Geologic,geomorphic and hydrologic framework and evolution of the Bengal basin,India and Bangladesh

The Bengal basin, the largest fluvio-deltaic sedimentary system on Earth, is located in Bangladesh and three eastern states of India. Sediment accumulates in the basin from the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna (GBM) river systems and is dispersed into the Bay of Bengal, forming the largest submarine fan in the world. The basin is located in the Himalayan foreland at the junction of the Indian, Eurasian, and Burmese plates. The basin is bounded by the Indian craton on the west and the Indo-Burmese fold belts on the east. It can be broadly divided into a stable shelf and a foredeep separated by a deep seismic hinge zone. Basin sediments overlie Gondwanan basement and vary in thickness from a few kilometers on the stable shelf to more than 16 km in the foredeep. The basin was initiated at the breakup of Gondwanaland in the late Mesozoic and evolved through the formation of the proto-GBM delta to the present delta starting around 10.5 Ma. The stratigraphy of the different parts of the basin differs considerably, because of contrast in depositional history within the several sub-basins that were produced by intra-plate tectonic activities associated with ongoing Himalayan orogeny. The present-day geomorphology is dominated by the extensive Holocene GBM floodplain and delta. The vertical succession of the deltaic plain can be classified into five units on the basis of differences in grain size, which reflect differing depositional environments. The initiation of the modern GBM delta at the onset of the Pleistocene glacial maximum and its evolution to the present configuration are intricately related to Holocene fluvio-dynamic processes, eustatic sea-level changes, and tectonic movements.The sedimentology and mineralogy of the different parts of the basin reflect differences in sediment provenance. The mineralogy is dominated by detrital quartz, some feldspar, and minor amounts of carbonates; illite and kaolinite are the main clay minerals. The basin has profuse groundwater resources, but the architecture of the aquifers is not yet well resolved. Different classification schemes have been proposed on the basis of lithology. Regional groundwater flow follows a low hydraulic gradient from north to south, but pumping for irrigation during the past several decades appears to have severely distorted regional flow. Recharge occurs primarily during the monsoon season. Groundwater chemistry is dominated by anoxic, Ca–HCO₃-type water with relatively high concentrations of Fe, Mn, and As. Carbonate dissolution, silicate weathering, FeOOH reduction, and mixing with saline water are the primary processes controlling hydrochemistry.     

Sulfide oxidation in brown coal overburden and chemical modeling of reactions in aquifers influenced by sulfide oxidation

With a mean annual flow of 5.9×10¹¹m³yr^–1 and sediment load of 1600x10¹²gyr^–1 the Ganges river ranks second and third, respectively, in terms of water flow and sediment load among the world's rivers. Considering the enormous sediment transport by Ganges to the Bay of Bengal, a study was conducted on the size distribution and mineral characteristics of the suspended sediments of the Ganges river and is reported here. Most of the sediment load has a size range between <4–5.75 ). The sediments are mostly medium to coarse silt and are poorly sorted. Mica dominates among the clay minerals, followed by chlorite, vermiculite, kaolinite, and smectite. Due to differences in geology, smectite becomes a major clay mineral in downstream rivers. At Calcutta, the clay mineral transport in millions of tons per year is 18,464, 8000, and 2147, for mica, smectite, and chlorite, respectively.     

鄂尔多斯盆地白垩系粘土矿物的分布特征及其沉积-成岩环境意义

系统地分析了鄂尔多斯盆地白垩系粘土矿物的特征及其沉积、成岩环境意义。研究结果表明:白垩系砂岩、泥质岩的粘土矿物组合以I+C+I/S型、I+C型为主,具有高伊利石含量,较高绿泥石、伊/蒙混层矿物含量的粘土矿物组成特点;其中泥质岩粘土矿物主要为陆源碎屑成因,次为沉积成岩过程中形成的自生粘土矿物,而砂岩粘土矿物兼有陆源碎屑成因和沉积成岩过程自生成因的特征;白垩系沉积时气候总体特征为干旱—半干旱,但局部时段发生干—湿气候波动而处于短暂的湿热气候环境;白垩系沉积物源富含长石等硅酸盐矿物,沉积物质主要自北、南、西向盆地内部搬运沉积;白垩系沉积和埋藏成岩过程中水介质整体上具有盐度较高,偏碱性,富K+、Fe2+、Mg2+的特点,且总体上盆地南部水介质中的这些指标都高于北部。     

