New discovery of the early Silurian fossil fish Changxingaspis (Xiushuiaspidae, Galeaspida), Changxingaspis nianzhongi sp. nov. and C. gui, are described from the Tataertag Formation in Tarim Basin and the Kangshan Formation in Zhejiang Province, respectively. C. nianzhongi mainly differs from C. gui in the shape of the median dorsal opening that is transverse elliptic with a width/length ratio of about 3.0, the long lateral transverse canals extending to the lateral margin of the headshield, and the second lateral transverse canal with dichotomous branchings. Discovery of C. nianzhongi from the Tataertag Formation and C. gui from the Kangshan Formation provide direct evidence on the specific level for the correlation between these two formations, which further supports the Silurian fish-bearing red beds in northwest Zhejiang belonging to the Silurian Lower Red Beds (LRBs) rather than the Upper Red Beds (URBs). Additionally, as the first record of the Changxingaspis in Tarim Basin, it extends the paleogeographical distribution of this genus from the South China Block to the Tarim Block, providing new evidence to support faunal exchanges between these two blocks and the hypothesis of a united Tarim–South China Block during the early Silurian.

The Jitang metamorphic complex is key to studying the tectonic evolution of the Northern Lancangjiang zone. Through structural-lithological mapping, structural analysis and laboratory testing, the composition of the Jitang metamorphic complex was determined. The macro- and microstructural analyses of the ductile detachment shear zone (Guoxuepu ductile shear zone, 2–4 km wide) between the metamorphic complex and the overlying sedimentary cap show that the shear sense of the ductile shear zones is top-to-the-southeast. The presence of various deformation features and quartz C-axis electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) fabric analysis suggests multiple deformation events occurring at different temperatures. The average stress is 25.68 MPa, with the strain rates (έ) ranging from 9.77×10^–14 s^–1 to 6.52×10^–16 s^–1. The finite strain of the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone indicates an elongated strain pattern. The average kinematic vorticity of the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone is 0.88, implying that the shear zone is dominated by simple shear. The muscovite selected from the protomylonite samples in the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone yields a ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age of 60.09 ± 0.38 Ma. It is suggested that, coeval with the initial Indo–Eurasian collision, the development of strike-slip faults led to a weak and unstable crust, upwelling of lower crust magma, then induced the detachment of the Jitang metamorphic complex in the Eocene.

High-silica granitoids record the formation and evolution of the continental crust. A new intrusive complex has been recognized among silicic volcanic rocks of the Weixi arc, Southwest China. The intrusions consist of granites, granitic porphyries, and granodiorites. Zircon U-Pb age data indicate that the Weixi granitoids formed at 248–240 Ma and were coeval with silicic volcanic rocks of the Weixi arc. The Weixi granitoids are enriched in Rb, Th, and U, depleted in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta, and Ti, and have high light/heavy rare earth element ratios and slightly negative Eu anomalies. The Weixi granitoids have negative ε_Nd(t) values (–9.8 to –7.8) and negative zircon ε_Hf(t) values (–12.02 to –5.11). The geochemical and isotopic features suggest the Weixi granitoids were derived by partial melting of ancient crustal material. The Weixi granitoids and silicic volcanic rocks were derived from the same magma by crystal accumulation and melt extraction, respectively, and they record the formation of a continental arc in the central Sanjiang orogenic belt.

In petroleum engineering, real-time lithology identification is very important for reservoir evaluation, drilling decisions and petroleum geological exploration. A lithology identification method while drilling based on machine learning and mud logging data is studied in this paper. This method can effectively utilize downhole parameters collected in realtime during drilling, to identify lithology in real-time and provide a reference for optimization of drilling parameters. Given the imbalance of lithology samples, the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) and Tomek link were used to balance the sample number of five lithologies. Meanwhile, this paper introduces Tent map, random opposition-based learning and dynamic perceived probability to the original crow search algorithm (CSA), and establishes an improved crow search algorithm (ICSA). In this paper, ICSA is used to optimize the hyperparameter combination of random forest (RF), extremely random trees (ET), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and light gradient boosting machine (LGBM) models. In addition, this study combines the recognition advantages of the four models. The accuracy of lithology identification by the weighted average probability model reaches 0.877. The study of this paper realizes high-precision real-time lithology identification method, which can provide lithology reference for the drilling process.

