K-bentonite beds and high-resolution integrated stratigraphy of the uppermost Ordovician Wufeng and the lowest Silurian Longmaxi formations in South China

More than 20 K-bentonite beds were discovered from the Wufeng Formation and the lowest Longmaxi Formation in two sections, both adjacent to the Ordovician-Silurian (O-S) boundary and located in Tongzi, Guizhou Province and Yichang, Hubei Province, some 500 km apart from each other in South China. This indicates that many volcanic eruptions occurred near the southeast margin of the Yangtze Platform between the latest Ordovician and the earliest Silurian. Mainly through biostratigraphic and sequence stratigraphic studies, it was found that almost all these far-apart K-bentonite beds may be correlated with each other. This is the first time that a succession of volcanic ash deposits with high potential of correlation was discovered within a strata interval on the main platforms of China. Therefore, these K-bentonite beds may afford excellent event-marker beds helpful to high-resolution research in integrated stratigraphy as well as other lines of research on the O-S boundary in South China.     

Paleogeographic evolution of the Lower Yangtze region and the break of the “platform-slope-basin” pattern during the Late Ordovician

Wide distribution of the black shales and diversification of the graptolite fauna in South China during the Late Ordovician resulted from its unique paleogeographic pattern, which was significantly affected by the paleogeographic evolution of the Lower Yangtze region. In the study, 120 Upper Ordovician sections from the Lower Yangtze region were collected, and a unified biostratigraphic framework has been applied to these sections to establish a reliable stratigraphic subdivision and correlation. Under the unified time framework, we delineate the distribution area of each lithostratigraphic unit, outline the boundary between the sea and land, and reconstruct the paleogeographic pattern for each graptolite zone. The result indicates that, with the uplift and expansion of the ‘Jiangnan Oldland' in the beginning of the late Katian, the oldland extended into the Yangtze Sea gradually from south to north, which finally separate the Jiangnan Slope and the Yangtze Platform. Consequently,the longstanding paleogeographic pattern of "platform-slope-basin" in South China was broken. The paleogeographic change led to sedimentary differentiation among the two sides of the ‘Jiangnan Oldland' during the Late Ordovician. This event also led to the closure of the eastern exit of the Upper Yangtze Sea, and formed a semi-closed, limited and stagnant environment for the development of the organic-rich black shales during the Late Ordovician. The major controlling factors of these paleogeographic changes in the Lower Yangtze region were not consistent from the Katian to the Hirnantian. In the late Katian, the sedimentary differentiation between the east and west sides mostly resulted from regional tectonic movement-the Kwangsian Orogeny.However, during the Hirnantian, the whole Yangtze region became shallower, which was mostly influenced by the concentration of the Gondwana ice sheet and the consequent global sea level drop.     

Trace and rare earth element geochemistry of the black and grey shales of the Calabar Flank,Southeastern Nigeria: constraints on the depositional environment and the degree of metal enrichment

This study focuses on the trace and rare earth elements(REE) geochemistry of the Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales of the Calabar Flank.The main aim is to infer their depositional environment and the degree of their metal enrichment.The shale samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The results indicated that the mean concentrations of K,Na,and Fe in Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales are 1.45,0.4,and 4.17 wt%,and 1.11,0.44,and 5.42 wt%;respectively.The Nkporo Shale is enriched with the following trace elements;PMn Sr Ba Zn Ce Rb Zr VCr Ni and depleted in the following trace elements;Ta GeSb Bi Cd Ag Te In Hg.While the Ekenkpon Shale is enriched with the following trace elements;P Mn Ba Sr VCe Zr Rb Cr Zn Ni and depleted in;Sb Ge Bi Ag Ce Te InHg.The concentration of redox-sensitive elements such as V,Ni,Mo,U,Cu,Cr,Re,Cd,Sb,Ti,Mn,and their ratio V/Mo and U/Mo in the black and grey shale samples show different patterns.The REE obtained from the Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales were PAAS normalized.The Nkporo Shale showed a slightly flat light rare-earth element(LREE),middle rare-earth element(MREE),and heavy rare earth element(HREE) pattern enrichment.Ce/Ce*ranges from 0.95 to 1.09 in Nkporo Shale and 0.67 to 1.40 in Ekenkpon Shale.The Ekenkpon Shale showed a slight LREE,MREE enrichment,and depleted HREE patterns.The Mn contents and U/Mo ratio in Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales suggests a poor oxygen transitional environment.The V/Mo and V/(V+Ni) ratios indicated that the Nkporo shales were deposited in an anoxic to suboxic conditions and Ekenkpon shales were also deposited under an anoxic to suboxic conditions.The V/Ni ratio indicated that the organic matter in the Nkporo shale is terrigenous while that of the Ekenkpon shales are both terrigenous and marine in origin.     

