Gyromagnetic remanence acquired by greigite (Fe3S4) during static three-axis alternating field demagnetization

A magnetic study was carried out on lacustrine sediments from the Zoigê basin, Tibetan Plateau, in order to obtain a better understanding of palaeoclimatic changes there. Gyromagnetic remanence (GRM) acquisition is unexpectedly observed during static three-axis alternating field (AF) demagnetization in about 20 per cent of a large number of samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis on a magnetic extract clearly shows that greigite is the dominant magnetic mineral carrier. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that the greigite particles are in the grain size range of 200–300  nm, possibly in the single-domain state. Greigite clumps of about 3  μm size are sealed by silicates. Fitting of XRD peaks yields a crystalline coherence length of about 15  nm, indicating that the particles seen in the SEM are polycrystalline.
  GRM intensities of most samples are of the same order as the NRM, while others show much stronger GRM although their magnetic properties are similar. Variation of the demagnetization sequence confirms that GRM is mainly produced perpendicular to the AF direction. The anisotropy direction can be derived from GRM, but more systematic studies are needed for detailed conclusions. An attempt to correct for GRM failed due to high GRM intensities and because smaller GRM acquisition was also found along the demagnetization axis. Behaviours of acquisition and AF demagnetization of GRM are comparable with those of NRM, ARM, IRM, indicating fine grain sizes of remanence carriers.     

Oceanic basalt continuous thermal demagnetization curves

The palaeomagnetic standard technique of stepwise thermal demagnetization (STD), long regarded as unreliable for oceanic basalts that have undergone low temperature alteration, has recently been applied in a number of studies to characterize the natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of such rocks. In order to better understand STD data of oceanic basalts, and to possibly identify the magnetominerals that are carrying the NRM, we have carried out a number of continuous and STD experiments on seven oceanic basalt samples. During continuous thermal demagnetization (CTD), a sample is heated to a certain temperature and its NRM is measured during heating and subsequent cooling. Even when CTD reveals only titanomaghemite unblocking at 400°C as the remanence carrier, STD behaviour can be very complex and unblocking is observed at temperatures of up to 500°C and higher. CTD also allowed to identify a partial or full self-reversal of NRM due to interaction between two types of magnetominerals in one sample. The higher degree of maghemitization of smaller titanomaghemite grains with respect to larger ones, which are less efficient in carrying the remanence, was seen for three samples by a shift of 80°C between the strong field thermomagnetic curve and the NRM measured at elevated temperature. In several cases, the identification of the NRM-carrying magnetomineral was not possible from CTD data due to the ambiguity of Curie temperatures in the titanomagnetite/titanomaghemite system.     

Secondary ferrimagnetic minerals in Welsh soils: a comparison of mineral magnetic detection methods and implications for mineral formation

A study of mineral magnetic parameters was carried out on a Late Pleistocene and Holocene sedimentary sequence (of nearly 18 m) from Lake Bledowo (central Poland). Sediments of Lake Bledowo have already been analysed for bulk sediment mineralogy and biogenic materials. The mineral magnetic stratigraphy confirms the major changes in palaeo-environmental conditions that have been deduced from other methods. The most important mineral magnetic change results from the authigenetic formation of ferrimagnetic greigite, Fe₃S₄, during the beginning of lacustrine conditions (± 12 000 yr BP). Our data also indicate a detrital origin of overlying ferrimagnetic iron oxides. It is suggested that they originate from brown soils developed on the boulder clay constituting the west side of the lake shore. Variations of ferrimagnetic iron oxide size are related to the early diagenetic processes in the sediment. Larger particles are present in periods with early diagenesis of organic matter in anoxic conditions. This indicates the dissolution of fine magnetic particles by iron-oxide-reducing bacteria and results in homogeneous magnetic grain sizes, despite their origin from soils, characterized by a multimodal grain-size distribution.     

Palaeointensity In the Pelagic Realm: Marine Sediment Data Compared With Archaeomagnetic and Lake Sediment Records

Summary. Four box cores collected from the Ontong—Java plateau during the Eurydice expedition have been used to make relative geomagnetic palaeo-intensity measurements. Rock magnetic measurements on the sediments show that they are characterized by a uniform magnetic mineralogy, and that they are suitable for relative intensity estimates. These are obtained by normalizing the NRM by an ARM imparted in a low DC bias field. the palaeoceanographic event known as the preservation spike is used to establish a crude time-scale for the record so that it may be compared with other data from the same region, and also with global palaeointensity estimates. the marine sediment data are quite similar to Australian intensity data from lake sediments and archaeomagnetic sources, but as might be expected exhibit some obvious differences from the global record.     

