A forefin of Leptonectes solei from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Dorset,UK

An incomplete forefin in the collections of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, is herein assigned to the rare leptonectid species, Leptonectes solei, known only from the west Dorset coast. It is only the third specimen of the species and is smaller than both the holotype and referred specimen. The new specimen is from the Lower Jurassic (lower Pliensbachian, Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Tragophylloceras ibex Ammonite Zone, Acanthopleuroceras valdani Ammonite Subzone) of Seatown, Dorset, UK. It confirms that all three species of Leptonectes were present in the Pliensbachian and expands the known diversity of ichthyosaurs for that time period. We show that isolated forefins of Leptonectes can be assigned to a species with a high degree of confidence.     

Palaeoclimate indicators (clay minerals,calcareous nannofossils,stable isotopes) compared from two successions in the late Jurassic of the Volga Basin (SE Russia)

A study of clay mineral and calcareous nannofossil abundances in late Jurassic–early Cretaceous sediments from the Volga Basin, SE Russia, is presented. From these results, we are able to compare some general patterns of mineralogical and palaeontological change for the Volga Basin to the palaeoclimate models developed for northern Europe and beyond. The two successions examined comprise calcareous mudstones with black organic‐rich shale horizons, overlain by a series of phosphatic silty sands. Clay mineralogical results show a progressive decrease in kaolinite and the concomitant increase of smectite and illite through the middle Volgian, followed by an abrupt increase in kaolinite in the late Volgian. The clay mineral evidence suggests increasing aridity at the end of the Jurassic, similar, in part, to many western European successions. Because of differential settling of clay minerals, superimposed upon this possible climatic signature is likely to be the effect of relative sea‐level change. Calcareous nannofossil analysis from a single section reveals a shift through the middle Volgian from low nutrient, warm water assemblages dominated by Watznaueria to cooler surface water and high nutrient assemblages dominated by Biscutum constans. These observations suggest that increased aridity is also associated with climatic cooling. Black shales are associated with increased productivity, higher sea levels and increases in smectite content. Hence, periods of low (chemical) hinterland weathering during semi‐arid conditions are paradoxically associated with relatively nutrient‐rich waters, and organic‐rich shales. Comparison of published carbon and oxygen stable isotope results from this and other sections to the clay mineral and nannofossil data confirms the palaeoclimatic interpretation. This study significantly improves the published biostratigraphically constrained clay mineral database for this time period, because other European and North American successions are either non‐marine (and thus poorly dated), absent (through penecontemporaneous erosion) or condensed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新疆库车凹陷侏罗系多粒级黏土矿物分析方法及其对沉积-成岩环境的指示

本文选取库车坳陷侏罗系阿合组—齐古组的碎屑岩样品,利用Stokes原理,通过同步跟进与离心分析相结合的多粒级提取的方式提取不同粒径的黏土矿物,包括〉20μm;20μm～5μm;5μm～2μm;2μm～0．2μm和〈0．2μm。不同粒径组分的黏土矿物呈现出不同的型貌特征,在20～2μm范围内的样品中,自生黏土矿物少见,大量可见碎屑来源的黏土矿物,由于经过了长期的机械搬运,难见完整的晶型。在〈2μm的样品中大量存在自生黏土矿物,大量成集合体,同时也存在碎屑蚀变成因的黏土矿物。通过XRD方法定量分析了所分离出的不同粒径黏土矿物的相对含量,黏土粒径范围内的黏土矿物相对含量呈现些规律变化。碎屑伊利石含量有随着粒级的减小而减少的趋势,而自生伊利石和伊蒙混层只在2～0．2μm及0,2μm以下粒级才出现,并且集中在0．2μm以下粒级范围内;在古气候,沉积环境和母岩特性及分布基本一致的情况下,高岭石的分布有随着岩性的变粗呈现升高的趋势,而伊利石呈负相关关系。碎屑岩中黏土矿物的形貌特征表明,黏土矿物有陆源碎屑来源与自生两种成因,应用Decoform软件对0．2μm以下黏土矿物中不同成因的伊利石进行了计算,并就存在的比例与粒径的关系进行了讨论。黏土矿物组合揭示侏罗纪沉积环境由酸性环境向微碱性环境过渡,早侏罗世和中侏罗世早期为气候潮湿时期,高岭石的含量明显高于侏罗世晚期地层,恰克马克期到齐古期高岭石含量开始出现减小的趋势。从恰克马克期开始,气候缓慢向干旱变化,高龄石含量降低,而伊利石的平均含量明显增加,反映黏土矿物组合主要受沉积环境和成岩作用共同影响。     

