9000 years of changes in peat organic matter composition in Store Mosse (Sweden) traced using FTIR-ATR

Store Mosse (the ‘Great Bog’ in Swedish) is one of the most extensive bog complexes in southern Sweden (~77 km²), where pioneering palaeoenvironmental research has been carried out since the early 20th century. This includes, for example, vegetation changes, carbon and nitrogen dynamics, peat decomposition, atmospheric metal pollution, mineral dust deposition, dendrochronology, and tephrochronology. Even though organic matter (OM) represents the bulk of the peat mass and its compositional change has the potential to provide crucial ecological information on bog responses to environmental factors, peat OM molecular composition has not been addressed in detail. Here, a 568-cm-deep peat sequence was studied at high resolution, by attenuated reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) in the mid-infrared region (4000–400 cm^–1). Principal components analysis was performed on selected absorbances and change-point modelling was applied to the records to determine the timing of changes. Four components accounted for peat composition: (i) depletion/accumulation of labile (i.e. carbohydrates) and recalcitrant (i.e. lignin and other aromatics, aliphatics, organic acids and some N compounds) compounds, due to peat decomposition; (ii) variations in N compounds and carbohydrates; (iii) residual variation of lignin and organic acids; and (iv) residual variation of aliphatic structures. Peat decomposition showed two main patterns: a long-term trend highly correlated to peat age (r = 0.87), and a short-term trend, which showed five main phases of increased decomposition (at ~8.4–8.1, ~7.0–5.6, ~3.5–3.1, ~2.7–2.1 and ~1.6–1.3 ka) – mostly corresponding to drier climate and its effect on bog hydrology. The high peat accumulation event (~5.6–3.9 ka), described in earlier studies, is characterized by the lowest degree of peat decomposition of the whole record. Given that FTIR-ATR is a quick, non-destructive, cost-effective technique, our results indicate that it can be applied in a systematic way (including multicore studies) to peat research and provide relevant information on the evolution of peatlands.     

Analysis of stratigraphical sequences at Cocina Cave (Spain) using rare earth elements geochemistry

This study investigates the stratigraphical sequence of Cocina Cave (Spain) employing and testing for the first time the capability of rare earth elements as markers of human activities in caves. Located in Dos Aguas (Valencian Community, Spain), Cocina Cave is characterized by the presence of several Holocene archaeological deposits from the final Mesolithic to the present day and is a pivotal site for understanding the socio-ecological dynamics of the last hunter-gatherer inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula and the transition to pastoral and agricultural economies in the Western Mediterranean. However, the identification of strata from particular time-periods in the cave is often difficult due to the homogeneity of layers, the poor archaeological record in some strata and the presence of severe disturbance phenomena. The methodological approach of this study consisted of cross-referencing rare earth elements and other chemical markers with the archaeological stratigraphical interpretation, in an attempt to not only support the identification of the anthropic contribution to the formation of Cocina Cave strata, but also to characterize and confirm different natural and occupational episodes, particularly those associated with hunter-gatherer, early agriculturalist, and shepherd activities. Sediments were collected from different excavation areas and analysed for major elements, trace elements, rare earth elements (REE), soil organic matter (SOM) amounts and pH. Multivariate statistics were employed to group samples according to their elemental profile, and these were then compared to the archaeological temporal interpretation. The obtained results showed that REE amount and fractionation geochemical processes were regulated by carbonates, phosphates and pH. The use of REE as markers was particularly useful as their concentrations and their calculated ratios and anomaly distributions were demonstrated to be highly consistent with the archaeological stratigraphical interpretation.     

