Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Rea...Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica in the Alxa steppe desert,Northwest China.Plant samples were collected during May-September 2019.Using excavation methods,in situ measurements,and root scanning techniques,we analyzed the root distribution,topology,and branching patterns of R.soongorica across an age sequence of 7-51 a.Additionally,we investigated the allometric relationships of root collar diameter with total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.The results showed that the roots of R.soongorica were predominantly concentrated in shallow soil layers(10-50 cm),with lateral root branching and biomass allocation increasing with shrub age.The root topology exhibited a herringbone-like structure,with average topological and modified topological indices of 0.89 and 0.96,respectively,both of which adjusted with shrub age.The root system displayed a self-similar branching pattern,maintaining a constant cross-sectional area ratio of 1.13 before and after branching,deviating from the area-preserving rule.These adaptive traits allow R.soongorica to efficiently expand its nutrient acquisition zone,minimize internal competition,and optimize resource uptake from the upper soil layers.Furthermore,significant linear relationships were observed between log10-transformed root collar diameter and log10-transformed total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.These findings advance non-destructive approaches for studying root characteristics and contribute to the development of root-related models.Besides,this study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of R.soongorica under extreme drought conditions,offering valuable guidance for species selection and cultivation in desert restoration efforts.展开更多
Machine learning(ML)efficiently and accurately processes dense seismic array data,improving earthquake catalog creation,which is crucial for understanding earthquake sequences and fault systems;analyzing its reliabili...Machine learning(ML)efficiently and accurately processes dense seismic array data,improving earthquake catalog creation,which is crucial for understanding earthquake sequences and fault systems;analyzing its reliability is also essential.An M5.8 earthquake struck Alxa Left Banner,Inner Mongolia,China on April 15,2015,a region with limited CENC monitoring capabilities,making analysis challenging.However,abundant data from ChinArray provided valuable observations for assessing the event.This study leveraged ChinArray data from the 2015 Alxa Left Banner earthquake sequence,employing machine learning(specifically PhaseNet,a deep learning method,and GaMMA,a Bayesian approach)for automated seismic phase picking,association,and location analysis.Our generated catalog,comprising 10,432 phases from 708 events,is roughly ten times larger than the CENC catalog,encompassing all CENC events with strong consistency.A slight magnitude overestimation is observed only at lower magnitudes.Furthermore,the catalog adheres to the Gutenberg-Richter and Omori laws spatially,temporally,and in magnitude distribution,demonstrating its high reliability.Double-difference tomography refined locations for 366 events,yielding a more compact spatial distribution with horizontal errors within 100m,vertical errors within 300m,and travel-time residuals within 0.05s.Depths predominantly range from 10-30km.Aftershocks align primarily NEE,with the mainshock east of the aftershock zone.The near-vertical main fault plane dips northwestward,exhibiting a Y-shaped branching structure,converging at depth and expanding towards the surface.FOCMEC analysis,using first motion and amplitude ratios,yielded focal mechanism solutions for 10 events,including the mainshock.These solutions consistently indicate a strike-slip mechanism with a minor extensional component.Integrating the earthquake sequence's spatial distribution and focal mechanisms suggests the seismogenic structure is a negative flower structure,consistent with the Dengkou-Benjing fault.Comparing the CENC and ML-generated catalogs using the maximum curvature(MAXC)method reveals a 0.6 decrease in completeness magnitude(M_(C)).However,magnitude-frequency distribution discrepancies above the MAXC-estimated M_(C)suggest MAXC may underestimate both M_(C)and the b-value.This study analyzes the 2015 Alxa Left Banner M5.8 earthquake using a reliable,MLgenerated earthquake catalog,revealing detailed information about the sequence,faulting structure,aftershock distribution,and stress characteristics.展开更多
The Alxa region, located in the southernmost part of Central Asian Orogenic Belt, is a key region for understanding the tectonic processes associated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Issues of late Paleozoic...The Alxa region, located in the southernmost part of Central Asian Orogenic Belt, is a key region for understanding the tectonic processes associated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Issues of late Paleozoic tectonic settings and tectonic unit divisions of the Alxa region still remain controversial. In this study, we report a new ophiolitic mélange named the Tepai ophiolitic mélange in the northern Alxa region, northwest of Alxa Youqi. The tectonic blocks in the Tepai ophiolitic mélange are mainly composed of serpentinized peridotites, serpentinites, mylonitized gabbros, gabbros, basalts, and quartzites, with a matrix comprising highly deformed clastic rocks. A gabbro exhibits a zircon LA-ICP-MS Ue Pb age of278.4 ± 3.3 Ma. Gabbros exhibit high Mg O and compatible element contents, but extremely low TiO_2,totally rare earth element and high field strength element contents. These rocks exhibit light rare earth element depleted patterns, and display enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and depleted in high field strength elements. Boninite-like geochemical data show that they were formed in a subductionrelated environment, and derived from an extremely depleted mantle source infiltrated by subduction-derived fluids and/or melts. The Tepai ophiolitic mélange exhibits similar zircon U-Pb-O isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemical characteristics to those of the Quagan Qulu ophiolite.Therefore, we propose that the Tepai ophiolitic mélange may have been the western continuation of the Quagan Qulu ophiolite. Our new finding proves the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean might have taken place later than the early Permian.展开更多
The northern margin of the Alxa block is the junction of a tectonic units. Four first-order tectonic units are distinguished: 1. the Yagan structural zone characteristic of an immature island arc; 2. the Zhusileng-Han...The northern margin of the Alxa block is the junction of a tectonic units. Four first-order tectonic units are distinguished: 1. the Yagan structural zone characteristic of an immature island arc; 2. the Zhusileng-Hangwula structural zone, which was a passive continental margin in the Early Palaeozoic and was transformed into an active continental margin in the Late Palaeozoic;3. the Shalazha structural zone characteristic of a mature island arc; 4. the Nuru-Langshan structural zone, which was a Proterozoic orogenic belt and later evolved into an extensional transtional crust in the Palaeozoic. The above-mentioned tectonic units differ remarkably in sedimentary formations, magmatic rock associations, metamorphism and geochemistry and are bounded by faults between one another.展开更多
