Present-day Upper-crustal Strain Rate Field in Southeastern Tibet and its Geodynamic Implications:Constraints from GPS Measurements with ABIC Method

The Earth’s surface kinematics and deformation are fundamental to understanding crustal evolution.An effective research approach is to estimate regional motion field and deformation fields based on modern geodetic networks.If the discrete observed velocity field is obtained,the velocity related fields,such as dilatation rate and maximum shear strain rate,can be estimated by applying varied mathematical approaches.This study applied Akaike's Bayesian Information Criterion(ABIC)method to calculate strain rate fields constrained by GPS observations in the southeast Tibetan Plateau.Comparison with results derived from other three methods revealed that our ABIC-derived strain rate fields were more precise.The maximum shear strain rate highlighted the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system as the main boundary for the outward migration of material in southeastern Tibet,indicating rotation of eastern Tibet material around the eastern Himalaya rather than whole extrusion along a fixed channel.Additionally,distinct dilatation rate patterns in the northeast and southwest regions of the fault system were observed.The northeast region,represented by the Longmenshan area,exhibited negative dilatational anomalies;while the southwest region,represented by the Jinsha River area north of 29°N,displayed positive dilatational anomalies.This indicates compression in the former and extension in the latter.Combined with deep geophysical observations,we believe that the upper and lower crusts of the Jinsha River area north of 29°N are in an entire expanding state,probably caused by the escape-drag effect of material.The presence of a large,low-viscosity region south of 29°N may not enable the entire escape of the crust,but instead result in a differential escape of the lower crust faster than the upper crust.

Collision Tectonics between the Tarim Block(Basin)and the Northwestern Tibet Plateau:New Observations from a Multidisciplinary Geoscientific Investigation in the Western Kunlun Mountains

New results from deep seismic reflection profiling, wide-angle reflection-refraction profiling and broadband seismic experiments reveal that a series of south-dipping reflectors occur on the southern margin of the Tarim block (basin). However, it is these south-dipping structures that are intercepted by another series of north-dipping reflectors at depths from 30 to about 150 km beneath the foreland of the W Kunlun Mountains. No evidence from the above geophysical data as well as geochemical and surface geological data indicate the southward subduction of the Tarim block beneath the W Kunlun Mountains (NW Tibet plateau), forming the so-called “two-sided subduction” model for the Tibet plateau as proposed by previous studies. So the authors infer that the tectonic interaction between the Tarim block and the W Kunlun block was chiefly affected by a “horizontal compression in opposite directions”, which brought about “face-to-face contact” between these two lithospheric blocks and led to the thickening, shortening and densifying of the lithosphere. Hence a “delamination” was formed due to the gravitational instability created by the thickening and densifying; then alkaline basic volcanic rocks (mainly shoshonite series) was erupted along the northern margin of the Tibet plateau owing to the delamination. This inference for the formation of the alkaline basic volcanics has been confirmed by recent geochemical and petrological studies in Tibet, indicating that different contacts control different magmatic activities: the alkali basalts are always developed in the “horizontal shortening boundary (contact)” on the northern margin of the Tibet plateau, while the muscovite granite and two-mica granite (leucogranite) in the “subductional contact” on the southern margin of the Tibet plateau.

Characterization and quantification of within-year variation of snow-cover elevation in mountainous regions, eastern Tibet

Fluctuating snow-covered elevation （FSCE） was conceptualized and proposed to characterize within-year variation of the border between snow-covered and snow-free area in mountainous regions. Two parameters, namely median of snow flee period （Tm） and snow free duration （AT）, were defined to quantify FSCE. A regression model of FSCE was developed for the Lhasa River Basin, Niyang River Basin, and Changdu region in eastern Tibet. Statistical analysis of the snow-products data with a spatial resolution of 25km×25km shows that： （1） Tm correlates weakly with geographical and topographic factors, having the yearly mean value of July 31; （2） △T correlates significantly with the average elevation of the snow-products cell, having the yearly mean value of nearly five months （i.e., 151 days）; （3） the region begins snow disappearance in late April and finishes snow coverage in mid November, being snow-free from late June to mid September and snow-covered from December to March in the next year. In addi- tion, snow-products with higher spatial resolution will be helpful to characterize FSCE in smaller spatial scales.

