FOUR NEW IRON METEORITE FINDS

Four new irons are described; Buenaventura (IIIB) from Chihuahua, Mexico: mass 114 kg; Denver City (anomalous) from Texas, USA: mass 26.1 kg; Kinsella (IIIB) from Alberta, Canada: mass 3.7 kg; and Tacoma (IA) from Washington, USA: mass 17 g. Denver City is unique, i.e., not related to any other known iron. Tacoma is the smallest iron meteorite recorded. All were purchased for the UCLA collection following a publicity drive for new meteorites     

Theoretical ion densities in the lower ionosphere

We have solved the coupled momentum and continuity equations for NO⁺, O₂⁺, and O⁺ions in the E- and F-regions of the ionosphere. This theoretical model has enabled us to examine the relative importance of various processes that affect molecular ion densities. We find that transport processes are not important during the day; the molecular ions are in chemical equilibrium at all altitudes. At night, however, both diffusion and vertical drifts induced by winds or electric fields are important in determining molecular ion densities below about 200 km. Molecular ion densities are insensitive to the O⁺ density distribution and so are little affected by decay of the nocturnal F-region or by processes, such as a protonospheric flux, that retard this decay. The O⁺ density profile, on the other hand, is insensitive to molecular ion densities, although the O⁺ diffusion equation is formally coupled to molecular ion densities by the polarization electrostatic field. Nitric oxide plays an important role in determining the NO⁺ to O₂⁺ ratio in the E-region, particularly at night. Nocturnal sources of ionization are required to maintain the E-region through the night. Vertical velocities induced by expansion and contraction of the neutral atmosphere are too small to affect ion densities at any altitude.     

济阳坳陷中生代地层剥蚀厚度、原始厚度恢复及原型盆地研究

在采用各种地层剥蚀量的计算方法对济阳坳陷中生代各主要不整合面地层剥蚀厚度恢复的基础上,结合钻井及地震资料,对中生代各主要构造层的原始地层厚度进行了恢复。以此为切入点,对济阳坳陷区中生代盆地原型进行了初步探讨,将其划分为5期盆地原型：早-中三叠世为一大型内陆坳陷盆地;晚三叠世整体挤压抬升剥蚀;早-中侏罗世为弱挤压背景下的山间盆地;晚侏罗世-早白垩世为受正断层控制的断陷盆地;晚白垩世为断陷后的坳陷盆地。     

A numerical study on 2-D compressive wave propagation in rock masses with a set of joints along the radial direction normal to the joints

An explosion in a borehole or an accidental explosion in a tunnel will generate a two-dimensional (2-D) compressive wave that travels through the surrounding rock mass. For the problem of 2-D compressive wave propagation in a rock mass with parallel joints in the radial direction normal to the joints, parametric studies on the transmission ratio and the maximum rebound ratio are performed in universal distinct element code. The variation of the transmission ratio with the ratio of joint spacing to wavelength is generalized into a characteristic curve, which can be used as a prediction model for estimating the transmission ratio. The relationship between the maximum rebound ratio and the influence factors is obtained in charts. The charts can be used as a prediction model for estimating the maximum rebound ratio. The proposed prediction models for estimating the transmission ratio and the maximum rebound ratio are applied to a field explosion test, Mandai test in Singapore. The minimum possible values of peak particle velocity (PPV) at the monitoring points are estimated by using the proposed prediction model for estimating the transmission ratio along the radial direction normal to the joints. On the other hand, the maximum possible values of PPV are estimated by using the proposed prediction model for estimating the maximum rebound ratio along the same radial direction. The comparison shows a good agreement between the field-recorded PPVs and the estimated range of PPVs given by the minimum possible PPVs and the maximum possible PPVs at the monitoring points in Mandai test. The good agreement between the estimated and field-recorded values validates the proposed prediction models for estimating peak particle velocity in a rock mass with a set of joints due to application of a compressive wave at the boundary of a tunnel or a borehole.     

