In Situ U‐Th‐Pb Dating and Sr‐Nd Isotope Analysis of Bastnäsite by LA‐(MC)‐ICP‐MS

Bastnäsite is the end member of a large group of carbonate–fluoride minerals with the common formula (REE) CO₃F·CaCO₃. This group is generally widespread and, despite never occurring in large quantities, represents the major economic light rare earth element (LREE) mineral in deposits related to carbonatite and alkaline intrusions. Since bastnäsite is easily altered and commonly contains inclusions of earlier‐crystallised minerals, in situ analysis is considered the most suitable method to measure its U‐Th‐Pb and Sr‐Nd isotopic compositions. Electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation (multi‐collector) inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry of forty‐six bastnäsite samples from LREE deposits in China, Pakistan, Sweden, Mongolia, USA, Malawi and Madagascar indicate that this mineral typically has high Th and LREE and moderate U and Sr contents. Analysis of an in‐house bastnäsite reference material (K‐9) demonstrated that precise and accurate U‐Th‐Pb ages could be obtained after common Pb correction. Moreover, the Th‐Pb age with its high precision is preferable to the U‐Pb age because most bastnäsites have relatively high Th rather than U contents. These results will have significant implications for understanding the genesis of endogenous ore deposits and formation processes related to metallogenic geochronology research.     

Comment on: Mass Fractions of Forty‐Six Major and Trace Elements,Including Rare Earth Elements,in Sediment and Soil Reference Materials Used in Environmental Studies. Fiket et al. (2017), Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 41, 123–135

This paper is intended to be a constructive discussion of Fiket et al. (2017, Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research , 41 , 123–135), who dealt with the determination of major, trace and rare earth elements in several sediment and soil certified reference materials. In the present author's view, the paper by Fiket et al. (2017) suffers from a lack of reference to several publications in which somewhat similar results had already been reported. The present contribution therefore provides a comparison of previously published results with those of Fiket et al. for the CRMs soil NCS DC 77302 (GBW 07410), stream sediment NCS DC 73309 (GBW 07311), marine sediments MESS‐3 and NCS DC 75301 (GBW 07314) and estuarine sediment IAEA‐405. It is argued that this fuller consideration (a) allows critical evaluation of the quality of the results presented by Fiket et al. and (b) highlights the advantages of their work. Finally, attention is drawn to the (possible or real) problems that can arise during simultaneous determination of multiple trace elements.     

Age and metal source of orogenic gold deposits in Southeast Guizhou Province,China: Constraints from Re-Os and He-Ar isotopic evidence

The orogenic gold deposits in Southeast Guizhou are an important component of the Xuefeng polymetallic ore belt and have significant exploration potential, but geochronology research on these gold deposits is scarce. Therefore, the ore genetic models are poorly constrained and remain unclear. In the present study, two important deposits(Pingqiu and Jinjing) are investigated, including combined Re-Os dating and the He-Ar isotope study of auriferous arsenopyrites. It is found that the arsenopyrites from the Pingqiu gold deposit yielded an isochron age of 400 ± 24 Ma,with an initial ~(187)Os/~(188)Os ratio of 1.24 ± 0.57(MSWD = 0.96). An identical isochron age of 400 ± 11 Ma with an initial ~(187)Os/~(188)Os ratio of 1.55 ± 0.14(MSWD = 0.34) was obtained from the Jinjing deposit. These ages correspond to the regional Caledonian orogeny and are interpreted to represent the age of the main stage ore. Both initial ~(187)Os ratios suggest that the Os was derived from crustal rocks. Combined with previous rare earth element(REE), trace elements, Nd-Sr-S-Pb isotope studies on scheelite, inclusion fluids with other residues of gangue quartz, and sulfides from other gold deposits in the region, it is suggested that the ore metals from Pingqiu and Jinjing were sourced from the Xiajiang Group. The He and Ar isotopes of arsenopyrites are characterized by ~3 He/~4 He ratios ranging from 5.3 × 10~(-4) Ra to 2.5 × 10~(-2) Ra(Ra = 1.4 × 10~(-6), the ~3 He/~4 He ratio of air), 40 Ar=/~4 He ratios from 0.64 × 10~(-2) to 15.39×10~(-2), and ~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar ratios from 633.2 to 6582.0. Those noble gas isotopic compositions of fluid inclusions also support a crustal source origin,evidenced by the Os isotope. Meanwhile, recent noble gas studies suggest that the amount of in situ radiogenic ~4 He generated should not be ignored, even when Th and U are present at levels of only a few ppm in host minerals.     

