Deciphering the geochronology of a large granitoid pluton (Karkonosze Granite,SW Poland): an assessment of U–Pb zircon SIMS and Rb–Sr whole-rock dates relative to U–Pb zircon CA-ID-TIMS

Granitoid plutons are often difficult to radiometrically date precisely due to the possible effects of protracted and complex magmatic evolution, crustal inheritance, and/or partial re-setting of radiogenic clocks. However, apart from natural/geological issues, methodological and analytical problems may also contribute to blurring geochronological data. This may be exemplified by the Variscan Karkonosze Pluton (SW Poland). High-precision chemical abrasion (CA) ID-TIMS zircon data indicate that the two main rock types, porphyritic and equigranular, of this igneous body were both emplaced at ca. 312 Ma, while field evidence points to a younger age for the latter. This is in contrast to the earlier reported SIMS (SHRIMP) zircon dates that scattered mainly between ca. 322 and 302 Ma. In an attempt to overcome this dispersion, at least in part caused by radiogenic lead loss, the CA technique was used before SHRIMP analysis. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age obtained in this way from a sample of porphyritic granite is 322 ± 3 Ma, ~16 Ma older than the untreated zircons; another porphyritic sample yielded a mean age of 319 ± 3 Ma, and the mean age was 318 ± 4 Ma for an equigranular granite sample – all three somewhat older than the age obtained by ID-TIMS. Older SIMS dates of ca. 318–322 Ma might indicate either faint inheritance or that zircon domains crystallized during earlier stages of Karkonosze igneous evolution. The ID-TIMS results have been used to re-assess the whole-rock Rb–Sr data. Excluding a porphyritic granite with excess radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr, it appears that isotopic homogeneity was achieved for most samples during the 312 Ma event, as shown by a pooled 21-point isochron with an age of 311 ± 3 Ma and an initial ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7067 ± 4. Local crustal contamination by stopping of metapelitic material might account for the more radiogenic Sr isotope signature observed in biotite-rich schlieren. A critical re-evaluation of all available SHRIMP data using the ID-TIMS age of 312 Ma as a benchmark suggests that the observed scatter may be partly attributed to analytical and methodological problems, in particular failing to distinguish subtly discordant spots from truly concordant ones, which is a serious limitation of the microbeam analytical approach. Other likely pitfalls contributing to geochronological scatter are identified in the published Re–Os ages on molybdenite and the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data on micas. A scenario postulating a 15–20 milliion year evolution of the Karkonosze Pluton cannot be established on the basis of available geochronological data, which rather supports a brief igneous event, although a more protracted pre-emplacement evolution is possible. A short timescale for crystallization of large igneous bodies, as suggested by the ID-TIMS data from the Karkonosze Granite, is in line with models of transport of granitic magmas through dikes to form large plutons.     

The use of local stone in the buildings of the Isle of Wight

The charm of the Isle of Wight, so much appreciated by visitors and the local population alike, is very much a combination of its delightful scenery and unique assemblage of vernacular buildings. These buildings range from isolated farmhouses to elaborate manor houses, castles and churches all constructed using the indigenous stone resources of the island. Today, these stone buildings, many of which date back to medieval times, are increasingly in need of conservation repair to maintain them for future generations. Essential to such conservation work is the safeguarding of the island's indigenous building stone sources as many of the stones used are unique to the island and no longer quarried. Protecting these stone sources could also provide stone for new building projects which would help to further enhance the character of the island's towns and villages.     

Rugose corals from the Upper Ordovician Sholeshook Limestone of southwest Wales with an assessment of the coral affinities and biofacies

Limestone horizons of Upper Ordovician (Katian) age in southwest Wales contain diverse fossil faunas including rugose corals. The existence of Ordovician Rugosa in Wales was first reported by Murchison in the 1830s, but since then hardly any specimens have been documented systematically until this present study. Newly collected material from the area around Llanddowror (Carmarthenshire) has now confirmed the diversity of rugose corals in the Sholeshook Limestone (Katian age), an arenaceous limestone originating from the shelf edge of the palaeocontinent Avalonia. The majority of the specimens are preserved as moulds. This means that in many instances preservation of the fossils was insufficient for specific identification; nevertheless, it was possible to document a diverse rugose coral fauna, including Helicelasma, probable Grewingkia and Kenophyllum, and a potential early mucophyllid. While associated with considerable difficulties, as some diagnostic features of Rugosa are not visible in moulds, it is demonstrated here that the work with such specimens can result in faunal information which would otherwise be unobtainable. An assemblage of rugose and tabulate corals in the Sholeshook Limestone can be differentiated from a similar assemblage in the neighbouring Robeston Wathen Limestone which has a slightly different lithology. The fauna has strong similarities with other Avalonian (Irish, English, Belgian) as well as Baltic (Estonian and Norwegian) rugose coral faunas. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Early Bartonian orthophragminids (Foraminiferida) from Reineche Limestone,north African platform,Tunisia: taxonomy and paleobiogeographic implications

