Infilling of the Younger Kathmandu–Banepa intermontane lake basin during the Late Quaternary (Lesser Himalaya,Nepal): a sedimentological study

The Kathmandu and Banepa Basins, Central Nepal, are located in a large syncline of the Lesser Himalayas. The Older Kathmandu Lake evolved during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene; the Younger Kathmandu Lake, which is the focus of this study, is infilled with late Quaternary sediments. Three formations, arranged in stratigraphical order, the Kalimati, Gokarna and Thoka Formations formed during the infilling stage of this lacustrine basin. Structural and textural sedimentological analyses, a chemical survey across the basin and mineralogical investigations of fine‐grained sediments form the basis of this palaeogeographical study. The basin under investigation was covered by a perennial freshwater lake before 30 000 yr BP. The lake was infilled with alluvial and fluvial sediments delivered mainly from the mountains north of the basin. A fairly low gradient was favourable for the formation of diatomaceous earths, carbonaceous mudstones and siltstones, which were laid down in the centre of the lake and in small ponds. Towards the basin edge, lacustrine sediments gave way to deltaic deposits spread across the delta plain. Crevasse splays and anastomosing rivers mainly delivered suspended load for the widespread siltstones and mudstones. The proximal parts of the alluvial–fluvial sedimentary wedge contain debris flows that interfinger with fine‐grained floodplain deposits. Three highstands of the water‐level (>30 000 yr BP, 28 000–19 000 yr BP, 11 000–4000 yr BP (?)) have been recognised in the sedimentary record of the younger Kathmandu Lake in the Late Quaternary. Second‐order water‐level fluctuations are assumed to be triggered by local processes (damming by tectonically induced landslides). First‐order water‐level fluctuations are the result of climatic changes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The late Quaternary tephrostratigraphical record of the San Gregorio Magno basin (southern Italy)

Twenty‐one primary pyroclastic layers were found embedded in the lacustrine sediments of the San Gregorio Magno basin (Southern Apennines). These sand‐sized layers were characterised by a noticeable juvenile fragments content and by a sharp basal contact with the underlying clay and silt sediments. The tephra layers have been correlated with terrestrial counterparts from well‐known eruptive events of the Campanian volcanic area, or with reference layers from deep sea sediment cores and from the Monticchio maar sequence. The investigation of the San Gregorio Magno tephra layers made it possible to deduce that lacustrine sedimentation at San Gregorio Magno basin began before 170k yr BP and lasted at least until the emplacement of the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, which occurred about 15k yr BP. The tephrochronology allowed determination of the varying sedimentation rate that occurred in the basin. Correlation of the lacustrine record with marine sequences has allowed development of a late Quaternary tephrostratotype for southern Italy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chronology and stratigraphy of Late Quaternary sediments in the Konya Basin,Turkey: Results from the KOPAL Project

The Late Quaternary environmental history of the Konya plain, in south central Turkey, is used to examine sediment facies changes in a shallow non-outlet basin which has experienced major climatically driven changes in lake extent. Two principal types of sedimentary archive are used to reconstruct a palaeoenvironmental record, namely alluvial sequences on the Çarşamba alluvial fan and sediments from residual lakes. The latter have been used to investigate broader climatic and vegetational histories via palaeolimnological techniques including pollen, diatom and stable isotope analysis. These changes are dated here by radiometric techniques including radiocarbon (AMS and conventional), OSL, and U–Th. Chronological agreement is generally good between the different dating techniques, although typically there is greatly reduced precision beyond ca. 25 ka. Lake sediment cores investigated have basal ages beyond the range of ¹⁴C dating, but contain hiatuses as a result of subsequent alternation between phases of lacustrine sedimentation and aeolian deflation. In contrast to most deepwater non-outlet lake systems, the Konya basin may have been occupied by a single extensive lake for as little as 10% of Late Quaternary time, mainly around the time of the LGM. This lake highstand was followed by an important arid interval. In the absence of unbroken chronostratigraphic sequences, palaeohydrological investigation of shallow non-outlet lakes may require analysis of basin-wide changes in sedimentation rather than reliance on single core records. Stratigraphic continuity in such sedimentary environments cannot be assumed, and requires independent chronological control through radiometric dating.     