Xiazhuang uranium ore field, located in the southern part of the Nanling Metallogenic Belt, is considered one of the largest granite-related U regions in South China. In this paper, we contribute new apatite fission track data and thermal history modeling to constrain the exhumation history and evaluate preservation potential of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field. Nine Triassic outcrop granite samples collected from different locations of Xiazhuang Uranium ore field yield AFT ages ranging from 43 to 24 Ma with similar mean confined fission track lengths ranging from 11.8 ± 2.0 to 12.9 ± 1.9 μm and Dpar values between 1.01 and 1.51 μm. The robustness time-temperature reconstructions of samples from the hanging wall of Huangpi fault show that the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field experienced a time of monotonous and slow cooling starting from middle Paleocene to middle Miocene (∼60–10 Ma), followed by relatively rapid exhumation in the late Miocene (∼10–5 Ma) and nearly thermal stability in the Pliocene–Quaternary (∼5–0 Ma). The amount of exhumation after U mineralization since the Middle Paleogene was estimated as ∼4.3 ± 1.8 km according to the integrated thermal history model. Previous studies indicate that the ore-forming ages of U deposits in the Xiazhuang ore field are mainly before Middle Paleocene and the mineralization depths are more than 4.4 ± 1.2 km. Therefore, the exhumation history since middle Paleocene plays important roles in the preservation of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field.

Post-collisional magmatism contains important clues for understanding the reworking and growth of continental crust, as well as lithospheric delamination and orogenic collapse. Early Devonian magmatism has been identified in the North Qilian Orogenic Belt (NQOB). This paper reports an integrated study of petrology, whole-rock geochemistry, Sm-Nd isotope and zircon U-Pb dating, as well as Lu-Hf isotopic data, for two Early Devonian intrusive plutons. The Yongchang and Chijin granites yield zircon U-Pb ages of 394–407 Ma and 414 Ma, respectively. Both of them are characterized by weakly peraluminous to metaluminous without typical aluminium-rich minerals, LREE-enriched patterns with negative Eu anomalies and a negative correlation between P₂O₅ and SiO₂ contents, consistent with geochemical features of I-type granitoids. Zircons from the studied granites display negative to weak positive ε_Hf(t) values (–5.7 to 2.1), which agree well with those of negative ε_Nd(t) values (−6.4 to −2.9) for the whole-rock samples, indicating that they were derived from the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic crust. Furthermore, low Sr/Y ratios (1.13–21.28) and high zircon saturation temperatures (745°C to 839°C, with the majority being >800°C) demonstrated a relatively shallow depth level below the garnet stability field and an additional heat source. Taken together, the Early Devonian granitic magmatism could have been produced by the partial melting of ancient crustal materials heated by mantle-derived magmas at high-temperature and low-pressure conditions during post-collisional extensional collapse. The data obtained in this study, when viewed in conjunction with previous studies, provides more information about the tectonic processes that followed the closure of the North Qilian Ocean. The tectonic transition from continental collision to post-collisional delamination could be constrained to ∼430 Ma, which is provided by the sudden decrease of Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios and an increase in zircon ε_Hf(t) values for granitoids. A two-stage tectonic evolution model from continental collision to post-collisional extensional collapse for the NQOB includes (a) continental collision and crustal thickening during ca. 455–430 Ma, characterized by granulite-facies metamorphism and widespread low-Mg adakitic magmatism; (b) post-collisional delamination of thickened continental crust and extensional collapse of orogen during ca. 430–390 Ma, provided by coeval high-Mg adakitic magmatism, A-type granites and I-type granitoids with low Sr-Y ratios.

The organic matter (OM) enrichment mechanisms and depositional environment characteristics of lacustrine source rocks in the western Bozhong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin in Northeast China remain controversial. To address these issues, based on Rock-Eval pyrolysis, kerogen macerals, H/C and O/C ratios, GC-MS, major and trace elements, the Dongying Formation Member (Mbr) 3 (E₃d₃), the Shahejie Formation mbrs 1 and 2 (E₂s₁₊₂), and the Shahejie Mbr 3 (E₂s₃) source rocks in the western Bozhong Sag were studied. The above methods were used to reveal their geochemical properties, OM origins and depositional environments, all of which indicate that E₂s₁₊₂ and E₂s₃ are excellent source rocks, and that E₃d₃ is of the second good quality. E₃d₃ source rocks were formed under a warm and humid climate, mainly belong to fluvial/delta facies, the E₃d₃ sediments formed under weakly oxidizing and freshwater conditions. Comparatively, the depositional environments of E₂s₁₊₂ source rocks were arid and cold climate, representing saline or freshwater lacustrine facies, and the sediments of E₂s₁₊₂ belong to anoxic or suboxic settings with large evaporation and salinity. During the period of E₂s₃, the climate became warm and humid, indicating the freshwater lacustrine facies, and E₂s₃ was characterized by freshwater and abundant algae. Moreover, compared with other intervals, the OM origin of E₃d₃ source rocks has noticeable terrestrial input. The OM origin of the E₂s₁₊₂ and E₂s₃ are mainly plankton and bacteria. Tectonic subsidence and climate change have affected the changes of the depositional environment in the western Bozhong Sag, thus controlling the distribution of the source rocks, the geochemical characteristics in the three intervals of lacustrine source rocks have distinct differences. Overall, these factors are effective to evaluate the paleoenvironmental characteristics of source rocks by biomarkers, major and trace elements. The established models may have positive implications for research of lacustrine source rocks in offshore areas with few drillings.

