The influence of variable topography on the depositional behaviour of pyroclastic density currents: The examples of the Upper Pollara eruption (Salina Island,southern Italy)

Stratigraphic reconstruction of the Upper Pollara eruption has allowed for the inference of eruptive mechanisms and the distillation of a sedimentological model for pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) moving across variable topography. The pre-eruptive topography in the study area was characterised by a tuff ring-like morphology, with both inward and outward dipping slopes. Highly viscous, moderately porphyritic, dacitic to rhyolitic magmas fed the eruption, which was characterised by a Vulcanian eruptive style. The stratigraphic succession was divided into five eruption units (EUs), which result from different phases of the eruption separated by stases. Sustained columns occurred only during EU1, while PDC generation dominates EU2–5. Lithofacies analysis of the PDC deposits indicates the prevalence of massive coarse-grained deposits on the inner slopes of the Pollara crater, which are interpreted as the deposits of a flow-boundary zone dominated by granular flow or fluid escape regimes. Dune-bedded, massive to stratified lithofacies dominate the outer slopes of the Pollara crater, and are interpreted as the deposits of PDCs with flow-boundary zones in which traction played a major role. Thin, massive PDC deposits are exposed on the sub-horizontal Malfa terrace, and are interpreted as representative of flow-boundary zones dominated by a granular flow regime. The occurrence of stacked deposits indicates that most of the PDCs were characterised by unsteady pulsatory behaviour, with development of trains of pulses during their transport. The downcurrent lithofacies transitions observed for the Upper Pollara deposits have finally been compared with other similar lithofacies associations which have been described for short-lived PDCs at tuff rings, in order to discuss the influence of pre-eruptive topography on lithofacies association.     

Radiolaria‐dated Lower Permian clastic‐rock sequence in the Fukuji area of the Hida‐gaien terrane,central Japan,and its inter‐terrane correlation across Southwest Japan

The stratigraphy and radiolarian age of the Mizuyagadani Formation in the Fukuji area of the Hida‐gaien terrane, central Japan, represent those of Lower Permian clastic‐rock sequences of the Paleozoic non‐accretionary‐wedge terranes of Southwest Japan that formed in island arc–forearc/back‐arc basin settings. The Mizuyagadani Formation consists of calcareous clastic rocks, felsic tuff, tuffaceous sandstone, tuffaceous mudstone, sandstone, mudstone, conglomerate, and lenticular limestone. Two distinctive radiolarian faunas that are newly reported from the Lower Member correspond to the zonal faunas of the Pseudoalbaillella u‐forma morphotype I assemblage zone to the Pseudoalbaillella lomentaria range zone (Asselian to Sakmarian) and the Albaillella sinuata range zone (Kungurian). In spite of a previous interpretation that the Mizuyagadani Formation is of late Middle Permian age, it consists of Asselian to Kungurian tuffaceous clastic strata in its lower part and is conformably overlain by the Middle Permian Sorayama Formation. An inter‐terrane correlation of the Mizuyagadani Formation with Lower Permian tuffaceous clastic strata in the Kurosegawa terrane and the Nagato tectonic zone of Southwest Japan indicates the presence of an extensive Early Permian magmatic arc(s) that involved almost all of the Paleozoic non‐accretionary‐wedge terranes in Japan. These new biostratigraphic data provide the key to understanding the original relationships among highly disrupted Paleozoic terranes in Japan and northeast Asia.     

Truncation of the distribution of ground-motion residuals

Recent studies to assess very long-term seismic hazard in the USA and in Europe have highlighted the importance of the upper tail of the ground-motion distribution at the very low annual frequencies of exceedance required by these projects. In particular, the use of an unbounded lognormal distribution to represent the aleatory variability of ground motions leads to very high and potentially unphysical estimates of the expected level of shaking. Current practice in seismic hazard analysis consists of truncating the ground-motion distribution at a fixed number (ε _max) of standard deviations (σ). However, there is a general lack of consensus regarding the truncation level to adopt. This paper investigates whether a physical basis for choosing ε _max can be found, by examining records with large positive residuals from the dataset used to derive one of the ground-motion models of the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) project. In particular, interpretations of the selected records in terms of causative physical mechanisms are reviewed. This leads to the conclusion that even in well-documented cases, it is not possible to establish a robust correlation between specific physical mechanisms and large values of the residuals, and thus obtain direct physical constraints on ε _max. Alternative approaches based on absolute levels of ground motion and numerical simulations are discussed. However, the choice of ε _max is likely to remain a matter of judgment for the foreseeable future, in view of the large epistemic uncertainties associated with these alternatives. Additional issues arise from the coupling between ε _max and σ, which causes the truncation level in terms of absolute ground motion to be dependent on the predictive equation used. Furthermore, the absolute truncation level implied by ε _max will also be affected if σ is reduced significantly. These factors contribute to rendering a truncation scheme based on a single ε _max value impractical.     

