北祁连青山花岗岩体矿物学特征及其对岩石成因的约束

北祁连造山带经历了洋盆的打开到闭合这一完整的Wilson旋回,并发育有大量与之相关的花岗质岩体.加深对花岗岩的研究可以为重建俯冲-增生/碰撞造山格架提供关键线索.对带内西段的青山二长花岗岩体进行了岩相学以及造岩矿物化学成分的电子探针原位分析,厘定了其矿物形成的物理化学条件,进一步约束了其岩石成因和构造背景.研究表明,青山二长花岗岩中钾长石全部为正长石,斜长石为中酸性的中长石和更长石,黑云母属镁质黑云母,角闪石则为镁角闪石亚类.锆石饱和温度平均为750 ℃,黑云母的结晶温度平均为647 ℃,氧逸度为-15,推测岩体固结压力约为1.85×108 Pa,形成深度约6.73 km.矿物化学特征显示,青山二长花岗岩为具Ⅰ型花岗岩特征的低熔线花岗岩,并具有壳幔岩浆混源的特点,可能为含水条件下形成的钙碱性花岗岩.      

太行山中段麻棚岩体花岗岩类岩石副矿物成因矿物学研究

通过对麻棚岩体花岗岩类岩石主要的副矿物组合(磁铁矿、榍石、磷灰石、锆石等)和相应的含量以及矿物的形态、成分,特别是花岗岩中330粒和石英闪长岩中316粒锆石群形态学的研究,结合岩相学特征,探讨了花岗岩的成因、岩浆演化及其与金矿化的关系。确定麻棚岩体为岩浆成因,岩浆物质组成以壳源为主,有幔源物质混入,为Ⅰ型花岗岩;副矿物在相对氧化环境下结晶,锆石在900℃～600℃范围内结晶。锆石结晶温度跨度大以及斑晶具有黑云母等含水矿物,表明侵位前岩浆富含水分;锆石结晶温度的峰值变化以及岩石的斑状结构表明,岩浆在侵位时曾经发生过不同程度的气—液分离。岩浆结晶过程中的相对氧化环境和岩浆的气—液分离对金矿的成矿作用具有重要意义。     

豫西火神庙石英闪长岩的矿物学特征及其意义

火神庙岩体位于华北陆块南缘栾川矿集区西部,为一杂岩体,主要由石英闪长岩、二长花岗岩和花岗斑岩组成,其中石英闪长岩出露于边部,构成了岩体的主体。为准确厘定石英闪长岩的形成过程以及形成的物理化学条件,并为进一步确定火神庙钼矿床成因提供依据,对主要造岩矿物(斜长石、钾长石、角闪石和黑云母)成分进行了详细的研究。结果显示石英闪长岩中的斜长石主要为中长石,可分为“正环带”斜长石、“反环带”斜长石和“韵律环带”斜长石;钾长石为正长石;角闪石为镁角闪石;黑云母属于原生镁质- 铁质黑云母。石英闪长岩形成过程中岩浆经历了多期演化：早期岩浆稳定结晶,结晶出An=30～35的斜长石;中期岩浆含水量增加,斜长石An值显著升高,An=39～42;晚期岩浆稳定结晶、含水量降低,结晶出An=42～28的斜长石。岩浆结晶温度为798～830℃、结晶压力上限为198～242MPa、氧逸度为-14～-13。镁铁质岩浆较高的氧逸度、温度及Cl含量与火神庙钼矿床的形成密切相关。     

