Biostratigraphy versus isotope geochronology: Testing the Urals island arc model

Formation of the Urals volcanic-hosted massive sulphide(VHMS) deposits is considered to be related with the intra-oceanic stage of island arc(s) development in the Upper Ordoviciane Middle Devonian based on the biostratigraphic record of ore-hosting sedimentary rocks. However, the direct Re-Os dating of four known VHMS systems in the Urals gives significantly younger Re-Os isochron ages ranging from355 ± 15 Ma up to 366 ± 2 Ma. To address this discrepancy, we performed SHRIMP U-Pb dating on zircons extracted from rhyodacites(Eifelian biostratigraphic age of 393 -388 Ma) from the footwall of the Alexandrinka VHMS deposit which has a Re-Os isochron age of sulphides of 355 ± 15 Ma.New ^(206) Pb/^(238) U mean age of 374 ± 3 Ma(MSWD ? 1.4 and probability ? 0.11) is considered to be the crystallisation age of the host volcanic rock. This age is ca. 15 Ma younger than the Eifelian(393 -388 Ma)biostratigraphic age and overlaps the Frasniane Famennian boundary(372 ± 2 Ma), characterised by the final stages of Magnitogorsk Arc e East European continent collision. Such an inconsistency with geochronological age may be due to a reburial of conodonts during resedimentation as a result of erosion of older rocks in younger sedimentary sequences.

Distribution of algae and cyanobacteria of biological soil crusts along the elevation gradient in mountain plant communities at the Northern Urals(Russian European Northeast)

This paper describes the biodiversity of cyanobacteria and microalgae of biological soil crusts(BSC)on bare substrates in different mountain vegetation types at the Northern Urals.In total,we identified 99 algal species from six divisions in all sampled sites.The species diversity and structure of BSC algal communities show a relationship with environmental factors(altitude,soil p H and humidity,and illumination).Taxonomic diversity of algae decreases along the altitude gradient from mountain meadow to mountain tundra.Algae and cyanobacteria species from six divisions were identified in meadow communities,five in mountain forests and four in mountain tundra.We observed a positive correlation between species diversity of phototrophic microorganisms and altitude in the forest communities,but a negative correlation in the tundra.The dominant complex of cyanobacterial and algal species in BSC was specific for each type of plant community and was reflective of the habitat conditions.The species diversity and morphological organization of the BSC algae thalli can be used as a criterion for the ongoing assessment of climatic changes in high latitudes and mountain regions.

Peat Accumulation and Early Carboniferous Environments of the Kizel Coal Basin,the Urals,Russia

The lithological and geochemical composition and conditions of formation of the coal-bearing deposits of the Kizel Coal Basin in the Perm region of the Urals(central Russia)are described using the two most representative sections,Gubakha-Stary Most and Krestovaya Mountain,based on a detailed“layer-by-layer”technique.Brief characteristics of the Lower Carboniferous paleosols from fossil paleosol(FPS-)profiles of the studied region are given.Special attention is paid to the parent vegetation of the coal-forming processes,based on an analysis of both plant macrofossils and palynoflora.The peat accumulation in conditions of permanent incoming of clastic material from the Paleo-Urals to the Kizel Basin was probably effective only in more or less stable environments,when the accumulated organic matter produced by plant mortmass was not dissolved by clastic particles.Thus,the conditions of coal-forming are reconstructed as a forest swamp,where the main dominants are represented by lycopodiopsids of the order Lepidodendrales,predominantly Lepidodendron veltheimii.These plants in particular were the source of the initial organic matter for the peat(and later coal)of the Kizel Coal Basin.

