Distribution of arsenic and other trace elements in the Holocene sediments of the Meghna River Delta, Bangladesh

Geochemical study of the Holocene sediments of the Meghna River Delta, Chandpur, Bangladesh was conducted to investigate the distribution of arsenic and related trace and major elements. The work carried out includes analyses of core sediments and provenance study by rare earth element (REE) analysis. Results showed that the cores pass downward from silty clays and clays into fine to medium sands. The uppermost 3 m of the core sediments are oxidized [average oxidation reduction potential (ORP) + 230 mV], and the ORP values gradually become negative with depths (−45 to −170 mV), indicating anoxic conditions prevail in the Meghna sediments. The REE patterns of all lithotypes in the study areas are similar and are comparable to the average upper continental crust. Arsenic and other trace elements (Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr) have greater concentrations in the silts and clays compared to those in the sands. Positive correlation between As and Fe was found in the sediments, indicating As may be adsorbed on Fe oxides in aquifer sediments.     

Experimental evaluation of shear strength behaviour of plastic and non-plastic silts

Silt is available in many parts of the world in combination with sands and clays. However, due to lack of clear understanding of its engineering behaviour, most of the time it is interpreted in terms of either sands or clays. Structures that are usually built on silty soils are designed to take into account design procedures developed for sandy or clayey soils. Presence of silts in combination with varying amount of sand and clays produces silt that is either plastic or non-plastic in nature. Silt is available in and around the Delhi region, in a majority mixture along with fine sands, which is non-plastic in nature. On the other hand silty deposits found in offshore Bombay High region are found in abundance along with significant amounts of clays and are termed as plastic silts. In this paper a comparison of the stress-strain behaviour of plastic and non-plastic silts is carried out under triaxial compression loading during both drained and undrained conditions. Two representative samples each from Delhi and Bombay High regions were considered for this comparison and results of stress-strain under four sets of confining pressure are discussed in detail. It is observed from this study that behaviour of silts is mainly dependent on the composition and structure of the resultant soil matrix. It is concluded from the results that shear strength parameters as well as volume change/pore pressure response of silty soils is dominated by the constituent soil present along with the silt. It is seen from the comparative behaviour of non-plastic and plastic silts that the presence of sand and clays has a governing effect on pore pressure development and the resultant friction angle. The study also corroborated that the nature of silt is transitional both in the case of plastic and non-plastic forms.     

Stratigraphy and radiolarians of upper cretaceous sedimentary cover of the Arakapas ophiolite massif (Cyprus)

In the basal interval, sedimentary cover of the Arakapas ophiolite massif (southern Cyprus) is composed of metalliferous sediments of the Perapedhi Formation that is divided into three sequences based on diverse radiolarian assemblages. These are basal umbers of the Cenomanian age presumably (2–20 m), interlayering cherts and umbers of the Turonian-Coniacian (6–10 m), and opoka-like cherts of the Coniacian-Santonian. Higher in the succession, there are olistostrome deposits of the Moni Formation, which unconformably rest on the eroded underlying strata. In this formation also divisible into three sequences, the lower one 200 to 300 m thick is composed of variegated, presumably Campanian silty clays containing olistoliths of basic, presumably Upper Triassic volcanics, Lower Cretaceous sandstones, and opoka-like cherts and cherty limestones of the Albian-lower Cenomanian. Next sequence (100–200 m) is represented by alternation of variegated silty and green bentonitic clays of the Campaian, which enclose frequent olistoliths and horizons of fine-clastic olistostrome breccias. The upper sequence of upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian bentonitic clays (50–100 m) contains interlayers of ash tuffs and clayey cherty sediments. Carbonate deposits of the upper Maastrichtian-Paleogene, conformably overlie the Moni Formation.     

