Distribution of clay minerals in surface sediments of the Aegean Sea: a compilation

Extensive published data sets and some new data on the clay mineral composition of surface sediments in the Aegean Sea, northeastern Mediterranean Sea, have been compiled in order to map the distribution patterns of clay mineral assemblages and to decipher source areas and transport paths. We distinguished six provinces, a Northwest Aegean Province, a Marmara-Dardanelles Province, a West Turkey Province, a Southeast Aegean Province, a Kithira Province and a Central Aegean Province. The clay mineral assemblages in the coastal and shelf areas carry the signature of the riverine sediment discharge from southeast Europe and Turkey, respectively. The southern Aegean Sea is probably influenced by the River Nile discharge and transport of clay minerals by surface currents. The clay minerals in the central Aegean Sea form a mixed assemblage comprising components of the other assemblages. A dispersion and dilution of clay minerals by surface currents is obvious.     

东海北部陆架表层沉积物重矿物组合、迁移路径对底层水团的示踪响应研究

基于东海北部陆架表层沉积物的泥温、粒度分析与重矿物鉴定数据,结合末次盛冰期(LGM)以来的东海海平面演化阶段分析,提取高海面期以来底层水团承载的沉积重矿物空间分布规律与信息记录。结果表明优势矿物种的迁移路径与区域环流系统密切相关,进而可示踪东海北部物质的大致输运方向。依据透明矿物(普通角闪石、帘石类、稳定矿物)、金属矿物(不透明矿物)、片状矿物及自生矿物等优势重矿物种迁移路径的判断和讨论,将研究区初步划分为5类矿物区,分别为冷涡矿物区(Ⅰ区)、黄海沿岸流与跨陆架流矿物区(Ⅱ区)、长江冲淡水矿物区(Ⅲ区)、暖流矿物区(Ⅳ区)和复合矿物区(Ⅴ区)。Ⅰ区受济州岛西南冷涡影响显著,高含量的自生黄铁矿指示了强还原的沉积环境;Ⅱ区是黄海沿岸流与跨陆架流(ECSC)南向输运老黄河三角洲物质的重要通道,帘石类矿物、金属矿物、片状矿物的含量变化可指示输运的路径;Ⅲ区是长江冲淡水东扩的重要通道,普通角闪石、片状矿物、石榴石为示踪的特征矿物;Ⅳ区是陆架水团混合了台湾暖流和对马暖流水体的区域,区内“洁净”的暖流水阻隔陆源物质向东输运,其西侧为物源供给侧,形成优势矿物低值区,东侧物质供给匮乏,海侵改造沉积出露,重矿物及优势矿物种呈高值;Ⅴ区是区域环流系统季节性变化与强度差异影响下的复合作用区,区内矿物学特征与邻区相比无明显优势。从矿物迁移路径的角度认识东海北部陆架的物质输运与聚集过程,可进一步理解优势矿物示踪意义与区域环流系统动力环境的响应机制。     

Distribution of clay minerals in surface sediments from the eastern Barents and south-western Kara seas

Surface samples from the eastern Barents and south-western Kara seas have been analysed for clay mineralogy. Transport paths, the role of regional sources and local bedrock outcrops and the influence of hydrodynamic and glacigenous processes for clay distribution on the shelves are discussed in relation to central Arctic Ocean deep sea and sea ice sediments. Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya show significantly different clay mineral associations. Although smectite concentrations are fairly high, Franz Josef Land can be excluded as a source for central Arctic sea ice sediments, which are relatively rich in smectite. In the Kara Sea, smectite concentrations in coastal sediments surpass even the Franz Josef Land concentrations. The large cyclonic gyre in the eastern Barents Sea between Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land, which serves as a mixing zone between Arctic and North Atlantic water, is apparently reflected within the smectite distribution pattern. With the exception of Franz Josef Land, the area of investigation is typically low in kaolinite. In particular, coastal areas and areas north of Novaya Zemlya, influenced by the inflow of Arctic waters, show the lowest kaolinite concentrations. A high kaolinite occurrence within the Nansen Basin is most probably related to Franz Josef Land and emphasizes the importance of long-range downslope transport of sediments across the continental slope. The surface water circulation pattern in close interaction with local outcrops onshore Novaya Zemlya and locally restricted occurrences within the eastern Barents Sea significantly alter the illite dispersal pattern. Illite concentrations are lowest around Franz Josef Land. Chlorite is generally low in the area of investigation. Submarine outcrops and important chlorite occurrences onshore Novaya Zemlya bias its distribution pattern.     