Storage diagenesis versus sulphide authigenesis: possible implications in environmental magnetism

Experiments involving the gradual drying out of controlled mixtures of soil and organic lake sediment during storage at room temperature show that this leads to a loss of magnetic susceptibility and isothermal remanence greatly in excess of the initial values for the sediment components of the mixtures. We conclude that during storage in the moist state, soil-derived, fine-grained, ferrimagnetic iron oxides (magnetite and/or maghemite) are transformed to paramagnetic and/or imperfect antiferrimagnetic minerals. The imperfect anti-ferromagnetic component of the initial mixtures, which probably includes goethite, appears to survive and may even increase during storage. The experimental results compare well with the previously documented effects of storing wet sediment from the site, Peckforton Mere, Cheshire, U.K., over a comparable time interval. We conclude that transformation of fine grained ferrimagnets during storage diagenesis may be responsible for many of the examples of loss of magnetic susceptibility and remanence attributed by other authors solely to the oxidation of an iron sulphide such as greigite. Only where greigite is positively identified is it valid to infer a contribution from it to the magnetic properties of lake sediments: loss of susceptibility or remanence during storage is not alone a sufficient basis for such an inference. Early drying of samples will normally avoid the effects of storage diagenesis; and recent sediment samples so treated will, where greigite formation, bacterial magnetite and magnetite dissolution are insignificant, provide a valid basis for source identification on the basis of magnetic properties.     

Role of landscape parameters in riverine run-off,and sediment and organic matter yield on Disko Island,West Greenland

Measurements of discharge and suspended sediment and organic matter yield from nine different drainage basins on the island Disko in central West Greenland were carried out in the period 19–30 July 1997. A series of landscape properties (glacier cover, altitude, slope, aspect and vegetation cover) were measured for each drainage basin from a digital elevation model and a satellite image. Principal Component Analysis and regression statistics have been used to examine which landscape parameters dominate the measured discharges and yields. It is concluded that differences in suspended sediment and organic matter yield between the drainage basins can be explained by the measured morphometric properties while differences in water run-off can not. Glacier cover percentage and percent area above 800 m a.s.l. were the most important parameters influencing suspended sediment and organic matter yield in the drainage basins on Disko during the study period.     

Palaeointensity determination and K—Ar dating of the Tertiary north-east Jalisco volcanics (Mexico)

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Sixteen samples representing eight Tertiary volcanic units from north-east Jalisco, Mexico were studied in an attempt to estimate the palaeointensity of the Earth's magnetic field. The experimental technique used was similar to that proposed by Shaw (1974) and an attempt was made to incorporate further criteria using the directional behaviour of the NRM, TRM and two ARMs during the af treatment and measuring the rate of ARM acquisition before and after heating. The directional information was used for checking the stability of all remanent magnetizations involved and for correcting the ARM test values. In addition the TRM directional behaviour could be a valuable yet simple test to detect the problem of insufficient heating. The use of the ARM acquisition test in the palaeointensity determination permits the full investigation of the coercive force spectrum and could lead to a more reliable palaeointensity method. This combined ARM method was applied to one sample. Further work is needed to understand the NRM—ARM1 and TRM—ARM2 relationships if the ARM tests are to be used for correcting TRM alteration effects. Whole rock K—Ar age determinations were carried out on samples from four selected units. Ten samples, representing six of the units, are considered to yield reliable palaeointensity values. Mean values were computed for each unit and reduced to the palaeoequator. The mean palaeoequatorial values and K—Ar ages determined are: I (13 |Mp 2 Myr), 0.504 Oe; II, 0.453 Oe; III, 0.439 Oe; VI (52 |Mp 10 Myr), 0.074 Oe; VII (14 |Mp 2 Myr), 0.187 Oe and VIII (12 |Mp 2 Myr), 0.251 Oe. These results agree reasonably well with those from previous studies. A large number of palaeointensity estimations, many more than currently available, are required to obtain an average estimate of the behaviour of the Earth's magnetic field during the Tertiary.     

