Guest editorial

Surficial sediments rich in apatite pellets were recovered from an 80‐m‐deep area that runs parallel to the eastern coast of Vizcaino Bay, Baja California. This area is subject to intense seasonal upwelling, the sediments presenting elevated phosphate (P₂O₅), organic carbon (C_org), and carbonate concentrations. The pellets are moderately well sorted, concentrated mainly in the 3ø size class within a poorly sorted sediment matrix. Abundant nodular apatite and phosphatized bone fragments were found in only one of the pellet‐bearing samples. This sample has a P₂O₅concentration of over 20%, the ≥ — 2.5ø to 0.5ø grain size classes alone being formed of up to 32% P₂O₅. The high proportion of fragmented nodules and the presence of volcanic rock pebbles indicate that at least part of this deposit is allochthonous. The apatite pellets have a flat to concave‐downward heavy rare earth (HREE) shale normalized pattern and, except for La, are depleted in light rare earth elements (LREE). The close resemblance between the HREE patterns and the relatively high La concentration in the pellets of Vizcaino Bay, and the onland phosphorites of the southern Baja California Peninsula, suggest similar depositional histories for these deposits. No significant Ce anomalies were observed, but a negative Eu deviation is common in all of the pellet‐bearing sediments. The depletion of LREE in the pellets of Vizcaino Bay may indicate the preferential removal of these elements by weathering processes.     

2006年4月17日北京特大降尘的地球化学特征

2006年4月17日北京遭遇了近年来最为严重的一次降尘天气。分析了降尘的主量、微量和稀土元素地球化学特征,并与洛川马兰黄土和几次北京降尘进行对比,结果显示本次北京降尘与洛川马兰黄土具有相似的元素分布模式,表明与黄土具有相似的物质组成,并在搬运过程中经历了充分的混合,同时,北京降尘与黄土相比具有一定程度的差异性,表现为北京降尘中Mg、Na相时富集,Ca明显亏损并含有较高的烧失量,降尘CIA值较低,表明降尘源区化学风化程度较弱,处于化学风化的初始阶段,降尘∑REE显著高于黄土,同时轻、重稀土分馏程度也较黄土高,4次北京降尘间稀土元素分布模式对比表明,粒度是影响重稀土元素间分馏程度不同的主要因素。     

麦哲伦海山群富钴结壳元素地球化学特征及赋存状态

为探究大洋富钴结壳的元素地球化学特征和赋存状态,以西太平洋麦哲伦海山群5个富钴结壳样品为研究对象,通过X射线衍射法、等离子体发射光谱法、等离子体质谱法及相态分析手段,分析了富钴结壳的矿物组成、主量元素和稀土元素含量。结果表明,富钴结壳样品主要结晶矿物为水羟锰矿,次要矿物包括石英、斜长石和钾长石,同时含有大量非晶态铁氧/氢氧化物。富钴结壳样品中Mn和Fe含量最高, Mn为16.87%～26.55%, Fe为14.34%～18.08%。富钴结壳明显富集稀土元素,其稀土总量为1 287～2 000μg/g,Ce含量为632～946μg/g,约占稀土总量的50%;轻稀土含量为1 037～1 604μg/g,重稀土含量为249～395μg/g,轻稀土元素明显高于重稀土元素。稀土元素配分模式呈现Ce正异常而Eu无异常,具有Ce富集特征。麦哲伦海山群富钴结壳是水成沉积成因,基本没有受到海底热液活动和成岩作用的影响。元素赋存状态与其矿物相密切相关, Na、K、Ca、Mg和Sr主要赋存于碳酸盐相, Mn、Ba、Co和Ni主要赋存于锰氧化物相, Fe、Al、P、Ti、Cu、Pb、V、Zn、Zr和REE主要...     

长江口北支表层沉积物重矿物分布和磁学特征

分析了长江口北支表层沉积物的重矿物分布,结合磁参数和粒度特征,探讨其在各沉积动力分区的分布特点及控制因素.研究表明:研究区重矿物以角闪石和绿帘石组合为主,其次为云母类和磁铁矿等.其中浅滩和潮流脊处水动力较强,沉积物颗粒较粗,重矿物以片状矿物-稳定矿物组合占优势,磁性参数相对较低;汉道和潮汐通道处水动力相对较弱,沉积物以...     

