Distribution of detrital minerals in recent carbonate sediments from the Shaul Shelf,Northern Australia

Detrital minerals in Recent sediments from the Sahul Shelf show a well‐defined distribution pattern which can be related to nearby river estuaries. Two major contrasting heavy mineral provinces are evident, characterized in turn by an unstable and a stable suite of minerals. A zone of relatively high feldspar content coincides with the unstable heavy mineral province. The source of the detrital grains is considered to be the dissected lateritic hinterland, and the depth of dissection in any area may determine whether stable or unstable minerals are supplied to the ocean.     

Dynamic models of lateritic bauxite formation

2D dynamic models of bauxite formation in the weathering mantle covering denudation areas drained by river systems are discussed. The role of relief-forming factors (tectonic uplift, river erosion and denudation of drainage divides), the interrelation of hydrogeological and lithologic structure of the bauxitebearing weathering mantle, and the dynamics of zoning formation above and below groundwater level are described in the models. Creative and destructive epochs of lateritic bauxite formation differing in tectonic regime are distinguished. During the creative epochs, lateritic weathering develops against a background of decreasing denudation and an increase in areas of bauxite formation. The destructive epochs are characterized by intense denudation, cutting down the areas of lateritic bauxite formation and eventually leading to the complete removal of the weathering mantle. Different morphogenetic types and varieties of bauxite-bearing weathering mantles develop during creative and destructive epochs. The morphology of the weathering mantle sections at the deposits of Cenozoic lateritic bauxite in the present-day tropical zone of the Earth corresponds to the destructive epoch, which is characterized by declining areas of lateritic bauxite formation and will end with complete denudation of lateritic bauxite.     

陕西潼关金矿区太峪河底泥重金属元素的含量及污染评价

通过对潼关金矿区太峪河和太峪水库底泥中重金属元素总量的调查,探讨了金矿开发活动中重金属元素对河流底泥的污染程度。研究结果表明,除As外,河流底泥中重金属元素的含量与尾矿渣中重金属元素的含量变化一致,表明其主要来源于尾矿渣,但又明显高于尾矿渣。在同一地点河流底泥中重金属元素的含量平均高出河水中的1048.61～666030.08倍,呈显著富集。以邻近地区不受工矿活动影响的河流底泥重金属元素的含量均值作为评价参比值,太峪河底泥受到了Hg、Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn元素的极度污染,单项污染超标倍数及综合污染指数法评价结果表明,Hg、Pb、Cd平均污染超标倍数达366.90、217.42和149.97,是底泥中最主要的污染元素。河流底泥重金属元素的综合污染指数高达278.97,表明河流的复合污染亦呈极度状态。太峪河底泥受重金属元素极度污染的现实提示,矿区的环境防治工作已刻不容缓。     

Late Quaternary stratigraphic charcoal records from Madagascar

The classic view regarding the cause of the extinction of at least 17 species of large mammals, birds, and reptiles in Madagascar during the late Holocene implicates human use of fire to modify the environment. However, analysis of the charcoal stratigraphy of three sediment cores from Madagascar shows that late Pleistocene and early- to mid-Holocene sediments deposited prior to human settlement often contain more charcoal than postsettlement and modern sediments. This observation, which is confirmed by independent measurements from direct assay and palynological counting techniques, suggests that widely held but previously untested beliefs concerning the importance of anthropogenic fires in late Holocene environmental changes and megafaunal extinctions of Madagascar may be based on an overly simplified version of actual prehistoric conditions. Moderate to low charcoal values characterized only the late Holocene millennia immediately prior to the presumed time of arrival of the first settlers. Human settlement is probably indicated in the stratigraphy by the sharp rise in charcoal content observed beginning ca. 1500 yr B.P. Fire appears to be a significant natural component of prehuman environments in Madagascar, but some factor, probably climate, has modulated the extent of natural burning.     