Gypsum caprocks' sealing ability is affected by temperature-pressure coupling. Due to the limitations of experimental conditions, there is still a lack of triaxial stress-strain experiments that simultaneously consider changes in temperature and pressure conditions, which limits the accuracy of the comprehensive evaluation of the brittle plastic evolution and sealing ability of gypsum rocks using temperature pressure coupling. Triaxial stress-strain tests were utilized to investigate the differences in the evolution of the confinement capacity of gypsum rocks under coupled temperature-pressure action and isothermal-variable pressure action on the basis of sample feasibility analysis. According to research, the gypsum rock's peak and residual strengths decrease under simultaneous increases in temperature and pressure over isothermal pressurization experimental conditions, and it becomes more ductile. This reduces the amount of time it takes for the rock to transition from brittle to plastic. When temperature is taken into account, both the brittle–plastic transformation's depth limit and the lithological transformation of gypsum rocks become shallower, and the evolution of gypsum rocks under variable temperature and pressure conditions is more complicated than that under isothermal pressurization. The sealing ability under the temperature-pressure coupling is more in line with the actual geological context when the application results of the Well #ZS5 are compared. This provides a theoretical basis for precisely determining the process of hydrocarbon accumulation and explains why the early hydrocarbon were not well preserved.

Geothermal resources are increasingly gaining attention as a competitive, clean energy source to address the energy crisis and mitigate climate change. The Wugongshan area, situated in the southeast coast geothermal belt of China, is a typical geothermal anomaly and contains abundant medium- and low-temperature geothermal resources. This study employed hydrogeochemical and isotopic techniques to explore the cyclic evolution of geothermal water in the western Wugongshan region, encompassing the recharge origin, water–rock interaction mechanisms, and residence time. The results show that the geothermal water in the western region of Wugongshan is weakly alkaline, with low enthalpy and mineralization levels. The hydrochemistry of geothermal waters is dominated by Na-HCO₃ and Na-SO₄, while the hydrochemistry types of cold springs are all Na-HCO₃. The hydrochemistry types of surface waters and rain waters are Na-HCO₃ or Ca-HCO₃. The δD and δ¹⁸O values reveal that the geothermal waters are recharged by atmospheric precipitation at an altitude between 550.0 and 1218.6 m. Molar ratios of major solutes and isotopic compositions of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr underscore the significant role of silicate weathering, dissolution, and cation exchange in controlling geothermal water chemistry. Additionally, geothermal waters experienced varying degrees of mixing with cold water during their ascent. The δ¹³C values suggest that the primary sources of carbon in the geothermal waters were biogenic and organic. The δ³⁴S value suggests that the sulfates in geothermal water originate from sulfide minerals in the surrounding rock. Age dating using ³H and ¹⁴C isotopes suggests that geothermal waters have a residence time exceeding 1 kaBP and undergo a long-distance cycling process.

The Shenxianshui granites in the western Gejiu area were formed in the Late Cretaceous. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry indicates zircon U-Pb ages ranging from 90.67 ± 0.7 to 85.97 ± 0.6 Ma. The intrusive rocks are peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.03 to 1.33) and calc-alkaline, showing an affinity towards I-type granite. Large ion lithophilic elements are enriched in K and Rb, while high field strength elements are depleted. Moreover, light rare earth elements are significantly enriched, showing a slight negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu^* = 0.39 to 0.58). Shenxianshui granite has a relatively high initial Sr isotope ratio (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i (0.7098–0.7105), negative ε_Nd(t) values (−7.99 to −7.44) and negative ε_Hf(t) values (−8.37 to −2.58). Combined with previous studies, these characteristics suggest that the Shenxianshui alkaline granites were formed in a post-collision extensional environment. The alkaline granitic magma possibly originated from the partial melting of the lower crust during the Mesoproterozoic era and may have contained mantle source materials. Shenxianshui alkaline granite was formed from mixed magma with a high degree of crystal differentiation. The abundance of ore-forming elements indicates that Shenxianshui granite has the potential to mineralize key metals and rare earth elements.

Since the Cenozoic, the Tibetan Plateau has experienced large-scale uplift and outgrowth due to the India–Asia collision. However, the mechanism and timing of these tectonic processes still remain debated. Here, using apatite fission track dating and inverse thermal modeling, we explore the mechanism of different phases of rapid cooling for different batholiths and intrusions in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In contrast to previous views, we find that the coeval granitic batholith exposed in the same tectonic zone experienced differential fast uplift in different sites, indicating that the present Tibetan Plateau was the result of differential uplift rather than the entire lithosphere uplift related to lithospheric collapse during Cenozoic times. In addition, we also suggest that the 5–2 Ma mantle-related magmatism should be regarded as the critical trigger for the widely coeval cooling event in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, because it led to the increase in atmospheric CO₂ level and a hotter upper crust than before, which are efficient for suddenly fast rock weathering and erosion. Finally, we propose that the current landform of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau was the combined influences of tectonic and climate.

