A global satellite survey of density plumes at river mouths and at other environments: Plume configurations, external controls, and implications for deep-water sedimentation

The U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has archived thousands of satellite images of density plumes in its online publishing outlet called 'Earth Observatory' since 1999. Although these images are in the public domain, there has not been any systematic compilation of configurations of density plumes associated with various sedimentary environments and processes. This article, based on 45 case studies covering 21 major rivers(e.g., Amazon, Betsiboka, Congo [Zaire], Copper, Hugli [Ganges], Mackenzie, Mississippi, Niger, Nile, Rhone, Rio de la Plata, Yellow, Yangtze, Zambezi, etc.) and six different depositional environments(i.e., marine, lacustrine, estuarine, lagoon, bay, and reef), is the first attempt in illustrating natural variability of configurations of density plumes in modern environments. There are, at least, 24 configurations of density plumes. An important finding of this study is that density plumes are controlled by a plethora of 18 oceanographic, meteorological, and other external factors. Examples are: 1) Yellow River in China by tidal shear front and by a change in river course; 2) Yangtze River in China by shelf currents and vertical mixing by tides in winter months; 3) Rio de la Plata Estuary in Argentina and Uruguay by Ocean currents; 4) San Francisco Bay in California by tidal currents; 5) Gulf of Manner in the Indian Ocean by monsoonal currents; 6) Egypt in Red Sea by Eolian dust; 7) U.S. Atlantic margin by cyclones; 8) Sri Lanka by tsunamis; 9) Copper River in Alaska by high-gradient braid delta; 10) Lake Erie by seiche; 11) continental margin off Namibia by upwelling; 12) Bering Sea by phytoplankton; 13) the Great Bahama Bank in the Atlantic Ocean by fish activity; 14) Indonesia by volcanic activity; 15) Greenland by glacial melt; 16) South Pacific Ocean by coral reef; 17) Carolina continental Rise by pockmarks; and 18) Otsuchi Bay in Japan by internal bore. The prevailing trend in promoting a single type of river-flood triggered hyperpycnal flow is flawed because there are 16 types of hyperpycnal flows. River-flood derived hyperpycnal flows are muddy in texture and they occur close to the shoreline in inner shelf environments. Hyperpycnal flows are not viable transport mechanisms of sand and gravel across the shelf into the deep sea. The available field observations suggest that they do not form meter-thick sand layers in deep water settings. For the above reasons, river-flood triggered hyperpycnites are considered unsuitable for serving as petroleum reservoirs in deep-water environments until proven otherwise.

Volume-averaged modeling of multiphase solidification with equiaxed crystal sedimentation in a steel ingot

Macrosegregation is a critical factor that limits the mechanical properties of materials.The impact of equiaxed crystal sedimentation on macrosegregation has been extensively studied,as it plays a significant role in determining the distribution of alloying elements and impurities within a material.To improve macrosegregation in steel connecting shafts,a multiphase solidification model that couples melt flow,heat transfer,microstructure evolution,and solute transport was established based on the volume-averaged Eulerian-Eulerian approach.In this model,the effects of liquid phase,equiaxed crystals,columnar dendrites,and columnar-to-equiaxed transition(CET)during solidification and evolution of microstructure can be considered simultaneously.The sedimentation of equiaxed crystals contributes to negative macrosegregation,where regions between columnar dendrites and equiaxed crystals undergo significant A-type positive macrosegregation due to the CET.Additionally,noticeable positive macrosegregation occurs in the area of final solidification in the ingot.The improvement in macrosegregation is beneficial for enhancing the mechanical properties of connecting shafts.To mitigate the thermal convection of molten steel resulting from excessive superheating,reducing the superheating during casting without employing external fields or altering the design of the ingot mold is indeed an effective approach to control macrosegregation.

Numerical simulation on sand sedimentation and erosion characteristics around HDPE sheet sand barrier under different wind angles

For the safety of railroad operations,sand barriers are utilized to mitigate wind-sand disaster effects.These disasters,characterized by multi-directional wind patterns,result in diverse angles among the barriers.In this study,using numerical simulations,we examined the behavior of High Density Polyethylene(HDPE)sheet sand barriers under different wind angles,focusing on flow field distribution,windproof efficiency,and sedimentation erosion dynamics.This study discovered that at a steady wind speed,airflow velocity varies as the angle between the airflow and the HDPE barrier changes.Specifically,a 90°angle results in the widest low-speed airflow area on the barrier’s downwind side.If the airflow is not perpendicular to the barrier,it prompts a lateral airflow movement which decreases as the angle expands.The windproof efficiency correlates directly with this angle but inversely with the wind’s speed.Notably,with a wind angle of 90°,wind speed drops by 81%.The minimum wind speed is found at 5.1H(the sand barrier height)on the barrier’s downwind side.As the angle grows,the barrier’s windproof efficiency improves,extending its protective reach.Sedimentation is most prominent on the barrier’s downwind side,as the wind angle shifts from 30°to 90°,the sand sedimentation area on the barrier’s downwind side enlarges by 14.8H.As the angle grows,sedimentation intensifies,eventually overtakes the forward erosion and enlarges the sedimentation area.

