Characteristics of freshly deposited sand and finer sediments along an island-braided, gravel-bed river: The roles of water, wind and trees

Over the past two decades there has been a growing interest in the geomorphological mosaic along large floodplain rivers where channel dynamics are seen to drive habitat-patch creation and turnover and to contribute to high biological diversity. This has required a new perspective on fluvial geomorphology that focuses on biological scales of space and time. This study examines the spatial pattern of surface fine sediment accumulations along a reach of a large gravel-bed river, the Tagliamento River in NE Italy; an area with a moist Mediterranean climate and seasonal flow regime. The study investigates changes in sediment characteristics during the summer low-flow period between April and September. Focussing on five areas representing a gradient from open, bar-braided to wooded island-braided morphologies, the paper demonstrates the importance of riparian vegetation and aeolian–fluvial interactions.Significant contrasts in particle size distributions and organic content of freshly deposited sand and finer sediments were found between sampling areas, geomorphological settings, and sampling dates. In particular, wooded floodplain and established islands supported consistently finer sediment deposits than both open bar surfaces and the lee of pioneer islands, and in September significantly finer sediments were also found in deposits located in the lee of pioneer islands than on open bar surfaces. Overall, the September samples had a greater variability in particle size characteristics than those obtained from the same sites in April, with a general coarsening of the D₅ (φ) (i.e., the coarse tail of the particle size distribution). Also in September, crusts of fine sediment (30 μm < D₅₀ < 64 μm) had formed on the surface of some of the open bar and pioneer island deposits within the more open sampling areas along the study reach. These crusts possessed similar particle size characteristics to aeolian crusts found in more arid environments. They were significantly finer than April samples and September subcrust samples obtained from the same sites and had similar particle size characteristics to some samples taken from wooded floodplain, established island surfaces and the lee of pioneer islands that were not crusted.Local climatological and river level data confirm significant wind and rainfall events during a period of consistently low river levels between the April and September sampling periods. These support deflation, deposition and rain wash of finer sediment during the summer, with windblown sediments being deposited on bar surfaces and in the lee of pioneer islands where wood and young trees provide foci for accelerated sedimentation and island growth as well as on marginal floodplains and established islands. We conclude that along braided rivers in moist settings but with a distinct dry season, aeolian reworking of sediment deposits may have a more important role in driving habitat dynamics than previously considered.     

River stabilisation due to changing climate and vegetation during the late Quaternary in western Tasmania, Australia

The Stanley River in western Tasmania, Australia, contains sub-fossil rainforest logs within the channel and floodplain. Of the more than 85 radiocarbon dates obtained, all but 3 date from 17 ka to the present and permit an interpretation of fluvial and related environmental changes over this period. Particular attention is focused on the interactive relationship between the river and its riparian rainforest. Following the Last Glacial Maximum, the Stanley River was a laterally active gravel-load system reworking most of its valley floor in the upstream reaches. With ameliorating conditions at the end of the Pleistocene, climate became less seasonal and flow regimes less energetic. Huon pines already present in the catchment, re-asserted themselves in the form of dense tree cover along the river banks and floodplains with basal floodplain deposition shifting from gravels to coarse sands and granules. By about 3.5 ka, a further change in climate reduced stream discharges substantially. As a result the channel reduced in size, transported finer sediment, became laterally stable, and the floodplain accreted with overbank deposits of sand and silt. Huon pines falling into the channel formed obstructions of woody debris, some surviving for 2 ka. These have reduced stream power and boundary shear stress, further contributing to channel stability. Generational sequences of Huon pines on the river banks, some extending back 1–2 ka, are additional evidence of this stability. Since the Pleistocene, changing climate and the re-establishment of dense riparian rainforest appear to have stabilised the river channels and floodplains of western Tasmania.     

东南极拉斯曼丘陵的沉积*

拉斯曼丘陵区风化过程微弱、初始,沉积物地球化学指数与母岩高度相似.沉积物搬运距离短,且风力的混合扰动作用强烈,沉积颗粒级配过程、粒度参数、化学组份均反映这一特征.丘陵西部沉积物保存较好,东部区则受外力明显的改造.各类沉积物10mm以下颗粒均值(M_z(φ))介于中砂到粗砂范围内;分选差,样品标准差δ多集中在2.0附近;随着M_z(φ)的增大,频率曲线变尖陡,型式愈近正态分布曲线;同时,δ也随M_z(φ)的增大而升高.各类沉积物中均含少量的悬浮物,含量介于5-10%之间.     