Rare earth elements and yttrium in ferromanganese deposits from the South China Sea: distribution, composition and resource considerations

Ferromanganese nodules and crusts contain relatively high concentration of rare earth elements(REE) and yttrium(REY),with a growing interest in exploitation as an alternative to land-based REY resources.On the basis of comprehensive geochemical approach,the abundance and distribution of REY in the ferromanganese nodules from the South China Sea are analyzed.The results indicate that the REY contents in ferromanganese deposits show a clear geographic regularity.Total REY contents range from 69.1×10~(–6) to 2 919.4×10~(–6),with an average value of 1 459.5×10~(–6).Especially,the enrichment rate of Ce content is high,accounting for almost 60% of the total REY.This REE enrichment is controlled mainly by the sorption of ferromanganese oxides and clay minerals in the nodules and crusts.Moreover,the total REY are higher in ferromanganese deposits of hydrogenous origin than of diagenetic origin.Finally,Light REE(LREE) and heavy REE(HREE) oxides of the ferromanganese deposits in the study area can be classified into four grades: non-enriched type,weakly enriched type,enriched type,and extremely enriched type.According to the classification criteria of rare earth resources,the Xisha and Zhongsha platform-central deep basin areas show a great potential for these rare earth metals.     

海南岛三亚小东海岸礁礁坪沉积物的稀土元素分布特征

对海南岛三亚小东海东北岸礁礁坪表面沉积物的稀土元素进行了分析,结果表明,沉积物的∑REE为80.22mg/kg,稀土元素含量球粒陨石标准化分布模式呈现轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损,Eu明显负异常(0.58),Ce无异常,Y/Ho低(27.60)的陆相模式特征.根据小东海礁坪沉积样品稀土元素的空间分布情况可以推测出礁坪珊瑚表面...     

Evidence for storm-dominated early progradation of Castle Neck barrier, Massachusetts, USA

Washovers, dune scarps and flattened beach profiles with concentrations of coarse-grained sediment or heavy minerals are the diagnostic geological signatures of large storms on barriers today. It is clear that storms are a major force driving transgressive barriers onshore, but what is not as well understood is the role these powerful erosive events play in the evolution of prograding barriers. Application of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and a combination of coring techniques have significantly improved our ability to image barrier architecture. Results of these studies reveal a more complex evolution than previously recognized. It is now possible to precisely locate and map storm deposits within prograded barrier lithosomes.

A comprehensive study of northern Castle Neck, Massachusetts was performed using 15 km of GPR surveys, a 120-m-long seismic line, 11 cores, and several radiocarbon dates. Storm-related layers are the most prominent horizons contained in the barrier stratigraphy. The geometry and sedimentology of these layers closely resembles those of a present-day post-storm beach. Twenty closely spaced, curvilinear heavy mineral layers imaged in the landward portion of the barrier suggest that the Castle Neck barrier was heavily influenced by storms during its initial phase of progradation beginning 4000 years BP. Approximately 1800 years BP, two intense storms impacted the coast depositing two extensive coarse-grained units. These layers mimic the flat-lying sand and gravel deposits that occur in front of a nearby eroding till outcrop following major storms. The great number of storm deposits in the early history of Castle Neck is related to either a period of greater storm activity and/or a slow rate of barrier progradation. The occurrence and preservation of these earlier storm layers are likely a product of the exposure of nearby drumlins resulting in greater availability of iron oxide and ferromagnesian sands. The supply of heavy-mineral sands has gradually diminished as the barrier prograded and the proximal drumlin source was buried by beach and dune sands.     

