ISSN 0302-069X

NUMBER PA R I S
J U LY
2002

P R O G R E S S R E P O RT O F T H E
I N T E R NAT I O NA L G E O L O G I CA L C O R R E L A-
TION
PROGRAMME (IGCP)

G E O S C I E N C E I N T H E S E RV I C E
GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION

is a series of reports issued by UNESCO for the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP), a scientific enterprise carried
out in co-operation with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). The numbers of the series will be issued with indivi-
dual pagination at irregular intervals – there will be no arrangement in volumes. Geological Correlation contains information on
National Committees, reports on sessions, lists of accepted projects, annual reports of the Scientific Committee and the Board, com-
position, work plans and progress reports of project working groups, current bibliographies of IGCP publications, secretariat news,
reports of IGCP meetings held and announcements of forthcoming ones, and summaries of final reports on projects. New material and
announcements will be published under the author's (submitter's) responsibility for the scientific contents. Supplementary material
will be published in Episodes (IUGS). All contributions to Geological Correlation should be addressed to:
The IGCP Secretariat, Division of Earth Sciences,
UNESCO, 1, rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15
Fax: (33.1) 45 68 58 22
e-mail: igcp@unesco.org
Editors: F. Wolfgang Eder, IGCP Secretary
M. Patzak, SC/GEO
Editorial Assistant: D. Armand, SC/GEO

IGCP home page:

http://www.unesco.org/science/earthsciences/igcp/

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AGI American Geological Institute

CCOP Committee for Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas
CGMW Commission for the Geological Map of the World
CIFEG Centre International pour la Formation et les Échanges Géologiques
COGEODATA Committee on Storage, Automatic Processing, and Retrieval of Geological Data
EGT European Geotravers
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
GGT Global Geoscience Transects
IAGOD International Association on the Genesis of Ore Deposits
IAMG International Association for Mathematical Geology
ICL Inter-Union Commission on the Lithosphere
ICS International Commission on Stratigraphy
ICSU International Council of Scientific Unions
IGC International Geological Congress
IGCP International Geological Correlation Programme
ILP International Lithosphere Programme
INQUA International Union for Quaternary Research
IOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
IUGG International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
IUGS International Union of Geological Sciences
OET IGCP project ‘On Extended Term’
OSNLR Ocean Science in relation to Non-Living Resources
RCMNS Regional Committee on Mediterranean Neogene Stratigraphy
SCOPE Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment
SEATRAD South-East Asian Tin Research and Development Center
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Paris, July 2002

Original: English

(SC-2002/WS/38)
 Contents

Page

Report of the thirtieth session of the IGCP Scientific Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1. List of participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. Introductory remarks by the Chairperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Opening address to the Scientific Board on behalf of the Director-General of UNESCO . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4. Welcome address by the President of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) . . . . . . . . 8
5. Address to the Scientific Board by the Treasurer and Secretary-General Elect of IUGS . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6. Address by the Director of the Division of Earth Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7. Scientific Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
8. Reports of IGCP National Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
9. Joint meeting with cooperating UNESCO programmes and organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
– Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
– International Hydrological Programme (IHP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
– Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
10. The World Conference on Science and follow-up activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
11. The International Geological Congress 2004 (IGC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
12. Topics for general discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
– The Volga-Caspian Basin Project Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
– International Landslide Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Regional centre on karst ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Regional meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
13. Closed sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Meetings of chairmen of the five scientific programmes of UNESCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Volga-Caspian project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Soliciting proposals, proposal submission, communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Prof Teller submitted a proposal “Building on our strengths” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
– Duration of the sessions of the IGCP Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
– Young Scientists Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
– Geoparks and the IGCP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
– Summary of IGCP National Committee Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
– Re-election of the IGCP Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
– IGCP and Deposit Modelling Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
– Any matters arising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
14. Dates of the next Scientific Board Meeting (2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
15. Report of the IGCP Secretary for 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Progress of IGCP projects in 2001 . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

New IGCP projects accepted and starting in 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
IGCP projects active in 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Members of the IGCP Scientific Board in 2002 . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
IGCP National Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
IGCP Contact Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
 Report of the thirtieth session of the IGCP Scientific Board

The IGCP Scientific Board assembled at UNESCO Headquarters, 1 rue Miollis, Paris, from 4 to 8 February 2002.

1. List of Participants

Scientific Board Members (*new Members):

Ian Dalziel, Chairperson (United States)
Max Deynoux (France)
Maurizio Gaetani (Italy)
Alexander Gliko (Russia)
Sylvi Haldorsen (Norway) *
Sospeter Muhungo (Tanzania)
Prabhas Pande (India) *
Victor Ramos (Argentina)
Nobutaka Shimada (Japan)
Jim Teller (Canada)
Susan Turner (Australia)
Marjorie Wilson (United Kingdom) *
Gerhard Wörner (Germany)
Zhenyu Yang (China)
Cari Zazo-Cardena (Spain) *

Scientific Board Member absent

Rasool Okhravi (Iran) *

Ex officio members:
Walter Erdelen ADG/SC, representing the Director-General of UNESCO
Eduardo de Mulder President of IUGS (The Netherlands)
Attilio Boriani Secretary-General of IUGS (Italy) – President 32nd IGC Committee

Observers:
S. A. Aghanabati Geological Survey of Iran
Song Ailing Institute of Karst Geology (China)
Genevieve Apaloo Permanent Delegation of Ghana to UNESCO
Philippe Bouysse Commission for the Geological Map of the World (France)
Jean-Paul Cadet Commission for the Geological Map of the World (France)
Yuan Daoxian Institute of Karst Geology, IGCP Project 448 (China)
Gabriele Castillo Permanent Delegation of Costa Rica to UNESCO
Chen You Fang Ministry of Land and Resources (China)
Edward Derbyshire Past IGCP Chairperson (United Kingdom)
Ariel W. Gonzalez Permanent Delegation of Argentina to UNESCO
Ren Jishun Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Noor Azmi Ibrahim Permanent Delegation of Malaysia to UNESCO
Pei Rongfu Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Alexander Plevako Permanent Delegation of Ukraine to UNESCO
Philippe Rossi Commission for the Geological Map of the World (Italy)
Reimar Seltmann IGCP Project 373, NAM, London (United Kingdom)
Mohammed S. Sheya Permanent Delegation of the United Republic of Tanzania to UNESCO
Akiko Shimada Fukuoka, Japan

5
Christophe Valia-Kollery Commission française pour l’UNESCO
Yao Yupeng National Natural Science Foundation of China
Zhao Xun Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences

IGCP National Committees:

Prof. Károly Brezsnyánszky IGCP National Committee of Hungary
Prof. William Cavazza IGCP National Committee of Italy
Prof. Léon Dejonghe IGCP National Committee of Belgium
Prof. Shuwen Dong IGCP National Committee of China
Prof. Abdolazim Haghipour IGCP National Committee of Iran
Prof. Werner Janoschek IGCP National Committee of Austria
Dr Peter Königshof IGCP National Committee of Germany
Prof. Kirsti Loukola-Ruskeeniemi IGCP National Committee of Finland
Prof. Marjorie Wilson IGCP National Committee of the United Kingdom
Prof. Simon Pirc IGCP National Committee of Slovenia
Prof. Denis Vaslet IGCP National Committee of France

Observers from UNESCO:

Salvatore Arico SC/ECO
Alice Aureli SC/HYD/HPC
Janos Bogardi SC/HYD/SWR
Howard Moore DIR/SC/EO

Members from UNESCO, Division of Earth Sciences:

Wolfgang Eder, Director, IGCP Secretary
Denise Armand
Yolanda Berenguer
Pilar Chiang-Joo
Sophie Laryea
Robert Missotten
Soren Malling
Hélène Papa
Margarete Patzak

6
2. Introductory remarks by the Chairperson
The IGCP Chairperson, Prof. Ian Dalziel, in opening the
meeting, emphasized the cooperative nature of the IGCP
as a joint venture of UNESCO and IUGS, and welcomed
the officers of the IUGS (President E. de Mulder, retiring
Secretary-General A. Boriani, and Treasurer and
Secretary-Elect W. Janoschek). He also extended a warm
welcome to four new Board Members present (Prof. S.
Haldorsen (Norway), Dr P. Pande (India), Prof. C. Zazo-
Cardeña (Spain) and Prof. M. Wilson (United Kingdom)
as well as to Dr R. Okhravi (Iran) who was unable to
attend. He also welcomed those present as members of
National IGCP Committees (Austria, Belgium, China,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Slovenia,
United Kingdom). The Chairperson recorded with deep
regret the deaths of Ms Sally Cochrane, who had served
the IGCP Secretariat for 12 years, and Professor Chris
Powell (Australia) former leader of IGCP Projects and
distinguished member of the Scientific Board. Finally,
he invited the Assistant Director-General for Natural
Sciences of UNESCO, Mr Walter Erdelen, as representa-
tive of the Director-General Mr Matsuura, to deliver his
opening address to the Board.
3. Opening address to the Scientific Board on
behalf of the Director-General of UNESCO
Mr Walter Erdelen, Assistant Director-General of the
Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO, welcomed the parti-
cipants on behalf of the Director-General, Mr Koïchiro
Matsuura, to the 30th anniversary of the Scientific Board
of the International Geological Correlation Programme.
He expressed his conviction that the coming days would
provide an opportunity to engage in constructive reflec-
tions and debates on key issues of the Earth Sciences and
Society, and assessment of the 40 projects of the IGCP.
He extended a special welcome to the representatives of
IUGS, IGCP’s cooperation partner. A special welcome
also went to the four new members present of the IGCP
Scientific Board, starting their four-year term, Prof.
Haldorsen (Norway), Dr Pande (India), Dr Zazo-Cardeña
(Spain), and Prof. Wilson (United Kingdom). He greatly
appreciated the considerably increased participation of
women in this scientific body, and was glad to welcome
three highly qualified female scientists among the new
members. During the coming days, all of them would
have the high responsibility of assessing the achieve-
ments and quality of ongoing IGCP projects and to eval-
uate new project proposals.
He further expressed a particular pleasure in welcoming
numerous representatives of IGCP National Committees
to an extent never seen in the history of IGCP Board
Meetings. Through their contribution he expected a posi-
tive and very enriching exchange of ideas and stimu-
lating discussion which would certainly give new
impetus to the Programme.
He recalled that IGCP was launched 30 years ago, as a
joint UNESCO-IUGS Programme in the geological
sciences, at the 24th International Geological Congress
(IGC) in Montreal, Canada, in 1972. Its primary aim
was to encourage and facilitate world-wide collabora-
tion between scientists working on the solid earth and
its resources. In fact, the roots of the IGCP go back
further. The IGCP was to have been proposed during the
23rd International Geological Congress in Prague which
was disturbed by the events on 20 August 1968 when
Soviet tanks invaded the city. After Prague, an inter-
national panel was set up to advance the proposal.
It was this panel that laid down the foundations and
structure of the IGCP as it is known today, with its
characteristic discrete projects and ‘seed’ financing.
The 30 years since the ‘official’ birth of the IGCP have
been marked by a number of changes – political,
economic and social. The Programme has responded to
these forces. Respecting as well as changing priorities
within UNESCO, IGCP has moved increasingly towards
emphasizing multidisciplinary initiatives and global
approaches to major environmental problems. In 1995
it adopted its new sub-title ‘Geoscience in the Service
of Society’, reflecting the above change.
But the latest most visible change is still to come: the
change of the IGCP name to the ‘International
Geoscience Programme’, which has been proposed by
the Board members at the 29th session one year ago, in
agreement with the IUGS. The Director-General of
UNESCO and himself have agreed to the proposal,
which is now prepared for final approval by the Executive
Board of UNESCO. ‘International Geoscience
Programme’ would reflect more precisely the IGCP
changing aims as had just been mentioned.
The challenges emanating from globalization and from
the new trends in many areas are becoming ever more
complex, often driven by scientific and technological
insights and breakthroughs, and they carry manifold
implications. Policies to address these challenges
increasingly demand scientific advice based on analysis,
understanding, sharing and anticipation. More than ever,
at the beginning of the twenty-first century, decision-
making and the formulation of scientific policies must
be fully informed as to their scientific underpinnings and
consequences, drawing on input from the natural
sciences.
He invited the IGCP to contribute to the principal priori-
ties of UNESCO’s programmes for the period 2002 to
2003 – Education for All, water and human security, the
ethics of science and technology, cultural diversity and
pluralism, the free flow of ideas and universal access to
information. The overarching crosscutting theme of
poverty eradication links the Organization’s actions to
the wider priorities of the United Nations system as well
as to the difficult realities facing many Member States.
The second crosscutting theme of information and
7
communication technologies will engage it with the
dynamics of creating a knowledge society.
The IGCP is in a unique position to contribute every
year through about 40 projects in a multidisciplinary
effort to the adaptation of countries towards knowledge
societies. The exchange taking place concerning scien-
tific findings and research, and encouraging the transfer
and sharing of this knowledge ensures equitable bene-
fits for all societies.
In consonance with UNESCO’s mission and the theme
for its present strategy, the quest for sustainable
development will remain a central guiding principle of
the Organization’s activities. Water resources and sup-
porting ecosystems will be of the highest priority for
UNESCO’s activities between 2002 and 2007, as the
timeliness and urgency of addressing freshwater issues
have become widely recognized as a key component of
human and environmental security. The IGCP should
consider directing activities towards this priority.
UNESCO has a standard-setting function. Civil society,
partnerships, policy dialogue and intercultural under-
standing have been words on everyone’s lips. In the after-
math of the terrorist attacks of 11 September the reaction
of the international community has demonstrated still
more strongly the role of the Organization as the
guardian of peace through the implementation of its
programmes. UNESCO, since its inception, has never
ceased to promote peace – often with considerable
success. And the Natural Science Programmes have
indeed greatly contributed to this. UNESCO does not
deal in politics, nor does it have arms. Its weapons are
education, culture, science and technology which bring
people together.
The Earth sciences need to further contribute to this
dialogue by an improved understanding of geological,
geochemical, mineralogical and geophysical parameters
so as to bolster sustainable development through
adequate monitoring. The modelling and forecasting of
the impact of environmental and climate change calls
for the introduction of new and more sophisticated tech-
nologies and related capacity-building as well as the
collection of pertinent data.
The IGCP contributes to enhancing knowledge on earth
sciences with a view to applying it to the management
of natural resources and to serving as a catalyst for inter-
national cooperation in support of sustainable develop-
ment and environmental monitoring. As such, it is a
contribution to the Rio+10 Conference, the World
Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), to be
held later this year in Johannesburg, Republic of South
Africa.
The IGCP provides the core of UNESCO’s earth science
contribution to environmental science and development.
In the 30 years since its inception, the IGCP has made
8
substantial contributions to our knowledge of the solid
earth – contributions that range from detailed under-
standing of how and why deserts expand and retreat, to
data bases for the whole globe documenting the type
and concentration of chemical elements of the Earth’s
surface that are essential for agriculture, industry and
human health. One of the latest activities focuses on the
impact of geology and the natural environment on human
and animal health. IGCP at present clearly clusters pro-
jects around the groups ‘climate change and desertifi-
cation’ and ‘structure, tectonics and drifting continents’,
reflecting the fact that the Scientific Board does not
commission projects, but holds fast to its tradition of
operating in response mode. The Assistant Director-
General for Natural Sciences strongly encouraged the
members at this meeting to further orient and re-shape
the Programme’s focus towards actual topics and prin-
cipal priorities to our society, and UNESCO’s priority
areas.
Finally, he wished every success in the meeting and brain
storming, which might open important new avenues for
the future. And, in conclusion, he left them with the
words of Albert Camus, the French novelist and play-
wright: ‘Every achievement is a servitude. It drives us
to a higher achievement.’
4. Welcome address by the President
of the International Union
of Geological Sciences (IUGS)
Prof. Ed de Mulder, President of the International Union
of Geological Sciences (IUGS), expressed his pleasure
in having the possibility to attend the IGCP Scientific
Board Meeting in this year of celebration of IGCP’s
30th anniversary. This is an unprecedented milestone,
not only in the geosciences but in the history of inter-
national sciences in general. Its present age is
approaching geological dimensions already but, never-
theless, IGCP is still vital and, what is even more impor-
tant, IGCP has good prospects for the future.
He further questioned the manner in which, as IUGS,
to anticipate IGCP’s future. He emphasized that it could
be seen detached from the future of the geosciences in
general. After a quarter of a century of recession
several indicators are getting green colours now which
demonstrate that a more promising era for the
geosciences is on its way. For example, after a steady
decline in the 1980s and the early 1990s a stabiliza-
tion and even a modest increase of the number of
incoming students in the geosciences in several coun-
tries during the last few years was noticed. After a long
period of stagnation, universities now start to employ
younger colleagues.
Budgets for both applied and fundamental geoscientific
research have experienced reductions to a level of only
1% of the total global R&D budgets in the world.
However, promising indications of increasing budgets
are to be observed: for example, the 400 million-dollar
project Earth Scope in the United States and signifi-
cantly larger budgets for fundamental research on the
subsurface processes in the Netherlands.
He went to regret that, as to job opportunities, dramatic
cuts in geoscientific staff positions in oil and mining
companies during the past decade had taken place. Many
of the geo-research departments in the industry were
closed down. Simultaneously, however, such companies
still need the results of geoscientific research and have
sourced this out. Many new but smaller research groups
have sprung up and a significant number of these are
doing quite well.
Against this current and rather promising background
of the development and performance of the geosciences,
IUGS thinks that IGCP has good perspectives for the
future. But Prof. De Mulder then proposed to first look
back and see how IGCP has performed over the past
decades.
• How international is the International Geoscience
Programme?
• How many scientists are involved in IGCP?
• How many international meetings were held and in
which regions?
Since geoscientists are used to work with samples he
had sampled one typical year in the 30 years history of
IGCP. This is 1996. In that year some 40 projects were
running in 146 countries. If the period 1988-1993 had
been taken 100 such projects active in 155 countries
would have been counted. On average in each project
scientists of some 30 countries are involved. In any of
these 146 countries on average over 8 projects have been
active in 1996.
However, the spread of the projects is not well balanced
over the regions, nor is its leadership. It is to be noticed
that many more projects are active in European and
particularly in the North American countries, than in for
example Africa and the Arabic countries. The same
picture is seen as it comes to leadership. A somewhat
better balance is to be noticed for the global spread of
hosted international meetings. But still, he doubted if
there is any other scientific Programme that could
compete with these numbers. IGCP manages to get
every year over 20,000 scientists all over the world
involved in a real grass-roots programme. In his opinion
these numbers very well show that IGCP is one of the
most successful, most international and, with an invest-
ment of only 15 Euro per scientist, also one of the
cheapest programmes in science development that have
ever existed.
As to potential future directions for IGCP he referred
to the research agendas of the United Nations which are
steered now by the drive for Sustainable Development.
Many Sustainable Development issues are firmly rooted
in the geosciences, such as food, shelter, safety and
water. Many of such issues are already addressed well
in the current International Geoscience Programme,
directly or indirectly. IUGS would very much like to see
IGCP more strongly connected to the International
Hydrological Programme (IHP), run by UNESCO. He
stressed that IUGS thought that this IHP Programme
provides excellent opportunities to both UNESCO and
IUGS to extend their cooperation through IGCP. He
invited the members of the Board to explore these oppor-
tunities and build on a proven solid foundation of
30 years of collective professional experience concen-
trated in IGCP. In conclusion, Prof. de Mulder congrat-
ulated IGCP, its leadership and its researchers, in the
name of IUGS.
5. Address to the Scientific Board by the Treasurer
and Secretary-General Elect of IUGS
Dr Werner Janoschek expressed his great pleasure and
honour to address a few words of welcome to the parti-
cipants and introduced himself. For a year and a half he
had had the great pleasure to be Treasurer of the
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and
for a couple of days he had been Secretary-General-
Elect of the Union. The reason for this was that Professor
Boriani had resigned, because he had been nominated
President of the 32nd International Geological Congress
2004 in Florence. Dr Janoschek conveyed the regrets of
Prof. Boriani not to be able to participate in the opening
of the meeting, but he would be joining it later.
Dr Janoschek went on to inform the members of the
Board on behalf of the Treasurer and the Secretary-
General that the IGCP was in very good condition,
though the terrible events of 11 September had brought
about indeed much stress into most of the IGCP pro-
jects. He therefore felt happy that together with their
major partners at UNESCO and in the United States
they could find a suitable solution to postpone the dead-
lines for reports and financial statements for some of
the running projects.
He also stressed that through an excellent cooperation
between the Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO and
the internal IUGS bodies such as the Secretary-General,
the Permanent Secretariat in Trondheim in Norway and
the Treasurer the administration of the IGCP projects
could be considered as really good. It was also invalu-
able to acknowledge the cooperation with the United
States National Academy of Sciences and the
International Science Council (ICSU).
The procedure which keeps the IGCP projects running
sounds more complicated than it is in reality: If the
project proposals are adopted by the Scientific Board,
the contracts are prepared by UNESCO. After signature
by the project leader the Treasurer of IUGS is informed
9
to start the financial transactions. He has to collect the
funding from UNESCO, from the United States Academy
of Sciences through ICSU and from IUGS itself. As
IUGS is a rather small and non-bureaucratic entity it
happens frequently that funds to project leaders are
transferred before the money from the partners has been
credited onto IUGS accounts. That procedure is partly
based on written agreements and signed contracts, but
partly also on a gentleman agreement basis which is
followed by signed contracts. So far things have run
smoothly. Then the scientific reports and the financial
statements are collected jointly at UNESCO and IUGS,
checked and forwarded for review to the Scientific
Board. Summarized reports and financial statements are
prepared and forwarded to UNESCO, the IUGS Bureau
and Executive Committee, to ICSU and to the United
States Academy of Science in order to obtain the finan-
cial support for the following year.
The IGCP is an old programme compared to other scien-
tific programmes, but it is one of the most efficient: Very
few administrative procedures, immediate and perma-
nent review of an excellent experts group and with a
tremendous effect of multiplying the funds which are
distributed by IUGS and UNESCO. The renovation of
the IGCP which started a few years ago is on a very
good track; the inclusion of an increasing number of
projects summarized under the slogan ‘In the Service of
Society’ shows clearly the intention.
Before coming to an end, Dr Janoschek remarked that
the IGCP, this excellent and biggest geoscientific
programme, is practically unknown to the public. It is
funded by public money. The public has to be informed
about the programme in a language it can understand.
The scientific level of IGCP must be kept or be increased
permanently, but scientists should speak simultaneously
to decision-makers, to the fund-raisers and collectors, to
the politicians and to the public in general.
He hoped that IGCP will continue as the most successful
geoscientific programme for many years and that the
high level of cooperation and mutual understanding
between UNESCO and IUGS could be kept or even
enhanced for the future.
6. Address by the Director
of the Division of Earth Sciences
Mr Wolfgang Eder, Director of the Division of Earth
Sciences, addressed the floor in terms of the greatest
pleasure in welcoming all the participants, in his double
capacity as Director of UNESCO’s Division of Earth
Sciences and as the Secretary of IGCP. He expressed a
special welcome to the five new elected members of the
IGCP Board (Dr Rasool Okhravi, Iran – absent; Prof.
Sylvi Haldorsen, Norway; Prof. Cari Zazo-Cardena,
Spain; Dr Prabhas Pande, India; Prof. Marjorie Wilson,
United Kingdom).
10
He further echoed the words that had been expressed
since the beginning of the session. Natural Sciences,
including Earth Sciences, are set to play a prominent
role in global efforts to maintain the earth surface as a
place where it is worth living on, to reduce human
suffering or to limit damage to the natural and built
environment. He wished to recall (what Mr Erdelen had
already pointed out) that the course humanity takes in
the years to come will largely depend upon whether
crucial goals in sound management of the environment
and sustainable development are reached.
Through its Earth Sciences programme, including the
IGCP, UNESCO aims at increasing the knowledge on
our ‘Restless Earth’. Themes like:
– Understanding the changes taking place on the
(Changing) Planet Earth
– Earth and space science in the service of society
– Risk reduction of geological disasters
– Protection and promotion of the Earth’s heritage
are needed for effective environmental policy-making
and the promotion of sustainable development.
Mr Eder stressed the point that ten years after the
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro,
the World Summit on Sustainable Development of
Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2002, would try
to renew the global political commitment on sustain-
able development.
As confirmed in 1999 at the World Conference on
Science in Budapest, a world-wide effort to increase
investment in scientific research and to build up the
scientific capacity of developing countries is also needed.
This is well reflected within the IGCP strategy. He
further commented that special attention should be given
also to activities devoted to ‘Science Education’ and
‘Popularization of Sciences’.
He then expounded that discussions during the coming
days would underline the ways in which partnership of
IGCP with other UNESCO intergovernmental or inter-
national scientific programmes on water (IHP), oceans
(IOC), biodiversity and ecosystems (MAB), coastal
zones (CSI) and urbanization problems (MOST) have
been or could be developed. Priority problems connected
with issues like urban geology, geo-environment and
health, pollution of groundwater, water and land-
management in mining areas, karst-ecosystems, floods
and landslides will be explained during the coming days
in several projects.
As director of the Division of Earth Sciences, he went
on to explain that he had participated for the tenth time
in an IGCP Board Meeting and was curiously looking
forward to another exiting event.
7. Scientific Symposium
– The IGCP: retrospect and prospect by Professor
Edward Derbyshire (past IGCP Chairperson, United
Kingdom)
– Geology and Geohydrology of Karst and its
Relevance to Society by Yuan Daoxian, (Institute of
Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin, China)
– Ore-bearing Granites of Eurasia: a Network
Experience by R. Seltmann (United Kingdom)
– IGCP and Global Geoscience by I. Dalziel (United
States of America, Chairman, IGCP Scientific Board)
8. Reports of IGCP National Committees
Representatives from ten IGCP National Committees
gave brief summaries of their activities in 2001 sent to
the IGCP Secretariat. Prof. Pirc (Slovenia) reported on
cooperation with HELP Programme, where also geolo-
gists are participating. Prof. Dejonghe (Belgium) said
that IGCP activities in Belgium are continuing as in the
past and that geoscience projects from Universities get
easier access to governmental funding with the IGCP
label. Prof. Brezsnyánszky (Hungary) highlighted good
relations to the UNESCO National Commission. His
government is financially supporting quaternary research
and environmental geology. Prof. Haghipour (Iran)
requested new programmes on geology related to human
needs. Further, he announced the printing of the
Seismotectonic Map of the World showing three thous-
and years of seismotectonic history. He proposed a
workshop at the 32nd IGC for earthquake predic-
tion/mitigation. Prof. Cavazza (Italy) reported on the
recently established website – soon be linked to the
IGCP site – and informed that the National IGCP and
IUGS Committee was directed by the same persons but
does not receive funding from the Italian government.
Prof. Loukola-Ruskeeniemi (Finland) reported advan-
tages of obtaining funding for Universities if research
projects are endorsed under the IGCP. Dr Königshof
(Germany) confirmed that the IGCP has a high reputa-
tion in Germany, which makes the obtaining of govern-
mental funds easier. He informed about intense
discussion going on in Germany on geosites/geoparks
topics and that 6 October 2002 is declared a “Day of
Geosites” in the framework of the Year of Geosciences.
Prof. Vaslet (France) stated that the French IGCP
Committee was astonished that IGCP was absent in
UNESCO priorities. Prof. Dong Shuwen (China)
presented the Chinese annual report to the IGCP Board.
Prof. Janoschek (Austria) said that his government pays
special attention to IGCP and Geopark activities.
9. Joint meeting with cooperating UNESCO
programmes and organizations
(IOC, MOST and ICSU, not represented)
Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)
Salvatore Arico
Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal
ecosystems under a particular management regime (and
set of approaches) known as the ‘biosphere reserve
model.’ They are internationally recognized within the
framework of the UNESCO’s intergovernmental
programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB), and
remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the States where
they are located. Biosphere reserves are united globally
into the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and as
of January 2002 there are 411 sites established in
94 countries. Ideally, fully functioning biosphere
reserves perform three main roles:
- conservation in situ of natural and semi-natural
ecosystems and landscapes, as well as the diversity
therein
- establishment of demonstration areas for ecologically
and socio-culturally sustainable (land and) resource
use, and
- provision of logistic support for research, moni-
toring, education, training and information exchange
related to conservation and sustainable development
issues.
Research activities in biosphere reserves are often part
of a specific assessment process. In this context, the
assessment defines the use of data and the effect of
potential threats or impacts in order to propose policy
solutions.
Monitoring activities carried out within biosphere
reserves represent integrated monitoring for multiple
objectives. They deal with and elucidates aspects of
sustainable development, focuses on the understanding
of cause and effect (in this context, it includes human-
environment interactions, behavioural responses, atti-
tudes, public perceptions, etc.), uses more specific
variables, gives priority to use of readily available data,
is flexible and adaptive. involves, involves scientists,
policy-makers and the public in the development of an
integrated monitoring scheme and has multiple applica-
tions and long-term relevance. Part of the data collected
and assessed through long-term monitoring programmes
is ‘communicated’ and shared with the policy-making
community and different stakeholders in order to serve
as a basis for policy advice.
The representative of MAB went on to expound their
belief in cooperation between MAB and IGCP in order
to seek addressing both levels, i.e. research on
and monitoring of issues that are at the interface
or that involve both the living and the non-living. In
this regard, they are very pleased to see that environ-
mental activities are being strengthened in the IGCP
context.
He finally briefly referred to a very promising cooper-
ative effort that involves MAB and another of
UNESCO’s intergovernmental programmes: the
11
International Hydrological Programme. The two
programmes are collaborating successfully in the imple-
mentation of a series of activities under a joint bud-
getary line of action. They believe that this kind of
arrangement should be made with IGCP as well. He
concluded by saying that the sixteenth session of MAB’s
International Coordinating Council will be held in March
this year, which will provide a perfect occasion to bring
to the Council’s attention any recommendation the IGCP
Scientific Board might produce in relation to coopera-
tion between IGCP and MAB.
International Hydrological Programme (IHP)
A report was presented by Mr J. Bogardi and
Mrs A. Aureli. Mr Bogardi reminded the Board that IHP
operated on a 6-year plan basis, as a general rule, and
that the following five themes are currently being pursued:
– Water research assessment in the light of Global
Change,
– Catchments and aquifer dynamics (an area in which
IHP and IGCP interaction is particularly appro-
priate),
– Land habitat hydrology, involving earth, water and
plant relationships (linked to MAB but with clear
relevance to IGCP),
– Water and Society, paying close attention to the use
and value of water and also human security (geo-
logically based risks also being present here),
– Water, education and training.
In addition, two cross-cutting theme projects are in
hand.
1. Flow regimes for international network data.
2. Hydrology for Environment, Life and Policy (HELP),
a new venture.
Mrs Aureli (in charge of the groundwater aspects of IHP)
presented certain highlights of the Programme, and
expressed the view that dialogue with IGCP colleagues
should be an every day event. In addition to the main
groundwater work, several new developments were
noted, including:
– The establishment of an international groundwater
research Data Centre (in collaboration with the
Government of The Netherlands).
– A joint venture with the Atomic Agency on isotope
applications in hydrology.
– Aquifer recharge management, especially in karst
terrains, including the question of shared aquifer
resources. This is a topic with good potential for
IHP-IGCP cooperation. An inventory needs to be set
up and IGCP help is invited. Groundwater is clearly
a growth issue in IHP.
In the ensuing discussion, the National Representative
of Iran drew attention to the question of water quality
(as distinct from water quantity). Prof. Haldorsen drew
the attention of the Board to the importance of the link
between global change and palaeohydrology, raising
many possible areas for cooperation with IHP.
12
Commission for the Geological Map
of the World (CGMW)
The CGMW was presented by Dr Rossi. He reported
that the Commission envisages to speed up the produc-
tion of thematic maps, and improve its visibility and
increase sales through different CGMW products and by
a new marketing policy. Cooperation shall be strength-
ened with UNESCO (Earth and Water Sciences IUGS,
IGC). The CGMW plans to further improve relations
with countries (only 42 are currently CGMW member)
and, with the help of a new specific products, open up
new target groups and audience, like school teachers.
Dr Rossi stated that the CGMW wants to orients its
activities towards ocean mapping (Atlantic Ocean,
Caribbean) and to produce geophysical and energy maps.
The following maps are to be finalized by its mapping
programme in the near future:
2002 Structural Map of the Indian Ocean
(1 : 10 000 000)
2003 Hydrogeological Map of the World
(1 : 25 000 000)
2004 Metamorphic and Structural Map of the Alps
(1 : 1 000 000)
2004 Geodynamic Map of the Mediterranean
(1 : 5 000 000)
2004 International Tectonic Map of Africa
(1 : 5 000 000)
2004 International Tectonic Map of Asia
(1 : 5 000 000)
2004 International Geological Map of Europe
(1: 5 000 000)
2004 Superlarge Mineral Deposits Map of the World
(1 : 25 000 000)
10. The World Conference on Science
and follow-up activities
Mr Howard Moore stressed the message of the World
Conference on Science (1999) involving a commitment
for and by Science. He mentioned two particularly
important documents, namely the Declaration and the
“Science Agenda, a Framework for Action”. UNESCO
expected to lead the follow-up activities by
1. Modifying its own science policies, and
2. Acting as a ‘clearing house’ (with ICSU) for
information from nations on how they have positively
amended their science priorities and modes of
operation.
An analytical report will emerge during mid 2002 in the
form of a conference retrospect and a consideration of
future actions. The principal recommendations are:
Recognition of the greater need for interdisciplinarity,
and the universal need for capacity building. Most
nations are seeking better qualified and educated people
and this embraces the need for much wider science
popularization. It also implies improved equitable access
to scientific research and data.
UNESCO is very active in the ethics of science and
technology, paying particular attention to women and
young people in science, and science decision-making.
The integration of indigenous knowledge is taken into
account as well as the question of partnerships with
NGOs, etc.
Mr Moore noted that IGCP had already modified its
programme in cognizance of the World Conference on
Science. He stated that IGCP had generated some appro-
priate interdisciplinary projects, including landslide
amelioration and medical geology, for example.
Mr Moore went on to express the view that the Volga-
Caspian Basin Project proposal is in line with these
changes in UNESCO policy and is commended to the
Board for discussion. In conclusion, he expressed consid-
erable satisfaction with the work IGCP has undertaken
in recent years.
In the following discussion, the question was asked
about follow-up information on the World Conference
on Science, and how high a priority had been accorded
to the ethics of Science by UNESCO. Mr Moore replied
that regional responses are expected following publica-
tion of the follow-up report (mid-2002). In response to
the second point, he stated that the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights had been a UNESCO initiative and
that UNESCO has continued to advance awareness in
this area as in its World Commission on the Ethics of
Science and Technology (COMEST), which had already
produced very well received reports on Water, Outer
Space, and the Information Society. It continues to
explore ethics in other topics.
11. The International Geological Congress
2004 (IGC)
Prof. Attilio Boriani, as IGC President, outlined the
latest information on the Congress to be held in Firenze,
Italy, 20-28 August 2004. He noted the following
programme details. Sessions will run from 0840-1200
hours, with no formal coffee break. Oral papers will
be limited to 20 minutes. Plenary Lectures will be
delivered daily at 1200-1230 hours, followed by lunch
1230-1400 hours. The afternoon sessions will run, also
without any formal coffee break, 1400-1620 hours.
This will be followed by time allocated to the Poster
Sessions. (The question of free beer or free Chianti
during these latter session was deferred to allow for
further consultation.)
The FIRST CIRCULAR is scheduled for release (by
both post and website) during late March/early April
2002. It will contain a questionnaire (deadline for
responses October 2002). Production of the Second
Circular will then proceed. Abstracts will be submitted
by both postal and website methods, the deadline being
October 2003. Acceptance of abstracts will be notified
by January 2004. The intention is to place the Third
Circular on the website in May 2004. More than
100 field excursions will be offered in the First Circular,
30% of which will take place outside of Italy. The
Congress venue will be in the 16th Century fortress in
the heart of Firenze, which is close to the railway
station. GeoExpo will be open throughout the Congress.
Symposia will fall into one of three categories, namely
Special (all speakers being by invitation), Topical
(involving both invited and contributing speakers), and
Open (involving contributing speakers only). Attention
was drawn to the paucity of symposium proposals from
China, Japan and South America, and these nations
were urged to respond.
Prof. W. Cavazza, IGC Secretary-General, stressed that
the GeoMediterranean Consortium should be regarded
as very important for the Congress, and not just for Italy.
Some 30 countries are involved. Each nominates a repre-
sentative and these scientists act as conduit for proposals
for field excursions, etc., for consideration by the IGC.
On the matter of the Registration Fee, it was stated that
it would be no higher than prevailed at the Rio 2000
IGC, and it would effectively be lower because lunches
would be included in the Fee.
12. Topics for general discussion
The Volga-Caspian Basin Project Proposal
Mr Bogardi briefly outlined the nature of this proposal.
He informed the Board that a special meeting of inter-
ested parties, including some high-level Russian
Government officials, is to take place in Paris in the
week beginning 11 February 2002. The meeting will
require both clear and hard-headed negotiation. In
response to Prof. Gaetani’s question about the difficul-
ties likely to emerge in dealing with the number of
countries bordering the Caspian Sea, Mr Bogardi
emphasized the initial need to stress the priority of the
Volga (with its water and pollution inputs into the
Caspian). This will make it possible to launch the
project with operations in just one country although, as
a non-geologist, he did not feel able to say where the
optimal geological input should be placed. He stated
that MAB, IHP and IOC are to input some funding as
well as expertise.
There was some discussion regarding the level of any
IGCP funds that might be offered to the project, with
some suggestion of the equivalent of one normal IGCP
project, although no decision was taken at this stage.
Attention was drawn to the fact that sea level changes
had been rapid in the Caspian over the past decade (rise
estimated as high as ca. 5m), with clear implications
for pollution and water management. Dr Wörner,
accepting that this proposal was certainly a great vision,
stated that the only way IGCP could input into this
programme would be to consider suitable projects in
the normal way, i.e. as project proposals which would
have to be evaluated and suitable finance awarded (low,
13
medium, high) following normal procedures. It was
further asked if some proposals for evaluation and some
existing projects might be formally linked to the Volga-
Caspian project. Certain existing IGCP projects might
be encouraged to establish a formal link.
The IGCP Secretary mentioned that the Division of
Earth Sciences felt the obligation to contribute to the
project, but that a contribution within the framework of
IGCP (i.e. IUGS and UNESCO) would respond more
appropriate to the recommendations of the Steering
Committee of the five scientific programmes of
UNESCO. It was noted that he would present the case
at the IUGS Executive meeting in New Zealand,
25 February 2002.
This item was again put on the agenda during the closed
session on 6 February.
International Landslide Initiative
Mr Eder addressed the Board on the collaborative
International Landslide initiative. This is a project
without financial cost to IGCP, although it is an initia-
tive with roots in IGCP 425. Ten days ago in Kyoto,
Japan, a meeting had been held involving UNESCO,
WMO, International Strategy for Natural Disaster
Reduction (ISDR) and other bodies. The International
Landslide Forum will integrate Science and Technology,
Education and training aims, and protect cultural and
natural features of high social value. It will coordinate
international expertise and activity in landslide studies.
The Scientific Board was asked to support this global,
multidisciplinary initiative, as the Earth Science
Division would like to promote this development in the
UNESCO Executive Board as a transdisciplinary initia-
tive. In answer to the Chairperson’s question concerning
any discussions in this group on the question of limi-
tations to the lengths one should go to protect property,
Mr Eder replied that the cost – benefit approach is
currently under discussion. The main aim is to coordi-
nate as much activity as possible in the future as the
present situation is one of low level coordination in this
field of research. The Scientific Board expressed general
interest in this initiative which is already included in
UNESCO’s 31 C/5.
Regional centre on karst ecology
Mr Eder also spoke about the proposal to establish an
international research centre on karst ecology in China.
This has obvious potential for integration of scientific
inputs. This idea is still under discussion but he asked
the Scientific Board to give general support to this
proposal. This was agreed.
Regional Meetings
Regional meeting in Montevideo, November 2001.
Dr Ramos explained that this meeting was held within
the framework of the Latin-American Geological
Congress which is a three yearly event. It had been a
notable success. It was noted that many people attended
14
this regional meeting. It appears that regional meetings
are needed in South America and that they appear to
be economically feasible. Evidently the IGCP might
play a key role in such meetings. The first section
involved invited former leaders sharing their experi-
ences. The second section was concerned with the ques-
tion of means of motivating good people to become
involved in IGCP. Several stimulating items were
discussed:
1. Palaeoseismic work in relation to Andean uplift. This
has led a group to set up a new IGCP project
proposal.
2. Economic evaluation of geological risk (led by a
Colombian expert) Losses due to the Val de Ruiz
landslide etc. had proved greater than those incurred
as a result of the guerrilla war.
3. Global change. This has also stimulated a new
proposal. The new directions within IGCP had been
very clearly evident to the young scientists attending
the meeting.
The third section dealt with Geoparks. Dr Ramos
reported that a park in Patagonia could duplicate its
number of visitors by including geological features into
its programme.
European Regional meeting scheduled for the United
Kingdom September 2002. Prof. Derbyshire reminded the
Board that a proposal, developed by Prof. C. Wilson
(Open University, United Kingdom), Mr Eder and
himself, had been approved at the Board meeting in
February 2001. Prof. Wilson had kindly volunteered to
organize the event, and Mr Eder had offered an Earth
Sciences Division contribution of US$15,000 towards
running costs. This was intended to be on a “dollar to
dollar” basis, with United Kingdom (host country)
national funding making up the deficit. Unfortunately,
and despite the fact that early action had been taken in
requesting this support by way of the Science Committee
of United Kingdom – UNESCO (the responsible body
attached to the UK Department for International
Development), no funding had been awarded by January
2002 at which time it was decided that too little time
remained to mount the programme successfully in
September 2002. This is disappointing and somewhat
embarrassing for the UK initiators. Representatives of
the UK geological community remain willing to invite
their continental European IGCP colleagues to meet in
the United Kingdom but, realistically, this cannot now
be before some date in 2003. Prof. Derbyshire agreed to
continue his efforts to raise the necessary UK funds and
to keep in touch on this issue with the Scientific Board.
Geological Society of America, IGCP regional meeting.
The Chairperson reported briefly on a regional meeting
of IGCP held during the Geological Society of America
annual meeting in Boston, November 2001. This had
been very successful. The GSA meeting had been
attended by between 6000 and 8000 geoscientists, thus
providing good visibility for IGCP.
13. Closed sessions
The Board touched a number of important items
regarding its mode of work and returned to several
open questions to be discussed during its closed
session on 6 and 7 February of which the main points
are reported below.
Meetings of chairmen of the five scientific
programmes of UNESCO
Prof. Derbyshire represented the IGCP at the meetings
of the chairpersons of the Five Science Programmes of
UNESCO:
- 1999 the first of the five chairpersons took place,
lack of horizontal structures and no lateral discus-
sions was recognized before the document emanated
from the meeting
- 2001-2002 meetings, with document of recommen-
dations issue. The Steering Committee which was
formed comments on matters of policy within
UNESCO and has advisory status with direct access
to the Director-General of UNESCO.
The Steering Committee expressed its concern that the
new workplan of UNESCO contained only two cross-
cutting themes (Poverty eradication and Information
communication) and was lacking sustainable develop-
ment as an overarching strategy. Among others, the
Volga-Caspian project was the type of effort to support.
In this respect, the ADG/SC, Mr Erdelen, was asked to
have the Steering Committee of the Five Chairpersons
to act in an advisory capacity for the Volga-Caspian
project proposal and other projects.
Volga-Caspian project
Possible ways of contributions of IGCP to the Volga-
Caspian project (see also item 11) were discussed. The
Board recognized that IGCP could be helpful in
providing its advisory capacity because it is relatively
small, flexible and diverse, with expertise in many areas
of geoscience. IGCP could be a focal factor of ideas.
The IGCP considers its practical cooperation and how
geosciences may be involved and potentially contribute
some funds. Prof. Derbyshire and Prof. Haldorsen noted
that there have been and now are topics and experts who
could provide expertise/projects related to the Caspian-
Volga project.
It was questioned how cooperation could work practi-
cally, regarding the usual way of functioning of the
IGCP proposals. Difficulties were expressed to see how
IGCP could contribute to such a regional project, taking
into account that IGCP is international. It was discussed
that potential project cooperation could begin with a
gear, but might run for decades, an IGCP financial
contribution would only come after the Board has
contemplated the geoscience concern of any proposal.
Input from the Russian government was reported
35 million US$ but not confirmed. The involvement of
IGCP in the Volga-Caspian project was considered to
be a good vehicle to raise the interdisciplinary banner
and could be of real interest of IGCP. The IGCP name
could have a catalytic role, and have a ‘seed money
effect’. The majority of Board members agreed that
IGCP has to be involved. There could be a international
input into a regional basin. The Board could consider
to use its contacts around the world to come up with
an IGCP proposal for the next Board meeting.
Geoscience proposals for the Volga-Caspian project
should be more professional, e.g. include topics on
provenience, sediment mass balances, climatic change,
and groundwater, done by the means of IGCP, the
project has to meet the standard.
The question was raised about nature and extent of
an IGCP financial contribution. The Board should
expect that it can help fashion the outcome of the
Volga-Caspian project if IGCP provides a contribution.
The IGCP Secretary preferred to have the Volga-
Caspian project under the IGCP instead of running it
under the Division of Earth Sciences only, and proposed
a possible contribution of about US$10,000, feeling at
the same time, that this sum could then go toward the
support of IGCP projects. In response to this proposal
the Board insisted that if money would be put into the
programme, it should go through the IGCP Board
to assess its scientific validity. The cooperation should
be undertaken by the means of the IGCP and that
any project would have to meet IGCP standards. The
Board felt that it should be used for IGCP science,
with IGCP input into the Geoscience aspect of the
Volga-Caspian.
The IUGS representative noted that their contribution
has been for the support of projects and questioned how
IGCP could make a significant (financial) contribution
given the vast scale of the Volga-Caspian project. It was
discussed that it could be run within existing IGCP
projects, with interested actual leaders.
Further steps and coordination of activities seemed be
put under the responsibility of the Chairperson. The
IGCP Secretary stressed again that IGCP has to be
involved, may be not in the traditional form and func-
tion. E.g. consultancy input. IGCP normal project would
be probably of less effect.
Soliciting proposals, proposal submission,
communication
The point was raised again concerning the discussion
on UNESCO’s priority themes which took place earlier.
Several Board members agreed that IGCP should have
targeted proposals in areas of special importance,
encourage the submitting of proposals, also through the
help of active IGCP National Committees and UNESCO
regional offices. It was also requested that International
Geoscience Societies, Geological Surveys and IUGS
should be solicited for ideas, and perhaps industry.
Geological Societies, via IUGS, would be a good source
for advice on target areas.
15
The need was recognized that IGCP has to encourage
the submission of proposals from countries which are
not active, especially developing countries such as in
Africa to participate in any target areas.
The Board stated that there is a big potential to enhance
communication with project leaders, especially with
respect to improve the scientific quality of incoming
project proposal (e.g. include other qualified scientists,
bridge to other initiatives). The establishment of an
earlier deadline for the submission of proposals was also
discussed. It was suggested to include into the guide-
lines the information that quality assistance can be given
on request, prior to the official submission of a proposal.
The IGCP Chairman suggested, in order to improve
quality of individual projects, also during their lifetime
of five years, that members of the Board might serve as
“watchdogs” for projects. This idea was immediately
welcomed and several members spontaneously presented
themselves as watchdogs during the assessment of the
projects.
In order to save costs, speed up and simplify the distri-
bution of 40 annual reports and 12 project proposals to
the 16 Board Members and IUGS, the Board agreed
unanimously to the planned establishment of a website
forum hosted at the IGCP website, with access reserved
only for Board members. The proposals and reports
could then be downloaded electronically as soon as they
would arrive at the IGCP Secretariat.
Prof. Teller submitted a proposal
“Building on our strengths”
“For 30 years, IGCP has been active, prominent,
successful, and respected. It is important to retain the
basic foundation on which IGCP was built, including
INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION.
To this effect we should continue to encourage our
colleagues in the international community to submit
proposals on the geological topic of their choice,
supporting those that best address IGCP principles.
Because times and attitudes change, however, we must
be responsive to the needs of science and society, espe-
cially those identified by UNESCO. We must be
perceived as relevant and known to be working in
important areas of geoscience. In order to assure that
we maintain our vitality, visibility, and impact, I propose
that we add a new component to our existing funding
format, one that allows IGCP to help guide its own
course. Specifically, I propose that we periodically iden-
tify ‘target’ areas of importance. Subsequently, we
should identify specific individuals or groups of indi-
viduals who can lead and participate in the target
project, and then encourage them to formulate a
proposal in harmony with our target objectives. In order
to identify target areas, and also after target areas are
identified, the input and advice from IGCP National
Committees, the Advisory Board, and others should be
sought. Submitted proposals could be reviewed by the
16
Advisory Board and/or others. As part of this target
strategy, IGCP should consider the collaborative and
linkage potential of these projects with existing groups
outside of IGCP. Emphasis on the geoscience interface
with society, especially in developing countries, should
be fostered in this new guided-proposal initiative.
Proposals in target areas where research funding is
already in place, where ‘new’ programme monies may
soon become available, or where ‘matching’ monies
may be available, especially in developing countries,
could be encouraged. Additional money to support this
new IGCP target programme should be sought, in order
to minimize the impact on our existing established
programme of funding.”
Duration of the sessions of the IGCP Board
The question came up if the length of time for the
Scientific Board meeting could be reduced from 4 to
3 days. The Chairperson suggested this could be
achieved in working more efficiently, perhaps reducing
some aspects, electronic reviews in advance may help.
Reducing time to 3.5 days could for example permit
Board members in Europe to return home on 4th day,
while others will receive per diem for 4 days plus travel.
Another proposal was whether the IGCP business could
be done in 3 or 4 days, with an additional half day for
additional matters.
Day 1 Day for basic information
Day 2-3 IGCP work
Day 4-5 Optional business, e.g. Geoparks
After a lengthy discussion, the Board wished to state
the intention to conduct its core business within 4 days
(former five days), which already represents a shortening
of the length of the time of the Board. An additional
day might be devoted to optional activities of UNESCO
and IUGS.
It was approved by the Board to invite leaders of excel-
lent IGCP projects to report on their achievements
during the first day.
Young Scientists Programme
The idea to initiate a Young Scientists Project Award
was born at the 29th session of the IGCP Board in
2001 (see Geological Correlation No. 29, 2001, on
pp. 17-18). Concern was expressed that better definition
and rules are needed before launching such an award,
like for example, definition of what is the purpose of
this award, it must be also certain that proposals really
originate from young scientists. On the other hand, it
may be difficult for young scientists to comply with
IGCP proposal regulations – that probably demands too
broad an undertaking, students may be too busy on
research to coordinate meetings and travel.
On request of the Board, Dr Wörner and Profs. Haldorsen
and Muhongo were asked to draft some rules for the
award, named “Young Scientist Project”.
 Proposed guidelines
for the Young Scientist Project
within the framework
of the IGCP-programme
by S. Haldorsen, S. Muhongo, G. Wörner
The IGCP Young Scientist Project aims to foster inter-
national cooperation between prospective young scien-
tists from developing and developed countries early in
their careers. It is expected that this will recruit and train
young scientists to establish future international coop-
erative projects within and even beyond the framework
of IGCP.
Proposals will be received by individuals and evaluated
by the IGCP Scientific Board. Guidelines will be made
public by the IGCP Secretariat using appropriate means
of publication (IGCP webs site, “Geological
Correlation”). Proposals should be submitted by the
IGCP end-of-year deadline.
Proposals and projects should follow these guidelines:
1. Proposers should be within 10 years of their Ph.D.
2. Proposers should provide a CV and need to present
a record of at least one international publication in
their field.
3. Proposers are encouraged but not required to find an
experienced scientist as advisor to help guiding the
project.
4. Proposers need to demonstrate an affiliation to a
research institute, university, geological survey or
equivalent organization for the duration of the
project. According to (3) the proposers will have to
present a letter of support for their project by a
member of their host institution.
5. Projects may but do not need to be linked to an
existing international (IGCP) project.
6. The proposal needs to give a detailed description and
work plan of the research project.
7. The project duration is three years, the project should
involve at least three young scientists from a
minimum of two countries. The principal proposer
must be from a developing country.
8. The Young Scientist Project will be awarded a
maximum of US $5,000 per year.
9. These funds are provided to support:
- to organize field meetings with at least five parti-
cipants, which should include the group leaders.
- travel to IGCP-organized or any other international
scientific conference
- participation of training courses
- research equipment (max 20% of the allocated
funds).
Geoparks and the IGCP
Progress on geopark activities were discussed during the
29th session of the IGCP Board (see Geological
Correlation No. 29, p. 18). There it was reported that
the Division of Earth Sciences has included geological
heritage in its current work plan, envisaging bilateral
cooperation with Member States who express interest in
receiving UNESCO’s patronage for national geological
parks. Taking this into account, UNESCO’s Division of
Earth Sciences encourages to build up an International
Network of National Geological Parks (Geoparks). In
2001, the following Board Members have agreed to
continue to contribute in their personal capacity to the
geological heritage activities: P. Jakes̆ (Czech Republic),
A. Kampunzu (Botswana), V. Ramos (Argentina) and
X. Zhao (China). During the current session of the
Board, in addition, S. Turner (Australia) and S. Muhongo
(Tanzania) and G. Wörner (Germany) volunteered to
join this group of geopark experts. The Board further
suggested to involve on the national level museums and
others who have already established Natural Parks or
“open-air museums”. The procedure for requesting
UNESCO’s patronage for a geological park is not yet
defined but guidelines for application are in preparation.
These forms will have to be submitted from a high level,
e.g. government, to Earth Sciences Division, UNESCO,
who seek advice from an independent group of experts
in geological heritage, including IGCP Board Members.
Summary of IGCP National Committee Reports
As of 4 February 2002, the following 36 IGCP National
Committees have sent their annual report to the IGCP
Secretariat.
Australia Cyprus New Zealand
Austria Czech Republic Russia
Argentina Finland Slovak Republic
Belarus France Slovenia
Belgium Germany South Africa
Brazil Hungary Spain
Bulgaria Italy Sweden
Canada India United Kingdom
China Iran Ukraine
Congo (DR) Japan Venezuela
Costa Rica Kazakhstan Viet Nam
Croatia Korea Rep. of Yugoslavia
Prof. Wilson summarized the Board’s comments who had
studied the National Committee reports. It was stated that
relatively few developing countries submitted a report.
The nature of the reports is extremely variable. Some are
very informative, enabling the Board to evaluate the level
of activity within the IGCP and the effectiveness of the
National Committee in promoting IGCP projects within
the national geoscience community. A number of reports
provide information about additional sources of funding
raised to support IGCP projects and output performance
indicators in the form of lists of publications and organ-
ization of national/international symposia. IGCP activi-
ties are clearly strongly supported in some countries,
whilst in others there appears to be minimal interest in
the programme at national level.
The report of the Italian IGCP National Committee is
commended as a model which could usefully be adopted
by all IGCP members countries. This report is presented
17
in the form of an attractive newsletter, supported by a
website. The newsletter is widely circulated within the
Italian geoscience community and appears to be an
extremely effective way of encouraging increased partic-
ipation within IGCP. It includes a useful summary of
sources of funding for geological research in Italy, brief
descriptions of new IGCP projects and a comprehensive
list of all current IGCP projects. Names and e-mail
addresses are given for all project leaders. Also included
as a useful summary of the minutes of the 2001 IGCP
Scientific Board meeting.
The Board also commends the following National
Committees for submitting extremely informative and
comprehensive reports: Brazil, Australia, France.
A significant number of National Committees have now
established their own websites. This is an excellent and
low-cost way of disseminating information about the
IGCP and encouraging wider participation in IGCP pro-
jects; those which have not done so yet are encouraged
to set up websites at the earliest possible opportunity.
Re-election of the IGCP Chairman
The Board agreed unanimously, that Prof. Dalziel, whose
term at the IGCP Board would finish at the end of 2001,
will continue to serve as Chairman and member of WG 4
for two more years.
IGCP and Deposit Modelling Workshop
The IGCP Secretary suggested for the next Board meeting
2003, to consider a joint workshop of IGCP and the
Deposits Modelling Programme for about 1/2 a day.
Any matters arising
During the course of the assessments of annual reports
and new project proposals, important financial matters
were raised. As the IGCP budget is shared between
UNESCO and the IUGS,Dr Janoschek, the IUGS
Treasurer, who attended the closed sessions representing
the IUGS Secretary-General (Ex-officio member of the
Board), suggested that the Board should also invite the
Treasurer of IUGS to attend the meetings, so that the
IUGS financial status of support for IGCP can be
properly conveyed. The Board agreed to this proposal.
14. Dates of the next Scientific Board Meeting
(2002)
UNESCO Headquarters, 3-7 February 2003.
The Chairman thanked all Members of the Board and
closed the meeting at 17:20 hours.
15. Report of the IGCP Secretary for 2001
Introductory remarks
“Reluctantly, I take the sad task to start this report with
the news of the sudden passing away of dear Sally
18
Cochrane in December 2001, thus ending several years
of suffering and at the same time never complaining.
Sally has worked for 12 years for the IGCP and retired
in November 2000. In the name of the colleagues and
friends, we have expressed our deepest sympathy to her
family at this time of profound grief and loss. Many of
you have known Sally, she was a most precious friend
and colleague to all of us. We will cherish the memory
of her radiant presence among us.
The sudden passing away of the former IGCP Board
Member and Co-Leader Professor Chris Powell (IGCP
440) in July was another major moral setback happening
in 2001. The members of his project dedicated a special
volume to his tireless efforts in uniting scientists world-
wide to the cause of Rodinia. I would like to thank
Professor Derbyshire of having contacted the widow of
our dear friend.
Coming back to business as usual:
In 2001, basing on the important decision taken
by the 29th IGCP Board, to change the name of the
International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP)
into International Geoscience Programme, the IGCP
Secretariat undertook an enquiry at its National
Committees (see attachment 1). I recall that the
change was proposed in accordance with both, the IUGS
Executive Council which agreed to it at its session in
Hyderabad, India, February 2001 and with the Director-
General of UNESCO. An overwhelming majority of
38 Committees out of the 44 which have replied,
supported the idea of a change, whereas five National
Committees were against it and the Chinese Committee
suggested to adopt a different name (International
Geoscience Cooperation Programme). Now, for the name
change to take effect, the matter will be submitted for
decision to UNESCO’s Executive Board at its
164th Session in Spring 2002. Until the Executive
Board’s final decision, the IGCP remains the
International Geological Correlation Programme.
The Secretariat further undertook steps to improve the
annual reporting procedure. In order to obtain more
detailed information and facilitate the editing of
Geological Correlation, the format or the IGCP Report
Form was slightly modified (see attachment II). Special
attention is now drawn to website addresses, and educa-
tional, training or capacity building activities.
After more than two years, the vacancy in the IGCP was
finally filled by Margarete Patzak who was appointed as
the IGCP Assistant Secretary. She has been working for
the Programme since January 1996.”
Thanks to the outgoing members
of the Scientific Board
In 2001 five members of the Scientific Board retired:
WG 1: Stratigraphy, Palaeontology, Sedimentology,
Fossil Fuels
Dr Edward Robinson (Jamaica)
WG 2: Quaternary, Environmental and Engineering Websites and home pages
Geosciences
Prof. Edward Derbyshire (United Kingdom), the Board’s Most IGCP projects have now established websites
Chairperson which are linked with the IGCP homepage:
Dr Isabelle Niang-Diop (Senegal) http://www.unesco.org/science/earthsciences/igcp/index.
Prof. Nozar Samani (Iran) htm
WG 3: Mineral Deposits, Petrology, Volcanology, The IGCP homepage is regularly updated with the latest
Geochemistry events
Dr Petr Jakes̆ (Czech Republic) The IGCP homepage is also linked with IUGS, Episodes
and the few IGCP National Committees which have
New members of the Scientific Board established their website. (Australia, Austria, China,
Five new members to the IGCP Scientific Board have Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, republic of South
been appointed out of about 100 nominees for the term Africa, and Spain.and Turkey).
2002-2005, by a joint decision of the Director-General Links are established with all IGCP projects having their
of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura and the President of home pages available on the world wide web:
the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS),
Prof. Ed de Mulder. With regard to an increased partic- Finances
ipation of women in our scientific body, I am glad to
announce that three highly qualified female scientists are The statistics of IGCP project’s financial situation from
among the new members. 1988 to 2001 is listed in Table 1.
WG 1: Stratigraphy, Palaeontology, Sedimentology,
Fossil Fuels Table 1
Prof. Rasool Okhravi (Iran)
No. of projects Average
WG 2: Quaternary, Environmental and Engineering Year UNESCO IUGS Total per
O.E.T.
Geosciences Overall Funded project
+ nil
Prof. Sylvi Haldorsen (Norway) Financial figures in US $1.000 units
Dr Prabhas Pande (India)
Dr Caridad Zazo-Cardeña (Spain) 1988 173.3 104.0 277.5 53 50 3 5.5
1989 143.1 109.9 253.0 55 50 2+3 5.0
WG 3: Mineral Deposits, Petrology, Volcanology, 1990 185.0 121.0 306.0 61 54 6+1 5.6
Geochemistry 1991 185.0 137.0 322.0 59 55 3+1 5.8
Prof. Marjorie Wilson (United Kingdom) 1992 170.0 137.0 307.0 56 50 5+1 6.1
1993 173.0 147.2 320.2 60 56 4 5.7
1994 190.3 137.0 327.3 54 50 4 6.5
Ongoing projects in 2001 1995 197.7 143.5 341.2 53 51 2 6.6
Below are listed the project numbers of 37 ongoing and 1996 199.8 130.0 329.8 56 49 7 6.7
four O.E.T. projects, according to the year of their termi- 1997 204.0 55.0 259.0 53 45 8 5.8
1998 205.0 90.0 295.0 49 40 9 7.4
nation.
1999 190.0 90.0 288.0 43 40 3 7.2
2000 187.7 90.0 277.7 45 40 5 6.9
O.E.T in 2001: 386, 393, 405, 406 (four) 2001 184.4 95.0 279.4 41 37 4 7.5
2001: 373, 410, 414, 415, 418, 421, 431, 432 (eight)
2002: 408, 411, 413, 419, 420, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429,
442 (eleven)
2003: 434, 436, 437, 440 (four) Table 2
2004: 430, 433, 443, 448, 449, 450, 453, 454 (eight)
2005: 447, 455, 457, 458, 459, 464 (six) Category Funds No. of projects

US $
Extension requested by projects High funding 10,500 11
O.E.T. (on extended term) status, extension of the dura- Medium funding 8,200 (medium-high) 6
tion of projects without funding for one year, has been 6,600 (medium-medium) 13
5,200 (medium-low) 5
requested by the leaders of IGCP projects 410, 414, 418,
Low funding 4,200 2
421.
O.E.T. – 4

Publications
The English version of the IGCP annual report
‘Geological Correlation No. 28’ was published in
Summer 2001 and distributed to IGCP National
Committees, IGCP project leaders, various geoscience
institutions worldwide as well as interested individuals.
The French version is in print. The English version of
Geological Correlation No 29 was printed in January
2002.
Since 1994, over 30% of the IGCP budget has been
decentralized. In 2001, 11 projects have been decen-
tralized to the UNESCO Offices in the following cities:
Jakarta (4 projects), Montevideo (2 projects), Cairo
(2 projects) and Nairobi (3 projects). A separate contract
was established with one individual project, for admin-
istrative reasons.

19
Project proposals received in 2001 Annual Reports from IGCP National Committees
Out of 102 listed IGCP National Committees the
No. following 34 countries have reported as of 1 February
title, project leader(s), 2002:
duration

463 Upper Cretaceous marine red beds Australia Czech Republic Slovak Republic
C. Wang (China), M. Sarti (Italy), R. W. Scott Austria Finland Slovenia
(United States), L. F. Jansa (Canada) Argentina France South Africa
2002-2006 Belarus Germany Spain
465 Drought and excess rainfall: associations with Belgium Hungary Sweden
teleconnection patterns (ENSO and NAO) Brazil Italy United Kingdom
S. M. Jafar Nazemosadat (Iran), Nozar Samani Bulgaria Iran Ukraine
(Iran), S. Amin (Iran) Canada Japan Venezuela
2002-2006 Congo (DR) Kazakhstan Viet Nam
466 Characterization of active faults in slowly Costa Rica Korea Rep. of Yugoslavia
deforming regions Croatia New Zealand
J. Gomberg (United States), E. Schweig (United Cyprus Russia
States)
2002-2006
467 Triassic time IGCP projects active in 2001
M. J. Orchard (Canada) (O.E.T. – on extended term)
2002-2006 373 Correlation, Anatomy and Magmatic-Hydro-
468 Archaeometry of ancient metals thermal Evolution of Ore-Bearing Felsic
G. Walach (Austria) Igneous Systems in Eurasia
2002-2005 R. Seltmann (Germany), R. Grauch (United
469 Variscan floristics and palaeoenvironments States), A. A. Kremenetsky (Russia)
C. J. Cleal (United Kingdom) 1997-2001
2002-2006 386 Response of the Ocean/Atmosphere System
470 The 600 Ma Pan-African belt of Central Africa to Past Global Changes
F. Toteu (Cameroon) H. Strauss (Germany), D. M. Banerjee (India),
2002-2006 L. A. Derry (United States), Z. Sawlowicz
471 Evolution of Western Gondwana during the Late (Poland), L. R. Kump (United States)
Palaeozoic 1996-2000, O.E.T. in 2001
C. O. Limarino (Argentina), L. A. Buatois 393 Neritic Middle-Upper Eocene
(Argentina) E. Caus (Spain)
2002-2006 1996-2000, O.E.T. in 2001
472 Étude et valorisation des argiles (EVA) en zone 405 Anthropogenic Impact on Weathering
Intertropicale Processes
(Study and valorization of clays in the P. Sulovský, J. Zeman (Czech Republic)
Intertropical region) 1996-2000, O.E.T. in 2001
L. R. Okitaudji (RD Congo) 406 Circum-Arctic Palaeozoic Vertebrates
2002-2006 M. V. H. Wilson (Canada), T. Märss (Estonia),
473 GIS Metallogeny of Central Asia (Young P. Männik (Estonia)
Scientists Proposal) 1996-2000, O.E.T. in 2001
R. Seltmann (United Kingdom), 5 young 408 Rocks and Minerals at Great Depth and on
scientists the Surface
2002-2006 F. P. Mitrofanov (Russia), D. M. Guberman
(Russia), H.-J. Kümpel (Germany)
IGCP Secretary’s missions in 2001 1998-2002
F. W. Eder participated in conferences and/or interna- 410 The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event
tional meetings and promoted the IGCP on missions to: B. D. Webby (Australia), F. Paris (France),
Tokyo (Japan), Strasbourg (France), Cairo (Egypt), M. L. Droser (United States)
Edinburgh (UK), Beijing (China), Nicosia – FOREGS 1997-2001
(Cyprus). 411 Geodynamics of Gondwanaland-derived
Terranes in E and S Asia
Prof. Victor Ramos, Argentina, organized in cooperation with S. Hada (Japan), I. Metcalfe (Australia),
Fernando Repetto a Regional IGCP Workshop at the XII J. H. Kim (Korea), Tran Van Tri (Viet Nam),
International Geological Congress of Latin America, held Jin Xiouchi (China)
from 12 to 16 November 2001 in Montevideo, Uruguay. 1998-2002

20
413 Understanding Future Dryland Changes
from Past Dynamics
D. Thomas (United Kingdom),
A. K. Singhvi (India)
1998-2002
414 Seismic Ground Motion in Large Urban Areas
G. F. Panza (Italy)
1997-2001
415 Glaciation and Reorganization of Asia’s
Drainage
J. T. Teller (Canada), R. Vaikmae (Estonia)
1997-2001
418 Kibraran Events in Southwestern Africa
R. M. Key (United Kingdom),
R. B. Mapeo (Botswana)
1997-2001
419 Foreland Basins of the Neoproterozoic Belts
in Central-to-Southern Africa and South
America
M. Wendorff (Botswana), P. L. Binda (Canada)
1998-2002
420 Phanerozoic Crustal Growth
Bor-ming Jahn (France), N. L. Dobertsov (Russia)
1998-2002
421 North Gondwanan Mid-Palaeozoic
Biodynamics
R. Feist (France), J. A. Talent (Australia)
1997-2001
425 Landslide Hazard Assessment and Cultural
Heritage
K. Sassa (Japan), P. Canuti (Italy),
P. Carreno (Peru)
1998-2002
426 Granite Systems and Proterozoic Lithospheric
Processes
J. S. Bettencourt (Brazil) O. T. Rämö (Finland),
W. R. Van Schmus (United States)
1998-2002
427 Ore-Forming Processes in Dynamic Magmatic
Systems
C. M. Lesher, S.-J. Barnes (Canada),
H. M. Prichard (United Kingdom)
1998-2002
428 Climate and Boreholes
V. C̆ermák (Czech Republic), H. N. Pollack
(United States), C. Clauser (Germany)
1998-2002
429 Organics in Major Environmental Issues
J. Pas̆ava (Czech Republic),
J. Jeník (Czech Republic)
1998-2002
430 Mantle Dynamics and Natural Hazards
M. F. J. Flower (United States), V. I. Mocanu
(Romania), R. M. Russo (United States),
Nguyen Trong Yem (Viet Nam),
Ma Zongjin (China)
2000-2004
431 African Pollen Database
A. M. Lezine (France), A. Sowunmi (Nigeria)
1998-2002
432 Contourites, Bottom Currents and
Palaeocirculation
D. A. V. Stow (United Kingdom), I. N. McCave
(United Kingdom), J.-L. Faugeres (France)
1998-2001
433 Caribbean Plate Tectonics
M. A. Iturralde-Vinent (Cuba),
E. G. Lidiak (United States)
2000-2004
434 Land-Ocean Interactions during the
Cretaceous in Asia
H. Hirano (Japan)
1999-2003
436 Pacific Gondwana Margin
R. J. Pankhurst, (United Kingdom),
J. D. Bradshaw (New Zealand),
L. Spalletti (Argentina)
1999-2003
437 Coastal Environmental Change
during Sea-Level Highstands
C. V. Murray-Wallace (Australia)
1999-2003
440 Rodinia Assembly and Breakup
C. McA. Powell (Australia) deceased 2001,
S. Bogdanova (Sweden),
H. Kampunzu (Botswana)
1999-2003
442 Raw Materials of Neolithic Artefacts
D. Hovorka (Slovak Republic),
G. Trnka (Austria)
1999-2002
443 Magnesite and Talc-Geological and
Environmental Correlations
M. Radvanec (Slovak Republic), W. Prochaska
(Austria), A. C. Gondim (Brazil),
Cai Kequin (China)
2000-2004
447 Proterozoic Molar-tooth Carbonates
X. Meng (China), D. G. F. Long (Canada),
R. Bourrouilh (France)
2001-2005
448 World Correlation on Karst Ecosystems
Yuan Daoxian (China), C. Groves (United
States), G. Messana (Italy)
2000-2004
449 Global Correlation of Late Cenozoic Fluvial
Deposits
D. Bridgland (United Kingdom)
2000-2004
450 Proterozoic Sediment-Hosted Base Metal
Deposits of Western Gondwana
S. S. Iyer (Canada), A. F. Kamona (Namibia),
A. Misi (Brazil), J. Cailteux (DR Congo)
2000-2004
453 Modern and Ancient Orogens
J. B. Murphy (Canada), J. D. Keppie (Mexico)
2000-2004
454 Medical Geology
O. Selinus (Sweden), P. Bobrowsky (Canada)
2000-2004
21
455 Basement Volcanoes Interplay and Human 459 Terrestrial Carbon Cycle
Activities J.-L. Probst (France), L. François (Belgium),
A. Tibaldi (Italy), M. Garcia (Spain), P. J. Depetris (Argentina), J. Mortatti (Brazil)
A. M. Lagmay (Philippines), V. V. Ponomareva 2001-2005
(Russia) 464 Continental Shelves During the Last Glacial
2001-2005 Cycle: Knowledge and Applications
457 Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment F. L. Chiocci (Italy), A. R. Chivas (Australia)
in North Africa 2001-2005
D. Benouar (Algeria), G. Panza (Italy),
A. El-Sayed Attia (Egypt), T. Benaissa (Morocco),
M. Chadi (Tunisia), S. Abdennur (Libya) Funded projects 37
2001-2005 O.E.T. 4
458 Triassic/Jurassic Boundary Events Total 41
J. Pálfy (Hungary), S. P. Hesselbo (United
Kingdom), C. McRoberts (United States)
2001-2005

