The prospect of high‐precision Pb isotopic dating of meteorites

Abstract— The radiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio is the only extant nuclide chronometer with sufficient time resolution for studies of the solar nebula accretion and early asteroidal differentiation and metamorphism. Pb isotopic dates can be used to link the dates obtained from extinct nuclide chronometers to the absolute time scale. The factors that control precision and accuracy of Pb isotopic dates of meteorites: instrumental mass fractionation in isotopic analysis, mass spectrometer sensitivity, removal of common Pb, multi‐stage evolution of U‐Pb systems, disturbances caused by diffusion, alteration, and shock metamorphism, and uncertainties in decay constants and the natural ratio of the U isotopes are reviewed. The precision of Pb isotopic dates of meteorites attained with currently available techniques and methodology is ±0.5–1.0 Myr in favorable cases. The accuracy of time interval measurements is approximately the same. The most serious limitation on precision and accuracy of Pb isotopic dates is placed by the presence of common Pb of uncertain and/or variable isotopic composition. Improvement in precision and accuracy of Pb isotopic dates would be possible through combined advancement of techniques of isotopic analysis (most importantly, better control over instrumental mass fractionation) and more effective techniques for the removal of common Pb, together with a better understanding of the effects of thermal metamorphism, shock metamorphism, and aqueous alteration on the U‐Pb system in meteorites.     

Robust Scalings in Compressible Flux Pile-Up Reconnection

Flux pile-up magnetic reconnection is traditionally considered only for incompressible plasmas. The question addressed in this paper is whether the pile-up scalings with resistivity are robust when plasma compressibility is taken into account. A simple analytical argument makes it possible to understand why the transition from a highly compressible limit to the incompressible one is difficult to discern in typical simulations spanning a few decades in resistivity. From a practical standpoint, however, flux pile-up reconnection in a compressible plasma can lead to anomalous electric resistivity in the current sheet and flare-like energy release of magnetic energy in the solar corona.     

Ammonoid Succession of Setorym River （Verkhoyansk Area） and Problem of Permian—Triassic Boundary in Boreal Realm

The presence of a single Otoceras species (O.boreale), morphologically very variable, at the base of the Nekuchan Formation in Verkhoyansk, we believe, is to be obvious. Some morphological evidence leaves no doubt that two described morphs of O. boreale are s strictly corresponding sexual dimorphic pair. It is very likely that Kummel‘s idea that Canadian. O. concavum Tozer is an invalid species is truthful, considering the range of variability seen in larger Siberian and Himalayan Otoceras fauna. Just above the upper Tatarian Imtachan Formation, the six stages of ammonoid succession can be recognized within the lower part of the Nekuchan Formation in the Setorym River Section:(a) Otoceras boreale;(b) Otoceras boreale-Tompophiceras pascoei; (c) Otoceras boreale-Tompophiceras pascoei-Aldanoceras;(d)Tompophiceras pascoei-Otoceras boreale-Aldanoceras;(e) Tompophiceras morpheous-T.pascoei-Aldanoceras;(f) Tompophiceras more pheous-T.pascoei-Wordieoceras domokhotovi-Ophiceras transitorium;(g)Tompophiceras morpheous-T.pascoei, corresponding to the Otoceras boreale and Tompophiceras morpheous zones. In spite of the domination of Otocerataceae or Xenodiscaceae in both oif these zones and the presence of some Permian type conodonts in the lower part of the Otoceras boreale Zone, they seem to be early Induan in age on the basis of the following arguments:(1) in contrast to the underlying regressive type sediments of the Upper Tatarian Imtachan Formation, both the Otoceras boreale and the Tompophiceras morpheous zones of the lowermost part of the Nekuchan Formation correspond to the single transgressive cycle;(2)typical early Induan ammonoids (Ophiceras and Wordieoceras) have been recognized in the Tompophiceras morpheous zone; (3) all described ammonoid succession stages (a-g) are characterized by very gradual changes and therefore correspond to the different parts of the single zone or to the different zones of the same stage, but not to the different systems (Permian and Triassic);(4)elsewhere in the Boreal realm (Arctic Canada), the conodont index species for the base of the Triassic, Hindeodus parvus, has been reported from the Otoceras boreale Zone. A new scheme of the phylogeny for the Otocerataceae and its Induan-Olenekian offspring (Araxceratidae-Otoceratidae-Vavilovitidae n.fam.-Proptychitidae-Arctoceratidae) and Xenodiscaceae is offered.     

