Diel tuning of photosynthetic systems in ice algae at Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan

Ice algae are the major primary producers in seasonally ice-covered oceans during the cold season. Diurnal change in solar radiation is inevitable for ice algae, even beneath seasonal sea ice in lower-latitude regions. In this work, we focused on the photosynthetic response of ice algae under diurnally changing irradiance in Saroma-ko Lagoon, Japan. Photosynthetic properties were assessed by pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry. The species composition remained almost the same throughout the investigation. The maximum electron transport rate (rETR_max), which indicates the capacity of photosynthetic electron transport, increased from sunrise until around noon and decreased toward sunset, with no sign of the afternoon depression commonly observed in other photosynthetic organisms. The level of non-photochemical quenching, which indicates photoprotection activity by dissipating excess light energy via thermal processes, changed with diurnal variations in irradiance. The pigment composition appeared constant, except for xanthophyll cycle pigments, which changed irrespective of irradiance. These results indicate that ice algae tune their photosynthetic system harmonically to achieve efficient photosynthesis under diurnally changing irradiance, while avoiding damage to photosystems. This regulation system may be essential for productive photosynthesis in ice algae.     

The Daduhe gold field at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: He, Ar, S, O, and H isotopic data and their metallogenic implications

The Daduhe gold field comprises several shear-zone-controlled Tertiary lode gold deposits distributed at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The deposits are hosted in a Precambrian granite–greenstone terrane within the Yangtze Craton. The gold mineralization occurs mainly as auriferous quartz veins with minor sulphide minerals. Fluid inclusions in pyrite have ³He/⁴He ratios of 0.16 to 0.86 R_a, whereas their ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios range from 298 to 3288, indicating a mixing of fluids of mantle and crust origins. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite are of 0.7–4.2‰ (n = 12), suggesting a mantle source or leaching from the mafic country rocks. δ¹⁸O values calculated from hydrothermal quartz are between − 1.5‰ and + 6.0‰ and δD values of the fluids in the fluid inclusions in quartz are − 39‰ and − 108‰. These ranges demonstrate a mixing of magmatic/metamorphic and meteoric fluids. The noble gas isotopic data, along with the stable isotopic data suggest that the ore-forming fluids have a dominantly crustal source with a significant mantle component.     

铟矿床研究现状及其展望

铟是一种稀有金属,它在高科技产业中的应用价值越来越受到人们的普遍关注。由于供求矛盾突出,其消费价格水平不断上涨。目前,世界矿业界在铟业投入的技术和资金支持不断增加,以寻求满足日益增长的经济发展的需求。但相对来说,与铟有关的地质工作程度较低,新探明的储量远远跟不上其消费的增长水平,因此,有必要加大地质投入,探求新的资源量,保障世界经济可持续发展的要求。文章在总结前人研究成果的基础上,综述了世界上铟矿床的分布及其地质构造背景,以及铟矿物学、矿床成因和成矿机制等方面的最新研究成果。文章指出,为了寻找潜在的铟资源,必须加强铟的基础地质研究工作,在对铟的成因矿物学、成矿机制及其成矿环境进行深入系统研究的基础上,建立铟矿床的成矿模型和找矿勘查模型。     

The reliability of thermoluminescence dating: A pilot experiment

The accuracy of thermoluminescence dating of pottery was tested by utilizing dendro-chronologically dated provenances in the northern part of the American Southwest. Fairly accurate determinations were achieved for potsherds recovered from sedimentary rock soil, while much younger dates were obtained for potsherds recovered from volcanic rock soil. The reduction of accumulated dose through radon escape might be responsible for the much younger dates of the sherds buried in volcanic soil. The application of the technique to samples recovered from soil matrices in volcanic materials, to burnt volcanic rocks, or to sherds containing ample volcanic rocks should be avoided for reliable determinations.