Gravity anomalies and associated tectonic features over the Indian Peninsular Shield and adjoining ocean basins

A combined gravity map over the Indian Peninsular Shield (IPS) and adjoining oceans brings out well the inter-relationships between the older tectonic features of the continent and the adjoining younger oceanic features. The NW–SE, NE–SW and N–S Precambrian trends of the IPS are reflected in the structural trends of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal suggesting their probable reactivation. The Simple Bouguer anomaly map shows consistent increase in gravity value from the continent to the deep ocean basins, which is attributed to isostatic compensation due to variations in the crustal thickness. A crustal density model computed along a profile across this region suggests a thick crust of 35–40 km under the continent, which reduces to 22/20–24 km under the Bay of Bengal with thick sediments of 8–10 km underlain by crustal layers of density 2720 and 2900/2840 kg/m³. Large crustal thickness and trends of the gravity anomalies may suggest a transitional crust in the Bay of Bengal up to 150–200 km from the east coast. The crustal thickness under the Laxmi ridge and east of it in the Arabian Sea is 20 and 14 km, respectively, with 5–6 km thick Tertiary and Mesozoic sediments separated by a thin layer of Deccan Trap. Crustal layers of densities 2750 and 2950 kg/m³ underlie sediments. The crustal density model in this part of the Arabian Sea (east of Laxmi ridge) and the structural trends similar to the Indian Peninsular Shield suggest a continent–ocean transitional crust (COTC). The COTC may represent down dropped and submerged parts of the Indian crust evolved at the time of break-up along the west coast of India and passage of Reunion hotspot over India during late Cretaceous. The crustal model under this part also shows an underplated lower crust and a low density upper mantle, extending over the continent across the west coast of India, which appears to be related to the Deccan volcanism. The crustal thickness under the western Arabian Sea (west of the Laxmi ridge) reduces to 8–9 km with crustal layers of densities 2650 and 2870 kg/m³ representing an oceanic crust.     

早古生代古亚洲洋俯冲记录:来自东天山卡拉塔格高镁安山岩的年代学、地球化学证据

吐哈盆地南缘荒草坡群大柳沟组火山岩出露于大草滩断裂以北的彩霞山、土屋铜矿北和卡拉塔格地区。该组火山岩主要为基性、中酸性熔岩及火山碎屑岩组合。LA-ICP MS锆石U-Pb分析获得安山岩和英安岩的年龄分别为434.8±3.8Ma和438.4±4.9Ma,表明大柳沟组火山岩形成于早志留世。安山岩Si O2含量为54.35%~60.70%;Al2O3含量为11.8%~16.3%,Mg O含量为4.94%~8.27%,Ti O2含量为0.38%~0.52%,Na2O和K2O的含量分别为0.50%~3.83%和0.08%~1.26%,铝饱和指数(A/CNK)为0.77~1.37,低ΣREE(43×10-6~70×10-6),为具有亏损源区特征的高镁安山岩。英安岩较安山岩Si O2含量高(63.74%~75.35%),具有相似的Al2O3(12.3%~16.0%%)和Ti O2(0.32%~0.52%)含量;Na2O和K2O含量分别为2.01%~5.53%和0.16%~2.19%,ΣREE含量较安山岩略高(61×10-6~84×10-6),铝饱和指数(A/CNK)为0.77~5.74。安山岩和英安岩均轻重稀土分异明显,具有中等的Eu负异常;富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),亏损高场强元素(HFSE),具有明显的Nb-Ta-Ti负异常。相似的岩石地球化学特征表明安山岩和英安岩可能为同源岩浆,英安岩是安山质岩浆经过角闪石等矿物结晶分异作用形成的,安山岩的母岩岩浆很可能来自亏损大洋岩石圈地幔。基于该组岩石组合、地球化学特征和区域地质资料,推测研究区高镁安山岩可能形成于洋内弧环境,这表明东天山吐哈盆地南缘卡拉塔格地区在早古生代已经存在古亚洲洋的俯冲。     

西准噶尔玛依勒地区枕状玄武岩年代学、地球化学及岩石成因

通过对造山带内洋岛玄武岩的时代及地球化学性质研究,不仅可以进行古海山/大洋高原的识别,而且还可以进行古洋盆演化及古构造格局恢复。笔者等最新在西准噶尔玛依勒山北侧识别出一套枕状玄武岩,其与火山碎屑岩、硅质岩共生。枕状玄武岩斜长石微晶普遍发育中空骸晶结构,是在水下熔岩急剧萃冷条件下迅速结晶的产物。通过LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年,获得枕状玄武岩206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为437.2±2.2Ma,该年龄的获得填补了志留纪碱性玄武岩的空白。岩石地球化学分析结果显示,玛依勒枕状玄武岩为碱性玄武岩系列,岩石具有中等Si O2(44.89%~47.81%),高Ti O2(3.28%~4.12%)及P2O5(0.50%~0.70%),低Mg O(3.49%~6.79%),轻、重稀土元素分异较为明显((La/Yb)N=5.5~7.3),无明显Eu异常(Eu/Eu*=0.96~1.06),相对富集Rb、Th、U,亏损Ba、K、Sr,没有明显Nb、Ta负异常,这些地球化学特征与洋岛玄武岩(OIB)极其相似。微量元素含量及反映源区性质的比值表明,枕状玄武岩来源于富集地幔源区,主要组成为尖晶石和石榴石二辉橄榄岩,并发生了5%±的部分熔融,其形成于大洋板内与地幔柱有关的海山/大洋岛屿环境。结合前人研究,认为西准噶尔乃至古亚洲洋在中古生代洋内俯冲的同时,大洋板内可能存在地幔柱活动。     

