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Depleted shergottites record unique information about the primary composition and differentiation of the mantle of Mars. Their petrology, geochemistry, and cosmic ray exposure and crystallization ages suggest that most of them were excavated by a single young impact in the Amazonian‐aged lava flows of the Tharsis and Elysium volcanic provinces. However, the difficulties of deriving consistent model ages for individual craters and inadequate evaluation of 3‐7 km craters capable of ejecting martian meteorites have not been settled. Here we perform detailed geological investigations and crater statistics in patches of impact melt deposits for potential source craters of depleted shergottites with D > 3 km, especially those in the Tharsis and Elysium volcanic provinces. By excluding the effect of heterogeneous textures across ejecta deposits, which hinder straightforward extraction of superposed production populations, our systematically updated model ages reveal that Chakpar crater at the northern flank of Ascraeus Mons is the best‐fit candidate. The local context of this crater permits establishing a link between the meteorites and specific lava flows. The long‐lived volcanic center here may experience an eruption and/or local deposition hiatus for about 1.8 billion years, and abundant subsurface water existed when the impact occurred at about 1.1 million years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep‐water gravity depositional processes and evolution in arc systems have become topics of intense research focus in recent years. This study discusses the co‐evolution of volcanism and deep‐water gravity flow deposits at the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, based on petrology, geochronology and geochemical analyses. The results show that a massive collapse of unstable sediments from the slope was triggered by volcanism, resulting in the formation of slumping gravity flows. The occurrence of volcanic beds in the slump deposits confirm that synchronous volcanism likely affected sediment instability, triggering gravity flows. The Th/Yb, Ta/Yb and Th/Ta elemental ratios, U‐Pb ages of detrital zircons and paleocurrent directions indicate that the North Tianshan (NTS) island arc represents the provenance of the Qianxia Formation. Moreover, statistical data on the pyroclastic components in the gravity flow deposits reveal an intensity index of volcanism, indicating that volcanism is strongly related to gravity flow deposits, especially in terms of the type and distribution of the deposits. A model for volcanically‐triggered deep‐water gravity flow deposits is established, in order to provide a more in‐depth understanding of the co‐evolution of volcanism and gravity flow deposits within the depositional setting of the late Paleozoic NTS oceanic subduction margin in the Junggar Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kuqa fold‐and‐thrust belt exhibits apparent structural variation in the western and eastern zone. Two salt layer act as effective decollements and influence the varied deformation. In this study, detailed seismic interpretations and analog modeling are presented to construct the suprasalt and subsalt structures in the transfer zone of the middle Kuqa and investigate the influence of the two salt layers. The results reveal that the relationship of the two salt layers changes from separated to connected, and then overlapped toward the foreland in the transfer zone. Different structural models are formed in the suprasalt and subsalt units due to the interaction of the two salt layers. The imbricate thrust faults form two broomlike fault systems in the subsalt units. The suprasalt units develop detached folds terminating toward the east in the region near the orogenic belt. Whereas, two offset anticlines with different trends develop at the frontal edge of the lower salt layer and the trailing edge of the upper salt layer, respectively. According to exploration results in this region, the relationship between suprasalt and subsalt structures has an influence on hydrocarbon accumulation. We believe that the connected deformation contains high‐risk plays while the decoupled deformation contains well‐preserved plays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive efforts to understand the tectonic evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen in South China, the orogenic process and its mechanism remain a matter of dispute. Previous geodynamic studies have mostly focused on collisional orogeny, which is commonly invoked to explain the Jiangnan Orogen. However, it is difficult for such hypotheses to reconcile all the geological and geophysical data, especially the absence of ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic rocks. Based on the magnetotelluric data, we present a group of resistivity models produced through the combination of two ‐dimensional and three‐dimensional inversions, revealing the geo‐electrical structures of Jiangnan and a typical collisional orogen. In our models, the resistive crust is separated into three parts by a prominent conductive layer with opposite dipping directions on both sides. A special thrust‐nappe system, which is different from that developed in a typical collisional process, is revealed in the Jiangnan Orogen. This structure suggests a process different from the simple collisional orogeny. To interpret our observations, an 'intra‐continental orogeny' is proposed to address the development of the Jiangnan Orogen in the Mesozoic. Furthermore, this 'reworked' process may contain at least two stages caused by the decoupling of the lithosphere, which is revealed by an extra conductive layer beneath Jiangnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on 2D and 3D seismic data, the latest drilling data and field outcrop data of the northern slope of the Central Sichuan paleo‐uplift, the structural analysis method is used to analyze unconformity development characteristics and fault characteristics during the key structural transformation period, discussing the influence of the structural characteristics on the hydrocarbon accumulation of deep carbonate rocks. The results show that: (1) The two key unconformities of the Tongwan and Caledonian periods were primarily developed in deep carbonate rocks. Firstly, Tongwan's unconformities are characterized by regional disconformities between the second and third members of the Dengying Formation, the top formation of the Sinian and the lower Cambrian, strips of which zigzag through the north and south sides of the study area. Secondly, the Caledonian unconformity is characterized by a regional unconformable contact between the lower Permian and the ower Paleozoic strata. From NE to SW, the age of the strata, which were subject to erosion, changes from new to old, the denudation distribution showing as a nose‐shaped structure which inclines towards the ENE. (2) Boundary fault and transtensional strike‐slip faults developed in the Sinian to Paleozoic strata. In profile, there are three types of structural styles: steep and erect, flower structures, 'Y' and reversed 'Y' type faults. In plane view, the Sinian developed extensional boundary faults extending in an almost NS direction, strike‐slip faults developing and extending linearly in approximately EW, WNW and NE strikes in the Cambrian, with characteristically more in the south and less in the north. (3) The faults in the northern slope show obvious zonal deformations in transverse view as well as significant stages and stratified activity in a longitudinal direction. Among them, the activity of faults in the Sinian was the strongest, followed by the activity in the Cambrian period, the activity intensity of faults in the Permian period being the weakest. This fault activity can be divided into four periods: Sinian, Cambrian‐Permian, the early Indosinian period and the late Indosinian‐Himalayan period, the transtensional strike‐slip faults being the products of oblique extensions of pre‐existing weak zones in the Xingkai and Emei taphrogenesis, with a particular inheritance in the main faults. (4) Combined with hydrocarbon accumulation factors, it is considered that the epigenetic karstification of the Tongwan and Caledonian unconformities in the northern slope controlled the formation and distribution of carbonate karst reservoirs over a large area, also acting as a good pathway for oil and gas migration. The extensional faults developed at the margin of the NS trending rift, controlling the sag‐platform sedimentary pattern in the Dengying Formation of the Sinian. Strike‐slip faults in NE, WNW and ENE directions may control the micro‐geomorphological pattern inside the platform and intensify the differential distribution of grain beach facies. The multi‐stage hereditary activity of strike‐slip faults not only improved the porosity and permeability of the reservoirs, but also acted as the main channel of oil and gas migration, providing favorable conditions for the development of the current multi‐layer gas‐bearing scenario in the northern slope of the Central Sichuan Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern Wuyi area, which is located in the northern Wuyi metallogenic belt, has superior mineralization conditions. The Pingxiang–Guangfeng–Jiangshan–Shaoxing fault (PSF) extends across the whole region regardless of whether or how the PSF relates to the near‐surface mineralization. We carried out an MT survey in the region and obtained a reliable 2D model of the crustal electrical structure to a depth of 30 km. In the resistivity model, we inferred that a continuous high conductivity belt that ranges from the shallow to deep crust is a part of the PSF. Then, we estimated the fluid content and pressure gradient to identify the deep sources of fluid as well as its pattern of motion pattern. Finally, we proposed a model for the deep metallogenic migration processes that combines geological data, fluid content data, pressure gradient data, and the subsurface resistivity model. The model analysis showed that the Jiangnan orogenic belt and the Cathaysia block formed the PSF during the process of com. The deep fluid migrated upward through the PSF to the shallow crust. Therefore, we believe