News from the seabed – Geological characteristics and resource potential of deep-sea mineral resources

Marine minerals such as manganese nodules, Co-rich ferromanganese crusts, and seafloor massive sulfides are commonly seen as possible future resources that could potentially add to the global raw materials supply. At present, a proper assessment of these resources is not possible due to a severe lack of information regarding their size, distribution, and composition. It is clear, however, that manganese nodules and Co-rich ferromanganese crusts are a vast resource and mining them could have a profound impact on global metal markets, whereas the global resource potential of seafloor massive sulfides appears to be small. These deep-sea mineral commodities are formed by very different geological processes resulting in deposits with distinctly different characteristics. The geological boundary conditions also determine the size of any future mining operations and the area that will be affected by mining. Similarly, the sizes of the most favorable areas that need to be explored for a global resource assessment are also dependent on the geological environment. Size reaches 38 million km² for manganese nodules, while those for Co-rich crusts (1.7 million km²) and massive sulfides (3.2 million km²) are much smaller. Moreover, different commodities are more abundant in some jurisdictions than in others. While only 19% of the favorable area for manganese nodules lies within the Exclusive Economic Zone of coastal states or is covered by proposals for the extension of the continental shelf, 42% of the favorable areas for massive sulfides and 54% for Co-rich crusts are located in EEZs.     

有机质对海底沉积物中粘土矿物X射线衍射分析结果的影响

X射线衍射法广泛应用于分析粘土矿物的含量和结晶特征,由于粘土矿物易与有机质结合形成有机-粘土复合体,是否去除有机质对分析结果有很大影响,实验结果表明影响最大的是伊-蒙混层矿物(含蒙脱石)和伊利石的含量,为得到可靠实验数据,必须重视对样品的前处理工作,对不同批次样品应该保持一致的处理程序。     

全球三大洋海山钴结壳资源量估算

钴结壳具有Co、Ni、Cu和Mn及其他金属的潜在矿产资源和储存在结壳层中古环境信息的双重意义。与深海多金属结核和热液硫化物矿床相比,具有较高Co、Ni和Pt含量的海山钴结壳有可能成为商业勘探的潜在目标。为合理地估算出全球三大洋海山钴结壳资源量,基于我国西太平洋海山钴结壳拖网采样调查资料和对太平洋海山钴结壳资源分布规律和钴结壳矿区圈定参数指标的深入研究,按海山不同高度、不同洋壳年龄赋予不同结壳厚度,进而计算出全球三大洋海山钴结壳分布面积为3 039 452.14km2和干结壳资源量为(1 081.166 1~2 162.332 2)×108 t。太平洋海山钴结壳分布面积为2 123 087.12km2和干结壳资源量为(513.244~1 026.488)×108 t,大西洋海山钴结壳分布面积为512 509.74km2和干结壳资源量为(116.503 2~233.006 4)×108 t,印度洋海山钴结壳分布面积为403 855.28km2和干结壳资源量为(81.484 9~162.969 8)×108 t。三大洋海山钴结壳的Mn、Co、Ni和Cu金属量分别为(138.848 0~277.696 0)×108 t,(3.967 6~7.935 2)×108 t、(2.793 6~5.587 2)×108 t和(0.825 1~1.650 2)×108 t。根据钴结壳的Co含量、Co通量和厚度相关分析,所赋予的钴结壳厚度占理论推测厚度的6.10%~12.20%,这与Ku等得出"钴结壳生长时间约占其整个生命史4%"的认识非常相近。三大洋海山钴结壳实测厚度与赋值厚度对比分析表明,太平洋海山钴结壳赋值厚度平均值为1.87cm,实测厚度平均值为1.77cm,相对误差为5.35%,大西洋和印度洋相对误差分别为18.18%和23.23%。研究数据表明按海山高度和洋壳年龄所赋的钴结壳厚度基本合理,估算出的钴结壳资源量基本可靠。本文首次估算出三大洋海山钴结壳资源量,为整个海盆和三大洋海山钴结壳资源量估算提供了新方法。     

Factors to consider in evaluating the management and conservation effectiveness of a whale sanctuary to protect and conserve the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

This paper examines key factors used in protecting the migratory North Atlantic right whale within the context of a marine protected area (MPA) system, using the Grand Manan Whale Conservation Area, in New Brunswick Canada, as a case study example. Designated as a conservation area in 1993, before the Oceans Act came into effect, the Grand Manan conservation area currently does not form part of the Canadian network of MPAs. Given the possibility that MPA designation may occur, the paper examines factors that should be considered in meeting International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) MPA design criteria and IUCN evaluation model requirements. An MPA evaluation framework based on an IUCN evaluation model (Hockings et al., 2000 [1]) is designed to assess the effectiveness of an MPA in protecting a migratory right whale. Case study results indicate that current management and research activities for the Grand Manan conservation area address most governance, biophysical and socio-economic issues under an IUCN evaluation framework. On a site basis, it is recommended that the Grand Manan conservation area be designated as a component of the Canadian network of MPAs and that regulations be developed and implemented under the Species at Risk Act to clearly define activities considered damaging or destructive to right whale critical habitat. Recommendations also suggest the preparation of a combined site management-action plan for the Grand Manan conservation area indicating how activities specified in North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Strategy will be implemented locally. On a regional and international basis, recommendations call for an internationally coordinated and integrated approach to right whale protection within the context of a network of designated critical habitat areas. Recommended activities include: continued Canadian participation in cross-border research and actions to mitigate threats to the right whales over their migratory range; development of a regional right whale management and monitoring strategy; and designation of additional critical habitats in national/international waters. It is further recommended that the evaluation framework developed by this paper be used as a model in assessing the conservation and management effectiveness of MPAs protecting other migratory marine species.     

