Zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os dating of the Chalukou porphyry Mo deposit in the northern Great Xing’an Range,China and its geological significance

The newly discovered Chalukou giant porphyry Mo deposit, located in the northern Great Xing’an Range, is the biggest Mo deposit in northeast China. The Chalukou Mo deposit occurs in an intermediate-acid complex and Jurassic volcano-sedimentary rocks, of which granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, and fine-grained granite are closely associated with Mo mineralization. However, the ages of the igneous rocks and Mo mineralization are poorly constrained. In this paper, we report precise in situ LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dates for the monzogranite, granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, fine grained granite, rhyolite porphyry, diorite porphyry, and andesite porphyry in the Chalukou deposit, corresponding with ages of 162 ± 2 Ma, 149 ± 5 Ma, 148 ± 2 Ma, 148 ± 1 Ma, 137 ± 3 Ma, 133 ± 2 Ma, and 132 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Analyses of six molybdenite samples yielded a Re–Os isochron age of 148 ± 1 Ma. These data indicate that the sequence of the magmatic activity in the Chalukou deposit ranges from Jurassic volcano-sedimentary rocks and monzogranite, through late Jurassic granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, and fine-grained granite, to early Cretaceous rhyolite porphyry, diorite porphyry, and andesite porphyry. The Chalukou porphyry Mo deposit was formed in the late Jurassic, and occurred in a transitional tectonic setting from compression to extension caused by subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate.     

Organic geochemistry and source rock potential assessment of Late Paleocene Patala Formation in Margalla Hill Range,North Pakistan

Black shales of the Paleocene Patala Formation are proven source rocks for conventional hydrocarbons in southern Potwar Basin of Pakistan and are assumed to be effective source rocks towards north in the Margalla Hill Range of Pakistan. In this regard, the current study focuses on source rock geochemistry of the Paleocene Patala Formation to assess its source rock potential, organic matter types and thermal maturity levels in the Mar-galla Hill Range of North Pakistan. Source rock generative potential, kerogen types and thermal maturation of the analysed rock samples were unraveled by using Rock-Eval pyrolysis Tmax, TOC (total organic carbon) and vitrinite reflectance ( R0 ) analyses. TOC analysis coupled with S2 yield revealed poor to fair source rock quality encountered within the formation. The pyrolysis Tmax vs Hydrogen Index ( HI) , showed mostly Type Ⅲ kerogen dominated by thermally immature to mature organic matter. The HI and genetic potential is low and revealed poor hydrocarbon generation potential of the formation. The S1 vs TOC plots confirm the indigenous nature of the hydrocarbons hosted by Patala Formation. The vitrinite reflectance outcomes indicated immature to mature source rock beds lying in dry gas zone. The HI and OI signatures and abundance of Type Ⅲ kerogen are indica-ting dominance of terrestrial organic matter within the formation. Overall, the investigated Patala Formation ex-posed at the studied section of Margalla Hill Range, Pakistan acts as a poor source rock unit for liquid hydrocar-bon generation but holds prospects for dry gas generation in the study area.     

Constraint envelope analyses of macroecological patterns reveal climatic effects on Pleistocene mammal extinctions

Quantitative analysis of macroecological patterns for late Pleistocene assemblages can be useful for disentangling the causes of late Quaternary extinctions (LQE). However, previous analyses have usually assumed linear relationships between macroecological traits, such as body size and range size/range shift, that may have led to erroneous interpretations. Here, we analyzed mammalian datasets to show how macroecological patterns support climate change as an important driver of the LQE, which is contrary to previous analyses that did not account for more complex relationships among traits. We employed quantile regression methods that allow a detailed and fine-tuned quantitative analysis of complex macroecological patterns revealed as polygonal relationships (i.e., constraint envelopes). We showed that these triangular-shaped envelopes that describe the macroecological relationship between body size and geographical range shift reflect nonrandom extinction processes under which the large-bodied species are more prone to extinction during events of severe habitat loss, such as glacial/interglacial transitions. Hence, we provide both a theoretical background and methodological framework to better understand how climate change induces body size-biased species sorting and shapes complex macroecological patterns.     

