Pyrrhotite Re–Os and SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating of the Hongqiling Ni–Cu sulfide deposits in Northeast China

The Hongqiling (HQL) magmatic Ni–Cu sulfide deposits (Jilin Province, NE China) are located at the southern margin of the eastern Xing'an–Mongolian Orogenic Belt (XMOB) of the eastern Central Asian orogenic belt (CAOB), situated between the Siberian Craton (SC) and the North China Craton (NCC). The HQL ore-bearing mafic–ultramafic intrusions intrude into the metamorphic rocks of the lowermost Huangyingtun Formation of the Hulan Group (HLG), whose lithology is herein identified as a hornblende–zoisite gneiss. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating for the HLG, country rock of the HQL deposits, indicated a maximum deposition age of 272.2 ± 4.3 Ma (95% confidence level, MSWD = 2.6, n = 14).Six pyrrhotite samples separated from massive Ni–Cu sulfide ores of the Fujia (No. 7) deposit yielded a Re–Os isotopic isochron age of 208 ± 21 Ma (95% confidence level, MSWD = 2.4, n = 6), indicating that the ore-formation age was Late Triassic. Re–Os isotope analyses showed an initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of 0.315 ± 0.050. The γ_Os values ranged from + 137 to + 161 with an average of + 151, indicating that its ore-forming materials were mainly derived from mantle with possibly < 30% crustal Os contamination. Large scale magmatic Ni–Cu mineralization in eastern Jilin occurred in post-collisional tectonic setting in the Late Triassic.Our new results suggest that the ages of the Ni–Cu sulfide deposits in the CAOB within China tended to become younger from west to east, as manifested by the Late Caledonian (~ 440 Ma), through the Late Hercynian (300–265 Ma) to the Late Indosinian (225–200 Ma). Such variation could reflect the gradual closure and post-collisional orogeny between the SC and the NCC from west to east.     

A tectono-genetic model for porphyry–skarn–stratabound Cu–Au–Mo–Fe and magnetite–apatite deposits along the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Valley, Eastern China

The Middle–Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt (YRB), situated along the northern margin of the Yangtze craton, is characterized by porphyry–skarn–stratabound Cu–Au–Mo–Fe deposits in the areas of uplift and magnetite–apatite deposits in Cretaceous fault basins. Following detailed field investigations and a review of published data, we recognize two episodes of magmatism and mineralization in the YRB: 1) 156–137 Ma high-K calc-alkaline granitoids associated with 148–135 Ma porphyry–skarn–stratabound Cu–Au–Mo–Fe deposits and 2) 135–123 Ma shoshonitic series, associated with 134.9–122.9 Ma magnetite–apatite deposits. A-type granitoids and associated alkaline volcanic have a small age range from 126.5 to 124.8 Ma and are temporally, spatially and genetically associated with the second episode. The geodynamic history of the YRB did not experience the Paleozoic to Mesozoic lithospheric thickening that took place in the North China craton. This process is inferred to be linked to partial melting of the delaminated lower crust at high pressures, resulting in the development of C-type adakitic rocks. The petrochemical and Sr/Nd isotopic data show that both the shoshonitic series and A-type granitoids are quite different from adakites, with only some of the K-calc-alkaline granitoids having adakitic signatures. Previous ore genesis models were established based on an assumed relationship with adakites and a continuous tectono-thermal evolution from 150 to 100 Ma.All data obtained for the Middle–Lower Yangtze River region consistently show that the Tan–Lu regional strike-slip fault zone, initiated at 233 ± 6 to 225 ± 6 Ma from the collision between the North China and Yangtze cratons and was reactivated at ca. 160 Ma. The Tan–Lu fault was caused by the oblique subduction of the Izanagi plate, which along the YRB the low-angle subducted slab and the overlying crust was disrupted or broken due to the disharmonious movement of the two blocks. The high-K calc-alkaline granitoids magmas were derived from melting of the subducted slab, with some input of crustal material. These magmas were emplaced at the intersections between NE- and EW-trending faults and formed porphyry–skarn–stratabound Cu–Au–Mo–Fe deposits between 156 and 137 Ma. After 135 Ma the subducted plate changed its direction of motion to northeast, now running parallel to the Eurasian continental margin, and leading to large-scale continental extension. The shoshonitic series and subsequent A-type granitoids magmatism and the development of magnetite–apatite ores in the YRB, took place in both fault basins and NE-trending rifts between 135 and 124 Ma.     