Conodonts from Lower Silurian Strata of the Subpolar Urals

The distribution of Lower Silurian conodonts from the sections on the Kozhym River was studied first by S.V. Melnikov.After additional studies of the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian strata,Oulodus? aff.nathani, Walliserodus cf.curvatus,Panderodus sp.and Ozarkodina sp.were identified by P.M(a|¨)nnik in the Subpolar Urals.Studies of conodonts from the

Ectomycorrhiza of Larix sibirica Ledeb. along the gradients of main ecological factors and elevation at the Northern and Subpolar Urals

Siberian larch(Larix sibirica Ledeb.) forests cover the largest areas in the Eurasian boreal zone, but there are insufficient data on its root system including the structure and functional traits of ectomycorrhizas(EM). The aim of this research is to find out if the morphological parameters of Larix sibirica EMs responded to the changes in elevation and main ecological factors(soil humidity, soil richness, soil acidity and habitat illumination). Using light microscopy, we studied EM diameter, root diameter, mantle width, and mantle volume share, share of tannin cells layers, EM density and EM length of Larix sibirica in two main types of plant communities along the elevation gradient at the Northern and Subpolar Urals. Differences in the environment were traced using phytoindication approach and the Ellenberg ecological scales. All the studied traits depend on the elevation and studied ecological factors. The diversity of fungal mantles is low, and the proportion of unstructured and pseudoparenchymatous mantles is high in response to the deterioration of the humidity, soil nitrogen content and acidity at higher-altitude habitats. Results of EM quantitative parameters measurements confirmed this pattern. We found a decline in the EM linear dimensions accompanied by a compensatory growth of the EM density with the raised elevation and the deterioration of environmental conditions.

Geochemistry and mineralogy of platinum-group elements(PGE)in chromites from CentralnoyeⅠ,Polar Urals,Russia

The Polar Urals region of northern Russia is well known for large chromium （Cr）-bearing massifs with major chromite orebodies, including the Centralnoye I deposit in the Ray-Iz ultramafic massif of the Ural ophiolite belt. New data on platinum （Pt）-group elements （PGE）, geochemistry and mineralogy of the host dunite shows that the deposit has anomalous iridium （Ir） values. These values indicate the predominance of ruthenium--osmium--iridium （Ru--Os--Ir）-bearing phases among the platinum-group mineral （PGM） assemblage that is typical of mantle-hosted chromite ores. Low Pt values in chromites and increased Pt values in host dunites might reflect the presence of cumulus PGM grains. The most abundant PGM found in the chromite is erlichmanite （up to 15 μm）. Less common are cuproiridsite （up to 5 μm）, irarsite （up to 4--5 μm）, and laurite （up to 4 μm）. The predominant sulfide is heazlewoodite, in intergrowth with Ni--Fe alloys, sporadically with pentlandite, and rarely with pure nickel. Based on the average PGE values and esti- mated Cr-ore resources, the Centralnoye I deposit can be considered as an important resource of PGE.

Simple Metrics for Representing East Asian Winter Monsoon Variability:Urals Blocking and Western Pacific Teleconnection Patterns

Instead of conventional East Asian winter monsoon indices （EAWMIs）, we simply use two large-scale teleconnection patterns to represent long-term variations in the EAWM. First, the Urals blocking pattern index （UBI） is closely related to cold air advection from the high latitudes towards western Siberia, such that it shows an implicit linkage with the Siberian high intensity and the surface air temperature （SAT） variations north of 40°N in the EAWM region. Second, the well-known western Pacific teleconnection index （WPI） is connected with the meridional displacement of the East Asian jet stream and the East Asian trough. This is strongly related to the SAT variations in the coastal area south of 40°N in the EAWM region. The temperature variation in the EAWM region is also represented by the two dominant temperature modes, which are called the northern temperature mode （NTM） and the southern temperature mode （STM）. Compared to 19 existing EAWMIs and other well-known teleconnection patterns, the UBI shows the strongest correlation with the NTM, while the WPI shows an equally strong correlation with the STM as four EAWMIs. The UBI-NTM and WPI-STM relationships are robust when the correlation analysis is repeated by （1） the 31-year running correlation and （2） the 8-year high-pass and low-pass filter. Hence, these results are useful for analyzing the large-scale teleconnections of the EAWM and for evaluating this issue in climate models. Int particular, more studies should focus on the teleconnection patterns over extratropical Eurasia.