Geoarchaeological evidence on a Late Bronze Age earthquake,Ohrid Basin (North Macedonia)

Geoarchaeological investigations on the northeastern shore of Lake Ohrid revealed 3.5 m thick deepwater lacustrine sediments overlying terrestrial vegetation macrofossils, worked wood and abundant potsherds dated to the Late Bronze Age (LBA). Distinct contact of deepwater sediment with the sub-aerial weathered limestone bedrock point to a sudden increase in lake level. According to radiocarbon data, catastrophic flooding occurred shortly after 1214 yr bc. Because the area is located in a highly active seismic zone, we propose that this event was caused by tectonically induced, metre-scale coseismic subsidence related to faults bordering the Ohrid alluvial plain. Moreover, this event coincides well with a dramatic switch in the habitation and settlement strategy in the region. More important, however, is the finding that the age of the proposed massive tectonic event and change in habitation lies within the interval of the proposed ‘earthquake storm’ in the eastern Mediterranean dated to 1225–1175 bc. As the Ohrid-Korça zone belongs to the same tectonic province, a relationship between the abovementioned earthquakes and the proposed event can be expected. This research therefore might provide the first direct evidence of a large-scale earthquake event linkable to the LBA collapse of Europe's first urban civilisation in the Aegean.     

Small-strain behaviour of unsaturated silty clay: experiments and model interpretation

Acta Geotechnica - The experimental data dealing with the so-called small strain stiffness of soils are indispensable in developing and calibrating advanced numerical models. A literature review...     

Metal-enriched nanoparticles and black carbon: A perspective from the Brazil railway system air pollution

Having a better understanding of air pollutants in railway systems is crucial to ensure a clean public transport. This study measured, for the first time in Brazil, nanoparticles (NPs) and black carbon (BC) on two ground-level platforms and inside trains of the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre (MAPA). An intense sampling campaign during thirteen consecutive months was carried out and the chemical composition of NPs was examined by advanced microscopy techniques. The results showed that highest concentrations of the pollutants occur in colder seasons and influenced by variables such as frequency of the trains and passenger densities. Also, internal and external sources of pollution at the stations were identified. The predominance of NPs enriched with metals that increase oxidative stress like Cd, Fe, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, V, Hg, Sn, and Ba both on the platforms and inside trains, including Fe-minerals as hematite and magnetite, represents a critical risk to the health of passengers and employees of the system. This interdisciplinary and multi-analytical study aims to provide an improved understanding of reported adverse health effects induced by railway system aerosols.     

Modelling size effect on rock aggregates strength using a DEM bonded-cell model

Empirical evidence has shown that particle breakage affects the mechanical behaviour of granular materials. The source of this mechanism takes place at the particle scale, and the main consequence on the macromechanical behaviour is increasing compressibility. Due to the inverse correlation between particle size and particle crushing strength, coarse rockfill materials are particularly vulnerable to mechanical degradation due to particle breakage. However, such coarse materials do not fit in standard laboratory devices, and the alternative of large sample testing is usually unavailable or too expensive. Alternatively, recent works have proposed multi-scale approaches using the discrete element method (DEM) to carry out numerical testing of coarse crushable materials, although few studies have focused on size effects. This article presents the application of a DEM bonded-cell model to study particle size-strength correlation on angular rock aggregates. Each particle is modelled by a cluster of perfectly rigid polyhedral cells with Mohr–Coulomb contact law. Constant cell density within particles implies that the presence of potential fragmentation planes increases with size. Therefore, particle strength decreases with size. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was carried out through 1477 particle crushing simulations in a given particle size. Based on published experimental data on calcareous rock aggregates, part of the simulations were used for calibration, and 97 additional simulations of a coarser size fraction were performed for validation. The results show a good agreement with the empirical data in terms of size effect and data scatter through Weibull statistics.

