Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102257
Haibo Yan , Jing Xu , Weidong Sun , Xing Ding
Hydration and complexation are crucial processes for dissolving metal elements and transporting metal complexes in hydrothermal fluids. However, the impact of hydration and complexation on the transport and enrichment of metal elements, such as those involving rhodium and chloride, has not been thoroughly evaluated. Here, this study employed a hydrolysis experiment of K3RhCl6 at 200–600 °C and 100 MPa to determine the controlling factors and thermodynamics of Rh-Cl complexes in chloride-rich fluids. The results show that the dominant Rh-Cl complex is at 200–400 °C, gradually converting into Rh(III)–OH-Cl complexes over 400 °C. The hydrolysis equilibrium constant (LnK) of at 200–400 °C affected by temperature (T (K)) is calculated as: Accordingly, the and of the hydrolysis reaction were obtained to be 405.8 ± 32.39 kJ·mol−1 and 407.9 ± 58.30 J·mol−1·K−1, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters reveal the dependence of the stability of Rh-Cl complexes on temperature in chloride-rich fluids. For instance, the formation constants (lnβ) of vary from 0.0184 ± 0.0022 to −0.0079 ± 0.0012 as the temperature rises from 150 to 400 °C. Geochemical modeling illustrates that low-temperature and acidic fluids can enhance the stability of Rh-Cl complexes, which can be dominated by Cl concentration (over 0.5 wt.%). Hydrothermal fluids with low pH and high Cl content, typically occurring in the mid-ocean ridge, promote Rh transport and subsequent enrichment in encrustations and minerals by substituting Mn and Fe for isomorphism, or in the form of alloys, forming a substantial Rh reservoir in the ocean.
{"title":"The transport and enrichment of rhodium (III) in chloride-rich fluids: Implications for seafloor hydrothermal systems","authors":"Haibo Yan , Jing Xu , Weidong Sun , Xing Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydration and complexation are crucial processes for dissolving metal elements and transporting metal complexes in hydrothermal fluids. However, the impact of hydration and complexation on the transport and enrichment of metal elements, such as those involving rhodium and chloride, has not been thoroughly evaluated. Here, this study employed a hydrolysis experiment of K<sub>3</sub>RhCl<sub>6</sub> at 200–600 °C and 100 MPa to determine the controlling factors and thermodynamics of Rh-Cl complexes in chloride-rich fluids. The results show that the dominant Rh-Cl complex is <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mtext>RhCl</mtext><mrow><mtext>6</mtext></mrow><mtext>3-</mtext></msubsup></mrow></math></span> at 200–400 °C, gradually converting into Rh(III)–OH-Cl complexes over 400 °C. The hydrolysis equilibrium constant (LnK) of <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mtext>RhCl</mtext><mrow><mtext>6</mtext></mrow><mtext>3-</mtext></msubsup></mrow></math></span> at 200–400 °C affected by temperature (<em>T</em> (K)) is calculated as: <span><math><mrow><mi>lnK</mi><mo>=</mo><mrow><mfenced><mrow><mn>49.06</mn><mo>±</mo><mn>7.01</mn></mrow></mfenced></mrow><mo>-</mo><mrow><mfenced><mrow><mn>48802</mn><mo>±</mo><mn>3896.0</mn></mrow></mfenced></mrow><mo>/</mo><mi>T</mi><mo>.</mo></mrow></math></span> Accordingly, the <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>Δ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><msubsup><mrow><mi>H</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>Θ</mi></mrow></msubsup></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>Δ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><msubsup><mrow><mi>S</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>Θ</mi></mrow></msubsup></mrow></math></span> of the hydrolysis reaction were obtained to be 405.8 ± 32.39 kJ·mol<sup>−1</sup> and 407.9 ± 58.30 J·mol<sup>−1</sup>·K<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters reveal the dependence of the stability of Rh-Cl complexes on temperature in chloride-rich fluids. For instance, the formation constants (lnβ) of <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mtext>RhCl</mtext><mrow><mtext>6</mtext></mrow><mtext>3-</mtext></msubsup></mrow></math></span> vary from 0.0184 ± 0.0022 to −0.0079 ± 0.0012 as the temperature rises from 150 to 400 °C. Geochemical modeling illustrates that low-temperature and acidic fluids can enhance the stability of Rh-Cl complexes, which can be dominated by Cl concentration (over 0.5 wt.%). Hydrothermal fluids with low pH and high Cl content, typically occurring in the mid-ocean ridge, promote Rh transport and subsequent enrichment in encrustations and minerals by substituting Mn and Fe for isomorphism, or in the form of alloys, forming a substantial Rh reservoir in the ocean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102257"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102256
Nicola Scafetta , Annamaria Lima , Alfonsa Milia , Frank Spera , Robert J. Bodnar , Benedetto De Vivo , Linda Daniele
