Unveiling buried aeolian landscapes: reconstructing a late Holocene dune environment using 3D ground-penetrating radar

Across the UK, sandy beaches and dunes protect coastal infrastructure from waves and extreme water levels during large-scale storms, while providing important habitats and recreational opportunities. Understanding their long-term evolution is vital in managing their condition in a changing climate. Recently, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods have grown in popularity in geomorphological applications, yielding centimetre-scale resolution images of near-surface stratigraphy and structure, thus allowing landscape evolution to be reconstructed. Additionally, abrupt changes in palaeo-environments can be visualized in three dimensions. Although often complemented by core data, GPR allows interpretations to be extended into areas with minimal ground-truth control. Nonetheless, GPR data interpretation can be non-intuitive and ambiguous, and radargrams may not initially resemble the expected subsurface geometry. Interpretation can be made yet more onerous when handling the large 3D data volumes that are facilitated with modern GPR technology. Here we describe the development of novel semi-automated GPR feature-extraction tools, based on ‘edge detection’ and ‘thresholding’ methods, which detect regions of increased GPR reflectivity which can be applied to aid in the reconstruction of a range Quaternary landscapes. Since reflectivity can be related to lithological and/or pore fluid changes, the 3D architecture of the palaeo-landscape can be reconstructed from the features extracted from a geophysical dataset. We present 500 MHz GPR data collected over a buried Holocene coastal dune system in North Wales, UK, now reclaimed for use as an airfield. Core data from the site, reaching a maximum depth 2 m, suggest rapid vertical changes from sand to silty-organic units, and GPR profiles suggest similar lateral complexity. By applying thresholding methods to GPR depth slices, these lateral complexities are effectively and automatically mapped. Furthermore, automatic extraction of the local reflection power yields a strong correlation with the depth variation of organic content, suggesting it is a cause of reflectivity contrast. GPR-interpolated analyses away from core control thus offer a powerful proxy for parameters derived from invasive core logging. The GPR data collected at Llanbedr airfield highlight a complex dune system to a depth of 2.8 m, probably deposited in several phases over ~700 years, similar to elsewhere in North Wales.     

基于颗粒识别分析系统的碎屑流堆积物颗粒识别和统计方法研究

碎屑流堆积物颗粒识别和统计是碎屑流灾害的研究重点。文章基于图像处理孔隙（颗粒）及裂隙图像识别与分析系统（PCAS）,以贵州纳雍普洒村崩塌-碎屑流为例,结合纳雍崩塌堆积物粒径实测结果,通过阐释识别过程中阈值、孔喉封闭半径、最小孔隙面积的参数意义,研究PCAS软件在碎屑流颗粒识别与统计中的应用,并提出了颗粒识别时这些参数的选取方法。分析结果表明:（1）PCAS能自动准确地识别碎屑流堆积物颗粒与孔隙,相比人工计数更精细,所识别堆积物各区小颗粒比重较大,0～2 m颗粒粒径各区占比都在50%以上;（2）当阈值为170（像素）时能获得精细的二值图像,颗粒与孔隙得到了准确地区分;（3）不同参数取值下获得堆积物颗粒粒径分布结果不同,碎屑流堆积物颗粒识别宜采用较大的孔喉封闭半径和较小孔隙面积,当二者比值为3/30（像素）时能更好地反应颗粒粒径分布情况;（4）PCAS具有较高的可行性,统计结果显示,各粒径含量变化趋势与人工统计相近,两种统计方法各粒径占比、分布规律基本吻合,说明利用PCAS可以实现对崩塌碎屑流颗粒粒径分布的高效便捷分析。     

四川旺苍大河坝浅变质岩型石墨矿床地球化学特征与成因分析

大河坝石墨矿是川北米仓山南缘石墨矿带新发现的大型显晶质石墨矿床。研究了该矿床的地质特征和矿石主量、微量及稀土元素地球化学特征,结果表明:含矿岩层为副变质岩,矿区石墨矿体原岩沉积于缺氧的还原环境,原岩为一套含碳质黏土质细—粉砂岩及含碳质泥灰岩组合。微量元素特征指示矿体原岩由近海陆源碎屑物沉积形成,沉积水体主要为盐度较低的、混合不均匀的淡水—半咸水。矿石ΣREE平均值为150×10^-6,与泥灰岩相近;δCe值平均为0.91,呈弱负异常,δEu值平均为0.67,呈负异常,具滨海潮坪相沉积特征。含矿岩石δ¹³C值为-21.4‰~-19.0‰,平均为-19.86‰,表明成矿碳质来源主要为有机碳,并混合了部分无机碳。矿床成因类型为沉积变质型,其变质作用可能包括多次区域变质作用并叠加了混合岩化作用。     

