长江中下游地区下蜀黄土磁化率曲线比较研究

通过对镇江大港剖面地层结构和磁化率曲线特征的分析研究,以及与相邻地区风尘堆积研究成果的比较,认为长江中下游地区中更新世以来,经历了七次大的古气候冷暖旋回,旋回变化幅度较北方黄土共要小得多,冷期和暖期都存在着频繁的小尺度的气候冷暖波动,并可与深海氧同位素曲线相比较;另外,在镇江下蜀黄土磁化率测量中还发现,地下水的浸泡对剖面样品的磁化率有着较大的影响。     

东秦岭地区黄土堆积的岩石磁学特征及磁化率增强机制探索

对东秦岭地区洛南盆地的上白川、刘湾和丹江上游的二龙山黄土剖面进行了岩石磁学研究。结果表明,大部分黄土和古土壤样品的磁性矿物以磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿为主,古土壤中亚铁磁性矿物的含量比黄土的多,极少数黄土样品以反铁磁性矿物为主。亚铁磁性矿物和反铁磁性矿物的含量随成土作用增强而增加,成土作用形成的细粒亚铁磁性矿物包括超顺磁性和单畴（似单畴）颗粒,但以单畴和（或）似单畴为主。古土壤磁化率增强与这些土壤成因的细粒亚铁磁性矿物含量有关,显示出受气候变化控制的特点。东秦岭地区黄土岩石磁学性质与黄土高原地区的相似,但也存在一定差异,而且三个剖面之间磁化率值整体差别较大。温湿的气候和复杂的山区地形可能是导致这种差异的原因。     

新疆伊犁晚全新世风成沙-古土壤序列磁化率特征及气候变化

选择新疆伊犁河谷塔克尔莫乎尔沙漠古风成沙-古土壤沉积剖面为研究对象,通过73块样品的磁化率及其与TOC、CaCO3、Fe2O3和粒度组成的相关分析,并以OSL测年为时间标尺,讨论剖面沉积的磁化率变化机制及其古气候意义。结果表明:剖面低频磁化率（χlf）与16～250 μm百分含量为正相关,即低频磁化率χlf变化主要受粗组分含量变化的影响。其中,古风成沙χlf值多高于古土壤,这与我国季风区沙漠沉积的磁化率变化特征相反。根据剖面磁化率及各种环境指标综合分析,研究区3.7 kaBP以来的气候变化可划分为5个阶段:3.71～3.06 kaBP凉湿、3.06～2.78 kaBP冷干、2.78～2.10 kaBP凉湿、2.10～0.50 kaBP冷湿、0.50～0.00 kaBP温干。晚全新世气候变化与周边地区古气候记录有较好的一致性,并与同期北大西洋表层海温变化事件呈现很好的遥相关,总体上表现为相对暖干、凉湿的典型西风气候变化模式。     

甘肃临洮晚更新世黄土环境变迁

对甘肃临洮县塔湾乡晚更新世黄土-古土壤序列的粒度、磁化率两个环境代用指标进行综合分析, 可划分出以下7个气候阶段: (1) 距底18.5m (92.478.8ka), 平均粒径24.42μm, 平均磁化率716.8×10-6SI, 年均温度7.8℃, 年均降水量500mm, 气候温暖较湿; (2) 距底8.514.8m (78.865.3ka), 平均粒径26.83μm, 平均磁化率为442.3×10-6SI, 年均温度5.2℃, 年均降水量370mm, 气候温干; (3) 距底14.820.3m (65.357.3ka), 平均粒径25.94μm, 平均磁化率320.7×10-6SI, 年均温度3.5℃, 年均降水量280mm, 气候温干偏凉; (4) 距底20.324.9m (57.347.7ka), 平均粒径25.23μm, 平均磁化率516.4×10-6SI, 年均温度6.0℃, 年均降水量410mm, 气候温干偏湿; (5) 距底24.929.4m (47.740.9ka), 平均粒径25.46μm, 平均磁化率299.4×10-6SI, 年均温度在3.1℃, 年均降水量270mm, 气候温干偏凉; (6) 距底29.434.2m (40.932.4ka), 平均粒径21.46μm, 平均磁化率405.5×10-6SI, 年均温度4.7℃, 年均降水量350mm, 气候温干偏湿; (7) 距底34.239m (32.4ka以后), 平均粒径188.89μm, 平均磁化率381.1×10-6SI, 年均温度4.4℃, 年均降水量330mm, 气候温干.这些环境变迁阶段与区域环境变迁具有较好的可对比性, 其中Ⅰ阶段相当于MIS5温暖期; Ⅱ阶段和Ⅲ阶段相当于MIS4降温期; Ⅳ阶段、Ⅴ阶段和Ⅵ阶段相当于MIS3的气候温暖期; Ⅶ阶段相当于MIS2降温期.但与邻区兰州九洲台和若尔盖RM孔相比, 同时期临夏地区气候明显偏温偏湿.      

