Effects of desert plant communities on soil enzyme activities and soil organic carbon in the proluvial fan in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountain in Ningxia,China

It is of great significance to study the effects of desert plants on soil enzyme activities and soil organic carbon(SOC)for maintaining the stability of the desert ecosystem.In this study,we studied the responses of soil enzyme activities and SOC fractions(particulate organic carbon(POC)and mineral-associated organic carbon(MAOC))to five typical desert plant communities(Convolvulus tragacanthoides,Ephedra rhytidosperma,Stipa breviflora,Stipa tianschanica var.gobica,and Salsola laricifolia communities)in the proluvial fan in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountain in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China.We recorded the plant community information mainly including the plant coverage and herb and shrub species,and obtained the aboveground biomass and plant species diversity through sample surveys in late July 2023.Soil samples were also collected at depths of 0–10 cm(topsoil)and 10–20 cm(subsoil)to determine the soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities.The results showed that the plant coverage and aboveground biomass of S.laricifolia community were significantly higher than those of C.tragacanthoides,S.breviflora,and S.tianschanica var.gobica communities(P<0.05).Soil enzyme activities varied among different plant communities.In the topsoil,the enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase(ALP)andβ-1,4-glucosidas(βG)were significantly higher in E.rhytidosperma and S.tianschanica var.gobica communities than in other plant communities(P<0.05).The topsoil had higher POC and MAOC contents than the subsoil.Specifically,the content of POC in the topsoil was 18.17%–42.73%higher than that in the subsoil.The structural equation model(SEM)indicated that plant species diversity,soil pH,and soil water content(SWC)were the main factors influencing POC and MAOC.The soil pH inhibited the formation of POC and promoted the formation of MAOC.Conversely,SWC stimulated POC production and hindered MAOC formation.Our study aimed to gain insight into the effects of desert plant communities on soil enzyme activities and SOC fractions,as well as the drivers of SOC fractions in the proluvial fan in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountain and other desert ecosystems.

The Mechanical Characteristics and Damage Model of Helan Mountain Rock based on Acoustic Emission

With the risk of disappearing for the rock paintings considering long-term exposure in Helan Mountain,the freeze-thaw(F-T)cycling experiments were carried out with 12-hour F-T cycling(0,10,20,30,and 40 F-T cycles)under five kinds of confining pressures(5,10,20,30,and 40 MPa).The acoustic emission(AE)detect technology was used to reveal the rock fracturing characteristics during the triaxial compression test whole process.The stress-strain relation changes along with different confining pressures and F-T cycles.Peak stress and residual stress changes along with different confining pressures and damages,and the variation of axial stress-AE ringing counts-time changes along with different confining pressures and F-T cycles.The damage variable with AE parameter under F-T and force coupling was defined for the first time,and the damages model was established.The experimental results show that the F-T cycles lead to the decrease of rock strength and the gradual transformation of compression failure mode from brittleness to plasticity.The confining pressure provides a certain ability to resist deformation and inhibit crack growth for rock samples after F-T cycles.The temporal and spatial evolution law of AE counts well corresponds to the loading and failure process of the rock samples.The AE 3D positioning technology can accurately capture the development position and direction of internal cracks and pores of rock,and the failure form is conical shear failure.The established damage model has a better fittingness between the theoretical calculation results and the test results,and is reasonable to be used in the future for protection of Helan Mountain rock painting.

Circulations and Thermodynamic Characteristics of Different Patterns of Rainstorm Processes in the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain

Based on the observational hourly precipitation data and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF)Reanalysis 5(ERA5)products from 2006 to 2020,22 rainstorm processes in the eastern foot of Helan Mountain are objectively classified by using the hierarchical clustering method,and the circulation characteristics of different patterns are comparatively analyzed in this study.The results show that the occurrences of rainstorm processes in the eastern foot of Helan Mountain are most closely related to three circulation patterns.PatternsⅠandⅢmainly occur in July and August,with similar zonal circulations in synoptic backgrounds.Specifically,the South Asia high and the western Pacific subtropical high are stronger and more northward than those in normal years.The frontal systems in westerlies are inactive,while the water vapor from the ocean surface in the south is mainly transported to the rainstorm area by the southerly jet stream at 700 h Pa.The dynamic lifting anomalies are relatively weak,the instability of atmospheric stratification is anomalously strong,and thus the localized severe convective rainstorm is more significant.Comparatively,rainstorm processes of patternⅠare accompanied by stronger and deeper ascending motions,and the warm-sector rainstorm is more extreme.PatternⅢshows a stronger and deeper convective instability,accompanied by larger low-level moisture.Rainstorm processes of patternⅡmainly occur in early summer and early autumn,presenting a meridional circulation pattern of high in the east and low in the west in terms of geopotential height.Moreover,the two low-level jets transporting the water vapor northward from the ocean on the east of China encounter with the frontal systems in westerlies,which makes the ascending motion in patternⅡanomalously strong and deep.The relatively weak instability of atmospheric stratification causes weak convection and long-lasting precipitation formed by the confluence of cold air and warm air.This study may help improve rainstorm forecasting in arid regions.

Terroir Suitability Zoning for the Six Prevailing Wine Grape Varieties in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region(with a Focus on the Helan Mountain East) of China

Terroir plays an important role in wine grape production and good wine making.Among all the aspects of terroir in a given region,climate,soil and variety are the most important ones.The goal of this study was to evaluate these three aspects of terroir in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China,with a focus on the Helan Mountain East.Based on historical weather data during the period 1981 to 2016 from 22 meteorological stations in the research area,the climatic indices were derived,with which the growable zone for wine grape cultivation in the research area was identified.By synthesizing the climatic indices and soil type data,stepwise and optimization methods were used to divide the growable zone into optimal,suitable,near-suitable and unsuitable zones for the six prevailing wine grape varieties.In the analysis,the six prevailing wine grape varieties include two white wine grape varieties of“Chardonnay”and“Riesling”and four red wine grape varieties of“Cabernet Sauvignon”,“Merlot”,“Pinot Noir”and“Grenache Noir”.With the Geographic Information System(ArcGIS)software,the geographical distributions of these terroir suitability zonings were mapped in the research area according to a small grid simulation model.The results showed that the growable zone for wine grapes was mainly focused in most of the northern and central parts of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.This particular zone was suitable for the typical red wine varieties like late-maturing“Grenache Noir”,medium-to-late maturing“Cabernet Sauvignon”,medium-maturing“Merlot”and early-maturing“Pinot Noir”.In particular,the optimal zone for these four red wine varieties was centered in Xixia county of Yinchuan city,Pigeon Hill of Qingtongxia city and Baima Township of Zhongning County.For the two early-to-medium maturing white wine varieties of“Riesling”and“Chardonnay”,the optimal and suitable zones were in the cool area of the central arid zone and the Qingshui River tributary.

Tourism resource assessment and spatial analysis of wine tourism development： a case study of the eastern foothills of China＇s Helan Mountains

The reasonable development and utilization of mountainous regions closely relates to local economic development and ecological security. The wine production region in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with its excellent terroir, is emerging as one of China's three major geographical attractions. Based on surveys of tourism resources and spatial analysis for this wine producing region, we propose a highly representative and practicable path for wine tourism development. Based on China's national standard in Classification, Investigation and Evaluation of Tourism Resources(GB/T 18972-2003), which recommended the types and grades of tourism resources in one area, we conduct an analysis of resource characteristics and the current state of development. Using Arc GIS software, spatialautocorrelation analysis, average nearest neighbor analysis, as well as clustering and outlier analysis, we are able to derive the spatial distribution characteristics of tourism resources. Our survey showed that tourism resources in this area are relatively abundant and have good quality and clear combination advantages. Nonetheless, there are resources shortage for wine tourism and poor integration of wine production with the tourism industry. Regarding the spatial distribution of resources, we revealed the current states of and issues surrounding regions with concentrated resources, as well as characteristics of this clustering. Finally, we proposed a development path for wine tourism in this region based on the five dimensions of management mode, industrial path, product development, spatial optimization, and market development.

