The Pitcairn hotspot in the South Pacific: distribution and composition of submarine volcanic sequences

Multibeam bathymetry and bottom imaging (Simrad EM12D) studies on an area of about 9500 km² were conducted over the Pitcairn hotspot near 25°10′S, 129° 20′W. In addition, 15 dives with the Nautile submersible enabled us to obtain ground-true observations and to sample volcanic structures on the ancient ocean crust of the Farallon Plate at 3500–4300 m depths. More than 100 submarine volcanoes overprint the ancient crust and are divided according to their size into large (>2000 m in height), intermediate (500–2000 m high) and small (<500 m high) edifices. The interpretation of seafloor backscatter imagery accompanied by submersible observations and sampling enabled us to infer that the total volume of submarine lava erupted during hotspot activity is about 5900 km³ within a radius of about 110 km. The most recent volcanic activities occur on both small and large edifices composed of a great variety of lava flows. These flows vary in composition, following a succession from picritic basalt to alkali basalt, trachybasalt, trachy-andesite and to trachyte. Their large range of SiO₂ (48–62%), Na₂O+K₂O (2–11%), Ba (300–1300 ppm), MgO (1–11%), Nb (19–130 ppm), Ni (4–400 ppm) and rare earth elements suggests that crystal–liquid fractionation from basanite and/or picritic melt sources was a major process. The variation in composition between the least evolved basaltic rocks and the other more evolved silicic lava is marked by a difference in their flow morphology (pillow, giant tubes, tabular to blocky flows). The lava composition and field observation indicate that several magmatic pulses giving rise to cyclic eruptions are responsible for the construction of the edifices. The two larger edifices (>2000 m high) show more extensive eruptive events and a wider range in compositional variability than the smaller (<500 m high) ones. Several (five) submersible transects made along the slope of one of the largest edifices (Bounty) enabled us to observe at least nine successive eruptive cycles progressing from pillow and giant tubular basalt to tabular/blocky trachy-andesite and trachyte flows. Pyroclasts and hyaloclastites are often found with these eruptive sequences. The smaller edifices, forming individualized cones, are built mainly of evolved silicic (SiO₂>53%) flows consisting essentially of alternating sequences of trachy-andesite and trachyte. The distribution and composition of the small edifices suggest that they are the result of sub-crustal forceful magma injection and channeling supplied from reservoirs associated with the large volcanoes.     

Chemical availability of arsenic and heavy metals in sediments from abandoned cinnabar mine tailings

The understanding of the solid-phase speciation of arsenic in soils and sediments is important in the evaluations of its potential mobility and availability in the environment. The spoil heaps of abandoned mercury mines contain waste materials with high arsenic and heavy metals concentrations. The weathering of these tailings can cause their mobilization to the surroundings. In this work, the mobility and availability of arsenic and some heavy metals were evaluated in sediments from two heavily polluted mercury mining districts in Asturias (NW Spain). For this purpose, a slightly modified version of the Bureau Community of Reference sequential extraction scheme was applied to sediments. The total contents in the operationally defined fractions were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Extremely high total arsenic concentrations were found in all sediments ranging from 4,000 to 24,800 mg kg^?1. High easily mobilizable arsenic contents were found in the first mining area, related to the solubilization of Ca-bearing phases, supported by extracts analyses, X-ray diffraction results and the positive correlation found among the As and Ca fractionations. Ni and Zn were the most mobile among heavy metals, being Cr the least mobile, suggesting an anthropogenic origin due to the metallurgical processes, transport or dispersion generated from neighbour spoil heaps. In the second mining area, the bulk of As was concentrated in the residual phase, as well as Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ti, indicating a mineralogical origin and the low availability of these elements. The strong correlations established between As and Fe and Ti distributions support the hypothesis that As is mainly associated to structural mineral phases in these sediments.     

