A Loop Current experiment: Field and remote measurements

An overview of a new comprehensive observational study of the Loop Current (LC) in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that encompassed full-depth and near-bottom moorings, pressure-equipped inverted echo sounders (PIES) and remote sensing is presented. The study array was designed to encompass the LC from the Campeche Bank to the west Florida escarpment. This overview centers about principal findings as they pertain to mesoscale dynamics. Two companion papers provide in-depth analyses. Three LC anticyclonic eddy separation events were observed with good 3D spatial coverage over the 2½ year extent of the field study; the three separations exhibited similar processes after the LC had extended into the eastern Gulf. Large scale (∼300 km wavelength, 40–60 day periods) southward propagating meanders developed on the eastern side of the LC over deep (∼3000 m) water that were the result of baroclinic instability between the upper layer meandering jet and lower layer cyclones and anticyclones. The lower layer was only highly energetic during relatively short (∼2–3 months) intervals just prior to or during eddy detachments because of baroclinic instability. The steepening of the meanders lead to a pinch-off of LC eddies. The deep lower-layer eddies, constrained by the closed topography of the southeastern Gulf, propagated westward across the detachment zone and appear to assist in achieving separation. Small scale (∼50–100 km, periods ∼10 days) frontal eddies, observed on the western side of the LC along the Campeche Bank slope, decay over the deep water of the northern part of an extended LC, and have little influence on lower layer eddies, the east side meanders and the eddy detachment processes.     

苏鲁超高压变质带超镁铁岩深部碳酸盐交代作用的证据

中国大陆科学钻探工程第三先导孔(PP3钻孔),位于秦岭-大别-苏鲁超高压造山带的东部,赣榆岗上超镁铁岩体中。钻孔中超镁铁岩的岩性包括纯橄岩和石榴超镁铁岩等,该超镁铁岩的SiO_2含量均值在43.68%,变化范围为41.9%~47.11%;MgO均值在44.71%,变化范围为47.12%~48.62%;Cr_2O_3均值在0.39%,变化范围为0.30%~0.47%;CaO均值0.12%(变化范围为0.006%~0.34%);Na2O均值在0.05%(变化范围为0.005%~0.32%)。超镁铁质岩的Mg#(Mg/(Mg+Fe)×100)稳定在91.9~93.0之间,Cr#(Cr/(Cr+Fe)×100)均值在38,较高;变化在30~45之间,变化小。其中闪石化金云母超镁铁岩具有最低的值(Cr#=19)。Ni含量在2100×10~(-6)~2500×10~(-6),CaO含量均值为0.13%,Al_2O_3含量均值为0.41%。岩体成分均一,表现为高镁,低钙和低铝的特征。超镁铁岩的不相容元素和稀土元素总量很低,稀土元素总量均值在0.60×10~(-6)。(La/Yb)N比值在6.9~51.2,均值在16.1,重稀土元素严重亏损,是中国东部最亏损的地幔岩之一。超镁铁岩中橄榄石成分(Fo在88.7~93.1之间,Fa在6.8~11.1之间),从早期到晚期,岩石Fo值从93→91~92.4→88.7~89.1。铬尖晶石Cr#值从51到89变化,TiO_2和MnO_2值分别低于0.26%和0.46%,晚期铬尖晶石Cr#值增大,Ti含量减小。单斜辉石由透辉石(Wo_(45.9)8En_(47.89)Fs_(2.73)Ac_(3.39))和顽透辉石(Wo_(27.61)En_(68.78)Fs_(2.27)Ac_(1.34))两种,透辉石(Cpx_Ⅰ)在顽透辉石(Cpx_Ⅱ)中呈被交代的残余粒状。角闪石和金云母呈明显的条带状和脉状,局部发育。岩石具有弱的Na和K交代作用,较高的Sr和Ba等元素,亏损高场强元素(HSFE),以及特征的稀土元素和微量元素配分曲线;岩石中主要组成矿物橄榄石从早期到晚期,矿物Mg#指数下降(Mg#从93→88);单斜辉石中可看到透辉石被顽透辉石交代现象;次生角闪石和金云母的形成等特征都显示超镁铁岩经历了碳酸盐交代作用。在超镁铁岩矿物橄榄石中发现细小白云石和菱镁矿等碳酸盐矿物更有力证明了苏鲁超高压变质带超镁铁岩经历了深部碳酸盐交代作用。PP3钻孔超镁铁岩属于强烈亏损地幔岩区域,单斜辉石和角闪石等含水矿物在超镁铁岩中含量低,交代作用的范围和规模有限,且交代作用在动力学上是快速的和不平衡的过程。     