that the PSF is an ore‐forming fluid migration channel and that it laid the material basis for large‐scale mineralization in the shallow crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of lacustrine sedimentary records indicate that global warming is the main factor leading to significant changes in diatom communities in lakes of the northern hemisphere. However, due to the intensification of human activities since 1850, some scholars have emphasized that the increasing lake trophic level may be the main reason for the changes in diatom communities. The debate is ongoing. In order to avoid falling into the complex relationship between diatom changes and the seasonal cycle that characterizes lakes in mid and high latitudes, we chose a lake located at a low latitude, where the relationship between diatoms and temperature is not indirect but direct. The diatom record spans the past ca. 100 years and reveals that the abundance of Aulacoseira granulata increased from 1900 until 1985, replacing the previously dominant Aulacoseira ambigua. These changes are in agreement with the increasing trend in global temperature. Since 1985, the percentages of the small‐celled Discostella stelligera and the benthic diatom Navicula heimansioides have increased, while Aulacoseira granulata has decreased. This latest shift is caused by further global warming. We conclude that warming is the main factor leading to changing diatom communities in Douhu Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate pore characteristics and the factors controlling lacustrine shales, geochemical, mineralogical and petrophysical experiments were performed on 23 shale samples from the Qingshankou Formation of the Songliao Basin, China. A comparison of mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) and low‐temperature N2 adsorption pore‐size distribution showed that MICP has a higher pore‐size distribution (PSD) line in its overlapping pore diameter range, which may be elevated by the higher pressure of MICP. Therefore, in the overlapping range, low‐temperature N2 adsorption data were preferred in pore characterization. Negative correlations were observed between pore volumes and TOC content, indicating organic matter pores are not well‐developed in the studied samples. This may be related to their low grade of maturity and type I kerogens. There existed negative relationships between pore volumes and S1, which illustrated that liquid hydrocarbons occupied some pore space. Micropore volume had a better correlation with S1 than mesopore and macropore volumes, which suggests that liquid hydrocarbons preferentially occur in micropores. No obvious relationships between pore volumes and quartz or feldspar were observed, while pore volumes increased with the increasing clay mineral content. These relationships indicate that intraparticle pores in clay minerals represent the principal pore type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent landmasses, faults are very complex, and their distribution is closely related to plate tectonics, ocean–land boundary, and former structure. The plane position of the faults can be identified by the maximum characteristic of the vertical derivative of the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative (NVDR‐THDR) of the Bouguer gravity anomaly. The apparent depth of the faults is inverted by the Bouguer gravity anomaly curvature property. Based on tectonic evolutionary processes and the plane distribution and apparent depth characteristics of the faults, a complete fault system for the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent areas has been established, including 102 faults. The apparent depths of 33 first‐class faults are 16–20 km and for 69 second‐class faults are 12–16 km. The F1‐2 and F1‐3 subduction fault zones are two caused by the subduction of the Cocos Plate into the old Yucatan and Chorti landmasses; F1‐11 and F1‐12 fault zones extend westward to the coast of Guatemala and do not extend into the continent; F1‐17 and F1‐20 faults, which control the boundary of the oceanic crust, do not extend southward into the continent. The fault system, which radiates in a "fan‐shaped" structure as a whole, unfolds to the northeast. Faults of different nature and sizes are distributed in the Cocos Plate subduction zone, Continental, Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan old landmass and Caribbean Plate in NW, NNW, NS, NE and NEE directions. In the Gulf of Mexico region, the fault system is a comprehensive reflection of former tectonic movements, such as plate movement, drift of old landmasses and expansion of oceanic crusts. The first‐class faults control the plate and ocean–continental boundaries. The second‐class faults are subordinate to the first‐class faults or related to the distribution of different sedimentary layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil plants from the carbonaceous shale of upper part of the Lower Carboniferous Jiujialu Formation in Lindai bauxite deposit fill a gap regarding the distribution of Early Carboniferous flora in Central Guizhou Province. Here the Lindai plant assemblage is systematically described, and its composition and geological age are discussed. Research demonstrates that 9 species in 6 genera of the fossil plants are discovered in this study, and they belong to lycopsids, sphenopsids and ferns, respectively. Based on the analysis of the floral composition, the geological age of the Lindai plant assemblage belongs to the Early Carboniferous Viséan. The discovery of Lindai plant assemblage not only provides a new fossil evidence to restrict the age of bauxite deposits in Lower Carboniferous Jiujialu Formation of Central Guizhou Province, but also has great significance to further research the palaeoecological setting and floral evolution during the Early Carboniferous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in situ zircon U‐Pb‐Lu‐Hf isotope records from end‐Permian volcanic interlayers in southwest China, integrated with previous studies, restructure the evolutionary history of the Yangtze Craton from Precambrian to Late Paleozoic. This includes early continental crust formation before ∼3.0 Ga and massive juvenile crustal growth at 2.6–2.4 Ga; large‐scale crustal reworking at ∼2.1–1.7 Ga; Neoproterozoic crust addition at ∼1.1 to 0.7 Ga; collision and subduction along the craton margin between ∼700–541 Ma; Early Ordovician to Late Silurian magmatism; and large tectono‐thermal events in the Middle Carboniferous to end‐Permian. Some zircons with TMD2 ages from 4.40 to 4.01 Ga and lower initial 176Hf/177Hf values of 0.280592 to 0.280726 may imply the existence of Hadean crust relics beneath the Yangtze Craton and their provenances could be associated with Hadean crustal remelting. This study further clarifies that the Precambrian‐age zircons between the end‐Permian volcanic interlayers, the complexes in the western margin of the Yangtze Craton, and the sedimentary Kangdian Basin, may share an affinity based on similar U‐Pb age spectra and Hf isotope features. It also shows that the Neoproterozoic tectono‐thermal event may be associated with large‐scale tectono‐rifting activity, which is different from the Grenville‐age continental collision between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China. The above findings support the inference of a widespread Archean basement extending to the western Yangtze Craton and a provenance in the Kangdian Basin that is derived from the weathering and erosion of Paleoproterozoic continental crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhuxi tungsten deposit in Jiangxi Province, South China, contains a total W reserve of about 2.86 Mt at an average grade of 0.54 wt% WO3, representing the largest W deposit in the world. Numerous studies on the metallogeny of the deposit have included its timing, the ore‐controlling structures and sedimentary host rocks and their implications for mineral exploration. However, the deep nappe structural style of Taqian–Fuchun metallogenic belt that hosts the W deposit, and the spatial shape and scale of deeply concealed intrusions and their sedimentary host rocks are still poorly defined, which seriously restricts the discovery of new deposits at depth and in surrounding areas of the W deposit. Modern 3D geological modeling is an important tool for the exploration of concealed orebodies, especially in brownfield environments. There are obvious density contrast and weak magnetic contrast in the ore‐controlling strata and granite at the periphery of the deposit, which lays a physical foundation for solving the 3D spatial problems of the ore‐controlling geological body in the deep part of the study area through gravity and magnetic modeling. Gravity data (1:50000) and aeromagnetic data (1:50000) from the latest geophysical surveys of 2016–2018 have been used, firstly, to carry out a potential field separation to obtain residual anomalies for gravity and magnetic interactive inversion. Then, on the basis of the analysis of the relationship between physical properties and lithology, under the constraints of surface geology and borehole data, human–computer interactive gravity and magnetic inversion for 18 cross‐sections were completed. Finally, the 3D geological model of the Zhuxi tungsten deposit and its periphery have been established through these 18 sections, and the spatial shape of the intrusions and strata with a depth of 5 km underground were obtained, initially realizing "transparency" for ore‐controlling bodies. According the analysis of the geophysical, geochemical, and geological characteristics of the Zhuxi tungsten deposit, we discern three principles for prospecting and prediction in the research area, and propose five new exploration targets in its periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which analyzed the gravity and magnetic evidence for the geological setting of major mineral systems of the main metallogenic belts in South China. Topics covered include the metallogenic factors of the deposits, the difference in the type and metal association of the deposits, and the distribution of termination sites of different mineral systems in the area which provide indications for future ore-prospecting exploration in South China.