Abstract: Two ophiolitic mélange belts in the Late Carboniferous formations have been discovered recently in the Alxa region. One is in the Engger Us fault and possesses properties of oceanic crust. The other is ...Abstract: Two ophiolitic mélange belts in the Late Carboniferous formations have been discovered recently in the Alxa region. One is in the Engger Us fault and possesses properties of oceanic crust. The other is in the Badain Jaran fault and shows properties of a back-arc basin. These two faults, together with the Yagan fault, constitute the important boundaries of tectonic units in the Alax region. The four tectonic units delimited by these faults are different in rock assemblages, metamorphism and geochemistry. They reflect the nature of tectonic environments in which they are found. The tectonic units may be traced and correlated to the eastern and western neighbouring areas. The formation and evolution process of the units and their interaction in the Alxa region may be described in terms of the evolution of the Palaeo-Mongolian Ocean and its continental margins.展开更多
In China, efforts are being made to monitor geoelectric fields through a large network of stations deployed and managed by the China Earthquake Administration. The diurnal variations in the geoelectric field waveforms...In China, efforts are being made to monitor geoelectric fields through a large network of stations deployed and managed by the China Earthquake Administration. The diurnal variations in the geoelectric field waveforms were similar in the quiet magnetic periods when K〈5 （generally, K〈3 indicates a quiet time）. The arrival time points of the maxima in the geoelectric field waveforms exhibited differences in local time related to geographic longitude. The amplitude of diurnal variation was several to 16.6 mV/km and decreased with increasing latitude. Further, the amplitude of diurnal variation, which was related to seasonal changes, was larger in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. The periods of diurnal changes during quiet days were 24, 12, 8, 6, 4 hours and several minutes over large areas. Finally, the observed diurnal variations in geoelectric field prior to the Alxa Zuoqi Ms5.8 earthquake on 15 April 2015 were studied, and pronounced changes in the spectral values of the geoelectric fields were found to be associated with the Alxa Zuoqi earthquake in Inner Mongolia.展开更多
The late Paleozoic evolution of the Wulijishanhen（WSH）-Shangdan（SD） area near to the Chaganchulu Ophiolite belt is reinterpreted. Analysis of the upper Carboniferous to lower Permian sedimentary sequence, biologic...The late Paleozoic evolution of the Wulijishanhen（WSH）-Shangdan（SD） area near to the Chaganchulu Ophiolite belt is reinterpreted. Analysis of the upper Carboniferous to lower Permian sedimentary sequence, biological associations, detrital materials, sandstone geochemistry and volcanic rocks indicates that the SD area was an epicontinental sea and rift during the late Paleozoic rather than a large-scale ocean undergoing spreading and closure. This study reveals that the actual evolution of the study area is from the late Carboniferous to the early Permian. The fusulinids Triticites sp. and Pseudoschwagerina sp.in the limestones demonstrate that the Amushan Formation develops during the late Carboniferous to the early Permian. The limestones at the base of the SD section indicate that it is a stable carbonate platform environment, the volcanic rocks in the middle of the sequence support a rift tectonic background, and the overlying conglomerates and sandstones are characteristic of an epicontinental sea or marine molasse setting. The rift volcanism made the differences in the fossil content of the SD and WSH sections and led to two sections expose different levels within the Amushan Formation and different process of tectonic evolution. Moreover, the geochemical characteristics and detrital materials of the sandstones show that the provenance and formation of the sandstones were related to the setting of active continental margin. The quartz-feldspar-lithic fragments distribution diagram indicates that the material source for the sandstones was a recycled orogenic belt. Thus, the source area of the sandstones may have been an active continental margin before the late Carboniferouseearly Permian. The characteristics of the regional tectonic evolution of the area indicate that the region may form a small part of the Gobie Tianshan rift of southern Mongolia.展开更多
As the southernmost segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),the northern Alxa orogenic belt(NAOB)connects the southeastern and southwestern segments of the CAOB.The NAOB amalgamated with the closure of the Pa...As the southernmost segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),the northern Alxa orogenic belt(NAOB)connects the southeastern and southwestern segments of the CAOB.The NAOB amalgamated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean;however,the closure time of the Paleo-Asian Ocean is still on great debate.In this study,we reported new detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf-O isotopes for the Permo-Carboniferous sediments in the northern Alxa to constrain the provenance and its tectonic implications.The Permo-Carbonifereous Amushan Formation is composed of volcanic-carbonite-clastic rocks and was deposited in a shallow marine environment.Based on the zircon U-Pb geochronology,the Amushan Formation was deposited in the late Carboniferous to early Permian,but some outcrops of volcanic and clastic rocks in the Quaganqulu area were likely formed in the middle to late Permian.The integrated zircon age spectrum for the clastic rocks shows a wide range from late Archean to Paleoproterozoic,Mesoproterozoic(with a peak age at 1458 Ma),early Neoproterozoic(with peak ages of 988 Ma and 929 Ma),early Paleozoic(with a peak age at 447 Ma) and late Paleozoic(with a peak age at 294 Ma).Combined with the zircon Hf-O isotopes,the provenance was considered to be the Alxa Block,the Shalazhashan terrane and the Zhusileng-Hangwula block(and the southern Beishan orogenic belt).The multiple source regions to the south and north of the Paleo-Asian Ocean indicate the closure of this ocean before the late Carboniferous.The absence or small proportion of depositional age-approximated zircons in most samples makes their age spectra similar to extensional basins.Combined with the intra-plate volcanism,the deposits were considered to be formed in extensional settings.Accordingly,after the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean,the NAOB stepped into an extensional stage.展开更多
Voluminous granitoids are widely distributed in the Langshan region,northeast of the Alxa block,and record the evolutionary processes of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt.The Dabashan pluton was emplaced into t...Voluminous granitoids are widely distributed in the Langshan region,northeast of the Alxa block,and record the evolutionary processes of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt.The Dabashan pluton was emplaced into the Paleoproterozoic Diebusige complex.Early Carboniferous zircon LA-ICP MS U-Pb ages were from 327 Ma to 346 Ma.The Dabashan pluton can be classified as monzogranite and syenogranite,and exhibits high K2 O contents and K2 O/Na2 O ratios,which reveal a high-K calc-alkaline nature.The samples display strongly fractionated REE patterns,and are enriched in large ion lithophile elements(LILE)relative to high field strength elements(HFSE).The Dabashan plutons display unusually high Ba(823–2817 ppm)and Sr(166–520 ppm)contents and K/Rb ratios(315–627),but low Rb/Ba ratios(0.02–0.14),and exhibit fertile zircon Hf isotopic compositions[εHf(t)=-14 to-20],which are comparable to those of typical high Ba–Sr granitoids.Based on the geochemical compositions of the samples,we suggest that subducted sediments and ancient crustal materials both played important roles in their generation.Basaltic melts were derived from partial melting of subcontinental lithophile mantle metasomatized by subducted sediment-related melts with residual garnet in the source,which caused partial melting of ancient lower crust.Magmas derived from underplating ascended and emplaced in the middle–upper crust at different depths.The resultant magmas experienced some degree of fractional crystallization during their ascent.Given these geochemical characteristics,together with regional tectonic,magmatic,and structure analysis data,an active continental margin environment is proposed for the generation of these rocks.展开更多