Growth rate is temperature‐dependent,but the proportion of resource allocation between the growth and gonads is not,in early adult stage of the lancelet branchiostoma japonicum

The pattern of resource allocation into multiple life‐history traits can vary with the environment; for example, high temperatures generally facilitate growth. Changes in investment in growth due to temperature may alter the allocation to other traits that are in trade‐off with that. Here, we investigated the trade‐off between growth and reproduction and whether the proportion of allocation to these varies with increasing seawater temperature in the lancelet Branchiostoma japonicum. We reared the lancelets of early adult stage under three different temperature treatments (control, + 1°C and + 2°C treatments) for 427 days in the laboratory. Although the total body length at initiation did not differ between treatments, the length was influenced by the interaction between elapsed days and temperature treatments, suggesting that growth rate was temperature‐dependent; the lancelets under higher temperature conditions showed a more rapid growth rate than did those under the control conditions. The frequency of individuals with gonads did not differ between treatments throughout their reproductive season. The monthly growth increments were also not significantly affected by the interaction between the presence/absence of gonads and temperature treatments, although the presence of gonads caused the growth increments to decrease. In addition, the effect of temperature treatments was significant. These results suggest that changes in temperature did not alter the pattern of allocation between growth and reproduction that were in a trade‐off, whereas high temperature would solely result in an increase in resource intake, at least in the early adult stage of this species.     

覆盆子-红花药对与男性不育症的治疗相关机制探讨

目的：基于网络药理学探讨覆盆子-红花药对治疗男性不育症的物质基础及作用机制。方法：用TCMSP数据库检索覆盆子、红花,收集其化学成分以及靶点信息;用GeneCards和OMIM数据库筛选男性不育症的疾病靶点;应用韦恩图筛选药物与疾病的共同靶点;应用R软件进行GO富集分析及KEGG分析;应用 Cytoscape 3.7.2 软件构建药物-活性成分-疾病-靶点互作网络。结果：从覆盆子、红花得到了22个活性成分及202个药物靶点。在药物-活性成分-疾病-靶点互作网络中,degree值较高的为槲皮素及木犀草素,表明覆盆子-红花药对治疗男性不育症的主要活性成分可能为槲皮素、木犀草素等。覆盆子-红花药对治疗男性不育症的可能靶点有131个,其中核心靶点为ALB、AKT1、IL-6、VEGFA、JUN等,这些靶点主要与氧化及抗氧化生物等生物学过程相关。覆盆子-红花药对的靶点主要通过P13K/Akt信号通道治疗男性不育症。结论：覆盆子-红花药对通过多靶点、多途径治疗男性不育症。本研究为开展覆盆子-红花药对治疗男性不育症的实验提供了理论基础,为男性不育症的治疗提供了更多的思路。     

Meltwater discharge during the Holocene from the Wilkes subglacial basin revealed by beryllium isotope analysis of marine sediments

Understanding Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics related to global climate change is of scientific and societal interest as the future behaviour of the ice sheet under the currently changing climate is unknown. We present beryllium‐10 (¹⁰Be) analysis of a high‐resolution marine sediment core from the Adélie Basin near the eastern Wilkes Land margin, which is susceptible to marine ice sheet instability due to the low‐lying nature and down‐sloping trough of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin. Combined with a newly constructed age model using compound specific radiocarbon dates, the data reveal three events associated with high meteoric ¹⁰Be at ca. ~10 ka, ca. ~6.5 ka and from ca. ~4 ka. We interpret these high meteoric ¹⁰Be events to be derived from the deposition of ¹⁰Be released from the ice sheet during meltwater discharge. In particular, the shift to higher meteoric ¹⁰Be concentration at~4 ka may correspond to changes in climate patterns at this time. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Single subduction zone for the generation of Devonian ophiolites and high‐P metamorphic belts of the Variscan Orogen (NW Iberia)

Within the Variscan Orogen, Early Devonian and Late Devonian high‐P belts separated by mid‐Devonian ophiolites can be interpreted as having formed in a single subduction zone. Early Devonian convergence nucleated a Laurussia‐dipping subduction zone from an inherited lithospheric neck (peri‐Gondwanan Cambrian back‐arc). Slab‐retreat induced upper plate extension, mantle incursion and lower plate thermal softening, favouring slab‐detachment within the lower plate and diapiric exhumation of deep‐seated rocks through the overlying mantle up to relaminate the upper plate. Upper plate extension produced mid‐Devonian suprasubduction ocean floor spreading (Devonian ophiolites), while further convergence resulted in plate coupling and intraoceanic ophiolite imbrication. Accretion of the remaining Cambrian ocean heralded Late Devonian subduction of inner sections of Gondwana across the same subduction zone and the underthrusting of mainland Gondwana (culmination of NW Iberian allochthonous pile). Oblique convergence favoured lateral plate sliding, and explained the different lateral positions along Gondwana of terranes separated by Palaeozoic ophiolites.