Geochemistry of Triassic Carbonates: Exploration Guide to Pb–Zn Mineralization in North Tunisia

The Triassic carbonate rocks in Northern Tunisia (Nappes, Domes, Jurassic Mountains zones), consist of massive carbonates, clays and gypsum with authigenic minerals. These are associated with several Pb–Zn deposits and occurrences. At Jebel Ichkeul, Bechateur and Oum Edeboua, these Triassic carbonates exhibit enrichment in Pb (0.32 to 228 ppm), Zn (17 to 261 ppm), Cd (5 to 6 ppm) and Co (0.3 to 89.5 ppm), with respect to their average contents in crustal carbonates. The enrichment is more pronounced at Oum Edeboua (near the ore zone). Permeability is one of the most effective factors of dispersion of metallic trace elements, causing the development of geochemical halos. The genetic relationship of the Triassic carbonate rocks with the ore deposits was controlled by diapirism and tectonic movements, which favored mineralization along the Triassic‐cover contact as well as the remobilization of metals from the mineralized rocks. Analysis of metallic trace elements in Triassic rocks provides clues to the presence of possible mineral deposits. These could be effectively used for both geochemical interpretation and mineral exploration. Carbon and O‐isotope data (– 9.3‰ < δ¹³C < +3‰; +21.9 < δ¹⁸O < +31‰) suggest that the Triassic carbonates of all study areas have marine carbonates as their origin; some of them show significantly lower δ¹⁸O values indicating some exchange with hydrothermal fluids. Calcites associated with mineralization at Oum Edeboua have δ¹³C of –6.2‰ to –8.22‰ and δ¹⁸O of +24.88‰ to +25‰. The C‐isotope compositions of these calcites are ¹³C depleted, indicating an organic origin.     

大兴安岭北段斯木科流纹质碎斑熔岩特征及成因

在大兴安岭北段斯木科地区发育一种具有独特结构特征的火山岩石类型——流纹质碎斑熔岩,其具有熔岩和熔结凝灰岩的双重结构.岩石富Si、碱,Na₂O/K₂O=0.61~0.82,轻稀土富集,Eu亏损强烈,富集Rb、Th,亏损Ba、K,与同期流纹岩的地球化学特征相同,其区别主要在岩相学上.二者均形成于造山后伸展环境,属于由于岩浆向上运移、定位过程的不同而形成的"同质异相体".     

苏北盆地晚白垩世—新近纪原型盆地分析

苏北盆地是我国东部中新生代箕状含油气盆地群,主要由东台坳陷、盐-阜坳陷和建湖隆起三大构造单元组成;坳中有凸,隆中有凹,一系列凸、凹构造组成盆地的二级单元。运用盆地原型分析方法,对盆地的蚀源区、沉降史、沉积中心、盆地边界构造和沉积间断等进行了研究,并估算了沉降量和剥蚀量。在此基础上,提出苏北盆地的形成经历了挤压的前陆盆地、弧后扩张的裂陷盆地、大规模拉张的断陷盆地和热沉降的坳陷盆地等四个演化阶段;认为盆地沉积物主要来自5个蚀源区：NE面的滨海隆起、NW面的鲁苏隆起、西面的大别山、SW面的张八岭以及南面的扬州一宁镇古生代沉积岩区;提出建湖隆起从始新世末期以来长期处于暴露和剥蚀状态,有条件为北侧的盐阜坳陷、南侧的东台坳陷提供部分成油气物质的认识。进一步确定苏北盆地曾经历过仪征、吴堡、真武和三垛等4次抬升剥蚀事件,这些事件对不对称箕状盆地的形成起了很大的作用。区内盆地的南侧边界多呈上陡下缓的“犁式”正断层,并呈阶梯状逐次朝北下掉,盆地北侧岩层与下伏层多呈超覆关系,形成“南断北超”的盆地面貌。主断层常出现上部下滑（新）、下部逆冲（老）的反转构造现象,因而苏北盆地具有多期复合迭加的特点。本区沉积中心多表现为不对称的深凹区,沉积厚度巨大,是研究区生油层系的重要场昕。     