PALEOGENE(?) DEPOSYSTEMS AND BASIN EVOLUTION IN THE EASTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU: NANGQIAN AND XIALAXIU BASINS

PALEOGENE(?) DEPOSYSTEMS AND BASIN EVOLUTION IN THE EASTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU: NANGQIAN AND XIALAXIU BASINS     

Aeolian origin and palaeoclimatic implications of the ‘red clay’ (north China) as evidenced by grain‐size distribution

The ‘Red Clay’ is an important deposit underlying the Quaternary loess–palaeosol sequence in the Chinese Loess Plateau, being regarded as an excellent record of palaeoclimate changes in the late Tertiary. Several properties of the ‘Red Clay’ have been measured previously in order to derive climatic information. However, the sedimentary processes involved and the origin of the materials remain controversial. Here we present results of grain‐size analyses of the ‘Red Clay’ from four representative sites in the Chinese Loess Plateau. In particular their grain‐size distribution is compared with that of typical Quaternary aeolian loess–palaeosol, as well as lacustrine and fluvial sediments. It appears from the sedimentological evidence that the major part of the ‘Red Clay’ is of aeolian origin. It is rather similar in some of its properties to the Quaternary loessic palaeosols. The dust forming the ‘Red Clay’ was transported by a wind system that was weaker than that involved in the accretion of the Quaternary loess. Furthermore, the ‘Red Clay’ sediment has been modified by post‐depositional weathering. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sediment geochemistry and tectonic setting: Application of discrimination diagrams to early stages of intracontinental rift evolution,with examples from the Okavango and Southern Tanganyika rift basins

In this article, we have applied discriminant diagrams and bivariate plots for tectonic setting to Quaternary sediments from the East African Rift System (EARS). Sediment samples used in this study represent two different phases in early stage intracontinental rift evolution: the alluvial fan of the nascent Okavango system and a lacustrine basin within the relatively more mature Tanganyika system. The diagrams for tectonic setting for major elements place the majority of these EARS sediments within the passive margin (PM) setting. Passive margin sandstones are generally enriched in SiO₂ and depleted in Na₂O, CaO and TiO₂ reflecting their highly recycled nature. Based on major element discriminant diagrams, we propose two new fields for early stage intracontinental rift evolution (alluvial fan and lacustrine basin), within the previously defined passive margin field. The rare earth element (REE) patterns from both Okavango and Tanganyika sediments exhibit patterns similar to PAAS, with ash layers from the Rungwe volcanics in the Tanganyika samples exhibiting an enrichment in REE relative to the bulk sediment.     

Evolution of the late Quaternary San Gregorio Magno tectono‐karstic basin (southern Italy) inferred from geomorphological,tephrostratigraphical and palaeoecological analyses: tectonic implications

The Pantano di San Gregorio Magno is a 4.7 km² large tectono‐karstic basin located in the axial belt of the Southern Apennines, an area affected by intense seismicity. The basin was formed in the Middle Pleistocene and is presently undissected. It is filled by lacustrine sediments (clays, silts and pyroclastic sands) passing laterally into alluvial fan deposits. Geomorphological investigations were integrated with tephrostratigraphical, palynological and palaeoecological analyses of a 61 m thick core (not reaching the bedrock). The multiproxy analysis of the S. Gregorio Magno record shows that, over the last 200k yr, the basin hosted a freshwater lake with an oscillating level. Age constraints provided by the tephrostratigraphic record allowed estimation of the sedimentation rate, which varied strongly through time. Evolution of the basin resulted from the complex combination of tectonic subsidence, karst processes and changing amounts of sedimentary inputs. The latter was influenced by allogenic contributions related both to primary and reworked volcanoclastic inputs and was climate‐driven. The overall evidence, which indicates that in the long‐term the accumulation rate substantially counterbalanced the accommodation space created by faulting, suggests that the basin evolution was also modulated by changing subsidence rates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late quaternary fluvial sedimentation in the voidomatis basin,Epirus, Northwest Greece

Detailed morpho- and lithostratigraphic investigations, allied with radiometric dating, in the Voidomatis basin, Epirus, northwest Greece, have identified four Quaternary terraced alluvial fills that range from middle Pleistocene to historic in age. Major-periods of alluviation during the late Quaternary were associated with valley glaciation (ca. 26,000–20,000 yr B.P.) and subsequent deglaciation (ca. 20,000–15,000 yr B.P.) in the Pindus Mountains during Late Würmian times, and more recently linked to overgrazing sometime before the 11th century AD. The late Quaternary alluvial stratigraphy of the Voidomatis River is more complex than the “Older Fill” and “Younger Fill” model outlined previously, and it is suggested that these terms should no longer form the basis for defining alluvial stratigraphic units in the Mediterranean Basin.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地第四纪地层划分与环境变迁