Lower Palar River Sediments,Southern Peninsular,India: Geochemistry,Source-Area Weathering,Provenance and Tectonic Setting

This present study describes the geochemistry of fluvial sediments of the Palar river (lower reaches), Southern Peninsular India, with an aim to evaluate their provenance, weathering and tectonic setting. The bulk sediment chemistry is influenced by grain size. The river sediments are enriched with SiO₂ and depleted in Al₂O₃, K₂O, CaO, Na₂O, MgO, P₂O₅, MnO, Fe₂O₃ as compared with UCC values. Geochemical classification indicate that the sediments are mainly arkose, wacke and shale in composition. Discriminant diagrams together with immobile element ratio plots reveal that, the Palar river sediments are mostly derived from rocks formed in an active continental margin. Additionally, the rare earth element ratios as well as chondrite-normalized REE patterns with flat HREE, LREE enrichment, and negative Eu anomalies indicate felsic rock sources. The chemical indices of alteration suggest that Palar river sediments are chemically immature and have experienced low chemical weathering effects. This is further supported by the Th/U Rb/Sr ratio and A-CN-K ternary diagram, with most of the sample data points falling close to the plagioclase-smectite line. The bivariate plot of Th/Sc versus Zr/Sc suggest a moderate recycled origin of the sediments.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the Nanshan Underground River, China

Abstract Karst areas have much higher ecological vulnerability and are easy to be contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) which are introduced as health risk pollutants.PCBs concentrations were used to understand the transport behavior of PCBs conducted in the karst Nanshan Underground River,China.Water and sediments from the underground river water,and sediments and soil from the surface of the corresponding watershed were collected monthly in 2011 and 2012 and PCBs were analyzed.Seasonal variations were found in concentrations of PCBs both in the waters and sediments.PCBs concentrations varied from 0.3 to 29.9 ng·L-1 in the groundwater,while from 0.1 to 366.1 ng·g-1 in the underground sediments.Correlations were found in concentrations of PCBs in waters and sediments between the underground river and surface systems which indicate that the surface systems play a major role for the transport of PCBs and contamination in the underground river systems.Karst features are liable for the transport behavior.The underground river waters transport PCBs at mean 3 g·day-1.     

Biostratigraphy and depositional environments of subsurface sediments in well Arani-A,Palar basin,Tamil Nadu

The first exploratory well Arani–A was drilled in the Palar basin to a depth of 2400m and terminated within the granitic basement.This well offered the first ever opportunity to understand biostratigraphy, sedimentation history and depositional environment of the entire sedimentary column based on arenaceous foraminifera, spores, pollen and dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. Previous studies on few scattered outcrops around Sriperumbudur, Chengalpattu and Sathyavedu areas have documented palynofossil assemblage of Neocomian–Aptian age. The present study reveals the presence of middle Jurassic (Bajocian-Callovian) sediments (2360-1725 m) resting on the granitic basement. The sediments are interpreted to have deposited under lacustrine/estuarine conditions with high tides providing occasional marine influence. The middle Jurassic sediments are conformably overlain by late Jurassic (Oxfordian–Tithonian) sediments (1725 - 950 m). The late Jurassic sediments have been inferred to have got deposited under fluctuating near shoremarginal marine conditions. There is a 55m thick boulder bed (950 - 895 m) separating the overlying Valanginian sediments. Early Cretaceous (Valanginian-Early Albian) sediments are developed in the interval from 895-50m. The boulder bed possibly corresponds to the missing Berriasian stage of the earliest Cretaceous representing an unconformity of the order of ~5 Ma across Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary. These sediments are inferred to have deposited under shallow inner neritic conditions. The sediments from 50m to surface consist mainly of lateritic sandstone and alluvium. The sedimentary history of Palar basin began in Bajocian stage of middle Jurassic (170-168 Ma) and ended in early Albian stage of early Cretaceous (113-105 Ma). The late Albian marine transgression which facilitated huge sedimentation in Cauvery and Krishna-Godavari basins has bypassed the Palar basin thus adversely affecting the hydrocarbon potential.     

Sources and transports of organochlorine pesticides in the Nanshan underground river,China

Karst areas have much higher ecological vulnerability and are prone to be contaminated. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected in waters and sediment from the two sites of the karst Nanshan underground river system, China, to understand the sources and transport of OCPs in the underground river systems. Obviously, seasonal variations were found both in the waters and the sediments. Detected OCPs ranged from 61 to 936 ng L^?1 in the groundwaters and 51–3,842.0 ng g^?1 in the underground sediments, respectively. OCPs in groundwaters were mixture of younger and older residues from commercial sources. The maximum OCPs in the sediments of the underground river were historically older residues from commercial sources. The sources of OCPs in the waters and sediments of the underground river indicated that the surface systems play an important role in OCPs transport and pollution in the underground river. Karst features were liable for the transport behavior.     

