北极楚科奇海沉积生物硅的分布及其硅质泵过程初探

依托第3次、第4次、第5次北极科学考察在北极楚科奇海采集的表层沉积物样品,通过碱液连续提取法对生物硅含量进行分析,以探讨楚科奇海的生物硅分布及硅质泵过程。结果显示,楚科奇海表层沉积物中生物硅的含量为1.23%~10.60%。高值区位于楚科奇海陆坡处72°N附近和楚科奇海南部阿纳德尔流和西伯利亚沿岸流的交界处68°N附近,低值区位于楚科奇海东部阿拉斯加沿岸流影响区域,其生物硅含量小于3%。楚科奇海表层沉积物中生物硅的分布与上层水体的初级生产力的分布格局较一致,而影响上层水体浮游植物生产的两个重要因素分别为楚科奇海环流格局(尤其是太平洋入流水的影响)和海冰融化。生物硅和有机碳之间存在很好的正相关关系,表层沉积物中蛋白石/有机碳(Sibio/Corg)的比值为1.6~2.02,与北太平洋中该比例相当,表明上层海洋硅质泵过程对楚科奇海碳埋藏的贡献较大,使得楚科奇海成为全球海洋吸收大气CO2重要的汇之一。     

海洋沉积物中生物成因Ba的海洋生产力研究

一直以来,对海洋古生产力的研究是古海洋学研究领域中一个非常重要的分支,因而寻求反演海洋古生产力替代性指标成为了海洋工作者的首要任务.沉积物中有机碳、钙质生物、硅质生物及其碳、氧同位素组成等经典的海洋生产力指标早已确立,但这些与浮游生物直接相关的替代指标因其在海底沉积物中低的保存率,限制了它们在广阔海域中的应用.一些与生...     

全球海洋硅循环及研究中面临的主要挑战

海洋硅循环是海洋生物地球化学循环的关键过程之一,对调控全球二氧化碳浓度、海洋酸碱度和多种元素(氮、磷、铁、铝等)的循环具有重要作用。在当今气候变化和人类活动影响日益增强的背景下,硅循环与“生物泵”及碳循环的紧密联系,是其成为地球科学领域研究热点的主要原因。海洋中硅的外部来源主要为河流、地下水、大气沉降、海底玄武岩风化作用和海底热液输送5个途径,在全球气温变暖趋势的影响下,极地冰川融化成为高纬度海域不可忽视的硅源。生物硅在沉积物中的埋藏、硅质海绵和生物硅的反风化作用是重要的海洋硅移除过程。海洋硅循环过程复杂,受生物(生物吸收、降解)、物理(吸附、溶解)和化学(矿化分解和反风化作用)多重因素的影响,针对海洋硅循环关键过程的研究有助于综合评估海洋硅的“源-汇”和收支。本文总结了海洋硅循环的主要过程及海洋硅的收支,根据国际和国内研究现状讨论了当前海洋硅循环研究中面临的主要问题和挑战。现有研究成果显示,海洋硅的外源输入和输出通量比以往的评估分别增加了2.4和2.2倍。在短时间尺度内(<8 ka),全球海洋中硅的收支大致平衡,海洋硅循环基本处于稳定状态。气候变化和人类活动导致河流输送至陆架边缘海的硅通量发生变化,可能影响硅藻等海洋浮游植物种群结构,是未来海洋硅循环研究需要关注的问题之一。陆架边缘海较高沉积速率和强烈的反风化作用提高了该区域生物硅的埋藏效率,准确评估该区域生物硅的埋藏通量仍是亟须解决的难题。目前的研究评估了全球海洋浮游硅藻、硅质海绵以及放射虫生产力,而海洋底栖硅藻生产力的贡献受到忽视,未来需要关注底栖硅藻对生物硅的贡献及其在海洋硅的生物地球化学过程中的作用。     

