Carbon and nitrogen diagenesis in deep sea sediments

The sections penetrated on Leg 58 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project represent periods of geologic time during which depositional conditions apparently remained quite constant, thus offering an unusual opportunity to study the effects of diagenesis on organic material.Organic carbon and nitrogen contents decrease monotonically with increasing depth of burial before levelling off at minimum values of about 0.05-0.10 and 0.01%, respectively. The depths at which minima are reached vary from site to site, but the ages of the sediments at the minima are all about 2–5 Myr.These data indicate that diagenetic transformations are responsible for the gradual depletion of organic carbon and nitrogen. If diagenesis is at least partly the result of microbial activity, then the role of bacterial ecosystems in deep water sediments is much greater than has previously been thought.     

Total nitrogen in meteorites

Total N has been measured in a number of meteorites by neutron activation analysis using the reaction N¹⁴(n, p)C¹⁴. From each meteorite a number of chips have been analysed to investigate the variation of N contents in a sample. Many meteorites are found to contain a heterogeneous distribution of N. Eighteen chondrites, mostly of the classes C3, H4, H5, L4, L5, L6 and LL6, and six achondrites are found to have average N contents of 10–45 ppm. These do not show any clear-cut dependence of N on petrological group. However, the inherent heterogeneity or the fact that from most meteorite classes only single falls were studied might be responsible for this lack of correlation. In Cold Bokkeveld (C2) N is high (420 ppm). Unlike C, N content of ureilites is low (26 ppm). Nitrogen is enriched in the non-magnetic as compared to the magnetic fractions in H-group chondrites. Analyses of sieved Bjurböle phases show no enrichment of N in finer matrix material, nor any depletion in chondrules. In two gas-rich meteorites, Kapoeta and Assam, there is no excess N in the dark phases. Nine iron meteorites and three mesosiderites were analysed. Twenty analyses of Canyon Diablo and seven of Odessa establish a very heterogeneous N distribution in these meteorites.     

洋岛玄武岩中的熔体包裹体揭示地球深部氯循环

正地球深部与表层间挥发性元素的交换一直是重要的地球科学问题。来自海水的挥发分通过热液蚀变作用进入大洋地壳,之后通过洋壳的俯冲作用进入上地幔。但是这些挥发分是否能够被带入更深的下地幔目前依然不清楚。Cl元素非常适合示踪俯冲物质中海水来源的挥发分。含有海水来源挥发分所形成的地幔源区具有很高的Cl含量,上地幔中Cl的不均一性被认为     

Aragonite from deep sea ultramafic rocks

Aragonite mineralization was observed in serpentinized peridotites from the Romanche and Vema Fracture Zones in the Atlantic and the Owen Fracture Zone in the Indian Ocean, either in veins or as radial aggregates in cavities within the serpentinites. Evidence of incipient dissolution of the aragonite crystals was observed in one case. The aragonites tend to have lower Mg content (< 0.03%) and higher Sr content (> 0.95%) relative to other marine aragonites. Their ${}^{18}\text{O}{}^{16}\text{O}$, ${}^{13}\text{C}{}^{12}\text{C}$ and ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ isotopic ratios suggest the aragonite was deposited at ocean floor temperatures from solutions derived from sea water circulating in fissures and fractures within the ultramafic rocks. The ${}^{18}\text{O}{}^{16}\text{O}$ ratios of the serpentines indicate serpentinization occurred at higher temperatures, probably deeper in the crust. Low-T reactions between circulating seawater and Mg-silicates (primarily serpentine and pyroxenes) caused high pH and enrichment of Mg and Ca in the solution, conditions favoring carbonate precipitation. Aragonite was formed rather than calcite presumably because the high Mg²⁺ concentration in the solution inhibited calcite precipitation. The high Sr content of the aragonites is probably related, at least in part, to their low temperature of formation. Opaque mineral grains containing over 8% NiO and over 40% MnO were observed concentrated along the margins of some of the aragonite veins, suggesting that Ni is one of the elements mobilized during reactions between ultramafic rocks and circulating seawater.     

