Late Devensian ice‐marginal features in the central North Sea – processes and chronology

Palaeoglaciological reconstructions of the North Sea sector of the last British Ice Sheet have, as other shelf areas, suffered from a lack of dates directly related to ice‐front positions. In the present study new high‐resolution TOPAS seismic data, bathymetric records and sediment core data from the Witch Ground Basin, central North Sea, were compiled. This compilation made it possible to map out three ice‐marginal positions, partly through identification of terminal moraines and partly through location of glacial‐fed debrisflows. The interfingering of the distal parts of the glacial‐fed debrisflows with continuous marine sedimentation enabled the development of a chronology for glacial events based on previously published and some new radiocarbon dates on marine molluscs and foraminifera. From these data it is suggested that after the central Witch Ground Basin was deglaciated at c. 27 cal. ka BP, the eastern part was inundated by glacial ice from the east in the Tampen advance at c. 21 cal. ka BP. Subsequently, the basin was inundated by ice from northeast during the Fladen 1 (c. 17.5 cal. ka BP) and the Fladen 2 (16.2 cal. ka BP) events. It should be emphasized that the Fladen 1 and 2 events, individually, may represent dynamics of relatively small lobes of glacial ice at the margin of the British Ice Sheet and that the climatic significance of these may be questioned. However, the Fladen Events probably correlate in time with the Clogher Head and Killard Point re‐advances previously documented from Ireland and the Bremanger event from off western Norway, suggesting that the British and Fennoscandian ice sheets both had major advances in their northwestern parts, close to the northwestern European seaboard, at this time.     

华北克拉通中东部新太古代晚期变质火山岩及动力学体制

热状态和壳幔岩浆作用是理解早期地壳形成演化动力学机制的关键。华北克拉通是世界范围内为数不多的保存有大量新太古代晚期（约26~25亿年）变质火山岩记录的克拉通之一,对揭示全球新太古代晚期壳-幔动力学演化过程具有重要的指示意义。在我们研究组近期关于华北克拉通中东部中新太古代热状态和地壳厚度研究基础上,本文收集并整理了726个华北克拉通中东部（包括中部带）新太古代晚期变质火山岩样品的有效地球化学资料。按照现代通用岩石地球化学标准来分类,这些样品主要包括超铁镁质岩石（其中含苦橄岩、苦橄质玄武岩和科马提岩,~7%）、稀土未分异型玄武岩（~14%）、稀土分异型玄武岩（~27%）、玻安岩（~4%）、高镁安山岩（~12%）、低镁安山岩（~26%）和英安岩-流纹岩（~10%）。然而不同区块之间火山岩岩石组合及其量比存在较大差异,其中吉林南部和赞皇等地区以大量稀土分异型玄武岩、高镁和低镁安山岩为主,含有少量的长英质火山岩;胶东、登封和阜新等地区以稀土未分异和稀土分异型玄武岩占有绝对优势,存在少量安山岩和长英质火山岩;冀北、冀东北部、冀东南部（迁安-滦县）、五台-云中山、辽北、辽南和鲁西等地区岩石组合比较复杂,最突出的特点是出现不同比例的玻安岩,组合有稀土未分异和大量稀土分异型玄武岩、高镁和低镁安山岩,出现少量超铁镁质岩石和长英质火山岩。岩石成因研究揭示稀土未分异型和分异型玄武岩、高镁安山岩和玻安岩主要形成于俯冲板片流体、熔体和沉积物熔体交代地幔的部分熔融,而低镁安山岩、英安岩和其它长英质火山岩则大都经历了上述俯冲相关初始岩浆的结晶分异或地壳物质熔融和地壳混染等过程。新太古代晚期胶东地区表现为相对较薄的地壳厚度和较高的地热梯度（18℃/km）,而冀东地区表现为厚的地壳厚度和低的地热梯度（最低8.7℃/km）,满足现代俯冲地热梯度需求,其它区域的地温梯度介于热俯冲和现代冷俯冲之间。综合以上资料,我们认为新太古代晚期板块构造体制已经是最主要的壳-幔动力学体制,地幔柱构造体制和板块构造-地幔柱联合作用体制可能仍然在局部地区存在,但其作用范围和强度已经明显减小。因此,随着地幔温度的下降,中太古代到新太古代晚期地幔柱和板片俯冲的转化可能是相互关联、此消彼长的动力学过程,而不是一个突变过程。

