Paleomagnetic constraints on the tectonic history of the major blocks of China duing the Phanerozoic

Paleomagnetic study of China and its constraints on Asia tectonics has been a hot spot. Some new paleomagnetic data from three major blocks of China. North China Block (NCB), Yangtze Block (YZB) and Tarim Block (TRM) are first reported, and then available published Phanerozoic paleomagnetic poles from these blocks with the goal of placing constraints on the drift history and paleocontinental reconstruction are critically reviewed. It was found that all three major blocks were located at the mid-low latitude in the Southern Hemisphere during the Early Paleozoic. The NCB was probably independent in terms of dynamics. its drift history was dominant by latitudinal placement accompanying rotation in the Early Paleozoic. The YZB was close to Gondwanaland in Cambrian, and separated from Gondwanaland during the Late-Middle Ordovician. The TRM was part of Gondwanaland, and might be close to the YZB and Australia in the Early Paleozoic. Paleomagnetic data show that the TRM was separated from Gondwanaland during the Late-Middle Ordovician, and then drifted northward. The TRM was sutured to Siberia and Kazakstan blocks during the Permian, however, the composite Mongolia-NCB block did not collide with Siberia till Late Jurassic. During Late Permian to Late Triassic, the NCB and YZB were characterized by northern latitudinal placement and rotation on the pivot in the Dabie area. The NCB and YZB collided first in the eastern part where they were located at northern latitude of about 6°—8°, and a triangular oceanic basin remained in the Late Permian. The suturing zone was located at northern latitude of 25° where the two blocks collided at the western part in the Late Triassic. The collision between the two blocks propagated westward after the YZB rotated about 70° relative to the NCB during the Late Permian to Middle Jurassic. Then two blocks were northward drifting (about 5°) together with relative rotating and crust shortening. It was such scissors-like collision procedure that produced intensive compression in the eastern part of suturing zone between the NCB and YZB, in which continental crust subducted into the upper mantle in the Late Permian, and then the ultrahigh-pressure rocks extruded in the Late Triassic. Paleomagnetic data also indicate that three major blocks have been together clockwise rotating about 20° relative to present-day rotation axis since the Late Jurassic. It was proposed that Lahsa Block and India subcontinent successively northward subducted and collided with Eurasia or collision between Pacific/Philippines plates and Eurasia might be responsible for this clockwise rotating of Chinese continent.     

Revised apparent polar wander path of the Yangtze Block and its tectonic implications

Paleornagnetic data, during the Phanerozoic obtained in the last 20 years in the Yangtze Block (YZB), are critically reviewed. A new apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the YZB is constructed by selected poles with objective reliable criteria, with a goal of placing constraints on the models of the formation and subsequent deformation and reconstructing the tectonic evolution history of this region.     

The main old lands in China and assembly of Chinese unified continent

The main old lands in China include the North China Block (NCB), South China Block (SCB) and Tarim Block (TRB), all of which have individual tectonic evolving histories. The NCB experienced complex geological evolution since the early Precambrian onwards, and carries important records from the old continental nuclei, giant crustal growth episode and cratonization (stabilitization), then to the Paleoproterozoic rifting-subduction-accretion-collision with imprints of the Great Oxygen Event (GOE), and to the Late Paleoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic multi-stage rifting representing North China platform tectonic features. The TRB has two-layer basement of the Early Precambrian metamorphic complexes and Neoproterozoic sedimentary sequences. Three till sheets have been reported. The SCB consists of the Yangtze Block (YZB) and Cathaysia Block (CTB) that were cohered in the Neoproterozoic. The YZB recorded tectonic processes of the Early Precambrian crustal growth, 1.0–0.9 Ga and 0.8–0.6 Ga metamorphic-magmatic events, and two Neoproterozoic glaciations. The CTB consists of ca. 1.8 Ga, 1.0 to 0.9 Ga and ca. 0.8 Ga granitic gneisses and metamorphic rocks, indicating there was a vast Precambrian basement. The Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks overlie partly on the basement. That the YZB and CTB have a Neoproterozoic uniform cover layer illustrates the SCB should form, at least, during 1.0–0.9 Ga, corresponding to the Rodinia Supercontinent. The Central Chinese Orogenic System with high-ultra-high-pressure metamorphic rocks supports a suggestion that the above-mentioned three old lands were collided to assemble a unified Chinese Continent during the Pangea orogenic period.     

