Flexural and gravity modelling of the Mérida Andes and Barinas–Apure Basin, Western Venezuela

The kinematic evolution of the Barinas–Apure Basin and the southern Mérida Andes from Lower Miocene to the Present is numerically modelled using flexural isostatic theory and geophysical and geological data. Two published regional transects are used to build up a reference section, which is then used to constrain important parameters (e.g. shortenings and sedimentary thicknesses) for the flexural modelling. To control the location of the main fault system in the flexural model earthquake information is also used. The estimated flexural elastic thickness of the South American lithosphere beneath the Barinas–Apure Basin and the Mérida Andes Range is 25 km. The value for the final total shortening is 60 km. The flexural isostatic model shows that the Andean uplift has caused the South American lithosphere subsidence and the development of the Barinas–Apure Basin.In addition, gravity modelling was used to understand deep crustal features that could not be predicted by flexural theory. Consequently, the best-fit flexural model is used to build a gravity model across the Mérida Andes and the Barinas–Apure Basin preserving the best-controlled structural features from the flexural modelling (e.g. basin wavelength and depth) and slightly changing the main bodies density values and deep crustal structures. The final gravity model is intended to be representative of the major features affecting the gravity field in the study area. The predicted morphology in the lower crustal level of the final gravity model favours the hypothesis of a present delamination or megathrust of the Maracaibo crust over the South American Shield. This process would use the Conrad discontinuity as a main detachment surface within an incipient NW dipping continental subduction.     

C-isotope Composition of Carbonates from Indravati Basin, India: Implications for Regional Stratigraphic Correlation

The Indravati Basin represents an unmetamorphosed and unfossiliferous sequence and shows a broad similarity in lithological association with other Purana Basins of Central India. The carbonates belonging to Indravati Basin have on average, moderately positive δ13 C values (up to +4.5). Numerous successions reported from other parts of world, show similar δ13 C values and contain evidence to suggest that the latest Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic period may represent an isotopically recognizable interval globally. The elevated δ13 C values of Indravati Basin are also correlatable with other Purana Basins in India including Upper Vindhyan Supergroup.     

Near-vertical seismic reflection image using a novel acquisition technique across the Vrancea Zone and Foscani Basin, south-eastern Carpathians (Romania)

The DACIA PLAN (Danube and Carpathian Integrated Action on Process in the Lithosphere and Neotectonics) deep seismic sounding survey was performed in August–September 2001 in south-eastern Romania, at the same time as the regional deep refraction seismic survey VRANCEA 2001. The main goal of the experiment was to obtain new information on the deep structure of the external Carpathians nappes and the architecture of Tertiary/Quaternary basins developed within and adjacent to the seismically-active Vrancea zone, including the Focsani Basin. The seismic reflection line had a WNW–ESE orientation, running from internal East Carpathians units, across the mountainous south-eastern Carpathians, and the foreland Focsani Basin towards the Danube Delta. There were 131 shot points along the profile, with about 1 km spacing, and data were recorded with stand-alone RefTek-125s (also known as “Texans”), supplied by the University Texas at El Paso and the PASSCAL Institute. The entire line was recorded in three deployments, using about 340 receivers in the first deployment and 640 receivers in each of the other two deployments. The resulting deep seismic reflection stacks, processed to 20 s along the entire profile and to 10 s in the eastern Focsani Basin, are presented here. The regional architecture of the latter, interpreted in the context of abundant independent constraint from exploration seismic and subsurface data, is well imaged. Image quality within and beneath the thrust belt is of much poorer quality. Nevertheless, there is good evidence to suggest that a thick (10 km) sedimentary basin having the structure of a graben and of indeterminate age underlies the westernmost part of the Focsani Basin, in the depth range 10–25 km. Most of the crustal depth seismicity observed in the Vrancea zone (as opposed to the more intense upper mantle seismicity) appears to be associated with this sedimentary basin. The sedimentary successions within this basin and other horizons visible further to the west, beneath the Carpathian nappes, suggest that the geometry of the Neogene and recent uplift observed in the Vrancea zone, likely coupled with contemporaneous rapid subsidence in the foreland, is detached from deeper levels of the crust at about 10 km depth. The Moho lies at a depth of about 40 km along the profile, its poor expression in the reflection stack being strengthened by independent estimates from the refraction data. Given the apparent thickness of the (meta)sedimentary supracrustal units, the crystalline crust beneath this area is quite thin (< 20 km) supporting the hypothesis that there may have been delamination of (lower) continental crust in this area involved in the evolution of the seismic Vrancea zone.     

Land degradation in the source region of the Yellow River, northeast Qinghai-Xizang Plateau: classification and evaluation

Land degradation imposes a great threat to the world. It is not merely an environmental issue, but also a social and economic problem. Land desertification is among the main aspects of environment changes in the source region of the Yellow River. Previous studies focused on water resource utilization and soil erosion, but land degradation in the source region of the Yellow River even the whole Qinghai-Xizang Plateau received little attention. Based on the data obtained by field investigation and TM satellite images of 2000, this study provides the classification and evaluation information of the land degradation in the source region of the Yellow River. There are six types of land degradation in this region: water erosion in the northern mountains around the Gonghe Basin, sandy desertification in the Gonghe Basin and Upland Plain Area, aridization in the lower reaches, salinization in the Gonghe Basin, vegetation degradation in the intramontance basin and freezing and thawing erosion in the high mountains. The total degraded area is 34,429.6 km², making up 37.5% of the land in the study area. Finally, land degradation in the source region of the Yellow River was evaluated according to changes in the physical structure and chemical component of soils, land productivity, secondary soil salt and water conditions.     

