In the Critical Zone: Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey

Geography is again becoming an integral part of the premier natural‐science agency of the federal government. Geographic research emphasizes the surface of the earth, a portion of the earth system that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) defines as the “critical zone.” Although geography was part of the USGS from the creation of the agency, in recent years geography in the agency has largely been limited to topographic mapping. Recently, the USGS and an advisory committee of the National Research Council (NRC) reviewed the role of geography at the Survey. The committee's report, along with ongoing decision‐making in the federal government, is likely to reshape geography in the USGS. The newly defined USGS has a regional structure and four disciplines: geology, hydrology, biology, and geography. The NRC report emphasizes the need for the creation of a spatial database called the National Map to replace the existing series of paper topographic maps. The report also outlines the need for geographic research in geographic information science (GIScience), nature‐society connections, and bridging of science to decision‐making. The NRC report has been briefed throughout the USGS, in the federal executive branch, and in Congress. The changing role for geography in the USGS requires change in the agency culture, revised budgetary decisions, and the establishment of a long‐term core agenda for research. Academic geographers will need to prepare a new generation of geographers for participation in the USGS and similar agencies.     

昆仑Ms 8.1地震前青藏块体北、东缘水平运动变形的关联特征

青藏块体东北缘和川滇GPS监测区1991(1993)、1999和2001年高精度GPS观测资料揭示：2001年11月14日昆仑Ms8．1地震前，青藏块体北、东缘构造区域水平运动变形场动态演变具有一定的关联性特征。即：在继承性运动总体背景下，临近大震发生时两区域运动强度同步减弱且变形状态发生变化。结合地质构造分析研究认为，昆仑Ms8．1地震前，青藏块体边界运动变形的关联性变化与大震孕育后期大范围应力应变快速积累所形成的扰动应力场有关；随着块体内部大震的发生、应变能的大量释放和构造应力场的调整，可能会促使块体边界地带具有较高应变积累的相关构造部位(尤其是未被历史强震破裂贯通的地带)的应力应变的进一步积累或破裂释放。     

Assessment of contaminants in Dubai coastal region, United Arab Emirates

Coastal uses and other human activities have inevitably impinged on the Gulf environment; therefore, these regions require continuous monitoring. The investigated area covered the maximum fragments of Dubai coastal region in the Arabian Gulf. The determination of major oxides and trace metal concentrations in Dubai sediments revealed three heavily and moderately contaminated regions. One is in the far northeastern part at Al-Hamriya Sts 1–3 and contaminated by Fe, Cu, Pb, and Zn; the second is in the mid-northeastern part at Dry Docks and contaminated by Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn; and finally, the third is in the near southwestern part at Dubal and contaminated by Fe, Mg, Cr, Ni, and Zn. Al-Hamriya St 3 represented the highest values of Cu, Pb, and Zn, whereas Dubal exhibited the maximum values of Fe, Mg, Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, and V. The anthropogenic discharge and natural deposits are the main sources of contamination. In general, all trace and major elements showed the minimal levels at Jebel Ali Sanctuary (Sts 11, 12, 13) except for Sr and Ca, which showed their maximum values. The highest concentrations of Ca and Sr are mainly attributed to carbonate gravel sands and sands, which cover most stations. Each of V and Ni showed negative correlation with TPH, which may be indicated that the source of oil contamination in the region is not related to crude oil but mostly attributable to anthropogenic sources. The significant positive correlation, which was found between trace metals and TOC indicates that organic matter plays an important role in the accumulation of trace metals in case of Cu, Zn, and Pb.     

云南沿边境地带生态环境3S监测、 评价与调控研究

本文利用全球新千年整体生态系统评估的理论，以云南省沿边境地带生态系统变化跨境生态安全为研究对象，探寻并揭示我国陆疆系统的跨境生态系统变化监测、评价和生态安全综合调控的基础理论与信息机理；进而研究基于“3S”云南沿边境地带的生态环境监测、评价与综合调控的方法和关键技术，包括方法和技术体系的建立、指标体系的建立、多尺度效应和尺度转换、数学模型的建立、综合调控模式和决策方案的建立等；在案例研究部分，建立了背景数据库，然后选择大、中、小尺度进行了全区生态环境现状评价，重点河道、典型路段和重点口岸的影响评价和预测预报研究，最后进行了综合调控模式和方案的探讨，并对研究结果进行了动态仿真和虚拟表达研究。     

Molecular and morphometric characterisation of the invasive signal crayfish populations in Croatia

The signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852) is a native species to North America. It was introduced to Europe and Japan where it rapidly spread as an invasive species. In Croatia, it is recorded in the rivers Mura and Drava, where it spread downstream from Slovenia, and in the Korana River, where it has been recently illegally introduced. In the invaded areas, signal crayfish outcompetes native crayfish species. Since the knowledge on the genetic diversity of this invasive species is limited, microsatellite markers and sequences of mitochondrial gene for 16S rRNA were analysed to explore the genetic relations between the two Croatian populations (Mura and Korana rivers) as well as their relation to other already studied European populations. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequence fragments of Croatian samples were compared with those from the native range in the west North America. Morphometric characteristics were also studied to determine if there are significant differences between studied populations and if these are concordant with the genetic analyses results. Also, morphometric data were used to assign Croatian signal crayfish into subspecies classification according to Miller’s discriminant function formula, and to compare claw surface area among Croatian, Japanese and North American populations. Based on the results of morphometric characteristics Croatian samples showed Pacifastacus leniusculus leniusculus-like morphology. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on 16S rRNA, positioned Croatian samples into P. leniusculus sensu Larson et al. (2012). Results on microsatellite markers showed that the genetic diversity of P. leniusculus in the Mura River population is slightly higher compared to the Korana River population, but these two populations do not form separated genetic clusters. This study contributes to the knowledge on genetic variability and morphometric characteristics of signal crayfish in Europe and further understanding of its success as an invasive species.     

利用3S技术及三维激光扫描仪进行耕地损毁勘测

利用RS技术发现耕地损毁,网络RTK测量耕地损毁范围及面积,GIS提取耕地被损毁前的分类面积和等别,以及利用网络RTK配合Maptek I-Site8810三维激光扫描仪重构损毁耕地三维模型。     

湘西合仁坪金矿床硫、铅同位素地球化学

湘西柳林汊一带广泛分布钠长石_石英脉型金矿,合仁坪金矿床是其典型代表。文章对合仁坪金矿床的硫、铅同位素进行了研究,并与区域石英脉型金矿床进行对比,探讨了该矿的成矿物质来源,并初步确定了其矿床成因。研究表明,合仁坪金矿床硫化物的δ34S值范围较窄(-4.8‰~4.4‰),平均为-0.6‰,该矿床的硫为深源硫,由深部变质流体带入;铅的同位素组成较均一,并表现出明显的造山带铅的特点。结合区域成矿作用,进一步研究揭示,合仁坪金矿床为一典型的造山型金矿,其成矿可能与湘西雪峰山地区加里东期的造山作用有关。     

Water-rock-tailings interactions and sources of sulfur and metals in the subtropical mining region of Taxco,Guerrero (southern Mexico): A multi-isotopic approach

Multi-isotope (H, O, S, Sr, Pb) systems coupled with conventional (major and trace element) hydrogeochemical analysis were applied to determine the origin of water, to model water-rock-tailings interactions and for source apportionment of sulfur and associated toxic metals in the mining region of Taxco, Guerrero in southern Mexico. Oxygen and H isotopes indicate that meteoric water in the zone is rainwater undergoing varying degrees of isotopic fractionation by atmospheric evaporation whereas Sr isotopes trace the interaction of pristine water from volcanics of the regional recharge zone and subsequently flowing through sandstone and shale to spring points. Leachates form from two distinctive sources (spring water and surface water) having differential interactions with bedrocks prior to entering the tailings. Compared to pristine water, leachates are enriched in sulfate, metals (e.g. Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and metalloids (e.g. As). The sulfur isotopic composition of ore-sulfides, leachates, secondary precipitates, regional surface water and hypogenic sulfates is described in terms of a two-component mixing model with shale of Mexcala and limestone of Morelos formations representing the light and heavy end-members, respectively, whereas Sr isotopic composition is bracketed combining three lithogenic (Mexcala/Morelos, Tilzapotla and Taxco Schist) sources. Finally, leachates have a mixture of lead from ore-sulfides and Taxco Schist Formation (Family I) or from ore-sulfides alone (Family II). The application of multiple environmental isotopic techniques is an outstanding tool for elucidating complex interactions of water with bedrocks and tailings and for determining the source of sulfur and toxic metal from mining and other metal polluted environments.     

