Crystallization pathways in the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) spring mound carbonates: Implications for life signatures on Earth and beyond

Recent studies of continental carbonates revealed that carbonates with similar fabrics can be formed either by biotic, biologically-induced, biologically-influenced or purely abiotic processes, or a combination of all. The aim of this research is to advance knowledge on the formation of carbonates precipitated (or diagenetically altered) in extreme, continental environments by studying biotic versus abiotic mechanisms of crystallization, and to contribute to the astrobiology debate around terrestrial analogues of Martian extreme environments. Both fossil (upper Pleistocene to Holocene) and active carbonate spring mounds from the Great Artesian Basin (South Australia) have been investigated. These carbonates consist of low-Mg to high-Mg calcite tufa. Four facies have been described: (i) carbonate mudstone/wackestone; (ii) phytohermal framestone/boundstone; (iii) micrite boundstone; and (iv) coarsely crystalline boundstone. The presence of filaments encrusted by micrite, rich in organic compounds, including ultraviolet-protectants, in phytohermal framestone/boundstone and micrite boundstone is clear evidence of the existence of microbial mats at the time of deposition. In contrast, peloidal micrite, despite commonly being considered a microbial precipitate, is not directly associated with filaments in the Great Artesian Basin mounds. It has probably formed from nanocrystal aggregation on colloid particulate. Thus, where biofilms have been documented, it is likely that bacteria catalyzed the development of fabrics. It is less certain that microbes induced calcium carbonate precipitation elsewhere. Trace elements, including rare earth element distribution from laminated facies, highlight strongly evaporative settings (for example, high Li contents). Carbon dioxide degassing and evaporation are two of the main drivers for an increase in fluid alkalinity, resulting in precipitation of carbonates. Hence, although the growth of certain fabrics is fostered by the presence of microbial mats, the formation of carbonate crystals might be independent from it and mainly driven by extrinsic factors. More generally, biological processes may be responsible for fabric and facies development in micritic boundstone whilst micrite nucleation and growth are driven by abiotic factors. Non-classical crystallization pathways (aggregation and fusion of nanoparticles from nucleation clusters) may be more common than previously thought in spring carbonate and this should be carefully considered to avoid misinterpretation of certain fabrics as by-products of life. It is proposed here that the term ‘organic-compound catalyzed mineralization’ should be used for crystal growth in the presence of organic compounds when dealing with astrobiological problems. This term would account for the possibility of multiple crystallization pathways (including non-classical crystallization) that occurred directly from an aqueous solution without the direct influence of microbial mats.     

南海北部陆坡西部海域“海马”冷泉甲烷渗漏及其海底表征

2015年3月"海马"号遥控无人潜水器(ROV)在南海北部陆坡西部海域首次发现活动冷泉,并命名为"海马"冷泉,此后中国地质调查局广州海洋地质调查局先后组织了3个航次,对"海马"冷泉开展进一步勘查和研究。本次研究在综合分析4个航次调查数据的基础上,初步阐述"海马"冷泉的分布范围、地形地貌、生物群落、自生碳酸盐岩和流体活动等特征。总体而言,"海马"冷泉区地势平缓,气体渗漏现象非常发育,是以CH4为主要气体渗漏形成的活动冷泉区,且气体渗漏活动具有时空迁移性。气体碳同位素组成表明,海马冷泉区的CH4为混合成因气,且以微生物成因为主;"海马"冷泉区发育有多种类型的化能自养冷泉生物群落,冷泉区种类丰富,目前已报道了多个冷泉生物新种。这些发现为研究南海北部陆坡西部海域天然气水合物分解及其环境效应、冷泉生物生命起源与演化和南海与印度洋及太平洋物种迁移贯通等科学问题提供重要依据。     

川藏铁路交通廊道地质调查工程主要进展与成果

川藏铁路是我国正在规划建设的重点工程,由于其位于地形地貌和地质构造都极为复杂的青藏高原东部,在铁路规划建设中面临一系列迫切需要解决的关键地质问题: 区域性活动断裂与断错影响、地质灾害、高地应力及其引起的岩爆和大变形、高温热害、断裂带高压水与涌水突泥、高陡边坡稳定性等。为满足技术支撑川藏铁路规划建设、精准服务国家重大战略实施的需要,中国地质调查局部署了“川藏铁路交通廊道地质调查工程”,聚焦制约川藏铁路规划建设的关键问题,充分发挥地质调查工作对国家重大工程规划建设的支撑作用。2019年主要完成铁路沿线1:5万区域地质调查1 350 km²、1:5万地质灾害调查5 000 km²,建设6口大地热流地质参数井、8个地温监测站,完成地应力测量20孔,编制完成11份地质调查专报,提出的大渡河大桥段、理塘车站段、毛垭坝盆地段等线路优化建议/防灾建议被采纳; 首次将1:5 000大比例尺航空物探技术引入复杂山地铁路工程勘察,创新形成千米级超长水平钻孔定向取心钻进技术,实现500 m深的水平孔地应力测量突破等。该工程通过2019年调查研究,全力提升了铁路沿线地质调查程度与精度,并创新了复杂艰险山区重大工程地质问题与探测技术、地质灾害风险防控理论与减灾关键技术,有效支撑服务了川藏铁路规划建设。     

