Concentration of trace elements and their sources in a snow pit from Yuzhu Peak, north-east Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

In order to understand the potential influence of pollution from human activity on the natural cycle of trace elements in the atmosphere over the eastern Kunlun mountains, north-eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, concentrations of Al, Fe, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Ni, Zn, Pb, Sb, Sr, U and V in a 75 cm-deep snow pit recovered from 5,800 m a.s.l. of the Yuzhu Peak Glacier on October 25, 2009, were determined by a sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results indicate that concentrations of the measured trace elements vary by orders of magnitude from one element to another ranging from the minimum value 1.2 pg/g (U) to the maximum value 293 ng/g (Fe); the value of Max/Min ranges from 7 pg/g (Sd) to 358 pg/g (Li). EFc values of measured trace elements show that there are other important sources except dust for Cd, Sb, Zn, Pb and Cu. Comparison of the concentrations of the measured trace elements with those in other areas in the Tibetan Plateau indicates that trace element concentrations for Yuzhu Peak are lower than those in east Tianshan and Muztagh Ata (Pamirs). Concentrations of some trace elements are also lower than those in East Rongbuk Glacier. However, concentrations of all measured trace elements are extensively higher than those in Greenland and the Antarctic.     

Rare earth elements of aeolian deposits in Northern China and their implications for determining the provenance of dust storms in Beijing

This paper contributes to a better understanding of the source of dust storms in northern China and the relationship between these sources and other aeolian sediments in this region. Sediment samples in potential source areas were collected from the Hunshandake Sandy Land, Heaven Desert, the loess deposits of the Bashang area, the mountainous basins and valleys north of Beijing and from the Badain Jaran Desert and Hulunbaier Sandy Land (Fig. 1). Dust samples were collected in Beijing during two dust storms in March 2002 and April 2006. The laboratory methods used in this study included measurements of abundance of trace elements, in particular the rare earth elements (REEs), mineral assemblages and grain size. The REE contents, Eu and Ce anomalies show clear differences between various deposits. Provenance is considered to be the key factor influencing REE patterns in the study areas. The REE abundances and patterns indicate that the aeolian sand north of Beijing, such as in the Heaven Desert, is mainly of local origin rather than from desert encroachment from the north. The mineral grains carried in dust storms, however, are highly mixed, and may come partly from local sources but mainly from distant desert regions in western China.     

稀土元素的环境生物地球化学循环研究现状

本文对稀土元素在农用领域的研究进展及其在土壤、水体和植物中的分布、迁移与归宿特征作一系统总结,并对该领域的发展趋势进行了简要的说明。随着自然和人为因素造成的环境中稀土元素的增加,进而产生对生态环境和人类健康的影响,已引起全社会的关注。土壤中稀土元素的存在形态是生态环境效应和生物利用性的的重要参量。目前的实验结果在不同地区和不同土壤剖面中稀土元素的存在形态不尽相同,推测主要与其母质的组成及所处气候等环境条件相关。最近国际上已对稀土元素的水化学过程进行了较广泛的研究,水体中稀土分布受水体的化学参量（如pH, 有机质等）和水化学过程影响,含量高低与人为活动有直接关系。植物中稀土元素的分布通常与土壤中稀土的含量多少相一致,在外施稀土的条件下,在施用后短期内稀土在各器官分布与施用部位密切相关,目前对植物体内稀土元素存在位置和赋存状态的实验结果差别明显,对植物中稀土元素的超富集机理不清等问题尚待进一步探究。     

柴达木盆地灌丛沙丘稀土元素地球化学特征与物源

分析了柴达木盆地灌丛沙丘剖面风沙沉积物中稀土元素及其相关特征参数、分布模式和（La/Yb）_N-REE（稀土元素）物源特征。结果表明：灌丛沙丘剖面风沙沉积物中REE值100.52~163.47 μg·g^-1,接近于新疆灰钙土,而略低于中国黄土;LREE（轻稀土元素）值87.80~144.65 μg·g^-1,占总量86.62%~90.53%,决定了稀土总量的变化。总体表现为LREE相对富集,而HREE（重稀土元素）丰度相对较低,分馏特征基本相似,呈斜"L"型缓右倾斜,Eu大致呈现中度负异常的分配模式,而Ce未表现出明显异常,且更多地反映了其物源特性。其物源主要由东昆仑北麓冲积扇碎屑沉积物质经过风化、搬运、沉积而成,而并非来自于干旱期的湖底剥蚀物。总体而言,灌丛沙丘沉积过程稀土元素分异特征反映了灌丛沙丘发育时期柴达木盆地总体处于干燥的气候环境,化学风化作用弱,植被发育相对较差,成壤作用不明显。     