Types,characteristics and implication for hydrocarbon exploration of the Middle Miocene deep-water sediments in Beikang Basin,southern South China Sea

The internal seismic architectures of the Middle Miocene in Beikang Basin, southern South China Sea, were investigated and described using regional 2D seismic data from Guangzhou Marine Geology Survey. In particular, five typical seismic facies were identified based on an integrated analysis of the amplitude, continuity, contact relationship, and morphologies of seismic reflections. Bathyal-abyssal fine-grained sediments, deltaic front sandy bodies, turbidites, and small-scale turbidite channels were developed in the Middle Miocene according to the tectonic-sedimentary evolution of the sedimentary basins in the southern South China Sea. The findings of this study suggest that deltaic front sandy bodies and turbidites can be considered as the two major types of deep-water clastic reservoirs for the depression stage of Beikang Basin. A well-developed source-reservoir-cap assemblage was composed by deep rift-stage source rocks, deep-water clastic reservoirs of the Middle Miocene, and bathyal-abyssal deep-water fine-grained sediments after the Middle Miocene, implying a good potential for hydrocarbon exploration.

Coupling relationship and genetic mechanisms of shelf-edge delta and deep-water fan source-to-sink:A case study in Paleogene Zhuhai Formation in south subsag of Baiyun Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin,China

The coupling relationship between shelf-edge deltas and deep-water fan sand bodies is a hot and cutting-edge field of international sedimentology and deep-water oil and gas exploration.Based on the newly acquired high-resolution 3D seismic,logging and core data of Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB),this paper dissected the shelf-edge delta to deep-water fan(SEDDF)depositional system in the Oligocene Zhuhai Formation of Paleogene in south subsag of Baiyun Sag,and revealed the complex coupling relationship from the continental shelf edge to deep-water fan sedimentation and its genetic mechanisms.The results show that during the deposition of the fourth to first members of the Zhuhai Formation,the scale of the SEDDF depositional system in the study area showed a pattern of first increasing and then decreasing,with deep-water fan developed in the third to first members and the largest plane distribution scale developed in the late stage of the second member.Based on the development of SEDDF depositional system along the source direction,three types of coupling relationships are divided,namely,deltas that are linked downdip to fans,deltas that lack downdip fans and fans that lack updip coeval deltas,with different depositional characteristics and genetic mechanisms.(1)Deltas that are linked downdip to fans:with the development of shelf-edge deltas in the shelf area and deep-water fans in the downdip slope area,and the strong source supply and relative sea level decline are the two key factors which control the development of this type of source-to-sink(S2S).The development of channels on the continental shelf edge is conducive to the formation of this type of S2S system even with weak source supply and high sea level.(2)Deltas that lack downdip fans:with the development of shelf edge deltas in shelf area,while deep water fans are not developed in the downdip slope area.The lack of“sources”and“channels”,and fluid transformation are the three main reasons for the formation of this type of S2S system.(3)Fans that lack updip coeval deltas:with the development of deep-water fans in continental slope area and the absence of updip coeval shelf edge deltas,which is jointly controlled by the coupling of fluid transformation at the shelf edge and the“channels”in the continental slope area.

Gravity-Driven Listric Growth Fault and Sedimentation in the Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain, Brazil

