Deciphering the geochronology of a large granitoid pluton (Karkonosze Granite,SW Poland): an assessment of U–Pb zircon SIMS and Rb–Sr whole-rock dates relative to U–Pb zircon CA-ID-TIMS

Granitoid plutons are often difficult to radiometrically date precisely due to the possible effects of protracted and complex magmatic evolution, crustal inheritance, and/or partial re-setting of radiogenic clocks. However, apart from natural/geological issues, methodological and analytical problems may also contribute to blurring geochronological data. This may be exemplified by the Variscan Karkonosze Pluton (SW Poland). High-precision chemical abrasion (CA) ID-TIMS zircon data indicate that the two main rock types, porphyritic and equigranular, of this igneous body were both emplaced at ca. 312 Ma, while field evidence points to a younger age for the latter. This is in contrast to the earlier reported SIMS (SHRIMP) zircon dates that scattered mainly between ca. 322 and 302 Ma. In an attempt to overcome this dispersion, at least in part caused by radiogenic lead loss, the CA technique was used before SHRIMP analysis. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age obtained in this way from a sample of porphyritic granite is 322 ± 3 Ma, ~16 Ma older than the untreated zircons; another porphyritic sample yielded a mean age of 319 ± 3 Ma, and the mean age was 318 ± 4 Ma for an equigranular granite sample – all three somewhat older than the age obtained by ID-TIMS. Older SIMS dates of ca. 318–322 Ma might indicate either faint inheritance or that zircon domains crystallized during earlier stages of Karkonosze igneous evolution. The ID-TIMS results have been used to re-assess the whole-rock Rb–Sr data. Excluding a porphyritic granite with excess radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr, it appears that isotopic homogeneity was achieved for most samples during the 312 Ma event, as shown by a pooled 21-point isochron with an age of 311 ± 3 Ma and an initial ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7067 ± 4. Local crustal contamination by stopping of metapelitic material might account for the more radiogenic Sr isotope signature observed in biotite-rich schlieren. A critical re-evaluation of all available SHRIMP data using the ID-TIMS age of 312 Ma as a benchmark suggests that the observed scatter may be partly attributed to analytical and methodological problems, in particular failing to distinguish subtly discordant spots from truly concordant ones, which is a serious limitation of the microbeam analytical approach. Other likely pitfalls contributing to geochronological scatter are identified in the published Re–Os ages on molybdenite and the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data on micas. A scenario postulating a 15–20 milliion year evolution of the Karkonosze Pluton cannot be established on the basis of available geochronological data, which rather supports a brief igneous event, although a more protracted pre-emplacement evolution is possible. A short timescale for crystallization of large igneous bodies, as suggested by the ID-TIMS data from the Karkonosze Granite, is in line with models of transport of granitic magmas through dikes to form large plutons.     

Geology,Geochemistry, and Geochronology of the Fenghuangshan Skarn‐type Copper Deposit in the Tongling Ore Cluster,Anhui Province,East China

The Fenghuangshan skarn-type Cu deposit, Tongling Ore Cluster, Anhui Province, is an important component in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River ore-forming belt. To better understand magmatism and its relationship to mineralization, we investigated geochemical features, ore-forming fluids, and geochronology of the Xinwuli intrusion and the related Fenghuangshan Cu deposit. Lithogeochemical characteristics show that the Xinwuli quartz monzodiorite is formed by mixing magma derived from upper mantle alkaline basalt that has been contaminated by crust materials. C, H and O isotopes indicate that ore-forming fluids mainly come from the magma, with minor amounts of meteoric fluids involved at the late stage. S and Pb isotopic components indicate that ore-forming materials are derived from the mantle. Molybdenite Re–Os isotopic dating yields Re–Os model ages ranging from 139.1±2.4 Ma to 142.0±2.2 Ma, with an isochronal age of 141.1±1.4 Ma, which is consistent with sensitive, high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U–Pb ages of quartz monzodiorite and granodiorite in the mining area. Dating analysis yields ages from 136.0±2.0 Ma to 143.0±2.4 Ma for the quartz monzodiorite (a weighted average of 139.4±1.2 Ma) and ages from 136.7±2.0 Ma to 145.3±2.4 Ma for granodiorite (a weighted average of 141.0±1.1 Ma).     