贵州安顺新民二叠系-三叠系界线剖面磁化率变化及古气候环境意义

贵州安顺新民二叠系-三叠系界线剖面磁化率测试结果表明,该剖面二叠系磁化率整体偏低（平均6.4×10-8 m3/kg）,界线之上磁化率快速增加并相对稳定在1.3×10-7 m3/kg附近,与华南其他二叠系-三叠系剖面磁化率变化趋势相同;与陆源孢粉丰度、TiO2曲线的同步变化趋势表明,新民剖面磁化率主要来自陆源物质。结合磁化率、地球化学指标的变化特征,将源区P-T之交古气候划分为3个阶段:阶段Ⅰ（1 2层中部）为化学风化作用较强的温暖潮湿的气候条件;阶段Ⅱ（2层上部 P-T界线）整体处于较强化学风化作用条件下温热潮湿的气候环境,变化较为频繁,表现为温润/湿热交替;阶段Ⅲ（P-T界线之上）物理风化加强,化学风化明显减弱,经短暂“过渡段”,气候总体转变为干热的条件。     

关中泾阳塬全新世黄土剖面磁化率的古气候阶段划分

通过对陕西关中地区泾阳南塬寨头村和泾阳县新庄村典型剖面全新世黄土-古土壤地层的岩性描述、地层划分和对比,结合泾阳县新庄村AMS¹⁴C的年代测定和其他学者的测年数据,建立了该地区全新世以来黄土沉积年代序列。根据磁化率气候替代指标显示的曲线特征,这一替代指标在剖面上的变化规律以及该黄土剖面所反映的东亚冬、夏季风强弱变化特点,表明了关中地区的气候波动与中国西北地区及全球气候变化的总趋势具有一致性,全新世以来在全球变化背景下关中地区气候变化表现为气候演化的周期性、不稳定性和趋势性。进而对该剖面磁化率曲线特征与其他学者的孢粉谱建立的温度曲线对比,对关中地区全新世以来古气候的阶段性进行了详细分析和论证。将关中地区1 万a以来的气候演变划分为7个气候阶段：第1阶段为10.0～9.0 kaB.P.冷温转换的阶段;第2阶段为9.0～7.0 kaB.P.暖冷波动阶段;第3阶段为7.0～6.0 kaB.P.温暖阶段;第4阶段为6.0～5.0 kaB.P.较温暖阶段;第5阶段为5.0～3.4 kaB.P.暖冷波动阶段;第6阶段为3.4～2.0 kaB.P.气温先降后升阶段;第7阶段为2.0 kaB.P.至现在温暖半湿润、半干旱阶段。     

Early Cretaceous Climate Changes Recorded in Magnetic Susceptibility and Color Index Variations of the Lower Liupanshan Group, Central China

This study carried out comprehensive analysis on sedimentology, magnetic susceptibility(χlf) and color data of the continental sediments of the Liupanshan Group in Central China so as to obtain climatic change information during the 129.14–122.98 Ma interval. Based on the results of the ?lf and of the redness(a*), the section can be divided into two segments:(1) 129.14–126.3 Ma, with the lowest ?lf values and strongly variable relatively high values of redness and(2) 126.3–122.98 Ma, with high ?lf values and relatively low redness. Analysis of the lithology and facies as well as the magnetic minerals and their contents points to a detrital origin of the magnetic minerals and this allow us to interpret the relationship between magnetic susceptibility variations and climate changes. Our study shows that the climate was significantly dry and hot during the whole studied interval although the interval between 126.3 Ma and 122.98 was a little bit cooler with increased humidity.     

