Journal of Earth Science

CONTENTS

2016, 27(5): .

[Abstract](11) [PDF 175KB](3)

Abstract:

Effects of crustal eclogitization on plate subduction/collision dynamics: Implications for India-Asia collision

Pengpeng Huangfu, Yuejun Wang, Zhonghai Li, Weiming Fan, Yan Zhang

2016, 27(5): 727-739. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0701-9

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2D thermo-mechanical models are constructed to investigate the effects of oceanic and continental crustal eclogitization on plate dynamics at three successive stages of oceanic subduction, slab breakoff, and continental subduction. Crustal eclogitization directly increases the average slab density and accordingly the slab pull force, which makes the slab subduct deeply and steeply. Numerical results demonstrate that the duration time from initial continental collision to slab breakoff largely depends on the slab pull force. Specifically, eclogitization of subducted crust can greatly decrease the duration time, but increase the breakoff depth. The detachment of oceanic slab from the pro-continental lithosphere is accompanied with obvious exhumation of the subducted continental crust and a sharp uplift of the collision zone in response to the disappearance of downward drag force and the induced asthenospheric upwelling, especially under the condition of no or incomplete crustal eclogitization. During continental subduction, the slab dip angle is strongly correlated with eclogitization of subducted continental lower crust, which regulates the slab buoyancy nature. Our model results can provide several important implications for the Himalayan-Tibetan collision zone. For example, it is possible that the lateral variations in the degree of eclogitization of the subducted Indian crust might to some extent contribute to the lateral variations of subduction angle along the Himalayan orogenic belt. Moreover, the accumulation of highly radiogenic sediments and upper continental crustal materials at the active margin in combination with the strong shear heating due to continuous continental subduction together cause rising of isotherms in the accretionary wedge, which facilitate the development of crustal partial melting and metamorphism.

Sulfur- and lead-isotope geochemistry of the Balugou Cu-Pb-Zn skarn deposit in the Wulonggou area in the eastern Kunlun Orogen, NW China

Qingfeng Ding, Wei Yan, Benlong Zhang

2016, 27(5): 740-750. doi: 10.1007/s12583-015-0574-3

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The small-scale Balugou Cu-Pb-Zn skarn deposit (45 298 tonnages of ore at 0.1% to 3.99% Cu, 0.20% to 0.43% Pb and 0.76% to 10.92% Zn) is located in the Wulonggou area in the eastern Kunlun orogen, NW China. Ore deposition is spatially and temporally related with the pre-collisional Anisian Balugou granites (~244 Ma). The mineralization hosted by the contact between marble beds within the Paleo-Proterozoic Jinshuikou Group and Balugou granites, was structurally and lithologically controlled. The mineralogy of the Balugou deposit includes an early simple skarn mineral gangue (epidote with little diopside) and a late complicated quartz sulfide assemblage (pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, bornite, quartz, carbonate and chlorite). The δ³⁴S values of eighteen sulfides range from -2.1‰ to +2.8 ‰, with an average of +0.07‰, and the calculated δ³⁴S_H2S values for H₂S in hydrothermal fluids range from -3.2‰ to +2.4‰, with an average of +0.03‰, suggesting a relatively homogeneous magmatic (±mantle) source, with sulfur produced directly by the Balugou granites. The sixteen sulfides have ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios from 18.367 4 to 18.384 1, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios from 15.634 6 to 15.641 5, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios from 38.455 5 to 38.485 0, which are close to those of K-feldspars from the Balugou granites, but are far away from age-corrected lead isotopic ratios of six wall-rock samples. So it was considered that the Pb sources of sulfides must be almost derived from the Balugou granites rather than the older wall-rocks. Collectively, it's suggested that the Balugou Cu-Pb-Zn deposit belongs to skarn deposit, and the sulfur and lead deposited in it were leached from the Anisian Balugou granites.

