Basin Evolution Research Articles

Differential Uplift Triggered Basin‐And‐Range System: Evidence From Low‐Temperature Thermochronology in Eastern NE Asia

AbstractSince the Mesozoic, eastern NE Asia has experienced multiple tectonic events, resulting in a complex structure and forming one of the world's largest Meso‐Cenozoic lacustrine basin systems. Presently, basin evolution models require further elucidation regarding the simultaneous generation of diverse rift basins and the potential impact stemming from the closure of the Mudanjiang Ocean, whose oceanic closure demarcated the boundary between the Songliao Basin and the eastern basins, raises questions about its influence on the development of the basin‐and‐range system. To address these questions, we augment new low‐temperature thermochronological data on basement highs separating the eastern NE Asia basins to investigate the shallow‐deep coupling process of tectonic evolution since the Mesozoic. The new cooling age pattern shows non‐overlapping and spatial differences among major basement highs. Inverse thermal modeling revealed five‐stage cooling episodes among the basement highs, but with different onset and cooling rates of each episode, indicating a significant differential uplift mode. A major reburial stage was identified throughout eastern NE Asia during the mid‐Cretaceous. Compiling cooling age patterns and inverse thermal modeling, we note the existence of a proto‐basin covering an area much larger than the previously contemplated “Pan‐Sanjiang” Basin. In general, our study indicates the final closure of the Mudanjiang Ocean occurred at ca. 150–140 Ma. Since the Early Cretaceous, with changes in the subduction direction, two‐stage flat slab subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific plate and the consequent subduction of the Pacific plate co‐dominated the basements' differential uplift and the formation of the eastern NE Asia basin‐and‐range framework.

Research progress on ecology and sustainable development of Guilin Lijiang River Basin, China, based on bibliometric analysis.

Guilin is a typical representative of karst landform in South China. Because of its unique geographical landform and hydrological environment, Lijiang River Basin has received a certain degree of attention in field of ecology and sustainable development. Explore and visualize the hotspots and frontiers of Guilin Lijiang River Basin Ecology and Sustainable Development (GLRBESD) by using bibliometrics, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer. Results showed that number of published papers was in a fluctuating upward trend from 1992 to 2022 and from 2011 to 2022, respectively. Work of scholars in this field has been continuously strengthened and deepened, and overall scientific research results show an increasing trend. Research objects and topics are mainly aimed at the water resources, climate, and environment of GLRB Landscape ecology and SDG index construction. Research of GLRBESD-published documents has the characteristics of multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary integration. High-frequency keywords in research field focus on ecotourism, ecological restoration, and sustainable development, mainly based on the research of ecotourism development. Impact of environmental factor changes and human activities on land use change in different periods is an important research topic. Core research field of GLRBESD on macro-scale can be divided into ESV and function, ecological compensation and ecotourism, ecological environment and ecological restoration, ecological network and ecological risk assessment, and sustainable development. This research provides systematic scientific research basis for enhancing sustainable development ability and ecosystem functions and services of World Natural Heritage Site.

Tectono‐Stratigraphic Insights on the Dynamics of a Complex Subduction Zone, Northern Peruvian Forearc

AbstractTwo main types of subduction are recognized around the world: accretionary and erosive. The northern Peruvian margin is a well‐known example of a margin subjected to subduction erosion, but to date the along‐margin variability and temporal changes in subduction process and forearc basin evolution have not been characterized in detail. Interpretation of regional seismic lines and integration of oil‐industry wells and seafloor data captures the erosive nature of subduction underneath the forearc with only a minor accretionary component to the north. Episodes of uplift driven by plate coupling were followed by normal faulting/extensional collapse due to plate decoupling. This mechanism explains the dominance of normal faulting across the forearc until the Oligocene with a slight reactivation within the Miocene. The subduction history is complex and includes a reduction in plate convergence rate related to forearc crustal shortening, represented by large‐scale structures including the Peru fault (reactivated) and the Illescas fault‐propagation anticlines of the Northwest Peru transpressional system. This crustal deformation started in the Miocene. Integration with magnetic anomaly data indicates that activity of the present‐day transpressional system driven by tectonic escape of the Nazca Sliver toward the northeast, may explain the seismicity gap in southern Ecuador and northern Peru. An evolutionary model of the northern Peruvian margin shows how subduction zone geodynamics left its erosive fingerprint in the forearc basin configuration.

