Response of detrital zircon and monazite,and their U–Pb isotopic systems,to regional metamorphism and host‐rock partial melting,Cooma Complex,southeastern Australia

Progressive Early Silurian low‐pressure greenschist to granulite facies regional metamorphism of Ordovician flysch at Cooma, southeastern Australia, had different effects on detrital zircon and monazite and their U–Pb isotopic systems. Monazite began to dissolve at lower amphibolite facies, virtually disappearing by upper amphibolite facies, above which it began to regrow, becoming most coarsely grained in migmatite leucosome and the anatectic Cooma Granodiorite. Detrital monazite U–Pb ages survived through mid‐amphibolite facies, but not to higher grade. Monazite in the migmatite and granodiorite records only metamorphism and granite genesis at 432.8 ± 3.5 Ma. Detrital zircon was unaffected by metamorphism until the inception of partial melting, when platelets of new zircon precipitated in preferred orientations on the surface of the grains. These amalgamated to wholly enclose the grains in new growth, characterised by the development of {211} crystal faces, in the migmatite and granodiorite. New growth, although maximum in the leucosome, was best dated in the granodiorite at 435.2 ± 6.3 Ma. The combined best estimate for the age of metamorphism and granite genesis is 433.4 ± 3.1 Ma. Detrital zircon U–Pb ages were preserved unmodified throughout metamorphism and magma genesis and indicate derivation of the Cooma Granodiorite from Lower Palaeozoic source rocks with the same protolith as the Ordovician sediments, not Precambrian basement. Cooling of the metamorphic complex was relatively slow (average ～12°C/10⁶y from ～730 to ～170°C), more consistent with the unroofing of a regional thermal high than cooling of an igneous intrusion. The ages of detrital zircon and monazite from the Ordovician flysch (dominantly composite populations 600–500 Ma and 1.2–0.9 Ga old) indicate its derivation from a source remote from the Australian craton.     

Accounting for sparsely observed rainfall space—time variability in a rainfall—runoff model of a semiarid Tunisian basin/Prise en compte d'observations peu denses de la variabilité spatiotemporelle de la pluie dans une modélisation pluie—débit d'un bassin semi-aride Tunisien

Abstract

The management of water excesses and deficits is a major task in semiarid Mediterranean regions, where the variability of rainfall inputs is high at different time and space scales. Thus intense hydrometeorological events, which generate both potential resource and hazards, are of major interest. A simple method is proposed, with the example of the Skhira basin (192 km²) in central Tunisia, to account for the event space–time variability of rainfall in a rainfall–runoff model, in order to check its influence on the shape, magnitude and timing of resulting hydrographs. The transfer function used is a geomorphology-based unit hydrograph with an explicit territorial significance. Simulations made for highly variable events show the relevance of this method, seen as the first step of a downward approach, and its robustness with respect to the quality and the density of rainfall data.     

Genetic and ore-forming ages of the Fe–P–(Ti) oxide deposits associated with mafic–ultramafic–carbonatite complexes in the Kuluketage block,NW China

Abstract

During the past 50 years, many geological and ore-deposit investigations have led to the discovery of the Fe–P–(Ti)-oxide deposits associated with mafic–ultramafic–carbonatite complexes in the Kuluketage block, northeastern Tarim Craton. In this paper, we discuss the genetic and ore-forming ages, tectonic setting, and the genesis of these deposits (Kawuliuke, Qieganbulake and Duosike). LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 811?±?5?Ma, 811?±?4?Ma, and 840?±?5?Ma for Kawuliuke ore-bearing pyroxenite, Qieganbulake gabbro and Duosike ore-bearing pyroxenite, respectively. The CL images of the Kawuliuke apatite grains show core–rim structure, suggesting multi-phase crystallisation, whereas the apatite grains from Qieganbulake and Dusike deposits do not show any core–rim texture, suggesting a single-stage crystallisation. LA-ICP-MS apatite ²⁰⁷Pb-corrected U–Pb dating provided weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 814?±?21?Ma and 771?±?8?Ma for the Kawuliuke ores, and 810?±?7?Ma and 841?±?7?Ma for Qieganbulake and Duosike ores, respectively. The core–rim texture in apatite by CL imaging as well as two different ore-forming ages in the core and rim of the apatite indicate two metallogenic events for the Kawuliuke deposit. The first metallogenic period was magmatic in origin, and the second period was hydrothermal in origin. The initial ore-forming age of the Kawuliuke Fe–P–Ti mineralisation was ca 814?Ma and the second one was ca 771?Ma. On the other hand, the ore-forming ages of the Qieganbulake and Duosike deposits were ca 810?Ma and ca 841?Ma, respectively. Qieganbulake and Duosike deposits were of magmatic origin. Combined with previous geochronological data and the research on the tectonic background, we infer that the Kawuliuke, Qieganbulake and Duosike Fe–P–(Ti)-oxide deposits were formed in a subduction-related tectonic setting and were the product of subduction-related magmatism.     