Plume-lithosphere interaction in the Comei Large Igneous Province: Evidence from two types of mafic dykes in Gyangze, south Tibet, China

Two suites of mafic dykes,T1193-A and T1194-A,outcrop in Gyangze area,southeast Tibet.They are in the area of Comei LIP and have indistinguishable field occurrences with two other dykes in Gyangze,T0902 dyke with 137.7±1.3 Ma zircon age and T0907 dyke with 142±1.4 Ma zircon age reported by Wang YY et al.(2016),indicating coeval formation time.Taking all the four diabase dykes into consideration,two different types,OIB-type and weak enriched-type,can be summarized.The“OIB-type”samples,including T1193-A and T0907 dykes,show OIB-like geochemical features and have initial Sr-Nd isotopic values similar with most mafic products in Comei Large Igneous Provinces(LIP),suggesting that they represent melts directly generated from the Kerguelen mantle plume.The“weak enriched-type”samples,including T1194-A and T0902 dykes,have REEs and trace element patterns showing withinplate affinity but have obvious Nb-Ta-Ti negative anomalies.They show uniform lowerεNd(t)values(−6‒−2)and higher 87Sr/86Sr(t)values(0.706‒0.709)independent of their MgO variation,indicating one enriched mantle source.Considering their closely spatial and temporal relationship with the widespread Comei LIP magmatic products in Tethyan Himalaya,these“weak enriched-type”samples are consistent with mixing of melts from mantle plume and the above ancient Tethyan Himalaya subcontinental lithospheric mantle(SCLM)in different proportions.These weak enriched mafic rocks in Comei LIP form one special rock group and most likely suggest large scale hot mantle plume-continental lithosphere interaction.This process may lead to strong modification of the Tethyan Himalaya lithosphere in the Early Cretaceous.

Mantle Driven Early Eocene Magmatic Flare-up of the Gangdese Arc, Tibet: A Case Study on the Nymo Intrusive Complex

Magmatic periodicity is recognized in continental arcs worldwide, but the mechanism responsible for punctuated arc magmatism is controversial. Continental arcs in the Trans-Himalayan orogenic system display episodic magmatism and the most voluminous flare-up in this system was in early Eocene during the transition from subduction to collision. The close association of the flare-up with collision is intriguing. Our study employs zircon Lu-Hf and bulk rock Sr-Nd isotopes, along with mineral geochemistry, to track the melt sources of the Nymo intrusive complex and the role of mantle magma during the early Eocene flare-up of the Gangdese arc, Tibet. The Nymo intrusive complex is composed of gabbronorite, diorite, quartz diorite, and granodiorite which define an arc-related calc-alkaline suite. Zircon U-Pb ages reveal that the complex was emplaced between ~50–47 Ma. Zircon Hf isotopes yield εHf(t) values of 8.2–13.1, while whole-rock Sr and Nd isotopes yield εNd(t) values of 2.7–6.5 indicative of magmatism dominated by melting of a juvenile mantle source with only minor crustal assimilation(~15%–25%) as indicated by assimilation and fractional crystallization modeling. Together with published data, the early Eocene magmatic flare-up was likely triggered by slab breakoff of subducted oceanic lithosphere at depths shallower than the overriding plate. The early Eocene magmatic flare-up may have contributed to crustal thickening of the Gangdese arc. This study provides important insights into the magmatic flare-up and its significant role in the generation of large batholiths during the transition from subduction to collision.

