High-resolution dating of Co-rich crusts: A comparative study using the methods of orbital pacing and <Superscript>230</Superscript>Th<Subscript>ex</Subscript>/<Superscript>232</Superscript>Th dating

Due to their slow growth rates, seamount Co-rich crusts are very difficult to date with high resolution and precision. This paper is to test the use of orbital pacing on the growth profile of crusts to determine high-resolution age and growth rate. Crust CB14 from the central Pacific Ocean was selected for this study. We first examined the growth pattern in detail under a reflected-light microscope and ascertained that the growth environment was stable for the sub-layer 1 (0–3 mm). We then used electron microprobe line-scanning to obtain elemental profiles. The pattern of the power spectrum analysis of the Al-profile revealed that there are significant cycles of 113.9, 87.8, 51.5, 42.2 and 25.8 μm. These cycles correspond to the Milankovitch cycles of 53.1, 41, 24, 19.7 and 12 ka, respectively, and yield the growth rate of about 2.14 mm/Ma and an age of about 1.40 Ma for the boundary between the sub-layer 1 and sub-layer 2. We also used a drilling machine with a numerically controlled drive to obtain high-resolution samples at 0.1mm intervals, and used the ²³⁰Th_ex/²³²Th method to date the samples. For the uppermost 1.3 mm, the growth rate was about 2.15 mm/Ma, and the age for the layer at the depth of 3 mm was about 1.40 Ma, which coincides perfectly with the results obtained from orbital pacing. Thus, it is considered that orbital pacing is a new and effective method to determine the growth rate of the seamount Co-rich crust. This method is applicable for establishing a high-resolution age frame for the crusts of the world’s oceans. Supported by China Ocean Mineral Resources R & P Association (Grant No. DY105-01-01-08) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40106005, 40476050)     

High-resolution dating of Co-rich crusts: A comparative study using the methods of orbital pacing and ~(230)Th_(ex)/~(232)Th dating

Due to their slow growth rates, seamount Co-rich crusts are very difficult to date with high resolution and precision. This paper is to test the use of orbital pacing on the growth profile of crusts to determine high-resolution age and growth rate. Crust CB14 from the central Pacific Ocean was selected for this study. We first examined the growth pattern in detail under a reflected-light microscope and ascertained that the growth environment was stable for the sub-layer 1 (0-3 mm). We then used electron mic...     

Retrograde metamorphism of eclogite in the southern Appalachian Mountains,U.S.A.–A case involving seamount subduction?

This work supports a growing body of evidence that the Ashe Metamorphic Suite (AMS) of the eastern Blue Ridge province in North Carolina has an ensimatic origin and is part of a subduction‐related accretionary mélange, marking the Taconic suture between the North American craton and the Inner Piedmont. In a palinspastic reconstruction, the thrust fault at the base of the AMS appears to have intercepted the greatest depths (i.e. highest‐P metamorphic rocks) beneath parts of the AMS now exposed adjacent to the Grandfather Mountain window. The greatest volume of mafic rock is found in these same areas. We suggest that the nascent, subduction‐related, basal thrust fault was deflected downward by an obstacle in the form of an isolated, mafic volcanic edifice on the oceanic crust–a sea mount. Pelitic and mafic rocks dominate the AMS. North of the Grandfather Mountain window, retrograded eclogite occurs in the amphibolite near the base of the AMS. Textures and mineralogy indicate that an original eclogite assemblage was subjected to the following sequence of parageneses: (a) Eclogite(I) facies: omphacite+garnet+quartz, (b) Eclogite(II) facies: omphacite+garnet+epidote+quartz, (c) Symplectic (diopside+plagioclase)+garnet+epidote+quartz, (d) Amphibolite facies: (diopside+plagioclase)+garnet+epidote+hornblende+quartz, (e) Amphibolite facies: plagioclase+garnet+epidote+hornblende+quartz. P–T conditions, estimated from geothermobarometry applied to relevant mineral compositions, are c.720 °C and c.16 kbar for (b) eclogite(II) facies; c.655 °C and c.8.5 kbar for (e) amphibolite facies.     