22
 Progress of IGCP projects in 2001
368, 373, 386, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 418, 419, 420,
421, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 433, 434, 436,
437, 440, 442, 443, 448, 449, 450, 453, 454
No. 368 – Proterozoic Events in East Gondwana
(1995-1999, OET in 2000)
Final Report
Yoshida Masaru, Gondwana Institute for Geology and
Environment, 147-2 Hashiramoto, Hashimoto 648-0091,
e-mail: gondwana@orion.ocn.ne.jp
Santosh, M., Faculty of Science, Kochi University, Kochi
780-8072, Japan, e-mail: santosh@cc.kochi-u.ac.jp
C. B. Dissanayake, Department of Geology, Peradeniya
University, Kandy, Sri Lanka, e-mail: cdissa@
geol.pdn.ac.lk
Website of the project
http://www.homestead.com/grg/IGCP368home.html
Participating countries
(total 53 countries, with indications of countries @
having been active, or scientists from that country *
having participated in any of the project meetings listed
above during past one year)
Australia@*, Austria, Bangladesh*, Belgium,
Botswana*, Brazil*, Cameroon, Canada*, China*,
Congo, Czech, Eritrea*, Ethiopia, Finland, France*,
Germany@*, India@*, Ireland, Italy*, Japan@*,
Kenya*, Korea*, Madagascar*, Malawi, Malaysia*,
Mongolia*, Mozambique, Nepal*, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway*, Oman*, Pakistan*, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines*, Kuwait*, Romania*, Russia*,
Saudi Arabia@*, South Africa@*, Sri Lanka*, Sweden*,
Swiss, Taiwan*, Tanzania*, Thailand*, Turkey*, United
Kingdom*, United States*, Viet Nam*, Yemen*,
Zambia*, Zimbabwe* (participation in the project has
reached over 400 scientists from 53 countries).
Summary of major past achievements
of the Project
IGCP 368 started in February 1995 and ended formally
in February 2001. However, its activity culminated in
October when the summary symposium of the project,
the International Symposium on the Assembly and
Breakup of Rodinia and Gondwana, and Growth of Asia
(ISRGA) was held in Osaka jointly with IGCP 411 and
440. IGCP 368 continues to be active, aiming to publish
the proceedings volumes of its meetings. During the past
seven years since the start of the project, important
contributions were made to the understanding of
Proterozoic tectonothermal events and tectonics in East
Gondwana, especially on the India-Antarctic sector.
Exchange of ideas and information among members of
the project were facilitated through two kinds of news-
letters (IGCP 368 News Letter and Gondwana News
Letter) and several international as well as regional meet-
ings. Through these activities, international collaboration
started, especially research on the Precambrian Indian
Peninsula, Antarctica, and South Africa. As a result of
the scientific activities, 15 memoir volumes or similar
kind of publications, 5 symposium proceedings, 12 field
guidebooks, and 7 special issues of international jour-
nals were published. Several volumes or thematic issues
of international journals are in progress.
Many scientists from developing countries joined the
project, attended its meetings and were encouraged to
join international joint research programmes as well.
Through the activities of the project, an international
society related to the Gondwanaland research
(International Association for Gondwana Research,
IAGR) was established and a new international
geoscience journal (Gondwana Research) was inaugu-
rated (17 published issues since October 1997 to the
present). This journal has stimulated research related to
Gondwanaland, and encouraged scientists from devel-
oping countries to approach this international journal.
The journal has been indexed/abstracted in SCI Sci. E,
ISI Alerting Service, Current Contents, Georef.,
Chemical Abstracts, Mineralogical Abstracts etc. Since
1995, over 29 students/young scientists from developing
countries were admitted, by the activity of the members
of the Japanese Working Group of the project, to study
in Japan either to join the IGCP project, or to study in
other fields of geosciences.
23
Achievements of the project
from October 2000 to October 2001
General scientific achievements
1. Pan-African Amalgamation of East Gondwana: A
growing new idea
Delineation of a Pan-African orogen or a suture at
Larsemann Hills have drastically changed the classical
idea that East Gondwana assembled during ca 1.0 Ga
Grenvillian Circum East Antarctic Orogeny to a radical
view that East Gondwana no more existed during most
of the Neoproterozoic, but assembled during the Pan-
African orogeny parallelling in time with the formation
of West Gondwana. Following the identification of the
Pan-African orogeny at Larsemann Hills, some scien-
tists delineated a Pan-African suture running through the
Prydz Bay area to Leeuwin Complex of Western
Australia, and tried to delineate a suture along the
present crustal boundaries between Antarctica, India and
Sri Lanka, having stressed the amalgamation of East
Gondwana during the Pan-African period. Other
researchers proposed the double stage closure of sutures
from west to east, i.e. first the East African Orogeny
along the Mozambique Belt, and second, the KUUNGA
Orogeny having taken place between the Mawson
Protocontinent and India-Madagascar-Sri Lanka-Coastal
East Antarctica continent.
Fitzsimons (2000, op cit) proposed to differentiate the
Grenvillian aged coastal areas of East Antarctic shield
into three segments divided by two major Pan-African
sutures. He identified that the so far recognized
Grenvillian belt surrounding East Antarctica (the Circum
East Antarctic Orogen) could not be regarded as one
continuous mobile belt, but should be differentiated into
three distinct and different crustal segments. They are,
based on ages of high-grade tectonic events, the Maud
(1090-1030 Ma), Rayner (990-900 Ma) and Wilkes
(1330-1130 Ma) provinces from west to east. A Pan-
African East African Orogen including the wide areas
from Lutzow-Holm Bay to Central Droning Maud Land,
and the Prydz-Denman-Darling orogens have been iden-
tified to have had a principal role in assembling the
above three provinces with broad Grenvillian ages. The
idea of Fitzsimons (2000) was promptly followed by
several papers of continental configurations during the
Neoproterozoic, incorporating the idea of the dispersal
of East Antarctica in earlier ages than Pan-African times.
However, the data supporting the new model are as yet
insufficient as discussed below.
The idea of the amalgamation of three different crustal
blocks with broad Grenvillian ages along the East
Antarctic coast took place during the Pan-African times
(Fitzsimons, 2000) clearly presents a summary of recent
studies by several authors, which stress distinct and
strong Pan-African events in Lutzow-Holm Bay, Prydz
Bay, and Central Dronning Maud Land. As discussed
above, the development of Pan-African tectonothermal
24
events in the above areas as well as the Leeuwin/Darling-
Danman Glacier area have been well recognised, and the
areas with the Pan-African ages can be regarded as Pan-
African orogens, especially those areas such as the
Lutzow-Holm Bay area, Central Dronning Maud Land
and Prydz Bay area, where related convergent tectonics
have been clearly identified. The extent of these belts
having some hundreds km wide as demonstrated by
Fitzsimons (2000) appears also reasonable from the field
data as well as a common sense of ordinary orogenic
belt. However, the point to be noticed is the principal
signature of the orogenic belt, i.e. either it was intracra-
tonic, intercratonic, and if the latter case, the separation
was small or big.
There is good correlation of the Adelie Land and
southern Australia, this sector forms a distinct
Paleoproterozoic continental block. This part may form
the Mawson Protocontinent, although there are no suffi-
cient data to make it separate from East Gondwana
during the Grenvillian time. Existence of different Pre-
Grenvillian histories are generally expected signatures
to a composite shield assembled by the Grenvillian
Orogeny; thus, both Enderby Land and Western
Dronning Maud Land also apparently show distinct pre-
Grenvillian geo-histories. Regarding the remaining
segments, there is as yet no sufficient data to convince
us to recognise two or three different Grenvillian-aged
provinces. Throughout these segments, there are indica-
tions of the Grenvillian events with an age range of ca
0.9 0 Ga to 1.20 Ga. In the Wilkes Land-SW Australia
segment, there is good correlation of the Albany-Flaser
belts with western Wilkes Land (ca 1.15-1.40 Ga) in the
east, which is the combination of early events in the
Flaser Belt and later events in both the Flaser and Albany
belts. The Pinjara (Darling) Belt is continuous with the
Obruchev Hills-Denman Glacier area (ca 1.02-1.08 Ga)
in the west and this belt is somewhat younger. The late
Grenvillian age range of ca 1.0-1.2 Ga, developed in the
western part of the Australia-Antarctic segment as
mentioned above, has a general conformity with the ages
of Rauer Group. There are also similar ages (of ca 1.0-1.
Ga) from Rayner Complex, Lutzow-Holm Bay area, and
Dronning Maud Land. The Rayner Complex of Enderby
Land was affected by the intrusions of late orogenic
granitic/charnockitic rocks and thus ca 900-1000 Ma
ages are dominant.
It is evident that extensive Pan-African orogenic belts
run cutting across the Circum East Antarctic Orogen as
demonstrated by Fitzsimons (2000). However, almost all
these Pan-African areas carry distinct evidence of
Grenvillian components of the above age range, strongly
suggesting the continuation of the Grenvillian Belt
(Circum East Antarctic Orogen) surrounding East
Antarctica from Western Dronning Maud Land to the
western Wilkes Land which branches into the Pinjara
Orogen to the north as well as the Albany Belt to the
east (the latter may be the intracontinental belt). There
are also 1050-1080 Ma K-A ages from the central
Wilkes Land suggesting the development of an intra-
continental branch of the Albany Belt to extend further
east along the Antarctic coast. Ca 1.3-1.4 Ga events in
the Wilkes Land-Albany Flaser Belt segment repre-
senting the early phase of the Circum East Antarctic
Orogeny only developed at this sector; similar two
phases of Grenvillian Orogeny have been reported in
other Grenvillian terrains.
During the Pan-African time, much of these areas
suffered extensive metamorphism and deformation,
although intensity of deformation and grade of meta-
morphism varied. The Pan-African Leeuwin Complex/
Darling Belt-Denman Glacier belt is considered to be
underlain by a Grenvillian Pinjara (Darling) Orogen
which is traced from the Northampton Complex to the
Obruhev Hills east of the Denman Glacier through the
basement of Perth Basin. Possible comparison of the
Palaeoproterozoic events in the Central Indian Tectonic
Zone with those of the Capricorn Orogen in north-
western Australia as well as the ca 1.0-1.2 Ga events in
the former with those in the Albany Belt appear to indi-
cate an important role of the Pinjara Orogen for the
changing shape of configuration in time of East
Gondwana during the Grenvillian Central East Antarctic
Orogeny.
Based on the synthetic considerations of all the above
arguments, the Pan-African events are mostly the super-
position-reworking of pre-existed crust as has been
suggested by earlier studies. Distinct Pan-African
orogens delineated through the southern Prydz Bay area
may be interpreted as the intracratonic orogens.
Shackleton Range-Dronning Maud Land zone possibly
represents a principal suture, along with the Zambezi
Belt in southern Africa, to continue from the
Mozambique Belt. However, further studies from both
areas as well as critical palaeomagnetic studies are
awaited. The model of the intracratonic Pan-African
rejuvenation above is considered similar to that, which
included various structural disturbance such as thrust-
nappe structures, horizontal shearing, and extensions,
associated with various magmatic and metamorphic
events, principally under the intracratonic conditions.
2. Possible Approach to Constrain the Role of Pan-
African Events in East Gondwana
Regarding the assembly of major parts of East Gondwana
during the Pan-African period, it is pointed out that the
present stage of knowledge concerning East Gondwana
is still insufficient to accept the new model. To further
constrain the role of Pan-African events within East
Gondwana, that is, within and around East Antarctica,
detailed geological, palaeomagnetic, and geophysical
research is required. Such detailed structural studies
associated with petrological and geochronological work
as shown by several recent papers as cited above will
provide good constraints to the role of Pan-African
events in East Gondwana – those studies should be
accompanied with careful examination of SHRIMP data
from those areas. It is specifically noteworthy that zircon
grows under low grade fluidus conditions especially with
K-rich fluid. Pan-African zircon ages such as from the
Lutzow-Holm Bay, western Rayner Complex, Prydz Bay
area and Mawson Escarpment etc. do not necessarily
show the extensive high grade metamorphism in these
areas, but low grade fluidus and/or high shearing meta-
morphism. Similarly, inappropriate conditions for the
zircon growth should also be taken into consideration;
dry and less deformed conditions prevent the zircon
growth even under high-grade conditions.
Palaeomagnetic studies, if appropriately conducted, may
be decisive for the configuration of East Gondwanan
crustal fragments during the Pan-African period. The
extent of the actual separation of cratons on both sides
of a suture running from the Shackleton Range to
Mozambique Belt through Dronning Maud Land can
only be ascertained by palaeomagnetic studies.
However, palaeomagnetic studies in Precambrian
terrains involve great difficulties in the sparse occur-
rence of appropriate rocks, as well as uncertainties of
time of magnetisation especially related with remagne-
tization phenomena due to metamorphic, and even often
polymetamorphic character of these terrains. Detailed
petrology-related geochronology should be therefore
associated with palaeomagnetic studies. Buchan et al.
(2000, Tectonophys., 319) recently pointed out that
there are only a few reliable palaeomagnetic data to be
useful for Precambrian –Early Palaeozoic superconti-
nent reconstructions, and Meert (2001, op cit) stressed
that the present database from Proterozoic East
Gondwana is quite insufficient to present any definite
model for the palaeogeography during Proterozoic
times. Torsvik et al. (2001, op cit) suggested that East
Gondwana no more existed during most of the
Neoproterozoic times and that it should have assembled
during the Pan-African period. However, data
supporting their argument are very scarce, and some
are not conclusive on the age of magnetisation. Reports
of Rathor et al. (1999, Gondwana Res., 2) on Malani
igneous rocks and Suwa et al. (1994) from Seychelles,
have provided a possibility of Late Pan-African reju-
venations, and may throw a critical question on their
age of magnetisation that were regarded to be ca 750
Ma in recent palaeomagnetic studies. Geophysical data
especially geomagnetism and gravity are expected to
provide valuable constraints to the above problem.
Seismological studies to exemplify deep crustal tran-
sect crossing critical orogenic belts may also provide a
decisive evidence. Further intimate collaborative studies
of geology with palaeomagnetism and geophysics are
the most important and urgent requisite for the unrav-
elling the Neoproterozoic tectonics of East Gondwana.
Meetings held (October 2000 – October 2001)
23 December 2000: Student Symposium of UNESCO-
AIEJ (Association of International Education in Japan)
Youth Exchange Programme, 2000-2001. It was held at
25
the Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur
University, Calcutta, India. About 50 scientists and
students from India, Japan, Nepal and Sri Lanka joined,
and 9 presentations were delivered.
27 December 2000: AIEJ/UNESCO/IGCP368 General
Symposium on the Central Indian Tectonic Zone and
Related Areas. It was held at the Department of
Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Calcutta,
India. About 40 scientists from 5 countries attended and
8 presentations were delivered.
17-19 January 2001: International Geoscience
Symposium on Tectono-Metamorphic History of East
Gondwana, Geochronological and Petrological
Approach. Held at Simulation Science Center, Okayama
University of Science, Okayama, Japan, sponsored by
the Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Okayama.
38 presentations were given, and about 60 scientists
from 5 countries participated.
17-25 March 2001: International symposium and field
workshop on Tectonics and Mineralization in the Arabian
Shield and its Extensions, sponsored by IGCP-368. It
including the symposium in Jeddah for 2 days and field
workshop from Jeddah to Lyad for 6 days. About 300
scientists from 12 countries assembled the symposium,
and 25 scientists from 10 countries joined the field work-
shop. The volume of 38 extended abstracts for the
symposium appeared as a special issue of Gondwana
Research, and the proceedings volume collecting full
papers are in progress and will shortly appear as a
special issue of Gondwana Research.
4-6 June Special session of “Assembly and Breakup of
Rodinia and Gondwana: Crustal and Mantle Processes”
during the 2001 Japan Earth and Planetary Science Joint
Meeting, Tokyo. About 50 scientists attended and
15 presentations were given.
18-19 October Tokyo. 21st Symposium on Antarctic
Geosciences. About 100 scientists attended.
19 October–3 November 2001: International Symposium
on the Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia and
Gondwana, and Growth of Asia and related field work-
shops. About 340 scientists from 31 countries
assembled in the symposium, and about 80 scientists
joined to 5 field trips attached with the symposium.
Some details are given in separate report of ISRGA.
272 Extended abstracts were assembled in a special
issue of Gondwana Research, and 22 late abstracts were
collected as Miscellaneous Publication (No. 12) of
Gondwana Research Group.
List of most important publications0
Publications are grouped in the following categories:
* Contribution from IGCP-368, with a clear indication
on the cover or first page etc.
26
# Contribution from the joint organization with IGCP-
368, with indications on the cover or in the first page
of the book
@ Contributions by other group/organization in which
many members of the project joined
*Divi, R. S. and Yoshida, M. (eds), Tectonics and miner-
alization in the Arabian Shield and its Extensions,
Special Issue of Gondwana Research, 4, 127-214.
*Geological Survey of India, 2000, Precambrian Crust
in Eastern and Central India, Proceedings of the
International Seminar UNESCO-IUGS-IGCP-368,
October 29-30, 1998. Geol. Survey of India Special
Publication No. 57, 316 pages.
*Hada, S., Yoshida, M., Li, Z. X. and Wang, X. (eds).
2001. Crustal Evolution in South and Southeast Asia.
Thematic Section, Gondwana Research 4, 1-74.
*Kano, Takashi (ed). 2001. Major Geologic Units of
Southwest Japan, ISRGA Field Guidebook.GRG/GIGE
Miscellaneous Publication No. 11, Field Science
Publishers, Osaka, 258 pages.
@Polar Geoscience, No. 13, 2000, National Institute of
Polar Research, Tokyo, 203 pages. 7 papers by IGCP-
368 members are included.
@Mem. National Institute of Polar Research, No. 55.
2001. National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo.
Contributions from the research project “Pan-African
Orogeny and the Assembly of Gondwana”, led by
Kazuyuki Shiraishi.
@Polar Geoscience, No. 14. 2001. National Institute of
Polar Research, Tokyo, 264 pages. 10 papers by the
IGCP-368 members are included.
@Rogers, J. J. and Santosh, M. (eds), 2002,
Mesoproterozoic Supercontinent. Special Issue,
Gondwana Research, 5, 3-255. Seventeen papers by
IGCP-368 members were included.
*Santosh, M., Biju-Sekhar, S. and Shabeer, K. P. (eds),
Rodinia, Gondwana and Asia (extended abstracts,
ISRGA), special issue of Gondwana Research 4, 555-
850.
*Yao, Akira, Biju Sekhar, Okudaira, T. and Kuwahara,
Kiyoko (eds). 2001. International Symposium on the
Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia and Gondwana, and
Growth of Asia, Program and Late Abstracts.
GRG/GIGE Miscellaneous Publication No. 12, Field
Science Publishers, Osaka, 61 pages.
*Yoshida, M. (ed). 2001. The Central Indian Tectonic
Zone and its Role in the Supercontinent Assembly:
Study on the Result of UNESCO-IUGS-IGCP368
Program (English and Japanese). AIEJ/UNESCO Youth
Program Report, February 2001. GRG/GIGE
Miscellaneous Publication No. 10, Field Science
Publishers, Osaka, 107 pages.
*Yoshida, M., Windley, B. F. and Somnath Dasgupta
(eds), in editing, Proterozoic East Gondwana:
Supercontinent Assembly and Break-up (Papers from the
IGCP-368 session in 31st IGC, Rio de Janeiro, August
2000). Geological Society Special Publication, to appear
in late 2002.
No. 373 – Correlation, Anatomy and Magmatic-
hydrothermal Evolution of Ore-bearing
Felsic Igneous Systems in Eurasia (1997-
2001, OET in 2002)
R. Seltmann, Natural History Museum, Department
Mineralogy, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United
Kingdom, e-mail: rs@nhm.ac.uk
R. I. Grauch, United States Geological Survey (USGS),
MS 973 Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, Denver,
Colorado 80225, United States, e-mail:
rgrauch@usgs.gov
A. A. Kremenetsky, Institute of Mineralogy, Geo-
chemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements,
15 Veresaeva Str., 121 357 Moscow, Russia, e-mail:
krem@imgre.iitp.ru
Website of the project
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/mineralogy/seltmann/IGCP/
index.html
Participating countries
(*indicates the countries active 2001)
*Australia, *Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, *Cameroon,
*Canada, *China, *Czech Republic, *Finland, *France,
FYROM, *Georgia, *Germany, Hungary, India, *Iran,
Italy, *Japan, *Kazakhstan, Kenya, *Kyrgyzstan, Korea
(Rep. of), Morocco, Mexico, *Mongolia, New Zealand,
*Poland, *Portugal, *Russia, *Slovak Republic, *South
Africa, Spain, *Switzerland, *Tajikistan, Thailand,
Turkey, *United Kingdom, Ukraine, *United States,
*Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia.
Summary of major past achievements
of the project
The project achieved all its goals and exceeded with its
products the originally set objectives (three monographs,
7 reference guidebooks, 3 maps, about 300 mostly peer-
reviewed original research papers). During the 5 funded
years of IGCP 373 about 300 scientists from 45 coun-
tries were involved or contributed to the project research.
The project has successfully brought together researchers
with expertise on the origin and evolution of silicic ore-
bearing magmatic systems, mainly to catalyze collabo-
ration and ‘know-how’ exchange of specialists from the
states of the former Soviet Union with “the rest of the
world”. The approach is multidisciplinary and multi-
methodological and focuses on the Trans-Eurasian metal-
logenic belt related to Variscan granites.
Rock textural features, specifically fluid saturation
textures, help constrain pT conditions used in model-
ling fluid-rock reactions and the genesis of granite-
related ore deposits. Using a complex pattern of
signatures to evaluate textural and chemical character-
istics of the anatomy of the studied plutons have, in
most cases, yielded significant conclusions on their ore-
bearing potential. High-level granitic systems and their
volcanic counterparts are characterized by advanced
fractionation processes and intensive fluid/rock reac-
tions. Volatile components such as H2O, CO2, F, Cl, B,
P and Li have a fundamental influence on melt struc-
ture and viscosity, with implications for magma ascent
and intrusion. Their effects on the melt phase and pres-
ence in exsolved fluids result in a wide spectrum of
features including:
- textural: rhythmic mineral zonation, magmatic foli-
ation, quenching fabrics, subsolidus recrystallization,
breccia pipes,
- physical: phase separation, hydraulic fracturing,
explosive degassing, and
- chemical: unusually trace-element-enriched melt
compositions, formation of brines, rare-element
mineralization, etc.
Furthermore, volcano-plutonic systems strongly affect
the atmosphere and hydrosphere through their release of
a variety of gases into the atmosphere. Studies of the
mechanics of degassing and magma dynamics provide
the means to interpret gas compositions and periodicity
of gas release from volcanoes and high-level intrusions.
Achievements of the project this year
Since 2001 IGCP 373 is coordinated from the new
Center for Russian and Central Asian Mineral Studies
(CERCAMS) at NHM London and the initiative to form
CERCAMS is itself a result of this project. There is
close cooperation between currently European scientists
and teams from the former Soviet Union. Most recently
scientists from the mining industry joined the project
due to its relevance for basic and applied research on
prospecting and exploration targets in the former Soviet
Union, specifically in the Urals, Siberia and Central
Asia. Project participants attended the successful meet-
ings in Germany, Poland and Kyrgyzstan and
contributed to publications. Case studies on the anatomy,
textures and magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of ore-
bearing granitic systems were continued in Eurasian
rare-metal provinces and mineralized porphyry systems
to correlate deposit controls in different mineralized
settings. About 50 original papers have been published
under the auspices of the project during 2001. Impact
publications were papers in Tectonophysics, in the SEG
Newsletter, the Balkema Proceedings of the Krakow
meeting (with 37 edited papers), the reference guide-
book on gold mineralization in the Tien Shan, and new
metallogenic maps (Urals, Kyrgyzstan). The latter will
be presented as IGCP products at the IAGOD
Symposium in Namibia. Forthcoming meetings in 2002
(OET) will be in Namibia, Germany and England (busi-
ness meeting and workshop organized from the UK
team). A final IGCP 373 publication is under prepara-
tion for the Special Publication Series of the Geological
Society of London.
27
General scientific achievements
The societal relevance of this project arises from the fact
that many economically important resources are hosted
by these granites, which is specifically vital for the
development of the mineral potential of ‘transition
economy’ states that are within the focus of the project’s
research. A number of achievements have emerged from
studies of the anatomy, textures and magmatic-
hydrothermal evolution of ore-bearing granitic systems
that have been carried out in rare-metal provinces of
Eurasia that are related to collisional orogens. The rela-
tions between crustal structure, geodynamic position in
the orogenic cycle, and the role of fluids during granite
fractionation have been shown to be the fundamental
parameters in the formation of granite-related ore
deposits. A complex of correlation criteria has been
developed to compare/correlate the geotectonic, petro-
genetic and metallogenic characteristics of rare-metal
granite provinces. Individual case studies on ore-related,
subvolcanic rare metal granites have provided evidence
of the nature of magmatic-hydrothermal processes and
related ore formation.
Meetings
1. IGCP 373 Field Workshop ‘Tectonic and magma
2001’, Bautzen/Germany and Mrakotin/Czech
Republic, 22-24 June 2001 (for programme see
http://www.geo.unileipzig.de/~ggw/pages/cloos.html).
This international workshop was coorganized by the
German team of IGCP 373 to study and compare the
relationship of tectonics and magma processes on the
example of Lusatian and Bohemian granites, and
dedicated to Hans Cloos who initiated granite tectonic
research in modern style (70 participants from
10 countries).
Outcome: Special issue of IGCP 373 in Zeitschrift fuer
Geologische Wissenschaften (peer-review, volume in
print), partial support through German NC IGCP.
2. IGGP 373 Annual Field Conference, Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan, 16-25 August 2001 ‘Paleozoic geo-
dynamics and gold deposits in the Kyrgyz Tien
Shan’ (for programme see http://www.nhm.ac.uk/
mineralogy/seltmann/IGCP/Kyrgyz2.htm).
The 5th annual field conference of IGCP 373 was
attended by 70 participants (workshop sessions at
Kyrgyzaltyn Bishkek); the field excursion had about
40 participants from 19 countries. Selected trip parti-
cipants (20) from the former Soviet Union and China
were co-sponsored by IGCP-IUGS-UNESCO, IAGOD,
SEG, SGA, Royal Society, DFG, RAS-RFFI and
mining companies. The German Foreign Ministry
contributed through the German National Committee
for IGCP towards the organizational expenses. The
overall budget of the conference exceeded again the
28
60,000 USD level (subsidized travel expenses of parti-
cipants from former Soviet Union, preparation
expenses, conference budget with accommodation and
meals, conference hall rental, transport expenses
including two charter flights to remote gold deposits
in the Tien Shan, and publication of reference guide-
book and new metallogenic map of Kyrgyzstan). Beside
the IGCP 373 office at NHM CERCAMS London, the
Institute of Geology of the National Academy of
Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kyrgyz
Geological Survey were the main organizers. Major
mining companies active in the gold province provided
financial support to cover the budget of the venture
(Cameco-Kumtor, Kyrgyzaltyn, NOROX, Newmont,
Alex Stewart Assayers, Indochina Gold/Ivanhoe Gold
Mining). A new Metallogenic Map of Kyrgyzstan was
prepared and a reference field guidebook printed as
monograph to document the progress in the under-
standing of the Central Asian gold belt, its mineralized
granites, geodynamic controls and environmental
impact of mining activities in the Tien Shan.
Sustainable use of mineral resources is and will be a
major factor to develop the transition economy in the
Central Asian countries of the CIS, addressing know-
how transfer through training and cooperation the
major societal benefits. Field conference topics (for
further details see conference website) were:
• Types and features of gold mineralization generated
in different geodynamic environments
• Petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry of mineral-
ized series and related host rocks
• Ore mineralization and wallrock alteration related to
granites and porphyries.
3. Joint Biennial SGA-SEG Conference in Krakow,
Poland, 26-29 August 2001 and Final IGCP
373 Symposium, Session 5.1 ‘Mineralizing systems
associated with acid and intermediate magmas’
(60 papers/participants, for programme see:
http://galaxy.uci.agh.edu.pl/~sga/).
Report of the national group of the Slovak Republic
(Dr Pavel UHER)
Activities in 2001:
• Organizing of the Eurogranites international field
meeting 2001 in Slovakia
• Field working meeting and sampling of mineralized
granites of the Krus̆né Hory Mts., Czech Republic
and Spis̆-Gemer Mts. Slovak Republic
• Presentation of research results in the Podlesí inter-
national workshop, Cyech Republic (Phosphorus-
and fluorine-rich granites), international conference
of the Czech tectonic group, Donovaly, Slovakia and
domestic seminars.
Planned activities in 2002:
• Coorganizing of the Herl’any 2002 international
mineralogical-petrological conference, Slovakia,
August 2002.
• Participation on the Eurogranites 2002 international
field meeting in Italy, September 2002.
• Field and lab study of rare-element granites (Krus̆né
Hory Mts., Spis̆sko-gemerské Rudohorie Mts.).
• Publication of scientific results in international
and domestic journals, active participation on
conferences.
Publications:
– Petrík, I.; Kohút, M. and Broska, I.; (Eds.) Uher, P.;
Hras̆ko, L’.; Janák, M.; Plas̆ienka, D.; Bezák, V.
2001.Granitic plutonism of the Western Carpathians.
Veda Publishing House, 116 p.
– Poller, U. M., Todt, W.; Kohút, M.; Janák, M. 2001.
Nd, Sr, Pb isotope study of the Western Carpathians:
implications for Palaeozoic evolution. Schweitzerische
Mineralogische Petrographische Mitteilungen, 81, 2,
159-174.
– Poller, U.; Uher, P.; Janák, M.; Plas̆ienka, D.;
Kohút, M. 2001. Late Cretaceous age of the
Rochovce granite, Western Carpathians, constrained
by U/Pb single-zircon dating in combination with
cathodoluminescence imaging. Geologica Carpathica.
52,1, 41-47.
– Kohút, M.; Recio, C. 2001. A Sulphur Isotope Study
of Selected Hercynian Granitic and Surrounding
Rocks from the Western Carpathians (Slovakia).
Geologica Carpathica. 52, 6, in print December 2001.
– Broska, I.; Uher, P. 2001. Whole-rock chemistry and
genetic typology of the West-Carpathian Variscan
granites. Geologica Carpathica, 52, 79-90.
List of most important publications (including maps)
– Bakirov, A.; Jenchuraeva, R.; Ghes, M.; Seltmann,
R.; Shatov, V. and Popov, V. (eds.). 2001. Mineral
Deposits Map of Kyrgyzstan, scale 1:1 000 000.
Bishkek/London: IAGOD, NHM, IGCP-373,
Institute of Geology NAS Kyrgyz Republic.
– Bankwitz, P.; Bankwitz, E.; Kämpf, H.; Lobst, R.;
Krauss, M.; Eidam, J.; Breiter, K.; Bahat, D.;
Seltmann, R.: Tectonics and Magma. 2001. Meeting
in honour of Hans Cloos (1885-1951), GGW and
IGCP-373 Workshop: 22-24 June 2001 in Bautzen.
Abstract Volume and Excursion Guide.
Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der GGW,
Berlin 212 (2001), 164 p.
– Kozlowski, A.; Mikulski, S. Z. and Seltmann, R.
(chapter eds.). 2001. Mineralizing systems associ-
ated with felsic magmas. 357-508. In: Piestrzynski,
et al. (35 co-editors for 19 session chapters) Mineral
Deposits at the Beginning of the 21st Century.
Proceedings of the Joint Sixth Biennial SGA-SEG
Meeting Krakow. Lisse: Swets and Zeitlinger
Publishers. XXV, 1-1153. (IGCP-373 session with 37
edited papers)
– Seltmann, R. and Jenchuraeva, R. (eds.). 2001.
Paleozoic Geodynamics and Gold Deposits in the
Kyrgyz Tien Shan. Excursion Guidebook of the
IGCP-373 International Field Conference in Bishkek
and the Kyrgyz Tien Shan, Kyrgyz Republic, 16-25
August 2001. IAGOD Guidebook Series 9. NHM
London, 183 p.
Activities planned
General goals
The project applied for one year OET status (2002) to
summarize and publish achievements and to make public
major outcome (Episodes, Spec. Pub. Geol. Soc. London,
Spec. Vol. Tectonic and Magma in Z. Geol. Wiss.
Berlin/Germany; Metallogenic map of Central Asia
1.5 Million scale, Urals map 1 Million scale).
Meetings
1. 11th Quadrennial IAGOD Symposium in
Windhoek/Namibia, 22-26 July 2002, with an IGCP
373 Session (jointly with IAGOD-WGTT) and
project business meeting; major participation of
African geoscientists is expected (see also
http://www.geoconference2002.com/). The aim is to
summarize petrological and geochemical progress on
architecture of ore-bearing plutons.
2. Participation at the Workshop ‘Physical geology of
subvolcanic systems: Laccoliths, sills and dykes
(LASI)’ to summarize textural and physical (rheo-
logical) progress on mineralized shallow systems
http://www.geo.tu-freiberg.de/dynamo/LASI.htm
3. A final project business meeting shall take place at
NHM London and is planned for Autumn 2002 along
with a weekend field trip to Cornwall. Project co-
leaders and key researchers from Russia, Germany,
France and other countries will be invited.
No. 386 – Response of the Ocean/Atmosphere
System to Past Global Changes (1996-
2000, OET in 2001)
H. Strauss, Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut und
Museum, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster,
Corrensstrasse 24, 48149 Münster, Germany, e-mail:
hstrauss@uni-muenster.de
D. M. Banerjee, Department of Geology, Delhi
University, Chattra Marg, Delhi 110007, India, e-mail:
dhirajanjali@id.eth.net
L. A. Derry, Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell
University, 2122 Snell Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-1504,
United States, e-mail: derry@geology.cornell.edu
Helmut H. J. Geldsetzer, Geological Survey of Canada,
3303-33rd St. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2A7, Canada
(deceased in April 1998)
29
Z. Sawlowicz, Institute of Geological Sciences,
Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2, 30-063 Krakow,
Poland, e-mail: zbyszek@ing.uj.edu.pl
Description: Global geochemical perturbations of vari-
able magnitude and on different time-scales are reflected
in the geological record of marine sedimentary rocks.
In addition, corresponding traces are also present in
terrestrial sediments, all together linking the ocean-
atmosphere system. The aim of the project was to utilize
isotope ratios (carbon, oxygen, sulphur, strontium) and
elemental abundance (notably PGE) as proxies for these
changes in oceanic and/or atmospheric chemistry.
Possible causes for these perturbations include geo-
tectonic processes, biotic crises, and/or extraterrestrial
impacts. Research of IGCP 386 focused on four time
windows in the Palaeozoic with known global geo-
chemical changes: the Lower Cambrian, the Ordovician-
Silurian boundary, the Middle Devonian to Lower
Carboniferous time interval, and the Permian-Triassic
boundary.
Participating countries
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech
Republik, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary,
India, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United
Kingdom, United States.
Summary of major past achievements
of the Project
The earth system evolution was punctuated by a series
of distinct events, such as major geotectonic processes,
dramatic climatic changes, distinct palaeogeographic
scenarios or extraterrestrial impacts, many of which are
correlated with significant biological changes which in
turn serve as biostratigraphic markers. Such prominent
time-boundaries are frequently also characterized by
major perturbations of the global ocean/atmosphere
system, as recorded through distinct variations of
geochemical proxy signals. These variations are of
variable magnitude and duration.
Activities concentrate on four Palaeozoic time windows
with known distinct geochemical and isotopic signals of
global importance, notably the Lower Cambrian (545-
528 Ma), the Ordovician-Silurian boundary (443-437
Ma), the Middle Devonian to Lower Carboniferous (380-
345 Ma), and the Permian-Triassic boundary (260-245
Ma). Geochemical proxies (i.e. the isotopic composi-
tions of carbon, oxygen, sulphur, strontium, abundances
of PGE, REE) from relevant sedimentary sequences are
utilized to trace the geochemical responses to major
processes affecting the earth and its surface environ-
ments. Work included the compilation of existing and
generation of new data, followed by modelling of
reservoirs and fluxes.
30
General scientific achievements
Global geochemical perturbations of the ocean/
atmosphere system are reflected in the geological record
of marine and terrestrial sedimentary rocks by unusual
variations of elemental abundances and isotopic compo-
sitions. Research groups affiliated with IGCP 386
successfully refined available temporal trends for the
isotopic compositions (carbon, oxygen, sulphur and
strontium) of seawater (and continue to do so). Efforts
in respect to modelling the resulting datasets have been
quite successful with regard to long-term changes, not
so much however with regard to the extremely short-
term fluctuations.
Meetings
1996: The inaugural meeting of IGCP 386 was held in
conjunction with an SEPM/IAS meeting in Wildhaus,
Switzerland. Discussions centred around the research
objectives of the programme. The meeting was attended
by 40-50 scientists from nine different counties.
1997: A field workshop was held in Spiti Valley, India,
in order to study and sample the sedimentary sequences
in the Tethys Himalaya of Himachal Pradesh. Rock units
ranged in age from terminal Neoproterozoic to Early
Cretaceous. 14 participants from 5 countries attended
the field workshop. The purpose of this Field Workshop
was to involve geoscientists from several disciplines in
a cooperative study of some of the best exposed and
least deformed Phanerozoic sedimentary successions of
the Tethys Himalaya. Located in the exotic northern
boundary of India, amidst cold Himalayan desert like
environment, the Spiti region provided a unique window
to several stratigraphic boundaries along a single geo-
logical section. Two major stratigraphical sections were
sampled for in-depth study of geochemical signals in
the rocks. These are Permo-Carboniferous and Permo-
Triassic boundaries. Other boundary intervals were not
systematically sampled because the Neoproterozoic-
Cambrian contact was concealed under the glacial debris
and Ordovician-Silurian and Silurian-Devonian bound-
aries were affected by palaeontological hiatuses.
Following the field workshop, a one-day symposium was
held at the Indian National Science Academy Auditorium
in New Delhi. Presentations included those related to
the regional geology, stratigraphy and paleontology of
the Spiti area and correlative sequences in the Himalaya,
as well as studies on the chemostratigraphy of various
boundary sections worldwide. The meeting was attended
by 40 scientists from five countries and additional
10 students from Delhi University.
1998: A symposium was held at the 8th V.M.
Goldschmidt Conference in Toulouse, France, presenting
the objectives and scientific achievements of IGCP 386
to an international scientific audience. 60 scientists
attended the full-day symposium with 17 oral and
9 poster presentations. Of these, 20 scientists from
12 countries were members of IGCP 386. Following the
Goldschmidt Conference, 12 scientists from six coun-
tries participated in the 2nd field workshop of IGCP
Project No. 386 “Middle Devonian to Lower
Carboniferous in Belgium and Germany”. The central
issue of this field workshop was a discussion of strati-
graphic correlation and global geochemical perturbations
within the given time interval, exemplified through
typical sedimentary successions in Western Europe.
1999: A Geochemical Modelling Workshop was held two
days prior to the 9th V.M. Goldschmidt Conference at
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A. 14 scien-
tists from seven countries attended the 1.5 days work-
shop, in which basic aspects of geochemical modelling
as well as practical applications were presented. A final
discussion in respect to solving practical problems
related to time series analysis of geochemical data
concluded the meeting.
2000: No formal project meeting was held during this
year. An informal get-together of the co-leaders was
arranged at the 31st International Geological Congress
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In addition, Special
Symposium C-6 “Evolution of the Atmosphere,
Hydrosphere and Biosphere” at the 31st IGC was co-
sponsored by IGCP 386. Both co-conveners (Ján Veizer
and Harald Strauss) and several speakers within this
symposium are active participants of this IGCP project.
2001: The project officially terminated in 2000.
Extension was granted solely for holding the final
meeting in June 2001. Colleagues from Tallinn, Estonia,
had volunteered to host this final conference. However,
the meeting was cancelled due to an apparent lack of
interest in the scientific community and a resulting
expected low attendance.
No. 408 – Rocks and Minerals at Great Depth
and on the Surface (1998-2002)
F. P. Mitrofanov, Geological Institute KSC RAS,
14 Fersman Str., Apatity, Murmansk Region, 184209
Russia, e-mail: felix@geoksc.apatity.ru
D. M. Guberman, Scientific and Industrial Centre ‘Kola
Superdeep’, 17 Yubileynaya Str., Zapolyarny, Murmansk
Region, 184415 Russia, e-mail: kolasd@com.mels.ru
H.-J. Kümpel, GGA-Institut, Stilleweg 2, D-30655
Hanover, Germany, e-mail: kuempel@gga-hannover.de
Description: The Kola Super Deep Borehole KSDB-3
near Zapolyarny in Russia is the deepest borehole in the
world (12,261 m). The collection of core material re-
covered from the borehole (the common length is
4,700 m) is unique in its completeness, in the quality of
the preserved material and in the variety of the crystalline
rocks and formations present. The scientific aim of the
project is to study among others the mineralogy,
geochemistry and physical properties of the rocks at great
depth and their equivalents occurring at and near the
surface, by using state-of-the-art analytical techniques.
The wealth of information that will be obtained from the
Kola and other super deep boreholes will be used to gain
greater insights into four problems in the geosciences:
- geomechanical stability of the continental crust
- potential and risks for waste disposal at great depth
- localisation of ore deposits in the middle crust
- geological interpretation of geophysical measure-
ments.
To solve these problems five international thematic
working groups have been created: geology-geophysics,
mineralogy, isotope-geochemistry, physical properties
and borehole measurements.
Websites of the project
http://icdp.gfz-potsdam.de
http://icdp.gfz-potsdam.de/html/kola/news.html
Participating countries
(*indicates countries active this year)
Canada, *Czech Republic, China, *Finland, *France,
*Germany, *India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, *Norway,
*Poland, *Russia, *Slovak Republic, Sweden, Spain,
*Ukraine, *United Kingdom, *United States
Achievements of the project this year
In 2000-2001 the data available on Kola were expanded
and published on an English/Russian website comprising
general information on the super deep borehole and on
IGCP 408. The data are incorporated into the Information
Network of the International Continental Scientific
Drilling Programme. During 2001, an information-
analytical system ‘Petrology of Pre-Cambrian rocks
from the Kola Superdeep Borehole section (riftogenic
complex)’ was created in the framework of a thematic
task of the Russian Ministry for Natural Resources and
with the support of IGCP.
The study of iron-magnesia phlogopites and low-alumina
biotites from metamorphosed ultrabasic and basic rocks
(crystalline schists, amphibolites) of the KSDB Archean
complex at depths ranging from 7,930 to 11,340 m and
their surface homologues in the Allarechka region
(St Petersburg, Russia) showed that structures of micas
with the same fm values have higher values of the unit
cell volume than those for the synthetic members of the
phlogopite-annite series (‘structural looseness’). The
‘looseness’ degree for the surface micas is higher than
that for the micas from the borehole. The clinopyroxene
composition of the picrites from the Kola super deep
drillhole has been investigated and their mineralogical
and petrological data compared with those from the
outcrops in the surrounding area (Slovak Republic).
31
Microprobe analyses of mineral phases showed (Apatity
and Zapolyarny, Russia) that ore minerals from deep
horizons contain a substantial quantity of Ni, Co,
PGE in sulphides, and Mn, V, Ti in oxides, while in the
zone nearer to the surface their composition is more
stable.
The comparison of the results obtained from the Kola
super deep and KTB boreholes indicated that fluid
migration is mainly restricted to tectonic fracture systems
like fissures, cracks, fault zones and veins. In order to
understand the genesis and development of palaeofluids
and palaeofluid systems under hydrothermal conditions,
secondary minerals and their associations crystallized in
these fracture systems have been investigated (Giessen,
Hanover, Germany; Zapolyarny, Russia).
About 20 rock samples from the Proterozoic and Archean
sections of KSDB as well as their surface homologues
have been dated by the Sm-Nd method on a mass spec-
trometer Finnigan-MAT 262 (RPQ). 10 amphibolite
samples from KSDB yielded Sm-Nd model ages (DM)
of 2.16-2.94 Ga. Six samples of biotite-tonalite gneisses
from Garsjo, Svanvik and Varanger were considered to
be homologues of KSDB rocks, yielded Archean Sm-
Nd model ages (DM) of 2.78-2.94 Ga. Two amphibo-
lite samples from the Garsjo gneisses (considered to be
homologues of KSDB rocks) and two metadiabase
samples from KSDB yielded Proterozoic Sm-Nd model
ages (DM) of 2.1-2.4 Ga.
On the basis of geological and geochemical data the
correlation between the KSDB Archean complex and the
Late Archean granite-greenstone area of the Svanvik-
Lotta segment from the Kola-Norwegian block has been
established (Trondheim, Norway; Apatity and
Zapolyarny, Russia). The KSDB Archean rocks formed
a bed of the Pechenga riftogenic structure and as
compared to the surface homologues they have been
greatly altered during the Proterozoic rift genesis. Fluid
reworking of the Archean rocks over the subalkaline melt
hearths that are parent for the Pechenga volcanites
caused the process of the Proterozoic granitization of
2.15-2.22 Ga.
Crustal reflections of seismic profiles may be the result
of compositional layering, shear zones, anisotropy, fluid
filled cracks, fractures or the combination of the above,
combined with layering which enhances reflectivity with
a stronger effect than individual reflection coefficients
(Laramie, United States and Karlsruhe, Germany).
The study, conducted in Kiel (Germany), Moscow,
Apatity and Zapolyarny (Russia) investigates the effect
of pressure and temperature on seismic and density
properties of core samples recovered from the
Proterozoic and Archean units and their analogues
exposed at the surface. Pronounced pressure (crack)
sensitivity of P- and S-wave velocities indicates strong
decompaction in the core, due to drilling-induced
32
damage and rapid pressure and temperature release
during core retrieval. Marked velocity anisotropy and
shear wave splitting are present in the foliated
Proterozoic and Archean gneisses and amphibolites, due
to oriented micro cracks and lattice (crystallographic)
preferred orientation (LPO) of the constituent mica and
hornblende minerals. The experimentally determined
intrinsic velocities and anisotropy compare fairly well
with corresponding calculated data, based on the LPO
and the single crystal properties of the major minerals.
It has been revealed that high anisotropy of the
continental crust’s deep horizons results from tectonic
and metamorphic processes. It is precisely anisotropy
that has a profound impact on cavernosity and deviation
of super deep boreholes.
With regard to the block and geological structure of the
regions’ rock massifs, a comparative analysis of the rock
massifs’ stressed-strained state in the KSDB and KTB
site areas has been conducted (Apatity, Russia). The
primary azimuth of the greatest compression tectonic
stresses in the KSDB site was established to be 320°
and in the KTB site area – 310-335°. It was shown that
in the interior parts of the platform at a depth over
3-5 km, high temperature hydrothermal systems have
been developed. There are similarities in thermodynamic
parameters and geologic structure with hydrothermal-
magmatic systems of the ocean-continent transition
zone. The Pechenga deep hydrothermal system was used
as an example to show that it could be useful in the
study of geotechnical conditions for the isolation of
various nuclear materials when they are stored and
buried just in natural objects.
Meetings
The Plenary Meeting was held in Windischeschenbach,
Germany, from 5 to 9 September 2001. The total
number of participants was 37 from seven countries.
The conference included a visit to the KTB borehole,
KTB site in Windischeschenbach and KTB core storage
facility in Wackersdorf, excursions to the geological
outcrops in Eastern Bavaria, Germany, 5-7 September
2001.
Educational, training
or capacity-building activities
In 2001, an educational textbook Material homologues
of metamorphites from the lower parts of the Kola SG-
3 Archean section (IX unit in a depth range of 11,411 m
to 11,708 m) in the outcrops of the Zatuloma structure
of the Kola-Norwegian domain was published in Russian
and partly in English by the Murmansk State Technical
University. The main task of the investigations conducted
by the authors was to identify surface homologues of
the KSDB Archean rocks. The textbook is of interest
for geologists, teachers of different geological dis-
ciplines, post-graduate students and students studying
geology.
Most important publications
– Kern, H.; Popp, T.; Gorbatsevich, F.; Zharikov, A.;
Lobanov, K.V.; Smirnov, Yu.P. 2001. Pressure and
temperature dependence of Vp and Vs in rocks from
the superdeep well and from surface analogues at
Kola and the nature of velocity anisotropy.
Tectonophysics. Vol. 338, pp. 113-34.
– Kozlov, N. Ye.; Avedisyan, A. A.; Ivanov, A. A. et al.
2001. Material homologues of metamorphites from
the lower parts of the Kola SG-3 Archean section
(IX unit in a depth range of 11411 to 11708 m) in
the outcrops of the Zatuloma structure of the Kola-
Norwegian domain. (Educational textbook),
Murmansk State Technical University, Murmansk,
65 pp. (In Russian and partly in English).
– Smithson, S. B.; Wenzel, F.; Ganshin, Y. V.;
Morozov, I. B. 2000. Seismic results at Kola and
KTB deep scientific boreholes: velocities, reflec-
tions, fluids, and crustal composition. Tectono-
physics. Vol. 329, pp. 301-17.
– Spisiak, J.; Dostal, J.; Hovorka, D.; Meres, S.;
Smirnov, Yu. P. 2001. Clinopyroxenes Composition
of the Picrites from the Kola Superdeep Borehole
KSDB-3 (Proterozoic Group, Pechenga Complex).
EUG XI Strasbourg – France, 8 April-12 April 2001.
Journal of Conference Abstracts. Vol. 6, No. 1.
Cambridge Publ, p. 581 (ISSN 1362-0886).
– Vetrin, V. R. 2001. Mantle sources of fluids under
granitization of the continental crust rocks.
International conference “New ideas in Earth
sciences”, Abstracts, Vol. 2, Moscow, p. 13.
Activities planned
General goals
Mineralogical, isotope, geochronological and other
analyses of core and surface samples, petrophysical
measurements of rock samples are planned together with
laboratory and field studies. Operational phase of con-
tinuous fluid level, microseismic, stress field monitoring
in the KSDB, verification of working plans. Preparing
publications within the international working groups for
Episodes, Newsletter of ICDP, Terra Nova and other
reviewed journals.
Meetings
Plenary meeting in Zapolyarny and Apatity, Russia,
September 2002 and fieldwork at the Pechenga struc-
ture and surroundings.
No. 410 – The Great Ordovician
Biodiversification Event (1997-2001,
OET in 2002)
B. D. Webby, Centre for Ecostratigraphy and
Palaeobiology, Department of Earth and Planetary
Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW
2109, Australia, e-mail: bwebby@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au
F. Paris, UPR du Centre national de recherche scien-
tifique (CNRS) « Géosciences », Université de Rennes
I, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France, e-mail:
florentin.paris@univ-rennes1.fr
M. Droser, Department of Earth Sciences, University of
California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States, e-mail:
mary.droser@ucr.edu
Description: The project seeked to examine the nature
and processes responsible for coastal changes during sea-
level highstands, with the ultimate aim of applying the
results to the management of present and future coastal
change. The history of coastal environmental changes
during the past few thousand years, up to the present day,
were compared with similar intervals of sea level high-
stands in the longer geological record (e.g. comparison
of the Last Interglacial Maximum or interstadials with the
present Holocene Interglacial). During these episodes, sea
level was at its highest or next to its highest points in the
most recent period of Earth history. Thus, the changes
which have occurred during similar sea-level highstands,
during the last few hundred thousand years were also
examined as a framework to model possible future change
in the environmentally sensitive and extremely dynamic
setting of the coastal zone.
This globally based project has an overall goal to fully
appraise all known records of preserved biotas in
Ordovician rocks, as a basis for a comprehensive eval-
uation of the manner in which the greatest diversifica-
tion of marine life on Earth took place. The approach
to achieving this primary goal requires a focus also on
the following tasks:
- identify the significant global (and regional)
bioevents
- establish the onshore-offshore biofacies profiles
within each latitudinal belt
- assess, on a group-by-group basis, diversity trends
for each major taxonomic group
- find possible physical or chemical causes
(e.g. whether they be related to changes in climate,
sea level, volcanism, plate movements, etc.), and
- evaluate economically significant Ordovician
organic-matter assemblages of contrasting deeper
pelagic and shallow, intracratonic oil-shale deposits.
Websites of the project
http://www.es.mq.edu.au/MUCEP/igcp410/index.htm
(for information about the project)
http://homepages.uc.edu/~millerai/welcome.html (for
details about the database)
http://www.geosciences.univ-rennes1.fr/www/ch/paris/
default.htm (other information)
Participating countries
(*indicates the countries active this year)
33
Algeria*, Argentina*, Australia*, Austria, Belarus,
Belgium*, Bolivia, Brazil*, Bulgaria*, Canada*,
People’s Republic of China*, Czech Republic*,
Denmark*, Estonia*, France*, Germany*, Ireland,
Italy*, Iran, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea*,
Mongolia*, Morocco*, New Zealand*, Norway*,
Poland*, Portugal*, Puerto Rica, Russia*, Saudi Arabia*,
South Africa, Spain*, Sweden*, Viet Nam, United
Kingdom*, United States*, Uzbekistan.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
This year IGCP 410 held its eighth, ninth and tenth inter-
national meetings on aspects of Ordovician biodiversity
– first, there was a clade team meeting in Riverside
(California, United States), and then the two field meet-
ings, in Novosibirsk and the Siberian Altai (Russia), and
in Ulaanbaatar and Southern-Central Mongolia, respec-
tively. All these meetings were well attended and produc-
tive, and as in previous years have been largely supported
by finances provided by UNESCO and IUGS. They were
meetings held in areas not previously visited, which had
the effect of widening our regional focus on Ordovician
biodiversity to other parts of Asia. Most of our regional
team work programmes continued to make some
progress, but the European/North African team was
again the most active and productive. In some areas of
Europe, for example, in the Czech Republic, the biodi-
versity work programme has now virtually been
completed, with the results of particular importance
because they show patterns of diversity in marine envi-
ronments of higher palaeolatitudes through Ordovician
time. Again, this year, a very large number of papers
have been published on Ordovician biodiversity and
related topics by participants of IGCP 410 worldwide
(see details listed below).
The clade team meeting held in Riverside last June (and
more fully reported below) brought together the leading
Ordovician experts worldwide for presentations of their
clade group specialities, but also to join in wider discus-
sions about how the major results of this IGCP 410
teamwork should be published. It was agreed that all the
biodiversity results should employ the same standard-
ized global time scale, and use the same diversity meas-
ures for plotting patterns of diversity change. The work
continued towards providing the most highly resolved
and well-calibrated Ordovician time scale for correlating
the biodiversity data, and this year, with the calibration
work of Peter Sadler (Riverside, California) and Roger
Cooper (Lower Hutt, New Zealand), was advanced
further by a computer-generated constrained optimiza-
tion programme that achieved even greater refinement.
Sadler and Cooper’s startling results were presented at
the Riverside meeting. Agreement was also reached at
the Riverside meeting that the same types of diversity
measures should be applied to all clade groups in the
34
global survey. Consequently, there now exists the basis
for fullest possible analyses of all the Ordovician clade
groups using the same time scale, and the same diver-
sity measures, which will remove at least two serious
sources of error in assessing on a group-by-group basis,
diversity trends of each major taxonomic group.
The project has added significantly to global efforts to
achieve a more highly resolved time scale, and has
provided a dramatically increased awareness of the
significance of the greatest sustained diversification of
marine life on earth.
Meetings
1. Ordovician clade group meeting, University of
California (Riverside, United States)
The eighth international meeting of IGCP 410 was held
in the University of California, Riverside, 22-24 June.
Over the three days of the meeting, 35 talks and posters
were presented, covering a wide range of global and
regional biodiversity topics including the following clade
groups – acritarchs, brachiopods, bryozoans, chitinozoans,
corals, echinderms, graptolites, machaeridians, radiolar-
ians, stromatoporoids trace fossils, trilobites and verte-
brates – as well as a contribution on a more fully integrated
Ordovician time scale. Some 45 scientists from 13 different
countries participated. A 14-page book of abstracts was
published as a special issue of PaleoBios by the Museum
of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley.
Just before the meeting participants were advised by the
Science Editor of the Columbia University Press that the
book plan for the publication of the clade team results
had been accepted – a single volume to be entitled ‘The
Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event’, and to
appear in the publishers ‘Perspectives in Paleobiology
and Earth History Series’. This volume will be edited
by the three IGCP 410 Project Co-Leaders, B. D. Webby,
M. Droser and F. Paris. Consequently, wide-ranging
discussions were held on topics such as: contents, author-
ship, timetable and deadlines, publishers guidelines,
global time scale and diversity measures to be employed.
The book will comprise: (1) an introductory section with
brief outlines relating to Ordovician time and the
Ordovician world (topics such as plate tectonics, palaeo-
climates, palaeooceanography, sea levels, isotope signa-
tures, volcanism, orogeny, a possible superplume, and
end-Ordovician glaciation); (2) about 35 chapters docu-
menting the diversity patterns of the clade groups (with
more than 50 authors); and (3) a concluding part, with
one or more, summary-type global biodiversity
syntheses. The publication of a book of about 370 pages
is expected to take place during 2003.
2. Combined IGCP 410 and 421 field meetings to
South-West Siberia and Southern and Central
Mongolia
Siberia: The first of the two meetings was to be held in
conjunction with IGCP 421 (North Gondwana Mid-
Palaeozoic biodynamics). The field trip from 5 to
19 August focused on: (1) aspects of Ordovician to mid-
Palaeozoic sequences and biotas in relation to trans-
gression/regressions events; (2) relationships between
the clastic and carbonate facies development, and
community associations in the shelf margins of the
Siberian block during Ordovician to mid-Palaeozoic
time; and (3) to testing recent ideas about how (and
when) the mosaic of accreted terranes of the Altai-Sayan
folded area became a part of the shelf margin of the
Siberian craton. The 40 participants included represen-
tatives from 9 different countries. The field excursion
involved travel into a large area to the south and east of
Novosibirsk – in the Altai Mountains, Salair and the
Kuznetsk Basin. During the first few days in the North-
West Altai there were opportunities to examine the
mainly Caradocian and Ashgillian clastic successions
with their mixed graptolite and shelly faunas, as well as
a deeper water succession of Early Ordovician age with
associated radiolarians and conodonts. And later, in the
Central Altai, the Ordovician-Silurian group examined
the shallow-water Tremadocian succession at Kamlak
Creek, containing brachiopods, trilobites and conodonts.
Other Ordovician localities were visited in the second
half of the field trip, in North-East Salair (near
Gur’yevsk). Sections at these isolated localities included:
(1) across the Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician tran-
sition, some particularly rich trilobite associations iden-
tified by Petrunina, (2) a Middle Ordovician succession
with key graptolite species, and (3) richly diverse shelly
faunas (especially trilobites) in a long-celebrated,
Caradocian to early Ashgillian sequence (Weber
Formation).
Mongolia: This joint IGCP 410/421 field meeting
commenced with a one-day indoor meeting in
Ulaanbaatar on 22 August in the Conference Hall of the
Mongolian Technical University; a session of ten talks
and a poster were then presented by the delegates that
covered a wide range of topics relating to Ordovician
biodiversity, North Gondwanan mid-Palaeozoic
bioevents, biogeographic affinities, taxonomy (Asian
charophytes) and Mongolian crustal (magmatic) events.
Particularly relevant were the papers dealing with the
Ordovician biodiversity of the Barrandean area of the
Czech Republic by Olda Fatka and others, the Early
Ordovician conodont and graptolite biostratigraphy of
Argentina by Guillermo Albanesi, the Late Ordovician
corals of Mongolia by Ch, Minjin and J. Undarya, and
the Ordovician biotas and biofacies patterns in Eastern
Australia by Barry Webby and Ian Percival.
Other Meetings – Copenhagen and Lille
IGCP 410 was also involved in the sponsorship of two
other meetings in Europe during 2001. The first was a
meeting of the Working Group on the Ordovician
Geology of Baltoscandia (WOGOGOB), from 16-
20 May, in Copenhagen (Denmark) with an accompa-
nying field trip near Lund (Sweden). This meeting was
attended by 45 delegates from 8 European countries, and
included a session of talks on the theme ‘Biodiversity
changes in the Ordovician of Baltoscandia’. A 47-page
abstract volume edited by D.A.T. Harper and S. Stouge
included papers on Ordovician biodiversity topics.
A second meeting, entitled ‘Early Palaeozoic
Palaeogeographies and Biogeographies of Western
Europe and North Africa’ was held in Lille, France, from
24-26 September, attended by 101 scientists from
16 countries. Two field excursions were organized, each
with published guide books, the first to examine Lower
Palaeozoic stratigraphy and sedimentology in Belgium
(Brabant Massif and Condroz inlier), and the second,
focusing on Early Palaeozoics of the Southern Montagne
Noire in France.
List of most important publications
– Blieck, A.; Karatajute-Talimaa, V. N. (In press, a)
Upper Silurian and Devonian heterostracan
pteraspidomorphs (Vertebrata) from Severnaya
Zemlya (Russia): a preliminary report with biogeo-
graphical and biostratigraphical implications. In:
D. Goujet, (ed.), Palaeontology and stratigraphy of
the Silurian-Devonian of Severnaya Zemlya, Russia
(IGCP 406 volume). Geodiversitas, Paris.
– Blieck, A.; Karatajute-Talimaa, V. N. (In press, b)
New corvaspids from the Lochkovian (Lower
Devonian) of Severnaya Zemlya, Russia (Vertebrata:
Pteraspidomorphi: Heterostraci) In: D. K. Elliott
(ed.) 9th Intern. Symp. Early Vertebrates/Lower
Vertebrates (Flagstaff, Arizona, 15-19 May 2000).
Jl. Vert. Paleont., Special Issue.
– Blieck, A.; Tarrant, P. R. 2001. Protopteraspis gosse-
leti (Vertebrata: Pteraspidomorphi: Heterostraci)
from the Lower Devonian of Shropshire, England.
Palaeontology, 44 (1), pp. 95-112, 10 fig., 1 tabl.
London.
– Brenchley, P. J. 2001. Late Ordovician extinction.
In: D. E. G. Briggs, and P. R. Crowther, (eds.)
Palaeobiology II, Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp. 220-3.
– Brenchley, P. J.; Marshall, J. D. 2001. Do all mass
extinctions represent an ecological crisis? Evidence
from the Late Ordovician. Geological Journal, 36,
pp. 329-40.
– Bultynck, P.; Sarmiento, G. N. (In press.) Reworked
Early-Middle Ordovician and autochthonous Late
Silurian to Early Devonian conodonts from Khemis-
n’Ga (Moroccan Meseta) Depositional environmental
and palaeogeographic implications. Courier
Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
– Buslov M. M.; Watanabe T.; Fujiwara Y.; Iwata K.;
Saphonova Yu. I.; Obut O. T.; Sugai Y. 2001.
Geodynamics and tectonics of Central Asia: conti-
nental growth in Vendian-Paleozoic time. Special
Issue on Rodinia, Gondwana and Asia (ISRGA
Volume). Gondwana Research. 4, (4), p. 587.
– Chen Xu; Zhang Yuan-Dong; Mitchell, C. E. 2001.
Early Darriwilian graptolites from central and
western China. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 191-210.
35
– Choi, D. K.; Kim, D. H.; Sohn, J. W. 2001.
Ordovician trilobite faunas and depositional history
of the Taebaeksan Basin, Korea: implications for
palaeogeography. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 53-68.
– Chough, S. K.; Kwon, S. T.; Choi, D. K.; Lee, D. J.
2001. Autoconglomeration of limestone. Geosciences
Journal, 5, pp. 159-64.
– Copper, P. 2001. Evolution, radiation and extinctions
in Proterozoic to Mid-Paleozoic reefs. In:
G. D. Stanley (ed.) The history and sedimentology of
ancient reef systems. Topics in Geobiology, 17:
pp. 89-119, Plenum Press, New York.
– Copper, P. 2001. Reefs during the multiple crises
towards the Ordovicisn-Silurian boundary: Anticosti
Island, eastern Canada, and worldwide. Canadian
Journal of Earth Sciences, 38, pp. 153-71.
– Danelian, T.; Floyd, J. 2001. Progress in describing
Ordovician siliceous biodiversity from the Southern
Uplands (Scotland, U.K.). Transactions of the Royal
Society of Edinburgh, Earth Sciences, 91, pp. 489-
98.
– Danelian, T.; Popov, L.; (In press.) Ordovician
Radiolarian diversity increase: insights based on new
and revised data from Kazakhstan. Bull. Soc. géol.
France.
– Ebneth, S.; Shields, G. A.; Veizer, J.; Miller, J. F.;
Shergold, J. H. 2001. High-resolution strontium
isotope stratigraphy across the Cambrian-Ordovician
transition. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65,
pp. 2273-92.
– Ferretti, A.; Schönlaub, H. P. 2001. New conodont
faunas from Late Ordovician of the Central Carnic
Alps, Austria: Boll. Soc. Paleont. It., 40 (1) pp. 3-
15.
– Fryda, J.; Rohr, D. M.; Robardet, M.; Gutiérrez-
Marco, J. C. 2001. A new Late Ordovician
microdomatid gastropod genus from Seville, south-
west Spain, with a revision of Ordovician
Microdomatoidea. Alcheringa, 25 (1), pp. 116-27.
– Gnoli, M.; Pillola, G. L. 2002. The oldest nautiloid
cephalopod of Sardinia: Bathmoceras cf. linnarssoni
Angelin, 1880 from the Arenigian (Early Ordovician)
of Tacconis (South East Sardinia) and remarks on
the surrounding biota. N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. Mh.,
2002 (1), pp. 19-26.
– Gutiérrez-Marco, J. C.; Robardet, M.; Rábano, I.;
Sarmiento, G. N.; San José Lancha, M. A.; Herranz
Araújo, P.; Pieren Pidal, A. P. (In press.) Ordovician.
Chapter 4. In: T. Moreno and W. Gibbons (eds.) The
Geology of Spain. Geological Society Special
Publication, London.
– Hammann, W.; Serpagli, E. (In press.) The algal
genera Ischiadites Murchison 1839, Cyclocrinites
Eichwald 1840, from the Late Ordovician
Portixeddu Formation of SW Sardinia. Paläont.
Zeitschr.
– Harper, D. A. T.; Hints, L. 2001. Distribution and
diversity of Ordovician articulated brachiopods in the
East Baltic. In: H. Brunton, L. R. M. Cocksand
S. Long (eds.) Brachiopods Past and Present. Taylor
36
and Francis Publishers, London and New York,
pp. 315-26.
– Holmer, L. E.; Popov, L. E.; Koneva, S. P.;
Bassett, M. G. 2001. Cambrian – early Ordovician
brachiopods from Malyi Karatau, western Balkhash
Region, and northern Tien Shan, Central Asia.
Special Papers in Palaeontology, 65, 180 pp.
– Jaglin J. C.; Paris, F. 2001. Biostratigraphy, bio-
diversity and palaeogeography of Late Silurian
chitinozoans from A1-61 borehole (north-western
Libya). Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. (In press)
– Kaljo, D.; Hints, L.; Martma, T.; Nolvak, J. 2001.
Carbon isotope stratigraphy in the latest Ordovician
of Estonia. Chemical Geology, 175, pp. 49-59.
– Kozlu, H.; Sarmiento, G. N.; Ali Gül, M.;
Göncüoglu, M. C. (In press.) Mid-Ordovician (late
Darriwilian) conodonts from the southern Central
Taurides, Turkey: Geological implications. Turkish
Journal of Earth Sciences.
– Kraft, P.; Kraft, J.; Prokop, R. J. 2001. A possible
hydroid from the Lower and Middle Ordovician of
Bohemia. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 143-54.
– Lefèbvre, B.; Gutiérrez-Marco, J. C. (In press.) New
Ordovician mitrocystitidan mitrates (Echinodermata,
Stylophora) from the Central Iberian Zone (Spain).
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie
Abhandlungen.
– Loi A.; Dabard M.-P. 2001. Controls of sea-level
fluctuations on the formation of Ordovician siliceous
nodules in terrigenous offshore environments.
Sedimentary Geology. (In press)
– Mccormick, T.; Owen, A. W. 2001. Assessing trilo-
bite biodiversity change in the Ordovician of the
British Isles. Geological Journal, 36, pp. 279-90.
– Nowlan, G. S.; Haidl, F. M. 2001. Biostratigraphy
and paleoecology of Late Ordovician conodonts from
a composite section in the subsurface of
Saskatchewan. In: Summary of Investigations 2001,
Vol. 1, Saskatchewan Geological Survey,
Saskatchewan Energy and Mines, Miscellaneous
Report 2001-4.1, pp. 14-31.
– Ottone, E. G.; Holfetz, G.; Albanesi, G. L.;
Ortega, G. 2001. Chitinozoans from the Ordovician
Los Azules Formation, Central Precordillera,
Argentina. Micropaleontology, 47 (2), pp. 97-110.
– Percival, I. G. 2001. Barry Deane Webby: an appre-
ciation. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 1-7.
– Percival, I. G.; Webby, B. D.; Pickett, J. W. 2001.
Ordovician (Bendigonian, Darriwilian to Gisbornian)
faunas from the northern Molong Volcanic Belt of
central New South Wales. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 211-
50.
– Pickett, J.; Percival, I. G. 2001. Ordovician faunas
and biostratigraphy in the Gunningbland area, central
New South Wales, Australia. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 9-
52.
– Popov, L. E.; Vinn, O.; Nikitina, O. I. 2001.
Brachiopods of the redefined family Tritoechiidae
from the Ordovician of Kazakhstan and South Urals.
Geobios, 32 (2), pp. 131-55.
– Robardet M.; Paris, F.; Plusquellec, Y. 2001.
Comment on “New Early Devonian paleomagnetic
data from NW France: Paleogeography and implica-
tions for Armorican microplate hypothesis” by J. Tait.
Journal of Geophysical. Research, 106, pp. 13307-
10.
– Rohr, D. M.; Fryda, J. 2001. A new Ordovician
gastropod and operculum from the Czech Republic.
Journal of Paleontology, 75, pp. 461-2.
– Rohr, D. M.; Measures, E. A. 2001. Middle
Ordovician (Whiterockian) gastropods from western
Newfoundland. Journal of Paleontology, 75, pp. 284-
94.
– Rohr, D. M.; Measures, E. A.; Boyce, W. D.;
Knight, I. 2001. Early Ordovician gastropods of the
Barbace Cove Member (Boat Harbour Formation)
and Catoche Formation, western Newfoundland.
Newfoundland Department of Mines and Energy,
Report 01-1, pp. 113-26.
– Samuelsson, J.; Van Roy, P.; Vecoli, M. 2001.
Micropalaeontology of a Moroccan Ordovician
deposit yielding soft-bodied organisms showing
Ediacara-like preservation. Geobios. 34 (4), pp. 1-
17.
– Samuelsson, J.; Vecoli, M.; Beier, H. 2001.
Ordovician-Silurian palynostratigraphy (acritarchs
and Chitinozoa) of the G14 borehole, southern Baltic
Sea. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie,
Abh., 222 (1/2), pp. 259-90.
– Sdzuy, K.; Hammann, W.; Villas, E. 2001. The Upper
Tremadoc fauna from Vogtendorf and the Bavarian
Ordovician of the Frankenwald. Senckenbergiana
lethaea, pp. 207-61.
– Servais, T.; Samuelsson, J.; Sehnert, M.; Vecoli, M.;
Verniers, J. 2001. Ordovician palynomorphs from the
subsurface of Rügen (NE Germany): review and
perspectives. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und
Paläontologie, Abh., 222 (1/2), pp. 291-307.
– Servais, T.; Samuelsson, J.; Sehnert, M.; Vecoli, M.;
Giese, U.; Verniers, J. 2001. Ordovician paly-
nomorphs from the subsurface of Rügen (NE-
Germany): review and perspectives. Neues Jahrbuch
für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abh. 222 (1/2),
pp. 291-307.
– Sohn, J. W.; Kim, D. H.; Choi, D. K. 2001.
Stratigraphy of the Cambro-Ordovician strata in the
Mt. Samtae area, Danyang, Korea. Journal of the
Paleontological Society of Korea, 17, pp. 23-34.
– Steemans, P. 2001. Ordovician cryptospores from the
Oostduinkerke borehole, Brabant Massif, Belgium.
Geobios, 34, pp. 3-12.
– Tolmacheva, T.; Danelian, T.; Popov, L. E. 2001.
Evidence for 15 m.y. of continuous deep-sea biogenic
siliceous sedimentation in early Palaeozoic oceans.
Geology, 29 (8), pp. 755-8.
– Tolmacheva, T.; Koren, T. N.; Holmer, L. E.;
Popov, L. E.; Raevskaya, E. 2001. The Hunneberg
Satge (Ordovician) in the area east of St. Petersburg,
north-western Russia. Paläontologische Zeitschrift,
74 (4), pp. 543-61.
– Vecoli, M.; Samuelsson, J. 2001. Quantitative eval-
uation of microplankton palaeobiogeography in the
Ordovician – Early Silurian of the northern TESZ
(Trans-European Suture Zone): implications for the
timing of the Avalonia-Baltica collision. Review of
Palaeobotany and Palynology. 115 (1/2), pp. 43-68.
– Vecoli, M.; Samuelsson, J. 2001. Reworked acritarchs
as provenance indicators in the Lower Palaeozoic of
Denmark. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 332, pp. 465-71.
– Villas, E.; Hammann, W.; Harper, D. A. T. 2002.
Foliomena fauna (Brachiopoda) from the Upper
Ordovician of Sardinia. Palaeontology. 45 (2), (In
press.)
– Webby, B. D.; Cooper, R. A.; Bergström, S. M.; Paris,
F. 2001. Ordovician time scale: an introduction
Riverside Meeting, 22-24 June 2001, IGCP 410
Abstract, Paleobios, 21, p. 13
– Webby, B. D. 2001. IGCP Project 410: The Great
Ordovician Biodiversification Event: Reports of the
Riverside (California) clade group meeting, 21-
25 June, the Mongolian field meeting, 21 August-
6 September 2001, and activities planned in 2002.
The Australian Geologist, 121 pp.
– Wrona, R.; Bednarczyk, W. S.; Stempien-Sazek, M.
2001. Chitinozoans and acritarchs from the
Ordovician of the Skibno 1 borehole, Pomerania,
Poland: implications for stratigraphy and palaeo-
geography. Acta Geological Polonica, 51 (4),
pp. 391-407.
– Zhen, Y.-Y.; Nicoll, R. S.; Percival, I. G.; Hamedi, M. A.;
Stewart, I. 2001. Ordovician rhipidognahtid cono-
donts from Australia and Iran. Journal of Paleonto-
logy, 75, pp. 186-207.
– Zhou Zhi-Yi; Zhou Zhi-Qiang; Yuan Wen-Wei. 2001.
Llanvirn-early Caradoc trilobite biofacies of western
Hubei and Hunan, China. Alcheringa, 25, pp. 69-86.
Activities planned for 2002
General goals
The requested extension of one year (2002) will give
the project participants time to complete the remaining
global and regional Ordovician diversity syntheses for
publication, and allow the final meeting to be held in
association with the first International Palaeontological
Congress in Sydney, Australia, in July 2002.
Meetings
Two international meetings are planned during 2002.
The first will be in support of the ‘Early Life’ sympo-
sium being held in association with the Geological
Association of Canada’s Annual Congress in Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan (Canada) in late May 2002. The session
will ‘explore the patterns and processes of biotic radi-
ation, mass extinction, and post-extinction recovery,
and their relationships to the evolving lithosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere during the Early
Palaeozoic Era’.
37
A second (and final) IGCP 410 meeting will be held in
Sydney in conjunction with the First International
Palaeontological Congress (IPC), for congress details
see web site:
http://www.es.mq.edu.au/mucep/ipc2002/
No. 411 – Geodynamics of Gondwanaland-
derived Terranes in East and South Asia
(1998 2002)
S. Hada, Research Institute for Higher Education, Kobe
University, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan, e-mail:
hada@kobe-u.ac.jp
I. Metcalfe, Asia Centre, University of New
England, Armidale NSW 2351, Australia, e-mail:
imetcalfe@metz.une.edu.au
J. H. Kim, Department of Geological Science, Seoul
National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea, e-mail:
jhk@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Tran Van Tri, Department of Geology and Mineral of
Viet Nam, 6 Pham Ngu Lao St., Hanoi, Viet Nam,
e-mail: GSV@bdvn.net
Jin Xiaoch, Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of
Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, People’s Republic
of China, e-mail: jinxchi@public.bta.net.cn
Description: The major scientific objective of the project
is to understand the processes that led to the final
assembly of Gondwanaland-derived terranes in East and
South-East Asia. It will adopt an interdisciplinary
approach including the study of igneous activity, meta-
morphism, sedimentation, tectonics, palaeobio-
geography, palaeomagnetism, metallogenesis, and
petroleum and coal geology. Apart from Japan and
Russia, the main activities will take place in the develop-
ing countries of the South-East Asian region. An import-
ant goal is to produce a tectonic Map of East and
South-East Asia at 1:10 million, which will be compiled
in GIS format by various geological surveys in the
region. The societal benefits of the project are related to
metallogenesis in each terrane, and development of
hydrocarbon- and coal-bearing sedimentary basins
during the final emplacement of the terranes.
Website of the project
http://www.hku.hk/earthsci/411.htm
Participating countries
(*indicates countries active this year)
*Australia, *China, France, *India, Japan, *Korea (Rep.
of), *Malaysia, *Philippines, *Papua-New Guinea,
*Thailand, *United Kingdom, *United States, Russia,
Taiwan, *Viet Nam.
38
Achievements of the project in 2001
A framework for understanding the various tectonic
blocks originating from Gondwana and now accreted to,
and amalgamated within, Asia is now rather well estab-
lished. Efforts continue in order to improve a detailed
understanding of the timing of dispersal and accretion
events. A better apprehension of the correlation of rock
units and tectonic events between the blocks that make
up the framework of Asia will lead to enhanced models
for the discovery and recognition of geological resources.
Meetings
The International Symposium and Field Workshop on
‘Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia and Gondwana, and
Growth of Asia’, Osaka City University, 26-30 October
2001 was the 3rd International Symposium and Field
Workshop of IGCP 411, held in cooperation with IGCP
368 and 440 (over 200 geoscientists from ten countries
participated). The IGCP 411 business meeting was held
at Osaka City University on the evening of 27 October.
Twenty-one scientists from nine countries attended the
meeting.
Most important publications
– The Proceedings of the Yichang Symposium in 1999
have now been published as a Gondwana Research
Special Issue, volume 4/1.
– Extended abstracts of the meeting were published as
a special issue of Gondwana Research, 2001, Vol. 4,
No. 4, 889 pp. The programme and late abstracts
were published in GRG/GIGE Miscellaneous
Publication No. 12, ISBN4-938925-08-7C) 61 pp.
Full papers from the meeting will be published as
several special issues of Gondwana Research in due
course.
– ISGRA Field Guidebook for Major Geologic Units
of South-West Japan (Excursion Guidebook for the
Field Workshop of International Symposium on the
Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia and Gondwana,
and Growth of Asia, 19 October–3 November 2001,
Japan), 258 pp., ISBN4-938925-07-9 C3344.
– Ian Metcalfe; M. B. Jeremy; Mike Morwood, Smith;
and Iain Davidson (Eds.), Faunal and Floral
Migrations and Evolution in South-East Asia
Australasia. A. A. Balkema Publishers, Lisse,
Abingdon, Exton (Pa), Tokyo © 2001. Swets
and Zeitlinger b. v., Lisse, 416 pp., ISBN 90 5809
349 2.
Other publications
– Afanasiev, M. S.; Aitchison, J. C. 2001. Biostrati-
graphy of the Frasnian Stage by Radiolarian
Evidence. Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation,
9, pp. 11-9.
– Aitchison, J. C. (Ed.). 2001. Radiolaria, 19, 39 pp.
– Ando, A.; Kodama, K.; Kojima, S. 2001. Low-
 latitude and Southern Hemisphere origin of Anisian
(Triassic) bedded chert in the Inuyama area, Mino
terrane, central Japan. Jour. Geophys. Res., Vol. 106,
pp. 1973-1986.
– Charlton, T. R. 2001. Permo-Triassic evolution of
Gondwanan eastern Indonesia and the final separa-
tion of SE Asia from Australia. Journal of Asian
Earth Sciences, 19(5), pp. 595-617.
– Chutakositkanon, V.; Hisada, K.; Charusiri, P.;
Arai, S. 2001. Tectonic significance of detrital chro-
mian spinels in The Permian Nam Duk Formation,
central Thailand. Geoscience Journal, 5, 1, pp. 89-
96.
– Ehiro, M. 2001. Some additional Wuchiapingian
(Late Permian) ammonoids from the Southern
Kitakami Massif, Northeast Japan, Paleontological
Research, 5, pp. 111-4.
– Ehiro, M.; Nogi, D.; Mori, K.; Kawashima, G.;
Suzuki, N.; Yoshihara, K. 2001. Discovery of scler-
actinian corals from the limestone conglomerate in
the Kuzumaki-Kamaishi Belt, Northern Kitakami
Massif, Northeast Japan and its significance. Jour.
Geol. Soc. Japan, 107,pp. 531-4.
– Griffin, W. L.; Win, T. T.; Davies, R.; Wathanakul, P.;
Andrew, A.; Metcalfe, I.; Cartigny, P. 2001.
Diamonds from Myanmar and Thailand:
Characteristics and Possible Origins. Economic
Geology. 96(1), pp. 159-70.
– Hada, S.; Ishii, K.; Landis, C. A.; Aitchison, J.;
Yoshikura, S. 2001. Kurosegawa Terrane in
Southwest Japan: disrupted remnants of a Gondwana-
derived terrane. Gondwana Research, 4, pp. 17-26.
– Han Bao-fu; Zheng Yadong; Gan Jiangwu; Chang
Zhaoshan. 2001. The Louzidian normal fault near
Chifeng, Inner Mongolia: Master fault of a quasi-
metamorphic core complex. International Geology
Review, 43, pp. 254--64.
– Jin Xiaochi; Xie Guanglian; Wang Yizhao. 2001.
Some stratigraphical and sedimentological
constraints on the feature of the Changing-Menglian
Tethys, western Yunnan, China. Gondwana Research,
4 (1), pp. 55-60.
– Jin, Haiyue; Seo, Kwang-soo. 2001. A new species
of Diplophodon (Perissodactyla: Tapiroidea)
from Yunnan, China. Geosciences Journal, 5, 2,
pp. 153-8.
– Kim Jeon Hwan; Yong Il Lee; Maosong Li; Zhiquiang
Bai. 2001. Comparison of Ordovician-Carboniferous
Boundary Between Korea and NE China: Implication
for Correlation and Tectonic Evolution, Gondwana
Research, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 39-53.
– Lee, Y. I.; Hyeong, K. S.; Yoo, C. M. 2001. Cyclic
sedimentation across a Middle Ordovician carbonate
ramp (Duwibong Formation), Korea, Facies, 44,
pp. 61-74.
– Liu Shaofeng; Liu Wencan; Dai Shaowu; Huang Siji;
Lu Wuyun. 2001. Thrust and exhumation processes
of a bounding mountain belt: Constrained from sedi-
ment provenance analysis of Hefei Basin, China.
Acta Geologica Sinica, 75(2), pp. 144-50.
– McDermid, I.; Aitchison, J. C.; Badengzhu; Davis,
A. M. 2001. The Zedong Terrane: an intra-oceanic
magmatic arc assemblage Tibet, 16th Himalaya-
Karakorum-Tibet workshop abstracts. Journal of
Asian Earth Sciences. 19/3A. p. 44.
– McDermid, I.; Aitchison, J. C.; Davis, A. M.;
Harrison, T. M.; Grove, M. 2001. The Zedong
Terrane: A Jurassic Intra-Oceanic Magmatic Arc
within the Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone of
Southeastern Tibet, 16th Himalaya-Karakorum-Tibet
workshop abstracts. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences.
19/3A. pp. 44-5.
– Metcalfe, I. 2001. Palaeozoic and Mesozoic tectonic
evolution and biogeography of SE Asia-Australasia.
In: I. Metcalfe, J. M. B. Smith, M. Morwood and
I. Davidson (eds.), Faunal and floral migrations and
evolution in SE Asia-Australasia. A. A. Balkema,
Lisse, pp. 15-34.
– Metcalfe, I. 2001. Warm Tethys and Cold Gondwana:
East and SE Asia in Greater Gondwana during the
Phanerozoic. In: R. H. Weiss (ed.), Contributions to
Geology and Palaeontology of Gondwana. In Honour
of Helmut Wopfner, Kölner Forum Für Geologie und
Paläontologie pp. 333-48, 13 figs., 1 tab., Köln.
ISBN-No. 3-934027-07-5.
– Metcalfe, I.; Smith J. M. B.; Morwood M.; and
I. Davidson (eds.). 2001. Faunal and floral migra-
tions and evolution in SE Asia-Australasia.
A. A. Balkema, Lisse. 416 pp. ISBN 90 5809 349 2.
– Nicoll, R. S.; Metcalfe, I. 2001. Cambrian to Permian
conodont biogeography in East Asia-Australasia. In:
Metcalfe, I.; Smith, J. M. B. Morwood, M.; and
Davidson, I. (eds.), Faunal and floral migrations and
evolution in SE Asia-Australasia. A. A. Balkema,
Lisse, pp. 59-72.
– Orchard, M. J.; Cordey, F.; Rui, L.; Bamber, E. W.;
Mamet, B.; Struik, L. C.; Sano, H.; Taylor, H. J.
2001. Biostratigraphic and biogeographic constraints
on the Carboniferous to Jurassic Cache Creek Terrane
in central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of
Earth Sciences. 38, pp. 551-78.
– Querubin, C. L.; Yumul, G. P. Jr. 2001. Stratigraphic
Correlation of the Malusok Volcanogenic Massive
Sulfide Deposits, Southern Mindanao, Philippines,
Resource Geology, Special Issue Devoted to
Mineralization and Hydrothermal Systems in the
Philippines. Yumul, G. P. Jr. and Imai, A., (eds.),
Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 135-43.
– Sano, H.; Rui, L. 2001. Facies interpretation of
Middle Carboniferous to Lower Permian Pope
succession of Cache Creek Group, Fort St. James,
central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Earth
Sciences, 38, pp. 535-50.
– Shen Shuzhong; Shi, G. R.; Zhu Kuiyu. 2001. Early
Permian brachiopods of Gondwanan affinity from the
Dingjiazhai Formation of the Baoshan Block, western
Yunnan, China. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e
Stratigrafia, 106(3), pp. 263-80.
– Shi, G. R. 2001. Possible influence of Gondwanan
glaciation on low-latitude carbonate sedimentation
39
 and trans-equatorial faunal migration: the Lower
Permian of South China. Geosciences Journal
(Seoul), 5, pp. 57-63.
– Shi, G. R. 2001. Palaeobiogeography of marine
communities. In: Briggs, D. E. G. and Crother, P. R.,
(eds.), Palaeobiology II, Blackwell Science,
pp. 440-4.
– Shi, G. R.; Shen Shuzhong. 2001. A biogeographi-
cally mixed, Middle Permian brachiopod fauna from
the Baoshan block, western Yunnan, China.
Palaeontology, Vol. 44, Part 2, pp. 237-58.
– Sone, M.; Mond Shafeea Leman; Shi, G. R. 2001.
Middle Permian brachiopods from central Peninsular
Malaysia – faunal affinities between Malaysia and
west Cambodia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 19,
pp. 177-94.
– Struik, L. C.; Schariza, P.; Orchard, M. J.; Cordey, F.;
Sano, H.; MacIntyre, D. G.; Lapierre, H.; Tardy, M.
2001. Imbricate architecture of upper Paleozoic to
Jurassic oceanic Cache Creek Terrane, central British
Columbia. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 38,
pp. 495-514.
– Wang, X. D.; Ueno, K.; Mizuno, Y.; Sugiyama, T.
2001. Late Paleozoic faunal, climatic, and geographic
changes in the Baoshan block as a Gondwana-
derived continental fragment in southwest China.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology,
Vol. 170, pp. 197-218.
– Zhou, M. F.; Robinson, P. T.; Malpas, J.; Aitchison,
J. C.; Sun, M.; Bai, W. J.; Hu, X. F.; Yang, J. S. 2001.
Melt/rock interaction and melt evolution in the
Sartohay high-Al chromite deposit of the Dalabute
ophiolite (NW China). Journal of Asian Earth
Sciences, 19, pp. 519-36.
– Ziabrev, S. V.; Aitchison, J. C.; Badengzhu;
Davis, A. M.; Luo, H.; Liu, J. 2001. More about the
missing Tethys: Bainang terrane Tibet, 16th
Himalaya-Karakorum-Tibet workshop abstracts.
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. 19/3A. pp. 82-3.
Reports from working groups
China (Dr Wan Tianfeng)
Stratigraphy, sedimentology, palaeontology, magmatism
and tectonics of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have been
continuously studied. Jin Xiaochi and his group
continued working on the geology of the Changning-
Menglian belt in Western Yunnan, China. The occur-
rence of cherts and its sedimentological implication, the
lithological sequences of the belt and their environment
of formation are the main points of this year’s work. Li
Maosong studied the Ordovician-Carboniferous
boundary in the Sino-Korean plate. This work helps to
clarify the main characteristics of major plate in the
Eastern Asian continent. Wan Tianfeng and his collab-
orators studied the emplacement mechanism of the
Linglong granitoid complex (the greatest in North
China), Shandong province, and found out that the
granitoid complex intruded along a low angle thrust
near the giant fault zone – the Tancheng – Lujiang fault
zone in the eastern China continent. Han Baofu and his
40
collaborators studied the Louzidian normal fault near
Chifeng, Inner Mongolia: master fault of a quasi-
metamorphic core complex. Liu Shaofeng together with
other collaborators studied the process of rifting and
collision along the plate margins of the Qinling orogenic
belt and its geodynamics. Their findings enriched
tectonic data in the Sino-Korean and Yangtze plates.
M. F. Zhou and other experts focused on the melt/rock
interaction and melt evolution in the Sartohay high-Al
chromite deposit of the Dalabute ophiolite (North-West
China). J. C. Aitchiso and his group continued to study
the Middle Ordovician (Llandeilan) radiolarians from
West Junggar, Xinjiang, the Palaeogene island arc colli-
sion-related conglomerates, the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture
zone, Tibet, the inter-shell casts of entactiniid radiolar-
ians from the Devonian of South-West China, and Early
Palaeozoic radiolarian biozonation.
Australia (Dr Metcalfe)
The Australian Working Group for IGCP 411 continued
to work on the geodynamic evolution of Eastern Asia,
in particular on suture zones of the region and on palaeo-
biogeography and palaeogeography. The two most active
groups are G. R. Shi and co-workers at Deakin
University and I. Metcalfe and co-workers at the
University of New England. Over the past two years,
the Deakin group has maintained their research
programme on the Late Palaeozoic biogeography of the
Asian-western Pacific region, with findings from the
Australian Research Council and Deakin University.
Emphasis has been given to the Permian transitional
faunas from the Peri-Gondwanan (South-East Asia and
Tibet) and NE Asia (NE China, Russian Far East and
Japan). This research has particular relevance to the
IGCP 411 as it attempts to elucidate the origin of the
mixed biogeographical nature of these faunas in relation
to Permian regional and global palaeogeography,
plate/terrane configurations, and palaeoclimatic condi-
tions. The University of New England group continues
to work on the suture zones of eastern Asia and on
palaeobiogeography and palaeogeography of East and
South-East Asia. Work on the Digital terrane map of
East and South-East Asia continues in collaboration with
Koji Wakita of the Geological Survey of Japan.
Japan (Dr Wakita)
– Stratigraphy, Palaeontology and tectonics of South
and North Kitakami terranes and Hayachine belt with
special reference to the Kurosegawa belt
– Tectonics of East and South-East Asia
– Palaeozoic and Mesozoic radiolarian biostratigraphy
and taxonomy of Thailand
– Carboniferous radiolarians from Southern Thailand
– Research on linkage between pelagic chert and
shallow marine limestone in Jurassic accretionary
complexes of the Inner Zone of South-West Japan
– Stratigraphy, age and environment of the clastic layer
in chert
– Stratigraphy, age and environment of the shallow
marine limestone
– Research on high resolution age determination
method for rocks of the Indus suture zone, Radakh
Himalaya, India
– Fieldwork on Zhuravlevka terrane (Cretaceous
turbidite) in the Russian Far East for correlative
research of tectonic units between the Russian Far
East and Japan on Research on fusulinacean bios-
tratigraphy, stratigraphy, palaeontology, palaeocli-
mate, and tectonics of East and South-East Asia
– Research on Kurosegawa and Chichibu Belts in
Kochi, Japan,
– Research on the Akiyoshi Belt in Yamaguchi, Japan
– Research on the Kurosegawa belt.
Japanese members of IGCP 411 started the cooperative
research work with the Geological Survey of Viet Nam
and the Hong Kong University in Viet Nam. The research
is focusing on the issue of the relationship between the
Indochina and South China continental blocks.
Philippines (Dr Yumul)
A field geological survey was conducted in the western
coast of Zamboanga City, Mindanao, in April 2001
which mapped the western extension of the study area.
Previously studied critical areas were also remapped
(e.g. Batorampon and San Ramon areas) and conse-
quently, their stratigraphy and geology were modified
based on the recognition of new stratigraphic units
(e.g. Pantalon Volcanics and Limpapa Melange). A few
1:50,000 scale geological, structural and sample loca-
tion maps are under preparation showing this modifica-
tion in the stratigraphy and geology. In addition, prospect
evaluation was conducted in the zeolite-bentonite deposit
in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. For the Sibutad gold
mineralization in the northeastern portion of Zamboanga
del Norte, a large-scale laboratory research was
conducted on drill core and surface pit samples. Research
on the Sibutad gold mineralization was carried out on
the Lalab orebody, one of the two main orebodies, and
the more economically viable in terms of tonnage and
grade.
Malaysia (Dr LEE Chai Peng)
Dr Lee Chai Peng has successfully carried out cooper-
ative field research with Drs Robin Cocks and Richard
Fortey from the British Museum Natural History on the
Ordovician-Silurian shelly fauna of Langkawi, Kedah
and north Perak. They were able to extend their field-
trip into South Thailand with the kind assistance of the
Thai Department of Mineral Resources geologists,
Mr Adoon Wanapeera and Mr Deecha Maneenai
arranged by the Thai IGCP 411 representative
Mr Adichat Surinkum. Drs Cocks, Fortey and Lee are
preparing a paper on ‘A review of Lower and Middle
Palaeozoic biostratigraphy in western Malaysia and
southern Thailand in its context within the Sibumasu
terrane’ based in part on their research findings.
Further cooperative work between Malaysian and Thai
geologists has been carried out in the past year by the
Malaysia-Thailand Border Joint Geological Survey
project. The completed report on ‘The geology of Gubir-
Sadao Transect’ was presented to the main committee,
and work on the new transect ‘Batu Melintang-Sungai
Kolok’ was scheduled to start in July-August 2001 and
be completed by August 2002.
Thailand (Drs Somsak Potisat and Adichat Surinkum)
– The petrochemistry of the Chiang Khong-Tak
volcanic belt, a possible southern extension of
the Lincang-Jinghong belt, was studied by
Panjasawatwong and other geologists in order to
clarify its tectonic setting. The rocks compositions
range from basalt to andesite of tholeiitic affinity and
formed in a Tertiary intercontinental volcanic arc.
– Chonglakmani has studied the Permian Saraburi
Group and separated it into six formations. It is
composed of various facies belts representing the
shelf or platform, basin margin and deep basin
environments. However, no oceanic crust is found in
the Saraburi Basin indicating that the basin was
narrow and not a true deep basin. Rather it was part
of a back-arc basin.
– Hin Tang intrusive rocks in the Wang Nam Keow
area, Nakorn Ratchasima, were studied by
Buparamanee and others. They are I-type granite-
granodiorites.
– Kongsumit and other collaborators studied the red
sandstone in Changwat Loei, Northeastern Thailand.
Stratigraphically there are three formations, namely
Sao Khao, Phu Phan and Khok Kruat which were
deposited in fluvio-lacustrine, alluvial braided streams
and fluvio-lacustrine environments respectively.
– Charusiri and other geologists studied the causes of
earthquakes in Thailand using TL-methods. Results
show that earthquakes were closely related to parti-
cularly active faults. Four possible seismic risk zones
can be identified.
– Marine Triassic sediments were investigated by
Srinak and his group along the Mae Sariang-Ban
Mae Sam Lab highway. The sediments contain high
Cr and low TiO2 detrital chromium spinels indicating
that the sediments were of the Alpine-type lying
between fore-arc and ocean floor settings.
– The second phase of the joint survey by Thai and
Malaysian geologists was carried out during
September and October 2001. There are at least four
new mineral potential areas: gold, chromite, base
metal and kaolinite, located in this study area.
Activities planned
General goals
1. Igneous and metamorphic activity: Distribution and
characterization of igneous and metamorphic rocks
in the collision zone, consuming plate margin and
post-orogenic magmatism, and tectonic setting of
their activities and characterization of metallogenesis.
2. Sedimentation: Spacio-temporal changes of deposi-
tional environment in and around continental
41
 margins, tectonic setting of their activity, and their
relation to petroleum and coal resources.
3. Biotic distribution: Regional correlation, determining
biogeographical distributions and palaeoenviron-
mental analysis of both marine and land organism.
4. Palaeomagmatism: Detailed information on the
movements and deformation of continental blocks,
and the changing spatial distribution of seas and
oceans.
5. Tectonism: Comparative studies of regional tectonic
features and recognition of small terranes in colli-
sion zones, and characterization of shear zone devel-
opment and final emplacement of accreted terranes
by the on-going plate motion including the collision
between India and Asia.
6. Natural resources potential: Time-space distribution,
geodynamic and tectonic setting of useful natural
resources, and their tectonic features in each terrane.
7. Results of the project will be prepared as a Digital
Terrane Map of East and South-East Asia.
Meetings
The Fourth International Symposium and Field
Workshop will be held in Thailand in October 2002.
A field workshop is being planned in Northern Thailand.
No. 413 – Understanding Future Dryland
Changes from Past Dynamics (1998-2002)
D. S. G. Thomas, Department of Geography, University
of Sheffield, Sheffield S10, 2TN, United Kingdom,
e-mail: d.s.thomas@sheffield.ac.uk
A. K. Singhvi, Co-leader, Earth Science Division,
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, 380009,
India, e-mail: singhvi@prl.ernet.in
Description: The key objectives of IGCP 413 (successor
to IGCP 349) are to develop an enhanced understanding
of the processes controlling the timing and amplitude of
dryland environmental changes, together with the nature
of these changes, and an advanced understanding of the
linkages relevant to dryland changes. This will be done
in the context of the relationship between dryland
changes and global system changes, and in the context
of environment-society links. The overall expectation is
to provide a realistic synthesis of the sedimentary record
of climatic changes with process-based interpretations
to provide a more meaningful input for geological corre-
lations and climate modelling experiments.
Website of the project
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~igcp413/
Participating countries (new in 2001 shown in italics)
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Botswana,
Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland,
42
France, Germany, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Mexico, Netherlands,
Nigeria, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland,
Tanzania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Spain,
Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United
Kingdom, United States.
Achievements in 2001
Canada
The Canadian component of the project is linked to the
national initiative to address climate change impacts and
adaptation. The Canadian correspondent to IGCP 413
was seconded from the University of Regina to the
Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC).
PARC is the first node in the national network of climate
impact and adaptation research centres. It is responsible
for the sub-humid Canadian plains, where the rates and
impacts of climate change are expected to be greater
than in other regions of Southern Canada. Other
Canadian participants in IGCP 413 are involved in the
national climate change programme. Canadian contri-
butors to IGCP 413 are involved in research on the
impacts of climate change and variability on the soil
landscapes of the Canadian plains. The focus of this
work is the reconstruction of drought and its impacts on
aeolian and fluvial geomorphic systems.
China
A new Holocene project for Arid Central Asia, supported
by the National Science Foundation of China,
commenced in 2001 for four years. This project, closely
linked to IGCP 413, focuses on the climatic/environ-
mental history in the region. In the spirit of the collab-
orative goals of IGCP 413, cooperative research between
China and Germany will be enhanced after the estab-
lishment of the Sino-German Joint Research Centre on
Arid Environments and Palaeoclimatology, at Lanzhou
University. In Mongolia and Western China, research
into interactions between glacial, periglacial and dryland
systems continues on several fronts, including Indian,
German and United States workers in collaboration with
those from China. Research on dust flux and loess accu-
mulation continues to be significant, with China-German
