Tectonic reconstruction of batholith formation based on the spatiotemporal distribution of Cretaceous–Paleogene granitic rocks in southwestern Japan

The spatiotemporal distribution of Cretaceous–Paleogene granitic rocks in southwestern Japan is investigated to understand the origin of the granitic batholith belt and to reconstruct the tectonic setting of emplacement. New U–Pb zircon ages for 92 samples collected from a region measuring 50 km (E–W) by 200 km (N–S) reveals a stepwise northward younging of granitic rocks aged between 95 and 30 Ma with an age‐data gap between 60 and 48 Ma. Based on the spatiotemporal distribution of granite ages, we examine two plausible models to explain the pattern of magmatic activity: (i) subduction of a segmented spreading ridge and subsequent slab melting (ridge‐subduction model), and (ii) subduction with a temporally variable subduction angle and corresponding spatial distribution of normal arc magmatism (subduction angle model). We optimize the model parameters to fit the observed magmatism in time and space, and compare the best‐fit models. As to ridge subduction model, the best‐fit solution indicates that the spreading ridge started to subduct at approximately 100 Ma, and involved a 45‐km‐wide section of the ridge segment, a subduction obliquity of 30°, and a slow migration velocity (～1.6 cm/y) of the ridge. These values are within the ranges of velocities observed for present‐day ridge subduction at the Chile trench. On the other hand, the best‐fit solution of subduction angle model indicates that the subduction angle decreases stepwise from 37° at 95 Ma, 32° at 87 Ma, 22° at 72 Ma, to 20° at 65 Ma, shifting magmatic region towards the continental side. These results and comparison, together with constraints on the geometry of the tectonic setting provided by previous studies, suggest that the ridge subduction model better explains the limited duration of magmatism, although both models broadly fit the data and cannot be ruled out.     

Economic costs of ocean acidification: a look into the impacts on global shellfish production

Ocean acidification is increasingly recognized as a major global problem. Yet economic assessments of its effects are currently almost absent. Unlike most other marine organisms, mollusks, which have significant commercial value worldwide, have relatively solid scientific evidence of biological impact of acidification and allow us to make such an economic evaluation. By performing a partial-equilibrium analysis, we estimate global and regional economic costs of production loss of mollusks due to ocean acidification. Our results show that the costs for the world as a whole could be over 100 billion USD with an assumption of increasing demand of mollusks with expected income growths combined with a business-as-usual emission trend towards the year 2100. The major determinants of cost levels are the impacts on the Chinese production, which is dominant in the world, and the expected demand increase of mollusks in today’s developing countries, which include China, in accordance with their future income rise. Our results have direct implications for climate policy. Because the ocean acidifies faster than the atmosphere warms, the acidification effects on mollusks would raise the social cost of carbon more strongly than the estimated damage adds to the damage costs of climate change.     

Counter-clockwise prograde P–T path in collisional orogeny and water subduction at the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary: The ultrahigh-pressure pelitic schist in the Kokchetav massif,northern Kazakhstan

A prograde pressure–temperature (P–T) path is estimated for pelitic schists from the latest Precambrian Kokchetav ultrahigh-pressure massif, Kazakhstan, using compositional zoning and mineral inclusions in coarse-grained and inclusion-rich garnets. Ti-bearing inclusions are abundant in garnet and display a zonal distribution. Ilmenite occurs in the inner-core, where most of it makes a composite inclusion with rutile, whereas monomineralic rutile occurs in the outer-core to mantle domains. In the rim region both ilmenite and rutile are present, although in small amounts. Application of the ilmenite-garnet thermometer yields a systematic temperature increase towards rim from 500 to 750 °C. The pressure-sensitive reaction: 3 Fe-Ilm (in Ilm) + Ky + 2 Qtz = 3 Rt + Alm (in Grt) yielded pressures of 1.2–1.3 GPa for the outer-core inclusions.A petrogenetic grid in the K₂O–CaO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O model system was used to estimate the equilibrium compositions of the garnet. The change of the grossular component along the model P–T path expected from the forward modelling is close to the observed compositional profile of the outer-core to rim domains. No constraint is available from thermobarometry in the inner-core; however, the forward modelling of garnet zoning provides information on the early stage of the P–T path during the garnet growth.The estimated P–T path is counter-clockwise in the prograde stage with a steep bend at around 700 °C and 1.2–1.5 GPa. This is similar to the metamorphic P–T gradient of the Kokchetav massif. This result contrasts markedly with the traditional clockwise P–T path in many collisional metamorphic terranes, and is regarded to represent a subduction geotherm at the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary. The P–T path proposed in this study also supports the models for the recovery of the “snowball Earth” from late-Proterozoic glaciation through effect of water in the solid Earth mantle.     