苏北盆地东部凹陷上白垩统泰州组沉积相*

苏北盆地是在晚白垩世发育起来的箕状断陷盆地。上白垩统泰州组（K₂t）为东部凹陷发育初期形成的一套碎屑岩沉积地层,自下而上总体构成由粗到细的沉积旋回。通过对区内52口探井的录井、测井和岩心资料综合分析,认为泰州组主要发育辫状河三角洲、曲流河三角洲及湖泊相3种沉积相类型,在此基础上又进一步识别出7种亚相和12种微相。泰州组分为两段,泰州组一段沉积早、中期为辫状河三角洲沉积,晚期转变为(曲流河)三角洲沉积;泰州组二段早期为深湖—半深湖沉积,中晚期为浅湖亚相。伴随湖平面的反复升降,表现出明显的多旋回性。研究区泰州组一段表现为典型的退积型三角洲沉积。通过进一步研究泰州组一段各沉积时期沉积相的平面分布及演变特征,指出在梁垛—安丰—李堡一带沉积砂体发育,是油气储集层发育的有利地区。     

Lopingian (Late Permian) foraminiferal faunal succession of a Paleo-Tethyan mid-oceanic carbonate buildup: Shifodong Formation in the Changning–Menglian Belt, West Yunnan, Southwest China

This paper deals with a Lopingian (Late Permian) foraminiferal faunal succession of the Shifodong Formation in the Changning–Menglian Belt, West Yunnan, Southwest China, which has been geologically interpreted as one of the closed remnants in East Asia of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean. The Shifodong Formation is the uppermost stratigraphic unit in thick Carboniferous–Permian carbonates of the belt. These carbonates rest upon bases consisting of oceanic island basalt and are widely accepted as having a Paleo‐Tethyan mid‐oceanic (seamount‐ or oceanic plateau‐top) origin. Sixteen taxa of fusuline foraminifers and 37 taxa of smaller (non‐fusuline) foraminifers are recognized from the type section of the Shifodong Formation located in the Gengma area of the northern part of the Changning–Menglian Belt. Based on their stratigraphic distribution, three fusuline zones can be established in this section: they are, in ascending order, the Codonofusiella cf. C. kwangsiana Zone, Palaeofusulina minima Zone, and Palaeofusulina sinensis Zone. These three biozones are respectively referable to the Wuchiapingian, early Changhsingian, and late Changhsingian, of which the Wuchiapingian is first recognized in this study in the Changning–Menglian mid‐oceanic carbonates. The present study clearly demonstrates that the foraminiferal fauna in a Paleo‐Tethyan pelagic shallow‐marine environment still maintained high faunal diversity throughout the almost entire Lopingian, although the very latest Permian fauna in the upper part of the Palaeofusulina sinensis Zone of the Shifodong section records a sudden decrease in both faunal diversity and abundance. Moreover, the Shifodong faunas are comparable in diversity with those observed in circum‐Tethyan shelves such as South China. The present Paleo‐Tethyan mid‐oceanic foraminiferal faunas are definitely more diversified than coeval mid‐oceanic Panthalassan faunas, which are typically represented by those from the Kamura Limestone in a Jurassic accretionary complex of Southwest Japan. It is suggestive that the Paleo‐Tethyan mid‐oceanic buildups presumably supplied a peculiarly hospitable habitat for foraminiferal faunal development in a pelagic paleo‐equatorial condition.     

Sedimentary - Tectonic Status of Permian - Triassic Boundary (250 Ma) in Gondwana Stratigraphy of Peninsular India

The sedimentary-tectonic status of Permian-Triassic boundary is examined in Gondwana stratigraphy of Peninsular India based on lithofacies characters, palaeoslope, and depositional models. The Late Permians represent meandering streams which flowed from southeast to northwest, except in Damodar basin where palaeoslope was from east to west. In Satpura, and Pranhita-Godavari basins, the Early Triassics record braided stream facies models. The palaeoslope remains northwesterly during Early Triassic sedimentation.Integrated evidence suggests that the Permian-Triassic boundary in Peninsular Gondwana stratigraphy of India is marked by tectonic discordance, and uplifts in the provenance.     