efforts of note. New novel research includes collabora-
tion between Chinese, Indian and American researchers,
to conduct luminescence dating loess infills of ice wedge
casts in cold regions. The dating of ice wedge fill to
15,600 years indicates a reduction of mean annual air
temperature by at least 3.8°C and confirms the model
calculations that indicate a similar temperature drop in
these cold arid regions.
India
IGCP 413 research in India has focused on the recon-
struction of palaeoclimatic record from semi-arid regions
of South India, the synthesis of geo-archaeological
records to identify gaps in the record and to examine
the man-environment relationships. Climatologically, a
major part of the Southern Indian peninsula is semi-arid
to arid, with seasonality of rainfall and high potential
evapo-transpiration. Construction of ponds during the
fifteenth century reflects enhanced aridity in the region
that needed massive rainwater harvesting. The sediment
characteristics of the pond fill sequences such as the
magnetic susceptibility, granulometry and pollen assem-
blage changes along with the chronology are being
examined to understand both the climate and human
dimension of these sediments. Results so far indicate a
progressive desiccation of the region for over 500 years.
On a longer time scale, the alluvial sequences of the
River Pennar indicate arid–ephemeral regimes 2400-
2000 years ago, a more humid regime 1800-1000 years
ago and drier conditions for the past 400 years. Given
that the hydrology of these rivers depends primarily on
the south-west monsoon, these inferences provide a
surrogate for the south-west monsoon performance in
the region. Studies so far reflect that the records though
accord with global signatures of aridity, exact timing of
the geomorphic process response differ. This implies that
land use planning strategies in dry lands should take due
cognisance of the response times of geomorphic
processes and as a consequence the global climatic
events are likely to be manifested somewhat asynchro-
nously in the geomorphic settings. This is an aspect
crucial also for the geological correlations.
A synthesis of the geoarchaeological record from the
Thar Desert and its margins is enabling reconstructions
of socio-environmental relationships such as the artefacts
and their host strata that could be used to reconstruct
environmental changes during the Quaternary. The pres-
ence of Acheulian artefacts in a playa shore context and
of middle Palaeolithic artefacts in fluvial contexts reflects
a relatively humid environment during early to late-mid
Pleistocene. Isotopic stages 4 and 2 present sparse
evidence of human occupation and of geomorphic
processes and stage 3 witnessed relative abundance of
flake industry. Surprisingly, evidence of human occupa-
tion during early Holocene is also sparse indicating that
the contemporary climate was not conducive for human
occupation. Overall, it is seen that, in this region, the
human occupation thrived only during the humid phases.
Work on the reconstruction of the limits of the Thar
Desert at the Holocene optimum (6 Ka) and at 14 Ka
(when the monsoon was established) was completed in
2001. Clear signatures of the progressive northward
stabilisation of the dune activity was seen such that dune
accretion ceased at 10 Ka at the southern margins, at
6 Ka north of Ahmedabad and 600 years in the present
core Thar. This reflects a progressive northward shift in
the dune accretion climate (i.e. monsoon) and provides
a data set that can be used to validate GCMs.
Southern Africa
Research in Southern Africa continues on three fronts
and includes researchers from the countries concerned
and from Germany and the United Kingdom. In the
Kalahari, investigations on the timing and nature of
major Late Quaternary environmental changes continue
to focus on developing a better understanding of the
timing and controls on major Late Quaternary events.
In this respect, new work dating deep sediment exposures
at Mamatwan mine are proving most promising since
they appear to identify two major phases when aeolian
activity was prevalent, with a hiatus from ca 120-60 Ka.
Elsewhere, there are promising correlations in the OSL
dated records of dune construction in Northern Cape,
South Africa, and Southern Namibia, respectively
developed at United Kingdom and German laboratories.
In the semi-arid Karoo region of South Africa,
researchers from three United Kingdom institutions are
collaborating with investigators of the University of
Cape Town (UCT), examining the timing of valley fill
and localised dune development, from the Late
Quaternary to the present. This work reflects an interest
in understanding the respective roles of climatic and
human agencies of change. On the semi-arid winter rain-
fall area of the Cape West Coast UCT workers are
commencing investigations of land degradation with the
University of California.
Namibia
In Namibia, German researchers continue to investigate
the timing and palaeoenvironmental controls on soil
development in northern and central areas of the country,
including the incorporation of wind blown dust derived
from eastern locations. Dutch researchers are investi-
gating the timing of dust inputs from dry lake systems
into offshore sediments, while the records of Late
Quaternary changes recorded in fluvial sediments in
upland areas are receiving attention on a number of
fronts.
United States
Two research highlights are noted in particular for 2001:
1. Landscape evolution and ecosystem dynamics in the
Colorado Plateau. New results show gradients in soil
geochemistry and texture along with subtle changes
in geomorphic setting that influence plant commu-
nity distribution. Changing silt contents reflect
different amounts of aeolian dust and control the
zonation of nutrients. Modern dust inputs are moni-
tored and are compared to estimates of past dust flux.
Several geology/vegetation transects are now instru-
mented for monthly monitoring of plant and micro-
bial dynamics along these gradients in nutrient and
moisture availability. These measurements will
provide the experimental basis for the development
of a new generation of linked ecological-geochemical
models, which will then be used to predict factors
that influence biologic invasions.
2. Wind erosion and dust emission monitoring.
Instrumentation has been developed to image dust
emission events in the Mojave Desert. Digital
cameras are mounted on a mountaintop overlooking
three geomorphically distinct settings of dust gener-
ation, each setting having a meteorological station.
43
 The cameras are triggered by high winds measured
at one of the stations. The frequency of dust events
appears to be linked closely to changes in vegeta-
tion. Vegetation conditions are monitored at the dust-
emission sites using ground-based surveys and at a
regional scale using remote sensing from satellites.
Some other new developments
IGCP 413 has only been directly involved in a limited
amount of research in East Africa. This may change with
planned investigations by German researchers into modern
lake level fluctuations in Southern Ethiopia. Innovative
German-Canadian collaboration is also developing work
on lava-flow-dammed colluvially-modified loess accumu-
lations in Lanzarote, which may yield important data on
dust flux variations out of North-West Africa.
‘CHANGES’
A major achievement of the IGCP 413 group has been
the enhanced tempo of activities towards producing
more refined and robust reconstructions of environ-
mental changes affecting drylands. This is being
achieved through the use of a range of more precise
chronometric techniques and of process-based studies to
inform the interpretation of palaeo-features and their
climatic significance. To appraise outputs from these
studies, IGCP 413 is one of four IGCP Projects (the
others being 448 – karst, 464 – continental shelves and
459 – terrestrial carbon) that has initiated the co-IGCP
CHANGES programme.
The CHANGES (Carbon, Hydrology ANd Global
Environmental Systems) Programme was formally
launched in 2001. CHANGES is in receipt of financial
support from the International Council of Scientific
Unions (ICSU) and the Union of Geological Sciences
(IUGS), and represents the merging of research activity
between four IGCP projects (with others expected to
join) and other IUSU-supported bodies (e.g. the Land
Degradation and Karst commissions of the IGU).
Amongst its activities, CHANGES allows for the time-
slice outputs of late Quaternary environmental change
derived from the work of these IGCP projects to be data-
based, compared and critically evaluated., with a view
to better understanding the forcing mechanisms of global
change, identifying data gaps, and making outputs
widely available in the general domain. In this way, and
through the activities of other participating bodies,
CHANGES intends to complement existing collabora-
tive bodies in environmental change research, but with
a focus on less-investigated environments and ecosys-
tems. CHANGES will in the first instance run for three
years, and is supported by IUGS, ICSU and the
University of Sheffield, where IGCP 413 is based.
Meetings
Main IGCP 413 meetings
1. Major three-day international conference, ‘Dryland
Change 2001’, at Upington, South Africa. Coorganized
44
with IGU Land Degradation Commission, attended by
68 delegates. Two special issues of international
refereed journals are in negotiation.
2. National IGCP meetings in India, Germany, Canada
and the United Kingdom, attended by 35-80 scien-
tists
Other meetings where IGCP 413 scientists presented
their results included
1. Long-range weather and crop forecasting in North
America, 4th Workshop, Regina, Canada, March.
2. International Symposium on Land Degradation and
Desertification, Mexico City, April.
3. ‘Windy day’ aeolian specialist meeting, Luton,
United Kingdom, May.
4. Annual Meeting, Canadian Association of
Geographers, Montreal, May-June
5. IGBP Science meeting in Amsterdam July.
6. Conference of the Southern African Society for
Quaternary Research, Saldanha Bay, South Africa,
July.
7. Texas Archaeological Society 71st Annual Meeting,
Houston, United States, July.
8. International Symposium on Abrupt Holocene
Environmental Changes in Arid Asia – History and
Mechanisms (RACHAD 2001), Lanzhou China.
9. Conference of PAGES – PEPIII: Past Climate and
Variability through Europe and Africa, Aix-en-
Provence, France, August.
10. 7th International Conference on Fluvial
Sedimentology, Nebraska, United States, August.
11. 5th International Conference on Geomorphology,
Tokyo, Japan, August.
12. British Geomorphological Research Group Annual
Conference, Nottingham, United Kingdom,
September.
13. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San
Francisco, United States, December.
Publications
Journal Special Issues
– Quaternary International Volume 76/77. 2001.
Special issue, ‘Loess and palaeosol characteristics,
stratigraphy, chronology and climate. A contribution
to IGCP 413’. Guest editor: Edward Derbyshire.
Contains 23 refereed papers emanating from the
Loessfest 99 Meeting.
– Earth Science Reviews 54 (1) 2001. Special issue
‘Recent research on loess and palaeosols, pure and
applied’. Guest editor: Edward Derbyshire. Contains
9 refereed keynote papers emanating from the
Loessfest 99 Meeting.
Selected papers, giving a flavour of IGCP 413 output
– Bateman, M. D.; Díez Herrero, A. 2001. The timing
and relation of aeolian sand deposition in central
Spain to the aeolian sand record of NW Europe.
Quaternary Science Reviews, 20, pp. 779-782.
– Chen, F. H.; Feng, Z. D.; Qiang, M. R.; Wang, H. B.;
Bloemendal, J. 2001. Stable East Asian monsoon
 climate during the Last Interglacial (Eemian) indi-
cated by paleosol S1 in the western part of the
Chinese Loess Plateau. Global and Planetary
Changes.
– Chen, F. H.; Zhu, Y.; Li, J. J.; Shi, Q.; Jin, L. Y.;
Wunemann, B. 2001. Abrupt Holocene changes of
the Asian monsoon at millennial- and centennial-
scales: evidence from Lake Sediment document in
Minqin Basin, North China. Chinese Science
Bulletin, (In Press.)
– Dearing, J. A.; Livingstone, I. P.; Bateman, M. D.;
White, K. 2001. Palaeoclimate records from OIS 8.0-
5.4 recorded in loess-palaeosol sequences on the
Matmata Plateau, southern Tunisia, based on mineral
magnetism and new luminescence dating.
Quaternary International, 76-77, pp. 43-56.
– Günster, N.; Eck, P.; Skowronek, A.; Zöller, L. 2001.
Late Pleistocene loess and their paleosols in the
Granada Basin, Southern Spain. Quaternary
International, 76/77, pp. 241-24.
– Hoffman, M. T.; Ashwell, A. 2001. Nature divided:
Land degradation in South Africa. UCT Press, Cape
Town.
– Holmes, P. J. 2001. Central Great Karoo Headwater
Catchments and Valley Fills; an Overview of Short
Term Change. South African Geographical Journal.
– Lehmkuhl, F.; Lang, A. 2001. Geomorphological
investigations and luminescence dating in the
southern part of the Khangay and the Valley of the
Gobi Lakes (Central Mongolia). Journal of
Quaternary Science, 16, pp. 69-87.
– Meadows, M. E.; Hoffman, M. T. 2001. Land degra-
dation and desertification in South Africa. In: J. L.
Palacio-Prieto and L. Luna-Gonzalez (eds.) Selected
Topics in Geomorphology. Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico and International Geographical
Union, Michoacan, Mexico, pp. 34-46.
– Mishra S.; Rajaguru, S. N. 2001. Late Quaternary
Palaeoclimates of Western India: A Geoarchaeo-
logical Approach. Mausam 52, pp. 285-296.
– Okin, G. S.; Gillette, D. A. 2001. Distribution of
vegetation in wind-dominated landscapes:
Implications for wind erosion modelling and land-
scape processes. Journal of Geophysical Research,
106, pp. 9673-9683.
– Okin, G. S., Murray, B.; Schlesinger, W. H. 2001.
Degradation of sandy arid shrubland environments:
observations, process modelling, and management
implications. Journal of Arid Environments, 47,
pp 123-144.
– Porter, S. C.; Singhvi, A. K.; Lai, Z. P.; An. Z. S.
2001. Luminescence age and palaeoenvironmental
implication of a late Pleistocene ground wedge on
the northern Tibetan plateau. Periglacial and
Permafrost Processes, 12, pp. 203-210.
– Reynolds, R. L.; Belnap, J.; Reheis, M.; Lamothe, P.;
Luiszer, F. 2001. Aeolian dust in Colorado Plateau
soils: Nutrient inputs and recent change in source.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 98,
pp. 7123-712.
– Roberts, N.; Meadows, M. E.; Dodson, J. R. 2001.
The history of Mediterranean-type environments:
climate, culture and landscape. The Holocene (In
press.)
– Rost, K. T. 2001. Late Holocene loess deposits and
dust accumulation in the alpine meadow belt of the
Wutai Shan, China. Quaternary International, 76/77,
pp. 85-92.
– Sauchyn, D. J.; Skinner, W. 2001. A proxy record of
drought severity for the southwestern Canadian
Plains. Canadian Water Resources Journal, 26, p. 2.
– Singhvi, A. K.; Bluszcz, A.; Bateman, M. D.;
Someshwar Rao, M. 2001. Luminescence dating of
loess-palaeosol sequences and coversands: method-
ological aspects and palaeoclimatic implications.
Earth-Science Reviews, 54, pp. 193-211.
– Srivastava, P.; Juyal, N.; Singhvi, A. K.; Wasson R. J.;
Bateman, M. D. 2001. Luminescence chronology of
river adjustment and incision of Quaternary sediments
in the alluvial plain of the Sabarmati River, north
Gujarat, India. Geomorphology, 36, pp. 217-229.
– Thomas, D. S. G.; Holmes, P. J.; Bateman, M. D.;
Marker, M. E. 2001. Geomorphic evidence for Late
Quaternary environmental change from the eastern
Great Karoo margin, South Africa. Quaternary
International (In press.)
– Van Huissteden J.; Schwan J. C. G.; Bateman M. D.
2001. Environmental conditions and palaeowind
directions at the end of the Weichselian Late
Pleniglacial recorded in aeolian sediments and
geomorphology (Twente, Eastern Netherlands).
Geologie En Mijnbouw, 80, pp. 1-18.
– Wolfe, S. A.; Huntley, D. J.; David, P. P.; Ollerhead, J.;
Sauchyn, D. J.; MacDonald, G. M. 2001. Late 18th
century drought-induced sand dune activity, Great
Sand Hills, southwestern Saskatchewan. Canadian
Journal of Earth Sciences, 38, pp. 105-117.
– Zöller, L.; Semmel, A. 2001. 175 years of loess
research in Germany – long records and “uncon-
formities”. Earth Science Reviews. 54, pp. 19-28.
Proposed activities for 2002
General goals
1. To intensify research under the environment-society
links theme, building on successful progress made
at the Dryland Change 2001 meeting. Further colla-
borative efforts with IGU-COMLAND will be
considered, while archaeologists are now taking a
larger role in the overall project.
2. Data-base key information on dryland environmental
responses to global changes at key late Quaternary
time slices, in pursuit of the goals of the CHANGES
programme.
3. To continue enhanced activities on understanding the
interrelationships between people, climate and
geomorphic processes with better chronological
controls of identified past interactions.
45
4. To continue the development of the activities of
‘hydrological dynamics’ and ‘aeolian styles’ themes
and completion of a first order synthesis of the
aeolian sand records.
5. To develop new links in less-researched dryland
areas.
Meetings and fieldtrips
The IGCP 413 business meeting, held at Upington,
South Africa, August 2001, accepted the following two
major meetings for 2002 (the focus is on holding meet-
ings in key dryland areas that are relatively less
researched in IGCP 413).
– ‘Great Plains geomorphology and environmental
change’. Held within the auspices of the Annual
Meeting of the Geological Association of Canada
and Canadian Geomorphological Research Group.
Saskatoon, May 2002.
– (Title to be confirmed) Major meeting at Yazd, Iran,
organized by the University of Yazd, August-
September 2002.
It is probable that IGCP 413 will also contribute to the
5th International conference on Aeolian Research
(ICAR-5) being held in Lubbock, Texas, July 2002.
Regional meetings are planned in Germany, India and
the United Kingdom.
No. 414 – Realistic Modelling of Seismic Input
for Megacities and Large Urban Areas
(1997–2001)
G. F. Panza, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra,
Università di Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy, e-mail:
panza@dst.univ.trieste.it
Description: The project addressed the problem of pre-
disaster hazard prediction and risk assessment mapping
in megacities and large urban areas. The postulate is that
lives can be saved and property damage reduced by
highly detailed, specific seismic predictions, based on
geotechnical, lithological, geophysical, topographical,
palaeoseismological and seismotectonic data, coupled
with sophisticated computer modelling of wave propa-
gation. The modelling is to be carried out for 15 large
cities in Europe (especially Eastern Europe),
Madagascar, China, and America. The benefits of the
project for society – to prevent loss of life and property
by realistic prediction of the effects of earthquakes that
can be used in building codes and urban planning – are
clear, and the project has direct implications in those
large urban areas.
Website of the project
http://www.ictp.trieste.it/www_users/sand/
http://www.ictp.trieste.it/www_users/sand/project3.html
46
Participating countries
Algeria, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt,
Greece, India, Italy, Madagascar, Morocco, Romania,
Russia, Slovenia, Syria.
Summary of major past achievements of the project
The project has reached significant results, worth pub-
lication in international journals, about the realistic
modelling of the seismic input in many megacities and
large urban areas, like Algiers, Beijing Area, Bucharest,
Cairo Area, Catania Area, Naples, Rome, Ruse, Santiago
de Cuba, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Zagreb. Special attention
has been paid to the study of Vrancea intermediate-depth
earthquakes that control the most severe seismic input
in central Europe. Partners in the project have parti-
cipated in the third European Union-Japan workshop on
seismic risk. Our results have encountered a great interest
from Japanese colleagues, since they are dealing with
intermediate-depth sources affecting many Japanese
urban areas. Most of the results will have an impact on
the existing building codes, especially the European
Building Code (EC 8).
Compilation of the database for 3-D structures, 3-D
sources, and computations of synthetic seismograms
along selected profiles have been carried out. An exper-
imental study of the propagation of the seismic waves,
in selected areas, and comparison to in situ measure-
ments have taken place. Acquisition of detailed infor-
mation about geotechnical, lithological, geophysical
parameters, and tectonic, historical, palaeosismological,
seismotectonic models relevant for microzoning was
undertaken. Determination of regional velocity models
of the Earth’s crust representative of the paths from the
seismogenic sources to the considered towns was real-
ized. Contribution to the launching and strengthening of
the Mediterranean cluster of Cities of the Earthquake and
Megacities Initiative (EMI) was effected. Participation in
the new IGCP Project 457 ‘Seismic hazard and risk
assessment in North Africa’ was carried out.
The intermediate-term prediction of earthquakes can be
fundamental in the exploitation of the scenarios devel-
oped by the project for preparedness. The association
of deterministic hazard and pattern recognition of earth-
quake prone areas appears especially useful in areas
where historical and instrumental information is scarce.
Under such conditions, it represents an effective way to
estimate the seismic hazard, more realistic than that
based on the unavoidably incomplete observations. The
advantage of the proposed integrated deterministic
hazard procedure consists mainly in the time informa-
tion provided by predictions, useful to increase
preparedness of safety measures and to indicate the
priority for detailed seismic risk studies to be performed
on a more detailed scale. Deterministic hazard and
recognition of earthquake prone zones procedures are
especially useful as a means of prevention in areas that
have not yet been struck, but are potentially prone to
earthquakes. In fact, in such a case the seismic input
is defined on the basis of a wide geophysical and
geological data set, as well as on the current knowledge
of the physical process of earthquake generation and
wave propagation in realistic anelastic media, and not
only on the available macroseismic observations. The
procedure for seismic hazard assessment based on the
realistic modelling of seismic input (computation of
synthetic seismograms) provides a realistic modelling
of ground motion instead of a less specific upper bound
for the maximum possible ground shaking.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
The main achievements of the project, including the
series of maps foreseen to integrate the results of the
project, will be published in a topical volume of the
internationally well established, peer reviewed journal
Pure and Applied Geophysics. This volume is comple-
mentary to the one published in 2000 (PAGEOPH, 157).
As a follow-up to the activity developed under IGCP
414, several bilateral agreements have been signed at
governmental level (China–Italy; Romania–Italy;
Bulgaria–Italy; India–Italy; Russia–Italy), and IGCP 457
has been started.
Meetings
Open meeting for 2001 in Trieste from 9 April to
8 October 2001 (20 scientists from 12 countries):
1. Validation and homogenization of the input data to
be used in the modelling, following the standard
format defined by the International Lithosphere
Programme, Task Group II-4.
2. Intensive use of the specialized software, developed
at ICTP and DTS of University of Trieste, for the
computation of ground motion, for researchers
coming from the centres where the project is most
advanced.
3. Systematic runs, including networking.
4. Mapping of the results of ground motion modelling.
6th Workshop on non-linear dynamics and earthquake
prediction, at the Abdus Salam International Centre for
Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, 15-27 October 2001.
Financial support for the workshop from ICTP was
supplemented by contributions from the European Union
within the framework of the TMR programme, which
allowed the participation of 11 students from 8 European
countries. More than 30 participants are from developing
countries. For more details see http://www.ictp.trieste.it/
cgi-bin/ICTPsmr/mklinks/mklist?smr1330
Indo-Italian Workshop On Seismic Risk Evaluation, at
Hyderabad, 6–9 March 2001.
Workshop on Deterministic Approach of Seismic
Zonation of some Balkan Countries, Tirana, Albania,
26-27 April 2001 with participation of IGCP 414.
Second Workshop on Seismic Risk in North Africa,
Tetouan, Morocco, 14-16 May 2001. On behalf of the
North Africa Seismic Group (NASG) funded by the
Third World Academy of Sciences, the Department of
Geology of the Faculty of Sciences at Abdelmalek
Essaadi University has organized the second workshop
on seismic risk in North Africa.
IASPEI/IAGA joint Assembly in Hanoi (August 2001):
Co-convened S3 Theme Strong Ground Motion,
Earthquake Hazard and Risk Symposium. Partners of
IGCP 414 have presented several papers. At IASPEI-
Hanoi the IASPEI/IAGA joint Assembly has established
the Commission on earthquake hazard and risk, that
involves partners of the IGCP 414. The main outcome
of the meetings will be published in a special volume.
A Proposal for PEPI/Tectonophysics Special Volume on
Strong Ground Motion, Earthquake Hazard and Risk
in Alpine-Himalayan and Pacific Regions has been
formulated.
Euro-Mediterranean Seminar on Natural and
Technological Disaster Management (Algiers, October
2001); paper presented: Deterministic seismic hazard
assessment and ground motion modelling, by Aoudia,
K.; Panza, G. F.; Vaccari, F. Discussion of the transfer
of the experience gained with IGCP 414 to IGCP 457
‘Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment in North Africa
(SHRANA) (2001-2005)’.
List of most important publications
Book
– Panza, G. F.; Romanelli, F.; Vaccari, F. 2001. Seismic
wave propagation in laterally heterogeneous anelastic
media: theory and applications to the seismic zona-
tion. Advances in Geophysics, Academic press,
43, pp. 1-95.
Peer reviewed scientific papers
– El-Sayed, A.; Vaccari, F.; Panza, G. 2001.
Deterministic seismic hazard in Egypt. Geophysical
Journal International. 144, pp. 555-67.
– Gorshkov, A. I.; Panza, G. F.; Soloviev, A. A.;
Aoudia, A. 2001. Morphostructural zonation and
preliminary recognition of seismogenic nodes around
the Adria margin in peninsular Italy and Sicily.
Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering
(accepted for publication).
– Hussain, H.; Korrat, I.; El-Sayed, A. 2001. Seismicity
in the vicinity of Alexandria and its implication to
seismic hazard. Proc 2nd International Symposium
on Geophysics, Tanta (2001), 57-64.
– Moldoveanu, C. L.; Panza, G. F. 2001. Vrancea
source influence on local seismic response in
Bucharest. PAGEOPH, 158, (In press.)
47
– Nunziata, C.; Panza, G. F. 2001. A contribution to
the microzoning of Napoli. Mem. Soc. Geol. It. (In
press.)
– Nunziata, C.; Chimera, G.; Natale, M.; Panza, G. F.
2001. Seismic characterization of shallow soils at
Nocera Umbra (Italy). Special issue of Italian
Geotechnical Journal.
– Nunziata, C.; Chimera, G.; Natale, M.; Panza, G. F.
2001. Vs velocities of shallow soils at Fabriano.
Special issue of Italian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 2,
pp. 104-12.
– Nunziata, C.; Costa, G.; Marrara; Panza, G. F. 2000.
Validated estimation of the response spectra for
the 1980 Irpinia earthquake in the eastern area
of Naples. Earthquake Spectra, Vol. 16, No. 3,
pp. 643-60.
– Nunziata, C.; Natale, M.; Di Marino, M.; Panza, G. F.
2001. Vs measurements at Sellano. Special issue of
Italian Geotechnical Journal.
– Panza, G. F.; Romanelli, F. 2001. Beno Gutenberg
contribution to seismic hazard assessment and recent
progress in the European-Mediterranean region,
Earth Sciences Review, 55, pp. 165-80.
– Panza, G. F.; Vaccari, F.; Romanelli, F. 2001. Realistic
Modelling of seismic input in Urban Areas: a
UNESCO-IGCP project. Submitted to PAGEOPH,
158, (In press.)
– Panza, G. F.; Romanelli, F.; Vaccari, F.; Decanini, L.;
Mollaioli, F. 2001. Contribution of the deterministic
approach to the characterization of the seismic input.
OECD-NEA Workshop on Engineering characteri-
zation of Seismic Input, BNL, Upton, New York, 15-
17 November, 1999, NEA/CSNI/R (2000)2,
pp. 655-715.
– Parvez, A. I.; Gusev, A. A.; Panza, G. F.;
Petukhin, A. G. 2001. Preliminary determination of
interdependence among strong motion amplitude,
earthquake magnitude and hypocentral distance for
the Himalayan region, Geophys. J. Int., Vol 144, pp.
577-96.
– Paskaleva, I.; Kouteva, M.; Panza, G.; Evlogiev, J.;
Koleva, N.; Rangelov, B. 2001. Deterministic
approach of seismic hazard assessment in Bulgaria,
case study Northeast Bulgaria-the town of Russe,
The Albanian Journal of Natural and Technical
Sciences, No. 10/2001, pp. 51-68.
– Romanelli, F.; Vaccari, F.; Panza, G. F. 2001.
Applications of the modal summation technique to
the theoretical site response estimation. Journal of
Computational Acoustic, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 643-53.
Activities planned
General goals
Completion of the PAGEOPH topical volume ‘Seismic
Ground Motion in Large Urban Areas’.
48
No. 418 – Kibaran Events in South-Western
Africa (1997-2001, OET in 2002)
R. M. Key MBE, British Geological Survey, Murchison
House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH45 9ER,
Scotland, United Kingdom, e-mail: rmk@bgs.ac.uk
R. Mapeo, University of Botswana, Department of
Geology, Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana,
e-mail: mapeorbm@mopipi.ub.bw
Description: In order to produce a well-defined recon-
struction of the global distribution of continental crust
(notably the Rodinia Supercontinent) at the end of the
Mesoproterozoic, it is important to properly understand
the geological evolution of the Mesoproterozoic orogenic
belts (or plate Boundary Zones, PBZs). The principal
objectives of IGCP 418 were to:
1. Trace and study the south-western extension and
evolution of the Mesoproterozoic Kibaran belt s.s.
of Central Africa into South-Western Africa.
2. Investigate the geological evolution of other contem-
poraneous geological terranes and rock units in
South-Western Africa.
3. Synthesise the Mesoproterozoic geological evolution
of Africa.
4. Integrate the new knowledge concerning the
Mesoproterozoic geological evolution of Africa into
models for the creation and later destruction of
Rodinia.
5. Evaluate the mineral potential of the Meso-
proterozoic orogenic belts of South-Western Africa.
The south-western parts of the Kibaran Belt and contem-
poraneous Irumide belt of Central Africa are concealed
by younger rocks and sediments. However, new regional,
detailed geophysical surveys, notably in Botswana and
Namibia, are enabling to delineate the full extent of these
and other Mesoproterozoic terranes in South-Western
and Central Africa. New geological mapping in conjunc-
tion with geochronology and other laboratory work on
the Mesoproterozoic terranes is affording a fuller under-
standing of their evolution.
Participating countries
(*indicates the countries active this year)
Angola, Australia*, Belgium*, Botswana*, Canada*,
Democratic Republic of Congo*, France, Germany,
Holland, Italy, Mozambique, Namibia*, Nigeria, South
Africa*, Uganda, United Kingdom*, United States*,
Zambia*, Zimbabwe*.
General scientific achievements
The field meeting in South Africa allowed delegates the
opportunity to examine the geology of the eastern part
of the Namaqua Belt as well as the whole of the Natal
Belt. Discussions in the field on the geology of these
two belts provided a much clearer picture of their geo-
logical histories.
The annual meeting in Durban gave national represen-
tatives an opportunity to present their latest research and
this work is summarized in the attached abstract volume.
New isotopic geochronology has provided a better under-
standing of the Irumide Belt. Fieldwork has also provided
a better definition of its spatial relationship with the
Zambezi and Mozambique belts.
Meetings
The 2001 meeting of IGCP 418 was held in South Africa
between 8 and 21 July (about 50 participants from
11 countries). It was a very successful meeting that
ended tragically on a very sad note with the untimely
death of Professor Chris Powell on the flight out of South
Africa. Chris’s knowledge, enthusiasm and active parti-
cipation in all aspects of the meeting were major factors
in its success. Letters of condolence were sent to Chris’s
family and Steve McCourt sent a wreath to the funeral
on behalf of IGCP 418.
The Namaqua belt
The ~400 km wide Namaqua-Natal belt of Southern
Africa outcrops as a series of high grade tectono-meta-
morphic terranes which stretch from Southern Namibia,
south-eastwards through the Northern Cape Province of
South Africa to Kwazulu-Natal on the eastern seaboard.
Although the Namaqua and Natal sectors of this belt
are separated by thick Phanerozoic cover sequences,
published models argue for a single continuous
Namaqua-Natal orogen. Similar isotopic data and a
comparable tectonic history support the continuity of
the western (Namaqua) and eastern (Natal) sectors.
There is however an important difference between the
two sectors. The rocks of the Namaqua Metamorphic
Province were deposited largely on Palaeoproterozoic
basement whereas those of the Natal belt are entirely
juvenile.
The Namaqua leg of the excursion concentrated on the
eastern part of the orogen. The first day was spent in
the Kheis Sub-Province interpreted as accommodating
the transition between the Mesoproterozoic (Kibaran)
Namaqua orogen and the Palaeoproterozoic (Eburnian)
Kheis Belt. The geology of this complex and contro-
versial area is dominated by quartzites and associated
schists of the Palaeoproterozoic Vaalkoppies and Brulpan
Groups. Stops were made to examine the lithology and
deformation features of the Dagbreek and Groblershoop
formations and the intrusive Kalkwerf gneiss. These are
overlain by low-grade supracrustal rocks of the
Mesoproterozoic Wilgenhoutsdrif Group and the
unmetamorphosed Koras Group.
The second day was spent in the Kakamas and Areachap
terranes of the Namaqua orogen. Both terranes have
been extensively intruded by granitoids of the Keimoes
Suite. The Areachap terrane comprises metavolcanics,
calc-silicate rocks and metapelites of the ~1.3 Ga
Areachap Group. It generally is regarded as a juvenile
terrane, but field relations examined during the field trip
suggest that the terrane may have developed near the
Kaapvaal craton margin. The eastern boundary of the
terrane is taken as the Trooilapspan shear zone, while
on the western side the terrane boundary is obscured by
granites of the Keimos Suite and its position and nature
require further investigation. A possible boundary is the
Boven Rugzeer shear zone. The area from the Areachap
Terrane westwards to the Neusberg shear zone forms
part of the Kakamas Terrane and is characterised by a
succession of calc-silicate rocks, metapelites (kinzigites)
and quartzites, all grouped in the Korannaland
Supergroup.
The Natal belt bounds part of the south-eastern margin
of the Kaapvaal craton and is divided into, from north
to south, the Tugela, Mzumbe and Margate terranes. The
Mzumbe and Margate terranes are characterised by volu-
minous 1.2 to 1.0 Ga granitic intrusions with coeval
high-grade metamorphism, and are interpreted as deeply
eroded magmatic arcs. In contrast, the origin of the
Tugela terrane remains poorly constrained. It is divided
into four thrust sheets or nappes referred to, from east
to west, and bottom to top as the Nkomo, Madidima,
Mandleni and Tugela respectively. The rock types in
these nappes have been grouped into tectonostrati-
graphical packages comprising variable amounts of
feldspathic, mafic and metapelitic schist and gneiss.
These packages are intruded and tectonically interleaved
with layered mafic intrusions and serpentinised ultra-
mafic rocks (the latter with podiform chromite).
Dismembered ultramafic lenses and talc-schists help to
define tectonic contacts between the various packages.
Tectonic models suggest that the Mzumbe and Margate
magmatic arcs developed in response to the closure of
a Mesoproterozoic (Tugela) ocean basin that lay south
of the Kaapvaal craton by subduction away from the
craton. The ultramafic components of the Tugela terrane
and its intermediate position between the craton and the
magmatic arcs suggest that it may be, at least in part, a
relic of oceanic crust from the basin.
The oldest rocks in the Margate and Mzumbe terranes
comprise arc-related, felsic to mafic, volcanic
supracrustal gneisses with subordinate metasedimentary
rocks. The early juvenile gneisses which are probably
no older than ~1.3 Ga were intruded at ~1.2 Ga by arc-
related, calc-alkaline tonalitic orthogneisses and by syn-
, late- and post-kinematic granitoids between ~1.1 and
1.0 Ga. The youngest of these rocks include a rapakivi
granite-charnockite suite (Oribi Gorge Suite) intruded at
~1.05 Ga. Magmatism ceased in Natal at ~1025 Ma but
prolonged isobaric cooling of the entire complex is
reflected in Rb-Sr whole rock and mineral ages as young
as 850 Ma. Alternatively, these younger dates may reflect
a widespread post-tectonic thermal of K-metasomatic
event.
49
The accretion of the three Natal terranes onto the
Kaapvaal craton by north-east-directed thrusting and
nappe emplacement during collision led to inverse
metamorphic stacking across the Natal belt, with the
highest (granulite) grade rocks in the southern Margate
terrane. The Mzumbe and Margate terranes were subse-
quently cut by numerous south-east to south-south-
east-trending sinistral shears and mylonite belts. The
boundary between the Mzumbe and Margate terranes
is defined by a major oblique wrench structure, the
Lilani-Matigulu Shear Zone, which coincides with the
geophysically determined southern edge of the
Kaapvaal craton. The Lilani-Matigulu Shear Zone may
represent a re-activated transform boundary between
the Kaapvaal craton and the Tugela Ocean. As a result,
it has been argued that the extensive preservation of
the early thrust-nappe structures in the Tugela terrane
is a consequence of underlying cold, and thus more
rigid Archaean crust. During the excursion, participants
visited representative rocks and structures from each
of the three terranes.
Technical session
Fifteen papers were read during the five sessions of the
technical conference. Three papers presented in the first
session provided overviews of Mesoproterozoic geology.
Richard Hanson provided an introductory paper that
comprehensively reviewed the history of the main
Mesoproterozoic orogenic provinces of Southern Africa.
Chris Powell reviewed existing palaeomagnetic infor-
mation and provided new data on the position of the
Kalahari craton in Rodinia. He noted that the Kalahari
craton was at the equator at ~1100 Ma and joined with
Australia at ~1080 Ma. The Congo and Kalahari cratons
were joined at ~610 Ma. Toby Rivers examined the
metamorphic signatures of various parts of the Grenville
Province as an aid to their correlation. The high-pres-
sure assemblages mostly formed between 1080 and
1060 Ma. During a second session, Henri Kampunzu
and co-authors provided an overview of Kibaran belts
in Central and Eastern Africa. An early orogenic event
at ca. 1400-1250 Ma is associated with clockwise PT
paths with I-type granite magmatism. A period of
erosion and rift-related sedimentation followed before
a second period of tectonothermal activity with S-type
granite magmatism and tin mineralization between
ca. 1200 and 960 Ma. Wulf Gose read a paper on behalf
of his co-authors (Pancake and others) that presented
new palaeomagnetic data from Botswana on the
Umkondo Igneous Province. The new work supports the
conclusion that the emplacement of large parts of this
enormous igneous province took place in a limited time
frame at ca. 1100 Ma (consistent with a plume origin).
Peter Hall and his co-authors presented the results of
detailed geochemical studies of different parts of the
Umkondo Igneous Province. Their work records
complex geochemical patterns within apparently
coherent dyke swarms and sheets that need to be
explained before the origin of the Province can be fully
understood.
50
The third session was devoted to Mesoproterozoic rocks
in Zambia. New work on the Irumide Belt presented by
both Mapani and his co-authors, as well as by De Waele
and his co-authors indicates that we are at last starting
to unravel the complex history of this belt. A series of
north-east-trending internal terranes are recognized in
the southern part of the Irumide Belt in South-Eastern
Zambia; these terranes are truncated to the south by the
Zambezi and Mozambique Belts. The internal Irumide
terranes are all bounded by major structural features and
they may represent a telescoped progression from a
cratonic setting on the Congo Craton (Serenje terrane),
through a continental margin setting (Luangwa and
Nyimba terranes), to an accreted arc (Petauke-Sinda
terrane). The HT-LP granulite facies metamorphic signa-
ture of the Chipata terrane is not compatible with forma-
tion in the root zone of the orogen, so it may be an
exotic terrane accreted during the assembly of Rodinia.
New isotopic dates from the Irumide belt provide no
evidence for tectonothermal activity at 1400-1350 Ma,
in contrast to previous interpretations. At ca. 1800 Ma
there was bimodal magmatism associated with the
opening of the Irumide basin that was infilled by up to
10,000 m of sediment (although this may be a grossly
misleading figure if the sediments were not deposited in
a continuous layer-cake manner). Closure of the orogen
took place at ca. 1180-1100 Ma with late to post-tectonic
granite magmatism at 1040-960 Ma. Tembo and Katongo
provided new information on the controls on emerald
mineralization in the Ndola Rural area of North-Western
Zambia.
The fourth session was devoted to the geology of the
Namaqua belt. Van Niekerk and his co-authors proposed
that the Lucknow Formation should be taken out of the
Olifantshoek Group and reassigned to the Transvaal
Supergroup (equivalent to the Magaliesburg Formation
of the main Transvaal Basin). They recognize three
groups in the Kheis Supergroup: a basal Olifantshoek
Group (with a basal Neylon conglomerate and the over-
lying Hartley lavas), overlain by the Groblershoop
Group and an upper Wigenhoutsdrift Group. Fluviatile
and shallow marine Kheis sediments were deposited on
a passive continental margin. They place the western
edge of the Kaapvaal Craton further to the west than
previous authors. Knoper and his co-authors discussed
the ‘late’ tectonothermal history of the Namaqua belt
between ca. 1080 and 1020 Ma. They relate this history
to protracted deformation associated with dextral trans-
pression associated with the convergence (after colli-
sion) of the Kalahari Craton and another craton. Chris
Powell observed that the deformation could be exten-
sional, as it was associated with a very high thermal
gradient. The absence of TTGs also supports an exten-
sional setting. Rapid exhumation between ca. 1018 and
1013 Ma followed the metamorphic peak. The final
paper by Grantham and his co-authors described and
discussed new isotopic dates from the Leliefontein area.
An emplacement age of ca. 1086 Ma for an equigran-
ular orthopyroxene-granite is based on U-Pb ages from
zircon cores with a metamorphic overprint at ca. 1042
Ma. A concordant age of ca. 1033 Ma for gneissic
granite is close to the ca. 1060 Ma age for the Spektakel
Suite with which it has been correlated. Early (ca. 1200
Ma) granites are dominant. Detrital zircons from a
paragneiss range in age from ca. 1300 to ca. 1650 Ma,
suggesting that these supracrustals are younger than
previously thought.
The final session focused attention on the Natal belt (or
Natal Metamorphic Province). Thomas and Jacobs
presented a definitive overview of the geology of this
belt, which is known to comprise three juvenile high-
grade Mesoproterozoic terranes separated by major
shear zones. 1235±9 Ma is the oldest isotopic age
obtained from the Natal belt. An initial collisional
(thrust tectonics) event took place at about 1130 Ma
with the formation of charnockites. Rapakivi granites
were extensively emplaced between ca. 1070 and 1020
Ma, notably in the Margate and Mzumbe terranes.
Emplacement of dykes at about 1020 Ma marked the
end of magmatism. Sinistral shearing followed at about
1000 Ma (cooling below 500°C). The northern Tugela
terrane was thrust over the Kaapvaal craton during the
initial thrusting and was not affected by the later
magmatism. A similar sequence of events was noted
from Mesoproterozoic terranes (Falkland Islands, West
Antarctica, older parts of the Mozambique belt) thought
to have been next to the Natal belt in Rodinia. Bisnath
and McCourt then provided a detailed account of three
tectonostratigraphical packages in the Tugela terrane.
Three major deformation events can be recognized in
all three units including a final event associated with
the thrusting of the Tugela terrane onto the Kaapvaal
craton. McCourt and his co-authors presented the final
paper on new U-Pb SHRIMP ages from the Tugela
terrane. An age of 1209±5 Ma from the Kotongweni
Tonalite (extremely depleted M-type granitoid) marks
oceanic arc development. Detrital grains with an age of
1289±14 Ma provide a maximum age for the metased-
imentary Dulumbe gneiss and show that it does not
contain detritus derived from the Kaapvaal Craton.
Tectonic burial and peak metamorphism occurred at
1182±19 Ma. Subsequent uplift and tectonic transport
northwards of the Tugela terrane onto the Kaapvaal
craton is constrained between 1161±9 Ma and 1155±6
Ma based on the crystallization ages of the Mkondene
diorite and Mtungweni granitoids respectively. The
massif-type Mambulu anorthosite was emplaced at
1145±6 Ma.
List of most important publications
– Deblond, A.; Punzalan, L. E.; Boven, A.; Tack, L.
2001. The Malagarazi Supergroup of SE Burundi
and its correlative Bukoba Supergroup of NW
Tanzania: Neo- and Mesoproterozoic chronostrati-
graphic constraints from Ar-Ar ages on mafic intru-
sive rocks. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 32
(3), pp. 435-49.
– Key, R. M. 2001. Botswana: a new national geo-
logical map in digital format. Earthworks, 12, p. 3.
– Key, R. M.; Liyungu, A. K.; Njamu, F. M.; Banda, J.;
Mosley, P. N.; Somwe, V. 2001. The geology and
stream sediment geochemistry of the Mwinilunga
Sheet. Memoir, Geological Survey Department of
Zambia, 5, 175 pp.
– Majaule, T.; Hanson, R. E.; Key, R. M.;
Singletary, S. J.; Martin, M. W.; Bowring, S. A. 2001.
The Magondi belt in northeast Botswana: regional
relations and new geochronological data from the
Sua Pan area. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 32,
257-267.
– Tack, L.; Wingate, M. T. D.; Liégeois, J.-P.;
Fernandez-Alonso, M.; Deblond, A. 2001 Early
Neoproterozoic magmatism (1000-910 Ma) of the
Zadinian and Mayumbian Groups (Bas-Congo):
onset of Rodinia rifting at the western edge of the
Congo craton. Precambrian Research, 110, pp. 277-
306.
Papers in press or in review:
– Hanson, R. E., in press, Proterozoic tectonic evolu-
tion and geochronology of southern Africa, in
Yoshida, M., Windley, B., and Dasgupta, S. (eds.),
Proterozoic East Gondwana: Supercontinent
Assembly and Breakup. Geological Society of
London Special Publication.
– Hargrove, U. S.; Hanson, R. E.; Martin, M. W.;
Blenkinsop, T. G.; Bowring, S. A.; Munyanyiwa, H.
In review, Tectonic evolution of the Zambezi orogenic
belt: geochronological, structural, and petrological
constraints from northern Zimbabwe: Precambrian
Research.
– Singletary, S., Hanson, R., Martin, M., Bowring, S.,
Key, R., Ramokate, L. Direng, B., and Krol, M., in
review, Geochronology of basement rocks in the
Kalahari Desert, Botswana, and implications for
regional Proterozoic tectonics: Precambrian
Research.
– Kokonyangi, J; Armstrong, R. A.; Kampunzu, A. B.;
Yoshida, M.; Okudaira, T. (in preparation). U-Pb
zircon geochronology and geochemistry of grani-
toids from the Kibarides belt, Mitwaba-Katanga
(Congo): petrogenetic and geotectoinc implications.
Activities planned
The general goal of IGCP 418 is to produce a book on
the Kibaran events in southern and central Africa. In
2002 IGCP 418 plans to hold its final meeting in Namibia
that will comprise a field meeting to examine
Mesoproterozoic rocks in Namibia, as well as a confer-
ence in Windhoek. The purpose of the final meeting
in Namibia will be to allow the authors of this
book an opportunity to present their work for general
discussion.
51
No. 419 – Foreland Basins
of the Neoproterozoic Belts in Central to
Southern Africa
and South America (1998-2002)
M. Wendorff, University of Botswana, Department of
Geology, Private Bag 0022, Botswana, e-mail:
wendorff@mopipi.ub.bw
P. L. Binda, University of Regina, Department of
Geology, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S 0A2,
e-mail: plbinda@sk.sympatico.ca
Description: The project is focused on regional and
interregional correlation of foreland basins of the
Neoproterozoic-Lower Palaeozoic Belts in Africa and
South America. In relevant cases, the inner regions of
the Neoproterozoic belts are researched as well as new
data reflecting the foreland evolution are required. One
of the focal problems is regional and intercontinental
correlation of the ‘tillite’/glaciogenic markers and the
underlying and overlying sedimentary sequences in
Africa south of the Equator and in South America. This
work is based upon the criteria provided by litho-
stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, basin analysis,
palaeontology, palaeoclimatic and palaeomagnetic
reconstructions, geochronology and studies of stable
isotopes. Structural geology and geophysics are applied
to elucidate the tectonic framework of the correlated
units and provide additional correlation criteria.
Investigations of the Precambrian/Lower Palaeozoic
boundary in the studied provinces of the Western
Gondwana, identification and definition of the
boundary in the localities crucial to the stratigraphy of
the identified regions/basins is another aspect fostered
by the project. The investigated basins and belts are
sites of important economic resources. Therefore,
research into the economic aspects of the targeted
Proterozoic and Lower Palaeozoic units, especially the
context of Cu-Co mineralisation, the origins of the
carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposits and the sources and
potential reservoirs of hydrocarbons are part of the
project’s programme.
Website of the project
A website under the University of Botswana Homepage
is now being established and should be operational in
February 2002.
Participating countries
(*indicates countries active this year)
Argentina, Australia*, Belgium*, Botswana*, Brazil*,
Canada*, Chile*, China*, Congo* (DR), France,
Germany*, India*, Italy*, Japan*, Namibia*,
Netherlands, Poland*, Slovakia, South Africa*, Spain,
Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom*, United States*,
Zambia*, Zimbabwe.
52
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
A comparative study of and correlation between the West
Congolian Belt (Africa) and Aracuai (Brasiliano) was
completed. Results are published. This was one of the
most important aims of the project set in the original
proposal for 2001.
A geological map of the Western part of the Katangan
belt (Lufilian Arc in Zambia) was completed. The map
is published, the paper in press.
The first regional version of a new stratigraphy of the
Katangan foreland basins and incorporated in it new
stratigraphic and sedimentological criteria for explora-
tion of mineralized allochthonous megablocks was
worked out. A book chapter was published and a keynote
lecture delivered.
A sampling campaign and laboratory work on geochem-
ical stratigraphic criteria in selected sections of the
Katangan, West Congolian and Gariep Belts were
completed.
Lithological characteristics of the Luapula Beds (North-
East Zambia) were revised and updated, and a sampling
campaign completed. This is related to the study of age
relationships between this unit (Zambia) and the Plateau
Kundelungu in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(where follow-up work is planned for 2002).
Work on the stratigraphy and structure of the Zambezi
belt to test the hypothesis of possible genetic links
between this region and the Katangan has advanced.
Data collection, preliminary sedimentological and
sequence stratigraphy interpretation of the Tsodilo Hills
Fm. (NW Botswana) were completed. Papers and map
are in preparation. The results were incorporated in the
Botswana Government submission to UNESCO for
consideration of the area as World Heritage Site.
A new study of the Naukluft Nappe Complex (Damara
Belt, Namibia) has been completed.
Geochemical mapping of the Damara correlative region
in North-West Botswana has been achieved.
Involvement of geoscientists working on East
Gondwana, through a thematic session during ISRGA
Conference, Osaka (see below) was established.
Meetings
A field workshop – project meeting with talks and
discussion (six countries, 30 participants) was held in
Zambia, 3-8 December 2001.
ISRGA Conference, Project 419 thematic symposium
(Session 4): Basin Development in Relation to Rodinia-
Gondwana-Asia Tectonics, took place in Osaka, Japan,
27 October 2001.
Participation of project 419 members in the Conference
on geology of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil and
in IGCP 450 session.
In addition, IGCP 419 was represented at three major
international conferences:
- the Europan Meeting of Sedimentology, Davos,
2-5 September: mainly as a preparation for the forth-
coming 2002 Sedimentological Congress Thematic
Session of IGCP 419 on Foreland Basins
- 6th Biennial SGA-SEG Conference, Krakow,
26-29 August: invited keynote lecture (meetings
conducted on this occasion were aiming at a broader
involvement of scientists specializing in economic
sedimentology of sediment-hosted deposits
(18 participants from 9 countries)
- Earth System Processes, a Global Meeting,
Edinburgh, 24-28 June: UNESCO-invited presenta-
tion, several discussion meetings related to project
research.
List of most important publications
(including maps)
– Deblond, A.; Punzalan, L.; Boven, A.; Tack, L. 2001.
The Malagarazi Supergroup of southeast Burundi
and its correlative Bukoba Supergroup of northwest
Tanzania: Neo- and Mesoproterozoic chronostrati-
graphic constraints from Ar-Ar ages on mafic intru-
sive rocks. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 32,
pp. 435-49.
– Key, R.; et al. 2001. Geological Map 1:250000 of
the western part of the Katangan Belt in Zambia.
Geological Survey of Zambia, Lusaka.
– Pedrosa-Soares, A. C.; Martins-Neto, M. A.;
Lima, S. A. A. 2001. Tectono-sedimentary evolution
of sedimentary basins from Late Palaeoproterozoic
to Late Neoproterozoic in the Sao Francisco Craton
and Aracuai Foldbelt, eastern Brazil. Sedimentary
Geology, 141-142, pp. 343-70.
– Pedrosa-Soares, A. C.; Noce, C. M.;
Wiedemann, C. M.; Pinto, C. P. 2001. The Aracuai-
West-Congo Orogen in Brazil: an overview of a
confined orogen formed during Gondwanaland
assembly. Precambrian Research, 110, pp. 307–23.
– Steven, N. 2001. A Shaba-type Cu-Co (-Ni) deposit
at Luamata, NW Zambia at the western end of the
Lufilian Arc (In press) Exploration and Mining
Geology.
– Tack, L.; Pedrosa-Soares, C.; Deblond, A.;
Fernandez-Alonso, M. 2001. The Araçuaí (Brazil) –
West Congo (Central Africa) orogen: complementary
versus specific features of a Wilson Cycle related
orogen formed during Gondwana assembly. In: GSAf
12 Conference 2001 Abstracts, Cameroon.
– Tack, L.; Pedrosa-Soares, C.; Deblond, A.;
Fernandez-Alonso, M. 2001. (subm.) The Araçuaí
(Brasiliano) – West Congo (Pan African) orogenic
system: considerations on the breakup history of the
pre-existing Rodinia Supercontinent. In: 19 CAG. El
Jadida.
– Tack, L.; Wingate, M.; Liégeois, J.-P.; Fernandez-
Alonso, M.; Deblond, A. 2001. Early Neoproterozoic
magmatism (1000-910 Ma) of the Zadinian and
Mayumbian Groups (Bas-Congo): onset of Rodinia
rifting at the western edge of the Congo craton.
Precambrian Research, 110, pp. 277-306.
– Wendorff, M.; Grey, R. A. T. 2001. Orebodies with
Cu-Co in the Katangan Copperbelt of the DRC:
genetic implications of tectonostratigraphy. In:
Mineral Deposits at the Beginning of the 21st Century
(Edited by Piestrzynski, A. et al.), pp. 251-4.
Balkema, Rotterdam.
– Wendorff, M. 2001. New exploration criteria for
‘megabreccia’-hosted Cu-Co deposits in the
Katangan belt, central Africa. In: Mineral Deposits
at the Beginning of the 21st Century (Edited by
Piestrzynski, A. et al.), pp. 19-22, Balkema,
Rotterdam.
– Wendorff, M. 2001. Tectonics, sedimentation and
sediment supply systems at the southern margin of
the Congo Craton: the Katanga Supergroup,
Neoproterozoic-Lower Palaeozoic of central Africa.
In: Earth System Processes, 47 pp. The Geological
Society of America and The Geological Society of
London, Edinburgh.
Activities planned
General goals
Comparison of lithostratigraphic development and
assessment of genetic and temporal relationships
between the Plateau Kundelungu (in the Dem. Rep. of
Congo) and the Luapula Beds (Zambia). Detailed strati-
graphic work on these two units. This problem is crucial
for unravelling the Neoproterozoic-Lower Palaeozoic
history of this part of the region.
Refinement of the new model of interplay between
tectonics and sedimentation in the Katangan belt and
evolution of the foreland basins through detailed sedi-
mentological work in several parts of the belt.
Geochemical stratigraphic criteria: analytical work on
the suites of samples from the Katangan, Gariep and
West Congolian belts, and their comparison with the
data from the Brasiliano orogenic system.
Meetings
– Sedimentological Congress, Johannesburg, 6-12 July
2002. Thematic session of Project 419: ‘Foreland
Basins – 3 billion years of evolution’. The session
is designed entirely in agreement with the originally
53
 approved programme of the project. It is aiming at
a comparative synthesis of evolution of foreland
basins through geological time, with emphasis on
evolving interactions between deformation of the
lithosphere, formation of basins, and sedimentary
and stratigraphic response to the orogenic move-
ments. Two business meetings will be held:
(a) Project 419 Meeting, and (b) editors/authors
meeting related to the preparation of a book volume,
‘Foreland Basins Through Time’ planned as a special
publication of the International Association of
Sedimentologists (IAS) edited by M. Wendorff
(Botswana) and O. Catuneanu (Canada).
– Pre-Congress field workshop: Stratigraphy and sedi-
mentation of the Plateau Kundelungu succession;
Dem. Rep. of Congo.
– IAGOD Conference, Windhoek, 22-27 July 2002.
Talks by project participants and participation in
business meeting of IGCP Project 450.
No. 420 – Continental Growth in the
Phanerozoic: Evidence from Central Asia
(1998-2002)
Bor-ming Jahn, Géosciences Rennes, Université de
Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France, e-mail:
jahn@univ-rennes1.fr
N. L. Dobretsov, Institute of Geology, UIGGM, Siberian
Branch, RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia, e-mail:
vladimir@uiggm.nsc.ru
Description: The problem of the growth and evolution
of the continental crust has always been an important
subject of research in earth sciences. The issue of the
rate and nature of continental growth has not yet been
resolved satisfactorily. All growth models predict that
the formation of the continental crust was essentially
completed by late Archean to Early Proterozoic, and the
amount of new crust produced in the Phanerozoic is
minor or insignificant. This idea of negligible crustal
growth in the Phanerozoic is challenged by the discovery
of voluminous juvenile crust produced in the Canadian
Cordillera, Western United States, and most notably, the
Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB, or the Altaid
Tectonic Collage) during the period of Palaeozoic to
Mesozoic (about 500 to 100 Ma). Central Asia or the
CAOB is immense in size and its geology is poorly
known outside the former USSR and China. It is rich
in mineral resources, which have been subject to
numerous studies in the last forty years. Its generally
‘juvenile’ crustal characteristics have invited many recent
investigations of terrane accretion and geodynamic
evolution as well as intense isotope studies aimed at
quantifying the proportion of juvenile crust to old
Precambrian basement in the CAOB.
The main purpose of this project is to investigate the
processes of juvenile crustal formation in this gigantic
54
orogenic belt. This includes: (a) genesis of the
Phanerozoic crust, (b) origin of alkaline and peralkaline
granitoids, (c) mineralisation associated with the granitic
intrusions, and (d) structural analyses and tectonic
modelling. Multidisciplinary methodology including
field analyses, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology,
and palaeomagnetism will be employed to study the
generation of the immense volumes of granitic rocks
intruded in this region and to constrain models of
tectonic evolution of the accretionary orogenic belt. The
data acquired for the CAOB will be used in conjunc-
tion with those obtained for other Phanerozoic juvenile
crusts, such as the Canadian Cordillera, the Appalachians
in North America and Eastern Australia, to reassess the
growth of the continental crust. Collaboration between
scientists from all countries, particularly from Russia,
Mongolia, China, and other former USSR member coun-
tries, is necessary.
Website of the project
http://www.geosciences.univ-rennes1.fr/igcp420/
Participating countries (* indicates countries active this
year)
Australia*, Austria*, Belgium*, Canada*, China*,
France*, Germany*, Israel*, Japan*, Kazakhstan*,
Mongolia*, Rep. of Korea, Russia*, Sweden*, Taiwan,
*Turkey, United Kingdom*, United States*.
Summary of major past achievements of the project
IGCP 420 has made a distinction between the two terms
used in the growth of Asia:
1. (a) amalgamation of dispersed micro-continental
fragments from the break-up of Gondwana. This
process enlarged the size of Asia, but might not have
added substantial amount of newly formed (juve-
nile) crust to the continent. (b) growth of the conti-
nental crust. This implies a net transfer of
mantle-derived material to the continental crust.
IGCP 420 emphasizes the latter.
2. Further confirmation of significant mantle contri-
bution in the generation of the continental crust in
Central Asia. This was achieved by continued Sr-Nd
isotope studies, coupled with multi-methodological
dating, of granitoids from many parts of the CAOB
– Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Southern
Siberia (Sayan and Altai), Northern Xinjiang, Inner
Mongolia, and North-East China. This is certainly
the most important achievement of this project. Our
conceptual models of crustal growth are being
redefined.
3. The CAOB appears to have formed by assemblage
of Precambrian micro-continental fragments and a
lot more of Phanerozoic juvenile crust produced by
both lateral accretion of arc complexes and
vertical accretion of underplated material of mantle
derivation. Arc accretion appears to be the domi-
nant process in the CAOB. On the other hand, the
 abundant Permo-Triassic granitoids in Transbaikalia
and the Altai Mountains and the vast Siberian Trap
basalts could have been generated by a super-plume
activity.
4. Recognition of voluminous juvenile granitoids in
the Altai-Sayan region emplaced in post-collisional
and intra-continental settings. This is thought to be
related to old shear zones and granitic magmas
formed by melting of mantle-lower crust mixture.
In Transbaikalia, mingling of basic and acid magmas
can be demonstrated in the field (Russian groups in
Novosibirsk and Ulan Ude).
5. Precise geochronology is critical for tectonic inter-
pretation and for estimation of crustal growth rate.
Recent dating using advanced and more vigourous
techniques have generated many more new results
that completely changed the traditional views on the
ages of many granitic massifs in the CAOB. The
best examples are found in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia
and North-East China.
6. The role of Precambrian basement gneisses in the
generation of granitic magmas has been evaluated
using isotope techniques. An excellent example is
given by the granitoids emplaced in the Baydrag
terrane in Mongolia, the Altai and Tianshan moun-
tains in Xinjiang, as well as those emplaced in the
Jiamusi Massif of North-East China. In these cases,
the Nd isotope data indicate that the presence of
‘old’ rocks was non-negligible. Thus, the accretion
of the CAOB or Altaid Collage involved
Precambrian microcontinents, though their propor-
tion in the entire CAOB may be small.
7. Metallogeny. Geochemical studies of granitoids and
ore mineralization in Central Asia suggest juvenile
sources for all ore elements. Ore mineralizations are
mainly related to subalkaline and highly evolved
granites. Moreover, intracontinental rifting resulted
in the formation of carbonatite related magnetite-
apatite mineralization, and REE mineralization is
controlled by the deep faults of the Main Mongolian
lineament.
8. Tectonic evolution of Mongolia. The model of
Sengor et al. (1993) for the Altaids (= CAOB) was
built essentially on the accretion of arc complexes.
Detailed fieldwork during the last few years in
Mongolia revealed that many interpretations in the
Sengor model were based on erroneous or insuffi-
cient data published in the old Russian literature.
The tectonic evolution was much more complicated
than the Sengor model implies. Consequently, a new
‘terrane model’ was proposed by project participants
in which the geology of Mongolia is divided into
blocks of island arcs, continental margin arcs, accre-
tionary prisms, ophiolites, passive continental
margins, old Precambrian cratons, and late overlap
basins. The paper of this model is being published
in J. Asian Earth Sci.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievement
The most important achievement of the project is that,
through the numerous publications in the last two years
the Central Asian Orogenic Belt became well known for
its role in the continental growth and the enlargement
of Asia during the Phanerozoic. Due to the importance
of the project, renewed interest is taking place in more
detailed field mapping, structural analyses, petrogenetic
study and geochronology.
The highlights from different parts of the CAOB are
summarized below.
North-East China – A large number of new ages and
Sr-Nd isotope data were obtained. The results have
considerably changed the views of geological evolution
in North-East China and hence a new tectonic model is
being constructed. At present, the ‘Caledonian’ granites
seem to have disappeared as the result of better
geochronology. Massive granitic rocks were emplaced
since the Late Palaeozoic but culminated in Middle
Mesozoic. They are mainly of I-type granites and char-
acterized by positive ÂNd(T) values (+1 to +3). The Nd
isotope data clearly suggest a significant mantle contri-
bution to the magma genesis. However, in the area of
the Jiamusi Block, the role of Precambrian rocks
becomes significant in the generation of Mesozoic
granitic magmas. Os isotopes of mantle xenoliths in
Cenozoic basalts from North-East China were studied.
The data suggest that part of the subcontinental lithos-
pheric mantle was newly formed, and most of the old
lithospheric mantle had been delaminated. This resulted
in the thinning of the lithosphere from 200 to <100 km.
In other words, more than 100 km of old lithosphere
got lost in the Phanerozoic.
Xinjiang, North-West China – The Nd isotopic work
on Northern Xinjiang (Altai, Junggar, Tianshan and
Northern Tarim) shows that a substantial amount of
granitoids was derived from mantle sources and the
proportion of old crust to mantle contribution in granite
petrogenesis increases from Junggar to Altai to Tianshan.
The basement rocks (granitic gneisses, amphibolites and
metasediments) in Northern Tarim are of middle Archean
to early Proterozoic (3.2-2.2 Ga), in Tianshan early to
middle Proterozoic (2.0-1.7 Ga), in Altai Mountains
middle Proterozoic (1.4-1.0 Ga), and in Junggar loosely
defined late Proterozoic ages (ca. 600 Ma). The ages
and isotopic characteristics of the basement rocks appear
to have a direct influence to the Nd isotopic compositions
of the above young granitic intrusions. In a study of the
sediments and granitoids from the Altai Mountains of
China, it was demonstrated a secular variation of Nd
isotope ratios in Palaeozoic passive margin sediments.
An abrupt increase of initial ÂNd values in the
Carboniferous-Permian sequence indicates a significant
addition of juvenile materials in the sedimentary source
55
regions, which may represent the uplifted Devonian
back-arc oceanic crust and the newly formed Irtysh arcs.
Mongolia – A new interpretation of the tectonic evolu-
tion of Mongolia based on the terrane concept is being
published by Badarch et al. (2001). According to this
model, the geology of Mongolia is divided into blocks
of island arcs, continental margin arcs, accretionary
prisms, ophiolites, passive continental margins, old
Precambrian cratons, and late overlap basins. This model
is very different from that proposed by Sengör et al.
(1993). Better geochronology and isotope investigations
through international cooperation have contributed to a
much clearer picture of the geological evolution in
Mongolia. Furthermore, project collaborators discovered
in the summer of 2000 an immense formation of acid
volcanic rocks in Northern Mongolia. Two belts, which
were previously described as silicic schists or quartzites
of either Proterozoic or Devonian Age, consist of rhyo-
lites, rhyolitic tuffs and a few conformable sheets of
granite, but no intermediate or basic rocks. The rocks
have been folded, but not recrystallized. The aggregate
width of the two belts is about 150 km and the strike-
length is about 650 km, making this the largest rhyolite
field in Asia. New zircon ages suggest their emplace-
ment in the Ordovician to Silurian, but the petrogenesis
of these rocks (juvenile or re-melting of ancient conti-
nental crust?) remains to be worked out. In any case,
the paucity at present of reliable structural-isotopic-
geochemical data prevents the formulation of a single
viable plate tectonic model.
Transbaikalia – This area is most celebrated for the
immense volume of peralkaline granitoids and related
volcanic rocks. New age data established that the gran-
itoid belt of Transbaikalia was formed in several discrete
episodes: 285-280 Ma, about 250 Ma, 225-220 Ma and
about 210 Ma. In each one, large volcanic-plutonic
structures, up to 2000 km2 in area, were formed. The
data point to multiple effect of large mantle plume on
high-K basic and silicic magma generation process. Our
studies on petrogeneses of some representative intrusive
complexes have resulted in a few publications.
Tuva-Sayan-North Mongolia – The Agadagh-Tes-Chem
(ATC) Ophiolite in Southern Tuva is found to have the
same age (ca. 570 Ma) as the Bayankhongor Ophiolite
in West-Central Mongolia. Sr-Nd-Pb isotope data
suggest that the ATC ophiolite and associated Tannuola
arc complex have witnessed crustal contamination during
their formation. Trace element geochemistry of the
volcanic rocks and gabbros indicate a process of assim-
ilation and fractional crystallisation to be responsible for
their magma compositions. Consequently, the presence
of an older continental crust is required for the tectonic
model of the ophiolite emplacement. This work is part
of the joint research between Kröner, Windley, and the
Russian groups from Moscow and St. Petersburg on the
late Precambrian to early Palaeozoic evolution of Central
Asia.
56
Altai-Sayan Fold Region – This is the principal domain
of research by the Novosibirsk group. The most signif-
icant achievement is summarized in the guidebook of
IGCP-420 Workshop III. The guidebook was crystallized
through many years of collective work effected by this
group and its associates from St. Petersburg,
Novokuznezk and other geologists from local Geological
Surveys.
Meetings
– IGCP-420 Workshop III (6-16 August), in
Novosibirsk and the Altai Mountains, Russia.
80 participants from 10 countries attended the confer-
ence meeting in Novosibirsk.
– A few members of IGCP 420 attended the
International Symposium and Field Workshop on the
Assembly and Break-up of Rodinia and Gondwana,
and Growth of Asia (ISRGA) in Osaka, Japan. This
meeting was organized by Osaka City University
and IGCP projects 368, 411, 440, and was spon-
sored by two other IGCP projects 419 and 420.
Many discussions on the growth of Asia were partic-
ularly significant.
List of most important publications
The members of IGCP 420 were very productive in
2000-2001. In addition to the Workshop III abstract
volume and field excursion guidebook, about 100 papers
(exclusively articles) have been published or are in press.
– Tectonophysics Special Issue – Continental Growth
in the Phanerozoic: Evidence from Central Asia.
B. M. Jahn, W. L. Griffin and B. F. Windley (eds.),
Tectonophysics, Vol. 328, No. 1-2, pp. 1-227.
– Abstract Volume of the Third Workshop of IGCP 420
(Continental growth in the Phanerozoic: Evidence
from Central Asia. N. L. Dobretsov, B. M. Jahn and
A. G. Vladimirov (eds.) 2001, 132 pp. Novosibirsk
Publ. House of SB RAS.
– Excursion guidebook of Workshop III: Geology,
magmatism and metamorphism of the western part
of Altai-Sayan Fold Region. A. G. Vladimirov,
G. A. Babin, S. N. Rudnev, and N. N. Kruk
(chief compilers). 140 pp. N. L. Dobretsov and
A. G. Vladimirov (eds.). Novosibirsk Publ. House of
SB RAS.
– Special issue of J. Asian Earth Sciences. Continental
growth in the Phanerozoic: Evidence from Central
Asia. B. M. Jahn, N. Dobretsov, B. Natal’in and
B. Windley (eds.) (In progress.)
Refereed Journal Articles
– Arakawa, Y.; Kouta, T.; Kanda, Y. 2001. Geochemical
characteristics of amphibolites in the Oki-Dogo
Island, southwest Japan: mixed occurrence of amphi-
bolites with different geochemical affinities. Jour.
Mineral. Petrol. Sciences. (In press.)
– Arakawa, Y.; Kouta, T.; Kanda, Y.; Amakawa, H.
 2001. Enriched Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics for
amphibolites in the Oki-Dogo Island, Japan: evidence
for crust-mantle interaction by deeply subducted
continental crust. Gondwana Res., 4, pp. 562-3.
– Badarch, G/; Cunningham, W. D.; Windley, B. F
2001. A new terrane subdivision for Mongolia: impli-
cations for the Phanerozoic growth of Central Asia.
J. Asian Earth Sci. (In press.)
– Badarch, G. 2001. Tectonostratigraphic terranes of
Mongolia: key to understanding continental growth
in Central Asia: Geology. No. 4, pp. 151–4.
– Buchan, C.; Cunningham, D.; Windley, B. F. 2001.
Structural and lithological characteristics of the
Bayankhongur ophiolite zone, Central Mongolia.
J. Geol. Soc. London, 156, pp. 445-60.
– Buchan, C.; Pfänder, J.; Kröner, A.; Brewer, T. S.;
Tomurtogoo, O.; Tomurhuu, D.; Cunningham, D.;
Windley, B. F. 2001. Geochronology of the
Bayankhongor ophiolite zone, central Mongolia:
implications for timing of accretion and collisional
deformation in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.
Tectonophysics. (In press.)
– Chen, B.; Jahn, B. M. 2001. Genesis of post-colli-
sional granitoids and basement nature of the Junggar
Terrane, NW China: Nd-Sr isotope and trace element
evidence. J. Asian Earth Sciences. (In review.)
– Chen, B.; Jahn, B. M. 2001. Geochemical and
isotopic studies of the sedimentary and granitic rocks
of the Altai Orogen of NW China and their tectonic
implications. Geological Magazine. (In press.)
– Chen, X.; An, Y.; Gehrels, G. E.; Cowgill, E. S.;
Grove, M.; Harrison, T. M.; Wang, X. F. 2001. Two
Phases of Mesozoic North-South Extension in the
Eastern Altyn Tagh Range, Northern Tibetan Plateau,
Tectonics. (In review.)
– Dejidmaa, D.; Gerel, O. 2001. Metallogenesis of
Mongolia. Geology. No. 4. pp. 209-13.
– Franz, L.; Romer, R. L.; Klemd, R.; Schmid, R.;
Oberhänsli, R.; Wagner, T.; Dong, S. 2001. Eclogite-
facies quartz veins within metabasites of the Dabie
Shan (eastern China): P-T-t-d-x conditions and fluid
flow during exhumation of high-pressure rocks.
Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 141, pp. 322-46.
– Gao, J.; Klemd, R. 2001. Primary fluids entrapped
at blue schist to eclogite transition: evidence from
the Tianshan meta-subduction complex in north-
western China. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 142, pp. 1-
15. Springer.
– Gerel, O.; Sharkhuhen, D.; Badarch, B. 2001. PGE-
Au Occurrence at Altan Uul-Tamgat in South Gobi,
Mongolia. Mineral Deposits at the Beginning of the
21st century (Ed. By Adam Piestrzynski et al.)
Balkema Publishers, pp. 1105-08.
– Jahn, B. M.; Wu F. Y.; Capdevila, R.; Martineau, F.;
Zhao Z.; Wang Y. 2001. Highly evolved juvenile
granites with tetrad REE patterns: the Woduhe and
Baerzhe granites from the Great Xing’an Mountains
in NEChina. Lithos, (In press.)
– Khain, E. V.; Bibikova, E. V.; Kröner, A.;
Zhuralev, D. Z.; Sklyarov, E. V.; Fedotova, A. A.;
Kravchenko-Berezhnoy, I. R. 2001. The most ancient
ophiolite of the Central Asian fold belt: Sm-Nd, U-
Pb and Pb-Pb evidence from the Dunzhugur
Complex, Eastern Sayan, Siberia, and geodynamic
implications. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., (In press.)
– Klemd, R.; Schröter, F. C.; Will, T. M.; Gao, J. 2002.
PT-evolution of glaucophane-omphacite bearing
HP-LT rocks in the western Tianshan Orogen, NW
China: new evidence for ‘Alpine-type’ tectonics.
J. Metamorphic Geol., 20, (In press.)
– Litvinovsky, B. A.; Yarmolyuk, V. V.; Jahn, B. M.;
Vorontsov, A. A. 2001. Multistage formation of the
Mongolian-Transbaikalian granitid belt and nature of
the silicic magma sources. Petrology. (In press.)
– Litvinovsky, B. A.; Yarmolyuk, V. V., Vorontsov, A. A.
2001. Late Triassic stage of the Mongolian-
Transbaikalian alkali granitoid province formation:
Data of isotope and geochemical study. Russian
Geology and Geophysics. (In press.)
– Litvinovsky, B. A.; Yarmolyuk, V. V.; Vorontsov, A. A.;
Zhuravlev, D. V. 2001. Late Triassic stage of forma-
tion of the Mongolian-Transbaikalian alkali-
granitoid province formation: Data on isotope and
geochemical study. Russian Geology and
Geophysics. 42/3, pp. 445-55.
– Litvinovsky, B. A.; Jahn, B. M.; Zanvilevich. 2002.
Crystal fractionation as the dominant mechanism in
the petrogenesis of alkali gabbro-syenite series: The
Oshurkovo intrusive complex, Transbaikalia, Russia.
Lithos. (In review.)
– Parfenov, L. M.; Popeko, L. I.; Tomurtogoo, O. 2001.
Problems of tectonics of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic
belt. Geol. of Pac. Ocean, Vol. 16, pp. 797-830.
– Pfänder, J. A.; Jochum, K.-P.; Kozakov, I.; Kröner,
A.; Todt, W. 2001a. Coupled evolution of back-arc
and island arc-like mafic crust in the late
Neoproterozoic Agardagh Tes-Chem ophiolite,
central Asia: Evidence from trace element and Sr-
Nd-Pb isotope data. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol, (In
press.)
– Pfänder, J. A.; Jochum, K.-P.; Oidup, C.; Kröner, A.
2001b. Ultramafic cumulates and gabbros from
boninitic primary melts, and lower crustal evolution
in the Agardagh Tes-Chem ophiolite (Tuva, central
Asia) – petrological and geochemical constraints.
J. Petrol. (In press.)
– Salnikova, E. B.; Kozakov, I. K.; Kotov, A. B.; Kröner,
A.; Todt, W.; Bibikova, E. V.; Nutman, A.; Yakovleva,
S. Z.; Kovach, V. P. 2001. Age of Palaeozoic gran-
ites and metamorphism in the Tuvino-Mongolian
Massif of the Central Asian Mobile Belt: loss of a
microcontinent. Precambrian Res., 110, pp. 143-64.
– Sun Deyou; Wu Fuyuan; Li Huiming; Lin Qiang.
2001. Emplacement age of the postorogenic A-type
granites in Northwestern Lesser Xing’an Ranges,
and its relationship to the eastward extension of
Suolunshan-Hegenshan-Zhalaite collisional suture
zone. Chin. Sci. Bull., 46, pp. 427-32.
– Titov, A. V.; Vladimirov, A. G.; Vystavnoy, S. A.;
Pospelova, L. N. Unusual high-temperature felsites
57
 in post-granitic dyke complex of Kalguty rare-metal-
bearing granite massive (Gorny Altai). Geokhimia.
(In press.)
– Volkova, N. I.; Frenkel, A. E.; Budanov, V. I.;
Kholodova, L. D.; Lepezin, G. G. 2001. Eclogites of
the Maksyutov Complex, Southern Urals: geochem-
istry and the nature of the protolith. Geochemistry
International, 39, pp. 935-46.
– Wang Tao; Zheng Yadong. 2001. Geochronology
evidence for existence of the south Mongolian micro-
continent – a zircon U-Pb age of granitoid gneisses
from the Yagan-Onch Hayrhan metamorphic core
complex on Sino-Mongolian border. Chinese Science
Bulletin, 46, (In press.)
– Wang Tao; Zheng Yadong; Li Tianbing; Ma Minbo;
Gao Yongjun. 2001. Tectonic features of mylonitic
granitoid plutons of the Yangan metamorphic core
complex in Sino-Mongolian boundary area –
constrain for the kinematics and chronology of the
MCC. Progress in Natural Science, 11, pp. 766-71.
– Wang Tao; Zheng Yadong; Li Tianbing. 2001.
Forceful emplacement of granitic plutons in exten-
sional tectonic setting: syn-kinematic plutons in the
Yagan-Onch Hayrhan metamorphic core complex on
Sino-Mongolian border. Acta Geological Sinica. (In
press.)
– Windley, B. F.; Badarch, G.; Cinningham, W. D.;
Kröner, A.; Buchan, C.; Tomurtogoo, O.;
Salnikova, E. B. 2001. Subduction-accretion history
of the Central Asian Orogenmic Belt: Constraints
from Mongolia. Goldwana Res., 4, pp. 825-6.
– Wu Fuyuan; Jahn Bor-ming; Lo Ching-hua;
Yui Tzen-Fu; Lin Qiang; Ge Wenchun; Sun Deyou.
2001. Highly fractionated I-type granites in NE
China (I): Geochronology and petrogenesis. Lithos.
(In revision.)
– Wu Fuyuan; Jahn Bor-ming; Lo Ching-hua; Yui
Tzen-Fu; Lin Qiang; Ge Wenchun; Sun Deyou. 2001.
Highly fractionated I-type granites in NE China (II):
Isotopic geochemistry and implications for crustal
growth in the Phanerozoic. Lithos. (In revision.)
– Wu Fuyuan; Sun Deyou; Li, Huimin; Jahn; Borming;
Wilde, S. A. 2001. A-type granites in Northeastern
China: Age and geochemical constraints on their
petrogenesis. Chem. Geol. (In revision.)
– Wu Fuyuan; Wilde, S. A.; Sun Deyou. 2001.
SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of the youngest exposed
pluton in Eastern China. Chin. Sci. Bull., 46,
pp. 1727-31.
– Wu, F. Y.; Wilde, S. A.; Sun, D. Y. 2001. The zircon
SHRIMP age of the youngest exposed intrusion in
eastern China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 46,
pp. 1048-52. (In both Chinese and English.)
– Wu, Fuyuan; Sun Deyou; Li, Huimin; Wang Xiaolin.
2001. The nature of basement beneath the Songliao
Basin in NE China: geochemical and isotopic
constraints. Phys. Chem. Earth (Part A), Vol. 26,
pp. 793-803.
– Xiao, W.; Hou, G.; Li, J.; Windley, B. W.; et al. 2001.
Tectonic facies and the archipelago-accretion process
58
of the West Kunlun, China, Science in China, 43,
pp. 134-43.
– Yarmolyuk, V. V.; Litvinovsky, B. A.; Kovalenko, V. I.;
Jahn, B. M.; Zanvilevich, A. N.; Vorontsov, A. A.
2001. Stages of formation and sources of the peral-
kaline granitoid magmatism of the Northern
Mongolia-Transbaikalian Rift Belt during the
Permian and Triassic. Petrology, 9/4, pp. 302-28.
– Zhao, G. C.; Cawood, P. A.; Wilde, S. A.; Sun, M.
2001. Review of global 2.1-1.8 Ga collisional
orogens and associated cratons: A pre-Rodinia
Supercontinent? Earth-Science Reviews. (In press.).
Activities planned
General goals
IGCP 420 plans to hold its 4th and last Workshop and
Field Excursion next summer in Changchun, North-East
China. This is the project’s concluding meeting, of which
the principal goal is to summarize achievements made
during the 5-year period. Besides, discussions will
proceed on a potential successor project to carry on
studies in Central Asia. The accompanying field excur-
sion will include visits to a variety of terranes including
an Archean terrane, a Neoproterozoic massif (Jiamusi),
a huge mass of Phanerozoic granitoids of the
Zhangguangcai Range, and a spectacular Cenozoic
volcanic province (Changbai Mountains). Thus, the
project participants will have an opportunity to under-
stand a complete crustal evolution in North-East China,
from the Archean to the Recent. Evidently, the aspect
of Phanerozoic crustal growth will be particularly under-
lined as North-East China provides one of the best areas
for such manifestation.
No. 421 – North Gondwana Mid-Palaeozoic
Biodynamics (1997-2001, OET in 2002)
R. Feist, Institut des Sciences de l’évolution, Université
de Montpellier II, Place E. Bataillon, Cc 062,
34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France, e-mail:
rfeist@isem.univ-montp2.fr
J. A. Talent, Centre for Ecostratigraphy and
Palaeobiology, School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie
University, NSW 2109, Australia, e-mail:
jtalent@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au
Description: Although regional and national stratigraphic
scales within the broad swath of North Gondwana crustal
blocks/terranes are often out of alignment with each
other, emergence of globally accepted criteria for
defining series and stage boundaries within the Silurian
to Early Carboniferous suggested that the time was ripe
for a broad-scale exercise in re-correlation of the strati-
graphic sequences throughout the North Gondwana
regions. It was anticipated that such an exercise might
provide a sufficiently rigorous basis from which to inves-
tigate not only transgression-regression patterns, but also
bioevent and biogeographic patterns. A fundamental aim
of IGCP project 421 is to test to what extent biogeo-
graphic data may illuminate the dispositions and motions
of the various North Gondwana crustal blocks/terranes.
Much of the taxonomic database for the North
Gondwana region may be described as unruly and thus
often of questionable value as a basis for tectonic infer-
ences. Precise information on biogeographic patterns
and how these may have changed over time depends on
an accurate taxonomic database; it is necessary for a
North Gondwana-wide exercise to be conducted to eval-
uate the quality of previous work (specifically for mean-
ingful computer analysis) and for this evaluation to be
undertaken with the best possible time frame at hand.
The revised and annotated faunal lists (the basic data
for computer modelling) should be arranged according
to the pattern of major lithospheric blocks. The strati-
graphic framework needs therefore to be critically eval-
uated, crustal block by crustal block, using the most
recent zonal schemes based on pelagic taxa. One of the
objectives of IGCP 421 was to seek data that may indi-
cate variation (or not) in impress/impact of specific
global events. Special attention was being given to short-
term changes in the diversity and dispersal patterns that
may be linked to sea level changes and to ascertaining
the extent to which these events can be deciphered
throughout the North Gondwana regions.
Website of the project
http://www.es.mq.edu.au/MUCEP/igcp421/index.htm
Participating countries
(*indicates countries active this year)
Albania*, Australia*, Austria*, Belgium*, Brazil*,
Bulgaria*, Canada*, China*, Czech Republic*, France*,
Germany*, Hungary, India, Iran*, Ireland*, Italy*,
Japan*, Mongolia*, Morocco*, Myanmar, New Zealand,
Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania*, Russia*, Spain*,
Sweden*, Tajikistan*, Turkey*, Ukraine, United
Kingdom*, United States*, Uzbekistan*, Viet Nam
Achievements of the project this year
Meetings
The ninth international meeting of IGCP 421 was held
in the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt, 11–21 May. The
meeting was held under the auspices of the
Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft as their
15th International Senckenberg Conference: “Mid-
Palaeozoic Bio- and Geodynamics: the North
Gondwana–Laurussia Interaction.” Conjoined with the
conference was a meeting of the Subcommission on
Devonian Stratigraphy. The conference attracted
135 participants from 18 countries; 43 papers and
45 posters were presented. An interesting aspect was
seven presentations questioning current geodynamic
models for Ordovician–Carboniferous times, globally as
well as for southern and western Europe. A general
consensus has been reached in favour for an approached
position of plate boundaries between N-Gondwana,
Avalonia and intervening microplates since the Early
Devonian that permits exchanges of faunal and floral
communities across the remnants of a narrow mid-
European ocean. Associated with the conference were
well-attended pre-and post-conference excursions exam-
ining recent developments in understanding of the mid-
Palaeozoics of the Ardennes (Belgium), the Rheinisches
and Thüringisches Schiefergebirge (Germany) and the
Barrandian area of the Czech Republic. The first two
regions have long been accepted as having been marginal
to Baltica, the latter two as having been formerly part
of the northern Gondwana margin.
Joint field meetings of IGCP 410 and IGCP 421 – North
Gondwana mid-Palaeozoic bioevent/biogeography in
relation to crustal dynamics, 4–21 August 2001, SW
Siberia, Russia; and 21 August – 6 September 2001,
Mongolia (45 participants from 10 countries). The field
meeting focused on:
1. Ordovician–Devonian and Early Carboniferous
sequences displaying major transgression/regression
events (many conceivably global eustatic events),
having faunas forming the basis of major mono-
graphic works (published and unpublished), and
sequences displaying major extinction events during
that time-interval;
2. Reef/clastic facial development and faunal associa-
tions/palaeocommunities within the shelf belt of the
Siberian Continent during the Ordovician–Devonian
and Early Carboniferous; and
3. Most recent views on large-scale translation of crustal
blocks earlier hypothesized for some of the 10 or
more major sutures in the Altai-Sayan Folded Area
(ASFA). The last, though not a prime focus of the
meeting, was of interest because of the suspicion that
the ASFA collage may include a suspect terrane or
two perhaps derived from the North Gondwana
margin. Part of the AFSA extending from the Rudniy
Altai through the South Mongolia Folded System (or,
more specifically, the Inner Mongolian Fold System)
includes various ophiolite slivers as well as terranes
believed with high probability to have been derived
from the North Gondwana continental margin.
The field excursion enabled about 40 participants to
examine key Late Cambrian to Early Carboniferous
sequences in the Gorniy Altai (extending into the Altai
Republic), Salair and Kuznetsk Basin regions of South-
West Siberia. These regions constitute the western part
of the Altai-Sayan Folded Area (ASFA) where a mosaic
of structures was generated by several periods of tectonic
activity (Early Caledonian to Variscan orogenic cycles).
Gradual decrease in age of accretional and collisional
59
geological complexes from east to west (with distance
from the Siberian Craton) is apparent, related to succes-
sive accretion of terranes to the Siberian Craton, coupled
with substantial, and some major strike-slip displace-
ment during collisional and post-collisional stages. Outer
and inner shelf zones are clearly defined. The former is
characterized by extensive development of carbonate
platforms including build-ups, the outer shelf zone by
mainly clastic sedimentation. The Ordovician-Silurian
sequences include graptolitic as well as shallow-water
sequences with high diversity of benthic fossils. The
Devonian and Early Carboniferous sequences are char-
acterized mainly by benthic associations, though with
occurrences of conodonts and ammonoids. It is believed
that collisions of Mongolian terranes with the Siberian
Continent at the beginning of the Devonian caused
narrowing and eventually closure of seaways along
which exchange of benthic faunas had been taken place
between South-West Siberia, Mongolia, the Heilungjiang
region of China, and the Russian Far East.
The field excursion occasionally split into two groups,
one concerned primarily with Ordovician-Silurian
sequences, the other with Late Silurian-Early
Carboniferous sequences. The excursion focused initially
on sequences near Bugryshykha with Llanvirn-Ashgill-
early Llandovery shelly faunas, and Kur’ya with Early
Ludlow, Pragian and Early Carboniferous shelly faunas
including conodonts. Sequences near Ust’ Chagyrka,
Rossypnaya Mount, Charyshskoe and Tigerek provided
insights into clastic, reef and deep water facies during
Tremadoc-Wenlock times as well as, for the “Devonian
group”, persistent shallow marine Silurian and Devonian
environments. The region about Cherny Anui near the
northern boundary of the Altai Republic displays, inter
alia, fine exposures of abundantly fossiliferous late
Llandovery and Lochkovian–Pragian sequences in clastic
and reef limestone facies, notably in the vicinity of
Kamyshenka, and Caradoc–Early Silurian clastic–reef
limestones on Dietken Ck. The Gorniy Altai segment of
the excursion ended with examination of the Early
Devonian-Eifelian sequence along Kuvash Ck and the
shallow-water Tremadoc (brachiopods, trilobites,
conodonts) at Kamlak Ck.
The excursion concluded with the examination of
isolated Late Cambrian to Late Ordovician outcrops and
superbly exposed Lochkovian–Pragian, Givetian and
Lower Carboniferous sequences (with abundant shelly
faunas) in the vicinity of Gur’evsk, and examination of
Late Givetian to Early Famennian sequences along the
Tom’ River (including reference sections for the
Kuznetsk Basin), again with many intervals character-
ized by abundant brachiopods, corals, fish and micro-
faunas. Sequences demonstrated included one that is
arguably the most elegant sequence globally through the
Kellwasser events (especially the Upper Kellwasser
Event) in extremely shallow-water contexts. Its global
importance is such that a centimetric-scale study of
isotopes, lithologies and biota (macrofauna and micro-
60
fauna) would be justified. The centimetric-scale is
emphasised because cyclicity is obvious, and presum-
ably sub-events like those documented by conodont data
for the earliest Wenlock Ireviken Event, especially in
Gotland and South-East Australia, and by sedimentary
and conodont data for the Late Silurian Lau Event in
Gotland and the Broken River region of North-East
Australia, need to be carefully discriminated and
documented.
It is planned to publish refereed papers from the
Novosibisk meeting as a special issue of Russian
Geology and Geophysics.
Mongolian Segment (21 August–6 September 2001),
35 participants from 10 countries:
The field component of the Mongolian segment of the
joint IGCP 410/421 expedition (23 August to 5 Sep-
tember) followed a day (22 August) of technical presenta-
tions at the Mongolian Technical University and visits to
the Natural History Museum and Geological Museum in
Ulaanbataar. 11 conferences were presented; topics related
to IGCP 421 concerned: trilobite affinity trends in
N Gondwana (specially in the mid-Asian part), Devonian
charophytes in Asia, Lower and Middle Devonian tabu-
late corals in Mongolia, Late Devonian brachiopod extinc-
tion ans recovery in South China and a progress report
on computer model based biogeographic reconstructions.
The main excursion areas were in the vicinity of Mushgai
and Shine Jinst, SSW and SW respectively of Ulaanbaatar,
and Sagaan Dei and Arvaikheer, WSW of Ulaanbaatar.
In all areas excellent sequences of often highly fossilif-
erous Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian and Early
Carboniferous sediments were presented. Continuing
work on these sequences is resulting in an increasingly
intricate stratigraphic nomenclature and much new and
important biostratigraphic data.
The sequence at Bayan Khoshuu about 30 km east of
Mushgai displays interesting fossiliferous intervals of
Late Ordovician (Ashgill) to Early Carboniferous, with
noteworthy highly fossiliferous carbonate intervals in the
Lochkovian and Famennian-Tournaisian, the latter with
conodont data from above and below the D/C boundary.
The sequence, as so often in southern Mongolia, is thick
(>3000 m). Shorter sections were visited at Haniin
Doloon (Early Silurian with diverse fauna of
brachiopods, rugosans and tabulate corals) and Havtsal
(Early Silurian and Lochkovian). The region about Shine
Jinst, the focus of intensive investigation by Soviet
workers in the 1970s and 1980s, has excellent and
picturesque outcrops of Ordovician to Devonian
sequences. The Caradoc-Wenlock sequence at Shar
Chuluut has several interesting and highly fossiliferous
carbonate intervals, including build-ups in the Ashgill
and late Wenlock. The succession continues at Ulaan
Shand through the Ludlow and Lochkovian with inter-
mittent carbonate intervals (and diverse but unpublished
faunas), passing into clastics before the end of the
Lochkovian. An especially interesting sequence at
Tsakhir extends from Pragian to Givetian with carbon-
ates and conodont data from Emsian, Eifelian and Early
Givetian horizons. Sections at Yamaan Us display richly
fossiliferous Ashgill, Late Llandovery-Wenlock and Late
Famennian-Tournaisian, the latter with conodont data
from either side of the D/C boundary. Other sections
visited in the Shine Jinst region were at Daravgai
(Caradoc) and Gashuun Ovoo (richly fossiliferous
Ashgill-Llandovery).
The Caradoc-Ashgill sequence at Tsagaan Del in the
Bayankhongor area, elaborated by Rozman and Minjin
and others in the 1980s, and noteworthy for its
brachiopod faunas (possibly spanning the Ordovician-
Silurian boundary) was visited on the way back to
Ulaanbaatar from Shine Jinst. Detailed lists of the faunas
from all sections visited are given in the excellent field
guide compiled by Chuulin Minjin from contributions
from seven Mongolian workers (reference below).
List of most important publications
– Talent, J. A.; Gratsianova, R. T. and Yolkin, E. A.
2001. Latest Silurian (Pridoli) to Middle Devonian of
the Asia-Australia hemisphere: rationalization of
brachiopod taxa and faunal lists; correlation charts.
Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 236: 221 pp.
– Talent, J. A.; and Mawson, R. 2001. Bibliography of
Phanerozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of
Pakistan. University of Peshawar, Geological
Bulletin 34: 1-81.
– Wright, A. J.; Talent, J. A.; and Young, G. (eds).
2001. Palaeobiogeography of Australasian floras and
faunas. Historical Biology 15: 191 p.
– Ahlberg, P. E.; Johanson, Z.; and Daeschler, E. B.
2001. The Late Devonian lungfish Soederberghia
(Sarcopterygii, Dipnoi) from Australia and
North America, and its biogeographical implications.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 21: 1-12.
2001.
– Bondarenko, O. B. 2001. Revision of the genus
Helioplasmolites (Heliolitoidea) and its first record
from the Silurian of Mongolia. Paleontological
Journal, 35 (2): 117-124.
– Brime, C.; Talent, J. A.; and Mawson, R. (in press)
Metamorphism in the Palaeozoic sequences of the
Townsville hinterland, northeastern Australia.
Australian Journal of Earth Sciences (in press).
– Brock, G. A. and Percival, I. G. 2001. Cambrian
faunas from Mount Arrowsmith, north-western New
South Wales, Australia. Alcheringa 25.
– Chen, D.; Tucker, M. E.; Jiang, M.; and Zhu-J. 2001.
Long-distance correlation between tectonic-
controlled, isolated carbonate platforms by
cyclostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy in the
Devonian of South China. Sedimentology, 48: 57-78.
– Chen Xiuqin. 2001. A preliminary study of late
Middle Devonian brachiopod extinction in South
China. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica (pagination not
to hand).
– Chen Xiuqin, Zhang Zixin and Jin Yugan. 2001. First
record of the Devonian brachipod Yunnanella
Grabau, 1923 in the Junggar Basin, northern
Xinjiang, China. Alcheringa (pagination not to hand).
– Cocks, L.R. M. 2001. Ordovician and Silurian global
geography. Journal of the Geological Society of
London, 158: 197-210.
– Copper, P. 2001. Reefs during the multiple crises
towards the Ordovician-Silurian boundary; Anticosti
Island, Eastern Canada, and worldwide. Canadian
Journal of Earth Sciences, 38: 153-171.
– Corradini, C.; Barca, S. and Spalletta, C. Late
Devonian-Early Carboniferous conodonts from the
‘Clymeniae limestones’ of SE Sardinia (Italy). Cour.
Forsch.-Inst. Senckenberg. (in press).
– Corradini C.; Leone F.; Loi A. and Serpagli E. 2001.
Conodont Stratigraphy of a highly tectonised Siluro-
Devonian section in the San Basilio area (SE
Sardinia). Boll. Soc. Paleont. Ital., 40 (3), (in press).
– Crick, R. E.; Ellwood, B. B.; Hladil, J.; El-Hassani, A.;
Hrouda, F. and Chlupac, I. Magnetostratigraphy
susceptibility of the Pridolian-Lochkovian (Silurian-
Devonian) GSSP (Klonk, Czech Republic) and a
coeval sequence in Anti-Atlas Morocco. Palaeo-
geography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 167:
73-100.
– Daniell, J. J. Sedimentology and biostratigraphy of a
mid-Devonian carbonate platform margin, Broken
River Province, North Queensland. Courier
Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg (pagination not to
hand).
– Draganits, E.; Talent, J.A.; Mawson, R. and
Krystyn, L. 2001. Lithostratigraphy and age of the
Lipak Formation in the Pin Valley (Spiti, NW-India).
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 19 (3A): 14-15.
– Draganits, E.; Mawson, R.; Talent, J. A. and
Krystyn, L., in press. Lithostratigraphy, conodont
biostratigraphy and depositional environment of the
Middle Devonian (Givetian) to Early Carboniferous
(Tournaisian) Lipak Formation in the Pin valley, Spiti
(NW India). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e
Stratigrafia 108 (in press).
– Ellwood, B. B.; Crick, R. E.; Garcia-Alcalde, J. L.;
Soto, F. M.; Truyols-Massoni, M.; El Hassani, A. and
Kovas, E. J. 2001. Geology (Boulder), 29: 583-586.
– Feist, R. (in press): Trilobites from the Latest
Famennian Kellwasser Crisis in North Africa (Mrirt,
Central Moroccan Meseta). Acta Palaeontologica
Polonica.
– Feist, R.; Talent, J. A. and Mawson, R. 2001.
Devonian trilobites from the Shogrām Formation,
Kurāgh, Chitral (NW Pakistan). Alcheringa 25: 107-
115.
– Gong, Y.; Li, B.; Wang, C. and Wu, Y. 2001. Orbital
cyclostratigraphy of the Devonian Frasnian-
Famennian transition in South China. Palaeo-
geography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 168:
237-248.
– Kemp, A. 2001. Chirodipterus potteri, a new
Devonian lungfish from New South Wales, Australia;
61
 and the ontogeny of chirodipterid tooth plates.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 20: 665-674.
– Krs, M.; Pruner, P. and Man, O. 2001. Tectonic and
paleogeographic interpretation of the paleo-
magnetism of Variscan and pre-Variscan formations
of the Bohemian Massif, with special reference to
the Barrandian Terrane. Tectonophysics, 332:
93-114.
– Kozlowska-Dawidziuk, A.; Lenz, A. C. and Storch,
P. 2001. Upper Wenlock and lower Ludlow (Silurian),
post-extinction graptolites, Vseradice section,
Barrandian area, Czech Republic. Journal of
Paleontology, 75: 147-164.
– Lavrentyeva, V. D. 2001. New bryozoan species of the
family Atactotechidae from the Devonian of
Transcaucasia. Paleontological Journal 35 (2): 152-156.
– Li, Z. X. and Powell, C. McA. 2001. An outline of
the palaeogeographic evolution of the Australasian
region since the beginning of the Neoproterozoic.
Earth-Science Reviews, 53: 237-277.
– Loydell, D. K, Jeppsson, L. and Aldridge, R. J. 2001.
Ludlow (late Silurian) oceanic episodes and events;
discussion and reply. Journal of the Geological
Society of London. 158: 731-732.
– Ma Xuepin; Chen Xiuqin; J. Day; Jin Yugan. 2001.
Restudy of the Upper Devonian brachiopod genus
Sinospirifer Grabau, 1931, from South China. Acta
Palaeontologica Sinica (pagination not to hand).
– Mawson, R. and Smith, D. 2002. Silicified early
Devonian (Lochkovian) gastropods from
Windellama, southeastern Australia. Association of
Australasian Palaeontologists, Memoir (in press).
– Mawson, R.; Talent, J. A.; Molloy, P. D. and
Simpson, A. J. 2001. Devonian (Pridoli–Lochkovian
and early Emsian) conodonts from the Nowshera
area, Pakistan: implications for the mid-Palaeozoic
stratigraphy of the Peshawar Basin. Courier
Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg (in press).
– Packham, G. H.; Percival, I. G.; Rickards, R. B. and
Wright, A. J. 2001. Late Silurian and Early Devonian
biostratigraphy in the Hill End Trough and the
Limekilns area, New South Wales. Alcheringa 25.
– Peckmann, J.; Gischler, E.; Oschmann, W. and
Reitner, J. 2001. An Early Carboniferous seep
community and hydrocarbon-derived carbonates
from the Harz Mountains, Germany. Geology
(Boulder), 29: 271-274.
– Percival, I. G.; Webby, B. D. and Pickett, J. 2001.
Ordovician (Bendigonian, Darwillian-Gisbornian)
faunas from the northern Molong Belt, New South
Wales. Alcheringa 25.
– Perri, M. C. and Spalletta, C. 2001. Hangenberg
Event at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary in
the Mt. Zermula area, Carnic Alps, Italy,
Contributions to Siberian IGCP 410/421 Joint
