Exploring the impact of diagenesis on (isotope) geochemical and microstructural alteration features in biogenic aragonite

For the Quaternary and Neogene, aragonitic biogenic and abiogenic carbonates are frequently exploited as archives of their environment. Conversely, pre‐Neogene aragonite is often diagenetically altered and calcite archives are studied instead. Nevertheless, the exact sequence of diagenetic processes and products is difficult to disclose from naturally altered material. Here, experiments were performed to understand biogenic aragonite alteration processes and products. Shell subsamples of the bivalve Arctica islandica were exposed to hydrothermal alteration. Thermal boundary conditions were set at 100°C, 175°C and 200°C. These comparably high temperatures were chosen to shorten experimental durations. Subsamples were exposed to different ¹⁸O‐depleted fluids for durations between two and twenty weeks. Alteration was documented using X‐ray diffraction, cathodoluminescence, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, as well as conventional and clumped isotope analyses. Experiments performed at 100°C show redistribution and darkening of organic matter, but lack evidence for diagenetic alteration, except in Δ₄₇ which show the effects of annealing processes. At 175°C, valves undergo significant aragonite to calcite transformation and neomorphism. The δ¹⁸O signature supports transformation via dissolution and reprecipitation, but isotopic exchange is limited by fluid migration through the subsamples. Individual growth increments in these subsamples exhibit bright orange luminescence. At 200°C, valves are fully transformed to calcite and exhibit purple‐blue luminescence with orange bands. The δ¹⁸O and Δ₄₇ signatures reveal exchange with the aqueous fluid, whereas δ¹³C remains unaltered in all experiments, indicating a carbonate‐buffered system. Clumped isotope temperatures in high‐temperature experiments show compositions in broad agreement with the measured temperature. Experimentally induced alteration patterns are comparable with individual features present in Pleistocene shells. This study represents a significant step towards sequential analysis of diagenetic features in biogenic aragonites and sheds light on reaction times and threshold limits. The limitations of a study restricted to a single test organism are acknowledged and call for refined follow‐up experiments.     

Sub-wavebase cross-bedded grainstones on a distally steepened carbonate ramp, Upper Miocene, Menorca, Spain

Cross‐bedded grainstones on carbonate ramps and shelves are commonly related to the locus of major wave energy absorption such as shorelines, shoals or shelf breaks. In contrast, on the Early Tortonian carbonate platform of Menorca (Balearic Islands), coarse‐grained, cross‐bedded grainstones are found at a distance from the palaeoshoreline where they were deposited below the wavebase. Excellent exposures along continuous outcrops on the sea cliffs of Menorca reveal the depositional profile and three‐dimensional distribution of the different facies belts of the Tortonian ramp depositional system. Basinward from the palaeoshoreline, fan deltas and beach deposits pass into 5‐km‐wide gently dipping bioturbated dolopackstone (inner and middle ramp), then into 12–20°‐dipping dolograinstone/rudstone clinobeds (ramp slope) and, finally, into subhorizontal fine‐grained basinal dolowackestone to dolopackstone (outer ramp). In this Miocene example, coarse‐grained grainstones exist in five different settings other than beach deposits: (1) on the middle ramp, where cross‐bedded grainstones were deposited by currents roughly parallel to the shoreline at 40–70 m estimated water depth and are interbedded with gently dipping bioturbated dolomitized packstones; (2) on the upper slope, where clinobeds are composed mostly of in situ rhodoliths and red‐algae fragments; (3) on the lower slope, as small‐scale bedforms (small three‐dimensional subaqueous dunes) migrating parallel to the slope; (4) at the transition between the lower slope and the outer ramp, where mollusc‐rich and rhodolithic rudstones and grainstones, interbedded in dolomitized laminated wackestones containing abundant planktonic foraminifera, infill slide/slump scars as upslope‐backstepping bodies (backsets); (5) at the toe of the slope, where coarse skeletal grainstones indicate bedform migration parallel to the platform margin, induced by currents at more than 150 m estimated water depth. This Late Miocene example also illustrates how changes in intrabasinal environmental conditions (nutrients and/or temperature) may produce changes in stratal patterns and facies architecture if they affect the biological system. Two depositional sequences compose the Miocene platform on Menorca, where a reef‐rimmed platform prograded onto an earlier distally steepened ramp. The transition from the ramp to the reef‐rimmed platform was effected by an increase in accommodation space caused by ecological changes, promoting a shift from a grain‐ to a framework‐producing biota.     

用扭剪试验成果求剪切模量的计算公式

土的剪切模量是土工计算重要参数之一，通常是用弹性模量与们松比间接求得。本文结合扭转翼板仪的工作原理及其边界条件，推出用扭转力矩M和扭转剪切角θ直接求取剪切模量的计算公式。     

Hydrolytic enzymes of the paua Haliotis iris,a marine gastropod (note).

Extracts of the viscera of Haliotis iris (Martyn, 1784) were shown to hydrolyse 2‐hydroxy‐5‐nitrophenyl sulphate at pH 5.5, and the p‐nitrophenyl derivatives of α‐ and β‐D‐galactose, α‐ and β‐D‐mannose, α‐L‐lucose, β‐D‐glucuronic acid, β‐N‐acetyl glucosamine and phosphate at pH 4.0 and 5.5: p‐nitrophenyl‐β‐L‐fucose was not hydrolysed.     