The Crati Submarine Fan, Ionian Sea

The Crati Fan is located in the tectonically active submerged extension of the Apennines chain and foretrough. The small fan system is growing in a relatively shallow (200 to 450 m), elongate nearshore basin receiving abundant input from the Crati River. The fan is characterized by a short, steep, channelized section (inner or upper fan) and a smooth, slightly bulging distal section (outer or lower fan). The numerous subparallel channels head in the shelf or littoral zone and do not form branching distributary patterns. Sand and mud depositional lobes of the outer fan stretch over more than 60% of fan length. Margin setting represents fan and/or source area     

On the infrared void in the Lupus dark clouds

Strömgren uvbyβ photometry observations obtained for 205 stars in the general direction of a void in the IRAS 100-μm emission from the Lupus dark cloud complex are presented and analysed. The colour excess versus distance diagram confirms the existence of a region depleted from interstellar material, which is also seen in the ROSAT soft X-ray background emission map. The distance to the surrounding material is estimated as being within the interval from 60 to 100 pc. This result is in disagreement with previous distance estimates to the supposed supernova that has been suggested as responsible for clearing the region from dust. As an alternative, the data presented support the suggestion that the void may have been produced by the detachment of material from the interface between Loop I and the Local Bubble as a consequence of hydromagnetic instabilities. Moreover, the distribution of colour excess as a function of distance supports a value of ∼150 pc as the most probable distance to the dark cloud known as Lupus 1.     

Major types and time–space distribution of Mesozoic ore deposits in South China and their geodynamic settings

The ore deposits of the Mesozoic age in South China can be divided into three groups, each with different metal associations and spatial distributions and each related to major magmatic events. The first event occurred in the Late Triassic (230–210 Ma), the second in the Mid–Late Jurassic (170–150 Ma), and the third in the Early–Mid Cretaceous (120–80 Ma). The Late Triassic magmatic event and associated mineralization is characterized by peraluminous granite-related W–Sn–Nb–Ta mineral deposits. The Triassic ore deposits are considerably disturbed or overprinted by the later Jurassic and Cretaceous tectono-thermal episodes. The Mid–Late Jurassic magmatic and mineralization events consist of 170–160 Ma porphyry–skarn Cu and Pb–Zn–Ag vein deposits associated with I-type granites and 160–150 Ma metaluminous granite-related polymetallic W–Sn deposits. The Late Jurassic metaluminous granite-related W–Sn deposits occur in a NE-trending cluster in the interior of South China, such as in the Nanling area. In the Early–Mid Cretaceous, from about 120 to 80 Ma, but peaking at 100–90 Ma, subvolcanic-related Fe deposits developed and I-type calc-alkaline granitic intrusions formed porphyry Cu–Mo and porphyry-epithermal Cu–Au–Ag mineral systems, whereas S-type peraluminous and/or metaluminous granitic intrusions formed polymetallic Sn deposits. These Cretaceous mineral deposits cluster in distinct areas and are controlled by pull-apart basins along the South China continental margin. Based on mineral assemblage, age, and space–time distribution of these mineral systems, integrated with regional geological data and field observations, we suggest that the three magmatic–mineralization episodes are the result of distinct geodynamic regimes. The Triassic peraluminous granites and associated W–Sn–Nb–Ta mineralization formed during post-collisional processes involving the South China Block, the North China Craton, and the Indo-China Block, mostly along the Dabie-Sulu and Songma sutures. Jurassic events were initially related to the shallow oblique subduction of the Izanagi plate beneath the Eurasian continent at about 175 Ma, but I-type granitoids with porphyry Cu and vein-type Pb–Zn–Ag deposits only began to form as a result of the breakup of the subducted plate at 170–160 Ma, along the NNE-trending Qinzhou-Hangzhou belt (also referred to as Qin-Hang or Shi-Hang belt), which is the Neoproterozoic suture that amalgamates the Yangtze Craton and Cathaysia Block. A large subduction slab window is assumed to have formed in the Nanling and adjacent areas in the interior of South China, triggering the uprise of asthenospheric mantle into the upper crust and leading to the emplacement of metaluminous granitic magma and associated polymetallic W–Sn mineralization. A relatively tectonically quiet period followed between 150 and 135 Ma in South China. From 135 Ma onward, the angle of convergence of the Izanagi plate changed from oblique to parallel to the coastline, resulting in continental extensional tectonics and reactivation of regional-scale NE-trending faults, such as the Tan-Lu fault. This widespread extension also promoted the development of NE-trending pull-apart basins and metamorphic core complexes, accompanied by volcanism and the formation of epithermal Cu–Au deposits, granite-related polymetallic Sn–(W) deposits and hydrothermal U deposits between 120 and 80 Ma (with a peak activity at 100–90 Ma).     