The Panzhihua layered intrusions is generated closely related to the Emeishan LIPs. This paper analyzes the spatial distribution of plagioclase and pyroxene. The quantitative texture analysis of 2209 plagioclase shows that the characteristic length of plagioclase is 0.54 to 0.96 mm, the intercept variation range is large, from –0.67 to 0.96, and the slope is –1.85 to –1.04, the Aspect Ratio shows from 1.84 to 2.59 and fractal dimension D is 1.908–1.933. The quantitative texture analysis of 2342 pyroxene shows that the characteristic length of pyroxene is 0.38–0.64 mm, the intercept shows from 0.46 to 2.26, The slope ranges from –2.6 to –1.47, the Aspect Ratio value varies from 1.53 to 1.71, the fractal dimension D is 0.93 to 1.13. All the CSDs results of the Panzhihua intrusions indicate that plagioclase and pyroxene form in an open magma system and undergo four replenishment of magma injection. The plagioclase crystals do not grow as the lathlike shape, and the fractal growth leads to complex crystal surface. The plagioclase undergoes deformation compaction during the crystal process, and then is oriented. The pyroxene crystals grow along an approximately triaxial ratio and undergo texture adjustment and small crystal dissolution reabsorption. When all crystals in magma system grows up to 2 mm, the pyroxene undergoes cumulation in the Panzhihua layered intrusions. The plagioclase crystallization time scale is 171.23–304.41 years, representing that the crystallization is the more uniform in central part of the melt. The nucleation density continuously increases during the crystallization process of the magma system. The time scale to reach the final maximum crystal nucleation density is 15.28–58.98 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the heterogeneity of adsorption pores in middle and high rank coal samples were analyzed by using low temperature N2 and CO2 adsorption technology and fractal theory. The following results were achieved. 1) According to the results of volume and surface fractal dimension, meso‐pores can be classified into Mep‐1, Mep‐2, and Mep‐3, respectively. Micro‐pore can be classified into Mip‐1, Mip‐2, and Mip‐3, respectively. 2) Pore types play an important role in affecting the heterogeneity of meso‐pores. The volume heterogeneity (VHY) of Mep‐1 is simpler than that of Mep‐2 and Mep‐3 in type A samples. However, the VHY of Mep‐1 becomes gradually larger than that of Mep‐2 and Mep‐3 from type A to type B and C. The VHY of open pore in the same diameter is higher than that of semi‐open or closed pore. Meanwhile, the surface heterogeneity (SHY) of types A and B samples is significantly larger than that of type C, the SHY of semi‐open or closed pores is more complicated than that of open pores. 3) Coal rank mainly affects the heterogeneity of micro‐pores. The heterogeneity of type A is always smaller than that of type B and C. The VHY of Mip‐1 is more complicated than that of Mip‐2 and Mip‐3 in the same samples, and the sensitivity of the VHY of Mip‐1 and Mip‐2 to the degree of coal rank is smaller than that of Mip‐3. Meanwhile, the SHY of Mip‐1 and Mip‐2 is simpler than that of Mip‐3 in the same sample, the SHY of micro‐pores remains stable as the pore size decreases, and the affect of coalification level on SHY decreases with the decrease in pore diameter. Full‐scale fractal characterization has enabled quantitative characterization of adsorption pore properties and provided useful information with regards to the similarity of pore features in different coal reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continent of China developed through the coalescence of three major cratons (North China, Tarim and Yangtze) and continental micro‐blocks through the processes of oceanic crust disappearance and acceretionary‐collision of continental crusts. The strata of the Chinese continental landmass are subdivided into 12 tectonic‐strata regions. Based on the composition of geological features among the three main cratons, continental micro‐blocks and other major global cratons, their affinities can be preliminarily deduced during the Tonian period, using evidence from sedimentary successions, paleobiogeography, tectonic and magmatic events. The Yangtze and Tarim cratons show that they have close affinities during the assembly‐dispersal milestone of the Rodinia Supercontinent. The sedimentary record and magmatic age populations in the blocks suggest that there was a widespread, intensive magmatic event that resulted from a subduction process during ∼1000–820 Ma, related to continental rifting around the Yangtze and Tarim cratons. However, they differ greatly from the North China Craton. The continental micro‐blocks in the Panthalassic Ocean could have some missing connection with the North China Craton that persisted until the Middle‐Late Devonian. In contrast, the Alxa Block showed a strong affinity with the Tarim Craton. The revised Tonian paleogeography of the Rodinia Supercontinent is a good demonstration of how to show the relationship between the main cratons and the continental micro‐blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scientific exploration well (CK1) was drilled to expand the oil/gas production in the western Sichuan depression, SW, China. Seventy‐three core samples and four natural gas samples from the Middle–Late Triassic strata were analyzed to determine the paleo‐depositional setting and the abundance of organic matter (OM) and to evaluate the hydrocarbon‐generation process and potential. This information was then used to identify the origin of the natural gas. The OM is characterized by medium n‐alkanes (nC15–nC19), low pristane/phytane and terrigenous aquatic ratios (TAR), a carbon preference index (CPI) of ∼1, regular steranes with C29 > C27 > C28, gammacerane/C30hopane ratios of 0.15–0.32, and δDorg of −132‰ to −58‰, suggesting a marine algal/phytoplankton source with terrestrial input deposited in a reducing–transitional saline/marine sedimentary environment. Based on the TOC, HI index, and chloroform bitumen "A," the algal‐rich dolomites of the Leikoupo Formation are fair–good source rocks; the grey limestones of the Maantang Formation are fair source rocks; and the shales of the Xiaotangzi Formation are moderately good source rocks. In addition, maceral and carbon isotopes indicate that the kerogen of the Leikoupo and Maantang formations is type II and that of the Xiaotangzi Formation is type II–III. The maturity parameters and the hopane and sterane isomerization suggest that the OM was advanced mature and produced wet–dry gases. One‐dimensional modeling of the thermal‐burial history suggests that hydrocarbon‐generation occurred at 220–60 Ma. The gas components and C–H–He–Ar–Ne isotopes indicate that the oil‐associated gases were generated in the Leikoupo and Maantang formations, and then, they mixed with gases from the Xiaotangzi Formation, which were probably contributed by the underlying Permian marine source rocks. Therefore, the deeply‐buried Middle–Late Triassic marine source rocks in the western Sichuan depression and in similar basins have a great significant hydrocarbon potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tight sandstone gas in the Linxing Block, eastern Ordos Basin, has been successfully exploited. The high performance is mainly a result of the special geological conditions. The key geological controls for high production have been discussed on the basis of seismic data, field observation, sample features, mercury porosimetry, mechanical properties, and basin modeling. Firstly, the coal measures have good gas generation potential, not only because of the existence of coalbeds and organic‐rich shales, but also because coal laminae and microbial mats in the shales significantly increase their total organic carbon (TOC) contents. Secondly, except for the uplifted zone of the Zijinshan complex and the eastern fault zone, rare large faults develop in the Carboniferous–Permian sequence, ensuing the sealing capacity of cap rock. Small fractures generally concentrated in the sandstones rather than the mudstones. Thirdly, gas accumulation in the Linxing Block was controlled by the tectonic, burial and thermal histories. Gas accumulation in the Linxing Block started in the Late Triassic, followed