Late-glacial and Holocene sedimentation and fluctuations of river water level in the Caquetá River area (Colombian Amazonia)

The sequence of Late-glacial and Holocene alluvial sedimentation in the middle Caquetá River Basin of Colombian Amazonia is described, based on the study of the sediments and palynology of several river bank sections and on 30 radiocarbon dates. An early Late-glacial sedimentation cycle is recognised, followed by a minor late Late-glacial erosion phase. The Holocene valley fill consists of grey clays (often present in the lower part of the sections) deposited in open water and silty clays often with faint yellow mottling, deposited under a regime of seasonal flooding. The base of the Holocene sections is formed by sands, where exposed. In two places the transition of sand to open-water grey clay was dated around 10 000 yr BP and there is a suggestion that open water may have been more common at the beginning of the Holocene than later, when sedimentation by seasonal flooding became important. In many places much of the earlier Holocene sediments may have been removed by erosion and replaced by younger sediments, by a process of lateral aggradation. A considerable part of the present valley fill is younger than ca. 3500 yr. However, in several places older Holocene sediments are found, apparently only little affected by later erosion, lying below younger varzea silty clays. During the Holocene more organic sediments were formed in periods with reduced river discharge, related to drier climates in the Andes and possibly in Amazonia. These dry periods, deduced from data in the Caquetá River area, correspond well with dry phases in other parts of northwestern South America (e.g. between approximately 2700-1900 yr BP and approximately 3200-3800 yr BP). Rates of average net sedimentation, calculated from dated sections that apparently lack major hiatuses caused by erosion, were high in the lower Holocene, low during the middle Holocene and increase again in the upper Holocene. Levee deposits became coarser and the high river level of the Caquetá increased during the late Holocene. These phenomena may be explained by the increasing influence of man on the vegetation cover in the Andean headwater areas and possibly also in the Amazonian catchment area of the Caquetá River.     

The hydrodynamic and sedimentary setting of nearshore coral reefs, central Great Barrier Reef shelf, Australia: Paluma Shoals, a case study

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) shelf contains a range of coral reefs on the highly turbid shallow inner shelf, where interaction occurs with terrigenous sediments. The modern hydrodynamic and sedimentation regimes at Paluma Shoals, a shore‐attached ‘turbid‐zone’ coral reef, and at Phillips Reef, a fringing reef located 20 km offshore, have been studied to document the mechanisms controlling turbidity. At each reef, waves, currents and near‐bed turbidity were measured for a period of ≈1 month. Bed sediments were sampled at 135 sites. On the inner shelf, muddy sands are widespread, with admixed terrigenous and carbonate gravel components close to the reefs and islands, except on their relatively sheltered SW side, where sandy silty clays occur. At Paluma Shoals, the coral assemblage is characteristic of inner‐shelf or sheltered habitats on the GBR shelf (dominated by Galaxea fascicularis, up to >50% coral cover) and is broadly similar to that at Phillips Reef, further offshore and in deeper water. The sediments of the Paluma Shoals reef flats consist of mixed terrigenous and calcareous gravels and sands, with intermixed silts and clays, whereas the reef slope is dominated by gravelly quartz sands. The main turbidity‐generating process is wave‐driven resuspension, and turbidity ranges up to 175 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). In contrast, at Phillips Reef, turbidity is <15 NTU and varies little. At Paluma Shoals, turbidity of >40 NTU probably occurs for a total of >40 days each year, and relatively little time is spent at intermediate turbidities (15–50 NTU). The extended time spent at either low or high turbidities is consistent with the biological response of some species of corals to adopt two alternative mechanisms of functioning (autotrophy and heterotrophy) in response to different levels of turbidity. Sedimentation rates over periods of hours may reach the equivalent of 10 000 times the mean global background terrigenous flux (BTF) of sediment to the sea floor, i.e. 10 000 BTF, over three orders of magnitude greater than the Holocene average for Halifax Bay of <3 BTF. As elsewhere along the nearshore zone of the central GBR, dry‐season hydrodynamic conditions form a primary control upon turbidity and the distribution of bed sediments. The location of modern nearshore coral reefs is controlled by the presence of suitable substrates, which in Halifax Bay are Pleistocene and early Holocene coarse‐grained (and relatively stable) alluvial deposits.     

