Petrographic and geochemical characterization of seep carbonate from Bush Hill (GC 185) gas vent and hydrate site of the Gulf of Mexico

Authigenic carbonates are common at cold seep sites as a result of microbial oxidation of hydrocarbons. Seep carbonate samples were collected from the surface of the Bush Hill (Green Canyon Block 185, Gulf of Mexico), a mound containing gas hydrate. The carbonates consisted of oily, porous limestone slabs and blocks containing bioclasts and matrix. Analysis by X-ray diffraction shows that aragonite is the dominant mineral (89–99 wt% with an average of 94 wt%) in the matrix of seep carbonate. This cement occurs in microcrystalline, microspar, and sparite forms. The moderate ¹³C depletion of the seep carbonate (the most depleted one has δ¹³C value of −29.4‰, and 26 of 38 subsamples have δ¹³C values >−20.0‰) indicates that the non-methane hydrocarbons was incorporated during seep carbonate precipitation. Relative enrichment of ¹⁸O may be related to localized destabilization of gas hydrate or derived from ¹⁸O-enriched pore water originated from smectite–illite transition in the deep sediments. The total content of rare earth elements (REE) of the 5% HNO₃-treated solution of the carbonates is from 0.40 ppm to 30.9 ppm. The shale-normalized REE patterns show varied Ce anomalies from significantly negative, slightly negative, and no to positive Ce anomalies. Variable content of trace elements, total REE, and Ce anomalies in different samples and even in the different carbonate mineral forms (microcrystalline, microspar and sparite) of the same sample suggest that the formation condition of the Bush Hill seep carbonate is variable and complex, which is possibly controlled by the rate of fluid flux.     

False metamorphic events inferred from misinterpretation of microstructural evidence and P–T data

Geometrical relationships involving inclusions and partial inclusions in metamorphic microstructures can be inadequate for inferring an order of crystallization and hence a metamorphic reaction. Unique spatial and/or chemical relationships need to be defined for mineral inclusions, in the context of a reference paragenesis, commonly the matrix assemblage. Corona microstructures are reliable indicators of metamorphic reactions, but require considerable care when used to infer reactions or changes in P–T conditions, owing to kinetic problems, as well as to changes in the effective reaction volume during changes across relatively broad P–T stability fields of assemblages. Mineral equilibria models, most commonly implemented through P–T pseudosections, may allow the order in which different minerals become stable along a given P–T path to be inferred. However, the order in which two minerals become stable may be different from the order in which two grains of these minerals nucleate. Furthermore, such diagrams cannot make predictions about which minerals will form porphyroblasts and which minerals will form inclusions in porphyroblasts. An evaluation of three examples from the Australian Proterozoic shows that modelling, in combination with inclusion‐host relationships, is a powerful tool for understanding the metamorphic evolution of a rock, but involves considerable uncertainty.     

Evolution of the Peak Hill high-sulfidation epithermal Au–Cu deposit,eastern Australia

