Restricted utility of δC of bulk organic matter as a record of paleovegetation in some loess-paleosol sequences in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Molecular stratigraphic analyses using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry have been performed in the upper section (S₀, L₁, S₁) of the Yuanbo loess-paleosol sequences in northwest China, with a record extending from the last interglaciation through the present interglaciation. The CPI (Carbon Preference Index) values of both n-alkanols and n-alkan-2-ones display variations between loess deposits and paleosols, showing a correlation with the magnetic susceptibility record, an indicator of the East Asian summer monsoon. The observed variations in the indexes in relation to changes in lithology/paleoclimate are proposed to result from microbial degradation of higher plant lipids in the paleosols. The CPI values of n-alkanes, n-alkanols, and n-alkan-2-ones are negatively correlated with δ¹³C of bulk organic matter. The correlations suggest that the observed glacial-interglacial variations of δ¹³C data in the loess stratigraphy reflect the relative importance of the contribution of paleovegetation compared with microorganisms (including both the degradation and the addition of organic matter) and allochthonous loess/soil parent materials. It is thus necessary to evaluate the contributions of the latter two before the paleovegetation can be reconstructed based on the δ¹³C analysis of bulk organic matter in some loess-paleosol sequences of the Chinese Loess Plateau.     

Variation and paleoclimatic significance of organic carbon isotopes of Ili loess in arid Central Asia

As an indicator for terrestrial paleovegetation, the stable isotopic composition of total organic matter (δ¹³C_org) in loess sediments has been widely used for paleoclimatic reconstruction in western Europe, the Great Plains of North America and the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). However, little is known about the variation and paleoclimatic significance of the loess δ¹³C_org in arid Central Asia (ACA). We report δ¹³C_org data from an Axike (AXK) loess/paleosol profile from the eastern Ili Basin, eastern Central Asia. Along the profile, the δ¹³C_org values were more negative in the paleosol layers observed in the field and were confirmed by environmental magnetic proxies and a higher concentration of total organic carbon (TOC), consistent with results for western Europe and the northwestern CLP. Our results demonstrate that the loess δ¹³C_org in this region documents mainly the response of δ¹³C of locally predominant C₃ plants to paleoclimatic variation, especially paleoprecipitation. Our results also suggest that the loess δ¹³C_org values in the area have the potential for quantitative paleoprecipitation reconstruction on the basis of detailed δ¹³C_org results from modern plants and surface soils in the future.     

Assessment of As and Cd contamination in topsoils of Northern Ghorveh (Western Iran): role of parent material, land use and soil properties

The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of land use, parent materials (rock types) and soil properties on total arsenic and cadmium concentrations in the agricultural soils. A total of 87 surface (0–20 cm) soil samples were collected from four types of land use: irrigated farming, rangeland, dry farming and orchard. The average concentrations of the analyzed elements in topsoil were 84.426 mg As/kg and 3.289 mg Cd/kg. In addition, the pH, organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil grain sizes and CaCO₃ were measured for each sample. The results indicated that land use had no significant effect on As and Cd concentrations. Our findings indicated that the Cd concentrations were influenced by bedrock composition, but for As there were no significant differences between various soil parent materials (bedrocks). Soil pollution was assessed on the basis of pollution index (PI), comprehensive pollution index (P _n ) and geoaccumulation index (I _geo). Calculated indices showed high-pollution levels for As and low- to moderate-pollution levels for Cd.     

Clay mineralogy, organic carbon burial, and redox evolution in Proterozoic oceans