Stable isotope geochemistry of deep sea cherts

Seventy four samples of DSDP recovered cherts of Jurassic to Miocene age from varying locations, and 27 samples of on-land exposed cherts were analyzed for the isotopic composition of their oxygen and hydrogen. These studies were accompanied by mineralogical analyses and some isotopic analyses of the coexisting carbonates. δ¹⁸O of chert ranges between 27 and 39%. relative to SMOW, δ¹⁸O of porcellanite—between 30 and 42%.. The consistent enrichment of opal-CT in porcellanites in ¹⁸O with respect to coexisting microcrystalline quartz in chert is probably a reflection of a different temperature (depth) of diagenesis of the two phases.δ¹⁸O of deep sea cherts generally decrease with increasing age, indicating an overall cpoling of the ocean bottom during the last 150 m.y. A comparison of this trend with that recorded by benthonic foraminifera (Douglas and Savin, 1975) indicates the possibility of δ¹⁸O in deep sea cherts not being frozen in until several tens of millions of years after deposition. Cherts of any Age show a spread of δ¹⁸O values, increasing diagenesis being reflected in a lowering of δ¹⁸O. Drusy quartz has the lowest δ¹⁸O values.On-land exposed cherts are consistently depleted in ¹⁸O in comparison to their deep sea time equivalent cherts.Water extracted from deep sea cherts ranges between 0.5 and 1.4 wt %. δD of this water ranges between ?78 and ?95%. and is not a function of δ¹⁸O of the cherts (or the temperature of their formation).     

Greenhouse gas deposits in the deep sea

Gas hydrates are the largest deposits of hydrocarbons in the world. They are distributed throughout marine sediments and their stability depends largely upon temperature and pressure. Typically, ～99 percent of these hydrocarbon deposits are composed of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Methane release from gas hydrates has been implicated in mass extinction events. Present and future changes in ocean temperature have the potential to increase the rate of methane production from gas hydrates and thus to affect Earth's climate. Whilst the deep sea normally serves as a sink for greenhouse gases, the release of methane from gas hydrates could be a hugely significant source in the future and pose a real threat to our efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions.     

Concentrations and isotope ratios of carbon,nitrogen and sulfur in ocean-floor basalts

Fresh submarine basalt glasses from Galapagos Ridge, FAMOUS area, Cayman Trough and Kilauea east rift contain 22 to 160 ppm carbon and 0.3 to 2.8 ppm nitrogen, respectively, as the sums of dissolved species and vesicle-filling gases (CO₂ and N₂). The large range of variation in carbon content is due to combined effect of depth-dependency of the solubility of carbon in basalt melt and varying extents of vapour loss during magma emplacement as well as in sample crushing. The isotopic ratios of indigenous carbon and nitrogen are in very narrow ranges,?6.2 ± 0.2% relative to PDB and +0.2 ± 0.6 %. relative to atmospheric nitrogen, respectively. In basalt samples from Juan de Fuca Ridge, however, isotopically light carbon (δ¹³C = around ?24%.) predominates over the indigenous carbon; no indigenous heavy carbon was found. Except for Galapagos Ridge samples, these ocean-floor basalts contain 670 to 1100 ppm sulfur, averaging 810 ppm, in the form of both sulfide and sulfate, whereas basalts from Galapagos Ridge are higher in both sulfur (1490 and 1570 ppm) and iron (11.08% total iron as FeO). The δ³⁴S values average +0.3 ± 0.5%. with average fractionation factor between sulfate and sulfide of +7.4 ± 1.6%.. The sulfate/sulfide ratios tend to increase with increasing water content of basalt, probably because the oxygen fugacity increases with increasing water content in basalt melt.     

Total electron content at low latitudes

Radio beacon from ATS-6 at 140 MHz was used to measure the changes in the polarization angle (Faraday rotation) at Bombay, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Patiala during October 1975 to July 1976. In this paper, results of diurnal, seasonal and latitudinal variations in total electron content (TEC) derived from these measurements are reported. The amplitude of diurnal peak is found to be higher at Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Udaipur as compared to that at Patiala or Bombay, indicating that the peak of Appleton anomaly in the latitudinal variation of TEC was close to the latitude of Ahmedabad. The diurnal maximum of TEC occurs around the same time during summer and winter months. The peak electron content shows a semiannual variation at all the stations with large values in equinoxes as compared to winter and summer. The TEC at Bombay shows a seasonal anamoly with high values in winter as compared to summer. The paper describes the development of latitudinal anomaly with the time of the day for different seasons. This anomaly is maximum during 1000 to 1800 LT and is located between 12° and 14° N (dip latitude) in summer and equinoxes and at about 10°N in winter.     

Alteration of volcanic matter in deep sea sediments: evidence from the chemical composition of interstitial waters from deep sea drilling cores

Six Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Sites (252, 285, 315, 317, 336, 386) were examined for the chemical composition of the dissolved salts in interstitial waters, the oxygen isotopic composition of the interstitial waters, and the major ion composition of the bulk solid sediments. An examination of the concentration-depth profiles of dissolved calcium, magnesium, potassium, and H₂¹⁸O in conjunction with oxygen isotope mass balance calculations confirms the hypothesis that in DSDP pelagic drill sites concentration gradients in Ca. Mg. K, and H₂¹⁸O are largely due to alteration reactions occurring in the basalts of Layer 2 and to alteration reactions involving volcanic matter dispersed in the sediment column. Oxygen isotope mass balance calculations require substantial alteration of Layer 2 (up to 25% of the upper 1000 m). but only minor exchange of Ca, Mg, and K occurs with the overlying ocean. This implies that alteration reactions in Layer 2 are almost isochemical.     

