Variability of carbonate pedofeatures in a loess-paleosol sequence and their use for paleoreconstructions

Carbonate pedofeatures were studied in details in a loess-paleosol pedocomplex near Kursk, in the central part of the European Plain. The soils studied included a modern Chernozem and five Pleistocene paleosols. Carbonate morphologies and distributions were described in the field. Various morphologies were sampled for further studies including micromorphology in thin sections and submicroscopic studies under a scanning electron microscope. The complex approach of investigation at macro-, micro-, and submicroscopic levels found that most of carbonate pedofeatures are secondary and multiphase. Many of them are related to cryogenic features. The general trend was of decreasing carbonate content in the older paleosols except for increased content in the 1St and 3rd paleosols. Most of carbonate morphologies are similar in the modern soil and paleosols, but pseudomycelium was found only in the modern Chernozem, while soft masses and impregnations are associated with the paleosols. Detailed study on carbonate attributes revealed their specific features in the modern soil and in paleosols. Veins have dissolution features under the modern environment and seem to reprecipitate in form of pseudomycelium. Coatings in paleosols at a depth of the Ist paleosol include specific fine tubes. Powdery soft masses and impregnations in the paleosols are strongly related to cryogenic fissures and paleopermafrost level. Under SEM they consist of tiny crystals, much smaller than in regular soft masses. Several types of hard concretions were identified：rounded, irregular and platy. Small concretions in the modern Chernozem have similar morphology and similar 14C-age as the rounded concretions of the upper paleosols. They are expected to represent the same generation of concretions. Platy concretions fill the bottom part of the large fissures. The 14C-age of hard concretions varies from 3310±80 yrs. B.P in the Ist paleosol up to 20 400 yrs. B.P. in the 3^rd. As a result we found the reflection of several wet-dry and cold-warm stages in carbonate morphologies and distributions. High variability of carbonates at macro-, micro- and submicroscopic levels indicates several generations and multiphase formation of carbonate pedofeatures in the loess-paleosol pedocomplex. Carbonate pedofeatures in the examined pedocomplex are more informative for the study of late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic cycles rather than characterization of a single paleosol.     

PALEOSOLS OF SANDY LANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN THE WESTERN PART OF NORTHEAST PLAIN OF CHINA WESTERN DURING HOLOCENE

ＰＡＬＥＯＳＯＬＳＯＦＳＡＮＤＹＬＡＮＤＳＡＮＤＥＮＶＩＲＯＮＭＥＮＴＡＬＣＨＡＮＧＥＳＩＮＴＨＥＷＥＳＴＥＲＮＰＡＲＴＯＦＮＯＲＴＨＥＡＳＴＰＬＡＩＮＯＦＣＨＩＮＡＷＥＳＴＥＲＮＤＵＲＩＮＧＨＯＬＯＣＥＮＥ￥ＱｉｕＳｈａｎｗｅｎ（裘善文）ＬｉＱｕｓ...     

Micromorphological evidences of climatic change in Yazd region, Iran

The fact of, present is the key of the past, will help us to use paleosols properties as indicators of the ecological characteristics of past .time, particularly the paleoclimate. In this respect the micro- morphological properties showed to be a very good indicator. Therefore, for investigating of climate change in Ardakan-Yazd plain, Central Iran 9 pedons were digged and described. Yazd has an arid climate with less than 100 mm annual precipitation and more than 22℃ mean annual temperature （Aridic-hyper thermic soil moisture and temperature regions, respectively）. Based on the morphological and physicochemical analysis Arglic, Calcic and Gypsic diagnostic horizons have been distinguished in these soils. Thin section studied showed that the illuviated form of clay includes, infillings on channel, coating on pendant, on nodules and on grains, at lower depths and also juxtaposed calcite needles on void argillan at upper part of the profiles. Mineralogical result showed fine clay in arglic horizon, too. Considering depth and forms of these pedofeatures, we concluded that, the observed illuviated clays at lower depth must be the result of the more humid climate of the past, where the carbonates have been removed completely as pendant, nodules or coating to considerable depth, following processes, clay has been dispersed and also trans located to these depths. In contrast to these features, the juxtaposed needle calcite at the shallower depth is probably the result of drier climate of today.     

