The link between grain‐size components and depositional processes in a modern clastic lake

It is widely recognized that lake sediment grain‐size distributions tend to be polymodal and consist of two or more grain‐size components. However, for specific cases, the genesis of each component usually is poorly understood. In this study, the grain‐size components of the surface sediments of Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia, were partitioned using the log‐normal distribution function method and the relationship between the identity of each grain‐size component and the hydraulic condition of the lake was investigated in order to relate the constituent components to specific depositional processes in the lake. The data indicate that the modern clastic sediments of Hulun Lake contain six distinct unimodal grain‐size distributions representing six grain‐size components. Each of the components retains its identity including modal size, manner of transportation and environment of deposition, although the relative percentage varies with the hydraulic conditions throughout the lake. These components are specified from fine to coarse modes as long‐term suspension clay, offshore‐suspension fine silt and medium to coarse silt, and nearshore‐suspension fine sand, saltation medium sand and traction coarse sand. The percentage contribution of several grain‐size components interpreted as being indicative of nearshore environments is shown to be correlated negatively with water depth across the modern lake bed; this suggests that the proportion of these components in core data might be useful as a proxy for water depth. This possibility was tested using a sediment core from Hulun Lake where high percentages of the nearshore grain‐size components were found to be correlated with low regional precipitation reconstructed from the pollen profile of the same core. The coincidence of two independent proxies does not only demonstrate the validity of log‐normal distribution function in partitioning polymodal sediments but reveals the potential of lake sediment grain‐size components for the research of lake‐level fluctuations during the geological past.     

A model for linking grain-size component to lake level status of a modern clastic lake

Grain-size distributions of fluvial, eolian and marine sediments were explicated decades ago. For lake sediments, however, there is still great uncertainty in explaining the genesis of grain-size components due to the inherent complexity of their polymodal distributions. In this study, the grain-size components of the surface sediments of Daihai Lake, Inner Mongolia, were partitioned using a lognormal distribution function and the relationship between the identity of each component and the specific sedimentary environment was investigated. The data indicate that the modern clastic sediments of Daihai Lake contain five distinct unimodal grain-size distributions representing five grain-size components. Each of the components retains its identity including modal size, manner of transportation and environment of deposition although the relative percentage varies with the hydraulic condition throughout the lake. These components are specified from fine to coarse modes as long-term suspension clay, offshore-suspension fine silt and medium-to-coarse silt, and nearshore-suspension fine sand and saltation medium sand. The percentage of the components interpreted as an indication of nearshore environments displays a negative correlation with water depth across the modern lakebed, suggesting a model for linking the nearshore components in sediment cores to the lake level status in the geological past. The model was applied to a sediment core from the lake where high percentages of the nearshore components in the core sediments were correlated with low regional precipitations reconstructed on the pollen profile of the same core. The coincidences between two independent proxies do not only demonstrate the validity of lognormal distribution function in partitioning polymodal sediments but also reveals the potential of the grain-size component–lake level status model for lake’s paleohydrological reconstruction.     

长江三角洲ZK01孔末次盛冰期以来沉积物粒度特征及环境演化

根据长江三角洲ZK01孔的粒度资料,从粒度参数、斜体图、概率累积曲线和频率分布曲线等对末次盛冰期以来的沉积物粒度特征进行了详细分析,并结合沉积物的岩性、沉积构造和有孔虫的分布特点,探讨了该区末次盛冰期以来的沉积环境演化。分析表明,ZK01孔末次盛冰期以来,沉积物自下而上可分为5段:河床沉积物以砂和砾质砂为主,粒度概率累积曲线为以跳跃总体为主的两段式;河漫滩相为砂质和黏土互层,概率累积曲线呈以悬浮总体为主的具过渡的两段式,频率分布曲线为双峰或多峰式;河口湾沉积物的粒度参数变化显著,在C-M图上表现为粗细分异明显的两类,对应两种两段式累积曲线,频率分布曲线亦有单峰和双峰式两类;浅海相主要为淤泥质黏土,粒度参数较稳定,概率累积曲线为一段式,几乎均为悬浮总体;三角洲沉积物以细砂和粉砂为主,概率累积曲线为以跳跃总体为主的具过渡的两段式。研究区该时期依次经历了河床、河漫滩、河口湾、浅海和三角洲等5种沉积环境。     

