Morphogenesis of Congo submarine canyon and valley: implications about the theories of the canyons formation

The bottom and edges of the Congo submarine canyon are made of deposits which show morphologies of superposed terraces associated with lense side slope. Using 3D seismic, 3.5 kHz acoustic profiles and core datas, these geometries are interpreted as being mainly the result of the polyphase processes due to the activity of turbidity currents. All the turbidite deposits located below the canyon floor and the actual Congo fan belong to a unique depositional sequence which begun at the early Pliocene. Probably, this sequence has been initiated by an important uplift of the West Africa margin.     

南非主要金矿集区研究现状及存在问题

南非是世界上金矿石资源量最为丰富的国家,其金矿床主要产于东北部地区,主要有三种类型:1赋存于兰德盆地砾岩型建造中的"兰德"砾岩型金矿床,2产在绿岩带中的绿岩带型金矿床,和3主要与白云岩有关的白云岩型金矿床,以前两种类型为主。"兰德"砾岩型金矿床通常品位高,开采规模最大,目前采矿的深度最大,是南非最重要的矿床类型,其矿床成因长期以来存有争议,主要有两种观点,分别是砂矿模式和热液模式,就目前资料来看笔者等认为其代表了两个不同的矿化阶段;绿岩带型金矿床则以巴伯顿地区为代表,矿床具有规模大、易开采等特征,因此在南非金矿床开采中占有重要位置,其矿床主要赋存于石英脉或剪切带中,矿床成因主要有三种,分别是火山成矿模式、转换滑脱构造模式和构造交叉模式。     

Hydrological system analysis and modelling of the Kara River basin (West Africa) using a lumped metric conceptual model

This paper discusses the analysis and modelling of the hydrological system of the basin of the Kara River, a transboundary river in Togo and Benin, as a necessary step towards sustainable water resources management. The methodological approach integrates the use of discharge parameters, flow duration curves and the lumped conceptual model IHACRES. A Sobol sensitivity analysis is performed and the model is calibrated by applying the shuffled complex evolution algorithm. Results show that discharge generation in three nested catchments of the basin is affected by landscape physical characteristics. The IHACRES model adequately simulates the rainfall–runoff dynamics in the basin with a mean modified Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency measure of 0.6. Modelling results indicate that parameters controlling rainfall transformation to effective rainfall are more sensitive than those routing the streamflow. This study provides insights into understanding the catchment’s hydrological system. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to better understand detailed runoff generation processes.

EDITOR M.C. Acreman; ASSOCIATE EDITOR N Verhoest     

Metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high-grade rocks from the central Mozambique Belt of Tanzania: crustal recycling of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material during the Pan-African orogeny

New data on the metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high‐grade rocks in the central Mozambique Belt (MB) of Tanzania show that this part of the orogen consists of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was structurally reworked during the Pan‐African event. The metamorphic rocks are characterized by a clockwise P–T path, followed by strong decompression, and the time of peak granulite facies metamorphism is similar to other granulite terranes in Tanzania. The predominant rock types are mafic to intermediate granulites, migmatites, granitoid orthogneisses and kyanite/sillimanite‐bearing metapelites. The meta‐granitoid rocks are of calc‐alkaline composition, range in age from late Archean to Neoproterozoic, and their protoliths were probably derived from magmatic arcs during collisional processes. Mafic to intermediate granulites consist of the mineral assemblage garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–quartz–biotite–amphibole ± K‐feldspar ± orthopyroxene ± oxides. Metapelites are composed of garnet‐biotite‐plagioclase ± K‐feldspar ± kyanite/sillimanite ± oxides. Estimated values for peak granulite facies metamorphism are 12–13 kbar and 750–800 °C. Pressures of 5–8 kbar and temperatures of 550–700 °C characterize subsequent retrogression to amphibolite facies conditions. Evidence for a clockwise P–T path is provided by late growth of sillimanite after kyanite in metapelites. Zircon ages indicate that most of the central part of the MB in Tanzania consists of reworked ancient crust as shown by Archean (c. 2970–2500 Ma) and Palaeoproterozoic (c. 2124–1837 Ma) protolith ages. Metamorphic zircon from metapelites and granitoid orthogneisses yielded ages of c. 640 Ma which are considered to date peak regional granulite facies metamorphism during the Pan‐African orogenic event. However, the available zircon ages for the entire MB in East Africa and Madagascar also document that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at different times in different places. Large parts of the MB in central Tanzania consist of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was reworked during the Pan‐African event and that may have been part of the Tanzania Craton and Usagaran domain farther to the west.     

