Evidence for centennial-scale Lateglacial and early Holocene climatic complexity from Quoyloo Meadow,Orkney, Scotland

The influence of the North Atlantic on the margins of Europe means the region is particularly sensitive to changes in the ocean–atmospheric system. During the Last Glacial–Interglacial Transition (16–8 cal ka bp ) this system was repeatedly disrupted, leading to a series of abrupt and short-lived shifts in climate. Despite much research, the number and magnitude of these ‘centennial-scale’ events is not well understood. To address this, we expand upon investigations at Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney, Scotland, one of the best chronologically constrained palaeoclimate records in northern Britain. By coupling stable isotope and chironomid fossil analyses with existing data, this study identifies multiple phases of centennial-scale disturbance at: c. 14.0, 11.1, 10.8, 10.5, 10.45 and 10.3 cal ka bp , with the events at 14.0 and 10.3 exhibiting a particularly pronounced cold-climate signature. During the Holocene, the strongest response to climate forcing was at c. 10.3–10.0 cal ka bp , expressed as a two-stage drop in mean July temperatures, a shift in pollen spectra indicative of ‘less-stable’ climatic regimes, and a depletion in δ¹⁸O values. We interpret this as the first reliably dated incidence of the ‘10.3-ka event’ in the British Isles and consider the wider impact of this climatic reversal in other Holocene records.     

扬子陆块西缘江浪穹窿超基性岩的成因:锆石U-Pb定年、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd同位素

江浪穹窿位于扬子陆块西缘,本文作者在穹窿南部新发现一套侵入于二叠系及志留系的超基性岩,岩石主要由蛇纹石(约60%)、橄榄石(约30%)和少量磁铁矿(约5%)、角闪石(约5%)组成。为探讨超基性岩的成因,本文进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd同位素研究。定年结果表明,超基性岩中发育大量2427~430 Ma的捕获锆石,最年轻一组岩浆锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为222.3±4.4 Ma(MSWD=1.9,n=6)。主微量元素分析显示岩石：(1)具有低的SiO₂含量(46.76%~39.07%)、高的Mg#值(82.3~74.0)与Cr、Co、Ni丰度;(2)稀土元素含量(ΣREE平均31.8 μg/g)与(La/Yb)_N值(5.26~1.38)偏低,稀土配分型式较为平坦,具有较弱的Ce负异常(Ce/Ce^*=0.80~0.67);(3)富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba和U,亏损高场强元素Zr和Hf;(4)(Th/Yb)_PM值(29.8~1.56)、(Th/Ta)_PM值(0.22~0.03)、(La/Nb)_PM值(1.91~0.39)及La/Sm值(5.88~1.11)较低。Sr-Nd同位素分析显示,超基性岩具有较低的(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i值(0.706872~0.702598)和高的ε_Nd(t)值(8.02~5.64),成分接近于亏损地幔和岛弧玄武岩,计算表明地壳物质的混染程度低于5%。结合前人研究成果,本文认为超基性岩结晶年龄为222.3 Ma,可能形成于古特提斯洋闭合阶段的岛弧背景;原始岩浆来自高度部分熔融的地幔源区,上升侵位过程中可能经历了铬铁矿与橄榄石的分离结晶作用。此外,捕获锆石的年龄谱反映江浪穹窿很可能存在太古宙—古元古代变质基底,并且具有Rodinia超大陆会聚—裂解以及泛非事件的地质年龄记录。     

