Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous volcanism of Hong Kong: Insights from the Ping Chau Formation

The vast expanse of Mesozoic igneous rocks in Hong Kong contain important geological records of late Mesozoic magmatic events and tectonic processes from the coastal region of Southeast China. Of these,the Ping Chau Formation in the northwestern New Territories is the youngest known stratum. We perform a detailed study of the volcanic rocks of the Ping Chau Formation utilizing zircon U-Pb dating,with major and trace elements geochemistry. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb data reveal Early Cretaceous age from two volcanic rock samples, with zircon crystallization from magmas at 140.3 ± 0.8 Ma and 139.3 ± 0.9 Ma,respectively. These rocks have high contents of total alkalis(Na_2O + K_2O = 5.58-9.45 wt.%), high-field-strength elements and light rare earth elements, conspicuous negative Eu anomalies, and depletions in Nb, Ta, Ti, Sr, Ba and P. Using this data, in combination with previous studies on the late Mesozoic volcanic belt in Southeast China, we propose that the volcanic rocks of the Ping Chau Formation probably originated from deep melting of the crust in a back-arc extensional setting induced by the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate. This formation represents the final stages of Early Cretaceous volcanic activity in Hong Kong, as associated with large-scale lithospheric extension, thinning and magmatism. Our results provide new information that can be used in evaluating the significance of Early Cretaceous volcanism and tectonics in Southeast China.     

Observed particle sizes and fluxes of Aeolian sediment in the near surface layer during sand-dust storms in the Taklamakan Desert

Monitoring, modeling and predicting the formation and movement of dust storms across the global deserts has drawn great attention in recent decades. Nevertheless, the scarcity of real-time observations of the wind-driven emission, transport and deposition of dusts has severely impeded progress in this area. In this study, we report an observational analysis of sand-dust storm samples collected at seven vertical levels from an 80-m-high flux tower located in the hinterland of the great Taklamakan Desert for ten sand-dust storm events that occurred during 2008–2010. We analyzed the vertical distribution of sandstorm particle grain sizes and horizontal sand-dust sediment fluxes from the near surface up to 80 m high in this extremely harsh but highly representative environment. The results showed that the average sandstorm grain size was in the range of 70 to 85 μm. With the natural presence of sand dunes and valleys, the horizontal dust flux appeared to increase with height within the lower surface layer, but was almost invariant above 32 m. The average flux values varied within the range of 8 to 14 kg m^?2 and the vertical distribution was dominated by the wind speed in the boundary layer. The dominant dust particle size was PM₁₀₀ and below, which on average accounted for 60–80 % of the samples collected, with 0.9–2.5 % for PM_0–2.5, 3.5–7.0 % for PM_0–10, 5.0–14.0 % for PM_0–20 and 20.0–40.0 % for PM_0–50. The observations suggested that on average the sand-dust vertical flux potential is about 0.29 kg m^?2 from the top of the 80 m tower to the upper planetary boundary layer and free atmosphere through the transport of particles smaller than PM₂₀. Some of our results differed from previous measurements from other desert surfaces and laboratory wind-dust experiments, and therefore provide valuable observations to support further improvement of modeling of sandstorms across different natural environmental conditions.     

灌区渠系特征与灌溉水利用系数的Horton分维

灌区渠系和自然河流水系存在着诸多相似之处,因此,对于灌区渠系体系是否存在及在何种程度下满足Horton 河系定律值得研究。以2010 年广东省53 宗样点灌区为研究对象,分类进行了适用性分析,发现只有四级渠系类灌区满足Horton 河系定律。在此基础上计算了各级渠系类灌区的渠系特征参数和分维值,并利用2007-2011 年实测数据,对其与灌溉水有效利用系数之间的作用关系进行了定性和定量分析,结果表明：渠系工程状况参数（0.1084） >下垫面参数（-0.3554） >渠系结构参数（-0.5189） >面积尺度参数（-0.5392） >渠系分维特征参数（-0.5536）。本研究对于定量表征灌区形态和渠系特征对灌溉水有效利用系数的影响提供了新的途径,研究结果对于指导灌区渠系规划建设,提高用水效率具有积极现实意义。     

重庆高燕锰矿床含锰碳酸盐岩稀土元素特征

重庆城口高燕锰矿属于大型碳酸盐锰矿床。文章在系统野外地质调查及样品采集基础上,结合前人研究工作,采用等离子质谱仪(ICP-MS)分析了高燕矿区师家沟、板相沟及750平硐样品的稀土元素含量。分析结果显示,其稀土元素总量范围49.79×10~(-6)~281.24×10~(-6),平均含量125.92×10~(-6);轻重稀土比值范围1.79~3.58,显示轻稀土元素富集,且轻稀土元素之间的分馏程度高于重稀土元素;w(La)/w(Ce)=0.36~0.93,δEu=1.13~2.96,呈现弱正铕异常;δCe=2.09~5.84,有强的正铈异常。认为含锰碳酸盐岩形成于强还原的碱性环境沉积过程中,且有热水参与,成岩成矿的温度小于250℃,锰富集阶段处于滨岸的高能环境中。CeS10在本区具有示矿作用。     

