The abundance,distribution,and enrichment mechanism of harmful trace elements in coals from Guizhou,Southwestern China

Coal seams can enrich a variety of harmful trace elements under specific geological conditions.The spatial distribution of harmful trace elements in coal is extremely uneven,and the distribution characteristics of each element content are different.The harmful elements released in the process of coal mining and utilization will cause serious harm to the environment and the human body.It is of great resource significance to study the geochemistry of coal that affects the enrichment and distribution characteristics of harmful trace elements.Based on the domestic and foreign literature on coal geochemistry in Guizhou published by previous investigators,this study counted 1097 sample data from 23 major coal-producing counties in Guizhou Province,systematically summarized the relevant research results of harmful trace elements in the coal of Guizhou,and revealed the overall distribution and enrichment characteristics of harmful trace elements in the coal of Guizhou.The results show that the average contents of Cd,Pb,Se,Cu,Mo,U,V,As,Hg,and Cr in coal of Guizhou are higher than those in Chinese coal and world coal.A variety of harmful trace elements in the coal of Guizhou have high background values,especially in Liupanshui,Xingyi and Qianbei coalfield.The enrichment of various harmful trace elements in the Late Permian coal in Guizhou is mainly related to the combined action of various geological and geochemical factors.The supply of terrigenous debris and sedimentary environment may be the basic background of the enrichment of harmful elements in western Guizhou,while low-temperature hydrothermal activity and volcanic ash deposition may be the main reasons for the enrichment of harmful elements in southwestern Guizhou.

Geological characterization and exploration potential of shale gas in the Carboniferous Jiusi Formation,northern Guizhou and Yunnan provinces,SW China

Dark mudstones and shales of the Carboniferous Jiusi Formation are widely developed in northern Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, SW China. However, the distribution, reservoir characterization, and exploration potential of organic-rich shales in this area are yet to be quantified, thus limiting the prospect of shale gas in this area. This study investigates the basic geological conditions of Jiusi shale gas, using core data, well-logs, and some other test data, obtaining the following results. The organic-rich shales are mainly composed of deltaic-to-shallow-shelf deposits, with thickness ranging from 0 to 450 m, and above 350 m around the subsidence center. The organic matter is mainly type Ⅱ kerogen with TOC content of mostly 1%–2%, indicating a moderate maturity. The argillaceous shale reservoirs are indicative of strong heterogeneity, high clay minerals content, low porosity, low permeability, high specific surface area, and relatively developed secondary porosity. The gas-log anomaly intervals obtained from the survey wells have a cumulative thickness that is apparently greater than 200 m, and a few shale intervals showing high desorbed and adsorbed gas contents. Due to complex structures in the study area, conditions responsible for shale gas occurrence and trapping are generally moderate. However, areas having wide and gentle folds with moderate depth of burial reveals relatively favorable conditions of hydrocarbon traps. In contrast with typical marine-continental transitional shales, the Jiusi shale have better geological conditions for shale gas preservation. The analysis of the geological framework and hydrocarbon potential of Carboniferous Jiusi Formation provide more insight for the exploration of Carboniferous shale gas in southern China.

New Macroalgal Fossils from Middle Cambrian Kaili Biota in Guizhou Province, China

Abundant and well-preserved remains of noncalcareous algae and soft-bodied metazoans were collected from Middle Cambrian Kaili biota in Taijiang county, Guizhou Province, China. These remains provide further evidence for the wide geographic distribution of many Burgess Shale taxa. Among the algae, 5 genera (including two new genera) and 5 species are described. They are Marpolia spissa Walcott, Acinocricus stichus Conway Morris and Robison, Udotealga erecta Yang, Eosargassum sawata Yang, and Rhizophyton zhaoyuanlongii Yang. Contrasting the macroalgal fossil assemblage in the Kaili biota with one in the Burgess Shale biota, it is clear that similarity of the Kaili biota and the Burgess Shale biota is reflected by the same content of not only the soft-bodied metazoans, but also the noncalcareous algae.