Transformation pathway of carbonate pedofeatures based on their micromorhology and carbon isotope data in the Northern Caucasus region, Russia

Carbonate pedofeatures （CPs） in a chronosequence of paleosols buried under kurgans in the Northern Caucasus region of Russia in a period from the end of the 4th to the middle of the 5th centuries AD （It seams that there is no time left） were studied by using a set of morphological and isotopic methods. The CPs in chernozem-type soils of Russia are usually represented by crystallomorphic calcite whereas the non-segregated carbonates occurred at the same horizons - by collomorphic one. Those two morphotypes of calcite have the differences in elemental composition and isotopic composition of carbon and, hence, should have different origins - from true and colloidal solutions, respectively. The same differences including radiocarbon age have been revealed for pseudomycelium of the ABca horizon of the youngest paleosols as compared with the same CPs of other paleosols in the chronosequence studied. Our assumption is that it was succeeded in finding that the pseudomycelium right away after its precipitation from a colloidal solution migrated from the lower soil horizons to the surface horizons during the periods of climatic aridization. After a short time interval （not more than 25-50 years） collomorphic calcite in the pseudomicelium of the yongest paleosols mentioned above will likely become by ＂usual＂ acicular calcite.     

秦岭太白盆地黄土地层发育时的古环境

太白盆地黄土地层厚１６ｍ左右．发育有两层红褐色古土壤。化学分析与微结构鉴定表明该盆地黄土中的古土壤为ＦｅＯ３与Ａｌ２Ｏ３迁移深度大但无聚集的棕壤．并已成为明显的风化无，发育时的年平均降水量在１０００ｍｍ以上．太白盆地黄土中ＣａＣＯ３含量少，发育有淀积型的光性定向粘土．表明黄土地层发育时的降水量也在６００ｍｍ以上。该盆地黄土地层发育在距今约２０多万年前．指示从这一时期开始，中国黄土搬运高度已超过２０００ｍ。微结构的观察还表明，光性定向粘土不仅可用于降水量的研究，也可用于指示温度的相对高低．     

A STUDY ON BUFFERING CAPACITY OF THE FOREST SOIL AGAINST ACIDIC PRECIPITATION IN SEVERAL AREAS OF CHINA

Soil samples from several forest areas in China were analyzed by X-ray powder diffractometry after mineral separation and enrichment. The density gradient separation method with sequential extraction by acetone-methylene iodide mixtures was applied for the separation of fine sand fraction of soil samples. The clay fraction (< 2μm) was separated from silt fraction of soil samples prior to examination. Mineral components in some fine sand and clay samples were compared, and their weathering potentiality and buffering capacity against acidic precipitation were discussed.     

Preservation of organic matter in soils of a climo-biosequence in the Main Range of Peninsular Malaysia

Limited information is available about factors of soil organic carbon(SOC) preservation in soils along a climo-biosequence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of soil texture and mineralogy on preservation of SOC in the topsoil and subsoil along a climo-biosequence in the Main Range of Peninsular Malaysia. Soil samples from the A and B-horizons of four representative soil profiles were subjected to particle-size fractionation and mineralogical analyses including X-ray diffraction and selective dissolution. The proportion of SOC in the 250-2000 μm fraction(SOC associated with coarse sand) decreased while the proportion of SOC in the 53 μm fraction(SOC associated with clay and silt)increased with depth. This reflected the importance of the fine mineral fractions of the soil matrix for SOC storage in the subsoil. Close relationships between the content of SOC in the 53 μm fraction and the content of poorly crystalline Fe oxides [oxalate-extractable Fe(Fe_o) – pyrophosphate-extractable Fe(Fe_p)] and poorly crystalline inorganic forms of Al [oxalateextractable Al(Al_o) – pyrophosphate-extractable Al(Al_p)] in the B-horizon indicated the importance of poorly crystalline Fe oxides and poorly crystalline aluminosilicates for the preservation of SOC in the Bhorizon. The increasing trend of Fe_o-Fe_p and Al_o-Al_p over elevation suggest that the importance of poorly crystalline Fe oxides and poorly crystalline aluminosilicates for the preservation of SOC in the Bhorizon increased with increasing elevation. This study demonstrates that regardless of differences in climate and vegetation along the studied climobiosequence, preservation of SOC in the subsoil depends on clay mineralogy.     

DISTRIBUTIVE TENDENCY OF ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN LIMESTONE SOILS IN EASTERN CHINA

ＤＩＳＴＲＩＢＵＴＩＶＥＴＥＮＤＥＮＣＹＯＦＥＬＥＭＥＮＴＣＯＮＣＥＮＴＲＡＴＩＯＮＳＩＮＬＩＭＥＳＴＯＮＥＳＯＩＬＳＩＮＥＡＳＴＥＲＮＣＨＩＮＡＷｅｎＹａｎｍａｏ（温琰茂）；ＺｅｎｇＳｈｕｉｑｕａｎ（曾水泉）；ＰａｎＳｈｕｒｏｎｇ（潘树荣）；Ｌｕｏ...     