The Guxiang–Tongmai segment of the Jiali fault is situated northeast of the Namche Barwa Syntaxis in northeastern Tibet. It is one of the most active strike-slip faults near the syntaxis and plays a pivotal role in the examination of seismic activity within the eastern Himalayan Syntaxis. New study in the research region has yielded a 1:200000 gravity dataset covering an area 1500 km². Using wavelet transform multiscale decomposition, scratch analysis techniques, and 3D gravity inversion methods, gravity anomalies, fault distributions, and density structures were determined across various scales. Through the integration of our new gravity data with other geophysical and geological information, our findings demonstrate substantial variations in the overall crustal density within the region, with the fault distribution closely linked to these density fluctuations. Disparities in stratigraphic density are important causes of variations in the capacity of geological formations to endure regional tectonic stress. Earthquakes are predominantly concentrated within the density transition zone and are primarily situated in regions of elevated density. The hanging wall stress within the Guxiang–Tongmai segment of the Jiali fault exhibits a notable concentration, marked by pronounced anisotropy, and is positioned within the density differential zone, which is prone to earthquakes.

Earthquake-related hydrochemical changes in thermal springs have been widely observed; however, quantitative modeling of the reactive transport process is absent. In the present study, we apply reactive transport simulation to capture the hydrochemical responses in a thermal spring following the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 and Lushan Ms 7.0 earthquakes. We first constrain deep reservoir geothermal fluid compositions and temperature by multicomponent geothermometry, and then a reactive geochemical transport model is constructed to reproduce the hydrochemical evolution process. The results show that the recharge from the shallow aquifer increases gradually until it reaches a peak because of the permeability enhancement caused by the Lushan earthquake, which may be the mechanism to explain the earthquake-related hydrochemical responses. In contrast to the postseismic effect of the Wenchuan earthquake, the chemical evolution can be considered as hydrochemical anomalies related to the Lushan earthquake. This study proves that the efficient simulation of reactive transport processes is useful for investigating earthquake-related signals in hydrochemical time series.

A new genus and species, Cretopleciofungivora simpsoni gen. et sp. nov., from the extinct family Pleciofungivoridae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha), is discovered in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Previously, this family was known only from imprints in sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic and the Lower Cretaceous. Discovery of a representative of Pleciofungivoridae in Kachin amber confirms the presence of the family in the Upper Cretaceous. The new species has a unique structure of fore tarsus, with lobed and extended tarsal segments II to IV, a feature hitherto known only in a few species of extant Sciaroidea. Although not particularly rare, the new species is currently known only from female specimens. Possible reasons for this phenomenon, very unusual in Sciaroidea, are briefly discussed, including parthenogenesis as a potentially plausible hypothesis.

Multistage tungsten mineralization was recently discovered in the Mamupu copper-polymetallic deposit in the southern Yulong porphyry copper belt (YPCB), Tibet. This study reports the results of cathodoluminescence, trace element and Sr isotope analyses of Mamupu scheelite samples, undertaken in order to better constrain the mechanism of W mineralization and the sources of the ore-forming fluids. Three different types of scheelite are identified in the Mamupu deposit: scheelite A (Sch A) mainly occurs in breccias during the prograde stage, scheelite B (Sch B) forms in the chlorite-epidote alteration zone in the retrograde stage, while scheelite C (Sch C) occurs in distal quartz sulfide veins. The extremely high Mo content and negative Eu anomaly in Sch A represent high oxygen fugacity in the prograde stage. Compared with ore-related porphyries, Sch A has a similar REE pattern, but with higher ΣREE, more depleted HREE and slightly lower (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios. These features suggest that Sch A is genetically related to ore-related porphyries, but extensive interaction with carbonate surrounding rocks affects the final REE and Sr isotopic composition. Sch B shows dark (Sch B-I) and light (Sch B-II) domains under CL imaging. From Sch B-I to Sch B-II, LREEs are gradually depleted, with MREEs being gradually enriched. Sch C has the highest LREE/HREE ratio, which indicates that it inherited the geochemical characteristics of fluids after the precipitation of HREE-rich minerals, such as diopside and garnet, in the early prograde stage. The Mo content in Sch B and Sch C gradually decreased, indicating that the oxygen fugacity of the fluids changed from oxidative in the early stages to reductive in the later, the turbulent Eu anomaly in Sch B and Sch C indicating that the Eu anomaly in the Mamupu scheelite is not solely controlled by oxygen fugacity. The extensive interaction of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids and carbonate provides the necessary Ca²⁺ for the precipitation of scheelite in the Mamupu deposit.

