A mechanism to thin the continental lithosphere at magma-poor margins

Where continental plates break apart, slip along multiple normal faults provides the required space for the Earth's crust to thin and subside. After initial rifting, however, the displacement on normal faults observed at the sea floor seems not to match the inferred extension. Here we show that crustal thinning can be accomplished in such extensional environments by a system of conjugate concave downward faults instead of multiple normal faults. Our model predicts that these concave faults accumulate large amounts of extension and form a very thin crust (< 10 km) by exhumation of mid-crustal and mantle material. This transitional crust is capped by sub-horizontal detachment surfaces over distances exceeding 100 km with little visible deformation. Our rift model is based on numerical experiments constrained by geological and geophysical observations from the Alpine Tethys and Iberia/Newfoundland margins. Furthermore, we suggest that the observed transition from broadly distributed and symmetric extension to localized and asymmetric rifting is directly controlled by the existence of a strong gabbroic lower crust. The presence of such lower crustal gabbros is well constrained for the Alpine Tethys system. Initial decoupling of upper crustal deformation from lower crustal and mantle deformation by progressive weakening of the middle crust is an essential requirement to reproduce the observed rift evolution. This is achieved in our models by the formation of weak ductile shear zones.     

Evolution of magma-poor continental margins from rifting to seafloor spreading

The rifting of continents involves faulting (tectonism) and magmatism, which reflect the strain-rate and temperature dependent processes of solid-state deformation and decompression melting within the Earth. Most models of this rifting have treated tectonism and magmatism separately, and few numerical simulations have attempted to include continental break-up and melting, let alone describe how continental rifting evolves into seafloor spreading. Models of this evolution conventionally juxtapose continental and oceanic crust. Here we present observations that support the existence of a zone of exhumed continental mantle, several tens of kilometres wide, between oceanic and continental crust on continental margins where magma-poor rifting has taken place. We present geophysical and geological observations from the west Iberia margin, and geological mapping of margins of the former Tethys ocean now exposed in the Alps. We use these complementary findings to propose a conceptual model that focuses on the final stage of continental extension and break-up, and the creation of a zone of exhumed continental mantle that evolves oceanward into seafloor spreading. We conclude that the evolving stress and thermal fields are constrained by a rising and narrowing ridge of asthenospheric mantle, and that magmatism and rates of extension systematically increase oceanward.     

东、西非大陆边缘比较及其油气意义

通过比较,分析了东、西非大陆边缘在形成时间、形成方式和边缘结构等方面存在的差异,并对东、西非边缘的油气成藏条件进行了探讨.东非边缘的裂谷作用时间早,且结束时间也早;形成了以右行剪切边缘、左行剪切边缘及它们之间的斜向剪切为特点的大陆边缘形式.东非边缘也具有陆架窄、陆坡较陡,沿大型海洋转换断层形成了一系列地形高的特点,对沉积物延伸具有明显的限制作用.而西非被动大陆边缘的裂谷作用开始时间较晚,海底扩张开始的时间亦较晚;边缘为拉分型,具有陆架宽、倾角缓的特点,发育了与油气关系密切的厚层蒸发岩及相应的盐构造,形成了大量盐构造及泥底辟,有利于油气聚集,并形成了很多大型油气圈闭.     

Water in granulites: implications for the nature and evolution of the lower continental crust

The tower continental crust is one of the most important sphere-layers in the deep earth, and is the direct place where the crust-mantle interactions occur. Granulttes are the dominated rocks in the lower crust, and have critical implications for the knowledge of the composition, nature and evolution of the deep crust; fluids are important mediums influencing many geochemical, geophysical and geodynamical characteristics of the lower crust, and may also play a fundamental role in the petrogenesis of granulites and the formation of the lower crusts. In this paper, we review recent advances involved with the deep continental crust, granulites and fluids, and some longstanding debates. Combined with the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis performed on the mineral assemblages (cpx, opx, plag and grt) in lower crustal granulite xenoliths and terrains (exposed section) from east China, it is suggested that structural water, dominated by OH, in these nominally anhydrous phases may constitute the most important water reservoir in the deep crust. This structual water may help to understand many lower crustal geological processes and phenomena (e.g. seismic activities and electrical conductive anomalies), and influences from these water must be taken into consideration.     

Water in granulites: implications for the nature and evolution of the lower continental crust

The lower continental crust is one of the most important sphere-layers in the deep earth, and is the direct place where the crust-mantle interactions occur. Granulites are the dominated rocks in the lower crust, and have critical implications for the knowledge of the composition, nature and evolution of the deep crust; fluids are important mediums influencing many geochemical, geophysical and geodynamical characteristics of the lower crust, and may also play a fundamental role in the petrogenesis of granulites and the formation of the lower crusts. In this paper, we review recent advances involved with the deep continental crust, granulites and fluids, and some long-standing debates. Combined with the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis performed on the mineral assemblages (cpx, opx, plag and grt) in lower crustal granulite xenoliths and terrains (exposed section) from east China, it is suggested that structural water, dominated by OH, in these nominally anhydrous phases may constitute the most important water reservoir in the deep crust. This structual water may help to understand many lower crustal geological processes and phenomena (e.g. seismic activities and electrical conductive anomalies), and influences from these water must be taken into consideration.     

