Occurrence of hypogenic caves in a karst region: Examples from central Italy

The caves of the Umbria and Marche regions in central Italy are made up of three-dimensional maze systems that display different general morphologies due to the various geological and structural contexts. At the same time, the internal morphologies of the passages, galleries, and shafts present some similarity, with solutional galleries characterized by cupolas and blind pits, anastamotic passages, roof pendants, and phreatic passages situated at different levels. Some of these caves are still active, as is the case for Frassassi Gorge, Parrano Gorge, and Acquasanta Terme, with galleries that reach the phreatic zone, where there is a rising of highly mineralized water, rich in hydrosulfydric acid, and with erosion of limestone walls and the formation of gypsum. Elsewhere there are fossil caves, such as Monte Cucco and Pozzi della Piana, where large speleothems of gypsum are present 500 m or more above the regional water table. In all of these important karst systems it is possible to recognize basal input points through fracture and intergranular porosity networks at the base of the oxidizing zone in the core of the anticline, where mineralized water rises up from the Triassic evaporitic layers in small hydrogeological circuits. Different underground morphologies can derive from the presence of a water table related to an external stream or from the confined setting of the carbonate rocks, underlying low permeable sedimentary cover, where artesian conditions can occur.     

澳大利亚中部Alice Spring红色表土磁学特征分析

炎热干旱的澳大利亚中部是现代正在形成红色地表的区域。围绕中部Alice Spring地区采集了一系列红色地表样品。这些红色样品按照岩性大致可以分为三类: 砂土、沙丘砂和岩石。通过对这些样品详细的磁学测量, 发现这三类样品存在明显磁学特征差异, 红色砂土和沙丘砂样品磁化率较岩石样品高出许多(砂土和沙丘砂磁化率均值为93.82×10-8m3/kg), 红色岩石样品磁化率值最低(均值为23.2×10-8m3/kg); 三者主要磁性矿物也不尽相同; 磁颗粒均以超顺磁(SP)颗粒为主, 而单畴(SD)颗粒含量少。研究区百分比频率磁化率χfd % 均值为8.28 %, 较黄土高原西部表土(兰州为3.5 %)高出许多。该区现代年降水量约300mm, 比兰州(约330mm)还低, 成土导致百分比频率磁化率增高却比兰州明显高出几倍。这可能反映了黄土高原表土频率磁化率增高与降水量密切相关; 而在澳洲中部可能与持续高温成土条件和作用的时间存在更密切的关系。澳洲中部不论岩石还是表土均以红色为主。磁学实验表明, 砂土和沙丘砂样品均以磁铁矿为主, 三类样品普遍含一定量磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿的贡献, 与地表红色外貌相符。说明澳洲红色地表过程很可能是黑色磁铁矿颗粒表面被长期氧化条件下形成的红色磁赤铁矿/赤铁矿所包裹的现象, 使得澳洲中部广大地区岩石露头和地表沉积物, 普遍形成一层红色染色层。     

Provenance of Conglomerate and Sandstone from Early Permian Shoushangou Formation in Xi Ujimqin, Inner Mongolia: Implications for Understanding Paleo-Asian Ocean Subduction

