Mud dispersal across a Cretaceous prodelta: Storm‐generated,wave‐enhanced sediment gravity flows inferred from mudstone microtexture and microfacies

Determining sediment transport direction in ancient mudrocks is difficult. In order to determine both process and direction of mud transport, a portion of a well‐mapped Cretaceous delta system was studied. Oriented samples from outcrop represent prodelta environments from ca 10 to 120 km offshore. Oriented thin sections of mudstone, cut in three planes, allowed bed microstructure and palaeoflow directions to be determined. Clay mineral platelets are packaged in equant, face‐face aggregates 2 to 5 μm in diameter that have a random orientation; these aggregates may have formed through flocculation in fluid mud. Cohesive mud was eroded by storms to make intraclastic aggregates 5 to 20 μm in diameter. Mudstone beds are millimetre‐scale, and four microfacies are recognized: Well‐sorted siltstone forms millimetre‐scale combined‐flow ripples overlying scoured surfaces; deposition was from turbulent combined flow. Silt‐streaked claystone comprises parallel, sub‐millimetre laminae of siliceous silt and clay aggregates sorted by shear in the boundary layer beneath a wave‐supported gravity flow of fluid mud. Silty claystone comprises fine siliceous silt grains floating in a matrix of clay and was deposited by vertical settling as fluid mud gelled under minimal current shear. Homogeneous clay‐rich mudstone has little silt and may represent late‐stage settling of fluid mud, or settling from wave‐dissipated fluid mud. It is difficult or impossible to correlate millimetre‐scale beds between thin sections from the same sample, spaced only ca 20 mm apart, due to lateral facies change and localized scour and fill. Combined‐flow ripples in siltstone show strong preferred migration directly down the regional prodelta slope, estimated at ca 1 : 1000. Ripple migration was effected by drag exerted by an overlying layer of downslope‐flowing, wave‐supported fluid mud. In the upper part of the studied section, centimetre‐scale interbeds of very fine to fine‐grained sandstone show wave ripple crests trending shore normal, whereas combined‐flow ripples migrated obliquely alongshore and offshore. Storm winds blowing from the north‐east drove shore‐oblique geostrophic sand transport whereas simultaneously, wave‐supported flows of fluid mud travelled downslope under the influence of gravity. Effective wave base for sand, estimated at ca 40 m, intersected the prodelta surface ca 80 km offshore whereas wave base for mud was at ca 70 m and lay ca 120 km offshore. Small‐scale bioturbation of mud beds co‐occurs with interbedded sandstone but stratigraphically lower, sand‐free mudstone has few or no signs of benthic fauna. It is likely that a combination of soupground substrate, frequent storm emplacement of fluid mud, low nutrient availability and possibly reduced bottom‐water oxygen content collectively inhibited benthic fauna in the distal prodelta.     

赞比亚西北省铜-钴矿地质及找矿潜力

[摘 要]赞比亚位于著名的中非新元古代沉积型铜（-钴）矿带上,铜带省和西北省是该国最主要的铜-钴矿集中分布区;相对于找矿程度已经很高的铜带省,西北省成矿地质条件优越,且地质工作程度较低,因此拥有巨大的找矿潜力,已成为该国找矿突破的重点区域。目前西北省主要著名的矿山/矿床有3个：坎桑希、卢穆瓦纳、卡伦比拉。这些铜-钴-金-铀-镍矿床的含矿地层、矿化特征与铜带省传统经典的沉积型铜-钴矿既有相似性,又明显具有差别。本文通过对西北省区域地质和已发现矿床地质特征的介绍,对该省的找矿潜力进行初步分析。     

A paleomagnetic and magnetic fabric study of the Illapel Plutonic Complex,Coastal Range,central Chile: Implications for emplacement mechanism and regional tectonic evolution during the mid-Cretaceous

