New tectonic map of Northern-Central-Eastern Asia:Position and evolution of Mesozoic sedimentary basins

The beginning of the XXI century was marked a new rising of the international tectonic cartography as a result of analysis and synthesis of a huge volume of geological information obtained for the territory of Asia especially during the last 30 years. The previous tectonic maps for Asia were created in the 1960 s--1970 s of the last century. Since that time,the national geological surveys have compiled tectonic maps exclusively in the limits of their own state boundaries. The international cooperation of five countries since 2002( Russia,China,Mongolia,Kazakhstan and Republic of Korea) gave a unique possibility to join the data into a united cartographic form as Atlas of Geological Maps( since 2002-Atlas of Geological Maps of Central Asia and since 2007-Atlas of Geological Maps of Northern-Central-Eastern Asia). Both atlases include four maps: geological,tectonic,metallogenic,and energy resources. Tectonic Map of Northern-Central-Eastern Asia and Adjacent Areas at scale 1 ∶ 2 500 000 was the key map for further compilation of the metallogenic and energy resources( coal,oil and gas) maps. By this reason,special attention was given to showing the structure and composition of the Mesozoic sedimentary basins in Northern-Central- Eastern Asia as the most perspective structures for oil-and-gas and coal prospect.     

Petrochemistry of Granitoids Along the Loei Fold Belt,Northeastern Thailand

Petrochemical characteristics of Permo‐Triassic granitoids from five regions (i) Mung Loei, (ii) Phu Thap Fah – Phu Thep, (iii) Phetchabun, (iv) Nakon Sawan – Lobburi, and (v) Rayong – Chantaburi along the Loei Fold Belt (LFB), northeastern Thailand were studied. The LFB is a north–south trending 800 km fold belt that hosts several gold and base‐metal deposits. The granitoids consist of monzogranite, granodiorite, monzodiorite, tonalite, quartz‐syenite, and quartz‐rich granitoids. These are composed of quartz, plagioclase, and K‐feldspar with mafic minerals such as hornblende and biotite. Accessory minerals, such as titanite, zircon, magnetite, ilmenite, apatite, garnet, rutile, and allanite are also present. Magnetic susceptibilities in the SI unit of granitoids vary from 6.5 × 10⁻³ to 15.2 × 10⁻³ in Muang Loei, from 0.1 × 10⁻³ to 29.4 × 10⁻³ in Phu Thap Fah – Phu Thep, from 2.7 × 10⁻³ to 34.6 × 10⁻³ in Petchabun, from 2.4 × 10⁻³ to 14.1 × 10⁻³ in Nakon Sawan – Lobburi, and from 0.03 × 10⁻³ to 2.8 × 10⁻³ in Rayong – Chantaburi. Concentration of major elements suggests that these intermediate to felsic plutonic rocks have calc‐alkaline affinities. Concentration of REE of the granitoids normalized to chondrite displays moderately elevated light REE (LREE) and relatively flat heavy (HREE) patterns, with distinct depletion of Eu. Rb versus Y/Nb and Nb/Y tectonic discrimination diagrams illustrate that the granitoids from Muang Loei, Phu Thap Fah – Phu Thep, Phetchabun, Nakon Sawan – Lobburi, and Rayong – Chantaburi formed in continental volcanic‐arc setting. New age data from radiometric K‐Ar dating on K‐feldspar from granodiorite in Loei and Nakhon Sawan areas yielded 171 ± 3 and 221 ± 5 Ma, respectively. K‐Ar dating on hornblende separated from diorite in Lobburi yielded 219 ± 8 Ma. These ages suggest that magmatism of Muang Loei occurred in the Middle Jurassic, and Nakon Sawan – Lobburi occurred in Late Triassic. Both Nb versus Y and Rb versus (Y + Nb) diagrams and age data indicate that Nakon Sawan – Lobburi granitoids intruded in Late Triassic at Nong Bua, Nakon Sawan province and Khao Wong Phra Jun, Lobburi province in volcanic arc setting. Muang Loei granitoids at the Loei province formed later in Middle Jurassic also in volcanic arc setting. The negative δ³⁴S_CDT values of ore minerals from the skarn deposit suggest that the I‐type magma has been influenced by light biogenic sulfur from local country rocks. The Au‐Cu‐Fe‐Sb deposits correlate with the magnetite‐series granitoids in Phetchabun, Nakon Sawan – Lobburi and Rayong – Chantaburi areas. Metallogeny of the Au and Cu‐Au skarn deposits and the epithermal Au deposit is related to adakitic rocks of magnetite‐series granitoids from Phetchabun and Nakon Sawan areas. All mineralizations along the LFB are generated in the volcanic arc related to the subduction of Paleo‐Tethys. The total Al (^TAl) content of biotite of granitoids increases in the following order: granitoids associated with Fe and Au deposit < with Cu deposit < barren granitoids. X_Mg of biotite in granitoids in Muang Loei indicates the crystallization of biotite in magnetite‐series granitoids under high oxygen fugacity conditions. On the other hand, low X_Mg (<0.4) of biotite in magnetite‐series granitoids in Phu Thap Fah – Phu Thep and Rayong – Chantaburi indicates a reduced environment and low oxygen fugacity, associated with Au skarn deposit (Phu Thap Fah) and Sb‐Au deposit (Bo Thong), respectively. The magnetite‐series granitoids at Phu Thap Fah having low magnetic susceptibilities and low X_Mg of biotite were formed by reduction of initially oxidizing magnetite‐series granitic magma by interaction with reducing sedimentary country rocks as suggested by negative δ³⁴S_CDT values.     

