Early bronze in two Holocene archaeological sites in Gansu, NW China

Understanding of the origin and development of bronze technology in eastern Asia remains unresolved. Here we report on the distribution of copper and associated cations in sediments from Huoshiliang in northwestern Gansu, China, strontium and lead isotope analyses of ore and slag samples, and some artifact fragments at archaeological sites at Ganggangwa and Huoshiliang in the Black River valley.We conclude that bronze production began perhaps as early as 2135 BC and that the Baishantang modern mine site at Dingxin was a possible source of copper ore. There was at least one other, but currently unidentified, source of ore. The Bronze Age people were also farmers and planted cereals such as wheat, and they may have abandoned the region when wood was exhausted and desertification took over.     

Research on the Method of Orbit Determination Based on the Self-adaptive Stable Least p-norm Estimate

The traditional least square estimation (LSE) method for orbit determination will not be optimal if the error of observational data does not obey the Gaussian distribution. In order to solve this problem, the least p-norm (Lp) estimation method is presented in this paper to deal with the non-Gaussian distribution cases. We show that a suitable selection of parameter p may guarantee a reasonable orbit determination result. The character of Lp estimation is analyzed. It is shown that the traditional Lp estimation method is not a robust method. And a stable Lp estimating based on data depth weighting is put forward to deal with the model error and outlier. In the orbit determination process, the outlier of observational data and coarse model error can be quantitatively described by their weights. The farther is the data from the data center, the smaller is the value of data depth and the smaller is the weighted value accordingly. The result of the new Lp method is stabler than that of the traditional Lp estimation and the breakdown point could be up to 1/2. In addition, the orbit parameter is adaptively estimated by residual analysis and matrix estimation method, and the estimation efficiency is enhanced. Finally, by taking the Space-based Space Surveillance System as an example and performing simulation experiments, we show that if there are system error or abnormal value in the observational data or system error in satellite dynamical model and space-based observation platform, LSE will not be optimal even though the observational data obeys the Gaussian distribution, and the orbit determination precision by the self-adaptive robust Lp estimation method is much better than that by the traditional LSE method.     

Application of C30 tetracyclic polyprenoids as effective biomark-er in oil-to source rock correlation in the Zhu Ⅲ depression,Zhujiangkou Basin,northern South China

The northern South China Sea,including the Zhujiangkou Basin and the Beibuwan Basin,developed high-quality lacustrine source rocks during the Eocene rifting period.These source rocks are vital for hydrocarbon generation in the northern South China Sea.The Zhu Ⅰ depression in the Zhujiangkou Basin and the Beibuwan Basin typically exhibit high abundance of C30 4-methyl steranes.However,shales in the Eocene Wenchang Formation in the Zhu Ⅲ depression of the Zhujiangkou Basin contains lower quantities of high-quality lacustrine source rocks with 4-methyl steranes,which often co-elute with some pentacyclic triterpanes in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Therefore,the single 4-methylsterane parameter based on GC-MS cannot accurately distinguish organic source in the deep to semi-deep water lacustrine source rocks of the Wenchang Formation from other source rocks,thus impeding the recognition of their contributions to petroleum reservoirs.In this study,GC-MS of aliphatic hydrocarbons,palynofacies and algal identification,as well as stable carbon isotope data of organic matter were used to identify the algal species and construct the paleoclimate during deposition of the Wenchang Formation source rocks in the Zhu Ⅲ depression of the Zhujiangkou Basin.It is suggested that during the Wenchang Formation period,freshwater green algae prevailed in the lake,which is likely account for the relatively low content of 4-methyl steranes in the high-quality lacustrine source rocks.Controlled by the algal species,it is proposed that the content of C30 tetracyclic polyprenoids(TPP)can better indicate the quality of the Wenchang source rocks than C30 4-methyl steranes.Consequently,a relationship between the TPP index and the quality of the lacustrine source rocks in the Wenchang Formation of the Zhu Ⅲ depression was established.A higher TPP index indicates higher organic matter abundance and hydrogen index of the lacustrine source rocks.When applied to the origin analysis of oils in the Zhu Ⅲ depression,it is believed that the organic-rich deep lacustrine source rocks in the Wenchang Formation made great contribution to the transitional zone crude oils in the Wenchang A and Wenchang B depressions.     