A Comparative Study of the Coal‐forming Characteristics of Marginal Sea Basins and Epicontinental Sea Basins

The coal-forming characteristics,as well as the similarities and differences between epicontinental sea basins and continental marginal sea basins developed during different time periods,were analyzed in this study by adopting comparative analysis thoughts and methods.The results obtained in this study revealed that epicontinental basins and marginal sea basins are both characterized by the main development of thin coal seams or extremely thin coal seams.In addition,changes in sea levels were determined to be the main controlling factors for coal formation,and there were similarities in the continent-sea interactions and coal-forming sedimentary systems of the different basins.However,there were also significant differences observed in the sea level change events,basin basement structural characteristics,coal seam stability levels,accumulation and aggregation characteristics,and the migration patterns of coal-forming materials.For example,the marginal sea basins in the South China Sea were found to be characterized by strong tectonic activities,diversity and complexity.The basin structures showed complex patterns of depressions,uplifts and concave or sag uplifts,which tended to lead to greater complexity in the paleogeographic patterns of the coal formations.This had subsequently resulted in complex coal-forming processes and paleogeographic characteristics,in which the coal-forming zones displayed bead-like distributions,and the enrichment areas and centers were scattered.The practical significance of studying the similarities and differences of the coal-forming characteristics between epicontinental basins and marginal sea basins is that the results can potentially be used to guide the predictions of coal-measure coal seam distributions in South China Sea,as well as provide valuable guidance for future explorations of natural gas reservoirs related to coal measures in the South China Sea area.     

The U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotope Compositions of Detrital Zircons from the Nanhua Group of the Longsheng Region, South China and their Implications for Pan-African Events

It is unclear whether the South China blocks have an affinity with continental Gondwana due to a lack of direct Pan-African magmatic and metamorphic features. In this study, we conducted U-Pb geochronological and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses for detrital zircons from a sandstone of the Chang’an Formation of the Nanhua Group in the Longsheng region of northern Guangxi, with the aim of constraining the timing of sedimentation and information as to its source, as well as seeking evidence for Pan-African events in the South China blocks. The results show that the ages of detrital zircons peaked at 654.7 ± 6.2 Ma, 773.2 ± 4.1 Ma and 821.9 ± 6.5 Ma, with some at 920–870 Ma; the youngest age indicates the existence of the Pan-African thermal event. The εHf(t) and TDM2 values demonstrate that the study area has experienced three stages of crustal growth at 3.0–2.4 Ga, 2.1–1.5 Ga and 1.3–0.9 Ga. With intensively distributed Neoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic and granitic plutons emplaced at 830–810 Ma along the southwestern section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and positive εHf(t) values from a large group of zircon grains, it is proposed that the sediments of the Chang’an Formation (of Nanhua Group) were largely sourced from the southeastern margin of the Yangtze block. Comparison with the zircon age spectra of the Cathaysian block shows that about 79% of the Pan-African aged detrital zircon grains that have TDM2 = 1352–1031 Ma and εHf(t) = 3.68–8.79, were sourced from the recycled Grenvillian crust of the Cathaysian block, suggesting that the Cathaysian block had a close connection with Gondwana.     

黑龙江省浅覆盖区地物化特征与找矿标志——以黑河市340高地金矿化区为例

黑龙江省黑河市340高地金矿点大地构造上位于兴安地块东北缘,多宝山Cu-Au-Mo-W-Fe成矿亚带内,其地貌为浅覆盖区,找矿较为困难。本文采用浅钻技术取样,对研究区进行基岩填图,圈定出以硅化为中心、青磐岩化为外围的蚀变矿化带。对基岩样品进行岩石地球化学分析,通过主成分分析,确定有6个主成分特征值大于1,其中第二主成分与金元素关系密切,是研究区有效的找矿标志。高精度磁测结果显示区内构造以NNW向为主,且其线性低值异常或与蚀变引起的退磁有关。对区内的地物化异常进行工程查证,发现金矿点1处,圈定预测靶区1处。     