Recycling of Coastal Dredged Sediments from the Northern Nile Delta,Egypt, for Heavy Minerals Exploitation

Mineralogical and textural analyses of 45 undisturbed short cores and 80 grab sediment samples, collected from five frequently dredged navigational areas within harbors and water pathways of the Nile delta littoral system, were utilized for evaluation of these sediments as potential source of economic heavy minerals (EHMs). Results of mineralogical characterization indicate that the average total heavy mineral (HM) concentrations are as follows: Abu Qir Bay (1.7%), Rosetta estuary (3.1%), Burullus fishing port (4.5%), Damietta Harbor (2.9%), and El Gamil lagoon inlet (1.9%). Assessment of HM grades indicates predominance of magnetite, ilmenite, hematite, leucoxene, garnet, zircon, and rutile. Results of the feasibility analysis indicate that dredged sediments at these study areas are considered as a potential source of EHMs and economically promising to be mined for HMs. The present study suggests a practical operative plan of two successive phases for HMs recycling: (1) in-situ initial separation of HMs on the dredger deck using wet-gravity spirals, then (2) transportation of the recovered HM concentrates to an onshore processing plant to selectively separate individual HMs via wet and dry magnetic and electrostatic separators. Alternatively, dredged sediments can be directly pumped to a nearby onshore area as stockpile to be recycled afterward in inland processing plant.     

庙岛群岛西部海域表层沉积物常量和稀土元素的分布特征及其物源指示意义

通过对庙岛群岛西部海域表层沉积物常量、稀土元素的系统研究,探讨了表层沉积物元素地球化学特征、控制因素及其物质来源。结果表明,庙岛群岛西部海域表层沉积物常量元素以SiO₂和A1₂O₃为主,SiO₂含量随着沉积物粒径变粗逐渐增大,Al₂O₃含量随着沉积物粒径变细逐渐增大。稀土元素(Rare Earth Element,REE)呈现轻稀土元素(Light Rare Earth Element,LREE)富集、重稀土元素(Heavy Rare Earth Element,HREE)平坦以及中等程度的Eu负异常等特征,轻重稀土分异明显,稀土元素球粒陨石配分曲线与黄河沉积物类似。通过因子分析和相关性分析发现研究区沉积物的元素含量主要取决于陆源碎屑,海洋生物沉积和化学作用对沉积物元素含量有一定的影响,元素含量基本服从粒度控制规律。物源判别结果显示,庙岛群岛西部海域沉积物主要来源于黄河物质和辽河物质,并且从南到北辽河物质的混合比例逐渐升高,黄河物质的混合比例逐渐降低。     

冲绳海槽中南部不同环境表层沉积物质来源

对冲绳海槽中南部3种不同沉积环境(东海外陆架、东海陆坡和冲绳海槽)表层沉积物进行了稀土等元素地球化学分析,结果显示,冲绳海槽和陆坡表层沉积物具有与台湾物质来源类似的稀土元素配分模式,La/Sm-Gd/Yb散点图也显示海槽和陆坡沉积物主要分布在台湾物源端元区,表明冲绳海槽中南部海槽和陆坡表层沉积物主要来源于台湾,而外陆架...     

雪宝顶碱性花岗岩岩石地球化学与成矿控制

对雪宝顶碱性花岗岩具有高丰度的W、Sn、Be含量和W、Sn矿化花岗岩的微量元素组合特征进行了分析，结果显示：稀土元素具有∑REE含量与LREE／HREE比值偏低和负Eu异常的特点；元素比值K／Rb，U／Th，Nb／Ta的规律性变化以及矿脉产状特征等表明W-(Sn)-Be脉状矿床形成于岩浆演化晚期，与岩浆期后的热液活动有关。     

盐城海岸带表层土壤重金属的空间分布及其影响因素研究

以盐城海岸带为研究对象,分析了Cr,Cu,Fe,Mn,Ni,V,Zn,Co,Cd 9种重金属元素在二维空间分布的异质性,以及沿着经纬度方向的梯度变化,并通过主成分分析和元素区域背景值的分析,探讨重金属元素的可能来源.结果表明:自陆向海存在着逐渐减少的格局梯度,而在区域的北部分布着重金属元素的峰值;二维分析的结果表明,重...     