A comparison of grain‐size analysis methods for sand‐dominated fluvial sediments

Grain‐size distribution is a fundamental tool for interpreting sedimentary units within depositional systems. The techniques assessed in this study are commonly used to determine grain‐size distributions for sand‐dominated sediments. However, the degree of consistency and differences in interpretation when using a combination of grain‐size methods have not yet been assessed systematically for sand‐dominated fluvial sediments. Results obtained from laser diffraction, X‐ray attenuation and scanning electron microscopy grain‐size analysis techniques were compared with those obtained from the traditional sieve/hydrometer method. Scanning electron microscopy was shown to provide an inaccurate quantitative analysis of grain‐size distributions because of difficulties in obtaining representative samples for examination. The X‐ray attenuation method is unsuitable for sand‐dominated sediments because of its upper size range of only 300 μm. The consistently strong correlation between the laser diffraction results and the sieve/hydrometer results shows that these methods are comparable for sand‐dominated fluvial sediments. Provided that sample preparation is consistent, the latter two methods can be used together within a study of such sediments while maintaining a high degree of accuracy. These results indicate that data for sand‐dominated fluvial sediments gained from the long‐established sieve/hydrometer method can be compared with confidence to those obtained by modern studies using laser diffraction techniques.     

中国海域表层沉积物分布规律及沉积分异模式

中国海域拥有宽广的大陆架，同时还有陆坡和深海盆，有众多河流入海并输入巨量的陆源物质，沉积物记录了海陆变迁、环流变化、海平面升降、物质输送和气候变化等环境信息。沉积物的粒度特征可以反映沉积动力、物质来源和搬运距离等，可以通过沉积物粒度组成、参数及各种图解来研究沉积环境的变化。前人对中国海域表层沉积物的粒度分布特征展开了大量的研究，取得了丰富的研究成果，但这些研究多集中在某一海域或区域，缺乏对整个中国海域的表层沉积物类型的宏观系统认识。本文基于中国地质调查局“1：100万海洋区域地质调查项目”获取了中国海域4300个海底表层沉积物样品，通过沉积物粒度分析，结合前人已发表资料，对中国海域表层沉积物的沉积类型特征、物质来源和运移模式等开展了系统的研究。本文把浅海和半深海沉积物按照含砾石和不含砾石主要划分出5个和7个沉积物类型，深海沉积物主要划分了9个沉积类型，研究结果表明：中国海域表层沉积物沉积类型多样、来源复杂，主要受控于物质来源、水动力条件和地形地貌的变化，在东部海域总体呈现“大江大河-宽缓陆架-残留慢速沉积”的条带状沉积分异模式，而在南部海域呈现的是“短源性河流-多类型陆架-重力流快速沉积”的环带状沉积分异模式。本文的结果对研究中国海域沉积物的宏观分布规律提供了基础资料，对理解海洋沉积动力过程具有重要意义，同时沉积物粒度的特征对海底砂矿分布也具有指示意义。     

云南高原湖泊表层沉积物粒度特征及环境指示意义

选取云南15个高原湖泊,利用瑞典产HTH重力采样器提取沉积物短钻,取顶部0~0.5 cm作为湖泊现代沉积物进行粒度分析并利用分析软件对粒度频率曲线进行拟合,探讨各组分的沉积特征和环境指示意义。结果显示,滇池等15个云南湖泊表层沉积物频率曲线呈多峰态,含有2至5个组分,从细到粗分别为黏土组分（C1）、细粉砂组分（C2）、粉砂组分（C3）、细-中砂组分（C4）、粗砂组分（C5）,拟合众数粒径范围为0.6~423.0 μm。C1组分来自大气中长期悬浮的超细粉尘和气溶胶,通过自然沉降和降水进入湖泊水体,反映西南地区大气粉尘背景值;C2和C3是湖泊沉积物中的主要组分,反映流域内降水和水动力大小;C4和C5组分只出现在洱海、滇池、差黑海等部分湖泊湖心沉积物中,且含量非常低,该组分与湖泊水动力密切相关。对于滇池、抚仙湖等大型湖泊而言,粗颗粒进入湖心需两个过程:从流域地表进入湖泊水体的输入过程和从湖滨到达湖心的传输过程。湖心沉积物中粗粒含量主要受第二个过程影响,而该过程的强弱与湖流、水深、湖盆坡度等因素有关。西南地区干旱背景下湖泊快速收缩直至消失时,降水量的大幅减少使得地表径流动力减弱,加之大气环流偏弱以及水生植物覆盖面积比例增大,湖水动力减弱,由湖滨向湖心传输的物质以细粒碎屑为主。位于山地地区的小型湖泊,由于汇水面积有限、地形坡度较大,坡面径流可将地表风化碎屑物带入湖盆甚至湖心位置,这类湖泊沉积物中粗粒物质的增加反映流域内降水量或降水强度增大。     

