Changes in grain-size and sedimentation rate of the Neogene Red Clay deposits along the Chinese Loess Plateau and implications for the palaeowind system

In recent years, the Red Clay deposits underlying Quaternary loess on the Chinese Loess Plateau (north China) have attracted more attention because they show a direct and continuous record of past atmos- pheric circulation and palaeoclimatic change. Investiga- tions on Red Clay deposits through multidisciplinary methods have demonstrated an aeolian origin for the Red Clay, like the overlying Quaternary loess. The Red Clay formed during the Miocene and Pliocene[1―13]. However, the type o…     

Pliocene–Quaternary fluvial and aeolian records in the Souss Basin, southwest Morocco: A geomorphological model

The Souss Basin in SW Morocco is filled by Pliocene–Quaternary fluvial, fluvio-lacustrine and aeolian sediments, representing an excellent archive of palaeohydrology, palaeoclimate and the effects of crustal deformation. In general these sediments indicate stream-dominated alluvial systems, influenced by fluctuations in climate (humidity/aridity). Lakes developed within the basin around the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition and persisted into the Early Pleistocene. During this early period, relatively humid conditions are indicated by the dominance of coarse-grained sedimentation in the upper reaches of fluvial systems, the existence of large lakes and the considerable sediment thicknesses in the centre of the basin. Uplift of the surrounding mountain ranges contributed to piedmont formation by providing large amounts of coarse-grained material that accumulated at the lowland margin. Climatic deterioration in the Middle Pleistocene was accompanied by progressively more irregular and disrupted fluvial regimes. These trends were evident in the Late Pleistocene and became clearer after the mid-Holocene, with aeolian activity becoming the dominant sedimentary agent. Differences between upstream and downstream depositional regimes became marked: while coarse-grained sedimentation has characterized the upper reaches of wadi catchments, fine-grained sedimentation has prevailed downstream. Hiatuses in sedimentation throughout the Pliocene and Quaternary are marked by palaeosol horizons interbedded within the sedimentary sequences, indicating alternate vegetated (stable) and unvegetated (unstable/active) phases (biostasy and ‘rhexistasy’).     

Field reconnaissance of the Anti-Atlas coastline, Morocco: Fluvial and marine evidence for Late Cenozoic uplift

The available evidence regarding the disposition and chronology of Pliocene–Pleistocene fluvial terraces, coastal rock flats, raised beaches and lacustrine sediments adjoining the Anti-Atlas coastline of Morocco has been reviewed and supplemented by additional information from our own field reconnaissance. It is thus suggested that the study region has experienced uplift by  130 m since the Mid-Pliocene climatic optimum ( 3.1 Ma), by  90 m since the latest Pliocene ( 2 Ma), and by  45 m since the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution ( 0.9 Ma). Each of these phases of uplift correlates with a phase of global climate change known independently, and it is thus inferred that the observed uplift is being driven by climate through mechanisms such as erosional isostasy and the associated induced lower-crustal flow. Numerical modelling of the observed uplift history indicates that the mobile lower-crustal layer in the study region is  9 km thick, with a temperature at its base of  500 °C. The base of this mobile layer is inferred to be at  24 km depth, the deepest crust consisting of a layer of mafic underplating that does not flow under ambient conditions. The principal landform in the study region, the coastal rock platform at  60 m a.s.l., thus formed during a succession of interglacial marine highstands in the late Early Pleistocene when uplift rates were low. Although control on the ages of young sediments and landforms is currently extremely limited, being dependent on regional correlation schemes rather than on absolute dating, the study region fits the pattern, emerging worldwide, that climate change is driving the systematic growth of topographic relief evident during the Late Cenozoic.     

