GIS-based prospectivity-mapping based on geochemical multivariate analysis technology: A case study of MVT Pb–Zn deposits in the Huanyuan-Fenghuang district,northwestern Hunan Province,China

This paper demonstrates a partial least-squares regression (PLS) method for geochemical modelling, and then uses the models and geological favourable features to obtain mineral potential maps. The PLS is one of multivariate analysis technologies, which can identify variations in associations and correlations among geochemical elements and mineralisation. The method is here used to calculate principal components as well as to identify correlations between Pb–Zn (mineralization) and 25 stream sediment elements for constructing geochemical models in the Huayuan-Fenghuang district of northwestern Hunan Province, China. The models showing the distribution of geochemical anomaly are useful in interpreting the distribution of faults and the Cambrian Qingxudong Formation (ore-bearing formation), and to better define the architecture on mineralisation in the study area. In addition, the models and other favourable features (proxies) are easily integrated into single possibility map by Boost Weights-of-Evidence (Boost WofE) approach for targets.     

顾及形变控制的小屏幕变比例尺交通路线图生成方法

用户在旅游或者室外运动中经常将路线图显示于移动设备上以方便规划路线。然而移动设备显示屏幕通常较小,若较大范围的地图通过等比例尺缩小在小屏幕显示,可能会导致清晰度和辨识度的降低,尤其对于地图中地物较为密集的区域。本文提出一种自动化生成变比例尺地图的方法,通过更加均匀化地图显示内容密度分布以改善地图概览清晰度。在该方法中,首先对密度分布进行估计,密度估计主要考虑地图上路线空间分布以及地标与注记显示空间,然后根据所得到的密度分布进行变比例尺转换,最终生成的变比例尺结果图,其大小取决于给定显示尺寸。相较于现有变比例尺转换方法,本文提出的方法可以考虑了地标与注记显示空间,同时又能有效控制地图变形以提高地图识别。实验结果表明,通过本方法生成变比例尺结果图对地图概览的清晰度有着显著提高,并且能够保持良好的地图识别度。     

The heritage and cultural values of ancient Chinese maps

Ancient Chinese cartography dates back to the Western Jin Dynasty in the third century. Cartography was initiated during this period by Pei Xiu, a minister and cartographic expert, who suggested six principles of cartography. Pei Xiu, who is known as the father of Chinese cartography, oversaw the completion of the “Yu Gong Regional Maps”, along with 18 articles and the “Terrain Fangzhang Map” (AD 224–271). This led to a number of subsequent cartographic initiatives including the “Wooden Fangzhang Map” (an administrative map) which was completed by Xie Zhuang, a minister during the Southern Dynasties (AD 502–557), “Haineihuayi Tu” (Map of China and its neighbouring countries) (AD 730–805), drawn by Jia Dan, a cartographer of the Tang Dynasty, and “Shouling Tu” (an administrative map, AD 1031–1095), drawn by Shen Kuo, a scientist during the Northern Song Dynasty. Throughout the 16th century, ancient Chinese cartography developed continuously and cumulatively, and formed the specific characteristics of China ancient cartography. Although Western latitude- based and longitude-based mapping techniques introduced to China in AD 1460, the theories and methods of Chinese and Western mapping systems co-existed for over 400 years. The cultural heritage of Chinese cartography can be seen in many famous ancient Chinese maps, including astronomical figures and atlases (world, Chinese, regional, military, water conservancy, historical, and educational maps), charts, and maps of scenic spots. These have hitherto been kept in well-known archives and institutions across the world. They form an important part of the global cultural heritage of ancient maps and cartography. Given their high cultural value, these maps remain an important point of study. This paper provides a preliminary discussion on the rarity, application, and the historical, scientific, and artistic value of ancient Chinese maps.     

Possible stellar asterisms carved on a protohistoric stone

Chisel marks on a stone uncovered in Rupinpiccolo protohistoric hill fort from north-eastern Italy were suggested to be a representation of the night sky (Bernardini et al. 2022 Documenta Praehistorica XLIX). The patterns of the 29 marks are analyzed here to establish if they reproduce popular stellar asterisms. Nine marks are found to match the Tail of Scorpius and five the Orion's Belt, together with Rigel and Betelgeuse. Nine marks are found in the approximate position of the Pleiades showing some match with the cluster members. On the back side, 5 marks possibly reproduce Cassiopeia. One mark slightly North of Orion cannot be identified. The 28 marks show a Pearson correlation coefficient $$(28) with stellar positions higher than 0.99 with a probability $$ of a wrong correlation lower than 0.001. Departures are about one degree, or about 7 mm, as the mean diameter of the marks, which suggests a manufacturing limitation in the charting. The fort dates $$1800–400 BCE when Scorpius and Orion showed about the same orientation at the heliacal rising. The unidentified mark challenges the whole picture. We suggest it could have been the progenitor of a failed supernova, thus offering also the possibility of a verification.