Sedimentary cycles of trace elements in Salawusu River Valley since 150 ka BP

The paper makes some analyses on 11 trace elements in the Milanggouwan stratigraphical section in the Salawusu River valley, which is regarded as a prototype geology-palaeoclimate record since 150 ka BP. The results show that the content and variation of trace elements has experienced remarkably regular changes in the pace with coarse and fine sedimentary cycles of palaeo-aeolian sands to its overlying fluvio-lacustrine facies or/and palaeosols. The trace elements with chemical properties of relatively active (V, Sr, Cu, Ni, As) and relatively stable (P, Pb, Rb, Mn, Nb, Zr) are a manifestation of the corresponding 27 changeable cycles between peak and valley values, appearing a multi-fiuctuational process line of relative gathering and migration since then. The low numerical value distribution of these two types of trace elements in the aeolian sand facies represents erosion and accumulation under wind force during the cold-dry climate. Whereas their enrichments in both fluvio-lacustrine facies and palaeosols are related to the valley’s special low-lying physiognomic position between the Ordos Plateau and the Loess Plateau under the warm and humid climate conditions. The above relatively migrated and gathered change of the trace elements is the result of 27 climatic cycles of cold-dry and warm-humid, which is probably caused by repeated alternations of winter monsoon and summer monsoon in the Mu Us Sandy Land influenced by the climate vicissitudes in northern hemisphere during glacial and interglacial periods since 150 ka BP.     

Sedimentary cycles of trace elements in Salawusu River Valley since 150 ka BP

The paper makes some analyses on 11 trace elements in the Milanggouwan stratigraphical section in the Salawusu River valley, which is regarded as a prototype geology-palaeoclimate record since 150 ka BP. The results show that the content and variation of trace elements has experienced remarkably regular changes in the pace with coarse and fine sedimentary cycles of palaeo-aeolian sands to its overlying fluvio-lacustrine facies or/and palaeosols. The trace elements with chemical properties of relatively active (V, Sr, Cu, Ni, As) and relatively stable (P, Pb, Rb, Mn, Nb, Zr) are a manifestation of the corresponding 27 changeable cycles between peak and valley values, appearing a multi-fluctuational process line of relative gathering and migration since then. The low numerical value distribution of these two types of trace elements in the aeolian sand facies represents erosion and accumulation under wind force during the cold-dry climate. Whereas their enrichments in both fluvio-lacustrine facies and palaeosols are related to the valley’s special low-lying physiognomic position between the Ordos Plateau and the Loess Plateau under the warm and humid climate conditions. The above relatively migrated and gathered change of the trace elements is the result of 27 climatic cycles of cold-dry and warm-humid, which is probably caused by repeated alternations of winter monsoon and summer monsoon in the Mu Us Sandy Land influenced by the climate vicissitudes in northern hemisphere during glacial and interglacial periods since 150 ka BP.     

南海南部陆坡晚第四纪沉积物稀土元素及环境意义

采用电感耦合等离子质谱(ICP-MS)法,对南海南部86GC柱状沉积物样品的稀土元素(REE)含量进行测量,并对其地球化学特征进行系统分析。结果表明,自大约31kaBP以来,该海域的沉积物具有基本相同的物质来源,物源区的气候环境变化可能是影响沉积物中REE指标纵向变化的主要因素。各指标的综合分析显示,末次冰期南海南部海域的沉积物源区具有较强的化学风化作用,冰后期则相对减弱,这就意味着南海南部及周边地区末次冰期期间依然盛行热带气候,冰后期的气候环境则可能较为多变。另外,在柱状样深度分别为17cm和100cm处均记录了指标的突变,前者可能是8k事件在南海南部的记录,后者代表的事件还有待进一步研究。     

微量元素记录的化学风化和气候变化：以巴丹吉林沙漠查格勒布鲁剖面为例

查格勒布鲁剖面包含7种类型的沉积相，地层中微量元素的总质量分数大致按照“风成砂→湖相层→黄土→古土壤”的顺序递增。多数微量元素的质量分数在剖面中的演化趋势与沉积物的中值粒烃和硅酸系数的大小呈负相关。与洛川剖面的马兰黄土相比，查格勒布鲁剖面上更新统地层处于相对微弱的化学风化环境，表明，晚更新世期间，巴丹吉林沙漠一带的干湿变化取决于东亚夏季风的盛衰，西风气流带来的降水到达不了巴丹吉林沙漠附近地区。     