有机质对纳米级磁铁矿热稳定性的影响

单畴磁铁矿颗粒是地质样品中最重要的磁性载体,其稳定性一直备受关注.为了认识有机质对纳米级磁铁矿颗粒热稳定性的影响,本文对比研究了趋磁细菌AMB-1合成的单畴磁铁矿分别在全细胞中和经去胞提纯后的纯化磁小体中的热磁性质,以及热处理后样品的磁滞参数和低温磁性的变化.发现仅有磁小体膜包裹的纯化磁小体中单畴磁铁矿热稳定性极强,而全细胞中的单畴磁铁矿加热过程中发生了显著的热变化:磁铁矿在约270℃即开始转化,400℃以前几乎完全被有机质还原为顺磁性物质;同时在400℃以前,有机质的还原作用与有机质热分解引起磁小体链的坍塌,共同导致了样品矫顽力(B_c)、剩磁矫顽力(B_cr)和剩磁比(M_rs/M_s)的减小,以及矫顽力比(B_cr/B_c)的增加. 我们的实验结果清楚地表明,当地质样品中含有较多有机质组分并受热事件影响时,其中的单畴磁铁矿难以得到保存.     

Luminescence thermochronometry of feldspar minerals: Optimisation of measurement conditions for the derivation of thermal kinetic parameters using isothermal holding experiments

Luminescence thermochronometry is sensitive to very low temperatures (below ∼120 °C), and enables the resolution of thermal histories over sub-Quaternary timescales. Here we apply a multi-elevated-temperature post-infrared infrared-stimulated luminescence (MET-pIR-IRSL) measurement protocol to feldspar minerals to extract thermal histories. These thermal histories depend on the thermal stability of the MET signal, and are based on the thermal kinetic parameters extracted from isothermal decay experiments. However, the derived thermal kinetic parameters vary with experimental conditions, specifically with the isothermal holding temperatures (ITL) used. We analyse samples with independently known thermal histories, together with synthetic thermal history samples and samples with unknown thermal histories to test the validity of thermal kinetic parameters obtained from different combinations of isothermal holding data. This approach is tested on feldspars of different mineralogies and lithologies. We find that the temperatures inferred from inverting the data change, depending both on the number and on the highest ITL temperature used for thermal kinetic parameter derivation. Analysed samples validate the MET-pIR-IRSL protocol for extracting thermal histories, and we suggest that four isothermal holding temperatures between 190 and 250 °C are used for appropriate thermal kinetic parameter derivation.     

Interrelations Between Thermal Conductivity and Other Physical Properties of Rocks: Experimental Data

— A new non-contact and non-destructive optical scanning instrument provided a large number of high-precision measurements of thermal conductivity tensor components in samples of sedimentary and impact rocks, as well as new insights into interrelations between thermal conductivity and other physical properties. More than 800 core samples (dry and fluid-saturated) of sedimentary rocks from different Russian oil-gas deposits and impact rocks from the well “Nördlingen 1973” drilled in the Ries impact structure (Germany) were studied using optical scanning technology. It was established that the thermal conductivity parallel to the stratification is more informative for petrophysical investigations than the thermal conductivity perpendicular to the layering. Different approaches were developed to estimate porosity, permeability, pore space geometry, and matrix thermal conductivity with a combination of thermal conductivity measurements in dry and fluid-saturated samples and mathematical modelling. These approaches allow prediction of the rock porosity and permeability and their spatial distribution along a well using thermal conductivity measurements performed with the optical scanning instrument directly applied to cores. Conditions and constraints for using Lichtenecker-Asaad's theoretical model for the estimation of porosity and thermal conductivity of sedimentary rocks were determined. A correlation between thermal conductivity and acoustic velocity, porosity, density, and electric resistivity of impact rocks was found for different rock types. New relationships between permeability, electrical and thermal conductivity found for sedimentary rocks are described.     

合肥盆地构造热演化的裂变径迹证据

运用裂变径迹分析方法,探讨分析了合肥盆地中新生代的构造热演化特征. 上白垩统和古近系下段样品的磷灰石裂变径迹（AFT）数据主体表现为靠近部分退火带顶部温度(±65℃)有轻度退火,由此估算晚白垩世至古近纪早期合肥盆地断陷阶段的古地温梯度接近38℃/km,高于盆地现今地温梯度(275℃/km).下白垩统、侏罗系及二叠系样品的AFT年龄(975～25Ma)和锆石裂变径迹(ZFT)年龄(118～104Ma)均明显小于其相应的地层年龄,AFT年龄－深度分布呈现冷却型曲线形态,且由古部分退火带、冷却带或前完全退火带及其深部的今部分退火带组成,指示早白垩世的一次构造热事件和其随后的抬升冷却过程. 基于AFT曲线的温度分带模式和流体包裹体测温数据的综合约束,推算合肥盆地早白垩世走滑压陷阶段的古地温梯度接近67℃/km. 径迹年龄分布、AFT曲线拐点年龄和区域抬升剥蚀时间的对比分析结果表明,合肥盆地在早白垩世构造热事件之后的104Ma以来总体处于抬升冷却过程,后期快速抬升冷却事件主要发生在±55Ma.     