老挝帕克松地区波罗芬高原铝土矿成因浅析

通过钻探、浅井等工程控制和大量的样品分析结果表明,波罗芬高原铝土矿矿体赋存于第四系风化残坡积物中,矿床属红土型三水铝土矿,由玄武岩风化淋滤而成,埋藏标高760 m以上,高于侵蚀基准面.探明内蕴经济资源量（331）800×104 t;获总资源量约6000×104 t.通过对勘查工作的总结和分析,揭示了该类型矿床成因特点和赋存规律,并对找矿远景进行了预测.     

A baseline survey of the distribution and origin of platinum group elements in contemporary fluvial sediments of the Kentish Stour,England

The extensive anthropogenic use of the platinum group elements (PGE: Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt) is the main factor responsible for the widespread dispersion of these elements throughout the environment. Significant quantities of the PGE enter fluvial systems via road runoff, storm drains and wastewater and sewage treatment systems, and may accumulate in fluvial sediments by physical and chemical processes. A baseline survey of contemporary fluvial sediments in the Kentish Stour river, east Kent, England, has been undertaken to document the sources and distribution of anthropogenic PGE in an attempt to constrain some of the physical and chemical parameters that may influence the distribution of these elements. The geology of the catchment of the Kentish Stour is dominated by carbonate and silicate sedimentary rocks, and the river passes through urban and rural land and receives inputs of waste from sewage works. Nine sedimentary rocks, 4 motorway-runoff sediments and 22 river sediments were analysed for PGE by NiS fire assay preconcentration and ICP–MS. The highest element abundances occur in the motorway-runoff sediments (maximum total PGE content of 55 ng/g), whilst the lowest values were recorded in the sedimentary rocks, where some samples contain PGE at concentrations below the limit of detection. The total PGE content of the river sediments ranged from 0.4 to 10.8 ng/g. The distribution and variation in concentrations and ratios of the PGE in the contemporary fluvial sediments of the Kentish Stour correspond strongly with land-use changes (urban versus rural) and with points of discharge from sewage works. The absence of a pure catalytic converter signature in the river sediments, however, indicates that source signatures may be mixed in sewage works or that PGE may chemically fractionate in the fluvial environment.     

Sources and transports of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Nanshan Underground River,China

Karst areas have much higher ecological vulnerability and are easy to be contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are introduced as health risk pollutants. PAHs ratios were used to understand the sources and transport behavior of PAHs conducted in the karst Nanshan Underground River, China. Water, sediments from the underground river and water, sediments, soil from the surface were collected monthly in 2011 and 2012. Abundant PAHs were found both in the underground river and in the surface system. The detected ΣPAHs concentrations varied from 353 to 13,203 ng L^?1 in the groundwaters and content from 169 to 12,038 ng g^?1 in the sediments of the underground river. The ratios of anthracene to anthracene, plus phenanthrene and fluoranthene to fluoranthene, plus pyrene indicated that PAHs were delivered in the groundwaters from combusted grass, wood, and coal, while in the sediments were a mixture of non-combusted petroleum, grass, wood, coal and combusted grass, wood, coal. The similarities in sources between an underground river and surface system indicated that farmlands play a major role for the transport of PAHs and contamination in the underground river. Karst features are liable for the transport behavior.     

Lateritised gravel bed: A new guide horizon for lateritic gold?

Geological studies made in the area of Mara Rosa in Goias State, Brazil, where small occurrences of gold are known in river placers, have revealed an interesting and extensive “lateritised gravel bed” overlying an inexpressive nodular lateritic crust horizon. The gravel has pebbles of vein quartz, quartzites and gneisses, which are interlocked and compacted by intense lateritisation with brown hydrous Fe-oxide (goethite). The underlying nodular crusts grade from deep brown to mottled, and occasionally have cavities. They possibly represent an interface between the bed rock and the gravel bed. The intensity of lateritisation is attributed to the existence of volcanogenic mafic sequences in the rock. The presence of pebbles of the same nature in the small placers with Au, suggest that Au has been dissolved and precipitated during the lateritisation process. Its abundance is mainly restricted to the lateritic gravel bed, which in turn has contributed Au to the stream placers. Thus, it is considered as a new guide horizon for lateritic Au.     