Fisheries mismanagement

We analysed the extent to which European politicians have adhered to scientific recommendations on annual total allowable catches (TACs) from 1987 to 2011, covering most of the period of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). For the 11 stocks examined, TACs were set higher than scientific recommendations in 68% of decisions. Politically-adjusted TACs averaged 33% above scientifically recommended levels. There was no evidence that the 2002 reform of the CFP improved decision-making, as was claimed at the time. We modelled the effects of such politically-driven decision-making on stock sustainability. Our results suggest that political adjustment of scientific recommendations dramatically increases the probability of a stock collapsing within 40 years.In 2012 European fisheries policy will undergo a once-a-decade reform. Ten years ago radical reforms were promised but the changes failed to improve sustainability. It is likely that the 2012 reform will be similarly ineffective unless decision-making is changed so that catch allocations are based on science rather than politics.     

Light-induced bird strikes on vessels in Southwest Greenland

Light-induced bird strikes are known to occur when vessels navigate during darkness in icy waters using powerful searchlight. In Southwest Greenland, which is important internationally for wintering seabirds, we collected reports of incidents of bird strikes over 2-3 winters (2006-2009) from navy vessels, cargo vessels and trawlers (total n = 19). Forty-one incidents were reported: mainly close to land (<4 km, 78%), but one as far offshore as 205 km. Up to 88 birds were reported killed in a single incident. All occurred between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. and significantly more birds were involved when visibility was poor (snow) rather than moderate or good. Among five seabird species reported, the common eider (Somateria mollissima) accounted for 95% of the bird casualties. Based on spatial analyses of data on vessel traffic intensity and common eider density we are able to predict areas with high risk of bird strikes in Southwest Greenland.     

A fracture study by using bipole–bipole cross-well logging

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) can provide images of subsurface electrical structure between two boreholes. Data quality control is a key issue before ERT inversion. However, there is no effective data quality control method on an ERT survey. In this paper, a method called common current gather for a bipole–bipole array (CCGbb) was proposed to check ERT data quality in a rapid way. Synthetic models were conducted to compare the response difference between pole–pole array and bipole–bipole array. A field work at granite area was tested to verify the applicability of the proposed CCGbb method. From the results of this study, we suggested that conducting CCGbb before ERT inversion and a cross-borehole tracer test for both field data quality control and possible water conducting fractures (WCFs) delineation.     

Re–Os and U–Pb Geochronology of the Erlihe Pb–Zn Deposit, Qinling Orogenic Belt, Central China, and Constraints on Its Deposit Genesis

The Erlihe Pb–Zn deposit is an important mine of the Pb–Zn metallogenic zone in the South Qinling Orogen. It has been considered a sedimentary exhalative deposit in previous investigations because the ore body occurs concordantly at the transitional location of an upright fold. Re and Os isotopic analyses for paragenetic pyrites with sphalerite and galena from the ore body have been used to determine the timing of mineralization and to trace the source of metallogenic materials. The Re–Os isotopic data of four pyrite samples construct an isochron, yielding a weighted average age of 226±17 Ma (mean square weighted deviation=1.7), which is considered the main mineralization age. A dioritic porphyrite vein sample, showing weaker mineralization, was also dated using the SHRIMP zircon U–Pb isotopic method to constrain the youngest metallogenic age of the ore deposit, because it distributes along a group of tensional joints cutting not only the upright fold in the deposit field, but also the main ore bodies. The dioritic porphyrite sample yields a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 221±3 Ma, which is slightly younger than the Re–Os isotopic isochron age of the pyrites, considered as the upper age limit of the mineralization, namely the ending age of the mineralization. The Os isotopic compositions of sulfide minerals distribute within a range between Os isotopic compositions of the crust and the mantle, indicating that the ore deposit can be derived from magma-related fluid, and the metallogenic materials are most likely derived from the mixing source of the crust and the mantle. The Erlihe Pb–Zn deposit and associated dioritic porphyrite vein, important records of Qinling tectonic–magmatism–mineralization activities, were formed during the Triassic collisional orogeny processes.     

