On the identification of ENSO-induced rainfall and runoff variability: a comparison of methods and indices

Abstract

It is known that the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon induces marked climate variability across many parts of the world. However, in seeking useful relationships between ENSO and climate, several indices are available. In addition to the choice of index, previous studies assessing ENSO effects have employed a range of different methods to classify periods as El Niño, La Niña or Neutral. It is therefore clear that significant subjectivity exists in the adoption of ENSO classification schemes. In this study, several ENSO classification methods are applied to a range of ENSO indices. Each method-index combination is investigated to determine which provides the strongest relationship with rainfall and runoff in the Williams River catchment, New South Wales, Australia. The results demonstrate substantial differences between the methods and indices. The Multivariate ENSO Index (or MEI) is found to provide the best classification irrespective of method. The potential for forecasting ENSO-related effects on rainfall, runoff and river abstractions is then investigated. A “rise rule” to account for dynamic ENSO trends is also assessed. Strong relationships were found to exist with runoff (rainfall) up to nine (eight) months in advance of the Summer/autumn period. Implications for improved forecasting of potential river abstractions are apparent.     

Gold ore-forming fluids of the Tanami region, Northern Australia

Fluid inclusion studies have been carried out on major gold deposits and prospects in the Tanami region to determine the compositions of the associated fluids and the processes responsible for gold mineralization. Pre-ore, milky quartz veins contain only two-phase aqueous inclusions with salinities ≤19 wt% NaCl eq. and homogenization temperatures that range from 110 to 410°C. In contrast, the ore-bearing veins typically contain low to moderate salinity (<14 wt% NaCl eq.), H₂O + CO₂ ± CH₄ ± N₂-bearing fluids. The CO₂-bearing inclusions coexist with two-phase aqueous inclusions that exhibit a wider range of salinities (≤21 wt% NaCl eq.). Post-ore quartz and carbonate veins contain mainly two-phase aqueous inclusions, with a last generation of aqueous inclusions being very CaCl₂-rich. Salinities range from 7 to 33 wt% NaCl eq. and homogenization temperatures vary from 62 to 312°C. Gold deposits in the Tanami region are hosted by carbonaceous or iron-rich sedimentary rocks and/or mafic rocks. They formed over a range of depths at temperatures from 200 to 430°C. The Groundrush deposit formed at the greatest temperatures and depths (260–430°C and ≤11 km), whereas deposits in the Tanami goldfield formed at the lowest temperatures (≥200°C) and at the shallowest depths (1.5–5.6 km). There is also evidence in the Tanami goldfield for late-stage isothermal mixing with higher salinity (≤21 wt% NaCl eq.) fluids at temperatures between 100 and 200°C. Other deposits (e.g., The Granites, Callie, and Coyote) formed at intermediate depths and at temperatures ranging from 240 to 360°C. All ore fluids contained CO₂ ± N₂ ± CH₄, with the more deeply formed deposits being enriched in CH₄ and higher level deposits being enriched in CO₂. Fluids from deposits hosted mainly by sedimentary rocks generally contained appreciable quantities of N₂. The one exception is the Tanami goldfield, where the quartz veins were dominated by aqueous inclusions with rare CO₂-bearing inclusions. Calculated δ ¹⁸O values for the ore fluids range from 3.8 to 8.5‰ and the corresponding δD values range from −89 to −37‰. Measured δ ¹³C values from CO₂ extracted from fluid inclusions ranged from −5.1 to −8.4‰. These data indicate a magmatic or mixed magmatic/metamorphic source for the ore fluids in the Tanami region. Interpretation of the fluid inclusion, alteration, and structural data suggests that mineralization may have occurred via a number of processes. Gold occurs in veins associated with brittle fracturing and other dilational structures, but in the larger deposits, there is also an association with iron-rich rocks or carbonaceous sediments, suggesting that both structural and chemical controls are important. The major mineralization process appears to be boiling/effervescence of a gas-rich fluid, which leads to partitioning of H₂S into the vapor phase resulting in gold precipitation. However, some deposits also show evidence of desulfidation by fluid–rock interaction and/or reduction of the ore-fluid by fluid mixing. These latter processes are generally more prevalent in the higher crustal-level deposits.     