Carboniferous Mixed Terrigenous Clastic, Carbonate and Sulphate Sediments in the Bachu Area, Xinjiang

The Carboniferous system in the Xiaohaizi area, Bachu County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, composed of typical mixed terrigenous clastic, carbonate and sulphate sediments, was mainly deposited in the tidal flat and lagoon environments. The mixed sediments occur as the following eleven types: 1. limestone intercalated with siltstone; 2. interbeds of shale and limestone; 3. gypsolyte interbedded with limestone; 4. gypsolyte intercalated with siltstone; 5. gypsolyte interbedded with shale; 6. gypsolyte intercalated with siltstone, limestone and dolomite; 7. siltstone interbedded with gypsolyte and limestone; 8. terrigenous detritus scattered in carbonate matrix; 9. carbonate as cement in clastic rocks; 10. mixed sediments of carbonate and terrigenous mud; 11. mixed sediments of carbonate grains with terrigenous sand. Based on the analysis of the dynamic mechanism of mixed sediments, it is believed that these types of mixed sediments in the study area were controlled by climate, sea level change and so     

皖北奥陶系碳酸盐岩稀土元素地球化学特征及其古岩溶意义

依据安徽北部刘桥二矿奥陶系碳酸盐岩隐伏剖面 (下奥陶统顶部 ) 17个碳酸盐岩样品的稀土元素 (15个项目 )的测试资料 ,针对不同岩性 ,分类阐述了它们的REE总量和配分模式、LREE和HREE、δEu和δCe的地球化学特征及其剖面变化特点。在此基础上 ,详细讨论了碳酸盐岩稀土地球化学特征成因机理与古岩溶发育环境的关系 ,为在岩溶岩地球化学特征与其形成环境及溶蚀程度间建立定量识别标准提供了依据。     

塔北奥陶系碳酸盐岩沉积演化特征及台地发育模式

通过对塔北奥陶系碳酸盐岩沉积相类型、相带区域组合及分布特征的研究,根据岩石特征、沉积结构和相序特征的分析,建立了塔北奥陶系碳酸盐岩的沉积演化模式。研究认为塔北下奥陶统蓬莱坝组、中下奥陶统鹰山组、中奥陶统一间房组和上奥陶统吐木休克组沉积相横向分布较稳定。蓬莱坝组、鹰山组鹰四段、鹰三段为局限台地相;鹰二段为半局限台地相;鹰一段和一间房组属于开阔台地相,但向上水体不断变浅,一间房组沉积时期开始出现点礁;上奥陶统吐木休克组沉积时期区域整体沉降,为沉没台地-斜坡-盆地沉积。上奥陶统良里塔格组沉积时期盆地整体抬升,区域沉积厚度和沉积相出现较大变化,早中期发育碳酸盐开阔台地相,后期为典型的台地边缘相。     

冲绳海槽中段沉积岩芯碳酸盐和烧失量的古环境意义

对冲绳海槽中段 3个沉积岩芯碳酸盐和烧失量的系统分析得知 ,岩芯沉积物的CaCO3含量一般 >1 0 % ,最高含量接近 30 % ,烧失量大都在 1 0 %～ 30 %之间变化 ,反映了该海区处于溶跃面之上钙质生物极为发育的生物地球化学环境。结合δ1 8O曲线所反映的气候环境变化 ,探讨了 1 2 0kaB .P .以来碳酸盐旋回的“大西洋型”演变特点 ,同时对该区沉积地层中的火山热液活动印记作了一定的探讨。     

桂林洞穴滴水与现代碳酸钙δ18O记录的环境意义--以桂林七星岩NO.15支洞为例

现代洞穴动态监测的一个先决条件就是为洞穴碳酸盐(CaCO₃)沉积物-石笋的各种替代指标的解译提供可靠的依据,充分利用现代碳酸盐(CaCO₃)沉积物的各种替代指标,并与现代器测气象资料进行相互对比、并用以校正,是精确或定量解释石笋气候替代指标的关键.
经对桂林七星岩15号支洞的5个滴水点进行了长达四个水文年(2008~2011年)的大气降水、洞穴滴水、现代碳酸盐沉积物的动态监测和研究,并探讨了洞穴滴水和现代碳酸盐(CaCO₃)的δ18O与降水δ18O的相关关系.研究表明,洞穴滴水和现代碳酸盐(CaCO₃)的年平均δ18O值非常接近降水的δ18O平均值,并具有与地表降水δ18O相同的变化趋势,反映了洞穴滴水和现代碳酸盐(CaCO₃)的δ18O主要来自大气降水的δ18O,即明显受控于降水的δ18O.在4个水文年中,现代洞穴次生化学碳酸盐(CaCO₃)沉积物的δ18O值与滴水的δ18O值记录的年内(或年际)变化或多年的变化趋势基本相同,表现出明显的四高峰(δ18O低值区)四低谷(δ18O高值区)的波动变化特征,具有明显的年际、季节性变化规律,显示具有雨热同季的特点.研究结果表明洞穴滴水和洞穴现代碳酸盐(CaCO₃)沉积物的δ18O可以记录当地或洞穴上方的气候变化信号,即现代碳酸盐(CaCO₃)沉积物的δ18O主要作为夏季风强度或降雨量的替代指标.