Age and composition of the Amanay Seamount, Canary Islands

A number of samples have been dredged from the upper parts of Amanay and El Banquete Seamounts, yet volcanic materials have been collected only on Amanay Seamount. Based on textural features and the presence or absence of kaersutite, two main types of olivine pyroxene basaltic rocks have been identified. The rocks are basanites with high enrichment in the most incompatible elements, similar to that displayed by Ocean Island Basalts. Samples from Amanay Seamount formed due to a low degree of melting of an enriched mantle, very similar to that which probably caused the Miocene volcanic activity of Fuerteventura. The age of Amanay volcanic rocks, 15.3 ± 0.4 and 13.1 ± 0.3 Ma, is similar to those of the older volcanic units exposed in the nearby islands (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). This proves the formation of a separate submarine volcanic edifice coeval with the other edifices of the Eastern Canarian Volcanic Ridge. Volcanic activity on the submarine edifice is thought to have ceased at about 13 Ma, simultaneous with the adjacent main volcanic construction.     

鄂尔多斯盆地镇北地区延长组长4+5段沉积期古环境条件及意义

以鄂尔多斯盆地镇北地区三叠系延长组长4+5段为研究对象,通过野外露头剖面、钻井岩芯共47块泥岩样品的微量元素、稀土元素地球化学分析,运用Sr/Ba、Th/U、Rb/K、硼(B)法,钴(Co)法、δU、V/(V+Ni)、V/Cr、Ni/Co、Ce/Ce*、Eu/Eu*、Sr/Cu、Mg/Ca等相关元素比值,定性、定量对长4+5段沉积期的古盐度、古温度、古水深、古气候及古氧化-还原条件进行了判识.结果表明,长4+5段沉积期古气温介于14.5～24.6℃C之间,为半潮湿—半干燥的温带—亚热带气候;古盐度为陆相微咸水环境,介于0.50‰～3.78‰之间;古水温为8.9～11.9℃;古水深介于10～85 m之间;沉积物形成于弱还原—氧化条件.相对于延长组长7段沉积期来说,长4+5段尽管发育暗色泥岩,但由于环境条件的明显改变,气温升高致使水温增加,水体盐度增大,最终影响有机质发育和保存,不利于该段有效烃源岩的形成.     

Assessment of acoustic backscatter intensity surveying on deep-sea ferromanganese crust: Constraints from Weijia Guyot,western Pacific Ocean

Near-bottom observation data from the manned deep submersible Jiaolong with high-precision underwater positioning data from Weijia Guyot, Magellan Seamounts in the Western Pacific Ocean are reported. Three substrate types were identified: Sediment, ferromanganese crust, and ferromanganese crust with a thin cover of sediment. The ferromanganese crusts show clear zoning and their continuity is usually disturbed by sediments on areas of the mountainside with relatively gentle slope gradients. The identified substrate spatial distributions correspond to acoustic backscatter intensity data, with regions of high intensity always including crust development and regions of low intensity always having sediment. Therefore, acoustic backscatter intensity surveying appears useful in the delineation and evaluation of crust resources, although further more work is needed to develop a practicable methodology.     

Spatial distribution, diversity and composition of bacterial communities in sub-seafloor fluids at a deep-sea hydrothermal field of the Suiyo Seamount

Spatial distribution, diversity, and composition of bacterial communities within the shallow sub-seafloor at the deep-sea hydrothermal field of the Suiyo Seamount, Izu-Bonin Arc, Western Pacific Ocean, were investigated. Fluids were sampled from four boreholes in this area. Each borehole was located near or away from active vents, the distance ranging 2–40 m from active vents. In addition, fluids discharging from a natural vent and ambient seawater were sampled in this area. We extracted DNA from each sample, amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes by PCR, cloned the PCR products and sequenced. The total number of clones analyzed was 348. Most of the detected phylotypes were affiliated with the phylum Proteobacteria, of which the detection frequency in each clone library ranged from 84.6% to 100%. The bacterial community diversity and composition were different between hydrothermal fluids and seawater, between fluids from the boreholes and the vent, and even among fluids from each borehole. The relative abundances of the phylotypes related to Thiomicrospira, Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas were significantly different among fluids from each borehole. The phylotypes related to Thiomicrospira and Alcanivorax were detected in all of the boreholes and vent samples. Our findings provide insights into bacterial communities in the shallow sub-seafloor environments at active deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields.     

