黄河中游全新世黄土

Holocene loess in the Middle Huanghe Valley can be subdivided into 3 formations which are composed commonly of upper loess and lower dark loessial soil (a kind of paleosol) : the Xifeng Formation of Late Holocene, the Longxi Formation of Middle Holocene and the Luochuan Formation of Early Holocene. The layers of dark loessial soil at similar stratigraphic levels in different localities show such a change in age that samples from south are older than those from north, indicating a northward shift of the climate, belt during pedogenesis.     

洛川北韩寨黄土磁性地层学的初步研究

The stratigraphic sequence of the Beihanzhai loess section at Luochuan is similar to that of the typical Heimugou loess secdon of Pleistocene age. Loess samples were collected from the major output of the Beihanzhai section for determining the B/M boundary. The NRM of specimens was measured on a cryogenic fluxgate magnetometer in the Palcomagnetic Lab. of A.N.U. The stepwise TH and AF demagnetization of the specimens were carried out, respectively. The analysis of orthogonal diagrams constructed on the basis of demagnetization data indicates that TH demagnetization is better than AF demagnetization to obtain the characteristic NRM components. The data on inclination, declination and latitude of V.G.P. show that the B/M boundary approximately lies between loess bed L8 and palaeosol bed S7, and the Jalamillo subchron is at least recorded at the portion from S10 to L10. By comparing the magnetic data from the Beihanzhai loess section with those from the Heimugou loess section reported in 1977, it is obvious that the Olduvia subchron is recorded at the second palaeosol complex in the middle part of Early Pleistocene loess at Wucheng, Evidence shows that the Luochuan loess began depositing in Early Matuyama at abont 2.3--2.4 m.y. ago.     

Mineral Composition of Loess—Paleosol Samples from the Loess Plateau of China and Its Environmental Significance

34samples of loess-paleosol from the Luochuan and Xifeng sections in the Loess Plateau,northern China were eparated into sand,silt and clay fractions and analyzed for their mineral compositions.The results indicate that there is almost no difference between loess and paleosol in mineral composition.Major mineral species are quartz,mica,feldspar and chlorite,accounting for about 88-92% of the total;other minerals are kandite,smectite,vermiculite and a few heavy minerals.The calcite,magnetite and hematite were not taken into consideration because of their removal in the process of sample preparation.The main difference with respect to the mineral composition of samples collected from different sections and different statigraphic levels lies in the amount and grain size of minerals hosted.Comparisons between the Luochuan section and the Xifeng section,between paleosol and loess and between the upper part and the lower part of some paleosol layers show that the formers contain less feldspar but more mica and vermiculite and are finer in grain size,indicating the co-occurrence of both biochemical weathering process responsible for mineral change and physical weathering process leading to grain-size change during the soil-forming processes.This result favours such an explanation of the soil-forming mechanism that loess deposition and paleosol development occurred synchronously,though the rate of soil formation was greater than that of loess deposition,thus leading to soil development.     

Magnetic susceptibility of the Xifeng section and its paleoclimate significance

Magnetic susceptibility (MS) is one of the most important indicators of the East- Asia summer monsoon. Presented in this study is a high resolution magnetic susceptibility record from the Xifeng section, which consists of Quaternary loess-paleosol sequence and Pliocene red clay. Variations in magnetic susceptibility are well correlated with the δ18O record in deep-sea sediments and the eolian flux of Greenland. The climatic evolution in the Xifeng section shows that since the Late Tertiary, the driving forc...     

洛川黄土剖面的古地磁研究

Paleomagnetic measurements were conducted on 96 ariented loess specimens collected from the Lochuan section in Shanxi Prov., the total thickness of which is up to 130 m and more. The results have provided evidence that the deposition of Late Pleistocene Malan Loess and Middle Pleistocene Lishih Loess in the Lochuan section took place during the Brunhes normal epoch. The lower limit of the Lishih Loess which represents the boundary between the Brunhes epoch and the Matuyama epoch is located at the top of the lower silt bed, corresponding to a depth of 75 m. The Wucheng Loess, which recorded the Jalomillo normal polarity event, deposited during the middle-late period of the Matuyama reversed epoch. The upper limit of the Jalamillo is set at a depth of 100 m. and the lower limit at 110 m. Experiments have shown that rotated remanent magnetization of the specimen resulted from AF demagnetization Can be effectively eliminated by means of magnetic cleaning in opposite directions,despite of the differences in magnetic stability and ages of various strata (loess, silt bed, buried soil and weathered beds) in the Lochuan section.     

