New specimens of a fossil ostrich from the Miocene of Kenya

Fossilised hind limb bones from the late Middle Miocene (approximately 14 million-year-old [MYA]) Fort Ternan, Kadianga West and Ngorora localities in Western Kenya indicate the presence of a new representative of the ostrich genus Struthio. These new fossils represent some of the oldest known records for Struthio yet described, slightly younger than Struthio coppensi, from the Lower Miocene of Namibia. Because the four sub-species of the modern-day ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus, Struthio camelus australis, Struthio camelus massaicus, and Struthio camelus molybdophanes) inhabit the plains of Africa, and as recently as the 1940s, a fifth sub-species was also present in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia (Struthio camelus syriacus), records of Struthio from Kenya and Namibia testify to the much wider distribution of these cursorial birds in the relatively recent past. This is further supported by the very high frequency of ostrich eggshell fragments found across Africa and Eurasia, which vastly outweighs the amount of skeletal material uncovered over the last century.     

New Eusauropod Dinosaur from Yuanmou of Yunnan Province, China

1 Introduction Sauropod dinosaurs were group of gigantic quadrupedal herbivores. This group includes the largest terrestrial animals ever to have existed. More than 120 genera have been proposed, however, many of these are now considered to be of dubious validity. Currently, approximately 100 genera are accepted as valid (Upchurch et al., 2004a). The sauropod dinosaur described herein was collected from Jiangyi (Fig. 1), Yuanmou County of Yunnan Province by the Yunnan Provincial Institute…     

Mineralization of the Liwu large-scale stratiform copper deposits in Sichuan Province,China: Constraints from fluid inclusions

The Liwu stratiform copper deposit is located in the northwestern Jianglang dome, western China. Current studies mainly focus on the genetic type and mineralization of this deposit. Detailed fluid inclusion characteristics of metallogenic period quartz veins were studied to reveal the ore-forming fluid features. Laser Raman analysis indicates that the ore-forming fluids is a H₂O-NaCl-CH₄ (-CO₂) system. Fluid inclusions microthermometry shows a homogenization temperature of 181–375°C and a salinity of 5.26%–16.99% for the disseminated-banded Cu-Zn mineralization; but a homogenization temperature of 142–343°C and a salinity of 5.41%–21.19% for the massive-veined Cu-Zn mineralization. These features suggest a medium-high temperature and a medium salinity for the ore-forming fluids. H-O isotopic data indicates that the ore-forming fluids were mainly from the metamorphic and magmatic water, plus minor formation water. And sulfur isotopic data indicates that sulfur was mainly derived from the formation and magmatic rocks. Metallogenesis of the disseminated-banded mineralization was mainly correlated with fluid mixing and water-rock reaction; whereas that of the massive-veined mineralization was mainly correlated with fluid boiling. The genetic type of the deposit is a medium-high temperature hydrothermal deposit related to magmatism and controlled by shear zones. This study is beneficial to understand the stratiform copper deposit.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.     

甘肃陇中盆地会宁关公滩剖面磁性地层年代学研究

本文对陇中盆地会宁含小哺乳动物化石的关公滩剖面河湖相沉积序列进行了详细的岩石磁学和磁性地层学研究,磁化率各向异性结果表明关公滩剖面沉积物记录了典型的原生沉积组构,沉积物沉积以后几乎没有受到后期的扰动.最大磁化率主轴方向与现今的古水流流向基本一致,表明区域西高东低的地貌至少在中更新世早期已经形成.磁滞回线、等温剩磁获得曲线的矫顽力谱分析、三轴等温剩磁退磁曲线等岩石磁学结果显示：关公滩剖面河湖相沉积物的磁性矿物有磁铁矿、磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿,其中磁铁矿和赤铁矿是主要的剩磁载体,但其特征剩磁载体以赤铁矿为主.系统退磁结果显示,在大部分样品中,磁铁矿和赤铁矿均记录了几乎相同的特征剩磁的方向,整个剖面呈现单一的正极性.另外,关公滩剖面底部河湖相沉积物中产出丰富的小哺乳动物牙齿化石,经初步研究包括复齿鼠兔（Ochotonoides complicidens）、丁氏鼢鼠（Myospalax tingi）、方氏鼢鼠（Myospalax fontanieri）、变异仓鼠（Cricetinus varians）、大林姬鼠（Cricetinus varians）、复齿旱獭（Marmota complicidens）等六个种类,其中丁氏鼢鼠和复齿鼠兔是相对原始的种类,其时代跨越早更新世至中更新世早期,其他都是我国北方中、晚更新世常见的种类,该小哺乳动物化石组合性质表明其时代很可能为中更新世早期.因此,综合磁性地层学和小哺乳动物生物年代学结果,关公滩剖面记录了布容正极性时的沉积,剖面底部堆积及其哺乳动物群的时代应为中更新世早期.

