沉积物-水界面交换研究的天然放射性同位素~(224)Ra/~(228)Th新体系

本课题组建立了天然放射性同位素新体系—~(224)Ra/~(228)Th不平衡法,用于研究沉积物-水界面物质交换。本文详细介绍了该方法的原理和现状,及其在沉积物-水界面溶解物质交换通量与机制、定量评估沉积物与水体间不同尺度传输方式(孔隙水交换和海底地下水排放)等方面的应用;探讨其潜在应用前景,指出近岸和陆架沉积物-水界面铁通量及其对冰期-间冰期大气CO_2周期变化的影响、沉积物作为水生环境"二次污染源"风险的定量评估是其潜在应用方向。     

南海深水区晚更新世以来沉积速率、沉积通量与物质组成

通过调查所获得柱样沉积物氧碳同位素测年资料及多学科综合分析表明,晚更新世以来南海沉积速率和沉积通量具有以下几个特征 :(1)总体上为间冰期沉积速率低、冰期沉积速率高,冰期沉积速率是间冰期沉积速率的 1.3～ 1.6倍;(2 )南海沉积速率趋势面分析表明,氧同位素 1期东北陆坡和西南陆坡沉积速率高,氧同位素 2、3期沉积速率分布特征相似,与 1期有所不同,东北陆坡沉积速率高于西南陆坡,表明氧同位素 2期之后,南海的沉积环境发生明显的改变,造成上述沉积速率分布的主要控制因素是南海周围的河流分布、季风、海流等;(3)南海东部沉积通量与物质组成分析表明,末次冰期以来沉积总通量北部陆坡区明显高于深海区,前者是后者 2～ 3倍,并有自北向南逐渐降低的趋势;(4)硅质生物沉积通量冰期明显高于间冰期,末次冰期以来东北部陆坡区的硅质生物沉积通量最高,末次冰期之前恰好相反,深海盆高于陆坡区;(5 )末次冰期以来,陆源沉积约占南海东部海域沉积的 4 4 %以上。     

孟加拉湾晚第四纪的碳酸盐溶解旋回

孟加拉湾由于陆源物质大量输入产生稀释效应,使碳酸盐含量表现为冰期时减小、间冰期时增大的“大西洋型”旋回。通过对该区四支活塞岩芯的有孔虫溶解指数、浮游有孔虫沉积通量、CaCO₃ 沉积通量和 >16 0 μm粗组分沉积通量的分析发现,研究区碳酸盐溶解作用强烈,表现出冰期减弱而间冰期增强的总趋势,且溶解作用滞后于浮游有孔虫壳的氧同位素旋回,尤以氧同位素 4、5期的高溶解度情况与印度洋和太平洋氧同位素 5期晚期至 4期为CaCO₃溶解高峰一致。因此,孟加拉湾地区的CaCO₃ 旋回是大西洋型稀释作用与太平洋型溶解作用两者叠加的产物.     

第四纪气候变化机制研究的进展与问题

自从20世纪50年代海洋沉积氧同位素记录被揭示以来,经典的陆地4次冰期理论被新的认识所取代,人们发现第四纪以来冰期—间冰期旋回远远不止4次,并且从深海沉积和陆地黄土获取的古气候变化记录与地球轨道参数变化可以对比,为揭示第四纪古气候变化机制构建了明确的框架。近年来有关末次冰期不稳定气候事件的揭示也为深入认识古气候变化特征提供了新的证据。然而冰期—间冰期旋回机制、南北半球在冰期—间冰期循环过程中的耦合机制以及气候不稳定事件发生机制仍然是困扰古气候研究者的重大问题。     

中国南海沉积物中有孔虫的氧同位素研究

317-82-25和NS86-43孔岩芯分别取自南海北部和南海南部海底表层沉积物,V24-134孔岩芯取自菲律宾东苏禄海。通过对浮游有孔虫Pulleniatina obliquiloc(?)-late、Globorotalia menardii 和Neogloboquadrina dutertrei 的氧同位素分析,建立了氧同位素阶段,表明约60000年以来南海沉积物中有孔虫的氧同位素变化与世界各大洋相似,但有较大的变化幅度。这种差异可能是南海海水温度在冰期—间冰期较大幅度变化的结果。南海沉积速率明显大于远洋沉积速率,说明南海沉积物主要是陆源的。     