Origin of red color of the Lower Siwalik palaeosols: A micromorphological approach

Palaeosols associated with fluvial of the Siwalik Group are and lacustrine deposits that occur as thick multiple pedocomplexes. The bright red color of the palaeosol beds has been earlier interpreted as a result of hot and arid palaeoclimate. However, as against this view, our investigations of the bright red palaeosol beds of the Lower Siwaliks suggest that the climate was cool and subhumid, instead of hot and arid during the deposition of these beds. Since cold climate is not very conducive to impart red coloration, further research is needed to explain the cause of these red beds. For this, the micromorphological study of soil thin sections was done which showed the presence of features such as dissolution and recrystallisation of quartz, feldspar and mica, compaction, slickensides, presence of calcite spars, subrounded and cracked nature of quartz grains, microfabric, complex patterns of birefringence fabrics, pigmentary ferric oxides, thick cutans and cementation by calcite. These features indicate that diagenesis took place on a large scale in these sediments. The positive Eh and neutral-alkaline pH of soils also suggest that the conditions were favorable for the formation of diagenetic red beds. During burial diagenesis of sediments, the hydroxides of ferromagnesian minerals got converted into ferric oxide minerals （hematite）. During deep burial diagenesis smectite was converted into illite and the preponderance of illite over smectite with increasing depth of burial also indicates the diagenesis of sediments. Thus, the red color of the Lower Siwalik palaeosols seems to be due mainly to the burial diagenesis of sediments and does not appear to be due to the then prevailing climatic condition.     

PALEOSOLS AND THEIR REFLECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF THE QINGHAI－XIZANG PLATEAU

ＰＡＬＥＯＳＯＬＳＡＮＤＴＨＥＩＲＲＥＦＬＥＣＴＩＯＮＯＦＴＨＥＥＮＶＩＲＯＮＭＥＮＴＡＬＣＨＡＮＧＥＳＩＮＴＨＥＮＯＲＴＨＥＡＳＴＲＥＧＩＯＮＯＦＴＨＥＱＩＮＧＨＡＩ－ＸＩＺＡＮＧＰＬＡＴＥＡＵ徐叔鹰，潘保田ＰＡＬＥＯＳＯＬＳＡＮＤＴＨＥＩＲＲＥＦ...     

Paleosols and their reflection of the environmental changes in the northeast region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Based on field investigations, laboratory analyses and ¹⁴C dating, this paper discusses the laws of the formation and development of the paleosols in the northeast region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau since Late Pleistocene. The authors reconstruct basic conditions of climate, vegetation, soil and natural zones during the three periods in which the paleosols were formed, i.e. the last interglacial of the Late Pleistocene, warm stage of Late Glacial and the Optimum of Holocene. Finally, this paper discusses the relationship between the paleosols and the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF EOLIAN DUST OVER THE EASTERN CHINA SEAS

ImODUcrIONWindisantheortantagentfortransportationofdryandfinemateriaIsfromcontin-entStooceans.MaterialloadfromriversandcoastalerosiondepositSrnaitilyinestuaries,coastalregionsandontheinnercontinentalshelves.MinoramountSentCfopenoceans(Robeft,l982).DuetoconstruCtionofreservoAsonrivers,therivers'matCrialloadstotheseahavedroppedgreat1y.Forinstance,theloadoftheHuangheRiverintotheBohaiSeawas2O.4xlO9tinl958,butoIilyo.9xlO9tinl987.Meansedirnentdischargeredued36%duringtheperiodfroml98ltol989…     