天山山区与南、北疆近40a来的年温度变化特征比较研究

分析天山山区近40 a来年温度变化的基本特征,并与南疆、北疆进行比较,其结果是:(1)天山山区年平均温度在冷暖变化阶段上与北疆的相似性强于南疆。(2)新疆三大区域年平均温度的最主要空间分布特征均是同步变化,但同步性的程度北疆较好,南疆及天山山区较差;而空间分布的反向变化性,南疆及天山山区较好,北疆较差。(3)三大区域年平均温度的年代际变化趋势是不同的,但均以20世纪90年代为最暖。(4)近40 a的显著线性增温趋势以年平均最低温度及年平均温度表现得空间范围最广,年平均最高温度最差;年平均温度的长期增温率以北疆最大,天山山区和南疆较小;年平均最低温度的10 a增温率变化在0.34~0.37℃之间。(5)三大区域最佳升温趋势出现的时段比较一致,增温率以北疆为最大,天山山区和南疆相同。(6)北疆与南疆年平均温度分别在1960年和1978年发生了由低向高的突变。     

以色列的水资源及其利用

以色列是世界上气候干旱、水资源十分缺乏的国家之一。但以色列利用有限的水资源在荒漠上创造了现代知识与科技密集型节水农业的奇迹。水资源管理与利用的关键主要体现在政策、法规与配水制度的制定与实施、水利工程的建设、边际水资源的开发利用(废水、咸水、海水)、尤其是现代灌溉技术的研究推广与应用上。水资源的科学、合理、高效利用奠定了以色列现代节水型农业与节水型社会的基础。他们的创举是人类使干涸的沙漠变为绿洲的范例。     

南海北部大陆架盆地热结构

南海北部大陆架盆地地热研究发现,各盆地深部温度结构和地壳热流在地表热流中所占比例不均一。其中,珠江口盆地地壳热流贡献小于25%,由陆向洋方向递减;莺歌海盆地中部地壳热流贡献小于30%,向NE方向递增;北部湾盆地地壳热流贡献在38%~42%之间稳定变化。分析表明,此区各盆地热结构的不均一性与大陆架地壳减薄、软流圈热物质上涌等因素有关。      

Preliminary flood frequency estimates for Lebanon

Abstract

This paper describes a first attempt at developing a regional flood estimation methodology for Lebanon. The analyses are based on instantaneous flood peak data for the whole country, and cover the period from the start of observations in the 1930s to the start of the civil war in the mid-1970s. Three main flood-generating zones are identified, and regional flood growth curves are derived for each zone using the Generalized Extreme Value distribution fitted by probability-weighted moments. Typical parameter values are presented, together with regression coefficients for estimating the mean annual flood. Based on this work, several recommendations are made on the future data collection and analysis requirements to develop a national flood estimation methodology for Lebanon.     

Widespread relics of high-pressure metamorphism confirm major terrane accretion in Ecuador: a new example from the Northern Andes

Metamorphic rocks from two sections through the North Andean Cordillera Real in Ecuador contain phengites as relics of high-pressure (HP) metamorphism. Their maximum Si contents per formula unit are (1) 3.25 in Al-rich metapelites, (2) 3.35 in ordinary metapelites and garnet-rich metabasites, and (3) 3.45 in garnet-bearing orthogneisses. Detailed pressure–temperature paths were derived by calculating P–T pseudosections. Garnet-bearing metapelite and metabasite yielded a P–T path starting at 1.4 GPa and 525°C. Peak temperature conditions were 560°C at <1.4 GPa. The retrograde path passed through 0.7–0.8 GPa at 500°C. An adjacent metagranitoid experienced a similar P–T evolution at slightly lower temperatures of about 30–50°C. This is the first reported occurrence of HP metamorphism in the Cordillera Real; it is widespread and evidently was the result of continental collision. We hypothesize that a single microcontinent collided with the South American continental margin in Early Cretaceous time. In contrast to our findings, previous models have simply suggested the amalgamation of several terranes in the late Mesozoic or earlier in the region of Ecuador. Therefore, we propose that a widespread search for HP relics should be undertaken. Such relics provide a general criterion for defining subducted terranes and their respective boundaries.     

