OSL dating of individual quartz ‘supergrains’ from the Ancient Middle Palaeolithic site of Cuesta de la Bajada,Spain

Dose saturation represents a fundamental limitation for obtaining finite optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) quartz ages over Middle Pleistocene timescales. Single-grain OSL studies typically reveal significant intra- and inter-sample variability in quartz dose saturation properties at the individual grain level. This enhanced variability may offer the potential to obtain extended-range chronologies exceeding the traditional upper age limits of multiple-grain OSL dating. However, there have been relatively few detailed assessments of single-grain OSL properties over high dose ranges. In this study we investigate extended-range single-grain OSL dating potential at Cuesta de la Bajada, one of the most important Ancient Middle Palaeolithic sites in the Iberian Peninsula. The quartz samples from this site exhibit exceptional dose saturation properties and contain significant populations of individual ‘supergrains’ with bright OSL signals, very high characteristic saturation dose (D₀) limits of 200 to >600 Gy, and dose-response curves that closely conform to single saturating exponential functions. Assessments of OSL signal composition and the ability to successfully recover a known laboratory dose of 470 Gy support the potential for obtaining high equivalent dose (D_e) values with reasonable fitting uncertainties. A series of novel sensitivity tests are used to assess potential biases in supergrain D_e estimation over high dose ranges related to (i) thermally transferred signal contributions, (ii) choice of dose-response curve fitting function, and (iii) insufficient dose saturation properties of individual grains. The single-grain D_e values obtained using the standard quality assurance criteria and novel sensitivity tests are consistent at 2σ, and are in agreement with quartz Ti-centre ages obtained on two of three paired electron spin resonance (ESR) samples collected from Cuesta de la Bajada. These comparisons support the suitability of our single-grain OSL results and suggest there may be good potential for using quartz supergrains to establish extended-range chronologies at some Middle Pleistocene sites. Comparisons with other single-grain OSL studies across the Iberian central plains suggest that favourable dose saturation properties may be influenced by regional-scale geological controls. The importance of undertaking single-grain OSL dating at Cuesta de la Bajada is also demonstrated by the results of synthetic aliquot experiments, which reveal multiple-grain age offsets of 60–170 ka when unsuitable grain types are inadvertently included in the final age calculations. The single-grain OSL results indicate that the main archaeological horizon at Cuesta de la Bajada (unit CB3) accumulated between 264 ± 22 and 293 ± 24 ka. These ages are consistent with the chronologies of other key early Middle Palaeolithic sites in the region (Ambrona AS6 and Gran Dolina TD10) and indicate that the Ancient Middle Palaeolithic techno-complex likely spread across Iberia from at least Marine Isotope Stage 9 onwards.     

40Ar/39Ar and ESR/U-series dates for Guado San Nicola,Middle Pleistocene key site at the Lower/Middle Palaeolithic transition in Italy

The Middle Pleistocene archaeological site of Guado San Nicola was discovered in 2005 in a fossil fluvial terrace of the Volturno River, close to the village of Monteroduni, Molise, Italy. Palaeontological remains and lithic artefacts, including both handaxes and Levallois, discoid and opportunistic debitage, were recovered in fluvial and slope sediments rich in volcanoclastic materials. This site includes four distinct human occupation levels. In two of them both “shaping-façonnage” and “knapping-débitage” technologies are highlighted, placing this site at the Lower/Middle Palaeolithic transition.In the present study, geochronological analyses by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar on single-crystal and ESR/U-series on teeth were performed to precise the chronological framework of the occupations. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data obtained securely bracket the human occupation levels at the transition between the interglacial and glacial marine isotopic stages MIS 11 (i.e. 400 ± 9 ka) and MIS 10 (i.e. 345 ± 9ka). The weighted mean age obtained from ESR/U-series dating of six teeth (i.e. 364 ± 36 ka) is in very good agreement with the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar results. The radio-isotopic constraints we presented place the Guado San Nicola site as one of the earliest testimonies of Levallois debitage in Western Europe and confirm the potential and accuracy of paleo-dosimetric methods to date Middle Pleistocene sites.     