Organic geochemistry of an Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous mudstone succession in a narrow graben setting, Wollaston Forland Basin, North-East Greenland

The Oxfordian–Ryazanian was a period of widespread deposition of marine organic-rich mudstones in basins formed during the early phases of the rifting that heralded the formation of the present-day North Atlantic. Occasionally, uninterrupted deposition prevailed for 20 million years or more. Today, mudstones of this time interval are found on the shelves bordering the North Atlantic and adjacent areas from Siberia to the Netherlands. Here, we report data on two fully cored boreholes from Wollaston Forland (North-East Greenland, approx. 74° N), which represent an uninterrupted succession from the upper Kimmeridgian to the Hauterivian. The boreholes record basin development at two different positions within an evolving halfgraben, located at the margin of the main rift, and thus partially detached from it. Although the overall depositional environment remained an oxygen-restricted deep-shelf setting, rifting-related changes can be followed through the succession. The Kimmeridgian was a period of eustatic highstand and records the incipient rifting with a transgressive trend straddling the transition to the lower Volgian by a gradual change from deposits with high levels of total organic carbon (TOC) and kerogen rich in allochthonous organic matter to deposits with lower TOC and a higher proportion of autochthonous organic matter. This is followed by a slight regressive trend with lower TOC and increased proportions of allochthonous organic matter until rifting culminated in the middle Volgian–Ryazanian, indicated by increasing autochthonous organic matter and higher TOC, which prevailed until basin ventilation occurred towards the end of the Ryazanian. The properties of the reactive kerogen fraction remained rather stable irrespective of TOC, underlining the effect of terrigenous matter input for TOC. These variations are also captured by biological markers and stable carbon isotopes. The deposits are very similar to equivalent successions elsewhere in the proto-North Atlantic region, albeit the proportion of terrigenous kerogen is greater.

Genesis and tectonic setting of an Early Palaeozoic skarn in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China: constraints from adakitic rocks and garnet megacrysts

ABSTRACT The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (E-KOB) in the northern Tibet Plateau has undergone a long multi-stage history of drifting, accretion, and collision of the Proto- and Palaeo-Tethyan oceans. It has been addressed a trench-arc-back-arc basin system of the Proto-Tethys in the E-KOB, and the tectonic history of this major ocean has been well constrained by previous studies. However, the evolution of the back-arc basin still remains unclear. In this study, the Yugusayi monzodiorite, quartz-bearing syenite, and gradually contacted skarn rocks characterized by garnet megacrysts, in the North Qimantagh Belt were investigated. To reveal the tectonic setting and skarnization mechanism, geochemical and geochronological studies were conducted on the intrusions and garnet skarn, and the elemental compositions of the garnet megacrysts were also analysed. These monzodioritic rocks have high MgO (6.87–8.31 wt.%), Sr and La contents, low Y and Yb contents, and relatively high La/Yb (31–55) and Sr/Y (41–51) ratios, resembling to high-Mg adakites. They display right-sloping chondrite-normalized REE patterns, enriched in LILEs, and depleted in Ti with significant Nb-Ta troughs, which are similar to those of continental arc rocks. Zircons from monzodiorite and skarn samples have contemporaneous U-Pb ages of 459 ± 3 Ma and 454 ± 4 Ma with εHf(t) values of − 8.53 to − 4.64 and − 7.7 to + 12.8, respectively. In addition, the chemical zoning garnet megacrysts are composed mainly of grossular and andraditic grossular, and are characterized by spoon-shaped REE patterns. Based on our new data and the regional geology, it can be concluded that the Yugusayi intrusive rocks formed in a subduction-related tectonic setting and resulted in the skarnization. These data not only provide key constraints on the initial subduction of the Qimantagh back-arc basin’s oceanic crust, but also offer a unique opportunity to explore the Caledonian skarnization in the Qimantagh Belt.

