Restudy of conodont biostratigraphy of the Permian–Triassic boundary section in Zhongzhai,southwestern Guizhou Province,South China

New conodont samples have been systematically collected at high stratigraphic resolution from the upper part of the Longtan Formation through to the lower part of the Yelang Formation at the Zhongzhai section, southwestern Guizhou Province, South China, in an effort to verify the first local occurrence of Hindeodus parvus in relation to the Permian–Triassic boundary at this section. The resampled conodont fauna from the Permian–Triassic boundary interval comprises five identified species and two undetermined species in Hindeodus and Clarkina. Most importantly, the first local occurrence of Hindeodus parvus is found for the first time from the bottom of Bed 28a, 18 cm lower than the previously reported first local occurrence of this species at this section. Considering the previously accepted PTB at the Zhongzhai section, well calibrated by conodont biostratigraphy, geochronology and carbon isotope chemostratigraphy, this lower (earlier) occurrence of H. parvus suggests that this critical species could occur below the Permian–Triassic boundary. As such, this paper provides evidence that (1) the first local occurrences of H. parvus are diachronous in different sections with respect to the PTB defined by the First Appearance Datum (FAD) of this species at its GSSP section in Meishan, China and that (2) the lower stratigraphic range of H. parvus should now be extended to latest Permian.     

The late Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the South China Sea: A petrologic perspective

This paper presents a review of available petrological, geochonological and geochemical data for late Mesozoic to Recent igneous rocks in the South China Sea (SCS) and adjacent regions and a discussion of their petrogeneses and tectonic implications. The integration of these data with available geophysical and other geologic information led to the following tectono-magmatic model for the evolution of the SCS region. The geochemical characteristics of late Mesozoic granitic rocks in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), micro-blocks in the SCS, the offshore continental shelf and Dalat zone in southern Vietnam, and the Schwaner Mountains in West Kalimantan, Borneo indicate that these are mainly I-type granites plus a small amount of S-type granites in the PRMB. These granitoids were formed in a continental arc tectonic setting, consistent with the ideas proposed by Holloway (1982) and Taylor and Hayes, 1980, Taylor and Hayes, 1983, that there existed an Andean-type volcanic arc during later Mesozoic era in the SCS region. The geochonological and geochemical characteristics of the volcanics indicate an early period of bimodal volcanism (60–43 Ma or 32 Ma) at the northern margin of the SCS, followed by a period of relatively passive style volcanism during Cenozoic seafloor spreading (37 or 30–16 Ma) within the SCS, and post-spreading volcanism (tholeiitic series at 17–8 Ma, followed by alkali series from 8 Ma to present) in the entire SCS region. The geodynamic setting of the earlier volcanics was an extensional regime, which resulted from the collision between India and Eurasian plates since the earliest Cenozoic, and that of the post-spreading volcanics may be related to mantle plume magmatism in Hainan Island. In addition, the nascent Hainan plume may have played a significant role in the extension along the northern margin and seafloor spreading in the SCS.     

Molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of saturated fatty acids within one sedimentary profile in the Shenhu,northern South China Sea: Source implications

This study examined the distributions and stable carbon isotopic compositions of saturated fatty acids (SaFAs) in one 300 cm long sedimentary profile, which was named as Site4B in Shenhu, northern South China Sea. The concentrations of total SaFAs in sediments ranged from 1.80 to 10.16 μg/g (μg FA/g dry sediment) and showed an even-over-odd predominance in the carbon chain of C₁₂ to C₃₂, mostly with n-C₁₆ and n-C₁₈ being the two major components. The short-chain fatty acids (ScFAs; n-C₁₂ to n-C₁₈) mainly from marine microorganisms had average δ¹³C values of −26.7‰ to −28.2‰, whereas some terrigenous-sourced long-chain fatty acids (LcFAs; n-C₂₁ to n-C₃₂) had average δ¹³C values of −29.6‰ to −34.1‰. The other LcFAs (n-C₂₄ & n-C₂₆ ∼ n-C₂₈; average δ¹³C values are −26.1‰ to −28.0‰) as well as n-C₁₉ and n-C₂₀ SaFAs (average δ¹³C values are −29.1‰ and −29.3‰, respectively) showed a mixed signal of carbon isotope compositions.The relative bioproductivity calculation (marine vs. terrigenous) demonstrated that most of organic carbon accumulation throughout the sedimentary profile was contributed by marine organism. The high marine productivity in Shenhu, South China Sea may be related to the hydrocarbon seepage which evidenced by diapiric structures. Interestingly, there is a sever fluctuation of terrigenous inputs around the depth of 97 cm below the seafloor (bsf), probably resulting from the influence of the Dansgaard–Oeschger events and the Younger Dryas event as revealed by ¹⁴C age measurements.     

