http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000211

Arid and semi-arid regions are susceptible to high levels of erosion.A rapid and cost effective methodological erosion assessment for these regions is required to describe and monitor the processes that control erosion.This study uses remote sensing to describe the contribution of several factors that control erosion.Topography,land use,vegetation density,soil properties and climatic proxies are used to determine erosion risk and to provide basic maps of water and soil conservation practices. A hierarchi...     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000400

Monitoring of regional groundwater levels provides important information for quantifying groundwater depletion and assessing impacts on the environment Historically,groundwater level monitoring wells in Beijing Plain,China,were installed for assessing groundwater resources and for monitoring the cone of depression.Monitoring wells are clustered around well fields and urban areas.There is urgent need to upgrade the existing monitoring wells to a regional groundwater level monitoring network to acquire information for integrated water resources management.A new method was proposed for designing a regional groundwater level monitoring network.The method is based on groundwater regime zone mapping.Groundwater regime zone map delineates distinct areas of possible different groundwater level variations and is useful for locating groundwater monitoring wells.This method was applied to Beijing Plain to upgrade a regional groundwater level monitoring network.     

Largest Ediacaran discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone,Marwar Supergroup,India: Their palaeobiological signi?cance

Ediacaran discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone of the Marwar Supergroup, Rajasthan, exhibit a wide size ranging from a few millimetres to 75 cm in diameter. Exceptionally large size of the discs in these rocks represent the largest reported so far from any Ediacaran assemblage. Although, larger medu-soid discs have been reported from USA, they are from the middle Cambrian and even younger rocks. Presence of microbial mats and weed-like structures with well preserved hold fasts and horizontal rhizome-like structures in association with some of these large-sized discs support their animal affinity, which probably feed on this weed-like vegetations. This association also supports their benthic habitat. Unlike the general trend of sudden increase in size of organisms in Ediacaran period and further decrease in size during Cambrian, these discs continued increasing in size in Cambrian also.     

Petrogenesis of the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite pipe,Indrvati Basin,Central India

New geochemical data of the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite system sandwiched between the lower and upper stratigraphic horizons of the Mesoproterozoic Indr avati Basin are presented.The kimberlite has been subjected to extensive and pervasive low-temperature alteration.Spinel is the only primary phase identifiable,while olivine macrocrysts and juvenile lapilli are largely pseudomorphed(talc-serpentinecarbonate alteration).However,with the exception of the alkalies,major element oxides display systematic fractionation trends; likewise,HFSE patterns are well correlated and allow petrogenetic interpretation.Various crustal contamination indices such as(SiO2+Al2O3+Na2O)/(MgO+ K2O) and Si/Mg are close to those of uncontaminated kimberlites.Similar La/Yb(79-109) of the Tokapal samples with those from the kimberlites of Wajrakarur(73-145) and Narayanpet(72-156),Eastern Dharwar craton,southern India implies a similarity in their genesis.In the discriminant plots involving HFSE the Tokapal samples display strong affinities to Group II kimberlites from southern Africa and central India as well as to ‘transitional kimberlites' from the Eastern Dharwar craton,southern India,and those from the Prieska and Kuruman provinces of southern Africa.There is a striking similarity in the depleted-mantle(TDM) Nd model ages of the Tokapal kimberlite system,Bastar craton,the kimberlites from NKF and WKF,Eastern Dharwar craton,and the Majhgawan diatreme,Bundelkhand craton,with the emplacement age of some of the lamproites from within and around the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Cuddapah basin,southern India.These similar ages imply a major tectonomagmatic event,possibly related to the breakup of the supercontinent of Columbia,at 1.3-1.5 Ga across the three cratons.The ‘transitional'geochemical features displayed by many of the Mesoproterozoic potassic-ultrapotassic rocks,across these Indian cratons are inferred to be memories of the metasomatising fluids/melts imprinted on their source regions during this widespread event.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111001149

An integrated approach was performed on the soil,plant-crops and groundwater system at the Thiva basin,to evaluate the extent and intensity of the heavy metal contamination,the percentage of metals tra...     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000588