Geochemical evolution of the Capim River kaolin, Northern Brazil

The Capim River kaolin, located in the eastern Brazilian Amazon, constitutes one of the most important kaolin deposits in the world. Known for its high whiteness, its noble application is in the paper industry. Studies were carried out on samples from the six facies of the deposit (sand kaolin, soft kaolin, lower transition facies, ferruginous crust, upper transition facies and flint kaolin) in order to trace its geochemical evolution. The kaolin developed at the expense of Cretaceous sandy–clayey sediments of the Ipixuna Formation. Intense lateritic processes characterized by ferruginization and deferruginization mechanisms led to the distinction of the different facies.     

Textural characteristics of the Krishna River sediments,India

To evaluate the magnitude of variation in grain size distribution in the Krishna river, bed sediments and suspended sediments collected along the length of the river have been studied. There are both temporal and seasonal variation in the grain size distribution of suspended sediments. The statistical parameters show the change along the river in a non-linear fashion which may be due to human interference and due to different types of sediments contributed by tributaries to the Krishna river. The suspended sediments are mostly fine silt (4 to 16m), poorly sorted, showing coarse to fine skewed and are platyto leptokurtic. The bed sediments are mostly medium sand (350m) showing moderate to well sorted, coarse to fine skewed and are platy- to leptokurtic. The CM diagram of Krishna river bed sediments suggests that deposition takes place by (1) rolling (2) rolling and suspension and (3) graded suspension. The suspended sediments represent deposits of uniform suspension.     

Formation stages of the unique sangaredi bauxite-bearing group, Futa Jallon-Mandingo province, West Africa

The middle Miocene continental fluvial sediments of the Sangaredi Group in the western districts of the Futa Jallon-Mandingo bauxite-bearing province were initially more widespread. Their thickness in the axial zones of the main drainage systems (Paleocogon, Paleotomine, etc.) attained 150 m. The lower, early Miocene steps of topography formed during the first phase of regional neotectonic evolution were buried beneath these sediments by the end of middle Miocene. The sediments of the Sangaredi Group underwent substantial epigenetic alteration in the glei geochemical setting with removal of iron and bleaching. At the second stage of neotectonic uplifting and dissection, this low-Fe and high-Al protolith was again affected by lateritic weathering with formation of unique sedimentary-lateritic bauxites. The underlying bedrock was also affected by bleaching and lateritization with formation of high-quality infiltration-metasomatic bauxites with geliform cryptocrystalline structure and massive porcelainlike or oolitic texture. Both classes of bauxites are high-quality and of great economic importance.     

鄂西高坪龙骨洞地层形成环境的研究

鄂西龙骨洞保存有早更新世早期的地层,并产早期人类化石和巨猿化石以及石器。通过对这套地层的形成环境的研究表明:沉积物形成于水动力条件较弱的暗河环境,期间发生过几次水体干涸事件,形成钙板层。根据沉积环境的特点,龙骨洞的地层可划分为4部分:第一部分是剖面的底部,在洞穴沉积物的形成初期,沉积物粒度较粗,形成水动力较强的暗河环境;第二部分是钙板层或强钙质胶结层的形成,表明洞穴处于干涸或水很少的环境;第三部分是地层的主体部分,以粘土和亚粘土为主,形成于弱水流的暗河环境,化石主要产自这部分;第四部分是剖面的顶部,为钙板层,洞穴干涸。洞中的化石和石器部分是被水流带入洞中沉积形成的,部分为人类和巨猿在洞中生存时留下的。     

Geographical distribution of arsenic in sediments within the Rio Conchos Basin,Mexico

Arsenic (As) content of sediments from the Rio Conchos and Rio San Pedro in northern Mexico were measured to determine if this toxic metalloid had accumulated to unsafe levels to humans and aquatic life. The spatial distribution of As in each of the six clusters of river and arroyo sediments was analyzed to determine variations with respect to background levels and to infer about potential As sources and sinks. In the northern part of the study area, background concentrations varied little throughout the area and concentrations in river sediments were close to background levels. In the southern part, however, the content of As in arroyo sediment contained a wider range of values and anomalous concentrations. The latter could be traced in part to the presence of mine tailings. As concentrations were below the limit in all studied river stretches and thus do not pose an immediate threat to the river environment, but As content in reservoir sediments exceeded the guideline values. Reservoirs seem to act as a sink for As, warranting closer observation and monitoring.     

