Regional thermal history of the Lennard shelf,Canning Basin,from apatite fission track analysis: Implications for the formation of Pb‐Zn ore deposits

Zinc mineralization in Devonian carbonates of the Lennard Shelf, northern Canning Basin is similar in many respects to that of the Mississippi Valley‐type including estimated minimum temperatures of sulphide precipitation between 70 and 110°C. Apparent apatite fission track ages for Precambrian granitic basement and for detrital apatites in Devonian carbonates in and near Pb‐Zn mineralization generally range between 260 and 340 Ma, with Precambrian samples tending to have slightly older apatite fission track ages than the Devonian carbonates. These apparent ages are younger than the stratigraphic age of the material analysed, indicating that appreciable annealing of fission tracks in apatite has occurred in post‐Devonian times. Mean horizontal confined track lengths are 12–13 μm for most samples and preclude attaching any ‘event’ significance to the fission track ages. Studies of well sequences (Grevillea 1 and Kennedia 1) indicate a period of rapid uplift in the area during the Late Triassic/Early Jurassic. Assuming a constant geothermal gradient of 30°C/km, approximately 1.5 km of uplift and erosion is estimated. Immediate thermal effects related to Miocene lamproite intrusion into Precambrian basement appear to be restricted to within 200 m of the contact zone.

For outcropping Devonian carbonates, a thermal history is proposed involving burial in the Late Palaeozoic/Early Mesozoic, followed by uplift and cooling from peak temperatures around 70–80°C in mid‐Mesozoic times. With reference to this period of burial, Pb‐Zn occurrences represent thermal anomalies when reported fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures are compared with the estimated peak temperatures. However the possibility of a phase of higher temperatures during the Late Devonian/ Early Carboniferous is suggested by the apatite fission track results, in which case sulphide mineralization may reflect ambient regional temperatures if it formed at that time. The absence of enhanced annealing effects in detrital apatites proximal to Pb‐Zn deposits suggests that either sulphide mineralization preceded or accompanied peak regional temperatures suspected during the Late Devonian/Early Carboniferous, or that the mineralizing episodes were of too short a duration to significantly anneal fission tracks in apatite.     

Temporal and spatial changes of the basal channel of the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica derived from multi-source data

Basal melting is an important factor affecting the stability of the ice shelf. The basal channel is formed from uneven melting, which also has an important impact on the stability of the ice shelf. Therefore, it has important scientific value to study the basal channel changes. This study combined datasets of Mosaics of Antarctica, Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) and Operation IceBridge to study the temporal and spatial changes of basal channels at the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica. The relationships between the cross-sectional area and width of basal channel and those of its corresponding surface depression were statistically analyzed. Then, the changes of the basal channels of Getz Ice Shelf were derived from the ICESat observations and REMA digital elevation models (DEMs). After a detailed analysis of the factors affecting the basal channel changes, we found that the basal channels of Getz Ice Shelf were mainly concentrated in the eastern of the ice shelf, and most of them belonged to the ocean-sourced basal channel. From 2009 to 2016, the total length of the basal channel has increased by approximately 60 km. Affected by the warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW), significant changes in the basal channel occurred in the middle reaches of the Getz Ice Shelf. The change of the basal channels at the edge of the Getz Ice Shelf is significantly weaker than that in its middle and upper reaches. Especially in 2005–2012, the eastward wind on the ocean wind field and the westward wind around the continental shelf caused the invasion and upwelling of CDW. Meanwhile, the continuous warming of deep seawater also caused the deepening of the basal channel. During from 2012 to 2020, the fluctuations of the basal channels seem to be caused by the changes in temperature of CDW.     