     

Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene lake‐level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin,Nevada: Implications for the distribution of archaeological sites

The Great Basin of the western U.S. contains a rich record of Late Pleistocene and Holocene lake‐level fluctuations as well as an extensive record of human occupation during the same time frame. We compare spatial‐temporal relationships between these records in the Lahontan basin to consider whether lake‐level fluctuations across the Pleistocene‐Holocene transition controlled distribution of archaeological sites. We use the reasonably well‐dated archaeological record from caves and rockshelters as well as results from new pedestrian surveys to investigate this problem. Although lake levels probably reached maximum elevations of about 1230–1235 m in the different subbasins of Lahontan during the Younger Dryas (YD) period, the duration that the lakes occupied the highest levels was brief. Paleoindian and Early Archaic archaeological sites are concentrated on somewhat lower and slightly younger shorelines (_1220–1225 m) that also date from the Younger Dryas period. This study suggests that Paleoindians often concentrated their activities adjacent to large lakes and wetland resources soon after they first entered the Great Basin. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Carboniferous and Triassic eclogites in the western Dabie Mountains,east‐central China: evidence for protracted convergence of the North and South China Blocks

SHRIMP U–Pb dating and laser ablation ICP‐MS trace element analyses of zircon from four eclogite samples from the north‐western Dabie Mountains, central China, provide evidence for two eclogite facies metamorphic events. Three samples from the Huwan shear zone yield indistinguishable late Carboniferous metamorphic ages of 312 ± 5, 307 ± 4 and 311 ± 17 Ma, with a mean age of 309 ± 3 Ma. One sample from the Hong'an Group, 1 km south of the shear zone yields a late Triassic age of 232 ± 10 Ma, similar to the age of ultra‐high pressure (UHP) metamorphism in the east Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt. REE and other trace element compositions of the zircon from two of the Huwan samples indicate metamorphic zircon growth in the presence of garnet but not plagioclase, namely in the eclogite facies, an interpretation supported by the presence of garnet, omphacite and phengite inclusions. Zircon also grew during later retrogression. Zircon cores from the Huwan shear zone have Ordovician to Devonian (440–350 Ma) ages, flat to steep heavy‐REE patterns, negative Eu anomalies, and in some cases plagioclase inclusions, indicative of derivation from North China Block igneous and low pressure metamorphic source rocks. Cores from Hong'an Group zircon are Neoproterozoic (780–610 Ma), consistent with derivation from the South China Block. In the western Dabie Mountains, the first stage of the collision between the North and South China Blocks took place in the Carboniferous along a suture north of the Huwan shear zone. The major Triassic continent–continent collision occurred along a suture at the southern boundary of the shear zone. The first collision produced local eclogite facies metamorphism in the Huwan shear zone. The second produced widespread eclogite facies metamorphism throughout the Dabie Mountains–Sulu terrane and a lower grade overprint in the shear zone.     

Mid‐Holocene frozen ground in China from PMIP3 simulations

Extensive degradation of frozen ground in the mid‐Holocene is widely assumed on the basis of sparse proxy data. Here, the simulated soil temperature from the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project Phase 3 is used to address this issue over China. By comparing with the results of a preindustrial (0 ka, baseline) simulation, we show that frozen ground in the mid‐Holocene (6 ka) simulation is degraded mainly in northeast China and on the northern Tibetan Plateau. The change follows closely orbitally induced variations in insolation. Quantitatively, permafrost area reduces by 0.02×10⁶ km² in northeast China in response to an orbitally induced increase in boreal summer insolation but increases by 0.08×10⁶ km² on the southern Tibetan Plateau due to local summer cooling. Changing values of active layer thickness vary greatly amongst different locations. On average, they are 3 and 4 cm thicker than the preindustrial values in northeast China and on the Tibetan Plateau, respectively. No degradation in seasonally frozen ground is detected over China as a whole. Regionally, its coverage increases by 0.21×10⁶ km² near the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley. In addition, the maximum depth of seasonal frost penetration is on average 8.5 cm deeper than preindustrial values due to widespread winter cooling. The changes in frozen ground are consistent amongst models. However, the models disagree with proxy data in terms of not only the changes in frozen ground but also climate. Further modelling improvements and adequate proxy data are both needed to fill in the gaps between models and the data in our knowledge of the mid‐Holocene frozen ground.     