四川盆地早白垩世红层磁倾角偏低研究

对四川盆地东北部巴中地区和西部雅安地区早白垩世红层分别采集9块手标本,进行了详细的古地磁学研究.系统退磁获得两地的特征剩磁,其中巴中地区平均方向为,倾斜校正之前:D_g/I_g=25.3°/19.0°,k=18.6,α_(95)=8.8°;倾斜校正之后:D_s/I_s=25.8°/18.9°,k=24.3,α_(95)=7.6°.雅安地区平均方向为,倾斜校正之前:D_g/I_g=24.5°/45.0°,k=15.7,α_(95)=9.0°;倾斜校正之后:D_s/I_s=356.7°/35.6°,k=28.5,α_(95)=6.6°.磁化率各向异性实验结果显示两地均未受到显著的构造应力影响.等温剩磁各向异性(AIR)实验结果,巴中地区IRMz/IRMLx平均值为0.8194,表明18%的压实率;雅安地区IRMz/IRMx平均值为0.8909,表明11%的压实率,计算得到巴中和雅安地区校正后的磁倾角分别为22.7°和38.8°.根据等温剩磁各向异性(AIR)实验和Tauxe and Kent(2004)提出的EI校正法得到的结果表明,四川盆地早白垩世陆相碎屑岩层中存在沉积压实作用造成的磁倾角偏低现象,而且川东北巴中地区的偏低程度强于川西雅安地区.     

准噶尔盆地大地热流特征与岩石圈热结构

沉积盆地现今大地热流和岩石圈热结构特征是岩石圈构造-热演化过程的综合反映和盆地热史恢复的约束条件,对盆地动力学研究和油气资源评价具有重要意义.作者系统分析了准噶尔盆地2000年以来新增的102口钻孔的系统测井温度和400余口钻孔的试油温度资料,采用光学扫描法测试了15口钻孔共187块代表性岩石热导率,首次建立了准噶尔盆地岩石热导率柱,新增了11个高质量的(A类)大地热流数据,分析了准噶尔盆地大地热流分布特征,并揭示了其岩石圈热结构.研究表明,准噶尔盆地现今地温梯度介于 11.6~27.6℃/km,平均21.3±3.7℃/km,大地热流介于23.4~56.1 mW/m²,平均42.5±7.4 mW/m²,表现为低地温梯度、低大地热流的"冷"盆特征.准噶尔盆地大地热流与地温梯度分布规律基本一致,主要受控于基底的构造形态,东部隆起最高,陆梁隆起次之,乌伦古坳陷、中央坳陷和西部隆起较低,北天山山前坳陷最低.准噶尔盆地地壳热流介于18.8~26.0 mW/m²,地幔热流介于16.5~23.7 mW/m²,壳幔热流比值介于0.79~1.58,属于典型的"冷壳冷幔"型热结构.准噶尔盆地地幔热流值与莫霍面起伏一致,隆起区地幔热流高,坳陷区地幔热流低.     

辽河盆地东部凹陷现今地温场及热历史的研究

依据10口系统测温井数据和61块岩石热导率测试结果，计算了辽河盆地东部凹陷10个 高质量的大地热流数据，并在此基础上，利用镜质体反射率（Ro）资料对该区的热历史 进行了恢复. 结果表明：东部凹陷下第三系平均地温梯度为36.5℃/km，岩石平均热导率为1 .667W/(m·K)，热流密度变化于49.5～70.0mW/m2之间，平均为58.0mW/m2；东部凹陷热 流呈现古热流高现今热流低的变化特征，从沙三期到东营期，古热流值是逐渐增大的，到东 营期末达到最大值，晚第三纪至现今表现为持续冷却；构造沉降史分析显示，盆地经历了早 期的裂谷阶段（43～25Ma）和后期的热沉降阶段. 盆地现今较低的大地热流和较高的古热流 及典型的裂谷型构造沉降样式为东部凹陷的构造-热演化提供了重要认识.     