南海沉积物中的黏土矿物:指示东亚季风演化历史?

黏土矿物以其示踪洋流变化和揭示物源区同时期气候变化的能力,近年来在南海沉积古环境研究中的地位日益显现。但是,南海黏土矿物能否用于直接指示东亚季风演化历史的研究仍然颇为争议。本研究认为,南海黏土矿物主要受控于物源区供给和洋流搬运作用,黏土矿物本身不具同时期气候条件特征。以南海北部为例,珠江、台湾和吕宋岛这三个主要物源区无论是冰期还是间冰期都提供相同的黏土矿物组合,这些黏土矿物在输入到南海后分别受到不同洋流的搬运。因此,南海晚第四纪黏土矿物组合用于指示东亚季风演化历史的应用是通过洋流的搬运作用来实现的,在不同海区的应用效果不同。     

The paleoclimatic interpretation of clay minerals in sediments — a review

The application of paleoclimatic interpretation to clay minerals from continental and marine sediments is reviewed and the advantages of this method are indicated. Levels relatively rich in chlorite, illite, palygorskite and quartz are interpreted as corresponding to relatively dry periods, while more humid periods lead to more intensive weathering and consequently to the dominance of clay minerals more advanced in the relative stability scale, such as kaolinite. Smectite is taken to indicate a climate with contrasting seasons and a pronounced dry season.Using this and similar schemes, the paleoclimates of areas adjoining the Mediterranean Basin, North Sea, North Atlantic, Southern Arctic, Equatorial and North-West Pacific, and North Phillipine Sea are reconstructed.Clay minerals in sediments, particularly marine sediments, can be useful indicators of paleoclimatic conditions. While they do not produce direct indications of climatic parameters, they provide integrated records of overall climatic impact. Occasionally, they may be superior to the more conventional paleoclimatic methods, such as pollen or oxygen-isotope analysis.The limitations imposed on the paleoclimatic interpretation of clay minerals in sediments are discussed on the basis of examples. The distinction between authigenic and detrital clay minerals is shown to be problematic, particularly with regard to smectite. The relationship between climatic parameters and clay-mineral formation is complicated by the intervention of extra-climatic factors such as topography, geomorphology, lithology and time. Post-depositional diagenetic changes may not be recognized. Differentiation during transport, due to size sorting or differential flocculation may overlap climate-induced differentiation. The association of clay-mineral assemblages with specific source areas presents difficulties due to dispersal pathways that are affected by type of transport agency, i.e., water, ice or wind. Transport agencies are not constant with time. By an interdisciplinary approach, with the paleoclimatic information derived from clay minerals being correlated with that obtained from the analysis of microfossils and oxygen isotope data, many of these limitations can be overcome.     

海南岛周边海域表层沉积物中粘土矿物组合及其气候环境意义

X射线衍射分析结果显示,海南岛周边海域表层沉积物中粘土矿物主要由伊-蒙混层矿物、伊利石、高岭石和绿泥石等组成,其含量分别为34.2%,27.3%,21.1%和17.4%。采用人工判别分区和Q型聚类分析分区相结合的方法,将研究区按粘土矿物的相对含量和分布水深,划分出3个粘土矿物组合区,各分区的矿物组合特点显示它们的赋存现状受控于各种粘土矿物本身的粒度、形态特征、水动力条件和水深等因素。在南海海域首次鉴别出有较高含量的伊-蒙混层矿物存在,根据前人对伊-蒙混层矿物、伊利石和高岭石所指示气候条件的研究结果和本研究区内这些表层粘土矿物的含量、组合特征,判断海南岛及周边区域1 500 a以来一直处于比较温湿的气候环境。     

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.     

The paleoclimatic interpretation of clay minerals in soils and weathering profiles

The interpretation of paleoclays for paleoclimatic purposes is based on five major assumptions: (1) clay mineral formation is directly related to climatic parameters; (2) once formed in the weathering milieu, clay minerals are stable and do not change any more as long as the climate remains stable (pre-burial stability); (3) clay mineral assemblages are uniform throughout the weathering profile; (4) once formed or deposited and buried, clay minerals are stable (post-burial stability); (5) the sensitivity of clay minerals towards environmental factors is uniform. All these assumptions have only a limited validity. Clay mineral formation is in few cases directly related to climatic parameters, nor do clay minerals always represent the stable end products in equilibrium with environmental factors. The vertical distribution pattern of authigenically formed clay minerals is seldom monomineralic. Post-depositional changes are not infrequent. The sensitivity of clay minerals to environmental factors is variable. The use of paleoclays occurring in paleosols and weathering profiles is reviewed. Paleoclays occurring in paleosols or weathering profiles are, in well-defined situations, suitable for paleoclimatic interpretation. At our present state of knowledge, references as to the nature of climates of the past that are based solely on the interpretation of paleoclays are warranted only in exceptional cases. Authigenic occurrences of clay minerals with limited stability fields that can be used as ‘marker minerals’ and the isotopic composition of paleoclay minerals promise, with future research, to increase the value of paleoclays as paleoclimatic indicators.     

Depositional models for fine-grained sediment in the western Hellenic Trench, Eastern Mediterranean

Sediment in tectonically active, topographically restricted settings of the western Hellenic Arc, eastern Mediterranean, consists primarily of clayey silt and silty clay. Failure of metastable sediment temporarily stored on relatively steep slopes is triggered by earthquake tremors and eustatic oscillations. Redeposition of these materials by gravitative transport has resulted in markedly different lithofacies from site to site. Most piston cores include three Late Quaternary stratigraphic units that can be correlated with sections in other parts of the eastern Mediterranean; numerous radiocarbon-age determinations enhance the correlation. Seven fine-grained sediment types are identified in cores from eight distinct depositional environments. Some muds are closely related to specific environments (slump and debris flow deposits on slope and high-relief environments), or to time (well laminated mud during the latest Pleistocene-mid-Holocene), or to both (uniform and faintly laminated muds restricted to trench basins). Turbiditic and hemipelagic muds are common throughout the study area. Mud distribution patterns correlate closely with calculated sedimentation rates. We propose two depositional models for these sediments. The first emphasizes downslope transformations resulting in progressively reduced flow concentration during transport: from slump and debris flow–>turbidity current–>low density turbidity current or turbid layer mechanisms. The distal end-member deposits settling from low concentration flows are thick, rapidly emplaced, fine-grained uniform muds closely associated with faintly laminated muds. These were ponded in flat trench basin-plains. Planktonic and terrigenous fractions in the turbiditic, finely laminated and uniform muds record mixing of materials of gravitative and suspension origin during redeposition. This sequence prevails under conditions of minimal stratification of water masses, as characterized by the present Mediterranean. In the second model developed for conditions of well-developed water mass stratification, well laminated rather than uniform mud prevails as the end product of low concentration flows. These very finely laminated and graded muds record particle-by-particle settling from detached turbid layers concentrated along density interfaces; they include material from turbid layers complemented by the normal ‘rain’ of pelagic material. Stratification barriers resulted in region-wide distribution of such deposits, in both slope and trench environments.     