长江口表层沉积物重矿物在不同粒级中的分布与研究意义

在粒度分析基础上,以0.5Φ为间距对长江口表层沉积物的不同粒级分样进行碎屑重矿物分析,并对各粒级重矿物特征与广粒级(1.5Φ～6Φ)进行相似度分析。结果表明,长江口沉积物粒度跨度大,从粗砂到泥(黏土)均有分布,粉砂含量高。样内不同粒级分样重矿物含量、种类和组合均有一定变化,样间表现出较一致的规律性。长江口出现碎屑重矿物30种左右,粗粒级分样中矿物种数为10余种,细粒级分样中重矿物种类增至20多种;3.5Φ～4.5Φ是重矿物种类多、矿物成分复杂的粒级区段。粗粒级(粒径大于3Φ)云母族富集,其重矿物组合为云母+角闪石,随粒级变细(粒径小于4Φ)云母急剧减少;闪石族分布粒级广泛,在3Φ～5Φ粒级含量相对较高;帘石族、稳定矿物尤其是金属矿物在粒径小于3.5Φ粒级逐渐增多。长江口重矿物整体组合为普通角闪石+绿帘石+褐铁矿,榍石为特征矿物。相似度分析表明,长江口沉积物样品中主要粒级与广粒级重矿物特征相近,能代表沉积物整体重矿物特征。长江口碎屑重矿物特征深受粒度分布的影响,其矿物种类、矿物组合和矿物指数及其所蕴含的水动力和物源意义都要结合粒度特征来综合分析。     

福建兴化湾表层沉积物中重矿物组分及其分布特征

对兴化湾17个站位表层沉积物中63～125μm粒级重矿物组分、含量、组合及分布特征进行了分析研究,并探讨了泥沙物质来源及重矿物与沉积环境的关系.结果表明,兴化湾重矿物平均含量(质量分数)为12.08%,高出其邻近的湄州湾(5.67%)6个百分点;重矿物共计37种,以磁铁矿、角闪石、绿帘石、钛铁矿、赤铁矿、褐铁矿、锆石为主.矿物种类揭示该海湾的泥沙主要来源于湾顶河流输入和周边陆域及湾内岛屿基岩风化侵蚀产物,而湾口以外海域的输入物质较少;依据主要重矿物含量和分布特征,将兴化湾划分为4个矿物组合区,各区重矿物组合类型不仅与物质来源有关,而且受水动力条件和沉积环境制约.     

Sedimentary records of intense storms in Holocene barrier sequences, Maine, USA

Coastal-morphological, geophysical (ground-penetrating radar [GPR]), and sedimentological data document extreme storm events along the sandy barriers of Maine's south–central (Hunnewell and Flat Point barriers) and southwestern (Saco Bay barriers) coastal compartments. The Hunnewell barrier contains four equally spaced buried storm scarps behind the exposed scarp of the Blizzard of 1978, a 100-year storm that eroded more than 100 m of shoreline, causing extensive property loss. These scarps dip 3–5° steeper than the normal beachface slope and consist of sands with more than 50% heavy minerals. The heavy minerals produce distinct subsurface reflections that facilitate the location of buried supratidal parts of storm scarps and the mapping of ancient poststorm shoreline positions. The imaged scarps likely formed within the past 1.5–2.0 ka BP. The Flat Point barrier consists of a prograded sequence overlain by a laterally extensive, seaward-thinning layer of freshwater peat and capped by aeolian sands. This stratigraphy suggests that the bog varied in size through time, contracting during overwash events and aeolian deposition and expanding across washover sheets during extended periods of barrier stability. The main overwash event accompanied by barrier planation and wetland expansion may be linked to the first historical storm in New England, the “Great Colonial Hurricane” of 1635.

Evidence of near-modern and mid-Holocene storm events along Saco Bay includes washover units and marsh ridges. Washovers interfinger with saltmarsh peat that ranges in age from 4.5 ka BP to modern. The presence of isolated sandy ridges behind existing and former tidal inlets reflects overtopping of marshes and high intertidal mudflats during major storms. Radiocarbon ages indicate that this process took place at different locations along the Saco Bay barrier complex from 3 to 1 ka BP.     

冲绳海槽中段沉积物物源识别及其热液活动指示

冲绳海槽中段热液活动区表层沉积物的主、微量和稀土元素分析结果表明:区内沉积物主要由陆源物质与热液源物质组分组成,Hg、Au、Sb、Cu、Pb、Zn、Ba、As、Fe和Co等微量元素富集;沉积物的化学风化程度中等,A-CN-K图解表明其暂未受到钾交代影响,且其母岩成分接近花岗闪长岩;北美页岩标准化稀土配分模式曲线整体较为平坦,轻重稀土分馏较弱,部分样品具有与热液流体类似的明显正铕异常.受热液活动影响,部分沉积物中的Fe、Cu、As、Pb和Zn显著富集,结合样品所处站位,整体显示含金属沉积物-过渡沉积物-正常沉积物的空间分配模式.结合(La/Sm)N、(La/Yb)N比值指示区内沉积物的陆源物质主要来自于黄河与台湾岛河流.     