余姚—丽水断裂带嵊州地区燕山期主要构造特征

余姚—丽水断裂带是浙东南地区活动时间长、延伸远、发育比较宽的一条NE—NNE展布的断裂构造带,在浙江嵊州地区上火山岩系磨石山群和下火山岩系永康群中构造形迹表现十分明显。余姚—丽水断裂带由一系列NE—NNE向控制区内白垩纪盆地形成与发展的正断层,以及NE—NNE走向、自北西向南东逆冲的叠瓦状断层和轴迹呈NE—NNE向的褶皱组成。通过对其构造活动特征及控制新老地层的时序关系研究,结合区域构造活动规律和时空演化关系等综合分析认为: 正断层形成时间较早,控制白垩纪盆地的形成和发展,与早白垩世岩石圈伸展减薄形成的拉张作用密切相关; 叠瓦状逆冲断层及斜歪褶皱、紧闭同斜褶皱等褶、断构造组合形成于晚白垩世之后,其动力学机制可能与古太平洋构造域向太平洋构造域的转换效应有关。研究成果为深入探讨浙东地区燕山期构造演化提供了新的素材和资料。     

尼泊尔低喜马拉雅推覆带油源对比及油气成藏

尼泊尔低喜马拉雅推覆带油气苗来源不清极大地影响了该区油气勘探.在地质-地球物理综合调查的基础上,利用油气地球化学、碳同位素及生烃史模拟对尼泊尔代莱克地区油源和成藏过程进行了研究.结果表明:①尼泊尔代莱克地区油苗产于Padukasthan断裂,可分两期,第一期呈含油断层泥产出,氯仿沥青"A"为149～231 μg/g,RR.为0.81％,氯仿沥青"A"的δ13C相对较重(-26.24‰～-27.10‰),族组分具有正碳同位素序列,发黄绿色荧光,为典型的低熟煤成油,第二期呈液态油产出并遭受微生物降解,金刚烷IMD指数为0.33～0.45,R.为1.24％～1.53％,3,4-DMD含量46％～47％,全油δ13C为-29.50‰～-29.45‰,族组分碳同位素趋于一致,发蓝色荧光,为海相成因高熟油;②第一期油来源于Surkhet群的Melpani组和Gondwana群煤系烃源岩,为Ⅲ型有机质低熟阶段的产物,第二期来源于Surkhet群的Swat组浅海陆棚相黑色页岩,为Ⅱ1型有机质生油高峰的产物,两期油与Lakharpata群过成熟黑色泥岩和Siwalik群未熟泥岩没有亲缘关系;③尼泊尔低喜马拉雅推覆带具有"多源多期、推覆增熟、砂体控储、披覆控聚"的油气成藏模式,油气成藏过程可划分为沉积浅埋、构造圈闭形成、深埋油藏形成、气藏形成和晚期改造定型5个演化阶段;④尼泊尔低喜马拉雅推覆有利于Gondwana群、Surkhet群深埋增温、持续快速生烃和晚期成藏,对比邻区巴基斯坦的含油气盆地,尼泊尔低喜马拉雅推覆带及相邻类似地区具备良好的油气成藏条件.     

