阿尔金山东段阿克塞蛇绿岩地质地球化学特征及形成时代

北阿尔金蛇绿岩带是分布在阿尔金山北缘的一条蛇绿混杂岩带,超基性蛇纹岩岩块、基性岩墙、辉长岩块及基性熔岩组合是该带东段阿克塞蛇绿岩的典型组合形式。地球化学研究结果显示,阿克塞蛇绿岩超基性蛇纹岩以富MgO、贫Al_2O_3、P_2O_5、CaO和K_2O为特征,球粒陨石标准化稀土元素配分曲线表现较平缓,比值接近于1;基性熔岩类中TiO_2为0.86%～1.80%,Al_2O_3为12.00%～14.85%,CaO介于4.89%～19.23%之间,球粒陨石标准化稀土元素配分型式表现为右倾;基性岩墙中TiO_2介于1.08%～2.44%之间,Al_2O_3含量为11.07%～13.26%,Na_2O(1.20%～2.28%)K_2O(0.80%～1.38%),稀土元素总量介于48.65×10~(-6)～124.04×10~(-6)之间,平均92.95×10~(-6);轻、重稀土元素比值介于2.22～4.45之间,总体表现为大洋中脊环境,LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄显示,阿克塞蛇绿岩形成于514.6±8.8Ma,为寒武纪,表明在早古生代北阿尔金洋已完全打开,并连通了红柳沟—阿克塞。     

福建西部早古生代杂砂岩特征及其源区和构造背景

福建西部早古生代杂砂岩属富石英杂砂岩类。稳定碎屑石英的高含量和不稳定碎屑长石、岩屑的强烈贫化,表现了沉积物具再旋回特点。很高的SiO_2含量及CaO、Na_2O的贫化,并以低的Fe_2O_3+MgO、Al_2O_3/SiO_2、TiO_2和高的变化极大的K_2O/Na_2O、Al_2O_3/(CaO+Na_2O)与被动大陆边缘沉积的杂砂岩相类似。稀土元素模式及其参数特征相似于现代的和古代的被动大陆边缘环境沉积的杂砂岩。分析表明,本套杂砂岩的源岩是以沉积岩、浅变质岩为主和中—酸性火成岩混合组成,所处的大地构造背景为构造上不活动的被动大陆边缘或弧后盆地环境。     

内蒙古阿鲁科尔沁旗林西组泥岩地球化学特征及构造意义

阿鲁科尔沁旗陶海营子剖面以灰、灰黑、黄绿色的砂板岩组合为特征,是林西组典型剖面之一,含双壳、叶肢介、植物和孢粉化石,结合碎屑锆石年龄,时代为晚二叠世晚期。本次所研究的林西组样品以暗色泥岩为主,主量元素平均含量SiO_2=62.90%,Al_2O_3=16.85%,MgO=1.78%,CaO=1.01%,Na_2O=1.64%,K_2O=4.0%,K_2O/Na_2O为1.10～5.66;A1_2O_3/(CaO+Na_2O)比值为3.57～12.69;稀土元素ΣREE介于139.85×10~(-6)～231.65×10~(-6)之间,平均值为190.74×10~(-6),δEu值介于0.49～0.87之间,平均值为0.61,表现为铕的负异常,Ce介于0.91×10~(-6)～0.96×10~(-6)之间,为负异常,LREE富集,HREE亏损,微量元素以亏损Nb、Ta、Sr,富集Rb、Ba、La、Ce、Pb、Nd、Sm为特征。以上分析表明林西组形成于靠近大陆岛弧的活动大陆边缘构造背景。依据碎屑锆石年龄谱值信息,林西组沉积物源具多样性和复杂性,除东北各地块,同时存在华北板块和西伯利亚板块的物源信息,说明林西组沉积时期华北板块与西伯利亚板块可能已经开始俯冲过程。     

