Alpine valley heads on the Antarctic Peninsula

Landform assemblages may be useful for elucidating glaciological changes in West Antarctica. Numerous nunataks in the Antaretic Peninsula are highly dissected by alpine valley heads (corries, cirque-headed valleys, etc.). It is believed that these have been cut by wet-based mountain glaciation before and during the build up of the ice-sheet. though the smallest ones may have formed later at times when the ice-sheet was insufficiently thick to submerge them. Dimensions of the features suggest that the main alpine glaciation was in the Miocene. Morphometric analysis of 1663 alpine valley heads has been based on satellite imagery, concentrating on regional variations in frequency, size and orientation. Length of alpine glaciation is believed to be an important control of size. Orientation is believed to have been influenced by palaeoclimate as well as topography. During early, more marginal glaciations poleward and lee-side sites were occupied by corrie glaciers, with more windward sites being added as glaciation intensified, followed by northerly orientations under more recent polar conditions. Comparisons have also been made with other morphometric studies of corries in Antarctica and elsewhere.     

青藏高原若干地点的第四纪冰川年代学* ——深切怀念孙殿卿院士

青藏高原第四纪冰川时空演化问题广受关注。应用宇宙成因核素暴露年龄测定方法开展高原古冰川的年代学研究,对青藏高原聂拉木、唐古拉山、义敦海子山和折多山等4个地区的第四纪冰碛物进行了\{¹⁰ Be\},²⁶ Al和²¹ Ne暴露年龄测定,获得了青藏高原不同地点第四纪冰川发育的年代学数据,结果表明青藏高原出现了多期第四纪冰期,分别为YD事件、末次冰期晚阶段、末次冰期早阶段、倒数第2次冰期和倒数第3次冰期。     

黔桂地区最近16万年高分辨率石笋记录的气候事件

全球变化研究是当今地球科学最前沿的课题。要了解地球系统长期演变的动力过程 ,预测未来气候变化 ,就必须首先研究和重建最后 2次冰期高分辨率的气候变化历史。本项研究选择中国南方广西、贵州地区几个大型石笋 ,在沉积学研究的基础上 ,采用碳氧稳定同位素、α谱U系法、TIMSU系 (2 3 0 Th/2 3 4U)法等方法提取高分辨率的气候记录。本区 16万年来石笋气候记录可以与海洋记录的16阶段进行对比。末次冰期的起始点及终止点通过石笋记录分别确定为 (130 1± 1 0 )kaB P 及(11 2± 0 1)kaB P ,其准确性大大高于目前其它记录。所揭示的Heinrich型气候波动事件 ,其时限分别为 :H114～ 15kaB P ,H2 2 1～ 2 3kaB P ,H32 5～ 2 7kaB P ,H44 1～ 42kaB P ,另外在 35～ 37kaB P 也存在振幅很大的冷事件 ,与北大西洋沉积及格陵兰冰芯记录可以逐一对比。长周期的气候旋回以及短期的突变事件 ,在时限上所谓存在几千年以上滞后或超前 ,可能是测试方法和测试对象的不同带来的差错 (包括测试误差 ) ;具有全球意义的一些气候突变事件 ,在发生的时间上可能都具有同时性。这种短期突变事件发生的动力机制问题 ,可能也是目前人类尚未识别出来的天文因素的驱动所致。     

沙鲁里山更新世冰川作用及西南季风波动对末次冰期冰川作用的影响

地处南亚季风区的沙鲁里山地区保留有丰富的第四纪冰川作用遗迹。文章通过ESR对冰碛物直接定年,结合冰碛地貌形态及其风化程度差异,结果表明沙鲁里山地区可能经历了4次规模较大的冰川作用。它们的ESR年代大约为19～16kaB.P.,48～43kaB.P.,135kaB.P.和571kaB.P.,分别与深海氧同位素第2、第3、第6、第16阶段对应。自沙鲁里山最早冰川作用(571kaB.P.)以后,该区经历了较大规模的抬升作用。MIS2和MIS4期间西南季风微弱,降水稀少,气温严寒,南亚季风区冰川发育受到一定限制。MIS3早期和晚期夏季风强盛,降水丰富,温度较高,水热平衡状况有利于冰川发育;MIS3中期气温较低,夏季风较强盛,降水较丰富,这种冷湿组合的气候条件有利于冰川发育。南亚季风区,MIS3期间的冰川前进规模不亚于甚至在某些区域超过了末次盛冰期,其主要原因可能是受制于夏季风的降水差异。     

