Sulfide evolution in high-temperature to ultrahigh-temperature metamorphic rocks from Lützow–Holm Complex, East Antarctica

The high-temperature (HT) to ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphic rocks from Lützow–Holm Complex, East Antarctica show a systematic difference between sulfide assemblages in the rock matrix and those found as inclusions in the silicates stable in high-temperatures. Matrix sulfides are commonly pyrite with or without pentlandite and chalcopyrite. On the other hand, inclusion sulfides are pyrrhotite with or without pentlandite and chalcopyrite lamellae. When recalculated into integrated single-phase sulfide compositions, inclusion sulfides from the UHT region showed a wider range of solid–solution composition than the inclusion sulfides from the HT region. The host minerals of the sulfides with extreme solid–solution compositions are those stable at the peak of metamorphism such as orthopyroxene and garnet. One of the most extreme ones is included in orthopyroxene coexisting with sillimanite ± quartz, which is the diagnostic mineral assemblage of UHT metamorphism. These observations suggest that sulfide inclusions preserve their peak metamorphic compositions. Pyrrhotite did not revert to pyrite because of the closed system behavior of sulfur in inclusion sulfides. On the other hand, in the rock matrix where the open system behavior of sulfur is permitted, original sulfides were partly to completely altered by the later fluid activity.     

No significant ice-sheet expansion beyond present ice margins during the past 4500 yr at Rauer Group, East Antarctica

The history of glacial advances and retreats of the East Antarctic ice sheet during the Holocene is not well-known, due to limited field evidence in both the marine and terrestrial realm. A 257-cm-long sediment core was recovered from a marine inlet in the Rauer Group, East Antarctica, 1.8 km in front of the present ice-sheet margin. Radiocarbon dating and lithological characteristics reveal that the core comprises a complete marine record since 4500 yr. A significant ice-sheet expansion beyond present ice margins therefore did not occur during this period.     

内蒙古中东部查干淖尔湖流域7000年以来的气候演变

内蒙古中东部处于亚洲季风与西风带的过渡带上,对于季风强弱以及全球气候变化响应敏感。本文以内蒙古中东部查干淖尔湖为研究对象,采用该湖沉积剖面的AMS ¹⁴C测年、烧失量、粒度及端元组分等指标的分析,重建了近7000年以来内蒙古中东部地区的气候演变序列。结果表明,千年尺度上,7000年以来研究区气候逐步变干,但6900~5800cal.a B.P.和4500~2000cal.a B.P.期间气候相对湿润,5800~4500cal.a B.P.和2000~0cal.a B.P.时期气候干旱。中晚全新世以来千年尺度上的气候总体变干,与太阳辐射的逐步降低引起的东亚季风的减弱有关。百年尺度上,查干淖尔湖经历了5次较为明显的干旱事件,分别发生于5800~4700cal.a B.P.、3500~3100cal.a B.P.、2600~2100cal.a B.P.、1700~1200cal.a B.P.和560~370cal.a B.P.,这些干旱事件的发生,在定年误差范围内,与太阳活动减弱事件和北大西洋冰漂碎屑事件基本一致,表明百年尺度上东亚季风强度的变化受北半球高纬气候和太阳活动的共同影响。

     

Continuous record of environmental changes in Chukotka during the last 350 thousand years

The comprehensive study of the upper 1283 cm of sediment from Lake El’gygytgyn, which formed nearly 4 Ma ago following a meteorite impact in northern Chukotka, yielded the first continuous record of the extreme changes in the Beringian climate and vegetation from the middle Middle Pleistocene to recent time (equivalent of marine isotope stages of 1–7 and the upper part of isotope stage 8). During this period, the climate was warmer than at present between 8600 and 10 7000 ¹⁴C years and during the Late Pleistocene (isotope substage 5e, 116–128 ka ago). In 2003, the German-Russian-USA expedition continued studying sediments of Lake El’gygytgyn to obtain new evidence of the change in the vegetation cover in the Middle Pleistocene and the first information on the Middle Pleistocene interglacial (isotope stage 9; 297–347 ka ago). Pollen spectra characterizing the Middle Pleistocene interglacial are similar to spectra of the early stage of the Early Pleistocene interglacial and the climatic optimum in the Pleistocene to Holocene transitional period. The climatic history of Lake El’gygytgyn is basic for stratigraphic interpretations and correlations in the eastern sector of the Arctic. These data also expand our understanding of climatic changes that are studied within the framework of the “Pole-Equator-Pole Paleoclimate,” “Past Global Changes,” and other international projects.     