Clay minerals formed through chemical weathering have long been implicated in the burial of organic matter (OM), but because diagenesis and metamorphism commonly obscure the signature of weathering-derived clays in Precambrian rocks, clay mineralogy and its role in OM burial through much of geologic time remains incompletely understood. Here we have analyzed the mineralogy, geochemistry and total organic carbon (TOC) of organic rich shales deposited in late Archean to early Cambrian sedimentary basins. Across all samples we have quantified the contribution of 1M and 1M_d illite polytypes, clay minerals formed by diagenetic transformation of smectite and/or kaolinite-rich weathering products. This mineralogical signal, together with corrected paleo-weathering indices, indicates that late Archean and Mesoproterozoic samples were moderately to intensely weathered. However, in late Neoproterozoic basins, 2M₁ illite/mica dominates clay mineralogy and paleo-weathering indices sharply decrease, consistent with an influx of chemically immature and relatively unweathered sediment. A late Neoproterozoic switch to micaceous clays is inconsistent with hypotheses for oxygen history that require an increased flux of weathering-derived clays (i.e., smectite or kaolinite) across the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary. Compared to previous studies, our XRD data display the same variation in Schultz Ratio across the late Neoproterozoic, but we show the cause to be micaceous clay and not pedogenic clay; paleo-weathering signals cannot be recovered from bulk mineralogy without this distinction. We find little evidence to support a link between these mineralogical variations and organic carbon in our samples and conclude that modal clay mineralogy cannot by itself explain an Ediacaran increase in atmospheric oxygen driven by enhanced OM burial.     

Influential factors on the levels of cation exchange capacity in sediment at Langat river

An exploratory study was carried out at 22 sampling stations along the Langat River, Selangor in order to investigate on the vitality of cation exchange capacity (CEC) in sediment (0–5 cm). Parameters such as pH, Eh, salinity, and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined. The CEC in sediment has been calculated by the determination of Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺ using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, while the organic matter content in sediment was ascertained using the loss on ignition method. The characteristic of the sediment shows that pH (3.09–7.46), salinity (0.02–10.71 ppt), EC (3.39–517 μS/cm) and Eh (?16.20–253.10 mV) were substantially high in variation. This study also revealed that exchangeable Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were controlled by organic matter contents, while exchangeable Na⁺ and K⁺ were influenced by salinity. Salinity was observed to play a major part in controlling all the exchangeable cations, as it gives strong significant correlations with Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, CEC, and organic matter at p?<?0.01. The presence of seawater, clay mineralogy, and organic matter proves that it does play an important role in determining the CEC and soon relates to the pollution magnitude in the sediment.     

Changing color of Chinese loess: Geochemical constraint and paleoclimatic significance

Two loess–paleosol sequences on the central Chinese Loess Plateau were investigated to understand spatial and temporal variations in the soil color (e.g., lightness and redness) and factors that control those variations. Color difference between the original samples and pretreated samples suggests that loess lightness is influenced by the pedogenic matter (e.g., iron oxides, organic matter, and calcium carbonate) to varying degrees, depending on the concentrations. Iron oxides and organic matter darken the loess lightness, whereas carbonate lightens the loess lightness. By contrast, the redness is dominantly controlled by the types and concentrations of iron oxides. Variations in magnetic susceptibility and redness are associated with different magnetic minerals that formed mainly during post-depositional processes, and therefore both proxies can be employed to reconstruct the history and variability of the East Asian summer monsoon. Since the sensitivity of these two proxies to the summer monsoon variation is different, we generate a stacked summer monsoon index by combining these two records and interpret the stacked index as most indicative of precipitation variability. The fidelity of this new index is supported by an independent ratio, estimated from the first-derivative values of the color reflectance spectra. Our loess-based proxies provide a new understanding of the East Asian summer monsoon variability as a two-phase strengthening of summer monsoon intensity during the penultimate deglaciation.     

The spatial distribution of potassium status and clay mineralogy in relation to different land-use types in a calcareous Mediterranean environment

