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Crop insurance is critical in risk management in global agricultural production (e.g. by helping stabilise farmers' incomes in the long term and reducing risk‐bearing costs). In this paper, using field survey data on cotton farmers in Xinjiang, China, we examine the influence of crop insurance on farmers' behaviours regarding agrochemical inputs and aim to investigate the synergy between crop insurance and reductions in fertiliser and pesticide usage. We find evidence that crop insurance significantly negatively affects farmers' use of fertilisers and pesticides, as well as significantly positively affects their adoption of green agricultural technologies (GAT) that can replace or complement traditional fertilisers and pesticides. Moreover, our results reveal that compared with small‐scale farmers, crop insurance has a stronger effect on large‐scale farmers' use of agrochemicals. Finally, when the insured amount is higher or the relative deductible is lower, farmers are more likely to reduce fertiliser and pesticide usage and adopt GAT. Overall, this paper scientifically identifies crop insurance can improve farmers' agrochemical input behaviour, by reducing farmers' use of traditional agrochemical inputs and increasing their adoption of GAT, which is of great significance for ensuring the safety of the agricultural ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the pioneer palaeontologists, Professor Zhuoting Liao has contributed his lifetime to promoting palaeontological and stratigraphical research in China for 60 years, and he passed away in the field excursion in South China on June 20, 2020. In his palaeontological career, Liao has worked on Late Palaeozoic to Mesozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of almost all regions across China, and his interests have also extended to the Permian–Triassic (P‐Tr) boundary and mass extinction. He has worked on palaeontology, palaeobiogeography, biostratigraphy, tectonostratigraphy, and their implications in mineral and oil‐gas industries. Liao has established 22 new genera and 172 new species of brachiopods, and, together with his colleagues, proposed 11 new genera and 25 new species of echinoderms. He dedicated his lifetime to work on Late Palaeozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of the previously remote and tectonically complex Xinjiang and adjacent regions, north‐west China, and established integrated stratigraphical frameworks for the Carboniferous to Permian strata, providing fundamental basis for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration in the poorly understood Central Asian terranes. In addition, he has mentored many young palaeontologists and stratigraphers in various ways. This volume assembles 30 papers addressing the Late Palaeozoic to Mesozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of China and adjacent regions, which pays tribute to the achievement of Professor Zhuoting Liao. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has recently experienced a series of policies seeking economic development and intensive methods of social coercion. A unique leader, Chen Quanguo, brought these changes to the XUAR in 2016. This paper seeks to examine the effects of Chen's regime. We specifically examine three outcomes: GDP per capita, arrest rates, and spending on public security. Using the synthetic control method, we find that Chen's regime had no significant effect on the development. However, his policies led to much higher rates of arrest and larger spending on public security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long before the East–West "Silk Road" appeared, cultural communication as well as exchanges of materials and technologies had existed between different populations across the Eurasian Steppe. Xinjiang, located at a crossroads of the East and the West, is particularly important for exploring human interactions. The present paper contributes to this end from a stable isotopic perspective. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis were applied to 51 human and four animal bone remains collected from three types of tombs—namely, the earthen vertical tomb‐pit, earthen vertical tomb‐pit with second‐tier ledge, and earthen vertical tomb‐pit with side chamber—excavated from the Dalujiao cemetery, dated to the Early Iron Age (542 BCE–59 CE), in Xinjiang of northwest China. The δ13C (mean: −18.6 ‰) and δ15N (mean: 7.5‰) results of the faunal remains suggest that the two herbivore species (horse and sheep) were fed mainly by C3 terrestrial plants. By contrast, the human bone specimens differ in δ13C values (from −16.0‰ to −11.6‰, with a mean of −14.1‰ ± 1.1‰, n = 51). People buried in vertical tomb‐pits show a narrow range of δ13C values, an indication that they consumed quite stable sources of food. In contrast, those buried in vertical tomb‐pits with a second‐tier ledge or with a side chamber consumed more diverse foods and probably adopted different subsistence strategies. Taking into consideration both isotopic results and types of tombs, we propose that at least three groups of populations with diverse dietary and subsistence strategies are identifiable at the Dalujiao cemetery. Our study reveals not only human diets and subsistence patterns in the study area but also interactions among different populations prior to the rise of "Silk Road." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiaorequanzi copper–zinc deposit, located in the eastern Tianshan, is considered as a medium‐sized polymetallic deposit in Xinjiang, NW China. Understanding the structural framework and delineating the location of intrusions as well as the distribution of ore‐controlling strata in this mining area are vital for identifying new potential exploration areas. This paper aims to provide new information on the subsurface structures of the Xiaorequanzi copper–zinc deposit and to explore new target area for the ore prospecting based on comprehensive interpretation of multiple geophysical datasets. Several potential field filtering methods were used to study the spatial distribution of the geological structure. The structural lineament was delineated based on various source boundary detection results. Euler deconvolution method was used to estimate the field source depth, and the structure model was constructed from 2.5D forward gravity modelling, constrained by borehole and electromagnetic data. The results indicate that the local gravity highs may be the concentration of mineralized rocks with high density extending to depths of several hundred meters; the magnetic highs are related to mineralized rocks/intrusive rocks that are close to the surface. The tectonic framework of the whole ore bed is mainly controlled by NW‐SE, E‐W and NE‐SW structures, in which NE‐SW structures are related closely to mineralization and may provide optimum conditions for magma emplacement and fluid migration. Our research will help to study the tectonic evolution and guide further exploration of the deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the spatial and temporal variability of the statistical structures of precipitation across Xinjiang, China, by analysing the time series of daily precipitation from 50 weather stations during the period from 1961 to 2008. Three indices precipitation concentration index (CI), precipitation concentration degree (PCD) and precipitation concentration period (PCP) were used to detect precipitation concentrations and the associated spatial patterns. The results show that higher precipitation CI values were mainly observed in Southern Xinjiang, whereas lower precipitation CI values were mostly detected in Northern Xinjiang. The precipitation CI values are noticeably larger in places where both annual total precipitation and number of rainy days are lower. The Mann-Kendall trend test demonstrates that the most parts of Xinjiang are characterized by no significant trends of precipitation CI at the 0.05 significance level. The periodicity characteristic of precipitation CI time series in Xinjiang could be detected by wavelet power spectrum analysis, and significant periods of that in most of Xinjiang were concentrated on 2-5 years band. The results of PCP reveal that rainfall in Xinjiang mostly occurs in summer, and the rainy season arrives earlier in Eastern Xinjiang than Western Xinjiang, whereas the results of PCD indicate that the rainfall in Northern Xinjiang was more dispersed within a year than that in Southern Xinjiang. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ili River Valley is located in western Xinjiang as a 'wet island' in an arid region, and is rich with unique plant species. In this paper, TWINSPAN (two-way indicator species analysis) and DCCA (detrended canonical correspondence analysis) were performed to analyze the vegetation patterns and influential factors based on data from a field investigation in the mountainous region of the valley. 259 species were recorded in the 85 plots, up to 235 species all appeared in the herb layer, and species of woody plants were very limited. The species composition varied widely between the northern slope and the southern slope. 35 plots on the northern slope were clustered into 10 groups, and 50 plots on the southern slope were clustered into 11 groupes. The DCCA ordination indicated that elevation as a compound factor was the critical driver of species composition on both the slopes. The vegetation patterns were also related to slope gradient, aspect, soil water, soil pH, organic matter and total nitrogen. Available phosphorus and available potassium were important factors on the southern slope only, maybe because of the appearance of shrubs there. The proportion of variation explained was 49.54% on the northern slope and 41.08% on the southern slope. Edaphic variables were more important than topographical variables on the northern slope, while topographical variables seemed to be more influential on the southern slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cow milk proteins is one of the major food allergens, and some probiotics can abate allergenicity to some extent. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AHQ‐14 isolated from the traditional dairy products in Xinjiang Province, China, has good ability to reduce the allergenicity of β‐lactoglobulin (LG) and good probiotic properties. In the presented study, L. plantarum AHQ‐14 was used to replace half of the commercial yoghurt starter to ferment yoghurt, and the effects of L. plantarum AHQ‐14 fortification on microstructure, textural and rheological attributes of yoghurt were investigated. In addition, milk protein hydrolysis, antigenicity and allergenicity of yoghurts during 28 days of cold storage were detected. The results indicated that AHQ‐14 and YC‐X11 fermentation could enhance the texture and rheological properties of yoghurt by reducing the syneresis (37%) and firmness (14%) and improving the cohesiveness by 50%. In addition, AHQ‐14 and YC‐X11 fermentation can shorten the fermentation time by about 30 min, SDS‐PAGE displayed that AHQ‐14 and YC‐X11 fermentation had stronger hydrolysis of whey protein compared with YC‐X11 yoghurt. Additionally, the fermentation by L. plantarum AHQ‐14 and YC‐X11 could significantly reduce the antigenicity and IgE‐binding ability of skim milk by 82% and 94%, respectively, thus reducing milk‐allergic reactions in patients significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government has launched the Rural Living Environment Improvement Initiative (RLEII) to solve the poor living conditions in rural areas. The initiative enhances rural greenery; provides sanitary toilets; and promotes proper disposal of animal manure, sewage, and household waste in rural areas. We collected data using in‐person interviews with 938 rural residents in Xinjiang, China, to elicit their preference, preference intensity, and preference heterogeneity for RLEII. Results indicated that rural residents prefer to see shortcomings of the RLEII addressed. Rural greening construction is identified with the highest preference intensity. We also find significant heterogeneity in rural residents' preferences for each attribute of RLEII. The preference heterogeneity is rooted in the region's economic condition (poor vs. nonpoor region). It is essential to understand rural residents' choice for rural public goods supply and to respect their preference intensity, sequence, and heterogeneity for RLEII to enhance the implementation performance. We discuss the implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change is projected to increase the probability of occurrence and severity of droughts. Increased CO2 concentration drives partial closure of plant stomata and reduces evapotranspiration. However, the impact of reduced evapotranspiration due to CO2 on future droughts characteristics in China is unclear. In this study, we have used the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) global climate model simulations (GCMs) under historical period, and four shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios (SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5) to estimate drought. We used a widely applicable drought index (i.e., the self‐calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index [scPDSI]) to evaluate the historical and future drought conditions, using the Penman–Monteith formula with and without the CO2 concentrations. The results show that the increasing trend of scPDSI slows down when the CO2 effect is considered in all scenarios, especially in Heilongjiang, northern Xinjiang, and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The divergence in the slowdown trend among the different scenarios becomes greater after 2030, with higher emission scenarios implying a greater slowdown in the increasing trend of scPDSI. After considering CO2, drought characteristics such as the drought frequency, intensity, and drought area decrease. Increased CO2 concentration on vegetation physiological processes could mitigate future drought. Therefore, the effects of CO2 on plant physiology should be considered in studies of future drought trends to develop more realistic response and adaptation policies to future drought changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude oil is the most exploited energy source and the best way to increase the yield of oil recovery is the use of middle‐phase microemulsions. But the consecutive formation of water‐in‐oil emulsions needs oil–water separation. Reversible middle‐phase microemulsions were prepared with tetradecane (equivalent alkane for crude oil from Xinjiang oilfields, China) and aqueous solutions containing 1‐pentanol, N,N‐dimethyltetradecylamine and NaCl, and stimulated with CO2. By adding and removing CO2, the conductivity of aqueous solutions without NaCl increases from 20 μS/cm to 3.6 mS/cm reversibly. Additionally, the surface and interfacial tensions of aqueous solution show reversible changes. The middle‐phase microemulsion is stable in CO2 atmosphere. After removing CO2, it becomes separated into oil and aqueous phases. However, by sparging CO2 and standing for 2 days, it becomes middle‐phase microemulsion again. This research is expected to launch a brand‐new avenue for the CO2‐stimulated reversible microemulsification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human immune deficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and syphilis are the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) worldwide, as well as in China. The objective of this study is to describe the trend of spatial and temporal variation of HIV/AIDS and syphilis in mainland China from 2007 to 2017. Stratified analysis was conducted according to age and the GDP per capita. Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) was calculated and spatial autocorrelation analysis was used to evaluate the epidemiology and identify clusters. The morbidity of new HIV infection increased from 2.5034/100 000 in 2007 to 6.9247/100 000 in 2017, with an EAPC of 9.84 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.07–10.60). From 2007 to 2017, the morbidity of syphilis presented a significant upward trend from 15.8834/100 000 to 34.4867/100 000 (EAPC = 6.48, 95% CI: 4.23–8.73). The number of new HIV infections (205 084) and syphilis (921 279) were highest in the 20–30 years old group, where the incidence decreased with age over 20 years. In general, HIV and syphilis infection had the same incidence trend according to age and time stratification. The morbidity of new HIV infection was mainly reported from Xinjiang and southwestern China. As for syphilis, the highest was found in Zhejiang in Xinjiang and southeast coastal areas. Both HIV and syphilis infection showed a nonrandom positive correlation by Moran's I value. The High‐High cluster areas of HIV infection were concentrated in southwestern and eastern China due to syphilis. A highly significant positive correlation was found between gross domestic product per capita and syphilis infection (p < 0.05) but was not associated with HIV infection. The incidence of AIDS/HIV and syphilis is increasing year by year, and a higher prevalence is found in younger individuals. More attention should be paid to HIV infection in the southwest, syphilis in southeast coastal areas, and both the two diseases in Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role that Xinjiang played in cultural communication across the Eurasian steppe in prehistory is evidenced by the large number of copper‐based objects that represent the early metallurgical technologies found across this region. Our research adds new chemical and isotopic analyses of 44 copper‐based objects dated to the early Iron Age of Ili in Xinjiang, western China. As noted in a number of publications, tin bronze and arsenic copper/bronze were the dominant alloying types across Xinjiang during the second and first millennium BC, whereas some specific types of objects such as cauldrons are often made from pure copper. The western Tianshan Mountain, including the well‐known mining site Nulasai, is the most likely copper source for the Ili metalworking. Meanwhile, a combination of lead isotopes, lead concentrations and trace elemental data reveals new evidence for the mixing and recycling of different sources of copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeological visibility of the production and consumption of gold and silver ornaments increased substantially during the Iron Age. A large number of precious metalworks rendered with distinctive 'animal style' motifs have been recovered from elite tombs in north‐west China, and have attracted great interest when investigating the dynamics of exchange, mobility and transcultural encounters in Eurasian antiquity. However, little scientific research has been undertaken to examine the manufacturing techniques and metal composition of such 'animal style' artefacts found in north‐west China and its neighbouring areas in a broader Eurasian context. Using multiple non‐invasive analytical methods, we conducted a detailed scientific analysis of two groups of precious metals excavated from Dongheigou Tomb 12 (fourth–second centuries bce) and Xigou Tomb 1 (third–second centuries bce) in present‐day Balikun county, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The results suggest that mould‐pressing technology was employed for the production of the 'animal style' appliqués found in these two tombs. The current analysis provides a definitive explanation for the traces of superficial crafting through their specific microstructure and the tool marks of manufacturing, and will thus be of significant interest for further research concerning the metallurgic knowledge and technological practice of precious metalworking industry in north‐west China and Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Permian black shales from the eastern Junggar Basin of northern Xinjiang, north‐west China are one of the richest and thickest lacustrine hydrocarbon source rocks in China. The palaeoenvironmental settings and controlling factors of organic matter accumulation along the margins of the Middle Permian lacustrine basin remain unclear, although the same works have been undertaken in the centre of the Middle Permian lacustrine basins. Here, we performed a combination of mineralogical and geochemical analyses on the black shales of the Middle Permian Pingdiquan Formation from the eastern margin areas of the Junggar Basin. The results show that the Pingdiquan Formation black shales in the study areas are organic‐rich, with total organic carbon (TOC) contents of 0.74–17.61 wt% (avg. 5.81 wt%). Salinity proxies including Sr/Ba and Rb/K ratios, combined with traces of gypsum and halite in a few samples, suggest brackish to saline water conditions. Palaeoclimate proxies indicate a warm‐humid environment during the deposition of the Pingdiquan Formation black shales. The redox proxies V/(V + Ni), V/Cr and U/Th ratios, and Eu and Ce anomalies together indicate dysoxic‐anoxic conditions of lake water. Strong positive correlations between palaeoproductivity proxies (P/Al, Ni/Al, Cu/Al, and Zn/Al) and TOC contents imply that palaeoproductivity may have played an essential role in organic matter accumulation during the deposition of the black shales. In contrast, negative correlations between terrestrial detrital input proxies (Al and Ti) and TOC contents indicate that terrestrial detrital input may have acted as a diluent to organic matter accumulation. Additionally, although the correlation between redox proxies [V/(V + Ni) and U/Th] and TOC contents is not straightforward, dysoxic‐anoxic conditions of lake water are an essential prerequisite for organic matter accumulation in the Pingdiquan Formation black shales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tianyu Cu‐Ni sulfide deposit occurs in the north margin of the Central Tianshan Arc in East Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, NW China. The intrusions consist of gabbro, peridotite, and olivine pyroxenite. The peridotite and pyroxenite are the main host rock for the Cu‐Ni ores. Rhenium and osmium isotopic analyses of Ni‐ and Cu‐bearing sulfide minerals from the deposit have been used to determine the source of osmium, and by inference, the sources of ore metals. Sulfide ore samples have Os and Re concentrations varying in the ranges 1.85 to 4.58 ppb and 93.56 to 146.00 ppb, respectively. An initial 187Os/188Os ratio ranges from 0.86 to 1.23 for the ores and the γOs values from 592 to 2227. Osmium isotopic data suggest that the Tianyu intrusion and associated Cu‐Ni mineralization has derived from crustal‐contaminated mantle melts. The intrusions early show island‐arc geochemical signatures, which indicate that the Hulu mafic–ultramafic intrusions, along with the Cu‐Ni deposit, formed as a result of subduction of oceanic crust in the Early Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A large number of fossil woods were preserved in the Permian–Triassic sequences in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. These wood fossils provide a lot of palaeoenvironmental information of the Junggar Basin during the Permian–Triassic transition. Here, we describe the fossil woods collected from the base of the Olenekian Shaofanggou Formation in Dalongkou Anticline. Anatomically, these wood remains closely resemble Junggaropitys dalongkouensis, but they lack growth rings and rays are higher. Thus, we suggest identifying them as J. cf. dalongkouensis. The growth pattern shows that J. cf. dalongkouensis is evergreen and developed under warm and humid environments. However, the data of geochemistry, palaeosol and certain sedimentary features reveal a dry climate. Thus, we speculate that the Olenekian Junggar Basin contained gallery forests in the arid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Devonian of western Junggar, Xinjiang, northwestern China bears abundant marine fossils and has attracted much attention