Sedimentary environment of vermicular red clay in South China

Increasing interest in recent years has focused on vermicular red clay(VRC) in southern China due to its controversial sedimentary environment and provenance. Grain size is a useful way to determine sedimentary environment and provenance. Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis(LDA) is a common and widely used method for multivariate statistical analysis. Based on a proper training sample set, the LDA can be used to discuss the sediment provenance. In this study, grain size data for 77 Malan loess samples and 41 floodplain deposit samples were used as a training sample set to deduce a Fisher linear discriminant function. Then, 299 VRC samples from 6 Quaternary red clay profiles were analyzed using the discriminant function. Grain size parameters and microscopic images of quartz grains separated from the VRC were evaluated in detail to determine the VRC sedimentary environment in south China. The results show that VRC profiles can be classified into two regions: the Chiang-nan Hilly Region and Wuyi Mountains Region. The VRC samples in the Chiang-nan Hilly Region originated from eolian dust deposits. This VRC is characterized by a higher content of fine particles(20 μm) and lower average transport kinetic energy than loess in a C-M plot. The quartz grain sizes and microscope images of this VRC suggest that it could be a polyphyletic mixture of far-sourced and nearsourced eolian deposits. The far-sourced eolian deposits share similar provenance with Xiashu loess and were transported by the East Asian winter monsoon. The near-sourced eolian deposits were dust emitted from the adjacent floodplain. In the Wuyi Mountains Region, the rugged topography weakened the dustfall and strengthened the reconstructive effect of hydrodynamic forces during the Quaternary glacial periods. The VRC in this region was reworked strongly by water and retained typical hydraulic characteristics no matter the source.     

Micromorphological aspects of two forest soils development derived from igneous rocks in Lahijan, Iran

In order to characterize various micromorphologic properties of two forest soils derived from different parent rocks in Lahijan, and use the data collected from micromorphological analysis to interpret dominant pedogenic processes. Two representative soil pedons, granite (P1) and andesitic basalt (P2) were selected in a mountain landform with northwest aspect. Samples for thin section preparation were taken from each horizon by Kubiena boxes or clods. Micromorphological analysis of soils derived from these two soil pedons in eastern part of Lahijan (northern Iran) were conducted based on the physicochemical and mineralogical data. Micromorphological properties were characterized using a polarized light microscope under plain and cross light. Thin section study indicated that the nature of the parent material clearly affected the content of clay formation. It also showed that clay accumulation in the Bt horizons was not only due to clay illuviation (argillan), but that strong in situ weathering of primary minerals also contributed to the enrichment of clay in soils derived from andesitic basalt. Comparing the results of clay mineralogy obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) with microscopic studies revealed that birefringence fabric (b-fabric) of the groundmass was partly striated due to smectitic minerals in soil of andesitic basalt (Hapludalf), whereas speckled birefringence fabric was dominant in soil of granite (Udorthent) because of the absence of these minerals. We speculate that pores of skeletal fragments or microcracks in P1 were a place for illuvial clay protection. However, the main factor for illuvial clay film disruption (striation and deformation) was biological activity (faunal turbation and root pressure) in P1 and expandable minerals and faunal turbation in P2.     

Mass balance of major elements in relation to weathering in soils developed on igneous rocks in a semiarid region, northwestern Iran

This study was conducted to evaluate the weathering intensity of the major soils developed on igneous rocks in semiarid region of northwestern Iran.Eight parent materials were selected including monzodiorite,alkali granite,granodiorite,syenite,pyroxene diorite,hornblende andesite,pyroxene andesite,and dacite.Representative soil profiles were described and soil samples were collected and analyzed for selected chemical and physical properties and total concentrations of major elements and Zr,V,Ti and Y.Bulk densities as well as Ti,Zr and V concentrations were used to estimate the strain factors and mass balance equations were used to quantify the net result of pedogenic weathering,i.e.elemental loss and gain.The results of clay content and pedogenic iron variability as well as index of compositional variability(ICV),chemical index of alteration(CIA) and,A-CN-K and MFW ternary plots showed that the soils developed on volcanic rocks(hornblende andesite> pyroxene andesite> dacite) were more weathered than those on the plutonic parent rocks(alkali granite,granodiorite,monzodiorite,syenite,pyroxene diorite).The results of mass balance calculations based on the strain factors revealed that the Ca and Na depleted during weathering progress mostly from plagioclase grains.In the semiarid regions Ca is precipitated as pedogenic calcite in the soil horizons.K and Mg depletion is less than Ca and Na especially in the profiles on the hornblende andesite with the highest clay and LOI content.The results of this study clearly suggest that the behavior of K and Mg during the weathering cannot only be explained by the disintegration of the primary minerals,since they are fixed on the secondary clay minerals.Iron did not change in the soils compared to the parent material and was precipitated as the pedogenic iron and conserved in the soil horizons.Overall,the results on the weathering indicators and major elements mass balance enrichment/depletion in the study area confirmed that the soil profiles developed on volcanic rocks are more weathered than those on the plutonic igneous rocks.     