中国南方海相含油气保存单元的层次划分与综合评价

以最近十年中国南方的海相新区油气勘探评价成果为依托 ,以油气成藏和整体封闭保存体系评价为核心 ,在渝东—湘鄂西、中下扬子和滇黔桂三大区域划分出 9个有利区块 5 1个含油气保存单元 ,并将其归纳为四个层次。综合评价认为 ,方西和石柱保存单元具有较好的整体封存体系 ,属持续性含油气保存单元 ,为首选勘探目标 ;江汉盆地南部、句容—海安区块、南鄱阳坳陷、楚雄盆地东北部具备或基本具备整体封存条件 ,属于沉积重建型含油气保存单元 ,通过精细勘探可望获得商业性油气流 ;楚雄盆地西北部、南盘江坳陷、十万大山盆地和渝东—湘鄂西地区利川复向斜由于晚期强烈构造改造而仅存在部分封存体系 ,需要攻关探索 ;思茅、渝东—湘鄂西地区的花果坪和桑植—石门地区已失去整体封闭保存条件 ,仅局部存在封存体系 ,地质条件高度复杂 ,勘探风险甚高。     

The flotability of very fine particles — A review

The review is in three main sections. First, the observation that overall flotation performance deteriorates for the finest particles is confirmed, but the precise effects of particle size on recovery, grade, and flotation rate are shown to be more complex. In the second section an assessment is made of theories which have been proposed to explain the slower flotation rate of ultrafines, the effects of slime coating, and the flotation of slimes with cationic collectors. The last section of the paper gives a critical evaluation of methods which are claimed to improve the flotation of ultrafine particles.     

Sedimentary evolution of a late Pleistocene wetland indicating extreme coastal uplift in southern Tanzania

Facies analyses of Pleistocene deposits from southern coastal Tanzania (Lindi District) document that sediments formed in a wetland evolving on a coastal terrace in the Lindi Fracture Zone foreland. The exposed succession shows a marked sedimentary change from tidal to terrestrial facies. ¹⁴C analyses on gastropod shells indicate the emergence of the Lindi coast at ∼ 44 ¹⁴C ka BP. Emergence and subsequent elevation of terraces to 21 m above present-day sea level was linked to the falling eustatic sea level prior to the last glacial maximum, and to a periodic elevation due to extensional tectonic episodes in the eastern branch of the East African Rift System (EARS). Since ∼ 44 ¹⁴C ka BP tectonic uplift at the coast was 80-110 m, comparable to that in the extreme uplift areas of the EARS.     

Late Glacial and Holocene environmental history of the Pirin Mountains (SW Bulgaria): a paleolimnological study of Lake Dalgoto (2310 m)

Diatoms, Cladocera, and chironomids preserved in the sediments of Lake Dalgoto were studied to reconstruct the history of the lake ecosystem in the context of the vegetation history as represented by the pollen stratigraphy. Younger Dryas silty sediments at the base of the core are characterized by low diversity of aquatic organisms. The transition to the Holocene is indicated by a sharp change from silt to clay-gyttja. The migration and expansion of trees at lower elevations between 10200 and 8500 ¹⁴C-yr BP, along with higher diversities and concentrations of aquatic organisms and the decreased proportion of north-alpine diatoms, point to rapidly rising summer temperatures. After 6500 ¹⁴C-yr BP the expansion of Pinus mugo in the catchment coincides with signs of natural eutrophication as recorded by an increase of planktonic diatoms. In the late Holocene (4000–0 ¹⁴C-yr BP) Pinus peuce and Abies are reduced and Picea expands. Cereal grains and disturbance indicators suggest late-Holocene human modification of the vegetation.     

Exhumed fault-bounded Alpine blocks along the Periadriatic lineament: the Eder unit (Carnic Alps, Austria)

The Eder unit in the Carnic Alps, which is situated immediately south of the Periadriatic lineament (PL), represents a fault-bounded block consisting of a low-grade (up to 400?°C, indicated by epizonal illite “crystallinity” values, recrystallized quartz, and non-recrystallized white mica) metamorphic Paleozoic metasedimentary sequence. Until now, it has been assumed to represent a separate Variscan nappe. The rocks of the Eder unit show a strong E- to W-oriented stretching lineation on steep foliation planes (D₁) subparallel to the PL. D₁ structures originated near the temperature peak of metamorphism, and shear sense indicators show dextral ductile shear parallel to the PL. Tight mesoscale D₂ folds formed on the cooling path. K–Ar and Ar–Ar ages from newly formed white mica cluster around 32–28 and 18–13 Ma and suggest a two-stage Tertiary history of the Eder unit. We interpret the Eder unit as a fault-bounded block formed during Oligocene large-scale dextral shearing along the PL (near T_max) and exhumed in mid-Miocene times during another phase of activity along the PL. Its nature as a separate Variscan nappe is questioned.