     

Stratigraphic evolution of the nearshore to fluvial plain of the Upper Cuyo Group,Neuquén,Argentina

The upper portion of the Cuyo Group in the Zapala region, south‐eastern Neuquén Basin (Western Argentina), encompasses marine and transitional deposits (Lajas Formation) overlain by alluvial rocks (Challacó Formation). The Challacó Formation is covered by the Mendoza Group above a second‐order sequence boundary. The present study presents the stratigraphic framework and palaeophysiographic evolution of this Bajocian to Eo‐Calovian interval. The studied succession comprises the following genetic facies associations: (i) offshore and lower shoreface–offshore transition; (ii) lower shoreface; (iii) upper shoreface; iv) intertidal–subtidal; (v) supratidal–intertidal; (vi) braided fluvial to delta plain; (vii) meandering river; and (viii) braided river. The stratigraphic framework embraces four third‐order depositional sequences (C1 to C4) whose boundaries are characterized by the abrupt superposition of proximal over distal facies associations. Sequences C1 to C3 comprise mostly littoral deposits and display well‐defined, small‐scale transgressive–regressive cycles associated with fourth‐order depositional sequences. Such high‐frequency cycles are usually bounded by ravinement surfaces associated with transgressive lags. At last, the depositional sequence C4 delineates an important tectonic reorganization probably associated with an uplift of the Huincul Ridge. This is suggested by an inversion of the transport trend, north‐westward during the deposition of C1 to C3 depositional sequences (Lajas Formation) to a south‐west trend during the deposition of the braided fluvial strata related to the C4 depositional sequence (Challacó Formation).     

Strong historical earthquakes in the northwestern Issyk Kul’ basin (northern Tien Shan)

The northern Tien Shan is the northern front of the Himalayan mountain belt, which resulted from the collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates. This region encompasses the most active seismic zones of the orogen, which generated the strongest (M > 8) earthquakes. Since there are scarcely any written accounts, the only way to trace back strong earthquakes is the paleoseismologic method. Since 1984 we have been studying the northwestern Issyk Kul’ basin, where there are differently directed anticlines, which constitute the Kungei meganticline. Here, several active tectonic structures (faults, folds) are located, whose development was accompanied by strong earthquakes. Our field studies of 2008 in the Iiri-Taldybulak Valley, along the adyrs (foothills) of the Kungei-Ala-Too Range, revealed two unknown historical earthquakes. The first one, which occurred along the southern rupture in the late 7th century A.D., gave rise to a seismic scarp; the latter broke through the river floodplain and a tash-koro (ancient settlement). The second one, which occurred along the northern rupture in the late 9th century A.D., increased the height of the seismic scarp, existing on the Early Holocene and older terraces. Note that this region already records a strong seismic event around 500 A.D. Archeologic data have revealed one more strong earthquake, which took place in the 14th century A.D. Note that the above-mentioned strong seismic events are coeval with the decline of the nomadic cultures (Wusun, Turkic, Mogul) in the northern Tien Shan and Zhetysu (Semirech’e).     

基于自动观测站的鲁中地区土壤水分变化规律及精细化预报模型的研究

为了建立鲁中地区土壤水分精细化预报模型,利用2010—2013年农田土壤水分自动站逐日资料进行土壤水分年、月变化特征研究,并结合附近自动气象站资料,以土壤水分平衡方程、农田蒸散模型为基础,采用逐步回归和曲线估计等方法建立4—6月无降水条件下平原水浇田与山旱田土壤水分1 d、7 d降幅的经验预报模型。结果表明:鲁中地区0~100 cm土壤水分贮存量年变化趋势和0~50 cm基本一致,年最高出现在8月,最低出现在6月,年降幅最大出现在3—6月,易出现干旱。对预报模型进行回代和预报检验结果显示,回代平均相对误差为0.07%,7 d模型和1 d模型滚动预报第7天0~50 cm土壤水分贮存量,绝对误差分别为-0.15和-2.17 mm,平均相对误差分别为-0.07%和-1.56%,模型具有较强的理论基础和实用性,预报精度较高,为鲁中地区土壤墒情监测和精细化预报提供支持。     