During the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian, a rift was formed by post-collisional extension after ocean closure or an island arc-related basin formed by Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) subduction in the Xi Ujimqin area. Nevertheless, the closure time of the PAO is still under debate. Thus, to identify the origin of the PAO, the geochemistry and U-Pb age of zircons were analyzed for the extra-large deep marine, polymict clastic boulders and sandstones in the Shoushangou Formation within the basin. The analyses revealed magmatic activity and tectonic evolution. The conglomerates include megaclasts of granite (298.8 ± 9.1?Ma) and granodiorite porphyry (297.1 ± 3.1?Ma), which were deposited by muddy debris flow. Results of this study demonstrated that the boulders of granitoids have the geochemistry of typical I-type granite, characterized by low Zr + Nb + Ce + Y and low Ga/Al values. The granitoid boulders were formed in island arc setting, indicating the presence of arc magmatism in the area that is composed of the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian subduction-related granitoid in southern Xi Ujimqin. Multiple diagrams for determining sedimentary provenance using major and trace elements indicate that Shoushangou sediments originated from continental island arc-related felsic rocks. Detrital zircon U-Pb age cluster of 330–280?Ma was obtained, indicating input from granite, ophiolite, Xilin Gol complex, and Carboniferous sources to the south. The basin was geographically developed behind the arc during the Early Permian period because the outcropped intrusive rocks in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian form a volcanic arc. The comprehensive analyses of source areas suggest that Shoushangou sediments developed in a backarc basin in response to the northward subduction of the PAO. The backarc basin and intrusive rocks, in addition to previously published Late Carboniferous to Early Permian magmatic rocks of arc unit in Xilin Gol, confirm the presence of an Early Permian trench-arc-basin system in the region, represented by the Baolidao arc and Xi Ujimqin backarc basin. This study highlights the importance and potential of combined geochemical and geochronological studies of conglomerates and sandstone for reconstructing the geodynamic setting of a basin.     

Syntectonic emplacement of the Middle Jurassic Concón Mafic Dike Swarm, Coastal Range, central Chile (33° S)

The Concón Mafic Dike Swarm (CMDS) consists of basaltic to andesitic dikes emplaced into deformed Late Paleozoic granitoids during the development of the Jurassic arc of central Chile. The dikes are divided into an early group of thick dikes (5–12 m) and a late group of thin dikes (0.5–3 m). Two new amphibole ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates obtained from undeformed and deformed dikes, constrain the age of emplacement and deformation of the CMDS between 163 and 157 Ma. Based on radiometric ages, field observations, AMS studies and petrographic data, we conclude that the emplacement of the CMDS was syntectonic with the Jurassic arc extension and associated with sinistral displacements along the NW-trending structures that host the CMDS. The common occurrence of already deformed and rotated xenoliths in the dikes indicates that deformation in the granitoids started previously.The early thick dikes and country rocks appear to have been remagnetized during the exhumation of deep-seated coastal rocks in the Early Cretaceous (around 100 Ma). The remanent magnetization in late thin dikes is mainly retained by small amounts of low-Ti magnetite at high temperature and pyrrhotite at low temperature. The magnetization in these dikes appears to be primary in origin. Paleomagnetic results from the thin dikes also indicate that the whole area was tilted  23° to the NNW during cooling of the CMDS.The NNW–SSE extension vectors deduced from the paleomagnetic data and internal fabric of dikes are different with respect to extension direction deduced for the Middle–Late Jurassic of northern Chile, pointing to major heterogeneities along the margin of the overriding plate during the Mesozoic or differences in the mechanisms driving extension during such period.     

2021年3月中旬东亚中部沙尘天气地面起尘量及源区贡献率估算

2021年3月中旬,东亚中部包括中国北方大部分地区,爆发了持续性的沙尘天气,引发了人们对于沙尘源区、防风固沙生态建设工程效益的高度关注.提出了一个新的地表起尘量估算方法,使用高精度、大范围的气象数据,计算了这次沙尘天气的地面起沙条件、大风过程中的输沙状况,估算了不同时刻的起尘量,获得了14、15日蒙古和中国北方荒漠地区...     