南海表层沉积物中生物钡的分布特征及其与初级生产力的关系

分析了南海东部53个站位表层沉积物中生物钡、铝以及有机碳和生物硅等生源物质的分布特征。结果表明,南海东部表层沉积物中的有机碳含量在研究区的北部陆架区出现高值,而在吕宋岛以西的深海则最低;生物硅的平面分布则表现为在吕宋岛以西的深海低沉积速率区出现高值,而低值则出现在高沉积速率的北部海域;生物钡的平面分布与生物硅的分布特征相似,高值出现在吕宋岛以西的深海区,且表现出自北而南沉积物中生物钡的含量逐渐增加的趋势。研究区内初级生产力表现为从北向南增加的趋势,而沉积物中生物钡的含量也呈现相似的趋势,表明沉积物中生物钡的含量和上层水体的生产力有一定的相关性。但表层沉积物中生物钡与有机碳呈弱的负相关关系,而与生物硅显著相关,且生物钡和生物硅与水深的相关性均呈现显著的相关性。因此,在采用沉积物中生物钡含量研究南海上层水体初级生产力时应谨慎对待。     

基于生物硅记录的孟加拉湾东南部末次冰期以来的古生产力变化

基于生物硅含量变化,结合碳酸钙和硅质生物放射虫数据,本文揭示了孟加拉湾东南部末次冰期以来的生产力演变规律及其气候响应。研究区域的古生产力演化大致分为3个阶段,即生产力相对低的末次冰期(56~18 ka)、生产力呈阶段性增加的末次冰消期(18~10 ka)以及高生产力的全新世。进一步地,研究发现末次冰期沉积物中放射虫物种主要是具有硅化程度较高的矢状环形结构的轭环虫/双篮虫属占据绝对优势(约60%)、少见硅化程度轻的纤细结构,推测末次冰期沉积物中硅质生物壳体受到明显溶解作用影响,尽管如此,末次冰期碳酸钙含量约20%、生物硅含量3.5%~4.4%、放射虫丰度1 000~6 000枚·g^-1,表明孟加拉湾东南部末次冰期以来的生产力一直处于相对较高的水平,营养盐物质丰富、生物量较高。该结论得到放射虫群落结构中罩笼虫目高相对丰度(>50%)的数据支持,其被认为是营养盐丰富的指标。此外,末次冰消期生物硅含量的阶段性波动变化现象,可能是受千年尺度气候事件的调控引起的,即Heinrich1(HS1)和新仙女木(YD)时期生产力增高、生物量增加,推测与陆源有机物质的输入带来丰富的营养物质进入上层水体、南极中层水入侵带来中层水通风增强促进硅质生物生产力的升高有关。     

古海洋生产力指标研究进展

寻求反映古海洋生产力变化的指标是古海洋学研究的重要内容。生物沉积物、营养元素、微量元素和同位素、古生物资料等与古海洋生产力具有一定的关系,常用于古海洋生产力的重建工作:(1)生物沉积物主要包括有机碳、生物碳酸盐和生物硅质沉积等,其埋藏速率在很大程度上受到古海洋生产力的控制,常常用作古海洋生产力的替代性指标;(2)在地质时间尺度上,古海洋生产力主要受到大洋中营养元素可利用程度的控制,因此营养元素的相关记录可以提供古海洋生产力状况的重要信息;(3)海洋中某些微量元素的地球化学行为或者与有机质的改造有关,或者受到氧化还原条件变化的控制,或者受到某种浮游生物的生长的影响,从而能够直接或者间接地指示古海洋生产力的变化;(4)海相碳酸盐和有机质的碳同位素记录,海相有机物的氮同位素比值也用以再造古生产率等古海洋学参数;(5)可以利用对微体化石丰度值及其组合反映古生产力的变化。     