with respect to palaeontological and stratigraphical studies. However, the records of ammonoids are sparse and the previously established assemblages need to be supplemented or emended through further collections. Here, we describe the Gonioclymenia fauna from the Wulan Member of the Hongguleleng Formation based on thorough and systematic sampling, including Gonioclymenia junggarensis n. sp., a member of the Gonioclymenia subcarinata Group, an evolute clymeniid, Cymaclymenia sp., and an indeterminate species of the Sporadoceratidae or Prionoceratidae. The strata bearing the Gonioclymenia fauna in western Junggar can be correlated with the upper Famennian UD V‐A2 to V‐C of the Clymenia Ammonoid 'Stufe', approximately corresponding to the Bispathodusaculeatus aculeatus Conodont Zone (former Middle expansa Zone). The Gonioclymenia species from western Junggar indicate close relationships with Europe and North Africa, while the latter two regions show a higher abundance and species diversity within the genus. New specimens described here enrich the composition of the Gonioclymenia fauna of western Junggar, and shed lights on the stratigraphic correlation and subdivision of the Upper Devonian in this region at a fine resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A silicified trunk, Zhuotingoxylon liaoi Wan, Yang, Wang, Liu et Wang gen. et sp. nov., is described from the uppermost part of Guodikeng Formation in South Taodonggou section, Turpan–Hami Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China. It is characterized by a solid pith, endarch primary xylem and pycnoxylic wood. The pith is composed of parenchyma and sclereids. Radial walls of primary xylem tracheids have spiral and scalariform thickenings. Secondary xylem consists of thick‐walled tracheids and parenchymatous rays. Uniseriate rounded pits with oval apertures are distributed on radial tracheidal walls separately. Cell walls of rays are homogeneous and smooth. Rays are 1–10 cells high in tangential section. Cross‐field pits are cupressoid. There are 1–4 bordered pits with slit‐like to oval apertures in each cross‐field. Based on the anatomical features of the pith and xylems, it is proposed that the new stem has a coniferous affinity. The new fossil stem adds to the knowledge of vascular plant diversity close to the Permian–Triassic boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic characteristics of Ordovician carbonate reservoir beds in the Lungudong region of northeastern part of the Tarim Basin are described in detail and the reservoir-forming conditions of oil and gas are preliminarily discussed in this paper by collecting and sorting out a large amount of data. The carbonate reservoir beds are mainly developed in open-platform and platform marginal facies; the reservoir beds have large changes in and low average values of physical property; the main type is fractured reservoir beds with the fracture-porous type second. The reservoir bed development is chiefly controlled by the distribution of sedimentary facies, tectonic activity and karstification. Whereas the accumulation and distribution of hydrocarbons in the region are controlled by an advantageous structural location, a good reservoir-caprock combination and a favorable transporting system, with the distribution characterized by zones horizontally and belts vertically, the oil and gas are mainly concentrated in areas with structural uplift, densely developed fractures, and surface karst, a vertical vadose zone, and a horizontal undercurrent belt of palaeokarst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s, the idea that water should be treated as an economic good has become a widely acclaimed but also disputed principle. In Xinjiang, a dry region in north-west China, the idea has been translated into government water management policies and practices. Based on investigations in the Kaidu-Kongque River Basin, this paper describes how the idea is interpreted in concrete water fee policies and practices in local water management in irrigation agriculture, and discusses what problems exist in current water fee collection practices and expenditure, as well as in water management in irrigation agriculture. The main argument is that water management is deeply tied to the political, social and economic conditions of the state, and water pricing is part of the complex, diverse and changing social reality. In the study area, the interpretation of treating water as an economic good has not contributed to a fairer and more efficient use of scarce water resources, but rather it has been applied to achieve other political and economic goals as well as to strengthen a powerful and rapidly growing bureaucracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the largest fixed and semi‐fixed desert in China, the Gurbantünggüt Desert undergoes a long period of snow cover in the winter and the rapid growth of ephemeral plants in the spring, presenting obvious seasonal changes in the underlying desert surface type, which can lead to variation in the turbulence of the near‐surface boundary layer turbulence over the desert. In this study, gradient tower data and eddy covariance data from 2017 were analysed to investigate the turbulence characteristics of the different surface boundary layers in the hinterland of the Gurbantünggüt Desert. The results indicate that stable atmospheric conditions in the desert occur exclusively during the early morning and at night in the desert, and the onset and duration of this stable state varies seasonally. Two regimes of intermittent turbulence occur during the night, a weak turbulent regime that occurs when the wind speed is less than the threshold and a strong turbulent regime when the wind speed exceeds the threshold, and different wind speed thresholds were observed at each level. These parameters follow a seasonal pattern of summer (July) > spring (April) > autumn (October) > winter (January) in terms of magnitude. The mean turbulence intensities of the along‐wind, cross‐wind and vertical wind are 0.5, 0.47 and 0.14, respectively, with Iu > Iv > Iw. The normalized standard deviation of the wind velocity components (σu, σv and σw) generally satisfies a 1/3 power‐law relation. Our results show that the night‐time turbulence regime classification for the Gurbantünggüt Desert strongly depends on meteorological and orographic features, and the intermittent turbulent events have the non‐stationarity of the flow in common. The results can contribute to the study of land surface processes, climate change and desertification in inland arid desert areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an innovative MODIS fractional snow cover (SCF) data assimilation (DA) prototype framework that invokes machine learning (ML) techniques and Common land model (CoLM) is proposed to improve the estimation of the snow depth (SD) and the SCF. To validate our new framework, we analyzed two snow seasons from 2013 to 2015 at 46 stations in Northern Xinjiang in China. We developed 12 SCF DA schemes that represent different DA methods (direct insertion (DI) and Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF)), observational data (original data and gap‐filled MODIS SCF data), and observation operators (five new snow depletion curves (SDCs) defined using traditional multivariate nonlinear regression and four ML methods). While improving the frequency of the SCF observations in the DI‐based DA scheme only resulted in a marginal improvement in the snow estimates, by adding new SDCs fitted by ML techniques (e.g., deep belief network), and the gap‐filled MODIS SCF data to the EnKF‐based DA scheme, we were able to reduce model structural uncertainties of CoLM and achieve marked improvement in the accuracy of the snow estimates (RMSE = 5.92 cm, mean bias error = −1.94 cm, and average degree of improvement = 32.18% for SD estimates and RMSE = 15. 