Effect of the Dry Ashing Method on Cadmium Isotope Measurements in Soil and Plant Samples

A dry ashing method is commonly used to remove organic material from samples prior to geochemical analysis. In the course of this study, the Cd isotope ratios of a series of soil and plant reference materials and samples were studied to evaluate the effect of the dry ashing method on measurement results of Cd isotope ratios. The samples were pre‐treated using the dry ashing method and high‐pressure bomb for comparison. The results show that the digestion using high‐pressure bombs did not lead to Cd loss, but using the dry ashing method would cause different proportions of Cd loss. The whole range of Cd isotope difference between two methods was from ?0.07‰ to 3.01‰. There was also an obvious difference in measured Cd isotope ratios from the same leaf sample pre‐treated independently by the dry ashing method, indicating that the amount of Cd loss and the effect on Cd isotope measurement during dry ashing is related to the properties of the samples. Therefore, dry ashing may not be appropriate for the removal of organic material in Cd isotope ratio measurement, especially for samples with high organic contents. The δ^114/110Cd values of reference materials NIST SRM 1573a and GSD‐30 are reported for the first time in this study.     

Detrital Zircon Dating of Meso- and Neoproterozoic Rocks in North China and Its Implications

New dates from Meso- and Neoproterozoic strata contribute to the recently defined Precambrian stratigraphical timescale of China agreed by the Subcommission on the Precambrian System, and the National Commission on Stratigraphy of China on Nov. 24, 2009. First, the age range of the Changcheng System, including the Changzhougou, Chuanlinggou, Tuanshanzi and Dahongyu formations has been constrained to 1.8–1.6 Ga. Second, the Jixian System including the Gaoyuzhuang, Yangzhuang, Wumishan, Hongshuizhuang and Tieling formations has been constrained to 1.6–1.4 Ga. Third, an as-yet unnamed (undefined) system (1.4–1.0 Ga) is only developed in the Xiamaling Formation at the Jixian section, Tianjing. Fourth, the Qingbaikou System, including the Luotuoling and Jing’eryu formations has been constrained to 1.0–0.78 Ga. Fifth, the Nanhuan System ranges between 780–635 Ma, and the Sinian System is within 635–542 Ma. However, according to a series of SHRIMP U-Pb dates from the late Precambrian in the Jiangnan Orogen Belt in South China Platform, the constrained strata will be redefined as in the upper part of the Qingbaikou System. To aid global geodynamics, it is useful to denote a late Precambrian section with unified, precise and high-precision chronological dating; this is here defined in North China Block and Jiaoliao-Korean Block. However, the Neoproterozoic Qingbaikou study in North China will be influence in whole Meso- and Neoproterozoic in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt in between the Yangtze Block and the Cathaysia Block in South China.     

钇易解石族的端员—钛钇易解石的发现

本矿物为新发现的钇易解石族的端员矿物－钛钇易解石，产于江西省龙南县足洞燕山期中粒白云母花岗岩及其风化壳中。矿物属斜方晶系，常呈板状或短柱状，为天然晶质体，浅黄色，粒度为０．０７５ｍｍ，硬度４．７，比重４．７３，二轴正晶，Ｎｇ＝２．２４８，Ｎｍ＝２．２１２，Ｎｐ＝２．１９４，Ｎｇ－Ｎｐ＝０．０５４，２Ｖ＝７０°。空间群为Ｄ＾１６２ｈ－Ｐｍｎｂ，ａ０＝０．７５０ｎｍ，ｂ０＝１．０９２ｎｍ，Ｃ０＝０．５     

Enhancement of backtracking search algorithm for identifying soil parameters

In this paper, an enhanced backtracking search algorithm (so-called MBSA-LS) for parameter identification is proposed with two modifications: (a) modifying the mutation of original backtracking search algorithm (BSA) considering the contribution of current best individual for accelerating convergence speed and (b) novelly incorporating an efficient differential evolution (DE) as local search for improving the quality of population. The proposed MBSA-LS is first validated with better performance than the original BSA and some other typical state-of-the-art optimization algorithms on a benchmark of soil parameter identification in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and robustness. Then, the efficiency of the MBSA-LS is further illustrated by two representative cases: identifying soil parameters from both laboratory tests and field measurements. All comparisons demonstrate that the proposed MBSA-LS algorithm can give accurate results in a short time. Finally, to conveniently solve the problems of parameter identification, a practical tool ErosOpt for parameter identification is developed by integrating the proposed MBSA-LS and some other efficient algorithms for readers to conduct the parameter identification using optimisation algorithms.     

