Geochemical characteristics of Holocene aeolian deposits and their environmental significance in the Mu Us Desert,northern China

This paper addresses the surface and Holocene aeolian deposits in the southeastern Mu Us Desert, N. China, systematically analysing the evolution of the geochemical characteristics of aeolian sand–palaeosol sequences and their environmental significance. Our results indicate that the geochemical components of the Holocene aeolian deposits and surface deposits had the similar material sources, sediment transport and deposition processes in the study region, which were dominated by SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Na₂O. In the weathering process of the Jinjie (JJ) profile, the Na, K, and Si presented the slight leaching and migration in general, while the other elements were relatively accumulated. The Holocene aeolian deposits and surface deposits incurred weaker geochemical weathering under cold and dry conditions and were only weakly leached, which implies a relatively arid environment in the Holocene epoch and the modern era. The weathering degree was controlled by the regional temperature and precipitation, and was probably more sensitive to the precipitation changes. In the sedimentary profile, the geochemical parameters and migration of elements demonstrated that there have been several alternating warm–wet and cold–dry intervals in the Mu Us Desert in the Holocene epoch; there were relatively warm and wet conditions prior to 4.6 ka, and it has been cold and dry since then. Six millennial‐scale dry events were recorded during the Holocene, which were not only accordant with the history of palaeoclimatic changes in the different latitudes and archives of the Northern Hemisphere, but also correspond to the millennial‐scale variation of cosmic radiation and solar activity during that period. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An index for describing the core-stone shape in weathered columnar joints

The shape of core-stones remained in the weathering basalt column is an index to classify its weathered degree. In this paper, a roundness index (RI) like the box dimension using in fractal theory, was employed to quantitatively measure the shape of core-stone in various weathering grades. The rounded core-stone that is weathered seriously has a smaller RI value. According to the value of RI, the five classes shown in the Russell–Taylor–Pettijohn chart for visually classifying grain shape is available to approximately determine the weathered grades of core-stones remained in the basalt column in Taiwan. A slump test is preliminarily tested to show the difference in repose angle of a stability slope assembled by the grains in a similar shape. The collection of angular core-stones those are less weathered (with a higher RI value) indeed reveals a greater repose angle.     

四川盆地包界地区须家河组层序界面特征

层序地层学研究最关键的是对层序界面的识别。以四川盆地包界地区须家河组为例,综合应用野外露头、钻井岩芯、测井曲线、地震剖面等资料,识别出4种类型的层序界面,它们分别是:冲刷面、岩性岩相转换面、古风化壳、沉积结构转换面。并阐述了研究区层序界面在钻井岩芯、野外露头、测井曲线、地震剖面上的特征、识别标志和表现形式。这一研究成果对于正确划分研究区须家河组层序具有重要意义。     

Effect of Aspergillus niger on weathering of phosphorite rock

Weathering mechanism of phosphorite rock by Aspergillus niger has been studied. Ten strains of phosphate-solubilizing fungi were isolated from rhizosphere soils by using dilute plate method in solid inorganic phosphorus culture. According to the size of soluble phosphate circle in the medium, a strain of stronger phosphate-solubilizing fungus was acquired, which was identified as, Aspergillus niger using identification methods of morphology and ITS sequences comparison in Genbank. In liquid culture, incubation in static state, the weathering of apatite rock with the fungus by contrast method： putting apatite powder （200 mesh） in liquid culture medium of flask, inoculation fungus after autoclave （setting sterile control） for studying direct weathering process; putting dialysis bag with apatite powder （200 mesh） in liquid culture medium of flask, inoculation fungus after autoclave （setting sterile control） for studying indirect weathering process.     

Major ion geochemistry of Godavari River at Rajahmundry, India

Detailed time-series studies on the major ion geochemistry of tropical peninsular Indian rivers are lacking. In this backdrop, a small stretch of the Godavari River, globally ranking 32nd in terms of total discharge, is chosen for sampling at its mouth. The objectives are： （1） to understand the natural and anthropogenic sources controlling the major ion chemistry of the Godavari River at Rajahmundry, （2） processes controlling the temporal variations in major ions over a period of two years, （3） comparison of total dissolved solid （TDS） fluxes and weathering rates at Godavari River with other major tropical rivers. A total of 47 surface samples were collected, bimonthly, at five stations in the Godavari at Rajahmundry spaced over a distance of 6 km for a period of two years. Water samples were collected in pre-cleaned PP bottles. Parameters like temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity were measured on-site. Samples collected for analysis of major ions were processed within a few hours of collection by filtering through 0.45 mm pore size millipore filters. Filtered water samples for major ions were transported to the laboratory in cleaned 250 mL PP bottles. Sodium and K were measured on a Flame Photometer, Ca and Mg on a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Cl, NO3, SO4 by Ion Chromatography and SiO2 on a spectrophotometer. Chemical weathering of rocks controls the major ion chemistry of the Godavari River at its mouth as indicated by the alkaline nature of the river and dominant presence of Ca, Mg and HCO3 ions. Ca/Mg and Na/Mg ratios point its source to a mixture of lithological assemblages of basalt, granite-granodiorite,     

Formation of Colloidal Silica and Alumina During Experimental Granodiorite Weathering