79%, mean bias error = −1.21%, and average degree of improvement = 47.95% for SCF estimates). Our results demonstrate the feasibility of improving snow estimates by combining the ML techniques with physically based snowpack model in a SCF DA framework. Key Points: An innovative MODIS fractional snow cover assimilation framework invokes machine learning techniques and Common Land Model is proposedFive new snow depletion curves (SDCs) are defined by using multiple nonlinear regression and four machine learning techniquesNew SDCs functions as both the improved parameterization scheme of Common Land Model and the observation operator of assimilation frame [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several hundred meteorites with a total mass of over 100 kg were collected as the Alatage Mountain (AM) strewn field located in the Kumtag desert, Xinjiang Province, China. Twelve AM meteorites were studied in this work. Petrography, mineralogy, bulk chemistry, bulk oxygen isotopic compositions, and light noble gas concentrations and isotopic compositions were determined for all or for a selection of the meteorites. The studied meteorites are L‐chondrites that suffered a very strong impact; impact melt veins and melt pockets are widely distributed. More than 50% of the troilite exists in the form of blebs and veins in olivine and pyroxene. Some of these meteorites are impact melt recrystallized rocks (e.g., AM 037). The strong impact caused the decomposition of troilite, which led in AM 034 to the sulfidization reaction of olivine. The metal in most meteorites is almost completely altered, and the troilite has been significantly oxidized. Weathering resulted in the depletion of Mg, Fe, Co, and Ni, and the enrichment of Sr, Ba, Pb, and U in these meteorites. The cosmic ray exposure (CRE) ages measured for these specimens range between 6.2 ± 1.9 Ma and 9.0 ± 2.7 Ma, depending on the cosmogenic nuclide used. The average CRE age is 7.6 ± 1.3 Ma. Both 4He and 40Ar gas retention ages indicate that the strong impact which caused the shock effects occurred about 320 Ma ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent drought events under climate change are endangering food security and sustainable agricultural development. Quantitative assessment of crop yield anomalies under drought conditions is essential for effective water resources management and adaptative drought risk mitigation strategies. In this study, a copula‐based bivariate probabilistic framework model is developed to assess the impacts of drought events on crop yield, where the correlation of crop yield anomalies and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at multi‐month lags are quantified. This model has advantages in quantifying the impacts of drought scales on crop yield through the joint probability of the corresponding series. Then, the model is applied to Xinjiang Province in Northwestern China, an arid region with extensive agricultural activities. SPEI and yield anomalies of wheat, maize and cotton during 1984–2015 are firstly identified, and then copula‐based framework is constructed to quantify probabilistic crop yield losses caused by drought events. Finally, crop water amounts and irrigation requirements under different drought severity conditions are compared and analysed. Our findings are: (a) wheat and maize yield anomalies are vulnerable to long drought time‐scales, with exceedance probabilities of required yield anomalies returning to normal are 19.3% for wheat and 21.1% for maize, while cotton is susceptible to short drought time‐scales, with exceedance probability of 42.3% for drought recovery; (b) response of wheat crop yield anomalies to the SPEI at 1‐, 3‐, 6‐ and 12‐month scales is the most sensitive, followed by maize, and cotton is the least; (c) under extreme drought conditions, the probability of cotton yield reduction is lower than that of wheat and maize. Results may enhance our understanding of the impacts of drought scales on crops during the growing season, thus providing general guidance for rational irrigation management of crops and incentives for irrigation to mitigate drought risk, ultimately promoting sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic polymorphisms of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1, ‐DQA1 and ‐DQB1 among four main ethnic groups including Han (n = 70), Uyghur (n = 71), Kazakh (n = 52) and Hui (n = 40) subjects from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region were investigated using a polymerase chain reaction—sequence‐based typing (PCR‐SBT). In total, 32 HLA‐DRB1 alleles, eight HLA‐DQA1 alleles and 14 HLA‐DQB1 alleles were identified. The most predominant HLA‐DRB1, ‐DQA1 and ‐DQB1 alleles were DRB1*15:01 (12.50%), DQA1*01:02 (21.43%) and DQB1*03:01 (19.29%) in Han; DRB1*07:01 (18.48%), DQA1*05:01/03/05 (24.65%) and DQB1*02:01/02 (31.69%) in Uyghur; and DRB1*13:01 (13.64%), DQA1*05:01/03/05 (28.85%) and DQB1*02:01/02 (27.88%) in Kazakh, respectively. In Hui, DRB1*07:01, DRB1*11:01 and DRB1*14:01 were the most dominant alleles with the same frequency of 11.8%, while the predominant DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were DQA1*03:01/02/03 (23.75%) and DQB1*02:01/02 (16.25%), respectively. In addition, the most common two‐locus haplotypes were DQA1*05:01/03/5‐DQB1*03:01 (10.0%) in Han; DQA1*02:01‐DQB1*02:01/02 (18.31%) in Uyghur; DQA1*05:01/03/05‐DQB1*02:01/02 (15.38%) in Kazakh; and DQA1*03:01/02/03‐DQB1*03:03 (11.25%) in Hui. The phylogenetic dendrograms constructed based on the allele frequencies of HLA‐DRB1, ‐DQA1 and ‐DQB1 in 13 populations (e.g. Asian, Central Asian and European) revealed that the Han and Hui populations were clustered together and closest to Han population from China, while the Kazakh and Uyghur populations were closest to each other and two ethnic groups were clustered together with Central Asian and European populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Late Paleozoic, West Junggar (Xinjiang, NW China) experienced a shift in tectonic setting from compression to extension. Ha'erjiao is an important area for investigating collisional structures, post–collisional structures, and magmatic activities. Based on the petrological and geochemical characteristics of pyroclastic and other volcanic rocks in the Permian Kalagang Formation from the borehole ZKH1205 in the Jimunai Basin, the main types of source rock for the pyroclastic rocks deposited in the basin are identified and their implications for the Early Permian tectonic setting examined. The abundance of basalt and andesite lithic fragments in the pyroclastic rocks, together with the REE characteristics and the contents of transition and high field strength elements show that the source rocks were chiefly intermediate–basic volcanic rocks. High ICV values, low CIA values, low Rb/Sr ratios, low Th/U ratios and the mineralogical features suggest weak chemical weathering of the source rocks; the geochemical patterns of the pyroclastic rocks might not only have been impacted by crustal contamination but also might be related to the nature of the magma from the source area. The geochemical properties of the pyroclastic rocks distinguish them from arc‐related ones, and such samples plot in the within‐plate basalt (WPB) field in some diagrams. This is consistent with the formation background of the Early Permian volcanic rocks in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous sections, namely the Bulongguoer and Haer (Gennaren area) in the Junggar Basin, Central Asian Orogenic Belt, in northwestern China were examined with regard to ichnology and palynology. The deposits of the Hongguleleng Formation and Namu Member of the Heishantou Formation, respectively, are mostly unbioturbated or poorly bioturbated, with poorly diversified trace fossils, which indicate unfavourable conditions for the burrowing benthic community during the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous. The main factor governing the growth of the bioturbating population was the rapid sedimentation of fine‐grained, volcanic material documented as tempestites, which buried the benthic fauna. In