Luminescence dating of old (>70 ka) Chinese loess: A comparison of single-aliquot OSL and IRSL techniques

The applicability of two different approaches in the luminescence dating of old (>70 ka) Chinese loess is investigated. Both SAR-OSL ages obtained on 63–90 μm quartz grains and SAR-IRSL ages obtained on 4–11 μm polymineral grains, for samples collected from two sites in the Chinese Loess Plateau (Luochuan and Dongchuan) are presented. The characteristics of the luminescence signals stimulated by blue and infrared light are investigated in terms of dose response and dose recovery, and as a function of age. Additionally, anomalous fading measurements from the 410 nm IRSL emission in polymineral fine-grains are reported. An average value of g_2days amounting to 3% per decade was measured and seems to be independent of site location and age. For the samples from Luochuan, independent age control (pedostratigraphy and palaeomagnetism) is available. At both sites, the SAR-OSL ages are always lower than the SAR-IRSL ages after they have been corrected for anomalous fading. It seems that the quartz-based SAR-OSL ages are accurate for the younger ages, but that they underestimate the true age of deposition for loess that was deposited about 60–70 ka ago. The fading-corrected SAR-IRSL ages are in better agreement with the pedostratigraphic age control (75 and 130 ka) and allow dating beyond the quartz OSL range. Based on our results, we suggest that conventional SAR-OSL and SAR-IRSL protocols at these sites should be restricted to samples of ages not exceeding 40–50  and 100–120 ka, respectively.     

利用MODIS卫星资料对比反演兰州地区气溶胶光学厚度

Kaufman的暗像元方法是目前利用MODIS卫星资料反演气溶胶光学厚度的方法之一,但在获取可见光通道地表反射率时存在局限性。我们用一种对比方法进行了反演试验,研究了反演粒径较大的气溶胶光学厚度的可行性。用6S辐射传输模式模拟了两天的表观反射率差异对气溶胶光学厚度的敏感性;利用两天(“清洁日”和“污染日”)MODIS的红、蓝和近红外通道表观反射率资料,通过查算表反演了水面上空的气溶胶光学厚度和几何平均质量粒径;在此基础上反演了兰州地区气溶胶光学厚度的分布情况。反演结果与地面光度计观测作了比较,两者比较接近,说明反演方法是可行的。     

The albedo dichotomy of Iapetus measured at UV wavelengths

The dramatic hemispheric dichotomy in albedo displayed by Saturn's moon Iapetus has intrigued astronomers for centuries. Here we report on far-ultraviolet observations of Iapetus' bright and dark terrains from Cassini. We compare the reflectance spectra of Iapetus's dark terrain, Hyperion and Phoebe and find that both Phoebe and Hyperion are richer in water ice than Iapetus' dark terrain. Spectra of the lowest latitudes of the dark terrain display the diagnostic water ice absorption feature; water ice amounts increase within the dark material away from the apex (at 90° W longitude, the center of the dark leading hemisphere), consistent with thermal segregation of water ice. The water ice in the darkest, warmest low latitude regions is not expected to be stable and may be a sign of ongoing or recent emplacement of the dark material from an exogenic source.     

Spectral material mapping using hyperspectral imagery: a review of spectral matching and library search methods

Imaging spectroscopy is an emerging and versatile technique that finds applications in diverse fields concerned with remote identification, discrimination and mapping of materials. The large amount of spectral data produced by hyperspectral imaging necessitates the development of automated techniques that convert imagery directly into thematic maps. Spectral library search method, a method of choice for organic compound identification by the mass spectroscopy, has caught the attention of researchers as one of the appropriate methods for an efficient exploitation of high quality spectral data available from the hyperspectral imaging systems. Given the apparent increase in the number of papers appearing on the subject as well as the variety of methods proposed, it is reasonable to say that the field of automated interpretation of reflectance spectral data has passed its infancy now gaining important space in the scientific community. We present an overall view of the literature relevant to the development of library search method, the various search algorithms and systems available in the purview for developing an automated hyperspectral data analysis system for material identification.     

