Yin, A., Brandl, G., Kröner, A., 2019. Plate-tectonic processes at ca. 2.0 Ga: Evidence from >600 km of plate convergence. Geology 48, 103-107.

https://doi.org/10.1130/G47070.1 We addressed when plate-tectonic processes first started on Earth by examining the ca. 2.0 Ga Limpopo orogenic belt in southern Africa. We show through palinspastic reconstruction that the Limpopo orogen originated from >600 km of west-directed thrusting, and the thrust sheet was subsequently folded by north- south compression. The common 2.7 - 2.6 Ga felsic plutons in the Limpopo thrust sheet and the absence of an arc immediately predating the 2.0 Ga Limpopo thrusting require the Limpopo belt to be an intracontinental ∼ structure. The similar duration ( 40 m.y.), slip magnitude (>600 km), slip rate (>15 mm/yr), tectonic setting (intracontinental), and widespread anatexis to those of the Himalayan orogen lead us to propose the Limpopo belt to have developed by continent-continent collision. Specifically, the combined Zimbabwe-Kaapvaal craton (ZKC, named in this study) in the west (present coordinates) was subducting eastward below an outboard craton (OC), which carried an arc equivalent to the Gangdese batholith in southern Tibet prior to the India-Asia collision. The ZKC-OC collision at ca. 2.0 Ga triggered a westward jump in the plate convergence boundary, from the initial suture zone to the Limpopo thrust within the ZKC. Subsequent thrusting accommodated >600 km of plate convergence, possibly driven by ridge push from the west side of the ZKC. As intracontinental plate convergence is a key modern plate-tectonic process, the development of the Limpopo belt implies that the operation of plate tectonics, at least at a local scale, was ongoing by ca. 2.0 Ga on Earth.

Yoneda, J., Kida, M., Konno, Y., Jin, Y., Morita, S., Tenma, N., 2019. In situ mechanical properties of shallow gas hydrate deposits in the deep seabed. Geophysical Research Letters 46, 14459-14468.

https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084668 Natural gas hydrates (or methane hydrates) could become a major energy source but could also exacerbate global warming, because as the climate warms, hydrate deposits deep under the oceans or in permafrost may release methane into the atmosphere. There are many shallow deposits of gas hydrates in fine-grained muddy sediments on the seafloor. However, the mechanical properties of these sediments have not yet been investigated because of the engineering challenges in coring and testing at in situ temperatures and pressures. Here we present the first uniaxial and triaxial strength and stiffness measurements of pure massive natural gas hydrates and muddy sediments containing hydrate nodules obtained by pressure coring. As a result, we were able to observe the hydrate undergoing a catastrophic brittle failure. Its strength and deformation moduli were 3 and 300 MPa, respectively. Muddy sediments containing hydrate nodules had the same strength as that of hydrate-free sediments.

Yoo, C.G., Meng, X., Pu, Y., Ragauskas, A.J., 2020. The critical role of lignin in lignocellulosic biomass conversion and recent pretreatment strategies: Acomprehensive review. Bioresource Technology 301, 122784.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852420300535 Heterogeneity and rigidity of lignocellulose causing resistance to its deconstruction have provided technical and economic challenges in the current biomass conversion processes. Lignin has been considered as a crucial recalcitrance component in biomass utilization. An in-depth understanding of lignin properties and their influences on biomass conversion can provide clues to improve biomass utilization. Also, utilization of lignin can significantly increase the economic viability of biorefinery. Recent lignin-targeting pretreatments have aimed not only to overcome recalcitrance for biomass conversion but also to selectively fractionate lignin for lignin valorization. Numerous studies have been conducted in biomass characteristics and conversion technologies, and the role of lignin is critical for lignin valorization and biomass pretreatment development. This review provides a comprehensive review of lignin-related biomass characteristics, the impact of lignin on the biological conversion of biomass, and recent lignin-targeting pretreatment strategies. The desired lignin properties in biorefinery and future pretreatment directions are also discussed.