四川盆地米仓山前陆冲断带成藏条件分析

本文运用层序地层学、平衡剖面分析与缩短量计算和生烃史恢复等方法,从区域构造分析和地震剖面解释入手,通过野外地质调查、地震资料解释、典型剖面平衡剖面分析和缩短量计算,结合成藏条件的分析和生烃史恢复,探讨了米仓山前陆冲断带构造演化特征,揭示该带的成藏条件和天然气富集特征。提出了米仓山演化模式,认为米仓山前陆冲断带成藏条件优越,可供钻探的圈闭发育,天然气勘探潜力巨大,储层、保存条件是成藏关键。其中,二叠系为主要烃源岩,二叠系生屑灰岩和飞仙关组鲕粒灰岩为主要储集层,雷口坡组和嘉陵江组膏盐岩层为主要盖层。并且,冲断带构造演化的时序性表现为由西向东变形强度、缩短量变小,变形时间变晚,同时前陆盆地的不同构造单元间的相互关系发生变化,造成勘探目的层系、圈闭幅度、类型的相应变化。     

西南天山柯坪塔格前缘断裂带东段晚第四纪活动特征

柯坪塔格前缘断裂东段是柯坪推覆构造系前缘的一条活动断裂,野外调查获得了其晚第四纪错断洪积扇、冲沟阶地面的证据,实测了变形地貌面上的断层陡坎,分析了断层的形变量,通过采样测年估算了断层的缩短速率。由7个观测点的断层陡坎剖面测量,计算了观测点处断层的水平缩短速率,结果表明,断裂弧顶部位的五道班、三间房以西及其大山口道班附近,断层错断了Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级洪积扇(阶地)。断层在这些地点最新活动强烈,水平缩短平均速率全新世以来为0·35~0·44mm/a,更新世晚期末以来为0·16~0·30mm/a,而在非弧顶部位的巴楚磷矿、三岔口以北及大山口北断层只错断了更新世晚期Ⅲ级洪积扇,且水平缩短速率较小,断层水平缩短平均速率更新世晚期以来为0·05~0·07mm/a     

基于克里格法刻画砂岩型铀矿U、Ra和U-Ra平衡系数垂向分布规律——以二连盆地芒来铀矿床为例

砂岩型铀矿是绿色经济可采的重要能源矿种,目前是世界上重要的铀矿勘探类型之一。二连盆地芒来铀矿床、鄂尔多斯盆地纳岭沟铀矿床铀矿体多呈板状产出,板状铀矿体成因备受关注。为研究砂岩型铀矿内部U、Ra和铀镭平衡系数（Kp）分布的垂向分布规律,本文以二连盆地芒来铀矿床为例,采用具有网格精度高优点的克里格插值法研究U、Ra和Kp垂向分布规律,分别利用放射性样品分析数据和定量伽马测井五点式反褶积法反演U含量数据,通过克里格法精细刻画砂岩型矿体中U、Ra和Kp分布的垂向分布规律。研究发现,该矿床板状矿体内部具有卷状的特征,Kp分布形态可以用来判断含氧含铀水的运移方向以及氧化强弱。该方法对研究铀矿体形态、铀矿成矿规律和后续地浸开采具有重要意义。     

Modelling the Shimokita deep coalbed biosphere over deep geological time: Starvation,stimulation, material balance and population models

