HD 1: The number‐one star in the sky

We present the first ever study of the bright star HD 1. The star was chosen arbitrarily just because of its outstanding Henry Draper number. Surprisingly, almost nothing is known about this bright 7.^m4 star. Our observations were performed as part of the commissioning of the robotic telescope facility STELLA and its fiber‐fed high‐resolution optical echelle spectrograph SES in the years 2007–2010. We found long‐term radial velocity variations with a full amplitude of 9 km s^–1 with an average velocity of –29.8 km s^–1 and suggest the star to be a hitherto unknown single‐lined spectroscopic binary. A preliminary orbit with a period of 6.2 years (2279±69 days) and an eccentricity of 0.50±0.01 is given. Its rms uncertainty is just 73 m s^–1. HD 1 appears to be a G9‐K0 giant of luminosity class IIIa with T_eff = 4850±100 K, logg = 2.0±0.2, L ≈ 155 L_⊙, a mass of 3.0±0.3 M_⊙, a radius of 17.7 R_⊙, and an age of ≈350 Myr. A relative abundance analysis led to a metallicity of [Fe/H] = –0.12 ± 0.09. The α ‐element silicon may indicate an overabundance of +0.13 though. The low strengths of some s‐process lines and a lower limit for the ¹²C/¹³C isotope ratio of ≥16 indicate that HD 1 is on the first ascend of the RGB. The absorption spectral lines appear rotationally broadened with a v sin i of 5.5±1.2 km s^–1 but no chromospheric activity is evident. We also present photometric monitoring BV (RI)_C data taken in parallel with STELLA. The star is likely a small‐amplitude (<10 mmag) photometric variable although no periodicity was found (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

内蒙古西乌旗南部石炭纪石英闪长岩地球化学特征及其构造意义

内蒙古西乌旗地区位于贺根山蛇缘岩带和西拉木伦缝合带之间,区内岩浆岩分布广泛。本文对达其浑迪和金星石英闪长岩进行了锆石LAICPMS UPb定年,结果表明两个岩体分别形成于325±3Ma和322±3Ma。岩石学和地球化学分析结果显示岩石属于低钾拉斑系列和钙碱性系列,相对富集Rb、Ba、K等大离子亲石元素（LILE）,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、P等高场强元素化学。地球化学成分表明岩体具有俯冲带成因的特征。通过区域对比分析,苏左旗和西乌旗地区均发育一套角闪闪长岩、石英闪长岩、英云闪长岩及花岗闪长岩组合,与岛弧和活动大陆边缘岩浆岩组合相似,共同构成早石炭世晚期到晚石炭世的岩浆弧,该岩浆弧的出现与古亚洲洋板片向北俯冲有关。     

Quaternary evolution of the intermontane Val d'Agri Basin, Southern Apennines

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) enables the chronology of the late Pleistocene evolution for the Val d'Agri intermontane basin of Southern Apennines to be defined in the frame of Mediterranean geodynamic and climate changes. Quartz sand from braided floodplain and alluvial fan depositional systems was analyzed using the coarse-grained, single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) technique. The obtained optical ages are mostly consistent with other assessments (radiocarbon, tephrochronology) and stratigraphic constraints. OSL allows for the dating to 56–43 ka of an asymmetric subsidence stage that forced alluvial fan progradation, filling of a former lacustrine area, and development of an axial alluvial plain. A short period of Mediterranean-type pedogenesis, recorded at the top of the prograding-aggrading fans (OSL age bracket 43–32 ka), corresponds with MIS 3. During the subsequent stage of decline of vegetation cover, possibly corresponding to MIS 2, the latest progradation of alluvial fans occurred. The subsequent uplift and breakthrough of the basin threshold during the latest Pleistocene and Holocene induced entrenchment of the drainage network. The results presented here provide an example of the usefulness of OSL dating in intermontane continental settings where other geochronological constraints are scarce.     

