Geochemical characteristics and isotopic reversal of natural gases in eastern Kopeh-Dagh,NE Iran

Natural gas samples from two gas fields located in Eastern Kopeh-Dagh area were analyzed for molecular and stable isotope compositions. The gaseous hydrocarbons in both Lower Cretaceous clastic reservoir and Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir are coal-type gases mainly derived from type III kerogen, however enriched δD values of methane implies presence of type II kerogen related material in the source rock. In comparison Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir gases show higher dryness coefficient resulted through TSR, while presence of C₁C₅ gases in Lower Cretaceous clastic reservoir exhibit no TSR phenomenon. Carbon isotopic values indicate gas to gas cracking and TSR occurrence in the Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir, as the result of elevated temperature experienced, prior to the following uplifts in last 33–37 million years. The δ¹³C of carbon dioxide and δ³⁴S of hydrogen sulfide in Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir do not primarily reflect TSR, as uplift related carbonate rock dissolution by acidic gases and reaction/precipitation of light H₂S have changed these values severely. Gaseous hydrocarbons in both reservoirs exhibit enrichment in C₂ gas member, with the carbonate reservoir having higher values resulted through mixing with highly-mature-completely-reversed shale gases. It is likely that the uplifts have lifted off the pressure on shale gases, therefore facilitated the migration of the gases into overlying horizons. However it appears that the released gases during the first major uplift (33–37 million years ago) have migrated to both reservoirs, while the second migrated gases have only mixed with Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir gases. The studied data suggesting that economic accumulations of natural gas/shale gases deeper than Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir would be unlikely.     

The annual cycle of Synechococcus (cyanobacteria) in the northern Levantine Basin shelf waters (Eastern Mediterranean)

Abundance of picoplanktonic chroococcoid marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus was monitored weekly over the year 1998 in shallow coastal waters of the northern Levantine Basin. The ambient physical, chemical and biological variables (temperature, salinity, Secchi disk depth, total suspended sediment, nitrate, phosphate, Chl a and phytoplankton) were also measured. Synechococcus was found to be more abundant during summer and early autumn and less during winter and early spring. At the surface and 15 m depth, cell concentrations were in the range 6.4 × 10³–1.5 × 10⁵ and 3.2 × 10³–1.6 × 10⁵ cells·ml⁻¹, respectively. Based on the Pearson product–moment correlation analysis, a highly significant correlation between Synechococcus abundance and ambient temperature was observed (n = 40, r = 0.558, P < 0.01). As Synechococcus forms blooms that usually do not last more than a week, the short time‐scale survey achieved in this study was appropriate to reveal its abundance dynamics. Several factors such as rapid changes in nutrient concentration (especially nitrate), phytoplankton, light availability, temperature, salinity, freshwater input and vertical mixing played a relevant role on the abundance of Synechococcus over the year in the highly dynamic shallow coastal waters of the Levantine Basin.     

Oceanographic influences on seabirds and cetaceans of the eastern tropical Pacific: A review

This paper is part of a comprehensive review of the oceanography of the eastern tropical Pacific, the oceanic region centered on the eastern Pacific warm pool, but also including the equatorial cold tongue and equatorial current system, and summarizes what is known about oceanographic influences on seabirds and cetaceans there. The eastern tropical Pacific supports on the order of 50 species of seabirds and 30 species of cetaceans as regular residents; these include four endemic species, the world’s largest populations for several others, three endemic sub-species, and a multi-species community that is relatively unique to this ecosystem. Three of the meso-scale physical features of the region are particularly significant to seabirds and cetaceans: the Costa Rica Dome for blue whales and short-beaked common dolphins, the Equatorial Front for planktivorous seabirds, and the countercurrent thermocline ridge for flocking seabirds that associate with mixed-species schools of spotted and spinner dolphins and yellowfin tuna. A few qualitative studies of meso- to macro-scale distribution patterns have indicated that some seabirds and cetaceans have species-specific preferences for surface currents. More common are associations with distinct water masses; these relationships have been quantified for a number of species using several different analytical methods. The mechanisms underlying tropical species–habitat relationships are not well understood, in contrast to a number of higher-latitude systems. This may be due to the fact that physical variables have been used as proxies for prey abundance and distribution in species–habitat research in the eastern tropical Pacific.Though seasonal and interannual patterns tend to be complex, species–habitat relationships appear to remain relatively stable over time, and distribution patterns co-vary with patterns of preferred habitat for a number of species. The interactions between seasonal and interannual variation in oceanographic conditions with seasonal patterns in the biology of seabirds and cetaceans may account for some of the complexity in species–habitat relationship patterns.Little work has been done to investigate effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycles on cetaceans, and results of the few studies focusing on oceanic seabirds are complex and not easy to interpret. Although much has been made of the detrimental effects of El Niño events on apex predators, more research is needed to understand the magnitude, and even direction, of these effects on seabirds and cetaceans in space and time.     

