The carbon isotope composition of C_3 herbaceous plants in loess area of northern China

The application of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in study of paleoenvironment has been becoming more and more extensive. It is well known that the d 18O curves of foraminifer crust in deep oceanic sediments and ice cores have made a great contribution…     

Carbon isotope ratios of C4 plants in loess areas of North China

Carbon isotope ratios (δ ¹³C) of 89 C₄ plant samples were determined from the loess area in North China. δ ¹³C values vary between −10.5‰ and −14.6‰ with a mean of −12.6‰. Along a precipitation gradient from the semi-moist area to the semiarid area, then to the arid area, the δ ¹³C values of C₄ plants show a slight decreasing trend. The δ ¹³C values of C₄ plants in the dry season are found lower than those in the wet season. These trends are opposite to those observed for C₃ species.     

Carbon isotopic composition of modern soil and paleosol as a response to vegetation change on the Chinese Loess Plateau

The relationship between the carbon isotopic composition of paleosols and pale-ovegetation on the Loess Plateau is still unclear. One of the main reasons is that we are short of knowledge about the characteristics of the carbon isotopic composition of modern soil in this area. A preliminary investigation of the carbon isotopic compositions of the modern soil and the loess/paleosol sequence on the Loess Plateau shows that the carbon isotopic composition of modern soil is consistent with the distribution of modern plants on the Loess Plateau, where the ecosystem is dominated by a mixture of C4 and C3 plants. Comparing the δ13C values of modern soil and loess-paleosol sequences from the Xunyi profile, we conclude that C3 plants dominated the landscape during loess sediment stages, while C4 plants expanded during paleosol stages.     

Variations in carbon isotope ratios of C<Subscript>3</Subscript> plants and distribution of C<Subscript>4</Subscript> plants along an altitudinal transect on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga

Variations in carbon isotopic ratios (δ ¹³C) of C₃ plants and distribution of C₄ plants were investigated along an altitudinal transect on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga, and the environmental effects on them were discussed. It is shown that plants with C₄ photosynthetic pathway mainly occur at altitudes below 2100 m a.s.l., suggesting that the low summer temperature is responsible for the distributional pattern. In addition, δ ¹³C of C₃ plants increases with elevation at the region above 2000 m a.s.l. with the characteristics of humid climate, and the increase rate in δ ¹³C for C₃ plants is about 1.3% per kilometer. Temperature determines the altitudinal trend of δ ¹³C.     

Abiogenic hydrocarbons in commercial gases from the Songliao Basin, China

This paper discusses the kinetic fractionation, composition and distribution characteristics of carbon and hydrogen isotopes for various alkane gases formed in different environments, by different mecha- nisms and from different sources in nature. It is demonstrated that the biodegradation or thermode- gradation of complex high-molecule sedimentary organic material can form microbial gas or thermogenic gas. The δ 13C1 value ranges from -110‰ to -50‰ for microbial gases but from -50‰ to -35‰ (even heavier) f...     

Distribution and significance of C~_(40) alkanes in the extracts of Cretaceous source rocks from the Songliao Basin

Source rock extracts and crude oils from the Songliao Basin were analyzed by high-temperature gas chromatography (HTGC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HTGC-MS) and gas chromatography-isotope ratio-mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), for high molecular-weight alkanes. The distributions of n-alkanes in the Nenjiang Formation extracts are in the C14―C63 range; a bimodal distribution occurs in the C-21 and C21―40 regions. The C30―C37 n-alkanes are accompanied by C29―C35 hopanes, whereas the high molecular-weight C45―C47 n-alkanes co-occur with abundant isoalkanes, alkylcyclohexanes and alkylcyclopentanes. The high δ 13C values of the n-alkanes and the microscopic maceral compositions indicate a highly diversified organic source input for the Nenjiang Formation source rocks, ranging from aquatic plants, blue alge-bacteria, to land plant material. In contrast, n-alkanes in the rock extracts of the Qingshankou Formation are characterized by a single modal distribution, with relatively low abundances of C29―C35 hopanes, but high molecular-weight isoalkanes, alkylcyclohexanes and alkylcyclopentanes. The relatively low δ 13C values of C22―C44 n-alkanes and organic material compositions indicate that the source rocks in the Qingshankou Formation contain dominantly type I algal organic matter. The relative abundance of C 40 compounds in source rocks changes little at low maturity stage, but decreases drastically at higher maturity levels, with a concurrent reduction in the odd/even carbon predominance. In crude oils, in contrast, the relative abundance of C 40 compounds appears to relate closely with the oil source and oil viscosity.     