Dynamic analysis of soil erosion in the affected area of the lower Yellow River based on RUSLE model

With the accelerated development of urbanization, the exploration and usage of land resources is becoming more and more frequent, which leads to the decline of soil quality, resulting in a series of soil ecological issues, such as soil nutrient loss, soil quality degradation and destruction. At present, the contradiction between soil erosion and sustainable development of human society has become one of the hot issues studied by scholars. The Yellow River Basin is an important experimental area for high-quality development in China, constructing the Yellow River Ecological Economic Belt play an important role in China’s regional coordinated development. Although most of the affected area of the Lower Yellow River (AALYR) is in the plain, they have a large population density and are in the historical farming area. In latest years, because of the development and transformation of modern society, their ecological environment has become more fragile and soil erosion problems has become increasingly serious. Studying and analyzing soil erosion is of vital meaning for ecological protection and can provide scientific support for soil conservation work. Depending on the data of precipitation, soil properties, land use, population, etc., this paper studies and analyzes the soil erosion in AALYR from 2000 to 2020 through the RUSLE. We found that during the 20 years the proportion of very slight and slight grade area increased, and the distribution of moderate and above erosion grade was less, mainly in Zibo, Jinan, Anyang, Zhengzhou, and Tai 'an. Nearly three quarters of the regional soil erosion grade didn’t change, apart from the increase of slight grade area, the other erosion grades area showed a downward trend. We take the city, county and town zoning analysis find that as the scale decreases, the area of serious erosion grades increases, and the distribution is gradually detailed. Land use is the main influencing factor of erosion except DEM. Forestland and grassland are larger of the soil erosion in various types of land use. Through these conclusions in this paper, it is promising to provide theoretical references for the ecological environment governance and high-quality and sustainable development of great river basins of the world and similar regions.

The fairness of shared responsibility for embodied carbon emission: a case study of the Yellow River Basin, China.

Under the dual constraints of China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, as well as ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, clarifying the embodied carbon emissions and responsibility sharing of inter-provincial trade is crucial to the carbon reduction strategy of the Yellow River Basin. This paper uses the MRIO (multi-regional input-output) model to measure the production-side and consumption-side responsibility sharing of nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin in 2012 and 2017, revealing the amount and direction of the embodied carbon transfer between provinces, and finally introduces the share of provincial value added as the responsibility sharing factor to compare and analyze the differences between the three responsibility sharing methods. The results show the following: (1) The embodied carbon emissions on the production side in most provinces of the Yellow River Basin were larger than that on the consumption side, with the most significant differences in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong, among which local demand carbon emissions and intermediate product transfer out of carbon emissions were the main causes of production-side carbon emissions. (2) In general, all provinces except Shaanxi were net carbon transfer-in regions, and the embodied carbon was mainly transferred to Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Hebei. (3) Shared responsibility for carbon emissions was jointly determined by the volume of embodied carbon trade and the ability to obtain value added, which lay between production and consumption side responsibility shares. (4) The Yellow River Basin had a large responsibility-sharing factor and embodied carbon trade, and thus needs to take more responsibility for emission reduction. This study is expected to provide scientific support for the strategy of differentiated emission reduction in the Yellow River Basin and enrich the regional carbon accounting methods.

Evidence of a Cenomanian shallow-marine carbonate platform in the northwestern margin of the Bortziriak-Cinco Villas massif, eastern Basque-Cantabrian Basin

Basin margin evolution of rift basins is not always well constrained. In the northeastern margin of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, a revision of a carbonate succession permits deciphering the transition from synto post-rift phases in the poorly studied northwestern margin of the Bortziriak-Cinco Villas massif. The sedimentological analysis shows three main lithofacies, attributed to a shallow-marine, non-rimmed carbonate platform. On the other hand, biostratigraphic analysis based on the presence of Caprina adversa rudist indicates a Cenomanian age for the succession. Thus, this study illustrates the existence of a Cenomanian shallow-marine carbonate platform unconformably overlying the Palaeozoic massif. This platform development was the result of a generalized transgression during the early post-rift stage.

