Exploratory Potential for Gold Placer Deposits in the Coastal Range, BioBío Region, South-Central Chile

Many gold placers located in the Coastal Range of south-central Chile have been exploited commercially during the past decades;nevertheless and until now, there are not any exploration studies of these placers and their basement. In order to provide an overview of exploratory potential, the stream sediments that are part of several gold placers in the northwest area of the BioBío region are analyzed, which have been registered on the basis of empirical evidence from artisanal mining activities. The overview consists of two goals: 1) determine the presence of auriferous occurrences (stream sediments and basement) and 2) identify potentially favorable areas to find gold placer deposits. Through optical microscopy this study characterized the metallic and non-metallic mineralogy of the basement, along with geochemical analyses of stream sediments and surrounding rocks of the placer deposits. The geochemical results show two sectors with high precious metal contents in sediments (up to 24 ppm of Au and 8 ppm of Ag) and two rocky outcrops with Au (757 and 41 ppb). Additionally, there are depressions in the study area that have received large amounts of sediments (reaching up to 170 m-thick), which are favorable places for the accumulation of auriferous sediments from nearby valleys due to the tectonic and structural conditions where they are located. Then, these results show an exploratory potential for gold placers and can be useful to delineate future exploration strategies in the Coastal Range of south-central Chile.

The significance of U-Pb zircon ages in zoned plutons:the case of the Flamenco pluton, Coastal Range batholith, northern Chile

Compositionally zoned plutons, both layered and concentrically arranged, provide granitic exposures where the mechanisms and timing of the magmatic emplacement processes can be studied. The importance of in-situ geochemical differentiation and the magma replenishment rates are revealed by geochemistry and field relations, together with the increasingly accurate U-Pb geochronology, which has promoted the knowledge about the pluton incremental assembly theories.The Flamenco pluton, located in the Coastal Range of northern Chile, is part of the Upper Triassic to Early Cretaceous Andean intrusives formed in the western active margin of South America, and present a normal zoned structure with mafic magmatic facies(mostly gabbros and Qtz-diorites) close to the contacts with the host metasediments, and tonalites, granodiorites and granites in the inner areas. A combined study of the field relations, geochemistry and zircon geochronology of the magmatic facies was applied to determine the emplacement sequence of the Flamenco pluton, revealing three distinguishable domains separated by metasedimentary septa. The SW area is constituted by mostly homogeneous leucocratic granodiorites that yielded an age of 213 Ma as the best estimation for their emplacement age. Distinctive geochemical characteristics, such as the absence of an Eu anomaly, the depletion in HREE, or the highest Sr, Sr/Y and Ce/Yb values among the granodioritic facies of the pluton,involve lower T and/or higher P conditions at the magmatic source according to experimental studies.These conditions were established during an early stage of the Andean magmatic arc building that is firstly defined here as Upper Triassic. The NW and E domains of the pluton were sequentially emplaced between 194 Ma and 186 Ma and both the field relations and the detailed geochronological results suggest that the mafic facies intruded latter in the emplacement sequence. To the NW, Qtz-dioritic and gabbroic externally emplaced pulses gave a younger crystallization age of 186.3 ± 1.8 Ma, and promoted the granoblastic textures and metamorphic zircon overgrowths that characterize the granodiorites located in the contact with the intermediate and felsic inner magmas, which yielded a best estimation of their emplacement age of 192 士 1.5 Ma. On the other hand, in the eastern domain, magma-magma relations are observed between gabbros and previously intruded tonalites and granodiorites. Both the mafic and intermediate facies show two main subgroups of ages that yielded 194.7 土 1.5 Ma to188.3 ± 2.1 Ma and 193.1 ± 2.2 Ma to 185.5 ± 1.4 Ma respectively. These differences are related to the variations in the magmatic addition rates, which may extend the super-solidus conditions in the eastern domain of the magmatic reservoir as is confirmed by the wider age ranges yielded by these magmatic facies. Zircon overgrowths in the host rocks yield similar ages(around 220 Ma and 205 Ma) than the oldest results obtained in the intrusive facies, indicating that metamorphism correlates with the initial stages of plutonic emplacement.Geochronological results differ between 9 Myr and 41 Myr in the eight studied samples for noninherited ages and gave very close mean ages(within analytical uncertainty) for all the intrusive units. However, we examine other characteristics such as zircon morphology, internal structure,geochemistry and statistical data to assess if the scattering of the geochronological data may be related to the different processes involved in the construction of the Flamenco pluton. We concluded that this detailed study of U-Pb zircon ages, including individual and significative groups of analyses, is useful to determine accurately the emplacement sequence and the genetic relation between the intrusive units,together with the evidences depicted by the geochemistry and field relations.