First <Superscript>13</Superscript>C/<Superscript>12</Superscript>C isotopic characterisation of volcanic plume CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We describe analytical details and uncertainty evaluation of a simple technique for the measurement of the carbon isotopic composition of CO₂ in volcanic plumes. Data collected at Solfatara and Vulcano, where plumes are fed by fumaroles which are accessible for direct sampling, were first used to validate the technique. For both volcanoes, the plume-derived carbon isotopic compositions are in good agreement with the fumarolic compositions, thus providing confidence on the method, and allowing its application at volcanoes where the volcanic component is inaccessible to direct sampling. As a notable example, we applied the same method to Mount Etna where we derived a δ¹³C of volcanic CO₂ between −0.9 ± 0.27‰ and −1.41 ± 0.27‰ (Bocca Nuova and Voragine craters). The comparison of our measurements to data reported in previous work highlights a temporal trend of systematic increase of δ¹³C values of Etna CO₂ from ~ −4‰, in the 1970’s and the 1980’s, to ~ −1‰ at the present time (2009). This shift toward more positive δ¹³C values matches a concurrent change in magma composition and an increase in the eruption frequency and energy. We discuss such variations in terms of two possible processes: magma carbonate assimilation and carbon isotopic fractionation due to magma degassing along the Etna plumbing system. Finally, our results highlight potential of systematic measurements of the carbon isotopic composition of the CO₂ emitted by volcanic plumes for a better understanding of volcanic processes and for improved surveillance of volcanic activity.     

Fluid mixing as the mechanism of formation of the Dajing Cu-Sn-Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit,Inner Mongolia

Dajing Cu-Sn-Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, is a fissure-filling hydrothermal ore deposit. The δD values of quartz-hosted inclusion water are centered at −100%.– −130%.. The δ³⁴S values of sulfide ore minerals and δ¹³ C values of carbonate gangue minerals vary from −0.3%. to 2.6%. and from −2.9%. to −7.0%., respectively. Integrated isotopic data point to two major contributions to the mineralizing fluid that include a dominant meteoric-derived groundwater, and sulfur and carbon species from hypogene magma. Linear trends are exhibited on the gaseous H₂O versus CO₂ plot, and plots of CO, N₂, CH₄, and C₂H₆. It is shown by quantitative simulation that magma degassing cannot explain the linear trends. Hence, these linear trends are interpreted in terms of mixing of CO₂-rich magmatic fluid with meteoric-derived groundwater. The groundwater circulated in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and absorbed CO, N₂, CH₄, C₂H₆ and radiogenic Ar from organic matter. Cooling effects resulting from mixing have caused the precipitation of ore minerals.     

Preliminary attempt to distinguish the domesticated pigs from wild boars by the methods of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis

Despite great achievements in the origins of domestic pigs made by the methods of zooarchaeology and molecular biology, how to scientifically distinguish the domesticated pigs from wild boars during the early stage of pig domestication is still poorly understood. Compared to wild boar’s diets which come from the natural environment, the diets of domestic pigs are more easily influenced by human feeding activities. Therefore, in principle, exploration of the dietary differences among pigs and under-standing the impact on pig diets fed by humans can have great potential to differentiate between wild boars and domesticated pigs. To reveal dietary differences among pigs and distinguish the domesticated pigs from wild boars based on comparison with the diets of humans and other animals, we analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of human bones from Xiaojingshan Site and animal bones from Yuezhuang Site, both of which belong to Houli Culture in Shandong Province and date to about 8500-7500 years ago. The mean δ¹³C value ((−17.8 ± 0.3)‰) and δ¹⁵N value ((9.0±0.6)‰) in human collagen indicate that although millet agriculture began it was not the main subsistence strategy as millets are typical of C₄ plants and that humans made a living mainly by gathering, hunting or raising some domesticated animals. The δ¹³C value (−16.1‰) and δ¹⁵N value (6.9‰) in the bovine suggest that C₃ plants were dominant in its diet with some C₄ plants complemented. The fish has lower δ¹³C value (−24.9‰) and higher δ¹⁵N value (8.8‰) than the bovine, which is the characteristic of the isotopic values from Eurasian freshwater fish. Based on the differences in carbon and nitrogen isotope values, the pigs can be divided into three groups. A group, composed of two pigs, has low δ¹³C values (−18.1‰, −20.0‰) and low δ¹⁵N values (4.7‰, 6.0‰). B group, only one pig, has the highest δ¹³C value (−10.6‰) and mediate δ¹⁵N value (6.4‰). As for the C group, also only one pig, low δ¹³C value (−19.0‰) and the highest δ¹⁵N value (9.1‰) are observed. Previous studies on the stable isotopes from modern or ancient wild boars’ bones have suggested that C₃ plants are predominated in their diets and that their δ¹⁵N values are close to those in herbivores and far from those in carnivores. Based on the comparison with the isotope values from humans, the wild boars and the domestic pigs from Xipo Site in Henan 6000-5500 years ago and Kangjia Site in Shaanxi 4500-4000 years ago, we conclude that A pig group belongs to wild boars while B and C groups can be attributed to domesticated pigs. Supported by Max-Planck Society and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KJCX3.SYW.N12), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40702003) and President Funding of Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences     

Variations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis><Superscript>18</Superscript>O in precipitation from the Muztagata Glacier,East Pamirs

Expeditions to Muztagata (in the eastern Pamirs) during the summer seasons of 2002 and 2003 collected precipitation samples and measured their oxygen isotopes. The δ ¹⁸O in precipitation displays a wide range, varying from −17.40‰ to +1.33‰ in June-September 2002 and from −22.31‰ to +4.59‰ in May-August 2003. The δ ¹⁸O in precipitation correlates with the initial temperature of precipitation during the observing periods. The positive correlation between δ ¹⁸O and temperature suggests that δ ¹⁸O can be used as an indicator of temperature in this region. The δ ¹⁸O values in fresh-snow samples collected from two snow events at different elevations on the Muztagata Glacier show a strong “altitude effect”, with a ratio of nearly −0.40% per 100 m from 5500 m to 7450 m.     

Carbon isotopic characteristics and their genetic relationships for individual lipids in plants and sediments from a marsh sedimentary environment

The carbon isotopic compositions of individual lip-ids can provide the genetic information about sedi-mentary lipids so that it has extensively applied pros-pects in geochemically studied field[1―8]. However, this applied research relies heavily on the accumula-tion of studied data in the genetic relationships between carbon isotopic compositions of individual lipids and their biological precursors in different sedi-mentary environments. Recently, the useful δ 13C data of individual lipids f…     

Boron isotopic fractionation in laboratory inorganic carbonate precipitation: evidence for the incorporation of B(OH)<Subscript>3</Subscript> into carbonate

A laboratory inorganic carbonate precipitation experiment at high pH of 8.96 to 9.34 was conducted, and the boron isotopic fractionations of the precipitated carbonate were measured. The data show that boron isotopic fractionation factors (α_carb-3) between carbonate and B(OH)₃ in seawater range 0.937 and 0.965, with an average value of 0.953. Our results together with those reported by Sanyal and collaborators show that the α_carb-3 values between carbonate and B(OH)₃ in solution are not constant but are negatively correlated with the pH of seawater. The measured boron isotopic compositions of carbonate precipitation (δ¹¹B_carb) do not exactly lie on the best-fit theoretical δ¹¹B₄-pH curves and neither do they exactly parallel any theoretical δ¹¹B₄-pH curves. Therefore, it is reasonable to argue that a changeable proportion of B(OH)₃ with pH of seawater should also be incorporated into carbonate except for the dominant incorporation of B(OH)₄ ⁻ in carbonate. Hence, in the reconstruction of the paleo-pH of seawater from boron isotopes in marine biogenic carbonates, the use of theoretical boron isotopic fractionation factor (α₄₋₃) between B(OH)₄ ⁻ and B(OH)₃ is not suitable. Instead, an empirical equation should be established. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 40573013 and 40776071), State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No SKLLQG0502) and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences     