喜马拉雅山佩枯岗日冰川地貌的年代学、平衡线高度和气候研究

喜马拉雅山珠穆朗玛峰-希夏邦马峰地区是青藏高原南部现代冰川集中发育区之一,古冰川遗迹亦十分丰富,是研究第四纪青藏高原冰川形成和演化的关键区,一直备受地貌和第四纪环境研究者的关注.应用原地宇宙核素10Be暴露年龄测试技术,对采自希夏邦马峰西北佩枯岗日拉曲谷地冰碛垄上的冰川漂砾进行年代学研究;结合冰川地貌分析方法,对古冰川...     

新元古代冰期及其年代

新元古代在全球范围内出现了几期冰期事件,称之为“雪球地球”事件。这种剧烈的环境变化带来此后地球上生命演化的一次飞跃。“雪球地球”事件的核心是全球冰期的同时性,需要同位素地质年代学的证据。新元古代末期两次主要的冰期事件是Marinoan冰期和Sturtian冰期,其中Marinoan冰期结束于635Ma;Sturtian冰期可能发生在710～720Ma,已发表的年龄数据限定它在670Ma之前结束。Marinoan冰期后的Gaskiers冰期发生在580～590Ma。对华南的古城、铁丝坳、长安组、江口组等进行进一步精确定年,将对限定Sturtian冰期持续时间和Cryogenian、南华系的下限年龄具有重要意义。     

Lost loesses

Loesses form wide belts in front of previously glaciated areas. Their thicknesses may be considerable, changing in Eurasia from maximally a few metres in the west to a hundred metres or more in the east. The Eastern (particularly Chinese) loesses are mostly unrelated to glaciations. The periglacial loesses from China and elsewhere predominantly date from the last Pleistocene glaciation: relatively few comparable occurrences are known from earlier Quaternary glaciations. As it is difficult to imagine that the conditions in front of the land-ice masses during the earlier glaciations differed fundamentally from those of the last one, considerable quantities of loess must have disappeared. This disappearance, which is commonly ascribed to fluvial and eolian erosion, is not easily explained as equivalent deposits that may have the older loesses as a source, are practically absent. A possible explanation might be that loess is recycled during successive glaciations. Some loess disappears during interglacials by erosion, but this quantity is more than compensated by the formation of new silt particles. The implication would be that the loess deposits increase in volume for each new glaciation.     

基于10Be暴露年代的北美洲晚第四纪冰川演化序列研究

对北美洲晚第四纪冰川¹⁰Be暴露年代进行汇编与聚集程度置信等级划分,构建了北美洲各区域的冰川演化序列,并进一步对比和分析了冰川演化序列对高分辨率气候事件的响应情况,使用较好和中等聚集程度的暴露年代漂砾组对北美洲各区域进行冰期划分。结果表明：北美洲冰川序列横跨6个深海氧同位素阶段（marine isotope stage,MIS）,保守估计至少在MIS 6/5、MIS 4/3、MIS 2时期出现了规模性冰进,其记录可信区间为约150 ka至今。末次冰盛期（Last Glacial Maximum,LGM）之前的冰川演化存在区域性,这可能与劳伦泰德冰盖的大气效应存在一定的相关性。LGM的冰川达到最大范围的时间不同步,揭示了不同地区冰川演化的影响因素不尽相同。LGM以来的冰川作用对于高分辨率气候事件,如海因里希事件1（Heinrich Stadial 1,HS1）、B-A事件（B?lling-Aller?d,B-A）、新仙女木事件（Younger Dryas,YD）的响应存在同步性。对于全新世更高分辨率的邦德事件（Bond）,北美洲的冰川¹⁰Be暴露年代同样具有很好的对应关系。     