Large charnockite massifs occur in the high-grade Southern Granulite Terrain(SGT) and Eastern Ghats Belt(EGB) crustal provinces of Peninsular India.Available geochronological data indicate that the magmatism is episodic,associated with distinct orogenic cycles in the different crustal domains. The geochemical data also indicate a change in composition from trondhjemitic at～3.0—2.9 Ga to dominantly tonalitic at～2.6—2.5 Ga to tonalitic-granodiorite-granitic at—2.0—1.9 Ga to dominantly tonalitic at 1.7—1.6 Ga to quartz monzonitic or tonalitic at～1.0—0.9 Ga to granodiorite-granitic at～0.8—0.7 Ga. The trondhjemitic and tonalitic end members are metaluminous.magnesian and calcic to calc-alkalic, characteristic of magnesian group charnockites.The granodioritic to granitic end members are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous.ferroan and calc-alkalic to alkali-calcic,characteristic of ferroan group charnockites.The quartz monzonitic end members are metaluminous to peraluminous,magnesian to ferroan and calcic to calc-alkalic.neither characteristic of the magnesian group nor of the ferroan group of charnockites. Based on the occurrence and difference in composition of the charnockite massifs,it is suggested that the charnockite magmatism registers the crustal growth of the Indian plate on its southern(SGT) and eastern(EGB) sides,along active continental margins by accretion of arcs.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000643

Incipient charnockites represent granulite formation on a mesoscopic scale and have received considerable attention in understanding fluid processes in the deep crust.Here we report new petrological data from an incipient charnockite locality at Rajapalaiyam in the Madurai Block,southern India,and discuss the petrogenesis based on mineral phase equilibrium modeling and pseudosection analysis. Rajapalaiyam is a key locality in southern India from where diagnostic mineral assemblages for ultrahigh-temperature（UHT） metamorphism have been reported.Proximal to the UHT rocks are patches and lenses of charnockite（Kfs + Qtz + Pl + Bt + Opx + Grt + Ilm） occurring within Opx-free Grt-Bt gneiss（Kfs + Pl + Qtz + Bt + Grt + Ilm + Mt） which we report in this study.The application of mineral equilibrium modeling on the charnockitic assemblage in NCKFMASHTO system yields a p-T range of～820℃and～9 kbar.Modeling of the charnockite assemblage in the MnNCKFMASHTO system indicates a slight shift of the equilibrium condition toward lower p and T（～760℃and～7.5 kbar）. which is consistent with the results obtained from geothermobarometry（710—760℃,6.7—7.5 kbar）. but significantly lower than the peak temperatures（>1000℃） recorded from the UHT rocks in this locality,suggesting that charnockitization is a post-peak event.The modeling of T versus molar H₂O content in the rock（M（H₂O）） demonstrates that the Opx-bearing assemblage in charnockite and Opxfree assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss are both stable at M（H₂O） = 0.3 mol%-0.6 mol%.and there is no significant difference in water activity between the two domains.Our finding is in contrast to the previous petrogenetic model of incipient charnockite formation which envisages lowering of water activity and stabilization of orthopyroxene through breakdown of biotite by dehydration caused by the infiltration of CO₂-rich fluid.T-X_Fe³⁺（= Fe₂O₃/（FeO + Fe₂O₃） in mole） pseudosections suggest that the oxidation condition of the rocks played a major role on the stability of orthopyroxene:Opx is stable at X_Fe³⁺ <0.03 in charnockite.while Opx-free assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss is stabilized at X_Fe³⁺ >0.12.Such low oxygen fugacity conditions of X_Fe³⁺ <0.03 in the charnockite compared to Grt-Bt gneiss might be related to the infiltration of a reduced fluid（e.g.,H₂O + CH₄） during the retrograde stage.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000072

The Abor volcanics outcroping in the core of the Siang window in the Eastern Himalaya comprise voluminous mafic volcanics (47％-56％ w(SiO2)),with subordinate felsic volcanics (67％-75％ w(SiO2)).The felsi...     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000582

The Central India Tectonic Zone(CITZ) marks the trace of a major suture zone along which the south Indian and the north Indian continental blocks were assembled through subduction-accretioncollision tectonics in the Mesoproterozoic.The CITZ also witnessed the major,plume-related,late Cretaceous Deccan volcanic activity,covering substantial parts of the region with continental flood basalts and associated magmatic provinces.A number of major fault zones dissect the region,some of which are seismically active.Here we present results from gravity modeling along five regional profiles in the CITZ, and combine these results with magnetotelluric(MT) modeling results to explain the crustal architecture. The models show a resistive(more than 2000Ω·m) and a normal density(2.70 g/cm~3) upper crust suggesting\ dominant tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) composition.There is a marked correlation between both high-density(2.95 g/cm~3) and low-density(2.65 g/cm~3) regions with high conductive zones (<80Ω·m) in the deep crust.We infer the presence of an interconnected grain boundary network of fluids or fluid-hosted structures,where the conductors are associated with gravity lows.Based on the conductive nature,we propose that the lower crustal rocks are fluid reservoirs,where the fluids occur as trapped phase within minerals,fluid-filled porosity,or as fluid-rich structural conduits.We envisage that substantial volume of fluids were transferred from mantle into the lower crust through the younger plume-related Deccan volcanism,as well as the reactivation,fracturing and expulsion of fluids transported to depth during the Mesoproterozoic subduction tectonics.Migration of the fluids into brittle fault zones such as the Narmada North Fault and the Narmada South Fault resulted in generating high pore pressures and weakening of the faults,as reflected in the seismicity.This inference is also supported by the presence of broad gravity lows near these faults,as well as the low velocity in the lower crust beneath regions of recent major earthquakes within the CITZ.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111001356