Diversity history of Ordovician graptolites and its relationship with environmental change

Statistical analysis based on global data indicated that the planktonic graptolites presented a distinguished pattern from that of benthic communities during the great Ordovician biodiversification. The graptolites started to diversify from the beginning of Ordovician and reached an acme in the early Middle Ordovician, but subsequently underwent a steady decline to the end of Ordovician. During the Ordovician, many clades of the graptolites made their originations, flourishing and replacements. However, in different regions and distinct environments across the world, graptolites may presumably display distinct patterns of radiation and evolution, a hypothesis to be tested. Herein a study of the graptolite diversity in the Early to Middle Ordovician in the Upper Yangtze Region (Platform) and Jiangnan Region (Slope), South China, is conducted. The results indicate that graptolites underwent a remarkable increase in both regions, but with distinct magnitude, scope, process and patterns. The diversification of graptolites in the Upper Yangtze Region, though less prominent, is divided into four stages and includes two peaks. In the Jiangnan Region, the graptolite diversification is far more prominent and includes three stages and one peak. Based on the distinct diversity histories and composition of graptolites in the two representative regions, a 'deep-water origin and shallow-water dispersal' model is proposed for the Ordovician graptolite faunas. According to the model, the major graptolite faunas of Ordovician originated in the deep-water region on the continental slope, the source of the graptolite novelties, and subsequently spread into shallow-water region on the shelf. Besides, we also conduct a comparison study of the Ordovician graptolite diversity in South China and other major regions. The results display that the graptolites diversified globally in the Early and Middle Ordovician. At the beginning of Ordovician, graptolites underwent a significant ecological innovation of graptolites: planktonic forms were derived from their benthic ancestors. This derivation resulted in the great guild expansion of graptolites. In late Early Ordovician (Floian), the global expansion of graptolites commenced. From the Floian to the end of Middle Ordovician, the graptolites diversity increased remarkably and displayed three peaks for all the regions. However, the peaks are somewhat distinct in magnitude and timing among regions. The Darriwilian peak is prominent in both South China and Baltic region, but inconspicuous in Australasia. No close relationship between the graptolite diversification and the palaeolatitudes are supported herein. Instead, the graptolite diversification seems to coincide with the global sea-level rises, suggesting a possible intrinsic relationship between them.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating from K-bentonite in the top of Ordovician of Wangjiawan Section,Yichang, Hubei,China

The Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Hirnantian Stage (the latest stage of the Ordovician System) is defined at a point 0.39m below the base of the Kuanyinchiao Bed in the Wangjiawan North Section, which is the upper most "golden spike" of the Ordovician. However, this "golden spike" is lack of reliable geochronology data. This article gives a sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMPII) zircon U-Pb dating for a K-bentonite sample from the Kuany-inchiao Bed in the Wangjiawan North Section. The age of the K-bentonite sample is 443.2±1.6 Ma, that is to say, the isotopic age of the uppermost of Hirnantian Stage, the point of Ordovician-Silurian boundary, should be near to, but slightly younger than 443.2±1.6 Ma. This age is identical to the Ordovi-cian-Silurian boundary age 443.7±1.5 Ma as declared by International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). So, this research provides some good geochronlogical data for the Hirnantian Stage and the Ordovician-Silurian boundary as well as the global correlation.     

