Fracturing in the high-carbon formation of the northern flank of the South-Tatar arch

The problem of studying the Domanik deposits and their reservoir potential is among the most important ones. The discovery of hydrocarbon deposits in similar rocks at various depths, the considerable variability of reservoir properties, and ambiguity in establishing the values of the effective thickness set the task for researchers to estimate them more reliably. The high-carbon kerogenic-carbonate-siliceous stratum that is characterized by the development of differently-oriented systems of fractures is of outstanding interest.     

The upper Bajocian of the Crimean Mountains: Paleogeography and sedimentation conditions from palynological data

Based on the spore-pollen data, the mineral composition of clay rocks, analyzed structures and facies, and a general paleogeographic analysis, the sedimentation conditions and landscapes of islands located during the Late Bajocian in the region of the present-day the Crimean Mountains have been reconstructed. It is shown that the sublatitudinally elongated insular land zone had a width of 30 km, the heights of the islands were no more than 1 km, with steep mudflow-affected northern slopes and with an extensive river system on the southern slopes.     

Types of engineering-geological structures of Russia

Engineering-geological (geotechnical) structures are distinguished based on a combination of regional and zonal geological factors. Classifications of engineering-geological structures of the Earth and Russia are presented. The main engineering-geological characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of continental subaerial, continental subaquatic, and transitional predominantly subaquatic and oceanic predominantly subaquatic engineering- geological mega- and macrostructures distinguished in Russia are described.     

Volcanological study of the middle Miocene Okiduse Volcanic Group,Woodlark Island (Muyuw), eastern Papua

Woodlark Island (Muyuw) is located in a tectonically complex region, one of the few places on Earth where continental breakup is occurring ahead of seafloor spreading. Rifting commenced in the late Miocene (8.8–6 Ma) and is associated with the westward-propagating Woodlark Basin Spreading Centre. The island comprises approximately 850 km² of raised Pleistocene coral reef and associated sediments with a central, moderately elevated range underlain by the middle Miocene calc-alkaline to shoshonitic Okiduse Volcanic Group (new name). It provides an exposure of upper Cenozoic geology in close proximity to the spreading centre. The Okiduse Volcanic Group is host to most of the island's historical gold and silver production and recently defined mineral resources totalling 1.75 Moz gold. This study uses facies analysis of pyroclastic deposits to develop a detailed geological map of the Okiduse Volcanic Group, with a revision and reinterpretation of the unit. Facies associations suggest that two major volcanic centres erupted synchronously during the middle Miocene (14–12 Ma), referred to as the Watou Mountain Eruptive Centre (new name) and the Uvarakoi Caldera (new name). The mafic–intermediate Watou Mountain Eruptive Centre formed during frequent small eruptions of widely varying style. Strombolian, subplinian, vulcanian and dome-related explosive eruptions occurred, alternating with extrusion of block and ash flow deposits and lava domes. Pyroclastic deposits were rapidly reworked from the steep cone, and were redeposited in a series of coalescing aprons surrounding the volcano. The felsic Uvarakoi Caldera formed during a series of violent explosive eruptions by rapid removal of magma from the underlying chamber, followed by collapse. Plinian and possibly phreatoplinian eruptions, as a result of magma–water mixing in the surface environment, resulted in widely dispersed, highly fragmented tuff deposits. The caldera was modified by widespread erosion following eruptions, resulting in fluvial, laharic and slope-wash deposits. This study highlights lithological controls (porosity and permeability) by various units within the Okiduse Volcanic Group on ore deposition.     

Origin of the alkali tonsteins from southwest China: Implications for alkaline magmatism associated with the waning stages of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province

A unique type of Nb–Zr–REE–Ga-enriched alkali tonstein of pyroclastic origin occurs exclusively within the late Permian coal measures of southwest China. The alkali tonsteins are located within the lowest Xuanwei or Longtan formations of Wuchiapingian age, indicating that their age is later than the main episode of Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) magmatism. The alkali tonsteins have intermediate–felsic Al₂O₃/TiO₂ values (12.6–34.2, mean 22.0), light rare earth element-enriched chondrite-normalised patterns, negative δEu and incompatible element ratios similar to those of ELIP alkaline Nb–Ta-enriched syenites. All available evidence shows that the alkali tonsteins from southwest China originated from coeval ELIP alkaline magmatism. The enrichment of Nb–Zr–REE–Ga in alkali tonsteins is derived from the ELIP alkaline Nb–Ta-enriched volcanic ashes and may represent the last stage of mineralisation associated with the Emeishan mantle plume activity.