Spatial-temporal Changes of Vegetation Cover in Guizhou Province, Southern China

Guizhou Province is an important karst area in the world and a fragile ecological area in China. Ecological risk assessment is very necessary to be conducted in this region. This study investigates different characteristics of the spatial-temporal changes of vegetation cover in Guizhou Province of Southern China using the data set of SPOT VEGETATION(1999–2015) at spatial resolution of 1-km and temporal resolution of 10-day. The coefficient of variation, the Theil-Sen median trend analysis, and the Mann-Kendall test are used to investigate the spatial-temporal change of vegetation cover and its future trend. Results show that: 1) the spatial distribution pattern of vegetation cover in Guizhou Plateau is high in the east whereas low in the west. The average annual normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) from west to east is higher than that from south to north. 2) Average annual NDVI improved obviously in the past 17 years. The growth rate of average annual NDVI is 0.028/10 yr, which is slower than that of vegetation in the country(0.048/10 yr) from 1998 to 2007. Average annual NDVI in karst area is lower than that in non-karst area. However, the growing rate of average annual NDVI in karst area(0.030/10 yr) is faster than that in non-karst area(0.023/10 yr), indicating that vegetation coverage increases more rapidly in karst area. 3) Vegetation coverage in the study area is stable overall, but fluctuates in the local scales. 4) Vegetation coverage presents a continuous increasing trend. The Hurst exponent of NDVI in different vegetation types has an obvious threshold in various elevations. 5) The proportion of vegetation cover with sustainable increase is higher than that of vegetation cover with sustainable decrease. The improvement in vegetation cover may expand to most parts of the study area.

The Historical Status of Guizhou Province on Glutinous Rice Cultivation Sphere of China

Guizhou Province is part of the glutinous rice cultivation sphere in our country.Its rice production and germplasm resources play an important role.The southeast region is the centre of the Guizhou glutinous rice cultivation and characterized by waxy wo,which is treasure of the original farming culture of southeast Guizhou region and an important symbol for ethnic cultural identity of the region.

Ardeid nesting colonies in central Guizhou,southwestern China

A survey of Ardeid nesting colonies in central Guizhou,southwestern China in May 2006,which covered about one-third of the area of this province,recorded a total of 1587 nests of five species,i.e.,Little Egret (Egretta garzetta),Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis),Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus),Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) at 11 nesting colonies.The largest colonies were recorded at Fengyunyan and Yanfu resorts,the smallest one at Luobolin.The Little Egret was the dominant nesting species (49.7% of the total number of nests) and the Grey Heron was the least abundant (0.1%).All nesting colonies were located in the northern and central parts of Guizhou;no colonies were found in the Leigongshan area,the southern part of this province.The distribution of nesting colonies in central Guizhou appears to be affected by the relative composition of winter (wheat and vegetable) and summer (rice) crops during the breeding season (between late March and June).No colonies were found around farmlands with winter crops and most colonies were situated around rice paddies.The farmland use pattern is affected by rainfall.The summer crop is delayed if the rainy season starts late and the rainfall is light.Priority for conservation of the Ardeids in central Guizhou should be given to the larger colonies i.e.,Yanfu and Fengyunyan resorts.

Development and Utilization of Catering Culture and New Countryside Construction in Guizhou of China

The paper pointed out that catering cultural resources played an important role in vitalizing Guizhou,promoting rural tourism development,innovating characteristic mountainous economy,increasing villagers' income and constructing ecological civilization.It emphasized that development and utilization of catering resources could contribute to promotion of economic development and preservation of good ecology on condition that natural environment was not destroyed.Advantages and potentials for development and utilization of catering culture in Guizhou had been analyzed,which lied in diversified food production methods,abundant food materials,obvious regionality,colorful national catering cultures,green foods and so on.It proposed that Guizhou catering culture had gained attention of relevant departments currently and had been developed to a certain degree.Its development status was introduced in brief.On this basis,it put forward relevant strategies,emphasized depending on government's guidance,stimulating villagers' activity,rooting in the soil of Guizhou historical culture,paying attention to establishment and protection of native catering cultural brand,and doing well in sales promotion.

