南海珊瑚礁铀系年龄及其地质意义

珊瑚礁是铀系方法测定年龄相当理想的对象,在国外已获得十分有价值的成果。主要用于讨论更新世以来海平面变化和构造运动上升速率,研究反映环境的珊瑚生长速度。本文珊瑚礁样品选取于海南岛鹿回头、雷州半岛、西沙和中沙群岛等地。成功地测试了铀系年龄,揭示出与¹⁴C 数据的不一致,初步讨论了构造上升速率和南海海面的变化。     

铀矿的找矿知识(一)

自然界没有純鈾,它总是与其它物質化合成矿物。现在已知的含铀矿物有100种以上;其中含铀量高的比較少只有少数几种,含铀量較高,铀在其中成为矿物的主要成分。由于铀矿物常常彼此共生,因此发现某一种,常常就可以找到其它各种,所以无論是有工業价值,或是沒有工業价值的常见铀矿物,对铀矿找寻者来說,最好都要了解。     

我国发现的一种新铀矿物——湘江铀矿

湘江铀矿产于湖南某地二迭系岩层中一铀矿床的氧化带中。对该铀矿床的成因目前有两种看法,一种认为是沉积变质型;另一种认为是沉积迭加热液型。湘江铀矿呈浅黄色的粉末状微晶集合体产于硅质岩的裂隙内或风化孔洞中。与铝铀云母,黄铁矿,石英,磷铝石等矿物共生。根据产地命名为湘江铀矿。     

北京及临近地区地下水中氡的形成条件

地下水中氡及其母体铀、镭的测试研究,在勘探铀矿以及矿泉的开发利用方面,国内外已有大量工作和重要成果。近几年来,在地震预报的应用方面,也开展了不少工作。对于地下水中氡的形成问题的研究,是与上述各项工作有密切联系的一项基础工作。     

花岗岩铀成矿作用的模拟实验

根据花岗岩铀成矿作用的"铀预富集系"和沉淀等理论进行一系列实验模拟。对华南产铀花岗岩及其母岩进行"部分熔融实验",可知其寒武系等下古生界是形成产铀花岗岩重要母岩之一。实验表明,岩浆温度下产铀花岗岩流体(f)与共存相熔体(m)铀分配系数Kf/m测定值明显<1,这说明铀强烈趋向熔体,不断重熔会使花岗岩更富铀。岩浆结晶过程中流体(f)与结晶熔体(c)铀分配系数Kf/c随结晶作用加强而增长,说明对形成热液铀矿床有利。岩浆结晶过程中晶体与晶体共存相间铀的分配系数中,以含铁物质与铀矿物共存相间铀的分配系数为最大。此结果与产铀花岗岩含晶质铀矿,黄铁矿含铀较高,黑云母结晶捕获一定量铀的地质事实相一致。成矿前的"前提蚀变"阶段的铀活化实验得出,黑云母在白云母化时铀释出约达3%～30%;花岗岩白云母化过程中,全岩将有30%～60%的铀释出。在花岗岩白云母化时锆石迁出铀可达1.4%～21%。晶质铀矿在花岗岩白云母化时发生崩解和部分溶蚀,实验得出转入溶液的w(U)为(1.04～1.30)×10-6。大量水-岩反应的热液实验表明,在封闭体系统的溶液中,随压力(pH2O)降低,产铀花岗岩中的铀溶解增加(最高可增达2～3个数量级),从而打破了"压力降低铀沉淀"的一般传统说法。对热液铀矿成矿机理进行多次实验取得如下新认识:(1)适度脱碳酸(或脱CO2)对铀沉淀有利;也可使铀-硅-碳酸盐体系中的"铀-硅分离"沉淀;(2)成矿溶液"pH显著降低(落差)"是铀沉淀几大因素中的关键。这些实验结果证实和发展了"地层、岩石等预富集系"理论,并有重要找矿意义。     

碳酸盐标准样的铀系年龄测定

本文报道了铀系国内标准样鉴定结果。通过参加这项国内的标准样对比计划,建立了铀系法定年的实验程序和流程,成功地测定了两个碳酸盐标准样的各项同位素比值和年龄值。并对流程进行了初步的讨论。     