Deglaciation of the southeastern Norwegian Sea towards the end of the last glacial age

In a region of generally thin Holocene sediment cover along the outer Norwegian continental margin, a 565 cm long piston core was taken, which contained more than 4 m of Holocene clayey silty sediments. A several decimetres thick sandy horizon separated the glacial marine clays with ice-dropped components and the fine-grained Holocene sediments which have bulk sedimentation rates of more than 40 cm/1000 years. The scarcity of biogenous sediment components in the glacial sediments and the increasing frequency of benthonic as well as planktonic fossils in the Holocene deposits points to important changes in the Norwegian Sea hydrography during the time of the Scandinavian deglaciation.     

云南异龙湖沉积物粒度空间变化特征及其环境指示意义

文章以滇东南浅水湖泊异龙湖作为研究对象,通过对湖泊不同位置的40个表层沉积物样品进行粒度测试,结合流域自然地理要素和人类活动特征,分析了异龙湖表层沉积物粒度空间分布特征,并探讨了其影响因素。结果表明,异龙湖表层沉积物沉积类型主要有粘土质粉砂、粉砂质粘土以及砂-粉砂-粘土3种,其中以粘土质粉砂类型为主,其次为粉砂质粘土。粉砂（4~63 μm）为异龙湖表层沉积物优势粒径成分,其含量介于57.08%~82.41%,其次为粘土（小于4 μm）,介于11.22%~35.58%,砂组分（大于63 μm）含量最低,含量介于0.16%~25.80%。异龙湖表层沉积物具有明显的空间分布特征,其中粉砂类似同心圆的空间分布特征,其含量由湖区的中间地带分别向西北、西南、东南3个方向递增;而粘土含量则呈现出相反的趋势。由于受断层影响,异龙湖表层沉积物各粒度组分形成了西北、东南两个相对对称的区域;西北湖区沉积物粒度分布特征同时受自然环境与人类活动的影响,沉积物类型主要有粘土质粉砂和粉砂质粘土,其中以粘土质粉砂为主;而东南深水湖区由于受人为干扰因素较弱,可以视为认识自然状态下物质搬运过程、探讨水动力特征以及研究自然湖泊沉积和气候变化的理想场所。

     

Prediction of piezometric surfaces and drain spacing for horizontal drain design

Horizontal drains, used independently or as part of a more complex remediation scheme, are frequently installed to mitigate the effects of increased groundwater in slope stabilization projects. Due to a general trial and error approach to their design, the need for improved design practices has been recognized. The procedures established by Crenshaw and Santi in 2004 made some advances in this direction, but did not account for slopes with drains that were not horizontal or for sloping low-permeability layers underneath the slide mass. Furthermore, the method outlined by Crenshaw and Santi is time-consuming and requires some trial and error calculations to achieve convergence. Therefore, the method has been modified to account for nonhorizontal elements, and a horizontal drain spreadsheet has been developed to streamline the design for projects where horizontal drains will be installed. The horizontal drain spreadsheet may be used to: (1) predict a conservative piezometric profile in a drained slope for use in slope stability analyses, (2) predict piezometric heads in any single piezometer in a drainage field, and (3) predict drain spacing for design purposes. This document explains the revisions to Crenshaw and Santi’s procedures and provides instructions for applying the method. The instructions may be used for hand calculations, but are specifically intended for use with the horizontal drain spreadsheet. The spreadsheet may be used for slopes composed of silty or clayey sands, silts, and silty or sandy clays.     