菲尔德斯半岛新生代火山岩中Sr,Ba,Ca元素的相关变化及其对岩浆演化的启示

菲尔德斯半岛新生代火山岩岩石组合为高铝玄武岩-玄武安山岩-安山岩-英安岩,是一套低钾高铝的钙碱性岩系。以岩石中Sr/Ca,Ba/Ca比值作为讨论岩浆演化的一个指标,确认高铝玄武岩为本区岩浆作用的初始岩浆,经过岩浆房中斜长石和单斜辉石为主的分离结晶作用,依次演化出玄武安山岩、安山岩和英安岩岩浆。     

南极半岛西北部海区重矿物及其中稀土、微量元素的统计分析

对南极半岛西北部海区表层沉积物中的重矿及其中稀土、微量元素的定量资料进行了统计分析。Q型因子分析结果得出调查区重矿物组合的因子模式,它们主要受物源和海流的控制。R型群分析把22种元素划分为3群和9个亚群。元素的分群现象显示了元素与岩石在成因上的专属关系,而亚群则反映了元素地球化学习性的差异及元素共生组合或伴生关系。讨论了元素亚与重矿物组合类型的关系。     

地球化学组成揭示的杜蒙沙地化学风化和沉积再循环特征及其对风尘物质贡献的指示

对杜蒙沙地的河流冲积砂、河漫滩泥质粉砂、沙质古土壤和风成沙等不同类型沉积物进行了采样（27组）,对这些样品的细颗粒组分（<63 μm）进行了常量元素、微量元素、稀土元素（REE）和Sr-Nd同位素比值等地球化学分析,就杜蒙沙地的化学风化、沉积再循环特征及其对风尘物质的贡献等展开了讨论。结果显示,杜蒙沙地的地球化学组成表现出空间的均一性,低的化学蚀变指数CIA（48~56,平均52）及A-CN-K和A-CNK-FM图解均表明了杜蒙沙地仅遭受了低级的化学风化程度。沙地的成分成熟度较低,大部分河流沉积物表现出初次循环沉积特征,系大兴安岭东侧中酸性岩浆母岩风化剥蚀的产物经嫩江搬运堆积形成;古土壤表现出与河流沉积物相同的初次循环特征,表明古土壤的成土母质是河流沉积物,这与野外地层出露情况一致;风成沙表现出再循环沉积特征,系河流沉积物就地起沙搬运堆积形成。不活动元素比值、REE和Sr-Nd同位素比值等物源判别图解,结合植被和地貌状况,一致表明杜蒙沙地与东北平原中东部的风尘物质没有地球化学亲缘关系,其对该地区（甚至下风向更远地区）的大气风尘的贡献很小。     

Stream Sediments Geochemical Exploration in the Northwestern Part of Wadi Allaqi Area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

Geochemical stream sediments survey was conducted in the northwestern part of Wadi Allaqi area, Eastern Desert, Egypt. The area comprises Precambrian metasediments, intermediate metavolcanics, gabbro, and serpentinites, with intrusive masses of granites and quartz-porphyry and invaded by several quartz veins. The −1.0-mm size fraction is analyzed for As, Cu, S, Mo, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, Rb, Ba, Sr, Nb, V, U, Th, Cr, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, and Y. The geochemical survey is supported by heavy minerals study in the −0.125 + 0.0625-mm fraction. The geochemical data were statistically investigated using Q-mode cluster and R-mode factor analyses as well as the enrichment factor. Factors 1 (Zr, Nb, Nd, La, and Y), 2 (V, Sr, and Zn), and 4 (Ba and Rb) are mainly controlled by the lithological characters of the rocks hosting Au-sulfide mineralizations and their accompanied hydrothermal alteration zones. In the mineralization Factor 3 (Cu, S, As, Ce, and Mo), arsenic, Cu, S, and Mo are direct indicators, while Ce is indirect one for the Au-sulfide mineralizations. The Cu–S–As–Mo association with Pb and Zn anomalies in the stream sediments draining the quartz-porphyry point to its porphyry copper mineralization. Cobalt and Ni (Factor 5) are pathfinders for the Fe- and Cu-sulfides, whereas Zn and Pb of Factor 8 are additional pathfinders for the Au-sulfide mineralizations. The southern stream sediments having high U/Th ratios with U–Mo association and draining granites traversed by pegmatites, as well as the stream sediments draining Um Garayat area and the quartz-porphyry stock with high abundance of monazite, zircon, epidote, sphene, and ilmenite, could signify sources of U and Th (Factor 7). Two watershed areas have distinct enrichment factors for arsenic suggesting unexplored extensions of Au-sulfide mineralization linked to the Allaqi shear-zone. The enrichment of the mineralization Factor 3 in the drainage system is mainly controlled by the prevailed mechanical dispersion for the hosting heavy minerals in such arid region with minor role of hydromorphic dispersion. The chemistry and mineralogy of the stream sediments are evidently allied to the drained bedrocks and their hosted mineralizations that signify a promising area for detailed exploration.     

