Embedding unfrozen lake sediments for thin section preparation

A method for subsampling and embedding unfrozen sediments is described. The method requires commonly available equipment and can be implemented efficiently and cost-effectively. Thin sections prepared from the embedded unfrozen sediments preserve very fine structural detail, without interruption due to ice-crystal casts. The method provides a viable alternative to subsampling methods requiring either frozen sediments or specialized equipment.     

Change detection for 3D vector data: a CGA-based Delaunay–TIN intersection approach

In this paper, conformal geometric algebra (CGA) is introduced to construct a Delaunay–Triangulated Irregular Network (DTIN) intersection for change detection with 3D vector data. A multivector-based representation model is first constructed to unify the representation and organization of the multidimensional objects of DTIN. The intersection relations between DTINs are obtained using the meet operator with a sphere-tree index. The change of area/volume between objects at different times can then be extracted by topological reconstruction. This method has been tested with the Antarctica ice change simulation data. The characteristics and efficiency of our method are compared with those of the Möller method as well as those from the Guigue–Devillers method. The comparison shows that this new method produces five times less redundant segments for DTIN intersection. The computational complexity of the new method is comparable to Möller’s and that of Guigue–Devillers methods. In addition, our method can be easily implemented in a parallel computation environment as shown in our case study. The new method not only realizes the unified expression of multidimensional objects with DTIN but also achieves the unification of geometry and topology in change detection. Our method can also serve as an effective candidate method for universal vector data change detection.     

Sedimentary and thermal evolution of the Eocene‐Oligocene mudrocks from the southwestern Thrace Basin (NE Greece)

Paleothermal indicators based on clay mineral and organic matter analyses, were integrated with mudrock geochemistry and stratigraphic data to define the sedimentary evolution of the southwestern Thrace Basin during the Eocene to Oligocene. This multi‐method approach allowed us to reconstruct the burial evolution of the basin in Eocene and Oligocene times and to study the mudrock composition and relate this to their provenance and source area weathering. The studied mudrocks show similar chemical variations. The distribution of some major and trace elements for the studied samples reflect heterogeneous source areas containing both felsic to mafic rocks. In particular, the Light Rare Earth Elements/Transition elements (LREEs/TEs) ratios are very high for the Avdira and Organi samples (on the average between 1.5 and 2.2 for (La + Ce)/Cr and 3.5–8 for (La + Ce)/Ni), suggesting a felsic source(s), and very low for the Samothraki, Limnos, Paterma and Iasmos samples (on the average between 0.4 and 0.6 for (La + Ce)/Cr and 0.6–1 for (La + Ce)/Ni), suggesting a mainly basic source(s). The mineralogical composition coupled with the A‐CN‐K and A‐N‐K plots suggest a complex evolution. The clay mineral data (illite percentage in I/S and the stacking order R and the Kübler Index) coupled to vitrinite reflectance analysis indicate a high to intermediate diagenetic grade for the Middle to Upper Eocene samples (from Iasmos, Gratini, Organi, Paterma, Esimi and Samotraki sections) and a low diagenetic grade for the Upper Eocene to Oligocene samples (from Limnos and Avdira sections). These data helped in interpreting the geodynamic evolution of the studied basins where the magmatic activity plays an important role. In particular, Middle to Upper Eocene sediments show high to intermediate diagenetic grade since they are located in a portion of the basin dominated by Eocene to Oligocene magmatic activity and intrusion of granitoids, whereas, the Upper Eocene to Oligocene sediments are not involved in important magmatic activity and intrusion of granitoids and, thus, show low diagenetic grade. Furthermore, Middle to Upper Eocene sediments experienced deeper burial processes caused by lithostatic load, rather than the uppermost Eocene and Oligocene sediments, in relation of their position along the stratigraphic succession. These data suggest a burial depth of at least 3–4 km with a tectonic exhumation mainly related to the extensional phases of the Miocene age.     

