Dolomitic marbles and associated calc-silicates, Tandilia belt, Argentina: Geothermobarometry, metamorphic evolution, and P–T path

The metamorphic evolution of dolomitic marbles and associated calc-silicate rocks from Punta Tota (NE Tandilia belt, Buenos Aires province, Argentina) has been evaluated through petrographic, geothermobarometric, and fluid inclusion studies. Thin beds of dolomitic marble are intercalated in amphibolites and constitute the upper part of a stratified basement sequence, which starts at the base with garnet migmatites showing a great abundance of pegmatitic segregates, overlain by biotite–garnet gneisses. Peak metamorphic conditions are estimated at 750–800 °C and 5–6 kb, followed by near isobaric cooling to about 500–450 °C and 5.5–6.5 kb. Anhydrous progressive metamorphic assemblages in both marbles (Fo + Cal + Dol + Cpx + Spl) and adjacent calc-silicate rocks (Cpx + An + Cal + Qtz) strongly retrogressed to hydrous minerals (Tr, Tlc, Grs, Czo, Srp) with decreasing temperatures and increasing water activities. The intense rehydration of the rocks relates to the emplacement of volatile-rich pegmatitic bodies (Qtz + Pl + Kfs + Bt + Grt), which also resulted in the crystallization of clinochlore + phlogopite in the marble and biotite + muscovite in the adjacent calc-silicate rocks. Metamorphic reactions based on textural relations and evaluated on a suitable petrogenetic grid, combined with geothermobarometric results and fluid inclusion isochores, indicate a metamorphic evolution along a counterclockwise P–T path. Two probable geotectonic settings for the determined P–T trajectory are proposed: (1) thinning of the crust and overlying supracrustal basin in an ensialic intraplate tectonic setting and (2) development of a marginal back-arc basin, associated with an oceanic–continental convergent plate margin. In both models, the initial extensional regime is followed by a compressional stage, with overthickening of the basement and supracrustal rocks, during the climax of the Transamazonian cycle at approximately 1800 Ma ago. Continuous convergence and blockage of structures produce transition to transcurrent tectonics (transpression) with a consequent moderate uplift.     

Comparative proteome analysis of butachlor-degrading bacteria

A Pseudomonas putida strain, named ER1, was isolated from an agricultural soil and found to actively degrade the herbicide butachlor. The enzyme extracted from ER1 could degrade butachlor. Furthermore, incubation of ER1 in a medium containing 50 mg/kg of butachlor after 3 days resulted in the high butachlor-degrading enzyme activity of ER1. Response of ER1 to butachlor might be related to changes in protein composition at both quantitative and qualitative levels. Total proteins were extracted from control strain (incubated in the medium without butachlor) and the treated strain (incubated in the medium with butachlor). The proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Of the total number of ER1 protein, 11 spots were significantly changed under butachlor stress. Analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry coupled with database searching allowed the function of some proteins which were similar to the hydrolases activity or oxidoreductase activity.     

Dolomite in caves: Recent dolomite formation in oxic, non-sulfate environments. Castañar Cave, Spain

Dolomite is a common mineral in the rock record but rare in recent superficial environments. Where it does occur, it is related to anoxic, sulfate-rich environments and microbial activity. The occurrence of some dolomite deposits in caves, however, indicates that dolomite formation is also possible in oxic, non-sulfate settings. Dolomite is forming at 17 °C and in oxic-vadose conditions on the host rocks and aragonite speleothems of the Castañar Cave, Cáceres, Spain. It appears as spheroids and dumbbells 50–300 μm in diameter that internally consist of micron-sized rhombic to rounded crystals. Initially this dolomite is Ca-rich, non-stoichiometric and poorly ordered. Mg-rich solutions allow the precipitation of metastable Mg-rich carbonates, such as huntite. This soon transforms into this Ca-rich dolomite, which later “ages” to form a more stoichiometric dolomite. These dolomites show similarities to those grown under anoxic, sulfate-rich conditions and their presence in caves provides a different setting that may contribute to the understanding of the “dolomite problem”, including their initial formation and later recrystallization processes.     

Investigation of the deep structure of the Sivas Basin (innereast Anatolia, Turkey) with geophysical methods

Sivas Basin is the easternmost and third largest basin of the Central Anatolian Basins. In this study, gravity, aeromagnetic and seismic data are used to investigate the deep structure of the Sivas Basin, together with the well seismic velocity data, geological observations from the surface and the borehole data of the Celalli-1 well. Basement depth is modeled three-dimensionally (3D) using the gravity anomalies, and 2D gravity and magnetic models were constructed along with a N–S trending profile. Densities of the rock samples were obtained from the distinct parts of the basin surface and in-situ susceptibilities were also measured and evaluated in comparison with the other geophysical and geological data. Additionally, seismic sections, in spite of their low resolution, were used to define the velocity variation in the basin in order to compare depth values and geological cross-section obtained from the modeling studies. Deepest parts of the basin (12–13 km), determined from the 3D model, are located below the settlement of Hafik and to the south of Zara towns. Geometry, extension and wideness of the basin, together with the thickness and lithologies of the sedimentary units are reasonably appropriate for further hydrocarbon exploration in the Sivas Basin that is still an unexplored area with the limited number of seismic lines and only one borehole.     