Microstructural evolution and thermal conductivity of diamond/Al composites during thermal cycling

The microstructural evolution and performance of diamond/Al composites during thermal cycling has rarely been investigated. In the present work, the thermal stability of diamond/Al composites during thermal cycling for up to 200 cycles was explored. Specifically, the thermal conductivity(λ) of the composites was measured and scanning electron microscopy of specific areas in the same samples was carried out to achieve quasi-in situ observations. The interface between the(100) plane of diamond and the Al matrix was well bonded with a zigzag morphology and abundant needle-like Al_4C_3 phases. By contrast, the interface between the(111) plane of diamond and the Al matrix showed weak bonding and debonded during thermal cycling. The debonding length increased rapidly over the first 100 thermal cycles and then increased slowly in the following 100 cycles. The λ of the diamond/Al composites decreased abruptly over the initial 20 cycles, increased afterward, and then decreased monotonously once more with increasing number of thermal cycles. Decreases in the λ of the Al matrix and the corresponding stress concentration at the diamond/Al interface caused by thermal mismatch, rather than interfacial debonding, may be the main factors influencing the decrease in λ of the diamond/Al composites, especially in the initial stages of thermal cycling.     

Laboratory models of the thermal evolution of the mantle during rollback subduction

The subduction of oceanic lithosphere plays a key role in plate tectonics, the thermal evolution of the mantle and recycling processes between Earth's interior and surface. Information on mantle flow, thermal conditions and chemical transport in subduction zones come from the geochemistry of arc volcanoes, seismic images and geodynamic models. The majority of this work considers subduction as a two-dimensional process, assuming limited variability in the direction parallel to the trench. In contrast, observationally based models increasingly appeal to three-dimensional flow associated with trench migration and the sinking of oceanic plates with a translational component of motion (rollback). Here we report results from laboratory experiments that reveal fundamental differences in three-dimensional mantle circulation and temperature structure in response to subduction with and without a rollback component. Without rollback motion, flow in the mantle wedge is sluggish, there is no mass flux around the plate and plate edges heat up faster than plate centres. In contrast, during rollback subduction flow is driven around and beneath the sinking plate, velocities increase within the mantle wedge and are focused towards the centre of the plate, and the surface of the plate heats more along the centreline.     

煤中自由基热演化的模拟实验研究

有机质自由基的演化与温度有密切关系,因而可以作为古温标用于沉积盆地的热历史研究.利用36组热模拟实验得到了煤中自由基浓度与其镜质体反射率之间的关系,模拟实验的温度范围为300～550℃,模拟时间为30～480min.实验结果表明,煤中的自由基浓度随煤阶的增加而增大,大约在镜质体反射率为1.75%时达到最大值,随后自由基浓度开始下降.依据模拟实验得到的数据研究了煤中自由基浓度随时间和温度的变化关系,并建立了自由基浓度与时间—温度指数(TTI)的定量模式,该模式可以作为研究沉积盆地古地温的一种新方法.     

Evolution of the continental crust

The continental crust covers nearly a third of the Earth's surface. It is buoyant--being less dense than the crust under the surrounding oceans--and is compositionally evolved, dominating the Earth's budget for those elements that preferentially partition into silicate liquid during mantle melting. Models for the differentiation of the continental crust can provide insights into how and when it was formed, and can be used to show that the composition of the basaltic protolith to the continental crust is similar to that of the average lower crust. From the late Archaean to late Proterozoic eras (some 3-1 billion years ago), much of the continental crust appears to have been generated in pulses of relatively rapid growth. Reconciling the sedimentary and igneous records for crustal evolution indicates that it may take up to one billion years for new crust to dominate the sedimentary record. Combining models for the differentiation of the crust and the residence time of elements in the upper crust indicates that the average rate of crust formation is some 2-3 times higher than most previous estimates.     

热核聚变等离子中氩注入过程辐射特性的时间演化

通过假定一定的等离子体温度、密度分布,数值求解了一维等离子体的连续性方程,获得了杂质氩电离态分布,其辐射功率随空间位置和时间而变化。结果显示：在杂质注入时间较短时,由于离子输运及各种损失机制,总杂质密度在空间分布尚未达到平衡,电离态离子主要分布在等离子体周边,完全电离离子所占份额很小;当时间达到0．25s时,氩在等离子体中完全达到平衡状态,体积辐射功率趋于一个稳定的数值;辐射功率在空间的分布随时间变化较小,主要分布在等离子体周边及边界层一个狭小的辐射带内,说明氩引起的辐射主要由低电离态离子引起。     