Fluidizate-Explosive Occurrences in Ophiolites as Indicator of the Subduction Zone Activity: The Urals Example

It is known that the formation of oceanic crust occurs in different geodynamic settings,accompanying by the emergence of mantle-magmatic ophiolite complexes having a distinctive properties.In the process of mantle-crustal evolution of the ophiolites are undergoing significant changes with the formation of peculiar(on structure and composition)rocks,sometimes with unusual mineral paragenesis.The presence of such rocks in mélange tectonic zones greatly complicates to determine their origin.In the Ural folded belt(length more than 2,000 km)separating the East European Platform and the West Siberian sedimentary basin,ophiolites are widespread forming a chain of mafic-ultramafic massifs(Fig.1)located in the allochthonous position with mélange at the bottom(Puchkov,2013).With the Urals ophiolites are associated occurrences of eclogites,jadeites,ruby and other rocks of unclear nature,sometimes regarded as potentially diamondiferous.Such formations of unclear genesis include the associating with ophiolites metabasites of higher alkalinity composing the body in the mantle peridotites of the mélange Main Uralian Fault(MUF)zone(Shmelev,2005).By this time they are determined in different parts of the fault zone,but most completely are known in the Sub Polar Urals,where are distinguished under the name of Sertynya alkaline-ultramafic complex,which is located just 25 km east of Hartes kimberlitic complex(Fig.1).Formally,its affiliation to diamond-bearing associations is confirmed by finding of grains and fragments of natural diamond in the weathering crust.A detailed study of the rock complexes shows that in reality they have a polygenic nature,combine theelements of proper magmatic and fluidizate-explosive formations,the appearance of which was interfaced with the processes at the slab-mantle wedge boundary in subduction zones.Polygenic nature of the rocks is reflected in the existence of three interrelated structural-geological units:(1)bodies and dikes of uniformmetadiabasesanddensefine-grainedmetadolerites(lamprophyres),(2)fluidal-brecciated dolerites('tuff breccias')and(3)structural weathering crust with angular or rounded fragments(blocks)of metadolerites and serpentinites.The rocks have experienced rodingitization and permeated with net of veins a vesuvianite composition.The host peridotite matrix(harzburgites and dunites)has undergone serpentinizationandchloritization.Structural relationships give grounds for distinguishing in the history of the complex formation the magmatic proper(dolerite dyke and lamprophyre intrusion)and infiltration fluidizate-explosive(metasomatic transformation of dolerite)stages.Peculiarities of petrography and mineralogy of rock complexes does not allow to compare them with lamproites and kimberlites.Metadiabases demonstrate relics of ophitic structure,as primary paragenesis is completely replaced by aggregate of chlorite,zoisite and leucoxene.Dolerites(lamprophyres)have a uniform fine-grained or porphyry structure with phenocrysts of clinopyroxene,brown amphibole and leucoxene(sphene),which are immersed in a fine-scaly aggregate of light green mica.In the rocks amphibole,garnet and vesuvian are present.Clinopyroxene corresponds to augite with moderate content of titanium and alumina(up to 3.5wt.%),showing a normal magmatic zonation in composition.Mica previously wrongly called as phlogopite,actually has an extremely ferrous composition and corresponds to biotite(annite).Amphibole is presented by magmatic titaniferous tschermakite hornblende and metamorphic(bluish)variety of sodium-calcium composition(taramite).Garnet is presented by exceptionally grossular of rodingite type.Mineralogy of weathering crust reveals similar features,but in the samples it is marked the presence of muscovite,orthoclase and weakly ferrous diopside.An important feature of the weathering crust is the presence of shear surfaces on minerals,resulting in fracturing due to internal stress,confirming the explosive nature of protolith.The bulk chemical composition of rocks is characterized by significant variations in the content of silica(30-46 wt.