January to August temperature variability since 1776 inferred from tree-ring width of Pinus tabulaeformis in Helan Mountain

树戒指标准化了年表被从东方、西方的 Helan 山收集的 78 个核心开发。STD 和物件年表与早一半的不同时期的温度否定地相关的统计分析表演年，特别与到 8 月的 1 月，平均数(JA ) 温度，它意味着那 JA 温度是在 Helan 山的树生长的占优势的限制因素之一。把分析基于这，我们重建了 JA 温度，和解释变化是 43.3%(F=21.422， p < 0.001 ) 。在重建的比较地高的温度时期是：1805 鈥 ? 818， 1828 鈥 ? 857， 1899 鈥 ? 907， 1919 鈥 ? 931 和 1968 鈥 ? 995；并且比较地低的温度时期发生在 1858 鈥 ? 872， 1883 鈥 ? 895 和 1935 鈥 ? 953。十年的动人的平均曲线显示出三个慢高举趋势：1766 鈥 ? 853， 1862 鈥 ? 931 和 1944 鈥 ? 995。每温度增加被突然的温度减少跟随大约 10 年，那是说，在 Helan 山的 JA 温度被慢增加和突然的减少描绘。在温度系列检测的第 70-a 10.77 年的频率对应于 Gleissberg (80 年) 并且 Schwabe (11 年) 太阳的活动的频率分别地， 2.11 个鈥 ?.62 年周期被认为被 QBO (Quasi-Biennial-Oscillation ) 和本地环境变化影响。

Omni-Directional Distribution Patterns of Montane Coniferous Forest in the Helan Mountains of China

斜坡方面在山区的森林的发展和分发有重要效果，特别在干旱、半干旱的区域。用 SPOT5 图象和 1:50,000 DEM ，这份报纸数字地提取并且分析山区的具球果的森林的空间信息(主要 Qinghai 云杉)，并且从而探索上面、更低的限制和具球果的森林的高度的范围怎么变化并且具球果的森林的区域怎么与有在 Helan 山的所有方面的年度曝晒是相关的。结果显示出那：1 ) 在东方胁腹，具球果的森林的更低的限制在 1,600 m 和 2,000 m 之间是 a.s.l 和 3,000 m a.s.l；在西方的胁腹，具球果的森林的更低的限制在 2,000 m 和 2,300 m 之间是 a.s.l 和 3,100 m a.s.l 2 ) 具球果的森林的高度的范围分别地是 8061,435 m，为东方胁腹的 4381,140 m 和西方的胁腹。3 ) 具球果的森林的区域与方面呈现正常分布，并且它与年度曝晒有一种靠近的关系。在这纸份量上开发的这个分发模型在干旱、半干旱的土地在具球果的森林的分发上揭示斜坡方面的重要效果。

Classification and distribution of Comastoma (Gentianaceae) in Helan Mountains in China by floristic, ecological and geographical approaches

Four species of the Comastoma genus (Geianaceae) in Helan Mountains between Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Province in China have been recognized by morphological and geographical taxonomy. These four species are C. falcatum (Turcz.) Toyokuni, C. polycladum (Diels et Gilg) T. N. Ho, C. tenellum (Rottb.) Toyokuni and C. acutum (Michx.) Y. Z. Zhao et X. Zhang. Among them, C. tenellum (Rottb.) is a new recorded species and C. acutum (Michx.) Y. Z. Zhao et X. Zhang is a new combination. The floristic, ecological and geographical distribution of each species was analyzed and then a new key of Comastoma in Helan Mountains and the distribution maps have been generated, which will provide a reference for the revision of this genus and the analysis of the flora in Helan Mountains.

Characteristics of the three-dimensional deep electrical structure in the Helan Mountains-Yinchuan Basin and its geodynamic implications