In order to investigate changes caused in clay mineralogy and potassium (K) status by different land-use types, 42 soils samples (0–30 cm) were monitored and analyzed. Soil samples belonging to Reference Soil Groups of Cambisols and Vertisols were collected from three neighboring land uses involving cropland (under long-term continuous cultivation), grassland, and forestland. The soils reflected an alkaline and calcareous aspect as were characterized by high pH (mean of 7.1 to 7.5) and calcium carbonate equivalent (mean of 35 to 97 g?kg^?1) in the three land-use types. X-ray diffraction patterns of the clay fraction showed that the soils were mainly composed of illite, smectite, chlorite, and kaolinite. Chlorite and kaolinite remained unweathered irrespective of land use and soil types, soil processes, and physicochemical attributes assessed. Some changes in the XRD diffractograms of illite and smectite (the intensity or the position of peaks) were observed in the cultivated soils compared to those of the adjoining grassland that may explain the dynamics of the K trapped in illite interlayer sites. Potassium issues reflected a heterogeneous response to changes in land-use types. In light of this, a pronounced variation in soluble K (4–22 mg?kg^?1), exchangeable K (140–558 mg?kg^?1), and non-exchangeable K (135–742 mg?kg^?1) appeared among the land-use types for both Cambisols and Vertisols, corresponding to variability in clay content, nature and type of clay mineral (mainly illite and smectite), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). In general, the largest amounts of soluble K and exchangeable K were recorded in the forestland, whereas the highest contents of non-exchangeable K were found in the grassland for both Cambisols and Vertisols. Exchangeable K, available K, CEC, and clay contents in the soils with higher smectite values (25–50 %) were significantly different (P?≤?0.05) compared to those of the lower smectite values (10–25 %). This suggests that smectite is a major source for surface sorption of K in the studied soils.     

Copper Adsorption by Chernozem Soils and Parent Rocks in Southern Russia

Laboratory data in Cu²⁺ adsorption by chernozems and parent rocks in Rostov region show that adsorption isotherms can be approximated by the Langmuir equation, whose parameters (K_l and C_∞) were calculated for all of the samples. The values of C_∞ show a strong negative correlation with the values of cationexchange capacity (CEC) (r =–0.88 at Р = 0.95), and K_l is correlated with the content of physical clay (particles <0.01 mm) (r = 0.78) and with clay (particles <0.001 mm) content in ordinary chernozem and southern chernozems of various particle size distribution (r = 0.80). Even stronger correlations were detected between these parameters in southern chernozems (r = 0.89 for the physical clay (PC) and r = 0.91 for the silt). However, none of the samples displays a significant correlation of C_∞ and K_l with the contents of physical clay and silt. This led us to conclude that the composition of the samples, for example, their organic matter, can affect Cu²⁺ adsorption by the soils and parent rocks. Acidification mechanisms of the equilibrium solutions during the Cu²⁺ adsorption by soils are discussed, as also are the reasons for the absence of balance between Cu²⁺ adsorbed by soils and exchangeable cations transferred into solution. Analysis of the fine structures of the XANES and EXAFS spectra suggests that Cu²⁺ can form coordinated chelate complex compounds with humic acids (HA) of soils and can substitute Al³⁺ at octahedral sites when interacting with clay minerals in soils.     

Soil quality indicator of oxisols grown with sugarcane and native forest in northeastern São Paulo state,Brazil

The evaluation of soil quality is an important tool for degradation monitoring and sustainable management implementation. The objective of this study was to measure physical and chemical soil properties to set soil quality and validate a model of soil quality indicator in latosols (oxisols) under sugarcane cropping and native forest. The study was carried out in the cities of Araras, Santa Ernestina, and Guariba in São Paulo State, Brazil. We collected 24 samples of disturbed and undisturbed soil at 0.0–0.10 m layer from three areas grown with sugarcane and neighboring locations under native woodland. We assessed the following soil properties: (a) chemical—pH in CaCl₂, organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), potential acidity (H?+?Al), aluminum (Al³⁺), and sulfur (S); (b) physical—macro- and microporosity, soil bulk density (Ds), aggregate stability, mean weight diameter (MWD), rill (K_r) and interrill (K_i) global erodibility, shear stress (τc), and magnetic susceptibility (MS). Data underwent multivariate statistics to identify the properties that denote soil quality and to set their weights within the functions of soil quality indicator (SQI). This study showed that the multivariate analysis was efficient in determining which physical and chemical properties were most sensitive, of which we can mention total sand, MS, clay, microporosity, Mg, Ca, pH, and OM. We can therefore conclude that the quality indicators of soils grown with sugarcane were lower than those under forest were, showing the need for adoption of conservation management practices.     

