Sonar acoustic facies and sediment distribution on an area of the deep ocean floor

Long-range sidescan sonar can be used to map sediment distributions over wide expanses of deep ocean floor. Seven acoustic facies that arise from differing sediment or rock types have been mapped over the low-relief Saharan continental rise and Madeira abyssal plain. These have been calibrated with sampling, profiling and camera studies and the facies can be traced confidently on a regional scale using the sidescan data. The mapping of the sediment distribution shows that a complex interplay of turbidity current and debris flow processes can occur at a continental rise/abysaal plain transition over 1000 km from the nearest continental slope.     

冲绳海槽中西部边缘区沉积物成因和沉积环境

本文根据１９９６年“中－法合作东海计划”在冲绳海槽中西部边缘区所取柱状样岩芯沉积物粒度分析资料,对该区沉积物特征进行研究。结果表明,火山沉积和富含生物的半远洋深海软泥沉积是本区的主要特征。以４８１ｃｍ为界,上、下两层沉积物截然不同,可能是沉积物的来源不同或者是水动力条件的差异。该区主要受火山活动的影响,其次是黑潮、大洋风暴     

Geodynamic Information in Peridotite Petrology

Systematic differences are observed in the petrology and majorelement geochemistry of natural peridotite samples from thesea floor near oceanic ridges and subduction zones, the mantlesection of ophiolites, massif peridotites, and xenoliths ofcratonic mantle in kimberlite. Some of these differences reflectvariable temperature and pressure conditions of melt extraction,and these have been calibrated by a parameterization of experimentaldata on fertile mantle peridotite. Abyssal peridotites are examplesof cold residues produced at oceanic ridges. High-MgO peridotitesfrom the Ronda massif are examples of hot residues producedin a plume. Most peridotites from subduction zones and ophiolitesare too enriched in SiO₂ and too depleted in Al₂O₃ to be residues,and were produced by melt–rock reaction of a precursorprotolith. Peridotite xenoliths from the Japan, Cascades andChile–Patagonian back-arcs are possible examples of arcprecursors, and they have the characteristics of hot residues.Opx-rich cratonic mantle is similar to subduction zone peridotites,but there are important differences in FeO_T. Opx-poor xenolithsof cratonic mantle were hot residues of primary magmas with16–20% MgO, and they may have formed in either ancientplumes or hot ridges. Cratonic mantle was not produced as aresidue of Archean komatiites. KEY WORDS: peridotite; residues; fractional melting; abyssal; cratonic mantle; subduction zone; ophiolite; potential temperature; plumes; hot ridges     

南海深海盆表层沉积物氮的地球化学特征与生态学功能

研究了南海深海盆区域(南沙海槽西南部)表层沉积物中氮的形态、分布及其在生物地球化学循环中的功能.研究表明,表层沉积物中不同形态氮的含量不同.其中,氧化还原转化态的氮(SOEF-N)含量最高,平均为68.3μg/g,占总氮(TN)的7.08%;弱酸转化态氮(WAEF-N)含量最小,仅占总氮(TN)的1.09%.离子交换态(IEF-N),WAEF-N,S OEF-N及TN的地球化学分布特征存在一定相似性:均由海槽东西两侧向中央递增,并在槽底呈高含量分布;SAEF-N(强碱转化态)分布则与该趋势相反.IEF-N,SAEF-N和SOEF-N的分布主要受沉积物中有机碳含量(OC)控制;而WAEF-N则与碳酸盐(CaCO₃)存在显著的负相关关系;TN与OC不具有显著意义的相关,间接说明二者来源的不同.同时,各形态氮的分布还与沉积物粒度类型密切联系.此外,研究区域内由沉积物提供的氮源很大程度上补偿了浮游植物对水体中营养盐的消耗,对维持该海域的初级生产力水平起到一定作用.其中,IEF-N和SOEF-N的释放对浮游植物生长及初级生产力的贡献较为显著.     

中国海城地震区地壳与上地幔构造特征的研究

研究表明,海城地震区地壳与上地幔构造特征可以归纳为如下四点:1.震区所处的辽南地区,其地壳是由高速与低速相间的成层介质组成,地壳与上地幔结构不论纵向和横向都是不均匀的,且被深大断裂切割为若干块体;2.本区地壳按其界面分布特征可分为上层地壳、中层地壳和下层地壳;3.本区地壳介质在纵向及横向上均存在明显的不均一性;4.海城地震震源区位于耿庄——海城上地幔局部隆起东侧的中层地壳上部。     

Ray equation migration of wide-angle reflections in Dabie orogenic zone

ＲａｙｅｑｕａｔｉｏｎｍｉｇｒａｔｉｏｎｏｆｗｉｄｅａｎｇｌｅｒｅｆｌｅｃｔｉｏｎｓｉｎＤａｂｉｅｏｒｏｇｅｎｉｃｚｏｎｅＸＵ－ＹＡＯＺＨＥＮＧ１）（郑需要）ＣＨＵＮ－ＹＯＮＧＷＡＮＧ２）（王椿镛）ＸＩＡＯ－ＬＩＮＧＬＡＩ１）（赖晓玲）ＸＩＡＮ...     

