洛川黄土剖面的古地磁研究

Paleomagnetic measurements were conducted on 96 ariented loess specimens collected from the Lochuan section in Shanxi Prov., the total thickness of which is up to 130 m and more. The results have provided evidence that the deposition of Late Pleistocene Malan Loess and Middle Pleistocene Lishih Loess in the Lochuan section took place during the Brunhes normal epoch. The lower limit of the Lishih Loess which represents the boundary between the Brunhes epoch and the Matuyama epoch is located at the top of the lower silt bed, corresponding to a depth of 75 m. The Wucheng Loess, which recorded the Jalomillo normal polarity event, deposited during the middle-late period of the Matuyama reversed epoch. The upper limit of the Jalamillo is set at a depth of 100 m. and the lower limit at 110 m. Experiments have shown that rotated remanent magnetization of the specimen resulted from AF demagnetization Can be effectively eliminated by means of magnetic cleaning in opposite directions,despite of the differences in magnetic stability and ages of various strata (loess, silt bed, buried soil and weathered beds) in the Lochuan section.     

陇西黄土剖面的古地磁研究

The Longxi loess section is quite different from that at eastern Liupanshan Meuntains in stratigraphic structure, but with better magnetic stability than that of Luochuan loess. 43 samples were collected from the 95 m-thick Longxi loess section. Results of palcomagnetic measurement indicates that those samples taken from 0 down to 48m in.the section are normally magnetized. So there is no doubt that this part of Longxi loess was accumulated during the Brunhes epoch corresponding to the Middle Pleistocene Lishi Loess (Q2) and the Late Pleistocene Maian Loess (Q3). On the other hand, samples between 48-82 m within the section are mainly of reversed polarity, formed during the Matuyama reversed polarity epoch, corresponding to the Early Pleistocene Wucheng Loess (Q1). Jaramillo normal event was recorded at between 64-69m within this section. The starting point of loess accumulation is estimated to be about 1.15 my according to the boundary ages of polarity epochs and event and an accumulation rate of 8 cm per thousand years was obtained.     

Discovery and Significance of Malan Loess on the Piedmont Plain in Pinggu District,Beijing

The platforms on both sides of the Malangou River （a lateral ditch of the Qingshui River that is a tributary of the Yongding River） where Malan Village in Zhaitang Town of Mentougou District of Beijing is located are the place of China＇s typical section of the Quaternary Malan loess. During the investigation in the eastern suburbs of Beijing City, the authors not only clarified 5 grades of terraces on the Pinggu piedmont plain, but also found a clayey silt section mixed with a small amount of alluvial-diluvial gravel layers at a height of 15-25 m above the river level near a Fishpond in Xinli Village of Nandule Town. Results of the study of grain size of the section document that the loess mostly is silty soil （0.05--0.005 mm）, and that the grain size probability cumulative curves of the section are dominated by single-peak, coarse-grained segment I and coarse-grained segment II types, reflecting that its depositional environment is similar to eolian phase. Identification results of heavy minerals from the section show that their contents account for 0.01%-0.11%, averaging 0.04%. There are 24 kinds of heavy minerals, most of which are stable heavy minerals, and the clay minerals mostly are illite, which is consistent with the Malan loess on the Loess Plateau. The chemical composition data reflect that the source area of the loess is relatively arid. The six grade classification of sporopollen in the section further shows the subdivision of the history of alternating warm and humid phases in this geological period. The thermoluminescence dating results range from 21.0 ka to 59.2 ka, convincingly demonstrating that the section indeed consists of Malan loess. The above studies provide a new basis for overall understanding of the distribution of the Malan loess at the northeast margin of the North China Plain and its environment change in the Late Pleistocene.     

Reliability of Relative Paleointensity Recorded in Chinese Loess–Paleosol Sediments

