On the formation of continental silicic melts in thermochemical mantle convection models: implications for early Earth

Seafloor magnetotelluric (MT) data were collected at seven sites across the Hawaiian hot spot swell, spread approximately evenly between 120 and 800 km southwest of the Hawaiian-Emperor island chain. All data are consistent with an electrical strike direction of 300°, aligned along the seamount chain, and are well fit using two-dimensional (2D) inversion. The major features of the 2D electrical model are a resistive lithosphere underlain by a conductive lower mantle, and a narrow, conductive, ‘plume’ connecting the surface of the islands to the lower mantle. This plume is required; without it the swell bathymetry produces a large divergence of the along-strike and across-strike components of the MT fields, which is not seen in the data. The plume radius appears to be less than 100 km, and its resistivity of around 10 Ωm, extending to a depth of 150 km, is consistent with a bulk melt fraction of 5–10%.A seismic low velocity region (LVR) observed by Laske et al. [Laske, G., Phipp Morgan, J., Orcutt, J.A., 1999. First results from the Hawaiian SWELL experiment, Geophys. Res. Lett. 26, 3397–3400] at depths centered around 60 km and extending 300 km from the islands is not reflected in our inverse model, which extends high lithospheric resistivities to the edge of the conductive plume. Forward modeling shows that resistivities in the seismic LVR can be lowered at most to 30 Ωm, suggesting a maximum of 1% connected melt and probably less. However, a model of hot subsolidus lithosphere of 10² Ωm (1450–1500 °C) within the seismic LVR increasing to an off-swell resistivity of >10³ Ωm (<1300 °C) fits the MT data adequately and is also consistent with the 5% drop in seismic velocities within the LVR. This suggests a ‘hot, dry lithosphere’ model of thermal rejuvination, or possibly underplated lithosphere depleted in volatiles due to melt extraction, either of which is derived from a relatively narrow mantle plume source of about 100 km radius. A simple thermal buoyancy calculation shows that the temperature structure implied by the electrical and seismic measurements is in quantitative agreement with the swell bathymetry.     

Responses of Ras El Bar seafloor characteristics to the protective engineering structures, Nile delta, Egypt

Bathymetry of the seafloor in the area in front of Ras El Bar coast, the characters of the seafloor sediments and the effects of protective structures on seafloor bathymetry were examined. Seafloor depths in front of Ras El Bar seawall ranged between 2 and 4 m. These depths, coupled with wave climate, result in waves breaking directly onto the wall and exerting high, dynamic pressures on the area at the structure’s toe. The sandy seafloor in front of the wall has been scoured. Sea water has undermined the wall causing removal of sediment, destabilization of its slope and the whole face of the wall has slipped. Toe protection in the form of a rocky apron is required to prevent such damage. West of the seawall, the constructed breakwater system has affected the bathymetry of the seafloor in the area. Shoaling and submerged spits have been formed in the shadow of each breakwater unit. The gaps between the breakwater units have attained deep depths and steep slopes. Scours and steep slopes adjacent to the head of the breakwater units have been recorded. Seaward of the breakwater system, deeper depths and gentle slopes characterize the seafloor. Offshore–onshore current and sediment movements toward the northeast is inferred from the configuration of the bottom contour lines.     

海底热流原位测量技术研究

海底热流测量对于海洋地热学基础研究与天然气水合物等新兴海洋矿产资源勘测具有重要意义。海底热流原位测量是现代海底热流探测技术的发展方向。针对我国目前在该项技术的落后局面,通过对现存几种热流原位测量技术的原理与技术特点的对比与分析,指出了我国未来发展海底热流测量技术的方向与重点。     

海底表面磁源瞬变响应建模及海水影响分析

根据电磁场理论,推导了磁偶源和接收点均位于海水中时层状海底模型的频域电磁场响应一般表达式,并通过此式,得到了海水为均匀半空间和有限海水深度两种情况下,垂直磁偶极装置、中心回线和重叠回线分别置于均匀半空间海底表面时的瞬变电磁响应（磁场和感应电压）表达式. 这些表达式将瞬变响应和海底的电导率等参数有机联系在一起,为海底瞬变电磁法的正演计算和反演解释提供了理论基础. 仿真计算表明,海水的存在不仅使得瞬变响应曲线形态发生变化,而且影响其对海底电导率的分辨能力.     

Charting the territory: Exploring stakeholder reactions to the prospect of seafloor exploration and mining in Australia

Geological surveys of Australia’s marine territory have revealed significant potential for development of a marine resource industry. As onshore mineral deposits become harder to find, less accessible to their market and more challenging to extract, seafloor exploration and mining becomes an economically viable option. However, evidence from industry and environmental literature suggests that social acceptance will be important in determining the future of this industry in Australia. This paper reports on findings from research investigating the social viability of seafloor mining in Australia. A combination of interviews and focus groups were used to explore industry and community reactions to the possible development of seafloor mining in Australia. Although stakeholders’ reactions were variable, the majority of the participants were reluctant to see development of seafloor mining in Australia, primarily because of concerns about the industry’s potential environmental impact. All stakeholders sought further information about the benefits and costs associated with the industry suggesting that they did not yet have a fixed attitude towards the industry. Stakeholders favoured a precautionary approach towards the industry, supported by rigorous scientific analysis of the potential environmental impacts, transparent and socially responsive management processes and meaningful engagement with stakeholders.     