海底多金属结核的氦同位素异常及地质意义

太平洋中部CC区海底多金属结核的氦丰度和同位素比值被测定,³He/⁴He= 1.73×10^-5～13.26×10^-5。通过与大气、地壳、地幔及宇宙尘的氦同位素对比提出多金属结核的。³He/⁴He比值异常可能与海底热液或宇宙尘的注入有关。根据氦同位素异常与海底热液活动的关系指出结核中的成矿物质可能主要来源于海底热液;深晦沉积物与多金属结核的³He/⁴He比值相似,表明沉积物的沉积速率与多金属结核的生长速率基本一致。     

南海神狐海域MIS12期以来的碳酸盐旋回与水合物分解

对南海神狐海域水合物钻探区SH1B和SH5C等2个钻孔顶部0~39.41 m和0~23.85 m的连续沉积物开展高分辨率碳酸盐旋回研究,结合浮游有孔虫氧同位素地层学、AMS¹⁴C年代学和生物地层学进行地层划分。结果表明：SH1B孔MIS12期以来CaCO₃曲线总体上具有明显的冰期和间冰期旋回,表现为较典型的冰期低、间冰期高的“大西洋型”旋回特征,具有良好的地层意义;SH5C孔除MIS1-MIS2期外,MIS3-MIS8期的CaCO₃含量较SH1B孔的要低,冰期和间冰期旋回性较差,MIS3-MIS 4和MIS7期出现明显的低钙事件;同时,SH5C孔MIS3-MIS5期浮游有孔虫G.ruber的δ¹³C值明显负偏,平均值为-0.11‰;两孔MIS1期的沉积速率是MIS2期的近2倍,与前人的研究结果相反,为MIS2期部分地层缺失所致。SH1B孔受水合物分解影响不大,而SH5C孔受水合物分解影响明显。SH5C孔MIS2期的地层缺失事件和MIS3-MIS4、MIS7期的低钙事件以及MIS3-MIS5期δ¹³C值负偏事件主要发生在末次冰期,推测与下伏水合物分解产生的海底滑塌、海水酸化等环境效应有关。     

西太平洋海底海山富钴结壳惰性气体同位素组成及其来源

采用高真空气体质谱系统测定了西太平洋麦哲伦海山富钴结壳不同层圈及其基岩的惰性气体丰度和同位素组成,结果显示:(1)西太平洋富钴结壳主要是水成成因,其中惰性气体来源不同,He 绝大多数来自宇宙尘(IDPs),少量来自陆源风成微粒;Ar 主要来自海水溶解的大气,少量来自陆源风成微粒或沉积岩建造水;Ne 和 Xe 主要来自海水中溶解大气, 少量来自宇宙尘;(2)在具三层结构的结壳中,亮煤层(致密层)的惰性气体同位素相对外层和疏松层有较大的不同,显示大洋磷酸岩化对早期沉积的结壳惰性气体组成有较大的影响,如导致~4He 的升高和~3He/~4He 的显著降低;(3)太平洋富钴结壳玄武岩基岩的~3He/~4He 非常低,为0.0095～0.074Ra,与本区磷块岩基岩(0.087Ra)相似,而远低于正常海底玄武岩的~3He/~4He 比值,显示这些基岩曾与富含放射性成因~4He 和 P 的上升洋流或沉积物中建造水发生过水/岩反应,这个过程将释放出较多的成矿元素,有利于富钴结壳的形成,海底海山玄武岩中较低的 He 同位素组成可作为富钴结壳的找矿标志之一。     