the Bulongguoer section, the presence of miospores Teichertospora torquata and Grandispora gracilis enabled identification of the broad Teichertospora torquata‐Grandispora gracilis Miospore Zone from the transitional Frasnian/Famennian interval. More accurate identification of palynostratigraphical levels (DE and CZ Miospore zones) is only tentative. On the basis of palynofacies analysis, samples from the lower Bulongguoer section indicate deposition in more proximal conditions, whereas samples from the top of the section indicate deposition in a more distal environment. In the Haer section, only a general biostratigraphic indication for the Tournaisian was possible, owing to poor preservation of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Meiling Cu‐polymetallic deposit is located in the Kalatag Cu metallogenic belt of the East Tianshan, Xinjiang, NW China. Multiple‐stage hydrothermal activities have resulted in the silicification, chlorite alteration and sericite alteration in this deposit. At least three mineralization stages are recorded: (a) a phase comprising quartz–pyrite veining, (b) a quartz–chalcopyrite–pyrite–sphalerite phase and (c) a quartz–calcite phase, respectively. LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating yielded 302 ± 2.1 Ma for an ore‐bearing quartz porphyry and 296 ± 3.2 Ma for a post‐mineralization diorite porphyry dyke, respectively, indicating that the copper mineralization took place during the Late Carboniferous period (302–296 Ma). Fluid evolution during the three stages of mineralization was determined by a detailed fluid inclusion study: (a) Stage I fluids were trapped under two‐phase conditions, as evidenced by the coexistence of vapour‐rich (type II) inclusions (Th = 183–242°C, average salinity = 4.8 wt% NaCl equiv.), liquid‐rich (type I) inclusions (Th = 171–259°C, average salinity = 5.3 wt% NaCl equiv.), and daughter‐bearing (type III) inclusions (Th = 192–208°C, average salinity = 8.6 wt% NaCl equiv.). (b) Stage II fluid inclusions in quartz were also trapped under two‐phase conditions (boiling), as identified by the coexistence of V‐ and L‐type fluid inclusions; L‐type inclusions Th between 136 and 218°C (average = 189°C), with salinities of 2.2–7.6 wt% NaCl equiv. (average = 3.8 wt% NaCl equiv.). V‐type inclusions homogenized temperatures between 153 and 226°C (average = 192°C), with salinities of 2.4–6.7 wt% NaCl equiv. (average = 3.5 wt% NaCl equiv.). (c) Stage III fluids are represented by inclusions in barren quartz–carbonate veinlets, characterized by homogenization temperatures ranging from 98 to 177°C (average = 135°C) and salinities between 0.5 and 3.2 wt% NaCl equiv. (average = 1.9 wt% NaCl equiv.). The initial hydrothermal fluids are characterized by low–intermediate temperature, low‐salinity and near‐neutral pH condition, belonging to a H2O–NaCl bearing hydrothermal system. The mineralization of the Meiling deposit occurred at a shallow crustal level (~0.5 km), and the decrease of temperature was likely an important factor responsible for metal accumulation and deposition in the subvolcanic hydrothermal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is one of the most important agricultural insect pests. Pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides have generally shown excellent control of A. gossypii, but many populations of this pest have developed resistance against these classes of insecticides. The success of insecticide resistance management strategies requires detailed knowledge of both phenotype and genotype of the target insect pest. In this study, we attempted to understand the molecular status of insecticide resistance in cotton aphid populations in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, the major cotton planting region of China. In addition to the previously reported M918L mutation, we discovered another substitution (M918V) in the voltage‐gated sodium channel (VGSC). Moreover, we developed a molecular assay that could be used to detect precisely the R81T mutation in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). This survey revealed that 918L was the predominant VGSC allele with a frequency ranging from 50.0% to 56.7%. Notably, appreciable frequencies (between 10% and 40%) of the resistance 81T allele of the nAChR gene were detected in three investigated populations. The prevalent co‐occurrence of both VGSC 918L/V and nAchR 81T indicates a worrisome situation of multiple resistance to both pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gas Hure Salt Lake (GHSL) in the northwestern Qaidam Basin, western China, is rich in boron (B) resources, but its B‐resource origin is hardly known. Hydrochemical compositions and B isotope characteristics of different waters were collected around the GHSL, including the river water, stream water, spring water, salt‐lake brine, intercrystalline brine, well water, drilling brine, and solar pond brine. The hydrochemical signatures suggest that silicates, carbonates and evaporates are the main B‐bearing rocks during the water dynamic. The reservoir estimation of B resources shows that the Kulamulekesay River (KLMR) and the Atekan River (ATKR) contribute annually 18.3 tons and 22.84 tons of B, respectively, with a total amount of 11.72 × 104 tons of B during the past 5.7 ka. In comparison with the known B reservoir (32.96 × 104 tons) in the GHSL, a significant amount of B in the GHSL was probably recharged from deep fluids and sediments around the GHSL. The B concentration and B‐enrichment degree are shaped by the evaporation process, which are highly elevated at the carnallite and bischofite stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micro‐nano pore structure of conglomerate in the Lower Karamay Formation of the Xinjiang Oilfield, Junggar Basin, northern China is characterized to predict its impact on fluid reserves and seepage. Authigenic clay minerals are mainly kaolinite (67%), followed by an illite/smectite mixed layer (18%), illite (10%), and chlorite (5%). For kaolinite, pore throats between 0–200 nm are dominant, accounting for 90% of the total pore throats. For illite/smectite mixed layer, pore throats also between 0–200 nm account for nearly 80%, while pore throats between 200‐500 nm only account for 15%. For illite, pore throats below 100 nm account for about 80%, while pore throats in the range of 100–500 nm only account for 20%. For chlorite, most throats are below 200 nm. The pore roundness of illite is the highest, while the pore roundness of chlorite is relatively lower. The lower limits of the dynamic and static pore throat radii are 42.128 nm and 72.42 nm, respectively. The theoretical contribution rates of the illite/smectite mixed layer, kaolinite, illite and chlorite to storage/seepage are 60%/45.86%, 52.72%/38.18%, 37.07%/28.78% and 32.97%/26.3%, respectively. Therefore, the contribution rates of clay minerals in the study area are as follows: illite/smectite mixed layer, kaolinite, illite and chlorite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, severe and long duration drought events have serious impacts on northern China. Consequently, this study is motivated by investigating the projection and uncertainties of drought change over northern China based on 20 CMIP5 multi‐model ensemble (AMME) and best multi‐model ensemble (BMME) under middle and high emission scenarios. BMME selected in term of the spatial patterns and interannual variability of aridity index (AI) against the observations shows better performance on the simulation of dryland especially for hyper‐arid areas in Northwest China (NWC) and sub‐humid regions in North China (NC). In the middle of 21st century, the projections from two model ensembles illustrate the aggravation of drought in loess plateau and west of Xinjiang but reduction of acridity over NWC. Northeast China (NEC) becomes more arid under RCP8.5 that is sensitive with the high emission. The uncertainties increase between two model ensembles at the end of 21st century when the opposite