The nature of metals—sediment—water interactions in freshwater bodies,with emphasis on the role of organic matter

A review with 227 references of the title subject is presented. It is divided into two main sections, viz., nature and properties of humic matter, and water—metal—sediment interactions.The first section deals with the essential properties of organic matter which occurs naturally in drainage sediments and waters. Discussion of the basic molecular structure of humic and fulvic acids is followed by some details of the chemical nature of functional groups within these structures which are important in metal-ion adsorption and complexing reactions which these materials can undergo. Information is also presented for colloidal and polyelectrolyte properties, complexation properties, and finally a summary discussion of metal-ion—humic-acid, metal-ion—fulvic-acid stability constants for both single ligand and mixed ligand systems completes the section.The second section comprises discussions of some specific aspects of interactions between metals, sediments and waters, including metal and organic speciation studies; sorption interactions between organic matter, clays and humic acids; chemical reaction between humic acids, heavy-metal minerals, clays and other silicate minerals; metal-ion adsorption—desorption studies, oxidation—reduction reactions between metal ions and humic acids; effects of sulphide ion on some of the above interactions and finally a summary of some relevant field geochemical dispersion studies.This second section describes both laboratory and field studies for each aspect.     

扁铲侧胀试验在滨海沉积软土中的应用

通过运用扁铲侧胀仪(DMT)在长江入海口滨海沉积软土中进行的原位测试,获得滨海沉积软土中扁铲侧胀试验各指标参数的变化规律。扁铲侧胀试验与静力触探试验结果一致,试验结果可靠,且扁铲侧胀试验可以快速地获取侧向基床反力系数KH,为桩基础的设计提供可靠的依据。对比旁压试验结果,扁铲侧胀试验得到的KH值常常偏大。在粘土层、粘质粉土夹粉质粘土、淤泥质粉质粘土、粘质粉土、淤泥质粘土等土层中KH与真实值相差较小,可以使用,但实际应用中应同时结合规范使用;而在砂质粉土和粉砂等土层中KH与真实值相差较大,不宜使用。     

A highlight of environmental and engineering geology in Fargo, North Dakota, USA

Several unfavorable environmental and engineering geologic conditions exist in Fargo, North Dakota. Dominantly, the behavior of smectitic clays within the proglacial Lake Agassiz sediments of the Sherack and Brenna Formations creates subsoil instability beneath engineered structures in the Fargo area and slope instability within cutbank meanders of the Red River of the North. Unfavorable engineering geologic conditions encountered include: the elastic deformation of clayey glaciolacustrine soils, shrink-swell properties, inadequate bearing capacities, and mass movements. These conditions are responsible for structural failures including the Fargo Grain Elevator in 1955 and the Northern Pacific railroad grade. Bank failures along the Red River are common due to the inherent instability of Brenna Formation smectitic clays which are subject to plastic deformation in the subsurface, with resultant block failure of overlying Sherack Formation. Recent alluvial sediments due to typical fluvial action and the continued seasonal saturation of cutbank meanders within the floodplain also add to soil instability.     

Hydrogeophysical investigations for assessing the groundwater potential in part of the Peshawar basin,Pakistan

A large number of valleys and basin systems are present in the northwestern part of the Himalayas in Pakistan which form significant aquifers in the region. Hydrogeophysical investigations in the western part of Nowshera District, a part of the intermontane Peshawar basin, were undertaken to help to determine the availability of groundwater resources in the region. Thirty vertical electrical resistivity soundings (VES) were acquired using a Schlumberger expanding array configuration with a maximum current electrode spacing (AB/2) of 150 m in delineating the groundwater potential in the study area. The results of the interpreted VES data using a combination of curve matching technique and computer iterative modeling methods suggest that the area is underlain by 3 to 5 geo-electric layers. The interpretation results showed that the geo-electrical succession consists of alluvium comprising of alternating layers of clay, silty clay, fine to coarse sands, sand with gravels and gravels of variable thickness. High subsurface resistivity values are correlated with gravel–sand units and low resistivity values with the presence of clays and silts. The modeled VES results were correlated with the pumping tests results and lithological logs of the existing wells. The pumping test suggests the transmissivity of the aquifer sediments is variable corresponding to different sediments within the area. The gravel–sand intervals having high resistivity value show high transmissivity values, whereas clay–silt sediments show low transmissivities. It is concluded that majority of the high resistive gravel–sand sediments belong to an alluvial fan environment. These gravel–sand zones are promising zones for groundwater abstraction which are concentrated in the central part of the study area.     

Geophysical response of slackwater and sandy terrace deposits near Savanna, Northwestern Illinois

Low-permeability clayey and silty river terrace deposits are an important component in protecting underlying aquifers from contamination by agrochemicals and other contaminants. Such deposits also record deglaciation dynamics, meltwater drainage and local climatic variations. In this study, conducted over Mississippi River terraces near Savanna, Illinois, clayey slackwater terrace deposits and sandy terrace deposits are examined using resistivity soundings, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles and direct-push conductivity logs. The clayey terrace deposits are characterized by low resistivity (10–35 ohm-m) and slow GPR wave velocity (0.07 m/ns), whereas non-clayey terrace deposits exhibit much higher resistivity (169–1,762 ohm-m) and faster GPR wave velocities (0.15 m/ns). Sandy and clayey terrace deposits may thus be differentiated and mapped on the basis of their geophysical response. Models based on resistivity soundings provide reasonably accurate estimates of the thickness of clayey slackwater deposits, but fail to reveal thin sands embedded in the clayey deposits. In some cases, the full thickness of the slackwater deposits was also not revealed. GPR profiles, however, imaged these embedded shallow sands and possibly imaged deeper sands below the base of the slackwater deposits, giving more accurate estimates of thickness. GPR also accurately resolved the thickness and character of sandy terrace deposits. Direct-push conductivity logs provide both accurate estimates of the thickness of clayey slackwater terrace deposits and a means of identifying thin embedded sands. In summary, resistivity soundings image these deposits at the lowest resolution with one-dimensional models, whereas GPR provides much higher resolution showing detailed layering within the upper several meters. Direct-push conductivity logs provide the highest resolution, but are invasive and only reveal stratigraphy at one location.     

n-Paraffins in the sediments and in situ fossils of the Lake Turkana Basin,Kenya

Residual hydrocarbons were extracted from a number of vertebrate fossils and their surrounding sediments collected at six sites in the Plio-Pleistocene sediments of paleo-Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. Gas chromatographic separation of these alkane fractions showed three recognizable suites of hydrocarbons, a C-15 to C-19 group derived from algae, a C-20 to C-30 group with no odd/ even preference derived from microbial action on soil organics, and a C-21 to C-35 group with high odd/even preference derived from plant waxes. No alkanes identifiable as being derived from the original animal fats were observed. The plant wax alkanes and microbial hydrocarbons were nearly ubiquitous, in sands, silts, clays and the fossils. The algal hydrocarbons, on the other hand, were found only in the sands and silts. There were no consistent differences between the hydrocarbon content of the fossils and the surrounding sediments. There were great local variations in alkane distribution, but no patterns were discernible. The total hydrocarbon content of these arid region sediments is almost vanishingly small compared to sediments in more temperate climates.     

饱和层状砂土液化特性的动三轴试验研究

利用GDS动三轴试验系统采用等幅循环应变加载方式对含有不同厚度粉土的饱和层状砂土进行了液化强度试验。分析了均匀砂和含有不同粉粒层厚度的层状砂土在循环荷载作用下的变形和力学特性。试验分析表明：由于含粉粒夹层的层状土特殊的土体结构,其孔隙水压力发展规律与一般的无黏性砂土不同;饱和层状砂土的抗液化强度并不是随着粉粒层厚度的增加而单调增加的,而是存在一个临界点;液化临界剪应变的大小与液化判别标准和循环次数有很大关系。试验结果表明,粉粒夹层对层状砂土的液化特性有很大的影响,且更能模拟自然环境条件下的层状砂土地基液化特性。     

