Multistage amphiboles from the Galinge iron skarn deposit in Qiman Tagh,western China: evidence of igneous rocks replacement

Mineralogy and Petrology - Amphiboles from the Galinge skarn deposit, the largest iron (Fe) polymetallic skarn deposit in the Qiman Tagh metallogenic belt (western China), were formed by multistage...     

Mechanical Properties and Deformation and Failure Characteristics of Surrounding Rocks of Tunnels Excavated in Soft Rocks

As soft rocks are likely to soften, slime and swell while contacting water, the existence of soft rocks is harmful for stability of surrounding rocks and supporting structures of tunnels. Through uniaxial and triaxial tests under dry condition and triaxial test with different moisture contents, the mechanical properties and failure modes of soft rocks were studied under conditions that the schistosity plane of the rock samples was vertical to, presented an oblique angle with, and paralleled to the loading direction. The results showed that peak strengths in natural and water-bearing states increased with increasing confining pressures, while those in water-bearing state were 40% lower than those in natural state. The samples were mainly subjected to ductile failure in both natural and water-bearing states while the samples in natural state exhibited a certain brittle failure characteristic in post-peak phase. With the increase of confining pressures, the post-peak curve gradually became gentle after certain brittle failure while the post-peak stresses had an insignificant change. In comparison, the samples in water-bearing state showed significant post-peak disparity, that is, exhibited strong ductile failure characteristic. Moreover, the fitting relationship between triaxial compressive strength and moisture of soft rocks can be expresses as σ ₁ = Aω + B (A < 0, B > 0) while that between elasticity modulus and moisture can be expresses as E = Aω + B (A < 0, B > 0).     

Recent Advance and Prospects in the Structure and Thermal Elastic Properties of Lower Mantle Minerals

Lower mantle, ranging from 660 km to 2 890 km depth, occupies 49.2% of the Earth by mass and is at extremely high pressure and temperature conditions. Experimental studies on the physical properties of the lower mantle minerals, particular the structure, density, and sound velocity, etc., are important to understand the structure, composition, and dynamic behavior of the region. Here we summarize the recent experimental results on the structure and thermal equation of states of the lower mantle minerals, including bridgmanite, ferropericlase, CaSiO₃-perovskite, and silicate post-perovskite, and discuss the effect of pressure, temperature, composition, and Fe-spin transition on the density and bulk sound velocity of those minerals. This review aims to provide new insights into the lower-mantle structure and chemistry and help to understand the observed velocity anomalies in the lower mantle.     

河北坝上丰宁黄土剖面记录的230 ka BP以来的环境演化*

河北坝上地区位于东亚季风气候边缘区,对气候变化响应敏感。丰宁黄土剖面为研究该区域长时间尺度的环境演化提供了理想材料。通过丰宁黄土剖面地球化学元素和磁化率分析,结合光释光测年结果,恢复了该地区230,ka BP以来的环境演化历史; 通过野外观察,识别出了S₁古土壤之下发育的风化淋滤黄土层,探讨了S₁古土壤发育时期的风化淋滤特征及其所揭示的气候变化问题。结果表明: (1)230,ka BP以来的磁化率记录可与深海氧同位素3—8阶段进行细节上的对比,表明丰宁黄土堆积区对全球气候变化有着积极的响应;(2)S₁古土壤发育时期,由于受到强降水的影响,土壤中元素受到强烈淋溶从而向下迁移到L₂黄土中,造成L₂上部地球化学记录与磁化率的差异;(3)从S₁古土壤顶部到钙结核层之间土壤属于酸性淋溶土,可能相当于现今中国北亚热带的黄棕壤,其剖面由土壤层、风化淋滤黄土层和CaCO₃淀积层构成;(4)S₁古土壤发育时期的温度和降水量与现今江苏泗洪和六合地区相当,表明当时研究区为亚热带气候。     

Applications of the SW96 formulation in the thermodynamic calculation of fluid inclusions and mineral-fluid equilibria

The SW96 formulation explicit in Helmholtz free energy proposed by Span and Wagner (1996) is the most accurate multifunction equation of state of CO₂ fluid, from which all thermodynamic properties can be obtained over a wide temperature-pressure range from 216.592 to 1100 K and from 0 to 8000 bar with or close to experimental accuracy. This paper reports the applications of the SW96 formulation in fluid inclusions and mineral-fluid equilibria. A reliable and highly efficient algorithm is presented for the saturated properties of CO₂ so that the formulation can be conveniently applied in the study of fluid inclusions, such as calculation of homogenization pressures, homogenization densities (or molar volumes), volume fractions of vapor phase and isochores. Meanwhile, the univariant curves of some typical decarbonation reactions of minerals are calculated with the SW96 formulation and relevant thermodynamic models of minerals. The computer code of the SW96 formulation can be obtained from the corresponding author.     