Proterozoic (pre-Ediacaran) glaciation and the high obliquity,low-latitude ice,strong seasonality (HOLIST) hypothesis: Principles and tests

Sedimentological observations and palaeomagnetic data for Cryogenian glacial deposits present the climatic paradox of grounded glaciers and in situ cold climate near sea-level, glaciomarine deposition, and accompanying large (up to 40 °C) seasonal changes of temperature, all in low to near-equatorial (< 10°) palaeolatitudes (equated with geographic latitudes). Neither the “snowball Earth” nor the “slushball Earth” hypothesis can account for such strong seasonality near the palaeoequator, which together with findings from sedimentology, chemostratigraphy, biogeochemistry, micropalaeontology, geochronology and climate modelling argue against those scenarios. An alternative explanation of glaciation and strong seasonality in low palaeolatitudes is offered by a high (> 54°) obliquity of the ecliptic, which would render the equator cooler than the poles, on average, and amplify global seasonality. A high obliquity per se would not have been a primary trigger for glaciation, but would have strongly influenced the latitudinal distribution of glaciers. The principle of low-latitude glaciation on a terrestrial planet with high obliquity is validated by theoretical studies and observations of Mars. A high obliquity for the early Earth is a likely outcome of a single giant impact at 4.5 Ga, the widely favoured mechanism for lunar origin. This implies that a high obliquity could have prevailed during most of the Precambrian, controlling the low palaeolatitude of glaciations in the early and late Palaeoproterozoic and Cryogenian. It is postulated that the obliquity changed to < 54° between the termination of the last Cryogenian low-palaeolatitude glaciation at ≤ 635 Ma and the initiation of Late Ordovician–Early Silurian circum-polar glaciation at 445 Ma.The High Obliquity, Low-latitude Ice, STrong seasonality (HOLIST) hypothesis for pre-Ediacaran glaciation emerges favourably from numerous glacial and non-glacial tests. The hypothesis is in accord with such established or implied features of Cryogenian glaciogenic successions as extensive and long-lived open seas, an active hydrological cycle, aridity and palaeowesterly (reversed zonal) winds in low palaeolatitudes, and the apparent diachronism or non-correlation of some low-palaeolatitude glaciations. A pre-Ediacaran high obliquity also offers a viable solution of the faint young Sun paradox of a warm Archaean Earth. Furthermore, reduction of obliquity during the Ediacaran–early Palaeozoic would have yielded a more habitable globe with much reduced seasonal stresses and may have been an important factor influencing the unique evolutionary events of the Ediacaran and Cambrian. The palaeolatitudinal distribution of evaporites cannot discriminate unambiguously between high- and low-obliquity states for the pre-Ediacaran Earth. Intervals of true polar wander such as postulated by others for the Ediacaran and Early Cambrian imply major mass-redistributions within the Earth at those times, which may provide a potential mechanism for reducing the obliquity during the Ediacaran–early Palaeozoic.     

Weichselian in Sweden before 15,000 B.P.

A brief summary is given of the present state of knowledge about the Weichselian glaciations and interstadials in sweden. The following stages are discussed: (1) The first Weichselian glaciation (W1). This glaciation has not been identified. Probably only northern Sweden was ice-covered. (2) The Jämtland Interstadial , dated at > 50,000 B.P. and correlated with the Finnish Peräpohjola and the Danish Brörup Interstadials. - (3) The second Weichselian glaciation (W II). There are several uncertainteis concerning this glaciation. Sweden was probably ice-covered down to the latitude of Stockholm. – (4) A Middle Weichsedlian interstadial , or complex of interstadials. Some radiocarbon dates indicate, although very uncertain, that most of Sweden may have been free of ice some time rather well known. – Some main problems which have to be investigated are also identified.     