Palaeomagnetic Study on the Precambrian-Cambrian Boundary Candidate Stratotype Section at Meishucun, Yunnan

The Meishucun secton has been recommended as an international candidate stratotype secton of thePrecambrian-Cambrian boundary. The paper deals with the palaeomagnetic study on the section. A total of159 palaeomagnetic samples were successively collected from the platform-facies sequence of carbonates andphosphates at the section. Thermal demagnetization results indicate a great majority of the rocks at the sectionhave been strongly overprinted by recent magnetic field, but 57 samples have preserved remanentmagnetization with antipodal directions (mean D/I=4.2°/ 7.1°, K=9, α_(95) = 6.6°). Baaed on calculation,the location of the palaeomagnetic pole was at 68.8°N and 270.7°E, which is different from any palaeopolesobtained from younger Phanerozoic rocks in South China. The results reveal a polarity zonation which in-cludes at least 9 reversal events. A comparison of China's magnetostratigraphic records with those fromSiberia, Australia and the western U.S.A. shows that all the sections are characterized by frequent polarity re-versals.     

陕西洛川黄土剖面中的F／Cl比值——反映古气候的一种地球化学标志

The F/Cl ratio for loess and palcosol has been studied based on the difference in the geochemical behaviour of fluorine and chlorine under hypergene conditions. The variation of F/Cl ratio in the loess section indicates a paleoclimatic evolution from humid to arid since loess accumulation. The maximum F/Cl ratio is found .in the fifth paleosol layer, reflecting an optimum climatic period for pedogenesis. The variation of F/Cl ratio is synchronous with the climatic fluctuation from warm-humid to arid-cold.     

黄土剖面中氧化物的比值和相对淋溶、积聚值在地质上的意义

As have been determined, the ratios of oxides and the contents of CaCO3 show a tendency to increase from bottom to top in Luochuan loess section, whereas an opposite tendency is observed for the relative values of weathering leaching or accumulation of loess, Moreover, the limits of oxide ratios from less to greater than the average value coincide with the boundary between Wucheng and Lishi loess strata, as well as with the boundary of magnetic polarity reversal. The ratios of oxides and the variations of relative weathering-leaching or accumulation extents are synchronous with the fluctuation of CaCO3 contents. From this investigation, it is shown that the ratios of oxides in the superimposed loees and paleosols from the loess profile are found rhythmically varied. These Characteristics might be explained by the hypothesis of repeated climatic fluctuation from dry (loess) to humid (paleosol) during the Quaternary period.     

Leachate Lithium Characteristics of Loess-paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau and their Paleoclimatic Significance

The geochemical components of the leachate from loess-paleosol deposits can provide information about climate-related post-depositional processes. For example, leachate lithium ([Li]leachate) is a potential paleoclimate proxy because lithium is a typical lithophile element that is readily adsorbed by clay minerals during weathering and pedogenesis, and thus stratigraphic variations in [Li]leachate can reflect these processes. We investigated the [Li]leachate values of two loess-paleosols profiles (the Luochuan and Weinan sections), on a north–south climatic gradient on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Independent paleoclimate information was provided by measurements of magnetic susceptibility, grain size, Rb/Sr ratios, and clay mineral content. During the last glacial-interglacial period, [Li]leachate increased from 0.39 to 1.97 μg/g at Luochuan and from 0.67 to 2.45 μg/g at Weinan, mainly due to increasing pedogenesis. Based on these results we developed a conceptual model to explain the variations in [Li]leachate. Li+ within loess layers is mainly derived from dust input and the decomposition of primary minerals, influenced by the East Asian winter monsoon, while in paleosol layers Li+ is mainly derived from clay mineral adsorption during pedogenic processes, influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon.     