Geology and geochemistry of the Bingdaban ophiolitic mélange in the boundary fault zone on the northern Central Tianshan Belt,and its tectonic implications

The properties and tectonic significance of the fault bound zone on the northern margin of the Central Tianshan belt are key issues to understand the tectonic framework and evolutionary history of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt. Based on the geological and geochemical studies in the Tianshan orogenic belt, it is suggested that the ophiolitic slices found in the Bingdaban area represent the remaining oceanic crust of the Early Paleozoic ocean between the Hazakstan and Zhungaer blocks. Mainly composed of basalts, gabbros and diabases, the ophiolites were overthrust onto the boundary fault between the Northern Tianshan and Central Tianshan belts. The major element geochemistry is characterized by high TiO₂ (1.50%–2.25%) and MgO (6.64%–9.35%), low K₂O (0.06%–0.41%) and P₂O₅ (0.1%–0.2%), and Na₂O>K₂O as well. Low ΣREE and depletion in LREE indicate that the original magma was derived from a depleted mantle source. Compared with a primitive mantle, the geochemistry of the basalts from the Bingdaban area is featureded by depletion in Th, U, Nb, La, Ce and Pr, and unfractionated in HFS elements. The ratios of Zr/Nb, Nb/La, Hf/Ta, Th/Yb and Hf/Th are similar to those of the typical N-MORB. It can be interpreted that the basalts in the Bingdaban area were derived from a depleted mantle source, and formed in a matured mid-oceanic ridge setting during the matured evolutionary stage of the Northern Tianshan ocean. In comparison with the basalts, the diabases from the Bingdaban area show higher contents of Al₂O₃, ΣREE and HFS elements as well as unfractionated incompatible elements except Cs, Rb and Ba, and about 10 times the values of the primitive mantle. Thus, the diabases are thought to be derived from a primitive mantle and similar to the typical E-MORB. The diabases also have slight Nb depletion accompanying no apparent Th enrichment compared with N-MORB. From studies of the regional geology and all above evidence, it can be suggested that the diabases from the Bingdaban area were formed in the mid-oceanic ridge of the Northern Tianshan ocean during the initial spreading stage. Supported by the Major State Research Program of PRC (Grant No. 2001CB409801), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40472115 and 40234041) and the State Research Program of China Geological Survey (Grant No. 2001130000-22)     

Characterization of a new lectin involved in the protoplast regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bryopsis hypnoides</Emphasis>

A group of coenocytic marine algae differs from higher plants,whose totipotency depends on an intact cell(or protoplast).Instead,this alga is able to aggregate its extruded protoplasm in sea water and generate new mature individuals.It is thought that lectins play a key role in the aggregation process.We purified a lectin associated with the aggregation of cell organelles in Bryopsis hypnoides.The lectin was ca.27 kDa with a pI between pH 5 and pH 6.The absence of carbohydrate suggested that the lectin was ...     

Electrical conductivity of the plagioclase–NaCl–water system and its implication for the high conductivity anomalies in the mid-lower crust of Tibet Plateau

In order to investigate the origin of the high conductivity anomalies geophysically observed in the mid-lower crust of Tibet Plateau, the electrical conductivity of plagioclase–NaCl–water system was measured at 1.2 GPa and 400–900 K. The relationship between electrical conductivity and temperature follows the Arrhenius law. The bulk conductivity increases with the fluid fraction and salinity, but is almost independent of temperature (activation enthalpy less than 0.1 eV). The conductivity of plagioclase–NaCl–water system is much lower than that of albite–NaCl–water system with similar fluid fraction and salinity, indicating a strong effect of the major mineral phase on the bulk conductivity of the brine-bearing system. The high conductivity anomalies of 10^?1 and 10⁰ S/m observed in the mid-lower crust of Tibet Plateau can be explained by the aqueous fluid with a volume fraction of 1 and 9%, respectively, if the fluid salinity is 25%. The anomaly value of 10^?1 S/m can be explained by the aqueous fluid with a volume fraction of 6% if the salinity is 10%. In case of Southern Tibet where the heat flow is high, the model of a thin layer of brine-bearing aqueous fluid with a high salinity overlying a thick layer of partial melt is most likely to prevail.     

鄂西建始地区五峰-龙马溪组黑色页岩生物地层特征

鄂西建始地区五峰组-龙马溪组黑色页岩发育,尚未建立古生物地层序列.基于建地1井及湘鄂渝地区23个穿越奥陶系和志留系钻井、剖面资料,研究建始地区五峰组-龙马溪组黑色页岩笔石序列,分析湘鄂水下高地演化模式及其对页岩气成藏影响.建地1井从奥陶系Dicellograptus complexus（WF2）带至志留系Stimulograptus sedgwickii（LM8）带,共包含8个笔石带,缺失了Perculpto gr. perculptus（LM1）、Akidograptus ascensus（LM2）和Parakido gr.acuminatus（LM3）三个笔石带,表明建始地区在赫南特期至鲁丹早期处在湘鄂水下高地范围内.受控于全球海平面变化和广西运动双重作用,湘鄂水下高地整体呈现出自凯迪期至鲁丹早期不断隆升、影响范围逐渐扩大,鲁丹中晚期再逐渐回缩的演化模式;在其范围内普遍缺失WF3-LM4部分笔石带富有机质页岩,导致页岩气藏抗构造破坏能力差,勘探风险较大.