Emplacement age and thermal footprint of the diamondiferous Ellendale E9 lamproite pipe, Western Australia

The diamondiferous Ellendale 9 (E9) pipe is a funnel-shaped maar-diatreme volcano consisting of inward-dipping tuff sequences intruded by lamproite plugs and dykes. The host rocks for the E9 pipe are Permian sandstones. The multiple lithological contacts exposed within the mined maar volcano provide a natural laboratory in which to study the effect of volcanic processes on U–Th–Pb–He systematics. Zircon from the regional sandstone and E9 lamproite display a bimodal distribution of ages on (U–Th)/He–U/Pb plots. The zircon U/Pb ages for the E9 pipe (n?=?52) range from 440 to 2,725 Ma, while the cluster of (U–Th)/He ages for the lamproite dyke zircon indicate that dyke emplacement occurred at 20.6?±?2.8 Ma, concordant with a maximum emplacement age of about ≤22 Ma from phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar. These ages indicate a xenocrystic origin for the zircon entrained in the E9 dyke. The U/Pb ages of detrital zircon from the regional sandstone host (373–3,248 Ma; n?=?41) are indistinguishable from those of the lamproite zircon xenocrysts, whereas the detrital zircon in the host sandstone yield (U–Th)/He ages from 260 to 1,500 Ma. A thermochronology traverse across the E9 lamproite dyke reveals that the zircon (U–Th)/He ages in the host sandstone have not been significantly thermally reset during dyke emplacement, even at the contact. The capability of the zircon (U–Th)/He method to distinguish deep, mantle source lithologies from upper crustal source lithologies could be used in geochemical exploration for diamonds. Pre-screening of detrital samples using etching and helium assay methods will improve the efficiency and decrease the cost of greenfields exploration.     

Volcanic ash forecast during the June 2011 Cordón Caulle eruption

We modelled the transport and deposition of ash from the June 2011 eruption from Cordón Caulle volcanic complex, Chile. The modelling strategy, currently under development at the Argentinean Naval Hydrographic Service and National Meteorological Service, couples the weather research and forecasting (WRF/ARW) meteorological model with the FALL3D ash dispersal model. The strategy uses volcanological inputs inferred from satellite imagery, eruption reports and preliminary grain-size data obtained during the first days of the eruption from an Argentinean ash sample collection network. In this sense, the results shown here can be regarded as a quasi-syn-eruptive forecast for the first 16 days of the eruption. Although this article describes the modelling process in the aftermath of the crisis, the strategy was implemented from the beginning of the eruption, and results were made available to the Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers and other end users. The model predicts ash cloud trajectories, concentration of ash at relevant flight levels, expected deposit thickness and ash accumulation rates at relevant localities. Here, we validate the modelling strategy by comparing results with satellite retrievals and syn-eruptive ground deposit measurements. Results highlight the goodness of the combined WRF/ARW-FALL3D forecasting system and point out the usefulness of coupling both models for short-term forecast of volcanic ash clouds.     

Recycling of environmentally problematic plant wastes generated from greenhouse tomato crops through vermicomposting

The enormous quantity of plant waste produced from greenhouse tomato crops is an environmental problem that should be solved by recycling that waste into valuable organic products through low-cost technologies, such as vermicomposting. Feasibility of vermicomposting greenhouse tomato-plant waste (P) using paper-mill sludge (S) as complementary waste was investigated by this study. Earthworm development in P, S, and two mixtures of both wastes was monitored over 24 weeks and compared with that in cow dung (D), an optimum organic-waste to be vermicomposted. The effectiveness of vermicomposting to biostabilize those wastes was assessed by analysing phospholipid fatty acid composition, chemical features, plant-nutrient content, metal concentration, enzyme activities, and germination index (GI). A commercial vermicompost was also analyzed and taken as a reference of vermicompost quality. Earthworms did not survive in P alone, but a mixture of P with S at a ratio of 2:1 or 1:1 resulted in earthworm development similar to that observed in D. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis revealed that earthworm activity strongly transformed initial microbiota inhabiting the wastes, giving rise to vermicompost microbial communities which were similar to that of a commercial vermicompost. Both mixtures of P and S were properly biostabilized through vermicomposting, as indicated by decreases in their C:N ratio and enzyme activities together with increases in their degree of maturity (GI ~ 100 %) after the process. This study demonstrates that the vermicomposting of tomato-plant waste together with paper-mill sludge allows the recycling of both wastes, thereby improving the environmental sustainability of greenhouse crops.     

An exotic Cretaceous kimberlite linked to metasomatized lithospheric mantle beneath the southwestern margin of the Francisco Craton,Brazil

We present major and trace element compositions of mineral concentrates comprising garnet xenocrysts,ilmenite,phlogopite,spinel,zircon,and uncommon minerals (ti...     