Wildfire preparedness,community cohesion and social–ecological systems

The consequences of wildfires are felt in susceptible communities around the globe on an annual basis. Climate change predictions in places like the south-east of Australia and western United States suggest that wildfires may become more frequent and more intense with global climate change. Compounding this issue is progressive urban development at the peri-urban fringe (wildland–urban interface), where continued infrastructure development and demographic changes are likely to expose more people and property to this potentially disastrous natural hazard. Preparing well in advance of the wildfire season is seen as a fundamental behaviour that can both reduce community wildfire vulnerability and increase hazard resilience – it is an important element of adaptive capacity that allows people to coexist with the hazardous environment in which they live. We use household interviews and surveys to build and test a substantive model that illustrates how social cohesion influences the decision to prepare for wildfire. We demonstrate that social cohesion, particularly community characteristics like ‘sense of community’ and ‘collective problem solving’, are community-based resources that support both the adoption of mechanical preparations, and the development of cognitive abilities and capacities that reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience to wildfire. We use the results of this work to highlight opportunities to transfer techniques and approaches from natural hazards research to climate change adaptation research to explore how the impacts attributed to the social components of social–ecological systems can be mitigated more effectively.     

Notes on late Cenomanian and Turonianammonites from Touraine,Western France

Recent collecting in the type area of the Turonian stage and adjacent parts of Touraine in western France provides new geographic and stratigraphic records as well as additional systematic information on species of the ammonite genera Puzosia, Watinoceras, Metoicoceras, Mammites, Prohauericeras, Collignoniceras, Lecointriceras, Subprionocyclus and Sciponoceras.     

Note on Upper Cretaceous ostracods from south-western Morocco

Cenomanian, Turonian and Coniacian ostracods from a borehole in the coastal zone of the Tarfayan Basin, south-western Morocco, display affinities with associations from Algeria, Tunisia and the Middle East as well as with the Iberian Peninsula. Relationships with central and southern West Africa are relatively slight, which could be a result of palaeoecological particularities.     

Early Cenomanian cephalopods from the Grayson Formation of north-central Texas

Twenty-seven species of cephalopods are identified from an exposure of the Grayson Formation, Washita Group at the Waco Dam Spillway, McLennan County, north-central Texas. Mariella (Mariella) camachoensis (Böse), (?)Stomohamites sp., Engonoceras serpentinum (Cragin), Puzosia cf. crebrisulcata Kossmat, Mantelliceras cf. cantianum Spath, Mantelliceras saxbii (Sharpe), Sharpeiceras mexicanum (Böse), (?)Paracalycoceras sp., and Neohibolites sp. are reported from the Grayson Formation for the first time. The occurrence of Mantelliceras cf. cantianum, Mantelliceras saxbii, Sharpeiceras mexicanum, and (?)Paracalycoceras sp. indicates an early Cenomanian age for the Grayson exposed at the Waco Spillway locality. Previously, these mantellicerid ammonites have been recorded from the Buda Limestone interval which overlies the Grayson in north-central Texas.     

Albian and Cenomanian planktic Foraminiferida from the Trawne Beds (Pieniny Klippen Belt,Polish Carpathians)

Eighteen Albian and Cenomanian planktic Foraminiferida from the Pieniny Klippen Belt of Poland are discussed. A local biostratigraphic zonation (six zones) is proposed and certain problems of palaeoecology are reviewed. The lithostratigraphical element is the so-called Trawne Beds, a Cretaceous flysch in the Pieniny Klippen Belt.     

Palynostratigraphy and palynofacies indications of depositional environments and source potential for hydrocarbons: the mid Cretaceous Nahr Umr and lower Mauddud formations, Iraq

Palynomorphs recovered from core and cuttings samples from five boreholes in the East Baghdad Oilfield indicate a mid Albian–early Cenomanian age-range for the Nahr Umr Formation and the lower part of the overlying Mauddud Formation. Two palynomorph zones and four types of palynofacies have been identified. The latter are interpreted to indicate delta-top swamp and marsh, silty–muddy deltaic, inner silty and carbonate-rich platform, and limestone-platform environments. The palynofacies of the two types of platform accumulations suggest that these are potential sources of biogenic methane and condensates, and may yield more liquid hydrocarbons in areas where the formations are at greater depths than within the region studied.     

Global synchroneity of a positive carbon isotope excursion at the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary: Validation by calcareous microfossil biostratigraphy of the Yezo Group, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract Isotopic analyses of organic carbon from the mid-Cretaceous sequence in Hokkaido, Japan, revealed a 2‰ positive excursion of δ¹³C values at the biostratigraphically defined Cenomanian/Turonian (C/T) boundary recognized in the Yezo Group. The planktonic foraminiferal Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone, which is known to bracket the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary elsewhere in the world, was recognized in the Oyubari area of central Hokkaido based on the distribution of commonly occurring planktonic foraminifera. In the Tappu area of northwestern Hokkaido, where diagnostic planktonic foraminifera are rare but calcareous nannoplankton occur commonly, the interval coeval with the W. archaeocretacea Zone can also be established by recognizing the conjoined last appearance levels of Corollithion kennedyi and Axopodorhabdus albianus, both calcareous nannoplankton species. Carbon isotope profiles exhibit a similar pattern with comparable peaks and troughs occurring in the same stratigraphic position in the sequences. A prominent, positive 2‰ shift of δ¹³C values, here called ‘δ¹³C spike’ occurs in the middle of the W. archaeocretacea Zone in the Oyubari area and just above the conjoined last appearances of the two above-mentioned nannoplankton taxa in the Tappu area. The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary can be drawn just above the peak position of the spike in both sections. The Rock Eval analyses and biomarker analyses of organic carbon indicate that organic carbon subjected to our isotope analyses is of terrestrial origin. Therefore, the observed 2%o shift should reflect changes in the isotopic composition of the atmospheric CO₂. A unique layer composed predominantly of sand-grain sized spumellarian Radiolaria is present immediately above the δ¹³C spike both in the Oyubari and Tappu areas, suggesting an increasing availability of both nutrients and silica in surface waters.