Depositional environment in and around Tamiraparani estuary,and off Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu,India: clues from grain size studies

The sediments of the estuaries and offshore Tuticorin along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu were studied for their textural variation. Ninety sediment samples were collected from three sectors (river, estuary, offshore) on the basis of prevailing energy conditions and oceanographic parameters. Frequency curves show unimodal to bimodal in nature. Offshore samples also fall in bimodal with medium and fine sand where sediment is additionally deposited by the Tamiraparani River. The mean values ranging from 1.69 to 2.01 φ with medium to fine sand. The fine sand in the riverine region indicates the depositional nature of the sediments. In pre-monsoon, the standard deviation ranges from 0.29 to 0.81 φ, which falls in the very well sorted to moderately well sorted. Estuary ranges from 0.63 to 1.30 φ, with moderately sorted, whereas in the marine sediments ranges from 0.4 to 1.01 φ, with moderately to moderately well- sorted and some patches of poorly sorted is observed. In both monsoons, the grain size variations are mostly influenced in river and offshore samples compared to the estuaries. The CM pattern indicates the deposition of sediments in graded suspension. In estuary, the sediments are medium sand with moderately to poorly sorted, fine skewed which are indicative of denudation processes taking place there. In marine, the sediments are medium-to-fine, moderately-to-well sorted, and fine skewed to very fine skewed sediments, probably as a result of the influence of palaeo-sediments deposited by rivers from inland as well as by waves and currents from offshore. Further, the marine samples also highlight depositional processes.     

江西龙虎山世界地质公园白垩系辫状河相沉积及其丹霞地貌发育特征

通过野外露头及相关室内研究,分析了龙虎山世界地质公园及邻区白垩系辫状河相沉积特征及其与丹霞地貌发育规律关系。研究认为:龙虎山世界地质公园丹霞地貌发育除了与冲积扇相沉积有关外,还与辫状河相沉积有关,表现为辫状河道巨厚砂体为丹霞丘陵地貌发育提供物质基础;发育于辫状河道中呈小型透镜体或扁平状、脉状体的河床滞留沉积和洪泛沉积,易风化剥蚀形成溶蚀风化崩塌型丹霞地貌。此外,多期河道的多旋回沉积交错叠置形成楔状交错层理,其层系上下界面平直,层系厚度在小范围内变化很快,层系内细层的倾向相反,为后期风化剥蚀提供了条件,易形成溶蚀风化崩塌型丹霞地貌。进一步研究发现丹霞丘陵地貌、溶蚀风化崩塌型丹霞地貌分布与辫状河相沉积平面展布具有较好的一致性,吻合度较高。本文首次研究了辫状河沉积体系与丹霞地貌发育特征的关系。     

库车坳陷中生界三种类型三角洲的比较研究

库车坳陷中生代呈北陡南缓的箕状,其内连续沉积了一套厚度巨大的冲积-湖泊碎屑沉积体。湖缘扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲及曲流河三角洲非常发育,它们的特征清楚、区别明显:（1） 扇三角洲为突发的、瞬时的灾变事件产生的重力流沉积与间灾变期正常牵引流沉积交替进行,并以重力流沉积占主导地位:其平原亚相类似于冲积扇沉积,河道砂体呈透镜状,厚度小、变化大。（2） 辫状河三角洲为正常的河流牵引流沉积,通常受到湍急洪水控制,为季节性沉积作用产物;平原亚相类似于辫状河沉积;河道沉积发育,砂体总体呈层状,内部由若干个下粗上细的河道砂岩透镜体相互叠置而成,交错层发育,尤以侧积交错层异常发育为特征,岩性以颗粒支撑的砂砾岩为主。（3） 曲流河三角洲为正常的河流牵引流沉积,沉积物输入量为相对连续的终年河流的产物,平原亚相类似于曲流河沉积:河道砂体呈层状,交错层发育,类型丰富。当然,这三种类型三角洲之间亦存在着密不可分的内在联系,不仅同一时期内可以并存,而且随着地质历史的演化可相互转化。