Intermediate-mass black holes and ultraluminous X-ray sources in the Cartwheel ring galaxy

Chandra and XMM–Newton observations of the Cartwheel galaxy show ∼17 bright X-ray sources  (≳5 × 10³⁸ erg s⁻¹)  , all within the gas-rich outer ring. We explore the hypothesis that these X-ray sources are powered by intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) accreting gas or undergoing mass transfer from a stellar companion. To this purpose, we run N -body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of the galaxy interaction which might have led to the formation of Cartwheel, tracking the dynamical evolution of two different IMBH populations: halo and disc IMBHs. Halo IMBHs cannot account for the observed X-ray sources, as only a few of them cross the outer ring. Instead, more than half of the disc IMBHs are pulled in the outer ring as a consequence of the galaxy collision. However, also in the case of disc IMBHs, accretion from surrounding gas clouds cannot account for the high luminosities of the observed sources. Finally, more than 500 disc IMBHs are required to produce ≲15 X-ray sources via mass transfer from very young stellar companions. Such number of IMBHs is very large and implies extreme assumptions. Thus, the hypothesis that all the observed X-ray sources in Cartwheel are associated with IMBHs is hardly consistent with our simulations, even if it is still possible that IMBHs account for the few (≲1–5) brightest ultraluminous X-ray sources.     

Soil erosion along a long slope in the gentle hilly areas of black soil region in Northeast China

Characteristics of soil erosion change along a long slope in the gentle hilly areas in black soil region in Northeast China are discussed. A simplified slope model based on seg-ments was used to analyze the runoff data and soil erosion data observed between 2003 and 2004 over 10 field plots with different slope length in Heshan Farm, Heilongjiang Province. We found that soil erosion rate over long slopes in the black soil region changed alternatively along the slope and creates alternative zones of intensive erosion and week erosion.The exact place of each zone is different for different rainfall conditions. In a year with less and mild precipitation, rill cannot happen within the top 50 m, while in a year with large and inten-sive precipitation, rill can be formed starting even at 15 m from the top of the slope.     

东北黑土区黑土层厚度的时空变化

黑土层厚度是评价东北黑土区土壤质量的重要参数,但其厚度的空间分布及多年变化情况仍然不够明确.针对东北黑土区第二次土壤普查的61处典型土壤剖面进行了现状实地调查,并对黑土层厚度变化进行了对比分析.结果表明:近40年来,东北黑土区黑土层厚度平均减少了12cm,平均减薄速度为0.32cm/a.四省(区)黑土层减薄厚度具有显著差异,表现为吉林(23.65cm)>辽宁(11.83cm)>内蒙古(10.33cm)>黑龙江(6.83cm).吉林省黑土层减薄厚度和比例最大,生态风险最为严峻.吉林省黑土层厚度变化值与气温升高值呈显著的负相关关系,表明随着气候变暖,土壤有机质下降明显,黑土层的厚度也呈减薄趋势.研究表明,水蚀作用也是黑土层厚度减薄的重要影响因素.未来应加强黑土层厚度判定和黑土层厚度空间制图等方面研究,对指导黑土地保护利用具有重要意义.     

黔北镇远牛蹄塘组黑色页岩沉积环境与有机质富集关系

通过矿物组分、主量元素、微量元素、碳氧同位素等特征,分析了黔北地区镇远县ZX井牛蹄塘组黑色页岩的岩相类型和不同岩相页岩的沉积环境及其与有机质富集间的关系。结果表明,牛蹄塘组下段以硅质页岩为主,TOC含量4.96%～10.10%;上段以富泥硅质页岩为主,TOC含量1.43%～9.04%。下段硅质页岩沉积于水流停滞的深水陆棚环境,沉积古水体为贫氧的还原状态;上段富泥硅质页岩沉积时期,仍为贫氧的还原环境,但水体滞留程度、还原性较下段硅质页岩沉积期弱。贫氧的还原环境是影响牛蹄塘组黑色页岩有机质富集的主要因素,热液作用和陆源碎屑对牛蹄塘组黑色页岩有机质富集的影响较小。     

