二叠系长兴阶全球界线层型剖面和点位

二叠系乐平统长兴阶底界全球界线层型和点位(GSSP)确立在我国浙江长兴煤山D剖面长兴灰岩的下部、4a-2层之底,以牙形石演化序列Clarkina longicuspidata-C.wangi中C.wangi的首现为标志。该点位位于长兴组底界之上88cm处,与长兴期特征的■类化石Palaeofusulina sinensis和大巴山菊石类的首次出现层位一致。界线层的碳同位素存在明显的负漂移,正磁极性带出现在吴家坪晚期的反极性带之上。在煤山D剖面以西300m处的C剖面出露较多的龙潭组地层,清晰地反映出龙潭组—长兴组连续的沉积序列,被列为辅助层型剖面。     

Tectonic development of the Drummond Basin, eastern Australia: backarc extension and inversion in a Late Palaeozoic active margin setting

Detailed seismic reflection data combined with regional magnetic, gravity and geological data indicate that the Drummond Basin originated as a backare extensional basin associated with Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous active margin tectonism in the northern New England Fold Belt. Seismic reflection data have been used to generate a two-way time map of seismic basement, providing a clear view of the basinal geometry and structural development. Broadscale structural asymmetry of the basin implies that simple shear along a deep, upper-crustal detachment provided the extensional mechanism and generated an inter-related set of listric normal faults and associated transfer faults, as well as steeply-dipping planat normal faults. The orientation of normal faults near the basin margins appears to have been controlled by regional basement structural trends. Transfer-fault trends were approximarely orthogonal to the line of plate convergence as assessed from the orientation of coeval are, forcare and subduction complex stratorectonic elements. Three distinct phases of infill are represented in the basinal stratigraphic succession. The first consists largely of volcanics and volcaniclastics, indicating that effusive magmatism and extension were closely associated in space and time. The second is quartzose and of basement derivation, but was not derived from footwall blocks at the faulted basinal margins to the east and north. Uplifted hanging-wall crust beyond the western basinal margin, a product of west-directed simple shear detachment, was the likely source terrain. The final infill phase consisted of volcaniclastics considered to have been derived from a coeval volcanic are to the east. Major faults at the basin margins provided conduits for magmatism during extensional basin development, and long after the basinal history was complete. During the Late Carboniferous and mid-Triassic, the basin was affected by two discrete episodes of compressional deformation. This led to inversion with the development of folds, and reverse and wrench faults now seen at the surface.     

210Pb in the ocean: A pilot tracer for modeling particle reactive elements

We discuss the basic requirements for a successful modeling of²¹⁰Pb in the ocean as a test tracer for at least other lead isotopes, but also of other elements that behave similarly to lead. With the aid of realistic models of the oceanic circulation and the major biogeochemical cycles in it, the result is a dynamically consistent model of lead cycling that reproduces observed profiles within 10%.     

The chemical and physical characteristics of heavy metals in humus and till in the vicinity of the base metal smelter at Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada

 Trace element geochemistry of humus (<0.425 mm) and till (<0.002 mm) collected in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake area, northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, provides a regional context for assessing smelter contamination in the environment. The area includes a Cu-Zn smelter known to discharge As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn. In this study, sequential extraction analyses, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analyses were used on a suite of samples to determine: (1) the chemical and physical characteristics of heavy metals in surficial sediments related to distance from the smelter, (2) criteria for assessing the relative contribution of these metals from natural and anthropogenic sources, and (3) the potential of these metals for remobilization in the environment. Humus geochemistry reflects the anthropogenic and natural component of heavy metal concentrations. Smelter-related elements show anomalously high values adjacent to the smelter, decreasing with distance until background values are reached at 70–104 km, depending on the element. In humus, Zn is associated primarily with labile phases; Hg with non-labile phases. Adjacent to the smelter, high proportions and concentrations of Zn and Hg in non-labile phases, indicative of smelter-derived particulates, are confirmed by SEM examination. The particles occur as spheres, irregular grains, and with organics. With increasing distance from the smelter, the geochemical response to bedrock composition is more obvious than the anthropogenic input. Till geochemistry reflects the natural variation imposed by bedrock composition. At highly contaminated sites (<3 km from the smelter), increased percentages of smelter-related elements in labile phases suggests heavy metals are leached from humus to the underlying sediment. Received: 5 November 1996 · Accepted: 31 March 1997     

Paleolimnological features of a mega-lake phase in the Makgadikgadi Basin (Kalahari,Botswana) during Marine Isotope Stage 5 inferred from diatoms

