How a wet tropical rainforest copes with repeated volcanic destruction

The Holocene Period for the province of West New Britain, Papua New Guinea, is characterised by periodic catastrophic volcanism. The region is mantled in dense wet tropical rainforest, and has been occupied by people since the Pleistocene. Analyses of peat from two nearby sites within a lowland rainforest environment provide us with a macro-level landscape account of the periodic destruction and recovery of the coastal forests during seven periods of volcanic activity in the latter part (2900 yr ago to present) of the Holocene. Radiocarbon dating shows the very close correlation of the peat and tephra layers at both sites, yet the pollen analysis reveals different vegetation communities. These initial results allow us to begin identifying the processes of recovery, and to recognise different ecological pressures placed on vegetation at these neighbouring sites. Evidence of hydrological changes are observed beginning with a marine incursion recorded at Garu Site 3 1360 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The distinct differences in the vegetation re-establishment and community regeneration rates suggest the greater level of disturbance at Garu Site 1 could be related to the depth of the ashfall, although the proximity of a known human settlement may also be a contributing factor. Of note, palynologically, we found that the fern spore flora is particularly rich and believe it will be useful for ecological interpretation.     

三塘湖盆地石炭系卡拉岗组火山岩岩相研究

三塘湖盆地石炭系卡拉岗组火山岩岩性揭示该区火山岩岩相主要包括火山爆发相、溢流相,火山沉积相不发育。为了明确不同岩相分布规律,本文系统利用测井、地质、地震等多种资料,建立测井岩性识别模板,以单井相作为约束,开展地震反演,明确火山岩岩相的平面分布规律。研究结果表明:该区火山喷发方式以裂隙式为主,火山口呈串珠状沿主断裂排列;溢流相平面呈层状分布,溢流相安山岩最为发育。研究结果可有效指导该区火山岩油藏的勘探评价工作,同时为火山岩岩相研究提供可借鉴的研究思路。     

Volcanological study of the middle Miocene Okiduse Volcanic Group,Woodlark Island (Muyuw), eastern Papua

Woodlark Island (Muyuw) is located in a tectonically complex region, one of the few places on Earth where continental breakup is occurring ahead of seafloor spreading. Rifting commenced in the late Miocene (8.8–6 Ma) and is associated with the westward-propagating Woodlark Basin Spreading Centre. The island comprises approximately 850 km² of raised Pleistocene coral reef and associated sediments with a central, moderately elevated range underlain by the middle Miocene calc-alkaline to shoshonitic Okiduse Volcanic Group (new name). It provides an exposure of upper Cenozoic geology in close proximity to the spreading centre. The Okiduse Volcanic Group is host to most of the island's historical gold and silver production and recently defined mineral resources totalling 1.75 Moz gold. This study uses facies analysis of pyroclastic deposits to develop a detailed geological map of the Okiduse Volcanic Group, with a revision and reinterpretation of the unit. Facies associations suggest that two major volcanic centres erupted synchronously during the middle Miocene (14–12 Ma), referred to as the Watou Mountain Eruptive Centre (new name) and the Uvarakoi Caldera (new name). The mafic–intermediate Watou Mountain Eruptive Centre formed during frequent small eruptions of widely varying style. Strombolian, subplinian, vulcanian and dome-related explosive eruptions occurred, alternating with extrusion of block and ash flow deposits and lava domes. Pyroclastic deposits were rapidly reworked from the steep cone, and were redeposited in a series of coalescing aprons surrounding the volcano. The felsic Uvarakoi Caldera formed during a series of violent explosive eruptions by rapid removal of magma from the underlying chamber, followed by collapse. Plinian and possibly phreatoplinian eruptions, as a result of magma–water mixing in the surface environment, resulted in widely dispersed, highly fragmented tuff deposits. The caldera was modified by widespread erosion following eruptions, resulting in fluvial, laharic and slope-wash deposits. This study highlights lithological controls (porosity and permeability) by various units within the Okiduse Volcanic Group on ore deposition.     