A detailed paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic investigation spanning loess L7 to paleosol S8 has been carried out at the Baoji and Xifeng sections. Results of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility confirm that the studied loess–paleosol sediments retain primary sedimentary fabrics. Stepwise thermal demagnetization shows that two well-defined magnetization components can be isolated from both loess and paleosol specimens. A low-temperature component, isolated between 100°C and 200°C, is consistent with the present geomagnetic field direction, and a high-temperature component, isolated between 200–300°C and 620–680°C, includes clearly normal and reversed polarities. Isothermal remanent magnetization and thermomagnetic analyses indicate that characteristic remanent magnetization is mainly carried by magnetite and hematite. The Day plot, together with the stratigraphic variations of rock-magnetic parameters, shows that the uniformity of magnetic mineralogy and grain size fulfills the criteria for relative paleointensity (RPI) studies. RPI records have been constructed using natural remanent magnetization (NRM) intensity after thermal demagnetization at 300°C normalized by low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (NRM300/χ). The results show that the RPI record from the Baoji section, where pedogenesis is quite weak, is compatible with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, suggesting that it might reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. The RPI record from the Xifeng section, where pedogenesis is rather strong, indicates a clear dissimilarity with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, implying that it does not reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. Our new results show that the NRM300/χ from the strongly pedogenetic paleosols does not completely eliminate the pedogenetic (climatic) influence, so it might be unsuitable for a reliable paleointensity study.     

Behaviours of REE and Other Trace Elements During Pedological Weathering-Evidence from Chemical Leaching of Loess and Palaeosol from the Luochuan Section in Central China

The chemical leaching method is used for a systematic analysis of distribution characteristics of acid-soluble and acid-insoluble REE and other trace elements from the Luochuan loess deposits. The study shows that the acid-insoluble phase in loess and palaeosol is a stable component of old aeolian dusts and is characteristic of the provenance; the acid-soluble phase is the unstable component in the weathering pedogenic process and reflects rock-forming features after accumulation of aeolian dusts. The acid-insoluble REE and acid-soluble Sr and Pb can be used as geochemical indicators respectively to trace the provenance characteristics and the weathering pedogenic process.     

黄土剖面中氧化物的比值和相对淋溶、积聚值在地质上的意义

As have been determined, the ratios of oxides and the contents of CaCO3 show a tendency to increase from bottom to top in Luochuan loess section, whereas an opposite tendency is observed for the relative values of weathering leaching or accumulation of loess, Moreover, the limits of oxide ratios from less to greater than the average value coincide with the boundary between Wucheng and Lishi loess strata, as well as with the boundary of magnetic polarity reversal. The ratios of oxides and the variations of relative weathering-leaching or accumulation extents are synchronous with the fluctuation of CaCO3 contents. From this investigation, it is shown that the ratios of oxides in the superimposed loees and paleosols from the loess profile are found rhythmically varied. These Characteristics might be explained by the hypothesis of repeated climatic fluctuation from dry (loess) to humid (paleosol) during the Quaternary period.     

Mineral Composition of Loess—Paleosol Samples from the Loess Plateau of China and Its Environmental Significance

34samples of loess-paleosol from the Luochuan and Xifeng sections in the Loess Plateau,northern China were eparated into sand,silt and clay fractions and analyzed for their mineral compositions.The results indicate that there is almost no difference between loess and paleosol in mineral composition.Major mineral species are quartz,mica,feldspar and chlorite,accounting for about 88-92% of the total;other minerals are kandite,smectite,vermiculite and a few heavy minerals.The calcite,magnetite and hematite were not taken into consideration because of their removal in the process of sample preparation.The main difference with respect to the mineral composition of samples collected from different sections and different statigraphic levels lies in the amount and grain size of minerals hosted.Comparisons between the Luochuan section and the Xifeng section,between paleosol and loess and between the upper part and the lower part of some paleosol layers show that the formers contain less feldspar but more mica and vermiculite and are finer in grain size,indicating the co-occurrence of both biochemical weathering process responsible for mineral change and physical weathering process leading to grain-size change during the soil-forming processes.This result favours such an explanation of the soil-forming mechanism that loess deposition and paleosol development occurred synchronously,though the rate of soil formation was greater than that of loess deposition,thus leading to soil development.     

黄河中游全新世黄土

Holocene loess in the Middle Huanghe Valley can be subdivided into 3 formations which are composed commonly of upper loess and lower dark loessial soil (a kind of paleosol) : the Xifeng Formation of Late Holocene, the Longxi Formation of Middle Holocene and the Luochuan Formation of Early Holocene. The layers of dark loessial soil at similar stratigraphic levels in different localities show such a change in age that samples from south are older than those from north, indicating a northward shift of the climate, belt during pedogenesis.     

陕西洛川黄土剖面中的稀土元素

The ∑REE in Ioesses of different ages in the Luochuan section shows a narrow range of variation, indicating the homogeneity of materials in chemical composition. The REE in loess are concentrated mainly in silt.sized detrital minerals. Loesses of different ages and paleosols all are relatively enriched in rare-earth elements of the Ce family, and show similar REE distribution patterns. The fractinnatlon among various REEs in the loess is different from that in morainic, marine and lacustrine sediments,but is similar to that in sand samples from deserts in Northwest China. The ratios of Ce/Ce^* and Eu/Eu^* reflect that the provenance of loessic materials and their accumulating area are all in an oxidation environment with weakly basic mediums under arid or sub-arid climate.     

