New Data on Ferromanganese Crusts of Mendeleev Rise,Arctic Ocean

Doklady Earth Sciences - This paper considers the compositions of ferromanganese crusts and nodules (FMCNs) growing on bedrock of Mendeleev Rise, collected in 2016 using a research submarine. The...     

New data on the geological structure of the southwestern Mendeleev Rise,Arctic Ocean

This communication considers the ideas about the geological structure of the southwestern Mendeleev Rise belonging to the East Arctic rises of the Arctic Ocean. These ideas have resulted from analyzing the data obtained from bathymetric surveys, visual observations, and bottom coring using the technical tools of a research submarine. We distinguished the lower sequence of quartzite sandstones and dolomites, which has a visible thickness of about 230 m and occurs in the lowermost visible section, at depths between 1500 and 1270 m. This sequence is superimposed with stratigraphic and angular unconformity by the upper sequence of limestones and sandstones having a visible thickness of 40 m. The lower sequence is pierced by subvolcanic rocks of basaltic to andesitic composition, and in the lowermost part of the slope, a tuffaceous sequence having a visible thickness of 50 m adjoins it.     

Sedimentary Rocks in the Basement of the Alpha–Mendeleev Rise,Arctic Ocean

Lithology and Mineral Resources - The results of petrographic, petrogeochemical and isotopic studies of sedimentary rocks obtained from bedrock outcrops of the Alpha–Mendeleev Rise, Arctic...     

粘土矿物对古气候指示作用浅析

由于粘土矿物的成分、组合、含量以及结晶度的变化可以反映母源区气候冷、暖周期性变化，因此利用粘土矿物重建古气候环境近年来得到广泛的应用。然而，由于粘土矿物的敏感性，其气候记录的信息往往会被其他影响因素(如母源区、沉积环境、成岩作用等)掩盖。因此，在利用粘土矿物重建古气候环境时，需要综合考虑气候以及非气候的各种影响因素。     

New data on the age of dolerites and basalts of Mendeleev Rise (Arctic Ocean)

We present results of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isotopic investigations concerning the dating of dolerites and basalts that were sampled during the Arctica-2012 polar expedition. Basalts were sampled by means of deep underwater drilling with wells up to 2 m in outcrops on the seafloor (basalts), and dolerite samples were obtained from the bottom of an escarp of Mendeleev Rise using a manipulator on the research submarine. The analysis results of the obtained mono-mineral fractions (amphibole, plagioclase, pyroxene) from the studied rocks yielded an Early Paleozoic age of the dolerites and basalts from Mendeleev Rise. The oldest ages obtained for amphibole reach 471.5 ± 18.1 and 466.9 ± 3.3 Ma, which corresponds to the Early-Middle Ordovician. The isotopic composition of argon was measured on two mass spectrometers: the Micromass Noble Gas 5400 (UK) and the Thermo Scientific Argus (Germany). The determined Early Paleozoic age of igneous rocks of Mendeleev Rise and seismic data obtained during the last Russian expedition Arctica-2012 [2] let us suppose that this continental block of the Earth’s crust has a Precambrian basement similar to the basement identified for the New Siberian islands including the De Long archipelago.     

Stratigraphic constraints on late Pleistocene glacial erosion and deglaciation of the Chukchi margin, Arctic Ocean

At least two episodes of glacial erosion of the Chukchi margin at water depths to ∼ 450 m and 750 m have been indicated by geophysical seafloor data. We examine sediment stratigraphy in these areas to verify the inferred erosion and to understand its nature and timing. Our data within the eroded areas show the presence of glaciogenic diamictons composed mostly of reworked local bedrock. The diamictons are estimated to form during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and an earlier glacial event, possibly between OIS 4 to 5d. Both erosional events were presumably caused by the grounding of ice shelves originating from the Laurentide ice sheet. Broader glaciological settings differed between these events as indicated by different orientations of flutes on eroded seafloor. Postglacial sedimentation evolved from iceberg-dominated environments to those controlled by sea-ice rafting and marine processes in the Holocene. A prominent minimum in planktonic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O is identified in deglacial sediments at an estimated age near 13,000 cal yr BP. This δ¹⁸O minimum, also reported elsewhere in the Amerasia Basin, is probably related to a major Laurentide meltwater pulse at the Younger Dryas onset. The Bering Strait opening is also marked in the composition of late deglacial Chukchi sediments.     