孔兹岩带古元古代中期构造背景：来自卓资地区～2.2Ga紫苏碱长花岗岩的证据

麻粒岩-紫苏花岗岩杂岩在华北克拉通孔兹岩带内分布较广但研究程度较低,本文对孔兹岩带东部卓资地区大什字紫苏碱长花岗岩进行了详细的岩相学、地球化学和地质年代学研究,探讨了其形成时代、岩石成因及构造背景,为孔兹岩带构造演化及孔兹岩系沉积环境提供约束。SHRIMP锆石U-Pb测年结果表明大什字紫苏碱长花岗岩形成于古元古代中期(～2.2Ga),并经历了古元古代晚期构造热事件及～1.89Ga变质作用叠加改造。岩石具有铁质、钙碱性至碱钙性、准铝质至弱过铝质特征,具有较高SiO₂、Na₂O+K₂O、Ga、Zr含量及FeO~T/(FeO~T+MgO)值,低Al₂O₃、CaO、MgO、 Sr、Cr含量及较高的全岩锆石饱和温度(835～887℃,平均860℃),与A型花岗岩指标相近。样品呈现平坦的右倾型稀土元素配分模式和弱的负Eu异常,富集K、Rb、Ba、Zr、Hf,亏损Sr、Nb、Ta、P、Ti。综合研究表明大什字紫苏碱长花岗岩是在弧后伸展背景下幔源岩浆上涌导致英云闪长质、花岗闪长质地壳岩石部分熔...     

中天山及其北麓的降水变化及其原因分析

利用中天山地带85.0°～90.0°E,42.5°～45.0°N范围内17个气象站1961-2000年的降水、气温观测数据及美国NCEP/NCAR1950-2000年再分析月平均资料进行计算和分析,结果表明:这一区域近年来降水呈现上升趋势,且冬、夏季相对显著,山区降水增幅大于山前平原地带.年代际变化表现为60-70年代降水量减少,80-90年代逐步增加.大气可降水量多年也表现为增加趋势.近50a来该地区上空的水汽输送状况显示,年平均大气水汽输入为9217.8×10⁸m³,输出水汽8625.7×10⁸m³,净收支为592.0×10⁸m³,且水汽收支主要取决于夏半年的水汽输入量,境外全年输入的水汽只有6.4%转化为降水.从50-90年代水汽净收支总体上呈减少趋势,只在90年代有略微增长.结合该地区的河流径流增加、冰川物质平衡一直处于亏损状态,说明中天山北麓近年来降水量增加的主要原因是由于该地区内部的水循环量增加和水循环速率提高.     

西拉木伦构造带克德河砂砾岩的时代及构造意义

西拉木伦构造带北部双井地区发育一套巨厚的、成熟度低的快速堆积的粗碎屑沉积建造,为同造山磨拉石沉积,前人称其为克德河砂砾岩带并将其时代分别划为中二叠世(哲斯组)、晚二叠世(林西组)。本次工作对该套地层进行了大比例尺剖面测量,对取自剖面第下、中、上(1、25、86层)三个部分的砂岩样品进行LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究,结果显示：3个样品具有相似的主要年龄区间,依次为405-485Ma、401-463Ma、363-520Ma,其峰值年龄分别为427Ma、445Ma、440Ma,锆石数量分别占总量的48％、52.5％和38.75％;其次为大于1000Ma的年龄,锆石数量分别占30.7%、22.5%、45%,且均具有1800Ma和2500Ma左右的峰值年龄,明显具有华北板块基底年龄信息;自下而上3个测年样品最年轻峰值年龄分别为312Ma、376Ma,282Ma,最年轻的锆石年龄分别为304Ma、244Ma和245Ma。在第85层杂色复成分砾岩的灰岩砾石中发现晚石炭－早二叠世阿木山组的蜓和珊瑚化石,在41及43层发现中生代孢粉化石。综合碎屑锆石测年及生物化石研究结果,克德河砂砾岩带的时代应为中三叠世。推测西拉木伦构造带经历了一个较长的演化过程,中二叠世开始华北板块和西伯利亚板块进入碰撞造山阶段, 同造山磨拉石建造(克德河砂砾岩带)标志着中亚造山带演化的终止,华北板块和西伯利亚板块的碰撞拼合造山一直延续到中三叠世才结束。