Meeting, Novosibirsk, Abstracts: 103-104.
– Pickett, J. and Percival, I. G. 2001. Ordovician faunas
and biostratigraphy in the Gunningbland area,
cnetyral New South Wales. Alcheringa 25.
– Plusquellec, Y. and Hladil, J. 2001. Tabulate corals
62
of Ibarmaghian affinities in the Upper Emsian of
Bohemia. Geologica et Palaeontologica, 35: 31-51.
– Racheboeuf, P. R.; Girard, C.; Lethiers, F.;
Derycke, C.; Herrera, Z. A. and Trompette, R. 2001.
Evidence for Givetian stage in the Mauritanian Adrar
(West Africa): biostratigraphical data and palaeo-
geographic implications. Newsletters on Stratigraphy,
38 (2/3), 141-162.
– Rickards, R. B.; Hamedi, M. A. and Wright, A. J.
2001. A new assemblage of graptolites, rhabdo-
pleuran hemichordates and chitinous hydroids form
the late Arenig (early Ordovician) of the Banestan
area, east-central Iran. Alcheringa 25.
– Robardet M.; Paris F. and Plusquellec Y. 2001.
Comment on “New Early Devonian paleomagnetic
data from NW France: Paleogeography and implica-
tions for the Armorican microplate hypothesis” by
J. Tait. 2001. Journ. of Geophysical Research, 106,
B7: 13,307- 13,310.
– Simpson, A. J. 2001. A new subspecies of
Ozarkodina from the Broken River region, north-
eastern Australia. Courier Forschungsinstitut
Senckenberg (in press).
– Sloan, T. 2001. Results of a new computer-based
method for the differentiation of conodont species.
Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg (in press).
– Soria A.; Meyer-Berthaud B. and Scheckler S. E.
2001. Reconstructing the architecture and growth
habit of Pietzschia levis sp.nov. (Cladoxylopsida)
from the Late Devonian of south-eastern Morocco.
Int. J. Pl. Sci. 162: 911-926.
– Spalletta C. and Perri M. C. 2001. Suddivision and
substages of the Famennian, an opinion and possible
candidates for the upper part. SDSNewsletter 18,
2 pp.
– Suttner, T., Draganits, E. and Krystyn-L. 2001.
Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Pin
Formation type section (Spiti, NW India). Journal of
Asian Earth Sciences, 19 (3A): 65-66.
– Talent, J. A. 2001. First International Palaeonto-
logical Congress: 6-10 July 2002. Lethaia 34: 36.
– Talent, J. A. and Bhargava, O. N. The Silurian of
India and adjacent regions. In: Johnson, Markes E.,
ed., Silurian Terranes and Correlations. New York
Sate Museum.
– Talent, J. A.; Gratsianova, R. T. and Yolkin, E. A.
2001 Latest Silurian (Pridoli) to Middle Devonian of
the Asia-Australia hemisphere: rationalization of
brachiopod taxa and faunal lists; correlation charts.
Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 236:
221 pp.
– Talent, J. A. and Mawson, R. 2001. Bibliography of
Phanerozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of
Pakistan. University of Peshawar, Geological Bulletin
34: 1-81.
– Talent, J. A.; Mawson, R. and Simpson, A. G.
Correlation of the Silurian of Australia and New
Guinea. In: Landing, E. and Johnson, M. E. (eds).,
Silurian Terranes and Correlations. New York State
Museum.
– Talent, J. A.; Mawson, R. and Simpson, A. 2001. The
“lost” Early Ordovician (Arenig)-Devonian (latest
Givetian/earliest Frasnian) Georgetown Carbonate
Platform. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg
(in press).
– Ulitina, L. M. 2002. Frasnian Rugosa from Mongolia.
Paleontological Journal, 35 (2): 125-129.
– Valentine, J. L. 2001. Silicified Emsian (Early
Devonian) brachiopods from the Murrindal
Limestone, Buchan, Victoria. Alcheringa 25.
– Wang, X. D.; Ueno, K.; Mizuno, Y. and Sugiyama, T.
2001. Late Paleozoic faunal, climatic, and geographic
changes in the Baoshan Block as a Gondwana-derived
continental fragment in Southwest China. Palaeo-
geography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 170:
197-218.
– Wright, A. J.; Talent, J. A. and Young, G. (eds). 2001.
Palaeobiogeography of Australasian floras and
faunas. Historical Biology 15: 191 p.
– Xu Hounghe and Wang Yi. 2001. One new Late
Devonian lycopsids from western Junggar Basin,
northern Xinjiang. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica (pagi-
nation not to hand).
– Yolkin, E. A.; Talent, J. A. and Webby, B. D. (eds).
2001. Contributions to Siberian IGCP 410/421 joint
meeting (4-21 August 2001), 110 pp. Institute of
Petroleum Geology, Siberian Branch, Russian
Academy of Science, Novosibirsk.
– Zhang Renjie; Liao Weihuan; Feng Shaonan. 2001.
Frasnian fossils from the Lowermost part of
Hsiehchingsu Formation of Jianshi, west Hubei.
Journal of Stratigraphy, 25 (1): 58-62.
– Zhang Renjie; Wang Chengyuan; Hu Ning; Feng
Shaonan. 2001. Famennian biostratigraphy in Hainan
Island, China. Science in China (D), 3 (5): 406-412.
– Zhang Renjie; Wang Zhihao; Hu Ning. 2001.
Carboniferous conodonts from the Changjiang Area,
Hainan Island, South China. Acta Micro-
palaeontologica Sinica, 18 (1): 35-42.
– Zhu Min; Yu Xaibo and Ahlberg, P. E. 2001. A prim-
itive sarcopterygian fish with an eyestalk. Nature,
410: 81-84.
Activities planned
General goals
The prime focus for 2002 is to move IGCP 421
colleagues towards quantitative evaluation of data on
biota documented from the broad region covered by the
project. IGCP 421 has published already exhaustive
exemplification of compilation of a taxonomically
consistent database for brachiopods for much of the
North Gondwana regions and a long paper on applica-
tion of expert systems to biogeographic analysis, using
this database. The impact of these data so analysed
(covering the broad spectrum of taxonomic groups), is
being progressively evaluated, time-slice by time-slice,
with regard to the pattern and relative motions of the
45 or so crustal blocks in the “North Gondwana” regions
during Late Silurian to Early Carboniferous times. The
impact of these analyses on geophysical/palaeogeo-
graphic models has been addressed in all three meet-
ings of IGCP 421 during 2001, and is the principal focus
of the two conferences scheduled for 2002.
Anticipated objectives in 2002 and coming years:
1. Interaction of quantitative palaeobiogeographic and
tectonic/geophysical modelling. Because provincial
patterns have a pronounced longitudinally con-
straining aspect, and palaeomagnetic data is latitu-
dinally constraining, we are bringing together a broad
spectrum of people with expertise in palaeomagnetic
modelling and\or tectonics (especially for the regions
covered by IGCP 421) for interaction with colleagues
who have undertaken palaeobiogeographic model-
ling. This will take place in Montpellier at the end
of the post-conference excursion for the ECOS-
VIII\IGCP 421 meeting in June 2002, and in a dedi-
cated section of the International Palaeontological
Congress in Sydney in July 2002.
2. Synthesis of a volume setting out the extent to which
palaeobiogeographic data (quantitatively probed)
impinges on geodynamic models for the North
Gondwana region. This can get under way seriously
only after the two conferences specified in the
previous paragraph.
3. Generation of an annotated correlation chart for
central and south Asia. This was set in train at the
Esfahan, Iran, meeting of IGCP 421 in December
1998, and is continuing.
Critical milestones for 2002 will be:
1. Publication of scientific papers arising from the 2001
meetings in Frankfurt (as a volume of Courier
Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg – manuscripts
presently being refereed) and the meetings in SW
Siberia and Mongolia (as a special supplement of
Russian Geology and Geophysics).
2. Acceleration of data compilation for various groups –
so that exercises in computer biogeography can be
undertaken in time for the two meetings we wish to
have in 2002 in association with ECOS VIII and the
First International Palaeontological Congress (IPC-
2002). This is presently being actively undertaken
for tentaculitids (E. Schindler, Forschungsinstitut
Senckenberg), Silurian-Middle Devonian conodonts
(R. Mawson and A. Simpson, Macquarie University),
Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous conodonts
(M. C. Perri and C. Spalletta, University of Bologna),
Silurian-Early Carboniferous bivalves (M. Bradshaw,
University of Christchurch, possibly with J. Kriz, Czech
Geological Survey), trilobites (R. Feist and G. Schraut,
Université de Montpellier). Expert systems analyses of
brachiopod data n relation to crustal blocks continue to
be undertaken by V. Yolkina et al. (Russian Academy
of Science, Novosibirsk) and P. Cockle (Macquarie
University).
63
3. Generating a draft of the Correlation chart for
mid-Palaeozoics of central and south Asia, hopefully
in time for discussion during the dedicated IGCP 421
meeting associated with the International Palae-
ontological Congress in Sydney in July 2002.
Meetings
1. The Eighth International Conodont Symposium in
Europe (ECOS VIII). Joint Meeting of IGCP 421 and
SDS/ICS/IUGS. The excursions associated with this
meeting (June 2002) are to mid-Palaeozoic sequences
in northern Spain and SW France (Asturias/
Pyrenees/Montagne Noire) of primary significance for
IGCP 421, and include global stratotypes for the
Middle-Late Devonian, Frasnian-Famennian and
Devonian-Carboniferous boundaries. We have been
invited to make this a joint venture between ECOS
VIII, SDS (IUGS) and IGCP 421. The scientific session
in Albi (in vicinity of Montagne Noire) will include a
dedicated symposium on interaction of quantitative
palaeobiogeographic and tectonic/geophysical model-
ling, i.e. the impact of palaeobiogeographic models on
global tectonic models.
2. The First International Palaeontological Congress
(IPC-2002; 6-10 July 2002, Sydney, Australia) under
the auspices of the International Palaeontological
Association. Associated with this will be three excur-
sions of relevance to activities of IGCP 421 (in fact
to be mounted for it): (a) Devonian fish and
marine–non-marine correlations in eastern Australia;
(b) Post-conference excursion: NE Australia:
Burdekin, Broken River and Hodgkinson Basins
Ordovician–Early Carboniferous biostratigraphy and
event-stratigraphy; (c) Post-conference excursion:
Canning Basin (North-West Australia) Devonian-Early
Carboniferous biostratigraphy and event-stratigraphy.
This conference will showcase the activities of IGCP
421. A special symposium (focused on IGCP 421 and
its results) will be mounted on the theme of quanti-
tative palaeobiogeography.
No. 425 – Landslide Hazard Assessment
and Cultural Heritage (1998-2002)
K. Sassa, Landslide Section, Disaster Prevention
Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto,
611-0011, Japan, e-mail: sassa@scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp
P. Canuti, Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università
di Firenze, Via G. La Pira, 4-50121, Florence, Italy,
e-mail: canuti@geo.unifi.it
R. Carreno, Consultant, Apartado postal 638, Cusco,
Peru, e-mail: raulraulcarreno@hotmail.com
Description: This project highlights the scientific basis
of landslide management where risk exists near cultural
heritage sites of high value in areas of relatively dense
64
population. An important goal is to develop techniques
of rational hazard assessment by primary, high resolu-
tion monitoring of slope instability at such sites. This
follows the current thinking on risk-based approaches
of land sliding. The aims of the project include a higher
than usual precision in hazard characterisation, zoning
and risk evaluation, as well as the development of a
strategy designed to serve the specific needs of heritage
sites. The project will adopt a deliberately interdiscipli-
nary and cross-sectoral approach to natural hazard and
preservation of cultural heritage. Thus, it is expected to
involve tangible collaborative work between these two
sub-sectors.
Recent rapid urbanisation and regional development are
increasing landslide risks in areas of rapidly growing
population and at cultural heritage sites, particularly in
developing countries throughout the world. Special atten-
tion will be given to historical areas, densely populated
urban areas and cultural heritage sites of universal value,
which generate considerable income through active
cultural tourism throughout the world.
Website of the project
http://landslide.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/igcp/
http://landslide.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ICL.htm
Participating countries
Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech
Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece,
Iran, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Peru, Slovakia, Republic of
Korea, Romania, Russia, United Kingdom, United States.
Summary of major past achievements
of the Projects
List of IGCP 425 Sub-Projects
1. Research on the Slope Stability of Block II of the
Lishan Landslide, Lintong County, Xian, China
2. The Archaeological Site of Delphi, Greece – A Site
Vulnerable to Earthquakes and Landslides
3. Slope Stability Conditions of the Rock mass at the
Foundation Areas of the Monasteries of Mount Athos,
in Northern Greece
4. Conservation from Rock fall of the Engraved Wall
in the Fugoppe Cave, Hokkaido, Japan
5. Slope Deformation and Other Geohazards
Endangering the Stability of Historic Sites in the
Western Carpathians
6. Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessment in
Archaeological Sites
7. The evaluation of the risk of deep-seated mass move-
ments to the cultural heritage sites of Hallstatt-
Dachstein , Upper Austria
8. Geotechnical Landslide Risk Analysis around and
inside some Egyptian Historical Monuments
9. Landslide Hazard Assessment for the Places of
Historical Heritage in the North-Eastern Azov Sea
coastal region (Taganrog city and the area of the
 ancient Greek town of Tanais, as well as the Rostov
district, Russia)
10. Assessment and Mitigation of the Landslide Hazard
to Cultural and Historical Monuments in Central
Russia (the Golden Ring of Russia)
11. The Present and Past Geomorphologic Hazards in
the Archeological Sites of Sicily and Calabria (South
Italy)
12. Development of Quantitative Prediction Models for
Landslide Hazard
13. Rice-Paddy Terrace and Landslides
14. Quantitative Analysis of Natural Landslide Hazards
Affecting the Rocky Mountain Parks of Canada
15. Protection of Inca Cultural Heritage on Landslide
Zones at Cusco, Peru
16. Landslide Risk Evaluation for the Protection of
Cultural Heritage: Case of Old Quebec, Canada
17. Prediction of Rapid Landslide Motion for Lishan,
China, Unzen, Japan
18. Seismogenic Landslides and Rock Falls in the
Vicinity of the Horseman of Madara (North-East
Bulgaria)
19. Monitoring of a Large-scale Landslide Threatening
the Zentoku Historical Settlement in the Iya-Valley,
Tokushima, Japan
20. Development of a Spatial Database System for
Landslide Information Management and Analysis
21. Landslide Hazard and Mitigation Measures in the
Area of Medieval Citadel of Sighisoara
22. Disaster of Rock Avalanches and Landslides in the
Tianchi Lake Tourist Area of Changbai Mountain
(Volcano), North-East China
23. Guidelines for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage
against Natural Risk
24. Rock Slope Monitoring for Environment-friendly
Management of Rock Fall Danger
25. Slope Stability in a Context of Progressive
Environmental Change
26. An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Management
of Landslides Along the Black Sea Coast
27. Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites from Landslide
in the Hindu Kushi- Himalayan Region
28. Assessment of Mass Movement Hazard to the Natural
Heritage Sites of Akha Area, Northern Tehran, Iran
29. Monitoring Unstable Cultural Heritage Sites with
Radar Interferometry
30. Landslide Hazard and Mitigation Measures in the
South Gippsland Highlands, Victoria, Australia
31. Landslide Hazard Mapping along the Prithiwi
Highway to Protect Seven World Heritage Sites in
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Note: Sub-Projects No.1-16 approved at the Tokyo
symposium in December 1998
Sub-Projects No.17-24 approved at the second general
meeting, UNESCO, Paris, September 1999
Sub-Projects No. 25-31 approved at the third general
meeting, Science Council of Japan, Tokyo, January
2001.
Achievements of the project this year
The most eminent outcome of the IGCP 425 came from
Sub-project No.15 ‘Protection of Inca Cultural Heritage
on Landslide Zones at Cusco, Peru’. Preliminary inves-
tigations were conducted three times at the well-known
UNESCO World Heritage ‘Machu Picchu’ Inca monu-
ment in Peru, located on the head scarp of a potential
large-scale rock slide. Records by ten sets of simplified
extensometers and two sets of pen-recording type ones
revealed that the slope is creeping and a probability that
the monument may be at landslide risk. This evaluation
was reported all over the world through mass media such
as BBC, CNN, Reuters, and Associated Press which
contributed to the wide recognition of the societal impor-
tance of progress in landslide risk evaluation.
Two other IGCP 425 sub-projects developed portable
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technique and Real-
time Kinematic GPS for landslide monitoring.
Meetings
– UNESCO-IGCP Symposium ‘Landslide Risk
Mitigation and Protection of Cultural and Natural
Heritage’ and the third general meeting of IGCP 425,
held at the Science Council of Japan, Tokyo,
15-19 January 2001 (57 participants from 18 coun-
tries). Seven new sub-project proposals for IGCP 425
were approved at the third general meeting.
– IGCP 425 Japanese National Committee and
ISSMGE (International Society for Soil Mechanics
and Geotechnical Engineering) ATC-9 as well as TC-
11 (landslides) committee jointly held the ISSMGE
ATC-9 Field Workshop on Cultural and Natural
Heritage in Trabzon, Turkey, 23-24 August 2001.
About 20 members from 8 countries joined this
meeting and six technical papers were presented.
CD-R and hardcopy proceedings are published for
the participants.
– UNESCO-Kyoto University International Sym-
posium ‘Landslide Risk Mitigation and Protection of
Cultural and Natural Heritage’, Kyoto, 21–25 January
2002 (84 members from 21 countries participated,
including 3 UN organizations, UNESCO, WMO, and
ISDR). Proceedings of 750 pages were published as
CD-R containing files of all papers. IGCP 425
Business Meeting was held on 23 January. One of
the most outstanding outcome of this symposium
was the round table discussion and the establishment
of an International Consortium on Landslides (ICL)
where Statutes and Membership were approved. A
media conference was held to release the ‘2002
Kyoto Declaration’ which especially puts emphasis
on how to promote an international programme on
landslides (IPL) and a UNESCO Research Centre on
Landslides (RCL/UNESCO).
65
‘2002 Kyoto Declaration’
Establishment of an International Consortium
on Landslides
‘We, international experts in the fields of landslide
research, disaster reduction, in particular landslide risk
mitigation and protection of cultural and natural heritage,
who are gathering in the ICL Foundation Meeting held
in the International Symposium on Landslide Risk
Mitigation and Protection of Cultural and Natural
Heritage organized in January 2002 in Kyoto, discussed
the foundation of an international non-governmental and
non-profit making scientific organization named as an
International Consortium on Landslides (ICL) to
promote and coordinate landslide research for the benefit
of society and the environment in the global scale, and
agreed on the following principal objectives of ICL:
(a) To promote landslide research and capacity-building
including education for the benefit of society and the
environment;
(b) To integrate geosciences and technology within the
appropriate cultural and social contexts with an aim
to evaluate landslide risk in urban, rural and devel-
oping areas and cultural and natural heritage sites,
as well as to contribute to the protection of the
natural environment and sites of high societal value;
(c) To combine and coordinate international expertise in
landslide risk assessment and mitigation studies,
thereby resulting in a renowned international organ-
ization, which will act as a partner in various inter-
national and national projects; and
(d) To promote a global multidisciplinary programme on
landslides.
Members of ICL shall include, inter alia, (a) inter-
governmental entities, (b) non-governmental organiza-
tions (c) governmental agencies and departments,
universities, research institutes and other public institu-
tions and (d) other organizations that support the objec-
tives of ICL, both intellectually and financially. The
United Nations system Organizations, entities and
programmes will be invited to provide special support.
Accordingly, we have unanimously agreed and declared
to found the International Consortium on Landslides
under the Statutes attached.’
Date: 21 January 2002
Place: Kyoto, Japan
Background and objectives
of the Tokyo International Symposium
In 1999, UNESCO and the Disaster Prevention Research
Institute, Kyoto University, exchanged a Memorandum
of Understanding (UNESCO/DPRI Memorandum of
Understanding) ‘Concerning cooperation in research for
landslide risk mitigation and protection of the cultural
and natural heritage as a key contribution to environ-
mental protection and sustainable development in the
66
first quarter of the twenty-first century’, to promote a
global effort in the field of landslides. Based on the
UNESCO/DPRI-KU MoU and IGCP 425, the first
International Symposium on Landslide Risk Mitigation
and Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage was
organized on 15-19 January 2001 in Tokyo. Participants
of the symposium released the 2001 Tokyo Declaration
‘Geoscientists tame landslides’ proposing to set up a new
International Consortium on Landslides (ICL).
The International Consortium on Landslides shall consist
of intergovernmental member units, non-governmental
units, governmental units and the public, and other types
of member units, which support the following principal
objectives of ICL:
• To promote landslide research for the benefit of
society and the environment.
• To integrate geosciences and technology with cultural
and social sciences with an aim to predict landslides
and prevent them from affecting urbanized areas and
cultural or natural heritage sites, as well as to
contribute to the protection and remediation of such
sites of high societal value.
• To combine and coordinate international expertise in
landslide risk assessment and mitigation studies,
thereby resulting in a renowned international profile
as partner in various international and national
projects.
The activities of ICL under examination are:
• Research Programme: UNESCO/ICL International
Programme on Landslides (IPL) in consultation with
IGCP or IHP.
• International Journal Landslide News presenting new
results of landslide research and related information
with colour photographs and figures jointly published
by ICL, the Japan Landslide Society and an inter-
national publication company.
• General Assembly and Conference, once every
3 years, Meeting of the Board of Representatives,
once a year.
• Symposia and Field Workshop, usually once a year.
• To create landslide databases
• Dispatch of landslide experts upon request
• Information transfer on landslides through seminars
or schools
• Coordinating of global efforts and expertise in land-
slide studies and risk mitigation and promoting other
objectives of ICL
• Supporting the activities of ISSMGE TC-11
(Landslides), IAEG Commission No. 2 (Landslides
and Other Mass Movements) and other landslide
research groups.
The objectives of this Second Symposium on Landslide
Risk Mitigation and Protection of Cultural and Natural
Heritage were: (1) presentation and discussion of
selected research topics in the frontier of landslide
research; (2) examination of the structure, activities and
the further procedure of ICL foundation within partici-
pants, especially among participants from potential ICL
member units during the symposium.
Symposium topics are focused on currently important
three selected topics.
1. Earthquake and Rainfall Induced
Rapid Long-Traveling Flow Phenomena
The mobility of landslides is expressed by the apparent
friction angle (φa) or average apparent friction (H/L)
mobilized during the motion. The apparent friction angle
in most landslides is around more than 30 degrees (equal
to around the friction angle in loose sands). In Japan,
slopes steeper than 30 degrees are designated to be
dangerous and those are protected by remedial measures.
However, recent catastrophic landslides disasters are
mostly caused by rapid long-travelling flow phenomena
showing the apparent friction angle around 10 degrees
in Japan and in the world. Those landslide disasters
occurred in urbanization areas or relatively recent devel-
oped areas as typically shown by the Las Colinas land-
slide triggered by the 2001 El-Salvador earthquake
which killed around 600 persons.
The mechanism of such rapid long-travelling flow
phenomena is not yet known and is in the initial stage of
investigation. The mechanism and its prediction is one of
the most important research topics in the field of land-
slide risk mitigation. The Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) has
selected the Study on the Mechanism and Areal Prediction
of Earthquake and Rainfall Induced rapid and long-trav-
elling Flow phenomena (APERIF project) as a project of
the Special Coordination Fund for Promoting Science and
Technology (300 million Japanese Yen in 2001-2003).
This project was proposed by the joint research group of
the Landslide Research Council of Japan and the Japan
Landslide Society as one of the main research activities
cooperating with the planning of the International
Consortium on Landslides. During this project, coopera-
tion and joint research with foreign researchers and
members of the units of ICL are planned and welcomed.
The ISSMGE Technical Committee on Landslides (TC-
11) has also organized a Conference on Transition from
Slide to Flow: Mechanism and Remedial Measures on
25-26 August 2001 in Trabzon, Turkey, on this topic.
2. Cultural Heritage at Landslide Risk
Landslide monitoring and development of the new tech-
nology is very important for landslide risk mitigation
and protection of cultural and natural heritage. The
Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) is plan-
ning to develop the system to monitor landslides as well
as earthquakes and volcanic activities using space tech-
nology. This will be one of the most promising fields of
ICL research. Landslide mapping, landslide inventory
and database, and their technologies are basic tools for
landslide risk mitigation. Those topics were presented
and discussed in this symposium.
3. Landslide Monitoring and Technology,
Landside Mapping and Database
IGCP 425 studies landslide hazard assessment at cultural
and natural heritage sites. This was the main target in
the first symposium in Tokyo, 15-19 January 2001. And
further progress and new research were presented at the
symposium beginning of 2002.
List of most important publications
– Casagli, N.; Fanti, R.; Leva, D.; Luzi, G.; Pasuto, A.;
Pieraccini, M.; Silvano, S.; Tarchi, D. (In review.)
Landslide monitoring using ground-based SAR inter-
ferometry: an example of application to the Tessina
landslide in Italy. Engineering Geology.
– Tarchi, D.; Casagli, N.; Atzeni, C.; Canuti, P.;
Leva, D.; Luzi, G.; Moretti, S.; Pieraccini, M.;
Sieber, A. J. (In review.) Monitoring landslide
displacement fields using ground-based differential
SAR interferometry: application to the Ruinon land-
slide in the Italian Alps. Journal Geophysical
Research.
– Wu, J.; Li, T. 2001. Behaviour and Characteristics
of Debris Flow. In: Landslide Hazard Mitigation in
the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. T. Li; S. R. Chalise
and B. N. Upreti (eds) Kathmandu: ICIMOD,
pp. 203-14.
– Wu, J.; Li, T.; Yin, C. 2001. Debris Flow Control
and Management: Case Studies from the Sichuan and
Yunnan Provinces of China. In: Landslide Hazard
Mitigation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. T. Li;
S. R. Chalise and B. N. Upreti (eds.). Kathmandu:
ICIMOD, pp. 291-312.
Activities planned
Meetings
– ICL and IGCP 425 joint symposium is planned to
be held in September/October 2002 at UNESCO,
Paris. It will be organized as the 5th general meeting
of IGCP 425 and the inaugural meeting of ICL.
– ICL and IGCP 425 joint field workshop on landslide
risk evaluation of the World Heritage Site Machu
Picchu, Peru, is planned to be held in Cusco, 2002.
– Joint meeting of IGCP 425 Japanese National
Committee and ISSMGE ATC-9 Japanese National
Committee will be held in FY2002.
No. 426 –Granite Systems and Proterozoic
Lithospheric Processes (1998–2002)
W. R. Van Schmus, Department of Geology, University
of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States,
e-mail: rvschmus@ku.edu
J. S. Bettencourt, Instituto de Geociências-USP, Caixa
Postal 11348, CEP 05422-970 São Paulo – SP, Brazil,
e-mail: jsbetten@usp.br
67
O. Tapani Rämö, Department of Geology, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 11, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, e-mail:
tapani.ramo@helsinki.fi
Description: The scientific aim of this project is to inves-
tigate the petrology and geochemistry of Proterozoic
granite systems in relation to their metallogeny and
tectonic environments. The principal result will be corre-
lation of Proterozoic granite systems with the tectonic
environments in which they formed, together with the
development of models designed to explain these corre-
lations. These results will, in turn, be a source of
improved general understanding of granitoid petro-
genesis in the context of global tectonics through time.
Better understanding of the correlation between granite
petrogenesis and certain types of metallogenic provinces
will also improve prospecting and exploration strategies.
The principal societal benefits will be twofold. First, the
applied results will help certain countries to find and
develop better economic deposits. Secondly, involve-
ment of participants from less developed countries as
active partners with participants from more developed
countries will enable the former to enhance their geo-
logical research capabilities and background.
Participating countries (all active this year)
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon;
Canada; England; Finland; Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Norway, Poland; Russia, Sweden; United States,
Venezuela.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
During the first years of IGCP 426 most of the emphasis
has been on data acquisition, with preliminary results
presented at conferences in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.
In some cases scientific publications arising from the
work were published or accepted for publication this
year. Discussions and meetings this year have not only
brought certain aspects of the scientific themes of IGCP
426 into focus, but have also resulted in uniting some
of them into topics for more detailed discussion in 2002.
One of the major goals for IGCP 426 relates to ‘soci-
etal benefits’. The project has defined these benefits in
terms of providing opportunities for advanced education
and research opportunities for graduate students and
post-graduate scientists from less developed countries.
During the past first three years major steps were made
forward in this regard, as detailed in the preceding year
report. For the most part these collaborations remain
active. This year efforts were made to involve delegates
from Cameroon, particularly with regard to correlation
between granite systems in the Pan African fold belt of
West Africa and the Brasiliano fold belt of North-East
Brazil.
68
Meetings
– Symposium SS02: ‘Origin and Evolution of
Precambrian Anorogenic Plutonism’, XIth Meeting
of the European Union of Geosciences, Strasbourg,
France, 8-12 April 2001. This symposium comprised
twelve oral and twelve poster presentations on
various aspects of anorogenic plutonism. A selection
of papers from the symposium will be considered
for a special issue of Precambrian Research in
2002/2003.
– Special Session 14: ‘Proterozoic granitoids and
anorthosites’, Geological Association of Canada
Annual Meeting, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada,
28-30 May 2001. A full-day special session was
organized on Proterozoic Granitoids and Anorthosites
at the GAC-MAC annual meeting in May. A total of
24 papers were presented in oral and poster sessions
covering a wide variety of topics ranging from
Proterozoic tectonic processes to magma generation,
as well as representing a wide geographic distribu-
tion of research areas including North America, South
America, Scandinavia, Russia and India.
– Workshop on Geology of South-West Amazonian
Craton: State-of-the-Art. Instituto de Geociencias,
Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,
10-12 August 2001. During the last 10 years a
substantial amount of geologic data has been
produced and this workshop brought together
Brazilian scientists and selected international partic-
ipants from a variety of disciplines to discuss the
mutual themes of interest and mutual efforts to unify
approaches and thoughts. It focused on: lithospheric
processes and tectonic environments; platform sedi-
mentary sequences; granitoid magma generation;
basement rocks; metallogenesis; palaeocontinental
reconstruction. A total of 36 papers were presented,
with a total participation of about 60 geoscientists
from four countries interested in the geologic evolu-
tion of the Amazonian Craton. Two of IGCP 426
themes that were important for this conference were:
(a) origin of A-type (rapakivi) magmas, and
(b) palaeocontinental correlations of Amazonia with
Laurentia and Baltica.
– A topical session T3: ‘Focus on IGCP, Modern and
Ancient Plate Boundaries and Orogens’, Geological
Society of America Annual Meeting, Boston,
Massachusetts, 6-7 November 2001. The meeting
was co-sponsored by IGCP projects 426, 433, 436,
440, and 453. A total of 32 oral papers were presented
in morning and afternoon sessions on 6 November,
and 13 poster papers were presented on 7 November.
IGCP 426 participants represented Brazil, Cameroon,
and the United States. During their participation at
the GSA meeting, Dr Toteu and Mr Tchouankoue of
Cameroon and Dr da Silva Filho of Brazil spent
substantial amounts of time discussing the geology
of Cameroon and North-East Brazil, two Precambrian
(Gondwana) terrains that were adjacent to each other
prior to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. These
 discussions will hopefully lead to collaboration
among geoscientists in West Africa and North-East
Brazil relative to better understanding of the pre-
collisional, collisional, and post-collisional history of
the Pan African-Brasiliano orogenic belt that
traverses both regions. Dr Toteu has already prepared
a proposal and recruited participants for a new IGCP
project that will examine these problems in more
detail (see IGCP 470 – The 600 Ma Pan-African Belt
of Central Africa, accepted at the IGCP Scientific
Board meeting, February 2002).
Other activities
– In 2000, the Venezuela Working Group of IGCP-426
(Prof. Simon Rodriguez, coordinator) initiated a
study of the relationship between regional tectonism
and metallogenic districts of Northern Venezuela and
the Southern Brazilian Shield.
– 12th International Conference of the Geological
Society of Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon, 27 March-
2 April 2001. No formal IGCP 426 technical session
was planned for this meeting, since its principal
focus was on environmental catastrophes. However,
there was an open session on Precambrian geology,
and IGCP 426 members Dr Felix Toteu, CRGM,
Garoua, and Mr Jean-Pierre Tchouankoue, University
of Yaoundé, held an informal workshop for potential
IGCP participants from other countries in Central
Africa. Dr Toteu developed a new project proposal
on the theme ‘The Pan-African belt of Central Africa:
Deformation history, magmatism, metamorphism
and geotectonic evolution’, with potential parti-
cipants from several countries in Central Africa plus
others from Europe, United States, and Brazil.
List of most important publications for 2001
Precambrian Research Special Issue. The project co-
leaders are in the final stages of editing 14 contributions
from IGCP-426 participants to a special issue of
Precambrian Research special issue under the theme of
IGCP Project 426 ‘Granite Systems and Proterozoic
Lithospheric Processes’. A final review of manuscripts
will be submitted to Elsevier Geoscience at the end of
2001 and, accordingly, an early to middle 2002 publi-
cation date is foreseen.
List of publications in which IGCP 426 is acknowledged
– Bettencourt, J. S.; Teixeira, W.; Pacca, I.I. G.;
Geraldes, M. C.; Sparrenberger, I. 2001. (eds.)
Workshop on Geology of the SW Amazonian Craton:
State-of-the-Art. São Paulo-Brazil, 10-12 August
2001. Extended Abstract Volume. 187 pp.
– Geraldes, M. C.; Van Schmus, W. R.; Condie, K. C.;
Bell, S.; Teixeira, W.; Babinski, M. 2001. Proterozoic
geologic evolution of the SW part of the Amazonian
craton in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Precambrian
Research, Vol. 111, pp. 91-128.
– Toteu, S. F.; Van Schmus, W. R.; Penaye, J.; Michard,
A. 2001. New U-Pb and Sm-Nd data from north-
central Cameroon and its bearing on pre-Pan African
history of central Africa. Precambrian Research,
Vol. 108, pp. 45-73.
Activities planned
General Goals
The general goals will continue to be the major ones
outlined in the original proposal, with emphasis focusing
on (a) use of granite systems for intercontinental geo-
dynamic studies of palaeocontinent reconstructions,
(b) origin of A-type granite systems (rapakivi; AMCG
suites, etc.); (c) metallogenesis associated with granite
systems, and (d) geotechnical education and outreach
for less developed countries through visitations and
collaborations at laboratories in more developed coun-
tries. This year IGCP 426 proposes to concentrate on
developing integration among these goals to examine
some topics in more detail; these themes have devel-
oped from conferences sponsored this year and discus-
sions held among participants. The main themes include
trying to define better the tectonic regime in which
A-type granites form. For example, whether some are
truly ‘anorogenic’; whether some are related to conver-
gent plate boundaries (subduction systems under the
craton); whether some are related to recognized exten-
sional events. A second theme that will continue to be
pursued is the link between A-type (or, more broadly,
post-tectonic) magmatism and certain types of metallo-
genesis. The examination of the validity of certain types
of elemental ‘tectonic discrimination diagrams’ to
Proterozoic systems will also be continued.
Meetings
Because of logistic problems of bringing together a large
group of scientists from several continents to address
some of the IGCP 426 goals during 2002, the co-leaders
of the project again propose participating in several
meetings in various countries which have technical
sessions or symposia related to one or more of the
project’s main themes. IGCP 426 would also like to
organize one or two field trips in the United States, if
finances, logistics, and weather permit. This approach
will optimise participation of members from less
developed countries, while still maintaining an inte-
grated project.
International Basement Tectonics Conference, Rolla,
Missouri (19-23 May 2002). The next International
Basement Tectonics Conference (IBTC) will be held at
the University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla Missouri from
19 May to 24 May, with a pre-meeting field trip on
17-19 May and mid-meeting field trips. The themes of
the conference will include (a) metallogenesis associated
with A-type magmatism and (b) advances in under-
standing the United States midcontinent basement and
69
its economic potential. Proterozoic granite systems are
an essential component of these themes, and IGCP 426
will work with organizers of the conference to co-
sponsor one or more technical sessions. The pre-meeting
field trip for the IBTC will be held in the
Mesoproterozoic granite-rhyolite system in the
St Francois Mountains of South-East Missouri and
should be attractive to many IGCP 426 participants. In
addition, the option of also holding a post-meeting field
trip that will go from Rolla to Southern Okalhoma
(Arbuckle Mountains), Colorado and Wyoming (Front
Range) will be explored. This trip would examine rela-
tionships of Mesoproterozoic A-type magmatism to their
Palaeoproterozoic host terranes and potential tectonic
correlations of midcontinent-South-West United States
A-type magmatism to continental margin orogenesis
along Southern and Eastern Laurentia.
Note: The themes of the IBTC conference will be directly
related to activities of the Venezuela Working Group,
and IGCP 426 will make a strong effort to support their
participation in either the IBTC (preferred) or the GSA
meeting in Denver.
– Geological Society of America Annual Meeting,
Denver, Colorado, 27-30 October 2001. IGCP 426b
is preparing a proposal to the GSA for a special
topical session at the next annual meeting. The provi-
sional title is ‘Correlation of A-type Plutons to
Convergent Margins: Orogenic Links to Anorogenic
Magmatism?’ The purpose of the session will be to
invite speakers or accept general contributions, which
will address the origin of the magma systems respon-
sible for the Mesoproterozoic anorogenic magmatism
throughout Southern Laurentia. In recent years, there
have been many suggestions that this magmatism
was, in fact, linked to convergent margin tectonic
activity along Southern and Eastern Laurentia.
Recent papers have also proposed similar links for
Mesoproterozoic to late Palaeoproterozoic A-type
magmatism in Baltica and Amazonia. It is believed
the time is right for focusing on this topic, which
will bring together IGCP 426 participants who have
been focusing on these problems separately (A-type
magmatism; Proterozoic tectonics). The original plan
was to develop a GSA pre-meeting field trip in the
Front Range of Colorado-Wyoming in association
with this session, but in view of possible weather
problems, that may be done earlier.
– Second Symposium on Volcanism and Associated
Tectonic Settings, Belém, Brazil, Nov. 2002. This
meeting is being coordinated by Dr Roberto
DallÁgnol and will include extensive discussion of
Proterozoic volcanism in the Amazonian Craton, one
of the themes developed within the IGCP 426
Workshop on the Amazon Craton held in August
2001. IGCP 426 will offer to co-sponsor one or more
topical sessions at this symposium.
70
No. 427 – Ore-forming Processes
in Dynamic Magmatic Systems (1998-2002)
C. M. Lesher, Mineral Exploration Research Centre,
Willet Green Miller Mines and Mineral Research Centre,
Laurentian University, 933 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury,
ON P3E 6B5 Canada, e-mail: lesher@sympatico.ca
S.-J. Barnes, Sciences de la Terre, Université du
Québec à Chicoutimi, 555 boulevard de l’Université,
Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1 Canada, e-mail:
sjbarnes@uqac.uquebec.ca
Description: The basic and applied scientific goals of
this project deal with relevant topics in fluid dynamics
and thermomechanical erosion in magmatic systems
with an emphasis on sulphide, PGE, oxide precipitation
mechanism and controls of the composition of magmatic
ores. A better understanding of the origin of ore deposits
of Ni-Cu-Co, Cr-V-Ti and PGE should contribute to the
efficient prospecting of ore deposits. Although not a
major aim, it is expected that a contribution will be made
to current understanding of how the geochemistry of
sulphur may contribute to the handling of mining waste.
The project will involve an international, interdiscipli-
nary group of researchers with expertise in field geology,
experimental, igneous and metamorphic petrology,
volcanology, mineralogy, geochemistry, isotope geo-
chemistry, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. The
project will meet short- and long-term world-wide needs
by aiding in the transfer of research methodologies to
colleagues in less developed countries and by aiding in
the development of exploration tools that can be used
to discover and optimally develop sustainable resources
of PGE, Ni, Cu, Co, Cr, V, and Ti.
Website of the project
http://www.laurentian.ca/www/geology/IGCP/IGCP.htm
Participating countries
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada,
China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Namibia,
Norway, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine,
USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
IGCP 427 was very active this year, holding six major
and two minor activities. The field, laboratory, analytical,
experimental, mathematical, and theoretical studies
reported at these meetings and published in the interna-
tional geological literature have advanced our under-
standing of ore-forming processes (e.g. lava/magma
emplacement, thermomechanical erosion and devolatiliza-
tion, wall-rock modification, magma contamination and
mixing, base metal and PGE partitioning, fractional crys-
tallization, ore segregation, and hydrothermal mobiliza-
tion) in volcanic and subvolcanic systems all over the
world. These advances have benefited society by trans-
ferring research methodologies to colleagues in devel-
oping countries and by aiding in the development of better
exploration tools that can be used to discover and opti-
mally develop sustainable resources of PGE, Ni, Cu, Co,
Cr, V, and Ti.
Major scientific achievements of the project include:
(1) quantification of the processes by which trace
elements and S-Nd-Sr-Os isotopes decouple during
processing in dynamic magmatic systems, (2) modelling
of sulphide fractionation processes involving liquid
immiscibility, partial fractional crystallization, gravity
filtration, and zone refining, (3) modelling of the trans-
port of dense, fluid sulphides (and hydro-dynamically-
equivalent large blocks of country rocks) in less dense,
fluid magmas, (4) development of frameworks for the
localization of PGEs in multiple settings within layered
intrusions, and (5) modelling of the behaviour of
volatiles in modifying the crystallization behaviour of
the host magmas, in modifying the partitioning of metals
between sulphide phases (solids and liquids) and in
mobilizing metals during the late stages of crystalliza-
tion to produce a broader range of mineralization styles,
(6) further understanding of the behaviour of S, Rb-Sr,
Sm-Nd, Re-Os, and Pb-Pb isotopes in dynamic magmatic
systems and their value in constraining ore-forming
processes, and (7) the continual discovery of many new
styles of mineralization in ore deposits worldwide.
Meetings
1. 20-24 May 2001, 11th Annual Goldschmidt
Conference, Roanoke, Virginia, USA. IGCP 427 co-
sponsored a Symposium on the Mafic Magma-Ore
Deposit Link with the Geochemical Society. The
symposium included 18 talks and 3 posters by
20 presenters on various aspects of the geology,
geochemistry, experimental petrology, and genesis of
magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) and PGE-(Cu)-(Ni) deposits
associated with mafic magmas. It was attended by
about 50 participants from 8 countries.
2. 26-29 August 2001, 6th Biennial SGA-SEG Meeting
(Mineral Deposits at the Beginning of the
21st Century), Krakow, Poland. IGCP 427 jointly-
sponsored Session 6.1 on the Genesis of PGE Deposits
with SGA and SEG. The session was dedicated to
Professor E.F. Stumpfl in appreciation for his 4 decades
of research in PGE deposits and included 10 talks and
2 posters on various aspects of the geology, geochem-
istry, experimental petrology, and genesis of magmatic
PGE, Ni Cu (PGE), and Cr deposits. It was attended
by about 100 participants from 17 countries.
3. 17-21 September 2001, XXI Spanish Mineralogical
Society Meeting, Malaga, Spain. The Spanish
Working Group of IGCP 427 sponsored a special
session (Organizer: F. Gervilla) that included about
12 presentations and was attended by about 25 parti-
cipants from five countries. The meeting was preceded
by a 2-day field excursion to the Ronda Massif.
4. 1-10 September 2001, 4th International Archean
Symposium, Perth, Western Australia. IGCP
427 participants contributed to several theme
sessions, including Theme 5: Mineralization, Theme
2: Magmatic Processes, and the David I. Groves
Symposium. There were 205 papers (94 oral,
111 posters) presented, the Symposium was attended
by almost 500 participants from 20 countries.
5. 1-13 September 2001, Field Excursion to the
Skaergaard Complex and Platinova Reefs,
Kangerdlugssuaq, East Greenland. The excursion
departed from and ended in Keflavik, Iceland, and
was attended by 32 participants from 11 countries.
An IGCP 427 Business Meeting was held during the
voyage. A conference report has been submitted to
Episodes.
6. 1-5 October 2001, Annual European Short Course
in Metallogeny, Brest, France. This short course was
supported by the French CNRS, GEODE (the
European Science Foundation metallogeny network),
and the Universities and City of Brest. It was
delivered in two parts, the second of which included
sessions on Ni, Cr and Pt deposits in komatiites, the
Bushveld complex, and ophiolites that were relevant
to this project. The twelve lecturers came from
France, Germany, Portugal, Canada, and United
States, and the 45 students came from 12 countries.
7. 26-27 October 2001, Workshop on PGE Explora-
tion, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. This workshop was
jointly-sponsored with the Laurentian University
SEG Student Chapter and the Mineral Exploration
Research Centre. It included a 2-day symposium
with 15 talks and a 2-hour open (and very lively)
discussion on various aspects of the geology,
geochemistry, experimental petrology, and genesis of
magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) and PGE-(Cu)-(Ni) deposits,
two 1-day field trips to the East Bull Lake and River
Valley PGE prospects near Sudbury, and
surface/underground tours of several Ni-Cu-PGE
deposits in the Sudbury Basin. It was attended by
about 110 participants from 3 provinces (Ontario,
Québec, British Colombia) and 3 countries.
Publications
Books and Special Issues
– Irvine, T. N.; Andersen, J. C. Ø.; and Brooks, C. K.
2001. Excursion guide to the Skaergaard Intrusion,
Kangerdlugssuaq area, East Greenland, 68 pp. of text
plus 66 pp. of figures.
– Andersen, J. C. Ø, Editor. 2001. Processes in
dynamic magmatic systems: Research perspectives
at the start of the 21st century. Abstracts from a field
symposium held on the Skaergaard intrusion,
Kangerdlugssuaq area – East Greenland, Camborne
School of Mines, ISBN 0-9541279-0-0, 51 pp.
– Barnes, S.-J.; Crocket, J.; and Martin, R. F. 2001.
71
 Special Issue of Canadian Mineralogist, Volume 39:
175-302.
– Gervilla, F.; Editor. 2001. Abstracts from Spanish
Mineralogical Society Annual Meeting, Boletín de la
Sociedad Española de Mineralogía, 24-A.
– Hill, R. E. T.; Barnes, S. J.; and Dowling, S. E. 2001.
Komatiites of the Norseman-Wiluna Greenstone Belt
– a Field Guide. Geological Survey of Western
Australia, Perth, Record 2001/10, 71 pp.
Journal Papers and Book Chapters
– Baker, D.; Barnes, S. J.; Simon, G. and Bernier, F.
2001. Transport of metals in sulphuric fluid.
Canadian Mineralogist 39: 537-546.
– Barnes, S.-J. and Maier, W. D. (2002) Platinum-
group Elements and Microstructures of Normal
Merensky Reef from Impala Platinum Mines,
Bushveld Complex. Journal of Petrology 43: 103-
128.
– Barnes, S. J.; Melehik, V., and Sokolov, S. V. 2001.
The composition and mode of formation of the
Pechenga Nickel Deposits, Kola Peninsular,
Northwestern Russia. Canadian Mineralogist 39:
447-472
– Bezmen, N. I. 2001. Superliquids differentiation of
fluid-bearing magmatic melts under reducing condi-
tions as a possible mechanism of formation of layered
massifs: Experimental investigations. Petrology 9:
345-361.
– Bremond d’Ars, J.; Arndt, N. T.; Hallot, E. 2001.
Analog experimental insights into the formation of
magmatic sulphide deposits. Earth and Planetary
Science Letters 186: 371-381.
– De Waal, S. A.; Maier, W. D.; Armonstrong, R. A.
and Gauert, C. D. K. 2001. The age and parental
magma of the Uitkmost Complex. Canadian
Mineralogist 39: 557-571.
– Gornostayev, S. S. 2001. Ore mineralogy of some
mafic-ultramafic complexes of the Ukranian and
Fennoscandian Shields and the Russian Far East.
University of Oulu, Res Terrace Series A, volume 18
(Tuisku et al. eds.), 235.
– Gornostayev, S. S.; Ohnentetter, M.; Neziraj, A.;
Ohnenstetter, D.; Laajoki, K. V. O.; Popovchenko,
S. E. and Kornieno, P. K. 2001. New occurrences of
anduoite (Ru,OSs)As2 from chromite deposits of
Ukraine and Albania. Canadian Mineralogist 39:
591-606
– Layahe, Y.; Barnes, S. J;, Frick, L. R.; Lambert, D.
2001. Re-Os isotopic study of komatiitic volcanism
and magmatic sulphide formation in the southern
Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada. Canadian
Mineralogist 39: 473-490.
– Lesher, C. M. and Burnham, O. M. 2001.
Multicomponent elemental and isotopic mixing in
Ni-Cu-(PGE) ores at Kambalda, Western Australia.
Canadian Mineralogist 39: 421-446.
– Lesher, C. M.; Burnham, O. M.; Keays, R. R.;
Barnes, S. J. and Hulbert, L. 2001. Geochemical
discrimination of barren and mineralized komatiites
72
associated with magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide
deposits. Canadian Mineralogist 39: 673-696.
– Li, C. and Maier, W. D. (in press) Magmatic Ni-Cu
versus PGE deposit: Contrasting genetic controls and
exploration implications. South African Journal of
Geology.
– Li, C.; Maier, W. D. and de Waal, S. A. 2001. The
role of magma mixing in the origin of PGE miner-
alization in the Bushveld Complex: Thermodynamic
calculations and new interpretations. Economic
Geology 96: 653-662.
– Li, C.; Naldrett, A. J. and Ripley, E. M. 2001. Critical
factors for the formation of a Ni-Cu deposit in
evolved magmatic system: Lessons from a compar-
ison of the Pants Lake and Voisey’s Bay sulphide
occurrences in Labrador. Mineralium Deposita 36:
85-92.
– Maier, W. D. and Barnes, S. J. (accepted July 2001).
The concentration of platinum-group elements in the
Boulder Bed, Western Bushveld Complex.
Mineralium Deposita.
– Maier, W .D.; Barnes, S. J.; van der Merwe, M.
(accepted July 2001). The concentration of the plat-
inum-group elements and Au in the Pyroxenite
Marker, Bushveld Complex: implications for the
formation of the Main Zone. South African Journal
of Geology: ~10 p.
– Maier, W. D.; Sliep, J.; Barnes, S. J.; de Waal, S. A.
and Li, C. (accepted July 2001). PGE-bearing mafic-
ultramafic sills in the floor of the Eastern Bushveld
Complex on the farms Blaauwboschkraal,
Swartkoppies and Waterval: a reconnaissance study.
South African Journal of Geology: ~ 10 p.
– Malitch, K. N. 2001. Unusual PGE-, REE-, Au- and
U-rich mineral assemblage in mantle-derived chromi-
tites from the Eastern Alps, Austria: a combined
multi-disciplinary study. Mittelungen der Österre-
ichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft 146: 183-
185
– Malitch, K. N.; Melcher, F. and Mühlhans, H. 2001.
Palladium and gold mineralization in podiform
chromitite at Kraubath, Austria. Mineralogy and
Petrology 73: 247-277
– Mungall, J. E. (accepted). Late-stage sulphide liquid
mobility in the Main Mass of the Sudbury Igneous
Complex; examples from Victor Deep, McCreedy
East and Trillabelle deposits. Economic Geology.
– Mungall, J. E. (in press). Empirical models relating
viscosity and tracer diffusion in magmatic silicate
melts. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
– Mungall, J. E. (in press). Kinetic controls on the
portioning of trace elements between silicate and
sulphide liquids. Journal of Petrology.
– Park, Y.-R and Ripley, E. M. 2001. Mechanisms and
patterns of O and H isotopic exchange during
hydrothermal alteration of the North Shore Volcanic
Group and related hypabyssal sills, Midcontinent
Rift System, Minnesota. Chemical Geology 172:
331-345.
– Pendergast, M. D. 2001. Komatiite-hosted Hunters
 Road nickel deposit, central Zimbabwe: physical
volcanology and sulphide genesis. Australian Journal
of Earth Sciences 48: 681-694.
– Ripley, E. M.; Park, Y. R.; Lambert, D. D. and
Frick, L. R. 2001. Re-Os isotopic variations in
carbonaceous pelites hosting the Duluth Complex:
Implications for metamorphic and metasomatic
processes associated with mafic magma chambers.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 65: 2965-2978.
– Ripley, E. M.; Park, Y. R.; Lambert, D. D. and
Frick, L. R. 2001. Re-Os isotopic composition and
PGE contents of Proterozoic carbonaceous argillites,
Virginia Formation, Northeastern Minnesota.
Organic Geochemistry 32: 857-866.
– Williams, D. A.; Kerr. R.; Lesher, C. M.; Barnes, S. J.
2002. Analytical/numerical modeling of komatiite lava
emplacement and thermal erosion at Perseverance,
Western Australia. Journal of Volcanology and
Geothermal Research 110: 27-55.
– Wilson, A. 2001. Compositional and lithological
controls on the PGE-bearing sulphide zones in the
Selukwe Subchamber, Great Dyke: a combined equi-
librium-/Rayleigh fractionation model. Journal of
Petrology 42: 1845-1867.
– Woodland, S. J.; Pearson, D. G. and Thirlwall, M. F.
2002. Platinum Group Element and Re-Os Isotope
Investigation of Siderophile Element Recycling in
Subduction Zones: Comparison of Grenada, Lesser
Antilles Arc, and the Izu Bonin Arc. Journal of
Petrology 43: 171-198.
Activities planned
25-29 July 2002, IGCP 427 Business Meeting and
Sponsorship of the 9th International Platinum
Symposium, Billings, Montana (United States), which
will include one pre-meeting field excursion to Ni-Cu-
PGE deposits in the Lake Superior Region (Duluth, Lac
des Iles, Colwell Complex) and several pre- and post-
meeting field trips to the Stillwater Complex, which is
one of the highest grade and most spectacularly-exposed
PGE deposits in the world
http://www.platinumsymposium.org/
No. 428 – Past Climate Change Inferred
from the Analysis of the Underground
Temperature Field (1998-2002)
V. C̆ermák, Geophysical Institute, Czech Academy of
Sciences, 141-31 Praha 4, Czech Republic, e-mail:
cermak@ig.cas.cz
H. N. Pollack, Department of Geological Sciences,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
United States of America, e-mail: hpollack@umich.edu
C. Clauser, Applied Geophysics, RWTH, D-52056 Aachen,
Germany, e-mail: c.clauser@geophysik.rwth-aachen.de
Description: Temperature changes at the earth’s surface
propagate downwards with an amplitude attenuation and
a time delay that increase with depth. The earth’s subsur-
face has a certain capability to ‘remember’ what has
happened at the surface many years ago. This project
aims at reconstructing the climate pattern of several past
centuries by an integrated analysis of borehole temper-
ature data together with other proxy information. The
key method used is an inversion technique that allows
extraction of the past climate ‘signature’ still existing
today in the form of small excursions detectable by
precise measurements of the present subsurface temper-
ature field when logging the holes. The general objec-
tives include:
1. Exploitation of temperature-depth profiles to assess
the ground surface temperature history (GSTH) in
various locations
2. Study of temporal and spatial scales and regional
trends of inverted GSTHs and correlating them with
meteorological and proxy data
3. Extraction of a possible manmade component of
recent climate warming from the natural climate vari-
ability
Website addresses related to the project
http://www.ig.cas.cz.html, for general information and
reports
http://www.geo.lsa.umich.edu/IHFC/heatflow.html, data-
base and additional information
Participating countries
Practically all European countries plus Brazil, Canada,
China, Egypt, India, Japan, Morocco, United States, Viet
Nam.
Achievements of the project in 2001
General scientific achievements
(a) The existence of a fully operational database of bore-
holes with temperature logs and corresponding
climate reconstructions,
(b) A special issue of the journal Global and Planetary
Change
(c) Considerable progress was achieved in the following
countries:
Russia and Ukraine: Borehole temperature data have
been used to infer ground surface temperature change
in the Southern Urals. Temperature profiles ranging
from 300 to 1000 m were used to get information
on the climate of the last approximate thousand
years; a very deep borehole temperature profile
(2000 m) was used to reconstruct the climate history
of the Late Glacial/Postglacial Period. The ground
surface temperature history exhibits a cold period,
identified as Little Ice Age, with a minimum in 1700-
1850 A.D., followed by a period of warming. This
73
 fact is in agreement with meteorological data for the
recent one and half century. Reliable temperature
data and the absence of disturbing effects together
with a good knowledge of thermophysical properties
enabled to estimate the Holocene optimum of 5 to
6 Ka B.P. with a peak exceeding modern tempera-
ture by about 1.3 degrees C. Six high-quality temper-
ature logs located in the Ukrainian Shield and on the
southern slope of the East European Platform well
confirmed cold climate conditions in this area
between 1700-1900 A.D. with gradual changing
conditions in the 20th century and warming ampli-
tudes of 0.5 to 2.0 K.
Estonia and Finland: A major result here is that geot-
hermal HFD data sets can be applied for palaeocli-
matic reconstructions in the time scale of 100,000
years which provide a direct, although noisy, source
of palaeotemperature information. The vertical vari-
ation in HFD in the Fennoscandian Shield and East
European Platform can be attributed to the major
climate change at the Pleistocene-Holocene
boundary, and the result suggests an average warming
of 8.0 ± 4.5 K from the Last Glacial Maximum time.
They indicate further that the palaeoclimatic correc-
tion of HFD data for the Weichselian effects may
have been underestimated in the study area.
Therefore, an average correction of +15 mW m-2 at
500 m depth, and +5 mW m-2 at 1000 m respec-
tively is proposed. The inversion yields a value of
the steady-state surface HFD for the study area as
being of 50.8 ± 0.3 mW m-2.
Romania: In 2001, investigations on the palaeo-
climatic effects in the crustal temperature field
continued for the Transylvanian Basin and were initi-
ated for the foreland of the Eastern Carpathians bend,
based on temperature measurements in boreholes in
a depth range of 100-1500 m (Transylvanian Basin)
and 100-2400 m (Focsani Depression) respectively,
taken with a mK range sensitive thermometer in the
continuous logging mode. Measurements and inter-
pretation were performed within the framework of a
cooperation with the Geophysical Laboratory,
University of Aarhus (Denmark) and the Geophysical
Institute, Karlsruhe University (Germany). Tempera-
ture data are consistent with the warming following
the Weichselian glaciation, 10,000 years ago. Further-
more, a method for treating data at several temporal
scales has been worked out. A climate correction of
7-8 mWm-2 to the measured surface heat flux was
estimated for the Transylvanian Basin, from simul-
taneous inversion of temperature data from nine
boreholes.
Italy: The Italian working group (previously formed by
the University of Genoa is now also including the
National Research Council, Pisa) has collected and
inverted a series of temperature-depth data, recorded
from 1981 to 2000 in geothermal boreholes scattered in
74
Central Northern Italy, for the reconstruction of the
climatic signal. Even if the results, compared to previous
tests from a selected borehole located in the Western
Alps, confirm a recent warming since 1960, the climatic
change pattern for Italy is rather complex, showing
discernible spatial and temporal variability. This seems
mainly due to geographical factors such as the complex
topography surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.
Meetings
1. Special symposium of the AGU Fall meeting at San
Francisco (December 2000) ‘Land-atmosphere
coupling in the global climate system’ (attendance
mostly North Americans).
2. Fifth International Conference ‘Terrestrial Heat Flow
and the Lithosphere Structure’, Kostelec, Czech
Republic, 6-10 June 2001, full week programme with
two days reserved for the IGCP 428 project and a
total of 65 attendees from 20 countries.
3. Special symposium ‘Temperatures within the Earth’
as part of the Joint IASPEI-IAGA Assembly
at Hanoi, 25 August 2001 (25 attendees from
10 countries).
List of most important publications
Major result
Inference of Climate Change from Geothermal Data,
H.Beltrami and R. N. Harris (Guest Editors), special
issue of Global and Planetary Change, 29 (2001), 145-
360. (IGCP 428 volume)
Other publications addressing IGCP
428 programme results
– Beltrami, H. 2001. Surface Heat Flux Histories from
Inversion of Geothermal Data: Energy Balance at the
Earth Surface. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 21, 979-21,994.
– Beltrami, H. 2001. Heat Flux Inversion from
Geothermal Data: Long-Term Energy Balance at the
Earth’s Surface. Geophys. Research Letters, 28, pp.
655-65.
– Beltrami, H.; Harris, R. N. 2001. Inferences of
Climate Change from Geothermal Data. Global and
Planetary Change, 29, pp.149-152.
– C̆ermak, V.; Bodri, L. 2001. Climate reconstruction
from subsurface temperatures demonstrated on
example of Cuba. In: I. T.; Kukkonen, V. C̆ermak
and B. Kennett, (Eds.), Thermal Studies of the
Earth´s Structure and Geodynamics. Phys.Earth
Planet.Interior. (To appear soon.)
– Majorowicz, J. A.; Safanda, J.; Przybylak R.;
Wojcik, G. 2001. Reconstruction of the Ground
Surface Temperature Variations in Poland in the Last
500 years Based on Geothermal Profiles, Polish
Geophys. Soc., Geophys. Reviews (Przeglad
Geofizyczny) (Accepted.).
– Pasquale, P.; Verdoya, M.; Chiozzi, P.; Safanda, J.
2000. Evidence of climate variability from under-
 ground temperatures in NW Italy. Global and
Planetary Change, 25, pp. 215-22.
– Serban, D. Z.; Nielsen, S. B.; Demetrescu, C. 2001.
Transylvanian heat flow in the presence of topo-
graphy, paleoclimate and groundwater flow.
Tectonophysics, 335, pp. 331-44.
– Serban, D. Z.; Nielsen, S. B.; Demetrescu, C. 2001.
Long wavelength ground surface temperature history
from continuous temperature logs in the
Transylvanian Basin. Global and Planetary Change,
29, pp. 201-17.
Activities planned
No definite dates have been settled so far, but two meet-
ings are envisaged for the year 2002, namely:
1. ‘Climate and borehole’ session sponsored by IGCP
428 within the Second International Conference ‘The
Earth’s Thermal Field’, Moscow, May 2002 with an
expected dominant participation from Russia and all
CIS countries.
2. Small scale symposium ‘Borehole and Climate’
proposed by Prof. Serban Veliciu (Romania). This
meeting is planned in the first half of October in the
Carpathians (Sinaia) and will focus on problems of
this region addressing climate reconstruction and
long-term temperature monitoring in shallow holes
to assess the regional magnitude of the present day
warming and the assessment of the potential anthro-
pogenic component.
No. 429 – Organics in Major
Environmental Issues (1998-2002)
IGCP co-leader: J. Pas̆ava, Czech Geological Survey,
Klárov 131/3, 118 21 Praha 1, Czech Republic, e-mail:
pasava@cgu.cz
MAB co-leader: J. Jeník, Faculty of Science, Charles
University, Department of Botany, Benátská 2, 128 01
Praha 2, Czech Republic, e-mail: jenik@natur.cuni.cz
Description: Organic matter and its derivates are essen-
tial components of the natural environment, and
increasing awareness has developed recently on the
varied behaviour and roles of organics in environmental
issues. The scientific aim of this project is to correlate
existing and new data from biospheric, geospheric and
atmospheric studies in order to evaluate the different
roles of organic matter in the environment. Direct
evidence of natural processing of organic matter and
geochemical models will be used to suggest how society
may minimise the negative effects of mining activities
and improve remedies. Studies will include radioactive
waste depository sites, the formation of human carcino-
gens and the fate of organic pollutants in surface and
groundwater.
Website of the project
http://www.min.tu-clausthal.de/www/sga/news6/art6.
html
Participating countries
(* indicates countries active this year)
*Albania, Argentina, Australia, *Austria *Bulgaria,
Botswana, *Brazil, *Burkina Faso, *Canada, *China,
*Czech Republic, *Estonia, *Finland, *France, FYROM,
*Germany, *Hungary, *Israel, *Italy, *Japan, *Jordan,
*Korea (Republic of), Mongolia, *Nigeria, Philippines,
*Poland, Republic of South Africa, Romania, *Russia,
*Slovakia, *Slovenia, *Spain, *Switzerland, *United
Kingdom, *United States.
Around 70 scientists from 33 countries participated in
the project activities.
Achievements of the project this year
WG1: Organic Matter – Metals Interaction (A.P. Gize,
United Kingdom)
Scientists conducted potentiometric titrations and Cd-
bacteria adsorption experiments using the gram-negative
bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aerugi-
nosa), and the gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus mega-
turium, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus,
Sporosarcina ureae and Bacillus cereus). They found
that a wide range of bacterial species exhibit nearly iden-
tical Cd adsorption behaviour as a function of pH. It
was concluded that metal-bacteria adsorption is not
dependent on the bacterial species involved. A general-
ized adsorption model which greatly simplifies the task
of quantifying the effects of bacterial adsorption on
dissolved mass transport in realistic geologic system was
also developed.
A new analytical technique for in situ observation of the
binding of dissolved organics on mineral surfaces,
Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance (IR-ATR) method
has been tested by Japanese scientists with the aim to
develop the IR-ATR method into a new analytical tool
for detecting dissolved organic pollutants in water, such
as chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Jordanian scientists studied the adsorption of Cu and Zn
by oil shale. They noted that an increase in the adsorbent
concentration with constant Cu or Zn concentrations
resulted in greater metal removal from solution. They
concluded that oil shale could be used for the adsorption
of the Cu2+ and Zn2+ with higher affinity toward Zn2+
ions. Addition of sodium salt to the metal solution influ-
enced Cu-removal positively, but inhibited zinc removal.
These results document that oil shale containing organic
matter can be considered as suitable biosorbent.
Copper accumulation by Polygonum microcephalum and
Rumex hastatus from copper mining waste dumps in
75
Yunnan Province was studied by Chinese scientists. It was
found that both plant species can grow well on mining
waste sites rich in Cu but with medium nutrient supply.
P. microcephalum accumulated more Cu than R. hastatus.
It was concluded that both species may have some poten-
tial for phytostabilization of metal-contaminated soils and
also for biogeochemical prospecting.
In order to control the actual amount of pollutants
formed in the environment, another group of Chinese
scientist studied the loading capacity of agricultural soils
for heavy metals and its applications throughout China.
This loading capacity was defined as the maximum
permitted amount of heavy metals in agricultural soil
which preserves the benign cycle of materials in the
pedosphere and limits the adverse effects of heavy
metals on the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and
lithosphere. It was suggested that the acceptable range
in China is 23-37 g/ha/a for Cd, 6750-10125 g/ha/a for
Pb, 687-2812 g/ha/a for Cu and 450-675 g/ha/a for As,
respectively.
A significant correlation between Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu
and organic carbon and sulphur was reported by Indian
scientists from heavy metal polluted, freshly deposited
sediments of the Yamuna river (Delhi and Agra urban
centers, India). It was concluded that mostly anthro-
pogenic input was responsible for such intensive
pollution.
Heavy metal contamination of urban soils and street dust
in Hong Kong was studied by Chinese scientist. It was
documented that urban soils contain elevated concen-
trations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn which resulted from traffic
emissions and industrial activities while street dust
contains high Zn values (most likely a result of contam-
ination by car tires). The geochemistry showed that Pb
and Zn are mainly bound to carbonate/adsorbed and
Mn/Fe oxide phases, while Cu is largely associated with
the organic and sulphide fractions.
Nigerian scientists investigated the distribution of heavy
metals in fish and plant species (especially Egeria
radiata and Tympanotomus ruscatus) in the Cross River
Estuary in South Eastern Nigeria. They found that
seasonal and spatial variations of heavy metals in sedi-
ments, fish and plant species did not conform to a defi-
nite pattern as heavy metal values are generally low and
concluded that this site could be considered as safe
regarding its metal pollution.
Experimental pyritization of plants was carried out by
British scientists. The results demonstrated that initial
pyritization (precipitation on and within plant cell walls)
can be an extremely rapid process (within 80 days)
which is driven by anaerobic bacterial-mediated decay.
Further decay and infilling at all scales preserves broad
cellular anatomy. The results have implications for
fossilization in general and the fidelity of the taxonomic
and biomolecular information preserved in fossils.
76
WG 2: Microbial Leaching in Environmental Clean Up
(K. Bosecker, Germany)
Bacteria are present in a wide range of geologic and
aquatic environments. The adsorption of aqueous metal
cations onto bacterial surfaces can affect the global
cycling of elements, biomineralization, heavy metal
contaminant mobility in soil and groundwater systems
and the effectiveness of bioremediation techniques.
Considerable progress in the field of remediation of
anthropogenically polluted soils by heavy metals was
achieved by German scientists in the Leipzig Lowlands
region (Saxony, Germany). The leaching of heavy metals
was observed in suspension and in the soil bed. Acidic
conditions were produced by adding either H2SO4 or S0.
It was found that the kinetics of leaching was largely
influenced by both the procedure and the leaching agent
used. In leaching with elemental sulphur, the kinetics of
metal solubilization was determined by the microbial
oxidation rate of sulphur to sulphuric acid (20 and more
days in both environments). Leaching with H2SO4
proceeded very fast in suspension but needed much
longer in solid bed. It was concluded that large-scale
remediation of heavy metal polluted sediments seems
only possible through solid-bed leaching of sediment
supplemented with elemental sulphur. To enhance the
effect of bioleaching process, the optimum temperature
between 30 and 40°C as well as a dosage of 2% S0 was
recommended based on all experiments. These achieve-
ments are very important as heavy metals in soils are
still a challenging problem all over the world.
Another important problem studied by Danish scientists
was Cd and Cu release kinetics in relation to afforesta-
tion of cultivated soils which causes soil acidification
and elevated concentrations of dissolved organic matter
in the soil solution, and hence, aggravate the risk of
heavy metal leaching. The soil solution isolated from
Norway spruce and soil samples from an arable Ap
horizon were studied in detail. It was documented that
Cd release rates are very low at pH>5 and increase expo-
nentially as pH decreased to <5. No significant effect of
dissolved organic matter was observed. The kinetics of
Cu was more complicated with effects of both pH and
dissolved organic matter. It was concluded that changes
in soil chemical conditions after afforestation can lead
to the dramatic release of Cd at soil solution pH<4.5
and that inhibition of Cu-release by dissolved organic
matter (observed at pH 3.8 to 5.0), indicates that Cu is
retained in the soil by interactions with adsorbed organic
matter. These results are very important as afforestation
process results not only in increased erosion, drainage
and the change of ecosystem but also aggravates a high
risk of heavy metal leaching.
The discovery of diverse microbial communities in the
terrestrial subsurface has important ramifications for
bioremediation and sediment diagenesis. Further impor-
tant scientific results in this field were achieved by
United States scientists. They provided geochemical and
microbiological evidence that viable microorganisms
produce and consume volatile organic acids in the
Yengua formation (east-central Texas). It was found that
slow mineralization rate of in situ organic matter in
mudstones is within range for deep aquifers, and prob-
ably accounts for the long-term survival of microorgan-
isms in oligotrophic environments.
Interesting results have been reported by scientists from
Denmark who studied conditions for biological precip-
itation of iron by bacterium Gallionella ferruginea in
slightly polluted ground water. The rate of Fe oxidation/
precipitation was found to be about 100 times faster than
formerly found for abiotic physico-chemical oxida-
tion/precipitation processes. The reason for the poor
adsorption of the hydrophobic pesticides and trichlo-
rethylene was due to the pronounced hydrophylic
property of the exopolymers of Galionella and the
precipitated ferrihydrite. These results are very impor-
tant as biosorption is attracting wide attention as an
alternate wastewater treatment technology.
WG 3: Weathering of Organic Matter (B. Kr̆íbek, Czech
Republic)
Further for society very useful applied scientific results
have been reached by Czech scientists on the weathering
of fossil organic matter in waste dumps of coal mines
of various age from the Sokolov Basin (Tertiary), Pilsen
Basin (Carboniferous) and Barrandian Basin (Devonian).
Oxidation of fossil organic matter in relation to the coal-
ification degree was experimentally studied. The result
showed that the rate of weathering of fossil organic
matter depends on the organic matter type and degree
of coalification. Related to low degrees of coalification,
weathering of organic matter yields a great amount of
humic substances, whereas no humic substances are
produced during weathering of black coals. The forma-
tion of humic substances increases adsorption capacity
of anthropogenic soils. In contrast to soil humic acids,
humic acids formed in a course of weathering are low
of nitrogen. The gradual increase in their nitrogen
contents during weathering is probably due to the inter-
action of weathering products of fossil organic matter
with nitrogen-rich products of microbial activity. A part
of weathered fossil algal-type organic matter in a low
maturation degree may be directly metabolized by soil
biota. These results can be very important for finding a
remediation strategy of dumpsite after coal mining
worldwide.
Further studies of United States scientists on kerogen
degradation during black shale weathering brought very
interesting results. It was shown, using a solid state 13C
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for examina-
tion of kerogen composition in weathered profiles of the
Montgomery, Green River, Woodford and New Albany
black shale formations, that during weathering, the
highly aliphatic component remains largely unaltered,
while the mixed component loses aliphatic carbon and
accumulates carbonyl oxidation products. It was
suggested that kerogen weathering is dominated by two
separate processes. Linear alkyl fragments are cleaved
without oxidation, and aromatic/branched alkyl frag-
ments are oxidized while attached to the kerogen macro-
molecule and then cleaved.
Notable results were reached on the study of vegetation
control of soil organic matter dynamics by United States
and French scientists. The formation of Soil organic
matter is one of the least understood steps of the global
carbon cycle. The role of plant communities in regu-
lating soil organic matter dynamics formation was
studied through quantifying the influence of oak and
pine vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics at the
highly controlled conditions of the San Dimas lysimeter
installation. It was documented that soil organic matter
turnover rates were faster under oak than under pine. In
contrast to the rapid turnover for the oak litter (<2 years),
the delay in litter incorporation into the mineral soil
under pine was a controlling factor of soil organic matter
dynamics fluxes. These results indicate that the global
mosaic of vegetation exerts significant influence on the
accumulation and turnover of soil organic matter directly
by determining the palatability of plant material and
indirectly by conditioning the pathways of biomass
incorporation into soil.
French scientists have studied experimentally oxide
weathering and trace metal release by bacterial reduc-
tion on the example of a New Caledonia Ferralsol (rich
in Ni, Co, Fe and Mn). Two treatments were imposed
containing different sources of organic matter (soil
organic matter with or without glucose addition) to link
the biodegradation of organic matter with reduction
process. The results showed that anaerobic Fe- and Mn-
reducing bacterial activity was responsible for Fe- and
Mn – oxide solubilization by anaerobic respiration and
fermentation. It was concluded that the bioavailability
of heavy metals in this soil was increased by biological
reduction but was limited by adsorption or precipitation
phenomena.
WG 4: Acid Mine Drainage (E. Puura, Estonia)
Organic fossil fuels often contain pyrite, as the sedi-
mentation under anaerobic conditions leads to the reduc-
tion of both Fe(III) and sulphate, with pyrite becoming
oversaturated. During mining activities, pyritic material
is brought into the connection with atmosphere. This
causes active oxidation of pyrite and formation of acid
leachate, commonly known as acid mine drainage
(AMD) or acid rock drainage (ARD). The leachate often
contains high concentrations of heavy metals, origi-
nating from the sulphides, or which were adsorbed to
the other solid phases of the source rock (or bound to
organic matter). The deterioration of the surrounding
environment depends mainly on the buffering capacity
of the rocks and sediments the leachate is flowing
77
through. If the buffering capacity is low, it becomes
depleted and the leachate needs to be treated in order
not to cause major problems on a regional scale.
Major progress in this field was achieved by Korean
scientists. The first group of scientists focused on the
study of dilution and removal of dissolved metals from
acid mine drainage on the example of the Imgok creek,
Korea. The dilution factor and removal fractions were
quantitatively estimated using two different methods, the
conservative component method (assuming that SO4 is
a perfectly conservative component) and a mass balance
method (relating the concentrations of dissolved compo-
nents to their precipitation stoichiometries). It was
suggested that the SO4 concentration is a good indicator
of the dilution – as the calculated dilution factors of
pollutants quickly decrease from the site of AMD input
to the site a few kilometres downstream, and then remain
more or less constant. The calculated removal fractions
showed that almost all original Fe input was removed
from the stream-water due to the precipitation of schw-
ertmannite or ferrihydrite and Al due to amorphous
Al4(OH)10SO4. The other metals were removed not by
precipitation but by adsorption on and/or co-precipita-
tion with Fe/Al compounds. It was concluded that the
relatively abundant freshwater supply might raise the pH
of the stream above the adsorption edge and conse-
quently, contribute to rapid metal attenuation by forcing
not only more precipitation but also more adsorption of
the dissolved metals.
Another group of Korean scientists has completed a
geochemical study of AMD in the water system in the
vicinity of the Dogye coal mines in Korea which repre-
sents the main source of AMD in this region. The authors
reported a pH value of 3.0 and concentrations of
2148 mg SO42- / 1L, 229 mg Fe / 1L, 71 mg Al / 1L
and 11 mg Mn / 1L and suggested that the reduction of
some metal concentrations downstream from the
discharge point could be explained on the basis of dilu-
tion and precipitation. They found that the order of
removal of metal ions downstream from the discharge
point was Fe>Al, Cu>Zn, Mn and that acidity could be
used as a good determining factor offering comprehen-
sive and quantitative values for the pollution extent of
AMD. Predominant species of dissolved Fe and Al were
also identified.
WG 5: Environmental Models of Black Shale Hosted
Mineral Deposits (W. Mayer, Poland)
Sulphidic black shale can cause serious environmental
harm by (1) generation of acids; (2) release of toxic
metals contained in sulphides and other ore minerals
and (3) leaching of metals from other minerals such
as silicates, due to the acid. Further progress in the
study of sulphidic – environmentally hazardous facies
of the Upper Proterozoic black shales in the Bohemian
Massif was achieved by Czech scientists and similar
studies were continuing on metalliferous black shales
78
in Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea and United
States.
The environmental impact assessment of heavy metal
distribution in soil and streams sediments around the
Southern Benue black shale hosted Abakaliki Pb-Zn
deposit (Eastern Nigeria) was carried out by Nigerian
scientists. They concluded that anomalous Pb (up to 0.9
wt.%) and Zn (up to 0.05 wt.%) values detected in
stream sediments and soils around the mine centers are
generally above phyto-toxic levels and that they resulted
from the rapid decay, decomposition and transport of
metals in a humid tropical environment.
WG 6: Organic Atmospheric Particulates (K. Hall,
United Kingdom)
Atmospheric pollution from fossil fuel combustion has
increased dramatically during this century. Beside the
principal gaseous pollutants (CO2, CO, SO2 and a
number of N-oxides), fossil fuel burning also delivers a
variety of particulate matter, such as smoke particles and
fly ashes, to the atmosphere. A range of experiments led
to the result that atmospheric particles were classified
into two categories according to their features. Organic
atmospheric particulates are usually of spherical shape
with the size of 0.1 mm and produced by the combus-
tion of fossil fuel and petrochemical products.
Understanding of the chemical and physical behaviour
of atmospheric particles is very much in its infancy.
Important progress in the study of organic atmospheric
particulates was reported by Estonian scientist. They
studied spherically fly-ash particles which were emitted
to the atmosphere during the high-temperature combus-
tion process of fossil fuels and found in considerable
amounts in snow samples of North-East Estonia. Close
to the power plants both black coloured inorganic ash
spheres and carbonaceous particles were identified and
higher deposition values were reported. It was concluded
that due to prevailing wind directions, the deposition of
atmospheric particulates from oil shale combusting
power plants is very restricted to the north-easternmost
part of the country and decreases significantly towards
the west and south-west.
Interesting scientific results have been reached by
Nigerian scientists who studied metal contamination of
soils around petroleum storage facilities and soils plus
drill hole waters adjacent to densely populated heavy
metal constructions works (e.g. bridges). The results of
the study focused on heavy metal occurrences in road
side soils of an urban population in Ibadan (South-West
Nigeria), indicated a link between traffic density, flow
of traffic and the presence of some heavy metals
(e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd and As) in roadside soils within the
metropolis. A general concentration trend in the order
of As>Pb>Zn>Cd was established based on the com-
parison of soil contamination with the distribution of
heavy metals in the motor vehicle fuels.
The majority of other studies focused on tracking the
distribution of natural and anthropogenic Pb in soils. For
example, scientists from Israel sampled Mediterranean
soils from soil profiles adjacent to major highway
(8-23 m) and soil profiles away from the same highway
(500 m). A detailed study of different soil components
(soil carbonate, organic matter, Fe-oxides and hydrox-
ides, alumosilicates) revealed that natural Pb is associ-
ated mainly with alumosilicates and only a small fraction
with soil carbonate and organic matter (up to 10%).
Conversely, anthropogenic Pb, which accumulates
mainly in the upper part of the soil profile, is mostly
bound to soil carbonate, organic matter and Fe-oxides.
The results of isotopic composition of lead from deeper
horizon of soil sampled in the vicinity of the highway
and also Pb determined in the upper part of the soil
profile far from the highway evidenced that this Pb is
also anthropogenic, providing a unique evidence of the
penetration of petrol-Pb into the soil.
Swedish scientists focused, through the study of stable
lead isotopes, on the assessment of the role of airborne
pollution and natural geological sources for Pb enrich-
ment in lake sediments and in surface soils of boreal
forests. They concluded that the lead that is enriched in
surface soil of boreal forests (the organic moor layer of
Swedish soils is totally dominated by pollution lead) and
in recent lake sediments and peat was derived from
atmospheric deposition and not from natural local
geological sources.
Considerable results have been achieved by Venezuelan
scientists who studied the distribution of lead and the
composition of organic compounds in settled particles
in road tunnels in the Caracas region, Venezuela.
Relatively low Pb concentrations (1260-5500 ppm) indi-
cate fractionation of Pb between settled and suspended
particles. Organic geochemical study resulted in the
identification of n-alkane and aromatic compounds
similar to those in the diesel fuel used by heavy truck
vehicles.
WG 7: Organic Matter in Nuclear Waste Issue
(D. Mossman, Canada)
Safe disposal of radioactive wastes is one of the most
urgent political and scientific problems society is facing
today. Over the long term, geological properties of
specific sites together with various engineered barriers
to contain nuclear waste, are the chief determinants of
the total system. According to the IAEA the most crit-
ical aspect of a natural analogue study is the manner in
which it tests repository effects. For various reasons the
Oklo natural reactors in Gabon provide ideal subjects to
study safe disposal of nuclear waste, including the role
of organic matter in the origin of natural fission reac-
tors in Gabon which successfully continued within
several collaborative projects. A joint Danish-United
States collaborative research project focused on the
study of geology, mineralogy and retardation of nuclear-
reaction products. It was concluded that organic matter
in both reactor zones of the Oklo-Okélobondo reactor
and near-field surroundings played an important role in
the enhancement of porosity and stabilization of U
during formation and operation of the Okélobondo
reactor zone.
Complexation of heavy metals such as Eu with humic
substances were studied experimentally by Japanese
scientists in order to evaluate its relevance to the radioac-
tive waste disposal and toxic heavy metal pollution.
Using 3D fluorescence spectroscopy, the possible
complexation sites have been considered to be related
to 430 and 475 nm emission bands. The complexation
of humic substances with Eu3+ is also proceeded by
proton release to water. However, the degree of proton
release was different for different humic substances.
Several possible sites and different mechanisms of
complexation have therefore been suggested.
French scientist found important results on the weath-
ering part of the Bangomé natural nuclear reactor. They
found that the original natural reactor zone at Bangomé
was about 10 cm thick, 2-3 m wide and 4-6 m long.
Recent weathering has led to migration of REE and
fission-genic REE have not been detected at a larger
distance (3 m) from the reactor zone. It was concluded
that trapping by organic matter and dilution were respon-
sible for this situation. These results are very important
for safe development of HLWRS in similar geological
and hydrogeological situations worldwide.
WG 8: Organics in Aquifers and Water Systems (L. de
Souza and R. Melo, Brazil; J. Spangenberg, Switzerland)
Thermal stability of dissolved humic substances in water
has been studied experimentally by Japanese scientists.
Aqueous solutions of humic acids (Aldrich) having an
initial concentration of 50 ppm have been heated in
stainless steel-lined Teflon vessels from 50 to 180° C for
several days. UV-visible absorption spectra and pH of
the product solution were measured after the filtration.
Precipitates were measured for infrared spectra. The
results showed that dissolved humic substances rapidly
decomposed at 180° C. The half-life period of this humic
decomposition in water was evaluated to be about
8.4 years at 40° C and 13.6 years at 20° C. These short
half lives have important bearings on the fate of humic
substances possibly carrying some pollutants, which can
be decomposed and release pollutants into the environ-
ment.
French scientists used infrared spectroscopy and in situ
pyrolysis/methylation-gas chromatography-mass spec-
trometry for characterization of humic acids extracted
from highly polluted river sediments sampled close to
the city of Deule, northern France and close oxbow-lake.
The results allowed to differentiate compounds having
a natural origin (terrestrial inputs, such as lignin-derived
compounds) from anthropogenic compounds (sterols
79
and to lesser extent fatty acids). The presence of
5β-stanols in extracted lipids from river sediments was
used to evidence accumulation of sewage from the
nearest oxbow- lake. It was concluded that these sterols
can be used as molecular markers of a specific pollu-
tants (sewage) to organic matter in the sediments and
allow to define the extent of this input to the sediments
at different depths in the oxbow-lake and in the
connected system (Deule river). These results showed
the importance of characterizing the lipid fraction that
can provide crucial information on the nature and
origin of pollutants, as well as showing that humic
acids can incorporate some of the contaminants into
their structure.
Anthropogenic organic contamination in bottom sedi-
ments from the hypereutropic tropical Lake Valencia
(Venezuela) was reported by Venezuelan scientists only
based on the comparison of total aromatic concentra-
tions to the Corg.– normalized total aromatic concentra-
tions. Subsequent IRTF spectra and GC chromatograms
indicated pollution through the presence of branched and
cyclic hydrocarbons which were most likely produced
by the incomplete combustion of oil products and also
by other potentially toxic organic compounds such as
antracene, phenanthrene and chrysene. The main access
paths of organic pollutants to the lake are the rivers
which cross the two urban and industrial areas (Maracay
and Valencia cities). It was concluded that the mixture
of polluted sediments with bottom natural sediments and
the autochtonous contribution of organic matter mitigate
the pollution levels progressively towards the center of
the lake.
A very important and extremely useful critical review
on the biogeochemistry of landfill leachate plumes was
carried out by Danish scientists. It was shown that most
leachate contamination plumes are relatively narrow and
do not in terms of width exceed the width of the land-
fill. Diverse microbial communities have been identified
in leachate plumes and are believed to be responsible
for the redox processes. Dissolved organic carbon in the
leachate, although it appears to be only slowly degrad-
able when the volatile organic acids are gone, appar-
ently acts as substrate for the microbial redox processes.
Several xenobiotic organic compounds have been found
to be degradable in leachate contaminated groundwater,
but degradation rates under anaerobic conditions have
only been determined in a few cases. Although complex-
ation of heavy metals with dissolved organic matter is
significant, the heavy metals are in most cases still
strongly attenuated in leachate-polluted aquifers.
Anthropogenic organic contamination was reported by
Nigerian scientists in ground water near the Petroleum
Storage facilities in the Calabar area (SE Nigeria). The
results of detailed studies have confirmed that elevated
levels of hydrocarbons were found in the roadside
mechanic workshops compared to relatively lower
concentrations around gas stations and water boreholes.
80
Meetings
– Annual International Meeting ‘The role of organic
matter in the formation of mineral deposits and
related environmental issues’, session S1 in the joint
SGA-SEG Meeting, organized within the
6th Biennial SGA-SEG Meeting in Cracow, Poland
(26-29 August 2001). 50-60 scientists from 11 coun-
tries attended the symposium.
– GEOCHIM 2001 – Training Course in Geochemical
Exploration Methods and Their Environmental
Applications, coorganized with the Czech Geological
Survey, Government of the Czech Republic and
Division of Earth Sciences (UNESCO Paris), Prague
and Dolní Roz̆ínka, 3-17 September 2001. 12 parti-
cipants from 7 countries attended.
Publications
More than 90 scientific papers resulted from the IGCP
429 activities and were published in the form of mono-
graphs, articles in various scientific journals and
abstracts to the IGCP 429 meetings. Selected publica-
tions for 2001 are as follows:
– Al-Asheh, S. and Banat, F. 2001. Absorption of
copper and zinc by oil shale. Environmental Geology
40, 693-698.
– Annesley, I. R.; Madore, C. and Cutler, J. 2001.
Synchrotron X-ray analysis of graphitic pelitic
gneisses in the vicinity of unconformity-type
uranium mineralization; in Summary of
Investigations 2001, Volume 2, Saskatchewan
Geological Survey, Sask. Energy Mines, Misc. Rep.
2001-4.2.
– Basiliko, N. and Yavitt, J. B. 2001. Influence of Ni,
Co, Fe, and Na additions on methane production in
Sphagnum-dominated Northern America peatlands.
Biogeochemistry 52, 133-153.
– Bracke, G.; Salah, S. and Gauthier-Lafaye, F.
2001.Weathering process at the natural fission reactor
of Bongomé. Environmental Geology 40, 403-408.
– Bränvall, M. L.; Kurkkio, H.; Bindler, R.;
Emteryd, O. and Renberg, I. 2001. The role of pollu-
tion versus natural geological sources for lead enrich-
ment in recent lake sediments and surface forest
soils. Environmental Geology 40, 1057-1065.
– Bosecker, K. 2001. Microbial leaching in environ-
mental clean-up programmes. Hydrometallurgy 59,
245-248.
– Chen, H. M.; Zheng, C. R.; Tu, C. and Zhou, D. M.
2001. Studies on loading capacity of agricultural
soils for heavy metals and its applications in China.
Applied Geochemistry 16, 1397-1403.
– Chrystensen, T. H.; Kjeldsen, P.; Bjerg, P. L.;
Jensen, D. L.; Christensen, J. B.; Baun, A.;
Albrechtsen, H. J. and Heron, G. 2001.
Biogeochemistry of landfill leachate plumes. Applied
Geochemistry 16, 659-718.
– Ding, Z.; Zheng, B.; Long, J.; Belkin, H. E.;
Finkelman, R. B.; Chen, Ch.; Zhou, D. and Zhou, Y.
 2001. Geological and geochemical characteristics of
high arsenic coals from endemic arsenosis areas in
southwestern Guizhou Province, China. Applied
Geochemistry 16, 1353-1360.
– Fallick, A. E.; Ashton, J. H.; Boyce, A. J.;
Ellam, R. M. and Russell, M. J. 2001. Bacteria were
responsible for the magnitude of the world-class
hydrothermal base metal sulfide orebody at Navan,
Ireland. Economic Geology 96, 885-890.
– Fernández, R. and Galarraga, F. 2001. Lead concen-
tration and composition of organic compounds in
settled particles in road tunnels from the Caracas
valley, Venezuela. Environmental Geochemistry and
Health 23, 17-25.
– Grimes, S. T.; Brock, F.; Rickard, D.; Davies, K. L.;
Edwards, D.; Briggs, D. E. G. and Parkes, R. J. 2001.
Understanding fossilization: Experimental pyritiza-
tion of plants. Geology 29, 123-126.
– Jae-Young, Y. and Bong, Heo. 2001. Dilution and
removal of dissolved metals from acid mine drainage
along Imgok creek, Korea. Applied Geochemistry
16, 1041-1053.
– Jaflé, R.; Mead, R.; Hernandez, M. E.; Peralba, M. C.
and DiGuida, O. A. 2001. Origin and transport of
sedimentary organic matter in two subtropical estu-
aries: a comparative, biomarker-based study. Organic
Geochemistry 32, 507-526.
– Jensen, K. A. and Ewing, R. C. 2001. The
Okélobondo natural fission reactor, southeast Gabon:
Geology, mineralogy, and retardation of nuclear-
reaction products. GSA Bulletin 113, 32-62.
– Jianming Zhu and Baoshan Zheng. 2001. Distribution
of selenium in mini-landscape of Yutangba, Enshi,
Hubei Province China. Applied Geochemistry,
16:1333-1344.
– Krc̆már̆, B. and Vylita, T. 2001. Unfilterable
“geoaerosols”, their use in the search for thermal,
mineral and mineralized waters, and their possible
influence on the origin of certain types of mineral
waters. Environmental Geology 40, 678-682.
– Lopéz, L.; Mogollon, J. L.; Aponte, A. and Bifano, C.
2001. Identification of anthropogenic organic
contamination associated with the sediments of a
hypereutropic tropical lake, Venezuela. Environ-
mental Geochemistry and Health 22, 55-74.
– Löser, C.; Seidel, H.; Hoffmann, P. and Zehnsdorf, A.
2001. Remediation of heavy metal-contaminated
sediments by soil-bed bioleaching. Environmental
Geochemistry 40, 643-650.
– Mansui, L.; Bourezgui, Y.; Garnier-Zarli, E.; Jardé, E.
and Réveillé, V. 2001. Characterization of humic
substances in highly polluted river sediments by
pyrolysis methylation-gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry. Organic Geochemistry 32, 223-231.
– Mossman, D. J. 2001. Hydrocarbon habitat of the
Paleoproterozoic Franceville Series, Gabon. Energy
Sources, v. 23, p. 45-53.
– Mossman, D. J.; Jackson, S. E. and Gauthier-
Lafaye, F.; Desplanque, C. and Mossman, D. J. 2001.
Trace element and isotopic analysis of selected
carbonaceous substances associated with the uranium
ores of Oklo,Rebublic of Gabon. Energy Sources v.
23 (9) , p. 1-12. paragenesis, thermal maturation and
carbon isotopic and trace element compositions.
Precambrian Research 106, p.135-148.
– Onianwa, P. C. and Fakayode, S.O. 2001. Lead
contamination of topsoil and vegetation in the
vicinity of a battery factory in Nigeria.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health 22, 211-
218.
– Parnell, J. 2001. Paragenesis of mineralization within
fractured pebbles in Witwatersrand conglomerates.
Mineralium Deposita, 36.
– Pas̆ava, J.; Dobes̆, P.; Fan, D.; Zhang, T. and
Boiron, M. C. 2001. Character of ore fluids in the
eastern part of the Dachang ore district, south China.
In: Piestrzynski, A. (ed), Proceedings of the joint 6th
Biennial SGA – SEG Meeting, Cracow, A.A.Balkema
Publishers, pp. 81-84.
– Petsch, S. T.; Smernik, R. J.; Eglinton, T. I. and
Oades, J. M. 2001. A solid state 13C-NMR study of
kerogen degradation during black shale weathering.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 65, 1867-1992.
– Quantin, C.; Becquer, T.; Rouiller, J. H. and
Berthelin, J. 2001. Oxide weathering and trace metal
release by bacterial reduction in a New Caledonia
Ferralsol. Biogeochemistry, 53, 323-340.
– Quideau, S. A.; Chadwick, O. A.; Trumbore, S. E.;
Johnson-Maynard, J. L.; Graham, R. C. and
Anderson, M. A. 2001. Vegetation control on soil
organic matter dynamics. Organic Geochemistry 32,
247-252.
– Routh, J.; Grossman, E. L.; Ulrich, G. A. and
Suflita, J. M. 2001. Volatile organic acids and micro-
bial processes in the Yegua formation, east-central
Texas. Applied Geochemistry 16, 183-195.
– Schwesig, D. and Matzner, E. 2001. Dynamics of
mercury and methylmercury in forest floor and runoff
of a forested watershed in Central Europe.
Biogeochemistry 53, 181-200.
– Shirong, T. and Yihua, F. 2001. Copper accumula-
tion by Polygonum microcephalum D.Don and
Rumex hastatus D.Don from copper mining spoils in
Yunnan Province, P.R.China. Environmental
Geochemistry 40, 902-907.
– Singh, M. 2001. Heavy metal pollution in freshly
deposited sediments of the Yamuna River (the Ganges
River tributary): a case study from Delhi and Agra
urban centres, India. Environmental Geochemistry
40, 654-671.
– Soggard, E. G.; Aruna, R.; Abraham-Peskir, J.;
Koch, Ch. B. 2001. Conditions for biological precip-
itation of iron by Galionella ferruginea in a slightly
polluted ground water. Applied Geochemistry 16,
1129-1137.
– Spangenberg, J. E. and Frimmel, H. E. 2001. Basin-
internal derivation of hydrocarbons in the
Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: evidence from
bulk and molecular d13C data. Chemical Geology
173, 339-355.
81
– Spangenberg, J. E. and Ogrinc, N. 2001. Authentica-
tion of vegetable oils by bulk and molecular carbon