Diagenesis and hydrocarbon emplacement in the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation tight sandstones in the southern Ordos Basin,China

The Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the southern Ordos Basin is a tight sandstone but productive hydrocarbon exploration target. A variety of analyses, including thin-sections, cathodoluminescence (CL), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fluorescence, isotope and fluid inclusion, have been used to analyse the reservoir petrology and diagenesis to understand the evolution of reservoir porosity. The sandstones are mostly feldspathic litharenites and lithic arkoses with low porosities (7.6% on average) and extremely low permeabilities (0.49 mD on average). A complex diagenetic alteration history of the reservoir caused different kinds of reduction in reservoir porosity. The carbonate cements are sourced from adjacent organic-rich mudstone and precipitated with a higher content near the edges of sandstone units and a lower content at the centres of sandstone units, resulting in two different diagenetic evolution paths. The analysis of porosity evolution history and hydrocarbon emplacement produced the following conclusions: (1) during the eodiagenesis period, mechanical compaction reduced the primary porosity dramatically from 40 to 19%; and (2) during the mesodiagenesis period, the first-phase oil charged the reservoir (porosity ranging from 14 to 19%) as bitumen along detrital grains forming a preferential pathway for subsequent oil emplacements. In the second-phase of oil charge, the reservoir porosity ranged from 9 to 14% limiting water–rock reactions. During the third-phase of oil charge, porosity of the reservoir remained at 9%. In general, the densification period (with a porosity close to 10%) of the reservoir occurs at the same time as the major oil emplacement and may be an explanation for the low oil saturation of the Chang 8 tight sandstone.     

三塘湖盆地航磁异常特征及油气远景预测

三塘湖盆地是我国西部典型的火山岩油气盆地。本文基于1：5万高精度航磁资料,结合区域地质、区域重力、地面踏勘和物性资料,对三塘湖盆地进行了航磁综合解释;详细分析了磁场和重力场特征及其与区域构造的对应关系,圈定了盆地火山岩分布范围,采用欧拉反褶积方法计算了磁性体埋深,初步揭示了盆地磁性基底起伏情况;结合盆地火山岩油气成藏模式,开展了航磁油气远景预测。结果表明,三塘湖盆地中央坳陷内有隐伏火山岩存在的次级凹陷中心具有寻找火山岩油藏的良好前景：汉水泉凹陷区中的2个次级凹陷中心、条湖凹陷区北段次级凹陷中心应作为油气勘探重点区域;石头梅凸起和岔哈泉凸起区可作为重要油气勘探方向;方方梁凸起及其以南区域可作为下一步油气勘探工作的预研区。研究结果可为盆地油气资源后续勘探开发提供指导。     

Deformation mechanism of strain localization in 2D numerical interface tests

Heterogeneity arises in soil subjected to interface shearing, with the strain gradually localizing into a band area. How the strain localization accumulates and develops to form the structure is crucial in explaining some significant constitutive behaviors of the soil–structural interface during shearing, for example, stress hardening, softening, and shear-dilatancy. Using DEM simulation, interface shear tests with a periodic boundary condition are performed to investigate the strain localization process in densely and loosely packed granular soils. Based on the velocity field given by grains’ translational and rotational velocities, several kinematic quantities are analyzed during the loading history to demonstrate the evolution of strain localization. Results suggest that tiny concentrations in the shear deformation have already been observed in the very early stage of the shear test. The degree of the strain localization, quantified by a proposed new indicator, α, steadily ascends during the stress-hardening regime, dramatically jumps prior to the stress peak, and stabilizes at the stress steady state. Loose specimen does not develop a steady pattern at the large strain, as the deformation pattern transforms between localized and diffused failure modes. During the stress steady state of both specimens, remarkable correlations are observed between α and the shear stress, as well as between α and the volumetric strain rate.     

甘孜—理塘断裂带北段玄武岩地球化学特征及构造意义

沿甘孜-理塘断裂带广泛发育有三叠纪玄武岩,该断裂带北段的玄武岩多为SiO_2大部分不饱和蚀变较强的基性岩,根据TiO_2K_2O、P_2O_5、Al_2O_3和CaO含量判定为亚碱性拉斑玄武岩系列。痕量元素特征表明,玄武岩为轻稀土弱富集型,∑REE、∑LREE/∑HREE、δEu、Eu/Sm、Sm/Nd都显示与大洋拉斑玄武岩一致。笔者认为,理塘断裂带南段在晚二叠世打开并逐步向北推进,北段于早三叠世打开,中三叠世为甘孜-理塘海发育的鼎盛时期,晚三叠世逐渐闭合。     

平庄盆地六家立井地区找铀目标层岩石学特征及其找矿意义

六家立井地区位于平庄盆地北缘,白垩系下统阜新组上段是该区砂岩型铀矿床目标层位,具有较好找铀前景。为深入了解该区砂体的岩石学特征,通过野外钻探工作、岩心编录、样品采集及岩矿测试方法,详细研究了目标层碎屑岩类型、碎屑岩成分、结构构造等岩石学方面特征。结果表明目标层碎屑岩成分成熟度和结构成熟度均较低,具有搬运距离短、沉积速度快的特点,其物源较单一,初步判断物源来自盆地东北部和西北部隆起带酸性花岗岩,同时也为铀成矿提供了良好的铀源。     

三峡地区水资源评价

在大量水文资料统计分析的基础上，对三峡地区主要水文要素的时空分布及变化特征、分区水资源的评价和开发利用条件进行了系统分析，可为三峡工程建设提供该地区社会经济发展的科学依据和基本的水文水资源数据。