通过塔中地区KT1孔和KT2孔井下第四纪地质测试研究，首次揭示出：塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地在深度653.80m以上，沉积物可划分42层，基本属于第四系。第四系下限初步定在761.17m深处。第四纪以来的气候演化大体有过3次大的气候波动和13个较大气候波动旋回。沉积环境早更新世为河湖相泛滥平原；中更新世以洼地湖泊相沉积为主，同时明显加入了风沙环境堆积，沙漠开始形成；从中更新世晚期开始，经晚更新世到新世，沙漠大规模形成，并逐步发展成今日的大沙漠景观。     

察尔汗钻孔介形类记录及其对察尔汗古湖晚更新世高湖面的指示

察尔汗盐湖作为柴达木盆地第四纪的沉积中心,沉积了巨厚的第四系湖相沉积,其演化历史研究对于揭示柴达木盆地及青藏高原北部第四纪古气候、古环境演变历史具有重要意义。本文在AMS ¹⁴C测年的基础上,以察尔汗盐湖晚更新世钻孔(ZK53630-1)岩芯中介形类微体化石为研究对象,通过系统的采样和室内分析,共识别出7属10种。基于分类学研究,识别出2个介形类组合(自下而上):Ilyocypris biplicata-Limnocythere inopinata和Ilyocypris bradyi-Ilyocypris sebeiensis。介形类及其伴生化石均显示察尔汗古湖在距今34～28 ka期间的晚更新世晚期(MIS 3a)主体为淡水—微咸水湖泊,气候温暖湿润,与现今极端干旱的盐湖环境截然不同。     

滇西北固东—瑞滇盆地第四纪地层、环境演变及其与砂锡矿产的关系

滇西北固东一瑞滇盆地第四纪沉积物类型多,层序全,其中砂锡资源丰富。在此进行第四纪地层研究既有理论意义,又有实际意义。本文对该盆地的第四纪地层进行了详细划分,并对环境演化问题进行了探讨。     

Tectonic Uplift of the Yili Basin during the Last Stage of the Late Pleistocene: Evidence from ESR and OSL Dating of Sediments in the Huocheng Area, Xinjiang

The Quaternary sediments in the Yili Basin can serve as archives for studying the Cenozoic basin–mountain relationship. In this study, based on typical natural sections and boreholes, the surficial sediments of the Huocheng area were studied, and their sedimentary ages were obtained using the optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) and electron spin resonance(ESR) dating methods. These dates, combined with changes in the sedimentary facies, provided details of the neotectonic movement in the Yili Basin and adjacent areas. By dating sediments from five sections and three boreholes, we determined that the surficial sediments of the Huocheng area were mainly formed in the Late Pleistocene, with scattered instances of Holocene sediments. The surficial sediments mainly consisted of alluvial fan facies, fluvial facies, lacustrine facies, and desert facies. Based on the activity on the Hongshanzui fault and the northern margin fault of the Wusun Mountains, the Huocheng area was uplifted synchronously with the Tianshan Mountains during the last stage of the Late Pleistocene, causing the desert facies sediments to be superimposed on the former paleo–lake sediments.     

Sequence stratigraphy and Quaternary depositional systems in the Sanhu area of the Qaidam Basin,northwest China

The Qaidam Basin is a Mesozoic–Cenozoic compresso-shearing basin in western China. This basin has been subsiding since the Indosinian orogeny, and the subsidence is a strongly inherited feature in its Quaternary development. Five third-order sequences (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, SQ4 and SQ5) were recognised using drilling/logging, coring and seismic data analysis. Each sequence was further divided into transgressive systems tract and regressive systems tract based on the maximum flooding surface. A sequence stratigraphic framework was established that revealed the distribution of sedimentary systems. Seven depositional systems, namely, alluvial fan, fan delta, braided-delta, shore lacustrine, shallow lacustrine, semi-deep lacustrine and incised valley depositional system, were identified from 105 well logs and 2?D seismic lines covering 1600?km. The sedimentary system distribution was identified as follows: (1) large-scale alluvial deposit located on the southern slope and adjacent to Kunlun Mountain and Yaber tectonic zone located northeast of the study area; (2) braided-delta deposits southeast of the Sanhu area; (3) widely developed fan-delta sediments on the base of Qigequan Formation in the Yaber tectonic zone; (4) well-deposited shoal lacustrine facies along the depositional strike in the regressive systems tract; (5) widely distributed shallow lacustrine facies; and (6) incised valley with large lateral extension and incision depth as an entity at the front of the Golmud Basin in the Sanhu area. Two different depositional models, namely, east and west models, were built by conducting an integrated analysis of sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary process. In the Sanhu area, the main controlling factors of the sequence architecture and depositional systems associations of the Qigequan Formation are tectonic subsidence and climate change with sediment supply and lake-level fluctuation secondary factors. This case study provides an example of the analyses of sequence stratigraphy and depositional systems in a salinised plateau basin. The approach combines seismic and sedimentary facies analysis to investigate Quaternary deposition and stratigraphy. The low-amplitude tectonic belt on the northern slope and the lithological traps on the southern slope are predicted to be favourable for the lithological gas reservoirs.     