内蒙古中部构造混杂带晚古生代-早中生代变质基性岩的地球化学特征及其大地构造意义

内蒙古中部构造混杂带中的变质基性岩可分为南、北两带:南带位于乌兰沟-图林凯地区,被划分至温都尔庙群下部的桑达来因组,主要为一套变质玄武岩和辉长岩、辉绿岩,局部含有超基性岩和碳酸岩透镜体,其中变质基性火山岩以绿片岩相变质为主,局部保留枕状构造或发育蓝片岩,已有的锆石U-Pb年代学数据表明南带变质基性火山岩形成于晚古生代到早中生代;北带位于芒和特-二道井-红格尔一线,主要呈岩块状保存在由绢云绿泥石英片岩、硅质岩、含铁石英岩和少量的大理岩组成的基质中,岩石类型包括蓝片岩、冻蓝闪石片岩、阳起片岩、绿帘角闪片岩等。地球化学研究显示南、北两带的变质基性岩相对低Al(Al2O3=10.66%~14.97%)、低Ti(TiO2=1.27%~1.96%)、高Na(Na2O=1.02%~4.20%)、贫K(K2O=0.02%~0.71%),具有拉斑玄武岩到碱性玄武岩系列的过渡特征,高的Na2O/K2O比值(6.89~454)暗示这些基性岩在变质作用前发生了细碧角斑岩化。不活动元素Zr与其他高场强元素(HSFE;Th、Nb、Hf、Ti)和稀土元素(REE)显示良好的线性关系,表明在变质过程中,高场强元素和稀土元素基本保持稳定,可以反映原岩的性质。根据稀土、微量元素配分型式和相关比值可以将内蒙中部构造混杂带中的变质基性岩分为两类:一类稀土含量相对较低(∑REE=46.00×10-6~78.08×10-6)、轻重稀土分异不明显((La/Yb)N=0.50~1.04),无明显Eu负异常,Hf/Ta=6.82~15.18,具有正常的大洋中脊玄武岩(NMORB)特征;另一类稀土含量相对较高(∑REE=58.66×10-6~151.3×10-6)、轻重稀土分异明显((La/Yb)N=2.28~4.68),无明显Eu负异常,Hf/Ta=2.06~4.70,与富集型洋中脊玄武岩(E-MORB)相似。部分变质基性岩样品轻微富集大离子亲石元素Rb和Ba,可能暗示原岩在就位过程中遭受了微弱的陆壳混染。以上地球化学特征表明这些变质基性岩的原岩可能形成于一个扩张规模有限的陆内洋盆环境。已有的古生物地理学研究表明古亚洲洋闭合后,到晚古生代早期,内蒙古中部地区成为佳-蒙地块的一部分。石炭纪期间整个内蒙古中部发育稳定的浅海相沉积,局部为造山后隆起环境,发育加里东I型花岗岩和花岗闪长岩。从晚石炭世-早二叠世起,内蒙中部开始处于伸展环境:二连浩特到东乌珠穆沁旗一带发育大量的碱性岩;华北克拉通北缘发育很多高钾钙碱性-碱性的花岗岩;内蒙中部地区广泛发育二叠纪大石寨组双峰式火山岩。到中二叠世开始裂解形成若干近东西向分布的海盆,发育哲斯组、林西组浅海相、泻湖相沉积。持续的伸展形成了有限洋盆,发育以温都尔庙群为代表的含铁硅质岩以及晚古生代-早中生代基性岩。由于早中三叠世华北板块与扬子板块全面碰撞和陆内造山过程的影响,有限洋盆最终在早中生代之后发生被动闭合,形成南、北构造混杂带,并导致该基性岩乃至整个内蒙中部的晚古生代沉积发生广泛绿片岩相变质作用,而局部蓝片岩的形成可能与有限洋盆的俯冲作用有关。     