Variations in Chemical Composition of Clay Minerals and Magnetic Susceptibility of Hydrothermally Altered Rocks in the Hishikari Epithermal Gold Deposit, SW Kyushu, Japan

Hydrothermal alteration, involving chiefly chlorite and illite, is extensively distributed within host rocks of the Pleistocene Hishikari Lower Andesites (HLA) and the Cretaceous Shimanto Supergroup (SSG) in the underground mining area of the Hishikari epithermal gold deposit, Kagoshima, Japan. Approximately 60% of the mineable auriferous quartz‐adularia veins in the Honko vein system occur in sedimentary rocks of the SSG, whereas all the veins of the Yamada vein system occur in volcanic rocks of the HLA. Variations in the abundance and chemical composition of hydrothermal minerals and magnetic susceptibility of the hydrothermally altered rocks of the HLA and SSG were analyzed. In volcanic rocks of the HLA, hydrothermal minerals such as quartz, chlorite, adularia, illite, and pyrite replaced primary minerals. The amount of hydrothermal minerals in the volcanic rocks including chlorite, adularia, illite, and pyrite as well as the altered and/or replaced pyroxenes and plagioclase phenocrysts increases toward the veins in the Honko vein system. The vein‐centered variation in mineral assemblage is pronounced within up to 25 m from the veins in the peripheral area of the Honko vein system, whereas it is not as apparent in the Yamada vein system. The hydrothermal minerals in sandstone of the SSG occur mainly as seams less than a few millimeters thick and are sporadically observed in halos along the veins and/or the seams. The alteration halos in sandstone of the SSG are restricted to within 1 m of the veins. In the peripheral area of the Honko vein system, chlorite in volcanic rocks is characterized by increasing in Al in its tetrahedral layer and the Fe/Fe + Mg ratio toward the veins, while illite in volcanic rocks has relatively low K and a restricted range of Fe/Fe + Mg ratios. Temperature estimates derived from chlorite geothermometry rise toward the veins within the volcanic rocks. The magnetic susceptibility of tuff breccia of the HLA varies from 21 to less than 0.01 × 10^?3 SI within a span of 40 m from the veins and has significant variation relative to that of andesite (27–0.06 × 10^?3 SI). The variation peripheral to the Honko vein system correlates with an increase in the abundance of hematite pseudomorphs after magnetite, the percentage of adularia and chlorite with high Fe/Fe + Mg ratios, and the degree of plagioclase alteration with decreasing distance to the veins. In contrast, sedimentary rocks of the SSG maintain a consistent magnetic susceptibility across the alteration zone, within a narrow range from 0.3 to 0.2 × 10^?3 SI. Magnetic susceptibility of volcanic rocks of the HLA, especially tuff breccia, could serve as an effective exploration tool for identifying altered volcanic rocks.     

超高压榴辉岩退变质作用对岩石磁化率的影响

系统测量了中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD) 主孔10 0~ 2 0 0 0m超高压榴辉岩的磁化率及其各向异性, 并进行了相应的岩石学和矿物学分析.研究结果表明, 不同退变质程度榴辉岩的磁化率特征具有明显差别: 新鲜-弱退变质榴辉岩对应超高压榴辉岩相, 平均体积磁化率κ=1.4× 10-3SI, 磁化率各向异性度Pj=1.0 9, 磁性载体主要是顺磁性矿物石榴子石和绿辉石; 中等-强退变质榴辉岩对应角闪岩相, κ =5.1× 10-3SI, Pj=1.2 0, 磁性载体主要是退变质所产生的磁铁矿和钛铁矿-钛磁铁矿; 完全退变质榴辉岩对应绿帘角闪岩相-绿片岩相, κ =1.3× 10-3SI, Pj=1.08, 磁性载体主要来自顺磁性矿物角闪石、绿帘石、黑云母等.该研究为超高压变质岩石地区磁异常的解释提供了基础数据和重要的科学约束, 同时也为大陆深俯冲峰期变质岩石和折返阶段岩石退变质程度提供了磁化率鉴别特征.      

