Zircon U–Pb ages, Hf and O isotopes constrain the crustal architecture of the ultrahigh-pressure Dabie orogen in China

The crustal structure of the Dabie orogen was reconstructed by a combined study of U–Pb ages, Hf and O isotope compositions of zircons from granitic gneiss from North Dabie, the largest lithotectonic unit in the orogen. The results were deciphered from metamorphic history to protolith origin with respect to continental subduction and exhumation. Zircon U–Pb dating provides consistent ages of 751 ± 7 Ma for protolith crystallization, and two group ages of 213 ± 4 to 245 ± 17 Ma and 126 ± 4 to 131 ± 36 Ma for regional metamorphism. Majority of zircon Hf isotope analyses displays negative ε_Hf(t) values of − 5.1 to − 2.9 with crust Hf model ages of 1.84 to 1.99 Ga, indicating protolith origin from reworking of middle Paleoproterozoic crust. The remaining analyses exhibit positive ε_Hf(t) values of 5.3 to 14.5 with mantle Hf model ages of 0.74 to 1.11 Ga, suggesting prompt reworking of Late Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic juvenile crust. Zircon O isotope analyses yield δ¹⁸O values of − 3.26 to 2.79‰, indicating differential involvement of meteoric water in protolith magma by remelting of hydrothermally altered low δ¹⁸O rocks. North Dabie shares the same age of Neoproterozoic low δ¹⁸O protolith with Central Dabie experiencing the Triassic UHP metamorphism, but it was significantly reworked at Early Cretaceous in association with contemporaneous magma emplacement. The Rodinia breakup at about 750 Ma would lead to not only the reworking of juvenile crust in an active rift zone for bimodal protolith of Central Dabie, but also reworking of ancient crust in an arc-continent collision zone for the North Dabie protolith. The spatial difference in the metamorphic age (Triassic vs. Cretaceous) between the northern and southern parts of North Dabie suggests intra-crustal detachment during the continental subduction. Furthermore, the Dabie orogen would have a three-layer structure prior to the Early Cretaceous magmatism: Central Dabie in the upper, North Dabie in the middle, and the source region of Cretaceous magmas in the lower.     

Plant distribution at the mobile dune scale and its relevance to soil properties and topographic features

A survey was conducted in an 11-year recovery mobile dune (RMD11) and a 20-year recovery mobile dune (RMD20), in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China, to determine plant distribution at the mobile dune scale and its relevance to soil properties and topographic features. The results showed that (1) vegetation cover and species number increased from dune top to bottom in the restoration process of mobile dune; (2) the average value of soil organic C, total N, pH, relative height of sampling site, very fine sand content and soil water contents (40−60 and 60−80 cm) of RMD11 were less than that of RMD20, respectively, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two dunes; (3) soil resources were redistributed by shrub restoration and relative height of sampling site on dune. The distribution of sand pioneer plant, Agriophyllum squarrosum, was positively related to the relative height of sampling site and soil water content, while that of other herbaceous plants was positively related to soil nutrients in the restoration process of mobile dune. These results suggest that at mobile dune scale, plant distributions are determined by a combination of soil properties and topographic feature. Much effort should be made to preserve the interdune lowland and to improve the level of soil nutrients on mobile dune.     

Triassic Nb-enriched basalts, magnesian andesites, and adakites of the Qiangtang terrane (Central Tibet): evidence for metasomatism by slab-derived melts in the mantle wedge

New chronological, geochemical, and isotopic data are reported for Triassic (219–236 Ma) adakite-magnesian andesite-Nb-enriched basaltic rock associations from the Tuotuohe area, central Qiangtang terrane. The adakites and magnesian andesites are characterized by high Sr/Y (25–45), La/Yb (14–42) and Na₂O/K₂O (12–49) ratios, high Al₂O₃ (15.34–18.28 wt%) and moderate to high Sr concentrations (220–498 ppm) and ε_ND (t) (+0.86 to +1.21) values. Low enrichments of Th, Rb relative to Nb, and subequal normalized Nb and La contents, and enrichments of light rare earth elements combine to distinguish a group of Nb-enriched basaltic rocks (NEBs). They have positive ε_ND (t) (+2.57 to +5.16) values. Positive correlations between Th, La and Nb and an absence of negative Nb anomalies on mantle normalized plots indicate the NEBs are products of a mantle source metasomatized by a slab melt rather than by hydrous fluids. A continuous compositional variation between adakites and magnesian andesites confirms slab melt interaction with mantle peridotite. The spatial association of the NEBs with adakites and magnesian andesites define an “adakitic metasomatic volcanic series” recognized in many demonstrably subduction-related environments (e.g., Mindanao arc, Philippines; Kamchatka arc, Russia; and southern Baja California arc, Mexico). The age of the Touhuohe suite, and its correlation with Triassic NEB to the north indicates that volcanism derived from subduction-modified mantle was abundant prior to 220 Ma in the central Qiangtang terrane.     

Zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic study of gneissic rocks from the Chinese Altai: Progressive accretionary history in the early to middle Palaeozoic

Gneissic rocks in the Chinese Altai Mountains have been interpreted as either Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks or Precambrian basement. This study reports geochemical and geochronological data for banded paragneisses and associated gneissic granitoids collected along a NE–SW traverse in the northwestern Chinese Altai. Petrological and geochemical data suggest that the protoliths of the banded gneisses were possibly immature sediments with significant volcanic input and that the gneissic granitoids were derived from I-type granites formed in a subduction environment. Three types of morphological features can be recognized in zircons from the banded gneisses and are interpreted to correlate with different sources. Zircons from five samples of banded paragneiss cluster predominantly between 466 and 528 Ma, some give Neoproterozoic ages, and a few yield discordant Paleoproterozoic to Archean ages. Zircon Hf isotopic compositions indicate that both juvenile/mantle and crust materials were involved in the generation of the source rocks from which these zircons were derived. In contrast, zircons occur ubiquitously as elongated euhedral prismatic crystals in the four samples of the gneissic granitoids, and define single populations for each sample with mean ages between 380 and 453 Ma. The general absence of Precambrian inheritance and positive zircon ?Hf values for these granitoids suggest insignificant crustal contribution to the generation of the precursor magmas. Our data can be interpreted in terms of a progressive accretionary history in early to middle Palaeozoic times, and the Chinese Altai may possibly represent a magmatic arc built on a continental margin dominated by Neoproterozoic rocks.     

Origin of Fe-Ti Oxide Ores in Mafic Intrusions: Evidence from the Panzhihua Intrusion, SW China

Economic concentrations of Fe–Ti oxides occur as massive,conformable lenses or layers in the lower part of the Panzhihuaintrusion, Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China. Mineralchemistry, textures and QUILF equilibria indicate that oxidesin rocks of the intrusion were subjected to extensive subsolidusre-equilibration and exsolution. The primary oxide, reconstructedfrom compositions of titanomagnetite in the ores and associatedintergrowths, is an aluminous titanomagnetite (Usp₄₀) with 40wt % FeO, 34 wt % Fe₂O₃, 16·5 wt % TiO₂, 5·3 wt% Al₂O₃, 3·5 wt % MgO and 0·5 wt % MnO. This compositionis similar to the bulk composition of the oxide ore, as inferredfrom whole-rock data. This similarity strongly suggests thatthe ores formed from accumulation of titanomagnetite crystals,not from immiscible oxide melt as proposed in earlier studies.The occurrence of oxide ores in the lower parts of the Panzhihuaintrusion is best explained by settling and sorting of densetitanomagnetite in the ferrogabbroic parental magma. This magmamust have crystallized Fe–Ti oxides relatively early andabundantly, and is likely to have been enriched in Fe and Tibut poor in SiO₂. These features are consistent with fractionationof mantle-derived melts under relatively high pressures (10kbar), followed by emplacement of the residual magma at 5 kbar.This study provides definitive field and geochemical evidencethat Fe–Ti oxide ores can form by accumulation in ferrogabbro.We suggest that many other massive Fe–Ti oxide depositsmay have formed in a similar fashion and that high concentrationsof phosphorus or carbon, or periodic fluctuation of fO₂ in themagma, are of secondary importance in ore formation. KEY WORDS: ELIP; Fe–Ti oxide ore; layered intrusion; Panzhihua; QUILF     

青藏高原中、东部局地因素对地温的双重影响(Ⅰ): 植被和雪盖

青藏高原冻土区地温既受海拔、纬度和经度(干燥度)区域地带性规律控制, 同时它又受植被、雪盖、砂层、 水被和地质构造等局地因素的显著影响. 局地因素对地温的影响具有双重性: 在不同域值条件下, 它可增高或降低地温. 地温随植被覆盖度减小而逐渐增高, 但覆盖度减到0～20%时, 地温反而降低. 在青藏高原东部、南部和腹部的高山区, 冷季降雪多, 很多地段为稳定积雪区, 雪盖厚, 持续时间长, 对浅层地温起保温作用;而高原腹部的高平原、河谷和盆地冷季降雪较少, 雪盖薄, 持续时间较短, 一般保温作用微弱. 当雪盖厚度超过20 cm以后, 保温作用即开始增强;在暖季因积雪存在时间短, 雪盖薄, 短期内对浅层地温起冷却作用. 总之, 每种局地因素迫使地温向相反方向转化阶段是一个区间值, 为渐变过程. 随时空尺度变化, 局地因素的影响变化很大. 有些地段, 几种局地因素共同作用, 加上活动构造和地形、地貌等的影响, 使地温的时空分布和局地因素对其影响或控制变得错综复杂. 因此, 研究和预测地温特征和变化趋势, 需要在监测植被和积雪作用的基础上进行参数选择、 验证和优化.     