Paleoclimatic changes in southern Africa during the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation: evidence from ODP Leg 175 Site 1085

Pliocene age sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 175, Site 1085-A and B in the Cape Basin were analyzed to investigate the impact of the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation (INHG) on the South Atlantic Benguela Current system from 4 to 2 Ma. Proxies for productivity (concentrations and mass accumulation rates of total organic carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratios, percent calcium carbonate, and percent biogenic silica) as well as weight percent sand (a proxy for preservation or winnowing) peak at 3.2, 3.0, 2.4, and 2.25 Ma. Normative calculations of allied trace and major elemental determinations indicate synchronous increases in productivity peaks, as well as high concentrations and accumulations of terrigenous sediments. Coeval increases in hemipelagic sedimentation and productivity indicators could be the result of enhanced eolian sedimentation resulting from strengthened winds, leading to elevated rates of upwelling and enhanced productivity. However, rapid burial, as indicated by high sedimentation rates, could also enhance preservation. The very high concentrations (>30%) and accumulations (up to 60 g/cm²/kyr) limit the likelihood that eolian sedimentation was the only transport mechanism, invoking an additional fluvial source. Rapid burial by either eolian or fluvial transport links these intervals of enhanced preservation and productivity with continental climate changes resulting from (1) increased winds and/or dust availability due to higher aridity in the Namibia/northern South Africa region; (2) lowered sea-level related to increased ice volume; (3) increased sediment load due to wetter conditions in the continental interior; or (4) some combination. Peaks at 3.2, 2.4 and 2.25 Ma are coincident with maximum precession, suggesting a link between hemipelagic sedimentation and enhanced monsoonal circulation over southern Africa. The Site 1085 sedimentary record during the INHG seems to be controlled by low-latitude processes linked to precession rather than hig-latitude processes.     

东南极格罗夫山地区新生代冰碛岩(物)中孢粉的发现及其意义

文章报道了东南极格罗夫山地区蓝冰表面碎石带新生代冰碛岩(物)漂砾中微体古生物化石的分析结果及其意义。研究发现这些冰碛物(岩)内含有少量孢粉,而未见硅藻及其他微体化石。孢粉以裸子植物花粉和蕨类植物孢子为主、被子植物花粉含量相对稀少为特征。值得注意的是,在所分析的4个样品中,均发现至今在南半球仍有分布的特有属假山毛榉(Nothofagus)花粉,由于该属花粉及大植物化石曾发现于横跨南极山脉上新的天狼星群(SiriusGroup)中,它的存在反映当时古气候温暖湿润。在样品S1507和S1509中发现蒿属(Artemisia)花粉,其出现所代表的时代推测为新近纪,很可能为上新世。格罗夫山地区冰碛物中的这一孢粉特征可能反映了南极地区上新世曾经发生过较大规模的气候变暖和冰川退缩事件。     

Episodic fluid flow as a trigger for Miocene‐Pliocene slope instability on the Utgard High,Norwegian Sea

Mass wasting is triggered on many continental slopes by a number of mechanisms, including seismic shaking, high sedimentation rates, the presence of weak geological units and gas hydrate dissociation. In this study, the morphology of a Late Miocene–Early Pliocene mass‐transport complex (MTC) on the Utgard High is unravelled and discussed in relation to possible trigger mechanisms. The approach used here includes 3D seismic interpretation and the analysis of variance attribute maps. The interpreted MTC is located on the crest and flanks of the Utgard High and is composed of three mass‐transport deposits with seismic characters varying from transparent and chaotic seismic facies at the base to slightly deformed layers composed of mounds and rafted blocks in the middle and chaotic to transparent reflections at the top. Lithologically, the MTC consists predominantly of claystone with high gamma ray and low density and resistivity values, demonstrating that the associated mounds represent remobilized ooze sediments. A vertical stack of six magmatic sills emplaced from 55.6 to 56.3 Ma into the Upper Cretaceous shales is interpreted at depths of 3,000–5,500 ms two‐way travel time (TWTT). In association with these magmatic sills are several hydrothermal vent complexes that interacted with the top MTC horizon, signifying that episodic and secondary fluid‐venting events might be the principal mechanism facilitating mass wasting in the study area. In addition, the remobilization of ooze sediments into mounds is hypothesized to be dependent on fluids and clayey layers. As a corollary of this work, the importance of relict and recurrent episodes of fluid flow in the Vøring Basin and their influence on the geotechnical integrity of the overburden and later mass wasting is established.     