Application of eco-compensation to control transboundary water pollution in water diversion projects: The case of the Heihe River transfer project in China

Controlling transboundary water pollution is particularly crucial for the sustainable development of diversion basins, while eco-compensation is an essential incentive for multistakeholder transboundary water pollution control. Considering the dynamics of the various actors' pollution control behavior in the Heihe River water transfer project and utilizing differential game theory, we construct a baseline strategy, a horizontal eco-compensation strategy, and an incentive coordination strategy under scenarios with and without authority incentives. The corresponding equilibrium solutions are then determined, and comparisons are made between the payoffs of the players in the six different structures, thus defining the optimal scenario for the different programs. In the case of the largest ecological water transfer project of the Heihe River in Northwest China, according to the research findings, (1) when eco-compensation is funded through a single source, incentive coordination scenarios can contribute effectively to water pollution control instituted by the main participants in water diversion projects; when multiple financing sources are available, horizontal ecological compensation scenarios are more compatible with the individual interests of local municipalities to improve the water quality environment. (2) Water-receiving cities voluntarily eco-compensate for water-supplying cities, and this incentive structure for eco-compensation facilitates a significant improvement in the effectiveness of water pollution control and therefore the harmonious promotion of sustainable economic and environmental development in eco-fragile areas. (3) Water transfer projects, for which the two participants are at widely.different levels of development and the environment is inherently fragile, can facilitate, via an eco-compensation mechanism that combines horizontal and vertical scenarios, sustainable development-oriented policies for eco-compensation systems in which the authority participates as a third-party game player. The research supports the establishment of policies for the governance of the transboundary water diversion project basins to address conflicts in water pollution management.

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

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, which has seriously restricted the division and correlation of rift epoch strata, and the understanding of basin evolution. In this paper, the volcanic rocks of Huoshiling Formation whose lithostratigraphic characteristics are credible was found in LS101 Core, Yingtai Fault Depression, western Songliao Basin, and the zircon U-Pb geochronology research was carried out. The result provides new data for understanding the formation time of Huoshiling Formation. At the same time, it’s the first report of isotope age of volcanic rocks in Yingtai Fault Depression.

The accumulation characteristics and exploration potential of oil and gas in the back-arc basin of Japan under the background of high heat flow

The Sea of Japan is located in the southeast margin of Eurasia, in the triangle area of the western Pacific Ocean. Due to the interaction of the Pacific plate, Eurasian plate and Philippine plate, its tectonic environment is complex, forming a typical trench-arc-basin system. At present, 148 oil and gas fields have been discovered in Japan, with an oil and gas resource of 255.78×106 t, showing a good prospect for oil and gas exploration. Based on the previous research and the recently collected geological and geophysical data, the characteristics of tectonic-sedimentary evolution and geothermal field in the basins around the Sea of Japan are analyzed. The results show that the tectonic evolution of the basin is mainly controlled by plate subduction and back-arc oceanic crust expansion, and it mainly undergone four tectonic-sedimentary evolution stages: Subduction period, basin development period, subsidence period and compression deformation period. The overall heat flow value of Japan Sea is high, and it is distributed annularly along Yamato Ridge. The geothermal heat flow value is about 50–130 MW/m2, and the average heat flow is 75.9±19.8 MW/m2, which has a typical “hot basin”. The high heat flow background provides unique thermal evolution conditions for hydrocarbon generation, which leads to the high temperature and rapid evolution. The authors summarized as “early hydrocarbon generation, rapid maturity and shallow and narrow hydrocarbon generation window”. The type of oil and gas is mainly natural gas, and it mainly distributed in Neogene oil and gas reservoirs. The trap types are mainly structural traps, lithologic traps and composite traps. In addition, the pre-Neogene bedrock oil and gas reservoirs also show a good exploration prospect. The resource prospecting indicates that Niigata Basin, Ulleung Basin and kitakami Basin are the main target areas for future exploration and development.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