洞穴地点骨化石铀系年龄可信度的讨论*

骨化石是铀不平衡系测年法广泛应用而又颇有争议的研究对象。文章通过对典型铀加入模式的计算,指出以α能谱的精度,二种铀系年龄差异的显著性表明近期内有较大量铀的迁移,但其在误差范围内的一致不能保证样品构成封闭体系。以往积累的数据表明,大多数洞穴地点骨化石给出了二法一致的铀系年龄,但钙板与下伏骨化石铀系年龄大多差异显著且与地层顺序矛盾,即使被次生碳酸盐岩包裹,多半骨化石的铀系年龄仍显著偏低于其包裹体。此外,相当一部分样品的U-Th同位素比难以用简单的铀后期加入或淋失来解释。基于对次生碳酸盐岩铀系年龄可信度的认识,骨化石总体上不构成封闭体系,所载铀系年代信息只具有限的分辨率。     

锆石的裂变径迹年龄测定技术

六十年代初发展起来的核裂变径迹测定年龄技术,已在地质年代学、宇宙年代学和考古工作等领域得到了广泛应用。裂变径迹测定年龄技术,是应用各种天然矿物或材料中微量杂质铀的自发裂变碎片,在绝缘固体介质中产生的辐射损伤痕迹(即裂变径迹)测定年龄的方法。该法的优点之一是应用范围广,在火成岩、沉积岩和变质岩中常可找到合适的测定对象。     

三門峽水庫第四紀地質会議討論片断

三门系,是我国第四纪的地层之一。三门系的命名是根据在河南三门峽所看到的剖面而起的。最初正式应用三門系見于1923年出版的“中国北部之新生界”一书,到現在已有36年的历史了。許多年来不少人对三門系的地层、动植物化石、沉积和其遭受的新构造运动等都做过研究。可是关于三門系的时代,三门系的上、下界限,以及三門系沉积物的成因类型等問題却随着时代的前进,特别是自建国以来在生产建設中大量地貭工作的开展及許多新資料的陸續发現。     

岛弧岩浆岩中的铀系不平衡是来自俯冲板块还是增长地幔熔融?

岛弧岩浆岩中的238U-230Th-226Ra和235U-231Pa不平衡能有效制约物质从俯冲板块运移到地幔楔和地壳的时间尺度。岛弧岩浆岩中的铀系不平衡特征被日益增多的观测结果所证实:大多数年轻岛弧岩浆岩中的(231Pa/235U)和(226Ra/230Th)的活度比大于1;多数年轻岛弧岩浆岩中的238U相对230Th过剩,而大约四分之一的样品中的230Th相对238U过剩。然而造成铀系不平衡的原因还存在争议。目前,主要有2种模型解释:1)铀系不平衡是由俯冲的物质加入到地幔楔而造成的,这要求迁移的时间尺度小于短半衰期核素的几倍半衰期;2)铀系不平衡可能反映了一个长期的地幔增长熔融过程。本文旨在提供对这两种模型的客观评价。俯冲物质加入模型假设在脱水和俯冲板块部分熔融的过程中,残余矿物可以更好的保留住某些铀系核素,从而在含水流体和沉积物熔体中产生铀系不平衡。然而,该模型不能自洽地解释不同母子体之间的铀系不平衡。另一方面,增长熔融模型强调了短半衰期核素在熔融过程中的增加。这一模型考虑了全球俯冲带不同的氧逸度,分配系数,俯冲速率,熔融速率和地幔楔的孔隙度等多种因素。所以,该模型需要对初始岩浆进行更多的关于地球物理,实验岩石学和铀系元素分析方面的工作。最后,铀系不平衡数据与其他地球化学数据(如Sr/Th和Ba/Th)之间的相关关系能帮助我们理解铀系不平衡的产生机理。然而,这种相关关系更可能是岩浆演化造成的,而不是源区引起的,因为多数岛弧岩浆岩都是经过演化的。     

Distribution of natural uranium,thorium, lead,and polonium radionuclides in tidal phases of a Delaware salt marsh

