Comparison of particle size characteristics of the Tertiary 'red clay' and Pleistocene loess in the Chinese Loess Plateau: implications for origin and sources of the 'red clay'

The origin of the Tertiary ‘red clay’ underlying the Pleistocene loess in the Chinese Loess Plateau remains controversial, although several lines of evidence have suggested a wind‐blown origin. This study examines the particle‐size parameters of the late Miocene and Pliocene ‘red clay’ by comparing it with those of the late Pleistocene loess. The particle‐size distribution of a total of 15 339 loess and 6394 ‘red clay’ samples taken from 12 loess sections along a north–south transect and two ‘red clay’ sequences at Lingtai and Jingchuan was systematically analysed. The median grain size, skewness and kurtosis of the late Pleistocene loess all show a systematic southward change and are principally influenced by distance from source region. The spatial and temporal differentiation of dust deposits is expressed in a skewness–kurtosis–median grain size ternary diagram, from which the distance to the source region can be inferred. The particle‐size characteristics of the Tertiary ‘red clay’ sediments are very similar to those of the palaeosols within the late Pleistocene loess deposits, suggesting an aeolian origin for the ‘red clay’. Based on the comparison of ‘red clay’ and loess in the ternary diagrams, it is inferred that the source–sink distance was greater in the Neogene than in the last and penultimate interglacials, and that the dust source region in north‐western China underwent a progressive expansion during the period from at least 7·0 Ma to the present.     

Distinction between sortable silts and aggregated particles in muddy intertidal sediments of the East Frisian Wadden Sea, southern North Sea

In muddy sediments, the distinction between sortable silt and aggregated silty clay is important for the understanding of fine particle dynamics because both have different hydraulic properties. The Wadden Sea of the southern North Sea is severely depleted in fine-grained sediments mainly due to high energy levels along the diked coastline. As a result, muddy sediments are restricted to a narrow belt along the diked mainland shore. In the present study, the mechanism by which this mud is deposited and how floc deposition and break-up are reflected in the size distribution, has been investigated. For this purpose, surficial sediments from four intertidal nearshore transects were monitored and repeatedly sampled in the course of two years. High-resolution grain-size analyses were performed by an automated settling tube and a Sedigraph particle analyser for the sand and mud fractions, respectively.The grain size frequency distributions of the fine fractions demonstrate that the Wadden Sea muds are composed of two subpopulations, a well-sorted coarse silt and an unsorted silty clay population. A depletion of grain size around 8 μm (7 phi) demarcates the grain-size boundary between the two populations, suggesting that the finer mud population (< 8 μm) is deposited in the form of flocs and aggregates which are hydraulically equivalent to the local sands and coarser silts. Floc break-up and reconstitution in response to seasonally changing energy regimes lead to apparent seasonal sedimentation patterns in the back-barrier tidal basins. Furthermore, in the course of sample preparation, the flocs and aggregates are broken down into their constituent particles. This mechanical artefact in the size distributions produces an artificial seasonal fining/coarsening pattern. It was found that the comparison of clay/silt and < 8 μm/63 − 8 μm particle ratios are good indicators of floc behaviour. Higher ratios are found in mixed flats which are relatively protected from wave action, thereby promoting deposition of flocs. In addition, progressive size sorting and mixing processes along the transects are recognized in the frequency distributions of sands. The skewness pattern shows a landward decrease in positive values, which is exactly opposite to previously reported patterns, suggesting progressive winnowing of fine particles caused by increased wave action over the last decade. This effect of climate change further promotes depletion of fine-grained sediments in the basin.     