气候变化与人类活动对石家庄市藁城区地下水位埋深的影响分析

为了探寻石家庄市藁城区地下水埋深动态变化规律,以藁城区2001—2018年的年降水量、地下水人工开采量等数据为基础,对藁城区地下水位埋深进行研究。首先采用P-Ⅲ型曲线法确定降水序列的丰、平、枯年份,分析不同降水量情况下地下水位埋深变化规律;其次,利用地下水开采潜力系数法和灰色关联度法对人工开采量和地下水位埋深的关系进行研究。结果表明：1）藁城区地下水位埋深在2001—2016年逐渐增大,在2016—2018年趋于减小,2016年为转折点;在空间上藁城区地下水位埋深呈现出北部埋深小、南部埋深大的特征,北部水位埋深较同期南部水位埋深要浅5~10 m。2）降水是驱动藁城区地下水位埋深变化的重要因素,枯水年水位埋深变幅在0.8~1.5 m之间,平水年水位埋深变幅在0.3~1.2 m之间,丰水年水位埋深变幅在0.3~1.1 m之间。主灌期（3—6月）的地下水位埋深增加速率均为cm/d级,非主灌期（7—10月）的地下水位埋深减少速率均为mm/d级。3）人工开采是驱动藁城区地下水位埋深变化的主导因素,其中农业开采量占人工开采量的80%。综上认为,藁城区一直处于严重超采状态,地下水累计超采量每增加1亿m³,地下水位埋深增加0.45 m。     

河北围场早白垩世鲎虫化石性双形现象研究

对产自河北围场下白垩统九佛堂组的65件鲎虫化石标本进行研究。根据其形态特征,认为这些鲎虫化石属于三角围场鲎虫（Weichangiops triangularisYang et Hong, 1980）。有观点认为,具有上肛板的鲎虫为冷水型鲎虫,而不具上肛板的鲎虫为暖水型鲎虫。河北围场采集的鲎虫化石有的具上肛板,有的不具上肛板,目前没有任何证据表明其为冷水型鲎虫与暖水型鲎虫混生的产物。通过研究,对三角围场鲎虫的特征进行了适当修正,认为围场地区的鲎虫化石具1对复眼,因此依据单个复眼而建立的新亚科——围场鲎虫亚科（Weichangiopsinae）不成立,应予以摒弃。三角围场鲎虫存在明显的性双形现象,雄性个体尾部具有上肛板,雌性个体不具有上肛板,这对于鲎虫化石分类研究具有重要的科学价值,可避免在生物分类时发生同物异名现象。     

射阳港近岸海域沉积物特征及冲淤趋势

海岸是陆地与海洋相互接触和影响的地带,通常指受波浪和潮汐等海洋动力作用的沿岸地带,同时也是人类社会经济发展的重要地带,大型人类工程往往会对其短期地貌变化和沉积物特征产生巨大影响。沉积物粒度分析是研究海洋沉积作用及过程的一个基础的、重要的方法,通过射阳港海岸动力地貌调查,研究了射阳港区不同时期的水下沉积物分布特征,将不同历史时期海图的等深线对海床冲淤变化进行对比分析,认为双导堤完工后导堤口区域出现了明显冲刷,导堤两侧出现淤积,沉积物颗粒变细,表明港口工程等局部影响因素会在短期内显著改变水动力地貌。     

广东韶关地区土壤环境背景值及其影响因素

土壤元素背景值是土壤环境现状研究的重要内容,查清土壤中元素的含量及分布特征,可为区域环境质量评价、土壤环境标准制定、土地资源优化以及地方性疾病的防治提供科学依据。对广东韶关地区3 969件表层土壤样品中54项元素(指标)进行了研究,并与中国土壤A层背景值及广东土壤A层背景值进行对比。结果表明：韶关地区土壤中聚集了与成矿作用密切相关的元素,并形成高背景场,Mo、I、Br、Ag等元素相对贫乏;成土母质是土壤环境背景值最重要的影响因素,不同母质的土壤元素背景值差异较大;土壤类型及土壤有机质含量对土壤环境背景值有一定的影响,总体来看,黄壤、黄红壤、石灰土为区内大部分元素高背景值土壤类型,红壤与潴育性水稻土的环境背景值大致与全区的背景值相当;赤红壤、紫色土中大部分元素背景值较低,有机质含量与土壤元素背景值呈正相关关系。