Further reliability tests for determination of palaeointensities of the Earth's magnetic field

Summary. In palaeomagnetic studies of volcanic rocks it is often considered that, if the direction of NRM does not change much and the intensity de-creases gradually and smoothly during ac cleaning, then the remanent magnetization is stable and chiefly composed of TRM. This argument is extended as a consistency check to detect unwanted effects during laboratory heating. A simple procedure which employs orientated samples and a short heating (15 min) for TRM acquisition in the laboratory has been used for determining the ancient geomagnetic field intensity using seven volcanic rocks of Late Cenozoic age from central Mexico. The main reliability tests are based on the stability of direction, the close correspondence of the entire coercitivity spectra of both NRM and TRM to ac demagnetization, the low scatter of TRM directions, close correspondence of the TRM directions and the direction of the laboratory magnetic field, proportionality of TRM intensities to applied field, susceptibility comparison before and after heating, and the within-unit consistency of palaeointensity determinations.     

Spatial variability in surface sediment composition characterised by near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy

Near-infrared (NIR) spectral data were obtained from 165 surface sediment samples from a northern Swedish humic, mesotrophic lake (0.5 km2). The NIR spectra, together with data on water depth and loss-on-ignition (LOI), allow an evaluation of the source of spatial variance in sediment characteristics. The results show that water depth and organic matter (LOI) account for 20 and 16%, respectively, of the variance in the NIR-absorbance data. More importantly, the spatial variance in the spectral data suggest that NIR analysis of lake sediments mainly reflect sediment properties that cannot simply be explained by depth or amount of organic matter. The influence of inlets and land-use (e.g. clear-cutting) on sediment characteristics was more pronounced in the spectral data than would be expected from the LOI data. This is explained by differences in the chemical composition of the organic matter, as revealed by NIR spectroscopy, rather than in the amount of organic matter or depth-related sedimentation properties (e.g. particle size or density). This initial attempt to characterise sediment properties using NIR suggests that NIR analysis might become a valuable complementary tool to traditional sediment characterisation.     

内蒙古黄旗海湖泊沉积物磁化率特征及其环境意义

黄旗海H3剖面是14C测年8.0~2.0 ka BP高湖面时的粉砂质湖相沉积。对H3剖面的全样、77~20 um、20 um三个粒级的磁化率和Ti、Zr元素含量进行了测试,研究结果表明:作为气候环境代用指标,磁化率和Ti、Zr元素含量在20μm粒级样品中具有相同的指示意义。因此,在利用磁化率和地球化学元素作为气候环境代用指标时应当将样品分成不同粒级测试其含量变化,并从中寻找能够反映气候环境变化的真实信息。磁化率参数可以作为反映环境变化的代用指标,两者间有很好的相关关系,湖泊沉积中,高(低)磁化率指示干燥(湿润)的气候,较低(高)的湖面。黄旗海由磁化率反映的事件可以与北大西洋全新世突发气候事件对比,也可以和若尔盖高原泥炭记录的全新世气候事件对比,可能反映了内蒙古高原中南部、青藏高原和北大西洋地区气候变化的内在联系。     

Paleoenvironmental implications of magnetic measurements on sediment core from Kunming Basin,Southwest China

Mineral magnetic measurements have been made on a long sediment core from Dianchi Lake, Southwest China. They have been used for sediment stratigraphy, for bulk lithological classification and for detailed particle-size-based characterisation. These results are set alongside those derived from geochemical, granulometric and pollen analysis to reconstruct the environmental processes recorded in the radiocarbon dated sediment column. It is suggested that the variations of magnetic properties in this sediment core are mainly the result of changes in particle size constitution or organic content, implying shifts in the sedimentary environment. Three distinctive stratigraphic horizons, with several subdivisions, have been identified on the basis of the magnetic measurements. They are coincident with the pollen assemblage zones, indicating the different climatic periods in the Kunming Basin since late Pleistocene times. This paper proposes that a major shift in sedimentation, from lake to reedswamp, occurred in approximately 10 000–12 000 BP, in response to climatic change.     

Palaeomagnetic results from remagnetized mid-Cretaceous(Albian–Cenomanian) strata of northeastern Venezuela

