Provenance of Jurassic Sediments from Yuqia Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits in the Northern Margin of Qaidam Basin, China and Its Implications for Uranium Mineralization

The Yuqia uranium deposit is a newly discovered sandstone-type uranium deposit in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. Concerning the sources of sediment in the basin, most scholars have focused on the study of Cenozoic sediment sources in the northern part of the basin, rather than on the study of Jurassic provenance and its implications for uranium mineralization. In this paper, the Jurassic sandstones in the area were selected for petrography, petrogeochemistry and electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), and the significance of sedimentary provenance and uranium metallogeny were further discussed, based on the previous data of detrital zircon chronology. It is reported here for the first time that coffinite and pitchblende are the main contributors. Independent uranium minerals in the region mainly occur in strawberry pyrite, xenotime, and margins or of quartz. The rocks in the source area, Jurassic sandstones, were mainly formed under the tectonic setting of the active continental margin; however, the sediments are mainly derived from the Indosinian and Paleozoic granitoids exposed in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. The uranium-rich granites in the source area led to the preconcentration of uranium in the sandstone of the target layer, and the uranium was brought into the ore-bearing target layer through uranium-bearing oxygenated water. The reduction reaction occurred under the action of reducing matter, and finally, the U6+ was reduced to U4+ in the formation of coffinite and pitchblende.

Multi-proxy evidence of Caribbean-sourced marine incursions in the Neogene of Western Amazonia, Brazil

The timing of continental-scale marine flooding events in Western Amazonia during the Neogene is still an unsolved question. Despite broad proxy-based evidence of such events, the pathways and duration of late Miocene marine incursions remain controversial. We provide coupled calcareous and organic microfossil and geochemical data from six onshore cores from Neogene sequences of the Solimões Basin, Brazil. Our records support minor marine influence in the early Miocene (23.0, 21.1, 18.6, and 16.3 Ma), middle Miocene (14.9, 13.7, and 12.9 Ma) and early Pliocene (4.7, 4.2–4.1, and 3.8 Ma), and conspicuous marine incursions in the late Miocene (11.1–8.8 Ma) suggested by the consistent presence of salinity-indicative microfossils and geochemical data. Our findings challenge the view of major marine incursions in the early and middle Miocene in the studied area. We propose for the first time a new late Miocene incursion (LMI) event as the main marine flooding event in Western Amazonia during the Neogene. These onshore records are compared with three offshore cores from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The similarity between microfossil assemblages of the Solimões Basin and the Caribbean Sea, and evidence of increased runoff from the Orinoco river drainage system, strongly suggest the Caribbean Sea as the primary source area of the marine incursions, supporting a Venezuelan seaway. We further show for the first time the potential linkage between Neogene marine incursions (mainly the LMI) into the Solimões Basin and major disturbances in the global carbon cycle.

Precise aftershock distribution of the 2019 Yamagata-oki earthquake using newly developed simple anchored-buoy ocean bottom seismometers and land seismic stations

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 occurred in the Japan Sea off Yamagata on June 18, 2019. The mainshock had a source mechanism of reverse-fault type with a compression axis of WNW–ESE direction. Since the source area is positioned in a marine area, seafloor seismic observation is indispensable for obtaining the precise distribution of the aftershocks. The source area has a water depth of less than 100 m, and fishing activity is high. It is difficult to perform aftershock observation using ordinary free-fall pop-up type ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs). We developed a simple anchored-buoy type OBS for shallow water depths and performed the seafloor observation using this. The seafloor seismic unit had three-component seismometers and a hydrophone. Two orthogonal tiltmeters and an azimuth meter monitored the attitude of the package. For seismic observation at shallow water depth, we concluded that an anchored-buoy system would have the advantage of avoiding accidents. Our anchored-buoy OBS was based on a system used in fisheries. We deployed three anchored-buoy OBSs in the source region where the water depth was approximately 80 m on July 5, 2019, and two of the OBSs were recovered on July 13, 2019. Temporary land seismic stations with a three-component seismometer were also installed. The arrival times of P- and S-waves were read from the records of the OBSs and land stations, and we located hypocenters with correction for travel time. A preliminary location was performed using absolute travel time and final hypocenters were obtained using the double-difference method. The aftershocks were distributed at a depth range of 2.5 km to 10 km and along a plane dipping to the southeast. The plane formed by the aftershocks is consistent with the focal mechanism of the mainshock. The activity region of the aftershocks was positioned in the upper part of the upper crust. Focal mechanisms were estimated using the polarity of the first arrivals. Although many aftershocks had a reverse-fault focal mechanism similar to the focal solution of the mainshock, normal-fault type and strike–slip fault type focal mechanisms were also estimated. Graphical Abstract

The Provenance and Tectonic Settings of the Greywacke Member of the Late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation Lesser Himalayas, Northern Pakistan: Evidence from Geochemistry and Petrography