海相细粒沉积层理类型及其油气勘探开发意义

海相细粒沉积层理是恢复沉积环境的重要标志,更是影响着细粒沉积岩的储层品质及可压裂性。细粒物质通过生物作用、生物化学作用和机械分化作用形成之后,以单颗粒、絮凝颗粒、泥岩内碎屑、岩屑、有机—矿物集合体（“海洋雪”）及浮游动物粪球粒等形式,通过风力、低密度流、重力及底流等搬运至海洋,最终以垂直沉降和/或侧向加积的方式沉降下来。细粒物质可形成2种纹层（泥纹层和粉砂纹层）、2种纹层组（泥纹层组和粉砂纹层组）和2种层（递变层和均质层）,并构成5大类层理（块状层理、递变层理、韵律层理和年纹层、水平层理和交错层理）。黑色海相细粒岩泥纹层和粉砂纹层由于物质组成、孔隙类型及结构、面孔率、孔径分布、微裂缝类型及密度等差异,从而造成不同层理类型细粒岩储层品质差异。同时,不同层理细粒岩由于纹层发育程度、单纹层厚度、泥纹层和粉砂纹层比例、连续性、形态和几何关系等差异,从而造成其岩石力学性质及裂缝扩展规律差异。     

南海北部DSH-1C柱状样晚更新世以来沉积物磁性特征及其环境意义

对取自南海北部陆坡“海洋四号沉积体”的DSH-1C柱状样,进行了沉积学和磁学分析,结合相关资料探讨了该柱状样沉积物磁性特征的纵向变化及其与该区沉积环境变化的关系。结果表明：DSH-1C柱状样自上而下共划分为3个岩性单元,表层沉积物为全新世氧同位素1期(MIS1)以粘土质粉砂为主的深海-半深海沉积;中部含数层重力流沉积夹层为晚更新世氧同位素2期(MIS2)沉积;底部为晚更新世氧同位素3期(MIS3)粘土质粉砂。该柱状样磁化率(χ)平均值为1.72×10-7 m3/kg。所有样品的等温剩磁(IRM)均已达到饱和等温剩磁(SIRM)的80%以上,S300的最小值为0.605。该柱状样沉积物中的磁性矿物极少,以低矫顽力矿物为主;在陆源物质输入较多的间冰期(MIS1和MIS3期),其磁性参数值较高;反之,在MIS2其磁性参数值较低,可能与冰期该区陆源物质减少有关。此外,该岩心柱中富含有孔虫壳体或双壳碎屑的重力流层沉积物的磁性参数值低,与这些逆磁性碳酸盐组分的增加有关。     

海南三亚海域沉积物分布特征及其沉积环境指示

2015—2016年开展1：5万三亚海岸带综合地质调查,在三亚近岸海域采集328站位表层沉积物、完成5站位定点海流观测,获取了三亚海域表层沉积物粒度分布特征和水动力特征,并研究其指示的沉积环境。结果表明,研究区沉积物类型主要是粘土质粉砂、砂、砂质粉砂、砾石质砂、粉砂和粉砂质砂,其中粘土质粉砂是最主要沉积物类型,平均粒径为0.22~7.37φ。沉积物输运趋势显示,沿岸不同岸段出现侵蚀淤积趋势,东西瑁洲岛离岸输运,研究区南部存在多个沉积中心。海流结果表明,研究区属往复流,涨潮方向为西北向,落潮方向为东南向,余流方向主要为东南向。对水深、沉积物粒度参数进行了主成分分析和聚类分析,综合考虑水动力、物源和地形因素及其相互作用,将研究区划分为3类沉积环境。这种划分方法能揭示不同控制因素下的沉积环境差异,研究结果可为三亚海域生态环境保护、海洋工程建设提供科学依据。     

Facies,environments and sedimentary cycles in the Middle Eocene,Bracklesham Formation of the Hampshire Basin: evidence for global sea-level changes?