黄河下游泥沙输移数值模拟

本文从数学模型入手,探讨黄河下游在多年平均来水来沙条件下,泥沙输移与泥沙淤积的特性,得出黄河下游泥沙沿程淤积分布不均匀主要是由于粗沙、中沙沿程淤积不均匀造成的,如果使来沙减少42.6%,黄河下游可望达到冲淤平衡.     

STORAGE OF MINING-RELATED ZINC IN FLOODPLAIN SEDIMENTS,BLUE RIVER,WISCONSIN

This study investigates spatial patterns of sediment-associated zinc (Zn) storage in floodplain deposits and the potential reintroduction of these metal-contaminated sediments to the active channel by bank erosion. We estimate patterns of Zn mass storage by combining longitudinal trends in Zn concentrations with measurements of sediment mass storage in overbank and point-bar deposits. Overbank deposits are the largest contaminant sink, storing five times more Zn than the point-bar deposits. While Zn concentrations decrease downstream because of dilution effects, the total mass of Zn stored in floodplains is greatest in both the upstream reaches and in the wider lower valleys where low channel gradients promote rapid sedimentation. Zn storage is low in middle reaches where steep, narrow valleys with high stream power favor sediment transport over deposition. Overall, more than half of the Zn released by mining remains stored in floodplain deposits within the watershed. The remobilization of Zn from storage is more likely in the upstream and mid-basin reaches where high stream power increases rates of lateral channel migration. Channels in the lower valley lack the stream power to migrate laterally and remobilize the large Zn mass stored in overbank sediments. [Key words: floodplains, Zn contamination, mining, stream power, Wisconsin.]     

Non-synchronous response of adjacent floodplain systems to Holocene environmental change

Two adjacent upland floodplains are compared to establish the local response of floodplains to environmental change. Radiocarbon dating, the analysis of sedimentary exposures, terrace mapping, aerial photography and archaeological evidence are used to examine Late Quaternary valley fill sediments on the Afon Tanat and the Afon Vymwy in the Upper Severn Basin, Wales, UK.The alluvial stratigraphy of the two floodplain systems consists of Late Devensian (last glacial) fluvio-glacial sediments at the valley margins deposited under a braided outwash river regime. Holocene age terraces, with floodplain and palaeochannel deposits composed of gravels overlain by silty-sands, are inset into this older unit and were formed by meandering fluvial channel systems. A combination of field and laboratory data demonstrates that from the mid-late Holocene the two floodplain systems had divergent development. The Afon Vyrnwy has remained vertically stable for the last ca. 4000 yrs. whereas the adjacent Afon Tanat continued to be vertically and laterally active.Both floodplain systems have been affected by Late Quaternary climatic fluctuations and anthropogenic activity from the Bronze Age to the Roman period, but local geomorphic gradient controls, combined with a possibly greater focus of anthropogenic activity in the Tanat catchment, may explain the differential evolution of the two systems. The data demonstrate that multiple reach-scale studies are essential for revealing significant stages in the chronology and historical development of fluvial systems.     

毛里塔尼亚努瓦克肖特沙丘粒度分布特征及其环境意义

毛里塔尼亚努瓦克肖特地区位于撒哈拉沙漠西部,基本被沙漠包围且常年遭受沙漠侵蚀,进行该地区沙漠粒度特征的研究,将对判别沙漠物质来源和沉积过程等具有重要参考意义。对努瓦克肖特周边纵向沙丘不同部位采集的50个沙样粒度进行分析。结果表明：沙丘沉积物的粒度以细沙和极细沙为主,两者所占比例超过60%;总体粒度要细于国内典型沙漠线性沙丘。沙丘东南坡、丘顶和西北坡整体上以细沙为主,其次为极细沙,二者含量依次递减,粉沙含量依次增加。沙丘沙粒径最细者为西北坡（5.13 φ）,最粗者为东南坡（3.07 φ）,分选性随粒径增加而变好。3个部位峰态存在明显差异,东南坡以中等和尖窄峰态为主,丘顶以尖窄峰态为主,西北坡为以宽平峰态为主,但三者均以正偏偏态为主。丘间地粒级级配趋势一致性最好,均以细沙为主,平均粒径大于沙丘各部位,平均粒径为2.76 φ,分选性优于沙丘,全为近对称中等峰态。该地区地表沙粒沉积环境和成因复杂,超过70%的沙样为风成沉积造成,其余为沿岸沉积造成。     