by three short pauses of thermal maturation caused by relatively small uplifts; the maximum hydrocarbon generation period is the Early Cetaceous as a combined result of regional and magmatic thermal metamorphisms. Field profiles show abundant fractures in sandstone beds but rare fractures in mudstone beds. Mechanical properties, determined by lithostratigraphy, confine the fractures in the sandstones, increasing the permeability of sandstone reservoirs and retaining the sealing capacity of the mudstone cap rocks. The modern ground stress conditions favor the opening of predominant natural fractures in the NNW–SSE and N–S directions. These conclusions are useful for exploring the potential tight sandstone gas field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The description of pores and fracture structures is a consistently important issue and certainly a difficult problem, especially for shale or tight rocks. However, the exploitation of so‐called unconventional energy, such as shale methane and tight‐oil, has become more and more dependent on an understanding of the inner structure of these unconventional reservoirs. The inner structure of porous rocks is very difficult to describe quantitatively using normal mathematics, but fractal geometry, which is a powerful mathematical tool for describing irregularly‐shaped objects, can be applied to these rocks. To some degree, the cementation index and tortuosity can be used to describe the complexity of these structures. The cementation index can be acquired through electro‐lithology experiments, but, until now, tortuosity could not be quantitatively depicted. This research used the well‐logging curves of a gas shale formation to reflect the characteristics of the rock formations, and the changes in the curves to indicate the changes of the rock matrix, the pores, the connections among the pores, the permeability, and the fluid type. The curves that are affected most by the rock lithology, such as gamma ray, acoustic logging, and deep resistivity curves, can provide significant information about the micro‐ or nanostructure of the rocks. If the rock structures have fractal characteristics, the logging curves will also have fractal properties. Based on the definition of a fractal dimension and the Hausdorff dimension, this paper presents a new methodology for calculating the fractal dimensions of logging curves. This paper also reveals the deep meaning of the rock cementation index, m, through the Hausdorff dimension, and provides a new equation to calculate this parameter through the resistivity and porosity of the formation. Although it represents a very important relationship between the saturation of hydrocarbons with pores and resistivity, the Archie formula was not available for shale and tight rock. The major reason for this was an incorrect understanding of the cementation index, and the calculation of saturation used a single m value from the bottom to the top of the well. Unfortunately, this processing method is clearly inappropriate for the intensely heterogeneous material that is shale and tight rock. This paper proposes a method of calculating m through well‐logging curves based on a fractal geometry that can change with different lithologies, so that it would have more agreement with in situ scenarios than traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation in southern Shaanxi, China is a critical window for the understanding of the Cambrian explosion, because of abundant and various exceptionally preserved metazoans and embryo fossils yielded. The efficiency of traditional sample manually selecting with microscopes is quite low and hinder the discoveries of new species, thus recognition and classification of microfossils by artificial intelligence (AI) is substantially in the request. In this paper, we develop a procedure for fossil area segmentation in common multi‐typed mixed photos by improved watershed algorithm. And for better fossil recognition, previous histogram of oriented grandient (HOG) algorithm is replaced by scale invariant feature transform (SIFT), which is feasible for the segmented images and increase the accuracy significantly. Thus, the scope of application of AI fossil recognition can be extended form single fossil image to multi‐typed mixed images and the reliability is also secured, as the result of our test presents a high (at least 84%) accuracy of fossil recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ordos Basin, as the second largest petroliferous basin of China, contains abundant oil and gas resources, oil shale, and sandstone‐type uranium mineral resources. Chang 7 shale is not only the major source rock of the Mesozoic petroliferous system of the Basin, but is also crucial in determining the space‐time distribution relationship of the shale section for the effective exploration and development of the Basin's oil and gas resources. To obtain a highly precise age of the shale development section, we collected tuff samples from the top and bottom profile of the Chang 7 Member, Yishi Village, Yaoqu Town, Tongchuan District, on the southern margin of the Ordos Basin and performed high‐precision chemical abrasion (CA)–isotope dilution (ID)–thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) zircon U‐Pb dating on the basis of extensive laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) zircon U‐Pb dating data. Our results show the precise ages of the top and bottom zircon in the Chang 7 shale to be 241.06±0.12 Ma and 241.558±0.093 Ma, respectively. We first obtained Chang 7 age data with Grade 0.1‐Ma precision and then determined the age of the shale development in the Chang 7 Member to be the early‐Middle Triassic Ladinian. This result is supported by paleontological evidence. The deposition duration of the Chang 7 shale is 0.5Ma with an average deposition rate of the shale section being 5.3 cm/ka. Our research results provide time scale and basic data for further investigation of the basin–mountain coupling relation of the shale section, the sedimentary environment and volcanic ash and organic‐matter‐rich shale development relation, and the organism break‐out and organic‐matter enrichment mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale gas resources are considered to be extremely abundant in southern China, which has dedicated considerable attention to shale gas exploration in recent years. Exploration of shale gas has considerably progressed and several breakthroughs have been made in China. However, shale gas explorations are still scarce. Summary and detailed analysis studies on black shale reservoirs are still to be performed for many areas. This lack of information slows the progress of shale gas explorations and results in low quantities of stored black shale. The Carboniferous Dawuba Formation, which is widely distributed and considerably thick, is one of the black shale formations targeted for shale gas exploration in southern China in the recent years. The acquisition and analysis of total organic carbon, vitrinite reflectance, types of organic matter, mineral composition, porosity, and permeability are basic but important processes. In addition, we analyzed the microscopic pores present in the shale. This study also showesd the good gas content of the Dawuba Formation, as well as the geological factors affecting its gas content and other characteristics. To understand the prospect of exploration, we compared this with other shale reservoirs which have been already successfully explored for gas. Our comparison showesd that those shale reservoirs have similar but not identical geological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study to describe geochronological data for the contact relation between the Changcheng System and underlying Paleo-proterozoic through detrital zircon uranium-lead geochronology of the fine-grain quartz siltstone in the Zhaojiazhuang Formation in China. Topics discussed include sampling of the detrital zircon, oscillatory zoned structures of magmatic zircons, and the minimum concordant age of detrital zircon in the Zhaojiazhuang Formation.

The article focuses on the impact of the growing radiation and climate changes during the Ordovician magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy period.