云南元谋古猿动物群化石埋藏学

云南元谋小河-雷老一带含古猿新近系（上第三系）是一套紫红色含砾细砂-粉砂岩，夹有多层黄色砂砾石层。化石埋藏学研究及含化石层岩性特征、组合及沉积构造表明，该层以山前洪积堆积为主，并有发育的扇上河道沉积。通过30余个发掘地点化石野外埋藏资料及数千件化石标本的分析鉴定，化石埋藏类型有两种，埋藏Ⅰ型的化石数量稀少、保存完整，赋存在扇体细粒沉积物中；理藏Ⅱ型化石保存丰富但相当残破，赋存在粗粒沉积的扇上河道各个部位。化石埋藏类型与古气候、古生态有着密切的关系，化石埋藏特征表明该区自然环境分带已形成。元谋古猿动物群的生存时代是一个从森林向草原-灌丛环境过渡的动荡时期。     

五十年来中国小型构造研究的回顾与展望

50年来我国小型构造的研究从对单个形态的几何学描述到对区域构造的全方位、多尺度、多层次、多体制和多世代的综合解析。研究的进展主要表现为：对构造形态和方位的系统分析；定量分析和物质平衡原理在构造分析中的应用；以地壳流变学的研究和从构造的力学分析到构造体制分析等方面。与地球物理、地球化学、变质地质学和地质年代等多学科的配合极大地促进了构造地质学的发展。初步形成了解析构造学的理论体系和方法学。 文中还指出了当前在构造研究中的不足和今后的努力方向。     

乐平统底界定义和点位的争论

有关乐平统底界定义和点位的争论涉及到有关建立界线层型的一些基本原则。本文作者确信,乐平统的底界不可能建立在小间断上或层序界面上;不能被证实的点断成种事件也不能用来建立界线层型;定义种在连续演化谱系中首现的点位是确定的不是任意的;必须考虑定义种的首现时期的居群特征,不能用定义种晚期的居群特征来确定GSSP的点位;定义种的定义不能任意改动,要保持分类的稳定。不能过高估计或只认为齿脊特征是区别晚二叠世舟刺分子的唯一标准。梅仕龙有关C. postbitteri和C. dukouensis两个种区别特征的争辩是无用的,因为本文作者所使用的区别这两个种的标准正是梅仕龙等(Mei et al, 1994)所提出的。现在没有必要为维护自己的界线定义或点位而修改有关种的定义。原来有关这两个种的定义和区别特征是科学的。本文作者鉴定的C. dukouensis (Wang, 2000a, p1. 2, figs. 1～8)是正确的,符合原来的定义。乐平统底界定义应当是严格的科学的。金玉玕等(Jin et al, 1994, 1998)从来没有提到更谈不上“反复讨论”了C. doukouensis的“首现”(梅仕龙,本期)。虽然提到(C. postbitteri的首现,但由于C. postbitteri的先驱种不清,这个定义是不科学的。乐平统底界的科学而严格的定义应是:在Clarkikina postbitteri—C. duk     

马岭油田北三区污水回注的实验研究

根据马岭油田北三区油田水性质，结合污水与地层水混合的静态实验结果分析，发现污水回注对地层可能引起不同程度的伤害。同时，模拟地层条件做岩心流动实验。将采出的污水回注到地层与地层水混合后，亦会使地层渗透率下降，且随着污水含量的增加，渗透率伤害程度增大。     

铜绿山铜铁矿床地质特征及岩浆岩与成矿关系探讨

铜绿山铜铁矿床位于鄂城-大幕山新华夏复合隆起带中部、阳新复式岩体西北端。矿体赋存于下三叠统大冶群第四至第七岩性段。矿床由12个矿体组成。矿区内岩浆活动频繁。通过对区内岩浆演化、岩石化学、岩性特征以及微量元素特征等方面系统研究,认为矿床成矿物源为铜绿山石英正长闪长玢岩岩体,含碱值偏高的中酸岩类是控制成矿元素富集及各类矿床组合的内在因素,岩浆的成矿专属性由岩浆本身特性决定。     

Subduction of Continental Crust in the Early Palaeozoic North Qaidam Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt, NW China:Evidence from the Discovery of Coesite in the Belt

Coesite was discovered as inclusions in zircon separates from pelitic gneiss associated with a large eclogite body in the North Qaidam ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane. Some graphite inclusions were also found. This finding suggested the occurrence of in-situ UHP metamorphism and that the terrane was most likely recrystallized at pressures below the diamond stability field. It supported other previous indirect UHP evidence, such as polycrystalline quartz inclusions in eclogitic garnet, quartz lamellae in omphacite and P-T estimates for both eclogite and garnet peridotite. The U-Pb and Sm-Nd ages of the North Qaidam eclogite indicated that subduction of continental crust occurred in the Early Palaeozoic, which probably recorded a collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze plates.