High frequency, high resolution GPR surveys are successfully applied to investigate near-surface stratification architecture of sedimentary units in coastal plains and to define their depositional conditions. However, low frequency GPR surveys to investigate fault-related depositional systems at greater depths are scarce. This survey was designed investigate a > 100 km long linear escarpment that controls the northwest margin of the Lagoa do Peixe, an important lagoon in Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain (RGSCP, Brazil). The traditional approach points that RGSCP was developed by juxtaposition of four lagoons/barrier systems as consequence of sea level changes;no deformational structure is admitted to exist before. The low frequency GPR (50 MHz, RTA antenna) and geological surveys carried out in the RGSCP showed the existence of a large, gravity-driven listric growth fault controlling the Lagoa do Peixe escarpment and hangingwall sedimentation. The radargrams in four subareas along the Lagoa do Peixe Growth Fault could be interpreted following the seismic expression of rift-related depositional systems. The radargrams enabled to distinguish three main lagoonal deposition radarfacies. The lower lagoonal radarfacies is a convex upward unit, thicker close to growth fault;the radarfacies geometry indicates that fault displacement rate surpasses the sedimentation rate, and its upper stratum is aged ~3500 l4C years BP. The second lagoonal radarfacies is a triangular wedge restricted to the lagoon depocenter, whose geometry indicates that fault displacement and the sedimentation rates kept pace. The upper lagoonal radarfacies is being deposited since 1060 ± 70 l4C years BP, under sedimentation rate higher than fault displacement rate. The results indicate that low frequency GPR surveys can help in investigating fault-related depositional systems in coastal zones. They also point to a new approach in dealing with RGSCP stratigraphy.

Application of fluid modulus inversion to complex lithology reservoirs in deep-water areas

It has been a challenge to distinguish between seismic anomalies caused by complex lithology and hydrocarbon reservoirs using conventional fluid identification techniques,leading to difficulties in accurately predicting hydrocarbon-bearing properties and determining oil-water contacts in reservoirs.In this study,we built a petrophysical model tailored to the deep-water area of the Baiyun Sag in the eastern South China Sea based on seismic data and explored the feasibility of the tri-parameter direct inversion method in the fluid identification of complex lithology reservoirs,offering a more precise alternative to conventional techniques.Our research found that the fluid modulus can successfully eliminate seismic amplitude anomalies caused by lithological variations.Furthermore,the seismic databased direct inversion for fluid modulus can remove the cumulative errors caused by indirect inversion and the influence of porosity.We discovered that traditional methods using seismic amplitude anomalies were ineffective in detecting fluids,determining gas-water contacts,or delineating high-quality reservoirs.However,the fluid factor Kf,derived from solid-liquid decoupling,proved to be sensitive to the identification of hydrocarbon-bearing properties,distinguishing between high-quality and poor-quality gas zones.Our findings confirm the value of the fluid modulus in fluid identification and demonstrate that the tri-parameter direct inversion method can significantly enhance hydrocarbon exploration in deep-water areas,reducing associated risks.

Control effects of the synsedimentary faults on the basin-marginal fans in the central part of the deep-water area of early Oligocene Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

The synsedimentary faults and basin-marginal fans located in the central part of the deep-water area of the early Oligocene Qiongdongnan Basin have been investigated using seismic profiles,boreholes,and well-log data.Through the formations of the characterized paleogeomorphology,such as transverse anticlines,fault ditches,and step-fault belts,the synsedimentary faults are known to have controlled the development position,distribution direction,and extension scales of the basin-marginal fans.For example,at the pitching ends of two adjacent faults,transverse anticlines developed,which controlled the development positions and distributions of the fans.During the early Oligocene,the faults controlled the subsidence center,and fault ditches were formed at the roots of the faults.In the surrounding salient or low salient areas,which were exposed as provenance areas during early Oligocene,the fault ditches acted as the source channels and determined the flow paths of the clastics,where incised valley fills were obviously developed.The fault ditches which developed in the sedimentary basins were able to capture the drainage systems and influenced the distributions of the fans.The large boundary faults and the secondary faults generated two fault terraces and formed step-fault belts.The first fault terrace caused the clastics to be unloaded.As a result,fans were formed at the entrance to the basin.Then,the second fault terrace caused the fans to move forward,with the fans developing in a larger extension scale.The results obtained in this study will potentially be beneficial in the future prospecting activities for reservoirs and coalmeasure source rocks in the basins located in the deep-water areas of the South China Sea.

Getters Reactants. I. Thermo-Sedimentational Activation

A new method for chemical pumping of gases has been developed using reactive alloys of Li with IIA metals in the liquid state. It is an answer to the need for ultra-high and extremely high vacuum without loose solid particles. Another application of this development is the production of high- and ultra-pure noble gases in a one-step process. Both of these solutions are unprecedented;they are based on a new gas/melt sorption interface that raises the overall bar of technical advances in the field to a higher level, simplifying sorption equipment and leading to cost savings.