小兴安岭-张广才岭铁力地区侏罗纪辉绿岩年代学、地球化学、锆石Hf同位素特征及其构造意义

小兴安岭-张广才岭地区中生代岩浆活动的成因及动力学背景对于揭示古太平洋的构造演化具有重要意义。本文选取小兴安岭-张广才岭铁力地区出露的辉绿岩墙为研究对象,进行锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学、全岩地球化学和锆石Hf同位素等分析,对该基性岩的形成时代、岩石成因、岩浆源区以及形成的大地构造背景进行讨论。研究表明:辉绿岩锆石具有高Th/U比值( 0.3),CL图像显示微弱的振荡环带结构,具有岩浆锆石特征,~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为187±2Ma,即形成于早侏罗世;该岩体主要经历了橄榄石和单斜辉石的分离结晶作用,未遭受明显的地壳混染作用,并且具有Rb、Ba、U、Pb、K和Sr等流体活动元素相对富集,Th、Nb和Ta等非流体活动性元素相对亏损的地球化学特征,暗示其形成于被俯冲流体富集交代的亏损地幔部分熔融,源区可能为尖晶石-石榴石二辉橄榄岩,部分熔融程度约为6%～20%。结合该地区同时代的岩浆岩、变形构造、矿床特征和黑龙江蓝片岩的相关报道,本文认为小兴安岭-张广才岭地区在中生代期间处于活动大陆边缘环境,其岩浆岩的形成主要是由于存在于佳木斯地块和松嫩-小兴安岭地块间的牡丹江洋西向俯冲造成的。     

Fractal analysis of quartz grain boundary sutures in a granite (Malanjkhand,Central India) — Implications to infer regional tectonics

In the present paper the intensity of serration of quartz grain boundary sutures in the Palaeoproterozoic age Malanjkhand granite (Central India) is quantified using the ruler method of fractal analyses. The northern margin of the granite has proximity to the Central Indian Suture (CIS) that forms the southernmost part of Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) along which amalgamation of the northern and southern Indian shields took place. The fractal dimension (D) of the quartz sutures is calculated in 13 samples collected at varying distance from the CIS. D values are noted to increase in samples towards the CIS. This demonstrates the influence of the tectonic events along the CIS on fabric development in the Malanjkhand granite. Magmatic fabric defined by preferentially oriented feldspar laths and high-T solid-state deformation fabrics are observed in areas distant from the CIS. In contrast, mylonites and low-T fabrics such as bulging quartz grain boundaries occur in proximity to the CIS. It is inferred that the emplacement and high-T fabric development in the Malanjkhand granite was synchronous with regional accretionary processes that occurred in the region during the Palaeoproterozoic. Two different possibilities, one involving a single tectonic event and the other involving multiple tectonic events are discussed to explain the superimposition of low-T over high-T fabric due to which intensity of quartz grain boundary serration increases towards the CIS.     

Late Cambrian microbial build-ups,Llano Area,Central Texas: A three-phase morphological evolution

Although Late Cambrian microbial build-ups were recognized in the Point Peak Member of the Wilberns Formation in Central Texas (USA) nearly 70 years ago, only a few studies focused specifically on the build-ups themselves. This study focuses on the interpretation of the regional (15 measured sections described in literature representing an area of 8000 km²) and local (field and drone photogrammetry studies in a 25 km² area from within south Mason County) microbial build-up occurrence, describes their growth phases and details their interactions with the surrounding inter-build-up sediments. The study establishes the occurrence of microbial build-ups in the lower and upper Point Peak members (the Point Peak Member is informally broken up into the lower Point Peak and the upper Point Peak members separated by Plectotrophia zone). The lower Point Peak Member consists of three <1 m thick microbial bioherms and biostrome units, in addition to heterolithic and skeletal/ooid grainstone and packstone beds. One, up to 14 m thick, microbial unit associated with inter-build-up skeletal and ooid grainstone and packstone beds, intercalated with mixed siliciclastic–carbonate silt beds, characterizes the upper Point Peak member. The microbial unit in the upper Point Peak member displays a three-phase growth evolution, from an initial colonization phase on flat based, rip-up clast lenses, to a second aggradation and lateral expansion phase, into a third well-defined capping phase. The ultimate demise of the microbial build-ups is interpreted to have been triggered by an increase of water turbidity caused by a sudden influx of fine siliciclastics. The lower Point Peak member represents inner ramp shallow subtidal and intertidal facies and the upper Point Peak member corresponds to mid-outer ramp subtidal facies. Understanding the morphological architecture and depositional context of these features is of importance for identifying signatures of early life on Earth.