塔里木盆地库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄新证据

塔里木盆地库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩剖面是目前世界各大陆中唯一发育有4套新元古代冰碛岩和多期火成岩事件的剖面。近年来,“雪球事件”的提出为全球新元古代冰碛岩的研究注入了新的活力,各国地质学家根据新元古代冰碛岩在全球各大洲发育的特点、同位素年龄和C/O、Sr同位素在新元古界划分出4个冰期。因此,新疆库鲁克塔格地区新元古界发育的4套冰碛岩的沉积特征、沉积环境和年代地层学研究的进展始终为各国地质学家所注目。本次获得的库鲁克塔格地区特瑞爱肯组的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb新年龄,为完善库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩的年代地层学提供了新的证据。     

塔里木盆地库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩锆石SHRIMP U—Pb年龄新证据

塔里木盆地库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩剖面是目前世界各大陆中唯一发育有4套新元古代冰碛岩和多期火成岩事件的剖面。近年来。“雪球事件”的提出为全球新元古代冰碛岩的研究注入了新的活力,各国地质学家根据新元古代冰碛岩在全球各大洲发育的特点、同位素年龄扣C／O、Sr同位素在新元古界划分出4个冰期。因此,新疆库鲁克塔格地区新元古界发育的4套冰碛岩的沉积特征、沉积环境和年代地层学研究的进展始终为各国地质学家所注目。本次获得的库鲁克塔格地区特瑞爱肯组的锆石SHKIMPU-Pb新年龄．为完善库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩的年代地层学提供了新的证据。     

Ancient glaciations and hydrocarbon accumulations in North Africa and the Middle East

At least six glaciations are purported to have affected North Africa and the Middle East region over the last one billion years, including two in the Cryogenian (Neoproterozoic), Hirnantian (Late Ordovician), Silurian, Carboniferous and Early Permian events. The sedimentary record associated with these glaciations, together with the intensity to which each has been investigated, is highly variable. As hydrocarbon exploration proceeds aggressively across the North Africa and Middle East regions, we review the relationship between glaciation and hydrocarbon accumulations.With the exception of Oman, and locally Egypt, which were tectonically active both during the Neoproterozoic and Early Palaeozoic all glaciations took place along an essentially stable passive continental margin. During the Neoproterozoic, two glaciations are recognised, referred to as older and younger Cryogenian glaciations respectively. Both of these Cryogenian events are preserved in Oman; only the younger Cryogenian has been reported in North Africa in Mauritania and Mali at the flanks of the Taoudenni Basin. The process of initial deglaciation in younger Cryogenian glaciations resulted in incision, at least locally producing large-bedrock palaeovalleys in Oman, and the deposition of glacial diamictites, gravels, sandstones and mudstones. As deglaciation progressed “cap carbonates” were deposited, passing vertically into shale with evidence for deposition in an anoxic environment. Hence, younger Cryogenian deglaciation may be associated with hydrocarbon source rock deposits.Hirnantian (Late Ordovician) glaciation was short lived (< 0.5 Myr) and affected intracratonic basins of Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The organisation of the glacial sedimentary record is considered to be controlled at the basin-scale by the location of fast-flowing ice streams active during glacial maxima, and by the processes of meltwater release during glacial recession. In these latter phases, subglacial tunnel valley networks were cut at or near the ice margin. These tunnel valleys were filled in two main phases. The initial phase was characterised by debris flow release, whereas during later phases of ice retreat a range of glaciofluvial, shallow glaciomarine to shelf deposits were laid down, depending on the water depth at the ice front. Production of linear accumulations of sediment, parallel to the ice front, also occurred between tunnel valleys at the grounding line. In Arabia, the geometry of these features may have been influenced by local tectonic uplift. As glaciogenic reservoirs, Hirnantian deposits are already of great economic significance across central North Africa. Therefore, an appreciation of the processes of ice sheet growth and decay provides significant insights into the controls on large-scale heterogeneities within these sediments, and in analogue deposits produced by glaciations of different ages.Deglacial, Early Silurian black shale represents the most important Palaeozoic source rock across the region. Existing models do not adequately explain the temporal and spatial development of anoxia, and hence of black shale/deglacial source rocks. The origins of a palaeotopography previously invoked as the primary driver for this anoxia is allied to a complex configuration of palaeo-ice stream pathways, “underfilled” tunnel valley incisions, glaciotectonic deformation structures and re-activation of older crustal structures during rebound. A putative link with the development of Silurian glaciation in northern Chad is suggested. Silurian glaciation appears to have been restricted to the southern Al Kufrah Basin in the eastern part of North Africa, and was associated with the deposition of boulder beds. Equivalent deposits are lacking in shallow marine deposits in neighbouring outcrop belts.Evidence for Carboniferous–Permian glaciation is tentative in the eastern Sahara (SW Egypt) but well established on the Arabian Peninsula in Oman and more recently in Saudi Arabia. Pennsylvanian–Sakmarian times saw repeated glaciation–deglaciation cycles affecting the region, over a timeframe of about 20 Myr. Repeated phases of deglaciation produced a complex stratigraphy consisting, in part, of structureless sandstone intervals up to 50 m thick. Some of these sandstone intervals are major hydrocarbon intervals in the Omani salt basins. Whilst studies of the Hirnantian glaciation can provide lessons on the causes of large-scale variability within Carboniferous–Permian glaciogenic reservoirs, additional factors also influenced their geometry. These include the effects of topography produced during Hercynian orogenesis and the mobilisation and dissolution of the Precambrian Ara Salt. Deglacial or interglacial lacustrine shale, with abundant palynomorphs, is also important. Whilst both Cryogenian intervals and the Hirnantian–Rhuddanian deglaciation resulted in the deposition of glaciomarine deposits, Carboniferous–Permian deglaciation likely occurred within a lacustrine setting. Hence, compared to shales of other glacial epochs, the source rock potential of Carboniferous–Permian deglacial deposits is minimal.     

