Carbonate deposits on submerged seamounts in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Abstract   The lithology of shallow-water carbonates collected from 19 sites on 16 seamounts in six areas of the northwestern Pacific Ocean using the Deep-sea Boring Machine System are described. The areas include the Amami Plateau, Daito Ridge, Oki-Daito Ridge, Urdaneta Plateau, Kyushu-Palau Ridge and Ogasawara Plateau. Chronological constraint is provided by calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy and strontium (Sr) isotope stratigraphy. Large amounts of shallow-water carbonates accumulated on the seamounts during the Oligocene, a relatively cool period, whereas limited carbonate deposits formed during the Early Miocene, a relatively warm period. This might indicate that deposition of shallow-water carbonates on seamounts in the northwestern Pacific Ocean was not necessarily controlled by climatic conditions, but was related to volcanism and tectonics that served as foundations for reef/carbonate-platform formation. Remarkable differences in biotic composition exist between Cretaceous and Cenozoic shallow-water carbonates. Late Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates are distinguished by the occurrence of rudists, solenoporacean algae and microencrusters. Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene shallow-water carbonates are dominated by Halimeda or nummulitid and discocyclinid larger foraminifers. Scleractinian corals became common from the Oligocene onward. Nongeniculate coralline algae and larger foraminifers were common to abundant throughout the Eocene to the Pleistocene. The replacement of major carbonate producers in the shallow-water carbonate factory during post-Cretaceous time is in accordance with previous studies and is considered to reflect a shift in seawater chemistry.     

Simulation of the dissolution of weathered versus unweathered limestone in carbonic acid solutions of varying strength

A simulation was undertaken within a climatic chamber to investigate limestone dissolution under varied carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) strengths as a possible analogue for future increases in atmospheric CO₂ arising from global warming. Twenty‐eight samples cut from a block of Bath (Box Hill) limestone from Somerville College, Oxford, which had been removed during restoration after 150 years in an urban environment, were weighed and placed in closed bottles of thin plastic containing varying concentrations of H₂CO₃. Half of the stone samples were derived from exposed surfaces of the stone block (weathered) while the others were obtained from the centre of the block on unexposed surfaces (unweathered). The purpose of this was to compare dissolution of previously weathered versus unweathered surfaces in strong (pH 4·73) versus weak (pH 6·43) solutions of H₂CO₃. A temperature of c. 19 °C was maintained within the chamber representing a plausible future temperature in Oxford for the year 2200 given current warming scenarios. The simulation lasted 25 days with a few stone samples being removed midway. Stone samples show reduced weight in all cases but one. There was greater dissolution of stone samples in a strong H₂CO₃ solution as conveyed by higher concentrations of total hardness and Ca²⁺ in the water samples as well as enhanced microscopic dissolution features identified using SEM. The simulation confirms that enhanced atmospheric CO₂ under global warming, given adequate moisture, will accelerate dissolution rates particularly of newly replaced limestone building stones. However, previously weathered surfaces, such as those on historical stone exposed for a century or more, appear to be less susceptible to the effects of such increased rainfall acidity. Conservation techniques which remove weathered surfaces, such as stone cleaning, may accelerate future decay of historical limestone structures by increasing their susceptibility to dissolution. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

藏南岗巴—定日地区始新世化石碳酸盐岩微相与沉积环境

藏南岗巴-定日地区发育着西藏最晚期的海相沉积，对这套海相沉积的研究，可提供关于西藏特提斯演化晚期的良好信息，本文对岗巴-定日地区始新世遮普惹组的化石碳酸盐岩微相进行了较为详细的分析和研究。参考Wilson(1975)的标准微相，初步识别出10种微相和5种生物相类型。同时对遮普惹组中的砾状灰岩的成因机制作了有益的探讨，它完全是由沉积作用而成；胶结物不是源于物质的重新分配，而是台地边缘斜坡的等深流沉积。以此为基础，对西藏特提斯晚期沉积环境的演变进行了较为详细的分析。笔者认为：岗巴-定日盆地在始新世Ypresian-Lutetian早期接受海侵；自Lutetian晚期开始，区内总体处于一种海退环境，但由于受板块碰撞作用的影响，岗巴地区在Lutetian晚期-Bartonian晚期成为-深水坳陷盆地；至Priabonian早期，海水完全退出本区。     