晚新生代日本海古生产力演化——研究进展评述

【意义】海洋表层初级生产力及其生物泵过程是海洋碳循环的关键环节。日本海作为西北太平洋一个主要的边缘海，其晚新生代古生产力演化与区域构造/火山活动、东亚季风/西风、洋流演变、全球气候和海平面变化等密切相关，是探寻地球系统科学的极佳窗口。【进展和结论】得益于一系列国际大洋钻探计划（DSDP 31、ODP 127/128和IODP 346）等航次的相关研究，有关日本海古海洋演化，尤其是古生产力演化重建方面取得了许多重要认识。日本海古生产力的常用代用指标包括沉积物的微量元素组成、生物标志物、生源组分含量及同位素组成、微体古生物化石种属特征等。在地质时间尺度，日本海表层初级生产力主要取决于浮游生物必需的主要营养盐（氮、磷和硅）和微量营养盐（铁、锰、钴、锌、铜等），而日本海的营养盐主要通过风尘输入、火山活动、表层和深层洋流携带过来。在构造时间尺度，日本海古生产力的长期演化及其驱动机制（如风尘、火山铁肥和洋流贡献）尚不清楚，区域构造演化与海道开合、全球气候和海平面变化、火山活动及亚洲风尘输入演化等可能是关键驱动因素。在轨道—千年尺度，日本海沉积了深—浅色的韵律层，表层生产力大体表现出冰期降低而间冰期...     

近33ka以来辽河口沉积环境演变与生物硅记录

沉积物岩心记录着沉积环境的演变过程,其中生物硅(BSi)记录能反映硅质生物的生产力时间和空间变化,2012年5月在下辽河平原西南缘得到了ZK2钻孔柱状样,通过对其沉积物原位密度、生物硅、碳埋藏、粒度、AMS~(14)C和OSL测年、有孔虫鉴定、孢粉鉴定,将ZK2孔的沉积环境主要划分为上三角洲平原相沉积、海洋主导的沉积、湖相沉积、河道沉积4个沉积单元,其相应的生物硅(BSiO_2)浓度分布依次为(2.85±0.23)%、(1.55±0.10)%、(1.96±0.10)%、(0.92±0.05)%,并且生物硅的波动与颗粒有机碳浓度的波动同步。特别是在17~25 cal ka BP冰期形成的湖沼沉积出现较大的颗粒无机碳(PIC)浓度的波动,推测与当时干冷气候条件下CaCO_3过饱和从湖水中沉淀析出有关。钻孔沉积物生物硅浓度记录对格陵兰冰芯~(18)O同位素值的响应存在大约300 a的滞后现象。     

安徽巢湖平顶山剖面上二叠统大隆组有机质富集的地球生物学模式

安徽巢湖平顶山地区上二叠统大隆组主要为硅质泥岩和泥岩互层沉积。通过对该剖面微体古生物化石丰度的统计分析发现,其演化可划分出4个阶段:Ⅰ(繁盛阶段)→Ⅱ(衰亡阶段)→Ⅲ(恢复阶段)→Ⅳ(大衰亡阶段)。利用微量元素Cu、Ni和Zn估算了巢湖平顶山剖面古生产力,其平均值为1.48gC/m2d,与北美二叠系黑色页岩的古生产力平均值(1.40gC/m2d)和现代海洋大陆架的初级生产力(如委内瑞拉大陆架为1.50gC/m2d)较为一致。大隆组中有机碳质量分数为0.26%～5.49%,有机质富集程度和古生产力大小与岩性关系密切:泥岩和粉砂质泥岩里有机质最为富集且古生产力较高;而在硅质泥岩中,两者含量相对较低。分析了有机质富集过程(从生物物质到沉积有机质,再到埋藏有机质)中各环节的主要影响因素,表明海洋古生产力是有机质富集的主导因素和前提条件,直接影响沉积物中的有机质含量,而海洋表层初级生产力的大小受上升流、营养盐和海水深度等环境因素综合影响;在埋藏有机质阶段,其主控因素为沉积环境中的氧含量和沉积速率等。综合研究表明,本剖面中有机质富集为生产力模式,即:岩石中有机质的富集受古生产力的影响最大,其次为沉积环境中的氧含量。其中,古生产力由生产者贡献,但是受消费者的丰度影响较大。     

近2ka以来东海内陆架泥质区高分辨率的生物硅记录及其古生产力意义

通过对位于东海内陆架泥质区中部的MZ02孔进行粒度和生物硅分析,AMS14C测年,获得了粒度和生物硅随时间变化的高分辨率曲线.结果表明,近2 ka以来研究区沉积环境稳定,以沿岸流控制的浅海沉积为主;沉积物中生物硅含量<1.5%,属于低含量海区,主要受低硅质骨骼供给量、高溶解作用以及陆源物质冲淡作用的影响.生物硅含量及其...     

