A preliminary quantitative reconstruction of precipitation in southern Mu Us sandy land at margin of Asian monsoon-dominated region during late Quaternary

We present the first quantitative estimation of monsoon precipitation during the late glacial-Holocene in the sandy land of northern China, based on organic carbon isotopic composition data from a loess-sand sequence at margin of the Mu Us sandy land. We use the relationship between monsoon precipitation and the carbon isotopic composition of modern soils as an analogue, with a minor modification, to reconstruct precipitation back to c. 47 ka ago. The preliminary results indicate that annual monsoon precipitation was high after 8 ka, with an average of 435 mm; and it decreased during 18 and 8 ka with a mean value of 194 mm. The precipitation value of 47-18 ka varied between the two. We compare the reconstructed precipitation with other records and paleoclimatic modeling results, showing that our record agrees with reconstructions of the monsoon precipitation from other sources, even capturing short climatic events such as the Younger Dryas. We suggest that solar irradiance, high-latitude temperature/ice volume and local evaporation have together modified moistures in the sandy land.     

四川盐边县红格钒钛磁铁矿矿石矿物及化学成分分布特征

红格矿区是我国目前最大的钒钛磁铁矿资源基地,其矿产资源储量丰富,伴生钒、钪、镓、铬、钴、镍、铜、硫等有用元素,具有较高的经济价值。通过系统分析矿区有益元素的赋存状态及分布规律表明:矿石中各种元素的相对含量以及含量的波动幅度,与矿石TFe、岩性和岩石组合高度相关。     

Polar ionospheric responses to solar wind IMF changes

Auroral and airglow emissions over Eureka (89° CGM) during the 1997/98 winter show striking variations in relation to solar wind IMF changes. The period January 19 to 22, 1998, was chosen for detailed study, as the IMF was particularly strong and variable. During most of the period, B_z was northward and polar arcs were observed. Several overpasses by DMSP satellites during the four day period provided a clear picture of the particle precipitation producing the polar arcs. The spectral character of these events indicated excitation by electrons of average energy 300 to 500 eV. Only occasionally were electrons of average energy up to 1 keV observed and these appeared transitory from the ground optical data. It is noted that polar arcs appear after sudden changes in IMF B_y, suggesting IMF control over arc initiation. When B_y is positive there is arc motion from dawn to dusk, while B_y is negative the motion is consistently dusk to dawn. F-region (anti-sunward) convections were monitored through the period from 630.0 nm emissions. The convection speed was low (100/150 m/s) when B_z was northward but increased to 500 m/s after B_z turned southward on January 20.     

Ab Initio Prediction of 29Si-NMR Chemical Shifts

The ability of several ab initio models to predict experimental 29Si-NMR chemical shift is examined. The shielding values of trimethylsilyl chloride (A), t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (B) and allyltrimethylsilane (C) are calculated by GIAO, CSGT and IGAIM methods, using HF/6-31G*, B3LYP/6-31G*, HF/6-311+G**, B3LYP/6-311+G** and MPWlPW91/6-311+G** models respectively. The 29Si chemical shifts calculated by GIAO method using HF/6-311+G**model are highly in agreement with those obtained experimentally. All of the models above reproduce the trends of chemical shifts in all cases studied, suggesting that the models are of practical value.     

Effects of artificial and natural recharge on chemical equilibrium in the Cerro Prieto reservoirs, Baja California, México

Chemical equilibrium modeling studies of two aquifers in the western part of the Cerro Prieto (CP-I) geothermal field were performed to obtain the activities of the main ions and complexes by using the EQQYAC program. The results provided a pH of 6.44 for the deep aquifer, which is slightly higher than the value of 5.5 found for the shallower reservoir. In the northern part of the field, the reservoir pH has decreased up to 1.5 units compared to that modeled for 1990. Variations of pH with respect to time were also found to occur in the southern part of the field. In spite of the large changes in hydrodynamic conditions occurring in the reservoir due to exploitation, the equilibrium between both K- and Na-feldspars and between K-feldspar and K-mica seems to control the chemical composition of the fluids, in both reservoirs.     

≥3700 Ma pre-metamorphic dolomite formed by microbial mediation in the Isua supracrustal belt (W. Greenland): Simple evidence for early life?

