Formation and exhumation of blueschists and eclogites from NE Oman: new perspectives from Rb–Sr and 40Ar/39Ar dating

Seven eclogite facies samples from lithologically different units which structurally underlie the Semail ophiolite were dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and Rb–Sr methods. Despite extensive efforts, phengite dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method yielded saddle, hump or irregularly shaped spectra with uninterpretable isochrons. The total gas ages for the phengite ranged from 136 to 85 Ma. Clinopyroxene–phengite, epidote–phengite and whole‐rock–phengite Rb–Sr isochrons for the same samples yielded ages of 78 ± 2 Ma. We therefore conclude that the eclogite facies rocks cooled through 500 °C at c. 78 ± 2 Ma, and that the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates can only constrain maximum ages due to the occurrence of excess Ar inhomogeneously distributed in different sites. Our new results lead us to conclude that high‐pressure metamorphism of the Oman margin took place in the Late Cretaceous, contemporaneous with ophiolite emplacement. Previously published structural and petrological data lead us to suggest that this metamorphism resulted from intracontinental subduction and crustal thickening along a NE‐dipping zone. Choking of this subduction zone followed by ductile thinning of a crustal mass wedged between deeply subducted continental material and overthrust shelf and slope units facilitated the exhumation of the eclogite facies rocks from depths of c. 50 km to 10–15 km within c. 10 Ma, and led to their juxtaposition against overlying lower grade rocks. Final exhumation of all high‐pressure rocks was driven primarily by erosion and assisted by normal faulting in the upper plate.     

Effect of Agents on Hydrate Formation and Low-Temperature Rheology of Polyalcohol Drilling Fluid

In order to ensure safe drilling in deep water and marine gas hydrate bearing sediments,the needed characteristics of drilling fluid system were analyzed.Moreover,the effect of different agents on hydrate formation and the low-temperature rheology of designed polyalcohol drilling fluid were tested,respectively.The results show that clay can promote gas hydrate growth,while modified starch and polyalcohol can inhibit hydrate formation to some extent,and PVP K90 has a good performance on hydrate inhibition.Th...     

Pumpellyites and coexisting minerals in different low-grade metamorphic facies of Liguria, Italy

Pumpellyite from four-phase assemblages (pumpellyite + epidote + prehnite + chlorite; pumpellyite + epidote + actinolite + chlorite; pumpellyite + epidote + Na-amphibole + chlorite, together with common excess phases), considered to be low variance in a CaO-(MgO + FeO)-Al₂O₃-Fe₂O₃ (+Na₂O + SiO₂+ H₂O) system, have been examined in areas which underwent metamorphism in the prehnite-pumpellyite, pumpellyite-actinolite and low-temperature blueschist facies respectively. The analysed mineral assemblages are compared for nearly constant (basaltic) chemical composition at varying metamorphic grade and for varying chemical composition (basic, intermediate, acidic) at constant metamorphic conditions (low-temperature blueschist facies). In the studied mineral assemblages, coexisting phases approached near chemical equilibrium. At constant (basaltic) bulk rock composition the MgO content of pumpellyite increases, and the X_Fe3+ of both pumpellyite and epidote decreases with increasing metamorphic grade, the Fe³⁺ being preferentially concentrated in epidote. Both pumpellyite and epidote compositions vary with the bulk rock composition at isofacial conditions; pumpellyite becomes progressively enriched in Fe and depleted in Mg from basic to intermediate and acidic bulk rock compositions. The compositional comparison of pumpellyites from high-variance (1–3 phases) assemblages in various bulk rock compositions (basic, intermediate, acidic rocks, greywackes, gabbros) shows that the compositional fields of both pumpellyite and epidote are wide and variable, broadly overlapping the compositional effects observed at varying metamorphic grade in low-variance assemblages. The intrinsic stability of both Fe- and Al-rich pumpellyites extends across the complete range of the considered metamorphic conditions. Element partitioning between coexisting phases is the main control on the mineral composition at different P-T conditions.     

息烽新萝地热井成因浅析

贵州息烽县城南新萝地热探采结合井位于洋水背斜西翼南倾伏端,洋水背斜为勘查区主要热储构造,近东西向的区域性白马洞大断层为该区的热源通道。储热单元为寒武系金顶山组(1j)、震旦系灯影组、洋水组(Zbdn+y);盖层为寒武系金顶山(1j)、明心寺组(1m)、牛蹄塘组(1n)的页岩、砂岩、粘土岩;热储层为震旦系灯影组、洋水组(Zbdn+y)粉-细晶白云岩、块状内碎屑白云岩、藻屑白云岩。地热井开采深度2500余米,最大开采量约1500 m3/d,热矿水井口温度46℃,为低温温热水地热资源。热矿水水化学类型为弱碱性水锶矿泉水,勘查类型热储类型为带状与层状组合热储(Ⅱ-3型)。     

