Climatic change recorded by stable isotopes and trace elements in a British Holocene tufa

Combined stable isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) and trace element (Mg, Sr) geochemistry from bulk tufa calcite and ostracod shell calcite from an early Holocene British tufa reveal clear records of Holocene palaeoclimatic change. Variation in δ¹⁸O is caused principally by change in the isotopic composition of Holocene rainfall (recharge), itself caused mainly by change in air temperature. The δ¹³C variability through much of the deposit reflects increasing influence of soil‐zone CO₂, owing to progressive woodland soil development. Bulk tufa Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca are controlled by their concentrations in the spring water. Importantly, Mg/Ca ratios are not related to δ¹⁸O values and thus show no temperature dependence. First‐order sympathetic relationships between δ¹³C values and Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca are controlled by aquifer processes (residence times, CO₂ degassing and calcite dissolution/reprecipitation) and probably record intensity of palaeorainfall (recharge) effects. Stable isotope records from ostracod shells show evidence of vital effects relative to bulk tufa data. The ostracod isotopic records are markedly ‘spiky’ because the ostracods record ‘snapshots’ of relatively short duration (years), whereas the bulk tufa samples record averages of longer time periods, probably decades. The δ¹⁸O record appears to show early Holocene warming, a thermal maximum at ca. 8900 cal. yr BP and the global 8200 yr BP cold event. Combined δ¹³C, Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca data suggest that early Holocene warming was accompanied by decreasing rainfall intensity. The Mg/Ca data suggest that the 8200 yr BP cold event was also dry. Warmer and wetter conditions were re‐established after the 8200 yr BP cold event until the top of the preserved tufa sequence at ca. 7100 cal. yr BP. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Environments of the climatic optimum of MIS 11 in Britain: evidence from the tufa sequence at Hitchin,southeast England

Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11, Hoxnian Interglacial) is an important interval for understanding both climate change in an interglacial partially analogous to the Holocene and the response of geomorphic processes, biotic systems, and hominin populations to these changes. In Britain, many sites correlated to MIS 11 have not been studied since the mid-20th century and require reinvestigation, including the Hitchin tufa sequence, where a rich, non-marine molluscan assemblage was originally recovered. Re-excavation of the Hitchin tufa sequence for this study was focussed on combined sedimentological, micromorphological and geochemical analyses of the deposits. These indicate that tufa formation occurred within a perched springline system under temperate climatic conditions. Shifts between paludal and fluvial tufa facies within this system occur concomitantly with changes in carbonate geochemistry, representing increased humidity caused by a change in rainfall amount or seasonality. This research enables a correlation of the sequence to the climatic optimum of MIS 11c, the main warm phase of MIS 11, and permits further insights into temperature and hydrological changes in this interval by generating the first geochemical records of hydroclimatic evolution during the MIS 11 thermal maximum in Britain.     

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.     

C and O stable isotope variability in recent freshwater carbonates (River Krka, Croatia)

Three types of recent carbonate precipitates from the River Krka, Croatia, were analysed: (1) bulk tufa from four main cascades in a 34 km long section of the river flow through the Krka National Park; (2) a laminar stromatolite‐like incrustation formed in the tunnel of a hydroelectric power plant close to the lowest cascade; and (3) recent precipitates collected on artificial substrates during winter, spring and summer periods. Stable isotope compositions of carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) in the carbonate and organic carbon (δ¹³C_org) were determined and compared with δ¹⁸O of water and δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The source of DIC, which provides C for tufa precipitation, was determined from the slope of the line ([DIC]/[DIC₀]?1) vs. (δ¹³C‐DIC × ([DIC]/[DIC₀])) ( Sayles & Curry, 1988 ). The δ¹³C value of added DIC was ?13·6‰, corresponding to the dissolution of CO₂ with δ¹³C between ?19·5 and ?23·0‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB). The observed difference between the measured and calculated equilibrium temperature of precipitation of bulk tufa barriers indicates that the higher the water temperature, the larger the error in the estimated temperature of precipitation. This implies that the climatic signals may be valid only in tufas precipitated at lower and relatively stable temperatures. The laminar crust comprising a continuous record of the last 40 years of precipitation shows a consistent trend of increasing δ¹³C and decreasing δ¹⁸O. The lack of covariation between δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O indicates that precipitation of calcite was not kinetically controlled for either of the elements. δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of precipitates collected on different artificial substrates show that surface characteristics both of substrates and colonizing biota play an important role in C and O isotope fractionation during carbonate precipitation.     

