Elemental and Sr–Nd isotopic compositional disparity of riverine sediments around the Yellow Sea: Constraints from grain-size and chemical partitioning

To obtain a better understanding of the source compositions of the river sediments around the Yellow Sea and their relationship with source rocks, elements and strontium-neodymium (Sr–Nd) isotopes of different grain-sizes (silt and clay populations) and chemical (labile and residual phases) fractionations in riverine sediments were studied extensively. These results clearly revealed a systematic compositional disparity between Korean river (KR) and Chinese river (CR) sediments, especially in the residual (detrital) fraction. The geochemical dissimilarity between these might reflect inherited signatures of their source rocks but with minor control from chemical weathering. In particular, the remarkable enrichment of some elements (iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg)) and the behavior of large ion lithophile elements (e.g., barium (Ba), potassium (K) and Sr) during weathering as well as less-radiogenic Sr isotopic compositions implies that CR sediments might be weathering products of relatively more mafic rocks, with abundant ferromagnesian and plagioclase feldspar minerals, compared with KR sediments derived from silicic granites with relatively higher quartz and potassium feldspar contents. This different petrological rationale is clearly evident in an A–CN–K diagram, which estimated the source rock of CR sediments as granodioritic, a composition that reflects accurately the average composition of weathered continental crust in China. The recognition of such geochemical systematics in two river sediments, especially in grain-size and chemically partitioned data, may contribute to the establishment of provenance tracers for the Yellow Sea and East China Sea sediments with multi-sources as well the dust deposition in the western Pacific.     

Zircon U–Pb age constraints on the Paleoproterozoic sedimentary basement of the Ediacaran Porongos Group,Sul-Riograndense Shield,southern Brazil

Thick quartzites record significant information on cratonic environments during long geological periods. The capacity to resist weathering and deformation turn the quartzite covers especially useful in the provenance studies of Precambrian basins. Provenance of 194 detrital zircon grains from two samples of thick quartzite cover on the Paleoproterozoic Encantadas Complex displays mostly Paleoproterozoic (95%) and minor Archean (5%) sources. The results indicate that sediments were derived from the La Plata Craton with the maximum depositional age at 2.03 Ga possibly up to 1.7 Ga. In comparison, the adjacent Porongos Group has provenance data of 61 detrital zircon grains indicating mostly Mesoproterozoic (69%), subordinately Paleoproterozoic (26%) and minor Archean ages (5%). Considering previous published data, the Porongos Group is Ediacaran in age and probably chronocorrelated with sedimentary basins from the Tandilia Belt (Argentina). Therefore, the quartzite cover and the Porongos Group require distinct evolution in time and in tectonic environment.     

A new species of Baikuris (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Sphecomyrminae) in mid-Cretaceous amber from France

A new species of the extinct ant genus Baikuris Dlussky, 1987 (Formicidae: Sphecomyrminae) is described and figured from a male preserved in a piece of ∼100 Myr amber from Charentes, in southwestern France. Baikuris maximus sp. nov., is distinguished from other species notably by its larger size, its forewing with vein 2M+Cu absent and vein 3Cu tubular, and the presence of a subpetiolar process. The diagnosis of the genus is emended, and its distribution during the Cretaceous is briefly discussed.     

Experimental investigations on the elastic parameters and uniaxial compressive strength of slate under freeze–thaw cycles

ABSTRACT

In this study, uniaxial compression experiments with seven different bedding angles and six numbers of freeze–thaw cycles were conducted to investigate the influences of freeze–thaw cycles on the elastic parameters and the uniaxial compressive strength of slate. The laws of the elastic parameters, uniaxial compressive strength and failure characteristics were analysed, and a new uniaxial compressive strength prediction model that considers the bedding angle and the number of freeze–thaw cycles as control variables was established and verified using the experimental data. The results showed that the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus and shear modulus decreased exponentially with an increasing number of freeze–thaw cycles. However, the Poisson’s ratio increased linearly with an increasing number of freeze–thaw cycles. The uniaxial compressive strength initially decreased and then increased with increasing bedding angle. There are three forms of failure occurred during the tests: when the bedding angle was 0°≤β ≤ 26.6°, the splitting failure and shear failure occurred at the same time; when the bedding angle was 26.6°≤β ≤ 83.0°, sliding failure occurred along the bedding plane; and when the bedding angle was 83.0°≤β ≤ 90°, splitting failure occurred along the axial direction of sample.     

