Late Pleistocene–Holocene seismic stratigraphy of Nha Trang shelf,central Vietnam

The late Pleistocene–Holocene stratigraphic architecture on the steep and narrow shelf off Nha Trang, central Vietnam has been explored by high resolution seismic profiles integrated with sediment core data. Sequence stratigraphic results reveal five major seismic units and three bounding surfaces which are composed of two distinctive sequences. Those sequences are bounded by two regional unconformities (SB1, SB2) which have been formed in respond to different sea-level regimes. The revealed relict beach–ridge deposits at water depth of about ∼130 m below the present water depth indicate that the Last Glacial Lowstand (LGM) sea-level in this area was lower than in neighboring areas and it probably resulted from subsidence due to high sedimentation rate and/or neotectonic movements of the East Vietnam Fault System. The late Pleistocene high amplitude of sea-level change during a long fourth-order and superimposed by shorter fifth-order cycle is the principal factor in reorganizing the formation of the Nha Trang continental shelf sequence. Other local controlling factors as fluctuations in sediment supply, morphological variations of the LGM surface, subsidence rate and hydrodynamic conditions provided the distinctive features of the Nha Trang shelf sequence stratigraphic model in comparison with neighboring other areas.     

贵州晴隆中二叠统大厂层砾岩成因研究

贵州晴隆中二叠统大厂层中—上部产出一套呈囊状、透镜状分布的砾岩层。对大厂层砾岩沉积序列、结构、构造特征和矿物组合进行研究,结果表明:沉积序列为"反粒序",砾岩成分单一,基本为玄武质,是由峨眉山玄武岩直接改造而成,未发育河道相沉积特征;大厂层砾石具特殊的"泥化边"构造,是玄武岩在海水中大量水解的直接证据,填隙物中的青磐岩化矿物组合表明砾岩遭受了低温热液的改造。填隙物具有接近凝灰岩的Zr/Hf(30.7~43.4,均值38.0),揭示玄武岩在改造形成砾石的过程中有火山碎屑(火山灰)参与成岩;砾石和填隙物相对玄武岩贫Na(Na2O)富K(K2O),三者具有相似的稀土配分模式,其中∑REE呈规律性变化(玄武岩最高,砾石次之,填隙物中最低)。沉积背景分析认为,峨眉地幔柱作用使地壳发生了差异抬升,抬升一侧暴露遭受剥蚀形成不整合面,相对沉降一侧继续接受沉积,大厂层正是峨眉山玄武岩前锋带在局限海盆边缘(沉降侧),于茅口灰岩之上继续沉积的产物。大厂层砾岩形成机制是:炽热玄武岩流在海水中急剧爆裂,同时火山碎屑参与沉积,形成的玄武岩前积层(淬碎熔岩角砾)及凝灰岩,沉积在茅口组灰岩之上;在后期的演化过程中,炽热玄武岩冷凝收缩,柱状节理发育,在潮汐流和沿岸流的相互作用下不断磨蚀形成大厂层砾岩。     

Chemical and physical properties affecting strontium distribution coefficients of surficial-sediment samples at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho

 The U.S. Geological Survey and Idaho State University, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted a study to determine strontium distribution coefficients (K_ds) of surficial sediments at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Batch experiments using synthesized aqueous solutions were used to determine K_ds, which describe the distribution of a solute between the solution and solid phase, of 20 surficial-sediment samples from the INEEL. The K_ds for the 20 surficial-sediment samples ranged from 36 to 275 ml/g. Many properties of both the synthesized aqueous solutions and sediments used in the experiments also were determined. Solution properties determined were initial and equilibrium concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and strontium, pH and specific conductance, and initial concentrations of potassium and sodium. Sediment properties determined were grain-size distribution, bulk mineralogy, whole-rock major-oxide and strontium and barium concentrations, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area. Solution and sediment properties were correlated with strontium K_ds of the 20 surficial sediments using Pearson correlation coefficients. Solution properties with the strongest correlations with strontium K_ds were equilibrium pH and equilibrium calcium concentration correlation coefficients, 0.6598 and –0.6518, respectively. Sediment properties with the strongest correlations with strontium K_ds were manganese oxide (MnO), BET surface area, and the >4.75-mm-grain-size fraction correlation coefficients, 0.7054, 0.7022, and –0.6660, respectively. Effects of solution properties on strontium K_ds were interpreted as being due to competition among similarly charged and sized cations in solution for strontium-sorption sites; effects of sediment properties on strontium K_ds were interpreted as being surface-area related. Multivariate analyses of these solution and sediment properties resulted in r² values of 0.8071 when all five properties were used and 0.8043 when three properties, equilibrium pH, MnO, and BET surface area, were used. Received: 30 November 1998 · Accepted: 16 February 1999     

Invisible face of COVID-19 pandemic on the freshwater environment: An impact assessment on the sediment quality of a cross boundary river basin in Turkey

In the current research,the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown period on sediment quality of the MericErgene River Basin was evaluated by determining the potentially toxic elements（PTEs） in sediment samples collected from 25 sampling points in the basin.Also some important ecological indicators including potential ecological risk index（PERI）,contamination factor（CF）,pollution load index（PLI）,biological risk index（BRI）,and geo-accumulation index(I_geo) and some important statistical indica...     