萨拉乌苏河流域MGS1层段微量元素记录的全新世千年尺度的气候变化

本文以毛乌素沙漠东南缘萨拉乌苏河流域米浪沟湾剖面MGS1层段为代表,试图通过对其的微量元素分析结果探讨该地全新世千年尺度的气候变化.在分析的14种微量元素中,除Cr和Zn以外的12种元素P、Pb、Rb、Nb、Zr、V、Sr、Cu、Ni、As、Ba、Co含量在MGS1剖面的垂直方向上具有这样的分布规律:元素含量值在沙丘砂...     

秦岭大巴山地区紫阳毒重石矿床成因: 矿石组构、氧化还原敏感元素和碳-氧同位素证据

秦岭大巴山地区钡矿资源极为丰富,以蕴含世界罕见的层状毒重石矿床为特色。本研究在紫阳毒重石矿床中发现了玫花瓣状结构,经显微镜观察和电子探针分析表明,玫花瓣体由板柱状重晶石呈放射状排列而成,与前人报道的矿物组成明显不同。紫阳灰黑色毒重石矿石有较高的V、Ni、Cr、U、Mo含量,较低的Th/U比值(<0.04),较高的V/(V+Cr)比值(>0.8)和V/(V+Ni)比值(>0.9),指示寒武纪紫阳毒重石矿床的沉积环境为较还原的环境。紫阳毒重石矿石的C同位素分布在-10.9‰~-16.0‰, O同位素分布在18.1‰~22.3‰之间,表明毒重石中CO₃^2-是有机质通过氧化作用或脱羧基(生物有机质降解)作用提供的低¹³C的碳与同期海水提供的高¹³C的水溶性HCO₃^-或CO₃^2-的混合来源。综合研究表明,该区毒重石矿床的形成可能与寒武纪早期的海底热液成矿作用有关。     

稳定同位素和微量元素在多源多汇体系中地球化学行为的理论模拟

根据地质体系多源多汇的特点,引进了一种新的定量地球化学理论模型,适用于模拟稳定同位素和微量元素在具有多个物质来源和多种分馏途径的地质体系中的变化规律。运用本文多源多汇模型研究岩浆同化-分异结晶过程中微量元素和稳定同位素的行为,所得的结果与前人AFC模型结果一致。运用此多源多汇模型对岩浆水与大气水混合过程中结晶出的石英进行模拟计算,发现其氧同位素组成随着结晶温度的降低而变大。大气中甲烷的产生和消耗有多种途径,是一种多源多汇体系,运用此模型研究它的碳同位素组成,发现其值随着甲烷总量的增多而变大。多源多汇模型不仅从更高的层次上包含了简单分馏模式、多元混合模式和AFC模式,而且可以研究这些模式不能解决的复杂地球化学过程。     

Episodic fluid migration in the Fennoscandian Shield recorded by stable isotopes, rare earth elements and fluid inclusions in fracture minerals at Forsmark, Sweden