Study of laser heated iron using third generation synchrotron X-ray radiation facility with imaging plate at high pressures

Iron pressurized to 60 gigapascal (GPa) was heated with laser up to temperatures of over 2200 K. The structural changes were determined in-situ using third generation synchrotron X-ray source; the changes were recorded on an imaging plate with a monochromatic beam. The results strongly support the existence of a phase transformation of the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure to the new polymorph (β-phase of iron) at high pressure and temperature. We interpret the X-ray data as belonging to the double hexagonal close-packed (dhcp) structure distorted by stress due to laser heating. Received: 2 February 1998 / Accepted: 23 August 1998     

Geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic constraints on the genesis of the Soheyle-PaKuh granitoid rocks (central Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt,Iran)

ABSTRACT

Soheyle-Pakuh granitoid rocks, with a variety of quartz diorite, quartz monzodiorite, granodiorite, tonalite, and granite, have been emplaced into the Tertiary volcanic rocks in the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc in central Iran. Zircon U–Pb dating yields an age of 39.63 ± 0.93 Ma for the crystallization of this body. Whole-rock compositions show that SiO₂ changes from 52.31 to 65.78 wt.% and Al₂O₃ varies from 15.54 to 18.24 wt.%, as well as high concentrations of large-ion lithophile elements (LILE, e.g. Cs, Rb, Ba, and K) and quite low contents of high field strength elements (HFSE, e.g. Nb, Ti, P), as expected in I-type arc granitoids formed in an active continental margin setting. Initial ratios of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd exhibit ranges 0.7043–0.7047 and 0.51284 to 0.51287, respectively, with positive εNd_(t) from +4.9 to +5.5 with a young TDM1 age (483–674 Ma); this tracer isotopic data suggesting that the SPG originated from juvenile basaltic crust derived from depleted mantle (~90%) with variable contributions from undepleted mantle and approximately 10% old lower crust, despite diverse processes (e.g. magma mixing and fractional crystallization) during their evolution and emplacement into a local extensional setting within the continental margin arc. The isotopic data are similar to those of other Phanerozoic granitoids of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and corroborate melting of predominantly mantle-derived juvenile crustal protoliths and indicating extensive addition of new continental crust, during Cambrian-Neoproterozoic time, in the suprasubduction zone beneath the central Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc. Generation of these types of granitoids favours a model whereby rollback and (or) break-off of a subducted slab with subsequent lithospheric extension triggered by mantle upwelling, heat advection, and underplating resulting in melting of the central UDMA mantle-derived juvenile lower continental crust in the Late Eocene.     

Origin of clinopyroxene megacrysts in volcanic rocks from the North China Craton: a comparison study with megacrysts worldwide

ABSTRACT

Clinopyroxene megacrysts in volcanic rocks can provide substantial information on the evolution of the magmatic system at depth. Although considerable attention has been paid to these crystals, their origin is not yet completely resolved. The clinopyroxene megacrysts worldwide can be divided into two major types in general: the green Cr-diopside type and the black Al-augite type. There is a consensus view that the Cr-diopside megacrysts are mantle xenocrysts, whereas two contrasting opinions exist regarding the origin of the black Al-augite megacrysts. One favours a cognate origin, viewing them as crystallization products of the host magmas under high-pressure; while the other argues that they are xenocrysts crystallized from previous alkali basalts or fragments of mantle peridotites, pyroxenites or pegmatite veins. A review study on the clinopyroxene megacrysts in Meso-Cenozoic volcanic rocks from the North China Craton (NCC) and their comparison with those worldwide provides new constraints on their origin, namely, the Cr-diopside megacrysts, as previously thought, are all xenocrysts, representing disaggregated clinopyroxene crystals from clinopyroxene-rich mantle rocks. Contrary to the formerly proposed cognate origin, the Al-augite megacrysts are also xenocrysts, having no direct genetic link to their host rocks. They crystallized from melts that have formed earlier than the host magmas, and probably accumulated in a magma chamber or occurred as sheets or veins filling a fracture network surrounding a magma chamber in the upper mantle. During the subsequent eruption of the host lavas, these previously formed crystals were incorporated into the magma and were brought up to the surface.     