江汉平原洪水沉积物的粒度特征及环境意义——以2005年汉江大洪水为例

2005年10月初汉江发生了自1983年以来最大的一次洪水。通过对江汉下游仙桃河段不同地貌单元洪水沉积物的系统取样和分析,发现2005年汉江洪水沉积的粒度特征具有以下特点：  1)不同河道地貌单元的沉积物粒级组分有所不同,高河漫滩的粒径相对偏细,主要以粉砂级组分为主（49.56.％）,粘土含量相对较高（约为4.871％）。低河漫滩和平水位边滩沉积物的粒径相对偏粗,主要以砂级组分为主（低河漫滩为82.96.％,边滩为69.72.％）,低河漫滩沉积物中粘土含量较少,只有1.058.％; 2)平水位边滩沉积物的粒径的统计平均值比高河漫滩沉积物值偏大,而标准差值的统计平均值却比高河漫滩和低河漫滩沉积物的偏小;   3) 3种地貌单元中,高河漫滩的偏度平均值最大,低河漫滩的偏度平均值最小,但低河漫滩偏度平均值的分布范围却较大;   4)低河漫滩沉积的粒度参数值曲线的空间波动起伏最为明显,而高河漫滩粒度参数值的空间变化不大;   5) 3种地貌单元的峰态系数的统计平均值均大于1.15（为窄态）,频率曲线表现为单峰,概率累积曲线都较平缓且均为2段式,反映了一般河流高水位沉积的基本特征。分析认为,粒度特征与河道不同地貌单元的微地貌形态和沉积结构是一致的,均是由洪水时不同地貌单元的水动力特征决定的。     

堰塞湖沉积物粒度特征分析——以岷江上游叠溪古堰塞湖为例

对叠溪149个古堰塞湖沉积物样品作了物质组成分析、粒度参数计算和概率累积曲线的统计,结合有关资料对比分析了不同沉积环境中沉积物的粒度特征。结果显示湖相沉积上游段的沉积物主要是粉砂质砂和砂质粉砂,中游和下游段的沉积物较细,主要是黏土质粉砂和粉砂。受河流扰动的影响,湖相沉积上游段沉积物的粒径较粗,平均粒径在4～6φ之间,多为负偏度,峰态宽平,分选性差;中游和下游段的平均粒径在6～8φ之间,均为正偏度,峰态中等,沉积物的分选比上游段好。堰塞湖沉积物是由三个或四个粒度次总体组成,其中上游段沉积物含有4个次总体,中游和下游段含有3个次总体,受物源区的控制,上游段中推移总体的含量远大于中、下游段。这些特征均表明堰塞湖上游段沉积物的搬运方式和沉积环境与中、下游段明显不同。与其他环境中的沉积物相比,堰塞湖沉积物的截点偏细,跃移组分分选性最差。     

Textural characteristics and genesis of the aeolian sediments in the Kuwaiti desert

Several types of aeolian deposits have been recognized in Kuwait: (a) smooth sand sheets that resemble desert floor sand, (b) immobile sands that include rugged vegetated sand sheets and wadi fill deposits, and (c) mobile sands that form active sand sheets and sand dunes. Simple size frequency curves illustrate the genetic relationship between the various aeolian sediment types. The four size parameters, namely, mean size, sorting, skewness and kurtosis, were calculated. Scatter plot diagrams of sorting versus mean size and sorting versus kurtosis are effective in differentiating smooth sand sheet deposits from dune sands. Active sand sheet deposits can also be recognized because they are usually located between the two end members–smooth sand sheets and dune sands. Size parameters change with location regardless of their types. Coarsening and positive skewness usually increase downwind. Mineralogical and textural characteristics of the aeolian deposits in Kuwait revealed that they are mostly derived from the lower Mesopotamian muddy flood plain deposits, the sand fraction of the Al-Dibdibba gravelly deposits and the disintegrated material from calcretic and gypcretic duricrusts. Distribution of depositional and deflational areas indicates that the northern desert of Kuwait is characterized by a positive sand budget, whereas the southern desert has a negative sand budget.     

成都平原区成都粘土的粒度特征及其成因意义

对成都平原区内5个代表性的第四系剖面上的成都粘土进行了系统的粒度分析。结果表明,成都粘土以粉砂颗粒（5～50μm）为主,平均粒径约为7．1—7．3φ（7．4—6．6μm）,缺少粗尾,〉63μm颗粒的含量很少,以细颗粒物质为主,呈双峰分布。其粒度分布及粒度参数特征与北方黄土及甘孜黄土非常相似,而与河流相沉积物有很大差异,表明成都粘土属于风成堆积。根据光释光测年（OSL）结果,成都平原区的成都粘土是晚更新世中期至晚期末次冰期堆积物,其物质主体是远源的。     