Atmospheric forcing of the eastern tropical Pacific: A review

The increase in marine, land surface, atmospheric and satellite data during recent decades has led to an improved understanding of the air–sea interaction processes in the eastern tropical Pacific. This is also thanks to extensive diagnoses from conceptual and coupled ocean–atmosphere numerical models. In this paper, mean fields of atmospheric variables, such as incoming solar radiation, sea level pressure, winds, wind stress curl, precipitation, evaporation, and surface energy fluxes, are derived from global atmospheric data sets in order to examine the dominant features of the low level atmospheric circulations of the region. The seasonal march of the atmospheric circulations is presented to depict the role of radiative forcing on atmospheric perturbations, especially those dominating the atmosphere at low levels.In the tropics, the trade winds constitute an important north–south energy and moisture exchange mechanism (as part of the low level branch of the Hadley circulation), that determines to a large extent the precipitation distribution in the region, i.e., that associated with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Monsoonal circulations also play an important role in determining the warm season precipitation distribution over the eastern tropical Pacific through a large variety of air–sea–land interaction mechanisms. Westward traveling waves, tropical cyclones, low latitude cold air intrusions, and other synoptic and mesoscale perturbations associated with the ITCZ are also important elements that modulate the annual rainfall cycle. The low-level jets of the Gulf of California, the Intra-Americas Sea (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) and Chocó, Colombia are prominent features of the eastern tropical Pacific low-level circulations related to sub-regional and regional scale precipitation patterns. Observations show that the Intra-Americas Low-Level Jet intensity varies with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases, however its origin and role in the westward propagation and development of disturbances that may hit the eastern tropical Pacific, such as easterly waves and tropical cyclones, are still unclear. Changes in the intensity of the trade winds in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (associated with eastern tropical Pacific wind jets) exert an important control on precipitation by means of wind–topography interactions. Gaps in the mountains of southern Mexico and Central America allow strong wind jets to pass over the continent imprinting a unique signal in sea surface temperatures and ocean dynamics of the eastern tropical Pacific.The warm pools of the Americas constitute an important source of moisture for the North American Monsoon System. The northeastern tropical Pacific is a region of intense cyclogenetic activity, just west of the coast of Mesoamerica. Over the oceanic regions, large-scale properties of key variables such as precipitation, moisture, surface energy fluxes and wind stress curl are still uncertain, which inhibits a more comprehensive view of the region and stresses the importance of regional field experiments. Progress has been substantial in the understanding of the ocean and atmospheric dynamics of the eastern tropical Pacific, however, recent observational evidence such as that of a shallow meridional circulation cell in that region, in contrast to the classic concept of the Hadley-type deep meridional circulation, suggests that more in situ observations to validate theories are still necessary.This paper is part of a comprehensive review of the oceanography of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.     

Rare earth element characteristics of the carboniferous Huanglong Formation dolomites in eastern Sichuan Basin,southwest China: Implications for origins of dolomitizing and diagenetic fluids