Timing and extent of Holocene glaciations in the monsoon dominated Dunagiri valley (Bangni glacier), Central Himalaya,India

Field stratigraphy and optical and radiocarbon dating of lateral moraines in the monsoon dominated Dunagiri valley of the Central Himalaya provide evidence for three major glaciations during the last 12 ka. The oldest and most extensive glaciation, the Bangni Glacial Stage-I (BGS-I), is dated between 12 and 9 ka, followed by the BGS-II glaciation (7.5 and 4.5 ka) and the BGS-III glaciation (∼1 ka). In addition, discrete moraine mounds proximal to the present day glacier snout are attributed to the Little Ice Age (LIA). BGS-I started around the Younger Dryas (YD) cooling event and persisted till the early Holocene when the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) strengthened. The less extensive BGS-II glaciation, which occurred during the early to mid-Holocene, is ascribed to lower temperature and decreased precipitation. Further reduction in ice volume during BGS-III is attributed to a late Holocene warm and moist climate. Although the glaciers respond to a combination of temperature and precipitation changes, in the Dunagiri valley decreased temperature seems to be the major driver of glaciations during the Holocene.     

Pleistocene glaciation of volcano Ajusco,central Mexico,and comparison with the standard Mexican glacial sequence

Three Pleistocene glaciations and two Holocene Neoglacial advances occurred on volcano Ajusco in central Mexico. Lateral moraines of the oldest glaciation, the Marqués, above 3250 m are made of light-gray indurated till and are extensively modified by erosion. Below 3200 m the till is dark red, decomposed, and buried beneath volcanic colluvium and tephra. Very strongly to strongly developed soil profiles (Inceptisols) have formed in the Marqués till and in overlying colluvia and tephra. Large sharp-crested moraines of the second glaciation, the Santo Tomás, above 3300 m are composed of pale-brown firm till and are somewhat eroded by gullies. Below 3250 m the till is light reddish brown, cemented, and weathered. Less-strongly developed soil profiles (Inceptisols) have formed in the Santo Tomás till and in overlying colluvia and tephra. Narrow-crested moraines of yellowish-brown loose till of the third glaciation, the Albergue, are uneroded. Weakly developed soil profiles (Inceptisols) in the Albergue till have black ash in the upper horizon. Two small Neoglacial moraines of yellowish-brown bouldery till on the cirque floor of the largest valley support weakly developed soil profiles with only A and Cox horizons and no ash in the upper soil horizons. Radiocarbon dating of organic matter of the B horizons developed in tills, volcanic ash, and colluvial volcanic sand includes ages for both the soil-organic residue and the humic-acid fraction, with differences from 140 to 660 yr. The dating provides minimum ages of about 27,000 yr for the Marqués glaciation and about 25,000 yr for the Santo Tomás glaciation. Dates for the overlying tephra indicate a complex volcanic history for at least another 15,000 yr. Comparison of the Ajusco glacial sequence with that on Iztaccíhuatl to the east suggests that the Marqués and Santo Tomás glaciations may be equivalent to the Diamantes glaciation First and Second advances, the Albergue to the Alcalican glaciations, and the Neoglacial to the Ayolotepito advances.     

