ESR DATING OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

ESR dating of aragonitic and calcitic corals , eolianite , calcrete , and corallineae from coral reefs in the South China Sea was applied to study of Quaternary reef geology . The ESR ages of calcitic corals correlated with the biostratigraphy , lithostratigraphy and geochemistry of Well Xi-Chen-1 and the oxygen-isotope stratigraphy of deep sea sediments, were reliable and up to 1.26 Ma. The selection of signals for dating and other related problems are discussed .     

海洋沉积物释光测年现状与展望

自释光现象被用于沉积物测年的半个多世纪以来,释光测年技术已被广泛应用于各类海洋沉积物的年代测定,为古环境古气候和构造活动及地形地貌演变等研究提供了高精度年代学约束的同时,释光测年技术的精度和准确性也取得了长足发展。在系统回顾和总结海洋沉积物释光测年的发展历史基础上,详细讨论了释光测年技术在海洋沉积物测年中的研究现状,总结了全球海洋沉积物释光测年研究的特点。海洋沉积物的沉积埋藏过程相对复杂,部分晒退现象普遍存在,饱和含水的沉积环境导致环境剂量精确测定存在一定困难。因此在海洋沉积物年代测定和计算过程中需要根据实际情况对样品的释光性质进行分析,选择合适的等效剂量测试方法,并使用合适的环境剂量校正方法进行年代计算。释光测年方法在晚更新世以来海洋沉积物测年中表现出了独特的优势,释光测年目标矿物在海洋沉积物中普遍存在,并且随着近年来研究的不断深入,测年精度也得到了明显的提高,可以为晚更新世以来的海洋沉积物研究提供高精度的绝对年代地层格架。      

“寒亭组”是山东唐宋时期两期洪水的产物——基于沭河沙带调查及光释光测年研究

对分布于临沂一带沂河与沭河沿岸沙带的展布形态与沉积层理进行研究,认为该沙带属于古洪水期滞留沉积物(SWD),并非以往认为的风沙成因(寒亭组)。为了获取滞留沉积物的形成年龄,采用光释光测年(OSL)方法,首次获得对应沉积物年龄为0.8ka,1.2ka,结合相关历史时段的洪水记录,综合分析后,认为该滞留沉积物记录了发生在唐宋时期的两次历史洪水。     

Radiocarbon ages of different fractions of peat on coastal lowland of Bohai Bay: marine influence?

Peat in boreholes is the most important ~(14)C dating material used for constructing age framework. 20 bulk peat samples were collected from five boreholes, the ~(14)C ages of two fractions(organic sediment fraction and peat fraction) of the bulk peat samples were investigated by AMS-dating and which fraction is better to help construct an age framework for the boreholes were compared and discussed. The results indicated that the peat fraction give a good dating results sequence in the boreholes, compared with the corresponding organic sediment fraction. And the dating results of organic sediment fraction show 161-6 702 years older than corresponding peat fraction, which was caused by marine influence. Then, we suggest an experience formula as y =0.99 x-466.5 by the correlation analysis for correcting the marine influenced organic sediment ages within the conventional ages between 4 000 to 9 000 yrs BP, and more study should be carried out for the AMS ~(14)C dating of the bulk organic sediments.     

DISTRIBUTION AND ORIGIN OF SEDIMENTS ON THE NORTHERN SUNDA SHELF, SOUTH CHINA SEA

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Geochronological review of Sambagawa metamorphic belt in Southwest Japan

Based on almost all available published age data, the protolith ages, peak metamorphic ages and cooling rate of the Sambagawa metamorphic belt have been discussed and the latest constraints on the ages of the Sambagawa metamorphism and subduction-related accretionary evolutions were summarized. Peak metamorphic conditions attained within the Kuma nappe complex at ca. 145～185 Ma, and uplift through ca. 500℃ at ca. 150 Ma and 350～400℃ at ca. 110～ 115 Ma. The protolith sediments of the Besshi nappe complex were accumulated and subsequently progressively subducted and suffered high P-T prograde metamorphism during the Kuma nappe complex uplifting. The Besshi nappe complex arrived maximum metamorphic conditions at ca. 110 ～ 120 Ma and subsequently started rapid uplift with the cooling rate of ca. 14.2℃/Ma at ca. 75 ～85 Ma, followed with the cooling rate of ca. 6.0 ～8.9℃/Ma. The Oboke nappe complex started subduction later than other tectonic units and arrived the peak metamorphic conditions at ca. 75 Ma, which followed by the uplift with a cooling rate of ca. 8℃/Ma.     