Sub‐Cambrian pedogenesis recorded in weathering profiles of the Arabian‐Nubian Shield

Altered crystalline rocks occur at the peneplain exposed in southern Israel and in other localities across North Africa and Arabia where they underlie an extensive blanket of Cambro–Ordovician sandstones. This study focuses on the petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry of top basement rocks of the northern Arabian‐Nubian Shield. The altered rocks are shown to be weathering profiles that can be subdivided into three horizons interpreted as apparently unweathered granite, or saprock, which grades upwards to a saprolite, topped by a thin clayey plasmic zone. The plasmic zone is enriched in iron and aluminium and is depleted in silicon, calcium, magnesium and potassium relative to the underlying saprolite. The chemical index of alteration increases upward, but does not exceed 90 and, therefore, lags behind values observed in strongly leached present‐day tropical soils. Petrographic examinations reveal iron mobility under local fluctuating redox conditions, similar to modern and Proterozoic soils. A variety of birefringence fabrics induced by shrinkage and expansion of clays during wetting and drying cycles and clay illuviation strongly indicate pedogenic processes rather than a post‐depositional alteration. Illite and ordered illite‐smectite phases coexist with smectitic illite‐smectite in the lower part of the saprolite and with kaolinite in the plasmic zone, in line with increasing chemical index of alteration. Observations are in accordance with the current profile being a remnant of a thick weathering profile whose top was truncated by fluvial incision just prior to deposition of the overlying Early Cambrian sequence. A previously documented Devonian thermal event reaching temperatures of at least 200°C overprinted the studied rocks. During burial diagenesis, illitization affected original smectite rather than kaolinite. However, in spite of the elevated temperatures, illitization was incomplete implying restricted potassium addition. The sub‐Cambrian weathering reflects warm and humid conditions in a tropical or sub‐tropical climate, in line with several plate reconstructions placing Israel at low latitudes during Cambrian time.     

Aeolian construction and alluvial dismantling of a fault‐bounded intracontinental aeolian dune field (Teruel Basin,Spain); a continental perspective on Late Pliocene climate change and variability

An aeolian dune field migrating to the east encroached on the toes of alluvial fans in the Teruel Basin (eastern Spain) during a short interval in the Late Pliocene (ca 2·9 to 2·6 Ma), when Northern Hemisphere glaciation and strong glacial–interglacial cycles began. Preservation of the dune field was controlled by syn‐sedimentary activity of a normal fault. Ephemeral water discharge eroded aeolian sands and formed V‐shaped channels in which aeolian sandstone blocks accumulated. The incorporation of loose aeolian sand in wadi waters modified the sediment/water ratio, changing the physical properties of the flows as they penetrated the aeolian dune field. The erosion and cover of aeolian dune foresets by sheetflood deposits suggest that dune‐damming caused the intermittent ponding of water behind the dunes and its flashy release. The arid climate in the Late Pliocene western Mediterranean realm favoured the transport of windblown sediments from northern Africa and western Mediterranean land masses into the Mediterranean. The formation of the studied aeolian dune field (2·9 to 2·6 Ma) and possibly others (for example, the Atacama, Namib and Sahara deserts) correlates with a strong increase of the influence of obliquity, which can be attributed to the combination of a regional expression related to the reduced effect of precession due to a minimum in the long‐period (2·3 Ma) eccentricity cycle and a remote expression of the onset of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation.