Hydraulic control of grain-size distributions in a macrotidal estuary

The Avon River estuary of Nova Scotia was studied with the intention of analysing the relations between grain-size distributions and hydraulics. The Avon is macrotidal; tidal ranges up to 15·6 m generate tidal currents up to 1·7 m s^?1. Maximum current speed increases from the mouth (seaward end) to the head (shoreward end) of the estuary. Mean grain size decreases from the estuary mouth to the head. Thus, there is an inverse relationship between mean grain size and current speed. Consequently, textural parameters do not directly reflect hydraulic conditions. Graphical dissection of cumulative frequency curves into their component grain populations reveals a large coarse population at the estuary mouth that is absent at the head. There are several relationships between hydraulics and cumulative curves. Shields’ criterion predicts that all sediment in the system can be transported so that the large coarse population at the estuary mouth is not a lag. Local maximum shear velocity nearly equals the settling velocity of the grain size at the boundary of the coarse (C) and intermediate (A) grain populations. This has been previously interpreted to signifiy a transition from traction to intermittent suspension transport, and implies that the C population is a function of traction and that the A population is related to intermittent suspension (Middleton, 1976). Each grain population is transported at a different rate; suspended grains travel almost an order of magnitude faster than grains moved by traction according to Einstein's transport formula. Sediment transport paths in the estuary were determined from bedform migration directions and the computed net sediment transport per tidal cycle using Engelund and Hansen's formula. The areal distribution of the transport paths, combined with the differential transport rates of each grain population, produces hydraulic sorting. Hydraulic sorting causes coarse sediment to be excluded from the estuary head and creates the inverse relationship between current speed and mean grain size.     

长江中游网湖沉积物重金属元素变化特征分析

在放射性核素¹³⁷Cs和²¹⁰Pb精确计年的基础上,建立了长江中游网湖近代沉积物年代序列。通过对沉积物中金属元素含量和粒度的测定,结合相关的文献资料,分析了100多年来网湖沉积物中重金属元素的垂直分布特征、物源变化,以及自然因素和人类活动对其的影响,最后采用地累积指数法和潜在生态危害指数法进行了重金属污染评价。研究结果表明：  20世纪50年代以前,人类活动对重金属元素沉积影响不大,重金属元素含量低于或接近参考的背景值,主要表现为自然沉积。其中1920～1950年间,流域高频率的洪灾使网湖沉积物中粘土物质减少,战乱和血吸虫病造成阳新县工农业生产衰退,人口急剧下降,受此影响沉积物中重金属含量出现了一段低谷。50年代以后,随着人口的增长、经济的速猛发展,尤其是矿产开发和大规模的水利工程建设,流域水土流失加重,大量陆源物质进入湖泊,使Cu,Ti,Mn,Zn,Co,Fe和Pb含量增加。重金属污染评价结果表明：  100多年来网湖总体上污染较轻,主要污染元素为Pb;   Cu和Zn在60年代后出现轻度污染;   Mn在沉积物表层出现轻度污染。目前,网湖RI=40.83,生态风险较小,但作为水生生物的养殖基地,中国重要的湿地保护区,其重金属污染问题应引起有关方面的关注,以防患于未然。     

Seasonal impact on beach morphology and the status of heavy mineral deposition – central Tamil Nadu coast,India

The aim of the present research was to investigate the seasonal impact on nearshore beach dynamics and the status of heavy mineral distribution along central Tamil Nadu coast, India. Beach profile measurements were made in 10 profiling sites between Thirukadaiyur and Velankanni on monthly and seasonal basis from January 2011 to July 2012. Using beach profile data, variation in beach width, slope and volumetric changes have been calculated. Beach slope and nearshore wave parameters were used to quantify the longshore sediment transport rate. Beaches between Thirukadaiyur and Karaikkal attained predominant transport rate in northern direction whereas, the rest of the beaches are in southern direction. The seasonal action of wind and wave currents create nearshore bar during northeast (NE) monsoon and frequent berms at tidal zone during southwest (SW) monsoon. Surface sediment samples were collected in each location for quantifying the heavy mineral weight percentage during the period of pre- and post-Thane cyclone. Sediments were also studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to evaluate the changes and occurrence of heavy minerals in beach sands. The XRD results show that sediments in the study area have enriched heavy mineral distribution even after strong cyclonic event. It confirms the redistribution of heavy mineral deposits present in the coast. The results suggested that monsoonal action has influenced the seasonal changes in beach morphology and it does not affect the heavy mineral distribution.     

