Petrology of Spinel-Lherzolite Xenoliths from Mazéléand Others Northen Xenoliths Localities of Cameroon Volcanic Line: Exchange Reactions and Equilibrium State

The alkaline volcanism of the Cameroon Volcanic Line in its northern domain has raised many fresh enclaves of peridotites. The samples selected come from five (05) different localities (Liri, in the plateau of Kapsiki, Mazélé in the NE of Ngaoundéré, Tello and Ganguiré in the SE of Ngaoundéré and Likok, locality located in the west of Ngaoundé). The peridotite enclaves of the above localities show restricted mineralogical variation. Most are four-phase spinel-lherzolites, indicating that this is the main lithology that forms the lithospheric mantle below the shallow zone. No traces of garnet or primary plagioclase were detected, which strongly limits the depth range from which the rock fragments were sampled. The textures and the wide equilibrium temperatures (884˚C - 1115˚C) indicate also entrainment of lherzolite xenoliths from shallow depths within the lithosphere and the presence of mantle diapirism. The exchange reactions and equilibrium state established in this work make it possible to characterize the chemical composition of the upper mantle of each region and test the equilibrium state of the phases between them. Variations of major oxides and incompatible elemental concentrations in clinopyroxene indicate a primary control by partial melting. The absence of typical “metasomatic” minerals, low equilibration temperatures and enriched LREE patterns indicate that the upper mantle below septentrional crust of Cameroun underwent an event of cryptic metasomatic enrichment prior to partial melting. The distinctive chemical features, LREE enrichment, strong U, Ce and Pr, depletion relative to Ba, Nb, La, Pb, and T, fractionation of Zr and Hf and therefore ligh high Zr/Hf ratio, low La/Yb, Nb/La and Ti/Eu are all results of interaction of refractory peridotite residues with carbonatite melts.

Provenance of colorless and brown volcanic glass in late Pleistocene tephra layers in the Western Philippine Sea

Tephra layers in the western Philippine Sea,characterized by abundant volcanic glass shards,may provide crucial evidence on the eruption history of volcanoes and tectonic evolution of the western Pacific.A 220-ka sediment core from the Benham Rise in the western Philippine Sea offers new insights into the provenance of four intercalated tephra layers(T1–T4,in chronological order)containing either colorless or brown glass shards.Relative to primitive mantle,all glass shards are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements,such as Rb,Cs,and Pb,and depleted in high field-strength elements,such as Th,Nb,and Ta,indicating a subduction-related origin.The colorless glass shards are characterized by high SiO_(2)(>78%)and light rare earth element(LREE)contents as well as high La/Sm ratios(>9),low FeO and MgO contents(<1%),low Sr/Y(<15)and high Ba/Th ratios(>100),pointing to a rhyolitic composition and a medium-K calc-alkaline serial affinity.In contrast,the brown glass shards are characterized by lower SiO_(2)(<63%)and LREE contents,higher FeO,MgO,and CaO contents,lower La/Sm(<6)and Ba/Th(<75),and similar Sr/Y ratios(<15),indicating derivation from medium to high-K calc-alkaline andesite magma.Brown glass shards from layers T3(152 ka)and T4(172 ka)were correlated with volcanic deposits from the Taal and Laguna Caldera in the Maccolod Corridor,respectively,while the colorless glass shards from layers T1(36.5 ka)and T2(61.2 ka)were likely sourced from the Irosin Caldera in the Bicol Arc.Establishing the provenance of late Pleistocene tephra layers in the western Philippine Sea is helpful to complement a Philippine volcanic history and establish a regional tephrochronostratigraphy.