Sedimentary elements,evolutions and controlling factors of the Miocene channel system:a case study of the deep-water Taranaki Basin in New Zealand

Deep-water channel systems are important petroleum reservoirs,and many have been discovered worldwide.Understanding deep-water channel sedimentary elements and evolution is helpful for deep-sea petroleum exploration and development.Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data,the Miocene channel system in the deep-water Taranaki Basin,New Zealand,was analyzed by using seismic interpretation techniques such as interlayer attribute extraction and strata slicing.The channel system was divided into five composite channels(CC-I to CC-V)according to four secondary level channel boundaries,and sedimentary elements such as channels,slump deposits,inner levees,mass transport deposits,and hemipelagic drape deposits were identified in the channel system.The morphological characteristics of several composite channels exhibited stark variances,and the overall morphology of the composite channels changed from relatively straight to highly sinuous to relatively straight.The evolution of the composite channels involved a gradual and repeated process of erosion and filling,and the composite channels could be divided into three evolutionary stages:initial erosion-filling,later erosion-filling(multistage),and channel abandonment.The middle Miocene channel system may have formed as a consequence of combined regional tectonic activity and global climatic change,and its intricate morphological alterations may have been influenced by the channel's ability to self-regulate and gravity flow properties.When studying the sedimentary evolution of a large-scale deep-water channel system in the Taranaki Basin during the Oligocene-Miocene,which transitioned from a passive margin to plate convergence,it can be understood how tectonic activity affected the channel and can also provide a theoretical reference for the evolution of the deepwater channels in areas with similar tectonic conversion environments around the world.

Investigation of the Clinical Diagnostic Significance of the T-Cell Test for Tuberculosis combined with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Test in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective:To investigate the clinical diagnostic significance of peripheral blood T-cell test(T-spot test)for tuberculosis(TB)infection combined with erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)in pulmonary TB.Methods:41 patients with a clinical diagnosis of TB during hospitalization from January 2020 to April 2023 in our hospital were selected as the experimental group,and 45 patients without TB(bronchopneumonia patients)were selected as the control group.The diagnostic specificity,sensitivity,and accuracy of the T-spot TB test,ESR test,and the combined test of the two were calculated respectively.Results:The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of the T-spot TB test combined with ESR for the diagnosis of TB in the experimental group were significantly higher than the individual results of the T-spot TB test and ESR test alone(P<0.05).Conclusion:The T-spot TB test combined with the ESR test for TB diagnosis has greater clinical value than carrying out the tests individually.

Dynamic experiments on flocculation and sedimentation of argillized ultrafine tailings using fly-ash-based magnetic coagulant

In order to accelerate the sedimentation of super-large-scale argillized ultrafine tailings with bad features such as low settling velocity, muddy overflow water, and large flocculant dosage, a fly-ash-based magnetic coagulant （FAMC） was used in a dynamic experimental device. To obtain the best possible combination of the impact factors （magnetic intensity, FAMC dosage, flocculant dosage, and feed speed） for minimum overflow turbidity, a response surface methodology test coupled with a four-factor five-level central composite design was conducted. The synergy mechanism of FAMC and flocculant was analyzed based on the potential measurement and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the flocculant dosage, overflow turbidity, and solid content can be reduced by 50%, 90%, and 80%, while the handling capacity per unit and efficiency of backfill and dry stacking can be promoted by 20%, 17%, and 13%, respectively, with a magnetic intensity of 0.3 T, FAMC dosage of 200 mL/t, flocculant dosage of 30 g/t, and feed speed of 0.6 t/（m^2·h）. Therefore, synergy of FAMC and flocculant has obvious efficiency in saving energy and protecting the environment by allowing 70×10^6 t/a of argillized ultrafine tailings slurry to be disposed safely and efficiently with a cost saving of more than 53×106 Yuan/a, which gives it great promise for use in domestic and foreign mines.

Development of a Thermal Fogger-specific Sedimentation Stabilizer

In order to solve the drifting away of thermal fog droplets during thermal spraying and the incompatibility between fog droplet carrier and conventional com- mercial agro-chemicals, the fog droplet carrier, surfactant, condensation nucleus ma- terial and antifreeze, dispersant, thickener and defoamer were screened and assem- bled to develop a thermal fog sedimentation stabilizer in this study, thereby provid- ing technical support for application and promotion of thermal spraying technology in pest and disease control in crops.