Historical variations in autochthonous and allochthonous sediment supplies to the largest freshwater lake in Central India

Lacustrine sediment preserves high-resolution biogeochemical records of past variations in watershed processes controlling lake sedimentation. The current study explores historical variations in autochthonous and allochthonous sediment supplies to a large tropical freshwater lake system (Upper Lake, Bhopal) protected under the international Ramsar Convention of 2002 against anthropogenic pressures. For this purpose, multi-proxy biogeochemical data are presented for organic matter (total organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorous, and loss on ignition [LOI] at 550 °C), carbonate (LOI at 950 °C), lithic sediment (aluminum, titanium, iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, manganese, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, thorium, uranium, and rare earth elements), and anthropogenic inputs (lead) measured in a 38 cm long sediment core retrieved from the lake. In addition to the lacustrine sediment core, the samples of catchment bedrock, surface soils, major stream sediment, and eolian dust collected from the lake periphery also are analyzed. The systematic biogeochemical excursions in the upper core section (top ～8 cm) indicate increased anthropogenic inputs, watershed denudation by agricultural activities, artificially reduced fluvial sediment supply, relatively increased dust inputs and lake eutrophication in the last few decades. The current study underscores the roles of anthropogenic land-use and wetland conservation practices in the rapid alteration of autochthonous and allochthonous sediment supplies to open aquatic ecosystems. Further, rising lake eutrophication levels despite a managed reduction in allochthonous sediment supplies seem challenging to control due to dissolved nutrient supply from urban sewage discharge and runoff from agricultural land in the watershed.     

Impacts of land use and land cover changes on hydrological processes and sediment yield determined using the SWAT model

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes strongly affect local hydrology and sediment yields.The current study focused on a basin in the Brazilian Amazon and had the following three objectives:(1) to perform an effective diagnosis of flow and sediment yield,(2) to evaluate the impacts of LULC changes over the last 40 years on the hydro-sedimentological variables,and (3) to investigate the impacts of the possible trends or breaking points in the flow,surface runoff,and sediment yield series.The Soi...     

Luminescence and ESR dating of the sedimentary infill from the multi-level cave system of Alkerdi-Zelaieta (Navarre,N Spain)

The finding of Upper Paleolithic engravings in 2016 triggered a multidisciplinary investigation of the Alkerdi cave system (Urdazubi, N Spain). The study of the speleogenetic processes led to the identification of at least 6 paragenetic cave levels with associated sedimentary infill. In order to unravel the timing of changes in the karst dynamics and to get some insights about sediment origin, two sediment samples were collected from cave levels 4 and 1 for numerical dating purpose, using both Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) methods. One additional modern-age sample was also taken from the entrance of the karst to evaluate the magnitude of the optical bleaching achieved by the quartz grains before entering the cave system. Last, one sample was collected from a flowstone for U-series dating, providing independent age control.OSL measurements were carried out using small quartz multi-grain (MG) and single-grain (SG) Single Aliquot Regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. Initial Equivalent Dose (D_e) results show evidence of saturated OSL signal for the sample of the higher level (with ∼60% of saturated aliquots). Unlike SA data, SG analyses do not meet the usual quality criteria (e.g., relatively high recuperation ratios, only a few grains with useable signal), suggesting that corresponding dating results should be treated with caution.Hence, both MG and SG TT-OSL and MG ESR methods were subsequently employed, as the corresponding signals are known to have higher saturation levels than OSL ones. ESR analyses were based on the Multiple Centre (MC) approach using the standard multi-grain multi-aliquot additive (MAA) dose method, while TT-OSL measurements were performed following Demuro et al. (2020). The latter, however, did not return any useful results for both samples. MC ESR data show the usual D_e pattern (D_e(Al)>D_e(Ti op. D)>D_e(Ti–H)) indicating that among the three ESR signals analyzed, the Ti–H most likely provides the closest estimate to the true burial age. However, low measurement repeatability and goodness-of-of fit indicate that the reliability of the ESR results may be reasonably questioned.Results derived from this multi-technique dating approach provide the first chronological constraints for the sedimentary infill of the Alkerdi cave system. In particular, they suggest that sediment deposition in Cave Level 4 (ALK-OSL01) occurred around 130 ka, which is in good agreement with the minimum age constraint given by the speleothem (80.5 ± 9.0 ka). In comparison, the young age obtained for sample ALK-OSL02 (5.0 ± 0.9 ka) suggests recent Holocene formation of the lowest cave level 1.Finally, the MG De value obtained for the modern sample is close to zero (<1 Gy), indicating that the OSL signal is almost fully reset at a multi-grain level before entering the cave. Additionally, despite the large De overdispersion measured in this modern sample, the De values are one to two order of magnitude lower than those obtained with the same model in the other two samples. Therefore, the large OSL D_e overdispersion (OD) values of up to 64% obtained for the two samples from Cave Level 4 and 1 are most likely related to re-sedimentation processes inside the cave system.     

