Tephrochronological dating of varved interglacial lake deposits from Piànico‐Sèllere (Southern Alps,Italy) to around 400 ka

The sediment record from the Piànico palaeolake in the southern Alps is continuously varved, spans more than 15 500 years, and represents a key archive for interglacial climate variability at seasonal resolution. The stratigraphic position of the Piànico Interglacial has been controversial in the past. The identification of two volcanic ash layers and their microscopic analysis provides distinct marker layers for tephrochronological dating of these interglacial deposits. In addition to micro‐facies analyses reconstructing depositional processes of both tephra layers within the lake environment, their mineralogical and geochemical composition has been determined through major‐element electron probe micro‐analysis on glass shards. Comparison with published tephra data traced the volcanic source regions of the Piànico tephras to the Campanian volcanic complex of Roccamonfina (Italy) and probably the Puy de Sancy volcano in the French Massif Central. Available dating of near‐vent deposits from the Roccamonfina volcano provides a robust tephrochronological anchor point at around 400 ka for the Piànico Interglacial. These deposits correlate with marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 11 and thus are younger than Early to Middle Pleistocene previously suggested by K/Ar dating and older than the last interglacial as inferred from macrofloral remains and the geological setting. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic stratigraphy records the deglacial history of Jakobshavn Isbræ, West Greenland

Jakobshavn Isbræ is one of the largest ice streams in the Greenland Ice Sheet, presently draining c. 6.5% of the Inland Ice. Here we present high‐resolution Chirp and Sparker sub‐bottom profiles from a seismic survey conducted just outside of the Jakobshavn Isfjord, which provides detailed insight into the glacimarine sedimentary history of the Jakobshavn ice stream during the Holocene. We observe acoustically stratified and homogeneous sediments that drape an irregular substratum and were deposited between ～10 and c. 7.6k cal a BP. The stratified lower units are interpreted as the product of ice‐proximal glacimarine sedimentation deposited rapidly when the grounded ice margin was located close to depositional basins on topographic highs. The upper acoustically homogenous units reflect suspension settling of fine‐grained material and gravitational flows that were extruded from an increasingly unstable ice margin as the ice retreated into the fjord. Proximity to the ice margin and bedrock topography were the dominant controls on sediment accumulation during deglaciation although the 8.2‐ka cooling event probably influenced the position of the ice margin at the fjord mouth. The post‐glacial sedimentary record is characterized by glacimarine and hemipelagic rainout with an increased ice‐rafted detritus fraction that records sedimentation following ice stream retreat into Jakobshavn Isfjord sometime after c. 7.8k cal a BP. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymetamorphism in the mainland Lewisian complex,NW Scotland – phase equilibria and geochronological constraints from the Cnoc an t’Sidhean suite

The metamorphic evolution of rocks cropping out near Stoer, within the Assynt terrane of the central region of the mainland Lewisian complex of NW Scotland, is investigated using phase equilibria modelling in the NCKFMASHTO and MnNCKFMASHTO model systems. The focus is on the Cnoc an t’Sidhean suite, garnet‐bearing biotite‐rich rocks (brown gneiss) with rare layers of white mica gneiss, which have been interpreted as sedimentary in origin. The results show that these rocks are polymetamorphic and experienced granulite facies peak metamorphism (Badcallian) followed by retrograde fluid‐driven metamorphism (Inverian) under amphibolite facies conditions. The brown gneisses are inferred to have contained an essentially anhydrous granulite facies peak metamorphic assemblage of garnet, quartz, plagioclase and ilmenite (±rutile, K‐feldspar and pyroxene) with biotite, hornblende, muscovite, chlorite and/or epidote as hydrous retrograde minerals. P–T constraints imposed by phase equilibria modelling imply conditions of 13–16 kbar at >900 °C for the Badcallian granulite facies metamorphic peak, consistent with the field evidence for partial melting in most lithologies. The white mica gneiss comprises a muscovite‐dominated matrix containing porphyroblasts of staurolite, corundum, kyanite and rare garnet. Previous studies have suggested that staurolite, corundum, kyanite and muscovite all grew at the granulite facies peak, with partial melting and melt loss producing a highly aluminous residue. However, at the inferred peak P–T conditions, staurolite and muscovite are not predicted to be stable, suggesting they are retrograde phases that grew during amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism. The large proportion of mica suggests extensive H₂O‐rich fluid‐influx, consistent with the retrograde growth of hornblende, biotite, epidote and chlorite in the brown gneisses. P–T conditions of 5.0–6.5 kbar at 520–550 °C are derived for the Inverian event. In situ dating of zircon from samples of the white mica gneiss yield apparent ages that are difficult to interpret. However, the data are permissive of granulite facies (Badcallian) metamorphism having occurred at c. 2.7–2.8 Ga with subsequent fluid driven (Inverian) retrogression at c. 2.5–2.6 Ga, consistent with previous interpretations.     