辽宁本溪大台沟铁矿床地球化学特征及成因探讨

为探讨辽宁大台沟铁矿床的成矿物质来源及形成环境,选取典型铁矿石5块进行主量元素、微量元素和稀土元素分析测试。结果显示:大台沟铁矿床保存有明显的化学沉积特征,化学成分主要由Fe_2O_3,FeO和SiO_2组成(Fe_2O_3+FeO+SiO_2=87.33%～96%),其他组分(MnO,MgO,CaO,Na_2O,K_2O,TiO_2,P_2O_5,Al_2O_3)含量较低;页岩标准化后的稀土元素配分曲线显示为稀土总量低(ΣREE平均为19.65×10^-6),轻稀土元素相对亏损,重稀土元素相对富集;且具有一定的Eu(Eu/Eu~*=1.52～2.72),Y(Y/Y~*=1.18～1.52),La(La/La~*=1.17～2.26)的正异常,弱的Ce(Ce/Ce~*=0.79～0.92)异常;Y/Ho值平均34.19接近于海水的分布范围;Sr/Ba值平均1.79,属于火山岩和海相沉积物;Ti/V值平均38.84,属于火山建造。这些特征表明:该矿床的形成可能与海相火山沉积物有关,属于火山沉积变质型铁矿范围;成矿物质来源于热水和海水的混合作用;矿床形成于相对于缺氧的环境。     

大兴安岭东北部霍龙门地区早二叠世花岗岩的锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及构造意义

黑龙江霍龙门地区位于兴蒙造山带东部的兴安地块和松嫩地块接触带上,区内花岗岩类以晚古生代花岗岩为主,岩性主要为正长花岗岩、二长花岗岩、碱长花岗岩和二长闪长岩等。研究区的正长花岗岩的SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年结果为294.8 Ma±1.8Ma,表明其形成于早二叠世,且在早三叠世(244.6 Ma±4.1 Ma)遭受了较弱的岩浆侵位事件的叠加影响。该时代岩石的主量元素具有高钾(K_2O质量分数平均为4.52%)、富钠(Na_2O质量分数平均为3.85%)、略富铝(Al_2O_3质量分数平均为13.73%)、低镁(MgO质量分数平均为0.21%)和贫磷(P_2O_5质量分数平均为0.06%)贫钙(CaO质量分数平均为0.61%)的特征;微量元素表现出Th,Zr,Nd,Rb明显富集,而Ba,Sr,P,Ti明显亏损;稀土元素具有轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素相对亏损的特征,有较明显的负Eu异常(δEu平均为0.49),轻重稀土元素分馏程度较强。岩石总体上属于高钾钙碱性系列花岗岩。花岗岩的R_1-R_2构造环境判别图解与微量元素Rb-Yb+Nb,Rb-Yb+Ta构造环境判别图解显示,该期发育的早二叠世花岗岩处于碰撞造山晚期向造山期后伸展的构造环境,结合区域北东向大量分布晚石炭世-早二叠世期间反映造山期后伸展环境的A型花岗岩的特征及本区所处的构造环境推测,研究区内早二叠世花岗岩应为兴安地块与松嫩地块北东向碰撞造山晚期向造山期后伸展拉张环境下岩浆侵位的产物。     

滇西户撒盆地芒棒组砂岩地球化学特征及物源区和构造背景分析

滇西户撒盆地芒棒组砂岩地球化学分析结果表明:砂岩主要为长石砂岩和杂砂岩,少量为页岩;矿物成分主要为石英、钾长石、斜长石和伊利石等;REE配分模式曲线一致,LREE/HREE=9.75～15.91,平均13.24,(La/Yb)_N=13.06～26.41,平均19.21,轻稀土元素相对重稀土元素明显富集,稀土元素分馏明显。SiO_2/Al_2O_3=2.06～6.01,平均4.60,ICV=0.54～1.09,平均0.86,结合沉积特征表明样品为被动构造环境下沉积物的再循环而成,而非强烈风化作用过程中形成的第一次旋回沉积物。Th/U=5.44～12.10,平均8.48,CIA矫正均值为69,反映了温暖、湿润条件下的中等化学风化作用。A-CN-K判别图说明交代作用降低了CIA值、且样品源岩钾长石比斜长石含量高。Th/Sc=4.43～25.35,平均8.18,Rb-K_2O图解、Co/Th-La/Sc图解和La/Yb-∑REE图解表明样品物源为花岗岩。TiO_2-(Fe_2O_3T+MgO)、Al_2O_3/(Cao+Na_2O)-(Fe_2O_3T+MgO)、La-Th-Sc以及(K_2O/Na_2O)-SiO_2构造判别图解表明:源岩形成于被动大陆边缘环境,与中特提斯洋在晚侏罗世—早白垩世已经打开且长期稳定相对应。户撒盆地为沿早期户撒走滑-挤压断裂拉张沉积形成,接受周缘晚侏罗世—早白垩世花岗岩沉积。     