安徽铜陵凤凰山花岗闪长岩岩石学和矿物学特征及其地质意义

凤凰山花岗闪长岩与凤凰山铜矿床在成因上关系密切,通过对未蚀变花岗闪长岩中的角闪石和斜长石进行岩石学观察及详细的矿物成分分析,并利用角闪石-斜长石矿物平衡温压计反演角闪石、斜长石结晶时的温压条件,进一步探讨花岗闪长岩的形成条件及其成岩成矿意义。电子探针分析结果显示,角闪石分子中Si=6.37～7.16p.f.u.(p.f.u.为每单位晶胞),Mg/(Fe2++Mg)=0.63～0.76,Al(Ⅳ)T=0.84～1.63p.f.u.,属于镁角闪石和镁钙闪石。斜长石牌号An变化范围为:23～36,主要为更长石和中长石。通过角闪石-斜长石温压计的计算,得出早期角闪石结晶压力为446MPa～474MPa,对应的岩体侵位深度为14.72km～15.63km,结晶温度为1 066.39℃～1 070.55℃;晚期角闪石结晶压力为100MPa～191MPa,对应的岩体侵位深度为3.32km～6.32km,结晶温度为784.26℃～822.7℃。综合分析表明凤凰山花岗闪长岩是来自于深部幔源的岩浆沿断裂上侵至中下地壳(约15km),形成深部岩浆房,并发生结晶分异和同化混染作用,随后在构造扰动下,深部岩浆房中的岩浆沿构造薄弱面再次上侵至近地表(3km～6km),经冷凝固结形成的。矿物温压计算结果和区域地层学资料显示,自141 Ma以来,凤凰山矿区遭受剥蚀的主要是地层,岩体以及矿床的剥蚀程度较小,属于保存条件较为完好的成矿系统,而当前凤凰山铜矿勘探和开采深度不足1km,因此,深部具有较好的找矿前景。     

广东佛冈花岗杂岩体中乌石闪长岩-角闪辉长岩的结晶条件

佛冈花岗杂岩体是南岭地区最大的晚中生代岩基,乌石闪长岩角闪辉长岩是佛冈钙碱性系列花岗岩中最基性的端员。乌石闪长岩角闪辉长岩和周围佛冈黑云母花岗岩、含角闪石花岗闪长岩同属于高钾钙碱性系列岩石。本文系统地总结并对比了多种角闪石压力计和角闪石斜长石温度计,针对中酸性钙碱性岩浆,提出了改进的角闪石Al_Ti温压曲线格子,并将其运用到乌石闪长岩角闪辉长岩的结晶条件估算中。估算结果显示,乌石闪长岩角闪辉长岩中角闪石结晶温度为82 0±2 0℃,压力为70～130MPa,XH2 O为0 .7±0 .1,其结晶条件代表岩体侵位时的物理环境。花岗闪长岩中的角闪石结晶温度约为82 0℃,压力约为2 6 0MPa ,是在较深的岩浆房中结晶的。     

芙蓉锡矿田骑田岭花岗岩黑云母矿物化学组成及其对锡成矿的指示意义

芙蓉锡矿田骑田岭复式岩体主要由早阶段角闪石黑云母花岗岩和晚阶段黑云母花岗岩组成.电子探针分析结果表明角闪石黑云母花岗岩中的黑云母属于铁黑云母,黑云母花岗岩中的黑云母属于铁叶云母.相对于黑云母花岗岩,角闪石黑云母花岗岩中黑云母的MgO、TiO2含量偏高,Al2O3含量偏低.矿物化学研究结果显示,角闪石黑云母花岗岩中黑云母的结晶温度、氧逸度(logfO2)分别为680℃～740℃、-16.00～-15.31,黑云母花岗岩中黑云母的结晶温度、氧逸度分别为530℃～650℃、-19.20～-17.50.从角闪石黑云母花岗岩到黑云母花岗岩,岩浆结晶温度和氧逸度逐渐降低.与花岗岩有关的共存流体性质的研究发现,与角闪石黑云母花岗岩共存的热液流体log(fH2O/fHF)fluid,log(fH2O/fHCl)fluid,log(fHF/fHCl)fiuid值分别为4.22～4.39,2.78～3.24,-1.82～-1.73,而与黑云母花岗岩共存的热液流体log(fH2O/fHF)fluid,log(fH2OfHCl)fluid,log(fHF/fHCl)fluid值分别为3.27～3.53,2.85～3.22,-0.75～-0.22,可见与两种岩石类型共存热液流体的性质存在明显差异,且热液中Cl、Sn含量变化与岩浆结晶分异指数呈正相关关系.骑田岭岩体从角闪石黑云母花岗岩到黑云母花岗岩,随着岩浆的演化.岩浆结晶期后分异出的热液流体向富Cl和Sn方向演化.芙蓉锡矿田的成矿流体应主要来源于黑云母花岗岩岩浆结晶期后分异出的岩浆热液.     

