Response of active tectonics on the alluvial Baghmati River, Himalayan foreland basin, eastern India

Active tectonics in a basin plays an important role in controlling a fluvial system through the change in channel slope. The Baghmati, an anabranching, foothills-fed river system, draining the plains of north Bihar in eastern India has responded to ongoing tectonic deformation in the basin. The relatively flat alluvial plains are traversed by several active subsurface faults, which divide the area in four tectonic blocks. Each tectonic block is characterized by association of fluvial anomalies viz. compressed meanders, knick point in longitudinal profiles, channel incision, anomalous sinuosity variations, sudden change in river flow direction, river flow against the local gradient and distribution of overbank flooding, lakes, and waterlogged area. Such fluvial anomalies have been identified on the repetitive satellite images and maps and interpreted through DEM and field observations to understand the nature of vertical movements in the area. The sub-surface faults in the Baghmati plains cut across the river channel and also run parallel which have allowed us to observe the effects of longitudinal and lateral tilting manifested in avulsions and morphological changes.     

Geochemical and isotopic characterization of trace fossil infillings: New insights on tracemaker activity after the K/Pg impact event

Geochemical and isotopic analyses of the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary deposits were conducted at the Caravaca section (External Subbetic, southeast of Spain) in order to evaluate the recovery of the macrobenthic tracemaker community and the bioturbational disturbance. Samples from the infilling material of several lower Danian dark-colored trace fossils (Chondrites, Planolites, Thalassinoides and Zoophycos) located in the uppermost 8-cm of the light upper Maastrichtian strata, as well as samples from the host sedimentary rock of these trace fossils, were analyzed and compared with data from the lower Danian deposits. The values of element ratios indicative of extraterrestrial contamination (Cr/Al, Co/Al and Ni/Al) are higher in the infilling trace fossil material than in the upper Maastrichtian and lower Danian deposits, which suggests a contribution of the ejecta layer. Regarding the isotope composition, the δ¹³C values are lower in the infilling material than in the Maastrichtian host sedimentary rocks surrounding the traces, while the δ¹⁸O are higher in the infilling material. The geochemical and isotopic compositions of the infilling material evidence the unconsolidated character of the sediment, including the red boundary layer. Softground conditions confirm a relatively rapid recovery by the macrobenthic tracemaker community, starting a few millimeters above the K/Pg boundary layer. The mixture of the infilling material of the trace fossils moreover reveals a significant macrobenthic tracemaker activity affecting K–Pg boundary transition sediments that may have significantly altered original signatures.     

海河流域夏季降水与北半球环流异常的相关

使用1981—2013年6—8月的月平均海河流域站点降水资料以及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,采用SVD方法分析了北半球高度场环流异常与海河流域夏季降水的关系。结果表明夏季海河流域的一致型降水异常主要受热带地区高度场异常的影响,而北半球中高纬的高度异常分布对海河流域东南部降水异常有重要作用。热带及中高纬地区的高度场异常与副热带西风急流和流域上空的水汽输送有一定的对应关系,急流强度和位置的变化以及水汽辐合异常造成海河流域降水异常,尤其中高纬高度异常的这种对应关系更加明显,并且两个地区的高度异常分布对应的海河流域异常水汽输送有不同来源。     

内蒙古二连—东乌旗地区重磁异常特征及其找矿意义

以区域地质资料和物性资料为依据,探讨了二连—东乌旗地区1∶20万重磁异常所反映的深部构造特征及其找矿意义。在区域重磁场分区研究的基础上,分析了区内晚古生代的不同成矿环境。重磁异常解释结果显示,本区西部以北东向区域构造为主,东部转为南北向和东西向密集网格构造,成矿条件更为有利。尤其是东部东乌旗和霍林郭勒地区中酸性侵入岩体发育,矿产资源潜力巨大。1∶20万重磁异常研究从不同空间尺度为本区寻找内生金属矿产提供了重要信息,并圈定6处找矿远景区。     

