Influence of soft clays on the response spectra for structures in eastern Canada

The 1990 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (Associate Committee of the National Building Code, National Research Council, Ottawa, 1990) makes a clear distinction between eastern and western Canada in terms of seismic acceleration and velocity zones. While it is well established that ground motions can be amplified significantly through loose clay deposits, no results are available that take into consideration the typical high frequency content of ground motions in eastern Canada. This paper develops ground amplification curves for clays having depths between 10 and 70 m excited by typical eastern Canadian ground motions scaled to two different values of peak horizontal accelerations. Simplified free-field spectral design curves, which could be used by structural designers, are proposed. The curves show that maximum spectral accelerations occur for structural periods between 0.2 and 0.5 s. In addition, soil depth does not appear to be an important parameter controlling the response of typical clay deposits in eastern Canada.     

High-pressure eclogites in northern Jiangsu – southern Shandong province, eastern China

Abstract Eclogites are distributed for more than 500 km along a major tectonic boundary between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons in central and eastern China. These eclogites usually have high-P assemblages including omphacite + kyanite and/or coesite (or its pseudomorph), and form a high-P eclogite terrane. They occur as isolated lenses or blocks 10 cm to 300 m long in gneisses (Type I), serpentinized garnet peridotites (Type II) and marbles (Type III). Type I eclogites were formed by prograde metamorphism, and their primary metamorphic mineral assemblage consists mainly of garnet [pyrope (Prp) = 15–40 mol%], omphacite [jadeite (Jd) = 34–64 mol%], pargasitic amphibole, kyanite, phengitic muscovite, zoisite, an SiO₂ phase, apatite, rutile and zircon. Type II eclogites characteristically contain no SiO₂ phase, and are divided into prograde eclogites and mantle-derived eclogites. The prograde eclogites of Type II are petrographically similar to Type I eclogites. The mantle-derived eclogites have high MgO/(FeO + Fe₂O₃) and Cr₂O₃ compositions in bulk rock and minerals, and consist mainly of pyrope-rich garnet (Prp = 48–60 mol%), sodic augite (Jd = 10–27 mol%) and rutile. Type III eclogites have an unusual mineral assemblage of grossular-rich (Grs = 57 mol%) garnet + omphacite (Jd = 30–34 mol%) + pargasite + rutile. Pargasitic and taramitic amphiboles, calcic plagioclase (An₆₈), epidote, zoisite, K-feldspar and paragonite occur as inclusions in garnet and omphacite in the prograde eclogites. This suggests that the prograde eclogites were formed by recrystallization of epidote amphibolite and/or amphibolite facies rocks with near-isothermal compression reflecting crustal thickening during continent–continent collision of late Proterozoic age. Equilibrium conditions of the prograde eclogites range from P > 26 kbar and T= 500–750°C in the western part to P > 28 kbar and T= 810–880°C in the eastern part of the high-P eclogite terrane. The prograde eclogites in the eastern part are considered to have been derived from a deeper position than those in the western part. Subsequent reactions, manifested by (1) narrow rims of sodic plagioclase or paragonite on kyanite and (2) symplectites between omphacite and quartz are interpreted as an effect of near-isothermal decompression during the retrograde stage. The conditions at which symplectites re-equilibrated tend to increase from west (P < 10 kbar and T < 580°C) to east (P > 9 kbar and T > 680°C). Equilibrium temperatures of Type II mantle-derived eclogites and Type III eclogite are 730–750°C and 680°C, respectively.     

Rapid Lateglacial tree population dynamics and ecosystem changes in the eastern Baltic region

A growing body of evidence implies that the concept of 'treeless tundra' in eastern and northern Europe fails to explain the rapidity of Lateglacial and postglacial tree population dynamics of the region, yet the knowledge of the geographic locations and shifting of tree populations is fragmentary. Pollen, stomata and plant macrofossil stratigraphies from Lake Kurjanovas in the poorly studied eastern Baltic region provide improved knowledge of ranges of north‐eastern European trees during the Lateglacial and subsequent plant population responses to the abrupt climatic changes of the Lateglacial/Holocene transition. The results prove the Lateglacial presence of tree populations (Betula, Pinus and Picea) in the eastern Baltic region. Particularly relevant is the stomatal and plant macrofossil evidence showing the local presence of reproductive Picea populations during the Younger Dryas stadial at 12 900–11 700 cal. a BP, occurring along with Dryas octopetala and arctic herbs, indicating semi‐open vegetation. The spread of Pinus–Betula forest at ca. 14 400 cal. a BP, the rise of Picea at ca. 12 800 cal. a BP and the re‐establishment of Pinus–Betula forest at ca. 11 700 cal. a BP within a span of centuries further suggest strikingly rapid, climate‐driven ecosystem changes rather than gradual plant succession on a newly deglaciated land. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural Evolution of the Eastern Margin of Eurasia in Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic

This paper features the structural evolution of the eastern margin of Eurasia in Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic.It is characterized by three stages of development: the riftogenic stage (Jurassic-Early Cretaceous), the platform stage (Late Cretaceous) and the neotectonic one (Paleogene-Quarternary). The boundaries between these stages are distinctly fixed by the geological time limits of planetary range. It is demonstrated that the riftogenic and neotectonic stages were characterized by a high degree of geodynamic activity, and the platform one by a decrease in contrast of tectonic movements. The main river net was formed in the Early Cretaceous and in the Neogene. It experienced a serious reconstruction accompanied by the formation of the Amur River valley being similar to the modem one.     

冀北万全寺银金矿床地质地球化学特征

万全寺银金矿床位于张宣幔枝构造东侧的侏罗纪断陷盆地中,成矿时限晚于133.33Ma～101.82 Ma.通过硫、铅、氢、氧、碳及稀有气体同位素研究认为,成矿物质应源自地球深部,在中生代冀西北幔枝构造演化过程中集中成矿.成矿热液以岩浆水为主并加入了部分天水.     

辽西义县组叶肢介化石在冀北滦平盆地西瓜园组中的系统发现及其意义

冀北滦平县西瓜园南李营剖面是西瓜园组的命名剖面,自下而上可划分为西瓜园组一至四段,为一套单一岩相的沉积岩。在火斗山乡马圈子,西瓜园组以一层水下分流河道砾岩与其下伏大店子组四段为连续沉积,拉海沟马圈子剖面为西瓜园组与大店子组的界线层型。西瓜园组自下而上可连续划分为5个叶肢介化石带,与辽西义县组尖山沟层、老公沟层一金刚山层的叶肢介组合完全可以对比．义县阶的单位层型应以西瓜园组为层型剖面,原定义县阶的单位层型马神庙一宋八户标准地层剖面仅能作为义县阶的副层型。由于辽西义县组尖山沟层至金刚山层的叶肢介化石在冀北西瓜园组中的系统发现,冀北地区西瓜园组与辽西义县组完全可以对比,从而解决了30余年来冀北辽西晚期中生代地层的对比问题,具有重要的地层意义。     

东菲律宾海深水铁锰结壳发育站位沉积物的粒度及黏土矿物学特征

大洋铁锰结壳是潜在的重要海洋资源,多年来世界各国对此已作了大量调查.传统意义上的铁锰结壳均分布于3000m水深以浅的海山基岩上.中国科学院海洋研究所在对东菲律宾海的地质调查中采集到大量褐黑色深水铁锰结壳.在300多个站位的取样中,在44个站位采集到结壳样品,可见结壳在研究区的分布较为广泛.该结壳发育于4000~5000m水深的致密至半固结沉积物的表层,厚度一般为2~3cm,最厚可达7cm.结壳为板(层)状.     

深圳发展东部滨海旅游度假区的前景探析

深圳具备优良的海滨旅游资源，但其滨海旅游特色一直体现得不够充分，滨海度假旅游品牌在全国以至海外的影响力还很有限。深圳最近对东部滨海地区的发展进行了总体规划，根据深圳东部滨海地区发展现状和发展规划，就开发深圳东部滨海旅游度假胜地、将东部滨海旅游度假区打造成为具有国际水准的、以滨海休闲度假为特色的黄金海岸旅游胜地提出了的几点建议。     

南海东部海域柱样沉积物浊流沉积探讨

利用1998年南海东部陆坡69号柱样、深海盆149号柱样、南部岛礁323号柱样沉积物的粒度、化学、古生物、矿物等鉴定分析测试资料,分析了南海东部海域发生浊流沉积的地质背景、产生浊流沉积的条件和诱发因素,进而发现南海东部浊流沉积发育,在南北陆坡及中部深海盆地均有浊流沉积层。从其出现层位看,为氧同位素2—4期,即晚更新世中晚期。从浊流沉积出现层数分析,具有自北向南浊流发生频次减弱的趋势。从浊流沉积物成分看,南海东部浊流沉积物具有多样性,北部陆坡以陆源为主,中部深海盆以陆源及火山源为主,南部岛礁以生物源为主。