Influence of multi-stage volcanic events on the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene reservoirs and its geological significance in the northern Central Myanmar Basin

The northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust triggered multiple magmatic activities in the West Myanmar Arc,which in turn influenced the deposition of sedimentary pyroclastic rocks from the Cretaceous to Eocene strata in the Central Myanmar Basin(CMB).The pore structure of these lithologic reservoirs is complex and rich in tuffaceous sandstone,which plays an adverse role in reservoir development in this region.To understand the development characteristics and genetic mechanism of the pyroclastic rocks within three sets of reservoirs in this area,a comprehensive analysis was conducted through borehole core observations,thin section identification,scanning electron microscope analysis,and mercury injection tests.The tuffaceous sandstone from the upper Cretaceous to the Eocene is dominated by intermediate-acid volcanic rock debris.The pyroclastic rocks exhibit evident chloritization and ironization,with residual intergranular pores being the principal type accompanied by a smaller amount of intergranular dissolved pores and intragranular dissolved pores.The highest porosity is observed in the Eocene tuffaceous sandstone,ranging from 8%to 12%.The Late Cretaceous to Paleocene sandstones exhibit lower porosity levels of only 4%-6%.These reservoirs are characterized by their low porosity and low-permeability.Despite the presence of a good source rock in this area,the volcanic debris particles filling the pores,as well as their subsequent devitrification,chloritization,and limonite mineralization,result in pore throat blockage and narrowing.The reservoirs in this area are small in size,exhibit poor reservoir connectivity and lateral continuity,and fail to meet the necessary conditions for commercial-scale hydrocarbon accumulation and migration.

High-temperature corrosion of sintered RE_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)(RE=Yb and Ho)environmental barrier coating materials by volcanic ash

Rare-earth silicates are promising environmental barrier coatings(EBCs)that can protect SiC_(f)/Si C_(m)substrates in next-genera tion gas turbine blades.Notably,RE_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)(RE=Yb and Ho)shows potential as an EBC due to its coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE)compatible with substrates and high resistance to water vapor corrosion.The target operating temperature for next-generation tur bine blades is 1400°C.Corrosion is inevitable during adhesion to molten volcanic ash,and thus,understanding the corrosion behavior o the material is crucial to its reliability.This study investigates the high-temperature corrosion behavior of sintered RE_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)(RE=Yb and Ho).Samples were prepared using a solid-state reaction and hot-press method.They were then exposed to volcanic ash at 1400°C for 224,and 48 h.After 48 h of exposure,volcanic ash did not react with Yb_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)but penetrated its interior,causing damage.Meanwhile Ho_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)was partially dissolved in the molten volcanic ash,forming a reaction zone that prevented volcanic ash melts from penetrating the interior.With increasing heat treatment time,the reaction zone expanded,and the thickness of the acicular apatite grains increased The Ca:Si ratios in the residual volcanic ash were mostly unchanged for Yb_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)but decreased considerably over time for Ho_(2)Si_(2)O_(7).Th Ca in volcanic ash was consumed and formed apatite,indicating that RE^(3+)ions with large ionic radii(Ho>Yb)easily precipitated apatit from the volcanic ash.

Volcanically Driven Terrestrial Environmental Perturbations during the Carnian Pluvial Episode in the Eastern Tethys

The Carnian Pluvial Episode(CPE)fingerprints global environmental perturbations and biological extinction on land and oceans and is potentially linked to the Wrangellia Large Igneous Province(LIP).However,the correlation between terrestrial environmental changes and Wrangellia volcanism in the Ordos Basin during the CPE remains poorly understood.Records of negative carbon isotopic excursions(NCIEs),mercury(Hg),Hg/TOC,and Hg enrichment factor(HgEF)from oil shales in a large-scale terrestrial Ordos Basin in the Eastern Tethys were correlated with marine and other terrestrial successions.The three significant NCIEs in the study section were consistently correlated with those in the CPE successions of Europe,the UK,and South and North China.The U-Pb geochronology indicates a Ladinian-Carnian age for the Chang 7 Member.A comprehensive overview of the geochronology,NCIE correlation,and previous bio-and chronostratigraphic frameworks shows that the Ladinian-Carnian boundary is located in the lower part of Chang 7 in the Yishicun section.HgEF may be a more reliable proxy for tracing volcanic eruptions than the Hg/TOC ratio because the accumulation rates of TOC content largely vary in terrestrial and marine successions.The records of Hg,Hg/TOC,HgEF,and NCIEs in the Ordos Basin aligned with Carnian successions worldwide and were marked by similar anomalies,indicating a global response to the Wrangellia LIP during the CPE.Anoxia,a warm-humid climate,enhancement of detrital input,and NCIEs are synchronous with the CPE interval in the Ordos Basin,which suggests that the CPE combined with the regional Qinling Orogeny should dominate the enhanced rate of terrigenous input and paleoenvironmental evolution in the Ordos Basin.