Interannual variability of subsurface temperature in summer induced by the Kuroshio over Bungo Channel,Tosa Bay,and Kii Channel,south of Japan

Using historical in situ temperature record, we investigate interannual variability of temperature in summer over Bungo Channel, Tosa Bay, and Kii Channel (hereafter “BTK”), south of Japan. This study aims to reveal the interregional relation of the subsurface temperature variability between the shelf and slope as well as between BTK, and specify the primary cause of the temperature variability in terms of the Kuroshio path. It is shown that 100-m temperature on the slope of BTK is synchronous with each other and highly correlated with coastal sea levels from Kyushu to Kii Peninsula, suggesting that subsurface temperature over the slope varies simultaneously on spatial scales of 400–500 km in the along-slope direction. The 100-m temperature on the slope is also correlated with the near-bottom temperature on the shelf, implying that the near-bottom temperature is determined mainly by the larger-scale variability over the slope. The Kuroshio state in summer of each year is classified into the large meander (LM), non-large meander (NLM), and intermittent larger meander (IM) propagating eastward along the slope. It is found that remarkable temperature increases are accompanied by the IM propagations south of BTK. Temperatures during the IM and LM period are significantly different, the means of which are the highest and lowest, respectively. Temperature during the NLM period with the second highest mean value exhibits the largest variance. Statistical analysis suggests that this variance is related to the Kuroshio axis shift over Izu Ridge between the nearshore and offshore NLM paths.     

Holocene evolution of mud depocentres on a high-energy, low-accumulation shelf (NW Iberia)

The high-energy, low-accumulation NW Iberian shelf features three confined Holocene mud depocentres. Here, we show that the evolution of such depocentres follows successive steps. The flooding of inner shelf zones and river catchment areas by the late deglacial sea-level rise provided the precondition for shelf mud deposition. Following this, the Holocene deceleration of the sea-level rise caused a rapid refill of the accommodation space within river valleys. Subsequently, the export of major amounts of fines was initiated. The initial onset and loci of shelf mud deposition were related to deposition-favouring conditions in mid-shelf position or to the presence of morphological highs, which act as sediment traps by providing protection against stronger hydrodynamic energy. The detailed reconstruction of the Holocene depocentre evolution shows for the first time that the expansion of such shelf mud deposits cannot only occur by linear growth off the associated sediment source. Rather, they might develop around centres that are fully disconnected from the source of original sediment supply, and expand later into specific directions. Based on these differences and on the connection of the individual mud depocentres to the material source we propose a conceptual subdivision of the group “mid-shelf mud depocentres”.     

Paleoshorelines and lowstand sedimentation on subtropical shelves: a case study from the Fraser Shelf,Australia

Evidence of submerged paleoshorelines on tectonically stable continental shelves is represented by relict coastal depositional features that formed during periods of lower sea level. This study investigates two paleoshoreline features that extend 70?km from the Barwon Bank along the southeast Fraser Shelf, off eastern Australia. They are defined by well-lithified, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposits now at water depths of 60?m and between 80 and 100?m, located approximately 40?km seaward of the modern shoreline. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry data show geomorphic features that we interpret as paleodunes in the case of the 60?m feature, and paleobarriers in the case of the 80–100?m feature. Sub-bottom profiles also show evidence of prograded beach foresets and paleochannels as components of the Barwon Bank, which is a low and elongate bank that rises about 30?m above the surrounding shelf to a depth of 60?m. Carbonate cements in the rocks forming the paleoshoreline features reveal diagenetic influence of meteoric waters, suggesting that subaerial processes contributed to the formation and preservation of both features. Radiocarbon dating of bioclastic grains (coralline algae, benthic forams) yields an age range between 22.8 and 20.4?ka for the paleobarrier, and an age of 17.3?ka for the paleodune. The morphology of the submerged paleodunes is analogous to modern parabolic dunes on nearby Fraser and Moreton islands. The position and morphology of the paleodunes provide proxy information about the climate history of Australia during the late Quaternary, as these dunes are a likely consequence of the general continent-wide aridity during the Last Glacial Maximum. The preservation of the eolian dunes during marine transgression, despite their direct exposure to coastal hydrodynamic processes, suggests that the dunes were armoured, stabilised and lithified during the glacial lowstand, prior to drowning.     