珠江口表层沉积物的重矿物分析

本文研究了珠江口表层沉积物中约200个样品的矿物,着重分析重矿物的组合、含量变化,形态特征等,把珠江口重矿物的平面分布划为五个重矿物区。指出珠江口为现代陆源物质充填的河口湾,沉积环境控制了重矿物的特征、分布及分区,重矿物沉积过程的规律性,可供寻找地质时期和现代的浅海(古滨海)砂矿借鉴。     

Detrital transport of metals by glaciers, an example from the Pinchi Mine, central British Columbia

 Abundant cinnabar (HgS) mineralization is associated with the Pinchi Fault in central British Columbia. Two formerly producing mercury mines have been developed on this fault: Pinchi and Bralorne Takla. The mercury content of till (a sediment type directly deposited by glaciers) in the area of this fault is primarily controlled by the occurrence of cinnabar mineralization in bedrock and the direction of ice flow. Cinnabar-bearing bedrock was eroded by glaciers, transported in the direction of ice flow, and deposited "down-ice" from its source. An example of such a dispersal train is documented for the Pinchi Mine area where mercury ore was transported over a distance of 12 km, as measured in the clay-sized fraction (< 0.002 mm) of till, and could have been transported over 24 km according to heavy mineral concentrates (specific gravity >3.3) of this same sediment. Antimony, chromium, and nickel dispersal trains were also detected in the region. These data indicate that natural glacial processes can result in the "mobilization" of metals in the surficial environment, a factor which has to be considered at mine sites in glaciated terrain, where mine reclamation and remediation measures are now required. Received: 31 October 1996 · Accepted: 27 May 1997     

Distribution and dispersion of gold in point bar and pavement sediments of the Huai Hin Laep, Loei, northeastern Thailand

Gold anomalies in drainage sediments are often erratic, reflecting both the nugget effect and hydraulic effects whereby gold is concentrated at favorable sites along a stream. This study investigates these factors in a stream in northeastern Thailand.Bulk sediment samples, consisting of approximately 40 kg of −12 mm material, were collected from bar and pavement sites along an 8 km study reach. Samples were wet sieved into eight size fractions. The five fractions between 425 μm and 53 μm were then processed to obtain heavy mineral concentrates (SG > 3.3). Gold content of all size and density fractions finer than 425 μm was determined by fire assay-atomic absorption.Concentrations of Au in the heavy mineral concentrates typically range from 10,000 to 50,000 ppb (maximum 198,000 ppb), whereas the corresponding light mineral fractions and the −53 μm fraction generally contain <5 ppb gold. Within the heavy mineral fractions concentrations of Au generally increase downstream away from their supposed source and are higher at pavement than at point bar sites. Variations in abundance of gold between point bar sites can be related to stream characteristics (such as width, velocity and bed roughness) that are indicative of changing energy conditions and of the ability of the stream to winnow light minerals from its bed.The estimated median number of gold particles in the heavy mineral concentrates increase from less than one in the 212–425 μm fraction to about three in the 53–106 μm size range. However, because of dilution by the light mineral and −53 μm fractions, the probability of a 30 g analytical sub-sample containing a particle of gold is so low that in thirteen out of sixteen −149 μm sediment samples no gold was detected. Insofar as this results from dilution by large quantities of −53 μm sediment, failure of conventional sieved sediment samples to reliably detect the anomaly is probably a consequence of increased erosion caused by deforestation and land usage.Heavy mineral concentrates from pavement and other high energy sites are more reliable than conventional sediment samples for detecting gold anomalies of the Huai Hin Laep type. A low sample density is adequate but, because anomaly contrast may increase downstream, careful interpretation is required.     

