A record of accelerated erosion in the recent sediments of Blelham Tarn in the English Lake district

Two frozen cores from Blelham Tarn were subsampled and measured using mineral magnetic, loss-on-ignition (LOI), radiometric, granulometric and diatom analyses. A detailed chronology was established using varves, radioisotopes and diatoms. This has enabled an accurately dated reconstruction of sedimentation over the past forty years. Despite a large increase in lake productivity, evidence suggests that the observed exponential increase in sedimentation rates can be attributed to erosion within the catchment. The predominant sediment source has been identified as surface soil. A comparison between the trend of accelerated sedimentation and the record of increased sheep stocking density for the area within which the most of the catchment lies, as well as observations of contemporary surface processes within the catchment, both suggest that much of the recent erosion is a direct response to increased pressure from sheep grazing.     

Seasonal records of climatic change in annually laminated tufas: short review and future prospects

Many Recent and fossil freshwater tufa stromatolites contain millimetre‐scale, alternating laminae of dense micrite and more porous or sparry crystalline calcites. These alternating laminae have been interpreted to represent seasonally controlled differences in the biotic activity of microbes, and/or seasonally controlled changes in the rate of calcification. Either way, couplets of these microbially mediated alternating calcified laminae are generally agreed to represent annual seasonality. Combined stable isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) and trace element (Mg, Sr, Ba) geochemistry from Recent tufa stromatolites show that seasonal climatic information is available from these calcites. Variability in δ¹⁸O (and in one case Mg concentration) has been shown to be controlled primarily by stream temperature change, usually driven by solar insolation. In arid climates, seasonal evaporation can also cause δ¹⁸O enrichment by at least 1‰. Variability in δ¹³C results potentially from: (1) seasonal change in plant uptake of ¹²C‐enriched CO₂; (2) seasonal change in degassing of ¹²C‐enriched CO₂ in the aquifer system; and (3) precipitation of calcite along the aquifer or river flow path, a process that increases δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the remaining water. Mechanisms 2 and 3 are linked because calcite precipitates in aquifers where degassing occurs, e.g. air pockets. The latter mechanism for δ¹³C enrichment has also been shown to cause sympathetic variation between trace element/Ca ratios and δ¹³C because trace elements with partition coefficients much greater than 1 (e.g. Sr, Ba) remain preferentially in solution. Since degassing in air pockets will be enhanced during decreased recharge when water saturation of the aquifer is lowest, sympathetic variation in trace element/Ca ratios and δ¹³C is a possible index of recharge and therefore precipitation intensity. High‐resolution geochemical data from well‐dated tufa stromatolites have great potential for Quaternary palaeoclimate reconstructions, possibly allowing recovery of annual seasonal climatic information including water temperature variation and change in rainfall intensity. However, careful consideration of diagenetic effects, particularly aggrading neomorphism, needs to be the next step. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Study of Ozone Laminae Using Diabatic Trajectories, Contour Advection and Photochemical Trajectory Model Simulations.

In this paper, we show that the rate of ozone loss in both polar and mid-latitudes, derived from ozonesonde and satellite data, has almost the same vertical distribution (although opposite sense) to that of ozone laminae abundance. Ozone laminae appear in the lower stratosphere soon after the polar vortex is established in autumn, increase in number throughout the winter and reach a maximum abundance in late winter or spring. We indicate a possible coupling between mid-winter, sudden stratospheric warmings (when the vortex is weakened or disrupted) and the abundance of ozone laminae using a 23-year record of ozonesonde data from the World Ozone Data Center in Canada combined with monthly-mean January polar temperatures at 30 hPa.Results are presented from an experiment conducted during the winter of 1994/95, in phase II of the Second European Stratospheric And Mid-latitude Experiment (SESAME), in which 93 ozone-enhanced laminae of polar origin observed by ozonesondes at different time and locations are linked by diabatic trajectories, enabling them to be probed twice or more. It is shown that, in general, ozone concentrations inside laminae fall progressively with time, mixing irreversibly with mid-latitude air on time-scales of a few weeks. A particular set of laminae which advected across Europe during mid February 1995 are examined in detail. These laminae were observed almost simultaneously at seven ozonesonde stations, providing information on their spatial scales. The development of these laminae has been modelled using the Contour Advection algorithm of Norton (1994), adding support to the concept that many laminae are extrusions of vortex air. Finally, a photochemical trajectory model is used to show that, if the air in the laminae is chemically activated, it will impact on mid-latitude ozone concentrations. An estimate is made of the potential number of ozone molecules lost each winter via this mechanism.     

