A climatic control on the accretion of meteoric and super-chondritic iridium–platinum to the Antarctic ice cap

Meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) form through the vaporization of meteoroids and the subsequent re-condensation of metallic species in the mesosphere. Recently, iridium and platinum enrichments have been identified in Greenland ice layers and attributed to the fallout of MSPs supplying polar latitudes with cosmic matter during the Holocene. However, the MSP fallout to Antarctica during the Earth's climatic history remains essentially unknown.

We have determined iridium and platinum in deep Antarctic ice from Dome C and Vostok dated back to 240 kyrs BP. We find high super-chondritic fluxes during warm periods and low meteoric accretion during glacial times, a pattern that is opposite to any known climatic variation in dust fallout to polar regions. The proposed explanation of this accretion regime is a weaker polar vortex during warm periods, allowing peripheral air masses enriched in volcanic iridium and platinum to penetrate inland to Antarctica. The MSP signal emerges only during cold phases and is four times lower than in the Greenland ice cap where more snow accumulates. This suggests that wet deposition is an important route of cosmic material to the Earth's surface.     

Helium and argon isotopic geochemistry of Jinding superlarge Pb-Zn deposit

The study results of He and Ar isotopes from fluid inclusions in pyrites formed during mineralization stage of Jinding superlarge Pb-Zn deposit in west Yunnan, China are reported. The data show that the⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and³He/⁴He ratios of fluid inclusions are respectively in the range of 301. 7–385. 7 and 0. 03–0.06Ra, suggesting the oreforming fluid is a kind of air saturated meteoric groundwater. On the basis of research on coupled relationships among He, Ar, S and Pb isotopes, the evolution history of ore-forming fluid of the deposit can be summarized as (i) air saturated meteogenic groundwater infiltrated down and was heated→ (ii) leached S, C and radiogenic He, Ar from the basinal strata → (iii) leached Pb and Zn from mantle-derived igneous rocks located in the bottom of the basin→ (iv) ore-forming fluid ascended and formed the deposit. Due to this process, the isotope signatures of crustal radiogenic He, atmospheric Ar (with partial radiogenic⁴⁰Ar), crustal S and mantle-derived Pb remained in the ore-forming fluid. Project supported by A30 Project of the National Climbing Program of China and University of Manchester.     

Contribution of environmental isotopes to the understanding of complex hydrologic systems. A case study: Sierra de Gador,SE Spain

Determining the content of ¹⁸O and deuterium in the groundwater at the southern edge of the Sierra de Gador, between October 1991 and March 1993, has enabled identification of the flow system of the waters, the recharge and mixing processes and the possible mechanisms of salinization. Analysis of the precipitation indicates the dominant source and direction of the air masses. The local meteoric water line that is established indicates a primarily Mediterranean origin for the precipitation recharging the aquifers. The variation of ¹⁸O content with altitude (−0·35 per mille per 100 m) enables an estimation of the principal recharge area, which corresponds to a zone between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From precipitation to runoff: stable isotopic fractionation effect of glacier melting on a catchment scale

Stable isotope variability and fractionation associated with transformation of precipitation/accumulation to firn to glacial river water is critical in a variety of climatic, hydrological and paleoenvironmental studies. This paper documents the modification of stable isotopes in water from precipitation to glacier runoff in an alpine catchment located in the central Tibetan Plateau. Isotopic changes are observed by sampling firnpack profiles, glacier surface snow/ice, meltwater on the glacier surface and catchment river water at different times during a melt season. Results show the isotopic fractionation effects associated with glacier melt processes. The slope of the δD‐δ¹⁸O regression line and the deuterium excess values decreased from the initial precipitation to the melt‐impacted firnpack (slope from 9.3 to 8.5 and average d‐excess from 13.4‰ to 7.4‰). The slope of the δD‐δ¹⁸O line further decreased to 7.6 for the glacier runoff water. The glacier surface snow/ice from different locations, which produces the main runoff, had the same δD‐δ¹⁸O line slope but lower deuterium excess (by 3.9‰) compared to values observed in the firnpack profile during the melt season. The δD‐δ¹⁸O regression line for the river water exhibited a lower slope compared to the surface snow/ice samples, although they were closely located on the δD‐δ¹⁸O plot. Isotope values for the river and glacier surface meltwater showed little scatter around the δD‐δ¹⁸O regression line, although the samples were from different glaciers and were collected on different days. Results indicate a high consistency of isotopic fractionation in the δD‐δ¹⁸O relationships, as well as a general consistency and temporal covariation of meltwater isotope values at the catchment scale. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Origin and Distribution of Grain Dolostone Reservoirs in the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation, Sichuan Basin, China

