Deformation patterns of upper Quaternary strata and their relation to active tectonics,Po Basin,Italy

Despite increased application of subsurface datasets below the limits of seismic resolution, reconstructing near‐surface deformation of shallow key stratigraphic markers beneath modern alluvial and coastal plains through sediment core analysis has received little attention. Highly resolved stratigraphy of Upper Pleistocene to Holocene (Marine Isotope Stage 5e to Marine Isotope Stage 1) alluvial, deltaic and coastal depositional systems across the southern Po Plain, down to 150 m depth, provides an unambiguous documentation on the deformation of previously flat‐lying strata that goes back in time beyond the limits of morphological, historical and palaeoseismic records. Five prominent key horizons, accurately selected on the basis of their sedimentological characteristics and typified for their fossil content, were used as highly effective stratigraphic markers (M1 to M5) that can be tracked for tens of kilometres across the basin. A facies‐controlled approach tied to a robust chronology (102 radiocarbon dates) reveals considerable deformation of laterally extensive nearshore (M1), continental (M2 and M3) and lagoon (M4 and M5) marker beds originally deposited in a horizontal position (M1, M4 and M5). The areas where antiformal geometries are best observed are remarkably coincident with the axes of buried ramp anticlines, across which new seismic images reveal substantially warped stratal geometries of Lower Pleistocene strata. The striking spatial coincidence of fold crests with the epicentres of historic and instrumental seismicity suggests that deformation of marker beds M1 to M5 might reflect, in part at least, syntectonically generated relief and, thus, active tectonism. Precise identification and lateral tracing of chronologically constrained stratigraphic markers in the ¹⁴C time window through combined sedimentological and palaeoecological data may delineate late Quaternary subsurface stratigraphic architecture at an unprecedented level of detail, outlining cryptic stratal geometries at the sub‐seismic scale. This approach is highly reproducible in tectonically active Quaternary depositional systems and can help to assess patterns of active deformation in the subsurface of modern alluvial and coastal plains worldwide.     

Sedimentology of the continental end‐Permian extinction event in the Sydney Basin,eastern Australia

Upper Permian to Lower Triassic coastal plain successions of the Sydney Basin in eastern Australia have been investigated in outcrop and continuous drillcores. The purpose of the investigation is to provide an assessment of palaeoenvironmental change at high southern palaeolatitudes in a continental margin context for the late Permian (Lopingian), across the end‐Permian Extinction interval, and into the Early Triassic. These basins were affected by explosive volcanic eruptions during the late Permian and, to a much lesser extent, during the Early Triassic, allowing high‐resolution age determination on the numerous tuff horizons. Palaeobotanical and radiogenic isotope data indicate that the end‐Permian Extinction occurs at the top of the uppermost coal bed, and the Permo‐Triassic boundary either within an immediately overlying mudrock succession or within a succeeding channel sandstone body, depending on locality due to lateral variation. Late Permian depositional environments were initially (during the Wuchiapingian) shallow marine and deltaic, but coastal plain fluvial environments with extensive coal‐forming mires became progressively established during the early late Permian, reflected in numerous preserved coal seams. The fluvial style of coastal plain channel deposits varies geographically. However, apart from the loss of peat‐forming mires, no significant long‐term change in depositional style (grain size, sediment‐body architecture, or sediment dispersal direction) was noted across the end‐Permian Extinction (pinpointed by turnover of the palaeoflora). There is no evidence for immediate aridification across the boundary despite a loss of coal from these successions. Rather, the end‐Permian Extinction marks the base of a long‐term, progressive trend towards better‐drained alluvial conditions into the Early Triassic. Indeed, the floral turnover was immediately followed by a flooding event in basinal depocentres, following which fluvial systems similar to those active prior to the end‐Permian Extinction were re‐established. The age of the floral extinction is constrained to 252.54 ± 0.08 to 252.10 ± 0.06 Ma by a suite of new Chemical Abrasion Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry U‐Pb ages on zircon grains. Another new age indicates that the return to fluvial sedimentation similar to that before the end‐Permian Extinction occurred in the basal Triassic (prior to 251.51 ± 0.14 Ma). The character of the surface separating coal‐bearing pre‐end‐Permian Extinction from coal‐barren post‐end‐Permian Extinction strata varies across the basins. In basin‐central locations, the contact varies from disconformable, where a fluvial channel body has cut down to the level of the top coal, to conformable where the top coal is overlain by mudrocks and interbedded sandstone–siltstone facies. In basin‐marginal locations, however, the contact is a pronounced erosional disconformity with coarse‐grained alluvial facies overlying older Permian rocks. There is no evidence that the contact is everywhere a disconformity or unconformity.     