末次冰期以来南海北部下陆坡区沉积有机质地球化学特征及其意义

选取南海北部下陆坡-深海平原过渡带典型沉积柱状样,通过对其沉积有机质的整体有机地球化学特征进行表征,探讨了南海下陆坡-深海平原区沉积有机质在冰期/间冰期旋回中的赋存状态、来源变化以及与古气候环境之间的相应关系。结果表明,总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）和有机质稳定碳同位素（δ13Corg）与冰期/间冰期旋回有明显的对应关系,冰期时对应高值,间冰期时对应低值;而有机质稳定氮同位素（δ15N）表现为全新世时其值偏低,末次冰消期其值偏高,与气候旋回没有相关性; C/N值和δ13Corg值都表明南海北部下陆坡沉积有机质来源是陆相和海相的混源,且在末次冰期/间冰期尺度上主要以海相来源为主。     

中更新世转型时期南海北部上层水体结构演化特征——ODP1146站浮游有孔虫稳定同位素记录

文章以南海北部ODP1146站沉积物岩芯为研究材料,利用浮游有孔虫次表层水种Pulleniatina obliquiloculata壳体的氧、碳稳定同位素,结合该站位浮游及底栖有孔虫氧碳同位素数据,分析中更新世以来南海北部上层水体结构的演化。1.2 Ma以来ODP1146站P.obliquiloculata壳体δ^18O的变化可分3个阶段:1)1.2~0.9 Ma,冰期-间冰期变化幅度较小、主导周期为41 ka斜率周期;2)0.9~0.6 Ma,冰期旋回变化幅度逐渐增强、100 ka偏心率周期开始强化;3)0.6 Ma以来,冰期旋回呈现稳定且幅度较大的100 ka周期变化。0.9 Ma以来南海北部上层海水δ^18O的冰期旋回变幅增强,可能反映东亚冬季风在0.9 Ma之后显著强化。其中,表层水体δ^18O只在冰期变幅增强,P.obliquiloculata所反映的次表层水体δ^18O的变化幅度在冰期和间冰期都显著增强。约0.9 Ma浮游和底栖有孔虫δ^18O的100 ka周期几乎同时显现;但在0.9~0.6 Ma时期P.obliquiloculata的δ^18O偏心率周期更为显著、斜率周期的强度也更高。因此,冰期旋回周期转型及幅度变化两方面的证据共同反映温跃层结构演化在南海北部中更新世转型(MPT)气候转变过程中的特殊性。1.2 Ma以来ODP1146站P.obliquiloculata的δ^13C在0.02 Ma、0.49 Ma和0.99 Ma左右呈明显的碳重值,同时表层种-次表层种之间的δ^13C差值减小到近于0,可以解读为碳重值事件期间南海北部生产力相对减弱。     

New insights into the carrier phase(s) of extraterrestrial He in geologically old sediments

To better understand the composition, characteristics of helium diffusion, and size distribution of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) responsible for the long-term retention of extraterrestrial ³He, we carried out leaching, stepped heating, and sieving experiments on pelagic clays that varied in age from 0.5 Ma to ∼90 Myr. The leaching experiments suggest that the host phase(s) of ³He in geologically old sediments are neither organic matter nor refractory phases, such as diamond, graphite, Al₂O₃, and SiC, but are consistent with extraterrestrial silicates, Fe-Ni sulfides, and possibly magnetite. Stepped heating experiments demonstrate that the ³He release profiles from the magnetic and non-magnetic components of the pelagic clays are remarkably similar. Because helium diffusion is likely to be controlled by mineral chemistry and structure, the stepped heating results suggest a single carrier that may be magnetite, or more probably a phase associated with magnetite. Furthermore, the stepped outgassing experiments indicate that about 20% of the ³He will be lost through diffusion at seafloor temperatures after 50 Myrs, while sedimentary rocks exposed on the Earth’s surface for the same amount of time would lose up to 60%. The absolute magnitude of the ³He loss is, however, likely to depend upon the ³He concentration profile within the IDPs, which is not well known. Contrary to previous suggestions that micrometeorites in the size range of 50-100 μm in diameter are responsible for the extraterrestrial ³He in geologically old sediments [Stuart, F.M., Harrop, P.J., Knott, S., Turner, G., 1999. Laser extraction of helium isotopes from Antarctic micrometeorites: source of He and implications for the flux of extraterrestrial ³He flux to earth. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta63, 2653-2665], our sieving experiment demonstrates that at most 20% of the ³He is carried by particles greater than 50 μm in diameter. The size-distribution of the ³He-bearing particles implies that extraterrestrial ³He in sediments record the IDP flux rather than the micrometeorite flux.     

