Depositional magnetization of Carboniferous Limestones from the Craven Basin of northern England

Carboniferous Limestones in the Craven Basin of northern England carry a stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) the intensity of which is facies dependent. Dark argillaceous limestones are most strongly magnetized and pure, pale coloured limestones most weakly magnetized. Partial thermal and alternating field demagnetization suggest that magnetite is the principal carrier of the remanence although some haematite is present in the limestone. The presence of magnetite is confirmed by the low temperature transition, isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM build-up curves) and microprobe analysis. Partial demagnetization of IRM and ARM suggest that the magnetite is relatively coarse grained and in the multidomain state. There are no indications of pseudo-single domain behaviour but magnetite of this type cannot be excluded as a possible remanence carrier. A grain size estimate of 10–20 μm based on coercive force and remanent coercive force is compatible with the theoretical consideration of grain size. The limestones show a weak but marked magnetic susceptibility anisotropy. This anisotropy defines a depositional fabric which indicates that the magnetization is a depositional remanent magnetization (DRM). A DRM was acquired by each specimen before compaction and cementation and was preserved because of the reducing conditions which prevailed in the early diagenetic environments of the limestones.     

Holocene river development and environmental change in Upper Wharfedale,Yorkshire Dales,England

This paper provides the first radiometrically dated evidence of Holocene alluvial landform development in Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales. Four river terraces are identified. Terraces 1 and 2 are closely linked to Late Devensian and early Holocene environmental change, with gravel reworked from local glacial and periglacial sources prior to cementation by carbonate‐rich waters. U‐series dating of cement provides age estimates for cementation of between ca. 5.1–7.4 kyr BP for Terrace 1 and ca. 3.6–>8.0 kyr BP for Terrace 2. U‐series dating of tufas overlying Terraces 1 and 2 produced ages of ca. 4.2–4.5 kyr BP and ca. 2.1–2.2 kyr BP respectively, and provide upper age limits for terrace formation. Terrace 3 marks a change in sediment calibre, supply and sedimentation style, and ¹⁴C dating suggests that the principal source of fine‐grained material may be agricultural expansion in the Yorkshire Dales from ca. ad 600 (1350 cal. yr BP). Radiocarbon dates indicate that Terrace 4 was deposited from the eleventh century, with initiation of the contemporary floodplain between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries ad. Both these lowest units contain sediments contaminated with heavy metals as a result of mining activities within the catchment. The evidence presented in this study is comparable to that of research undertaken in upland environments elsewhere in northern and western Britain, thereby adding to the corpus of information currently available for evaluating the fluvial geomorphological response to climate and vegetation change during the Holocene. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

沉积物的ESR测年

对沉积物中石英ESR测年的特性进行了较为详细地研究，可用沉积物中石英的Ge心信号进行ESR测年；根据石英E心饱和功率较小这一特性，采用较大的微波功率可以测得较老海洋沉积物（大于0.5Ma）的ESR年龄；石英E心的异常较照剂量响应是判断海岸风成沙环境的一个标志。此外，还介绍了沉积物ESR测年在地质上的应用。     

大陆岩石圈地幔定年

大陆岩石圈地幔是伴随地壳熔体抽取而形成的低密度地幔残留,是联系软流圈与地壳的重要纽带。虽然大陆岩石圈地幔一直是固体地球科学研究的重要内容,但对其形成时代的准确厘定则是当前研究的难点。传统方法是采用岩石圈地幔中橄榄岩主要元素的贫瘠程度来对岩石圈进行定年,即古老的岩石圈地幔Al2O3和CaO含量低,而MgO含量高(同时导致橄榄石高Fo值),而年轻岩石圈地幔的特征正好相反。显然,这种间接的方法不能给出确切的年龄信息。尽管Sr-Nd和锆石U-Pb等同位素方法也被用来进行地幔橄榄岩定年,但岩石圈地幔通常具有的较高温度使上述同位素体系不能保持封闭,因而给出的年龄大多与岩石圈地幔的形成时代无关。近几年发展起来的Re-Os同位素技术是目前进行岩石圈地幔定年的最理想工具,但也存在一系列需要研究的问题。文中对这一方法的基本原理、发展现状和存在的问题进行了全面的介绍。同时,根据目前获得的Os同位素资料,对中国东部岩石圈地幔的时代进行了讨论,并简要论述所获得的资料对岩石圈减薄研究的启示。     

Enhancing understanding of breakdown and collapse in the Yorkshire Dales using ground penetrating radar on cave sediments

Historical evidence shows block breakdown and collapse are actively occurring in large fault aligned caverns in the Yorkshire Dales karst. Deployment of ground penetrating radar at two such sites has provided detailed images of the sedimentary sequences below the present day cavern floor but no large blocks are imaged within the sediments. Solutional processes must be removing limestone from the sediment to allow continued cavern growth. Possible mechanisms to account for the lack of large blocks within the sediment fill are discussed.     