Empirical analysis of path effects on prediction equations of pseudo‐velocity response spectra in northern Japan

We study path effects on prediction equations of pseudo‐velocity response spectra (natural period of 0.1–5.0 s) in northern Japan, where heterogeneous attenuation structure exists. The path effects have been examined by comparing the regression analysis results for two different prediction equations. The first equation consists of a single term of anelastic attenuation conventionally. The second equation consists of two terms of anelastic attenuation in consideration of the heterogeneous attenuation structure. In the second equation, we divide a source‐to‐site distance into two distances at the attenuation boundary beneath the volcanic front. The boundary is considered to separate the relatively high Q fore‐arc side mantle wedge (FAMW) from the low Q back‐arc side mantle wedge (BAMW). Strong motion records (hypocentral distances less than 300 km) from interplate and intraslab events with Mw 5.1–7.3 are used. Regression analysis results show that the standard errors are significantly reduced by the second prediction equation at short periods (0.1–0.5 s), whereas the difference in standard errors from both prediction equations is negligible at intermediate and long periods. The Qs values (quality factor for S‐wave) converted from two anelastic attenuation coefficients for the second prediction equation are remarkably similar to the path‐averaged Qs values for the FAMW and BAMW by other studies using spectral inversion method. From these findings, we conclude that the path effects on the prediction equation of pseudo‐velocity response spectra are satisfactorily accomplished by the second prediction equation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of infiltration from porous clay pipe in subsurface irrigation

Abstract

Advances in the traditional method of subsurface porous clay pipe irrigation rely on knowledge of the distribution of water in the soil. Knowing the relationships among the hydraulic and physical parameters in the system is important for both the design and management of the system. To simulate the infiltration from the porous clay pipe and predict the wetted zone geometry in the soil, a computer model is developed herein. Laboratory experiments were conducted on soil samples representing two different soil textures in a specially designed bin to understand the flow phenomenon and to validate the developed model. In a given soil texture, the installation depth of the pipe and the volume of water applied in the soil are the major factors affecting the wetted zone. The relationships among various parameters, namely lateral spacing, installation depth, irrigation run time, hydraulic conductivity of the body of the pipe, and hydraulic head in the system, were established using the developed model.     

两广交界地区花岗岩中包体的类型，特征与成因

据包体岩相学及矿物学研究，包体岩石为角闪岩相到麻粒岩相的副变质岩，岩石类型有麻粒岩，变粒岩，片麻岩和富云包体，角闪岩相包体形成的温度为633度，压力为460Mpa-550MPa，麻粒岩包体形成的温度为781－883度，压力为530MPa-710MPa，包体为部分熔融形成寄主花岗岩岩浆的源区岩石列余，其中大容－十万大山地区角闪岩相－ 麻粒岩相包体岩石为区域动热变质成因；云开大山地区麻粒岩包体岩石为热穹隆变质成因。     