Hydrochemical characteristics of surface water in Hengduan mountain region of Eastern Tibet and its response to human activities:A case study of Duoqu Basin,Jinsha River

The analysis of hydrochemical characteristics and influencing factors of surface river on plateau is helpful to study water hydrological cycle and environmental evolution,which can scientifically guide rational development and utilization of water resources and planning of ecological environment protection.With the expansion and diversification of human activities,the quality of surface rivers will be more directly affected.Therefore,it is of great significance to pay attention to the hydrochemical characteristics of plateau surface rivers and the influence of human activities on their circulation and evolution.In this study,surface water in the Duoqu basin of Jinsha River located in Hengduan mountain region of Eastern Tibet was selected as the representative case.Twenty-three groups of surface water samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics and ion sources based on correlation analysis,piper trigram,gibbs model,hydrogen and oxygen isotopic techniques.The results suggest the following:(1)The pH showed slight alkalinity with the value ranged from 7.25 to 8.62.Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+)and HCO_(3)^(–)were the main cations and anions.HCO_(3)^(-)Ca and HCO_(3)^(-)Ca·Mg were the primary hydrochemical types for the surface water of Duoqu River.The correlation analysis showed that TDS had the most significant correlation with Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+)and HCO_(3)^(–).Analysis on hydrogen and oxygen isotopes indicated that the surface rivers were mainly recharged by atmospheric precipitation and glacial melt water in this study area.(2)The surface water had a certain reverse cation alternating adsorption,and surface water ions were mainly derived from rock weathering,mainly controlled by weathering and dissolution of carbonates,and secondly by silicates and sodium rocks.(3)The influence of human activities was weak,while the development of cinnabar minerals had a certain impact on the hydrochemistry characteristics,which was the main factor for causing the increase of SO_(4)^(2–).The densely populated county towns and temples with frequent incense burning activities may cause some anomalies of surface water quality.At present,the Duoqu River watershed had gone through a certain influence of mineral exploitation,so the hydrological cycle and river eco-environment at watershed scale will still bound to be change.The results could provide basic support for better understanding water balance evolution as well as the ecological protection of Duoqu River watershed.

Resource Characteristics and Sustainable Utilization Countermeasures of Polygonatum cirrhifolium , a Rare and Endangered Tibetan Medicinal Plant of Tibet Plateau

Polygonatum cirrhifolium is a rare and endangered Tibetan medicinal plant. In this paper,resource status of P. cirrhifolium from 13 counties of Tibet Plateau was investigated by combining field investigation with laboratory analysis,and sustainable utilization countermeasures were analyzed. Results showed that( 1) distribution area sequence of P. cirrhifolium in each county was Gongbo'gvamda County > Chayu County > Lang County > Milin County > Maizhokunggar County > Zuogong County > Mangkang County > Jiali County > Dingqing County > Duilongdeqing County > Baqing County = Suo County = Nimu County. Its total distribution area was 458 723. 81 hm2,and it was not distributed in Baqing County,Nimu County and Suo County.( 2) Average dry weight per plant of P. cirrhifolium medicinal part in each county had the bellow sequence: Duilongdeqing County > Gongbo'gvamda County > Maizhokunggar County > Zuogong County > Dingqing County > Lang County > Mangkang County > Milin County > Jiali County > Chayu County > Baqing County = Nimu County = Suo County,and it reached 46. 48 g/plant in Duilongdeqing County.(3) Biomass of P. cirrhifolium medicinal part in each county had the bellow sequence: Duilongdeqing County > Gongbo'gvamda County > Maizhokunggar County > Lang County > Dingqing County > Zuogong County > Jiali County > Mangkang County > Milin County >Chayu County > Nimu County = Suo County = Baqing County,and it reached 300. 52 kg/hm2 in Duilongdeqing County.(4) Reserve amount sequence of P. cirrhifolium in each county was Gongbo'gvamda County > Lang County > Maizhokunggar County > Chayu County > Zuogong County > Dingqing County > Milin County > Jiali County > Mangkang County > Duilongdeqing County > Baqing County = Nimu County = Suo County,and total reserve amount was 42 293. 96 t.(5) At medicinal function aspect,P. cirrhifolium is sweet,and has the effects of keeping fit,nourishing vitality,regenerating teeth and delaying senility.(6) For resource status of P. cirrhifolium,it is suggested establishing resource protection region and constructing germplasm resource bank; establishing plantation park and perfecting cultivation and planting techniques; deeply processing and extending industry chain of Tibetan medicine; updating concept and rationally developing and using.