Relocation of the Yellow River estuary in 1855 AD recorded in the sediment core from the northern Yellow Sea

Relocation of the Yellow River estuary has significant impacts on not only terrestrial environment and human activities, but also sedimentary and ecological environments in coastal seas. The responses of regional geochemical characteristics to the relocation event, however, have not been well studied. In the present study, we performed detailed geochemical elemental analyses of a sediment core from the northern Yellow Sea and studied their geochemical responses to the 1855 AD relocation of the Yellow River estuary. The results show that TOC/TN, Co/Al₂O₃, Cr/Al₂O₃, Ni/Al₂O₃ and Se/Al₂O₃ ratios all decreased abruptly after 1855 AD, and similar decreases are observed in the sediments of the mud area southwest off the Cheju Island. These abrupt changes are very likely caused by the changes in source materials due to the relocation of the Yellow River estuary from the southern Yellow Sea to the Bohai Sea, which the corresponding decreasing trends caused by the changes in main source materials from those transported by the Liaohe River, the Haihe River and the Luanhe River to those by the Yellow River. Because the events have precise ages recorded in historical archives, these obvious changes in elemental geochemistry of sediments can be used to calibrate age models of related coastal sea sediments.     

Using otolith weight to predict the age of Pennahia macrocephalus in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf

The relation between otolith weight (OW) and the age of marine fish is studied. A total of 222 individuals of bighead white croaker, Pennahia macrocephalus were sampled seasonally in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf, the South China Sea, in 2007. Since there are no significant differences in sagittal OW between otolith in pairs (P≧>0.05), the undamaged left sagittal otolith is used for age determination. The highest correlations among standard length, OW and fish ages are confirmned by linear, exponential and multinomial regression. Results show that sagittal OW overlaps only occasionally among age groups, and to individuals with similar standard length, the older and slower-growing fish has a heavier otolith because of the continued otolith material deposition. There are differences in sagittal OW among different age groups and significant positive linear relationship with age (P<0.05). The age readings can be verified by plotting the sagittal OW versus the standard length for age groups, and the individuals with similar standard length but in different ages can be separated by sagittal OW frequency analysis. Mostly, the predicted ages using the regression between sagittai OW and ages are closed to the observed ages by counting annulus on scale. It indicates that the sagittal OW analysis is a useful technique for validating the accuracy of age determination by annuli counts, especially for individuals of similar size. Furthermore,the technique is applied for Pennahia macrocephalus with discussion in this paper.     

Geomorphic features of Quaternary glaciation in the Taniantaweng Mountain,on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

We present geomorphological evidence for multiple glacial fluctuations during the Quaternary in the Taniantaweng Mountain, which is situated at the transition zone of the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. To reconstruct the history of glacial evolution during the Quaternary Glaciation, we present a ~13000 km~2 geomorphologic map(1:440,000) for the Quaternary glaciations, as well as three electron spin resonance(ESR) ages and three optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) ages from the landforms. By integrating these with ages from previous studies, four major glacial advances are identified during marine oxygen isotope stages(MIS) 6, 3, 2 and 1. This glacial chronology is in reasonable agreement with existing glacial chronologies from other parts of the Hengduan Mountains and surrounding mountains. Glaciers had extended to the Yuqu River during the glacial maximum advance(MIS 6), but became successively more restricted from MIS 3 to MIS 1. The glacial distribution show that precipitation brought by the south Asian monsoon might play a primary role in driving glacial advances during the last glacial period in the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.     