The early Palaeozoic Macquarie Arc, southeastern Australia, hosts a variety of major late Ordovician to earliest Silurian subduction-related deposits (e.g., Cadia East, Ridgeway, Cadia Hill, Cowal and Northparkes). However, there is uncertainty about whether coeval high-sulfidation epithermal deposits, which occur in intra-oceanic metallogenic belts elsewhere in the West Pacific, (e.g., Lepanto and Chinkuashih), are also present in the Macquarie Arc. This has led to suggestions that their absence may be due to the poor preservation potential of deposits that form at relatively shallow crustal levels in ancient rocks. We present here an interpretation for evolution of the Peak Hill Au–Cu deposit based on the distribution of alteration facies, sulfur isotope data from several textural forms of pyrite and barite, and an assessment of the regional volcanic and sedimentary facies architecture. These data show that the Peak Hill deposit displays a distinct sub-vertical zoning with a pyrophyllite and vuggy-quartz core, that today extends about 350 m east–west and at least 550 m north–south, which grades out through paragonite+muscovite, kaolinite to a chlorite+epidote alteration zone at the margin. The alteration zoning reflects both lower temperatures and neutralisation of acid fluids with increasing distance from the core, which represents the conduit along which hot acidic hydrothermal fluids were channelled. Several temporally overlapping events of silicification, bladed-quartz-pyrite veining, brecciation and pyrite veining occurred during the last stages of hydrothermal alteration, although most appear to predate mineralisation. Au–Cu mineralisation was associated with late quartz-pyrite-barite veins, and the highest gold grades occur mainly in microcrystalline-quartz-altered rocks in the paragonite+muscovite alteration zone, generally within 50 m outward from the boundary of the pyrophyllite and vuggy-quartz core. Sulfur- and lead-isotope data, and the characteristic zoning of ore minerals and alteration assemblages support a magmatic source for the hydrothermal fluids. Similarities in many of the isotopic signatures between Peak Hill and deposits such as Northparkes support generation of the high-sulfidation mineralisation during the Late Ordovician to earliest Silurian (possibly ca. 440 Ma) metallogenic event. The Late Ordovician to Early Silurian volcanic and sedimentary facies associations at Peak Hill are consistent with alteration and mineralisation occurring in rocks deposited in a submarine setting.     

Water tank and numerical model studies of flow over steep smooth two-dimensional hills

The present work investigates the role of different treatments of the lower boundary condition on the numerical prediction of flows over two-dimensional, smooth, steep hills. Four different law of the wall formulations are tested when a large recirculating region is formed on the lee side of the hill. Numerical implementation of the near-wall functions was made through a finite elements code. The standard κ–ε model was used to close the averaged Navier–Stokes equations. Results are validated through original data obtained in a water tank. Measurements resorted to laser Doppler anemometry. The experiment provide detailed data for the characterization of the reverse flow in the region between the separation and the reattachment points, with emphasis on the near wall region. The experimental wall shear stress distribution is compared with the results provided by the different laws of the wall showing good agreement. The numerical predictions are shown to vary markedly between different formulations.     

乌兰布和沙漠的形成与环境变化

在对乌兰布和沙漠进行野外考察的基础上,通过地貌学、沉积学和年代学的研究,为恢复该地区全新世以来沙漠的形成与演化找到了新的证据。乌兰布和沙漠西南部的吉兰泰盐湖周围及沙漠南部丘间低地湖相地层下部风成砂的系统OSL测年结果表明,乌兰布和沙漠的形成年代约在7 ka BP前后。此外,该沙漠腹地众多的干盐湖,大量含有蓝蚬的湖岸堤,以及丘间低地中的湖相地层和植物根系等的存在,证明了沙漠腹地大古湖的存在。乌兰布和沙漠的形成,可以归因于吉兰泰古湖面积的不断缩小和干涸,湖泊周围松散沉积物的风蚀、搬运及选择性堆积过程。     

乌兰布和沙漠北部全新世地貌演化

根据对乌兰布和沙漠北部地区全新世风沙和湖泊沉积记录及其沉积时代进行分析,认为全新世以来,乌兰布和沙漠北部地区地貌演化经历了4个主要的发育时期:Q₃³~Q₄¹湖泊地貌发育时期,Q₄¹风沙地貌发育时期,Q₄²湖(河)(屠申泽)地貌发育时期和Q₄³风沙地貌发育时期。全新世中期屠申泽最为繁盛的时期,湖泊相互沟通,范围几乎占据了整个乌兰布和沙漠北部地区,之后经历了自南向北的萎缩、分化过程,而屠申泽的萎缩、分化过程正是乌兰布和沙漠晚全新世风沙地貌发育并不断扩张的过程,这是一个以自然环境变化为主因、以人为影响为辅因的变化过程。     

广东封开的几种特色地貌

封开县有4种地貌属广东之最:①一石成山,几乎无缝隙的斑石;②贺江弯曲率为3,下切深度100～200 m的深切曲流;③动物化石十分丰富的河儿口黄岩洞,罗沙岩和峒中岩等溶洞;④阶地高度最大达76m的西江河流阶地.上述有较重要的科研、科普和旅游开发价值,要继续发掘,推动旅游事业进一步发展.     