Chemostratigraphy and lithological characters of Neoproterozoic cap carbonates from the Kuruktag Mountain, Xinjiang, western China

The Neoproterozoic Era includes some of the most largest ice ages in the geological history. The exact number of glaciations is unknown, though there were at least two events of global glaciation. Neoproterozoic glacial deposits in the Kuruktag Mountain, Xinjiang, western China have proven that there had occurred three discrete Neoproterozoic glaciations. Diamictite units occurred in the Bayisi, Tereeken, and Hankalchough formations, carbonate units were recognized among the diamictites and immediately overlied the Bayisi, Tereeken and Hankalchough diamictites. Carbonates at the top of the Bayisi Formation are characterized by the dolo-sility stones with negative δ13C values ranging from -4.10‰ to -8.17‰ (PDB), comparable to the Sturtian cap carbonates that overlie the Sturtian glacial deposits from other Neoproterozoic sequences. Carbonates overlying the Tereeken Formation are characterized by the pinkish cap dolostones (ca. 10 m thick) with negative δ13C values ranging from -2.58‰ to -4.77‰ (PDB), comparable to the Marinoan cap carbonates. The cap is also characterized by tepee-like structures, barite precipitates and pseudomorphous aragonite crystal fan limestones. Carbonates at the top of the Hankalchough Formation are characterized by subaerial exposure crust (vadose pisolite structure, calcareous crust structure) dolostones with negative δ13C values ranging from -4.56‰ to -11.45‰ (PDB) and the calcareous crust dolostones, implying that the Hankalchough cap carbonates differ from either the Sturtian or Marinoan cap carbonates in sedimentary environment and carbon isotopic composition. In addition, it is suggested the Hankalchough glaciation belongs to a terrestrial glaciation and it is the third largest glaciation during the Neoproterozoic period on the Tarim platform.     

Evidence for a 55-50 ka (early Wisconsin) glaciation of the Cordilleran ice sheet, Yukon Territory, Canada

Cosmogenic ¹⁰Be ages on boulders of 54-51 ka (n = 4) on a penultimate Cordilleran ice sheet (CIS) drift confirm that Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 (early Wisconsin) glaciation was extensive in parts of Yukon Territory, the first confirmed evidence in the Canadian Cordillera. We name the glaciation inferred from the mapped and dated drift the Gladstone. These results are in apparent contrast to the MIS 6 (Illinoian) age of the penultimate Reid glaciation to the east in central Yukon but are equivalent to exposure ages on MIS 4 drift in Alaska. Contrasting penultimate ice extents in Yukon requires that different source areas of the northern CIS in Yukon responded differently to climatic forcing during glaciations. The variation in glacier extent for different source areas likely relates to variation in precipitation during glaciation, as the northern CIS was a precipitation-limited system. Causes for a variation in precipitation remain unclear but likely involve the style of precipitation delivery over the St. Elias Mountains possibly related to variations in the Aleutian low.     

