Sea-ice transport of riverine particles from the Laptev Sea to Fram Strait based on clay mineral studies

The aim of this study was to identify pathways and processes of modern sediment transport from the Siberian hinterland to the Laptev Sea and further to the Arctic Ocean. Clay mineral analyses were performed on riverine suspended particulate material (SPM), surface sediments of the Laptev Sea shelf, and sea-ice sediments (SIS). Material collected during seven expeditions was included in this study. Clay mineral assemblages are used to decipher the distribution of riverine sediments on the shallow Laptev Sea shelf, the entrainment of fine particles into newly forming ice, and the transport of SIS from the Laptev Sea towards the ablation areas. A cluster analysis of our data set shows that the clay mineral assemblages of Laptev Sea shelf sediments and SIS are controlled mainly by the input of riverine SPM supplied by the Khatanga, Lena, and Yana Rivers. Whereas the western shelf clay-mineral province is characterized by enhanced smectite concentrations supplied by the Khatanga River, the eastern Laptev Sea is dominated by illite discharged through the Lena and Yana Rivers. The SIS smectite concentration serves as an indicator for sediment source areas on the circum-Arctic shelves. Subsequently, the Transpolar Drift can be distinguished into a Siberian Branch fed from the eastern Kara Sea and the western Laptev Sea, and a Polar Branch originating from the eastern Laptev Sea.     

Variations of continental discharge pattern in space and time: implications from the Laptev Sea continental margin, Arctic Siberia

Variations in sediment input and distribution to the Laptev Sea continental margin during the Holocene and Termination I could be identified based on radiocarbon dated magnetic susceptibility logs and sediment thickness in high-resolution seismic profiles. Magnetic susceptibility of surface samples reveals an increased input of magnetic grains to the Laptev Sea deriving from the Anabar and Khatanga river catchments. Exposed magnetite schists and volcanic rocks of the Anabar shield and Putoran Plateau, respectively, function as major source of magnetic material. The distribution of magnetic susceptibility in association with the thickness of the Holocene sediments indicates bottom-current induced sediment transport guided by major submarine valleys on the Laptev Sea shelf. The sites of filled paleoriver channels identified in the seismic profiles suggest that during the Late Weichselian sea-level lowstand river runoff continued through four of the major valleys on the exposed Laptev Sea shelf. The sediments at the top of the lowstand deposits in front of the Anabar-Khatanga valley, represented in the seismic profiles by prograding deltas, are characterized by outstandingly high magnetic susceptibility values. Radiocarbon datings approximate the deposition of these high magnetic sediments between 10 and 13.4 ka. It is suggested that this increased input of magnetic material is related to the deglaciation of the Anabar shield and the Putoran Plateau and thus support their glaciation during marine isotope stage (MIS) 2.     

Variability of fluvial sediment supply to the Laptev Sea continental margin during Late Weichselian to Holocene times: implications from clay–mineral records

Three sediment cores from the Laptev Sea continental margin were investigated for their clay mineralogy by X-ray diffraction to study the fluvial sediment supply since the late Weichselian. In the study area, the clay-mineral composition of surface sediments is characterized by distinct regional variations. The source area for smectite in the eastern Eurasian Basin is the Putoran Plateau drained by the Khatanga and Yenisei rivers. Currents caused by river discharge and the inflow of Atlantic water masses along the Eurasian continental margin are responsible for sediment distribution. In the sediment cores, smectite and illite contents show an opposite trend which mainly results from variable smectite supply. During MIS 2 the amount of smectite on the Laptev Sea continental margin never exceeds 10 rel.%. Probably, reduced river discharge and the lowered sea level during MIS 2 caused a decreased sediment supply to the Laptev Sea. Additionally, the Putoran Plateau was covered by an ice sheet during the Late Weichselian preventing the erosion of smectite-rich soils. In contrast, maximum smectite contents (up to 30 rel.%) in Holocene sediments result from increased sediment input by the Khatanga River and from the Kara Sea through the Vilkitsky Strait and via St. Anna Trough into the western Laptev Sea.     