顺直河道中沉积物的粒度及重矿物分布规律--室内大型水槽实验

大型室内水槽重复实验表明,在顺直河道中,分选作用导致了从上游至下游表层沉积物粒径变细、重矿物含量增加。不同河床微地形对重矿物的富集能力不同。在平面上,深槽和浅滩迎水坡为重矿物富集区。在剖面上,则存在表层富集层、埋藏富集层和残留富集层三种富矿层。重矿物在河道中的富集规律表明。侵蚀作用在重矿物富集过程中扮演着重要色。     

Platinum and palladium stream-sediment geochemistry downstream from PGE-bearing ultramafics, West Andriamena area, Madagascar

Several pilot studies were made in a PGE-mineralized area of central Madagascar in order to compare Pt,Pd halos in heavy mineral concentrates and to select the most suitable stream-sediment fractions, sampling densities and anomaly thresholds for regional PGE surveys. Results show low anomaly thresholds for Pt (30 ppb) and Pd (20 ppb) in the −63 μm fractions of the active sediment, with restricted halos of nearly 300 m for Pt and nearly 500 m for Pd. Using a slightly coarser fraction (−125 μm) increases the anomaly contrast. The Pt anomalies in heavy mineral pan concentrates are considerably enhanced (400–1,000 ppb) but occur further downstream in residual terraces. A regular increase in the weight of the heavy mineral concentrate for a given volume of sediment is noticed downstream. A simple weight correction of the raw Pt grade in the heavy mineral concentrate gives a better definition of the mineralized source upstream. Assessment of the corrected heavy mineral concentrate Pt anomalies together with Pt,Pd anomalies in the finest stream-sediment fraction produces the optimum definition of the target. Optical determination and scanning electron microscope studies of the PGM show sperrylite to be the major Pt-bearing mineral in the stream sediment, whereas the Pd mineralogy remains unresolved. Pt dispersion appears to be a predominantly mechanical process and Pd dispersion a chemical process with deposition controlled mainly by MnO scavenging.     

Chloritoid in the bottom sediments of the Akademichesky Ridge of Lake Baikal,an indicator of eolian transportation

We present results of study of Holocene and Late Pleistocene deposits recovered on the underwater Akademichesky Ridge in Lake Baikal. The change in mineral composition and grain size in the bottom sediment core is closely consistent with the change of major diatom complexes marking the Holocene–Late Pleistocene boundary. A high content of chloritoid (up to 14.6%) has been found among the heavy minerals of the sand fraction of Late Pleistocene clays. The concentration of chloritoid in Holocene mud is no higher than 1.2%. The source of chloritoid is chloritoid shales of the Anaya Formation (Upper Proterozoic), widespread in the watershed of the Primorsky Ridge in the upper reaches of the Lena and Anaya Rivers. Chloritoid was transported to the area of the Akademichesky Ridge by predominant western and northwestern winds, which is also evidenced from the absence of mechanical impacts on the surface of its grains. The high contents of chloritoid in the Late Pleistocene sediments are due to the more intense eolian transportation at that time as compared with the Holocene.     

Mid-Quaternary decoupling of sediment routing in the Nankai Forearc revealed by provenance analysis of turbiditic sands

Coring during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expeditions 315, 316, and 333 recovered turbiditic sands from the forearc Kumano Basin (Site C0002), a Quaternary slope basin (Site C0018), and uplifted trench wedge (Site C0006) along the Kumano Transect of the Nankai Trough accretionary wedge offshore of southwest Japan. The compositions of the submarine turbiditic sands here are investigated in terms of bulk and heavy mineral modal compositions to identify their provenance and dispersal mechanisms, as they may reflect changes in regional tectonics during the past ca. 1.5 Myrs. The results show a marked change in the detrital signature and heavy mineral composition in the forearc and slope basin facies around 1 Ma. This sudden change is interpreted to reflect a major change in the sand provenance, rather than heavy mineral dissolution and/or diagenetic effects, in response to changing tectonics and sedimentation patterns. In the trench-slope basin, the sands older than 1 Ma were probably eroded from the exposed Cretaceous–Tertiary accretionary complex of the Shimanto Belt and transported via the former course of the Tenryu submarine canyon system, which today enters the Nankai Trough northeast of the study area. In contrast, the high abundance of volcanic lithics and volcanic heavy mineral suites of the sands younger than 1 Ma points to a strong volcanic component of sediment derived from the Izu-Honshu collision zones and probably funnelled to this site through the Suruga Canyon. However, sands in the forearc basin show persistent presence of blue sodic amphiboles across the 1 Ma boundary, indicating continuous flux of sediments from the Kumano/Kinokawa River. This implies that the sands in the older turbidites were transported by transverse flow down the slope. The slope basin facies then switched to reflect longitudinal flow around 1 Ma, when the turbiditic sand tapped a volcanic provenance in the Izu-Honshu collision zone, while the sediments transported transversely became confined in the Kumano Basin. Therefore, the change in the depositional systems around 1 Ma is a manifestation of the decoupling of the sediment routing pattern from transverse to long-distance axial flow in response to forearc high uplift along the megasplay fault.     