Marine dolostones of Carboniferous Huanglong Formation constitute major gas reservoir rocks in eastern Sichuan Basin. However, the investigation with respect to sources of dolomitizing and diagenetic fluids is relatively underexplored. The current study attempts to investigate the REE characteristics of dolomites using seawater normalization standard, and therefore discusses the origins of dolomitizing and diagenetic fluids, on the basis of continuous 47.33-m-long core samples from the second member of Huanglong Formation (C₂h₂) in eastern Sichuan Basin. Low Th, Sc, and Hf concentrations (0.791 × 10⁻⁶, 4.751 × 10⁻⁶, and 0.214 × 10⁻⁶, respectively), random correlation between total REE concentration (ΣREE) and Fe or Mn abundance, and seawater-like Y/Ho ratios (mean value of 45.612) indicate that the carbonate samples are valid for REE analysis. Based on petrographic characteristics, four dolomite types are identified, including micritic-sized dolomite (type Dol-1), fine-to medium-sized dolomite (type Dol-2), medium-to coarse-sized dolomite (type Dol-3), and coarse-to giant-sized saddle dolomite (type Dol-4). Dol-1 dolomites, characterized by positive Ce anomaly (mean value of 6.398), light REE (LREE) enrichment, and heavy REE (HREE) depletion with mean LREE/HREE ratio of 12.657, show micritic calcite-like REE patterns, indicating seawater origin of their dolomitizing fluids. Dol-1 dolomites were formed in sabkha environment whereas the dolomitizing fluids originated from evaporative brine water due to their micritic crystal sizes and tight lithology. Dol-2 dolomites, particularly subtype Dol-2a barely developing vuggy porosity, also show micritic calcite-like REE patterns, suggesting their dolomitizing fluids were seawater or seawater-derived fluids. This inference is confirmed by low Fe and Mn concentrations, which range from 651 μg/g to 1018 μg/g (mean value of 863 μg/g) and 65 μg/g to 167 μg/g (mean value of 105 μg/g), respectively, whereas homogenization temperatures (T_h, mean value of 103 °C) indicate that Dol-2 dolomites were formed under burial environment. Dol-3 dolomites, in form of cements of Dol-2 dolomites, show similar REE patterns to their host minerals (i.e., Dol-2 dolomites), indicating their parent source was possibly derived from Dol-2 dolomites. Dol-3 dolomites have high Fe and Mn concentrations with mean values of 3346 μg/g (ranging from 2897 μg/g to 3856 μg/g) and 236 μg/g (ranging from 178 μg/g to 287 μg/g), respectively, indicating the involvement of meteoric water. Meanwhile, it confirms that the dissolution in Dol-2 dolomites was caused by meteoric water leaching. Positive Eu anomalies (mean value of 1.406) in Dol-4 dolomites, coupled with high homogenization temperatures (mean value of 314 °C), suggest that Dol-4 dolomites precipitated from hydrothermal fluids. High Fe and Mn concentrations (mean values of 2521 μg/g and 193 μg/g, respectively) in Dol-4 dolomites likely results from interactions of hydrothermal fluids with deep burial clastic rocks.     

琼东南盆地深水区东区凹陷带结构构造及其演化特征

琼东南盆地深水区东区凹陷带,即松南—宝岛—长昌凹陷,位于琼东南盆地中央坳陷东端。在大量地震资料解释的基础上,对38条主要断层进行了详细分析。获得以下认识:(1)琼东南盆地深水区东区凹陷带平面上表现为近EW向展布的平行四边形,剖面结构表现为自西向东由半地堑—不对称的地堑—半地堑有规律变化。(2)琼东南盆地深水区东区凹陷带断裂系统可划分控制凹陷边界断层、控制洼陷沉积中心断层和调节性断层3类。(3)琼东南盆地深水区东区凹陷带古近纪时期受到太平洋板块俯冲和南海海盆扩张的双重影响,构造应力场发生NW—SE→SN转变。构造演化可划分为3个阶段:~32 Ma,应力场以区域性NW—SE向伸展为主,断裂系统以NE—SW向为主,控制凹陷边界;32~26 Ma,以南海海盆近SN向拉张应力场为主,断裂系统以NWW—SEE向为主,断层活动控制凹陷沉积中心;26~ Ma,区域性伸展与南海海盆扩张应力均逐渐减弱,NE—SW向和NWW—SEE向断裂继承性发育。(4)琼东南盆地深水区东区凹陷带内部主要断层在渐新统崖城组和陵水组沉积时期活动速率快,地形高差大、沉积水体深、沉积厚度大,控制了崖城组和陵水组的大规模沉积,有利于烃源岩的发育。圈闭以受断层控制的断鼻和断块为主,长昌主洼凹中隆起带发育2个最为理想的构造圈闭。     