长江上游全新世特大洪水对西南 季风变化的响应

利用24次全新世特大洪水序列与川渝地区近两千年的洪灾史料,对长江上游特大洪水事件和气候变化的响应机制进行了分析。从长江上游特大洪水序列与阿拉伯海记录的西南季风气候变化对比分析来看,特大洪水事件与西南季风变化具有很好的响应关系,特大洪水事件多发生于西南季风较弱的阶段,这些阶段以西南季风气候快速变化为特征,是气候剧烈波动期或气候的转型期。与北大西洋、贵州董歌洞石笋所记录的气候变化比较,特大洪水有的与全新世气候突变一致,有的则不一致,可能特大洪水事件更多表现为地方事件。与文献记载的历史洪灾事件相比,长江上游低频高量级的特大洪水事件对西南季风的变化具有更好的响应关系,而高频低量级的洪灾事件具有更高的随机性,由于历史文献记载的洪水量级差异较大,如果将他们笼统地放在一起分析,可能会掩盖洪水事件对气候变化响应机制。     

四川宣汉地区二叠系硅岩地球化学特征及成因研究

四川宣汉地区二叠系茅口组和吴家坪组的硅岩,主要以结核状、条带状和团块状产出。根据硅岩的岩石学及地球化学特征,对其成因进行了系统研究。野外观察硅岩形态多样,与围岩呈缝合线状接触,在剖面上受一定层位控制,团块状硅岩中含石灰岩斑块等。显微镜下观察,硅岩中见方解石残余结构及白云石菱形假晶等。野外观察和显微镜下观察表明这些硅岩应为交代作用形成。常量元素分析表明硅岩以SiO₂为主（69.61％～99.21％）,其他化学成分含量较低（0.01％～16.07％）,Fe/Ti、（Fe+Mn）/Ti及Al/（Al+Fe+Mn）值反映了硅岩的形成与热水活动有关,样品点在Al-Fe-Mn三角图中的投影位于富铁端;微量元素Co/Ni、V、Ti/V、Th/U和Rb/Sr值都较低,样品点在（Cu+Co+Ni）-Fe-Mn三角图中的投影也位于富铁端;硅岩中稀土元素总量低（低于10×10^-6）,Ce明显负异常,Eu弱负异常,LREE/HREE值低,Eu/Eu^*值相对较高。上述特征表明研究区硅岩在形成过程中有热水物质参与沉积,在成岩过程中通过SiO₂交代作用形成。     

西秦岭北带大草滩群的解体及其地质意义——兼论北秦岭加里东运动的性质

分布于西秦岭北带的上泥盆统大草滩群 (D3dc) ,被众多研究秦岭的地质学家认为是典型的造山后的磨拉石建造 ,并将这套地层作为北秦岭加里东运动最直接、重要的证据之一。我们的工作发现 ,大草滩群是由两套不同时代、不同沉积建造的地层体经逆冲—推覆构造作用形成的地层叠置系统。因此 ,原大草滩群予以解体 ,建议取消。这一认识对探讨北秦岭加里东运动的性质以及整个北秦岭构造演化历史提供了重要资料     

The Upper Adriatic borderland: From conflict to harmony

The paper presents an overview of the Upper Adriatic as a contact area between different cultural, social, economic and political entities, producing potential conflicts in the last century. The first part of the 20th century represented a classic example of geopolitical conflict through two World Wars and their related Peace Conferences that deeply impacted the region. Conflicts arising from the mid-century solution of the Trieste question transformed the Upper Adriatic into a laboratory of contemporary political geographic transformation. Changing geopolitical patterns have also modified the political, social and ethnic construction of the Upper Adriatic. The process of creating new international boundaries in the region ended in 1991 with the independence of Slovenia and Croatia. Through these geopolitical transformations in the Upper Adriatic, new political geographic attitudes evolved. Early on, Ratzel's geopolitical principles of defining borders as power barometers between neighbors dominated. More recently, attitudes have reflected modern integrative ideas with a focus on looking for harmony and the elimination of international conflicts. Greater attention has thus been given to the political geography of `everyday life', inter-ethnic relations, and cross-border contacts. Hence, `new' borderlands of the Upper Adriatic are more receptive to integration because they seek to overcome conflicts caused by the division of traditionally homogeneous spaces as local level political and ideological hindrances disappear. The region divided among Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia is becoming a new and special type of European borderland in the new century.