湖泊沉积物的矿物组成、成因、环境指示及研究进展

湖泊沉积物是不同地质、气候、水文条件下各类碎屑、黏土、自生/生物成因矿物以及有机物质等的综合体。沉积矿物蕴含着丰富区域和全球环境演变信息,如湖水的化学组成、流域构造、气候、水文以及人类活动的相互作用等。相关信息可以赋存在矿物外部微形貌、内部微结构、化学组成、物理和化学性质、同位素组成、谱学特征、成因以及共生组合等方面。因此,湖泊科学的许多关键课题都离不开矿物学,特别是在利用湖泊沉积物进行区域及过去全球变化研究中,深入的机理研究归根到底都要涉及矿物学,如流域化学风化作用、粒度组成、生物壳体化学组成、测年材料的选择等。然而,由于湖泊沉积物中矿物的多源性、复杂性,如何有效提取和解译其中的环境信息,是一项长期困扰研究者的课题,湖泊沉积矿物学的研究往往被许多研究者所忽视,中国的相关研究也较为薄弱。笔者综述了湖泊沉积物中碎屑、黏土、自生/生物矿物的矿物组合、特征、成因在（古）环境反演中的作用及最新研究进展,提出除了继续加强对湖泊沉积物中矿物来源、成因和古环境示踪的深入研究以外,矿物相间的转变及其对湖水和孔隙水组成的响应、一些非晶质或隐晶质及低丰度矿物相在湖泊化学和动力学中的作用也是很有潜力的研究领域,最后提出了研究中存在的一些问题、面对的挑战以及对研究前景的展望。     

Comparison of detrital mineral compositions between stream sediments of the Yangtze River (Changjiang) and the Yellow River (Huanghe) and their provenance implication

A comparative comparative study on the detrital mineral composition of stream sediments of the Yangtze River (Changjiang) and Yellow River (Huanghe) shows that, light minerals of the Yangtze River basin were mainly quartz, feldspar, and detritus, the compositional characteristics of light minerals differed among tributaries, the main stream had a generally higher maturity index than tributaries; heavy mineral content tended to decrease progressively from the upper stream to lower stream of the Yangtze River, the primary assemblage was magnetite-hornblende-augite-garnet-epidote, and diagnostic minerals of different river basins were capable of indicating the nature and distribution of the source rock. Detrital mineral assemblages in sediments of tributaries and the main stream of the Yellow River were basically similar, Primary heavy mineral assemblage was opaque mineral-garnet-epidote-carbonate mineral and alteration mineral. Variations in the contents of garnet, opaque mineral, and hornblende mainly reflected the degree of sedimentary differentiation in suspended sediment and the hydrodynamic intensity of a drainage system. The heavy mineral differentiation index F revealed sedimentary differentiation of diagnostic detrital mineral composition due to changes in regional hydrodynamic intensity and can serve as an indicator for studying the dynamic sedimentary environment of a single-provenance river and the degree of sedimentary differentiation of its detrital minerals. Changes in detrital mineral content of the Yellow River was not completely controlled by provenance but reflected gravity sorting of the detrital mineral due to variations in the ephemeral river hydrodynamic intensity and sedimentary environment, however the index changing of Yangtze River were mainly influenced by the complex sediment sources. Therefore caution must be exercised in using the detrital mineral composition of marginal sea to determine the contribution of the Yangtze River and Yellow River.© 2019 China Geology Editorial Office.     