The tectonic setting of the northern Alxa region during the Late Paleozoic is highly controversial.The key to resolve this controversy is to recognize the Late Paleozoic magmatic processes in the northern Alxa.In this...The tectonic setting of the northern Alxa region during the Late Paleozoic is highly controversial.The key to resolve this controversy is to recognize the Late Paleozoic magmatic processes in the northern Alxa.In this paper,we present new zircon U-Pb ages,Hf-isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemical data of four granitoids along the Zhusileng-Hangwula Tectonic Belt in the northern Alxa region that could provide critical information about the tectonic evolution of this region.The zircon U-Pb data could be grouped as two phases:Late Devonian granite and diorite(ca.373-360 Ma),and Late Carboniferous granodiorite(ca.318 Ma).The Late Devonian granites and diorites are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous,with A/CNK and A/NK ratios of 0.90-1.11 and0.95-2.19,respectively.The Late Devonian diorites are characterized by high MgO,Cr and Ni contents and MgO#values,together with variableεHf(t)values from-1.0 to+1.3 and old TDM2 ages varied from 1283 Ma to 1426 Ma,indicating the primary magma was potentially derived from magma mixing of depleted mantle with Mesoproterozoic continental crust.Even though the Late Devonian granites yielded most positive and minor negative eHf(t)values between-1.1 to+5.7(three grains are negative)with two-stage model ages(TDM2)of 1003-1438 Ma,they display low MgO,Cr and Ni contents and MgO#values,suggesting that they were mainly derived from juvenile crustal materials,mixed with a small amount of ancient crust.The Late Carboniferous granitoids are metaluminous and medium-K calc-alkaline series,with A/CNK and A/NK ratios ranging from 0.88 to 0.95 and1.75 to 1.90,respectively.These rocks were potentially derived from juvenile crustal materials mixed with depleted mantle,as evidenced by their highεHf(t)values(+11.6 to+14.1)and young TDM2 ages(427 Ma to 586 Ma),as well as high Mg#values,and MgO,Ni and Cr contents.Our data,along with available sedimentary evidence and previous researches,indicate that the Late Devonian and Late Carboniferous rocks are arc-related granitoids under the subduction setting.The identification of arc-related granitoids in the northern Alxa region not only reveals the Late Paleozoic magmatic process in response to the subduction of Paleo Asian Ocean,but also provide significant constrains to the tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.展开更多
The research on ecosystem service values(ESVs)estimation in arid region is weak.We took the Alxa League of China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,an extreme arid region,as an example and constructed an equivalent c...The research on ecosystem service values(ESVs)estimation in arid region is weak.We took the Alxa League of China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,an extreme arid region,as an example and constructed an equivalent coefficient method to assess its ESVs from 1975 to 2015,by determining the standard unit of ESVs and the basic equivalent of the value of different ecosystem services per unit area based on the regional characteristics,literature research,expert knowledge and land use data.The results show that the ESVs first decreased from 83170.4 million yuan(RMB)in 1975 to 82337.8 million yuan(RMB)in 2000 and then increased to84033.6 million yuan(RMB)in 2015,and the ESV of sparse grassland and desert account for about 33%and 29%of the total ESVs,respectively.Among the four service types,the regulating services,support services,supply services and cultural services account for66.5%,22.8%,6.0%and 4.7%,respectively.The changes of ESVs in Alxa League are determined by the socio-economic development and ecological changes.This study provides a new method to estimate the ESVs in arid region by integrating existing methods and regional characteristics,such as the cost of water for arid ecosystems.展开更多
The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.H...The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.However, the Precambrian basement of the Alxa Block is still poorly studied. In this study, we present new in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data from the Diebusige Metamorphic Complex(DMC) which located in the eastern Alxa Block. Field and petrological studies show that the DMC consists mainly of metamorphic supracrustal rocks and minor metamorphic plutonic rocks and has experienced amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism. Zircon U-Pb dating results suggested that the amphibolite sample yields a crystallization age of 2636 ± 14 Ma and metamorphic ages of 2517–2454 Ma and 1988–1952 Ma, proving the existence of exposed Archean rocks in the Langshan area and indicating that late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic metamorphic events existed in the Alxa Block. Two paragneiss samples show that the magmatic detrital zircons from the DMC yield 207Pb/206Pb ages ranging from 2.48 Ga to 2.10 Ga with two youngest peaks at 2.13 Ga and 2.16 Ga, respectively, and they were also overprinted by metamorphic events at 1.97–1.90 Ga and 1.89–1.79Ga. Compilation of U-Pb ages of magmatic detrital and metamorphic zircons suggested that the main part of the DMC may have been formed at 2.1–2.0 Ga. Zircon Lu-Hf isotope data show that the source materials of the main part of the DMC were originated from the reworking of ancient Archean crust(3.45–2.78 Ga). The Hf isotope characteristics and the tectonothermal event records exhibit different evolution history with the Khondalite Belt and the Yinshan Block and the other basements of the Alxa Block, indicating that the Langshan was likely an independent terrain before the middle Paleoproterozoic and was subjected to the middle to late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal events with the Khondalite Belt as a whole.展开更多
Many studies focus on mineralization of huge magnetite ore deposits and petrogenesis of their large-volume host rocks.However,magma generation of those small-scale intrusions with enrichment of magnetite is poorly rep...Many studies focus on mineralization of huge magnetite ore deposits and petrogenesis of their large-volume host rocks.However,magma generation of those small-scale intrusions with enrichment of magnetite is poorly reported and paid attention to.We here carry out an integrated study of magnetite chemistry,U-Pb zircon dating,geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes for the magnetite-rich intermediate-mafic rocks from the Helishan pluton in the southwestern Alxa Block,Northwest China.This,together with several previously reported magnetite/iron-rich intrusions nearby,is capable of providing some constraints on magma generation of magnetite/iron-rich intrusive rocks.The Helishan pluton,dated at ca.290 Ma,consists of hornblende gabbro,diorite,and quartz monzodiorite with~3%-5%magnetite in all the lithologies.Study on magnetite chemistry manifests a magmatic origin for them.All the lithologies display high TFeO/MgO ratio (1.71-1.89),weakly fractionated REE patterns((La/Yb)_(N)=1.82-10.17),enrichment of Rb,Sr,and Pb,and depletion of high field strength elements.They have (^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i) values of 0.705 2 to 0.705 8,ε_(Nd)(t) values of+0.03 to+0.64,and zircon ε_(Hf)(t) values of +6.5 to+12.0.We propose that they were derived from partial melting of iron-rich metasomatized lithospheric mantle.The systematic variations of Sr/Y ratios and Nd-Hf isotopic compositions with time for the Paleozoic igneous rocks at the southwestern Alxa Block indicate ever existence of thinning and rebirth of lithospheric mantle.This geodynamic process could be the potential mechanism to give rise to the iron-rich signature of the reborn mantle sources of the Helishan pluton.For intermediatemafic intrusions at subduction zones,they are unlikely to form considerable magnetite ore deposits since their modest magmatic flux and early fractional crystallization of magnetite at a high oxygen fugacity and H_(2)O condition.展开更多
