Recent Developments in Marine Diamond Mining

The marine diamond deposits of southern Africa owe their existence to fluvial transport down the Orange River to the South Atlantic. On the coast, they were moved, sorted and concentrated by high-energy sea and wind conditions to create a veneer of diamondiferous gravels on the sea floor. Large scale, offshore production by De Beers Marine commenced in 1989 in Namibian waters. The company now acts as a contractor for Namdeb, a corporation owned jointly with the Namibian governments. Some junior public companies also produce diamonds by large-scale mechanized means and conduct extensive exploration programs. Two important developments have occurred recently. Firstly, equipment for the recovery of diamonds from the seabed has been successfully borrowed from other industries. Large drills from onshore civil engineering have been modified for marine sampling and mining. Remotely controlled, seabed-mounted, excavational systems have assumed a major role. The new systems allow both evaluation sampling and subsequent mining to be undertaken by similar or the same equipment, making the results compatible. They permit highly selective extraction and enhanced recovery of the gravels from irregular bedrock in water approaching 200 m deep. But none is universally applicable offshore, each being the preferred system under different conditions. Secondly, the total output of sea diamonds from Namibian waters has increased to 0.8 million carats annually and now exceeds that from all the country's onshore sources. An industry has become established. Corporate and individual perseverence, government encouragement, new technology, shareholders' risk finance, and De Beers' diamond marketing have all played a role in the success. Future diamond production may increase as companies meet the challenge of working lower grade, higher volume deposits, which will require new approaches to the mining process. With a decrease in the physical risk of marine mining, the most variable inputs in operational planning and production forecasting are recovered grade and throughout rate, together with equipment availability. The importance of reliable grade estimation from sufficient sampling density is widely perceived, but the greatest performance risk can involve the predicted excavation rate and ''mineability'' of the seabed sediments. Published reserve statements would benefit from a requirement to specify the planned mining method, the consequent cutoff grade to be employed, and whether or not test mining has been undertaken.     

Placer Deposits of Southern Tamil Nadu Coast,India

Exploration for placer deposits, especially for ilmenites, has been undertaken systematically in the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, India. On the basis of drainage network. Coastal landforms, lithology, and neotectonics, the study area has been grouped into five sectors: Mandapam, Valinokkam, Tuticorin, Manappad, and Kanyakumari. Ilmenites are abundant in Kanyakumari (Max. 53.39 wt%) and Tuticorin (Max. 20.88 wt%) sectors, negligible in Manappad (Max. 0.60 wt%) and Valinokkam (Max. 3.88 wt%) sectors and absent in the Mandapam sector. The abnormal enrichment of ilmenites in the Kanyakumari sector in the absence of any drainage network points to the possibility of a relict source. Literary and scientific evidence corroborates the existence of an Eastern Gondwana land called Lemuria, South of Kanyakumari which was later submerged in the Flandrian transgression. The association of other heavy minerals with ilmenites like overgrown and outgrown zircon supplements the idea of a longer stay of ilmenites in the depositional basin. Ilmenites from these fossil strandlines must have been reworked by the present day coastal processes and deposited in favorable bay-like NE-SW coastal configurations in Kanyakumari-Kuttankuli and Kallar-Vaippar regions under high energy wave conditions. The present study has disclosed the enrichment of ilmenites up to 1 m in depth in the above two zones which can be commercially exploited. The present study also calls for confirming part of the lost continent called Lemuria or Eastern Gondwana by systematic scientific investigations.     

不同海域SSTA对东半球越赤道气流年代际变化影响的数值模拟研究

采用1950—2000年逐月观测的不同海域（全球、热带外、热带、热带印度洋-太平洋及热带太平洋）海表温度,分别驱动NCAR CAM3全球大气环流模式,进行了多组长时间积分试验,对比ERA-40再分析资料,讨论了这些海域海表温度异常（SSTA）对东半球越赤道气流年代际变化的影响。数值试验结果表明,全球、热带、热带印度洋-太平洋及热带太平洋海表温度变化分别驱动NCAR CAM3全球大气环流模式,均能模拟出索马里、120 ?E和150 ?E越赤道气流在1970年代中后期由弱变强的年代际变化特征,其中模拟的索马里越赤道气流年代际变化特征及其与东亚夏季风年代际变化关系均与观测结果较一致,而热带外海表温度驱动全球大气环流模式未能模拟出此年代际变化现象,表明全球、热带、热带印度洋-太平洋及热带太平洋海表温度变化均对索马里越赤道气流在1970年代中后期的年代际变化具有重要作用,热带太平洋是关键海区;索马里越赤道气流的年代际变化与热带太平洋海温年代际背景变化密切相关,当热带太平洋处于暖（冷）背景年代,热带东太平洋海温异常从北到南呈“＋、－、＋”（“－、＋、－”）“三明治”式距平分布,有利于赤道东太平洋南北两侧产生一对距平反气旋（气旋）,然后可能通过“大气桥”的作用,与热带印度洋赤道南北两侧的一对距平气旋（反气旋）联系起来,从而引起索马里越赤道气流强度的增强（减弱）。      

