Recent environmental changes inferred from the sediments of small lakes in Yellowstone's northern range

Recent sediments of eight small lakes in the northern winter range of Yellowstone National Park were cored to examine stratigraphic records of past changes in limnology and local environment that might be attributed to grazing and other activities of elk, bison, and other large ungulates. Cores of undisturbed sediment were analyzed at close intervals to depths covering the last 100–150 years according to chronologies established by lead-210 dating. Pollen analyses were made to show change in regional vegetation, and diatom and geochemical analyses were made to reveal possible limnological changes resulting from soil erosion and nutrient input from the lake catchments.Variations in sedimentary components prior to establishment of the Park in 1872 indicate some natural variability in environmental factors e.g., erosional inputs in landslide areas west of Gardiner. All lakes had abundant nutrient inputs.After the Park was founded, fire suppression may have been responsible for small increases in pollen percentages of various conifers and Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) at different times in different lakes. Perceptible decreases in pollen of willow, aspen, alder, and birch at different times may reflect local ungulate browsing, although drier climatic conditions may have been a factor as well.The most striking manifestation of accelerated erosion in a catchment was found at a lake located beside a road constructed in the 1930s. In contrast to changes at this site, the record of erosion at other lakes is hardly perceptible. Changes in sediment-accumulation rates seen at most sites result from redistribution of sediment within the lake after initial deposition.In the century following Park establishment, the abundance of planktonic diatoms relative to benthic taxa varies among lakes and may reflect differential nutrient inputs or changes in lake level. Four of the five lakes analyzed for diatoms show in the last few decades an increase in planktonic relative to benthic species, implying elevated nutrient inputs. The recent flora, however, is similar to that in pre-Park levels which suggests that these lakes have not been perturbed outside their normal range. Increased nutrient supply in recent decades for at least two of the lakes is supported by the geochemical data, which show an increase in biogenic silica and in organic matter.As a whole, our investigation of the sedimentary record does not support the hypothesis that ungulate grazing has had a strong direct or indirect effect on the vegetation and soil stability in the lake catchments or on the water quality of the lakes.     

Postglacial history of a cedar swamp in southeastern Connecticut

Stratigraphic and palynologic analyses of sediment cores from a large mire, combined with geologic and hydrologic studies of its watershed, provide a late Quaternary record of environmental change at Cedar Swamp in southeastern Connecticut. Since deglaciation of the area, the basin has evolved from an open lake characterized by the rapid accumulation of allochthonous inorganic sediments to an ombrotrophic mire with peat accumulation keeping pace with the gradual rise in the water table. Lithostratigraphic, pollen, and chronologic evidence suggest that the long-term trend of basin infilling and paludification was interrupted by two intervals (14 000–13 000 and 8000–4700 yr B.P.) when the water table elevation dropped at least 1 m.     

Sequence stratigraphy of the upper Millstone Grit (Yeadonian,Namurian), North Wales

The upper Millstone Grit strata (Yeadonian, Namurian) of North Wales have been studied using sedimentological facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy. These strata comprise two cyclothems, each containing prodelta shales (Holywell Shale) that pass gradationally upwards into delta‐front and delta‐plain deposits (Gwespyr Sandstone Formation). The deltas formed in shallow water (<100 m), were fluvial‐dominated, had elongate and/or sheet geometries and are assigned to highstand systems tracts. Two delta complexes with distinctive sandstone petrographies are identified: (1) a southerly derived, quartzose delta complex sourced locally from the Wales‐Brabant Massif, and (2) a feldspathic delta complex fed by a regional source(s) to the north and/or west. The feldspathic delta complex extended further south in the younger cyclothem. A multistorey braided‐fluvial complex (Aqueduct Grit, c. 25 m thick) is assigned to a lowstand systems tract, and occupies an incised valley that was eroded into the highstand feldspathic delta complex in the younger cyclothem. A candidate incised valley cut into the highstand feldspathic delta complex in the older cyclothem is also tentatively identified. Transgressive systems tracts are thin (<5 m) and contain condensed fossiliferous shales (marine bands). The high‐resolution sequence stratigraphic framework interpreted for North Wales can be readily traced northwards into the Central Province Basin (‘Pennine Basin’), supporting the notion that high‐frequency, high‐magnitude sea‐level changes were the dominant control on stratigraphic architecture. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘本溪组-太原组层序地层特征

在垂向沉积序列、岩性组合、泥岩样品的地球化学测试、测井响应等综合研究的基础上,在鄂尔多斯盆地东缘本溪组-太原组中识别出区域不整合面、区域构造体制转换面、沉积体制转换面、海侵面等层序界面类型.本溪组-太原组形成于陆表海背景之下,陆表海基底平缓,层序结构大多为二元体系域结构,在构造变动、区域海平面下降及差异性压实作用等因素的控制下形成了以K1砂岩和桥头砂岩为代表的低位体系域河道下切充填.建立了区域层序地层格架以及陆表海背景下的缓坡盆地边缘Ⅰ型层序地层模式和陆表海背景下的缓坡Ⅱ型层序地层模式.     

