The Algoma-type iron-formations of the Nigerian metavolcano-sedimentary schist belts

Field relationships as well as petrographical and geochemical considerations form the basis of a model for the origin of the protoliths of the iron-formations and the associated phyllitic host rock of the Palaeoproterozoic schist belts of northern Nigeria. The iron-formations which consist of both the magnetite-subfacies and silicatefacies occur as relatively small, sporadic tabular bodies throughout the belts. They are concordantly interbanded with metasedimentary phyllites with which they share common metamorphic and deformational imprints. The iron-formations have high contents of Mn, Ca, Fe and P₂O₅ and low concentrations of alkalis (Na,K, Rb) Ba and Sr, Ti, Al and Si, whereas the phyllite exhibits exactly the opposite character. These results and other features (e.g. the composition of tourmaline in the phyllite and the occurrence of hydroclastic Cr-Mn-spinel and sulphides in the iron-formation) indicate a supply of materials from two different sources to the marine basin of Nigeria probably during Birimian time: slow but continuous deposition of continentally derived material of pelitic to psammitic composition; and rapid, sometimes intermittent, sporadic pulses of submarine-volcanic exhalations. During regional metamorphism (probably of Eburnian age) at greenschist to lower amphibolite fades conditions, the continental materials were transformed into phyllites and the mudstone-like sediments derived from volcanic exhalations into iron-formations. In the northern Nigerian schist belts two types of metamorphic parageneses in the iron-formations are recognized, both with various subtypes and without transitions between these two facies: (1) silicate-rich parageneses without magnetite (silicatefacies) and (2) magnetite-rich parageneses (magnetite-subfacies). In contrast to these parageneses, the iron-formations in the higher-grade metamorphic terrains of central Nigeria turn out to be hematitic (hematite-subfacies), and are derived from magnetite-bearing iron-formations by a second tectono-metamorphic event of Pan-African age (Mücke and Annor 1993). Whole-rock analyses of the Nigerian iron-formations explain the abundance of garnet (mainly spessartine) and clearly show that the formation of metamorphic minerals depended not only on temperature and pressure but also on the existing redox conditions. These environmental conditions controlled the formation of either magnetite parageneses (low redox conditions) or silicate parageneses without magnetite (high redox conditions). The environmental conditions are also an indication that magnetite (and hematite) could not have been constituents of the original sedimentary protolith of the Nigerian schist belts, but are exclusively of metamorphic origin.     

Application of GIS for land-use/land-cover change analysis in a mountainous terrain

Integration of remote sensing data with other spatial/non-spatial data was carried out using ARC/INFO software package. A simple classification technique was adopted for land cover/land-use change analyses in relation to elevation, slope, aspect and bio-climatic classes. Suitability assessment of land where agricultural extension occurred between 1963 and 1993 was made using GIS software package. Expansion of agriculture and was found to be maximum in 2200-2400 m elevation zone and 20–30° slope classes. When topographic aspects were considered expansion was maximum on south east and west facing slopes. The loss of vegetal cover is estimated to be 15 per cent between 1963–1993. However regeneration of forest was found to be maximum in elevation ranges of 1600–2000 metre and mostly having 20–30° average slope, Land deterioration over the two mapping periods was identified and strategies were suggested to mitigate the problem.     

The Neftegorsk, Sakhalin Island, earthquake of 27 May 1995

Abstract Past seismic catastrophes were unknown in Sakhalin Island before 1995 except those suggested from findings of paleoseismodislocations. The first time that dwellers have experienced such a catastrophe in the Sakhalin Island history was on 27 May 1995. The devastating Neftegorsk earthquake occurred in Northern Sakhalin (?= 52.8° north; δ= 143.2° east; H = 18 km; M_s= 7.2), killed almost 2000 people in the small city of Neftegorsk, caused damage and destruction of buildings, bridges, railways and roads, breakage of oil and gas pipelines, electric and communication lines, and was accompanied by large-scale surface phenomena within a source area. It was felt all over the Sakhalin Island, as well as over the closest part of the Eurasian continent. Surface fracturing was the most impressive effect of the Neftegorsk earthquake. The 37-km long, right-lateral strike-slip fault, with a strike of north 15° east and a horizontal displacement up to a maximum of 8 m, has been observed from Taxon Mountain at the south to the junction of the Cadylanye and Keniga Rivers at the north. According to the results of a detailed geological survey and study of the aftershocks, the total extent of the source area was - 80 km. Various secondary phenomena have been observed at the Earth's surface, such as landslides, falls, soil liquefaction, mud volcanoes etc. The earthquake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks within the following 1-2 months. Spatially, the earthquake fault coincides with the pre-existing Upper Piltun fault, known earlier from geological studies. Recent high activity of the latter fault has been recognized only after the Neftegorsk event because of findings of traces of significant past dislocations within the fault zone. From a tectonic viewpoint it can be suggested that the Upper Piltun fault is a Riedel-type shear fracture located between two main regional faults: the Gyrgylanye-Dagy fault at the west and the Piltun-Ekhaby fault at the east. Therefore, its present activity, expressed by the destructive Neftegorsk earthquake, seems to be explained by a long strain accumulation within a broad zone of regional right-lateral shear faulting.     