Chemical (meta)sedimentary rocks in the amphibolite facies ≥3700 Ma Isua supracrustal belt (W. Greenland) are mostly strongly deformed, so there is only a small chance of the survival of features such as stromatolites or microfossils that would be direct proof of a ≥3700 Ma biosphere. Therefore the search for evidence of ≥3700 Ma life in Isua rocks has focused on chemical signatures, particularly C-isotopes. The new approach presented here is based on whole rock chemistry rather than isotopic signatures. Isua chemical sedimentary rocks have Ca–Mg–Fe bulk compositions that coincide with ferroan dolomite – siderite/Fe-oxide mixtures. Most have low Al₂O₃, TiO₂ contents (<0.5 and <0.05 wt% respectively) showing minimal contamination from terriginous materials. Identical seawater-like REE + Y shale-normalised trace element signatures with La, Ce, Eu and Y positive anomalies are found in magnetite-rich banded iron formation (BIF – such as the geochemical standard IF-G), dolomite-rich rocks and quartz–carbonate–calc-silicate rocks. Additionally from a rare, small area of low deformation in Isua, there are ∼3700 Ma pillow lava interstices consisting of quartz + tremolite + calcite derived from pre-metamorphic dolomite + silica. Thus the dolomite in the chemical sediments and the pillow interstice was part of the pre-metamorphic assemblage, and was deposited from seawater and/or low-temperature groundwater (as shown by the REE + Y chemistry). Therefore, at least some Isua carbonate rocks are sedimentary or diagenetic in origin rather than being formed by metasomatism at 600–500 °C as proposed by Rose et al. (1996. American Journal of Science 296, 1004–1044).     

云南小湾断层泥矿物特征及其构造意义

通过显微镜观察、X射线衍射、红外光谱和化学分析等方法研究云南小湾断层泥中伊利石矿物特征,结果显示:(1)断层泥中的伊利石发育定向排列,其集合体呈扭折褶皱变形,有时呈流状构造充填在碎屑之间;(2)伊利石的X射线衍射特征为△[(002)-(001)]>8°,Ir>1,BB10=8.993Å,1M多型结构;(3)层间阳离子2Ca+Na+K≈1,MgO含量变化1.05%-2.89%,结晶水(H2O+)含量变化4.43%-5.23%。综合上述特征认为,断层泥伊利石不同于其它成因的伊利石,它是断层活动的直接产物,因此,根据它的特征可以推测断层活动机制。     

黄土碳酸盐碳同位素环境意义讨论

黄土碳酸盐碳同位素广泛应用于第四纪气候环境变化的研究中,以往的大多数研究中无论是利用钙结核、次生碳酸盐还是成壤碳酸盐,认为其反映了C4植物的丰度。黄土高原碳酸盐碳同位素表现为黄土层高,古土壤层中低,即黄土层中C4植物丰度高于古土壤层。然而,这样的结果和黄土有机碳同位素得到的结果矛盾,有机碳同位素的结果表明温度对C4植物的分布起到了决定性作用。由于有机碳同位素对植物类型的反映更为直接而可靠,因此碳酸盐碳同位素反映C4植物丰度存在疑问。对黄土高原黄土碳酸盐碳同位素的系统概括后认为,第四纪期间黄土碳酸盐碳同位素与C4植物有直接联系,但C4植物丰度不是唯一决定性的因素,碳酸盐碳同位素的指示意义存在复杂性。在黄土高原地区,植被发育程度、与大气CO2交换程度、植被本身的碳同位素值的变化以及原生碳酸盐的影响等因素都会对碳酸盐碳同位素产生影响。由黄土碳酸盐碳同位素的讨论可延伸到不同土壤碳酸盐碳同位素揭示的环境指示意义,不同的土壤环境,其气候条件、植被类型及发育程度、大气CO2的交换情况、微生物的活动及土壤次生碳酸盐受原生碳酸盐溶解的影响等因素都会对碳同位素产生不同程度影响,哪种或哪几种因素产生主要作用,在不同区域土壤环境中是不一样的。具体研究中需确定影响的核心因素,才能确定碳同位素的环境指示意义。     

松辽盆地梨树断陷致密气储层特征研究

梨树断陷下白垩统油气资源量大,勘探程度低,储层埋藏深,岩性致密,主要为中-细粒砂岩,孔隙类型以粒间孔、粒内溶孔、晶间微孔为主,铸模孔、粒缘缝和破裂缝次之。本文主要从岩石成分和孔隙类型两个方面分析影响储层储集性的因素,认为长石含量是决定储层物性的主要因素,浊沸石在成岩阶段早期被溶蚀形成有利孔隙,成岩晚期大量高岭石的出现说明生烃过程的排酸作用改变了成岩环境,方解石胶结物的溶蚀改变了储层的渗透性。