A total of 103 surface sediment samples collected from the water depth range of 15—3300 m along Vijaydurg-Karwar stretch of central west coast of India were analyzed for foraminiferal content. Relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage was noted within 50—135 m water depth.The relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage that includes Amphistegina,Operculum and Alveolinetta in sediment samples within the water depth of 85—135 m indicates presence of coral reef at this depth during Early Holocene. The presence of barnacle fouling on Relict foraminifera at 60—90 m confirms the paleo-shoreline. The shallow depth zone is characterized by presence of agglutinated relict foraminifera.The agglutinated forms indicate freshwater influx,which eventually increased the sea level and subsequently deteriorated the paleo-coral reef.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987110000332

A huge triangle-shaped tectonic region in eastern Asia plays host to numerous major earthquakes. The three boundaries of this region, which contains plateaus, mountains, and intermountain basins, are roughly the Himalayan arc, the Tianshan-Baikal, and longitude line 105°E. Within this triangular region, tectonism is intense and major deformation occurs both between crustal blocks and within most of them. Outside of this region, rigid blocks move as a whole with relatively few major earthquakes and relatively weak Cenozoic deformation. On a large tectonic scale, the presence of this broad region of intraplate deformation results from dynamic interactions between the Indian, Philippine Sea-West Pacific, and Eurasian plates, as well as the influence of deep-level mantle flow. The Indian subcontinent, which continues to move northwards at 40 mm/a since its collision with Eurasia, has plunged beneath Tibet, resulting in various movements and deformations along the Himalayan arc that diffuse over a long distance into the hinterland of Asia. The northward crustal escape of Asia from the Himalayan collisional zone turns eastwards and southeastwards along 95°–100°E longitude and defines the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. At the western Himalayan syntaxis, the Pamirs continue to move into central Asia, leading to crustal deformation and earthquakes that are largely accommodated by old EW or NW trending faults in the bordering areas between China, Mongolia, and Russia, and are restricted by the stable landmass northwest of the Tianshan-Altai-Baikal region. The subduction of the Philippine and Pacific plates under the Eurasian continent has generated a very long and narrow seismic zone along trenches and island arcs in the marginal seas while imposing only slight horizontal compression on the Asian continent that does not impede the eastward motion of eastern Asia. In the third dimension, there may be southeastward deep mantle flow beneath most of Eurasia that reaches the marginal seas and may contribute to extension along the eastern margin of Eurasia.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000644

正1.Introduction This special issue of Geoscience Frontiers is a tribute volume honoring the life and career of Jacques Touret.A set of research papers has been assembled,which broadly reflect his research interests over his 50 plus year career.These papers focus on the role that fluids play during the formation and evolution of the Earth's crust.Below I provide a brief summary of the life of Jacques Touret,along with a select bibliography of his more important papers.This is then followed by a brief introduction to the papers assembled for this special issue.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000679

Quasi-integrity of continental crust between Mid-Archaean and Ediacaran times is demonstrated by conformity of palaeomagnetic poles to near-static positions between～2.7-2.2 Ca,～1.5-1.2 Ga and～0.75-0.6 Ga.Intervening data accord to coherent APW loops turning at "hairpins" focused near a continental-centric location.Although peripheral adjustments occurred during Early Proterozoic （～2.2 Ga） and Grenville（～1.1 Ga） times,the crust retained a low order symmetrical crescent-shaped form constrained to a single global hemisphere until break-up in Ediacaran times.Conformity of palaeomagnetic data to specific Eulerian parameters enables definition of a master Precambrian APW path used to estimate the root mean square velocity(v_RMS) of continental crust between 2.8 and 0.6 Ga.A long interval of little polar movement between～2.7 and 2.2 Ga correlates with global magmatic shutdown between～2.45 and 2.2 Ga,whilst this interval and later slowdown at～0.75-0.6 Ga to velocities of <2 cm/year correlate with episodes of widespread glaciation implying that these prolonged climatic anomalies had an internal origin;the reduced input of volcanically-derived atmospheric greenhouse gases is inferred to have permitted freeze-over conditions with active ice sheets extending into equatorial latitudes as established by low magnetic inclinations in glaciogenic deposits.v_RMS variations through Precambrian times correspond to the distribution of U-Pb ages in orogenic granitoids and detrital zircons and demonstrate that mobility of continental crust has been closely related to crustal tectonism and incrementation.Both periods of near-stillstand were followed by rapid v_RMS recording massive heat release from beneath the continental lid at～2.2 and 0.6 Ga.The first coincided with the Lomagundi-Jatuli isotopic event and led to prolonged orogenesis accompanied by continental flooding and reconfiguration of the crust on the Earth’s surface;the second led to continental break-up and instigated the comprehensive Plate Tectonics that has characterised Phanerozoic times.The Mesoproterozoic interval characterised by anorogenic magmatism correlates with low v_RMS between～1.5 and 1.1 Ga.Insulation of the sub-continental mantle evidently permitted high temperature melting and weakening of the crustal lid to enable buoyant emplacement of large plutons at high crustal levels during this magmatic event unique to Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic times.     