Characterization of dust and non-dust aerosols with SEM/EDX

Total suspended particulate （TSP） samples were collected at three sites along the coast of Qingdao, China, before and during a major dust storm in March, 2002. For comparison, PM10（particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10μm） samples were collected at one of the three sites. The morphological observation and compositional analysis of bulk and individual particles were performed by using scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray system （SEM/EDX） for the TSP and PM10 samples. The results showed that the particles of different kinds of morphology had different elemental compositions, but the particles of similar morphology did not always have the same elemental composition for non-dust samples. The morphology and composition of non-dust particles were different at different sites. The fractal and spherical particles existed mainly in the coarse fraction for non-dust samples, while in the fine mode （〈 10μm） there were floccules formed by fine particles flocking together and containing crustal elements. Compared with the non-dust particles, the dust particles were more homogeneous in terms of morphology, particle size and composition. Particles with irregular shapes and well-distributed sizes dominated in the dust samples, containing crustal elements such as Mg, A1, Si, Ca, Fe, etc. The high sulfur content indicated that homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions took place on the surfaces of the dust particles in the specific environment of Qingdao.     

SORPTION AND DESORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF CADMIUM BY FOUR DIFFERENT SOILS IN NORTHEAST CHINA

1IN TR O D U C TIO NA s a persistentand toxic pollutant, cadm ium (C d) canresultin m any adverse health effects in a variety oftis-suesand organssuch asthe lung,kidney,urinary,blad-der,pancreas,breast and prostate (SA TA R U G etal.,2003).C adm ium in so…     

Laboratory and field experiment on measurement of soil thermal conductivity by probe method

The authors presented a new measuring method of the soil thermal conductivity,the probe method,which is designed and made based on the theory of line heat source. This method is used to measure thermal conductivity of coarse sand,fine sand and silty clay in different water contents. The results that measured by the probe method are well consistent with those of QTM-D_2. The soil thermal conductivity increases in different levels with the increase of the water content. Compared the soil thermal conductivity measured by the probe method in laboratory with in-situ experiment,it shows that the measuring gap gradually increases with the increase of the depth. The reason is that the in-situ measuring thermal conductivity can reflect the actual situation of the soil mass.     

The Sources and Transport Patterns of Modern Sediments in Hangzhou Bay: Evidence from Clay Minerals

Clay mineral compositions of 199 offshore surface sediment samples collected from the Hangzhou Bay have been analyzed. The clay minerals in the sediments from the Hangzhou Bay are dominated by illite(58.7%, on average), followed by chlorite(20.3%), kaolinite(16.9%) and smectite(4.1%). Two provinces were classified by Q-mode cluster analysis. Class Ⅰ with relatively low amounts of illite and smectite is widely distributed in the Hangzhou Bay, especially concentrated in the top and mouth of the bay, and the northern and southern nearshore areas. Class Ⅱ with comparatively high amounts of illite and smectite is mainly concentrated in the central part of the bay with the water depth of 8–10 m. By comparing clay mineral compositions with the neighbouring regions, we can find that the sediments in the Hangzhou Bay are mainly influenced by the resuspension and repeated deposition of particles from the Yangtze River due to the strong dynamic environment. In particular, the clay fraction of Class Ⅰ is mainly supplied by the Yangtze River, while the sediments of Class Ⅱ are mixture of the clay minerals carried by the Yangtze River and Qiantang River. In general, the distributions of clay minerals in the northern bay are affected by Yangtze River runoff, coastal current and flood tide together, and in the southern they are mainly affected by the Qiantang River runoff and ebb tide.     

The Mineral Composition and Sources of the Fine-Grained Sediments from the 49.6°E Hydrothermal Field at the SWIR

We used the X-ray diffraction method to determine systematically the mineral phases in bulk sediment samples and acid undissolved residuals of the fine-grained fraction of the surface sediments from the 49.6°E hydrothermal field at the Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR)and discussed the mineral sources of the surface sediments.The results showed that the surface sediments in this region were composed of calcareous ooze,and calcite was the dominant mineral.The sediments also contained quartz,feldspar,clay minerals,pyroxene,sphalerite,barite,serpentine,and magnetite.The quartz,feldspar,and clay minerals were exogenous minerals that mainly originated from the Namib and Kalahari deserts in southern Africa.The pyroxene,serpentine,magnetite,sphalerite,calcite,and barite were endogenous minerals from weathering of seafloor basement rocks and seafloor hydrothermal activities.The sulfide particles in the sediments were mainly deposited from upwelling plumes.