The Campi Flegrei (CF) volcanic system near Naples, Italy, poses a significant hazard due to bradyseism — a slow vertical ground deformation resulting in either uplift or subsidence. Indeed, between January 2005 and January 2025, the urban area of Pozzuoli experienced approximately 1.4 m of uplift (GNSS RITE Station). The bradyseism is driven by a combination of hydrothermal and magmatic processes, whereby pressurized magmatic fluids generated by deep magma crystallization accumulate beneath an impermeable layer that regulates fluid exchange between upper hydrostatic and lower lithostatic systems. This study introduces a new perspective through a detailed reconstruction of the stratigraphic-tectonic architecture of the CF area that enables identification of structural controls on seismicity, deformation, and fluid migration, and the role of meteoric water. Seismicity beneath the Pozzuoli-Solfatara area occurs at shallower depths near the top of an anticline, whereas deeper earthquakes in Pozzuoli Bay occur in synclinal environments. The anticline beneath Pozzuoli facilitates hydrothermal fluid pressurization in two main reservoirs beneath two relatively impermeable units. The shallow reservoir, referred to as Unit C, is located at a depth of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 km and acts as a reservoir for meteoric water infiltration. The deeper reservoir, referred to as Unit A, occurs at a depth of about 2.0 and 4.0–4.5 km, where magmatic fluids generated by second boiling in the underlying magma accumulate. An impermeable unit of marine sediments, referred to as Unit B, is located at ∼ 2 km depth and separates Units A and C. The shallow reservoir is bounded at the top by a relatively impermeable unit mainly made up of pyroclastic deposits. We developed a simplified hydrogeological model using rainfall data dating back to 1950 to assess the role of meteoric water in bradyseism at CF. We found a strong correlation between subsurface water infiltration and vertical ground deformation observed at the Pozzuoli RITE Station, which corresponds to the crest of the anticline. Our results suggest that meteoric water contributes to interannual uplift fluctuations of up to ∼ 5 cm and accounts for over 20% of the total uplift recorded between 2005 and 2025. Furthermore, a shortening of recharge time-lag — from about four years to three years since 2010 — indicates enhanced fracturing and infiltration rates. These findings highlight the previously underestimated role of meteoric water in driving deformation and seismicity at CF. Our results also suggest that geoengineering involving targeted surface drainage interventions could mitigate ongoing ground instability and seismic hazards in the region.
{"title":"Rainwater accumulation model related to tectono-stratigraphic assessment for bradyseism at Campi Flegrei, Italy","authors":"Nicola Scafetta , Annamaria Lima , Alfonsa Milia , Frank Spera , Robert J. Bodnar , Benedetto De Vivo , Linda Daniele","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Campi Flegrei (CF) volcanic system near Naples, Italy, poses a significant hazard due to bradyseism — a slow vertical ground deformation resulting in either uplift or subsidence. Indeed, between January 2005 and January 2025, the urban area of Pozzuoli experienced approximately 1.4 m of uplift (GNSS RITE Station). The bradyseism is driven by a combination of hydrothermal and magmatic processes, whereby pressurized magmatic fluids generated by deep magma crystallization accumulate beneath an impermeable layer that regulates fluid exchange between upper hydrostatic and lower lithostatic systems. This study introduces a new perspective through a detailed reconstruction of the stratigraphic-tectonic architecture of the CF area that enables identification of structural controls on seismicity, deformation, and fluid migration, and the role of meteoric water. Seismicity beneath the Pozzuoli-Solfatara area occurs at shallower depths near the top of an anticline, whereas deeper earthquakes in Pozzuoli Bay occur in synclinal environments. The anticline beneath Pozzuoli facilitates hydrothermal fluid pressurization in two main reservoirs beneath two relatively impermeable units. The shallow reservoir, referred to as Unit C, is located at a depth of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 km and acts as a reservoir for meteoric water infiltration. The deeper reservoir, referred to as Unit A, occurs at a depth of about 2.0 and 4.0–4.5 km, where magmatic fluids generated by second boiling in the underlying magma accumulate. An impermeable unit of marine sediments, referred to as Unit B, is located at ∼ 2 km depth and separates Units A and C. The shallow reservoir is bounded at the top by a relatively impermeable unit mainly made up of pyroclastic deposits. We developed a simplified hydrogeological model using rainfall data dating back to 1950 to assess the role of meteoric water in bradyseism at CF. We found a strong correlation between subsurface water infiltration and vertical ground deformation observed at the Pozzuoli RITE Station, which corresponds to the crest of the anticline. Our results suggest that meteoric water contributes to interannual uplift fluctuations of up to ∼ 5 cm and accounts for over 20% of the total uplift recorded between 2005 and 2025. Furthermore, a shortening of recharge time-lag — from about four years to three years since 2010 — indicates enhanced fracturing and infiltration rates. These findings highlight the previously underestimated role of meteoric water in driving deformation and seismicity at CF. Our results also suggest that geoengineering involving targeted surface drainage interventions could mitigate ongoing ground instability and seismic hazards in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102256"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102255