Hahajima Seamount: An enigmatic tectonic block at the junction between the Izu–Bonin and Mariana Trenches

Abstract   The Hahajima Seamount, located at the junction between the Izu–Bonin and Mariana forearc slopes, is a notable rectangular shape and consists of various kinds of rocks. An elaborated bathymetric swath mapping with geophysical measurements and dredge hauls showed the Hahajima Seamount is cut by two predominating lineaments, northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast. These lineaments are of faults based on the topographic cross-sections and a 3-D view (whale's eye view). The former lineament is parallel to the transform faults of the Parece Vela Basin, whereas the latter is parallel to the nearby transform fault on the subducting Pacific Plate. The rocks constituting the seamount are ultramafic rocks (mostly harzburgite), boninite, basalt, andesite, gabbro, breccia and sedimentary rocks, which characterize an island arc and an ocean basin. Gravity measurement and seismic reflection survey offer neither a definite gravity anomaly at the seamount nor definite internal structures beneath the seamount. A northwest–southeast-trending fault and small-scale serpentine flows were observed during submersible dives at the Hahajima Seamount. The rectangular shape, size of the seamount, various kinds of rocks and geophysical measurements strongly suggest that the Hahajima Seamount is not a simple serpentine seamount controlled by various tectonic movements, as previously believed, but a tectonic block.     

Assemblage structure is related to slope and depth on a deep offshore Pacific seamount chain

Scientific study has generated a range of hypotheses about the ecological structure and function of seamounts. Interpretations of these ideas and data are vital to understanding how seamount communities will respond to anthropogenic impacts. Here, we examine how diversity and structure of seamount assemblages vary with depth and slope of the sea floor. We conducted ROV video transects on three seamounts of the Taney Seamount Chain in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Depth and slope were both related to assemblage structure on the Taney seamounts. Depth differences were seen in alpha‐ and beta‐diversity but not density. Beta‐diversity and density but not alpha‐diversity varied with slope. Overall, slope and depth together explained 14–31% of beta‐diversity. The findings suggest that differences in beta‐diversity as related to depth gradients may differ among onshore and offshore and/or between shallow and deep summit seamounts. Specifically, we hypothesize that differences in productivity and depth gradients among seamounts may generate different patterns of beta‐diversity.     

冬季西太平洋雅浦海山(Y3)区次表层叶绿素最大值层分布及其对悬浮体粒度的影响

2014年冬季对西太平洋雅浦(Y3)海山区两条相交断面进行水文和悬浮体调查。利用温盐深仪(CTD)和深水型原位激光粒度仪(LISST-Deep)获取调查区各站位水体剖面的温度、盐度、叶绿素a浓度以及悬浮体体积浓度和粒度分布数据,对上层(350m以浅)水体的水文和悬浮体调查结果进行分析。结果表明:Y3海山对流经该海区的洋流产生影响,在海山顶部水体中形成具有上凸形态的温、盐跃层,在局部海域形成呈下凹形态的涡旋水文结构;受温、盐跃层的影响和控制,Y3海山上层水体中次表层叶绿素最大值层(SCML)的分布与温、盐跃层的水深范围(约50—160m)相一致,其荧光叶绿素a浓度总体小于1μg/L;Y3海山上层水体的悬浮体总体积浓度在0—120μl/L之间变化,其中悬浮体体积浓度的高值水层集中分布在SCML中,且悬浮体粒度分布存在5个峰值粒级,分别为15.4、68.6、95.5、185和304μm;其中15.4μm粒级的悬浮体体积浓度最低,但其与水层中荧光叶绿素a浓度的相关性最好,反映了水层中微型浮游植物的浓度与荧光叶绿素a浓度关系比较密切;其他4个较大峰值粒级悬浮体可能由小型或中型浮游生物(及其絮凝集合体)等构成,体积浓度较高,对水体叶绿素a浓度的影响很小;Y3海山区东侧Y3-14站的悬浮体组成和分布不同于其他站位,可能有未知的环境因素影响该站位的悬浮体组成和分布。本文研究结果可为进一步开展海山区沉积和生态环境研究提供参考和依据。     

