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.     

拉萨地体东南缘的多期深熔作用及动力学

位于青藏高原班公湖-怒江蛇绿岩带与印度-雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩带之间拉萨地体东南缘的前寒武纪结晶基底经历了角闪岩相-麻粒岩相区域变质作用和强烈的混合岩化.研究区可识别出两期深熔作用,第一期为斜长角闪岩部分熔融形成的花岗闪长岩脉体,其与围岩一起发生了变质与变形再造,转变成了黑云斜长片麻岩.第二期为含夕线石石榴石片麻岩部分熔融形成的含石榴石斜长石花岗岩脉体.岩石化学成分显示,第一期深熔脉体具有埃达克岩的典型地球化学特征,其SiO2=63.81%,Al2O3=16,92%,MgO=1.86%,Na2O=4.22%,K2O=1.81%,K2O/Na2O=0.43,并显示出LREE富集、无Eu异常的BEE配分模型,同时明显富Sr(366×10-6),贫Y(12×10-6)和Yb(0.4×10-6),Sr/Y=30.舍石榴石斜长石花岗岩主要由斜长石、石英和石榴石组成,含少量白云母和黑云母,其全岩SiO2=71.14%,Al2O3=14.26%,K2O=0.26%,Na2O=2.79%.CaO=2.94%.过铝指数A/CNK=1.40,为典型的过铝花岗岩.黑云斜长片麻岩脉体中的大多数锆石具有同心韵律状结晶环带和较高的Th//U比值(0.433～1.167),为典型的岩浆结晶锆石.锆石岩浆结晶域U-Pb原位定年给出了64.0±1.0Ma(MSWD=8.7)加权平均年龄;个别锆石变质交生边给出了27.9 Ma的谐和年龄,同时具有较低的Th/U比值(0.019),应代表后期叠加的变质热事件年龄.含石榴石斜长石花岗岩中的锆石均发育同心韵律状环带,而且具有较高的Th/U比值(0.196～1.212).所获得的谐和年龄在27.0～34.1Ma之间(加权平均年龄为29.3±0.9 Ma),应代表过铝花岗岩的结晶年龄.因此,我们认为拉萨地体东南缘变质基底在古近纪经历了两期深熔作用,第一期发生在约65Ma,在特提斯洋壳俯冲和印度板块与拉萨地体碰撞的动力学体制下,拉萨地体下地壳加厚和升温,发生了麻粒岩相变质和部分熔融,形成了埃达克岩质的花岗闪长岩浆;第二期混合岩化作用发生在约30Ma,在印度板块与拉萨地体碰撞后伸展的动力学体制下,高角闪岩相泥质变质岩中的含水矿物脱水熔融形成了过铝质花岗闪长岩浆.     

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。