TRACE ELEMENT DISTRIBUTION AND IMPLICATIONS IN SEDIMENTS ACROSS THE ALLERØD–YOUNGER DRYAS BOUNDARY IN THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Younger Dryas cooling occurred between 12.8 and 11.7 ka bp . This cooling is thought to have been the result of an abrupt change in atmospheric and oceanic circulations. One of the hypotheses explaining such a change suggests that just before the onset of the Younger Dryas cooling, multiple airbursts/impacts occurred over the Northern Hemisphere. We studied the late Pleistocene sediments from the Netherlands and Belgium to check whether a sudden short event might have taken place just before the onset of the Younger Dryas cooling. The geochemical features revealed suggest that such events might have occurred. The presence of products of biomass burning is suggested on the basis of trace element features of sediments from the lower Younger Dryas boundary. The presence of a volcanic component and a component resulting from extensive biomass burning in the sediments of c. 12.9 ka bp are indicated on the basis of trace element features. The volcanic component may be related to the Laacher See volcano eruption, whereas the cause of the extensive biomass burning remains unclear.     

铺前—清澜断裂西支晚更新世活动特征

海域浅层地震探测调查表明,铺前—清澜断裂向北西海域方向延伸,断裂走向NW-SE,倾向SW,为高倾角的正断层;在地震剖面上,断裂断错了第四系地层;进一步应用钻探技术对铺前—清澜断裂进行探测研究,结合层序地层学、岩性岩相分析与年代测定等方法建立了钻孔联合剖面,揭示断层性质为正断层,倾向SW,断距4.0 m,断层的最新活动时代为晚更新世,第四纪表现为张性活动,断裂的平均垂直速率为0.15 mm/a。     

The past in dust: current trends and future directions in Pleistocene geoarcheology of European loess

Loess is a main archive of Pleistocene landscapes and environments and therefore has an important connection to the preservation and interpretation of Paleolithic sites. In Europe, anthropogenic sites have been found in loess because of past local occupation. At one extreme, sites are well preserved with minimal disturbance often accompanied by embedded proxies to estimate ecological parameters. On the other hand, loess deposits have undergone post-depositional alterations such as weathering, pedogenesis or bioturbation due to changing environmental conditions or other disturbances that obscure anthropogenic sites. We outline the current state of research and connections between Paleolithic archeology and loess research while introducing a series of subsequent regional case studies as part of a special issue. We also make recommendations for future work to incorporate a wider variety of methods to create more robust inferences on hominin and environmental evolution and their connections.     

山西长治盆地中更新世气候转型期环境变化特征

中更新世气候转型(MPT)是第四纪环境变化的一个重要时期,该时期气候模式、气候周期等均发生了明显变化,然而不同区域对中更新世气候转型的响应特征存在明显差异.本研究选取了长治盆地XZK4钻孔中更新世转型前后(1.8～0.1 Ma)共207个样品,通过古地磁定年,运用粒度端元分析和孢粉分析,阐述了长治盆地中更新世转型期的环境变化与湖泊演化特征.结果显示,1.8 Ma以来,孢粉组合中乔木花粉含量多高于60％,但个别时段草本植物花粉占优,显示区域植被多数阶段为森林,但存在明显冷期,并且1.1 Ma和0.55 Ma是研究区环境转变的重要转折点.中更新世转型期前(～1.1 Ma):沉积物粒度总体较细,黏土含量多高于25％,EM1组分(湖相沉积)多高于60％,EM3(河流相组分)在个别时段出现,总体显示该阶段沉积物组成以湖相沉积为主,个别阶段受到河流影响大;中更新世转型时期(1.1～0.55 Ma):沉积物粒度较上一阶段更细,黏土含量(平均为30％)、EM1占比和孢粉浓度均达到研究段最高,沉积物颜色以棕灰色为主,EM3组分占比降至最低,其中1.1～0.95 Ma喜冷的云杉属花粉出现,显示该时期研究区气候总体偏冷湿,湖泊面积较1.1 Ma之前扩大;中更新世转型后(～0.55 Ma):沉积物粒度明显变粗,达到钻孔最高值,沉积物颜色变黄,EM2(风成组分)和EM3占主导,草本植物含量增加,尤其是喜干的蒿属花粉增加明显,表明气候较之前变干,沉积物类型以风力沉积为主,湖泊消亡.综合对比显示,构造运动是影响长治古湖消长的主要驱动力,气候变干加剧了湖泊消亡.     