%)and alkalis(0-6.5 wt.%).These metabasites have consistently a low magnesia number and high titanium oxide content(1.5-3.0 wt.%).Side by side with these are been established the uniform slope REE distribution trends similar to the trend of oceanic basalts N-MORB type(Fig.2).The level of trace element compositions does not depend on variations in the alkalinity of the rocks,but clearly correlates with the titanium content.Unlike them the Hartes kimberlites demonstrate the distribution with deficit of HREE,andthe level of the elements content is correlated with the alkalinity of rocks(Mahotkin et al.,1998).Another important geochemical feature of the Sertynya complex rocks is a regular behavior of the mobile LILE elements(Cs,Rb,Ba,K).In the varieties of rocks with mica enriched by alkalis,it is recorded extremely high level of LILE,exceeding the level of contents in N-MORB basalts at 10-10000 times!In the metabasites varieties with low level of alkalinity,LILE content is sharply(except Cs)reduced to minimum values(Fig.2).The observed pattern of the element distribution is undoubtedly the result of postmagmatic fluid-metasomatic alteration of the original rocks.Tectonic position and the primary composition characteristics of the metadolerites give reason to consider them as fragments of the ophiolite sheeted dike complex(Shmelev,2005).The famous dike complexes in the ophiolite massifs of the MUF zone(east of mélange)belong to suprasubduction formations of Paleozoic age.However the obtained mainly ancient U-Pb zircon dating(up to Archean inclusive)for metadolerites of the Sertynya complex,make it possible to assume its Vendian-Early Cambrian(530-617 Ma)age.It permits to compare the Sertynya metabasites with the Vendian metaophiolites of the MUF zone in the Middle Urals(Petrov et al.,2010).It is noteworthy that similar age datings(520-550 Ma)are also established for kimberlites of the Hartes complex located to the west of ophiolites.Therefore,thepresenceofthe Vendian-Cambrian ophiolite of MOR-type in the MUF mélange zone,'changing'to the east of Ordovician ophiolites SSZ-type,seems quite possible.The obtained data allow to suggest an original interpretation of nature of the Urals fluidizate-explosive formations considering the process specifics in the subduction zones(Bebout and Barton,2002).Accordingto this model,the pre-Ordovician(?)oceanic crust has undergone transformations and deformations on the slab-mantle wedge boundary during the subduction.As a result of slab dehydration it occurred a flow of aqueous fluids,which were enriched with the extracted from sedimentary rocks the LILE elements and percolated through the mantle substrate with dolerite dyke complex.Interaction with them led to the formation of chlorite-zoisite and/or mica(biotite-bearing)fluidizates and in the presence of a gas phase-fluidizate-explosive breccias with subsequent development of weathering crust.In the surrounding peridotites an explosive process is marked by the formation of pseudokimberlite breccias.Fluidized-explosive occurrences in mantle peridotites of mélange zones should be considered as indicators of the subduction slab-mantle interaction at relatively shallow levels involving enriched LILE fluids(without melts participation),rising as the front from the subduction zone.In this interpretation,there is no need toappealtothealkaline-ultramaficor lamproit-kimberlite hypothesis of the genesis of these formations,however,the question of their potential diamondiferous remains to be open.The proposed interpretation of the fluidizate-explosive occurrences makes it possible to comprehendthat in reality the mélange is a complex formation with signs of not onlycollisional(as usually is considered),but also of earlier subduction events.