Stable isotopic studies of dinosaur eggshells from the Nanxiong Basin, South China

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes have been observed in dinosaur eggshell samples,identified as Macroolithus yaotunensis,collected in two sections of the Nanxiong Basin,Guangdong Province,South China.Multiple positiveδ18O perturbations that occurred during the K/T transition of about 150 ka suggest that there may have been at least three periods of the extreme dry climate with a mean annual air temperature over 27℃.δ13C ranges from -8.37‰ to -11.60‰ of the dinosaur eggshells,added to the metabolic enrichment of 16‰,may indicate that the dinosaurs represented by this type of eggshells probably consumed the plant species of C3 type with the δ13C values of -24.3‰- -27.6‰.Moreover,the trend toward more negative δ13C values of the eggshells during the K/T transition could be an indirect consequence of a lasting increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration.     

Discrimination of abiogenic and biogenic alkane gases

We have combined the analytical data of the carbon isotope distribution pattern, R/Ra and CH4/3He values of abiogenic and biogenic (referring to the thermogenic and bacterial or microbial) alkane gases in China with those of alkane gases from USA, Russia, Germany, Australia and other countries. Four discrimination criteria are derived from this comparative study: 1) Carbon isotopic composition is generally greater than -30‰ for abiogenic methane and less than -30‰ for biogenic methane; 2) Abiogenic alkane gases have a carbon isotopic reversal trend (δ 13C1> δ 13C2> δ 13C3> δ 13C4) with δ 13C1>-30‰ in general; 3) Gases with R/Ra >0.5 and δ 13C11 δ 13C2>0 are of abiogenic origin; 4) Gases (meth- ane) with CH4/3He≤106 are of abiogenic origin, whereas gases with CH4/3He≥1011 are of biogenic origin.     

Carbon and hydrogen isotopic characteristics of natural gases from the Luliang and Baoshan basins in Yunnan Province, China

The Luliang and Baoshan basins are two small ba- sins in Yunnan Province. In the recent ten years or so, there have been found a number of natural gas pools of commercial importance in the two basins. Although the gas pools are small in size, the natural …     

Sorption of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>onto nano-size silica-water interfaces

The sorption of Eu species onto nano-size silica-water interfaces is investigated at pH range of 1―8.5 and the initial Eu concentrations (C_Eu) of 2×10⁻⁵, 2×10⁻⁴ and 2×10⁻³ M using fluorescence spectroscopy. The sorption rate of Eu is initially low, but significantly increases at pH > 4. For the initial C_Eu of 2×10⁻⁵, 2×10⁻⁴ and 2×10⁻³ M, the dissolved Eu species are completely sorbed onto silica-water interfaces at pH = 4.75, −5.8 and 6.6, respectively, with the respective sorption densities of −1.58×10⁻⁸, 1.58×10⁻⁷ and 1.58×10⁻⁶ mol/m². The sorbed Eu species at pH < 6 is aquo Eu³⁺, which is sorbed onto silica-water interfaces as an outer-sphere complex at pH < 5, but may be sorbed as an inner-sphere bidentate complex at 5 < pH < 6, due to the decrease of the N_H2O to −6 at pH = 6. At pH = 6 – 8, Eu(OH)²⁺, Eu(CO₃)⁺and Eu(CO₃)₂ ⁻ form in the solutions, and Eu(CO₃)⁺is dominant at pH = −7.5. These ions may be sorbed onto silica-water interfaces as inner-sphere bidentate complexes or multi-nuclear pre-cipitates.     

