Scanning electron microscope evidence for offshore-onshore sand transport at Fire Island, New York, USA

Balancing the sediment budget of the Atlantic shoreline of Long Island has proved to be problematic because more sediment has been found to be moving westward in littoral drift than was estimated to be supplied by wave erosion of the Ronkonkoma terminal moraine at Montauk Point. There is a need for the existence of an additional, possibly offshore source. As part of a larger Atlantic shore study, 11 beach samples from Fire Island were compared with samples representing the known glacial source at Montauk Point, and also with four offshore samples to the south. Comparisons were based upon quartz sand grain surface texture patterns derived by scanning electron microscope checklist analysis. Initial evidence of an offshore-onshore link was provided by qualitative results examining surface texture variability between samples, illustrated by photographic evidence and written notes. This evidence was confirmed consistently during quantitative analysis. In particular, canonical variate analysis grouped two offshore samples representing deposits of buried glacial to fluvioglacial lobes with beach samples from Fire Island in adjacent onshore locations or slightly downdrift. In addition, canonical variate analysis and factor analysis using the spssx package, together with cluster analysis using the ARTHUR package, depicted the main factors and texture variables largely responsible for sample discrimination. The significance of both the offshore-onshore link and the associated factors influencing quartz grain surface texture was revealed by the fact that they are strongly related to each other and to the regional geomorphology.     

A scanning electron microscope study of surface textures of quartz grains from glacial environments

Surface textures of quartz sand grains from several glacial environments at the Feegletscher, Switzerland examined by means of scanning electron microscopy are described. The difference between supraglacial and subglacial material is very slight. At the moment the interpretation of these textures must be done with care until the full statistical relation to environments can be ascertained. This does not necessarily invalidate earlier investigations although it does mean that glacial and extraglacial environments in the vicinity of glaciers are apparently not distinguishable. Examination of surface precipitation features suggests a sequence of events which can be used to help discriminate between different ages of deposits in an area. A similarity between some of the surface debris from moraine samples and those seen in loess and quickclay deposits is also suggested.     

青藏高原东北缘若尔盖盆地黄土的成因

通过对盆地黄土的粒度组分、石英砂的表面结构以及其它地质现象的综合研究,对若尔盖盆地黄土成因进行了探讨.在黄土的概率累计曲线上,跃进组分和悬移组分反映明显,以悬移组分为主,并采用矩阵法计算了黄土的粒度参数.对黄土扫描电镜观察和石英颗粒表面特征的统计分析,反映出气流搬运的特点,以发育碟形坑为其主要标志,具有风成环境的表面特征组合.黄土中孢粉稀少,并在邻区黄土层中发现有冰楔构造.根据上述特征分析出,若尔盖盆地黄土应为冰缘风成黄土.以测年资料为依据,黄土形成年代主要为马兰期茶镇梁子黄土和离石期索克藏寺黄土.      

四川盆地白垩纪沙漠石英沙颗粒表面特征

石英具有较大的硬度和较高的化学稳定性，因而其颗粒表面特征能很好地反映沉积环境。而通过扫描电镜研究石英颗粒表面微细特征是分析沉积环境行之有效的方法。虽然多数人认为四川盆地白垩纪地层存在沙漠沉积(打儿凼组和夹关组)，但仍有人对沙漠沉积的存在持怀疑态度，并认为是河流成三角洲沉积。过去关于其沉积环境的判别主要是根据沉积结构和构造，并未对其石英沙颗粒表面特征进行过系统分析。笔者对采自四川盆地白垩系不同层位地层的样品进行了石英沙颗粒表面特征系统分析。结果表明，石英沙颗粒表面特征分析可以成功地将石英沙区分为风成和水成沉积。因此，本文从石英沙颗粒表面特征方面进一步肯定了四川盆地白垩纪古沙漠的存在。     

Discrimination of sand dunes and loess deposits using grain-size analysis in northeastern Iran

