Pleistocene fluvial sediments,palaeontology and archaeology of the upper River Thames at Latton,Wiltshire, England

Pleistocene fluvial sediments of the Northmoor Member of the Upper Thames Formation exposed at Latton, Wiltshire, record episodic deposition close to the Churn–Thames confluence possibly spanning the interval from Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 7 to 2. The sequence is dominated by gravel facies, indicating deposition by a high‐energy, gravel‐bed river. A number of fine‐grained organic sediment bodies within the sequence have yielded palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphical data from Mollusca, Coleoptera, vertebrates, pollen and plant macrofossils. The basal deposit (Facies Association A) contains faunal material indicating temperate conditions. Most of the palaeontological evidence including a distinctive small form of mammoth (Mammuthus cf. trogontherii), together with the U‐series age estimate of >147.4 ± 20 kyr suggest correlation with MIS 7. The overlying deposits (Facies Associations B and C) represent deposition under a range of climatic conditions. Two fine‐grained organic deposits occurred within Association B; one (Association Ba) in the northern part of the pit as a channel fill and the other (Association Bb) in its southern part as a scour‐fill deposit. The coleopteran assemblages from Ba, indicate that it accumulated under temperate oceanic conditions, while Bb, which also yielded a radiocarbon age estimate of 39 560 ± 780 ¹⁴C yr BP, was formed under much colder and more continental climatic conditions. The sequence is considered to represent deposition within an alluvial fan formed at the Churn–Thames confluence; a depositional scenario which may account for the juxtaposition of sediments and fossils of widely differing age within the same altitudinal range. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application and evaluation of multiple-centres ESR dating of Pliocene-Quaternary fluvial sediments: A case study from the Zhoulao core from the Jianghan Basin,middle Yangtze River basin,China

Multiple-centres electron spin resonance (MC-ESR) dating of quartz grains has been commonly applied to fluvial and lacustrine deposits and can provide a precise chronological framework for depositional histories. However, the reliability of this method for quartz grains obtained from sediments of boreholes, which are usually deposited continuously and record information regarding basin evolution and climate change, has not yet been assessed. In this study, we have initially applied the MC-ESR dating method to borehole sediments from the Zhoulao core (ZLC), located in the depocenter of the Jianghan Basin, middle Yangtze River, China. Dating of quartz grains from the ZLC using MC-ESR yields estimated ages that are generally consistent with the established paleomagnetic chronological framework. For Middle Pleistocene samples (i.e., 0.7–0.3 Ma), the Ti–Li centre provides more accurate ages than those of Al centre, which are overestimated. For Early Pleistocene samples (i.e., 2.3–0.8 Ma), both the Al centre and Ti–Li centre give highly consistent estimate ages, indicating that this is a favorable dating range for MC-ESR. Overall, the Al centre shows promise for dating Pliocene samples, whereas the Ti–Li centre is more suitable for Middle-Early Pleistocene (2.3–0.3 Ma) sediments. In addition, the deposition rate of depth ＜170 m in the ZLC is greater than those of depth ＞170 m sediments; however, the specific tectonic, climatic, or geomorphic mechanism for this change in sedimentation rate is still unclear.     

ESR chronology of the fluvial sequence of Cueva del Silo (Sierra de Atapuerca,Spain)

The Cueva del Silo is part of the lower karst level of the Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo karst system (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain), whose evolution has preserved an impressive archeo-paleoanthropological sequence since the Early Pleistocene. Cueva del Silo is remarkable for the presence of fluvial deposits that record the entry of the Arlanzón River water in the cave system, providing a key sequence to investigate the fluvio-karstic relationships that give rise to this endokarst system. In order to provide a chronological framework to these fluvial deposits, six sediment samples were dated by Electron Spin Resonance and 16 samples by paleomagnetism, collected from two outcrops: Galería de las Arenas and Sala del Caos. Our results provide maximum mean age of around 1600 ka and a minimum age of 916 ± 136 ka for the deposits in Sala del Caos. The younger date from Sala del Caos might represent the last fluvial input from Arlanzón River in the lower karst level. In contrast, ESR ages estimates of 1268 ± 133 ka and 1262 ± 108 ka were obtained for Galería de las Arenas sequence, which could indicate re-sedimentation processes from the intermediate karst level where similar ages were published. The annual dose might be wrongly assessed due to the re-sedimentation processes inside the karst, hence, ESR ages for these facies should be treated with extreme caution.     

New chronological constraints on the Plio-Pleistocene uplift of the Guizhou Plateau,SE margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The Guizhou Plateau represents a geomorphic transition between the Tibetan Plateau and the Yangtze River Plain. It likely formed in response to the propagation of surface uplift in southeastern Tibet during India-Eurasia continental collision. However, the uplift history of the region is unclear largely due to a lack of datable material. The bedrock geology is dominated by carbonate rocks, which contains numerous multi-level caves in the main river valleys that are linked to the river incision history. Cosmogenic ²⁶Al and ¹⁰Be burial dating of sediments in caves and river terraces from the northwestern and southern plateau reveals the fluvial chronology and provides the first direct determination of long-term river incision rates. The caves and terraces on the Liuchong River in NW Guizhou yield burial ages of between 0.41 ± 0.12 Ma and 2.85 ± 0.21 Ma, indicating an average incision rate of 57 ± 3 m/Ma. Four level caves at Libo in southern Guizhou yield burial ages of between 0.56 ± 0.16 Ma and 3.54 (+0.25/-0.22) Ma, indicating slightly slower incision rate (47 ± 5 m/Ma). These new results imply that the high elevation of the Guizhou Plateau had developed before the Late Pliocene, and that surface uplift during the Late Cenozoic was largely uniform across the region.     