Multivariate canonical correlation techniques: An economic approach for evaluation of pollutants in soil and sediments of Bombay region, India

Multivariate canonical correlation analysis has been carried out taking physical variables (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis) as predictors and chemical variables (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) as responses from the soils and sediments of Thane Creek and Ulhas River areas in Bombay, India. Soil samples provide the first canonical correlation to the presence of more clay fractions, which controls the concentration of trace elements such as Co, Fe, and Ni. In sediment samples, the first canonical correlation explains the role of mean particle size in controlling the concentration of Pb and Ni. The second correlation shows the role of clay minerals in controlling the concentration of the trace elements such as Fe and Zn. The plot of transformed scores of first canonical correlation for soil illustrate the high correlation between sets of variables as all points are grouped closely within an ellipsoidal field. The plot of transformed scores of first canonical correlation illustrate that there is a clear distinction between the type of sediments collected from Thane creek and the Ulhas river region.     

The influence of particle size variations on the magnetic properties of sediments from the north-eastern Irish Sea

This paper considers the magnetic properties of a range of recent and contemporary sediments from the north eastern part of the Irish Sea. Principal component ordinations of the results show a close link between magnetic property variations and particle size. The magnetic properties of a subset of samples, particles sized by a combination of sieving and pipette analysis, confirm that variations in ferrimagnetic (‘magnetite’) grain size parallel those in particle size, despite the fact that the magnetic grains in the fine grades have diameters 1–2 orders of magnitude smaller than those of the particle size fraction in which they occur. This is best explained by postulating that the fine magnetic grains occur in the clay fraction but are present in declining concentrations in the coarser grades up to 4ø as an artefact of the pipette method. Most samples have a biomodal distribution of magnetic minerals, with a coarse mode associated with heavy minerals in the sands or coarse silts, and a fine mode in the clays. Magnetic susceptibility (x) and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) largely pick out the coarse mode where present; anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) largely picks out the fine mode. The results open up the possibility of normalizing samples from these environments for particle size and, more specifically, clay content, by means of ARM or ARM/x values. The most likely source for the uniform and almost exclusive stable single domain magnetite, which dominates the magnetic properties of the clays, is thought to be bacterial magnetosomes. The measurements as a whole do not appear to hold much promise for discriminating sediment source types.     

福建长乐海岸横向前丘表面粒度分异研究

在我国横向海岸沙丘分布的典型地区之一——福建长乐海岸,选择典型的横向前丘,按与横向前丘走向相垂直方向,分三个采样断面近等间距地采集了共81个沙丘表面沉积物的粒度样品,通过对采集样品平均粒径、分选系数、偏度和峰态等粒度参数的计算与分析,研究横向前丘表面的粒度分异特征。结果表明,福建长乐海岸横向前丘表面粒度的总体特征为细沙、分选较好、近对称和中等峰态,符合海岸沙丘粒度一般规律;长乐海岸横向前丘表面的粒度参数在沙丘表面不同部位基本一致,整个沙丘表面的粒度没有明显差别;粒度无明显差异的分布模式应是该区域风向交替变化的季风、强劲风力的台风、平缓的地势、沙丘高度不够、植被覆盖较好等作用的结果。     

海岸现代风成砂粒度参数特征的研究--以中国温带海岸为例

现代海岸风成砂的粒度特征是海岸风沙研究的重要问题,本文以我国温带海岸为研究区域,利用 136个现代海岸风成砂样数据,通过粒度组成、平均粒径、标准偏差和偏差、峰态等粒度参数分析了其粒度特征。结果表明,我国温带海岸的现代风成砂并非过去认为的几乎全由分选很好的细砂组成,是以正偏为主,粒度参数的地域差异明显,并随沙丘类型、规模及距海岸线的远近不同等而变化。与海滩砂比较,风成砂具有普遍含有粉沙、略细、多正偏、峰态偏窄等特点,但利用粒度参数散点图和因子分析法二者均无法区分。我国温带海岸现代海岸风成砂粒度参数的上述特征与其特有的发育条件和演化过程密切相关,其中主要与季风气候特征显著、形成时间短、风力作用时间有限以及风沙活动空间狭小并受到水力与重力作用的干扰等有关。     