离子交换法制取无水氯酸锂

以732凝胶型强酸性阳离子交换树脂,采用两种工艺方案进行了离子交换法制取无水氯酸锂小型实验研究。在小型实验的基础上,推荐了用离子交换法制得氯酸,然后再中和、脱水制取无水氯酸锂的工艺。在推荐的工艺下,进行了扩大试验,制得了主含量为99%,杂质及水分符合国外用户标准的无水氯酸锂产品。     

Retene and resin acid concentrations in sediment profiles of a lake recovering from exposure to pulp mill effluents

The stratigraphy of resin acids (pimaric, isopimaric, sandaracopimaric, dehydroabietic and abietic acids) and base neutral compounds (retene, tetrahydroretene, dehydroabietin and fichtelite) in sediments of a lake recovering after the mill closure from exposure to effluents from sulphite pulp mill was studied. The highest concentrations of these compounds were detected 1.5 km downstream from the effluent pipe in sediment depth of 7–11 cm. This sediment layer is approximately 30 yrs old. The highest concentration of resin acids was 1100 and of retene 3300 g/g d.w. The retene concentration observed is the highest reported in the literature so far. The results imply that high concentrations of retene may be common in sediments of Finnish lakes polluted by pulp mill effluents.     

不同有机溶剂萃取生物结皮中叶绿素a效率的比较研究

参照水体中浮游植物叶绿素a的萃取测定方法,运用丙酮、乙醇、二甲基甲酰胺（DMF）、二甲基亚砜（DMSO）4种有机溶剂对不同土质不同发育阶段自然和人工生物结皮中叶绿素a的萃取效率进行了比较研究。结果发现,不同有机溶剂从生物结皮中萃取叶绿素a的效率存在极显著差异（P<0.001）,而乙醇法的离散度最低;取样量对萃取效率总体上没有显著影响（P>0.05）,但在具体的测定中与萃取效率之间存在负相关。4种方法中,DMSO法对藻类占优势的结皮萃取率最高,DMF法对自然结皮的萃取率仅次于DMSO法,在人工结皮中最低;乙醇法和丙酮法的萃取效率普遍较低,而且与结皮属性之间没有明显规律。     

毛乌素沙地北缘泊江海子剖面粒度特征及环境意义

通过毛乌素沙地现代风成沙的粒度与泊江海子剖面沉积物粒度特征对比分析,确定了剖面中4个层位（290—210 cm、190—160 cm 、153.5—123.5 cm、50—40 cm）基本属于风成砂沉积,并且这些风成砂中间夹杂着三次湖相沉积,结合14C年代测定,我们认为此区域在4 000—5 000 a BP存在以下沉积（气候）旋回:至(4 958±84)a BP,沉积风成砂,反映该时期风沙活动强烈,气候干燥,冬季风强盛;(4 958±84)a BP前后,沉积物为灰绿色湖相层,表明这一时期存在短暂的湖面扩展,沙漠退缩;(4 958±84)—(4 793±74)a BP,沉积风成砂,反映了湖泊的退缩和沙漠的扩展;(4 793±74)—(4 536±70)a BP,湖相沉积物,反映了流域降水量的增多;(4 536±70)—(4 085±67)a BP沉积风成砂后,(4 085±67)a BP前后又出现了短暂的湖相沉积,之后又是风成砂沙沉积。     

脱水对生物结皮中齿肋赤藓光合色素含量和叶绿体结构的影响

通过脱水对生物结皮中齿肋赤藓叶绿体结构特征和光合色素含量的影响研究,结果表明,在脱水过程中,齿肋赤藓光合色素含量及叶绿体结构变化特征表现为4个阶段:①启动期,脱水0～2 h,光合色素含量与完全湿润时差异不显著(P>0.05),此时透射电镜下叶绿体中基粒片层结构和类囊体清晰,纵向排列,叶绿体双层膜系统保持完好;②快速增加期,脱水2～6 h内,光合色素含量快速升高,在脱水6 h 时达最大值,此时叶绿体结构发育最为充分,嗜锇颗粒数量最多且集中分布;③相对稳定期,脱水6～10 h,光合色素含量在达到最大值后,逐渐降低,但差异不显著(P>0.05),叶绿体结构依然完整;④缓慢衰退期,脱水10 h后,直至完全干燥,光合色素含量逐渐降低,完全干燥时叶绿体趋于解体。研究还表明,齿肋赤藓光合色素含量变化明显滞后于形态结构变化,其含量在完全湿润时并非最高,而在脱水6 h时(RWC为26.4%)达最大值,而后随含水量降低而降低,与种子植物光合色素含量随含水量降低不同,这可能与其内部结构修复有关,再水化后光合色素完全恢复,说明齿肋赤藓光合色素对水分的响应是可逆的。     