关中盆地新生界地层划分对比与第四纪下限

关中盆地巨厚的新生代沉积为研究区域构造、沉积环境演变与古气候变化研究提供了良好的地质记录，但目前对新生界地层划分和第四纪下限问题仍存在争论。基于钻孔和剖面资料，结合古地磁和生物地层，对关中盆地新生界地层进行了梳理和修订，就第四纪下限和新生界地层划分与对比问题进行了探讨。岩性地层、磁性地层、生物地层证据以及气候变化特征等都支持将第四纪下限定在传统三门组的黄三门与绿三门的交界处或风成黄土与红黏土的界线之处，即松山负极性向高斯正极性转换处(M/G)，古地磁年龄为2.6 Ma。基于关中盆地钻孔和剖面的古地磁数据及前人资料，划分了新生界地层，重新厘定了各沉积地层的沉积年代，将新近纪和第四纪沉积分为风成相和河湖相两套同期异相沉积地层序列，风成红黏土的年代延伸到中中新世，建议将中新世的风成堆积命名为段家坡组。这对关中盆地沉积环境形成演化与古气候变化研究、盆地资源开发以及地质工程建设具有重要意义。      

Using otolith weight to predict the age of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pennahia macrocephalus</Emphasis> in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf

The relation between otolith weight (OW) and the age of marine fish is studied. A total of 222 individuals of bighead white croaker, Pennahia macrocephalus were sampled seasonally in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf, the South China Sea, in 2007. Since there are no significant differences in sagittal OW between otolith in pairs (P≥0.05), the undamaged left sagittal otolith is used for age determination. The highest correlations among standard length, OW and fish ages are confirmed by linear, exponential and multinomial regression. Results show that sagittal OW overlaps only occasionally among age groups, and to individuals with similar standard length, the older and slower-growing fish has a heavier otolith because of the continued otolith material deposition. There are differences in sagittal OW among different age groups and significant positive linear relationship with age (P<0.05). The age readings can be verified by plotting the sagittal OW versus the standard length for age groups, and the individuals with similar standard length but in different ages can be separated by sagittal OW frequency analysis. Mostly, the predicted ages using the regression between sagittal OW and ages are closed to the observed ages by counting annulus on scale. It indicates that the sagittal OW analysis is a useful technique for validating the accuracy of age determination by annuli counts, especially for individuals of similar size. Furthermore, the technique is applied for Pennahia macrocephalus with discussion in this paper. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30771653) and Bureau of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture     

Change in Sediment Provenance Near the Current Estuary of Yellow River Since the Holocene Transgression

Sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance are important factors when it comes to the studies on marine sedimentation. This paper studies grain size distribution, lithological characteristics, major and rare earth elemental compositions, micropaleontological features and ~(14)C ages in order to examine sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance of the core BH6 drilled at the mouth of the Yellow River in Bohai Sea. According to the grain size and the micropaleontological compositions, 4 sedimentary units have been identified. Unit 1(0–8.08 mbsf) is of the delta sedimentary facies, Unit 2(8.08–12.08 mbsf) is of the neritic shelf facies, Unit 3(12.08–23.85 mbsf) is of near-estuary beach-tidal facies, and Unit 4(23.85 mbsf–) is of the continental lake facies. The deposits from Unit 1 to Unit 3 have been found to be marine strata formed after the Holocene transgression at about 10 ka BP, while Unit 4 is continental lacustrine deposit formed before 10 ka BP. The provenances of core BH6 sediments show properties of the continental crust and vary in different sedimentary periods. For Unit 4 sediments, the source regions are dispersed while the main provenance is not clear, although the parent rock characteristics of a few samples are similar to the Luanhe River sediments. For Unit 3, sediments at 21.1–23.85 mbsf have been mainly transported from the Liaohe River, while sediments above 21.1 mbsf are mainly from the Yellow River and partially from the Liaohe River. For Unit 2, the sediments have been mainly transported from the Yellow River, with a small amount from other rivers. For Unit 1, the provenance is mainly the Yellow River catchment. These results help in better understanding the evolution of the Yellow River Delta.     

Determination of Trace Germanium in Marine Sediments by Hydride Generation-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry （HG-AFS）

1　Introduction　Germaniumisatypicaldispersedelementintheearth’scrustwithanaveragecontentof 7mgkg- 1.Itisdistributedinthecrustintheformofsilicate ,sul fide ,sulfate (FroelichandAndreae ,1981)andsoon .Atpresent ,manymethods ,suchashydridegenera tion induc…     

Partitioning of grain-size components of estuarine sediments and implications for sediment transport in southwestern Laizhou Bay, China

Sediment transport in estuarine systems has been of increasing interest for scientists during the past few decades. However, the mechanisms for sediment redistribution remain unclear. We characterized in detail sediment transport in the Xiaoqing River estuary using the mathematical Weibull function to partitiongrain-size components of surface sediments in the southwestern Laizhou Bay, Northeast China. Four partitioned components: finer than 4, 4.6–12.5, 23.4–63.3, and 67.1–132.6 μm were interpreted in terms of hydrodynamic conditions. During sediment transport, silt grains were suspended and moved seaward from three depositional centers, whereas fine-grained sands moved generally landward. Overall, sediments are transported clockwise in a generally NNE direction near shore and then turn eastward offshore. The mathematical partitioning method showed a great potential for future estuarine environmental studies.     