Geochemistry of volcanic glass from Mahanadi offshore region,eastern continental margin of India:Constraints on the contribution of latest Toba super-eruption

The tephra layers in multiple sediment cores from the offshore region of the Mahanadi basin in the northern Bay of Bengal were investigated for possible volcanic sources. The glass shards from those tephra layers were studied for size distribution, texture, and elemental geochemistry to establish chronostratigraphic markers for regional and global Quaternary correlation. The textural features of fine-grained(silty) volcanic glasses suggest the distal source of these tephra deposits. Major element composition with elevated SiO_(2) contents ranging between75%–76% and dominance of K_(2)O(> 4.5%) over CaO(< 0.9%) suggest ashes have originated from siliceous rhyolitic melts, similar to the petrographic composition of tephra from the Toba volcano. The bulk trace element compositions of the same glass shards were comparable with those reported in the youngest Toba tephra reported elsewhere. Likewise, the LREE-dominated chondrite normalized REE profiles of tephra from the Mahanadi basin closely resemble the characteristic REE patterns in Toba ash from other parts of the Indian Ocean and thus confirmed the contribution of the youngest Toba super-eruption for this ash layers.

Early Triassic Silicic Volcanics of South China:Petrogenesis and Constraints on the Geodynamic Evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean Region

The only occurrence of Lower Triassic silicic volcanic rocks within the South China Block is in the Qinzhou Bay area of Guangxi Province.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating reveals that volcanic rocks of the Beisi and Banba formations formed between 248.8±1.6 and 246.5±1.3 Ma,coeval with peraluminous granites of the Qinzhou Bay Granitic Complex.The studied rhyolites and dacites are characterized by high SiO_(2),K_(2)O,and Al_(2)O_(3),and low MgO,CaO,and P_(2)O_(5) contents and are classified as high-K calc-alkaline S-type rocks,with A/CNK=0.98-1.19.The volcanic rocks are depleted in high field strength elements,e.g.,Nb,Ta,Ti,and P,and enriched in large ion lithophile elements,e.g.,Rb,K,Sr,and Ba.Although the analyzed volcanic rocks have extremely enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions(ε_(Hf)(t)=-29.1 to-6.9),source discrimination indicators and high calculated Ti-in-zircon temperatures(798-835℃)reveal that magma derived from enriched lithospheric mantle not only provided a heat source for anatectic melting of the metasedimentary protoliths but was also an endmember component of the S-type silicic magma.The studied early Triassic volcanics are inferred to have formed immediately before closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in this region,as the associated subduction would have generated an extensional setting in which the mantle-derived upwelling and volcanic activity occurred.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of trachytic rocks from the Lichi Volcanics, Eastern Himalaya: insights into the Kerguelen mantle plume activity in the Eastern Himalayan Region