Genome-wide mining,characterization, and development of microsatellite markers in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marsupenaeus japonicus</Emphasis> by genome survey sequencing

The kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus, is one of the most cultivated and consumed species of shrimp. However, very few molecular genetic/genomic resources are publically available for it. Thus, the characterization and distribution of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) remains ambiguous and the use of SSR markers in genomic studies and marker-assisted selection is limited. The goal of this study is to characterize and develop genome-wide SSR markers in M. japonicus by genome survey sequencing for application in comparative genomics and breeding. A total of 326 945 perfect SSRs were identified, among which dinucleotide repeats were the most frequent class (44.08%), followed by mononucleotides (29.67%), trinucleotides (18.96%), tetranucleotides (5.66%), hexanucleotides (1.07%), and pentanucleotides (0.56%). In total, 151 541 SSR loci primers were successfully designed. A subset of 30 SSR primer pairs were synthesized and tested in 42 individuals from a wild population, of which 27 loci (90.0%) were successfully amplified with specific products and 24 (80.0%) were polymorphic. For the amplified polymorphic loci, the alleles ranged from 5 to 17 (with an average of 9.63), and the average PIC value was 0.796. A total of 58 256 SSR-containing sequences had significant Gene Ontology annotation; these are good functional molecular marker candidates for association studies and comparative genomic analysis. The newly identified SSRs significantly contribute to the M. japonicus genomic resources and will facilitate a number of genetic and genomic studies, including high density linkage mapping, genome-wide association analysis, marker-aided selection, comparative genomics analysis, population genetics, and evolution.     

Biological reduction of chlorinated solvents: Batch-scale geochemical modeling

Simulation of biodegradation of chlorinated solvents in dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zones requires a model that accounts for the complexity of processes involved and that is consistent with available laboratory studies. This paper describes such a comprehensive modeling framework that includes microbially mediated degradation processes, microbial population growth and decay, geochemical reactions, as well as interphase mass transfer processes such as DNAPL dissolution, gas formation and mineral precipitation/dissolution. All these processes can be in equilibrium or kinetically controlled. A batch modeling example was presented where the degradation of trichloroethene (TCE) and its byproducts and concomitant reactions (e.g., electron donor fermentation, sulfate reduction, pH buffering by calcite dissolution) were simulated. Local and global sensitivity analysis techniques were applied to delineate the dominant model parameters and processes. Sensitivity analysis indicated that accurate values for parameters related to dichloroethene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) degradation (i.e., DCE and VC maximum utilization rates, yield due to DCE utilization, decay rate for DCE/VC dechlorinators) are important for prediction of the overall dechlorination time. These parameters influence the maximum growth rate of the DCE and VC dechlorinating microorganisms and, thus, the time required for a small initial population to reach a sufficient concentration to significantly affect the overall rate of dechlorination. Self-inhibition of chlorinated ethenes at high concentrations and natural buffering provided by the sediment were also shown to significantly influence the dechlorination time. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that the rates of the competing, nonchlorinated electron-accepting processes relative to the dechlorination kinetics also affect the overall dechlorination time. Results demonstrated that the model developed is a flexible research tool that is able to provide valuable insight into the fundamental processes and their complex interactions during bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes in DNAPL source zones.     

Maintenance of estuarine water quality by mangroves occurs during flood periods: A case study of a subtropical mangrove wetland

Seasonal changes in water quality were measured in samples taken at various distances from shallow water across mudflat to mangroves during flood period and from mangroves across mudflat to shallow water during ebb period in a subtropical mangrove estuary (Zhangjiang Estuary, Fujian, China). The TN (total dissolved nitrogen), TP (total dissolved phosphorus), COD (chemical oxygen demand), and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) contents during the flood period were significantly higher than those during the ebb period. In contrast, the opposite was true for the POC (particulate organic carbon) content and transparency. The mangroves at Zhangjiang Estuary may trap nutrients at rates of 90.5 g N/m²/yr, 2.2 g TP/m²/yr, and 13.7 g C/m²/yr in the form of DOC, and export POC at a rate of 81.8 g/m²/yr. Our results support the hypothesis that the maintenance of estuarine water quality by mangroves occurs during flood periods.     

基于构造超压的地层压力预测方法研究

Traditional formation pressure prediction methods all are based on the formation undercompaction mechanism and the prediction results are obviously low when predicting abnormally high pressure caused by compressional structure overpressure. To eliminate this problem, we propose a new formation pressure prediction method considering compressional structure overpressure as the dominant factor causing abnormally high pressure. First, we establish a model for predicting maximum principal stress, this virtual maximum principal stress is calculated by a double stress field analysis. Then we predict the formation pressure by fitting the maximum principal stress with formation pressure. The real maximum principal stress can be determined by caculating the sum of the virtual maximum principal stresses. Practical application to real data from the A1 and A2 wells in the A gas field shows that this new method has higher accuracy than the traditional equivalent depth method.