Located in the north segment of the North-South seismic belt where the Alxa block(AB)and the Ordos block(OB)contact,the Helan Mountains-Yinchuan Basin(HLM-YCB)constitutes a typical normal faulting basin-mountain structure on the Chinese mainland.The 1739 M8.0 Pingluo earthquake occurred in the Yinchuan fault depression basin with such a basinmountain structure.Data on five magnetotelluric profiles encompassing distinct segments of the HLM-YCB were utilized for three-dimensional(3D)joint inversion in order to collect fine 3D electrical structure information at a crustal and upper mantle scale across the entire region.The electrical structure between the main blocks in the HLM-YCB and adjacent areas is characterized by east-west horizontal blocks OB,YCB,and HLM,which are divided by the Yellow River fault(F5)with the HLM eastern piedmont fault(F2)as electrical boundary zones on the east and west sides.The two main block units,AB and OB,exhibit an obvious layered resistivity structure.Besides,the HLM-YCB is characterized by a typical basin-mountain structure with the mountains as a high-resistivity body and the basin as a low-resistivity body,and in the northern YCB a large-scale lowresistivity structure exists,extending to the upper mantle,probably derived from the upwelling of mantle-derived materials.It is speculated from a combination of recent 3D crustal movement field information and other data that the HLM-YCB is an active tectonic zone formed via regional tensile action.The formation of the HLM-YCB lies in the interaction of the Tibetan Plateau(TP),AB,and OB and abnormal mantle activities beneath the YCB.The HLM-YCB reflects the joint action of upwelling and diffluence caused by the underplating of hot materials from the deep mantle with gravity and the redistribution of regional tectonic stress on the earth’s surface,which may be the main dynamic reason for the 1739 M8.0 Pingluo earthquake.

Nutritional requirements and precise fertilization of wine grapes in the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the wine-producing area of Helan Mountain,East Ningxia,China,were the research object in this study.The dissection of the roots and branching stems method was used to explore the dynamic changes in the nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium nutrient requirements of wine grapes over a number of growth stages.The results showed that over the whole growth period,the nitrogen content of the roots was the highest during the leaf-expansion stage and lowest during the turning-color stage,and that the nitrogen content of the leaves and fruit showed a downward trend as growth progressed.The nitrogen content of the secondary branches was the lowest during the fruit expansion stage and the highest during the leaf-expansion stage;and the phosphorus content of the roots was the highest during the leaf-expansion stage and lowest during the fruit expansion stage.The phosphorus content of the trunk and primary branches showed a trend of“rising-falling-rising”.The phosphorus content of the leaves and secondary branches was the lowest during the turning-color stage,whereas the phosphorus content of the fruit was at its highest during this stage.The potassium contents of the secondary branches and fruit showed a downward trend,but the potassium content of the leaves was highest during the fruit expansion stage and lowest in the nutrient return stage.Over the whole growth period,the accumulation of nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium in wine grapes was 129.92 kg/hm2,41.51 kg/hm2,and 189.47 kg/hm2,respectively,the total requirements for N,P2O5,and K2O were 262.38 kg/hm2,288.15 kg/hm2,and 569.04 kg/hm2,respectively,and the reasonable nutrient requirement ratio was 1.00:1.10:2.17.

Feeding habitats of blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur)during winter and spring in Helan Mountains,China

The feeding habitat selection of blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur)was studied by direct observation method in the Helan Mountains,China during winter(from Novembe r to December)and spring(from April to June)from 2003 to 2004.We established 25 line transects to collect information on feeding habitats used by blue sheep.Blue sheep in the study area preferred mountain savanna forests,a habitat dominated by Ulmus glaucescens,with medium tree density(<4 individuals/400 m^(2)),moderate tree height(4-6 m),higher shrub density(>5 individuals/100 m^(2)),higher shrub(>1.3 m),higher food abundance(>50 g),moderate distance to human disturbance(<500 m),and mild distance to bare rock(<2 m).Such habitats characterized by 12 ecological factors were preferred as feeding areas by blue sheep during winter.Similar to habitat selection by the species during winter,blue sheep also showed a preference for mountain savanna with tree dominated by Ulmus glaucescens and medium tree density(<4 individuals/400 m^(2))during spring.Nevertheless,blue sheep preferred medium tree height(<6 m),moderate tree density(5-10 individuals/100 m^(2)),medium shrub height(1.3-1.7 m),higher food abundance(>100 g),moderate altitude(<2000 m),moderate distance to water resource(<500 m),and medium hiding cover(50%-75%)during spring.Selection of the feeding habitats by sheep showed a significant difference in vegetation type,landform feature,dominant tree,tree height,shrub density,distance to the nearest shrub,food abundance,slope direc-tion,slope degree,distance to water resource,and hiding cover between winter and spring.Results of principal com-ponents analysis indicated that the first principal component accounted for 24.493%of the total variance among feeding habitat variance during winter,with higher loadings for vegetation type,dominant tree,tree height,distance to the nearest tree,shrub density,shrub height,altitude,distance to water resource,and distance to human disturbance.In spring,the first principal components explained 28.777%of the vari-ance,with higher loadings for vegetation type,distance to the nearest tree,shrub height,distance to the nearest shrub,food abundance,altitude,and distance to human disturbance.