Neogene faulting, basin development, and relief generation in the southern Klamath Mountains (USA)

Abstract Development and evaluation of models for tectonic evolution in the Cascadia forearc require understanding of along-strike heterogeneity of strain distribution, uplift, and upper-plate characteristics. Here, we investigated the Neogene geologic record of the Klamath Mountains province in southernmost Cascadia and obtained apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronology of Mesozoic plutons, Neogene graben sediment thickness, detrital zircon records from Neogene grabens, gravity and magnetic data, and kinematic analysis of faults. We documented three aspects of Neogene tectonics: early Miocene and younger rock exhumation, development of topographic relief sufficient to isolate Neogene graben-filling sediments from sources outside of the Klamath Mountains, and initiation of mid-Miocene or younger right-lateral and reverse faulting. Key findings are: (1) 10 new apatite AHe mean cooling ages from the Canyon Creek and Granite Peak plutons in the Trinity Alps range from 24.7 ± 2.1 Ma to 15.7 ± 2.1 Ma. Inverse thermal modeling of these data and published apatite fission-track ages indicate the most rapid rock cooling between ca. 25 and 15 Ma. One new AHe mean cooling age (26.7 ± 3.2 Ma) from the Ironside Mountain batholith 40 km west of the Trinity Alps, combined with previously published AHe ages, suggests geographically widespread latest Oligocene to Miocene cooling in the southern Klamath Mountains province. (2) AHe ages of 39.4 ± 5.1 Ma on the downthrown side and 22.7 ± 3.0 Ma on the upthrown side of the Browns Meadow fault suggest early Miocene to younger fault activity. (3) U-Pb detrital zircon ages (n = 862) and Lu-Hf isotope geochemistry from Miocene Weaverville Formation sediments in the Weaverville, Lowden Ranch, Hayfork, and Hyampom grabens south and southwest of the Trinity Alps can be traced to entirely Klamath Mountains sources; they suggest the south-central Klamath Mountains had, by the middle Miocene, sufficient relief to isolate these grabens from more distal sediment sources. (4) Two Miocene detrital zircon U-Pb ages of 10.6 ± 0.4 Ma and 16.7 ± 0.2 Ma from the Lowden Ranch graben show that the maximum depositional age of the upper Weaverville Formation here is younger than previously recognized. (5) A prominent steep-sided negative gravity anomaly associated with the Hayfork graben shows that both the north and south margins are fault-controlled, and inversion of gravity data suggests basin fill is between 1 km and 1.9 km thick. Abrupt elevation changes of basin fill-to-bedrock contacts reported in well logs record E-side-up and right-lateral faulting at the eastern end of the Hayfork graben. A NE-striking gravity gradient separates the main graben on the west from a narrower, thinner basin to the east, supporting this interpretation. (6) Of fset of both the base of the Weaverville Formation and the cataclasite-capped La Grange fault surface by a fault on the southwest margin of the Weaverville basin documents 200 m of reverse and 1500 m of right-lateral strike-slip motion on this structure, here named the Democrat Gulch fault; folded and steeply dipping strata adjacent to the fault confirm that faulting postdated deposition of the Weaverville Formation. Based on these findings, we suggest that Miocene rock cooling recorded by AHe ages, accompanying graben formation, and development of topographic relief record early to middle Miocene initiation of underplating or “subcretion” in the southern Cascadia subduction zone beneath the southern Klamath Mountains.

