Problem of the Formation of Eolian Gold Placers on the East European Platform

The distribution of eolian gold in various Proterozoic–Cenozoic sediments on the East European Platform is considered. Eolian placers of the Timan Ridge are characterized by specific features: significant areal distribution and consistent strike of the thin (0–30 cm) productive bed. Prospecting criteria of eolian gold placer in the study territory can be the presence of gold flakes and other minerals with signs of eolian reworking, specific structure of productive bed, deflation structure of relief, and characteristic lithological composition of sediments. It is concluded that since gold flakes with eolian reworking make up high metal concentrations, such as placer deposits in the Timan Ridge, eolian placers of different age may be found on the East European Platform.     

Climate control on the evolution of Late Pleistocene alluvial‐fan and aeolian sand‐sheet systems in NW Germany

The Late Pleistocene was characterized by rapid climate oscillations with alternation of warm and cold periods that lasted up to several thousand years. Although much work has been carried out on the palaeoclimate reconstruction, a direct correlation of ice‐core, marine and terrestrial records is still difficult. Here we present new data from late Middle Pleniglacial to Lateglacial alluvial‐fan and aeolian sand‐sheet deposits in northwestern Germany. Records of Late Pleniglacial alluvial fans in central Europe are very rare, and OSL dating is used to determine the timing of fan aggradation. In contrast to fluvial systems that commonly show a delay between climate change and incision/aggradation, the small alluvial‐fan systems of the Senne area responded rapidly to climatic changes and therefore act as important terrestrial climate archives for this time span. The onset of alluvial‐fan deposition correlates with the climate change from warm to cold at the end of MIS 3 (29.3±3.2 ka). Strong fan progradation started at 24.4±2.8 ka and may be related to a period of higher humidity. The vertical stacking pattern of sedimentary facies and channel styles indicate a subsequrent overall decrease in water and sediment supply, with less sustained discharges and more sporadic runoffs from the catchment area, corresponding to an increasing aridity in central Europe during the Late Pleniglacial. Major phases of channel incision and fan aggradation may have been controlled by millennial‐scale Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles. The incision of channel systems is attributed to unstable climate phases at cold–warm (dry–wet) or warm–cold (wet–dry) transitions. The alluvial‐fan deposits are bounded by an erosion surface and are overlain by aeolian sand‐sheets that were periodically affected by flash‐floods. This unconformity might be correlated with the Beuningen Gravel Bed, which is an important marker horizon in deposits of the Late Pleniglacial resulting from deflation under polar desert conditions. The deposition of aeolian sand‐sheet systems (19.6±2.1 to 13.1±1.5 ka) indicates a rapid increase in aridity at the end of the Late Pleniglacial. Intercalated flash‐floods deposits and palaeosols (Finow type) point to temporarily wet conditions during the Lateglacial. The formation of an ephemeral channel network probably marks the warm‐cold transition from the Allerød to the Younger Dryas.     

青海高寒湖沼景观区风成沙对成矿元素迁移的扰动机制的研究

青海高寒湖沼景观区是风成沙沉降区,由于风成沙的干扰,水系沉积物-0目的粒级段多数元素异常大幅度降低,甚至消失.研究表明,风成沙扰动层的元素分维呈现突变特征.根据固定沙丘和流动沙丘优势粒级混合扰动特征,计算了粒级因素系数,试验结果说明粒级因素系数可以较好地描述风成沙混入量特征.用突变理论的折叠突变势函数公式,计算了组分扰动因素系数,计算结果与扫面试验结果非常吻合.高寒湖沼景观区域化探采样介质以-4(或-10)～+40目为宜.     

