Spatial controls on the distribution and dynamics of a marginal snowpack in the Australian Alps

Seasonal snowpacks in marginal snow environments are typically warm and nearly isothermal, exhibiting high inter‐ and intra‐annual variability. Measurements of snow depth and snow water equivalent were made across a small subalpine catchment in the Australian Alps over two snow seasons in order to investigate the extent and implications of snowpack spatial variability in this marginal setting. The distribution and dynamics of the snowpack were found to be influenced by upwind terrain, vegetation, solar radiation, and slope. The role of upwind vegetation was quantified using a novel parameter based on gridded vegetation height. The elevation range of the catchment was relatively modest (185 m), and elevation impacted distribution but not dynamics. Two characteristic features of marginal snowpack behaviour are presented. Firstly, the evolution of the snowpack is described in terms of a relatively unstable accumulation state and a highly stable ablation state, as revealed by temporal variations in the mean and standard deviation of snow water equivalent. Secondly, the validity of partitioning the snow season into distinct accumulation and ablation phases is shown to be compromised in such a setting. Snow at the most marginal locations may undergo complete melt several times during a season and, even where snow cover is more persistent, ablation processes begin to have an effect on the distribution of the snowpack early in the season. Our results are consistent with previous research showing that individual point measurements are unable to fully represent the variability in the snowpack across a catchment, and we show that recognising and addressing this variability are particularly important for studies in marginal snow environments.     

High-P granulites of the Songshugou area (Qinling Orogen,east-central China): Petrography,phase relations,and U/Pb zircon geochronology

High-pressure (HP) granulites provide telling records of mineral reactions at upper mantle to lower crustal levels and key information on the fate of material in subduction systems. The latter especially applies when they abut eclogite and mantle dunite because such rock associations are crucial for understanding the incompletely known processes at the interface of converging plates. A continental arc, active c. 520–395 Ma ago, formed an enigmatic example of such a rock association in the Songshugou area, Qinling Orogen. To unravel the juxtaposition of the distinct rocks, this study combines petrography, phase equilibria modelling, conventional thermobarometry, and zircon U–Th–Pb–Ti–REE analysis. Two mafic HP granulites, which contain the mineral assemblages garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–rutile–mesoperthite–quartz and garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–rutile, experienced peak metamorphic conditions of ≤1.4 GPa, 860°C and ~1.3 GPa, ≥910°C, respectively. During decompression and cooling, at 489 ± 4 Ma, amphibole lamellae unmixed from a clinopyroxene solid solution and orthopyroxene in part replaced garnet. A felsic HP granulite shows equilibration of garnet, perthite, antiperthite, kyanite, quartz, and rutile at 810–860°C, ~1.2 GPa, sillimanite growth during decompression, and upper amphibolite facies cooling at 510 ± 4 Ma. Though the thermobarometric data are just within the methodological errors, the U/Pb zircon ages imply the HP granulites did not evolve coherently. The HP granulites either represent foundered lower arc crust or originated from subduction erosion because their geochemistry is indistinguishable from that of the hanging-wall plate. Published and new pressure–temperature–time–deformation paths converge at ~710°C, ~0.9 GPa, and ≲470 Ma, implying exhumation tectonics juxtaposed the HP granulites with a mélange of eclogite and mantle dunite at lower crustal levels. This study highlights that lower arc crust can comprise material of diverse evolution.     

Structure of the Wollaston Lake Reflector (Trans-Hudson Orogen, Canada) from reflection AVO analysis: Fractured diabase intrusion, fluids, or silicified shear zone?

A nearly 160-km long Wollaston Lake Reflector (WLR) observed in seismic reflection profile S2b of the 1994 Lithoprobe Trans-Hudson Orogen transect (THOT) in northern Saskatchewan (Canada) is among the most spectacular and well-recorded features imaged within the crystalline crust. Based on modeling of its normal-incidence reflectivity, the observed bright spot reflector was originally interpreted as a series of tabular diabase intrusions. In order to further elucidate its structure, we reprocessed line S2b and analysed the WLR for the Amplitude Variations with Offset (AVO). By contrast to conventional (approximate) AVO analysis, we used the exact Zoeppritz equations and considered a thin-layer (mixed positive and negative polarities) reflectivity. The results suggest two possible interpretations of the WLR: 1) the reflector caused by a massive mafic intrusion as suggested earlier, in which case the intruded rocks should have anomalous Poisson's ratios of σ ≥ 0.33, and 2) the WLR represents a silicified shear zone, with only moderate (e.g.,  5–10%) alteration of the host rock and σ ≈ 0.2. Although both of these models may to some extent co-exist within the WLR, its brightness, sharpness, great lateral extent and smooth shape favour the second interpretation.In both models, a fractured fluid-filled zone within a major crustal detachment should have played a key role in the formation of the WLR. The association of the reflector with laterally- and depth-migrating fluids is also supported by magneto-telluric measurements of crustal conductivity beneath the WLR. Analogies from the studies of the Kola Superdeep Borehole (Russia), where free or metamorphic fluids were found at comparable depths, also suggest that fluids may contribute to WLR structure and formation.     