Dating of the Karakorum Strike-slip Fault

This paper mainly discusses the timing of the Karakorum strike-slip fault, and gives a brief introduction of its structures, offset, and deformational style. This fault strikes NNW-SSE. Asymmetrical folds, stretching lineation, S-C fabrics, feldspar and quartz σ-porphyroclasts, domino structure, shear cleavages and faults in the fault zone are products of tectonic movements. They all indicate a dextral slip sense of faulting. Mylonitic bands are widely developed along this fault. Phengite appears, indicating rather high deformational pressure. Geochronological data indicate that the Karakorum strike-slip faulting occurred from 6.88±0.36 to 8.75±0.25 Ma. The cumulative displacement from Muztag Ata to Muji is about 135 km.     

α反冲径迹定年

与裂变迹径定年类似，α反冲径迹定年（Alpha-Recoil Track）也是基于天然放射性元素所释放核粒子在固体中产生可蚀刻径迹的积累。铀钍及它们的子体核素进行α衰变时形成α反冲径迹，当发射一个α粒子时，重的剩余核反冲并造成30-40nm的辐射损失痕迹，经过蚀刻α反冲径迹可在干涉相差显微镜下观测。如果在样品形成以后全部迹径被保留下来，那么测定它们的总数就可以得到样品的年龄。Α反冲径迹定年是一种刚刚开始研究的新型热年代学核分析技术，研究样品可以是单个小云母片（约0.5mm），定年范围102-106a，该方法对第四纪地质、地理、灾害及考古等领域有很大的应用潜力。     

Dating climatic episodes of the Holocene

Monitoring evidence indicates that the Holocene embraced a sequence of rather discrete climatic episodes. The transitions between these environmental episodes apparently were abrupt and globally synchronous. This paper reports on statistical analyses of radiocarbon dates associated with environmental change and cultural change.Over 800 ¹⁴C dates associated with pollen maxima and minima, sea level maxima and minima, and top and bottom surfaces of peat beds were simultaneously analyzed to identify times of globally synchronous environmental discontinuities.Some 3700 ¹⁴C dates associated with 155 cultural continua of the world were collectively analyzed to identify worldwide synchroneities in appearance and termination of the cultures.Significant globally synchronous discontinuities were identified in each independent analysis. The dates of environmental and cultural discontinuities are rather similar, particularly during the recent half of the Holocene. The fact that the cultural discontinuities mostly follow rather closely those of the paleobotanical record suggests that there has been a distinct climatic impact on the cultural history of man.     

The faunal-stratigraphy of the ludlovian rocks between Craven Arms and Bourton,near Much Wenlock,Shropshire

The Ludlovian Series has been mapped between the River Onny at Craven Arms and the village of Bourton which lies 2½ miles SW of Much Wenlock. Ten subdivisions are recognised on biostratigraphical and lithostratigraphical criteria. For these divisions the stratigraphical terminology established by Holland, Lawson and Walmsley (1959, 1963) in the Ludlow area has been utilised. Two breaks occur in the otherwise continuous succession of variable calcareous sediments: there is lithological and faunal discontinuity at the base of the Leintwardine Beds and within the Upper Leintwardine Beds. The latter can be recognised over a wide area of the Ludlovian shelf. Accordingly alternative correlations, to those presently accepted, are proposed for the Leintwardine Beds.     

裂变径迹定年的过渡方法——Zeta法

本文对裂变径迹Zeta法定年及应用现状作了简单的介绍。采用国产的铀标准玻璃UB2标定了磷灰石的Zeta常数 ,并对Zeta法的过渡性进行了分析探讨。最后对Zeta法过渡到绝对法提出了粗浅的看法。     