Devensian glacigenic sedimentation and landscape evolution in the Cardigan area of southwest Wales

The depositional processes associated with late Devensian ice in areas bordering the Irish Sea basin have been the subject of considerable debate. Among the key areas around the Irish Sea, southwest Wales occupies a particularly crucial position because it is here that ice flowing from the north impinged upon the coast orthogonally and encroached inland. Two main hypotheses have emerged concerning deglaciation of the Irish Sea basin. The traditional hypothesis holds that sedimentation was ice‐marginal or subglacial, whereas an alternative hypothesis that emerged in the 1980s argued that sedimentation was glaciomarine. Southwest Wales is well‐placed to contribute to this debate. However, few detailed sedimentological studies, linked to topography, have been made previously in order to reconstruct glacial environments in this area. In this paper, evidence is presented from four boreholes drilled recently in the Cardigan area, combined with data from coastal and inland exposures in the lower Teifi valley and adjacent areas. A complex history of glaciation has emerged: (i) subglacial drainage channel formation in pre‐Devensian time, (ii) deposition of iron‐cemented breccias and conglomerates possibly during the last interglacial (or in the early/mid‐Devensian interstadial), (iii) late Devensian ice advance across the region, during which a glaciolacustrine sequence over 75 m thick accumulated, within a glacial lake known as Llyn Teifi, (iv) a second high‐level glaciolacustrine succession formed near Llandudoch, (v) outside the Teifi valley, ice‐marginal, subglacial and glaciofluvial sediments were also laid down, providing a near‐continuous cover of drift throughout the area. Glacial advance was characterized by reworking, deformation and sometimes erosion of the underlying sediments. The glaciomarine hypothesis is thus rejected for southwest Wales. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climatic control on clay mineral formation: Evidence from weathering profiles developed on either side of the Western Ghats

Many physico-chemical variables like rock-type, climate, topography and exposure age affect weathering environments. In the present study, an attempt is made to understand how the nature of clay minerals formed due to weathering differs in tropical regions receiving high and low rainfall. Clay mineralogy of weathering profiles in west coast of India, which receives about 3 m rainfall through two monsoons and those from the inland rain-shadow zones (<200 cm rainfall) are studied using X-ray diffraction technique. In the west coast, 1:1 clays (kaolinite) and Fe—Al oxides (gibbsite/goethite) are dominant clay minerals in the weathering profiles while 2:1 clay minerals are absent or found only in trace amounts. Weathering profiles in the rain shadow region have more complex clay mineralogy and are dominated by 2:1 clays and kaolinite. Fe—Al oxides are either less or absent in clay fraction. The kaolinite—smectite interstratified mineral in Banasandra profiles are formed due to transformation of smectites to kaolinite, which is indicative of a humid paleoclimate. In tropical regions receiving high rainfall the clay mineral assemblage remains the same irrespective of the parent rock type. Rainfall and availability of water apart from temperature, are the most important factors that determine kinetics of chemical weathering. Mineral alteration reactions proceed through different pathways in water rich and water poor environments.     