纪念中国大陆科学钻探实施15周年、国际大陆科学钻探委员会成立20周年

大陆科学钻探是“入地”的重要手段,是“深入地球内部的望远镜”。中国大陆科学钻探事业开展15周年以来,取得重要进展,获得全球地学界的高度关注,特别是2001年实施的中国第一口大陆科学深钻 （5158m）,成果辉煌,影响巨大。继后,又开展了青海湖环境科学钻探、松辽盆地白垩纪科学钻探、柴达木盐湖环境资源科学钻探,汶川地震断裂带科学钻探以及中国大陆科钻资源集成计划,总共钻进约 35km,显示了中国科学钻探方兴未艾的景象。为纪念国际大陆科学钻探20周年（1996~2016）和中国大陆科学钻探实施15周年（2001~2016）,本文回顾中国大陆科学钻探实施15年来的艰辛和奋斗的历程,展望中国大陆科学钻探的未来。     

Geochemical fractionation of Ni,Cu and Pb in the deep sea sediments from the Central Indian Ocean Basin: An insight into the mechanism of metal enrichment in sediment

Metal speciation study in combination with major element chemistry of deep sea sediments provided possible metal enrichment pathways in sediments collected from environmentally different locations of Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIB). Metal speciation study suggests that Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide phase was the major binding phase for Ni, Cu and Pb in the sediments. The second highest concentrations of all these metals were present within the structure of the sediments. Easily reducible oxide phase (within the Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide binding phases) was the major host for all the three metals in the studied sediments. Major element chemistry of these sediments revealed that there was an increased tendency of Cu and Ni to get incorporated into the deep sea sediment via the non-terrigenous Mn-oxyhydroxide fraction, whereas, Pb gets incorporated mostly via amorphous Fe-hydroxides into the sediment from the CIB. This is the first attempt to provide an insight into the mechanism of metal enrichment in sediment that host vast manganese nodule.     

郯庐断裂带张八岭隆起段晚中生代岩浆岩继承锆石U-Pb年代学:源区属性及构造意义

大别与苏鲁造山带之间的郯庐断裂带张八岭隆起段,构成了华北与扬子板块之间的断裂边界。该边界带的深部结构状态长期以来存在着不同的认识。本文利用张八岭隆起带沿线出露的晚中生代岩浆岩中继承锆石U-Pb年代学信息,结合地球物理资料及Nd、Pb、Hf同位素资料,分析了其深部的岩浆源区属性及结构状态。张八岭隆起带北段晚中生代岩浆岩继承锆石年龄以1.9~2.7Ga为主,最大峰值年龄为2.5Ga;南段继承锆石年龄以2.2~2.6Ga为主,峰值年龄也为2.5Ga;郯庐断裂带庐江段则以含大量新元古代锆石为特征,在0.7Ga形成显著的分布峰值,并有早元古和少量太古代年龄信息。分析结果表明,张八岭隆起带北段的晚中生代岩浆岩源区为华北下地壳,南段的源区兼有华北和扬子陆壳的信息,而更南部庐江段则以扬子地壳源区为特征。电法剖面揭示,郯庐断裂主边界在张八岭隆起带下向南东倾斜,从而深部存在华北地壳;而南部庐江段转变为向北西陡倾,从而深部皆为扬子地壳。郯庐断裂深部产状特征支持其印支期应为斜向汇聚边界。而其中三叠纪继承锆石的缺失指示隆起带上变质岩应为原地岩石,而非来自大别造山带。     

滇西兰坪盆地金顶铅锌矿盐构造发育特征及其与成矿关系

滇西兰坪中新生代盆地广泛发育盐岩层系。通过对金顶超大型铅锌矿区的露天采厂和地下采坑的最新野外调查及大量钻孔资料的综合分析,研究区盐岩层系具有多期、多阶段运动的特点,厚度分布极不均一,它们作为区域推覆构造作用的滑脱层,对盐上层构造变形起着重要控制作用,形成一系列储矿构造。研究表明,矿区盐构造主要包括盐枕、盐背斜、盐焊接、盐穿刺、盐推覆、盐岩滑脱-断层相关褶皱组合等多种盐构造变形样式。这些盐构造的形成演化及变形机制主要受到推覆挤压缩短作用、基底断层作用和塑性流动汇聚作用、盐下和盐上层断裂滑脱作用等控制,主要沿推覆断裂构造带呈串珠状分布。金项矿区盐构造分为两个阶段:古新世–始新世挤压–拗陷层内变形阶段,形成盐枕、隆升较低的盐背斜等整合型盐构造;渐新世的逆冲推覆–盐岩滑脱阶段,受强烈的挤压推覆作用而形成盐墙、盐株等盐穿刺型构造。盐构造不同阶段的变形演化对金属元素富集成矿起到关键作用,其流动变形而形成的盐构造圈闭促使了金属聚集成矿。     