寒区线性工程沿线冻土区的植被恢复

寒区油气管道、公路、铁路等线性工程占地、建设和开挖对沿线寒区生态环境是一个切割、破碎的过程, 对自然植被和下伏冻土造成了很大的扰动. 管道泄露引发的油污还可引起植被的退化和死亡. 植被覆盖层破坏后改变了原有的地气界面之间的水、热交换条件和力学性质, 反过来又可加速引发下伏冻土和线性工程地基的退化. 基于保护线性工程地基及下伏冻土的目的, 同时顺应环境保护的要求, 目前就寒区线性工程的植被恢复问题已经有许多探索和实践. 当前, 寒区植被恢复注重最低限度的人为介入干预下的自然恢复, 根据线性工程沿线土壤、湿度、营养条件、物种分布和丰度, 视具体情况选择物种, 确定建植方法. 阿拉斯加管道和青藏铁路植被恢复上的经验和方法, 可为拟建的冻土区中俄输油管道项目沿线的植被恢复问题提供科学的参考和借鉴.     

祁连山不同植被类型对积雪消融的影响

为研究祁连山植被对积雪消融的影响, 利用人工调查积雪深度逐日变化量和积雪盖度变化, 并结合空气雪面感热通量(SH)观测, 对祁连山水源林生态站排露沟流域海拔2 600～2 700 m青海云杉林、灌丛林、林缘、阳坡草地在2003-2007年的积雪消融进行了研究, 每年的观测从10月降雪开始到翌年5月积雪消融完结束, 共获取数据134 400个. 结果表明: 当SH<0时, 积雪消融停止;当SH>0时, 积雪消融开始;植被可以减缓积雪消融速率, 有植被的地方消融速率减慢, 反之则加快;不同植被消融速率大小顺序为草地>林缘>灌木林>乔木林;同一植被、不同坡向消融速率不同, 半阳坡云杉林＞半阴坡云杉林＞阴坡云杉林. 积雪含水率随气温升高而增大, 1月融化积雪占整个积雪的5%, 2月增大到28%, 大量积雪在3月消融, 占55%. 从坡位看, 下坡消融速率最大;在一个垂直带上, 低海拔消融速率大于高海拔. 温度是影响积雪消融的主要因子, 积雪消融速率随温度升高而增大, 反之则减小.     

东北多年冻土区埋地输油管道周围温度场特征非线性分析

为解决冻土区输油管道周围土壤的温度计算问题,根据考虑相变瞬态温度场的控制微分方程,应用Galerkin法推导出了二维温度场的有限元计算公式.以东北多年冻土区中俄原油管道工程为背景,根据该工程区的冻土条件和气候条件,应用该方法对温热型输油管道土壤温度场进行了计算预报与对比分析.结果表明:对于输送油温为15 ℃、直径为0.914 m以及管顶埋深为2.0 m的管道,在没有铺设保温材料情况下,管顶之上的土壤在管道运行的第1年就达到热平衡状态,同时土壤融化速率在第1年达到最大,随后4a时间里迅速减小,第5年后融化速率变化趋于稳定;管道运行一段时间后,管道周围的融化圈随冷暖季节的变化呈交替式的扩展;在管道运行30 a后,融深＞10 m,即管底下的融化层厚＞7 m,而在铺设5～8 cm的聚氨酯保温材料后,融深控制在3.08～3.88 m,即管底下融化层厚为0.2～1.0 m.因此,合理使用保温方法能有效防止冻土区管道冻害的发生,同时达到保护冻土环境的目的.     

中俄原油管道沿线典型土样冻胀性试验研究

中俄输油管道穿越约500 km的多年冻土区,管道沿途地形起伏,水系和沼泽发育,使得管道工程地质条件复杂.沿线地貌单元主要可分为沼泽湿地、阶地、河漫滩、坡地以及基岩山脊等5种,不同地貌单元的岩性和冻土赋存条件均不相同.选取各地貌单元的典型土样进行颗粒分析、冻胀率等试验,分析了土样冻胀率与天然含水率、干容重、粘粒含量之间的关系.结果表明:全-强风化花岗岩冻胀率最小,冻土工程地质条件最好;含有机质粉质粘土冻胀率最大,管基需要进行特殊处理;粘土和粉土冻胀率介于二者之间,对管基进行常规处理即可.该试验定量评价了中俄输油管道沿线不同地貌单元的冻胀性,为管道在确保工程长期稳定性的基础上,选择经济、环保的施工方式提供了试验依据.