Controlling factors of the δ 11B-pH proxy and its research direction

Significant boron isotope fractionation occurs in nature (?70 ‰ to +75 ‰) due to the high geochemical reactivity of boron and the large relative mass difference between ¹⁰B and ¹¹B. Since the 1990s, reconstruction of ancient seawater pH using the isotopic composition of boron in bio-carbonates (δ ¹¹B_carb), and then calculation of the past pCO₂ have become important issues for the international isotope geochemistry community, and are called the δ ¹¹B-pH proxy. Although many achievements have been made by this proxy, various aspects of boron systematics require rigorous evaluation. Based on the previous researches, mechanism of boron isotope fractionation, variation of boron isotope (δ ¹¹B) in nature (especially in bio-carbonates) and controlling factors of the δ ¹¹B-pH proxy, such as the dissociation constant of B(OH)₃ in seawater (pK_a), the δ ¹¹B of seawater (δ ¹¹B_SW), the boron isotopic fractionation factor between B(OH) ₄ ^? and B(OH)₃ (α _4–3), and the incorporated species of boron into bio-carbonates, are reviewed in detail and the research directions of this proxy are proposed. Generally, the controversy about pK_a, δ ¹¹B_sw, and α _4–3 is relatively less, but whether boron incorporated into bio-carbonates only in the form of B(OH) ₄ ^? remains doubtful. In the future, it is required that the physicochemical processes that control boron incorporation into carbonates be rigorously characterized and that the related chemical and isotopic fractionation be quantified. It is also necessary and important to establish a “best-fit empirically equation” between δ ¹¹B_carb and pH of seawater based on the precipitation experiments of inorganic or culture experiments of corals or foraminifera. In addition, extended application of the δ ¹¹B-pH proxy to the earlier part of the Phanerozoic relying on the Brachiopods is worthy of studying. Like other geochemical indicators, there are limiting factors of δ ¹¹B; however, it remains a very powerful tool in the reconstruction of past seawater pH at present.     

Coral recruitment onto an experimental pulverised fuel ash-concrete artificial reef

An experimental artificial reef was deployed in December 1993 at Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, Hong Kong. This is the first study documenting natural scleractinian coral recruitment onto a stabilised pulverised fuel ash (PFA)-concrete artificial reef. Visible recruits were first recorded 9-10 months after the placement of reef blocks, i.e., in the autumn of 1994. Two scleractinians, Oulastrea crispata and Culicia japonica, were recruited. The recruit density of the former was much greater than the latter. The spatial recruitment pattern of the corals was observed to be affected by the orientation of the attaching surface. O. crispata settled predominantly on the undersides of the reef blocks. There was an edge effect on O. crispata recruitment. C. japonica, however, had a preference for exposed surfaces. O. crispata did not show a preference for block composition whereas C. japonica favoured blocks with high (75% by volume) PFA levels. This shows that PFA-concrete is a potential substratum for artificial reef construction, especially when such reefs aim at rehabilitating corals.     

Geochemical Changes in Metal and Nutrient Loading at Orplands Farm Managed Retreat Site, Essex, UK (April 1995–1997)

Salt marshes have recently been considered to be a major part of the coastal system and have played a key role in the development of the UK coastal management strategy. Managed Retreat (MR) is a process aimed to restore salt marshes by realignment of the seawalls allowing tidal inundation of low value agricultural land. The resultant marshes are expected to function both as an integral part of the flood defence system and as an ecological conservation area. We report on the effects of salt marsh restoration on metal and nutrient loading of the sediment at the Orplands Farm MR site, Essex, UK. Surficial grab and sediment cores were collected from the two fields that comprise the site. The heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni and Zn were analysed to determine changes in anthropogenic inputs to sediments. The major ions, Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn and Na were also monitored to identify changes in sediment geochemistry. Analysis of the cored sediments after inundation for Na and Sr demonstrated that penetration of estuarine water had, within 2 yr of exposure, reached an average depth of 20 cm. The study observed that input of heavy metals had occurred to the sediments with the most significant being that of Pb, however increases were also observed for Cr and Cu. However, concentrations of Cd in the MR sediments decreased from 1995 to 1997. For the major metals within both fields it was found that the dominant changes were those of enrichment of marine associated metals, Ca, K, Mg and Na via inputs from tidal inundation. The concentration of Ca in the sediments was further enriched by the deposition of carbonates to the sediments. One field demonstrated a significant loss of Fe from sediments which corresponded to changes in redox potential of the sediments. Differences observed in geochemical profiles between the two fields of the site were attributed to differences in land use prior to flooding.     

