晚更新世以来若尔盖盆地的地层划分及构造-气候意义

晚更新世以来地层的形成受气候、构造活动的影响,并记录其过程。因此,建立晚更新世以来的地层序列,对于气候变化、活动构造、地貌成因等研究十分重要。若尔盖盆地位于青藏高原的东部边缘,中国季风区和青藏高原区的交会地带,对气候变化敏感,构造活动也很强烈,建立盆地晚更新世以来的地层序列可以促进气候变化、构造活动研究。根据若尔盖盆地的湖相钻孔、泥炭矿、河流阶地和探槽等揭露的26个典型地层剖面,结合14C和OSL等测年方法获得的200多个同位素年龄,对晚更新世以来的地层进行对比和划分,得到地层综合柱状。晚更新世中期以来划分6个沉积韵律(75~55kaBP,55~33kaBP,33~20kaBP,20~11kaBP,11~4kaBP,4~0kaBP)和6个标志层(75~55kaBP和22~20kaBP的粉细砂层,13~9kaBP的青灰色粉细砂或灰—青灰色砾石沉积,5~4kaBP、3.5~2kaBP、0.5~0.3kaBP的黑色含炭质砂质黏土沉积)。沉积序列和构造-气候关系紧密,一方面沉积韵律与气候旋回基本吻合,与深海氧同位素阶段有较好的对应关系;另一方面,沉积层岩性特征也受到北侧的东昆仑断裂带和西侧的龙日坝断裂带新构造期持续活动的影响,沉积过程主要受气候控制,地层厚度及其空间分布的差异也受到构造活动影响。     

塔里木盆地东北缘晚新生代钻孔岩心磁性地层年代学及其构造意义

塔里木盆地的高分辨率沉积记录对于理解青藏高原隆升、亚洲内陆干旱化乃至全球气候变化至关重要.建立可靠的地层年代标尺对于研究塔里木盆地晚新生代沉积环境演化、构造运动及古气候变化具有重要意义.本文对塔里木盆地东北缘库尔勒地区的两个全取心钻孔ZK3（深500 m）、ZK5（深300 m）进行详细的磁性地层学研究,结果表明,ZK3孔中更新统底界为54.8 m,下更新统底界为167.0 m,上新统底界为432.0 m,钻孔底部年龄约为6.2 Ma,属上中新统上部;ZK5孔中更新统底界为64.7 m,下更新统底界为241.5 m,钻孔底部年龄约为3.2 Ma,属上上新统.基于上述磁性地层年代标尺,通过沉积速率分析发现ZK3孔在3.0—3.6 Ma之间沉积速率明显增大,反映了塔里木盆地北部天山在此期间的快速隆升.通过东西部多个盆地地质剖面沉积速率的对比分析发现,这期构造活动在区域上具有准同期活动特征,在时代上与晚中新世以来青藏高原快速隆升的时代一致,可能与青藏高原的隆升扩展效应有关.     

西沙群岛西科1井晚中新世-上新世生物礁沉积的磁性地层学初步结果

本文对西沙群岛西科1井钻孔岩心晚中新世-上新世生物礁沉积进行了详细的岩石磁学、磁性扫描与磁性地层学研究.结果显示,西科1井生物礁相沉积中的载磁矿物主要是磁铁矿.我们推测,这些磁铁矿的微小颗粒主要来自海水中含有的陆源物质,在生物生长过程中通过珊瑚体或其它寄生生物对海水的过滤与吸附作用保存在生物礁沉积中.进一步的磁性地层学研究及其与地磁极性年表的对比发现,在上新统莺歌海组、上中新统黄流组内部可获得多个年龄控制点,并对莺歌海组和黄流组的底界位置给出了初步制约.其中,莺歌海组记录了C2An.3n和C3n.4n,黄流组记录了C3An.2n至C5n.2n.虽然这一对比方案存在一定不确定性,但是在现阶段生物地层年代及其它年代学资料相对匮乏的情况下,我们认为本项研究的磁性地层学结果能为西沙群岛晚中新世以来的生物礁沉积提供更多可靠的年龄控制点,并为今后的区域地层对比提供磁性地层年代学依据.     