Identification and characterization of aeolian deposits in arid environments provide information on mechanisms of loess and sand accumulation. The objectives of this study were to (i) identify the distribution of aeolian deposits, (ii) discriminate loess and sand deposits using granulometric data, and (iii) describe the aeolian deposition in Sarakhs area, northeastern Iran. Particle size distributions of 26 surface samples were determined using a laser grain-size analyzer. Fine sand, very fine sand, and very coarse silt were dominant fractions in studied sediments, and the sum of these fractions ranged from 46.9% in loess deposits to 93.8% in sand dunes. The mean grain size (M _z ) of sand dunes ranged from 3.31 to 3.54 ?, which gradually changed to 4.09 to 5.50 ? in loess deposits. Sorting, skewness, and kurtosis ranged from 0.84 to 1.94 ?, 0.18 to 0.49, and 0.76 to 2.38, respectively. Aeolian deposits in the area resulted in the incorporation of Hariroud River system and Kopeh Dagh Mountains for aeolian particle production and accumulation. Alluvial comminution in Hariroud River is suggested the main mechanism of sand and silt production and flood plain environment the main reservoir of these particles. The mountains of Kopeh Dagh act as a barrier and play a key role for sand and loess accumulation.     

中国北方沙漠-黄土体系的沉积和侵蚀过程与未来趋向探析

中国北方有大面积的土地被沙漠和黄土覆盖,是现代沉积和侵蚀比较活跃的地区。强烈的地表过程不仅影响着区域的生产生活活动,还通过粉尘传输影响北半球甚至于更大范围的气候和环境。长期以来,由于综合研究不够,对沙漠-黄土体系的沉积和侵蚀规律以及未来趋向的认识有限。结合对沙漠沙地-黄土沉积的高密度光释光年代测试结果,基于地统计法和遥感分析的黄土堆积量估算以及现代降尘、地表侵蚀的观察研究,认为沙漠沙地-黄土堆积区的沉积和侵蚀过程受气候变化控制,这里既是堆积区,又是侵蚀区,处于动态变化过程中;黄土比沙地沉积保存着更完整的过去气候变化信息。黄土高原水蚀和风蚀在地质历史时期就存在,人类活动加强了侵蚀过程,但可能还没有实质性地改变这一趋向。通过对地质记录和古气候模拟结果的分析,在未来全球变暖的背景下,沙地地区可能由于有效湿度减少变干而使风尘活动加强,黄土高原地区的粉尘沉积速率也将随之加快。     

加气硅化黄土的微结构研究

采用扫描电镜、数字图像方法和表面积孔隙分析仪研究了天然黄土和固化龄期13,19,24 a加气硅化黄土的微结构和孔隙特征。结果表明：天然黄土和加气硅化黄土的微结构均以粒状架空结构为主;加气硅化黄土架空孔隙内充填有少量凝胶;这些凝胶附着在骨架颗粒表面,增大了颗粒间的接触面积。与天然黄土相比,硅化黄土孔径分布基本无变化,平均孔径、面积比和孔隙体积没有降低,但孔隙表面积从17.810 4 m2/g 增加到27.473 5 m2/g。加气硅化黄土的机制是保持黄土架空孔隙基本不变,通过凝胶薄膜强化了黄土微结构中胶结物的强度,将骨架颗粒黏结成为一个空间网状整体,消除了黄土的湿陷性,并提高了其工程力学性能。     

Surface textures of regolith quartz from the Southern Pennines

Quartz sand grains from the Millstone Grit grus deposits of the southern Pennines have been examined with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Discrepancies exist in the published literature regarding the time and mode of formation for this material. Several of the observed grain surface features can be related to the diagenetic history of the parent rock, others to the more recent phase of rock decomposition. Evidence for both chemical and mechanical weathering is presented and a relative chronology of surface feature development outlined along with a discussion of the likely time of formation.     

风尘堆积常见的同沉积和沉积后改造特征及其环境意义

黄土堆积作为气下沉积,任何一个深度都曾经暴露于地表,因而必然受到相关地表过程的作用.由于这些过程均发生于特定的环境条件下,形成的特征多数具有明确的环境意义;而黄土在沉积后也可能受到各种地质过程的改造,从而对研究中常用的气候代用指标有一定影响.文章基于野外、微形态等分析,结合前人成果,对我国北方新近纪风尘堆积中常见的同沉积和沉积后改造特征、形成过程及环境意义进行研究.由于一些特征在黄土堆积中具有普遍性,可作为识别风成堆积的标志和环境事件研究的指标,并有助于全面理解常用的替代指标的环境意义.     