The article focuses on the stratigraphic analysis of the Ordovician period where the level of the greenhouse gases was at it's highest level.

Hydrothermal mineral assemblages and related hydrothermally enhanced fracturing are common in the Precambrian Dengying Formation of Central Sichuan Basin. Petrographic and geochemical analyses of core samples show that the hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs of Dengying Formation consist of four main types of pores in the reservoir facies. These include: 1) hydrothermal dissolution vug (or pore), 2) intercrystalline pore, 3) residual inter‐breccia vug (or pore), and 4) enlarged dissolved‐fracture. There are three different fabrics dolomite in hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs, namely, saddle dolomite, fine‐medium dolomite and micritic dolomite. Micritic dolomite is the original lithology of host rock. Saddle dolomite with curved or irregular crystal faces was directly crystallized from hydrothermal fluids (average temperature 192°C). Fine‐medium dolomites are the products of recrystallization of micritic dolomite, resulting in abnormal geochemical characteristics, such as slight depletion of δ18O, significant enrichment of Mn‐Fe and 87Sr/86Sr, and positive Eu anomaly. A model for the distribution of various hydrothermal dolomite reservoir facies is proposed here, which incorporates three fundamental geological controls: 1) extensional tectonics and tectono‐hydrothermal events (i.e., the Xingkai Taphrogenesis of Late Sinian‐Early Cambrian, and Emei Taphrogenesis of Late Permian), 2) hydrothermal fluid storage in clastic rocks with large thickness (e.g., Nanhua System of Chengjiang Formation and part of Doushantuo Formation), and 3) confining bed for hydrothermal fluids (such as, the shale in Qiongzhusi Formation). The supply of hydrothermal fluid is critical. Large basement‐rooted faults and associated grid‐like fracture system may function as the channels for upward migration of hydrothermal fluid flow. The intersection of the above‐mentioned faults (including the conversion fault), especially transtensional sags above negative flower structures on wrench faults can serve as a key target for future hydrocarbon exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Permian global mass extinction events and the eruption of the Emeishan flood basalts in the Upper Yangtze region should display certain responses during the evolution of carbon isotope. In this paper, the Permian carbon isotopic evolution in the Upper Yangtze region is examined through systematic stratotype section sampling and determination of 13C in the northern Upper‐Yangtze regions and Southern China. Additionally, the carbon isotopic evolution response characteristics of the geological events in the region are evaluated, comparing the sea‐level changes in the Upper Yangtze region and the global sea‐level change curves. Results of this study indicated that the carbon isotopic curves of the Permian in the Upper Yangtze region are characterized by higher background carbon‐isotope baseline values, with three distinct negative excursions, which are located at the Middle–Late Permian boundary and the late period and end of the Late Permian. The three distinct negative excursions provide an insightful record of the global Permian mass extinction events and the eruption of the Emeishan flood basalts in the Upper Yangtze region. The first negative excursion at the Middle–Late Permian boundary reflected the eruption of the Emeishan flood basalts, a decrease in sea level, and biological extinction events of different genera in varying degrees. The second negative excursion in the Late Permian included a decrease in sea level and large‐scale biological replacement events. The third negative excursion of the carbon isotope at the end of the Permian corresponded unusually to a rise rather than a decrease in sea level, and it revealed the largest biological mass extinction event in history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Original organisms are the biological precursors of organic matter in source rocks. Original organisms in source rocks are informative for oil‐source rock correlation and hydrocarbon potential evaluation, especially for source rocks which have high‐over level of thermal maturity. Systematic identification of original organism assemblages of the Lower Paleozoic potential source rocks and detailed carbon isotopic composition of kerogen analyses were conducted for four outcrop sections in the Tarim basin. Results indicated that the original organism assemblages of the lower part of the Lower Cambrian were composed mainly of benthic algae, whereas those of the Upper Cambrian and the Ordovician were characterized by planktonic algae. Kerogen carbon isotopic data demonstrated that the δ13Ckerogen values of source rocks dominated by benthic algae are lower than –34‰, whereas the δ13Ckerogen values of source rocks dominated by planktonic algae are higher than –30‰ in general. We tentatively suggested that the carbon species those are utilized by algae and the carbon isotopic fractionation during photosynthesis are the major controls for the δ13Ckerogen values in the Lower Paleozoic source rocks in the Tarim basin. Correlating the δ13C values of oils exploited in the Tarim basin, the original organism assemblages, and δ13Ckerogen values of source rocks, it implied that the Lower Paleozoic oils exploited in the Tarim basin should be sourced from the source rocks with original organism assemblages dominated by planktonic algae, and the hydrocarbon sourced from the Cambrian benthic algae should be of great exploration potential in future. Original organism assemblages in source rocks can provide important clues for oil‐source rocks correlation, especially for the source rocks with high thermal maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Samples were collected continuously and systematically from Beds 2 to 30 of the Meishan D section, and nearly 4,000 foraminiferal specimens were recognized. In total, 72 species (partially including undetermined species and conformis species) in 34 genera of foraminifers were identified. Twelve foraminiferal community zones were established from Beds 2 to 27 based on the abundance, dominance, diversity, and equitability of the foraminiferal fauna and a functional morphological analysis of the dominant and characteristic species. The habitat type indicated by each community zone and the sedimentary features were used to determine the paleo‐water depths and the relative changes in sea level. We generated curves of both the habitat type and the hydrodynamic conditions, which together indicate the relative changes in the paleo‐water depth and the substrate features in the studied area during the Changhsingian. This study discusses the possible relationship between the foraminiferal community zones and the sea‐level changes based on a statistical analysis of the foraminiferal community zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Mianning–Dechang (MD) rare earth element (REE) belt, located in the northern Kangdian axis (KDA) in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, is one of the most economically significant REE mineral belts in China. REE mineralization is associated with Himalayan carbonatite–alkaline complexes. The Lizhuang nordmarkite occurred in the northern part of the MD REE belt. The majority of zircons from the Lizhuang nordmarkite are characterized by pronounced positive Ce yet slightly negative Eu anomalies and high U/Yb. Moreover, all zircons have stable Hf isotopic compositions with initial 176Hf/177Hf ratios ranging from 0.282739 to 0.282808 and an average value of 0.282773. The negative Lu/Hf and positive εHf(t) range from −0.98 to −0.94 (average value of −0.96) and from −0.56 to 1.89 (the majority is positive, with an average of 0.66), respectively. These characteristics indicate that the rock is derived from an enriched mantle and subducted material. LA‐ICP‐MS analysis of the zircons from the intrusion yields a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 28.57±0.61Ma. During this period, the tectonic activity in the KDA is not plate subduction but an intraplate tectonic exhibiting fold–thrust and strike–slip behaviors in the western marginal zone of the Yangtze platform (WMYB). We suggest the possibility of an existing eastward old slab subduction under WMYB combined with a regional tectonic evolution. The Lizhuang nordmarkite may be derived from an enriched mantle beneath the western part of the Yangtze craton, which originated from the remelting of the Tethys subducting slab, because of the Himalayan strike–slip that formed a special type of REE deposit called strike–slip‐type REE deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent studies, focused on dihedral angles and intersection processes, have increased understandings of conjugate fault mechanisms. We present new 3‐D seismic data and microstructural core analysis in a case study of a large conjugate strike‐slip fault system from the intracratonic Tarim Basin, NW China. Within our study area, “X” type NE and NW trending faults occur within Cambrian‐Ordovician carbonates. The dihedral angles of these conjugate faults have narrow ranges, 19° to 62° in the Cambrian and 26° to 51° in the Ordovician, and their modes are 42° and 44° respectively. These data are significantly different from the ∼60° predicted by the Coulomb fracture criterion. It is concluded that: (1) The dihedral angles of the conjugate faults were not controlled by confining pressure, which was low and associated with shallow burial; (2) As dihedral angles were not controlled by pressure they can be used to determine the shortening direction during faulting; (3) Sequential slip may have played an important role in forming conjugate fault intersections; (4) The conjugate fault system of the Tarim basin initiated as rhombic joints; these subsequently developed into sequentially active “X” type conjugate faults; followed by preferential development of the NW‐trending faults; then reactivation of the NE trending faults. This intact rhombic conjugate fault system presents new