Destruction of the Northern Margin of the North China Craton in Mid‐Late Triassic: Evidence from Asthenosphere‐derived Mafic Enclaves in the Jiefangyingzi Granitic Pluton from the Chifeng Area,Southern Inner Mongolia

The petrology, geochronology and geochemistry of the mafic enclaves in the Mid-Late Triassic Jiefangyingzi pluton from Chifeng area, southern Inner Mongolia, in China are studied to reveal their petrogenetic relationship with the host pluton. Furthermore, the coeval magmatic assemblage and its petrogenesis on the northern margin of the North China craton(NCC) are studied synthetically to elucidate their tectonic setting and the implications for the destruction of the NCC. Zircon U-Pb dating reve...     

华北中北部高级变质岩区的构造区划及其晚太古代构造演化

通过区域构造编图及重点地段的详细研究,在华北克拉通中北部识别出一条ＮＮＥ向的构造带——龙泉关－桑干带,它以大规模的韧性剪切带网络、重熔钾质花岗岩带、数量众多的高压麻粒岩构造透镜体或岩片为特征。剪切带以低角度逆冲为主,矿物拉伸线理指示运动方向为ＮＷ－ＳＥ向。这些剪切带造成东西两侧基底杂岩与表壳岩系包括孔兹岩系的广泛构造叠置,以及高压麻粒岩的近等温减压上隆。从更大的范围看,龙泉关－桑干带处于鄂尔多斯克拉通和阜平－赞皇克拉通之间,并且被五台－吕梁裂谷型绿岩带截切或不整合覆盖。该带应形成于晚太古代,记录了上述两个克拉通斜向拼合的构造过程     

Micromorphology reveals in situ Mesolithic living floors and archaeological features in multiphase sites in central Sudan

In the Khartoum region of central Sudan, Mesolithic sites were established on sandy ridges distributed along the Nile. Most of the excavations carried out in recent decades have revealed limited preserved archaeological structures or layers corresponding to subsequent phases of human presence due to the disturbance of the deposits. Post‐depositional processes affecting Mesolithic sites include (1) the excavation of Neolithic to Post‐Meroitic cemeteries at the same sites, (2) surface erosion, and (3) pedoturbation leading to the mixing of the stratigraphy. During a recent field operation along the western bank of the White Nile, archaeological contexts that were only partially disturbed were identified. Employing a geoarchaeological approach and the micromorphological study of sediments (supported by ¹⁴C dating), settlements were placed in their paleoenvironmental contexts and differences between in situ Mesolithic layers and those disturbed by later processes were identified. Furthermore, it was possible to interpret the functional aspects of three categories of pits containing Mesolithic pottery (fireplace pits, fireplace pits with shell accumulations, and waste pits) and to discuss their significance within the wider framework of North African archaeology. Finally, this project has demonstrated the importance of integrating the geosciences (especially micromorphology) and archaeology in the study of processes leading to the formation and preservation of open‐air prehistoric sites in arid landscapes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Late Carboniferous–Early Permian Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Evolution in the Northeast Ordos Basin, North China

Sequence stratigraphical analysis was applied to the Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian sedimentary succession of the northeastern Ordos Basin, north China based on data acquired from ten entire logging curves and eight outcrops. The facies framework of the lithostratigraphical unit, the Taiyuan Formation comprises seven facies in two facies associations, varying from fluvio-delta to shelf-barrier islands. The facies are presented within a chronostratigraphical framework, linked by systems tract, which in turn are limited by flooding surfaces and sequence boundaries. Six third-order depositional sequences are recognised, bounded by six type 2 unconformities. An upwards-shallowing epicontinental sea sedimentary model is created, which consists of a sandstone, coal seam and carbonate succession.     

