Paleotemperature changes over the past 3000 years in eastern Beijing,China:A reconstraction based on Mg/Sr records in a stalagmite

The Mg/Sr ratio in a stalagmite,whic is directly proportinonal to DMg/Ca,the solid-liquid distribution coefficient of Mg,is proposed as a geochemical thermometer to estimate paleotemperature changes,The paleotemperature change in eastern Beijing over the past 3000 years has been reconstructed by using this thermometer in the stalagmite ZFFS-1 from Jingdong Cave,The records can be divided into two periods:3000-2000 aBP,cool and wet ,the air temperature averaging 9.8℃;and 2000aBP-present, hot and dry,the air temperature being 1℃ higher than the mean value (11.7℃) of the past 3000 years ,During 500-200 aBP,the air temperature was about 1.2℃ lower than that of the present,corresponding to the Little Ice Age Europe Like δ^18O and δ^C ,Mg/Sr (or DMg/Ca) reflects and obviously warming trend of the past 200 years,These results are supported by historic recods.     

Characteristics of strontium isotopes and their implications in the Qixing Cave of Guizhou,China

The strontium isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr) of samples including soils, bedrock, soil waters, drip waters and their corresponding speleothems in the Qixing Cave (QXC), Guizhou Province, China, were systemically measured and analyzed. The results indicate that there are significant Sr isotopic differences among samples. The mean 87Sr/86Sr ratios in drip water for the samples 1#, 4# and 9# were 0.709568, 0.709139 and 0.708761, respectively, which possibly result from different flow paths, residence times, and other hydrogeological processes in the unsaturated zone overlying QXC. Meanwhile, levels of 40.8%, 57.6% and 72.4% of Sr in drip waters for 1#, 4# and 9#, respectively, were derived from bedrock dissolution, which was calculated by the mixture model of the two end-members (soil and bedrock). There is, however, no positive correlation between the relative proportion from bedrock dissolution (δ13C value is 1.8‰) and drip water δ13CDIC values. The mean drip water δ13CDIC value in 1# is the heaviest (–4.5‰) with the lowest contribution rate of bedrock dissolution, whereas the value in 9# is the lightest (–9.3‰) with the highest contribution rate of bedrock dissolution. The proportion from host rock dissolution in 4# is higher than that in 1# and lower than that in 9#, while its mean drip water δ13CDIC value (–8.6‰) is higher than that of 9# and lower than that for 1#. This suggests that the prior calcite precipitation (PCP) processes in the unsaturated zone overlying the cave are responsible for the δ13CDIC value differences between different drip waters, and not bedrock dissolution. Furthermore, this study also demonstrates that the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of speleothems in the 1# and 4# mainly reflect the variation in the relative proportions from the soil system (soil water) and bedrock dissolution overlying the cave. It is, therefore, feasible to use the strontium isotopic signals of speleothems as an indicator for soil chemical weathering intensity, and consequently as a monsoon proxy in the study area.     

Seasonal variations and environmental controls on stalagmite calcite crystal growth in Heshang Cave,central China

Stalagmite growth rates are usually considered to reflect changes in paleoclimate and paleoenvironment. However, how exactly growth rates are affected by climate and environment is still unclear. We launched a monitoring and modeling program that lasted approximately 4 years on two active drip sites in Heshang Cave, central China. We collected comprehensive quantitative data on growth rates, cave temperature, CO₂ concentration, drip rate and drip-water chemistry to better understand the relationship between stalagmite growth and cave environment. By laying out glass substrates, we successfully grew stalagmite calcite crystals with rhombic characteristics, and quantified growth rates by measuring the long and short axes of calcite crystals under a microscope. Combined with coeval environmental data, we explicitly examined the roles of cave temperature, drip rate and drip-water chemistry in controlling the micro-scale growth of stalagmite calcite. Results show that growth of stalagmite calcite crystals at two drip sites exhibited similar seasonal variations − generally faster in the summer months, at ∼3 μm d⁻¹, and slower during the late winter to early spring, at ∼1.5 μm d⁻¹. Variations in calcite growth rates were mainly determined by changes in cave temperature, with the growth rate increasing by 8.1%/°C and 6.6%/°C at the two locations. This indicates the potential use of stalagmite growth rates as a seasonal-resolution paleo-temperature proxy in some ventilated caves. On the other hand, the effect of drip rate and drip-water Ca²⁺ and SIC values on growth rates were not significant.     