铜陵鸡冠山硫铁矿废矿堆积区的重金属分布与磁化率变化

应用ICP-AES、EMPA和矿物磁测,对铜陵市鸡冠山硫铁矿废矿堆积区的废矿及周围进行系统分析.发现不同堆放时间的废矿样品中重金属含量的变化规律不同,在堆放时间为10年和6年的剖面(分别为XO、XM剖面)呈现富集-淋滤-富集的变化模式,而在堆放时间<3年的剖面(XN剖面)呈现富集-淋滤的变化模式.结合重金属迁移的特性,证明重金属对周边的生态环境存在着潜在的危害性.同时还分析了风化程度不同的XO、XM、XN剖面样品中磁化率与重金属的关系,证实两者之间存在较好的相关性.磁化率是重金属含量变化的一个有效指数,它的研究为重金属污染研究提供了一个新的方法.     

成都经济区土壤磁化率特征及其环境意义

通过对54个根系土和14条土壤剖面土磁参数与化学组成的分析测试、以及根系土相对应的水稻籽实样品化学分析结果,较系统地总结了成都经济区土壤磁化率特征。结果表明：①土壤磁化率在数值上主要受成土母质控制;②在根系土壤样品中,根系土磁化率比其下层土壤磁化率有不同程度的增加;③不同类型土壤的磁化率均与土壤中Cd含量呈正相关,并对土壤污染程度有较好的指示性;④利用磁化率可以对土壤进行初步分类。     

新疆阿克苏地区中、上奥陶统碳酸盐岩磁化率与层序地层关系

通过对新疆阿克苏地区中、上奥陶统185块碳酸盐岩样品的磁化率测量和统计,结合碳酸盐岩微相分析和层序地层研究,探讨了碳酸盐岩磁化率变化与沉积环境、层序界面、准层序(组)等之间的关系。研究结果表明:深水低能环境下沉积的钙质泥岩、瘤状灰岩、泥灰岩等通常对应于磁化率低值,且磁化率曲线较为平直;浅水高能环境下形成的含鲕粒砂屑灰岩、鲕粒灰岩等通常对应于磁化率高值;碳酸盐岩地层中淹没型层序界面对应于磁化率测量值的明显减小;准层序(组)的上部单元碳酸盐岩磁化率值比下部单元明显增大,并且其曲线常呈高频振荡状。     

江汉平原湖区周老镇钻孔磁化率和有机碳稳定同位素特征及其古气候意义

江汉平原地处我国东西、南北自然环境的过渡地带, 该地带距今30ka (大约相当于MIS3阶段) 以来的气候变化是研究过去全球气候变化的重要时段之一, 已越来越引起人们的关注.在精确测年的基础上, 对采自江汉平原湖区周老镇钻孔(ZL01) 沉积物柱样的磁化率和有机碳稳定同位素进行了处理和分析, 其结果表明: (1) 该区磁化率和有机碳稳定同位素值的变化特点具有较好的一致性和可对比性, 它们与古气候的关系为: 磁化率的高值、有机碳稳定同位素的偏正值与偏冷、偏干的气候环境相对应; 反之与偏温暖湿润的气候环境相对应. (2) 根据磁化率和有机碳稳定同位素值的变化特点将本区30 kaB. P.以来的古气候分为3个大的气候演化阶段, 在每一个大的气候演化阶段中又可分为若干次小的气候演变阶段.这3个大的气候演化阶段分别为阶段Ⅰ : 其年龄约为30 000~ 14 100 aB. P., 磁化率和δ13C的平均值分别为655.69 × 10-6 SI和-23.15 × 10-3, 均为本区最高值并且曲线波动较大; 阶段Ⅱ : 相应时段为14 100 ~ 3 540 aB. P., 磁化率平均值为较低值369.38 × 10-6SI和δ13C为偏负值(- 27.29 × 10-3), 相对较稳定; 阶段Ⅲ : 年代相当于3 540 ~ 650 aB. P., 平均磁化率为本区最低值311.0 × 10-6 SI, δ13C平均值为- 24.49 × 10-3, 且曲线波动较大. (3) 磁化率与有机碳稳定同位素值发生突变处可能是突发性温度事件的反映.      