勉略构造带新元古代洋盆俯冲作用：来自略阳地区纸房沟岩片火山岩锆石U- Pb年龄和Lu- Hf同位素的证据

纸房沟岩片位于勉略构造带略阳地区。通过细致的岩石学和地球化学研究,将纸房沟岩片内的火山岩分为拉斑玄武岩系列（Ⅰ类）和钙碱性火山岩系列（Ⅱ类）。Ⅰ类火山岩稀土配分曲线左倾,富Na贫P,整体具有N- MORB特点,形成于洋脊构造环境。相比Ⅰ类火山岩,Ⅱ类火山岩具有更高的SiO2(49.02％~61.86％)和K2O(0.32％~1.55％)含量,相对亏损Nb、Ta、P和Ti,形成于陆缘弧构造环境。Ⅱ类火山岩锆石Lu- Hf同位素测试结果显示,εHf(t)值主体为负值,介于-8.01~+0.77,表明其主要为古老地壳物质熔融成因。Ⅱ类火山岩LA- ICP- MS锆石U- Pb测年结果为854±3Ma(MSWD=0.12, n=30)、844±4Ma (MSWD=0.03, n=15),表明纸房沟岩片火山岩结晶时代为新元古代早中期。综合前人成果认为,纸房沟岩片火山岩为新元古代勉略洋盆俯冲的产物,俯冲作用一直持续到800Ma左右,该俯冲过程很可能是对全球性Rodinia超大陆聚合事件的响应。     

湘黔桂新元古代拉伸纪晚期地层年代格架对比及关键地质事件初探

湘黔桂地区发育一套完整的新元古代拉伸纪晚期地层(下江群及其相当地层),是研究扬子克拉通与华夏板块碰撞拼接后华南大陆裂谷盆地演化的重要载体。本文报道了贵州省铜仁市万山区清水江组上部、平略组底部及中部变质凝灰岩和沉凝灰岩的年龄,分别为(763.8±5.5) Ma(N=24,MSWD=0.29)、(760.2±4.1) Ma(N=25,MSWD=0.39)、(759.1±3.9) Ma(N=26,MSWD=0.38)。通过对湘黔桂地区下江群及其相当地层中已有火山岩、火山碎屑沉积岩、含凝灰质岩石年龄的系统梳理与分析研究,进一步确定下江群其及相当地层的沉积时限在822~715 Ma,桂北丹洲群三门街组玄武岩是在武陵造山后伸展背景下湘黔桂地区裂谷最大裂陷时期的产物,清水江组与平略组内大量的火山物质可能来源于江南造山带东段800~760 Ma的中酸性喷出岩。结合地层、岩性、年代特征,本文恢复了湘黔桂盆地新元古代拉伸纪晚期的演化历史,并认为该套地层符合建立下江系条件。     

河南省济源盆地下侏罗统鞍腰组重力流沉积特征及其构造意义*

在详细野外剖面工作的基础上,通过岩性特征、沉积构造及沉积序列等的系统观察研究,发现济源盆地下侏罗统鞍腰组重力流沉积由滑塌沉积、砂质碎屑流沉积和浊流沉积构成。滑塌沉积以砂岩和泥岩的混杂、岩层的滑动变形以及泥岩呈碎块被卷入砂岩层中为特征;砂质碎屑流沉积常呈厚层块状,颗粒分选和磨圆较差,杂基较多,可见漂浮于层内的石灰岩砾石;常见的浊流沉积分为2种类型: 具有明显正粒序结构的浊流沉积和砂泥岩薄互层的浊流沉积,可用鲍马序列来描述。鞍腰组重力流沉积可划分为3个沉积序列: 序列A记录了滑塌沉积→砂质碎屑流沉积→浊流沉积→深湖沉积的转换过程;序列B表现为砂质碎屑流与浊流沉积的叠覆;序列C由浊流及湖泊沉积构成,并经历了由序列A→序列B→序列C的沉积演化过程。重力流的形成受秦岭造山带于早侏罗世沿三门峡—鲁山—舞阳断裂发生逆冲推覆作用的控制,其沉积演化指示了秦岭造山带造山作用由强到弱的过程。     