The Lichi volcanics are a suite of mafic-intermediate-felsic rocks and are considered coeval with the Abor volcanics(~132 Ma) of the Siang window in the Eastern Himalaya. Here, we present the first report of trachytic rocks from the Lichi volcanics, which are exposed in the Ranga valley, along the Kimin-Yazali road section in the Eastern Himalayan Region, Northeast India. The trachytes occur in close association with sandstones of the Gondwana Group of rocks and are characterised based on field, petrographical, and geochemical investigations.These fine-grained trachytes are composed of alkali feldspar, biotite, plagioclase, sodic-amphibole, apatite, illmenite, and titanite. The REE profiles of the evolved trachytic rocks(higher SiO_(2)content) display fractionated trends. The fractionation of accessory mineral phases, like apatite and titanite, was possibly responsible for the strongly fractionated REE patterns of the evolved samples.The trachytic rocks demonstrate high apatite saturation temperatures of 988 ± 14 ℃(1σ, n = 8). The Aluminium Saturation Index(< 1.1) and binary discrimination diagrams of these peralkaline trachytes define their affinity with A-type granitoids. Elemental ratios like Y/Nb, Nb/U,and Ce/Pb signify that the Lichi trachytes are differentiated products of mantle-derived ocean island basalts. Trace elemental discrimination diagrams Th/Yb versus Nb/Yb, Y versus Nb, and Y + Nb versus Rb reflect a within-plate tectonic regime for the trachytes. From the results presented in this work, we infer that the development of rifting events during the breakup of eastern Gondwana due to the onset of Kerguelen plume activity further led to underplating of basic magma in lower crustal levels. These parental basaltic magmas underwent fractionation processes forming differentiated trachyandesites and trachytes.Taking into consideration the similarities recorded between the Lichi volcanics and Abor volcanics, this study supports the idea that Kerguelen plume activities resulted in the emplacement of these volcanics in the Eastern Himalayas.

Formation of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic reservoirs in the offshore Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Based on the geological and geophysical data of Mesozoic oil-gas exploration in the sea area of Bohai Bay Basin and the discovered high-yield volcanic oil and gas wells since 2019,this paper methodically summarizes the formation conditions of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic oil and gas reservoirs in the Bohai Sea.Research shows that the Mesozoic large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices in the Bohai Sea are the material basis for the formation of large-scale volcanic reservoirs.The upper subfacies of effusive facies and cryptoexplosive breccia subfacies of volcanic conduit facies of volcanic vent-proximal facies belts are favorable for large-scale volcanic reservoir formation.Two types of efficient reservoirs,characterized by high porosity and medium to low permeability,as well as medium porosity and medium to low permeability,are the core of the formation of large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.The reservoir with high porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intermediate-felsic vesicular lava or the cryptoexplosive breccia superimposed by intensive dissolution.The reservoir with medium porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intense tectonism superimposed by fluid dissolution.Weathering and tectonic transformation are main formation mechanisms for large and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs in the study area.The low-source“source-reservoir draping type”is the optimum source-reservoir configuration relationship for large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.There exists favorable volcanic facies,efficient reservoirs and source-reservoir draping configuration relationship on the periphery of Bozhong Sag,and the large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices close to strike-slip faults and their branch faults are the main directions of future exploration.

Retrieval of Volcanic Sulfate Aerosols Optical Parameters from AHI Radiometer Data

This paper presents a method for retrieving optical parameters from volcanic sulfate aerosols from the AHI radiometer on board the Himawari-8 satellite.The proposed method is based on optical models for various mixtures of aerosol components from volcanic clouds,including ash particles,ice crystals,water drops,and sulfate aerosol droplets.The application of multi-component optical models of various aerosol compositions allows for the optical thickness and mass loading of sulfate aerosol to be estimated in the sulfuric cloud formed after the Karymsky volcano eruption on 3 November 2021.A comprehensive analysis of the brightness temperatures of the sulfuric cloud in the infrared bands was performed,which revealed that the cloud was composed of a mixture of sulfate aerosol and water droplets.Using models of various aerosol compositions allows for the satellite-based estimation of optical parameters not only for sulfate aerosol but also for the whole aerosol mixture.

Facies logging identification of intermediate-basic volcanic rocks in Huoshiling Formation of Songliao Basin