Drilling through the Palaeoproterozoic bedrock at Forsmark, central Sweden, during the site investigation for a potential geological repository of highly radioactive nuclear waste has provided high quality drill-core material from the upper 1 km of the Fennoscandian Shield. Analyses of stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr), rare earth elements and fluid inclusions in fracture filling calcite and pyrite from these drill cores have resulted in the discrimination of several episodes of fracture mineralisations. These events represent migration of fluids during a wide range of conditions, ranging from high-temperature hydrothermal to present-day groundwater circulation. Four major events have been distinguished: 1) Precipitation of epidote, chlorite and quartz under hydrothermal conditions (T > 150–200 °C) during the Proterozoic, sometime between 1.8 and 1.1 Ga. 2) Hydrothermal circulation at temperatures close to 200 °C with precipitation of adularia, albite, prehnite, laumontite, calcite and chlorite. Most of these minerals precipitated during a tectonothermal event between 1.1 and 1.0 Ga, possibly in response to far-field effects of the Sveconorwegian orogeny. 3) Precipitation of mainly quartz, calcite, pyrite and asphaltite occurred during the Palaeozoic, at temperatures between 60 and 190 °C (mainly at < 100 °C). Mixing of a fluid emanating from an organic rich overlying sedimentary cover and a deep basinal fluid from the crystalline bedrock is suggested to have caused this precipitation, possibly as a far-field response to the Caledonian orogeny and/or the development of the Caledonian foreland basin. 4) The youngest generation of fracture minerals is associated with formation of clay minerals and calcite with minor occurrences of pyrite and goethite. These minerals have probably precipitated episodically during a long time period (possibly from the Late Palaeozoic to the present) from various fluids at low temperature conditions (< 50 °C). Few calcites in equilibrium with the present groundwater suggest that the ongoing precipitation of calcite is very limited.     

山西梨园金矿黄铁矿微量元素及S-Pb-He-Ar同位素地球化学特征及其地质意义

山西梨园金矿是近年华北克拉通内部金矿找矿的新进展,其矿化样式多,具有较高的研究价值。梨园金矿赋存于太古宙阜平群片麻岩和混合岩化花岗岩中,受区内北北东向断裂控制,主要由爆破角砾岩型的1号矿体和石英脉型的2号矿体组成。矿石矿物主要为黄铁矿、方铅矿和闪锌矿等,脉石矿物主要为石英、绢云母、钾长石等,蚀变类型主要为硅化、钾长石化、绢云母化、绿泥石化等。黄铁矿、黄铜矿和闪锌矿δ³⁴S值为0.9‰~4.3‰,平均值为3.0‰,说明硫源主要来自岩浆;方铅矿δ³⁴S值为-12.8‰~1.4‰,平均值为-4.2‰,pH值升高可能是造成方铅矿高负δ³⁴S值的原因。金属硫化物Pb同位素变化范围较小,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为16.697~16.890,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为15.239~15.267,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为42.186~45.334,均落入下地壳演化线附近,表明成矿流体运移过程中可能淋滤了富Th的下地壳物质。黄铁矿的³He/⁴He为0.27~1.04 R_a,⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar为1 194.61~5 488.80,³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar为0.204~0.218,表明成矿流体主要来源于地壳,部分来源于地幔流体,具有壳幔混合的岩浆流体特点。微量元素特征显示黄铁矿具有岩浆热液型黄铁矿的特点,辉绿岩脉和石英斑岩的部分物质可能加入了成矿过程。文章认为梨园金矿为与浅成岩浆侵入作用相关的岩浆热液型金矿床,爆破角砾岩型和石英脉型矿体不同的沉淀机制和矿物结晶过程是导致二者REE含量、S-Pb-He-Ar同位素等方面存在差异的主要原因。梨园金矿深部具有寻找细脉浸染型矿体的可能,其成矿作用是太行山中部地区燕山期构造岩浆活动的又一具体表现。     

Carbonate deposition in a fluvial tufa system: processes and products (Corvino Valley – southern Italy)