Natural radionuclides in the uranium and thorium series were measured in solid tidal phases (suspended particles, bottom sediment, surface microlayer colloids) of a salt marsh in lower Delaware. The purpose was to identify potential processes responsible for trace element cycling (sources, redistribution and exchange) in salt water marshes and with their coastal waters. Generally, concentrations of U, Th,²¹⁰Pb, and²¹⁰Po on the tidal solid phases suggest a general mechanism by which tidal marshes appear to be trapping the nuclides into their interiors. The processes may include transport of enriched fine particles into the marsh, capture by salt marsh grass and chemical fixation by redox processes at the sediment surface. Specifically, the uranium contents of most of the samples are similar with activity ratios²³⁴U²³⁸U≧1, indicating a mixture of detrital and nondetrital (authigenic) uranium inputs such as seawater or ground water. Since the²³⁰Th daughter is generally deficient by about 50%, the authigenic enrichment process appears to favor uranium and is potentially linked to the extensive diagenetic sulfur redox cycle of salt marsh sediments. The²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb activity ratio is less than one on Spartina adsorbed solids, and could suggest a general process in salt marshes which favors²¹⁰Pb enrichment by atmospheric fallout over enrichment of²¹⁰Po on time scales of weeks which correspond to complete tide marsh exchange. A²²⁸Th/²³²Th activity ratio of less than unity on the solids adsorbed onto marsh grass suggests a net process whereby diffusive loss of the intermediate daughter²²⁸Ra from the adsorbed solids to tidal waters dominates over potential²²⁸Th scavenging by suspended sediment.     

Transport of radionuclides in an unconfined chalk aquifer inferred from U-series disequilibria

U-series disequilibria measured in waters and rocks from a chalk aquifer in France have been used as an analog for long-term radionuclide migration. Drill core samples from a range of depths in the vadose zone and in the saturated zone, as well as groundwater samples were analyzed for ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³²Th and ²³⁰Th to determine transport mechanisms at the water/rock interface and to quantify parameters controlling the migration of radionuclides. Isotope measurements in rocks were done by TIMS, whereas (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) and (²³⁰Th/²³²Th) activity ratios in water samples were measured by multi-collector-ICP-MS. Both depletion and enrichment in ²³⁴U relative to ²³⁸U were observed in carbonate rock samples resulting from chemical weathering in the unsaturated zone and calcite precipitation in the zone of water-table oscillation, respectively. The correlation between (²³⁰Th/²³²Th) activity ratios and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios found in the chalk samples indicates that thorium is mainly contained in a minor silicate phase whose abundance is variable in chalk samples. Water samples are all characterized by (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) > 1 resulting from α-recoil effect of ²³⁴Th. Groundwaters are characterized by a more radiogenic signature in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr than the rocks. Moreover, (²³⁰Th/²³²Th) activity ratios in the waters are lower than in the rocks, and increase with distance from the water divide, which suggests that Th transport is controlled by colloids formed during water infiltration in the soil. A 1-D transport model has been developed in order to constrain the U-series nuclide transport considering a transient behavior of radionuclides in the aquifer and a time-dependent composition for the solid phase. This model permits a prediction of the time scale of equilibration of the system, and an estimation of parameters such as weathering rate, distribution coefficients and α-recoil fractions. Retardation factors of 10-35 and from 1 × 10⁴ to 2 × 10⁵ were predicted for U and Th, respectively, and can be used to predict the migration of radionuclides released as contaminants in the environment. At the scale of our watershed (∼32 km²), a characteristic migration time from recharge to riverine discharge of 200-600 yr for U and 0.2-3.7 Myr for Th was obtained.     

Alpha-spectrometric determination of uranium and thorium in geological samples

Alpha-spectrometric technique is described as an independent method for determining micro-contents of U²³⁸ and Th²³². It is based on the comparison of alpha spectral activity of U²³⁸ and Th²³² in geological samples with that contributed by the U²³²·Th²²⁸ spike of known concentration. The experiment procedure consists of dissolving fine powdered samples with acid and adding a given amount of U²³²-Th²²⁸ spike. Uranium and thorium are then separated by ion exchange. After purification, each aliquot is mounted onto a separate stainless steel disk for measurement by alpha spectrometer, which consists essentially of a silicon surface barrier detector and a low noise amplification system connected to a multi-channel analyzer. After corrections for the background, tail and other factors, the desired U²³² and Th²³² concentrations can be calculated. The data obtained by the alpha-spectrometric method using U²³²-Th²²⁸ spike are compared with colorimetric determinations. Excellent agreement is obtained between the two sets of results. The coefficients of correlation are about 0.98 for U²³⁸ and 0.97 for Th²³². The accuracy of uranium and thorium analyses by this method depends primarily upon the counting statistics of U²³², U²³⁸ and Th²²⁸ and, to a certain extent, upon the calibration of U²³²-Th²²⁸ spike. Errors in uranium and thorium concentrations obtained by this method are generally within 2 to 5%.     

