Manganese nodule distribution in different topographic domains of the Central Indian Basin

Manganese nodule distribution is primarily influenced by seafloor topography. Nodule distribution at 479 locations vis‐à‐vis seabed topography is studied by superimposing sampling location on the topographic profile and assigning appropriate domain (hilltop, valley, slope, or plain) for the sampling location. Highest mean abundance is observed at the valleys (6.94 kg /m²), followed by hilltops, slopes, and least on plains. Frequency distributions are regular (Gaussian) on plains, whereas on valleys and hilltops they are irregular (Rayleigh type). Fe and Co content is highest in nodules from hilltops and lowest in those from plains. Conversely, Mn, Cu, and Ni content is highest on plains and least on valleys. Fe: Mn and Co: Mn are negatively correlated in all the domains. Mn and total metal content (Ni + Cu + Co) show direct relationship in all the domains. An inverse relation between nodule abundance and composition is found. Cluster analysis on chemical and abundance data shows two distinct groups in all domains. Abundance and Fe and Co content typically form one group, while all other elements form another group. Genesis of nodules depends on the availability of supply of transition elements to the abyssal environment, maintenance of nodules in the sediment‐water interface, and sedimentation rates.     

Deposition of hydrogenetic and hydrothermal manganese minerals in the Ogasawara (Bonin) Arc Area,Northwest Pacific

A widespread distribution of hydrothermal and hydrogenetic manganese deposits is described in the results of the Hakurei‐Maru cruises conducted in the Bonin Arc areas of the West Pacific from 1984 to 1989. Manganese deposits occur in the active volcano chains, back‐arc basins, remnant back‐arc ridges, and oceanic seamounts.

The hydrogenetic iron‐manganese deposits commonly form earthly black crusts and nodules on the topographic highs of inactive ridges and old seamounts, sometimes as thick as 10 cm. They are always composed of the iron‐manganese mineral vernadite. Co and Ni contents are relatively high in the crusts from the seamounts in the open Pacific Ocean (up to 1.1% Co and 1.0% Ni). Two generations of distinct chemistry and texture are typical of these crusts, which can be compared to reported thick crusts from the Central Pacific seamounts.

The hydrothermal deposits, characterized by dense, submetallic, and gray appearance, are dominant in the recent and also in past submarine volcanoes of the island‐arc systems. Evidence of past hydrothermal activity was ascertained as fossil hydrothermal manganese deposits inside the hydrogenetic nodules or beneath the hydrogenetic crusts over the Tertiary island arc. Their component minerals are considered to be todorokite and bimessite (stable and contractible upon dehydration), having almost negligible amounts of Fe, Si, Al, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, Cu, etc. In the small model site, the Kaikata Seamount hydrothermal area, the presumably recent hydrothermal activity has yielded thin slabs of pure manganate deposits growing downward within volcanic and sand layers.

Early diagenetic influence is negligible on nodules of this area.     

Availability of soil and sediment phosphorus to a planktonic alga

Chlorophyll production by Chlorella vulgaris Beij. var. vulgaris was used to estimate alga‐available phosphorus in clays, soils, and lake sediments suspended in water at concentrations appropriate to lake inflows during floods (100–500 g/m³). Chlorella apparently used 24–81% of 0.5M H2SO4 extractable phosphorus in clays from topsoils, about 25% from lake sediments, and 0.3–1.0% from, subsoils low in phosphorus and with high phosphorus retention.

The presence of suspended soil material did not reduce the availability to Chlorella of inorganic phosphorus added to the cultures. Increasing the Chlorella population by adding inorganic phosphorus resulted in an apparent increase in availability of phosphorus from the soil, possibly as a result of enzymic mineralisation of organic soil phosphorus. The amount of available phosphorus in lake sediments was not a reliable guide to the trophic condition, of the lake.

Suspended material from sediments, soils, and especially clay eroded from fertilised topsoils may provide phosphorus for algal growth in lakes. If allophanic clays are applied to lakes to sorb phosphorus and hence control eutrophication, the particles must settle out before planktonic algae in the photic zone can use the adsorbed phosphorus.     

Oxygenation of shallow marine environments and chemical sedimentation in Palaeoproterozoic peritidal settings: Frere Formation,Western Australia

The Palaeoproterozoic Frere Formation (ca 1.89 Gyr old) of the Earaheedy Basin, Western Australia, is a ca 600 m thick succession of iron formation and fine‐grained, clastic sedimentary rocks that accumulated on an unrimmed continental margin with oceanic upwelling. Lithofacies stacking patterns suggest that deposition occurred during a marine transgression punctuated by higher frequency relative sea‐level fluctuations that produced five parasequences. Decametre‐scale parasequences are defined by flooding surfaces overlain by either laminated magnetite or magnetite‐bearing, hummocky cross‐stratified sandstone that grades upward into interbedded hematite‐rich mudstone and trough cross‐stratified granular iron formation. Each aggradational cycle is interpreted to record progradation of intertidal and tidal channel sediments over shallow subtidal and storm‐generated deposits of the middle shelf. The presence of aeolian deposits, mud cracks and absence of coarse clastics indicate deposition along an arid coastline with significant wind‐blown sediment input. Iron formation in the Frere Formation, in contrast to most other Palaeoproterozoic examples, was deposited almost exclusively in peritidal environments. These other continental margin iron formations also reflect upwelling of anoxic, Fe‐rich sea water, but accumulated in the full spectrum of shelf environments. Dilution by fine‐grained, windblown terrigenous clastic sediment probably prevented the Frere iron formation from forming in deeper settings. Lithofacies associations and interpreted paragenetic pathways of Fe‐rich lithofacies further suggest precipitation in sea water with a prominent oxygen chemocline. Although essentially unmetamorphosed, the complex diagenetic history of the Frere Formation demonstrates that understanding the alteration of iron formation is a prerequisite for any investigation seeking to interpret ocean‐atmosphere evolution. Unlike studies that focus exclusively on their chemistry, an approach that also considers palaeoenvironment and oceanography, as well the effects of post‐depositional fluid flow and alteration, mitigates the potential for incorrectly interpreting geochemical data.     