The Main Types of the Urals Mafic-Ultramafic Complexes

The mafic-ultramafic complexes and associated formationsare wide spread within the Ural folded belt,which is located on the boundary of the East European plate and West Siberian sedimentary basin.Two main

Expansion of Juniperus sibirica Burgsd.as a response to climate change and associated effect on mountain tundra vegetation in the Northern Urals

Shrub expansion into arctic and alpine tundra is one of the prominent vegetation changes currently underway.We studied the expansion of shrub vegetation into high elevation tundra in the Kvarkush Range of the Northern Ural mountains,Russia.Age structure analysis of the dominant shrub Juniperus sibirica Burgsd.seems to support ongoing upslope advance of shrubs,a process particularly active in the second half of the 20 th century.We found a close connection between the expansion of shrub vegetation and the general change in climatic conditions of the cold season(months with mean airtemperature below 0°Сfrom November to March).In general,the greatest influence on the distribution of J.sibirica is exerted by the climate conditions of the beginning(November-January)and the end(March)of the cold season.With increasing elevation,the correlation coefficients between the establishment of J.sibirica shrubs and the precipitation of the beginning of the cold season increased,and reached maximum values at the top elevation level of the study area.However,the upwards shift of J.sibirica into typical mountain tundra does not lead to changes in the ecological structure of vegetation at this stage,but simply a decrease in the area of mountain tundra.

Timanide(Ediacaran–Early Cambrian) Metamorphism at the Transition from Eclogite to Amphibolite Facies in the Beloretsk Complex,SW-Urals,Russia

The Beloretsk Metamorphic Complex in the SW Urals formed at a convergent eastern margin of Baltica during the Neoproterozoic–Early Cambrian Timanide orogeny.It comprises three major units with lenses of facies-critical metabasites within metasedimentary rocks:A lowermost eclogite unit,an intermediate garnet amphibolite unit and an upper amphibolite-greenschist unit.Pressure(P)-temperature(T)-paths of four rocks from the two lowermost units were determined mainly by PT pseudosection techniques showing similar clockwise loops at different peak metamorphic,watersaturated conditions:A phengite-bearing eclogite shows peak PT conditions of 16.5–18.5 kbar/525–550℃(stage I)followed by stage II at 11.5–13.0 kbar/585–615℃.A garnet amphibolite from the intermediate unit yields lower peak conditions of 11.7–14.5 kbar/480–510℃(stage I)followed by stage II at 9.5–11.0 kbar/535–560℃.However,a granite gneiss in the eclogite unit shows similar maximum pressures as the eclogite,but higher temperatures at 15.6–16.2 kbar/660–675℃,whereas a garnet micaschist contains comparable high pressure relicts,but underwent an advanced midcrustal reequilibration at 7.5–9.0 kbar/555–610℃.We dated the eclogite by a 7-point Rb/Sr mineral isochron(phengite,omphacite,apatite)at 532.2±9.1 Ma interpreted as age of crystallisation of the eclogitic peak PT assemblage.This age is the youngest compared to the known Timanide metamorphic and magmatic ages.

Heterogeneity of Mantle Peridotites from the Polar Urals (Russia): Evidence from New LA-ICP-MS Data

To discuss the nature of the compositional heterogeneity of the peridotite massifs of the Polar Urals(Russia), the geochemical study by LA-ICP-MS of pyroxenes and amphiboles from these mantle formations was performed. The trace element compositions in clinopyroxenes indicate the existence of the mantle protolith of two types. The first protolith type, represented by lherzolites and diopside harzburgites,was originated from the partial melting(5%–10%) under the spinel facies conditions, while the second one,represented by diopside harzburgites, was formed under the polybaric partial melting(17%–19%) under garnet and spinel facies conditions. Subsequently, the mantle peridotite protolith was subject to fluidinduced partial melting in the suprasubduction setting that was resulted in the formation of harzburgites.Being affected by penetrating melts and fluids peridotites experienced the refertilization(LREE enrichment of clinopyroxenes) and high-temperature hydratation with subsequent development of pargasite and Mg amphibole. The high-T fluid-induced metamorphism at the subduction zone was accompanied by the formation of metaperidotites with clinochlore and REE-depleted tremolite.