胡安·德富卡洋脊因代沃段热液黑烟囱体成矿物质来源:硫同位素的限制

选取胡安·德富卡洋脊(Juan de Fuca Ridge,JDFR)因代沃(Endeavour)段的17个热液黑烟囱体样品对其中的硫同位素进行分析测定,讨论了因代沃段热液活动区内黑烟囱体成矿的物质来源、将硫同位素数据与已发表的热液流体及硫化物数据耦合,并结合前人的成果得到如下认识:(1)因代沃段硫化物的硫同位素组成与其他无沉积物覆盖的洋脊硫化物硫同位素组成相似,然而其相比于南胡安·德富卡洋脊(South Juan de Fuca Ridge,SJFR)硫化物亏损重同位素;(2)结合前人研究成果,如果SJFR硫化物的硫全部来自基底玄武岩的淋洗与海水中的硫酸盐,那么因代沃段硫化物的硫可能有1%~3%来自沉积物的贡献,故提出因代沃段成矿系统中的硫来源主要来自基底玄武岩,同时伴随有少量海水硫酸盐来源及沉积物来源的硫加入;(3)将硫同位素数据与已发表的热液流体及硫化物数据进行耦合发现热液流体中的沉积物信号与硫化物中的硫可能来自不同的源,并提出沉积物端元可能位于下渗区。     

青海省大干沟地区黑色岩系中V-Mo-PGE矿床找矿前景分析

分布在东昆仑山南坡青海省大干沟地区的浩特洛哇组黑色岩系,属陆缘裂陷滨海—浅海相沉积的碎屑岩—碳酸盐岩建造,形成于缺氧环境。区内的大干沟钒钼矿床、大干沟口V-MoPGE矿床均赋存于浩特洛哇组(C2P1h)中,矿体均为层状、似层状,具层控特征。近年工作在大干沟口浩特洛哇组碳质板岩中发现了Mo、Au等元素的化探异常,通过少量的槽探及钻探工程控制钒钼矿体8个;钻孔ZK001、ZK701中均见Pd矿化,w(Pd)=0.03×10~(-6)~0.16×10~(-6),达到伴生矿床工业开采品位。大干沟黑色岩系中伴生铂族元素的发现,给青海省柴南缘地区非传统类型的铂族元素矿床的找矿突破带了希望,与黑色岩系有关的V-Mo-PGE矿产找矿前景光明。     

湘西震旦—寒武纪交替时期古海洋环境的恢复

前寒武纪至寒武纪的交替时期是地质史和生命史的重要转折。中国南方地区广泛发育了上震旦统、下寒武统的黑色岩系。文中运用沉积学和沉积地球化学的理论和方法对湘西黑色岩系的岩石类型、矿物组成、元素地球化学特征、干酪根的结构以及碳同位素的组成等方面进行了研究 ,讨论了黑色岩系的形成条件 ,恢复了震旦纪 /寒武纪地史转折期的古环境。研究认为 ,湘西地区在晚震旦世和早寒武世地史转折期的生物爆发和高有机质的产率是形成缺氧环境的重要因素之一。     

Sexual reproduction and early life‐history traits of the Mediterranean soft coral Alcyonium acaule

Understanding processes that contribute to a better comprehension of the population dynamics of long‐lived species is critical for the maintenance and potential recovery of such species. Despite the abundance of soft corals in Mediterranean rocky reefs, little information exists on their life histories and reproductive patterns. In this study, we assessed the main reproductive characteristics and early life‐history traits of the long‐lived soft coral Alcyonium acaule. The sex ratio was 1:1; the smallest fertile colonies were one finger in size (2.1 ± 0.6 cm in height), and both colony and polyp fertility increased with colony size. Likewise, the number of eggs and spermary sacs per polyp increased significantly with colony size, whereas the diameter of the female and male sexual products did not. Over 6 years of observations (2007–2012), spawning occurred primarily in July, after the seawater reached 20 °C, in a single spawning episode per year. Approximately 80% of female colonies released eggs, which were retained on the surface of the mother colony by mucous strings for up to a few days. High fertilization rates were observed during spawning in 2008 and 2009 (94.9% and 87.0%, respectively). The timing of development was ~24 h for the blastulae, ~48–72 h for the planulae and 8–22 days for metamorphosis into primary polyps. Survivorship of planulae was relatively high (~50% at 45 days after release), but only 24% of larvae metamorphosed into primary polyps, and their survivorship was moderate after 2 months (65% in 2008 and 74% in 2009). Asexual reproduction was negligible, indicating that sexual reproduction is the main mechanism supporting the maintenance and recovery of populations.