Geoarchaeological investigations of henson creek: A low-order tributary in Central Texas

A complex late Quaternary alluvial history was documented along Henson Creek, a low order tributary on the Fort Hood Military Reservation in central Texas. Three Quaternary alluvial landforms were recognized: terrace 2 (T2), terrace 1 (T1), and the modern floodplain (T0). The late Pleistocene T2 terrace may contain an array of sites spanning the entire known cultural record, while T1 may have sites spanning the last 5000 years only. Five fluvial units, three colluvial facies, two alluvial fan facies, and two buried paleosols were also recognized. Fluvial deposition was occurring approximately 15,000 yr B.P., 10,000-8000 yr B.P., 7000–4800 yr B.P., 1650-600 yr B.P., and during the last 400 years. Colluvial deposition was ongoing mainly in the early and middle Holocene, while alluvial fan aggradation was proceeding primarily in the middle Holocene. Because of erosional unconformities, there is minimal potential for recovering buried sites dating to intervals between depositional eposides for most of the drainage basin. Preservation potentials for buried sites are greatest in fine-grained fluvial deposits dating to the late Pleistocene, early Holocene, and parts of the late Holocene, and in fine-grained colluvial deposits dating to the early and middle Holocene. This investigation demonstrates that within the study area, and perhaps throughout much of central Texas, a greater continuum of sediments and preservation potentials exists in late Quaternary alluvial deposits of rivers than in low-order tributaries.     

青藏高原晚新生代孢粉组合与古环境演化

对取自沱沱河盆地、通天河盆地、那曲盆地、东温泉盆地、乌郁盆地的新近纪湖相沉积与取自巴斯错、错鄂、纳木错的晚第四纪湖相沉积,进行孢粉分析;结合西宁—民和盆地、伦坡拉盆地、南木林盆地、渭河盆地的孢粉资料,分析青藏及邻区新生代晚期古植被和古环境的演化过程。发现渐新世晚期—中新世早期青藏与周边邻区的古环境发生了显著分异,导致青藏地区热带亚热带植物濒临消亡,与全球温暖气候条件和青藏地区古纬度环境不符,是青藏高原隆升的重要标志。中新世早期—第四纪晚期,青藏高原落叶阔叶林和针叶林呈现总体减少趋势和准周期性波动,与全球气候变化呈良好对应关系。第四纪晚期草本植物含量逐步增高,出现蒿—松—桦为主,针叶林、落叶阔叶林、灌木、草本植物混生的植被景观。     

第四纪洞庭盆地构造性质及动力机制探讨

通过地表观察和第四系钻孔对第四纪洞庭盆地及周缘隆起区的地貌、沉积和断裂构造等进行调查研究,进而厘定洞庭盆地构造活动特征暨构造性质,并探讨其动力机制。研究表明,早更新世-中更新世中期洞庭盆地具断陷性质,具体表现在:①在边界正断裂控制下盆地及其次级凹陷强烈沉降并充填厚度较大的河、湖相沉积;②临澧次级凹陷发育典型封闭性断陷湖盆沉积;③NNE向、NW向、EW向、SN向等多组方向控盆断裂的发育指示区域伸展构造体制。中更新世晚期以来洞庭盆地具坳陷性质,主要表现在:①中更新世晚期洞庭盆地与周缘隆起区发生较大幅度的构造抬升并遭受剥蚀,同时产生构造掀斜与褶皱变形;②晚更新世-全新世洞庭盆地坳陷沉降并接受沉积。分析提出洞庭盆地第四纪构造活动机制:早更新世-中更新世中期盆地的断陷沉降与地幔上隆背景下的深部物质迁出有关;中更新世晚期盆地构造抬升、掀斜和褶皱变形与深部迁出物质的回返以及板块尺度的物质运动和挤压作用有关;晚更新世和全新世盆地坳陷沉降与区域挤压应力下的坳陷或拱坳变形有关,可能同时伴有NE向的深部物质流动与拉张;不同级次和不同规模范围的深部物质迁移运动,造成了第四纪洞庭盆地与其内部次级构造单元之间的叠加关系。     

Climate variability during the Last Glacial Maximum in eastern Australia: evidence of two stadials?