Cenozoic basin evolution of the Central Patagonian Andes:Evidence from geochronology, stratigraphy, and geochemistry

The Central Patagonian Andes is a particular segment of the Andean Cordillera that has been subjected to the subduction of two spreading ridges during Eocene and Neogene times. In order to understand the Cenozoic geologic evolution of the Central Patagonian Andes, we carried out geochronologic(U-Pb and^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar), provenance, stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and geochemical studies on the sedimentary and volcanic Cenozoic deposits that crop out in the Meseta Guadal and Chile Chico areas(～47°S). Our data indicate the presence of a nearly complete Cenozoic record, which refutes previous interpretations of a hiatus during the middle Eocene-late Oligocene in the Central Patagonian Andes. Our study suggests that the fluvial strata of the Ligorio Marquez Formation and the flood basalts of the Basaltos Inferiores de la Meseta Chile Chico Formation were deposited in an extensional setting related to the subduction of the Aluk-Farallon spreading ridge during the late Paleocene-Eocene. Geochemical data on volcanic rocks interbedded with fluvial strata of the San Jose Formation suggest that this unit was deposited in an extensional setting during the middle Eocene to late Oligocene. Progressive crustal thinning allowed the transgression of marine waters of Atlantic origin and deposition of the upper Oligocene-lower Miocene Guadal Formation. The fluvial synorogenic strata of the Santa Cruz Formation were deposited as a consequence of an important phase of compressive deformation and Andean uplift during the early-middle Miocene. Finally, alkali flood basalts of the late middle to late Miocene Basaltos Superiores de la Meseta Chile Chico Formation were extruded in the area in response to the suduction of the Chile Ridge under an extensional regime. Our studies indicate that the tectonic evolution of the Central Patagonian Andes is similar to that of the North Patagonian Andes and appears to differ from that of the Southern Patagonian Andes, which is thought to have been the subject of continuous compressive deformation since the late Early Cretaceous.

A Socioeconomic and Productive Characterization of the Value Chain of Goldenberry (<I>Physalis peruviana</I>) in Ecuador

The fruits and vegetables sector in Ecuador despite its gradual growth in local and international markets has captured the interest of state institutions and academic centers who have focused their studies on agronomic aspects of non-traditional products without considering socioeconomic, productive and performance problems;such is the case of goldenberry value chain. To this extent, the aim of this article was to present an analysis of goldenberry value chain in Ecuador through the identification of stages, agents, flows and activities (primary and support) from the socioeconomic and productive point of view for which a systematic methodology was used involving aspects of the agroeconomic process. As a result, it was determined that goldenberry value chain in the production and postproduction stages requires the diversification of marketing channels, the implementation of refrigerated storage modules located in the supply centers, the strengthening of associative and/or cooperative structures;and the productive planning programs to provide a potential competitive advantage.

Isotopic and Petrographic Evidence as a Proxy in Paleoclimatic Reconstructions from Flowstones in Southern Spain

Changes in the morphology and mineralogy of speleothems (flowstones) clearly respond to climate-related phenomena, such as drip rate variability and temperature-modulated cave ventilation. Detailed petrographic observations have been coupled with δ18O and δ13C values. Fabrics may show changes related to variations in supersaturation, drip rate or input of detrital particles or organic compounds. Fabrics formed under relatively constant and regular drips (columnar compact, open and elongated) show similar δ18O and δ13C values, which are more negative than those of micrite and microsparite. The combination of internal microstratigraphy studies and isotopic data (δ18O and δ13C) from two flowstones collected from two caves in the north of Almeria province (SE Spain), suggest a spectrum of environmental conditions ranging from wetter to drier periods. Both records constitute a very useful tool for screening and interpreting high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions.