造山动力学定量研究--理论与方法

造山动力学定量研究近10年来取得了重要进展,形成了较完整的理论技术体系,并获得了大量有说服力的实例分析结果,成为当前大陆变形研究的热点之一。造山动力学定量研究采用数值方法求解控制方程,获得造山带演化动态过程的图像,了解不同因素对该过程的影响作用,从力学解析的角度确定造山动力学模型的合理性。研究造山演化过程需要耦合固体力学、流体力学和热力学方程进行描述。造山演化过程中发生的强烈大位移、大应变（几何非线性）使得数值求解过程更复杂。对于强烈大应变可能需要采用重分网格技术。断裂的发生、运动与变形涉及岩石破裂准则与内部边界处理。同时,还必须综合分析地表剥蚀与沉积、重力均衡等作用。     

A Siltation Simulation and Desiltation Measurement Study Downstream of the Suzhou Creek Sluice, China

The Suzhou Creek Sluice is currently the largest underwater plain gate in the world, with a single span of 100 m. It is located in a tidal estuary at the junction of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek in Shanghai, China. In this study, physical and 2D vertical mathematical models were used to investigate and distinguish the mechanism of siltation downstream of an underwater plain gate from that of other gates types. According to quantitative data obtained by site investigation and the application of the physical hydrodynamic models, it was found that the characteristics of the tidal estuary as well as the fact that the sluice span is equal to the creek width are the major reasons contributing to siltation. A possible desiltation treatment system is proposed for the underwater plain gate. The system includes selection of a suitable location that allows the determination of a reasonable top elevation of the sluice floor, reserving sufficient space under the gate to accommodate siltation, setting up a mechanical desiltation system, and flushing silt along with overflow over the top of the gate. Furthermore, on-site hydraulic silt flushing experiments and a topography survey were conducted. These results showed that the measurement system is effective, and by maintaining this scheduled operation once a month, the downstream riverbed has been maintained in a good condition.     

北祁连山银灿铜矿矿床地质特征及成因

银灿铜矿地处于北祁连走廊南山北坡—冷龙岭岛弧带中,矿区出露一套具双峰式火山岩特征的火山沉积建造,矿体主要赋存在石英角斑岩中并存在明显分带,上部为铜矿体向下部变为锌矿体,矿石类型属黄铁矿型多金属矿石,成矿作用过程直接或间接与火山活动有关,是北祁连地区早古生代典型的海相火山岩型块状硫化物矿床。     

南秦岭旬阳盆地东部晚泥盆世岩浆成因钠长岩及其构造意义

南秦岭旬阳盆地的钠长岩此前被认为是热水沉积或热液交代作用的产物。本文对南秦岭旬阳盆地东端黄石板地区侵入于下志留统梅子亚组浅变质岩中的钠长岩体进行了地球化学和锆石U-Pb LA-ICP-MS年代学研究,结果表明钠长岩具有富钠贫钾、铝不饱和、亏损大离子亲石元素K和Rb、高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Th、Hf)显著富集的地球化学特点,主体属于钙碱性系列岩石,反映幔源成因的特征。钠长岩中获得最年轻的锆石U-Pb年龄为364~376Ma,该年龄代表岩体的形成年龄,反映晚泥盆世时南秦岭旬阳盆地处于强烈的伸展构造环境。此项研究结果表明,在旬阳盆地的志留系中,岩浆成因与热水沉积成因的钠长岩可能是共存的。黄石板岩浆成因钠长岩岩体中含有大量前寒武纪和早古生代的捕获锆石,在捕获锆石中测得迄今为止在研究区及其邻区获得的最古老的锆石U-Pb年龄(3291Ma)。这些捕获锆石的测年数据说明,研究区所在的南秦岭地区可能从古太古代开始就与扬子地块具有明显的亲缘性。