Sulfur speciation with high performance liquid chromatography as a tool for El Chichón volcano,crater lake monitoring

The monitoring of sulfur species in crater lakes has proven to be useful for forecasting episodes of volcanic unrest in certain active volcanoes, including Poás, Costa Rica; Kusatsu-Shirane, Japan; and Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand. In this study, we have improved the current geochemical monitoring of El Chichón volcano through the setting of optimal high-performance liquid chromatography conditions (HPLC) for the analysis of S²⁻, SO₃²⁻, S₂O₃²⁻, S₄O₆²⁻ and SO₄²⁻ using a common chromatographic system. The procedure was applied to the analysis of lake samples taken in March, July and October of 2014 and April of 2015. The results were promising, since nearly all species were detected (with the exception of S₂O₃²⁻) in measurable amounts, including S²⁻ (<0.85–5.05 mg/L), SO₃²⁻ (<2.77–26.1 mg/L), S₄O₆²⁻ (108.27–303.82 mg/L) and SO₄²⁻ (489.58–676.26 mg/L). The spatial distribution of these species along the lakeshore showed zones of increased concentrations to the east and southeast of the lake, which provides information on the distribution of faults or cracks that feed hydrothermal fluids to the lake. This method thus provides additional information linked to the volcanic and hydrothermal activity of the volcano.     

准噶尔盆地滴西地区石炭系火山岩储集性能分布规律研究

火山岩储集性能分布的非均质性非常强,探索其分布规律成为火山岩油气勘探的难点和重要任务。本文以实际岩心及其分析化验等资料为基础,从滴西地区取心最佳储集性能段、最差储集性能段、风化壳储集性能分布模式、薄层熔岩储集性能分布模式、厚层熔岩储集性能分布模式等方面总结了石炭系火山岩储集性能的垂向分布规律,同时分析了储集性能的平面分布情况。火山熔岩储集性能在垂向上的分布差异,成岩阶段主要受岩相的影响,后期主要受构造作用及风化溶蚀作用等的影响。受成岩阶段岩相的影响,溢流相上部亚相和下部亚相均有可能形成较好的储集性能。与碎屑岩互层的薄层熔岩常具有较好的储集性能。与碎屑岩互层的厚层熔岩段的底部储集性能可能较好,其次是顶部,而中部常沦落为储集性能相对较差的位置。风化壳的风化粘土层、强风化带、中等风化带、弱风化带、未风化带5个垂向分带结构中,中等风化带往往具备相对最佳的储集条件。应用W风化指数新型工具对火山岩进行风化程度评估显示,准噶尔盆地火山岩具有多期风化的特征,并残留有大量未风化、轻微风化及中等风化的火山岩,这其中不乏储集性能优良的岩性段。从平面分布来看,研究区域火山岩储集性能具有强烈的各向异性特征,常表现为局部富集,快速变迁,随机分布。     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the Neogene coral reefs,Xisha Islands,South China Sea: implications for tectonic evolution

The Xisha Block is a minor one in the South China Sea and an important tectonic unit in the northwestern part of the region. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages for three volcanic intrusive core samples from Xike-1, an exploratory well penetrating the bioherms of the Xisha Islands. The core samples are from the Miocene reef carbonate bedrock and are recognized as dark-gray biotite-hornblende gabbro, gray fine-grained biotite diorite, and gray fine-grained granite, respectively. Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) images and trace Th, U and Pb compositions of the zircons show that these rocks are of volcanic intrusive origin. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating yielded six groups of ages, ranging from 2451-1857 Ma to early Cretaceous, which indicate that the formation and evolution of the Xisha Block was affected by the evolution and closure of Neotethys Ocean, probably within its eastern extension into South China Sea. Both old, deep-sourced material, including fragments from Rodina supercontinent, and recent mantle-derived magma products contributed to the emergence and formation of the Xisha block. The SHRIMP U-Pb results also proved that this process differed from that of the Kontum massif, the Hainan Block, and the South China Block, but is similar to that of the Nansha and Zhongsha blocks. The process was associated with the effects of Yanshanian magmatism induced by subduction mechanisms of the Paleo-Pacific Plate or the reworking of the multiple magmatisms since the Early to mid-Yanshanian, possibly jointly experienced by the Xisha-Zhongsha-Nansha Block.     