Middle and Late Weichselian stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments in central Poland

The moraine plateau near BetchatÓw (central Poland) was incised at the beginning of the Middle Weichselian. Valleys 20–35 m deep were formed and then infilled with silts, sands, gravels, organic sediments and slope diamictons of the Piaski Formation, which is characterized by highly varying sedimentary environments. Initially - 40,000–30,000 BP - lacustrine sediments with an obvious colian supply (re-worked loess) and locally fluvial suites were deposited in depressions. Slope sediments were simultaneously deposited at the valley margins. The Middle Weichselian was relatively mild and dry, but the milder interstadial periods have not been precisely established. Semi-anastomosing, stable-channel, highly aggrading and ephemeral streams of a semi-arid climate (subpolar desert) formed c. 30,000–22,000 BP. Continuous permafrost is implied from cyclic sedimentary processes reflecting summer melting and from periglacial structures. This was succeeded by a highly aggrading, high-energy and ephemeral braided fluvial system in an arid climate (polar desert), reflecting a complete lack of vegetation and increased eolian activity. These braided rivers formed during a period which may be directly correlated with the time of the maximum extent of the last ice sheet (22,000–14,350 BP), characterized by the most severe climatic conditions with strong periglacial activity. Finally - (14,350-12,700 BP)- eolian sediments were deposited, reflecting milder climatic conditions at the time of the abrupt ice sheet decay.     

High-resolution stratigraphy and depositional model of wind- and water-laid deposits in the ordovician Guaritas rift (Southernmost Brazil)

The upper portion of the Pedra Pintada Alloformation includes about 100 m of mostly eolian deposits. This paper emphasizes the vertical succession and lateral association of sedimentary facies, based on analysis of outcrop data and aerial photographs, as well as the hierarchy and origin of bounding surfaces. It aims to propose a high-resolution stratigraphic and depositional model that may be useful to exploitation of eolian reservoirs. The succession has been preserved due to basin subsidence, and is described in terms of four facies associations that constitute three dominantly eolian units. These units are sharply bounded by major flooding surfaces (super surfaces) that, in turn, are overlain by 1 to 2 m thick, dominantly water-laid facies (lacustrine, fluvial, deltaic and eolian). Both their internal organization and boundaries were controlled by changes in the base level rise rate. The basal Eolian Unit is composed of crescentic eolian dunes and damp interdune deposits ascribed to a wet eolian system. On the other hand, eolian units II and III, also characterized by crescentic eolian dunes (simple and compound) deposits, were related to dry eolian systems, since they comprise dry (eventually wet) interdune facies. Eolian Unit III is truncated by basinwide unconformity, which is then overlain by the ephemeral fluvial deposits (Varzinha Alloformation). This second type of super surface is related to climate-induced wind erosion (deflation) down to the water table level (regional Stokes surface) followed by fluvial incision linked to tectonic activity.     

山东峡山湖东岸现代滩坝沉积模式及控制因素*

滩坝作为发育于滨岸带非常重要的沉积储集层类型之一,已成为隐蔽油气藏勘探的目标。为进一步明确峡山湖东岸滨浅湖滩坝沉积模式,以现代沉积考察为基础,结合探地雷达技术和粒度分析资料,对东岸研究区滩坝砂体的沉积特征以及控制因素进行详细分析。结果表明: 峡山湖东岸主要发育风成沙丘及滩坝2种沉积体系。早期风成沉积物以发育连续性好的大型板状交错层理细砂为主,分选较好,粒度概率曲线以两段式为特征;滩坝沉积物以发育连续性差的板状交错层理、平行层理中砂为主,主要为反粒序或者复合粒序,具冲刷构造,岩性较混杂并以砂泥薄互层为特征,发育大量植物根系,粒度概率曲线以三段式为主,跳跃组分分为2段,分选较好。探地雷达资料表明研究区下部主要以厚层层状反射结构砂体为主,与风成沙丘沉积反射特征较为一致,环境敏感粒度组分对滩坝沉积较强的水动力作用有较好的指示。总体上,风力作用控制了风成砂体的沉积发育并且改变了古地貌条件,风浪作用冲刷改造了早期砂体,为滩坝的发育提供了物源,控制了滩坝发育的规模和地理位置,可概括为“风运—湖改”滩坝沉积模式,可为滩坝体系的识别和有利储集层预测提供指导。     