反射光谱技术:研究南极企鹅古生态演化的一种新方法

为探求快速、廉价、无损和同步的光谱技术在南极生态环境研究中的可能性,本文利用南极阿德雷岛的四根企鹅粪土沉积柱样品的反射光谱,通过逐步多元线性回归和主成分回归两种数学运算方法,建立了反射光谱数据与企鹅粪九种标型元素浓度之间的关系,并探讨了南极企鹅粪土沉积物光谱数据的古生态意义。结果表明:南极粪土沉积样品反射率光谱与企鹅粪九种标型元素(P、Ca、Cu、F、Ba、S、Zn、Sr、Se)含量之间存在良好的相关性,预测值与实测值之间的相关系数R都达到了0.9以上,在深度剖面上预测浓度与实测浓度具有非常一致的变化趋势;南极粪土沉积物光谱数据包含有明确的古生态变化信息,可利用主成分分析快速恢复历史时期企鹅数量演化过程。本研究结果为在偏远的南极地区开展古生态环境研究提供了一种新的快捷方法和技术途径。     

微量金化学光谱法标准系列配制及活性炭处理的改进

对微量金化学光谱法中活性炭自理及标准系列配制的方法进行了探索,改进了微量金化学光谱法活性炭处理及标准系列配制。将该法配制的标准系列应用于微量金化光谱测定,提高了分析结果的准确度。用标准试样分析及原子吸收（ＡＡＳ）法验证,结果与标准值及ＡＡＳ法相符。     

Ab-initio calculations of the proton location in topaz-OH,Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The position of hydrogen in the structure of topaz-OH was determined by means of ab-initio quantum-mechanic calculations. Static lattice energy calculations predict the existence of four non-equivalent positions of protons, which are characterized by O4–H1... O1, O4–H2... O2, O4–H3... O3 and O4–H4... O4 hydrogen bonds. The distribution of the protons between positions of local equilibrium is controlled by the proton–proton avoidance rule and the strength of the hydrogen bonds. The most favourable configuration of hydrogen atoms is achieved for adjacent protons, which form O4–H3... O3 and O4–H4... O4 hydrogen bonds, respectively. The thermal excitation of atoms at a temperature of 55 K is large enough for the hydrogen atoms occasionally to change their positions to form O4–H1... O1 and O4–H2... O2 bonds. At ambient pressures and higher temperatures the protons are in a dynamic exchange between the allowed positions of local minima. As a consequence, for nearly room-temperature conditions, the dynamic change between different structural configurations leads to the violation of all possible symmetry elements and with that to space group #E5/E5#1. The flipping of the protons between different sites is achieved by simple rotation of the OH-dipole and does not produce any significant distortion of the framework of topaz, whose symmetry remains that of the space group Pbnm. Therefore, no reduction of symmetry has been observed in former X-ray studies on topaz-OH. Calculated IR absorption spectra of topaz-OH were found to be in good agreement with measured spectra. According to the calculations, the two favourable configurations of protons might correspond to the measured peak splitting within the OH-stretching range. An experimentally observed low-frequency band at 3520 cm^–1 was assigned to the OH-stretching of the O4–H3... O3 bond, while the band at 3600 cm^–1 was attributed to OH-stretching of the O4–H4... O4 hydrogen bond. The broad peak in FAR-IR frequency range at 100–150 cm^–1 is attributed to the stretching of H3... O3 and H4... O4 contacts. The rate of proton exchange at 670 K among different sites was estimated by ab-inito molecular dynamic simulations. The calculations predict that flipping of adjacent protons between O4–H3... O3 and O4–H4... O4 bonds at 670 K occur at a rate of about 1.96 THz.     