知生知死知我——“子曰：‘未知生焉知死？’”简论

“生”与“死”是孔子学说中没有明言的问题，通过遮诠的表述，孔子表达了对“生”、“死”问题上采用对象化把握方式的反对。孔子对“知生”与“知死”割裂表诠，意在通过不可言说的言说，达到对“知生”与“知死”本是同一过程的领悟。在此领悟中，此在退回到本真能在。知生即为知死，知死即为知我。     

深水沉积研究综述及未来方向

深水沉积自上世纪50年代开始为人们所关注。深水沉积理论在争论中发展,并取得了一定的成就。由于对深水沉积研究相对较少,因此对深水沉积作用认识十分有限。回顾深水沉积的研究历程、概览其研究现状,对于总结存在问题、展望发展方向具有深远的意义。通过大量调研国内外深水沉积研究实例,概述了它们的研究进展,详细阐述了基于浊流沉积理论而建立的海底扇模式,等深流沉积的垂向层序,内潮汐沉积的特征及形成机理。同时,文中指出当前深水沉积研究存在的若干问题:深水重力流沉积研究尚存在诸多争论,深水牵引流沉积的识别仍存在困难。深水沉积物成因复杂,未来的深水沉积研究应注重多学科交叉发展,建立深水牵引流和深水重力流两种搬运机制共同作用的深水沉积模式,提高深水沉积物的可预测性,进而指导深水油气勘探。     

New evidence II for MDD model of thermal evolution history of Gangdese batholith

The cooling curves are obtained using specific⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar stage heating procedure and MDD modeling. In addition to the results of dating hornblende (K-Ar) and apatite (FT), the widespread existence of rapid cooling events has further been confirmed. A new knowledge of the starting time of Gangdese overthrust faulting in the east of Zedang, which was earlier in south and later in north is acquired.     

Absence of deep-water formation in the Labrador Sea during the last interglacial period

The two main constituent water masses of the deep North Atlantic Ocean-North Atlantic Deep Water at the bottom and Labrador Sea Water at an intermediate level-are currently formed in the Nordic seas and the Labrador Sea, respectively. The rate of formation of these two water masses tightly governs the strength of the global ocean circulation and the associated heat transport across the North Atlantic Ocean. Numerical simulations have suggested a possible shut-down of Labrador Sea Water formation as a consequence of global warming. Here we use micropalaeontological data and stable isotope measurements in both planktonic and benthic foraminifera from deep Labrador Sea cores to investigate the density structure of the water column during the last interglacial period, which was thought to be about 2 degrees C warmer than present. Our results indicate that today's stratification between Labrador Sea Water and North Atlantic Deep Water never developed during the last interglacial period. Instead, a buoyant surface layer was present above a single water mass originating from the Nordic seas. Thus the present situation, with an active site of intermediate-water formation in the Labrador Sea, which settled some 7,000 years ago, has no analogue throughout the last climate cycle.     

伊宁凹陷古地温恢复与热演化史研究

应用包裹体测温和Easy-R.方法恢复了伊宁凹陷的古地温演化史,结果表明伊宁凹陷晚二叠世的地温梯度约为40℃/km,以后经过两次波动(分别对应于K1和E1两次构造运动)逐渐减小到现今的24℃/km.上二叠统烃源岩热演化程度主要受古地温控制,主生油期在中晚三叠世.印支期及其以前形成的圈闭,是二叠系油气聚集的主要场所.     

红河深水扇沉积物重力流特征

依据地震、岩心和测井资料,通过唯一钻遇红河深水扇的YC35井的岩心观察与描述,对红河深水扇沉积物重力流沉积特征进行研究,并与典型的沉积模式相比较,确定红河深水扇的沉积物重力流类型。结果表明:YC35井岩心沉积物为半深海环境下的重力流沉积;红河深水扇发育多种沉积物重力流类型,包括碎屑流、颗粒流、液化流以及浊流等,它们在纵向上相互叠置;红河深水扇属于富砂型深水扇,储层发育,这为红河深水扇的油气勘探奠定了物质基础。     

Another continental pool in the terrestrial silicon cycle

Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth. It is an important nutrient for phytoplankton and is readily absorbed by terrestrial vegetation; it also assists the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the weathering of silicates. But the continental cycle of silicon is not well known, and only a few studies have attempted to use silicon stable isotopes (28Si, 29Si and 30Si) to quantify the continental silicon reservoirs. Dissolved silicon in sea and river waters forms a reservoir of mean isotopic value +1.1 per thousand (refs 7, 10). It is enriched in 30Si with respect to the igneous rocks reservoir, which has a mean isotopic value of -0.3 per thousand (refs 4, 9). This enrichment can only be produced by a major fractionation during weathering, and should result in the formation of a continental 30Si-depleted reservoir. Such a reservoir, however, has not been identified to date. Here we analyse silicon isotopes of in situ quartz from a sandstone series in France, using a new-generation secondary ion mass spectrometry apparatus. We show that quartz that precipitates as siliceous cements forms a strongly 30Si-depleted reservoir with isotopic values down to -5.7 per thousand, a more negative value than any previously published for terrestrial samples. Our findings suggest that quartz re-precipitation plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of silicon.