Overall results and prospects of the cancer risk assessment in the Urals population affected by chronic low dose-rate exposure

The paper presents the key milestones and outcomes of 65-year studies of the carcinogenic consequences of accidental radiation exposure of the population of the Ural region.The radioactive contamination of the Techa River and the 1957 accident at the Mayak Production Association were the reasons of the long-term population exposure at a wide dose-range.The most important tasks of the study were the reconstruction of individual doses,follow-up of the solid cancer and leukemia incidence and mortality among cohort members.The research results have shown that chronic human exposure,in comparison to acute exposure,does not reduce the risk of developing malignant tumors and leukemias.The value of the dose-rate factor does not exceed"one".Thus,according to our data,the Publication 103 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection seemed to underestimate the radiation risk of malignant tumors and leukemias in case of low dose-rate exposure of the population by a factor of two.Prospects for further radio-epidemiological studies in the Urals are associated with the analysis of the cohort of Southern Urals Populations Exposed to Radiation,which includes about 63 thousand exposed people and makes it possible to assess the radiation risk of solid cancers of certain localizations,certain types of leukemia,and non-cancer effects.

铂族元素的地球化学行为及全球主要铂族金属矿床类型

全球铂族金属矿床主要有6种类型,分别为:(1)镁铁质—超镁铁质层状岩体铂族金属矿床;(2)镁铁质—超镁铁质Cu-N i硫化物矿床伴生的铂族金属矿床;(3)Urals杂岩体型铂族金属矿床;(4)蛇绿岩型铂族金属矿床;(5)与热液相关的铂族金属矿床;(6)外生型铂族金属矿床。除第4类型外其他类型的铂族矿床都具有经济意义。铂族金属矿床的形成主要与幔源岩浆性质及岩浆演化过程密切相关。大规模的幔源岩浆活动及在岩浆演化过程中具有产生硫饱和的条件是形成铂族金属矿床的有利条件,同时岩浆期后的热液作用能使铂族元素迁移并在特定条件下富集,对铂族金属矿床的形成有利。镁铁质—超镁铁质层状侵入体形成铂族金属矿床的有利条件是岩浆分异作用强,并且具有能产生高R因子的环境;镁铁质—超镁铁质Cu-Ni硫化物矿床中形成铂族金属矿床的有利条件是硫化物熔体的结晶分异作用;Urals型杂岩体中,由于岩浆在早期演化过程中硫的不饱和,形成的主要铂族矿物为Pt-Fe、Pt-Ir合金,且主要与铬铁矿共生,在岩浆演化硫饱和阶段可形成富Pd的铂族矿物,且与Cu-Fe-V-Ti-P金属共生;蛇绿岩型杂岩体中,主要形成的铂族矿物为含Ir-、Os-、Pt-的合金或少量硫化物矿物,且主要赋存于铬铁矿中。

Climate change evidence in tree growth and stand productivity at the upper treeline ecotone in the Polar Ural Mountains

Background:Recent warming is affecting species composition and species areal distribution of many regions.However,although most treeline studies have estimated the rates of forest expansion into tundra,still little is known about the long-term dynamic of stand productivity at the forest-tundra intersection.Here,we make use of tree-ring data from 350 larch(Larix sibirica Ledeb.)and spruce(Picea obovata Ledeb.)sampled along the singular altitudinal treeline ecotone at the Polar Urals to assess the dynamic of stand establishment and productivity,and link the results with meteorological observations to identify the main environmental drivers.Results:The analysis of stand instalment indicated that more than 90%of the living trees appeared after 1900.During this period,the stand became denser and moved 50m upward,while in recent decades the trees of both species grew faster.The maximum afforestation occurred in the last decades of the twentieth century,and the large number of encountered saplings indicates that the forest is still expanding.The upward shift coincided with a slight increase of May-August and nearly doubling of September-April precipitation while the increase in growth matched with an early growth season warming(June+0.27°C per decade since 1901).This increase in radial growth combined with the stand densification led to a 6-90 times increase of biomass since 1950.Conclusion:Tree-ring based twentieth century reconstruction at the treeline ecotone shows an ongoing forest densification and expansion accompanied by an increased growth.These changes are driven by climate change mechanism,whereby the leading factors are the significant increase in May-June temperatures and precipitation during the dormant period.Exploring of phytomass accumulation mechanisms within treeline ecotone is valuable for improving our understanding of carbon dynamics and the overall climate balance in current treeline ecosystems and for predicting how these will be altered by global change.