杭州湾潮滩沉积物黏土矿物空间差异与物源指示

通过对杭州湾潮滩沉积物中主要黏土矿物成分及组合类型的研究,分析了杭州湾潮滩沉积物黏土矿物的空间分布特征。借助聚类分析等手段,同时结合杭州湾水动力特征,探讨了研究区黏土矿物的来源和成因。研究结果表明,杭州湾潮滩表层沉积物主要为黏土质粉砂,其余为砂质粉砂。本区沉积物黏土矿物成分复杂,主要为伊利石,其次是高岭石和绿泥石;还有少量蒙皂石和蛭石及1.4 nm过渡矿物。根据其相对含量可分为3种组合类型:Ⅰ型为伊利石-高岭石-绿泥石-蛭石类-蒙皂石型,Ⅱ型为伊利石-绿泥石-高岭石-蒙皂石-蛭石类型,Ⅲ型为伊利石-高岭石-绿泥石-蒙皂石-蛭石类型。在空间上,北岸的蒙皂石和绿泥石平均含量高于南岸,而伊利石、高岭石和蛭石(含1.4 nm过渡矿物)平均含量则低于南岸。高潮滩和中潮滩黏土矿物对比,除了蒙皂石含量高潮滩大于中潮滩外,其他矿物含量均无明显规律。表层沉积物黏土矿物的分布特征与水动力条件和物质来源密切相关,杭州湾北岸乍浦以东潮滩受潮流和长江沿岸流影响明显,沉积物主要为长江和东海源的;南岸由于曹娥江和甬江两条河流的注入,流域物质所占比例明显比北岸高。柱状岩芯样品中各黏土矿物含量自下而上的变化则反映了物源区风化强度的波动特征。     

泥质岩成岩作用中的黏土矿物研究

文章通过对泥质岩的黏土质矿物组分、成岩作用中黏土质矿物变化综合研究,认为泥质岩中存在大量黏土矿物,且泥质沉积物由松散到固结成岩实质上是黏土矿物组成的变化。泥质岩中主要黏土矿物包括高岭石、蒙皂石、绿泥石、伊利石以及其组成的混层型矿物伊利石/蒙皂石、绿泥石/蒙皂石,其成岩过程可划分为成岩早期的压实阶段、成岩晚期的黏土矿物转化阶段。压实阶段的泥质沉积物中黏土矿物具有物源的继承性、沉积水体古环境指示意义;受压实作用孔隙水、层间水被排出,原生絮凝团被压破,使片状质点趋于平行排列,黏土矿物与孔隙水发生反应,亦形成少量的新生作用矿物,因而黏土矿物具继承源和新生作用源特性。成岩晚期阶段发生层间水释放及层间阳离子交换,从而使得矿物晶体结构与成分发生变化,主要表现为一元黏土矿物向二元混层型转化,最后再到一元型黏土矿物的转化,最终形成转变源黏土矿物。     

Sea-ice transport of riverine particles from the Laptev Sea to Fram Strait based on clay mineral studies

The aim of this study was to identify pathways and processes of modern sediment transport from the Siberian hinterland to the Laptev Sea and further to the Arctic Ocean. Clay mineral analyses were performed on riverine suspended particulate material (SPM), surface sediments of the Laptev Sea shelf, and sea-ice sediments (SIS). Material collected during seven expeditions was included in this study. Clay mineral assemblages are used to decipher the distribution of riverine sediments on the shallow Laptev Sea shelf, the entrainment of fine particles into newly forming ice, and the transport of SIS from the Laptev Sea towards the ablation areas. A cluster analysis of our data set shows that the clay mineral assemblages of Laptev Sea shelf sediments and SIS are controlled mainly by the input of riverine SPM supplied by the Khatanga, Lena, and Yana Rivers. Whereas the western shelf clay-mineral province is characterized by enhanced smectite concentrations supplied by the Khatanga River, the eastern Laptev Sea is dominated by illite discharged through the Lena and Yana Rivers. The SIS smectite concentration serves as an indicator for sediment source areas on the circum-Arctic shelves. Subsequently, the Transpolar Drift can be distinguished into a Siberian Branch fed from the eastern Kara Sea and the western Laptev Sea, and a Polar Branch originating from the eastern Laptev Sea.     