灰岩成因-结构分类的进展及其相关问题讨论

由Folk在1959，1962年及Dunham在1962年所提出的灰岩因－结构分类体系，具有划时代的意义，至今还得到极为广泛的应用，Embry和Klovan在1971年关于生物礁灰岩的成因－结构分类，即关于骨架灰岩，障积灰岩，粘结灰岩的成因－结构分类的第一次重要的补充，它解决了与生物作用有关的灰岩不符合Folk和Dunham的结构成熟度概念的矛盾，而对成岩作用及其产物的更深入研究，地质学家们发现了许多布成岩作用形成的泥晶化作用和颗粒化作用，由它们所形成的岩石也不符合Folk和Dunbam的结构成熟度概念，导致了Wright在1992年提出了一个更完整的灰岩成因－结构分类体系，把灰岩分为生物作用类，沉积作用类及成岩作用类三大类，即Folk和Dumban描述的分类均属于沉积作用类。要特别指出的是，在从松散沉积物到已石化的竖硬石头的成岩过程中，不但灰岩的结构会发生变化，而且组分也会发生变化，从而使灰岩的成因－结构分类变得更加复杂，关于这方面还存在许多有待进一步研究的问题。在审视Wright在1992年的分类体系时，有必要在沉积作用类中增加“非正常沉积作用亚类灰岩”，针对许多非礁相地层中发育的由生物礁岩石构成的生物层及生物丘，因而有必要对生物作用灰灰岩进行更进一步的分类。     

Engineering Geology of Limestone in Malaysia

This paper provides an overview of the engineering geology of limestone. Limestone is of rather wide occurrence in Malaysia. It is interesting in view of the unique landforms and karstic features that are encountered in limestone terrains, e.g. steep, subvertical limestone cliffs rising abruptly and majestically above the ground surface and highly variable and pinnacled subterranean limestone bedrock. The karstic features and associated engineering geological problems of both the limestone hills and the bedrock are discussed in the paper. Rockfalls, sinkholes, cavities, etc. are some of the common engineering geological problems associated with limestone terrains. Some local case studies are provided as illustrations. Finally the rock mechanical properties of limestone is discussed at the end of the paper.     

四川龙门山地区阳新组灰岩地质特征及用途

二叠系阳新组灰岩厚度240~350 m，走向延伸大于50 km，出露面积15 km²以上，资源储量极为丰富.研究区0.6 km²范围内资源量为5193×10⁴ t.阳新组灰岩CaO含量49.87%~55.74%，MgO含量0.24%~2.80%，SiO₂含量0.38%~5.80%之间，SO₃含量0.01%~0.40%，K₂O+Na₂O含量0.02%~0.12%，均达到Ⅰ级水泥用料要求.饱和抗压强度41.6~82.4 MPa，坚固性1%~3%，压碎指标8.2%~9.6%；所有指标均符合建筑石料用要求.对阳新组灰岩地质特征、物理化学指标的分析评价显示，其可广泛运用于水泥、建筑石料等领域，具有重要的经济价值和意义.     

彭县塘坝子—葛仙山景点石灰岩溶洞景观及旅游资源开发前景

塘坝子-葛仙山景点,地处举世瞩目的龙门山推覆-滑覆构造带上,已成为拟建中的“龙门山地质公园”的重要组成部分。其独特的石灰岩岩溶地貌和溶洞景观,是成都旅游区和彭县景区内宝贵的旅游景观配套资源,除旅游开发价值较高外,亦是离成都市区较近较理想的人防各战疏散基地,因而具有一定的资源综合开发潜力。对该景点的尽早开发,还可缓解邻区旅游热点的人满之患。     