A review of the ～1600 Ma sedimentation, volcanism, and tectono-thermal events in the Singhbhum craton, Eastern India

The Palaeoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic transition (～1600 Ma) is a significant event in the Earth history as a global thermal perturbation affected the pre-1600 Ma landmasses. Like other cratonic blocks of the world, lithospheric thinning, sedimentation, magmatism, metamorphism and crustal melting/anatexis are associated with this significant geological event in the Singhbhum cratonic province of India. This paper is a review of sedimentological, magmatic and tectono-thermal events in the Singhbhum craton at ～1600 Ma. The Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic sedimentation and volcanism in the Singhbhum craton took place in a terrestrial intracontinental rift setting. The available geochronological data are indicative of late Palaeoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic tectono-thermal events in the Chhotanagpur Granite Gneissic Complex (CGGC), an east–west trending arcuate belt of granite gneisses, migmatites and metasedimentary rocks. A detailed multidisciplinary geo-scientific investigation of the Dalma volcanic belt and the area to its north (Chandil Formation) and further north in CGGC will enable us to constrain the extant surface processes and crust-mantle interactions, the collision events between the North and South Indian cratonic blocks, and the position of India in the Columbia supercontinent.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000545

By applying the ’theory of synchronization’ from the science of complexity to studying the regional regularity of ore formation within the Nanling region of southern China,a characteristic target-pattern regional ore zonality has been discovered.During the early and late Yanshanian epoch(corresponding respectively to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods),two centers of ore formation emerged successively in the Nanling region;the former is mainly for rare metals(W,Sn,Mo,Bi,Nb) and one rare-earth element (La) and was generated in the Jurassic period;whereas the latter is mainly for base metals(Cu,Pb,Zn,Sb, Hg),noble metals(Au,Ag),and one radioactive element(U) and was generated in the Cretaceous period. Centers of ore formation were brought about by interface dynamics respectively at the Qitianling and Jiuyishan districts in southern Hunan Province.The characteristic giant nonlinear target-pattern regional ore zonality was generated by spatio-temporal synchronization process of the Nanling complex metallo-genic system.It induced the collective dynamics and cooperative behavior of the system and displayed the configuration of the regional ore zonality.Then dynamical clustering transformed the configuration into rudimentary ordered coherent structures.Phase dynamics eventually defined the spatio-temporal structures of the target-pattern regional ore zonality and determined their localization and distribution.A new methodology for revealing regional ore zonality is developed,which will encourage further investigation of the formation of deep-seated ore resources and the onset of large-scale mineralization.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000267

Habitable Trinity is a newly proposed concept of a habitable environment.This concept indicates that the coexistence of an atmosphere(consisting largely of C and N),an ocean(H and O).and a landmass(supplier of nutrients) accompanying continuous material circulation between these three components driven by the Sun is one of the minimum requirements for life to emerge and evolve.The life body consists of C,0,H,N and other various nutrients,and therefore,the presence of water,only,is not a sufficient condition.Habitable Trinity environment must be maintained to supply necessary components for life body.Our Habitable Trinity concept can also be applied to other planets and moons such as Mars,Europa,Titan,and even exoplanets as a useful index in the quest for life-containing planetary bodies.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000565