The Illapel Plutonic Complex (IPC), located in the Coastal Range of central Chile (31°–33° S), is composed of different lithologies, ranging from gabbros to trondhjemites, including diorites, tonalites and granodiorites. U/Pb geochronological data shows that the IPC was amalgamated from, at least, four different magmatic pulses between 117 and 90 Ma (Lower to mid-Cretaceous). We present new paleomagnetic results including Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) from 62 sites in the plutonic rocks, 10 sites in country rocks and 7 sites in a mafic dyke swarm intruding the plutonic rocks.Remanent magnetizations carried by pyrrhotite in deformed country rock sediments nearby the intrusive rocks indicate that tilting of the sedimentary rocks occurred prior or during the intrusion. The paleomagnetic study shows no evidence for either a measurable tilt of the IPC or a significant rotation of the forearc at this latitude range. Moreover, new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages exclude any medium- to low-temperature post-magmatic recrystallization/deformation event in the studied samples. AMS data show a magnetic foliation that is often sub-vertical. Despite an apparent N–S elongated shape of the IPC, the large variations in the orientation of the AMS foliation suggests that this plutonic complex could be made of several units distributed in a N–S trend rather than N–S elongated bodies.Previous works have suggested for this area a major shift on tectonic evolution from highly extensional during Lower Cretaceous to a period around 100 Ma, associated with exhumation and compressive deformation to conform the present day Coastal Range. The low degree of anisotropy and the lack of evidence for a tectonic fabric in the intrusive rocks indicate that the shift from extensional to compressional should postdate the emplacement of the IPC, i.e. is younger than 90Ma.     

Low-pressure evolution of arc magmas in thickened crust: The San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain,Central Andes,Northern Chile

Magmatism at Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ), or Central Andes, is strongly influenced by differentiation and assimilation at high pressures that occurred at lower levels of the thick continental crust. This is typically shown by high light to heavy rare earth element ratios (LREE/HREE) of the erupted lavas at this volcanic zone. Increase of these ratios with time is interpreted as a change to magma evolution in the presence of garnet during evolution of Central Andes. Such geochemical signals could be introduced into the magmas be high-pressure fractionation with garnet on the liquidus and/or assimilation from crustal rocks with a garnet-bearing residue. However, lavas erupted at San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain show no evidence of garnet fractionation in their trace element patterns. This volcanic chain is located in the active volcanic arc, between 22°00^′S and 22°30^′S, over a continental crust ∼70 km thick. Sampled lavas show Sr/Y and Sm/Yb ratios <40 and <4.0, respectively, which is significantly lower than for most other lavas of recent volcanoes in the Central Andes. In addition, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios from San Pedro–Linzor lava flows vary between 0.7063 and 0.7094. This is at the upper range, and even higher than those observed at other recent Central Andean volcanic rocks (<0.708). The area in which the San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain is located is constituted by a felsic, Proterozoic upper crust, and a thin mafic lower crustal section (<25 km). Also, the NW–SE orientation of the volcanic chain is distinctive with respect to the N–S orientation of Central Andean volcanic front in northern Chile. We relate our geochemical observations to shallow crustal evolution of primitive magmas involving a high degree of assimilation of upper continental crust. We emphasize that low pressure AFC- (Assimilation Fractional Crystallization) type evolution of the San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain reflects storage, fractionation, and contamination of mantle-derived magmas at the upper felsic crust (<40 km depth). The ascent of mantle-derived magmas to mid-crustal levels is related with the extensional regime that has existed in this zone of arc-front offset since Late-Miocene age, and the relatively thin portion of mafic lower crust observed below the volcanic chain.     