Bilinear Model Proposal for Seismic Analysis Using Triple Friction Pendulum (TFP) Bearings

An analytical model is presented for seismic analysis of triple friction pendulum bearings and validated using 81 bearing tests, each subjected to three cycles, with a duration of 12 seconds and using 250, 200 and 100 tons vertical loads. The main objective is to develop formulas for bilinear behavior using maximum, average and minimum friction coefficients to check which is the closest to the real behavior in the laboratory tests and comparatives curves plotting to observe the standard derivation. Parameters such as friction coefficients, effective stiffness, damping factor and vibration periods are analyzed to understand the structural behavior of the TPF bearings.

Mineralogy of a Radioactive-Rare Earth Elements Occurrence in the Paleozoic Batholith, South-Central Chile

South-central Chile has some potential mineral resources including radioactive and rare earth elements (REE) minerals. This study reports some basic characteristics of the mineralogy of a radioactive-rare earth elements occurrence, related to a pegmatitic outcrop “Vertientes Pegmatite” hosted on Paleozoic granitic rocks of the South Coastal Batholith and discusses potential areas for REE deposits, particularly beach placers along the coastline of the BioBío region. In this pegmatite, X-ray diffraction analysis shows uranium-bearing minerals such as coffinite and metaschoepite, along with microcline, anorthoclase, albite, quartz and illite. Through optical microscopy and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA), rare earth minerals (monazite and xenotime) and radioactive minerals (thorite and thorium silicate ± uranium) were identified. Additionally, granitic rocks of the South Coastal Batholith around this pegmatite show rare earth minerals (monazite and allanite).

Geographic Information Technologies for the Study of Mass Wasting Hazards

The purpose of the research was to obtain the mass wasting hazard map for the state of Vargas, central coast of Venezuela, using GIS technology. The work was developed through the heuristic method with the generation of thematic digital maps, univariate statistical treatment, weighting of each variable and quantifying the relationship of each parameter unit regarding mass wasting processes. The algorithm designed to perform map algebra was designed using the variables: surface geology, slope, slope orientation, terrain curvature, moisture topographic index, power index surface flow rate and capacity sediment transport and the rate normalized difference vegetation. The results show a distribution of landslide hazard with the highest values in the west central part of Vargas state, where the dominant lithology is incompetent, and combined with topographic elements, determining high instability, meanwhile the lower hazard areas were found in specific areas such as the middle watershed areas east of the state. The calibration of this model shows a reliability of 80%, so it is highly advisable to use the information generated in this work by governmental and non-governmental organizations in the planning, management and use of land.

Cambrian-early Ordovician volcanism across the South Armorican and Occitan domains of the Variscan Belt in France:Continental break-up and rifting of the northern Gondwana margin

The Cambrian-lower Ordovician volcanic units of the South Armorican and Occitan domains are ana- lysed in a tectonostratigraphic survey of the French Variscan Belt. The South Armorican lavas consist of continental tholeiites in middle Camhrian-Furongian sequences related to continental break-up. A significant volcanic activity occurred in the Tremadocian, dominated by crustal melted rhyolitic lavas and initial rifting tholeiites. The Occitan lavas are distributed into five volcanic phases： （I） basal Cambrian rhyolites, （2） upper lower Cambrian Mg-rich tholeiites close to N-MORBs but crustal contaminated, （3） upper lower-middle Cambrian continental tholeiites, （4） Tremadocian rhyolites, and （5） upper lower Ordovician initial rift tholeiites. A rifting event linked to asthenosphere upwelling took place in the late early Cambrian but did not evolve. It renewed in the Tremadocian with abundant crustal melting due to underplating of mixed asthenospheric and lithospheric magmas. This main tectono-magmatic conti- nental rift is termed the ＂Tremadocian Tectonic Belt＂ underlined by a chain of rhyolitic volcanoes from Occitan and South Armorican domains to Central Iberia. It evolved with the setting of syn-rift coarse siliciclastic deposits overlain by post-rift deep water shales in a suite of sedimentary basins that fore- casted the South Armorican-Medio-European Ocean as a part of the Palaeotethys Ocean.