中更新世以来松嫩平原夏季风演化:来自哈尔滨黄土的磁化率、地球化学和总有机碳记录

哈尔滨黄土位于松嫩平原东北部,处于欧亚大陆中纬度干旱—半干旱地带的东部边缘,是季风和非季风区的过渡地带,对季风气候的变化非常敏感。然而,由于沉积档案露头的缺乏,使得该地区的气候变化研究极为薄弱。为此,我们对哈尔滨黄土进行了磁化率、总有机碳（TOC）和地球化学测试,并结合小波分析,对松嫩平原中更新世以来的夏季风演变及其控制机制进行研究。结果表明,中更新世以来松嫩平原的夏季风演化分为两个阶段：1） 460～180 ka时期,哈尔滨黄土较低的化学风化程度和TOC值指示了弱的夏季风强度;另外,在此时期还存在3个次一级的夏季风的微弱增强,叠加在夏季风强度偏弱这一大趋势之上。2） 180 ka～至今,哈尔滨黄土—古土壤序列的磁化率、化学风化程度和TOC值呈现出逐渐增大的趋势,表明东亚夏季风强度逐渐增强。通过哈尔滨黄土与邻区赤峰黄土和黄土高原洛川黄土的磁化率和粒度综合对比分析,表明松嫩平原首先响应间冰期夏季风主导的温度升高及降水增加带来的气候变化,但这种响应的持续时间偏短;哈尔滨黄土记录了360～340 ka和280～250 ka两次显著的夏季风减弱的气候现象,这是全球气候和区域环境变化综合作用的结果。小波分析结果表明,哈尔滨黄土—古土壤序列磁化率小波变换的主导周期为98 ka（100 ka）,结合海平面温度、全球CO₂浓度、60°N太阳辐射量、深海氧同位素综合对比分析,表明松嫩平原夏季风演化主要受全球冰量驱动;36 ka和44 ka（40 ka）倾角周期以及最低振荡29 ka周期的出现,表明倾角驱动的低纬太阳辐射变化对松嫩平原夏季风起到微弱调控作用,而岁差驱动的低纬太阳辐射变化对松嫩平原影响较小。     

大别山北麓黄土-古土壤Rb、Sr与磁化率及其古环境意义

对大别山北麓0.78 Ma以来的黄土-古土壤样品的磁化率及Rb和Sr的地球化学特征研究表明,相对高的w(Rb)和w(Rb)/w(Sr)值及低w(Sr)值指示夏季风占优势的湿润时期,对应古土壤层;相对低的w(Rb)和w(Rb)/w(Sr)值及高w(Sr)值指示冬季风占优势的干旱期,磁化率相对较低,对应黄土层。剖面的w(Rb)/w(Sr)值自下至上降低反映大别山北麓地区的风化作用逐渐减弱,也揭示自0.78 Ma以来气候具有由湿向干的趋势;磁化率与w(Rb)/w(Sr)值的对比分析表明,它们的变化曲线存在显著不同,原因可能是由于磁化率在古土壤中的增强机制比较复杂所致,w(Rb)/w(Sr)值作为气候替代指标比磁化率更灵敏。与洛川剖面相比,大别山黄土-古土壤的w(Rb)较高而w(Sr)较低及Rb、Sr较强的分异能力特征反映了大别山气候整体较为温湿,沉积物遭受的风化程度更强。     