Late Pleistocene eolian features in southeastern Maryland and Chesapeake Bay region indicate strong WNW–NW winds accompanied growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet

Inactive parabolic dunes are present in southeastern Maryland, USA, along the east bank of the Potomac River. More elongate and finer-grained eolian deposits and paha-like ridges characterize the Potomac River–Patuxent River upland and the west side of Chesapeake Bay. These ridges are streamlined erosional features, veneered with eolian sediment and interspersed with dunes in the low-relief headwaters of Potomac- and Patuxent-river tributaries. Axis data for the dunes and ridges indicate formation by WNW–NW winds. Optically stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon age data suggest dune formation from  33–15 ka, agreeing with the 30–13 ka ages Denny, C.S., Owens, J.P., Sirkin, L., Rubin, M., 1979. The Parsonburg Sand in the central Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland and Delaware. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 1067-B, 16 pp. suggested for eolian deposits east of Chesapeake Bay. Age range and paleowind direction(s) for eolian features in the Bay region approximate those for late Wisconsin loess in the North American midcontinent. Formation of midcontinent loess and Bay-region eolian features was coeval with rapid growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and strong cooling episodes (δ¹⁸O minima) evident in Greenland ice cores. Age and paleowind-direction coincidence, for eolian features in the midcontinent and Bay region, indicates strong mid-latitude WNW–NW winds for several hundred kilometers south of the Laurentide glacial terminus that were oblique to previously simulated anticyclonic winds for the last glacial maximum.     

Tufa as a record of perennial fresh water in a semi-arid rift basin, Kapthurin Formation, Kenya

Lithological and biological features of a fossiliferous tufa in the Kapthurin Formation, Baringo, Kenya, reveal the presence of a lush wetland in a semi-arid environment during the Middle Pleistocene ( ca 500 ka) in this portion of the East African Rift Valley. Four geological sections, each between 3 m and 8 m in thickness, exposed over a distance of 0·5 km, reveal a 1 to 2 m thick paludal tufa which is composed of three carbonate beds, two dark grey silty claystones and a reddish-brown silty palaeosol. High resolution stratigraphic analysis, carbonate petrography, stable isotope and elemental geochemistry, clay mineralogy and fossil remains (molluscs, ostracods, diatoms and charophytes) reveal a ground water-fed system that fluctuated in depth and periodically disappeared altogether. Oxygen isotope ratios (δ¹⁸O) of tufa matrix range from −4·5‰ to −8·0‰ (Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) and become more positive up section, indicating the decreasing influence of fault-related fluids and increasing residence time or freshness of wetland water, rather than evaporative enrichment. This spring was situated on a lake margin during low lake levels, thrived during periods of increased ground water input and was ultimately replaced by an alkaline lake. The wetland would appear to have existed during a cool interval within the generally warm Marine Isotope Stage 13 or perhaps during the warm second half of Marine Isotope Stage 13. The ground water source of this wetland arose through a fault system. Thus, the position of the tufa deposit is controlled structurally but the timing and duration of the wetland system may have been influenced by both climatic and tectonic factors.     

Discovery of Radiolaria from the Zongzhuo Formation in Tianba,Kangmar,Tibet and its Age Implication

Abstract: There is a group of variegated marine deposits, including the red beds widespread in the area of Tianba, Kangmar, southern Tibet, which previous works have contributed to Cretaceous Zongzhuo Formation by lithologic associations only, but with poor fossil evidence. Due to the absence of age dating fossils, the red bed age is obscure. Abundant Cretaceous radiolaria were discovered from the Zongzhuo Formation in the present study. In spite of the poor general preservation of some radiolarian specimens as recrystallized quartz infillings, 58 species from 46 genera of radiolaria, extracted from chert and silicous limestone of the Zongzhuo Formation in Kangmar, were identified on the basis of their shape and ornamentation. Based on the radiolaria, the age of the Zongzhuo Formation of this area has been referred to as Late Cretaceous. The new radiolarian data from the Zongzhuo Formation of Tianba area provide a local basis to correlate these deposits with other regions of the Tethyan Himalaya.     

