Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) amphibians and squamates from northeastern Iberia

Maastrichtian biodiversity of medium- and large-sized terrestrial vertebrates is well known in Europe and, specifically, in the Iberian Peninsula. Regarding small-sized herpetofaunas (lissamphibians and squamates), only a few European sites have yielded a significant amount of fossils, and they are still poorly known from the Iberian Peninsula. Recent fieldwork carried out at several sites exposing the Tremp Formation (Southern Pyrenees) has revealed four new localities yielding microvertebrates. Two of them (L'Espinau and Serrat del Rostiar-1) are relatively diverse in herpetofauna, containing albanerpetontids, four different anurans (two different alytids, a pelobatid or gobiatid and a palaeobatrachid), as well as six types of squamates (including scincomorphs, iguanids, anguids and probably gekkotans). Most of these groups are shared with other Campanian-Maastrichtian localities from eastern Iberia although, in some cases, morphological differences might suggest the presence of new lower-level taxa (i.e., genera or species). Also remarkable is the presence of alytines and likely gekkotans that would represent the oldest records of these taxa in Europe and in the Iberian Peninsula, respectively. Taxa of Laurasian origin are common at the Serrat del Rostiar-1 and L'Espinau localities, while Gondwanan taxa are lacking in all cases. Evidence for Asian immigrants (i.e., alytines) is found amongst anurans. Some differences regarding the faunal composition could be explained by environmental factors (i.e., coastal wetlands vs. fluvial settings), although the possibility of taphonomic biases cannot be ruled out.     

Small sized charophyte gyrogonites in the Maastrichtian of Coll de Nargó, Eastern Pyrenees: An adaptation to temporary floodplain ponds

Charophytes bearing small sized fructifications dominated in fluviatile floodplain facies (red beds) from the Maastrichtian of Coll de Nargó and neighbouring basins in the southern Pyrenees (Catalonia, Spain). These charophytes mainly belong to the genus Microchara and are often disregarded in biostratigraphic studies, which focus their attention instead on facies from permanent lakes that are richer in species which usually bear fructifications with a larger size range. However, small sized gyrogonites are also significant for biostratigraphic purposes and even include some of the index species for Maastrichtian biozones in Europe. Indeed, the charophyte assemblages from the Maastrichtian of Coll de Nargó belong to the Microchara punctata biozone, recently calibrated to the middle-upper Maastrichtian.Floodplain ponds from the Maastrichtian red beds of Coll de Nargó (Lower Red Unit) were extremely shallow, received considerable terrigenous influx and were frequently exposed, probably resulting in turbid, warm waters with high light availability. These conditions could explain the almost exclusive occurrence of charophytes with small fructifications in the Lower Red Unit. The available data, mainly based on oospores from extant species, indicate that the small size observed in gyrogonites from temporary ponds may represent an adaptation to environmental stress. Fossil species with small gyrogonites of Microchara cristata, M. punctata and Microchara nana would thus develop massively in stressed shallow ponds on fluvial floodplains. To contrast these hypotheses, we compared our results to those of four well-known case studies with similar sedimentological contexts, ranging from the Lower Cretaceous to the upper Eocene–lower Oligocene. Gyrogonite size patterns were similar in all cases, possibly suggesting that characeans display a long history of adaptation to shallow, temporary and turbid floodplain ponds by means of producing a high number of small gyrogonites, probably representing short life cycles and opportunistic strategies.     