Early Triassic Volcanic Rocks in the Western Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone: Implications for the Opening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

In this study, zircon U-Pb dating of volcanic rocks from the Zhongba ophiolite of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) in southern Xizang (Tibet) yielded an age of 247 ± 3 Ma. According to whole rock geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data, the Early Triassic samples could be divided into two groups: Group 1 with P-MORB affinity, showing initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70253–0.70602, εNd(t) values of 4.2–5.3, (206Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 16.353–18.222, (207Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 15.454–15.564, and (208Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 35.665–38.136; Group 2 with OIB affinity, showing initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70249–0.70513, εNd(t) values of 4.4–4.9, (206Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 17.140–18.328, (207Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 15.491–15.575, and (208Pb/204Pb)t ratios of 36.051–38.247. Group 2 rocks formed by partial melting of the mantle source enriched by a former plume, and assimilated continental crustal material during melt ascension. The formation of Group 1 rocks corresponds to the mixing of OIB melts, with the same components as Group 2 and N-MORBs. The Zhongba Early Triassic rocks belong to the continental margin type ophiolite and formed in the continental–oceanic transition zone during the initial opening of the Neo-Tethys in southern Xizang (Tibet).     

澳大利亚冷空气活动与西北太平洋台风频次的关系分析

利用中国气象局《台风年鉴》资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析1968—2006年北半球夏季（6—9月）澳大利亚冷空气活动与西北太平洋夏季台风频次（WNPSTYF）的关系,并研究其影响的可能机制。结果表明,夏季澳大利亚东部对流层经向风年际增量变化与WNPSTYF年际增量变化呈显著正相关;西太平洋近赤道区对流层上层纬向风年际增量与同期WNPSTYF年际增量呈显著负相关。澳大利亚冷空气活动影响WNPSTYF的可能机理是:当澳大利亚东部从对流层低层至上层的经向风年际增量有南风异常时（此时澳大利亚西侧对流层上层有年际增量的北风异常）,冷空气在向低纬移动过程中受热上升,同时因柯氏力向左偏转,并在对流层上层向中纬度辐散,导致110～160 °E区间的南半球近赤道附近对流层上层纬向风年际增量的偏北东风异常;由于赤道上空大气运动的无旋转特性及连续性,北半球也会出现同向的纬向风年际增量异常。赤道附近对流层上层纬向风年际增量的东风异常产生纬向风的经向切变,使对流层上层出现涡度年际增量的负异常;对流层上层涡度年际增量负异常的抽吸作用导致对流层低层出现涡度年际增量的正异常,利于台风生成,导致台风年际增量偏多。反之亦反。      

Topographic predictors of susceptibility to alluvial fan flooding,Southern Apennines

The flooding susceptibility of alluvial fans in the Southern Apennines has long been neglected. To partly address this oversight, we focus on the region of Campania which contains highly urbanized piedmont areas particularly vulnerable to flooding. Our findings are based on stratigraphic analysis of the fans and morphometric analysis of the basin‐fan systems. Using geomorphological analysis we recognized active alluvial fans while stratigraphic analysis together with statistical analysis of the morphometric variables was used to classify the fans in terms of the transport process involved. The results indicate that in the geological context examined, the best discrimination between debris flow (Df) and water flood (Wf) processes is achieved by means of two related variables, one for the basin (feeder channel inclination, Cg) and one for the fan (fan length, Fl). The probability that an unclassified fan belongs to group Wf is computed by applying a logistic function in which a P value exceeding 0.5 indicates that a basin/fan system belongs to group Wf. This important result led to the classification of the entire basin/fan system data. As regards process intensity, debris flow‐dominated fans are susceptible to the occurrence of flows with high viscosity and hence subject to more severe events than water flood‐dominated fans. Bearing this in mind, the data gathered in this study allow us to detect where alluvial fan flooding might occur and give information on the different degrees of susceptibility at a regional scale. Regrettably, urban development in recent decades has failed to take the presence of such alluvial fans into account due to the long recurrence time (50–100 years) between floods. This paper outlines the distribution of such susceptibility scenarios throughout the region, thereby constituting an initial step to implementing alluvial fan flooding control and mitigation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

