Results of magnetotelluric surveyon reference geophysical profiles of the Karaton-Sarkamys block in Kazakhstan

A digital geoelectric model of the Karaton-Sarkamys block located in the southern (Kazakhstan) part of the Caspian Depression has been developed on the basis of processing and interpretation of magnetotelluric sounding data. Geoelectric sections and structural maps of geoelectric layers have been constructed. It has been shown that magnetotelluric sounding combined with seismic and GIS data can be efficiently used to obtain additional information on the lithologic and reservoir properties of petroleum plays.     

A Polychronous Locality of Megafauna on the Northwestern Coast of Lake Baikal

Doklady Earth Sciences - Based on geochronological data, it is shown that the formation of sediments of a 50–80 m terrace of Lake Baikal occurred during the Middle Pleistocene and its top...     

Climatic Changes in the Dynamic Topography and Geostrophic Circulation of the Arctic Ocean

Doklady Earth Sciences - According to historical oceanographic data, anomalies in the dynamic topography during the winter period were calculated and two climatic stages of dynamic condition of the...     

Magnetic measurements in electrical prospecting by resistivity methods

The electrical resistivity and induced polarization (IP) methods are widely used in geological mapping, prospecting and exploration of mineral deposits, engineering geology, hydrogeology, archaeology, and geotechnical and environmental applications. Historically, these methods have formed the basis of the electrical prospecting technique. In these methods, a DC or low-frequency AC electrical current is introduced into the earth through a grounded transmitter line. The measured quantity is the electric field. However, if the earth’s resistivity or chargeability changes horizontally, this change gives rise to an anomalous magnetic field, which is studied by the magnetometric resistivity (MMR) and magnetic induced polarization (MIP) methods, respectively. Along with advantages, some shortcomings are inherent in the MMR and MIP techniques. Apparently, the main drawback of these methods is that the magnetic fields of both the transmitter line wire and ground electrodes on the surface are several orders of magnitude greater than the anomalous magnetic field response. This introduces a significant “noise” to magnetic-resistivity data. We investigate the potential of using a circular electric dipole (CED) in magnetometric resistivity techniques. It has been found that the application of a CED, instead of a conventional transmitter line, dramatically enhances the signal-to-noise ratio.     

Epifanovite,NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2O: a New Mineral from the Kester Deposit,Sakha (Yakutia) Republic,Russia

Geology of Ore Deposits - Epifanovite, NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2O, a new natural copper, sodium and calcium arsenate–phosphate, has been found in a quartz–phosphate pocket...     

Phosphates of the Chalotskoe Pegmatite Deposit,Transbaikal Region

A number of rare phosphates have been found in specimens from the Chalotskoe pegmatite deposit, Transbaikal region, Russia: väyrynenite, MnBe[PO₄](OH,F); parascholzite, CaZn₂[PO₄]₂ · 2H₂O; messelite, Ca₂(Fe²⁺,Mn)[PO₄]₂ · 2H₂O; eosphorite, MnAl[PO₄](OH)₂ · H₂O; moraesite, Be₂[PO₄](OH)4H₂O; and fluorapatite. Väyrynenite forms pink grains 2–3 mm in size, less frequent prismatic crystals up to 0.8 × 3.0 cm, and spheres up to 3 mm in diameter. Parascholzite occurs as pockets up to 0.6 × 1.0 cm composed from snow-white small grains. Messelite forms pale yellow honeycomb grains and poorly shaped crystals up to 1 mm. Eosphorite has been seen in the Chalotskoe pegmatites before, but it has not been studied in detail. It occurs as red-brown prismatic crystals up to 8 cm in length, occasionally forming openbook- like aggregates and pink to pale pink grains up to 5 mm in size. Moraesite forms snow-white fibrous aggregates up to 5 × 6 mm, together with white spheres and short prismatic crystals of fluorapatite up to 1 mm. Microcline, albite, quartz, muscovite, beryl, schorl, almandine-spessartine, columbite-(Fe), and bertrandite are associated minerals. Väyrynenite and parascholzite are found for the first time in Russia.