埃迪卡拉系微生物碳酸盐岩沉积特征及其地质意义:以川中磨溪8井区灯影组四段为例*

四川盆地高石梯—磨溪地区埃迪卡拉系灯影组广泛发育一套微生物碳酸盐岩。以磨溪8井区灯影组四段(灯四段)为例,通过精细解析高频向上变浅序列的岩石学特征,发现灯四段微生物云岩及序列建造具有如下特征: (1)向上变浅序列主要由凝块石云岩、叠层石云岩和(含微生物)泥晶云岩3类构成,伴以少量微生物粘结颗粒云岩;(2)完整的典型向上变浅序列自下而上由(含微生物)泥晶云岩(A段)、平直状叠层石云岩(B段)、小型丘状叠层石云岩(C段)、分散状凝块石云岩(D段)、格架状凝块石云岩(E段)、微生物粘结颗粒云岩(F段)等6个岩性单元构成,但大量的序列由A-C-E、A-C-D、B-D、B-C-D-E等不完整的岩性单元构成,且序列顶底皆以凝块石云岩/(含微生物)泥晶云岩、叠层石云岩/(含微生物)泥晶云岩等不平整的岩性突变面或暴露面区分;(3)埃迪卡拉系微生物碳酸盐岩发育于浪基面之上至平均海平面附近的相对高能区域,且凝块石云岩较叠层石云岩形成的环境能量高。该研究结果不仅揭示出较高能的浅水环境控制了规模性微生物岩分布这一规律,而且对区域储集层预测具有指导意义,同时也因建立了有别于现代微生物的环境分布模式而具有重要的沉积学意义。     

Late quaternary of the middle Caquetá River area (Colombian Amazonia)

The late Quaternary history of the middle Caquetá River area in Colombia, northwestern Amazonia is described, based on observations of river bank sections, radiocarbon dates and palynological analyses of organic layers in floodplain and low terrace sediments of the Caquetá River. It is shown that the Late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic changes that took place in the Andean Cordilleras, were related to the depositional and erosional history of the Caquetá River in the Colombian Amazonian lowlands. The low terrace sediments consist of sandy and gravelly deposits covered by clays that sometimes contain lenses of peaty material. From these organic low terrace sediments, seven finite radiocarbon dates were obtained of Middle Pleniglacial age, between 56 000 and 30 000 yr BP. The coarse textured basal deposits of the low terrace apparently stem from the early part of the Middle Pleniglaciai period, during which the effective rainfall in the Andes was relatively high and the Andean glaciers had a considerable extension. Palynological data from silty sediments with organic remains at one site, show an interval when drier and more open types of vegetation on poor soils must have covered a larger area than today, but Amazonian forest was still the dominating type of vegetation. This interval might correspond to one of the Middle Pleniglacial savanna intervals from eastern Amazonia (Carajas). No organic sediments from the Upper Pleniglacial period were found and hence radiocarbon dates were not obtained. In the Andes this period had a very cold climate with low effective rainfall and in the east Amazonian Carajas area it is characterised by the relative extension of open savanna vegetation. The river run-off and sediment transport must have been much lower than in the Middle Pleniglacial and the Caquetá River cut itself down in its own sediments. Two Late-glacial radiocarbon datings obtained at one site (ca. 12 500 yr BP) indicate the existence of a Late-glacial sedimentation phase, separated from the Holocene sequence by a minor erosional phase. Organic layers in the Holocene floodplain sediments yielded 28 radiocarbon dates between 10 000 and 355 yr BP. Holocene sedimentation started with the rapid deposition of (sandy) clay possibly in a partly permanently inundated Caquetá valley. During the major part of the Holocene (silty) clays were deposited, with a dominant seasonal inundation cycle.     

