Pb isotopic variability in melt inclusions from the EMI–EMII–HIMU mantle end-members and the role of the oceanic lithosphere

Melt inclusions from four individual lava samples representing the HIMU (Mangaia Island), EMI (Pitcairn Island) and EMII (Tahaa Island) end member components, have heterogeneous Pb isotopic composition larger than that defined by the erupted lavas in each island. The broad linear trend in ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb–²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb space produced by the melt inclusions from Mangaia, Tahaa and fPitcairn samples reproduces the entire trend defined by the Austral chain, the Society islands and the Pitcairn island and seamount groups. The inclusions preserve a record of melt composition of far greater isotopic diversity than that sampled in whole rock basalts. These results can be explained by mixing of a common depleted component with the HIMU, EMI and EMII lavas, respectively. We favor a model that considers the oceanic lithosphere to be that common component. We suggest that the Pb isotopic compositions of the melt inclusions reflect wall rock reaction of HIMU, EMI and EMII melts during their percolation through the oceanic lithosphere. Under these conditions, the localized rapid crystallization of olivine from primitive basalt near the reaction zone would allow the entrapment of melt inclusions with different isotopic composition.     

Statistical analysis for thermal data in the Japanese Islands

We calculated statistical average of thermal data to speculate regional thermal structure of the forearc area of the Japanese Islands. The three thermal statistical averages show a difference of a high thermal regime in the western part of forearc inner zone and a low in the Kanto forearc outer zone. The Kanto zone marks 18 K km⁻¹ for mean geothermal gradient, 44 mW m⁻² for mean heat flow, while the western inner zone shows 27 K km⁻¹ for mean geothermal gradient, 63 mW m⁻² for mean heat flow. The geothermal gradients of the Nobi Plain and the Osaka Plain in the western inner zone are 29 and 36 K km⁻¹, respectively, while the value of the Kanto Plain in the Kanto zone is 21 K km⁻¹. Taking account of the effect of accumulation of sediments, we see the difference in the thermal regime between the plains and conclude that the difference is significant. Heat flux in the crust depends on the volume of granite rich in radioactive elements. There are few granitic rocks in the Kanto zone, while granitic rocks are dominant in the western inner zone. The heat flow of 20 mW m⁻² is attributed to the granitic rocks of about 8 km in thickness. There are two oceanic plate subductions of the Pacific plate and the Philippine Sea plate under the Kanto zone, while only the Philippine Sea plate has been subducting under the western inner zone. The model simulation based on thermal and subduction model shows a heat flow ranging 50-60 mW m⁻² in the southwest Japan forarc area and a low value of about 20 mW m⁻² in the northeast Japan forearc area. The heat flux from the cooling oceanic lithosphere depends on the age of plate. The Shikoku Basin, a part of the Philippine Sea plate, off the western inner zone is 15-30 Ma, while the Pacific plate off the Kanto zone is 122-132 Ma. Theoretically, heat flux values of 15 and 50 Ma oceanic plates range 60-120 mW m⁻² and those of 122-132 Ma could be about 10 mW m⁻². If the heat flux contribution from the Philippine Sea plate under the Kanto zone is smaller than the plate under the western inner zone, there could be a thermal regime difference in order of several tens of mW m⁻². Conclusively, the cause of the difference of heat flux could be the uneven granitic rocks distribution and/or the difference of heat flux between the two subducting plate.     

Indenter-tectonics in the Philippines: Example from the Palawan Microcontinental Block - Philippine Mobile Belt Collision

Abstract. The aseismic Palawan microcontinental block is an oceanic bathymetric high that has collided with the seismically-ac-tive Philippine Mobile Belt since the Early Miocene. Consequently, tectonic microblocks immediately north (Luzon) and south (Western Visayas Block) of the collision front rotated in opposite senses. The rotation led the microblocks to onramp adjacent strike-slip faults, and converted these to subduction zones, namely, the current Manila and Negros Trenches. In addition, the collision also initiated the southward propagation of a major left-lateral strike slip fault, the Philippine Fault Zone, and the Philippine Trench, which bounds the Philippine archipelago along its eastern boundary. Based on onshore and offshore data, the Philippine Fault Zone and the East Luzon Trough - Philippine Trench appears to also propagate northward. Furthermore, the opposite direction of propagation is also noted for the Manila and Negros Trenches from the locus of the collision in the Central Philippines to their northern and southern extensions, respectively. The ages of initiation of the Manila Trench (Early Miocene), Philippine Fault Zone (Middle Miocene) and Philippine Trench (Pliocene) as encountered along a west to east transect in the Central Philippines are consistent with the collision and subsequent indentation of Palawan with the rest of the Philippine Mobile Belt.     