冲绳海槽Jade热液区海底块状硫化物的Os同位素组成

用碱熔法新测得Jade热液区7件海底块状硫化物样品的锇含量及其同位素组成，^187Os／^186Os比值在2．205—6．462之间，均值为4．314，高于地幔端员，而低于海洋沉积物和海水端员，表明该区块状硫化物中锇是深部来源锇与海水和／或沉积物混合的产物。结合该区块状硫化物样品的REE、硫和铅同位素组成特征，进一步揭示出海水、长英质火山岩、沉积物和深部地幔源是形成Jade区块状硫化物的物源。     

现代海底热液活动调查研究技术进展

现代海底热液活动涉及到高温高压环境，异常的热液环境使得传统的深海调查研究方法已远不能满足热液活动研究的需要。直视采样技术、深潜器技术、定点监测技术、保真采样技术及模拟实验技术等成为近年来国内外致力发展的热液活动调查研究技术。在分析了近年来国内外海底热液活动调查研究技术发展的基础上，指出了目前已有技术开发中存在的不足,并且提出了我国在现代海底热液活动技术发展的迫切性和应优先发展的技术。      

Seismic and Petrophysical Relationships from UK Continental Shelf Rocks at Elevated Pressures

There are few published seismic (P- and S-waves) properties for seafloor bedrocks. At low pressures (1 to 10 MPa), velocities and attenuations are determined mainly by open microcracks. At higher pressures, the microcracks close, and the velocities and attenuations depend primarily on the matrix porosity. We have investigated both the relationships between the acoustic, petrophysical, and geological properties of the rocks at 40 MPa pressure and the effect of microcracks on the acoustic properties at 10 MPa pressure. In this paper we discuss the former; the latter will be discussed separately. P- and S-wave velocity and attenuation measurements were carried out on a suite of seabed sedimentary and igneous rocks at effective pressures from 10 to 40 MPa at ultrasonic frequencies. The porosities and permeabilities of the rocks ranged from 0% to 32% and 0 to 110 mDarcy, respectively. Characterization of the rocks revealed that most of the sandstones have a substantial clay content (kaolinite, illite, and chlorite) and fractures. Most of the igneous rocks are chloritized. The seismic properties of the rocks are markedly lower than those of similar continental rocks because of the microporosity formed by the alteration of feldspars, micas, and mafic minerals to clays (e.g., chloritization of pyroxenes) and the corresponding reduction of the elastic moduli. The results of this study suggest that the values of velocities and quality factors used for ocean acoustic propagation models are lower than normally assumed.     

大西洋中脊TAG热液活动区海底热液沉积物的硫同位素组成及其地质意义

对1988年取自大西洋中脊TAG热液活动区的海底表层热液沉积物中36件硫化物样品进行了硫同位素组成分析.结合ODP Leg158的近期成果,对TAG区热液沉积物的硫同位素组成及其时空演变、硫源、硫同位素偏重的原因和硫的演化进行了探讨,得出如下结论:(1)TAG区表层热液沉积物的δ34S值从3.9‰-7.6‰变化,均值为5.98‰,与其它洋中脊热液活动区相比明显偏重.(2)从海底表层区到蚀变玄武岩区,热液沉积物的硫同位素组成有增大的趋势,而时间对热液沉积物的硫同位素组成则没有明显的控制.(3)热液沉积物中硫主要来自玄武岩,部分来自海水硫酸盐,是海水硫酸盐和玄武岩中硫不同程度混合的结果,且各硫源在不同阶段提供硫的比例分配和方式明显不同.(4)与其它无沉积物覆盖洋中脊中热液活动区相比,相对较大比例海水来源硫的加入是导致TAG区硫同位素组成偏重的一个重要原因,而TAG区具备有利海水硫酸盐还原作用进行的温度和水/岩比值条件则是促使该区热液沉积物中海水来源硫相对较多的主要原因.(5)海水的直接混入、流体-玄武岩相互作用、先期形成硫化物的重溶作用和硫酸盐矿物的还原作用是海水和玄武岩直接或间接提供硫的主要方式,也是导致本区硫同位素演化复杂化的主要原因,且硫的演化与海底岩浆作用和构造运动紧密相关.     

Evolution of the South China Sea: Revised ages for breakup and seafloor spreading

The continental breakup which gave way to the formation of the oceanic South China Sea (SCS) basin began in the latest Cretaceous in the northeastern SCS and propagated in southern and western direction over a long period of time, possibly more than 40 m.y. The seafloor spreading history of the South China Sea has been interpreted in different ways in the past and the debate over the correct timing of the major tectonic events continues. We review the different models that have been published and present a revised interpretation of seafloor spreading anomalies based on three datasets with documented high quality which cover all of the SCS but the northernmost and southernmost parts. We can precisely date the onset of seafloor spreading in the central part of the SCS at 32 Ma. After a ridge jump at 25 Ma spreading also began in the southwestern sub-basin and spreading ended at 20.5 Ma in the entire basin, followed by a phase of magmatic seamount formation mainly along the abandoned spreading ridge. Spreading rates vary from 56 mm/yr in the early stages to 72 mm/yr after the ridge jump to 80 mm/yr in the southwestern sub-basin. We find indications for a stepwise propagation of the seafloor spreading from northeast to southwest in segments bounded by major fracture zones. Seafloor spreading ended abruptly probably because the subduction zone along the eastern and southern boundary of the SCS (of which today the Manila Trench remains) was blocked by collision with a continental fragment, possibly the northern part of Palawan or a part of the Dangerous Grounds.