During granulite-facies metamorphism of metasedimentary rocks by the infiltration of carbonic fluids, the disappearance of hydrated minerals leads to the liberation of aqueous fluids. These fluids are strongly enriched in F and C1, and a series of Large-lon-Lithophile （LIL） elements and rare metals, resulting in their depletion in granulites. To sum up the fate of these elements, we focus on three domains representing different crustal levels and showing distinct behaviours with respect to these elements. The Lapland metasedimentary granulites illustrate the behaviour of the LILE and rare metals during lower crustal metamorphism. There is no change in Ba, moderate loss in Rb, and extreme depletion in Cs, Li, and Sn. F and CI contents are also very low compared to the protoliths or average upper continental crust. Biotite and amphibole breakdown leads to the incorporation of their partitioning into a fluid or a melt. The Tranomaro metasomatized marbles recrystallizing under granulite-facies conditions represent a demonstrative example of fluid transfer from granulite-facies supracrustals to traps represented by regional scale skarns. Such fluids may be at the origin of the incompatible element enrichment detected in leucosomes of migmatites from St Malo in Brittany （France） and Black Hills in South Dakota, The northern French Massif Central provides us with an example of a potential association between incompatible element enrichment of granitic melts and granulite-facies metamorphism. U- and F- enriched fine-grained granites are emplaced along a crustal scale shear zone active during the emplacement within the St Sylvestre peraluminous leucogranitic complex, We propose that during granulite-facies metamorphism dominated by carbonic waves in a deep segment of the continental crust, these shear zones control： （i） the percolation of F-, LILE-, rare metal-rich fluids liberated primarily by the breakdown of biotite; （ii） the enhancement of partial melting by F-rich fluids at intermediate crustal lev     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001569

The southeastern Anatolia comprises numbers of tectono-magmatic/stratigraphic units such as the metamorphic massifs,the ophiolites,the volcanic arc units and the granitoid rocks.All of them play important role for the late Cretaceous evolution of the southern Neotethys.The spatial and temporal relations of these units suggest the progressive development of coeval magmatism and thrusting during the late Cretaceous northward subduction/accretion.Our new U-Pb zircon data from the rhyolitic rocks of the wide-spread volcanic arc unit show ages of(83.1±2.2)-(74.6±4.4) Ma. Comparison of the ophiolites,the volcanic arc units and the granitoids suggest following late Cretaceous geological evolution.The ophiolites formed in a suprasubduction zone(SSZ) setting as a result of northward intra-oceanic subduction.A wide-spread island-arc tholeiitic volcanic unit developed on the top of the SSZ-type crust during 83-75 Ma.Related to regional plate convergence, northward under-thrusting of SSZ-type ophiolites and volcanic arc units was initiated beneath the Tauride platform(Malatya-Keban) and followed by the intrusion of l-type calc-alkaline volcanic arc granitoids during 84-82 Ma.New U-Pb ages from the arc-related volcanic-sedimentary unit and granitoids indicate that under-thrusting of ophiolites together with the arc-related units beneath the Malatya-Keban platform took place soon after the initiation of the volcanic arc on the top of the SSZtype crust.Then the arc-related volcanic-sedimentary unit continued its development and lasted at～75 Ma until the deposition of the late Campanian—Maastrichtian shallow marine limestone.The subduction trench eventually collided with the Bitlis-Ptrge massif giving rise to HP-IT metamorphism of the Bitlis massif.Although the development of the volcanic arc units and the granitoids were coeval at the initial stage of the subduction/accretion both tectono-magmatic units were genetically different from each other.     

Biostratigraphy of a Paleocene–Eocene Foreland Basin boundary in southern Tibet

This study of the Paleocene–Eocene boundary within a foreland basin of southern Tibet, which was dominated by a carbonate ramp depositional environment, documents more complex environmental conditions than can be derived from studies of the deep oceanic environment. Extinction rates for larger foraminiferal species in the Zongpu-1 Section apply to up to 46% of the larger foraminiferal taxa. The extinction rate in southern Tibet is similar to rates elsewhere in the world, but it shows that the Paleocene fauna disappeared stepwise through the Late Paleocene, with Eocene taxa appearing abruptly above the boundary. A foraminifera turnover was identified between Members 3 and 4 of the Zongpu Formation—from the Miscellanea–Daviesina assemblage to an Orbitolites–Alveolina assemblage. The Paleocene and Eocene boundary is between the SBZ 4 and SBZ 5, where it is marked by the extinction of Miscellanea miscella and the first appearance of Alveolina ellipsodalis and a large number of Orbitolites. Chemostratigraphically, the δ13C values from both the Zongpu-1 and Zongpu-2 Sections show three negative excursions in the transitional strata, one in Late Paleocene, one at the boundary, and one in the early Eocene. The second negative excursion of δ13C, which is located at the P–E boundary, coincides with larger foraminifera overturn. These faunal changes and the observed δ13C negative excursions provide new evidence on environmental changes across the Paleocene–Eocene boundary in Tibet.