北部湾沉积物粘土矿物分布特征及其环境意义

本文以南海北部湾SO-31沉积柱为研究对象,研究了14C年代学和粘土矿物学特征,并对部分全球气候事件进行了对比,为古环境、古气候的恢复提供基础资料,也为全球重大气候事件在该区域的响应提供信息。结果显示全新世以来地层沉积正常,平均沉积速率为0.57mm/a。粘土成分主要由蒙脱石、伊利石、高岭石和绿泥石组成,组合类型为蒙脱石-伊利石-高岭石-绿泥石型。全新世以来环境气候演变可划分为五个阶段:低温期阶段、干湿交替的寒冷气候阶段、逐渐升温阶段、干旱温暖气候阶段、湿热阶段。气候在每个阶段背景下还存在一些次级波动,总体趋势为干湿交替,温度逐渐上升。由于海域环境及矿物指标的影响,北部湾SO-31沉积柱粘土矿物记录的降温事件时间比其他指标记录的新仙女木降温事件发生时间滞后500~800a。     

Characterization and correlation of Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) bentonite deposits in the Paris Basin and the Subalpine Basin, France

Abstract Explosive volcanic activity is recorded in the Upper Jurassic of the Paris Basin and the Subalpine Basin of France by the identification of five bentonite horizons. These layers occur in Lower Oxfordian (cordatum ammonite zone) to Middle Oxfordian (plicatilis zone) clays and silty clays deposited in outer platform environments. In the Paris Basin, a thick bentonite (10–15 cm), identified in boreholes and in outcrop, is dominated by dioctahedral smectite (95%) with trace amounts of kaolinite, illite and chlorite. In contrast, five bentonites identified in the Subalpine Basin, where burial diagenesis and fluid circulation were more important, are composed of a mixture of kaolinite and regular or random illite/smectite mixed-layer clays in variable proportions, indicating a K-bentonite. In the Subalpine Basin, a 2–15 cm thick bentonite underlain by a layer affected by sulphate–carbonate mineralization can be correlated over 2000 km². Euhedral zircon, apatite and biotite crystals have been identified in all the bentonites. The geochemical composition of the bentonites in both basins is characterized by high concentrations of Hf, Nb, Pb, Ta, Th, Ti, U, Y, Zr and low concentrations of Cr, Cs and Rb. Biostratigraphical and geochemical data suggest that the thick bentonite in the Paris Basin correlates with the thickest bentonite in the Subalpine Basin, located 400 km to the south. These horizons indicate that significant explosive volcanic events occurred during the Middle Oxfordian and provide potential long-distance isochronous marker beds. Immobile element discrimination diagrams and rare-earth element characteristics indicate that the original ash compositions of the thickest bentonites correspond to a trachyandesitic source from a within-plate alkaline series that was probably related to North Atlantic rifting.     

Utility of clay Minerals in the Determination of Sedimentary Transport Patterns in the Bay of Cadiz and the Adjoining Continental Shelf (SW-Spain)

The contents and the distribution of clay minerals in modern sediments of the Cadiz bay and the continental shelf have been studied aiming to establish the sedimentary exchange model and the pathways followed by the clay fraction between the bay and the adjoining continental shelf. The most abundant clay minerals in the muddy sediments consist mainly of illite, smectite, interstratified illite-smectite, kaolinite and chlorite. The application of factor analysis method (PCA) to clay minerals data are considered to be useful in the determination of sedimentary transport patterns. The data from clay mineral assemblages, and their distribution map, make possible to establish the fine sediments transport paths in the study area using clay mineral as natural tracers. This model of transport takes in consideration the facies distribution, the supplies sources and the way of fine sediments are incorporated to the marine environment.

Two flows paths have been established: the outflows coming from Cadiz bay and the littoral zones; and the inflows coming from external marine zones of the bay. These flows are controlled by tidal currents and the morphology of the coast. The action of surge and the marine currents, specially the Atlantic Surface Water flow, are also important in the transport of fine sediments coming from sources located to the north of the study zone.     