High resolution provenancing of long travelled dust deposited on the Southern Alps, New Zealand

On 7 February 2000 an atypical orange discolouration of snowfields in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand occurred following the passage of a cold front. Analysis of snow samples identified fine orangey-brown dust mixed with much coarser grey dust. Air parcel forward trajectories from dust sources in southern and central Australia, where dust storms were reported on 4 February 2000, were computed to identify the deposits source. Geochemical analyses of the dust deposit using 26 trace elements, unaffected by regional air pollution and gravitational sorting, indicate that 20% of the dust was sourced from western New South Wales, with 45% from the eastern Eyre Peninsula of South Australia and the remaining 35% was local New Zealand dust. This provenancing approach provides a spatial resolution of long travelled dust sourcing not previously achieved.     

柴达木盆地北部风速对尘暴事件降尘的影响

通过系统监测柴达木盆地北部冷湖地区的月降尘通量以及尘暴事件降尘量,发现该地区月降尘通量变化在0.57×103～18.12×103 μg·cm–2·month–1之间,并且与月极大风速（Vextr）具有较好的正相关性（r2=0.60, n=23）;该区年内主要粉尘堆积时段为春季和初夏;尘暴事件发生期间的降尘量不仅与尘暴持续期间10 min平均风速具有良好的正相关关系（r2=0.60, n=16）,而且降尘量与10 min风速变化幅度有关:强劲稳定的风力条件在监测地点产生较少的降尘量,强劲且变率较大的风力条件产生较多的降尘量。监测结果显示,风速的变化对粉尘的释放、输送和沉降有重要的影响,有助于理解地质记录所揭示的冰期-间冰期不同的大气粉尘沉降速率。     

兰州市沙尘和非沙尘天气沉降物的化学特性比较

选择兰州市典型沙尘和非沙尘天气收集两类降尘,并对其元素组成进行测定。结果表明：兰州非沙尘和沙尘天气沉降物中含量较高的主要元素分别为Si、Ca、Al、Fe和Si、K、Ca、Al,含量最低的主要元素均是Ti;含量较高的微量元素是Mn、Ba、Zn、Sr和Mn、Ba、Sr、Zr,含量较低的微量元素均是Nb、Co、Y、As;兰州非沙尘和沙尘天气沉降物中主要元素及微量元素含量的排序差异较小,但是两种样品同种元素的丰度值存在较大变异,说明两种沉降物的来源有一定的差异。兰州非沙尘天气沉降物中Si、Fe、Mg、K、Na、Ti、V、Mn、Co、Ni、Rb、Sr、Y、Zr、Nb等元素主要来自于地壳源,Ca、Cr、Cu、Ba、Pb、Zn、As等元素与本地的人类污染活动有关,其中Pb、Zn、As是兰州重要的污染元素。沙尘天气沉降物中多数元素来自于外地入侵的沙尘,部分元素如Pb、Zn、As、Cu、Cr、K、Ni可能源于沙尘天气长距离传输途中矿物气溶胶与沿途污染源排放的污染物的混合。     

西南极乔治王岛长城站区晚第四纪燕窝湖岩芯元素地球化学特征

本文阐述了乔治王岛长城站区燕窝湖沉积物中微量元素及某些常量元素的含量、分布、富集系数和相关系数的变化规律 ,探讨了该湖岩芯物质来源及气候环境的阶段性变迁 ,认为一方面燕窝湖周围碎屑沉积岩 (包括火山沉积岩 )是进入沉积体系的主要物源 ;另一方面 ,地幔物质也是其物源之一 ;同时 ,并不排除南极大陆冰进期搬运来的陆源物质进入沉积体系。     

Sedimentary trace-element records of natural and human-induced environmental changes in the East China Sea