AMS 14C dating of deglacial events in the Irish Sea Basin and other sectors of the British–Irish ice sheet

Sedimentary sequences deposited by the decaying marine margin of the British–Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) record isostatic depression and successive ice sheet retreat towards centres of ice dispersion. Radiocarbon dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) of in situ marine microfaunas that are commonly associated with these sequences constrain the timing of glacial and sea level fluctuations during the last deglaciation, enabling us to evaluate the dynamics of the BIIS and its response to North Atlantic climate change. Here we use our radiocarbon-dated stratigraphy to define six major glacial and sea level events since the Last Glacial Maximum. (1) Initial deglaciation may have occurred ⩾18.3 kyr ¹⁴C BP along the northwestern Irish coast, in agreement with a deglacial age of ∼22 ³⁶Cl kyr BP for southwestern Ireland. Ice retreated to inland centres and areas of transverse moraine began to form across the north Irish lowlands. (2) Channels cut into glaciomarine deglacial sediments along the western Irish Sea coast are graded to below present sea level, identifying a fall of relative sea level (RSL) in response to isostatic emergence of the coast. (3) Marine mud that rapidly infilled these channels records an abrupt rise in global sea level of 10–15 m ∼16.7 ¹⁴C kyr BP that flooded the Irish Sea coast and may have triggered deglaciation of a marine-based margin in Donegal Bay. (4) Intertidal boulder pavements in Dundalk Bay indicate that RSL ∼15.0 ¹⁴C kyr BP was similar to present. (5) A major readvance of all sectors of the BIIS occurred between 14 and 15 kyr ¹⁴C BP which overprinted subglacial transverse moraines and delivered a substantial sediment flux to tidewater ice sheet margins. This event, the Killard Point Stadial, indicates that the BIIS participated in Heinrich event 1. (6) Subsequent deposition of marine muds on drumlins 12.7 ¹⁴C kyr BP indicates isostatic depression and attendant high RSL resulting from the Killard Point readvance. These events identify a dynamic BIIS during the last deglaciation, as well as significant changes in RSL that reflect a combination of isostatic loading and eustatic changes in global sea level.     

Sea-level related resedimentation processes on the northern slope of Little Bahama Bank (Middle Pleistocene to Holocene)

Middle Pleistocene to Holocene sediment variations observed in a 26 metre long core taken during a cruise of the RV Marion Dufresne are presented. Core MD992202 was retrieved from the northern slope of Little Bahama Bank and provides an excellent example for sedimentation processes in a mid‐slope depositional environment. The sediment composition indicates sea‐level related deposition processes for the past 375 000 years (marine isotope stages 1 to 11). The sediments consist of: (i) periplatform ooze (fine‐grained particles of shallow‐water and pelagic origin) with moderate variations in carbonate content, carbonate mineralogy and grain‐size; and (ii) coarser intervals with cemented debris consisting of massive, poorly sorted, mud‐supported or clast‐supported deposits with an increased high‐magnesium calcite content. During interglacial stages (marine isotope stages 1, 5, 7, 9 and 11) periplatform oozes (i) are characterized by higher aragonite contents, finer grain‐size and higher organic contents, whereas during glacial stages (marine isotope stages 2 to 4, 6, 8 and 10), increased low‐magnesium and high‐magnesium calcite values, coarser grain‐size and lower organic contents are recorded. These glacial to interglacial differences in mineralogy, grain‐size distribution and organic content clearly show the impact of climatically controlled sea‐level fluctuations on the sedimentation patterns of the northern slope of Little Bahama Bank. The coarser deposits (ii) occur mainly at the transitions from glacial to interglacial and interglacial to glacial stages, and are interpreted as redeposition events, indicating a direct link between sediment properties (changes in mineralogy, grain‐size distribution, variations in organic contents) and sea‐level fluctuations. Changes in hydrostatic pressure and the wave base position during sea‐level changes are proposed to have triggered these large‐scale sediment redepositions.     