THE 20th CHINA TIBET MOUNTAINEERING CONFERENCE KICKED OFF IN LHASA

The 20th China Tibet Mountaineering Conference is held from April 28 to June 23 in Lhasa and its surrounding areas.This year's conference includes six sub-activities,such as a sports industry exchange conference,a sking and climbing exchange conference of the Luodui Mountain,a climbing expedition activity on Luodui Mountain,an outdoor trekking conference,a rock climbing open tournament and a crosscountry bicycle challenge.

An Important Spreading Event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP Dating on Diabase in Nagarze, Southern Tibet

Widely distributed in Gyangzê-Chigu area, southern Tibet, NW- and nearly E-W-trending diabase（gabbro）-gabbro diorite dykes are regarded as the product of the large-scale spreading of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean. In order to constrain the emplacement age of these dykes, zircons of two samples from diabases in Nagarzê were dated by using the U-Pb SHRIMP method. Two nearly the same weighted mean ^206pb/^23SU ages were obtained in this paper, which are 134.9±1.8 Ma （MSWD=0.65） and 135.5 ± 2.1 Ma （MSWD=1.40）, respectively. They not only represent the crystallization age of the diabase, but also documented an important spreading event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous. This dating result is of great significance to reconstruct the temporal framework of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Development of Tibet at New Historic Starting Point——People in Tibet greet Second Serfs Emancipation Day

March 28 of this year is the second Tibetan Serfs Emancipation Day. People of all nationalities in Tibet marked the day by hoisting the national flag and by singing and dancing. Smiles were on every face and a festive atmosphere pervaded the snowcovered plateau region.

Early Eocene Radiolarian Fauna from the Sangdanlin, Southern Tibet: Constraints on the Timing of Initial India-Asia Collision

This is a new report on the early Eocene radiolarian fauna from the Sangdanlin section in the Gyirong region, along the southern margin of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone. The Sangdanlin section measured in this study is divided into three lithostratigraphic units from bottom to top： the Zongzhuo, Sangdanlin, and Zheya formations. Abundant radiolarian fossils were obtained from the Sangdanlin section and 54 species of 30 genera were identified and assigned as follows： Cryptamphorella conara-C. macropora the late Cretaceous Zone and Amphis_phaera coronate, Bur）ella tetradica-Bekoma campechensis, and B.bidartensis-B. divaricata the Paleocene-early Eocene Interval Zones. The Paleocene- early Eocene radiolarian zones are comparable to the radiolarian zones RP4-RP8 in New Zealand. Based on the data of radiolaria and lithofacies, it is suggested that the Zongzhuo Formation should be deposited along the base of the north-facing, continental slope of the Greater Indian continental margin, and the Sangdanlin Formation should be a deep marine, sedimentary sequence located in a foreland basin. The early Eocene radiolarian fauna in the Sangdanlin Formation constrains the initial age of the India-Asia collision to no later than 53.6 Ma.

Burial Records of Reactive Iron in Cretaceous Black Shales and Oceanic Red Beds from Southern Tibet

One of the new directions in the field of Cretaceous research is to elucidate the mechanism of the sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to oceanic red beds. A chemical sequential extraction method was applied to these two types of rocks from southern Tibet to investigate the burial records of reactive iron. Results indicate that carbonate-associated iron and pyrite are relatively enriched in the black shales, but depleted or absent in red beds. The main feature of the reactive iron in the red beds is relative enrichment of iron oxides （largely hematite）, which occurred during syn-depostion or early diagenesis. The ratio between iron oxides and the total iron indicates an oxygen-enriched environment for red bed deposition. A comparison between the reactive iron burial records and proxies of paleo-productivity suggests that paleo-productivity decreases when the ratio between iron oxides and the total iron increases in the red beds. This phenomenon could imply that the relationship between marine redox and productivity might be one of the reasons for the sedimentary transition from Cretaceous black shale to oceanic red bed deposition.