Total and chemical fractions of nine potential harmful elements (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Bi) and five lithogenic elements (Li, Sc, Rb, Cs and Th) in two ²¹⁰Pb-dated cores from the East China Sea were analyzed to investigate their applications in paleoenvironment studies, and to reconstruct the histories of environmental changes. The residual fraction was the largest pool of trace elements in sediments. Potential harmful elements exhibited distributions that were similar to residual fractions and the lithogenic elements, indicating their terrestrial origin mainly derived from the Changjiang River and the old Huanghe delta. In the coastal core, the distributions of total and residual trace elements recorded the dry/wet variations of the Changjiang runoff since the 1850s. Total potential harmful elements and lithogenic elements in the offshore core reflected fluctuations in the strength of the Jiangsu coastal current and the East Asia Winter Monsoon over the last century. The response mechanisms of sedimentary trace elements to the runoff and monsoon variations involved direct terrestrial input of elements and the impacts of TOC and sediment grain size on trace elements in sediments. Enrichment factors (EFs), chemical fractions and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate the anthropogenic disturbance on potential harmful elements. PCA identified the lithogenic fraction of trace elements in both cores and the anthropogenic/authigenic input in the coastal core. Increases of the EFs and labile fractions of Zn, Pb and Bi in upper sediments of the coastal core indicated increased anthropogenic input of Zn and Pb since the 1980s, and increased Bi input since the 1940s. Increases in oxidizable Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Bi above 16 cm were related to eutrophication and elevated marine organic matter in inshore East China Sea after the 1990s. Sediment records in offshore did not show any evidence of anthropogenic influence on the potential harmful elements. This study revealed that trace elements in sediments were good proxies for natural and human-induced environmental changes in waters.     

Baseline levels of chemical elements in the water of Lake Baikal

Evidence for levels of five major elements (Na, Mg, Si, Ca, and K) and 53 trace elements (Li, Be, B,..., Pb, Th, and U) in the water mass of Lake Baikal is provided. The baseline levels of the elements were obtained from analyzing and summarizing the most reliable data published during the last 15 years, including these authors’ data. Most of the article focuses on an overview of the methodologies as used in the investigations involved (sampling techniques, and sample storage, processing and analysis methods). The summary table provides the most reliable concentration ranges for 58 elements which are recommended by these authors as background (baseline) levels.     

Comparison and analysis of snow cover data based on different definitions of snow cover days

In order to analyze the differences between the two snow cover data, the snow cover data of 884 meteorological stations in China from 1951 to 2005 are counted. The data include days of visual snow observation, snow depth, and snow cover durations, which vary according to different definitions of snow cover days. Two series of data, as defined by "snow depth" and by "weather observation," are investigated here. Our results show that there is no apparent difference between them in east China and the Xinjiang region, but in northeast China and the Tibetan Plateau the "weather observation" data vary by more than 10 days and the "snow depth" data vary by 0.4 cm. Especially in the Tibetan Plateau, there are at least 15 more days of "weather observation" snow in most areas (sometimes more than 30 days). There is an obvious difference in the snow cover data due to bimodal snowfall data in the Tibetan Plateau, which has peak snowfalls from September to October and from April to May. At those times the temperature is too high for snow cover formation and only a few days have trace snow cover. Also, the characteristics and changing trends of snow cover are analyzed here based on the snow cover data of nine weather stations in the northeast region of the Tibetan Plateau, by the Mann-Kendall test. The results show significantly fewer days of snow cover and shorter snow durations as defined by "snow depth" compared to that as defined by "weather observation." Mann-Kendall tests of both series of snow cover durations show an abrupt change in 1987.     

萨拉乌苏河流域微量元素揭示的气候变化

根据毛乌素沙漠东南缘萨拉乌苏河流域滴哨沟湾剖面中更新世晚期以来风成砂与河湖相互为叠覆的沉积记录,利用SPSS软件对P、V、Cr等16种微量元素及Rb/Sr和Sr/Ba比值进行了聚类和相关分析。结果表明：除Sr、Ba、Rb/Sr和Sr/Ba之外的P、V、Cr等14中微量元素反映的气候变化规律较好,其含量的峰值段对应河湖相沉积,而谷值段对应风成砂沉积。根据微量元素含量变化特征及其与地层的对应关系,将萨拉乌苏河流域中更新世晚期以来的气候变化划分为5个阶段：223～196 ka BP,气候温暖湿润,相当于黄土高原S2古土壤发育期;196～148 ka BP,气候干冷,相当于黄土高原L2黄土发育期,属倒数第二次冰期;148～75 ka BP,气候温暖湿润,对应末次间冰期;75～10 ka BP,气候干冷,对应末次冰期;10 ka BP以来,气候以温湿为主。各个阶段还有气候冷暖干湿波动变化。通过与深海氧同位素阶段,冰芯记录变化对比,发现本区气候变化与全球变化具有较好的一致性。