山西阳泉地区旅游地质资源遥感调查与成果分析

为查清山西省阳泉地区旅游地质资源分布状况,方便当地政府掌握区内旅游地质资源现状,为地质公园开发、保护与发展规划提供决策依据,山西省自然资源厅(原山西省国土资源厅)于2018年开展了“山西省阳泉地区旅游地质资源调查”项目,基于三维可视化遥感影像,采用目视解译方法,并结合已有地质资料和野外调查数据,获取了阳泉旅游地质资源分布信息。在阳泉中东部圈定了一条呈月牙形的旅游地质资源密集分布带,该分布带西起盂县藏山,向南东过平定玉皇洞,终至平定县娘子关,分布在碳酸盐岩区,集山地地貌景观、岩溶地貌景观和泉域地貌景观于一体,是我国北方地区规模较大、较为典型的碳酸盐岩地貌、岩溶地貌和泉域地貌出露区,在区域上连片分布,具有较高的开发潜力。建议在“藏山旅游区—岩溶地貌景区—娘子关旅游区”范围申请建立北方碳酸盐岩景观多成因类型地质公园。     

Morphological and sedimentary features of sandy-muddy transitional beaches in estuaries and bays along mesotidal to macrotidal coasts

Sandy-muddy transitional beaches (SMT-Beaches), representing the transition from sandy beaches to tidal mudflats, should theoretically develop very different morphological and sedimentological characteristics in river estuaries and in semi-enclosed bays due to their contrasting dynamic sedimentary environments. Evidence, however, is rare in the scientific literature. To reveal these morphological and sedimentary differences, the sand–mud transition (SMT) boundary distribution, beach profiles, and surface and downcore sediment grain-size compositions of 27 SMT-Beaches located along mesotidal to macrotidal coasts of the western Taiwan Strait, southeastern China, were investigated. The results show that typical estuarine SMT-Beaches are mainly characterized by an ambiguous SMT, a long distance between the SMT and the coastline (31–302 m), lower SMT and inflection point altitudes (average –0.76 m and –0.04 m), and lower upper beach gradients (~0.068) with fine sand. Estuarine SMT-Beach sediments display clear interbedded mud and sand layers, implying potential SMT migrations over various timescales. By contrast, typical bay SMT-Beaches are characterized by distinct SMT, a short distance between the SMT and the coastline (11–52 m), higher SMT and inflection point altitudes (~0.24 m and ~0.35 m), and narrower upper beaches with higher gradients (~0.095) and coarse sand. Bay SMT-Beaches present relatively stable sedimentary sequences and a narrow gravel belt surrounding the inflection point and/or SMT. These morphological and sedimentary differences between the two SMT-Beach types are initially constrained by sediment supply and transport and are further affected by tide conditions and wave climate. Sediment supply and transport predominately control the sediment structures, while the tidal range strongly influences spatial variations in SMT distances. Wave climate normally drives SMT altitude variations. This study highlights the morphological and sedimentary differences in SMT-Beaches in estuaries and bays, providing important knowledge for further revealing their morphodynamic processes and potential future nourishment. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatiotemporal variations of dissolved inorganic carbon and controlling factors in a small karstic catchment,Southwestern China