insights into mechanisms of dihedral angle development, with particular relevance to intracratonic basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ediacaran and early Cambrian black shales are widespread across the South China Craton (Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks). However, the trace element distribution patterns of the Ediacaran and early Cambrian black shales in the Cathaysia Block are still unclear. In this study, thirty-four black shale samples in the Lechangxia Group (Ediacaran) and thirteen black shale samples in the lower Bacun Group (early Cambrian) from Guangning area, western Guangdong Province, South China, were analyzed for major and trace elements concentrations. Compared to the upper continental crust, the Ediacaran black shales exhibit strongly enriched Se, Ga, and As with enrichment factor values (EF) higher than 10, significantly enriched Bi and Rb (10>EF>5), weakly enriched Mo, Ba, Cs, V, In, Be, Tl, and Th (5>EF>2), normal U, Cr, Cd, Sc, Pb, Cu, and Li (2>EF>0.5), and depleted Ni, Zn, Sr, and Co. Early Cambrian black shales display strongly enriched Se, Ga, and As, significantly enriched Ba, Bi, and Rb, weakly enriched Mo, Cs, Cd, V, U, Be, In, and Tl, normal Sc, Th, Cr, Li, Cu, Ni, and Pb and depleted Co, Zn, and Sr. Moreover, Se is the most enriched trace element in the Ediacaran and early Cambrian black shales: concentrations vary from 0.25 to 30.09 ppm and 0.54 to 5.01 ppm, and averaging 4.84 and 1.72 ppm, with average EF values of 96.87 and 34.32, for the Ediacaran and early Cambrian shales respectively. The average concentration of Se in the Ediacaran black shales is 2.8 times higher than that of early Cambrian black shales. Se contents in the Ediacaran and early Cambrian black shales exhibit significant variation ( P = 0.03). Provenance analysis showed that Se contents of both the Ediacaran and early Cambrian black shales were without detrital provenance and volcanoclastic sources, but of hydrothermal origin. The deep sources of Se and the presence of pyrite may explain the higher Se contents in the Ediacaran black shales. Similar with the Se-rich characteristics of the contemporaneous black shales in the south Qingling Mountain and Yangtze block, the Ediacaran and early Cambrian black shales in Guangning area, Cathaysia, are also enriched in Se, which may provide a clue for looking for the selenium-rich resources in western Guangdong Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern Hexi Corridor Belt (HCB) is located in the transitional belt among the Alxa Block, the Qilian Orogenic Belt and the North China Block. Because of its unique tectonic location, the tectonic setting, provenance, and even the age of the sedimentary strata in the eastern HCB during the Early Paleozoic remain controversial. This study analyzes the provenance of the poorly studied Xiangshan Group, discusses its age of development and tectonic setting in the eastern HCB using a combination of petrological, geochemical and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating methods. Based on the youngest age peaks and the fossil evidence, we suggest that the Xiangshan Group is Middle Cambrian to Late Ordovician in age. The complexity of the geochemical characteristics and associated diagrams suggests that the early stage of the Xiangshan Group developed in a passive continental margin environment, late in the back-arc basin of the eastern HCB. Based on the sandstone detrital composition, whole-rock geochemistry and detrital zircon ages, we conclude that the Xiangshan Group had an early provenance that was mainly from the Qilian Block and a late provenance from the Qilian Block and the western Alxa Block. The eastern HCB and its northern and southern blocks have similar palaeontology, lithology and basement age characteristics to the South China Block. This indicates that the eastern HCB might not have formed in the intra-continental aulacogen of the North China Block during the Early Paleozoic but has a close affinity to eastern Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) is the longest, lithospheric scale and strike-slip fault in East Asia. In the last three decades, multidisciplinary studies focusing on the timing, displacement of strike-slip and growth mechanics of the ATF have made great progresses. Most studies revealed that the ATF is a sinistral strike-slip and thrust fault, which underwent multiple episodes of activation. The fault is oriented NEE with a length of 1600 km, but the direction, timing of activity and magnitude of its extension eastward are still unclear. The AFT was predominately active during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, in relation to the Mesozoic collision of the Cimmerian continent (Qiangtang and Lhasa block) and Cenozoic collision of India with Asia. The AFT strike-slipped with a left-lateral displacement of ca. 400 km during the Cenozoic and the displacement were bigger in the western segment and stronger in the early stage of fault activation. The slip-rates in the Quaternary were bigger in the middle segment than in the western and eastern segment. We roughly estimated the Mesozoic displacement as ca. 150-300 km. The latest paleomagnetic data showed that the clockwise vertical-axis rotation did not take place in the huge basins (the Tarim and Qaidam) at both side of ATF during the Cenozoic, but the rotation happened in the small basins along the ATF. This rotation may play an important role on accommodating the tectonic deformation and displacement of the ATF. Even if we have achieved consensus for many issues related to the ATF, some issues still need to be study deeply; such as: (a) the temporal and spatial coupling relationship between the collision of Cimmerian continent with Asia and the history of AFT in the Mesozoic and (b) the tectonic deformation history which records by the sediments of the basins within and at both side of AFT and was constrained by a high-resolution and accurate chronology such as magnetostratigraphy and paleomagnetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate rocks and organic sulfur from sedimentary organic matter are conventionally assumed as the original sulfur sources for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in oil and gas reservoirs. However, a few recent experiments preliminarily indicate that the association of pyrite and hydrocarbons may also have implications for H2S generation, in which water effects and natural controls on the evolution of pyrite sulfur into OSCs and H2S have not been evaluated. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted from 200 to 450°C to investigate chemical interactions between pyrite and hydrocarbons under hydrothermal conditions. Based on the experimental results, preliminary mechanism and geochemical implications were tentatively discussed. Results of the experiments showed that decomposition of pyrite produced H2S and thiophenes at as low as 330°C in the presence of water and n-pentane. High concentrations of H2S were generated above 450°C under closed pyrolysis conditions no matter whether there is water in the designed experiments. However, much more organic sulfur compounds (OSCs) were formed in the hydrous pyrolysis than in anhydrous pyrolysis. Generally, most of sulfur liberated from pyrite at elevated temperatures was converted to H2S. Water was beneficial to breakdown of pyrite and to decomposition of alkanes into olefins but not essential to formation of large amounts of H2S, given the main hydrogen source derived from hydrocarbons. In addition, cracking of pyrite in the presence of 1-octene under hydrous conditions was found to proceed at 200°C, producing thiols and alkyl sulfides. Unsaturated hydrocarbons would be more reactive intermediates involved in the breakdown of pyrite than alkanes. The geochemistry of OSCs is actually controlled by various geochemical factors such as thermal maturity and the carbon chain length of the alkanes. This study indicates that the scale of H2S gas generated in deep buried carbonate reservoirs via interactions between pyrite and natural gas should be much smaller than that of thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) due to the scarcity of pyrite in carbonate reservoirs and the limited amount of long-chained hydrocarbons in natural gas. Nevertheless, in some cases, OSCs and/or low contents of H2S found in deep buried reservoirs may be associated with the deposited pyrite-bearing rock and organic matters (hydrocarbons), which still needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale in the Upper Yangtze block represents one of the most important shale gas plays in China. The shale composition, porosity, organic thermal maturity, and methane sorption were investigated at the Qilongcun section in the Dingshan area, southeastern Sichuan Basin. The results show that the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale contains: (1) sapropelic I organic matter; (2) a 40-m thick bedded sequence where total organic carbon (TOC) content is > 2%; (3) a 30m thick layer at the base of the Longmaxi Shale with a brittle mineral content higher than 50%; and (4) a mean methane adsorption capacity of 1.80 cm3/g (7 MPa pressure). A positive correlation between TOC and sorbed gas indicates that organic matter content exerts an important control on methane storage capacity. Based on the analysis of the shale reservoir characteristics, the lower member of the Longmaxi Shale can thus be considered a favorable stratum for shale gas exploration and exploitation. It has similar reservoir characteristics with the Longmaxi Shale in the Jiaoshiba area tested with a high-yield industrial gas flow. However, based on tectonic analysis, differences in the level of industrial gas flow between the low-yield study area and the high-yield Jiaoshiba area may result from different tectonic preservation conditions. Evidence from these studies indicates the shale gas potential of the Longmaxi Shale is constrained by the reservoir and preservation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the natural remnant magnetization (NRM) of carbonate rocks during the late Ordovician era in China.

