Mesozoic–Cenozoic stress field magnitude in Sichuan Basin,China and its adjacent areas and the implication on shale gas reservoir: Determination by acoustic emission in rocks

The Sichuan Basin is one of the vital basins in China, boasting abundant hydrocarbon reservoirs. To clarify the intensity of the tectonic stress field of different tectonic episodes since the Mesozoic and to identify the regional dynamic background of different tectonic movements in the Sichuan Basin and its adjacent areas, the characteristics of the acoustic emission in rocks in different strata of these areas were researched in this paper. Meanwhile, the tectonic stress magnitude in these areas since the Mesozoic was restored. The laws state that the tectonic stress varied with depth was revealed, followed by the discussion of the influence of structural stress intensity on structural patterns in different tectonic episodes. These were conducted based on the paleostress measurement by acoustic emission method and the inversion principle of the stress fields in ancient periods and the present, as well as previous research achievements. The results of this paper demonstrate that the third episode of Yanshanian Movement (Yanshanian III) had the maximum activity intensity and tremendously influenced the structural pattern in the study area. The maximum horizontal principal stress of Yanshanian III varied with depth as follows: 0.0168 x + 37.001 (MPa), R² = 0.8891. The regional structural fractures were mainly formed in Yanshanian III in Xujiahe Formation, west Sichuan Basin, of which the maximum paleoprincipal stress ranging from 85.1 MPa to 120.1 MPa. In addition, the law stating the present maximum horizontal principal stress varies with depth was determined to be 0.0159 x+10.221 (MPa), R²=0.7868 in Wuling Mountain area. Meanwhile, it was determined to be 0.0221 x+9.4733 (MPa), R²=0.9121 in the western part of Xuefeng Mountain area and 0.0174 x+10.247 (MPa), R²=0.8064 in the whole study area. These research results will not only provide data for the simulation of stress field, the evaluation of deformation degree, and the prediction of structural fractures, but also offer absolute geological scientific bases for the elevation of favorable shale gas preservation.     

南盘江—右江盆地构造演化与金锑成矿作用

南盘江—右江盆地具独特的盆地构造演化历史和背景,是西南低温成矿域的重要组成部分,广泛发育有Au-As-Sb-Hg-Tl等低温热液矿床,金锑成矿作用与盆地构造演化密切相关。本文系统总结南盘江—右江盆地构造演化过程和历史,分析盆地演化对沉积地层、沉积相带分布、古地理变迁等的控制作用。盆地内金锑矿床受构造和有利岩性组合控矿明显,结合南盘江—右江盆地内Cu-W-Sn-Pb-Zn-Au-Sb-Hg等矿床空间分布特征及规律,探讨盆地构造演化与金锑成矿作用和成矿效应的关系。类比斑岩-矽卡岩-浅成低温热液型多金属矿床最新研究成果,建立南盘江—右江盆地以陆内斑岩型铜矿床为中心,上部或边部矽卡岩型铜矿床、脉状钨-锡-银-铅-锌矿床和远端低温热液金-银-锑-汞矿床的找矿预测模型,模型对南盘江—右江成矿区深部斑岩型矿床或与斑岩体有关的矽卡岩型矿床的找矿勘查具有重要意义。     

江南造山带(湖南段)金矿成矿规律与资源潜力

扬子地块—华夏地块经历武陵期—雪峰期增生造山-碰撞造山形成江南造山带,构成统一的华南板块,进入板内演化阶段。本文从构造-岩浆作用-沉积建造角度,结合地质年代学、古地磁、岩相古地理分析,加里东运动、印支运动属陆内作用,造就了加里东期、印支期两次主要的金矿成矿事件。湖南雪峰山—幕阜山(俗称“金腰带”)加里东期和印支晚期金矿床分区成带产出,构成一条复合型造山型金矿带。区域性构造导矿、次级构造交汇或叠加控矿明显;矿石普遍发育条带状构造,属韧性剪切递进变形的产物。通过对区域成矿背景、金矿成矿理论,金矿床(体)地质特征,结合同位素地球化学、地质找矿成果及深部验证情况等多方面研究表明该成矿带深部找矿潜力巨大,2000 m以浅金远景资源量有望达到3000 t。     