羌塘盆地热觉茶卡-藏夏河地区泉水水化学特征及其地质意义

泉水的水化学特征可以反映氧化-还原环境和水动力条件,近年来被广泛地用于石油、天然气以及天然气水合物的找矿工作中。本文对羌塘盆地热觉茶卡—藏夏河地区37处泉水和13件地表水进行了水化学特征、水溶性烃类气体特征和水中氢氧同位素特征分析,结果表明,羌塘盆地热觉茶卡—藏夏河地区的水型主要为Na₂SO₄型和MgCl₂型,其次为NaHCO₃型和CaCl₂型。矿化度普遍较高,说明该区具有较好的保存条件。铵根离子的平均含量为0.895 g/g,在藏夏河地区高达7.381 g/g,表明在藏夏河东部地区有机质相对较为丰富,这与区域上发育的富有机质页岩结果一致。氢氧同位素结果显示,该区水体的氢氧同位素落在了大气降水线附近,表明水体的来源主要受大气降水的补给。另外,采集的9个泉水样品中均检测出一定含量的水溶甲烷,在白云湖地区的甲烷含量相对较高,显示出较好的油气潜力。综合研究表明,藏夏河东和白云湖地区具有良好的油气烃源岩条件,保存条件较好,显示出良好的油气和天然气水合物资源前景。     

Effect of the Dry Ashing Method on Cadmium Isotope Measurements in Soil and Plant Samples

A dry ashing method is commonly used to remove organic material from samples prior to geochemical analysis. In the course of this study, the Cd isotope ratios of a series of soil and plant reference materials and samples were studied to evaluate the effect of the dry ashing method on measurement results of Cd isotope ratios. The samples were pre‐treated using the dry ashing method and high‐pressure bomb for comparison. The results show that the digestion using high‐pressure bombs did not lead to Cd loss, but using the dry ashing method would cause different proportions of Cd loss. The whole range of Cd isotope difference between two methods was from ?0.07‰ to 3.01‰. There was also an obvious difference in measured Cd isotope ratios from the same leaf sample pre‐treated independently by the dry ashing method, indicating that the amount of Cd loss and the effect on Cd isotope measurement during dry ashing is related to the properties of the samples. Therefore, dry ashing may not be appropriate for the removal of organic material in Cd isotope ratio measurement, especially for samples with high organic contents. The δ^114/110Cd values of reference materials NIST SRM 1573a and GSD‐30 are reported for the first time in this study.     

Inter‐laboratory Characterisation of Apatite Reference Materials for Chlorine Isotope Analysis

Here we report on a set of six apatite reference materials (chlorapatites MGMH#133648, TUBAF#38 and fluorapatites MGMH#128441A, TUBAF#37, 40, 50) which we have characterised for their chlorine isotope ratios; these RMs span a range of Cl mass fractions within the apatite Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(F,Cl,OH)₂ solid solution series. Numerous apatite specimens, obtained from mineralogical collections, were initially screened for ³⁷Cl/³⁵Cl homogeneity using SIMS followed by δ³⁷Cl characterisation by gas source mass spectrometry using both dual‐inlet and continuous‐flow modes. We also report major and key trace element compositions as determined by EPMA. The repeatability of our SIMS results was better than ± 0.10‰ (1s) for the five samples with > 0.5 % m/m Cl and ± 0.19‰ (1s) for the low Cl abundance material (0.27% m/m). We also observed a small, but significant crystal orientation effect of 0.38‰ between the mean ³⁷Cl/³⁵Cl ratios measured on three oriented apatite fragments. Furthermore, the results of GS‐IRMS analyses show small but systematic offset of δ³⁷Cl_SMOC values between the three laboratories. Nonetheless, all studied samples have comparable chlorine isotope compositions, with mean 10³δ³⁷Cl_SMOC values between +0.09 and +0.42 and in all cases with 1s ≤ ± 0.25.     

济阳坳陷奥陶系碳酸盐岩及缝洞充填方解石C、O同位素特征及其意义

对济阳坳陷奥陶系碳酸盐原岩及孔洞缝中充填方解石进行了C、O同位素测定,结果表明孔洞缝充填方解石的δ¹³C和δ¹⁸O值比原岩偏负。奥陶系三山子组和马家沟组孔缝中充填的方解石C、O同位素演化有很大区别,前者的δ¹³C和δ¹⁸O值均为负值,δ¹³C向较高负值偏移,δ¹⁸O值向较低负值偏移;马家沟组八陡段孔缝充填方解石的δ¹³C和δ¹⁸O值也多为负值,δ¹³C向较正值方向偏移,δ¹⁸O值向较高负值偏移。奥陶系碳酸盐岩孔缝充填方解石形成于大气淡水环境和埋藏成岩环境,次生孔洞可能主要形成于早期表生阶段,裂缝形成于中-新生代的构造运动,方解石主要充填于埋藏环境中。次生孔缝的主要形成时期早于油气大量运移期,对古潜山油藏的形成有利。     