Characteristics and genesis of hematite in Chinese loess and paleosol sequences： Mineral genetic restriction for magnetic susceptibility as paleoclimate proxy and iron geochemistry

Hematite is an important iron oxide mineral in loess-paleosol sequences in central China. Investigation of the mineralogical characteristics, genetic mechanism and relationship of hematite with other iron oxides and Fe-bearing minerals will help understand the geochemical process before and after eolian deposit, paleocliamte significance of magnetic susceptibility and reconstruct paleoclimate in central China. So, hematite and related minerals of the loess and paleosol units from Chinese Loess Plateau were investigated using optical microscope, X-ray powder diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and high-resolution transmission microscopy （HRTEM）. The results show that there are five genetic types of hematite in loess-paleosol sequences of central China： （1） weathering of Fe-bearing silicate minerals, for instance, chlorite, will release iron that is precipitated as aggregates of hematite nano-crystals on mineral surfaces; （2） hematite combined with eolian magnetite grains that resulted from partial oxidation of magnetite, even though the partial oxidation may occur in the original area; （3） phase transformation from eolian goethite to hematite; （4） hematite formed on the edge and surface of maghemite because of dissolution and hematite recrystallization; and （5） eolian detrial hematite. The hematite formed from chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates with nanoporous texture because of dehydration from iron hydroxide is the most important genetic mechanism. It is proposed that the fact that hematite was formed from chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates is a main reason for the redness in paleosol units. However, too intense pedogenesis and high amounts of precipitation will promote oxidation of eolian magnetite and maghemite dissolution, which may result in the decreasing of magnetic susceptibility.     

Inter-profile correlation of the Chinese loess/paleosol sequences during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 5 and indications of pedogenesis

Low-field magnetic susceptibility has been widely used to determine the pedostratigraphy of the Chinese loess/paleosol sequences. However, uncertainties remain in correlating between the loess magnetic susceptibility and the marine oxygen isotope records because susceptibility variations are affected by both global and local paleoclimatic changes. To provide a more sound paleoclimatic interpretation of magnetic susceptibility variations, age models across Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 for the Jiuzhoutai (JZT) and Yuanbao (YB) sections, western Chinese Loess Plateau, were constructed through an integrated approach by linking the major pedostratigraphic boundaries of the loess profiles to the SPECMAP oxygen isotope curve, and by correlating relative magnetic paleointensity records with both the SINT800 global paleointensity stack from marine sediments and ³⁶Cl records from the GRIP ice core. Results indicate good correlation of SIRM_60 mT (a residual remanence of saturation isothermal remanent magnetization after a 60 mT alternating field demagnetization) variations between these two sites, which agree well with fluctuations in subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures. All cooling events recorded by ice-core and Atlantic marine sediments within MIS5 have counterparts in SIRM_60 mT. SIRM_60 mT is partially controlled by the degree of low-temperature oxidation, which is strongly temperature dependent. However, strong pedogenesis can decrease SIRM_60 mT due to further oxidation of partially oxidized magnetites above some critical points. Therefore, we propose that SIRM_60 mT is best suited to record paleotemperature changes in loess profiles from the western Chinese Loess Plateau, where pedogenesis is the weakest. Furthermore, by inter-profile correlation between the YB and JZT sections, we note that the seemingly uniform sub-paleosol unit with a broad susceptibility peak (previously assigned to MIS5c) between ∼34.4 and ∼37.4 m in the YB profile actually consists of two independent units (lower part of S1L1/MIS5b and S1S2/MIS5c). This indicates that susceptibility values can be strongly affected by local factors (e.g., mainly precipitation). Therefore, beside the simplistic traditional paleoclimatic interpretation of variations in loess susceptibility involving only cold/dry and warm/humid scenarios, cold/humid and warm/dry scenarios should also be considered.     

黄土高原西部白草塬剖面L1和S1记录的古地磁场特征

文章详细介绍了黄土高原西部白草塬剖面L₁和S₁的高精度岩石磁学和古地磁学结果,讨论了白草塬剖面记录古地磁场的特征,从古地磁学角度探讨白草塬剖面黄土沉积的连续性。白草塬剖面黄土沉积物中,磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿是主要的亚铁磁性矿物,粗粒的碎屑磁铁矿是其天然剩磁和特征剩磁的主要载体。白草塬剖面L₁和S₁没有记录任何地磁漂移。其中,L₁没有记录MonoLake或Laschamp地磁漂移的原因可归结于黄土沉积物堆积过程的不连续性和/或粗颗粒载磁矿物的重磁化,但前者是主要原因,而堆积过程的不连续性是导致S₁没有记录Blake地磁漂移的主要原因。因此,白草塬剖面的L₁和S₁分别存在约2000年和4000～6000年的沉积不连续。     

