Stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Blue Nile Basin,Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau

The Blue Nile Basin, situated in the Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau, contains ∼1400 m thick Mesozoic sedimentary section underlain by Neoproterozoic basement rocks and overlain by Early–Late Oligocene and Quaternary volcanic rocks. This study outlines the stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Blue Nile Basin based on field and remote sensing studies along the Gorge of the Nile. The Blue Nile Basin has evolved in three main phases: (1) pre‐sedimentation phase, include pre‐rift peneplanation of the Neoproterozoic basement rocks, possibly during Palaeozoic time; (2) sedimentation phase from Triassic to Early Cretaceous, including: (a) Triassic–Early Jurassic fluvial sedimentation (Lower Sandstone, ∼300 m thick); (b) Early Jurassic marine transgression (glauconitic sandy mudstone, ∼30 m thick); (c) Early–Middle Jurassic deepening of the basin (Lower Limestone, ∼450 m thick); (d) desiccation of the basin and deposition of Early–Middle Jurassic gypsum; (e) Middle–Late Jurassic marine transgression (Upper Limestone, ∼400 m thick); (f) Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous basin‐uplift and marine regression (alluvial/fluvial Upper Sandstone, ∼280 m thick); (3) the post‐sedimentation phase, including Early–Late Oligocene eruption of 500–2000 m thick Lower volcanic rocks, related to the Afar Mantle Plume and emplacement of ∼300 m thick Quaternary Upper volcanic rocks. The Mesozoic to Cenozoic units were deposited during extension attributed to Triassic–Cretaceous NE–SW‐directed extension related to the Mesozoic rifting of Gondwana. The Blue Nile Basin was formed as a NW‐trending rift, within which much of the Mesozoic clastic and marine sediments were deposited. This was followed by Late Miocene NW–SE‐directed extension related to the Main Ethiopian Rift that formed NE‐trending faults, affecting Lower volcanic rocks and the upper part of the Mesozoic section. The region was subsequently affected by Quaternary E–W and NNE–SSW‐directed extensions related to oblique opening of the Main Ethiopian Rift and development of E‐trending transverse faults, as well as NE–SW‐directed extension in southern Afar (related to northeastward separation of the Arabian Plate from the African Plate) and E–W‐directed extensions in western Afar (related to the stepping of the Red Sea axis into Afar). These Quaternary stress regimes resulted in the development of N‐, ESE‐ and NW‐trending extensional structures within the Blue Nile Basin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地理信息系统GIS在地籍、地形测量中的运用

本文利用地理信息系统(GIS)对测绘地形、地籍以及生成土地证、房产证等一些图件进行说明，并作相应的转换处理，满足了地籍管理工作的需要。     

晚中新世以来孟加拉-尼科巴扇跷跷板式沉积转换及其源-汇成因机制

利用沉积转换事件再造关键变革期的构造活动和气候演变是源-汇系统研究的新动向和切入点。新生代以来,印度大陆与亚洲大陆的汇聚隆升以及喜马拉雅-青藏高原的剥蚀、向孟加拉湾的物质输入,形成了当今世界上最大的源-汇系统(喜马拉雅-孟加拉湾源-汇系统)。利用3D地震数据和IODP 354与362航次获取的碎屑锆石数据揭示了晚中新世以来孟加拉-尼科巴扇沉积转换事件及其源-汇成因机制。研究认为尼科巴扇和孟加拉扇经历了此消彼长的沉积建造过程:尼科巴扇经历了“晚中新世快速进积→上新世缓慢建造→第四纪相对静止”的建造过程;而孟加拉扇经历了“晚中新世相对静止→上新世缓慢建造→第四纪快速进积”的沉积建造过程。喜马拉雅-孟加拉湾源-汇系统碎屑锆石年龄核密度统计结果显示:晚中新世以来,指示古布拉马普特拉河迁移演化路径的60~0 Ma碎屑锆石在若开-尼科巴扇呈现出逐渐减少的变化趋势,而在孟加拉扇呈现出逐渐增多的变化趋势。这一碎屑锆石年龄核密度变化特征表明:(1)在晚中新世,古布拉马普特拉河主沉积物分散路径靠近孟加拉湾东部一侧发育且大量碎屑颗粒向尼科巴扇搬运分散,形成“快速进积的尼科巴扇和相对静止的孟加拉扇”;(2)在上新世初,青藏高原隆升所诱发的西隆高原抬升使古布拉马普特拉河向西迁移分流,在古西隆高原北缘Mikir山附近分流为东西两支,东支向尼科巴扇搬运分散的碎屑颗粒开始减少,而西支向孟加拉扇搬运分散的碎屑颗粒开始增多,形成“以缓慢建造为演化特征的尼科巴-孟加拉扇”;(3)在第四纪初,印度板块-亚洲板块最强碰撞造成青藏高原最强隆升并达到最大海拔高度,古布拉马普特拉河东支袭夺废弃,向尼科巴扇卸载的沉积物相应显著减少,而古布拉马普特拉河西支与恒河并流后向孟加拉扇卸载的沉积物亦相应显著增加,形成“相对静止的尼科巴扇和快速进积的孟加拉扇”。由此可见,尼科巴-孟加拉扇“此消彼长的跷跷板式沉积转换事件”是古布拉马普特拉河沉积物分散路径迁移演化的源-汇响应;其在上新世-第四纪之交发生了一起最为显著的沉积转换事件,其是上新世晚期印度板块-亚洲板块碰撞的源-汇响应。     

Geometry and kinematics of the Andean thick-skinned thrust systems: Insights from the Chilean Frontal Cordillera (28°–28.5°S), Central Andes