Grain-size sorting within river bars in relation to downstream fining along a wandering channel

The textural variability of river bed gravels at bar scales is poorly understood, as are the relations between variability at this scale and at reach and river scales. Surface and subsurface grain‐size distributions were therefore examined at reach, bar and bedform scales along lower Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. Grain‐size variations within compound bars are conditioned by longitudinal position, elevation and morphological setting. Surface and subsurface sediments tend to decrease in median size from bar head to bar tail by 33% and 17%, respectively. Sediment size is constrained at some upper limit that is inversely related to bar surface elevation and which is consistent with competence considerations. The surface sediments on unit bars are finer and better sorted than the bed materials in bar‐top channels and along the main bar edges. Secondary unit bars tend to have a lower sand content than other features, a consequence of sediment resorting. Individual unit bars and gravel sheets exhibit streamwise grain‐size fining and lee‐side sand deposition. Over time, significant amounts of cut and fill do not ipso facto cause changes in surface grain sizes; yet, sediment characteristics can change without any significant morphological adjustment taking place. At the reach scale there is a clear downstream fining trend, but local variability is consistently high due to within‐bar variations. The surface median grain‐size range on individual bars is, on average, 25% of that along the entire 50 km reach but is 68% on one bar. While the overall fining trend yields a downstream change in surface median size of 0·76 mm km^?1, the average value for ‘head‐to‐tail’ size reduction on individual bars is 6·3 mm km^?1, an order of magnitude difference that highlights the effectiveness of bar‐scale sorting processes in gravel‐bed rivers. Possibilities for modelling bar‐scale variability and the interaction of the different controls that are identified are discussed.     

贵州普定碳酸盐岩上覆松散堆积物的沉积环境初探

通过对贵州省普定县马官地区不同地貌部位的4个剖面进行详细的粒度分析,把粒度参数以及频率曲线与各种沉积环境的特征进行对比,排除了河流沉积、风成沉积的可能性。研究区域各剖面的粒度分布特征表明其沉积环境属于碳酸盐岩溶蚀残余风化,同时还有坡面流水和地下水作用的参与。     

Litho- and biofacies analysis of postglacial marine mud using CT-Scanning

Marine silty clay deposited during the Late-Wisconsinian postglacial marine transgression of eastern Québec (Goldthwait Sea) is ubiquitous in the sedimentary column of intertidal zones of the St-Lawrence Estuary. This mud is very compact and limits the penetration of organisms composing the modern Macoma balthica community. In order to describe the characteristics of intertidal sediments containing Goldthwait Sea mud, axial tomography (CT-Scan) is used. CT-Scan is a non-destructive method that can be used to describe sediment characteristics (grain size, mineralogy, primary and secondary sedimentary structures, fabric, shape and roundness, bedding contact), and to obtain high resolution, 3D representations of structures within sediment cores. Based on differences in the densities of analysed materials, the different lithologies, lithofacies, and organisms within the core can be discriminated, and a quantification of the volume occupied by the different components of the material can be made. Here, CT-Scan images provide information on the distribution, orientation and interweaving of thanatocœnosis shell beds that alternate with massive or faintly laminated postglacial marine mud beds, as well as on ichnofacies characteristics. In addition, we show 3D images of bioturbation structures within the recent sediment layer, which is distinguished from the underlying Goldthwait Sea mud. When coupled with conventional sedimentary (grain size statistics) and radiochronological (¹⁴C) analyses, these data provide information which is valuable for identifying depositional processes within sedimentary environments.     