新疆巴里坤鸣沙山风成沉积物粒度特征

对新疆巴里坤鸣沙山风成沉积物粒度进行了分析,并对其特征进行了探讨。结果表明：巴里坤鸣沙山风成沉积物以中沙为主,分选较好,偏度值接近0,峰态很窄。概率累积曲线揭示风成沉积物碎屑颗粒的主要搬运方式为跃移,所占比例为40%~95%。沿沙脊-山坡-山脚的方向,平均粒径逐渐变大,分选性变差,蠕移组分含量增加。粒度具有分形特征,分维值平均为0.94,与常见碎屑物质相比,处于较低的水平。分维值与标准偏差显著相关,说明分选程度会对分形特征产生影响。     

Climate controls on late Pleistocene landscape evolution of the Okhombe valley, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Hillslopes in central and western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa are often mantled by colluvial sediments of the Masotcheni Formation. These sediments have accreted in response to several cycles of deposition, pedogenesis and incomplete erosion. Climatic controls on these cycles are incompletely known. Results from fieldwork, micromorphology, stable carbon isotope analysis and Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating of Masotcheni Formation sediments from Okhombe valley in the Drakensberg foothills are combined. Deposition in the area had at least 11 phases, starting before 42 ka and ending before 0.17 ka. The first six deposits (from before 42 ka to after 29 ka) resulted from the interplay between slope processes and fluvial redistribution under cold conditions. Solifluction was the most important slope process. No deposits have been found from the Last Glacial Maximum, arguably because this period was too dry. The last five deposits (from about 11 ka to before 0.17 ka) resulted from fluvial redistribution of upslope material and older deposits under increasing precipitation. Current extreme gully erosion in the Masotcheni Formation indicates a lack of available upslope material, leaving downslope deposits as the only sediment source for fluvial redistribution. This model for landscape response to climate change may be able to explain how climate controlled landscape processes in other Masotcheni Formation sites in KwaZulu-Natal. In the research area and elsewhere, this proposition may be tested with numerical landscape evolution models.     

长江三峡水坝下游河道悬沙恢复和床沙补给机制

流域水库工程的修建,将改变坝下游原有的水沙输移过程,三峡水库蓄水作用对坝下游水沙输移的影响已初步显现。具体表现为：① 三峡水库坝下游洪水持续时间和流量被削减,下泄沙量大幅减少,沿程上输沙量虽得到一定恢复,但总量仍未超过蓄水前多年均值;② 2003-2014年d > 0.125 mm（粗）输沙量得到一定恢复,至监利站恢复程度最大,基本达到蓄水前均值,在恢复后其下游该组分泥沙冲淤特性与蓄水前一致,其中2008-2014年恢复程度弱于2003-2007年;③ 三峡水库蓄水后坝下游d < 0.125 mm（细）输沙量沿程上得到一定程度恢复,但总量仍小于蓄水前均值;④ 三峡水库蓄水后坝下游d > 0.125 mm泥沙输移量因河床补给作用,沿程上得到恢复,但补给量将不超过0.44亿t/y,主要受制于洪水持续时间及流量均值,而上游干流、河段间支流和湖泊分汇作用占次要地位,而d < 0.125 mm悬沙恢复受上游干流、区间支流和湖泊分汇及河床补给控制,因河床粗化使得床沙对细颗粒悬沙的补给作用减弱;⑤ 2003-2007年和2008-2014年两时段间宜昌至枝城、上荆江为粗细均冲,下荆江为淤粗冲细,汉口至大通河段为淤粗冲细,城陵矶至汉口河段2003-2007年为淤粗冲细,2008-2014年为粗细均冲,这一差异受控于螺山站洪水流量持续时间和量值。     

Exogenous processes and soil formation within a small river basin of Western Transbaikalia in the second half of the Holocene