Geochemical studies of U,Th, Ra,40K in seciments of the China Sea and adjacent sea area,and lower reaches of several Chinese Rivers

Geochemical studies of the U, Th, Ra, and⁴⁰K in surface sediments of the China Sea and adjacent sea areas, the lower reaches of the Huanghe and Changjiang Rivers and the estuaries of the Zhujiang and Rongjiang Rivers were carried out with a model 8180-4K multichannel Ge(Li)γ spectrometer in 1981–1985. The mean values of U, Ra, Th,⁴⁰K are about 2.11 ppm, 7.67×10⁻¹³g/g, 11.00 ppm, and 2.33 ppm respectively, in the China Sea, the Okinawa Trough, and the Changjiang and Huanghe River estuaries. The distribution of the four isotopes is uniform in the above zone. The contents of U and Th in the sediments of the Zhujiang and Rongjiang Rivers and the Fujian coast are 1–4 times higher than those of the above zone and are related to the granite and radioactive ore present in the upper reaches of these rivers or the adjacent mountains. The distributions of U, Th, Ra, and⁴⁰K are related to the physico-chemical property, redox state, geological type and grain size of the sediment, and biotic activity. Contribution No. 1408, Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica, Qingdao.     

A New Method to Predict Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate with Natural Geographical Factors and Location by Case-based Reasoning: A Case Study of China

Reference values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)are the key to interpret ESR blood test in clinic.The common local reference ESR values are more accuracy in blood test that are established with natural geographical factors by using the multiple linear regression(MLR)model and the artificial neural network(ANN).These knowledge-based methods have limitations since the knowledge domains of ESR and natural geographical factors are limited.This paper presents a new cases-depended model to establish reference ESR values with natural geographical factors and location using case-based reasoning(CBR)since knowledge domain of ESR and geographical factors is weak.Overall 224 local normal ESR values of China that calculated from 13623 samples were obtained,and the corresponding natural geographical factors and location that include altitude,sunshine hours,relative humidity,temperature,precipitation,annual temperature range and annual average wind speed were obtained from the National Geomatics Center of China.CBR was used to predict the unseen local reference ESR values with cases.The average absolute deviation(AAD),mean square error(MSE),prediction accuracy(PA),and Pearson correlation coefficient(r)between the observed and estimated data of proposed model is 33.07%,9.02,66.93% and 0.78,which are better than those of ANN and MLR model.The results show that the proposed model provides higher prediction accuracy than those of the artificial neural network and multiple linear regression models.The predicted values are very close to the observed values.Model results show significant agreement of cases data.Consequently,the model is used to predict the unseen local reference ESR with natural geographical factors and location.In spatial,the highest ESR reference areas are distributed in the southern-western district of China that includes Sichuan,Chongqing,Guangxi and Guizhou provinces,and the reference ESR values are greater than 23 mm/60 min.The higher ESR reference values are distributed in the middle part and northern-eastern of China which include Hubei,Henan,Shaanxi,Shanxi,Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces,and the reference ESR values are greater than 18 mm/60min.The lowest ESR reference values are distributed in the northern-western of China that includes Tibet and Xinjiang,and the reference ESR values are lower than 5 mm/60min.     