阿留申俯冲带几何学特征及运动学成因模式

阿留申俯冲带位于环太平洋俯冲带最北端,是东太平洋型俯冲和西太平洋俯冲的过渡区域。该俯冲带火山岛弧距离海沟的距离从东向西逐渐增大,而形成地球上独特的岛弧火山链与海沟V字型斜交的现象。这一现象的运动学成因目前并没有统一的认识。本文通过对阿留申俯冲带几何形态数据、运动学数据进行整理分析,尝试运用构造赤道理论探讨该现象形成的运动学背景。阿留申俯冲带的几何学数据表明:从俯冲带东段(175°E)至俯冲带西段(155°W),火山岛弧距俯冲海沟的距离从80 km增加至250 km。与此同时,俯冲板片的倾角由60°减小至30°。板块的运动学分析表明:相对北美板块,太平洋板块的东段的运动矢量为48 mm/a,向北运动;逐渐转变为西段的78mm/a,向西北方向运动。相对于软流圈,太平洋板块的运动方向没有改变,始终向西北方向运动,速率向西逐渐增加。因此,在俯冲带的东段太平洋板块的绝对运动方向和相对运动方向存在30°左右的夹角,而这个夹角在西段几乎不存在。太平洋板块的绝对运动方向和相对运动方向之间的夹角不同,会导致软流圈对俯冲板片的反作用力差异,从而形成不同的俯冲角度和俯冲带宽度。太平洋板块相对北美板块和相对地幔的速度方向夹角的变化被认为是引起阿留申火山弧与海沟"V"字型斜交的运动学成因。     

塔里木溢流玄武岩火山通道的三维结构及其热成因气体释放

塔里木上奥陶统-志留系沉积地层中广泛发育早二叠世溢流玄武岩的火山通道相岩床-岩墙网络。三维地震数据解释结果显示,这些火山通道以平行围岩地层的岩床和斜切围岩地层的"碟状岩床"为主要特征。在玄武岩喷发过程中,火山通道岩浆的热量可以导致沉积围岩发生热接触变质并将沉积围岩中的有机质转化为"热成因气体"。在塔北英买2井区火山通道烘烤沉积围岩模型基础上,利用有限元热模拟方法确定了该区早二叠世玄武岩喷发时火山通道热烘烤影响范围随时间的变化。基于沉积围岩有机质丰度估算,该区热烘烤成因甲烷释放量可达11.3Gt(即113亿吨)。如果整个塔里木溢流玄武岩省具有与英买2地区相同的释放强度,则塔里木溢流玄武岩省活动期间释放的甲烷总量可达7062.5Gt,必然导致非常显著的环境效应。同时,玄武岩火山通道岩浆引起的热接触变质作用对已存在的油藏具有明显的破坏作用,塔里木盆地古生界总量约8~10Gt的油藏破坏和大量沥青的形成可能与此有关。     

Tortonian-Pleistocenic oceanic features in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea: magnetic inverse model of the Selli-Vavilov region

We show the magnetic model of the Selli-Vavilov region. The Selli Line is known as the northwestern edge of the southern Tyrrhenian Basin. The tectonic evolution of the Tyrrhenian Basin is dominated by a Tortonian-Quaternary extension through the eastward movement of the Apennine subduction system. This migration has generated a diffuse stretching of the continental crust with the emplacement of new oceanic material. This latter occurred in several localized zones where the eastward retreating of the Ionian subduction system produced a strong depletion of the crust with formation of basins and correlated spreading. Nowadays the presence of oceanic crust is confirmed through direct drilling investigation but a complete mapping of the oceanic crustal distribution is still lacking. The Selli-Vavilov region shows a differentiated crustal setting where seamount structures, the oceanic basement portions and continental crust blocks are superimposed. To this aim, a 2D inversion of the magnetic data of this region was conducted to define buried structures. The magnetic susceptibility pattern was computed by solving the least squares problem of the misfit between the predicted and real data for separated wavebands. This method produced two 2D models of the high and low frequency fields of the Selli-Vavilov region. The two apparent susceptibility maps provide different information for distinct ranges of depth. The results of the inversions were also combined with seismic data of the Selli region highlighting the position of the highly magnetized buried bodies. The results confirm a role for the Selli Line as a deep crustal boundary dividing the Sardinian passive domain from the easternmost active region where different oceanic structures are located. The Selli Line has worked as a detachment fault system which has moved eastward. Finally, the Selli-Vavilov region may be interpreted as a tectonic result due to a passive asymmetrical rift occurred between the Tortonian and Pliocene.