Distribution of Rare—earth Elements in the Shenzhen Bay and Dapeng Bay Modern Sediments

The aim of this paper is to study the REE geochemistry of the Shenzhen Bay (SZB) and Dapeng Bay(DPB) modern sediments, discuss their REE distribution patterns, reveal the REE geochemical difference between the two bays which share the same material source but are deposited in different sedimentary environments, and expound their dynamic changes.It can be concluded that the SZB and DPB sediments are essentially of continental source.Their REE distribution patterns are quite different from those of Pacific pelagic sediments, but are very similar to those of South Chi-na granites.Because of different sedimentary environments prevailing in the SZB and DPB, some REE fractionation would have taken place in the sediments of the two bays.     

Mercury,arsenic, antimony,and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River,Bethel, Alaska,USA

The Kuskokwim River at Bethel, Alaska, drains a major mercury-antimony metallogenic province in its upper reaches and tributaries. Bethel (population 4000) is situated on the Kuskokwim floodplain and also draws its water supply from wells located in river-deposited sediment. A boring through overbank and floodplain sediment has provided material to establish a baseline datum for sediment-hosted heavy metals. Mercury (total), arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents were determined; aluminum was also determined and used as normalizing factor. The contents of the heavy metals were relatively constant with depth and do not reflect any potential enrichment from upstream contaminant sources.     

Gravel transport and morphological change in braided sunwapta river,Alberta, Canada

The relation between morphological change and patterns of variation in bedload transport rate in braided streams was observed by repeated, daily topographic surveys over a 25 day study period in a 60 m reach of the proglacial Sunwapta River, Alberta, Canada. There are two major periods of morphological change, each lasting several days and each involving the complete destruction and reconstruction of bar complexes. Bar complex destruction was caused by redirection of the flow and by downstream extension of the confluence scour zone upstream. Reconstruction involved accretion of unit bars on bar head, flank and tail and in one case was initiated by disection of a large, lobate unit bar. High rates of sediment movement, measured from net scour and fill of the cross-sections, coincided with these morphological changes. Sediment was supplied from both bed and bank erosion, and patterns and distances of transfer were highly variable. Rates of transport estimated by matching upstream erosional volumes with downstream deposition were much greater than those estimated from either a step-length approach or a sediment budget. Measurements of scour and fill and observations of morphological change indicate that step lengths (virtual transport distances) were typically 40–100m during a diurnal discharge cycle. Shorter step lengths occurred when transfer was confined to a single anabranch and longer steps involved channel changes at the scale of the entire reach. Sediment budgeting was used to describe the spatial patterns of sediment transport associated with the morphological changes and to estimate minimum daily reach-averaged transport rates. Mean bedload transport rates correlate with discharge, but with considerable scatter. The largest deviations from the mean relation can be tied to phases of channel incision, bank erosion, scour hole migration, bar deposition and channel filling apparently controlled by changes and fluctuations in sediment supply from upstream, independent of discharge. These are interpreted as field evidence of ‘autopulses’ or ‘macropulses’ in bedload transport, previously observed only in laboratory models of braided streams.     

区域次生地球化学负异常模型及其意义

原生地球化学负异常的研究已经引起重视,特别是前苏联的化探工作者还总结出利用地球化学原生负异常对热液矿床进行普查和评价的准则.但是,由于缺乏可供对比的划分负异常的适当方法,使得对负异常的研究不能系统化,研究结果也不能互相对比,尤其是对于区域水系沉积物测量中发现的负异常研究很少.本文通过对几个地区衬值负异常的分析,系统地探讨了区域性负异常的分布特征、负异常与正异常的关系、负异常的地质意义和找矿信息等.总结出单元素和多元素区域负异常的分布模型.建立了AU和Cu矿床的区域正负、异常模型.提出了地球化学异常是由正异常和负异常组成的.     

南丹铁陨石物态方程用于地核的研究

从南丹铁陨石的物态方程和地球的PREM模型出发,求得内外地核交界面处的物质密度为12.83-13.419/cm~3,温度为5440-5680K;地心处物质密度为13.12-13.73g/cm~3,温度为5660-5990K,推估内地核可能由铁镍合金组成.     

Equipment and procedure improvements for a lightweight,inexpensive, percussion core sampling system

This paper describes improvements for an inexpensive, lightweight percussion core sampling system and presents examples of recovered core. The system has proven most effective in remote settings where the weight of a coring system may be a constraint. Cores of up to 5.5 m in length have been recovered and the system has functioned successfully in water depths to 200 m. The system weighs approximately 25 kg and costs less than $450.00 (US).The percussion corer is designed for operation from a stable ice-pack surface. The core barrel assembly is lowered through the water column and driven into sediment with a weighted driver. A secondary line is used to raise and drop the driver. The driver is guided to the core barrel assembly by the main line. Cores are retrieved by a simple pulley system anchored to the ice pack.     

Distribution coefficients of210Pb and210Po in laboratory and natural aquatic systems

We have measured the distribution coefficient (Kd) of²¹⁰Po and²¹⁰Pb in laboratory systems and in natural freshwater systems. In the laboratory systems, an inverse relationship was observed between the particle concentration of sand or lake sediment, and the distribution coefficients of²¹⁰Po and²¹⁰Pb. The slope of the log-linearK _d vs particle concentration relation is consistent with existingK _d-particle concentration theories. These laboratory observations are consistent with similar measurements in two lakes. TheK _d values of Po and Pb for the bottom sediment-pore water system with a high particle concentration were 10 to 100 times lower than those for dilute concentrations of particles suspended in the lake water. TheK _d of²¹⁰Pb in the sediments was >10⁴ so that the diffusive transport of²¹⁰Pb has only a small influence on the interpretation of²¹⁰Pb concentration-depth profiles and the²¹⁰Pb dating of these sediments.This is the second of a series of papers to be published by this journal following the 20^th anniversary of the first application of²¹⁰Pb dating of lake sediments. Dr P. G. Appleby is guest editing.