Experimental investigation of silt formation by static breakage processes: the effect of temperature, moisture and salt on quartz dune sand and granitic regolith

ABSTRACT Weathering simulations carried out using a climatic cabinet have demonstrated that diurnal temperature and humidity variations typical of those occurring in warm desert environments are ineffective in causing static breakage of quartz dune sand and polymineralic regolith sand grains. Wetting and drying combined with temperature variations was also found to be a relatively ineffective weathering process. These results suggest that 'crack tip' processes are insignificant where mineral grains are not subject to static loading. Sodium sulphate weathering was found to cause slight damage to quartz dune sand grains and major damage to first cycle regolith grains. Feldspars and mica in the regolith sands were more susceptible to salt action than quartz. Salt weathering of the regolith sands produced substantial quantities of silt in the size range typically found in natural loess deposits.     

Geological and geotechnical characteristics of some loess and loessic soils from China and Britain: A comparison

Derbyshire, E. and Mellors, T.W., 1988. Geological and geotechnical characteristics of some loess and loessic soils from China and Britain: a comparison. Eng. Geol., 25: 135–175.

Loess and loessic deposits cover some 630,000 km² of the surface of mainland China, the Loess Plateau of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia being the type region of this formation. Loess thickness generally exceeds 100 m over large areas of the Loess Plateau, the maximum recorded thickness being 335 m in eastern Gansu Province near the city of Lanzhou.

In Britain loess and loessic deposits form part of a group of materials collectively known as “brickearth”. They occur predominantly as sporadic accumulations in the southeast of England and rarely attain a thickness of more than four metres.

Despite their geographical separation, the deposits from China and Britain have a remarkable similarity in some of their physical and geotechnical characteristics. Samples from both locations have been examined and tested in the laboratory and the results are presented. The scope of the testing programme involved mineralogical analyses, soil microfabric studies using a scanning electron microscope, index testing including plasticity, grading and density measurements and the investigation of the compressibility characteristics of the soils with particular reference to their susceptibility to collapse.

A soil structure model based on scanning electron microscope studies is presented and discussed in relation to the perceived mode of formation of the soils and their postdepositional history.     

青藏高原东部黄土沉积元素地球化学示踪

青藏高原东部广泛分布着典型黄土沉积,对气候变化有着敏感的响应。对青藏高原东部地区典型表土、黄土、古土壤以及砂样,进行系统的常量、微量元素组成分析,结果显示,高原东部黄土常量元素氧化物主要为SiO₂、Al₂O₃、Fe₂O₃和CaO,黄土中SiO₂和CaO含量差别较大;Rb、Sr、Ba、Zr、V含量占了微量元素含量的大部分,表土、黄土、古土壤微量元素含量差别不一。与高原东部的风沙沉积、黄土高原黄土、河西走廊黄土的对比结果表明,青藏高原东部黄土组分的常量元素之间的比值（SiO₂/Al₂O₃、TiO₂/Al₂O₃）、常量与微量元素之间的比值（Zr/Al、Zr/Ti）、常量元素三角图（Ca-Mg-K、Ca-Mg-Na）等与其他地区黄土有明显差异,而青藏高原东部黄土与高原表土沉积物及河流砂、风成砂样品比较接近。这些异同点指示青藏高原东部黄土与黄土高原黄土的物源不同;其物源可能主要来自于青藏高原内部,高原内部的河流沉积物、冰碛物等粉尘物质可能为青藏高原东部黄土的主要物源。     

Grain surface features of alluvial sediments of upper Pravara Basin and their environmental implications

Quartz sand grains obtained from a deeply gullied topography along the banks of two tributaries of River Pravara in Godavari Basin, Maharashtra have been examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to make the environmental interpretations of these deposits. The sediments reveal features resulting from mechanical grinding as well as from chemical alteration. Conchoidal fractures, cleavage planes, grooves, v-shaped indentations etc are the mechanical features documented on the grains whereas solution pits of varying sizes and intensity, precipitation surfaces, oriented v-pits, solution crevasses and etching are the features of diagenetic origin. Few sand grains show the evidence of wind transported sediments. Several evidence indicate that the samples have undergone digenetic changes. Few grains exhibit the features of intense chemical breakdown. The overall assemblages of the grain surface features suggest that the samples have been subjected to subaqueous transport for a considerable period of time. The chemical features such as etching, solution pits or semi circular arcuate steps that are found in abundance in these grains are due to the dissolution of the sediments in a low energy fluviatile environment, such as in floodplain region.     