Fluid-driven Hydrovolcanic Activity along Fracture Zones and near Seamounts: Evidence from Deep-sea Fe-rich Spherules,Central Indian Ocean Basin

An insight on occurrence of Fe-rich spherules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) provides an understanding of their distribution at a water depth of >5,000 m. In the present study, Fe-rich spherules are identified to occur in two different sediment types (i.e., siliceous and pelagic) and tectonic settings (i.e. near seamounts and fracture zones). These are single spheres or aggregates, of different sizes (63 to 390 μm) and show textural variability (smooth/quenched, brickwork, corkscrew, interlocking and dendritic). A comparative study based on physical morphology and chemical composition suggests a common mechanism of formation. The association of spherules with fracture zones (FZ) and seamounts signifies that morpho-tectonic features play an important role in fluid-driven hydrovolcanism. Based on the evidence and geologic conditions existing in the basin, we conclude that molten fuel-coolant interaction (MFCI) coupled with submarine hydrothermal exhalations could be an ideal mechanism for the formation of spherules and Fe-particles. The accretion of the spherules on the surface sediments could be a result of recent volcanic phenomena, while those occurring at different depths (280–355, and 460–475 cm-bsf) within the sediment core indicate two different episodes. The study provides a global implication in understanding fluid-driven magmatism in a deep-sea intraplate environment.     

刘家峡水库表层沉积物微量元素地球化学特征

采用多元统计的方法对刘家峡水库表层沉积物中25种微量元素的含量、相关性、来源及控制因素进行了分析。结果显示:研究区表层沉积物中Sr、Zn、Zr和Ba的含量平均值超过了170μg/g,Cd、Mo和Tl的含量平均值都在1μg/g以下,其它元素含量平均值则在2. 01~104. 34μg/g。元素Cu、V、Co、Cr、Ni、Rb、Li、Cd、Be、Pb、Sc、As、Ga、Nb、Sn、Cs、Tl、Th和Al2O3等存在较为明显的相关性,且它们分布规律基本相似。因子分析表明,水库中微量元素分为3个主要来源,第一组分的元素分布受控于矿物岩石的自然风化剥蚀,其贡献率为63. 20%;第二组分的Zr和Ba主要受河流沉积物中元素的迁移和转化的影响,其贡献率为12. 51%;第三组分的Sr则主要受控于生物成因,其贡献率为9. 76%。另外,研究区重金属元素中,Zn和As含量远超过了全球页岩平均值,值得进一步的深入研究。     

藏南邛多江地堑的晚新生代沉积地层及对南北向裂谷形成时代的初步限定

邛多江地堑构成了藏南近南北向裂谷带最东侧的错那-沃卡裂谷中段,是由地堑西缘高角度正断层主控的半地堑式断陷盆地。详细的地质、地貌调查表明,该地堑内主要充填有晚新生代以来的多套河湖相、冰碛及冰水沉积地层。河湖相地层底部以黏土和粉砂为主,上部以砾石层为主,向上砾石砾径逐渐变大,顶部为早更新世冲积砾石层;冰碛主要发育于地堑中部山前地带,构成宽缓的冰碛台地或者终碛垄、侧碛堤。地层的测年结果表明,该区主要发育两套晚新生代河湖相地层,早期沉积时代早于5Ma,晚期为晚第四纪;而冰碛及冰水沉积的时代主要为中更新世。综合该区地质地貌、沉积和构造等分析结果表明,早期的河湖相沉积与盆地发生初始裂陷后的主边界正断层发生强烈垂直活动有关,而晚期的河湖相沉积主要形成于盆地后期萎缩过程中,成因可能与中更新世以来的冰川堰塞湖有关。由于邛多江地堑受控于西侧主边界正断层,早期沉积应晚于其初始裂陷时代。因此,进一步综合现有年龄数据资料认为,藏南近南北裂谷的初始裂陷时代应早于5~10Ma,但晚于约15Ma。     

渤海沉积物中甲烷氧化速率及同位素分馏规律研究

渤海蕴藏着大量的油气资源,其主要成分是温室气体甲烷,自然环境下或人为因素的影响会引起其泄露与迁移,对环境造成负面的影响。但是,泄露与迁移过程中微生物会氧化绝大部分甲烷,而不同的环境条件会影响氧化过程中的速率及碳同位素分馏过程。为了更好地认识渤海沉积物中甲烷氧化规律和同位素分馏规律以及为进一步研究此区域的甲烷氧化提供参考,本文选取渤海沉积物作为进行实验室模拟降解实验原料,借助气相色谱和气相色谱-同位素比值质谱仪测定渤海沉积物中的甲烷氧化速率,确定了甲烷氧化碳同位素分馏系数ε。结果表明:渤海沉积物中甲烷氧化作用以好氧氧化占主导,氧化温度和气体流速是影响甲烷氧化速率的主要因素。在连续培养的模式下,当温度由28℃降至15℃时,甲烷的平均氧化速率降低60%±10%,即温度越低越不利于甲烷氧化作用的发生。而气体流速由50μL/min增加至150μL/min时,甲烷的平均氧化速率增加90%±10%,即增加气体流速有利于氧化反应速率的提高。实验还发现,甲烷碳、氢同位素的分馏效应主要受氧化温度制约,分馏程度与温度呈正相关。实验结论认为温度是影响甲烷氧化速率和同位素分馏规律的重要因素。