Seasonal nutritive value of native grasses of Argentine Calden Forest Range

This study assessed the nutritive value of the most important forage species of the Calden forest (central semi-arid La Pampa, Argentina), for samples collected in fall, winter and spring, under grazing conditions and during two successive years, for ranges of good and fair conditions. The crude protein concentration (CP) of short-winter grasses (Piptochaetium napostaense, Poa ligularis, Stipa clarazii and Hordeum stenostachys) was about 10%. Mid-winter grasses (S. tenuissima and S. gynerioides) never reached 6% CP. Summer grasses (Digitaria californica and Trichloris crinita) ranged from 7% to 9% CP. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was similar among short-winter and summer grasses (40–50%). Mid-winter grasses had the lowest IVDMD for all seasons (<40%). Effects of sampling year and range condition on CP were consistently significant only for short-winter grasses. Good condition ranges provide a more acceptable forage supply than fair condition ranges.     

Late Pleistocene Vegetation and Climate in the Southern Cascade Range and the Modoc Plateau Region

Pollen and sediment from Grass Lake, California provide a history of vegetation and climate in the southern Cascade Range from 36 to 19 cal ka, revealing climate changes that led to the glacial advances recorded at Upper Klamath Lake (Rosenbaum and Reynolds 2004a – this issue). Variations in the percentages of conifer and Artemisia (sagebrush) pollen at Grass Lake recorded shifts in vegetation that reflect changes in precipitation. Between 36 and 34 cal ka, a progression from steppe to open pine forest to dense pine forest indicates that precipitation increased. After 32 cal ka, the forest became more open and by 30 cal ka sagebrush steppe surrounded the lake, implying that precipitation decreased. The area was arid for most of the interval between 30 and 19 cal ka. Increases in conifer pollen recorded increases in precipitation from 21 through 19 cal ka, when open pine forest colonized the lake area. Throughout the period from 36 to 19 cal ka, centennial- to millennial-scale intervals with increased conifer pollen imply that the arid interval was interrupted by periods of increased precipitation. Pollen data also provide evidence that the major fluctuations in sand concentration in the Grass Lake core reflect temperature shifts. Changes in sediment particle size are closely related to variations in pollen concentration and accumulation rate, which in turn reflect changes in plant cover, implying that sand was deposited in the lake due to deflation of clay- and silt-sized particles from sparsely-vegetated alpine areas of the watershed. Sand deposition increased as climatic cooling led to reductions in the elevation of upper treeline and alpine conditions affected a larger part of the watershed. There is no evidence of glaciation in the basin, but pollen data show the area was above upper treeline during Cold Period III (34–32 cal ka), one of several very cold intervals. Vegetation decreased at about 28 cal ka and remained sparse for at least 9000 years, implying that the climate became cooler and remained cool until after 19 cal ka. Cold Period II developed at about 25 cal ka and terminated by 23 cal ka. The Grass Lake watershed was again above upper treeline with the onset of Cold Period I, soon after 19 cal ka. Comparison of the Grass Lake record with those from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon and Tulelake, California suggests a persistent pattern of environmental changes in this time interval throughout the Modoc Plateau region.     

Geomorphological analysis of neotectonic deformation,northern Owens Valley,California

At the western edge of the Basin and Range Province, the Owens Valley is the site of active seismicity and deformation. Morphometric analyses of three geomorphological features are used to determine the patterns and rates of neotectonic deformation: (l) a network of Pleistocene channels cut on top of the Bishop Tuff; (2) uplifted terraces of the Owens River; and (3) alluvial fans of the White Mountain front.In the Owens Valley, the three analyses are consistent with the same solution: net eastward tilt of the Owens Valley block at a rate of between 3.5 and 6.1°/Ma. Given the dip on the basement determined from geophysical data and extrapolating the rate of tilt in the Owens Valley back in time, it is inferred that the break-up of the Sierra Nevada and the northern Owens Valley occurred in the Pliocene, between around 2 and 4 Ma ago. The pattern of deformation in the northern Owens Valley matches anticlinal flexure on the Coyote warp, near the front of the Sierra Nevada, and faulting across the Volcanic Tableland is consistent with flexural extension. It is proposed that the Coyote warp is an expression of the tectonic hinge between westward rotation of the Sierra Nevada and eastward rotation of the Owens Valley since the Pliocene.     