昌宁-孟连结合带牛井山早古生代埃达克岩锆石U-Pb年龄、岩石成因及其地质意义

昌宁-孟连结合带是西南三江地区重要的古特提斯结合带,本文报道该带牛井山蛇绿混杂岩带内的早古生代英云闪长岩的锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素、全岩地球化学特征,探讨其岩石成因,揭示早古生代(原)特提斯演化过程和恢复古地理格局。利用LA-ICP-MS对英云闪长岩进行锆石U-Pb定年,获得~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为468±2Ma(MSWD=1.4,n=22),代表岩浆岩结晶时代。对锆石进行原位微区Hf同位素分析获得锆石ε_(Hf)(t)=+1.6~+2.8。牛井山英云闪长岩具有高的SiO_2(61.6%~67.16%),Al_2O_3(15.4%~17.64%),Na_2O(2.93%~3.25%)含量,高的Na_2O/K_2O(3.9~5.4)比值。微量元素具有高Sr(469×10~(-6)~533×10~(-6)),低Yb(0.66×10~(-6)~1.22×10~(-6))和Y(8.5×10~(-6)~16.3×10~(-6)),Eu正异常(1.01~1.37)的特征。此外,在同等SiO 2条件下,还具有相对高的Mg~#和MgO(Mg~#=50~51,MgO=2.84%~3.58%)。这些特征表明英云闪长岩具有高镁埃达克岩的性质。岩石成因研究表明牛井山高镁埃达克岩很可能是俯冲洋壳加上部分大洋沉积物部分熔融并与上覆地幔橄榄岩反应的产物。早古生代洋壳俯冲成因的埃达克岩的发现证明昌宁-孟连特提斯洋演化历史可追溯至约468Ma。昌宁-孟连结合带早古生代岩浆作用与龙木错-双湖结合带早古生代洋壳残片的时代一致、构造属性相似,我们认为昌宁-孟连结合带与木错-双湖结合带可对比,它们代表了一个统一的古生代特提斯大洋残余。     

Regional Variability in Occurrence and Distribution of Polymetallic Nodules in the Central Indian Basin

Regional scale morphological studies on different-sized polymetallic nodules from the Central Indian Basin show that only 2–5 cm sized nodules have highest occurrence per station (92–94% along latitudes; 88–94% along longitudes). A nodule size shows an inverse relationship with the nodule distribution, grade, and abundance. Interestingly, only 3–4 and 4–5 cm sized nodules have highest grade, abundance, and distribution percentages along longitudes in P₁, first generation mine site and relinquished area, which further implies that the nodule mining along the longitude would be beneficial. Different-sized nodule groups suggest their formation under variable environmental conditions that existed in the Central Indian Basin. The coexistence of different-sized nodules suggests different environmental conditions existed in the Central Indian Basin.     

大洋锰结核(壳)中南极底流活动的矿物学与地球化学记录

总结了大洋锰结核(壳)的形态、构造、矿物组合、元素富集特点,以及区域分布和南极底流活动的关系,采用ICP-MS测试手段对中太平洋海山区17个锰结壳样品和1个基岩样品的稀土元素进行测试,结果表明,富钴结壳的REE含量很高,平均为1716.66×10-6,轻稀土明显富集,LREE/HREE平均为4.82,锰结壳样品中除MID06样品有轻微的Ce负异常外,其余样品均具明显的Ce正异常,基岩MKD01呈明显的Ce负异常。不同区域锰结核(壳)中稀土元素的对比研究表明,南极底流活动区和非活动区Ce/La值有显著差异,但不能通过Ce/La值确定底流的迁移路径。这一成果将有助于全面认识大洋成矿作用与海洋环境变迁的内在联系。     

地震研究新方法——洋壳流理论简介

根据交换平衡力学原理[1],简要地介绍了洋壳流的概念及其运动特点。根据运行区域和方向的不同,把三大洋的海底扩张运动划分为不同的洋壳流,并绘出运行路线图。提出洋壳流运动方向、路线及力作用大小的判断方法,通过不同区域洋壳流相互力作用的对比,分析海底扩张运动对地震时空分布及变化规律的影响。     

Tortonian-Pleistocenic oceanic features in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea: magnetic inverse model of the Selli-Vavilov region