浅析深水沉积理论

深水沉积理论的深入研究发现,传统的浊流沉积理论如鲍玛序列、浊积扇、浊积岩相等可能需要重新解释,对浊流理论的质疑推动着深水沉积理论的发展。通过对浊流沉积研究历史及当前研究现状的梳理,探讨了浊流及相关重力流沉积理论的新观点。     

Intra-seasonal variability of the abyssal currents in COMRA’s contract area in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

In this paper, the intra-seasonal variability of the abyssal currents in the China Ocean Mineral Resources Association (COMRA) polymetallic nodule contact area, located in the western part of the Clarion and Clipperton Fraction Zone in the tropical East Pacific, is investigated using direct observations from subsurface mooring instruments as well as sea-surface height data and reanalysis products. Mooring observations were conducted from September 13, 2017 to August 15, 2018 in the COMRA contact area (10°N, 154°W). The results were as follows: (1) At depths below 200 m, the kinetic energy of intra-seasonal variability (20?100 d) accounts for more than 40% of the overall low-frequency variability, while the ratio reaches more than 50% below 2 000 m. (2) At depths below 200 m, currents show a synchronous oscillation with a characteristic time scale of 30 d, lasting from October to the following January; the energy of the 30-d oscillation increases with depth until the layer of approximately 4 616 m, and the maximum velocity is approximately 10 cm/s. (3) The 30-d oscillation of deep currents is correlated with the tropical instability waves in the upper ocean.     

Bulk-rock Major and Trace Element Compositions of Abyssal Peridotites: Implications for Mantle Melting, Melt Extraction and Post-melting Processes Beneath Mid-Ocean Ridges

This paper presents the first comprehensive major and traceelement data for 130 abyssal peridotite samples from the Pacificand Indian ocean ridge–transform systems. The data revealimportant features about the petrogenesis of these rocks, mantlemelting and melt extraction processes beneath ocean ridges,and elemental behaviours. Although abyssal peridotites are serpentinized,and have also experienced seafloor weathering, magmatic signaturesremain well preserved in the bulk-rock compositions. The betterinverse correlation of MgO with progressively heavier rare earthelements (REE) reflects varying amounts of melt depletion. Thismelt depletion may result from recent sub-ridge mantle melting,but could also be inherited from previous melt extraction eventsfrom the fertile mantle source. Light REE (LREE) in bulk-rocksamples are more enriched, not more depleted, than in the constituentclinopyroxenes (cpx) of the same sample suites. If the cpx LREErecord sub-ridge mantle melting processes, then the bulk-rockLREE must reflect post-melting refertilization. The significantcorrelations of LREE (e.g. La, Ce, Pr, Nd) with immobile highfield strength elements (HFSE, e.g. Nb and Zr) suggest thatenrichments of both LREE and HFSE resulted from a common magmaticprocess. The refertilization takes place in the ‘cold’thermal boundary layer (TBL) beneath ridges through which theascending melts migrate and interact with the advanced residues.The refertilization apparently did not affect the cpx relicsanalyzed for trace elements. This observation suggests grain-boundaryporous melt migration in the TBL. The ascending melts may notbe thermally ‘reactive’, and thus may have affectedonly cpx rims, which, together with precipitated olivine, entrappedmelt, and the rest of the rock, were subsequently serpentinized.Very large variations in bulk-rock Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta ratios areobserved, which are unexpected. The correlation between thetwo ratios is consistent with observations on basalts that D_Zr/D_Hf< 1 and D_Nb/D_Ta < 1. Given the identical charges (5⁺ forNb and Ta; 4⁺ for Zr and Hf) and essentially the same ionicradii (R_Nb/R_Ta = 1·000 and R_Zr/R_Hf = 1·006–1·026),yet a factor of 2 mass differences (M_Zr/M_Hf = 0·511 andM_Nb/M_Ta = 0·513), it is hypothesized that mass-dependentD values, or diffusion or mass-transfer rates may be importantin causing elemental fractionations during porous melt migrationin the TBL. It is also possible that some ‘exotic’phases with highly fractionated Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta ratios may existin these rocks, thus having ‘nugget’ effects onthe bulk-rock analyses. All these hypotheses need testing byconstraining the storage and distribution of all the incompatibletrace elements in mantle peridotite. As serpentine containsup to 13 wt % H₂O, and is stable up to 7 GPa before it is transformedto dense hydrous magnesium silicate phases that are stable atpressures of 5–50 GPa, it is possible that the serpentinizedperidotites may survive, at least partly, subduction-zone dehydration,and transport large amounts of H₂O (also Ba, Rb, Cs, K, U, Sr,Pb, etc. with elevated U/Pb ratios) into the deep mantle. Thelatter may contribute to the HIMU component in the source regionsof some oceanic basalts. KEY WORDS: abyssal peridotites; serpentinization; seafloor weathering; bulk-rock major and trace element compositions; mantle melting; melt extraction; melt–residue interaction; porous flows; Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf fractionations; HIMU mantle sources     

An extended variable-grid global ocean circulation model and its preliminary results of the equatorial Pacific circulation

1IntroductionThetropicalPacificOceanplaysanimpor-tantroleintheclimatevariabilitiessuchasElNi-no-SouthernOscillation(ENSO)phenomenon(Chao,1993).ManystudieshavefoundthatthetropicalPacificvariabilitiescanhavesignifi-cantinfluenceontheoceancirculationintheseasadjacenttoChina(Yu,1985;Chaoetal.,1996;Wangetal.,2002).TheseaareaadjacenttoChinaischaracterizedbyitscomplextopog-raphyandnumerousnarrowstraits,andthusre-quiresafinegridtoresolve.Tostudytheinter-actionbetweenthetropicalPacificandChinas…