Depositional environment of the Laptev Sea (Arctic Siberia) during the Holocene

The Holocene depositional setting of the Laptev Sea was studied using three marine sediment cores from water depths between 77 and 46 m. Based on sedimentary parameters (TOC content, δ¹³C_org, sedimentation rates) controlled by radiocarbon age models the palaeoenvironment of a strongly coupled river-shelf system was reconstructed since ˜11 ka BP. Caused by a transgressing sea after the last glaciation, all cores reveal progressive decreases in sedimentation rates. Using the sedimentary records of a core from the Khatanga-Anabar river channel in the western Laptev Sea, several phases of change are recognized: (1) an early period lasted until ˜10 ka BP characterized by an increased deposition of plant debris due to shelf erosion and fluvial runoff; (2) a transitional phase with consistently increasing marine conditions until 6 ka BP, which was marked at its beginning near 10 ka BP by the first occurrence of marine bivalves, high TOC content and an increase in δ¹³C_org; (3) a time of extremely slow deposition of sediments, commencing at ˜6 ka BP and interpreted as Holocene sea-level highstand, which caused a southward retreat of the depositional centres within the now submerged river channels on the shelf; (4) a final phase with the establishment of modern conditions after ˜2 ka BP.     

Changes in the deposition of terrestrial organic matter on the Laptev Sea shelf during the Holocene: evidence from stable carbon isotopes

Stable carbon isotope ratios in the organic fraction of surface sediments from the Laptev Sea shelf were analyzed in order to study the modern distribution pattern of terrestrial organic matter. The '¹³C_org signature of the surface sediments range from -26.6‰ near the coastal margin to -22.8‰ in the north towards the outer shelf. Characterizing the possible sources of organic matter by their '¹³C_org signature reveals that the terrestrial influence reaches further north in the eastern than in the western Laptev Sea. Downcore records of the '¹³C_org, measured on three AMS ¹⁴C-dated cores from water depths between 46 and 77 m, specify the spatial and temporal changes in the deposition of terrestrial organic matter on the Laptev Sea shelf during the past 12.7 ka. The major depositional changes of terrestrial organic matter occurred between 11 and 7 ka and comprised the main phase of the southward retreat of the coastline and of the river depocenters due to the postglacial sea level rise.     

Clay-mineral distribution in surface sediments of the Eurasian Arctic Ocean and continental margin as indicator for source areas and transport pathways — a synthesis

Clay-mineral distributions in the Arctic Ocean and the adjacent Eurasian shelf areas are discussed to identify source areas and transport pathways of terrigenous material in the Arctic Ocean. The main clay minerals in Eurasian Arctic Ocean sediments are illite and chlorite. Smectite and kaolinite occur in minor amounts in these sediments, but show strong variations in the shelf areas. These two minerals are therefore reliable in reconstructions of source areas of sediments from the Eurasian Arctic. The Kara Sea and the western part of the Laptev Sea are enriched in smectite, with highest values of up to 70% in the deltas of the Ob and Yenisey rivers. Illite is the dominant clay mineral in all the investigated sediments except for parts of the Kara Sea. The highest concentrations with more than 70% illite occur in the East Siberian Sea and around Svalbard. Chlorite represents the clay mineral with lowest concentration changes in the Eastern Arctic, ranging between 10 and 25%. The main source areas for kaolinite in the Eurasian Arctic are Mesozoic sedimentary rocks on Franz-Josef Land islands. Based on clay-mineral data, transport of the clay fraction via sea ice is of minor importance for the modern sedimentary budget in the Arctic basins.     

Rare Earth Elements in the Bottom Sediments of the East Arctic Seas of Russia as Indicators of Terrigenous Input

The REE distribution was studied in the bottom sediments of the East Arctic shelf of Russia. It is established that sediments of the Laptev and western East Siberian seas are significantly enriched in REEs, the contents of which are much higher than those of other near-continental basins. The main REE sources are runoff of the Lena River, the basin of which comprises ancient crystalline shields and magmatic rocks enriched in LREEs with significant contribution from the coastal erosion of the ice complex from the Laptev Sea and western East Siberian Sea. The terrigenous flux with a specific REE composition is supplied to the Chukchi Sea through the Bering Strait.     