Microearthquakes along the back-arc spreading system in the eastern Bismarck Sea

OBS’s were deployed for 26 to 29 days in the eastern Bismarck Sea to investigate the back-arc spreading. Hypocenters of 186 shallow earthquakes were determined using P- and S-waves from at least five stations. In the western survey area, a transform fault zone is marked by a linear micro-earthquake activity striking N65°W and less than 5 km wide. The predominant type of their focal mechanisms is strike-slip. In the eastern area, several intermittent zones of micro-earthquakes and their strike-slip type focal mechanisms suggest the location of short-length transform faults separating en-echelon spreading ridges.     

Geology and petroleum potential of the Fairway Basin in the Tasman Sea

The Fairway Basin is a large, generally north – south-trending, sediment-filled structure in water 1500 – 3000 m deep, on the eastern slope of the Lord Howe Rise in the Tasman Sea, and is partly within Australian jurisdiction. It was poorly known until a few years ago, when seismic profiling and piston coring cruises were carried out. The basin, about 1100 km long and 120 – 200 km wide, can be divided into three segments—north, central and south—that trend northwest, north and north-northwest, respectively. All three segments probably formed by thinning of continental crust during breakup of Lord Howe Rise and surrounding aseismic continental ridges in the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene. Normal faulting, large inputs of terrigenous sediment and subsidence to bathyal marine depths occurred during that time. A period of compression, perhaps related to overthrusting on New Caledonia, occurred in the Eocene, leading to uplift (and in parts, erosion) of northern Lord Howe Rise, and reversal of faulting in the basin. By the Oligocene, the area was again in bathyal depths, and pelagic ooze and some turbidites accumulated. The basinal sequence is generally 2000 – 4000 m thick, with 1200 – 3200 m of Cretaceous to Eocene sediment concentrated in depocentres, capped by 500 – 800 m of Oligocene and younger sediment. In the depocentres, numerous sedimentary diapirs pierce sedimentary sequences. The sedimentary diapirs appear to be fed by Cretaceous muds deposited during rifting. Often, these diapirs are overlain by faults extending to the seafloor, and hummocky bathymetry is possibly caused by fluid escape. The overall geology suggests that the Fairway Basin may be a large frontier hydrocarbon province. Seismic profiles display a bottom-simulating reflector above many depocentres, 500 – 700 m below the seafloor. The bottom-simulating reflector has positive polarity, which could result from a diagenetic phase transformation, a thin gas hydrate layer with a sharp top, or from the sharp base of a gas layer (probably beneath gas hydrates). Standard piston cores taken above diapirs and apparent fluid-escape features have recovered little gas. Other than drilling, the next steps in assessing petroleum potential are to clearly document fluid-escape structures, and to sample any fluids emitted for hydrocarbons.     

华北东部地幔改造作用和置换作用:单斜辉石激光探针研究

对山东蒙阴古生代金伯利岩中石榴石方辉橄榄岩、河南鹤壁新生代玄武岩中 铬尖晶石方辉橄榄岩、山东栖霞新生代玄武岩中央晶石二辉橄榄岩和山东山旺新生代 玄武岩中尖晶石（富ＣｐＸ）二辉橄榄岩单斜辉石的常量、微量元素的研究和对比表明：华 北地块古生代稳定存在的克拉通岩石圈地幔在中、新生代其东部被具大洋地幔性质的 显生宙地幔不均匀地发生了置换作用,残存于南北重力梯度带（岩石圈减薄过渡带）上 的鹤壁浅部克拉通地幔除保存有置换作用前改造作用的丰富信息外,也包含有其深部 被置换后的地幔改造作用信息;郯庐断裂带东部栖霞的新生地幔仍保留有较多的大洋 地幔成分特征,而郯庐断裂带内山旺的新生地幔受后续地幔改造作用的影响有向大陆 地幔演化的趋向．发生于华北地块东部中、新生代的岩石圈巨厚减薄作用与地幔的置换 作用有关,由渐进的富ＣＯ_２流体或碳酸岩熔体对岩石圈地幔的交代改造作用以及由此 所引起的熔体抽取作用是完成新生地幔对古老地幔置换作用的关键．郯庐断裂带等岩 石圈深大断裂为地幔改造作用和地幔置换作用提供了良好的通道作用．     