As an important tectonic unit in the middle part of the southern Central Asian Orogeny, the Alxa Block was affected by multiple deformational events occurring in the Central Asian tectonic regime during the Paleozoic ...As an important tectonic unit in the middle part of the southern Central Asian Orogeny, the Alxa Block was affected by multiple deformational events occurring in the Central Asian tectonic regime during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. The record of deformation in the Alxa Block represents the entire evolutionary process from a continental margin to an intraplate setting. In the Langshan region of the northeastern Alxa Block, four important Paleozoic-early Mesozoic deformation events have been distinguished:(1) nearly north-south-striking ductile thrusting along the eastern Alxa Block in the Late Devonian;(2) nearly east-west-trending brittle top-to-the-south thrusting in the Mid-Late Permian;(3) nearly east-west-trending initially ductile then brittle dextral transtension with 30-40 km of displacement in the Late Permian;and(4) northeast-trending ductile sinistral shearing with 120-125 km of displacement in the Mid-Late Triassic. The ductile thrusting in the Late Devonian may have resulted from the interaction between the North China Craton and the Alxa Black, which was a peri-eastern Gondwana block. Parallel east-west-trending thrusts and related folds formed in the Neoproterozoic Langshan Group due to the closure of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the Mid-Late Permian. The Late Permian eastwest-trending and dextrally ductile transtension may have resulted from intraplate adjustment after the Central Asian Orogeny and the formation of the Ural Orogenic Belt to the west;this shear zone may have been part of a huge ductile tectonic belt developed along the whole southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). During the Early Triassic, the subduction of oceanic crust along the southern central CAOB terminated then the eastern Alxa Block was affected by the collision between the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton to the south. Since the late Mesozoic, the Langshan region has experienced another five important deformation events, which were all far-field tectonic effects related to plate margin tectonic activities(e.g., the closure of the Mongolian-Okhotsk Ocean, the collision between the Qiangtang and Lhasa blocks and the India-Eurasia collision). The large-scale brittle and ductile strike-slip faults in the northeastern Alxa Block all formed in intraplate settings since the late Paleozoic in response to the collisional orogenies occurring along the plate margins or the intraplate adjustment following the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.展开更多
The southeastern Alxa Block(i.e.,the Hexi Corridor)is a tectonic junction between the North China Block(NCB)to the east,the Alxa Block to the north,and the western Qinling–North Qilian Orogenic Belt to the southwest(...The southeastern Alxa Block(i.e.,the Hexi Corridor)is a tectonic junction between the North China Block(NCB)to the east,the Alxa Block to the north,and the western Qinling–North Qilian Orogenic Belt to the southwest(Fig.1).The southeastern Alxa Block had undergone展开更多
Desert plants take on unique physiologically adaptive mechanisms in response to an adverse environment. In this study, we determined the concentrations of leaf nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and calcium(Ca) fraction for ...Desert plants take on unique physiologically adaptive mechanisms in response to an adverse environment. In this study, we determined the concentrations of leaf nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and calcium(Ca) fraction for dominant species of Artemisia ordosica, A. frigida, Calligonum mongolicum, and Oxytropis aciphylla in the Alxa Desert and discussed seasonal changes of their leaf N:P ratio and Ca fraction. The results showed that, from May to September, the N:P ratios of A. ordosica and C. mongolicum gradually and significantly increased, while those of A. frigida, and O. aciphylla had an increase trend that was not significant; the physiologically active Ca of A. ordosica and A. frigida increased significantly,while that of C. mongolicum and O. aciphylla decreased significantly. The physiologically inert calcium of C. mongolicum increased extremely significantly, while that of others was not significant. There was a significantly positive correlation between the N:P ratio and physiologically active Ca for A. ordosica, and the N:P ratio was significantly and negatively correlated with physiologically active Ca for O. aciphylla. These findings revealed that the physiological regulation mechanism was different for the plants either in earlier stage or later stage of plant-community succession.展开更多
In this study, a classic survey adjustment computation method was used for data obtained in the Inner Mongolia and Ningxia gravimetric networks between September 2013 and April 2015 so as to investigate the variation ...In this study, a classic survey adjustment computation method was used for data obtained in the Inner Mongolia and Ningxia gravimetric networks between September 2013 and April 2015 so as to investigate the variation of gravity before the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake. The relationship between gravity variation and the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake was analyzed. The results showed that： （1） the severe variation in gravity field at the test sites before the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake, as well as the subsequent accelerated rising, might be an earthquake precursor; （2） the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake occurred at the turning point where the high-gravity gradient zone changed from the NE direction to NW.展开更多
Objective Alxa,located in western Inner Mongolia,is covered by desert in many places with few Cretaceous outcrops.Only some Early Cretaceous dinosaur fossils have been discovered from several areas in Alxa Zuoqi and E...Objective Alxa,located in western Inner Mongolia,is covered by desert in many places with few Cretaceous outcrops.Only some Early Cretaceous dinosaur fossils have been discovered from several areas in Alxa Zuoqi and Ejin Qi,but no Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna has been formally reported in Alxa.Fortunately,展开更多
Alxa,located at the junction of the North China plate and the Tarim plate,is characterized by complicated geological conditions and obvious climate changes.Unique geological and geographic conditions formed a variety ...Alxa,located at the junction of the North China plate and the Tarim plate,is characterized by complicated geological conditions and obvious climate changes.Unique geological and geographic conditions formed a variety of landscapes in Alxa, including desert landscape,Gobi landscape,wind -erosion landform,canyon landform,etc.This paper compares and evaluates the scientific interests展开更多
A compilation of all meaningful historical data of natural-disasters taken place in Alxa of inner-Mongolia is used here for the construction of a 65 Ma high precision database.The data in the database are divided into...A compilation of all meaningful historical data of natural-disasters taken place in Alxa of inner-Mongolia is used here for the construction of a 65 Ma high precision database.The data in the database are divided into subsets according to the types展开更多
基金funded by the Guangxi Science and Technology Plan Project(Guike AD22080050)the Basic Research Ability Improvement Project of Young and Middle-aged Teachers of Universities in Guangxi(2022KY0386)+1 种基金the Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf,Ministry of Education,Nanning Normal University(NNNU-KLOP-K2202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42471055).