Depositional evolution in response to long-term marine transgression in the northern South China Sea

Research on the interaction between depositional evolution process and marine transgression is critical to understanding the transform mechanism of sedimentary systems and guiding hydrocarbon exploration. The early Miocene witnessed the most significant sea-level rise since the Cenomanian, which resulted in extensive marine-influenced deposits worldwide. However, the relationship between the process of depositional evolution and long-term marine transgressions (>1 Ma) remains poorly understood. The Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea offers a comprehensive deposition record of the early Miocene marine transgression. This study employs high-quality 3D seismic, well-logging, and core data to investigate the impact of the early Miocene transgression on the evolutionary dynamics of the sedimentary system. The regional sea level exhibited a prolonged rise of at least 100 m during the deposition period of the Miocene Zhujiang Formation, corresponding to the long-term marine transgressive in the South China Sea. Throughout this marine transgression, depositional systems developed in the study area include tidal flats, fan deltas, meandering river deltas, and shallow marine shelf sand bodies. The marine transgression process resulted in a significant change in depositional system types, which can be divided into seven units from Unit 1 at the bottom to Unit 7 at the top. The predominant deposition environment transitioned from tidal flats in Units 1-3 to meandering river deltas in Units 4-5, and finally to shallow marine shelf systems in Units 6-7. In the early stage (Units 1-3), the regional uplifts hindered sea level transgression and caused erosion, leading to the development of small-scale proximal fan deltas. In the middle stage (Units 4-5), these regional uplifts submerged, and meandering river deltas dominated with sediments derived from distant extrabasinal sources. During the late stage (Units 6-7), regional sea levels reached their peak, transforming the entire basin into a shallow marine shelf system. Additionally, this marine transgression significantly influenced the distribution of hydrocarbon resources. Notably, the shallow marine shelf sand bodies in Units 6-7 warrant substantial attention for future exploration. This study outlines the complicated transitional processes within depositional systems during long-term marine transgression events, holding relevance for the global evolution of marginal sea basins.

Tectonic significance of the late-Ediacaran syn-orogenic basin in the easternmost portion of the Paraguay Belt, Tocantins Province, central Brazil

Sedimentary provenance studies using detrital zircon U–Pb ages represent an important tool to investigate the evolution of orogenic basins and to suggest tectonic settings and paleogeography reconstructions when it comes to supercontinent modeling. Syn-orogenic basins worldwide are characterized by a large proportion of zircons with ages close to the maximum depositional period, reflecting the proximity of recently formed magmatic rocks. In this work, we combine field observations, detrital zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock Sm–Nd and mica Ar–Ar isotopic analyses to constrain the final tectonic evolution of a restricted basin located in a poorly studied region at the easternmost limit of the Paraguay Belt in the Tocantins Province, central Brazil. The investigated area corresponds to the boundary sector of the Paraguay Belt and the Brasília Belt and is also transected by the strike-slip fault system associated with the Transbrasiliano Lineament. This sector was previously mapped as part of the Cuiaba Group, internal zone of the Paraguay Belt. We provide 465 new detrital zircon U–Pb data with ages distributed from the early Cambrian to the Archean, with approximately 60% of the analyzed grains derived from Ediacaran-Cryogenian sources. The maximum depositional age of the basin is defined at ca. 590 Ma, constrained by the youngest age peak and an evident provenance shift in detrital input in the Paraguay Belt was demonstrated. The syn-orogenic character of the basin is inferred based on the main peak of the detrital zircon population age distribution around 600 Ma, which is very close to the maximum depositional period and points to a short time between erosion, deposition, and burial processes. The muscovite 40Ar/39Ar age of ca. 536–546 Ma obtained for muscovite schist metamorphosed under greenschist facies conditions indicates that the regional thermal regime was maintained up to the early-Cambrian in the area. The minimum fast cooling rate of 25 °C/Myr defined in the investigated area is constrained by the 40Ar/39Ar analysis of biotite (549.16 ± 1.30 Ma) from a syn-to late-kinematic granodiorite intrusion. The very rapid magma emplacement occurred into relatively shallow crustal levels through the associated strike-slip faults. The Transbrasiliano Lineament would have facilitated the rapid unroofing of the study area and therefore the syn-orogenic deposition in a foreland domain at the final phase of West Gondwana amalgamation. The studied metasedimentary rocks represent a transition phase from the passive margin sedimentation (Cuiabá Group) to an orogenic phase, constraining an inversion event in the West Gondwana around ca. 590 Ma. The data provide evidence of a late orogenic basin that was formed contemporaneously with the evolution of an active margin between the Amazonian Craton and the eastern blocks/cratons (São Francisco-Congo and Rio de la Plata cratons and Paranapanema Block) close to Cambrian times. Our results support the existence of the younger Clymene Ocean and the subsequent final assembly of West Gondwana in the Cambrian.