Paleogeography of the Laptev Sea eastern shelf in the first half of Holocene based on faunal and palynological evidence

The Holocene paleogeography of the Laptev Sea eastern shelf is reconstructed based on mollusks, foraminifers, ostracodes, spores and pollen found for the first time. Environmental changes in the course of the postglacial (Holocene) transgression are detectable from quantitative analysis of three ostracod assemblages. Three phases of the transgression are established based on ostracode assemblages from the AMS ¹⁴C-dated core from the ancient valley of Yana River, central part of the Laptev Sea eastern shelf. After the first phase of coastal brackish-water environment (11.3–11.1 ka), shallow-water marine taxa appeared in the transitional phase (11.1–10.3 ka), and the third phase of modern sea conditions commenced 10.3 ka ago. Spore and pollen assemblages from the core indicate that the early Holocene land vegetation was dominated by tundra plant communities adapted to climatic conditions not warmer than at present. In the interval of 9.3–8.0 ka, climate was increasingly humid and warm, and forest-tundra vegetation occupied more favorable zones of the region.     

Clay Minerals in Sediments of the Arctic Seas

The distribution of clay minerals in recent sediments on the Arctic shelf off the Eurasian and North American continents is considered. Prominence is given to the East Siberian and Laptev seas. The illite belt established on the basis of the composition of clay minerals in seven Arctic seas stretches from the Beaufort Sea to the White Sea and reveals a mineralogical zonality. The belt can be devided into smectite and chlorite provinces. Factors governing the formation of the Arctic illite belt and features of the distribution of individual clay minerals are discussed. The identification of the illite belt in sediments on the Arctic shelf complements the system of planetary latitudinal zones of clay minerals formulated by previous researchers.     

台湾山溪性小河流碎屑重矿物组成及其示踪意义

台湾山溪性小河流每年向边缘海输入巨量沉积物,对东海陆架的沉积过程产生了显著的影响。本文分析台湾两条典型河流(兰阳溪和浊水溪)沉积物的全粒级碎屑重矿物组成,共鉴定出20种重矿物,但重量百分含量较低,为0.004%~0.116%。兰阳溪的主要重矿物组合为:锆石-菱镁矿-赤褐铁矿-锐钛矿-黄铁矿,浊水溪为:锆石-石榴石-赤褐铁矿-钛铁矿-锐钛矿-白钛石。研究流域的碎屑重矿物组成存在明显的沿程不均一性,指示出多数沉积物主要受到近源影响,从上游至下游重矿物组成的继承性较差。因此,基岩性质是河流碎屑重矿物组成的主要控制因素:兰阳溪和浊水溪的下游地区主要受各自流域内第四纪碎屑沉积物的贡献,上游地区则主要受到中央山脉庐山组的贡献。基岩控制起主导作用也使得重矿物指数如ATi、GZi和ZTR等难以恰当地应用于台湾山溪性小河流中。并且,大陆东部典型入海河流的重矿物组成与台湾河流存在明显区别:大陆入海河流中主要重矿物为磁铁矿和绿帘石;与之不同的是,兰阳溪河口富集锆石、菱镁矿和黄铁矿,浊水溪河口富集锆石和石榴石。这种差异主要反映了流域内基岩性质的不同。     

东海表层沉积物碎屑矿物组合分布特征及其物源环境指示

为进一步明确东海陆架区的沉积物物源及水动力环境,对研究区表层沉积物的碎屑矿物进行了鉴定分析。研究区共鉴定出49种重矿物、8种轻矿物。根据碎屑矿物的组合分布结合矿物形态特征,将东海陆架区划分为三个矿物区,内陆架矿物区、外陆架矿物区及虎皮礁矿物区。内陆架矿物区,动力分选是影响碎屑矿物分布的主要因素,物质来源相对单一,碎屑矿物主要来源于现代长江物质,闽浙沿岸近岸河流的输入,人类活动也对该区的矿物组成产生一定的影响;外陆架矿物区,重矿物分布的主控因素是长期的分选作用,主要是长江物质经后期改造形成,现代长江物质可从内陆架中北部扩散至124.5°E左右,此外外陆架东南部地形的变化也对碎屑矿物的分布起到一定控制作用;虎皮礁矿物区,有来自黄河、长江、火山物质的多重影响,且水动力环境相对复杂。     