Rapid elemental analysis of sediment samples by isotope source XRF

Energy dispersive isotope-source X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysers are little used in academic environmental research, in spite of being ideally suited to a number of tasks. In this paper an XRF method is tested by measuring a wide range of environmental materials of known elemental composition. Precision, accuracy and detection limits are presented.Using isotope-source X-ray fluorescence analysis, the total concentrations of Si, Ti, Ca, K, Fe, Mn, Cl, S, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Zn and Zr can be determined in soils and sediments at a rate of >70 samples per day. The combination of speed and accuracy makes the technique ideal for three classes of application within environmental research. First, in sediments and soils that are highly heterogeneous, reliable characterisation is more dependent upon the number of samples measured than on measurement precision or accuracy. Under these circumstances the method is sufficiently accurate to be used alone. This is also the case where there is high and wide ranging contamination of sediment or soil by Pb and Zn. Second, major elements (Si, Ti, Fe, Ca, K and S) can be measured with sufficient accuracy in sediments and soils to aid the interpretation of other sediment chemical analyses. Third, the technique is ideal for the rapid screening of sediment or soil, allowing effective targeting of samples for more time consuming or expensive analyses. The XRF method presented here offers rapid, non-destructive total elemental analysis of sediments and soils that is sufficiently accurate to be useful in environmental research.     

Signature pigments of green sulfur bacteria in lower Pleistocene deposits from the Banyoles lacustrine area (Spain)

Signature pigments of photosynthetic green sulfur bacteria (GSB) were found in ancient sediments collected from an abandoned clay quarry located in the Banyoles lacustrine area (Spain). The sediments belong to the Interglacial Waalian of the lower Pleistocene (0.7–1.5 millions years old) and were deposited after a marshy event occurring during that geologic period. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analyses of acetone:methanol sediment extracts revealed that the main pigments found were carotenoids of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms. In particular, isorenieratene (Isr) and β-isorenieratene (β-Isr) constituted the larger bacterial fraction (35–40% of the total carotenoid content), whereas okenone, a signature pigment of purple sulfur bacteria, accounted for less than 2%. Xanthophylls from oxygenic photosynthetic organisms accounted for the remaining carotenoids. Likewise, traces of degradation products of both bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) and chlorophyll (Chl) were also detected. The low concentration of Chl degradation products made proper identification of these compounds impossible. In contrast, degradation products of BChl-e such as bacteriochlorophyllide-e and bacteriopheophorbide-e were identified in the HPLC analyses, suggesting that chemical degradation of naturally occurring BChl aggregates of GSB was slower in the clay quarry sediments. The presence of signature pigments of brown-colored species of GSB (Isr, β-Isr and degradation products of BChl-e) in the sediments suggests an ancient aquatic environment where GSB were present and where episodes of sulfide-rich anoxia reaching the photic zone could be envisaged. Similarly, the large percentage of algal xanthophylls supports that algae could be an important part of the microbial photosynthetic community in this ancient ecosystem.     

南极普里兹湾表层沉积物中磷的形态分布特征

针对多次南极考察中雪龙号在普里兹湾海域获取的表层沉积物样品,分析了该海域沉积物中各形态磷的含量,并讨论了其分布特征和控制因素。结果表明,表层沉积物总磷含量介于416.1×10-6—676.3×10-6之间,平均为543.5×10-6,主要由碎屑磷(平均为209.9×10-6)和自生磷(平均为137.7×10-6)组成。自生磷、有机磷呈现从湾东部至西部逐渐降低的分布趋势,这种分布与有机碳、生物硅等生源要素的分布以及上层水体生产力的高低相吻合,指示了其海洋生源属性;碎屑磷在湾西部含量较高,其分布与沉积物中铝、砂质的分布模式一致,表明其主要来自堆积在西部浅滩区域冰山携带的陆源砂质碎屑。可交换态磷(平均为36.0×10-6)和铁结合磷(平均为47.1×10-6)在沉积物中含量较低,分别受沉积物粒度和铁含量的控制,仅在湾东部和中心个别站位含量较高。生物可利用磷在湾东部和中心区域含量较高,可能与上述区域较高的生源颗粒物沉降速率有关,同时这些颗粒物可能吸附了水体中的磷进入沉积物中,导致对应底层海水磷酸盐浓度相对降低。     

Evidence of Sub-Till Sediments from a Weichselian Interstadial in the Gudbrandsdalen Valley,Central East Norway

The authors point out several localities with sub-till sediments in the highly ice-eroded Gudbrandsdalen Valley. Two localities are described and discussed. Based upon studies of texture and structure, the sediments are interpreted as proglacial deposits, not removed by a later ice-advance. The assumed permafrost structures (fossil ice wedges) and 6 finds of mammoth remnants, of which one has been C¹⁴ dated to 24,400 ± 900 years B. P. (Heintz 1969), indicate that these sediments are of an interstadial age.Tentatively this is named the Gudbrandsdalen interstadial. Out of the total of 15 mammoth finds in Norway, 13 are from the Gudbrandsdalen area. The sub-till sediments were presumably the depositaries for these fossils during the latest glaciation.     