Size-fractionated uranium isotopes in surface waters in the Jiulong Estuary in China

Surface water was collected from the Jiulong Estuary for determination of activity concentrations of uranium isotopes in different size fractions, namely, greater than 53, 10 -53, 2 - 10, 0.4 -2 μm, 10 000 u -0.4 μm and less than 10 000 u fractions by microfihration and cross-flow uhrafiltration technologies. Results indicated that most of the dissolved uranium （ 〈 0.4 μm） exis- ted in the low molecular mass fraction （ 〈 10 000 u）, and the colloidal uranium-238 （10 000 u -0.4 μm） only contributed less than 1% of the dissolved uranium-238. The fractions of colloidal uranium in the dissolved phases decreased with the increasing sa- linity. A positive linear relationship between uranium-238 activities and salinities was observed for the dissolved, colloidal and low molecular mass fractions, indicating a conservative behavior of uranium in the Jiulong Estuary. In the particulate phases （ 〉 0.4 μm）, the partitioning of uranium isotopes among different size fractions was controlled by the partitioning of particle concentrations. In the regions with salinities below 20, the partitioning of uranium-238 among different size fractions was as follows： 10 - 53 μm 〉 2 - 10 μm 〉 0.4 - 2 μm greater than above 53 μm. However, the order at the offshore station with salinities above 30 changed as follows ： 0.4 - 2 μm 〉 10 - 53 μm 〉 2 - 10 μm greater than above 53 μm. The fraction of the 0.4 - 2 μm particles increased at the offshore station, suggesting the increased contribution of the authigenic uranium. The activity ratio of uranium-234 to uranium-238 in the dissolved phases, including the low molecular mass fraction and the colloidal fraction, was larger than unity, showing the occurrence of excess uranium-234. In contrast, the activity ratio of uranium-234 to uranium-238 in all size fractions of the particulate phase was close to the equilibrium value （1.0）. The observed different values of the activity ratio of uranium-234 to uranium-238 in the dissolved phase and the partic     

Seagrass as the main food source of Neaxius acanthus (Thalassinidea: Strahlaxiidae), its burrow associates, and of Corallianassa coutierei (Thalassinidea: Callianassidae)

Burrows of the thalassinidean shrimps Neaxius acanthus and Corallianassa coutierei are striking aspects in tropical seagrass beds of the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. Burrow construction, behaviour, burrow type and associated commensal community were investigated to clarify the ecological role and food requirements of these shrimps and their commensals. Gut content analysis and stable-isotope data were used to unravel the food sources and the trophic interactions among the commensal community.Individuals of Neaxius acanthus were caught on Bone Batang Island. In narrow aquaria filled with sediment they constructed burrows resembling those found in the field. During burrow construction and maintenance only little sediment was brought to the surface, most was sorted and compacted to create a distinct lining. Maintenance work by single shrimps typically took about 5 min, after which the shrimp walked up to the entrance and rested for a similar period of time. There were no differences in behaviour between day and night. Intrasexual encounters inside the burrow were characterised by a high level of aggression and all resulted in one participant being driven out of the burrow. Intersexual encounters led to coexistence with both animals taking turns in burrow maintenance and guarding the entrance. Offered seagrass leaves were pulled underground, cut into pieces and eventually integrated into the lining. Burrows of Corallianassa coutierei resembled a deep U-shape. Chambers branching off halfway down and at the deepest point contained seagrass fragments. All steep parts of the burrow were lined similar to burrows of N. acanthus.No commensals were found associated with Corallianassa coutierei. However, burrows of Neaxius acanthus in the field typically contained a pair of shrimps, up to 8 individuals of the commensal bivalve Barrimysia cumingii and large numbers of gammarid amphipods. Other animals found associated with the burrow were the goby Austrolethops wardi, a palaemonid shrimp species and two species of tube-building polychaetes, one of which was also found as an epibiont on N. acanthus.Stable-isotope and gut content analyses indicate that the diet of Neaxius acanthus, its commensal Austrolethops wardi, and Corallianassa coutierei is mainly derived from detrital seagrass leaves, with a potential contribution of sediment organic matter and seagrass epiphytes. In contrast the isotopic signature of Barrimysia cumingii suggests the presence of symbiotic sulphide metabolism bacteria. This study underlines that, besides their interactions with the surrounding ecosystem, thalassinid shrimp burrows play an important role as a sub-habitat with a unique associated fauna.     