新疆尾亚—天湖地区花岗岩类剥蚀程度估算及对区域找矿的启示

尾亚—天湖地区位于新疆中亚造山带东南部的中天山地块内,晚古生代—中生代岩浆活动强烈,产出了战略性关键矿产尾亚钒铁磁铁矿。在详细岩相学观察的基础上,对尾亚、天湖和沙泉子南岩体中的角闪石和黑云母进行了电子探针(EMPA)测试分析,限定了 3个岩体结晶的温压条件、氧逸度、含水量和含铁指数等要素,为解析中天山地块的岩浆-成矿物化条件及其区域找矿勘查工作提供参考。测试结果表明,该区花岗岩类中的角闪石富镁、钙、钠,贫钾,属于钙角闪石族;黑云母有高镁、钛、铝、钾和低硅、钠的特征为镁质黑云母。角闪石和黑云母的化学成分揭示其寄主岩浆为钙碱性造山带岩系,具有壳幔混源的特征,推测可能是板块俯冲背景下由地幔楔与大陆地壳物质混熔形成。根据角闪石-黑云母矿物温压计,估算出沙泉子南石英闪长岩的结晶温度为651～753℃,压力为31～79 MPa,尾亚二长花岗岩和钾长花岗岩的结晶温度为762～833℃,压力为85～215 MPa,天湖花岗闪长岩的结晶温度为668～812℃,压力为31～117 MPa。3个岩体岩浆结晶时的氧逸度lgf (O_2)范围为-15.7～-9.4,而且在角闪石结晶时岩浆具有较高的含水量。综合分析,认为该区的花岗岩类具有高温、低压、高氧逸度、富水和高含铁指数的特点,有利于Fe等成矿元素在流体中富集,具有良好的铁矿成矿条件。进一步利用角闪石-黑云母压力计,计算了花岗岩类岩体的侵位深度,从而估算出岩体的剥蚀程度处于2.2～5.5 km,且区域的隆升剥蚀量差异明显;结合现有的矿产地表展布特征,推测天湖岩体一带深部仍具有较好的铁矿找矿潜力。     

胶东郭家岭岩体固结冷却轨迹与隆升剥蚀

胶东郭家岭岩体位于华北克拉通东南缘,其详细的冷却固结条件缺乏系统研究,而对岩体形成与金矿之间的关系也存在争议。本文利用岩浆锆饱和温度计、角闪石全铝压力计、角闪石-斜长石温度计、角闪石-黑云母温压计、二长石温度计,结合已有的锆石U-Pb年龄和角闪石、黑云母40Ar-39Ar同位素年龄,探讨郭家岭岩体的冷却固结史及其隆升机制。花岗岩QAb-Or标准矿物共结压力图解、角闪石全铝压力计及角闪石-黑云母压力计均得到岩体就位压力约4~5kbar。锆饱和温度计、角闪石-斜长石温度计、角闪石-黑云母温度计、二长石温度计所获得温度分别为726~800℃、657~717℃、650~700℃、570~580℃,结合角闪石、黑云母的40Ar-39Ar封闭温度确定了郭家岭岩体最有可能的冷却轨迹。郭家岭岩体(130~126Ma)侵位深度约13±1.6km,侵入郭家岭岩体的艾山岩体(116±2Ma)侵位压力在1kbar左右,对应深度约2.7km,表明郭家岭岩体在约10Myr内,隆升剥蚀量达10km左右。这种快速剥蚀的机制可能与华北东部中生代岩石圈减薄导致的地壳浅部隆升有关。     

东昆仑东段哈拉尕吐花岗岩基岩浆混合作用:来自岩石学和矿物学约束

哈拉尕吐花岗岩基位于东昆仑东段,其中花岗闪长岩岩浆混合作用明显,是研究岩浆混合作用的良好对象.从岩石学、岩相学和矿物化学等方面对哈拉尕吐花岗岩基进行了详细研究.电子探针结果显示:寄主岩斜长石的An值同相对应包体中斜长石捕掳晶近似;包体中基质斜长石大部分具核边结构,核部和边部An值存在间断;部分包体中浅色基质斜长石的An值与具核边结构斜长石的边部近似;辉长闪长岩中斜长石具较高的An值.寄主岩角闪石同相对应包体中角闪石捕掳晶的结晶温度、压力和氧逸度较为接近;包体中基质角闪石的结晶温度和压力低于寄主岩角闪石,氧逸度稍高于寄主岩角闪石;辉长闪长岩角闪石具有最高的结晶温度和压力及最低的氧逸度.哈图沟剖面和德福胜剖面寄主岩中的斜长石和角闪石的成分具有一定差别.岩浆不同期次侵入结晶和岩浆自身演化,使不同地点斜长石和角闪石的成分和物理化学特征具有一定变化.镁铁质岩浆位于地壳深部,氧逸度较低,使结晶的角闪石具有较高的形成压力和较低的氧逸度,斜长石具较高An值;随着镁铁质岩浆注入寄主岩,由于环境突变,使斜长石受到熔蚀;由于岩浆上侵以及两种岩浆物理化学性质差别较大,导致温度、压力和水饱和度降低,氧逸度升高,使包体中残留岩浆快速结晶,形成具核边结构、浅色均一的斜长石,以及结晶程度较差、较高氧逸度的角闪石.      