Dolostones in the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation have become one of the most significant gas exploration domains in China. Over a trillion cubic meters of gas reservoirs have been discovered in the Gaoshiti-Moxi area; however, the origins and distribution of the dolostone reservoirs are not well understood. This work discussed the geology and geochemistry of the dolostone reservoirs in the Longwangmiao Formation to determine their origin and distribution. Two understandings are acquired: firstly, a carbonate ramp provided excellent conditions for grain beach deposition, while the presence of a hypersaline lake was favorable for the contemporaneous dolomitization of grain beach deposits. Petrographic and geochemical evidence further confirm that the Longwangmiao dolostone was formed during the contemporaneous stage. Secondly, the reservoir characteristics indicate that the grain beach sediments provide material basis for the development of the Longwangmiao dolostone reservoirs. Reservoir dissolution simulation experiments show that the porosity of the reservoirs was formed by dissolution during contemporaneous and burial stages. The dissolution pores formed during the contemporaneous stage were controlled by sequence interfaces. The large scale dissolution vugs formed during the burial stage subsequently spread along the pre-existing porosity and fracture zones. This study therefore identified that the development of grain dolostone reservoirs in a shallow water ramp under arid climatic conditions generally met the following conditions: (1) reefal beach deposits lay a foundation for reservoir development; (2) superficial conditions are an important determining factor for reservoir porosity; and (3) burial conditions provide environment for porosity preservation and modification.     

巴丹吉林沙漠东南部湖泊和地下水的氢氧同位素特征

通过对巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊和地下水氢氧同位素分析,讨论了沙漠湖水和地下水的补给关系,并结合地下水可溶性固体总量的特征,进一步探讨了巴丹吉林沙漠的蒸发特性。根据氢氧同位素的分析结果,本研究区的蒸发趋势线方程为:δD=4.1δ18O-30.02‰（n=37,R2=0.94）较低的斜率显示了巴丹吉林沙漠强烈的蒸发环境特征。巴丹吉林沙漠东南部湖泊和地下水具有相似的蒸发趋势,推测两者之间存在补给关系。根据沙漠腹地地下水氧同位素值富集程度高于东南部地下水氧同位素值的特点,得出前者蒸发较后者强烈。进而对比其他干旱条件下盐湖的蒸发,结果显示巴丹吉林沙漠湖水存在过度蒸发效应。     

中国降水稳定同位素的分布特点及其影响因素

利用IAEA＼WMO＼GNIP的降水稳定同位素资料,分析了中国降水稳定同位素的时空分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明,整体来看我国降水稳定同位素有明显的大陆效应和高度效应。各地大气降水线存在地域差异,内陆地区同一站点冬、夏半年也有明显差异,显示出水汽团特性的不同。不同地区降水稳定同位素（6和过量氘）的季节变化特征明显不同,表明主要水汽来源存在季节性差异。通过对比长序列降水稳定同位素的年际变化与季风和ENSO指数的关系,发现ENS0与降水稳定同位素有显著的正相关,但不一定通过影响降水量来引起降水稳定同位素（stable isotope in precipitation,SIP）的变化。重点分析了我国降水量效应、温度效应的特点,指出沿海和西南等季风区主要受降水量的影响,北方非季风区温度效应起主要作用,交叉地带则两种效应都有影响。     