南黄海及长江口附近海域绿潮暴发前期微观繁殖体的动态变化

基于2011年3至5月对南黄海及长江口附近海域的水体与沉积物样品采集及实验室萌发培养实验,分析了绿潮暴发前期该海域微观繁殖体的时空分布特征。结果表明,在调查期间,南黄海水体中微观繁殖体空间分布趋势表现为近岸高远岸低,高值区主要集中在紫菜筏架养殖区附近海域,在122°30'E以东区域未发现有微观繁殖体存在。3,4,5月份该区域海水中平均微观繁殖体数分别为144 ,164和140株/dm3,最大值分别为278,426,和537株/dm3;南黄海沉积物中微观繁殖体数量分布范围介于19~127株/层,表层微观繁殖体数高于底层。长江口以北靠近江苏近岸区域有微观繁殖体存在,数量介于1~10株/dm3,31°N以南区域和河口内未发现有繁殖体分布,由此可排除黄海浒苔等绿藻微观繁殖体由长江水携带入海或来源于长江口南部海域。在春季绿潮暴发前开展该海域微观繁殖体的研究,可为查明绿潮发源地及早期发生发展过程提供基础资料,为预测和预警绿潮发生提供科技支撑。     

Coral communities and reefs from Guerrero,Southern Mexican Pacific

Corals in the Eastern Pacific extend south from the Gulf of California to Ecuador and oceanic Chile, and west from Colombia to Clipperton Atoll. Nevertheless, large stretches of the Mexican Pacific remain fundamentally unstudied. Therefore, to assess the current conditions of coral communities, a coastal fringe ～300 km long (17°40′ N, 101°39′ W to 16°46′ N, 99°49′ W) was surveyed within the Southern Mexican Pacific, between 2005 and 2009. Fifteen stony coral species were identified at 13 coral communities and six Pocillopora‐dominated fringing reefs, with Pocillopora verrucosa and Pocillopora damicornis the primary contributing taxa. Reef development was identified in embayments or behind rocks or islands that offered shelter from northern and northwestern winds. Observations of Pocillopora effusus, Pocillopora inflata, Porites lobata, Pavona clavus, and Pavona varians expanded the species known geographic ranges by several degrees of latitude, suggesting reef building fauna comprised a mixture of widespread and relatively rare Eastern Pacific corals. Results indicated greater live coral cover in the Ixtapa‐Zihuatanejo area (15–73%) than in the Acapulco localities, which had high algal dominance; the reefs in the latter region exhibited high erosion. Regional differences are likely the result of long‐standing anthropogenic pressures around Acapulco since 1950, when it became an important tourist destination. This paper is the first detailed report of ecologically stressed corals and coral reefs from the state of Guerrero on the Mexican Southern Pacific coast.     

A software tool for monitoring legal minimum length of landings: Case study of a fishery in southern Spain

The regulation of minimum legal size (MLS) of catches is a tool widely applied in the management of fisheries resources, although the MLS does not always coincide with the length at first maturity (LFM). The optimization of this management tool requires a series of quality control in fish markets and transportation. A software application has been developed to make the control of the landings of several target species easier and faster. In order to test and make this tool operational, six species of commercial interest were selected: four species of fish and two species of bivalves. It is proposed to estimate the proportion of illegal specimens in the studied lot from the proportion of illegal individuals found in the samples taken from this lot. The input data for the application are the minimum legal size (MLS) of the species and the total length (TL) of each specimen sampled. The output data is a statistical summary of the percentage of specimens of size less than the legal minimum (TL≤MLS) within different confidence intervals (90%, 95% and 99%). The software developed will serve as a fast, efficient and easy to manage tool that allows inspectors to determine the degree of compliance on MLS control and to make a decision supported by statistical proof on fishing goods.