     

The source of sulfur in sulfide deposits in the Siberian Platform traps (from isotope data)

The source of sulfur in giant Norilsk-type sulfide deposits is discussed. A review of the state of the problem and a critical analysis of existing hypotheses are made. The distribution of δ³⁴S in sulfides of ore occurrences and small and large deposits and in normal sedimentary, metamorphogenic, and hypogene sulfates is considered. A large number of new δ³⁴S data for sulfides and sulfates in various deposits, volcanic and terrigenous rocks, coals, graphites, and metasomatites are presented. The main attention is focused on the objects of the Norilsk and Kureika ore districts. The δ³⁴S value varies from -14 to + 22.5‰ in sulfides of rocks and ores and from 15.3 to 33‰ in anhydrites. In sulfide-sulfate intergrowths and assemblages, δ³⁴S is within 4.2-14.6‰ in sulfides and within 15.3-21.3‰ in anhydrites. The most isotopically heavy sulfur was found in pyrrhotite veins in basalts (δ³⁴S = 21.6‰), in sulfate veins cutting dolomites (δ³⁴S = 33‰), and in subsidence caldera sulfates in basalts (δ³⁴S = 23.2-25.2‰). Sulfide ores of the Tsentral’naya Shilki intrusion have a heavy sulfur isotope composition (δ³⁴S = + 17.7‰ (n = 15)). Thermobarogeochemical studies of anhydrites have revealed inclusions of different types with homogenization temperatures ranging from 685 °C to 80 °C. Metamorphogenic and hypogene anhydrites are associated with a carbonaceous substance, and hypogene anhydrites have inclusions of chloride-containing salt melts. We assume that sulfur in the trap sulfide deposits was introduced with sulfates of sedimentary rocks (δ³⁴S = 22-24‰). No assimilation of sulfates by basaltic melt took place. The sedimentary anhydrites were “steamed” by hydrocarbons, which led to sulfate reduction and δ³⁴S fractionation. As a result, isotopically light sulfur accumulated in sulfides and hydrogen sulfide, isotopically heavy sulfur was removed by aqueous calcium sulfate solution, and “residual” metamorphogenic anhydrite acquired a lighter sulfur isotope composition as compared with the sedimentary one. The wide variations in δ³⁴S in sulfides and sulfates are due to changes in the physicochemical parameters of the ore-forming system (first of all, temperature and P_ch4) during the sulfate reduction. The regional hydrocarbon resources were sufficient for large-scale ore formation.     

Neotectonics of the Kharaulakh sector of the Laptev Shelf

Seismotectonic deformation and crustal stress pattern have been studied comprehensively in major seismogenic structures of the Kharaulakh sector of the Verkhoyansk fold system and adjacent parts of the Chersky seismotectonic zone. The study focuses on neotectonic structures, deep structure, and systems of active faults, as well as tectonic stress fields inferred by tectonophysical analysis of Late Cenozoic faults and folds. The results, along with geological and geophysical data, reveal main strain directions and structural patterns of crustal stress and strain in the Arctic segment of the Eurasia-North America plate boundary. The area is a junction of mid-ocean and continental structures evolving in a mixed setting of extension, compression, and their various combinations. The rotation pole of the two plates is presumably located near Buor-Khaya Bay. In this case, extension is expected to act currently upon the neotectonic structures north of the bay and compression to control those in the south and southeast. This inference is consistent with the identified zoning of stress and strain in the Kharaulakh sector.     

Development of medium-term prediction methods: A case study of the August 14, 2016 Onor (Mw = 5.8) earthquake on Sakhalin

The potential of the load-unload response ratio (LURR) method for medium-term earthquake prediction is studied for Sakhalin Island as an example. An approach to the generation of predicted conditions and assessment of their implementation in real time is considered. The results of a retrospective analysis of other large Sakhalin earthquakes are used for generalization. It is shown that deviations of prediction parameters from specified values are satisfactory for this method. It is recommended that this method be used to compile summaries of medium-term predictions for Sakhalin provided that catalogs are filled as soon as possible.     

Nodular monazite from placers in the Kular Ridge (Arctic Siberia,Russia): Composition and age

Nodular monazite occurs in metamorphic rocks worldwide and has zonal REE patterns. This paper focuses on the composition of nodular monazite hosted by Permian black shales of the Kular Ridge in the Kular-Nera terrane. This monazite variety (called kularite in the Russian literature) reaches commercial amounts in placers of the area. The contents of Ce, Nd, and La in the analyzed monazite nodules show correlations at Ce/Nd = 14.39La + 0.0919 (in apfu) and Ce/Nd = 0.2318La + 0.1135 (in wt.%) and vary regularly from core to rim. All monazite compositions fall on this trend, but specific grains may plot in its different parts. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that monazite forms via an intermediate precursor (LnPO₄·2H₂O). The Ce:La:Nd changes in different grains record Eh-pH variations during nucleation and a gradual temperature increase during subsequent growth. The Ce:La:Nd ratio changes partly in grain rims as a result of oxidative dissolution. Judging by the tectonic setting, REE came to the Kular-Nera rocks from the weathered Tomtor Nb-REE deposit, being transported by the Paleo-Khatanga River with monazite nanoparticles bound to the surface of clay minerals.