Geochemistry of Middle Holocene sediments from south Yellow Sea: Implications to provenance and climate change

Xiaoxia Lü, Gerard J. M. Versteegh, Jinming Song, Xuegang Li, Huamao Yuan, Ning Li

2016, 27(5): 751-762. doi: 10.1007/s12583-015-0577-0

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From a large number of case studies on terrestrial deposits we know that Late Holocene climate fluctuations have an important impact on the terrestrial environments. However, it is hitherto not clear how the marine sediments can be used to shed light on the environment and climate change of the catchment. To provide such insight, we used the major element, trace element and rare earth element (REE) compositions in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) sediments to reconstruct the changes in weathering and erosion of their source regions. The sediments originate predominantly from the upper crust of East China and are transported into the basin especially by the Yellow River (Huanghe) and to a lesser extent by the Yangtze River (Changjiang). The chemical index of alteration (CIA; 53.7-59.7) suggests low chemical weathering of the source rocks since the Middle Holocene. This is consistent with the relatively cool and arid climate in North China after the Holocene Megathermal. Comparison of element ratios, including Al/Ca, K/Ca, Al/Na, K/Na, Rb/Sr, Li/Ba and the CIA shows that we can use the latter as a robust proxy for climate change. The CIA-based mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature show a series of climate fluctuations in the catchment. A relatively warm and humid Period Ⅰ (5.3-2.9 cal. ka BP), a relatively cool and dry Period Ⅱ (2.9-0.9 cal. ka BP) and an increasingly cool and dry Period Ⅲ (0.9-0.3 cal. ka BP). These periods can be linked to climate intervals recognized elsewhere.

Geochemical characteristics of selenium and its correlation to other elements and minerals in selenium-enriched rocks in Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China

Huan Tian, Zhenzhen Ma, Xiaolei Chen, Hongyu Zhang, Zhengyu Bao, Changhua Wei, Shuyun Xie, Shitou Wu

2016, 27(5): 763-776. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0700-x

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Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China is a world known selenium (Se)-enriched area, and a severe selenosis incident was reported in Naore Village during the 1990s. This study investigated the geochemical characteristics of Se and its fractions in Se-enriched rocks from Ziyang. Se distribution is uneven, ranging from 0.23 to 57.00 μg/g (17.29±15.52 μg/g). Se content is higher in slate than chert, and even lower in carbonate rocks. Cd, As and Ⅴ are enriched but Pb is depleted in Se-enriched strata. Se has different correlations both with TS (total sulfur) (R²=0.59 for chert) and TC (total carbon) (R²=0.77 for slate, R²=0.87 for carbonate). Se has significant positive correlations with Ⅴ (r=0.65), As (r=0.485), Cd (r=0.459) and Pb (r=0.405). The Se level correlates with mineral content, positively with pyrite, chlorite and illite, negatively with albite. Se associated with sulfide/selenide and elemental Se are the predominant fractions of total recovered Se, suggesting that a reducing environment and the formation of sulfides were significant to Se deposition during its geochemical cycle. Although low concentration of bio-available Se (average 5.62%±3.69%) may reduce the risk of Se poisoning in the target area, utilization of Se-rich rock as natural fertilizer should be restricted.

The grid search algorithm of tectonic stress tensor based on focal mechanism data and its application in the boundary zone of China, Vietnam and Laos

Yongge Wan, Shuzhong Sheng, Jichao Huang, Xiang Li, Xin Chen

2016, 27(5): 777-785. doi: 10.1007/s12583-015-0649-1

[Abstract](442) [FullText HTML] (99) [PDF 2000KB](97)

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Stress field plays a key role in geodynamics. In this study, an algorithm to determine the stress tensor and its confidence range from focal mechanism data by using grid search method was proposed. The experiment uses artificial focal mechanism data which were generated by extensional, compression and strike-slip stress regime and different level of noise, shows that the precision of the estimated stress tensor based on this algorithm is greatly improved compared with traditional algorithms. This algorithm has three advantages: (1) The global optimal solution of the stress tensor is determined by fine grid search of 1º×1º×1º×0.01 and local minimum value is avoided; (2) precision of focal mechanism data can be considered, i.e., different weight of the focal mechanism data contributes differently to the process of determining stress tensor; (3) the confidence range of the determined stress tensor can be obtained by using F-test. We apply this algorithm in the boundary zone of China, Vietnam and Laos, and obtain the stress field with SSE-NNW compressive stress direction and NEE-SWW extensional stress direction. The stress ratio is 0.6, which shows that the eigen values of the stress tensor are nearly in arithmetic sequence. The stress field in this region is consistent with the left-lateral strike slip of the Dienbien-Lauangphrabang arc fault. The result will be helpful in studying the geological dynamic process in this region.