A high resolution relative paleointensity record from the Gerlache-Boyd paleo-ice stream region, northern Antarctic Peninsula

Herein we document and interpret an absolute chronological dating attempt using geomagnetic paleointensity data from a post-glacial sediment drape on the western Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf. Our results demonstrate that absolute dating can be established in Holocene Antarctic shelf sediments that lack suitable material for radiocarbon dating. Two jumbo piston cores of 10-m length were collected in the Western Bransfield Basin. The cores preserve a strong, stable remanent magnetization and meet the magnetic mineral assemblage criteria recommended for reliable paleointensity analyses. The relative paleomagnetic intensity records were tuned to published absolute and relative paleomagnetic stacks, which yielded a record of the last ∼8500 years for the post-glacial drape. Four tephra layers associated with documented eruptions of nearby Deception Island have been dated at 3.31, 3.73, 4.44, and 6.86 ± 0.07 ka using the geomagnetic paleointensity method. This study establishes the dual role of geomagnetic paleointensity and tephrochronology in marine sediments across both sides of the northern Antarctic Peninsula.     

红粘土的磁学性质研究

本文对陕西宝鸡剖面红粘土上部进行了详细的岩石磁学研究，确定了该地区红粘土的主要磁性矿物是磁铁矿。赤铁矿相对含量很少，对剩余磁性贡献较小。磁性质不稳定的磁赤铁矿存在于红粘土中，但不影响剩磁稳定性。特征剩磁载体主要是磁铁矿。磁性矿物的粒度是以准单畴为主。红粘土的短时间弛豫粘滞剩磁很强，因此在零磁空间进行退磁和剩磁测量是非常重要的。     

Further absolute geomagnetic paleointensities from Baja California: evaluation of Pliocene and Early/Middle Pleistocene data

From a large collection (more than 300 oriented cores) of Baja California Mio-Pliocene volcanic units, sampled for magnetostratigraphy and tectonics, 46 samples were selected for Thellier paleointensity experiments because of their low viscosity index, stable remanent magnetization and close to reversible continuous thermomagnetic curves. 19 samples, coming from 4 individual basaltic lava flows, yielded reliable paleointensity estimates with the flow-mean virtual dipole moments (VDM) ranging from 3.6 to 6.2 ×10²² A m². Our results, although not numerous, are of high technical quality and comparable to other paleointensity data recently obtained on younger lava flows. The NRM fractions used for paleointensity determination range from 38 to 79% and the quality factors vary between 4.8 and 16.7, being normally greater than 5. The combination of Baja California data with the available comparable quality Plio-Plesitocene paleointensity results yields a mean VDM of 6.3 ×10²² A m², which is almost 80% of the present geomagnetic axial dipole. Reliable paleointensity results for the last 5 Ma are still scarce and of dissimilar quality, which makes it hard to draw any firm conclusions regarding the Pliocene and Early/Middle Pleistocene evolution of the geomagnetic field. To cite this article: J. Morales et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Stable isotopic evidence for Middle Pleistocene environmental change from a loess‐paleosol sequence: Kärlich,Germany

Loess‐paleosol sequences are important terrestrial archives of palaeoenvironmental change. Such sequences are rich in pedogenic carbonate, the oxygen and carbon isotopic values of which can provide important palaeoenvironmental information. Although some studies have pioneered the use of O and C isotopes in loess‐paleosol sequences, they are not routinely used as palaeoclimate proxies. In this study we analysed the sedimentology, micromorphology, geochronology and isotopic geochemistry of a Middle Pleistocene loess‐paleosol section, located at Kärlich, Germany. The section studied correlates with the Elsterian glacial (MIS 12) and Holsteinian interglacial (MIS 11). Embedded tephra layers yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 466±3 ka, 447±1 ka and 361±3 ka. The sedimentology and micromorphology of the sequence record a shift from accretionary loess accumulation (MIS 12) to prolonged pedogenesis at a stable land surface (MIS 11). Soil carbonate δ¹⁸O values record an enrichment of ～3‰ during the accumulation of the loess, reaching peak values comparable with those found in the MIS 11 soil. The δ¹⁸O signal is interpreted as reflecting temperature, highlighting the potential of δ¹⁸O analysis of European loess soil carbonates as a means of reconstructing palaeotemperature history.     