Sedimentology and Chronology of Paleogene Coarse Clastic Rocks in East-Central Tibet and Their Relationship to Early Tectonic Uplift

A systematic sedimentological and chronological study of typical Paleogene basins in eastcentral Tibet suggests that the depositional characteristics of extensively developed huge-bedded, purplish-red coarse clastic rocks formed in a tectonic setting of regional thrusting and strike-slipping represent a typical dry and hot subaerial alluvial fan environment formed in a proximal and rapidaccumulating sediment body in debris flows and a fan-surface braided river. Combining results from basin-fill sequences, sequences of coarse clastic rocks, fauna and sporo-pollen associations and thermochronological data, it is conduded that the coarse clastic rocks formed in the period of 54.2- 24.1 Ma, nearly coeval with the formation of Paleogene basins in the northern （Nangqen-Yushu thrust belt）, middle （Batang-Lijiang fault belt）, and disintegration of large basins in the southern （LanpingSimao fold belt） segments of Tibet. The widespread massive-bedded coarse clastic rocks, fold thrusting and strike-slip, thrust shortening, and igneous activities in the Paleogene basins of eastcentral Tibet indicate that an early diachronous tectonic uplift might have occurred in the Tibetan Plateau from Middle Eocene to Oligocene, related to the initial stage of collision of the Indian and Asian plates.

Tectonic and Environmental Evolutions of the Northern Tibetan Plateau Prior to the Collision of India with Asia

Tectonic and environmental patterns and evolution of the present North Tibetan Plateau （NTP） prior to the India collision with Asia is significant to understand the formation of the Tibetan Plateau and its influence on the environment.In this study,we integrated and analyzed the tectonostratigraphy and the special sedimentary layers whose climatic implications are clear in the NTP.Additionally,we stressed the tectonic and environmental events and their evolutions from the Mesozoic to the Early Cenozoic.Our results show that four tectonic phases,which sequentially took place during the Triassic,Jurassic,Cretaceous and Paleogene,played an important role on the formation of the North Tibet.The climate was basically dry and hot from the Triassic to the Eocene and became dry and cool since the Oligocene in this region.The climatic evolution was characterized by a transition from a wet and hot phase during the Triassic-Middle Jurassic,to a dry and hot phase during the Late Jurassic-Eocene.Both phases encompassed 5 wet and hot periods followed by 5 dry and hot climate events,respectively.In addition,we found that the tectonic deformation and the climatic conditions were spatially and temporally different.In detail,in the regions north of the PaleoTian Shan and Paleo-Qilian Mts.the tectonic deformation and climatic condition were stronger and wetter than in regions south of the Paleo-Tian Shan and Paleo-Qilian Mts.during the Late Triassic-Jurassic.Whereas in the Cretaceous,the tectonic movement was intensive in the west but steady in the east,and climate was dry in the south but wet in the north of NTP.The formation of the tectonic and climatic patterns in NTP were the consequence of either global climate change or regional tectonics,including the Paleo-Asian Ocean closure and the Qiangtang block,Lhasa block and India plate collision subsequently to Asia.Furthermore,the regional tectonic events occurred before any global climate change and drove the climatic change in the NTP.

Sedimentary Record of the Planation Surface in the Hoh Xil Region of the Northern Tibet Plateau