Influence of Major Stratospheric Sudden Warming on the Unprecedented Cold Wave in East Asia in January 2021

An unprecedented cold wave intruded into East Asia in early January 2021 and led to record-breaking or historical extreme low temperatures over vast regions.This study shows that a major stratospheric sudden warming(SSW)event at the beginning of January 2021 exerted an important influence on this cold wave.The major SSW event occurred on 2 January 2021 and subsequently led to the displacement of the stratospheric polar vortex to the East Asian side.Moreover,the SSW event induced the stratospheric warming signal to propagate downward to the mid-to-lower troposphere,which not only enhanced the blocking in the Urals-Siberia region and the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation,but also shifted the tropospheric polar vortex off the pole.The displaced tropospheric polar vortex,Ural blocking,and another downstream blocking ridge over western North America formed a distinct inverted omega-shaped circulation pattern(IOCP)in the East Asia-North Pacific sector.This IOCP was the most direct and impactful atmospheric pattern causing the cold wave in East Asia.The IOCP triggered a meridional cell with an upward branch in East Asia and a downward branch in Siberia.The meridional cell intensified the Siberian high and low-level northerly winds,which also favored the invasion of the cold wave into East Asia.Hence,the SSW event and tropospheric circulations such as the IOCP,negative phase of Arctic Oscillation,Ural blocking,enhanced Siberian high,and eastward propagation of Rossby wave eventually induced the outbreak of an unprecedented cold wave in East Asia in early January 2021.

Seasonal Cumulative Effect of Ural Blocking Episodes on the Frequent Cold events in China during the Early Winter of 2020/21

Starting in mid-November,China was hit by several cold events during the early winter of 2020/21.The lowest temperature observed at Beijing station on 7 January reached−19.6°C.In this paper,we show that the outbreak of the record-breaking extreme cold event can be attributed to a huge merging Ural blocking(UB)ridge over the Eurasian region.The sea-ice cover in the Kara and East Siberia Seas(KESS)in autumn was at its lowest value since 1979,which could have served as a precursor signal.Further analysis shows that several successive UB episodes occurred from 1 September 2020 to 10 January 2021.The persistent UB that occurred in late September/early October 2020 may have made an important contribution to the October historical minimum of sea ice in the KESS region.Our results also show that,after each UB episode in winter,significant upward propagation of wave activity occurred around 60°E,which resulted in weakening the stratospheric vortex.Meanwhile,each UB episode also caused a significant reduction in sea-ice extent in KESS and a significant weakening of the westerly jet in mid-high-latitude Eurasia.Results suggest that the Arctic vortex,which is supposed to enhance seasonally,became weaker and more unstable than the climatic mean under the seasonal cumulative effects of UB episodes,KESS warming,and long-lasting negative-phase North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO-).Those seasonal cumulative effects,combined with the impact of La Niña winter,led to the frequent occurrence of extreme cold events.

Numerical Study of Ural Blocking High＇s Effect Upon Asian Summer Monsoon Circulation and East China Flood and Drought

In terms of Kuo-Qian pesigma incorporated coordinate five-level primitive equation spheric band (70°N-30°S)model with the Ural high's effect introduced into it as initial and boundary conditions, study is made of the high's influence on Asian summer monsoon circulation and dryness / wetness of eastern China based on case contrast andcontrol experiments. Rusults show that as an excitation source, the blocking high produces a SE-NW stationarywavetrain with its upper-air atnicyclonic divergent circulation oust over a lower-level trough zone) precisely over themiddle to lower reaches of the Changjiang River, enhancing East Asian westerly jet, a situation that contributes toPerturbation growth, causing an additional secondary meridional circulation at the jet entrance, which intensifies theupdraft in the monsoon area. As such, the high's presence and its excited steady wavetrain represent the large-scalekey factors and acting mechanisms for the rainstorm over the Changjiang-Huaihe River catchment in the easternpart of the land.