Volcanic oil and gas reservoirs are generally buried deep,which leads to a high whole-well coring cost,and the degree of development and size of reservoirs are controlled by volcanic facies.Therefore,accurately identifying volcanic facies by logging curves not only provides the basis of volcanic reservoir prediction but also saves costs during exploration.The Songliao Basin is a‘fault-depression superimposed’composite basin with a typical binary filling structure.Abundant types of volcanic lithologies and facies are present in the Lishu fault depression.Volcanic activity is frequent during the sedimentary period of the Huoshiling Formation.Through systematic petrographic identification of the key exploratory well(SN165C)of the Lishu fault-depression,which is a whole-well core,it is found that the Huoshiling Formation in SN165C contains four facies and six subfacies,including the volcanic conduit facies(crypto explosive breccia subfacies),explosive facies(pyroclastic flow and thermal wave base subfacies),effusive facies(upper and lower subfacies),and volcanogenic sedimentary facies(pyroclastic sedimentary subfacies).Combining core,thin section,and logging data,the authors established identification markers and petrographic chart logging phases,and also interpreted the longitudinal variation in volcanic petro-graphic response characteristics to make the charts more applicable to this area's volcanic petrographic interpretation of the Huoshiling Formation.These charts can provide a basis for the further exploration and development of volcanic oil and gas in this area.

Features of Tropical Volcanic Rock and Soil of Jakarta-Bandung HSR and Engineering Countermeasures

The geological features of three types of tropical volcanic rock and soil distributed along Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway(HSR),including pozzolanic clayey soil,mud shale and deep soft soil,are studied through field and laboratory tests.The paper analyzes the mechanism and causes of engineering geological problems caused by tropical volcanic rock and soil and puts forward measures to control subgrade slope instability by rationally determining project type,making side slope stability control and strengthening waterproofing and drainage.The“zero front slope”tunneling technology at the portal,the simplified excavation method of double-side wall heading and the cross brace construction method of arch protection within the semi-open cut row pile frame in the“mountainside”eccentrically loaded soft soil stratum are adopted to control the instability of tunnel side and front slopes,foundation pits and working faces;CFG or pipe piles shall be used to reinforce soft and expansive foundation or replacement measures shall be taken,and the scheme of blind ditch+double-layer water sealing in ballastless track section shall be put forward to prevent arching deformation of foundation;the treatment measures of CFG pile,pipe pile and vacuum combined piled preloading are adopted to improve the bearing capacity of foundation in deep soft soil section and solve the problems of settlement control and uneven settlement.These engineering countermeasures have been applied during the construction of Jakarta-Bandung HSR and achieved good results.

Zircon U-Pb age of the volcanic rock from the Huoshiling Formation in the Yingtai Fault Depression, Songliao Basin, China

1. Objective The Songliao Basin is a superposed basin filled with two layers. The lower layer is characterized by a fault-bounded volcanogenic succession comprising of intercalated volcanic,pyroclastic and epiclastic rocks. The upper layer is composed of normal sedimentary rocks. The Huoshiling Formation is the earliest volcanic stratum in the Songliao Basin. The report of geological age of it was rare, because of the lack of credible dating samples.

Apatite Geochemical and Nd Isotopic Insights into Trachyte Petrogenesis in the Tianchi Volcanic Area of Changbai Mountain,NE China

We report the oxide,element geochemistry and Nd isotopic geochemical data of apatite in the middle Pleistocene medium-and fine-grained trachyte in the Tianchi volcanic area(TVA)of Changbai Mountain,discussing the relationship between apatite and the composition of the whole rock.The purpose is to use the apatite geochemical data to constrain the evolutionary process of trachytic magma and the petrogenesis of trachyte in the cone-forming period of the Tianchi volcano.Apatite(Ca_(5)(PO_(4))_(3)(OH,F,Cl))is a common accessory mineral that occurs widely in volcanic rocks in the TVA.The apatites in the trachyte are mainly subhedral-anhedral,having the characteristics of magmatic apatite.In terms of oxide and element geochemistry,they have homogeneous Al_(2)O_(3),SiO_(2),MgO,P_(2)O_(5),K_(2)O,CaO and heterogeneous TiO2,with high F content.They are generally enriched in Th,U and LREEs,depleted in Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf and HFSEs,showing negative Ba,Sr and Ti anomalies,similar to those of the whole-rock host trachytes.The ratios of high(La/Yb)_(N),low δEu(Eu/Eu*),Sr/Y value and ΣREE content in apatite,and the F,Sr,Y,Th/U,La/Sm,and Nd/Tb with ΣREE andδEu anomalies showed a linear correlation,all of those indicating that the host magma has the characteristic of high differentiation.The apatite grains generally having ^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd,^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd ratios and ε_(Nd)(t)values of 0.1072-0.1195,0.5123-0.5126 and -3.49 to -0.10,respectively,are similiar to those of the host rock.The Nd model ages TDM1 are 949-803 Ma in apatite.Combined with theεNd(t)value of the apatite core(-7.06 to-3.49),we conclude that the initial magma of the host trachyte was derived from the partial melting of Proterozoic crustal material and there was an assimilation of wall rocks during its evolution.