The orthophragminids in lower Bartonian Reineche Limestone member, a fossiliferous shallow-marine unit exposed in Cap Bon peninsula in Tunisia, are represented by 17 species assigned to Discocyclinidae Galloway 1928 and Orbitoclypeidae Brönnimann 1946. These taxa, associated with nummulitids and alveolinids, belong to the lineages of Discocyclina Gümbel 1870, Nemkovella, 1987, Orbitoclypeus Silvestri 1907, and Asterocyclina Gümbel 1870, described for the first time from north Africa lying at the southern margin of Tethyan ocean during Paleogene. We identified Nemkovella evae, previously not recorded in upper Lutetian/lower Bartonian and younger Eocene deposits of northern Tethyan platforms, and erected a new subspecies, N. evae reinechensis n. ssp. A comparison of Reineche orthophraminids, assigned to orthophragmines zone (OZ) 12 and shallow benthic zone (SBZ 17), to the well-described coeval assemblages at northern Tethyan platforms in Italy, Hungary, Turkey, and to those in Kutch Basin in the Indian subcontinent suggests that some species are confined to certain paleogeographic domains. Orbitoclypeus haynesi, the only orbitoclypeid and the most abundant orthophragminid in lower Bartonian deposits in Kutch, appears to be the most common orbitoclypeid in Reineche Limestone. In Europe, this species is not known and is replaced by Orbitoclypeus varians, the most common orbitoclypeid in middle Eocene of central Europe. Both species occur in varying proportions in marine successions in Turkey. Asterocyclina sireli, identified so far only in Turkey, occurs in Reineche Limestone and in lower Bartonian deposits in Kutch. This species is recorded for the first time in the Indian subcontinent. Relying on present study, as well as our recent studies in Kutch Basin, we conclude that the generic and specific diversity of orthophragminids decreases eastward from the peri-Mediterranean region to Indian subcontinent and to the western Pacific.     

杭州湾南岸平原海蚀地貌的发现及意义

杭州湾南岸是我国近代海岸线变化最大的海岸带之一.前人曾利用史料、遥感、土地利用等手段对这一带岸线的变化进行过大量的研究.最近,笔者等在慈溪市滨海平原中距海岸线2～3 km的二座孤山—伏龙山和海王山发现了海蚀崖、海蚀沟、海蚀穴等海蚀地貌,从而提供了对历史海岸线位置有明确指示意义的地质地貌证据.分析认为此乃20世纪60年代...     

土壤表面划痕与颗粒碰撞磨蚀实验研究

在沙漠地区,风蚀作用可以导致土壤表面破碎,土壤表面的性质不同,破碎的程度也不尽相同。划痕方法在测量土壤表面的比研磨能量上具有较好的效果,使用通用微型摩擦计(UMT)测量沙土、沙壤土、粉沙壤土、壤土,粉沙粘壤土和粉沙粘土6种不同土壤类型的土壤表面相对磨蚀能量和相对表面硬度,发现土壤表面相对硬度对土壤表面相对磨蚀能量有很大的影响。对沙土,沙壤土、粉沙壤土、壤土、粉沙粘壤土和粉沙粘土6种不同类型的土壤表面进行了颗粒碰撞磨蚀试验,结果表明,土壤表面的碰撞磨蚀速率与碰撞颗粒速度的平方成正比、土壤平均颗粒大小的2.6次方成正比,而与土壤表面相对磨蚀能量的1.5次方成反比,与土壤相对硬度的1.7次方成反比。     