南流江河口水下三角洲表层沉积物端元分析及其沉积动力环境意义

沉积物粒度分布特征可揭示沉积动力环境。基于广西南流江河口水下三角洲的粒度分析数据,采用Folk分类法进行分类,应用端元分析对其粒度数据进行分解,探讨了南流江河口水下三角洲的物源和现代沉积动力环境。结果表明,研究区表层沉积物可划分为9类,其中含砾沉积物5类,不含砾沉积物4类,沉积物类型与河口环境动力特征相吻合。端元分析结果显示,研究区有5个不同类型的端元,分别代表着5种类型的沉积物动力环境:端元1反映了风浪和潮流对表层沉积物的动力作用;端元2指示了外海涌浪对表层沉积物的作用过程;端元3代表了南流江冲淡水引起的表层沉积物的输运;端元4代表了大陆架残留沉积物;端元5为干扰端元,可能是由于工程建设等人类活动所引起的。利用端元分析探讨复杂环境(如小型山溪性河口)下的沉积动力环境时,一方面需要综合考虑研究区域的物源与环境动力特征;另一方面可以结合参数拟合、粒径趋势分析等研究手段。     

东海内陆架EC2005孔沉积物粒度分形特征

对位于浙-闽沿岸泥质带的EC2005孔沉积物粒度分形特征以及与平均粒径和分选系数的关系进行了探讨.EC2005孔沉积物粒度在累积含量5%～95%的无标度区间内,统计自相似程度高,具有分形特征.沉积物平均粒径与分维值既存在正相关,也有负相关关系.二者正、负相关关系的分界点表现为平均粒径7.0φ左右,＜7.0φ时,平均粒径...     

Linking pattern to process in reef sediment dynamics at Lady Musgrave Island,southern Great Barrier Reef

Linking surficial sediment patterns in reef environments to the processes that underlie their depositional dynamics enables predictions to be made of how environmental changes will influence reef‐associated sedimentary landforms, such as islands and beaches. Geomorphic linkages between sediment deposition patterns and the biophysical processes that drive them are often poorly resolved, particularly at broad landscape scales where tangible statements can be made about structural changes to landforms. The present study applies geospatial techniques to link patterns in reef sediment dynamics at Lady Musgrave Island to the underlying processes driving them. In situ calcification is characterized by developing a high resolution map of the surficial calcium carbonate producing communities inhabiting the reef platform, and associated sediments across the reef flat are analysed for grain size, kurtosis, sorting and threshold bed shear stress to explore transport pathways across the reef flat and lagoon. Wave energy is modelled across the entire reef platform as a potential driver of sediment dynamics, and morphometric linkages are empirically defined between wave energy and grain size. Findings indicate that carbonate sediments are primarily sourced from calcifying communities colonizing the outer periphery of the reef platform and that sediment grain size can be reliably linked to wave energy by virtue of a linear model.     

Sediment deposition from flocculated suspensions

Suspended sediment in coastal environments with high inorganic content have characteristic broad size distributions and are composed of both single grains and flocculated aggregates. These flocculated suspensions have stable size distributions the modal size of which is dependent on the modal size of the deflocculated single grain distributions. Comparison between theoretical settling speeds of quartz grains and the settling speed of particles in natural suspensions indicates that most grains smaller than the deflocculated single grain mode settle as part of flocs, whereas the particles larger than the mode settle as single grains. As a result the size distribution curves of sediment populations which settle out during consecutive intervals are composed of a modal peak of larger grains and a low flat portion of smaller grains and resemble the asymmetrical non-normal curves common for muddy sediments.     

青藏高原东部全新世泥炭灰分的粒度特征及其古气候意义

通过将红原泥炭地泥炭灰分的粒度特征与典型风成沉积物、湖泊沉积物、河流沉积物的粒度特征进行比较,发现泥炭灰分的粒度特征与典型风成沉积（如黄土、古土壤）相似,而与湖泊沉积以及河流沉积有较大差异。环境判别参数也显示泥炭灰分来源为风成的。据此,作者认为该地区泥炭沉积中的灰分物质是风成堆积,进而提出该地区泥炭灰分含量可以指示冬季风强度的变化。      

