Microbe–mineral interactions: early carbonate precipitation in a hypersaline lake (Eleuthera Island, Bahamas)

Microbialites (benthic microbial carbonate deposits) were discovered in a hypersaline alkaline lake on Eleuthera Island (Bahamas). From the edge towards the centre of the lake, four main zones of precipitation could be distinguished: (1) millimetre‐sized clumps of Mg‐calcite on a thin microbial mat; (2) thicker and continuous carbonate crusts with columnar morphologies; (3) isolated patches of carbonate crust separated by a dark non‐calcified gelatinous mat; and (4) a dark microbial mat without precipitation. In thin section, the precipitate displayed a micropeloidal structure characterized by micritic micropeloids (strong autofluorescence) surrounded by microspar and spar cement (no fluorescence). Observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with a cryotransfer system indicate that micrite nucleation is initiated within a polymer biofilm that embeds microbial communities. These extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are progressively replaced with high‐Mg calcite. Discontinuous EPS calcification generates a micropeloidal structure of the micrite, possibly resulting from the presence of clusters of coccoid or remnants of filamentous bacteria. At high magnification, the microstructure of the initial precipitate consists of 200–500 nm spheres. No precipitation is observed in or on the sheaths of cyanobacteria, and only a negligible amount of precipitation is directly associated with the well‐organized and active filamentous cyanobacteria (in deeper layers of the mat), indicating that carbonate precipitation is not associated with CO₂ uptake during photosynthesis. Instead, the precipitation occurs at the uppermost layer of the mat, which is composed of EPS, empty filamentous bacteria and coccoids (Gloeocapsa spp.). Two‐dimensional mapping of sulphate reduction shows high activity in close association with the carbonate precipitate at the top of the microbial mat. In combination, these findings suggest that net precipitation of calcium carbonate results from a temporal and spatial decoupling of the various microbial metabolic processes responsible for CaCO₃ precipitation and dissolution. Theoretically, partial degradation of EPS by aerobic heterotrophs or UV fuels sulphate‐reducing activity, which increases alkalinity in microdomains, inducing CaCO₃ precipitation. This degradation could also be responsible for EPS decarboxylation, which eliminates Ca²⁺‐binding capacity of the EPS and releases Ca²⁺ ions that were originally bound by carboxyl groups. At the end of these processes, the EPS biofilm is calcified and exhibits a micritic micropeloidal structure. The EPS‐free precipitate subsequently serves as a substrate for physico‐chemical precipitation of spar cement from the alkaline water of the lake. The micropeloidal structure has an intimate mixture of micrite and microspar comparable to microstructures of some fossil microbialites.     

内蒙古巴彦查干湖白云石的成因及其环境意义

对内蒙古南部巴彦查干湖12400cal.aB.P.以来的沉积物进行了X-衍射、扫描电镜、碳酸盐含量和自生碳酸盐氧同位素组成的研究。结果显示,沉积物中碳酸盐含量较高,6000cal.aB.P.以前为方解石,之后白云石开始出现,4800cal.aB.P.以来代替方解石成为主要的碳酸盐矿物。方解石的形态为细长的结晶棱柱体和薄片状,白云石颗粒的形态均为小球粒状,这些形态特征表明方解石和白云石是快速沉淀形成的。白云石的形态和大小与澳大利亚Coorong等地区微生物成因的白云石非常相似,表明巴彦查干湖白云石的形成可能与微生物活动有关。白云石在6000cal.aB.P.的出现是湖水咸化的直接证据,表明气候变干,这一结果与碳酸盐氧同位素和孢粉记录一致。     

Lake Shira Level Changes in Late Holocene

正1 Introduction Meromictic Shira Lake is a good represfor detail climate modeling due to its locainformation and annually laminated bottomsediment column of 155 cm in length wahammer corer in the deepest(24 m)central in 2009.2 Sample Preparations and Measuring     

纹层计年与137Cs、210Pb法对比研究东北二龙湾玛珥湖现代沉积速率

通过对东北二龙湾玛珥湖顶部无扰动岩心显微研究,证明此岩心发育有良好的年纹层。据精确统计,0~5.5 cm间为36个年纹层,纹层计年的误差为4％~7％,年纹层厚度为1.1~2 mm不等,平均沉积速率为1.53 mm/a,5.5 cm处对应于1965年。而二龙湾沉积物（从6.5 cm到5.5 cm)岩心的¹³⁷Cs比活度值急剧增加,从（4.67±0.29） dpm/g增加到（12.06±0.47） dpm/g,在5.5 cm处有一个较为明显的蓄积峰值,这一峰值被确认对应为1963年全球¹³⁷Cs散落的高峰期。另外据²¹⁰Pb_ex比活度CIC模式,5.5 cm处约为1962年,这和¹³⁷Cs比活度曲线的1963年时标相一致。印证了纹层计年的精确性,完全可以建立高分辨率时间序列。     