We determined the sequence of formation of deposits on the first terrace above the Tarbagataika river floodplain, and a change of the sedimentation and soil-formation stages for the last 7 kyr. We reconstructed the accumulation dynamics of the sediment layer and calculated the mean sediment accumulation rates for different time intervals. The phases of intensification of erosion-accumulation and aeolian processes were recorded. The study revealed the main stratigraphic boundaries reflecting the fundamental changes of the settings of sedimentation: 7 cal. kyr BP, a change of riverbed sedimentation for floodplain sedimentation; 5.4 cal. kyr BP, intensification of erosion-accumulation processes due to climate aridization on the Atlantic-Subboreal boundary, and active input of erosion products to the floodplain; 4 cal. kyr BP, active filling of the river valley with horizontally layered polygenetic fine-grained sands and sandy loams containing intercalations of humic warps in conditions of the overlapped (built-up) floodplain with an increase in humidification in the middle of the Subboreal period and, as a consequence, an increase in the height of floods; 3.4 cal. kyr, the layer under investigation leaves the floodplain regime of sedimentation and accumulation of aeolian-deluvial deposits, and 1 cal. kyr, intensification of erosion-accumulation processes due to climatic and anthropogenic changes. We reconstructed the chronology and specific features of the pedogenesis stages which record the phases of temporal cessation of floodplain and slope sedimentation on the study territory. The results obtained are in good agreement with data on the hydraulicity of rivers, the stages of soil formation and on the manifestation of exogenous processes on the territories of Russia and Mongolia.     

Tidal amplification and along‐strike process variability in a mixed‐energy paralic system prograding onto a low accommodation shelf,Edgeøya,Svalbard

The study describes the depositional development and sediment partitioning in a prograding paralic Triassic succession. The deposits are associated with the advance of large prism‐scale clinoforms across a shallower platform area. Approaching the platform, the limited accommodation and associated relative higher rates of deposition generated straighter clinoforms with lower foreset angles. The vertical restriction across the platform is interpreted to have amplified the tidal signature. Sediment was redistributed from the coast into increasingly sandy delta‐front deposits, compared to offshore equivalents. The deposits comprise extensive compound dune fields of amalgamated and increasingly clean sandbodies up‐section. Rapid deposition of significant amounts of sand led to differential subsidence and growth‐faulting in the delta front, with downthrown fault blocks further amplifying the tidal energy through funnelling. A mixed‐energy environment created along‐strike variability along the delta front with sedimentation governing process‐regime. Areas of lower sedimentation were reworked by wave and storm‐action, whereas high sedimentation rates preserved fluvially dominated mouth bars. A major transgression, however, favoured tidally dominated deposits also in these areas, attributed to increasing rugosity of the coastline. Formation of an extensive subaqueous platform between the coast and delta front dampened incoming wave energy, and tidally dominated deposits dominate the near‐shore successions. Meanwhile formation of wave‐built sand‐bars atop the platform attest to continued wave influence. The strong tidal regime led to the development of a heterolithic near‐shore tidally dominated channel system, and sandier fluvial channels up‐river. The highly meandering tidal channels incising the subaqueous platform form kilometre wide successions of inclined heterolithic stratification. The fluvially dominated channels which govern deposition on the delta plain are narrower and slightly less deep, straighter, generally symmetric and filled with cleaner sands. This study provides important insight into tidal amplification and sand redistribution during shallowing on a wide shelf, along with along‐strike process‐regime variability resulting from variations in sediment influx.     

山西公海湖泊沉积物记录的大气粉尘现代过程

湖泊粉尘记录是研究区域大气粉尘演化历史的重要载体,而现代过程研究是定量提取湖泊沉积物中粉尘信号的重要基础。对山西公海湖泊沉积岩芯样品及周边不同类型的表土样品开展了粒度分析,并对岩芯样品进行粒度组分的定量分离。结果表明：全新世湖泊岩芯样品以黏粒（<2 μm）、细粉砂（2～19 μm）和粗粉砂（19～78 μm）为主,粗粉砂组分的粒度特征与湖泊沉积物中的石英颗粒、黄土样品中的粗粒组分及现代大气降尘的粒度特征相似,石英颗粒的表面微形态也具有典型风成特征。因此,公海湖泊沉积物中粒径19～78 μm的粗粉砂组分可用来代表大气粉尘的变化,这与湖泊沉积物中粗粉砂组分是大气尘暴降尘主要组分的认识一致。另外,公海湖泊冰面粉尘样品的平均粒径还具有从西北向东南递减的趋势,表现出与冬季风方向一致的特征,进一步表明公海湖泊沉积物中粗粉砂组分可以代表东亚冬季风强度的变化。因此,公海湖泊岩芯中的粗粉砂组分可用来重建全新世大气粉尘变化以及可能的东亚冬季风强度演化历史。     

Preliminary reconstruction of sediment-source linkages for the past 6000 yr at the Petit Lac d'Annecy, France, based on mineral magnetic data

