Potential of establishing a ‘global standardised growth curve’ (gSGC) for optical dating of quartz from sediments

We report investigations of the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals of sedimentary quartz from different regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and North America using a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) procedure. We show that variations in the shape of dose response curves (DRCs), or growth curves, of the test dose sensitivity-corrected OSL signals among single aliquots composed of multiple grains can be greatly reduced by normalising the DRCs using one of the regenerative dose OSL signals. We refer to this regenerative-dose normalisation procedure as ‘re-normalisation’. We find a common re-normalised DRC extends to doses of ∼250 Gy for samples that differ significantly in terms of geological provenance, sedimentary context and depositional age. This feature permits the development of a ‘global standardised growth curve’ (gSGC) for OSL signals from single aliquots of quartz. The equivalent dose (D_e) of an aliquot can be estimated from the natural signal, one regenerative dose signal and their corresponding test dose signals. For the variety of samples investigated, we find that D_e estimates obtained from the gSGC are consistent with those obtained using full SAR procedures for doses of up to ∼250 Gy. Use of the gSGC for single aliquots would greatly reduce the time required to estimate the D_e values of older samples and for a large number of aliquots.     

Redevelopment of liftoff rates of saltating sand grains based on a simple optimization model

This paper is a redevelopment result of liftoff rates of saltating sand grains based on our previous work.Aeolian sand flow is a complex multi-phase flow because of a special two-phase gas-solid flow near ground surface.Despite extensive research on the movement of blowing sand,no model fully characterizes aeolian sand flow,and large differences often exist between simulations of aeolian sand movement and field observations.One key problem is a few of sufficient research on liftoff rates of saltating sand g...     

Composition,environment, and economic value of the Permian to Cretaceous coated grains from Zagros and the Persian Gulf

Ooid grainstone/packstone carbonate facies of the Dalan, Kangan, and Arab formations are the main hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Persian Gulf. Based on detailed petrographic and petrophysical analyses,sedimentological and mineralogical features of the Permian to Late Cretaceous carbonate and iron-rich coated grains from Zagros and the Persian Gulf were investigated. Frequent ooids in these formations indicate a high-energy environment and a wave-dominated shallow carbonate platform. Because of wi...     

Occurrence of Uraniferous Iron Grains at Gabal Gattar, El Missikat and El Erediya Granites in Eastern Desert of Egypt

Uraniferous iron grains occur in some radioactive granite plutons in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Modal analysis of these grains indicates that weight abundance of uraniferous grains amounts to 17.50%, 18.00% and 26.00% of the total accessory heavy minerals of the uranium-mineralized samples of Gabal Gattar, El Missikat and El Erediya, respectively. These grains are mainly restricted to shear zones associated with strong hematitization, and occur either as fracture fillings or as interstitial grains among the main rock-forming minerals. Uraniferous iron grains are mainly composed of uranophane and β-uranophane coated and stained with limonite. These grains represent the main radioactive minerals in addition to the bright canary yellow to yellow uranophane and β-uranophane mineral grains. The data obtained on scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis confirm the abundance of iron in the darker colored varieties with respect to the light colored varieties. This mode of occurrence of the uranium minerals requires special consideration during mineral processing by physical means.     

中国北方主要坚果类淀粉粒形态对比

近年,考古学家发现坚果类植物在农业起源中曾占有很重要的地位。为了对考古器物上附着的淀粉粒进行鉴定,我们对中国北方现代主要坚果类栗属（Castanea）中的板栗（C.mollisima）、栎属（Quercus）中的槲树（Q.dentata）、槲栎（Q.aliena）、麻栎（Q.acutissima）、栓皮栎（Q.viriabilis）、蒙古栎（Q.mongolicus）和胡桃属（Juglans）中的胡桃楸（J.mandshurica）共7个样品进行了淀粉粒形态对比分析,以求为建立北方坚果类淀粉粒的鉴定标准积累资料。实验结果发现,除胡桃楸未发现淀粉物质以外,其他6个样品的淀粉粒不仅可以与其他科、属进行区分,甚至在一定程度上还可以进行种间的区分。板栗的脐点是闭合的,有层纹,无裂隙;   麻栎脐点是偏心的;   槲树栓皮栎的淀粉粒近乎80％都具有裂隙特征,但栓皮栎的淀粉粒中会出现横裂隙和相当数量的星形裂隙而只有槲树的淀粉粒才具有相当数量的纵向裂隙;   蒙古栎的淀粉也大多具有裂隙（70％）而且纵向型裂隙占主要地位,但是蒙古栎淀粉粒表面有细密的放射线;   60％的槲栎淀粉粒不具有裂隙特征。所有样品的淀粉粒均由大小不一的各种卵圆形组成,而且6个样品的长轴最大值（约20μm）和6个样品的平均值（约10μm）都非常接近。     

Grains Containing Oil Inclusions in Different Hydrocarbon Production and Show Types of Sandstone Reservoirs from the Central Junggar Basin, Northwest China