Predictive geochemical mapping using environmental correlation

The distribution of chemical elements at and near the Earth's surface, the so-called critical zone, is complex and reflects the geochemistry and mineralogy of the original substrate modified by environmental factors that include physical, chemical and biological processes over time.Geochemical data typically is illustrated in the form of plan view maps or vertical cross-sections, where the composition of regolith, soil, bedrock or any other material is represented. These are primarily point observations that frequently are interpolated to produce rasters of element distributions. Here we propose the application of environmental or covariate regression modelling to predict and better understand the controls on major and trace element geochemistry within the regolith. Available environmental covariate datasets (raster or vector) representing factors influencing regolith or soil composition are intersected with the geochemical point data in a spatial statistical correlation model to develop a system of multiple linear correlations. The spatial resolution of the environmental covariates, which typically is much finer (e.g. ∼90 m pixel) than that of geochemical surveys (e.g. 1 sample per 10-10,000 km²), carries over to the predictions. Therefore the derived predictive models of element concentrations take the form of continuous geochemical landscape representations that are potentially much more informative than geostatistical interpolations.Environmental correlation is applied to the Sir Samuel 1:250,000 scale map sheet in Western Australia to produce distribution models of individual elements describing the geochemical composition of the regolith and exposed bedrock. As an example we model the distribution of two elements – chromium and sodium. We show that the environmental correlation approach generates high resolution predictive maps that are statistically more accurate and effective than ordinary kriging and inverse distance weighting interpolation methods. Furthermore, insights can be gained into the landscape processes controlling element concentration, distribution and mobility from analysis of the covariates used in the model. This modelling approach can be extended to groups of elements (indices), element ratios, isotopes or mineralogy over a range of scales and in a variety of environments.     

澳大利亚世纪铅锌矿床地质特征和成矿模式

澳大利亚世纪（Century）铅锌矿床赋存于中元古代劳恩希尔组页岩和粉砂岩中。矿化主要为细粒闪锌矿,其次为方铅矿和黄铁矿。大部分硫化物（80%~90%）在黑色页岩单元中以易碎的交代层状出现,被富菱铁矿粉砂岩层隔开。矿化具有2个大尺度的变化趋势,在白蚁圈断层由北东至南西,Zn品位显著降低,由南东至北西,Zn品位略有降低。层状闪锌矿主要有2种结构,多孔闪锌矿的焦沥青含量较高,无孔闪锌矿焦沥青含量较低。S同位素研究显示,整个成矿流体系统是一个封闭的储层,重S在变形与成矿事件中进一步富集。世纪矿床由变形作用驱使流体迁移到异常高压（压实作用下的）页岩层位时,页岩容矿的矿化作用形成。较热的富含金属的流体和较深盆地的卤水,使得有机质迅速成熟,最终导致硫酸盐的还原和贱金属的沉淀。     

澳大利亚三维地质填图进展与实例

三维地质填图是目前国际上实现深部找矿勘查突破的重要途径,其通过对多元数据的集成,将不同学科、不同尺度的数据在三维空间中进行分析和对比,展示研究区地质体、构造之间的空间、成因和演化关系,有助于理解成矿系统和开展流体模拟,进而预测深部找矿靶区。本文从三维地质填图的概念出发,介绍了三维地质填图的工作流程和常用的工作平台。结合澳大利亚三个三维地质填图实例,介绍了三维地质填图在成矿带、油气和水资源领域中的应用和进展。通过对澳大利亚三维地质填图的综合分析,提出了对我国开展三维地质填图工作启示和建议。     

