Origin of double‐tower raft cones in hypogenic caves

In the present paper, we describe the genetic mechanism that causes the precipitation of raft cones in caves. These speleothems usually form in a hydrothermal and epiphreatic environment where dripwater, dripping repeatedly over the same spot, sinks calcite rafts that were floating on the water surface of a cave pool. In particular, the paper describes a new variety of raft cones that were recently discovered in the Paradise Chamber of the Sima de la Higuera Cave (Murcia, south‐eastern Spain) based on their morphological and morphometric characteristics. These speleothems, dubbed ‘double‐tower cones’, have a notch in the middle and look like two cones, one superimposed over the other. The genetic mechanism that gave rise to the double‐tower cones must include an intermediate stage of rapid calcite raft precipitation, caused by a drop in the water table and by changes in cave ventilation leading to greater carbon dioxide (CO₂) degassing and evaporation over the surface of the thermal lake where these speleothems formed. Calcite rafts were deposited in Paradise Chamber, completely covering many of the cones. Later, conditions for slower calcite raft precipitation were restored and some of the cones continued to grow at the same points. When the water table finally fell below the level of Paradise Chamber, the tower cones became exposed, as the incongruent deposits of calcite rafts were dissolved and mobilized to lower cave levels. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2016年7月19日新疆MS 4.5级地震乌什地震台形变异常

利用乌什台数字化前兆形变观测资料,分析乌什M_S 4.5级地震前乌什台水管倾斜仪、洞体应变仪数据变化情况。通过对比分析发现:地震前,洞体应变仪北南分量数据曲线正常,东西分量数据曲线加速拉张,05:14-20:32拉张幅度达到7.40×10-7,7月19日5时至20日16时乌什洞体应变仪东西分量快速拉张了9.20×10-7;7月19日5-19时,水管倾斜仪北南分量数据曲线正常,东西分量数据曲线反向西倾7.13ms,且05:59-06:06、07:36-07:46、18:42-18:56数据掉格,水管倾斜仪异常结束后1小时,在洞体应变仪异常过程中发生了乌什M_S 4.5级地震。水管仪东西分量震前反向西倾,洞体应变仪东西分量震前拉张加速,短临异常明显,且2套形变观测震前异常时间同步性较好。     

Magnetostratigraphy of Plio–Pleistocene fossiliferous cave sediments in the Bubing Basin,southern China

Our understanding of the chronological sequence of Pleistocene land mammal faunas (including hominids) preserved in caves and fissures in the karstic terrain of subtropical southern China has been greatly impeded by the discontinuous nature of the strata yielding the fossils. A contributory issue is the lack of suitable elements for numerical dating, especially for the Early Pleistocene cave sediments. Here we present new magnetostratigraphic dating results for five cave sedimentary sequences in the Bubing Basin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which contain the typical Pleistocene Gigantopithecus fauna and Ailuropoda–Stegodon fauna of southern China. The five karstic caves are situated at elevations ranging from 252 m to 191 m above sea level. The integrated dating results reveal that the five cave sedimentary sequences span an age range from the late Gauss normal Chron to the early Brunhes normal Chron. The faunas are assigned to >2.6 Ma (Mohui–houshan Cave), 1.95–1.78 Ma (Mohui Cave), 0.99–0.78 Ma (Baolai Cave) and ∼0.7 Ma (Upper Wuyun and Ganxian Caves). Furthermore, by combining our new magnetostratigraphy work with previously published magnetostratigraphic, U–series and electron spin resonance dating results, a chronological sequence of the Plio–Pleistocene mammalian faunas from cave sites in southern China has been established. The chronological sequence contributes to an improved understanding of the evolutionary processes of Plio–Pleistocene land mammals, as well as of early humans in subtropical southern China.     

Influences of agricultural practices on water quality of Tumbling Creek cave stream in Taney County,Missouri

Influences of agricultural practices on water quality of the Tumbling Creek cave stream are of particular interest because of the karst nature of the area and the recent implementation of a Better Management Practice (BMP). Water quality parameters, measured bi-weekly during one year, consisted of pH, turbidity, water temperature, specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, and chloride. Heavy metals, nutrient and bacteria levels were also monitored during the study. Effects of land use were most obvious in turbidity, nitrate, chloride, and bacteria levels. Sites within the recharge area that pose a major threat to its water quality were identified. Results provide a baseline for these water quality parameters and their seasonal variability that can be used in future studies to address the effects of water quality and stream sediment contamination on the caves ecosystem and to determine the effectiveness of the BMP implemented in this karst area.     