湖北新春花岗岩类锆石SHRIMP年龄:大别山造山带内弱变质—未变质晋宁期花岗岩类的发现

蕲春花岗质杂岩体包括斑状二长花岗岩和花岗岩两部分,它们之间在化学性质上存在着很大的差异,前者表现为高Al_2O_3(15.73％)、相对高CaO(2.46％)、Na_2O含量明显高于K_2O(Na_2O/K_2O=1.27),尤以强烈亏损重稀土元素和极强的轻、重稀土元素分馏程度[(La/Yb)_N=46.8]为特征而类似于太古宙高Al_2O_3的TTG岩石。而后者则以较低的Al_2O_3含量(14.05％)、贫CaO(0.82％)、K_2O含量明显高于Na_2O(Na_2O/K_2O=0.81)为特征,轻、重稀土元素的分馏程度[(La/Yb)_N=10.89]也较片麻状二长花岗岩中弱得多。两类岩石中锆石的U-PbSHRIMP年龄分别为824.6±17.6 Ma和784±20 Ma,该时代与大别山造山带内花岗片麻岩的原岩形成年龄类似。大别山造山带内弱变质-未变质晋宁期花岗岩的出现表明扬子板块印支期向北俯冲时,该花岗质杂岩处于俯冲板片的后缘,可代表造山带内扬子基底的原地露头。而岩体周围的高压变质杂岩应是折返上来的无根构造岩片,大别山造山带内高压-超高压变质杂岩的出露不是整体性抬升剥蚀的结果。     

从岩石化学特点看板溪群的沉积大地构造背景

将板溪群和冷家溪群杂砂岩全岩岩石化学分析结果在SiO_2-K_2O/Na_2O图解、SiO_2/Al_2O_3-K_2O/(Na_2O+CaO)图解、Na_2O-K_2O图解以及(K_2O+Na_2O)—Al_2O_3图解上投点,发现多数板溪群杂砂岩样品点落在被动大陆边缘区,而冷家溪群杂砂岩样品点则多落入活动大陆边缘区。因此认为,板溪群沉积于被动大陆边缘,而冷家溪群沉积于活动大陆边缘,它们形成于不同的地质演化阶段。     

大兴安岭中部乌兰浩特地区林西组碎屑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及其构造意义

内蒙古乌兰浩特地区出露一套缺少化石、遭受接触变质作用的厚层碎屑岩。在该套地层采集碎屑锆石样品,进行碎屑锆石U-Pb测年研究。80个锆石分析点的年龄可分为3个主要年龄区间:242～294Ma,年龄加权平均值为263.6±3.3Ma(n=50,MSWD=4.9),峰值年龄为261Ma;301～381Ma,峰值年龄为348Ma;454～530Ma,峰值年龄为487Ma。另有7个锆石分析点的年龄分别为824Ma、836Ma、859Ma、867Ma、1279Ma、1556Ma、2447Ma。261Ma的峰值年龄限定了该地层的沉积下限,即属晚二叠世林西组。主量元素SiO2含量为67.81%,Al_2O_3为18.22%,MgO为1.44%,CaO为0.41%,Na_2O为1.54%,K_2O为3.90%,K_2O/Na_2O为1.15～10.21;A_(12)O_3/(CaO+Na_2O)为4.87～26.38;稀土元素总量介于162.39×10-6～223.46×10-6之间,平均值为200.88×10-6,负Eu异常,Ce为1.00～1.05,轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素亏损,微量元素以亏损Nb、Ta、Sr,富集Rb、Ba、La、Ce、Pb、Nd、Sm为特征。以上分析表明,林西组形成于活动大陆边缘构造背景。依据碎屑锆石年龄谱值信息,林西组沉积物源具多样性和复杂性,除东北各地块,同时存在华北板块和西伯利亚板块的物源信息,说明林西组沉积时期华北板块与西伯利亚板块可能已经开始俯冲碰撞过程。     

湖南首次发现累托石

累托石发现于辰溪县西北部一个水晶矿床的泥质物中。呈白色板状或片状,镜下呈纤维状。油脂光泽,比重2.25。SiO_2和Al_2O_3的含量分别为50.78％和33.69％,F_2O_3、FeO、MgO、K_2O、Na_2O、CaO、MnO和P_2O_5的总含量为4.91％。化学式为(Na_(0.415),Fe,K_(0.025),Mg_(0.018),Ca_(0.015))_(0.519)(H_3O)~+{Al_2[Al_(0.582)Si_(3.418)O_(10)](OH)_2}·3H_2O。     

