The ups and downs of “Tectonic Quiescence”—recognizing differential subsidence in the epicontinental sea of the Oxfordian in the Swiss Jura Mountains

Recent studies in northern Switzerland have shown that epicontinental areas thought to have been tectonically stable during the Mesozoic were not necessarily as rigid as presumed. By comparing Oxfordian facies boundaries and depocenters in their palinspastic position with known faults in the basement, a direct relationship between the two can be demonstrated. Previously, the lack of obvious synsedimentary tectonic features has lulled scientists into believing that the realm of the Swiss Jura was tectonically stable during the Mesozoic. However, it can be shown that facies and sedimentary structures are largely influenced by tectonics. Subsurface data provide evidence for the presence of Paleozoic troughs in the basement which, apparently, were prone to reactivation during the Pan-European stress-field reorganization taking place in the Late Jurassic. This led to differential subsidence along pre-existing lineaments within the study area, which can be recognized in the distribution of Oxfordian epicontinental basins and their coeval shallow-water counterparts. Eustatic sea-level fluctuations played an important role in the development of shallow-water facies patterns, but a subordinate role in the control of accommodation space in basins.

While tectonic activity is often recorded in the sedimentary record in the form of platform break-ups and associated sedimentary debris, more subtle indicators may be overlooked or even misinterpreted. Sedimentary structures and isopach maps, as well as subsurface data in the study area suggest that subtle synsedimentary tectonic movements led to the formation of two shallow, diachronous epicontinental basins during the Late Jurassic. It becomes possible to recognize and differentiate the combined effects of local and regional tectonism, eustasy and sedimentation.     

Carbon isotope stratigraphy of Lochkovian to Eifelian limestones from the Devonian of central and southern Europe

Lower to Middle Devonian carbonates of the Prague Syncline, the Carnic Alps, the Montagne Noire, and the Cantabrian Mountains were investigated for δ¹³C_carb and δ¹³C_org. These values were measured on bulk rocks, selected components and cements. Many carbonates exhibit primary marine values, but some are altered by diagenesis. A δ¹³C curve can be presented for the latest Pridolian to Emsian time interval. Several sharp or broad positive excursions are obvious in the woschmidti-postwoschmidti, sulcatus, kitabicus, Late serotinus, and kockelianus conodont zones. The excursion at the Silurian–Devonian boundary is known worldwide and therefore considered global in nature. Some of the others are described for the first time from central and southern Europe, and their global nature has to be verified by further investigations in other regions. Most excursions relate to and/or started during major regressions whereas sea-level highstands correspond to minimal δ¹³C values. Similar relationships between sea-level changes and δ¹³C have been observed from other early Palaeozoic intervals. The transgressive Chote? (?) and Ka?ák events are marked by positive isotope excursions, this type of combination is usually observed in late Palaeozoic to Cenozoic black shale events.     

Transformation of garnet epidote amphibolite to eclogite, western Dabie Mountains, China

Omphacite and garnet coronas around amphibole occur in amphibolites in the Hong'an area, western Dabie Mountains, China. These amphibolites consist of an epidote–amphibolite facies assemblage of amphibole, garnet, albite, clinozoisite, paragonite, ilmenite and quartz, which is incompletely overprinted by an eclogite facies assemblage of garnet, omphacite and rutile. Coronas around amphibole can be divided into three types: an omphacite corona; a garnet–omphacite–rutile corona; and, a garnet–omphacite corona with less rutile. Chemographic analysis for local reaction domains in combination with petrographical observations show that reactions Amp + Ab + Pg = Omp +Czo + Qtz + H₂O, and Amp + Ab = Omp ± Czo + Qtz + H₂O may lead to the development of omphacite coronas. The garnet–omphacite–rutile corona was formed from the reaction Amp + Ab + Czo + Ilm ± Qtz = Omp + Grt + Rt + H₂O. In garnet–omphacite coronas, the garnet corona grew during an early stage of epidote amphibolite facies metamorphism, whereas omphacite probably formed by the reactions forming the omphacite corona during the eclogite facies stage. It is estimated that these reactions occurred at 0.8–1.4 GPa and 480–610 °C using the garnet–clinopyroxene thermometer and omphacite barometer in the presence of albite.     