A high‐resolution, multiproxy record encompassing the last glacial–interglacial transition is presented for Native Companion Lagoon, a coastal site in subtropical eastern Australia. Rates of aeolian sedimentation in the lake were established by trace element analyses of lacustrine sediments and used as a proxy for aridity. In conjunction with sediment moisture content, charcoal and pollen these provide a multi‐decadal record of palaeoenvironmental variability for the period 33–18 k cal. yr BP. Results indicate that the Last Glacial Maximum in eastern Australia spanned almost 10 k cal. yr, and was characterised by two distinct cold dry events at approximately 30.8 k cal. yr BP and 21.7 k cal. yr BP. Provenance of selected sediment samples by trace element geochemical fingerprinting shows that continental sourced aeolian sediments originated primarily from South Australia during these cold events and from sites in central Australia during the intervening time. Used in combination with a pollen record, the provenance of long‐travelled dust to mainland sites shows that the two cold events were characterised by frequent meridional dry southwesterly winds rather than zonal westerly airflow as previously believed. The intervening period was cool and humid, which we infer as being associated with more frequent southeasterly winds of maritime origin. These results lend support to previous research that indicates the Southern Hemisphere experienced a period of widespread climatic amelioration at the height of the last glacial known as the Antarctic Isotopic Maximum. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

遥感技术在新生代水文地质调查中的应用：以喀喇昆仑山温泉幅1∶25万区域水文地质调查为例

以ETM+遥感数据为主要遥感信息源,应用遥感技术对喀喇昆仑山温泉地区进行1∶25万图幅的水文地质调查。根据地质体的影像特征并与前人地质填图结果对比,建立了遥感解译标志。重点对新生代地层及与水文地质有关的要素等进行解译,编制1∶25万新生代遥感解译图。根据遥感图像对研究区的第四纪沉积物的成因类型和分布范围、地貌特征及河流、湖泊、泉群、地下水溢出带、湿地等水文地质特征进行了研究。基于区内地下水形成环境的差异,地下水资源体系可以分为南部河谷冲积层地下水系统和北部内流湖盆地下水系统。总结地下水的分布特征认为,南部冲积层储水条件较为优越,且补给充分,其地下水与地表水构成一个统一的水资源系统;北部内流湖盆地区多为湖相沉积,受气象因素制约,山前巨大的冲洪积扇存在丰富的地下水外,地下水资源总体贫乏。遥感水文地质调查表明,遥感技术在高原区域填图与水文地质调查中具有高效率低成本的优点,可以在青藏高原水文地质调查中发挥重要作用。     

稳定湖相沉积物和风成黄土粒度判别函数的建立及其意义

沉积物粒度变化主要受搬运介质、搬运方式、沉积环境和气候等多种因素的控制,通过粒度分析可判别沉积物的成因类型,推断其形成的沉积环境,解释环境演变。利用统计学方法对典型稳定湖相沉积物（罗布泊湖相样品２８２块,岱海湖相样品１２３块）和典型风成黄土（甘肃兰州榆中样品２６３块）粒度参数进行定量化分析,并经稳定湖相和风成沉积物验证,获得稳定湖相与风成沉积物的判别公式:Ｆ（湖相、风成沉积物） ＝２０．３６３Ｍｚ－５６．３７１Ｓｄ－６７．９２２Ｓｋ＋２３．５１６Ｋｇ－５５．６２６,若Ｆ＞０,为稳定湖相沉积物,反之,Ｆ＜０,则为风成沉积物。这为研究地史中稳定湖泊与风成环境 沉积物的鉴别提供粒度分析定量化判别方法,它对陆相古环境、干旱化事件和尘暴事件等研究具有十分重要的借鉴价值。     

Geochronology and Landscape Development Along the Middle Río Quequén Grande at the Paso Otero Locality,Pampa Interserrana,Argentina

The Paso Otero Locality is a cluster of archaeological sites within the middle Río Quequén Grande basin located in the northern coastal plain of Argentina. The valley fill is Holocene alluvial, eolian, and palustrine sediment, including the top of the Guerrero Member (∼10,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.), upper Río Salado Member (∼3000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.), and lower La Postrera Formation (∼2400 ¹⁴C yr B.P.). Regional soils include the Puesto Callejón Viejo (10,000 to 9400 ¹⁴C yr B.P.) and the Puesto Berrondo (∼4800 ¹⁴C yr B.P.). Radiocarbon sampling of buried A‐horizons on both sides of the river produced 17 dates considered reliable. The geoarchaeological information allows exploration of the implications for the formation of the archaeological record. Similar geological processes of differential intensity have resulted in contexts of different archaeological resolution and integrity. The Paso Otero Locality provides both a local and regional view of late Quaternary events and processes for the middle basin of the Río Quequén Grande.