攀西白马岩体的矿物结晶顺序与钒钛磁铁矿成因

距今约260 Ma的白马岩体位于上扬子板块西缘的攀西裂谷中,是一个大型的含钒钛磁铁矿镁铁质-超镁铁质杂岩体,是峨眉山大火成岩省的重要组成部分。含矿岩体主要由磁铁橄长岩和橄榄辉长岩组成,主要工业矿体赋存在下部的橄长岩岩相带中。显微镜下显示橄榄石和角闪石均存在2种不同的结构状态,岩浆具有多次脉动的侵位特点。矿物结构特点及磁铁矿、钛铁矿、橄榄石、角闪石及斜长石等矿物电子探针成分测定显示,矿物的结晶顺序大致为斜长石+橄榄石+辉石→角闪石+磁铁矿+钛铁矿→角闪石。根据角闪石和斜长石成分计算角闪石最低结晶温度为1090℃,斜长石的最高结晶温度是1120℃,推测磁铁矿的结晶温度介于1090~1120℃之间。橄榄石的Fo值由下部的磁铁橄长岩向上部的橄榄辉长岩呈逐渐降低的变化趋势,表明随着岩浆的结晶分异进程,系统的氧逸度是逐步变化的,暗示整个结晶分异过程系统处于封闭状态。磁铁矿中w(V2O3)变化于0.72%~1.37%之间,可近似看成是岩浆演化过程氧逸度较低的量化标志(FMQ+0.5),这种低氧逸度条件下硅酸盐矿物的结晶,会导致粒间熔体氧逸度逐步升高且成分向着富Fe的方向演化。岩浆的这种成分演化特点,是晚期形成不混溶熔浆及富Fe-Ti矿浆的主要原因。     

Neoichnology and implications for stratigraphy of reworked Upper Oligocene oysters,Antigua, West Indies

The Late Oligocene oyster Hyotissa antiguensis (Brown) is locally common in the Antigua Formation of Hughes Point, eastern Antigua, Lesser Antilles; it was not commonly bored at that time. Its valves and shells are robust, and reworked into the shallow water near-shore environment in Antigua; it could potentially be incorporated into younger rocks. Its neoichnology includes clues that would facilitate identification of these oysters as reworked fossils. The suite of modern borings found in these specimens includes common Caulostrepsis taeniola Clarke, Gastrochaenolites isp. cf. G. turbinatus Kelly and Bromley and Entobia isp., and rare Oichnus simplex Bromley and Rogerella? isp. The latter three taxa are limited to oyster shell substrates. Of the common ichnotaxa, Caulostrepsis and Gastrochaenolites are particularly prominent in limestone clasts and limestone cemented to oyster shells, which would be an indicator of reworking if found in a post-Oligocene lithified deposit. Caulostrepsis and Gastrochaenolites are relatively less common in oyster shells and valves, and in many specimens are seen to terminate against the shell. Entobia is the only common boring limited to the shell substrate. The fidelity of preservation of modern borings is also superior in limestone clasts. This suite of borings is comparable with those found in the Neogene of the Antillean region.     

Vegetation and climate change on the Bolivian Altiplano between 108,000 and 18,000 yr ago

A 90,000-yr record of environmental change before 18,000 cal yr B.P. has been constructed using pollen analyses from a sediment core obtained from Salar de Uyuni (3653 m above sea level) on the Bolivian Altiplano. The sequence consists of alternating mud and salt, which reflect shifts between wet and dry periods. Low abundances of aquatic species between 108,000 and 50,000 yr ago (such as Myriophyllum and Isoëtes) and marked fluctuations in Pediastrum suggest generally dry conditions dominated by saltpans. Between 50,000 yr ago and 36,000 cal yr B.P., lacustrine sediments become increasingly dominant. The transition to the formation of paleolake “Minchin” begins with marked rises in Isoëtes and Myriophyllum, suggesting a lake of moderate depth. Similarly, between 36,000 and 26,000 cal yr B.P., the transition to paleolake Tauca is also initiated by rises in Isoëtes and Myriophyllum; the sustained presence of Isoëtes indicates the development of flooded littoral communities associated with a lake maintained at a higher water level. Polylepis tarapacana-dominated communities were probably an important component of the Altiplano terrestrial vegetation during much of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and previous wet phases.     