Shiji Dong , Yan Li , Xiaobin Yin , Qing Xu , Peng Mao
Accurate sea surface temperature (SST) forecasting across multiple timescales remains challenging. Daily forecasting frequently relies on autoregressive models prone to instability and over-smoothing, whereas monthly forecasting suffers from sparse data and the complex dynamics of ocean systems. Existing deep learning methods struggle to address these diverse challenges simultaneously. We introduce SSTFormer, a novel physics-guided deep learning framework that achieves leading results, with root mean squared error of 0.17 °C for daily forecasts and 0.60 °C for monthly forecasts, yielding lower bias and improved spatial coherence. The model’s core innovation is its unified and flexible architecture. For multi-step daily forecasts (1–15 days), it deploys as a “two-phase sequential ensemble” that replaces conventional autoregression and uses ocean current to solve instability and mitigate error accumulation. For single-step monthly forecasts, it is used in a direct forecasting configuration, proving effective at handling “sparse data” and “complex ocean dynamics.” SSTFormer demonstrates how a single architecture, through flexible deployment, can address the unique challenges of multi-scale SST forecasting, highlighting its potential as a unified and robust framework.
{"title":"Physics-guided deep learning for global sea surface temperature forecasting: Balancing accuracy and stability across timescales","authors":"Shiji Dong , Yan Li , Xiaobin Yin , Qing Xu , Peng Mao","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate sea surface temperature (SST) forecasting across multiple timescales remains challenging. Daily forecasting frequently relies on autoregressive models prone to instability and over-smoothing, whereas monthly forecasting suffers from sparse data and the complex dynamics of ocean systems. Existing deep learning methods struggle to address these diverse challenges simultaneously. We introduce SSTFormer, a novel physics-guided deep learning framework that achieves leading results, with root mean squared error of 0.17 °C for daily forecasts and 0.60 °C for monthly forecasts, yielding lower bias and improved spatial coherence. The model’s core innovation is its unified and flexible architecture. For multi-step daily forecasts (1–15 days), it deploys as a “two-phase sequential ensemble” that replaces conventional autoregression and uses ocean current to solve instability and mitigate error accumulation. For single-step monthly forecasts, it is used in a direct forecasting configuration, proving effective at handling “sparse data” and “complex ocean dynamics.” SSTFormer demonstrates how a single architecture, through flexible deployment, can address the unique challenges of multi-scale SST forecasting, highlighting its potential as a unified and robust framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102255"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102258
Mohamed Hamdy Eid , Khouloud Jlaiel , Mohamed Ayed Elbalawy , Yetzabbel G. Flores , Ali A. Mohieldain , Tamer Nassar , Mostafa R. Abukhadra , Haifa A. Alqhtani , Attila Kovács , Péter Szűcs
Groundwater salinization in arid oasis environments poses significant challenges for sustainable water resource management. In Siwa Oasis, Egypt, the deep Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSSA) and the shallow Tertiary Carbonate Aquifer (TCA) interact through fault systems. At the same time, the potential leakage from hypersaline surface lakes creates complex hydrogeological conditions that require comprehensive characterization. Despite the critical importance of understanding aquifer connectivity and salinization processes, there remains a significant knowledge gap in the quantitative integration of multiple geophysical datasets for objective aquifer characterization and structural control identification. Traditional methods lack the spatial resolution and objective framework necessary to map lithofacies distributions and identify structural pathways controlling groundwater flow in complex multi-aquifer systems.
This study presents an integrated approach, combining machine learning clustering with gravity data analysis, to characterize the region’s aquifer systems. K-means and Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were applied to well log data, including Gamma Ray (GR), Spontaneous Potential (SP), and resistivity (R), to delineate lithofacies. Three distinct units were identified: clean sand, shaly sand, and clay-rich facies. The SOM algorithm outperformed the clustering of K-means in accurately estimating layer thickness and resolving lithological transitions. A 3D lithofacies model revealed spatial heterogeneity within the NSSA, highlighting clean sand layers as primary groundwater extraction zones.