Boron metasomatism and behaviour of rare earth elements during formation of tourmaline rocks in the eastern Arunta Inlier,central Australia

Tourmaline rocks of previously unclear genesis and spatially associated with W- (Cu)-bearing calc-silicate rocks occur in Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal and felsic intrusive rocks in the Bonya Hills in the eastern Arunta Inlier, central Australia. Tourmalinisation of metapelitic host rocks postdates the peak of regional low-pressure metamorphism (M₁/D₁, ~500 °C, ~0.2 GPa), and occurred synkinematically between the two main deformation events D₁ and D₂, coeval with emplacement of Late Strangways (~1.73 Ga) tourmaline-bearing leucogranites and pegmatites. Tourmaline is classified as schorl to dravite in tourmaline–quartz rocks and surrounding tourmaline-rich alteration zones, and as Fe-rich schorl to foitite in the leucogranites. Boron metasomatism resulted in systematic depletion of K, Li, Rb, Cs, Mn and enrichment of B, and in some samples of Na and Ca, in the tourmaline rocks compared to unaltered metasedimentary host rocks. Whole-rock REE concentrations and patterns of unaltered schist, tourmalinised schist and tourmaline–quartz veins—the latter were the zones of influx of the boron-rich hydrothermal fluid—are comparable to those of post-Archaean shales. Thus, the whole-rock REE patterns of these rocks are mostly controlled by the metapelitic precursor. In contrast, REE concentrations of leucogranitic rocks are low (10 times chondritic), and their flat REE patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies are typical for fractionated granitic melts coexisting with a fluid phase. REE patterns for tourmalines separated from metapelite-hosted tourmaline–quartz veins and tourmaline-bearing granites are very different from one another but each tourmaline pattern mirrors the REE distribution of its immediate host rock. Tourmalines occurring in tourmaline–quartz veins within tourmalinised metasediments have LREE-enriched (La_N/Yb_N=6.3–55), shale-like patterns with higher REE (54–108 ppm). In contrast, those formed in evolved leucogranites exhibit flat REE patterns (La_N/Yb_N=1.0–5.6) with pronounced negative Eu anomalies and are lower in REE (5.6–30 ppm). We therefore conclude that REE concentrations and patterns of tourmaline from the different tourmaline rocks studied are controlled by the host rock and not by the hydrothermal fluid causing boron metasomatism. From the similarity of the REE pattern of separated tourmaline with the host rock, we further conclude that incorporation of REEs in tourmaline is not intrinsically controlled (i.e. by crystal chemical factors). Tourmaline does not preferentially fractionate specific REEs or groups of REEs during crystallisation from evolved boron- and fluid-rich granitic melts or during alteration of clastic metasediments by boron-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluids.Editorial responsibility: J. Hoefs     

China＇s regional transport dominance： Density, proximity, and accessibility

Transport infrastructure plays an important role in shaping the configuration of spatial socio-economic structures and influences regional accessibility. This paper defines transport dominance from three aspects: quality, quantity, and advantage, measured by density, proximity, and accessibility indices. County is the basic unit for analysis. The results reveal: (1) Transport dominance statistically follows a partial normal distribution. A very few counties, 1.4% of the total, have extremely high transport dominance which strongly supports the socio-economic development in these areas. In contrast, one eighth of all counties have poor transport dominance which impedes local socio-economic development to some extent. The remaining areas, about 70% of the counties, have median transport dominance. (2) Transport dominance is spatially unevenly distributed, with values decreasing gradually from the coastal area to the inland area. Areas in the first-highest level of transport dominance are mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, the Greater Beijing area, and the Pearl River Delta. Areas in the second-highest level are focused in Chengdu, Chongqing, and Wuhan metropolitan areas. Provincial capitals and a few other counties belong to the third-highest level.     

Trends of Extreme Temperatures in Europe and China Based on Daily Observations

Ten of the longest daily temperature series presently available in Europe and China are analysed, focusing on changes in extremes since pre-industrial times. We consider extremes in both a relative (with respect to the time of year) and an absolute sense. To distinguish changes in extremes from changes affecting the main part of the temperature distribution, a percentile smaller than 10 (and/or larger than 90) is recommended for defining an extreme. Three periods of changes in temperature extremes are identified: decreasing warm extremes before the late 19th century; decreasing cold extremes since then and increasing warm extremes since the 1960s. The early decreases and recent increases of warm extremes dominate in summer, while the decrease of cold extremes for winter persists throughout the whole period. There were more frequent combined (warm plus cold) extremes during the 18th century and the recent warming period since 1961 at most of the ten stations, especially for summer. Since 1961, the annual frequency of cold extremes has decreased by about 7% per century with warm extremes increasing by more than 10% per century but with large spatial variability. Compared with recent annual mean warming of about 2–3 ° C/century, the coldest winter temperatures have increased atthree times this rate, causing a reduced within-season range and therefore less variable winters. Changes in the warmest summer temperatures since 1961 exhibit large spatial variability, with rates of change ranging from slightly negative to 6 ° C/century. More extensive station observations since 1961 indicate that the single site results are representative of larger regions, implying also that the extremes studied are the result of large-scale changes. Recent circulation changes in daily gridded pressure data, used as an indicator of wind speed changes, support the results by explaining some of the trends.     