内蒙古莲花山铜矿区花岗闪长斑岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄

为了精确厘定莲花山铜矿的成矿时代,在前人研究的基础上,开展了与成矿关系密切的花岗闪长斑岩锆石U-Pb定年测定。实验结果共获得4组年龄数据,第1组有1个锆石,206Pb/238U年龄为343Ma±2Ma;第2组1个锆石,206Pb/238U年龄为264Ma±2Ma;第3组有1个锆石,206Pb/238U年龄为256Ma±2Ma;第4组有17个锆石,206Pb/238U年龄在240~249Ma之间,206Pb/238U年龄加权平均值为246.4Ma±1.2Ma(N=17)。结合所测锆石的CL图像特征,确定花岗闪长斑岩就位发生在晚二叠世—早三叠世。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167498711400067X

The Proterozoic Bamble Sector, South Norway, is one of the world＇s classic amphiboliteto granulite- facies transition zones. It is characterized by a well-developed isograd sequence, with isolated ＇granulite-facies islands＇ in the amphibolite-facies portion of the transition zone. The area is notable for the discovery of C02-dominated fluid inclusions in the granolite-facies rocks by Jacques Touter in the late 1960＇s, which triggered discussion of the role of carbonic fluids during granulite genesis. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of the Bamble Sector, with an emphasis on the Arendal-Froland-Nelaug-Tvedestrand area and off shore islands （most prominantly Tromay and Hisoy） where the transition zone is best developed. After a brief overview of the history of geological research and mining in the area, aspects of sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic petrology of the Bamble Sector are discussed, including the role of fluids. Issues relevant to current geotectonic models for SW Scandinavia, directly related to the Bamble Sector, are discussed at the end of the review.     

A computational approach to Quaternary lake-level reconstruction applied in the central Rocky Mountains,Wyoming, USA

Sediment-based reconstructions of late-Quaternary lake levels provide direct evidence of hydrologic responses to climate change, but many studies only provide approximate lake-elevation curves. Here, we demonstrate a new method for producing quantitative time series of lake elevation based on the facies and elevations of multiple cores collected from a lake's margin. The approach determines the facies represented in each core using diagnostic data, such as sand content, and then compares the results across cores to determine the elevation of the littoral zone over time. By applying the approach computationally, decisions are made systematically and iteratively using different facies classification schemes to evaluate the associated uncertainty. After evaluating our assumptions using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), we quantify past lake-elevation changes, precipitation minus evapotranspiration (Δ_P−ET), and uncertainty in both at Lake of the Woods and Little Windy Hill Pond, Wyoming. The well-correlated (r = 0.802 ± 0.002) reconstructions indicate that water levels at both lakes fell at > 11,300, 8000–5500, and 4700–1600 cal yr BP when Δ_P − ET decreased to − 50 to − 250 mm/yr. Differences between the reconstructions are typically small (10 ± 24 mm/yr since 7000 cal yr BP), and the similarity indicates that our reconstruction method can produce statistically comparable paleohydrologic datasets across networks of sites.     

A tree-ring based precipitation reconstruction for the Mohe region in the northern Greater Higgnan Mountains,China, since AD 1724

August–July precipitation has been reconstructed back to AD 1724 for the Mohe region in the northern Greater Higgnan Mountains, China, using Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica tree-ring width. The reconstruction explains 39% of the variance in the precipitation observed from AD 1960–2008. Some droughts noted in historical documents are precisely captured in our reconstruction. Wet periods occurred during the periods of AD 1734–1785, AD 1805–1830, AD 1863–1880, AD 1922–1961, and AD 1983–1998; while the periods of AD 1786–1804, AD 1831–1862, AD 1881–1921, and AD 1962–1982 were relatively dry. Power spectral and wavelet analyses demonstrated the existence of significant 24-yr, 12-yr, and 2-yr cycles of variability. The results of the spatial correlations suggest that our reconstruction contains climatic signals for the southern Stanovoy Range and the northern Greater Higgnan Mountains. The positive correlations between the new reconstructed precipitation series and two precipitation reconstructions indicate that our precipitation reconstruction captures broad-scale regional climatic variations. A comparison between the weakening tendency of summer monsoon and the dry period of our reconstruction reveals that the annual precipitation in the Mohe region is partly influenced by the East Asian Summer Monsoon.     