Deep-sea biogenic silica: new structural and analytical data from infrared analysis - geological implications

The main parameters of infrared spectra have been investigated for marine siliceous skeletons and for silica polymorphs. From infrared (IR)data, the mean values for the Si-O bond length (1.62 Å) and for the Si-O-Si angle (about 142°6) are inferred for biogenic silica. A model is proposed for the molecular structure of biogenic, amorphous silica, which consists of a discontinuous, three-dimensional framework of short chains of [SiO₄] tetrahedra, bounded with apical hydroxyls. According to the relationship between the structure of the silica polymorphs and their infrared spectra, it is shown that a quantitative analysis of biogenic silica seems to be possible in quartz-rich sediments. Some geological implications of these data are emphasized, including the processes of siliceous skeleton sedimentation and diagenetic evolution.     

Boron in chert and Precambrian siliceous iron formations

In order to assess the importance of siliceous sediments as a sink for oceanic B and to determine the effect of diagenesis on the mobilization of B, samples were analysed from chert nodules, bedded cherts, and siliceous banded iron formations from a variety of sedimentary environments and geologic ages. Boron analyses on bulk samples were made by prompt gamma neutron activation analysis. The distribution of B in rocks was mapped using α-track methods.Nodular Phanerozoic cherts typically contain 50–150 ppm B, and bedded cherts somewhat less. The B is initially concentrated in tests of silica-secreting organisms, but some is lost in early diagenesis as silica progressively recrystallises to quartz.Banded iron formation silica of Archean and Proterozoic age usually contains < 2 ppm B. This conforms with the view that such silica is not of biogenic origin but, since many iron formations are undoubtedly of marine origin, raises the question whether Precambrian oceans were impoverished in B. Analyses of Precambrian marine argillaceous sediments, averaging 70 ppm B, do not resolve this question.     

Lithological–Facies Features and Formation Conditions of Paleogene Zeolite-Bearing Complexes of the Eastern Ciscaucasus

Paleocene and Eocene terrigenous–siliceous complexes of the Eastern Ciscaucasus contain 18–92% zeolites represented by clinoptilolite. The studied complexes are the stratified subplatformal shallow-water subaqueous deposits with abundant authigenic silica as skeletal remains, cryptocrystalline substance, and pyroclastic material. Clinoptilolite in Paleocene–Eocene terrigenous–siliceous sediments formed from the mud solutions mainly at the expense of the labile pyroclastic material and biogenic silica. Variations in the zeolite abundance are explained by different contents of the pyroclastic material and SiO₂in the primary sediment.     

The supply and accumulation of silica in the marine environment

Rivers and submarine hydrothermal emanations supply 6.1 × 10¹⁴g SiO₂/yr to the marine environment. Approximately two-thirds of the silica supplied to the marine environment can be accounted for in continental margin and deep-sea deposits. Siliceous deep-sea sediments located beneath the Antarctic Polar Front (Convergence) account for over a fourth (1.6 × 10¹⁴g SiO₂/yr) of the silica supplied to the oceans. Deep-sea sediment accumulation rates beneath the Polar Front are highest in the South Atlantic with values as large as 53cm/kyr during the last 18.000 yr. Siliceous sediments in the Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Subarctic North Pacific accumulate 0.6 × 10¹⁴g SiO₂/yr or 10% of the dissolved silica input to the oceans. The accumulation of biogenic silica in estuarine deposits removes a maximum of 0.8 × 10¹⁴g SiO₂/yr. Although estuarine silica versus salinity plots indicate extensive removal of riverine silica from surface waters, the removal rates must be considered as maximum values because of dissolution of siliceous material in estuarine sediments and bottom waters. Siliceous sediments from continental margin upwelling areas (e.g. Gulf of California, Walvis Bay, or Peru-Chile coast) have the highest biogenic silica accumulation rates in the marine environment (69 g SiO₂ cm²/kyr). Despite the rapid accumulation of biogenic silica, upwelling areas account for less than 5% of the silica supplied to the marine environment because they are confined laterally to such small areas.     