Annual trace element cycles in calcite–aragonite speleothems: evidence of drought in the western Mediterranean 1200–1100 yr BP

Each of two calcitic stalagmites from Grotte de Clamouse, Herault, southern France, displays a discrete aragonite layer dated at around 1100 yr BP. The layer of fanning aragonite ray crystals is immediately preceded by calcite with Mg and Sr compositions that are uniquely high for the past 3 kyr. Trace element compositions close to the boundary between original aragonite and calcite are consistent with quasi‐equilibrium partitioning of trace elements between the phases. Study of modern dripwaters demonstrates that pronounced covariation of Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in dripwater occurs owing to large amounts of calcite precipitation upflow of the drips that fed the stalagmites. Trace element to Ca ratios are enhanced during seasonally dry periods. Ion microprobe data demonstrate a pronounced covariation of trace elements, including Mg and Sr in calcite, and Sr, U and Ba in aragonite. The mean peak spacing is close to the long‐term mean of annual growth rates determined by differences in U‐series ages and so the trace element peaks are interpreted as annual. The trace element chemistry of the stalagmites on annual to inter‐annual scales thus directly reflects the amounts of prior calcite precipitation, interpreted as an index of aridity. The longer‐term context is a multi‐decadal period of aridity (1200–1100 yr BP) possibly correlated with an analogous episode in Central America. The arid period culminated in the nucleation of aragonite, but within a decade was followed by a return to precursor conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrographic observations suggestive of microbial mats from Rampur Shale and Bijaigarh Shale, Vindhyan basin, India

Petrographic observations of two Vindhyan black shales (Rampur Shale of the Semri Group and Bijaigarh Shale of the Kaimur Group) revealed the following features:

湖相深水细粒物质的混合沉积作用探讨*

沉积物的混合是自然界的普遍现象,湖盆中广泛发育的深水细粒沉积岩本身就是一类混积岩。以东营凹陷古近系沙河街组三段下亚段—沙河街组四段上亚段细粒沉积岩为研究对象,通过厘米级岩心观察描述、小型沉积构造解剖、岩石薄片观察、X射线衍射全岩矿物分析及微量元素测试等方法,研究细粒物质的产出状态和混合方式;分析湖盆流体、气候及水体性质对细粒物质迁移、混合、沉积的控制作用,尝试探讨细粒物质的混合沉积机制。结果表明,湖相深水细粒沉积岩既有物质成分上的混合,也有结构的混合,且在宏观与微观的不同尺度均存在混合;混合沉积作用有均匀混合、纹层叠置混合、不均匀团块状混合等类型。纹层叠置混合沉积是最主要的混合沉积方式,依据纹层接触关系、所占比例及矿物产出状态可分为泥砂—灰纹层叠置混合型、泥—灰纹层叠置混合型、泥砂粒序—灰纹层叠置混合型、灰—泥—云纹层叠置混合型等。湖相深水细粒物质的混合沉积作用类型多且往往受多个因素同时控制,气候及水动力条件是控制细粒混合沉积岩发育的最主要因素,不同流体(浊流和底流)作用下的细粒沉积物混合作用存在差异。气候引起湖水性质变化及水体分层,从而控制不同类型细粒物质的絮凝沉降及化学沉积。不同构造部位、不同水体深度的混合作用不同;相同构造部位在垂向上也存在混合沉积方式的差异。     

中国东部断陷湖盆细粒沉积岩岩相划分方案探讨——以渤海湾盆地南部古近系细粒沉积岩为例

细粒沉积岩岩相研究是烃源岩和页岩油、致密油储层研究的重要基础,鉴于我国陆相断陷湖盆环境多变和细粒沉积岩类型多样、岩石组合类型复杂的特点,需要进行细粒沉积岩岩相分类。以渤海湾盆地南部古近系细粒沉积岩发育段为研究对象,通过厘米级岩芯观察描述、岩石薄片鉴定、激光共聚焦显微镜观察分析等技术,研究细粒沉积岩基本特征。陆相断陷湖盆细粒沉积岩岩相划分可以按照(1)宏观岩芯精细观察描述,归纳垂向岩石类型组合;(2)分析沉积微环境;(3)对不同岩石类型组合进行X射线全岩矿物衍射和TOC测试,划分岩石类型和岩相大类;(4)微观镜下剖析纹层叠置关系;(5)分析成因和形成机制,对岩亚类细分等5步进行。岩相大类划分要简洁,是为满足油田勘探工作易于操作、建立与常规测井资料之间关系等要求;亚类细分是便于研究微观源储关系、分析沉积微环境和储层微观结构等。     

Temporal and environmental significance of microbial lamination: Insights from Recent fluvial stromatolites in the River Piedra,Spain

