Postsedimentation transformation of triassic terrigenous rocks in West Chukotka as an indicator of folding conditions

Postsedimentation alteration and structural assemblies of the Triassic sedimentary complexes of West Chukotka are discussed. Zoning of the alteration is based on examination of newly formed structural and mineral assemblages, the chemical composition, and the polytypes of clay minerals. Three zones of postsedimentation transformation of sandstones are distinguished: (1) the zone of chlorite, illite, and mixed-layer disordered chlorite-smectite; (2) the zone of illite and chlorite; and (3) the zone of phengite and ferroan chlorite. The grade of postsedimentation transformation and the composition of the newly formed micas are correlated with the cleavage type. The development of two-three types of cleavage leads to the highest degree of rock transformation. The assemblages of clay minerals and the crystal chemistry of the authigenic phengite show that the grade of postsedimentation transformation of the Triassic rocks attains the stage of greenschistfacies metamorphism in the zone of development of two cleavage types. Where the second cleavage is not documented or poorly developed, the rocks remain unmetamorphosed. Evidence is given that postsedimentation transformation of terrigenous rocks in the foldbelt is controlled largely by deformation.     

An investigation of landslide problems in spoil piles in a strip coal mining area, West Virginia (U.S.A.)

Spoil piles in coal mine areas in north-central West Virginia suffer from numerous landslide problems. An investigation to determine the causes of these slides showed that the stratigraphic composition, the nature of the foundation soils, the seasonal high water table and the mining technique contributed to the instability. The presence of red shales is identified as a key problem.

Several models of failure were investigated based on inclinometer data. These data suggest that multiple failure surfaces may develop in spoil piles. In such cases, the initial failure surface is better defined than other movement surfaces, which either represent subsequent failures that occur in response to placement of additional spoil materials, or are shear zones of readjustment following initial failure. Results show that failures are most likely initiated along the spoil-natural ground interface and propagate slowly into the spoil mass.     

Sulfides in petroleum

The homologous series of terpenoid sulfides previously reported to be present in Athabasca bitumen have been detected in a variety of petroleums from the Western Hemisphere. All 22 samples examined, ranging in age from Devonoan to Cretaceous, contained the terpenoid sulfides. A method is described for the isolation of sulfides from petroleums based on the selective oxidation of sulfides to more polar sulfoxides which are easily removed from the mixture and their subsequent reduction to sulfides. The sulfide content in the petroleum maltenes examined ranged from 0.3 to 16.1% w/w. In addition to the bicyclic and tetracyclic terpenoid sulfides a new series of tricyclic terpenoid sulfides has been identified, and the details of the isoprenoid side chain have been elucidated for all three homologous series. The distributions by carbon number of the bicyclic and tetracyclic homologous series of terpenoid sulfides show pronounced variations which are attributed to thermal maturity and degree of water washing of the petroleum, thus the ability to identify terpenoid sulfides should provide a useful tool for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlation studies. The bicyclic and tricyclic terpenoid sulfides have the same carbon framework as the carotenoids which suggest that these sulfides were accessory pigments in photosynthesis.     

Surface energy balance measurements at a tropical site in West Africa during the transition from dry to wet season

Summary In one of the first micrometeorological experiments at a tropical site in West Africa, direct measurements of all surface energy balance components were carried out. The experiment NIMEX-1 in Ile-Ife, Nigeria (7°33′ N, 4°33′ E), was conducted from February 19, 2004 to March 9, 2004, during the transition from the dry to the wet season. Three typical weather situations could be observed: firstly, monsoonal winds from the southwest blew over desiccated soils. Almost 100% of the available energy at the surface was transformed into sensible heat flux. Secondly, after several thundershowers, monsoonal winds swept over soils of increased water content, which led to a partitioning of the available energy corresponding to Bowen ratios between 0.3 and 0.5. Thirdly, harmattan winds advected dry dusty air from northern directions, which reduced the incoming shortwave radiation. Again, Bowen ratios range from 0.3 to 0.5 during daytime, whereas latent heat fluxes are still high during the night due to the advection of very dry air. No systematic non-closure of the surface energy balance could be found for the NIMEX-1 dataset. Unlike other experiments in Europe, most of the ogives for the sensible and latent heat flux were found to be convergent during NIMEX-1 in Ile-Ife. This can be attributed to the homogeneity of the surrounding bush, which lacks the defined borders found in agriculturally cultivated landscapes.     

The Space and Time Variations of Water Quality and Water Pollution Dynamics in the Oka Basin

Water Resources - The space–time variations in the Oka basin water chemistry have been considered. The specific features in the river water and groundwater pollution along the Oka channel and...     

Linking gold mineralization to regional-scale drivers of mineral systems using in situ U–Pb geochronology and pyrite LA-ICP-MS element mapping

Proterozoic orogens commonly host a range of hydrothermal ores that form in diverse tectonic settings at different times. However, the link between mineralization and the regional-scale tectonothermal evolution of orogens is usually not well understood, especially in areas subject to multiple hydrothermal events.Regional-scale drivers for mineral systems vary between the different classes of hydrothermal ore, but all involve an energy source and a fluid pathway to focus mineralizing fluids into the upper crust. The Mount Olympus gold deposit in the Proterozoic Capricorn Orogen of Western Australia, was regarded as an orogenic gold deposit that formed at ca. 1738 Ma during the assembly of Proterozoic Australia. However,the trace element chemistry of the pyrite crystals closely resembles those of the Carlin deposits of Nevada,with rims that display solid solution gold accompanied by elevated As, Cu, Sb, Hg, and Tl, surrounding gold-poor cores. New SHRIMP UeP b dating of xenotime intergrown with auriferous pyrite and ore-stage alteration minerals provided a weighted mean~(207) Pb*/~(206) Pb* date of 1769 ± 5 Ma, interpreted as the age of gold mineralization. This was followed by two discrete episodes of hydrothermal alteration at 1727 ± 7 Ma and 1673 ± 8 Ma. The three ages are linked to multiple reactivation of the crustal-scale Nanjilgardy Fault during repeated episodes of intracratonic reworking. The regional-scale drivers for Carlin-like gold mineralization at Mount Olympus are related to a change in tectonic regime during the final stages of the intracratonic 1820 -1770 Ma Capricorn Orogeny. Our results suggest that substantial sized Carlin-like gold deposits can form in an intracratonic setting during regional-scale crustal reworking.     

Design of controlled elastic and inelastic structures

One of the founders of structural control theory and its application in civil engineering,Professor Emeritus Tsu T.Soong,envisioned the development of the integral design of structures protected by active control devices.Most of his disciples and colleagues continuously attempted to develop procedures to achieve such integral control.In his recent papers published jointly with some of the authors of this paper,Professor Soong developed design procedures for the entire structure using a design-redesign proce...