川中安平店-高石梯构造震旦系灯影组流体充注特征及油气成藏过程

川中地区震旦系灯影组储层时代老、埋藏深,经历了多期构造运动和成藏历史。岩芯观察和显微薄片观察结果表明,震旦系灯影组储层经历了六期流体充注,分别是第一世代沥青→第二世代白云石→第三世代粗晶-巨晶白云石→第四世代粗晶-巨晶白云石→第五世代沥青→第六世代方解石/石英,每期矿物中对应的流体包裹体特征记录了震旦系从早期形成的古油藏被破坏→古油气藏再形成→油裂解气和古气藏形成→水溶气形成→现今气藏形成的成藏事件和完整的成藏过程。第二世代-第四世代矿物形成于深埋过程中,是古油气藏形成期的产物,矿物的Sr、C、O稳定同位素表明向震旦系灯影组充注的流体主要是外源流体,具有从深部向浅部流动运移的特征;第六世代矿物所记录的水溶气的形成,也是震旦系最重要的成藏事件;现今的震旦系灯影组气藏主要是晚白垩世以来的构造隆升导致的水溶气脱溶聚集以及油气藏调整和改造的结果。     

中中新世中亚构造抬升驱动气候干旱化：以塔里木盆地东南缘江尕勒萨伊剖面为例

中亚前陆盆地地层中氧同位素和孢粉,以及黄土高原和北太平洋粉尘记录均表明,中中新世(16~12 Ma)中亚地区气候干旱化显著增强。然而,对其驱动机制的认识不一,包括全球降温、中亚地区的构造抬升、高海拔的"原西藏高原"的存在、副特提斯洋的退缩以及上述几者联合作用的结果。不过,全球降温(约14 Ma)、"原西藏高原"的抬升(≥40 Ma)、以及副特提斯洋退缩的时间(34 Ma)与中中新世中亚气候干旱化增强的时间(16~12 Ma)不一致。因此,它们可能是导致中中新世中亚干旱化增强的重要边界条件,或者是有利的辅助条件,但没起直接的主导作用。对塔里木盆地东南缘江尕勒萨伊剖面的前期研究结果表明,阿尔金山快速抬升始于16 Ma。在获得了磁性地层年龄的基础上,前人的碳氧同位素数据指示了16 Ma江尕勒萨依地区气候干旱化逐渐增强。鉴于同时发生,笔者把16 Ma气候干旱化增强归因于此时阿尔金山的快速抬升。从更广范围看,中中新世中亚发生了广泛的的地壳缩短变形和造山运动。对中国黄土高原的红粘土以及北太平洋粉尘沉积的多指标分析(磁化率、粒径、粉尘通量以及物源等)表明,中中新世中亚构造抬升及其引起的雨影效应是中亚气候干旱化增强的主因。     

黔中—渝南沉积型铝土矿区域成矿模式及找矿模型

黔中—渝南沉积型铝土矿的区域成矿模式概括如下:志留纪末的广西运动和泥盆纪末的紫云运动等,可能都是在峨眉地幔柱演化的壳幔相互作用阶段,因地幔柱向地壳大量输送物质和辐射能量,从而引发的地壳升降运动,在此期间,全区大面积抬升,形成长期隆起区;泥盆纪末准平原化;早石炭世岩关期气候湿热,暴露地表的早古生代岩石全面红土化、钙红土化,形成的含三水铝石红土风化壳物质,为沉积型铝土矿提供了物源。修文及息烽—遵义沉积区,于早石炭世大塘期早—中期沉积了铝土矿含矿岩系—九架炉组。绥阳—正安—道真沉积区,在晚石炭世的黄龙组石灰岩沉积并钙红土化之后,于马平期沉积了铝土矿含矿岩系的大竹园组。3个沉积区的铝土矿含矿岩系,都是在以陆相为主的环境中沉积形成的。在成岩阶段,铝土矿中的三水铝石逐渐变质为硬水铝石。由于各沉积区形成含三水铝石红土风化壳的母岩不同,由此沉积而成的铝土矿及其含矿岩系,在化学成分和矿物成分上也就有所差异。     