胶州湾双壳类壳体中的Ca,Mg,Mn,Sr元素组成及影响因素

探讨影响双壳类元素组成的可能因素,从胶州湾沿岸不同取样点采集黄海近海常见的菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapesphilippinarum)、褶牡蛎(Oystrea denselamellosa)和紫贻贝(Mytilus galloprovincialis),分别测量了3种壳体的矿物物相类型和壳体中的Ca,Mg,Mn,Sr元素组成。研究表明:3种壳体分别属于文石质、方解石质和混合质壳;Ca,Mn元素含量在菲律宾蛤仔、褶牡蛎和紫贻贝壳体中没有差别,而Mg元素含量在菲律宾蛤仔壳体中含量较低,在褶牡蛎壳体和紫贻贝壳体中含量较高,Sr元素恰好与Mg元素相反。双壳类壳体中元素组成主要受壳体矿物物相类型的制约,而与水体环境要素之间的关系弱。     

柴达木盆地第三系咸水湖相生油岩古沉积环境地球化学特征

在系统分析柴达木盆地西部第三系咸水湖相生油岩样品的微量元素、有机物、粘土矿物组成的基础上,揭示了研究区生油岩的无机元素和有机质组成特征;并结合沉积环境的无机与有机地球化学指标,重建了生油岩沉积时的古沉积环境。生油岩的B、Cl-及伽玛蜡烷含量表明,沉积时的水介质条件是半咸水—咸水环境,并伴随湖盆沉积中心北迁过程各层位地层的盐度发生规律性时空]化;生油岩的Fe2 /Fe3 、S2-、Pr/Ph比值、藿烷碳数分布模式及黄铁矿含量反映其沉积时的沉积环境为强还原性;粘土矿物组合特征及含量揭示这些生油岩的沉积相带介于中心咸湖相和边缘咸湖相之间。     

楚科奇海盆M04柱晚更新世以来沉积古环境记录

对"中国第五次北极科考"采自楚科奇海盆的M04柱进行粒度、冰筏碎屑、黏土矿物、岩心XRF扫描、沉积物颜色分析,初步建立了楚科奇海盆晚更新世MIS4期以来的沉积地层框架。MIS4期以来,楚科奇海盆M04柱沉积物粒度和黏土矿物组成具有明显的冰期/间冰期变化特征,冰期沉积物粒度分布以双峰态为主,由洋流搬运和海冰搬运沉积组分组成,伊利石含量高、高岭石含量低;间冰期沉积物具有三峰态粒度分布特征,由海冰搬运、洋流搬运和冰山搬运沉积组分组成,伊利石含量低、高岭石含量高。通过M04柱黏土矿物组合类型与北冰洋边缘海盆的表层沉积物黏土矿物组合类型对比表明,晚更新世以来楚科奇海盆沉积环境发生显著变化:温暖的间冰期受波弗特涡流驱动,波弗特海为研究区的物源输入提供了主要贡献;寒冷的冰期表层环流呈反向输运,细颗粒物源碎屑以东西伯利亚海的输入为主。     

粉晶X射线衍射法在岩石学和矿物学研究中的应用

X射线衍射是测定物质结构的主要分析手段,广泛应用于物理学、化学、医药学、金属学、材料学、工程技术学、地质学和矿物学。文章综述了粉晶X射线衍射法在造岩矿物、黏土矿物、岩组学、类质同象和结晶度的测定等领域发挥的重要作用。随着测量技术的发展,粉晶X射线衍射在矿物结晶过程中的研究、矿物表面研究、矿物定量相分析和矿物晶体结构测定方面均有新的应用。     

大宗急缺矿产和战略性新兴产业矿产调查工程进展与主要成果

钾盐是关乎国计民生的大宗急缺矿产; 稀有金属、稀土金属、稀散金属、萤石、晶质石墨、金刚石等矿产是国内外公认的战略性新兴矿产。根据国家建设的需求,2015年中国地质调查局设立了“大宗急缺矿产和战略性新兴产业矿产调查工程”。该工程以查明重要矿种的资源潜力,取得找矿突破为目标,以矿调为手段,以“五位一体”为部署原则,进行了全国重点地区大型资源基地和重要矿集区相关矿种的成矿规律和找矿方法创新研究,同时开展了矿产资源的综合利用研究。经过3年的努力已取得了一批找矿成果,丰富了成矿理论,创新了找矿方法,支撑了赣南、闽西等革命老区脱贫攻坚,带动了川西等地区的经济发展,对保障国家农业安全和战略性新兴产业顺利发展发挥了积极作用。概要介绍了在钾盐找矿、华南“三稀”金属矿产调查、川西大型锂矿资源基地建设、新疆奇台超大型晶质石墨矿找矿等方面取得的新进展; 介绍了在华南、华北、中西部等主要成矿带“三稀”矿产、晶质石墨、萤石等关键矿种成矿规律研究、成矿模式构建、资源潜力评价、重点靶区优选、技术方法组合等方面取得的成果; 介绍了在公益性基础性调查研究中所起到的示范引领作用。钾盐“二层楼”成矿模式和锂矿“五层楼+地下室层脉组合”成矿理论和找矿模型得以完善,新发现靶区40处,矿产地14处,大型资源基地2处,新增KCl资源量3.5亿t,伟晶岩型锂资源量31.75万t,铍资源量1.6万t,石墨资源量7 378万t,脉石英56万t,萤石1 159万t,金刚石资源量2.29万克拉,新增重稀土资源量12万t,含磷锂铝石岩体型锂资源量38万t。该工程取得的进展与成果对保障国家资源安全和战略性新兴产业的顺利发展具有重要的现实意义。