New insights into geochemical behaviour in ancient marine carbonates (Upper Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso): Novel proxies for interpreting sea‐level dynamics and palaeoceanography

Elemental concentrations in Phanerozoic sea water are known to fluctuate both in time and space. With regard to carbonates precipitated from marine fluids, elemental concentrations in the carbonate crystal lattice are affected by a complex array of equilibrium and non‐equilibrium as well as post‐depositional alteration processes. To assess the potential of carbonate elemental chemostratigraphy, seven Upper Jurassic sections were investigated along a proximal to distal transect across the south‐east Iberian palaeomargin. The aim was to explore stratigraphic and spatial variations in calcium, strontium, magnesium, iron and manganese elemental abundances. The epicontinental geochemical record is influenced by the combination of continental runoff and a significant diagenetic overprint. In contrast, the epioceanic geochemical record agrees with reconstructed open marine sea water values, reflecting a moderate degree of syn‐depositional to early marine pore water diagenesis. Establishing a fair degree of preservation of matrix micrite, a thorough statistical approach was applied and elemental associations tested for their environmental significance. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed a persistent relation between carbonate magnesium, iron and strontium abundances. Processes related to early diagenetic nodulation in Ammonitico Rosso facies most probably account for the incorporation of these elements in the calcium carbonate lattice. The clear decoupling of carbonate manganese abundance with respect to the remaining elements is documented and related to high sea floor spreading rates and hydrothermal activity during the Late Jurassic. The investigation of potential time‐fluctuation of geochemical patterns was approached through variogram computation. The observed temporal behaviour is most likely to be forced by relative sea‐level dynamics, reflecting Late Jurassic palaeoceanographic conditions and potential planetary interactions. The data obtained in this study highlight the utility of elemental data from carbonate matrix micrites as geochemical proxies for studying the influence of remote trigger factors.     

Fluid focusing and back-reactions in the uplifted shoulder of the Rhine rift system: a clay mineral study along the Schauenburg Fault zone (Heidelberg, Germany)

A retrograde sequence of fluid-controlled, low-temperature mineral reactions has been preserved along an east-west striking, dextral-oblique-slip fault in the uplifted Rhine Graben shoulder. This fault (the Schauenburg Fault, near Heidelberg), juxtaposes Permian rhyolite against Carboniferous (Variscan) granite and shows syn- or post-rift displacement of the north–south trending, eastern boundary fault of the rift basin. Both mineral texture and rock fabric indicate that the fault forms a site of high rock permeability and fluid flow, and records the exhumation and fluid-rock history of the rift shoulder since the Mesozoic. The reaction sequence and mineral compositions of the clay minerals within the cataclasite, and adjacent granite and rhyolite lithologies, document progressively decreasing fluid temperatures, with back-reactions of pure 2M₁ illite to 1M_d (R3) illite-smectite, and eventually smectite and kaolinite assemblages. Compositional variations are attributed to Tertiary to Recent fluid flushing of the fault zone associated with rift flank uplift, and with progressive dilution of the electrolyte-rich, acidic to neutral hydrothermal brines by down-flowing electrolyte-poor, meteoric waters.     

龙江盆地西缘中侏罗世孢粉植物群及其对古气候的指示

对产于龙江盆地中侏罗统万宝组含煤地层中的孢粉化石进行了系统研究,共识别出中侏罗世孢粉化石45属73种,蕨类植物孢子15属16种,裸子植物花粉30属57种,自下而上建立了Alisporites-Chasmatosporites-Cyclogranisporites,Chasmatosporites-Piceites-Cyclogranisporites及Cyclogranisporites-Baculatisporites-Protopinus3个孢粉组合。该孢粉植物群以裸子植物花粉占优势,蕨类孢子次之,其中,裸子植物花粉以松柏类植物的双囊花粉和苏铁类、本内苏铁类、银杏类植物的单沟花粉为主。通过对龙江盆地万宝组孢粉植物群的组成分析,其时代应为中侏罗世。结合对该地质时期的植物群生态环境的研究,万宝组孢粉植物群反映了由半湿润到湿润的暖温带-亚热带的气候特点,并存在一定低矮山地的古环境。     