东天山喀尔里克山北坡淖毛湖盆地土壤粒度分布特征及成因

对东天山喀尔里克山北坡-淖毛湖盆地不同类型土壤的粒度进行分析.结果表明:研究区土壤主要由粉粒和砂粒组成,从喀尔里克山北坡、中部地区到淖毛湖盆地,土壤粒度平均值逐渐变大,颗粒分选性差,偏度多属极正偏或正偏,峰态集中在宽、中等和窄3个等级,表明其成土母质较粗、来源相对复杂.土壤的粒度参数Mz、σ、SK和KG值很好地表征了不同土地类型和植被类型及盖度对土壤粒度特征的影响.土壤粒度分维值呈现出随海拔降低逐渐减小的趋势,并且分维值与粘粒含量呈正相关关系.喀尔里克山北坡土壤中粘粒的含量高于中部地区和淖毛湖盆地的土壤,反映出不同地区土壤母质来源和沉积环境的差异.不同地带土壤概率累积曲线的空间变化及综合参数特征表现出地形和气候对颗粒运动形式有一定影响,并且不同地区土壤在成因上既有区别又有联系.     

Use of the Model T Coulter Counter* in size analysis of fine to coarse sand

An electrical sensing-zone particle size analyser has been calibrated for use with sands. A 10: 90 saline/glycerol electrolyte is used with a concentration of 0-1-0.5 g/1 of suspended sand. Calibration error is ± 1.6% (± 0.02 φ). Comparison of counter and sieving results shows close agreement. Advantages of the machine are rapidity—a prepared sample can be analysed in 60 sec—and the small size of the sample required.     

钙质碎屑对热带海滩砂粒度参数的影响分析

钙质碳酸盐碎屑是热带海滩沉积物的重要组成部分,其物理特性与海滩中的石英颗粒差异明显。对海南岛东部文昌铜鼓角两侧海湾海滩砂样采用除钙和不除钙两种预处理方法,使用Mastersizer 2000激光粒度仪和筛析法进行粒度分析,结果表明:除钙以后粒度频率曲线主体朝细偏,但在粒度频率曲线细尾(4~9)会新增一小峰;去钙前后粒度参数存在明显的线性相关,平均粒径、分选系数和偏态的相关系数依次降低;粒度参数的组合变化以“平均粒径变细、分选系数变好、偏态朝细偏”为主,但仍存在其他的组合变化;在对类似于铜鼓岭周边环境的海滩进行沉积物粒度分析及动力环境研究时,需要了解钙质碎屑含量和颗粒组成。     

Factors affecting the nature and rate of dust production from natural dune sands

This paper evaluates the influence of natural sand particle characteristics on the amount and particle-size distributions of dust produced by aeolian abrasion. It contrasts with previous studies of aeolian abrasion by conducting experiments using: (i) whole sand samples, as opposed to selected size fractions; (ii) natural, mature dune sands, rather than artificial or freshly crushed material; and (iii) weathered sands that have acquired a superficial clay coating, instead of grains with clean surfaces. Whilst previous research has found clear, positive relationships between particle size, sorting, roundness and the amount of dust produced by aeolian abrasion, the relationships determined in this study show some variation according to the geomorphological context from which the original samples were obtained. The most important factor affecting the amount and particle-size characteristics of the dust produced was the presence of a clay coating on the grain surface that is removed by the abrasion process. The dust produced by this mechanism had a modal size of 2–5  μ m and material <10  μ m comprised up to 90% of the particles produced.     

黄土高原红粘土与黄土古土壤粒度特征对比--红粘土风成成因的新证据

对黄土高原具有代表意义四个剖面的晚第三纪红粘土样品进行了粒度分析,并将结果与典型风成黄土古土壤样品的粒度特征进行详细对比,得到红粘土是风成成因的沉积学证据。结果表明,黄土高原红粘土与其上覆第四纪古土壤形成环境相似,红粘土是在相对于黄土堆积搬运风动力变幅小的条件下沉积的,在沉积之后受到较强的风化成壤改造作用。     