Despite extensive research, the environmental and temporal significance of microbial lamination is still ambiguous because of the complexity of the parameters that control its development. A 13 year monitored record of modern fast‐accreting calcite stromatolites (mean 14 mm year^?1) from artificial substrates installed in rapid flow in the River Piedra (north‐east Spain) allows comparison of the sedimentological attributes of successive six‐month depositional packages with the known climatic, hydrophysical and hydrochemical parameters of the depositional system. The stromatolites are formed of dense, porous and macrocrystalline composite laminae. The dense and porous composite laminae, which are composed of two to eight laminae consisting largely of calcified cyanobacteria, are characterized by: (i) dense composite laminae, up to 15 mm thick, mostly with successive dense laminae and minor alternating dense and porous laminae; and (ii) porous composite laminae, up to 12 mm thick, consisting mainly of porous laminae alternating with thinner dense laminae. Most of the dense composite laminae formed during the warm periods (April to September), whereas most of the porous composite laminae developed in the cool periods (October to March). Each dense and porous composite lamina represents up to or slightly longer than six months. The alternation of these two types of composite laminae parallels seasonal changes in temperature. The dense and porous laminae result from shorter (for example, intraseasonal) variations in temperature, insolation and hydrological conditions. The macrocrystalline laminae, with crystals >100 μm long, occur isolated and grouped into composite laminae up to 1·7 mm thick. Their occurrence suggests the absence or poor development of microbial mats over periods of weeks to several months. Thus, stromatolite lamination can record different‐order, periodic and non‐periodic changes in the magnitude of environmental parameters over a single year. These results hold important implications for the temporal and environmental interpretation of lamination in microbial structures.     

中国中西部大型湖盆沉积体系域研究进展及页岩油气勘探*

中国陆相大型湖盆碎屑岩—碳酸盐岩沉积区分布广泛,含油气盆地内新发现了多个油气田,特别是近年来在致密油/页岩油勘探方面获得了突破。根据沉积体系域演化和可容纳空间演变解释层序地层单元,建立层序演化模式,预测油气储集体,适合于研究有成因联系的异旋回地层序列。深水体系的沉积层序体系域研究进展表现为引入强制海退(湖退)的概念,从经典的层序地层学格架三分体系域发展为四分体系域和二分体系域,不同尺度的相对整合序列和体系域分布与命名具有紧密联系。强制海(湖)退条件下形成的下降期体系域(FSST)和强制海(湖)退楔体系域(FRW)有内涵细节上的差异。采用A-P-D(加积-进积-降积)准层序叠加分析方法,分析体系域格架下薄层细粒沉积砂体的沉积搬运机理,提高了体系域识别和油气储集体预测的准确度。柴达木盆地古近系和四川盆地侏罗系研究实例表明,湖侵体系域随湖平面上升,浅湖和半深湖范围扩大,沉积中心地区发育三角洲前缘薄层砂体和深水浊积扇及多旋回泥页岩—泥灰岩组合,有利于页岩油气储集体的发育,成为“甜点”勘探目标区。展望未来,与页岩油气勘探有关的沉积层序体系域领域研究在以下几个方面将取得重要进展: (1)咸化湖盆深水沉积体系的高频旋回体系域研究; (2)与页岩型和混积型页岩油类型相关的湖侵体系域混积体系研究; (3)体系域级别的层序—古地理研究; (4)体系域格架下的源-汇系统及其古湖泊分布特征研究; (5)湖泊古水深、古气候和古环境的地球化学指标分析; (6)富有机质页岩发育的微纳米级孔—缝体系储集能力研究; (7)煤系环境纯湖相泥岩和沼泽相(湖沼或河沼)泥岩对规模天然气生烃贡献率的沉积基础研究。     

山东东营凹陷沙河街组纹层年龄估算方法探讨

渤海湾盆地位于北纬35°—42°之间,中始新世沙河街组四段上部和三段沉积期间,在气候上属于中亚热带,湖泊水体较为稳定,并出现季节性分层,因此沉积常显示出暗灰和浅灰色的年纹层(或称偶层)。根据不少国内外湖泊纹泥统计和14C测定和频谱分析的对比,认为纹层可以作为地层定年工具。纹层年龄计算方法研究对含油盆地成烃成藏定量研究具有重要意义。东营凹陷年纹层计算方法有两种,或选定含纹层岩芯样品进行岩石薄片和电子探针观察和测定,取得年纹层间隔与元素峰值统计;或选取一段含纹层的测井数据作天文400ka、40ka或20ka周期地层年龄计算。通过两种方法求出东营凹陷通29井等沙三段—沙四上亚段堆积速率的比较,前者薄片和探针方法得到的平均速率为0.1078mm/a,后者天文的方法得到的是0.1280mm/a,两者计算差只有0.0172mm/a。因此应用两种方法来计算地层年龄和对比是可行的。前者求纹层方法更为直观,但岩芯和电子探针的测定费用较大,而相比而言,用油田测井数据作天文地层堆积速率和年龄的计算,在经济上、时间上可能胜于前者。