Geochemistry of high-temperature coal ashes and the sedimentary environment of the New South Wales coals, Australia

Chemical analyses of high-temperature coal ashes were used to establish the distribution, association and relationship between major inorganic elements such as Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, P, S and CO₂ in a number of New South Wales economic coal seams and to study the composition and character of mineral matter in these coals. The methods used for the evaluation of the data were statistical analysis (univariate and bivariate), ratios, normative mineral composition and variation diagrams.The distribution of major and minor inorganic elements in coal appears to be related to the amount of mineral matter occurring in coal (determined as ash yield) and its mineralogical composition. The quantitative variations in levels of these elements can be classified as in-seam and inter-seam variations. In-seam variations are largely ash yield dependent, i.e. the levels of an element (wt.%) in coal increase along with the increase of its ash content (wt.%). The inter-seam variations are more complex and are related to both ash yield and to the mineralogical composition of mineral matter.The principal components of New South Wales coal ashes are silicon and aluminium. Silicon may be present as silica or combined with aluminium in different proportions to form clay minerals, such as kaolinite, illite, mixed-layer clay minerals, and smectite. Thus, the concentration levels of aluminium in relation to silicon in coal may give an indication about the character of clay minerals present in coal.Ratios and correlation coefficients of element pairs such as Al and Ti, Na and K, and Na and Al were used to determine differences in the chemical composition of high-temperature coal ashes of seams from various stratigraphic positions and provinces. In some seams the nature of associations of these elements is more significant than in others. This is interpreted as being a product of specific environmental conditions controlling the deposition of these seams.The nature of clay mineral content in coal is believed to be a major reason for chemical dissimilarities found between seams of various stratigraphic levels and geographic areas. For example, in some seams kaolinite, in others expandable clay minerals are dominant. The vertical distribution of these minerals has a stratigraphic significance. Within the Upper Permian Newcastle Coal Measures a trend from kaolinite-rich through to expandable minerals-rich and to kaolinite-rich assemblages can be observed from the bottom to the top. These changes are noticeably gradual.All significant variations in the clay mineral assemblages could relate to the long-term changes in the provenance of sedimentary material, weathering conditions in the source area and the rate of subsidence in the place of deposition. These changes are associated with major tectonic events controlling the history of sedimentation within the paralic Sydney and Gunnedah Basins during the Permian.     

Late Quaternary sedimentation on the Mid-Atlantic Reykjanes Ridge: clay mineral assemblages and depositional environment

Sediment samples from the Mid-Atlantic Reykjanes Ridge (59°N) were taken to get information about sediment genesis and to identify different sources during the late Quaternary. Samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction and grain-size analyses. The clay mineral assemblages in sediments of the Reykjanes Ridge reflect paleoceanographic changes during the late Quaternary. Holocene sediments are characterized by high contents of smectite, mainly of less developed crystallinity. In the spatial distribution of clay minerals high smectite concentrations on the eastern flank and slightly decreasing concentrations on the western flank of the Reykjanes Ridge indicate the action of bottom-water transport. The smectite originates mainly from the volcanogenous Icelandic shelf and reflects the influence of Iceland-Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW). Stratigraphic variability in the clay mineral composition reflects predominantly the influence of different sources, resulting from oceanographic and glacial transport processes. During glacial time sediment transport is due mainly to input by icebergs. Increasing amounts of illite, chlorite, and kaolinite characterize ice-rafted sediments of the “Heinrich layers”. In these sediments smectite crystallinity is well developed. In contrast, several other ice-rafted layers contain smectite with low crystallographic order, similar to smectites of Holocene age. The icelandic source was proved by distinct amounts of basaltic glass in the coarse-grained sediment. At approximately 55 ka increasing amounts of chlorite and kaolinite suggest an enhanced influx of warm North Atlantic surface waters. This hypothesis is supported by a high carbonate shell production at this time. Relative low concentrations and the well-developed crystallinity of smectite minerals characterize the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 18–16 ka), indicating a reduced supply of fine icelandic material. Shortly after the LGM, at the beginning of termination IA, a distinct increase in fine-grained quartz (<2μm) and smectite are visible, which are proposed to reflect a supply of fine-grained ice-rafted material. At 13 ka linear increasing smectite concentrations of lower crystallographic order indicate increasing supply of fine-grained material from Iceland, linked to reinitiation of bottom currents of the ISOW. Full reinitiation is indicated at around 10 ka, where a strong increase in smectite of low crystallographic order is detected.     