西天山Muruntau金矿床地质和S-Pb同位素示踪

Muruntau金矿床位于乌兹别克斯坦卡拉库姆板块北缘,是世界规模最大的金矿床。赋矿地层为一套发生绿片岩相浅变质作用的含炭复理石建造。矿区主要经历了四期变形变质作用(D1-D4),矿体受构造控制明显,就位于桑格龙套-塔姆德套与穆龙套-道古兹套剪切带的构造交汇部位,金矿化主要产于次级韧脆性断裂中。对矿床的矿石硫化物及地层开展了系统S、Pb同位素研究,结果表明石英脉型及蚀变岩型矿石中硫化物的δ34S变化范围较大,集中于2.2‰~6.1‰,其中蚀变岩型矿石中毒砂样品δ34S值集中于2.2‰~4.6‰,含金石英脉中硫化物样品δ34S值集中于3.0‰~6.1‰,方解石-石英脉中硫化物样品δ34S值集中于3.5‰~4.0‰,表明矿石中硫主要来源于地层,可能有少量岩浆硫加入。2件黑色页岩中毒砂206Pb/~(204)Pb为19.906~20.378,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb为15.730~15.750,208Pb/~(204)Pb为38.388~39.894;3件含金石英脉中黄铁矿206Pb/~(204)Pb为18.848~19.431,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb为15.669~15.736,208Pb/~(204)Pb为38.346~38.879;2件方解石脉中毒砂206Pb/~(204)Pb为18.715~19.563,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb为15.639~15.740,208Pb/~(204)Pb为38.640~39.295。6件地层岩石样品的铅同位素组成206Pb/~(204)Pb为19.416~20.600,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb为15.675~15.746,208Pb/~(204)Pb为38.876~39.431。矿石铅与地层铅均落于上地壳与造山带之间,矿石铅显示较大的跨度,且与地层岩石铅具有部分重合,显示成矿物质具有双重来源,与赋矿地层及造山期变质流体均表现出密切成因联系。结合矿床地质特征总结分析,沉积地层的物质准备+多期构造运动驱动变质流体运移(D1-D4)+岩浆热液的后期叠加应该是Muruntau巨量金属富集的关键控制因素。     

四川会理天宝山矿床深部新发现铜矿与铅锌矿的成因关系探讨

天宝山矿床是川滇黔接壤铅锌矿集区内的代表性铅锌矿床之一,赋存于上震旦统灯影组白云岩中。近年来,该矿床深部发现了以铜为主的矿化,甚至形成铜矿体。目前,对铜矿成因及其与铅锌矿的关系尚不清晰。本文报道新发现铜矿的矿物学和同位素地球化学资料,以期揭示铜矿的成矿物质来源,结合铅锌矿的相关研究,探讨铜矿形成机制及其与铅锌矿的成因关系。镜下观察和扫描电镜分析显示,铜矿石中主要金属矿物为黄铜矿和银黝铜矿,其次为方铅矿和毒砂,含少量闪锌矿和黄铁矿;铅锌矿石中闪锌矿是主要金属矿物,方铅矿和黄铁矿次之,含少量黄铜矿和深红银矿。铜矿石中闪锌矿主要呈半自形-他形粒状,与黄铜矿共生或被其包裹,方铅矿主要呈细脉状充填在黄铜矿、银黝铜矿和毒砂的裂隙中或呈他形粒状分布在这些矿物中;铅锌矿石中黄铜矿主要呈浸染状分布于闪锌矿之中。两类矿石金属矿物的组构特征,显示铜矿物与铅锌矿物具有密切的共生、穿插和包裹关系,应属同期成矿。同位素地球化学数据显示,铜矿石中黄铜矿的δ34SCDT值为3.9‰~4.2‰(均值为4.1‰,n=3),铅锌矿石闪锌矿的δ34SCDT值为3.3‰~3.9‰(均值为3.5‰,n=3),十分相近,暗示它们具有相似的S源,应均属赋矿地层海相蒸发岩中硫酸盐热化学还原作用的产物。铜矿石中黄铜矿的~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb=18.441~18.476(均值为18.461,n=3),~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb=15.731~15.751(均值为15.741,n=3),~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb=38.809~38.873(均值为38.849,n=3),μ=9.72~9.76;铅锌矿石中方铅矿的~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb=18.442~18.480(均值为18.455,n=3),~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb=15.746~15.763(均值为15.752,n=3),~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb=38.793~38.892(均值为38.840,n=3),μ=9.75~9.78。两者具有相近的Pb同位素组成且其壳源特征明显,表明它们的成矿金属来源相似,均来自上地壳,与赋矿沉积岩有关。综上,矿物学和同位素地球化学证据表明,天宝山矿床深部新发现铜矿与铅锌矿具有明显的同期共生关系和相似的成矿物质来源,是同一成矿热液体系不同阶段演化的产物。天宝山铜铅锌矿床与MVT矿床的成矿特征不同,暗示其成矿作用(环境)特殊,可能与矿床所处的地质背景有关,其成因认识对川滇黔接壤区同类型矿床深部找铜矿具有重要的指导意义。