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is the most important carbon component in karst aquatic system where fluid is highly transmissive, but has rarely been examined in the subtropical karst critical zone (K-CZ). In this study, concentrations of dissolved solutes and isotopic compositions of DIC (δ¹³C_DIC) at 11 sites of a 73.4 km² karstic catchment in Southwestern China were analysed monthly in order to uncover the spatiotemporal variations of both DIC and its dominant sources, and to identify relevant controlling factors. Both DIC concentrations and δ¹³C_DIC were highly variable, ranging from 2.52 to 5.85 mmol l⁻¹ and from −15.7 to −4.5‰, respectively. DIC in underground water (UGW) was higher in concentration and more depleted in ¹³C compared to surface water (SFS). DIC concentrations showed an inconsistent seasonal trend with other solutes, with higher values in the wet season at some sites. δ¹³C_DIC values were lower in the wet season than in the dry season. The results of mixing model IsoSource revealed spatiotemporal patterns of DIC sources. During the dry season, carbonate weathering was the primary contributor to DIC in UGW (excluding in the middle reaches). However, during the wet season, soil CO₂ was the dominant source of DIC in both UGW and SFS, and it was higher than in the dry season. Overall, there are significant spatiotemporal disparities and highly transmissive characteristics of both DIC and its sources in the K-CZ, which are controlled by multiple factors. This study also highlights that rainfall may play a crucial role in accelerating carbon dynamics in the K-CZ. High-frequency sampling campaigns in high-flow periods and deep analyses are needed in future work to elucidate the related processes and mechanisms. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄河口总碱度保守与非保守行为探讨

为了阐明黄河口TAlk（总碱度）的行为特征及主要影响因素,根据2004年4月黄河口TAlk实测数据,结合其它化学要素的同步观测资料对其进行了初步探讨.研究结果表明： 黄河口水体在S〈24的区域范围内TAlk呈现出非保守行为,其中 S〈5时TAlk非保守表现为净TAlk的“亏损”, 即水体TAlk低于理论混合TAlk,是由于水体中DIC的沉淀作用引起;在盐度为8～24之间,TAlk非保守表现为净TAlk的“增加”,即水体TAlk高于理论混合TAlk,主要是由于水体中颗粒碳酸盐溶解引起;水体中的CO2参与了颗粒碳酸盐的溶解,并且很可能是影响水体中碳酸盐溶解的主要因素.     

深层碳酸盐岩储层溶洞围岩应力分布研究

以冀中凹陷任北奥陶系碳酸盐岩储层为例,基于油田测井资料及岩石力学实验确定了研究区岩石力学参数,对目标储层典型的长椭圆形孤立落水溶洞围岩应力进行了数值模拟,并根据第三强度理论研究了围岩破坏情况。研究结果表明,（1）溶洞在上覆岩层压力和侧向压力的共同作用下,长椭圆形溶洞围岩的应力集中效应带为9倍的半径范围;（2）长椭圆形溶洞围岩应力以压应力为主,主要集中分布在洞顶和洞底;（3）溶洞填充性对其围岩主应力差及破坏范围影响很大。当填充压力小于0.1 MPa时,溶洞围岩主应力差及破坏区域范围随填充压力的增大而增大;而当填充压力大于0.1 MPa时,溶洞围岩主应力差及破坏区域范围随填充压力的增大均呈减小的趋势。      

川西北地区中三叠统顶部溶蚀型喀斯特特征及地质意义*

中三叠统顶部溶蚀型喀斯特在什邡金河剖面及四川盆地大部分地区已有报道。在近期的野外工作中,在川西北地区绵竹汉旺观音崖、江油黄莲桥和江油马鞍塘剖面天井山组近顶部、顶部也识别出这一古特提斯面,其形成与强烈的构造活动或全球海平面下降造成的岩层长时间的暴露有关。其表现形式主要为: (1)暴露溶蚀间断沉积面;(2)溶沟、溶缝及其内的碳酸盐、陆源碎屑充填物;(3)暴露期黏土层;(4)喀斯特角砾。其中暴露溶蚀间断沉积面上的沉积构造以鸟眼、层状孔洞构造最为典型,在绵竹汉旺观音崖剖面最为发育,孔、洞充填物主要为亮晶方解石和白云石;溶沟、溶缝及其内的碳酸盐、陆源碎屑充填物在江油马鞍塘、汉旺观音崖、什邡金河等剖面均有发育,这些溶缝、溶沟一般近于竖直发育,宽度及深度不一,被碳酸盐角砾、亮晶方解石、白云石或陆源黏土等所充填;暴露期黏土层主要见于江油黄莲桥剖面,共发育2套,厚5~20 cm,与铁质矿物共生,其上下发育深灰色潟湖沉积;喀斯特角砾主要见于汉旺观音崖剖面,喀斯特角砾最大可达15×20 cm大小,呈棱角状充填于富含泥质和有机质的暗色碳酸盐基质中。天井山组近顶部溶蚀型喀斯特的发现可为区域地层等时对比提供依据,与其有关的古岩溶作用可在天井山组(或雷口坡组)顶部碳酸盐岩中形成以溶蚀孔、洞、缝为主要储集空间的古岩溶型储集层。