Gravity data analysis using upward continuation and edge-filtering techniques identified dominant NE-SW, NW-SE, and E-W lineaments controlling groundwater flow dynamics. The 3D gravity inversion model revealed density contrasts associated with structural features, providing insights into potential groundwater flow between aquifers. Spatial analysis reveals lower groundwater salinity in the southern part of the Oasis, coinciding with areas of reduced structural complexity. Higher salinity zones in central and northeastern regions show spatial correlation with gravity-derived structural systems, though causal relationships require additional validation through hydrochemical studies. This integrated approach provides critical insights for sustainable groundwater management in structurally complex arid environments.
{"title":"Aquifer characterization and salinization origin using unsupervised machine learning and 3D gravity inversion modeling, Siwa Oasis, Egypt","authors":"Mohamed Hamdy Eid , Khouloud Jlaiel , Mohamed Ayed Elbalawy , Yetzabbel G. Flores , Ali A. Mohieldain , Tamer Nassar , Mostafa R. Abukhadra , Haifa A. Alqhtani , Attila Kovács , Péter Szűcs","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater salinization in arid oasis environments poses significant challenges for sustainable water resource management. In Siwa Oasis, Egypt, the deep Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSSA) and the shallow Tertiary Carbonate Aquifer (TCA) interact through fault systems. At the same time, the potential leakage from hypersaline surface lakes creates complex hydrogeological conditions that require comprehensive characterization. Despite the critical importance of understanding aquifer connectivity and salinization processes, there remains a significant knowledge gap in the quantitative integration of multiple geophysical datasets for objective aquifer characterization and structural control identification. Traditional methods lack the spatial resolution and objective framework necessary to map lithofacies distributions and identify structural pathways controlling groundwater flow in complex multi-aquifer systems.</div><div>This study presents an integrated approach, combining machine learning clustering with gravity data analysis, to characterize the region’s aquifer systems. K-means and Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were applied to well log data, including Gamma Ray (GR), Spontaneous Potential (SP), and resistivity (R), to delineate lithofacies. Three distinct units were identified: clean sand, shaly sand, and clay-rich facies. The SOM algorithm outperformed the clustering of K-means in accurately estimating layer thickness and resolving lithological transitions. A 3D lithofacies model revealed spatial heterogeneity within the NSSA, highlighting clean sand layers as primary groundwater extraction zones.</div><div>Gravity data analysis using upward continuation and edge-filtering techniques identified dominant NE-SW, NW-SE, and E-W lineaments controlling groundwater flow dynamics. The 3D gravity inversion model revealed density contrasts associated with structural features, providing insights into potential groundwater flow between aquifers. Spatial analysis reveals lower groundwater salinity in the southern part of the Oasis, coinciding with areas of reduced structural complexity. Higher salinity zones in central and northeastern regions show spatial correlation with gravity-derived structural systems, though causal relationships require additional validation through hydrochemical studies. This integrated approach provides critical insights for sustainable groundwater management in structurally complex arid environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102258"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102254
Zhenghe Li, Yuyan Zhao, Xiaodan Tang, Zhiguo Meng
The lunar surface element distribution obtained from Chang’e-2 gamma-ray spectrometer has provided new insights into the thermal activity and element migration of the Moon. To further investigate lunar thermal evolution and geological activities, the heat production rate (HPR) distribution was selected as a breakthrough. An optimized inversion method for Chang’e-2 gamma-ray spectrum data, based on multivariate statistical analysis, was developed to effectively reduce the influence of time-varying factors by improving the background estimation and subtraction process. The results validated the utility of HPR for lunar research. The global HPR distribution maps not only provide a reference for assessing the thermal state of the lunar surface, demonstrating that radiogenic heat production can be reliably studied at a global scale, but also enable detailed investigations of regional geological processes. In the Imbrium Basin, HPR clearly reflects the effects of large-scale impact events and subsequent mare volcanic activity. High-HPR materials associated with impact ejecta can be distinguished from the lower-HPR mare basalts. Furthermore, by integrating HPR data with additional geological information, it is possible to assess and partially subdivide the structure of the Imbrium Basin, providing new quantitative insights into its evolution and compositional heterogeneity.