We report palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic results of a sedimentary sequence (Pertigalete cement quarry) located in northeastern Venezuela. Sampling was restricted to the vicinity of the contact between the upper Cretaceous Chimana and Querecual formations. Biostratigraphic evidence reveals an upper Albian age for this formational transition. Profiles of site-averaged NRM intensity of the high-coercivity (over 30 mT) and high-temperature (over 400 °C) components appear to be related to the contact and distance from the contact. We interpret this profile as the probable outcome of overlapping thermochemical remagnetization events resulting from hydrothermal activity that was focused along the two formations. Direct spectral analyses performed on the site-averaged stable NRM intensity profile allow the separation of at least two of these remagnetization events. On the other hand, palaeomagnetic results show a considerable streaking of site mean declinations, suggesting that tectonic or structural horizontal movements around a vertical axis have occurred after NRM acquisitions. Horizontal rotation angles, plotted against stratigraphic levels for bedding-corrected data, show some features that seem to coincide with the alteration peaks isolated in the profile of site-averaged stable NRM intensities. Thus, it appears that repeated thermochemical remagnetizations with overlapping unblocking spectra, and horizontal movements around a vertical axis could have been responsible for much of the within-site dispersion. A simple three-stage reconstruction of the possible chain of thermochemical and tectonic occurrences that could lead to the present-day palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic evidence is proposed. These events, including clockwise horizontal rotations around a vertical axis, are tentatively placed in a geological time framework between middle Miocene and Pliocene times according to the main geological and geochemical evidence available.     

西峰与段家坡黄土剖面中有机质的特征及古环境信息

对甘肃西峰（X）黄土剖面L1－L6共163个样品进行总有机碳（TOC）和R ock-Eval热解分析，对比分析了西峰和陕西段家坡（D)剖面L5－S5－1层段及其中趋磁细菌的正烷烃与脂肪酸组成，结果显示西峰剖面的TOC与磁化率呈良好的对数关系，两个剖面L5－S5－1层段正烷烃和脂肪酸的分布表明，黄土地区当时古气候偏干冷，黄土高原由西北而东南，古气候呈变暖趋势，西峰剖面从S5－1形成到L5堆积，其古湿度可能有一个突变，即古气候由较湿润突然转变为极干燥，而段家坡地区当时的气候变化则可能较为缓和。     

基于210Pb测年法的楚科奇海陆架北缘有机碳沉积通量研究

有机碳沉积作用在一定时间尺度上形成海洋碳汇作用的最终净效应,北冰洋陆架的有机碳沉积作用在全球碳循环中有着尤为重要的地位。为了测定楚科奇海陆架的有机碳沉积通量,本文应用210Pb测年法对中国第3次北极考察R17站位的沉积物样品的年龄及沉积速率进行了分析测定,并结合表层沉积物中有机碳的含量计算得到了楚科奇海陆架北缘的有机碳沉积通量。结果显示,该站位的沉积速率为0.6 mm/a,表观沉积质量通量为0.72 kg/m2/a,有机碳沉积通量为517 mmol C/m2/a。经估算,真光层输出的有机碳中约有29 %被长期封存在沉积物中,远高于中低纬度的正常值（~10 %）,说明楚科奇海陆架区具有高效的碳汇作用。     

1860s以来巢湖沉积物金属元素富集特点及其对人类活动的指示意义

根据对巢湖CH1钻孔沉积物进行²¹⁰Pb比活度测试和粒度、磁学、金属元素分析,在推算沉积速率并建立沉积物年代学标尺的基础上,分析了沉积物金属元素富集与粒度组成和磁学特性间的关系。在对沉积物金属元素含量进行粒度校正后,发现大约自沉积速率推算年代1860s A.D.起,沉积物Cu、Zn元素开始出现非自然水平富集,是化石燃料高温燃烧、金属冶炼与机械制造等人为活动影响所致。这与始自1861年,以生产枪炮、弹药、火轮船为主的中国近代第一个兵工厂——安庆内军械所,在时间上与可能的金属污染性质上是完全一致的,说明巢湖沉积物金属元素的非自然水平富集,是对这一时期区域工业发轫与人类工业活动的沉积响应。     

柴达木盆地察尔汗盐湖北侧沙丘黏性沉积物特征

柴达木盆地察尔汗盐湖周边黏性沉积物被认为是单风向风况条件下线形沙丘和新月形沙丘两类沙丘共存的主要原因。为进一步探究察尔汗盐湖周边沙丘黏性沉积物特征,实地调查采集并测量了察尔汗盐湖北侧新月形沙丘/线形沙丘和丘间地沉积物的粒度特征、盐分含量和纵剖面水分含量变化,以期为明确黏性沉积物对沙丘地貌形成演化影响的研究提供参考。结果表明:丘间地沉积物平均粒径最大约为2.39Φ,新月形沙丘沉积物(2.41Φ)略粗于线形沙丘(2.54Φ)。沉积物以细沙为主(84%),中沙和极细沙含量都很少,丘间地中沙含量略高(18%)。区内沉积物都表现出极好的分选性,线形沙丘沉积物略优于新月形沙丘;丘间地沉积物的可溶性盐含量最高平均约为6.88%,线形沙丘(平均2.78%)明显高于新月形沙丘(平均0.80%);丘间地沉积物水分含量最高,在30cm深垂直范围内约为1.93%。新月形沙丘沉积物水分含量(平均0.12%)在1m深垂直范围内明显低于线形沙丘(平均0.55%)。除黏性沉积物(盐、粉沙和黏土)外,沉积物水分含量的空间差异也是引起沙丘形态发生变化的重要环境要素。     