辽西八道壕煤盆地含煤地层时代及聚煤规律分析

八道壕含煤盆地位于辽西的黑山一彰武地区,与阜新一义县盆地相邻,是阜新外围的一个重要含煤盆地。本文从生物地层和沉积学角度说明八道壕矿区的煤层属于早白垩世,可与阜新盆地的沙海组对比,在此基础上对八道壕矿区的地层层序及煤炭资源赋存的规律进行了研究,认为八道壕盆地的煤层可分为上下两个煤层组,下煤组形成于水下扇边缘．上煤组形成于扇三角洲覆水合适的地区。早期冲积扇自盆地西南注入湖盆,煤层发育在盆地北部,自西侧盆缘断裂前向东超覆,向南碎屑岩增多,煤层变薄尖灭。     

Weichselian sediments at Foss‐Eikeland,Jæren (southwest Norway): sea‐level changes and glaciation history

The Jæren area in southwestern Norway has experienced great changes in sea‐levels and sedimentary environments during the Weichselian, and some of these changes are recorded at Foss‐Eikeland. Four diamictons interbedded with glaciomarine and glaciofluvial sediments are exposed in a large gravel pit situated above the post‐glacial marine limit. The interpretation of these sediments has implications for the history of both the inland ice and the Norwegian Channel Ice Stream. During a Middle Weichselian interstadial, a large glaciofluvial delta prograded into a shallow marine environment along the coast of Jæren. A minor glacial advance deposited a gravelly diamicton, and a glaciomarine diamicton was deposited during a following marine transgression. This subsequently was reworked by grounded ice, forming a well‐defined boulder pavement. The boulder pavement is followed by glaciomarine clay with a lower, laminated part and an upper part of sandy clay. The laminated clay probably was deposited under sea‐ice, whereas more open glaciomarine conditions prevailed during deposition of the upper part. The clay is intersected by clastic dykes protruding from the overlying, late Weichselian till. Preconsolidation values from the marine clay suggest an ice thickness of at least 500 m during the last glacial phase. The large variations in sea‐level probably are a combined effect of eustasy and glacio‐isostatic changes caused by an inland ice sheet and an ice stream in the Norwegian Channel. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amino‐acid geochronology and the British Pleistocene: secure stratigraphical framework or a case of circular reasoning?

Aminostratigraphy is central to the recently revised correlation of Quaternary deposits in the British Isles, providing a link between terrestrial deposits and marine Oxygen Isotope Stages. The central tenet of British aminostratigraphy, however, that shells from the same interglacial yield very similar ratios, so that the characteristic ratios from different interglacials are distinct, remains uncertain. The data available suggest that amino‐acid ratios from different interglacials do not fall into discrete groups, but overlap considerably. It is therefore not valid to assign individual shells to Oxygen Isotope Stages simply on the basis of their amino‐acid ratios, which means that filtering data to remove high or low values, on the assumption that they represent reworked shells, is unacceptable. The range of ‘characteristic ratios’ assigned to British warm stages may have been underestimated and the degree of separation between them overestimated. Amino‐acid ratios should be treated as sample data that are naturally variable. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

POLLEN AND SPORE STRATIGRAPHY OF A MOLLIC HAPLUDALF (DEGRADED CHERNOZEM) IN NORTHEASTERN KANSAS

Palynological analyses were completed for the A and B horizons of a forested Mollic Hapludalf to determine type, amount, and distribution of pollen and spores within the soil solum. Hypotheses regarding the origin of pollen and the mechanisms of its movement within soil bodies are also advanced. Pollen downwash within the mineral soil seems to be very slow and confined to the uppermost porous and most homogenized part of the solum. The predominance of non-arboreal pollen at depth was believed to be a result of deposition with the loess parent material. High arboreal pollen frequencies in the upper horizons coupled with increases in non-arboreal types at depth indicate gradual ongoing mixing from the present vegetation into the soil.     

Palaeomagnetism and radiometric dating of the British Tertiary Igneous Province: Muck and Eigg

Summary. The lavas, dykes and other intrusive bodies of Muck and Eigg have been sampled for palaeomagnetic purposes. All the bodies are reversely magnetized except for four dykes of Muck which are normally magnetized. The lavas show variations of direction of magnetism believed to be a record of secular variation.
The radiometric dates support the geological evidence that the lavas of Eigg and Muck predate parts of the Rhum central igneous complex, the lavas of Rhum and Canna and some of those of Skye. The combined evidence shows that most of the activity took place during an R-N-R-N sequence between 63 and 58 Ma. The younger R-N sequence is the same as the first part of the R-N-R sequence found in Mull but the Sgurr pitchstone of Eigg and parts of the Eastern Redhills of Skye belong to later reversed intervals and correspond to Chron 26r and Chron 26. The igneous activity occurred over a 10 Myr period from about 63 Ma and can probably be associated with Chrons 27r to 23r of the Harland et al. time-scale.     

Glacial deposits at Wylfa Head,Anglesey, North Wales: Evidence for Late Devensian deposition in a non-marine environment

The nature and origin of glacial sediments at Wylfa Head are described, and their significance with regard to sedimentary environments during Late Devensian deglaciation of the Irish Sea Basin is discussed. Recent models of deglaciation under glaciomarine conditions are challenged. The Quaternary sequence at Wylfa consists of eroded and glaciotectonically deformed bedrock, locally derived lodgement till, calcareous silt-rich lodgement till containing northern erratics, discontinuous units of orange-brown silty sand of possible aeolian origin, and grey laminated freshwater silts filling a small kettle hole. The till units thicken to the south where the surface is drumlinised. It is concluded that the landforms and deposits result from a warm-based Irish Sea glacier, which moved towards the southwest. Spatial variation in basal water pressure resulted from localised drainage through zones of more heavily jointed bedrock. Rapid glacial erosion occurred in areas where subglacial water pressure was relatively high, while deposition of the resulting basal sediment took place where water pressures were reduced. The glacier also carried basal calcareous silty till onshore, which was deposited by lodgement processes. None of the deposits at Wylfa are interpreted as glaciomarine in origin, and there is no evidence at this site for an isostatically induced marine transgression prior to deglaciation.