Assemblages of Southeast-South Brazilian Coastal Systems Based on the Distribution of Fishes

Multivariate principal components analysis and cluster analysis were performed on data representing presence or absence of 498 species of juvenile and adult fish species in twenty-four coastal marine systems (bays, coastal lagoons, estuaries and coastal zones) distributed from southeast to southern Brazil. Five groups of coastal systems were identified based on fish assemblage similarity: estuaries and bays of the southeast area; an estuary of the southern area; coastal lagoons; rocky coastal zones; and the continental platform. Species assemblages for each zone were identified and used as surrogate habitat indicators to compare and contrast the groups. Stepwise multiple regression of environmental and physical variables as predictors of the number of species indicated that only ‘ area ’ was included in the model as the most important variable explaining the variation of the number of species in these data sets. The total number of fish species increased as surface area increased.     

等深岩识别标志研究

等深岩的识别标志可分为沉积学标志、古生物学标志和古地理标志三大类。沉这标志主要是成份、粒度、分选以及沉积构造等。研究发现，遗迹化石也是一个重要的识别标志。等深岩往往与Ｎｅｒｅｉｔｅｓ遗迹相伴 生，特别与其中的网状遗迹类关系密切。而且，网状遗这的Ｐａｌｅｏｄｉｃｔｙｏｎ遗迹还可用来指示着深流方向。由于各种标志大多具有多解性，因此在识别等深岩时应采用多种标志的综合。     

High-resolution seismic-reflection investigation of the northern Gulf of Mexico gas-hydrate-stability zone

We recorded high-resolution seismic-reflection data in the northern Gulf of Mexico to study gas and gas-hydrate distribution and their relation to seafloor slides. Gas hydrate is widely reported near the seafloor, but is described at only one deep drill site. Our data show high-reflectivity zones (HRZs) near faults, diapirs, and gas vents and interbedded within sedimentary sections at shallow depth (<1 km). The HRZs lie below the gas-hydrate-stability zone (GHSZ) as well as within the zone (less common), and they coincide with zones of shallow water-flows. Bottom simulating reflections are rare in the Gulf, and not documented in our data.We infer HRZs result largely from free gas in sandy beds, with gas hydrate within the GHSZ. Our estimates for the base BHSZ correlate reasonably with the top of HRZs in some thick well-layered basin sections, but poorly where shallow sediments are thin and strongly deformed. The equivocal correlation results from large natural variability of parameters that are used to calculate the base of the GHSZ. The HRZs may, however, be potential indicators of nearby gas hydrate. The HRZs also lie at the base of at least two large seafloor slides (e.g. up to 250 km²) that may be actively moving along decollement faults that sole within the GHSZ or close to the estimated base of the GHSZ. We suspect that water/gas flow along these and other faults such as ‘chimney’ features provide gas to permit crystallization of gas hydrate in the GHSZ. Such flows weaken sediment that slide down salt-oversteepened slopes when triggered by earthquakes.     

Infrazonal biostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous in the East European province based on benthic foraminifers, Part 1: Cenomanian-Coniacian

A chart of infrazonal biostratigraphic subdivision of Cenomanian-Coniacian deposits in the East European paleobiogeographic province is based on distribution of benthic foraminifers. The suggested chart characterizes successive trend of changes in ecologic assemblages of benthic foraminifers and morphologic evolution of certain agglutinated (Gaudryina, Bolivinopsis, Heterostomella, Arenobulimina, Ataxophragmium, Ataxoorbignyna, Marssonella) and secretory (Globorotalites, Valvulinera, Gyroidinoides, Stensioeina, Osangularia, Berthelina, Pseudovalvulineria, Gavelinella, Cibicides, Praebulimina, Reussella) foraminiferal genera. The chart includes 7 zones and 13 subzones, most of which are recognizable over the vast territory from the Mangyshalk to southern Baltic areas. It is correlated with the acknowledged ammonoid and inoceramid zonations. Five stadia of taxonomic changes in foraminiferal assemblages, which are substantiated in this work, show that principal biotic events took place in the mid-late Cenomanian, during the Cenomanian-Turonian and early-middle Turonian transitions, in the late Turonian, and at the early-middle Coniacian boundary time.     

Maeotian mammalian localities of Eastern Paratethys: Magnetochronology and position in European continental scales

The Maeotian of Eastern Paratethys corresponds to the interval of the magnetochronological scale from the base of the subchron C4Ar2n to upper parts of the Chron C4n (9.6–7.5 Ma). Fission-track dates of Maeotian deposits are in general agreement with paleomagnetic chronology. In the continental stratigraphic scale of Western Europe this interval corresponds to zones MN10 (save the lowermost parts), MN11, and MN12 (upper part). Taking into account age estimates of MN zones boundaries established in Western Europe, the East European mammalian localities of Ukraine and Moldova can be stratified as follows: MN10, Raspopeni, Grebeniki, Novaya Emetovka 1, ?lower bed of Ciobruci; MN11, Novaya Emetovka 2; MN12, Cimislia, Ciobruci upper bed, Cherevichnoe, Tudorovo, Dzedzvtakhevi, and sites in the lower Pontian deposits. The faunal criteria used to distinguish MN zones in Western Europe cannot be completely applied to sites of the Eastern Paratethys because of paleozoogeographic distinctions between West and East European provinces. Specific criteria of zone boundaries definitions should be developed for the East European province.     