Oblique rifting triggered by slab tearing: the case of the Alboran rifted margin in the eastern Betics

Abstract. The tectonic evolution of highly oblique continental margins that result from extension above lithospheric subduction–transform edge propagator (STEP) faults is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the case of the Alboran margin in the eastern Betics characterized by crustal thinning of 15–10 km, oblique to the direction of slab retreat. The current deformation patterns indicate that oblique rifting is underway. However, it is unclear whether these conditions are those that prevailed during the formation of the metamorphic domes and intramontane basins. We review the temporal and spatial evolution of Neogene sedimentary basins and brittle deformation in the eastern Betics and exploit offshore seismic reflection lines to propose a crustal-scale section across the oblique margin. The history of sediment infill and rates of subsidence combined with the analyses of fault slip data confirm that brittle extension oriented from north 20∘ E to E–W occurred during an interval spanning from the Serravallian–early Tortonian to the late Tortonian (14–8 Ma). This extension is associated with both normal and strike-slip regimes and the evolution of the strike-slip fault zones flanking the metamorphic domes. The transtensional model forms a coherent scheme linking the ductile deformation associated with metamorphic domes and the formation of E–W- and NW–SE- or NNW–SSE-directed sedimentary basins in the brittle upper crust during the Tortonian. The oblique extension, which is closely associated with STEP faulting, occurred during the regional convergence between Africa and Iberia since the Miocene. Only recently, around 8 Ma, has slab detachment started to migrate westward, leading to tectonic inversion in the eastern Betics. Such a type of narrow oblique-rifted margin associated with transform-like plate boundaries is not unique but is expected to be hardly preserved in the geological record due to the transient nature of retreating subduction systems.

THE INFLUENCE OF GREEN FINANCE ON THE HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE YELLOW RIVER BASIN

The establishment of the Equator Principles provides strict industry standards for promoting green environmental protection. Ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin are major national strategies and frameworks in China. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for promoting the efficient development of the Yellow River Basin and to explore the imbalance between the development level and the development quality of green finance in various regions of the Yellow River Basin. The study implements an evaluation index system to quantify the economic development level and green finance development level of the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, a panel model analyzes the impact mechanism of green finance on the high-quality development of the basin as well as the moderating role of government supervision. The results show that most cities in the Yellow River Basin of China are at a medium level of green financial development, and some cities have a low level. Green financial development can promote high-quality development, and green regulatory and fiscal policies play a moderating role in this process. This study makes relevant policy recommendations for improving top-level design and preserving the environment.

Unveiling the intricacies of attracting zones in magnetic binary systems: Investigating the impact of Yukawa correction

This study delves into the restricted three-body problem with a Yukawa correction to Newtonian gravitational forces, focusing on magnetic binary systems. We scrutinize the influence of Yukawa correction parameters (α, β) and the ratio of magnitude of magnetic moments (λ) on the system’s equilibrium points and their stability, zero-velocity curves. In our case, there exist of five and seven equilibrium points and all are found to be unstable for given range of parameters. Our examination extends to the basins of convergence and the existence of fractal under the influence of α and λ. Graphs drawn with the help of Wolfram Mathematica software vividly portray the parameter-driven evolution of equilibrium points, zero-velocity curves and basins of convergence. Furthermore, we explore the fractal characteristics within the basins of convergence, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics of magnetic binary systems with Yukawa correction.