isotope analyses – with emphasis on olive oil and
pumpkin seed oil. Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 49, 1534-1540.
– Strobel, W. B.; Hansen, H. C. B.; Borggaard, O.K.;
Andersen, M. K. and Raulund-Rasmussen, K. 2001.
Cadmium and copper release kinetics in relation to
afforestation of cultivated soil. Geochimica et
Cosmochimica Acta 65, 1233-1242.
– Teutsch, N.; Erel, Y.; Halicz, L. and Banin, A. 2001.
Distribution of natural and anthropogenic lead in
Mediterranean soils. Geochimica et Cosmochimica
Acta 65, 2853-2864.
– Veselý, J.; Majer, V.; Kuc̆era, J. and Havránek, V.
2001. Solid-water partitioning of elements in Czech
freshwaters. Applied Geochemistry 16, 437-450.
– Wang, X. M.; Lee, S. C.; Sheng, G. Y.; Chan, L. Y.;
Fu, J. M.; Li, X. D.; Min, Y. S. and Chan, C. Y. 2001.
Cyclic organosilicon compounds in ambient air in
Guangzhou, Macau and Nanhai, Pearl River Delta.
Applied Geochemistry 16, 1447-1454.
– Xiangdong, L.; Chi-sun, P. and Pui Sum, L. 2001.
Heavy metal contamination of urban soils and street
dust in Hong Kong. Applied Geochemistry 16, 1361-
1368.
– Yee, N. and Fein, J. 2001. Cd adsorption onto bacte-
rial surfaces: A universal adsorption edge?
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 65, 2037-2042.
Activities planned
General goals
Finishing of ongoing transdisciplinary research projects
covering the eight major topics of the Project with
possible involvement of MAB specialists on both
national and international levels. Organization and active
participation in the GEOCHIM 2002 – a postgraduate
certificated training course on the geochemical explora-
tion methods and their environmental applications.
Preparation of the final report.
Meetings
– Annual International Meeting Environmental impacts
of the exploitation of mineral deposits and energy
resources, Session 02 in the joint Geocongress
2002 and 11th IAGOD Symposium, 22-26 July
2002, Windhoek, Namibia – more info at
http://www.geoconference2002.com
– GEOCHIM 2002 – A Training Course in Geo-
chemical Exploration Methods and Their Environ-
mental Applications, coorganized with the Czech
Geological Survey, Czech Government and
UNESCO, Prague and Dolní Roz̆ínka, 2-16 Sep-
tember 2002.
82
No. 430 – Tethyan Mantle Dynamics (2000-2004)
M. F. J. Flower, Department of Earth and Environmental
Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago (m/c 186),
845 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607, United States,
e-mail: flower@uic.edu
V. I. Mocanu, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics,
University of Bucharest, 6, Traian Vuia St., Bucharest
1, RO – 70139, Romania, e-mail: mocanu@gg.unibuc.ro
R. M. Russo, Department of Geological Sciences, Locy
Hall, Northwestern University, Sheridan Road, Evanston,
IL 60201, United States, e-mail: ray@earth.nwu.edu
Ma Zongjin, Institute of Geology, State Seismological
Bureau, P.O. Box 9803, Beijing, 100029, P.R. China,
e-mail: jszhang@public3.bta.net.cn
Description: IGCP 430 is addressing mantle-lithosphere
interactions associated with Tethyan plate collisions. As
a start to a better understanding of seismic and volcanic
hazards associated with colliding plate margins, IGCP
430 is coordinating research in Tethyan ‘natural labora-
tories’ with a view to evaluating the role of collision-
related mantle flow fields in determining geologic hazard
scenarios. Factors linking collision-related mantle flow
with earthquake and volcano behaviour may include
processes such as asthenosphere perturbation associated
with the detachment of subducting lithospheric slabs,
lateral squeezing or extrusion of the asthenosphere, post-
orogenic collapse, mantle delamination and exhumation,
and the lateral escape of lithosphere. It is also likely that
melting associated with plate convergence or collision
is largely decoupled from subducting slabs and triggered
by dehydration reactions within the convecting supra-
subduction mantle. Two regions – referred to as
‘PANCARDI’ (the Pannonian basin and Carpathian and
Dinaride orogens, in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe)
and ‘SEAWPAC’ (including South-East Asia and
Western Pacific marginal basins) – are already subjects
of strongly funded, multidisciplinary studies. By inte-
grating results from, and initiating new research in these
and other natural laboratories, IGCP 430 will build a
basis for assessing the implications of mantle dynamic
collision responses.
Websites of the project
http://ns.gg.unibuc.ro/igcp430/
http://tigger.uic.edu/~flower/igcp430.htm
Participating countries
Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China,
Croatia, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Laos, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea,
Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Russia, Taiwan,
Thailand, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States, Viet
Nam, Yugoslavia.
Project achievements this year
(a) PANCARDI (Pannonia-Carpathian-Dinaride)
A seismic tomographic study of the southeastern
Carpathians ‘bend zone’ (CALIXTO) conducted by a
consortium from Germany, Romania, France, and
Switzerland, was supplemented by studies of seismic
attentuation (Q) in the Pannonian Basin and Moesian
block, by scientists from the University of Bucharest and
Northwestern University (Evanstan, IL). The tomo-
graphic experiment was planned and carried out as an
international programme under the umbrella of the
CALIXTO working group. One specific aim of the
project was to study the structure of the Vrancea subduc-
tion zone. Combining tomographic methods using local
and tele-seismic events, receiver function analysis and
3D FD-modelling provide important constraints for
understanding the tectonic setting of intermediate depth
seismicity, for quantifying strong earthquake parameters
such as maximum moment release, and for under-
standing wave propagation from the source site to
Bucharest.
Preliminary seismic attenuation data suggest that seismic
hazard is significantly greater for urban populations
(Bucharest) south of the Carpathians. The techniques
and experimental designs developed in this project
provide a basis for future investigations planned for the
Tethyan region, as part of our purview for delimiting
seismic and volcanic hazards.
Geochemical studies of Carpathian volcanics involve
collaboration between the Romanian Academy of
Sciences (Geodynamics Institute) and Universities of
London, Florence, Miami (Oxford, Ohio), and Illinois
(Chicago) and are closely integrated with the CALIXTO
programme. Seismic tomographic ‘snap shots’ of post-
collision slab breakoff and mantle flow field effects
provide a critical framework for interpreting geochem-
ical data, an important interim result being that late-
stage potassic activity probably reflects asthenosphere
contamination by post-collision delamination and/or
subduction of continental crust.
Additonal studies include a seismic refraction profile of
the Carpathian Bend zone (DACIA PLAN –
Unigversitites of Amsterdam and Bucharest) and mobile
and permanent GPS investigations in the Romanian
Carpathians.
(b) SEAWPAC (SE Asia and Western Pacific)
Funded research in South-East Asia, complementing
projects in the PANCARDI region, involves colleagues
in the United States, Taiwan, Belgium, and Japan in
collaboration with institutions in Viet Nam, China, Laos,
and Cambodia. Geochronologic and chemical studies of
basaltic and potassic eruptives from Yunnan (China),
northern Viet Nam, and Thailand are adding to the
Tethyan database for post-collision magmatic activity.
New Ar-Ar age data confirm that the ‘escape’ of
Indochina along regional strike-slip faults post-dates the
initiation of crustal extension that eventually led to the
South China Sea opening. This important observation
suggests that the initiation of western Pacific basin
opening preceded continental lithosphere escape, and
indeed, the India-Eurasia ‘hard’ collision, providing
strong support for asthenospheric mantle extrusion as a
likely mechanism in contrast to the conventional ‘litho-
sphere extrusion’ model. In collaboration with colleagues
in Viet Nam, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Laos, we are
awaiting response from the NSF ‘Continental Dynamics
Program’ for funding a five year project to document
post-Mesozoic lithosphere kinematics, asthenospheric
mantle anisotropy and mantle thermal structure in South-
East Asia as a means of testing the mantle extrusion
hypothesis.
(c) Tethyan ophiolites
Opholite studies are an important component of IGCP
430, given that these enigmatic rock bodies offer funda-
mental insights to continental accretion. Assuming ophi-
olites represent accreted forearcs generated during
subduction initiation-rollback cycles, Covasna delegates
agreed that a hypothesis linking subduction rollback to
collision-induced asthenosphere flow could be tested by
synthesizing the existing data and conducting additional
studies to establish: (a) temporal correlations with plate
collision, ridge subduction, and seafloor spreading
adjustment events, (b) age relations of oceanic, ‘proto-
arc’, arc, and backarc ophiolite components, and
(c) regional continuity of ophiolite outcrops. In any case,
the Covasna meeting provided an opportunity for Tethyan
ophiolite specialists from Russia and newly-independ-
ents states, East and South-East Asia, the Mediterranean,
and Europe to compare data and ideas, from which
several exciting opportunities emerged. For example,
ophiolite studies in the eastern Mediterranean and
Caucasus regions are now coordinated with those in the
Dinarides (Albania and Yugoslavia), Himalayas (Tibet,
India, Pakistan), and South-East Asia (Viet Nam,
Philippines, Indonesia, Papua-New Guinea), and South-
West Pacific, emphasizing chronologic, geochemical,
and stratigraphic relations to Gondawana splitting,
Tethyan collisions, and seafloor spreading kinematic
responses. This year’s achievements include completion
of a comparative study of paleo-oceanic sutures in
northern Turkey, Lesser Caucasus and northwestern Iran,
with allochtonous sequences in Eastern Mediterranean
Neotethyan sutures. Meanwhile, colleagues in Beijing,
Hong Kong, and Halifax (NS) continuing joint work on
the ophiolite in Tibet, discovered the first terrestrial
occurrence of Ringwoodite, and other ultra-high pres-
sure phases, clearly signifying UHP provenance for at
least some Tethyan ophiolites.
(d) Post-collision igneous activity
Following the Covasna meeting, several integrated multi-
isotope studies of post-collision volcanic rocks are in
progress with a view to developing and evaluating
geochemical tracers of mantle flow. These include
83
coordinated studies of Sr, Nd, Pb, O, Os, and Hf isotopic
ratios in samples from Turkey, Spain, Pakistan, and
South-East Asia, interpreted on the basis of their decay
systematics to record enrichment (contamination) and
depletion histories in asthenospheric and lithospheric
mantle, and crustal reservoirs. These studies can be
divided into two groups: (1) post-collision potassic
magmas in Anatolia and Yunnan (China), collaborations
involving the Universities of Isparta (Turkey), Leuven
(Belgium), Illinois (Chicago), California (Los Angeles),
and the China University of Geosciences (Beijing),
(2) post-collision intraplate magmas including basalts
and olivine-leucitites in Central Spain – Universities of
Illinois (Chicago) and Madrid, and (3) Pre-, syn-, and
syncollision volcanics in Ladakh-Kohistan, Pakistan –
University of Peshawar, Roosevelt University (Chicago),
and the Argonne National Laboratory.
(e) Numerical modelling
Development of finite element numerical modelling of
Tethys closure and attendant tectonic processes has
progressed apace with development of new 3-D models
replacing older 2-D versions constrained by goedetic
rate data showing surface motions, deep geophysical
data delimiting lithosphere and underlying astheno-
sphere, and new petrologic data which place bounds on
the ambient temperature variability in deforming regions.
(f) Geographic Information System (GIS)
Data and results accruing under the auspices of IGCP
430 will be amenable to dissemination to the commu-
nity at large via the internet. Our first workshop led to
the establishment of a GIS working group for IGCP 430.
We anticipate that as results become available they will
be incorporated into a Tethyan belt geographic infor-
mation system accessible through the IGCP 430 website.
The GIS will include raw data as well as interpretive
maps and figures resulting from the project displaying
our evolving picture of geologic hazard factors. The
most advanced pilot project is the GIS database for
Tethyan ophiolites.
(g) China (PRC) projects
Chinese participation in IGCP 430 involves: (1) petro-
logic tests of a 3-phase post-collision model to explain
Tibetan Plateau lithosphere heterogeneity and evolution
during South China Sea spreading, (2) tomographic defi-
nition of ancient lithospheric mantle roots beneath China
and thinning of Chinese lithosphere, and (3) a broad-
band digital seismic study of the palaeo-Tethyan orogen
in western Yunnan. Each of these provides input to
numerical modelling studies.
Projects complete this year are: (1) tectonics and seis-
micity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Taiwan,
(2) analysis of west, central and eastern parts of the
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, (3) the effect of north-south
segmentation in Taiwan on earthquake activity,
(4) inhomogeneity of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau lithosphere
and 3-stage tectonic evolution, (5) lithosphere evolution
84
during South China Sea opening, (6) a comparison of
India-Asia collision effects and South China Sea opening,
(7) continental subduction dynamics of the Pamir and
westernmost China.
Continuing research on mantle dynamics beneath China
will involve tomographic studies of cratonic roots and
potential effect on mantle flow. Most recently, broad-
band digital seismic studies of western Yunnan, the most
earthquake-prone region of China, were begun with a
view to defining lithospheric configuration and motions.
Future Chinese IGCP 430 contributions will include
collaborative ventures focusing on mantle anisotropy,
cratonic roots, and global-scale significance of Tethyan
syntaxes. Planned projects include: (1) studies of large
earthquake distribution, (2) dynamics of the Taiwan
syntaxis, (3) magmatism in relation to the eastern
Qinghai-Tibet syntaxis, (4) continental subduction
beneath the Pamir and western China, and (5) prepara-
tion for the fourth IGCP 430 workshop in China, 2003.
Meetings
1. December 2000: IGCP 430 session on Tectonics and
magmatism in southeast Asia at the American
Geophysical Union Fall meeting, San Francisco,
2. April 2001: EUG, Strasbourg, Special Session on
Lithosphere-asthenosphere coupling,
3. May 2001: 4th International Symposium on Eastern
Mediterranean Geology, Isparta, Turkey
4. May 2001: Workshop on the Geodynamics of the
western part of Eurasia-Africa plate boundary, San
Fernando, Spain
5. September 2001: IGCP 430-sponsored iSEAT
Meeting, Taipei, Taiwan
6. December 2000: IGCP 430 Ophiolites session at the
American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, San
Francisco,
IGCP 430 Steering Committee meetings
1. January 2001: Institute of Geological Sciences
(NCNST) Hanoi, representatives from United States,
Viet Nam, Germany, China, Hong Kong, and
Romania. Plans for the 2nd workshop were finalized
and field trip planned for Song Da ophiolite and Song
Ma flood basal field
2. December 2000: American Geophysical Union Fall
meeting, San Francisco,
3. February 2001, Chicago/Evanston
Publications
– Andreescu, M.; Demetrescu, C. Rheological impli-
cations of the thermal structure of the lithosphere in
the convergence zone of the Eastern Carpathians,
J. Geodyn., 31 (4): 373-391. 2001.
– Benedek, K.; Nagy Z.R.; Dunkl, I.; et al.
Petrographical, geochemical and geochronological
constraints on igneous clasts and sediments hosted
 in the Oligo-Miocene Bakony Molasse, Hungary:
evidence for a Paleo-Drava River system, Int. J. Earth
Sci., 90 (3): 519-533, 2001.
– Danishwar, S.; Stern, R. J.; Khan, M. A. Field rela-
tions and structural constraints for the Teru volcanic
formation, northern Kohistan Terrane, Pakistani
Himalayas, J. Asian Earth Sci., 19 (5): 683-695,
2001.
– Demetrescu, C.; Nielsen, S. B.; Ene, M.; et al.
Lithosphere thermal structure and evolution of the
Transylvanian Depression – insights from new geot-
hermal measurements and modelling results, Phys.
Earth Planet. Int. 126 (3-4): 249-267, 2001.
– Fayon, A. K.; Whitney, D. L.; Teyssier, C.; et al.
Effects of plate convergence obliquity on timing and
mechanisms of exhumation of a mid-crustal terrain,
the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex, Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett. 192 (2): 191-205, 2001.
– Hafkenscheid, E.; Buiter, S. J. H.; Wortel, M. J. R.;
et al. Modelling the seismic velocity structure
beneath Indonesia: a comparison with tomography,
Tectonophys., 333 (1-2): 35-46 Spec. Issue, 2001.
– Harangi, S.; Downes, H.; Kosa, L.; et al. Almandine
garnet in calc-alkaline volcanic rocks of the northern
Pannonian Basin (eastern-central Europe):
Geochemistry, petrogenesis and geodynamic,
Implications, J Petrol., 42 (10): 1813-1843, 2001.
– Lan, C.-Y.; S.-L. Chung; et al. First evidence for
Archean continental crust in northern Viet Nam and
its implications for crustal and tectonic evolution in
Southeast Asia. Geology 29(3): 219-222, 2001.
– Li, J. W.; Zhou, M. F.; Li, X. F.; et al. The Hunan-
Jiangxi strike-slip fault system in southern China:
southern termination of the Tan-Lu fault, J. Geodyn.,
32 (3): 333-354, 2001.
– Popescu, E.; Radulian, M. Source characteristics of
the seismic sequences in the Eastern Carpathians
foredeep region (Romania), Tectonophys., 338 (3-4):
325-337 Spec. Issue, 30, 2001.
– Rosu, E.; Szakács, A.; Downes, H.; Seghedi, I.;
Pécskay, Z.; Panaiotu, C.; Panaiotu, E. C. The origin
of Neogene calc-alkaline and alkaline magmas in the
Apuseni Mountains, Romania: the adakite connec-
tion. ABCD Geode workshop. Vata Bai, Romania, 8-
12 June, Rom. J. Mineral. Dep. 79, suppl. 2, 24-34,
2001.
– Seghedi, L.; Downes, H.; Pecskay, Z.; et al. Magma
genesis in a subduction-related post-collisional
volcanic arc segment: the Ukrainian Carpathians,
Lithos, 57 (4): 237-262, 2001.
– Seghedi, I.; Brändle, J.-L.; Szakács, A.; Ancochea, E.
2001. Comparative analysis of the Neogene/
Quaternary post-collisonal-related magmatism in the
Betics (SE Spain) and East Carpathians (Romania):
a review. Rom. J. Mineral., 80, 69-88.
– Serban, D. Z.; Nielsen, S. B.; Demetrescu, C.
Transylvanian heat flow in the presence of topog-
raphy, paleoclimate and groundwater flow,
Tectonophys., 335 (3-4): 331-344, 10, 2001.
– Serban, D. Z.; Nielsen, S. B.; Demetrescu, C. Long
wavelength ground surface temperature history from
continuous temperature logs in the Transylvanian
Basin, Global Planet. Change, 29 (3-4): 201-217,
2001.
– Serri, G.; Innocenti, F.; Manetti, P. Magmatism of
the Apennine orogenic cycle: petrogenesis, time-
space distribution and geodynamic implications. In:
Anatomy of an Orogen: the Apennines and adjacent
Mediterranean basins. Editors: G. B. Vai and P.
I. Martini. Kluver Academic Publishers. 77-104,
2001.
– Song, X. Y.; Zhou, M. F.; Hou, Z. Q.; et al.
Geochemical constraints on the mantle source of the
upper permian Emeishan continental flood basalts,
southwestern China, Int. Geol. Rev., 43 (3): 213-225,
2001.
– Spakman, W.; Bijwaard, H. Optimization of cell para-
meterizations for tomographic inverse problems,
Pure Appl. Geophys., 158 (8): 1401-1423, 2001.
– Tchoumatchenco, P.; Uchman, A. The oldest deep-
sea Ophiomorpha and Scolicia and associated trace
fossils from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous
deep-water turbidite deposits of SW Bulgaria,
Palaeogeogr. Palaeocol. 169: 85-99, 2001.
– Udubasa, G.; Rosu, E.; Seghedi, I.; Ivascanu, M. P,
The Golden Quadrangle in the Metaliferi Mountains,
Romania: What does this really mean? ABCD Geode
workshop. Vata Bai, Romania, 8-12 June, Rom. J.
Mineral. Dep. 79, suppl. 2, 3-24, 2001.
– Villasenor, A.; Ritzwoller, M. H.; Levshin, A. L.; et
al. Shear velocity structure of central Eurasia from
inversion of surface wave velocities, Phys Earth
Planet Int. 123 (2-4): 169-184, Spec. Issue, 2001.
– Wenzel, F.; Baur, M.; Fiedrich, F., et al. Potential of
earthquake early warning systems, Nat Hazards 23
(2-3): 407-416, 2001.
– Whitney, D. L.; Teyssier, C.; Dilek, Y.; et al.
Metamorphism of the Central Anatolian Crystalline
Complex, Turkey: influence of orogen-normal colli-
sion vs, wrench-dominated tectonics on P-T-t paths,
J Metamorph Geol 19 (4): 411-432, 2001.
– Xu, Y. G.; Chung, S. L.; Jahn, B. M.; et al. Petrologic
and geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis of
Permian-Triassic Emeishan flood basalts in south-
western China, LITHOS 58 (3-4): 145-168, 2001.
– Yu, X. H.; X. X. Mo; M. F. J. Flower, et al. Cenozoic
kamafugite volcanism and tectonic meaning in West
Qinling area, Gansu province, Acta Petrol, Sin,, 17
(3): 366-375, 2001.
– Zhang, H. F.; Sun, M.; Lu, F. X., et al. Geochemical
significance of a garnet lherzolite from the
Dahongshan kimberlite, Yangtze Craton, southern
China, Geochem J 35 (5): 315-331 2001.
– Zhang, Y. Q.; Xie, Y. W.; Li, X. H.; et al. Isotopic
characteristics of shoshonitic rocks in eastern
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Petrogenesis and its tectonic
implication, Sci China Ser D 44 (1): 1-6, 2001.
– Zhang, Z. C.; Zhou, M. F.; Robinson, P. T.; et al.
SHRIMP dating of the Aoyougou ophiolite in the
west sector of the north Qilian Mountains and its
85
 geological significance, Acta Petrol Sin 17 (2): 222-
226, 2001.
– Zhang, Z. C.; Mao, J. W.; Zuo, G. C.; et al.
Geochronology and geochemistry of the Middle
Proterozoic Aoyougou ophiolite in the North Qilian
Mountains, northwestern China, Acta Geol Sin 75
(1): 41-50, 2001.
– Zhou, M. F.; Lewis, J.; Malpas, J.; et al. The Mayari-
Baracoa paired ophiolite belt, eastern Cuba:
Implications for tectonic settings and platinum-group
elemental mineralization, Int. Geol. Rev., 43 (6):
494-507, 2001.
– Zhou, M. F.; Robinson, P. T.; Malpas, J.; et al.
Melt/mantle interaction and melt evolution in the
Sartohay high-Al chromite deposits of the Dalabute
ophiolite (NW China), J Asian Earth Sci 19 (4): 517-
534, 2001.
– Zhou, M. F.; Malpas, J.; Robinson, P. T.; et al.
Crystallization of podiform chromitites from silicate
magmas and the formation of nodular textures,
Resour. Geol 51 (1): 1-6 2001.
In press
– Martin, M.; Wenzel, F.; Achauer, U.; Kissling, E.;
Mocanu, V.; Musacchio, G.; Radulian, V. and the
CALIXTO Working Group. High-resolution images
of a slab detachment process Seismological Research
Letters, in press.
– Okamoto, T. and T. Tanimoto. Crustal potential
energy change by earthquakes in the western United
States and Japan, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., in press
– Sperner, B.; Lorenz, F.; Hettel, S.; Muller, B.;
Mocanu, V. and Wenzel, F., Subduction and collision
in the Eastern Carpathians (2001). Terra Nova. in
press.
– Wenzel, F.; Sperner, B.; Lorenz, F. and Mocanu, V.
Geodynamics and Seismicity of the Vrancea Region
(SE Carpathians, Romania), Annalae Geophysicae,
in press.
No. 431 – African Pollen Database (1998-2002)
A. M. Lezine, URA 1761, Centre national de la
recherche scientifique (CNRS), Paléontologie et strati-
graphie, UPMC Jussieu, B.P. 106, 75252 Paris Cedex 5,
France, e-mail: lezine@ccr.jussieu.fr
B. Sowunmi, Nigeria, e-mail: sowunmi@skannet.com
M. Hoepffner, e-mail: Michel.Hoepffner@medias.cnes.fr
Description: The African Pollen Database is a network
grouping together all scientists involved in African paly-
nology. Its objective is to provide a tool independent of
particular research programmes to carry out research
concerned with biodiversity and global change. This
project fills a gap in what is otherwise a global
endeavour to provide tools with which to assess vege-
tation changes linked to recent climate changes. Its
86
premises are that present-day ecosystems are largely
dependent on their history, and that their present-day
state cannot be considered initial or stationary. While
the project proposal builds on northern hemisphere
traditions of pollen analysis, there are problems pecu-
liar to the topics that will be addressed, i.e. the greater
diversity of tropical ecosystems, and the frequently
lower pollen production of many species. Results will
facilitate consideration of the effects of human activity
and its relation to the process of desertification. The
project has good links with others established under the
INQUA umbrella, such as the European Pollen Data-
base, and regional associations of palynologists. There
is an important link with the World Data Center for
Palaeoclimatology in Denver, Colorado, United States,
which is the official data centre for the IGBP PAGES
programme. Applications of societal relevance include
the assessments of controls on land cover changes and
lessons learnt for land management.
Website of the project
http://medias.meteo.fr/apd/
Participating countries (all active)
Belgium, Congo (DR), Ethiopia, France, Germany,
Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Spain, South
Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom,
United States.
Introduction
Vegetation plays an important role in stabilising soil and
in increasing water infiltration capacity, thus maintaining
subsurface water reservoirs. Studying the history of
vegetation change, such as in the pollen records, is
useful in analysing the trends of changes in land cover
– and the amplitude through which soil and water
resources would have been affected through time. In
particular, it will be possible to investigate the timing
and nature of the shift from the natural state of land
cover to that brought about by human impact. This will
show how long and how intensively a given land surface
has been affected by erosive agents, providing informa-
tion that is essential for the rehabilitation of degraded
lands at the local level. Modifications in the local envi-
ronment could also contribute to changes at the global
scale as illustrated for example by the replacement of
tropical forests by rice cultivation that increase the
release of methane to the atmosphere from the flooded
rice fields.
Particularly Africa is facing a major challenge due to
the ever-increasing human population forced to live on
marginal lands which are rapidly degrading. Added to
this, recurrent droughts are causing food shortages and
depletion of water resources. Land degradation
following human impact is a widespread phenomenon.
For example, deforestation of the Ethiopian highlands
has reduced the vegetation cover from about 16% of
the land area in 1950 to 3% by the end of the 1980s.
Estimates from test plot measurements show that soil
erosion on the Ethiopian highlands can reach about
70 tons/ha/yr. Consequently, water loss through runoff
is increasingly depleting the subsurface water on the
highlands, and leads to drought when rainfall is scarce,
and to flooding when it rains. The risks associated with
such hazards are enormous, as shown by extensive
international media coverage in recent years. The objec-
tive of part of the INCO-DC APD project was (1) to
collect data on pre-agricultural palaeo-vegetation
(2) to provide palaeo-vegetation data as a test for
ecosystem models and (3) to reconstruct the long-term
effect of human use on soil character and processes,
in support of developing management strategies for the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and
natural resources. The Ethiopian highlands, mangrove
ecosystems and Equatorial forests, for which high reso-
lution sequences covering the last thousand years are
the most numerous, will be studied in priority in that
way.
Any policy to overcome problems of drought, land
degradation and desertification should base on scientific
data collected over long periods prior to written or
historical records. This will allow to forecast future
events.
The African Pollen database (APD) is an international
network which supports the development of scientific
research in Africa in the field of past environmental and
climate change. It has been initiated in the frame of
research projects funded by the European Union and
headed by Joel Guiot and Raymonde Bonnefille as part
of the PMIP (Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison
Project) project in 1994. The goal of PMIP was to eval-
uate whether climate models can be reliable on to predict
future climate change. If the climate models can simu-
late past climatic conditions then they can be used with
success to predict future climates. In order to evaluate
climate models, close cooperation has been built between
climate modellers and “palaeodata” experts who are
using environmental data from terrestrial and marine
sediments and from ice cores to reconstruct palaeocli-
mates. The first results of PMIP have demonstrated that
it was not possible to correctly simulate past variations
in the Atlantic Monsoon system in West Africa using
simple “atmosphere” nor coupled “atmosphere-ocean”
models and that it was absolutely necessary to add infor-
mation on continental land masses: hydrology and land
cover (vegetation distribution and composition). The
“Biome 6000” project initiated by C. Prentice in 1994
tested the importance of the geophysical feedbacks in
the climate system: land surface conditions and regional
water budgets were estimated from pollen and lake level
data using the Pollen and Lake Status databases. Then,
TEMPO was initiated by Kutzbach and collaborators to
construct fully coupled 3D earth system models
including simulation of the atmosphere, ocean, sea-ice,
vegetation and terrestrial hydrology.
All these international initiatives require that pollen,
hydrological and land-cover data are gathered and vali-
dated by the scientists who provide data. International
efforts to build regional and global pollen databases
started in 1994 during a Biome 6000 meeting in Lund,
Sweden. Then a special APD meeting in 1996 was
organized near Paris to discuss and adopt protocols and
administrative structures. These include an executive
committee, an advisory board, a committee for nomen-
clature and botanists in charge of botanical validation
of pollen taxa. Thanks to the financial support of the
European Union in the frame of a three years INCO-
DC concerted action (INCO-DC IC18-CT98-0274) and
of UNESCO/IUGS in the frame of IGCP 431, the
network has been built, including at this stage (1998-
2001), 8 partners from Europe and Africa (France,
United Kingdom, Sweden, South Africa, Ethiopia,
Uganda, Togo, Congo).
The first task of the African Pollen Database was to
ensure the compilation and the accessibility of data. The
compilation of data was the task of the data manager,
Hilaire Elenga in Congo with the help of Dominique
Jolly, now Professor at Montpellier University and
Roberto Magioncalda in France: 150 fossil pollen sites
and 1192 modern data have been gathered. Data are
stored at Medias-France, Toulouse. It is accessible from
Medias-France (http://medias.obs-mip.fr:8000/apd/) and
the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) of
Boulder, Colorado (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/
pollen.html) through the web as tilia files or paradox
tables. To ensure the accessibility of data and use them
to reconstruct past vegetation at a given time, two prob-
lems have to be solved by palynologists: the taxonomy
has to be discussed and homogenized and standardized
age-models have to be provided. This work has to be
steadily up-dated as soon as the data are collected. A
default age model is constructed for each data time-
series using radiocarbon dates. This task is in progress.
After discussions during the Nanjing meeting held in
China in 2000, APD has provided a by default
chronology for some 100 fossil pollen sites and offers
the possibility for alternative ones in providing accurate
software tools. The taxonomy of pollen grains has been
discussed and homogenized to allow easy extraction of
data at any taxonomic level: species, genus or family,
pollen types etc. Misspelling, synonyms, and wrong
nomenclature have been corrected. This was done by
Annie Vincens and colleagues from Cerege, France. A
list of more than 3000 pollen types has been elaborated.
In the future, taxonomic hierarchy has to be adopted in
close collaboration with the other regional initiatives
within the Global Pollen Database. The hierarchy will
permit the database to retain the maximum taxonomic
resolution provided by the original investigators.
Modern data useful for pollen calibration and studies of
pollen-vegetation-climate relations have been collated
and made accessible through the web both as individual
data files and using an applet recently developed by
87
Medias-France. The pollen-vegetation-climate relation
in Africa, Madagascar and Arabia have been investigated
using this modern pollen database. Maps and response
surface depicting the distribution in geographic and
climate space of the main pollen types distinguishes the
major regions. In addition, the study of individual pollen
types allows to characterize and quantify the land-
surface conditions at a continental scale.
Another task was to provide tools for pollen determi-
nation. This was done by Leila Ben Khalifa-Jacobsen,
Annick le Thomas and the project leader. Photos of more
than 1000 species belonging to 653 genera and
164 families have been entered from a dataset of 8,235
images. Access to these images, determination, refer-
ences and remarks is also possible via a specific tool
which will be soon distributed to APD members. Tools
for statistical analyses, drawing and modelling were
provided by Medias-France and Joel Guiot from
CEREGE (France): land surface and climate data are
available for each pollen sites; free access to software
tools such as Tilia and Tilia-Graph were provided thanks
to E. Grimm from the Global Pollen Database. Specific
programs for calibration and age model calculation are
also directly available.
Another task was to develop long-lasting partnerships
among scientists at an international level. Regular
training courses and symposia were organized to develop
the use of software tools for pollen entry, diagram
drawing and statistical analyses and scientific discus-
sions. The African Pollen Database was represented
during several international manifestations: KEW 1998,
INQUA-Durban 1999, ICP-NANJING 2000, Inter-
national Geological Congress-Rio 2000, PEP III confer-
ence, Aix 2001 and Nairobi 2001, where results were
discussed and disseminated to a wider scientific commu-
nity. Business meetings allowing for the executive
committee or the advisory board of APD to discuss were
organized at these occasions. As a partner of the
SEARCH action of ENRICH, APD is also involved in
the realization and maintenance of the Pan African
Database for environmental studies at Nairobi (Kenya).
This database centre is co-financed by the IGBP-START
and the University of Nairobi (Kenya). It gathers regional
initiatives and provides an easy access to data stored at
Medias-France and Boulder. This centre allows African
scientists to increase their exchanges.
The final objective of APD was to ensure scientific coop-
eration at an international level: Strong relationships
exist between APD and other regional databases, mainly
the European one (European Pollen Database (EPD)).
APD and EPD use the same protocols and infrastruc-
ture to compile and store their data. North African pollen
data are now stored in EPD since they have been gathered
along with data from other Mediterranean countries.
They will first be duplicated in APD. And then, the two
pollen databases, which are both stored at Medias-
France, would form a single database thus providing an
88
excellent opportunity for improved research networking
and capacity building between European scientists and
their homologues from the rest of the world, especially
in Africa; in addition a joint Euro-African pollen data-
base will respond to the recommendations of IGBP by
increasing relations along the PEP III Europe-Africa
transect. APD belongs to the Global Pollen Database
and was represented during the two meetings held in
1999 in Boulder (United States) and in 2000 in Aarhus
(Denmark) to organize the pollen database at the inter-
national level. It takes part of other, integrated initia-
tives developed in the frame of PAGES.
APD also encourages the participation of African scien-
tists to international research programs dealing with past
environments and climates such as IDEAL (An
International Decade for East African Lakes), which
plans to recover long cores in lake Malawi in 2002, then
in Lake Bosumtwi in 2003.
The African Pollen Database has demonstrated its ability
to mobilize the strengths, expertise and resources of the
European scientific community jointly with the African
research teams involved in land-cover change studies. It
can only survive with the active cooperation of all paly-
nologists involved in Africa. New proposals, including
additional partners have to been written to ensure the
permanency of the network, the compilation and acces-
sibility of data and to coordinate research activities
concerned with the assessment and conservation of
natural resources, while developing long-lasting part-
nerships among scientists from Europe and Africa.
No.433 – Caribbean Plate Tectonics (2000-2004)
M. A. Iturralde-Vinent, Museo Nacional de Historia
Natural, Obispo no. 61, Plaza de Armas, La Habana
10100, Cuba, Tel.:(+537) 63 25 89, Fax: (537) 62 0353,
e-mail: iturralde@mnhnc.inf.cu
E. G. Lidiak, Department of Geology and Planetary
Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., United
States, e-mail: egl+@pitt.edu
Description: The scope of this project is to construct a
concise, multi-disciplinary geotectonic model for the
Caribbean realm. The Caribbean is a tectonically complex
region of interaction between several plates (continental
and oceanic) and is important for global understanding of
active tectonic settings in narrow zones between major
continent-bearing plates. The present contradiction between
existing plate tectonic models and palaeogeographic recon-
structions of the Caribbean motivated the proposal to
launch this project. Contradictions that raise questions are,
for example: Is the Caribbean plate allochthonous or
autochthonous? Has the subduction in the volcanic arcs
changed its polarity? When would the alleged jump in
polarity have occurred? First of all, an evaluation of
the existing Plate Tectonic Models and palaeographic
reconstruction of the Caribbean realm will be made in order
to encourage a critical review of the models and reach
agreement on the basic facts. This should serve as a frame-
work for the formulation of a properly substantiated model
of the origin and evolution of the Caribbean Plate, as well
as the palaeogeography of the area. The project gives the
authors of those models the opportunity to exchange ideas
and visit key areas of the region.
Website of the project
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/CaribPlate/CaribPlate.html
Countries involved in the project
(* indicates the countries active this year)
*Argentina, *Brazil, *Canada, *Chile, *Costa Rica,
*Colombia, *Cuba, *Dominican Republic, *France,
*Germany, *Grenada, Guatemala, *Italy, *Jamaica,
*Japan, *Mexico, *New Zealand, *Spain, *Trinidad and
Tobago, *Puerto Rico, *United Kingdom, *United
States, *Venezuela.
Summary of past achievements of the project
The project work is organized through the following
working groups:
WG-1. Coordination Group. Leaders of the project and
leaders of the working groups integrate and coordinate
the efforts of the membership of the project, organize
meetings and workshops, keep the website updated, and
promote the accomplishments and goals of the project.
WG-2. Positioning of major plates: Jurassic to Recent.
This group will evaluate existing models for the break-
up of Pangaea and the evolution of the major plates
surrounding the Caribbean (NOAM, SOAM,
FARALLON, NAZCA, COCOS, etc.) from Jurassic to
Recent. As a result they will provide the other working
groups with a modern framework for the reconstruction
of the Caribbean area.
WG-3. Positioning of terranes of Northern South
America. This group will define plates, blocks and
terranes, will identify the palinspastic evolution, historic
position and relationships, and produce sets of time-
framed reconstructions of the tectonic position of these
terranes.
WG-4. Positioning of terranes of Southern North
America. This group will define plates, blocks and
terranes, will identify the palinspastic evolution, historic
position and relationships, and produce sets of time-
framed reconstructions of the tectonic position of these
terranes.
WG-5. Positioning of terranes of the Greater Antilles.
This group will define plates, blocks and Palaeomagnetic
control of the historic position of terrenes, plates and
subduction zones. This group will evaluate the tectonic
positions of Caribbean terranes, plates and subduction
zones taking into account geochronology, geochemistry
and palaeomagnetics.
WG-7. Palaeontological support of Caribbean
Palaeogeography. The purpose of this group is to study
the fossil assemblages – marine and terrestrial – of
different ages in distinct terranes, and identify the
biogeographic and palaeogeographic implications of its
occurrences, with special focus on their input toward
understanding the positioning of the terranes in selected
time-frames.
WG-8. Geochronological, Geochemical and Palaeo-
magnetic control of the historic position of terranes,
plates and subduction zones. This group will evaluate
the tectonic positions of Caribbean terranes, plates and
subduction zones taking into account geochronology,
geochemistry and palaeomagnetics.
WG-9. Origin, composition and age of the Caribbean
oceanic lithosphere. This group will investigate the
occurrence of oceanic crust of different ages within the
Caribbean, both in the present marine basins and regions
of obducted lithosphere.
During the first two years activities have focused on
discussion and selected presentations during the work-
shops and meetings. This approach has highlighted many
problems that are currently among topics of research:
Origin of the Present-day Caribbean Plate. The concept
that the present-day Caribbean Plate is allochthonous
from the Pacific produce models that explain many
aspects of the evolution of the Caribbean. Some advo-
cates of the autochthonous models have reconsidered
their points during the meetings in Stuttgart and
Leicester. However, the allochthonous models still
present major problems pending adequate solution.
The Galapagos hotspot and Caribbean plateau. There
are two fundamental points of view regarding the role
of the Galapagos hotspot in the geology of the Caribbean,
which were the subject of extensive debate in Stuttgart
and Leicester. One group holds that the Galapagos
hotspot has nothing to do with the ProtoCaribbean crust
or the Caribbean Plateau basalts, because the hot spot
was always positioned west of both of them, and, conse-
quently, was not the source of the so-called Caribbean
plateau basalts. The other interpretation holds that the
Galapagos hotspot actually produced the Caribbean
plateau basalts and the ridges within the Nazca and
Cocos plates. Pindell’s new unpublished palinispastic
reconstructions say that it is impossible that the
Galapagos hotspot produced the Caribbean plateau
basalts. Trace element and isotopic geochemistry,
however, do not rule it out.
Subduction reversal in the Caribbean. The polarity of
subduction of the Caribbean plate in Cretaceous time
has been an intriguing topic since Mattson (1979)
89
proposed that a reversal in subduction direction occurred
during plate development. A summary of the evidence
relevant to a reversal and the possible timing of the event
is given by Jolly et al (1998). Most models seemingly
require a change in subduction direction. For example,
Pindell (1994, 2001) proposed a flip in the polarity of
the arc at about 120 Ma. However, several researchers
consider that the arc’s subduction flip required by
Pindell’s model about 120 Ma ago is problematic for
several reasons. Those investigating the origin of the
plateau basalts disagree because a thick buoyant oceanic
plateau would be very difficult to subduct, and would
therefore significantly affect the subduction polarity
reversal. They cite the arrival of the buoyant and thick
Caribbean plateau at the eastward dipping subduction
zone as a mechanism for the flip, in a situation analagous
to that seen in the Solomon Islands with the attempted
subduction of the Ontong Java oceanic plateau. However,
Pindell’s latest unpublished model suggests that the
120 Ma polarity reversal occurred before the bulk of the
plateau was formed, on the basis of the following pieces
of evidence:
(a) Abundant evidence for a large tectonic event around
that time.
(b) Unconformities in many arc-related sequences at
ca. 120 Ma.
(c) P-T paths from high-pressure metamorphic rocks.
(d) Change in geochemical character from PIA to CA
in many circum-Caribbean arcs.
(e) The earlier the flip occurred, the easier would occur
tectonically.
At 120 Ma, the arc would have been short and straight
and there was a powerful potential mechanism available
(the acceleration of the opening of the Atlantic. At
75 Ma, the arc was about 2000 km in length, and may
have been very highly accurate in shape, which would
require huge internal deformation as the convex side
changes from the South-West to the South-East.
However, in the discussion at Leicester it was conceded
that there is growing evidence for an earlier, and possibly
more voluminous, pulse of plateau magmatism around
130-120 Ma. If that is the case, an earlier plateau could
have formed and caused the postulated subduction flip,
and the later plateau building events (78, 90 Ma) could
have represented the last pulses of magmatism. Other
authors also disagree with the subduction reversal
because this flip does not explain the geochemical evolu-
tion of the Cretaceous arc magmatism in Cuba, neither
the tectonics of north central Cuba. The project leader
postulated a major change in the geometry of the conver-
gent plate boundary between latest Campanian and
Palaeocene, involving deformation and almost complete
extinction of arc volcanism, modification of the trend of
the arc axis, and a major change in the orientation and
geochemistry of the arc.
The alleged Albian-Campanian arc in Central America.
Another subject that did not find agreement is the exis-
tence of an active Albian-Campanian island arc in
90
Central America, and its evidence in the Nicoya
Complex. According to a paper by Calvo and Bolt
(1994), there is an arc-derived volcanoclastic, stated that
their geochemical and geological investigations in the
Nicoya Complex do not confirm its presence. An Albian-
Campanian island arc as part of present-day southern
Central America is a major issue concerning the geology
of the Caribbean plate because the presence of a Central
American mid-Cretaceous arc will reduce the rate of
relative eastward movement of the Caribbean plate
respect to North and South America, and would have a
strong bearing on the palinspastic reconstruction of the
circum-Caribbean fold-belts.
Tectonic position of the Cuban Southwestern terrains
(CSWT). Many early plate tectonic models of the
Caribbean ignored the CSWT, but fortunately, they have
been taken into account in more recent versions.
However, as demonstrated by the lively discussion at the
Havana meeting in March 2001, the geology of the
CSWT is still too poorly known to be interpreted without
ambiguity. More field and laboratory research focused
on the petrology and internal structure of the Socorro
(Grenvile), Escambray, Purial and Pinos metamorphic
terrains, as well as on the stratigraphy and tectonic posi-
tion of the Placetas and Rosario belts (terrains) are
urgently required before a fair interpretation of the origin
of these geologic units can be reached. Available P-t path
studies, isotopic dating and geochemical data for the
Escambray and Purial are still insufficient.
The Great Arc vs Multiple Arc concept. Pindell’s
Caribbean models show a single “Great Arc” evolving
from Cretaceous to recent as the leading edge of the
Caribbean plate progressively occupy the space created
by the separation of North and South America. Another
concept is that there were multiple arcs that evolved step
by step from Cretaceous to Recent. The Multi Arc
concept evolves from the following ideas:
(a) The occurrence of several magmatic and stratigraphic
gaps within the Greater Antilles- Lesser Antilles
volcano-sedimentary sections and the presence of
unconformities at different time intervals on the
various islands.
(b) Modification of the geochemistry of the arc magma-
tism after some of these gaps, especially in Cuba.
However this does not apply to all of the tectonic
breaks in Puerto Rico.
(c) Modification of the orientation and geographic distri-
bution of the arc magmatic axis after each gap, but
specially after the earliest Cretaceous boninite and
IAT arc, and after the Cretaceous arc.
The Geometry of the Arcs. During the meetings in Rio
de Janeiro, Stuttgart, and Cuba the geometry of the arc
was the subject of consideration. A debate arose
concerning the characteristics of the Greater Antilles-
Aves Ridge- Lesser Antilles Cretaceous-Palaeogene
volcano-sedimentary complexes and the fact that the
components of the original arcs (backarc, axial arc, front
arc, subduction suture) are not evident in any cross-
section of the present-day islands. The issue is that the
arcs have been deformed by combined thrusting, exten-
sion along the axis, and were subsequently subdivided
into distinct terrains that were the subject of rotation
and eastward transportation. Consequently, the original
geometry of the arcs are no longer represented by today’s
outcrops and their elements can only be found along
specific islands of the chain.
Polarity of the Palaeogene Sierra Maestra-Cayman arc.
Caribbean plate tectonic modellers hold the position that
the subduction zone of the Palaeogene arc was located
north of the arc and with a dip to the south. Another
group presented evidence that the Palaeogene subduc-
tion zone dipped north and was located south of arc.
Recent geochemical, geochronological and palaeonto-
logical research in the area favours the subduction from
the south model and the fact that the Palaeogene arc
developed after a Maastrichtian gap in the magmatic
activity and with a distinct orientation with respect to
Cretaceous volcanism.
Meetings
First meeting of the project in Río de Janeiro during the
31st International Geological Congress, General
Symposium 17.6: Caribbean Plate Tectonics, Origin and
Evolution (7-8 August 2000). It was attended by project
members from Cuba, USA, Canada, Italy, Germany,
United Kingdom, France, Venezuela, Argentina, and
others. Four special oral presentations and 12 posters
were the subject of interesting debates and active
exchange of data and interpretations. The oral session
was attended by 50 persons.
The second meeting in Stuttgart (11-13 October 2000)
was organized as part of the 17 Colloquium on Latin
American Geology, attended by nearly 300 scientists
from countries in South America (Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Venezuela, Colombia), Central America (Costa
Rica, Mexico), North America (United States), Europe
(Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, etc.) and
Cuba. Presented were 12 talks and 13 posters about the
geology, palaeontology and plate tectonics of the
Caribbean, and a round table was organized to discuss
important issues concerning the origin and evolution of
the Caribbean Plate.
The third meeting was a field workshop on the Northern
Caribbean Plate Boundary organized as part of the
4th Cuban Geological and Mining Congress (Havana,
19-23 March 2001). The workshop included both oral
and poster presentations, focused mainly on the northern
margin of the Caribbean plate in Cuba and its early
geologic evolution. Participants came from Argentina,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France, Great Britain,
Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and United States.
A field trip to Central Cuba was held immediately after
the Congress, 24 to 27 March, in order to visit critical
areas in the vicinity of Camagüey, central Cuba, where
the northern Caribbean plate boundary is well exposed.
The fourth meeting was organized in Leicester, United
Kingdom (23-24 April) as a Workshop on the
Geochemistry of the Caribbean plateau and Cretaceous
island arc terranes, and their implications for the geody-
namics of the Caribbean. The Workshop hosted 35 partic-
ipants from six countries (Colombia, United States, Italy,
France, Germany and the United Kingdom). In addition,
more than 30 researchers from 5 other countries regis-
tered interest in the proceedings, but were not able to
attend.
The fifth meeting was celebrated as part of the 4th North
American Palaeontological Covention (Berkeley 26 June
–2 July). Several papers were presented concerning the
palaeontological data as a counter part to plate tectonic
interpretation of the evolution of the Caribbean. The
meeting was attended by about 15 persons, mostly from
the United States.
Activities planned
Meetings
Geological Society of America Annual Meeting.
1-10 November 2001. Upon the request of the IGCP and
the GSA, IGCP 433 shall participate in the Annual
Geological Society of America Meeting in Boston,
Massachusetts. The project has been invited to present
papers at the GSA Topical Session “Focus on IGCP:
Modern and Ancient Plate Boundaries and Orogens”.
Participants from Cuban, American, and other delegates
will be partially supported by the project.
Motagua Fault Zone, Guatemala. 28-31 January 2002.
The project will hold a Workshop and Field Trip to the
Motagua Suture Zone of Guatemala. This event is being
organized by the Italian-Caribbean Group, with the kind
cooperation of the Sociedad Geologica de Guatemala
and other Guatemalan institutions. Motagua suture zone
in Guatemala is part of the northwestern boundary of
the Caribbean plate and an important on-shore segment
of the Caribbean plate boundary. The project will
partially support the field transportation and the partic-
ipation of delegates from Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica,
Venezuela and United States.
16th Caribbean Geological Conference. 16-21 June
2002. The project will hold a Workshop and Field Trip
during the 16th Caribbean Geological Conference, in
Barbados, BWI. The purpose of this Workshop and Field
Trip is to study and evaluate further the Lesser Antilles
island arc, the easternmost boundary of the Caribbean
plate. The project will support the field trip by covering
the transportation expenses, and will support partici-
pants to the meeting from Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican
Republic, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico,
United States, and other countries.
91
No. 434 – Land-Ocean Interactions
during the Cretaceous in Asia (1999-2003)
H. Hirano, Department of Earth Sciences, School of
Education, Waseda University, Nishiwaseda 1-6-1,
Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan, e-mail:
hhirano@mn.waseda.ac.jp
Description: This project builds on and continues IGCP
project 350, Cretaceous Environmental Change in East
and South Asia. It intends to construct a new scale for
the correlation between the Cretaceous marine and non-
marine deposits by establishing a stable carbon isotope
stratigraphy for the Cretaceous, taking notice of the
global carbon cycle as a new point of view. The non-
marine Cretaceous is widely distributed in Asia, but the
age-determination is still not so well fixed. IGCP 434
aims to study the Cretaceous plume activities and the
associated tectonic movements in East and South Asia
on the one hand, with the background of daily devel-
oping, higher resolution and more reliable correlation.
On the other hand, the project encompasses the genesis
of metallic, non-metallic ore deposits, and fossil fuels,
sea-level changes, carbon cycle, changes of partial pres-
sure of carbondioxydes, climatic changes, floral changes
including the appearance and flourish of angiosperms,
turnover of oceanic layered structure including the occur-
rence of up welling and anoxic events, and the response
of biotope, elucidating their relation of cause and
effect in more detail. At present, the project comprises
200 scientists from fourteen countries.
Special attention is paid to:
1. Establishment of the stratigraphy of the stable carbon
isotope, in marine and non-marine deposits.
2. Environmental analyses by various chemical
analyses.
3. Collecting and evaluation of various geological infor-
mation that affects the global carbon cycle.
4. Study of the cause and effect between environmental
changes and changes of bio-diversity.
Participating countries
(* indicates countries active this year)
Canada, *China, India, Indonesia, *Japan, *Republic of
Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, *Philippines, *Russia,
Spain, *Thailand, United States, *Viet Nam.
Achievements in 2001
China
In the past year the Chinese working group concentrated
on the study of marine diversity changes during Late
Cretaceous. Marine Cretaceous mainly developed in the
Himalayan area where mass extinctions and their after-
math have been recognized. In the project's research,
upper Cretaceous marine red beds and their response to
ocean/climate global change are emphasized for the first
92
time. Cretaceous bituminous facies are relatively
common in the southern Tethys-Himalayan belt. The
Cenomanian – Early Turonian dark shale and marl sedi-
ments has been recovered in southern Tibet. Fossils are
well preserved in the strata and are dominated by plank-
tonic taxa. Studies of abundance and diversity suggested
that increasing oxygen depletion caused stepped extinc-
tion or temporary disappearance at the top of the
Cenomanian. It is indicated that the onset of oxygen-
depleted conditions began in the upper part of the
R. cushmani Zone, followed by the acme of the Oceanic
Anoxic Event in the lower part of the W. archaeocre-
tacea Zone. The dysaerobic conditions were recovered
stepwards in the Turonian. Bio-recovery happened in the
upper W. archaeocretacea and H. helvetica Zones of the
base Turonian, where the abundance of fauna fluctuates
in 11 rhythms, which represent stressful environmental
conditions. Contraction and weakening of the oxygen-
minimum zone from Early Turonian allowed the
recolonisation of new fauna. The characteristics of the
geochemistry of those strata show that tremendous
changes occured in the mid-Cretaceous ocean. The
carbon, oxygen, strontium and U, Th, K isotope compo-
sition of marine rocks are mainly controlled by global
events, such as relative amount of organic accumulation,
changes in seafloor spreading rate and palaeoclimate
variation. δ13C curves are characterized by low-high-low
cycle change. The positive excursion of δ13C coincides
with sea-level rises, accumulation of organic carbon and
oceanic anoxic event. The curves of U, Th, and K indi-
cate that their contents are higher during the oceanic
anoxic period because of an increase of organic mate-
rials and clay minerals. Low 87Sr/ 86Sr ratio in the mid-
Cretaceous coincides with the tectonic activity.
Mid-Cretaceous in southern Tibet is a period of short
time expansion of the Tethyan Ocean, and related to the
global sea level rising. Consequently, a large amount of
organic carbon was accumulated in an oxygen depleted
environment. After the accumulation of organic matter,
a group of red beds rested on top of dark sediments.
IGCP 434 results suggest that this kind of reddish sedi-
ments in deep marine facies could be the aftermath of
the anoxic conditions. Upper Cretaceous deep marine
red beds are well exposed in southern Tibet in the eastern
part of the Neo-Tethys. This oceanic phase is proposed
as the “Cretaceous Marine Red-Bed Event” (CMRE).
Indeed, strata representing the CMRE crop out in many
regions of the western Tethys such as the Alps in Austria,
France, Spain and Italy, and in the Carpathian Mountains
of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania.
Deep marine, red Upper Cretaceous deposits have also
been cored in the North Atlantic and the northern Indian
Ocean by the DSDP/ODP drilling programme.
Japan
Recent development on carbon-isotope stratigraphy and
its applications in Japan:
Hasegawa and Hatsugai (2000), which was selected as
the Article of the Year of the Palaeontological Society of
Japan, applied the carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) stratigraphy
to designate the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary in the
Kotanbetsu area, Japan showing an example as the prac-
tical tool for correlation. Shimizu et al. (2001) published
the carbon isotope stratigraphy and some data character-
izing the organic matter from Barremian through
Cenomanian in the Nakagawa area, Japan. Ando et al.
(2000) reported terrestrial carbon-isotope profile for
Aptian and Albian from Ashibetsu, Japan at the IGCP
symposium in Tokyo. The story is very impressive because
of the similarity of the total shape of the curve to the
δ13C curve from marine carbonate carbon suggesting
carbon-isotopic coupling between the ocean-atmospheric
CO2 reservoir during this period. The study by Ando et
al. (2000) is now in preparation for publication.
Detailed megafossil biostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy
from Santonian through Maastrichtian, in the Chikubetsu
area, Japan was published by Moriya and Hirano (2001).
These are one of the fundamental data for the Late
Cretaceous stratigraphy in this area which requires the
establishment of δ13C stratigraphy. After a preliminary
report by Hasegawa (2000) in Japanese, Hasegawa (in
press, (a) compared the stratigraphic profiles of δ13C
between Japanese terrestrial organic carbon and
European marine carbonate. He discussed a long-term
discoupling of the terrestrial curve from the marine
curve in the middle Cenomanian through lower Turonian.
Long-term fluctuation of humidity and forest canopy
effect over the provenance of terrestrial organic carbon,
namely East Asian continent, is proposed as possible
mechanisms of the discrepancy. Palaeoclimatology of
continental Asia was first demonstrated by carbon-
isotope data by this paper. It also suggests that a time-
stratigraphic profile of δ13C based on terrestrial organic
carbon potentially contains some climatic signals that
should be separated from the original global signal for
interregional correlation. Hasegawa (in press, (b) char-
acterized organic matter preserved in mudstone from
Hokkaido Island, Japan and Sakhalin Island, Russia. He
applied organic petrology to identify each kerogen and
exhibits exclusive predominance of terrestrial organic
matter in marine mudstone. The composition of the
kerogen containing serious amounts of semifusinite and
vitrinites showig various reflectance, suggest wider
provenance of these kerogens. This result allows to use
kerogens preserved in marine Cretaceous sediments in
Hokkaido and Sakhalin for reconstruction of terrestrial
palaeoenvironments.
Establishment of Sequence Stratigraphy of the
Cretaceous Forearc Basins
In IGCP 434, the establishment of the Cretaceous
sequence stratigraphy and regional correlation are a
matter of urgency. The present understanding of global
sea-level fluctuation is based mostly on the rift-gener-
ated basins in passive margin of Northern Atlantic-North
Sea regions and on the foreland basins in Western
Interior of North America. There has been, however, no
data from the forearc and intra-continental basins, which
are the predominant basin type in Asia.
Cretaceous sedimentary basins in Asian region posess a
wide variety of basin type with hybrid nature. Among
them, most of the marine basins are dominant in the
forearc setting. These were an obstacle to the analysis
of sequence stratigraphy. To establish the sequence-
stratigraphic framework with high-age resolution, some
Cretaceous deep-sea fan and shelf successions in
Japanese Islands were examined in detail. Recent
advance in the knowledge of deep-marine sequence
stratigraphy will provide a new scale for the regional
correlation of different depositional environments in the
same tectonic setting. In addition, IGCP 434 collabora-
tors could recognize the occurrence of some major
sequence boundaries both in forearc and continental
basins. These are also important as regional correlative
surfaces, representing a contemporaneous large-scale
phisiographic change during the Cretaceous. IGCP 434
is now examining the sequence-stratigraphic correlation
of the Cretaceous forearc basins in Far East Russian,
West Sarawak, Myanmar and other regions in coopera-
tion with regional coordinators.
Korea
During the past year the Korean working group studied
several aspects of Cretaceous geology and published
about 30 papers in international and local journals. In
the present report, only works on biotic events and sedi-
mentary evolution are summarized below. New ichno-
genus Protovirgularia McCoy, 1850 was reported from
the Jinju Formation, a lacustrine deposit, in southwestern
Gyeongsang Basin. This occurrence represents the first
formal recording of the ichnotaxon from Korea and the
first one, on a global basis, from a nonmarine deposi-
tional environment. The oldest known tracks of web-
footed birds were reported from Early Cretaceous
deposits. The discovery of web-footed tracks with abun-
dant non-web-footed tracks indicates that there was a
considerable diversification of shore birds as early as the
Early Cretaceous. A curious Cretaceous mushroom fossil
was reported in the Gongju Basin, an isolated small
basin in the western central Korea. Palaeodepositional
history of the Middle Cretaceous Hampyeong Basin, SW
Korea, was studied based on sedimentary sequence and
plant fossils. Also, Cretaceous plant fossils were reported
from a new locality in Goheung area, central southern
coast. Provenance of Hayang Group sediments in the
Gyeongsang Basin was studied using sedimentary
petrology and zircon morphology. The former study
suggests the onset of continental arc volcanism in the
eastern margin of the Asian continent during the Early
to Middle Cretaceous. Provenance of Cretaceous
Gilwangri Conglomerates of the Muju Basin in central
Korea was studied. Late Jurassic radiolarians were re-
covered from chert pebbles of Lower Cretaceous
conglomerates of the Hayang Group, in the Yeongyang
subbasin. Dinosaur bone-chip burrows, and taphonomic
process and depositional conditions of dinosaur track-
bearing sediments were studied. Also, Cretaceous verte-
brate faunas from the Gyeongsang Supergroup were
reviewed. The facies analysis of the uppermost strata of
93
the Gyeongsang Supergroup, the Jindong Formation,
which was regarded as monotonous lacustrine sedi-
ments, was studied in detail.
Myanmar
Participation in IGCP is not approved by the govern-
ment yet, but the project was permitted to hold its
Second International Symposium and Field excursion in
the Union of Myanmar. With many Myanmar geologists
from most of the universities and institutes of this
country, successful discussion took place on Late
Mesozoic evolution of the eastern part of Asian
Continent, which has developed as an active margin
facing the Tethys Ocean. This gave a great opportunity
to understand the geological and palaeontological rela-
tionship between the meso-Tethys and proto-Pacific
regions. Among the results, it is noteworthy, especially,
that the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous elements
exposed along the west of Shan Plateau show strong
similarity with those in Cretaceous tectonic zones of the
eastern margin of the Asian Continent, where they have
been regarded as a suspect terrane. The similar nature
of the accreted land masses, stratigraphic records of the
overlying clastic sediments, fauna and flora, and defor-
mation phases will provide an important clue to solve
the origin of the suspect terranes and the tectonic evolu-
tion of the eastern margin of the Asian Continent.
Philippines
The work of the Philippine group from last year up to
the middle of this year concentrated on the study of
different ophiolite complexes. For the Southeast Bohol
Ophiolite Complex, collaborators have finished
mapping the whole complex. Corresponding geochem-
ical analyses using XRF, ICP-MS and EPMA have been
conducted. Geophysical surveys, involving magnetics
and gravity, were also done. Studies on the associated
metamorphic units were completed. Papers on the
geophysical signature of the Cretaceous ophiolite, field
characteristics of the associated melange and the under-
lying metamorphic rocks have been published in The
Island Arc. Papers have been submitted to the
International Geology Review, Journal of Asian Earth
Sciences and Australian Journal of Earth Sciences.
With regards to the Cretaceous crust-mantle sequences
located east of the Philippine archipelago, field
mapping was done in the Aurora-Isabela area. Located
in northeast Philippines, the Aurora-Isabela ophiolite
was sampled and appropriate geochemical analyses
started which involved whole rock ICP-AES and ICP-
MS analyses of the volcanic and peridotitic rocks.
Additional ICP-MS analysis was done for volcanic
rocks collected from the Cretaceous Rapu-Rapu ophi-
olite. All data, involving field and geochemical data,
are being collated and correlated to determine the
manner of evolution of these different ophiolite
complexes. This is being done to determine if the ultra-
mafic-mafic complexes originated from a single
marginal basin and whether they are good exploration
targets for ophiolite-hosted mineral deposits. All these
94
facts are believed to contribute to our understanding
on how the Philippine island arc system had evolved
since and through the Cretaceous period.
Russia
The research group of Y. D. Zakharov continued to
investigate palaeotemperatures based on the stable
oxygen isotope of Lower and Upper Cretaceous
brachiopod, bivalve including inoceramid scaphopod
and ammonite shells from the Penzhin Guba area and
Tavolka river basin, Western Koryak Upland, and also
Southern Alaska. Warming maxima have been recog-
nized in the Early Barremian (24.5˚C), Aptian-Early
Albian (18.4-25.9˚C) marked by an anomalously high
δ13C values (up to 6.6‰ for the Lower Albian of the
Koryak Upland), Late Cenomanian (20.8-23.3˚C), and
Late Campanian (20.6-16.1˚C). The Early Maastrichtian
shallow-water cooling (10.2-16.9˚C) was also discovered
there. The strongly negative δ18O values ranging from
-4.3 to -5.9‰ have been found in aragonite of well
preserved Middle and Late Turonian inoceramid
bivalves. This is associated with the freshening of the
Penzhin Guba basin and is evidently a result of the distri-
bution of the humid climate during the Turonian in the
northwestern circum-Pacific.
The research group of P. V. Markevich continued to
study sedimentary environments of Lower Cretacous
formations in the Sikhote-Alin. Fragments of the
Moneron-Samarga island-arc system have been studied
in the Kema river basin as well as the filling of the
backarc basin along the Kema, Samarga, Tumnin and
Koppi rivers. Studies suggest that during the Barremian-
Albian fragments of the continental crust existed in the
Pacific Ocean that served as a source for island-arc
basins. The research group of G.L. Kirillova continued
to study different types of the Cretaceous sedimentary
basins in southeastern Russia (Amur-Zeya, Uda, Upper
Bureya, Partizansk, Sangjiang-Middle Amur, and
Alchan). The following supersequences have been distin-
guished Berriasian-Lower Valanginian, Valanginian,
Hauterivian-Barremian, Aptian-Middle Albian, and
Upper Albian-Cenomanian.
Thailand
Research results of the Thai Cretacous rocks are still
focused on palaeontological, stratigraphic and sedimen-
tological aspects. These results have been carried out by
both Thai and overseas researchers. Details are as
follows:
1. Early March 2001: There have been a joint working
team (Prof. Yong Il Lee and his student, and
Dr Assanee Meesook and his colleaques) for detailed
work on palaeosols found particularly in the
Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of the Khorat Group
in northeastern Thailand. Preliminary results from
this work explain palaeoenvironment and palaeo-
climate of deposition and formation in which the
meandering river system and semi-arid palaeoclimate
are prevailed respectively.
2. Mid March 2001: The excursion with Japanese geo-
logists along Thai-Myanmar has been carried out
with particular respect to palpeontology. Preliminary
results based on bivalves reveal that the Mesozoic
rocks in this region are confined to marine Jurassic
of Tethyian affinities and possibly non-marine
Cretaceous red beds.
3. June 2001: The brackish water Jurassic bivalves of
the Khlong Min Formation are found in Surat Thani
Provinve of southern peninsular Thailand, overlain
by the Lamthap Formation. This discovery extends
knowledge on the formation in which its distribution
is far larger than previously thought.
4. July 2001: The Khlong Min Formation in Surat Thani
Province was also found further north to Chumphon
Province approximately 500 km South-West of
Bangkok. The stratigraphic succession and faunas
are similar to those found in June 2001.
5. August 2001: Theropod footprints were recently
found in the Khok Kruat Formation of the Khorat
Group in the outcrops exposed near the Mekhong
River.
Viet Nam
This year, members of the Vietnamese working group
have achieved following works.
1. In the framework of the project “Lithology and pale-
ogeography of Jurassic- Cretaceous red beds of North
Viet Nam” some field trips were realized in Dinh
Lap (NE Viet Nam), Song Da Depression (NW Viet
Nam) and Quang Binh (Central Viet Nam). Many
sections were studied, samples were collected for
stratigraphic and lithologic studies. The similarity
between sections of Jurassic- Cretaceous from Quang
Binh and Nam Theun Basin (Central Laos) was
discovered, leading to a new stratigraphic division of
Jurassic- Cretaceous in Quang Binh. In the Song Da
Depression, gypsum was found in some boreholes in
Yen Chau and Nong Heo areas, drilled in Upper
Cretaceous red beds of the Yen Chau formation.
However, fossils are very rare and the dating of sedi-
ments has been meeting many diffilulties.
2. The study on the Jurassic- Cretaceous Nam Theun
Basin (Central Laos). For the first time, a basin of
the Khorat type has been studied and described from
this region. Similar to the Khorat Group, the Nam
Theun Group contains thick members of rock salt
and gypsum in its upper part (Nong Boua Fm), but
there is a small difference between them: basal
members of the Nam Theun Group consist of
shallow- sea sediments bearing marine bivalves of
Early Jurassic age (pliensbachian).
3. The origin of dispersed carbon matter in volcanogenic
sediments of Jurassic- Cretaceous age in NW Viet Nam
(Tu Le Depression) is a study object of a Vietnamese-
Russian group. Under the influence of hydrothermal
activities and geodynamic metamorphism humic mate-
rial in the rock was altered to form a black quartz-
mica schist rich in dispersed carbon, which has the
composition and structure close to lean shungite.
4. Palaeomagnetic studies have been carried out on
Jurassic- Cretaceous continental red beds in North
and South Viet Nam. The palaeomagnetic directions
of Cretaceous red beds show that the Indochina
Block was relatively stable with respect to Eurasia
since Cretaceous, while those of Jurassic- Cretaceous
red beds in North Viet Nam a pattern of 9-150
counter clockwise rotation that may be related to the
9-150 motion of NW- SE trending strike- slip system
and has been interpreted as a local tectonic rotation
around a vertical axis.
Meetings
1. Field trip and discussion of working group for
Correlation chart of the Cretaceous in Indo-China:
Seven scientists of three countries, March 2001.
2. Field trip and discussion of working group for
Tectonic evolution in Far East Russia and the Island
arc: Eight scientists of two countries, July to August
2001.
3. Field trip and discussion of the 7th International
Conference of Palaeoceanography, Field trip F,
Environments of the Cretaceous Yezo forearc basin
– Carbon cycle and bio-diversity change-: Twenty
scientists of eight countries, September 2001.
4. Third International Symposium and Field excursion
of IGCP 434 in Tibet: sixty scientists of ten coun-
tries, October 2001.
Most important publications
– Hasegawa, T., in press a: Cretaceous terrestrial paleo-
environments of northeastern Asia suggested from
carbon isotope stratigraphy. Journal of Asian Earth
Sciences.
– Hasegawa, T., in press b: Predominance of terri-
genous organic matter in Cretaceous marine fore-arc
sediments, Japan and Far East Russia. International
Journal of Coal Geology.
– Hirano, H., Sakai, T., Hayakawa, H., Saiki, K.,
Hasegawa, T., Kano, M., Hikida, Y., Takahashi, K.,
and Kawabe, F. 2001. Environments of the
Cretaceous Yezo forearc basin – Carbon cycle and
bio-diversity change – Excursion guidebook
(Field trip F) of International Conference on
Paleoceanography VII. Bulletin of the Nakagawa
Museum of Natural History, Vol. 4, pp. 1-52.
– Jiang, F. X., J. H. Chen, M. Z. Cao, and T. Komatsu,
2000. A discussion on the age of the feathered
dinosaur bearing beds of Liaoning, China. Acta
Palaeont. Sinica, 39 (2), 307-311.
– Querubin, C.L. and Yumul, G.P.Jr. 2001. Stratigraphic
correlation of the Malusok volcanogenic massive
sulfide deposits, Southern Mindanao, Philippines.
Resource Geology 51, 135-144.
– Tamayo R.A.Jr., Yumul, G.P. Jr., Maury, R.C., Polve
M., Cotton J. and Bohn M. 2001. Petrochemical
investigation of the Antique Ophiolite (Philippines):
implications on volcanogenic massive sulfide and
95
 podiform chromitite deposits. Resource Geology 51,
145-164.
– Zakharov, Y.D., Ignatiev, A.V., Velivetskaya, T.A.,
Boriskina, N.G., Velivetskaya, T.A., Smyshlyaeva,
O.P., Tanabe, K., Shigeta, Y., Maeda, H., Popov,
A.M., Golozubov, V.V., Afanasyeva, T.B., and Moria,
K. 2001c. Palaeozoic and Mesozoic carbon-isotopic
macrorhythms and macrocycles of solar activity
(Annual Report 2001 of PTBWG, IOBWG and
Russian NWG IGCP Project 434). Albertiana,
No. 25, p. 28-35.
Activities planned
General goals
1. To establish the stable carbon isotope stratigraphy
in some reference sections of the marine Cretaceous
in Asia. Research is ongoing in China, Japan, and
Russia, but the whole Cretaceous is not included
yet.
2. To obtain the stable carbon isotope stratigraphy for
the non-marine Cretaceous in Asia. Research was
tried in China, Japan, and Korea, but the material is
mostly weathered, or altered in the sections of China
and Korea. Much better section must be found by
members.
3. To obtain as much information as possible on the
Cretaceous faunas, floras, and bio-diversity changes
as the total, including the interesting studies on the
phylogeny of birds from feathered dinosaurs, and the
origin and evolution of gymnosperms in Asia.
4. To support the development of mining in Indonesia,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam by
using the knowledge obtained in the joint works of
members.
5. Exchanges of faculty members to support develop-
mental technology.
Meetings
1. Field trip and discussion to complete the correlation
chart of Indo-China. December 2001 and January
2002 in Viet Nam, and March, 2002 in Thailand.
Participation of scientists from Viet Nam, Myanmar,
Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia is planned.
2. Field trip and discussion to study the stratigraphy
and tectonics of Far East Russia. July 2002.
Participation of scientists from Thailand and Russia
is planned.
3. Field trip and discussion to study the stable carbon
isotope stratigraphy of the non-marine Cretaceous of
northeast China. June 2002. Participation of scien-
tists from China is planned.
4. Field trip and discussion to synthesize the informa-
tion on sequence stratigraphy, biostratigraphy,
magnetostratigraphy, and stable carbon isotope
stratigraphy of the marine Cretaceous, in Hokkaido,
Japan. July 2002. Participation of scientists from
China, Viet Nam, and Russia is planned.
96
5. Fourth International Symposium and Field trip.
September 2002. Symposium in Khabarovsk, and
field trip along the Amur River. Participation of
scientists from China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Mongoliga, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Thailand
and Viet Nam is planned.
No. 436 – Tectonic Evolution of the Pacific
Gondwana Margin: Structure, Assembly
and Break-up Events (1999-2003)
R. J. Pankhurst, British Antarctic Survey, c/o Kingsley
Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG,
United Kingdom, e-mail: r.pankhurst@bas.ac.uk
L. Spalletti, Director, Centro de Investigaciones
Geológicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata,
644 Calle no. 1, 1900 La Plata, Argentina, e-mail:
spalle@cig.museo.unlp.edu.ar
J. D. Bradshaw, Department of Geological Sciences,
University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800,
Christchurch, New Zealand, e-mail:
j.bradshaw@geol.canterbury.ac.nz
Description: The main goal of the project is to explore
and correlate the geological development of the
Gondwanan continental masses that now form the
southern boundary of the Pacific Ocean, South
America, West Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand.
Although now widely dispersed, these regions were
once continuous parts of the Gondwana supercontinent
margin. Activities will concentrate on investigating:
(i) the continental basement inherited from Gondwana,
(ii) the age and provenance of the accretionary metased-
iments of this margin and their relationship to subduc-
tion-related magmatic arcs, and (iii) the development
of economically important sedimentary basins as part
of the break-up process. The Pacific margin of
Gondwana is a long-lived Andean-type active margin,
although there has been a great deal of strike-slip
motion and opening of marginal basins in some
provinces. This region is therefore of global signifi-
cance for understanding long-term subduction related
geologic problems. The data from the project will play
a key role in the understanding of several long-lived
Phanerozoic orogenic systems. The societal benefits of
the project are seen in the investigation of hydrocarbon-
prone sedimentary basins and assessment of natural
hazards.
Participating countries
(* indicates countries active this year)
* Argentina, * Australia, * Brazil, * Bulgaria, * Chile,
* France, * Germany, Italy, * New Zealand, * Spain, *
United Kingdom, * United States, Uruguay.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
The project symposium in Montevideo was divided into
four themes:
(a) Parentage and birth of the Pacific Gondwana margin,
(b) Upper Palaeozoic modifications of the Pacific
Gondwana margin,
(c) Patagonia in the Pacific Gondwana margin, and
(d) Maturity, late history and break-up.
These reflect the range of the main topics current being
addressed in Gondwana margin research, this time with
a focus on South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Papers were presented by various groups, on topics such
as palaeomagnetism, structure and metamorphism of
different blocks, aspects of different basins, volcanism
and granites. A large number of papers, in addition,
reported the results of international collaborative pro-
jects. Examples include the Argentine Precordillera as a
rifted-off piece of Laurentia (Thomas and Astini), the
geochemical identification of terranes (Bahlburg and
collaborators), geochronology and structural studies,
thermochronology and terrane recognition (Casquet and
others), and work the British Antarctic Survey on the
Antarctic Peninsula (Pankhurst, Millar, Vaughan). Glen
gave a paper attempting to correlate the Neoproterozoic
developments of the South American proto-Pacific
margin with the developments of the Tasmanides in the
Delamerian and Lachlan orogens.
In the wider context of this year’s work, a major focus
is still the Early Palaeozoic history of the margin in
North-West Argentina, where the hypothesis of a colli-
sion between Gondwana and a smaller crustal fragment
(the Precordillera) is being subjected to intense exami-
nation; stratigraphical evidence clearly favours an Early
Ordovician collision. The origin of the Precordillera
(Laurentia? or the Antarctic/Australian margin of
Gondwana?), and hence the mechanism by which it
reached its final position, is not yet unambiguously
established. The controversy is generating renewed
efforts to solve this problem, with numerous project
members concentrating on the lithology, stratigraphy,
isotope geology and metamorphism of basement rocks
now lying to the east of the Precordillera – which of
these can be thought of as ‘Gondwanan’ in origin and
which, if any, ‘Laurentian’? Geochronological data,
especially relating to the timing of metamorphism and
the provenance of detrital zircon, are being acquired to
address these questions further. Since Australia is the
country best equipped to carry out important aspects of
this analytical work, the project has been invaluable in
encouraging collaboration between Australian and South
American researchers.
A further major tectonic problem being investigated in
a similar way within the project is the relationship of
Patagonia to the Gondwana margin: For how long has
it been an integral part of Gondwana? Some evidence
is now emerging that at least the northern part of
Patagonia was attached to cratonic South America by
Cambrian times, and that the Antarctic Peninsula was
also in place by the Late Palaeozoic. Project members
are actively applying structural, palaeomagnetic, isotopic
and geochronological analysis to these problems.
Work continues on the nature of the metamorphic rocks
of the Chilean accretionary complexes, where pressure-
temperature conditions are being defined and the history
of provenance, metamorphism and exhumation are being
addressed using mineralogical and geochronological
techniques.
Research groups from South America, France and United
Kingdom have made significant advances in under-
standing the palaeogeographic evolution and the
Mesozoic palaeo-environment of Gondwana. This work
encompasses studies of the general palaeography of
Gondwana and Pangea, the analysis of palaeolatitude
variations on the basis of palaeomagnetic information,
and conclusions concerning secular and global climatic
changes. New conceptual models have been proposed
for the development and evolution of the Mesozoic sedi-
mentary basins in western Gondwana. The geometry of
the basins and the main sedimentary systems have been
related to tectonic processes at the continental margin
and have led to the definition of the following separate
developmental stages: pre-breakup (Triassic – Early
Jurassic), breakup (Early–Mid Jurassic), full develop-
ment of the Andean magmatic arc (Late Jurassic – Early
Cretaceous) and Andean compression (Late Cretaceous).
In New Zealand, the provenance history of the Torlesse
complex is being studied using geochemistry, isotope
geology and fission track methods – the latter have
shown that sedimentation of the complex extends back
to Jurassic times. Other work is being carried out on the
Precambrian and Cambrian rocks of New Zealand and
Victoria Land, Antarctica, some of which has demon-
strated Late Cambrian oceanic-arc accretion to the
Gondwana margin. Results were presented at a
Geological Society of New Zealand Conference.
Meetings
A single project symposium was held this year: Structure
and Development of the Pacific Margin of Gondwana.
The vehicle chosen was the joint meeting XI Congreso
Latinoamericano/III Congreso Uruguayo de Geología,
12-16 November, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The atten-
dance at the symposium varied between 50 and 85, from
all the active countries listed above except Bulgaria. The
scientific products of this meeting were significant.
Twenty-one oral presentations of a consistently high
standard were delivered over one and a half days.
Abstracts of 27 contributions are assigned to the project
in the Abstract volume and the accompanying CD-ROM
handed out at the congress.
97
List of most important publications
Reviewed papers in international publications:
– Casquet, C.; Baldo, E.; Pankhurst, R.J.; Rapela,
C.W.; Galindo, C.; Fanning, C.M.; Saavedra, J. 2001.
Involvement of the Argentine Precordillera Terrane
in the Famatinian Mobile Belt: Geochronological (U-
Pb SHRIMP) and Metamorphic Evidence from the
Sierra de Pié de Palo. Geology, 29 (8), pp. 703-706.
– Cook, Y. A.; Craw, D. 2001. Amalgamation of
disparate crustal fragments in the Walcott Bay-Foster
Glacier area, South Victoria Land. New Zealand
Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 44, pp. 403-
416.
– Del Valle, R.A.; Miller, H. 2001. Transpressional
deformation along the margin of Larsen Basin: new
data form Pedersen Nunatak, Antarctic Peninsula.
Antarctic Science, 13 (2), pp. 158-166.
– Franzese, J.; Spalletti, L. 2001. Late Triassic – Early
Jurassic continental extension in southwestern
Gondwana: tectonic segmentation and pre break-up
rifting. Journal of South American Earth Sciences,
14, pp. 257-270.
– Hervé, F.; Fanning, C.M. 2001. Late Triassic detrital
zircons in meta-turbidites of the Chonos
Metamorphic Complex, southern Chile. Revista
Geológica de Chile, 28 (1), pp. 91-104
– Höfer, Ch.; Kraus, St.; Miller, H.; Alfaro, G.; Barra,
F. 2001. Chromite bearing serpentinite bodies within
an arc-backarc metamorphic complex near La
Cabaña, south Chilean coastal Cordillera. Journal of
South American Earth Sciences, 14 (1), pp. 113-126.
– Kamp, P. J. J. 2001. Possible Jurassic ages from the
Rakaia terrane: implications for tectonic develop-
ment of the Torlesse accretionary prism. New Zealand
Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 44, 185-203.
– López de Luchi, M.; Siegesmund, S.; Hofmann, A.;
Hübner, H.; Hulka, C.; Mosch, S. 2001. Geological
setting and composition of the Las Chacras-
Potrerillos Batholith, Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina:
First results. Zeitschrift Der Deutschen Geologischen
Gesellschaft, 152 (2-3), pp.
– López de Luchi, M. G.; Cerredo, M.E. 2001.
Submagmatic and solid-state microstructures in La
Tapera pluton. San Luis. Argentina. Revista de la
Asociación Geológica Argentina (in press)
– Millar, I.L.; Pankhurst, R.J.; Fanning, I.M. (in press).
Basement Chronology of the Antarctic Peninsula:
recurrent magmatism and anatexis in the Palaeozoic
Gondwana Margin Journal of the Geological Society,
London.
– Pankhurst. R.J.; Rapela, C.W.; Fanning, C.M. 2001.
Age and origin of coeval TTG, I- and S-type gran-
ites in the Famatinian belt of NW Argentina.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh:
Earth Sciences, 91, pp. 151-168. Also as: The Fourth
Hutton Symposium on the Origin of Granites and
Related Rocks, Bernard Barbarin and William Edryd
Stephens, joint co-editors-in-chief; Bernard Bonin,
Jean-Luc Bouchez, David Barrie Clarke, Michel
98
Cuney, and Hervé Martin, editors, Geological Society
of America Special Paper No. 350.
– Riley, T.R.; Leat, P.T.; Pankhurst, R.J.; Harris, C.
2001. Geochemistry and petrogenesis of large
volume silicic volcanism (Antarctic Peninsula–South
America). Journal of Petrology, 42, pp. 1043-1065.
– Spalletti, L.; Poiré, D.; Schwarz, E.; Veiga, G. 2001.
Sedimentologic and sequence stratigraphic model of
a Neocomian marine carbonate-siliciclastic ramp:
Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Journal of South
American Earth Sciences, 14, pp. 609-624.
– Thomas, W.A.; Astini, R.A.; Denison, R.E. 2001.
Strontium isotopes, age, and tectonic setting of
Cambrian salinas along the rift and transform
margins of the Argentine Precordillera and southern
Laurentia. Journal of Geology, 109, pp. 231-246.
– Tomezzoli, R.N. 2001. Further palaeomagnetic
results from the Sierras Australes fold and thrust belt,
Argentina. Geophysical Journal International, 147,
356-366.
– Turnbull, I. M.; Mortimer, N.; Craw, D. 2001. Textural
zones in the Haast Schist – a reaprraisal. New
Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 44,
171-183.
– Vaughan, A.P.M.; Pankhurst, R.J.; Fanning, C.M. (in
press). A mid-Cretaceous age for the Palmer Land
event, Antarctic Peninsula: implications for terrane
accretion and Weddell Sea evolution. Journal of the
Geological Society, London.
Book chapter
Pomposiello, M.C., López de Luchi, M.G. and Rossello,
E.A. 2001 Tectonic and surfaces processes. In Jostovicka,
J. (ed). Encyclopedia of Life Support System, EOLSS
Publishers Co., United Kingdom (in press)
Activities planned
General goals
There are three main aims to the project’s work next
year: to reinforce the collaboration between members in
South America and Australasia, to incorporate research
based in South Africa (as was requested by the IGCP
Board as a modification to the initial proposal), and to
make concrete progress with the map project. Real
scientific progress is now being made and it is hoped
that next year’s meetings will provide a stimulus for
project members to reveal their latest findings and to
begin to draw the different lines of investigation together
in preparation for the final year’s synthesis.
Meetings
16th International Sedimentological Congress ‘3.5
billion years of sedimentation’, 8-12 July, Rand
Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, South Africa. As
well as linking into South African research and collab-
oration, this will be used to develop the third main objec-
tive of the project: the development of economically
important sedimentary basins as part of the Gondwana
break-up process.
Gondwana 11 ‘Correlations and Connections’, 25-30
August 2002, University of Canterbury, Christchurch,
New Zealand. This will bring our Australasian members
back into full play and will be a special opportunity to
advance the map project significantly.
In addition, there are two other major international meet-
ings next year that will present clear opportunities for
IGCP 436 presentations and discussion:
V Congress Geológico Argentino, 24-26 April, Villa El
Calafate, Argentina. The geological evolution of
Patagonia will be a central theme of this meeting.
Fifth International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics,
16-18 September, Université P. Sabatier, Toulouse,
France. This will be a main forum for project members
unable to travel to New Zealand or South Africa.
No. 437 – Coastal Environmental Change
during Sea Level Highstands (1999-2003)
C. V. Murray-Wallace, School of Geosciences, University
of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia;
e-mail: colin_murray-wallace@uow.edu.au
Description: The principal objective of this project is to
examine the evolution of coastlines during sea level
highstands, and compare and contrast the products and
nature of different Quaternary highstands. In particular,
the objectives include:
1. To compare and contrast the evolution of coasts
during the present Holocene sea-level highstand with
earlier highstands (e.g. particularly the last inter-
glacial maximum; Oxygen Isotope Substage 5e;
125 ka), and to explain the geological and geophys-
ical basis for any morphostratigraphic similarities or
differences in these records.
2. To document through geological mapping and
detailed stratigraphic analysis, the global distribution
of highstand shoreline successions from the Holocene
and last interglacial, and where possible, earlier high-
stands, with the aim of elucidating the geological
and geophysical basis for similarities and differences.
3. To quantify the magnitude of sea-level variation
evident during highstands and document their basis
(e.g. the contributions of glacio-hydro-isostatic
processes, climate change, as well as relative sea-
level changes associated with neotectonism).
4. To develop new and refine existing technologies for
the assessment of the age of coastal sedimentary
successions and landforms through the critical appli-
cation of a range of Quaternary dating methods; and
5. To evaluate the impact of human-induced environ-
mental changes in coastal environments in the context
of natural environmental changes.
The results from these studies will provide the neces-
sary data and scientific interpretations permitting the
subsequent management of present and future coastal
change. The varying nature of the world’s coastline natu-
rally implies that not all of the stated research objec-
tives documented above, can necessarily be resolved on
every country’s coastline. In particular, it is acknowl-
edged that in regions formerly glaciated during the
Quaternary, that the coastal stratigraphical record for the
last interglacial is particularly fragmentary. Despite this,
recent mapping has extended the known distribution of
last interglacial deposits in these regions.
Website of the project
http://imina.soest.hawaii.edu/Coastal_Conf
http://www.igcp437.uow.edu.au>> (in preparation)
Countries involved in the project
(*indicates countries active in 2001)
Argentina*, Australia*, Austria, Bennin, Belgium*, Brazil*,
Canada*, Chile*, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia*, Fiji*,
Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, India*, Italy*,
Jamaica, Japan*, The Netherlands*, New Zealand*,
Norway*, Poland, Portugal*, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Spain*, Sri Lanka, Sweden*, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey,
United Kingdom*, United States*, Uruguay*.
Achievements of the project for the year 2001
General scientific achievements
The following activities were reported from the national
working groups:
Argentina
Detailed studies continue of coastal interglacial deposits
for the past three interglaciations represented along the
Argentine coastline, particularly in terms of the
molluscan fossil record and evidence of climate change.
Australia
Further mapping in South Australia of coastal deposits
of the last interglacial has been undertaken in this
temperate carbonate province. The results reveal that
although Australia may be regarded in a global context
as tectonically stable, in detail subtle variations in the
elevation of last interglacial shoreline deposits can be
confidently discerned. Further research has also been
undertaken in refining the method of whole-rock amino
acid racemisation dating as a geochronological frame-
work for demonstrating the correlation of these deposits
over broad distances of coastline. Geophysical model-
ling of Late Quaternary sea surface variations and mantle
rheology continue. In addition, intertidal fixed biolog-
ical indicators such as calcareous remains of the tube
worm Galeolaria caespitosa have been used in studies
of Holocene sea-level change in eastern Australia.
Studies of Late Quaternary estuarine valley fill succes-
sions in eastern Australia continue.
99
Belgium
Research focused on sea-level highstands during the last
interglacial and Holocene in the western part of the
Belgian Coastal Plain. The last interglacial highstand
was investigated in a palaeovalley incised in the Tertiary
substratum indicating multiple cycles of incision and
deposition resulting from fluctuations in base level
during the Quaternary. Remnants of deposits from the
last interglacial were found in deep boreholes and were
investigated on the basis of stratigraphy and palynology
revealing preliminary results for a paleogeographical
reconstruction of the coastal environments during the
last interglacial.
The role of human occupation in relation to the renewed
marine flooding since 3000 cal BP was investigated in
detail at a site with archaeological remains from the
Roman Period. The investigation revealed that lowering
the land surface by human activity was most likely
largely responsible for the marine flooding. The case
study provides an interesting model of anthropogenic
influence in landscape modification that may be
compared with processes affecting the Belgian Coastal
Plain today.
Canada
Research continued on modelling post-glacial sea-level
changes and mantle rheology and studies of foraminifera
as proxy indicators of sea-level change. Marsh
foraminifera are being examined to assess whether
northern Vancouver Island experiences land level
changes during earthquakes associated with movements
of the Nootka Fault which separates the Juan de Fuca
plate from a zone of complex crustal deformation,
located between the Pacific and North American plates.
Estonia
The reconstruction and distant correlation of palaeocli-
matic events and deposits of palaeoshelf, glacial,
periglacial and extraglacial zones of northern Eurasia
within the Brunhes epoch have been undertaken. Electron
spin resonance dating has been particularly important in
discriminating the ages of these coastal successions. The
dating frequency curve of the whole collection of shells
taken from northern Eurasia displays peaks that possibly
correlate with the climate amelioration and transgressive
phases during Oxygen Isotope Stage 5 sensu lato at c.135,
125-120, 110-105, 95-80 and 70 ka.
Finland
A new research programme has been initiated comparing
Holocene and Eemian sea-level histories in the eastern
Baltic region.
France
On the western coast of France between Dinard and Cap
Fréhel, previously undescribed coastal deposits of
Eemian age have been identified. The features are repre-
sented by abrasion platforms covered by raised gravel
beach deposits. The raised beach deposits are in turn
100
buried beneath slope deposits in which periglacial
features are preserved (ice wedges, etc). Precise
surveying of these features reveals that they occur
between 5 to 8 m above present sea level. Fieldwork has
also been undertaken by French scientists in Lebanon,
Sardinia and Sicily. In Lebanon, samples have been
collected on locations where the early byzantine
paroxism is expected to be identified. Dating of samples
is in progress. In Sardinia and Sicily, field work concen-
trated on areas characterised by neotectonic uplift. The
rates and nature of neotectonic changes are being ex-
amined in the context of a comparison of the Last inter-
glacial and Holocene shoreline successions.
Germany
A new coastal research project was initiated in Turkey.
Extensive morphodynamic studies of a series of
submerged beach ridges were examined using an inte-
grated approach based aerial photographs, observations
by scuba divers, particle size analyses, seismostratig-
raphy and vibracoring. The relict beach deposits occur
between 12 and 1 m below present sea level and reflect
different evolutionary stages of the Baltic Sea. The main
sedimentary component of the ridges is sand and gravel
and it is remarkable that these features have been
preserved in the stratigraphic record especially in view
of the obvious effects of wave attack.
Italy
A major report was released this year that examined the
effects of wind, atmospheric pressure changes, seiches
and tidal perturbations as they relate to Venice for the
period 1951 to 2000. Studies of the evolution of the
Fortore River coastal plain in response to neotectonics
and sea-level changes in Apulia, southern Italy continued.
India
Examination of the geological attributes of coastal heavy
mineral sand deposits have been further carried out in
2001.
Japan
Relative sea-level changes during the past 3,000 years
along the southern Kurile Trench at the Akkeshi estuary,
Hokkaido in northern Japan were examined. The study
is based on fossil diatoms and radiocarbon dating of
estuarine deposits and volcanic ash. Despite episodic
uplift events, the overall record reveals one of submer-
gence for the past 2,000 years. A major synthesis project
is being undertaken examining Holocene sea-level
changes and mangrove habitat dynamics in the Asia-
Pacific region.
Portugal
Research continued examining the Holocene stratig-
raphy of the estuarine valley fill successions in the
Guadiana, Gilão-Almargem and Arade-Boina estuaries
of southern Portugal based on the analysis of 14 bore-
holes. The main focus of this ongoing research is to
derive a record of sea-level change.
Spain
The sedimentary record of historical tsunamis in the Bay
of Cádiz, Spain, has been examined. Particular attention
has been given to examining the sedimentological char-
acteristics of three wash-over fans which contain shell
and gravel lenses. Marine terrace deposits of the Aguilas
Basin, southeastern Spain are being examined to docu-
ment the neotectonic hsistory and palaeoclimatic record
of this region.
United Kingdom
Fieldwork conducted in Maine, United States, Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick, Canada and Donegal, Ireland, and
western Iceland, all with the aim of reconstructing late
Holocene sea-level changes. Further fieldwork was under-
taken in northwest Scotland examining the post-glacial
stratigraphy of isolation basins and a record of relative
Holocene sea-level change. A considerable research effort
is also in progress examining the application of