黄土对Cr(III)的吸附特性及机理研究

铬是一种重金属痕量元素,人体通过食物链摄入过量的铬会在人体内富集,随之产生中毒反应。研究Cr(III)的浓度、反应时间、反应温度、pH值等因素对Cr(III)在黄土上吸附特性的影响,结果表明黄土对Cr(III)的吸附非常迅速,并且吸附量非常大,等温吸附模型Freundlich和Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R)模型都能很好地解释Cr(III)在黄土上的吸附过程。热动力学分析表明,吸附是一个自发的过程,升温可促进吸附作用的进行。随着温度的不断升高,Cr(III)的吸附量逐渐增大。溶液的pH值是影响Cr(III)吸附效果的一个重要因素,当pH>6时,Cr(III)几乎完全被去除。利用X光衍射图谱和红外光谱分析,探讨黄土与Cr(III)的结合机制,黄土中的高岭土、石英等黏土矿物以及有机质成分对吸附过程起重要作用。     

Radiocarbon dating of quaternary loess deposits,Banks Peninsula,Canterbury, New Zealand

Quaternary loess deposits containing charcoal and in situ organic matter constituents from Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, were subjected to various physical and chemical treatments before radiocarbon assay. A stepwide procedure was used in which each component was radiocarbon dated before and after the treatments were applied. The criterion adopted for judging the effectiveness of a treatment is an increase in the radiocarbon age of loess layer. On this basis the oldest and therefore the most reliable date was obtained from the intra-loess charcoal and its humic acid extract. By comparison, the radiocarbon ages of organic matter constituents of the whole or partitioned loess were much younger, and are considered to represent only average ages for the particular layers concerned. No advantage was gained by dating the carbon-enriched clay-humus fraction as opposed to whole loess samples. There is an apparent conflict between our dates and current interpretation of loess stratigraphy and chronology in the South Island of New Zealand, which requires further investigation. This uncertainty apart, the upper layers of multiple loess deposits are clearly much older than earlier reports indicate, and it follows that the correlation of these deposits with late-glacial events both within and beyond New Zealand is even more tenuous and unreliable than previously thought to be the case.     

Fluoride sorption and desorption on soils located in the surroundings of an aluminium smelter in Galicia (NW Spain)

Aluminium smelters are major sources of F emission to the environment. We studied, in laboratory experiments, the sorption and desorption of fluoride on organic and mineral horizons of soils located within 2 km from one of these factories, situated in the northern coast of Galicia (NW Spain). The soils, developed from granite, are acid (pH H₂O 3.9–5.5), rich in organic matter (4–16 % C in the A horizon) and most A horizons have high Al saturation in the exchange complex. All samples showed a notable F sorption, between 1,066 and 1,589 mg kg^?1, after adding 200 mg F L^?1, which accounts for 53–80 % of F added. The sorption was slightly higher in the A horizons than in the respective organic horizons (differences of up to 194 mg kg^?1). The fluoride sorption upon addition of 200 mg F L^?1 correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with soil pH in water (r = ?0.77), iron extracted by acid ammonium oxalate (r = 0.68), aluminium plus iron extracted by acid ammonium oxalate (r = 0.63), exchange aluminium (r = 0.52) and clay percentage in soil (r = 0.76). The F sorption fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Desorbed F accounted for only 12–22 % of sorbed fluoride and correlated (p < 0.05) negatively with non-crystalline (extracted by acid ammonium oxalate) Fe (r = ?0.51) and clay content (r = ?0.74) and positively with organic matter (r = 0.69) and with the effective cation exchange capacity of the soil (r = 0.50).     