High‐Arctic climate conditions for the last 7000 years inferred from multi‐proxy analysis of the Bliss Lake record,North Greenland

The Arctic is more vulnerable to climate change than are mid latitudes. Therefore, palaeolimnological studies from the High Arctic are important in providing insights into the dynamics of the climate system. Here we present a multi‐proxy study from one of the world's northernmost lakes: Bliss Lake, Peary Land, Greenland. The early Holocene (10 850–10 480 cal. a BP) is characterized by increased erosion and gradually more marine conditions. Full marine conditions developed from 10 480 cal. a BP until the lake was isolated at 7220 cal. a BP. From its marine isolation at 7220 cal. a BP Bliss Lake becomes a lacustrine environment. Evidence from geochemical proxies (δ¹³C and total organic carbon) suggests that warmer conditions prevailed between 7220 and 6500 cal. a BP, corresponding to the Holocene thermal maximum, and from 3300 until 910 cal. a BP. From 850 to 500 cal. a BP colder climate conditions persisted. The transition from warmer to colder climate conditions taking place around 850 cal. a BP may be associated with the transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new Holocene relative sea‐level curve for Terra Nova Bay,Victoria Land,Antarctica

More than 100 radiocarbon dates of penguin guano and remains, shells and seal skin afford ages for raised beaches adjacent to Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. These dates permit construction of a new relative sea‐level curve that bears on the timing of deglaciation. Recession of the Ross Sea ice‐sheet grounding line from Terra Nova Bay occurred no earlier than 7200 ¹⁴C yr (8000 cal. yr) BP. Retreat along the Victoria Land coast may have been rapid, possibly contributing to eustatic sea‐level rise centred at ca. 7600 cal. yr BP. The presence of a significant amount of ice remaining in the Ross Sea Embayment in Holocene time lessens the chance that Antarctica contributed significantly to meltwater pulse 1A several thousand years earlier. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural Setting of the Neoarchean Terrains in the Commonwealth Bay Area (143-145°E), Terre Adélie Craton, East Antarctica

Geological maps of East Commonwealth Bay Unit (ECB), (Terre Adélie and Georges V Land, Antarctica) are presented with a summary of the main structural and metamorphic data for the region. The ECB unit was developed during Neoarchean_Paleoproterozoic event (at 2.5-2.42 Ga), with (i) granulite metamorphism at 9±1.5 kbar and 800±50°C in the lower crust section and amphibolite metamorphism (P=5 kbar, T=750°C) at the upper crustal levels; (ii) the lower crustal granulites were uplifted, and suffered local partial melting and retrogression to the amphibolite facies at 550±50°C_5 kbar. Granulites were extruded in the core of a crustal-scale anticlinal fold, but retrogressed only on the rims of the anticline. Crustal-scale folding, along with other structural features resulted from intense NE-SW shortening that prevailed during the Neoarchean orogenic cycle. Strike-slip and extensional motions were only minor components in that process; (iii) top-to-the-East thrusting and nappe piling had (at least locally) occurred under lower amphibolite to greenschist facies conditions. Finally, it seems that (iv) the Paleoproterozoic 1.7 Ga structural imprint may have only affected the rims of the Archean units. The tectonic context observed in the 1.7 Ga Cape Hunter phyllites features mainly an E-W shortening component and vertical extrusion. The eastern (Mertz) and western (Port Martin) parts of the Archean block were reactivated by localized dextral shearing.     

A high-resolution diatom-inferred palaeoconductivity and lake level record of the Aral Sea for the last 1600 yr

Formerly the world's fourth largest lake by area, the Aral Sea is presently undergoing extreme desiccation due to large-scale irrigation strategies implemented in the Soviet era. As part of the INTAS-funded CLIMAN project into Holocene climatic variability and the evolution of human settlement in the Aral Sea basin, fossil diatom assemblages contained within a sediment core obtained from the Aral Sea have been applied to a diatom-based inference model of conductivity (r² = 0.767, RMSEP = 0.469 log₁₀ μS cm^− 1). This has provided a high-resolution record of conductivity and lake level change over the last ca. 1600 yr. Three severe episodes of lake level regression are indicated at ca. AD 400, AD 1195–1355 and ca. AD 1780 to the present day. The first two regressions may be linked to the natural diversion of the Amu Darya away from the Aral Sea and the failure of cyclones formed in the Mediterranean to penetrate more continental regions. Human activity, however, and in particular the destruction of irrigation facilities are synchronous with these early regressions and contributed to the severity of the observed low stands.     