The structure of the Chilean Frontal Cordillera, located over the Central Andes flat-slab subduction segment (27°–28.5°S), is characterized by a thick-skinned deformation, affecting both the pre-rift basement and the Mesozoic and Cenozoic infill of the NNE-SSW Lautaro and Lagunillas Basins, which were developed during the Pangea-Gondwana break-up. The compressive deformation show a complex interaction between Mesozoic rift structures and thrust systems, affecting a suite of Permo-Triassic (258–245 Ma) granitic blocks. We used a combination of geological mapping, new structural data, balanced and restored cross sections and geochronological data to investigate the geometry and kinematics of the Andean thick-skinned thrust systems of the region. The thrust systems include double-vergent thick-skinned thrust faults, basement-cored anticlines and minor thin-skinned thrusts and folds. The presence of Triassic and Jurassic syn-rift successions along the hanging wall and footwall of the basement thrust faults are keys to suggest that the current structural framework of the region should be associated with the shortening of previous Mesozoic half grabens. Based on this interpretation, we propose a deformation mechanism characterized by the tectonic inversion of rift-related faults and the propagation of basement ramps that fold and cut both, the early normal faults and the basement highs. New U–Pb ages obtained from synorogenic deposits (Quebrada Seca and Doña Ana formations) indicate at least three important compressive pulses. A first pulse at ∼80 Ma (Late Cretaceous), a second pulse related to the K-T phase of Andean deformation and, finally, a third pulse that occurred during the lower Miocene.     

GIS-based geo-environmental evaluation for urban land-use planning: a case study

A geo-environmental evaluation for urban land-use planning often requires a large amount of spatial information. Geographic information systems (GIS) are capable of managing large amounts of spatially related information, providing the ability to integrate multiple layers of information and to derive additional information. A GIS-aid to the geo-environmental evaluation for urban land-use planning is illustrated for the urban area of Lanzhou City and its vicinity in Northwest China. This evaluation incorporates topography, surficial and bedrock geology, groundwater conditions, and historic geologic hazards. Urban land-use is categorized according to the types of land-use and projects planned, such as high-rise building, multi-storey building, low-rise building, waste disposal, and natural conservation. Multi-criteria analysis is performed to evaluate development suitability of the geo-environment for each category, according to appropriately measured and weighted factors. A suitability map for each category is developed using an algorithm that combines factors in weighted linear combinations. It is demonstrated that the GIS methodology has high functionality for geo-environmental assessment.     

北祁连造山带两种构造基底岩块及成矿系统

北祁连造山带中存在“南方型”和“北方型”构造基底岩块。“南方型”构造基底岩块和柴达木古陆相似 ,“北方型”构造基底岩块则和华北古陆相似。两种不同的构造基底岩块随着祁连洋的消失而相遇于北祁连造山带 (缝合带 )中。在祁连洋的俯冲过程中 ,形成了不同的成矿系统 ,与“北方型”构造基底岩块有关的成矿系统为加里东期活动大陆边缘成矿系统———白银、清水沟铜及多金属成矿组合 ;与“南方型”构造基底岩块有关的成矿系统为中、新元古代活动大陆边缘弧后裂解成矿系统———镜铁山—柳沟峡铁成矿组合 ,加里东期活动大陆边缘与俯冲作用有关的成矿系统———岩浆热液钨成矿组合及铅锌成矿组合。两种构造基底岩块的确认 ,可为北祁连缝合带的成矿系统的建立及找矿工作 ,提供新的思路 ,也为北祁连造山带性质的认定 ,提供成矿作用信息方面的限制。     

陆相坳陷型和断陷型湖盆层序地层样式探讨

依据层序地层学基本理论,考虑中国中新生代陆相坳陷型和断陷型湖盆的盆地结构和沉积物充填序列特征,综合利用地质和地球物理资料,以松辽盆地白垩系和准噶尔盆地侏罗系、柴达木盆地第四系和渤海湾盆地第三系为研究实例,将坳陷型湖盆沉积层序细分成可以确定首次湖泛面和不能确定首次湖泛面的两种类型,建立了这两种类型湖盆的层序地层样式。前者由低位、湖侵和高位体系域组成,后者由湖侵和湖退体系域构成。在断陷型湖盆中,可将盆地缓坡由同生断裂活动造成的地势变化带作为地形坡折带(构造坡折带)并用于确定首次湖泛面,进而讨论了首次湖泛面和最大湖泛面的多种识别标志,建立了由低位、湖侵和高位体系域构成的断陷型湖盆层序地层样式。     

Prospector II: Towards a knowledge base for mineral deposits

What began in the mid-seventies as a research effort in designing an expert system to aid geologists in exploring for hidden mineral deposits has in the late eighties become a full-sized knowledge-based system to aid geologists in conducting regional mineral resource assessments. Prospector II, the successor to Prospector, is interactive-graphics oriented, flexible in its representation of mineral deposit models, and suited to regional mineral resource assessment. In Prospector II, the geologist enters the findings for an area, selects the deposit models or examples of mineral deposits for consideration, and the program compares the findings with the models or the examples selected, noting the similarities, differences, and missing information. The models or the examples selected are ranked according to scores that are based on the comparisons with the findings. Findings can be reassessed and the process repeated if necessary. The results provide the geologist with a rationale for identifying those mineral deposit types that the geology of an area permits. In future, Prospector II can assist in the creation of new models used in regional mineral resource assessment and in striving toward an ultimate classification of mineral deposits.     

初论突发地质灾害应急预案的管理

面对众多不同级别和精度要求的突发地质灾害应急预案,本文通过对地质灾害管理及其预案体系的系统科学探讨,以应急预案形成过程为轴线,初步论述了对其进行管理的构想,为已经发布和正在编制的突发性地质灾害应急预案体系的逐步完善、制定及管理提出了相关建议。