苏北盆地粘土矿物转化模式与古地温

以苏北盆地为例,系统研究了火成岩发育区粘土矿物组合特征及其控制因素;建立了粘土矿物转化模式;根据粘土矿物成岩演化特点,进行古地温分析。研究表明,苏北地区粘土矿物的分布主要受埋藏成岩作用、岩浆侵入、母质来源三种因素的影响,发育四种类型的粘土矿物组合和三种粘土矿物转化模式;火山碎屑岩母岩区和基性岩浆侵入区具有特殊的粘土矿物组合和成岩演化模式,前者以富含蒙皂石矿物为特点;后者出现高岭石与伊/蒙有序间层矿物共生组合,并具有不连续的演化序列;苏北盆地短有序I/S矿物出现于镜质组反射率 0.5 %～ 0.5 5 %的深度,伊/蒙间层矿物转变成伊利石在镜质组反射率 0.75 %～ 0.8%,可以用于热成熟度和古地温的估算;而蒙皂石消失的界面则不具有指标意义     

内蒙古五岔沟地区洮儿河流域重矿物特征分析

五岔沟洮儿河流域重矿物的分布在不同区域表现有明显差异性: 洮儿河主流和二道桥所在支流主要重矿物为橄榄石,查干郭勒河主要重矿物为褐铁矿,额木斯台沟主要以磁铁矿为主,胡斯台沟主要以绿帘石为主。不同矿物组合和分布特征反映出该流域重矿物成熟度低,受近源物质影响显著。根据河流矿物组合,主要划分为3 个矿物区,即洮儿河主流矿物区、洮儿河东部矿物区、洮儿河西部矿物区,其中洮儿河东部矿物区金属矿物含量异常,对于寻找有用矿产提供了一定的科学依据。     

Controls on clay minerals assemblages in an early paleogene nonmarine succession: Implications for the volcanic and paleoclimatic record of extra-andean patagonia,Argentina