Late Quaternary vegetation,climate and fire dynamics inferred from the El Tiro record in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes

In order to study the stability and dynamics of mountain rainforest and paramo ecosystems, including the biodiversity of these ecosystems, the Holocene and late Pleistocene climate and fire variability, and human impact in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes, we present a high‐resolution pollen record from El Tiro Pass (2810 m elevation), Podocarpus National Park. Palaeoenvironmental changes, investigated by pollen, spores and charcoal analysis, inferred from a 127 cm long core spanning the last ca. 21 000 cal. yr BP, indicate that grass‐paramo was the main vegetation type at the El Tiro Pass during the late Pleistocene period. The grass‐paramo was rich in Poaceae, Plantago rigida and Plantago australis, reflecting cold and moist climatic conditions. During the early Holocene, from 11 200 to 8900 cal. yr BP, subparamo and upper mountain rainforest vegetation expanded slightly, indicating a slow warming of climatic conditions during this period. From 8900 to 3300 cal. yr BP an upper mountain rainforest developed at the study site, indicated by an increase in Hedyosmun, Podocarpaceae, Myrsine and Ilex. This suggests a warmer climate than the present day at this elevation. The modern subparamo vegetation became established since 3300 cal. yr BP at El Tiro Pass. Fires, probably anthropogenic origin, were very rare during the late Pleistocene but became frequent after 8000 cal. yr BP. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东南极冰盖内陆深处几个雪坑离子浓度的初步研究

对南极中山站-Dome A断面距海岸800～1 100 km(海拔2 850～3 760 m)的内陆深处3个雪坑进行了雪层剖面观测和雪样化学分析.氧同位素、可见层位特征与主要阴、阳离子浓度的剖面对比分析表明, 同位素季节变化信号不明显, 而太阳辐射冰壳与某些离子(如Na 、 Cl-等)浓度变化有较好的对应.研究区域主要的几种离子如Na 、 Cl-和SO2-4等与东南极内陆其它区域雪坑中的相似, 但NO-3和NH 4有较大差异.在高原中心区域, NO-3沉积后很大部分又逸散返回大气, 因而雪层中平均浓度很低但表面处的浓度却异常地高.在海拔2 850 m处, 各种离子的浓度随深度增加而增加, 在海拔3 750 m处则为相反趋势, 在海拔3 380 m处趋势不明显.如果离子沉降速率保持不变, 这种特征意味着近20 a来降雪积累速率在高原中心区域为减少趋势, 在海拔较低的区域则为增加趋势.在所有雪坑中, Na 和Cl-具有非常好的正相关性, Cl-/Na 为1.24～1.61, 略高于海水中的值(1.168), 说明Cl-虽然主要来源与于海盐, 但仍有一小部分为其它来源.非海盐SO2-4在不同雪坑中显示出不同特征, 对其是否能指示火山喷发等问题还有待于进一步探讨.     

Charnockite composition in relation to the tectonic evolution of East Antarctica

Charnockitic suites in central Dronning Maud Land (DML), Mac.Robertson Land (MRL), and the Bunger Hills area are compositionally varied and probably include both mantle and lower-crustal components. In this paper we present new geological and geochemical data on the DML charnockitic rocks, and compare their geochemistry with that of charnockitic rocks from several other Antarctic high-grade terranes, particularly MRL and the Bunger Hills. These areas have different geological histories and one of the main aims of this study is to investigate possible links between charnockite composition and the tectonic history of their host terranes. Antarctic charnockitic rocks form two distinct compositional groups. 510 Ma DML charnockites are relatively alkalic and ferroan, with high K₂O, Zr, Ga, Fe / Mg, and Ga / Al, and very low MgO, characteristic of A-type (alkaline, commonly anorogenic) granitoids. The more mafic DML rocks, at least, were derived by fractionation of a relatively alkaline high-P–Ti ferrogabbro parent magma. Most other early Palaeozoic charnockitic rocks in Antarctica are of similar composition. In contrast, MRL (c. 980 Ma) and Bunger Hills (c. 1170 Ma) charnockites are mainly calc-alkalic or calcic and magnesian, and the associated mafic components are tholeiitic. MRL and Bunger Hills charnockites are late-orogenic, whereas DML charnockites are post-orogenic, and appear to have been emplaced after post-collision extension and decompression. These two mineralogically and geochemically distinct charnockite groups may thus reflect a compositional trend in an evolving orogen, either accretional or collisional, respectively.     