朝鲜半岛古元古代摩天岭群的碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

克拉通内部活动带变质沉积建造蕴藏了早期超大陆形成中地体聚-散动力学过程的重要信息,碎屑锆石年代学则是揭示这种信息的最佳工具之一。针对华北(中-朝)克拉通最具代表性的古元古代活动带(辽-吉-朝活动带)中巨量沉积建造精细表征方面的空白区域,本文开展了朝鲜半岛检德地区摩天岭群的碎屑锆石年代学研究。SIMS U-Pb定年结果显示,北大川组变火山碎屑岩样品的锆石年龄谱记录了约2.53Ga的主要年龄峰值和约2.19Ga的最年轻峰值,说明北大川组开始沉积的时代应该晚于2.2Ga。南大川组变沉积岩样品碎屑锆石记录的最年轻峰值年龄为约2.02Ga,说明南大川组的沉积时代应该不早于2.02Ga;其锆石年龄谱记录了一个主要年龄峰值区域(2.02~2.18Ga)、一个次要年龄峰值(约2.46Ga)和一些2.78~3.30 Ga的古老年龄,指示其物质源区主要为同区古元古代地质体和邻近地体上的太古宙变质基底。区域对比表明,摩天岭群与中国境内辽吉活动带中的辽河群及集安群/老岭群具有基本一致的碎屑锆石年龄谱,说明它们不仅是同一时代的产物,而且分享类似的物质源区。这些时代一致、物源相近的沉积建造可以为甄别古元古代辽-吉-朝活动带的大地构造属性提供重要参考。与沉积年龄相近的碎屑锆石占据主导的碎屑锆石年龄谱反映了汇聚板块边缘各类盆地的典型特征,而相悖于大部分碎屑锆石年龄远大于地层沉积年龄的裂谷型盆地。     

朝鲜半岛及华北上元古界-古生界沉积序列与碎屑锆石年代学记录及其构造属性分析

通过地层结构、沉积序列与碎屑锆石年代学记录等三方面的成因分析和区域对比,本文进一步探究了中-朝地块新元古代-古生代的构造属性及演化信息。研究指出,朝鲜半岛平南盆地、太白山盆地以及华北地块内部,其地层结构-沉积相序主要以寒武-奥陶系内陆架碳酸盐岩沉积、志留-泥盆系缺失、中上石炭统-二叠系海陆交互相含煤沉积为特征,并具有可对比的1.85Ga、2.5Ga以及1.15Ga、1.6Ga等碎屑锆石年龄峰值。而在临津江带、沃川带以及华北东南缘,则以泥盆-石炭系泥岩/片岩、中基性火山岩及火山碎屑岩、碳酸盐岩(透镜体)混杂发育为特征,总体显示外陆架沉积环境,且具有可对比的与地层时代接近的最小碎屑锆石年龄,这也是对沉积期较强构造-岩浆活动的反映。综合地层结构、相序、碎屑锆石年龄组成以及聚煤记录,提出朝鲜半岛与华北应属于统一的一级构造单元,即"中-朝板块";但朝鲜半岛西南部及华北东南缘毗邻板块边缘,因此其地层-沉积记录与板内存在差异,简单的一致性模式并不适用。     

Vulnerability of Kuwait coast to sea level rise

Assessing coastal vulnerability to sea level rise (SLR) at local and regional scales is a fundamental step for designing successful long-term coastal management plans. This study was thus designed to assess Kuwait coastal vulnerability to SLR at four scenarios (.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 m). Potential inundated areas and the number of people at risk were estimated based on these SLR scenarios. A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) map of Kuwait was then computed based on the lowest scenario using eight parameters: elevation, coastal slope, geomorphology, distance to 20-m isobath, population, land use, cultural heritage and transportation. The geographic distribution of inundated areas at an SLR of .5 m revealed that the northern islands of Kuwait and coastal areas along Kuwait Bay would be highly impacted, whereas the coastal area near Shuaibah Port was the most influenced among the southern coasts. Most of the coastal area exhibited a moderate vulnerability to SLR, especially the northern islands. This study presented an initial vulnerability assessment for Kuwait coasts to SLR, which can be extended with more variables. The integrated remote sensing and geographic information system methodology demonstrated in this study can be applied in similar studies elsewhere.     