Thrust-breakthrough of asymmetric anticlines: Observational constraints from surveys in the Brooks Range,Alaska

To gain insights into the processes governing the thrust-truncation of anticlines, we conducted a field study of the thrust-truncated folds in the remote Brooks Range of northern Alaska, where there is a transition in fold style from symmetric detachment folds to thrust-truncated asymmetric folds. In order to document the detailed geometry of the km-scale folds exposed in cliff-forming, largely inaccessible outcrops, a new surveying technique was developed that combines data from a theodolite and laser range finder. The field observations, survey profiles, and cross section reconstructions, indicate that late-stage thrust breakthrough of the anticlines within the mechanically competent Lisburne Group carbonates accommodated continued shortening when other mechanisms became unfeasible, including fold tightening, forelimb rotation, and parasitic folding in the anticline forelimbs. These results provide constraints on the processes that govern the transition from buckle folding to thrust truncation in fold-and-thrust belts worldwide.     

New constraints on Holocene uplift rates for the Baudo Mountain Range,northwestern Colombia

A beach deposit on the southern end of the Baudo Mountain Range, at an elevation of ∼2.0 m above the backshore of the modern beach, was dated at ∼2870 years using optically stimulated luminescence dating. The calculated average uplift rate necessary to raise this deposit is 0.7 mm/yr. This rate combines the long-term regional deformation associated with the subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate and the collision of the Choco Block microplate against the South American continent, as well as uplift from local faults. We propose that rapid emergence probably as several pulses, each involving decimeter scale coseismic uplift, is likely to have occurred to elevate the beach above the intertidal zone and offset destructive wave erosion.     

The impact of diamond extraction on natural denudation rates in the Diamantina Plateau (Minas Gerais,Brazil)

The ¹⁰Be method was used to investigate the effect of mining activities on the natural denudation rates in alluvial sediments from catchments of the Southern Espinhaço Range (SER) in Minas Gerais State (Brazil). In this region, which is predominantly composed of quartzites, the ¹⁰Be concentrations were measured in alluvial sediments from catchments in a preserved natural area of the Serra do Cipó National Park and on the Diamantina Plateau, which was subjected to diamond extraction from beginnings of XVIII century until the end of the XX. Two types of drainage were identified in the Diamantina Plateau area: (i) reworked drainage (alluvial sediments reworked by panning) and (ii) overloaded drainage (alluvial sediments originating from panning processes on saprolites located upstream). The mean denudation value for the natural drainages (∼4.4 m.My-1) is similar to that of the reworked drainages (∼4.3 m.My-1) However, the denudation rates obtained for eleven samples from three sites in overloaded basins range from ∼6.4 m My-1 to ∼22.8 m My-1 and are thus higher than those determined for the reworked and natural basins. These results show that despite the alluvium deposits have been intensely reworked by panning, the values of denudation rates were not changed, they are similar to denudation rates from the natural drainages. However, the natural rates are lower than those affected by panning processes on saprolites.     

小兴安岭霍吉河钼矿区含矿花岗岩类特征及成矿年龄

黑龙江霍吉河钼矿区内含矿花岗岩类岩石组合为黑云母二长花岗岩、二长花岗岩和花岗细晶岩,属高钾钙碱性岩-钾玄岩系列准铝质-过铝质岩石,具有轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损分馏模式;富集不相容元素(Cs、Th)并表现为Ta和Nb负异常以及Pb、Sr正异常,显示俯冲带地球化学特征.含矿岩浆岩明显富集Mo、Cu、Pb、Zn、W、Cr等金属元素.岩石全岩铅同位素来源比较复杂,具有混合成因铅特征.辉钼矿Re-Os模式年龄为180.7±2.5Ma和181.3±2.6Ma,钼矿成矿时代为早侏罗世.霍吉河钼矿是在蒙古-鄂霍茨克洋和古太平洋相向联合俯冲作用下,导致霍吉河地区发生地壳增生和壳幔相互作用以及后来的拆沉作用,形成了该区花岗质岩石和钼矿床.高度演化的花岗岩体(脉)可以作为今后本区钼矿床的找矿方向.     

Longitudinal variation of radial growth at Alaska's northern treeline—recent changes and possible scenarios for the 21st century