Depositional environments and maturity evaluated by biomarker analyses of sediments deposited across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary in the Yezo Group,Tomamae area,Hokkaido, Japan

Biomarker analyses for evaluating maturity of organic matter and depositional environments such as redox conditions, were performed in sediments across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary (CTB) in the Saku Formation of the Yezo Group distributed along the Shumarinai‐gawa River and the Omagari‐zawa River, both in the Tomamae area, Hokkaido, Japan. Maturity indicators using steranes and hopanes, show that organic matter in sediments from the Shumarinai‐gawa and Omagari‐zawa sections are of lower maturity than those from the Hakkin‐gawa section (Oyubari area). Moreover, the ββ hopane ratios clearly show that the maturity of the Shumarinai‐gawa samples is lower than that of the Omagari‐zawa samples. These variations in the maturity of organic matter presumably reflect the difference in their burial histories. The results for the pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios suggest that the Shumarinai‐gawa samples were deposited under dysoxic to anoxic environments across the CTB, while the depositional environments of the Omagari‐zawa samples were relatively oxic. By another paleoredox indicator using C₃₅ homohopanoids including a homohopene index (HHenI), higher values are observed in the Shumarinai‐gawa section, particularly in the horizons of the preceding period and an early stage of the first negative shift phase and the latest oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2) interval. These results suggest that the Shumarinai‐gawa samples record dysoxic to anoxic environments across the CTB. In contrast, the signals for the C₃₅ homohopanoid index values show a relatively oxic condition in the Omagari‐zawa section. The trends of stratigraphic variations in redox conditions are different from those in the OAE2 interval in the proto‐Atlantic and Tethys regions as reported previously. Hence, the redox variations in the Tomamae area were basically related to a local environmental setting rather than global anoxia. However, the prominent anoxic emphasis observed in the HHenI profile of the Shumarinai‐gawa section can be a distinctive, and possibly global, event in the North‐West Pacific just before the OAE2.     

Upper Ordovician continuous lithological succession in outer‐shelf facies,Yangtze Platform,South China: Facies changes and oceanographic reconstruction up to the Late Ordovician Hirnantian glaciation

Ordovician sequences at Huanghuachang, northern Yichang City of Hubei Province, Central China, are representative of an outer‐shelf setting of the Yangtze epicontinental sea, South China Block. Continuous drill cores of the Well Yihuang 1 penetrated the Upper Ordovician units of the Miaopo, Pagoda, Linhsiang, Wufeng, and Kuanyinchiao Formations in ascending order. Such a continuous succession gives valuable insights into environmental changes and an extinction event through Late Ordovician time. Results suggest that sluggish circulation and oligotrophic conditions were characteristic of the region from Sandbian to early Hirnantian Epochs of the Late Ordovician. Thin‐bedded limestones within the Miaopo Formation shales and nodular limestones of the Pagoda and Linhsiang Formations are mainly wackestones and mudstones with sparse and fine‐grained trilobite, cephalopod, gastropod, ostracod, and crinoid bioclasts with rare brachiopod and bivalve bioclasts, further showing gradual decreasing in abundance and grain size upwards through the succession. Such biological and lithological changes are interpreted as a trend towards a deeper and calmer seafloor below storm wave‐base. The Kwangsian Orogeny of the late Katian Epoch altered the geography of the region, creating a large embayment in the area of the Well Yihuang 1 core. Thus the sequence developed upwards to the Wufeng Formation graptolitic black shales consistent with formation in a dysoxic and stagnant embayment that excluded carbonate production and benthic biota, but ideal for preservation of planktic graptolite fossils. Bioclastic packstone and quartz grain lenses interlayered with the black shales are occasionally sourced from southeastward shallow submarine highs closed to the Cathaysian Land. Change from this interpreted sluggish ocean circulation affecting the ocean floor was delayed to the early Hirnantian Epoch, when active circulation is related to the onset of the latest Ordovician glaciation which resulted in an oxygenated ocean floor during regression, favorable for the thriving shelly Hirnantia Fauna.     