trend can be found over NC under RCP4.5 and NEC under RCP8.5, respectively. The increasing rate of precipitation and PET is the key factor for AI change. The larger contribution of precipitation than PET results in the humid tendency over NWC. Moreover, the equivalent contributions of precipitation and PET induce the increased uncertainties in AI change over NC and NEC. Similarly, the temporal evaluation of AI indicates decreasing trend of drought over NWC but the large uncertainties can be found after middle of this century over NEC and in the early of the century over NC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit is located about 200 km northwest of Hami City, the Eastern Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, northwestern China, and is a quartz vein‐type tungsten deposit. Combined fluid inclusion microthermometry, host rock geochemistry, and H–O isotopic compositions are used to constrain the ore genesis and tectonic setting of the Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit. The orebodies occur in granite intrusions adjacent to the metamorphic crystal tuff, which consists of the second lithological section of the first Sub‐Formation of the Dananhu Formation (D2d12). Biotite granite is the most widely distributed intrusive bodies in the Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit. Altered diorite and metamorphic crystal tuff are the main surrounding rocks. The granite belongs to peraluminous A‐type granite with high potassic calc‐alkaline series, and all rocks show light Rare Earth Element (REE)‐enriched patterns. The trace element characters suggest that crystallization differentiation might even occur in the diagenetic process. The granite belongs to postcollisional extension granite, and the rocks formed in an extensional tectonic environment, which might result from magma activity in such an extensional tectonic environment. Tungsten‐bearing quartz veins are divided into gray quartz vein and white quartz veins. Based on petrography observation, fluid inclusions in both kinds of vein quartz are mainly aqueous inclusions. Microthermometry shows that gray quartz veins have 143–354°C of Th, and white quartz veins have 154–312°C of Th. The laser‐Raman test shows that CO2 is found in fluid inclusions of the tungsten‐bearing quartz veins. Quadrupole mass spectrometry reveals that fluid inclusions contain major vapor‐phase contents of CO2, H2O. Meanwhile, fluid inclusions contain major liquid‐phase contents of Cl−, Na+. It can be speculated that the ore‐forming fluid of the Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit is characterized by an H2O–CO2, low salinity, and H2O–CO2–NaCl system. The range of hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions indicated that the ore‐forming fluids of the tungsten deposit were mainly magmatic water. The ore‐forming age of the Xiaojiashan deposit should to be ~227 Ma. During the ore‐forming process, the magmatic water had separated from magmatic intrusions, and the ore‐bearing complex was taken to a portion where tungsten‐bearing ores could be mineralized. The magmatic fluid was mixed by meteoric water in the late stage. The Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit is located about 200 km northwest of Hami City, Eastern Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, northwestern China and is a quartz vein‐type tungsten deposit. In this contribution, we report new results obtained from ore geology research, fluid inclusion and H–O stable studies for the Xiaojiashan deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Diversification is routinely promoted to improve poor rural peoples' livelihoods. However, policy recommendations for livelihood diversification based on evidence from crop-cultivating sedentary rural societies may not work for mobile pastoral communities, where socio-ecological conditions predetermine livestock herding as the preferred livelihood strategy. Using survey and semi-structured interview data collected from 159 households in the Altay and Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, China, this study applies cluster analysis to identify six distinct groups based on livelihood strategies: pastoralists, agropastoralists, crop farmers, wage labourers, hired herders and mixed smallholders. Although pastoralism is the least diverse of these in terms of sources of income, it is significantly more diverse in ecological dimensions such as spatial movement, land use pattern and livestock portfolio. Patterns of livelihood diversification and their relationship with household incomes indicate that pastoralism, although preferred, is unattainable for 55 per cent of households given their meagre asset endowments and the pressure of government policies toward sedentarization. The results strongly suggest that livelihood diversification does not improve welfare for pastoral households. Future development interventions should promote policies that enable households to regain flexible access to pastures and should aim to correct the imbalance of opportunities that exists in northern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Uyghur Muslims community in China's autonomous territory of Xinjiang. It discusses the terrorists attacks in Xinjiang as inspired by the Islamist organizations Taliban and Al-Qaeda. It looks at the possibility of Palestinization of the Uyghur conflict as reflected through the book "My West China: Your East Turkestan" by Chinese dissident Wang Lixiong due to the policy of repression, restriction, and investment by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949.

Visible food remains can provide evidence regarding ancient food processing, the spread of cereals and cultural communication. Some desiccated food remains were discovered in the Yanghai Tombs, Turpan district, in Xinjiang, China (2600-2900 BP). These food remains were analysed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy combined with plant microfossils, including starch grains and cross cells of pericarp from the cereal bran fragments. The results showed that these food remains were cooked dough food made from wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum spp.). The cross-sections of these remains look very dense, not porous under a microscope, which suggests that no fermentation had happened, so these foodstuffs may be some kind of flatbread. Although wheat and barley had been introduced into China by at least the third millennium BC, these remains are still the earliest known direct evidence that wheat and barley were ground into flour and then processed as foodstuffs in north-western China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the wilt disease of Amygdalus communis caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae in the Xinjiang municipality in China. The inclusion of wilts of leaves and twigs, and the brownish discoloration of vascular tissues characterized the disease. A verticillium sp. was isolated from the woody part of diseased branches on the potato dextrose agar (PDA) producing dark colonies. Verticillium dahliae was identified based on the morphological characteristics obtained. The fungus was previously recorded in the Xinjiang municipality and other provinces in china that infects many plants, but the V. dahliae associated with wilt of A. communis was first reported.

The article focuses on the Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) which is recently observed from hop in Xinjiang, China. Its previous detection in grapevine, peach, plum, apricot and citrus in China has led to the study of its distribution. Along the study, extracted RNA from the hop leaf samples of different varieties that were gathered from commercial hop field in Changji districts of Xinjiang, China, were subjected to dot blot hybridization. The result of the study is discussed. It is noted that future investigation will focus on clarifying whether the varied infection rate of the hop leaf samples are correlated with possible levels of resistance.