ROLE OF METASOMATIC PROCESSES IN RUBY-BEARING MARBLES FORMATION OF THE SOUTHERN URAL MOUNTAINS

Ruby-bearing marbles of the Southern Ural Mountains are developed in the metamorphic perimeter of granites-gneisses domes where high grade metamorphic granitization and diaphthoresis have occurred.Geological research into the development and occurrence of ruby-bearing marbles indicate that they formed as a result of repeated transformation.Their substrate consisted of an organogenous marine limestone containing Visean faunal remains.Intensive Mg metasomatism of limestone during early progressive stages of metamorphism resulted in a substrate of dolomite composition containing faunal remains with a calcite composition.Increased temperature and pressure resulted in metamorphism of early Mg metasomatites,turning them into fine-grained marble containing Visean faunal remains.Tensional stresses near the intrusive domes resulted in dedolomitization of early Mg metasomatites,giving rise to light,coarse-grained calcite marbles having polygonal-grained structure.Such carbonaceous marbles became metamorphosed around the perimeter of granite-gneiss massifs.Their rheological properties allowed for plastic flow in these marbles into areas of tectonic neutrality,forming bodies of rheomorphic marbles,sometimes even among marbled limestone.Relict bodies of Mg metasomatites underwent boudinage and rotation.Flow cleavage occurred in axial blocks of inter-dome structures and in their steep walls.Therefore platy jointing(banding,pseudo-lamination)formed in the marbles.Thickness of the plates is from several millimeters to 2-3m.Calcite underwent recrystallization with extension of grain size in the central parts of plates,sometimes amounting to 15-25cm in cross-section.Ruby-bearing marbles consist of Mg-calcite.The rock is coarse-grained,with a panidiomorphic texture.Schistosity is often observed in the plane of cleavage.Mg-calcite marble occurs among and grades into background calcite marbles,which are controlled by cleavage of flowing.It is supposed that the ruby-bearing Mg-calcite marbles bodies are elongated in the direction of dip.Their formation is caused by recrystallization under the action of rising metamorphogenic fluids at high temperatures and higher pressures(amphibolitic and epidote-amphibolitic facies).Ruby-bearing marbles formed at the end of the prograde stage of metamorphism.The early retrograde stage of metamorphism is defined by a new wave of Mg metasomatism and formation of calcite-dolomitic marbles with a poikiloblastic texture from calcite or Mg-calcite marbles.Usually the boundaries of the bodies are clear,planar,and controlled by cleavage.Studies of small bodies have shown that they are elongated in the direction of dip.Usually they contain pink corundum and/or pink spinel;red corundum is replaced by red spinel.Thus the initial marine limestones were transformed into various marbles and completely lost their primary composition and bedding as a result of metamorphism,deformation,and metasomatic transformation.Ruby-spinel mineralization in marbles is controlled by cleavage.

Serpentinites of the Ural: Mineralogical Features, Petrophysical Properties and Subduction Processes

The article presents the results of study of composition, structure and properties of three genetic types of serpentinites from Ural: developed by chromite-bearing ultrabasic rocks, by metamorphic zones of carbonate rocks and within the zone of weathering of ultrabasic rocks. The samples were selected from deposits, located along the Main Ural Fault - the Paleozoic subduction zone (named GUR). Peculiarities of microstructure, chemical composition and properties of serpentinites formed in different geological conditions were investigated and their comparative study was held. Three groups of serpentinites with oriented and non-oriented structure, which formed by different protholites, were devided: mantle, lithosphere and crust.