福州盆地埋藏晚第四纪沉积地层划分

文中以14个钻孔地层编录为基础,结合前人研究资料,初步总结了福州盆地埋藏第四纪地层的沉积特征。福州盆地沉积始于晚更新世中期(约56.5ka BP),由砾石、砂、黏土、淤泥组成,总体表现为从下至上粒度变细的沉积序列,地层岩性横向变化较大;盆地内发育3层淤泥,第1,2层淤泥发育于全新世中晚期,时代为1.44～7.86ka BP,为“长乐海侵”的产物,第3层淤泥发育于晚更新世晚期,时代约为44～20ka BP,为“福州海侵”的产物;盆地埋藏晚第四纪地层可划分为上更新统和全新统,分为4个组,从老至新分别为龙海组(Q3pl)、东山组(Qhd)、长乐组(Qhc)与江田组(Qhj)。龙海组归属上更新统,划分为3段,其余3个组归属全新统     

晚更新世以来珠江三角洲地层层序再分析及新构造运动新认识

普遍认为珠江三角洲存在上、下两个海侵—海退旋回,对下旋回有30～50 ka(MIS3)和约120 ka(MIS5)之争.通过近1万个钻孔资料,提取了20余个典型钻孔岩心数据,运用生物地层学、年代地层学和层序地层学等方法,重新划分了层序及沉积相,并与深海氧同位素阶段进行对比,识别出SB3(基岩深度风化壳)、SB2(花斑黏土层2)和SB1(花斑黏土层1)等层序边界,分别对应于MIS6,4(或4～2),2等3次低海面期,并将三角洲沉积分出下、中、上3层.认为250 ka以来珠江三角洲最大平均下沉速率约为0.34 mm/a.下沉前,为星罗棋布的低矮山地+宽阔台地+"过路河"的亚热带准平原地貌景观,掀斜下沉后,被厚度不等的晚更新世以来松散沉积层覆盖.     

湖泊沉积物磁学特征指示的埃及Faiyum盆地全新世以来的环境演变

利用埃及北部Faiyum盆地获得的高取芯率沉积物岩芯,进行沉积物多种磁性参数的测量,结合有机碳、介形虫、粒度等分析,在AMS14C加速器测年的基础上,建立全新世以来湖泊沉积物磁性特征变化的时间序列.结果表明,粒度效应以及沉积后的各种次生作用对沉积物的磁性特征没有明显的影响,磁性变化主要反映了沉积物不同来源组成的相对变化.全新世前沉积物磁性较弱,主要含不完全反铁磁性矿物,与周边沙漠的物质相似,结合其粒度特征,沉积物来源应以近源物质为主.全新世早中期(约10 5.4 ka BP)沉积物磁性变化相对稳定,有机质含量也较高,指示了来自尼罗河较为稳定的物质供应;而大约5.4 ka BP尤其最近约4.2 ka BP以来,磁性的明显变化反映了流域降水减少情况下,来自青尼河物质贡献的相对增加;最近约2.0 ka BP以来沉积物的磁性变化,则更多地与盆地人类活动的强化有关.总体而言,Faiyum盆地全新世以来的环境演变主要受控于全新世以来尼罗河与盆地的水力学联系.即:全新世前盆地未与尼罗河连通时,沉积物主要来源于周边沙漠的风成物质;而受全新世早-中期来流域季风降水增加的影响,泛滥的尼罗河为盆地提供了相对稳定的物质供应,湖泊也处于高湖面;全新世晚期以来,随着流域干旱化的加剧,尼罗河与盆地的连通性开始减弱,来自高磁性的青尼罗河物质贡献开始相对增加.最近约2.0 ka BP以来,虽然仍有人工运河连接尼罗河与盆地,但沉积物磁性的显著变化更多地反映了盆地人类活动的不断强化.     