早期热河生物群时代的磁性地层学约束

早期热河生物群保存于冀北的中生代地层大北沟组—大店子组,层位时代的磁性地层学研究对限定热河生物群的演化、鸟类的起源与进化以及被子植物的起源等重大科学问题的年代框架具有重要的科学意义。同时,将为中国陆相侏罗系—白垩系界线及早白垩系地层划分提供可以进行全球对比的磁性地层学证据。此外,还将为限定华北克拉通破坏提供可靠"深时(Deep-time)"约束。基于1 100余块样品的测试与分析结果,建立了冀北滦平盆地大北沟组—大店子组高精度的磁极性序列。磁性地层对比分析方案表明,大北沟组、大店子组和西瓜园组的磁极性序列对应于标准磁极性柱的M12—M9,属于Valanginian中期至Hauterivian中期。从磁性地层学的综合研究认为早期热河生物群的时代归属于早白垩世的Valanginian期。本文的研究结果不支持中国陆相侏罗—白垩系界线位于大北沟组与大店子组之间的划分方案。     

Dating the emergence of new species in the geologic past

Micropaleontologists, particularly biostratigraphers, are urged to analyze populations and utilize modern biologic cOncepts. In particular, the prime concern is with "form formation" and "species formation" which are defined and discussed. — M. A. Buzas.     

风化壳剖面的定年研究

风化壳时间序列的建立是提取有关信息的根本前提。然而,风化壳的定年一直被认为是一道国际难题。近年来,风化作用及风化壳剖面的研究越来越受到人们的关注,有关风化壳定年的研究也取得了一些重要进展。本对此进行了归纳和总结,并对各种方法进行了评述。     

全自动40Ar/39Ar激光探针定年系统空白本底与微量样品定年

氩-氩定年法中系统的空白本底是实现微区微量定年的关键条件。在北京大学“造山带与地壳演化教育部重点实验室全自动40Ar/39Ar激光探针定年系统”上以ZBH-25黑云母标样为试验样品进行了1个颗粒、3个颗粒和5个颗粒的全熔法定年以及7个颗粒的4步、9步、14步、19步和24步的分步释氩年龄谱测试。获得的5个氩同位素空白本底水平表明,本系统已经完全具备对中生代或更老的地质样品进行单颗粒全熔法等时线定年的能力。矿物或岩石光片原位全熔法定年的空白本底条件也已经具备。在适当增加样品量情况下（如10个颗粒）,几个百万年的年轻样品全熔等时线定年也可以实现。去除干扰分子对36Ar空白本底的影响,以及系统长期稳定运行后36Ar空白本底的逐渐降低,实现微量样品的分步释氩年龄谱定年是必然的。     

金矿石英脉K-Ar年龄测定

本文从不同地质时代含金石英脉中选取石英进行了K-Ar年龄实验研究，认为石英是含微量钾的矿物。Ar的析出曲线呈“马鞍型”，显示含过剩40Ar。几个石英K-Ar年龄实测结果均含过剩40Ar，其表面年龄无地质年代学意义。     

14C-AMS测年在考古学中的应用

14C加速器质谱(14C-AMS)测年技术具有测量精度高、速度快以及样品需求量少的特点,为考古年代学研究提供了一种新的途径.通过对中国考古学中的一些断代难题,例如夏商周断代工程、城头山遗址的环境考古、江西瑞昌铜岭冶铜遗址的14C-AMS测年分析,以及周原黄土地层学与年代学相结合的研究,总结了14C-AMS测年技术在提供可靠的年代、解决考古年代学中微量样品的测年难题方面,具有不可替代的优势.指出考古学的研究既要与地层学相结合,更重要的是与现代高灵敏度的测年技术相结合,并认为14C-AMS测年将成为未来中国考古年代学研究的一个重要方向.     

硫化物Rb-Sr同位素定年研究进展

针对金属矿床成矿年代确定混乱的问题,国内外许多矿床学家和同位素地球化学家对金属矿物常规同位素定年方法进行了有益的探索研究,尤其是对于矿石矿物以闪锌矿、方铅矿和黄铁矿为主的铅锌矿床,硫化物矿物Rb-Sr同位素定年方法显示出了其独特的优势。结合近几年开展的工作,总结国内外硫化物Rb-Sr同位素定年研究取得的成果、闪锌矿中Rb、Sr的赋存状态与定年机理以及定年适应性问题。采用闪锌矿Rb-Sr同位素组成数据拟合成等时线源自热液流体与闪锌矿之间Rb和Sr的不同分异作用,但并不是所有的闪锌矿均适合该定年技术。要成功获得年龄,需结合野外地质特征采集代表性的矿石样品,并在镜下鉴定基础上挑选合适的单矿物;在分析测试过程中,需尽可能去除次生包裹体和粘土矿物。