An 8 m core from the central plain of the Petit Lac d'Annecy, France, two floodplain cores, river bedload sediments and several hundred soil samples from the catchment have been studied using magnetic techniques. The soils, mainly developed on limestones and local glacial tills, show widespread magnetic enhancement with higher ferrimagnetic concentrations and contents of SP grains than found in the lake sediments. Some soils show significant concentrations of canted antiferromagnetic minerals (mainly haematite). Using magnetic quotient parameters the surface soils are classified into four mineralogical types. The lake and floodplain sediment properties over the past 6000 yrs can largely be explained by the erosion and deposition of these sources, with a smaller superimposed biogenic (magnetosomes) signal. Derived sediment-source linkages allow the construction of several hypotheses about geomorphological changes in the catchment system: (i) the long-term erosion of high altitude unweathered substrates has gradually increased towards the present day; (ii) the erosion of high altitude soils has increased within the last 1000 yrs, possibly during the period of the 'Little Ice Age'; (iii) shifts towards an increased erosion of surface lowland soil occurred ~2000 and 1000 yrs ago and may be linked to an accelerated accretion of floodplain overbank deposits; (iv) there has been a significant storage of surface soil within floodplains, which leads to an underestimation of the importance of soil erosion in the lake sediment records; (v) the sediment transported by high magnitude, low frequency flood events has shifted in source from high altitude soils before ~1000 cal. yr BP to lowland and mid-altitude free draining soils after ~1000 cal. yr BP.     

Formation and evolution of sand deserts in Xinjiang,Northwest China: I. Provenances ofdesert sands简

Sandy desert landscape is a geological product of arid climate and abundant sand materials supply in natural conditions, therefore the formation of sandy desert is an ideal studying object for understanding the interaction between various stratigraphic/epigenetic spheres of the earth system. However, until now, the knowledge about the provenance and formation of these deserts in Xinjiang, Central Asia is diverse and inconsistent, a systematic review is necessary. Ancient aeolian sand sediments in the internal areas of these deserts and their twin dust deposits in the Cenozoic strata surrounding the Xinjiang deserts are direct and indirect clues reflecting the provenance of sand materials and the formation and evolution of deserts. Based on the geochemical, mineralogical and isotopic evidences of desert sands and relevant deposits in the peripheral regions, this paper reviews the research progress on the development of the sandy deserts in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Many proofs proposed that desert sands in Xinjiang were mainly sourced from the ancient pluvial, alluvial and fluvial sediments and were eventually achieved because of the local sand supply. It pointed out that the settings of tectonic structure in Xinjiang had made sediments both in the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin being influenced greatly by regional hydrological system and aeolian processes originated from the planetary wind system of westerly, the East Asian winter monsoon and the topographical mountain-valley winds. However, the directions of transpor- tation paths are different between the hydrological dynamics and the aeolian dynamics, which are decided by the slantwise structures of the basins tectonics and the regional atmospheric circulation routes, respectively, and have determined anisotropies of the transport pathway of these sediments delivered by different agents. This results in a geological cycle of detrital sediment transportation in the two large sediment mixing, alternation and recycle basins and thus largely increases the degree of between younger and older sediment sources, as well as the complexity and diversity of sand provenances.     

Spatial hydrogeomorphological influences on sediment and nutrient deposition in riparian zones: observations from the Garonne River,France

This paper investigates the influence of geomorphological setting on riparian zone sedimentation within a reach of the River Garonne, France, during three major floods. The sampling design was stratified to reflect landforms constructed by fluvial processes (e.g. floodplain, lateral benches, islands, side channels and point bars). Observed sedimentation varied significantly with flood event, planform context, landform type and associated vegetation cover and, in some cases, with sample location within the landform. Lowest sedimentation was associated with the flood with the smallest peak discharge, peak sediment concentration and sediment load. Sites under natural riparian vegetation experienced higher sedimentation than poplar plantations. Sites on concave (outer) banks received less sedimentation than those on convex (inner banks). Sedimentation on floodplain sites and higher benches was lower than on low benches, point bars and side channels. There was considerable interdependence among these patterns, reflecting the underlying geomorphological forms and processes. Meandering rivers tend to evolve through erosion of concave banks and deposition on convex banks. Point bar features tend to be built along convex banks, whilst concave banks are eroded into higher floodplain and bench features. As a result, concave banks tend to be bordered by higher riparian margins that are less frequently flooded than convex banks. Where river margins are developed for agriculture, the higher, less frequently flooded sites are preferentially selected.Analyses of the quantity, calibre, nutrient and carbon content of the deposited sediment reveal further significant relationships, which reflect the geomorphological structure of the riparian zone. Sediment particle size coarsens in locations with higher amounts of sedimentation. The quantities of total organic carbon (TOC), total organic nitrogen (TON) and total phosphorus (TP) all increase as the quantity of deposited sediment increases. The concentration of TOC and TON also increased significantly with an increase in the percentage of silt plus clay in the deposited sediments.Based upon the above observations, a conceptual model is proposed, which considers the spatial pattern in riparian zone sedimentation according to riparian morphology and flood magnitude. The implications of channel incision for the functioning of the model are also discussed.     