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Intracontinental Basaltic Volcanism on the Northwest Arabian Plate,Gaziantep Basin,Southeast Anatolia,Turkey

Volcanism along the northwest boundary of the Arabian Plate found in the Gaziantep Basin, southeast Turkey, is of Miocene age and is of alkaline and calc-alkaline basic composition. The rare earth element data for both compositional series indicates spinel–peridotite source areas. The rare earth and trace elements of the alkaline lavas originate from a highly primitive and slightly contaminated asthenospheric mantle; those of the calc-alkaline lavas originate from a highly heterogeneous, asthenospheric, and lithospheric mantle source. Partial melting and magmatic differentiation processes played a role in the formation of the petrological features of these volcanics. These rocks form two groups on the basis of their ~(87) Sr/~(86) Sr and ~(143) Nd/~(144) Nd isotopic compositions in addition to their classifications based on their chemical compositions(alkaline and calc-alkaline). These isotopic differences indicate a dissimilar parental magma. Therefore, high Nd isotope samples imply a previously formed and highly primitive mantle whereas low Nd isotope samples may indicate comparable partial melting of an enriched heterogeneous shallow mantle. Other isotopic changes that do not conform to the chemical features of these lavas are partly related to the various tectonic events of the region, such as the Dead Sea Fault System and the Bitlis Suture Zone.     

Geologic structure and correlation of the Berriasian-Lower Aptian productive beds of the Gydan Peninsula (Russian Arctic)

We discuss the geologic structure of the Berriasian-Lower Aptian deposits of the Gydan Peninsula. Eight seismic sequences have been distinguished; most of them are associated with Lower Cretaceous regional clinoforms of West Siberia, their characteristics are given. A correlation of productive beds was based on the stratotype sections of the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas as well as seismic and well data. A sequence stratigraphic model of the Berriasian-Lower Aptian complex is proposed.     

朝鲜半岛平南盆地地质演化综述

平南盆地位于朝鲜半岛中部,处于华北克拉通(中朝克拉通)东缘;其演化历史长达10亿年,其地质记录为揭示东亚现今构造格局的形成提供重要制约。盆地发育中元古界-中生界,从下至上包括黄海群(1.3~1.1Ga)、祥原超群(1.0~0.9Ga,自下而上包括直岘群、祠堂隅群、默川群和灭岳山群等)、燕滩群(狗岘系,0.72~0.54Ga)、黄州系/超群(0.52~0.46Ga,包括下部黄州群和上部法洞群)和平安超群(0.33~0.24Ga)等5个构造层序;各单元之间均为平行不整合;沉积跨度超过10亿年,沉积物厚度累计达到15000m。另外,平南盆地南部发育临津群(0.42~0.35Ga),该地层与中元古界上部-奥陶系很可能呈构造接触关系。平南盆地沉积中心自中元古代晚期从南部逐渐向北部转移,新元古代及早古生代均位于中部,二叠纪盆地沉积中心位于北部。平南盆地沉积碎屑锆石年龄则显示物源发生多期变化:中元古代以盆地北侧基底~1.8Ga峰期岩浆-变质作用岩石为主;中元古代晚期以同沉积就位的岩浆岩为主;新元古代以1.6~1.5Ga和1.2~1.1Ga峰期的岩浆岩为主;寒武纪以~2.5Ga和~1.8Ga峰值的变质基底岩石为主。以上变化反映了古地理格局的显著变化。推测新元古代早期及之前,华北克拉通曾与某个发育1.6~1.5Ga和1.2~1.1Ga岩浆作用的克拉通或者岩浆弧相邻(近邻或远邻);地层记录了迄今所知新元古代最早的碳同位素负漂移(默川负漂移,~0.92Ga),地层可能还记录了最晚的负漂移(燕滩负漂移,可能对应全球Gaskiers负漂移,~0.55Ga),它们可能是对新元古代全球长期多次岩浆-裂解-冰期事件的响应。     