晚冰期以来青海湖沉积物多指标高分辨率的古气候演化

通过青海湖沉积物孢粉、碳酸盐、有机C, N和有机δ¹³C等多项指标的综合分析, 建立了青海湖晚冰期以来的高分辨率古气候演化序列. 结果表明, 18.2 cal. ka BP左右为末次冰期盛冰阶进入晚冰期的界限, 自15.4 cal. ka BP起气候开始向暖湿化发展, 7.4 cal. ka BP时达到了暖湿组合的鼎盛期, 4.5 cal. ka BP以后气候又逐步转入冷干. 晚冰期向全新世转换期间气候的冷暖干湿波动十分频繁, 其特征与北大西洋深海沉积、格陵兰冰芯、欧洲地区湖泊沉积以及中国黄土、古里雅冰芯等记录的古气候具有一定的可对比性. 青海湖地区晚冰期以来的古气候演化特征揭示了万年尺度上东亚季风的源驱动力同太阳辐射有关.     

晚新生代六盘山隆升过程初探

通过对六盘山地区山麓剥蚀面上的红层和陇东盆地的红黏土剖面古地磁测年及地貌地层学研究,发现红层或红黏土均形成于约8.1MaBP,指示了晚白垩世以来形成的夷平面在此时被断裂错开,发育终止,六盘山开始隆升:在约5.2MaBP时再次小规模隆升,堆积相应的细砾沉积,并随后剥蚀形成山麓剥蚀面:到约3.8MaBP,六盘山大规模加速隆起,河流急剧下切,河湖相沉积结束,典型风成红黏土沉积出现.六盘山的隆起过程可较好地与青藏高原及周边山地的隆起过程相对比,它应是青藏高原隆升的响应.     

福州盆地全新世沉积物的磁学性质及其对环境变化的响应

福州盆地位于海陆过渡地带,在海陆变迁过程中,沉积物记录了高分辨率的环境信息,是揭示沉积特征对环境变化响应过程及模式的理想区域.本文选择位于福州盆地的FZ5钻孔进行岩石磁学、环境磁学和古地磁学方面的研究,以期阐明该区域沉积物磁学性质对陆源碎屑输入、海平面变化和成岩作用的响应.岩石磁学结果表明钻孔沉积物以低矫顽力的亚铁磁性矿物为主体,但是在不同的环境变化阶段,磁性矿物的类型有较大变化.在9~3 cal. ka BP的海侵过程中,沉积物中以磁铁矿为主体,存在菱铁矿和铁硫化物等还原性矿物.硫化作用使细粒磁铁矿溶解形成胶黄铁矿和黄铁矿,其峰面随碎屑磁性矿物的浓度变化而迁移.但硫化作用没有完全消除磁铁矿携带的特征剩磁和陆源碎屑输入量以及海平面升降对该阶段沉积物磁性的控制.在~3 cal. ka BP以来随着海平面下降、沉积环境向陆相氧化环境转化,虽然早期还原作用仍然存在,但后期氧化作用使磁性矿物向高矫顽力的赤铁矿等矿物转变,氧化作用基本扰乱了磁铁矿携带的剩磁.沉积及其后期成岩作用过程中,发生在约~8.2、~7.7、~7.5、~2.7、~1.5、~0.5 cal. ka BP六次强烈的古氧化界面反映了福州盆地当时异常干旱或湿热的气候事件.     

塔北阿瓦特剖面磁性地层的构建:天山的脉动式隆升

晚新生代以来天山造山带的构造演化过程仍缺少准确的年龄限制.南天山山前新生界地层普遍缺乏古生物化石以及岩浆活动等定年依据,然而地层沉积连续,适合于磁性地层定年.对阿瓦特地区3700 m厚的晚新生代地层进行了详细的磁性地层研究,建立了该地区西域组底部至吉迪克组顶部的磁极性变化序列,共识别出26个负极性和26个正极性带,与C...     