Crust-Mantle Interaction in Dabie Orogenic Belt, Central China： Geochemical Evidence from Late Cretaceous Basalts

It has been suggested that eclogites in the Dabie orogenic belt are exhumation prod-ucts, which had subducted into the deep-seated mantle and undergone ultra-high pressure meta-morphism during the Triassic. But no direct evidence supports this process except the calculated p-T conditions from mineral thermobarometem. The Late Cretaceous basalts studied in the pres-ent paper, however, have provided some geochemical evidence for crust-mantle interaction in the area. These basalts are distributed in Mesozoic faulted basins in central and southern Dabieorogenic belt. Since little obvious contamination from continental crust and differentiation-crys-tallization were observed, it is suggested, based on a study of trace elements, that the basaltsare alkaline and resultant from batch partial melting of the regional mantle rocks, and share thesame or similar geochemical features with respect to their magma source. In the spider diagram normalized by the primitive mantle, trace element geochemistry data show that their mantle sources are enriched in certain elements concentrated in the continental crust, such as Pb, K,Rb and Ba, and slightly depleted in some HFSE such as Hf, P and Nb. Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic com-positions further suggest the mantle is the mixture of depleted mantle (DM) and enriched one(EMI EMII). This interaction can .explain the trace element characteristics of basaltic mag-mas, i.e.,the enrichment of Pb and the depletion of Hf, P and Nb in basalts can be interpre-ted by the blending of the eclogites in DOB (enriched in Pb and depleted in Hf, P and Nd)with the East China depleted mantle (As compared to the primitive mantle, it is neither en-riched in Pb nor depleted in Hf, P and Nb). It is also indicated that the eclogites in the Dahieorogenic belt were surely derived from the exhumation materials, which had delaminated into thedeep-seated mantle. Moreover, the process subsequently resulted in compositional variation of the mantle (especially in trace elements and isotopes) , as revealed by the late mantle-derivedbasalts in the Dabie orogenic belt.     

Zircon and titanite age evidence for coeval granitization and migmatization of the early Middle and early Late Proterozoic Saharan Metacraton; example from the central North Sudan basement

Central North Sudan, west of the Keraf suture, is part of the Saharan Metacraton whose crystalline basement encompasses migmatite gneisses and granites. Granites intrude migmatites in form of small plutons, veins, lenses and pods, indicating a complex chronology. This study, based on whole rock element concentrations, isotope geochemistry and single mineral geochronology, is aimed to unravel the petrogenesis of these basement rocks.Whole rock geochemistry indicates an I-type potassic calc-alkaline meta- to peraluminous composition. Granite zircon U–Pb and Pb–Pb evaporation analyses yield an identical age range (597 ± 25–602 ± 3.5 Ma). Similar ages (597 ± 8.6–603.8 ± 2 Ma) are obtained for the migmatite gneisses. Titanite U–Pb ages are also similar in both rock types, but are younger or closely conform with zircon ages. Biotite Rb/Sr ages are younger and identical (566 ± 11–570 ± 17 Ma). These age data suggest coeval granitization and migmatization during the Pan-African period and somewhat later cooling of the central North Sudan basement. Older zircon U–Pb ages, ranging from 613 to 1322 Ma, are thought to be signatures of inheritance, while younger ones (336–594 Ma) suggest radiogenic Pb loss. Sr initial ratios (0.70257–0.72102) and ε_Nd values (−2.3 to −8.8), calculated for the zircon crystallization age of ∼600 Ma indicate a crustal signature. Coupled with Nd model ages of 1460–1990 Ma, isotope data indicate that the central North Sudan basement is recycled Middle to Late Proterozoic continental crust.     

Comparison of proxy records of Late Pleistocene climate change from a high‐resolution loess–palaeosol sequence in north‐central China

A micromorphologically based pedosedimentary reconstruction of a 40‐m loess–palaeosol sequence from the western part of the Chinese Loess Plateau provides a sensitive proxy record of changing processes and associated environmental conditions in this region between ca. 150 000 and 10 000 yr BP. Depth functions of more traditional climate proxies, such as magnetic susceptibility, calcium carbonate content and median grain size, support the broad pattern of environmental changes inferred from the micromorphology, although the bulk properties sometimes lag behind or are out of phase with each other and do not match all the fluctuations in the micromorphological record. The reasons for the disparities are probably complex, although they partly reflect differences in response rates and sensitivities of proxies to different climate parameters, as well as genuine out‐of‐phase changes in strength of monsoonal climate controls. This work illustrates the sensitivity of micromorphology in detecting past environmental changes within rapidly aggrading landscapes, and emphasises the need to understand more fully the local and regional significance of bulk proxies currently used in global correlations with marine‐ and ice‐core records. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phytolith analysis of an archaeological site (longshan period) in Zhumadian City,Henan Province,China: Paleoenvironmental and cultural implications