The development of silicate matrix phosphors with broad excitation band for phosphor-convered white LED

This paper briefly reviews the recent progress in alkaline earth silicate host luminescent materials with broad excitation band for phosphor-convered white LED. Among them, the Sr-rich binary phases （Sr, Ba, Ca, Mg）2SiO4：Eu^2＋ and （Sr, Ba, Ca, Mg）3SiO5：Eu^2＋ are excellent phosphors for blue LED chip white LED. They have very broad excitation bands and exhibit strong absorption of blue radiation in the range of 450-480 nm. And they exhibit green and yellow-orange emission under the InGaN blue LED chip radiation, respectively. The luminous efficiency of InGaN-based （Sr, Ba, Ca, Mg）=SiO4： Eu^2＋ and （Sr, Ba, Ca, Mg）3SiO5：Eu^2＋ is about 70-80 lm/W, about 95 %-105% that of the InGaN-based YAG ：Ce, while the correlated color temperature is between 4600--11000 K. Trinary alkaline earth silicate host luminescent materials MO（M=Sr, Ca, Ba）-Mg（Zn）O-SiO2 show strong absorption of deep blue/near-ultraviolet radiation in the range of 370-440 nm. They can convert the deep blue/near-ultraviolet radiation into blue, green, and red emissions to generate white light. The realization of high-performance white-light LEDs by this approach presents excellent chromaticity and high color rendering index, and the application disadvantages caused by the mixture of various matrixes can be avoided. Moreover, the application prospects and the trends of research and development of alkaline earth silicate phosphors are also discussed.     

Quantitative reconstruction of the paleosalinity in the Daihai Lake, Inner Mongolia, China

Ostracods are small bivalved aquatic crustaceans. They secrete shells of low-Mg calcite that are often preserved in lake sediments. Recent work has shown that the uptake of trace elements (especially Mg and Sr) into the shell may be a function of the salinity and temperature of the host water. We measured Sr/Ca ratios in living ostracod valves from the species of genus Limnocythere cf. inopinata and Sr²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratios of the host water to calculate distribution coefficient of genus Limnocythere cf. inopinata in the Daihai Lake. A function for Sr²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio and salinity was established by measuring a series of Sr²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratios and salinities of the lake water in different places of the Daihai Lake. Finally paleosalinities of the lake water were quantitatively reconstructed by the Sr/Ca ratios of ostracod shells of the same species in sediment core of the Daihai Lake.     

Orbital- and millennial-scale variability of the Asian monsoon during MIS8 from Sanbao Cave at Mount Shennongjia,central China

One stalagmite oxygen isotope record from Sanbao Cave, China, established with 7 230Th ages and 355 oxygen isotope data, pro- vides a continuous history of the East Asian Monsoon (EAM) intensity for the period from 284 to 240 thousand years before present (ka BP) with typical errors of 3―4 ka. This new record extends the previously published stalagmite δ18O record back to the marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 8. The MIS8 EAM record broadly follows orbitally-induced insolation variations and is punctuated by...     

川东北宋家洞石笋氧碳同位素及锶含量突变分析

通过对宋家洞石笋SJ3的氧碳同位素及锶含量进行Mann-Kendall test突变分析,得出以下结论:(1)氧同位素值记录了末次冰盛期向Heinrich Event 1时期的转变;(2)碳同位素值和锶含量记录了由H1冷期向BФlling-AllerФd暖期的转变;(3)碳同位素值和锶含量指示了在19.8～15.3ka时当地的东亚夏季风和冬季风呈正相关关系,在15.3～14.8 ka呈负相关关系,表明石笋SJ3记录了古气候环境的冷干、暖湿变化,且不同气候指标对环境变化的敏感度不同。     