The Makgadikgadi–Okavango–Zambezi basin (MOZB) is a structural depression in the south-western branch of the East African Rift System of the northern and middle Kalahari, central southern Africa. In the present day, the mainly dry subbasins of the MOZB are part of a long-lived lacustrine system that has likely existed since Early Pleistocene and from which an extant freshwater fish radiation emerged seeding all major river systems of southern Africa. During hydrologically favourable periods the subbasins were connected as a single mega-lake termed Lake Palaeo-Makgadikgadi. Previous geomorphological studies and OSL dates have provided evidence for repeated mega-lake periods since approximately 300 ka. The environmental and climatic implications of such large scale late Quaternary lake-level fluctuations are controversial, with the duration of mega-lake phases poorly constrained. Here, we present the first evidence for a Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 mega-lake period (about 935–940 m a.s.l.) reconstructed from a diatom-rich, 30-cm-thick lacustrine sediment section, exposed close to a palaeo-shoreline of the Makgadikgadi Basin. Based upon the environmental setting and in comparison with sedimentation rates of other similar lake environments, we tentatively estimated that the highstand lasted approximately 1 ka during MIS 5d–b. The 30-cm section was sampled in 0.5-cm steps. Diatom species diversity ranges from 19 to 30 through the section. The dominant species are Pseudostaurosira brevistriata, Rhopalodia gibberula, Cyclotella meneghiniana and Epithemia sorex. The total of 60 sediment samples provide us with a record at decadal to bi-decadal resolution. Based on diatom assemblages and their oxygen isotope composition (δ¹⁸O) we infer an alkaline and mostly oligohaline lake with shallow water conditions prevailing in MIS 5, and is potentially analogous to a Heinrich event. The climate over southern Africa during MIS 5 has been considered very arid but the hydromorphological context of our sediment section indicates that we captured a mega-lake period providing evidence that short-term excursions to significantly higher humidity existed. A hydrologically more favourable environment during MIS 5 than formerly presumed is in line with the early human occupation of the Kalahari.     

Facies in a Devonian‐Carboniferous volcanic fore‐arc succession,Campwyn Volcanics,Mackay district,central Queensland∗

The Middle Devonian to Early Carboniferous Campwyn Volcanics of coastal central Queensland form part of the fore‐arc basin and eastern flank of the volcanic arc of the northern New England Fold Belt. They consist of a complex association of pyroclastic, hyaloclastic and resedimented, texturally immature volcaniclastic facies associated with shallow intrusions, lavas and minor limestone, non‐volcanic siliciclastics and ignimbrite. Primary igneous rocks indicate a predominantly mafic‐intermediate parentage. Mafic to intermediate pyroclastic rocks within the unit formed from both subaerial and ?submarine to emergent strombolian and phreatomagmatic eruptions. Quench‐fragmented hyaloclastite breccias are widespread and abundant. Shallow marine conditions for much of the succession are indicated by fossil assemblages and intercalated limestone and epiclastic sandstone and conglomerate facies. Volcanism and associated intrusions were widely dispersed in the Campwyn depositional basin in both space and time. The minor component of silicic volcanic products is thought to have been less proximal and derived from eruptive centres to the west, inboard of the basin.     

Radiocarbon Ages Constraints on the Origin and Shedding of Bank-Top Sediment in the Bahamas during the Holocene

Great quantities of fine-sized aragonite needles are produced in the shallow waters that cover the tops of the Bahama Banks and then exported to the bank margins where they accumulate with shells of pelagic organisms. To better understand these processes, we investigated Holocene-aged sediments in a core from the southwestern margin of Little Bahama Bank. The aragonite content of the sediments, ??¹⁸O of planktonic foraminifera shells, and radiocarbon ages of aragonite-rich <63 ??m sediments and coexisting planktonic foraminifera shells were determined. Sediment deposition was rapid overall, and a significant increase in deposition rate occurred 3,500?C4,000 years ago, shortly after rising sea level flooded the bank top with seawater and caused a dramatic increase in the shallow water area where aragonite production occurred. During the latest Holocene when high deposition rates minimize effects of bioturbation, aragonite-rich <63 ??m sediments are 400?C600 years older than coexisting foraminifera. This difference indicates the net age of aragonite when it was exported from the bank top. It is consistent with expectations of the ??hip-hop??n?? model (Morse et al. in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67: 2819?C2826, 2003) whereby aragonite needles on the bank top, formed initially by biologic or other processes, continue to grow for hundreds of years via precipitation of epitaxial carbonate cement from seawater. Earlier in the Holocene, when sea level was lower and the top of Little Bahama Bank was subaerially exposed, the deposition rate and aragonite content of the sediments were less, and the aragonite-rich <63 ??m sediments are about 1,000 years younger than coexisting foraminifera. This age difference can be explained by downward mixing of latest-Holocene <63 ??m material into older early-Holocene sediments.     

Coherent Doppler Lidar Measurements of Wind Field Statistics

Coherent Doppler lidar measurements of wind statistics in the boundary layer are presented. The effects of the spatial averaging by the lidar pulse are removed using theoretical corrections and computer simulations. This permits unbiased estimates of velocity variance, spatial velocity structure functions, energy dissipation rate, and other point statistics of the velocity field.