一种新型的岩石蠕变模型

摘要岩石在一定恒定压力荷载作用下可以承受长期的变形，也就是蠕变。虽然关于岩石蠕变研究的现有文献数量比混凝土蠕变研究的文献少得多，但是很多学者已经对这种现象进行了研究和模拟。本文的研究目的是通过改进众所周知的混凝土蠕变模型来研究软岩，以估算岩石的长期蠕变。上述研究中最常见的问题是实验室测试时间短和对已有结果的外推。为了进行岩石物理和力学特性的测试（包括超声、孔隙率、密度以及恒定应力荷载下的强度和蠕变），我们选取了10个直径54mm、高100mm的圆柱形岩样，用蠕变试验来研究软岩的长期蠕变行为。根据CEB-FIP规则得到初期蠕变特性的混凝土样品与被试岩样相比呈现出类似的蠕变特性。文中提出了基于流变学的Kelvin元件和CEB．FIP规则的特定模型用来研究软岩，模型与研究期被测岩样的真蠕变性非常近似。我们注意到蠕变曲线与被测岩样曲线接近的混凝土在荷载作用下产生的单轴压缩强度与干岩石在测试中得到的强度事实上是相等的。这也暗示我们可以通过改变CEB-FIP模型来重现测试期岩石的蠕变性。

Alluvial sedimentation and tectonostratigraphic evolution in a narrow extensional zigzag basin margin (northern Teruel Basin, Spain)

The northern part of the eastern margin of the extensional Neogene Teruel Basin(central-eastern Spain)consists of a non-linear,zigzag fault zone made of alternating ca.2 km long,NNW-SSE trending segments and shorter NNESSW ones.Good outcrop conditions made possible a comprehensive integrated stratigraphic and structural study,especially focused on coarse clastic sediments deposited along the basin margin.Well-exposed stratal relationships with boundary faults,allowed the analysis of tectonic influence on sedimentation.Synsedimentary deformation includes growth faulting,rollover anticlines,and monoclines and associated onlap stratal terminations,angular unconformities,and other complex growth strata geometries.One of them is the onlap-over-rollover bed arrangement described here for the first time,which reveals the competition between tectonic subsidence and sedimentary supply.Both,the structural inheritance(dense Mesozoic fracture grid)and the dominant,nearly‘multidirectional’(σ1 vertical,σ2≈σ3),Pliocene extensional regime withσ3 close to E-W,are considered to have controlled the margin structure and evolution.Tectono-stratigraphic evolution includes:(i)reactivation of inherited NNW-SSE faults and development of W-SW-directed small alluvial fans(SAF)while NNE-SSW segments acted as gentle relay ramp zones;(ii)progressive activation of NNE-SSW faults and development of NW-directed very small alluvial fans(VSAF);during stages i and ii sediments were trapped close to the margin,avoiding widespread progradation;(iii)linking of NNW-SSE and NNE-SSW structural segments,overall basin sinking and widespread alluvial progradation;(iv)fault activity attenuation and alluvial retrogradation.The particular structure and kinematic evolution of this margin controlled alluvial system patterns.Size of alluvial fans,directly set up at the border faults,was conditioned by the narrowness of the margin,small catchment areas,and proximity between faults,which prevented the development of large alluvial fans.The size of the relay zones,only a few hundred meters wide,acted in the same way,avoiding them to act as large sediment transfer areas and large alluvial fans to be established.These features make the Teruel Basin margin different to widely described extensional margins models.

Prevalence of the terrain reversal effect in satellite imagery

The terrain reversal effect is a perceptual phenomenon which causes an illusion in various 3D geographic visualizations where landforms appear inverted,e.g.we perceive valleys as ridges and vice versa.Given that such displays are important for spatio-visual analysis,this illusion can lead to critical mistakes in interpreting the terrain.However,it is currently undocumented how commonly this effect is experienced.In this paper,we study the prevalence of the terrain reversal effect in satellite imagery through a two-stage online user experiment.The experiment was conducted with the participation of a diverse and relatively large population(n=535).Participants were asked to identify landforms(valley or ridge?)or judge a 3D spatial relationship(is A higher than B?).When the images were rotated by 180°,the results were reversed.In a control task with‘illusion-free’original images,people were successful in identifying landforms,yet a very strong illusion occurred when these images were rotated 180°.Our findings demonstrate that the illusion is acutely present;thus,we need a better understanding of the problem and its solutions.Additionally,the results caution us that in an interactive environment where people can rotate the display,we might be introducing a severe perceptual problem.