南极普里兹湾主要碎屑矿物特征及物源分析

基于南极普里兹湾海域33个表层碎屑沉积物样品的碎屑矿物学分析,对该区的沉积环境与物质来源进行了分析。结果表明该区碎屑重矿物共17种,石榴子石、普通角闪石和磁铁矿为优势矿物,紫苏辉石和赤铁矿为特征矿物。根据矿物组合分布特征,普里兹湾可划分为4个矿物区:Ⅰ区为石榴子石含量占绝对优势、重矿物含量较高的弗拉姆浅滩矿物区;Ⅱ区为石榴子石、普通角闪石含量较高,磁铁矿为特征矿物的普里兹水道矿物区;Ⅲ区为紫苏辉石含量较突出的四女士浅滩矿物区;Ⅳ区为普通角闪石含量明显突出,石榴子石显著减少的深水陆坡矿物区。通过电子探针测试研究区石榴子石结果表明:碎屑石榴子石含有较高的Fe、Mg和较低的Ca、Mn,属主要来源于高级麻粒岩相副变质岩的A型石榴子石。普里兹湾海域的碎屑矿物分布特征是物质来源、海流系统以及冰川活动等多重因素综合作用的产物。     

Barrier evolution and placer formation at Bujuru southern Brazil

This paper demonstrates the link between the evolution of a coastal barrier in southern Brazil during the Late Holocene and the formation of a large volume of eolian disseminated heavy mineral deposits. Our data set is based on an earlier heavy mineral prospecting campaign (1991) and on 10 new shallow vibrocores, 2–5 m long. The model presented has three main steps of barrier evolution. The first step is the recycling of coastal plain deposits during the Postglacial Marine Transgression, which ended at 5.6 ka when heavy minerals were incorporated into beach and washover facies of a transgressive barrier. The second step is the shoreward retreat of the barrier, under a slow and small sea-level fall, during the last 5.6 ka. This second step eroded and recycled sediments from the Pleistocene substrate, which acted as an extra source of heavy minerals. Heavy minerals were concentrated in backshore deposits by wave action during barrier recession. The third step is the erosion and transport of backshore sands by onshore winds into an inter-barrier depression in the form of transgressive dune deposits. These deposits contain an average of 4.66±1.02% disseminated heavy minerals (1494 samples). This eolian placer deposit has started to form 1 ka ago and is still under formation.     

Combined magnetic,electrostatic, and gravity separation techniques for recovering strategic heavy minerals from beach sands

A combination of unit operations like gravity, magnetic, and electrostatic separation techniques were applied to separate strategic heavy minerals from bulk samples taken from two coastal stretches of Kappil-Varkala (KV) and Shanghumugham-Kovalam (SK) in Thiruvananthapuram, south Kerala, India. On processing the feed, the concentrate obtained contains 67.3% THM for KV and 65.15% THM for SK, out of which ilmenite predominantly exists with a yield of 45.55 and 43.6% in weight followed by other minerals like sillimanite, monazite, zircon, rutile, leucoxene, and garnet. Analysis indicates that judicious combination of unit operations like gravity, magnetic, and electrostatic separation techniques can efficiently recover heavy mineral species even from placers of smaller deposit.     

稀土元素作为示踪标记在海洋沉积动力学中应用前景的初步探讨

根据对长江等5条河流和东海陆架区总计146个沉积物样品的稀土元素和粒度分析结果,借助统计学方法,讨论了河流和东海近岸沉积物稀土元素分布格局的形成因素及其对沉积动力作用的响应,结果表明,各河流沉积物在稀土元素总量和轻重稀土分异等参数上有差异;在长江口沉积物中稀土元素在小于2和2~31μm粒级中较富集,全岩稀土元素含量受物质组成占优的粒级控制;在东海陆架研究区稀土元素含量由岸向海有减小的趋势,在河口附近相对较高,轻重稀土分异自28°N向南有增大的趋势。