Natural Gas Hydrate Stability in the East Coast Offshore-Canada

The methane hydrate stability zone beneath the Canadian East Coast oceanic margin has developed to a depth of more than 600 meters beneath the deep water column in the area of the deep shelf and the slope. This zone is continuous spreading from the Labrador continental shelf in the north to the slope of the Nova Scotia shelf in the south. Gas hydrates within the methane hydrate stability zone are detected only in one situation, however, they are numerous in the deeper zone in which type II gas hydrates are present through the whole area at water depths as low as 100-200 m. Well-log indications of gas hydrate situated deeper than the base of the methane hydrate stability zone may be an indication of wetter, compositionally more complicated hydrates that probably are not of bacterial only origin. This could indicate a deep thermogenic source of gas in hydrates. The presence of hydrates in the upper 1000 m of sediments also can be considered as an indicator of deeper hydrocarbon sources.     

Growth of large-scale bed forms due to storm-driven and tidal currents: a model approach

An idealized morphodynamic model is used to gain further understanding about the formation and characteristics of shoreface-connected sand ridges and tidal sand banks on the continental shelf. The model consists of the 2D shallow water equations, supplemented with a sediment transport formulation and describes the initial feedback between currents and small amplitude bed forms. The behaviour of bed forms during both storm and fair weather conditions is analyzed. This is relevant in case of coastal seas characterized by tidal motion, where the latter causes continuous transport of sediment as bed load.The new aspects of this work are the incorporation of both steady and tidal currents (represented by an M₂ and M₄ component) in the external forcing, in combination with dominant suspended sediment transport during storms. The results indicate that the dynamics during storms and fair weather strongly differ, causing different types of bed forms to develop. Shoreface-connected sand ridges mainly form during storm conditions, whereas if fair weather conditions prevail the more offshore located tidal sand banks develop. Including the M₄ tide changes the properties of the bed forms, such as growth rates and migration speeds, due to tidal asymmetry. Finally a probabilistic formulation of the storm and fair weather realization of the model is used to find conditions for which both types of large-scale bed forms occur simultaneously. These conditions turn out to be a low storm fraction and the presence strong tidal currents in combination with strong steady currents during storms.     

东海陆架盆地丽水凹陷丽水36-1构造上古新统物源分析

丽水36-1构造位于东海陆架盆地(台北坳陷)丽水西次凹的中东部，该凹陷属新生代断陷型盆地，呈北东向展布，上古新统灵峰组和明月峰组是主要目的层段。根据该构造已钻3口井进行系统沉积学和测井相研究，上古新统物源主要来自凹陷西部的闽浙隆起带和中部的灵峰凸起带，可能还有北部的雁荡凸起带。不同的物源区通过断层的活动和海平面的升降等控制着沉积体系的发育和展布。在凹陷下陷兴盛和海平面快速上升期，灵峰凸起带物源经过边缘大断层在其西侧形成扇三角洲，进一步向凹陷中心推进形成深水浊积扇和浅海沉积；闽浙隆起带物源可能沿着不同的入口在凹陷西斜坡形成扇三角洲，它们也可进一步向凹陷深处推进形成深水浊积扇体。根据油气聚集规律和物源分析，形成于凹陷深水区的浊积扇沉积和斜坡带的扇三角洲前缘沉积，具有良好的生储盖组合，是有利的勘探目标。     

Dense water generation on a shelf: the case of the Adriatic Sea

The paper overviews recent and past studies of preconditioning, generation and spreading of North Adriatic Dense Water (NAdDW), by analysing both transient episodes and climatological data. The importance of wind stress, heat and water fluxes, and particularly river discharges during the preconditioning and generative period is emphasized, as well as the advection of saline levantine intermediate water from the southeast. After the generation, NAdDW affects deep and bottom layers of the middle and south Adriatic Sea, flowing as a dense current and mixing with the adjacent waters; it can be traced even in the Otranto Strait, contributing to the formation of deep water in the Eastern Mediterranean. Objective shortcomings and the projections in NAdDW investigations are also discussed, due to their high importance in the circulation of the Adriatic Sea, which may relate other similar basins around the world.