Subaqueous volcanic eruptive facies,facies model and its reservoir significance in a continental lacustrine basin:A case from the Cretaceous in Chaganhua area of southern Songliao Basin,NE China

The conventional lithofacies and facies model of subaerial and marine pyroclastic rocks cannot reflect the characteristics of subaqueous volcanic edifice in lacustrine basins.In order to solve this problem,the lithofacies of subaqueous eruptive pyroclastic rocks is discussed and the facies model is established by taking the tuff cone of Cretaceous Huoshiling Formation in the Chaganhua area of the Changling fault depression,Songliao Basin as the research object.The results indicate that the subaqueous eruptive pyroclastic rocks in the Songliao Basin can be divided into two facies and four subfacies.The two facies are the subaqueous explosive facies and the volcanic sedimentary facies that is formed during the eruption interval.The subaqueous explosive facies can be further divided into three subfacies:gas-supported hot pyroclastic flow subfacies,water-laid density current subfacies and subaqueous fallout subfacies.The volcanic sedimentary facies consists of pyroclastic sedimentary rocks containing terrigenous clast subfacies.A typical facies model of the tuff cone that is formed by subaqueous eruptions in the Songliao Basin was established.The tuff cone is generally composed of multiple subaqueous eruption depositional units and can be divided into two facies associations:near-source facies association and far-source facies association.The complete vertical succession of one depositional unit of the near-source facies association is composed of pyroclastic sedimentary rocks containing terrigenous clast subfacies,gas-supported hot pyroclastic flow subfacies,water-laid density current subfacies and subaqueous fallout subfacies from bottom to top.The depositional unit of the far-source facies association is dominated by the subaqueous fallout subfacies and contains several thin interlayered deposits of the water-laid density current subfacies.The gas-supported hot pyroclastic flow subfacies and the pyroclastic sedimentary rocks containing terrigenous clast subfacies are favorable subaqueous eruptive facies for reservoirs in continental lacustrine basins.

Geochronology,Eruption Sequence and Geochemistry of Mid-Late Jurassic Volcanics South of Manzhouli:Petrogenesis and Implications for Mesozoic Tectonic Regime Transformation

To the south of Manzhouli,Hulunbuir,Inner Mongolia,experienced a tectonic regime transformation from compression to extension in the mid-Mesozoic.Based on systematic research of the volcanics,petrology,volcanic facies,chronology and geochemistry of rocks in the Buridun area,two stages of volcanics are identified.The first stage named the trachyte series was formed in the late Middle Jurassic(167-163 Ma),its eruption rhythm is pyroxene trachyandesite-trachyandesite-trachyte,and its origin rock is basic volcanics from thickened lower crust,with a tectonic setting in the collision orogeny after the closure of the Mongolia Okhotsk Ocean(MOO).The second stage is a bimodal volcanic rock,formed in the early Late Jurassic(163-160 Ma).The eruption rhythm of basic volcanics in this stage is basaltic andesite-basalt-olivine basalt,which comes from the metasomatized lithospheric mantle,the acidic volcanics of which being characterized by the eruption rhythm of sedimentary-explosive-overflow facies,which came from the partial melting of newly formed lower crust,and this shows the characteristics of A-type granite;the tectonic setting is extension of the lithosphere after collision and closure of the MOO.The changes in the formation age and tectonic setting of the two stages of volcanics demonstrate that the transition time from the compressive system to the extensional system south of Manzhouli is about 163 Ma.

