Rare earth elements in sediments of the China continental shelf

Determination of the concentrations of, 15 rare earth elements (REE) in China continental shelf sediments by X-ray fluorescent spectral analysis of selected representative sediment samples showed that REE concentration in the sediments is 156 ppm, similar to that in China loess and Fujian granite, but different from that in Pacific sediments. The shelf REE have the characteristic distribution pattern of typical continental crust REE and evidently philo-continental property. The above findings suggest that weathered materials transported from the China continent are the main source of the REE in China continental shelf sediments. Experiments show that REE exist mainly in the crystal lattices of clay minerals (<2μ) as isomorphs and that REE have close relation with most elements (Al, Ti, K, Rb, Fe, etc.) related with clay minerals, but have negative correlation with the biophile elements Ca and Sr. Contribution No. 1520 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.     

Geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal sediments from Iheya North Knoll in the Okinawa Trough

Thirty sediment subsamples were recovered from the Iheya North hydrothermal field(with an average of 38 m away from the hydrothermal vent) in the middle Okinawa Trough.Samples were obtained by the ROV(Remote Operated Vehicle) Faxian during the virgin cruise of the R/V Kexue in 2014 with the application of push cores.The chemical compositions of the sediments show that the hydrothermal sediments near the hydrothermal vent are mainly composed of SO_3,ZnO and Fe_2O_3.Moreover,the hydrothermal sediments are also highly enriched in Pb,As,Sb,Hg,Se,Ag,Ba,Mo and Cd comparing with previous analysis results.On the other hand,the concentrations of Sr,Hg and Ag in studied sediments are strongly and positively correlated,these elements can be used as an hydrothermal indicator.In addition,a factor analysis of the sediments suggested that the sediments were mainly influenced by hydrothermal origin,and terrestrial and biogenic input are limited in studied area.It is also suggested that different stages of crystallization were involved in the formation of hydrothermal chimney from factor analysis.     

滨州海岸带土壤和海底沉积物重金属空间分布特征

通过对滨州近海海域海底沉积物测试数据及海岸带陆域土壤地球化学分析,对滨州海岸带陆域土壤和海底沉积物中7种重金属(Hg,Cd,Pb,Cu,Zn,Cr,Ni)的空间分布特征进行了研究,并绘制了各指标含量陆海联合分区图。分析结果表明,滨州市海岸带重金属元素含量基本上均低于国标规定的海洋一类沉积物的最高标准,仅有个别元素含量超过一级标准值,表明局部存在一定的重金属污染。从滨州海岸带重金属含量空间分布上来看,除Hg元素外,其余重金属元素含量呈现一定的规律,基本上陆域含量高于海域含量,且大部分元素都呈现出陆域城镇值高,郊区值低的态势。区内化工企业较发达,Ni,Cr属于中度变异区,Cd,Hg,Pb属于高度变异,受人为影响因素较大,考虑区内土壤及海底沉积物重金属富集主要来源于工业"三废"。     

Properties and organic activation of ocean clay in the East Pacific

In order to make use of ocean clay reasonably and excavate its potential applications the properties of ocean clay in Chinese investigating area of the East Pacific have been tested with the chemical analysis, XRFS, ICP/MAS, granulometry and SSA, etc. The results show that the clay sediments of this area are rich in clay minerals, fine granularity, bigger SSA, bigger water absorbability and lower ion changing ability etc. To improve the adaptability of ocean clay and macromolecule materials, using the dry milling method with silane, aluminate, stearic acid coupling agents etc the properties of ocean clay are improved. The effect has been evaluated by testing the water absorbing of the modified ocean clay and their dispersing in paraffin liquid. The result is that KH550 is better than any other active reagents, and the best activation technics is that 1.5% (volume) of KH550 quantity, 20min of milling time. The DTA, XRD, SEM and IR analyses and SSA testing show that the organic activation can not change the mineral structure but can densify the structure of clay, and activation mechanism is chemical covered mainly and chemical combined secondly.     