Miocene marl is the most widespread Tertiary stratigraphic record in the northern Tibet Plateau, termed the Wudaoliang Group in the Hoh Xil region and the correlative Suonahu Formation in the Qiangtang region. The uniform marl overlies red beds of the Eocene-Oligocene Fenghuoshan Group. The Wudaoliang Group is generally 100-400 m thick, but the thickest strata are 700-1300 m, located in the Haidinghu (Maiding Lake) and Tuotuohe (Tuotuo River) regions respectively. Based on observations from eight measured sections and outcrops, the thin-bedded marl, which varies in colour from grey-white to light brown-grey, is explained as a large-scale or serial lacustrine deposit stretching throughout northern Tibet.The Wudaoliang Group commonly crops out on geographic lowland at an average elevation of 4600 m above sea level within the mountain chains, showing concordant summit levels, e.g. the Fenghuoshan and Bairizhajia Mountains. These mountains with a flat ridge are considered to be remains of the palaeo-planation surface. However, the spatial distribution of the Wudaoliang Group is not confined by the current mountain-basin landform configuration. We have observed the Miocene Wudaoliang Group marl exposed on a 5233 m-high mountain peak. The largest difference in height between the current lake level and the mesa crest is 600 m; the maximum dip angle is 25°, but usually below 10°, which is obviously different from the Fenghuoshan Group red beds with moderate to strong structural deformation. The horizon of the Wudaoliang Group thin-bedded marl and its widespread occurrence throughout the northern Tibetan Plateau can only be reasonably inferred to a sedimentary record relevant to the palaeo-planation. Its deposition occurred on primary land floor by erosion at 20 Ma and its bed surface is a typical sign of geomorphic rise and collapse after the erosion.

Triassic Sequence Stratigraphy and Sea-Level Changes in Qomolongma Area, Southern Tibet, China: From Epicontinental Sea to Rift Basin

The Triassic in the Qomolongma area, southern Tibet, was deposited under an extensional tectonic setting from the Pangea supercontinent to continental rifting. From the Induan to Rhaetian, 12 depositional sequences (3rd order) have been recognized, which can be grouped into 5 sequence sets and in turn make up a well defined mesosequence (2nd order). Among the recognized marine transgressions, those at 250 Ma, 239 Ma, 231 Ma and 223 Ma respectively are particularly of significance and can be correlated widely across continents. The study shows that in Triassic the Qomolongma area experienced a sedimentary evolution from epicontinental sea to rift basin with the turning point at ca 228 Ma. During the early and middle epochs, the area was under epeiric sea, with carbonate ramp to mixed shoal environments predominant. In the late Carnian, the strong extension initiated listric faulting, thus resulting in rapid basement subsidence and the onset of a rift basin. From the late Norian to Rhaetian, it manifested as a rapid basin filling process in the area. Coupled with long term sea level fall, the excessive terrigenous influx led to the shift of environment from deep water prodelta to shore and finally to fluvial plain.

Environmental Issues of Geothermal Development in Yangbajing, Tibet and the Countermeasures

The pollution source and pollution state of surface water is respectively assessed with equal-standard-pollution-load index and Nemero index, and the habitans' health is assessed as well by comparison with pre-development of geo-thermal field. Results show that: 1) Three pollutive factors obviously fail to attain the required standards and their order sorted by impact degree is As>F- >S2-. 2) The Nemero index of Donggua cross section of Duilongqu River is 0. 725 and the water quality is at mildly-polluted level. 3) In Lhasa River, the Nemero indexes of cross sections affected by geo-thermal fields are much higher than that of the unaffected one, which shows the present and potential impacts of geo-thermal development. 4) Much more inhabitants nearby got trichomadesis sickness after geothermal development, which shows that the surface water pollution in this area has threatened the inhabitants' health. In addition, other environmental issues caused by Yangbajing geothermal development are analyzed and some countermeasures are proposed.

Geochronology and Genetic Model for Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks from the Southern Qiangtang Terrane,Northern Tibet,China: Constraints from U-Pb Zircon Dating, Whole-Rock Geochemical and Sr-Nd Isotopic Data