Habitat evaluation for target species following deep-water channel project in the Yangtze River

In order to optimize the design of a 12.5 m deepwater channel project and protect the ecological environment, it is necessary to study the habitat evaluation of species in the engineered area. A coupled eco-hydrodynamic model, which combines a hydrodynamic model （ADCIRC） and a habitat suitability index （HSI） model is developed for target fish （Coilia nasus） and benthos （Corbicula fluminea） in the Yangtze River in order to predict the ecological changes and optimize the regulation scheme. Based on the existing research concerning the characteristics of Coilia nasus and Corbicula fluminea, the relationship between the target species and water environment factors is established. The verification results of tidal level, velocity and biological density show that the proposed coupling model performs well when predicting ecological suitability in the studied region. The results indicate a slight improvement in the potential habitat availability for the two species studied as the natural hydraulic conditions change after the deep-water channel regulation works.

Analysis on Grain Traits and Sedimentation Value of Wheat Genotype Heng 9966, Its Parents and Their Closely Related Varieties

[Objective] 7 indictors of wheat genotype Heng 9966, its parents and their closely related varieties were analyzed based on the 1000-grain weight, sedimentation value and traits of selected grains in DUS test, so as to provide references for the protection of variety intellectual property. [Method] Testing comparison and statistical analysis were conducted to the dormant seeds of winter wheat genotype 9966, parents of Liangxing 99 and Liangxing 96 aw well as the closely related variety of the parents, Jimai 22. [Result] Heng 9966 showed a difference of 2 codes in 1000-grain weight and sedimentation value from the above-mentioned 3 genotypes, and the variant analysis reached the extremely significant level of 0.01. And it also showed extremely significant difference at the level of 0.01 with Liangxing 66 in grain length, with Liangxing 66 and Jimai 22 in grain width, with Liangxing 66 in grain area, with Liangxing 66 and Jimai 22 in grain perimeter. [Conclusion] Heng 9966 had significant distinctness from its parents and their closely related variety, and grain shape can be used as a reference indicator for variety distinctness for the protection of variety intellectual property.

GRAVITY-DRIVEN SEDIMENTATION ON THE NORTHWESTERN CONTINENTAL SLOPE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA:RESULTS FROM HIGH-RESOLUTION SEISMIC DATA AND PISTON CORES

A distinct echo-character was assigned to sedimentation processes, which were then verified using data from surface sediment samples and piston cores. of echo types on the continental slope perfectly reflecting both sediment erosion and deposition, four edimentary types have been recognized:(1) submarine clides distributed on the shelfbreak and characterized by high silt and water conten, loose struture, poor consolidation and low shearing strength; (2) slumps occurring on the shelfbreak, middle slope channel and reef margin near Dongsha Islands, but having different origins; (3) debris flow occurring either in sea areas around Dongsha Atoll, or on the continental slope’s three channels, where the transparent debris flow deposits often overlie or abruptly truncate highly stratified hemipelagic sediments;are of limited to local extent, ranging from a few square kilometers to hundreds of square kilometers in area; but on the lowr slope, usually occur as 1000 km2, about 100 km2 individual complexes; and (4) turbidites, limited on the continental slope; are occurring as migrating waves of sediments at the the of the slope, and are rhythmically-bedded, coarse-grained. Their migration is a result of overbank flow downslope through the submarine channel at the west. The slope faces are dominated by mass wasting deposition, and a few turbidite current sediments. As wasting is an important process. Some debris flow eomplexes on the west are buried by well-stratified confomable sediments, whereas others on the east appear on the present seafloor and therefore are relatively recent.

Deep-water Fan Systems and Petroleum Resources on the Northern Slope of the South China Sea

The shallow shelf delta/strand arenaceous-pelitic deposit region in the north of the Pearl River mouth basin, sitting on the northern continental shelf of the South China Sea, has already become an important oil production base in China. Recent researched has revealed that a great deal of deep-water fans of great petroleum potentiality exist on the Baiyun deep-water slope below the big paleo Pearl River and its large delta. Based on a mass of exploration wells and 2-D seismic data of the shallow shelf region, a interpretation of sequence stratigraphy confirmed the existence of deep-water fans. The cyclic falling of sea level, abundant detrital matter from the paleo Pearl River and the persistent geothermal subsidence in the Baiyun sag are the three prerequisites for the formation and development of deep-water fans. There are many in common between the deep-water shelf depositional system of the northern South China Sea and the exploration hotspots region on the two banks of the Atlantic. For example, both are located on passive continent margins, and persistent secular thermal subsidence and large paleo rivers have supplied abundant material sources and organic matter. More recently, the discovery of the big gas pool on the northern slope of the Baiyun sag confirms that the Lower Tertiary lacustrine facies in the Baiyun sag has a great potentiality of source rocks. The fans overlying the Lower Tertiary source rocks should become the main exploration areas for oil and gas resources.

