Discovery of especially large bubble-like miarolitic granites in Laoshan and its geological and geomorphic significance
Recently, some especially large bubble-like miarolitic caves in A-type granites in Laoshan have been discovered with the largest diameter of up to 3.1 m, far exceeding the granitic miarolitic caves previously reported, thus adding new knowledge to geology. This helps to study the primary environment for granites formed in Laoshan and also reveal genesis of “natural-mortar” micro-landform for granites in Laoshan. The existence of a new genesis type—“bubble-like miarolitic caves” of speleology is also confirmed by this discovery. Especially large bubble-like miarolitic caves are rare geological relics with high ornamental, science and tourism value.
Geologic proof on paleo-glaciation remains in Laoshan Mountain
Laoshan Mountain is the highest mountain in China coast.Various typical geomorphic features of glarosion,glacial deposition,rare glacial moraine coast and glacial moraine fans in east are well developed in Laoshan Mountain.Well preserved four glacial epochs are identified in Laoshan Mountain.In early Pleistocene,the altitude of snowline ranged from 60 m to 90 m in east.More than sixty paleo-glacial tongues were developed in Laoshan Mountain,some of them which located in east extended into the Yellow Sea.Sporopollen analysis indicates that the climate in Laoshan Mountain is very cold during the ice age.Multi-modal grain-size probability curves of the moraines are the typical characteristics of sediments deposited by glaciation.Regional landforms and climatic conditions are the key factors dominating the altitude of snowline during the ice age.
Rb-Sr whole-rock and 40Ar/39Ar mineral ages of the Togus and Hallowell quartz monzonite and Three Mile Pond granodiorite plutons, South-Central Maine: Their bearing on post-Acadian cooling history
Generally synmetamorphic granitic stocks intrude high-grade, Silurian-lowermost Devonian metasedimentary rocks near Augusta, Maine. Rb-Sr whole-rock isochrons (8 points each) define mutually overlapping crystallization ages of 394±8 m.y. (Togus quartz monzonite), 387±11 m.y. (Hallowell quartz monzonite), and 381±14 m.y. (Three Mile Pond biotite granodiorite), thereby providing a narrow chronologic bracket for Acadian tectonothermal activity in the area. Igneous hornblende, muscovite, and biotite display internally concordant 40Ar/39Ar age spectra with plateau dates of 350 m.y. (hornblende) and 300-265 m.y. (muscovite and biotite), with an overall southwestward younging trend. The mineral dates are similar to those recorded in adjacent portions of the regional metamorphic terrain and suggest a prolonged postmagmatic cooling which closely followed the diachronous northeast-southwest post-Acadian cooling of the country rocks. No evidence for a distinct Permian thermal overprint of older isotopic systems has been observed.