Reconnaissance studies of the tufa deposits of the Napier Range,N.W. Australia

Tufas are widespread in the Napier Range of north Western Australia, an area of tropical seasonal climate and savanna vegetation. The major tufa deposits have been mapped and the different forms described. These include drapes on cliffs, cones at cave entrances or the mouths of ephemeral streams, rimstone pools, and tufa dams. There are at least two generations of tufa cone, with the older being heavily calcreted and eroded. Simple geochemical and petrographical data allow comparison between the different types of deposit here and with deposits from other parts of the world. Thin section observations and scanning electron microscopy enable an initial assessment of the role of organic processes in tufa formation. Obvious organic remains are sparse, although many of the active tufas are composed of filamentous microsparite fabrics, suggesting that algae have influenced the geometry of the deposits. However, the identification of various endolithic algae indicates that they may also be actively involved in the degradation of the deposits.     

Potential Flank-Collapse of Soufrière Volcano, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles? Numerical Simulation and Hazards

The past history of recurrent flank collapses of la Soufrière volcano of Guadeloupe, its structure, its well-developed hydrothermal system and the current activity constitute factors that could promote a future flank collapse, particularly in the case of a significant increase of activity, with or without shallow magmatic input. To address the hazards associated with such a collapse, we model the emplacement of the debris avalanche generated by a flank-collapse event in 1,250 BC (3,100 years B.P.). We use a finite-difference grain-flow model solving mass and momentum conservation equations that are depth-averaged over the slide thickness, and a Coulomb-type friction law with a variable basal (minimum) friction angle. Using the parameter values determined from this simulation, we then simulate the debris avalanche which could be generated by a potential collapse of the present lava dome. We then discuss the region which could be affected by such a future collapse, and additional associated hazards of concern.     

Thermal evolution of the Lesser Himalaya, central Nepal: Insights from K-white micas compositional variation

The Lesser Himalayan low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks in central Nepal are rich in K-white micas occurring as porphyroclasts and in matrix defining S₁ and S₂. Porphyroclasts are usually zoned with celadonite-poor cores and celadonite-rich rims. The cores are the relics of igneous or high grade metamorphic muscovites, and the rims were re-equilibrated or overgrown under lower T metamorphic conditions. The matrix K-white micas defining S₁, pre-dating the Main Central Thrust activity, are generally celadonite-rich. They show heterogeneous compositional zoning with celadonite-rich cores and celadonite-poor rims. They were recrystallized at lower T condition prior to the Main Central Thrust activity, most probably prior to the India–Asia collision (pre-Himalayan metamorphism). The matrix K-white micas along S₂, synchronous to the Main Central Thrust activity (Neohimalayan metamorphism), are relatively celadonite-poor and were recrystallized under relatively higher T condition. K-white micas defining S₁ also were partially re-equilibrated during the Neohimalayan metamorphism. The average compositions of recrystallized K-white micas defining both S₁ and S₂ become gradually poor in (Fe + Mg)- and Si-contents and rich in Al- and Ti-contents from south to north showing an increase of metamorphic grade from structurally lower to higher parts in the Lesser Himalaya. This shows that the metamorphism is inverted throughout the inner Lesser Himalaya. The tectono-metamorphic significance of the published K–Ar and ⁴⁰Ar / ³⁹Ar K-white micas ages from the Lesser Himalaya need re-evaluation in the context of observed intrasample compositional variation and zoning, and possible higher closure temperature (500 °C) for K–Ar system.     

Time varying seismicity in Greece: Hurst's analysis and Monte Carlo simulation applied to a new earthquake catalogue for Greece

Hurst's rescaled range analysis is a useful tool in the examination of a time series and is designed to measure memory content and determine its fractal texture. This study applies the Hurst method to a new earthquake catalogue for Greece. The study also adopts Monte Carlo simulations to provide a statistical test underpinning the Hurst analyses. Together these reveal basic temporal fractal characteristics in the earthquake occurrence time-histories' memory. Three regions are considered, approximately: all of Greece and some surrounding areas, and the sub-zones of the Hellenic Arc and the Gulf of Corinth. Three temporal textures are considered: elapsed time between earthquakes, strain energy release, and earthquake frequency. The elapsed temporal textures for the zone whole Greece indicate distinct characteristics in chronological order and possess long memory. These belong to the class non-random pattern. However, these characteristics generally disappear when the sub-zones are considered and become random patterns. The Monte Carlo simulations support this. Therefore, memoryless statistical seismic hazard estimates may not be suitable for whole Greece but could be useful for the sub-zones. The strain energy release temporal textures for whole Greece and for the sub-zones, no matter that these seem to possess long memory at first analysis, are all random patterns. In other words, the Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that these patterns are much more likely to happen by chance. The seismic frequency textures for whole Greece and for the sub-zones suggest long memory, however, only the texture for the Hellenic Arc zone (M_S ≥ 5.0) and that for whole Greece (M_S ≥ 4.0) approach demonstrable non-random patterns. Except for these, other patterns happen by chance.     