我国东北地区晚更新世中晚期环境变化与猛犸象—披毛犀动物群绝灭研究综述

通过对文献资料的总结、统计分析,结合对我国东北地区的实地考察和初步研究结果,论述了我国东北地区晚更新世中晚期以来环境变化与猛犸象—披毛犀动物群演化、灭绝的研究现状和存在问题及其与国际对相应时段猛犸象研究之间的差距。提出加强对我国东北地区晚更新世气候环境的重建、认识气候变化的区域特点和突变性,系统而可靠地建立以猛犸象—披毛犀为主的化石动物年代序列、区分主要类型化石动物年代是研究的关键。以独立的气候环境变化和化石动物的年代序列为参照系,在区域环境变化的框架内讨论化石动物群生存的气候环境、生态特征和灭绝过程,进而探讨动物群演化及灭绝与气候环境变化的关系。这将为认识区域环境突变、动植物对环境变化的响应、我国东北地区晚更新世猛犸象—披毛犀动物群与欧亚大陆其它地区猛犸象之间的内在联系,认识人类演化与生存环境的适应、动植物演替与绝灭的临界条件等一系列重大科学问题提供资料。     

青藏高原第四纪冰川的早期记录及其构造与气候含义

综合青藏高原第四纪冰川早期记录的研究进展和典型盆地地层、沉积、古生物、古环境研究的系统成果,扎达盆地香孜组上部冻融层的出现代表了区域的古海拔达到了高原冰缘的高度,即3 500 m以上.这一段地层的时代可能从2.3 Ma前后开始.并与贡巴砾石层下部冰水沉积层的时代基本一致.卓奥友冰期和希夏邦马冰期的时代与扎达盆地沉积结束后,直接覆盖其上的终碛垄和冰碛垄的时代大致相当,展现了这一时期喜马拉雅山脉的山岳冰川进一步发育,也说明喜马拉雅山脉作为青藏高原海拔最高的地区开始冰冻圈的环境很可能在早更新世早中期.川西地区的早更新世的冰川沉积说明东喜马拉雅构造结附近地区这一时期已经抬升至冰冻圈高度,但是,海拨高度与气候环境与喜马拉雅山脉应有不同.具体的时代仍需要深入工作.青藏高原普遍开始冰冻罔记录是在中更新世早期.伴随着全球冰期的到来,这一时期的冰川作用在青藏高原最为发育和广泛.这些暗示着青藏高原在中更新世早期整体性地较快速抬升进入冰冻圈,即海拔3 500 m以上.详细的过程仍有待深入研究.     

内蒙古萨拉乌苏河流域第四系更新统上部萨拉乌苏阶基本特征剖析

本文概述了对内蒙古萨拉乌苏河流域酒房台剖面更新统上部年代地层-萨拉乌苏阶初步研究的成果.萨拉乌苏阶底部为黄棕色砂层.底界年龄暂定为150 ka.顶界年龄约10 ka,萨拉乌苏阶上部与下部界线年龄约75 ka.萨拉乌苏阶下部以湖沼相沉积为主,夹风、河流堆积物:上部以风成砂为主,夹湖沼相沉积物.150 ka以来该区经受3次水体扩张3次风砂侵入.阶内代表性的古脊椎动物化石,下部是:鄂尔多斯人(即河套人)、主氏水牛、诺氏象、河套大角鹿、哈克图转角羊等:上部是:披毛犀和野驴等.古气候特征是:150～75ka期间,以温湿为主,但中间曾夹有多次气候波动.75～60 ka时期气候转为干冷、多风,60～20 ka间气候明显暖湿,20～10 ka气候又转温.     

华北平原晚更新世以来岩石地层、生物地层及气候地层

前人对华北平原晚更新世以来的地层虽有较多的研究,但由于历史的原因,其所采的样品均过稀(一般为1个样品/2 m),所以,其地层界线的划分不够精细,争论也很大。对华北平原的HG1孔和HN1孔进行了加密采样(HG1孔1个样品/0.20 m,HN1孔1个样品/0.07 m),对HN1孔还加大了其微量14C年龄的测定数量(共测试17个样品),并对HG1孔的有孔虫进行了详细鉴定,对HN1孔的有孔虫进行了高分辨率鉴别。在此基础上,对华北平原晚更新世以来的岩石地层、生物地层及气候地层进行了进一步的研究,厘定了华北平原全新世与晚更新世地层的年龄界线。与此同时,结合前人的研究成果,建立了华北平原第四纪地层的标准模式地层层系。