激光粒度仪测试结果及其与沉降法、筛析法的比较

分析了Cilas 940L激光粒度仪的测试结果,并与沉降法、筛析法进行了比较。激光粒度仪测试结果的重复性较好,测量精度较高。对于玻璃珠样品,激光粒度仪和筛析法测试结果十分接近,对于天然沉积物,激光粒度仪测定的平均粒径偏粗,分选偏差。和沉降法相比,激光粒度仪测定的粘土组份 (<8%)的含量为沉降法的 46.7%～ 70.5 %,平均为 6 0 %,测定的平均粒径较沉降法偏粗,分选偏差。造成激光粒度仪与沉降法、筛析法之间差异的原因主要在于这些测试方法原理的不同和天然沉积物不规则的形状。     

Influence of sieving time on the efficiency and accuracy of grain‐size analysis of beach and dune sands

Grain size is a fundamental property of sediments and is commonly used to describe sedimentary facies and classify sedimentary environments. Among the various conventional techniques utilized to determine grain‐size frequency distributions, sieving is the most widely applied procedure. The accuracy of such analyses is, among other factors, strongly dependent on the sieving time. However, despite a substantial amount of research in this field, optimal sieving times for different types of sediments have, to date, not been established. In this article, the influence of sieving time on grain‐size analyses of medium‐grained microtidal and mesotidal beach and dune sands has been determined. To assess the precision of important textural parameters, such as median grain size, sorting, skewness and kurtosis, an error analysis was carried out for different sieving times (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes). After calibrating the analytical and sampling methodologies, significant deviations were registered when sieving time was less than 10 minutes. However, such deviations were very small and grain‐size distributions remained almost identical for sieving times of 10 minutes and longer, relative errors being as low as 0% in some cases.     

长江三峡库区中坝遗址地层洪水沉积粒度特征及其沉积环境

通过对三峡库区中坝遗址1981年洪水沉积和疑似古洪水沉积的粒度对比分析，发现它们的平均粒径、分选系数、偏度、峰度和众值粒径都在同一值域范围内；频率分布曲线相似，呈单峰态；概率累积曲线都呈明显的三段式。从而推断出中坝遗址的文化间隙层为古洪水沉积。在考古断代和AMS14C测年基础上，对洪水沉积环境研究发现，中坝遗址洪水沉积大多发生在我国的暖期，但周朝和宋代的洪水沉积发生在我国冷期，这与我国气候小循环和当地独特的地貌特征有关。清代以后，沉积物平均粒径明显变大，表明当地植被已经退化；沉积物平均粒径和峰度变化幅度大，说明人类活动使当地生态系统变得脆弱，气候多变。     

The characteristics of aeolian sediment flux profiles in the south‐eastern Tengger Desert

Deserts are one of the most important dust sources in the world. Because dust content changes as a function of height at low levels in the atmosphere, this affects long‐term dust transport. In this paper, field data measured above shifting sands in the south‐eastern Tengger Desert were used to analyse the vertical distribution of sediment fluxes in the near‐surface layer (0 to 48 m). It was possible to express horizontal sediment flux as a power function, but aeolian deposition as a function of height could be expressed as an exponential function. There are two curve types for the particle size distributions in the horizontal sediment flux and aeolian deposition: bimodal and unimodal curves. For the horizontal sediment flux and aeolian deposition, heights of 24 m and 32 m, respectively, were the key heights in the size distribution curve; below these heights, the curve was bimodal, whereas above these heights, it was unimodal. At heights of 4 to 16 m, and especially between 8 m and 12 m, the data were particularly interesting because the sediment size, transport mode, degree of sorting, and the skewness and kurtosis change. For the horizontal sediment flux, wind turbulence moved saltating particles higher than expected.     

巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山粒度组成及其意义

选取巴丹吉林沙漠东南部全球高差最大(约420m)的诺尔图湖东大沙山和较高的苏木巴润吉林湖西大沙山(高差约400m),对其迎风坡沉积物进行系统采样分析,讨论了高大沙山迎风坡沉积物粒度成分特点、变化规律、原因及其活动性.结果表明,全球高差最大的诺尔图东沙山和苏木巴润吉林湖西沙山迎风坡沉积物具有双层结构,表层沉积物的粒度组成...