顺5孔的磁性地层学和早松山世的北京海侵

Vertically oriented samples collected from the care S-5 in the county of Shunyi,Beijing Plain, were measured on an astatic magnetometer, after demagnetized with a peak value of 150 or 200 Oe. The results have shown that the loose sediments up to a thickness of 640 m have recorded the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary at the depth of 160m, the Matuyama-Gauss boundary at the. depth of 468 m, and the short events corresponding to the polarity events during each epoch. 28 species of foraminiferal fossils were isolated from the sample at the depth of 428 m, 31% of this fauna is composed of planktonic foraminifera. Such an assemblage in dicates the warm, shallow-water, open-sea palaeoecological environments.According to the ages of magnetostratigraphic sequences, this marina bed composed of silts and sands with foraminiferal fossils marked by classical HyaliNea baltica,has been dated to be about 2.26 re.y, B.P., approximating the age of FAD of Hyalinea baltica in the section at Santa Maria in Italy (about 2.1 m.y.B. P). Its equivalent is also found in the other coree from the Beijing Plain. From these facts, it is postulatsd that during the early Matuyama epoch, an extensive transgression took place on the Beijing Plain. A new datum level of benthonic and planktonic foraminifera marked by the appearance of Hyalinea baltica has been found in Early Matuyama strata in the Beijing Plain. The first appearance of cold forms in the Vrica Section in Italy has been dated to be about 2:4 m.y.B.P. Based upon the up-to-date reports on calcareous nannoplankton, the interval of 2.3--1.6 m.y. is a distinet alternating stage in their evolution history. The climate in the Northern Hemisphere began to become obviously colder at about 2.5 m.y. ago. From the foregoing discussion, it is reasonable to set the Pliocene-Pleistoecne boundary in the Beijing Plain at the basal limit of the Matuyama epoch (2.43 m.y.).     

Early Miocene Mosses from Weichang,North China,and their Environmental Significance

Twenty-seven moss specimens collected from the Guangfayong section （Early Miocene,22.1 Ma） of the Weichang District,North China were investigated in the present study.Based on the morphological and anatomical features of gametophytes,all specimens were found to belong to three species：Leptodictyum riparium,Drepanocladus subtrichophyllus sp.nov.,and Amblystegium varium,all of which belong to the family Amblystegiaceae.The microhabitats and living environments of fossil mosses were also investigated based on comparison with living mosses.The results suggest that these mosses grew primarily at the edges of rivers,streams,and lakes and favored being submerged in streams or lakes in the Weichang District in the Early Miocene.     

Stratigraphic Division and Correlation of the Nihewan Beds by Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Described in paper is the principle of optimal partitioning method for stratigraphic division and correlation.The Nihewan Beds are taken for example to show how to apply this approach in stratigraphic division and correlation.The semiquantitative spectral analysis data on aggregate trace elements in 324 samples taken from the nine sections in the Nihewan Basin are treated with multivariate statistical method for stratigraphic division and correlation.First ,the data from all the sections are respectively calculated by the optimal partitioning method to establish the stratigraphic boundaries.The optimal partitioning method has proved itself to be applicable to stratigraphic division and correlation. In our practice the Nihewan Beds are divided into five zones (I-V).Zone I includes subzones Ia and Ib,Zones Ia,Ib,II and III are considered to be corresponding to the Pliocene(N2),the early Early Pleistocene,the late Early Pleistocene,and the Middle Pleistocene,respectively .Zones IV and V are probably Late Pleistocene in age.This indicated that sediments deposited con-temporaneous in the sections of the same basin are similar in geochemical characteristics,although dif-ferent in geographical location.However,the sediments also show some variations ,with a transitional relationship from one section to another .For example ,in Zone II,the sediments of the Xiaodukou section show not only the characteristics of the Nangou-Hongya and Hutouliang sections,but also those of the Xiashagou,Shixiaxi,Shixiadong and Wulitai sections.It can be seen from the above that the zones can be characteristically correlated with one another.In addition the feasibility of the optimal partitioning method is also described in the present paper.     