德国北部盆地晚侏罗世沉积环境及古气候分析*

德国北部盆地上侏罗统广泛发育,但野外露头地层普遍出露不全。Hildesheimer Wald地区Wendhausen 6井和Süntel山地区Eulenflucht 1井完整钻遇了上侏罗统牛津阶和启莫里阶地层,为分析该区晚侏罗世沉积演化过程及其所反映的古环境变化规律提供了丰富的资料。通过岩心描述和岩石薄片镜下观察,根据不同层段的颗粒成分、生物组合特征、沉积结构和构造等特征,在2口井的岩心中共划分出14个岩石类型,分别形成于碳酸盐岩斜坡和三角洲环境。建立了该区牛津阶和启莫里阶垂向沉积演化序列,垂向上由Heersum组到Süntel组,沉积环境逐步由外陆棚、内陆棚、临滨过渡到了开阔台地、潮坪环境,表现出了相对海平面降低的进积过程。同时对不同沉积相中保存较好的以低镁方解石为主要成分的牡蛎壳进行原位Mg/Ca值(古温度指标)测试,得出该区牛津期至启莫里期总体表现出了古气候变暖的趋势,且共有3次气候变暖过程。这一古气候变化与由沉积相分析得出的古气候变化一致,且同苏格兰、俄罗斯台地古温度变化趋势有很好的对应关系,表明古气候是控制该区沉积演化的一个重要因素,且牡蛎壳Mg/Ca值可以做为一个古气候指示指标应用于其他地区的古气候分析中。     

Sequential and climatic framework of the growth and demise of a carbonate platform: implications for the peritidal cycles (Late Jurassic,North‐eastern France)

The Middle Oxfordian of the eastern Paris Basin constitutes a remarkable example of the growth and demise of a carbonate platform. Fischer plots, sedimentary and diagenetic features allow the identification of four depositional cycles (S5 to S8) in the Transversarium Zone; they are inserted in a lower frequency cycle of increased/decreased accommodation space (SoIII). The long‐term period of accommodation creation occurred during the older S5 and S6 cycles, the maximum accommodation zone being located in the lower part of the S6 cycle. This high accommodation period was tectonically controlled and was coeval with local distensive activity of a Hercynian fault. A major minimum accommodation zone exists during the S8 cycle. At that time, the platform was isolated and presented both a windward and a leeward margin. The growth of the platform was favoured by a warm and arid climate, oligotrophic conditions and reduced siliciclastic input during a highstand in relative sea‐level. These palaeoenvironmental features favoured the proliferation of phototrophic organisms producing carbonate material. The death of the platform was generated by a reduction in the carbonate production surface during a lowstand in relative sea‐level and by the appearance of mesotrophic conditions induced by the increase in siliciclastic inputs at the beginning of a period with a cooler and more humid climate. In the eastern Paris Basin, during the Middle Oxfordian, the parasequences are ordered and present ‘greenhouse’ characteristics. In contrast, at the beginning of the S8 cycle, the randomness in the thickness of contiguous parasequences increased. Decreased carbonate production during the lowstand caused by a transition from photozoan to heterozoan benthic communities certainly favoured this randomness and the appearance of catch‐down parasequences.     

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.     