The Bolton spring site,Connecticut; Early holocene human occupation and environmental changes in southern New England

The recent discovery and excavation of the Bolton Spring Site, located in the glaciated uplands of eastern Connecticut, presents an enigma to archaeologists and geologists interested in dating and interpreting prehistoric human habitation sites. A single discrete charcoal-bearing occupation level at the site was characterized by artifacts of the Middle Archaic Period (8000-6000 B.P.) and contained an abundance of small-mammal remains typical of the Holocene woodland fauna. Although the site seemed to present a clearcut opportunity for radiocarbon-dating, C13-corrected radiocarbon dates from the cultural horizon span nearly three thousand years. Our interpretation is that occupation occurred near the end of a depositional hiatus during which noncultural charcoal accumulated. Subsequent burial of the cultural layer by eolian sediments may have resulted from deflation of pre-existing eolian sediments in the Connecticut River Valley during drier, mid-Holocene conditions. Substantial rockfall activity and rubble movement on adjacent slopes may have been restricted to late Holocene time.     

Micromorphology of Quartz Grain Surface as Indicator of Glacial Sedimentation Conditions: Evidence from the Protva River Basin

Micromorphology of quartz grain surface was studied with the use of scanning electron microscopy in order to specify sedimentation environment in the Protva River Basin in the central Russian Plain. Quartz grains from medium sand fraction (0.25–0.5 mm) taken from 27 samples of Early Pleistocene alluvial sedi-ments and Middle Pleistocene glacial, fluvioglacial, and lacustrine sediments were examined. It was established that the studied sediments contain three major types of quartz grains with (1) glacial, (2) hydrodynamic, and (3) eolian features of transport. Sediments of these genetic types differ by ratios of grains of the micromorphological types. Relationships between eluvial (frost-glacial), hydrodynamic, and eolian components regularly change with variations in climatic conditions. The portion of fluvial component increases in warm conditions, whereas increase of eolian component is typical of cold conditions. The data obtained suggest that the study of morpholithogenesis in glaciation environment should take into consideration not only terrigenous provenances, but also terrigenous agents, i.e., groups of processes responsible for the transport of particles.     

稳定湖相沉积物和风成黄土粒度判别函数的建立及其意义

沉积物粒度变化主要受搬运介质、搬运方式、沉积环境和气候等多种因素的控制,通过粒度分析可判别沉积物的成因类型,推断其形成的沉积环境,解释环境演变。利用统计学方法对典型稳定湖相沉积物（罗布泊湖相样品２８２块,岱海湖相样品１２３块）和典型风成黄土（甘肃兰州榆中样品２６３块）粒度参数进行定量化分析,并经稳定湖相和风成沉积物验证,获得稳定湖相与风成沉积物的判别公式:Ｆ（湖相、风成沉积物） ＝２０．３６３Ｍｚ－５６．３７１Ｓｄ－６７．９２２Ｓｋ＋２３．５１６Ｋｇ－５５．６２６,若Ｆ＞０,为稳定湖相沉积物,反之,Ｆ＜０,则为风成沉积物。这为研究地史中稳定湖泊与风成环境 沉积物的鉴别提供粒度分析定量化判别方法,它对陆相古环境、干旱化事件和尘暴事件等研究具有十分重要的借鉴价值。     

Carbonate formation mechanism in paleosol sediments of the Bohai Sea coastal zone,China

The Bohai Sea coastal zone of China consists of the Pacific Ocean to the east and Eurasia to the west; hence, this region is influenced by both the ocean and continental landmasses. The carbonate formation mechanism of eolian sediment within this area is poorly understood. The loess-paleosol sediments of the Miaodao stratigraphical section (MDS) contain a record of carbonate changes in this region during the last interglacial period. New insights into regional carbonate formation mechanisms since the last interglacial period were obtained by analyzing the ages of various sedimentary facies in combination with proxy paleoclimatic indices (including average grain size, standard deviation, CaCO₃ content, and clay minerals), as well as via foraminiferal analysis. The results led to three principal findings: (1) The carbonate content change in the MDS was neither controlled by grain size nor affected by minerals. The carbonate change controlled by precipitate leaching in the Loess Plateau region cannot explain the eolian sediments within the Bohai Sea coastal zone. (2) Various subsections contain obvious carbonate content changes caused by foraminiferal deposits atop the eolian sediments, which were deposited by storm surges during a high sea-level period. This increased the carbonate content in the eolian sediments and restricted the carbonate content in the Bohai Sea coastal zone. (3) Newly detected foraminifera of the last interglacial period on the eolian sediment of the MDS were the main source of carbonate content, providing a new understanding of the carbonate formation mechanism in eolian sediments different from that of the Loess Plateau.     