Investigation for uranium dispersion adjacent to cretaceous phosphatic outcrops in Al-Nassrieh Basin, southern Palmyrides, Syria

Mohamed Al-Hilal, Ahmad Al-Ali

2016, 27(5): 786-795. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0916-9

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A detailed radiometric survey including soil gas radon measurements and field gammaray survey, in accordance with geochemical and geological investigations were carried out in Al-Nassrieh Basin (central Syria), for the purpose of uranium exploration. Thirty-six samples were collected from various lithofacies of the survey area and analyzed by γ-ray spectrometric technique for determining the concentration values of major radioelements. The relationships between the concentrations of equivalent eU, eTh, and their ratios were examined in order to define their trend of variations and evaluate the degree of uranium remobilization and redistribution. Although the initial results indicate that uranium enrichment is mostly restricted to the Upper Cretaceous phosphate rocks, a considerable portion of uranium appeared to be leached out of the primary phosphatic source and dispersed in the adjacent recent sediments. Further, notable increases of radon level associated with relatively high values of uranium concentration and gamma count rates were found to be spatially correlated with the transition zone between the marine Paleogene and continental Neogene formations throughout the study basin. This observation demonstrates the importance of the concerned zone as a suitable geological environment for hosting probable uranium mineralization along a chemically reducing interface where surface water of terrestrial and marine origin mingled at depth and away from surficial conditions.

Paleogeothermal reconstruction and thermal evolution modeling of source rocks in the Puguang gas field, northeastern Sichuan Basin

Chuanqing Zhu, Nansheng Qiu, Huanyu Cao, Song Rao, Shengbiao Hu

2016, 27(5): 796-806. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0909-8

[Abstract](554) [FullText HTML] (111) [PDF 1997KB](94)

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The thermal history and organic matter maturity evolution of the source rocks of boreholes in the Puguang gas field were reconstructed. An integrated approach based on vitrinite reflectance and apatite fission track data was used in the reconstruction. Accordingly, the geothermal conditions of gas accumulation were discussed in terms of the geological features of reservoirs in the northeastern Sichuan Basin. The strata reached their maximum burial depth in the Late Cretaceous era and were then uplifted and denuded continuously to the present day. The geothermal gradient and heat flow in the Late Cretaceous era were approximately 30.0 ℃/km and 66 mW/m², respectively, which were both higher than those at present. The tectonothermal evolution from the Late Cretaceous era to the present is characterized by denudation and cooling processes with an erosion thickness of ~2.7 km. In addition to the Triassic era, the Jurassic era represents an important hydrocarbon generation period for both Silurian and Permian source rocks, and the organic matter maturity of these source rocks entered into a dry gas period after oil generation. The thermal conditions are advantageous to the accumulation of conventional and unconventional gas because the hydrocarbon generation process of the source rocks occurs after the formation of an effective reservoir cap. In particular, the high geothermal gradient and increasing temperature before the denudation in the Late Cretaceous era facilitated the generation of hydrocarbons, and the subsequent cooling process favored its storage.

Sedimentary facies of marine shale gas formations in Southern China: The Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the southern Sichuan Basin

Yizhen Li, Xingzhi Wang, Bin Wu, Guoqin Li, Dule Wang

2016, 27(5): 807-822. doi: 10.1007/s12583-015-0592-1

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Sedimentary facies is an important factor influencing shale gas accumulation. It not only controlls hydrocarbon generation, but also affects reservoir characteristics and distribution. This paper discusses the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the south of the Sichuan Basin. Outcrop, core, drilling and logging data identify the sedimentary facies of the formation as continental shelf facies, which is divided into two subfacies: an inner shelf and an outer shelf subfacies. These two subfacies can be further divided into seven microfacies: muddy silty shallow shelf, calcareous silty shallow shelf, muddy limy shallow shelf, storm flow, muddy deep shelf, silty muddy deep shelf and contour current microfacies. Vertical and horizontal distribution of microfacies establishes a sedimentation model of the continental shelf facies. Combined with analization or calculation of geochemical, mineralogical, physical and gas-bearing properties of samples, sedimentary microfacies is evaluated using nine parameters: total organic carbon content, effective shale continuous thickness, vitrinite reflectance, kerogen type, mineral components, porosity, permeability, water saturation and gas content. The evaluation revealed that the most favorable facies for shale gas exploration and development are the muddy deep shelf and part of the silty muddy deep shelf microfacies, with TOC more than 2%, siliceous component over 50%, clay less than 30%, porosity more than 3%, water saturation lower than 40%, gas content greater than 2 m ³/t. These results provide a theoretical basis for deciston-making on the most promising areas for shale gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin and for marine shale gas exploration and development in South China.