台湾山溪性小河流碎屑重矿物组成及其示踪意义

台湾山溪性小河流每年向边缘海输入巨量沉积物,对东海陆架的沉积过程产生了显著的影响。本文分析台湾两条典型河流(兰阳溪和浊水溪)沉积物的全粒级碎屑重矿物组成,共鉴定出20种重矿物,但重量百分含量较低,为0.004%~0.116%。兰阳溪的主要重矿物组合为:锆石-菱镁矿-赤褐铁矿-锐钛矿-黄铁矿,浊水溪为:锆石-石榴石-赤褐铁矿-钛铁矿-锐钛矿-白钛石。研究流域的碎屑重矿物组成存在明显的沿程不均一性,指示出多数沉积物主要受到近源影响,从上游至下游重矿物组成的继承性较差。因此,基岩性质是河流碎屑重矿物组成的主要控制因素:兰阳溪和浊水溪的下游地区主要受各自流域内第四纪碎屑沉积物的贡献,上游地区则主要受到中央山脉庐山组的贡献。基岩控制起主导作用也使得重矿物指数如ATi、GZi和ZTR等难以恰当地应用于台湾山溪性小河流中。并且,大陆东部典型入海河流的重矿物组成与台湾河流存在明显区别:大陆入海河流中主要重矿物为磁铁矿和绿帘石;与之不同的是,兰阳溪河口富集锆石、菱镁矿和黄铁矿,浊水溪河口富集锆石和石榴石。这种差异主要反映了流域内基岩性质的不同。     

Chemical weathering in Luzon, Philippines from clay mineralogy and major-element geochemistry of river sediments

Clay mineralogy and major-element geochemistry of 35 surface sediment samples collected in 21 major to moderate rivers of Luzon, Philippines are used to evaluate the present chemical weathering process. The clay mineral assemblage consists mainly of smectite (average 86%) with minor kaolinite (9%) and chlorite (5%) and very scarce illite (1%), and does not show strong island-wide differences. The major element results of both bulk and clay-fraction sediments indicate that the formation of clay minerals is accompanied by leaching of Ca and Na first and of Fe and Mn thereafter during the chemical weathering process. A low-moderate chemical weathering degree of bulk sediments and a moderate-intensive degree of clay-fraction sediments are obtained in Luzon rivers based on proxies of chemical index of alteration (CIA) and smectite crystallinity. It is suggested that the majority of andesitic–basaltic volcanic and sedimentary rocks along with the tectonically active geological setting and sub-tropical East Asian monsoon climate are responsible for the predominance of smectite in the clay mineral assemblage.     

Distribution and fractionation of heavy metals in the surface sediments of the Ganges- Brahmaputra-Meghna river system in the Bengal basin

 The lower Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (G-B-M) drainage basin occupies the total Bengal Basin, which is one of the unique basins of the world because of its location and size, density of population, and catastrophic deposition of sediments. The increased heavy metal concentration in the 63 m fraction of surface sediments shows similarity among major segments of the G-B-M system in the basin, which reflects the homogenization of lithologic and chemical diversity of the greater denudation regime by the river processes. The differences in heavy metal concentation in the lower G-B-M system with that of its upper and middle counterpart is mainly related to the contrast between Himalayan rivers and the other major South Asian rivers, and may be due to the geological differences of their denudation regime. Heavy metals in the Lower G-B-M system have an affinity towards the clay fraction of the sediments. The correlation matix of heavy metals in the lower Brahmaputra and Meghna suggests the importance of Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides in their accumulations. Iron, Ti and Mn are higher in the Meghna main channel, Zn is higher in the Meghna tributaries, and Cr is higher in both the Brahmaputra and Meghna compared to the value for standard shale. The enrichment factor is ≤1 for most of the metals except Mn which is relatively higher in the Meghna and lower Ganges main channels. The geoaccumulation index (I_geo) for most of the heavy metals lies below grade zero, suggesting unpolluted sediment quality. The lower Ganges system shows relatively higher concentration in the nondetrital fraction of heavy metals, probably due to the presence of petroleum refinery, industrial and mining effluents, and agricultural runoff in the drainage basin. The relative uniformity in concentration of heavy metals in vertical profiles may be due to the uniformity in sediment grain size and catastrophic deposition of sediments, where the time period represented by the vertical sediment column is not enough to reflect the cultural accumulation of heavy metals. The Bengal basin thus represents a relatively unperturbed alluvial basin with regards to heavy metal pollution. Received: 21 July 1997 · Accepted: 13 October 1997     