The values of grains containing oil inclusions (GOI) in 120 reservoir sandstone samples from the central Junggar Basin of Northwest China were investigated. The sandstones are characterized by different types of hydrocarbon production and shows. The values range from 0.015% to 19.9%, and show a fairly good correlation with the hydrocarbon production/shows, which are qualitatively suggestive of reservoir hydrocarbon abundance and petroleum migration. Thus, it may be implied that the values can reflect hydrocarbon migration, being not controlled mainly by the other influencing factors. Further correlation between the values and the reservoir hydrocarbon production and show types indicates that the GOI method can be used in hydrocarbon migration study when the petroleum type of a reservoir is normal oil or gas alone, but it should be used with caution when light oil charges the reservoirs or a complex hydrocarbon migration event takes place. The case study in the central Junggar Basin using the method presents some new understanding on hydrocarbon migration. Thus, the method may help to solve specific petroleum geological problems, and can be treated as a routine tool in hydrocarbon migration study.     

Behavior of the Rayleigh-Taylor mode in a dusty plasma with rotational and shear flows

The stability of a dusty plasma with sheared rotational flows is investigated. Using the fluid model together with the Bayly nonmodal approach, the inhomogeneous partial differential equations governing short-wavelength perturbations at the center of a rotational flow field or vortex structure are obtained. The effects of flow eccentricity, strength of the flow shear, as well as concentration of dust grains on the stability of the perturbations are investigated numerically. It is found that flow shear can cause secondary Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a rotational flow.     

Influence of particle shape and angularity on the behaviour of granular materials: a numerical analysis

This paper analyses the influence of grain shape and angularity on the behaviour of granular materials from a two‐dimensional analysis by means of a discrete element method (Contact Dynamics). Different shapes of grains have been studied (circular, isotropic polygonal and elongated polygonal shapes) as well as different initial states (density) and directions of loading with respect to the initial fabric. Simulations of biaxial tests clearly show that the behaviour of samples with isotropic particles can be dissociated from that of samples with anisotropic particles. Indeed, for isotropic particles, angularity just tends to strengthen the behaviour of samples and slow down either local or global phenomena. One of the main results concerns the existence of a critical state for isotropic grains characterized by an angle of friction at the critical state, a critical void ratio and also a critical anisotropy. This critical state seems meaningless for elongated grains and the behaviour of samples generated with such particles is highly dependent on the direction of loading with respect to the initial fabric. The study of local variables related to fabric and particle orientation gives more information. In particular, the coincidence of the principal axes of the fabric tensor with those of the stress tensor is sudden for isotropic particles. On the contrary, this process is gradually initiated for elongated particles. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of crack density on geomechanical behavior of granular composites with porous grains and fluid‐saturated pores

The analysis of geomechanical behavior for granular systems including fluid‐filled pores depends strongly on the crack density present within the system being studied. Effective overall bulk and shear moduli are both significantly influenced by these crack system parameters. Present effort concentrates on the geomechanical analyses needed to treat anisotropic (specifically orthotropic) poroelastic grains jumbled together to form an overall isotropic polycrystalline poroelastic material. As predicted, poroelastic effects induced by fluids in the cracks are observed to be significant for the effective bulk modulus, but simple pore fluids do not affect the magnitude of effective overall shear modulus. These results are also shown to depend in a quantitatively predictable way on crack density values. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新疆尼勒克县吉仁台沟口遗址石器功能分析:来自植物微体遗存的证据

新疆地处欧亚大陆中心,自然环境复杂,生业经济形式多样,东西方文化交流频繁,是了解欧亚大陆古代人类活动和文化发展的重要区域.从新石器时代至青铜时代在该区域出土了丰富的石制品,但对其功能的研究较少,尤其是一些中国内地不常见,而与中亚、欧亚草原类型相似的石器.本文对新疆伊犁地区青铜时代吉仁台沟口遗址(82.77°E,43.84°N;3600~3000 cal.a B.P.)出土的具有安德罗诺沃文化特征的长条形石磨盘、石杵和饼形石器的表层残留物进行了淀粉粒和植硅体分析,为这些石器的功能研究提供了直接证据.分析结果显示,石器表面的淀粉粒来自禾本科小麦族(the tribe Triticeae)和某些块根块茎类植物,而石器表面发现的775粒植硅体中,粟类作物稃片植硅体占9%,其他类型的植硅体以早熟禾亚科(Pooideae)型和棒型为主,另在石杵上发现栝楼属(Trichosanthes)植物果皮植硅体及植物组织.结合遗址中大植物遗存证据,研究结果表明:石磨盘曾用于研磨麦类作物种子和某些块根块茎类植物,石杵亦用于麦类作物研磨,但也对粟类作物进行脱壳以及加工栝楼属植物果实.用于分析的饼形石器有两种类型,第一类为打制饼形石器,残留物中的植物遗存显示可能与石磨盘组合用于加工植物的块根块茎;第二类为磨制饼形石器,其表面发现极少量粟类稃片植硅体,推测其可能用于粟类作物脱粒.研究结果为新疆伊犁地区考古遗址出土安德罗诺沃文化石器的功能、农作物加工过程,以及古代社会生计模式的认识提供了依据;石器残留物中块根块茎类淀粉粒以及农作物植硅体的发现,是对已有大植物遗存分析结果的进一步补充.