The Oneka intrusive complex: a new structural type of large-scale manifestations of intrusive trap magmatism on the Siberian Platform

The Oneka intrusive complex, recognized on prospecting for hydrocarbons in the western Siberian Platform, in the northern half of the Bakhta megablock (Tunguska syneclise), holds a special position among the known and new large-scale manifestations of intrusive trap magmatism. During the process, original data on the distribution of traps in the 4.2 km thick platform cover were obtained. Diverse in morphology and size, the intrusions are of the same genesis, composition, and character of intrachamber differentiation and form a “framework” igneous complex in the northern half of the Bakhta megablock. This complex occupies an area of about 40,000 km². It is an intricate tectonomagmatic superstructure, with the volume of magmatic material estimated at 50,000 km³. Results of petrochemical and geochemical studies, multispectra and REE ratios, and isotope ratios ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70558–0.70580) suggest that diverse rocks of the Oneka intrusive complex were, most likely, formed from a primary picritoid magma, which underwent deep-level differentiation and was slightly contaminated with rocks of the crust and platform cover. The comprehensive study of the massif and results of numerical modeling show that the formation of such tectonomagmatic structures is closely related to the processes of intraplate magma formation in the craton lithosphere. The large Oneka intrusive complex, like other similar manifestations of Permo-Triassic trap (and alkaline-ultrabasic) magmatism of the Siberian Platform, can be considered projections of hotspots recording the evolution of the Siberian superplume.     

Metasomatic zoning of subcratonic lithosphere in Siberia: physicochemical modeling

Nonisothermal equilibrium physicochemical dynamics has been numerically modeled to estimate the effect of reduced asthenosphere fluids on continental lithosphere profiles beneath the Siberian Platform (SP). When the over-asthenosphere continental mantle is metasomatically changed by reduced magmatic fluids, the following sequence of zones forms: (1) zone where initial rocks are intensively sublimated and depleted by most petrogenic components; the restite in this case becomes carbonated, salinated and graphitized; (2) zone of Si and Fe enrichment and carbon deposition in initial rocks depleted in Na, K, P, Mn; (3) zone of diamond-bearing lherzolites enriched with Na; (4) zone of hydrated rocks enriched with K; (5) zone of hydrated rocks not enriched with petrogenic components. Zone 1 can be responsible for the formation of kimberlite melts, zones 3 and 4 can be substrates of alkaline magma melting, and zone 5 can be the source of mafic tholeiitic magma.     

Magmatogenic manganese ores of the South Minusa Intermontane Trough

The first data on the mineral composition and formation conditions of manganese ore at the Chapsordag and Malosyrsky deposits in the Askiz ore district of Khakassia are integrated and systematized. The detailed mineralogical mapping of the deposits has been carried out. The identification of minerals and examination of the ore microstructure were performed with optical microscopy in transmitted and reflected light and using SEM/EDS, EMPA, XRD, IRS, and other methods. It was established that the ore mineralization is spatially and genetically related to the Early Devonian magmatism and accompanying hydrothermal activity and metasomatism. Syngenetic braunite was detected for the first time in elevated amounts reaching an economic level in the devitrified groundmass of volcanic rocks, in cement of lava breccia, and in fragments in pyroclastic rocks. By analogy with iron deposits, this magmatogenic type of manganese mineralization is regarded as ore lavas and tuffs combined with metasomatic and hydrothermal mineral assemblages into a strata-bound orebearing complex and as a source of hydrothermal metasomatic ore. The elevated Mn content in magmatic melts of the Early Devonian trachybasalt-trachyandesite-trachydacite association is caused by assimilation of Riphean and Lower Cambrian high-Mn carbonate sequences in crustal magma chambers. In contours of economic orebodies, the hydrothermal economic ore is recognized as sites of massive, patchy and impregnated, brecciated, stringer-disseminated, and disseminated varieties. High-grade massive ore occurs as stratiform and branching bodies up to 1.5 m thick and a few tens of meters long and as smaller pocketlike bodies. Braunite and pyrolusite (polianite) are major ore minerals varying in size, degree of crystallinity, and character of intergrowths with associating minerals. Gangue minerals include carbonates, sulfates, albite, quartz, chlorite, actinolite, piemontite, and okhotskite, a Mn-pumpellyite identified in Russia for the first time and studied in detail in this paper. The veined hydrothermal ore is classified as a calcite-barite-pyrolusite type. The crystallization temperature of hydrothermal metasomatic ore is estimated at 350–180°C; oxygen fugacity is above the hematite-magnetite buffer. The surface of high-grade ore is encrusted with supergene goethite-hydrogoethite, chalcedony-hematite, and pyrolusite-psilomelane crusts and veinlets (less than 1% of the bulk ore mass). The data obtained facilitate prospecting for high-quality manganese ore at walls of superimposed rifts in fold regions, including large economic manganese concentrations in the form of ore lavas and tuffs as products of solidification of metalliferous melt.     