胶东地区控矿剪切带脆性变形时代的Ar-Ar年代学及其对成矿的制约

胶东地区是典型的剪切带型金矿集中区,精确厘定该地区控矿剪切带的活动时代,可为探讨剪切带与金矿成因关系提供关键的时限约束,并且对矿床成矿模式的建立具有至关重要的意义。大量矿床地质证据显示胶东地区控矿剪切带中脆性变形活动对金矿体的形成具有直接影响,但其脆性变形时代尚不十分清楚。据此,本文在详细研究金矿体赋存特征的基础上,系统选取胶东焦家、玲珑、邓格庄、乳山这四个金矿区控矿剪切带断层泥中白云母进行⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar年代学研究。定年结果显示,胶东地区焦家剪切带、招平剪切带以及牟乳剪切带的脆性变形时代分别为110.3±1.5Ma、122.8±1.7Ma、119.6±1.2Ma~115.8±1.4Ma。其中焦家剪切带的脆性变形时代明显晚于招平和牟乳剪切带,可能代表了焦家蚀变岩型矿化形成后易遭受后期的构造叠加。综合胶东各金矿区控矿剪切带变形时代、岩体侵位时代、成矿时代及剪切带活动特征和矿体产出特征,本文认为在多期岩体侵位以及控矿剪切带递进变形过程中,剪切带韧性变形区中由高压流体作用产生的同期脆性破裂可形成脉型矿化,如乳山金矿;而在脆-韧性和脆性变形区中发生的大规模脆性变形可导致脉型和蚀变岩型矿化的形成,如玲珑、邓格庄和焦家金矿。但随着剪切带的递进变形和隆升剥蚀,后期多期次的脆性构造变形叠加,可导致多种矿化类型出现在同一构造部位,如焦家金矿中石英脉型和蚀变岩型矿化。     

冰上丝绸之路与北极油气资源

油气是重要的战略资源。其中天然气作为清洁能源,它曾经是,现在是,在可预期的未来——全球碳减排、中国碳达峰情景下,仍然是最重要的能源资源。能源进口渠道的多元化一直是中国缓解能源紧张的有效措施之一。北极地区油气资源丰富且以天然气为主,已发现的油气资源中绝大多数在俄罗斯,尤其是天然气。但是俄罗斯天然气生产的油气田80%以上已经进入北极圈。2012年,中俄合作开发北极亚马尔液化天然气项目正式启动,标志着中国参与北极油气资源开发利用取得重要进展,也事实上开启了中国主导的"丝绸之路经济带建设"和俄罗斯主导的"欧亚经济联盟建设"对接合作的进程。北极地区已发现的油气资源共计3289.4亿桶油当量,其中石油605.4亿桶（84.1亿吨）油当量,仅为全球已发现石油资源的2.5%;天然气41.4万亿立方米（约合2683亿桶,372.6亿吨油当量）,占全球已发现天然气资源的15.5%。北极地区已发现的油气总资源中绝大多数在俄罗斯,俄罗斯已发现的北极油气资源合计2905亿桶油当量（403.5亿吨）,占88.3%;其中天然气约39.47万亿立方米,约合2557.9亿桶（355.3亿吨）油当量,占北极地区已发现天然气总资源的95%以上。北极待发现的油气资源量也非常可观,约占世界待发现常规石油资源的15%;天然气占世界待发现常规天然气资源的30%,其分布也主要在俄罗斯。随着全球气候变暖和能源战略博弈,俄罗斯为确保其天然气出口及财政来源,必然要加大北极油气、特别是天然气的开采和开发,并通过北极航道运到中国和其他消费国。本文在概括分析北极油气资源分布特点、俄罗斯油气资源与北极战略及北方海航道通行能力的基础上,回顾了北极亚马尔液化天然气项目诞生、发展演变及其国际博弈的背景;概括介绍了中国成功介入北极油气资源项目这一标志性事件过程,并进一步提出了中国对北极油气资源利用战略举措的建议。