OSL dating of sediments from deserts in northern China

Aeolian samples from deserts in northern China were studied using the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz and potassium (K) feldspar separates. K-feldspar has shown advantages over quartz for dating samples younger than 100 years, due to its more homogeneous equivalent dose (D_e) values, higher internal dose rate and higher luminescence sensitivity to dose. Without additional measurements, the luminescence characteristics of quartz obtained in D_e determination procedures can be used to reveal the source material and/or quartz thermal history for the deserts in northern China. The results indicated that the duration of paleosol formation in desert areas reflects regional paleoenvironments.     

Study of the effect of a thermal treatment on the DE determination in ESR dating of speleothems

The choice of the ESR signal in the dating of speleothems is still debated. Among the peaks observed in speleothem ESR spectra, the most frequently signals used for the determination of the palaeodoses are the peaks at g=2.0007 (h3 line), g=2.0040 (Broad Line) and g=2.0057 (h1 line).

In order to determine the better analytical way to obtain reproducible D_E values from these three ESR signals, successive additional annealing treatments ranging from 60–300 °C were performed on several samples of a stalagmitic floor from the Mousterian site of the Caverna delle Fate (Liguria, Italy), also dated by U-series between 90 and130 ka. The results confirm that D_E values can be obtained from h3 and BL signals without annealing, while the h1 signal requires a thermal pre-treatment, to obtain the maximum intensity of this line. Then, on our samples, the D_Evalues derived for the three lines are equivalent. It gives, hence, the opportunity to obtain data when the g=2.0007 line cannot be used.     

Thermal effect of magma intrusion on the electrical properties of magnetic rocks from Hammamat sediments, Cairo, Egypt

The thermal effects of magmatic intrusion on the conductivity and dielectric constant of magnetic rocks from Hammamat sediments, NE desert, Cairo, Egypt (latitude ∼27° and longitude ∼33°) were investigated experimentally in the laboratory using nonpolarizing electrodes. Granitic magma was intruded into the Hammamat sediments, which are a mixture of mainly magnetite with sandstone and due to the thermal effect the area around was extensively heated and altered to different degrees. Due to this magma intrusion, magnetite was transformed (by heating) to hematite to different degrees according to its location from the intrusion. Complex impedance measurements were performed in the frequency range of 10 Hz to 100 KHz at normal temperature (∼20°C) and at a relative humidity of ∼50% RH. Samples were collected at different locations perpendicular to the core of the magma intrusion. Experimental data indicate that the electrical properties vary strongly as we move away (with distance) from the magma intrusion. The conductivity of hematite is ∼10⁻² S/m and that of magnetite is ∼10⁴ S/m. As we move from magnetite to hematite (to the core of the magma intrusion) it is supposed that the conductivity will decrease but it was found that the conductivity increases (which is supposed to be abnormal). The conductivity increases with increasing frequency from ∼10⁻⁸ S/m to ∼10⁻⁵ S/m with almost power‐law dependence on frequency. The conductivity increases in the order of one decade due to the variation from magnetite to hematite. The increase of conductivity, as we move from magnetite to hematite, was argued to be due to the heating that partially or completely melts the samples, thus the porosity of the samples was decreased and accordingly the conductivity and dielectric constant increased. It was also supposed that the grains of the conductor in the samples are coated or isolated with insulator material. A percolation behaviour for the conductivity and dielectric constant, characteristic of random conductor‐insulator mixtures, was found with distance, where continuous paths of the conductive material occur accompanied by peaking of the dielectric constant. Complex impedance plots show that as we move in the direction of altered samples (towards hematite) the relation between real and imaginary impedance changes from a linear form to an arc of a depressed semicircle and increases in depression as we move in the direction of the altered samples, which is consistent with the above interpretation.     