中-晚始新世渭河盆地古气候变化的红河组磁化率记录

始新世暖期可为理解现代增温过程和机制提供历史相似型。广泛分布于渭河盆地的红河组为中始新世到晚始新世的滨浅湖相-冲积扇堆积,剖面出露厚度超过330 m,盆地沉积中心钻探厚度大于1000 m,为一套红色的碎屑沉积间化学沉积序列。盆地边缘的红河组沉积物含碳酸盐岩、泥岩、砂岩和少量砾岩,沉积中心以泥质灰岩、泥岩和粉砂岩为主。对蓝田支家沟红河组（时代为46~33 Ma）2910个样品的磁化率测试表明,红河组沉积物磁化率值在0~20×10^-8 m³/kg之间,整体偏低,频率磁化率值也相对较低（0~11%）,与中国西北部新生代红层磁化率总体较低相似。高分辨率磁化率测试证实了红河组堆积时期干湿变化的多旋回和阶段性,受到太阳辐射变化影响,并受到下垫面的反馈驱动。红河组泥岩和粉砂岩的磁化率值偏高,而砂岩的磁化率值较低,载磁矿物以赤铁矿为主。盆地周围岩体弱磁性物质的快速输入,降低了红河组粗颗粒沉积物的磁化率值。在中、晚始新世的轨道-构造时间尺度,红河组沉积序列粒度变化受到湖面波动控制。湖面上升时湖滨地区沉积物颗粒偏细,磁化率值高;反之,磁化率值低。因此,磁化率高低变化指示了湖面高低波动,进而指示了气候的干湿变化。分析还表明,中、晚始新世渭河盆地湖面多旋回变化和阶段性变干,与全球温度变化和降温过程可良好对比,指示全球温度降低可能抑制水汽循环,进而驱动始新世东亚内陆干旱的发展。

     

Formation of magnesium‐smectite during lacustrine carbonates early diagenesis: Study case of the volcanic crater lake Dziani Dzaha (Mayotte – Indian Ocean)

The volcanic crater lake of Dziani Dzaha in Mayotte is studied to constrain the geochemical settings and the diagenetic processes at the origin of Mg‐phyllosilicates associated with carbonate rocks. The Dziani Dzaha is characterized by intense primary productivity, volcanic gases bubbling in three locations and a volcanic catchment of phonolitic/alkaline composition. The lake water has an alkalinity of ca 0·2 mol l^?1 and pH values of ca 9·3. Cores of the lake sediments reaching up to one metre in length were collected and studied by means of carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen elemental analyzer, X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry and X‐ray powder diffraction. In surface sediments, the content of total organic carbon reaches up to 20 weight %. The mineral content consists of aragonite and hydromagnesite with minor amounts of alkaline feldspar and clinopyroxene from the volcanic catchment. Below 30 cm depth, X‐ray diffraction analyses of the <2 μm clay fraction indicate the presence of a saponite‐like mineral, a Mg‐rich smectite. The saponite‐like mineral accumulates at depth to reach up to ca 30 weight %, concurrent with a decrease of the contents of hydromagnesite and organic matter. Thermodynamic considerations and mineral assemblages suggest that the evolution of the sediment composition resulted from early diagenetic reactions. The formation of the saponite‐like mineral instead of Al‐free Mg‐silicates resulted from high aluminum availability, which is favoured in restricted lacustrine environments hosted in alkaline volcanic terrains commonly emplaced during early stages of continental rifting. Supersaturation of the lake water relative to saponite is especially due to high pH values, themselves derived from high primary productivity. This suggests that a genetic link may exist between saponite and the development of organic‐rich carbonate rocks, which may be fuelled by the input of CO₂‐rich volcanic gases. This provides novel insights into the composition and formation of saponite‐rich deposits under a specific geodynamic context such as the Cretaceous South Atlantic carbonate reservoirs.     

岷江断裂带晚新生代逆冲推覆构造：来自钻孔的证据

岷江断裂带由2个不同性质的断裂组成:早期岷江逆冲断裂和晚期岷江正断裂。野外地质调查和钻孔资料发现在岷江西侧山麓之下存在一套厚度大于110m的早更新世灰黑色湖相地层,三叠系灰岩逆掩在这套湖相地层之上。由此确定岷江断裂是一条西倾的逆冲断层,逆冲作用发生在中更新世之前。在中更新世时期,岷江逆冲断裂发生构造负反转,在其前缘形成一条东倾的正断层,它控制了岷江上游漳腊盆地的发育。本文认为,岷山地区现今地震活动并非受控于岷江断裂带,而可能受到虎牙断裂及岷山隆起深部滑脱构造的控制,岷江断裂带位于该深部滑脱构造的上部。进而认为逆冲—推覆构造样式可能是青藏高原东缘晚新生代造山和快速隆升的主要变形机制。     

