A.P. Vinogradov’s concept of biogeochemical provinces and its development

This paper addresses the concept of biogeochemical provinces introduced by A.P. Vinogradov and developed by V.V. Kovalsky and other researchers. The importance of this scientific direction was emphasized in the context of the anthropogenic impact on the biosphere. The most general characteristics, genesis, and evolution of biogeochemical provinces were discussed. Special attention was given to modern natural–anthropogenic biogeochemical provinces and anomalies. It was pointed out that this modern and vitally important scientific direction should be further pursued.     

Parameters of V404 Cyg—A black-hole binary

We present the results of spectroscopic observations of the X-ray binary V404 Cyg obtained on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory in 2001–2002. We have used a statistical approach to interpret the radial-velocity curve of V404 Cyg. We derived the dependence of the mass of the X-ray emitting component m_x on the mass of the optical component m_v via an analysis of the radial-velocity curve based on profiles of the CaI 6439.075 Å absorption line synthesized in a Roche model. Using the orbital inclination estimated from the ellipticity of the optical component, i=54°–64°, and the component-mass ratio q=m_x/m_v=16.7 found from the rotational broadening of the spectral lines, we obtain m _s =10.65±1.95M_⊙ for the mass of the black hole.     

The impact of faults on the geomorphology of the Earth’s crust: case study of faults impacts on the geomorphology of Lar Valley,Northeast of Tehran (Iran)

The geomorphology of the Lar Valley in the Northeast of Tehran, the Capital of Iran, is under the geological influence of the Central Alborz, in which the different geological formations are folded and thrust, time and again over each other by faults, creating the heights. The Damavand volcano is located to the east of Lar Valley, appearing in the heights of Alborz at the point of deviation in the structural strike of Alborz chain and along the faults during the quaternary period. The physiographic, landslide phenomenon, rock fall, valleys, water courses and alluvial fans in the Lar Valley were reviewed and studied according to aerial photographs, satellite images and field observations from the aspect of their susceptibility to the impact of faults. The results indicate that 80% of the peaks and high mountains in Lar Valley are created and influenced by the action of overthrust faults. Ninety percent of the land and rock sinking are located in the intermediate regions between the faults, and they are believed to be the results of fault impacts. Seven out of the nine cases of landslide in Lar are located on or in the margin of the faults depicting the latter’s influence. The floor ratios of eight valleys were calculated and it was determined that in addition to the impacts of faults on creating the valleys, the situation of most of these along the margins of the faults as well as seven valleys are influenced by faults. The slope of rivulets and auxiliary rivers and their angles in relation to each other and the main river were calculated. The results showed that seven rivulets were under the influence of faults. Fifty-nine percent of the alluvial fans in Lar Valley were greatly influenced by faults, whereas 49% were under their normal impact. The supposition in this study is that the results can be used to identify faults and their characteristics.     

Characteristics and Applications of Fluid Inclusions in the Eogene System of the Biyang Depression—I.A Fluid Inclusion Study

Presented in this paper are the rypes,salinities,homogenization temperatures and organic components of fluid inclusions formed at the four stages of diagenetic authigenesis in the Eogene of the Biyang Depression.The results of cooling experiments on fluid inclusions were used to determine the fluid system and composition of saline aqueous solution in each of the stages .The homogenization temperatures of saline aqueous solution inclusions and hydrocarbon organic inclu-sions have been corrected by two approaches ,and the trapping temperatures and pressures of fluid inclusions at each of the stages have been obtained.This strdy has shed light on the physicochemistry and evolution of diagenetic fluids.The diagentic fluid system is a system which was transformed from a chloride-bearing to a carbonate-bearing system along with the diagenic evolu-tion.The decrease of diagenetic temperature at Stage III of diagenetic authigenesis suggests that the depression would have experiences uplifting at that time.The fluorescent characteristics of fluid inclusions indicate the varieties of organic components in fluid inclusions both in time and in space.     

Kinematics of the envelope of the post-AGB star V510 Pup—Nucleus of a future planetary nebula

We have carried out a detailed identification of lines in the optical spectrum of the post-AGB star V510 Pup associated with the infrared source IRAS 08005-2356 based on observations with high spectral resolution. Absorption lines of the ions FeII, TiII, CrII, and YII are present at wavelengths from 4549 to 8546 Å. The absorption by YII and other s-process elements is anomalously strong, and the absorption is also strong in the circumstellar C₂ Swan bands. The profiles of most of the lines (of hydrogen and metals) display P Cygni absorption-emission profiles. All the absorption lines are shifted toward the blue, suggesting an outflow of stellar material. The expansion velocity of the envelope derived from the Swan bands arising there is V _exp =42 km/s. The highest wind velocity determined from the absorption wings of the FeII(42) P Cygni profiles reaches 240 km/s. Based on the star’s kinematic characteristics and the amount of interstellar absorption, it is at a distance of d≈3?4 kpc, which corresponds to an absolute magnitude of M_v≈?6^m.     