foraminifera, testate amoebae and diatoms as a quantita-
tive multi-proxy tool for studies of sea-level change.
United States
A newly funded 5 year, cooperative programme between
the US Geological Survey, NC Geological Survey, East
Carolina University and the University of Delaware has
been initiated to examine millennial to decadal scale
Holocene climatic and sea-level fluctuations and the
associated coastal response in the US mid-Atlantic
coastal system. A major programme of quantifying rates
of carbonate sediment production on the shallow inner
shelves of the Hawaiian Islands and shoreline morpho-
dynamics continues.
Uruguay
Martinez and colleagues continued their research
examining the age and palaeoecology of a selection of
Pleistocene coastal deposits in Uruguay. Advances have
been made in mapping the distribution of shoreline
deposits that formed during the last interglacial.
Viet Nam
Studies of the barrier sand accumulations near Phan
Thiet in southern Viet Nam continued. Samples of quartz
sand from the barrier successions have yielded thermo-
luminescence ages that range between 108 to 85 ka indi-
cating that a substantial portion of the coastal barriers
of southern Viet Nam were deposited during the last
interglacial sensu lato. Some of these deposits are of
commercial interest in view of their heavy mineral
content. A new project was also initiated in 2001 by the
South Viet Nam Geological Mapping Division examin-
ing the Late Quaternary stratigraphy of the Mekong
Delta.
Meetings
– Third Annual Meeting of IGCP Project 437 in asso-
ciation with the INQUA Neotectonics and Shorelines
Commission, Sea-level changes and neotectonics,
Durham and Fort William, United Kingdom,
4–12 September 2001 (Scotland Fieldtrip
8–12 September). Approximately 50 people attended
the meeting from 16 countries.
– IGCP Project 437, Coastal Environmental Change
During Sea-Level Highstands, First meeting of the
UK Working Group, “The Thames Estuary”, The
Institute of Materials, London, 15–16 December
2000 (72 delegates from the United Kingdom).
– Belgium Working Group in association with
Geologica Belgica; A one-day field meeting (2 June
2001) was organized in the Western Coastal Plain of
Belgium examining the Late Quaternary geology of
the Ijzer palaeovalley and modern and inland dunes,
and involved 40 participants with 5 from France and
10 from The Netherlands.
– Polish Working Group, scientific symposium:
Szczecin-Mi dzyzdroje, 18–20 May 2000 –
XII Krajowa Konferecja Mechaniki Gruntów
i Fundamentowania (Conference of the Soil
Mechanics and Foundation on Geotechnical
Problems of the Coastal Zone).
– Field Symposium on Quaternary Geology in
Lithuania, 19–25 May 2001.
– Co-sponsorship of the 5th Iberian Quaternary
Meeting, Quaternary Congress of Countries of
Iberian Languages, Lisboa, 23–27 July 2001
(Sociedade Geológica de Portugal, Grupo de
Trabalho Portugês para o Estudo do Quaternário and
Asociación Española para el Estudo del Cuaternario).
130 delegates from 14 countries were represented at
the meeting.
Selected Publications
– Baker, R. G. V.; Haworth, R. J.; Flood, P. G. 2001.
Inter-tidal fixed indicators of former Holocene sea
levels in Australia: a summary and a review of
methods and models. Quaternary International, 83-
85, 257-273.
– Baeteman, C. 2001. Holocene depositional history
of the Inland Dunes and De Moeren. Excursion
Guide, Fieldmeeting Geologica Belgica, 2 June 2001,
Belgian Geological Survey, 39 p.
– Baeteman, C; Bertrand, S. 2001. Holocene geology
and mapping of the Ijzer palaeovalley. Excursion
Guide Field meeting Geologica Belgica, 2 June 2001,
Belgian Geological Survey, 38 p.
– Bolikhovskaya, N.; Molodkov, A. 2001. Reconstruc-
tion of Pleistocene palaeoclimatic events based on
palynological and ESR studies on the territory of
Northern Eurasia. Archaeology, Ethnology and
Anthropology of Eurasia (in press).
– Canestrelli, P.; Mandich, M.; Pirazzoli, P.A.; Tomasin,
A. 2001. Wind, depression and seiches: tidal pertur-
bations in Venice (1951-2000). Centro Previsioni e
Segnalazioni Maree, 105 p.
– Gehrels, W. R.; Roe, H. M; Charman, D. J. 2001.
Foraminifera testate amoebae and diatoms as sea-
level indicators in UK saltmarshes: a quantitative
101
 multiproxy approach. Journal of Quaternary Science,
16, 201-220.
– Haslett, S. K. 2001. The palaeoenvironmental
implications of the distribution of intertidal fora-
minifera in a tropical Australian estuary: a recon-
naissance study. Australian Geographical Studies,
39, 67-74.
– Haslett, S. K.; Curr, R. H. F. 2001. Stratigraphy and
palaeoenvironmental development of Quaternary
coarse clastic beach deposits at Plage de
Mezpeurleuch, Brittany (France). Geological
Journal, 36, 171-182.
– Haslett, S. K.; Howard, K. L.; Margretts, A. J.;
Davies, P. 2001. Holocene stratigraphy and evolution
of the northern coastal plain of the Somerset Levels,
UK. Proceedings of the Cotteswold Naturalist’s Field
Club, XLII (I), 78-88.
– Haslett, S. K.; Strawbridge, F.; Martin, N. A.;
Davies, C. F. C. 2001. Vertical saltmarsh accretion
and its relationship to sea-level in the Severn Estuary,
UK: An investigation using foraminifera as tidal indi-
cators. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 52,
143-153.
– Horton, B.; Shennan, I. (eds.), Sea-level changes and
neotectonics field guide. The 3rd International
Conference of the International Geological
Correlation Programme Project No. 437, In associ-
ation with the INQUA Neotectonics and Shorelines
Commission. Environmental Research Centre,
University of Durham, ISSN: 1356 0557.
– Martínez, S. M.; Ubilla, M.; Verde, D.; Perea, A.;
Rojas, A.; Guérèquiz, R.; Graciela, P. 2001.
Paleoecology and geochronology of Uruguayan
coastal and marine Pleistocene deposits. Quaternary
Research, 55, 246-254.
– Milne, G. A.; Davis, J. L.; Mitrovica, J. X.;
Scherneck, H.-G.; Johansson, J. M.; Vermeer, M.;
Koivula, H. 2001. Space-geodetic contraints on
glacial isostatic adjustment in Fennoscandia. Science,
291, 2381-2385.
– Murray-Wallace, C. V.; Banerjee, D. B.;
Bourman, R. P.; Olley, J. M.; Brooke, B. P. 2001.
Optically stimulated luminescence dating of
Holocene relict foredunes, Guichen Bay, South
Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews. (in press).
– Murray-Wallace, C. V.; Brooke, B. P.; Cann, J. H.;
Belperio, A. P.; Bourman, R. P. 2001. Whole-rock
aminostratigraphy of the Coorong Coastal Plain,
South Australia: Towards a 1 million year record of
sea-level highstands. Journal of the Geological
Society, London, 158, 111-124.
– Murray-Wallace, C. V.; Jones, B. G.; Nghi, T.;
Price, D. M.; Vinh, V. V.; Tinh, T. N.; Nanson, G.
2001. Thermoluminescence ages for a reworked
coastal barrier, southeastern Viet Nam: a preliminary
report. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. (in press).
– Price, D. M.; Brooke, B. P.; Woodroffe, C. D. 2001.
Thermoluminescence dating of aeolianites from Lord
Howe Island and South-West Western Australia.
Quaternary Science Reviews, 20, 841-846.
102
Activities planned
General goals
1. To continue to increase the participation of
researchers from developing countries through
increased publicity and by establishing a more pro-
active approach to inviting people from developing
countries to participate in international meetings.
2. To further consolidate the linkages between IGBP
PAGES (Past Global Changes) and LOICZ (Land-
Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone). A joint
PAGES-LOICZ workshop accompanies the Inaugural
meeting of IGCP 437 in Hawaii in 1999. The work-
shop revealed that there are very clearly defined
research linkages between these projects and it was
agreed wherever possible to hold joint meetings in
the future. IGCP 437 will also establish particularly
strong links with the recently approved Project 464,
Continental shelves during the last glacial cycle:
knowledge and applications.
3. To complete the editorial activities associated with
the second and third annual meetings of IGCP 437.
A special issue of Sedimentary Geology arising from
the inaugural meeting of the project will be published
early in 2002. The special issue contains 12 papers
that were presented at that meeting. Special issues
of Marine Geology and Journal of Quaternary
Science associated with the second and third annual
meetings respectively are currently being edited.
4. To compile a global database of Holocene and
Pleistocene sea-level curves. There is no other scien-
tific research group with the depth of knowledge and
collective expertise to undertake such a task.
Specific meetings and field trips
The planning the fourth annual meeting of IGCP 437
with the intention to hold the meeting and fieldtrip in
Barbados in 2002 is in progress. A field study trip to
examine the Quaternary geology of the Coorong Coastal
Plain in South Australia will also be conducted in July
2002. This activity is part of the 16th Australian
Geological Convention, an activity organized by the
Geological Society of Australia and also represents an
official activity of IGCP 437.
No. 440 – Rodinia Assembly and Breakup
(1999-2003)
C. Powell
(Professor Powell sadly passed away in July 2001).
S. Bogdanova, Institute of Geology, Department of
Mineralogy and Petrology, Sölvegatan 13, S-223 62
Lund, Sweden, e-mail: Svetlana.Bogdanova@geol.lu.se
H. Kampunzu, Faculty of Science, University of
Botswana, Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana,
e-mail: Kampunzu@mopipi.ub.bw
Zheng-Xiang Li, Tectonics Special Research Centre, The
University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009,
Australia, e-mail: zli@tsrc.uwa.edu.au
Website addresses related to the project
http://www.tsrc.uwa.edu.au/
http://www.geol.lu.se/
List of countries involved in the project
(*indicates countries active this year)
Argentina, Australia*, Austria, Belgium*, Botswana*,
Brazil*, Canada*, China*, Congo (DR)*, Denmark*,
Finland*, France*, Germany*, India*, Ireland, Japan*,
Republic of Korea*, Kuwait, Mexico, Mongolia*,
Namibia*, Netherlands, New Zealand*, Norway*,
Russia*, South Africa*, Spain, Sri Lanka*, Sweden*,
Switzerland, Taiwan*, Tanzania*, United Kingdom*,
United States*, Viet Nam, Zambia*, Zimbabwe*.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
The project has made some scientific breakthroughs
between late 2000 and 2001. One is the emerging
evidence arguing against a coherent East Gondwana
during Rodinia time. The other is new palaeomagnetic
evidence indicating that the SWEAT fit could not have
existed at ca. 1.07 Ga. However, there is still a lack of
reliable palaeomagnetic data for the interval between
ca. 1.0 Ga and ca. 0.75 Ga. Recent work from Siberia
indicates that there is no evidence for active plate margin
(i.e. Rodinia assembly history) around the Siberian
craton between 1.4 and 1.05 Ga. Emerging data from
Africa and South America indicate that some of the
cratonic blocks may not have been part of the Rodinia
supercontinent. These data also indicate that the early
stage of Western Gondwana assembly started during the
late stage of the Kibaran-Grenvillian orogeny, which
implies that the assembly of Gondwanan cratons may
have started before the Rodinia breakup.
Apart from a large number of individual papers in inter-
national journals, two Precambrian Research special
issues and one GSA Special Paper were published in
2001 reporting latest research related to Rodinia. One
Precambrian Research Special Issue was co-edited by
the late C. McA. Powell (Project co-leader) and J. Meert
(Vol. 110). The volume contains 18 papers on the Early
Neoproterozoic history of Rodinia and its subsequent
breakup, especially in Siberia, East Greenland, the East
African orogen, Seychelles and North-West India, the
Congo and adjacent South America. Professor Powell
spent much effort during his last year editing this volume.
The second special issue (Vol. 111) on Rodinia and the
Mesoproterozoic earth-ocean system was edited by
L. C. Kah and J. K. Bartley. They dedicated the volume
to the memory of Professor Powell for his tireless efforts
in uniting scientists worldwide to the cause of Rodinia.
R. E. Ernst and K. L. Buchan co-edited a GSA Special
Paper Series (volume No. 352) on Mantle plume: their
identification through time. This is a timely volume as
a number of members are currently working on the
possible relationship between mantle plumes (or a super-
plume) and the breakup of Rodinia.
Currently, a number of journal special issues on the
results of the project are in preparation. In addition, one
book reviewing the latest scientific contributions to the
project is also in preparation.
The project also made progress in the making of the
Rodinia maps. It was decided that the project will
produce continental tectonic maps, at 1:2 million scale
where possible, but with the main focus on the produc-
tion of the 1:10 million GIS-based Rodinia map. The
legend for the map will be finalised in early 2002, and
thus the compilation of the regional maps will be done
during 2002.
Meetings
The sudden passing away of Co-Leader Professor Powell
in July was a major moral setback to the approximately
300 members of the project. However, members were
united to continue with this strong and popular project.
The project sponsored or co-sponsored three successful
activities during 2001.
1. Field workshop on ‘Assembly and breakup of
Rodinia’, held in Irkutsk, Russia, between 23 July
and 4 August 2001 was attended by about 40 geo-
logists from nine countries. There was a two-day
symposium, as well as pre- and post-symposium field
trips to Early Precambrian metamorphic complexes,
a Neoproterozoic mafic dike swarm in the
Sharyzhalgai salient, the Neoproterozoic (Baikalian)
passive margin sedimentary sequence of the Siberian
craton, and zoned metamorphic complexes related to
the closure of the Palaeo-Asian ocean in the central
part of the Baikal area.
2. The Chris Powell Memorial Symposium on ‘From
Mountains to Basins: Rodinia at the Turn of the
Century’, held at the Tectonics Special Research Centre,
Perth, Australia, between 30 September and 2 October
2001. The symposium was attended by over 60 scien-
tists from 14 countries. The two-day-long, high-spirited
oral sessions were made up of twenty-one invited talks
on five themes: (a) Shaping Rodinia, (b) Mountain belts
and the assembly of Rodinia, (c) Testing Rodinia –
basins and microanalysis, (d) From Rodinia to
Gondwanaland, and (e) Neoproterozoic world. About
25 posters were also presented at the symposium. All
103
 papers were published in an extended abstract volume
(Geological Society of Australia, Abstracts No. 65,
120 pp.), and can be viewed on the Geological Society
of Australia website soon (http://www.gsa.org.au/.
Hard copies can be purchased from either the GSA or
the TSRC at A$20 each).
3. International symposium on ‘The evolution of
Rodinia and Gondwanaland and the formation of
Asia’, held at Osaka between 26 and 30 October
2001. The meeting was co-sponsored by IGCP
Projects 386, 411 and 440, and was attended by about
250 scientists from 33 countries/regions. Topics were
wide-ranging, from the assembly and breakup of
Rodinia and Gondwanaland and the formation of
Asia to tectonic processes related to those events,
and palaeoenvironmental changes. The meeting
finished with a joint forum discussing all major
issues raised during the five-day meeting.
Other events: In addition to the above events, IGCP 440
was involved in a chiefly IGCP 418-sponsored field
symposium in Durban, South Africa, 8-21 July. Several
members of IGCP 440 participated in both the meeting
and pre- and post-field trips to the Namaqua and Natal
belts. Since 2001 was the final year for IGCP 418 (with
the possibility of a one-year OET in 2002), the leader
of IGCP 418 and the participants in the meeting decided
unanimously that all the members of this project should
join IGCP 440.
Rodinia aspects were also discussed during the EURO-
PROBE (ESF/ILP) time-slice symposium, Archaean and
Proterozoic plate tectonics: geological and geophysical
records, in Saint Petersburg, Russia (31 October-
4 November). The IGCP 440 Russian Working Group
and other symposium participants discussed the current
state of the project and future work required, geochrono-
logical work in particular.
List of most important publications
Book edited by members
R. E. Ernst and K. L. Buchan (eds.). 2001. Mantle
Plumes: their identification hrough time. Geological
Society of America, Special Paper 352, 592 pp.
Refereed journal articles
– Buchan, K. L.; Ernst, R. E.; Hamilton, M. A.;
Mertanen, S.; Pesonen, L. J.; Elming, S-A. 2001.
Rodinia: the evidence from integrated palaeo-
magnetism and U-Pb geochronology. Precambrian
Research, 110, pp. 9-32.
– Bylund, G.; Pisarevsky, S. A. Remagnetisation in
Mesoproterozoic dykes from the Protogine Zone,
southern Sweden and the Sveconorwegian Loop.
Geologiska foreningens i Stockholm forhandlingar
(GFF). (In press.)
– Cawood, P. A.; LandisÜ, C. A.; Nemchin, A. A.;
Shigeki Hadaá. 2001. Permian fragmentation,
104
accretion and subsequent translation of a low-lati-
tude Tethyan seamount to the high-latitude east
Gondwana margin: Evidence from detrital zircon age
data. Geological Magazine. (In press.)
– Eerola, T. 2001. Mud-flows, volcanic eruptions
and/or glaciation in Lavras do Sul, RS. Geological
research in Southern Brazil. (In Portuguese, with
English summary.) Revista Xaman 1/2001.
(http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/ibero/xaman/articulos/
2001_01/eerola.html)
– Eerola, T. 2001. Climate changes at the
Neoproterozoic-Cambrian transition. In: A.
Zhuravlev and R. Riding (eds.) The Ecology of the
Cambrian Radiation. New York, Columbia
University Press, pp. 90-106.
– Ge, W. C.; Li, X. H.; Li, Z. X.; Zhou, H. W. 2001.
Mafic intrusions in Longsheng area: age and its
geological implications. Chinese Journal of Geology,
36, pp. 112-8, 2001. (In Chinese with English
abstract.)
– Ge, W. C.; Li, X. H.; Li, Z. X.; Wang, J.; Zhou, H. W.;
Lee, C. Y. 2001. Geological and geochemical
evidence for the genesis of tremolitized mafic rocks
from Baotan in northern Guangxi. Geochimica, 29,
pp. 253-8, 2001. (In Chinese with English abstract.)
– Ge, W. C.; Li, X. H.; Li, Z. X.; Zhou, H. W.;
Lee, C. Y. 2001. Geochemical studies on two types
of Neoproterozoic peraluminous granitoids in
northern Guangxi. Geochimica, 30, pp. 24-34, 2001.
(In Chinese with English abstract.)
– Ge, W. C.; Li, X. H.; Liang, X. R.; Wang, R. C.;
Li, Z. X.; Zhou, H. W. 2001. Geochemistry and
geological implications of mafic-ultramafic rocks
with the age of ~825 Ma in Yuanbaoshan-Baotan area
of northern Guangxi. Geochimica, 30, pp. 123-30.
2001. (In Chinese with English abstract.)
– Gladkochoub, D. P.; Sklyarov, E.V.; Donskaya, T. V.;
Mazukabzov, A. M. 2001. Petrology of Neopro-
terozoic dike swarms of the Sharizhalgay salient.
Petrology, 9 (6), pp. 639-56. (Complete translation
in English will be published at the beginning of
2002.)
– Gladkochoub, D. P.; Sklyarov, E. V.; Menshagin,
Y. V.; Mazukabzov, A. M. 2001. Geochemical affini-
ties of Early Precambrian ophiolites of the
Sharizhalgay salient (Siberian craton). Geochemistry,
8, pp. 224-43. (Complete translation in English will
be published at the beginning of 2002.)
– Glasmacher, U. A. et al. 2001. The metamorphic
complex of Beloretzk, SW Urals, Russia a terrane
with a polyphase Meso- to Neoproterozoic thermo-
dynamic evolution. Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 185 – 213.
– Hada, S.; Yoshida, M.; Li, Z. X.; Wang, X. 2001.
Crustal evolution in South and Southeast Asia: intro-
duction. Gond. Res., 4(1), p. 3.
– Halls, H. C.; Wingate, M. T. D. 2001. Palaeomagnetic
pole from the Yilgarn B (YB) dykes of Western
Australia: no longer relevant to Rodinia reconstruc-
tions. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 187,
pp. 39-53.
– Jung, S.; Mezger, K.; Hoernes, S. 2001. Trace
element and isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb, O) arguments for
a mid-crustal origin of Pan-African garnet-bearing
S-type granites from the Damara orogen (Namibia).
Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 325-55.
– Kravchinsky, V. A.; Konstantinov, K. M.; Cogné, J.-
P. 2001. Palaeomagnetic study of Vendian and Early
Cambrian rocks of South Siberia and Central
Mongolia: was the Siberian platform assembled at
this time? Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 61-92.
– Kuzmichev, A. B.; Bibikova, E. V.; Zhuravlev, D. Z.
2001. Neoproterozoic (~800 Ma) orogeny in the
Tuva-Mongolia Massif (Siberia): island arc-continent
collision at the northeast Rodinia margin. Precamb.
Res., 110, pp. 109-26.
– Li, X.-H.; Li, Z. X.; Zhou, H.; Liu, Y.; Kinny, P. D.
2001. U-Pb zircon geochronology, geochemistry and
Nd isotopic study of Neoproterozoic bimodal
volcanic rocks in the Kangdian Rift of South China:
implications for the initial rifting of Rodinia.
Precamb. Res., 113, pp. 135-55.
– Li, Z. X.; Powell, C. McA. 2001. An outline of the
Palaeogeographic evolution of the Australasian
region since the beginning of the Neoproterozoic.
Earth-Sci. Rev., 53, pp. 237-77.
– Li, Z. X.; Li, X. H.; Zhou, H.; Kinny, P. D. 2001.
Grenvillian continental collision in South China:
New SHRIMP U-Pb zircon results and implications
for the configuration of Rodinia. Geology. (In press.)
– Loizenbauer, J. et al. 2001. Structural geology, single
zircon ages and fluid inclusion studies of the Meatiq
metamorphic core complex: Implications for
Neoproterozoic tectonics in the Eastern Desert of
Egypt. Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 357-83.
– Lu Songnian. 2001. From Rodinia to Gondwanaland
supercontinents. Earth Science Frontiers, 8(3),
pp. 441-8. (In Chinese with English abstract.)
– Lu Songnian; Li Huaikun; Yu Haifeng. 2001.
Geological events, event sequence and event group.
Geological Review, 47 (5), pp. 521-6. (In Chinese
with English abstract.)
– Mazukabzov, A. M.; Stanevich, A. M.;
Postnikov, A. A.; Sklyarov, E.V.; Gladkochoub, D. P.
2001. The basement of Baikal series at the strato-
type: syn- and postsedimental history. Docklady
Earth Science, 381 (4). (Complete translation in
English will be published at the beginning of 2002.)
– McNamara, A. K.; MacNiocaill, C.; Van der Pluijm,
B. A.; Van der Voo, R. 2001. West African proximity
of the Avalon terrane in the latest Precambrian. Geol.
Soc. America Bulletin, 113, pp. 1161-70.
– Meert, J. G.; Powell, C. McA. 2001. Assembly and
breakup of Rodinia: introduction to the special
volume. Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 1-8.
– Meert, J. G.; Van der Voo, R. 2001. Comment on ‘New
palaeomagnetic result from Vendian red sediments in
Cisbaikalia and the problem of the relationship of
Siberia and Laurentia in the Vendian’ by S. A.
Pisarevsky, R. A. Komissarova and A. N. Khramov.
Geophys. Jour. International, 146, pp. 867-70.
– Meert, J. G.; Nédélec, A.; Hall, C.; Wingate, M. T.
D.; Rakotondrazafy, M. 2001. Palaeomagnetism,
geochronology and tectonic implications of the
Cambrian-age Carion Granite, central Madagascar.
Tectonophysics, 340, pp. 1-21.
– Muhongo, S.; Kröner, A.; Nemchin, A. A. 2001.
Single zircon evaporation and SHRIMP ages for
granulite-facies rocks in the Mozambique Belt of
Tanzania. J. Geol., 109, pp. 171-89.
– Pease, V.; Gee, D.; Vernikovsky, V.; Vernikovskaya,
A.; Kireev, S. 2001. (In press.). Geochronological
evidence for late-Grenvillian magmatic and meta-
morphic events in central Taimyr, northern Siberia,
Terra Nova.
– Pedrosa-Soares, A. C.; Noce, C. M.; Wiedemann, C.
M.; Pinto, C. P. 2001. The Araçuaí-West-Congo
Orogen in Brazil: an overview of a confined orogen
formed during Gondwanaland assembly. Precamb.
Res., 110, pp. 307-23.
– Pisarevsky, S. A.; Harris, L. B. 2001. Rock magnetic
and palaeomagnetic results from high-grade meta-
morphic and intrusive rocks: Determination of
magnetic anisotropy and a 1.2 Ga palaeomagnetic
pole from the Bremer Bay area, Albany Mobile Belt,
Western Australia. Australian Journal of Earth
Sciences, 48, pp. 101-12.
– Pisarevsky, S. A.; Ivanova, I. V.; Khramov, A. N.;
Gooskova, E. G.; Krasnova, A. F.; Arestova, N. A.;
Lobach-Zhuchenko, S. B. 2001. Paleomagnetic
studies of gabbronorites of the southern White Sea
region, Karelia, Russia. International Journal of
Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, 2, pp 1-7.
– Pisarevsky, S. A.; Komissarova, R. A.; Khramov, A.
N. 2001. Reply to the comment of J. G. Meert and
R. Van der Voo “New palaeomagnetic results from
Vendian red sediments in Cisbaikalia and the
problem of the relationship of Siberia and Laurentia
in the Vendian”. Geophysical Journal International,
146, pp. 871-3.
– Pisarevsky, S. A.; Li, Z. X.; Grey, K.; Stevens,
M. K. 2001. A palaeomagnetic study of Empress
1A, a stratigraphic drillhole in the Officer Basin:
evidence for a low-latitude position of Australia in
the Neoproterozoic. Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 93-
108.
– Pisarevsky, S. A.; Sokolov, S. J. 2001. The magne-
tostratigraphy and a 1780 Ma palaeomagnetic pole
from the red sandstones of the Vazhinka River
section, Karelia, Russia. Geophysical Journal
International, 146, pp. 531-8.
– Powell, C. McA. and J. G. Meert (eds.). 2001.
Assembly and breakup of Rodinia. IGCP 440 Journal
Special Issue. Precamb. Res., 110, 386 pp.
– Jones, D. L; Pisarevsky, S. A.; Wingate, M. T. D.
2001. Paleomagnetic constraints on the position of
the Kalahari craton in Rodinia. Precambrian
Research, 110, pp. 33-46.
– Powell, C. McA.; Pisarevsky, S. A. 2001. Late
Neoproterozoic assembly of East Gondwanaland.
Geology. (In press.)
105
– Salnikova, E. B. et al. 2001. Age of Palaeozoic gran-
ites and metamorphism in the Tuvino-Mongolian
Massif of the Central Asian Mobile Belt: loss of a
Precambrian microcontinent. Precamb. Res., 110,
pp. 143-64.
– Scarrow, J.; Pease, V.; Fleutelot, C.; Dushin, V. 2001.
The late Neoproterozoic Engenape ophiolite, Polar
Urals, Russia: An extension of the Cadomian arc?
Precambrian Research, 110, pp. 255-76.
– Scarrow, J. H.; Pease, V.; Fleutelot, C.; Dushin, V.
2001. The late Neoproterozoic Enganepe ophiolite,
Polar Urals, Russia: An extension of the Cadomian
arc? Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 255-75.
– Sklyarov, E. V.; Fedorovsky, V. C.; Gladkochoub,
D. P.; Vladimirov, A. G. 2001. Syn-metamorphic
mafic dikes as indicators of collapse of collisional
structure at the Western Baikal area at the exten-
sional conditions. Docklady Earth Science, Vol. 381
(4). (Complete translation in English will be
published at the beginning of 2002.)
– Sklyarov, E. V.; Gladkochoub, D. P.; Donskaya, T. V.;
Kozakov, I. K. 2001. Supercontinents at the geo-
logical history of Precambrian. Geotectonics, Vol. 6.
(Complete translation in English will be published
at the beginning of 2002.)
– Sklyarov, E. V.; Gladkochoub, D. P.; Watanabe, T.;
Fanning, M. K.; Mazukabzov, A. M.; Ota, T. 2001.
Archean supracrustal rocks of Sharizhalgay salient
and their tectonic implications. Docklady Earth
Science, 377a (3), pp. 370-5.
– Svenningsen, O. M. 2001. Onset of seafloor
spreading in the Iapetus Ocean at 608 Ma: precise
age of the Sarek Dyke Swarm, northern Swedish
Caledonides. Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 241-54.
– Tack, L.; Wingate, M. T. D.; Liégeois, J.-P.;
Fernandez-Alonso, M.; Deblond, A. 2001. Early
Neoproterozoic magmatism (1000-910 Ma) of
the Zadinian and Mayumbian Groups (Bas-
Congo): onset of Rodinia rifting at the western
edge of the Congo craton Precamb. Res., 110,
pp 277-306.
– Thorkelson, D. J.; Mortensen, J. K.; Davidson, G. J.;
Creaser, R. A.; Perez, W. A.; Abbott, J. G. 2001. Early
Mesoproterozoic intrusive breccias in Yukon,
Canada: the role of hydrothermal systems in recon-
structions of North America and Australia. Precamb.
Res., 111, pp. 31-55.
– Torsvik, T. H.; Ashwal, L. D.; Tucker, R. D.; Eide,
E. A. 2001. Neoproterozoic geochronology and
palaeogeography of the Seychelles microcontinent:
the India link. Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 47-59.
– Vernikovsky, V. A.; Vernikovskaya, A. E. 2001.
Central Taimyr accretionary belt (Arctic Asia): Meso-
Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution and Rodinia
breakup, Precamb. Res., 110, pp. 127-41.
– Wang, J.; Li, Z. X. 2001. Sequence stratigraphy and
evolution of the Neoproterozoic marginal basins
along southeastern Yangtze Craton, South China.
Gond. Res., 4 (1), pp. 5-16.
– Watt, G. R.; Thrane, K. 2001. Early Neoproterozoic
106
events in East Greenland, Precamb. Res., 110,
pp. 165-84.
– Williams, G. E. 2001. Neoproterozoic (Torridonian)
alluvial fan succession, northwest Scotland, and its
tectonic setting and provenance. Geological
Magazine, 138, pp. 471–94.
– Willner, A. P. et al. 2001. Contrasting provenance
signals in Riphean and Vendian sandstones in the
SW Urals (Russia): constraints for a change from
passive to active continental margin conditions in the
Neoproterozoic. Precamb. Res., 110, pp.215-39.
– Wingate, M. T. D. 2001. SHRIMP baddeleyite and
zircon ages for an Umkondo dolerite sill, Nyanga
Mountains, eastern Zimbabwe. South African Journal
of Geology, 104, pp. 13-22.
– Wingate, M. T. D.; Pisarevsky, S. A.; Evans, D. A. D.
2001. A revised Rodinia supercontinent: no SWEAT,
no AUSWUS. Terra Nova. (In press.)
Activities planned
General goals
– Continue to obtain and publish high-quality data
(e.g. ages and kinematics of Grenvillian orogens, base-
ment provinces, basin histories during the assembly
and breakup of Rodinia, evidence for Neoproterozoic
mantle plumes and their possible roles in the breakup
of Rodinia, palaeomagnetism, etc.) in order to
constrain the evolution of Rodinia further, and
– Drafting of 1:10 million tectonic maps for major
continental blocks.
Meetings
The project plans to hold seven meetings for 2002 but
only the first three events below will be the main IGCP
440-sponsored events in 2002:
1. The Grenville field symposium, 30 May to 7 June.
This will be the first meeting of the project in the
Grenville belt. The field workshop will follow the
Annual GAC-MAC Meeting, to be held in Saskatoon
between 26-29 May 2002 (http://www.usask.ca/
geology/sask2002/eng/index.html). There will be
special sessions on 29-30 May at the GAC-MAC
Meeting on ‘Aspects of Rodinia assembly exempli-
fied in the Grenville Province’. The Grenville field
excursion/workshop (post-conference excursion No.
B6) will start on May 30, leaving from Toronto, and
end in Montreal on 7 June. The first part will have
one day in the Grenville Front area, one in the inte-
rior gneiss terranes, and two in the Composite Arc
Belt in Ontario. The second part will be in Quebec,
with one day on the Metasedimentary Belt, one on
the AMCG suite and its tectonic setting, and the last
day on the early arc assemblage (1400 Ma) to the
east. There will be two separate ‘hole up’ days during
the trip for presentations and discussions on aspects
of Rodinia assembly in the world.
2. MXC2 Global metallogeny during the assembly and
breakup of the Rodinia Supercontinent (incor-
porating IGCP 418, 419 and 440), and a related
7-9 day field trip on assembly and breakup of Congo
and Kalahari margins across the Namibian segment
of the Damara belt, July (http://geoconference
2002.com). A special field trip related to the
Mesoproterozoic of South-West Namibia is being
prepared.
3. A meeting of the Rodinia Map Steering Committee
towards the end of the year in Perth to report on
progress made on regional maps, in order to ensure
that a common standard is maintained between the
different map sheets, and plan the next step of putting
them together in an agreed Rodinia configuration.
4. The 16th AGC in Adelaide, 1-5 July, which has a
major theme on Plate Margins and Supercontinents,
a symposium dedicated to Professor Powell, and a
number of relevant field trips
(http://www.16thagc.gsa.org.au).
5. The Gondwana 11 meeting, 25-30 August,
Christchurch, New Zealand.
6. The 19th Colloquium of African Geology, 19-22
March 2002, El Jadida, Morocco.
No. 442 – Raw Materials of Neolithic Artefacts
(1999-2002)
D. Hovorka, Department of Mineralogy and Petrology,
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University,
842 15 Bratislava, Mlynská dolina-G, Slovakia, e-mail:
hovorka@fns.uniba.sk
G. Trnka, Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Universität
Wien, Franz Klein Gasse 1, A-1190, Wien, Austria,
e-mail: gerhard.trnka@univie.ac.at
Description: The main goal of the project is to carry out
interdisciplinary studies to establish the source and
characteristics of Neolithic/Aenolithic stony artefacts
(tools, weapons, etc.) in order to define communication
paths of raw materials in the given time-period on the
European continent. The methodology proposed for
studying the artefacts is typical of the mineralogy and
petrology (thin sections, abundance of trace elements,
isotopes, etc.) and takes into account archaeological
studies, i.e. recent knowledge of migration paths, mines,
Neolithic settlement distribution, etc. The evaluation and
conclusions fall in the field of European archaeology
and will be used to relate artefacts to defined (known)
geological bodies. The proposal will contribute to the
understanding of technical and cultural interaction in
Europe. Furthermore, it encourages the interdisciplinary
cooperation of geology and archaeology and contributes
to the knowledge of migration of European cultures.
IGCP 442 is the first broadly formulated international
project to deal with petroarchaeological and archaeo-
metrical issues.
Website of the project
http://www.ace.hu/ace-home/igcp442/igcp442.html
Participating countries
(*indicates countries active this year)
*Austria, Bulgaria, *Croatia, *Czech Republic, Estonia,
*France, Germany, *Greece, *Hungary, Ireland, Israel,
*Italy, Netherlands, *Poland, Romania, Serbia, *Slovak
Republic, *Slovenia, *Spain, *Sweden, *Turkey,
Ukraine, United Kingdom, *United States, Yugoslavia.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
Published research work concentrated on: (1) areas
(mostly countries, or parts of them) from which raw
materials used by the Neolithic/Aeneolithic populations
are described and in the majority of cases their possible
sources (geological units/bodies are discussed), (2) one
raw material type is described in detail by means of
topical laboratory techniques (electron microprobe, etc.).
Meetings
4th Workshop of the IGCP Project 442, 25–28 September
2001, Udine and Genova, Italy, 26 participants of the
project in Udine and 32 participants in Genova from
10 countries (17 lectures in Udine and 12 lectures in
Genova).
List of most important publications
The following publications have not been listed in
previous annual reports for IGCP 442. Papers which are
listed below with earlier date as 2001 have been
published in the first months of 2001.
Scientific papers published “in extenso”
– S̆rein, V.; S̆reinová, B. and S̆t’astný, M. 2000.
Petrology and Mineralogy of the Neolithic and Aeneo-
lithic Artefacts in Czech Republic. Acta Montana
IRSM AS CR, Ser. A, No. 17 (119), pp. 57-66.
– Starnini, E and Szakmány, Gy. 2001. The neolithic
industry of the Neolithic sites of Szarvas and Endrod
(south-eastern Hungary): Techno-typological and
Archaeometrical aspects. Acta Archaeologica
Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae, 50, 1998 (2001),
pp. 279-342.
– Tez̆ak-Gregl, T. 2001. Polished stone artifacts from
the Neolithic and Aneolithic periods in Croatia.
OPVSC. Archaeol., Vol. 25, pp. 7-25. Zagreb.
– Hovorka, D.; Illás̆ová, L. and Pavúk, J. 2001. Raw
materials of Aeneolithic stone polished artefacts
107
 found on type locality of the Lengyel culture: Svodín,
Slovakia. Mineralia Slovaca, 33, 4, pp. 343-350.
Bratislava.
– Hovorka, D.; Illás̆ová, L. and Spis̆iak, J. 2001.
Plagioclase-clinopyroxene hornfels: raw material of
4 lengyel culture axes (Svodín, Slovakia). Slovak
Geol. Mag., 7, 3, pp. 303-308, Bratislava.
– Hovorka, D.; and Illás̆ová, L. 2001. Raw materials
of Neolithic/Aeneolithic stone bases and Crushers
from the Nitriansky Hrádok site (Western Slovakia).
Geologica Carpathica, 52, 5, pp. 319-324,
Bratislava.
– Hovorka, D. 2001. Peculiar abiotic raw material types
used in the Stone Age for implements construction
(territory of Slovakia). Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4,
Bratislava, pp. 315-318.
– Domínguez-Bella, S.; Ramos Muńoz, J.; Cantalejo
Duarte, P.; del Mar Espejo Herrerías, M.; Castańeda
Fernández, V. and Durante Macías, A. 2001. Lithic
resources in the prehistoric societies of the III–II
millenniums B.C. in the Rio Turon Valley (Ardales,
Malaga, Spain). Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava,
pp. 319-328.
– Thirault, E. 2001. State of knowledges of the petro-
graphy and the diffusion ways of the metamorphic
alpine rocks used for the axe blades during the
Neolithic in the Rhône Basin and the Western Alps.
Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava, pp. 329-336.
– Pr̆ichystal, A. and Trnka, G. 2001. Raw materials of
polished arefacts from two Lengyel sites in Lower
Austria. Slovak Geol.Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava, pp. 337-
339.
– Trnka, G.; Savvidis, S. and Tuzar, J. M. 2001. Lower
Bavarian Plattenhornstein flint from Baiersdorf
imported into northeast Austria. Slovak Geol. Mag.,
7, 4, Bratislava, pp. 341-343.
– Biró, K. T.; Szakmány Gy. and Schléder Zs. 2001.
Neolithic Phonolite mine and workshop complex in
Hungary. Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava,
pp. 345-350.
– Józsa, S.; Szakmány Gy.; Oravecz, H. and
Csengeri, P. 2001. Preliminary petrographic report
on blueschists, the materials of Neolithic polished
stone tools from Hungary. Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4,
Bratislava, pp. 351-354.
– Hovorka, D.; Spis̆iak, J.; Méres, S̆.; Illás̆ová, L. and
Dubíková, K. 2001. Petrological and geochemical
evidences of the eclogite hammer-axe from the
Nitriansky Hrádok site (Neolithic, Lengyel culture,
Slovakia). Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava,
pp. 355-363.
– Illás̆ová, L. 2001. Alkali basalts – raw material of
the Neolithic and Aeneolithic implements (Slovakia).
Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava, pp. 365-368.
– Méres, S̆.; Hovorka, D. and Cheben, I. 2001.
Provenience of polished stone artefacts raw materials
from the site Bajc̆ – Medzi kanálmi (Neolithic,
Slovakia). Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava,
pp. 369-379.
– Chahlikowski, P. and Skoczylas, J. 2001. Neolithic
108
rock raw materials from the Kujawy region (Polish
Lowland). Slovak Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava,
pp. 381-392.
–– Illás̆ová, L.; Hovorka, D. 2001. Maces of the
Neolithic and Aeneolithic periods: Slovakia. Slovak
Geol. Mag., 7, 4, Bratislava, pp. 393-396.
Informative papers:
– Hovorka, D. 2000. IGCP/UNESCO project 442:
“Raw materials of the Neolithic/Aeneolithic polished
stone artefacts: their migration paths in Europe” in
its second year. Archeologické rozhledy L II, 4,
Prague, p. 709.
– Hovorka, D. 2000. Internationales IGCP/UNESCO
Project Nr. 442 “Raw materials of the Neolithic/
Aeneolithic polished stone artefacts: their migration
paths in Europe”. Archäologie Österreichs, 11/2,
2000, pp. 76-77, Wien.
Activities planned
Meetings
1. During the XVIIth Congress of the Carpathian-
Balkan geological association (being member of
IUGS) in September 2002 (Bratislava, Slovak
Republic) workshop (No. 5) on the theme of
IGCP 442 will be held.
2. The final plenary session of the project will be organ-
ized during the second half of October – beginning
of November in Wroclaw (Poland) or in Budapest
(Hungary). Date and place is not fixed yet.
General goals
The plenary session in Genova authorized the project
leader to get all available information in order to publish
the final results of the project in form of a monograph
book, which should cover the whole of Europe issues
of stone raw materials used in the Neolithic/Aeneolithic.
No. 443 – Magnesite and Talc – Geological and
Environmental Correlations (2000-2004)
M. Radvanec, Geological Survey of Slovak Republic,
Markus̆ovska cesta 1, 052 01 Spis̆ská Nová Ves, Slovak
Republic, e-mail: radvanec@gsrcsnv.sk
W. Prochaska, Department of Geological Sciences
University of Leoben, A-8700 Leoben, Austria; e-mail:
prochask@unileoben.ac.at
A. C. Gondim, Federal University of Paraná, Rua
Marechal Mallet 185/401, 80540-230 Curitiba-PR,
Brazil; e-mail: gondim@geologia.ufpr.br
Cai Keqin, China University of Geosciences,
29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083,
P.R.China; e-mail: cai@mail.ngl.org.cn
Description: The project intends, to improve knowledge
about the specific genesis aspects of magnesite and talc
(controversial models on the origin of magnesite accu-
mulations still exist today), and their behaviour in
geological processes, then to find new ways to minimise
the negative impact on the environment of the exploita-
tion of magnesite and talc. Specifically, the project will
cover aspects related to the contamination of aquifers
in the vicinity of mineral deposits, development of Karst
triggered or accelerated by the exploitation of deposits
hosted in carbonate rocks and geo-environmental
monitoring and modelling. Indeed, magnesite and talc
are raw materials which are gaining in importance in
everyday life. In many countries, magnesite and talc
remain the major industrially exploited raw materials.
Therefore, it is essential to find new, very effective ways
of pollution monitoring and environmental protection.
The techniques applied will use structural geology,
petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and environ-
mental geology. Additionally, the non-traditional use of
magnesite and talc (soil improvement, etc.) will be
investigated.
List of countries involved in the project
(*indicates the countries active this year)
Argentina, Australia, Austria*, Brazil*, Canada, Chile,
China*, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt*, Finland*, Germany*,
Greece, India*, Italy*, Japan*, Republic of Korea,
Namibia, Pakistan, Russia*, Slovakia*, Turkey,
Ukraine*, United States, Yugoslavia*
Achievements of the project in 2001
General scientific achievements
1. Geology, structure geology, geochemistry,
petrology and mineralogy of magnesite and talc
deposits
IGCP 443 studied individual genetic types of deposits
and carried out sampling for further petrological, isotopic
and petrotectonic research. The correlation in Carinthia,
Austria, (realized already in May 2000, but with ongoing
research this year) was focused on the magnesite deposit
Radentheim, originally interpreted to be a constituent of
Middle Austro-Alpine Unit. Most of the magnesite of
the Eastern Alps occurs in Palaeozoic series of the Upper
Austroalpine units. New research related to IGCP 443
indicates an interpretation of exceptional position of
Radenthein deposit being a tectonic wedge thrusted into
the Austroalpine crystalline basement. According to the
special chemistry of inclusion fluids the metasomatic
stocks of sparry magnesite were formed by evaporitic
bittern brines during the Permoscythian in a very shallow
hydrothermal environment, where these fluids came in
contact with underlying Palaeozoic carbonates per-
colating through brittle fractures originating in a rift
environment.
First results of fluid investigations on magnesites and
dolomites from the Eastern Alps show very high Br/Cl
ratios of the inclusion fluids thus indicating highly
evolved seawater to be the mineralizing fluid for the
magnesite mineralization. During their downward flow
into the brittle fractures of the crust, these fluids can be
incorporated into hydrothermal systems still exhibiting
their original ratios. While percolating into deeper crustal
levels, water-rock reactions caused a reducing environ-
ment and leaching of Fe, resulting in the formation of
siderite deposits. The immediate transition in the fluid
composition between marine host rock carbonates and
the minealizations characterized by evaporitic fluids is
not compatible with a simple marine-sedimentary model.
Generally, the formation of talc deposits in the Eastern
Alps can be attributed to the Alpine orogenic cycle. One
of the most striking features of this type of talc deposits
is their localization in prominent thrust zones and faults
transecting carbonate series of the Carboniferous Veitsch
nappe of the Greywacke Zone. The Rabenwald talc mine
was formed during the staking of the Austroalpine
nappes in a magnesite-bearing thrust zone. The Lassing
talc mine is situated in the Greywacke Zone and was
formed by hydrothermal process after the peak of the
Eoalpine metamorphism.
Talc formation in Austrian deposits Rabenwald and
Lassing is due to the ingress of Si-bearing hydrothermal
fluids reacting with the dolomitic component of the
carbonate rocks. Talc formation took place according to
the reaction:
3CaMg(CO3)2 + 4SiO2(aqu.) + 6HCl <--->.
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 + 3 CaCl2 + 2 H2CO3 + 4CO2
As a result of this hydrothermal reaction only newly
formed talc and residual (recrystallized) dolomite can
be found in the talc-bearing area. Continuous availability
of H2O and removal of CO2 from the system along frac-
tures are basic requirements for talc formation.
Talc represents a product of metamorphic reactions that
can be enriched by subsequent deformation due to the
high strength contrast between talc and other rock-
forming minerals. This model was deduced from struc-
tural data collected within the Lassing talc deposit where
talc constitutes fault cores within the Palten fault zone.
Talc likely formed by the metamorphic reaction quartz
+ dolomite + H2O <-->. talc + calcite + H2O within
greenschist facies conditions was subsequently enriched
to pure talc lenses by a succession of regionally
controlled deformation events because talc behaved
ductile in contrast to brittle-deformed country rocks.
Talc bodies progressively formed along continuous
C-surfaces along which slip occurred.
To evaluate the Brazilian talc occurrences in Paraná
state, there were revealed four main geological controls
of deposits location. These are now used for prospecting
in Paraná talc district. Late Proterozoic Itaiacoca
109
Group, lithologic control by dolomite marbles and
structural control by fault systems represent the main
lithostratigraphic control. Dolerite dykes and quartzites
of vertical to subvertical dips represent morphologic
controls. Dolerites and quartzites are more weathering
resistant than the host dolomite marbles, protecting the
talc bodies against the erosion. Talc occurrences in
Bahia State, Brazil, were classified into several geneti-
cal types. Talc is present in crystalline rocks of Archean
and Palaeoproterozoic age, next in chemical sediments
hosted by Palaeoproterozoic volcanosedimentary
complexes, and in Transamazonic and older granitic
rocks, intruding former ones. Research confirms meta-
somatic and metamorphic origin of talc. During meta-
somatism of pre-existing lithotypes the transformations
occurred in mafic-ultramafic bodies included in gran-
ulitic and gneissic migmatitic basement, in chemical
sedimentary facies of silicate and carbonate types
as well as iron-poor carbonate-rich sediments.
Metasomatism of mafic-ultramafic rocks and magne-
sian limestones is related to CO2-rich, resp. SiO2-rich
hydrothermal solutions. The CO 2 content of the
hydrothermal solutions could be derived from decay of
preexisting carbonates by tectonometamorphic
processes taking place during the Transamazonian
tectonothermal and magmatic events. The silica neces-
sary for talcification of magnesian carbonates was
probably supplied by intrusive processes. The absence
of minnesotaite (resulting from metamorphism of
greenalite – being the product of diagenesis of iron-
magnesian silicate gels) in the talc from Bahia is
explained by the iron deficiency of magnesite and
dolomite-bearing carbonates.
Vein type magnesite was found in peridotite lenses at
the western termination of the Bhavani lineament
forming a part of the Moyar-Bhavani shear zone, India.
The major rock types of the zone, hornblende gneiss
and quartz-biotite schist are mylonitized by ductile
shearing. Structural analysis revealed two folding events
accompanied by pervasive plastic deformation. The
genesis of magnesite veins, being not affected by these
deformation events, is a matter of ongoing research.
The magnesite and talc of Slovakia was the main
subject of the Field correlation in 2001 which revealed
some unclear aspects of magnesite and talc genesis
(e.g. different stratigraphic affiliation of corresponding
deposits with corresponding lithology as well); new
petrological data were presented. The Mg carbonate
occurrence Dúbrava, being part of the Jelsava deposit,
mainly constists of magnesite, two generations of
dolomite (Dol1, Dol2) and two generations of calcite
(Cal1, Cal2). Fe magnesite, talc (Mg* = 0.98), chlo-
rite 2 (clinochlore; Mg* = 0.96), graphite(?)-organic
matter, apatite, quartz and pyrite occur in small
amounts. According to the chemical composition XFe
= Fe/(Fe+Mg+Ca+Mn) in dolomite1 versus XMg =
Mg/(Fe+Mg+Ca+Mn) in calcite 2, the temperature of
the replacement was calculated, using the carbonate
110
geothermometry by Powell et al. (1994), with obtained
essential temperature T = 370-400°C representing the
first metamorphic stage (peak of metamorphism) with
formation of Cal2 + Dol1 ± Mgs. The second and major
stage of the replacement formed mineral assemblage
magnesite with reduced amount of dolomite1 at the
beginning of the retrograde metamorphism. Irregular
to tabular inclusions of older dolomite1, being
frequently enclosed inside dominated and chemically
homogeneous magnesite, are interpreted as a relict of
the first stage. In the third stage (retrograde metamor-
phism) the idiomorphic or hypidiomorphic dolomite2
is formed, usually enclosing small and irregular grains
of older magnesite. Dolomite2 with inclusions of
magnesite are well recognized in the youngest talc. In
the matrix, the third stage forms Fe-magnesite (FeCO3
= 9.20-13.30%). Fe-magnesite is usually accompanied
with pyrite and represents cooling during retrograde
metamorphism under lower temperature (probably
below 300o C).
2. Methods of exploration, investigation of the raw
materials and processing
One important result of this thematic group is cata-
loguing of known magnesite and talc deposits and occur-
rences in the participating countries. The database of the
project summarizes deposits from Brazil (110), Slovakia
(10), Austria (7), Russia (11), Ukraine (4), China (7),
Australia (7) and Pakistan (1).
Recent outputs of IGCP 443 in the field of economic
geology are exact numbers about
– Magnesite reserves in the world (divided according
the main producers China, North Korea, Russia,
Brazil, Turkey, India, Slovakia, Greece, Spain,
Austria, etc.)
– World production of natural magnesite (division into
various countries)
– Talc reserves in the world (division into various
countries)
– Talc production in the world (division into various
countries)
Data about reserves and annual exploitation, as well as
methods of exploitation and processing are known from
Brazil, Slovakia, Russia and Ukraine. Slovakia is a type
country where data of economic geology, methods of
exploitation, but also about dressing methods and ways
how to make magnesite and talc plants profitable, are
precisely characterized and published. By this way they
can serve as transfer of knowledge to the countries of
the 3rd world. Reciprocity of knowledge exchange is
documented by information from Brazil, that the explo-
ration of talc in Paraná considers preferably structural
and morphologic controls, being determined by aerial
photos and satellite images, some times geophysical
magnetic methods are used to detect dolerite dykes
configuration. The contrast of electrical properties
between talc bodies and carbonatic host rocks makes
possible and recommendable the application of Spectral
Induced Polarization (SIP) and Resistivity methods for
geophysical prospecting of the talc deposits in Paraná
district.
3. Geoenvironmental models
Environmental protection, inevitable during magnesite
and talc production, has been characterized in the type
case of Slovakia:
Pollution of soil by magnesite dust
The main component of emission is represented with
magnesite dust (approximately 1 mm in size) with
content of MgO 65-85%, where MgO is persent in oxide
and carbonate form. According to the weight of parti-
cles and air conditions the dust has been deposited in
various distances from the polluting source mainly on
agricultural and forest ground which is chemically and
mineralogically changing the soil. If the content of
magnesite in soil is increasing, agrochemical and pedo-
logical characteristics of contaminated soil are also
changing. Contaminated soil is alkalised, the content of
carbon is increasing and the pH value is increasing to
7-9 according to the level of contamination. This contam-
ination is highest in the arable level of soil, deathward
it is decreasing. Soils in more rangy terrain increasingly
suffer water erosion.
Influence of emissions on vegetation
Forest economy is one of the most sensitive branches
(qualitatively as well as quantitatively) towards impacts
of air polluting. Forests dying in industrial areas are a
result of this. Mostly oaks, beeches and in higher alti-
tudes spruces and pines are growing in endangered
forests. The degradation of forests and especially dying
of top branches of trees causes the soil lightning and
growth of new gross vegetation similarly like on forest
glades. According to results from area diagnosis of nega-
tive emission impacts with regard to the influence of
external factors, mainly the configuration of terrain,
three zones of forest threat were established:
(a) Area of strong threat that includes area without vege-
tation and area of dying vegetation. In the case of
Slovak magnesite industry it is totally 1,014 hectares.
(b) Area of medium threat, characterized by long-term
influence of low concentration of emission
compounds (mainly SO2). This type represents
chronic type of damage, mainly damage of sensitive
pinewoods, and such damage can evoke severe
devastation; totally 2,011 hectares.
(c) Area of weak threat (protected zone) characterized
with low level of pollution; totally 3,617 ha
The impact of magnesite emissions on the substances
cycle in forest ecosystems:
1. Decisive changes of soil chemist (pH value of water
in surface area is 9.1-9.3 and HCl pH is 8.6-9.1).
2. They influence negatively both the decomposing of
organic substance and mineralization of organic
substances; they limit the effectiveness of microor-
ganisms and biological soil activity.
3. The dust in assimilation organs damages photosyn-
thesis, causes defoliation and decreases wood growth.
4. They attack and limit the dynamics of physical,
chemical and biological processes as well as damage
absorption complex of soil and nutrition of woods.
5. Mg emission influences qualitative changes in
ecosystem compounds, that means retreat of econom-
ically most important woods and their replacement
by more sturdier woods (e.g. birches, alders, etc.) as
well as quantitative changes – mainly reduction of
wood reserves, soil bonity deterioration, total wood
health and resistance deterioration.
Town forests in areas of magnesite sources are abused
by emissions. The main emission compound is MgO that
creates secondary minerals in contact with water and
CO2. After they fall to the ground and on vegetation,
mainly hydromagnesite appears in contacts with trunk,
branches and leaves. In areas of high SO2 concentration
(acid rains) it is possible and proper to apply MgO for
decreasing the acid content in soil. This positive feature
has already been used in several areas. Second emission
compound is SO2 that can create with water low-concen-
trated acids. Emission compounds in synergic activity
negatively influence the wood in such way, that they
decrease solar income and assimilation intensity which
evokes decomposition of the chlorophyll. They change
the physical and chemical composition of soil, increase
soil reaction and decrease its general fertility.
Influence of emissions on animals
The following facts result from knowledge about high
content of magnesite and other compounds of magne-
site waste in living organisms:
– Surplus of Mg impacts mainly juvenile animals,
because these do not have developed or stabilized
physiological functions.
– Mg is accumulated in organs, bones and fur even in
situation, when highest possible limit 12.5 g.m-2 / 30
day is not overcome.
– Surplus of Mg has negative impact on nervous, renal
and endocrinal systems, on the bones and on the
gravidity of animals.
– Plan indexes for sheep and cattle stock-raising are
not fulfilled due to area pollution by magnesite dust.
On the contrary, pig raising is successful. Damage
for cattle and sheep consisti in decreased weight,
frequent diarrhoea and increased consumption of
mineral substances.
Possible remedy to decrease emission consists in
catching magnesite dust by fabric filter, dust chamber,
electrostatic or other ways.
In the IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter (Mineralia
Slovaca 6:32, 2000) fifteen papers were published. The
additional and subject matter articles were issued at the
“Mineral Deposits at the Beginning of the 21st Century
(section Magnesite and Talc)” edited by Adam Piestrzynski
et al. (2001), SGA-SEG / Balkema, Nisse, Netherlands.
111
Meetings
– 1st meeting of the Slovak National Working Group
of IGCP 443, Kos̆ice, Slovakia, 5 March 2001;
16 participants from Slovakia
– Annual Meeting 2001 – Krakow, Poland, 29 August;
23 participants from 12 countries
– Field Correlation 2001 – Magnesite and talc deposits
in Slovakia (Jels̆ava, Hnús̆t’a, Gemerská Poloma,
Kos̆ice), 30 August – 3 September; 14 participants
from 7 countries
List of most important publications
– Ahmad, S. 2000. Magnesite and talc deposits of
Pakistan. In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and
Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter,
Mineralia Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia, 563-564.
– Burrett, C. 2000. Magnesite deposits of Australia.
In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.),
IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov.,
Bratislava, Slovakia, 561-562.
– Carvalho, I. G. 2000. Talc occurrences in the state
of Bahia, Brazil: a short review. In: M. Radvanec,
W. Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443
Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov., Bratislava,
Slovakia, 521-526.
– Csikosová, A., Novek, Z. and Kameníková, K. 2000.
Position of the Slovak magnesite on the world
markets. In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z.
Németh (eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter,
Mineralia Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia, 530-532.
– De Loyola, L. C. and Gondim, A. C. 2000.
Characterization of the Parana talc deposits, Brazil.
In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.),
IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov.,
Bratislava, Slovakia, 527-529.
– Gondim, A. C. 2000. Magnesite and talc in Brazil
related to the world context. In: M. Radvanec, W.
Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443
Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov., Bratislava,
Slovakia, 517-520.
– Gondim, A. C. 2001. Magnesite and talc in Brazil
related to the world context. In: A. Piestrzynski et al
(eds.), Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the 21st
Century. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 985-988.
– Grecula, P.; Radvanec, M. and Nemeth, Z. 2000.
Magnesite and talc mineralization in Slovakia. In: M.
Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP
443 Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov.,
Bratislava, Slovakia, 533-542.
– Guerstein, P. 2000. Talc deposits in the central
western sector of Argentina. In: M. Radvanec, W.
Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443
Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov., Bratislava,
Slovakia, 567-568.
– Jiang, S.-Y. and Jiang, Y.-H. 2000. Talc and magne-
site deposits in China. In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska
and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory
112
Newsletter, Mineralia Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia,
559-560.
– Jiang, S.-Y.; Ni, P.; Ling, H.-F. and Jiang, Y.-H. 2001.
Boron isotope geochemistry of borate and magne-
site deposits in eastern Liaoning and Jilin Provinces
of China. In: A. Piestrzynski et al (eds.), Mineral
Deposits at the beginning of the 21st Century.
A.A.Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the Netherlands,
989-991.
– Komatina, S. M. and Komatina, M. 2000. Types of
magnesite deposits in Yugoslavia. In: M. Radvanec,
W. Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443
Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov., Bratislava,
Slovakia, 549-550.
– Komov, I. L. 2000. Magnesian raw material of
Ukraine. In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z.
Németh (eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter,
Mineralia Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia, the
Netherlands, 555-558.
– Komov, I. L. and Kulish, E. 2001. Methods of explo-
ration and investigation of the Magnesian raw mate-
rial in Ukraine. In: A. Piestrzynski et al (eds.),
Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the 21st
Century. A.A.Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 993-996.
– Krupenin, M. T. and Ellmies, R. 2001. Genetic
features of sparry magnesites in Proterozoic
carbonate rocks of the Southern Urals. In: A.
Piestrzynski et al (eds.), Mineral Deposits at the
beginning of the 21st Century. A.A.Balkema
Publishers, Lisse, the Netherlands, 997-999.
– Melezhik, V. A.; Fallick, A. E.; Medvedev, P. V. and
Makarikhin, V. V. 2001. Palaeoproterozoic magnesite
from playa/sabkha environments. In: A. Piestrzynski
et al (eds.), Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the
21st Century. A.A.Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 1005-1008.
– Nasedkin, V. V.; Efremova, S. V.; Krupenin, M. T.;
Shevelev, A. I. and Vasiliev, N. YU. 2000. Review of
talc and magnesite deposits in Russia. In:
M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z. Németh (eds.),
IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia Slov.,
Bratislava, Slovakia, 551-554.
– Nasedkin, V. V.; Efremova, S. V.; Boeva, N. M.;
Krupenin, M. T. and Shevelev, M. T. 2001.
Commercial-genetic types of talc and magnesite
deposits in Russia. In: A. Piestrzynski et al (eds.),
Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the 21st
Century. A.A.Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 1009-1010.
– Neubauer, F. 2001. Structural control on the forma-
tion of talc deposits: Lassing, Austria. In: A.
Piestrzynski et al (eds.), Mineral Deposits at the
beginning of the 21st Century. A.A.Balkema
Publishers, Lisse, the Netherlands, 1011-1014.
– Novek, Z.; Csikosová, A.; Kameníková, K. 2000.
Magnesite production – threat for living environ-
ment? In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z. Németh
(eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter, Mineralia
Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia, 569-570.
– Novek, Z.; Csikósová, A. and Kameníková, K. 2001.
Quality of the magnesite production relating to the
living environment. In: A. Piestrzynski et al (eds.),
Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the 21st
Century. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 1069-1071.
– Prasannakumar, V. and Nair, P. K. R. 2000. Tectonic
control of magnesite mineralization in Bhavani shear
zone, South India. In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska
and Z. Németh (eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory
Newsletter, Mineralia Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia,
565-568.
– Prasannakumar, V.; Nair, P. K. R. 2001. Magnesite,
talc, scheelite and gold mineralization associated
with mafic to ultramafic rocks of the Bhavani shear
zone, South India. In: A. Piestrzynski et al (eds.),
Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the 21st
Century. A.A.Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 1015-1016.
– Prochaska, W. 2000. Magnesite and talc deposits in
Austria. In: M. Radvanec, W. Prochaska and Z.
Németh (eds.), IGCP 443 Introductory Newsletter,
Mineralia Slov., Bratislava, Slovakia, 543-548.
– Prochaska, W. 2001. Magnesite mineralization of the
Eastern Alps and the Carpathians. In: A. Piestrzynski
et al (eds.), Mineral Deposits at the beginning of the
21st Century. A.A.Balkema Publishers, Lisse, the
Netherlands, 1017-1019.
Activities planned
Specific meetings and field trips
Annual Meeting and Field Correlation 2002 – 9-15
September 2002, Finland (Kuopio, Siilinjavri, Mondo,
Hossa, Kivia).
No. 448 –World Correlation on Karst
Ecosystems (2000-2004)
Y. Daoxian, The Institute of Karst Geology, 40 Qixing
Road, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China, e-mail:
dxyan@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn
C. Groves, Hoffman, Environmental Research Institute,
Department of Geography and Geology, Western
Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, United
States, e-mail: chris.groves@wku.edu
G. Messana, C.N.R., Centro di Studio per la Faunistica
ed Ecologia Tropicale, Via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze,
Italy, e-mail: messana@fi.cnr.it
Description: The ecosystem in karst regions is fragile.
Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanism
governing their formation and of differences around the
world is essential for sustainable development in those
regions. The main goal of this project is to compare the
karst ecological systems in tropical, subtropical, boreal,
arid, semi-arid, Mediterranean, Gondwana and other
regions, in order to understand how karst is formed in
each case. The project will also compare the microscopic
karst ecological system under different geochemical
conditions and for different phases of carbonate rocks,
especially the impact of this background on species
selection and biodiversity. Also, methods for the reha-
bilitation of karstlands will be proposed. The subter-
ranean ecological systems of karst will be compared
from both a geographical and geological perspective as
well as their influence on the evolution of troglobites,
troglophiles and trogloxene species, and the relation
between surface species and the karst environment. The
interrelation of karst ecological systems, human health
and human activities will be studied, including agricul-
ture, urbanization, timbering and mining. The societal
aspects of the project include environmental protection
strategies and health aspects. Altogether, 110 scientists
are participating in this project.
Website addresses related to the Project
http://www.gxnu.edu.cn/KDL (for general informations
of the Project)
http://www2.wku.edu/~grovecg/ (for IGCP 448 past
meeting, and future meeting in 2003,United States)
http://www.hidrogeo.uma.es (for 448 meeting in 2002,
Spain)
Participating countries
(*indicates countries active this year)
Albania*, Australia*, Austria*, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria*, Canada*, China*, Croatia*, Czech Republic*,
France*, Germany*, Greece*, Hungary*, Indonesia*,
Italy*, Iran*, Ireland, Israel, Japan* Lithuania*,
Malaysia*, Norway, Morocco, New Zealand*, Poland*,
Romania*, Russia*, Slovakia, Slovenia*, South Africa*,
South Korea*, Spain*, Switzerland*, Turkey*, United
Kingdom*, Ukraine, United States*, Viet Nam*,
Yugoslavia*.
Achievements of the project in 2001
General scientific achievements
The scientific achievements of the project in the second
year are characterized by an international comparison of
various karst ecosystems along a north-south transect in
East Asia, i.e. from tropical ones to boreal ones. Concrete
achievements of the project this year can be summarized
according to its four objectives on the basis of presen-
tations and discussions in symposia, field excursions and
reports from National Working Groups.
World comparison of karst ecosystems
Based on the 2001 field correlation in subtropical karst
of South-West China and on the semi-arid karst in
Western Beijing of North China, integrating reports from
Eastern Siberia (Russia), and tropical karsts of Ryukyu
113
Island (Japan), Viet Nam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the
project comprises a whole transect of karst ecosystems
in East Asia from tropical, subtropical, coastal, semi-
arid to boreal karst ecosystems. This is a major step for
the project towards the understanding of karst ecosys-
tems in the world. Yuri Trjzhtsinski reported on the char-
acteristics of the boreal karst ecosystem in Eastern
Siberia (50-60º North Latitude), underlain by Cambrian
strata of mixed carbonate-evaporite formations. The
boreal karst ecosystem used to enjoy shallow ground-
water located on permafrost, which supports vegetation.
But global warming and a series of reservoirs constructed
on the Angara River since the 1960s has brought about
the disappearance of permafrost, the draining of shallow
groundwater, and damaging of the Taiga Forest. The
reservoirs also activate the dissolution of the evaporite-
carbonate rock formation, which results in serious karst
collapse problems. In some parts of the west bank of
the Bratsk Reservoir, the density of the collapse pit could
be 2.5-200/km2. The pollution from metallurgical and
coal industries along the reservoirs has endangered fish-
eries. The 60,000 km2 tropical karst on Palaeozoic and
Triassic carbonate rocks in Viet Nam (15-22º N) which
covers 18% of the country is characterized by peak
cluster-depression in the mountainous area and tower
karst on the coast. Do Tuyet states an abundant biodi-
versity, e.g. the thick vegetation cover of evergreen trop-
ical rainforest enjoys approximately 2,000 species of
cormophytes; the phylum chordatas is represented by
541 species, and the Class Insecta has about 2,000
species. But processes of rock desertification, under the
impact of human activities, like those that occurred in
South-West China also happened in the karst of
Northwest Viet Nam. Sambudhi Sudibyo discussed the
tropical ecosystem of the karst belt underlain by Tertiary
limestone at the southern peripheries of Java Island
(7-8º S), the Yogyakarta Province of Indonesia. It is
about 1,000 km long in the east-west direction, and
20~30 km wide in the north-south. Under the prevailing
climatic conditions marked with seasonal extremes of
water and heat, population pressure and bad land use
planning have transformed the karst ecosystem into a
rocky barren landscape that is almost devoid of soil and
vegetation. The remaining soils on karstland are confined
in dissolutional fissures or holes distributed in patchy
patterns between limestone outcrops or boulders. Local
peasants cultivate their soil like growing plants in pots,
the so-called ‘pot culture’. Moreover, Sambudhi Sudibyo
also reported that some cash crops are calciphile and
can grow well on limestone and benefit local people,
such as mango, cashew, and Gnetem gnemon (‘Mlinjo’
in the Indonesian language). Such ecological scenarios
and experiences are quite comparable with those of
South-West China Karst, although the plant species of
Indonesia are more tropical.
In the middle of the great East Asia transect lie the broad
karst areas in China. Chinese colleagues provided back-
graund data on five different karst ecosystems with
different geological, topographical, climatic, vegetational
114
conditions, and human activity: the Western Mountain in
Beijing (40º N), the Jinfo Mountain Nature Preserve,
Chongqing (29º N), Liupanshui City, Guizhou (26º N),
the Stone Forest, Kunming (24º N), and Guilin (25º N).
The semi-arid karst in the mountainous region of the
western suburb of Beijing is underlain by Cambrian-
Ordovician limestone, presenting periglacial shaping and
limestone peaks, the ‘Pseudo Cone Karst’ developed on
Proterozoic siliceous carbonate rocks along the Juma
River. The abundant well-decorated speleothem in the
2,500 m long Shihua Cave which developed in
Ordovician limestone is considered to have deposited
during some warm humid period of the geological
history, such as the stable isotopic stage 5e 130 Ka ago.
The karst vegetation is improving in the areas near
Beijing city and some scenic resorts, but still shows bare
rock in remote parts. Impact of human activities (lime-
stone quarry, cement manufactory, and excess buildings
in scenic areas, etc.) on karst ecosystem were discussed.
The Jinfo Mountain Nature Preserve with over 5,000
species of plants and 500 species of wild animals lies
about 200 km south of Chongqing city or 100 km south
of the Yangtze River. Although based on a subtropical
monsoon humid climate, the high relief (500 m-2200 m
asl) of the Jinfo Mountain and its wide geological
coverage (from Cambrian dolomitic limestone at its foot
to Permian limestone on the top of its plateau) bring
about various karst ecosystems. Experts experienced
how karst features, soils, water chemistry, and vegeta-
tion changed in accordance with changing altitude and
stratigraphy. Some particular species were examined,
e.g. Cathaya argyrophylla which used to be widespread
in the Northern Hemisphere during the Cretaceous and
Tertiary, but declined during glaciations, and now remain
only in the Jinfo Mountain because of its special
geographical situation. Liriodendron Chinese, now
present only in China and North America is considered
as an evidence of continental drift and is found at
1,200 m to 1,800 m in Jinfo Mountain. There are ten
thousand hectares of Chimonobambusa utilis, a partic-
ular species of bamboo with a rectangular cross-section
spreading on the top of the Jinfo Plateau.
On the Guizhou Plateau a deteriorated karst ecosystem
(the karst rocky desert) and its rehabilitation were
examined. The vegetation cover between Guiyang and
Liupanshui city is only 3.15% (for the Puding country)
and 1.14% (for the Shuicheng country). The causes of
karst rock desertification were discussed which include
population pressure (135 p/km2), bad land use in culti-
vating slopes steeper than 25o, poor soil formation on
limestone under intensive karst processes, and slow
rate of vegetation growth on the plateau. On the other
hand, an ecological rehabilitation area at Baihe village,
5 km west of Liupanshui city was also visited. Through
years of afforestation, 8,668 mu (1 acre = 6.07mu) a
secondary forest developed, including 1,000 mu of
dense forest. Studies of the biodiversity in the
rehabilitation areas show that the secondary forest now
includes not only local prevailing species, such as
Pinus armandii, Pinus Yunnanensis, but also many
other species, e.g. Coriaria Sinica, arbutus (Myrica
rubra), walnut, poplar, birch. The rehabilitation has
also improved the eco-hydrological system. An
epikarst spring became permanent with a discharge of
20 l/s, which facilitates water supply for villagers.
The Stone Forest represents the unique karst features
developed on Permian limestone on the plateau surface
1800~1900 m asl. There the most characteristic pinnacle
karst of the world and its varieties were investigated.
The history of the origin and evolution of such a karst
landscape was discussed. In the Naigu Stone Forest area,
participants examined on the spot the action of aerial
blue Algae in the formation of micro karst features and
their function in water detention on the surface of lime-
stone rock. The importance of such phenomena for the
rehabilitation of karst rocky desert was stressed.
Guilin is a paradise for world karst geomorphologists,
especially for those who are devoted to the study of trop-
ical karst. The tower karst in Guilin is developed on a
pure, massive limestone of Upper Devonian, with alti-
tudes from 150 m asl (on plain surface) to 200-400 m
asl (on stone peak surface). It is divided into two subtypes,
i.e. the peak cluster (Fengcong) and the peak forest
(Fengling). The former enjoys a common stony basement,
but the latter is a group of peaks separated from each
other by a flat plain. The karst Hydrogeological
Experimental Site established in the 1980s by a Sino-
French cooperative project is continuously used by the
IGCP projects. It is situated near the village of Yaji at
the east of Guilin. Automatic data log was demonstrated,
and the results of 16 years of monitoring the water cycle
and carbon cycle at the site were noted. A relationship
between the ecosystem and hydrochemistry and the
microclimate was found. Since the early 1990s, the catch-
ment area of the site has been closed for vegetation
recovery. It has thus evolved positively from rocky desert
to secondary grass-bush vegetation, with Vitex negundo,
Loropetalum chinensis, Phyllostachys sulphurea, and
Rosa cymosa as predominant species. The monitoring
data reveals that following the recovery of vegetation the
PCO2 in soil atmosphere and the Ca2+, HCO3- content in
karst water have all increased remarkably. Moreover, the
data log revealed that the conductivity in the borehole
water has increased, and the Ph value reduced during a
storm. These phenomena are considered to result in the
pushing of CO2 into the borehole by storm water.
Meanwhile, the microclimate in the site is worse still
than in the nearby karst forest on the boundary between
Guangxi and Guizhou. For example, the annual variation
of temperature and humidity on the site is 33ºC and 80%
respectively, but in the karst forest, it is only 18.3ºC and
35%. Moreover, the temperature on the surface of bare
limestone in the summer can be as high as 58ºC, a condi-
tion that is very unfavourable to the rehabilitation of karst
rock desert.
Geology and the Karst Ecosystem
A lot of plant species that grow on carbonate rocks are
identified as calciphile. Some of them are beneficial,
such as Zenia insignis chun, Lonicera hypoglauca Miq,
Camellia Kuding, Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr,
Eucommia Ulmoides. Others are found to be harmful,
such as Pteridium, Kudzu vine, Euratorium
adenophorum. Zhang Weiji discussed the formation type
of red soils in the Yunnan Province of China and its
relation to ecology, especially to agriculture, forestry,
water conservancy and environmental protection. Dora
Angelova reported the ecological consequences of
palaeoearthquakes in the karst terrains along the
Northern Bulgaria Black Sea Coast: rearrangement of
karst water basins; cave deformation or collapse; oil, gas
and salt intrusions. Vyda Elena Gasiuniene analysed the
impact of palaeokarst and its reactivation on ecosystems
in Akmene and Karpenai of Northern Lithuania: ground-
water quality; geohazards; and quarrying. Hiroyasu
Furukawa and others found the high permeability of
Quaternary coral reef limestone at Ryukyu Island. Japan
brings about severe water shortage due to rapid leakage,
although the annual mean precipitation is as high as
2,300 mm. Based on the research in Nongla, Guangxi,
a subtropical peak-cluster depression mountainous
village, Jiang Zhongcheng discussed the relationship
between element migration (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Si, Al, Fe,
Mn) in rock, soil, water and karst ecosystem, especially
the development of precious medicinal herbs.
Subterranean Karst Ecosystem
Silviu Constantin reported with a video tape the biospele-
ologic findings by Christian Lascu and Serban Sarbu at
the Movile Cave, on the southeast coast of Romania.
The cave is developed in limestone of the Upper
Miocene, with a passage situated a little lower than
modern sea level. Through diving in a siphon, a totally
closed chamber, 24 m3 in volume, was found where
1,000 cave animals from 33 species including centipedes
and spiders are living in. The closed condition of the
cavity with a temperature between 25° and 30ºC and its
high concentration in methane (1%v/v) and H2S brings
about the idea that the cave fauna is entirely dependent
on chemoautotrophic microorganisms. Li Wei and Yu
Longjiang studied the subsoil bacteria in four different
karst ecosystems of South-West China. The bacteria that
produce Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) which can accelerate
dissolution of CO2 in water and thus enhance karst
processes were screened out. It was found that the
activity of CA in subsoil bacteria is related to vegeta-
tion. Perrin and others reported results of investigating
faecal bacteria in a karst aquifer of the Milandre Test
Site, Swiss Jura. Tian Youping identified 188 species of
aerial blue algae on the surface of carbonate rocks in
the Stone Forest Resort, Yunnan, China, and discussed
their actions on the formation of micro karst features.
Based on a study at Barkly Karst, Northern Australia,
Russell Drysdale reported his findings on the role of
some aquatic insect larvae (Orders of Diptera,
Lepidoptera, Trichoptera) in travertine building. The
115
results of subterranean ecosystem research on the
Guizhou Plateau were demonstrated with an example at
the Zhengjiadadong cave, 1315 m asl.Six classes,
11 orders and 20 families of cave animals were identi-
fied from that cave. The tendency of each Family’s pref-
erence to stay in the entrance belt, twilight belt, or dark
belt of the cave is studied on the basis of statistics. The
availability of beetles, birds and Noctuidae,
Orthomorpha sp. is compared between the caves in
Guizhou and other parts of the world.
Effects of human activities on karst ecosystems
Tan Boon-Kong provided an overview of karst en-
gineering geology in Malaysia, with special discussions
on rockfall, sinkhole and karst foundation problems.
V. V. Tolmachev reported on the karst hazards on
sulphate-carbonate rocks in the European part of Russia,
and suggested protective measures for civil and indus-
trial buildings. Milena Samalikova discussed the karst
formation at Moravia in the eastern part of the Czech
Republic, and relevant problems such as rockfall, sink-
hole foundation, quarrying, and ecological aspects of
civil engineering works. Shane Fryer talked about the
vulnerability of karst terrain to contamination with a
dramatic incident of 3800 gallons diesel oil leakage
which happened recently in the Mammoth Cave region,
United States. De Beer Johannes discussed the ground
deformation problems in the karst of South Africa, espe-
cially those related to gold mining.
The reciprocal changing of biodiversity in the Stone
Forest area, Yunnan, China, in the past half century
provides a good example of relation between human
activity and biodiversity. It was noticed that in the central
part of the Big Stone Forest, the evergreen broadleaf
endemic flora with a nice view represented by Pistacia
Weinmannifolia, Pistacia Chinensis, Nicondra
Physaloides, and others is surrounded by a uni-species
artificial forest of Pinus yunnanensis, and Pinus armandii
widespread outside the Big Stone Forest region. The
explanation of such phenomena was given from a histor-
ical point of view. Early last century, deforestation
happened here following intensive timbering and mining
activities. Since the 1950s, the planting of selective fast
growing and economically beneficial species such as
Eucalyptus and pine trees has brought about quick
afforestation, on the one hand, but a reduction of the
biodiversity, on the other hand. Later, the disadvantages
of uni-species forests, such as frequent large scale Pine
moth hazards happened. In the late 1980s, it was decided
to protect the biodiversity in the central part of the Stone
Forest Scenic Resort. Some planted species were cut.
Under the favourable climatic conditions, biodiversity is
improving in the central part but a uni-species forest still
remains in the surrounding areas.
The Lionne Karst Spring at Swiss Jura is a test site of
COST (European Commission: Cooperation of Science
and Technology), Action 620, for Karst Hydrogeology and
Vulnerability Study. Its catchment area is situated 1300-
116
1500 m asl on the southern side of Joux Lake, and under-
lain by Jurassic limestone outcropped at series of North-
East anticlines and synclines (from north to south:
Chaumilles anticline, Grand Essert syncline, and Bucley
anticline). It covers an area of about 30 km2. The Jurassic
limestone is gently dipped and favourable for karstifica-
tion and infiltration, but becomes steep near the Lionne
Spring, where the argillaceous bed of Cretaceous blocks
the hydrological system and makes the spring flow out.
The discharge of the spring ranges between 100 l/s and
8500 l/s. A series of research works on this typical karst
system has been carried out by the Centre d’hydrogéologie
de Neuchâtel, including hydrogeological survey, caving,
tracing, infiltration test, hydrological, hydrochemical,
bacteriological, and meteorological monitoring.
Meetings
1. Joint Meeting of the ‘First International Conference
on Sustainable Development in Karst Region’ and
IGCP 448, Beijing, China, 30-31 August 2001.
(73 participants from 18 countries took part.)
2. IGCP 448 meeting in conjunction with the 7th
Conference on Limestone Hydrology and Fissured
Media, Besançon, France, 20-23 September 2001.
(187 people from 17 countries participated.)
Most important publications
– Angelova, D. 2001. Paleoseismic Events in Karst
Terrains along the Northern Bulgarian Black Sea
Coast. Acta Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.)
Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 308-15.
– Do, Tuyet. 2001. Characteristics of Karst Ecosystems
of Viet Nam and Their Vulnerabilty to Human Impact.
Acta Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.) Vol. 75,
No. 3, pp. 325-9.
– Kaijun, Jiang; Hirayasu, Furukawa; et al. 2001. Water
Resources Development in Quaternary Ryuku
Limestone Regions of Japan: Application of the GIS
to the Site Selection of Underground Dams. Acta
Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.) Vol. 75, No. 3,
pp. 254-9.
– Liu, Zaihua. 2001. Role of Carbonic Anhydrase as
an Activator in Carbonate Rock Dissolution and Its
Implication for Atmospheric CO2 Sink. Acta
Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.) Vol. 75, No. 3,
pp. 275-8.
– Liu, Zaihua; Zhao, J. 2000. Contribution of
Carbonate Rock Weathering to the Atmospheric CO2
Sink, Environmental Geology. Vol. 39, No. 9,
pp. 1053-8.
– Martin-Martin, M. et al. Travertinos del Borde
Noreste de la Depresión de Granada. In: a book ‘La
Cuenca de Granada: Estructura, Tectónica activa,
Sismicidad, Geomorfología y Dataciones Existentes’.
C. Sanz de Galdeano et al (eds.), pp. 22-8. (In press.)
– Samalikova, M. 2001. Engineering-Geological
Problems in the Moravian Karst, Czech Republic.
 Acta Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.) Vol. 75,
No. 3, pp. 303-7.
– Song, Linhua; Liang, Fuyuan. 2001. Distribution of
CO2 in Soil Air Affected by Vegetation in the Shilin
National Park. Acta Geologica Sinica. (English
Edition.) Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 288-93.
– Special Issue of Acta Geological Sinica (English
Edition.) Journal of the Geological Society of China
for the ‘International Working Group Meeting of
IGCP 448’. Chief Editor: Cheng Yuqi. Vol. 75, No. 3,
2001, pp. 239-343.
– Tan, Boon-Kong. 2001. Engineering Geology of
Limestone in Malaysia. Acta Geologica Sinica.
(English Edition.) Vol.75, No.3, pp. 316-24.
– Tam, V. T.; Vu, T. M. N.; Batelaan, O. 2001. Hydrogeo-
logical Characteristics of a Karst Mountainous Catch-
ment in the Northwest of Viet Nam. Acta Geologica
Sinica. (English Edition.) Vol.75, No.3, pp. 260-8.
– Tolmachev, V. V.; Neshchetkin, O. B. 2001.
Evaluation of Karst Hazards for Civil and Industrial
Buildings. Acta Geological Sinica. (English Edition.)
Vol.75, No.3, pp. 269-74.
– Yuan, Daoxian. 2001. On the Karst Ecosystem. Acta
Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.) Vol. 75, No. 3,
pp. 336-8.
– Zhang, Cheng; Yao, Changhong; Guo, Fang. 2001.
Newsletter of IGCP 448. Published by the Karst
Dynamics Laboratory, Guilin, China. 105pp. (hard
copy). Available also on website:
http://www.gxnu.edu.cn/KDL
– Zhu, Xueyu; et al. 2001. Characteristics of Oil
Contamination and Numerical Modelling of Its
Transport in Fractured-Karst Water in Zibo City,
China. Acta Geologica Sinica. (English Edition.)
Vol.75, No.3, pp. 294-7.
Activities planned
Meetings
1. Karst and Environment, 2nd Nerja Cave Geological
Symposium and 2002 meeting of IGCP 448.
Symposium and Excursion 15-19 September 2002.
Nerja (Malaga, Spain), Sierra de Libar, the
Grazalema National Park, and Sierra de Las Nieves,
which is a karst ecosystem under UNESCO’s Man
and the Biosphere Programme.
2. Joint IGCP 448 and Southeastern/North Central
Meeting of the GSA (The Geological Society of
America). Lexington, Kentucky, United States,
4-5 April 2002.
No. 449 – Global Correlation of Late Cenozoic
Fluvial Deposits (2000-2004)
D. Bridgland, Department of Geography, University of
Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United
Kingdom, e-mail: D.R.Bridgland@durham.ac.uk
Description: The sedimentary deposits left by rivers repre-
sent considerable databanks of palaeoclimatic and
palaeoenvironmental information concerning responses in
the land domain to changes in the atmospheric, oceanic
and ice-sheet domain. In recent decades, substantial
progress has been made in the description and interpre-
tation of Late Cenozoic, and especially Quaternary fluvial
systems and their evolution. This project is timely in the
light of these recent advances. The major aim of this
research is to compile and disseminate a data collection
of long fluviatile sequences. As stated, those sequences
are of significant importance in that they can potentially
provide frameworks for Cenozoic sequences on land. First
of all, a methodology and a strategy for the study will be
agreed, and fluvial sequences will be recorded. A data-
base of well-dated Late Cenozoic fluvial sequences from
all parts of the world will then be compiled. The best of
these as regional fluvial strato-types will be designated
with which less well-dated sequences, partial sequences
and sequences from other environment can be compared.
The fluvial sequences are correlated with the global
marine record, by whatever means possible and with
emphasis on a multi-proxi approach. This project requires
a multidisciplinary approach and calls for a team of
specialists dealing with a wide range of techniques such
as lithostatigraphy, biostratigraphy, palaeobotany,
geochronology and archaeology.
Website addresses
Main project website:
http://www.qra.org.uk/FLAG/IGCP449.htm
2001 IGCP 449 international meeting:
http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/announce/cenozoic/circular.
html
2002 IGCP 449-sponsored regional meeting in Canada:
http://www.usask.ca/geology/sask2002
NW Europe Palaeodrainage maps:
http://www-qpg.geog.cam.ac.uk/Phil%27s%20web%
20page/NWEuroRivers/NWeuroindex.html
Countries involved in the project
(* denotes activity in 2001)
Argentina, Australia*, Austria*, Bangladesh, Belarus*,
Belgium*, Brazil*, Bulgaria*, Canada*, China*, Czech
Republic*, Denmark*, Egypt, Finland, France*,
Germany*, Hungary*, India*, Indonesia, Italy*, Jordan*,
Latvia, Lithuania*, Moldova*, Morocco*, Namibia,
Netherlands*, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea*,
Poland*, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia*,
Slovakia*, South Africa*, Spain, Switzerland, Syria*,
Turkey*, Ukraine*, United Kingdom*, Uruguay*,
United States*, Yugoslavia.
The project started in 2000 with 104 identified partici-
pants from 33 countries. The number of countries repre-
sented has grown to 43.
117
Achievements of the project in 2001
General Scientific achievements
Reports from various regional and thematic groups
within IGCP 448 show that project activity in and around
the Phase 1 area of NW Europe has been extended
satisfactorily into phase 2 areas and beyond. Active
contributors have been identified in most countries of
Eastern Europe and in Russia, as well as in the Middle
East, North Africa, India and envisaged late-stage coun-
tries such as Uruguay.
The following reports were received from coordinators:
Regional Reports:
(i) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in the UK (Simon Lewis)
(ii) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in France (Pierre Antoine,
Nicole Limondin-Lozouet and Jean-Francois
Pastre)
(iii) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in the Czech Republic
(Jaroslav Tyracek, Pavel Havlicek and Dan Nyvlt)
(iv) IGCP 449 Activity in Turkey (Tuncer Demir, Sema
Yurtmen and Rob Westaway)
(v) IGCP 449 Activity in Lithuania (Algirdas Gaigalas)
(vi) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in Canada (Serge Ochietti)
(vii) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in India (Sampat Tandon)
(viii) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in Belgium (Frans
Gullentops)
(ix) IGCP 449 2001 Activity in Uruguay (Martin
Ubilla).
Thematic Reports:
(i) Report of the Subgroup on Archaeology from
fluvial sequences (Mark White, Peter Beaumont
and Sheila Mishra)
(ii) Report of the Biostratigraphy Sub-Group of IGCP
449 (R. Fariña, D.H. Keen, N. Limondin-Lozouet,
R. Meyrick, D.C. Schreve and M. Ubilla)
(iii) Report of a putative subgroup on Crustal
Deformation and Uplift Modelling (R. Westaway
and A. Matoshko).
Database formats and protocols were discussed at the
Prague meeting, particularly during Workshop 1, which
was devoted to this topic. It is planned to finalize the
Phase 1 database entry in time for the September 2002
regional meeting of IGCP 449 in Clermont-Ferrand,
France.
A special issue of Proceedings of the Geologists’
Association will be produced as a proceedings volume
for the Inaugural Meeting of IGCP 449. It will be edited
by David Bridgland and Sampat Tandon. It is anticipated
that contributions will cover the following countries
(according to topic, not nationality of author): Czech
Republic, Germany, Morocco, Russia, Turkey, United
Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States.
118
Meetings
1st International meeting, Prague, Czech Republic 21-
24 April 2001.
Attended by 44 participants, representing 18 countries,
this meeting was a great success (see report published
in Quaternary Newsletter, October 2001). As well as
lectures, posters and a field excursion to the Vlatava
River, there were two project business meetings and a
workshop on the project database. At Business
Meeting 1, the project was introduced and there was
discussion of methodology and strategy for the study
and recording of fluvial sequences. Topics on the agenda
were:
Identification and designation of the regional fluvial
stratotypes
Approaches to Correlation
Geochronology
Biostratigraphy
Archaeology.
At Business Meeting 2 the outcomes of the Inaugural
Meeting were summarized and targets and strategies
were established for delivery of project goals, with
names of potential providers identified where possible.
There was also a debriefing on the database workshop.
The agenda included:
Establish data requirements (summary of workshop
questionnaires)
Identity of data providers (names of contributors)
Data production deadlines (important submission
dates)
Annual Report requirements and deadlines (imme-
diate requirements)
Targets for Year II/III.
In addition to the above, there was also IGCP 449 parti-
cipation at the following meetings:
“The Alluvial Archaeology of North-West Europe and
the Mediterranean”, Leeds, UK, 18-19 December 2000.
David Bridgland presented a poster at this meeting
promoting IGCP 449. Flyers on the project were included
in the conference pack.
“The 7th International Conference on Fluvial
Sedimentology”, (6-10 August) Nebraska (United
States). This included sessions sponsored by FLAG
(Fluvial Archive Group) included IGCP 449 contribu-
tions. These sessions were “Fluvial system response to
climate change through time” and “Alluvial and tectonic
system interactions”.
“The 5th International Conference on Geomorphology”
(International Association of Geomorphologists), Tokyo,
23-28 August 2001. Session S6 at this conference was
organized by the IAG and GLOCOPH Working Group
on Large Rivers. IGCP 449 was represented by several
participants.
INQUA Subcommission of European Quaternary
Stratigraphy (SEQS) annual meeting, Kiev, Ukraine,
11-20 September 2001. Several IGCP 449 participants
were involved in the meeting, which included lectures,
posters and a field excursion. Fluvial sequences and
loessic overburden were important themes, particularly
involving the record from the River Dnjeper. Project
co-leader David Bridgland attended and was invited
to outline the activities and objectives of IGCP 449, as
a result of which a number of new recruits were
identified.
List of most important publications (2000-1)
– Alekseev M. N. and Drouchits V. A. 2001. Climatic
events of Kazantctev interglacial and Holocene in the
eastern part of Russian shelf and Siberia. In. Bullutin
of Russian Commision for Quaternary research N64,
78-88.
– Antoine, P.; Lautridou, J. P. and Laurent, M. 2000.
Long-term fluvial archives in NW France: response
of the Seine and Somme rivers to tectonic move-
ments, climate variations and sea-level changes.
Geomorphology 33, 183-207.
– Antoine, P.; Rousseau, D. D.; Zöller, L.; Lang, A.;
Munaut, A.V.; Hatté, C. and Fontugne, M. 2001.
High-resolution record of the last Interglacial-glacial
cycle in the loess palaeosol sequences of Nussloch
(Rhine Valley-Germany). Quaternary International,
76-77, 211-229.
– Bajpai, V. N.; Saha Roy, T. K. and Tandon, S. K.
2001. Subsurface sediment accumulation patterns
and their relationships with tectonic lineaments
in the semi-arid Luni river basin, Rajasthan,
Western India. Journal of Arid Environments 48,
603-621.
– Benito, G.; Gutiérrez, F.; Pérez-González, A. and
Macado, M. J. 2000. Geomorphological and sedi-
mentological features in Quaternary fluvial systems
affected by solution-induced subsidence (Ebro basin,
NE-Spain). Geomorphology 33, 209-224.
– Blum, M. D. and Straffin, E. C. 2001. Fluvial
responses to external forcing: Examples from the
French Massif Central, the Texas Coastal Plain
(USA), the Sahara of Tunisia, and the Lower
Mississippi Valley (USA). In: Maddy, D., Macklin,
M.G. and Woodward, J., River Basin Sediments
Systems: Archives of Environmental Change.
Balkema, Rotterdam, 195-228.
– Bourillet J. F. and Lericolais, G. 2000. Morphology
and seismic stratigraphy of the Manche palaeoriver
system, Western Approaches margin in E.
Community Eds., ENAM/STEAM Atlas.
– Bridgland, D. R. 2000. River terrace systems in
north-west Europe: an archive of environmental
change, uplift and early human occupation.
Quaternary Science Reviews 19, 1293-1303.
– Bridgland, D. R. and Schreve, D. C. 2001. River
terrace formation in synchrony with long-term
climatic fluctuation: examples from SE England. In:
Maddy, D., Macklin, M. and Woodward, J., River
Basin Sediments Systems: Archives of Environmental
Change. Balkema, Rotterdam. 229-248.
– Dodonov, A. E.; Tchepalyga, A. L.; Mihailescu, C. D.;
Zhou, L. P.; Markova, A. K.; Trubikhim, U. M.;
Sunakova, A. N.and Konikov, E. G. 2000 Last-inter-
glacial records from Central asia to the black Sea
shoreline: stratigraphy and correlation. Netherlands
Journal of Geosciences, 79, 303-311.
– Dvareckas V. 2000. The structure and evolution of
river valleys and out-wash channels. In: Stone age
in South Lithuania (according to geological, palaeo-
geographical and archaeological data), ISBN 9986-
615-28-3, Vilnius, p. 101-107.
– Finlayson, B.; Mithen, S.; Carruthers, D.;
Kennedy, A.; Pirie, A. and Tipping, R. 2000. The
Dana-Faynan-Ghuwayr Early Prehistory Project.
Levant 32, 1-16.
– Froese, D. G.; Barendregt, R. W.; Enkin, R. J. and
Baker, J. 2000. Paleomagnetism of late Cenozoic
terraces of the lower Klondike valley, Yukon:
Evidence for multiple late Pliocene-early Pleistocene
glaciations. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 37,
863-877.
– Froese, D. G.; Enkin, R. J. and Smith, D. G. 2001.
Placer depositional settings and their ages along
Dominion Creek, Klondike area, Yukon. In: D.S.
Emond, and L.H. Weston (eds), Yukon Exploration
and Geology 2000, Exploration and Geological
Services Division, Yukon, Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada, 159-169.
– Froese, D. G. and Smith, D. G. 2000. Ground pene-
trating radar investigation of the upper Yukon River
valley between White River, Yukon and Eagle,
Alaska. In: D.S. Emond, and L.H. Weston (eds),
Yukon Exploration and Geology 2000, Exploration
and Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada, p. 211-216.
– Gao, C.; Keen, D. H.; Boreham, S.; Coope, G. R.;
Pettit, M. E.; Stuart, A. J. and Gibbard, P. L. 2000.
Last Interglacial and Devensian deposits of the
Great Ouse at Woolpack Farm, Fenstanton,
Cambridgeshire, U.K. Quaternary Science Reviews
19, 787-810.
– Howard, A. J.; Keen, D. H.; Mighall, T. M.;
Field, M. H.; Coope, G. R.; Griffiths, H. I. and
Macklin, M. G. 2000. Early Holocene environments
of the River Ure, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, U.K.
Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 53,
31-42.
– Jain, M. and Tandon, S. K. 2001. Palaeoclimate
Reconstruction using d13C and d18O composition
of pedogenic calcretes in some Quaternary alluvial
palaeosols, Thar Desert, Western India. Abstracts of
Fluvial Sedimentology 2001, 139.
– Jain, M. and Tandon, S. K. 2001. Comparative
responses of the desert and desert-margin rivers to
Late Quaternary climate changes: A case study from
Western India. Abstracts of Fluvial Sedimentology
2001, 140.
119
– Jain, V. and Sinha, R. 2001. Response of neotectonics
on the anabranching Baghmati river system,
Himalayan Foreland Basin, Eastern India. Abstracts
of Fluvial Sedimentology 2001, 141.
– Juyal, N.; Raj, R.; Maurya, D. M.; Chamyal, L. S.
and Singhvi, A. K. 2000. Chronology of Late
Pleistocene environmental changes in the Lower
Mahi basin, western India, Journal of Quaternary
Science 15, 501-508.
– Kar, A.; Singhvi, A. K.; Rajaguru, S. N.; Juyal, N.;
Thomas, J. V.; Banerjee, D. and Dhir, R. P. 2001.
Reconstruction of the late Quaternary environment
of the lower Luni plains, Thar Desert, India. Journal
of Quaternary Science 16, 61-68.
– Kasse, C. and Bohncke, S. 2001. Early Pleistocene
fluvial and estuarine records of climate change in the
southern Netherlands and northern Belgium. In:
Maddy, D., Macklin, M.G. and Woodward, J., River
Basin Sediments Systems: Archives of Environmental
Change. Balkema, Rotterdam. 171-193.
– Keen, D. H. 2001. Towards a late Middle Pleistocene
non-marine molluscan biostratigraphy for the British
Isles. Quaternary Science Reviews 20, 1657-1665.
– Krzyszkowski, D.; Przybylski, B. and Badura, J. 2000.
The role of neotectonics and glaciations along the
Nysa-Klodzka River in the Sudeten Mountains (south-
western Poland). Geomorphology. 33, 149-166.
– Latrubesse, E. M. and Rancy, A. 2000. Neotectonic
influence on tropical rivers of southwestern Amazon
during the late quaternary: the Moa and Ipixuna river
basins, Brazil. Quaternary International 72, 67-72.
– Lericolais G.; Berné, S. and Fénies, H. 2001. Seaward
pinching out and internal stratigraphy of the Gironde
incised valley on the shelf. Marine Geology 175,
183-197.
– Lewis, S. G.; Maddy, D. and Scaife, R. G. 2001.
Fluvial response to rapid environmental change. A
case study from Ashton Keynes, Upper Thames
valley, UK. Global and Planetary Change 28, 341-
359.
– Maddy, D. and Bridgland, D. R. 2000. Accelerated
uplift resulting from Anglian glacioisostatic rebound
in the Middle Thames valley, UK: evidence from the
terrace record Quaternary Science Reviews. 19,
1581-1588.
– Maddy, D.; Bridgland, D. R. and Green, C. P. 2000.
Crustal instability and the development of certain
English rivers. Geomorphology 33, 167-181.
– Maddy, D.; Bridgland, D. R. and Westaway, R. 2001.
Uplift-driven valley incision and climate-controlled
river terrace development in the Thames Valley, UK.
Quaternary International 79, 23-36.
– Maddy, D.; Macklin, M. G. and Woodward, J. (eds).
2001. River Basin Sediment Systems: Archives of
Environmental Change. Balkema, Rotterdam, 503pp.
– Maddy, D.; Macklin, M. and Woodward, J. 2001.
Fluvial Archives of environmental change In:
Maddy, D.; Macklin, M. and Woodward, J., River
Basin Sediments Systems: Archives of Environmental
Change. Balkema, Rotterdam, 3-18.
120
– Meijer, T. and Preece, R. C. 2000. A review of the
occurrence of Corbicula in the Pleistocene of North-
West Europe. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences,
79, 241-255.
– Mishra S. and Rajaguru, S. N. 2001. Late Quaternary
Palaeoclimates of Western India: A Geoarchaeo-
logical Approach. Mausam 52, 285-296.
– Mithen, S. and Finlayson, B. 2000. WF16, a new
PPNA site in southern Jordan. Antiquity 74, 11-12.
– Mol, J.; Vandenberghe, J. and Kasse, C. 2000. River
response to variations of periglacial climate in mid-
latitude Europe. Geomorphology 33, 131-148
– Nádor, A.; Lantos, M.; Kercsmár, Zs.; Thamó-
Bozsó, E.; Müller, P.; Tóth-Makk, Á.; Jámbor, Á. and
Farkas-Bulla, J. 2000. Quarternary climate changes
and tectonic driven sedimentation on the SE-ern part
of the Pannonian Basin, Hungary – Kurzfassungen
(Abstracts) Sediment 2000, Leoben, 2000. 06. 21-
23. Mitt. Ges. Geol. Bergbaustud. Österr., 43, p. 97.
– Ognjanova-Rumenova, N.; M. Yaneva. 2001. New
data about Baldevo Formation, Gotse Delchev
Basin, based on sedimentological and biostrati-