碳酸盐团簇同位素在沉积盆地热演化中的应用——以塔里木盆地顺托果勒地区为例

塔里木盆地奥陶系碳酸盐岩储层是近年来油气勘探的热点.然而,由于碳酸盐岩地层缺乏有效的古温标,极大的制约了热历史的研究.团簇同位素作为一种新的有效古温标,为碳酸盐岩地层的热历史恢复提供了可能.本文通过测试塔里木盆地顺托果勒地区奥陶系碳酸盐岩储层中不同结构组分的团簇同位素,利用固态重排模型重建了塔里木盆地顺托果勒地区不同构造单元的奥陶纪以来的热历史.塔里木盆地顺北、顺托和顺南地区泥晶基质的团簇同位素温度(TΔ47)平均值分别为92.34℃、124.35℃和170.27℃,除了顺南地区SN501井和SN4井外,其他的所有样品在最高埋藏温度下尚未达到完全热平衡,可用于热历史重建.通过对顺托果勒地区典型单井设置不同的热史路径,进而明确最高埋藏温度的上限为170～190℃.此外,二叠纪的异常高温可能是地层抬升剥蚀和岩浆活动热事件共同作用的结果,顺托果勒地区二叠纪地温梯度范围为26～46℃/km,呈现西北高东南低的趋势,地温梯度的空间变化表明可能与岩浆活动有关,且岩浆活动中心可能位于塔北地区附近,岩浆活动造成热响应可能在SN3井附近终止.     

Low temperature thermochronology and strategies for multiple samples: 2: Partition modelling for 2D/3D distributions with discontinuities

We present a new approach for modelling geological thermal histories from thermochronological data in 2D and 3D. The method allows data from multiple samples to be modelled jointly, improving the resolution of the final solution, and reduces the potential for over interpreting the data. Following from our previous work, we exploit the thermal history information contained in samples at different elevations to estimate palaeotemperature gradients. However, in this paper, we also allow for spatial discontinuities (e.g. faults) between samples, such that the thermal histories may change significantly over small distances. The major advance presented here is that the number and locations of such discontinuities do not need to be specified in advance, but can be inferred directly from the data. The problem is then to estimate the thermal histories for different clusters of samples, bounded by discontinuities, without knowing where the discontinuities are a priori. We implement the approach via Bayesian Partition Modelling, using reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo to deal with the changing dimensions for the number of partitions. Examples of the methodology in practice are given with both synthetic data and a real data set from Namibia.     

Vent fluid chemistry in Bahía Concepción coastal submarine hydrothermal system, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Shallow submarine hydrothermal activity has been observed in the Bahía Concepción bay, located at the Gulf coast of the Baja California Peninsula, along faults probably related to the extensional tectonics of the Gulf of California region. Diffuse and focused venting of hydrothermal water and gas occurs in the intertidal and shallow subtidal areas down to 15 m along a NW–SE-trending onshore–offshore fault. Temperatures in the fluid discharge area vary from 50 °C at the sea bottom up to 87 °C at a depth of 10 cm in the sediments.Chemical analyses revealed that thermal water is enriched in Ca, As, Hg, Mn, Ba, HCO₃, Li, Sr, B, I, Cs, Fe and Si, and it has lower concentrations of Cl, Na, SO₄ and Br than seawater. The chemical characteristics of the water samples indicate the occurrence of mixing between seawater and a thermal end-member. Stable isotopic oxygen and hydrogen composition of thermal samples plot close to the Local Meteoric Water Line on a mixing trend between a thermal end-member and seawater. The composition of the thermal end-member was calculated from the chemistry of the submarine samples data by assuming a negligible amount of Mg for the thermal end-member. The results of the mixing model based on the chemical and isotopic composition indicate a maximum of 40% of the thermal end-member in the submarine vent fluid.Chemical geothermometers (Na/Li, Na–K–Ca and Si) were applied to the thermal end-member concentration and indicate a reservoir temperature of approximately 200 °C. The application of K–Mg and Na/Li geothermometers for vent fluids points to a shallow equilibrium temperature of about 120 °C.Results were integrated in a hydrogeological conceptual model that describes formation of thermal fluids by infiltration and subsequent heating of meteoric water. Vent fluid is generated by further mixing with seawater.     

Thermal structure and uplift of the Cretaceous Shimanto Belt, Kii Peninsula, Southwest Japan: An illite crystallinity and Mite bo, lattice spacing study