In a multi‐scale approach to the study of the organic and mineral components in an active barrage‐type tufa system of southern Italy, neo‐formed deposits, in both natural depositional sites and on inorganic substrates placed in the stream for this study, were observed and compared through one year of monitoring. Dams and lobes representing the basic morpho‐facies of the deposits are composed of two depositional facies: vacuolar tufa (a mixture of phytoclastic and framestone tufa) and stromatolitic tufa (phytoherm boundstone tufa). Three petrographic components comprise both facies: micrite and microsparite, often forming peloidal to aphanitc, laminar and dendrolitic fabrics, and sparite, which occurs as isolated to coalescent fan‐shaped crystals forming botryoids or continuous crusts. All fabrics occurring in all depositional facies are organized into layers with a more or less well‐developed cyclicity, which has its best expression in stromatolitic lamination. The precipitation of all types of calcite (with Mg 1·0 to 3·2 mole % and Sr 0·5 to 0·8 mole %) takes place more or less constantly during all seasons, in spite of the low saturation state of the water (the saturation index range is 0·75 to 0·89) within the active depositional zone; the latter extends for a few hundred microns through the external surface of the deposit. The active depositional zone has a particular micro‐morphology composed of porous micro‐columns (50 to 150 μm in size), separated by interstitial channels. Mineral precipitation occurs upon both external surfaces and within internal cavities of the micro‐columns, while further point sites of precipitation occur suspended within the masses of cyanobacterial tufts. Sub‐spherical mineral units, ‘nano‐spheres’ (10 to 20 nm in diameter) are the basic biotic neo‐precipitate; they commonly form by replacing non‐living degrading organic matter and at point sites along the external surface of living cyanobacterial sheaths. Nano‐spheres agglutinate to form first rod‐shaped aggregates (100 to 200 nm) which then evolve into triads of fibres or polyhedral structures. Successively, both triads and polyhedral solids coalesce to form larger calcite crystals (mainly tetrahedrons tens of microns in size) that represent the fundamental bricks for the construction of the micro‐columns in the active depositional zone. Precipitation is attributed to the presence of a widespread biofilm that occurs in the active depositional zone; this is composed of a heterogeneous community comprising epilithic and endolithic filamentous cyanobacteria, green algae, unicellular prokaryotes, actinobacteria and fungi, with a variable amount of extracellular polymeric substances. No precipitation takes place where the biofilm is absent, indicating that the biological activities of the biofilm are crucial, with its living organisms and non‐living organic matter. Basic aggregates of neo‐precipitates do not form in association with any one particular type of organic matter substrate, but appear to be related to the seasonal temperature variation: polyhedral micro‐crystals mainly precipitate in the colder season, short triads in the intermediate seasons, and long triads in the warmest conditions. These three basic crystal aggregates have a petrographic counterpart, respectively, in the spar, microspar and micrite.     

Geochemical,and stable and radiogenic isotope records in Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena,central Pyrenees (Spain): evidence for their diagenetic environments

Mineralogical, textural and geochemical investigations were made to determine the post-depositional evolution of Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena. The carbonate association is made up of low-Mg calcite, which occurs as micrite, spar cements, neomorphic patches and spar filling veinlets. Non-stoichiometric dolomite and ankerite occur as cements (dolomite also as replacements) in the Middle Devonian, post-dating calcite types. All these phases pre-date tectonic stylolites, indicating compaction after stabilization of the carbonate minerals. Strontium concentrations indicate that Early Devonian and Early Carboniferous micrites initially precipitated as aragonite; Middle and Late Devonian micrites precipitated as high-Mg calcites. Both precursors were diagenetically stabilized to low-Mg calcites through interaction with meteoric waters in phreatic environments. Trace elements in dolomite and ankerite indicate precipitation from Sr-enriched meteoric water. All studied carbonates, except Middle Devonian limestones, precipitated in reducing environments, which favoured incorporation of Fe and Mn. Late calcite generations precipitated from more saline waters than micrites. Light ¹⁸O values in micrites suggest alteration mainly in meteoric-phreatic environments. The dolomites and ankerites precipitated from more ¹⁸O-depleted fluids than the calcites, suggesting a greater contribution from meteoric waters. Variations in ¹³C of micrites represent primary secular trends, according to published ¹³C variations. The ¹³C oscillations within each succession probably relate to sea-level oscillations. Strontium isotopes also point to a meteoric origin of diagenetic fluids. Model calculations suggest that O and Sr isotopes equilibrated between calcites and fluid at relatively low water/rock ratios, whereas C isotopic signatures are inherited from limestones.     