The northern treeline is generally limited by available warmth. However, in recent years, more and more studies have identified drought stress as an additional limiting factor for tree growth in northern boreal forests and at treelines. Three growth responses to warming have been identified: increase in growth, decrease in growth, and nonsignificant correlation of tree growth with climate. Here we investigate the effect of drought stress on radial growth of white spruce at northern treelines along a longitudinal gradient spanning the entire Brooks Range in Alaska. We systematically sampled 687 white spruce at seven treeline sites. Where possible, we sampled three site types at a given site: high-density forest, low-density forest, and floodplain forest. We investigated the relationship of site and site type to tree growth responses. In the western part of our study area, we found very high numbers of trees responding with increase in growth to recent warming; while in the eastern part, trees responding with decrease in growth to recent warming are predominant. Within a given site, more trees reacting positively to warming grow on site types characterized by low tree density. These patterns coincide with precipitation decreases from west to east and local water availability gradients, therefore pointing to drought stress as the controlling factor for the distribution of trees responding with increase or decrease in growth to recent warming. Compared to 20th century climate, we project a 25–50% basal area (BA) increase in the western region for the 21st century due to climate warming as projected by five general circulation models, 4–11% in the central region and decreases (+1 to −11%) in the eastern region. The overall net change in projected 21st century BA increase at each site seems to be controlled by the relative proportion of responder groups. If these are similar, differences in the magnitude of increase versus decrease in growth control BA projections for that site. This study highlights the importance of regional-scale investigations of biosphere–climate interactions, since our results indicate a substantial gain in aboveground biomass as a result of future warming only in the western regions; while in the eastern regions, climate warming will decrease overall wood production and therefore carbon uptake potential.     

大兴安岭北段塔河南部早白垩世侵入岩年代学和地球化学

以大兴安岭北段塔河南部基性、中性和酸性侵入岩(SiO2=5127%~7490%)为研究对象,通过锆石U Pb年代学、Hf同位素和岩石地球化学分析,探讨了其岩石成因和构造环境。测定的2件样品锆石U Pb定年结果分别是(1269±08) Ma和(1234±09) Ma,侵位于早白垩世。在哈克(Harker)图解中,多数样品主量元素和微量元素随SiO2含量增加具有很好的线性演化趋势(除K2O和Rb外)。微量元素总体显示富集Pb和大离子亲石元素K、Rb、Ba等,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti、P等,并具有相似的Sr、Nd同位素特征((87Sr/86Sr)i=0705 517~0706 827,εNd(t)=-682~079)。综合研究认为,塔河南部早白垩世侵入岩的岩浆源区是与俯冲有关的熔流体交代的石榴子石二辉橄榄岩相和尖晶石二辉橄榄岩相的混合源区,且以石榴子石二辉橄榄岩相为主,在岩浆快速上升的过程中主要经历了分离结晶作用,最后形成一套宽谱系的岩浆演化序列。结合中国东北地区火山岩展布方向、古地磁资料、蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋闭合时间以及古太平洋板块俯冲方向等已有成果,认为大兴安岭北段塔河南部的侵入岩产出在与蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋闭合有关的后碰撞环境。     

Magnetotelluric characterization through the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range: The connection between the northern and southern trace of the Río de La Plata Craton – Pampean Terrane tectonic boundary

The South American Platform was part of the Western Gondwana, a collage of plates of different ages assembled in late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian times. The Transbrasiliano Lineament, a continental shear belt that transversely intersects this platform from NE to SW, has its southern expression in the tectonic boundary between the Río de La Plata Craton and the Pampean Terrane. Magnetotelluric long-period data in a W–E profile (29°30′ S) that crosses the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range and the Chaco-Pampean Plain were obtained to connect information of this mostly inferred tectonic boundary. A 2-D inversion model shows the Chacoparanense basin, Río Dulce lineament, Ambargasta-Sumampa Range and Salina de Ambargasta in the upper crust. At mid-to-lower crust and 40 km to the east of the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range, a discontinuity (500–2000 Ω m) of 20-km-wide separates two highly resistive blocks, the Río de La Plata Craton (6000–20,000 Ω m) in the east, and the Pampean Terrane (5000–20,000 Ω m) in the west. This discontinuity represents the tectonic boundary between both cratons and could be explained by the presence of graphite. The geometry of the Pampean Terrane suggests an east-dipping paleo-subduction. Our results are consistent with gravimetric and seismicity data of the study area. A more conductive feature beneath the range and the tectonic boundary was associated with the NE–SW dextral transpressive system evidenced by the mylonitic belts exposed in the Eastern Pampean Ranges. This belt represents a conjugate of the mega-shear Transbrasiliano Lineament and could be explained by fluid–rock interaction by shearing during hundreds of years. The eastern border of the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range extends the trace of the Transbrasiliano Lineament. The electrical Moho depth (40 km to the west and 35 km to the east) was identified by a high electrical contrast between the crust and upper mantle. The upper mantle shows a resistive structure beneath the Río de La Plata Craton that could have been originated by stationary delamination by the presence of hydrated lithosphere.