Introduction to the Geology of Turkey—A Synthesis

Auriferous quartz veins are known to exist in more than two dozen prospects, encompassing an area of 500 km² northward from Serrita township (state of Pernambuco) in northeastern Brazil. Gold-bearing veins occur either with a strike of 70° to 110°, crosscutting muscovite schists of the Middle Proterozoic Salgueiro Group, or with a strike of 330° in granodiorite intrusions in the same schists. Small amounts of pyrite, galena, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite commonly are observed. Sericite, chlorite, and epidote are the most common wall-rock alteration products.

Fluid inclusions were studied in samples of mineralized quartz veins from the Barra Verde III prospect in a small granodiorite body, and from the Ingá, Saburá, and Riacho do Meio prospects in the Salgueiro schists. Some samples of barren quartz veins also were studied for comparison.

Primary and pseudosecondary inclusions in the mineralized veins are triphasic or biphasic aqueous-carbonic at room temperature. The wide range of the CO₂/H₂O volume ratio (between 2:1 and 1:3) in a single group or trail suggests the coexistence of two immiscible fluids during the penecontemporaneous processes of quartz crystallization, deformation, mineralization, and recrystallization. Total homogenization of these inclusions beginning at 290° to 310°C and 1.3 to 1.8 kbar provides the trapping conditions of the heterogeneous, effervescent fluid. CO₂ melting temperatures of ～?57° to °59°C indicate low CH₄ or N₂ contents. Clathrate melting close to 6.3°C indicates a low salinity of ～6.9% NaCl equiv. In addition, the low CH⁴ content of the fluid in equilibrium with sulfides and alteration minerals suggests an oxygen fugacity between 10^?30 and 10^?27, a total sulfur activity of 10^?2 to 10°, and a neutral pH of ～5.     

Wolfgang Schott (1905–1989): the founder of quantitative paleoceanography

Wolfgang Schott is the pioneer in paleoceanography and has established this research field within marine geology. His papers from the first half of the twentieth century are all published in German; therefore, the most inspiring results are given here as original quotes in English, since they paved the ground for all scientific discussions on climate stratigraphy, past ocean currents, and glacial interglacial cycles.     

A New Fauna——Qinghezhen Fauna——from the Northern Margin of the North China Platform

In the Inner Mongolia axis and Jiaoliao anteclise along the northern margin of the North China Platform.it has been found that the strata formerly considered as Archaean and Proterozoic are in fact an ophiolite suitesimilar to the Early Palaeozoic Ondor Sum Group in the Northern Geosyncline region of China. The stratahave been named in northern Liaoning as the Qinghezhen Group. The emphasis of this paper is on the discus-sion of the simall shelly fossils found in the siliceous rocks in the upper part of the Qinghezhen Group. Thisophiolite suite stretches in an E-W direction for about 1000 km along the northern margin of the North ChinaPlatform. in which 15 fossil localities with stable stratigraphic horizons have been discovered. In this paper. 4types. 7 genera (including 5 new ones) and 10 species (including 8 new ones and 1 new subspecies) aredescribed, which are collectively referred to as the Qinghezhen Fauna. The characteristics of these fossils are:shell form simple. the maximum length not exceeding 4 mm. with obvious shell wall and wall ornaments. TheQinghezhen Fauna is comparable in shell structure of some genera and species with the Meishucun Fauna inSouth China, but differs from the latter in having only monotonous fossil groups developed in a distinctly va-ried ecological environment. The two faunas may belong to the same evolutionary stage of the Early Cambrianbut have developed parallelly in different regions. The existence of the Qinghezhen Fauna represents an impor-tant biological event in the Early Cambrian in the Northern Geosyncline region of China. The discovery of theQinghezhen Fauna will bring new knowledge and profound influence to a series of problems on basic geologyand mineral deposit prospecting such as the Cambrian faunas. biogeographical povincialism in China and thegeotectonic features of the northern margin of the North China Platform.