Zircon M257 ‐ a Homogeneous Natural Reference Material for the Ion Microprobe U‐Pb Analysis of Zircon

We introduce and propose zircon M257 as a future reference material for the determination of zircon U‐Pb ages by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. This light brownish, flawless, cut gemstone specimen from Sri Lanka weighed 5.14 g (25.7 carats). Zircon M257 has TIMS‐determined, mean isotopic ratios (2s uncertainties) of 0.09100 ± 0.00003 for ²⁰⁶pb/²³⁸U and 0.7392 ± 0.0003 for ²⁰⁷pb/²³⁵U. Its ²⁰⁶pb/²³⁸U age is 561.3 ± 0.3 Ma (unweighted mean, uncertainty quoted at the 95% confidence level); the U‐Pb system is concordant within uncertainty of decay constants. Zircon M257 contains ～ 840 μg g^?1 U (Th/U ～ 0.27). The material exhibits remarkably low heterogeneity, with a virtual absence of any internal textures even in cathodoluminescence images. The uniform, moderate degree of radiation damage (estimated from the expansion of unit‐cell parameters, broadening of Raman spectral parameters and density) corresponds well, within the “Sri Lankan trends”, with actinide concentrations, U‐Pb age, and the calculated alpha fluence of 1.66 × 10¹⁸ g^?1. This, and a (U+Th)/He age of 419 ± 9 Ma (2s), enables us to exclude any unusual thermal history or heat treatment, which could potentially have affected the retention of radiogenic Pb. The oxygen isotope ratio of this zircon is 13.9%o VSMOW suggesting a metamorphic genesis in a marble or calc‐silicate skarn.     

Recommended Values of 239Pu, 240Pu and 239+240Pu Concentrations in Reference Material IAEA-315 (Marine Sediment) Estimated by Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry and Alpha Spectrometry

The recommended concentrations of ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu and ^239+240Pu in reference material IAEA‐315 (marine sediment) were estimated by three analytical methods: isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS), isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and alpha spectrometry. The determination of ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu (^239+240Pu by alpha spectrometry) was carried out with samples from randomly selected bottles using each method. Plutonium‐238 was also measured by alpha spectrometry. A plutonium‐242 reference material was used as a spike for the quantitative analysis. The influence of ²⁴²Pu in the samples was therefore calculated; however, this contribution was less than the range of uncertainty and did not influence the final results. The obtained data were statistically analysed using variance component analysis and paired comparison. The combined standard uncertainties from “method/measurement”, “bottle” and “sub‐sample” were in the order of 3 to 6%. The main contributions to the uncertainty were from the material heterogeneity and from systematic differences between methods. Based on this study with twenty‐seven analyses using 10–14 g sample mass, concentrations of (38 ± 3) Bq kg^?1, (28 ± 3) Bq kg^?1 and (66 ± 4) Bq kg^?1 are proposed as recommended values for ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu and ^239+240Pu, respectively, and (9.5 ± 0.4) Bq kg^?1 for ²³⁸Pu as an information value in reference material IAEA‐315. In mass concentration units, these amount to (16.4 ± 1.2) ng kg^?1, (3.3 ± 0.4) ng kg^?1 and (0.015 ± 0.003) ng kg^?1 for ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²³⁸Pu, respectively. The certified reference materials NIST 4350B and NIST 4354 were also analysed by TIMS for quality assurance of the method used in this study.     

渤海湾盆地埕岛油田缝洞型潜山油气藏构造及储层特征

埕岛油田古潜山油气藏为典型的缝洞型碳酸盐岩油气藏。埕岛地区经历了多期次的构造运动,并经受了多期次的断裂与剥蚀作用,为油气成藏创造了良好条件。埕岛油田古潜山可以划分为三个构造单元,即埕北20断层下降盘的西排山,上升盘的中排山和东排山,三个潜山带成帚状敛于凸起最南端,为几个二级构造单元交汇处,构造应力较发育。埕岛油田有三种储集空间类型:晶间孔隙、溶蚀孔洞和裂缝。     