The effect of thermal treatment on the 57Fe Mössbauer spectrum of beryl

Mössbauer spectra (MS) of blue, green and yellow beryl (ideally Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) containing approximately 1% of iron were obtained at 295 and 500 K. Room temperature (RT) spectra of both blue and green samples showed the presence of an asymmetric Fe²⁺ doublet (ΔE _Q~2.7 mm/s, δ~1.1 mm/s), with a very broad low-velocity peak. There is no clear evidence for the presence of a ferric component. The MS of the yellow sample at RT consists of an intense central absorption with parameters typical for Fe³⁺ (ΔE _Q~0.4 mm/s, δ~0.29 mm/s), plus an apparently symmetrical Fe²⁺ doublet. This sample acquires a light-blue shade upon heating in air at about 620 K. Thermal treatments at high temperatures caused no significant changes in the MS, but the green and yellow beryl acquire a blue colour. All these results are interpreted in relation to the existence of channel water and the distribution of iron among the available crystallographic sites.     

Spectroscopic evidence for pressure-induced phase transitions in diopside

 Raman spectra of diopside were collected from atmospheric pressure to 71 GPa. The pressure dependences of 22 modes were determined. Changes occurred in the spectra at three different pressures. First, at approximately 10 GPa, the two Raman modes at 356 and 875 cm⁻¹ disappeared, while the mode at 324 cm⁻¹ split into two modes, diverging at this pressure with significantly different pressure shifts; second, at approximately 15 GPa, a small (1 to 2 cm⁻¹) drop in several of the frequencies was observed accompanied by changes in the pressure dependency of some of the modes; and third, above 55 GPa, the modes characteristic of chains of tetrahedrally coordinated silicon disappeared, while those for octahedrally coordinated silicon appeared. The first change at 10 GPa appears to be a C2/c to C2/c transition involving a change in the Ca coordination. The third change above 55 GPa appears to be a change in the silicon coordination. At 15 GPa, it is suggested that a change in compressional mechanism takes place. Received: 14 November 2000 / Accepted: 9 January 2002     

Iron isotopic systematics of UHP eclogites respond to oxidizing fluid during exhumation

The iron stable isotope compositions (δ⁵⁶Fe) and iron valence states of ultrahigh‐pressure eclogites from Bixiling in the Dabie orogen belt, China, were measured to trace the changes of geochemical conditions during vertical transportation of earth materials, for example, oxygen fugacity. The bulk Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios of retrograde eclogites, determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy, are consistently higher than those of fresh eclogites, suggesting oxidation during retrograde metamorphism and fluid infiltration. The studied eclogites (five samples) display limited mid‐ocean ridge basalts (MORB)‐like (~0.10‰) δ⁵⁶Fe values, which are indistinguishable from their protoliths, that is, gabbro cumulates formed through differentiation of mantle‐derived basaltic magma. This suggests that Fe isotope fractionation during continental subduction is limited. Garnet separates display limited δ⁵⁶Fe variation ranging from ?0.08 ± 0.07 ‰ to 0.02 ± 0.07‰, whereas coexisting omphacite displays a large variation of δ⁵⁶Fe values from 0.15 ± 0.07‰ to 0.47 ± 0.07‰. Omphacite also has highly variable Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios from 0.367 ± 0.025 to 0.598 ± 0.024, indicating modification after peak metamorphism. Omphacite from retrograde eclogites has elevated Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios (0.54–0.60) compared to that from fresh eclogites (~0.37), whereas garnet displays a narrow range of ferric iron content with Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios from 0.039 ± 0.013 to 0.065 ± 0.022. The homogenous δ⁵⁶Fe values and Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios of garnet suggest that it survived the retrograde metamorphism and preserved its Fe‐isotopic features and ferric contents of peak metamorphism. Because of similar diffusion rates of Fe and Mg in garnet and omphacite, and constant Δ²⁶Mg_{omphacite‐garnet} values (1.14 ± 0.04‰), equilibrium iron isotope fractionation between garnet and omphacite was probably achieved during peak metamorphism. Elevated Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios of omphacite from retrograde eclogites and variant Δ⁵⁶Fe_{omphacite‐garnet} values of the studied eclogites (0.13 ± 0.10‰ to 0.48 ± 0.10‰) indicate that oxidized geofluid infiltration resulted in the elevation of δ⁵⁶Fe values of omphacite during retrograde metamorphism.