Composition and origin of North Atlantic deep sea cherts

Rocks described as chert from the North Atlantic, recovered during the Deep Sea Drilling Project, consist of quartz or disordered cristobalite. They occur in a wide variety of sediment types; only a few are associated with radiolarian oozes. Some of the cristobalitic cherts contain abundant clinoptilolite or palygorskite and sepiolite.The cherts have a variety of origins. They are most probably replacement cherts at sites 5, 6, and 7; direct alteration products of radiolarian ooze at site 8; and either alteration products of volanic glass or direct precipitates from hydrothermal solutions at sites 9 and 12. Evidence for these diverse origins is preserved as unusual mineral assemblages in these geologically young rocks.     

大陆玄武岩原始水含量的测定及其对源区组分的制约

理解大陆板内玄武岩的源区组成和成因是认识地幔动力学过程和化学不均一性的重要途径。由于不同地幔端员具有不同的水含量及水与其它不相容元素的比值(如H2O/Ce),原始水含量的测定对于认识玄武岩的源区组成将会提供新的信息。玄武岩玻璃和斑晶中的熔体包裹体是获得海洋玄武岩原始水含量的主要样品,但是不适合于大陆玄武岩,因为大陆玄武岩玻璃由于强烈的去气作用不能反映真实水含量,而大陆玄武岩斑晶中的熔体包裹体少而小,不易获得足量、准确的数据。本文介绍一种最近发展起来的推断大陆玄武岩原始水含量的方法,即利用红外光谱测定玄武岩中单斜辉石斑晶的水含量,然后结合水在单斜辉石与玄武质熔体中的分配系数来反演与斑晶平衡的熔体水含量,进而估计原始玄武质岩浆的水含量。文中详细叙述了方法的适用性、误差的估计以及具体的操作流程,并通过东北双辽和华北太行山新生代玄武岩的研究实例,展示了玄武岩水含量对于源区组成的有力制约。     

“四深”微生物的地质作用——从气候环境变化到生态灾难

“四深”微生物是指深海、深地、深空和深时环境的微生物,特别是细菌、古菌、真菌、病毒等。人们对“四深”微生物的了解非常有限,是亟待突破的地球生物学前沿领域。“四深”微生物的研究对理解地球生命起源、界定生物圈的边界条件、促进地球科学与生命科学以及行星科学之间的交叉融合具有不可替代性的贡献。随着我国深海、深空、深地等重大工程计划的推进,一系列与“四深”微生物有关的前沿科学问题不断提出,包括地质微生物与气候环境的相互作用、地质微生物的生物安全与生态安全、地质微生物参与的隐匿地质过程等。特别是,“四深”环境活性氧自由基对微生物的影响、地质病毒对生物演化和地质过程的影响等前沿领域都亟待突破。活性氧自由基能对生物分子、细胞、组织和器官,乃至整个生物圈的演化以及微生物地质作用都产生重要影响。病毒引发了现代和近代诸多全球性疫情爆发,地质病毒则可能对生物的背景灭绝和大灭绝以及一些地质过程产生影响。     

“四深”微生物的地质作用：从气候环境变化到生态灾难

“四深”微生物是指深海、深地、深空和深时环境的微生物,特别是细菌、古菌、真菌、病毒等。人们对“四深”微生物的了解非常有限,是亟待突破的地球生物学前沿领域。“四深”微生物的研究对理解地球生命起源、界定生物圈的边界条件、促进地球科学与生命科学以及行星科学之间的交叉融合具有不可替代性的贡献。随着我国深海、深空、深地等重大工程计划的推进,一系列与“四深”微生物有关的前沿科学问题不断提出,包括地质微生物与气候环境的相互作用、地质微生物的生物安全与生态安全、地质微生物参与的隐匿地质过程等。特别是,“四深”环境活性氧自由基对微生物的影响、地质病毒对生物演化和地质过程的影响等前沿领域都亟待突破。活性氧自由基能对生物分子、细胞、组织和器官,乃至整个生物圈的演化以及微生物地质作用都产生重要影响。病毒引发了现代和近代诸多全球性疫情爆发,地质病毒则可能对生物的背景灭绝和大灭绝以及一些地质过程产生影响。     

Total nitrogen in lunar soils,breccias and rocks

The total nitrogen contents of a number of lunar samples from Apollo 16 and 17 missions are reported. Solar wind is the main source for the observed excess nitrogen in most fines. Total nitrogen in the soils is found to be proportional to the solar wind rare gases Ar³⁶ and Xe¹³². Linear correlations are also noted between the agglutinate contents of the soils and their carbon and nitrogen contents. Seventeen soils (Apollo 15, 16 and 17) have been sieved and nitrogen has been measured in various grain size fractions. An inverse correlation between the mean grain diameter and the nitrogen contents is seen, showing that a large fraction of the solar wind nitrogen is surface correlated. An apparent volume component, due to the presence of agglutinates, is found in most soils.     