OSL dating of fine-grained quartz from Holocene Yangtze delta sediments

Holocene flood events in the Yangtze River are associated with variations in East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) precipitation, and so Yangtze delta sediments may preserve information about the frequency and magnitude of EASM precipitation. These flood/drought cycles of the EASM directly affect the living standards of East Asian population. However, despite its importance, little chronological control is available for the Yangtze Delta sediments; because biogenic carbonate only occurs sporadically, it has proved the difficulty to discuss sedimentation mechanisms and rates in any detail.In 2013 two sediment cores (YD13-G3 and H1) were taken from the Yangtze subaqueous delta to investigate precipitation history. In this study, we investigate the potential of quartz OSL dating of the fine silt fraction (fine-grained quartz; 4–11 μm) from these cores to estimate the depositional age of the sediments. We test whether: (1) Yangtze subaqueous delta sediments contain quartz with suitable characteristics for dating, and (2) quartz grains are well-bleached during/before the transportation process, by examining a modern analogue of suspended particulate matter, and by cross-checking with the doses derived from infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals (both IR₅₀ and pIRIR₁₆₀) from feldspar in polymineral fine grains. We find that both the quartz and feldspar luminescence characteristics are satisfactory (quartz dose recovery ratio 1.067 ± 0.004; n = 250, pIRIR₁₆₀ dose recovery ratio 1.01 ± 0.02; n = 151). Modern suspended particulate matter has measured quartz equivalent doses between 0.1 and 0.2 Gy, suggesting that this material was sufficiently bleached during/before transportation to allow dating of Holocene sediments (mean dose rates of ∼3 Gy ka⁻¹). OSL ages of 44 samples from the 2 cores show apparently rapid accumulation at ∼6 ka between 9.65 and 5.50 m in core H1 and ∼2 ka throughout core G3 and between 5.0 and 0.0 m in core H1. The pIRIR₁₆₀ signals suggest less light exposure of the core top sediments and of those from the transition layer between ∼6 ka to ∼2 ka, although there is no evidence for incomplete bleaching of quartz. The question remains as to whether significant deposition took place only at these two times, or whether the record has been disturbed by erosion/reworking.     

Luminescence dating of the late Quaternary sediments in Hangzhou Bay,China

Coastal plain of Hangzhou Bay, to the south of the present Yangtze Estuary, is closely linked to the evolution of the Yangtze River delta. However, absolute age of Pre-Holocene sediments is limited, which hinders the understanding of this area's environmental evolution. In this study, using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), single aliquots and single grains of quartz and K-feldspar were used to date the late Quaternary sediments in coastal plain on the southern Hangzhou Bay. The vertical difference in particle size composition render either silt- or sand-sized quartz for dating. Cross-checking of multiple OSL dating methods indicated that the upper ∼65 m recorded the Holocene part of the succession; sediment from a depth of 136.6 m was dated to ∼180 ka. It was found that the single-grain method was more reliable in comparison to single-aliquot age, the former minimized the effect of signal components. Single-grain quartz and K-feldspar luminescence yielded consistent ages at sample depth of 136.6 m (∼160–180 ka), while the latter gave robust age at depth of 115.5 m (∼150 ka). This chronology is in general in accordance with neighbouring cores and can constrain paleomagnetic dating results in those cores. Taking together, the study site has thickest Holocene deposits in comparison to the highland centered around Taihu Lake on the southern Yangtze delta. Moreover, the luminescence characteristics of quartz from different sample depths, behaved differently with respect to luminescence sensitivity, signal components and saturation level, perhaps reflecting varied provenance and weathering characteristics caused by climate change.     

Age comparison by luminescence using quartz and feldspar on core HPQK01 from the Pearl River delta in China

Reliable chronology is critical for reconstructing estuarine delta process. In this study, detailed chronological framework has been performed on a core HPQK01 (52 m in depth) from the central Pearl River delta (PRD) of China. Both quartz OSL and feldspar post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) methods for late Pleistocene sediments, as well as radiocarbon dating for Holocene sediments, were applied to date the core. Results show that quartz OSL ages range from 125 ± 18 ka to 58 ± 6 ka, and that all of them were minimum ages due to the OSL signal saturation. Feldspar pIR₂₀₀IR₂₉₀ protocol shows some overestimation in dose recovery test, with the recovered to the given ratio of 1.2, while a ratio of around 1 was obtained for feldspar pIR₅₀IR₂₅₀ signals. Robust ages have been obtained from feldspar fading corrected pIR₅₀IR₂₅₀ dating with ages ranging from 150 ± 17 ka to 98 ± 12 ka. AMS ¹⁴C results suggest that subtidal-intertidal zone was deposited during the middle Holocene from 8.21 ± 0.19 cal ka BP to 4.99 ± 0.25 cal ka BP. The sedimentology of core HPQK01 record two marine transgressive-regressive cycles. Based on the dating results, the lower fluvial sediment unit (T2) could be correlated to marine isotope stage (MIS) 6, and the lower marine unit (M2) was deposited during MIS 5. A sedimentary hiatus occurred with age range of from MIS 4 to MIS 2. Since middle Holocene, another marine stratum (M1) has been accumulated. Overall, our findings suggest that feldspar pIRIR dating method has the potential to establish the Quaternary chronostratigraphic framework of the PRD for samples with ages within 150 ka.     

