Uranium series dates from the windy pits of the North York Moors,United Kingdom: implications for late Quaternary ice cover and timing of speleogenesis

Windy pits are open fissures within the Corallian strata of the North York Moors. Here we present nine thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) U–Th dates on speleothem from the windy pits, the first radiometric dates on calcite for these features and for this region. The dates cluster within three time periods: the interglacial peaks of marine isotope stage (MIS) 7 (～208 to ～190 ka), MIS 5 (～127 ka to ～109 ka) and the Holocene, correlating with the marine isotope record and with the broad pattern of interglacial calcite deposition observed for northern England. However, of the two high‐resolution studies available for comparison, the windy‐pit dates match only the Lancaster Hole dates. The location of the windy pits outside of the Devensian ice limits, within the ice‐free but periglaciated region, suggests that the region has remained ice‐free since some time before MIS 7. The prevalence of widespread and prolonged permafrost conditions suggests a plausible mechanism for these open rift caves in slope‐side periglacial mass movement. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia (Some results of IGCP project 440)

The principal results of project 440 “Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia” of the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) are reviewed in this work. A map of that supercontinent compiled using geological and paleomagnetic data describes global paleogeography 900 Ma ago. The assembly of Rodinia, which comprised most of Precambrian continental blocks, lasted ca. 400 m.y. (from 1300 to 900 Ma). Its breakup presumably triggered by mantle superplume took place between 830 and 650 Ma. The correlation between tectonic events in different continental blocks is considered. Some problems concerning the Rodinia reconstruction and history, e.g., the slow growth of juvenile crust and effects of mantle-plume events during the amalgamation period and of glaciations at the breakup time, are discussed. The latter caused changes in the biosphere and climate, whereas postglacial periods stimulated progress in biota evolution.     

Basinal setting and origin of thick (1·8 km) mass‐flow dominated Grand Conglomérat diamictites,Kamoa, Democratic Republic of Congo: Resolving climate and tectonic controls during Neoproterozoic glaciations

The Kamoa sub‐basin, in the south‐eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a rift basin that hosts a world‐class stratiform copper deposit at the base of a very thick (1·8 km) succession of matrix‐supported conglomerates (diamictite) (Grand Conglomérat Formation) that has been interpreted by some as the product of deposition in the aftermath of a planet‐wide glaciation. Newly available subsurface data consisting of more than 300 km of drill core throws new light on the origin of diamictite and associated facies types, and their tectonic, basinal and palaeoclimatic setting. Initiation of rifting is recorded by a lowermost subaqueous succession of fault‐related mass flow conglomerates and breccias (the ‘Poudingue’) with interdigitating coeval and succeeding sandstone turbidites (Mwashya Subgroup). Overlying diamictites of the Grand Conglomérat were deposited as subaqueous debrites produced by mixing and homogenization of antecedent breccias and gravel from the Poudingue and Mwashya sediments with basinal muds. Failure of over‐steepened basin margins and debris flow was likely to be triggered by faulting and seismic activity, and was accompanied by syn‐depositional subaqueous basaltic magmatism recorded by peperites and pillow lavas within diamictites. The thickness of diamictites reflects recurring phases of faulting, volcanism and rapid subsidence allowing continued accommodation of rapidly deposited resedimented facies well below wave base. A distal or indirect, glacial influence in the form of rare dropstones and striated clasts is evident, but tectonically‐driven mass flow destroyed any primary record of glacial climate originally present in basin margin sediments. Such basin margin settings were common during Rodinia rifting and their stratigraphy and facies record a dominant tectonic, rather than climatic, control on sedimentation. Deposition occurred on tectonic timescales inconsistent with a Snowball Earth model for Neoproterozoic diamictites involving a direct glacial contribution to deposition.     