Sedimentary characterization of the Upper Paleozoic coal-bearing tight sand strata, Daniudi Gas Field, Ordos Basin, China

Wei Du, Zaixing Jiang, Qing Li, Ying Zhang

2016, 27(5): 823-834. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0705-5

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The coal-bearing strata of the Upper Paleozoic (from the Taiyuan Formation to the lower member of the Shanxi Formation) are the most important units that have high gas production in the Daniudi gas field, which is a typical tight-sandstone reservoir with high heterogeneity in the Ordos Basin, China. Based on an integrated investigation of well logs, cores, SEM and 3-D seismic data, we delineated the sedimentary facies of the coal-bearing strata and divided the succession into sequenced stratigraphic units of different depositional systems. A sedimentary hiatus was documented for the first time in the study area and forms the sequence boundary between the Lower Pennsylvanian Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation (Ct₁) and the Upper Pennsylvanian Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation (Ct₂). The coal-bearing strata in Ct₁ are indicative of a barrier coastal deposition system. Tidal channels are identified by their fine-grained, cross-stratified character. The sands in the tidal channels are well sorted, and the quartz content is above 95%. The coalbed located beside the sandstone is thought to be a lagoon. Gas-bearing, coarse-grained sandstone in the coal-bearing strata spanning from the Ct₂ to the lower members of the Shanxi Formation (P₁ s) is interpreted as a fluvial-dominated braided delta that is divided into four third-order sequences. The coal-bearing strata are composed of sandstone, mudstone and coalbed from base to top in each sequence. Braided-river deposits form the lowstand system tract (LST) within each sequence. A shelf and lake depositional environment containing dark gray mudstone forms the transgressive systems tract (TST). The highstand systems tract (HST) deposits form the swamp coalbed in each sequence.

Multi-stage hydrocarbon accumulation and formation pressure evolution in Sinian Dengying Formation-Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation, Gaoshiti-Moxi structure, Sichuan Basin

Juan Wu, Shugen Liu, Guozhi Wang, Yihua Zhao, Wei Sun, Jinming Song, Yanhong Tian

2016, 27(5): 835-845. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0706-4

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Sichuan Basin is a typical superimposed basin, which experienced multi-phase tectonic movements, meanwhile Sinian–Cambrian underwent complex hydrocarbon accumulation processes, causing exploration difficulties in the past 60 years. Based on the microscopic evidence of fluid inclusions, combined with basin-modelling, this paper determines stages and time of hydrocarbon accumulation, reconstructs evolution of formation pressure and dynamic processes of hydrocarbon accumulation in Sinian Dengying Formation-Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation of Gaoshiti-Moxi structure. Three stages of inclusions are detected, including a stage of yellow-yellowgreen fluorescent oil inclusions, a stage of blue fluorescent oil-gas inclusions and a stage of non-fluorescent gas inclusions, reflecting the study area has experienced a series of complex hydrocarbon accumulation processes, such as formation of paleo-oil reservoirs, cracking of crude oil, formation of paleo-gas reservoirs and adjustment to present gas reservoirs, which occurred during 219–188, 192–146 and 168–0 Ma respectively. During the period of crude oil cracking, Dengying Formation-Longwangmiao Formation showed weak overpressure to overpressure characteristics, then after adjustment of paleo-gas reservoirs to present gas reservoirs, the pressure in Dengying Formation changed into overpressure but finally reduced to normal pressure system. However, due to excellent preservation conditions, the overpressure strength in Longwangmiao Formation only slightly decreased and was still kept to this day.