北极地区区域地质及美亚海盆的演化

北冰洋是世界四大洋之一,受自然条件的限制,其地质调查和研究程度还很低。美亚海盆的形成演化,更是众说纷纭,且很少得到地质地球物理资料的支持。笔者在充分调研的基础上,试图对北极地区区域地质及美亚海盆的扩张进行综述。北冰洋张开之前,北极地区主体是北极克拉通,周边为不同时期形成的造山带,包括晚新元古代贝加尔造山带、中古生代加里东造山带、二叠纪—三叠纪海西造山带及早白垩世晚基末利造山带。美亚海盆中的阿尔法海岭、门捷列夫海岭以及楚科奇高地、Northwind脊均为陆壳,是北极克拉通的一部分。美亚海盆应是中—晚侏罗世伴随着泛大陆的裂解开始形成,但海盆的扩张方式及时间有多种不同的观点,包括晚侏罗世门捷列夫海岭从加拿大陆缘裂离及门捷列夫海岭从罗蒙诺索夫海岭裂离等。这些观点均难以解释美亚海盆的外形与地理特征。平行四边形模式,虽能较好地解释美亚海盆演化的外形特征,但其地球动力系统复杂,尚需地质地球物理资料的支持。     

Continental ridges in the Arctic Ocean: Lorex constraints

Recent multidisciplinary geophysical measurements over the Lomonosov Ridge close to the North Pole support the widely held belief that it was formerly part of Eurasia. The known lithologies, ages, P-wave velocity structure and thickness of the crust along the outer Barents and Kara continental shelves are similar to permitted or measured values of these parameters newly acquired over the Lomonosov Ridge. Seismic, gravity and magnetic data in particular show that the ridge basement is most likely formed of early Mesozoic or older sedimentary or low-grade metasedimentary rocks over a crystalline core that is intermediate to basic in composition. Short-wavelength magnetic anomaly highs along the upper ridge flanks and crest may denote the presence of shallow igneous rocks. Because of the uncertain component of ice-rafted material, seafloor sediments recovered from the ridge by shallow sampling techniques cannot be clearly related to ridge basement lithology without further detailed analysis. The ridge is cut at the surface and at depth by normal faults that appear related to the development of the Makarov Basin. This and other data are consistent with the idea that the Makarov Basin was formed by continental stretching rather than simple seafloor spreading. Hence the flanking Alpha and Lomonosov ridges may originally have been part of the same continental block. It is suggested that in Late Cretaceous time this block was sheared from Eurasia along a trans-Arctic left-lateral offset that may have been associated with the opening of Baffin Bay. The continental block was later separated from Eurasia when the North Altantic rift extended into the Arctic region in the Early Tertiary. The data suggest that the Makarov Basin did not form before the onset of rifting in the Artic.     

贵州威宁麻窝山岩溶盆地沉积物中粘土矿物特征及其古气候指示意义

利用X射线衍射等分析方法,对贵州威宁麻窝山岩溶盆地沉积物中粘土矿物进行研究,获得了粘土矿物的组成、相对含量、结晶度指数、化学指数以及相对含量比值等方面的信息,探讨该盆地的沉积环境演化特征。研究表明,粘土矿物以伊/蒙混层矿物(30%~75%)和绿泥石(10%~45%)为主,高岭石(5%~20%)和伊利石(10%)次之,基本不含蒙脱石。伊/蒙混层矿物和绿泥石含量呈负相关性。高岭石含量在剖面底部较稳定,在484cm上部出现较大的波动。伊利石结晶度和化学指数与伊/蒙混层矿物含量具有较好的正相关性,且在第Ⅰ阶段相对于其它指标较敏感,出现波动。通过综合对比分析,将研究区剖面划分为4个阶段,其是3个冷暖干湿的大循环和若干个小循环气候环境的物质记录。     

Structure and tectonic evolution of the Southern Eurasia Basin, Arctic Ocean

Multichannel seismic reflection data acquired by Marine Arctic Geological Expedition (MAGE) of Murmansk, Russia in 1990 provide the first view of the geological structure of the Arctic region between 77–80°N and 115–133°E, where the Eurasia Basin of the Arctic Ocean adjoins the passive-transform continental margin of the Laptev Sea. South of 80°N, the oceanic basement of the Eurasia Basin and continental basement of the Laptev Sea outer margin are covered by 1.5 to 8 km of sediments. Two structural sequences are distinguished in the sedimentary cover within the Laptev Sea outer margin and at the continent/ocean crust transition: the lower rift sequence, including mostly Upper Cretaceous to Lower Paleocene deposits, and the upper post-rift sequence, consisting of Cenozoic sediments. In the adjoining Eurasia Basin of the Arctic Ocean, the Cenozoic post-rift sequence consists of a few sedimentary successions deposited by several submarine fans. Based on the multichannel seismic reflection data, the structural pattern was determined and an isopach map of the sedimentary cover and tectonic zoning map were constructed. A location of the continent/ocean crust transition is tentatively defined. A buried continuation of the mid-ocean Gakkel Ridge is also detected. This study suggests that south of 78.5°N there was the cessation in the tectonic activity of the Gakkel Ridge Rift from 33–30 until 3–1 Ma and there was no sea-floor spreading in the southernmost part of the Eurasia Basin during the last 30–33 m.y. South of 78.5°N all oceanic crust of the Eurasia Basin near the continental margin of the Laptev Sea was formed from 56 to 33–30 Ma.     

Lithological and geochemical characteristics of recent and Quaternary sedimentation in the Arctic Ocean

This paper addresses some problems concerning the geologic activity of sea ice and icebergs, as well as the influence of continental and shelf glaciations on the sedimentation in the Arctic Ocean during Recent and Quaternary times. Seasonal and circumcontinental zoning is clearly manifested in the sedimentation. The role of glacial material in the modern and older sediments was estimated. Mathematical statistical methods were employed for the reliable stratigraphic subdivision of Quaternary sequences and determination of main factors controlling their chemical composition. Silica content was proposed as an optimal parameter for the lithochemostratigraphic subdivision of Quaternary sediments.     

Chemical composition of late Pleistocene-Holocene pelagic sediments in Gakkel Ridge,Arctic Ocean

The paper presents data on the chemical composition of Late Pleistocene-Holocene sediments in the Gakkel Ridge according to data on sediment core PS 70/306-3, offers a hypothetical litho-stratigraphic model, and provides data on chemo-stratigraphic horizons distinguished based on the distribution of carbonates, organic carbon, metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, V, Pb), As, and P in the core. Chemical transformations of sediments at the redox barrier are discussed, along with relations between the composition of the sediments and the facies sedimentation conditions.     

Coccolithophores as palaeoecological indicators for shifts of the ITCZ in the Cariaco Basin during the late Quaternary

Coccoliths were studied from the ODP Hole 1002C and core PL07‐39PC in the Cariaco Basin. Increases in Emiliania huxleyi are synchronous with decreases of Gephyrocapsa oceanica and vice versa. A new index (GEX) based on the relative abundances of these two taxa is proposed, and correlates with various other proxies. It is shown that GEX can serve as upwelling proxy. This confirms that the Intertropical Convergence Zone shifted north during the Bølling/Allerød, south during the Younger Dryas and back north during the Preboreal. The upwelling proxy shows few discrepancies with the terrigenous record. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation of the Eurasia Basin in the Arctic Ocean as inferred from geohistorical analysis of the anomalous magnetic field

A new combined magnetic database and a magnetic-profile map are developed for the Eurasia Basin as a result of adjusting all available historical and recent Russian and American magnetic data sets. The geohistorical analysis of magnetic data includes several steps: identification of linear magnetic anomalies along each trackline, calculation of the Euler rotation pole positions for the relative motion of the North American and Eurasian plates, analysis of temporal and spatial variations in the spreading rate, and plate reconstructions. The pattern of key Cenozoic magnetic isochrons (24, 20, 18, 13, 6, 5, 2a) is constructed for the entire Eurasia Basin. In the western half of the basin, this pattern is consistent with a recently published scheme [16]. In its eastern half, magnetic isochrons are determined in detail for the first time and traced up to the Laptev Sea shelf. The main stages in the seafloor spreading are established for the Eurasia Basin. Each stage is characterized by a specific spreading rate and the degree of asymmetry of the basin opening. The revealed differences are traced along the Gakkel Ridge. Systematic patterns in wandering of the Eurasia Basin opening pole are established for particular stages. The continent-ocean transition zone corresponding to the primary rupture between plates is outlined in the region under consideration on the basis of gravimetric data. The nature of different potential fields and bottom topography on opposite sides of the Gakkel Ridge is discussed. The characteristic features of the basin-bottom formation at main stages of its evolution are specified on the basis of new and recently published data. The results obtained are in good agreement with plate geodynamics of the North Atlantic and the adjacent Arctic basins.     