Basin models can simulate geological, geochemical and geophysical processes and potentially also the deep biosphere, starting from a burial curve, assuming a thermal history and utilizing other experimentally obtained data. Here, we apply basin modelling techniques to model cell abundances within the deep coalbed biosphere off Shimokita Peninsula, Japan, drilled during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 337. Two approaches were used to simulate the deep coalbed biosphere: (a) In the first approach, the deep biosphere was modelled using a material balance approach that treats the deep biosphere as a carbon reservoir, in which fluxes are governed by temperature-controlled metabolic processes that retain carbon via cell-growth and cell-repair and pass it back via cell-damaging reactions. (b) In the second approach, the deep biosphere was modelled as a microbial community with a temperature-controlled growth ratio and carrying capacity (a limit on the size of the deep biosphere) modulated by diagenetic-processes. In all cases, the biosphere in the coalbeds and adjacent habitat are best modelled as a carbon-limited community undergoing starvation because labile sedimentary organic matter is no longer present and petroleum generation is yet to occur. This state of starvation was represented by the conversion of organic carbon to authigenic carbonate and the formation of kerogen. The potential for the biosphere to be stimulated by the generation of carbon-dioxide from the coal during its transition from brown to sub-bituminous coal was evaluated and a net thickness of 20 m of lignite was found sufficient to support an order of magnitude greater number of cells within a low-total organic carbon (TOC) horizon. By comparison, the stimulation of microbial populations in a coalbed or high-TOC horizon would be harder to detect because the increase in population size would be proportionally very small.     

Geometry and kinematics of brittle deformation in the Central Cameroon Shear Zone (Kékem area): Implication for gold exploration within the Central Africa Fold Belt in Cameroon

The Central Africa Fold Belt (CAFB) is a collision belt endowed with gold deposits in Eastern Cameroon area mined for about 50 years. However, favorable areas for gold exploration are poorly known. This paper presents (1) the kinematics of the brittle deformation in the Kékem area in the SW portion of the Central Cameroon Shear Zone and (2) constraints gold mineralization events with respect to the collisional evolution of the CAFB. The authors interpret that the conjugate ENE to E and NNW to NW trending lineament corresponds to the synthetic (R) and the antithetic (R’) shears, which accompanied the dextral slip along the NE to ENE striking shear. The latter coincides with the last 570–552 Ma D₃ dextral simple shear-dominated transpression, which is parallel to the Bétaré Oya shear zone hosting gold deposits. Gold mineralizations, which mainly occurred during the last dextral shearing, are disseminated within quartz veins associated to Riedel’s previous structures reactivated due to late collisional activities of the CAFB as brittle deformation. Gold mineralizations occurred mainly during the 570–552 Ma D₃ event. The reactivation, which might be due to dextral simple shear during mylonitzation, plausibly remobilized the early gold deposits hosted in syn-compressional rocks and/or possibly focused deep-sourced fluid mixed with those released by dehydration. Therefore, the Central Cameroon Shear Zone where Kékem is located, and which shows similar petrographical and structural features to those controling Batouri gold district, is a target area for gold exploration in Cameroon.     

Extensional fault and fold growth: Impact on accommodation evolution and sedimentary infill

Extensional faults and folds exert a fundamental control on the location, thickness and partitioning of sedimentary deposits on rift basins. The connection between the mode of extensional fault reactivation, resulting fault shape and extensional fold growth is well‐established. The impact of folding on accommodation evolution and growth package architecture, however, has received little attention; particularly the role‐played by fault‐perpendicular (transverse) folding. We study a multiphase rift basin with km‐scale fault displacements using a large high‐quality 3D seismic data set from the Fingerdjupet Subbasin in the southwestern Barents Sea. We link growth package architecture to timing and mode of fault reactivation. Dip linkage of deep and shallow fault segments resulted in ramp‐flat‐ramp fault geometry, above which fault‐parallel fault‐bend folds developed. The folds limited the accommodation near their causal faults, leading to deposition within a fault‐bend synclinal growth basin further into the hangingwall. Continued fold growth led to truncation of strata near the crest of the fault‐bend anticline before shortcut faulting bypassed the ramp‐flat‐ramp structure and ended folding. Accommodation along the fault‐parallel axis is controlled by the transverse folds, the location and size of which depends on the degree of linkage in the fault network and the accumulated displacement on causal faults. We construct transverse fold trajectories by tracing transverse fold hinges through space and time to highlight the positions of maximum and minimum accommodation and potential sediment entry points to hangingwall growth basins. The length and shape of the constructed trajectories relate to the displacement on their parent faults, duration of fault activity, timing of transverse basin infill, fault linkage and strain localization. We emphasize that the considerable wavelength, amplitudes and potential periclinal geometry of extensional folds make them viable targets for CO₂ storage or hydrocarbon exploration in rift basins.