A hydrogeochemical transport model for an oxidation experiment with pyrite/calcite/exchangers/organic matter containing sand

We report the hydrogeochemical modeling of a complicated suite of reactions that take place during the oxidation of pyrite in a marine sediment. The sediment was equilibrated in a column with MgCl₂ solution and subsequently oxidized with H₂O₂. The oxidation of pyrite triggers dissolution of calcite, cation and proton exchange, and CO₂ sorption. The composition of the column effluent was modeled with PHREEQC, a hydrogeochemical transport model. The model was extended with a formal ID transport module which includes dispersion and diffusion. The algorithm solves the advection-reaction-dispersion equation with explicit finite differences in a split-operator scheme. Also, kinetic reactions for pyrite oxidation, calcite dissolution and precipitation, and organic C oxidation were included. Kinetic relations for pyrite oxidation and calcite dissolution were taken from the literature, and a coefficient equivalent to the ratio A/V (surface over volume), was adjusted to fit the experimental data. The comparison of model and experiment shows that ion exchange and sorption are dominant chemical processes in regulating and buffering water quality changes upon the oxidation of pyrite. Cation exchange was assigned to the colloidal fraction ( < 2 μm) and deprotonated organic matter, proton buffering to organic matter, and CO₂ sorption to amorphous Fe-oxyhydroxide. These processes have been neglected in earlier modeling studies of pyrite oxidation in natural sediments.     

垃圾渗滤液污染地下环境介质岩性对pH缓冲能力的影响

通过模拟实验研究垃圾渗滤液污染地下环境介质岩性对pH缓冲能力变化的影响。亚黏土和砂土的pH缓冲容量的本底值分别为440.20和324.93mmol/(kg·pH),其中阳离子交换缓冲、碳酸钙缓冲、硅酸盐缓冲和次级缓冲的本底值分别为206.18、88.43、75.79和69.80mmol/(kg·pH),149.31、86.53、47.33和41.77mmol/(kg·pH)。污染的亚黏土和砂土的交换性阳离子(CEC)和交换性盐基离子(BEC)均小于本底值;盐基饱和度随离污染源距离的增加呈先升高后降低的变化趋势。     

Qualitative fatty acid and n-alkane stratigraphy of the Lake Turkana Basin,Kenya

In order to improve understanding of the stratigraphy of the Lake Turkana Basin, one of the important sites in the evolution of early man, this study evaluates the usefulness of organic biological marker compounds, n-alkanes and fatty acids, for correlation of isolated sedimentary strata.Eighty-five paleosol samples were collected from well-defined sedimentary horizons in two regions (Area 103 and Area 130) of the Koobi Fora area of Lake Turkana. Results indicate that most of the organic matter present was derived from terrestrial plant waxes. In sediments where extensive diagenesis has occurred, microbial input of organic matter may have been substantial. Algae were either not an important source of organic matter, or their marker compounds have been removed or altered by degradative processes.The fate of the original paleosol organic matter has been governed to some extent by weathering processes, especially in Area 130. Weathering decreased the amount of extractable lipids, particularly fatty acids and the low molecular weight alkanes (C₁₇C₂₀); produced or retained relatively large amounts of alkanes greater than C₂₁ within a unimodal distribution; and lowered CPI values. Consequently, stratigraphic correlation by unique alkane and fatty acid distributions has been confined to short distances (many meters).Both n-alkanes and fatty acids have been retained better by association with clay minerals than by sand matrices. The alkane distribution of sandstones differs from that of clay organics in having a narrower carbon chain length distribution and lower CPI values. In Area 103, where weathering was less severe, compositional variations with stratigraphic position indicate that lipid material has been retained within each of the facies examined.     

Reconstruction of the late Quaternary paleoenvironments of the Nussloch loess paleosol sequence,Germany, using n-alkane biomarkers

This study contributes to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the loess–paleosol sequence of Nussloch, Germany, by using n-alkanes as plant leaf-wax-derived lipid biomarkers. We found that n-alkane patterns and concentrations in the Saalian loess and the last interglacial Eemian paleosol of Nussloch point to very strong degradation and prevailing deciduous vegetation. Degradation effects in the overlying paleosols and loess layers are less pronounced and allow for the application of an end-member mixing model to estimate vegetation changes semi-quantitatively. Our findings highlight the potential for the interpretation of degradation-corrected n-alkane ratios. n-Alkane modelling results for loess layers, paleosols and an in-filled paleochannel dated to ~ 60–32 ka suggest that up to ~ 50% of the n-alkanes were derived from deciduous trees or shrubs. This finding is in agreement with the abundant occurrence of wood fragments and indicates a highly variable and dynamic landscape dominated by tundra shrubland. On the other hand, deciduous trees or shrubs did not contribute significantly to the soil organic matter in the late Weichselian loess layers and the intercalated Gelic Gleysols (~ 32–18 ka).     