南秦岭古生代热水沉积盆地与热水沉积成矿

扬子地块北部被动边缘的南秦岭古生代沉积盆地中,发育一套自早古生代—中生代以来的碳酸盐岩夹细碎屑岩沉积建造,形成规模巨大独具特色的以铅锌金为主的多金属成矿带。伸展构造体制下形成的裂陷或断陷型盆地中,正常水成沉积与热水沉积同盆共存。正常水成沉积中叠加的热水沉积是一个"突发事件或灾变事件",具有特殊的物质组成和产态。通过对区内沉积成矿盆地的识别、分级,二级沉积盆地中边缘部位常发育多个三级构造热水沉积成矿盆地,它受控于沉积盆地中的同生断裂,具有沉积岩相、热水沉积岩组合、显著成矿作用及物化探异常广布的特点。三级构造热水沉积成矿盆地是矿床定位的构造空间,四级热水沉积洼地为矿体(矿层)的容纳空间。区内热水沉积岩主要为重晶石(毒重石)岩、硅质岩、钠长石岩和铁碳酸盐岩类,铅锌重晶石等矿产多产于热水沉积岩中或上盘。热水沉积形成一般由早期的热水喷发交代→主期热水喷流→晚期热水喷气演变。早期的热水喷发交代往往沿矿液喷发通道,形成网脉状、角砾状矿化;主期热水喷流主要形成多金属及热水喷流相,形成块状、条带状、层纹状矿石或热水沉积岩;晚期热水喷气主要形成浸染状矿石和热水喷气岩石。     

川东北前陆盆地上三叠统沉积相及沉积演化

在对川东北前陆盆地上三叠统须家河组露头剖面野外实测和钻井等资料综合研究的基础上,对该区上三叠统须家河组层序及沉积相类型、沉积特征进行了详细的研究。结果表明:研究区内主要发育冲积扇、辫状河、曲流河、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、曲流河三角洲、湖泊、海相三角洲等八种主要的沉积相类型。古地理演化经历了由海相环境—海陆过渡相环境—陆相环境的转变。反映了川东北前陆盆地晚三叠世须家河期盆-山耦合过程及其沉积响应。须一段(即小塘子期)发育时期,受印支期构造运动的影响,本区大部分隆升成陆,仅在研究区北西部广元、剑阁等地发育海相三角洲相沉积。须二段发育时期,米仓山-大巴山构造山系的逆冲推覆构造作用较为强烈,川东北前陆盆地坳陷幅度加大,沉积物供给充分,沿米仓山-大巴山前缘地带主要发育辫状河三角洲沉积,而盆地西南部主要发育浅湖沉积。在须三段发育时期,米仓山-大巴山构造山系构造活动逐渐减弱,处于低幅稳定隆升状态,碎屑物供给量减少,沿米仓山-大巴山前缘地带主要发育辫状河三角洲沉积;从盆地前缘地带向中心地带则主要发育浅湖沉积。须四-须六段发育时期,米仓山-大巴山开始进入强烈逆冲推覆和构造隆升阶段,川东北前陆盆地坳陷幅度急剧加大,碎屑物供给量骤然增多,从盆地前缘地带向中心地带主要发育冲积扇-扇三角洲-辫状河三角洲、曲流河、曲流河三角洲相到浅湖相沉积。     