Ordovician-Silurian Boundary Extinction and Its Relationship to Iridium and carbon Isotope Anomalies

The abundance distributions of more than 40 elements in the No. 502 Ordovician-Silurian (O/S) bounda-ry section at Fenxiang, Yichang have been studied by RNAA and INAA. The results show that in the bounda-ry bed, there is a distinctive Ir anomaly because the Ir concentration abruptly increases to 0.64 ppb.Furthermore, the Ir is positively correlated in abundance variation with some siderophile and sulphophile ele-ments. In the same bed of the O/S boundary section at Huanghuachang, Yichang, there is also a δ~(13)C excur-sion. These geochemical signs support the hypothesis that the terminal Ordovician mass extinction was proba-bly related to extraterrestrial event, and provide new evidence for defining the O/S boundary between theHirnantia-Kinnella and G. persculptus Zones.     

Geological Evidence for the Presence of the Emperor Event in China

The presence of the reversals of the geomagnetic field within the Brunhes is indicated by paleomagnetic stuides on Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Leizhou Peninsula, loess strata and Quaternary marine sediments in the Pearl River Mouth basin in China. These regional reversals occured at 0.58±0.13 Ma, 0.45 Ma and 0.47—0.48 Ma respectively according to the results of K-Ar isotopic dating and climatostratigraphic and biostratigraphic analyses. The reversals equivalent to the Emperor Event is suggested.The reversals revealed in different regions with various lithologic characters in China prove that the Emperor Event is a global reversal event rather than a geomagnetic excursion, and its confirmation will permit a precise definition of the Middle/Late Pleistocene boundary.     

New Quaternary Mammalian Faunas and Cave Deposits in the Zhoukoudian Area,Beijing

From 1985 to 1987, four new localities with abundant fossil mammals were dis-covered by Cao, Tian and others in the Zhoukoudian (Choukoutien) area, Beijing. They are theEast, West, Shangdian and Donglingzi caves. The East Cave fauna consists of 28 speices ofmammals and its age is middle Early Pleistocene. The East Cave assemblage shows that a tem-perature-falling event took place at around 1.20 Ma B.P. at Zhoukoudian. Sixteen species ofmammals were collected from the West Cave, which are mainly forms of late Early Pleistoceneage. The West Cave fauna represents a transitional fauna from the East Cave fauna (dry-cold)to the fauna (warm) at locality 9. The Shangdian Cave fauna is composed of four forms, beingMiddle Pleistocene in age. The Donglingzi Cave fauna contains 21 Late Pleistocene forms. Inthe cave two fossil horizons may be distinguished. The age of the lower horizon is early LatePleistocene, which is equivalent to that of the New Cave fauna; while the fauna of the upper ho-rizon may be correlated with the Upper Cave fauna.     

Upwelling Process of the Western Himalaya Mountains: Height and Velocity Estimation Evidenced by Formation and Evolution of the Zanda Basin,Tibet,China

<正>Based on field geological survey,stratigraphic section measurement and indoor comprehensive investigation,the Zanda Basin's tectonic location in the Himalaya Plate was ascertained,and the formation and evolution of the Zanda Basin during the Pliocene to Early Pleistocene was classified as six stages:(a) primary rift-faulting stage,(b) quick rift-faulting Stage,(c) intensive rift-faulting stage,(d) stasis stage,(e) secondary rift-faulting stage,and(f) secondary quick rift-faulting stage.Based on this six-staged formation-evolution theory of the Zanda Basin,the upwelling process of the Western Himalaya Mountains from the Pliocene to Early Pleistocene was classified as the following five stages:(a) slow upwelling stage(5.4-4.4 Ma),(b) mid-velocity upwelling stage(4.4-3.5 Ma),(c) quick upwelling stage(3.5-3.2 Ma),(d) upwelling-ceasing stage(3.2-2.7 Ma), and(e) quick upwelling stage(2.7 Ma).Research has shown that in the duration from the Early Pliocene(4.7 Ma) to the End of Pliocene(2.67 Ma),which lasted 2.03 million years,the Himalaya Mountains had uplifted 1500 m at a velocity of 0.74 mm/a;this belongs to a mid-velocity upwelling. During the 1.31 million years in the Early Stage of the Early Pleistocene,the Himalaya Mountains had risen up another 1500 m at a velocity of 1.15 mm/a;this is a rather quick upwelling.All of these data have shown that the upwelling of the Western Himalaya Mountains is along a complicated process with multi-stages,multi-velocities,and non-uniformitarian features.     