Carbon isotopic study on graphite and carbonate in the Kamioka mining district,Gifu Prefecture,central Japan,in relation to the role of graphite in the pyrometasomatic ore deposition

Pyrometasomatic lead-zinc ore deposits of the Kamioka mine occur in the Hida metamorphic complex of central Japan. The pyrometasomatic ore deposition was followed by small scale hydrothermal ore deposition. Flaky graphite characteristically occurs in skarn, ores and in the surrounding crystalline limestone. ¹³C values of graphite in the skarn and the ores are close to those of graphites in the crystalline limestone. Graphite in the skarn and ores is considered to be remains of graphite in the crystalline limestone which was replaced by the skarn and the ores. At the pyrometasomatic stage, the oxygen fugacity of fluid would control the carbon isotopic composition of calcite precipitated. On the assumption that graphite played a role of oxygen buffer, the oxygen fugacity of the fluid was estimated to be from 10^–31,4 to 10^–301 bars at 350 °C and total pressure of 1,000 bars. The predominant carbon species in the fluid would be carbon dioxide. The ¹³C value of total carbon in fluid was estimated to be –3.6±1.7 (PDB) for the Tochibora and Maruyama deposits of the Kamioka mine, and the oxygen fugacity in the fluid was probably constant during the pyrometasomatic stage. It is likely that an important source of carbon was the carbon remained after the decarbonation of crystalline limestone. Oxygen isotopic studies on calcite of pyrometasomatic and hydrothermal stages revealed that meteoric water was an important source for most of the oxygen in fluid of both stages.     

Seasonal Trend in the Occurrence of Nocturnal Drainage Flow on a Forested Slope Under a Tropical Monsoon Climate

Using data for one year, we examined the vertical wind speed profileson a mountain slope covered with forest in northern Thailand undera tropical monsoon climate. We defined two profile patterns: higherwind speeds at greater heights (Pattern 1) and lower wind speeds atgreater heights (Pattern 2). We classified 9.4% of the data as Pattern 2;this pattern tended to occur during the night, at low wind speeds, and with high outgoing longwave radiation. In addition, stable stratification anddecoupling between the canopy surface air and the overlying layers wereobserved when Pattern 2 occurred frequently. These facts suggested thatPattern 2 was caused by a nocturnal drainage flow. The occurrence ofPattern 2 showed a clear seasonal trend, indicating that there is a seasonaltrend in the occurrence of nocturnal drainage flows. Pattern 2 was observedmore frequently between August and February and less frequently betweenMarch and July. This corresponded to the seasonal trend in wind speed, butdid not correspond to the seasonal trend in the outgoing longwave radiation.     

Experimental study of the transfer velocity for urban surfaces with a water evaporation method

A major problem in urban climate modelling is determining how the heat fluxes from various canyon surfaces are affected by canyon flow. To address this problem, we developed a water evaporation method involving filter paper to study the distribution of the convective transfer velocity in urban street canyons. In this method, filter paper is pasted onto a building model and the evaporation rate from the paper is measured with an electric balance. The method was tested on 2D (two-dimensional) street canyon models and 3D model arrangements. Moreover, in this technique, it is easy to restrict the flux within an arbitrary surface in question. That is, the evaporation distribution on a surface can be studied by using several small pieces of filter paper. In the 2D case, the wall transfer velocity was strongly dependent on the canyon aspect ratio for perpendicular wind directions and it varied widely with height within both windward and leeward wall surfaces. For 3D cubic arrays, the relation to canyon aspect ratio was largely different from that of the 2D canyon. And, as a case study, the variation of wind direction was investigated for a city-like setting. The area-averaged transfer velocity was insensitive to wind direction but its local deviation was significant. Finally, we measured the transfer velocity for a clustered block array surrounded by relatively wide streets. The effect of spatial heterogeneity on the transfer velocity was significant. Moreover, for a fixed total building volume, the transfer velocity was considerably larger when the building height varied than when it was uniform. Therefore, the water evaporation method with filter paper is expected to be useful for studying the transfer velocity and ventilation rates in urban areas with various canyon shapes.     

3-D magnetic inversion and satellite imagery for the Um Salatit gold occurrence,Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The Um Salatit is a gold occurrence situated in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. The studied area is characterized by an intensive imbrication zone of serpentinites and metavolcanic rocks. The integrated use of aeromagnetic and spectral reflectance remote sensing data has proved effective for mapping geology related to ore deposits. Spectral reflectance maps have been produced to discriminate various rocks, such as serpentinites, gabbros, and metavolcanic rocks. 3-D inversion of aeromagnetic data acquired over the Um Salatit study area produced a 3-D magnetic susceptibility model showing magnetic bodies surrounded by less magnetic host rock. The magnetic features are elongated ENE-WSW parallel to the major thrust fault and mapped the Um Salatit serpentinized rocks. Remote sensing data allow investigating surficial geological features and mapping the mineralized areas. Remote results, in conjunction with 3-D inversion of aeromagnetic data, demonstrate that gold occurrence in the study area was effectively restricted to the highly magnetic zone interpreted as host rocks.