Middle Weichselian glacial event in the central part of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet recorded in the Hitura pit, Ostrobothnia, Finland

The Hitura open pit exposes a sedimentary sequence up to 50 m thick representing Late Saalian to Holocene glacial and non-glacial sediments. The sequence was investigated using sedimentological methods, OSL-dating and pollen and diatom analyses to reconstruct the Middle Weichselian (MWG) glacial event in the central part of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet (SIS). The results indicate that the sediment succession represents two entire glacial advance and retreat cycles. The lowermost deposits are Late Saalian esker and delta sediments overlain by sediments that correlate with the early Eemian lacustrine phase. Remnants of the Eemian soil post-dating the lacustrine phase were also observed. The area was ice-free during the entire Early Weichselian (EWG). The first glacial advance recorded in the sediments is related to the MWG. It started 79 kyr ago, deformed underlying sediments and deposited an immature till, including large detached sediment pods containing remains of organic material, soils and fluvial sediments representing allochthonous material from EWG ice-free stadials and interstadials. The glacial deposits are conformably overlain by glaciolacustrine and littoral accumulations, indicating MWG deglaciation between 62 and 55 kyr ago. Based on the fabric measurements from the till unit overlying the MWG sediments, ice advance during the Late Weichselian (LWG) was initially from the west and later from a north-northwesterly direction. The Hitura strata provide the first dating of the MWG deglaciation (55 to 62 kyr ago) from central parts of the SIS. It can be considered as a key site for studying the growth and decay of SIS during the poorly known early parts of the glaciation.     

Stratigraphic constraints on late Pleistocene glacial erosion and deglaciation of the Chukchi margin, Arctic Ocean

At least two episodes of glacial erosion of the Chukchi margin at water depths to ∼ 450 m and 750 m have been indicated by geophysical seafloor data. We examine sediment stratigraphy in these areas to verify the inferred erosion and to understand its nature and timing. Our data within the eroded areas show the presence of glaciogenic diamictons composed mostly of reworked local bedrock. The diamictons are estimated to form during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and an earlier glacial event, possibly between OIS 4 to 5d. Both erosional events were presumably caused by the grounding of ice shelves originating from the Laurentide ice sheet. Broader glaciological settings differed between these events as indicated by different orientations of flutes on eroded seafloor. Postglacial sedimentation evolved from iceberg-dominated environments to those controlled by sea-ice rafting and marine processes in the Holocene. A prominent minimum in planktonic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O is identified in deglacial sediments at an estimated age near 13,000 cal yr BP. This δ¹⁸O minimum, also reported elsewhere in the Amerasia Basin, is probably related to a major Laurentide meltwater pulse at the Younger Dryas onset. The Bering Strait opening is also marked in the composition of late deglacial Chukchi sediments.     

An extraterrestrial He-based timescale for the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) from Walvis Ridge, IODP Site 1266

In the deep-sea, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is often marked by clay-rich condensed intervals caused by dissolution of carbonate sediments, capped by a carbonate-rich interval. Constraining the duration of both the dissolution and subsequent cap-carbonate intervals is essential to computing marine carbon fluxes and thus testing hypotheses for the origin of this event. To this end, we provide new high-resolution helium isotope records spanning the Paleocene-Eocene boundary at ODP Site 1266 in the South Atlantic. The extraterrestrial ³He, ³He_ET, concentrations replicate trends observed at ODP Site 690 by Farley and Eltgroth (2003). By assuming a constant flux of ³He_ET we constrain relative changes in accumulation rates of sediment across the PETM and construct a new age model for the event. In this new chronology the zero carbonate layer represents 35 kyr, some of which reflects clay produced by dissolution of Paleocene (pre-PETM) sediments. Above this layer, carbonate concentrations increase for ∼165 kyr and remain higher than in the latest Paleocene until 234 ⁺⁴⁸/₋₃₄ kyr above the base of the clay. The new chronology indicates that minimum δ¹³C values persisted for a maximum of 134 ⁺²⁷/₋₁₉ kyr and the inflection point previously chosen to designate the end of the CIE recovery occurs at 217 ⁺⁴⁴/₋₃₁ kyr. This allocation of time differs from that of the cycle-based age model of Röhl et al. (2007) in that it assigns more time to the clay layer followed by a more gradual recovery of carbonate-rich sedimentation. The new model also suggests a longer sustained δ¹³C excursion followed by a more rapid recovery to pre-PETM δ¹³C values. These differences have important implications for constraining the source(s) of carbon and mechanisms for its subsequent sequestration, favoring models that include a sustained release of carbon after an initial pulse.     