Terminal Ediacaran anoxia in deep-ocean: Trace element evidence from cherts of the Liuchapo Formation,South China

Here we report a detailed trace element study of the cherts from Liuchapo Formation, which is a terminal Ediacaran (551-542 Ma) succession in South China deposited in deep-water basinal setting. The REE of Liuchapo cherts shows similar features as observed for anoxic modern seawater (but not for hydrothermal fluids), characterized by positive La anomaly (La_N/Ce_N = 0.83–1.91, average 1.37), moderately negative Ce anomaly (0.53–1.1, average 0.73), positive Gd anomaly (average 1.08), positive Y anomaly (average 1.21), and depleted LREE and MREE. In addition, the Liuchapo cherts have low ΣREE (3.36–56.13 ppm, average 20.6 ppm), low Al₂O₃, Ti, Th and Zr concentrations, and high Y/Ho ratios (up to 43.9). The redox-sensitive trace elements concentrations in the cherts do not correlate with detrital input proxies. All of these features suggest that the redox-sensitive trace elements in the cherts were authigenically concentrated in water column and their concentrations thus are excellent indicators of ancient redox conditions. Very low Th/U ratios, high V/(V+Ni) and Fe_⊤/Al ratios, enrichments of redox-sensitive trace elements (U, V, Mo), and low concentration of Mn in the cherts imply anoxia in the deep seawater. Our data reveal that the terminal Ediacaran ocean was not completely oxidized and the deep ocean was still anoxic, at least in South China. We propose that although the oxidative events existed in the terminal Ediacaran oceans, decomposition of organic matter prolonged anoxia in the deep ocean. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 40532012, 40873007, 40603021) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX3-SW-141)     

Reconstructing the iron cycle from the horizontal distribution of metals in the sediment of Baldeggersee

In Baldeggersee, the distributions of solid phase Fe, Mn, V, Cr, As and Mo were determined in different sediment strata, deposited under various deep-water oxygen conditions. Iron concentrations are correlated with water depth when an anoxic sediment is in contact with an oxic water column. Benthic redox gradients trigger iron transport towards the deepest site (geochemical focusing) and loss of iron from the shallower parts through the outflow. Fe cycling in the lake is inhibited by oxygen penetration into the sediment. Vanadium and arsenic can be used as tracers for the internal Fe cycle. Their distribution patterns are highly correlated with iron. In case of a stable oxycline in the deep water, Mo is enriched in the sediment and correlates with Mn. The horizontal distribution patterns of Fe, V, As and the correlation of Fe and Mn with trace metals are promising proxy indicators for the reconstruction of deep-water oxygen conditions during deposition.     

Quantitative characterization of reservoir space in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale,southern Sichuan,China

Based on the drilling data of the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Shale and the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale in southern Sichuan Basin,the construction of matrix pores and the development condition of fractures in a marine organic-rich shale are quantitatively evaluated through the establishment of the reservoir petrophysical models and porosity mathematical models.Our studies show that there are four major characteristics of the Longmaxi Shale confirmed by the quantitative characterization:(1)the pore volume of per unit mass is the highest in organic matter,followed in clay minerals,finally in brittle minerals;(2)the porosity of the effective shale reservoir is moderate and equal to that of the Barnett Shale,and the main parts of the shale reservoir spaces are interlayer pores of clay minerals and organic pores;(3)the porosity of the organic-rich shale is closely related to TOC and brittle mineral/clay mineral ratio,and mainly increases with TOC and clay mineral content;(4)fractures are developed in this black shale,and are mainly micro ones and medium-large ones.In the Longmaxi Shale,the fracture density increases from top to bottom,reflecting the characteristics with high brittle mineral content,high Young’s modulus,low Poisson's ratio and high brittleness at its bottom.     