Unraveling the atomic structure of biogenic silica: evidence of the structural association of Al and Si in diatom frustules

We used X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Al K-edge to investigate the atomic structure of biogenic silica and to assess the effect of Al on its crystal chemistry. Our study provides the first direct evidence for a structural association of Al and Si in biogenic silica. In samples of cultured diatoms, Al is present exclusively in fourfold coordination. The location and relative intensity of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) features suggests the structural insertion of tetrahedral Al inside the silica framework synthesized by the organism. In diatom samples collected in the marine environment, Al is present in mixed six- and fourfold coordination. The relative intensity of XANES structures indicates the coexistence of structural Al with a clay component, which most likely reflects sample contamination by adhering mineral particles. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy has been used to get Al-O distances in biogenic silica of cultured diatoms, confirming a tetrahedral coordination. Because of its effect on solubility and reaction kinetics of biogenic silica, the structural association between Al and biogenic silica at the stage of biosynthesis has consequences for the use of sedimentary biogenic silica as an indicator of past environmental conditions.     

陆相硅质岩成因类型及构造—气候指示意义

硅质岩形成于特定的地球化学条件,具有重要的构造—气候—成岩指示意义.我国硅质岩的研究主要集中于海相地层,陆相硅质岩虽分布广泛但研究却很薄弱,成因解释由于借鉴海相燧石经验,以地球化学分析为首要手段,结论存在片面性和单一性,可能会引起古老大陆重要气候—构造—环境信息的遗漏缺失.国内外陆相硅质岩全面调研表明,陆相燧石主要存在...     

南秦岭地区下寒武统水沟口组黑色岩系成因及其沉积环境

早寒武世全球广泛发育的黑色岩系记录了重要海洋环境信息。为了解决该时期黑色岩系成因模式和沉积环境问题,本文选取南秦岭淅川—内乡地区下寒武统水沟口组黑色岩系为研究对象,通过剖面详测、薄片鉴定、电子探针和主微量元素等岩石学-地球化学分析方法,对其物质来源、形成机制和沉积环境进行分析。研究表明:水沟口组黑色岩系普遍具有海相硅质岩典型特征—微晶石英结构,并具有与海水一致的稀土标准化曲线和低的总稀土值,指示其形成于海水环境;电子探针下发现黑色岩系富含与热液有关的重晶石、萤石矿物,和与生物相关的磷灰石、黄铁矿矿物,同时黑色岩系成因判别图解中绝大部分样品落入生物成因区域,少数落入热液成因内,指示硅质来源以生物成因硅为主并含少量热液硅;样品高V/(V+Ni)、Ni/Co比值和氧化还原敏感元素(Mo、U、V等)不同程度富集指示较强的还原环境,结合黑色岩系形成环境判别图得出该套岩系形成于大陆边缘—深海盆地区域内还原—缺氧的滞流水体环境。综上得出水沟口组黑色岩系形成时洋底热液活动频繁,深部流体上涌带来大量营养物质使得浅海生物繁盛,海水中硅在生物作用和热液影响下促使硅质胶体颗粒化学沉淀,并随洋流在远离热液中心的...     