江汉平原江陵剖面有机碳含量、碳同位素和磁化率的古气候意义

湖泊中的有机碳及其同位素与磁化率指标广泛应用于古气候的重建,但由于各地自然条件的差异,其气候意义具有一定的区域性.对江汉平原江陵剖面沉积物中磁化率参数、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)及其碳同位素δ(13C)值影响因素与环境气候关系的研究结果表明:沉积物总有机碳(TOC)的变化与总氮(TN)呈正相关关系,而总有机碳(TOC)与同位素δ(13C)、磁化率值则呈负相关关系,其组合可以很好地反映江汉平原地区的环境演变.在暖湿期,沉积物中总有机碳、总氮较高,有机质的δ(13C)值偏负,磁化率偏低;反之,在凉干期,沉积物中总有机碳、总氮较低,有机质的δ(13C)值偏正,磁化率偏高.江汉平原地区6 000 a PB以来的古气候演化经历了3个阶段:即冷干-暖湿-凉干的变化过程.     

Fission–track Ages and Magnetic Susceptibility of Cretaceous to Paleogene Volcanic Rocks in Southeastern Sikhote Alin, Far East Russia

Abstract: Seven zircon fission-track ages and 30 magnetic susceptibilities were measured on welded pyroclastic rocks from the Bogopol and Sijanov Groups of the Cretaceous to Paleogene volcanic rocks in the southeastern part of the eastern Sikhote Alin volcano-plutonic belt, Far East Russia. The fission-track ages range from 42. 7 Ma to 64. O Ma which indicate that both the groups are of Early Paleogene time. Two thirds of the samples from the Bogopol Group have high magnetic susceptibility values, more than 3 A- 10^-3 SI unit, which imply that they are of the magnetite–series, whereas the samples from the Sijanov Group show 3 A- 10^-3 to 8 A- 10^-5 SI unit which suggest this group of probably the ilmenite-series.
The Paleogene age and high magnetic susceptibility of the Bogopol Group are quite similar to the Paleogene igneous rocks of the San'in belt, Southwest Japan. This suggests, taking accounts of the opening of the Japan Sea, that the eastern Sikhote Alin volcano-plutonic belt continued to the San'in Belt, and that the Paleogene igneous rocks along the Japan Sea coast of Northeast Japan were situated along the volcanic front of the eastern Sikhote Alin volcano-plutonic belt.     

Chronology,stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of a Late Pleistocene to mid‐Holocene cave accumulation on Kangaroo Island,South Australia

Chronological, sedimentological and geochemical analyses of a clastic infill from Kelly Hill Cave (5K1), Kangaroo Island, document a palaeoenvironmental record that spans from the Late Pleistocene to the middle Holocene. We AMS radiocarbon‐dated bone collagen and U–Th‐dated speleothem to determine that fossiliferous sediments were deposited between >20 ka and 7 ka ago. Most of the 15 sedimentary layers are dominated by sand‐ and silt‐sized quartz that is physically and geochemically comparable with surface soils in the Kelly Hill area. Late Pleistocene and Last Glacial Maximum strata are represented primarily by homogeneous, poorly sorted quartz‐rich sediments that contain little organic matter, but include a thin layer composed largely of silt‐sized clay pellets that resemble sediments deflated from playa lakes. Microstructures observed in petrographic slides indicate that, with the exception of one layer, all sediments experienced little reworking once deposited in the cave. Some layers display pedogenic microstructures such as redeposited clays and opaline silica infilling that indicate postdepositional modification; that is, cave‐floor soil development. Overlying Holocene‐aged sediments also consist mainly of quartz but have much greater organic matter content. Some of these sediments have been strongly influenced by re‐precipitated organic matter that appears to have been transported into the cave via vadose drip water. The presence of dissolved organic matter in soil/vadose waters suggests a high vegetation density and acidic soils, which are congruent with the more equitable climatic conditions characteristic of the Holocene. The sediments described here provide a valuable palaeoenvironmental record that will facilitate future interpretation of associated vertebrate fossils.     