Biogeochemical processes involving dissolved CO2 and CH4 at Albano, Averno, and Monticchio meromictic volcanic lakes (Central–Southern Italy)

This paper focuses on the chemical and isotopic features of dissolved gases (CH₄ and CO₂) from four meromictic lakes hosted in volcanic systems of Central–Southern Italy: Lake Albano (Alban Hills), Lake Averno (Phlegrean Fields), and Monticchio Grande and Piccolo lakes (Mt. Vulture). Deep waters in these lakes are characterized by the presence of a significant reservoir of extra-atmospheric dissolved gases mainly consisting of CH₄ and CO₂. The δ¹³C-CH₄ and δD-CH₄ values of dissolved gas samples from the maximum depths of the investigated lakes (from ?66.8 to ?55.6?‰ V-PDB and from ?279 to ?195?‰ V-SMOW, respectively) suggest that CH₄ is mainly produced by microbial activity. The δ¹³C-CO₂ values of Lake Grande, Lake Piccolo, and Lake Albano (ranging from ?5.8 to ?0.4?‰ V-PDB) indicate a significant CO₂ contribution from sublacustrine vents originating from (1) mantle degassing and (2) thermometamorphic reactions involving limestone, i.e., the same CO₂ source feeding the regional thermal and cold CO₂-rich fluid emissions. In contrast, the relatively low δ¹³C-CO₂ values (from ?13.4 to ?8.2?‰ V-PDB) of Lake Averno indicate a prevalent organic CO₂. Chemical and isotopic compositions of dissolved CO₂ and CH₄ at different depths are mainly depending on (1) CO₂ inputs from external sources (hydrothermal and/or anthropogenic); (2) CO₂–CH₄ isotopic exchange; and (3) methanogenic and methanotrophic activity. In the epilimnion, vertical water mixing, free oxygen availability, and photosynthesis cause the dramatic decrease of both CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations. In the hypolimnion, where the δ¹³C-CO₂ values progressively increase with depth and the δ¹³C-CH₄ values show an opposite trend, biogenic CO₂ production from CH₄ using different electron donor species, such as sulfate, tend to counteract the methanogenesis process whose efficiency achieves its climax at the water–bottom sediment interface. Theoretical values, calculated on the basis of δ¹³C-CO₂ values, and measured δ¹³C_TDIC values are not consistent, indicating that CO₂ and the main carbon-bearing ion species (HCO₃ ^?) are not in isotopic equilibrium, likely due to the fast kinetics of biochemical processes involving both CO₂ and CH₄. This study demonstrates that the vertical patterns of the CO₂/CH₄ ratio and of δ¹³C-CO₂ and δ¹³C-CH₄ are to be regarded as promising tools to detect perturbations, related to different causes, such as changes in the CO₂ input from sublacustrine springs, that may affect aerobic and anaerobic layers of meromictic volcanic lakes.     