Reproduction of the Sedimentary Disturbance Phenomenon of the Diexi Ancient Landslide-Dammed Lake under Earthquake

Valuable geological and environmental information can be obtained from the 200 m thick lacustrine sediments in the Diexi lake(an ancient landslide-dammed lake) of the Minjiang River. The shaking table test method was employed to study the disturbance phenomena which occurred in the Diexi lake sediments. The results show that the disturbance phenomena were caused by liquefaction-induced flows in the unconsolidated lacustrine sediments, due to triggering by earthquakes. The deformations only occurred in unconsolidated sediment layers and not in consolidated layers. This means that a consolidated layer cannot be liquefied and disturbed again by an earthquake for a second time. The disturbance on one layer corresponds to only one earthquake. The temporal occurrence of earthquakes could be determined by disturbance layers generated at different ages. In total, 10 disturbed layers were found in the lacustrine sediments of the Diexi lake. The experiments showed that there were more than 10 earthquakes between 30 ka B.P. and 15 ka B.P. in the Diexi lake area based on the dating of the disturbed sediment layers.     

伊犁地块北缘别珍套山中泥盆统汗吉尕组物源特征及其地质意义

天山造山带位于中亚造山带西南缘,是探索中亚造山带增生造山过程的重要窗口。西北天山是伊犁地块与准噶尔地块的结合部位,保存了两者之间构造演化的重要地质信息。出露于伊犁地块北缘别珍套山的泥盆系是记录西北天山晚古生代早期构造演化过程的重要载体。基于此,对中泥盆统汗吉尕组砂岩进行岩相学和LA-ICP-MS碎屑锆石U-Pb定年与微量元素研究。结果表明:碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄介于500~370 Ma,并可以分为两期,主峰年龄为386 Ma,次峰年龄为490 Ma,结合岩相学和锆石微量元素特征,汗吉尕组砂岩的物源主要为晚古生代早期中酸性岩浆岩和早古生代早—中期中基性岩浆岩。综合分析认为,汗吉尕组于中泥盆世晚期沉积于弧前盆地沉积构造环境,物源主要为伊犁地块北缘的古生代岩浆弧,暗示伊犁地块北缘在晚古生代早期受准噶尔洋向南俯冲作用影响,为活动大陆边缘。     

Tracing the provenance of aeolian loess in the Yangtze River Delta through zircon U–Pb age and geochemical investigations

Given the conflicts over the proposed formation mechanisms of Xiashu loess, the question of the provenance of sediments comprising the Xiashu loess in the Yangtze River Delta has not been satisfactorily resolved. In this study, the provenance of aeolian sediments of the Yangtze River Delta, China was examined by applying the detrial zircon U–Pb dating technique, Sr–Nd isotopic and trace element compositional analysis. U-Pb dating analysis was conducted on the Xiashu loess at three locations over the Yangtze River Delta, including Huangnishan(HNS) hill, Shengshan(SS) island and the Xuancheng(XC) area. The Xiashu loess and the sediments of the Yangtze River Valley share considerable similarity in their zircon U-Pb age spectra with the same main age peak and comparable age distribution. By contrast, significant differences in the age spectra, existbetween the Xiashu loess and loess deposits of Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP). Coarse grains of the Yangtze River Delta loess may have a proximal material source identical to the sediments from the Yangtze River valley. Sr–Nd isotopic values of the Xiashu loess match those from the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Rare earth element ratios independent of grain size illustrate that the values from loess of the Yangtze River Delta mostly overlap with those of CLP loess. This feature implies that loess from the Yangtze River Delta has a dominant source of distant material similar as the CLP loess. As such, we conclude that multi-proxy analysis of sediments can shed new light on tracing the provenance of aeolian loess in the Yangtze River Delta.     

The formation and evolution of the Qiaojia pull-apart basin,North Xiaojiang Fault Zone,Southwest China

Sedimentary sequences with drastic thickening over short distances have been observed in Qiaojia County, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. These are related to a pull-apart basin controlled by the Xiaojiang strike-slip fault. Our field investigations include determining the surface characteristics of the Qiaojia basin which consists of three terrace sequences and a series of alluvial fans. Several drill holes were used to reveal the internal structure of the basin. The results suggest that the basinal sediments are over 300 m thick. From bottom to top, they can be classified into five different units. We inferred that the units of lacustrine sediments are deposited in a paleo-lake which was formed by a paleo-landslide. Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating (AMS ¹⁴C dating) was used to estimate the ages of the terrace and lacustrine sediments. We use the results to infer that the paleo-lake has existed about 15,000 years and that the Qiaojia basin was uplifted at an average rate of 3.3 mm/a. Furthermore, we then model the evolution process of the basin and interpreted 6 phases of development.