Teredolites Leymerie in the Lower Greensand Group (Cretaceous) of the Isle of Wight and the problematic ichnology of reworked clasts

Nineteenth-century references to clavate borings in woody substrates in the Lower Greensand of the Isle of Wight used a variety of names, but Teredo (a wood-boring bivalve, not a boring), Teredolithes (a junior synonym of Teredolites) and Gastrochaena (a bivalve borer of rock and shelly substrates, not a boring in wood) are all nomenclatorially incorrect. Borings in a beach clast derived from the Lower Greensand Group and recently collected from Sandown Bay, Isle of Wight, are referred to Teredolites isp. cf. T. longissimus Kelly and Bromley. This specimen confirms the presence of Teredolites in the Lower Greensand Group and demonstrates a common ichnological problem of beach clasts; borings, either fossil or modern, are incompletely preserved, making confident classification below the level of ichnogenus problematic.     

The Olduvai buffalo Pelorovis and the origin of Bos

The origin of the genus Bos is a debated issue. From ∼ 0.5 Ma until historic times, the genus is well known in the Eurasian large mammal assemblages, where it is represented by Bos primigenius. This species has a highly derived cranial anatomy that shows important morphological differences from other Plio-Pleistocene Eurasian genera of the tribe Bovini such as Leptobos, Bison, Proamphibos-Hemibos, and Bubalus. The oldest clear evidence of Bos is the skull fragment ASB-198-1 from the middle Pleistocene (∼ 0.6-0.8 Ma) site of Asbole (Lower Awash Valley, Ethiopia). The first appearance of Bos in Europe is at the site of Venosa-Notarchirico, Italy (∼ 0.5-0.6 Ma). Although the origin of Bos has traditionally been connected with Leptobos and Bison, after a detailed anatomical and morphometric study we propose here a different origin, connecting the middle Pleistocene Eurasian forms of B. primigenius with the African Late Pliocene and early Pleistocene large size member of the tribe Bovini Pelorovis sensu stricto. The dispersal of the Bos lineage in Western Europe during middle Pleistocene times seems to coincide with the arrival of the Acheulean tool technology in this continent.     

New palaeontological data from the organic-rich layers of the Bathonian of the Grands Causses (France)

The palaeontological content (charophytes and vertebrates) of organic-rich layers from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of the Grands Causses at Mostuéjouls (Aveyron, France) has been examined. It is rich in gyrogonites of Porochara douzensis. The vertebrates of the lower layer include a single hybodontiform tooth, “semionotiform” teeth and scales, and one pycnodontiform tooth whereas the upper layer has yielded one hybodontiform tooth, a variety of actinopterygian remains (mostly Caturus sp. and indeterminate pycnodontiforms) and a few possible reptile remains. The variation in fauna between the two layers is ascribed to a different degree of marine influence.     

Geochemistry and metamorphic evolution of the Pohorje Mountain eclogites from the easternmost Austroalpine basement of the Eastern Alps (Northern Slovenia)

Kyanite-rich and quartz-rich eclogites occur as lenses within amphibolite-facies quartzo-feldspathic gneisses in the Pohorje Mountains, Northern Slovenia, that form the easternmost Austroalpine basement. Major and trace elements indicate that the kyanite-rich eclogites were derived from plagioclase-rich gabbroic cumulates, whereas the quartz-rich eclogites represent more fractionated basaltic compositions. Both varieties are characterized by a LREE-depleted N-MORB type REE signature. Geothermobarometry and P-T pseudosections indicate that eclogites equilibrated at 1.8-2.5 GPa and 630-700 °C, consistently with the lack of coesite and with equilibration conditions of the chemically similar eclogites from the adjacent basement units at Koralpe and Saualpe type localities. Decompression reaction textures include (i) clinopyroxene-plagioclase intergrowths after omphacite, (ii) replacement of kyanite by corundum-plagioclase-spinel±sapphirine symplectites, (iii) breakdown of phengite to biotite-plagioclase sapphirine symplectites. The results of this study indicate that Koralpe, Saualpe and Pohorje high-pressure rocks represent former MORB-type oceanic crust that was subducted in the course of the late Cretaceous (approximately 100 Ma ago) collision between the European and the Apulian plates.     