浅水三角洲沉积体系与储层岩石学特征

浅水三角洲已经成为当前沉积学研究和油气勘探的重点领域,浅水三角洲常规和非常规砂岩储层中发现了丰富的油气资源。鄂尔多斯盆地中—古生界发育大型浅水三角洲沉积,结合岩芯、测井、分析化验等资料,对盆地西部地区山1—盒8段浅水三角洲的母岩特征、沉积充填、砂体展布与储层岩石学特征进行研究,为研究区常规砂岩储层和致密砂岩油气勘探提供地质依据。分析表明,研究区南部和北部砂岩重矿物组合相似,以锆石和白钛矿为主。综合La/Yb-REE与Dickinson三角图解、稀土元素配分模式和碎屑锆石定年分析认为,北部物源主要来自盆地西北部阿拉善古陆太古界和元古界花岗岩、片麻岩、石英砂岩,向南影响到陇东地区北部;南部物源主要来自盆地南部北秦岭地区太古界、元古界花岗岩、片麻岩和片岩,向北影响陇东地区中南部。山1段发育曲流河三角洲,盒8段发育辫状河三角洲,孤立型与垂向叠置型水下分支河道砂体是主要的砂体类型。盒8段沉积时期,古湖泊可能萎缩;南北物源形成的三角洲在研究区中部环县东南一带交汇混合。砂岩类型主要为岩屑质石英砂岩、石英砂岩和岩屑砂岩,结构成熟度中等—较差。砂岩成岩改造强烈,水—岩反应复杂,压实作用是储层致密化的主因,多期胶结作用使砂岩的孔喉结构变得十分复杂。孔隙类型以微米—纳米级的岩屑溶蚀孔、剩余粒间孔和高岭石晶间孔为主,整体上属于非常规致密砂岩储层。砂体分布与“甜点”预测是研究区致密油气勘探的关键。     

藏南泽当地区大反向逆冲断层变形研究——以磁组构与EBSD组构分析为例

仁布-泽当逆冲断层是喜马拉雅大反向逆冲断层（GCT）在藏南地区的重要延伸部分,也是喜马拉雅造山带北部边界新生代最为活动的构造单元之一。新生代以来特提斯喜马拉雅的构造变形组构特征的研究对于深入理解碰撞造山带演化与高原隆升具有重要构造意义。本文综合GCT泽当-琼结段断层的宏观与微观变形特征,对断裂带石英脉、围岩中石英和云母矿物的电子背散射（EBSD）组构及断层两侧岩石磁组构（AMS）特征进行对比分析。结果表明对AMS主要贡献来自顺磁性云母、绿泥石等,磁化率各向异性椭球体以压扁状为主,磁面理与构造面理（劈理、断层面）基本重合,显示较强的构造变形磁组构特征;磁线理优选方向近南北向,且与观测北向逆冲断层方向一致,揭示剪切作用在变形过程中的持续作用。研究发现泽当地区GCT附近石英微观结构从围岩至断层区,石英至少呈现3种不同类型的微观变形机制：围岩区溶解蠕变、断裂带石英以膨凸重结晶和亚颗粒旋转重结晶作用为主。断裂带石英的c轴EBSD组构指示变形为低温（300~400℃）环境,其中黑云母的结晶学优选（CPO）与磁组构主轴优选方向存在高度的一致性,进一步证实了顺磁性矿物黑云母对AMS的主要贡献。综合研究表明泽当地区GCT的韧性变形是断层处在中上地壳韧性带的活动阶段变形的结果,也代表了特提斯喜马拉雅在碰撞、高原隆升期的变形主要特征。     