文摘Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica in the Alxa steppe desert,Northwest China.Plant samples were collected during May-September 2019.Using excavation methods,in situ measurements,and root scanning techniques,we analyzed the root distribution,topology,and branching patterns of R.soongorica across an age sequence of 7-51 a.Additionally,we investigated the allometric relationships of root collar diameter with total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.The results showed that the roots of R.soongorica were predominantly concentrated in shallow soil layers(10-50 cm),with lateral root branching and biomass allocation increasing with shrub age.The root topology exhibited a herringbone-like structure,with average topological and modified topological indices of 0.89 and 0.96,respectively,both of which adjusted with shrub age.The root system displayed a self-similar branching pattern,maintaining a constant cross-sectional area ratio of 1.13 before and after branching,deviating from the area-preserving rule.These adaptive traits allow R.soongorica to efficiently expand its nutrient acquisition zone,minimize internal competition,and optimize resource uptake from the upper soil layers.Furthermore,significant linear relationships were observed between log10-transformed root collar diameter and log10-transformed total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.These findings advance non-destructive approaches for studying root characteristics and contribute to the development of root-related models.Besides,this study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of R.soongorica under extreme drought conditions,offering valuable guidance for species selection and cultivation in desert restoration efforts.
基金funded by the Inner Mongolia Natural Science Foundation(No.2024MS04021)the Science and Technology Plan of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(No.2023YFSH0004)the Director Fund of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Seismological Bureau(No.2023GG01,No.2023GG02,No.2023MS05,No.2023QN13)。
文摘Machine learning(ML)efficiently and accurately processes dense seismic array data,improving earthquake catalog creation,which is crucial for understanding earthquake sequences and fault systems;analyzing its reliability is also essential.An M5.8 earthquake struck Alxa Left Banner,Inner Mongolia,China on April 15,2015,a region with limited CENC monitoring capabilities,making analysis challenging.However,abundant data from ChinArray provided valuable observations for assessing the event.This study leveraged ChinArray data from the 2015 Alxa Left Banner earthquake sequence,employing machine learning(specifically PhaseNet,a deep learning method,and GaMMA,a Bayesian approach)for automated seismic phase picking,association,and location analysis.Our generated catalog,comprising 10,432 phases from 708 events,is roughly ten times larger than the CENC catalog,encompassing all CENC events with strong consistency.A slight magnitude overestimation is observed only at lower magnitudes.Furthermore,the catalog adheres to the Gutenberg-Richter and Omori laws spatially,temporally,and in magnitude distribution,demonstrating its high reliability.Double-difference tomography refined locations for 366 events,yielding a more compact spatial distribution with horizontal errors within 100m,vertical errors within 300m,and travel-time residuals within 0.05s.Depths predominantly range from 10-30km.Aftershocks align primarily NEE,with the mainshock east of the aftershock zone.The near-vertical main fault plane dips northwestward,exhibiting a Y-shaped branching structure,converging at depth and expanding towards the surface.FOCMEC analysis,using first motion and amplitude ratios,yielded focal mechanism solutions for 10 events,including the mainshock.These solutions consistently indicate a strike-slip mechanism with a minor extensional component.Integrating the earthquake sequence's spatial distribution and focal mechanisms suggests the seismogenic structure is a negative flower structure,consistent with the Dengkou-Benjing fault.Comparing the CENC and ML-generated catalogs using the maximum curvature(MAXC)method reveals a 0.6 decrease in completeness magnitude(M_(C)).However,magnitude-frequency distribution discrepancies above the MAXC-estimated M_(C)suggest MAXC may underestimate both M_(C)and the b-value.This study analyzes the 2015 Alxa Left Banner M5.8 earthquake using a reliable,MLgenerated earthquake catalog,revealing detailed information about the sequence,faulting structure,aftershock distribution,and stress characteristics.
基金jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41502214 and 41230207)the Outlay Research Fund of Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (J1706)+3 种基金the CPSF-CAS Joint Foundation for Excellent Postdoctoral Fellows (Grant No. 2015LH0049)the China Postdoctoral Foundation funded project (No. 2016M590990)the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDB18020203)the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, CAS (QYZDJ-SSW-SYS012)
文摘The Alxa region, located in the southernmost part of Central Asian Orogenic Belt, is a key region for understanding the tectonic processes associated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Issues of late Paleozoic tectonic settings and tectonic unit divisions of the Alxa region still remain controversial. In this study, we report a new ophiolitic mélange named the Tepai ophiolitic mélange in the northern Alxa region, northwest of Alxa Youqi. The tectonic blocks in the Tepai ophiolitic mélange are mainly composed of serpentinized peridotites, serpentinites, mylonitized gabbros, gabbros, basalts, and quartzites, with a matrix comprising highly deformed clastic rocks. A gabbro exhibits a zircon LA-ICP-MS Ue Pb age of278.4 ± 3.3 Ma. Gabbros exhibit high Mg O and compatible element contents, but extremely low TiO_2,totally rare earth element and high field strength element contents. These rocks exhibit light rare earth element depleted patterns, and display enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and depleted in high field strength elements. Boninite-like geochemical data show that they were formed in a subductionrelated environment, and derived from an extremely depleted mantle source infiltrated by subduction-derived fluids and/or melts. The Tepai ophiolitic mélange exhibits similar zircon U-Pb-O isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemical characteristics to those of the Quagan Qulu ophiolite.Therefore, we propose that the Tepai ophiolitic mélange may have been the western continuation of the Quagan Qulu ophiolite. Our new finding proves the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean might have taken place later than the early Permian.
基金A subsidiary subject of the National Natural Science Fundation Project No. 9487001.
文摘The northern margin of the Alxa block is the junction of a tectonic units. Four first-order tectonic units are distinguished: 1. the Yagan structural zone characteristic of an immature island arc; 2. the Zhusileng-Hangwula structural zone, which was a passive continental margin in the Early Palaeozoic and was transformed into an active continental margin in the Late Palaeozoic;3. the Shalazha structural zone characteristic of a mature island arc; 4. the Nuru-Langshan structural zone, which was a Proterozoic orogenic belt and later evolved into an extensional transtional crust in the Palaeozoic. The above-mentioned tectonic units differ remarkably in sedimentary formations, magmatic rock associations, metamorphism and geochemistry and are bounded by faults between one another.