Quaternary geology in Zanskar,NW Indian Himalaya: evidence for restricted glaciation and preglacial topography

Research into the Quaternary geology of the NW Himalaya has concentrated on the elucidation of the glacial sequence. However, whilst the main ranges of the Himalaya have been subjected to numerous glaciations and are now an obvious alpine glaciated terrain, much of the landscape in Zanskar and Ladakh is more equivocal and does not appear to have been glaciated during this time. These landscape facets may therefore have a much older origin and relate to preglacial events.In Zanskar, the main ice source in all glaciations was the strongly glaciated and still glacierized north slope of the main Himalaya. This ice then flowed generally northwards in the valleys of the Zanskar river and its tributaries leaving between them a landscape supporting only a few and scattered minor local glaciers. Evidence of early glaciation has been found on isolated valley-side remnants >200 m above the present rivers. Reconstruction of these preglacial valley cross profiles show them to be generally broad and shallow, with gentle slopes. This is in distinct contrast to the present major valley systems which can usually be divided into two parts—a lower unglaciated fluvially eroded section, such as the Lungnak (Tsarap Lingti Chu) Gorge and an upper broad glacial section, such as the Stod (Doda) valley.Down-valley extent of glaciation is defined by the upper ends of unglaciated fluvial gorges. Laterally, the glaciers were confined progressively to their valleys. Inevitably there is only evidence of successively smaller subsequent glaciations, but the tectonic uplift of the southern ranges may have been a factor in this forming an increasing barrier to the snow-bearing monsoon winds.     

塔里木板块上元古界火山岩SHRIMP定年及其对新元古代冰期时代的制约

新疆库鲁克塔格地区贝义西组顶部火山岩锆石的SHRIMP定年结果为732±7Ma,它表明贝义西冰期的上限。考虑该组杂砾岩之下火山岩已有的定年结果,贝义西冰期的时限为740~732Ma。综合上元古界三层火山岩SHRIMP定年结果,可以明确地将库鲁克塔格地区上元古界四个含杂砾岩的组限定在三个时间段内,即740Ma到732Ma的贝义西组,732Ma到615Ma之间的阿勒通沟组和特瑞爱肯组,以及615Ma到542Ma之间的汉格尔乔克组,这些年龄段代表了库鲁克塔格地区新元古代各冰期的时代范围。与冰期有关的同位素年代学资料分析表明,贝义西冰期可与Kaigas冰期对比; 阿勒通沟冰期和特瑞爱肯冰期可能与Sturtian冰期和Elatina冰期对比; 而汉格尔乔克冰期和Gaskiers冰期可以对比。     

Multiple glaciations and sea level changes, northern Ellesmere Island, high arctic Canada

Along the northern coasts of Ellesmere Island, at least two glaciations are recognized on the basis of morphostratigraphy. The early Holocene ice limit lay only 5 to 60 km beyond present glaciers due to constraints imposed by aridity and calving. This limited ice advance likely extended beyond any Wisconsinan glacial limit. Marine limits established during, retreat from the last glacial maximum reach 148 m a.s.l. In contrast, earlier, more extensive glaciations inundated the coastlines and are associated with former relative sea levels now reaching 286 m a.s.l. Correlation of these pre-Wisconsinan glaciations is based upon amino acid ratios. However, this approach is severely limited by slow rates of racemization, a lack of in situ samples, and complex thermal histories owing to multiple transgressions. Models favoring extensive regional glaciation of northern Ellesmere Island and Greenland must include a glacioclimatic scenario recognizing the constraint that aridity places on glaciation. We suggest that the large ice volume associated with the oldest recognized glaciation relates to a period of reduced sea-ice cover, possibly >400,000 BP, and may correlate with an interglacial stage of the marine oxygen isotope record.