Research Progress of the Mineralization of Carbonate-Hosted Pb-Zn Deposits in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Pb-Zn Metallogenic Province, Southwest China

The Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou （SYG） Pb-Zn metallogenic province in the western Yangtze Block, is a key component of the low-temperature metallogenic domain in South China. In this area, more than 400 Pb-Zn deposits have been discovered, and the total proven reserves are up to 260 million tons with lead and zinc grade reaching 10%, even up to 30%.

Kaili Biota: A Taphonomic Window on Diversification of Metazoans from the Basal Middle Cambrian: Guizhou, China

A Burgess Shale-type biota is, in part, characterized by a wide diversity of taxa and soft-part preservation. Each provides unique historical insights into early metazoan evolution. Among the more than 40 globally distributed biotas, the early Cambrian Chengjiang and Middle Cambrian Burgess-type biotas are the largest. The Kaili Biota, from the earliest Middle Cambrian of Guizhou, China, contains representatives of 110 metazoan genera belonging to 10 phyla. It contains many well-persevered soft-bodied specimens. This Chinese biota has become the third most taxonomically diverse Burgess Shale-type fauna. Because the Kaili Biota formed in an outer-shelf environment, its main faunal character is large numbers of eocrinoids and planktoic trilobites. The Kaili is younger than the Chengjiang Biota but older than the Canadian Burgess Shale Biota; it shares 30 genera with the Chengjiang and 38 genera with the Burgess Biota. The Kaili Biota displays a taphonomic window to the diversification and evolution of marine offshore organisms covering 5.13 million years between the Early and Middle Cambrian.

New Bradoriid Arthropods from the Early Cambrian Balang Formation of Eastern Guizhou, South China

The Early Cambrian Balang Formation is comprised of mudrock and shale, which was deposited in a shelf environment in the eastern part of Guizhou, south China. The Balang Fauna, which consists of seven phyla, occurs in the middle and upper parts of the Balang Formation. Arthropods are important constituents of the Balang Fauna and include a great number of trilobites, large bivalved arthropods, and newly-discovered well-preserved bradoriid fossils. The bradoriids present include three genera and four species ： Comptaluta inflata （Cheng, 1974） emend Hou et al., 2002; Comptaluta kailiensis sp. nov., and Alutella elongeta sp. nov, Aluta sp. This faunal assemblage in the Balang Formation is distinguished from the Tsunyiella Chang, 1964, Songlinella Yin, 1978 and Kunmingella Hou, 1956 assemblage which occurs in the Niutitang and Mingxinsi formations of the Yangtze Platform in middle region of Guizhou and which is earlier than the Balang Formation in age. However, this assemblage resembles the Comptaluta Opik, 1968 assemblage from the Early Cambrian Heilinpu Formation in Wuding County, Yuanan Province and from the Ordian Stage of the Cambrian of Australia. The great abundance of Comptaluta Opik, 1968 and overall taxonomic diversity of the Comptaluta Opik, 1968 assemblage set it distinctly apart from theAlutella Kobayashi et Kato, 1951 and Aluta Hou, 1956 assemblages of the Balang Formation. Alutella Kobayashi et Kato, 1951 and Aluta Hou, 1956 also occur in the Early Cambrian Niutitang Formation of the Yangtze Platform of Guizhou. Individual Bradoriids from the Balang Formation are characterized by large size （〉3 mm）. The discovery of new Bradoriid assemblages not only expands the group＇s geographical range and assemblage affinities, but also indicates that Bradoriids migrated eastward from shallow-water to deeper-water environments during the Early Cambrian, indicating that they were capable of life in deeper-water, and adaptation to a new ecological setting.

Cephalopods of the “Falang Formation” (Triassic) from Guanling and Zhenfeng Counties, Guizhou Province, China

The 'Falang Formation' of western Guizhou was previously called the 'Halobia Bed' and considered to be I .adinian in age. It was subdivided upward into the Zhuganpo, Laishike and Longchang members based on ammonites and the Trachyceras multitubertulatum Zone of the Longchang Member was put in the Lower Carnian. Here in the present paper, 4 genera and 9 species of ammonites and 1 nautiloid genus and species collected from the upper part of the 'Falang Formation' (i.e. the Wayao Formation used in this paper, equivalent to the Laishike Member from Guanling and Zhenfeng counties are described. The geological and geographical distribution of these cephalopods, as well as the co-existing conodonts, put the Wayao Formation to the late early Carnmian.

