Diagenesis in the Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation sandstones in the Shoushan Basin,northern Western Desert,Egypt

The Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation acts as a hydrocarbon reservoir in the subsurface in the Western Desert, Egypt. This study, which is based on core samples from two exploration boreholes, describes the lithological and diagenetic characteristics of the Khatatba Formation sandstones. The sandstones are fine‐ to coarse‐grained, moderately to well‐sorted quartz arenites, deposited in fluvial channels and in a shallow‐marine setting. Diagenetic components include mechanical and chemical compaction, cementation (calcite, clay minerals, quartz overgrowths, and a minor amount of pyrite), and dissolution of calcite cements and feldspar grains. The widespread occurrence of an early calcite cement suggests that the Khatatba sandstones lost a significant amount of primary porosity at an early stage of its diagenetic history. In addition to calcite, several different cements including kaolinite and syntaxial quartz overgrowth occur as pore‐filling and pore‐lining cements. Kaolinite (largely vermicular) fills pore spaces and causes reduction in the permeability of the reservoir. Based on framework grain–cement relationships, precipitation of the early calcite cement was either accompanied by or followed the development of part of the pore‐lining and pore‐filling cements. Secondary porosity development occurred due to partial to complete dissolution of early calcite cements and feldspar. Late kaolinite clay cement occurs due to dissolved feldspar and has an impact on the reservoir quality of the Khatatba sandstones. Open hydraulic fractures also generated significant secondary porosity in sandstone reservoirs, where both fractures and dissolution took place in multiple phases during late diagenetic stages. The diagenesis and sedimentary facies help control the reservoir quality of the Khatatba sandstones. Fluvial channel sandstones have the highest porosities and permeabilities, in part because of calcite cementation, which inhibited authigenic clays or was later dissolved, creating intergranular secondary porosity. Fluvial crevasse‐splay and marine sandstones have the lowest reservoir quality because of an abundance of depositional kaolinite matrix and pervasive, shallow‐burial calcite and quartz overgrowth cements, respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ Pb and bulk Sr isotope analysis of the Yinchanggou Pb-Zn deposit in Sichuan Province (SW China): Constraints on the origin and evolution of hydrothermal fluids

The Yinchanggou Pb-Zn deposit, located in southwestern Sichuan Province, western Yangtze Block, is stratigraphically controlled by late Ediacaran Dengying Formation and contains >0.3 Mt of metal reserves with 11 wt% Pb + Zn. A principal feature is that this deposit is structurally controlled by normal faults, whereas other typical deposits nearby (e.g. Maozu) are controlled by reverse faults. The origin of the Yinchanggou deposit is still controversial. Ore genetic models, based on conventional whole-rock isotope tracers, favor either sedimentary basin brine, magmatic water or metamorphic fluid sources. Here we use in situ Pb and bulk Sr isotope features of sulfide minerals to constrain the origin and evolution of hydrothermal fluids. The Pb isotope compositions of galena determined by femtosecond LA-MC-ICPMS are as follows: ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.17–18.24, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.69–15.71, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.51–38.63. These in situ Pb isotope data overlap with bulk-chemistry Pb isotope compositions of sulfide minerals (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.11–18.40, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.66–15.76, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.25–38.88), and both sets of data plotting above the Pb evolution curve of average upper continental crust. Such Pb isotope signatures suggest an upper crustal source of Pb. In addition, the coarse-grained galena in massive ore collected from the deep part has higher ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (18.18–18.24) than the fine-grained galena in stockwork ore sampled from the shallow part (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.17–18.19), whereas the latter has higher ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (38.59–38.63) than the former (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.51–38.59). However, both types of galena have the same ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (15.69–15.71). This implies two independent Pb sources, and the metal Pb derived from the basement metamorphic rocks was dominant during the early phase of ore formation in the deep part, whereas the ore-hosting sedimentary rocks supplied the majority of metal Pb at the late phase in the shallow part. In addition, sphalerite separated from different levels has initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios ranging from 0.7101 to 0.7130, which are higher than the ore formation age-corrected ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of country sedimentary rocks (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_200 Ma = 0.7083–0.7096), but are significantly lower than those of the ore formation age-corrected basement rocks (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_200 Ma = 0.7243–0.7288). Again, such Sr isotope signatures suggest that the above two Pb sources were involved in ore formation. Hence, the gradually mixing process of mineralizing elements and associated fluids plays a key role in the precipitation of sulfide minerals at the Yinchanggou ore district. Integrating all the evidence, we interpret the Yinchanggou deposit as a strata-bound, normal fault-controlled epigenetic deposit that formed during the late Indosinian. We also propose that the massive ore is formed earlier than the stockwork ore, and the temporal-spatial variations of Pb and Sr isotopes suggest a certain potential of ore prospecting in the deep mining area.     