The oxidation state of manganese in surface sediments of the deep sea

Iodometric titration of deep sea sediment from cores at MANOP sites M and H indicate a particulate Mn oxidation state between 3.3 and 3.9 in the top 5 cm. Results from site H show a minimum in the Mn oxidation state at 1.5 cm depth indicating Mn reduction is occurring above the zone of pore water Mn oxidation. Using a simple box model, the rate of reduction is calculated to be 19 mg/cm² kyr ? 77 mg/cm² kyr, at least 5 times the flux of Mn to nodules in this region. Although no Mn oxidation state minimum is observed in site M sediments, oxic reduction is inferred from a particulate mass balance, indicating that a large fraction of the Mn rain to this site is not preserved in the sediments and must be remobilized. We suggest that the process of reduction in oxic or suboxic environments near the sediment-water interface may be an important mechanism controlling the concentration of Mn in sediments and provides a mechanism for supplying diagenetic Mn to the nodules at site H.     

有机质对海相软土物理力学特性的影响效应分析

有机质是海相软土的重要组成部分,其对土体物理力学性质的影响有待深入研究。以连云港地区全新世海相软土为例,进行百组土体有机质物理力学试验。结果表明,研究区软土有机质含量平均值为0.98%,在0.90%~1.00%这个区间分布最为广泛。有机质含量在空间上分布不均,平行海岸线较垂直海岸线土体有机质含量变化小,自上向下变化规律复杂,但随着深度的增加有机质含量有增加的趋势;有机质含量与土体天然含水率、塑限、液限在0.01水平上显著正相关,与土体天然密度、干密度和比重在0.01水平上显著负相关,与土体粉粒含量在0.05水平上显著正相关,与土体黏粒含量相关性差;有机质含量与固结压力≤400 kPa阶段的孔隙比在0.01水平上显著正相关,与固结压力>400 kPa时的孔隙比相关性变差,这与有机质形成的复合体被破坏有关;海相软土黏土矿物、含盐量及含水率高,有机质与黏土矿物在碱性环境多通过阳离子键桥的方式来结合,形成有机复合体,可能参与千年及万年尺度的碳循环;研究土层最大埋深达30 m,符合有机质深埋的演化规律,而研究土体沉积时间距今最高才约8000 a,推测研究土体有机质还未达到平衡状态,还在进一步的循环演化过程当中。上述相关研究成果对海相软土分布区工程建设具有一定的参考价值。     

各向异性 Ｒadon 变换在深水地震多次波压制中的应用

在深海多缆、长拖缆地震勘探的各种噪音影响中,多次波对深层的有效反射影响难以消除。笔者介绍了一种高分辨率各向异性 Ｒadon 变换方法,在 Ｒadon 变换积分路径中增加非椭圆率 eta 参数,将传统 Ｒadon 变换积分曲线由慢度、偏移距两参数改为慢度、偏移距及非椭圆率三参数,更好地刻画了长偏移距下反射非双曲时差。通过对某海域实际采集的多缆长偏移距地震数据进行压制多次波处理,与传统方法相比取得了较为理想的效果,为后续深层构造成像提供了基础数据。     

Analysis of causes for the beryllium-10 variations in deep sea sediments

A critical evaluation of the available ¹⁰Be data shows that its concentration of marine sediments appears to be affected by climate, cosmic ray (C.R.) intensity variations, magnetic reversals and changes in sedimentation rates in that order. Possible variations in the C.R. intensity would have averaged ≦ ±30% for selected periods of the order of 10⁵ yr during the last 2 m.y.     

Grain size studies on turbidite components from Tyrrhenian deep sea cores

Through an analysis of their coarse-grain composition (>63 μm), pumice-rich sandy layers from deep sea cores were identified as shelf-derived turbidites rather than deposits due to ash rain or drifting pumice. A comparison of median sizes of individual grain types and total samples yielded significant vertical and horizontal sorting trends, which allowed apparently unrelated samples from different cores to be grouped into proximal and distal parts of one turbidite type. A discrimination of samples belonging to unrelated turbidite layers was also possible. In addition, whatever the grain size, planktonic molluscs and foraminifera have Md-diameters 1·1–2·75 times larger than those of pumice. Weathered shallow-water skeletals have Md-diameters approximately equal to pumice, whereas those of augite and hornblende are 1·25–2·3 times smaller. This results in a different proportion of components in proximal and distal turbidite samples. The Md-values of planktonic foraminifera reach their upper natural limit at 250–350 μm.