This study carried out comprehensive analysis on sedimentology, magnetic susceptibility (χlf) and color data of the continental sediments of the Liupanshan Group in Central China so as to obtain climatic change information during the 129.14-122.98 Ma interval. Based on the results of the χlf and of the redness (a*), the section can be divided into two segments: (1) 129.14-126.3 Ma, with the lowest χlf values and strongly variable relatively high values of redness and (2) 126.3-122.98 Ma, with high χlf values and relatively low redness. Analysis of the lithology and facies as well as the magnetic minerals and their contents points to a detrital origin of the magnetic minerals and this allow us to interpret the relationship between magnetic susceptibility variations and climate changes. Our study shows that the climate was significantly dry and hot during the whole studied interval although the interval between 126.3 Ma and 122.98 was a little bit cooler with increased humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Silurian bituminous sandstones (SBS) in the Tarim Basin, China are important basin-wide reservoirs with an estimated area of approximately 249000 km2. We investigated the ages of authigenic illites in the SBS reservoirs and constrained their formation timing by using the 40Ar/39Ar step wise heating method. The age spectra, 39Ar recoil loss and their controlling factors were investigated systematically. The 40Ar/39Ar ages were compared with the conventional K/Ar ages of identical clay fractions. The clay in the SBS reservoirs is dominated by orderly mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S) with 5%-30% smectite layers. The I/S minerals morphology comprises primarily honeycomb, short filamentous and curved-lath particles, characteristic of authigenic illites. The unencapsulated 40Ar/39Ar total gas ages (UTGA) of the authigenic illites range from 188.56 ± 6.20 Ma to 491.86 ± 27.68 Ma, which are 7% to 103% older than the corresponding K/Ar ages of 124.87 ± 1.11 Ma to 383.45 ± 2.80 Ma, respectively. The K-Ar ages indicate multistage accumulations with distinct distribution patterns in the Tarim Basin: older (late Caledonian-early Hercynian) around the basin margin, younger (late Hercynian) in the basin centre, and the youngest (middle to late Yanshanian) in the Ha-6 well-block, central area of the North Uplift The age difference is believed to have been caused by the 39Ar recoil loss during the irradiation process. Compared with the K/Ar ages, the estimated 39Ar recoil losses in this study are in the range from 7% to 51%. The 39Ar recoil loss appears to increase not only with the decreasing particle sizes of the I/S, but also with increasing percentage of smectite layers (IR) of the I/S, and smectite layer content (SLC) of the samples. We conclude that due to significant 39Ar recoil losses, UTGA may not offer any meaningful geological ages of the authigenic illite formation in the SBS and thus can not be used to represent the hydrocarbon charge timing. 39Ar recoil losses during 40Ar/39Ar dating can not be neglected when dating fine authigenic illite, especially when the ordered mixed-layer I/S containing small amount of smectite layers (IR<30%) in the reservoir formations. Compared with the unencapsulated Ar-Ar method, the conventional K-Ar method is less complicated, more accurate and reliable in dating authigenic illites in petroleum reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical and isotopic characteristics of the water and suspended particulate materials (SPM) in the Yellow River were investigated on the samples collected from 29 hydrological monitoring stations in the mainstem and several major tributaries during 2004 to 2007. The δD and δ18O values of the Yellow River water vary in large ranges from −32‰ to −91‰ and from −3.1‰ to −12.5‰, respectively. The characters of H and O isotope variations indicate that the major sources of the Yellow River water are meteoric water and snow melting water, and water cycle in the Yellow River basin is affected strongly by evaporation process and human activity. The average SPM content (9.635 g/L) of the Yellow River is the highest among the world large rivers. Compared with the Yangtze River, the Yellow River SPM has much lower clay content and significantly higher contents of clastic silicates and carbonates. In comparison to the upper crust rocks, the Yellow River SPM contains less SiO2, CaO, K2O and Na2O, but more TFe2O3, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd. The abnormal high Cd contents found in some sample may be related to local industrial activity. The REE contents and distribution pattern of the Yellow River SPM are very close to the average value of the global shale. The average δ30SiSPM in the Yellow River (-0.11‰) is slightly higher than the average value (-0.22‰) of the Yangtze River SPM. The major factors controlling the δ30Sispm of the Yellow River are the soil supply, the isotopic composition of the soil and the climate conditions. The TDS in the Yellow River are the highest among those of world large rivers. Fair correlations are observed among CI−, Na+, K+, and Mg2+ contents of the Yellow River water, indicating the effect of evaporation. The Ca2+ and Sr2+ concentrations show good correlation to the SO42- concentration rather than HCO3− concentration, reflecting its origin from evaporates. The NO3− contents are affected by farmland fertilization. The Cu, Zn and Cd contents in dissolved load of the Yellow River water are all higher than those of average world large rivers, reflecting the effect of human activity. The dissolved load in the Yellow River water generally shows a REE distribution pattern parallel to those for the Yangtze River and the Xijiang River. The δ30Si values of the dissolved silicon vary in a range from 0.4‰ to 2.9‰, averaging 1.34‰. The major processes controlling the DSi and δ30Sidiss of the Yellow River water are the weathering process of silicate rocks, growth of phytolith in plants, evaporation, dissolution of phytolith in soil, growth of fresh water diatom, adsorption and desorption of aqueous monosilicic acid on iron oxide and human activities. The average δ30SiDiss value of the Yellow River is significantly lower than that of the Nile River, Yangtze River and Siberia rivers, but higher than those of other rivers, reflecting their differences in chemical weathering and biological activity. The δ34SSO4 values of the Yellow River water range from −3.8‰ to 14.1‰, averaging 7.97‰. There is some correlation between SO42- content and δ34Sso4. The factors controlling the δ34SSO4 of the Yellow River water are the SO4 in the meteoric water, the SO4 from gypsum or anhydrite in evaporite rocks, oxidation and dissolution of sulfides in the mineral deposits, magmatic rocks and sedimentary rocks, the sulfate reduction and precipitation process and the sulfate from fertilizer. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of all samples range from 0.71041 to 0.71237, averaging 0.71128. The variations in the 87Sr/86Sr ratio and Sr concentration of river water are primarily caused by mixing of waters of various origins with different 87Sr/86Sr ratios and Sr contents resulting from water-rock interaction with different rock types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Carboniferous Zhanjin Formation has attracted much attention from geoscientists for containing glacial-marine diamictite and cold-water fauna typified by the bivalve Eurydesma. The presence of this Formation has provided important evidence for determining the northern border of Gondwana. Previous researchers have classified those strata north of Niangrong Co in the Gêrzê region as part of the Zhanjin Formation based on the presence of glacial-marine diamictite, although the absence of biological fossil evidence has defied clear age determination. Our field investigations first discovered large quantities of corals, sponges and bryozoans. All coral fossils were identified as belonging to the Hexacorallia subclass including 13 genera and 25 species, primarily including Conophyllia guiyangensis Deng et Kong, Coryphyllia regularis Cuif, Cuifia columnaris Roniewicz, Distichophyllia norica Freeh, Distichophyllia gigas Vinassa de Regny, Pamiroseris rectilamellosa Winkler, Retiophyllia clathrata Emmrich, and Retiophyllia paraclathrata Roniewicz. Extensive biostratigraphic correlations show that the hexacorallia should belong to the Late Triassic, thereby negating the presence of the Zhanjin Formation in the study area. Based on analyses of sedimentary facies and detailed study of the glacial-marine diamictite as supposed by earlier researchers, the limestone blocks and gravels within the facies are slope facies olistostromes and waterway sediments from lime slurry debris flows in the submarine fan rather than primary sedimentary products. Among them, lenticular sandstone should be sequentially distributed waterway sand bodies, indicating that the strata have no glacial-marine diamictite. In addition, the rocks containing the mentioned fossils are just limestone blocks from olistostromes, and limestone gravels from waterways of submarine fans. Such a result further negates the presence of the Zhanjin Formation in the study area, and indicates that the age of the studied strata should be youner than the Late Triassic. Through regional stratigraphic comparisons and the study of tectonic settings of the strata, the sedimentary characteristics of the subject strata, including lithology, lithofacies and fossils, are confirmed to be similar to the widely distributed Sêwa Formation in this region. We thus infer that the strata belong to the Middle-Lower Jurassic Sêwa Formation. This finding is important for both studying paleogeography of Tibet and determining the northern boundary of Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been divergent opinions on whether Conophyllia develops synapticulae and dissepiments since its erection in 1849, with different views existing on the morphology of columella in Conophyllia. This paper presents a comprehensive review of Conophyllia, and revises the diagnosis according to new material from the Renacuo area of Gêrzê, Tibet. The revised diagnosis emphasises the following features: solitary coral; abundant radial elements subequal in thickness, lateral faces with granules and synapticulae; parietal, papillar or incompact columella, a few species lacking in columella; developed dissepiments. Individuals of Conophyllia have laminar septa of Triadophyllum type in earlier ontogenetic stages, while their septa in later ontogenetic stages are more fenestrate. The geological and geographical distribution of this genus is discussed, with five species of Conophyllia from the Renacuo area of Gêrzê, Tibet being described and illustrated, including one new species and two in open nomenclatue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology, REE geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology of zircons from quartz monzodiorite in the Sunzhuang area, Fanshi County, Shanxi Province are presented in this study. The zircon crystals can be classified into four main types as: AB, L, S and P, and 24 subtypes such as AB4, AB5, L5, and S3. The maximum crystallization temperature of zircon was estimated as 850°C, with the minimum of 550°C. The peak temperatures of the zircon crystallization range from 650°C to 700°C. The abundances of Th and U in the zircon grains show large variation with the Th/U values > 0.4. The Th and U values also show a positive correlation in most zircons. The REE abundance of zircon in the quartz monzodiorite ranges from 280.4 ppm to 2143 ppm with an average of 856.4 ppm. The chondrite normalized zircon REE patterns show two types, one is characterized by HREE enrichment and LREE depletion with positive Ce-anomaly and negative Eu-anomaly whereas the other is HREE enriched and LREE depleted with negative Eu-anomaly but without positive Ce-anomaly, and relatively flat patterns. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology on the zircons yields a mean age of 133±0.87 Ma. Our data on zircon morphology, composition and U-Pb geochronology reveal that the parent magma of the quartz monzodiorite which was emplaced during late Yanshanian had a mixed crust-mantle source, with crustal components dominating. The magma is inferred to have been water rich and alkaline with initial high oxygen fugacity. Post-magmatic hydrothermal activity occurred under relatively reducing conditions which was conductive for gold precipitation in the Yixingzhai gold deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrographic analysis of hydrocarbon inclusions in reservoirs is the basis and prerequisite for study of hydrocarbon charge history using fluid inclusion analysis. Samples from Silurian reservoirs in the Kongquehe area were studied with microscopy, cathode luminescence and scanning electron microscopy, and the paragenetic sequence of diagenetic events was established. Aqueous and oil inclusions were found in four different occurrences, i.e., ① in healed cracks in detrital quartz grains, ② in quartz overgrowths that were formed relatively early in diagenesis, ③ in healed cracks crosscutting quartz overgrowths and detrital quartz, and ④ in paragenetically late calcite cements. Solid bitumens were found in intergranular pores and in late fractures, whereas gas inclusions occur in healed cracks crosscutting quartz overgrowths and detrital quartz. The homogenization temperatures of aqueous ( Thaq) and oil incluisons ( Tho) within individual fluid inclusion assemblages are very consistent, suggesting that the microthermometric data are reliable. The Thaq values are generally larger than Tho, indicating the oil charging events took place at significant depths. The results suggest that there were at least two episodes of hydrocarbon charging in the Kongquehe area: the early hydrocarbon charging occurred in late Caledonian, dominated by oil, and the late hydrocarbon charging occurred in the Yanshan-Himalayan, first by oil and then gases. In addition, two episodes of hydrocarbon reservoir adjustment and destruction occurred in the Hercynian and Himalayan, respectively, forming solid bitumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slip rate of Yema River-Daxue Mountain fault in the western segment of Qilian Mountains was determined by the dated offset of river risers or gullies. Results indicate that the left-lateral fault slip rate is 2.82 ± 0.20 mm/a at Dazangdele site, 2.00 ± 0.24 mm/a at Shibandun site, and 0.50 ± 0.36 and 2.80 ± 0.33 mm/a at two sites in Zhazihu. The ideal average slip rate of the whole fault is 2.81 ± 0.32 mm/a. The lower slip rate confirms part of the displacement of Altyn Tagh fault was transformed into an uplifting of the strap mountains in the western segment of Qilian Mountains, whereas another part transformed into sinistral displacement of Haiyuan fault. This study illustrates that the slip of large strike-slip faults in the northeastern margin of the plateau transforms into crust thickening at the tip of the fault without large-scale propagation to the outer parts of the plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]