喀斯特旅游地开发时序评价研究

目前,很多喀斯特旅游地面临着初次开发、二次开发或者多次开发的投资选择问题。建立评价模型的目的是把有限的资金投入到能产生较大边际效益的旅游地。本文根据层次分析法,除考虑传统的资源、市场、区域开发条件等评价因素外,首次把发展阶段力引入了评价模型中,通过特尔菲法确定评价因子的权重,建立喀斯特旅游地开发时序评价的总模型和子模型,并建设性的探讨了定性和定量相结合的评价因子评分标准。文章还以贵州喀斯特国家级风景名胜区为例进行了时序评价实例研究,并给予了相应的时序开发对策。      

美国国家公园地质旅游特色及借鉴意义

自1872 年美国建立第一个国家公园以来, 全世界国家公园数已达2600个, 对于资源环境、生态系统、地质景观的保护起着十分重要的作用, 特别是美国,在保护地质景观的同时, 开展地质旅游, 效果明显。与之比较, 我国的地质公园建设还存在着许多不足。本文主要说明了美国国家公园的主要地质旅游特色, 比较了两国在地质旅游认识、管理方面存在的差异, 并总结了一些值得我们借鉴学习的经验。      

Seasonal Forecasting for Climate Hazards: Prospects and Responses

One of the most promising developments for early warning of climate hazards is seasonal climate forecasting. Already forecasts are operational in many parts of the tropics and sub-tropics, particularly for droughts and floods associated with ENSO events. Prospects for further development of seasonal forecasting for a range of climatichazards are reviewed, illustrated with case studies in Africa, Australia, the U.S.A. and Europe. A critical evaluation of the utility of seasonal forecasts centres on vulnerability, communicationchannels, and effective responses. In contrast to short-term prediction, seasonal forecasts raise new issues of preparedness and the use of information.     

Tectonic Evolution of the Lufilian Arc (Central Africa Copper Belt) During Neoproterozoic Pan African Orogenesis

The Lufilian arc of Central Africa (also called Katangan belt or Copperbelt) is a zone of low to highgrade metasedimentary (and subsidiary igneous) rocks of Neoproterozoic age hosting highgrade CuCoU and PbZn mineralizations. The Lufilian arc is located between the Congo and Kalahari cratons and defines a structure which is convex to the north. Three major phases of deformation characterize the construction of the Lufilian arc. The first phase (D1) called the “Kolwezian phase” developed folds and thrust sheets with a northward transport direction. D1 deformation occurred in the Lufilian arc between ca. 800 and 710 Ma, with a peak in the range 790–750 Ma. It is here correlated with the main deformation in the Zambezi belt. Southward-verging folds with the same trends as the D₁ structures were previously linked to a second tectonic event named Kundelunguian phase of the Lufilian orogeny. We show in this paper that they are backfolds developed during D1 along Katangan ramps and especially along the Kibaran foreland. The second phase (D2) of the Lufilian orogeny is the “Monwezi phase” including several large leftlateral strikeslip faults which have been activated successively. During this deformation phase, the eastern block of the belt rotated clockwise, giving the present day NWSE trend of D1 structures in this part of the Lufilian arc, and generating its convex geometry. The Mwembeshi dislocation, the major transcurrent shear zone separating the Zambezi and Lufilian arc, was mostly active during the D2 deformation phase. D2 deformation occurred between ca. 690 and 540 Ma. Such a long time interval is attributed to the migration of strikeslip faults developed sequentially from south to north, and probably to a slow convergence velocity during the collision between the Congo and Kalahari cratons. The third phase (D3) of the Lufilian orogeny is a late event called the “Chilatembo phase”, marked by structures transverse to the trends of the Lufilian arc. This deformation and the post-D_2′ uppermost Kundelungu sequence (Ks3 Plateaux Group), are younger than 540 Ma and probably early Paleozoic.     

龙里高山草原形成机理与旅游资源初评

龙里高山草原是一个待开发的风景旅游区,它由海拔1578～ 1674m的山巅坪台及深切到海拔1100m左右的岩溶峡谷组合而成,包括无边无际的平坦草原、险而奇的岩溶森林峡谷,及残丘、岩溶洼地、峰林等多种类型的地貌。草原坪台上覆盖着草甸,岩溶峡谷内长满竹林及阔叶混合林,是开展多种旅游项目不可多得的绿色旅游资源。该景区的形成与特殊的地质地貌演化历史有关,即新构造运动使得区内地壳不断抬升,分布在平缓的箱状背斜轴部的石炭系石灰岩上的石英砂岩,由于其抗风化能力强,而残留在一级剥夷面上成为山巅坪台,即方山地貌。该旅游区具有“奇、新、特”及距贵阳近的得天独厚的旅游优势。      

Planning and development regulation amid rapid urban growth: Explaining divergent trajectories in Africa

Why are urban plans, land use regulations and construction codes implemented effectively in some African states but not others? This constitutes an increasingly urgent development concern with major implications for the environment and the urban poor. Rather than being explained by economic factors, bureaucratic capacity or the nature of the urban policies and regulations in place, this paper argues that divergent outcomes are largely rooted in differing political bargaining environments. Comparing Uganda and Rwanda, it presents an empirical study that analyses contrasting planning and regulation trajectories in contexts of similarly low levels of socioeconomic development and soaring rates of urban growth. It argues that the divergent outcomes can be explained in relation to the political resources and incentives confronted by governing elites, which in Rwanda impel state actors to implement plans and regulations while in Uganda incentivize overriding them in the interests of political or economic gain. In highlighting political bargaining contexts and how these change over time, the paper illustrates the critical importance of historically informed city-level political economy analysis for understanding divergent urban development outcomes.