Middle-Late Triassic sedimentation in the Helanshan tectonic belt: Constrain on the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Ordos Basin, North China

The Helanshan tectonic belt is located to the west of the Ordos Basin, and separates the Alxa(or Yinshan)Massif to the west from the Ordos block to the east. Triassic sedimentation in the Helanshan tectonic belt records important information about tectono-sedimentary process between the Alxa Massif and the Ordos block. Detailed geological mapping and investigation on the lithological package, sedimentary facies and paleocurrent orientation have been conducted on the Middle to Upper Triassic clastic rocks in the Helanshan tectonic belt. The succession is characterized by upward-fining sequence and comprises coarse grained alluvial-fluvial facies in the lower part as well as deltaic-lacustrine facies in the upper part. Based on detailed study and comparisons on the sedimentary sequence along various sections, the Middle to Upper Triassic strata have been revealed that show clear southeastward-deepening sedimentary differentiation and transgression from southwest to northeast, which are consistent with the southeastward flowing paleocurrent. These features indicate a southeastward-dipping paleogeography in the Helanshan tectonic belt, which was original western part of southeastward orientated fluviallacustrine system in the northwestern proto-Ordos Basin. Further to the east, the Triassic succession in the Ordos Basin displays gradually thickening and alluvial-fluvial system flowed from southeast to northwest, showing a huge thick sedimentary wedge in the western basin margin. Together with the Late Permiane Early Triassic closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean to the north, the Late Triassic extensional structures and diabase dykes in the Helanshan tectonic belt, all the above sedimentary features could be mostly interpreted as records of an extensional basin correlated to post-collisional collapse of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.

Modern sedimentation rates in the intertidal zone on the west coast of the Bohai Gulf

On the basis of the measurement of 210Pbex and 137Cs activities in the sediment cores taken from the intertidal zone on the west coast of the Bohai Gulf, the average sedimentation rates of modern sediments are calculated. The results indicate that in the sandy area of the intertidal zone (from Daogouzi to the Duliujian River), the sedimentation rate from 1955 to 1963 is 3.43-4.06 cm/a, and is within the range of 0.65￣1.59 cm/a since 1963. The average sedimentation rate in the muddy area (around Qikou) is approximately 1.81 cm/a. The results above suggest that the sandy area of the intertidal zone has experienced rapid sedimentation from the 1950s to the 1960s, and the sedimentation slows down after the 1960s, and the sedimentation rates increase from north to south spatially. The rapid sedi- mentation from the 1950s to the 1960s in the sandy area is due to the fact that North China has plentiful precipitation during this period and the intertidal zone is supplied with abundant matter sources for sedimentation. After the 1960s, the weakened sedimentation may be a result of the reduction of sand transported to the intertidal zone, which is a consequence of diminished rainfall in North China and intensive human activities in the Haihe basin.

Evolution of Sedimentation and Tectonics of the Youjiang Composite Basin, South China

Located at the southern margin of the South China plate, the Youjiang basin is a closely related to the NW- and NE-trending syndepositional faults in respect to the configuration and structure of the basin. The evolution of the Youjiang basin progressed through two stages. In the Hercynian period, the opening of the Ailaoshan-Honghe ocean basin gave rise to a number of NW-trending rift belts in the Youjiang area. During this period, deep-water sediments were dominant and the basin was possesed of the characteristics of the rift system of passive continental margins. In the early Indosinian after the Dongwu movement, the circum - Pacific tectonism led to a major change in the configuration and structure of the basin. In the meantime, the Ailaoshan ocean basin began to be subducted towards the northeast, thus causing the basin to be split and expand again, and then the basin developed into the stage of the back -arc basin. At the end of the Indosinian period, the basin gradually closed from east to west, thus ending up the history of development of the Youjiang basin. In the various developmental stages, sediments in the basin, also limited by the Dongwu movement, were formed by superposition of sedimentation systems with different features, and a typical two-layered structure, which consisted of starved and compensated sediments, also occurred in the early stage. Likewise, volcanic activity in the basin involved two stages. Basin volcanic rocks of alkali and alkali-calcic series, which were controlled by NW-trending faults, occurred in the early stage, and basic and intermediate-acid volcanic rocks of calc-alkali and calcic series, which were controlled by NW- and NE-trending faults. From the above it follows that the Youjiang basin was formed by the combined action of the Palaeotethys and circum -Pacific tectonism.