Cambrian-Ordovician sequence stratigraphy on the

The Cambrian and Ordovician on the northern Tarim Platform are mainly composed of carbonates. On the basis of detailed outcrop analysis, the sequence stratigraphic system of the Cambrian-Ordovician in the northern Tarim Platform is outlined in this paper. Altogether 35 third-order sequences, 12 supersequences, 4 supersequence sets and 2 megasequences are recognized. The characteristics of the major sequence boundaries have been documented with an integrated examination of outcrop, seismic and borehole data, and the ages of these sequence boundaries have been calibrated through the combination of sequence stratigraphy with biostrati-graphy. It is discovered that there is good correlation of the sequence stratigraphy of the Cambrian-Ordovician among Tarim, Yangtze and North China platforms. This may illustrate that the development of the Cambrian-Ordovician carbonate sequences in these three platforms is mainly controlled by regional or global sea level changes. This forms the theoretical basis for the construction of high-resolution chronostratigraphic system of the Cambrian-Ordovician in the three platforms in China.     

Sedimentary and biotic evidence of a warm-water enclave in the cooler oceans of the latest Ordovician glacial phase, Yangtze Platform, South China block

Abstract   During the Hirnantian period, the Yangtze Platform was situated in the western part of the South China block (SCB) before its later rotation, in the middle–low paleolatitudes of the southern hemisphere in the northeast side of peri-Gondwana. It is part of the Kosov faunal province as indicated by the Hirnantia fauna. Sedimentary evidence shows the domination of cool ventilated marine water from its offshore ramp and shelf. Hirnantian shallow-water carbonate facies (Kuanyinchiao Bed) overlie earlier Ashgill graptolitic black shales (Wufeng Formation) as a result of marine regression. In the Yangtze Platform, however, we have found local areas of intertidal to nearshore facies that lack the typical highly diverse Hirnantia fauna. Some warm-water features (radial oolites, peloids, diverse solitary rugose corals and other benthic shelly fauna) occur commonly in some limited shallow areas, forming grainstones and packstones. Although interglacial episodes within the Hirnantian glaciation could be responsible for these features, their limited occurrence within the interior of the platform leads us to interpret the deposits as indicating that cold-water currents from the southeastern high latitudes were partly excluded from the nearshore area of the Yangtze Platform. The landmass of the eastern SCB in the Hirnantian epoch prevented access to some areas of the cold marine water masses that flowed from higher latitudes of Gondwana; the result was a persistence of warm-water shallow marine facies in some areas.     

Early Paleozoic whole-rock Ce anomalies and secular eustatic changes in the Upper Yangtze region

The 65 whole-rock REE samples studied come from the classic sections of Early Cambrian to Early Silurian in the Yichang area, Hubei Province. REE concentrations tested on ICP-AES are normalized to the North American Shale Composite (NASC), and Ce anomaly values are calculated based on log[ 3Cen/(2Lan+Ndn)] . With the whole-rock Ce anomaly used as a quantitative index of sea-level changes, 5 prominent eustatic circles are recognized, and a good corresponding relationship is observed between the black shale episodes and the transgressive events. On account of the global distributions of coeval black shales and the specified paleogeographic background of South China, a genetic hypothesis based on the model of O2-minimum zone expansion is suggested for the Early Paleozoic multi-episode black shales in South China.     

Cambrian-Ordovician sequence stratigraphy on the northern Tarim Platform and its correlation with Yangtze Platform and North China Platform

The Cambrian and Ordovician on the northern Tarim Platform are mainly composed of carbonates. On the basis of detailed outcrop analysis, the sequence stratigraphic system of the Cambrian-Ordovician in the northern Tarim Platform is outlined in this paper. Altogether 35 third-order sequences, 12 supersequences, 4 supersequence sets and 2 megasequences are recognized. The characteristics of the major sequence boundaries have been documented with an integrated examination of outcrop, seismic and borehole data, and the ages of these sequence boundaries have been calibrated through the combination of sequence stratigraphy with biostratigraphy. It is discovered that there is good correlation of the sequence stratigraphy of the Cambrian-Ordovician among Tarim, Yangtze and North China platforms. This may illustrate that the development of the Cambrian-Ordovician carbonate sequences in these three platforms is mainly controlled by regional or global sea level changes. This forms the theoretical basis for the construction of high-resolution chronostratigraphic system of the Cambrian-Ordovician in the three platforms in China.     