Spatial distribution,variation and trend of five-day antecedent rainfall in Singapore

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the spatial distribution, variation and trend of 5-day antecedent rainfall in Singapore based on rainfall data from 22 meteorological stations. The effect of climate was analyzed by dividing the study period into three decades i.e. Decade 1: 1982–1991, Decade 2: 1992–2001 and Decade 3: 2002–2011. Kriging interpolation was used for rainfall mapping. The results show that spatial distribution of 5-day antecedent rainfall does not coincide with that of the annual rainfall. The maximum annual rainfall occurred in the northwestern side of Singapore. On the other hand, the maximum 5-day antecedent rainfall occurred in the north and northeastern sides. The results of this study suggest that the climate change has increased the amount of 5-day antecedent rainfall quite significantly, i.e. from 420.5 (1987) to 592.9 mm (2006), thus affecting the vulnerability of the area with respect to rainfall-induced slope failure. The analyses also showed that most of slope failures were located in the north and northeast of Singapore between December and earlier March. More slope failures were observed in Decade 3 as compared to Decades 1 and 2. In other words, the analysis confirmed that 5-day antecedent rainfall had affected the slope stability in Singapore.     

The production of iron oxide during peridotite serpentinization: Influence of pyroxene

Serpentinization produces molecular hydrogen(H2)that can support communities of microorganisms in hydrothermal fields;H2 results from the oxidation of ferrous iron in olivine and pyroxene into ferric iron,and consequently iron oxide(magnetite or hematite)forms.However,the mechanisms that control H2 and iron oxide formation are poorly constrained.In this study,we performed serpentinization experiments at 311℃ and 3.0 kbar on olivine(with 5% pyroxene),orthopyroxene,and peridotite.The results show that serpentine and iron oxide formed when olivine and orthopyroxene individually reacted with a saline starting solution.Olivine-derived serpentine had a significantly lower FeO content(6.57±1.30 wt.%)than primary olivine(9.86 wt.%),whereas orthopyroxene-derived serpentine had a comparable FeO content(6.26±0.58 wt.%)to that of primary orthopyroxene(6.24 wt.%).In experiments on peridotite,olivine was replaced by serpentine and iron oxide.However,pyroxene transformed solely to serpentine.After 20 days,olivine-derived serpentine had a FeO content of 8.18±1.56 wt.%,which was significantly higher than that of serpentine produced in olivine-only experiments.By contrast,serpentine after orthopyroxene had a slightly higher FeO content(6.53±1.01 wt.%)than primary orthopyroxene.Clinopyroxene-derived serpentine contained a significantly higher FeO content than its parent mineral.After 120 days,the FeO content of olivine-derived serpentine decreased significantly(5.71±0.35 wt.%),whereas the FeO content of orthopyroxene-derived serpentine increased(6.85±0.63 wt.%)over the same period.This suggests that iron oxide preferentially formed after olivine serpentinization.Pyroxene in peridotite gained some Fe from olivine during the serpentinization process,which may have led to a decrease in iron oxide production.The correlation between FeO content and SiO_2 or AI_2 O_3 content in olivine-and orthopyroxene-derived serpentine indicates that aluminum and silica greatly control the production of iron oxide.Based on our results and data from natural serpentinites reported by other workers,we propose that aluminum may be more influential at the early stages of peridotite serpentinization when the production of iron oxide is very low,whereas silica may have a greater control on iron oxide production during the late stages instead.     

Influence of spatial variability of soil friction angle on sheet pile walls’ structural behaviour

The uncertainty in terms of soil characterisation is studied to assess its effect on the structural behaviour of extended structures as sheet pile walls. A finite element model is used. This integrates a numerical model of the soil–structure interaction together with a stochastic model that allows characterising the soil variability. The model serves in propagating the variability and the system parameter uncertainties. Discussion is mainly focused on two points: (1) testing the sensitivity of the structural behaviour of a sheet pile wall to different geotechnical parameters and (2) assessing the influence of spatial variability of soil properties on the structural behaviour by identifying the most sensitive geotechnical parameter and the most significant correlation length values. The findings showed that in assessing the sheet pile wall’s structural behaviour, there are spatial variability parameters that cannot be considered negligible. In this study, soil friction angle is found to be an important parameter.