graphical evidences. Geologica Balcanica 31, 1-2:
126-127.
– Pastre, J. F.; Limondin-Lozouet, N.; Leroyer, CH.;
Fontugne, M.; Gebhardt, A. and Krier, V. 2001. Late-
glacial and Holocene fluvial record from the central
part of the Paris Basin floodplains (France). In
Maddy, D.; Macklin, M.; Woodward, J. River Basin
Sediment Systems: Archives of Environmental
Change, Balkema, Rotterdam, 357-373.
– Plakht, J.; Patyk-Kara, N. G. and Gorelikova, N. V.
2000. Terrace pediments in Makhtesh Ramon,
Central Negev, Israel. Earth Surface Processes and
Landforms 25, 29-39.
– Preece, R. C. and Parfitt, S. A. 2000. The Cromer
Forest-bed Formation: new thoughts on an old
problem. In: Lewis, S. G., Whiteman, C. A. and
Preece, R. C. (eds) The Quaternary of Norfolk and
Suffolk. Field Guide, Quaternary Research
Association, London. 1-27.
– Read, G.; Rose, J. and Kemp R. A. 2000. Palaeo-
environmental reconstruction of glaciotectonized
Early Pleistocene land surface, palaeosol and river
sediments: Great Sampford, Suffolk, England. Boreas
29, 89-102.
– Rose. J. 2000. Pre-glacial Quaternary processes and
events in Norfolk: a review sketch. Bulletin of the
Geological Society of Norfolk. 50th Anniversary
Jubilee Volume, 66-75.
– Rose, J.; Candy, I. and Lee, J. R. 2000. Leet Hill
(TH 384926). Pre-glacial and glaciofluvial river
deposits – with possible evidence for a major glacia-
tion prior to the deposition of the Lowestoft Till. In:
Lewis, S. G.; Whiteman, C. A. and Preece, R. C.
(eds). The Quaternary of Norfolk and Suffolk: Field
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-– Rose, J.; Moorlock, B. S. P. and Hamblin R. J. O.
2001. Pre-Anglian Fluvial and Coastal Deposits in
 Eastern England: Lithostratigraphy and Palaeo-
environments. Quaternary International 79, 5-22.
– Sangode, S. J.; Rohtash Kumar and Ghosh, S. K.
2001. Application of magnetic fabric studies in an
ancient fluvial sequence of NW Himalaya. Current
Science 81 (1), 66-71.
– Sangode, S. J.; Bloemendal, J.; Kumar, R. and
Ghosh, S. K. 2001. Plio-Pleistocene pedogenic
changes in the Siwalik palaesols. A rock magnetic
approach. Current Science 81 (4), 387-392.
– Sandhu, A. S.; Westgate, J. A.; Preece, S. J. and
Froese, D. G. 2001. Glass-fission-track ages of late
Cenozoic distal tephra beds in the Klondike district,
Yukon Territory In: D.S. Emond, and L.H. Weston
(eds), Yukon Exploration and Geology 2000,
Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon,
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, p. 247-256.
– Schreve, D. C. 2001. Mammalian evidence from
fluvial sequences for complex environmental change
at the oxygen isotope substage level. Quaternary
International 79, 65-74.
– Schreve, D. C. 2001. Differentiation of the British
late Middle Pleistocene interglacials: the evidence
from mammalian biostratigraphy. Quaternary
Science Reviews 20, 1693-1705.
– Schreve, D. C. and Thomas, G. N. 2001. Critical
issues in European Quaternary Biostratigraphy.
Quaternary Science Reviews 20, 1577-1582.
– Sharma, S.; Sharma, M. and Singh, I. B. 2001. Facies
characteristics and cyclicity of Lower Siwalik sedi-
ments, Jammu area: a new perspective. Geological
Magazine 138, 455-490.
– Sidorchuk, A. Yu.; Panin, A. V.; Baslerov, S. V.;
Borisova, O. K.; Kovalyukh, N. N. and
Sheremetskaya, E. D. 2000. Paleohydrological
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and Paleohydrology of the Lowland River Basins,
Moscow, 68-84
– Sidorchuk, A. Y. and Borisova, O. K. 2000. Method
of Paleogeographical Analogues In Paleohydrological
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– Sidorchuk, A. Y.; Borisova, O. K.; Panin, A. V.;
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morphology and river flow in the northern Russian
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– Sidorchuk, A.; Panin A.; Borisova O.; Kovalyukh N.
2001. Lateglacial and Holocene palaeohydrology of
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– Sidorchuk, A.; Borisova, O. and Panin, A. 2001.
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and Planetary Change 28, 303-318.
– Sinha, R. and Brahmankar, D. B. 2000. Hydrological,
Morphological and Sediment Transport Characteristics
of Wainganga River, Central India. Journal of the
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– Sinha, R.; Gibling, M. R.; Jain, V. and Tandon, S. K.
2001. Floodplain processes and sedimentation in a
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– Tchepalyga, A. L.; Mihailescu, C. D.; Zhou, L. P.;
Markova, A. K.; Trubikhin, V. M.; Simakova, A. N.
and Konikov, E. G. 2000. Last-interglacial records
from central Asia to the northern Black Sea shore-
line: stratigraphy and correlation, Geologie en
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303-311.
– Tebbens, L. A. and Veldkamp, A. 2000. Late
Quaternary evolution of River Meuse bulk-sediment
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– Tebbens, L. A. and Veldkamp, A. 2001. Exploring
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– Tebbens, L. A.; Veldkamp, A.; Van Dijke, J. J.
and Schoorl, J. M. 2000. Modelling longitudinal
profile development in response to Late Quaternary
tectonics, climate and sea-level changes: the
River Meuse. Global and Planetary Change 27, 165-
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– Tyrác̆ek, J.; Fejfar, O.; Fridrich, J.; Kovanda, J.;
Smoliková, L. and Sakorová, J. 2001. Rac̆ineves – a
new Middle Pleistocene interglacial in the Czech
Republic. Bulletin of the Czech Geological Survey,
76, No. 2, 127-139 (Praha).
– Ubilla, M. 2001. Comment on “The continental
Uruguayan Cenozoic: an overview” by D. Panario
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– Van den Berg, M. and Ton van Hoof. 2001. The Mass
terrace sequence at Maastricht, SE Netherlands:
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– Vandenberghe, J. and Maddy, D. 2000. The signifi-
cance of fluvial archives in geomorphology. Geo-
morpholgy 33, 127-130
– Veldkamp, A. and van Dijke, J. J. 2000. Simulating
internal and external controls on fluvial terrace
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record. Geomorphology 33, 225-236.
– Veldkamp, A. and Tebbens, L. A. 2001. Registration
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– Westaway, R. 2001. Flow in the lower continental
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– Westgate, J. A.; Preece, S. J.; Froese, D. G.;
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chronology dates two extensive glaciations in Yukon
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– White, M. J. 2000. The Clactonian question: on the
interpretation of core and flake assemblages in the
British Isles. Journal of World Prehistory 14, 1-63.
– White, M. J. and Schreve, D. C. 2000. Island Britain –
Peninsular Britain: Palaeogeography, colonisation
and the Earlier Palaeolithic settlement of the British
Isles. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 66,
1-28.
– Yim, W. W. -S. 2001. Stratigraphy of Quaternary
offshore sand and gravel deposits in the Hong Kong
SAR, China. Quaternary International 82: 101-116.
– Yim, W. W. -S. 2001. A ca. 0.5 Ma siliclastics-
dominated inner shelf sequence from the South China
Sea off Hong Kong. Abstract, Earth System
Processes, Edinburgh, June 24-28, Geol. Soc.
America and Geol. Soc. London, p. 80.
– Yim, W. W. -S. 2001. Denudation history in the
formation of alluvial tin placers in Tasmania,
Australia. Abstract, Earth System Processes,
Edinburgh, June 24-28, Geol. Soc. America and
Geol. Soc. London, p. 83.
– Yim, W. W. -S. and Li, J. 2000. Diatom preservation
in an inner continental shelf borehole from the South
China Sea. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18: 471-
488.
– Zárate, M. A. 2000. The Pleistocene/Holocene transi-
tion in the eastern Andean piedmont of Mendoza,
Argentina. Current Research in the Pleistocene 17,
149-151
– Zárate, M. A.; Kemp, R.; Espinosa, M. and
Ferrero, L. 2000. Pedosedimentary and palaeo-
environmental significance of a Holocene alluvial
sequence in the southern Pampas, Argentina. The
Holocene 10, 481-488.
Activities planned
General Goals
To build on work carried out during 2000 and presented
in Prague (and to be presented in India).
To see work initiated in more regions and countries,
following exemplars presented at Prague and India and
disseminated via publications (including special
volumes) and via the website.
To consolidate the work on the Phase 1 area of NW
Europe and to establish the IGCP 449 database by
placing the Phase 1 data therein.
122
Details
It is hoped that the coming year will see publication of
FLAG/IGCP 449 special issue of Geologie en
Mijnbouw/Netherlands Journal of Geosciences. This
arises from the FLAG meeting in Mainz, Germany,
20–23 March 2000. It will contain papers that are contri-
butions to IGCP 449, including a brief review of the
baseline position at the outset of the project.
Meetings
2nd International meeting of IGCP 449 in Kanpur, India.
This meeting will consist of two days indoors, with
lectures and posters, and one day’s field excursion to the
Gangetic plain. Interspersed with the scientific presen-
tations will be two business meetings and a workshop
on dating fluvial deposits. Amongst the presentations, a
significant contribution has been put together by the
Indian community, an important aim of the meeting
being to extend and promote the project in southern
Asia. In addition there will be presentations on fluvial
sequences in Australia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, the
coastal Black Sea, Syria and the Amazon basin. It is
anticipated that publication of the proceedings of this
meeting will constitute a significant contribution towards
the Indian component of IGCP 449.
The 3rd International meeting of IGCP 449 will take
place, in July/August 2002, in Beijing, China.
Regional Meeting of IGCP 449 (NW Europe); within
Fluvial Archives Group biennial meeting, Clermont-
Ferrand, France, 9-14 September, 2002. There will be a
day devoted to IGCP 449, plus other IGCP 449 – related
material in the 3-day field excursion.
Quaternary Research Association field meeting,
Thüringen and surroundings, Germany. There will be a
significant IGCP 449 component to this meeting and the
planned field guide will represent a publication that
contributes to the project.
Global Correlation of Late Cenozoic Fluvial Deposits:
present processes and past environments. This will
constitute an IGCP 449 regional meeting in Canada.
It is intended that an IGCP 449 session will be organ-
ized at the 2003 INQUA symposium in Reno, Nevada,
United States.
No. 450 – Proterozoic Sediment-hosted Base
Metal Deposits of Western Gondwana
(2000-2004)
S. S. Iyer, Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada,
e-mail: iyer@ucalgary.ca
A. Misi, Centro de Pesquisa em Geofisica e Geologia,
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Caetano Moura, 123
(Inst. de Geociencias), 40210-340 Salvador, Bahia,
Brasil, e-mail: misi@ufba.br
A. F. Kamona, Geology Department, University of
Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia,
e-mail: afkamona@unam.na
J. Cailteux, Département Recherche et Dévelopment,
c/o GFI-EGMF, Entreprise Générale Malta Forrest
(EGMF), Parc Industriel, 22, av. Kigoma, Lubumbashi,
Democratic Republic of Congo, e-mail:
jyc.egmf@forrestgroup.com
Description: The project aims to correlate the mineral
deposits through large areas of South Africa and South
America. Recent studies on the Proterozoic base metal
deposits on either side of the Atlantic indicate many
common sedimentological, structural, geochemical and
isotopic characteristics, probably arising from a common
geological evolution. The study will begin by preparing a
database of sediment-hosted base metal deposits in Western
Gondwana. The data acquired will raise the awareness of
the mineral potentials of Gondwana sequences on both
sides of the Atlantic and subsequently contribute to the
development of genetic models for Proterozoic sediment-
hosted base metal deposits of South America and Africa.
The preparation of a mineral deposit map of sediment-
hosted base metal deposits of Western Gondwana is
planned. Specific aspects of the study are the structural
and stratigraphical control of the mineralisation, the timing
of the mineralisation and age of host rocks, the sources
of metal and sulphur and the temperatures of deposition,
the palaeogeothermal gradient during the emplacement of
the deposits, the nature of the ore-forming fluids and the
radiogenic and stable isotopic signature. Therefore, this
project involves the application of many scientific disci-
plines and knowledgeable researchers.
Website of the project
A web page with relevant information on IGCP 450 has
been launched with the help of the Information
Technology Department of the University of Calgary,
Canada.
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~iyer/igcp450/unesco/catalog.htm
Participating countries (all active)
Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Congo
(DR), Germany, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay, United
States, Zambia.
Achievements of the project in 2001
General scientific achievements
1. Update the geochemical, isotopic and fluid inclusion
database of the Proterozoic sediment hosted base
metal deposits on either side of Atlantic and attempt
regional correlation of the deposits and their host
rocks.
2. Develop metallogenic models of Neoproterozoic
sediment-hosted Cu-Pb-Zn deposits of Western
Gondwana.
3. Draft preliminary metallogenic maps.
4. Refine the Craton-specific Pb-isotope evolution
model for São Francisco Craton and model similar
curves for other cratons of Western Gondwana.
5. Organize post-graduate student seminars in the
universities involved in the project.
6. Publication of the Special volume of Ore Geology
Reviews on sediment-hosted base metal deposits.
The stated objective of IGCP 450 is “inter and intra
continental correlation of the geological, geochemical,
isotopic, geochronological and mineralizing fluid char-
acteristics of the deposits”. In conformity with this
objective the project collaborators discuss inter and intra
continental (more specifically cratonic) correlation. The
First Field Workshop in Brazil provided a suitable plat-
form to discuss the initial results on intercontinental
stratigraphic and metallogenic comparison between
South America and Africa. Main results are presented
below:
(a) The Neoproterozoic groups of Bambui (Brazil), Otavi
(Namibia) and Nguba (Congo D.R.) could be equiv-
alent taking into account:
– The occurrence of glaciogenic diamictites (e.g. the
Chuos in Namibia and the “Grand Conglomérat”
in the D.R. Congo) at or near the base of these
Neoproterozoic successions, provides a useful
correlation tool of intra and intercontinental forma-
tions. These diamictites represent the oldest
Neoproterozoic glaciation (746 ± 6 Ma) in
Gondwana and their ages still need to be better
constrained. A second glacial deposit, the Ghaub,
is recognized at the base of the Tsumeb Subgroup
in Namibia.
– Strong sedimentological similarities between the
various platform carbonates of Sete Lagoas (Brazil),
Tsumeb (Namibia), and Kakontwe (Congo D.R.) on
the one hand, and the overlying transgressive pelitic
formations of Santa Helena (Brazil), the Mulden
Group (Namibia) and the Ki.13 (Congo D.R.) on the
other hand.
– Based on detailed studies of lithostratigraphy, sedi-
mentology, palaeontology and carbon isotopes the
Arroya del Soldado Group of Uruguay is correlated
with the Corumba Group of Brazil and possibly with
the Nama Group of Namibia.
(b) Major Pb-Zn (Cu) deposits are apparently hosted in
similar, possibly stratigraphically equivalent
carbonate platform formations, including:
– The Morro Agudo and Vazante deposits in the
Vazante Group in Brazil, which is supposed to be
the stratigraphic equivalent of the Bambui Group.
123
– The Tsumeb and Kombat deposits in Namibia at the
top of the Tsumeb Subgroup.
– The Kipushi, Lombe, Kengere deposits in the
Kakontwe formation of the D.R.Congo.
– The M’Passa deposit in the Schisto-calcaire Group
of the West Congolian fold belt.
(c) Most of these deposits contain germanium sulphides
(germanite, briartite and renierite) and are frequently
associated with Ga, Cd, Ag and In. The significance
of these associated metals in relation to possible
source rocks is being investigated.
(d) The stratiform/stratabound Cu – (Co) deposits or
occurrences of the Congo-Zambia Copperbelt and of
the Ghanzi (Botswana) and Klein Aub (Namibia)
formations occur in siliciclastic, shaly to carbonate
and pelito-arkosic intercontinental successions strati-
graphically below the “Grand Conglomérat” and
Chuos glaciogenic diamictites. As a consequence,
these Cu-(Co) deposits cannot be correlated to the
Pb-Zn carbonate-hosted type deposits of Brazil.
Two interesting hypotheses were presented in the work-
shop and are worth elaborating.
1. Evidence of Palaeoproterozoic collage and dispersal
of some Western Gondwana components, with impli-
cations for the Neoproterozoic metallogenesis
The former perception that many differences exist
between Archean and Palaeoproterozoic basement
terranes of Africa and South America across the Atlantic
gap gave rise to a long lasting puzzle with respect to
the pre-Gondwana cratonic fragments. A new concept
concerning the formation and break up of part of
Atlantica, the first identifiable supercontinent in
Precambrian times has been put forward. The proposed
assemblage includes the São Francisco, West Africa,
Venturi-Tapajós, Central Amazonian and Borborema
provinces, which record the various steps of a fully
developed Wilson Cycle during the Palaeoproterozoic.
This concept may provide a reasonable explanation for
the non-existence of the so called ‘São Francisco-Congo
Bridge’. A newly redesigned configuration of parts of
Gondwana, especially the western part, particularly the
suggested location of the São Francisco Craton, also
reconciles the failed attempts in comparing the
Neoproterozoic base metal distribution of South America
and Western Africa.
2. The Relationship of Neoproterozoic Climate Change
and Ore Genesis
Accurate Trans-Atlantic correlation of Neoproterozoic
strata using detailed litho-, bio- and chemo-stratigraphic
comparison of sedimentary successions in South
America and southern Africa suggests:
– Rifting of the supercontinent around 750 Ma ago
created wide passive margins whose thermal subsi-
dence allowed rapid accumulation and preservation
of shallow marine carbonate sediments worldwide.
124
– Stratigraphic suites of carbonates from these succes-
sions – in particular those from the Otavi, Witvlei
and Nama groups of the Congo and Kalahari cratons
in southern Africa (and their regional equivalents),
and the Macaubas, Bambui, and La Tinta groups in
central South America (with their regional equiva-
lents) are significantly enriched in 13C, punctuated
in as many as four or more extreme negative excur-
sions mostly in carbonates immediately above glacial
diamictites.
Based on the above observations, a new model is
proposed suggesting a strong genetic linkage between
severe climatic and environmental perturbations and
subsequent emplacement of Cu -Pb – Zn deposits in
carbonates that overly glacial strata or hiatus.
INTRA CONTINENTAL CORRELATION
AND REGIONAL STUDIES
In this section the discussion is devoted to the studies
relating to the intra-continental correlation of the
Proterozoic sediment hosted base metal deposits of
Western Gondwana.
1. South America
(a) Neoproterozoic basins of the São Francisco Craton
A significant result with important implication is the
tectono-sedimentary evolution model of sedimentary
basins from Late Palaeoproterozoic to Late Neo-
proterozoic in the Sao Francisco Craton and Aracuai fold
belt, eastern Brazil. According to this model tectonic,
magmatic, climatic and eustatic processes all combined
to control basin evolution. The Bambui megasequence
(ca. 800-650 Ma) was deposited in a foreland basin
during convergent and collisional tectonics related to
closure of the Brazilide Ocean and generation of the
Brasilia fold belt west of the Sao Francisco palaeo-
continental region. The evolution of the Bambui Basin,
whose fill is characterized by three transgressive-
progradational, shallowing-upward sequences, was
mainly controlled by tectonic processes.
Integrated investigations involving stratigraphic,
geochemical, stable (C, O, S) and radiogenic (Sr, Pb)
isotopic, fluid inclusion and geophysical methods
(Bouguer anomaly, radiogenic heat production and heat
flow) on the Pb -Zn deposits of Morro Agudo, Vazante
and other occurrences such as Januária-Itacarambí,
Montalvânia, Serra de Ramalho, Nova Redenção, Irece,
Morro Gomes and Melancias reveal:
– The preliminary metallogenic working model suggests
that the Neoproterozoic sediment hosted Pb –Zn
deposits of the São Francisco Craton are formed
during extensional events, when the steep palaeo geot-
hermal gradient generated by the high heat producing
basement rocks helped the circulation of hot miner-
alizing fluids along the major fault zones. These solu-
tions extracted metals from the basement rocks and
sulphur from the Neoproterozoic marine. sulphates.
– The common characteristic of the enriched Pb
isotopic composition of the sulphides of nearly all
deposits attests to the derivation of metals from the
highly radioactive basement rocks of the São
Francisco Craton. Hence Craton specific Pb isotope
evolution curves were developed for the upper crust
of the São Francisco Craton, using whole rock Pb
isotope data of geological formations spanning a
time period from the Archean to Neoproterozoic.
Such curves plot well above the curves found in the
literature and conform with the radioactively enriched
crust of the São Francisco Craton, where even the
granulites are enriched in U, Th and K.
– Model simulation of the palaeothermal gradient using
the nature of the relationship between heat flow and
the depth of circulation of fluids during metallogenic
episodes reveal high palaeo-heat flow due to
stretching accompanied by intracrustal magma under-
plating.
– Data on trace and minor elements in sulfides and other
minerals (e.g. willemite, chlorite) from the Zn- (Pb)
carbonate-hosted deposits of Vazante, Ambrósia and
Fagundes (Minas Gerais, Brazil) reveal contrasting
hydrothermal ore-forming processes. The inferred
fluid regimes are (a) Vazante: mixing of meteoric and
metalliferous fluid with low reduced sulphur content
channelled into shear zones favouring f O2 / f S2 values
required for experimentally predicted willemite
assemblage stability conditions (b) Ambrósia:
different mineralizing fluid evolutionary stages related
to temperature and f S2 conditions (c) Fagundes:
affinity with oxidized brines derived from a carbonate
– evaporite – shale dominated basin.
(b) The Sul – Riograndense Shield, Southern Brazil
Integrated investigations using stratigraphic, geochem-
ical (microprobe), stable (S) and radiogenic (U-Pb
zircon, Pb – Pb in galenas) isotopic and fluid inclusion
and geophysical methods on the Camaquã Cu (Au, Ag)
and Santa Maria Pb-Zn (Cu, Ag) deposits of the
Precambrian Sul-Riograndense Shield, Southeastern
Brazil reveal:
– The mineralization (ca. 594 Ma) is fracture-
controlled and distal magmatic-hydrothermal (210 to
300°C) in origin rather than stratiform syngenetic or
diagenetic. The evidence for the magmatic
hydrothermal origin comes from (i) sulphur isotope
data of sulphides (-2.6 to +1.1‰) and (ii) concor-
dant SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages (550 to 590 Ma) of
Lavras, Caçapava São Sepé granitic plutons with Pb-
Pb model ages of sulphides and minimum deposi-
tional ages inferred from the K-Ar ages of illites
associated with the ores.
– The structural control of mineralization, the occur-
rence of superimposed mineralizing events, the
temperature of deposition of the early-formed ore
minerals (330ºC to 190ºC), and the sulphur isotope
ratios, indicate a likely hydrothermal-epithermal
origin for the Camaquã Cu deposits, more specifi-
cally low sulphur/high copper epithermal deposits.
(c) Other regions
New studies show that there are other regions, such as
the Araçuai Belt in the São Francisco Craton and the
Corumba Group (Mato Grosso State, Beazil) and Arroya
del Soldado and Lavelleja Groups of Uruguay where
detailed investigations are warranted. As mentioned
earlier studies of lithostratigraphy, sedimentology,
palaeontology and carbon isotopes indicate that the
Arroya del Soldado Group of Uruguay is correlated with
the Corumba Group of Brazil and possibly with the
Nama Group of Namibia. The Arroya del Soldado Group
contains thick (300–500 m) deposits of oxide facies BIF
(35% magenetitie/hematite) and is associated with
magnetite siltstones and black shales. Studies support a
strong stratification and eutroficaton of the basin
favouring the accumulation of base metals.
2. Africa
The studies carried out in the central African Copperbelt
and the Damaran orogen involve stratigraphical,
sedimentological, petrological, geochemical and
geophysical methods. The main findings are:
– The geochemistry of the footwall and hanging wall
rocks and the Cu-Co-Ni ore bodies within the Roan
Supergroup allows further constraint on the primary
source of metals. It has been shown that the primary
source of metals are Palaeoproterozoic and Archaean
low-grade/high tonnage deposits in the Palaeo-
proterozoic Bangweulu block and related terrains and
from the Zimbabwe Archaean craton.
– Petrological and radiogenic investigations on urani-
nite and associated minerals, which are also present
in copper and cobalt ore bodies, demonstrated that
their primary deposition occurred during the earliest
stages of the Cu-Co-Ni mineralizing process.
– A critical review of old and recent sedimentological,
petrological, geochemical, isotopic and fluid inclu-
sion data has led to a step by step unraveling of the
complex syngenetic-diagenetic process which
resulted in the formation of the Congo-Zambia Cu-
Co stratiform ore bodies and the remobilizing events
that occurred during the later Lufilian orogeny.
– Interpretative studies on recent geophysical data
showing the gravity signature for the Neoproterozoic
Katangan Belt suggest the subduction of a northern
plate (Congo) beneath a southern plate (Zimbabwe)
and then a nascent continental collision. The model
is being developed and could lead to a better under-
standing of the distribution of deposits within the
Lufilian orogen.
– Regional stratigraphic studies in Namibia have led to
the redefinition of the two glacial deposits found
within the Otavi Group, a lower Chuos formation in
the Abenab Subgroup and an upper Ghaub formation
in the Tsumeb Subgroup. Both glacial deposits are
overlain by cap carbonates, which are potential explo-
ration targets for Tsumeb-type base metal deposits.
– Local geochemical studies in the Tsongoari area of
northern Namibia on SEDEX type barite occurrences
125
 with associated base metals are revealing pathfinder
elements useful in mineral exploration for such
deposits.
– Ore sampling of selected deposits (Tsumeb, Kombat,
Kuiseb Springs, Otjihase and the Matchless Mine
from the Damaran orogen) initiated in 2001 is
designed to establish the age of mineralization based
on Re-Os and palaeomagnetic dating techniques.
IGCP 450 DATABASE OF SEDIMENT-HOSTED
BASE METAL DEPOSITS
A map and a CD of the main ore deposits of the African
continent have been produced by the Council for
Geosciences (South Africa) as part of the World Map of
Ore Deposits. The data in that document will be re-
processed and updated by the members of the IGCP 450
and merged with the data related to South America
currently in the compilation stage.
The work under progress consists of erecting a tabular
register totally related to and centered on individual
deposits and built by adding all geological, structural,
petrographic, geochemical, geophysical, geochrono-
logical, isotopic and economic attributes along with the
relevant references. The software “IGCP450 – Sediment-
hosted base metal deposits v. 1.0” is under development
and has the main objectives of compiling, processing
and recovering data for the information management of
base metal deposits of Western Gondwana. The soft-
ware, designed by Nelson Custódio da Silveira Filho
(CPRM – Brazilian Geological Survey) and Teobaldo
Oliveira Junior (Departamento Nacional da Produção
Mineral – Bahia), uses BA-Visual Basic for Application,
with a jet engine of MS Access 97 structure. The fully
developed and tested software will be made available in
CD-ROM and could be installed in the graphic environ-
ments of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0
and Windows 2000/XP.
Available data (CD-ROM, geological maps) from the
Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM) in collaboration
with State Geological agencies for the different regions
of Brazil will be utilized by the IGCP 450 researchers
and relevant information will be incorporated into the
IGCP 450 databank. A CD-ROM on the mineral province
of the Bambui has been recently released as a part of
“The São Francisco Project” (www.saofrancisco.gov.br
and http://www.comig.com.br/ingles/menu/index.htm).
The São Francisco Project research plans to carry out
geological studies at 1:100.000 and 1:250.000 scales,
and the listing of the mineral and water resources in an
area of approximately 220,000 km2 in the central-
western region of the State of Minas Gerais, corre-
sponding to 38% of the surface area of the State. It
extends from the western border of the Serra do
Espinhaço to the Triângulo Mineiro region and the
borders of the State of Goiás. Major base metal deposits
studied under IGCP 450 lie within this region of study.
126
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS AND
GONDWANA RESEARCH SPECIAL ISSUES
The first planned special issue of IGCP 450 will be
published in the journal “Ore Geology Reviews” with
full length papers from the General Symposium 11-1
“Pre-Atlantic Metallogeny of West Africa and Eastern
South America” and other papers related to IGCP 450.
This issue is taking shape under the guest editorship of
Sundaram Iyer, Hartmut Beurlen, A. F. Kamona and
A. B. Kampunzu. Ten manuscripts covering different
aspects (geology, structure, geochemistry and isotopic
study) of the deposits of Western Gondwana were
received and reviewed. This special OGR issue will be
published by Elsevier in 2002. A second special issue
of the project will be published in Gondwana Research
based on the outcome of the First Field Workshop held
in Brazil in 2001. Gondwana Research has been selected
for publication as the journal is devoted to studies on
Gondwana.
Meetings
The theme of IGCP 450 was discussed in some of the
national and international scientific meetings such as
2001 the Annual Geological Society of America conven-
tion in Boston, MA, XI Simpósio de Geologia de Minas
Geras (27-29 September 2001) and the Latin American
Geological Congress. Two exclusive scientific meetings
of the project in the year 2001 were organized to discuss
the scientific results of IGCP 450. They are:
FIRST FIELD WORKSHOP OF IGCP 450. The
workshop was held during the XI SIMPÓSIO DE
GEOLOGIA DE MINAS GERAIS at Belo Horizonte,
Brazil, 27 September–3 October 2001. The field work-
shop consisted of scientific sessions (oral and poster
presentations) at Belo Horizonte and Paracatu and field
trips to Sete Lagoas, Vazante and Morro Agudo.
However, it should be reported that the tragic incidents
of September 11 cast its dark shadow over the meeting.
Many of the African delegates cancelled or were forced
to cancel their trip at the last moment despite the
generous financial assistance offered by the Brazilian
Federal Scientific agency CNPq. Yet the delegates from
Africa contributed much in the way of discussion. A
brochure and a CD-ROM containing the abstracts and
other details were prepared and distributed. One of the
sponsors Companhia Mineira de Metais (CMM)
produced an exclusive two-part video on the proceed-
ings at Paracatu.
PROJECT SEMINAR OF IGCP 450
(SEMINÁRIO DO PROJETO)
(http://www.geocities.com/sbg_bahia/Semin_igcp450.pdf)
The project seminar Zn-Pb deposits of the Proterozoic
basin of the São Francisco Craton (Depósitos de Zn-Pb
das bacias Proterozóicas do Cráton do São Francisco)
(FINEP/PADCT III) took place on 11–12 December
2001 at the Instituto de Geociências, Federal University
of Bahia, Brazil. The participants of the symposium were
the Brazilian members of IGCP 450 to present papers
on geological, structural, sedimentalogical, isotopic and
geophysical aspects of the Neoproterozoic base metal
deposits and their host rocks were presented. The esti-
mated number of participants is fifty.
List of most important publications
– Andrada e Silva, A. C. G. and Venusso, G. C. 2001.
Base Metal Ore Deposits in the Ribeira District, Ore
Geology Reviews Special volume, (Editirs).
Iyer, S. S.; Kampunzu, A. B.; Kamona, F. and
Beurlen, H. (submitted).
– Azmy, K.; Veizer, A.; Misi, A.; Flávio de Oliveira, T.;
Sanches, A. L. and Dardenne, M. A. 2001.
Dolomitization and isotope stratigraphy of the
Vazante Formation, São Francisco Basin, Brazil.
Precambrian Research, Vol. 112 (3-4) pp. 303 – 329.
– D’Agrella Filho, M. S.; Babinski, M.;
Trindade, R. I. F.; Van Schmus, W. R.; Ernesto, M.
2000. Simultaneous remagnetization and U-Pb
isotope resetting in Neoproterozoic carbonates of the
São Francisco craton, Brazil. Precambrian Res., 9a9
(3/4): 179-196.
– Gaucher, C. 2000. Sedimentalogy, palaeontology and
stratigraphy of the Arroyo del Soldado Group
(Vendian to Cambrian, Uruguay). Beringeria, 26,
pp. 120.
– Halverson, G. P.; Hoffmann, P. F.; Schrag, D. P. 2001.
A major perturbation of the carbon cycle before the
Ghaub glaciation (Neoproterozoic) in Namibia: a
trigger mechanism for snowball Earth? (submitted).
– Kampunzu, A. B.; Cailteux, J. L. H.; Moine, B.;
Loris, H. N. B. T. 2001. Geochemical characteriza-
tion, provenance, source and depositional environ-
ment of Roches Argilo-Talqueuses (R.A.T.) and
Mines Subgroups sedimentary rocks in the
Neoproterozoic Katangan Belt (Congo): lithostrati-
graphic implications. Journal of African Earth
Sciences (submitted).
– Kampunzu, A. B.; Moine, B.; Bagai, Z.;
Cailteux, J. L. H.; Loris, H. N. B. T.; Ngoyi, K. 2001.
Geochemistry of Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks
hosting stratiform copper, cobalt and nickel ore
deposits, Copperbelt of central Africa (Congo and
Zambia): metallogenetic implications. Ore Geology
Reviews (submitted).
– Kaufman, A. J.; Varni, M. A.; Misi, A. and
Brito Neves, B. B. 2001. Anomalous 34S signatures
in trace sulfate from a potential cap carbonate in the
Neoproterozoic Bambui Group, Brazil. Contributions
presented at the 1st field workshop, International
Geological Correlation Programme 450, Belo
Horizonte and Paracatu, Minas Gerais, pp. 62-65.
– Kaufman, A. J. 2001b. Correlations between
Neoproterozoic carbonate sequences of African and
South American continents. Contributions presented
at the 1st field workshop, International Geological
Correlation Programme 450, Belo Horizonte and
Paracatu, Minas Gerais, p. 61.
– Laux, J. H.; Lindenmayer, Z. G.; Teixeira, J. B. and
Bastos Neto, A. 2001. The Camaquã Copper Mine,
an Early Paleozoic Sediment-hosted deposit in
Southern Brazil. Ore Geology Reviews Special
volume, (Editirs). Iyer, S. S.; Kampunzu, A. B.;
Kamona, F. and Beurlen, H. (submitted).
– Martins-Neto, M. A. and Hercos, C. M. 2001.
Sedimentation and tectonic setting of Early
Neoproterozoic glacial deposits in southeastern
Brazil. In: Precambrian Sedimentary Environments:
a modern approach to ancient depositional systems
(Ed. by W. Altermann and P.L. Corcoran). Special
Publication of the International Association of
Sedimentologists, IAS- Blackwell. in press.
– Martins-Neto, M. A.; Pedrosa-Soares, A. C. and
Lima, S. A. A. 2001. Tectono-sedimentary evolution
of sedimentary basins from Late Paleoproterozoic to
Late Neoproterozoic in the São Francisco Craton and
Araçuaí Fold belt, Eastern Brazil. Sedimentary
Geology, 141-142: 343-370.
– Melo, O and Beurlen, H. 2001. Petrology of the Fe-
Ti ore and its metamafic hostrocks at Barro Vermelho,
Custódia-Pe, Northeast Brazil. Ore Geology Reviews
Special volume, (Editirs). Iyer, S. S.;
Kampunzu, A. B., Kamona, F. and Beurlen, H.
(submitted).
– Misi. A.; Iyer, S. S.; Coelho, C. E. S.; Franca-
Rocha, W. J. S.; Gomes, A. S.; Cunha, I. A. 2001.
The Sediment-Hosted Lead-Zinc Deposits of the
São Francisco Craton, Brazil. Ore Geology Reviews
Special volume, (Editirs). Iyer, S. S.;
Kampunzu, A.B.; Kamona, F. and Beurlen, H.
(submitted).
– Monteiro, L. V. S.; Bettencourt, J. S.; Juliani. C.;
Oliveira, T. F. de. 2001. Minor and trace-element
contents in sulfides from Vazante, Ambrósia, and
Fagundes Neoproterozoic carbonate-hosted Zn-(Pb)
deposits, Minas Gerais, Brazil, as indicators of ore
genesis. Ore Geology Reviews Special volume,
(Editirs). Iyer, S. S.; Kampunzu, A. B.; Kamona, F.
and Beurlen, H. (submitted)
– Pereira, E.; Bernardo Reis and Jose Rodrigues. 2001.
Diamond in Angola: Geological Setting and
Resources. Ore Geology Reviews Special volume,
(Editirs). Iyer, S. S.; Kampunzu, A. B.; Kamona, F.
and Beurlen, H. (submitted).
– Sebagenzi, M. N. and Kaputo, K. 2001. The break
up of Africa in the southeast of D.R. Congo and
Zambia: geophysical evidences. In: Cloetingh, S. A.
(ed) EGS Series Special Publication.
Activities planned
General goals
1. A data base of mineral deposits;
2. Metallogenic maps and development of new genetic
models for the mineral deposits;
127
3. Field workshops (including field trips during the
2002 IAGOD Symposium in Namibia);
4. Post graduate research (incorporating students from
various universities in developing countries);
5. Long distance internet courses.
Scientific activities envisaged are:
• Update the stratigraphic, sedimentologic, geo-
chemical, isotopic, ore reserve and fluid inclusion
database of the Proterozoic sediment hosted base
metal deposits in various tectonic settings in South
America and Africa (including the São Francisco
Craton, the Sul-Riograndense Shield, the Lufilian-
Damaran fold belt, and the West Congolian fold
belt);
• Modelling of the palaeogeothermal regime of the
Proterozoic mineral deposits and cratons of Western
Gondwana;
• Investigate the relationship of Neoproterozoic
Climate Change and Ore Genesis;
• Preparation of a regional exploration database of
Proterozoic base metal deposits of Western
Gondwana by Geographic Information System (GIS)
predictive probabalistic methods;
• Investigate the role of organic matter in the genesis
of the ore shale of the Zambian Copperbelt;
• Refine Craton specific Pb isotope evolution curves
for the São Francisco Craton and other related cratons
of Western Godwana;
• Conduct lithostratigraphic, petrological, geochemical
and isotopic studies on the Arroya del Soldado Group
and the Lavalleja Group of Uruguay and correlate
with Corumba (Brazil) and Nama (Namibia);
• Conduct lithostratigraphic, petrological, geochemical
and isotopic studies on the Roan, Nguba and
Kundelungu successions in Katanga (Congo D.R.) in
order to better constrain the tectonic evolution of the
basin and the origin of the base metal deposits occur-
ring in the Nguba-Kundelungu sequences;
• Conduct isotopic studies on several carbonaceous
markers of the Katangan succession in order to date
the major sedimentological events, particularly the
glaciogenic diamictites. The results will constrain
stratigraphic correlations with equivalent formations
in Namibia, Brazil and Uruguay.
Meetings
The formal second field workshop of IGCP 450 will be
held during the forthcoming 11th Quadrennial IAGOD
Symposium and Geocongress 2002, 22-26 July,
Windhoek, Namibia. A scientific session on stable plat-
forms is scheduled for IGCP 450 participants to discuss
various aspects related to mineral deposits generated by
diagenesis and metamorphism in compressional environ-
ments. A pre-conference field trip to the Zambian
Copperbelt will be held from 14 to 20 July 2002. This
field trip will incorporate field trips to a number of mines
on the Copperbelt. A post-conference field trip relevant
to IGCP 450 will be held from 27 July to 1 August 2002
128
in Namibia. This field trip will include regional geo-
logical aspects and visits to the Kombat mine and Khusib
Springs mine in the Otavi Mountainland of northern
Namibia. Details of the field trips and the IAGOD
Symposium can be obtained from the website:
http://www.geoconference2002.com.
No. 453 – Modern and Ancient Orogens
(2000-2004)
J. B. Murphy, Department of Geology; Saint Francis
Xavier University, Antigonish Nova Scotia, Canada,
B2G 2W5, e-mail: bmurphy@stfx.ca
J. D. Keppie, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico D.F., Mexico,
e-mail: duncan@servidor.unam.mx
Description: The goal of this project is to enhance the
understanding of the causes and effects of modern and
ancient mountain belts, and how these relationships have
varied with time. Geoscientists studying ancient belts
have developed different approaches from those used to
help to understand modern belts. As a result, two
different groups of scientists have evolved with little
communication between them. Therefore, it is important
to bring together these two groups of geoscientists with
complementary expertise in order to provide a more
comprehensive understanding of orogens and their evolu-
tion throughout the ages. In addition, the information
and technology transfer will enhance understanding of
the relationship between geological processes and
resources in developing countries. It is planned to
produce an ‘Atlas of ancient and modern orogens’,
which will represent an important outcome of the project.
This is indeed a typical example of geological correla-
tion on a broad tectonic scale and of exploration of the
Earth evolution in four dimensions. The project will
provide the basis for comparing various geologic and
geophysical expressions of orogenic belts, a summary
of their dimensions, nature of their boundaries and a
distillation of their tectonic histories.
Websites related to the project
http://www-sst.unil.ch/igcp453/index.html
http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/gondwana/index.htm
file:///C|/igcp/igcp2001meeting/IGCP453.htm
The websites contain the project’s newsletters, list of
publications, conferences, and photographs of the field
workshops.
Countries involved in the project
(all active this year)
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Cameroon, Canada,
Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary,
India, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Russia,
Spain, Switzerland, United States.
Summary of major past achievements
of the project
The first annual meeting (October 2000) focused on the
evolution of the modern flat-slab subduction in the
Andes and attracted 45 participants from 10 countries.
As a result of this conference, it was decided to solicit
contributions for a Special Issue of the Journal of South
American Earth Sciences FLAT SLAB SUBDUCTION
IN THE ANDES with Victor A. Ramos and Brendan
McNulty as guest editors. The papers in this volume will
provide the characteristics of flat-slab subduction, which
may be used as a template for the recognition of flat-
slab subduction in ancient orogens. The following papers
are now in hand for this volume with expected publi-
cation in 2002:
– Gutscher, M. A. Andean subduction styles and their
effect on thermal structure and interplate coupling.
– Pardo, M.; D. Comte and T. Monfret. Seismotectonic
and Stress Distribution in the Central Chile subduc-
tion zone.
– Yañez G.; J. Cembrano; M. Pardo; C. Ranero and
D. Celles. The Challenger-Juan Fernandez-Maipo
major tectonic transition of the Nazca-Andean
subduction system at 33°-34°S: Geodynamic
evidence and implications.
– Kay, S. M. and C. Mpodozis. Magmatism as a probe
to the Neogene Shallowing of the Nazca plate beneath
the modern Chilean flatslab.
– Ramos, V. A.; E. Cristallini and D. Perez. The
Pampean flatslab of the Central Andes.
– Heredia, N.; L. R. Rodriguez Fernandez; G. Gallastegui;
P. Busquets and F. Colombo. Geological setting of the
Argentine Frontal Cordillera in the flat-slab segment
(30º00' to 31º30' S latitude).
– Giambiagi, L. B. and V .A. Ramos. Structural evolu-
tion of the Andes between 33º30´ and 33º45´S, above
the transition zone between the flat and normal
subduction segment, Argentina and Chile.
– Charrier, R.; O. Baeza; S. Elgueta; J. J. Flynn;
P. Gans; S. M. Kay; N. Muñoz; A. R. Wyss and
E. Zurita. Evidence for Cenozoic extensional basin
development and tectonic inversion in the south flat-
slab segment, southern Central Andes, Chile (33°-
36°SL).
– Fisher, N. D.; Jordan, T. and L. Brown. The struc-
tural and stratigraphic evolution of the La Rioja
basin, Argentina.
Achievements of the project this year
General scientific achievements
(a) There is an increasing awareness of the role of flat-
slab subduction in the development of orogens and the
connection with hot-spots in modern and ancient
orogens. Features of flat-slab subduction in the Andes
and Rocky Mountains have now been applied to the
Acadian and Avalonian orogenies in the Appalachians.
Thus, the Acadian Orogeny, long regard as the result
of collisional orogenesis between eastern Laurentia and
Gondwana, has found a modern analogue in the
Laramide Orogen of western Laurentia. In these two
cases, flattening of the subduction zone is related to
swells surrounding hotspots. As the continent
approaches the swells, coupling between the down-
going and over-riding slabs leads to deformation with
the deformation front migrating inland with time.
Shallowing of the subduction zone also leads to land-
ward migration of the arc magmatism followed cessa-
tion of the arc. Passage of the hotspots beneath the
continent leads to uplift and erosion, a period of
magmatic quiescence followed by a short-lived, but
voluminous burst of plume-related magmatism as the
hotspot burns its way upwards into the lower crust.
This is accompanied by low pressure-high temperature
metamorphism and economic polymetallic mineraliza-
tion of benefit to society. These features migrate as the
continent moves relative to the hotspots. Given the
multitude of modern hotspots, there is ample scope for
the recognition of others in the geological record.
(b) In contrast, in the Avalonian orogeny, flattening of
the slab is related to younging of the subducting oceanic
lithosphere and collision of a mid-oceanic ridge. A
modern analogue may be found in the western side of
Laurentia, and a field conference in this region is
currently being planned for 2003. Flattening of the slab
led to landward migration of the arc, which terminated
diachronously as oblique collision of the ridge
progressed. The trench was replaced by a transform,
and pull-apart basins formed inland accompanied by
rift-related magmatism associated with polymetallic
mineralization, a benefit to society. As a result, no
terminal collision deformation occurred. This rifting
led to the development of core complexes, which
brought low pressure/high temperature metamorphic
rocks into contact with low grade rocks. Application
of this modern analogue explains several anomalies in
the traditional accordion model for the Appalachian
orogen of opening and closing Iapetus between eastern
Laurentia and Africa. These anomalies includes:
(1) recognition that the northwestern margin of
Avalonia-Carolinia-Cadomia was still an active margin
during the latest Neoproterozoic at which time eastern
Laurentian margin was developing a rift-passive
margin; (2) realization that 170 million years of
Neoproterozoic subduction in Avalonia-Carolinia-
Cadomia terminated not in collisional orogenesis but
with a transition to an early Cambrian platform;
(3) isotopic data indicating that Avalonia and Carolinia
are underlain by a ~1 Ga basement and contain ~1 Ga
detritus in Neoproterozoic units, which may be linked
with the ~1 Ga orogens that encircle the Amazon craton
but are absent in the northwest African cratons; and
(4) subsidence curves, Rodinian reconstructions, and
palaeomagnetic data that led to the hypothesis that
eastern Laurentia lay adjacent to western South
129
America prior to the birth of Iapetus. Thus, ridge-
trench collision provides a mechanism to explain some
ancient orogens that have traditionally been attributed
to arc-continent or continent-continent collision.
Furthermore, Avalonia provides a region where the
characteristics of such a mechanism are well preserved
in an ancient orogen.
(c) On another scale, the consequences of amalgamation
and breakup of supercontinents appears to be similar for
Pangea and Rodinia. Thus, striking similarities between
the late Mesoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic record of
Avalonia and the Late Paleozoic-Cenozoic history of
western North America suggest that the North American
Cordillera provides a modern analogue for the evolution
of Avalonia and other peri-Gondwanan terranes during
the late Precambrian. Thus: (1) The evolution of prim-
itive Avalonian arcs (proto-Avalonia) at 1.2-1.0 Ga coin-
cides with the amalgamation of Rodinia, just as the
evolution of primitive Cordilleran arcs in Panthalassa
coincided with the Late Paleozoic amalgamation of
Pangea. (2) The development of mature oceanic arcs at
750-650 Ma (Early Avalonian magmatism), their accre-
tion to Gondwana at ca. 650 Ma, and continental margin
arc development at 635-570 Ma (main Avalonian
magmatism), followed the breakup of Rodinia at ca. 755
Ma in the same way that the accretion of mature
Cordilleran arcs to western North America and the
development of the main phase of Cordilleran arc
magmatism followed the Early Mesozoic breakup of
Pangea. (3) In the absence of evidence for continental
collision, the diachronous termination of subduction and
its transition to an intracontinental wrench regime at
590-540 Ma is interpreted to record ridge-trench colli-
sion in the same way that North America’s collision with
the East Pacific Rise in the Oligocene led to the diachro-
nous initiation of a transform margin. (4) The separa-
tion of Avalonia from Gondwana in the Early Ordovician
resembles that brought about in Baja California by the
Pliocene propagation of the East Pacific Rise into the
continental margin. (5) The Late Ordovician-Early
Silurian sinistral accretion of Avalonia to eastern
Laurentia emulates the Cenozoic dispersal of Cordilleran
terranes and may mimic the paths of future terranes
transferred to the Pacific plate. This close similarity in
tectonothermal histories suggests that a geodynamic
coupling like that linking the evolution of the Cordillera
with the assembly and breakup of Pangea, may have
existed between Avalonia and the late Precambrian
supercontinent Rodinia. Hence, the North American
Cordillera is considered to provide an actualistic model
for the evolution of Avalonia and other peri-Gondwanan
terranes, the histories of which afford a proxy record of
supercontinent assembly and breakup in the Late
Precambrian.
(d) In 2001, we examined collisional orogens in the
following places:
Mesozoic-Recent: Alps-Carpathians, Verkhoyansk-
Kolyma, western Laurentian Cordillera;
130
Paleozoic: southern Laurentian Ouachitas,
European Variscan, Norwegian Caledonides,
Mexican Acatecan:
Neoproterozoic: Avalonian, Cadomian;
Mesoproterozoic: Mexican Grenville;
Paleoproterozoic: Usagarian belt in Tanzania;
Archean: southern India.
It has become clear that most of the features (e.g. synchro-
nous orogen-wide tectonothermal events, granulite facies
metamorphism, post-collisional magmatism) associated
with collisional orogens are also present in non-collisional
orogens. Thus, the identification of collision as a genetic
mechanism requires the recognition of the opposing
cratons or microcontinents. Furthermore, it is emerging
that while the concept of uniformitarianism appears appli-
cable to the Phanerozoic and Neoproterozoic orogens, it
may not work so well in the Archean-Mesoproterozoic
orogens. This is very significant because the full title of
IGCP 453 is: Uniformitarianism revisited: comparison of
modern and ancient orogens. This topic needs to be
further investigated in the future.
(e) A major result from our field conference is the Swiss
Alps is the development of a comprehensive, Early
Paleozoic to Cenozoic, plate tectonic model for the Alps
and surrounding regions that has been compiled into a
book (Stampfli, 2001, Geology of the western Swiss
Alps, a guidebook, Memoires de Géologie (Lausanne)
No. 36, 195p.). This shows that the Variscan orogeny
resulted from the Silurian-Carboniferous closure of the
Rheic Ocean and the collision of the Gothic and Hunic
terranes with Laurussia. These terranes were rifted off
northern Gondwana leading to the opening of
PaleoTethys between the Gothic-Hunic terranes and
Africa. This was followed by Permo-Triassic closure of
PaleoTethys as another strip of peri-Gondwanan terranes
rifted off northern Gondwana and drifted towards
Laurussia opening the Neotethys Ocean between them
and Africa. Subduction beneath Laurussia produced a
series of backarc basins. There followed the Triassic-
Cretaceous opening of the Alpine Tethys, a branch of
the Central Atlantic, between the Helvetic domain and
a narrow strip consisting of Dent Banche-AustroAlpine-
West Carpathians. Subsequent closure of the Alpine
Tethys produced the Alpine orogeny. Thus the main
conclusion is that the Alps, the type example of a colli-
sional orogen, is the result of several cycles of diver-
gent and convergent (accordion) plate tectonics with the
addition of superimposed lateral dispersal that led to
repetition of tectonic elements.
(f) IGCP 453 is currently soliciting papers relating to
collisional orogens from the Swiss international confer-
ence for a special volume.of Tectonophysics edited by
J. B. Murphy and J. D. Keppie. The end of January, 2002
is the deadline for submission.
(g) In May 2001, the Spanish working group examined
various orogens in Iberia (Cadomian, Variscan, Pyrenean,
and Betic) in the context of modern analogues. This
included a field trip to the Badjoz-Cordoba shar zone
and it control on mineralization. Structural controls
include domino-type faults, brecciation, thrusts, and
saddle reefs, all of which have some societal benefits.
Papers on this topic are to be published in a Special
Issue of the journal Boletín Geológico y Minero in 2002.
Meetings
The 2001 annual conference/field workshop focused on
collisional orogens, and was organized by Gerard
Stampfli, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. In all,
there were 61 contributors from 19 countries who
presented 31 papers. The conference was held in Sion,
Switzerland on 26-27 September. A preconference field
trip (23-25 September) focused on the external nappes
(classical Helvetic domain) of the Alps, including the
Variscan basement. The postconference trip (28-30
September) featured the internal nappes (classical
Penninic domain) and exotic nappes in the Pre-Alps.
The Spanish working group (29 participants, led by
Cecilio Quesada, IGME) organized a conference and
related field trips in Badajoz, Spain in May. Papers asso-
ciated with this conference are published in a Special
Issue of the journal Boletín Geológico y Minero.
List of most important publications
BOOKS
– Special Issue of Boletín Geológico y Minero, In
press.
– Ramos, V. A. and McNulty, B. Editors. In press. Flat-
slab subduction in the Andes. Journal of South
America Earth Sciences
PAPERS
– Javier Fernández-Suárez; Gutiérrez-Alonso, G.;
Cox, R. and Jenner, G. A. In press Assembly of the
Armorica microplate: a strike-slip terrane delivery?
Evidence from U-Pb ages of detrital zircons. Journal
of Geology
– Abati, J.; Arenas, R.; Martinez Catalan, J. R. and
Diaz Garcia, F. (In press). Garnet zoning and P-T
paths of granulites from the Ordenes Complex, NW
Spain. Journal of Petrology.
– Fernandez-Suarez, J.; Corfu, F.; Arenas, R.;
Marcos, A.; Martinez-Catalan, J. R.; Diaz Garcia, F.;
Abati, J. andamp; Fernandez, F. (In press). U-Pb
evidence for a polyorogenic evolution of the HP-HT
units of the NW Iberian Massif. Contributions to
Mineralogy and Petrology.
– Andonaegui, P.; Gonzalez del Tanago, J.; Arenas, R.;
Abati, J.; Martinez Catalan, J. R.; Peinado, M. and
Diaz Garcia, F. (In press). Tectonic setting of the
Monte Castelo Gabbro (Ordenes Complex, NW
Iberian Massif): evidence for an arc-related terrane
in the hangingwall to the Variscan suture. In: Variscan
– Appalachian dynamics: the building of the Late
Paleozoic basement. Geological Society of America,
Special Paper.
– Arenas, R. and Martinez Catalan, J. R. (In press).
Prograde development of corona textures in metagab-
bros of the Sobrado Unit (Ordenes Complex, NW
Iberian Massif). In: Variscan – Appalachian
dynamics: the building of the Late Paleozoic base-
ment. Geological Society of America, Special Paper.
– Martinez Catalan, J. R.; Diaz Garcia, F.; Arenas, R.;
Abati, J.; Castileiras, P.; Gonzalez Cuadra, P.; Gomez
Barreiro, J. and Rubio Pascual, F. (In press). Thrust
and detachments systems in the Ordenes Complex
(NW Spain): implications for the Variscan-
Appalachians geodynamics. In: Variscan –
Appalachian dynamics: the building of the Late
Paleozoic basement. Geological Society of America,
Special Paper.
– Rubio Pascual, F. J.; Arenas, R.; Diaz Garcia, F.;
Martinez Catalan, J. R. and Abati, J. (In press).
Contrasting high-pressure metabasites from the
Santiago Unit (Ordenes Complex, NW Iberian
Massif, Spain). In: Variscan – Appalachian dynamics:
the building of the Late Paleozoic basement.
Geological Society of America, Special Paper.
– Keppie, D. F.; Keppie, J. D. and Murphy, J. B. 2002.
Saddle-reef auriferous veins in a conical fold termi-
nation (Oldham Anticline, Meguma Terrane, Nova
Scotia, Canada): reconciliation of structural and age
data. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 39, in
press.
– Murphy, J. B. and Nance, R. D. 2002. Nd-Sm isotopic
systematics as tectonic tracers: an example from
West Avalonia, Canadian Appalachians Earth Science
Reviews, in press.
– Murphy, J. B. 2002. Geochemistry of the
Neoproterozoic metasedimentary Gamble Brook
Formation, Avalon terrane, Nova Scotia: evidence for
a rifted arc environment along the west Gondwanan
margin of Rodinia. Journal of Geology, v. 110, in
press.
– Nance, R. D.; Murphy, J. B. and Keppie, J. D. 2002.
Cordilleran model for the evolution of Avalonia.
Tectonophysics, in press.
– Keppie, J. D. and Dostal, J. In press. Evaluation of
the Baja controversy using paleomagnetic and faunal
data, plume magmatism and piercing points.
Tectonophysics.
– Nance, R. D.; Murphy, J. B. and Keppie, J. D. In
press. A Cordilleran model for the evolution of
Avalonia. Tectonophysics.
– Solari, L.; Dostal, J.; Ortega-Gutiérrez, F. and
Keppie, J. D. In press. The 275 Ma Carbonera stock
in the northern Oaxacan Complex of wouthern
Mexico: U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry.
Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas.
– Keppie, J. D.; Dostal, J.; Ortega-Gutierrez, F. and
Lopez, R. In press. A Grenvillian arc on the margin
of Amazonia: evidence from the southern Oaxacan
Complex, southern Mexico. Precambrian Research.
– Murphy, J. B.; Keppie, J. D.; Stacey, J. S. and
131
 Trainor, R. 2001. The Neoproterozoic history of the
Hollow Fault Zone, Avalon terrane, mainland Nova
Scotia. Journal of Structural Geology, v.23, p. 1067-
1078.
– Keppie, J. D. and Dostal, J. In press. Evaluation of
the Baja controversy using paleomagnetic and faunal
data, plume magmatism and piercing points.
Tectonophysics.
Activities planned
Meetings
Next year’s conference will be held at the University of
Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, from 25 to
30 August 2002 and is being organized by Bryan Storey.
The meeting will be held in conjunction with
Gondwana 11 and will focus on the evolution of the
Gondwanan Earth System through time. There are a
wide variety of pre- and post-conference field trips
planned, ranging from Neotectonics of the South Island
to an examination of the collage of Gondwanan terranes.
Linking the project meeting with the Gondwana confer-
ence will probably result better exposure for IGCP 453
and in more participants.
No. 454 – Medical Geology (2000-2004)
O. Selinus, Geological Survey of Sweden, P.O. Box 670,
SE-75128 Uppsala, Sweden; e-mail: olle.selinus@sgu.se
P. Bobrowsky, British Columbia Geological Survey
Branch, PO Box 9320, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC,
Canada V8W 9N3; e-mail:
peter.bobrowsky@gems7.gov.bc.ca
Description: ‘Medical Geology’ is defined as the science
dealing with the relationship between natural geological
factors and health problems in men and animal, including
the understanding of the influence of ordinary environ-
mental factors on the geographical distribution of such
health problems. Hence, ‘Medical Geology’ is a broad
and complex subject, which requires interdisciplinary
contributions from several different scientific fields. The
main goal of the project is to bring together, at the global
scale, scientists working in medical geology in devel-
oping countries with their colleagues in other parts of
the world stressing the importance of geoscientific
factors that affect the health of humans and animals. The
proposal considers such topics as toxic elements in soil
and rocks, natural occurring metals and non-metals,
sources of pathways from air to water to food, exami-
nation of the environment and transport mechanisms.
The project will involve joint technical meetings
designed to address issues of mutual concern amongst
geoscientists and other disciplines (medical doctors and
veterinarians) concerned with Medical Geology.
132
Website related to the project
http://home.swipnet.se/medicalgeology
List of countries involved in the project (*active in 2001)
*Australia, *Angola, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria,
*Cameroon, *Canada, *China, Denmark, *Finland,
Germany, *Great Britain, *India, Iraq, *Japan,
Kazachstan, *Kenya,*Lithuania, *Malawi, Mexico,
Netherlands, Niger, *Nigeria, *Norway, Pakistan, Peru,
Poland, *Romania, *Russia, Scotland, *Uganda, *United
Kingdom, Slovak Republic, *South Africa, Spain, *Sri
Lanka, *Sweden, *Tanzania, *Uganda, Ukraina, *United
States, *Yugoslavia, *Zambia, *Zimbabwe.
Achievements of the project
General scientific achievements
At the completion of the short course and other activi-
ties, the attendees were able to:
• Know and gain information on the type of evidence
available about geological sources and processes,
environmental health, toxicology, and pathological
manifestations of exposures to toxic metal species.
• Know and gain information about geochemical pro-
cesses, natural and anthropogenic sources, specia-
tion, modes of occurrence, to assess the impact of
trace elements and toxic metal ion species on human
and environmental health.
• Have an elementary understanding of environmental
toxicology, epidemiology, medical geology and issues
associated with assessment, regulations and legisla-
tion as applied to the study of toxic metal species
and trace elements.
Meetings
The main meeting for 2001 was held in Lusaka, Zambia
(27 June–1 July). This meeting was divided into several
parts:
• Short course on Metals Health and the Environment,
especially for the African countries, held by IGCP
454
• Regional East and Southern Africa workshop on
Medical Geology, sponsored and partly held by IGCP
454
• Special discussions with the African delegates on the
IGCP 454.
• Medical Geology fieldtrip around Lusaka empha-
sizing health problems.
The meeting brought together more than 50 geoscien-
tists and medical scientists from around the world. Africa
was especially well represented with participants from
9 countries, as well as 12 overseas delegates. The experts
comprised geoscientists, medical practitioners, veteri-
narians, environmental economists and engineers, and
social scientists.
Metals, Health and the Environment Short Course
The most significant part of the meeting in Lusaka
was a short course and seminar under the auspicies of
IGCP 454, entitled “Metals, health and the environ-
ment”. An extensive syllabus was produced, about 300
pages in length, covering many aspects on Medical
Geology. A copy of this syllabus was provided to all
50 participants.
Scope and Purpose: Metal ions occur naturally in rocks,
soils, gases, and waters in both harmless and harmful
forms and concentrations. Natural concentrations of
metal ions can be extraordinarily high and have been
known to cause serious health problems. Metals are
important in environmental health and in the study of
human diseases (pathology), because of their potential
toxic effects to any number of organs. Exposure to toxic
metal ions may occur via three principle routes: percu-
taneous absorption, ingestion, or inhalation. Dermal
toxicity results from local tissue responses through direct
contact of the metal with skin, or alternatively, may
represent a manifestation of systemic toxicity following
ingestion or inhalation. Allergic contact dermatitis
induced by nickel is one example of a local tissue
response. The adverse cutaneous reactions resulting
from chronic ingestion or inhalation of arsenical
compounds exemplify systemic toxicity. A variety of
toxic pathology responses in human tissues and organs
(i.e. skin, liver, heart, kidney) associated with both acute
and chronic exposures to metals have been described.
The aim of this Seminar was to provide examples where
both deficiencies of trace elements, as well as toxic
exposures of metals may be involved in physiologic
changes and the development of human diseases. We
discussed the impacts of metal ions and trace elements
on human health as illustrated with examples of arsenic
poisoning from contaminated water in the Bengal Delta
(India and Bangladesh) and Taiwan, as well from coal
combustion in southwest China. Studies associated with
lung cancer risk in an occupational cohort of chromate
production workers were described. An overview of
clinical aspects of toxic metal exposures including
discussions of essentiality and clinical manifestations
were presented.
Themes covered included an overview of essential
elements and metals, potential toxicities and known
disease associations, as well as clinical features of
diseases and theories on mechanisms of toxicities,
followed by sources of trace elements and pathways of
potential impact. Consideration of anthropogenic sources
and human activities that enhance or change trace
elements concentrations and availability were illustrated.
Standard methods of epidemiological studies and
approaches to characterizing metal exposure were also
described.
Two case studies were introduced, the first As and F
poisoning through food drying processes in China,
activities which affect about 10,000 and 10 million
people, respectively. This is a relatively recent phenom-
enon due to forest denudation in the early 1900s and
the subsequent necessity of a new fuel source, which
came in the form of fuel briquettes, composed of a
mixture of As-rich coal and F-rich clay. During coal
burning, food dried over an open fire is coated with As
and F that is also inhaled directly. This was elaborated
on with an overview of clinical features of chronic As
poisoning. Calin Tatu (Country Hospital, Timisoara,
Romania) spoke on the elusive etiology of Balkan
endemic nephropathy (BEN) that occurs in Romania,
Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo and
currently affects over 100,000 people. Through geo-
logical and disease prevalence maps, BEN is known to
occur in areas where people derive their groundwater
from layers of lignite, hence current research is focusing
on organic contaminants as a possible causative factor.
The second day started with the importance of specia-
tion (bio-availability, mobility, and toxicity) and the
appropriate methods for their determination. Analytical
methods to determine trace elements in geological mate-
rial, especially for extremely low concentrations were
then described, followed by methods and procedures
used for the determination of trace elements in biological
samples. Current topics with regard to trace elements,
environmental legislation, and various approaches to
regulation were also discussed.
Olle Selinus (Chairman of IGCP 454, Geological Survey
of Sweden) gave an overview of the emerging discipline
of medical geology, including an historic perspective. He
highlighted the multidisciplinary approach in Sweden at
the Centre for Metal Biology in Uppsala, consisting of
members from various scientific organizations who come
together monthly to discuss relevant issues, and encour-
aged this collaborative type of approach. He illustrated a
positive outcome regarding the solution to the mysterious
moose disease in Sweden, originally attributed to a virus
but later diagnosed as diabetes due to molybdenosis and
copper deficiency, caused by liming in acidified regions
where there are high contents of natural molybdenum in
bedrock and soils. In the African context, Theo Davies
(Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya) presented an overview
of medical geology research in east and southern Africa,
in which he stressed the important role of earth scientists
in helping to isolate causative factors, the need for base-
line data, and correct diagnosis of diseases. He discussed
a variety of issues including I, F, endomycardial fibrosis
and Ce, asbestosis, Hg exposure, geophagia, Kaposi’s
sarcoma, radiation and radon gas, trace element deficiency
studies on soils and plants, and the need to study health
impacts of mine and waste dumps.
Imasiku Nyambe ended with an emphasis on the impor-
tance of the transfer of our geological and biochemical
knowledge once acquired, especially to policy makers.
He pointed out that policy is donor driven in Africa with
standards often set by foreign countries.
133
In summary, the following topics were covered in
Lusaka:
• Exposure and Effects of Toxic Metal Ions
• The Diversity of Trace Elements and Toxic Metal
Ions in Environmental Health and Human Diseases:
• Essentiality, Toxicity and Carcinogenesis
• A Process-oriented Approach to Understanding
Natural and Anthropogenic Sources, Transport and
Fate of Toxic Metal Ions in the Environment
• Environmental Toxicology Studies and
Considerations
• Considerations for the Design of Environmental
Health Studies Associated with Effects of Toxic
Metal
• Environmental Pathology, Geochemical Studies and
Health Effects
• Environmental and Toxicologic Pathology of Metal
Ion Exposures: An Overview of Selected Toxic
Lesions
• Chronic Arsenic Poisoning: An Introduction and
Overview
• An Overview of Health Impacts of Coal and Coal
Use: Arsenicosis and Fluorosis
• Analytical Toxicology: Trace Element Speciation,
Detection and Quantification Methods
• “Speciation” of Trace Elements and Toxic Metal Ion
Species
• Analytical Methods for the Study of Trace Elements
and Toxic Metal Ions in Geological and Environ-
mental Samples
• Analytical Methods for the Study of Metal Ions in
Biological and Tissue Samples
• Special Topics on Environmental Toxicology and
Human Health Research on Metal Ions
• Current Topics on Trace Elements and Toxic Metal
Ion Studies: Environmental Legislation, Management
and Use of Some Waste Products Containing Toxic
Metals
• Medical Geology: An Emerging Discipline in
Environmental and Human Health.
Other activities of IGCP 454 in 2001
• About 200 persons are engaged in the work of IGCP
454 from about 45 countries all over the world during
2001.
• About 600 contacts via e-mail have been made during
2001 with participants in IGCP 454.
• The webpage of the group http://home.swipnet.se/
medicalgeology has been updated at least twice a
month, often even more frequently. The website has
now about 700 visitors every month.
• Two newsletters have been published during the last
year. Another newsletter will be ready in late 2001.
The newsletter is distributed to almost 300 persons.
• A new poster has been produced and distributed.
• Cooperation has started with US Armed Forces of
Pathology (AFIP) and USGS. One result of this
cooperation is that about 35,000 medics all around
the world are regularly informed on the work going
134
on in Medical Geology. A Medical Geology registry
is also under discussion.
• The National Museum of Health and Medicine in
Washington DC has unveiled an exhibit highlighting
the developing science of medical geology.
• The book on Medical Geology, to be published by
Academic Press, is proceeding. All authors are iden-
tified and drafts of most of the manuscripts will be
ready at the end of 2001. The book has one Chief
editor (O. Selinus), 6 associate editors and about 50
authors from all over the world; geoscientists and
medics. The volume will be about 800-900 pages.
• There are plans for having short courses on Metals,
Health and the Environment in three countries in
2002.
• As a spin off effect USGS has introduced a new
programme on Medical Geology. Also AGSO in
Australia is discussing a new programme or activity
on Medical Geology.
• A new one year project on Medical Geology has
been approved by ICSU.
An East and Southern Africa Association of Medical
Geology (ESAAMG) was decided on in Lusaka at the
IGCP meeting. Members of an Executive Committee
were chosen to represent several countries as follows:
Angola – Dr Suzanet Nunes da Costa (jacuan@
netangola.com)
Kenya – Ms Monique Omulo (Monicaomulo@
hotmail.com)
Tanzania – Dr Edda Vuhahula (evuhahula@muchs.ac.tz)
South Africa – Ms Portia O. Ceruti (poceruti@
maties.sun.ac.za)
Zimbabwe – Dr Noma Ndiweni (ndiweni@vet.uz.ac.w)
Meetings
During the 2001 annual meeting of the Geological
Society of America, Boston, MA, a Pardee Symposium
entitled “Medical Geology: an emerging discipline” was
held on November 5. The meeting was sponsored by
IGCP 454, the GSA Institute for Earth Science and the
Environment, US Armed Forces Instiute of Pathology,
IUGS, USGS, COGEOENVIRONMENT, Swedish
Geological Survey and the Swedish Institute for Metal
Biology. The organizers consisted of Dr Dennis Goldman
(GSA), Dr Peter Bobrowsky (IUGS and International
Co-leader of IGCP 454), Dr Jose Centeno (US AFIP)
and Dr Catherine Skinner (Yale University). The meeting
primarily attracted about 150 geologists from a variety
of disciplines and focused on broading the appreciation
of earth sciences amongst seasoned practioners towards
direct societal issues such as human health.
An opening introduction to the session was given by Peter
Bobrowsky who stressed the importance of the discipline
in addressing today’s global needs, he also reviewed the
history of activities associated with IGCP 454 and outlined
plans for the future. Ross MacPhee (American Museum
of Natural History) proposed an infectious disease
explanation for the mass extinction of mammals at the
end of the Pleistocene as an alternative model to the
widely promoted anthropogenic and climate change
scenarios. Catherine Skinner (Yale Univ.) reviewed the
mineralogical basis of bones as receptors of
natural/cultural pathways for key elements related to
human health. Bob Finkelman (USGS) reviewed the
pandemic problems of highly toxic coal use in China
where dental flourosis and aresenic poisoning can be
shown to be the result of cooking over open fires. Howard
Mielke (Xavier Univ.) discussed the incidence of urban
health issues in children associated with Pb
ingestion/inhalation and traffic in metro centers of the
USA. Chris Metcalfe (Trent Univ.) provided a case study
of estrogen induced changes to fish populations with the
argument that such biological modifications can be related
to sewage effluent contamination. Christian Daughton
(EPA) was focused on the expanding problem of PPCP
in the environment and the effect on human/animal organ-
isms. Catherine Skinner provided closing remarks to the
session. Several new corresponding members to IGCP
454 were confirmed at this meeting.
List of most important publications
Several papers and notes have been published in different
journals informing of and marketing the IGCP project.
The BGS magazine, Earthwise, has for example
published a thematic issue on Geology and Health
(Earthwise issue 17). Episodes published in 2001
(Vol. 24 No. 1) a detailed report on the IGCP454 meeting
in Uppsala, Sweden in 2000. AFIPs newsletter in the
beginning of 2001 was devoted to medical geology
describing this subject and the IGCP project. It was
distributed to about 35,000 medics all around the world.
The November 2001 issue of Geotimes (American
Geological Institute) was fully devoted to the theme
Geosciences and Human Health.
A special publication of the Geological Society of
America edited by A.R. Berger and C. Skinner is in
progress and scheduled for release in early 2002. The
publication presents the results of the IGCP 454 meeting
in Uppsala in 2000.
Medical Geology Workshop, GEOMED 2001
Following the successful short course in Lusaka, and
with the theme “The Role of Geomedicine in the 21st
Century”, a one-day workshop presenting medical
geology work in eastern and southern Africa was opened
by Bjørn Bølviken (Geological Survey of Norway,
Trondheim, Norway) with an overview of associations
between human disease and the environment.
Nasopharynx occurs in the south-east of China and is
known to have genetic and suspected viral components,
but also only occurs in areas of low soil Mg and high
Th. Likewise, multiple sclerosis in Norway seems to
have a series of complicating factors, of which genetics
is suspected to play a role, as well as viral and envi-
ronmental factors. Studies have shown a positive corre-
lation between multiple sclerosis and Rn, and he
speculated on the possibility of an antagonistic synergy.
The first session of the workshop focused on fluorine
and Adebayo Oladimeji (National University of Science
and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) presented a
summary of F distribution in a variety of drinking water
sources in populated areas of western Zimbabwe.
Examination of the variation in mean concentrations
over a thirty year period found the average F concen-
tration to be within acceptable limits, although quite a
few sites in the west had very high levels, which
exceeded acceptable guidelines. Fluoride concentrations
have been found to be inversely correlated with rainfall
in this area. Edda Vuhahula (University of Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania) presented work on the severe endemic dental
fluorosis in Tanzania in communities exposed to low
levels of F in drinking water, although some areas with
dental fluorosis could not be explained by F levels in
drinking water, and seem to be associated with magadi,
a commonly-used salt composed of sodium carbonate
or bicarbonate mined from saline lakes. Regional vari-
ations in diet with coastal people consuming mainly fish
and tea, and higher altitude communities consuming
more milk and magadi, were related to variations of F
in urine samples.
Donnati Mosha (University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
described the problems of analysis of F in Tanzanian
salt lakes, which are a potentially valuable local resource,
subject to little research or exploitation, although the
extremely high F concentrations could pose a health risk.
He noted some of the complications that can arise during
analysis such as etching of glass at low pH, the problem
of molecular F not being detected, the fact that many of
the multiple species in solution are not well known, and,
lastly, the critical factor of maintaining the correct ionic
strength. In another study, Patrick Hayumbu (University
of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia) reported on nuclear analyt-
ical techniques used to analyze a variety of geological,
waste, and building materials to determine occupational
exposure to radioactivity in Zambia, where about 30%
of the underground mines were found to have very high
levels of radioactivity.
Trace and major element deficiencies of soils in rela-
tion to an endemic osteoarthritis, Mseleni Joint Disease
(MJD), and dwarfism in Maputaland, South Africa were
explained by Portia Ceruti (University of Stellenbosch,
South Africa), who is looking at the spatial pattern of
nutrient heterogeneity in relation to the prevalence of
MJD. This work for her doctoral studies has shown
multiple soil deficiencies of P, Cu, Zn, and Se that vary
across the landscape. Health implications of geophagy
were illustrated by Mr Shitumbanuma (University of
Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia) in a study of the textural and
chemical composition of soils, as well as termite mate-
rial deposited on tree bark, consumed by women in
135
Lusaka. The materials were found to be acidic and
clayey, with high Mg and Mn concentrations in soil from
the Kafue region of Zambia versus soil from the
Democratic Republic of Congo, whereas in the termite
material Mg and Mn levels were also quite high.
The major theme of the workshop concentrated on
pollution of soil and water, and ultimately impacts on
ecosystems and humans, through a common activity in
east and southern Africa: mining. Small-scale mining
was considered by Benjamin Mapani (University of
Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Zimbabwe) who spoke on
the importance of social as well as economic consid-
erations in the search for a solution for a river system
of northern Zimbabwe where small-scale Au mining has
led to the destruction of the river. Jason Ogola
(University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa)
stressed the necessity of public awareness in putting
pressure on pollution and waste management policy
makers with respect to environmental impacts of oper-
ational and abandoned mines in South Africa, such as
the use of asbestos tailings as road material and to fill
school playgrounds.
The influence of mining on water resources was
discussed by James Kahatano (University of Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania) with his work on heavy metal prolif-
eration in the environment of Mpanda mineral field in
western Tanzania, where maximum allowable levels in
the water and soil are often exceeded due to atmospheric
fall out. Monique Omulo (Maseno University, Kenya)
introduced preliminary results from her doctoral work
on heavy metal contamination and health problems in
western Kenya, where artisanal Au mining has polluted
tributaries to Lake Victoria. Callist Tindimugaya
(Directorate of Water Development, Entebbe, Uganda)
reported on groundwater pollution in Uganda where
reprocessing of stockpiles has caused widespread
contamination by heavy metals, especially Mn, Cd, and
Cr, through varied pathways.
Staying with the theme of groundwater, Samuel Mtetwa
(University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Zimbabwe)
presented a spatial distribution map of nitrate, phos-
phates, and suspended and dissolved solids as a tool for
water quality management, to control the particularly
diffuse pollution sources in an agro-rural watershed in
Zimbabwe. Daniel Nkhuwa (University of Zambia,
Lusaka, Zambia) discussed a local problem in the karst
landscape of Lusaka where natural holes in the ground
are used for the disposal of liquid and solid waste, and
the high watertable is easily contaminated. More data
are needed to determine the association of pit latrines
that intersect the watertable with outbreaks of cholera,
as well as the impacts of open pit waste dumps on
groundwater quality.
Imasiku Nyambe gave a review of the history of mining
and the impact of tailings dams on the Kafue River in
Zambia, which has elevated concentrations of Ca, Mg,
136
Cu, and Co. He highlighted problems associated with
atmospheric impacts, such as the high S emissions from
the Nkana smelter. Maxwell Mwase (University of
Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia) then introduced the topic of
bioindicators in an ongoing study looking at chemical
and morphological features of tropical fish species in the
Kafue River in Zambia. He has found evidence of para-
site infection and liver histological abnormalities in fish,
as well as extremely high Cu concentrations in fish liver.
Noma Ndiweni (University of Zimbabwe, Mount
Pleasant, Zimbabwe) introduced work done on Se-
dependent enzymes of crocodiles as a possible new Se
indice for biochemical and xenobiotic metabolism, as a
precursor to addressing nutritional and prophylactic reme-
dies for skin diseases in crocodiles. Steve Mogere (Moi
University, Eldoret, Kenya) presented findings of the first
benthic study on Chironomous larva as an indicator of
temporal changes along the River Nzoia in Kenya due
to pesticide pollution. Beneah Odhiambo (Moi
University, Eldoret, Kenya) discussed a study along the
Rift Valley in West Pohot District, Kenya to determine
background concentrations of Ni, Co, and Mn in miner-
alized soil, where specific plant species are used as indi-
cators of high Cr accumulation associated with serpentine
deposits. Soil concentrations of Ni and Mn were found
to be elevated with respect to background levels and there
is concern of toxic human and animal consumption.
An overview of medical geology was given by Theo
Davies on the effects of metal and toxic ions on envi-
ronmental health, with specific reference to toxicology
and metal pathology.
A panel discussion of several key issues raised in both the
short course and workshop led to the following statements:
Preamble:
To bring awareness of medical geology to multiple disci-
plines and the public, specifically the importance of
environmental factors in disease causation and preven-
tion, which will decrease health costs and increase
quality of life.
Resolutions:
• To encourage improved medical diagnosis and
reporting of disorders that have a geological or envi-
ronmental basis. In order to achieve this, there is a
need to engage the participation of medical practi-
tioners in medical geology meetings as well as in
collaborative research.
• To increase the geoscientific considerations in
political decision-making, the transfer of data from
the geosciences and the biomedical sciences to policy
makers and the public. This will require repackaging
of the scientific information for public and layperson
consumption, thus effectively communicating the
value of our contribution to the public, public health
practitioners, and to politicians.
• To generate or acquire the best quality analytical data
feasible. This may involve collaboration with experts
 in analytical chemistry, and the correct use of refer-
ence standard and reference materials. There is a
need to strengthen efforts on research on speciation
and bioavailability of elements.
• To advocate the incorporation of medical geology
into the geo-curricula of institutes of higher learning.
• To sensitize the public and policy makers on safe
waste disposal practices, especially in cities and
municipalities.
• To abide by the Uppsala decision to use the term
“Medical Geology” rather than “Geomedicine”. This
refers to the previous IGCP meeting for IGCP 454
Medical Geology in Uppsala Sweden in September
2000.
• To increase research on and strive to inform the
public of the potentially harmful effects of using
natural materials as dietary supplements and as
cosmetics.
• To increase and improve communication and
networking by posting, as well as by the effective
use of, relevant web pages, and to provide material
for the biannual Medical Geology Newsletter.
• To advocate for the revival of the Global Geo-
chemical Baseline Project IGCP 259 since Africa
was poorly studied. This initiative will increase
the use of multi-elemental analysis for medical
geology.
Plans for the next East and Southern Africa Regional
Workshop on Medical Geology were also discussed. The
venue of the next meeting will be Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, the convener is Dr Edda Vuhahula. The
meeting will be held in 2004 so as to avoid coinciding
with the 6th International Symposium on Environmental
Geochemistry meeting in Edinburgh, June 2003 (where
IGCP #454 also will be actively involved). Publication
of workshop papers will be either in African Geoscience
Reviews or the Journal of Zambian Applied Earth
Sciences.
Activities planned
General goals
Planned activities during 2003 are short courses in
three countries, including former Eastern Europe,
continuing work with the book on medical geology,
two newsletters during 2002, all in order to involve as
many scientists as possible from developing countries.
The book on medical geology will be almost finalized
during 2002.
Meetings
Meetings and field trips are planned in South America,
Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia.
There will also be substantial involvement in some inter-
national symposia and meetings.
137
 New IGCP Projects
accepted and starting in 2002
Project No. 463 – Upper Cretaceous Oceanic
Red Beds
Full Title: Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds:
response to Ocean/Climate Global
Change
Proposers: C. Wang (China), M. Sarti (Italy), R.
W. Scott (United States), L. F. Jansa
(Canada)
Prof. Wang Chengshan, Prof. Massimo
Sarti, Dr Robert W. Scott, Prof. Luba
Jansa
Address: Prof. Wang Chengshan: President
Office, Chengdu University of
Technology, No. 1 Dongsan Road,
Er’xianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan,
P. R. China. Tel: 86-28-4078892 (O),
4078105 (H); Fax: 86-28-4077163;
e-mail: wcs@cdut.edu.cn
The main objective of the project is to investigate and
understand conditions which resulted in the change from
anoxic to oxic sediments deposition in the world oceans
during the Late Cretaceous. Such a change represents a
unique event during the last 250 million years of the Earth
history. It remains unknown what triggered such profound
change in oceanic sedimentation, from sediments enriched
in organic carbon as deposited during middle Cretaceous,
to sediments devoid of any carbon as deposited during
the parts of the Late Cretaceous. This could result from
changes in the operating mode of various earth processes
such as palaeoceanographic (e.g. changes in global ocean
chemistry, palaeocirculation), tectonic (opening and
closing of the seaways, migration of the continent plates),
and climatic (change form greenhouse to icehouse condi-
tions). Another possibility is that it may signal change in
palaeoproductivity, which could alter the balance between
carbon sources and sinks in the oceans. It has been
suggested by some researchers that the increase in organic
carbon in deep sea sediments during the middle
Cretaceous was in part related to an increase in organic
productivity in the oceans; therefore. Does this entail that
the lack of organic carbon in deep ocean sediments during
the Late Creatceous represents a major change in biopro-
ductivity in the ocean? If it does, what caused such major
change? If that is a change in bioproductivity, then under-
138
standing its forcing would be of major interest and concern
to society, indicating potential for sudden changes in the
food chain triggered by changes in the Earth Systems.
Furthermore, such a study has economic overtones
because changes in the location of organic carbon reser-
voirs imply changes in location of potential source rocks
for hydrocarbon generation, which is of primary interest
and importance for hydrocarbon exploration around the
world.
The first step of the project will be to develop a cata-
logue of occurrences of such facies around the globe.
Secondly, each of the distinctive facies will be assessed
through geochemical, sedimentological and high-resolu-
tion chronostratigraphic analyses. Standardized methods
of geochemical and chronostratigraphic analyses of
deep-sea redbed deposits are important because some
are predominantly unfossiliferous, such as those in the
North Atlantic, and other dating methods must be used.
Thirdly, these procedures will enable the correlation and
timing of redbed occurrences and the evaluation of their
synchroneity or diachroneity. The relationships among
global occurrences of red, oxidized facies, palaeo-
ceanographic processes, palaeoclimate changes, and
plate tectonic changes will be analyzed with an aim to
determine causes of major changes in Earth Systems, as
locked in the Upper Cretaceous sedimentary record of
the world oceans.
As the result of tectonic processes such deep sea sedi-
mentary rocks are exposed on many continents, there-
fore available to on-land geologic studies. Indeed, strata
representing the Upper Cretaceous oceanic red bed
deposits (subsequently abbreviated to CORB) crop out
in many regions of the Western Tethys such as the Alps
in France, Spain and Italy, and in the Carpathian
Mountains of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia,
Romania, and Cyprus. Recently they were discovered in
Southern Tibet. Deep marine, red Upper Cretaceous
deposits have also been cored in the North Atlantic and
the Northern Indian Ocean by the DSDP/ODP drilling
programme. The widespread distribution of CORBs has
the potential for reconstructing the ocean structure in
the aftermath of the Cenomanian/Turonian OAE, because
CORBs were not only deposited in the deep ocean below
the CCD, but also extended up the continental rises and
slopes, where they are represented by reddish coloured
marls and pelagic limestones.
Such research requires not only an integrated multidis-
ciplinary approach, but also coordinated international
action to facilitate cooperation among different special-
ists from different countries. This global approach is
only possible within an international project such as the
IGCP.
Project No. 467 – Triassic Time
Full Title: Triassic Time and trans-Panthalassan
Correlations
Proposer: M. J. Orchard (Canada)
Address: Michael J. Orchard, Geological Survey
of Canada, 101-605 Robson St.,
Vancouver, B. C. V6B 5J3, Canada. Tel:
604-666-0409, Fax: 604-666-1124,
e-mail: morchard@nrcan.gc.ca
The goals of the project are to identify correlatable data
for global correlation of Triassic rocks and thereby
produce a stable temporal framework based on sound
palaeontological data complemented by magnetic and
geochemical scales and calibrated with absolute isotopic
ages. The project embraces current efforts of the IUGS
Subcommission on Triassic Stratigraphy (of which the
proposer is Chairperson), and of several international
projects, and provides a vehicle to enhance the degree
of international cooperation and collaboration between
palaeontologists, stratigraphers, magnetostratigraphers,
and geochemists, in both the marine and non-marine
realms. Trans-Panthalassan correlations are emphasized
in order to focus on the considerable Triassic data now
available from the accreted terranes of the Pacific margin
and to ensure that chronostratigraphic standards estab-
lished in Tethys are applicable in the new world.
Project No. 470 – The 600 Ma Pan-African Belt
of Central Africa
Full Title: The 600 Ma Pan-African Belt of Central
Africa: Sedimentation, Deformation
History, Magmatism, Metamorphism
and Geotectonic Evolution
Proposers: S. Félix Toteu (Cameroon)
Address: Dr S. Félix Toteu, Centre for Geological
and Mining Research, B. P. 333, Garoua,
Cameroon. Tel/Fax: (237) 27.13.35/
(237) 94.83.41, e-mail: crgm@iccnet.cm;
sftoteu@yahoo.fr
The Central African region (Cameroon, Chad, Central
African Republic, Gabon, Congo Democratic Republic
of Congo) is one of the poorly understood of the Pan-
African-Brasilian belts system, despite its real mineral
potential (Au, Sn, Nb, Ta, U, sulphides, etc.). The region
is unequally surveyed, and works in different countries
are initiated and conducted by isolated teams. As conse-
quence, trans-national correlations of litho-structural
units are difficult. The main goal of the project is to
favour the constitution of a trans-national research team.
Such a team will reconstruct the general framework of
the evolution of the Pan-African orogeny; it will parti-
cularly concentrate on the following points: (1) the
typology of granitoids, their origin and their relation
with deformation processes; (2) the correlation between
the Meso-to Neoproterozoic basins and volcanics
involved in the Pan-African orogeny in all countries with
particular reference to the early fragmentation history;
(3) the tectono-metamorphic evolution with particular
reference to the extent and significance of the granulitic
belt north of the Congo Craton; (4) the synthesis of
geophysical data. Furthermore, the project will offer
opportunities (a) to each country to benefit from the
experience of the others on the ground ore deposit
survey; (b) to the research team to evaluate the economic
potential of different rock units, which will enable the
definition of exploration guidelines for geological and
geochemical exploration; and (c) to graduate students to
carry out research on the comparative studies on a
regional basis.
Project No. 471- Evolution of Western Gondwana
during the Late Palaeozoic
Full Title: Evolution of Western Gondwana During
the late Palaeozoic: Techtono-
sedimentary Record, Palaeoclimates and
Biological Change
Proposers: C. O. Limarino (Argentina), L. A.
Buatois (Argentina)
Address: Carlos O. Limarino, Departamento de
Ciencias Geológicas, Pabellón II,
Ciudad Universitaria, 426 Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Tel: (054) 114-666.1218
e-mail: limar@advance.dcl
Luis A. Buatois, Instituto Superior de
Correlación, Casilla de Correo 1, Correo
Central, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán,
Argentina. Tel.: (054) 381-425.3050,
Fax: (054) 381-423.6395, e-mail:
ichnolog@infovia.com.ar
The major objective of the project is to promote the
interaction among scientists and institutions devoted to
the study of the Upper Palaeozoic of Western Gondwana
in different countries. Research will be focused on three
main aspects: (1) tectonic activity and sedimentary
evolution of the Upper Palaeozoic basins; (2) climatic
history of Western Gondwana and its impact on the biota
and, (3) stratotype definition and sea level changes as a
tool for regional and intercontinental correlations.
139
Project No. 473 – GIS Metallogeny of Central
Asia
Full Title: Metallogeny of Central Asia: a GIS-
based Synthesis on a Modern Geo-
dynamic Background (Young Scientist
Project)
Proposers: Dr Reimar Seltmann (Coordinator for
initially 5 Young Scientist Project
Proposal Teams targeting the Central
Asian countries, i.e. the “Stans”, and
involving the neighbouring regions of
Russia, Mongolia and China)
Address: Centre for Russian and Central Asian
Mineral Studies, Department of
Mineralogy, Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD,
United Kingdom, Tel: (+44) 207 942
5042; Fax: (+44) 207 942 5537, e-mail:
rs@nhm.ac.uk
The proposed study will integrate the currently available
data with new data in order to combine the geotectonic
140
units of Central Asia and its mineral inventory, and to
see the metallogenic evolution against the background of
crustal growth during accretionary orogeny aiming to
develop a unified metallogenic–geodynamic model of
Central Asia. The selected mineral deposit sites will be
studied in the field and by modern laboratory methods
to obtain data on geochemistry of ores, mineralized
rocks, wallrock alteration, and country rocks for devel-
oping genetic models of major mineral deposits.
Interdisciplinary research will include classification and
data processing of about 1200 deposits within the hosting
terrains according to their age, deposits type, and metal-
lotect. The complex research and correlation will be done
through complementary teams with technical-method-
ological skills in GIS techniques and geodynamic-metal-
logenic expertise. This will result in the compilation of
a set of GIS-based geological, geodynamic and metallo-
genic maps of Central Asia, scale of 1:1 500 000 aiming
to assess the mineral potential of the study area, along
with a monograph on Geology of Central Asian Mineral
Deposits Types. It is expected that final maps and data-
bases will be available in a single GIS-based package for
the public domain and will help in recognition of prospec-
tive exploration terrains and mineral assessment of
Central Asia.
 IGCP projects active in 2002
No. Title, project leader(s),
duration (O.E.T. – on extended term)
373 Correlation, Anatomy and Magmatic-
Hydrothermal Evolution of Ore-Bearing Felsic
Igneous Systems in Eurasia
R. Seltmann (Germany), R. Grauch (United
States), A. A. Kremenetsky (Russia)
1997-2001 (O.E.T. in 2002)
408 Rocks and Minerals at Great Depth and on
the Surface
F. P. Mitrofanov (Russia), D. M. Guberman
(Russia), H.-J. Kümpel (Germany)
1998-2002
410 The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event
B. D. Webby (Australia), F. Paris (France),
M. L. Droser (United States)
1997-2001 (O.E.T. in 2002)
411 Geodynamics of Gondwanaland-derived
Terranes in E and S Asia
S. Hada (Japan), I. Metcalfe (Australia),
J. H. Kim (Korea), Tran Van Tri (Viet Nam),
Jin Xiouchi (China)
1998-2002
413 Understanding Future Dryland Changes from
Past Dynamics
D. Thomas (United Kingdom),
A. K. Singhvi (India)
1998-2002
418 Kibraran Events in Southwestern Africa
R. M. Key (United Kingdom),
R. B. Mapeo (Botswana)
1997-2001 (O.E.T. in 2002)
419 Foreland Basins of the Neoproterozoic Belts in
Central-to-Southern Africa and South
America
M. Wendorff (Botswana), P. L. Binda (Canada)
1998-2002
No. Title, project leader(s),
duration (O.E.T. – on extended term)
420 Phanerozoic Crustal Growth
Bor-ming Jahn (France),
N. L. Dobertsov (Russia)
1998-2002
421 North Gondwanan Mid-Palaeozoic
Biodynamics
R. Feist (France), J. A. Talent (Australia)
1997-2001 (O.E.T. in 2002)
425 Landslide Hazard Assessment and Cultural
Heritage
K. Sassa (Japan), P. Canuti (Italy),
P. Carreno (Peru)
1998-2002
426 Granite Systems and Proterozoic Lithospheric
Processes
J. S. Bettencourt (Brazil) O. T. Rämö (Finland),
W. R. Van Schmus (United States)
1998-2002
427 Ore-Forming Processes in Dynamic Magmatic
Systems
C. M. Lesher, S.-J. Barnes (Canada),
H. M. Prichard (United Kingdom)
1998-2002
428 Climate and Boreholes
V. C̆ermák (Czech Republic), H. N. Pollack
(United States), C. Clauser (Germany)
1998-2002
429 Organics in Major Environmental Issues
J. Pas̆ava (Czech Republic),
J. Jeník (Czech Republic)
1998-2002
430 Mantle Dynamics and Natural Hazards
M. F. J. Flower (United States), V. I. Mocanu
(Romania), R. M. Russo (United States), Nguyen
Trong Yem (Viet Nam),
Ma Zongjin (China)
2000-2004 (on hold)
141
No. Title, project leader(s),
duration (O.E.T. – on extended term)
431 African Pollen Database
A. M. Lezine (France), A. Sowunmi (Nigeria)
1998-2002
433 Caribbean Plate Tectonics
M. A. Iturralde-Vinent (Cuba),
E. G. Lidiak (United States)
2000-2004
434 Land-Ocean Interactions during the
Cretaceous in Asia
H. Hirano (Japan)
1999-2003
436 Pacific Gondwana Margin
R. J. Pankhurst, (United Kingdom),
J. D. Bradshaw (New Zealand),
L. Spalletti (Argentina)
1999-2003
437 Coastal Environmental Change during Sea-
Level Highstands
C. V. Murray-Wallace (Australia)
1999-2003
440 Rodinia Assembly and Breakup
S. Bogdanova (Sweden),
H. Kampunzu (Botswana)
1999-2003
442 Raw Materials of Neolithic Artefacts
D. Hovorka (Slovak Republic),
G. Trnka (Austria)
1999-2002 (on hold)
443 Magnesite and Talc-Geological and
Environmental Correlations
M. Radvanec (Slovak Republic),
W. Prochaska (Austria),
A. C. Gondim (Brazil), Cai Kequin (China)
2000-2004
447 Proterozoic Molar-tooth Carbonates
X. Meng (China), D. G. F. Long (Canada),
R. Bourrouilh (France)
2001-2005
448 World Correlation on Karst Ecosystems
Yuan Daoxian (China), C. Groves
(United States), G. Messana (Italy)
2000-2004
449 Global Correlation of Late Cenozoic Fluvial
Deposits
D. Bridgland (United Kingdom)
2000-2004
142
No. Title, project leader(s),
duration (O.E.T. – on extended term)
450 Proterozoic Sediment-Hosted Base Metal
Deposits of Western Gondwana
S. S. Iyer (Canada), A. F. Kamona (Namibia),
A. Misi (Brazil), J. Cailteux (DR Congo)
2000-2004
453 Modern and Ancient Orogens
J. B. Murphy (Canada), J. D. Keppie (Mexico)
2000-2004
454 Medical Geology
O. Selinus (Sweden), P. Bobrowsky (Canada)
2000-2004
455 Basement Volcanoes Interplay and Human
Activities
A. Tibaldi (Italy), M. Garcia (Spain),
A. M. Lagmay (Philippines), V. V. Ponomareva
(Russia)
2001-2005
457 Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment in North
Africa
D. Benouar (Algeria), G. Panza (Italy),
A. El-Sayed Attia (Egypt), B. Tadili (Morocco),
M. Chadi (Tunisia),S. Abdennur (Libya)
2001-2005
458 Triassic/Jurassic Boundary Events
J. Pálfy (Hungary), S. P. Hesselbo (United
Kingdom), C. McRoberts (United States)
2001-2005
459 Terrestrial Carbon Cycle
J.-L. Probst (France), L. François (Belgium),
P. J. Depetris (Argentina), J. Mortatti (Brazil)
2001-2005
463 Upper Cretaceous Oceanic red beds
C. Wang (China), M. Sarti (Italy), R. W. Scott
(United States), L. F. Jansa (Canada)
2002-2006
464 Continental Shelves During the Last Glacial
Cycle: Knowledge and Applications
F. L. Chiocci (Italy), A. R. Chivas (Australia)
2001-2005
467 Triassic time
M. J. Orchard (Canada)
2002-2006
470 The 600 Ma Pan-African belt of Central Africa
F. Toteu (Cameroon)
2002-2006
No. Title, project leader(s), No. Title, project leader(s),
duration (O.E.T. – on extended term) duration (O.E.T. – on extended term)