Pattern and timing of late Cenozoic rapid exhumation and uplift of the Helan Mountain,China

The Helan Mountain, an intraplate deformation belt in the North China Craton, is located in the northern portion of the China North-South seismic belt, and at the northwestern margin of the Ordos Block. The Cenozoic deformation history of the Helan Mountain is characterized by extension along the eastern Helan Mountain fault (EHSF), resulting in the exhumation and uplift of the Helan Mountain, relative to the rifting of the adjacent Yinchuan Basin. Here we present new apatite fission track (AFT) data from several transects adjacent to the EHSF in the central and northern Helan Mountain. AFT ages from the northern Helan Mountain (Dawukou and Zhengyiguan transects) range from 10 Ma to 89 Ma, whereas AFT ages from the southern Helan Mountain (Suyukou transect) are greater than 71 Ma. The AFT data analysis reveals initiation of rapid uplift and exhumation of the Helan Mountain at 10–12 Ma. Additionally, a plot of the AFT ages versus their mean track length shows a distinctive "boomerang" pattern indicating that the Helan Mountain experienced a discrete phase of accelerated exhumation beginning at 10-12 Ma. Spatially, AFT samples systematically increase in age away from the EHSF and are consistent with late Cenozoic exhumation that was slow in the southwestern Helan Mountain and rapid in the northeastern Helan Mountain, as well more rapid adjacent to the EHSF and slower away from the EHSF. Obviously, the spatial distribution of late Cenozoic exhumation indicates that normal faulting of the EHSF is related to southwestward tilting and rapid exhumation of the Helan Mountain beginning at 10–12 Ma. The uplift and exhumation of the Helan Mountain was a response to the intensive extension of the northwestern margin of the Ordos Block in the late Cenozoic; this occurred under a regional extensional stress field oriented NW-SE along the Yinchuan-Jilantai-Hetao and the Weihe-Shanxi graben systems adjacent to the Ordos Block.

Palaeoproterozoic Khondalite Belt in the western North China Craton: New evidence from SHRIMP dating and Hf isotope composition of zircons from metamorphic rocks in the Bayan Ul-Helan Mountains area

Zircom U-Pb age and Hf isotope analyses were made on gneissic granite and garnet-mica two-feldspar gneiss from the Helanshan Group in the Bayan Ul-Helan Mountains area, the western block of the North China Craton (NCC). Zircons from the gneissic granite commonly show core-mantle-rim structures, with magmatic core, metamorphic mantle and rim having ages of 2323±20 Ma, 1923±28 Ma and 1856±12 Ma, respectively. The core, mantle and rim show similar Hf isotope compositions, with single-stage depleted mantle model ages (TDM1) of 2455 to 2655 Ma (19 analyses). Most of the detrital zircons from the garnet-mica two-feldspar paragneiss have a concentrated U-Pb age distribution, with a weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 1978±17 Ma. A few detrital zircons are older (2871 to 2469 Ma). The age for metamorphic overgrown rim was not determined because of strong Pb loss due to their high U content. The zircons show large variation in Hf isotope composition, with TDM1 ages of 1999 to 3047 Ma. In com- bination with previous studies, the main conclusions are as follows: (1) protolith of the khondalite se- ries in the Helanshan Group formed during Palaeoproterozoic rather than the Archaean as previously considered; (2) The results lend support to the contention that there is a huge Palaeoproterozoic Khondalite (metasedimentary) Belt between the Yinshan Mountains Block and the Ordos Block in the Western Block of NCC; (3) The widely-distributed bodies of early Palaeoproterozoic orthogneisses in the Khondalite Belt might be one of the important sources for detritus material in the khondalite series; (4) Collision between the Yinshan Block, the Ordos Block and the Eastern Block occurred in the same tectonothermal event of late Palaeoproterozoic, resulting in the final assembly of the NCC.