{"title":"Optimized inversion of Chang’e-2 gamma-ray spectrum data into heat production rate for thermal evolution study: Imbrium Basin as an example","authors":"Zhenghe Li, Yuyan Zhao, Xiaodan Tang, Zhiguo Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The lunar surface element distribution obtained from Chang’e-2 gamma-ray spectrometer has provided new insights into the thermal activity and element migration of the Moon. To further investigate lunar thermal evolution and geological activities, the heat production rate (HPR) distribution was selected as a breakthrough. An optimized inversion method for Chang’e-2 gamma-ray spectrum data, based on multivariate statistical analysis, was developed to effectively reduce the influence of time-varying factors by improving the background estimation and subtraction process. The results validated the utility of HPR for lunar research. The global HPR distribution maps not only provide a reference for assessing the thermal state of the lunar surface, demonstrating that radiogenic heat production can be reliably studied at a global scale, but also enable detailed investigations of regional geological processes. In the Imbrium Basin, HPR clearly reflects the effects of large-scale impact events and subsequent mare volcanic activity. High-HPR materials associated with impact ejecta can be distinguished from the lower-HPR mare basalts. Furthermore, by integrating HPR data with additional geological information, it is possible to assess and partially subdivide the structure of the Imbrium Basin, providing new quantitative insights into its evolution and compositional heterogeneity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102254"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102252
Zhida Liu , Xiaorong Luo , Xiaofei Fu , Xianqiang Song , Haijun Yang , Haixue Wang
Ultra-deep sandstone reservoirs are characterized by poor petrophysical properties. Identifying effective reservoir rocks and evaluating reservoir quality are key but challenging aspects in the exploration and development of ultra-deep hydrocarbon reservoirs. Adopting the Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation of the Keshen gas field in the Tarim Basin with burial depths exceeding 8000 m as an example, we evaluated the quality of this ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoir by classifying petrofacies and analyzing the diagenetic evolution of different petrofacies. We revealed that although the petrophysical properties of ultra-deep reservoirs are poor, effective reservoir rocks with relatively high porosities and permeabilities can still develop locally. According to the detrital mineralogy and texture, diagenesis, and pore system, we classified sandstone into effective petrofacies (ductile lithic-lean sandstone) and tight petrofacies (ductile lithic-rich sandstone and tightly carbonate-cemented sandstone), which underwent differential diagenetic evolution processes. Such processes significantly influence the quality of ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs. High contents of ductile grains and carbonate cement explained the low reservoir quality. The ductile lithic-rich sandstone was relatively fine-grained and contained a high content of ductile grains, which, owing to mechanical compaction during early burial, were compacted and largely occupied the pore space, yielding a low reservoir quality. The carbonate-cemented sandstone pores were filled with large amounts of carbonate cements during early diagenesis, resulting in a low reservoir quality. The ductile lithic-lean sandstone was relatively coarse-grained, contained a high content of rigid grains, and exhibited moderate compaction, with relatively well-developed primary pores and secondary dissolution pores. This sandstone exhibited the highest reservoir quality and represents an effective reservoir rock type in ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs. This study provides new insights for the evaluation of the effective properties of ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs.
{"title":"Ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs quality evaluation with a new perspective on petrofacies and differential diagenesis: Insights from the Tarim Basin","authors":"Zhida Liu , Xiaorong Luo , Xiaofei Fu , Xianqiang Song , Haijun Yang , Haixue Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ultra-deep sandstone reservoirs are characterized by poor petrophysical properties. Identifying effective reservoir rocks and evaluating reservoir quality are key but challenging aspects in the exploration and development of ultra-deep hydrocarbon reservoirs. Adopting the Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation of the Keshen gas field in the Tarim Basin with burial depths exceeding 8000 m as an example, we evaluated the quality of this ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoir by classifying petrofacies and analyzing the diagenetic evolution of different petrofacies. We revealed that although the petrophysical properties of ultra-deep reservoirs are poor, effective reservoir rocks with relatively high porosities and permeabilities can still develop locally. According to the detrital mineralogy and texture, diagenesis, and pore system, we classified sandstone into effective petrofacies (ductile lithic-lean sandstone) and tight petrofacies (ductile lithic-rich sandstone and tightly carbonate-cemented sandstone), which underwent differential diagenetic evolution processes. Such processes significantly influence the quality of ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs. High contents of ductile grains and carbonate cement explained the low reservoir quality. The ductile lithic-rich sandstone was relatively fine-grained and contained a high content of ductile grains, which, owing to mechanical compaction during early burial, were compacted and largely occupied the pore space, yielding a low reservoir quality. The carbonate-cemented sandstone pores were filled with large amounts of carbonate cements during early diagenesis, resulting in a low reservoir quality. The ductile lithic-lean sandstone was relatively coarse-grained, contained a high content of rigid grains, and exhibited moderate compaction, with relatively well-developed primary pores and secondary dissolution pores. This sandstone exhibited the highest reservoir quality and represents an effective reservoir rock type in ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs. This study provides new insights for the evaluation of the effective properties of ultra-deep tight sandstone reservoirs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102252"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102251
