Post-depositional redistribution processes and their effects on middle rare earth element precipitation and the cerium anomaly in sediments in the South Korea Plateau,East Sea

We sampled two box-core sediments from the slope of the eastern South Korea Plateau (SKP) in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) at water depths of 1400 and 1700 m. Two chemical fractions of extractable (hydroxylamine/acetic acid) and residual rare earth elements (REEs) together with Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, S, As, Mo, and U were analyzed to assess the post-depositional redistribution of REEs. Extractable Fe and Mn are noticeably abundant in the oxic topmost sediment layer (<3 cm). However, some trace elements (e.g., S, As, Mo, U) are more abundant at depth, where redox conditions are different. Analysis of upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized (La/Gd)_UCC, (La/Yb)_UCC, and (Ce/Ce^*)_UCC revealed that the extractable REE is characterized by middle REE (MREE) enrichment and a positive cerium (Ce) anomaly, different from the case of the residual fraction which shows slight enrichment in light REEs (LREEs) with no Ce anomaly. The extractable MREEs seem to have been incorporated into high-Mg calcite during reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides. In the top sediment layer, the positive Ce anomaly is attributed to Ce oxide, which can be mobilized in deeper oxygen-poor environments and redistributed in the sediment column. In addition, differential concentrations of Ce and other LREEs in pore water appear to result in variable (Ce/Ce^*)_UCC ratios in the extractable fraction at depth.     

Palynology of Upper Cretaceous (uppermost Campanian–Maastrichtian) deposits in the South Yellow Sea Basin, offshore Korea

Forty-seven samples from Upper Cretaceous sections penetrated by the Kachi-1 and Inga-1 wells in the South Yellow Sea Basin have been analysed for their spore and pollen content. Thirty-five species of 18 spore genera and 54 species of 28 pollen genera are documented. One new monotypic genus, Diporocolpopollenites, and its type species, D. kachiensis sp. nov., are erected, and Dilwynites Harris, 1965, and its type species, D. granulatus Harris, 1965, are emended. There are also three new combinations: Ephedripites eocaenicus (Selling, 1944), E. praeclarus (Chlonova, 1961), and Retitricolpites anguloluminosus (Anderson, 1960). Two palynological zones are erected: anAquilapollenites attenuatus Assemblage Zone, which encompasses deposits that are considered to be latest Campanian–Early Maastrichtian in age, and an Aquilapollenites eurypteronus Assemblage Zone for sections that have been dated as Late Maastrichtian. The assemblages are typical of the Yenisey-Amur Subprovince of the Aquilapollenites (floral) Province. Lowland floodplain to shallow, commonly mesotrophic, lacustrine environments of deposition are indicated. The climate was probably wet subtropical, with rainfall being somewhat higher during the Late Maastrichtian than through the latest Campanian–Early Maastrichtian.     

Reply to comments by H. Mashima on ‘Evolution of the eastern margin of Korea: constraints on the opening of the East Sea (Japan Sea)’ by Kim et al. [Tectonophysics 436 (2007) 37–55]

We thank H. Mashima for his interest in our recent article in Tectonophysics [Kim, H.J., Lee, G.H., Jou, H.T., Cho, H.M., Yoo, H.S., Park, G.T., Kim, J.S., 2007, Evolution of the eastern margin of Korea: Constraints on the opening of the East Sea (Japan Sea). Tectonophysics 436, 37–55.] and welcome the opportunity to respond to his comments. In our article we suggested that the southern part of the East Sea (Japan Sea) opened principally in the southeast direction in response to the northwestward subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Japan Arc. In contrast, Mashima claims that the opening of the East Sea was achieved in the south–southeast direction. However, there are many crucial things in his comments that we find scientifically unconvincing and misleading. In this reply, we give a detailed response to his comments.     

MIS2期南海北部粘土矿物记录的东亚夏季风快速变化

运用伊利石结晶度线性剥离法,定量计算了华南、台湾和吕宋这3个主要物源区对南海北部陆坡MD12-3432和MD12-3434两个岩芯（分别为50.80 m和8.33 m）MIS 2期粘土相对贡献量的时间序列变化。结果显示,台湾对两个岩芯的贡献最大（36%~62%）,吕宋的贡献次之（28%~50%）,二者之和一般大于90%,而来自华南的贡献最小（3%~17%）。台湾和吕宋的贡献量呈现显著反向的千年时间尺度快速波动,二者贡献量随东亚夏季风增强或减弱而显著变化,因此,吕宋/台湾贡献量比值可以用于指示东亚夏季风的快速演化。吕宋/台湾粘土贡献量比值在Bølling-Allerød和Dansgaard-Oeschger 2事件期间的增加,反映了同时期东亚夏季风的快速增强;而在Heinrich 1和Heinrich 2事件期间的减小,则指示了东亚夏季风的减弱。吕宋/台湾贡献量比值对东亚夏季风快速变化的指示,在一定程度上要明显优于蒙脱石/（伊利石+绿泥石）比值。南海北部MIS 2期粘土矿物对东亚夏季风快速变化的响应具有明显的空间差异性,受洋流搬运扰动和物源控制作用影响,陆坡相对浅水区粘土矿物记录的东亚夏季风快速变化信息相对有限,而深水稳定的沉积环境则更有利于保存东亚夏季风快速变化信息。

     

淮北刘桥二矿七含涌(突)水机理研究

刘桥二矿在开采4煤过程中，七含突水次数达38次之多，严重影响煤矿安全生产。文章在系统地分析刘桥二矿七含涌突水概况的基础上，提出了该矿七含涌突水的主要机理为断裂构造的控制作用和矿山压力的促进作用；指出了砂岩含水层的裂隙发育程度和富水性强弱、煤层的厚度、断层的作用以及4煤与含水层之间隔水层厚度的大小等，是影响工作面涌水的主要因素。研究结果对煤矿砂岩水害的有效防治具有重要的指导意义。     

新疆东准噶尔北部荒漠区金属矿床白茎绢蒿植物地球化学异常特征及其找矿意义

东准噶尔北部荒漠区植被属土砾质荒漠植被类型,占优势的植物群落为白茎绢蒿(Seriphidium terrae-albae(Krasch)Poljak),覆盖度为20%~25%。为探讨植物地球化学方法在荒漠区找矿的有效性,本文选择了隐伏于荒漠覆盖下的喀拉通克铜镍矿、希勒库都克铜钼矿和阿克塔斯金铜矿作为实例,研究生长在这些矿床地表的白茎绢蒿植物地球化学异常特征及其与矿化的关系。研究发现:这些矿床上部均发育植物地球化学综合异常,综合异常的宽度略大于矿体或矿化带的宽度,异常元素组合具有套合性和分带性。本文认为:(1)植物异常中强度较高、清晰度及连续性较好、规模较大的主导元素组合及其异常参数可以作为区分不同矿化类型的标志或指标,进而圈定成矿靶区;(2)植物综合异常的空间分布及其套合性和分带性,能大致确定隐伏矿床(体)的位置;(3)植物异常的元素组合、异常规模和异常强度,能大致推测隐伏矿床(体)的埋藏深度和矿化规模。