Subduction initiation in the Neo‐Tethys: constraints from counterclockwise P–T paths in amphibolite rocks of the Nagaland Ophiolite Complex,India

High‐P metamorphic rocks that are formed at the onset of oceanic subduction usually record a single cycle of subduction and exhumation along counterclockwise (CCW) P–T paths. Conceptual and thermo‐mechanical models, however, predict multiple burial–exhumation cycles, but direct observations of these from natural rocks are rare. In this study, we provide a new insight into this complexity of subduction channel dynamics from a fragment of Middle‐Late Jurassic Neo‐Tethys in the Nagaland Ophiolite Complex, northeastern India. Based on integrated textural, mineral compositional, metamorphic reaction history and geothermobarometric studies of a medium‐grade amphibolite tectonic unit within a serpentinite mélange, we establish two overprinting metamorphic cycles (M₁–M₂). These cycles with CCW P–T trajectories are part of a single tectonothermal event. We relate the M₁ metamorphic sequence to prograde burial and heating through greenschist and epidote blueschist facies to peak metamorphism, transitional between amphibolite and hornblende‐eclogite facies at 13.8 ± 2.6 kbar, 625 ± 45 °C (error 2σ values) and subsequent cooling and partial exhumation to greenschist facies. The M₂ metamorphic cycle reflects epidote blueschist facies prograde re‐burial of the partially exhumed M₁ cycle rocks to peak metamorphism at 14.4 ± 2 kbar, 540 ± 35 °C and their final exhumation to greenschist facies along a relatively cooler exhumation path. We interpret the M₁ metamorphism as the first evidence for initiation of subduction of the Neo‐Tethys from the eastern segment of the Indus‐Tsangpo suture zone. Reburial and final exhumation during M₂ are explained in terms of material transport in a large‐scale convective circulation system in the subduction channel as the latter evolves from a warm nascent to a cold and more mature stage of subduction. This Neo‐Tethys example suggests that multiple burial and exhumation cycles involving the first subducted oceanic crust may be more common than presently known.     

Orthopyroxene–cordierite mafic gneiss from the Nomamisaki metamorphic rocks,Southern Kyushu,Japan: Implication for western continuation of the Usuki–Yatsushiro Tectonic Line

We describe an orthopyroxene–cordierite mafic gneiss from the Nomamisaki metamorphic rocks in the Noma Peninsula, southern Kyushu, Japan. The mineral assemblage of the gneiss is orthopyroxene, cordierite, biotite, plagioclase, and ilmenite. Thermometry based on the Fe–Mg exchange reaction between orthopyroxene and biotite yields a peak metamorphic temperature of 680°C. The stability of cordierite relative to garnet, quartz, and sillimanite defines the upper limit of the peak metamorphic pressure as 4.4 kbar. These features indicate that the Nomamisaki metamorphic rocks underwent low‐pressure high‐temperature type metamorphism. Although a chronological problem still remains, the Nomamisaki metamorphic rocks can be regarded as a western continuation of the Higo Belt. The Usuki–Yatsushiro Tectonic Line, which delineates the southern border of the Higo Belt, is therefore located on the east of the Nomamisaki metamorphic rocks in southern Kyushu.     

辽河群的变质阶段与P-T-t轨迹问题

有些文献将辽河群中不同变质级别的矿物组合看成不同阶段的矿物组合,实际上它们是异地异时异相,是空间上的并列关系,不是时间上的更迭关系,更不应该将空间上并列的不同变质级别的矿物组合温压条件的连线当成P-T-t轨迹.这种连线是野外变质梯度,它与P-T-t轨迹大角度相交.把野外变质梯度当成变质作用P-T-t轨迹来讨论辽河群变质作用演化是不合适的.     

南海海岛海山的重磁响应特征

南海的海岛、海山等地貌单元的地球物理研究对于南海成因、海岛利用、资源问题和我国海防建设均具有重要意义.过去我国的南海海洋实际测量资料覆盖面小,且多数为测线调查,海底地形测量精度和重磁等测量精度较低,因此,一直无法得到精度较高的研究成果.本文利用半个多世纪我国在南海历年的多波束、重力、磁力等船载海洋实际地球物理调查资料,加上少数卫星、航空测量成果,得到能够覆盖南海全部海域的多波束、重力、磁力实际测量的地球物理基础数据.追溯南海周边的地磁台站与当年调查时间匹配的日变数据,重新校正历年磁力测量成果,并利用"十一五"863国家海洋高科技计划的处理、拼合技术,获得了南海海底地形、重力、磁力三方互为印证的可靠地球物理成果,为海岛海山的地球物理研究奠定基础.研究发现,南海海岛海山按其地球物理性质并结合现有的岩石物性资料,可以分为三大类:1)南海大部分海岛海山为空间重力异常值高、正磁力ΔZ_⊥异常值也高的高密度高磁性的双高海山,以基性喷出岩(玄武岩)为主;2)空间重力异常值高、磁力ΔZ_⊥异常值低的海山,以花岗岩、变质岩为主;3)空间重力异常值高、部分磁力ΔZ_⊥异常值高部分低的海山,可能是花岗岩、变质岩海山的部分区域出现火山喷发形成的. 海山的分布有规律,与南海的成因与南海块体的分异状态有关.     