Daniel Carrizo , Mohamed Beraaouz , Mohamed Hssaisoune , Laura Sánchez-García , Olga Prieto-Ballesteros , Víctor Parro
During the Ediacaran Period (635–538.8 Ma), the photosynthetic activity due to cyanobacterial communities and early photosynthetic eukaryotes prompted the wide oxygenation of the terrestrial atmosphere. Biogeochemical evidence of this type of communities and activity in different terrestrial environments is very scarce. In this work, we search for lipid biomarkers and their carbon specific isotopic composition in stromatolites from an Ediacaran volcanic alkaline lake in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, in Morocco. Molecular analysis reveals the presence of n-alkanes, isoprenoids, hopanes and steranes in the Amane-n’Tourhart stromatolites, with compound-specific δ13C values for n-alkanes and isoprenoids within the range of autotrophic organisms using the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. Results from contamination controls and laboratory tests attest for the indigeneity and syngenicity of the detected biomarkers. In addition, molecular and isotopic analysis of hydrocarbons allows for the recognition of phototrophic activity from the prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities developed in this extreme alkaline lake in anoxic conditions. These unique results shed light on a key Period in the evolution of life on Earth in the particular region of Amane-n’Tourhart. The set of molecular and isotopic biomarkers detected in the Amane-n’Tourhart stromatolites supports the presence of some of the first complex organisms (i.e. fungi and early animals) and the relevance of the most prominent metabolism in present day biology (i.e. Calvin cycle), and expands the catalog of biomarkers preserved from that geological Period to reconstruct its paleobiology.
{"title":"Contrasted detection of lipid biomarkers in Ediacaran stromatolites from Amane-n’Tourhart in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas","authors":"Daniel Carrizo , Mohamed Beraaouz , Mohamed Hssaisoune , Laura Sánchez-García , Olga Prieto-Ballesteros , Víctor Parro","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the Ediacaran Period (635<em>–</em>538.8 Ma), the photosynthetic activity due to cyanobacterial communities and early photosynthetic eukaryotes prompted the wide oxygenation of the terrestrial atmosphere. Biogeochemical evidence of this type of communities and activity in different terrestrial environments is very scarce. In this work, we search for lipid biomarkers and their carbon specific isotopic composition in stromatolites from an Ediacaran volcanic alkaline lake in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, in Morocco. Molecular analysis reveals the presence of <em>n</em>-alkanes, isoprenoids, hopanes and steranes in the Amane-n’Tourhart stromatolites, with compound-specific <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C values for <em>n</em>-alkanes and isoprenoids within the range of autotrophic organisms using the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. Results from contamination controls and laboratory tests attest for the indigeneity and syngenicity of the detected biomarkers. In addition, molecular and isotopic analysis of hydrocarbons allows for the recognition of phototrophic activity from the prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities developed in this extreme alkaline lake in anoxic conditions. These unique results shed light on a key Period in the evolution of life on Earth in the particular region of Amane-n’Tourhart. The set of molecular and isotopic biomarkers detected in the Amane-n’Tourhart stromatolites supports the presence of some of the first complex organisms (i.e. fungi and early animals) and the relevance of the most prominent metabolism in present day biology (i.e. Calvin cycle), and expands the catalog of biomarkers preserved from that geological Period to reconstruct its paleobiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102251"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102250
Paul Daguinos , Pascal Le Roy , Gwenael Jouët , David Menier , Nicolas Le Dantec , Axel Ehrhold , Christophe Prunier , Pauline Dupont , Marcaurelio Franzetti
This study focusses on the development and evolution of a banner banks set located offshore the Britanny coast (Iroise Sea, France) using multibeam bathymetric data, high-resolution seismic data, and grab samples. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental parameters underpinning the long-term evolution and preservation of these major morpho-sedimentary bedforms. These banks have developed on a highly dispersive tide-and-storm-dominated shelf. Despite their very contrasting morphologies, the base of each of them lies at a similar depth range (100 to 90 m). The presence of dunes superimposed on the banks suggests that they remained active until today excepting for the Armen bank. Five seismic units have been also distinguished within each bank, separated by pronounced erosional unconformities. The surfaces are interpreted as the product of the gradual flooding of the bedrock outcropping across the shelf that modified the prevailing tidal conditions and directions of sediment transport. It thus appears that correlation between sea-level rise, the opening of straits across the shelf and the intensification of tidal currents are the key parameters of the long-term sand bank evolution offshore Brittany. The stepped morphology of the bedrock also appears to be a crucial factor in the initiation of the bank and its lasting anchoring between external and internal shelf. The preservation of their original nucleus indeed attests to their low lateral migration. With the exception of the silico-clastic basal unit, the banks are biogenic and fed by a process of self-recycling the sand within the sedimentary cell controlling the preservation of the bank. This study sheds light on the mechanisms of the formation and the deep anchorage of these deep banner banks, as well as their inherent link. It also highlights the dynamic nature of these large deep bedforms that are sustained by a fossil sedimentary stock.