Silicification and dolomitization of anhydrite nodules in argillaceous terrestrial deposits: an example of meteoric-dominated diagenesis from the Triassic of central Spain

Cauliflower-shaped nodules are widespread in a single red mudstone bed in the Buntsandstein (Triassic) facies of the Iberian Range. They consist mostly of quartz, dolomite and calcite, but other minerals, such as barite, kaolinite and iron oxyhydroxides, are also present. The nodules are spherical, ovoid or elongate in shape and range from 1 to 8 cm across. The surface of the nodules is irregular, and some show a pedogenic coating of microspar. The sedimentological and petrographic data suggest that the initial anhydrite nodules formed through a progressive increase in the porewater concentration of Ca²⁺ and SO₄^2– in a vadose environment, occasionally under the influence of pedogenic processes. Partial replacement of the anhydrite by megaquartz occurred under more dilute conditions in the same type of setting, as indicated by the presence of organic filaments on the quartz crystal surfaces. In type A nodules, the dissolution of the innermost anhydrite was complete, and different types of quartz cement filled the porosity. Fracturing and meteoric cementation by calcite and minor amounts of kaolinite were the latest processes affecting these nodules. In type B nodules, the dissolution of the anhydrite was incomplete, inhibiting quartz cementation and enabling later dolomitization of the anhydrite. Dolomitization appears to have been driven by sulphate reduction, as indicated by the presence of bacterial bodies within the dolomite crystals. Dedolomitization and precipitation of barite, kaolinite and calcite spar cements occurred later under the influence of meteoric solutions. The nodules may mark the former locations of the water table and provide evidence for an episode of highly evaporitic conditions throughout wide areas of the basin. Their occurrence reveals not only a complex diagenetic history but is also indicative of palaeogeographic and palaeoclimatic conditions.     

西藏拉屋铜多金属矿床的成矿流体特征与成矿机制研究

西藏拉屋铜多金属矿床产于冈底斯构造岩浆成矿带的申扎—旁多铜-银-铅-锌-金成矿亚带内。分别对干矽卡岩阶段(Ⅰ)的石榴石、早期硫化物阶段(Ⅲ)的石英和晚期硫化物阶段(Ⅳ)的方解石中的流体包裹体进行岩相学观察和显微测温研究,研究表明成矿各阶段热液矿物中的流体包裹体主要为气液水两相包裹体,其次为纯液相水包裹体,偶见气液两相甲烷包裹体,石英中也有大量的含NaCl子矿物多相包裹体,其均一温度变化于95～476℃之间,盐度介于1.57%～37.33%,密度变化于0.68～1.23 g/cm3,总体属中-高温、中-高盐度、中等密度的体系;据此计算的成矿压力范围为24.63～133.61 MPa,成矿深度介于2.46～9.64 km,表明该矿床形成于中深成矿环境。不同成矿阶段流体包裹体研究数据表明,该矿床的成矿作用是一个温度、盐度和压力总体显著降低(减小)、密度略渐增大的过程。氢、氧同位素研究表明,成矿流体在主成矿阶段主要为初始混合岩浆水,随着成矿作用进行,大气降水大量加入,到晚期阶段成矿流体逐渐演化成大气降水。成矿流体在Ⅲ阶段(主成矿阶段)发生了沸腾作用,导致成矿元素沉淀形成矿体。因此认为沸腾作用可能是该矿床金属沉淀的主要机制。     

稳定氧碳同位素在碳酸盐岩成岩环境研究中的应用

笔者对湖北宜昌寒武系、奥陶系和鄂尔多斯布１井寒武系、任３井奥陶系的大量样品测试和研究结果表明大气淡水成岩环境中的δ１８Ｏ、δ１３Ｃ值均向较高负值漂移；正常和咸化海水成岩环境中δ１８Ｏ、δ１３Ｃ值均向高正值漂移；较深埋藏成岩δ１８Ｏ值向高负值漂移.且与埋深成反比，而δ１３Ｃ值相对较稳定或向低正值漂移。