Properties and organic activation of ocean clay in the East Pacific

In order to make use of ocean clay reasonably and excavate its potential applications the properties of ocean clay in Chinese investigating area of the East Pacific have been tested with the chemical analysis, XRFS, ICP/MAS, granulometry and SSA, etc. The results show that the clay sediments of this area are rich in clay minerals, fine granularity, bigger SSA, bigger water absorbability and lower ion changing ability etc. To improve the adaptability of ocean clay and macromolecule materials, using the dry milling method with silane, aluminate, stearic acid coupling agents etc the properties of ocean clay are improved. The effect has been evaluated by testing the water absorbing of the modified ocean clay and their dispersing in paraffin liquid. The result is that KH550 is better than any other active reagents, and the best activation technics is that 1.5 % （volume） of KH550 quantity, 20min of milling time. The DTA, XRD, SEM and IR analyses and SSA testing show that the organic activation can not change the mineral structure but can densify the structure of clay, and activation mechanism is chemical covered mainly and chemical combined secondly.     

东亚季风区石笋δ18O解译:基于夏季风与夏季风降雨的思考

近些年,对于东亚季风区石笋δ18O的气候环境指示意义的争论较多,主要在东亚季风区石笋δ18O代表夏季和风强度、夏季风降水还是水汽源变化。基于中国东部华北地区降水与长江中下游地区降水反相变化和长江中下游地区降水与菲律宾海降水反相变化(遥相关),从年际-年代际到千年-轨道尺度对石笋δ18O与夏季风降水、厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(ENSO)的相互关系进行了探讨分析。通过对比石笋δ18O记录与华北和梅雨区降水,发现石笋δ18O偏负对应华北降水增加,梅雨区降水减少;石笋δ18O偏正对应华北降水减少,梅雨区降水增加。这种对应关系不仅存在年际-年代际尺度,而且在千年-轨道尺度同样存在,石笋δ18O不仅反映夏季风强弱变化,同时与中国东部区域降水关系是明确对应的。通过降水的空间相互关系,发现ENSO活动主要通过影响中国东部降水的空间分布格局而作用于石笋δ18O。La Ni?a态导致南海及菲律宾海对流加强,西太副高位置偏北,长江中下游地区梅雨期缩短,华北夏季降水增加,东亚季风区石笋δ18O偏负。El Ni?o态,南海和菲律宾海对流受到抑制,西太副高位置南移,长江中下游地区梅雨期延长,华北夏季降水减少,东亚季风区石笋δ18O偏正。另外,水汽源分析发现,菲律宾海水汽输送对东亚季风区降水及降水δ18O贡献相对较小。因此,综合分析认为,东亚季风区石笋δ18O主要反映了亚洲夏季风的强弱变化。      

东太平洋CC区多金属结核铂族元素(PGEs)的特征及其意义

为了研究多金属结核的成矿机理,对中国大洋第45航次在东太平洋CC区（Clarion-Clipperton zone）所获得的20枚多金属结核进行了主量、微量及铂族元素分析测试,并与其他区域不同类型的多金属结核进行了对比。结果表明,研究区多金属结核基本为混合型结核,其PGEs总质量分数（w（ΣPGE））为77.2×10-9~197×10-9,平均值为136×10-9,明显低于库克（Cook）岛海域典型的水成型结核的值（w（ΣPGE）=306×10-9）;研究区结核球粒陨石标准化PGEs配分模式与水成型结核及富钴结壳非常相似,均呈现明显的Pt正异常及从Os到Pt逐渐富集、从Pt到Pd逐渐亏损的特征,结合海水的PGEs配分特征及前人研究结果,表明结核中PGEs应该直接来源于海水;研究区多金属结核w（ΣPGE）与w（Fe₂O₃）表现为正相关,与w（MnO）表现为负相关,而Cook岛海域水成型结核w（ΣPGEs）则与w（MnO）表现为正相关,与w（Fe₂O₃）表现为负相关,表明不同成因类型的多金属结核PGEs的赋存载体有所不同,水成型结核中PGEs主要赋存在锰矿物相中,而混合-成岩型结核则主要赋存在铁矿物相中,且成岩作用越强,结核富集PGEs的能力越低。研究成果对于东太平洋多金属结核成矿机理及其赋存载体研究有一定的指示意义。      

Florogeography of mire plants in southern part of qinghai-xizang plateau and its adjacent areas

The southern part of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and its adjacent area are rich in mire flora. There are 51 families, 101 genera and 220 species. The geographical compositions of this region are very complex, consisting of the following-geographical elements: tropic-subtropic elements approximating to 8.33% of the entire flora in the region, tropic-temperate elements 22.71%, temperate elements 43.18%, cosmopolitan elements 9.85%, the Qinghai-Xizang endemic elements 14.39%, north polemountain elements 1.51%. Temperate elements in this region are dominant. The dominant species of mires, Carex lasiocarpa, in this region is also found in northeast China, Finland and North America. The origin of mires of this region is earlier than northeast China and Finland. This shows that the southern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its adjacent areas may be the centre of the origin and distribution of temperate elements.     