西罗斯海阿黛尔盆地新生代构造特征及指示意义

本文根据西罗斯海北端阿黛尔盆地及周缘地球物理资料,对地震数据进行二维F-K频率与波数滤波处理,获得噪音被压制,同相轴更连续以及深部信号被明显揭露的数据资料。基于此分析了该区新生代构造特征和岩浆活动,并结合该区冰川作用,总结了与冰川有关的沉积相。研究发现,16 Ma时受到残余岩浆加热造成的阿黛尔海槽隆升作用以及阿黛尔盆地最开始不对称扩张的双重影响,在阿黛尔海槽两翼外分别形成隆起褶皱区和掀斜隆升区。隆起褶皱区以高角度断层和褶皱为特征,分布在阿黛尔海槽东翼南部,覆盖范围较小。掀斜隆升区则以雁行断层和掀斜断块为特征,分布在阿黛尔海槽西翼南部,向南一直伸到陆地边缘。利用火成岩体与围岩间的接触关系,将本区火成岩形成时代大体分为两期:早期和晚新生代火山。早期火山形成时间不易确定,只零星散落在掀斜隆升区内,推测其形成可能与残余岩浆活动有关。晚新生代火山形成时间至少晚于5.5 Ma,分布范围广且分散,基本覆盖整个研究区。这期岩浆活动无论从时间还是空间上可能都与裂谷作用无关,而是受到上新世以来大规模冰川消退造成的地幔减压熔融作用的影响。     

湖南第四纪冰川的证据

通过十多年来反复观测到的洞庭湖周边近岸岗地的巨砾和网纹红土中孤立镶嵌的包括巨砾级的砾石,以及浏阳市大围山花岗岩岩面上无以数计的臼状圆穴,用排他法进行研究;结合前人对洞庭湖区第四纪的气候信息研究。认为湖南有第四纪山岳冰川活动,支持中国东部中低山区有第四纪冰川活动的认识。     

LICHENOMETRY ON ADELAIDE ISLAND, ANTARCTIC PENINSULA: SIZE-FREQUENCY STUDIES, GROWTH RATES AND SNOWPATCHES

This paper presents new lichenometric population data from the Antarctic Peninsula (67°S), and describes a new approach to lichen growth-rate calibration in locations where dated surfaces are extremely rare. We use historical aerial photography and field surveys to identify sites of former perennial snowpatches where lichen populations now exist. As an independent check on lichen mortality by snowkill, and the timing of snow patch disappearance, we use a positive-degree day (PDD) approach based on monthly climate data from Rothera Research Station. We find that maximum growth rates for lichens <40 mm in diameter on Adelaide Island are around 0.8 mm/yr. Furthermore, we propose that our combined methodology may be more widely applicable to the Polar Regions where the construction of lichenometric dating (age-size) curves remains a problem.     

中国第四纪冰川研究的回顾与展望

自从20世纪30年代李四光先生提出庐山和中国东部山地的第四纪冰期理论以来, 关于中国东部山地是否发生过第四纪冰川的问题困惑着国内外的地学工作者, 并为此展开了旷日持久的争论. 20世纪80年代, 经过大量的实地考察和室内分析工作, 在施雅风、崔之久和李吉均等撰写的<中国东部第四纪冰川与环境问题>一书中, 对中国东部第四纪冰川得到以下基本认识: 1)确认在中国东部有确切证据的古冰川遗迹仅在陕西太白山、吉林与朝鲜接壤的长白山、台湾的雪山和玉山等, 而在庐山及中国东部海拔2 000 m以下的山地在第四纪期间从来没有发生过冰川; 2)"泥砾"是"混杂堆积"的一种, 某些疑似的古冰川地形完全可以用其它非冰川成因予以解释, 所谓的冰川沉积多数情况下是季风气候条件下的古泥石流堆积; 3)中国东部第四纪环境发生过很大变化. 第四纪冰期中中国北方多年冻土南界向南扩展约10°, 到达长城一线, 中国东部地区年平均温度降低10～12 ℃. 喜冷动物群如猛犸与披毛犀则向南分布得更远, 到达长江口一带. 海平面下降约140 m, 古海岸远离现代海岸达600 km. 由于冬季风加强, 气候以干冷为主, 不利于冰川发育; 4)根据过去几十年的资料, 中、晚更新世中国西部山地发生过3～5次冰期, 但不存在统一的大冰盖. 因为青藏高原非常年轻, 只是在0.8 Ma BP之后才抬升到海拔3 000 m以上, 进入冰冻圈并发育冰川. 中国在全球变化研究特别是古全球变化研究中处于得天独厚的地位, 中国学者在黄土研究、青藏高原隆升、山地冰芯等方面已取得丰硕成果.     