热源法探测陡河水库左坝肩绕坝渗漏通道

通过热源法对陡河水库渗漏通道的探测发现,陡河水库左坝肩存在着绕坝渗漏通道。在左坝肩基岩10m高程附近存在低温场异常,通过对水库底部附近温度场分布测量,判定出低温水来自上游右支河水的补给,通过低温区分布确定出绕坝渗漏强渗漏通道的位置,在库水位保持在32m时,根据热源法计算出渗漏通道的渗漏量在3.59×105~4.74×105m3/d之间,钻孔发现水库边基岩中的水位比库水位低22m,水位差是造成了水库跌窝事故的主要原因,在11#钻孔中发现了来自河床的细砂,在11#和9#孔中的连通试验证实基岩中的强渗漏通道。     

广西桂林庙头上泥盆统融县组中的灰岩脉和角砾灰岩体及其成因

广西桂林庙头上泥盆统融县组台地边缘相具鸟眼或溶孔砂屑生屑藻粘结灰岩中发育了大量灰岩脉，灰岩脉呈岩墙状近直立地切过围岩，露头上可见连续垂直延伸长度达十余米，脉内仍是上泥盆统融县组灰岩组分，仅比围岩稍晚或同时代的：角砾状退白云石化藻粘结灰岩、角砾状藻粘结灰岩（快速堆积，角砾多数来自围岩）、细鲕粒颗粒灰岩、含钙球砂屑粒泥灰岩、藻砂屑腹足泥粒灰岩（正常沉积或液化变形软沉积流，均高于围岩层位）及大量栉壳状方解石脉（张性环境）等，灰岩脉内可见软沉积物变形痕迹及液化脉（地震液化），晚期灰岩脉可穿插早期灰岩脉；在其西侧同层位共生有一套楔状（地裂缝）、不规则状角砾灰岩体，角砾棱角状，大小不等，成分是灰色中厚层角砾状藻粘结灰岩、含钙球砂屑粒泥灰岩等。笔者等注意到灰岩脉均出露在北东向正断层的下盘（东侧），而角砾灰岩体则均出露在该断层的上盘（西侧），事实上，灰岩脉及角砾灰岩体分布走向与北东向断层走向一致，角砾灰岩体中的角砾成分显示其来自较灰岩脉围岩稍高层位，与灰岩脉内充填岩性相近，因此，是该断层控制了当时的沉积，此断层是晚泥盆世台地边缘同沉积正断层；灰岩脉是与断层伴生的张性裂隙被围岩角砾或稍晚时段的沉积物充填；角砾灰岩体是同沉积正断层形成的断层崖崩落角砾岩，指示一个消失殆尽的晚泥盆世碳酸盐岩同沉积正断层陡崖，因而，桂林台地，至少西段台地边缘，是与右江各孤立台地边缘一样——在地质图上应标示为同沉积正断层边界。其构造意义是：庙头地区的灰岩脉、角砾灰岩体及同沉积断层是桂林台地对晚泥盆世构造伸展作用的响应，从而说明广西晚古生代的板块拉张，不是从二叠纪才开始的，而是至少从晚泥盆世就开始了；晚古生代至早三叠世持续的孤立台地与深水盆地相间的古地理格局，是在晚泥盆世就奠定了基础。     

北京周口店豹皮灰岩的变形特征

周口店地区广泛分布的寒武纪地层府君山组底部灰岩因其具典型的豹斑状构造而被称为豹皮灰岩。本文主要以出露于周口店黄院地区的豹皮灰岩为研究对象。组成豹皮灰岩的物质成分有2种,一为白云质成分的豹斑,其余部分为泥灰质。在露头尺度上,豹皮灰岩中的豹斑发生了明显的旋转变形并具有一定的定向性,而泥灰质成分则具有清晰的韧性变形特征,为较典型的碳酸盐糜棱岩;在微观尺度上,构成豹斑的白云石矿物未发生韧性变形,而泥灰质成分中的方解石具有明显的细粒化、拉长和定向。豹皮灰岩变形发生时岩石所处的温度介于200～250℃之间。豹皮灰岩的形成经历了原岩形成和后期构造变形改造2个阶段,于寒武纪由沉积作用形成了岩石的物质组分和原生层状构造,在前印支期受水平剪切作用形成岩石的豹斑状构造。