Lamprophyres typically appear in hydrothermal gold deposits. The relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits is investigated widely. Some researchers suggest that the emplacement of lamprophyres triggers gold mineralization, whereas others hypothesize that the formation of lamprophyres increases the fertility of mantle sources and ore-forming fluids. K-feldspar veins, with ages between those of lamprophyres and gold deposits, appear in lamprophyres in Zhenyuan. Therefore, K-feldspar veins are ideal for investigating the relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits. Phlogopite in K-feldspar veins has lower Mg^#, Ni, and Cr contents and higher TiO₂, Li, Ba, Sr, Sc, Zr, Nb, and Cs contents than phlogopite in lamprophyres. The in-situ Sr isotopic values of apatites (0.7063–0.7066) in K-feldspar veins are within the range for apatites (0.7064–0.7078) from lamprophyres. High large-ion lithophile element concentrations and low Nb and Ta concentrations in phlogopite from lamprophyres, in addition to high (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i values of apatite (0.7064–0.7078), indicate that the magma parental to these phlogopite and apatite crystals is derived from an enriched mantle. K-feldspar veins are genetically correlated with lamprophyres, whereas sulfide mineral assemblage and trace element compositions of pyrite in K-feldspar veins suggest that K-feldspar veins in lamprophyres are not directly related to gold mineralization of the Zhenyuan deposit.

Garnet is a primary mineral in skarn deposits and plays a significant role in recording copious mineralization and metallogenic information. This study systematically investigates the geochemistry and geochronology of garnet and zircon in the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, which represents prominent gold mineralization in southern Hunan, China. Garnet samples with distinct zoning patterns and compositional variations were identified using various analytical techniques, including Backscattered Electron (BSE) imaging, Cathodoluminescence (CL) response, textural characterization, and analysis of rare-earth elements (REE), major contents, and trace element compositions. The garnet was dated U-Pb dating, which yielded a lower intercept age of 161.06 ± 1.93 Ma. This age is older than the underlying granodiorite porphyry, which has a concordia age of 155.13 ± 0.95 Ma determined by zircon U-Pb dating. These results suggest that the gold mineralization may be related to the concealed granite. Two groups of garnet changed from depleted Al garnet to enriched Al garnet, and the rare earth element (REE) patterns of these groups were converted from light REE (LREE)-enriched and heavy REE (HREE)-depleted with positive europium (Eu) anomalies to medium REE (MREE)-enriched from core to rim zoning. The different REE patterns of garnet in various zones may be attributed to changes in the fluid environment and late superposition alteration. The development of distal skarn in the southern Hunan could be a significant indicator for identifying gold mineralization.

The Bayingobi basin is located in the middle of Central Asia Orogenic Belt, at the intersection of Paleo-Asian Ocean and Tethys Ocean, as well as the junction of multiple tectonic plates. This unique tectonic setting underpins the basin's intricate history of tectonic activity. To unravel the multifaceted tectono-thermal evolution within the southwestern region of the basin and to elucidate the implications of sandstone-hosted uranium mineralization, granitic and clastic rock samples were collected from the Zongnai Mts. uplift and Yingejing depression, and apatite fission track (AFT) dating and thermal history simulation analysis were performed. AFT dating findings reveal that the apparent ages of all samples fall within the range of 244 Ma to 112 Ma. In particular, the bedrock of the Zongnai Mts. and Jurassic detrital apatite fission tracks have undergone complete annealing, capturing the uplift-cooling age. Meanwhile, the AFT ages of Cretaceous detrital rocks are either equivalent to or notably exceed the age of sedimentary strata, signifying the cooling age of the provenance. A comprehensive examination of AFT ages and palaeocurrent direction analyses suggests that the Cretaceous source in the Tamusu area predominantly originated from the central and southern sectors of the Zongnai Mts. uplift. However, at a certain juncture during the Late Early Cretaceous, the Cretaceous provenance expanded to include the northern part of the Zongnai Mts. uplift. Based on the results of thermal history simulations and previous studies, it is considered that the Tamusu area has undergone four distinct tectonic uplift events since the Late Paleozoic. The first is the Late Permian to Early Triassic (260–240 Ma), which is associated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and the accretionary orogeny within the Alxa region. The second uplift event took place in the Early Jurassic (190–175 Ma) and corresponded to intraplate orogeny following the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The third uplift event is the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (160–120 Ma), which is linked to the East Asia's position as the convergence center of multiple tectonic plates during this period. The fourth uplift event is linked to the Late Early Cretaceous (112–100 Ma), driven either by the westward subduction of the eastern Pacific plate or the mantle upwelling resulting from the Bangong–Nujiang oceanic lithosphere subduction and slab break-off. The primary stress orientation for the first three tectonic uplift phases approximated a nearly SN direction, while the fourth stage featured a principal stress direction of NW. The fourth tectonic uplift event of the Late Early Cretaceous and basaltic eruption thermal event during this period likely exerted a significant influence on the formation of the Tamusu sandstone-hosted uranium deposit.