Metamorphic evolution of the High Himalayan Crystallines in SE Zanskar, India

ABSTRACT The High Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) of SE Zanskar consist of biotite paragneisses, of orthogneisses that derive from early-Palaeozoic granitoids, of minor metabasics and of post-metamorphic leucogranites of Miocene age. Two main metamorphic events have been documented in the HHC. The first event occurred at P= 12.0 ± 0.5 kbar and T= 750 ± 50° C in rare metabasics intruded by early-Palaeozoic granitoids. In the biotite paragneisses, thermobarometric estimates of the first event point to comparable T at P 4–5 kbar lower. The first event is followed by a pervasive syn-tectonic crystallization characterized by lower P and T. On the basis of the cooling ages of the metamorphic minerals and on the geological evidence, the second event is referred to the Tertiary Himalayan crystallization. Further petrological and geochronological studies are necessary to prove whether a few mineral relics ascribed to the first event define a polyphase Himalayan evolution or if they record the incomplete obliteration of an older history during the Himalayan event. The HHC of SE Zanskar show a decrease in metamorphic grade from the middle structural levels upward, close to the Kade unit, and downward, close to the Lesser Himalaya (from sillimanite-K-feldspar-biotite-bearing assemblages to kyanite-staurolite-muscovite-bearing assemblages). This metamorphic zonation is probably a consequence of the polyphase history of intracontinental thrusts and of the tectonic emplacement of hot crustal slabs within shallower and colder thrust sheets at relatively late stages of the continental collision between India and Eurasia.     

1979年7月热带地区的动能平衡

应用欧洲中期预报中心的FGGEⅢ-b个客观分析资料计算了1979年7月热带大气的动能平衡。热带环流系统的动能主要集中在定常涡旋部分。对流层下层,105°E和150°E为两半球间瞬变涡旋的通道。对流层上层,瞬变涡旋的通道和洋中槽相联系,位于150°E和30°W附近。 索马里急流是对流层下层制造动能的主要环流系统。对流层上层,南亚东风急流入口区制造动能,出口区破坏动能,其动能收支与中纬度西风急流相似。 非洲-阿拉伯海季风区和孟加拉湾—南海季风区的动能平衡很不相同。动能的垂直输送可能在季风环流中很重要。     

Zur derivativspektroskopischen Bestimmung der Ligninsulfonsäure in Gegenwart von Huminsäuren

A Specord M 40 device with the Date Handling 1 computer cassette was used for the derivative-spectroscopie determination of lignosulphonic acid. Because of the higher sensitivity and the better evaluable peaks, the 2nd derivation of the five possible derivations was used. The analysis method described in detail was tested with test substances on a surface water which was polluted with waste-products from the pulp industry. With the stated device parameters, the lignosulphonic acid up to 2 mg/l can be determined in the presence of humic acids and chlorolignosulphonic acids. In weakly polluted waters, as groundwaters and shore filtrates. still lignosulphonic acid concentrations of 0.1 mg/l can be detected after an adequate enrichment.     

RESOLUTION AND NMO-STRETCH: IMAGING BY STACKING1

We analyse the stacking process within the framework of imaging techniques. Our results show how the NMO stretch, traditionally looked upon as giving a negative contribution, can be utilized to improve the vertical resolution of the stacked data from a source deficient in low frequencies. The added bandwidth is provided by the spatial coherency of the energy emitted by a point source.     

Relation between source rock properties and wireline log parameters: An example from Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale, NW-Germany

The relationships between source rock quality and wireline log parameters were established for the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale, the most prolific petroleum source rock of Central Europe. Wireline logs used are the gamma ray spectrometry, density, sonic and various resistivity logs. The organic geochemical parameters considered include the organic carbon content, hydrogen index, and the hydrocarbon potential expressed by pyrolysis yield. The case history presented is based on a continuous core through the entire Posidonia Shale interval from a location where this source rock is immature. Care was taken to detect and to avoid samples and log values influenced by bore hole roughness and fractures. Fair correlations were observed only between uranium content from gamma ray spectrometry log and organic carbon content. No correlation was recognized between uranium content and kerogen type as defined by hydrogen indices. For various reasons density, sonic, and resistivity logs did not provide useful data in this study.Three rock units with irregular, high and low uranium contents could be differentiated. Possible causes for this tripartition are different environments during deposition and postdepositional redistribution of uranium during early diagenesis and in association with fractures.