物源—河流过程—化学风化对松花江水系沉积物重矿物组成的影响

松花江水系作为我国七大水系之一,对其沉积物组成的深入探究对揭示源区控制因素和沉积物的搬运—沉积过程具有重要意义。重矿物蕴含着源岩母岩的重要信息,是解开由源到汇过程和物源示踪的重要工具。为了评估物源、河流过程和化学风化对重矿物组成的影响,我们从松花江水系干流和支流的边滩以及阶地共取32个样品,进行分粒级（<63 μm、63～125 μm和125～250 μm）的重矿物分析。结果表明,松花江水系源区母岩信息在嫩江各支流（诺敏河最为典型）的重矿物组成中得到很好的反映,但在嫩江干流中没有得到反映,这表明物源对重矿物组成的控制受到河流过程的影响。松花江水系的重矿物组成以角闪石、绿帘石、钛铁矿和榍石为主。河流沉积物的重矿物组成主要富集在63～125 μm组分,同一河流的不同河段的重矿物组成存在显著差异（巴兰河尤为典型）,表明了河流搬运—沉积过程对重矿物组成起到重要控制。哈尔滨松花江T2阶地沉积物（弱风化）的重矿物组成基本保留了现代河流砂特征,讷谟尔河T1阶地沉积物（中等风化）的重矿物受到一定程度的改造,而受到严重化学风化影响的通河松花江T3阶地的重矿物组成已遭受严重破坏,不稳定矿物（角闪石和辉石）以及蕴含的母岩信息已完全消失,表明了重矿物组成明显受到沉积物化学风化程度的影响。由于源—汇过程中重矿物的混合和由此导致的稀释作用,使得沉积物携带的物源信息经过长距离搬运之后逐渐变得模糊。因此,我们认为,在进行河流重矿物源—汇过程研究中,宽粒度分析窗口和足够多的样品数量需要考虑以充分获取源区完整的重矿物组成信息。同时,在利用河流阶地重矿物组成进行源—汇联系和古水系演化研究时,需要首先评估阶地沉积物的化学风化程度。     

东海外陆架晚更新世沉积物中的有用重矿物及其资源潜力

对东海外陆架中部表层沉积物34个样品,南部两个岩心75个样品的沉积物特征和重矿物特征进行了分析,计算了其中有用重矿物砂的品位。东海外陆架晚更新世残留沉积中有用的重矿物砂来源于中国大陆,其含量与细砂含量、重矿物总量、沉积物的粒度和分选性呈正相关关系。重矿物砂赋存在海退层位中,形成于滨岸带,并经过后期海侵过程的改造和进一步富集,主要分布在水深100～200 m范围内。外陆架中部有用重矿物砂高品位异常区面积达1.2×10.4 km锆石和石榴石品位达到Ⅰ级异常。南部岩心中异常品位的有用重矿物砂的厚度1.5～2 m,锆石品位达到工业边界品位,研究区钛铁矿普遍出现Ⅱ级和Ⅱ级以上的异常品位。东海外陆架区浅海砂矿成矿条件较好,具有较大的资源潜力,值得进一步调查研究。     

Holocene hydrographical changes of the eastern Laptev Sea (Siberian Arctic) recorded in δO profiles of bivalve shells

Oxygen isotope profiles along the growth axis of fossil bivalve shells of Macoma calcarea were established to reconstruct hydrographical changes in the eastern Laptev Sea since 8400 cal yr B.P.. The variability of the oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O) in the individual records is mainly attributed to variations in the salinity of bottom waters in the Laptev Sea with a modern ratio of 0.50‰/salinity. The high-resolution δ¹⁸O profiles exhibit distinct and annual cycles from which the seasonal and annual salinity variations at the investigated site can be reconstructed. Based on the modern analogue approach oxygen isotope profiles of radiocarbon-dated bivalve shells from a sediment core located northeast of the Lena Delta provide seasonal and subdecadal insights into past hydrological conditions and their relation to the Holocene transgressional history of the Laptev Sea shelf. Under the assumption that the modern relationship between δ¹⁸O_w and salinity has been constant throughout the time, the δ¹⁸O of an 8400-cal-yr-old bivalves would suggest that bottom-water salinity was reduced and the temperature was slightly warmer, both suggesting a stronger mixture of riverine water to the bottom water. Reconstruction of the inundation history of the Laptev Sea shelf indicates local sea level ∼27 m below present at this time and a closer proximity of the site to the coastline and the Lena River mouth. Due to continuing sea level rise and a southward retreat of the river mouth, bottom-water salinity increased at 7200 cal yr B.P. along with an increase in seasonal variability. Conditions comparable to the modern hydrography were achieved by 3800 cal yr B.P.     