471 Evolution of Western Gondwana during the
Late Palaeozoic
C. O. Limarino (Argentina),
L. A. Buatois (Argentina)
2002-2006
473 GIS Metallogeny of Central Asia
R. Seltmann (United Kingdom),
5 young scientists
2002-2006

Funded projects 33
on hold 2
O.E.T. 4
Total 39

updated 6/03/02

143
 Members of the IGCP Scientific Board in 2002

Prof. Ian W. Dalziel Prof. Dr Sospeter M. Muhongo

Chairman IGCP Scientific Board Department of Geology
University of Texas at Austin University of Dar es Salaam
Institute for Geophysics P.O. Box 35052
4412 Spicewoods – Springs Road Dar es Salaam
Building 600 – Austin Texas 78759 Tanzania
U.S.A. Tel.: 255-22-2410013/2410500-8
Tel.: 1 512 471 0431 or Fax: +255-22-2410481/2410078
1 512 471 6156 e-mail: muhongo@udsm.ac.tz
Fax: 1 512 471 8844
e-mail: ian@utig.ig.utexas.edu Dr Prabhas Pande
Director
Dr Max Deynoux Earthquake Geology Division
Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre (EOST) Geological Survey of India, NR.
1, rue Blessig Lucknow – 226 024
67084 Strasbourg Cedex India
Tel.: 33 3 88 35 85 89 Tel.: 91 522 37 87 96 Ext. 462
Fax: 33 3 88 36 72 35 Fax: 91 522 37 64 07
e-mail: mdeynoux@illite.u-strasbg.fr e-mail: geodatnr@sancharnet.in
prabhaspande2002@yahoo.co.uk
Prof. Maurizio Gaetani (Chair WG1)
Università di Milano Dr Victor A. Ramos (Chair WG 4)
Dipartimentato di Scienze della Terra Diaz Vélez 820 – La Lucila
Via Mangiagalli 34 1636 Buenos Aires
20133 Milano – Italy Argentina
Tel.: 39 02 23698229 Tel.: 54 (11) 4701 69 47 (off.)
Fax: 39 02 70638261 4790 9873 (home)
e-mail: maurizio.gaetani@unimi.it Fax: 54 (11) 47016947
e-mail: andes@gl.fcen.uba.ar
Dr Alexander Gliko
Deputy Director Prof. Nobutaka Shimada
Institute of Physics of the Earth Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Academy of Sciences Kyushu University – Hakozaki 6-10-1
123810 – B. Gruzinskaya str. 10 Fukuoka 812-8581
Moscow – Russia Japan
Tel.: 7 (095) 254 30 44 Tel.: 81 92 642 2516
Fax: 7 (095) 255 60 40 Fax: 81 92 642 2684
e-mail: gliko@uipe-ras.scgis.ru e-mail: nshimada@geo.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Prof. Sylvi Haldorsen Prof. James T. Teller (Chair WG2)

Agricultural University of Norway University of Manitoba
Dept. of Soil and Water Science Winnipeg – Manitoba
Section of Geology and Water Canada R3T 2N2
P.O. Box 5028 Tel.: (1-204) 474 9274
N-1432 Ås – Norway Fax: (1-204) 474 7623
Tel.: 47 64 94 82 52 e-mail: tellerjt@MS.umanitoba.ca
Fax: 47 64 94 82 11
e-mail: sylvi.haldorsen@ijvf.nlh.no

144
Dr Susan Turner IUGS Representatives
Queensland Museum
P.O. Box 3300
South Brisbane Prof. Attilio C. Boriani
QLD 4101 Australia Secretary General IUGS
Tel.: 617 3840 7677 Dip. di Scienze della Terra
(H) 617 3878 1066 Univ. Degli Studi di Milano
Fax: 617 3846 1918 Via Botticelli 23
e-mail: SueT@qm.qld.gov.au 1-20133 Milan
Italy
Prof. Marjorie Wilson Tel.: 39 2 236 98 310
School of Earth Sciences Fax: 39 2 706 38 681
Leeds University e-mail: boriani@10.terra.unimi.it
Leeds LS2 9JT
United Kingdom Dr Ed F.J. de Mulder
Tel./Fax: 44 (0) 113 233 5236 President of IUGS
e-mail: m.wilson@earth.leeds.ac.uk NITG TNO and Technical Universty
P.O. Box 6012 2600 JA
Dr Gerhard Wörner Delft – The Netherlands
Geochemisches Institute Tel.: 31 23 530 0292
University of Göttingen Fax: 31 23 526 2709
Goldschmidstr. 1 e-mail: emulder@wxs.nl
D-37077 Göttingen
Germany Dr Werner R. Janoschek
Tel.: 49 551 39 39 71 IUGS Treasurer and Secretary-General Elect
e-mail: gwoerne@gwdg.de Geological Survey of Austria
Rasumofskygasse 23
Prof. Zhenyu Yang POB 127
Institute of Geomechanics 1031 Vienna
Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences Austria
11 Minzuxueyuan South Road Tel.: 43 1 712 56 74 180
Beijing 100081 P.R. of China Fax: 43 1 712 56 74 56
Tel.: 86-(10)-6842-2365 e-mail: wjanoschek@cc.geolba.ac.at
Fax: 86 (10)-6842-2326
e-mail: yangzy@public3.bta.net.cn

Prof. Cari Zazo-Cardeña

Geology Department
Museo Nat. Cc. NAturales
José Gutierrez Abascal 2
28006 Madrid
Spain
Tel.: 34 91 41 50 077
Fax: 34 91 41 11 328
e-mail: mcnz65@mncn.csic.es

145
 IGCP National Committees
(2 July 2002)

AFGHANISTAN AUSTRIA

Dr Ebrahim Hamid Prof. Dr Franz Weber

Secretary Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Afghan National Committee of Geology Institute für Geophysik
Geology and Mineral Survey Dept. A-8700 Leoben, Austria
Micro-Rayon e-mail: http://www.oeaw.ac.at/mathnat/foprog/igcp.html
Kabul, Afghanistan
AZERBAIJAN
ALBANIA
Dr A.D. Ismail-Zadeh
Dr Aleksander Cina Executive Secretary
Chairman, IGCP National Committee AzNCG
Blloku “Vasil Shanto” Geology Institute
Tirana, Albania H. Gavid pr., 29-A
370143 Baku, Azerbaijan
ALGERIA e-mail: gia@azdata.net

Dr Mohammed Tefiani BARBADOS

Institut des Sciences de la Terre
Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Mr Leslie Barker
B.P. No.9 Chief Geologist – Energy Division
Dar El Beida, Algerie Ministry of Finance
2nd floor – National Petroleum Corp. Building
ARGENTINA Wildey – St. Michael, Barbados

Dr C. Cingolani BANGLADESH
Presidente
Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas Md. Khurshid Alam
Calle 1 n° 644 Chairman, IGCP National Committee
1900-La Plata, Argentina Director-General, Geological Survey of Bangladesh
e-mail: ccingola@cig.museo.unlp.edu.ar 153 Pioneer Road – Segunbagicha
Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
AUSTRALIA
BELARUS
Dr Cec Murray
Chairman, IGCP National Committee Academician R. Garetsky
Geological Survey Chairman
Queensland Department of Mines and Energy Belarus National Committee for IGCP
G.P.O. Box 194 Academy of Sciences of Belarus
Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia Kuprievich str. 7
e-mail: cmurray@dme.qld.gov.au 220141-Minsk, Belarus
http://www.oeaw.ac.at/mathnat/foprog/igcp.html e-mail: garetsky@igs.ac.by

146
BELGIUM CAMEROON

Prof. L. Dejonghe Prof. F. Tchoua

Geological Survey of Belgium President, Comité national du PICG
13 Jenner street Chef du Départment des sciences de la terre
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Université de Yaoundé
e-mail: leon.dejonghepophost@eunet.be Yaoundé, Cameroun

BENIN CANADA

M. J.-C. Kogblevi Dr N.W Rutter

Président Chairman
Comité national pour le PICG IGCP National Committee
Directeur général de l’office béninois des Recherches Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Géologiques et Minières University of Alberta
Ministère des Mines, de l’Enérgie, et de l’Hydraulique Edmonton – Alberta, Canada
B.P. 249 e-mail: Nat.Rutter@ualberta.ca
Cotonou, Benin
CHAD
BOLIVIA
Monsieur O.A. D’Babeh
Ing. Antonio Saavedra Muñoz Président, Comité national du PICG
Présidente, Comité Boliviano de Correlacion Geologica Doyen – Faculté des Sciences
Academia Nacional de Ciencias Université du Tchad
Avn. 16 de Julio No. 1732 B.P. 1027
Casilla – 5829 La Paz, Bolivia N’Djamena, Tchad

BRAZIL CHILE

Prof. D.A. Campos Dr E. D’Etigny Lyon

Chairman, IGCP National Committee Chairman, IGCP National Committee
DNPM/Paleontologia National Commission for Scientific and
Av. Pasteur 4O4, urca Technological Research
22290-240 Rio de Janeiro R.J., Brazil CONICYT
e-mail: dac@abc.org.br Casilla 297 V
Santiago 21, Chile
BULGARIA
CHINA
Prof. Dr Platon Tchoumatchenco
Président – Comité national pour le PICG Prof. Liu Dunyi
Institut géologique – Académie bulgare des sciences Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Acad. Gheorghi Boncev Str. Institute of Geology
Block 24 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS)
e-mail: ptchouman@geology.bas.bg 26 Baiwanzhuang Road
Beijing 100037, China
BURKINA FASO e-mail: igcp-china@cags.cn.net
http: www.cags.cn.net/igc-china
Monsieur Wenmenga Urbain http:www.cags.cn.net/igcp-china
Maître Assistant
Départment des sciences de la terre COLOMBIA
Université de Ouagadougou
Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Sr. Ricardo Escobar Reyes
03 B.P. 7021 Présidente, Comité Nacional del PICG
Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso INGEOMINAS
Diagonal 53 no. 34-53
Aptdo. Aéreo 4865
Santa Fé de Bogota, Colombia

147
CONGO CZECH REPUBLIC

Comité National du PICG Dr J. Pasava

c/o Commission Nationale pour l’UNESCO Chairman, Czech IGCP National Committee
B.P. 14 Geological Survey of Prague
Kinshasa/Gombe G.C. Klárov 131
République Démocratique du Congo 11821 Praha 1, Czech Republic
e-mail: pasava@cgu.cz
COSTA RICA http://www.gli.cas.cz/igcp)

Lic. Teresita Aguilar Alvarez DENMARK

Director
Presidente Dr Agnete Steenfelt
Comité Nacional para el PICG Chairperson
Escuela Centroamericana de Geología Danish National Committee for Geology
San Pedro Montes de Oca c/o Geological Centre Institute
San José, Costa Rica Oster Voldgade 10
e-mail: aaguilar@cariari.ucr.ac.cr DK 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

CÔTE D’IVOIRE EGYPT

Mr Joseph N’zi Prof. M. Lotfi Abdel-Khalek

Président Department of Geology
Comité national ivoirien de corrélation géologique Cairo University
Directeur général – Sodemi Giza, Egypt
O1 BP 2816 – Abidjan O1
Côte d’Ivoire FINLAND

CROATIA Prof. Jorma Kangas

Chairman
Prof. Josip Tisljar IGCP National Committee
Chairman, IGCP National Committee Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory
Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering FIN-99600 Sodankylä, Finland
Pierottijeva 6 e-mail: Jorma.Kangas@sgo.fi)
HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
e-mail (secretary): gdurn@rudar.rgn.hr FRANCE

CUBA Dr Denis Vaslet

Président
Dr Nancy Garcia Lamadrid Comité national pour le PICG
Chairman, IGCP National Committee BRGM – Avenue de Concyr
Oficina Naitonal de Recursos Minerales BP 6009-45060 Orléans, France
Ave. Salvador Allende No. 666 e-mail: d.vaslet@brgm.fr
La Habana 10300, Cuba
GERMAY
CYPRUS
Prof. Dr Fritz Steininger
Dr G. Petrides Chairman
Chairman, IGCP National Committee IGCP National Committee
Director, Geological Survey Department Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg
Ministry of Agriculture Senckenberganlage 25
Natural Resources and Environment D-60325 Frankfurt-am-Main, Germay
1415 Nicosia, Cyprus e-mail: fsteinin@sng.uni-frankfurt.de
e-mail: gsd@cytanet.com.cy http://www.geokommission.de/arbgru/NCIGCP.html

148
GHANA IRAQ

Dr G.O. Kesse Dr Yahya Tawfik Al-Rawi

Chairman Chairman, IGCP National Committee
IGCP National Committee University of Babylon
Geological Survey Department P.O. Box 4 – Hilla
Ministry Branch Post Office Babylon, Iraq
P.O. Box M. 80
Accra, Ghana IRELAND

GREECE Mr Ralph Horne

Chairman, Irish National Committee for Geology and
Mr G. Gekas IGCP
General Director Geological Survey of Ireland
Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration Beggars Bush
70 Messoghion Street Haddington Road
Athens 11527, Greece Dublin 4, Ireland

GUYANA ISRAEL

Mrs Karen Livan Dr Amos Bein

Manager Chairperson, IGCP National Committee
Geological Services for Commissioner Director, Geological Survey of Israel
Guyana Geology and Mines Commission 30 Malkhei Yisrael Street
Upper Brickdam 95501 Jerusalem
P.O. Box 1028 e-mail: bein@mail.gsi.gov.il
Georgetown, Guyana
ITALY
HUNGARY
Prof. Cavazza
Dr Károly Brezsnyánszky Secretary, IGCP National Committee
Chairman Department of Geological Sciences
IGCP National Committee University of Basilicata
Geological Institute of Hungary (MAFI) Macchia Romana
H-1143 Budapest 85100 Potenza, Italy
P.O.B. 106 e-mail: cavazza@geomin.unibo.it
Stefánia út 14, Hungary
http://www.mafi.hu JAMAICA

INDIA Dr Larence Henry

Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Shri Ravi Shanker Director
Chairman Geological Survey Division
IGCP National Committee P.O. Box 141
Director-General Hope Gardens
International Division Kingston 6, Jamaica
Geological Survey of India
27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road JAPAN
Calcutta 700 016, India
e-mail: gsi@gems.vsnl.net.in Prof. R. Tsuchi
Chairman
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IGCP National Committee
Shizuoka University
Dr Abdolazim Haghipour Miyatake 1-9-24
President Shizuoka 422-8035, Japan
Geological Survey of Iran e-mail: rtsuchi@mvibiglobe.ne.jp
Azadi SQ – Ave Meraje
Tehran
Home 28 Ave. Miremade
15879, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
e-mail: Haghipou@accit.com
149
JORDAN
Mr K. Jreisat
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Director-General
Natural Resources Authority
P.O. Box 7
Amman, Jordan
KAZAKHSTAN
Mr Khalel Abdulkhakovich Bespaev
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Institute of Geological Sciences
Kabanbai batyr st., 69-a
480100 Almaty, Kazakhstan
KENYA
Mr D.R.O. Riaroh
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Ministry of Energy
P.O. Box 30582
Nairobi, Kenya
KOREA
Prof. Dr Yong Ahn Park
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Department of Oceanography
Seoul National University
Seoul 151-742, Korea
LIBERIA
Dr Beauford O. Weeks
Director
Liberian Geological Survey
Ministry of Lands and Mines
P.O. Box 10-9024
Monrovia, Liberia
LITHUANIA
Dr Gediminas Motuza
Director of the Geological Survey
Konarski 35
Vilnius 232600, Lithuania
LUXEMBOURG
Comité national du PICG
Attn: Monsieur R. Maquil
Service géoloque du Luxembourg
43 Bd. G.D. Charlotte
1331 Luxembourg
150
MACEDONIA
Prof. D.R. Risto Stojanov
President, IGCP National Committee
Faculty of Mining and Geology
ul. Goce Delcev 89
Stip 92000, Macedonia
MADAGASCAR
Président du Comité national malgache pour le PICG
Chef du Service des mines et de la géologie
B.P. 280
Antanarivo, Madagascar
MALAYSIA
Mr Yin Ee Heng
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Director-General
Geological Survey of Malaysia
P.O. Box 11110
Jalan Tun Razak
50736 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
MEXICO
Sr. Diego Cordoba
Comité nacional del PICG
Instituto de Geologia – Universidad Nacional
Apdo Postal 07296 – Delegación Coyoacán
México D.F. 04510
MONGOLIA
Dr Rinchen Barsbold
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Geological Institute
Ulaanbaatar 51, Mongolia
MOROCCO
Monsieur M. Bensaid
Président, Comité national marocain du PICG
Ministère de l’énergie et des mines
Direction de la géologie
Rabat, Maroc
MYANMAR
Myanmar National Committee for IGCP
Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise
P.O. Box No. 1049
74/80 Min Ye Kyaw Swa Road
Yangon, Myanmar
NEPAL NORWAY

Mr Madhab Raj Pandey Dr David Bruton

Senior Seismologist Secretary, IGCP National Committee
Chief, Naitonal Seismological Centre Universitetet Oslo
Department of Mines and Geology Paleontologisk Museum
Lainchaur – Kathmandu, India Sars Gate
N-0562 Oslo 5, Norway
NETHERLANDS
PAKISTAN
Prof. Dr J. Menlenkamp
Chairman, IGCP National Committee Prof. Dr Shafeeq Ahmad
Institute of Earth Sciences The Institute of Geology
Mail Box 80021 Enschappen University of the Punjab
35087a Utrecht, Netherlands Quaid-e-Azam Campus
Lahore 54590, Pakistan
NEW ZEALAND
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Assoc. Prof. V.A. Neall
Chairman Dr R.H. Findlay
IGCP National Committee Chairman, IGCP National Comittee
Massey University Senior Regional Geologist
Institute of Natural Resources Geological Survey Division
Private Bag 11222 Department of Mining and Petroleum
Palmerston North, New Zealand Private Mail Bag
e-mail: V.E.Neall@massey.ac.nz Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

NICARAGUA PARAGUAY

Dr Mauricio Darce Rivera Dr J.H. Palmieri A.

Chairman Présidente, Comité paraguayano para el PICG
Nicaraguan Mining Institute Instituto de Ciencias Basicas
Department of Geology Universidad Nacional del Asuncion
P.O. Box 195 ciudad Universitaria
Managua, Nicaragua Casilla de Correo 1039
Asuncion, Paraguay
NIGER
PERU
Monsieur B. Ousmane
Secrétaire, Comité national pour le PICG Dr J. Macharé
Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur de la Recherche Soc. Geol. del Peru
et de la Technologie P.O. Box 2559
B.P. 628 Lima 100, Peru
Niamey, Niger
POLAND
NIGERIA
Prof. Jerzyt Fedorowski
Dr O.M. Ojo Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Director Institute of Geology
Geological Survey Department Adam Mickiewicz University
Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources ul. Maków Polnych 16
P.M.B. 12844 61 – 686 Poznan, Poland
Federal Secretariat e-mail: jerzy@amu.eu.pl
Ikoyi
Lagos, Nigeria

151
PORTUGAL SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Executive Secretary Prof. RNDr Dusan Hovorka

National Commission of Portugal for UNESCO Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Coordinator – CNU Liaison Group for IGCP Faculty of Sciences
Av. Infante Santo 42/5 Comenius University
Lisboa 1300, Portugal Mlynská dolina
842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA e-mail: dubikova@fns.uniba.sk

Dr C. Frick SLOVENIA
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Chief Director, Geological Survey Prof. Dr S. Pirc
Private Bag X112 Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Pretoria 0001, Republic of South Africa University of Ljubljanaiences
e-mail: cfrick@geoscience.org.za Department of Geology
http://www.geoscience.org.za Askerceva 12
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
ROMANIA
SPAIN
Prof. M. Sandulescu
Chairman, IGCP National Committee Professor Marcos A. Lamolda
Romanian Academy Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Calea Victoriei 125 Facultad de Ciencias-
Bucuresti 1, Romania Universidad del País Vasco
Campus de Lejona
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 48940 Lejona, Spain
http://www.ehu.es/~gpplapam/PICG
Prof. V.A. Zharikov
Chairman, IGCP National Committee SURINAME
Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Pyzhevsky per. 7 Dr H.R. Pollack
Moscow Zh-7 109017, Russian Federation Chairman, IGCP National Committee
e-mail: igcpcrus@geo.tv-sign.ru HWO Consultants n.v.i.o.
Mining, Forestry, Agriculture
SAUDI ARABIA Construction Real Estate
Borretstraat 3
Dr Mohammad A. Tawfiq Paramaribo, Suriname
Acting President
Saudi Geological Survey SWEDEN
P.O. Box 54141
Jeddah 21514, Saudi Arabia Prof. John S. Peel
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
SENEGAL Dept. of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University
Norbyvägen 22
Professor O. Dia SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Department de Géologie e-mail: john.peel@pal.uu.se
Faculté des Sciences
Université Cheikh Anta Diop SWITZERLAND
Dakar-Fann, Sénégal
Prof. Katharina von Salis
SIERRA LEONE President, IGCP National Committee
Glaernischstr. 11
Mr Smart Kamara CH-8805 Richterswil, Switzerland
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Geological Survey Division
Ministry of Mines
New England
Freetown, Sierra Leone

152
SYRIA UGANDA

Dr Eng. I.I. Yussef Director

Chairman, IGCP National Committee Department of Geological Survey and Mines
The General Establishment of Geology and Mineral P.O. Box 9
Resources Entebbe 22, Uganda
P.O. Box 7645
Damascus, Syria UKRAINE

TANZANIA Academician V.N. Semenenko

Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Prof. A. Mruma Institute of Geological Sciences
Chairman IGCP National Committee National Academy of Sciences
Department of Geology Gonchara str. 55b
University of Dar Es Salaam 252601 Kiev, Ukraine
P.O. Box 35052
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania UNITED KINGDOM
e-mail: geology@udsm.ac.tz or abdulmruma@
hotmail.com Ms R. Cooper
Secretary, IGCP National Committee
THAILAND The Royal Society
6 Carlton House Terrace
Mr Somsak Potisat London SW1Y 5 AG, United Kingdom
Chairman, IGCP National Committee
Deputy Director-General URUGUAY
Department of Mineral Resources (DMR)
Rama 6 Rd Dr Julio Cesar Jaureguy
Bangkok 10400, Thailand Directeur Nacional
Direccion Nacional de Minera y Geologia
TOGO Hervidero 2861
C.P. 11800
Monsieur Père B. N’Zonou Montevideo, Uruguay
Président, Comité national pour le PICG
Directeur général adjoint VENEZUELA
B.P. 356
Lomé, Togo Rosario Bajo de Osuna
Chairperson, IGCP National Committee
TUNISIA INGEOMIN
Piso, 5, Torre Oeste, Parque Central
Dr H. Besbes Caracas, 1010, Venezuela
Président
Comité national tunisien pour le PICG VIET NAM
Le Métallurgique de Tunisie
9 rue Danton Prof. Dr Tran Van Tri
1002 Tunis-Belvédère Chairperson
Tunisia IGCP National Committee
Geological Survey of Viet Nam
TURKEY 6 Pham Ngu Lao
Hanoi, Viet Nam
Mrs Nükhet Karabiyikoglu e-mail: gsvbdvn.vnmail.vnd.net
Secretary e-mail: gsv@bdvn.vnmail.vnd.net
NRC/IUGS/IGCP-Turkey
MTA Genel Müdürlügü YEMEN
Jeoloji Etutleri Dairesi
06520 Ankara, Turkey Dr Mohamed Fara
e-mail: jed@mta.gov.tr Chairman, IGCP National Committee
http://www.mta.gov.tr (in Turkish language) Sana’a University
Department of Geology
P.O. Box 11431
Sana’a, Yemen

153
YUGOSLAVIA ZIMBABWE

Prof. Dr St. Karamata Mr H. Munyanyiwa

Chairman, IGCP National Committee Coordinator, IGCP National Committee
Rudarsko-geoloski fakultet University of Zimbabwe
Djusina 7 Geology Department
11 000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia P.O. Box MP 167
Mount Pleasant
Harere, Zimbabwe

154
 IGCP Contact Addresses
(December 1999)

BURUNDI LEBANON

Dr Audace Ntungicimpaye M. El Soufi

Direction générale de la géologie et des Mines Conseil national de la Recherche Scientific
Ministère de l’Energie et des mines B.P. 11-8281
B.P. 745 Beyrouth
Bujumbura
LESOTHO
CONGO (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF)
Dr Konka Chakela
Professor Boneza T. Rumvegeri The National University of Lesotho
University of Burundi P.O. Roma 180
Department of Earth Sciences
P.O. Box 2700 Bujumbura LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRYA
Burundi
Mr Yousef Shagrouni
ETHIOPIA Head of Geological Mapping Section
Industrial Research Centre
Mr Amenti Abraham Geological Research and Mining Department
Head P.O. Box 36310
Regional Geology Department
Ethiopian Institute of Mines and Energy MALAWI
P.O. Box 23O2
Addis Ababa Mr F.R. Phiri
For: Chief Geologist
FIJI Geological Survey Deptment
P.O. Box 27
Mr R. Rodda Zomba
for Director of Mineral Department
Mineral Resources Department MALI
Private Mail Bag
Suva M. Mory Kane
Ministère des Mines de l’Hydraulique et de l’Energie
INDONESIA Direction nationale de la géologie et des mines
B.P. 223
Mr P. Prijosoesilo Bamako
Indonesian Association of Geologists
Jl. Diponegoro 57 MAURITANIA
Bandung
Mr Mohamed Salem Ould Sabar
LAO P.D.R. Chef département Géologie
I.S.S. B.P. 5026
Mr S. Duang Aphaymani Nouakchott
Chief of Technical Division
Department of Geology and Mines
Vientiane

155
OMAN (SULTANATE OF) RWANDA

M. H. Kassim M. Marc Rugenra

Dir. Gen. of Minerals Minister of Crafts
Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals Mining and Tourism
P.O. Box 551 P. O. Box 2378
Muscat Kigali

PANAMA SWAZILAND

Sr. Julio Merida Dr Maphalala

Colegio Panameño de geólogos (COPAGE) Geological Survey and Mines Department
CÁMARA Minerq de Panamá (CAMIPA) P.O. Box 9
Apartado 10068 Mbabane
Panama 4
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PHILIPPINES
Dr Paul Hearn
Dr Raymundo S. Punongbayan U.S. Geological Survey
Chairman National Center 917
National Committee on Geological Sciences Reston, VA 20192
c/o Bureau of Mines and GeoSciences
Pedro Gil St. ZAIRE
Malate
P.O. Box 1595 Profesor Kanda Nkula
Manila Directeur
Centre de Recherches Géologiques et Minières
QATAR (C.R.G.M.)
Ministère de la Recherche Scientifique
Dr I.A. El Kassas B.P. 898
Head Kinshasa I
Remote Sensing Project
University of Qatar ZAMBIA
Scientific and Applied Research Centre (SARC)
P.O. Box 2713 Mr John Tether
Doha Director
Geological Survey Department
P.O. Box 5O135
Ridgeway
Lusaka

156