A structural synthesis of the Proterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield in Egypt

Detailed structural geological and related studies were carried out in a number of critical areas in the Proterozoic basement of eastern Egypt to resolve the structural pattern at a regional scale and to assess the general characteristics of tectonic evolution, orogeny and terrane boundaries. Following a brief account of the tectonostratigraphy and timing of the orogenic evolution, the major structural characteristics of the critical areas are presented. Collisional deformation of the terranes ended about 615-600 Ma ago. Subsequent extensional collapse probably occurred within a relatively narrow time span of about 20 Ma (575 – 595 Ma ago) over the Eastern Desert and was followed by a further period of about 50 Ma of late to post-tectonic activity. The regional structures originated mainly during post-collisional events, starting with those related to extensional collapse (molasse basin formation, normal faulting, generation of metamorphic core complexes). Subsequent NNW-SSE shortening is documented by large-scale thrusting (towards the NNW) and folding, distributed over the Eastern Desert, although with variable intensity. Thrusts are overprinted by transpression, which was localized to particular shear zones. Early transpression produced, for example, the Allaqi shear zone and final transpression is documented in the Najd and Wadi Kharit-Wadi Hodein zones. Two terrane boundaries can be defined, the Allaqi and South Hafafit Sutures, which are apparently linked by the high angle sinistral strike-slip Wadi Kharit-Wadi Hodein shear zone with a tectonic transport of about 300 km towards the W/NW. In general, the tectonic evolution shows that extensional collapse is not necessarily the final stage of orogeny, but may be followed by further compressional and transpressional tectonism. The late Pan-African high angle faults were reactivated during Red Sea tectonics both as Riedel shears and normal faults, where they were oriented favourably with respect to the actual stress regime.     

Depositional system and palaeoclimatic interpretations of Middle to Late Pleistocene travertines: Kocabaş, Denizli,south‐west Turkey

Travertine deposits in western Turkey are very well‐exposed in the area of Kocaba?, in the eastern part of the Denizli Basin. The palaeoclimatic significance of these travertines is discussed using U/Th dates, stable isotope data and palynological evidence. The Kocaba? travertine occurrences are characterized by successions of depositional terraces associated with palaeosols and karstic features. The travertines have been classified into eight lithotypes and one erosional horizon, namely: laminated, coated bubble, reed, paper‐thin raft, intraclasts, micritic travertine with gastropods, extra‐formational pebbles and a palaeosol layer. The analysed travertines mostly formed between 181 ka and 80 ka (Middle to Late Pleistocene) during a series of climatic changes including glacial and interglacial intervals; their δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values indicate that the depositional waters were mainly of basinal thermal origin, occasionally mixed with surficial meteoric water. Palynological results obtained from the palaeosols showed an abundance of non‐arboreal percentage and xerophytic plants (Oleaceae and Quercus evergreen type) indicating that a drought occurred. Marine Isotope Stage 6 is represented by grassland species but Marine Isotope Stage 5 is represented by Pinaceae–Pinus and Abies, Quercus and Oleaceae. Uranium/thorium analyses of the Kocaba? travertines show that deposition began in Marine Isotope Stage 6 (glacial) and continued to Marine Isotope Stage 4 (glacial), but mostly occurred in Marine Isotope Stage 5 (interglacial). The travertine deposition continued to ca 80 ka in the south‐west of the study area, in one particular depression depositional system. Palaeoenvironmental indicators suggest that the travertine depositional evolution was probably controlled by fault‐related movements that influenced groundwater flow. Good correlation of the stable isotope values and dates of deposition of the travertines and palynological data of palaeosols in the Kocaba? travertines serve as a starting point for further palaeoclimate studies in south‐west Turkey. Additionally, the study can be compared with other regional palaeoclimate archives.     

基于WRF模式的青岛近海能见度算法比较研究

采用GFS背景场资料和ADAS资料同化系统,使用WRF模式对2014—2016年青岛近海17个海雾个例进行了模拟,分析了3种能见度算法的预报效果。结果表明, FSL（Forecast Systems Laboratory）算法对于沿海站、岸基站雾的预报较SW99（Steolinga and Warner 1999）算法有优势;对于海岛站而言,SW99算法则优于FSL算法。混合算法CVIS（Combined Visibility）较单一算法预报雾准确率有所提高。3种能见度算法基本上是高估能见度的,SW99算法能见度预报均方根误差最大。另外,SW99算法对沿海站、岸基站雾开始时间预报较实况多偏晚,结束时间预报较实况多偏早,持续时间预报较实况多偏短。     

从西南天山超高压变质带多期构造变形看天山古生代构造演化

通过对西南天山阿克雅孜和木扎尔特地区高压-超高压变质带构造几何学和岩石变形相关运动学的详细剖析,厘定出高压-超高压变质岩石及其相关围岩的构造单元。详细研究表明,研究区可划分为三个构造单元:北部单元、中部单元和南部单元。确定了每个构造单元的构造几何学特征及各个构造单元之间的相互关系。通过分析岩石变形特征和叠加关系,确定了岩石所记录多期变形的运动学特征。根据研究区的多期构造变形特点,建立了阿克雅孜和木扎尔特河地区构造演化序列。共划分出四期构造可识别的事件(E1-E4),分别代表了E1:高压-超高压岩石折返过程;E2:高压-超高压岩石造山带的早期改造过程;E3:北部构造事件对高压-超高压造山带影响;E4:走滑构造对高压-超高压造山带的叠加。沿造山带系列构造分析表明,西南天山高压-超高压带中发育的四期构造事件沿中天山北缘具有很好的一致性,各期构造事件也有一定的横向可对比性。在此基础上通过对多期变形事件的构造背景的探讨,建立了整个天山在古生代的构造拼合过程,揭示我国西部洋壳相关的深俯冲造山带形成过程和参与深俯冲作用(超)高压变质岩的变形变质历史。     