浅表层天然气水合物区的海底地形特征——以鄂霍次克海为例

使用重力取样器、渔网、深潜器等手段已经在海底及以下浅表层区域采获天然气水合物样品。但关于浅表层水合物的发育机制、分布规律及与海底地形的关系等问题还缺乏基本认识。根据2006年鄂霍次克海天然气水合物调查航次的调查数据,介绍了浅表层天然气水合物区的海底地形特征。萨哈林东北陆坡区,特别是中、下陆坡区发育大量海底凸起,这些凸起一般呈不对称的丘形,宽几百米,高几十米。不同于海底沙波、沙脊,海底凸起为孤立海底地形,在南北方向上并不连续。海底凸起和浅表层天然气水合物的发育密切相关。在海底剖面仪测量结果剖面上清楚地显示古陆坡凸起的发育。普遍地,现今海底陆坡凸起的幅度要小于古陆坡凸起的幅度,个别地方古、今陆坡凸起的形态有所变化,但大部分古、今陆坡凸起是一一对应的,基本形态没有根本变化。在萨哈林陆坡地区存在两个方向的挤压应力场,分别是由德鲁根盆地向萨哈林陆坡方向的挤压应力场、萨哈林陆坡沿萨哈林走滑断裂向南的挤压应力场。海底陆坡凸起是这两大应力场复合作用的结果。浊反射区中的游离气是底辟构造中的超高压多相物质向上迁移形成的。浊反射区上方对应的海底凸起应该是宏观构造挤压和局部底辟发育叠合的结果。浊反射区上方的海底凸起,在形态等方面应该和其他仅由挤压构造原因形成的凸起有所区别,比如顶部发育裂口等。在底辟构造中,由于游离气体的向上迁移,在整个水合物稳定域中从下到上,直至海底都可能形成水合物,从而使我们有机会使用重力采样器这样的设备也能采获天然气水合物样品。     

Groundwater protection in Mediterranean countries after the European water framework directive

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) has driven the protection of groundwater and characterization of water bodies. Development of appropriate and efficient approaches which consider the special features of the hydrologic regime is essential. The results of different projects that have been carried out to integrate characterization and protection of water bodies are summarized herein. In the Les eaux de la Mediterranée (AQUAMED) Project, applicability to the Mediterranean Region of guidelines provided by the European Commission to facilitate the WFD implementation has been verified. The Background criteria for the identification of groundwater thresholds (BRIDGE) Project developed a methodology to establish threshold values of pollutants contributing to the chemical status of groundwater bodies. This method has been applied to pollutants used to classify groundwater bodies as at risk of not achieving objectives of the WFD. Selected features of protection areas for drinking water and safeguard zones are analyzed, as well as the possibility of using wellhead protection areas.     

Geochronological problems related to polymetamorphism in the Limpopo Complex, South Africa

The integration of new and published geochronologic data with structural, magmatic/anatectic and pressure–temperature (P–T) process information allow the recognition of high-grade polymetamorphic granulites and associated high-grade shear zones in the Central Zone (CZ) of the Limpopo high-grade terrain in South Africa. Together, these two important features reflect a major high-grade D₃/M₃ event at ~ 2.02 Ga that overprinted the > 2.63 Ga high-grade Neoarchaean D₂/M₂ event, characterized by SW-plunging sheath folds. These major D₂/M₂ folds developed before ~ 2.63 Ga based on U–Pb zircon age data for precursors to leucocratic anatectic gneisses that cut the high-grade gneissic fabric. The D₃/M₃ shear event is accurately dated by U–Pb monazite (2017.1 ± 2.8 Ma) and PbSL garnet (2023 ± 11 Ma) age data obtained from syntectonic anatectic material, and from sheared metapelitic gneisses that were completely reworked during the high-grade shear event. The shear event was preceded by isobaric heating (P = ~ 6 kbar and T = ~ 670–780 °C), which resulted in the widespread formation of polymetamorphic granulites. Many efforts to date high-grade gneisses from the CZ using PbSL garnet dating resulted in a large spread of ages (~ 2.0–2.6 Ga) that reflect the polymetamorphic nature of these complexly deformed high-grade rocks.     

Geothermal evolution of the Astrakhan Arch region of the Pricaspian basin

The Astrakhan Arch region contains one of the largest sub-salt structures of the Pricaspian basin, where perspectives for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation in the Devonian to Carboniferous deposits are considered to be high. The paper addresses the problem of structural and geothermal evolution of the region deformed by salt movements. Initially, we developed a model of the regional structural evolution along a geological profile using the volume-balancing and back-stripping methods and geological constraints on the sedimentation, erosion, and paleo-water depths. Then we developed geothermal models (along the study profile) associated with the regional structural evolution. The models were constrained by the temperatures measured in four deep boreholes along the profile. We show that the present temperatures and heat flux are influenced by the presence of salt diapirs. Since the Early Carboniferous and till Middle Permian times, the temperatures predicted by the models vary significantly due to the regional transgression and the presence of seawater. The temperature of Devonian–Carboniferous carbonates increases since the Late Permian (time of post-salt deposition) and attains its maximum values in the SW-part of the profile. If the model assumptions concerning the constant vertical and zero lateral heat fluxes are valid, we can conclude that hydrocarbons are most likely to be generated in the SW-part of the region for the post-Early Permian time.