柴北缘盆地YQ-1井中侏罗统石门沟组泥页岩纳米孔隙特征及影响因素

柴达木北缘(柴北缘)盆地侏罗纪是典型的陆相湖沼盆地,是目前具有页岩气潜力的盆地之一。本文运用氮气吸附、有机碳含量、有机质成熟度、全岩X衍射分析等方法,对柴北缘鱼卡地区YQ - 1井中侏罗统石门沟组泥页岩的纳米孔隙特征及控制因素进行研究。结果表明,石门沟组泥页岩纳米孔隙结构复杂,根据吸附回线及孔径分布特征可划分为两类,第一类以一端不透气性孔和开放性平行板状狭缝孔为主,孔径主要集中在3～5 nm范围内,呈单峰状分布;第二类则以一端不透气性孔和开放性倾斜板狭缝孔为主,孔径主要分布在3～5 nm和8～14 nm范围内,呈双峰状分布。孔径小于50 nm的微孔和介孔是比表面积和孔体积的主要贡献者;黏土矿物含量与微孔、介孔、总孔体积呈正相关;在较低的成熟度制约下,泥页岩有机质孔隙基本不发育,有机质丰度较高的石门沟组上段H9泥页岩TOC含量与微孔、介孔、总孔体积呈负相关性,有机质丰度较差的下段H8泥页岩TOC含量与孔体积相关性则不甚明显;孔隙结构及孔径分布受沉积环境水动力条件影响;黏土矿物是石门沟组泥页岩纳米孔隙的主要提供者,是孔隙发育的主控因素,TOC含量与沉积环境也会对泥页岩孔隙发育产生一定影响。     

华北板块北缘中二叠统于家北沟组植物化石及其大地构造意义

通过对内蒙古赤峰市广兴源乡于家北沟组模式剖面植物化石和安山质晶屑岩屑凝灰岩锆石U-Pb同位素年代学的研究,结合动物化石的分析,确认于家北沟组地质时代为中二叠世。于家北沟组植物化石以Gigantonoclea hallei Asama、Fascipteris sinensis Stockm. et Math.、Pecopteris taiyuanensis Halle、Pterophyllum daihoense Kaw.等众多华夏植物群典型分子为特征,属于典型的华夏植物群。目前,在中二叠世植物群中,从未发现有华夏和安加拉两大植物群的混生现象,这一事实进一步表明,中二叠世横亘于华北板块和佳蒙地块之间的古亚洲洋尚未闭合,在植物地理分布上起着重要的阻隔作用。     

腾格里沙漠西北缘青土湖中更新世晚期以来沉积环境变迁

以腾格里沙漠西北缘青土湖钻孔ZK1为研究对象,通过对钻孔沉积物的光释光年代、粒度、磁化率等研究,揭示了该湖泊自中更新世晚期以来的环境变迁。研究结果表明：该地区中更新世晚期经历了干冷→暖湿两个阶段,晚更新世经历了湿暖→干冷两个阶段,与深海氧同位素的末次间冰期、末次冰期气候旋回特征吻合,全新世主要经历了干冷→暖湿的气候波动。反映了腾格里沙漠西北缘晚第四纪的气候波动变化特征,特别是为本区中更新世晚期以来的气候环境变化的研究提供了依据。     

四川盆地中二叠统茅口组米兰科维奇旋回及高频层序

四川盆地中二叠统茅口组形成于中二叠世中晚期。通过分析四川盆地中二叠统茅口组露头剖面岩性特征、对比广元上寺长江沟露头剖面碳氧同位素变化趋势与沉积层序发育特征,将茅口组划分为2个可全盆地追踪的Ⅱ型三级层序,并分析了茅口组三级层序的主控因素。在此基础上,对钻穿中二叠统茅口组典型井的自然伽马能谱测井曲线开展频谱分析,识别出多种具有米兰科维奇旋回特征的高频旋回,并计算出茅口组沉积的平均速率及沉积时限等相关参数。最后,采用数字滤波消除掉其他次要旋回因素的影响而仅保留与主控因素相关的旋回信息,建立茅口组的高频层序划分方案。结果表明,茅口组三级层序在形成过程中主要受控于构造升降及全球海平面变化;茅口组米兰科维奇旋回特征明显,其中长偏心率旋回(413.0 ka)和短偏心率旋回(123.0 ka)分别是形成四级层序(准层序组)和五级层序(准层序)的主控因素,与之对应的平均旋回厚度在龙17井区分别为13.44m和4.31m,在安平1井区分别为16.03m和4.68m;茅口组大约发育15个四级层序,其发育时限大约为6.11Ma;根据构造背景曲线和长偏心率旋回曲线的叠加曲线划分高频层序,其高频层序界面更加接近实际地层的发育情况。     