Advances in Oxygenation Theory and Technology in Deep Lakes

Deep lakes always maintain vertical thermal stratification due to their physical structure. The thermocline prevents the transfer of oxygen from epilimnion to hypolimnion, leading to the formation of anoxic conditions in deeper water, the enhanced release of endogenous pollutants and the deterioration of water quality. Oxygenation is an effective measure to improve the water quality of deep lakes and mitigate the release of endogenous pollutants via the increase of the oxygen level in water. This paper provided an overview of the method and theory of oxygenation in deep lakes. Advantages and limitations of different methods of oxygenation, including artificial destratification, airlift aerators, Speece cone and bubble plume diffusers, were discussed. In addition, challenges and prospects of oxygenation were assessed based on the analyzing of typical examples of oxygenation in deep lakes and the difference in oxygenation system used in deep lakes and shallow lakes.     

A GIS-based approach for detecting pollution sources and bioavailability of metals in coastal and marine sediments of Chabahar Bay,SE Iran

Chabahar Bay in SE of Iran is a shallow semi-enclosed environment affected by anthropogenic activities. In this paper, 19 sediment samples were collected and concentration of selected metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, V and Fe) was determined using ICP-MS analytical method. Sediment samples from five stations were also selected for sequential extraction analysis and concentration of metals in each fraction was determined using ICP-OES. In order to investigate the environmental quality of Chabahar Bay, geographic information system (GIS) along with geochemical data, environmental indices and statistical analyses were used. Calculated contamination degree (C_d) revealed that most contaminated stations (Ch3, S1 and S3) are located SE of Chabahar Bay and contamination decreases in a NW direction. The S9 station, west of the bay, is also contaminated. High organic matter (OM) content in the sediments is most likely the result of fuel and sewage discharge from fishing vessels along with discharge of fishing leftovers. Significant correlation coefficient among OM, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd seemingly reflects the importance of the role that OM and Fe oxy-hydroxides play in the metals mobility. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), computed correlation coefficient and sequential extraction analysis suggest that Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd probably come from antifouling and sea vessel paints, while Ni, Cr, Co, V and Fe are most likely contributed by ophiolitic formations located north of the bay and/or deep sea sediments. Average individual contamination factors (ICFs) indicated that the highest health hazard from the bay is posed by Cu, Pb and Zn.     

Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to northwestern Saskatchewan lakes east of the Athabasca oil sands

The past several decades have witnessed a significant expansion of mining activities in the Athabasca oil sands region, raising concerns about their impact on the surrounding boreal forest ecosystem. To better understand the extent to which distal sites are impacted by oil sands-derived airborne contaminants, we examine sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments and dated sediment cores from Saskatchewan lakes situated ∼100–220 km east–northeast of the main area of bitumen mining activities. The concentrations and fluxes of both parent and alkylated PAHs are low and show considerable variability over the past 70–100 years. Small yet discernible increases in PAH concentrations and fluxes occurred over the past 30 years, a trend which coincides with the rapid growth in bitumen production. However, several lines of evidence point to wildfires as the principal source of PAHs to these lakes: (1) the significant co-variations in most cores between retene (1-methyl-7-isopropyl phenanthrene) and other groups of parent and alkylated PAHs, (2) the similarity in compound specific δ¹³C signatures of the parent PAHs phenanthrene and pyrene in recently deposited surficial sediments and those corresponding to time intervals considerably pre-dating the large scale development of the oil sands and (3) the discernible up-core increases in the proportion of refractory carbon (i.e., char) in Rock-Eval 6 data. The collective evidence points to softwood combustion from boreal forest fires as the principal source of retene in sediments and the general increase in forest fire activity in this region over the past several decades as the source of refractory carbon. Mining activities associated with the Athabasca oil sands are thus not considered a major source of PAHs to these lakes.