扫描电镜能谱法测定独居石中铈、镧、钍等元素的含量

粒度细小的独居石、锆石等矿物在变质岩中含量少,利用岩石薄片偏反光显微镜鉴定技术一般不易确认,X射线粉晶衍射分析通常也检测不出此类微量矿物.利用电镜能谱分析技术能够检测出矿物主要组成元素,并能给出所测元素的浓度值.运用Casino程序和Quanta程序,据元素的浓度值可以计算出矿物中各元素的质量分数（%）.本次研究利用扫描电镜能谱仪检测了6个样品中微量矿物,结果表明：6个样品中主要元素组成为O、Ce、Nd、La、Al、P、Ca、Si、Ag、Th,与独居石矿物化学组成一致,可以判定所检测的6个样品为独居石.     

Perturbation of nuclear decay rates during the solar flare of 2006 December 13

Recently, correlations have been reported between fluctuations in nuclear decay rates and Earth–Sun distance, which suggest that nuclear decay rates may be affected by solar activity. In this paper, we report the detection of a significant decrease in the decay of ⁵⁴Mn during the solar flare of 2006 December 13, whose X-rays were first recorded at 02:37 UT (21:37 EST on 2006 December 12). Our detector was a 1 μCi sample of ⁵⁴Mn, whose decay rate exhibited a dip coincident in time with spikes in both the X-ray and subsequent charged particle fluxes recorded by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). A secondary peak in the X-ray and proton fluxes on December 17 at 12:40 EST was also accompanied by a coincident dip in the ⁵⁴Mn decay rate. These observations support the claim by Jenkins et al. that nuclear decay rates may vary with Earth–Sun distance.     

藏南多层位金锑含矿建造特征及其控矿因素制约

初步研究表明,成矿带内主要矿床(点)的赋矿地层具有明显的规律性特征,发育时代和藏南印支和燕山两期伸展运动的构造背景相对应。含矿沉积建造可基本分为碎屑岩型和硅质岩型两类,分别代表裂陷(谷)盆地内的浊流或喷流沉积相。深部来源的矿质可能是产生区域性成矿作用的主要矿源,而地层来源的Au、Sb则起辅助作用。变质核杂岩的空间结构以及拆离构造的发育型式和含矿建造关系密切,它们往往构成有利的容矿和导矿构造。此外,喜山期岩浆活动和含矿建造的发育也存在时空耦合关系。     

Supersoft X‐ray sources and the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae

Supersoft X‐ray sources have been proposed as one of the major channels to produce Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). However, the true nature of the progenitors has remained an unsolved problem. In this review I summarize the present status of our understanding of SN Ia progenitors, the main classes of progenitor models and recent observational constraints. At present, neither the single‐degenerate nor the double‐degenerate model can be ruled out, and indeed more than one channel may be required to explain the observed SN Ia diversity. Finally, I discuss the origin of the lightcurve peak – lightcurve width relation (the ‘Phillips relation’) and show that it is expected to depend on metallicity; this needs to be taken into account in high‐precision cosmological applications (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Wellbore breakouts of the main borehole of Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) and determination of the present tectonic stress state

The Sulu-Dabie high-pressure (HP)-ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt as the product of subduction-collision between the northern China plate and Yangtze plate underwent a process of formation and evolution from deep subduction→exhumation→extension→slow uplift. The study of its modern tectonic stress field has great significance for a complete understanding of the process of formation and evolution of the HP-UHP metamorphic belt, especially the exhumation and uplift of the belt. Wellbore breakouts are the most visual tectonic phenomenon which can characterize the modern stress action in the main borehole of Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD). Ultrasonic borehole televiewer reflection wave data show that wellbore breakouts began to occur at 1216 m depth of the main borehole. A total of 143 borehole televiewer images were collected from 1216 to 5118 m depth (hole completion depth). After data processing and statistics, the average azimuth of the long dimension of the wellbore breakout obtained was 319.5° ± 3.5°, indicating that the average azimuth of the maximum horizontal principal stress causing wellbore breakout initiation was 49.5° ± 3.5°. The maximum and minimum horizontal principal stress values at 52 depths in the interval of 1269 to 5047 m were estimated using the elements of wellbore shapes (wellbore depth and width), combined with the cohesive strength and internal frictional angle of the rock obtained by rock mechanical tests on samples, and the static load stresses at corresponding depths were calculated according to the rock density logging data. The results indicate that: the maximum and minimum horizontal principal stresses are 41.4 and 25.3 MPa at 1269 m depth respectively and 164.7 and 122 MPa at 5047 m depth respectively; the maximum vertical stress is 141.3 MPa at 5047 m depth with a density of 2.8 g/cm³; the in-situ stresses increase nearly linearly with depth. The magnitudes and directions of the three principal stresses reflect that the regional stress field around the CCSD main borehole is mainly in a strike-slip state, which is consistent with the basic features of the regional stress field determined using other methods.