Climate tipping-point potential and paradoxical production of methane in a changing ocean

The global warming potential of methane (CH₄) is about 30 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a century timescale. Methane emission is hypothesized to have contributed to global climate change events and mass extinctions during Earth’s history. Therefore, the study of CH₄ production processes is critically important to the understanding of global climate change. It has been a dogma that biogenic CH₄ detectable in the oceans originates exclusively from the anaerobic metabolic activity of methanogenic archaea in hypoxic and anoxic environments, despite reports that many oxic surface and near-surface waters of the world’s oceans are CH₄-supersaturated, thereby rendering net sea-to-air emissions of CH₄. The phenomenon of CH₄ production in oxic marine waters is referred to as the “ocean methane paradox”. Although still not totally resolved, recent studies have generated several hypotheses regarding the sources of CH₄ production in oxic seawater. This review will summarize our current understanding of the importance of CH₄ in the global climate and analyze the biological processes and their underpinning mechanisms that lead to the production of CH₄ in oxic seawater environments. We will also tentatively explore the relationships of these microbial metabolic processes with global changes in climate and environment.     

贺兰山中段奥陶系米钵山组砂岩地球化学及构造背景分析

本文利用奥陶系米钵山组砂岩地球化学分析,结合区域地质研究,探讨贺兰山中、晚奥陶世的构造环境。贺兰山中段奥陶系米钵山组砂岩的地球化学研究表明,砂岩的siO2平均含量为81．3％;A120。／Si02值0．07～0．11,平均值为0．08;K20／Na20值变化较大,最大60．7,一般介于4．79～7．81;Fe2O3＋MgO含量较低,介于2．1％～2．81％。砂岩微量元素Nb丰度及V／（V＋Ni）与Ce／La、Sr／Ba值均较高,说明砂岩沉积于湿热、还原、低盐度环境,具有大陆型沉积特征。砂岩稀土元素富集,含量在116×10^-6～195×10^-6之间,平均值为158×10～;8Eu为0．52～0．58,具显著的负铕异常。这些数据指示了米钵山组具有重力流快速堆积的特征和大量陆源补给,浊流沉积作用是重力流携带陆源物质的主要途径。通过多种构造环境判别图解分析,显示物源区地质构造具有被动大陆边缘性质。     

Late Cretaceous paleoenvironment and lake level fluctuation in the Songliao Basin,northeastern China

Study of Late Cretaceous lacustrine sedimentary strata in the eastern Songliao Basin, China revealed that the paleoclimate was relatively arid and hot during sedimentation of the upper Santonian of the Yaojia Formation, but became relatively humid and warm during deposition of the lower Campanian Nenjiang Formation. The upper Yaojia Formation was deposited in a freshwater lake environment, while the lower Nenjiang Formation was deposited in a slightly brackish to brackish environment. The average total organic carbon content in the upper Yaojia Formation is 0.15%, while the hydrogen index is 36 mg_HC/g_TOC, implying poor source rock for oil generation and the organic matter comprised of a mixture of woody and herbaceous organic matter. In contrast, the hydrogen index of oil shale and black shale of the lower Nenjiang Formation is 619 mg_HC/g_TOC, and total organic carbon content on average is 3.37%, indicating a mixed algae and herbaceous source of kerogen and an increase in aquatic bioproductivity. The black shale and oil shale have low Pristane/Phytane and C₂₉ 5α,14α,17α(H) ? stigmastane 20R/(20R + 20S) ratios, with maximum concentration of n‐alkanes at n‐C₂₃, implying an anoxic depositional environment with algae, bacteria and higher plants providing most of the organic matter. Relatively abundant gammacerane and a higher Sr/Ba ratio in the oil shales suggest the presence of brackish water and development of salinity stratification in the lake. During sedimentation of the upper Yaojia through the lower Nenjiang Formations, the level of Songliao lake increased and a deep‐lake environment was formed with bottom waters being oxygen depleted. Concomitantly, as the lake deepened bottom conditions were changing from oxic to anoxic, and the input of organic matter changed from predominantly higher plants to a mixture of bacteria, algae and higher plants providing favorable conditions for oil source rock accumulation.     