1644-2009年黄河中游旱涝序列重建与特征诊断

据清代各县级政区的历史沿革,及现存历史文献资料的详细程度,选取黄河中游18个代表站点,在提高空间分辨率的基础上,采用旱涝等级法与面积加权法重建了1644-2009年各站点旱涝等级序列。利用小波分析、累积距平、滑动t-检验等方法,检测了全区过去366年旱涝发生的周期、阶段性和突变点。结果显示:旱涝序列存在21年、70年、114年左右的多年代际尺度周期信号;1644-1683年、1737-1775年、1885-1921年为多雨期,1684-1736年、1776-1814年、1922-2001年为少雨期;目前黄河中游开始进入雨涝多发期;1815-1895年旱涝波动频繁,气候进入不稳定期;过去366年存在2个由干旱转为雨涝期的气候突变点,分别位于1723-1726和1814-1816年。     

旧石器时代至商周时期贵州遗址空间分布及其自然环境背景

根据对贵州230 处遗址的时空变化分析发现, 贵州旧石器时代遗址集中分布在中部、西北部和黔西南等喀斯特发育的高海拔区域。至新石器时代, 遗址仍集中分布在中部、西北部和黔西南地区, 但南部、东部等沿河地带和中西部的山间坝子开始有遗址分布。到商周时期, 遗址主要分布在沿河地带和山间坝子里。其中, 东部和南部海拔低于1000 m的地区遗址多分布在沿河地带, 而西部和北部海拔高于1000 m的地区遗址则分布在山间坝子。贵州位于亚热带湿润气候区, 气候环境的冷暖干湿波动对从事渔猎、采集及原始农业生产的古人类影响不大, 人类居住空间变化更多的与贵州特殊的自然地理背景有关, 特别是喀斯特地貌发育及适宜农业生产地方的空间差异, 对贵州旧石器至商周时期的遗址分布影响显著。旧石器时代人类以采集和渔猎为生, 临近水源的天然溶洞是人类居住的首选。随农业的出现和发展, 便于农耕的沿河地带和山间坝子成为人类的生活居住地。故新石器时代, 贵州先民居住呈现洞穴和河流阶地或山间坝子并存;至商周时期, 农业成为人类的主要经济生产方式, 人类主要居住在沿河地带和山间坝子里。     

白彦砾岩的形成时代及砾石组构特征分析

通过对白彦砾岩中孢粉取样鉴定及其砾石组构的统计研究,孢粉组合特征显示其形成时代为中侏罗世,并非通常认为的古近纪。砾石组构特征显示为湖滨相或海滨相成因,砾岩中金刚石特征显示出与蒙阴常马金刚石原生矿的相似性。综合分析认为,白彦砾岩形成于中侏罗世鲁西地区单断拉分盆地诞生之前,应为三台组沉积之前的沉积物。白彦砾岩沉积时代的确定,对恢复该区岩相古地理、确定金刚石原生矿的剥蚀与搬运等都具有重要意义。     

临清坳陷中二叠世古地理恢复

临清坳陷是一个中-新生代的断陷盆地,多期断层活动、多套生储盖组合、多种圈闭类型的地质条件,决定了临清坳陷可形成多类型的油气藏,具有良好的油气勘探前景。以临清坳陷中二叠世沉积地层为主要研究对象,观察钻井取心,详细分析测井标志,建立等时地层格架,基于等时地层格架进行古地理的恢复。研究表明,研究区共划分为2个层序,层序1为河控浅水三角洲环境,层序2过渡为内陆河流环境,对该区的勘探工作及勘探实践具有重要的理论和现实意义。