柴达木盆地旺尕秀地区上侏罗统-下白垩统风成砂的发现及其意义*

本次研究在柴达木盆地旺尕秀地区上侏罗统红水沟组上覆地层中,首次发现了风成沉积。地层主体为一套棕黄色细-中砂岩,由分选、磨圆好的石英砂组成;扫描电镜下可见风成砂特有的碟形撞击坑和新月形撞击坑等特征;层内普遍发育风成大型高角度板状交错层理,层系厚度巨大,风成沙丘前积层特征明显;发育液化作用产生的牵引褶曲、倒转褶曲等常见的风成沙丘同沉积变形构造。根据岩性和沉积构造特征共在地层中识别出4种沉积亚相: 沙丘亚相、丘间亚相、旱谷亚相和沙漠湖亚相,其中沙丘亚相以风成大型交错层理为显著特征,丘间、旱谷和沙漠湖亚相则以水成沉积为主。风成砂沉积的存在丰富了柴达木盆地中生代的沉积类型,为区域地层对比及西北地区晚中生代古气候和古环境研究提供了新的证据和材料。     

湖泊沉积物中风成和水成组分定量判据的初步研究———以青海湖为例

对青海湖沉积物进行物质来源进行聚类分析, 并对周边风成黄土与现代湖泊表层沉积物进行粒度分析, 在此基础上, 以青海湖周边典型风成黄土作为风成组分端元, 以青海湖表层沉积物作为水成组分端元, 首次利用已知端元的粒度分布特征对青海湖沉积物中典型粒度分布进行拟合, 进而估算了其中风成和水成组分的比例。结果表明, 青海湖沉积物粒度分布特征可分为三大类:1.水成组分占主导; 2.风成组分占主导(风成黄土主导); 3.两者以不同比例混合。希望此方法能成为未来湖泊沉积物中不同组分的定量判据和古环境的解读提供新途径。      

基于BP神经网络的稳定湖相和风成沉积物粒度数据表征方法

沉积物的形成受到多种地质因素的综合控制。通过粒度分析可判别沉积物的成因类型,推断其形成的沉积环境,解释环境演变;而沉积物的粒度组分除了受到原岩的控制外,还受到机械沉积作用的影响难以准确预测。运用人工神经网络对稳定湖相沉积物和风沉积物的粒度参数进行研究,将沉积物的4个粒度参数作为网络模型的输入变量,在对168个浙闽沿海迎风岸风成老红砂样品和282个苏贝淖湖滨湖泊沉积物样品所对应的粒度参数进行数据样本训练之后,获得了基于BP神经网络的稳定湖相和风沉积物预测模型。然后利用448个大树摆鱼湖相沉积物粒度参数样本和100个兰州榆中黄土风沉积物粒度参数样本作为测试样本对该模型进行了测试和验证,结果显示模型的可靠性较好,能够对沉积物的形成环境做出正确的判断。     

Eolian sediments overlying caveman sites (Baikal region)

Caveman sites retained to date are overlain almost everywhere by loose sediments. Of particular interest is the fact that a part of these archeological objects was conserved by eolian flows ascending upward the slopes rather than descending gravitation processes (deluvial washout, mudflows, landslides, avalanches, and others). These lithoflows were promoted at first by wave-cut activity of a lake (water body → beach) and then by wind (beach → coastal plain). We studied such lithoflows and caveman sites overlain by sediments in the western Baikal region and on Lake Baikal. Archeological data on these sites were used for establishing the age of eolian sands. Mineral and chemical compositions of sandy sediments and the dynamics of eolian processes have received much attention. Investigation of eolian sands is important because they can overlie and protect caveman sites and some mineral deposits from destruction.     