西宁第四纪黄土-古土壤序列中的可溶盐、来源及环境意义

文章对西宁第四纪黄土-古土壤序列L₉以来的黄土和古土壤层进行了土壤化学分析,揭示出剖面中含有大量的可溶盐。古土壤层中的可溶盐含量远高于黄土层,且二者所含可溶盐类型的相对比例存在明显差异。黄土层中Na₂CO₃和NaHCO₃的相对比例较高,表现出更多的碱化特性,而古土壤中含有较多的NaCl和Na₂SO₄,表现出更多的盐化特性。从剖面所处的地貌-水文条件及土壤微形态特征来看,这些可溶盐主要来自大气降尘。研究揭示,约900ka以来,该区周边地区一直存在较多的干盐湖,是形成粉尘物质的重要源区之一,且间冰期粉尘比冰期粉尘可溶盐含量高得多。这些粉尘中含有较多的、包括对气候有影响的硫酸盐在内的可溶盐类。     

土壤理化参数的反射光谱分析

土壤可见光和近红外波段(400~2 500 nm)反射光谱信息包含了大量土壤物理化学参数,土壤反射光谱测量简单、快速,无需破坏样品,而且还可以通过高光谱遥感方法制图。文中使用江苏国土生态地球化学调查中获取的大量土壤样品,研究了土壤阳离子交换量(CEC)、有机质含量、pH值、铁氧化物类型、铁铝硅等常量元素含量等重要土壤生态地球化学参数的光谱反应。结果显示,土壤CEC是进行光谱预测非常成功的参数,1 400、1 900和2 200 nm附近一阶导数光谱(FD)值或短波方向反射率值均可以很好地反映土壤CEC的大小;土壤有机质含量、铁氧化物类型、铁铝硅含量均可以在反射率光谱或其一阶导数(FD)值找到相关波段;土壤导数光谱存在的A、B、C和D峰使反射光谱方法不仅能够定量铁氧化物总量,还能鉴别铁氧化物矿物类型(针铁矿和赤铁矿)及其相对含量;江都土壤光谱的656 nm附近FD值与pH有很大相关性,但是江苏样品显示pH值光谱经验预测具有区域依赖性,可能与土壤类型有关,说明pH与光谱参数之间的关系并非一般的线性关系,而有更复杂的机制。     

天津市西郊富硒土壤地球化学特征和成因分析

为了查明天津市西郊富硒土壤的地球化学特征和成因,开展针对土壤-大气-水体-作物的调查研究工作。结果显示:研究区土壤Se元素平均值为0.66 mg/kg,是天津市土壤背景值的2.87倍,有83%为富硒土壤。土壤Se元素被颗粒状有机物质大量固定和吸附,富集于耕层土壤。耕层土壤Se元素与粗砂粒、细砂粒、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cu、Hg、N、P等指标显著正相关,与黏粒、粉粒、Na、K、Mg、As、CEC、pH等指标显著负相关。农民大量持续使用富含Se的有机肥是土壤Se元素显著富集的主要原因,占输入总通量的86.55%;大气沉降是次要原因,占13.35%。研究区土壤Se元素的年增加量为0.019 mg/kg,按2.77%的速度逐年增长。     

土壤腐殖物质特征及其对有机碳长时间尺度稳定性的指示：以陕西洛川黄土剖面为例

在长时间尺度上研究土壤中腐殖物质的组成和腐殖化特征对于正确评价土壤有机质的稳定性具有重要意义。文中对洛川黄土/古土壤剖面S8以上的17个黄土和古土壤样品中的胡敏酸（HA）、富里酸（FA）和胡敏素（HM）进行定量研究,并对HA和FA的E465、E665值等进行了测定。结合该课题组对矿物组成、总有机碳（TOC）及其各组分含...