华北地块东部晚中生代至新生代岩石圈不均一减薄与改造模式

本文综合运用不同时代幔源包体平衡温压对比、玄武岩地球化学性质对岩石圈厚度的反演以及不同时代岩石圈地幔地球化学性质的对比的方法，把华北地块东部岩石圈的减薄时间限定在晚中生代至新生代之间。减薄的机制可能是华北东部地区晚白垩世以来大陆岩石圈的拉张作用。由于机械性拉薄和热、机械和化学侵蚀作用，岩石圈厚度最终减薄到70km以下。但古老的岩石圈地幔并没有完全因减薄而消失，残留部分受到了来自软流圈物质的强烈改造，使其Sr、Nd同位素组成类似于软流圈，但Os同位素没有受到明显的改变。改造后的岩石圈地幔成为华北地块东部新生代岩石圈地幔的主体。在时空上，岩石圈的减薄具有不均一的性质。     

利用地震属性研究准噶尔盆地西北缘拐19井区下侏罗统三工河组沉积环境

在准噶尔盆地西北缘，寻找岩性圈闭油气藏已是至关重要的问题。但人们几乎还是用常规的手段来寻找岩性油气藏，没有实质性进展。本文是以利用宽方位角采集的地震数据为基础，对数据进行高保真资料处理和参考标准层的层拉平解释。利用前人的区域地质研究成果和钻井解释成果对侏罗系的沉积环境进行了精细的描述，确定了拐19井区在下侏罗统三工河组的出油层段附近的沉积环境由湖泊相－三角洲前缘相－河流相－湖泊相的演化过程。利用地震属性解释的结果也能较好地反映目标区的沉积环境变迁，并且与区域地质、测井解释结果相吻合，为寻找油气提供了很好的依据。由此得出利用地震属性可以进行沉积环境变迁分析，为油田寻找岩性圈闭及油气藏做出贡献。     

苏北盆地高邮凹陷古近系戴南组沉积相及其与隐蔽油气藏的关系

苏北盆地高邮凹陷是江苏油田的主要油气勘探开发区，是一个南断北超的典型箕状断陷湖盆，其中的古近系戴南组为一套厚度近2 000 m的河湖相砂泥岩地层，从下到上分为一段和二段。通过沉积充填分析和沉积相编图，戴南组一段沉积时，苏北盆地断陷构造活动相对强烈，地形高差大，水体相对较深，水体范围相对较小，从南向北分别发育近岸水下扇、湖底扇、三角洲等沉积相类型。戴南组二段沉积时，构造活动有所减弱，地形高差变小，水体相对较浅，水体范围扩大至整个凹陷，从南向北分别发育扇三角洲、湖底扇、三角洲等沉积相类型。利用砂岩等厚图等资料，确定了戴南组的沉积相图。沉积相在平面上分布范围明确，纵向上既有差异性又有继承性。高邮凹陷边缘和内部的同沉积断层对沉积相和砂体的发育分布起着重要的控制作用，沉积相控制了油气分布，特别是对隐蔽油气藏形成起重要作用。高邮凹陷戴南组的隐蔽圈闭类型主要有地层超覆、断层-岩性、砂岩上倾尖灭及透镜体圈闭等。湖底扇、三角洲前缘、扇三角洲前缘、近岸水下扇中扇等为有利的储集岩相带。结合石油地质条件的分析，确定了联18-马18井区等几个有利的隐蔽油藏勘探区。     

准噶尔盆地腹部白垩系清水河组清一段高分辨率层序地层特征及岩性油气藏预测

通过钻井、岩芯和测井等资料的分析，清水河组清一段划分出1个长期基准面旋回、2个中期基准面旋回和5个短期基准面旋回。MSC1中期基准面旋回主要为辫状河三角洲沉积，MSC2中期基准面旋回为湖泊相沉积，局部地区夹有辫状三角洲沉积，极易形成岩性油气藏。区域性隔层发育在非对称型长期基准面旋回的上部，有利的储集体主要分布于中期基准面上升的早期。     

Thermodel for Windows系统的模拟及实例研究

Thermodel for Windows是一个在结构上由盆地尺度上的古温标热历史正、反演和岩石圈尺度上的盆地构造一热演化模拟两部分构成。通过对Thermodel for Windows系统模拟方法的研究及其主要组件的功能和数据的输入方法等的了解，分析了本系统的优缺点。通过对沁水盆地T1003号孔的实例研究，介绍了利用镜质体反射率（R0）反演非稳态热状态条件下盆地的热流史和地层的剥蚀量，进而重建盆地内地层热历史的工作方法和技巧。对盆地地热史软件的进一步开发和盆地地热演化史的研究具有较大的应用意义。     

江西修水西部金矿成矿地质条件分析

通过对地层、岩浆岩、构造及化探异常与成矿关系的分析，认为江西修水西部地区具有寻找中一大型金矿床的潜力。