长江沉积物源示踪研究进展

近期物源分析方法发展较快,包括稀土元素、同位素地球化学与单颗粒碎屑矿物微区分析方法的广泛运用,以及分不同粒级组分或根据需要选择特定粒级组分进行物源分析逐渐代替了全样分析法,物源示踪效果得到明显的提高。长江作为连接青藏高原与西太平洋边缘海的最重要水系,河流沉积物从源到汇的现代与历史过程备受关注。长江沉积物源示踪研究进展包括:①建立和运用河流入海沉积物示踪端元模型,定性或定量地分析长江沉积物在海域的扩散与沉积分布规律,倾向于运用细颗粒组分矿物学、元素与同位素地球化学等方法,研究程度较高,今后需注意各端元值的时空变化,及受沉积过程的分异作用与早期成岩作用的影响;②建立和运用不同支流的物源示踪模型,研究晚新生代以来长江水系的演化历史,倾向于运用粗颗粒组分的物源分析方法,尤其是单颗粒碎屑矿物微区分析。由于长江流域面积巨大、区域地质复杂,建立支流域的精细物源分析指纹特征尚处在探索阶段,需注意运用碎屑锆石U-Pb定年与稀土元素、Hf同位素组成的综合物源分析法。综合运用多种物源分析法于长江中下游和三角洲盆地若干钻孔地层的研究,已较好地限定长江贯通的时间约在上新世晚期—早更新世之间,但仍存在较大争议,今后需在一些关键区域开展更多的深钻研究,提高物源精细示踪的效果、晚新生代地层测年的精度,并加强钻孔间的的对比研究。     

Use of a sensitive analytical method and the silt-clay (< 53 μm) fraction of stream sediments in exploration for gold in northern Thailand

Heavy mineral concentrates (SG 3.3) from the Huai Hin Laep, a tributary of the Huai Kho Lo River in northern Thailand, contain strongly anomalous concentrations of gold. In contrast, the gold content of the associated < 149 μm and <53 μm fractions of the sediment is generally less than the 5 ppb detection limit obtained by a conventional fire assay-atomic absorption spectrometry method. To test for the presence of a gold anomaly at concentrations < 5 ppb, we have used an aqua-regia digestion followed by an Amberlite XAD-8 column preconcentration technique that, when used with a spectrometer that enables full display of the analytical spectrum to optimize baseline analysis, gives a detection limit of 0.1 ppb Au.Gold content of the < 53 μm sediment fraction ranges from 1.0 to 3.1 ppb compared to concentrations that typically range from 1000 to more than 100,000 ppb in the heavy mineral concentrates. However, despite gold concentrations in the sediment being several orders of magnitude lower than those in the heavy mineral concentrates, the downstream dispersion patterns are similar, with gold concentrations increasing at high energy sites and downstream away from the assumed source. These results identify the presence of a greatly diluted gold anomaly in the < 53 μm fraction of the sediments and suggest that transport and deposition of this fine grained gold is controlled by the same sedimentological factors that control the behavior of gold in the sand-size range, between 53 μm and 425 μm. Most important from an exploration standpoint, is that by using a sufficiently sensitive analytical method, meaningful gold dispersion patterns can be recognized at concentrations below 5 ppb.     

Stable carbon isotopic analysis of sedimentary organic matter by stepped combustion

A stepped combustion technique, incremental heating in oxygen, has been used to study the carbon isotopic composition of carbonaceous sediments. This technique can afford data on the organic matter of the sediment and can give information on the structure, namely the variations in the isotopic composition of different portions, of the kerogen. Green River shale has been used as a model material and results indicate that it contains two distinct carbonaceous components, a carbonate and kerogen. Isotopic compositions for the kerogen measured by stepped combustion closely match those obtained by normal methods following preconcentration of the kerogen by mineral removal and solvent extraction.The variation in isotopic composition with combustion temperature has been used to investigate relationships with maturity and to look at its use as a possible correlation tool.     