基金This study was supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation Grant 49472150.
文摘Abstract: Two ophiolitic mélange belts in the Late Carboniferous formations have been discovered recently in the Alxa region. One is in the Engger Us fault and possesses properties of oceanic crust. The other is in the Badain Jaran fault and shows properties of a back-arc basin. These two faults, together with the Yagan fault, constitute the important boundaries of tectonic units in the Alax region. The four tectonic units delimited by these faults are different in rock assemblages, metamorphism and geochemistry. They reflect the nature of tectonic environments in which they are found. The tectonic units may be traced and correlated to the eastern and western neighbouring areas. The formation and evolution process of the units and their interaction in the Alxa region may be described in terms of the evolution of the Palaeo-Mongolian Ocean and its continental margins.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41374080)
文摘In China, efforts are being made to monitor geoelectric fields through a large network of stations deployed and managed by the China Earthquake Administration. The diurnal variations in the geoelectric field waveforms were similar in the quiet magnetic periods when K〈5 （generally, K〈3 indicates a quiet time）. The arrival time points of the maxima in the geoelectric field waveforms exhibited differences in local time related to geographic longitude. The amplitude of diurnal variation was several to 16.6 mV/km and decreased with increasing latitude. Further, the amplitude of diurnal variation, which was related to seasonal changes, was larger in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. The periods of diurnal changes during quiet days were 24, 12, 8, 6, 4 hours and several minutes over large areas. Finally, the observed diurnal variations in geoelectric field prior to the Alxa Zuoqi Ms5.8 earthquake on 15 April 2015 were studied, and pronounced changes in the spectral values of the geoelectric fields were found to be associated with the Alxa Zuoqi earthquake in Inner Mongolia.
基金financially supported by the China Geological Survey (Grant No. [2010] 01-09-11)
文摘The late Paleozoic evolution of the Wulijishanhen（WSH）-Shangdan（SD） area near to the Chaganchulu Ophiolite belt is reinterpreted. Analysis of the upper Carboniferous to lower Permian sedimentary sequence, biological associations, detrital materials, sandstone geochemistry and volcanic rocks indicates that the SD area was an epicontinental sea and rift during the late Paleozoic rather than a large-scale ocean undergoing spreading and closure. This study reveals that the actual evolution of the study area is from the late Carboniferous to the early Permian. The fusulinids Triticites sp. and Pseudoschwagerina sp.in the limestones demonstrate that the Amushan Formation develops during the late Carboniferous to the early Permian. The limestones at the base of the SD section indicate that it is a stable carbonate platform environment, the volcanic rocks in the middle of the sequence support a rift tectonic background, and the overlying conglomerates and sandstones are characteristic of an epicontinental sea or marine molasse setting. The rift volcanism made the differences in the fossil content of the SD and WSH sections and led to two sections expose different levels within the Amushan Formation and different process of tectonic evolution. Moreover, the geochemical characteristics and detrital materials of the sandstones show that the provenance and formation of the sandstones were related to the setting of active continental margin. The quartz-feldspar-lithic fragments distribution diagram indicates that the material source for the sandstones was a recycled orogenic belt. Thus, the source area of the sandstones may have been an active continental margin before the late Carboniferouseearly Permian. The characteristics of the regional tectonic evolution of the area indicate that the region may form a small part of the Gobie Tianshan rift of southern Mongolia.
基金We thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41902224,41372225)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2018M640275)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2412019QD002)National Key Research and Development Project of China(Grant No.2017YFC0601302)for their financial support.
文摘As the southernmost segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),the northern Alxa orogenic belt(NAOB)connects the southeastern and southwestern segments of the CAOB.The NAOB amalgamated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean;however,the closure time of the Paleo-Asian Ocean is still on great debate.In this study,we reported new detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf-O isotopes for the Permo-Carboniferous sediments in the northern Alxa to constrain the provenance and its tectonic implications.The Permo-Carbonifereous Amushan Formation is composed of volcanic-carbonite-clastic rocks and was deposited in a shallow marine environment.Based on the zircon U-Pb geochronology,the Amushan Formation was deposited in the late Carboniferous to early Permian,but some outcrops of volcanic and clastic rocks in the Quaganqulu area were likely formed in the middle to late Permian.The integrated zircon age spectrum for the clastic rocks shows a wide range from late Archean to Paleoproterozoic,Mesoproterozoic(with a peak age at 1458 Ma),early Neoproterozoic(with peak ages of 988 Ma and 929 Ma),early Paleozoic(with a peak age at 447 Ma) and late Paleozoic(with a peak age at 294 Ma).Combined with the zircon Hf-O isotopes,the provenance was considered to be the Alxa Block,the Shalazhashan terrane and the Zhusileng-Hangwula block(and the southern Beishan orogenic belt).The multiple source regions to the south and north of the Paleo-Asian Ocean indicate the closure of this ocean before the late Carboniferous.The absence or small proportion of depositional age-approximated zircons in most samples makes their age spectra similar to extensional basins.Combined with the intra-plate volcanism,the deposits were considered to be formed in extensional settings.Accordingly,after the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean,the NAOB stepped into an extensional stage.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China from the Ministry of ScienceandTechnologyofChina(No.2017YFC0601301)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41502214,41230207 and 41572190)+5 种基金the Outlay Research Fund of Institute of Geology,Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences(J1706)the Strategic Priority Research Program(B)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB18020203)the CPSF-CAS Joint Foundation for Excellent Postdoctoral Fellows(Grant no.2015LH0049)the China Postdoctoral Foundation funded project(2016M590990)the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,CAS(QYZDJSSW-SYS012)China Geological Survey(12120115069601)
文摘Voluminous granitoids are widely distributed in the Langshan region,northeast of the Alxa block,and record the evolutionary processes of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt.The Dabashan pluton was emplaced into the Paleoproterozoic Diebusige complex.Early Carboniferous zircon LA-ICP MS U-Pb ages were from 327 Ma to 346 Ma.The Dabashan pluton can be classified as monzogranite and syenogranite,and exhibits high K2 O contents and K2 O/Na2 O ratios,which reveal a high-K calc-alkaline nature.The samples display strongly fractionated REE patterns,and are enriched in large ion lithophile elements(LILE)relative to high field strength elements(HFSE).The Dabashan plutons display unusually high Ba(823–2817 ppm)and Sr(166–520 ppm)contents and K/Rb ratios(315–627),but low Rb/Ba ratios(0.02–0.14),and exhibit fertile zircon Hf isotopic compositions[εHf(t)=-14 to-20],which are comparable to those of typical high Ba–Sr granitoids.Based on the geochemical compositions of the samples,we suggest that subducted sediments and ancient crustal materials both played important roles in their generation.Basaltic melts were derived from partial melting of subcontinental lithophile mantle metasomatized by subducted sediment-related melts with residual garnet in the source,which caused partial melting of ancient lower crust.Magmas derived from underplating ascended and emplaced in the middle–upper crust at different depths.The resultant magmas experienced some degree of fractional crystallization during their ascent.Given these geochemical characteristics,together with regional tectonic,magmatic,and structure analysis data,an active continental margin environment is proposed for the generation of these rocks.