What controls the distribution of shallow gas in the Western Adriatic Sea?

In this paper, we discuss what controls the occurrences of shallow gas off the Western Adriatic coast. This region of the Western Adriatic, including the Po delta and the late-Holocene mud wedge, was sampled with the R/V Seward Johnson II within the framework of the EuroSTRATAFORM project. As a part of the program, we were evaluating the causes of anomalous sub-surface and seafloor features, and specifically, quantifying shallow gas and identifying its impact on geophysical properties. The highest gas concentration off the Po delta region yielded 4.1×10⁴ ppm, where as offshore Tronto River, the highest methane value was 7.9×10⁴ ppm. Headspace gas analyses match well with acoustic anomalies along the Western Adriatic coast. Shallow biogenic gas off the Po delta (NW Adriatic) is spatially correlated with organic matter deposition driven by rapid and thick flood deposition. In contrast to the Po Delta, where sub-surface gas is associated with the flood deposition of organic matter, shallow gas along the Central Adriatic occurs deeper in cores, and appears to be related to methanogenesis of organic matter present in deeper deposits.     

Internal reflection pattern of Korea Strait shelf mud (Nakdong River subaqueous delta) off southeast Korea and implications for Holocene relative base-level change

The Korea Strait shelf mud (KSSM) (Nakdong River subaqueous delta) is the most conspicuous Holocene sedimentary feature in the inner shelf off southeast Korea. Analysis of multi-channel sparker profiles and ¹⁴C ages of sediment cores reveals that the KSSM consists of three seismic units at the depocenter (>60 m thick): (i) the thin transgressive bottom (> ca 8000 cal bp ); (ii) thick (>40 m) obliquely progradational middle ( ca 8000– ca 2600 cal bp ); and (iii) thin transgressive top ( ca 2600 cal bp –present) units. The relative base level, predicted from the internal reflection pattern of the KSSM, remained significantly deeper (up to >70 m) than global sealevel during much of the Holocene. The apparent gradual drop (∼20 m) of the relative base level during the deposition of the middle unit, followed by a rise, further suggests that base level does not conform to sealevel and is more sensitive than the relative sealevel is to the local oceanographic regime and processes.     

CHRONOLOGY OF YICHANG GRAVEL LAYER BASED ON QUARTZ TI-LI CENTER ESR DATING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INCISION TIMING OF THE THREE GORGES VALLEY