The petrographic and geochemical analysis of the greywacke horizon of the late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation from the Hazara Mountains has been investigated to determine the provenance, tectonic settings and weathering history of the sediments. The Late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation is a thick sedimentary sequence comprising of greywacke, shale, argillites, siltstone, and limestone. The greywackes are characterized by fine to medium-grained, moderately sorted and sub-angular to sub-rounded framework grains. They are rich in quartz, lithic fragments and clay minerals. The petrographic investigation of the greywackes categorized them as feldspathic greywacke in the QFR diagram. The quartz content is higher in sandstone and may reach to 70%, which indicates a weathered felsic source. Chemical Index of Alteration values of greywacke suggests that the source region has experienced highly weathering conditions with a warm and moist climate. Various geochemical interpretations, elemental ratios like Th/Sc, La/Sc,Th/Cr, and positive Eu anomalies indicate that the greywackes of the Hazara formation derived from a felsic source and were deposited within an active continental margin tectonic settings. The main source area of the sediments of the greywackes was located to south to southeast, which may possibly be the Aravali orogeny, central Indian craton and Bundelkhand craton. Finally, the geochemical data of the major elements point to a felsic igneous provenance for the greywacke.

Исмаиллинское землетрясение 5 февраля 2019

The Shamakhi-Ismailli seismogenic zone is known as the zone of the most powerful earthquakes in the Caucasus, which has been characterized by high seismic activity for centuries. Analysis of seismicity over the past 15 years has shown an increase in activity in this region. In October 2012, there was a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3. It is this earthquake that can be considered a trigger of activity in this region in subsequent years. In view of this, the task of studying seismicity, as well as the stress fields of the lithosphere of the region under study, seems to be especially urgent. The study of the seismicity of the Shamakhi-Ismailli zone provides additional information on the deep tectonic processes occurring in this region, which is important for seismic zoning. Aim. The article analyzes the seismic activity of the Shamakhi-Ismailli region, which began with an earthquake on February 5 at 19 h 19 min, with ml = 4.4, which occurred 11 minutes before the main shock with an intensity of 6 points, which occurred on February 5, 2019 at 19 h 31 m. Methods.The epicentral field was studied, as well as the distribution of foci in depth, solutions of the mechanisms of foci of the main shock and the most noticeable aftershock were constructed and analyzed. A diagram of the main elements of the rupture tectonics of the Shamakhi-Ismailli focal zone has been drawn, on which the mechanisms of the focal points of the lakes of the Ismailli field are plotted. Results. It has been established that the source area is located in the zone of intersection of the Vandam longitudinal fault with the West Caspian and transverse Akhsu strike-slip faults, which additionally characterizes the high seismic activity and deep penetration of the West Caspian right-sided orthogonal fault. Thus, it can be seen that, in terms of epicenters, they tend to the basement faults and the nodes of their intersection, i.e. The main shock that occurred on February 5, 2019, shows the agreement of the second nodal plane NP2 with the right-lateral Akhsu and West-Caspian transverse faults characterized by the type of displacement right-lateral strike-slip. An analysis of the orientation of the compression axes showed the NE-SW orientation, and the extension axes of the NW-SE orientation Шамахи-Исмаиллинская сейсмогенная зона известна как зона самых сильных землетрясений на Кавказе, которая на протяжении веков характеризовалась высокой сейсмической активностью. Анализ сейсмичности за последние 15 лет показал рост активности в этом регионе. В октябре 2012 года произошло разрушительное землетрясение магнитудой 5,3. Именно это землетрясение можно считать триггером активности в этом регионе в последующие годы. В связи с этим задача изучения сейсмичности, а также полей напряжений литосферы изучаемого региона представляется особенно актуальной. Изучение сейсмичности Шамахи-Исмаиллинской зоны дает дополнительную информацию о глубинных тектонических процессах, происходящих в этом регионе, что важно для сейсмического районирования. Цель работы.В статье проанализирована сейсмическая активность Шамахы-Исмаиллинского района, начавшаяся землетрясением 5 февраля в 19 ч 19 мин, с ml = 4,4, произошедшим за 11 минут до главного толчка с интенсивностью 6 баллов, произошедшего 5 февраля 2019 в 19 час 31 мин. Методы работы. Изучены эпицентральное поле, распределение очагов по глубине, построены и проанализированы решения механизмов очагов главного толчка и наиболее заметного афтершока. Составлена схема основных элементов разрывной тектоники Шамахы-Исмаиллинской очаговой зоны, на которой нанесены механизмы очагов озер Исмаиллинского месторождения. Результаты работы. Установлено, что очаговая область расположена в зоне пересечения Вандамского продольного разлома с Западно-Каспийским и поперечным Ахсуйским сдвигами, что дополнительно характеризует высокую сейсмическую активность и глубокое проникновение Западно-Каспийского правостороннего ортогонального разлома. Таким образом, видно, что в плане эпицентров они стремятся к разломам фундамента и узлам их пересечения, т.е. главный толчок, произошедший 5 февраля 2019 г., показывает совпадение второй узловой плоскости NP2 с правосторонним Ахсуйским и Западно-Каспийским поперечным разломом, характеризующимися правосторонним сдвиговым типом смещения. Анализ ориентации осей сжатия показал ориентацию СВ-ЮЗ, а оси растяжения – ориентацию СЗ-ЮВ.