湘黔渝毗邻区南华纪岩相古地理及沉积盆地演化

湘黔渝毗邻区大地构造位置位于扬子陆块东南缘,发育有完整的南华纪沉积记录,同时也是我国南华纪“大塘坡式”沉积型锰矿的重要富集区。通过对区内南华系剖面的详细调查与研究,结合室内综合分析,应用“优势相”成图方法编制了南华纪早世、中世、晚世岩相古地理图件。研究表明:受Rodinia超大陆全球性裂解作用影响,南华纪时期扬子陆块东南缘发生广泛的裂解作用,形成武陵次级裂谷盆地和雪峰次级裂谷盆地,构成“堑-垒”式古地理格局,南华系是在这一背景下形成的“楔状”沉积体;划分出大陆相组、过渡相组和海相组三大沉积相组,识别出河流相、湖泊相、三角洲相、海岸相以及浅海陆棚相等沉积相及若干沉积亚相等。系列图件的编制恢复了南华纪时期的沉积盆地演化与古地理变迁,建立了沉积盆地演化模式,为区域上沉积型锰矿的预测与寻找提供了一定的沉积学依据。     

Chronological and geochemical constraints on the pre-variscan tectonic history of the Erzgebirge,Saxothuringian Zone

A combined U–Pb zircon geochronological and whole-rock isotopic and geochemical study has been carried out on high-grade orthogneiss, meta-basite, and meta-sediments from the Erzgebirge. The results indicate multiple pulses of Ediacaran–Ordovician magmatism in a transitional volcanic-arc to rift-basin setting. Orthogneiss from high-pressure nappes exhibit a step-like pattern of inherited zircon ages and emplacement ages of 500–475 Ma. In contrast, granite gneiss from the medium-pressure core of the Erzgebirge is characterised by three pulses of magmatism in the Early Cambrian, Late Cambrian, and Early Ordovician. A trend of decreasing Th/U ratios in zircon is observed to c.500 Ma, after which significant increases in the trend and variability of the data is inferred to mark the transition from arc-related to rift-related magmatism. Sediments deposited in the Early Cambrian have continental island arc affinity. Major detrital peaks in the Ediacaran and subordinate Tonian, Palaeoproterozoic, and Neoarchaean data are consistent with an Avalonian-Cadomian Arc and West African Craton derivation. The Early Cambrian sediments were locally reworked by a thermal event in the Ordovician resulting in leucocratic banding and recorded in Ordovician zircon rims characterised by systematically lower Th/U ratios. Ptygmatically folded leucocratic bands containing Ordovician zircon rims, associated with low Th/U ratios, are further observed in the granite gneiss core of the Erzgebirge. Variscan ages are rare, except in a fine-grained high-pressure micaschist, which contains exclusively small, structure-less, zircon with a weighted mean age of 350 ± 2 Ma. These data, along with a re-evaluation of previously published data, have been interpreted as the product of flattening subduction during the Early Cambrian; followed by the opening of slab windows in the Late Cambrian; and finally delamination in the Early Ordovician. Delamination of the orphaned slab led to asthenospheric upwellings triggering extension, bimodal magmatic pulses, recycling of fertile crust, high-temperature metamorphism, and cratonisation of relatively young crust.     