东南极格罗夫山变质基性岩地球化学特征

东南极格罗夫山变质基性岩的地球化学研究表明，该区存在两类玄武岩，即洋岛型玄武岩（OIB）和洋中脊型玄武岩（MORB）。OIB型具有大体类似的地球化学性质，它们均富集Ti（TiO2＝2．68％）、REE＝（202μg/g）、LREE[（La/Yb)N＝4．8]、Ti/Y（＝343）、Zr／Y(＝3．1），具洋岛玄武岩的特征，推测岩浆来源于富休地幔源区（EM）。而MORB型以低Ti（TiO2＝1．1％－1．31％），明显低于OIB的P的含量（P2O5＝0．1％－0．2％），低REE（47－93μg/g）。LREE／HREE（2．27－2．54）、（La/Yb)N（＝1．30－1．62）为特征，具洋中脊玄武岩的特征。MORB和OIB组合的出现说明在泛非期该区可能存在过洋分。     

东南极格罗夫山镁铁质麻粒岩的变质作用

东南极内陆－格罗夫山存在一套经历了麻粒岩相变质作用的镁铁质麻粒岩和斜长角闪岩。变质反应结构显示该区多为单一的区域性麻粒岩相变质作用。但是，对含石榴石的镁铁质麻粒岩的详细工作则显示了包括3个阶段的近等温降压（ITD）的顺时针PT演化轨迹，M1：0．93GPa＞800℃：M2:0.65GPa,733-850℃;M3:0.46-0.61GPa，并有着与拉斯曼丘陵相似的演化历史。根据矿物组合和成分、变质反应结构及温压计算结果，格罗夫山镁铁质麻粒岩可能为高压麻粒岩。     

Post-glacial regional climate variability along the East Antarctic coastal margin—Evidence from shallow marine and coastal terrestrial records

We review the post-glacial climate variability along the East Antarctic coastline using terrestrial and shallow marine geological records and compare these reconstructions with data from elsewhere. Nearly all East Antarctic records show a near-synchronous Early Holocene climate optimum (11.5–9 ka BP), coinciding with the deglaciation of currently ice-free regions and the optimum recorded in Antarctic ice and marine sediment cores. Shallow marine and coastal terrestrial climate anomalies appear to be out of phase after the Early Holocene warm period, and show complex regional patterns, but an overall trend of cooling in the terrestrial records. A Mid to Late Holocene warm period is present in many East Antarctic lake and shallow coastal marine records. Although there are some differences in the regional timing of this warm period, it typically occurs somewhere between 4.7 and 1 ka BP, which overlaps with a similar optimum found in Antarctic Peninsula terrestrial records. The differences in the timing of these sometimes abrupt warm events in different records and regions points to a number of mechanisms that we have yet to identify. Nearly all records show a neoglacial cooling from 2 ka BP onwards. There is no evidence along the East Antarctic coastline for an equivalent to the Northern Hemisphere Medieval Warm Period and there is only weak circumstantial evidence in a few places for a cool event crudely equivalent in time to the Northern Hemisphere's Little Ice Age. There is a need for well-dated, high resolution climate records in coastal East Antarctica and particularly in Terre Adélie, Dronning Maud Land and Enderby Land to fully understand the regional climate anomalies, the disparity between marine and terrestrial records, and to determine the significance of the heterogeneous temperature trends being measured in the Antarctic today.     