Rare-earth and trace elements and hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of Cretaceous kaolinitic sediments from the Lower Benue Trough,Nigeria: provenance and paleoclimatic significance

This study evaluated the Cretaceous(Campanian–Maastrichtian) kaolinitic sediments of the Ajali/Mamu and Enugu/Nkporo Formations from the Lower Benue Trough of Nigeria. A combined method of inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry was used to investigate trace and rareearth element geochemistry and hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions. These data were then used to infer the sediments' provenance and paleoclimatic conditions during their deposition. The sediments contained low concentrations of most trace elements, with the exceptions of Zr(651–1352 ppm), Ba(56–157 ppm), V(38–90 ppm),and Sr(15.1–59.6 ppm). Average values of Co and Ni were1.5 and 0.7 ppm, respectively. Trace and rare earth element values were lower than corresponding values for upper continental crust and Post-Archean Australian Shale, with the exception of Zr. The samples showed only slight light rare-earth enrichment and nearly flat heavy rare-earth depletion patterns, with negative Eu and Tm anomalies,typical of felsic sources. Geochemical parameters such as La/Sc, Th/Sc, and Th/Co ratios support that the kaolinitic sediments were derived from a felsic rock source, likely deposited in an oxic environment.^(18 )O values ranged from+ 15.4 to + 21.2% for the investigated samples, consistent with a residual material derived from chemicalweathering of felsic rock and redeposited in a sedimentary basin(typical values of + 19 to + 21.2%). While in the basin, the sediments experienced extended interactions with meteoric water enriched in d D and d16 O. However,the variation in d D and d16 O values for the investigated samples is attributed to the high temperature of formation(54–91 °C). The d D and d^(18 )O values suggest that the sediments, although obtained from different localities within the Lower Benue Trough, formed under similar hot,tropical climatic conditions.     

Effect of Resuspension on the Release of Heavy Metals and Water Chemistry in Anoxic and Oxic Sediments

Two types of river sediments with contrasting characteristics (anoxic or oxic) were resuspended and the release of heavy metals and changes in water chemistry were investigated. During resuspension of the anoxic sediment, the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and redox potential of the water layer decreased abruptly within the first 1 min, followed by increases toward the end of the resuspension period. Heavy metals were released rapidly in the first 6 h, probably due to the oxidation of acid volatile sulfide (AVS) of the anoxic sediment, and then the aqueous phase concentrations of the heavy metals decreased due to resorption onto the sediment until the 12‐h point. During resuspension of the oxic sediment, the DO concentration and redox potential remained relatively constant in the oxic ranges. The heavy metals were released from the oxic sediment gradually during a 24‐h resuspension period. The temporal maximum concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd in the aqueous phases in both experiments frequently exceeded the USEPA water quality criteria or the water quality guidelines of Australia and New Zealand. This suggests that a resuspension event could bring about temporal water quality deterioration in the two sediment environments.     

Carbon and strontium isotope variations and responses to sea-level fluctuations in the Ordovician of the Tarim Basin

In the Ordovician, a carbonate platform system grading from the platformal interior eastwards to basin was developed in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, and the study column is located in the place where the paleoslope occurred. The isotope compositions of the carbonates there are thus considered as having reflected those of simultaneous sea waters in view of its good connection with the open seas. The carbon and strontium isotope compositions of the Ordovician carbonates in the Tazhong area are analyzed, and their relationships to the sea-level fluctuations are discussed as well. Studies have revealed that the carbon isotope composition is related positively with the sea-level fluctuations, whereas an opposing situation occurs to the strontium isotope variation. Similar responses of carbon and strontium isotope compositions to the sea-level fluctuations are reported elsewhere in the world, suggesting that the Ordovician sea-level fluctuations of the Tarim Basin were of eustatic implication.