With phytolith analysis of an archaeological site (Longshan Culture Period, 4800-4000 B. P.) in Zhumadian City of Henan Province, environmental and cultural information have been obtained. Phytolith assemblages both from the site and from a nearby ancient lake deposit of the same period indicate a warm and wet climate. Since this area is in an environment outside the natural distribution of wild rice, abundant “scooped” bilobate and special glume epidermal phytoliths found in all of the cultural layers and two samples of the lake deposits suggest that rice was cultivated in this region by the local people. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Late Devensian and Holocene relative sea‐level change in North Wales,UK

Deglacial sea‐level index points defining relative sea‐level (RSL) change are critical for testing glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) model output. Only a few observations are available from North Wales and until recently these provided a poor fit to GIA model output for the British‐Irish Ice Sheet. We present results of an integrated offshore geophysical (seismic reflection), coring (drilling rig), sedimentological, micropalaeontological (foraminifera), biostratigraphical (palynology) and geochronological (AMS ¹⁴C) investigation into a sequence of multiple peat/organic sediment horizons interbedded within a thick estuarine–marine sequence of minerogenic clay‐silts to silty sands from the NE Menai Strait, North Wales. Ten new sea‐level index points and nine new limiting dates from the Devensian Late‐glacial and early Holocene are integrated with twelve pre‐existing Holocene sea‐level index points and one limiting point from North Wales to generate a regional RSL record. This record is similar to the most recent GIA predictions for North Wales RSL change, supporting either greater ice load and later deglaciation than in the GIA predictions generated before 2004, or a modified eustatic function. There is no evidence for a mid‐Holocene highstand. Tidally corrected RSL data indicate initial breaching of the Menai Strait between 8.8 and 8.4 ka BP to form a tidal causeway, with final submergence between 5.8 and 4.6 ka BP. Final breaching converted the NE Menai Strait from a flood‐dominated estuary into a high energy ebb tidal delta with extensive tidal scouring of pre‐existing Late‐glacial and Holocene sequences. The study confirms the value of utilising offshore drilling/coring technology to recover sea‐level records which relate to intervals when rates of both eustatic and isostatic change were at their greatest, and therefore of most value for constraining GIA models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence of Abrupt Climate Change during the Mid‐ to Late‐Holocene Recorded in a Tropical Lake,Southern China

Research on abrupt paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental change provides a scientific basis for evaluating future climate. Because of spatial variability in monsoonal rainfall, our knowledge about climate change during the mid-to lateHolocene in southern China is still limited. We present a multi-proxy record of paleoclimatic change in a crater lake, Lake Shuangchi. Based on the age-depth model from 210 Pb, 137 Cs and AMS14 C data, high-resolution mid-to late-Holocene climatic and environmental r...     

New litho- and biostratigraphic evidence for a Mid-Ordovician hiatus in southern central Snowdonia,North Wales

Detailed mapping and biostratigraphic data provide new evidence of a major break below the base of the Caradoc succession along the northern margin of the Harlech Dome in south central Snowdonia. Within this outcrop the sequence is locally complicated by subsequent tectonic and volcanic events, but undisturbed sections indicate a break of at least 10 Ma between upper Arenig and middle, or upper, Llandeilo strata. The break is greatest between two N-S trending fracture systems, the Cwm Pennant Fault Zone in the west and Trawsfynydd Fault Zone in the east, which both have a persistent history of reactivation. Between these two fractures neither Llanvirn nor lower Llandeilo strata occur. This contrasts with the thick, and perhaps complete, sequence preserved in the Cadair Idris district on the southern margin of the dome and suggests that, during Llanvirn times, the Harlech Dome formed a major uplifted and tilted block, with a tectonically active northern margin. Subsequently, uplift and tectonism either ceased before, or was overwhelmed by, the ensuing sea-level rise associated with the gracilis (early Caradoc) transgression. The preservation of ooidal ironstones around the dome suggests that it may have became a large shoal or platformal area at this time. Renewed uplift and erosion along the northern margin of the Harlech Dome during the early Caradoc (gracilis to multidens) led to large-scale disruption of the stratigraphic succession by mass gravity flow and slumping, overprinting and locally accentuating the effects of the earlier hiatus.