辽东湾周边河流沉积物碎屑矿物组成及其物源意义

对辽东湾周边七条河流下游段河漫滩沉积物的碎屑矿物进行了鉴定,分析了轻重矿物组分的差异、流域基岩类型和沉积物粒度对碎屑矿物组成的影响。轻矿物组成以石英和长石占绝对优势。由于辽东湾西侧河流（六股河、小凌河和大凌河）和东侧河流（双台子河、大辽河、复州河）位于两个构造块体之上,不同的基岩类型导致重矿物组合差别很大。湾西河流普通角闪石含量低、金属矿物含量高,湾东河流则相反,这两种组分能有效区分辽东湾东西两侧的河流,同时也可将滦河与上述河流区分开。石榴子石和普通辉石含量特征可区分湾西三条河流,特征为大凌河前者含量高,小凌河后者含量高,六股河两者含量都很低。绿帘石和阳起石的含量在湾东河流沉积物中差别较大,特征为双台子河前者含量高,大辽河后者含量高,复州河两者含量都很低。七条河流片状矿物和碳酸盐矿物含量低的特征有别于黄河沉积物。     

江汉平原主要河流沉积物重矿物特征与物源区岩性的响应

通过对江汉平原主要河流沉积物的重矿物组合、特征矿物以及能够反映沉积物稳定状况、物源及成熟度的重矿物特征指数(ATi,GZi和ZTR)进行对比分析,发现在江汉平原范围内,长江和汉江及其长江主要支流的沉积物中重矿物特征具有显著的差异。长江的重矿物组合模型为：  锆石+绿帘石+辉石+绿泥石+金属矿物,特征矿物是锆石和辉石;   汉江的重矿物组合模型为：  绿帘石+角闪石+石榴石+绿泥石+金属矿物,特征矿物是角闪石、石榴石;   另外,清江、漳河、沮水和玛瑙河的重矿物组合及特征矿物也都完全不同。而且各水系的沉积物的重矿物特征与其源区的岩性分布显示出极好的相关性。研究表明在江汉平原利用重矿物特征及组合模型来进行物源示踪的方法开展水系演化研究是可行的。     

Mineral magnetic characterization of the Godavari river sediments: Implications to Deccan basalt weathering

Mineral magnetic analysis including thermo-magnetic studies and clay mineralogy on bed load and floodplain sediments from the Godavari river indicate distinct mineral assemblages. The floodplain sediments up to the delta region are characterised by unimodal ferrimagnetic mineralogy marked by the presence of maghemite and single domain magnetites derived from Deccan basalts. On the other hand the bed loads show varied magnetic mineral assemblages depicting greater local mixing from the non-basaltic bedrock province. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility and clay mineralogy of the floodplain samples show titanomagnetites (Fe₃O₄-Fe₂TiO₄), maghemite (χ _LF-Fe₂O₃) and smectite that are characteristic of the Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP). Presence of this ferrimagnetically dominant unimodal assemblage up to the delta region and probably into the Bay of Bengal off the Godavari river is attributed to extensive chemical weathering of the basalt. The quantitative approach of mineral magnetism, therefore, can be used to study the paleomonsoon variability and its relation to Deccan basalt weathering from the Godavari-Bengal fan system.     

物源—河流过程—化学风化对松花江水系沉积物重矿物组成的影响

松花江水系作为我国七大水系之一,对其沉积物组成的深入探究对揭示源区控制因素和沉积物的搬运—沉积过程具有重要意义。重矿物蕴含着源岩母岩的重要信息,是解开由源到汇过程和物源示踪的重要工具。为了评估物源、河流过程和化学风化对重矿物组成的影响,我们从松花江水系干流和支流的边滩以及阶地共取32个样品,进行分粒级(<63μm、63~125μm和125~250μm)的重矿物分析。结果表明,松花江水系源区母岩信息在嫩江各支流(诺敏河最为典型)的重矿物组成中得到很好的反映,但在嫩江干流中没有得到反映,这表明物源对重矿物组成的控制受到河流过程的影响。松花江水系的重矿物组成以角闪石、绿帘石、钛铁矿和榍石为主。河流沉积物的重矿物组成主要富集在63~125μm组分,同一河流的不同河段的重矿物组成存在显著差异(巴兰河尤为典型),表明了河流搬运—沉积过程对重矿物组成起到重要控制。哈尔滨松花江T2阶地沉积物(弱风化)的重矿物组成基本保留了现代河流砂特征,讷谟尔河T1阶地沉积物(中等风化)的重矿物受到一定程度的改造,而受到严重化学风化影响的通河松花江T3阶地的重矿物组成已遭受严重破坏,不稳定矿物(角闪石和辉石)以及蕴含的母岩信息已完全消失,表明了重矿物组成明显受到沉积物化学风化程度的影响。由于源—汇过程中重矿物的混合和由此导致的稀释作用,使得沉积物携带的物源信息经过长距离搬运之后逐渐变得模糊。因此,我们认为,在进行河流重矿物源—汇过程研究中,宽粒度分析窗口和足够多的样品数量需要考虑以充分获取源区完整的重矿物组成信息。同时,在利用河流阶地重矿物组成进行源—汇联系和古水系演化研究时,需要首先评估阶地沉积物的化学风化程度。     