{"title":"Long term evolution of deep banner banks offshore Brittany (France): paleo-coast line markers and interactions between hydrodynamics and seafloor morphology","authors":"Paul Daguinos , Pascal Le Roy , Gwenael Jouët , David Menier , Nicolas Le Dantec , Axel Ehrhold , Christophe Prunier , Pauline Dupont , Marcaurelio Franzetti","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focusses on the development and evolution of a banner banks set located offshore the Britanny coast (Iroise Sea, France) using multibeam bathymetric data, high-resolution seismic data, and grab samples. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental parameters underpinning the long-term evolution and preservation of these major morpho-sedimentary bedforms. These banks have developed on a highly dispersive tide-and-storm-dominated shelf. Despite their very contrasting morphologies, the base of each of them lies at a similar depth range (100 to 90 m). The presence of dunes superimposed on the banks suggests that they remained active until today excepting for the Armen bank. Five seismic units have been also distinguished within each bank, separated by pronounced erosional unconformities. The surfaces are interpreted as the product of the gradual flooding of the bedrock outcropping across the shelf that modified the prevailing tidal conditions and directions of sediment transport. It thus appears that correlation between sea-level rise, the opening of straits across the shelf and the intensification of tidal currents are the key parameters of the long-term sand bank evolution offshore Brittany. The stepped morphology of the bedrock also appears to be a crucial factor in the initiation of the bank and its lasting anchoring between external and internal shelf. The preservation of their original nucleus indeed attests to their low lateral migration. With the exception of the silico-clastic basal unit, the banks are biogenic and fed by a process of self-recycling the sand within the sedimentary cell controlling the preservation of the bank. This study sheds light on the mechanisms of the formation and the deep anchorage of these deep banner banks, as well as their inherent link. It also highlights the dynamic nature of these large deep bedforms that are sustained by a fossil sedimentary stock.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102250"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102249
Xiuhui An , Zhaochong Zhang , Hengxu Li , Mingde Lang , Ruixuan Zhang , Zhiguo Cheng
The dynamic interactions between mantle plumes and continental collision zones are still inadequately defined or poorly understood. Focusing on the Early Permian Tarim LIP and the adjacent Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), this study employs a Random Forest–based tectonic affinity prediction model (98% accuracy) to quantitatively evaluate the relative contributions of distinct mantle components (subduction-modified, asthenospheric, and plume-related) in 461 basalt samples. Combined with lithospheric thickness reconstruction via Y/Yb ratios, we demonstrate that: (1) the influence of the Tarim mantle plume extended northward into the CAOB, but was deflected into an east–west trajectory upon encountering the thick lithosphere (>70 km) of the Yili Block; (2) within the orogen, ocean island basalt (OIB)-affinity anomalies (e.g., East Tianshan, Junggar) are spatially consistent with thin lithosphere zones (55–65 km), and clusters of Ni–Cu sulfide deposits; and (3) major trans-lithospheric faults served as preferential conduits for plume upwelling. These findings provide a “channel–barrier” model where lithospheric thickness variations control plume spreading asymmetry, with preexisting structural weaknesses regulating spatial distribution. This study establishes a methodological framework for plume identification and Ni–Cu sulfide exploration in analogous settings, with broad implications for deep Earth material cycles and lithosphere–mineralization interactions.