桩锚支护深基坑施工过程变形特征分析

以济南市某大型深基坑工程为依托,通过FLAC3D对深基坑工程不同施工阶段的变形特性进行了数值计算分析;桩锚支护深基坑,地表最大竖向变行产生在距离基坑边缘10 m位置处,且最大竖向变形量为46.16 mm;最大水平位移发生在桩顶冠梁位置处,最大水平位移为53.45 mm,是基坑支护最薄弱环节,基坑呈现三角形状向内侧滑动的趋势。     

内蒙古大青山地区英安岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其构造意义

在内蒙古大青山地区逆冲推覆构造所截切的英安岩中获得锆石~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb表面年龄加权平均值为1870±19Ma,认为英安岩为华北克拉通古元古代末—新元古代一次裂解事件的产物.同时,据安山岩锆石U-Pb年龄谐和度(102)较好的锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U表面年龄436±4Ma及英安岩锆石U-Pb年龄谐和度(104)较好的锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U表面年龄153±2Ma和160±2Ma,表明大青山地区逆冲推覆构造存在构造复活或构造追踪现象。这一认识为大青山地区逆冲推覆构造的研究积累了新的资料,提供了新的研究思路。     

A Preliminary Study on the Soft–Sediment Deformation Structures in the Late Quaternary Lacustrine Sediments at Tashkorgan, Northeastern Pamir, China

This study identified soft–sediment deformation structures(SSDS) of seismic origin from lacustrine sediments in the late Quaternary paleo–dammed lake at Tashkorgan, northeastern Pamir. The observed deformation structures include sand dykes, liquefied diapir and convolute structures, gravity induced SSDS, and thixotropic pillar and tabular structures. We conducted a preliminary study on the morphology, formation and trigger mechanisms of pillar and tabular structures formed by liquefaction of underlying coarse sand and thixotropy of the upper silty clay. The regional tectonic setting and distribution of lacustrine strata indicate that the most probable trigger for the SSDS in lacustrine sediments was seismic activity, with an approximate earthquake magnitude of M6.0; the potential seismogenic fault is the southern part of the Kongur normal fault extensional system. AMS 14 C dating results indicate that the SSDS were formed by seismic events occurring between 26050±100 yr BP and 22710±80 yr BP, implying intense fault activity in this region during the late Pleistocene. This study provides new evidence for understanding tectonic activity and regional geodynamics in western China.     

Vertebrate tracks from the Paso Córdoba fossiliferous site (Anacleto and Allen formations,Upper Cretaceous), Northern Patagonia,Argentina: Preservational,environmental and palaeobiological implications

The Paso Córdoba fossiliferous site (Río Negro, Northern Patagonia) is one of the first Mesozoic fossiliferous localities studied in Argentina. There, turtle, crocodile and dinosaur remains as well as dinosaur and bird tracks have been recorded. Recently, a new locality with vertebrate tracks, the Cañadón del Desvío, has been discovered in Paso Córdoba. Six track-bearing layers were located in outcrops belonging to the Anacleto (lower to middle Campanian, Neuquén Group) and Allen (middle Campanian-lower Maastrichtian, Malargüe Group) formations. The Cañadón del Desvío locality reveals that vertebrate trace fossils are distributed in two distinct environments, floodplains of a meandering fluvial to shallow lacustrine system and a wet interdune deposit that is associated to an aeolian setting. Also, in the logged section several soft sediment deformation structures were found. In regard of this, a sedimentary facies analysis is provided in order to assess the palaeoenvironmental implications of this new record. The analysed tracks are preserved in cross-sections, on bedding-planes and as natural casts. When it is possible, the tracking surface, true tracks, undertracks and overtracks/natural casts have been identified and the track preservation and the formation history of the tracksite are discussed. Only two tracks preserve enough anatomical details to relate them with their trackmakers, in this case hadrosaurid dinosaurs. The stratigraphical, facial and palaeoenvironmental data of this study support the idea of a transitional passage between the Anacleto and Allen Formation in Paso Córdoba. The presence of hadrosaurid dinosaur tracks suggests that the upper part of the log, where this kind of tracks were found, likely belong to Allen Formation due to this dinosaurs appear in the Southern Hemisphere in this epoch. The sum of osteological and ichnological remains improve the Paso Córdoba palaeofaunistic knowledge. The presence of six different levels in which the trackmakers walked reflects the abundance of vertebrates in the transition between Anacleto and Allen formations.