Microbial–silica interactions in Icelandic hot spring sinter: possible analogues for some Precambrian siliceous stromatolites

Silicified deposits, such as sinters, occur in several modern geothermal environments, but the mechanisms of silicification (and crucially the role of microorganisms in their construction) are still largely unresolved. Detailed examination of siliceous sinter, in particular sections of microstromatolites growing at the Krisuvik hot spring, Iceland, reveals that biomineralization contributes a major component to the overall structure, with approximately half the sinter thickness attributed to silicified microorganisms. Almost all microorganisms observed under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) are mineralized, with epicellular silica ranging in thickness from < 5 μm coatings on individual cells, to regions where entire colonies are cemented together in an amorphous silica matrix tens of micrometres thick. Within the overall profile, there appears to be two very distinct types of laminae that alternate repeatedly throughout the microstromatolite: ‘microbial’ layers are predominantly consisting of filamentous, intact, vertically aligned, biomineralized cyanobacteria, identified as Calothrix and Fischerella sp.; and weakly laminated silica layers which appear to be devoid of any microbial component. The microbial layers commonly have a sharply defined base, overlying the weakly laminated silica, and a gradational upper surface merging into the weakly laminated silica. These cyclic laminations are probably explained by variations in microbial activity. Active growth during spring/summer allows the microorganisms to keep pace with silicification, with the cell surfaces facilitating silicification, while during their natural slow growth phase in the dark autumn/winter months silicification exceeds the bacteria’s ability to compensate (i.e. grow upwards). At this stage, the microbial colony is probably not essential to microstromatolite formation, with silicification presumably occurring abiogenically. When conditions once again become favourable for growth, recolonization of the solid silica surface by free‐living bacteria occurs: cell motility is not responsible for the laminations. We have also observed that microbial populations within the microstromatolite, some several mm in depth, appear viable, i.e. they still have their pigmentation, the trichomes are not collapsed, cell walls are unbroken, cytoplasm is still present and they proved culturable. This suggests that the bulk of silicification occurred rapidly, probably while the cells were still alive. Surprisingly, however, measurements of light transmittance through sections of the microstromatolite revealed that photosynthetically active light (PAL) only transmitted through the uppermost 2 mm. Therefore the ‘deeper’ microbial populations must have either: (i) altered their metabolic pathways; (ii) become metabolically inactive; or (iii) the deeper populations may be dominated by different microbial assemblages from that of the surface. From these collective observations, it now seems unequivocal that microstromatolite formation is intimately linked to microbial activity and that the sinter fabric results from a combination of biomineralization, cell growth and recolonization. Furthermore, the similarities in morphology and microbial component to some Precambrian stromatolites, preserved in primary chert, suggests that we may be witnessing contemporaneous biomineralization processes and growth patterns analogous to those of the early Earth.     

理塘毛垭温泉近期特大异常的调查与分析

本文首次弄清了毛垭温泉测点的局部地质环境，确定了测泉的水文地质性质和类型，弥补了建点基础资料之不足。采用常规的调查追踪方法对该前兆观测点近期出现的特大异常进行了较为详细地落实，并简要分析了调查结果。     

重庆市沥鼻峡背斜地热地质特征

采用经验总结法和文献研究法，通过对沥鼻峡热储构造上的温泉和地热井勘查资料进行系统研究，发现沥鼻峡背斜具有典型的层状热储结构特征，是目前华蓥山复式背斜钻获地热水水温最低的热储构造，地热水以硫酸钙型水质为主，目前已知地热井和温泉具有水温普遍低于37℃和水量衰减较明显的特征.初步认为钻获地热水温低可能与构造有一定的关系.     

贵州早二叠世海相碳酸盐岩稳定同位素组成与玄武岩浆喷发热事件的关系

本文详细讨论了贵州织金地区早二叠世第一旋回海底喷发玄武岩浆对海相碳酸盐岩的碳、氧、锶同位素组成的影响,这主要表现为玄武岩浆喷发热事件导致了碳酸盐岩的δ~(1(?))C、δ~(18)O及~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值的明显下降。     

新疆库松木切克山喇嘛萨依式铜矿的勘查标志

本文通过对库松木切克山喇嘛萨依铜矿地质特征及控矿因素的研究,总结出该类矿床的若干勘查标志,其中地层层位、含矿岩相、地球化学异常、容矿岩石、围岩蚀变、活化脉体及同生断裂等最为明显。在区域内如能确定出这些标志,尤其是标志组合的存在,则将可能取得该类矿床找矿的新突破。     