Geometric and radiometric evaluation of Resouresat-1 sensors

Resourcesat-1, launched in October 2003, is the 10th in the series of Indian Remote Sensing satellites built by the Indian Space Research Organization. Resourcesat-1, also known as IRS-P6, provides continuity to applications developed using data from IRS-1C and IRS-1D satellites. It also offers newer applications owing to enhanced capabilities of the sensors. The satellite contains three different imaging sensors: LISS-IV, with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 5.8 m; LISS-III, with a GSD of 23.5 m; and AWiFS, with a GSD of 56 m at nadir. This paper provides data quality evaluation of the Resourcesat-1 sensors in terms of geometric and radiometric qualities. It is found that the sensors onboard Resourcesat-1 spacecraft has met all the mission set specifications and will help to generate data products with the required image geolocation and radiometric quality.     

Evaluation and use of Resourcesat-I data for agricultural applications

Resourcesat-1 satellite offers a unique opportunity of simultaneous observations at three different spatial scales through LISS-IV, LISS-III^* (improved LISS-III) and AWiFS sensors from a common platform. The sensors have enhanced capabilities in terms of spectral, spatial and radiometric resolution as compared to earlier Indian Remote sensing Satellite sensors. This paper summarizes the results of various studies such as evaluation of sensor characteristics, inter-sensor comparison studies, derivation and validation of surface reflectance measurements, quantification of improvements due to Resourcesat-1 sensors, and their use for various agricultural applications. The studies presented in this paper demonstrate that suit of sensors onboard Resourcesat-1 satellite provides better prospects for several agricultural applications like crop identification, discrimination and crop inventory for some major Indian crops, than its predecessors on IRS satellites.     

Compositional and geochemical characteristics of light hydrocarbons for typical marine oils and typical coal-generated oils in China

Different types of crude oils have different light hydrocarbon compositional and geochemical characteristics. Based on the light hydrocarbon data from two kinds of oils, i.e., coal-generated oils and marine oils in China, light hydrocarbons in marine oils in the Tazhong area are generally relatively enriched in n-heptane, and coal-generated oils from the Turpan Basin are enriched in methylcyclohexane. The K1 values, reported by Mango （1987）, range from 0.97 to 1.19 in marine oils, basically consistent with what was reported by Mango on light hydrocarbons in terms of the majority of the crude oil data. But the K1 values of coal-generated oils are particularly high （1.35-1.66） and far greater than those of marine oils; heptane values in marine oils, ranging from 32.3% to 45.4%, and isoheptane values, ranging from 1.9 to 3.7, are respectively higher than those of coal-generated oils, indicating that the oils are in the high-maturity stage. In addition, expulsion temperatures of coal-generated oils from the Turpan Basin are obviously lower than those of marine oils from the Tazhong area.     

珠江口盆地珠一坳陷古近系构造样式分析

研究分析了近年来构造样式的研究现状和新的进展,结合珠江口盆地珠一坳陷张性构造环境下构造发育的特点,建立了利用三维空间构造信息的构造样式划分方案。据此对珠一坳陷的各类构造样式进行了研究。根据盆地(坳陷)结构、断层组合及动力学机制,将珠一拗陷构造样式划分为断块与板式正断层组合构造,断块与铲式正断层组合构造,转换带构造,潜山披覆构造,底辟构造和重力背形构造等6大类13小类。研究还指出了基于构造样式的油气有利聚集部位及勘探方向。     

雷达卫星影像中输电导线散射斑的相位时间序列稳定性分析

分析输电导线散射斑相位的几何关系,选取20幅时间跨度约为1年的TerraSAR条带模式影像,对其中两基铁塔之间6条输电导线形成的散射斑相位时间序列进行分析。文中统计分析构成导线散射斑像元的相位离散度,其标准差约为0.2弧度,表明单个散射斑相位稳定。选取铁塔顶部点的导线散射斑为参考点,与另外5个导线散射斑做差分相位时间序列分析,分析导线之间高程差的理论计算值与实际值的一致性。分析结果显示,导线散射斑差分相位序列的波动可达2弧度以上,与导线间高程差产生的相位不一致。     

Mini SAR遥感系统测图

Mini SAR遥感系统,用微小型SAR做传感器,通过小型飞机或无人机为遥感平台获取地物信息,但载机平台在空中易受气流影响而偏离预设航线产生运动误差。文中首先分析载机平台运动特点,介绍系统中IMU/GPS组合导航数据预处理过程,论述载机平台转动误差、速度误差对SAR成像距离模型的影响。MiniSAR遥感系统获取的影像清晰,可用于制作正射影像图、基础地理信息库更新、灾害监测应急等领域,但不足之处在于影像中某些金属目标出现方位散焦现象。