Sea surface height variations in the Mindanao Dome region in response to the northern tropical Pacific winds

Sea surface height (SSH) variability in the Mindanao Dome (MD) region is found to be one of the strong variations in the northern Pacific. It is only weaker than that in the Kuroshio Extension area, and is comparable to that in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent region. Based on a 1.5-layer reduced gravity model, we analyzed SSH variations in this region and their responses to northern tropical Pacific winds. The average SSH anomaly in the region varies mainly on a seasonal scale, with significant periods of 0.5 and 1 year, ENSO time scale2-7years, and time scale in excess of 8 years. Annual and long-term variabilities are comparably stronger. These variations are essentially a response to the northern tropical Pacific winds. On seasonal and ENSO time scales, they are mainly caused by wind anomalies east of the region, which generate westward-propagating, long Rossby waves. On time scales longer than 8 years, they are mostly induced by local Ekman pumping. Long-term SSH variations in the MD region and their responses to local winds are examined and discussed for the first time .     

Variations in rare earth elements with environmental factors in lake surface sediments from 17 lakes in western China

Numerous lakes in western China are excellent sites for understanding environmental change. However, what dominates rare earth element(REE) variations are still under debate in the lake environmental research. In this study, we selected 28 surface sediment samples from 17 lakes(i.e. largescale lakes, small water bodies, etc.) in the QinghaiTibet Plateau and Xinjiang area. These samples were analyzed to reveal the behavior of the REEs and major elements. These REE patterns are characterized by light rare earth element(LREE) enrichment, weak Ce anomaly(0.84-0.98, 0.94 on average) and negative Eu anomaly(0.53-1.00, 0.67 on average). The homogeneous REE patterns may reflect similar REE of the source lithologys. However, the REE abundances showed some significant differences. In this study, water chemistry data analyses inferred that the highly REE values appear possibly in the saltwater lake, and also related to carbonate mineral, whereas p H played a minor role in REE concentrations. In large-scale lakes(e.g. Lake Bosten and Lake Ulungur), the results showed that the relatively larger REE values are in the margins of lakes. Moreover, lower REE contents are towards the central region. Comprehensive study suggested that five major factors control the REE contents:(1) The REE tends to increase with the increase of the weathering intensity.(2) Likewise, heavy mineral(i.e. rutile, anatase, zircon, etc.) are probably primary in these sediments because they are highly enriched in the REE.(3) The contribution of Fe-Mn oxides is significant in sediments because their concentrations highly correlate with the REE.(4) The carbonate mineral(mainly calcite) played a significant role on the REE values in the lakes because the REEs are incorporated into the carbonate minerals generating the low REE concentrations.(5) Major element analysis, mineral analysis, and grain-size data analysis showed that the REE distribution is chiefly influenced by finer grain-size component of lake sediments due to the decreasing proportion of quartz and feldspar than coarser one. Moreover, the clay minerals in finer grain-size sediments can highly absorb the REE.     

Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean

The relationship of the interannual variability of the transport and bifurcation latitude of the North Equatorial Current (NEC) to the El Ni o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is investigated. This is done through composite analysis of sea surface height (SSH) observed by satellite altimeter during October 1992-July 2009, and correspondingly derived sea surface geostrophic currents. During El Nio/La Ni a years, the SSH in the tropical North Pacific Ocean falls/rises, with maximum changes in the region 0-15°N, 130°E-160°E. The decrease/increase in SSH induces a cyclonic/anticyclonic anomaly in the western tropical gyre. The cyclonic/anticyclonic anomaly in the gyre results in an increase/decrease of NEC transport, and a northward/southward shift of the NEC bifurcation latitude near the Philippine coast. The variations are mainly in response to anomalous wind forcing in the west-central tropical North Pacific Ocean, related to ENSO events.     

Clay minerals and geochemistry of the bottom sediments in the northwestern East China Sea

Clay minerals of 34 sediments collected from the northwestern continental shelf of the East China Sea have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The clay mineral distribution is mainly controlled by the sediment source and the dominant circulation pattern. The predominant clay mineral in our study area is illite comprising more than 67% of the whole clay fraction. The highest concentration of illite (>68%) is found in the southeastern offshore parts beyond the reach of terrigenous input from the Jeju Island. It means that these illites are largely transported by the Kuroshio Current from the South China Sea (SCS). Smectite is highly concentrated in the northwest middle part and in the outer-shelf mud patch. It seems to be due to the high supply of smectite transported from China where fine-grained sediments are discharged from modern and ancient Huanghe (Yellow) River. The relatively high abundant kaolinite is likely derived from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River via the Taiwan Warm Current. In contrast, large amounts of chlorite and high chlorite/kaolinite ratios occur in the northwestern area, reflecting the transportation by the Yellow Sea Coastal Current from the southern Yellow Sea. The discrimination diagrams clearly show that the sediments in the northwestern East China Sea are ultimately sourced from Chinese rivers, especially from the Huanghe River, whereas the sediment in the northeast part might come from the Jeju Island. The muddy sediments of the Changjiang River’s submerged delta have much lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.716 2–0.718 0) than those of the Shandong Peninsular mud wedge (0.721 6–0.724 9), which are supposed to be originated from the Huanghe River, suggesting the distribution pattern of 87Sr/86Sr ratios as a new tracer to discriminate the provenance of shelf sediments in the study area. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the outer-shelf muddy sediments ranged from 0.7169 to 0.7216 in a wide range and was between those of the Huanghe River and Changjiang River sediments, suggesting multiple sources of the sediment in the area.     

The sediments of lake on the Ardley Island, Antarctica:Identification of penguin-dropping soil Sun Liguang

During CHINARE-15(Dec. 1998 - Mar. 1999), a lake core 67. 5 cm in length, was sampled in Y2 lake, which is located on the Ardley Island, Antarctica.The concentrations of some chemical elements in Y2 lake sediments were analyzed.According to comparative research on elementary characters of sediments in Antarctic West Lake, fresh penguin dropping as well as guano soil on the Ardley Island and Pacific Island in South China Sea, it presents that the Y2 lake sediments were ameliorated by penguin dropping. The result of element cluster analysis shows that the type elements in the sediment impacted by penguin dropping include Sr, F, S,P,Ca,Se,Cu, Zn and Ba. This can provide a base for further interpreting the climatic and environmental event recorded in the sediment.     

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SEDIMENTS AND ANALYSIS OF THE CHANGJIANG ESTUARY ENVIRONMENT

Analysis of material from three 55- cm long cores collected with box corer m summer of 1988 in the Changjiang Estuary region yielded data on the sedimentation rate, granulometric composition and contents of carbonates, organic matter, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb there. Subsequent study of the data led to the conclusion that there is no obvious pollution in the region based on the absolute value of the content of heavy metals, but the region is in potential danger of being polluted as seen by the obvious increase of sedimentation flux of heavy metals to and the enrichment of them on the surface sediment during the last several years, e.g. Pb increased by 10-20μg/g, Zn by about 30μg/g, Cu by 5-10μg/g and Mn by 150μg/g.A ferromanganese redox interface was found at about 40 cm depth of sediments where Fe and Mn and associated trace metals are enriched. The trace metals such as Zn, Cu have (but Pb does not) the same source, forms, displacement mechanism and geochemical behaviours as those of Fe and Mn in t     

Mapping the resting cysts of dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella along the coast of Qinhuangdao,China

Dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is a cosmopolitan bloom-forming species with complex life cycle, the formation and germination of resting cysts are critical for its bloom dynamics. In the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao, A. catenella has been identified as the major causative agent for paralytic shellfish poisoning, but there is little knowledge concerning its resting cysts in this region. In this study, three surveys were carried out along the coast of Qinhuangdao from 2020 to 2021 to map the distribution of A. catenella resting cysts, using a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay specific for A. catenella. The resting cysts were detected in surface sediments during all the three surveys, and their distribution patterns were similar. High abundance of resting cysts (maximum 1 300 cysts/g sediment (wet weight)) were found in a region (119.62°E–119.99°E, 39.67°N–39.98°N) northeast to the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao, where surface sediments were mainly composed of clay and silt (percentage above 50%). Prior to the formation of the A. catenella bloom in March 2021, the abundance of A. catenella vegetative cells in seawater had extremely significant positive correlation with the abundance of resting cysts in surface sediments, reflecting the important role of resting cysts in the initiation of A. catenella blooms. As far as we know, this is the first report on the distribution of A. catenella cysts along the coast of Qinhuangdao. The results will offer a sound basis for the future monitoring and mitigation of toxic A. catenella blooms and paralytic shellfish poisoning events in this region.