南海海山玄武岩形成条件研究

南海海山火山岩主要由碱性玄武岩,拉斑玄武岩、粗安质浮岩、英安岩等组成。火山岩中的矿物包裹体主要为非晶质熔融包裹体,反映出海山火山岩水下喷发冷凝较快的特点,并在碱性玄武岩及其地幔岩包体中发现流体熔融包裹体,表明该区上地幔部分熔融过程中曾经历过熔浆与流体不混熔的过程。四个海山火山岩直接测定的成岩温度分别为:中南海山碱性玄武岩1155～1185℃,宪北海山碱性玄武岩960～1200℃,拉斑玄武岩1040～1230℃,玳瑁海山拉斑玄武岩1245～1280℃,尖峰海山粗安质浮岩880～1140℃。中南海山及宪北海山碱性玄武岩的平衡压力分别为13.57×10~8Pa和8.8×10~8Pa。宪北海山地幔岩包体的辉石平衡温度为1073～1121℃,压力为(15.58～22.47)×10~8Pa,表明碱性玄武岩浆来源较深,已达到该区上地幔软流圈范围。     

Abnormally high mercury contents in hydrogenic ferromanganese crusts from Seth Guyot (Northwestern Pacific)

Variations in mercury contents in marine sediments have implications for hydrothermal activity, paleoclimate, depositional environments, and primary bioproduction. Mercury contents reach 148 ppb in hydrogenic ferromanganese crusts on flat-topped seamounts. Such crusts, with up to 4120 ppb Hg, were dredged from the slopes of Seth Guyot in the western Marcus-Wake Seamounts in 1982, during the 13th cruise of RV Vulkanolog. The Seth Fe-Mn crusts are of the same origin as hydrogenic Co-rich ferromanganese deposits from seamounts in other oceanic regions. Mercury accumulated in the Cenozoic as Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides in the crusts adsorbed Hg from bottom water. The process was especially rapid during the Pliocene volcano-tectonic rejuvenated stage.     

中太平洋海山富钴结壳生长习性及控制因素

通过对"大洋一号"调查船DY95-10、DY105-11、DY105-12等航次结壳样品和海底摄像照相资料等综合观测分析,从不同角度对中太平洋海山富钴结壳的生长习性及控制因素进行了初步探讨.结果表明,富钴结壳可以在海山区的各种岩石上生长发育,对岩性没有明显的选择性,载壳岩石类型统计结果与岩石类型区域上的分布不均衡有关,而与岩性本身并没有必然的联系.结壳生长的厚度除受载壳岩石形成年代、物化环境影响外,与其所经受构造活动的强度和频率也有密切联系.水深可能对结壳的生长发育具有一定的控制作用,但由于海山在结壳生长后存在移动和升降运动,因此现在海山上的结壳并不存在截然的水深界限.地形对富钴结壳覆盖率、产状、形态具有明显的控制作用,海山坡度太缓、太陡均不利于结壳的生长发育;在海山坡度较大处生长的结壳多呈平板状,而在坡度较小处生长的结壳多呈波纹状或枕状;海山的斜坡上生长的多为板状结壳,而在平坦低洼处则有利于砾状结壳、钴结核的生长发育.     

南海中部深海海山汁蛇尾属(Ophiurothamnus)二新记录种(蛇尾纲,棘蛇尾科)

通过对2018年4—5月在南海中部黄岩海山采集的蛇尾样品进行形态学分类研究,鉴定发现棘蛇尾科Ophiacanthidae汁蛇尾属Ophiurothamnus两个新记录种:(1)双环汁蛇尾Ophiurothamnus discycla (H. L. Clark, 1911);(2)短简汁蛇尾Ophiurothamnus clausa (Lyman, 1878)。本文分别对这两个新记录种的外部形态特征和内部骨骼进行了描述,并与相似种进行了分类学讨论。