辽宁暖和洞石笋δ13C对全新世气候变化的生态响应

基于辽宁暖和洞年层石笋NH5的7个230 Th年龄和962个碳同位素数据,建立了10.6～3.5kaBP时段全新世气候及生态演化的δ13 C序列,其长期演化趋势与北大西洋海表温度变化基本一致。该记录表明,10.6～8.8kaBP,δ13 C值逐渐负偏,由-9.4‰降至-10.3‰,气候逐渐转暖湿;8.8～6.7kaBP,δ13 C值负偏显著,平均值为-11.3‰,此时,气候温暖湿润,对应于全新世适宜期,纹层计数显示其持续时间约为1 945a;6.7～3.5kaBP,δ13 C值显著正偏,由-11.3‰升至-8.3‰,干旱化趋势明显。石笋δ18 O时间序列显示出相似的变化趋势。在6.7kaBP前后,δ13 C、δ18 O均快速正偏,纹层计数显示约在40a内完成气候由暖湿到冷干的突变转型,可能是由于北大西洋海表温度降低和植被-大气系统的反馈作用对太阳辐射减少具有放大效应。     

中国洞穴石笋信息管理系统的开发与应用

随着全球气候变化研究的逐步深入,洞穴化学沉积物在重建古环境中的作用受到越来越多学者的重视,它是一种不可多得的古环境信息载体.我国学者从事洞穴沉积物古环境重建工作已有20多年,已取得大量的石笋记录数据.本信息管理系统主要收集中国南方、北方已有的石笋记录数据,并分析汇总成库,可以较方便地满足国内外从事洞穴石笋古环境重建研究者进行数据查询分析,以实现科技资源共享.     

最近千年来山东半岛西部气候环境变化的石笋微层厚度记录

ky1石笋采自位于暖温带东亚季风影响下的山东半岛西部开元洞,自顶部到距顶42.769 mm处发育有连续沉积的678个微层,均为典型的透光年纹层。在高精度U-230Th测年结果的基础上,结合年纹层的连续计数,确定第1、678纹层的沉积年代分别为1217AD、1894AD,即ky1石笋上部微层的沉积时间为1217-1894AD,恰好涵盖中世纪暖期后期和小冰期。根据微层厚度及δ18O比值测试结果,在1217-1894AD的678年中,ky1石笋微层的厚度变化和厚度的波动程度变化均具有显著的阶段性,而且与同期夏季风强度、降水量及其波动程度变化同步。其中,微层厚度与夏季风强度、降水量本身呈负相关,微层厚度高值期对应夏季风微弱-偏干期,而低值期对应夏季风强烈-偏湿期。另一方面,微层厚度与夏季风强度、降水量的波动程度呈正相关,微层厚度高值期对应夏季风强度、降水量的高波动期,而低值期对应夏季风强度、降水量的低波动期。因此,除与气候因子本身变化有关外,开元洞石笋微层厚度变化还与气候的稳定程度有关。在暖温带东亚季风区沿海,小冰期与中世纪暖期的气候差异,除了表现为降水减少、温度降低以外,还表现为气候稳定程度的显著降低。     

Contribution of stable isotopes to the understanding of the unsaturated zone of a carbonate aquifer (Nerja Cave, southern Spain)

We analysed the stable isotopes (¹⁸O and ²H) of rainwater and drip water within a cave (Nerja Cave) located in the unsaturated zone of a carbonate aquifer. Rainfall is more abundant and presents lower isotopic content in winter, while the volume of drip water is greater and its isotopic content is lower in summer. The flow analysis of ¹⁸O through the unsaturated zone confirms the seasonal lag between rainfall and the appearance of drip water in the cave and reveals that the unsaturated zone of the aquifer, in the sector of the cave, behaves like an inertial system with a strong capability to modulate the input signal. To cite this article: F. Carrasco et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Dung, diet, and the paleoenvironment of the extinct shrub-ox (Euceratherium collinum) on the Colorado Plateau, USA

Fossil remains of Euceratherium collinum (extinct shrub-ox) have been found throughout North America, including the Grand Canyon. Recent finds from the Escalante River Basin in southern Utah further extend the animal's range into the heart of the Colorado Plateau. E. collinum teeth and a metapodial condyle (foot bone) have been recovered in association with large distinctively shaped dung pellets, a morphology similar to a ‘Hershey's Kiss’ (HK), from a late Pleistocene dung layer in Bechan Cave. HK dung pellets have also been recovered from other alcoves in the Escalante River Basin including Willow and Fortymile canyons. Detailed analyses of the HK pellets confirmed them to be E. collinum and indicate a browser-type diet dominated (> 95%) by trees and shrubs: Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush), Acacia sp. (acacia), Quercus (oak), and Chrysothamnus (rabbit brush). The retrieval of spring and fall pollen suggests E. collinum was a year-round resident in the Escalante River Basin.     

Shared microsporidian profiles between an obligate (Niphargus) and facultative subterranean amphipod population (Gammarus) at sympatry provide indications for underground transmission pathways

Only sparse knowledge exists on amphipod-infecting microsporidians in subterranean waters. Here, we DNA barcoded two sympatric amphipod populations (obligate subterranean Niphargus schellenbergi, facultative Gammarus fossarum) and their microsporidian parasites. Parasite prevalence was assessed by diagnostic PCR assays. Overall prevalence was 82.7 %. Both amphipod populations shared all four identified parasite species (Nosema granulosis, Microsporidium sp. I, Orthosomella sp., Microsporidium sp. BPAR3). Hence, we postulate underground transmission pathways of microsporidians mediated by subterranean amphipod hosts.