Study on the Mechanism and Optimization Strategy of River-Chief System in River Basin Development

The river-chief system is an important measure to implement the construction of ecological civilization and maintain the healthy life of rivers and lakes in the new era. In order to deeply understand the effect of the river-chief system on the development of the river basin, this paper selects the Qinhuai River in Nanjing as the specific research object to study the implementation effect of the Qinhuai River’s river-chief system from three aspects: work progress, publicity and popularization, and river regulation. The study shows: (1) the river-chief system of Qinhuai River works well and promotes the optimization and improvement of specific measures; (2) the policy publicity work is actively implemented and most residents have some understanding of the river-chief system; (3) the water quality of the system has improved and the results of river regulation are obvious. However, there are also some problems in the Qinhuai River’s river-chief system, such as insufficient policy popularization and poor long-term river regulation. This paper puts forward optimization suggestions for the Qinhuai River’s river-chief system according to the deficiencies found in the research, in order to promote the long-term and sustainable development of the river-chief system.

Landscape pattern evolution and ecological risk assessment of the Yellow River Basin based on optimal scale

Rapid urbanization is a global phenomenon that has altered many ecosystems and created ecological risks. Landscape ecological risk (LER) reflects the extent to which ecosystems are threatened by human activities and environmental change. LER can be also employed to effectively monitor and assess environmental quality. A large number of studies have been conducted to explore the LER in the basin from the perspective of Land Use and Land Cover (LUCC). Ecological environmental issues such as land degradation have seriously hindered the sustainable development of the Yellow River Basin (YRB). Based on the LUCC data of the YRB in the four periods of 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020, this study aims to determine the most suitable spatial analysis scale using the coefficient of variation and semi-variogram, and analyzes the landscape pattern and LER of the YRB. We found that the landscape pattern of the YRB exhibits obvious scale dependence, and the analysis effect is most effective at the scale of 90 km × 90 km. Throughout the study period, the landscape pattern exhibited increasing fragmentation, a decrease in the degree of aggregation and an increase in the heterogeneity of distribution. In terms of LER, it is in a better state as most of the LER levels have shifted from higher to lower levels, and the proportion of lower and lowest risk is constantly increasing. This study improves the precision of spatial scale investigations and offers valuable insights for future studies on landscape pattern and LER in the basin.

Facies analysis, provenance and tectono-depositional evolution of the Ediacaran Hammamat molasse sediments, Umm Tawat area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

The Ediacaran Hammamat Sediments in the Umm Tawat basin of the Egyptian North Eastern Desert are exposed with an ENE-trend, along with the Dokhan Volcanics and various phases of intrusive rocks. Different lithofacies of molasse-type deposits exist, with a debate about their tectono-depositional setting, provenance, and diagenesis versus metamorphism. In this study, we present a new insight into the facies and evolution of Umm Tawat sediments using an integrated structural, sedimentological, and mineralogical approach. Lithofacies analysis revealed their deposition in continental suites of alluvial fans, braided fluvial channels, and lacustrine environments. The sediments were derived from proximal heterogeneous sources of intermediate and acidic igneous rocks and a subordinate sedimentary provenance conveyed from uplifted basin margin hinterlands. Petrographic, SEM-EDX, and XRD data imply that the HS were affected by diagenesis to very low-grade metamorphism and local thermal metamorphism in contact with the intrusive younger granite. Carbon smears possibly derived from organic matter in shale were observed. Two reconstructed paleostress phases derived from fault slip data with the sedimentological analysis constrain the tectono-depositional evolution of the Umm Tawat molasse basin. We propose an early development of ENE-asymmetric sedimentary depocenter associated with the N–S-directed extensional strike-slip stress regime. Syn-tectonic deposition of the Hammamat Sediments occurred during this phase in three stages with variable sediment provenance and accommodation/sediment influx ratios. This phase was accompanied by the three phases of younger granites and the Dokhan volcanics. Positive inversion with N–S-directed compressional strike-slip stress regime caused ENE-to NE-folding and reverse reactivation for the pre-existing ENE-trending dextral faults. Up on the regional correlation, the Ediacaran Umm Tawat molasse basin differs somewhat from other molasse basins in the central Eastern Desert regarding their facies and tectono-depositional model. This basin probably formed as a continental intra-arc basin located in the northern region of the Nubian Shield.