Determination of residence time and mixing processes of the Ubatuba,Brazil, inner shelf waters using natural Ra isotopes

Coastal waters contain elevated dissolved activities of short-lived radium isotopes, ²²³Ra and ²²⁴Ra, having half-lives of 11.4 and 3.66 days, respectively. The input of these isotopes near the coast must be balanced by decay and mixing into the open ocean, where excess activities are zero. Since the decay rate is known, in the ideal case the mixing rate may be determined from the offshore distribution of these isotopes. This study found that samples collected in June 2000 followed the expected exponential decrease with distance offshore. We assign a dispersion coefficient of 28–39 m² s⁻¹ for this study. During January 2002 and November 2003, there was not a consistent decrease of activity with distance offshore. This is likely due to the ruggedness of the coastline, where many bays and small islands interrupt simple mixing patterns. To estimate exchange rates during 2002 and 2003, we used a model based on the decrease in the ²²⁴Ra/²²³Ra activity ratio (AR) with time for samples isolated from fresh inputs of Ra. This model yielded residence times of 1–2 weeks for samples collected within 20 km of the coast. We used this residence time to calculate the flux of ²²⁸Ra (half-life = 5.7 years) to the study area necessary to maintain the enrichment relative to ocean water. This enrichment is a factor of ten greater than the flux of ²²⁸Ra expected from submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) occurring within 50 m of shore.     

Isotopic,trace element and nutrient characterization of coastal waters from Ubatuba inner shelf area,south-eastern Brazil

Stable isotopes, tritium, radium isotopes, radon, trace elements and nutrients data were collected during two sampling campaigns in the Ubatuba coastal area (south-eastern Brazil) with the aim of investigating submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the region. The isotopic composition (δD, δ¹⁸O, ³H) of submarine waters was characterised by significant variability and heavy isotope enrichment. The stable isotopes and tritium data showed good separation of groundwater and seawater groups. The contribution of groundwater in submarine waters varied from a few % to 17%. Spatial distribution of ²²²Rn activity concentration in surface seawater revealed changes between 50 and 200 Bq m⁻³ which were in opposite relationship with observed salinities. Time series measurements of ²²²Rn activity concentration in Flamengo Bay (from 1 to 5 kBq m⁻³), obtained by in situ underwater gamma-spectrometry showed a negative correlation between the ²²²Rn activity concentration and tide/salinity. This may be caused by sea level changes as tide effects induce variations of hydraulic gradients, which increase ²²²Rn concentration during lower sea level, and opposite, during high tides where the ²²²Rn activity concentration is smaller. The estimated SGD fluxes varied during 22–26 November between 8 and 40 cm d⁻¹, with an average value of 21 cm d⁻¹ (the unit is cm³/cm² per day). The radium isotopes and nutrient data showed scattered distributions with offshore distance and salinity, which implies that in a complex coast with many small bays and islands, the area has been influenced by local currents and groundwater–seawater mixing. SGD in the Ubatuba area is fed by coastal contaminated groundwater and re-circulated seawater (with small admixtures of groundwater), which claims for potential environmental concern with implications on the management of freshwater resources in the region.