Distribution,habitat and movement of juvenile smooth hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena) in northern New Zealand

The smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena, occurs in warm temperate waters around the northern North Island of New Zealand. Commercial fishing records and research trawl survey data were used to determine their distribution. Highest catch rates were recorded in relatively sheltered bays and coastlines along the northeast coast of North Island. Neonate and juvenile sharks use shallow coastal waters and large harbours and estuaries as nursery areas up to an age of two years and total length of 150?cm. Five sharks were electronically tagged but two apparently died and three (137–160?cm total length) returned useful data. Two tagged sharks remained in or near the Bay of Islands for 6–55 days after tagging, moving extensively through the bay. A third shark moved about 155?km southeast in 250 days. That shark spent 70 days mostly shallower than 10?m (94% of time) with occasional dives to 40?m. Thereafter, it oscillated between the surface and depths of 60?80?m, with most time (55%) being spent at 40?60?m. Maximum recorded depth was 144?m.     

AVHRR/NOAA DATA IN ESTIMATING AREAS OF LARGE FOREST FIRES

The areas of the active zone of five large forest fires among those occurring in Irkutsk Oblast in 1996 and 1997 and the burned-over areas formed by them were determined using an Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) carried aboard satellites of the American NOAA series. Comparative estimates of the burned-over areas, determined using AVHRR (NOAA satellite) and MSU-SK (medium-resolution scanner) (Russian Federation Resurs satellite) imagery, were obtained.     

Metasomatism and ore formation at contacts of dolerite with saliferous rocks in the sedimentary cover of the southern Siberian platform

The data on the mineral composition and crystallization conditions of magnesian skarn and magnetite ore at contacts of dolerite with rock salt and dolomite in ore-bearing volcanic—tectonic structures of the Angara—Ilim type have been integrated and systematized. Optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, Raman and IR spectroscopy, and methods of mineralogical thermometry were used for studying minerals and inclusions contained therein. The most diverse products of metasomatic reactions are found in the vicinity of a shallow-seated magma chamber that was formed in Lower Cambrian carbonate and saliferous rocks under a screen of terrigenous sequences. Conformable lodes of spinel-forsterite skarn and calciphyre impregnated with magnesian magnetite replaced dolomite near the central magma conduit and apical portions of igneous bodies. At the postmagmatic stage, the following mineral assemblages were formed at contacts of dolerite with dolomite: (1) spinel + fassaite + forsterite + magnetite (T = 820?740°C), (2) phlogopite + titanite + pargasite + magnetite (T = 600–500°C), And (3) clinochlore + serpentine + pyrrhotite (T = 450°C and lower). Rock salt is transformed at the contact into halitite as an analogue of calciphyre. The specific features of sedimentary, contact-metasomatic, and hydrothermal generations of halite have been established. The primary sedimentary halite contains solid inclusions of sylvite, carnallite, anhydrite, polyhalite, quartz, astrakhanite, and antarcticite; nitrogen, methane, and complex hydrocarbons have been detected in gas inclusions; and the liquid inclusions are largely aqueous, with local hydrocarbon films. The contact-metasomatic halite is distinguished by a fine-grained structure and the occurrence of anhydrous salt phases (CaCl₂ · KCl, CaCl₂, nMgCl₂ · mCaCl₂) and high-density gases (CO₂, H₂S, N₂, CH₄, etc.) as inclusions. The low-temperature hydrothermal halite, which occurs in skarnified and unaltered silicate rocks and in ore, is characterized by a low salinity of aqueous inclusions and the absence of solid inclusions. The composition and aggregative state of inclusions in halite and forsterite indicate that salt melt-solution as a product of melting and dissolution of salt was the main agent of high-temperature metasomatism. Its total salinity was not lower than 60%. The composition and microstructure of magnetite systematically change in different mineral assemblages. Magnetite is formed as a result of extraction of iron together with silicon and phosphorus from dolerite. The first generation of magnetite is represented by mixed crystals, products of exsolution in the Fe-Mg-Al-Ti-Mn-O system. The Ti content is higher at the contact of dolerite with rock salt, whereas, at the contact with dolomite, magnetite is enriched in Mg. The second generation of magnetite does not contain structural admixtures. The distribution of boron minerals and complex crystal hydrates shows that connate water of sedimentary rocks could have participated in hydrothermal metasomatic processes.     

Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus): a review of life history and key vulnerabilities in New Zealand

Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) is an important coastal fish species in New Zealand for a variety of reasons, but the large amount of research conducted on snapper has not been reviewed. Here, we review life history information and potential threats for snapper in New Zealand. We present information on snapper life history, defining stages (eggs and larvae, juvenile and adult), and assess potential threats and knowledge gaps. Overall we identify six key points: 1. post-settlement snapper are highly associated with certain estuarine habitats that are under threat from land-based stressors. This may serve as a bottleneck for snapper populations; 2. the largest knowledge gaps relate to the eggs and larvae. Additional knowledge may help to anticipate the effects of climate change, which will likely have the greatest influence on these early life stages; 3. ocean acidification, from land-based sources and from climate change, may be an important threat to larval snapper; 4. a greater understanding of population connectivity would improve certainty around the sustainability of fishery exploitation; 5. the collateral effects of fishing are likely to be relevant to fishery productivity, ecosystem integrity and enduser value; 6. our understanding of the interrelationships between snapper and other ecosystem components is still deficient.