Isotopic feature and uranium dating of the volcanic rocks in the Okinawa Trough

Volcanic rocks from the northern and middle Okinawa Trough were dated by uranium-series dating method. Differential fractions using magnetic procedure were designed to separate samples. New report on the ages and isotopic data of rocks in the northern trough (especially black pumice) was discussed. Based on the uranium dates and Sr-Nd isotopic ratio, magmatic evolution process of the Okinawa Trough was noted. Firstly, there have been wide silicic volcanic activities in the Okinawa Trough from late Pleistocene to present, and the volcanic rocks can be divided into three subgroups. Secondly, magma generally came from PREMA source area under the Okinawa Trough. Magmatic evolution in the northern trough was similar to the middle, but different to the south. Finally, volcanic activities indicated that opening of the southern Okinawa Trough did not happen due to the collision between Luson Arc and Eurasian Plate until the early Pleistocene.

The unique skeleton of siliceous sponges (Porifera; Hexactinellida and Demospongiae) that evolved first from the Urmetazoa during the Proterozoic: a review

Sponges (phylum Porifera) had been considered as an enigmatic phylum, prior to the analysis of their genetic repertoire/tool kit. Already with the isolation of the first adhesion molecule, galectin, it became clear that the sequences of sponge cell surface receptors and of molecules forming the intracellular signal transduction pathways triggered by them, share high similarity with those identified in other metazoan phyla. These studies demonstrated that all metazoan phyla, including Porifera, originate from one common ancestor, the Urmetazoa. The sponges evolved prior to the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary (542 million years ago [myr]) during two major "snowball earth events", the Sturtian glaciation (710 to 680 myr) and the Varanger-Marinoan ice ages (605 to 585 myr). During this period the ocean was richer in silica due to the silicate weathering. The oldest sponge fossils (Hexactinellida) have been described from Australia, China and Mongolia and are thought to have existed coeval with the diverse Ediacara fauna. Only little younger are the fossils discovered in the Sansha section in Hunan (Early Cambrian; China). It has been proposed that only the sponges possessed the genetic repertoire to cope with the adverse conditions, e.g. temperature-protection molecules or proteins protecting them against ultraviolet radiation. The skeletal elements of the Hexactinellida (model organisms Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia or Hyalonema sieboldi) and Demospongiae (models Suberites domuncula and Geodia cydonium), the spicules, are formed enzymatically by the anabolic enzyme silicatein and the catabolic enzyme silicase. Both, the spicules of Hexactinellida and of Demospongiae, comprise a central axial canal and an axial filament which harbors the silicatein. After intracellular formation of the first lamella around the channel and the subsequent extracellular apposition of further lamellae the spicules are completed in a net formed of collagen fibers. The data summarized here substantiate that with the finding of silicatein a new aera in the field of bio/inorganic chemistry started. For the first time strategies could be formulated and experimentally proven that allow the formation/synthesis of inorganic structures by organic molecules. These findings are not only of importance for the further understanding of basic pathways in the body plan formation of sponges but also of eminent importance for applied/commercial processes in a sustainable use of biomolecules for novel bio/inorganic materials.

山东平度大庄子金矿床地质地球化学特征及成因——兼论层间滑动角砾岩型金矿成矿模式

The author selected the geological and geochemical characteristics and the genesis of the Dazhuangzi gold deposit in the Pingdu City as the central content of the study. The author summarized geological features of the other gold deposits formed within the same geological setting along the margin of the Jiaolai pull-apart basin and compared these gold deposits with the Dazhuangzi gold deposit. On the basis of the first-hand data obtained from field investigation and from mining production reports, ore-controlling structures, geological characteristics and mineralization regularities of the Dazhuangzi gold deposit are studied in detail. According to the analyzing results of petrochemistry, trace element, rare earth element and fluid inclusion etc., the geochemical characteristics, the genesis and the ore-forming material source of the Dazhuangzi gold deposit and that of the other similar gold deposits along the margin of the Jiaolai Basin are proposed. The study results suggest that the Dazhuangzi gold deposit belongs to the typical interstratified glide breccia type gold deposit, which is controlled by the interstratified glide fault structure located along the margin of the Mesozoic pull-apart Jiaolai basin. The interstratified glide fault structure is in the outer part of unconformity belt between the overlying strata and the basement of the pull-apart basin, being along the marble strata of the Jingshan group. The formation of the ore-controlling structure is related closely with the evolution of the Jiaolai Basin in the Mesozoic. The ore-controlling structure underwent the structural stress changes from compressive to tensional and then to compressive stress with strike slipping features sequentially, which were coincided with the regional tectonic stress evolution. The interstratified glide breccia type gold mineralization mainly occurs in the siliceous-marble breccias and cataclastic rocks within the interstratified glide fault structure. The gold minerogenetic epoch is later than 120Ma when the ore-controlling structure was tensioning and strike-slipping. The occurrences of the ore controlling structure and the gold ore bodies are the same as that of the unconformity belt. The geological and geochemical studies show that the source of the ore-forming material is alike with that of the volcanic rocks of the Qingshan formation, which is widespread in the Jiaolai Basin. Both of them came from the deep crust or even the upper mantle. Based on the geological characteristics and the minerogenetic regularities of the Dazhuangzi gold deposit, a genetic model of the deposit is constructed. In addition, the author used the remote sensing image and exploration results of geochemical and geophysical methods to point out several prospecting areas for further exploration. Through comprehensive study on the interstratified glide fault structure and on the interstratified glide breccia type gold deposits along the Jiaolai pull-apart basin, three types of interstratified glide structures and related gold mineralization are set up according to evolution and distribution of main fault as well as related secondary faults in time and space. They are named as Penjiakuang type, Dazhuangzi type and Fayunkuang type. The author summarized up the minerogenetic characteristics and regularities controlled by these three different types of interstratified glide structures respectively, and set up a general minerogenetic model of the interstratified glide breccia type gold deposit.