鄂尔多斯盆地靖边气田马五_(1+2)气藏储集单元研究

综合地震、地质、测井等信息,考虑沉积、成岩、地貌、生产动态等多因素,在沟槽识别和致密带研究基础上,通过井间干扰、油层压力变化和试井边界响应分析,按照局部、就近原则对靖边气田马五1+2气藏进行了储集单元划分。共划分出111个储集单元,其中独立型69个,复合型42个。这些储集单元的面积多介于10～50km2之间,单个储集单元的井数一般少于6口。在对气藏储层特征综合认识的基础上,确定流动单元划分思路与流程,并认为关键环节包括古沟槽识别、致密带研究、动静结合确定储集单元等3个方面。储集单元一方面受控于被致密岩相包围的有利成岩相带,宏观上与弱—中等充填泥粉晶白云岩相对应性好;另一方面又受各级古沟槽夹持,在两个一级古沟槽之间往往共生多个储集单元,而这些储集单元边界又严格地受二级或三级沟槽切割控制。     

塔河油田2区三叠系油藏类型初步探讨

塔河油田2区三叠系油藏是西北分公司开发较早的碎屑岩油藏之一,开发层系有上油组、中油组,油柱高度在15～20m,储层为辫状三角洲相辫状三角洲前缘亚相水下分流河道、河口坝、分流间湾微相沉积,非均质性严重。本区上油组砂体厚度40～0m,中油组25～35m,分布较稳定,物性为中孔、中高渗储层,原油属低粘度轻质油。但2区三叠系油藏实钻变化大,见水快、产量递减快、含水上升快、采出程度低,开发效果较差,经过多次调整虽有一定程度改善,仍存在一些问题。本文认为2区三叠系油藏开发效果较差的原因之一是对本区油藏类型的认识上存在问题即2区三叠系油藏是以断裂控制的断块油藏而非背斜油藏,并延伸分析正在投入开发评价的S96-T901井区、TK232-T453井区及T206-T208井区等都为断块（断背斜）油藏。应用断块油藏的观点对塔河地区三叠系油藏勘探开发有重要指导意义。     

ISIS IR: The first infrared fibre-fed spectrograph

ISIS IR is the first attempt to use fibre optics for near infrared spectroscopy (1.8m). It is a field spectrograph (2D spectroscopy), and can work at various resolving powers (up to 25000). It can be transported anywhere, and soon it will be used at CFHT with one NICMOS 3-based camera.Département d'Astrophysique Extragalactique et de Cosmologie     

Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry to quantify chemical erosion processes

Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry data (uranium, potassium and thorium contents) reveal geochemical heterogeneities within the monolithological Hyrôme watershed (ca. 150 km²) in the Armorican massif (western France). Our observations and computations provide important constraints on the spatial distribution and the associated magnitudes of chemical erosion processes at the scale of a small watershed. Two distinct, partially preserved, weathering profiles exhibit a strong correlation between regolith evolution and airborne-derived K/Th ratios, suggesting that the variability is linked to supergene processes. Using both airborne data and laboratory measurements on rock samples, the total net export of potassium has been estimated at 422 ± 50 kg/m² and the chemical weathering rate of potassium at 17 ± 2 kg/km²/a.     

GGR Critical Review of Analytical Developments in 2004–2005

In 2005 Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research embarked upon a new initiative for its readers. Key researchers in various fields of geoanalytical technique development and their application were identified and invited to provide reviews pertinent to their expertise. As noted in the first of these publications "…instead of revisiting the historical context or decades of development in each analytical technique, the goal here has been to capture a snapshot of "hot topics" across a range of fields as represented in the… literature" (Hergt et al . 2005). Rather than prepare an annual review, a decision was taken earlier this year to provide a biennial summary of progress and accomplishments, in this case for the years 2004–2005. The principal techniques employed in Earth and environmental sciences are covered here, and include laser ablation and multicollector ICP-MS, ICP-AES, thermal ionisation and secondary ion mass spectrometry, as well as neutron activation analysis, X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrometry. A comprehensive review of the development of reference materials, often essential to these techniques, is also provided. The contributions assembled serve both to keep readers informed of advances they may be unfamiliar with, but also as a means of showcasing examples of the breadth and depth of work being conducted in these fields.     

青藏高原清水河多年冻土区铁路路基沉降变形特征研究

通过埋设在青藏铁路路基中两个断面内的6条沉降观测管3 a来的地基沉降变形资料,研究了高原多年冻土区铁路路基的沉降变形特征,分析了填筑铁路路基对下伏多年冻土融化变形的影响。研究表明,由于受到填筑路基时赋存在路基填料内的热量的影响,铁路路基下伏多年冻土上限在施工初期会有一个明显的下移沉降,铁路路基也随之有一个较大幅度的工后下沉变动,随着时间的推移,路基下降速率会逐渐下降,但在短时间内不会停止下来,而且由于太阳辐射和路基边坡形状的影响,路基向阳面与背阴面的变形有较大的差别,且在近南北向展布的路基上表现最为明显。