Geochemistry and detrital zircon U–Pb dating of Pliocene-Pleistocene sandstones of the Chittagong Tripura Fold Belt (Bangladesh): Implications for provenance

The Bengal Basin originated during the collision of India with Eurasia and Burma. The provenance analysis of the Chittagong Tripura Fold Belt (CTFB), which is the folded eastern flank of the Bengal Basin as well as the Neogene belt of the Indo-Burman Ranges (IBR) is key to better understand the possible sources of sediment input from the complex interplay of the Indian, Eurasian and Burma plates. We report new whole rock geochemical and detrital zircon U–Pb data from the upper Neogene sandstones of Tipam-Dupi Tila formations (Pliocene to Plio-Plestocene succession) from the CTFB. Detrital zircon U–Pb age spectra show three predominant peaks at <200 Ma, 480–650, ∼800–1000 Ma. The geochemical discriminations and elemental ratios of Eu/Eu* (∼0.70), La/Sc (∼16.13), La/Co (∼15.76), Th/Sc (∼2.95), La/Th (∼5.67), Th/Co (∼2.87), Cr/Th (∼4.63) as well as Chondrite-normalized REE patterns with flat HREE, LREE enrichment, and negative Eu anomalies for the Tipam and Dupi Tila formations are suggestive of a dominantly felsic source area experiencing moderate to intensive chemical weathering (Chemical index of alteration, CIA - 57 to 81) and have a recycled provenance orogen related to active continental or passive margin settings. Integrated geochemical and zircon U–Pb studies reveal that the main sediment input might have been from the Himalayan orogen with significant arc-derived detritus, possibly from the Gangdese arc as well as from the Burma magmatic arc.     

Paleoproterozoic juvenile magmatism within the northeastern sector of the São Francisco paleocontinent: Insights from the shoshonitic high Ba–Sr Montezuma granitoids

New,integrated petrographic,mineral chemistry,whole rock geochemical,zircon and titanite UPb geochronology,and zircon Hf isotopic data from the Montezuma granitoids,as well as new geochemical results for its host rocks represented by the Corrego Tingui Complex,provides new insights into the late-to post-collisional evolution of the northeastern Sao Francisco paleocontinent.U-Pb zircon dates from the Montezuma granitoids spread along the Concordia between ca.2.2 Ga to 1.8 Ga and comprise distinct groups.Group I have crystallization ages between ca.2.15 Ga and 2.05 Ga and are interpreted as inherited grains.Group II zircon dates vary from 2.04 Ga to1.9 Ga and corresponds to the crystallization of the Montezuma granitoids,which were constrained at ca.2.03 Ga by the titanite U-Pb age.Inverse age zoning is common within the ca.1.8 Ga Group III zircon ages,being related to fluid isotopic re-setting during the Espinhaco rifiting event.Zircon ε_(Hf)(t) analysis show dominantly positive values for both Group I(-4 to+9) and Ⅱ(-3 to+8) zircons and T_(DM2) model ages of 2.7-2.1 Ga and 2.5-1.95 Ga,respectively.Geochemically,the Montezuma granitoids are weakly peraluminous to metaluminous magnesian granitoids,enriched in LILES and LREE,with high to moderate Mg#and depleted in some of the HFSE.Their lithochemical signature,added to the juvenile signature of both inherited and crystallized zircons,allowed its classification as a shoshonitic high Ba-Sr granitoid related to a late-to post-collisional lithosphere delamination followed by asthenospheric upwelling.In this scenario,the partial melting of the lithospheric mantle interacted with the roots of an accreted juvenile intra-oceanic arc,being these hybrid magma interpreted as the source of the Montezuma granitoids.The Corrego Tingui Complex host rocks are akin to a syn-to late-collisional volcanic arc granitoids originated from the partial melting of ancient crustal rocks.The results presented in this study have revealed the occurrence of juvenile rocks,probably related to an island arc environment,that are exotic in relation to the Paleo-to Neoarchean crust from the Sao Francisco paleocontinent's core.     