Late Weichselian and Holocene sediment flux and sedimentation rates in Andfjord and Vågsfjord,North Norway

Late Weichselian and Holocene sediment flux and sedimentation rates in a continental‐shelf trough, Andfjord, and its inshore continuation, Vågsfjord, North Norway, have been analysed. The study is based on sediment cores and high‐resolution acoustic data. Andfjord was deglaciated between 14.6 and 13 ¹⁴C kyr BP (17.5 and 15.6 calibrated (cal.) kyr BP), the Vågsfjord basin before 12.5 ¹⁴C kyr BP (14.7 cal. kyr BP), and the heads of the inner tributary fjords about 9.7 ¹⁴C kyr BP (11.2 cal. kyr BP). In Andfjord, five seismostratigraphical units are correlated to a radiocarbon dated lithostratigraphy. Three seismostratigraphical units are recognised in Vågsfjord. A total volume of 23 km³ post‐glacial glacimarine and marine sediments was mapped in the study area, of which 80% are of Late Weichselian origin. Sedimentation rates in outer Andfjord indicate reduced sediment accumulation with increasing distance from the ice margin. The Late Weichselian sediment flux and sedimentation rates are significantly higher in Vågsfjord than Andfjord. Basin morphology, the position of the ice front and the timing of deglaciation are assumed to be the reasons for this. Late Weichselian sedimentation rates in Andfjord and Vågsfjord are comparable to modern subpolar glacimarine environments of Greenland, Baffin Island and Spitsbergen. Downwasting of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet, and winnowing of the banks owing to the full introduction of the Norwegian Current, caused very high sedimentation rates in parts of the Andfjord trough at the Late Weichselian–Holocene boundary. Holocene sediment flux and sedimentation rates in Andfjord are about half the amount found in Vågsfjord, and about one‐tenth the amount of Late Weichselian values. A strong bottom current system, established at the Late Weichselian–Holocene boundary, caused erosion of the Late Weichselian sediments and an asymmetric Holocene sediment distribution. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Quaternary glacial history of the central west coast of Jameson Land, East Greenland

The Late Quaternary ( c . 130,000–10,000 BP) glacial history of the central west coast of Jameson Land, East Greenland, is reconstructed through glacial stratigraphical studies. Seven major sedimentary units are described and defined. They represent two interglacial events (where one is the Holocene). one interstadial event and two glacial events. The older interglacial event comprises marine and fluvial sediments, and is correlated to the Langelandselv interglacial, corresponding to oxygen isotope sub-stage 5e. It is followed by an Early Weichselian major glaciation during the Aucellaelv stade, and subsequently by an Early Weichselian interstadial marine and deltaic event (the Hugin Sø interstade). Sediments relating to the Middle Weichselian have not been recognized in the area. The Hugin Sø interstade deposits have been overrun by a Late Weichselian ice advance, during the Flakkerhuk stade, when the glacier, which probably was a thin, low gradient fjord glacier in Scoresby Sund, draped older sediments and landforms with a thin till. Subsequent to the final deglaciation, some time before 10,000BP, the sea reached the marine limit around 70 m a.s.l., and early Holocene marine, fluvial and littoral sediments were deposited in the coastal areas.     