Uplift of Tibet Plateau and formation of Asian Monsoon greatly affect East Asian geomorphological evolution, climate change and environment systems. Thus, those phenomena also control the origin, size and direction of river systems. The Yangtze River, as the most important linkage between Tibet Plateau and the East Asian marginal seas, delivers large volumes of water, sediment, and associated chemicals from its headwater regions and tributaries to the East China Sea, significantly influencing sedimentary system evolution in its drainage basin. Therefore, the formation of the modern Yangtze River and its geological-time evolution history have been paid more and more attention to since the beginning of the last century. After debated for more than a century, the First Bend in Shigu area and the Three Gorges have been known as the key capture point of the Yangtze River's evolution history. In particularly, the Three Gorges incision period remains greatly controversial, which mainly focuses on Cretaceous period-Neogene period, early Pleistocene period, and late Quaternary period. The Yichang Gravel, just located downstream and outlet of the Three Gorges with an inverted triangle shape, is mainly distributed in western Jianghan Basin with over 1 000km². Because of its wide distribution and key geographical location, many typical profiles of Yichang Gravel have been the critical materials for studies on stratigraphic division, geomorphic evolution, and paleoenvironment change in middle Yangtze River Basin, especially on the Three Gorges incision history. Based on the previous field investigation, the Yichang gravel unconformably overlies the Cretaceous bedrocks and underlies the mid-Pleistocene vermicular red earth. In addition, studies on heavy mineral assemblages, Pb isotopic compositions of detrital K-feldspar grains, magnetic characteristics as well as pollen assemblage characteristics have showed that sediments in Yichang Gravel are mainly derived from upper Yangtze River Basin, such as Jinshangjiang drainage, Minjiang drainage, Jialingjiang drainage and Wujiang drainage. Based on the above comprehensive analysis, researchers demonstrated that the depositing time of Yichang Gravel can best constrain the Three Gorges incising time. The absolute altitude of Yichang Gravel exceeds 110m, and many thick sand lens are developed from top to bottom of the profiles. In this study, we applied the quartz Ti-Li center ESR dating method in Yichang Gravel to determine its absolute formation age, and then to constrain the minimum cutting-through time of Three Gorges. Eight samples(SXY-1, SXY-2, YC-1-4, LJY-1, LJY-2)were collected from the sand lens at depths of 4m, 19m, 40m, 51m, 63m, 75m, 83m and 99m respectively from the top of the profile. At the same time, in order to evaluate the residual dose of Ti-Li center after sunlight bleaching, we also sampled four modern surface Yangtze River sediments near Yichang Gravel for ESR measurement. The result shows that the quartz Ti-Li center ESR signal intensity of the 4 modern fluvial sediments samples are zero, which implies that the Ti-Li center ESR signal intensity of quartz in Yichang Gravel sand lens could be bleached to zero before the last burial. Thus, the above results indicate that the ESR dating results of this paper are reliable. The ESR absolute age from top to bottom of the profile is 0.73Ma BP,0.87Ma BP,0.98Ma BP,1.04Ma BP,1.05Ma BP,1.10Ma BP, 1.11Ma BP, 1.12Ma BP, respectively. The ESR dating results show that the Yichang Gravel began to deposit at about 1. 12Ma BP until 0. 73Ma BP, and the Ti-Li center ESR age indicates that the Yangtze River cut through Three Gorges area no later than 1.12Ma BP.     

Seabed erosion and deposition related to the typhoon activity of the past millennium on the southeast coast of China

Catastrophic events often interrupt long-term Earth surface processes. In coastal areas, although millennial-scale trends of climatic and sea-level changes determine the trajectory of sedimentary landform evolution, storm and/or tsunami activity can cause abrupt changes in depositional conditions that may alter the long-term sedimentary processes. Here, we report a sedimentary hiatus that is widely observed from the late Holocene sedimentary sequence at the seabed along the southeast China coast. This hiatus was discovered by close temporal sedimentary and radiocarbon dating analyses of a seabed sedimentary sequence in the mouth area of the Pearl River estuary. The results suggest that a couple of metres in the middle to late Holocene sediment at the seabed were eroded by a catastrophic event happening c. 1000–800 cal. Years BP. In theory, a mega-tsunami generated from the Manila Trench could have caused such erosion at the seabed, but there is a lack of direct geological and historical evidence to support such a hypothesis. Much more likely, a super-typhoon struck the coast and caused the erosion. This hypothesis is strongly supported by the region's historical and geological records, which suggest a period characteristic of intense typhoons ranging from the Medieval Warm Period to the climate transition phase (c. 1000–600 cal. Years BP). During the subsequent Little Ice Age, deposition of sandy sediment continued, suggesting frequent but weaker typhoon activity. Over the past two centuries the deposition of sandy sediment and gravels began, implying the beginning of a phase of intensifying typhoon conditions, possibly a result of the recent warming climate. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