西南印度洋中脊三维地震探测中炮点与海底地震仪的位置校正

在海上实施三维地震探测过程中,人工震源枪阵中心与船上GPS的距离及地震探测作业中的船行方向造成炮点实际位置与预设位置有一定偏差;自由落体投放的OBS由于海流的影响会偏离原定设计位置(投放点),因此,炮点与海底地震仪(OBS)的位置校正是三维地震结构研究中的基本环节.本文利用艏向信息校正了炮点位置;采用蒙特卡洛和最小二乘法方法对海底地震仪的位置进行了校正,并探讨了直达水波曲线特征.结果表明 OBS位置一般偏离设计点1 km左右,其误差范围在20 m以内,校正后的OBS记录剖面展示了真实的记录情况.该研究结果为下一步西南印度洋的三维层析成像研究提供了坚实数据基础,同时为今后南海的三维深部地壳结构探测提供经验与借鉴.     

利用瞬变电磁和多频电磁方法监测地下水位及其对Hawara遗址的影响

利用瞬变电磁（TEM）和地面电磁（GEM）方法,本文研究了埃及Hawara遗址区的地下水对遗址的影响.这个遗址包括Hawara金字塔、北区墓地、以及被称作“迷宫”的南区墓葬场所.现今Hawara遗址已经完全荒废,被耕作区和Bahr Wahba运河包围.地表水和地下水会破坏Hawara金字塔和“迷宫”遗址的地基,现在金字塔入口已被淹没至地面下约6 m深处.本文在耕作区、金字塔以及“迷宫”等三个地区进行了TEM勘察;在“迷宫”地区进行了GEM勘察.综合分析以上两种勘察数据,我们发现,农业灌溉是浸入到地下的水的主要来源;本地区地下水位随着观测点及海拔的不同,在地面以下2~7 m之间变化.     

Importance of aquatic macrophyte for invertebrate diversity in large subtropical reservoir

The abundance and preferences of individual invertebrate populations (including zooplankton) closely associated with the substrates provided by aquatic plant structures and open-water areas of Lake Nasser were quantified in this study in order to gain understanding of the importance of submerged macrophyte for invertebrate diversity, and their relation to water properties. The following water parameters were measured: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved salts, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total suspended solids, carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulphate, silica, potassium, total hardness, calcium and magnesium.Five macrophyte species were recorded: Myriopyllum spicatum, Najas horrida, Potamogeton schweinfurthii, Potamogeton pectinatus and Vallisneria spiralis. In total 67 invertebrate species were recorded, comprising 39 Rotifera, 12 Cladocera, 4 Copepoda, 4 Insecta, 2 Protozoa, 2 Ostracoda and one species of Turbellaria, Tardigrada, Annelida and Nematoda. Thirty-seven species were exclusively epiphytic, 11 species were collectively planktonic and 19 species were found in both habitats. The greatest abundance of epiphytic invertebrates occurred in association with N. horrida-P. schweinfurthii community.The results indicated that total suspended solids (TSS), TH and NO₂ are the most influential water variables on the distribution of the aquatic macrophyte samples and their invertebrate communities. Also, the study indicates that water variables have a higher impact on the aquatic macrophytes than on the associated invertebrate populations. P, NO₃, K, Na, Mg, Cl and DO were the most influential water variables that dictate the distribution of invertebrate groups recorded in the open-water zone. Water temperature, electric conductivity, pH, NO₂, SO₄⁻⁻, SiO₃⁻, CO₃⁻⁻ and turbidity have a lesser influence of the distribution of the invertebrates recorded in this zone.     

Very quiet intervals of geomagnetic activity and the solar wind structure

Extended periods of very low geomagnetic activity as described by very quiet intervals (VQI's) occur only at those times when the solar wind velocityV has a generally decreasing trend, i.e., they mainly occur either after the velocity peak of a high speed solar stream has passed the Earth, or at times when the Earth is immersed in a low speed solar plasma provided that the daily mean value ofdV/dt is negative. The VQI's most frequently start whendV/dt<0 anddB _Z/dt>0 (B _Z is the geocentric solar magnetrospheric-GSMZ-component of the IMF) and end most likely whendV/dt>0 anddB _Z/dt<0. The temporal trends of the solar wind (SW) velocity affect the variation of thea _p index only when the level of geomagnetic activity is generally low.It is suggested that a gradual expansion or contraction of the magnetosphere, associated with a slow variation of the SW pressure, plays a role in the modification of the reconnection-driven magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluctuations in the magnetosphere.