Mineral Resource Science in China:Review and perspective

Mineral resources are essential to prosperity and security of modern societies.How mineral resources can guar-antee sustainable development of economy in countries,especially those developing countries,has long been a focus of attention of international communities.This paper provides a comprehensive summary for major ad-vance of the research on mineral resources in past decades,and proposes some key issues regarding ore-forming mechanism,exploration and utilization of major and critical mineral resources.On the basis of these aspects,we also identify four priority science issues to be addressed in the future,including(1)mechanism of both metal circulation and extremely high concentration,(2)theories and technologies of prospecting deep-earth resources,(3)investigation of mineral resources in seafloor and polar regions,and(4)efficient,clean and recycling utiliza-tion of mineral resources.It can be expected that new advances in these four issues would tremendously promote the innovation of mineral resource science,and provide scientific and technologic support to meet the demand of mineral resources for human activities and the harmonious development of both mineral-resource exploration and ecological restoration.

The interplay between soft law and hard law and its implications for global marine fisheries governance:A case study of IUU fishing

International soft law is not legally binding,but nevertheless it embodies mainstream values and influences the formation of hard law in global governance.Marine fisheries have become important arenas of global governance,in which developing states are crucial participants.The interactions between soft law and hard law in global marine fisheries can be mainly summarized as follows:soft law can be the precursor for hard law and be implicitly introduced into hard law to enhance normativity;hard law can also be incorporated into soft law.This paper explores the IUU fishing case to illustrate the significant role of soft law on international fisheries law and identify gaps in global marine fisheries governance.The development of international instruments to combat IUU fishing within FAO undergoes a process from voluntary to legally binding with the engagement and promotion of some developed states for their benefits.But IUU fishing concept is defective in its drafting as well as in practical application and indicates the value of emphasizing conservation over economic and social development,which is contrary to the principle of sustainable development and fails to meet the requirements of the developing states.The paper suggests to fill this gap by converting existing values in soft law to foster fishing rules that benefit all states and provide some insights towards this direction.

Late Mesoarchean crust growth event： evidence from the ca. 2.8 Ga granodioritic gneisses of the Xiaoqinling area, southern North China Craton

Recently, more attention has been paid to Precambrian magma events and crustal growth of the North China Craton(NCC), accompanying with controversy in activity stages and dynamic mechanism. In this study, we report the Archean(2802 ± 13 Ma) granodioritic gneisses in the Taihua Complex from the Xiaoqinling area, located in the southern margin of the NCC. The zircon Lu–Hf isotope analysis of the rocks showed ^(176)Hf/^(177)Hf ratios of0.280977–0.281228, corresponding to ε_(Hf)(t) values ranging from-3.5 to +6.6, and two–stage Hf model ages varying from 2836 to 3409 Ma. It was confirmed that late Mesoarchean(2.9–2.8 Ga) juvenile crust made contribution to the source material of these ca. 2.8 Ga granodioritic gneisses in the Xiaoqinling area. The whole rock geochemical data indicate that the granodioritic gneisses are high-K calc-alkaline series, probably generated at relatively high pressure and temperature, and formed under the continental arc setting. Statistically, we conclude that the magmatic activities during 2.9–2.7 Ga may represent the most intense crustal growth events in the NCC and these Archean rocks at different locations in southern NCC underwent a similar crustal evolution history.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology of tuffite beds in the Baishugou Formation:Constraints on the revision of Ectasian System at the southern margin of the North China Craton

The Xiamaling Formation of 1.4–1.35 Ga in Jixian Section and adjoining areas represents a unique Ectasian Period(Mesoproterozoic)sedimentary sequence in the North China Craton(NCC).Studies carried out during the last decade have contributed significantly in improving our understanding about the Ectasian sedimentation tectonics in the NCC during this transitional interval between the breakup of Supercontinent Columbia and the assembly of Rodinia.The present study reports,for the first time,tuffite beds interlayered with carbonaceous-siliceous slate-phyllite in the upper Baishugou Formation(western Henan Province),at the southern margin of NCC.The LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb geochronology of zircons from two tuffite samples has yielded almost identical ages of 1330±10 Ma(MSWD=0.43,N=38)and 1332±10 Ma(MSWD=0.90,N=24),that constrain a 1.33 Ga depositional age(Ectasian Period)for the Baishugou Formation.A close similarity in lithological characteristics and their respective superimposed lithostratigraphic relationships of the Baishugou and Xiamaling formations,underline a comparable depositional environment for them.The high-precision geochronology data on the Baishugou Formation would stimulate a relook into the Meso-Neoproterozoic chronostratigraphic framework of the NCC,and further research would lead to a comprehensive understanding of the geological evolution of the NCC during Ectasian Period and its correlation with analogous global events.

Screening criteria of mRNA indicators for wound age estimation

Wound age estimation is a crucial and challenging problem in forensic pathology.Although mRNA is the most commonly used indicator for wound age estimation,screening criteria are lacking.In the present study,the feasibility of screening criteria using mRNA to determine injury time based on the adenylate-uridylate-rich element(ARE)structure and gene ontology(GO)categories were evaluated.A total of 78 Sprague-Dawley male rats were contused and sampled at 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40,44,and 48 h after inflicting injury.The candidate mRNAs were classified based on with or without ARE structure and GO category function.The mRNA expression levels were detected using qRT-PCR.In addition,the standard deviation(STD),mean deviation(MD),relative average deviation(d%),and coefficient of variation(CV)were calculated based on mRNA expression levels.The CV score(CVs)and the CV of CV(CV’CV)were calculated to measure heterogeneity.Finally,based on classic principles,the accuracy of combination of candidate mRNAs was assessed using discriminant analysis to construct a multivariate model for inferring wound age.The results of homogeneity evaluation of each group based on CVs were consistent with the MD,STD,d%,and CV results,indicating the credibility of the evaluation results based on CVs.The candidate mRNAs without ARE structure and classified as cellular component(CC)GO category(ARE-CC)had the highest CVs,showing the mRNAs with these characteristics are the most homogenous mRNAs and best suited for wound age estimation.The highest accuracy was 91.0%when the mRNAs without ARE structure were used to infer the wound age based on the discrimination model.The accuracy of mRNAs classified into CC or multiple function(MF)GO category was higher than mRNAs in the biological process(BP)category.In all subgroups,the accuracy of the composite identification model of mRNA composition without ARE structure and classified as CC was higher than other subgroups.The mRNAs without ARE structure and belonging to the CC GO category were more homogenous,showed higher accuracy for estimating wound age,and were appropriate for rat skeletal muscle wound age estimation.