卵石沙洲发育与冲刷试验

沙洲是塑造分汊型河道最重要的形态因子,其发育与蚀退由于上游来水来沙变化呈现冲淤交替,从而影响分汊河道输水输沙平衡.通过单个卵石沙洲的淤积和冲刷试验,揭示不同加沙速率、粒径和来流量条件下,沙洲淤积和冲刷规律,并建立简化理论模型分析沙洲淤积速率.结果表明,4组加沙试验中,分流点后出现明显淤积下延至洲头,左汊和右汊成为输沙通道,洲尾中心线两侧的左右汊道有泥沙淤积,洲尾未出现淤积.7组清水冲刷试验中,洲头最先承受冲刷和蚀退,并沿洲体冲刷延伸,洲头冲刷的泥沙沿左右汊水流带到下游,洲尾未出现明显冲刷.卵石沙洲以洲头淤积为主导发育模式,泥沙粒径、洲头坡角和分流角是决定淤积速率的关键因子.     

Sedimentation processes in an impoundment,Union lake,New Jersey

A small (3 75 km²) impoundment. Union Lake, on the Maurice River in southern New Jersey contains fine-grained sediment and organic material being transported through the surface water system Sedimentation is slow and rates calculated from¹³⁷Cs-dated cores indicate a decrease through time from 2 6 mm/yr to 0 57 mm/yr Sediment from shallow areas (<3 m) consists of winnowed preimpoundment fluvial sand, whereas sediment from deeper areas (>3 m) is dy composed of diatoms, organic matter, and silt- and clay-sized mineral grains Sediment distribution is controlled by water moving from the river entrance southward toward the outlet and by wind-generated water motion from shallow areas fringing the shore toward deeper portions of the impoundment     

Application of CCSEM to heavy mineral deposits: Source of high-Ti ilmenite sand deposits of South Kerala beaches, SW India

For the characterization of sediments, Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM) is a powerful method in obtaining chemical data on individual mineral grains and modal analysis of the heavy mineral fraction of sediment samples. Here we show how the CCSEM method can be used to evaluate ilmenite ore grade as well as a tool to investigate the source of heavy mineral deposits.The heavy mineral rich deposits in beach sands around the town of Chavara in SW India are characterized by ilmenite with elevated TiO₂ contents, often exceeding 60 wt.%. In order to determine the origin of these high-TiO₂ ilmenite deposits, we collected a series of beach sediment samples (22) from a c. 800 km long stretch of coastline from northern Kerala state to well within the Tamil Nadu state. A set (7) of river sediments was also taken, roughly covering the catchment area to the beach samples. The data show that the sediments in the Chavara high-Ti ilmenite deposit are distinguished by minor elements in ilmenite, garnet chemistry and heavy mineral assemblage: Chavara ilmenite has high MgO and low MnO contents; garnets have low grossular components and the heavy mineral assemblage is dominated by sillimanite–kyanite in addition to ilmenite. These features correlate with basement geology in the hinterland, and with sediments from rivers, draining the basement. Based on these observations we conclude that high-Ti ilmenite from Chavara beaches originates in the khondalite belt of high-grade metasediments. Our study demonstrates rapid mineral analyses in sediments by CCSEM to be efficient in the characterization of mineral compositions and assemblages in sediments, in the identification of possible source regions and thus ultimately in exploration for industrial mineral resources.     

Development of the Côte d´Ivoire Basin: reading provenance,sediment dispersal,and geodynamic implications from heavy minerals

The combined approach of conventional and varietal heavy mineral analysis was applied to constrain changes in source rock area, dispersal routes of detritus, and geodynamic setting of the Upper Cretaceous to Neogene Côte d'Ivoire basin. The heavy mineral assemblage of Albian to Turonian sediments reflect a narrow source rock area and short transport distances. A prominent change in the heavy mineral association of Late Cenomanian to Neogene sediments indicates enlargement of source area and longer fluvial transport distances, or longer storage of sediment within the littoral energy fence. The sudden change within the heavy mineral associations marks the transition from the late syn-rift stage to the early passive margin stage of the Southern Atlantic. During Albian to Late Cenomanian time, the basin geometry was mainly controlled by steep slopes and sediments were transported directly to the depocenter. The situation changed in Late Cenomanian time. A small shelf area developed where sediments from different sources were mixed and reworked before deposition. We believe that the W-E direction of the long-shore drift, which transports today huge quantities of near-shore sand, was established at the end of the Paleogene. This resulted from the drifting of southern West Africa across the paleoequator and subsequent change in surface wind directions.     