金川铜镍硫化物矿床中铂族矿物的主要类型和产出特征:热液蚀变过程中铂族元素的富集机理

金川铜镍硫化物矿床是我国最主要的铂族元素(PGE)资源产地,其矿石受热液蚀变作用影响明显,并产出多种铂族矿物(PGM)。岩浆演化和热液蚀变过程中PGE的迁移富集机制和PGM的成因,一直是研究PGE地球化学行为非常关注的问题。本文对金川铜镍硫化物矿床中PGM的研究发现,其主要类型包括含PGE的硫砷化物(硫砷铱矿)和砷化物(砷铂矿),Pd的铋化物、碲化物和硒化物,以及少量其他铂族矿物。其中,硫砷铱矿可包裹于各种贱金属硫化物(镍黄铁矿、磁黄铁矿和黄铜矿)中,表明硫砷铱矿可能结晶于早期的含As硫化物熔体,随后被包裹于硫化物熔体冷凝分异产生的单硫化物固溶体(MSS)和中间硫化物固溶体(ISS)中。硫化物熔体中的As可能主要通过地壳混染作用加入幔源岩浆。大量铋钯矿(PdBi)呈微细乳滴状包裹于黄铜矿中,为晚期ISS冷凝形成黄铜矿过程中出溶的产物。少量铋钯矿(PdBi_2)呈不规则状充填于矿物裂隙,与次生磁铁矿脉紧密共生,并随矿石的蚀变程度增加,铋钯矿的化学成分由PdBi逐渐向PdBi_2转变,表明这部分铋钯矿为后期热液蚀变产物。铋碲钯矿和钯的硒化物则主要产出于镍黄铁矿裂隙且与次生磁铁矿紧密共生,指示明显的热液成因。钯的硒化物的出现表明,岩浆期后酸性、高盐度、高氧逸度的富Cl~-流体对金川铜镍硫化物矿床中Pd的迁移和富集起到了关键控制作用。     

南秦岭柞水—山阳矿集区金铜矿床成矿规律与找矿方向

南秦岭柞水—山阳矿集区地质构造和岩浆活动强烈,矿床(点)成群成带分布,成矿条件良好。在长期找矿实践、成矿地质背景分析和典型矿床解剖的基础上,综合研究认为,区内金矿主要受EW向断裂或EW向韧-脆性剪切带与NE向张扭性叠加构造控制,寒武系水沟口组、泥盆系星红铺组与大枫沟组是金的赋矿地层。金矿体呈近EW向大致等间距展布,单个矿体在延伸方向呈透镜状、哑铃状、囊状等,具尖灭再现特征,构造叠加部位矿体厚大、品位较高。区内金矿床类型多为中-低温热液型、远成低温热液型,成矿时代为印支—燕山期。夏家店等已知金矿床深部及外围、区域断裂旁侧次级近EW向与NNE向断裂交汇部位、构造转折端、构造虚脱部位等是寻找金矿的有利靶区。铜矿分布于山阳—凤镇大断裂两侧,成矿类型以斑岩型-矽卡岩型为主,构造热液改造型、隐爆角砾岩型次之。斑岩型-矽卡岩型铜(钼)矿受燕山期构造-岩浆活动控制,赋存于燕山期斑岩体与围岩接触带内;矿体产状多受岩体与围岩接触面控制,呈似层状、透镜状产出。燕山期中酸性小岩体及其与围岩的接触部位、东西向三级断裂带附近是寻找铜(钼)矿的首选靶区。本次研究建立了柞水—山阳矿集区金铜矿床区域成矿模式,总结了找矿标志,通过成矿规律、成矿作用及物探、化探、遥感异常特征系统分析,认为区内找矿潜力巨大,并提出了3片金铜(钼)成矿远景区,指出下一步的找矿方向。     

东昆仑地区驼路沟钴(金)矿床硅质钠长岩锆石U-Pb定年及Hf同位素特征研究

东昆仑驼路沟钴(金)矿床是青海省发现的首个独立大型喷流沉积型矿床,说明容矿围岩为一套海相火山-沉积岩系。本文在野外调查的基础上,对该矿区短沟矿段YM1坑口的硅质钠长岩进行岩石学、LA-ICP-MS锆石UPb年代学及Hf同位素分析。结果表明,区内钠长岩的形成年龄为(457.3±4.6)Ma,佐证了该矿区喷流作用成岩与成矿的同时性;另外获得9.20~1.10 Ga和2.40~2.50 Ga的2个年龄集中区,说明了研究区基底演化和源区物质的复杂性。Hf同位素显示为两个集中区,其中年龄峰值422~459 Ma的锆石获得εHf(t)值为-0.61~12.72,表明锆石母岩主要为新生的地壳物质,指示硅质钠长岩的形成与海底火山喷发作用密切相关;另外0.85~1.10 Ga的锆石εHf(t)值为-15.09~-0.07,其锆石母岩中主要为再造的古老地壳,表明该区基底源区物质的复杂性。通过区域对比分析,认为驼路沟矿区含矿火山-沉积岩系形成时代与钠长岩年龄、成矿年龄非常接近,喷流沉积时代应为晚奥陶世。     