Post-collisional volcanic rocks of Mesozoic age occur in the regions adjacent to Gerze, part of the southern Qiangtang Terrane of northern Tibet, China. Geochronological, geochemical, and wholerock Sr-Nd isotopic analyses were performed on the volcanic rocks to better characterize their emplacement age and models for their origin. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon analyses yielded consistent ages ranging from 123.1±0.94 Ma to 124.5±0.89 Ma for six volcanic rocks from the study area. The intermediate volcanic rocks belong to the alkaline and sub-alkaline magma series in terms of K2 O+Na2 O contents(5.9%–9.0%), and to the shoshonitic and calc-alkaline series on the basis of their high K2 O contents(1.4%–3.3%). The Gerze volcanic rocks are characterized by the enrichment of light rare earth elements [(La/Yb)N=34.9–49.5] and large–ion lithophile elements(e.g., Rb, Ba, Th, U, K, Pb, and Sr), slightly negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.19–0.24), and negative anomalies in high field strength elements(e.g., Nb, Ta, Hf and Ti), relative to primitive mantle. The samples show slightly elevated(87 Sr/86 Sr)i values that range from 0.7049 to 0.7057, and low εNd(t) values from-0.89 to-2.89. These results suggest that the volcanic rocks studied derived from a compositionally heterogeneous mantle source and that their parent magmas were basaltic. The more mafic, parental magmas to the Gerze volcanic rocks likely underwent fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene, hornblende, biotite, and potassium feldspar, during ascent, with little to no crustal contamination, prior to their eruption/emplacement. While these volcanic rocks exhibit geochemical signatures typical of magmas formed in a destructive plate-margin setting, it is plausible that their mantle source might also have acquired such characteristics in an earlier episode of subduction.

Rural Biomass Energy Utilization and Sustainable Developmental Strategies in Tibet

[Objective] This study was to provide theoretical basis for getting sustainable development of rural energy in Tibet into reality.[Method] By reviewing the rural energy resources in Tibet,we analyzed the characteristics and potential of rural biomass utilization in Tibet,and further put forward the sustainable countermeasures on the firewood substitution in Tibet.[Results] Renewable energies including hydraulic,geothermal,solar and wind resources are abundant in Tibet,while there is just a few of fossil energy resources such as oil and coal,with uneven distribution and poor exploration conditions.Traditional consumption of biomass energy resource accounts for a large proportion of the total energy consumption in Tibetan rural districts,which causes potential damage to the fragile ecological environment on the Tibetan Plateau.The excessive use of biomass energy destroyed the vegetation and evoked the environment deterioration such as the intensification of the water and soil loss and the declining of the soil fertility.[Conclusion] It is essential for Tibet to change its rural energy consumption structure,implement the Tibetan firewood alternative energy strategy and try to make full use of renewable energy such as solar energy,wind energy,hydro-energy instead of native vegetation and animal＇s droppings in order to reduce the adverse impacts of the irrational energy consumption on the ecological environment in Tibet.

Research of the Conductive Structure of Crust and the Upper Mantle beneath the South-Central Tibetan Plateau

With the super-wide band magnetoteiluric sounding data of the JUong （吉隆）-Cuoqin （措勤） profile （named line 800） which was completed in 2001 and the Dingri （定日）-Cuomai （措迈） profile （named line 900） which was completed in 2004, we obtained the strike direction of each MT station by strike analysis, then traced profiles that were perpendicular to the main strike direction, and finally obtained the resistivity model of each profile by nonlinear conjugate gradients （NLCG） inversion. With these two models, we described the resistivity structure features of the crust and the upper mantle of the center-southern Tibetan plateau and its relationship with Yalung Tsangpo suture： the upper crust of the research area is a resistive layer with resistivity value range of 200-3 000 Ω.m. The depth of its bottom surface is about 15-20 km generally, but the bottom surface of resistive layer is deeper in the middle of these two profiles. At llne 900, it is about 30 km deep, and even at line 800, it is about 38 km deep. There is a gradient belt of resistivity at the depth of 15-45 km, and a conductive layer is beneath it with resistivity even less than 5 Ω.m. This conductive layer is composed of individual conductive bodies, and at the south of the Yalung Tsangpo suture, the conductive bodies are smaller with thickness about 10 km and lean to the north slightly. However, at the north of the Yalung Tsangpo suture, the conductive bodies are larger with thickness about 30 km and also lean to the north slightly. Relatively, the conductive bodies of line 900 are thinner than those of line 800, and the depth of the bottom surface of line 900 is also shallower. At last, after analyzing the effect factors to the resistivity of rocks, it was concluded that the very conductive layer was caused by partial melt or connective water in rocks. It suggests that the middle and lower crust of the center-southern Tibetan plateau is very thick, hot, flabby, and waxy.