青藏高原共和盆地14.5calkaBP以来粘土矿物响应的气候变化模式

对青藏高原北缘共和盆地沙珠玉河的尾闾湖达连海钻孔沉积柱(40.92 m)进行了~(14)C年代测定(10个控制点)和粘土矿物分析(按20cm/70 a间隔的分辨率)。沉积柱底部年龄为14.5 cal ka BP。根据沉积柱粘土矿物的类型、组合、比率指标综合分析,重建了共和盆地14.5 cal ka BP以来气候环境的演化历史。冰消期(14.5~10.0 cal ka BP)盆地气候总体特征表现为干冷,盆地物理风化强:早中全新世(10.0~5.0 cal ka BP)气候表现为温湿,盆地化学风化为主,气候最宜期发生在中全新世的6.0 cal ka BP前后;晚全新世(5.0~0.0 cal ka BP)气候表现为干冷,盆地物理风化盛行。末次冰消期以来,共和盆地粘土矿物记录的气候环境变化阶段与高原其它湖泊指标记录的阶段基本一致。共和盆地粘土矿物记录的气候环境兼有西风、季风模式的特征。     

Near‐isochemical evolution of clay mineral assemblages in differentially buried volcaniclastic sediments,the Late Miocene Upper Red Formation,Iran

The Upper Red Formation (URF) comprises over 1–5 km of late Miocene siliciclastic sediments in the Central Iran Basin. The formation is dominated by volcaniclastic conglomerates and arenites. The prevailing arid conditions during most of the basin's history resulted in deposition of predominantly organic‐poor, red sediments with gypsum and zeolites. This investigation concentrates on the mineralogy and geochemistry of the URF in the southern and northern margins of the basin where the formation was buried to depths of 2.4 and 6.6 km, respectively. Fine fraction mineral separates from the southern margin consist of nearly pure smectite and zeolites at a depth of 400 m and smectite with minor quartz and calcite at 1800 m. Shallow samples (1350 m) from the northern section are rich in smectite, illite/smectite with some discrete illite and chlorite. This assemblage is progressively replaced by discrete illite and chlorite with increasing burial depth so that only these two minerals are found at depths greater than 4300 m. The initial alteration process involved replacement of glass and volcanic lithics by smectite and zeolites in both margins of the basin. Increased depth of burial in the northern margin resulted in the progressive isochemical alteration of smectite to discrete illite and chlorite. Diagenesis of clay assemblages occurred essentially in a closed system. Solute products of glass hydrolysis reactions were retained in highly alkaline, saline ground waters from which zeolites, carbonates and oxides precipitated as cements. It is unlikely that these sediments were ever significantly leached by meteoric waters or by organic acids generated during burial diagenesis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clay mineralogy and geochemistry and their palaeoclimatic interpretation of the Pleistocene deposits in the Xuancheng section,southern China

A red soil profile in Xuancheng, Anhui province, southern China, in the middle to lower reaches of the Yangtze River, was investigated using X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The mobile components K₂O and Na₂O and trace elements Ba and Sr of the Xuancheng section exhibit a general trend of decrease downward along the red soil profile, together with an increase downward of chemical index of alteration (CIA) values, suggesting more intense depletion in the lower portion than in the upper portion. The major components SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, as well as SiO₂/Al₂O₃, SiO₂/Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ ratios, show notable fluctuations along the soil profile, indicating intense climatic oscillations in the area during the Pleistocene age. The clay mineral assemblage of the Xuancheng section can be generally subdivided into three groups, suggesting a general trend of three stages of climate changes. The lower portion of ～10.4–6.3 m depth has a lower illite content and higher abundance of kaolinite and illite–smectite (I/S) clays, indicating that a warm and wet climate prevailed over the episode of ca. 600–350 ka BP. A decrease in abundance of kaolinite and I/S clays and increase in illite content at a depth of ～6.3–2.2 m probably indicate a transition stage of climate change from warm/humid to cool/dry in the period ca. 350–80 ka BP. The higher illite content and lower abundance of kaolinite and I/S clays in the upper portion of ～2.2–0 m depth suggest that a relatively cool and dry climate dominated since ca. 80 ka BP. Based on changes in clay mineralogy and chemical indices of the sediments, seven warm/cold fluctuations were determined in the area since the Middle Pleistocene. Climate changes documented in the Xuancheng section are in agreement with the δ¹⁸O records of sediments from the equatorial Pacific Core V28‐238 and the loess–palaeosol sequences in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China. Correlated to the episode of S4 and S5 soil units in the Loess Plateau, the period of ca. 600–350 ka BP in the Xuancheng area was dominated by the particularly strong East Asia summer monsoon, as indicated by its most abundant kaolinite and I/S clays. Fluctuations in clay mineralogy along the Xuancheng soil profile were mainly controlled by both the East Asia summer and winter monsoons in response to the global changes in the Middle–Late Pleistocene. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diagenesis, palaeoclimate and tectono-sedimentary influences on clay mineralogy and stable isotopes from Upper Cretaceous marine successions of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin (N Spain)