Dependence of Near-Surface Magnetic Susceptibility on Dust Accumulation Rate and Precipitation on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Magnetic susceptibility (MS) of surface sediment varies systematically across the Loess Plateau in central China, decreasing exponentially from >200×10⁻⁸ m³/kg at the northern margin of the Qinling Shan to ≤30×10⁻⁸ m³/kg near the southern margin of the Mu Us Desert. MS correlates highly with loess median grain size (r²=0.79), which decreases south-southeastward across the plateau. It also correlates with mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) (r²=0.58 and 0.60, respectively), and with their product MAT×MAP (r²=0.83), which is considered a measure of potential pedogenic activity. Because regional isopleths depicting grain size and the primary meteorological parameters are nearly parallel, it is difficult to determine their relative influence on MS. A simple MS model, based on the observed spatial variation in loess thickness, permits quantitative assessment of the effect of the dust accumulation rate on the MS signal of surface sediment and isolates the likely role of climate in the production of magnetic minerals. The model suggests that 84% of the loess MS variance is dictated by the diluting effect of dust and 10–11% is associated with meteorological factors, primarily precipitation. The observed and modeled relationships support hypotheses that attribute variations in MS in the loess-paleosol succession to varying rates of dust deposition and in situ production of magnetic minerals in the accretionary soils, both of which are controlled by monsoon climate.     

Chronology of the shell bar section and a discussion on the ages of the Late Pleistocene lacustrine deposits in the paleolake Qarhan, Qaidam basin

Shell bar, composed of abundant fossil shells of Corbicula fluminea müller and Corbicula largillierti philippi and located at the southeastern end (36°30′N, 96°12′E) of the paleolake Quarhan, is one of the most prominent features in the Qaidam basin. It is the highest site where such species of fossil shells have been found in the Late Pleistocene age. A 2.6-m-thick fresh profile was manually excavated to determine the formation ages and the scope of the high paleolake levels. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), conventional radiocarbon dating, and sector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy ²³⁰Th methods were used to investigate the reliability and accuracy of dating results in different laboratories. Ages of various components (e.g. acid residual and acid soluble fraction of the organic matter) from the same sample were determined. Age differences of a variety of materials (e.g. organic matter, fossil shells, and salt crystals), and age differences at the same sampling position were evaluated. Dating shows that the AMS ages given by alkali residue and acid soluble fractions vary greatly, e.g., from 124.5 cm upwards. The dates given by the acid soluble fraction were normal. Down the column, the dates show a reverse pattern and those of alkali residues, especially the lower part of the section, show an unstable pattern. These imply that organic matter had been influenced by two separate processes. One possible explanation is that the alkali residual fraction most likely had been contaminated by dead carbon-bearing reworked material because the study section is located near the edge of the paleolake and could have been easily influenced by old eroded deposits. Another is that the acid soluble fraction could have been contaminated by upward-flowing groundwater containing soluble organic matter. The amount of this soluble organic material should be very small because the strongest age reversal is in the lower part, where the TOC content remains low, meaning that the change of soluble organic fraction alters neither TOC content nor the δ ¹³C dramatically. It is concluded that a uniform mega-paleolake developed in the Qaidam basin in the northeastern Tibetan plateau between 39.7 and 17.5 ¹⁴C kaB.P. During the period when the high paleolake level of Qarhan was formed, the huge paleolake covered a vast area with dramatic lake level fluctuations. It is found that the ages determined may be influenced by either radioactive ¹⁴C variations of repeated deposition or content variations in the atmosphere. The ages given by fossil shells are 15–18 ka older than those given by organic matter. The large differences between the ages of fossil shells and organic matter might have resulted from the large water areas and huge water volume and the special location of the high-elevation Qaidam basin. This study also shows the reliability and accuracy of the ²³⁰Th dating method on the salt crystals but further study is needed to determine whether this method could be applied to the study area. __________ Translated from Quaternary Sciences, 2007, 27(4): 511–521 [译自: 第四纪研究]