Geochemical characteristics and accumulated process of heavy crude oil of Chunguang oilfield in Junggar Basin, China

Yuanfang Fan, Lianfu Mei, Hongjun Liu

2016, 27(5): 846-855. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0703-7

[Abstract](620) [FullText HTML] (122) [PDF 3944KB](131)

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Chunguang oilfield is a new focus of the exploration in Junnggar Basin with the heavy crude oil distributing in Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary strata. Based on the analysis of the geochemistry and fluid inclusion in the reservoirs, the source, accumulated period and process of the heavy crude oil reservoir has been investigated. The results indicate that the heavy crude oil can be divided into three types based on the degradation and sources. The heavy crude oil was mainly derived from the Permian source rocks, and latterly mixed by the heavy crude oil generated by the Jurassic source rocks. The accumulated period of the heavy crude oil has two stages. One was ranged from Cretaceous to Paleogene and the heavy crude oil was sourced from Permian source rocks of the Shawan depression and latterly mixed by the heavy crude oil generated by the Jurassic source rocks. The second period was from Neogene to present and the heavy crude oil was mainly derived from the Jurassic source rocks. Combined with the geological evolution, the heavy crude oil accumulated process has been recovered.

Effect on the performance of drilling fluids at downhole rock surfaces at low temperatures

Mingming Zheng, Guosheng Jiang, Tianle Liu, Fulong Ning, Ling Zhang, V. F. Chikhotkin

2016, 27(5): 856-863. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0719-z

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To maintain gas hydrate stability, low-temperature drilling fluids and high drilling speeds should be used while drilling in gas hydrate-bearing sediments. The effect of the drilling fluid on downhole rock surfaces at low temperatures is very important to increase the drilling rate. This paper analyzed the action mechanism of the drilling fluid on downhole rock surfaces and established a corresponding evaluation method. The softening effect of six simulated drilling fluids with 0.1 wt.% of four common surfactants and two common organic salts on the downhole rock surface strength was evaluated experimentally using the established method at low temperature. The experimental results showed that the surfactants and organic salts used in the drilling fluids aided in the reduction of the strength of the downhole rock surface, and the established evaluation method was able to quantitatively reveal the difference in the softening effect of the different drilling fluids through comparison with water. In particular, the most common surfactant that is used in drilling fluids, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), had a very good softening effect while drilling under low-temperature conditions, which can be widely applied during drilling in low-temperature formations, such as natural gas hydrate-bearing sediments, the deep seafloor and permafrost.

Decoupled Ce-Nd isotopic systematics of the Neoproterozoic Huangling intrusive complex and its geological significance, eastern Three Gorges, South China

Yongjuan Gao, Wenli Ling, Xiaofei Qiu, Ziwan Chen, Shansong Lu, Xiao Bai, Xiujuan Bai, Junbo Zhang, Hongmei Yang, Ruichun Duan

2016, 27(5): 864-873. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0692-6

[Abstract](679) [FullText HTML] (110) [PDF 998KB](252)

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Cerium is one of multivalent rear earth elements, which can transfer from trivalence to tretavalence at oxidizing environment. This process may cause variable degrees of fractionation of Ce from other trivalent rear earth elements, and thus may provide specific insight into the geological processes associated with marked redoxomorphism. Multiple geochemical tracing of Sr-Nd-Ce isotopes are performed on the felsic and mafic intrusives of the Neoproterozoic (~800 Ma) Huangling complex located at the eastern Three Gorges, South China. The intrusive rocks exclusively show various extents of negative Ce anomalies. On the ε_Ce-ε_Nd plot, most samples from the mafic intrusions scatter within the second quadrant, whereas those from the felsic intrusions within the fourth Quadrant. Both of the two groups exhibit relatively large range of ε_Ce(t) variation but limited ε_Nd(t) range, which cause a deviation from the "crustal array" and reveal a decoupled Nd-Ce isotope correlation. The intermediate-felsic suite have varied Ce/Ce^* ratios but broadly proximate ε_Ce(t) values, indicating that their negative Ce anomalies were generated during the magmatism; on the contrary, a positive correlation betweenε_Ce(t) and Ce/Ce^* is observed for the intermediate-mafic suite, an indication of an origin of post-magmatic alteration or metamorphism for their Ce anomalies. Calculation of model age, the occurrence age of negative Ce anomalies (T_Ce) for the intermediate-mafic samples infers that the alteration events took place > 350 Ma. Data showed that negative Ce anomalies of the felsic intrusions may reflect an increase of oxygen fugacity during magma ascending, rather than an inheritance from their source rocks. This explanation implies that the Neoproterozoic magmatism occurred at the continental nucleus of the Yangtze block were developing at a geodynamic context of rapidly regional uplifting.