We show the magnetic model of the Selli-Vavilov region. The Selli Line is known as the northwestern edge of the southern Tyrrhenian Basin. The tectonic evolution of the Tyrrhenian Basin is dominated by a Tortonian-Quaternary extension through the eastward movement of the Apennine subduction system. This migration has generated a diffuse stretching of the continental crust with the emplacement of new oceanic material. This latter occurred in several localized zones where the eastward retreating of the Ionian subduction system produced a strong depletion of the crust with formation of basins and correlated spreading. Nowadays the presence of oceanic crust is confirmed through direct drilling investigation but a complete mapping of the oceanic crustal distribution is still lacking. The Selli-Vavilov region shows a differentiated crustal setting where seamount structures, the oceanic basement portions and continental crust blocks are superimposed. To this aim, a 2D inversion of the magnetic data of this region was conducted to define buried structures. The magnetic susceptibility pattern was computed by solving the least squares problem of the misfit between the predicted and real data for separated wavebands. This method produced two 2D models of the high and low frequency fields of the Selli-Vavilov region. The two apparent susceptibility maps provide different information for distinct ranges of depth. The results of the inversions were also combined with seismic data of the Selli region highlighting the position of the highly magnetized buried bodies. The results confirm a role for the Selli Line as a deep crustal boundary dividing the Sardinian passive domain from the easternmost active region where different oceanic structures are located. The Selli Line has worked as a detachment fault system which has moved eastward. Finally, the Selli-Vavilov region may be interpreted as a tectonic result due to a passive asymmetrical rift occurred between the Tortonian and Pliocene.     

“Trends” and variations of global oceanic evaporation data sets from remote sensing

The variability in global oceanic evaporation data sets was examined for the period 1988-2000. These data sets are satellite estimates based on bulk aerodynamic formulations and include the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Flux version 2 （ GSSTF2）, the Japanese-ocean flux using remote sensing observations （J-OFURO）, and the Hamburg Ocean-Atmosphere Parameters and Fluxes from Satellite version 2 （HOAPS2）. The National Center for Environmental Prediction （NCEP） reanalysis is also included for comparison. An increase in global average surface latent heat flux （SLHF） can be observed in all the data sets. Empirical mode decomposition （EMD） shows long-term increases that started around 1990 for all remote sensing data sets. The effect of Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 is clearly evident in HOAPS2 but is independent of the longterm increase. Linear regression analyses show increases of 9.4%, 13.0%, 7. 3%, and 3.9% for GSSTF2, J-OFURO, HOAPS2 and NCEP, for the periods of the data sets. Empirical orthogonal function （EOF） analyses show that the pattern of the first EOF of all data sets is consistent with a decadal variation associated with the enhancement of the tropical Hadley circulation, which is supported by other satellite observations. The second EOF of all four data sets is an ENSO mode, and the correlations between their time series and an SO1 are 0.74, 0.71,0.59, and 0.61 for GSSTF2, J-OFURO, HOAPS2, and NCEP in that order. When the Hadley modes are removed from the remote sensing data, the residue global increases are reduced to 2.2% , 7. 3%, and 〈 1% for GSSTF2, J-OFURO and HOAPS, respectively. If the ENSO mode is used as a calibration standard for the data sets, the Hadley mode is at least comparable to, if not larger than, the ENSO mode during our study period.     

Dimethylsulfide production in Sargasso Sea eddies

Lagrangian time series of dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentrations from a cyclonic and an anticyclonic eddy in the Sargasso Sea were used in conjunction with measured DMS loss rates and a model of vertical mixing to estimate gross DMS production in the upper 60 m during summer 2004. Loss terms included biological consumption, photolysis, and ventilation to the atmosphere. The time- and depth (0–60 m)-averaged gross DMS production was estimated to be 0.73±0.09 nM d⁻¹ in the cyclonic eddy and 0.90±0.15 nM d⁻¹ in the anticyclonic eddy, with respective DMS replacement times of 5±1 and 6±1 d. The higher estimated rate of gross production and lower measured loss rate constants in the anticyclonic eddy were equally responsible for this eddy's 50% higher DMS inventory (0–60 m). When normalized to chlorophyll and total dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), estimated gross production in the anticyclonic eddy was about twice that in the cyclonic eddy, consistent with the greater fraction of phytoplankton that were DMSP producers in the anticyclonic eddy. Higher rates of gross production were estimated below the mixed layer, contributing to the subsurface DMS maximum found in both eddies. In both eddies, gas exchange, microbial consumption, and photolysis were roughly equal DMS loss terms in the surface mixed layer (0.2–0.4 nM d⁻¹). Vertical mixing was a substantial source of DMS to the surface mixed layer in both eddies (0.2–0.3 nM d⁻¹) owing to the relatively high DMS concentrations below the mixed layer. Estimated net biological DMS production rates (gross production minus microbial consumption) in the mixed layer were substantially lower (by almost a factor of 3) than those estimated in a previous study of the Sargasso Sea, which may explain the relatively low mixed-layer DMS concentrations found here during July 2004 (3 nM) compared to previous summers (4–6 nM).