Late Quaternary deposition and facies model for karstic Lake Estanya (North-eastern Spain)

Lake Estanya is a small (19 ha), freshwater to brackish, monomictic lake formed by the coalescence of two karstic sinkholes with maximum water depths of 12 and 20 m, located in the Pre‐Pyrenean Ranges (North‐eastern Spain). The lake is hydrologically closed and the water balance is controlled mostly by groundwater input and evaporation. Three main modern depositional sub‐environments can be recognized as: (i) a carbonate‐producing ‘littoral platform’; (ii) a steep ‘talus’ dominated by reworking of littoral sediments and mass‐wasting processes; and (iii) an ‘offshore, distal area’, seasonally affected by anoxia with fine‐grained, clastic sediment deposition. A seismic survey identified up to 15 m thick sedimentary infill comprising: (i) a ‘basal unit’, seismically transparent and restricted to the depocentres of both sub‐basins; (ii) an ‘intermediate unit’ characterized by continuous high‐amplitude reflections; and (iii) an ‘upper unit’ with strong parallel reflectors. Several mass‐wasting deposits occur in both sub‐basins. Five sediment cores were analysed using sedimentological, microscopic, geochemical and physical techniques. The chronological model for the sediment sequence is based on 17 accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dates. Five depositional environments were characterized by their respective sedimentary facies associations. The depositional history of Lake Estanya during the last ca 21 kyr comprises five stages: (i) a brackish, shallow, calcite‐producing lake during full glacial times (21 to 17·3 kyr bp ); (ii) a saline, permanent, relatively deep lake during the late glacial (17·3 to 11·6 kyr bp ); (iii) an ephemeral, saline lake and saline mudflat complex during the transition to the Holocene (11·6 to 9·4 kyr bp ); (iv) a saline lake with gypsum‐rich, laminated facies and abundant microbial mats punctuated by periods of more frequent flooding episodes and clastic‐dominated deposition during the Holocene (9·4 to 0·8 kyr bp ); and (v) a deep, freshwater to brackish lake with high clastic input during the last 800 years. Climate‐driven hydrological fluctuations are the main internal control in the evolution of the lake during the last 21 kyr, affecting water salinity, lake‐level changes and water stratification. However, external factors, such as karstic processes, clastic input and the occurrence of mass‐flows, are also significant. The facies model defined for Lake Estanya is an essential tool for deciphering the main factors influencing lake deposition and to evaluate the most suitable proxies for lake level, climate and environmental reconstructions, and it is applicable to modern karstic lakes and to ancient lacustrine formations.     

Glaciotectonised Quaternary sediments at Cape Shpindler,Yugorski Peninsula,Arctic Russia: implications for glacial history,ice movements and Kara Sea Ice Sheet configuration

The coastal cliffs of Cape Shpindler, Yugorski Peninsula, Arctic Russia, occupy a key position for recording overriding ice sheets during past glaciations in the Kara Sea area, either from the Kara Sea shelf or the uplands of Yugorski Peninsula/Polar Urals. This study on Late Quaternary glacial stratigraphy and glaciotectonic structures of the Cape Shpindler coastal cliffs records two glacier advances and two ice‐free periods older than the Holocene. During interglacial conditions, a sequence of marine to fluvial sediments was deposited. This was followed by a glacial event when ice moved southwards from an ice‐divide over Novaya Zemlya and overrode and disturbed the interglacial sediments. After a second period of fluvial deposition, under interstadial or interglacial conditions, the area was again subject to glacial overriding, with the ice moving northwards from an inland ice divide. The age‐control suggests that the older glacial event could possibly belong to marine oxygen isotope stage (MOIS) 8, Drenthe (300–250 ka), and that the underlying interglacial sediments might be Holsteinian (>300 ka). One implication of this is that relict glacier ice, buried in sediments and incorporated into the permafrost, may survive several interglacial and interstadial events. The younger glacial event recognised in the Cape Shpindler sequence is interpreted to be of Early‐to‐Middle Weichselian age. It is suggested to correlate to a regional glaciation around 90 or 60 ka. The Cape Shpindler record suggests more complex glacial dynamics during that glaciation than can be explained by a concentric ice sheet located in the Kara Sea, as suggested by recent geological and model studies. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.