Clay minerals in recent sediments of the World Ocean and their relation to types of lithogenesis

Problem of the distribution of clay minerals in water areas of the World Ocean and their relation to different (humid, arid, and volcanosedimentary) types of lithogenesis is considered. It is shown that layer silicates can be used as index minerals for distinguishing types of lithogenesis under conditions of marine sedimentation. Humid marine lithogenesis is represented by sediments of the White, Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean seas. Genetic link of marine clay formation with soil-climatic zones is clearly manifested in recent sediments of the World Ocean. Accumulation of statistic data on the mineral composition of clays allowed us to distinguish two modes of spatial-latitudinal distribution of clay minerals: maximal concentrations of illites and chlorites are confined to high latitudes, whereas kaolinite and smectite accumulate in the equatorial zone. In the arid lithogenesis, the dependence of clay formation on drainage areas is practically absent. The whole process is realized in surficial sediments and bottom waters: under conditions of intense evaporation, especially in closed water basins, the concentration of elements in the medium is enough for the synthesis of layer silicates, such as palygorskite and sepiolite. The processes were studied based on the Paleogene Fergana Bay and bottom sediments of the Sea of Aral, as well as DSDP core materials from the Atlantic (near the western coast of Africa) and Indian (the Arabian Peninsula area) oceans. The investigation of processes of volcanosedimentary lithogenesis was carried out within the East Pacific Rise (on the basis of core materials obtained during cruises of R/V Dmitry Mendeleev and Akademik Kurchatov). The results obtained made it possible to establish authigenic (primarily celadonite) K-Fe mineralization in the most active geothermal zones. The formation of clay minerals has specific features in each of the studied (humid, arid, and volcanosedimentary) types of lithogenesis. This should be taken into consideration during the lithological investigations and the study of clay mineralogy of past geological epochs. Clay minerals (particularly, unstable mixed-layered phases) are actively used as index minerals for paleogeographic and climatologic reconstructions.     

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.     

Clay minerals in SW Indian continental shelf sediment cores as indicators of provenance and palaeomonsoonal conditions: a statistical approach

Two sediment cores from the inner continental shelf of SW India, SK‐148/13 (4.66 m long; from 50 m water depth) and SK‐148/14 (5.37 m long; from 22 m water depth), were studied for provenance and palaeomonsoonal implications. Sediment layers at different depth intervals in these cores were estimated for clay minerals and organic matter content. Five surface sediment samples from the nearby Kali River estuary of the adjacent hinterland were also analysed for clay mineral contents. In both cores and Kali River sediments, smectite is the dominant clay followed by illite, and kaolinite or chlorite. Based on the similarities of the abundances of clay minerals and their relative wt‐% in the inner shelf sediment cores and in surface sediments of the estuary as demonstrated by significance tests, Al‐rich illite, and negligible contribution of clay from the deep‐sea and aeolian sources, it can be inferred that the sediments of the two inner continental shelf cores were derived from the adjacent hinterland. Application of statistical discordancy and significance tests on the down‐core variations in the crystallinity index (CI) of illite and organic matter content in the sediment cores indicates intense monsoonal (high rainfall) conditions at the adjacent hinterland during about 4300–6200 and 9300–10,400 years BP. These inferences are comparable to those from other well‐established palaeomonsoonal indicators such as sedimentation rates and mineral magnetic properties. The CI of illite, an easily determinable and climatically sensitive parameter, can thus be a reliable palaemonsoonal indicator for inner shelf sediment cores. The statistical methodology used in this work highlights the advantages of a quantitative interpretation of the data instead of the conventional qualitative visual examination.