秦岭造山带泥盆系热水沉积岩相的亚相和微相划分及特征

提出秦岭泥盆纪热水沉积岩相，划分了热水沉积岩相的亚相，微相，并总结其特征，按成岩成矿作用方式可划分为热水同生沉积亚相，热水同生交代亚相，热水浊流沉积亚相，热水液压致裂一隐爆亚相，热卤水渗滤交代亚相，热水（岩浆）流体隐爆－液压致裂亚相等6个亚相，沉积盆地分析中，它们是建立热水沉积盆地中地层格架的构造岩石地层单位组成单元，按地球化学动力学－岩石组合可划分为硅质岩亚相，重晶石岩亚相，钠长石岩亚相，铁镁碳酸盐岩亚相，方柱石－黑云母岩亚相，硫化物岩亚相等6个亚相，在热水沉积成矿盆地的地球化学分析与模拟中，它们是建立热水沉积体系及古热水成矿流体场地球化学类型的岩石地球化学地层层序单元及古热水成矿流体场地球化学类型单元。     

青藏高原隆升对云南高原环境的影响

讨论了云南高原环境从上新世至早更新世对青藏高原隆升的响应。在上新世 ,云南高原普遍发育一套粘土岩、亚粘土岩、粉砂岩及褐煤的湖相、湖沼相沉积 ,大致以红河断裂为界 ,西厚东薄 ,说明在上新世云南高原内部总体构造环境较稳定 ,但西部盆地下沉的速度大于东部盆地。在早更新世 ,云南高原的沉积相和厚度都发生了较大的变化。红河断裂以西为洪冲积相的砾石层 ,厚度薄 ;滇西北主要为河流相的砾石层和砂层 ,略较滇西的厚 ;滇中地区为河湖相和河流相的砂质粘土层、粘土层、砂层和砾石层 ,厚度较大。说明进入早更新世 ,云南高原隆升强度明显加强 ,而且从西部向东部逐渐推进。在早更新世晚期 ,在青藏高原的昆黄运动的影响下 ,全区发生了一次显著的构造运动———元谋运动 ,造成下更新统的褶皱、断裂变形和金沙江的全线贯通。     

Palaeogeographical influence on Late Eocene biosiliceous sponge-rich sedimentation, southern Western Australia

Late Eocene nearshore shallow-marine environments within the Bremer and western Eucla Basins of southern Western Australia were characterized by the thick deposition of spongolite and spiculite deposits. Epibenthic sponge communities dominated estuaries and topographically complex basin margin embayments-archipelagos, while cool-water carbonates with up to 10% sponges accumulated in open-shelf environments. The transition from a biosiliceous to calcareous epibenthos was related to the degree of palaeogeographical 'protection'. Within basement-protected embayments there was an offshore gradation from shoreface spongolite and pure spiculite to a muddy spiculite facies towards central embayment areas. Calcareous fossils are rare throughout embayment facies, but rapidly increase in more open outer archipelago areas. This depositional relationship occurred along 2000 km of the Late Eocene southern Australian coastline. Palaeogeographical protection from strong currents acted in concert with: (1) a planar, low-gradient inland topography with sluggish run-off, supplying fine-grained sediment, nutrients, and abundant dissolved silica; and (2) a microtidal setting, weak to moderate swells and opposing wind and Coriolis surface current forcing, which inhibited water exchange between embayments-estuaries and the open shelf. This situation led to an embayment water chemistry that encouraged prolific sponge growth. Calcareous spiculites record the mixing front between these embayment waters and normal open-shelf waters supporting cool-water carbonates.     

塔里木盆地志留系层序地层特征

通过对塔里木盆地西缘露头、盆内钻井、测井和地震资料以及大量室内分析化验资料的层序地层综合分析，可将志留系划分成五个三级层序，志留系沉积层序厚度40--155m。层序界面多为分布范围较广的区域性或局部不整合。层序叠置样式可用具陆棚坡折的I型层序地层样式来描述。每个沉积层序可由完整的低位、海侵和高位体系域组成或由其中的一个、两个体系域组成。体系域边界主要依据滨岸上超点位置、岩性组合及准层序叠置样式变化来确定。低位体系域由向上粒度变细、砂岩厚度向上减薄的准层序组成；海侵体系域表现为向上泥岩厚度加大、砂岩厚度减薄的叠置特点；高位体系域表现为加积--进积沉积特征。志留纪，研究区接受了滨外陆棚及滨岸、海湾潮坪沉积，发育典型的海相沉积构造，表现出明显的旋回特征。