Dynamic early Holocene vegetation development on the Faroe Islands inferred from high-resolution plant macrofossil and pollen data

Vegetation dynamics during the earliest part of the Holocene (11,250-10,250 cal yr BP) have been reconstructed from a lacustrine sequence on Sandoy, the Faroe Islands, using detailed plant macrofossil and pollen evidence. The plant macrofossils suggest the initial vegetation was sparse herb and shrub tundra, with Salix herbacea and open-ground species, followed by the development of a denser and more species-rich arctic heathland after 11,150 cal yr BP. Despite high pollen values for Betula nana, macrofossils are rare. The bulk of the macrofossils recorded are S. herbacea and Empetrum leaves with numerous herb taxa and an abundance of Racomitrium moss. Conditions start to change around 10,800 cal yr BP, with increased catchment erosion and sediment delivery to the lake from ca. 10,600 cal yr BP, and a transition to alternating Cyperaceae and Poaceae communities between ca. 10,450 and 10,250 cal yr BP. This vegetation change, which has been recorded throughout the Faroes, has previously been interpreted as a retrogressive shift from woody shrubs to a herbaceous community. The detailed plant macrofossil data show the shift is the replacement of an Empetrum arctic heathland by grassland and moist sedge communities. These taxa dominate the modern landscape.     

Accumulation patterns of Cu and Ni for Indigofera melanadenia and Tephrosia longipes plant species growing in Cu–Ni mining area in Botswana

Indigofera melanadenia and Tephrosia longipes plant species, collected from Cu–Ni mining area, were evaluated for accumulation of Cu and Ni. The total and bioavailable concentrations of Cu and Ni in the host soils were also determined. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was used for all metal determinations. The total and bioavailable concentrations of Cu in the soils were in the range 900–9000 μg/g and 200–2000 μg/g respectively. For Ni, the total and bioavailable concentrations were in the range 900–2000 μg/g and ∼ 40–100 μg/g respectively. The concentrations of Cu and Ni in the leaves of I. melanadenia were higher than in the roots with a range 80–130 μg/g in the leaves and 20–80 μg/g in the roots for Cu and a range of 150–200 μg/g in the leaves and 20–60 μg/g in the roots for Ni. Concentration of Cu in T. longipes was in the range of 37–240 μg/g and 150–200 μg/g in the leaves and roots respectively while the concentration of Ni was 80–140 μg/g in the leaves and 25–100 μg/g in the roots. Results indicate that both species have a potential for accumulating Cu and Ni. Translocation factor, a ratio of shoots to roots metal concentration, was used to evaluate the translocation properties of the plants from roots to shoots. Translocation factors of the plants were ≥ 1 suggesting efficient translocation of metals from roots to shoots.     

Latest Pleistocene paleoecology of Jefferson's ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii) and elk-moose (Cervalces scotti) in northern Illinois

New records of Jefferson's ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii) and elk-moose (Cervalces scotti) from Lang Farm provide the first precise temporal correlation of these taxa with the specific environments inhabited by them near the time of their extinction. Six AMS ¹⁴C measurements establish an age of 11,405 ± 50 ¹⁴C yr B.P. for Lang Farm Cervalces and an age of 11,430 ± 60 or 11,485 ± 40 ¹⁴C yr B.P. for the Megalonyx. These measurements represent the youngest ¹⁴C dates for these two genera based on direct dating. Comparison of the dates with pollen data from northern Illinois indicates that these species inhabited a nonanalog environment that was transitional from mid-latitude tundra to mixed conifer and deciduous woodland. Although spruce (Picea sp.) was dominant, it was less abundant than prior to 12,500 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The presence of black ash (Fraxinus nigra) and fir (Abies sp.) indicates a wet climate and heavy winter precipitation. This may have been the preferred habitat for Cervalces because of its narrow geographic range. However, this habitat type was only one of many occupied by Megalonyx as indicated by its broad geographic distribution.