东昆仑大干沟火山岩SHRIMP锆石U-Pb测年及其地质意义

东昆仑大干沟以北地区造山后形成的牦牛山组磨拉石建造不整合覆盖于前泥盆系之上,其形成时代对限定柴达木盆地加里东造山作用的结束时间及晚古生代裂解作用的开始时间具有重要意义。应用单颗粒锆石离子探针质谱仪(SHRIMP)方法,对牦牛山组上部火山岩段的样品进行精确的锆石U-Pb测年。结果表明,牦牛山组上段火山岩样品DG01和DG02中的岩浆锆石206Pb/238U平均年龄分别为403.6±5.1Ma和409±3.4Ma。综合前人研究认为,造山后牦牛山组伸展型磨拉石的形成时代为晚志留世-早泥盆世,限定了晚古生代裂解的开始时间,也意味着早古生代加里东造山运动在晚志留世-早泥盆世之前已经结束。     

Characteristics of beaver ponds on deltas in a mountain environment

Many beaver ponds in the Rocky Mountains, that have been described in the literature, are in‐channel ponds that are relatively small and short‐lived. This paper describes floodplain beaver ponds on low‐gradient deltas in glacial finger lakes in Glacier National Park, Montana. These ponds are distinctly larger, probably fed by hyporheic flow, and stable and long‐lived. Ponds examined were, with one exception, 44 years old. Glacial discharge is present in each valley where beaver ponds occupy low‐gradient deltas, and this discharge likely sustains pond water level over the course of the summer. As glaciers recede and disappear, deltaic beaver ponds dependent on hyporheic flow may be negatively affected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

长白山天池火山西南麓水压致裂法地应力测量及其实测数据在断裂稳定性分析中的应用

长白山天池火山是一座新生代多成因复合火山, 其活动性一直受到地学界的高度重视.而地应力测量数据对于了解火山的活动情况等具有重要意义, 但目前长白山天池火山地区实测地应力资料较少.为了更准确地了解长白山天池火山地区现今地应力状态及断裂稳定性, 在长白山天池火山西南麓MJZ测点0~300 m孔深开展了水压致裂法地应力测量.利用此次实测地应力数据, 本文首先分析了该地区地壳浅表层应力状态, 结果表明: ①测区以水平构造应力为主导, 应力值与其他地区相比, 相对较低; ②S_H(最大水平主应力)、S_h(最小水平主应力)和S_v(垂向主应力)均随深度增加而基本呈线性增大趋势; 在60~180 m深度, 三者展现为逆断层应力状态, 即S_H＞S_h＞S_v; 在180~300 m, 则表现为S_H＞S_v＞S_h, 该应力关系有利于走滑断层活动; ③钻孔上部S_H方向为N38°E, 与东北地区构造应力场方向基本一致.钻孔下部由于受区内NW向断裂和其他因素影响, 存在与区域主应力方向有偏差的局部应力场.其次, 基于实测应力数据, 应用库仑摩擦滑动准则, 并取摩擦系数为0.6和1.0, 初步评价了区域断裂的稳定性.结果显示, 研究区现今应力状态尚未达到断裂失稳滑动水平, 推测测区断裂目前相对稳定.结合其较低的应力积累水平, 一定程度上反映出长白山天池火山区目前没有明显活动, 地壳总体是稳定的.本文的研究结果可为长白山天池火山的活动性、地震地质等研究提供地应力方面的基础数据, 同时也为测区地质环境安全评价提供参考依据.

     

西太平洋俯冲板块对中国东北构造演化的影响及其动力学意义

中国东北地区在古生代期间以众多微陆块的拼合以及古亚洲洋的闭合为特征,其后又经历了中-新生代太平洋构造域及中生代蒙古-鄂霍茨克构造域的叠加与改造,以致东北地区的构造行迹显得极为复杂,而大兴安岭重力梯级带及其西部地区构造演化是否与西太平洋俯冲有关仍然存在争议.本研究利用分布于中国东北、华北地区以及韩国、日本等部分台网所接收的近震与远震走时数据获得了中国东北地区壳幔精细的三维P波速度结构.成像结果显示,太平洋板块持续西向俯冲,俯冲板片的前缘停滞在大兴安岭-太行山重力梯度带以东区域的地幔转换带之中;长白山火山区上地幔存在着显著的低速异常体,推测西太平洋板块的深俯冲脱水导致了上地幔底部岩石的熔点降低,从而形成了大范围的部分熔融物质上涌.通过分析上地幔的速度结构,我们认为由于太平洋板块的大规模西向深俯冲,在大地幔楔中发生板片脱水、低速热物质上涌等复杂的地球动力学过程;俯冲板片前缘带动上地幔中不均匀分布的地幔流强烈作用于上部的岩石圈,这对东北地区深部壳幔结构乃至大兴安岭重力梯级带的形成、演化有着重要的影响.