人工侧向冻结条件下土的冻结试验

在人工侧向冻结、正弦和恒温2种冻结温度、开放和封闭条件下,对含水率为32 %的重塑粉质黏土进行了4组冻结试验。结果表明,补水条件相同时侧向正弦冻结试样的冻结速度比封闭正弦冻结试验的缓慢,当其冻结状态进入稳态之后,试样的整体温度场随着侧向冻结温度的正弦变化而出现相应的波动,但径向各段的温度梯度的相位滞后于正弦温度相位半个周期;正弦冻结试样与恒温冻结试样在同一条件下的冻胀量相近,封闭体系下自上而下轴向冻结试样的冻胀量高于同条件下侧向冻结试样的冻胀量;人工冻结工程中应考虑大气环境温度变化（如昼夜温差）及冷能侧向输入土体内时对冻土温度场的变化的影响。     

西天山喇嘛苏铜矿成矿斑岩的岩石学、地球化学特征及成因探讨

位于西天山别珍套-科古琴晚古生代岛弧西段的喇嘛苏铜矿床是区内最大的铜矿床,与成矿作用有着密切关系的斑岩体为英云闪长斑岩、花岗闪长斑岩,是同源岩浆分异演化的产物,且花岗闪长斑岩可能属于岩浆演化晚期的产物。本区成矿斑岩的主量、微量元素和Sr-Nd同位素地球化学特征表明,其富集大离子亲石元素,而相对亏损高场强元素,出现了较为明显的Ta、Nb负异常,初始锶同位素ISr和εNd(t=390Ma)值分别为0.7072～0.7076和-0.32～0.17,显示壳幔混合源的特征,利用Sr和Nd同位素估算其源区物质约有50%来源于地壳。岩石地球化学特征指示了其为典型钙碱性火山弧花岗岩,暗示其形成于大陆弧环境。结合区域地质背景,推测本区成矿斑岩是在洋壳俯冲作用下发生部分熔融,交代原先的地幔楔,并混合了部分下地壳的物质,经历分离结晶作用的产物,其形成可能与晚古生代准噶尔洋板块向南的俯冲作用有关。结合东西天山的成矿斑岩的地球化学特征对比研究,岩浆源区的差别可能导致不同类型斑岩型矿床的形成,斑岩型铜矿床的形成较斑岩型钼矿床可能有更少的地壳物质贡献。     

钻压水动力增效装置试验研究

在复杂地质条件下进行钻探或处理事故时,常有需要增加钻压的情况。而所选钻机其所能产生的轴向压力是一定的。因此,在钻机选定后如何增加钻压的问题是个非常重要的问题,有时是一个非常急迫的问题。乌克兰国立矿业大学的专家们利用水力动力学原理研制出了一种新型钻压水动力增效装置,可以解决上述问题,值得借鉴。介绍了这种钻压水动力增效装置（ГУОН）的工作原理及其技术性能指标,并通过试验结果与理论计算结果进行了对比。     

Analytical solutions of the diffraction problem of a group of truncated vertical cylinders

An exact analytical method is described to solve the diffraction problem of a group of truncated vertical cylinders. In order to account for the interaction between the cylinders, Kagemoto and Yue's exact algebraic method is utilised. The isolated cylinder diffraction potential due to incident waves is obtained using Garret's solution and evanescent mode solutions are derived in a similar manner.Numerical results are presented for arrays of two and four cylinders. Comparisons between the results obtained from the method presented here and those obtained from numerical methods show excellent agreement.