Fragmentation Patterns in Land Reform Settlements in the Brazilian Amazon

Direct action land reform (DALR) and settlement formation are new drivers of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. However, until now no research has paid attention to fragmentation patterns and the social processes that lead to them. This article analyzes two types of settlements, spontaneous and social movement organization-led settlements. The study uses neutral landscape models (NLMs) to compare simulated landscapes with the real fragmentation patterns found in DALR settlements. In sequence, the article uses landscape metrics to analyze the temporal and spatial dynamics of fragmentation patterns in these two types of DALR settlements. Results showed that there are significant differences between real landscape patterns and simulated landscapes using NLMs. In other words, human interferences did play a significant role in shaping deforestation patches in DALR settlements. Our metric results revealed a process in which deforestation patch mean area, shape complexity, and physical connectedness increase over time.     

A discontinuous numerical model to simulate rock failure process

Due to the difficulty of the classical fracture mechanics in dealing with multicrack coalescence, the simulation of jointed rock failure has remained a worldwide problem since the middle of the last century. Through a nearly 10-year effort, we have developed a novel but simple discontinuum-based approach, namely DDARF (discontinuous deformation analysis for rock failure), to simulate the progressive failure process of jointed rock mass. In the proposed method, by adopting the FE adaptive mesh generation technique—the advanced front method, the computational model of triangular DDA block system is automatically established. Also, the randomly distributed mechanical parameters statistically satisfying Weibull’s law are assigned to the blocks to simulate the heterogeneity of rock mass. In the generating process of the block system, numerous artificial joints come into being. These artificial joints provide the potential paths along which the cracks generate and propagate. The two blocks beside an artificial joint are glued together through adhesive algorithm, and if the glue is invalid, the artificial joint will break and turn into a real crack. In this way, the rock fragmentation process can be simulated. The results of several verification examples indicate that the DDARF method can simulate the whole process of rock fragmentation, and is suitable for cases of intact rock, rock mass with non-penetrative joints, and even blocky rock.     

Assessment of multifunctional landscapes dynamics in the mountainous basin of the Mo River (Togo,West Africa)

In this study, historical landscape dynamics were investigated to (i) map the land use/cover types for the years 1972, 1987, 2000 and 2014; (ii) determine the types and processes of landscape dynamics; and (iii) assess the landscape fragmentation and habitat loss over time. Supervised classification of multi-temporal Landsat images was used through a pixel-based approach. Post–classification methods included systematic and random change detection, trajectories analysis and landscape fragmentation assessment. The overall accuracies (and Kappa statistics) were of 68.86% (0.63), 91.32% (0.79), 90.66% (0.88) and 91.88% (0.89) for 1972, 1987, 2000 and 2014, respectively. The spatio-temporal analyses indicated that forests, woodlands and savannahs dominated the landscapes during the four dates, though constant areal decreases were observed. The most important dynamic process was the decline of woodlands with an average annual net loss rate of–2%. Meanwhile, the most important land transformation occurred during the transition 2000–2014, due to anthropogenic pressures. Though the most important loss of vegetation greenness occurred in the unprotected areas, the overall analyses of change indicated a declining trend of land cover quality and an increasing landscape fragmentation. Sustainable conservation strategies should be promoted while focusing restoration attention on degraded lands and fragmented ecosystems in order to support rural livelihood and biodiversity conservation.     

洛南任家滩—荞麦山正长斑岩成因及其对古元古代晚期裂解的指示——岩石化学及锆石U- Pb年龄和Lu—Hf同位素特征

华北克拉通南缘的陕西洛南—河南豫西地区出露一系列形成于1. 8~1. 6 Ga的碱性岩,对这些碱性岩的研究有助于提高对华北克拉通南缘古元古代构造环境的认识。笔者等选取陕西省洛南县任家滩—荞麦山一带碱性侵入体进行系统的岩石学、LA- ICP- MS锆石U- Pb年代学、Lu—Hf同位素分析和岩石地球化学研究,讨论了其成因机制和构造背景。研究表明,任家滩—荞麦山岩体的主体岩性为正长斑岩,加权平均年龄为1689±20 Ma（MSWD=0. 12）,表明其侵位时代为古元古代。该岩体富碱（Na2O+K2O=7. 95% ~ 9. 5%）,高钾（K2O=4. 67% ~ 8. 51%）;稀土元素总量较高（496. 15×10-6 ~ 650. 16×10-6,平均543. 06×10-6）,轻、重稀土元素分馏比较明显,轻稀土元素相对富集（LREE=454×10-6 ~ 605×10-6）,重稀土元素亏损（HREE=39. 3×10-6 ~ 45. 6×10-6）,具有弱负铕异常;K、Rb、Ba、Th富集,Nb、Ta、P、Ti亏损,并且具有明显的Sr负异常。εHf（t）值<0,TDM1值为2038 ~ 2218 Ma,TDM2值为2250 ~ 2516 Ma,说明岩浆源区物质与富集地幔有关或受到过地壳物质的混染。因此,任家滩—荞麦山岩体是由地幔玄武质岩浆与地壳基底太华杂岩形成的中酸性花岗质岩浆混合后形成的熔体,经强烈的结晶分异作用形成的,其形成于陆内裂谷的构造环境,是华北克拉通南缘对哥伦比亚超大陆裂解事件的响应。     

关于修改完善钛砂矿地质勘探规范部分内容的建议

砂矿(金属矿产)地质勘查规范是2002年制订颁布的,在勘查工作及报告审查中发现:该规范有些地方不严不细,缺少明确统一标准,或者不具可操作性而导致混乱.所以有进一步修改完善的必要. 砂矿(金属矿产)地质勘查规范( DZ/T0208-2002 )适用于云南、广西的残坡积型钛砂矿勘查,本文结合上述地区钛砂矿的长期实践,谈谈规...