Chronology of late Pleistocene Pampa loess from the Córdoba area in Argentina

In Argentina, loess/palaeosol sequences were studied from the two sections at Monte Ralo and Corralito, located near to the city of Córdoba in the east of the Pampean ranges. Infrared optically stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) dating techniques were applied to set up a more reliable chronological framework for the Upper Pleistocene loess record. IRSL ages increase with depth and are stratigraphically consistent. The oldest loess exposed correlates at least to the penultimate glaciation. The luminescence dating study gives evidence for humid climate conditions with soil formation during the last interglacial period and the middle pleniglacial correlating to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and 3, respectively. Three extended periods of soil formation are recorded in the loess/palaeosol sequences at the Corralito section. These buried soils most likely correlate with the last interglacial and early last glacial period. During the Middle Pleniglacial, two palaeosols are intercalated in the loess successions. In the Córdoba area, the periods of increased loess accumulation and deposition of loessic sediments correlate with more arid and glacial periods during the Early Pleniglacial, the Middle Pleniglacial and the Late Glacial. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青藏高原东部全新世泥炭灰分的粒度特征及其古气候意义

通过将红原泥炭地泥炭灰分的粒度特征与典型风成沉积物、湖泊沉积物、河流沉积物的粒度特征进行比较,发现泥炭灰分的粒度特征与典型风成沉积（如黄土、古土壤）相似,而与湖泊沉积以及河流沉积有较大差异。环境判别参数也显示泥炭灰分来源为风成的。据此,作者认为该地区泥炭沉积中的灰分物质是风成堆积,进而提出该地区泥炭灰分含量可以指示冬季风强度的变化。      

宁夏固原古近系寺口子组砂岩成因探讨*

宁夏固原寺口子组砂岩是中国古近纪内陆古环境研究的重要载体。通过岩性、沉积构造、石英颗粒表面微结构和粒度分布特征研究,对其成因进行了深入探讨。结果表明,古近系寺口子组砂岩由3个成因段构成:段Ⅰ为河流相沉积;段Ⅱ,即砂岩主体,为典型风成砂岩,沉积环境为风成沙丘和丘间地;段Ⅲ,初步推断其为湖相沉积。结合中国古近纪气候背景、研究区域地形条件及古风向,推断寺口子组砂岩主体风成沉积为行星风系控制下的沙漠沉积。     

A late quaternary record of eolian silt deposition in a maar lake, St. Michael Island, western Alaska

Recent stratigraphic studies in central Alaska have yielded the unexpected finding that there is little evidence for full-glacial (late Wisconsin) loess deposition. Because the loess record of western Alaska is poorly exposed and not well known, we analyzed a core from Zagoskin Lake, a maar lake on St. Michael Island, to determine if a full-glacial eolian record could be found in that region. Particle size and geochemical data indicate that the mineral fraction of the lake sediments is not derived from the local basalt and is probably eolian. Silt deposition took place from at least the latter part of the mid-Wisconsin interstadial period through the Holocene, based on radiocarbon dating. Based on the locations of likely loess sources, eolian silt in western Alaska was probably deflated by northeasterly winds from glaciofluvial sediments. If last-glacial winds that deposited loess were indeed from the northeast, this reconstruction is in conflict with a model-derived reconstruction of paleowinds in Alaska. Mass accumulation rates in Zagoskin Lake were higher during the Pleistocene than during the Holocene. In addition, more eolian sediment is recorded in the lake sediments than as loess on the adjacent landscape. The thinner loess record on land may be due to the sparse, herb tundra vegetation that dominated the landscape in full-glacial time. Herb tundra would have been an inefficient loess trap compared to forest or even shrub tundra due to its low roughness height. The lack of abundant, full-glacial, eolian silt deposition in the loess stratigraphic record of central Alaska may be due, therefore, to a mimimal ability of the landscape to trap loess, rather than a lack of available eolian sediment.