The Loess in the Qinling Mountains and Its Records of Palaeoenvironmental Changes

The Fengzhou loess section is very typical in the Qinling Mountains. The section, which is about 82 m thick and underlain by Neogene red clays, consists of 33 layers of loess and 33 layers of palaeosol. It covers the Brunhes normal polarity zone and Matuyama reversed polarity zone, and the B/ M boundary is located in the middle part of loess layer 8 (L8). The loess of the Matuyama reversed polarity zone records the Jaramillo, Olduvai and Reunion normal polarity subchrons. The boundary between the Matuyama reversed polarity zone and Gauss normal polarity zone (M / Ga) appears on the lithological boundary between loess and Neogene red clays. Loess accumulation in the Fengzhou section started before 2.48 Ma B.P. Based on the stratigraphical structure, the material composition and magnetic susceptibility curve of the Fengzhou loess section, the palaeoclimatic changes during the last 2.48 Ma in the Qinling Mountains are subdivided into 66 cold-dry and warm-humid stages, equivalent to 33 climatic cycles. The     

New Advances in the Study of the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary Stratotype in Muhua,Changshun,Guizhou——An Introduction to the Daposhang Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary Section

The Daposhang section at Muhua, Changshun. Guizhou. is an excellent and attractive DevonianCarboniferous boundary section. The transitional beds between the Devonian and Carboniferous of the sectionare continuous and well exposed. belonging to the deep-water basin facies Abundant fossil groups have beendiscovered from this section: conodonts. ammonoids. trilobites. ostracods. vertebrate microfossils and so on.So far as known. it has the most continuous and complete conodont zonation for the Devonian-Carboniferousboundary beds in the world. It is especially worth pointing out that both typical Siponodella pracsulcata andthe transitional forms between S. praesulcata and S. sulcata have been found from the upper pracsulcata Zoneof the Daposhang section. Evidently. we can not only prove the actual existence of the evolutionary lineagefrom S. praesulcata to S. sulcata, but also exactly define the level of the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary. Inthis paper. the development of the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary beds at the Daposhang section is dealtwith and the section is compared with the Muhua section and the Nanbiancun section which are the candidatesfor the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary stratotype. In the authous opinion the Daposhang section is obvi-ously better than the Muhua and the Nanbiancun sections. hence it can be recommended as one of the candi-dates for the international Devonian-Carboniferous boundary stratotype.     

Palaeomagnetic Study on the Precambrian-Cambrian Boundary Candidate Stratotype Section at Meishucun, Yunnan

The Meishucun secton has been recommended as an international candidate stratotype secton of thePrecambrian-Cambrian boundary. The paper deals with the palaeomagnetic study on the section. A total of159 palaeomagnetic samples were successively collected from the platform-facies sequence of carbonates andphosphates at the section. Thermal demagnetization results indicate a great majority of the rocks at the sectionhave been strongly overprinted by recent magnetic field, but 57 samples have preserved remanentmagnetization with antipodal directions (mean D/I=4.2°/ 7.1°, K=9, α_(95) = 6.6°). Baaed on calculation,the location of the palaeomagnetic pole was at 68.8°N and 270.7°E, which is different from any palaeopolesobtained from younger Phanerozoic rocks in South China. The results reveal a polarity zonation which in-cludes at least 9 reversal events. A comparison of China's magnetostratigraphic records with those fromSiberia, Australia and the western U.S.A. shows that all the sections are characterized by frequent polarity re-versals.     

Rb and Sr Geochemical Characterization of the Chinese Loess Stratigraphy and Its Implications for Palaeomonsoon Climate

Concentrations and distributions of Rb and Sr in loess and palaeosol samples from the Luochuan profile have been studied, in grain-size fractions and chemical forms. Results show that Rb is quite rich in the fraction of less than 2μm, and exits only in the residual phase, while Sr is distributed in sand and silt fractions, occurring in the residual and carbonate phases. Therefore, variations of the concentrations of Rb and Sr in loess and palaeosols are closely related not only to dustfall compositions depending on winter monsoon wind strength but also to summer monsoon-induced pedogenic intensity. This indicates that variations of Rb/Sr ratio in Chinese loess sequences represent cyclic alternations of East Asian summer and winter monsoon climates on the orbital time-scale. Variations in Sr concentrations along the sequence bear a high similarity to the oxygen isotope record of the deep sea sediments over the past 2.5 Ma, whereas variations in Rb concentrations are in good agreement with the record of