Some results obtained on the study of the chemical composition of Eurasian oils depending on the depth and age of the reservoir rock

The sulfur, paraffin, resin and asphaltene contents of some 6570 Cenozoic, Mesozoic and Paleozoic Eurasian oils were analysed statistically in terms of reservoir age and depth. The database includes all principal oil-bearing basins from 60 Eurasian countries. The results of the studies of the relationships between the distribution of oils with different sulfur, paraffin, resin and asphaltene contents and the reservoir age and depth are presented. Predictive trends are established allowing polynomial predictions of average properties.     

Are isolated stable rigid clasts in shear zones equivalent to voids?

Particles in shear enclose important information about a rock's past and can potentially be used to decipher the kinematic history and mechanical behavior of a certain outcrop or region. Isolated rigid clasts in shear zones often exhibit systematic inclinations with respect to the shear-plane at small angles, tending towards the instantaneous stretching direction of the shear zone. This shape preferred orientation cannot be easily explained by any of the analytical theories used in geology. It was recently recognized that a weak mantle surrounding the clast or a slipping clast–matrix interface might be responsible for the development of the observed inclinations. Physical considerations lead us to conjecture that such mantled, rigid clasts can be effectively treated as voids that are not allowed to change their shape. The resulting equivalent void conjecture agrees well with numerical and field data and has the following important geological implications. (i) Clasts in shear zones can have stable positions in simple shear without the requirement of an additional pure shear component. (ii) The stable orientation can be approached either syn- or antithetically; hence, the clast can rotate against the applied shear sense. (iii) The strain needed to develop a strong shape preferred orientation is small (γ≈1) and therefore evaluations based on other theories may overestimate strain by orders of magnitude. (iv) The reconstruction of far-field shear flow conditions and kinematic vorticity analysis must be modified to incorporate these new findings.     

Unique Marine Olenekian-Anisian Boundary Section from South Primorye, Russian Far East

INTRODUCTION LateOlenekianandAnisianmarinedepositsin SouthPrimoryewerefirststudiedbyD.L.Ivanov,thechiefofageologicalteammakingreconnaissance workfortheconstructionofthetrans Siberianrail road.HecollectedEarlyandMiddleTriassicam monoidsonRussianIsland.Arep…     

安徽巢湖地区下三叠统综合层序

印度阶一奥伦尼克阶界线的全球层型候选剖面之一位于安徽巢湖地区;巢湖地区的下三叠统也是国际上同期地层中生物地层序列最有代表性、多重地层学手段应用齐备、研究效果最好的地层序列之一。根据巢湖地区3条代表性下三叠统剖面的岩石地层、生物地层和碳同位素地层的最新研究成果归纳出本区早三叠世综合地层序列,作为区域地层对比研究的标准．巢湖的下三叠统明确包含8个牙形石带和6个菊石带。它们具有区域甚至全球对比意义;巢湖地区早三叠世碳同位素δ^13Ccarb的演变呈现2个显著的漂移周期,这种有特色的碳同位素漂移,不仅具有地层学价值,而且可能对于三叠纪初的生物复苏和生态系演变具有指导意义．在综合地层序列基础上,将3条剖面的古地磁学研究成果链接,形成了巢湖地区完整的早三叠世磁性地层序列,包括5个主要的正向极性带和5个反向极性带,这也是目前在本区乃至华南获得的最完整的早三叠世磁极性序列之一．这些为该区域乃至全球相关地层研究树立了一个基本格架。