东南极普里兹带高级变质作用演化

东南极普里兹带是经历泛非期高级变质和强烈变形的造山带,其内发现有经历格林维尔期高级变质事件的残块。格林维尔期变质矿物组合局部见于姐妹岛和赖于尔群岛,其高峰变质条件达到>950℃和>0.95GPa。泛非期高级变质作用是区域性的,其高峰变质并不像前人想象的那样只发生在中低压麻粒岩相条件下,而是高达850~950℃和0.90~0.95GPa。这些岩石随后经历了近等温减压过程,在760~860℃和0.55~0.70GPa的条件下达到了重新平衡,并进一步减压或近等压冷却至450~750℃和0.30~0.50GPa。同造山的紫苏花岗岩在减压伸展阶段侵位于格罗夫山地区的变质杂岩中,而晚-后造山的A型花岗岩、伟晶岩和花岗岩脉则遍布于整个普里兹带,从而构成一个完整的造山演化序列。由此可见,现有研究资料支持普里兹带是一条冈瓦纳超大陆在泛非期拼合的碰撞造山带的认识。     

A 16 000‐year record of vegetational change in south‐western Alaska as inferred from plant macrofossils and pollen

Pollen and macrofossil analyses of a sediment core from Beaver Pond (60° 37′ 14″ N, 154° 19′ W, 579 m a.s.l.) reveal a record of regional and local postglacial vegetation change in south‐western Alaska. The chronology is based on five AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) ¹⁴C ages obtained from terrestrial plant macrofossils. Pollen and macrofossil records suggest that open herb and shrub tundra with e.g. Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Artemisia, Vaccinium and Salix prevailed on the landscape before ca. 14 000 cal a BP. The shift from herb‐ to shrub‐dominated tundra (Salix, subsequent Betula expansion) possibly reflects climatic warming at the beginning of the Bølling period at ca. 14 700–14 500 and around 13 500 cal a BP. Vegetation (Betula shrub tundra) remained relatively stable until the early Holocene. Macrofossil influx estimates provide evidence for greater biomass in Betula shrub tundra during the early postglacial period than today. Charcoal accumulation rates suggest tundra fire activity was probably greater from ca. 12 500 to 10 500 cal a BP, similar to results from elsewhere in Alaska. The pollen and macrofossil records of Beaver Pond suggest the prevalence of low shrub tundra (shrub Betula, Betula nana, Vaccinium, Ledum palustre, Ericaceae) and tall shrub tundra (Alnus viridis ssp. crispa, Salix) between 10 000 and 4000 cal a BP. This Holocene vegetation type is comparable with that of the modern treeless wet and moist tundra in south‐western Alaska. The expansion of Picea glauca occurred ～4000 cal a BP, much later than that of A. viridis (ssp. crispa), whereas in central and eastern Alaska Picea glauca expanded prior to or coincident with Alnus (viridis). At sites located only 200–400 km north‐east of Beaver Pond (Farewell and Wien lakes), Picea glauca and Betula forests expanded 8000–6000 cal a BP. Unfavourable climatic conditions and soil properties may have inhibited the expansion and establishment of Picea across south‐west Alaska during the mid and late Holocene. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东南极晚新元古—早古生代构造热事件及其在冈瓦纳超大陆重建中的意义

在东南极大陆内部及边缘发育3条晚新元古代—早古生代造山带,即东非造山带（南延部分）、普里兹造山带和罗斯造山带。东非造山带的南延部分主要出露于吕措—霍尔姆湾—毛德王后地—沙克尔顿岭地区,其内发育蛇绿岩、榴辉岩相超镁铁岩及逆冲—推覆构造,因而被解释为东、西冈瓦纳陆块拼合的缝合线。罗斯造山带主要出露于横贯南极山脉地区,其内保存有大陆裂解、洋壳俯冲和地体增生的地质纪录,代表冈瓦纳超大陆的活动大陆边缘。普里兹造山带主要出露于普里兹湾和登曼冰川,因其位于从前假设的统一东冈瓦纳陆块的内部,加之缺少蛇绿混杂岩、岛弧增生杂岩和高压变质岩（如蓝片岩或榴辉岩）等与大洋板块俯冲作用密切相关的岩石,所以当前存在着碰撞造山成因和板内改造成因两种不同的认识。普里兹造山带构造性质的确定不仅决定了冈瓦纳超大陆的汇聚过程和方式,也制约了罗迪尼亚超大陆的形成和演化过程。因此,开展普里兹造山带的研究对于揭示新元古代—早古生代的全球构造演化具有重要的科学意义。