新疆金矿火山岩微量及稀土元素地球化学特征

金矿火山岩微量元素以Th和Zr的明显正异常及Nb和Ti的明显负异常为特征。微量元素比值蛛网图模式曲线均呈微向左倾斜的多峰多谷曲线。过渡元素以Cr和Ni的明显负异常及Sc,Co,Cu明显正常为特征。过渡元素球粒陨石标准化曲线，也均呈微向右倾斜的W形曲线。稀土元素以稀土总量偏低，轻稀土富集，重稀土亏损，Eu具微弱异常至微弱正常为特征。稀土元素配分模式均呈微向右倾斜和近于水平的平滑曲线，陆相火山作用两类成矿岩浆建造－陆相火山岩与潜火山杂岩具有基本一致的微量元素和稀土元素地球化学特征。     

Paleohydrogeological events recorded by stable isotopes,fluid inclusions and trace elements in fracture minerals in crystalline rock,Simpevarp area,SE Sweden

Fracture minerals calcite, pyrite, gypsum, barite and quartz, formed during several events have been analysed for δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, trace element chemistry and fluid inclusions in order to gain knowledge of the paleohydrogeological evolution of the Simpevarp area, south-eastern Sweden. This area is dominated by Proterozoic crystalline rocks and is currently being investigated by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB) in order to find a suitable location for a deep-seated repository for spent nuclear fuel. Knowledge of the paleohydrogeological evolution is essential to understand the stability or evolution of the groundwater system over a time scale relevant to the performance assessment for a spent nuclear fuel repository. The ages of the minerals analysed range from the Proterozoic to possibly the Quaternary. The Proterozoic calcite and pyrite show inorganic and hydrothermal-magmatic stable isotope signatures and were probably formed during a long time period as indicated by the large span in temperatures (c. 200–360 °C) and salinities (0–24 wt.% eq. CaCl₂), obtained from fluid inclusion analyses. The Paleozoic minerals were formed from organically influenced brine-type fluids at temperatures of 80–145 °C. The isotopic results indicate that low temperature calcite and pyrite may have formed during different events ranging in time possibly from the end of the Paleozoic until the Quaternary. Formation conditions ranging from fresh to brackish and saline waters have been distinguished based on calcite crystal morphologies. The combination of δ¹⁸O and crystal morphologies show that the fresh–saline water interface has changed considerably over time, and water similar to the present meteoric water and brackish seawater at the site, have most probably earlier been residing in the bedrock. Organic influence and closed system in situ microbial activity causing disequilibrium are indicated by extremely low δ¹³C (down to −99.7‰), extreme variation in δ³⁴S (−42.5‰ to +60.8‰) and trace element compositions. The frequency of calcite low in δ¹³C and high in Mn, as well as pyrite with biogenically modified δ³⁴S decreases with depth. Strontium isotopes have been useful to separate the different generations and the Sr isotope ratios in the groundwaters have been determined mainly by in situ water–rock interaction processes. The difficulty of separating late Paleozoic calcite from possibly recent calcite, and the fact that these calcites are usually found in the same fracture systems indicate that water conducting structures have been intermittently conductive from the Paleozoic and onwards. The methodology used has been successful in separating the different generations and characterising their formation conditions.     