中国海岸带晚更新世风成沉积分区、序列特征及其气候-环境意义

本文提出海岸风沙沉积和海岸风尘沉积是晚更新世期间，由东北季风风系控制的风沙流活动所成。每一期风沙流活动的时限不恒定，其盛行风向前缘随着风力衰减而产生风尘沉积，形成海岸风沙—海岸风尘沉积匹配带。中国海岸带自北而南可划分出四个海岸风沙—海岸风尘沉积匹配区。海岸风沙－海岸风尘沉积均具有多发、高频变化特征，与其中交互更叠的土壤层、冲－洪积层、侵蚀间断面等一起，可成为晚更新世期间气候－环境判别的标志。     

陕北晋西砂黄土的胶结物与胶结作用研究

在野外调查的基础上,采用SEM、XRD、土壤物理和土壤化学等方法,对陕北晋西12个县市的48个马兰黄土样品进 行了全分散法粒度组成测定、聚集体分析以及黄土胶结物组成的测试分析。结果表明,砂黄土中的粘土矿物和超细碳酸盐、 游离氧化物和有机质等胶结物质主要是以聚集体包膜的形式存在于碎屑颗粒表面,并构成砂黄土骨架间的结构联结,具有弱 胶结特性。砂黄土中粘土矿物和有机质为非水稳性胶结物质,仅在干燥状态具有较弱的胶结作用;黄土中的CaCO3呈粗颗粒 骨架和细分散超细碳酸钙两种形式存在,并分别起着骨架作用和胶结作用,超细碳酸钙为不可逆的胶结材料,在聚集体形成、 保存以及聚集体与碎屑颗粒之间的联结方面发挥着重要作用;非晶质游离氧化物(SiO2、Fe2O3、Al2O3)含量虽低,但由于他们 是以薄膜形式分布在颗粒表面,在黄土胶结作用中也是不可忽视的,并与上述各种胶结物共同起作用。通过统计分析认为, 凝聚系数可以较好地反映黄土的胶结程度,成为联系黄土胶结特性与黄土物理力学性质之间的桥梁。黄土胶结物组成及其 胶结机理的研究不仅有助于深化砂黄土工程特性的认识,而且对揭示黄土高原表生地球化学环境具有重要意义。     

Pleistocene sediments,soils and landscape evolution at Stebbing,Essex

Pleistocene sediments and soils exposed at Stebbing in central Essex, England are described, analysed and interpreted. The sand and gravel units above Eocene London Clay and Upper Pliocene Red Crag are shown to be a high level member of the Kesgrave Formation, with a surface immediately beneath that of the Westland Green Gravels, which are tentatively assigned to the Pre-Pastonian ‘a’ Stage of the British Quaternary succession. The rubified, argillic soil developed in the surface of these fluvial deposits is a composite of the Valley Farm and Barham Soils and displays micromorphological evidence of several phases of clay illuviation, gleying and clay coating disruption. Originally truncated and buried beneath Anglian gelifluction deposits, cover sand and till, the soil has been exhumed in most places by subsequent erosion. The full succession, however, is preserved within large gulls that formed by periglacial cambering prior to this erosion. More recent loess incorporation and pedogenesis have modified the exhumed soil and the materials within the gulls.     