利用MODIS和ASAR资料估算青藏高原念青唐古拉山脉地区冰雪范围及厚度

利用可见光和微波卫星遥感资料分析了青藏高原念青唐古拉山脉地区冰雪范围和厚度的季节变化.结果表明:青藏高原念青唐古拉山脉地区冰雪范围的季节变化非常明显,2003年4月上旬、5月中旬、7月下旬和9月下旬的冰雪范围分别占选定研究区域的28.9%、69.9%、11.6%和14.7%.在选定的西布冰川区域,由微波遥感得到的冰雪厚度季节变化也非常明显,5月份厚度的数值最大,7月份最小.由于主动微波观测受地面高程、地形和夏季冰雪融化等因素的影响比较大,主动微波遥感在大面积估算冰雪厚度还有一定困难,有待将来作进一步的深入研究.     

Metallogeny of the Huaaobaote Ag-polymetallic deposit in Inner Mongolia: Constraints from zircon and cassiterite U-Pb datingSCIEI北大核心CSCD

花敖包特超大型银多金属矿床位于大兴安岭南段,矿体主要呈脉状赋存于二叠系寿山沟组的断裂中,部分矿体呈囊状产于寿山沟组与华力西期蛇绿岩的接触带中。矿体主要包括银铅锌锑矿体、锡铜矿体、铜铅锌矿体、锡矿体和银矿体。花敖包特矿床可划分为4个成矿阶段,分别为石英-锡石-毒砂-黄铁矿阶段(Ⅰ阶段)、石英-绢云母-锡石-黄铜矿-毒砂-磁黄铁矿-闪锌矿-黝铜矿阶段(Ⅱ阶段)、石英-绢云母-萤石-方解石-闪锌矿-方铅矿-黄铁矿-辉锑矿-含银硫盐矿物阶段(Ⅲ阶段)和石英-方解石-黄铁矿-辉银矿-深红银矿阶段(Ⅳ阶段)。对花敖包特矿区2件次流纹岩样品开展了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年,分别获得135.4±0.8Ma和134.8±0.8Ma的年龄。对成矿Ⅰ阶段锡矿石和Ⅱ阶段锡铜矿石进行了LA-ICP-MS锡石U-Pb定年,分别获得136.3±2.0Ma和134.3±1.7Ma的加权平均年龄。定年结果表明,花敖包特矿床次流纹岩、锡矿体和锡铜矿体均形成于早白垩世。尽管二者形成时间相近,但脉体穿切关系及矿化分带特征均表明次流纹岩并非成矿物质和成矿流体的主要来源。本文认为,花敖包特矿床真正的成矿地质体为隐伏于矿区深部的次火山岩钟,其矿床成因类型为与次火山岩相关的热液矿床。     

大兴安岭富克山地区兴华渡口群地球化学及锆石U-Pb年龄特征

对富克山地区兴华渡口群岩石地球化学、锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究结果表明,5件样品:Si O_2=50.24%~54.66%,Al_2O_3=14.41%~17.36%,Ca O=6.5%~8.68%,Na_2O=2.62%~4.67%,K_2O=1.36%~2.29%,Na_2O+K_2O=4.09%~6.3%,稀土总量∑REE=108.33×10~(-6)~240.28×10~(-6),稀土元素配分模式表现为轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素相对亏损的右倾型曲线,具有弱的负铕异常。富集大离子亲石元素(K、Rb、Ba),相对亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Zr、P、Ti等)。锆石U-Pb测年结果表明其岩浆形成时代为晚寒武世—早奥陶世(486.6±3.3 Ma)。富克山地区兴华渡口群原岩岩石组合类型为基性火山岩,为一套晚寒武世—早奥陶世活动大陆边缘火山建造。