Recent advances in study of oceanic vortex

In this paper, the recent advances in the study of oceanic vortex are outlined. Firstly, the previous studies on oceanic vortex are reviewed. Secondly, some prominent features of oceanic vortex in the Gulf Stream, the Kuroshio, the South China Sea and the Japan Sea regions are depicted based upon the observations and numerical modeling results. Generally, the lifetime of these oceanic vortices ranges from several weeks to several months, and their horizontal scales vary from tens of kilometers to hundreds of kilometers. Their vertical scales are on the order of thousands of meters. Finally, some theoretical studies, mainly on the splitting of a cyclonic vortex and the merging of anticyclonic vortices, are introduced.     

滇西南昌宁－孟连构造带晚泥盆世枕状玄武岩和层状硅质岩的特征

滇西南耿马地区回爱剖面发育有昌宁-孟连构造带最早的枕状玄武岩,与其共生的放射虫硅质岩、硅质泥岩含有晚泥盆世放射虫和牙形石化石。对硅质岩和玄武岩的地球化学研究表明,玄武岩的化学成分具有高P、Ti的特点,轻稀土元素富集,在稀土元素球粒陨石标准化模式图上表现为明显的右倾,微量元素中K、Rb、Ba等大离子亲石元素与Nb、Ta、Zr等高场强元素富集。化学投图结果表明玄武岩形成于洋岛环境。硅质岩的Al／(Al Fe Mn)比值大部分介于0.5～0.7之间,Al_2O_3／(Fe_2O_3 Al_2O_3)位于0.41～0.8之间,大部分硅质岩的Ce／Ce*比值小于1,具弱的Ce负异常,总体表现为大陆边缘型硅质岩的特征。这说明研究区晚泥盆世为邻近大陆边缘的洋盆环境,具洋壳性质的昌宁-孟连古特提斯盆地在晚泥盆世已经形成。     

摩天岭锰成矿带地质特征及找矿方向

摩天岭锰成矿带位于“扬子准地台北缘”与“秦岭褶皱系南缘”。笔者通过对摩天岭锰成矿带成矿地质特征和典型矿床调查与分析研究，初步认为锰矿受沉积相和沉积环境控制明显，震旦系陡山沱组和前震旦系碧口群第四亚群是区内主要的含锰地层。并指出了成矿带南段两河口-黎家营、西南段石滚坝-青木川地段是勘查找矿的有利靶区。     

Manganese Abnormity in Holocene Sediments of the Bohai Sea

Manganese abnormity has been observed in the Holocene sediments of the mud area of Bohai Sea. On the basis of grain size, chemical composition, heavy mineral content and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of foraminifer, relationships between manganese abnormity and sedimentation rates, material source, hydrodynamic conditions are probed. Manganese abnormity occurred during the Middle Holocene when sea level and sedimentation rates were higher than those at present. Sedimentary hiatus was not observed when material sources and hydrodynamic conditions were quite similar. Compared with the former period, the latter period showed a decrease in reduction environment and an inclination toward oxidation environment with high manganese content, whereas provenance and hydrodynamic conditions showed only a slight change. From the above observations, it can be concluded that correlation among manganese abnormity, material source, and hydrodynamic conditions is not obvious. Redox environment seems to be the key factor for manganese enrichment, which is mainly related to marine authigenic process.     

Extraction of the M2 ocean tide from SEASAT altimeter data

Summary. Three complementary methods for the extraction of the M2 ocean tide using SEASAT altimetry are presented and compared. The first method (that developed by Cartwright & Alcock), which provides 'point measurements'of the tide at the crossovers of the SEASAT repeat orbit ground track, has been applied to a study of the tide in tropical ocean areas. The other two methods involve spatial expansions of M2 in terms of either surface spherical harmonics (in the case of the method developed by Mazzega) or Platzman normal modes of the world ocean. The results obtained by each method from only one month of SEASAT data reproduce many features of the tide represented in recent tidal models, and promise well for satellite altimetry as a future source of tidal knowledge.