The magnetic properties of the recent sediments of Brothers Water, N W England

The magnetic properties of recent sediments from five short cores from Brothers Water in the English Lake District are compared with those from a set of catchment soil samples. From the comparison, it is concluded that bacterial magnetosomes have made a significant contribution to the magnetic properties of the sediments of the last five decades. This contribution is superimposed on a continuing erosive input of haematite-rich sediment from the parent materials of the catchment and may obscure any possible increase in surface soil input during recent times. The results highlight the difficulty of making sediment-source linkages where biogenic contributions to the magnetic properties of the sediment are important relative to the input of magnetic minerals from catchment erosion.     

泾河中游全新世古洪水沉积学与水文学研究(英文)

Palaeo-hydrological field investigation was carried out in the middle reaches of the Jinghe River. A set of palaeoflood slackwater deposit beds was identified in the Holocene loess-soil sequence in the riverbanks. The sediment samples were collected from the profile, and the particle-size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition were analyzed in laboratory. The analytical results showed that the palaeoflood slackwater deposits have re-corded extraordinary flood events in the Jinghe River valley. According to stratigraphic cor-relation and OSL dating, the palaeoflood events were dated to 4100-4000 a BP. The pa-laeoflood peak discharges were estimated to be 19,410-22,280 m3/s by using the hydro-logical model and checked by different approaches. These results have the flood data se-quence of the Jinghe River extended to 10,000-year time-scale. It provided significant data for hydraulic engineering and for mitigation of flood hazards in the Jinghe River drainage basin.     

安徽巢湖全新世湖泊沉积物磁化率与粒度组合的变化特征及其环境意义

通过对获取的巢湖湖泊沉积岩芯的磁化率与粒度组合特征的分析,结合孢粉及相邻其它区域的环境考古资料,得出该岩芯柱样所反映的环境变化信息。结果表明:(1)巢湖湖泊沉积物磁化率曲线在117 cm以下总体上比较平稳而略有下降,117 cm以上人类活动所导致的侵蚀作用加剧使得磁化率值异常升高;(2)本岩芯柱样117 cm以下样品的磁化率强度与粘土的百分比含量呈正相关,而与粉砂组分的百分比含量成负相关;(3)根据磁化率与粒度组合变化特征,结合孢粉分析及全新世以来区域气候变化背景,9 870 Cal a B.P.以来的巢湖流域古气候环境演变可以划分6个不同的时期:9 870~7 000 Cal a B.P.,气候呈温和略干的特点;7 000~4 750 Cal a B.P.,气候温暖湿润;4 750~2 170 Cal a B.P.,流域气候温和干燥,巢湖湖盆局部地区可能出露水面以上;2 170~1 040 Cal a B.P.,气候总体上温和湿润,但是冷暖波动明显;1 040~2 00 Cal a B.P.流域处在温凉稍湿的时期,人类活动逐渐加强;200 Cal a B.P.至今,流域总体上处于相对温暖湿润阶段。     

Assessing sedimentation in a temperate dystrophic lake in the NE Atlantic seaboard region

Organic materials deposited in lacustrine environments can be derived from both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and can serve as valuable indicators of catchment and in-lake ecological changes over time. However, spatial and temporal variation in the deposition of these materials within a lake basin will influence the interpretation of these sediment deposits. In this study, materials deposited in suspended sediment traps and basin sediments in Lough Feeagh, a temperate coastal humic lake, show variations in organic matter, total organic carbon and nitrogen loads, algal pigment concentrations and diatom assemblages. Sediment trap samples from three locations along with adjacent surface sediment cores show a clear north–south (inlet to outlet) gradient. C/N ratios reflected a mixture of algal and land-derived organic matter with a major peat influence, and comparisons between sediment trap and surface sediment assemblages revealed pigment and diatom assemblages influenced by lake-basin position and water depth. While some coherency between trap and sediment samples was apparent a more complicated biological response is demonstrated along with reduced water clarity in recent years thus highlighting the implications of increased allochthonous imputs for biological and biogeochemical processes in oligo-humic aquatic systems.