青藏高原中东部最大冰期时代高度与气候环境探讨

本文应用不同来源的各种资料，经逐步综合推导，认为最大冰期出现时间相当于深海氧同位素１８－１６阶段（０．７２－０．５２ＭａＢＰ）。当时青藏高原低于现代１０００Ｍ左右。高原中，东部唐古拉山，阿尼玛卿山、果洛山与稻城海子山４个山区的冰川面积达４００００ＫＭ＾２，为现代冰川面积的１８倍，平衡线高度为３４５０－４２５０Ｍ，６－８月平均温度为２．３－３．４℃，年降水量为１２６０－１９６０ＭＭ，是现代平衡线上降     

Late Cryogenian glaciation in South Australia:Fluctuating ice margin and no extreme or rapid post-glacial sea-level rise

Postulated extreme sea-level rise of up to 1-1.5 km with the late Cryogenian Ghaub deglaciation in Namibia is contentious,as is the great rapidity(<104 yr)of the sea-level rise.Such extreme glacioeustatic events,if real,would have been global and affected all continents.In South Australia,up to six glacial advances and retreats during the late Cryogenian Elatina glaciation indicate a fluctuating ice margin.The latter stage of the Elatina glaciation and the immediate post-glacial environment are examined here for evidence of extreme and rapid sea-level rise.In the central Adelaide Rift Complex,diamictite with faceted and striated clasts occurs at the top of the Elatina Formation<1-2 m beneath the early Ediacaran Nuccaleena Formation’cap carbonate’.One hundred kilometres to the south,~30 m of siltstone and sandstone followed by^6 m of clast-poor diamictite with clasts 10+cm long occur between tidal rhythmites and the cap carbonate.Three hundred kilo metres further south,~70 m of siltsto ne,dolo mitic siltstone and minor dolomite separate tidal rhythmites and early Ediacaran strata.Hence the rhythmites were deposited during a high stand(interstadial or interglacial),not during post-glacial sea-level rise.Storm-generated erosional surfaces within tidal rhythmites at Warren Gorge indicate intermittent rhythmite deposition,and water depth and other palaeoenvironmental factors are uncertain,casting doubt on a published estimate of rapid sea-level rise during rhythmite deposition.The lack of late Cryogenian deeply incised valleys and thick valley-fill deposits in South Australia and central Australia argues against extreme sea-level variations.A hiatus occurred between Elatina deglaciation and deposition of the Nuccaleena cap carbonate,and three palaeomagnetic polarity chrons identified in the cap carbonate imply slow deposition spanning 10^5-10^6 yr.This is supported by independent evidence from magnetic chronostratigraphy for Ediacaran strata in South Australia and California,and by stratigraphic and sedimentological arguments for condensed deposition of cap carbonates.It is concluded that neither extreme nor rapid sea-level rise was associated with late Cryogenian deglaciation in South Australia.     

青海柴达木盆地北缘全吉群内部存在区域性不整合

通过野外考察和前人资料分析发现,柴达木盆地北缘全吉群红藻山组之上存在一个区域性的不整合,其中发育铁质风化壳、沉积间断、地层的缺失、侵蚀作用特征。不整合面上、下地层存在古生物组合、沉积环境的突变。界面以下为碳酸盐台地沉积,界面之上代表了冰水沉积到海相潮上—潮间带沉积,上覆黑土坡组—红铁沟组—皱节山组,依次沿着不整合面向上超覆,反映了不整合发育之后的又一次海进过程。该不整合界面可能代表了新元古代晚期该地区裂谷盆地的伸展阶段的构造响应。该区域性不整合的发现,改变了以往传统的对全吉群内部整合关系的认识,说明全吉群需要解体。该不整合可能发生于成冰纪—埃迪卡拉纪。该时期的不整合面上、下生物面貌和沉积环境的变化或突变,可能与新元古代晚期罗迪尼亚超大陆的裂解和全球雪球事件相关。