中国黄土的物质来源及其粉尘的产生机制与搬运过程

长期以来,黄土高原的物质来源被笼统认为来自包括西北三大内陆盆地(准噶尔、塔里木、柴达木)在内的广阔的沙漠、戈壁地区,而且中国黄土被看作“沙漠”黄土的典型代表。但我们最新的研究揭示出,源自准噶尔和柴达木盆地的粉尘主要由低空气流搬运,受下风方向的山脉阻挡,就近堆积成山麓黄土。源自塔里木盆地的粉尘如果被近地面风搬运,则不可能移出盆地,而是堆积在昆仑山北麓,但如果被飙升到高空,则被西风急流携带,移出盆地而降落在北太平洋地区,无论哪种情况,该盆地的粉尘都不可能对黄土高原有重要贡献。因此,西北三大内陆盆地并非黄土高原的重要物源,而蒙古国南部及与之相邻的包括巴旦吉林、腾格里、乌兰布和、库布其、毛乌素等在内的戈壁、沙漠地区才是黄土高原的主要物质来源区,且主要由近地面风(基本在3000m以下)从上述戈壁、沙漠地区搬运而来。中国黄土并不能简单看作“沙漠”黄土,包括冰川研磨作用、山体剥蚀作用、山前冲洪积作用等在内的“高山过程”,才是产生大量粉土级物质的原因,戈壁、沙漠、黄土的带状分布,只不过是近地面风对山前冲、洪积物质的风力分异而已。     

运城盆地峨眉台地前缘黄土塌陷现状及地质主控因素

运城盆地峨眉台地前缘新庄村一带地表黄土塌陷严重，其演化过程及其发展趋势是评估地质灾害发生可能性及时限性急需解决的关键地质问题。以地表地质调查为基础，结合遥感资料解译及三分量共振成像技术，综合分析了新庄村黄土塌陷区近10 a来的发展过程及现今的内部结构。研究结果显示，峨眉台地前缘处于黄土与湖相沉积的过渡地带，地层序列兼具湖相与黄土沉积特征，纵向上砂层与黄土间互出现，奠定了黄土塌陷区的物质基础；遥感资料解译结果表明黄土塌陷区自2011年开始，经历了一个孕育至快速发展的过程；三分量共振成像技术对黄土塌陷内部结构监测数据表明，黄土内部已形成纵横交错的孔洞系统，说明新庄村一带地质结构奠定黄土塌陷的物质基础，峨眉台地前缘断裂活动形成的地表裂缝加速黄土塌陷的进程，该区已成为一个高风险的地质灾害易发区。研究成果为峨眉台地前缘地质灾害的预防提供了基础地质资料。      

Electron microscopic investigations of sand material in the core drillings in the Great Hungarian plain

The study may inform about the electron microscopic investigations of the sand layers in seven core drillings in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve region. The primary aim of the investigation was to obtain exact data about the blown sand layers under the surface. In five out of six drillings on the alluvial fan of the Danube blown sand layers were explored (the number of layers varied between 2 and 7). There weree apparently phases in the formation of the alluvial fan when on certain parts flooding was replaced by eolian processes. The blown sand layers under the surface, however, are only several metres thick at the most. The seventh drilling (at Jánoshalma) proves that this region constitutes the continuation of Transdanubia and does not belong to the alluvial fan of the Danube. At Jánoshalma the driller bored through 26 loess, sandy loess, and loessy sand layers, and more than 10 blown sand layers under the surface in the Quarternary sequence.     

Physical properties of aeolian sediments within major dune corridor in Kuwait

A total of 212 sand samples were collected from aeolian surface sediments in a major dune corridor, northwestern Kuwait. Five main physical properties were taken into consideration in analyzing aeolian samples, namely color, shape, roundness, particle morphometry, and surface area. The analysis of quartz particles by the scanning electron microscope shows the influence of transportation on the microfeatures of individual particles. The surface deposits are dominantly unimodal and occasionally bimodal. It is obvious that coarse and medium sand are the dominant size fractions within aeolian deposits. The results according to the Munsell color system between downwind and upwind values show no variations. Also, the average percentages of roundness subclasses for upwind and downwind samples are similar (6.7%). The average values (area, equivalent diameter, perimeter, and elongation) for aeolian samples in downwind are slightly higher than in upwind and Al-Dibdibba Formation samples, but the values overlap at 1 standard deviation. The interrelationship diagrams show that the shapes of the particles within samples in the three groups are running in the same trend. In general, the northwestern (upwind) particles show more mechanical and chemical features compared with southeastern particles (downwind). The slight variation between aeolian (upwind and downwind) samples is attributed to the transportation effect of these particles. This led to a conclusion, based on the overall results of physical properties, that the coarse and medium particles (about 80% of the whole aeolian sample) are dominantly derived from local sources.