{"title":"Lithospheric thickness controls asymmetric mantle plume spreading and metallogenesis in the Tarim Large Igneous Province–Central Asian Orogenic Belt System","authors":"Xiuhui An , Zhaochong Zhang , Hengxu Li , Mingde Lang , Ruixuan Zhang , Zhiguo Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2026.102249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dynamic interactions between mantle plumes and continental collision zones are still inadequately defined or poorly understood. Focusing on the Early Permian Tarim LIP and the adjacent Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), this study employs a Random Forest–based tectonic affinity prediction model (98% accuracy) to quantitatively evaluate the relative contributions of distinct mantle components (subduction-modified, asthenospheric, and plume-related) in 461 basalt samples. Combined with lithospheric thickness reconstruction via Y/Yb ratios, we demonstrate that: (1) the influence of the Tarim mantle plume extended northward into the CAOB, but was deflected into an east–west trajectory upon encountering the thick lithosphere (>70 km) of the Yili Block; (2) within the orogen, ocean island basalt (OIB)-affinity anomalies (e.g., East Tianshan, Junggar) are spatially consistent with thin lithosphere zones (55–65 km), and clusters of Ni–Cu sulfide deposits; and (3) major <em>trans</em>-lithospheric faults served as preferential conduits for plume upwelling. These findings provide a “channel–barrier” model where lithospheric thickness variations control plume spreading asymmetry, with preexisting structural weaknesses regulating spatial distribution. This study establishes a methodological framework for plume identification and Ni–Cu sulfide exploration in analogous settings, with broad implications for deep Earth material cycles and lithosphere–mineralization interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102249"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102245
Gianni Balestro , Matthieu Roà , Carlo Bertok , Marco Gattiglio , Stefano Ghignone , Chiara Groppo , Valby van Schijndel , Andrea Festa
Inherited structures in rifted continental margins strongly influence the architecture and evolution of collisional orogens. The northern Dora-Maira Massif in the Western Alps (NW Italy) preserves records of such inheritances, capturing the transition from Gondwana inheritance to Alpine convergence. New lithostratigraphic and structural data, together with U–Pb zircon dating, reveal a long-lasting tectonostratigraphic and/or magmatic evolution during (i) pre-Permian, (ii) Permian, (iii) Triassic and (iv) Jurassic time intervals. The heterogeneous Paleozoic basement consists of pre-Variscan micaschist and metabasite, and was intruded by Permian igneous bodies now corresponding to the Borgone metagranite and Luserna augen gneiss. The basement was later overlain by a Mesozoic cover made up of Lower Triassic siliciclastic sediments, a Middle to Upper Triassic carbonate platform and Lower to Middle Jurassic syn-rift deposits linked to the opening of the Ligurian–Piedmont Ocean Basin. Our results highlight that the Dora-Maira Massif was located within a transitional paleogeographic domain, emphasizing the role of pre-rift architecture in governing margin segmentation. Successive cycles of sedimentation, magmatism, and rifting created structural and rheological heterogeneities that may have localized strain during the Cenozoic Alpine-related overprinting. The Dora-Maira case illustrates that deep-time inherited structures and tectonostratigraphic settings continue to influence rifting, subduction, and collision, offering a broader framework for understanding the dynamics of orogens worldwide.
{"title":"Linking Gondwana inheritance to Alpine paleogeography in the Northern Dora-Maira Massif (Western Alps)","authors":"Gianni Balestro , Matthieu Roà , Carlo Bertok , Marco Gattiglio , Stefano Ghignone , Chiara Groppo , Valby van Schijndel , Andrea Festa","doi":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inherited structures in rifted continental margins strongly influence the architecture and evolution of collisional orogens. The northern Dora-Maira Massif in the Western Alps (NW Italy) preserves records of such inheritances, capturing the transition from Gondwana inheritance to Alpine convergence. New lithostratigraphic and structural data, together with U–Pb zircon dating, reveal a long-lasting tectonostratigraphic and/or magmatic evolution during (i) pre-Permian, (ii) Permian, (iii) Triassic and (iv) Jurassic time intervals. The heterogeneous Paleozoic basement consists of pre-Variscan micaschist and metabasite, and was intruded by Permian igneous bodies now corresponding to the Borgone metagranite and Luserna augen gneiss. The basement was later overlain by a Mesozoic cover made up of Lower Triassic siliciclastic sediments, a Middle to Upper Triassic carbonate platform and Lower to Middle Jurassic <em>syn</em>-rift deposits linked to the opening of the Ligurian–Piedmont Ocean Basin. Our results highlight that the Dora-Maira Massif was located within a transitional paleogeographic domain, emphasizing the role of pre-rift architecture in governing margin segmentation. Successive cycles of sedimentation, magmatism, and rifting created structural and rheological heterogeneities that may have localized strain during the Cenozoic Alpine-related overprinting. The Dora-Maira case illustrates that deep-time inherited structures and tectonostratigraphic settings continue to influence rifting, subduction, and collision, offering a broader framework for understanding the dynamics of orogens worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12711,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience frontiers","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102245"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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