230Th/234U dating of Holocene tufas: possibilities and problems

High-resolution chronologies in continental carbonate deposits such as tufas are required for detailed palaeoclimatic and environmental studies. This work set out to establish if high-resolution U-series dating of detritus-rich Holocene tufas is routinely possible. The study centres on a paludal Holocene tufa from southern England that already has an existing Holocene chronology, based on ¹⁴C and supported by biostratigraphy, against which to compare U-series dates. The results show that significant detrital contamination combined with low initial U concentrations, and short time for ingrowth of radiogenic ²³⁰Th make high-resolution U-series dating of Holocene tufa very difficult. Moreover, a single (²³⁰Th/²³²Th)_initial value to correct for the presence of detrital ²³⁰Th is not appropriate at the study site, a finding that may apply to most Holocene tufas. Total sample dissolution of coeval samples demonstrates considerable variability in the isotopic composition of the detritus. The total sample dissolution data are too scattered to constrain chronologies at the required resolution and may indicate the incorporation of a ²³⁰Th-rich component in the detritus.     

U-series disequilibria in volcanic rocks from the Canary Islands: Plume versus lithospheric melting

U-series disequilibria are presented for Holocene samples from the Canary Islands and interpreted with special emphasis on the separate roles of plume vs. lithospheric melting processes. We report Th and U concentrations and (²³⁸U)/(²³²Th), (²³⁰Th)/(²³²Th), (²³⁰Th)/(²³⁸U) and (²³⁴U)/(²³⁸U) for 43 samples, most of which are minimally differentiated, along with (²²⁶Ra)/(²³⁰Th) and (²³¹Pa)/(²³⁵U) for a subset of these samples, measured by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Th and U concentrations range between 2 and 20 ppm and 0.5 and 6 ppm, respectively. Initial (²³⁰Th)/(²³⁸U) ranges from 1.1 to 1.6. (²²⁶Ra)/(²³⁰Th)_o ranges between 0.9 and 1.8 while (²³¹Pa)/(²³⁵U)_o ranges between 1.0 and 2.0.Our interpretation of results is based on a three-fold division of samples as a function of incompatible element ratio, such as Nb/U. The majority of samples have Nb/U = 47 ± 10, similar to most MORB and OIB. Higher ratios are found exclusively in alkali basalts and tholeiites from the eastern Canary Islands whereas lower ratios are exclusively found in differentiated rocks from the western Canary Islands. Those with ordinary Nb/U ratios are attributed to melting within the slowly ascending HIMU-dominated Canary plume.Higher Nb/U, generally found in more silica rich basalts from the eastern islands, is attributed to lithospheric contamination. Based on their trace element characteristics, two possible contaminants are amphibole veins (± other minerals) crystallized in the mantle from previous plume-derived basanite or re-melted plume-derived intrusive rocks. The high Nb/U signature of these materials is imparted on a melt of the lithosphere created either by the diffusive infiltration of alkalis or by direct reaction between basanites and peridotite. Mixing between plume-derived basanite and lithospheric melt accounts for the U-series systematics of most eastern island magmas including the well-known Timanfaya eruption. Lower Nb/U ratios in differentiated rocks from the western islands are attributed to fractional crystallization of amphibole ± phlogopite ± sphene from basanite during its ascent through the lithosphere. Based on changes in disequilibria, phonolites and tephrites are interpreted to result from rapid differentiation of primitive parents within millennia.     

Distribution of 238U, 232Th and 40K in plutonic rocks of Greece

One hundred and twenty one samples from every major plutonic body (mainly granitic) of Greece have been analyzed by γ-ray spectrometry to determine the specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K (Bq/kg). The range of the activity concentrations of these radionuclides was 2.3–266.4, 1.8–375.5 and 55.0–1632.0 Bq/kg and their average values were 79.2, 85.3 and 881.4 Bq/kg respectively. Any possible connection between the specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K and some characteristics of the studied samples (age, rock-type, colour, grain-size, occurrence and chemical composition) is investigated. Samples of particular colour, rock-type, occurrence and chemical composition have been identified for their distinctive levels of natural radioactivity, while age and grain-size do not affect the concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K. The range of the Th/U ratio was 0.7–12.69. This great variation in the Th/U ratios, especially when it is found among the samples of the same pluton, is also discussed and explained by alteration and tectonic–metamorphic processes.     