     

The Mineral Composition and Sources of the Fine-Grained Sediments from the 49.6°E Hydrothermal Field at the SWIR

We used the X-ray diffraction method to determine systematically the mineral phases in bulk sediment samples and acid undissolved residuals of the fine-grained fraction of the surface sediments from the 49.6°E hydrothermal field at the Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR)and discussed the mineral sources of the surface sediments.The results showed that the surface sediments in this region were composed of calcareous ooze,and calcite was the dominant mineral.The sediments also contained quartz,feldspar,clay minerals,pyroxene,sphalerite,barite,serpentine,and magnetite.The quartz,feldspar,and clay minerals were exogenous minerals that mainly originated from the Namib and Kalahari deserts in southern Africa.The pyroxene,serpentine,magnetite,sphalerite,calcite,and barite were endogenous minerals from weathering of seafloor basement rocks and seafloor hydrothermal activities.The sulfide particles in the sediments were mainly deposited from upwelling plumes.     

Factors controlling the distribution of transitional metal elements in marine hydrogenic ferromanganese crusts

A series of selective dissolution experiments were conducted on the hydrogenic ferromanganese crusts collected near Line Island to study the geochemistry of Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni and Ti. Despite of the fact that the very close intergrowth between amorphous ferric oxyhydroxides and δ-MnO2 exists in the hydrogenic ferromanganese crusts, there is no isomorphous substitution between iron and manganese. This is because the two elements in oxides have different crystal chemistry and geochemistry, such assertion bein...     

GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE CORE S01 IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Na, P and Sr, Ba, Rb, Ga, V, Zr, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb,Nb, Y, Th, La in the core S01 were analyzed and the pattems of their enrichment are discussed.Enrichment of Na, Fe, Mn, Ba, Cu elements in the core indicates volcanic material are an importantsoarce of the sediments in the area. The enrichment frequently varying with the deposition processshows bottom volcanism is frequent in the area and that the studied area is a margin basin with distinctoceanic characteristics. The abnormal enrichment of Mn at the layers(0-15 cm and 665-670 cm) of the core could beclosely related to and so, indicate, the wide deposition hiatus that have occurred in the West PacificOcean and adjacent margin seas since Late Pleistocene.     

Study on suspended matter in seawater in the Southern Yellow Sea

Distribution of suspended matter in seawater in the Southern Yellow Sea is investigated in five regions: 1) the Northern Jiangsu bank, the highest TSM (total suspended matter) content region; 2) the high TSM content region off the Changjiang River mouth; 3) the high TSM content region off the Chengshan Cape; 4) the low TSM region off Haizhou Bay; 5) the central part of the Southern Yellow Sea, a low TSM content region. The vertical distribution of TSM is mainly characterized by a spring layer of suspended matter, written as “suspended-cline” whose genesis is related to storms in winter. In this paper, non-combustible components and grain sizes in suspended matter, relationship between suspended matter and bottom sediments, and salinity in seawater are described. Investigation result shows that, in this area, suspended matter comes mainly from resuspended bottom sediment and secondarily from present discharge loads from rivers and biogenic materials. Discharged sediments from the Huanghe River move around the Chengshan Cape and affect the northwestern region of this area. Sediments from the Changjiang River affect only the southern part and have little or no direct influence on the central deep region. Wave is the main factor affecting distribution of suspended matter. Water depth controls the critical depth acted on by waves. The cold water mass in the central region limits horizontal and vertical dispersions of terrigenous materials. Suspended matter here has the transitional properties of the epicontinental sea. Its concentration and composition are different from those of a semi-closed sea (such as the Bohai Sea) and those of the East China Sea outer continental shelf or those near oceanic areas.     

沉积物中硬质粘土层的研究进展

大量的钻孔资料表明,平原地区及其海域沉积物中普遍有硬质粘土层的存在。硬质粘土层在工程地质、地理学研究等方面具有重要的价值,它不仅是高层建筑的持力层,而且是研究全球环境变化事件、古气候演变的良好载体。该文阐述了硬质粘土层的一般特征、成因以及在粒度、地球化学元素、年代学、沉积环境等方面的研究进展,并展望了硬质粘土层在年代、物质来源和沉积环境等方面的研究方向,认为黄河三角洲硬质粘土层研究较少,需要开展大范围的、系统深入的、多学科的宏观和微观综合分析,挖掘硬质粘土层蕴含的古环境意义和应用价值。