The Bracklesham Formation is of Middle Eocene age and occurs throughout the Hampshire Basin of southern England. The basin is elongated east-west and filled with Lower Tertiary sediments. Its southern margin is marked by either large, northward-facing monoclines, or faults, both of which underwent differential movement, with uplift of the southern side throughout the Middle Eocene. The Bracklesham Formation, which is up to 240 m thick, shows pronounced lateral facies changes with dominantly marine sediments in the east passing to alluvial sediments in the west. Four principal sedimentary environments: marine, lagoonal, estuarine and alluvial are distinguished. Marine sediments comprise six facies including offshore silty clays and glauconitic silty sands, beach and aeolian dune sands, and flint conglomerates formed on pebble beaches. Offshore sediments predominate in the eastern part of the basin, as far west as Alum Bay, where they are replaced by nearshore sediments. Lagoonal sediments comprise four facies and formed in back-barrier lagoons, coastal marshes and, on occasions, were deposited over much of the basin during periods of low salinity and restricted tidal motion. Five estuarine facies represent tidal channels, channel mouth-bars and abandoned channels. These sediments suggest that much of the Bracklesham Formation was deposited under micro- to meso-tidal conditions. Alluvial sediments dominate the formation to the west of Alum Bay. They comprise coarse to fine sands deposited on the point-bars of meandering rivers, interbedded with thick sequences of laminated interchannel mudstones, deposited in marshes, swamps and lakes. Extensive layers of ball clay were periodically deposited in a lake occupying much of the alluvial basin. In alluvial areas, fault movement exposed Mesozoic rocks along the southern margin of the basin, the erosion of which generated fault-scarp alluvial fan gravels. Locally, pisolitic limestone formed in pools fed by springs emerging at the faulted Chalk-Tertiary contact. In marine areas, flint pebbles were eroded from coastal exposures of chalk and accumulated on pebble beaches and in estuaries. From other evidence it is suggested that older Tertiary sediments were also reworked. The Bracklesham Formation is strongly cyclic and was deposited during five marine transgressions, the effects of which can be recognized throughout the basin in both marine and alluvial areas. Each of the five transgressive cycles is a few tens of metres thick and contains little evidence of intervening major regression. The cycles are thought to represent small-scale eustatic sea-level rises (‘paracycles’) superimposed upon a major transgressive ‘cycle’ that began at the base of the Bracklesham Formation, following a major regression, and was terminated, at the top of the Barton Formation by another major regression. This major cycle can be recognized world-wide and may reflect a period of rapid northward extension of the mid-Atlantic ridge.     

Rare Earth Elements in Coal-Bearing Deposits: Distribution Features and Geochemical Significance

The examination of Lower Cretaceous coals and clayey fractions of terrigenous host rocks of the Zyryanka Basin has revealed a generally negative type of the relative REE distribution (with a predominance of LREE over HREE) and a similar behavior of Th and U. Analogous characteristics are typical for metamorphic and igneous rocks of intermediate composition dominating in the provenance. In terms of the concentration and distribution of REE, Th, and U coal-bearing terrigenous rocks of the Zyryanka Basin are close to Phanerozoic clays and silty sandstones of the Russian Platform, while coals of the Zyryanka Basin are similar to metal-free coals of various basins (Kizel, Pennsylvanian, and others). Average REE and Th contents in the studied coals are five times lower than those in host terrigenous rocks. The coals differ from these rocks by relatively elevated HREE concentrations largely due to adsorption mechanism of the HREE accumulation. Data obtained on the REE, Th, and U distribution in coals and clayey fractions of host rocks are of fundamental significance for the comparitive analysis of the behavior of these elements in metal-bearing coals of various basins.