Coenotypes in Submerged Paleoforests in the Qianhu Bay, Fujian Province

The paleoforest remains studied are distributed within a range of 18000 m^2 in the intertidal zone of the Qianhu Bay, Fujian Province. Eighty-nine ancient tree stumps can be clearly recognized in the paleoforest remains. Microscopic studies of 10 relatively low-carbonized stump samples definitely showed four species： Glyptostrobus pensUi （Staunt） Kouch, Schima superba Gardn., Cinnamomum Schaeffer, and Litsea Lam. The 14^C dating of some samples yielded the ages of 42560±350 to 〉43000 a B. P., corresponding to the late Late Pleistocene.     

晚更新世以来台湾浅滩西北近岸沉积特征与古环境演化

对取自台湾浅滩西北部福建东山岛外的浅钻ZK2孔进行了包括AMS14C测年、粒度、微体古生物、碎屑矿物和黏土矿物等分析.结果表明该孔地层中存在两个明显的海相层和其间的两个陆相层,顶部的海相层为全新世高海平面以来形成的被现代潮流作用改造的现代沉积和残留沉积混合体;底部陆相层为MIS4期低海平面时期形成的河流沉积;中间的细粒...     

大连地区更新世的哺乳动物

大连地区碳酸盐岩分布广泛 ,裂隙溶洞发育 ,洞穴堆积物中蕴含了丰富的更新世哺乳动物化石和古文化遗物 ,在境内陆地和附近海域陆续发现了 30余处化石点。在众多的化石点中尤以古龙山遗址和大连动物群最引人注目 ,前者在同一地点内采集到 377种上万件的脊椎动物骨骼化石 ,并伴有石器、骨器、灰烬等远古人类活动的遗物 ;后者包括了 2 8种早更新世的小型哺乳动物 ,这是大连乃至东北地区的首次报导。这些事实说明了东北地区不只是仅有晚更新世的动物群 ,至少还有早更新世的大连动物群 ,即使在晚更新世 ,也不只是单一的披毛犀 -猛犸象动物群 ,还存在着具有从华北向东北过渡性质的古龙山动物群。今后工作中应注意寻找古人类及中更新世的哺乳动物化石 ,加强对全新世动物遗骨的研究。     

新元古代冰期及其年代

新元古代在全球范围内出现了几期冰期事件,称之为“雪球地球”事件。这种剧烈的环境变化带来此后地球上生命演化的一次飞跃。“雪球地球”事件的核心是全球冰期的同时性,需要同位素地质年代学的证据。新元古代末期两次主要的冰期事件是Marinoan冰期和Sturtian冰期,其中Marinoan冰期结束于635Ma;Sturtian冰期可能发生在710～720Ma,已发表的年龄数据限定它在670Ma之前结束。Marinoan冰期后的Gaskiers冰期发生在580～590Ma。对华南的古城、铁丝坳、长安组、江口组等进行进一步精确定年,将对限定Sturtian冰期持续时间和Cryogenian、南华系的下限年龄具有重要意义。     

南海西南部晚更新世以来元素地球化学特征的古环境意义

对南海西南部近湄公河三角洲中陆坡上的MD01-2392站样品进行的地球化学分析表明,该站的沉积物主要为湄公河带来的陆源碎屑,并且其物源四十万年来没有发生明显变化。分别用元素TiO2、CaO估算出沉积物中陆源碎屑的含量及CaCO3的含量,结果显示CaCO3在间冰期时高,而在冰期时低,表现出“大西洋旋回”的特征。陆源碎屑含量与CaCO3含量相反,显示出南海CaCO3旋回属于稀释旋回。元素的Ti标准化值表明,该站沉积物源区在冰期时化学风化弱,而在间冰期时相对较强,说明间冰期时物源区存在相对温暖湿润的气候环境。