汾河裂谷晋中盆地内第四纪沉积序列与沉积环境恢复

晋中盆地是位于汾渭地堑系中部的新生代陆内断陷沉积盆地,研究晋中盆地第四纪的沉积序列对于进一步认识该盆地区域构造和区域气候环境变化具有重要意义。为查明晋中盆地第四纪沉积序列结构、研究揭示晋中盆地第四纪沉积环境及演化,通过构造岩相学方法,对晋中盆地地表和钻孔内第四纪沉积物和沉积环境进行了研究。结果表明:晋中盆地清徐地区地表第四纪沉积序列结构为盆地内部沱阳组河床相和河漫滩相-盆地边缘汾河组河流相—盆山过渡带峙峪组河流相、汾河组冲积扇相及马兰组风积相-基岩山地（盆地外围）二叠系浅海相。钻孔岩芯内第四纪沉积序列结构为下更新统浅湖相和滨湖相—中更新统浅湖相和河流相—上更新统河流相和冲积扇相—全新统冲积扇相。研究认为晋中新生代陆内断陷盆地内沉积序列和演化结构为早更新世陆相湖盆沉积环境—中更新世萎缩湖泊环境—晚更新世强烈萎缩的湖泊和河流环境—全新世再度沉降的陆相湖盆;陆相湖盆从中心向山地沉积环境分带为湖泊沉积环境—河流和湖泊沉积环境—冲积扇沉积环境（盆地边缘出山口区）。盆山过渡带地区上更新世沉积物错位现象与同沉积活动断裂有关,断裂活动性揭示了晋中盆地阶梯式断陷成盆的动力学机制。这些研究成果为区域气候环境变化和晋中盆地区域构造研究提供了新证据,也为太原市城市群建设中工程场址的选择提了供参考。      

兰坪盆地古近纪沉积相类型及沉积环境演化

通过对兰坪盆地野外露头及相关室内研究,分析了区内古近纪的沉积环境、层序特征、沉积相展布及其演化特征。认为古近纪主要发育冲积扇、河流、三角洲和湖泊环境。沉积建造为一个完整的盆地演化旋回:低位期,印度板块向欧亚板块的俯冲挤压造成兰坪走滑拉分盆地的形成,沉积了一套局限的湖盆相红色含膏盐细碎屑岩建造;湖扩期,挤压应力场转变为拉张应力场,湖盆扩大,大面积沉积了一套滨浅湖相紫红、砖红色砂泥岩互层沉积;湖缩期,受晚始新世喜马拉雅运动一幕的影响,应力场再次转变为强烈挤压,东西两侧造山带共同向盆地内推覆扩展,致使盆地范围明显缩小,仅在推覆体前缘形成一系列快速充填的小型山前陆相前陆盆地。层序古地理编图显示,蒸发岩发育于低位体系域,与低位期的沉积充填特点和气候有关,极具有找钾盐矿的前景。     

豫西鲁山汝阳群微生物成因构造宏观特征分析及其沉积环境演化

豫西鲁山地区汝阳群发育了形态特征多样的大量微生物成因构造,主要为多边形网格状脱水裂痕和纺锤形脱水裂痕。通过对微生物成因构造宏观特征的描述和统计分析,探讨了微生物成因构造与沉积环境之间的关系,认为微生物成因构造的总体特征演化规律与汝阳群趋于稳定的沉积环境演化一致,其形态特征与微生物席厚、暴露时间频繁有着密切的关系。     

Recent sedimentary records from the Arabian Sea

An attempt is made to understand the redox conditions that prevailed in the north eastern continental margins of the Arabian Sea and in the nearby deep water regions during the past few centuries using short undisturbed sediment cores. The geochronology is accomplished using²¹⁰Pb excess method and the proxy indicators chosen for productivity and associated redox changes are CaCO₃, organic matter (OM), Mn and U along with major elements Fe and Al. Such changes in principle are related to high productivity in the overlying waters which in turn depend on monsoonal intensity that causes upwelling responsible for increase in productivity. Alongwith the published data on gravity cores from the same region, our measurements suggest the following: At ∼ 300 m water depth, south of 21°N, the sediment-water interface at depths of ∼ 300 m had been anoxic during the time span represented by the presently studied cores for approximately ∼ 700y as evidenced by low Mn/Al (< 0.7 × 10⁻²) and high U/Al (> 10⁻⁴) weight ratios. In some adjacent deeper regions, however, the environment turned oxic around ∼ 200 y BP. Whereas both Mn and Ra were lost to the overlying waters in the anoxic regions (depth ∼340m), the Mn that diffused from deeper sections appears to have mineralized at the sediment-water-interface. Studies of this type on long undisturbed cores from the margins of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, involving several proxies and geochronology by more than one method are needed to understand short term environmental (and monsoonal intensity) changes of the recent past with high resolution.     