Evolutionary biogeography on Ophiocordyceps sinensis:An indicator of molecular phylogeny to geochronological and ecological exchanges

The fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis is endemic to the vast region of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau(QTP).The unique and complex geographical environmental conditions have led to the "sky island" distribution structure of O.sinensis.Due to limited and unbalanced sample collections,the previous data on O.sinensis regarding its genetic diversity and spatial structure have been deemed insufficient.In this study,we analyzed the diversity and phylogeographic structures of O.sinensis using internally transcribed spacer region(ITS) and 5-locus datasets by a large-scale sampling.A total of 111 haplotypes of ITS sequences were identified from 948 samples data of the fungus O.sinensis,with representing high genetic diversity,and 8 phylogenetic clades were recognized in O.sinensis.Both the southeastern Tibet and the northwestern Yunnan were the centers of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of the fungus,and they were inferred as the glacial refugia in the Quaternary.Three distribution patterns were identified to correspond to the 8 clades,including but not limited to the coexistence of widely and specific local distributive structures.It also revealed that the differentiation pattern of O.sinensis did not fit for the isolation-by-distance model.The differentiation into the 8 clades occurred between 1.56 Myr and6.62 Myr.The ancestor of O.sinensis most likely originated in the late Miocene(6.62 Myr) in the northwestern Yunnan,and the Scene A-C of the Qinghai-Tibetan movements may have played an important role in the differentiation of O.sinensis during the late Miocene-Pliocene periods.Our current results provide a much clearer and detailed understanding of the genetic diversity and geographical spatial distribution of the endemic alpine fungus O.sinensis.It also revealed that the geochronology resulting from paleogeology could be cross-examined with biomolecular clock at a finer scale.     

Strategies towards robust interpretations of in situ zircon Lu-Hf isotope analyses

The combination of U-Pb and Lu-Hf compositions measured in zircon crystals is a remarkably powerful isotopic couplet that provides measures on both the timing of mineral growth and the radiogenic enrichment of the source from which the zircon grew.The U-Pb age documents the timing of zircon crystallization/recrystallization and Hf isotopes inform on the degree to which the host melt was derived from a radiogenic reservoir(e.g.depleted mantle) versus an unradiogenic reservoir(e.g.ancient continental crust),or some mixture of these sources.The ease of generating large quantities of zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf data has been in large part facilitated by instrument advances.However,the dramatic increase in time constrained zircon Lu-Hf analyses in the Earth science community has brought to the fore the importance of careful data collection and reduction workflows,onto which robust geological interpretations may be based.In this work,we discuss the fundamentals of Lu-Hf isotopes in zircon,which then allows us to provide a robust,accessible,methodology for the assessment of data quality.Additionally,we discuss some novel techniques for:data visualization—that facilitates better transparency of data interpretation;integration of geographic information—that may reveal spatial trends where temporal trends were only apparent before;and some novel statistical evaluation tools—that may provide more rigorous interand intra-sample comparisons.     

Effect of microstructure on stress–strain and pore-pressure response of sabarmati sand under the influence of mica

ABSTRACT

Micaceous soil is believed to be detrimental for civil engineering constructions due to the effect of high compressibility, low compacted density and low shear strength. Individual mica particle has numerous intact mica flakes foliated over each other making it flexible upon loading and rebound upon unloading due to its low hardness and resilient nature. Hence, micaceous soils with mica content more than 10% are considered undesirable for highway pavements, embankments and railway track constructions. When platy mica particles are sufficiently numerous to interact with spherical sand particles, bridging and ordering phenomena are augmented within the soil mass creating unique sand-mica particle orientation (MS microstructure) unlike sand-sand particle orientation (PS microstructure). The current experimental research was conducted to evaluate the variation in stress–strain, pore pressure and effective stress path response of Sabarmati sand under the influence of mica (sand with 30% mica and pure sand) with MS and PS microstructure respectively. Effect of particle crushing on stress–strain and pore pressure response was also studied on Sabarmati sand with MS and PS microstructure. Distinctive macroscopic response was observed in Sabarmati sand with MS microstructure under the influence of mica as well as mica particle crushing.