     

Characteristics and origin of sediment-hosted disseminated gold deposits: a review

Sediment-hosted disseminated gold (SHDG) deposits comprise a major portion of the gold production and reserves in the US. Although presently known to be common only in western North America, SHDG deposits are a significant source of world gold production. These deposits are characterized by extremely fine-grained disseminated gold, hosted primarily by arsenian pyrite. Other metals show very little enrichment although in addition to As, anomalous concentrations of elements such as Sb, Hg, Tl and Ba are utilized as exploration tools. The host rocks are dominantly silty carbonates, but ore concentrations are also present in siliceous and silicified rocks as well as intrusive rocks. Alteration consists of decarbonatization, silicification (jasperoid formation) and argillization, which are arranged both spatially and temporally in that order. Argillic alteration is zoned from kaolinite-dominated cores to sericite-dominated margins. The deposits commonly exhibit significant structural (faults) and stratigraphic (composition/permeability) controls. Until the last few years, SHDG deposits were considered as near-surface, epithermal type deposits in origin. Because of their fine-grained nature and the lack of macroscopic features such as veins, it has proven quite difficult to extract geochemical data that are clearly related to their genesis. However, fluid inclusion data indicate pressures corresponding to depths of 2–4 km under lithostatic conditions. Temperatures are constrained by fluid inclusions and phase equilibria to near 225°C. Stable isotope data from alteration minerals and fluid inclusions indicate that the ore fluids were dominated by meteoric waters, some of which had clearly exchanged oxygen with wallrocks during their passage through the crust. Although the data vary, most ore fluids probably had δD values near −150‰ and δ¹⁸O values ranging from −10 to +5‰. Sulfur isotope values reported from SHDG deposits span a wide range, from −30 to +20‰ (sulfides) and 0 to >45‰ (sulfates). Ore-related sulfides (pyrite, realgar) fall at the upper end of the range reported for sulfides. The alteration and mineral assemblage indicate the ore fluids were probably near neutral and gold was likely carried as a bisulfide complex. The depositional mechanism(s) probably included mixing, cooling and oxidation. These mechanisms are consistent with the observed alteration features, i.e. quartz precipitation, calcite dissolution and sericite-kaolinite coexistence. It also explains the presence of both siliceous ores containing native Au and sulfide ores containing Au in pyrite. The extreme variations in sulfur isotopes as seen at Post and fluid inclusion data from Carlin may be indicative of some phase separation (‘boiling’), but such relations have not been documented in other deposits and the importance of phase separation to gold deposition appears minimal.     

哈尔里克山早古生代岩浆弧的初步确定——来自塔水河一带花岗质岩体锆石SHRIMP U-Pb测年的证据

哈尔里克山南坡塔水河一带花岗质岩体的锆石SHRIMPU-Pb定年结果显示:钾长花岗岩中的锆石8个测点的206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为(462±9)Ma;花岗闪长岩中的锆石8个测点的206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为(447±11)Ma;石英闪长岩中的锆石8个测点的206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为(448±7)Ma。这些年龄值是在哈尔里克古生代复合岛弧带首次获得的中—晚奥陶世中酸性侵入岩的时代,为探讨该古生代复合岛弧带的构造发展历史提供了新的资料。     

东昆仑山若羌地区白干湖钨锡矿床地质特征及成因

白干湖钨锡矿床是吉林省地质调查院近年在新疆东昆仑山进行地质调查、找矿方面取得的一项重大突破。矿床产于华南、华北两大板块的增生带中,矿体赋存于古元古界金水口群地层内,属石英脉型钨矿,目前初步控制的远景规模可望达到大型以上。该矿床的发现不仅对新疆东昆仑钨锡的地质找矿具有指导意义,而且对促进南疆今后矿业经济的发展将起重要作用。