Genetic Classification of Pyroclastic Ejecta Based on Physical Volcanology of Possible Large Cauldron in Bombay Volcanic Complex, Western Deccan Trap Province, India

Many Propositions are made about the mechanism of emplacement of volcanoclastic material in the Bombay volcanic complex. The present paper deals exclusively with the physical features of the deposits laid by a complex tectono-magmatic process by making detailed inventory of the different kind of volcanic ejecta exposed in the Bomay Volcanic Complex (BVC), and an attempt has been made to classify the deposits genetically. A subsidenace which was hinted at earlier, may be a possible cauldron in BVC has been proposed, which might be responsible for producing such a varied and complex lithology.

Characteristics and identification of weathering crust of Pennsylvanian volcanic rocks in Shixi area,Junggar Basin

Based on drill core and thin section observation,major geochemical element analysis and con-ventional well log analysis,this study summarizes the characteristics and thickness of weathering crust of Pennsylvanian volcanic rocks(Carboniferous)in Shixi area,Junggar Basin.The weathering crust is identified and divided into three types according to the petrological characteristics and well log interpretations in Shixi area,and the isopach of weathering crust is mapped.The results show that:(1)With the increase of depth,the weathering weakens,and the rocks become less fractured with decreased porosity;(2)the weathering crust of the Upper Carboniferous volcanic rocks can be divided into strongly weathered and mildly weathered layers in Shixi area;(3)the weathering crust is relatively thicker in Dinan uplift and Shixi uplift.This study provides research basis for further evaluation of Upper Carboniferous volcanic reservoir,and will benefit for well location deployment and potential oilfield development in the Shixi area.

Petrography, Geochemistry and Relative Chronology of Quaternary Volcanic Formations in the Mermoz and Fann Sectors, West Senegal

Detailed work on Quaternary volcanism has been carried out in the Mermoz and Fann sectors of western Senegal. In the Mermoz sector, the main emission zone is a collapsed crater located at the intersection of three major fractures: NE-SW, NW-SE and N-S. The lithological succession in this Mermoz sector comprises, from bottom to top: 1) a substratum with at its base Eocene limestones on which lie Quaternary sands surmounted by stratified tuffs;2) a vesicular ball dolerite which deforms the stratified tuffs;3) a dark early breccia;4) two generations of basanites: the first is vesicular, the second non-vesicular;5) a clear intermediate breccia and finally 6) a late breccia. The Fann sector contains several emission zones, most of which are currently located in the ocean. The lavas may have reached the coast through E-W and NE-SW faults. The lithological succession includes from bottom to top: 1) scoria-rich early volcanic breccias;2) a first generation of non-vesicular mesocrate dolerite (D1);3) a second generation of melanocrate vesicular dolerite (D2);4) basanites and finally 5) a late breccia. The geochemical characteristics of the lavas studied are compatible with a very enriched and very deep magmatic source of the garnet lherzolite type located in the lower mantle. The magma from this source would have risen in the form of mantle plumes through major NE-SW and E-W faults in a continental intraplate context.

A three-dimensional Moho depth model beneath the Yemeni highlands and rifted volcanic margins of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Southwest Arabia

Knowing Moho discontinuity undulation is fundamental to understanding mechanisms of lithosphereasthenosphere interaction, extensional tectonism and crustal deformation in volcanic passive margins such as the study area, which is located in the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula bounded by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In this work, a 3D Moho depth model of the study area is constructed for the first time by inverting gravity data from the Earth Gravitational Model(EGM2008) using the ParkerOldenburg algorithm. This model indicates the shallow zone is situated at depths of 20 km to 24 km beneath coastal plains, whereas the deep zone is located below the plateau at depths of 30 km to 35 km and its deepest part coincides mainly with the Dhamar-Rada ’a Quaternary volcanic field. The results also indicate two channels of hot magmatic materials joining both the Sana’a-Amran Quaternary volcanic field and the Late Miocene Jabal An Nar volcanic area with the Dhamar-Rada’a volcanic field. This conclusion is supported by the widespread geothermal activity(of mantle origin) distributed along these channels,isotopic data, and the upper mantle low velocity zones indicated by earlier studies.