Simulation experiment of sedimentary process and sedimentary architecture of alluvial fan under the control of normal faults

Normal fault structures are widely developed in basins and orogenic belts,which control the accommodation space and the distribution of sediments and thus affecting the morphology of alluvial fans. A flume tank experiment was carried to simulate and clarify the control of normal faults on the sedimentary process and internal architecture of alluvial fans.The results show that the large amount of sediments carried by debris flow tend to be unloaded near the hanging wall of faults and are subsequently reworked by traction current,which result in a triangular distributary gravel bar grows vertically on fault plane with the tip pointing to the source area. When the hydrodynamic force is strong,debris flow goes across distributary gravel bar and forms over-bar lobe at the tail of the distributary gravel bar. When the hydrodynamic force is weak,debris flow forms fault plane-dominated lobe along fault plane and is located on both sides of the distributary gravel bar. Under the control of normal faults and the barrier of distributary gravel bar,the unloading process of sediments varies greatly at different positions on the surface of alluvial fan. The particle size varies greatly among different facies,with coarsest grains developed on the fans of hanging wall,finer grained on over-bar lobe and finest sediments on fault plane-dominated lobe. The development process of alluvial fan can be divided into three stages,according to the sandbody thickness and fault throw of distributary gravel bar. The fault throw also affects the sedimentary architecture of alluvial fan,with larger the fault throw generating larger the accommodation space of hanging wall,longer development time of distributary gravel bar and more complex of the superposition pattern of the sand bodies inside the fan. The internal architecture of alluvial fan that is controlled by normal faults includes longitudinal sandbar,distributary gravel bar and debris flow lobe in the profile vertical perpendicular to the sediment source direction from the proximal to the distal end. Along sediment longitudinal section,composite channel,superimposed distributary gravel bar complex and superimposed bodies of multi-phased lobes are dominant facies.     

正断层控制下冲积扇沉积过程与沉积构型模拟实验

正断层构造广泛发育于盆地内和造山带中,其对可容空间分配及沉积物分布具有明显的控制作用,从而影响了冲积扇形态。为进一步探究正断层构造对冲积扇沉积过程及其内部构型的控制作用,利用水槽实验对正断层构造发育背景下的冲积扇发育过程进行模拟再现。研究表明,携带大量沉积物的碎屑流优先在上盘近断层处泄载,后经牵引流的改造,形成沿断面垂向生长、尖端指向物源的三角形分水滩。水动力较强时碎屑流越过分水滩并在分水滩尾部发育越滩朵体,水动力较弱时碎屑流遇分水滩尖端分流后沿断面在分水滩两侧发育断面朵体。受控于断面及分水滩的阻挡,冲积扇表面不同位置的沉积物泄载过程差异较大,粒度差异明显,上盘扇体中分水滩沉积物偏粗,越滩朵体次之,断面朵体最细。冲积扇的发育过程依据分水滩砂体厚度和断距大小之间的差异,共分为3个阶段。断距大小还会影响冲积扇沉积构型,断距越大,上盘可容空间越大,分水滩发育时间越长,扇体内部砂体叠置样式越复杂。受控于正断层的冲积扇内部构型在垂直物源剖面上从近端至远端,分别发育纵向沙坝、分水滩及碎屑流朵体,在平行物源剖面上以复合水道主控、分水滩叠复体主控、多期朵体叠复体主控为主。     

The persistence of memory: the fate of ancient sedimentary organic carbon in a modern sedimentary system

The cycle of organic carbon burial and exhumation moderates atmospheric chemistry and global climate over geologic timescales. The burial of organic carbon occurs predominantly at sea in association with clay-sized particles derived from the erosion of uplifted continental rocks. It follows that the history of the fine-grained particles on land may bear on the nature of the organic carbon buried. In this study, the evolution of clay-associated organic matter was followed from bedrock source to the seabed in the Eel River sedimentary system of northern California using natural abundance ¹³C and ¹⁴C tracers. Approximately half of the fine-grained organic carbon delivered to the shelf is derived from ancient sedimentary organic carbon found in the uplifted Mesozoic-Tertiary Franciscan Complex of the watershed. The short residence time of friable soils on steep hill slopes, coupled with rapid sediment accumulation rates on the shelf-slope, act to preserve the ancient organic carbon. A comparable quantity of modern organic carbon is added to particles in the watershed and on the shelf and slope. The bimodal mixture of ancient and modern C in soils and sediments may be characteristic of many short, mountainous rivers. If the Eel River chemistry is typical of such rivers, more than 40 Tg of ancient organic C may be delivered to the world’s oceans each year. A flux of that magnitude would have a significant influence on marine and global C-cycles.