泥沙吸附重金属污染物室内静态试验研究

从吸附反应动力学方程和质量守恒方程出发,导得室内静态试验中泥沙吸附量和水相重金属浓度随时间变化的计算公式,并得出泥沙平衡吸附量和水相平衡浓度随泥沙吸附特性、水相重金属离子初始浓度和泥沙浓度变化的计算公式。结合室内试验,认为泥沙浓度不影响吸附特性参数,如饱和吸附量b、吸附-解吸速率常数k及吸附速率系数k1.     

Controls of heavy minerals and grain size in a holocene regressive barrier (Ilha Comprida,southeastern Brazil)

Ilha Comprida is a regressive barrier island located in southeastern Brazil that was formed essentially by Quaternary sandy sediments. Ilha Comprida sediments were analyzed to assess heavy mineral indices and grain size variables. The spatial variation of heavy minerals and grain size was interpreted in terms of the present barrier dynamics and the barrier’s evolution since the Middle Holocene. These analyses allowed for the identification of the main factors and processes that control the variation of heavy minerals and grain size on the barrier. Rutile and zircon (RZi) and tourmaline and hornblende (THi) are significantly sensitive to provenance and exhibit the contributions of the Ribeira de Iguape River sediments, which reach the coast next to the northeastern end of Ilha Comprida. In addition to the influence of provenance, TZi responds mainly to hydraulic sorting processes. This agrees with a sediment transport pattern characterized by a divergence of two resultant net alongshore drifts southwest of the barrier. The sediments from the Ribeira de Iguape River reach the barrier directly through the river mouth and indirectly after temporary storage in the inner shelf. The combination of grain size and heavy mineral analyses is a reliable method for determining sediment transport patterns and provenance.     

物源—河流过程—化学风化对松花江水系沉积物重矿物组成的影响

松花江水系作为我国七大水系之一,对其沉积物组成的深入探究对揭示源区控制因素和沉积物的搬运—沉积过程具有重要意义。重矿物蕴含着源岩母岩的重要信息,是解开由源到汇过程和物源示踪的重要工具。为了评估物源、河流过程和化学风化对重矿物组成的影响,我们从松花江水系干流和支流的边滩以及阶地共取32个样品,进行分粒级(<63μm、63~125μm和125~250μm)的重矿物分析。结果表明,松花江水系源区母岩信息在嫩江各支流(诺敏河最为典型)的重矿物组成中得到很好的反映,但在嫩江干流中没有得到反映,这表明物源对重矿物组成的控制受到河流过程的影响。松花江水系的重矿物组成以角闪石、绿帘石、钛铁矿和榍石为主。河流沉积物的重矿物组成主要富集在63~125μm组分,同一河流的不同河段的重矿物组成存在显著差异(巴兰河尤为典型),表明了河流搬运—沉积过程对重矿物组成起到重要控制。哈尔滨松花江T2阶地沉积物(弱风化)的重矿物组成基本保留了现代河流砂特征,讷谟尔河T1阶地沉积物(中等风化)的重矿物受到一定程度的改造,而受到严重化学风化影响的通河松花江T3阶地的重矿物组成已遭受严重破坏,不稳定矿物(角闪石和辉石)以及蕴含的母岩信息已完全消失,表明了重矿物组成明显受到沉积物化学风化程度的影响。由于源—汇过程中重矿物的混合和由此导致的稀释作用,使得沉积物携带的物源信息经过长距离搬运之后逐渐变得模糊。因此,我们认为,在进行河流重矿物源—汇过程研究中,宽粒度分析窗口和足够多的样品数量需要考虑以充分获取源区完整的重矿物组成信息。同时,在利用河流阶地重矿物组成进行源—汇联系和古水系演化研究时,需要首先评估阶地沉积物的化学风化程度。