Classification and origin of natural gases from Lishui Sag,the East China Sea Basin

Natural gases discovered up to now in Lishui Sag,the East China Sea Basin,differ greatly in gaseous compositions,of which hydrocarbon gases amount to 2%―94%while non-hydrocarbon gases are dominated by CO2.Their hydrocarbon gases,without exception,contain less than 90%of methane and over 10%of C2 heavier hydrocarbons,indicating a wet gas.Carbon isotopic analyses on these hydrocarbon gases showed thatδ13C 1 ,δ13C 2 andδ13C 3 are basically lighter than-44‰,-29‰and-26‰, respectively.The difference in carbon isotopic values between methane and ethane is great,suggesting a biogenic oil-type gas produced by the mixed organic matter at peak generation.δ13C CO2 values of nonhydrocarbon gases are all heavier than-10‰,indicating a typical abiogenic gas.The simulation experiment on hydrocarbon generation of organic matter in a closed gold-tube system showed that the proportion of methane in natural gases produced by terrigenous organic matter in the Lingfeng Formation marine deposit is obviously higher than that in natural gases derived from the aquatic and terrigenous mixed organic matter in the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine deposit,consequently the proportion of heavier hydrocarbons of the former is remarkably lower than that of the latter.Moreover, δ13C 1 values of natural gases produced by terrigenous organic matter in the Lingfeng Formation marine deposit are about 5‰heavier than those of natural gases derived from the aquatic and terrigenous mixed organic matter in the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine deposit whileδ13C 2 andδ13C 3 values of the former are over 9‰heavier than those of the latter.Currently the LS36-1 oil-gas pool is the only commercial oil-gas reservoir in Lishui Sag,where carbon isotopic compositions of various hydrocarbon components differ greatly from those of natural gases produced by the Lingfeng Formation organic matter but are very similar to those of natural gases derived from the Yueguifeng Formation organic matter,therefore,natural gases in the LS36-1 oil-gas pool are mainly derived from the Yueguifeng Formation lacustrine source rock rather than the Lingfeng Formation marine or Mingyuefeng Formation coal-measures source rocks.     

泥河湾盆地东坡遗址ESR年代学初步研究

中国泥河湾盆地以发育我国北方晚新生代湖相地层和数目众多的古人类文化遗址而闻名于世,是研究中国北方第四纪地质与环境、新旧石器和早期人类演化的一个关键地区。东坡遗址是泥河湾遗址之一,形成时代一直没有确定。根据古地磁和区域地质等分析,初步认为东坡遗址形成时代不早于距今780ka。本文利用石英Ti心ESR法对泥河湾东谷坨剖面B/M界限样品进行了测量,年龄为 750±88ka,这表明利用该方法对泥河湾层水相沉积物进行测年是可行的。我们利用同样方法和参数对东坡遗址进行ESR年代学研究,结果表明东坡遗址文化层的形成时代为距今 304±12ka到333±23ka,平均年龄为321±15ka。     

Lacustrine stromatolites: Useful structures for environmental interpretation – an example from the Miocene Ebro Basin

The significance of stromatolites as depositional environmental indicators and the underlying causes of lamination in the lacustrine realm are poorly understood. Stromatolites in a ca 600 m thick Miocene succession in the Ebro Basin are good candidates to shed light on these issues because they are intimately related to other lacustrine carbonate and sulphate facies, grew under variable environmental conditions and show distinct lamination patterns. These stromatolites are associated with wave‐related, clastic‐carbonate laminated limestones. Both facies consist of calcite and variable amounts of dolomite. Thin planar stromatolites (up to 10 cm thick and less than 6 m long) occurred in very shallow water. These stromatolites represented first biological colonization after: (i) subaerial exposure in the palustrine environment (i.e. at the beginning of deepening cycles); or (ii) erosion due to surge action, then coating very irregular surfaces on laminated limestones (i.e. through shallowing or deepening cycles). Sometimes they are associated with evaporative pumping. Stratiform stromatolites (10 to 30 cm high and tens of metres long) and domed stromatolites (10 to 30 cm high and long) developed in deeper settings, between the surge periods that produced hummocky cross‐stratification and horizontal lamination offshore. Changes in stromatolite lamina shape, and thus in the growth forms through time, can be attributed to changes in water depth, whereas variations in lamina continuity are linked to water energy and sediment supply. Growth of the stromatolites resulted from in situ calcite precipitation and capture of minor amounts of fine‐grained carbonate particles. Based on texture, four types of simple laminae are distinguished. The simple micrite and microsparite laminae can be grouped into light and dark composite laminae, which represent, respectively, high and low Precipitation/Evaporation ratio periods. Different lamination patterns provide new ideas for the interpretation of microbial laminations as a function of variations in climate‐dependent parameters (primarily the Precipitation/Evaporation ratio) over variable timescales.