岷江演化讨论: 来自四川宜宾地区第四纪河流沉积物的重矿物证据*

河流沉积的重矿物可以较为准确反映源区的母岩性质,进而揭示河流的演化过程。本研究以岷江下游河流阶地沉积与现代沉积的重矿物为主要研究对象,开展了古流向、重矿物组合特征、特征重矿物类型及重矿物特征指数分析。研究结果表明: 岷江下游Ⅴ级阶地至Ⅲ级阶地沉积中的重矿物以岩浆岩型重矿物为主,其物源来自龙门山构造带;现代沉积中的重矿物以变质岩型重矿物为主,其物源来自松潘—甘孜褶皱带。结合重矿物特征指数对比分析,认为造成这种重矿物类型差异的原因是青藏高原东缘阶段性隆升引起的岷江溯源侵蚀。受昆黄运动B幕影响,岷江于0.73—0.7 Ma下切至汶川附近,Ⅴ级阶地形成;受昆黄运动C幕影响,岷江于0.5—0.3 Ma强烈下切,Ⅳ级阶地形成;受共和运动影响,岷江在0.11—0.09 Ma下切至石大关,同时形成Ⅲ级阶地;此后岷江继续溯源侵蚀,在距今27 ka左右形成现代岷江。     

Discussion on evolution of Min Jiang River: Heavy mineral evidence from the Quaternary fluvial sediments in Yibin area,Sichuan Province

Heavy minerals deposited on river terraces can be used to reflect source rock properties and reveal river evolutionary processes. This study focused on the heavy minerals deposited in the lower Min Jiang River terraces and in the modern deposits. We studied paleo-current direction, characteristics of the heavy mineral assemblages, characteristic metamorphic minerals and heavy mineral characteristic indices. The results show that the lower reaches of the Min Jiang River Ⅴ- to Ⅲ-level terrace deposits consist dominantly of magmatic rock type, which mainly comes from the Longmen Shan mountain tectonic belt. The heavy minerals deposited in modern sediment come from the Songpan-Ganzi fold belt. The heavy mineral characteristic indices suggest that this change is due to headward erosion of the Min Jiang River. Affected by the phase B of the Kunhuang movement, the Min Jiang River was incised to the Wenchuan area at 0.73-0.7 Ma and the Ⅴ-level terrace formed. The Min Jiang River was strongly cut down at 0.5-0.3 Ma due to the phase C of the Kunhuang movement, and as a result the Ⅳ-level terrace formed. Influenced by Gonghe movement, the Min Jiang River was incised to the stone mark and Ⅲ-level terrace formed in 0.11-0.09 Ma. After that, the modern Min Jiang River was formed at around 27 ka.     

Environmental changes in the eastern shelf of the Laptev Sea in the late-glacial time

Data on the interaction of the land-sea system have been obtained based on complex palynological analysis (pollen and spores of terrestrial plants and cysts of dinoflagellates and green algae) and the SEM analysis of sediments from boreholes drilled on the Laptev Sea’s eastern shelf and dated by the radiocarbon method. The spore and pollen ensemble revealed for the first time in late-glacial sediments of the boreholes indicates that warming which started within the time interval 15.6–10.7 ka ago was accompanied by short-term cooling events. Sedge and herb phytocoenosis predominated in the vegetation cover of East Arctic Siberia during the cooling. The climate warming favored the distribution of shrub birch tundra. The results of the analysis of organic-walled phytoplankton and the low value of the AH criterion indicate cold-water conditions with a longstanding ice sheet at sea. After the interval that ended 10.7 ka ago, thermophilic species of dinocysts appeared on the outer shelf, and the AH-criterion value increased, which suggests an active inflow of relatively warm North-Atlantic water to the shelf. Based on the comparison of the obtained results, an inference has been made about frequent changes of the climate in the region and the environment in the eastern part of the Laptev Sea during the deglaciation epoch.     