A New Species of the Asian Toad Genus Megophrys sensu lato(Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Guizhou Province, China

We describe a new species of the genus Megophrys sensu lato from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an independent lineage in Megophrys(Panophrys) clade. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics:(1) small body size with SVL < 38.8 mm in male and SVL < 42.3 mm in female;(2) vomerine teeth absent;(3) tongue not notched behind;(4) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid;(5) tympanum distinctly visible, rounded;(6) two metacarpal tubercles in hand;(7) relative finger lengths: II < I < V < III;(8) toes with rudimentary webbing at bases;(9) heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body;(10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level between tympanum to eye when leg stretched forward;(11) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male;(12) in breeding male, the nuptial pads with black nuptial spines on the dorsal bases of the first and second fingers.

An Observation of Franois' Langurs Using Caves at Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China

The utilization of caves is a rather rare phenomenon in nonhuman primates, found almost exclusively in those members of the genus Trachypithecus that share a preference for forest on limestone （karst） hills in Vietnam and southern China. Here we report a new case of usage of caves as overnight sleeping shelters by Franqois＇ or black langurs （Trachypithecusfraru;oisi） at Mayanghe National Nature Reserve in Yanhe County, Guizhou Province, China. We tentatively address three possible hypotheses that may account for the use of caves in Francois＇ langurs at Mayanghe： shelter against climatic conditions, acquisition of minerals and protection from predators. utilization

Dinomischus from the Middle Cambrian Kaili Biota, Guizhou, China

Dinomischus is a rare solitary epifaunal suspension feeder. The over-all morphology of Dinomischus consists of a conical calyx surrounded with elongate bracts and an elongate stem. Visceral mass and stomach sac are evident in the body cavity. Dinomischus is interpreted as a primative ancestor of living entoprocts based on similarities in morphology and mode of life. Previously, Dinomischus is only known in two localities： the mid-Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale Biota and the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Biota. A single specimen of Dinomischus cf. D. isolatus Cowry Morris, 1977 from the Kaili Biota, Guizhou, China is reported here. The discovery of Dinomischus in the Kaili Biota extends its geographical range and indicated that the rare Dinomischus could tolerate deeper water settings during the Middle Cambrian.

Age and metal source of orogenic gold deposits in Southeast Guizhou Province, China: Constraints from Re-Os and He-Ar isotopic evidence

The orogenic gold deposits in Southeast Guizhou are an important component of the Xuefeng polymetallic ore belt and have significant exploration potential, but geochronology research on these gold deposits is scarce. Therefore, the ore genetic models are poorly constrained and remain unclear. In the present study, two important deposits(Pingqiu and Jinjing) are investigated, including combined Re-Os dating and the He-Ar isotope study of auriferous arsenopyrites. It is found that the arsenopyrites from the Pingqiu gold deposit yielded an isochron age of 400 ± 24 Ma,with an initial ^(187)Os/^(188)Os ratio of 1.24 ± 0.57(MSWD = 0.96). An identical isochron age of 400 ± 11 Ma with an initial ^(187)Os/^(188)Os ratio of 1.55 ± 0.14(MSWD = 0.34) was obtained from the Jinjing deposit. These ages correspond to the regional Caledonian orogeny and are interpreted to represent the age of the main stage ore. Both initial ^(187)Os ratios suggest that the Os was derived from crustal rocks. Combined with previous rare earth element(REE), trace elements, Nd-Sr-S-Pb isotope studies on scheelite, inclusion fluids with other residues of gangue quartz, and sulfides from other gold deposits in the region, it is suggested that the ore metals from Pingqiu and Jinjing were sourced from the Xiajiang Group. The He and Ar isotopes of arsenopyrites are characterized by ~3 He/~4 He ratios ranging from 5.3 × 10^(-4) Ra to 2.5 × 10^(-2) Ra(Ra = 1.4 × 10^(-6), the ~3 He/~4 He ratio of air), 40 Ar=/~4 He ratios from 0.64 × 10^(-2) to 15.39×10^(-2), and ^(40)Ar/^(36)Ar ratios from 633.2 to 6582.0. Those noble gas isotopic compositions of fluid inclusions also support a crustal source origin,evidenced by the Os isotope. Meanwhile, recent noble gas studies suggest that the amount of in situ radiogenic ~4 He generated should not be ignored, even when Th and U are present at levels of only a few ppm in host minerals.