贵州豹子洞石灰岩与红土型金矿藓类植物比较研究

红土型金矿是岩溶地区新发现的一类金矿类型,其特点是石灰岩基岩与金矿红土混生。为了探索岩溶地区苔藓植物特征, 2004年8月我们对贵州安龙县豹子洞石灰岩和红土型金矿苔藓植物进行了比较研究。野外在红土型金矿区和石灰岩各设5个采样点, 共观察和采集了105份苔藓标本。对苔藓植物的区系组成、地理成分、结构及物种多样性进行统计分析,结果表明: 该地区两种基质上共有40种,隶属9科25属,未发现苔类和角苔类。其中,石灰岩上有7科、11属、12种藓类植物; 红土型金矿上有6科、18属、28种藓类植物。豹子洞石灰岩与红土型金矿区藓类植物其种相似性系数为0. 05。Sha nno n-Wiene r 指数和种间相遇机率指数较低, Simpso n 指数则较高,表明苔藓植物分布受基质影响明显。      

A methodology for locating the original quarries used for constructing historical buildings: application to Málaga Cathedral, Spain

It is often necessary to locate the original quarry which supplied the stone for a particular historical building. This stones could be used for future restoration work and for testing in the laboratory (artificial aging tests, physical properties determination, control of the efficacy of conservation treatments, etc.). Generally, reviewing historical documentation gives information about the geographical setting of quarries and location of the stones in the monument, but this information needs to be proved by field and laboratory studies. The comparative study of stone from quarries and monuments should basically include the following: (1) mineralogical and petrographical studies; (2) the chemical analysis of major, minor and trace elements; (3)stable isotopes determinations; (4) physical properties of quarry materials and unweathered building stone (water absorption, ultrasound transmission velocity, porosity and porous system, density, bulk density, compressive strength, etc.). This methodology was applied to Málaga Cathedral stones represented in the main façade, towers, and the western zone of the terrace, which, according to historical literature, came from Almayate (Miocene–Pliocene limestones) and Cerro Coronado (Permotriassic sandstone) in Málaga. The conclusion of the comparative study carried out on quarries and building stones was consistent with the information available from the historical documentation.     

岩性不均一的灰岩风化壳发育特征——贵阳花溪剖面粒度分布特征的指示

通过贵阳花溪夹泥质薄层的灰岩风化壳剖面的粒度分布特征的研究,结合矿物成分分析,揭示出岩性不均一的灰岩风化壳的发育特征: 灰岩作为剖面主体的成土母岩,风化早期,其以碳酸盐矿物的大量溶蚀及酸不溶物的残余积累为特征,同时方解石的溶解也延缓了酸不溶物的风化; 后期,随着易溶盐类消失殆尽,酸不溶物作为风化主体,开始了类似其它岩类的风化过程。而灰岩中的泥质薄层夹层,作为风化壳的次要组分,在灰岩风化过程中,由于存在巨大的体积缩小变化,泥质薄层被错断并被灰岩的风化产物所包裹,延缓了其风化发育进程。于是,各端元组分由于所处的微环境的差异,受风化溶液的影响程度不同,按照各自的风化方向和演化方式进行。随着风化程度不断增强,泥质薄片的包裹体分解,端元组分逐渐混合、趋同,风化壳趋于均质化,以统一的风化成土作用向表生稳定的矿物转变。      

巢湖地区二叠系栖霞组和三叠系南陵湖组石灰岩生物标志物特征与生烃潜力——以平顶山和马家山剖面为例

对安徽巢湖地区平顶山和马家山剖面下二叠统栖霞组和下三叠统南陵湖组进行了地层沉积特征及暗色石灰岩生烃潜力的综合分析,并对这两个层位的样品进行了饱和烃生物标志物特征研究。结果表明,两个层位的石灰岩都属于有效烃源岩,均具有一定的生烃潜力。南陵湖组石灰岩饱和烃以高丰度的长链三环萜烷、重排藿烷、重排甾烷为特征,表明其形成于偏弱氧化的沉积环境。栖霞组沉积期水体能量相对较低,受陆源物质影响明显,栖霞组石灰岩萜烷系列为常规的分布模式,但其甾烷成熟度参数明显低于平衡值,认为高的热演化程度是造成栖霞组石灰岩20S/(20S+20R)-ααα-C29甾烷值和ββ/(ββ+αα)-C29甾烷值"倒转"的主要原因。