The distribution of the clay minerals of the Banco Negro Inferior-Río Chico Group succession (BNI-RC), a middle Danian–middle Eocene mainly continental epiclastic–pyroclastic succession exposed in the Golfo San Jorge Basin, extra-Andean Patagonia (∼46° LS), is assessed in order to determine the possible origin of clay and specific non-clay minerals using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The control over the clay mineralogy of the sedimentary settings, contemporary volcanism, paleoclimate and weathering conditions is considered. A paleoclimatic reconstruction is provided and correlated with the main global warming events that occurred during the early Paleogene.Mineralogical analyses of BNI-RC demonstrate that smectite and kaolin minerals (kaolinite, halloysite and kaolinite/smectite mixed layers) are the main clay minerals, whereas silica polymorphs (volcanic glass and opal) are common non-clay minerals. Throughout the succession, smectite and kaolin minerals are arranged in different proportions in the three clay–mineral assemblages. These show a general vertical trend in which the smectite-dominated assemblage (S1) is replaced by the smectite-dominated assemblage associated with other clays (S2) and the kaolinite-dominated assemblage (K), and finally by S2 up-section. The detailed micromorphological analysis of the clay and non-clay minerals allows us to establish that the origins of these are by volcanic ash weathering, authigenic and pedogenic, and that different stages in the evolution of mineral transformations have occurred.The supply of labile pyroclastic material from an active volcanic area located to the northwest of the study area could have acted as precursor of the authigenic and volcanogenic minerals of the analyzed succession. Diverse fine-grained lithological facies (muddy and tuffaceous facies) and sedimentary settings (coastal swamp and transitional environments, and different fluvial systems) together with variable climate and weathering conditions controlled the mineralogical transformations and the arrangement of clay–mineral assemblages. The paleoclimatic reconstruction suggests a general warm and humid climate. However, the temporal trend of the clay–mineral assemblages, the ratios between smectite and kaolinite and the micromorphological analysis of clay minerals contrasted with evidence from sedimentological analyses suggest a warm and seasonal climate for the basal part of the unit, a warm and humid climate with a relatively more perennial rainfall regime in the middle part of the unit, and a warm and less humid, probably subhumid, climate up-section. Such a reconstruction makes it possible to establish a correlation with some of the hyperthermal events of the Early Paleogene Global Warming (EPGW) and, consequently, constitute one of the most complete time records of the EPGW in South America.     

Influence of tectonics and palaeoenvironment on late cretaceous clay sedimentation in the upper benue trough,Nigeria

The Late Cretaceous sedimentary sequence in the Upper Benue Trough consists of seven formations. Outcrop samples from the type localities of these units were analysed by X-ray diffraction for their day mineral content. The composition and distribution of the clay minerals are influenced by tectonics, relief and water depth. Three main depositional phases are recognizable on the basis of clay mineral assemblages, two of which are associated with tectonic movements. The first phase, characterized by the presence of chlorite, illite, kaolinite and mixed-layer clays is common to Albian-Cenomanian sediments. This phase is succeeded by mixed-layer clays and smectite-rich, Turonian-Early Santonian sediments. The re-occurrence of chlorite and illite in association with kaolinite and mixed-layer clays in the Post-Santonian sediments constitutes the third depositional phase. These clay mineral assemblages are indicative of two periods of tectonism (Albian and Late Santonian) and an intervening Turonian-Early Santonian period of quiescence in the Upper Benue Trough.     

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。     

Climate induced changes in the circulation and dispersal patterns of the fluvial sources during late Quaternary in the middle Bengal Fan

From a transact along 15‡N latitude in the middle Bengal Fan, temporal and spatial variations in the granulometric parameters and clay minerals in¹⁴C dated box cores from the eastern, the central and the western regions were studied to determine climate induced changes in the hydrography. Clay assemblages have spatial and temporal changes and are markedly different in the eastern and the western bay. From a high abundance of the clay smectite, which has its major source in the Deccan Basalt in peninsular India, it is inferred that the western bay is predominantly a depocenter of ‘peninsular sources”. The eastern and the central regions of the bay, however, mostly receive sediments of the ‘Himalayan source’. Related to unstable climate, the reported dominant illite-chlorite (I + C) assemblage in the eastern region of the bay (I + C > 60% smectite <15%), between 18 and 12.6 ka BP, points to a predominant supply from the Himalayan sources through equatorwards dispersal by the winter hydrography. Higher smectite, and reduced clays of the Himalayan sources (smectite > 25%; I + C > 45%) are reported also after 12.5 ka BP from the eastern bay. These are interpreted as evidences of an intensified SW monsoon and associated change in the dispersal pattern by stronger summer monsoon hydrography which supports across bay dispersal by anticyclonic gyre. The influence of climate on hydrographic changes is consistent during the short events of arid climate (weak NE monsoon) in Holocene in core 31/1 (western bay), in which the enhanced contents of the clays of the Himalayan sources are observed (smectite < 40% I + C > 50%). These findings have implications for climate regulated influence of fluvial processes over the areas, hitherto, considered unaffected by the Indian peninsular fluvial sources