Three eusauropod teeth (SDUST-V1064, PMOL-AD00176, PMOL-ADt0005) are reported from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Ningcheng, southeastern Inner Mongolia, China. Two of them (SDUST-V1064, PMOL-AD00176) are assigned to early-diverging titanosauriforms in having slightly mesiodistal expansion at the base of the tooth crown, a slenderness index value >2.0 and <4.0, and D-shaped cross section. Furthermore, SDUST-V1064 and PMOL-AD00176 are referred as an Euhelopus-like titanosauriform on the basis of having a sub-circular boss on the lingual surface and an asymmetrical crown-root margin which slants apically, respectively. CT scan data of SDUST-V1064 reveals new dental information of early-diverging titanosauriforms, for example, the enamel on the labial side thicker than that on the lingual side, an enamel/dentine ratio of 0.26 and a boss present on the lingual side of the dentine of the crown.

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 (Hg_EF) 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. Hg_EF 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, Hg_EF, 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.

The Tianshan range, a Paleozoic orogenic belt in Central Asia, has undergone multiple phases of tectonic activities characterized by the N–S compression after the early Mesozoic, including the far-field effects of the Cenozoic Indian–Asian collision. However, there are limited reports on the tectonic deformation and initiation of Triassic intracontinental deformation in the Tianshan range. Understanding this structural context is crucial for interpreting the early intracontinental deformation history of the Eurasian continent during the early Mesozoic. Growth strata and syn-tectonic sediments provide a rich source of information on tectonic activities and have been extensively used in the studies of orogenic belts. Based on detail fieldwork conducted in this study, the middle–late Triassic Kelamayi Formation of the northern Kuqa Depression in the southern Tianshan fold-thrust belt has been identified as the typical syn-tectonic growth strata. The youngest detrital zircon component in two lithic sandstone samples from the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata yielded U-Pb ages of 223.4 ± 3.1 and 215.5 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively, indicating that the maximum depositional age of the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata is 226–220 and 218–212 Ma. The geochronological distribution of detrital samples from the Early–Middle Triassic and Late Triassic revealed abrupt changes, suggesting a new source supply resulting from tectonic activation in the Tianshan range. The coupling relationship between the syn-tectonic sedimentation of the Kelamayi Formation and the South Tianshan fold-thrust system provides robust evidence that the Triassic intracontinental deformation of the South Tianshan range began at approximately 226–220 Ma (during the Late Triassic) and ended at approximately 218–212 Ma. These findings provide crucial constraints for understanding the intraplate deformation in the Tianshan range during the Triassic.

The Hesar pluton in the northern Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc hosts numerous mafic-microgranular enclaves (MMEs). Whole rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, zircon U-Pb and Sr-Nd isotopes were measured. It is suggested that the rocks are metaluminous (A/CNK = 1.32–1.45), subduction-related I-type calc-alkaline gabbro to diorite with similar mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures. The host rocks yielded an U-Pb crystallization age of 37.3 ± 0.4 Ma for gabbro-diorite. MMEs have relatively low SiO₂ contents (52.9–56.6 wt%) and high Mg^# (49.8–58.7), probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin. Chondrite- and mantle-normalized trace element patterns are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment, HREE and HFSE depletion with slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.86–1.03). The host rocks yield (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.70492–0.70510, positive ε_Nd(t) values of +1.55–+2.06 and T_DM2 of 707–736 Ma, which is consistent with the associated mafic microgranular enclaves ((⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.705014, ε_Nd(t) = +1.75, T_DM2 = 729 Ma). All data suggest magma-mixing for enclave and host rock formation, showing a complete equilibration between mixed-mafic and felsic magmas, followed by rapid diffusion. The T_DM1(Nd) and T_DM2(Nd) model ages and U-Pb dating indicate that the host pluton was produced by partial melting of the lower continental crust and subsequent mixing with injected lithospheric mantle-derived magmas in a pre-collisional setting of Arabian–Eurasian plates. Clinopyroxene composition indicates a crystallization temperature of ∼1000°C and a depth of ∼9 km.