Clay mineralogy and whole-rock stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) of Upper Cretaceous marly sediments on the Basque-Cantabrian Basin have been integrated to determine the main effects of diagenesis, palaeoclimate and tectono-sedimentary factors in sections belonging to deep- (Barrika) and platform-marine (Isla de Castro, Villamartín and Olazagutía) settings.The mean values for the clay assemblages and δ¹⁸O exhibit notable differences among the sections, partially explainable by the influence of diagenesis. The Barrika sediments, with more diagenetically advanced illite-smectite (I-S) mixed-layer (R1, 70% illite), authigenic chlorite, and low δ¹⁸O (−4.05‰ PDB), experienced higher diagenetic grade than Isla de Castro and Olazagutía, which have R0 I-S (20% illite) and heavier δ¹⁸O. Villamartín was also affected by higher diagenesis than Isla de Castro and Olazagutía, given the occurrence of R1 I-S (60% illite) and low δ¹⁸O (−4.11‰ PDB). However, the absence of other clays in Villamartín (e.g. authigenic chlorite) is indicative of less diagenetic grade than Barrika. These results show the useful integration of clay mineralogy and stable isotopes to detect different diagenetic grades in distinct marine successions of the same basin.Despite being influenced by diagenesis, the clay mineralogy partially preserves its inherited signature. This allows detection of major contents of I-S and mica, and minor kaolinite, interpreted as indicative of warm palaeoclimatic conditions. High kaolinite content in Villamartín and absence of kaolinite in Isla de Castro, though, are considered to be a product of neither diagenesis nor palaeoclimatic influences. Instead, tectono-sedimentary causes, related to unsuitable conditions for clay formation and transport from the local source areas, contributed to original clay differences. The inferred effects of diagenesis, palaeoclimate and tectono-sedimentary factors make this work important to show the potentially great variety of controls on the clay mineralogy of marine sections, which are often uncritically treated in studies concerning the Late Cretaceous.     

Weichselian sediments at Foss‐Eikeland,Jæren (southwest Norway): sea‐level changes and glaciation history

The Jæren area in southwestern Norway has experienced great changes in sea‐levels and sedimentary environments during the Weichselian, and some of these changes are recorded at Foss‐Eikeland. Four diamictons interbedded with glaciomarine and glaciofluvial sediments are exposed in a large gravel pit situated above the post‐glacial marine limit. The interpretation of these sediments has implications for the history of both the inland ice and the Norwegian Channel Ice Stream. During a Middle Weichselian interstadial, a large glaciofluvial delta prograded into a shallow marine environment along the coast of Jæren. A minor glacial advance deposited a gravelly diamicton, and a glaciomarine diamicton was deposited during a following marine transgression. This subsequently was reworked by grounded ice, forming a well‐defined boulder pavement. The boulder pavement is followed by glaciomarine clay with a lower, laminated part and an upper part of sandy clay. The laminated clay probably was deposited under sea‐ice, whereas more open glaciomarine conditions prevailed during deposition of the upper part. The clay is intersected by clastic dykes protruding from the overlying, late Weichselian till. Preconsolidation values from the marine clay suggest an ice thickness of at least 500 m during the last glacial phase. The large variations in sea‐level probably are a combined effect of eustasy and glacio‐isostatic changes caused by an inland ice sheet and an ice stream in the Norwegian Channel. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.