长江河口悬沙的运动方式与沉积形态特征分析

长江河口为三级分汊四口入海的中等潮汐强度的三角洲河口。长江河口的悬沙输运有净上移、净下泄、上层下泄而下层上溯、潮滩与主槽之间的泥沙交换及涨潮槽泥沙倒灌落潮槽等五种形式。根据悬沙沉积的不同地点不同沉积形态可分为暗沙、拦门沙、口外水下三角洲以及河口潮滩四种类型。     

A simple and effective method for preserving the sediment–water interface of sediment cores during transport

We describe a method for preserving the upper sediments of fragile sediment cores during transport from field sites and assess potential effects on subsequent laboratory analyses. This method addresses the need to minimize disturbance to the surfaces of unfrozen sediment cores used for paleoenvironmental or other high-resolution sedimentological analyses during transport. A polymer gel (sodium polyacrylate) applied above the sediment surface acts as a barrier to movement while also preserving surface undulations. The gel seal can preserve even exceptionally fine sedimentary structures (<0.2 mm) in the upper sediments of lacustrine and fiord sediment cores, but may react with organic material (e.g. algal mats) present on some sediment surfaces. This reaction creates an adhesive layer at the gel’s base but it can be handled effectively during sampling. The gel seal minimizes surface deformation and preserves surficial sediments better than traditional seals made of water-absorbent floral foam, wax or paper towel. In addition to permitting detailed sedimentary and subfossil investigations of the sediment–water interface, this method shows no detectable effects on measurements of total organic carbon or total nitrogen values in the sediment. This method is inexpensive, non-hazardous and applicable to many coring systems and sediment types.     

不同溶剂对沉积物碳酸盐组分中硼的提取和硼同位素组成的影响的研究

本实验研究了采用不同溶剂（盐酸、醋酸、饱和EDTA-2Na盐等）对沉积物样品中的碳酸盐组分硼元素提取和硼同位素组成的影响。结果表明,1mol/L的醋酸是溶解沉积物样品中碳酸盐组分的最佳溶剂,能将沉积物中的碳酸盐完全溶解,并有效避免样品中石膏、硅酸盐等矿物的溶出,对其中铁的氧化物等影响也比较小,同时,过硼特效树脂前将溶液调至弱碱性所用的亚沸氨水的量较少,从而引入的本底较少。采用盐酸和饱和EDTA-2Na溶液溶解沉积物,容易将沉积物中除碳酸盐以外的矿物中的硼溶出,如石膏、硅酸盐矿物等,不利于碳酸盐组分中硼的提取。     

苏宏图戈壁沉积物分形空间变异性及其成因

戈壁沉积物组分结构具有分形特征,能否利用分形特征及其变异性指示戈壁地表沉积物形成过程中的风沙作用目前认识不足.通过计算内蒙古苏宏图戈壁地表表层沉积物的分形维数值并分析了其空间变异性.结果 表明:沉积物分形维数值随0.050～0.179 mm跃移组分含量的增大而增大,随0.179～20.919 mm蠕移及风蚀残余组分含量...     

雷州半岛九斗洋干玛珥湖火山机构与第四系空间展布——基于高密度电阻率法勘测和钻孔研究

为查明雷琼火山群中九斗洋干玛珥湖的第四纪地层空间展布,以及埋藏古火山形态,为后续研究提供地质背景资料,采用高效、便捷的高密度电阻率法对九斗洋干玛珥湖湖盆区进行勘测,并结合钻孔岩芯的研究进行验证。得出的主要结论为：1）盆地深部地层最高电阻率可达到300 Ω?m以上,盆地中央基岩以下存在高阻地质体,推测为岩浆通道位置。岩浆经过通道溢出后横向展布,覆于沉积地层上,随后在火山口内形成湖泊,堆积第四纪湖相沉积,其火山机构与玛珥湖型火山一致;2）九斗洋干玛珥湖第四纪松散沉积地层的电阻率通常＜60 Ω?m,泥炭层电阻率最低;3）第四纪沉积总厚度为25~50 m,盆地松散沉积的岩浆岩基底总体平整,但尚有波状起伏。研究结果表明,高密度电阻率法结合钻孔验证是研究火山机构形态及火山口湖第四纪沉积空间展布的有效方法。     