Mineralogy of Holocene Sediments from the Southwestern Black Sea Shelf (Turkey) in Relation to Provenance, Sea-level and Current Regimes

Grain size and mineral composition of core sediments were used to investigate influences of various terrestrial and marine conditions, which have prevailed on the southwestern Black Sea shelf during the Holocene. Siliciclastic mud with small amounts of sand and gravel from nearby coastal hinterland is the principal sediment type, whereas sediments deposited near the shelf edge and the Istanbul Strait and off the Duru Lake （a paleo-river mouth） constitued large quantities of sand and gravel of both biogenic and terrigenic origin. Variable amounts of aragonite, 1 nmmicas, quartz, feldspars, calcite and dolomite constitute the dominant non-clay minerals in bulk sediments. The clay mineral assemblage in the 〈 2 μm fraction is made up of smectite, illite, kaolinite and chlorite. Aragonite and calcite are mainly derived from benthic accumulations, whereas feldspars （mainly plagioclase） and smectite reflect magmaticvolcanic provenance and the distribution of 1 nm-micas and chlorite correlate with nearby metamorphic sources onland. Nevertheless, grain size and mineral distribution generally indicate a combination of effects of wind and wave climate, longshore and offshore cyclonic currents, changing sea-level stands and nearby source rock and morphological conditions. It is also suggested that at least part of clay minerals could be derived from the northwesterly Danube River input.     

Mineralogy and chemical composition of the clay fraction of Neogene shales from the Surma Group in the Bengal basin,Bangladesh

Mineralogical and chemical investigations (<2μm clay separates) of shale samples from the Neogene-age Surma Group obtained from four wells (Habiganj-11, Shahbazpur-1, Titas-11, Titas-15) in the Bengal basin, Bangladesh, were carried out in order to reveal the clay mineral composition as reservoir exploration and exploitation requires a good understanding of the clay minerals. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). Mineralogically, the sub-surface Surma Group shales comprise predominantly quartz, plagioclase, illite, chlorite, kaolinite, with lesser amounts of K-feldspar, dolomite and smectite, and minor to trace amounts of calcite, siderite and pyrite. The chemical composition of the <2 μm clay separates also suggests an illite and chlorite-rich composition. With increasing burial depth, the Surma Group shales are enriched in illite. The gradual decreasing of the smectite clays with depth and ultimate disappearance at greater depths (≥ 3000 m) may have been responsible for the presence of the diagenetic illite. Based on the mineralogical composition it is most likely that the illite-chlorite associations together with quartz and feldspar were predominantly detrital in origin and thus reflect the presence of a rapidly-rising source terrain not subjected to intense weathering.     

Arsenic toxicity of groundwater in parts of the Bengal basin in India and Bangladesh: the role of Quaternary stratigraphy and Holocene sea-level fluctuation