辽南大莲泡沉积物的沉积特征及古环境变化

辽南大莲泡是形成于冰后期的一个现已干涸的小型山间湖泊。对大莲泡沉积物粒度作一般分析，并用对应因子分析法作了计算分析，结果表明：大莲泡沉积物粒度分布主要受入湖的沟谷泥石流、河流和湖泊沉积作用控制。即下层以泥石流沉积为主；中层以湖泊沉积为主；上层以河流作用为主。据此并结合孢粉分析资料（主要以湿生沼生和旱生、盐生草本孢粉带更替为依据），初步恢复了大莲泡沉积环境的演变过程。全新世高海面在辽南地区是存在的，大莲泡与海相通的特殊位置及地层特征和孢粉特点揭示在全新世气候最适宜期海水在涨潮时曾作过短暂的停留，高海面在渤海沿岸出现位置不超过现代海面之上５ｍ。     

Sedimentary characteristics of palaeolake deposits along the Indus River valley,Ladakh, Trans‐Himalaya: Implications for the depositional environment

This study is an attempt to contribute to the data set of granulometric studies of sediments by measuring the sedimentary structure and texture, along with statistical parameters, of cold and arid lake systems. The palaeolake sequence along the River Indus on the western fringe of the Tibetan Plateau in Ladakh sector was selected in order to shed light on depositional environmental changes within the lake from post‐last glacial maximum to 5 ka. The River Indus was blocked by Lamayuru dam burst during the deglaciation, after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the subsequent increase in water level led to the formation of the Saspol–Khalsi palaeolake. This lake was ca 55 km in length, extending from Nimo to Khalsi, had a surface area of 370 km² and was in existence until 5 ka. Two sections (Saspol and Khalsi) separated by an aerial distance of 35 km show a similar trend in sediment character due to their deposition in the same lake system. Grain‐size studies show a polymodal nature of sediments for both of the sections. However, sediments of the lower/downstream section (Khalsi) show a poorer degree of sorting, and coarser grain size and high energy depositional condition as compared with the sediments of Saspol section (positioned upstream) due to the location of the sections within the lake system. It was noted that, in high‐altitude arid regions, the sedimentological characteristics of large‐sized valley lakes may vary greatly, horizontally as well as vertically, owing to local stream input, inflow intensity from the catchment, outflow velocity of water channels, lithology and valley widths at the different sites.     

On the frequency distribution of turbidite thickness

The frequency distribution of turbidite thickness records information on flow hydrodynamics, initial sediment volumes and source migration and is an important component of petroleum reservoir models. However, the nature of this thickness distribution is currently uncertain, with log‐normal or negative‐exponential frequency distributions and power‐law cumulative frequency distributions having been proposed by different authors. A detailed analysis of the Miocene Marnoso Arenacea Formation of the Italian Apennines shows that turbidite bed thickness and sand‐interval thickness within each bed have a frequency distribution comprising the sum of a series of log‐normal frequency distributions. These strata were deposited predominantly in a basin‐plain setting, and bed amalgamation is relatively rare. Beds or sand intervals truncated by erosion were excluded from this analysis. Each log‐normal frequency distribution characterizes bed or sand‐interval thickness for a given basal grain‐size or basal Bouma division. Measurements from the Silurian Aberystwyth Grits in Wales, the Cretaceous Great Valley Sequence in California and the Permian Karoo Basin in South Africa show that this conclusion holds for sequences of disparate age and variable location. The median thickness of these log‐normal distributions is positively correlated with basal grain‐size. The power‐law exponent relating the basal grain‐size and median thickness is different for turbidites with a basal A or B division and those with only C, D and E divisions. These two types of turbidite have been termed ‘thin bedded’ and ‘thick bedded’ by previous workers. A change in the power‐law exponent is proposed to be related to: (i) a transition from viscous to inertial settling of sediment grains; and (ii) hindered settling at high sediment concentrations. The bimodal thickness distribution of ‘thin‐bedded’ and ‘thick‐bedded’ turbidites noted by previous workers is explained as the result of a change in the power‐law exponent. This analysis supports the view that A and B divisions were deposited from high‐concentration flow components and that distinct grain‐size modes undergo different depositional processes. Summation of log‐normal frequency distributions for thin‐ and thick‐bedded turbidites produces a cumulative frequency distribution of thickness with a segmented power‐law trend. Thus, the occurrence of both log‐normal and segmented power‐law frequency distributions can be explained in a holistic fashion. Power‐law frequency distributions of turbidite thickness have previously been linked to power‐law distributions of earthquake magnitude or volumes of submarine slope failure. The log‐normal distribution for a given grain‐size class observed in this study suggests an alternative view, that turbidite thickness is determined by the multiplicative addition of several randomly distributed parameters, in addition to the settling velocity of the grain‐sizes present.     

