Lateral variations in the lithology and organic chemistry of a black shale sequence on the Mesoarchean seafloor affected by hydrothermal processes: The Dixon Island Formation of the coastal Pilbara Terrane,Western Australia

The Dixon Island Formation of the coastal Pilbara Terrane, Western Australia is a 3.2 Ga volcanic–sedimentary sequence influenced by syndepositional hydrothermal activity formed in an island‐arc setting. We documented lateral variations in stratigraphy, hydrothermal alteration, and biological activity recorded in the sedimentary rocks (over several kilometers), with the aim of identifying areas of biological activity and related small‐scale structures. The Dixon Island Formation comprises volcaniclastics, black chert, and iron‐rich chert within seven tectonic blocks. Based on detailed geological mapping, stratigraphic columns, carbon isotope composition, and organic carbon (C_org) content, we found lateral (>5 km) variations in stratigraphy and carbon isotope compositions in a black chert sequence above the Mesoarchean seafloor with hydrothermal activity. Two felsic tuff layers are used as stratigraphic marker beds within a black chert sequence, which was deposited on altered volcanic rocks. The black chert sequence in each tectonic block is 10–20 m thick. Thickness variations reflect topographical undulations in the paleo‐ocean floor due to faulting. Early‐stage normal faults indicate extensional conditions after hydrothermal activity. Black chert beds in the topographically subsided area contain higher C_org contents (about 0.4 wt%) than in areas around the depression (<0.1 wt%). Carbon isotope compositions for the black chert vary from ?40 to ?25‰, which are similar to values obtained for a black chert vein within the komatiite–rhyolite tuff sequence (underlying the black chert sequence). Those for other rock types in the Dixon Island Formation are ?33 to ?15‰. Results indicate that deformation occurred soon after the final stages of hydrothermal activity. After this early‐stage deformation, organic‐rich sediments were deposited over an area several kilometers across. The organic‐rich sediments indicate stagnant anoxic conditions that resulted in the deposition of siliceous and organic matter from hydrothermal vein systems. When hydrothermal activity terminated, normal faulting occurred and organic matter was deposited from the sea surface and silica from the seafloor.     

Remnants of an ancient forest on the continental shelf of northwest Japan

Tree stumps in a standing position have been discovered in 20 to 40 meters of water in Toyama Bay, Japan. Radiocarbon dated samples from two of these stumps yielded ages of 8.480±70 and 9.060±80 years B.P., indicating that the stumps are remnants of a forest that existed during thc early Holocene.     

Wavy lamination in a mixed sand and gravel foreshore facies of the Pleistocene Hosoya Sandstone, Aichi, central Japan

Although sandy foreshore facies are generally characterized by parallel lamination, wavy lamination is predominant in the mixed sand and gravel foreshore facies of the Pleistocene Hosoya Sandstone, which crops out along the Pacific coast of the Atsumi Peninsula, Aichi, central Japan. The foreshore facies consists of three sedimentary subfacies; interbeds of gravel and parallel laminated sand of the lower foreshore facies, parallel laminated fine to medium sand beds containing scattered pebbles and cobbles of the middle foreshore facies, and wavy laminated fine to medium sand beds containing scattered pebbles and cobbles of the upper foreshore facies. A lack of erosional surfaces in the middle foreshore facies indicates the continuous accumulation of sand in flat beds under upper plane bed flow. The wavy laminated sands of the upper foreshore facies exhibit erosional surfaces indicative of repeated deposition and erosion. The erosional surfaces are undulatory, with depressions (10 cm wide and 3 cm deep) that contain scattered pebbles and cobbles. These depressions reflect backwash erosion of sand around and below the pebbles and cobbles. Sand draping over the undulating erosional surfaces forms the wavy lamination. The wavy laminated sand with scattered pebbles and cobbles is a key facies of an upper foreshore or swash zone, and is a good sea-level marker.     

Landslides and relict ice margin landforms in Adventdalen, central Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Two characteristic landforms, landslide blocks and drainage channels, were investigated in Adventdalen, central Spitsbergen. The landslides in the middle reaches of Adventdalen comprise large-scale bedrock slumps which form a hummocky surface on the south slope of Arctowskifjellet. The fourteen recognized landslide blocks are divided into upper and lower sections, according to altitude. The drainage channels consist of tributary rivers to Adventelva which flow in two distinct directions, either parallel with or oblique to the direction of the main river. Glacial deposits were found to cover the ridges between these tributary channels. The upper and lower landslide divisions may indicate former positions of the ice surface, and the channels appear to have originated during the existence of lateral moraine ridges with high ice content. These geomorphological findings have allowed reconstruction of former ice marginal positions, and they strongly suggest the existence of stagnant ice or minor re-advance phases during the course of deglaciation in Adventdalen.     

LONG-RANGE CHANGES OF CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TYPHOON FREQUENCIES IN SEVEN REGIONS IN EAST ASIA AND SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN THE NORTH PACIFIC

The correlation coefficients between the typhoon frequencies for the seven regions in East Asia (i. e. Xisha, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shanghai, Naha, Kagoshima and Nagoya) and the monthly-mean sea surface temperature (SST) from 2 years before to 1 year after are calculated, indicating that the most significant correlation appears in the period from the summer of 2 years before to the summer of 1 year before. During this period negative correlations are located in the northwestern part of the North Pacific while the positive ones located in the southeastern part. It is found that the positive correlations change into the negative ones in Equatorial East Pacific in the same year (simultaneous correlation). The high-level correlation region in 1 year after is found in the area of Alaska Current. It is also suggested that there are interannual variations of about 1,1.5 and 2 years for the changes of the correlation intensity.     

Effects of tides and weather on sedimentation of iron‐oxyhydroxides in a shallow‐marine hydrothermal environment at Nagahama Bay,Satsuma Iwo‐Jima Island,Kagoshima, southwest Japan

Nagahama Bay of Satsuma Iwo‐Jima Island, southwest Japan, is an excellent place for studying sedimentation of iron‐oxyhydroxides by shallow‐marine low‐temperature hydrothermal activity. Its fishing port has a narrow entrance that limits exchange of seawater between the bay and open ocean, allowing the accumulation of fine‐grained precipitates of iron‐bearing materials (Fe‐oxyhydroxides) on the seafloor. The fishing port is usually filled with orange‐ to brown‐colored Fe‐rich water, and deposits >1.5 m thick Fe‐rich sediments. To elucidate the movement and depositional processes of the Fe‐rich precipitates in the bay, we conducted continuous profiling of turbidity throughout the tidal cycle and monitoring of surface water. The results showed that clear seawater entered the bay during the rising tide, and turbid colored water flowed into the ocean during the ebb tide. Neap tide was found to be an optimal condition for sedimentation of Fe‐oxyhydroxides due to weak tidal currents. Storms and heavy rains were also found to have influenced precipitation of Fe‐oxyhydroxides. Storm waves disturbed the bottom sediments, resulting in increased turbidity and rapid re‐deposition of Fe‐oxyhydroxides with an upward‐fining sequence. Heavy rain carried Fe‐oxyhydroxides originally accumulated in nearby beach sands to the bay. Our findings provide information on optimal conditions for the accumulation of Fe‐rich sediments in shallow‐marine hydrothermal settings.