Pleistocene climatic change in Southern Australia and its effect on speleothem deposition in some Nullarbor caves

Activity ratios of ²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U, and ²³⁰Th/²³²Th have been determined for calcite, gypsum and halite speleothems from caves of the Nullarbor Plain, mostly in the area N and NW of Mundrabilla Station, for the purpose of U-series dating. All calcite speleothems contain adequate amounts of uranium for dating, but some show an excess of ²³⁰Th. Stratigraphic relationships indicate that there were at least three phases of calcium carbonate deposition in the Nullarbor caves. The calcite samples, with one possible exception, have ages in excess of ca. 400000 yrs BP. This suggests that no significant amounts of calcium carbonate deposition have taken place during the last 400ka. At present, active deposition of speleothems is restricted almost entirely to gypsum and halite. The only gypsum speleothem dated was found to have a finite age of ca. 185 ka. Six dates on a small halite speleothem containing insect and arachnid remains indicate that it formed rapidly during Holocene time.     

U and Th concentrations and isotope ratios in modern carbonates and waters from the Bahamas

The short residence times of Th and Pa in seawater make them very responsive to changes in the ocean environment. We use a new multi-ion-counting technique to make Th and Pa isotope measurements in seawaters from a near-shore environment in which oceanic chemical tracers are not overwhelmed by terrestrial inputs (the Bahamas). An unusual feature of the Bahamas setting is the shallow depth of water residing on the bank tops. These waters have significantly lower ²³²Th/²³⁰Th (∼10,000) than those immediately adjacent to the banks (24,000-31,000) and a (²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th) near the production ratio (∼0.1). The change in ²³²Th/²³⁰Th and (²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th) on the bank tops is explained by almost quantitative removal of Th and Pa by scavenging, and their replacement with a mixture of ²³⁰Th and ²³¹Pa alpha-recoiled from the underlying carbonates, together with Th from dust dissolution. Analysis of a water profile in the Tongue of the Ocean, which separates the Great and Little Bahama Banks, allows us to trace the movement of bank-top water to depth. A distinct minimum in both ²³²Th/²³⁰Th (∼13,000) and (²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th) (∼0.5) is observed at ∼430 m and is interpreted to reflect density cascading of bank-top water with entrained carbonate sediment. These results suggest that Th and Pa can be used as water-mass tracers in near-shore environments. Uranium concentration measurements on the same waters demonstrate that U is conservative across a range in salinity of 2 psu, with a concentration of 3.33 ppb (at a salinity of 35).The incorporation of U and Th isotopes into marine carbonates has also been assessed by analyzing carbonate samples from the same location as these Bahamas waters. Such incorporation is critical for U-Th geochronology. U isotope analyses demonstrate that seawater δ²³⁴U averages 146.6 and does not vary by more than 2.5%o, and that carbonates capture this value. Additional high precision measurements (≈±1%o) on modern carbonates confirm that all oceans have identical δ²³⁴U. Modern marine carbonates are shown to have ²³²Th/²³⁰Th ratios that reflect the local seawater in which they formed.     

In situ U-series dating by laser-ablation multi-collector ICPMS: new prospects for Quaternary geochronology

The capabilities and potential applications of in situ dating of Quaternary materials using laser ablation-MC-ICPMS are explored. ²³⁴U/²³⁸U and ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U can be measured with precision sufficient for dating at a spatial resolution of 100 μm or better in samples that contain as a little as 1 ppm uranium. Moreover, U and Th concentrations and U-series isotope ratios can be continuously profiled to determine changes in age that occur with sample growth (e.g. in speleothems). These capabilities additionally permit the dating of bones, teeth and possibly molluscs, which are subject to post-mortem open-system behaviour of U-series isotopes, and can be employed to elucidate processes of U-series migration during weathering and diagenesis. A drawback of laser ablation-MC-ICPMS is that it cannot in general provide U-series age estimates with the high precision and accuracy of conventional TIMS or solution MC-ICPMS methods. However, sample preparation is straightforward, the amount of sample consumed negligible, and it can be used to rapidly characterise or screen and select samples from which more precise and accurate dates can be obtained using conventional methods. Given further instrumental developments and the establishment of suitable matrix-matched standards for carbonates and other materials, we foresee that laser ablation-MC-ICPMS will play an increasingly important role in Quaternary dating research.