Dynamics of a headwater system and peatland under current conditions and with climate change

Interactions between headwater aquifers and peatlands have received limited scientific attention. Hydrological stresses, including those related to climate change, may adversely impact these interactions. In this study, the dynamics of a southern Québec headwater system where a peatland is present is simulated under current conditions and with climate change. The model is calibrated in steady state on field‐measured data and provides satisfactory results for transient‐state conditions. Under current conditions, simulations confirm that the peatland is fed by the fractured bedrock aquifer year‐round and provides continuous baseflow to its outlets. Climate change is simulated through its impact on groundwater recharge. Predicted precipitation and temperature data from a suite of regional climate model scenarios provide a net precipitation variation range from +10% to ?30% for the 2041–2070 horizon. Calibrated recharge is modified within this range to perform a sensitivity analysis of the headwater model to recharge variations (+10%, ?15% and ?30%). Total contribution from the aquifer to rivers and streams varies from +14% to ?44% of the baseline for +10% to ?30% recharge changes from spring 2010 data, for example. With higher recharge, the peatland receives more groundwater, which could significantly change its vegetation pattern and eventually ecosystem functions. For a ?30% recharge, the peatland becomes perched above the aquifer during the summer, fall and winter. Recharge reductions also induce sharp declines in groundwater levels and drying streams. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

末次冰期以来乌兰布和沙漠北缘的环境变迁

乌兰布和沙漠北部边缘是人类活动与环境变化相互作用较为典型的区域,对其形成和演化历史的恢复重建有助于认识和理解区域人地关系。本文基于遥感解译、野外调查和室内分析,对乌兰布和沙漠北缘（磴口以西地区）十多个湖相地层出露点（包括3个典型剖面）进行了较为详细的地貌、沉积和年代学研究,获得了研究区湖泊退却最后阶段的地层记录。测年结果表明研究区大部分在9.315~7.375ka B.P.（10.64~8.06cal.ka B.P.）的时限内退出湖泊环境,局部（可能为河汊或湖湾）湖相沉积可延续至全新世中晚期。沉积研究表明,所观察到的湖相地层大体形成于42cal.ka B.P.以来的河口环境,但河流过程和湖泊过程的相对强弱存在明显的时空分异。剖面下部（约42cal.ka B.P.以来）沉积物相对较粗,推移质占主导,斜层理局部可见,反映波浪作用对沉积物的搬运沉积具有主导作用,湖水相对较深,有利于动力较强的波浪的形成;剖面上部（大约在全新世以来）沉积物普遍变细,以悬移质沉积为主,最后阶段均沉积具水平层理的"红胶泥",软体动物大量繁衍,指示晚期湖泊近岸区域水动力条件弱、湖水浅、坡降小,沉积过程以静水堆积为主导。空间分异特征反映了河口环境河流冲积过程与湖泊滨岸过程在不同位置的作用程度不同,主要与三角洲平原上分流河道的规模和持续时间,以及堆积区水下地形特征及其与河口的相对距离有关。基于地层记录和沉积环境分析,结合前人资料,本文认为研究区湖泊由深变浅直至消亡的过程主要与晋陕峡谷溯源侵蚀引起的河套古湖出口下切有关。     

内蒙古察右中旗乌兰巴山复式岩体的岩石学及地球化学特征

在1/5万袁家房子等四幅区域矿产地质填图的基础上,对乌兰巴山复式岩体的野外地质特征、岩石学、矿物学、地球化学和同位素年代学等方面进行了初步研究。同位素锆石u-Pb分析结果表明,^206Db/^236U表面年龄为225.4±1.6Ma岩体,侵位时代为早三叠纪。该岩体总体展布受区域北东向构造控制明显。岩石化学、地球化学表明该复式岩体属钙碱性岩;东壕欠闪长岩可能为地幔成因,并有地壳物质的加入,乌兰巴山等花岗岩、二长花岗岩可能为壳源成因。稀土元素配分曲线显示出向右倾的平坦曲线型,轻稀土富集,重稀土明显亏损,无明显的铕异常。