2011~2020年勘查地球化学数据处理研究进展

我国建立了包含海量数据的高质量的勘查地球化学数据库,为矿产勘查、环境评价和地质调查等提供了重要的数据支撑。如何高效处理勘查地球化学数据,并从中发掘和识别深层次信息一直是勘查地球化学学科研究的热点和前沿领域。本文在系统调研国内外学者过去十年发表的论著基础上,对勘查地球化学数据处理方法进行分析与对比,从勘查地球化学数据库建设、地球化学异常识别及其不确定性评价等方面概述了我国近十年来在该领域取得的主要研究进展,包括:(1)分形与多重分形模型由于考虑了地球化学空间模式的复杂性和尺度不变性,在全球范围内得到极大的发展和推广,我国学者引领了基于分形与多重分形的勘查地球化学数据处理;(2)机器学习和大数据思维开始在该领域启蒙,并迅速得到关注,正在成为研究热点和前沿领域,我国学者率先开展基于机器学习算法的勘查地球化学大数据挖掘研究;(3)我国学者需要进一步加强勘查地球化学数据缺失值处理以及成分数据闭合效应研究。今后该领域应进一步加强对弱缓地球化学异常识别、异常不确定性评价以及异常识别与其形成机理相结合等方面的研究。     

Structural characteristics of the KPR-CBR triple-junction inferred from gravity and magnetic interpretations,Philippine Sea Plate

The intersection of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) and the Central Basin Rift (CBR) of the West Philippine Basin (WPB) is a relic of a trench-trench-rift (TTR) type triple-junction, which preserves some pivotal information on the cessation of the seafloor spreading of the WPB, the emplacement and disintegration of the proto-Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) Arc, and the transition from initial rifting to steady-state spreading of the Parece Vela Basin (PVB). However, the structural characteristics of this triple-junction have not been thoroughly understood. In this paper, using the newly acquired multi-beam bathymetric, gravity, and magnetic data obtained by the Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, the authors depict the topographic, gravity, and magnetic characteristics of the triple-junction and adjacent region. Calculations including the upward continuations and total horizontal derivatives of gravity anomaly are also performed to highlight the major structural features and discontinuities. Based on these works, the morphological and structural features and their formation mechanisms are analyzed. The results show that the last episode amagmatic extension along the CBR led to the formation of a deep rift valley, which extends eastward and incised the KPR. The morphological and structural fabrics of the KPR near and to the south of the triple-junction are consistent with those of the western PVB, manifesting as a series of NNE-SSW- and N-S-trending ridges and troughs, which were produced by the extensional faults associated with the initial rifting of the PVB. The superposition of the above two reasons induced the prominent discontinuity of the KPR in deep and shallow crustal structures between 15°N–15°30′N and 13°30′N–14°N. Combined with previous authors’ results, we propose that the stress produced by the early spreading of the PVB transmitted westward and promoted the final stage amagmatic extension of the CBR. The eastward propagation of the CBR destroyed the KPR, of which the magmatism had decayed or ceased at that time. The destruction mechanism of the KPR associated with the rifting of the PVB varies along strike the KPR. Adjacent to the triple-junction, the KPR was destroyed mainly due to the oblique intersection of the PVB rifting center. Whereas south of the triple-junction, the KPR was destroyed by the E-W-directional extensional faulting on its whole width.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

A New Wavelet Method for Identification of Eddies and Assessment of Incidents on Islands of the Eastern Caribbean

Using two dimensional continuous wavelet transforms, a novel method for identification of mesoscale eddies is presented to facilitate extraction of characteristics for area, amplitude, type, and location from maps of sea level anomalies. In comparison with the previously established growing method for eddy identification, it is found that the wavelet method identifies more than twice the number of eddies and is particularly better at resolving small eddies down to the 0.25 degree resolution of the data. Such research into eddy identification and tracking is significant to the assessment of eddies with potential to impact on coastlines of small islands. The method is applied to the identification of eddies on tracks towards islands of the Eastern Caribbean over 23?years. Spatial and temporal variation in rate of occurrence and magnitude is established. For Barbados there is an average of 9 anticyclonic incidents a year with maximum amplitude of typically 0.22?m in the dry seasons and 0.16?m in the wet seasons. Seasonal variation is reversed for the other islands with twice the number of anticyclonic incidents having maximum amplitudes of about 0.20?m annually.