Spatiotemporal trends of aridity index in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran

The spatiotemporal trends of aridity index in the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran in 1966–2005 were investigated using the Mann–Kendall test and Theil–Sen’s slope estimator. The results of the analysis showed negative trends in annual aridity index at 55 % of the stations, while just one site had a statistically significant (α?=?0.1) negative trend. Furthermore, the positive trends in the annual aridity index series were significant at the 95 % confidence level at Bushehr and Isfahan stations. The significant negative trend in the annual aridity index was obtained over Mashhad at the rate of ?0.004. In the seasonal series, the negative trends in the spring and winter aridity index were larger compared with those in the other seasonal series. A noticeable decrease in the winter aridity index series was observed mostly in the southeast of the study area. In the summer and autumn aridity index, two significant positive trends were found.     

A Clinopyroxene-Orthopyroxene-Plagioclase Symplectite Formed by Garnet Breakdown in Granulite Facies, Guaxupé, Minas Gerais, Brazil

In mafic granulites, garnet can form by reactions such as Opx + Pl = Cpx + Grt + Qtz; Opx + Pl = Grt + Qtz. As a result of isothermal decompression (ITD), garnet can then break down to a characteristic orthopyroxene-plagioclase symplectite. Mafic, iron-rich garnet-pyroxene granulite from the Guaxupé Massif has symplectite that formed by near-isothermal decompression, as a consequence of uplift of the granulite facies terrane. This symplectite was found to consist of vermicular clinopyroxene-orthopyroxene-plagioclase, with clinopyroxene clearly growing from the garnet that is breaking down, modal amounts of clinopyroxene being less than orthopyroxene. Electron probe analyses show clear differences between core (Cpx₁), rim, and symplectite clinopyroxene (Cpx₂). Considering also the presence of magnetite in the symplectite texture, garnet breakdown is thought to be better represented by a reaction such as Cpx₁ + Grt + O₂ = Cpx₂ + Opx + Pl +Mt + Qtz.     

鄂尔多斯盆地西北部上古生界碎屑岩储层的孔隙结构特征初探

碎屑岩储层的孔隙特征是油气勘探开发中最重要的研究课题之一,次生孔隙发育的特殊性更增加了研究难度。本文从微观上对鄂尔多斯盆地西北部地区上古生界碎屑岩盒 8、山 1储层的孔隙类型、孔隙组合、孔隙结构等方面进行了深入的分析,对于孔隙分布、孔隙成因进行了有益的探讨,提出次生孔隙是主要孔隙类型,次生孔隙发育区也是天然气的高产富集区。这些研究无疑为该区天然气勘探开发提供了重要的地质依据。     

土耳其Pütürge变质地体晚白垩世岩浆作用与变质作用的年代学研究

Pütürge变质地体位于新特提斯构造带南部的土耳其Anatolia逆冲推覆构造带内,形成于欧亚板决与阿拉伯板块之间晚白垩纪碰撞造山事件.Pütürge变质地体主要由变质泥质片岩及片麻岩、花岗质片麻岩、石英岩、角闪岩和大理岩组成,发育类似巴罗型递增变质带的变质带序列,变质程度达高绿片岩相至低角闪岩相.此前该变质地体一直缺乏精确的年代学约束,为此我们采用了二次离子质谱锆石U-Pb测年方法和黑云母40Ar/39 Ar测年方法,对该变质地体进行了年代学研究.结果表明,区内花岗片麻岩原岩形成于84.2±1.1Ma,变质泥质片麻岩中黑云母40Ar/39 Ar年龄所代表的变质时代为83.21±0.1Ma.这说明早白垩世期间岩浆侵入事件不久,Pütürge变质地体就发生了区域变质作用.     

长螺旋旋喷搅拌水泥土帷幕桩及其应用

介绍了一种新的专利技术——长螺旋旋喷搅拌水泥土桩,尤其适用于北京等硬土地区在已施护坡桩之间做帷幕,克服砂卵石等硬地层,比其它方法在技术可靠、施工高效、安全文明、经济环保4方面有明显优势。同时介绍了该技术在北京大学留学生公寓楼基坑工程中的应用,确保了西侧5栋高教住宅楼的安全和正常使用。