Lithogeochemical features of Riphean fine-grained terrigenous rocks in the Kama-Belaya aulacogen and their formation conditions

Lithogeochemical features of Riphean fine-grained terrigenous rocks of the Kama-Belaya aulacogen are discussed. It is shown that aluminosiliciclastic material delivered to the aulacogen during the Riphean was characterized by a low maturity degree. The successively increasing K₂O/Al₂O₃ values in the Riphean summary section correlate negatively with the CIA index values, indicating a gradually strengthening tendency for climate aridization in erosion zones. Data on some indicator ratios of trace elements and REE systematics in Riphean silty mudstones and shales of the Kama-Belaya aulacogen imply the involvement of mafic and ultramafic rocks, in addition to acid igneous and metamorphic varieties, in erosion during accumulation of the Nadezhdino, Tukaevo, Ol’khovka, Usinsk, and Priyutovo formations. Comparison of data on the composition of rocks in provenances based on the mineralogical-petrographic study of sandstones and investigation of geochemical features of silty mudstones and shales revealed their sufficiently high similarity. The geochemical data made it possible to specify the composition of rocks in provenances. Low Ce/Cr values in the fine-grained terrigenous rocks of the Lower Riphean Kyrpy Group suggest their formation with a significant contribution of erosion products of the Archean substrate, which is atypical for higher levels of the section. Thus, the Early-Middle Riphean transition period was likely marked by substantial changes in the mineral composition of material delivered to the Kama-Belaya aulacogen. The lack of exhalative components in the examined specimens of silty mudstones and shales points to a relatively low permeability of the Earth’s crust in the eastern East European Platform through the entire Riphean.     

New data on the composition and age of basement rocks of the Tagil paleo-island arc system

The Tagil paleo-island arc terrane is composed of Late Ordovician-Devonian intrusive, volcanic, and volcano-sedimentary complexes. The western margin of the terrane is comprised of dunite-clinopyroxenite-gabbro massifs of the Ural platinum-bearing belt, which are fringed by rock strata of widely different metamorphic grades. Work on isotope systematics of olivine gabbros enabled us to infer a Vendian age (550–540 Ma) of homogenization of the Sm-Nd isotopic system of the Kytlym and Knyaspa massifs within the Ural platinum-bearing belt. The Sm-Nd ages for metamorphic rocks of the Belaya Gora complex surrounding the studied massifs also agree with a Vendian age (573–574 Ma). Our results suggest that metamorphites of the Belaya Gora complex (amphibolites, plagiogneisses, two-mica and biotite gneisses, schists containing garnet, cordierite, staurolite, gedrite, and sillimanite) and dunite-clinopyroxenite-gabbro intrusions of the proto-platinum-bearing belt may have been formed in a convergence setting above a mantle plume, most likely in a back-arc (?) extension region. Reactivation of this plume during the late Precambrian resulted in the opening of the Ural paleo-ocean. The Late Ordovician-Early Devonian times were marked by metamorphic reworking and tectonic transport of pre-Paleozoic complexes into an accretionary prism setting of the Tagil paleo-arc that was accompanied by generation of gabbroid and granitoid magmas. Based on the obtained results, the Tagil terrane can be now considered as part of the Paleozoic paleo-island arc system developed on a heterogeneous Proterozoic basement.     

Typification of Safe Groundwater Yield

Issues of balance substantiation of water withdrawal and long-term development of groundwater deposits are considered. It is proposed that the balance structure of water withdrawal is typified according to the degree of involvement of the available (natural) and attracted resources. It is shown that the forecast calculations in the case of a partially active balance structure should take into account seasonal variations in the surface and subsurface water runoff.     

Synorogenic psammites: Major lithochemical features

Some lithochemical features of sandstone associations formed at the orogenic stage of the evolution of mobile belts are analyzed on the basis of literature and original data along with the wide application of discrimination diagrams. Psammites of the flysch and molasse formations of foreland basins, as well as sand-stones from intermontane troughs and postcollisonal grabens, are considered synorogenic sediments. Analysis of the chemical composition showed that sandstones were formed by the mixing of clastic material from heterogeneous (proximal included) source areas. In discrimination diagrams, the compositional fields of sandstones are variable, because they were derived from diverse igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks of different geodynamic settings. Hence, data based on the generally accepted discrimination diagrams cannot be considered as the single (decisive) argument for establishing the geodynamic nature of sandstones without the consideration of textural-structural features of rocks and the analysis of geological structure of sedimentary associations therein.     

U-Pb dating of the baddeleytte-zircon system from Pt-bearing dunite of the Konder massif, Aldan shield: New data

The U-Pb age was obtained for the coexisting baddeleytte-zircon system from dunites of the Konder massif, Aldan shield. Four groups of zircons are heterogeneous by morphology, habit, age, and geochemistry in contrast to homogeneous baddeleytte. The studied zircon groups are characterized by several U-Pb age clusters in the range of 1895 ± 50 to 125.8 ± 3.8 Ma, which indicates their long evolution in Pt-bearing dunites. The young assemblage of baddeleytte and zircon (124.9 ± 1.9 and 125.8 ± 3.8 Ma, respectively) also differs from ancient zircons in the morphology and geochemistry and probably dates to a much later event of diapir evolution, which may be referred to the formation of apatite-phlogopite ore pyroxenites inside the dunite core and tectono-magmatic activation of the Aldan shield.     

Water-vapor content in the atmosphere of arid zone

The variation in water-vapor content W in the atmosphere of the arid zone is studied. The seasonal oscillations in W for the arid zone are characterized by changes in the moisture content from 2.3 to 3.6 times during the transition from winter to summer. The summer-fall period is characterized by a well-expressed midday minimum of moisture content. In winter the moisture content monotonically decreases during the day. In spring the water-vapor content has a wide maximum in midday. The water-vapor content in the atmosphere during dust haze increases up to two times.