甘肃花牛山铅锌银矿床成因：来自原位S、Pb同位素及微量元素的约束

甘肃花牛山铅锌银矿床位于中亚造山带中段的甘肃北山地区。本文在详细的野外观察和室内鉴定的基础上,将花牛山铅锌银矿床成矿阶段划分为石英-毒砂-黄铁矿(第Ⅰ成矿阶段)和石英-多金属硫化物(第Ⅱ成矿阶段)两个阶段;进一步将黄铁矿划分为三种类型,分别为第一种类型的胶状黄铁矿(Py0)、第二种类型的热液叠加交代特征的黄铁矿(Py Ⅰ)及第三种类型的热液黄铁矿(PyⅡ)。黄铁矿、磁黄铁矿的原位硫同位素研究表明,成矿从早到晚硫化物δ~(34)S值呈递增的规律,具有逐渐向岩浆硫演化的趋势;胶状黄铁矿δ~(34)S值为-9.37‰～-8.10‰,具有沉积(生物成因)硫的特征;成矿第Ⅰ阶段硫化物δ~(34)S值为-9.03‰～-7.03‰,成矿第Ⅱ阶段硫化物δ~(34)S值为-5.77‰～-4.88‰,成矿阶段具有沉积硫与岩浆硫混合来源的特征。黄铁矿、磁黄铁矿的原位铅同位素研究表明,成矿期硫化物的~(206)Pb/~(204) Pb值、~(207)Pb/~(204) Pb值、~(208) Pb/~(204) Pb值以及μ、ω等铅同位素特征值组成范围较窄,铅源为与岩浆作用有关的壳幔混合来源,且与壳幔混合来源的晚三叠世花岗岩中长石铅及其控制的矽卡岩型金矿硫化物铅同位素组成类似。黄铁矿原位微量元素研究表明,胶状黄铁矿(Py0) Co/Ni和S/Se 比值分别为0.004～0.34和3.43 × 10~4～34.84 × 10~4,Se含量为1.558 × 10~(-6)～15.82 × 10~(-6),表现为沉积成因黄铁矿的特征。具有热液叠加交代特征Py Ⅰ的Co/Ni和S/Se 比值分别为0.05～3.38、0.05 ×10~4～5.38 ×10~4,Se含量为10.09 × 10~(-6)～1070 × 10~(-6),数值分布范围广,总体上有别于沉积成因黄铁矿,类似于热液成因黄铁矿的特征。热液黄铁矿(Py Ⅱ)的Co/Ni和S/Se 比值分别为0.60-68.88、1.46 × 10~4～9.15 × 10~4,Se含量为5.938 × 10~(-6)-35.91 × 10~(-6),表现为热液成因的特征。综上研究,认为花牛山矿床经历了南华纪-震旦纪沉积胶状黄铁矿形成期和晚三叠世岩浆热液成矿期,胶状黄铁矿在成矿过程中提供了部分硫,成矿金属物质主要来自晚三叠世岩浆成矿热液,并认为矿床成因为岩浆热液型矿床。     

兰坪金顶铅锌矿方解石微量元素、流体包裹体和碳-氧同位素地球化学特征研究

金顶铅锌矿矿床成因一直受到广泛关注,但至今没有达成共识,其重要原因之一是对矿床成矿流体性质和来源认识的局限。本文以金顶铅锌矿床成矿早期脉状方解石和晚期结核状方解石为研究对象,系统开展了微量元素、流体包裹体和碳-氧同位素地球化学研究,在此基础上探讨了该矿床成矿流体的性质和可能的来源。研究发现,虽然2种产状方解石都以轻稀土富集、轻重稀土显著分异、配分模式向右陡倾为特征,并且具有相似的Mg、Fe和Mn含量,但它们在微量元素、流体包裹体和碳-氧同位素地球化学特征上亦存在显著差异。脉状方解石相对于结核状方解石稀土元素总量较高,富集Co、Ni、(W)、Mo、Bi;脉状方解石流体包裹体显示相对高温高盐度的特征(T_h>250℃,S>8.0% NaCleqv),而结核状方解石流体包裹体相对低温低盐度(T_h<200℃,S<8.0% NaCleqv); 脉状方解石的碳同位素组成(δ¹³C_PDB=-22.95‰~-2.56‰)较分散,具有多源性,而结核状方解石碳同位素组成(δ¹³C_PDB=-7.02‰~-6.18‰)相对集中,二者的氧同位素组成(δ¹⁸O_SMOW=20.16‰~23.49‰)与沉积岩类似。综合分析认为,金顶铅锌矿成矿期脉状和结核状方解石虽然均属热液成因,但它们分别代表了2类不同性质的热液体系,早期成矿流体为多源的混合流体,成矿过程中可能有深源组分的加入,而晚期成矿流体以大气降水为主。     

Environmental isotopes (18O, 2H, and 87Sr/86Sr) as a tool in groundwater investigations in the Keta Basin, Ghana