Constraints of Mantle and Crustal Sources Interaction during Orogenesis of Pre- and Post-collision Granitoids from the Northern Arabian-Nubian Shield: A Case Study from Wadi El-Akhder Granitoids,Southern Sinai,Egypt

The Egyptian older and younger granitic rocks emplaced during pre- and post-collision stages of Neoproterozoic Pan-African orogeny, respectively, are widely distributed in the southern Sinai Peninsula, constituting 70% of the basement outcrops. The Wadi El-Akhder, southwestern Sinai, is a mountainous terrain exposing two granitoid suites, namely the Wadi El-Akhder Older Granites (AOG) and the Homra Younger Granites (HYG). The AOG (granodiorites with subordinate tonalite compositions) have geochemical characteristics of medium-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous to mildly peraluminous granitoids formed in an island-arc environment, which are conformable with well-known Egyptian older granitoids rocks, whereas the HYG display calc-alkaline to slightly alkaline nature, peraluminous syeno-, monzogranites and alkali feldspar granites matching well those of the Egyptian younger granites. With respect to the AOG granitoids, the HYG granites contain lower Al2O3, FeO*, MgO, MnO, CaO, TiO2, Sr, Ba, and V, but higher Na2O, K2O, Nb, Zr, Th, and Rb. The AOG are generally characterized by enrichment in LILE and LREE and depletion in HFSE relative to N-MORB values (e.g., negative Nb and Ta anomalies). The geochemical features of the AOG follow assimilation-fractional crystallization (AFC) trends indicative of extensive crustal contamination of magma derived from a mantle source. The chemical characteristics of the AOG are remarkably similar to those of subduction-related granitoids from the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS). The compositional variations from monzogranites through syenogranites to alkali feldspar granite within HYG could not be explained by fractional crystallization solely. Correlating the whole-rock composition of the HYG to melts generated by experimental dehydration melting of meta-sedimentary and magmatic rocks reveals that they appear to be derived by extended melting of psammitic and pelitic metasediments, which is similar to the most of younger granitic suites in the ANS.     

ASTER mapping of gypsum deposits of Thumrait region of southern Oman

This study demonstrates the use of ASTER data for the mapping of gypsum deposits and associated geological formations that occurred in the Thumrait region of southern Oman. The measurement of spectra over samples of gypsum in the 1,300–2,500 nm wavelength using a PIMA spectrometer showed the presence of distinct absorptions at 1400–1600, 1750, 1940, 2,100, and 2,400 nm characteristics to O? H stretching, H₂O combinations, and S? O bending overtones and stretching, respectively. Studying the unique spectral absorption characters of gypsum samples, we developed a false color composite (FCC) and an image by decorrelation stretch using the spectral bands 7, 3, and 2 of ASTER. The results FCC showed the regions of gypsum occurrences, and the decorrelated image discriminated the gypsum occurrences from other geological formations of the area. The study of surface mineralogy of the region using the VNIR‐SWIR bands by the spectral angle mapper method showed the presence of sulfate, carbonate, and clay minerals of the geological formations in the study area. We compared the results of ASTER with the results obtained using spectral bands 12, 8, and 4 of Sentinel‐2A processed by the same methods. The study showed that the spectral bands of ASTER can be used for mapping the gypsum and associated geological formations.     

Effect of the Dry Ashing Method on Cadmium Isotope Measurements in Soil and Plant Samples

A dry ashing method is commonly used to remove organic material from samples prior to geochemical analysis. In the course of this study, the Cd isotope ratios of a series of soil and plant reference materials and samples were studied to evaluate the effect of the dry ashing method on measurement results of Cd isotope ratios. The samples were pre‐treated using the dry ashing method and high‐pressure bomb for comparison. The results show that the digestion using high‐pressure bombs did not lead to Cd loss, but using the dry ashing method would cause different proportions of Cd loss. The whole range of Cd isotope difference between two methods was from ?0.07‰ to 3.01‰. There was also an obvious difference in measured Cd isotope ratios from the same leaf sample pre‐treated independently by the dry ashing method, indicating that the amount of Cd loss and the effect on Cd isotope measurement during dry ashing is related to the properties of the samples. Therefore, dry ashing may not be appropriate for the removal of organic material in Cd isotope ratio measurement, especially for samples with high organic contents. The δ^114/110Cd values of reference materials NIST SRM 1573a and GSD‐30 are reported for the first time in this study.