Reconstruction of May——July precipitation in the north Helan Mountain, Inner Mongolia since A.D. 1726 from tree-ring late-wood widths

By analyzing statistical characteristics of five tree-ring standard chronologies, early-wood ring width (EWW), late-wood ring width (LWW), total ring width (TRW), minimum early-wood density (MinD), maximum late-wood density (MaxD) and, their climatic response re-spectively, we reconstructed the May to July precipitation using late-wood ring width (LWW) over the north Helan Mountain since A.D. 1726. The explained variance is 42% (R2adj = 41%, F = 31.46, p < 0.000001). After 11-a moving average, the explained variance reaches 82% (F = 156.9, p < 0.05). On the decadal scale, the rainfall reconstruction of the northern Helan Mountain displays a quite similar variation pattern with that of the April to early July precipitation in Baiyinaobao, east of Inner Mongolia for the last 150 years. It may reflect the intensity variation of the East Asia Summer Monsoon front to a certain extent. Spectrum analysis shows 11-a and 22-a periodicities in the May to July precipitation reconstruction at the north Helan Mountain.

Quaternary glacier development and the relationship between the climate change and tectonic uplift in the Helan Mountain

孤立拉长 Helan 山脉山岳的 NE-SW，分开从 Tenggeli 沙漠的 Ordos 高原的适度的草地，是在西方中国学习冰河发展的一个关键位置以及气候的联合条件随着变化构造高举。冰川的地形和存款包括冰斗，山峰，刀口山脉，侧面的冰碛，和终端冰碛在 Helan 山的中间的部分在 2800 m a.s.l 上面散布。这分布显示这曾经是 glaciated 在期间晚第四级。形态学特征证明形成事件的风景的一个清楚的序列发生在整个 Helan 山。实验室光学地刺激了光(OSL ) 和标明日期的加速器团 spectrometry 放射性碳(AMS 14C ) 结果显示冰川的进展的迟了的历史。在 Helan 山的中间的部分的迟了的更新世冰河进展了接近他们的位置至少四次，并且冰川的序列能作为最后一个冰川的周期的中间的阶段被分配(MIS3b， 43.2 ????????? ′ ? 錸? 錸?@

Carbon and oxygen isotopes analyses for the Sinian carbonates in the Helan Mountain, North China

We conducted detailed studies of the Sinian carbonates from the Helan Mountain,Ningxia by both field investigation and laboratory analyses of carbon and oxygen isotopes.The carbon isotopic compositions of the Sinian Zhengmuguan Formation shows variations with regularity in the five studied sections,theδ13C values all gradually decrease from bottom to top,with a total range from 4.51‰to 0.11‰,and the biggest negative excursion reaches up to 6.88‰.In addition,abundant macro-body fossils were also found from the Tuerkeng Formation in this study,similar to those found from the Dengying Formation in the South China Block.This observation firmly constrained the age for the Zhengmuguan and Tuerkeng formations to the Sinian period.Here we interpreted that the Zhengmuguan Formation formed during a glacial period when the extremely cold climate substantially decreased the amount of burial of organic matter in the ocean and thus led to the general negativeδ13C excursion.The increasingδ13C values in the Tuerkeng Formation dolomites imply the ending of the glacial period in the Zhengmuguan epoch,biological recovery and increase of organic matter burial in the ocean occurred during this period.Comparing our obtained carbon and oxygen isotopes of the Zhengmuguan and Tuerkeng formations with those of coeval carbonate successions from other places all over the world,the Zhengmuguang-aged glacial deposits might be deposited after the Gaskiers glaciation.This study provides important information for paleo-ocean,paleogeographic and biological evolution in the North China Block during the Ediacaran period and adds new carbon and oxygen isotopes data for the global Sinian carbon-oxygen isotopes dataset.