南极松散沉积物粒度分形研究

利用分形理论, 研究了南极纳尔逊冰盖前缘发育的沉积物、风成沉积物及湖泊沉积物的粒度分布分形结构特征. 结果表明: 不同沉积环境下的沉积物粒度分形结构具有明显的差异, 冰盖前缘沉积物具有显著的分形结构特征, 而湖泊沉积物和风成沉积物不具有分形结构特征, 这为识别南极地区松散沉积物沉积环境提供了一种新的判别依据. 对纳尔逊冰盖前缘沉积物粒度分维特征的研究结果表明, 其粒度分布主要与冰川搬运的动力学过程有关, 分维值的大小与当时形成沉积物的动力学过程、沉积环境、冰盖进退及古气候环境的演化密切相关.     

The record of historic earthquakes in lake sediments of Central Switzerland

Deformation structures in lake sediments in Central Switzerland can be attributed to strong historic earthquakes. The type and spatial distribution of the deformation structures reflect the historically documented macroseismic intensities thus providing a useful calibration tool for paleoseismic investigations in prehistoric lake sediments.The Swiss historical earthquake catalogue shows four moderate to strong earthquakes with moment magnitudes of M_w=5.7 to M_w=6.9 and epicentral intensities of I₀=VII to I₀=IX that affected the area of Central Switzerland during the last 1000 years. These are the 1964 Alpnach, 1774 Altdorf, 1601 Unterwalden, and 1356 Basel earthquakes. In order to understand the effect of these earthquakes on lacustrine sediments, four lakes in Central Switzerland (Sarner See, Lungerer See, Baldegger See, and Seelisberg Seeli) were investigated using high-resolution seismic data and sediment cores. The sediments consist of organic- and carbonate-rich clayey to sandy silts that display fine bedding on the centimeter to millimeter scale. The sediments are dated by historic climate and environmental records, ¹³⁷Cs activity, and radiocarbon ages. Deformation structures occur within distinct zones and include large-scale slumps and rockfalls, as well as small-scale features like disturbed and contorted lamination and liquefaction structures. These deformations are attributed to three of the abovementioned earthquakes. The spatial distribution of deformation structures in the different lakes clearly reflects the historical macroseismic dataset: Lake sediments are only affected if they are situated within an area that underwent groundshaking not smaller than intensity VI to VII. We estimate earthquake size by relating the epicentral distance of the farthest liquefaction structure to earthquake magnitude. This relationship is in agreement with earthquake size estimations based on the historical dataset.     

湖泊沉积物粒度多组分特征及其成因机制研究

利用高分辨率激光粒度仪MS2000对安固里淖、三台河以及长江等多个地点湖泊和河流沉积物样品细粒部分的粒度多组分分布特征进行了系统、深入研究。总结了其粒度分布特征及组分间差异并讨论了其成因机制。研究认为:1)湖泊沉积物粒度一般由多个组分叠加构成,表现为多组分粒度分布特征,其受控于水动力强度和搬运方式等因素。2)粒度分布最多可有6个组分（中值粒径范围分别为①<1μm,②2～10μm,③10～70μm,④70～>150μm,⑤150～700μm,⑥>700μm）,其中前4个组分属悬浮组分（③组分是流域内风成作用强弱的判别标志）,⑤为跳跃组分,⑥为滚动组分,整体分选性差。3)据粒度分布特征可分为湖滨、过渡和湖心三相,三相间粒度分布特征有明显差异,同时又存在此消彼长的良好过渡关系。湖滨相以④组分为优势组分,该组分含量越高,指示沉积物越靠近湖滨;过渡相④组分含量随距湖心距离靠近而减小,但②组分含量却在逐渐增加;湖心相以②组分占主导优势,该组分含量越高,指示沉积物越靠近湖心。4)湖相沉积物受湖滨拍岸浪和湖心波浪的影响而产生了明显的粒度分异规律。