黄骅坳陷地热资源研究

黄骅坳陷在勘探石油过程中发现了丰富的地下热水。根据实际资料对黄烨坳陷大港探区的地热资源进行了初步评价,提出了黄骅场陷储热系统和热异常区的分布规律,通过水化学分析,指出坳陷补给条件差,可实行人工回灌,增加地下热水资源。     

Thermal bidirectional gap probability model for row crop canopies and validation

Land surface temperature is a key parameter in monitoring the status of crop water stress by remote sensing, and studying the water and energy balance in cropland ecosystem. The component temperatures of crop and soil are especially significant in remote …     

绵竹三箭水S1井温泉补给源的同位素示踪研究

根据绵竹三箭水S1井相关地质区域内各水体的氢、氧同位素组成和放射性同位素氚浓度,结合该区的地质背景,利用同位素示踪手段,基本确定该井温泉地下水的成因为大气降水渗入补给主体含水层补给源在西北部1700m左右的“彭灌杂岩”高山区一带、补给量相对稳定,水温不会有大波动,有远期开发价值。     

Geochemistry of the thermal springs and fumaroles of Basse-Terre Island,Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles

 The purpose of this work was to study jointly the volcanic-hydrothermal system of the high-risk volcano La Soufrière, in the southern part of Basse-Terre, and the geothermal area of Bouillante, on its western coast, to derive an all-embracing and coherent conceptual geochemical model that provides the necessary basis for adequate volcanic surveillance and further geothermal exploration. The active andesitic dome of La Soufrière has erupted eight times since 1660, most recently in 1976–1977. All these historic eruptions have been phreatic. High-salinity, Na–Cl geothermal liquids circulate in the Bouillante geothermal reservoir, at temperatures close to 250  °C. These Na–Cl solutions rise toward the surface, undergo boiling and mixing with groundwater and/or seawater, and feed most Na–Cl thermal springs in the central Bouillante area. The Na–Cl thermal springs are surrounded by Na–HCO₃ thermal springs and by the Na–Cl thermal spring of Anse à la Barque (a groundwater slightly mixed with seawater), which are all heated through conductive transfer. The two main fumarolic fields of La Soufrière area discharge vapors formed through boiling of hydrothermal aqueous solutions at temperatures of 190–215  °C below the "Ty" fault area and close to 260  °C below the dome summit. The boiling liquid producing the vapors of the Ty fault area has δD and δ¹⁸O values relatively similar to those of the Na–Cl liquids of the Bouillante geothermal reservoir, whereas the liquid originating the vapors of the summit fumaroles is strongly enriched in ¹⁸O, due to input of magmatic fluids from below. This process is also responsible for the paucity of CH₄ in the fumaroles. The thermal features around La Soufrière dome include: (a) Ca–SO₄ springs, produced through absorption of hydrothermal vapors in shallow groundwaters; (b) conductively heated, Ca–Na–HCO₃ springs; and (c) two Ca–Na–Cl springs produced through mixing of shallow Ca–SO₄ waters and deep Na–Cl hydrothermal liquids. The geographical distribution of the different thermal features of La Soufrière area indicates the presence of: (a) a central zone dominated by the ascent of steam, which either discharges at the surface in the fumarolic fields or is absorbed in shallow groundwaters; and (b) an outer zone, where the shallow groundwaters are heated through conduction or addition of Na–Cl liquids coming from hydrothermal aquifer(s). Received: 9 November 1998 / Accepted: 15 July 1999     

东秦岭(河南段)二郎坪群铜多金属成矿环境及成矿效应

二郎坪群位于北秦岭造山带中,在二郎坪群这套火山—沉积岩系中,含有在河南省占有重要地位的铜多金属矿。文章通过对二郎坪群的沉积建造特征、变基性火山岩的形成环境和岩浆来源特征的研究,认为二郎坪群形成于弧后盆地环境,其盆地规模和岩浆来源在盆地东西方向上存在差异,而铜多金属矿床成矿作用与二郎坪群的形成环境和变基性火山岩岩浆来源有着紧密的内在联系。二郎坪群弧后盆地在海底喷流作用下形成了不同成矿元素组合的铜-锌型和铅-锌型两种矿床类型。