Lithium and lithium isotope profiles through the upper oceanic crust: a study of seawater-basalt exchange at ODP Sites 504B and 896A

Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 504B near the Costa Rica Rift is the deepest hole drilled in the ocean crust, penetrating a volcanic section, a transition zone and a sheeted dike complex. The distribution of Li and its isotopes through this 1.8-km section of oceanic crust reflects the varying conditions of seawater alteration with depth. The upper volcanic rocks, altered at low temperatures, are enriched in Li (5.6-27.3 ppm) and have heavier isotopic compositions (δ⁷Li=6.6-20.8‰) relative to fresh mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) due to uptake of seawater Li into alteration clays. The Li content and isotopic compositions of the deeper volcanic rocks are similar to MORB, reflecting restricted seawater circulation in this section. The transition zone is a region of mixing of seawater with upwelling hydrothermal fluids and sulfide mineralization. Li enrichment in this zone is accompanied by relatively light isotopic compositions (−0.8-2.1‰) which signify influence of basalt-derived Li during mineralization and alteration. Li decreases with depth to 0.6 ppm in the sheeted dike complex as a result of increasing hydrothermal extraction in the high-temperature reaction zone. Rocks in the dike complex have variable isotopic values that range from −1.7 to 7.9‰, depending on the extent of hydrothermal recrystallization and off-axis low-temperature alteration. Hydrothermally altered rocks are isotopically light because ⁶Li is preferentially retained in greenschist and amphibolite facies minerals. The δ⁷Li values of the highly altered rocks of the dike complex are complementary to those of high-temperature mid-ocean ridge vent fluids and compatible to equilibrium control by the alteration mineral assemblage. The inventory of Li in basement rocks permits a reevaluation of the role of oceanic crust in the budget of Li in the ocean. On balance, the upper 1.8 km of oceanic crusts remains a sink for oceanic Li. The observations at 504B and an estimated flux from the underlying 0.5 km of gabbro suggest that the global hydrothermal flux is at most 8×10⁹ mol/yr, compatible with geophysical thermal models. This work defines the distribution of Li and its isotopes in the upper ocean crust and provides a basis to interpret the contribution of subducted lithosphere to arc magmas and cycling of crustal material in the deep mantle.     

湘桂黔滇藏红色岩溶风化壳发育模式

基于对湘，桂、黔，滇，藏等地岩溶区红色风化壳的野外和室内研究，从表生地貌学，粘土矿物学和地球化学角度分析红色石灰土性质与地貌演化的关系，提出红色岩溶风化壳发育的二阶段模式；1）地貌夷平-风化物质积累阶段，在地貌演化过程中溶蚀残余物质不断积累，最后在夷平面上形成厚层连续的泥质风化壳，夷平面的地貌水文条件有利于粘粒的形成和保存，但限制了富铝化作用的有效进行，造就了岩溶风化壳粘粒含量高，富铝化程度低的特点，这与研究区23个红色岩溶风化壳剖面化学，粒度特征和粘土矿物组合特点一致。2）地貌切割-风化壳淋溶阶段，原始夷平面上的风化壳大多呈灰色，只有在构造隆升和地表微切割导致地下水位降低，淋溶条件开始改善的情况下，风化壳才有可能枞根本上转为红色。     

基于GIS的黄河上游龙羊峡库区生态环境遥感监测研究

本项研究以黄河上游生态环境严重退化的龙羊峡库区为研究区，应用遥感与GIS一体化的方法，建立了库区生态环境动态监测信息系统。在系统的支持下，利用多时相、多波段TM遥感数据，对库区近十年来生态环境变化进行监测分析，揭示了库区土地沙漠化、水土流失、土地利用／土地覆盖的现状，以及建库近十年来生态环境时空演化的过程与发展趋势，为库区生态环境治理提供科学依据。本项研究利用遥感和GIS技术，采用生态环境综合分类系统，在一次分类处理中通过多层次不同级别的组合获得了基于同一信息源的土地沙漠化、草场盖度、土地利用处地覆盖等多种环境类型信息，并利用环境信息模型对库区的土壤侵蚀进行了评价。基于GIS的分类后再处理使遥感分类精度有了一定程度的提高。研究表明，在GIS的支持下充分利用遥感信息监测与评价生态环境，是区域生态环境定量化研究的有效途径。