基金granted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41802119 and 41330315)the Special Projects of China Geological Survey(Grant No.121201011000161111)Doctor’s Fund of Xi’an University of Science and Technology(Grant No.6310117052)。
文摘The tectonic setting of the northern Alxa region during the Late Paleozoic is highly controversial.The key to resolve this controversy is to recognize the Late Paleozoic magmatic processes in the northern Alxa.In this paper,we present new zircon U-Pb ages,Hf-isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemical data of four granitoids along the Zhusileng-Hangwula Tectonic Belt in the northern Alxa region that could provide critical information about the tectonic evolution of this region.The zircon U-Pb data could be grouped as two phases:Late Devonian granite and diorite(ca.373-360 Ma),and Late Carboniferous granodiorite(ca.318 Ma).The Late Devonian granites and diorites are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous,with A/CNK and A/NK ratios of 0.90-1.11 and0.95-2.19,respectively.The Late Devonian diorites are characterized by high MgO,Cr and Ni contents and MgO#values,together with variableεHf(t)values from-1.0 to+1.3 and old TDM2 ages varied from 1283 Ma to 1426 Ma,indicating the primary magma was potentially derived from magma mixing of depleted mantle with Mesoproterozoic continental crust.Even though the Late Devonian granites yielded most positive and minor negative eHf(t)values between-1.1 to+5.7(three grains are negative)with two-stage model ages(TDM2)of 1003-1438 Ma,they display low MgO,Cr and Ni contents and MgO#values,suggesting that they were mainly derived from juvenile crustal materials,mixed with a small amount of ancient crust.The Late Carboniferous granitoids are metaluminous and medium-K calc-alkaline series,with A/CNK and A/NK ratios ranging from 0.88 to 0.95 and1.75 to 1.90,respectively.These rocks were potentially derived from juvenile crustal materials mixed with depleted mantle,as evidenced by their highεHf(t)values(+11.6 to+14.1)and young TDM2 ages(427 Ma to 586 Ma),as well as high Mg#values,and MgO,Ni and Cr contents.Our data,along with available sedimentary evidence and previous researches,indicate that the Late Devonian and Late Carboniferous rocks are arc-related granitoids under the subduction setting.The identification of arc-related granitoids in the northern Alxa region not only reveals the Late Paleozoic magmatic process in response to the subduction of Paleo Asian Ocean,but also provide significant constrains to the tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.
基金Under the auspices of the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2016YFC0500201,2016YFC0501001)the Key Laboratory Cooperative Research Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41601036)。
文摘The research on ecosystem service values(ESVs)estimation in arid region is weak.We took the Alxa League of China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,an extreme arid region,as an example and constructed an equivalent coefficient method to assess its ESVs from 1975 to 2015,by determining the standard unit of ESVs and the basic equivalent of the value of different ecosystem services per unit area based on the regional characteristics,literature research,expert knowledge and land use data.The results show that the ESVs first decreased from 83170.4 million yuan(RMB)in 1975 to 82337.8 million yuan(RMB)in 2000 and then increased to84033.6 million yuan(RMB)in 2015,and the ESV of sparse grassland and desert account for about 33%and 29%of the total ESVs,respectively.Among the four service types,the regulating services,support services,supply services and cultural services account for66.5%,22.8%,6.0%and 4.7%,respectively.The changes of ESVs in Alxa League are determined by the socio-economic development and ecological changes.This study provides a new method to estimate the ESVs in arid region by integrating existing methods and regional characteristics,such as the cost of water for arid ecosystems.
基金funded by the Basic Scientific Research Fund of the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (Grant No. J2103)National Key Research and Development Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2017YFC0601301)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41972224)the China Geological Survey (Grant No. DD2019004)。
文摘The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.However, the Precambrian basement of the Alxa Block is still poorly studied. In this study, we present new in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data from the Diebusige Metamorphic Complex(DMC) which located in the eastern Alxa Block. Field and petrological studies show that the DMC consists mainly of metamorphic supracrustal rocks and minor metamorphic plutonic rocks and has experienced amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism. Zircon U-Pb dating results suggested that the amphibolite sample yields a crystallization age of 2636 ± 14 Ma and metamorphic ages of 2517–2454 Ma and 1988–1952 Ma, proving the existence of exposed Archean rocks in the Langshan area and indicating that late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic metamorphic events existed in the Alxa Block. Two paragneiss samples show that the magmatic detrital zircons from the DMC yield 207Pb/206Pb ages ranging from 2.48 Ga to 2.10 Ga with two youngest peaks at 2.13 Ga and 2.16 Ga, respectively, and they were also overprinted by metamorphic events at 1.97–1.90 Ga and 1.89–1.79Ga. Compilation of U-Pb ages of magmatic detrital and metamorphic zircons suggested that the main part of the DMC may have been formed at 2.1–2.0 Ga. Zircon Lu-Hf isotope data show that the source materials of the main part of the DMC were originated from the reworking of ancient Archean crust(3.45–2.78 Ga). The Hf isotope characteristics and the tectonothermal event records exhibit different evolution history with the Khondalite Belt and the Yinshan Block and the other basements of the Alxa Block, indicating that the Langshan was likely an independent terrain before the middle Paleoproterozoic and was subjected to the middle to late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal events with the Khondalite Belt as a whole.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41573021)the Most Special Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources(No.MSFGPMR201601-2)。
文摘Many studies focus on mineralization of huge magnetite ore deposits and petrogenesis of their large-volume host rocks.However,magma generation of those small-scale intrusions with enrichment of magnetite is poorly reported and paid attention to.We here carry out an integrated study of magnetite chemistry,U-Pb zircon dating,geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes for the magnetite-rich intermediate-mafic rocks from the Helishan pluton in the southwestern Alxa Block,Northwest China.This,together with several previously reported magnetite/iron-rich intrusions nearby,is capable of providing some constraints on magma generation of magnetite/iron-rich intrusive rocks.The Helishan pluton,dated at ca.290 Ma,consists of hornblende gabbro,diorite,and quartz monzodiorite with~3%-5%magnetite in all the lithologies.Study on magnetite chemistry manifests a magmatic origin for them.All the lithologies display high TFeO/MgO ratio (1.71-1.89),weakly fractionated REE patterns((La/Yb)_(N)=1.82-10.17),enrichment of Rb,Sr,and Pb,and depletion of high field strength elements.They have (^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i) values of 0.705 2 to 0.705 8,ε_(Nd)(t) values of+0.03 to+0.64,and zircon ε_(Hf)(t) values of +6.5 to+12.0.We propose that they were derived from partial melting of iron-rich metasomatized lithospheric mantle.The systematic variations of Sr/Y ratios and Nd-Hf isotopic compositions with time for the Paleozoic igneous rocks at the southwestern Alxa Block indicate ever existence of thinning and rebirth of lithospheric mantle.This geodynamic process could be the potential mechanism to give rise to the iron-rich signature of the reborn mantle sources of the Helishan pluton.For intermediatemafic intrusions at subduction zones,they are unlikely to form considerable magnetite ore deposits since their modest magmatic flux and early fractional crystallization of magnetite at a high oxygen fugacity and H_(2)O condition.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No.2017YFC0601301)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41572190)the China Geological Survey(Nos.12120115069601,121201102000150009)