Abstract Illite crystallinity (IC) and illite b, lattice spacing were measured across the Cretaceous Shimanto Belt, Kii Peninsula, Southwest Japan. For the IC survey, 103 samples of argillaceous rocks were analyzed from the central area and the western area of the belt. Values of IC (Kubler Index) vary between 0.28 and 0.71 Δ°2θ and indicate diagenetic and anchizone metamorphism respectively. The IC distribution reveals two contrasting patterns of thermal maturity. The Hanazono Formation, exposed in the northern area of the belt, generally dips north, but IC values increase systematically from 0.28 Δ°2θ in the north to 0.54 Δ°2θ in the south and indicate an inverted thermal structure. Values in other formations vary widely in the southern area of the belt ranging between 0.45 and 0.71 Δ°2θ, but the values do not show any systematic change from north to south and on average remain almost constant. Illite b_o, lattice spacing values for 56 samples vary between 9.006 and 9.041 Å corresponding to intermediate pressure conditions of the metamorphic facies. These values, combined with paleotemperatures estimated from IC, indicate paleogeothermal gradients of 22 and 31°C/km for the northern and southern areas of the belt, respectively. The inverted thermal structure of the Hanazono Formation, together with a lower paleogeothermal gradient, possibly is a result of the subduction of a relatively cold oceanic plate during the Late Cretaceous. The higher geothermal gradient could be a product of late thermal overprinting caused by the later subduction of a comparatively younger and hotter oceanic plate during the Eocene.     

菱铁矿热转变过程中岩石磁学性质基本特征

利用吉林大栗子铁矿纯菱铁矿样品,系统测量了菱铁矿在空气环境下热处理产物的磁化特征．揭示出其饱和等温剩磁（ＳＩＲＭ）、剩磁矫顽力（Ｈ（ｃｒ））和居里温度（Ｔｃ）随加热温度升高而发生的系列变化,美铁矿氧化过程中准稳定态磁性矿物磁赤铁矿（ｒ－Ｆｅ２Ｏ３）是中间产物之一,并且具有较高的热稳定性．Ｘ射线衍射和穆斯堡尔（Ｍｏｓｓｂａｕｅｒ）效应等分析结果证实了岩石磁学研究所揭示的菱铁矿氧化中磁性矿物转变过程．菱铁矿氧化过程中结晶结构的转变可能会影响其氧化产物的磁性特征．     

Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk Due to Accidental Ingestion of PAHs in Contaminated Soils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are types of hazardous contaminants, which their ingestion could cause severe consequences on human health. Leakages from storage tanks, underground pipelines, and evaporation ponds are the main sources of soil and groundwater contaminations at the Tehran Oil Refinery area (TOR site), located in south of Tehran, Iran. In this study, soil samples were collected from different locations at and adjacent to a polluted stream in the south of the refinery. The samples were analyzed for two hazardous PAH compounds, namely benzo[a]anthracene and acenaphthene. The clean up levels due to the accidental ingestion of contaminated soils at the site were also investigated in accordance to the U.S.EPA guidelines. Comparing the soil analysis results indicated that the benzo[a]anthracene concentrations in the samples varied from 53 to 299 mg/kg, which were higher than the clean up level of 1.17 mg/kg. Thus, soil remediation is required for this contaminant. The acenaphthene analysis results denoted that the average concentration of this contaminant was below the clean up level of 116.67 mg/kg, indicating that no treatment for this contaminant is necessary at the TOR site. Also, because the slope of the ground extends to the south of the stream, which stimulates the migration of the contaminants in this direction due to advection and dispersion mechanisms, the average of benzo[a]anthracene concentrations in south samples was higher than north samples (i.e., C_avg(S) = 160 ppm, C_avg(N) = 113 ppm). Various treatment techniques such as thermal desorption, soil vapor extraction (SVE), and solidification/stabilization (S/S) were investigated for this site. Due to moderate to high plasticity and relatively low permeability of the soil and low volatility of benzo[a]anthracene, however S/S method is recommended as a practical approach for the remediation of the soil at the site.     

Survey of Palaeolithic sites by luminescence profiling, a case study from Eastern Europe

A luminescence-based approach to the rapid characterisation of sites in terms of their datability and sedimentary history is described (luminescence profiling), and contrasting results presented for three Palaeolithic archaeological sites in Russia. Three mineral/grain-size fractions (polymineral silt-sized, polymineral sand-sized, quartz-enriched sand-sized) were separated from each of many small samples taken through the sites’ stratigraphies. Luminescence signals from the different fractions were measured using infra-red light, blue light, and thermal stimulation. Patterns in luminescence sensitivity and equivalent dose values are used to indicate which sites, samples, fractions and/or signals may yield meaningful luminescence ages, and the experimental effort that may be required to obtain said ages. Case studies range from a site where a detailed chronostratigraphy might be produced using a limited number of full luminescence dates to tie in the profiling results, to a site where profiling indicates there is little chance of producing useful luminescence dates. These interpretations are based on dialogue between the luminescence profiling results and archaeological, palaeoenvironmental, and geomorphological evidence. Luminescence profiling is shown to be a useful tool for understanding sedimentological process at each site, independent of full luminescence dating.