2001—2018年中亚干旱区地表水资源时空变化特征

基于2001—2018年长时间序列地表水遥感监测数据,提取中亚五国地表水面积信息,通过动态度法、变化斜率法和相关分析法揭示中亚五国地表水面积的时空动态变化特征并对其进行驱动力分析。结果表明：① 中亚五国地表水呈“北密南疏”分布特征,中北部地表水变化明显。近18 a来,季节水面积呈显著增加趋势,增加了133.55%,而永久水呈波动减少趋势,减少了17.27%。哈萨克斯坦地表水面积占比最大且变化也最为明显,其次是乌兹别克斯坦,其余三国无较大变化。② 2001—2018年,中亚五国全区季节水动态度为7.42%,并呈快-慢-快的增长趋势,而永久水呈增长-下降-增长的演变趋势,乌兹别克斯坦地表水变化最为活跃;北部边缘及图尔盖洼地、西部里海沿岸和咸海地区永久水面积显著减少而季节水显著增加,永久水向季节水转换现象明显。③ 中亚五国增温趋势不明显,降水呈减少趋势,人口、GDP和耕地均呈增加趋势。中亚五国地表水面积变化主要受社会经济因子的影响,气候因子对地表水的影响不显著。     

Central England temperature since AD 1850: the potential of stable carbon isotopes in British oak trees to reconstruct past summer temperatures

In regions with seasonal temperate climatic regimes, tree growth is rarely controlled by any single environmental factor. As a consequence, the development of robust palaeoclimate reconstructions has proved challenging. Tree‐ring stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C), however, are controlled primarily by photosynthetic rate, not by net growth. Therefore, at sites where climatic controls on tree‐ring growth are not strongly expressed, a robust (isotopic) palaeoclimate signal may still potentially be preserved. This hypothesis was tested using a 160‐year record of δ¹³C measured from the pooled latewood cellulose of six Quercus petraea L. (sessile oak) trees from Allt Lan‐las in West Wales, UK. Raw δ¹³C values were corrected for changes in the isotopic ratio of atmospheric carbon dioxide and for changes in the behaviour of trees due to the increasing availability of atmospheric CO₂ since AD 1850. Strong correlations with local summer temperature and sunshine are reported, and also with the Central England Temperature record over the full length of the isotopic chronology (AD 1850–2010) (r = 0.69, P < 0.001). We conclude that tree‐ring stable isotopes can be used to extract strong palaeoclimate signals even from oak trees growing in a temperate maritime climate. This demonstrates the potential for extracting robust palaeoclimatic information from the very long and well‐replicated oak chronologies which have been developed in western and central Europe primarily for dating rather than palaeoclimatic research purposes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vegetation in western Central Mexico during the last 50 000 years: modern analogs and climate in the Zacapu Basin

The late glacial and the transition towards the Holocene marked a period of significant environmental change at a global scale. In western Central Mexico, few records span beyond the Holocene, and little is known about Pleistocene climatic and environmental variability. Here we report on the pollen record of a composite sequence made of three cores that cover the last 50 ka (thousands of calibrated radiocarbon years before present) in the Zacapu Basin, western Central Mexico (～1970 m asl). The conjunction of modern pollen rain from the area with the composite fossil pollen sequence from cores Cantabria, Cantabria 1 and CEMCA Point‐1 provided a detailed history of the vegetation of the area. Recognition of modern environmental patterns through individual modern pollen taxa proved difficult, but multivariate analysis separated different vegetation types. No‐modern‐analog communities relative to the modern vegetation cover of the area were evident, especially during periods of drought. Apparently, summer precipitation was significant before 40 ka and after the deglaciation. However, this moisture source declined from ～40 to 10 ka because tradewinds from the Gulf of Mexico were blocked by the eastern mountains of Central Mexico as a result of lower temperatures. By contrast, westerly and northerly winds were enhanced by maximum ice cover from ～19 to 17 ka, providing abundant winter precipitation and therefore preventing extreme drought in the area. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.