Glacial and periglacial buzzsaws: fitting mechanisms to metaphors

The buzzsaw hypothesis refers to the potential for glacial and periglacial processes to rapidly denude mountains at and above glacier Equilibrium Line Altitudes (ELAs), irrespective of uplift rates, rock type or pre-existing topography. Here the appropriateness of the buzzsaw metaphor is examined alongside questions of the links between glacial erosion and ELAs, and whether the glacial system can produce low-relief surfaces or limit summit heights. Plateau fragments in mountains on both active orogens and passive margins that have been cited as products of glacial and periglacial buzzsaw erosion instead generally represent dissected remnants of largely inherited, pre-glacial relief. Summit heights may correlate with ELAs but no causal link need be implied as summit erosion rates are low, cirque headwalls may not directly abut summits and, on passive margins, cirques are cut into pre-existing mountain topography. Any simple links between ELAs and glacial erosion break down on passive margins due to topographic forcing of ice-sheet growth, and to the km-scale vertical swaths through which ELAs have shifted through the Quaternary. Glaciers destroy rather than create low-relief rock surfaces through the innate tendency for ice flow to be faster, thicker and warmer along valleys. The glacial buzzsaw cuts down.     

南非主要金矿集区研究现状及存在问题

南非是世界上金矿石资源量最为丰富的国家,其金矿床主要产于东北部地区,主要有三种类型:1赋存于兰德盆地砾岩型建造中的"兰德"砾岩型金矿床,2产在绿岩带中的绿岩带型金矿床,和3主要与白云岩有关的白云岩型金矿床,以前两种类型为主。"兰德"砾岩型金矿床通常品位高,开采规模最大,目前采矿的深度最大,是南非最重要的矿床类型,其矿床成因长期以来存有争议,主要有两种观点,分别是砂矿模式和热液模式,就目前资料来看笔者等认为其代表了两个不同的矿化阶段;绿岩带型金矿床则以巴伯顿地区为代表,矿床具有规模大、易开采等特征,因此在南非金矿床开采中占有重要位置,其矿床主要赋存于石英脉或剪切带中,矿床成因主要有三种,分别是火山成矿模式、转换滑脱构造模式和构造交叉模式。     

南海西部海底巨型麻坑活动性示踪研究

南海西部陆坡海域海底广泛发育麻坑,其规模和数量在世界范围内均属罕见,但关于它们目前的活动特征尚不清楚。通过对西沙隆起西南部麻坑区采集的两根沉积柱样孔隙水SO^2–4、K^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca^2＋、Sr^2＋以及溶解有机碳（DIC）含量随深度的变化特征的研究,揭示麻坑内与硫酸根消耗有关的生物地球化学过程,并推断麻坑目前的活动状况。采集于麻坑外的C9柱样SO^2–4浓度变化整体呈向下凹的形态降低,减少的硫酸根是被有机质硫酸盐还原作用消耗。采集于麻坑内的C14柱样SO^2–4浓度梯度呈现明显的三段式变化,0.00-0.66 m内SO2–4浓度变化主要受有机质硫酸盐还原作用控制,0.66-3.70 m受有机质硫酸盐还原和甲烷缺氧氧化共同控制,3.70 m以下部分主要受甲烷缺氧氧化作用的影响。根据C14柱样3.7 m以下孔隙水硫酸根浓度梯度计算的硫酸根-甲烷交接带（SMI）约在14.3 m处,甲烷向上扩散的通量约为0.0144 mol/（m^2·a）。此外,2个柱样沉积物孔隙水的Ca^2＋浓度均随深度明显降低,而Mg2＋浓度略微降低,主要与自生碳酸盐矿物沉淀有关。C14的Mg/Ca和Sr/Ca随深度变化指示该柱样沉积物中自生碳酸盐岩矿物主要为高镁方解石。2个柱样的孔隙水地球化学特征显示目前研究区麻坑活动不活跃, C14麻坑中含甲烷流体发生微弱渗漏,可能处于麻坑活动的衰落期。