 Arsenic toxicity in groundwater in the Ganges delta and some low-lying areas in the Bengal basin is confined to middle Holocene sediments. Dissected terraces and highlands of Pleistocene and early Holocene deposits are free of such problems. Arsenic-rich pyrite or other arsenic minerals are rare or absent in the affected sediments. Arsenic appears to occur adsorbed on iron hydroxide-coated sand grains and clay minerals and is transported in soluble form and co-precipitated with, or is scavenged by, Fe(III) and Mn(IV) in the sediments. It became preferentially entrapped in fine-grained and organic-rich sediments during mid-Holocene sea-level rises in deltaic and some low-lying areas of the Bengal basin. It was liberated subsequently under reducing conditions and mediated further by microbial action. Intensive extraction of groundwater for irrigation and application of phosphate fertilizer possibly triggered the recent release of arsenic to groundwater. This practice has induced groundwater flow, mobilizing phosphate derived from fertilizer, as well as from decayed organic matter, which has promoted the growth of sediment biota and aided the further release of arsenic. However, the environment is not sufficiently reducing to mobilize iron and arsenic in groundwater in the Ganges floodplains upstream of Rajmahal. Thus, arsenic toxicity in the groundwater of the Bengal basin is caused by its natural setting, but also appears to be triggered by recent anthropogenic activities. Received: 23 August 1999 · Accepted: 16 November 1999     

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.     

盆地沉积物示踪源区山脉隆升剥露的几种方法

简要介绍了盆地沉积物示踪山脉隆升剥蚀的几种方法并给以实例分析。与造山 隆升过程相伴生的沉积盆地记录了造山带隆升的许多宝贵信息,利用盆地沉积物反演原区背景常局限于盆地沉积物碎屑组分、副（重）矿物组合及元素地球化学特征的变化,近年国外已开始利用盆地沉积物中颗粒错石Ｕ－Ｐｂ年龄谱、Ｎｄ同位素组成、矿物（如黑云母、磷灰石等）热年代学方法示踪盆地沉积物物源性质及物源贡献比例,山脉构造热事件及山脉升剥蚀速率等     

台湾海峡表层沉积物中黏土矿物特征及物质来源

利用X射线衍射仪,对比分析台湾海峡及周边表层沉积物的黏土矿物特征,讨论长江、福建和台湾河流对海峡黏土矿物的贡献程度。福建河流（闽江）的黏土矿物以高岭石为主（>40％）,其次是伊利石（30％）和绿泥石,不含蒙脱石;长江和浙闽泥质区的黏土矿物特征是伊利石含量最高（61％～66％）,其次是绿泥石（16％～17％）和高岭石（10％～13％）,少量蒙脱石（6％～9％）。台湾河流（浊水溪）黏土矿物组合为伊利石（>70％）和绿泥石,不含高岭石和蒙脱石为特征。台湾海峡高岭石含量由西向东明显减少,说明高岭石主要来自福建的河流。〖JP2〗台湾海峡50 m等深线以东区域的黏土矿物具有高的伊利石和绿泥石含量,低的蒙脱石和高岭石含量,且伊利石的化学指数和结晶度值都明显低于长江和福建的河流,反映台湾河流的物质来源。在台湾暖流作用下,台湾河流为台湾海峡中北部提供了大量的伊利石和绿泥石。福建近海的黏土矿物主要是由福建河流提供的,但在平潭岛周边海域的黏土矿物可能有长江物质的混合。〖JP〗     

长江三角洲东西部晚新生代地层中的 重矿物差异及其物源意义*

主要针对长江三角洲东西部两个晚新生代钻孔的重矿物分布特征,探讨了近河口区和内陆三角洲平原区物源演化差异。研究结果表明,近河口区自下而上地层中可以划分出5个不同的重矿物组合带,内陆平原区可划分出4个重矿物组合带,这些组合带分别对应着上新世、早、中、晚更新世和全新世。两区在上新世时期重矿物特征十分相似,以金红石、锆石、电气石等酸性-中酸性矿物为主,伴随着许多强氧化自生矿物,如赤铁矿、褐铁矿、白钛石等,表明了以基底和西部天目山为主的物源,指示了强烈风化的沉积环境。进入第四纪,两区沉积物来源发生了变化,内陆平原区继承了西部山地物源,但不稳定矿物增加,并伴随出现许多还原性自生矿物,如黄铁矿、重晶石、碳酸盐等,指示还原环境占主导。相比之下,近河口区物源明显发生变化,尤其是中更新世后矿物种类丰富,金红石、榍石等酸性-中酸性矿物,紫苏辉石、钛铁矿等基性矿物,透辉石、蓝晶石、符山石、十字石等典型变质岩矿物都稳定出现,意味着随着沉积盆地下沉,河口区逐渐接受了长江中下游和上游沉积物的物源。