     

天山北缘河流阶地形成及构造变形定量分析

新生代以来,北天山山前发育了3排冲断褶皱带。新生代晚期一系列河流普遍穿过这3排冲断褶皱带并发育了三级河流阶地。在最新构造活动的影响下,河流阶地普遍发生变形,遭受抬升。利用光释光及14C年代学方法确定了塔西河三级阶地的形成年龄,并实际测量了三级阶地的高程。结果表明吐谷鲁背斜的构造抬升速率在32．85-28．75 ka问为9．50-12．57 mm／a,12-13 ka间为9．67-14．5 mm／a,全新世则增至10．79-23．44mm／a,天山基底的平均隆升速率达到3．39-3．86mm／a。通过对天山最高一级夷平面、野外实测侏罗纪地层高程及天山发育的煤层的相对隆升速率的研究则表明天山自24 Ma以来平均的隆升速率约为0．085-0．146 mm／a。结合对北天山其他主要河流阶地的观察及研究可以看出自晚更新世一全新世以来,天山北缘的最新构造活动具有不断加快的特征。     

十红滩地浸砂岩铀矿层间氧化带蚀变矿物群

十红滩砂岩型铀矿床是我国大型层间氧化带型砂岩铀矿床之一。层间氧化带型砂岩铀矿含矿砂层在含氧含铀水的渗入径流过程中,由于水介质性状的变化,在与砂体发生水岩作用时形成了完全氧化带、不完全氧化带、还原带和原生带等不同地球化学亚带及其相对应的蚀变矿物群,即完全氧化带为褐铁矿(针铁矿、水针铁矿)、伊利石、蒙脱石、少量黄钾铁矾的蚀变矿物群;不完全氧化带为褐铁矿(针铁矿、水针铁矿)、黄钾铁矾、蒙脱石、伊利石、少量绿泥石、高岭石的蚀变矿物群;还原带为沥青铀矿、黄铁矿、高岭石、绿泥石、少量蒙脱石、伊蒙混层粘土、伊利石和碳酸盐等新生蚀变矿物群;原生带的新生蚀变矿物群以黄铁矿、绿泥石、高岭石为主,有时出现少量碳酸盐、蒙脱石和伊利石等。     

新疆萨吾尔地区两类花岗岩Nd、Sr、Pb、O同位素特征

新疆西准噶尔萨吾尔地区森塔斯岩体和沃肯萨拉岩体为I型花岗岩,侵入于早石炭世末,具有偏碱性特点,形成于后碰撞阶段的伸展期或挤压—伸展转变期;阔依塔斯岩体和恰其海岩体为A2型花岗岩,侵入于早二叠世初,形成于后碰撞阶段伸展期张性构造环境中。I型花岗岩和A型花岗岩的Nd、Sr、Pb同位素特征相似,显示出幔源特征,它们是同源岩浆不同演化阶段的产物。两类花岗岩在O同位素以及稀土元素特征上存在明显差异。西准噶尔萨吾尔地区I型花岗岩(森塔斯岩体和沃肯萨拉岩体)以及A型花岗岩(阔依塔斯岩体和恰其海岩体)的发育,进一步证实了晚古生代区内地壳的垂向增生作用。对比研究表明,可以将西准噶尔萨吾尔地区的A型花岗岩归入东准噶尔乌伦古富碱火成岩带。     

云南楚雄盆地上三叠统沉积及地球化学的海相特征

楚雄盆地为中生代形成的典型前陆盆地。三叠纪是其形成的主体阶段和盆山转换的重要时期,也是由海相向陆相沉积环境的转折期,同时上三叠统是楚雄盆地最重要的油气资源层系。通过对楚雄盆地上三叠统进行系统的沉积学、层序地层学和波动地质学分析,在上三叠统识别出3个三级层序,建立了层序地层格架和高频波动曲线。对层序地层格架内的碳、氧同位素和微量元素的特征进行分析,发现楚雄盆地晚三叠世诺利晚期—瑞替期沉积具有海相沉积环境的地球化学特征,同时综合多学科的研究成果,指出楚雄盆地该时期为一与海域相接的近海湖盆,并受到间歇性海侵的影响。而海相烃源岩与陆相烃源岩在生烃能力、分布规律等方面均具有较大的差异。因此,这一认识对于重新评价楚雄盆地晚三叠世烃源岩具有重要意义。