Multilayer simulations for accurate geological interpretations of SHARAD radargrams

SHARAD (SHAllow RADar) is a nadir-looking Synthetic Aperture Ground Penetrating Radar on board NASA's 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. There are three main characteristics that define the performance of this instrument: ground penetration (due to the operational frequency, the observed echoes can be related to reflections from surface or subsurface), spaceborne operation (the first reflection does not necessarily correspond to the nadir reflection), and nadir looking SAR (there will always be left/right ambiguities). All this implies that there will be surface/subsurface range ambiguity and the geological interpretation of the radargrams cannot be straightforward. In order to avoid data misinterpretation, a simulator of SHARAD’s expected response for a given observation geometry and topography is needed. Simulations can take into account all surface/subsurface reflections in order to identify common families of ambiguities and facilitate the interpretation. In this work we present SHARSIM (SHARAD Radargram SIMulator), a software tool designed to simulate SHARAD radargrams taking as inputs Mars surface information and hypothetical subsurface structure. Its performance is analyzed by investigating typical artifacts and by a direct comparison with real radargrams. We show that SHARSIM simulations can help to discern between artifacts and real subsurface features in order to make accurate geological interpretations.     

Characterization of the atmosphere above a site for millimeter wave astronomy

The Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) is a challeging scientific project managed by the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), it is being developed at 30 km North of the city of Cagliari, Italy. The goal of the SRT project is to build a general purpose, fully steerable, 64 m diameter radio telescope, capable of operating with high efficiency in the centimeter and millimeter frequency range (0.3–100 GHz). In portions of this frequency range, especially towards the high end, astronomical observations can be heavily deteriorated by non-optimal atmospheric conditions, especially by water vapor content. The water molecule permanent electric dipole in fact, leads to pressure broadened rotational transitions around the 22.23 GHz spectral line. Furthermore, water vapor’s continuum absorption and emission may influence higher frequency observations too. To a lower degree, cloud liquid black body radiation can also affect centimeter and millimeter observations. In addition to this, inhomogeneities in water vapor distributions can cause signal phase errors which introduce a great amount of uncertainty to VLBI mode observations. The Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari (OA-CA) has obtained historical timeseries of radiosonde profiles conducted at the airport of Cagliari. Through the radiosonde measurements and an appropriate radiative transfer model, we have performed a statistical analysis of the SRT site’s atmosphere which accounts for atmospheric opacity at different frequencies, integrated water vapor (IWV), integrated liquid water (ILW) and cloud cover distributions during the year. This will help to investigate in which period of the year astronomical observations at different frequencies should be performed preferably. The results show that, at the SRT site, K-band astronomical observations are possible all year round, the median opacity at 22.23 GHz is 0.10 Np in the winter (Dec-Jan-Feb) and 0.16 Np in the summer (Jun-Jul-Aug). Integrated water vapor during winter months ranges, on average, between 7 and 15 mm. Cloud cover is usually not present for more than 36% of the time during the year. The atmospheric opacity study indicates that observations at higher frequencies (50–100 GHz) may be performed usefully: the median opacity at 100 GHz is usually below or equal to 0.2 Np in the period that ranges from January to April.     

Chemical Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium Present in Contaminated Soil using a Packed-bed Column Reactor

Soil samples extracted from a contaminated landfill with hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), were treated in a packed-bed column reactor applying different reductant solutions under controlled flow conditions. In all cases, the kinetic study concerning removal of Cr(VI) from packed soil revealed the overall process (leaching and redox reaction) is described by pseudo-first order kinetics. The complexity of the process taking place in non-isotropic medium (packed soil) was evidenced by dependence of the overall pseudo-first order kinetic rate constant, k*, on treatment time, volumetric flow rate, and composition and concentration of the reductant solution. A phenomenological equation was proposed in order to represent k* in non-ideal conditions. The comparative study concerning the use of different reductants revealed application of ferrous sulphate, Fe(II), under flow conditions furnished the best results, since in this case the redox process reached a considerable extent and the reduced chromium, Cr(III), was immobilized in packed soil as an insoluble mixed compound.     

Pier scour monitoring system by bed-level image tracking

A scour monitoring system with a micro camera tracking the bed-level images is proposed in this study.Two image recognition algorithms have been developed to support the bed-level image tracking approach.Through the laboratory experiments of pier scour,this study demonstrates that the proposed system is able to accurately monitor the scour-depth evolution in real time.In addition,five commonly-used temporal scour models are employed to simulate scour-depth evolution and their results are compared with monitoring data.In general,the results indicate that the proposed scour monitoring system has the potential for further applications in the field.