北京南口-孙河断裂带北段晚第四纪活动的层序地层学研究

文中采用钻探技术对南口-孙河断裂带进行了试验探测研究,并通过层序地层学、岩性岩相分析、磁化率分析与年代测定等方法建立了钻孔联合剖面,进而研究了断层距今60ka以来的多期活动特征,得出断裂带的3个活跃期是60～47kaBP、36～28kaBP与16kaBP以来,其余时段为相对平静期。断裂带的平均垂直位错速率,距今60～37ka之间约为0.35mm/a,37～32ka之间为0mm/a,32～12ka之间为0.78mm/a,12ka以来为0.35mm/a。研究认为,与传统的岩性、沉积相分析方法相比,层序地层学方法在钻孔地层对比与隐伏断层活动分期研究中有一定的优势     

Changes in sediment and organic carbon accumulation in a highly-disturbed ecosystem: The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (California, USA)

We used the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta CA (Delta, hereafter) as a model system for understanding how human activities influence the delivery of sediment and total organic carbon (TOC) over the past 50–60 years. Sediment cores were collected from sites within the Delta representing the Sacramento River (SAC), the San Joaquin River (SJR), and Franks Tract (FT), a flooded agricultural tract. A variety of anthropogenic tracers including ¹³⁷Cs, total DDE (∑DDE) and brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) congeners were used to quantify sediment accumulation rates. This information was combined with total organic carbon (TOC) profiles to quantify rates of TOC accumulation. Across the three sites, sediment and TOC accumulation rates were four to eight-fold higher prior to 1972. Changes in sediment and TOC accumulation were coincident with completion of several large reservoirs and increased agriculture and urbanization in the Delta watershed. Radiocarbon content of TOC indicated that much of the carbon delivered to the Delta is “pre-aged” reflecting processing in the Delta watershed or during transport to the sites rather than an input of predominantly contemporary carbon (e.g., 900–1400 years BP in surface sediments and 2200 yrs BP and 3610 yrs BP at the base of the SJR and FT cores, respectively). Together, these data suggest that human activities have altered the amount and age of TOC accumulating in the Delta since the 1940s.     

DISCUSSION ON THE TIMING AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ANGULAR UNCONFORMITY IN HETAO BASIN IN THE LATE QUATERNARY SEDIMENTS

The interaction between the continental-continental collision of the Indian-Eurasian plate and the westward underthrusting of Pacific plate is generally considered to be the cause of the destruction of North China Craton. At present, there are still doubts in the researches worldwide about the dynamic mechanism of the formation and evolution of the Ordos peripheral fault-depression system and the contemporary tectonic stress field.
The Hetao Basin is a Cenozoic fault basin located between the Ordos block and the Yinshan Mountains. Due to the effect of uplift of the Tibet Plateau and the continuous subduction of the Pacific plate, graben faulting of different intensities occurred in different periods of Cenozoic around the Ordos block. Late Quaternary lacustrine facies sedimentary strata are widely developed in Hetao Basin. The Haolaigou profile, Bianqianhao profile and the Langshan profile in this study are all located in Hetao Basin. According to the lithology and structural analysis of the upper Pleistocene series in the three profiles, angular unconformities of phase 1-2 are recorded in the lacustrine facies sediments with a thickness of about 10m. The dating results of the Haolaigou profile, Bianqianhao profile and Langshan profile show that the formation time of both unconformities is 80ka BP.
Using the tectonic geology, Quaternary geology, stratigraphy, sedimentology and a variety of dating methods, we also carry out a comprehensive study and obtain the following results:
(1)The analysis of lithological and structural features of Haolaigou profile, Bianqianghao profile and Langshan profile in the Hetao Basin shows that multi-phase angular unconformities events are recorded in the lacustrine strata of a thickness of nearly 10m. These unconformities represent the tectonic movement in the late Pleistocene period since the 80ka BP and they may be widely distributed in the North China region. They are probably the direct products of the latest tectonic movement in the Quaternary period.
(2)The present tectonic movement initiates at about 80ka BP. It not only causes multiple angular unconformity events, but also leads to the disappearance of the Hetao ancient lake. The rapid regional epeirogenetic uplifting of the Ordos block since 76.4ka BP should also be the specific manifestation of this tectonic movement. Because of the influence of the accelerated uplifting and eastward spreading of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in the late Quaternary, the NEE thrusting effect of the Ordos block is enhanced and affected.