麦哲伦海山群MK海山富钴结壳稀土元素的赋存相态

利用ICP-OES和ICP-MS,分析了麦哲伦海山群西北端MK海山2 170 m水深的MKD23B-3号富钴结壳样品,获得了其剖面上主元素、稀土元素（REE）和Y含量数据,并基于元素含量间的线性相关关系,研究了REE和Y的赋存相态。结果显示:该样品剖面从基岩到表面可划分为5层,第Ⅰ、Ⅱ层为磷酸盐化壳层,第Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ层为未磷酸盐化壳层。在未磷酸盐化壳层中,REE和Y主要赋存在δ-MnO₂相中;而在磷酸盐化壳层中,REE和Y除了赋存在Fe、Mn氧化物相中外,主要赋存在独立于碳氟磷灰石（CFA）的矿物相态中,可能为稀土的磷酸盐。并提出利用磷酸盐中REE/Y 估算富钴结壳磷酸盐化壳层次生稀土的方法,据此估算了MK海山富钴结壳磷酸盐化壳层次生稀土的量。在该样品中,次生稀土占稀土总量的42%~88%,近一半以上的稀土是次生的,磷酸盐化作用对于REE和Y的次生富集具有显著的贡献;因此解读磷酸盐化富钴结壳的稀土元素（特别是Nd同位素）古海洋记录必须排除次生稀土元素的干扰。     

伊豆-小笠原前弧地区Hahajima海山蛇纹石化橄榄岩岩石学和地球化学研究

Serpentinites, which contain up to 13 wt% of water, are important reservoirs for chemical recycling in subduction zones. In the past two decades, forearc mantle serpentinites were identified in different locations around the world. Here, we present petrology and whole rock chemistry of ultramafic and mafic rocks dredged from the Hahajima Seamount, which is located 24–40 km west to the junction of the Izu-Bonin Trench and the Mariana Trench. Nearly all the collected samples are extensively hydrated, and olivine grains in ultramafic rocks are replaced by serpentine minerals, with only one sample preserving remaining trace of orthopyroxene. Our new results show that the Hahajima serpentinized peridotite samples are all MgO-rich(～42 wt%), but have low contents in Al_2O_3, CaO, rare earth and high field strength elements, which is consistent with the overall depleted character of their mantle protoliths. Model calculations indicate that these Hahajima peridotite samples were derived from 10%–25% partial melting of the presumed fertile mantle source, which is generally lower than those of peridotites from Torishima Forearc Seamount, Conical Seamount and South Chamorro Seamount(mostly25%). All the serpentinites from these four forearc seamounts show strong enrichment in fluid-mobile and lithophile elements(Li, Sr, Pb and U). In details, Hahajima Seamount serpentinites do not have obvious enrichment in Cs and Rb, and display remarkably high abundances of U. These observations indicate that the serpentinization of Hahajima peridotites occurred by addition of seawater or low temperature seawater-derived hydrothermal fluid, without or with little contribution from slab-derived fluids. The geochemical signature of serpentinites from Hahajima Seamount could be interpreted as the result of the combination of extensive partial melting and subsequent percolation of seawater through the mantle wedge.     

The Cretaceous climax of compression in Eastern Asia: Age 87–89 Ma (late Turonian/Coniacian), Pacific cause,continental consequences

In Turonian/Coniacian time a major plate reorganization occurred in Pacific Ocean that resulted in synchronous climax of compression in Eastern Asia. At this time the spreading rate in the Farallon-Pacific-Izanagi center increased to its maximum, the Kula plate replaced the Izanagi plate, and the convergence angle between the Pacific and Eurasia plates experienced fast rotation. This geodynamic culmination was caused by the peak of overall extension of Pacific lithosphere which could be precisely fixed at ∼89–87 Ma, based on the age/spatial patterns of the Cretaceous seamounts. The maximum of Pacific stretching induced the coeval westward compression both along subduction boundaries and in intraplate environment of Eastern Asia. We summarize and reevaluate the reliable geochronological data of the main Late Cretaceous geological events in Eastern Asia caused by the peak of Pacific dynamics. Increasing westward subduction and compression produced: (a) maximum of high-pressure metamorphism in the Cretaceous accretion units of Taiwan, Japan and Sakhalin islands, (b) immense subduction related volcanic belts extending along the northeast Asian boundary, (c) vast volumes of granitoids which were emplaced during the 95–85 Ma interval everywhere from Chukotka to Sikhote-Alin in Russia, throughout Japan, Korea and SE China. Thermochronological data suggest that (d) the Pacific-induced compression triggered uplift, exhumation and cooling of East China granites with the peak age of orogeny in Great Xing'an Range at 89–87 Ma. Simultaneously, as thermal history results revealed, (e) subsidence and burial heating in Cretaceous sedimentary basins inverted to cooling. This compressional peak is also well documented by (f) the ∼88–86 Ma Qingshankou/Yaojia unconformity in the postrift successions of the lacustrine Songliao Basin. Seismostratigraphy study of the main (T11) unconformity shows huge, gentle folds whose apices were truncated by exposure and denudation caused by the westward compression. Thus the Pacific-induced deformation at ∼87–89 Ma encompassed the whole eastern Asia from subduction boundary into the hinterland.     