文摘As an important tectonic unit in the middle part of the southern Central Asian Orogeny, the Alxa Block was affected by multiple deformational events occurring in the Central Asian tectonic regime during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. The record of deformation in the Alxa Block represents the entire evolutionary process from a continental margin to an intraplate setting. In the Langshan region of the northeastern Alxa Block, four important Paleozoic-early Mesozoic deformation events have been distinguished:(1) nearly north-south-striking ductile thrusting along the eastern Alxa Block in the Late Devonian;(2) nearly east-west-trending brittle top-to-the-south thrusting in the Mid-Late Permian;(3) nearly east-west-trending initially ductile then brittle dextral transtension with 30-40 km of displacement in the Late Permian;and(4) northeast-trending ductile sinistral shearing with 120-125 km of displacement in the Mid-Late Triassic. The ductile thrusting in the Late Devonian may have resulted from the interaction between the North China Craton and the Alxa Black, which was a peri-eastern Gondwana block. Parallel east-west-trending thrusts and related folds formed in the Neoproterozoic Langshan Group due to the closure of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the Mid-Late Permian. The Late Permian eastwest-trending and dextrally ductile transtension may have resulted from intraplate adjustment after the Central Asian Orogeny and the formation of the Ural Orogenic Belt to the west;this shear zone may have been part of a huge ductile tectonic belt developed along the whole southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). During the Early Triassic, the subduction of oceanic crust along the southern central CAOB terminated then the eastern Alxa Block was affected by the collision between the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton to the south. Since the late Mesozoic, the Langshan region has experienced another five important deformation events, which were all far-field tectonic effects related to plate margin tectonic activities(e.g., the closure of the Mongolian-Okhotsk Ocean, the collision between the Qiangtang and Lhasa blocks and the India-Eurasia collision). The large-scale brittle and ductile strike-slip faults in the northeastern Alxa Block all formed in intraplate settings since the late Paleozoic in response to the collisional orogenies occurring along the plate margins or the intraplate adjustment following the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.
文摘The southeastern Alxa Block(i.e.,the Hexi Corridor)is a tectonic junction between the North China Block(NCB)to the east,the Alxa Block to the north,and the western Qinling–North Qilian Orogenic Belt to the southwest(Fig.1).The southeastern Alxa Block had undergone
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC0500706)
文摘Desert plants take on unique physiologically adaptive mechanisms in response to an adverse environment. In this study, we determined the concentrations of leaf nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and calcium(Ca) fraction for dominant species of Artemisia ordosica, A. frigida, Calligonum mongolicum, and Oxytropis aciphylla in the Alxa Desert and discussed seasonal changes of their leaf N:P ratio and Ca fraction. The results showed that, from May to September, the N:P ratios of A. ordosica and C. mongolicum gradually and significantly increased, while those of A. frigida, and O. aciphylla had an increase trend that was not significant; the physiologically active Ca of A. ordosica and A. frigida increased significantly,while that of C. mongolicum and O. aciphylla decreased significantly. The physiologically inert calcium of C. mongolicum increased extremely significantly, while that of others was not significant. There was a significantly positive correlation between the N:P ratio and physiologically active Ca for A. ordosica, and the N:P ratio was significantly and negatively correlated with physiologically active Ca for O. aciphylla. These findings revealed that the physiological regulation mechanism was different for the plants either in earlier stage or later stage of plant-community succession.
基金supported by the China Earthquake Administration Earthquake Tracking Task Orientation(2016020202,2016010216,and 2016010220)the“Three Combination”project of the China Earthquake Administration(163201)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41204058,41474064,and 41374088)the special earthquake research,China Earthquake Administration(201508009-08)the Director,Foundation of Institute of Seismology,China Earthquake Administration(IS201326123)
文摘In this study, a classic survey adjustment computation method was used for data obtained in the Inner Mongolia and Ningxia gravimetric networks between September 2013 and April 2015 so as to investigate the variation of gravity before the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake. The relationship between gravity variation and the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake was analyzed. The results showed that： （1） the severe variation in gravity field at the test sites before the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake, as well as the subsequent accelerated rising, might be an earthquake precursor; （2） the Alxa Zuoqi M5.8 earthquake occurred at the turning point where the high-gravity gradient zone changed from the NE direction to NW.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant No.41372026)the China Geological Survey(grant No.DD20160120-5)
文摘Objective Alxa,located in western Inner Mongolia,is covered by desert in many places with few Cretaceous outcrops.Only some Early Cretaceous dinosaur fossils have been discovered from several areas in Alxa Zuoqi and Ejin Qi,but no Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna has been formally reported in Alxa.Fortunately,
文摘Alxa,located at the junction of the North China plate and the Tarim plate,is characterized by complicated geological conditions and obvious climate changes.Unique geological and geographic conditions formed a variety of landscapes in Alxa, including desert landscape,Gobi landscape,wind -erosion landform,canyon landform,etc.This paper compares and evaluates the scientific interests
文摘A compilation of all meaningful historical data of natural-disasters taken place in Alxa of inner-Mongolia is used here for the construction of a 65 Ma high precision database.The data in the database are divided into subsets according to the types