Three-dimensional geochemical modeling of ore-forming elements is crucial for predicting deep mineralization. This approach provides key information for the quantitative prediction of deep mineral localization, three-dimensional fine interpolation, analysis of spatial distribution patterns, and extraction of quantitative mineral-seeking markers. The Yechangping molybdenum (Mo) deposit is a significant and extensive porphyry-skarn deposit in the East Qinling–Dabie Mo polymetallic metallogenic belt at the southern margin of the North China Block. Abundant borehole data on ore-forming elements underpin deep geochemical predictions. The methodology includes the following steps: (1) Three-dimensional geological modeling of the deposit was established. (2) Correlation, cluster, and factor analyses post delineation of mineralization stages and determination of mineral generation sequence to identify (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag) and (Mo, W, mfe) assemblages. (3) A three-dimensional geochemical block model was constructed for Mo, W, mfe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ag using the ordinary kriging method, and the variational function was developed. (4) Spatial distribution and enrichment characteristics analysis of ore-forming elements are performed to extract geological information, employing the variogram and w(Cu + Pb + Zn + Ag)/w(Mo + W) as predictive indicators. (5) Identifying the western, northwestern, and southwestern areas of the mine with limited mineralization potential, contrasted by the northeastern and southeastern areas favorable for mineral exploration.

Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety, especially in aggregated population areas and economic hubs. This study focuses on the high F^– and NO₃^– concentration groundwater in Tongzhou District, Beijing, North China. A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics, elucidate genetic mechanisms and evaluate the potential human health risks. The results of the analysis indicate: Firstly, most of the groundwater samples are characterized by Mg-HCO₃ and Na-HCO₃ with the pH ranging from 7.19 to 8.28 and TDS with a large variation across the range 471–2337 mg/L. The NO₃^– concentration in 38.89% groundwater samples and the F^– concentration in 66.67% groundwater samples exceed the permissible limited value. Secondly, F^– in groundwater originates predominantly from water-rock interactions and the fluorite dissolution, which is also regulated by cation exchange, competitive adsorption of HCO₃^– and an alkaline environment. Thirdly, the effect of sewage disposal and agricultural activities have a significant effect on high NO₃^– concentration, while the high F^– concentration is less influenced by anthropogenic activity. The alkaline environment favors nitrification, thus being conducive to the production of NO₃^–. Finally, the health risk assessment is evaluated for different population groups. The results indicate that high NO₃^– and F^– concentration in groundwater would have the largest threat to children's health. The findings of this study could contribute to the provision of a scientific basis for groundwater supply policy formulation relating to public health in Tongzhou District.

Identification and anatomy of oceanic arcs within ancient orogenic belt are significant for better understanding the tectonic framework and closure process of paleo-ocean basin. This article summarizes the geological, geochemical, and geochronological characteristics of upper crust of Proto-Tethyan Lajishan intra-oceanic arc and provides new data to constrain the subduction evolution of the South Qilian Ocean. The intra-oceanic arc volcanic rocks, including intermediate–mafic lava, breccia, tuff, and minor felsic rocks, are distributed along southern part of the Lajishan ophiolite belt. Geochemical and isotopic compositions indicate that the intermediate–mafic lava were originated from depleted mantle contaminated by sediment melts or hydrous fluids, whereas the felsic rocks were likely generated by partial melting of juvenile mafic crust in intra-oceanic arc setting. Zircons from felsic rocks yield consistent and concordant ages ranging from 506 to 523 Ma, suggesting these volcanic rocks represent the relicts of upper crust of the Cambrian intra-oceanic arc. Combined with the Cambrian forearc ophiolite and accretionary complex, we suggest that the Cambrian intra-oceanic arc in the Lajishan ophiolite belt is belonging to the intra-oceanic arc system which was generated by south-directed subduction in the South Qilian Ocean at a relatively short interval between approximately 530 and 480 Ma.

In this study, zircon U-Pb dating of volcanic rocks from the Zhongba ophiolite of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) in southern Xizang (Tibet) yielded an age of 247 ± 3 Ma. According to whole rock geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data, the Early Triassic samples could be divided into two groups: Group 1 with P-MORB affinity, showing initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70253–0.70602, ε_Nd(t) values of 4.2–5.3, (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 16.353–18.222, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 15.454–15.564, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 35.665–38.136; Group 2 with OIB affinity, showing initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70249–0.70513, ε_Nd(t) values of 4.4–4.9, (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 17.140–18.328, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 15.491–15.575, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 36.051–38.247. Group 2 rocks formed by partial melting of the mantle source enriched by a former plume, and assimilated continental crustal material during melt ascension. The formation of Group 1 rocks corresponds to the mixing of OIB melts, with the same components as Group 2 and N-MORBs. The Zhongba Early Triassic rocks belong to the continental margin type ophiolite and formed in the continental–oceanic transition zone during the initial opening of the Neo-Tethys in southern Xizang (Tibet).