Micronekton abundance and biomass in Hawaiian waters as influenced by seamounts, eddies, and the moon

Micronekton abundance, biomass, and community composition was determined from 58 Cobb trawl samples taken from 2005 to 2008 at several locations in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands. The results indicated a strong influence of the lunar illumination on micronekton abundance and biomass. This effect was evident in shallow night tows and probably was the result of lunar light affecting the nighttime depths of migrating species. The abundance and biomass of micronekton is remarkably consistent between years and areas in Hawaiian waters after the affects of moon phase are accounted for. Micronekton, principally migratory myctophids, were reduced over the summit of Cross Seamount but not Finch Seamount that has a summit below the daytime depth of most migrators. However, during a new moon, micronekton abundance over Cross seamount was similar to surrounding areas either because of altered migration patterns or because predators such as tunas cannot forage as effectively at night without lunar illumination. Species belonging to the Hawaiian mesopelagic boundary layer community were found to vary in presence and abundance between years at Cross Seamount suggesting that a consistent seamount associated fauna does not exist. Sparse sampling of a cyclonic mid-ocean eddy suggested very high micronekton abundance and biomass both in shallow waters at night but also at depth during the day. Although preliminary, these results suggest that eddies may aggregate the micronekton which probably feed on the enhanced secondary productivity.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of early Carboniferous alkaline volcanic rocks in Karamay region of West Junggar,Northwest China

ABSTRACT

Zircon U–Pb geochronological and geochemical analyses are reported for a suite of the early Carboniferous volcanic rocks from West Junggar (Northwest China), southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), with the aim to investigate the sources, petrogenesis, and tectonic implications. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb analysis from an andesite yielded concordant weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 345 ± 3 Ma, indicating the presence of early Carboniferous volcanic rocks in West Junggar. The early Carboniferous volcanic rocks consist of basalt, basaltic andesite, and andesite. Geochemically, all the samples bear the signature of ocean island basalt (OIB), and are characterized by alkaline affinity with minor variations in SiO₂ compositions (45.13–53.05 wt.%), high concentrations of Na₂O + K₂O (5.08–8.89 wt.%) and TiO₂ (1.71–3.35 wt.%), and LREE enrichment and HREE depletion ((La/Yb)_N = 7.1–12.4), with weak Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.9–1.1) and no obvious Nb, Ta, and Ti negative anomalies. These features suggest that the early Carboniferous volcanic rocks were derived from an OIB-related source that consists of oceanic lithosphere with ~1–3% degree partial melting of garnet lherzolite. From these observations, in combination with previous work, we conclude that the early Carboniferous alkaline volcanic rocks in Karamay region formed by upwelling of asthenospheric mantle through a slab window in a forearc setting during consumption of the West Junggar Ocean. Meanwhile, seamounts, which formed in the Late Devonian and were accreted and subducted in Karamay arc, also brought geological effects in the subduction zone.     

Role of Hydrology in the Formation of Co-rich Mn Crusts from the Equatorial N Pacific,Equatorial S Indian Ocean and the NE Atlantic Ocean

Co-rich Mn crusts from four different locations of the world ocean have been studied to understand the role of dissolved oxygen of the ambient seawater in the formation of Co-rich Mn crusts. WOCE (World Ocean Circulation Experiment) oxygen profiles of modern seawater in the Equatorial North Pacific Ocean, Equatorial South Indian Ocean and the North East Atlantic Ocean have been evaluated with respect to the occurrence of Co-rich Mn crusts at depths ranging from 1500 to 3200 m. The oxygen content at these depths varied from ∼90–240 µmol/kg. The oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), with oxygen contents in the range ∼45–100 µmol/kg, is located in the depth range 800–900 m in these regions. The age of the ocean crust on which seamounts formed is in the range 80.3–180 Ma. Profiles of the oxygen contents of seawater with depth in the oceans are shown to be extremely useful in establishing the optimum conditions for the formation of Co-rich Mn crusts. The use of WOCE oxygen profiles to study geochemical processes in the oceans is highly recommended.