Lithospheric structure and faulting characteristics of the Helan Mountains and Yinchuan Basin： Results of deep seismic reflection profiling

The Helan Mountains and Yinchuan Basin(HM-YB) are located at the northern end of the North-South tectonic belt,and form an intraplate tectonic deformation zone in the western margin of the North China Craton(NCC).The HM-YB has a complicated history of formation and evolution,and is tectonically active at the present day.It has played a dominant role in the complex geological structure and modern earthquake activities of the region.A 135-km-long deep seismic reflection profile across the HM-YB was acquired in early 2014,which provides detailed information of the lithospheric structure and faulting characteristics from near-surface to various depths in the region.The results show that the Moho gradually deepens from east to west in the depth range of 40-48 km along the profile.Significant differences are present in the crustal structure of different tectonic units,including in the distribution of seismic velocities,depths of intra-crustal discontinuities and undulation pattern of the Moho.The deep seismic reflection profile further reveals distinct structural characteristics on the opposite sides of the Helan Mountains.To the east,The Yellow River fault,the eastern piedmont fault of the Helan Mountains,as well as multiple buried faults within the Yinchuan Basin are all normal faults and still active since the Quaternary.These faults have controlled the Cenozoic sedimentation of the basin,and display a "negative-flower" structure in the profile.To the west,the Bayanhaote fault and the western piedmont fault of the Helan Mountains are east-dipping thrust faults,which caused folding,thrusting,and structural deformation in the Mesozoic stratum of the Helan Mountains uplift zone.A deep-penetrating fault is identified in the western side of the Yinchuan Basin.It has a steep inclination cutting through the middle-lower crust and the Moho,and may be connected to the two groups of faults in the upper crust.This set of deep and shallow fault system consists of both strike-slip,thrust,and normal faults formed over different eras,and provides the key tectonic conditions for the basin-mountains coupling,crustal deformation and crust-mantle interactions in the region.The other important phenomenon revealed from the results of deep seismic reflection profiling is the presence of a strong upper mantle reflection(UMR) at a depth of 82-92 km beneath the HM-YB,indicating the existence of a rapid velocity variation or a velocity discontinuity in that depth range.This is possibly a sign of vertical structural inhomogeneity in the upper mantle of the region.The seismic results presented here provide new clues and observational bases for further study of the deep structure,structural differences among various blocks and the tectonic relationship between deep and shallow processes in the western NCC.

The forecast of seasonal precipitation trend at the north Helan Mountain and Baiyinaobao regions, Inner Mongolia for the next 20 years

By using Caterpillar-SSA analysis method, through the process of embedding, singular value decompo-sition, grouping and diagonal averaging, the seasonal pre-cipitation trend at north Helan Mountain and Baiyinaobo regions, Inner Mongolia for the next 20 years is forecasted. The results show an increasing precipitation trend from 1992 to 2004. In the subsequent decade the precipitation should reduce quickly, and it will reach a minimum near 2012 to 2014 in both regions. The drought caused by the decrease of the precipitation from May to July in the north Helan Mountain area during the period of 2013—2014 is probably quite similar to that around 1929. Further, the period of pre-cipitation gradual increase follows in the researched regions.

LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircons from the Zhaochigou Formation-complex in the Helan Mountain and its tectonic significance

This paper carries out studies about LA-ICPMS U–Pb dating and Hf isotopic compositional analysis for detrital zircons in two metasedimentary samples that were taken from the Zhaochigou Formation-complex in the Helan Mountain.The results show that the Zhaochigou Formation-complex formed*1.96 Ga,and it is a part of the Khondalite Series that is widespread in the North China Craton(NCC).The age spectrum of the detrital zircons indicates that the Zhaochigou Formation-complex shared the same provenance with the eastern edge of the Khondalite Series.Products of ancient magmatic activities within the Khondalite Belt may be the major source for the sedimentary materials that formed the Khondalite Series.Our age-dating results suggest that the Khondalite Series in the NCC may have experienced two stages of metamorphism,as the early stage occurred during 1.96–1.95 Ga,and the later stage occurred at about 1.87 Ga.The Hfisotopic data indicate that the Western Block of the NCC endured a stage of crustal growth at 2.5–2.3 Ga.