Analyses of environmental isotopes (¹⁸O, ²H, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) are applied to groundwater studies with emphasis on saline groundwater in aquifers in the Keta Basin, Ghana. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of groundwater and surface water of the Keta Basin primarily reflect the geology and the mineralogical composition of the formations in the catchments and recharge areas. The isotopic compositions of ¹⁸O and ²H of deep groundwater have small variations and plot close to the global meteoric water line. Shallow groundwater and surface water have considerably larger variations in isotopic compositions, which reflect evaporation and preservation of seasonal fluctuations. A significant excess of chloride in shallow groundwater in comparison to the calculated evaporation loss is the result of a combination of evaporation and marine sources. Groundwaters from deep wells and dug wells in near-coastal aquifers are characterized by relatively high chloride contents, and the significance of marine influence is evidenced by well-defined mixing lines for strontium isotopes, and hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes, with isotopic compositions of seawater as one end member. The results derived from environmental isotopes in this study demonstrate that a multi-isotope approach is a useful tool to identify the origin and sources of saline groundwater. Electronic Publication     

Phase relationship and surface water mass change in the Northeast Atlantic during Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11)

Planktic foraminiferal census data, faunal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and oxygen isotopic and lithic records from a site in the northeast Atlantic were analyzed to study the interglacial dynamics of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11, a period thought to closely resemble the Holocene on the basis of orbital forcing. Interglacial conditions during MIS 11 persisted for approximately 26 ka. After the main deglacial meltwater processes ceased, a 10- to 12-ka-long transitional period marked by significant water mass circulation changes occurred before surface waters finally reached their thermal maximum. This SST peak occurred between 400 and 397 ka, inferred from the abundance of the most thermophilic foraminiferal species and was coincident with lowest sea level according to benthic isotope values. The ensuing stepwise SST decrease characterizes the overall climate deterioration preceding the increase in global ice volume by  3 ka. This cooling trend was followed by a more pronounced cold event that began at 388 ka, and that terminated in the recurrence of icebergs at the site around 382 ka. Because the water mass configuration of early MIS 11 evolved quite differently from that of the early Holocene, there is little evidence that MIS 11 can serve as an appropriate analogue for a future Holocene climate, despite the similarity in some orbital parameters.     

Distribution of arsenic and other minor trace elements in the groundwater of Ischia Island (southern Italy)

The island of Ischia belongs to the active volcanic area of Naples. It is formed from Quaternary volcanic rocks and exhibits intense hydrothermal activity, which is manifested through numerous springs, fumaroles and sporadic geysers. The content of minor and trace elements in groundwater has been analyzed, including some elements that are considered toxic for humans. Mean concentrations of As, B, Fe, Mn, Sb, and Se in samples from 43 aquifer points exceed the WHO recommended values and the limits set by European and Italian legislation (98/83/CE and DM 471, respectively). In general, the spatial distribution of the elements follows a common pattern: it is governed by a marked structural control, which favors hydrochemical processes that liberate the elements into the water.     

Holocene climate reconstructions of Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang,China) inferred from ostracod species assemblages and stable isotopes

In this paper, the data on the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes during the Holocene are presented and a discussion is made on a 225-cm-long sediment core from Ulungur Lake, located in Northwest China. The chronology is constructed from six AMS radiocarbon dates on the bulk organic matter. On the basis of the analysis of ostracod assemblages and the shell stable isotopes, the core is divided into three paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental evolution stages: 9 985–5 250 cal.aB.P. stage is the wettest phase of the core section. The climate changed from moderate-dry to cool-wet, and then to warm-wet in turn, and the lake level rose accordingly, showing the characteristic of a high lake level. 5 250–1 255 cal.aB.P. stage was the driest phase of the core sediment. The climate turned from the early warm-dry to the late warm-wet and the lake level fell and rose again. Finally, the 1 255 cal.aB.P. stage was the medium stage of the section. The temperature was low and then increased after the 1920s and the climate was dry. The whole climatic and environmental evolution records of Lake Ulungur were not only in agreement with the sporopollen record of the same core but also in agreement with the record of environmental changes of adjacent areas. It responded to regional environmental changes and global abrupt climate events, following the westerly climate change mode on 100-year-scale, primarily with cold-wet and warmdry characteristics. __________ Translated from Quaternary Sciences, 2007, 27(3):382–391 [译自:第四纪研究]