亚欧中纬度关键区正位势高度距平场配置与中国冬季区域性极端低温事件的联系

基于中国地面台站观测资料和NCEP再分析资料,研究了欧亚中纬度500 hPa高度场关键区正异常配置及其与中国冬季区域性极端低温事件(Regional Extreme Low Temperature Events, RELTE)的联系。结果表明,发生RELTE时乌拉尔山(简称乌山)、贝加尔湖(简称贝湖)和雅库茨克—鄂科斯克海(简称雅鄂)附近的某一区域出现高度场正异常的概率为0.83,即欧亚关键区500 hPa正高度距平场的相互匹配是形成RELTE的直接原因。在此基础上,将三个关键区域高度场异常配置分为7种类型:乌山型、贝湖型、雅鄂型、乌山—贝湖型、乌山—贝湖—雅鄂型、乌山—雅鄂型、贝湖—雅鄂型。不同类型异常模态对应的RELTE在空间分布、持续时间和强度等各有差异,如:乌山型对应RELTE以全国型为主,平均持续天数达14.2天;乌山—雅鄂型对应的RELTE以东北—华北型为主,事件平均持续天数为14.1天。此外,不同类型的异常配置均对应有超前于RELTE的前期特征,平均超前时间为1~8天不等。超前天数的空间分布、高度场异常的时间演化,进一步揭示了乌山以西和雅鄂以东两个方向高度场异常的发展并形成多种环流异常模态的过程,也验证了RELTE存在前期信号的可能性。     

中国大范围持续性低温事件与中国南方降水异常

本文利用1951~2009年的数据资料,探讨了与冬季大范围持续性低温事件对应的中国南方降水多寡的原因以及不同降水类型事件的不同前兆信号。主要结果如下:(1)欧亚大陆中高纬大型斜脊斜槽是中国大范围持续性低温事件的关键环流特征。降水偏多型和偏少型低温事件的中高纬环流系统存在显著差异:当大型斜脊的纬向尺度较大且其正高度距平中心偏强时,斜槽的负距平中心靠近东亚大槽区,西伯利亚高压大范围加强,南侵冷空气活动偏强,使中国南方地区降水偏少。相反,当大型斜脊的纬向尺度相对小时,斜槽位置偏西,西伯利亚高压加强范围偏小,南侵冷空气活动也偏弱,有利于中国南方地区降水偏多。(2)在低温事件中我国南方地区的降水多寡,也取决于西太副高和孟加拉湾南支槽。当西太副高和孟加拉湾南支槽加强时,来自西太平洋、南海和孟加拉湾的三支暖湿气流到达我国南方地区,导致南方降水偏多,反之亦然。(3)不同降水类型低温事件的前兆环流信号(之前1~3侯)显著不同。降水偏多型低温事件前期,源自北大西洋地区的波列向东亚地区传播。降水偏少型事件前期,极涡在欧亚大陆一侧的次极区显著减弱,同时极涡呈两极型,一极伸向南欧及地中海地区,另一极伸向阿留申群岛。在中期—延伸期时间尺度上,这一结果可为持续性低温事件降水形势的预测提供依据。     

Changes in Magnetic Properties of Baked Archaeological Samples. Implications for Palaeointensity Determination

Rock magnetic investigations of archaeological materials of burnt clay from Eneolithic ovens (4500 years BC) showed particular changes with time in the magnetic mineralogy of samples, stored under normal conditions. Our results indicate that well-burnt clay from the archaeological materials contains a significant amount of very fine magnetic grains, which could notably influence the rock magnetic properties and behavior at room temperature. The main observations after 4 years of storage under laboratory conditions are as follows: 1) decrease in the final unblocking temperature of NRM from 600–620°C to 580°C and 2) increase in the capacity of laboratory TRM acquisition. The most probable mechanism responsible for the observed changes is supposed to be fast low-temperature oxidation of the finest (superparamagnetic) grains and the development of the maghemite shell in coarser single-domain grains. The Thellier palaeointensity experiments, carried out at the beginning of the study, showed very good results, which satisfy all acceptance criteria, applied to evaluation of the results, quite well. Palaeointensity determinations repeated 4 years later on samples from the same material showed the experimental results to be of significantly inferior quality. The main difference is the presence of the significant deviation (change in the slope) on the Arai diagram after T>350–400°C. The calculated palaeointensity is either higher than the one obtained before, or similar, but evaluated with large uncertainty. Therefore, we conclude that the possibility to obtain biased palaeointensity values increases during short-time storage (i.e. several years) due to the low-temperature changes of the material.     

低温水入渗条件下土壤水分温度动态变化

自制土槽试验装置,室内模拟低温水在河岸带土壤中非饱和入渗的过程。以填装中细砂为研究对象,进行了3种不同水头下的低温水入渗试验,对低温水在土壤中的入渗过程和水分、温度时空动态作了连续监测,分析了水头对入渗参数、水分场与温度场的影响规律。试验结果表明:在相同时间内,入渗水头越高,湿润锋垂直(水平)运移距离越大,垂直湿润锋的运移速度随入渗时间的增加有逐渐减少的趋势,最后逐渐趋于稳定;水头5 cm作用时入渗率波动较大,稳定时间大于水头25 cm和45 cm作用时土壤达到稳定入渗率所需的时间;入渗水头越高,平均温度下降越快,温度场也更快地达到相对稳态,水头25 cm在低温水入渗420 min后基本上达到稳态,水头45 cm在240 min后基本达到稳态。