The Brunhes/Matuyama boundary and magnetic parameters related to climatic changes in Quaternary sediments of Argentina

Rock magnetic properties have been measured in a loess–paleosol sequence in the Gorina Quarry, which previously have been suggested to contain records of the Brunhes and part of the Matuyama polarity chrons. Lowest susceptibility values (below 50 × 10⁻⁸ m³/kg) are generally related to intensive weathered horizons, whereas highest values are obtained in loess layers (250 × 10⁻⁸ m³/kg) as a result of the greater ferromagnetic content in the parent material. The frequency-dependent part of susceptibility ranges between 0.5% and 6.8%; the higher value was obtained in B horizons of paleosols, which can be attributed to superparamagnetic contributions. Hysteresis loops indicate that the differences in ferrimagnetic and paramagnetic content in the sequence reflect the degree of pedogenesis. The same conclusion can be drawn with isothermal remanent magnetization. This point is relevant for determining past climatic changes because the wind-blown titanomagnetites from Cordillera de Los Andes during glacial periods were altered during interglacial periods. The mode of pedogenesis appears not only to control such alterations but also to produce other magnetic minerals.     

浑善达克沙地南缘晚更新世黄土-古土壤序列的高分辨率磁性气候记录

浑善达克沙地处于季风边缘区,目前对该区域末次间冰期以来的古气候演化历史及其动力学机制尚不清楚。文章以浑善达克沙地南缘山间低洼地带北沟剖面总厚度4.72 m(未见底)的黄土-古土壤序列为研究对象,开展了光释光测年和精细的岩石磁学、环境磁学、地球化学和漫反射光谱分析。结果表明:1)该剖面记录了末次间冰期以来完整的风成堆积历史,并通过东亚夏季风指标(Rb/Sr及χARM/χ)与深海氧同位素曲线的对比建立了13万年来该黄土-古土壤序列精细的年龄模式;2)在黄土高原上常规的用来指示成壤强度和夏季风强度的磁参数并不完全适用于干旱-半干旱地区(400 mm等降水线附近)的风成黄土,而地球化学指标在指示季风边缘区的地球化学风化过程上表现出一定的合理性,北沟剖面复杂的磁信号可能是对末次冰期季风边缘区显著减弱的夏季风的阈值响应;3)在末次间冰期东亚夏季风可以延伸到内蒙古中东部,北沟剖面记录了浑善达克沙地南缘末次间冰期以来区域古季风的演化历史。     

Mineral magnetic record of paleoclimate variation in loess and paleosol from the Buenos Aires formation (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Environmental magnetic techniques were applied to a loess–paleosol sequence of the Chacopampean plain (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Mineral magnetic carriers and their grain size were identified in order to detect magnetic mineral fluctuations associated with climatic changes. Multidomain magnetite of detrital origin dominates the record. In paleosols, a high coercivity fraction was identified. Horizons with no visual evidence of pedogenesis, but showing magnetic behavior analogous to that of paleosols were observed and are thought to represent environmental conditions similar to those prevailing during paleosol formation.The results suggest that the magnetic signal yielded by paleosols in these South American loess deposits is different from that in the Chinese loess. This may be due to differences in parent materials, diagenetic processes and/or differences in paleoclimatic conditions in both regions.     

中国第四纪古地磁学研究进展

本文扼要介绍了中国第四纪古地磁学研究的进展,其主要结论为：中国黄土－古土壤的主要磁性矿物是磁铁矿、赤铁矿和磁赤铁矿,特征剩磁载体为磁铁矿;Ｌ８和Ｌ３３分别记录了Ｍ／Ｂ和Ｇ／Ｍ地磁极性转换过程;Ｊａｒａｍｉｌｌｏ极性亚带的顶、底分别位于Ｌ１０和Ｌ１２;六盘山以东的黄土剖面,由于土壤化作用强烈,成土过程产生的次生剩余磁性已将持续时间只有５０００ａ左右的Ｂｌａｋｅ极性亚时的原始磁信息掩盖,无法分离出来;只有六盘山以西的黄土剖面才有可能记录Ｂｌａｋｅ极性亚时。黄土的剩余磁性受“Ｓｍｏｏｔｈｉｎｇ”和“Ｌｏｏｋ－ｉｎ”效应的影响很小,因此是研究极性转换期间地球磁场形态学和古风向的合适物质。