The role of aluminum and silica in the formation of colloids during granodiorite weathering was studied on the basis of long-term experiments in batch reactors. Rock samples were dissolved in un-buffered solutions of initial pH 3.2, 5.4, and 9.9 at ambient conditions for 500 days. During weathering, extremely high supersaturation with respect to various secondary solids was attained in the solutions. Consequently, new solids, part of which was conserved in solutions as colloids, condensed. The mean concentrations of colloidal Si reached values of 70, 50, and 48 mol 1^–1 in the alkaline, neutral, and acid solutions, respectively. The mean concentrations of colloidal Al, reached values of 34, 22, and 12 mol 1^–1 in the alkaline, neutral, and acid solutions, respectively. The concentration of colloids gradually decreased after 200-400 days of experiment. This phenomenon was interpreted as being due to the competition between homogeneous nucleation and crystal growth. At the initial stages of the experiments, the colloidal species (predominantly colloidal Al) comprised a large proportion of the total amounts of aqueous species. Their share, however, decreased with time. The molar Al/Si-ratios of colloids were as high as 2–2.5 at the early stages of the experiment. After 250–300 days of experiments, on the other hand, these ratios decreased to values of about 0.5 in both the neutral and alkaline solutions and to a value of 0.15 in the acid solution. The evolution of colloids was consistent with the evolution of secondary solids in the sequence Al-hydroxides – clay minerals (illite, chlorite), in both the neutral and alkaline solutions. In acid solutions, the evolution of Al/Si-colloids was influenced by the presence of sulfate ion and Al-sulfate precipitation. Besides Al and Si, other elements, in particular Ca or Mg as a major component and Na, K, P, S, and Cl as minor components, readily participated in the formation of colloids.     

北祁连民乐二道沟口中-下泥盆统老君山组砂岩化学组分特征及其地质意义

祁连山泥盆系包括中—下泥盆统老君山组和上泥盆统沙流水组。老君山组广泛分布在古祁连山的山前和山间盆地,主要为冲积扇粗碎屑沉积。碎屑岩中的碎屑组分和地球化学特征直接反映物源区和沉积盆地的构造环境。民乐二道沟口老君山组的碎屑岩化学组分特征指标为：K2O/Na2O值为0.13～8.13,Al2O3/ SiO2值为0.15～0.28,LREE/HREE值为3.49～8.71,Eu/Eu*值为0.63～0.91,(Gd/Yb)N值为1.13～1.56,化学蚀变常数(CIA)为50～87。各项化学参数分布范围较广泛,结合多种物源判别图分析可以知道：该套碎屑物质主要来自南侧造山带并接受了盆地北侧的大陆区碎屑来源,具有前陆盆地的二元物源特征;早—中泥盆世北祁连处于前陆盆地晚期磨拉石阶段。     

Spatial variations in chemical compositions along Langtang–Narayani river system in central Nepal

Surface water samples were collected from Langtang Lirung glacier outlet point to the Narayani river system in central Nepal in order to investigate the role of elevation in the variation of chemistry along the drainage networks. The chemistry of Langtang–Narayani river system was dominated by sulfide oxidation coupled with carbonate dissolution and weathering of silicate minerals. Calcium and magnesium concentrations were relatively higher than other cations and the sum of both species strongly correlated with alkalinity, supporting the dissolution of carbonate and dolomite as the dominant source for these ions. Aluminosilicate minerals primarily as albite and anorthite appeared as dominant silicate minerals within the drainage basin. Bisiallitization was the dominant type of weathering within the entire drainage system. Hydrogen ion concentration was lower in the low elevation sites than in high elevation sites reflecting the more consumption of carbon dioxide in the low elevation sites due to enhanced chemical weathering rates. Furthermore, major solutes like sum of base cations, silicon as well as alkalinity increased in concentration in the lower elevation sites. All regulating factors appeared to be directly related to elevation and hence elevation appeared to be the prime factor for the variation in chemical species along the Langtang–Narayani river system. Toshiyuki Masuzawa: deceased.     

矿物风化对黄土区土壤有效硅含量的控制作用--以陕西省关中-陕北地区为例

利用XRD、粒度分析、土壤风化模拟试验等方法,对黄土区土壤有效硅含量分布、土壤机械组成、粘粒矿物种类及含量分布、土壤溶液pH值和土壤矿物风化过程中硅的析出规律进行研究。从陕北干旱区到关中半湿润区,土壤中蛭石含量从0.18%升高到1.60%;高岭石从0.45%升高到1.84%,相应的土壤有效硅含量从122.62×10-6升高到463.95×10-6。土壤有效硅含量与粘粒矿物总量呈正比,与土壤溶液pH值成反比,这与南方水田水稻土情况完全不同。模拟实验证实土壤中存在的游离硅是硅酸盐矿物异成分溶解的结果。研究区土壤风化作用强度规律性变化是造成区内土壤有效硅含量变化的主要原因。     

砒砂岩化学成分特征对重力侵蚀的影响

本文以内蒙南部砒砂岩的重力侵蚀为例,研究岩石化学成分与重力侵蚀发育的主要控制因素抗剪强度的之间关系。通过对砒砂岩样品的化学成分、矿物组成、力学性质等参数的测试和试验结果,利用化学蚀变指数(CIA)阐明了岩石的风化程度,分析了岩石中不稳定的化学成分在水的作用下,对岩石的化学风化作用和岩石强度的影响。并对砒砂岩的化学成分含量与其内聚力进行两两相关分析和多元相关分析。这些对砒砂岩区基岩的重力侵蚀机理研究具有一定的参考价值。