《国际汉语能力标准》中值得商榷的地方——兼与《欧洲语言共同参考框架:学习、教学、评估》比较

通过对《国际汉语能力标准》的考察,同时与《欧洲语言共同参考框架:学习、教学、评估》比较,发现《国际汉语能力标准》存在三个方面的问题:结构不合理、内容有缺失以及评级等级标准不科学,以此研究结果为《国际汉语能力标准》的修订提供参考。     

Geochronology of the Xihuashan Tungsten Deposit in Southeastern China: Constraints from Re–Os and U–Pb Dating

Xihuashan tungsten deposit is one of the earliest explored tungsten deposits in southeastern China. It is a vein type deposit genetically associated with the Xihuashan granite pluton. Here we report new dating and zircon geochemistry results. Re–Os isotopic dating for molybdenite intergrowth with wolframite in the oldest generation of the Xihuashan pluton yielded an isochron age of 157.0 ± 2.5 Ma (2σ). Zircon U–Pb laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) dating shows that the pluton crystallized at 155.7 ± 2.2 Ma (2σ). This age is similar to the molybdenite Re–Os age for the ore deposit within error. This, together with published data, suggests that the major W(Mo)‐Sn mineralization occurred between 160–150 Ma in southeastern China. These deposits constitute a major part of the magmatic‐metallogenic belt of eastern Nanlin. The lower Re content in molybdenite of the Xihuashan tungsten deposit shows crustal origin for the ore‐forming material. The limited direct contributions from the subducting slab for the tungsten mineralization in the Nanling region suggest a change of the style of the paleo‐Pacific plate beneath southeastern China.     

More than just access to fish: The pros and cons of fisher participation in a customary marine tenure (Padu) system under pressure

The Padu system of South Asia has received growing attention as an example of customary marine tenure that has survived despite rapid development and change throughout the region’s fisheries. This paper describes the Padu system as it functions at Pulicat lagoon, India, where it has enjoyed decades of legitimacy amongst its members, and has contributed to sustainable fishing. Recently, however, the Padu system has become unstable, driven by pressures of an expanding fishing population, reduced access to fishing grounds and a growing ‘shared poverty’. In spite of this, fisher loyalty to uphold the Padu system remains strong. This raises questions about the broader social, political and cultural meanings of Padu, which extend beyond access to a lucrative fishery. The paper highlights a trade-off between the benefits received through Padu membership at a societal level through collective action, and the individual costs of partaking in ‘shared poverty’, which is inherently distributed unequally amongst fishing families. The paper concludes with a discussion on the future of the Padu system in Pulicat, drawing from evolutionary pathways of other Padu systems in the region. It is suggested that, in the Pulicat case, the high social values attributed to the Padu system, alongside complex power structures, may hinder institutional adaptation.     

RESTORATION OF SHEEP TRANSHUMANCE IN THE EBRO VALLEY,ARAGON, SPAIN*

For centuries, sheep transhumance has connected the Spanish highlands with the lowlands, creating a livestock system with important social, economic, cultural, and landscape effects. About 5 million sheep were involved in transhumant movements in the mid‐1700s, but transhumance started to decay in the nineteenth century and almost disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1980s, transhumant sheep did not number more than 25,000 in the study area; at present the number exceeds 134,000, with herders practicing both descending and ascending transhumance. In this article we provide information not only on current numbers of transhumant sheep but also on the origins and destinations of the flocks. We also confirm that the reputation of transhumance, once regarded as quaint and antiquated, has been enhanced by the ecosystem services it provides and by the cultural and heritage continuities it renders.