Production and pelagic dissolution of biogenic silica in the Southern Ocean

Vertical distributions of particulate silica, and of production and dissolution rates of biogenic silica, were determined on two N-S transects across the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the austral spring of 1978. Particulate silica profiles showed elevated levels in surface water and near the bottom, with low (35–110 nmol Si · 1^?1) and vertically uniform values through the intervening water column. Both the particulate silica content of the upper 200 m and the production rate of biogenic silica in the photic zone increased from north to south, reaching their highest values near the edge of the receding pack ice. A significant, but variable, fraction (18–58%) of the biogenic silica produced in the surface layer was redissolving in the upper 90–98 m. Net production of biogenic silica in the surface layer (production minus dissolution) was proceeding at a mean rate of ca. 2 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1. This is ca. 4 times greater than the most recent estimate of the mean accumulation rate of siliceous sediments beneath the ACC. We estimate, based on mass balance, that the mean dissolution rate of biogenic silica in subsurface water column in the Southern Ocean is 1.2–2.9 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1.     

Silicification in the Belt Supergroup (Mesoproterozoic), Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Nodular cherts can provide a window on the original sediment composition, diagenetic history and biota of their host rock because of their low susceptibility to further diagenetic alteration. The majority of Phanerozoic cherts formed by the intraformational redistribution of biogenic silica, particularly siliceous sponge spicules, radiolarian tests and diatom frustules. In the absence of a biogenic silica source, Precambrian cherts necessarily had to have had a different origin than Phanerozoic cherts. The Mesoproterozoic Belt Supergroup in Glacier National Park contains a variety of chert types, including silicified oolites and stromatolites, which have similar microtextures and paragenesis to Phanerozoic cherts, despite their different origins. Much of the silicification in the Belt Supergroup occurred after the onset of intergranular compaction, but before the main episode of dolomitization. The Belt Supergroup cherts probably had an opal-CT precursor, in the same manner as many Phanerozoic cherts. Although it is likely that Precambrian seas had higher silica concentrations than at present because of the absence of silica-secreting organisms, no evidence was observed that would suggest that high dissolved silica concentrations in the Belt sea had a significant widespread effect on silicification. The rarity of microfossils in Belt Supergroup cherts indicates that early silicification, if it occurred, was exceptional and restricted to localized environments. The similarity of microtextures in cherts of different ages is evidence that the silicification process is largely controlled by host carbonate composition and dissolved silica concentration during diagenesis, regardless of the source of silica.     

The occurrence and significance of biogenic opal in the regolith

Biogenic opal produced by vascular plants, diatoms, and siliceous sponges have been found in soils and terrestrial sediments of all continents except Antarctica since the middle of the 19th century. The opal particles range in size from fine silt to fine sand. Almost all soils contain detectable opal up to levels of 2–3%, and a significant number contain values in excess of 5%. Even higher values have been found from soils and sediments of all continents in a wide range of soil types. The most important factor is poor soil drainage and seasonal to permanent water logging. This encourages the proliferation of silica producing organisms. Such conditions have been found in the soils and aquatic sediments of the monsoonal tropics, tropical rain forests, temperate forests, tropical savanna, tropical islands, semi-arid grasslands and savanna, and temperate woodland and grassland. The presence of a volcanic substrate also appears favourable in some cases, but is not necessary. Biogenic opal preferentially collects in the A horizon of soils and, to a lesser extent, in the B horizon. This preferential distribution facilitates identification of palaeosols in stacked soil sequences. Biogenic opal is also a component of windblown dust, even in arid environments. Biogenic opal is significant to regolith processes in a number of ways. Firstly, as in the case in marine environments, it is likely to be important in silica cycling and storage because of its greater lability compared to quartz. Secondly, dissolution and reprecipitation of opal A as opal CT or micro-quartz may play a role in cementation and silicification of regolith to form silica hardpans and silcrete. Thirdly, the organisms that form biogenic opal can have considerable palaeoenvironmental significance and be valuable in reconstructing regolith evolution. Finally, some forms of biogenic silica, in particular sponge spicules, can present a health hazard. Their high abundance in some soils and sediments needs to be considered when assessing the health implications of airborne dust.