A New Ichnogenus Kailidiscus Produced by Attachment from the Middle Cambrian Kaili Formation in Taijiang, Guizhou Province, China

Over 190 specimens of an attachment ichnofossil Kailidiscus （n. ichnogen.） have been found in the Kaili Bitoa, a Burgess Shale-type biota, from the middle Kaili Formation （early Middle Cambrian） in Taijiang County, Guizhou Province, southern China. Kailidiscus is an epichnia with a circular to oval attachment platform, on which there is a carbonaceous film probably formed by the body of the living organism. Structures such as a marginal furrow, an inner and outer marginal ride, many convex fold-ridges, and a large caved peripheral furrow on the attachment platform may be the result of basal tissues of a sessile organism that wrinkled to increase the attachment＇s surface area. The Kailidiscus organism may have been a sessile cnidarian attached to the muddy seafioor. Kailidiscus organisms lived in relatively quiet water, and were buried by a sudden influx of sediment.

Early Jurassic basal sauropodomorpha dominated tracks from Guizhou, China: Morphology, ethology, and paleoenvironment

The newly discovered large(350 m^2) Yantan dinosaur tracksite, in the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation of Guizhou Province, China, reveals at least 250 footprints of which ~97 can be resolved into trackways of sauropodomorphs. All the trackways are sub parallel likely indicating gregarious behavior. One theropod track(cf. Grallator) was recorded. The sauropodomorph tracks predominantly represent quadrupedal progression(Morphotype A), and footprint morphology is similar to the ichnospecies Liujianpusshunan, characterized by outward pes rotation. Three trackways indicate bipedal progression, and two of these(Morphotype B) indicate inward pes rotation, accompanied by elongate pes digit scratch marks. For the latter phenomenon three possible scenarios are discussed:(1) significant rotation changes accompanying changes in gait,(2) swimming behavior,(3) formation of undertracks.Sedimentological evidence indicates the tracks were made on a linguloid rippled, muddy, immature sandstone substrate characterized by significant differences in substrate consistency across the trackbearing surface. Microbially induced sedimentary structures(MISS) characterized by distinctive wrinkle marks indicate a stressed, probably semi-arid, paleoenvironment that was not conducive to habitation by invertebrate organisms. This is consistent with other evidence that Lower Jurassic sauropodomorph tracks are often associated with semi-arid paleoenvironments.

Study of Noble Metal Elements in Lower Cambrian Black Rock Series of Guizhou-Hunan Provinces, China

Systematic analyses of noble metal elements in the Lower Cambrian black rock series of South China are reported. Correlations of w (Os)/ w (Ir), w (Au)/ w (Ir), w (Ag)/ w (Au), w (Pt+Pd)/ w (Os+Ru+Rh+Ir), relations of noble metal and platinum group element (PGE) distribution patterns reveal that the noble metals are not directly from extraterrestrial materials. Studying the data of 9 aspects, the authors conclude that the noble metals were mainly from ultramafic mafic igneous rocks and their enrichment in black rocks is mainly controlled by hydrothermal fluid.

A new type of rare earth elements deposit in weathering crust of Permian basalt in western Guizhou, NW China

A new type of rare earth elements （REEs） deposit was discovered from the gaolinite mudstone in the weathering crust of Permian basalt, Bijie region, western Guizhou, China. It contained ∑RE2O3 0.065%-1.086%. This type of REEs deposit was widely distributed with steady horizon and thickness of 3-4 m. The ore-bearing weathering crust （kaolinite） of the three discovered REEs deposits belonged to the third episode of the Emeishan basalt eruption. The new type of REEs deposit was suggested that basalt （tuff） weathering could lead to the enrichment of the rare earth elements. Therefore, it is of important economic significance to explore REEs deposits in the weathering crust of basalt （tuffs） in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Provinces.