贵州织纳煤田晚二叠世海进海退旋回及煤聚积

黔西南上二叠统为以碎屑沉积为主的含煤层序。该层序包括3个沉积体系域,下部体系域为海湾-泻湖体系沉积,中部体系域为三角洲体系和障壁坝-泻湖体系沉积,上部体系域为碎屑海岸体系沉积,总体反映海平面上升过程。煤层分布范围随海平面上升不断由东向西后退,主要煤层富集与最大进积期有关,即赋存于下部体系域上部和中部体系域。因此,利用海平面升降旋回可较好地预测煤层分布范围及主要煤层赋存规律。      

附加电离层延迟约束的实时动态PPP快速重新初始化方法

传统模式下,由于卫星信号中断等原因导致的实时动态PPP重新初始化问题将严重影响PPP的实际应用效果.针对上述问题,本文提出了一种有效的解决思路,首先设计了电离层延迟变化预报模型,并提出预报信息的定权方法,进而将上述预报结果作为虚拟观测值,联合历元间/星间差分观测数据估计得到周跳参数浮点解,并尝试固定,从而实现PPP快速重新初始化.该方法通过实现电离层预报结果权重的自适应确定,改善了参数估计结果的精度,提高了周跳修复成功率及可靠性.利用不同区域和不同时期的大量观测数据分析表明,周跳修复效果与测站位置、太阳活动及中断时长存在密切关系,当中断时间较短（90 s以内）时,均可以获得较高的成功率,平均达到90%以上,由此验证了本方法的有效性;随着中断时长进一步增大,不同地区和太阳活动情形下的修复效果存在显著差异,纬度越低,太阳活动越剧烈,成功率越低.     

湘西北黑色岩系中的镍钼矿床及其贵金属矿化特征

湖南西北部下寒武统黑色岩系蕴藏着丰富的镍钼钒多金属矿床及其伴生的Au,Ag,Pt,Pd等贵金属矿化。它是我国新类型的镍钼矿床及贵金属矿化极具找矿潜力的地区。富含有机质和黄铁矿的黑色岩系既是镍钼矿的富集层,也是贵金属矿化的主要富集层。矿床的成矿作用是伴随热水的加入而开始,热水沉积与正常沉积交替期是成矿的高峰期,至正常沉积期结束。生物及生物地球化学作用在黑色岩系的成岩成矿过程中起了重要作用。矿床以同生沉积为主,兼有热水性质沉积特点。其成因应归属于生物地球化学沉积矿床范畴。     

Coal resource potential of Afghanistan

abstract

Coal exploration in Afghanistan has focused exclusively on expanding the boundaries of the known Jurassic coal deposits. The systematic stratigraphic and sedimentologic studies needed to locate and characterize new prospects in other parts of the country have never been conducted. Exploration strategies are based on received wisdom formulated before tectonic theory developed, and do not incorporate current understanding of the geologic and environmental processes responsible for peat formation and burial. This analysis reassesses existing data and limited new field reconnaissance data using modern tectonic and coal geology concepts to provide a new understanding of Afghanistan’s true coal potential. Afghanistan assembled during the Phanerozoic from a minimum of 11 microcontinental fragments, 5 arc systems, 3 accretionary wedges, and 2 rift systems. An unknown number of additional Precambrian terranes with separate tectonic histories are exposed in the cores of the Phanerozoic microcontinents. All of the Phanerozoic microcontinents separated from the disintegrating Gondwanaland. Each transited equatorial latitudes prior to accreting to Asia. From a purely theoretical standpoint, peat could have accumulated on every fragment during its equatorial transit. Mississippian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Oligocene, and Pliocene coals and carbonaceous shales are known. Triassic, Jurassic, and Pliocene deposits have been mined, but only the economically important Jurassic outcrops have been studied to any detail. Graphite-rich Precambrian strata are common from the Mesoarchean to the Neoproterozoic, and a Neoproterozoic bone coal was encountered while drilling for copper near Kabul. Jurassic and potentially Triassic and Carboniferous coals may underlie a significant percentage of the North Afghan Platform. Jurassic coals are extremely gassy and are known hydrocarbon source rocks across most of Central Asia. In Afghanistan, where these coal systems are closer to the surface, they could be coalbed methane reservoir rocks.