A multidisciplinary study of Holocene sediment records from Hjort Sø on Store Koldewey, Northeast Greenland

Two sediment cores of 70 and 252 cm length were recovered from Hjort Sø, a small lake on Store Koldewey, Northeast Greenland, and studied with a multidisciplinary approach in order to reconstruct the local environmental history and to test the relevance of proxies for paleoenvironmental information. The basal sediments from the longer core are dominated by clastic matter, which was likely deposited during deglaciation of the lake basin. These clastic sediments are overlain by gyttja, which is also present throughout the shorter core. AMS radiocarbon dating was conducted on plant macrofossils of 11 samples from the gyttja in both cores. A reliable chronology was established for both cores, which dated the onset of organic accumulation at 9,500 cal. year BP. The Holocene temperature development, with an early to mid Holocene thermal maximum, is best reflected in the grain-size composition. Nutrient availability was apparently low during the early Holocene and led to low productivity in the lake and its vicinity. From ca. 7,000 cal. year BP, productivity in the lake increased significantly, probably induced by external nutrient input from goose excrements. From this time, micro- and macro-fossil remains reflect relatively well the climate history of East Greenland, with a cooling during the middle Holocene, the medieval warming, and the Little Ice Age. The amount of organic matter in the sequence seems to be more affected by lake ice cover or by nutrient supply from the catchment than by temperature changes. The record from Hjort Sø thus reveals the difficulties in interpreting sedimentary records from high arctic regions.     

Exhuming the Alps through time: clues from detrital zircon fission-track thermochronology

The European Alps are a mountain belt that is characterized by a series of discrete orogenic events, which have long been recognized. Despite the inherent episodic nature of orogenic evolution, the Alps have been continuously exhumed, mainly by erosion, but also by normal faulting. Since continental collision started in the late Eocene/Early Oligocene evidence for ongoing erosional exhumation has been preserved in synorogenic sediments that accumulated in basins adjacent to the pro- and retro-side of this double-vergent mountain belt. This long-term erosion record can be used to determine exhumation rates. Lag-times calculated from fission-track (FT) ages of detrital zircon from synorogenic sediments are fairly constant for the European Alps since the Oligocene–Late Miocene. Although the fast exhuming areas were unroofed at rates of 0.4–0.7 km Myr⁻¹, the overall average exhumation rate is between 0.2 and 0.3 km Myr⁻¹ on a regional scale. The detrital and bedrock zircon FT data of the Alps do not detect the increase in erosion rates since the Pliocene over the past ∼5 Myr, as shown elsewhere. This increase cannot be detected yet with the detrital zircon FT method because not enough rock has been removed to widely expose zircons with Pliocene or younger cooling ages in the Alps. Long term (30 Myr) exhumation rates appear to have been approximately constant when averaged over a sliding time window of about 8 Myr, or depth window of 5 to 10 km (ZFT closure depths); shorter-term fluctuations are not identified using this method.     

格尔木河流域河流地貌演化的研究进展

位于柴达木盆地南缘的格尔木河发源于东昆仑山脉,末端注入盆地中东部的察尔汗盐湖,是该盐湖最主要的补给河流,极大地影响着该盐湖的成盐演化过程。格尔木河的主要支流——昆仑河和雪水河都是由冰川融水形成,因此,该流域内的冰川进退对河流径流量变化和谷地填充地层物源有着重要影响。该河流域内主要的填充地层为昆仑河砾岩(河流相)、纳赤台沟组(冲洪积相)和三岔河组(河湖相)。在三岔河组之上,发育了四/五级阶地,除最高的T₅之外,其他均为以三岔河组为基底的内叠基座阶地。根据前人的研究,昆仑河砾岩沉积的年代为1269至1042 ka(ESR年龄);纳赤台沟组堆积于482至642 ka之间(ESR和TL年龄);三岔河组形成于355-95 ka(ESR和U系年龄)、90-16 ka(OSL年龄),T₅-T₁阶地基本形成于16- 4.6 ka之间。由于采用的测年方法不同,不同学者对三岔河组的形成时代存在争议,对阶地的划分也有所不同(四级或五级阶地)。但是对T₅-T₁阶地形成时代有较一致的观点,即末次冰消期和全新世早中期。对于格尔木河河流地貌过程的驱动因素,目前尚存在争论,大部分学者认为是气候变化驱动了该区域河流地貌的形成,但也有学者认为构造活动是主导因素。