Late Pleistocene calcretes from Central Anatolia (Lakes Eymir and Mogan, Gölbaşı Basin): Comparison to quaternary calcretes from Turkey

Ceren Küçükuysal

2016, 27(5): 874-882. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0900-4

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This study is the first to report the radiocarbon ages, mineralogical, morphological, geochemical and stable isotope compositions of calcretes from Neogene sediments around lakes Eymir and Mogan in the Gölbaşı Basin of Central Anatolia. Morphologically different forms of calcretes in the Gölbaşı Basin include powdery, nodular, fracture infill, laminar and hardpan types. Calcite is the dominant mineral of calcrete compositions; the diagnostic features of dessication cracks, random fractures, MnO linings and dense sparitic infillings are observed. Chemical analyses show arid conditions with mean annual precipitation of < 50 mm. δ ¹³C compositions of the calcretes range from -6.77‰ to -9.32‰ PDB, typical for most pedogenic calcretes, reflecting the development under seasonally arid climates and C3-dominated vegetation cover. δ¹⁸O values are between -5.57‰ and - 7.80‰ PDB, indicating the formation from meteoric water in a vadose zone environment. The results suggest that the Middle Pleistocene was arider and warmer, favouring the formation of palygorskite in association with the different forms of calcrete occurrences, whereas the Late Pleistocene was dryer and cooler, supporting the development of calcretes.

Occurrence of Persea Mill. from the Siwalik forest of Darjeeling, eastern Himalaya: Paleoclimatic and paleogeographic implications

Mahasin Ali Khan, Subir Bera

2016, 27(5): 883-890. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0902-2

[Abstract](744) [FullText HTML] (144) [PDF 2433KB](144)

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Fossil leaf remains of two new species of Persea Mill., belonging to the family Lauraceae collected from the lower part of the Siwalik sediments (Gish Clay Formation of Sevok Group, Middle Miocene) of Darjeeling foothills of eastern Himalaya, are described. The new species arePersea miogamblei sp. nov. and Persea neovillosa sp. nov.. On the basis of leaf architecture (size, shape and venation pattern) fossil leaves described in this article closely resemble modern leaves of Persea gamblei (King ex Hook. f.) Kosterm. and Persea villosa (Roxb.) Kosterm.. The geographic distribution of the fossils and their modern counterparts are discussed and on that basis tropical evergreen vegetation with a warm and humid climate at the time of deposition of the Siwalik sediments is suggested in contrast to the present day tropical deciduous vegetation in this area. The present finding also suggests probable migration of these lauraceous taxa to Southeast Asia.

Leaching behavior of trace elements in coal spoils from Yangquan coal mine, Northern China

Xubo Gao, Mo Xu, Qinhong Hu, Yanxin Wang

2016, 27(5): 891-900. doi: 10.1007/s12583-016-0720-6

[Abstract](709) [FullText HTML] (227) [PDF 1397KB](311)

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The long-term dumping of coal waste piles has caused serious environmental problems. Release of trace elements (including rare earth elements, REEs) from coal spoils gobs was investigated at Yangquan coal mine, Shanxi Province, China. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the mineral composition of the coal spoils. The minerals of the coal-spoil samples are mainly kaolinite and quartz, with a minor proportion of pyrite. The batch and column tests were employed to simulate the leaching behavior of trace elements from coal spoils. Elements V, Cr, Zn, As, Pb, and Cd are highly enriched in all coal spoils. The coal spoils also have elevated levels of Ga, Ge, Se, Sn, Hf, and Th. The leachate of coal spoils, fried coal spoils and CSFGM (coal spoils fire gas mineral) samples are acidic, with the pH values ranging between 3.0 and 6.6. The released elements with high concentrations (over 100 μg/L) include Fe, Mn, Co, Ni and Zn, while moderately-released elements are Cu, Se, Mo and As. A high content of heavy metals in batch-test leachate with CSFGM indicates an increased mobility of heavy metals in coal spoil combustion byproduct. Within the first hour washing with the electrolyte solution, a rapid rise of common cations, trace elements, and REEs content, as well as a drop of pH value, in effluent was observed. An increased leaching velocity favors the release of trace elements from coal spoils. In addition, the pulse input of precipitation led to more elements to be released than continuous leaching.

2016 Vol. 27, No. 5

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