There are two factors, source composition and magmatic differentiation, potentially controlling W-Sn mineralization. Which one is more important is widely debated and may need to be determined for each individual deposit. The Xitian granite batholith located in South China is a natural laboratory for investigating the above problem. It consists essentially of two separate components, formed in the Triassic at ca. 226 Ma and Jurassic at ca. 152 Ma, respectively. The Triassic and Jurassic rocks are both composed of porphyritic and fine-grained phases. The latter resulted from highly-differentiated porphyritic ones but they have similar textural characteristics and mineral assemblages, indicating that they reached a similar degree of crystal fractionation. Although both fine-grained phases are highly differentiated with elevated rare metal contents, economic W–Sn mineralization is rare in the Triassic granitoids and this can be attributed to less fertile source materials than their Jurassic counterparts, with a slightly more enriched isotopic signature and whole-rock ε_{Nd(226 Ma)} of –10.4 to –9.2 (2σ = 0.2) compared with ε_{Nd(152 Ma)} of –9.2 to -8.2 (2σ = 0.2) for the Jurassic rocks. The initial W-Sn enrichment was derived from the metasedimentary rocks and strongly enhanced by reworking of the continental crust, culminating in the Jurassic.

The Wangjiazhuang Cu (-Mo) deposit, located within the Zouping volcanic basin in western Shandong Province, China, is unique in this area for having an economic value. In order to expound the metallogenetic characteristics of this porphyry-like hydrothermal deposit, a detailed fluid inclusion study has been conducted, employing the techniques of representative sampling, fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry, Raman spectroscopy, LA-ICP-MS analysis of single fluid inclusions, as well as cathode fluorescence spectrometer analysis of host mineral quartz. The deposit contains mainly two types of orebodies, i.e. veinlet-dissemination-stockwork orebodies in the K-Si alteration zone and pegmatitic-quartz sulfide veins above them. In addition, minor breccia ore occurs locally. Four types of fluid inclusions in the deposit and altered quartz monzonite are identified: L-type one- or two-phase aqueous inclusions, V-type vapor-rich inclusions with V/L ratios greater than 50%–90%, D-type multiphase fluid inclusions containing daughter minerals or solids and S-type silicate-bearing fluid inclusions containing mainly muscovite and biotite. Ore petrography and fluid inclusion study has revealed a three-stage mineralization process, driven by magmatic-hydrothermal fluid activity, as follows. Initially, a hydrothermal fluid, separated from the parent magma, infiltrated into the quartz monzonite, resulting in its extensive K-Si alteration, as indicated by silicate-bearing fluid inclusions trapped in altered quartz monzonite. This is followed by the early mineralization, the formation of quartz veinlets and dissemination-stockwork ores. During the main mineralization stage, due to the participation and mixing of meteoric groundwater with magmatic-sourced hydrothermal fluid, the cooling and phase separation caused deposition of metals from the hydrothermal fluids. As a result, the pegmatitic-quartz sulfide-vein ores formed. In the late mineralization stage, decreasing fluid salinity led to the formation of L-type aqueous inclusions and chalcopyrite-sulfosalt ore. Coexistence of V-type and D-type inclusions and their similar homogenization temperatures with different homogenization modes suggest that phase separation or boiling of the ore-forming fluids took place during the early and the main mineralization stages. The formation P-T conditions of S-type inclusions and the early and the main mineralization stages were estimated as ca. 156–182 MPa and 450–650°C, 350–450°C, 18–35 MPa and 280–380°C, 8–15 MPa, respectively, based on the microthermometric data of the fluid inclusions formed at the individual stages.

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 SiO₂, K₂O, and Al₂O₃, and low MgO, CaO, and P₂O₅ 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°C) 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.

The magma sources, origins and precise forming ages of the miarolite from Qishan and Kuiqi intrusions are still uncertain. New results reveal that, miarolites from the Qishan and Kuiqi intrusions yield crystallization ages of ∼101 and ∼98 Ma, and they have a high formation temperature (∼910°C) and low oxygen fugacity value, indicating crystallization condition at low pressure in the upper crust with temperature of 678°C. The Qishan and Kuiqi miarolites are characterized by enrichment in SiO₂ and high-K alkali, depletion in Ca and Mg, and belong to the high-K weak peraluminous rock series. The samples are enriched in HFSEs (i.e., Ta, Zr and Hf) and LILEs (i.e., Ba, P and Sr), depleted in Ba and Sr with the negative anomaly of Eu. In the primitive mantle normalized trace element spider diagram, the samples show a right-inclined ‘seagull-type’ pattern, combined the ratios of (La/Yb)_N, 10000 × Al/Ga, Rb/Nb and Nb/Ta etc., they were proved to be alkaline A-type granite. Combined the characterize of the trace elements, they were derived from clay-rich source accompanied pelite melting, and subjected to K-feldspar crystallization fractional. The values of ε_Hf(t) and t_DM2 are distributed in the range of –2.8 to 3.3 with ∼1.2 Ga, and –6.0 to 4.0 with ∼1.2 Ga, revealing that they were generated from the Mesoproterozoic Cathaysia basement rocks. The comprehensive research reveals the Kuiqi and Qishan intrusions derived from crust-mantle mixing and partial melting of the crust, respectively, resulting from lithospheric extension generated by the Paleo-Pacific Plate subducted into the European–Asian Plate.