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Two genera new to China, Fibigia and Pachyneurum and 10 species found in China for the first time, Puccinellia kalininae, Stellaria pulvinata, Nanophyton mongolicum, Capsella orienalis, Pachyneurum grandiflorum, Fibigia spathulata, Craniospermum tuvinicum, Euphrasia schischkinii, E. syreitschikovii, Veronica schmakovii along with 3 species previously unknown in Xinjiang, Rorippa indica, Acalypha australis, and Phalaris canariensis, found in northwest Xinjiang are reported. In addition, the distribution of two species in China is corrected: Lepidium densiflorum is firstly reported for Nei Mongol while the occurrence of Draba sibirica in Gansu is not confirmed. Results of floristic studies by the Chinese-Russian Altai expedition during 2004-2007 are also summarized including 34 species and 1 subspecies revealed as new for China; 7 species confirmed to occur in China; one genus and 5 species not confirmed for China, as well as a number of new records for various provinces, mostly Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 21 March 2008, a Ms7.3 earthquake occurred at Quickbird, Yutian County, Xinjiang. We attempt to reveal the features of the causative fault of this shock and its coseismic deformation field. Our work is based on analysis and interpretation to high-resolution satellite images as well as differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR) data from the satellite Envisat SAR, coupled with seismicity, focal mechanism solutions and active tectonics in this region. The result shows that the 40 km-long, nearly NS trending surface rupture zone by this event lies on a range-front alluvial platform in Qira County. It is characterized by distinct linear traces and simple structure with 1-3-m-wide individual seams and maximum 6.5 m width of a collapse fracture. Along the rupture zone many secondary fractures and fault-bounded blocks are seen, exhibiting remarkable extension. The coseismic deformation affected a large area 100 × 100 km2. D-InSAR analysis indicates that the interferometric deformation field is dominated by extensional faulting with a small strike-slip component. Along the causative fault, the western wall fell down and the eastern wall, that is the active unit, rose up, both with westerly vergence. Because of the big deformation gradients near the seismogenic fault, no interference fringes are seen on images, and what can be determined is a vertical displacement 70 cm or more between the two fault walls. According to the epicenter and differential occurrence times from the National Earthquake Information Center, China Earthquake Network Center, Harvard and USGS, it is suggested that the seismic fault ruptured from north to south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigated the taxonomy and morphology of Xinjiang Middle Devonian Colpodexylon from Xinjiang, China. It was found that the morphology and measurements of Colpodexylon gracilentum and Colpodexylon laminatum erected by Y. W. Dou in 1983 are almost identical. Specimens are preserved in green yellow muddy siltstone and sandstone. Descriptions of the specimens are offered. A neotype is designed for Colpodexylon gracilentum.

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Ostracod shells in surface sediments from Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang, China) belong mainly to Limnocythere inopinata as the dominant species, and Candona neglecta and Darwinula stevensoni as accompanying, less abundant taxa. Shells of an additional nine species were recorded only sporadically. The three most abundant ostracods have wide tolerance ranges in terms of salinity, substrate and water depth. The similarly recorded bivalve Pisidium subtruncatum, and the gastropods Gyraulus chinensis and Radix auricularia belong to the most tolerant representatives of the genera. The bivalve and gastropods, in addition to the ostracod assemblage, reflect the fact that Ulungur Lake has experienced strong lake level and salinity variations due to water withdrawal in the catchment and the counteracting diversion of river waters to the lake in recent decades. The substrate in Ulungur Lake is typically fine-grained, apart from the delta region of the Ulungur River channel, which is marked by relatively coarse-grained detrital sediments barren of ostracod shells. This channel was created 40 years ago to divert water to Ulungur Lake and support its local fisheries and recreational facilities. A reassessed Holocene ostracod record from the lake shows that a significantly higher salinity and lower lake level existed in the early Holocene before 6.0 ka in response to the regional climate. In contrast, a higher lake level and lowest salinity is inferred for the late Holocene period between ca. 3.6 and 1.3 ka before present. Afterwards, the lake level declined and salinity increased in response to regional moisture reduction, although conditions similar to the early Holocene lake status were not re-established. Our surface-sediment-derived data provide a baseline for analysis of future environmental variations due to global climate change and regional water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WSINV3DMT code makes the implementation of 3D inversion of magnetotelluric data feasible using a single PC. Audio-magnetotelluric data were collected along two profiles in a Cu-Ni mining area in Xinjiang, China, where the apparent resistivity and phase curves, the phase tensors and the magnetic induction vectors indicate a complex 3D conductivity structure. 3D inversions were carried out to reveal the electrical structure of the area. The final 3D model is selected from the inversion results using different initial Lagrange values and steps. The relatively low root-mean-square (rms) misfit and model norm indicate a reliable electrical model. The final model includes four types of low resistivity areas, the first ones coincide with the known location of an orebody and further forward modelling indicates that they are not in full connectivity to form a low resistivity zone. The second ones are not controlled by magnetotelluric sites and embody little information of the observed data, they are considered as tedious structures. The third one is near to the regional Kangguer fault and should be treated carefully considering the effect of the fault. The last ones are isolated and existing at a limited level as the first ones, they should be paid more attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kuoerzhenkuola gold deposit is located in the Sawur gold belt in Xinjiang, China. An integrated geological, geochemical and geophysical investigation was carried out in the Kuoerzhenkuola gold deposit, to determine the extension of the principal mineralized system, in the search for new resources. Re-examination of the rocks and structures in the Kuoerzhenkuola area showed that the study area features an elliptical caldera where the gold deposit lies. A re-investigation of the mine geology found that the mineralization at the Kuoerzhenkuola gold deposit is not controlled by the EW-striking regional fault as previously assumed, but by a caldera fracture system locally superimposed by regional faults; the host rocks are andesites and dacites of the Carboniferous Heishantou Group rather than the crypto-explosive breccia of the Devonian Sawurshan Group. Gas components of fluid inclusions from quartz, trace element chemistry of pyrite and fluid inclusions in pyrite, Pb isotopes of pyrite, and whole-rock geochemistry and Pb isotopes of the country rocks are used to study the source of fluids at Kuoerzhenkuola gold deposit. The ore-forming fluids are characterized by low–moderate temperatures and low salinities estimated from fluid inclusion microthermometry. Quadrupole mass spectrometry indicated a CO2-bearing fluid. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry of the fluid inclusions indicated high Cu (average 70 ppm) for the Au mineralization, whereas the host rocks have low Cu (average 33 ppm), indicating that Cu of the ore-forming fluids originated from magmatic fluid rather than the volcanic rocks. Pb isotopes of ores and host volcanic rocks indicate a similar, mixed source and some Pb could be sourced from the volcanism. This implied that magmatic fluids could play an important role in the Au mineralization process. These new geological findings and the fluids derived mainly from the magmatic fluids suggest that the ore-forming fluids originate at depth, and are transported and precipitated within the caldera fracture system. Thus, we proposed a conceptual target area at depth. A detailed Stratagem EH4 measurement was carried out to test the validity of the conceptual target. Stratagem EH4 soundings over six parallel traverses perpendicular to the mineralized trend showed that the caldera fracture system could extend for approximately 900 m in the dip direction at the center of the caldera, an indication of the presence of potential deep mineralization under the surveyed area. Detailed modeling of the Stratagem EH4 sounding images provided well-defined targets for test drilling. Subsequent test drilling on one of these targets, which extends down 850 m at an angle of 87°, returned encouraging results because four core-intercepts of gold ore bodies at down-hole depths of 40.5–42.0 m, 70.5–73.5 m, 357.0–358.5 m, and 384.5–385.5 m and a long interval gold mineralized body (0–720 m) were encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the degree of congruence between state land tenure policy and small-group common property arrangements among Kazak pastoralists in Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region in China. Concepts of synergy and co-management of natural resources; Historical perspective on the relationships between state, pastoral society and land tenure; Decollectivisation process.