Variability of river discharge and Atlantic-water inflow at the Laptev Sea continental margin during the past 15,000 years: implications from maceral and biomarker records

In order to reconstruct the depositional environment from the Laptev Sea continental slope and shelf during the past ~15,000 years BP maceral analysis was carried out on two sediment cores (PS2458-4, PS2725-5) and compared with organic-geochemical parameters. During the transition from the Last Glacial to the Holocene the environment of the Laptev Sea shelf was controlled by the post-glacial sea level rise, variations in river discharge, surface-water productivity, and Atlantic-water inflow along the Eurasian continental margin. Based on our results, we identify the following significant changes of the environment: (a) at approximately 13,500 years BP the first step of deglaciation (Termination 1a) is documented by the deposition of marine and fresh-water organic matter; (b) at approximately 10,400 years BP the first post-glacial influence of Atlantic-water inflow along the Eastern Laptev Sea continental margin is indicated by an increase in marine organic matter; (c) at the beginning of the Holocene an increased fluvial supply is documented by an increase in fresh-water alginite; and (d) since ~9500-8000 years BP modern marine conditions are established at the Laptev Sea continental margin as documented in increased amounts of marine macerals, biomarkers (dinosterol, brassicasterol, short-chain fatty acids), and dinoflagellate cysts.     

Ostracod palaeoecology and environmental change in the Laptev and Kara seas (Siberian Arctic) during the last 18 000 years

Fossil ostracod assemblages were investigated in five AMS ¹⁴ C‐dated cores from various water depths of the Laptev and Kara seas ranging from the upper continental slope (270 m) to the present‐day shelf depth (40 m). Six fossil assemblages were distinguished. These represent the varying environmental conditions at the North Siberian continental margin since about 18 ka. In the cores from the shelf the ostracod assemblages reflect the gradual transition from an estuarine brackish‐water environment to modern marine conditions since 12.3 ka, as induced by the regional early Holocene transgression. The core from the upper continental slope dates back to c. 17.6 ka and contains assemblages that are absent in the shelf cores. The assemblage older than 10 ka stands out as a specific community dominated by relatively deep‐water Arctic and North Atlantic species that also contains euryhaline species. Such an assemblage provides evidence for past inflows of Atlantic‐derived waters from as early as c. 17.2 ka, probably facilitated by upwelling in coastal polynyas, and a considerable riverine freshwater influence with enhanced surface water stratification owing to the proximity of the palaeocoastline until early Holocene times. In all studied cores, relative increases in euryhaline species dominant in the inner‐shelf regions are recorded in the mid–late Holocene sediments (<7 ka), which otherwise already contain modern‐like ostracod assemblages with relatively deep‐water species. This observation suggests euryhaline species to be largely sea‐ice‐ and/or iceberg‐rafted and therefore may provide evidence for a climate cooling trend.     

Mineralogy of Holocene Sediments from the Southwestern Black Sea Shelf (Turkey) in Relation to Provenance, Sea-level and Current Regimes

Grain size and mineral composition of core sediments were used to investigate influences of various terrestrial and marine conditions, which have prevailed on the southwestern Black Sea shelf during the Holocene. Siliciclastic mud with small amounts of sand and gravel from nearby coastal hinterland is the principal sediment type, whereas sediments deposited near the shelf edge and the Istanbul Strait and off the Duru Lake （a paleo-river mouth） constitued large quantities of sand and gravel of both biogenic and terrigenic origin. Variable amounts of aragonite, 1 nmmicas, quartz, feldspars, calcite and dolomite constitute the dominant non-clay minerals in bulk sediments. The clay mineral assemblage in the 〈 2 μm fraction is made up of smectite, illite, kaolinite and chlorite. Aragonite and calcite are mainly derived from benthic accumulations, whereas feldspars （mainly plagioclase） and smectite reflect magmaticvolcanic provenance and the distribution of 1 nm-micas and chlorite correlate with nearby metamorphic sources onland. Nevertheless, grain size and mineral distribution generally indicate a combination of effects of wind and wave climate, longshore and offshore cyclonic currents, changing sea-level stands and nearby source rock and morphological conditions. It is also suggested that at least part of clay minerals could be derived from the northwesterly Danube River input.