The influence of lee sediment behind large bed elements on bedload transport rates in supply-limited channels

A coarse surface layer can help to limit bedload transport rates in channels with cobble and gravel beds. In these systems, periodic boulder-sized clasts often exist with small deposits of fine material in the lee of these large bed elements. A combined field and flume study was conducted to investigate the potential impact of lee deposits with distinctly finer sediment-sizes behind boulders on bedload transport rates. Detailed sediment characterizations were performed on surface, subsurface, and lee sediments in two coarse-bedded Connecticut channels. Bedload measurements also were conducted in a series of flows that approached the bankfull level in these two systems to determine transport rates and the size distribution of bedload material. A 6-m long, 0.5-m wide flume was used to model these systems with fine sediment passing over a fixed bed of sediment particles with uniform-sized, large bed elements. Sediment distributions of the lee deposits in the two Connecticut channels indicate that lee deposits may be produced from winnowing of sediments from the surface layer. Lee deposits also exhibit sediment distributions similar to bedload sediment distributions from low to near-bankfull flow in one of the two channels. Bedload sediments in the second channel were finer than lee deposits, presumably from selective entrainment of fines. Flume experiments demonstrate that bedload transport rates are lower for periods of steady flow relative to periods that include either an increase or decrease in discharge. The results show that lee sediments establish a metastable deposit behind each obstruction for a given discharge. Either increases or decreases in discharge disrupt this temporary stability and increase sediment delivery to the main flow. The study suggests that the influence of the rate of change in discharge may be as important as the absolute magnitude of discharge on sediment transport rates at moderate and low discharges in sediment-limited systems with large bed elements.     

Relief development of a Mesozoic carbonate platform margin (Southern Alps, northern Italy)

The effect of various erosional processes on the relief development of a carbonate platform margin is documented from outcrops of the Southern Alps, northern Italy, by the occurrence of truncation surfaces and redistribution of remobilized sediments. The periplatform depositional history, with periods of intensive submarine erosion along the north-western Trento plateau margin, is recorded by various carbonate deposits ranging in age from the Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous with numerous gaps. The first Early Jurassic period of submarine erosion is marked by truncation and extensive tectonic fracturing of lower Liassic oolitic skeletal periplatform deposits. These are overlain by pelmicritic sediments of late Hettangian to Toarcian age. The second period of submarine erosion during the late Early Jurassic resulted in almost complete truncation of the pelmicritic unit. Crinoidal to oolitic periplatform carbonate sands were subsequently deposited along the carbonate margin until the Aalenian/Bajocian. The third truncation surface was produced by partial current erosion of the crinoidal to oolitic periplatform deposits during the late Bajocian to Callovian. The fourth, and most prominent, truncation surface was produced by erosion during the Early Cretaceous cutting down from Aptian/Albian pelagic units to Toarcian periplatform deposits. The resulting submarine relief was completely buried during the late Maastrichtian by onlapping pelagic sediments. The documentation of the depositional history during the Late Mesozoic of the north-western Trento plateau pinpoints the main mechanisms responsible for the relief of the drowned carbonate platform margin. Extensional tectonic activity during differential subsidence and current-induced erosional truncation, followed by gravitational downslope mass transport and rapid pelagic burial mainly determined the morphology of the drowned carbonate platform margin.     

闽东南沿海老红砂的地球化学特征

闽东南沿海老红砂的地球化学分析表明,B、Ga、Sr、Ba、K、Cr、Ni和V等微量元素含量及B/Ga和Sr/Ba比值指示老红砂应为陆相沉积,其磷酸钙组分和古盐度亦指示为陆相。老红砂的化学全量组合特征与花岗岩风化壳相似,但SiO₂含量较花岗岩风化壳大,而Al₂O₃的含量明显少于花岗岩风化壳。从老红砂垂直剖面变化看,其硅铝铁率一般从上往下增加,分解系数(Fe₂O₃/MgO)一般从上往下减少。     

地球化学组成揭示的杜蒙沙地化学风化和沉积再循环特征及其对风尘物质贡献的指示

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