Geomorphological and sedimentological comparison of fluvial terraces and karst caves in Zhangjiajie,northwest Hunan,China: an archive of sandstone landform development

The Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest Geopark (Zhangjiajie World Geopark) of northwest Hunan, China hosts a well-preserved sequence of fluvial terraces and karst caves. In this contribution, a comparative study of fluvial terraces with karst caves along the middle-lower Suoxi River in Zhangjiajie World Geopark is presented to improve the understanding of the development of striking sandstone landscape in the upper Suoxi River. By integrating geomorphological, sedimentological, and geochronological techniques, the possible correlation between fluvial terraces and karst caves, as well as their climatic and tectonic implications is investigated. The available electron spin resonance and thermo-luminescence numerical ages coupled with morphostratigraphic analysis indicate that aggradation of fluvial terrace levels occurred at ca. 347 ± 34 ka (T₄), 104.45 ± 8.88 to 117.62 ± 9.99 ka (T₃), 60.95 ± 5.18 ka (T₂), and Holocene (T₁), followed by the stream incision. Fluvial terrace levels (T₄ to T₁) correlate morphologically with the karst cave levels (L₁ to L₄), yet the proposed chronology for the fluvial terrace levels is a bit later than the chronological data obtained from karst caves. In northwest Hunan, where a unique sandstone peak forest landscape was extensively developed, the fluvial terrace sequences as well as the cave systems are the important archives for studying the evolution of the sandstone landscape. The beginning of the sandstone landscape development must be earlier than the aggradation of the fluvial terrace T₄, allowing this unique landscape to occur in the Middle Pleistocene.     

Copula-based risk evaluation of droughts across the Pearl River basin, China

Daily precipitation data for the period of 1960–2005 from 42 precipitation gauging stations in the Pearl River basin were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall trend test and copula functions. The standardized precipitation index method was used to define drought episodes. Primary and secondary return periods were also analyzed to evaluate drought risks in the Pearl River basin as a whole. Results indicated that: (1) in general, the drought tendency was not significant at a 95 % confidence level. However, significant drought trends could be found in November, December, and January and significant wetting trends in June and July. The drought severity and drought durations were not significant at most of the precipitation stations across the Pearl River basin; (2) in terms of drought risk, higher drought risk could be observed in the lower Pearl River basin and lower drought risk in the upper Pearl River basin. Higher risk of droughts of longer durations was always corresponding to the higher risk of droughts with higher drought severity, which poses an increasing challenge for drought management and water resources management. When drought episodes with higher drought severity occurred in the Pearl River basin, the regions covered by higher risk of drought events were larger, which may challenge the water supply in the lower Pearl River basin. As for secondary return periods, results of this study indicated that secondary return periods might provide a more robust evaluation of drought risk. This study should be of merit for water resources management in the Pearl River basin, particularly the lower Pearl River basin, and can also act as a case study for determining regional response to drought changes as a result of global climate changes.     

周口店新发现距今11～1.9万年的洞穴堆积层的成因及年代学研究

本文对周口店新发现距今11～1.9万年的东岭子洞穴堆积物进行了成因研究,认为该套堆积物并非全属岩溶堆积物,其中也有风成黄土沉积。应用古地磁、热发光及铀系法等年代学方法测定,认为这套堆积为距今11～1.9万年间沉积,弥补了周口店地区近5万年的晚更新世洞穴地层空缺,是一个含有丰富地质事件的晚更新世洞穴地层剖面。     

青藏高原东北部黄河源区大暖期气候特征

本文通过孢粉、有机碳和粘土矿物的分析,探讨了黄河源区全新世的气候变迁,重点论述了大暖期的气候特点。在全新世,黄河源区的气候总体凉干,属于高原的高寒气候。在大暖期,该区的气候较现今高2～3℃,显得湿润些,但波动较频繁,尤其是大暖期的后期波动剧烈,并在5．0kaBP前后发生一次剧烈的降温。记录表明,黄河源区的大暖期始于9．0kaBP,止于2．30kaBP,较我国其他地区开始得早,而结束得晚,其鼎盛时期为6．0kaBP前后。     

东太湖沉积物中多环芳烃-菲系列化合物的来源探讨

本文用索氏抽取法提取了东太湖的沉积物和水生植物中的可溶性有机质,用不同极性溶剂在硅胶／氧化铝柱上分离了饱和烃、芳烃、酮馏分,利用GC-MS至芳烃组分进行了鉴定分析,并对其中重要多环芳烃－菲系列化合物的来源进行了探讨。     

大型帐篷构造对贵州天星桥喀斯特石林形成演化的控制作用

贵州黄果树天星桥景区下三叠统安顺组白云岩广泛出露,分布有连片水上石林,其发育在下三叠世台地相与深海盆地过渡的台地边缘相带上,这里海水进退频繁,古海岸带暴露面上大型帐蓬构造十分发育.碳酸盐岩古暴露带这种岩性特征,一则导致岩石充满裂隙及孔洞,极有利于大气降水入渗及地下水的赋存和运移;另则导致岩体软弱结构面密布,岩石的力学强...