花岗岩成因研究的若干问题

花岗岩是大陆地壳的重要组成,是地质学研究的重要课题。本文对当前花岗岩研究中的几个重要问题进行了讨论,内容包括:(1)花岗岩的成因分类,(2)花岗岩浆起源的温度与压力条件,(3)结晶分异作用与花岗岩成分变化,(4)花岗岩成因与壳幔演化,(5)花岗岩形成的构造环境等。通过分析认为,高分异花岗岩成因类型的确定是比较困难的,在有些情况甚至不可能准确分类。花岗岩的锆饱和温度和锆石钛温度计可对花岗岩浆形成的温度提供重要信息,但花岗岩浆起源的压力条件确定相对困难。花岗岩主要形成于俯冲带或碰撞造山带后造山的拉张构造背景中,在这两种情况下,挥发份和热的加入可使地壳发生部分熔融而形成花岗岩。本文还对我国近年来花岗岩研究的进展情况做了概要性叙述,并就我国东部中生代花岗岩研究的近期突破问题进行了分析。     

喜马拉雅构造-成矿域及其成矿效应初步分析

通过近年来的研究 ,提出了全新的喜马拉雅构造 -成矿域概念。从大喜马拉雅构造域及其成矿效应出发 ,通过构造域对矿集区的控制作用、成矿时代、成矿物质来源、深部过程与成矿效应的分析 ,从而较全面地评价了青藏高原及邻区的资源潜力和需要进一步工作的重要成矿带或矿集区。通过分析认为喜马拉雅构造 -成矿域内强烈的壳幔物质交换 ,下地壳翻天覆地的物质和流体交换 ,导致了在同一构造地质单元内可以有一个或多个超大型矿床的存在。并对多个重要矿床类型提出了更切合实际的观点 ,如西藏甲马铜钼银铅锌金多金属矿床属于矽卡岩 -斑岩复合型 ,云南羊拉铜钼金多金属矿床也属于矽卡岩 -斑岩复合型矿床等。在喜马拉雅构造域内形成的燕山晚期或喜马拉雅期矿床大多和大陆地壳深部复杂的动力学过程有关 ,所形成的矿床矿物组合及成矿元素组合复杂 ,特别是矿石中钴、银元素含量较高 ,许多矿床中银、钴已经作为主要成矿元素。最后明确提出了青藏高原主体及东缘重要矿集区的资源潜力     

河西—祁连山东部地区北东向构造形变特征及其地震活动

近20年来河西-祁连山东部地区三条规模较大的北东向构造带在区域垂直形变图上反映明显。因受区域应力场强度的控制,其垂直形变表现出随时间波浪状演化式。区域垂直形变图像与莫霍面等深线相似,说明这几条北东向构造带的深部成因机制。它们对区内的中强地震起着很强的控制作用,与北西西及北北西向断裂构造共同构成了本区的控震构造网络。     

Dextral‐Slip Thrust Faulting and Seismic Events of the Ms 8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake,Longmenshan Mountains,Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract: Dextral-slip thrust movement of the Songpan-Garzê terrain over the Sichuan block caused the Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008 and offset the Central Longmenshan Fault (CLF) along a distance of ~250 km. Displacement along the CLF changes from Yingxiu to Qingchuan. The total oblique slip of up to 7.6 m in Yingxiu near the epicenter of the earthquake, decreases northeastward to 5.3 m, 6.6 m, 4.4 m, 2.5 m and 1.1 m in Hongkou, Beichuan, Pingtong, Nanba and Qingchuan, respectively. This offset apparently occurred during a sequence of four reported seismic events, EQ1–EQ4, which were identified by seismic inversion of the source mechanism. These events occurred in rapid succession as the fault break propagated northeastward during the earthquake. Variations in the plunge of slickensides along the CLF appear to match these events. The Mw 7.5 EQ1 event occurred during the first 0–10 s along the Yingxiu-Hongkou section of the CLF and is characterized by 1.7 m vertical slip and vertical slickensides. The Mw 8.0 EQ2 event, which occurred during the next 10–42 s along the Yingxiu-Yanziyan section of the CLF, is marked by major dextral-slip with minor thrust and slickensides plunging 25°–35° southwestward. The Mw 7.5 EQ3 event occurred during the following 42–60 s and resulted in dextral-slip and slickensides plunging 10° southwestward in Beichuan and plunging 73° southwestward in Hongkou. The Mw 7.7 EQ4 event, which occurred during the final 60–95 s along the Beichuan-Qingchuan section of the CLF, is characterized by nearly equal values of dextral and vertical slips with slickensides plunging 45°–50° southwestward. These seismic events match and evidently controlled the concentrations of landslide dams caused by the Wenchuan earthquake in Longmenshan Mountains.