造山带金矿研究现状与存在的问题

造山带金矿是当前矿床学和大地构造学研究热点,Groves等(1998)、Goldfarb等(2001)基于太古"地壳连续模式"(Groves,1993)的研究工作以涉及资料量大、应用成果新、考虑地质因素多而居于这一领域前沿.但是,目前众多研究对前寒武地质与显生宙地质的宏观差异、世界金矿一些总体规律及若干具体大地构造背景等尚认识不足.显生宙缺乏太古代大规模火成活动,已知金矿中很少同变质深成型(hypozonal),以浅变质岩为围岩的金矿区中没有相当的中-深变质岩为围岩的金矿."太古绿岩带"金矿区同样也缺乏浅变质岩为围岩的金矿.华北地块周边金矿主要形成在侏罗-白垩纪,明显晚于大兴安岭造山带和秦岭-大别山造山带,而与欧亚陆缘近南北向燕山期岩浆弧有关.距俯冲带较远、缺乏蛇绿混杂岩与大规模变质作用、发育大量中-新生代盆地及广泛地壳减薄等表明,中国东部与北美科迪勒拉(Cordillera)造山带晚中生代地质存在宏观差异,燕山期岩浆弧可能形成于一个以伸展为主导的环境,大量以花岗岩为围岩或相对太古变质围岩后生成因金矿及其成矿的大地构造背景值得深入研究,弄清各类显生宙金矿与造山带的关系是推进造山带金矿研究的关键.     

Late Holocene Isotopic and Molecular Signals in Saline Sediments of Lake Cantara South,Australia

正Isotopic,biomarker,and trace elements of a 65 cm long sedimentary core from Lake Cantara south in Adelaide,Australia were measured in an effort to trace environmental change clues in the southern Hemisphere.The geochemical     

澳大利亚西部哈默斯利铁成矿省BIF富铁矿的成矿特征与控矿因素

澳大利亚西部哈默斯利铁成矿省含有世界级高品位的赤铁矿体。主要铁矿床包括芒特维尔贝克、汤姆普莱斯山、帕拉伯杜等,它们均产于元古宙早期布罗克曼BIF型含铁建造中。高品住铁矿体的空间分布明显受到元古宙区域隆起和拉张环境下形成的古老正断层系统的控制。该成矿省高品位铁矿层的形成可分为3个阶段：第1阶段为深层阶段,该阶段硅从含铁建造中淋滤出来,留下薄层状富含铁氧化物、碳酸盐岩、硅酸镁和磷灰石的残余物;第2阶段为深部大气水氧化阶段,该阶段含铁建造的磁铁矿-菱镁矿组合被氧化为赤铁矿-铁白云石,并以发育假象赤铁矿为特征;第3阶段为浅层风化作用。通过对成矿特征和成矿模式的总结,认为成矿时代、断层、褶皱等构造特征及流体和表生风化作用是富铁矿床形成的主要控矿因素。     

Sedimentary Crust and Metallogeny of Granitoid Affinity: Implications from the Geotectonic Histories of the Circum‐Japan Sea Region,Central Andes and Southeastern Australia

Metallogeny of granitoid affinity was reviewed from the aspect of geotectonic history of the continental crust, particularly of the genesis of sedimentary crust involved in magmatism. The redox state of granitoids and related mineralization shows a remarkable contrast between the east and west sides of the Pacific Rim, but if examined closely, the reduced‐type and oxidized‐type granitoid provinces are juxtaposed in three regions: the circum‐Japan Sea region, the central Andes, and the Lachlan Fold Belt in southeastern Australia. Comparative study of these regions revealed that the reduced‐type magmatism associated with Sn mineralization generated in thick sedimentary crust which formed in three geotectonic environments: (i) accretionary terrane along a subduction zone (e.g. Jurassic East Asia), (ii) continental rift (e.g. Early Paleozoic Andes), and (iii) mega‐fan (e.g. Early Paleozoic southeastern Australia). A collisional orogen can provide large amounts of clastic sediment to these environments. The age gap between the magmatism and sedimentation varies depending on the tectonic evolution of individual regions. Thin sedimentary crust may not play an essential role for the reduced‐type magmatism. The oxidized‐type magmatism associated with porphyry Cu and other mineralization generated in the crust which was initially carbon‐free igneous crust or modified from sedimentary crust by magmatism. Subduction‐related basaltic magmas are relatively oxidized, and may enhance fO₂ conditions of granitoid activity. Repeated magmatism in a monotonous convergent margin may be favorable for porphyry Cu mineralization as exemplified in the eastern Pacific Rim.