淋溶条件下石英砂柱中铁锰氧化物的形成特点

用不同浓度铁锰离子混合溶液对石英砂柱进行40次淋溶实验,研究砂柱中铁锰氧化物的形成状况.结果表明,淋出液中铁锰离子浓度与其pH值随着淋溶次数的增加呈现先降低后升高的趋势;各处理所形成的铁锰氧化物含量之间存在极显著差异,淋溶液中铁锰离子浓度越大,形成的铁锰氧化物含量越高,当淋溶液中铁锰摩尔浓度比即c(Fe2+)/c(Mn2+)为2∶1时最有利于铁锰氧化物的形成;随着淋溶次数的增加,铁锰氧化物含量的增长逐渐减慢;不同层次铁锰氧化物含量差异显著,下层(20～30 cm)含量明显高于其它层次;各阶段(每淋溶10次为一阶段)不同形态(非晶形态、晶形态)铁锰氧化物含量间的相关性存在差异,铁锰氧化物尤其是非晶形态的相对比例(Fe/Mn)随着淋溶次数的增加逐渐增大.     

Early Cenozoic Tectonics of the Tibetan Plateau

Geological mapping at a scale of 1:250000 coupled with related researches in recent years reveal well Early Cenozoic paleo-tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Marine deposits and foraminifera assemblages indicate that the Tethys-Himalaya Ocean and the Southwest Tarim Sea existed in the south and north of the Tibetan Plateau, respectively, in Paleocene-Eocene. The paleooceanic plate between the Indian continental plate and the Lhasa block had been as wide as 900km at beginning of the Cenozoic Era. Late Paleocene transgressions of the paleo-sea led to the formation of paleo-bays in the southern Lhasa block. Northward subduction of the Tethys-Himalaya Oceanic Plate caused magma emplacement and volcanic eruptions of the Linzizong Group in 64.5-44.3 Ma, which formed the Paleocene-Eocene Gangdise Magmatic Arc in the north of Yalung-Zangbu Suture (YZS), accompanied by intensive thrust in the Lhasa, Qiangtang, Hoh Xil and Kunlun blocks. The Paleocene-Eocene depression of basins reached to a depth of 3500-4800 m along major thrust faults and 680-850 m along the boundary normal faults in central Tibetan Plateau, and the Paleocene-Eocene depression of the Tarim and Qaidam basins without evident contractions were only as deep as 300-580 m and 600-830 m, respectively, far away from central Tibetan Plateau. Low elevation plains formed in the southern continental margin of the Tethy-Himalaya Ocean, the central Tibet and the Tarim basin in Paleocene-Early Eocene. The Tibetan Plateau and Himalaya Mts. mainly uplifted after the Indian-Eurasian continental collision in Early-Middle Eocene.     

非洲锰矿床成因类型、地质特征及表生富集作用

[研究目的]非洲锰矿资源丰富,储量3.1亿t、资源量6.6亿t排名在世界上均列第一,加强非洲锰矿床的研究和认识对推动锰矿找矿工作具有重要的指导意义.[研究方法]通过对重要成矿带典型矿床的解剖总结了非洲锰矿床的成因类型、地质特征.[研究结果]非洲锰矿成因类型主要有前寒武系条带状铁建造(BIF)型、海相沉积型、陆相(三角洲...     

Interprétation paléoclimatique et paléohydrologique de l'origine des nodules carbonatés des terrasses du Niger aux environs de Niamey (Niger) au moyen des outils isotopiques et géochimiques

Résumé

Cette étude se situe au Niger en région sahélienne, près de la ville de Niamey, et a pour but la reconstitution des conditions de formation des différents types de nodules carbonatés que l'on trouve sur les anciennes terrasses du fleuve Niger. La chimie, la géochimie isotopique (radioactif et stable) et l'étude minéralogique des carbonates ont été utilisées pour dater les nodules et reconstituer les conditions de précipitation. Les résultats montrent bien l'authigénie et l'accrétion dans le premier mètre du sol des nodules de la vallée du Niger. L'âge de formation des nodules apparaît ancien, entre 1500 et 7000 ans BP. Cette plage de temps correspondrait à une période transitoire entre les conditions de sécheresse actuelles et l'importante phase humide régionale située entre 10 000 et 4500 ans BP. Cependant, la diversité des âges obtenus, ainsi que les différentes formes de nodules montrent que des facteurs très locaux (état de la nappe localement, végétation, texture du sol) ont dû aussi jouer un rôle dans le processus de précipitation des nodules.