Stable carbon isotope evidence for tracing the diet of the host <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hepialus</Emphasis> larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordyceps sinensis</Emphasis> in the Tibetan Plateau

Two types of Hepialus larvae with different diets were distinguished in the Sejila Mountain, Tibetan Plateau based on the stable carbon isotope data of the host Hepialus larva of Cordyceps sinensis and its closely adjacent tender plant roots and humus fractions. Type I is the larva chiefly fed by soil humus, and characterized by the δ ¹³C values of −22.6‰ to −23.4‰, and more than −23.4‰ in its heads. Type II is the larva chiefly fed by tender plant roots, and characterized by the δ ¹³C values of −24.6‰ to −27.6‰, and less than −24.6‰ in its heads. Our result has exceeded the traditional understanding that their food sources only come from the tender plant roots, and may provide evidence for choosing cheap and high-quality foods and further establishing artificial habitats in their large-scale reproduction. Supported by the National Key Technology R & D Program (Grant No. 2007BAI32B05)     

Quantitative recuperation of climatic sequences for the last 200 years in Xingcuo Lake,eastern Tibetan Plateau

The functional relation between theδ18O values in the shell of gastropod Gyraulus sibirica and the air temperature in the warm half-yearly period, and that between Sr/Ca ratio and the precipitation in the warm half-yearly period were established by calibrating the δ18O and δ13C values, Sr/Ca ratio and Mg/Ca ratio in the shell Gyraulus sibirica, as well as the total organic carbon (TOC) and its δ13C values in the Xingcuo Lake sediment in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The sequences of air temperature and precipitation in the last 200 years in the region were quantitatively recuperated on this basis. The results showed the following: (i) There was a negative correlativity between Sr/Ca ratio and the precipitation in the warm half-yearly period, its correlation coefficient was 0.86. (ii) There was an obviously positive correlativity between indexδ18O and the running average temperature in the warm half-yearly period, its correlation coefficient was 0.89. (iii) Evolution of the air temperature and the precipitation in the last 200 years can be divided into three phases distinctly. The precipitation in the later mid-19th century was 220 mm higher than that today; the air temperature in the warm half-yearly period was 2℃ lower than that of the present. The precipitation in the minimum air temperature period of the early 20th century was below that today by 60 mm, and the air temperature in the warm half-yearly period was 3.4℃ lower than that today. (iv) An evidently warming and drying trend existed in the last five decades.     

Climatic significance of the stable carbon isotope composition of tree-ring cellulose: Comparison of Chinese hemlock (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tsuga chinensis</Emphasis> Pritz) and alpine pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densata</Emphasis> Mast) in a temperate-moist region of China

In the reconstruction of past climate using stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C) in tree ring, the responses of the stable carbon composition (δ13C) of multiple tree species to environmental factors must be known detailedly. This study presented two δ13C series in annual tree rings for Chinese hemlock (Tsuga chinensis Pritz) and alpine pine (Pinus densata Mast), and investigated the relationships between climatic parameters and stable carbon discrimination (Δ13C) series, and evaluated the potential of climatic reconstruction using Δ13C in both species, in a temperate-moist region of Chuanxi Plateau, China. The raw δ13C series of the two species was inconsistent, which may be a result of different responses caused by tree's inherent physiological differences. After removing the low-frequency effects of CO2 concentration, the high-frequency (year-to-year) inter-series correlation of Δ13C was strong, indicating that Δ13C of the two tree species were controlled by common environmental conditions. The Δ13C series of the species were most significantly correlated with temperature and moisture stress, but in different periods and intensity between the species. During the physiological year, the impacts of temperature and moisture stress on Δ13C occur earlier for Chinese hemlock (previous December to February for moisture stress and February to April for temperature, respectively) than for alpine pine (March to May for moisture stress and April to July for temperature, respectively). In addition, in temperatemoist regions, the control on Δ13C of single climatic parameter was not strongly dominant and the optimal multiple regressions functions just explained the 38.5% variance of the total. Therefore, there is limited potential for using δ13C alone to identify clear, reliable climatic signals from two species.     

Comprehensive geochemical identification of highly evolved marine carbonate rocks as hydrocarbon-source rocks as exemplified by the Ordos Basin

China’s widespread marine carbonate rock series are mostly characterized by intensive thermal evolu- tion and low abundance of organic matter, especially the Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks have experienced multi-episodes of tectonics and prolonged history of thermal evolution, thus making it more complicatedethe development and distribution of hydrocar- bon-source rocks reflected in the sedimentary, bio- logical and geochemical facies. Consequently, it seems much less powerful to assess the …