Transmission of oxygen isotope signals of precipitation-soil water-drip water and its implications in Liangfeng Cave of Guizhou,China

According to systemically monitoring results of oxygen （hydrogen） isotope compositions of precipitation, soil waters, soil CO2, cave drip waters and their corresponding speleothems in Liangfeng Cave （LFC） in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, it is found that local precipitation is the main source of soil waters and drip waters, and that the amplitudes of those δ18O values of three waters （precipitation, soil water and drip water） decrease in turn in the observed year, which are 0‰ to -10‰, -2‰ to -9‰ and -6‰ to -8‰, respectively. Moreover, the δ18O values for three waters show a roughly simultaneous variation, namely, that those values are lighter in the rainy seasons, weightier in the dry seasons, and that the average δ18O value of drip waters is about 0.3‰ weightier than that of precipitation, which is modified by surface evaporation processes. We also find that oxygen isotope equilibrium is reached or neared in the formation processes of speleothems in LFC system, and that it is feasible to reconstruct paleotemperature and paleoprecipitation by using δ18O values of speleothems. However, it should be noted that surface evaporation would affect the oxygen isotope values in the study area.     

重庆东部40～46kaBP气候事件的石笋记录

石笋的 w(Mg)/w(Sr) 值与Mg的固液分配系数 D_Mg/Ca 直接相关,可作为估算古温度变化的地球化学温度计。用武隆县芙蓉洞的石笋中的Ca、Mg、Sr地球化学值重建了重庆东部40～46kaBP的古气候变化。古气候重建结果显示：46～44.6kaBP为温凉期;44.6～40.6kaBP为持续稳定的冷湿期;40.6～40kaBP为干热期。分辨率达51～135a的古温度曲线清晰地显示了41～42kaBP时期的Heinrich事件H4和在40、45和45.7kaBP的3个暖事件（IS8,9,10）,该结果与前人资料在误差范围内有很好的吻合。     

Modern systematics and environmental significance of stable isotopic variations in Wanxiang Cave, Wudu, Gansu, China

This paper presents the stable isotopic compositions from the cave dripwater and actively forming soda straw stalactites collected from Wanxiang Cave, Wudu, Gansu, located on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Loess Plateau transition zone, China. The δ^18Odw and δDdw of dripwater samples in the cave plot directly on the local MWL, constructed by using GNIP data from 3 sites surrounding the cave regions (Lanzhou, Xi‘an, and Chengdu), the nearest site to the cave, suggesting that there is a close relationship be-tween the δ^18Odw of the cave water and the δ^18O of the pre-cipitations. Using the measured δ^18Odw and δ^18Omc values from the mid-farthest parts from the cave entrance and the carbonate paleotemperature equation, the calculated temperatures range from 8.9 to 12.4℃, with the mean value of 10.7℃ and the temperature calculated at 8 locations in the farthest part of the cave is in the range of 10.I--12.4℃, with the mean value of 11.5℃, being consistent with the survey value(10.99℃)in the cave, slightly lower than the mean annual temperature (14.4℃) in Wudu. This suggests that modern speleothems are forming under isotopic equilibrium and their isotopic composition accurately reflects the mean annual temperature at the surface, indicating that the isotopic composition of the modern speleothems records local temperature change with credibility.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> at a carbon paste electrode modified with a nickel (II)-5, 11, 17, 23-tetra-tert-butyl-25, 27-bis(Diethylcarbamoylmethoxy) calix[4] arene complex and its application

Electrochemical behavior of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with nickel(II)-5, 11, 17, 23-tetra-tert-butyl-25, 27-bis(diethylcarbamoylmethoxy) calix[4]arene (Ni (II)-L) complex and its electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide were investigated by cyclic voltammetric technique in a 5.0×10⁻² mol/L NaClO₄+1.0×10⁻³ mol/L NaOH solution. It was found that Ni(II)-L acts as an effective catalyst for the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide. The modified electrode exhibited a linear response over a hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the range of 2.0×10⁻⁵−1.0×10⁻⁴ mol/L with a detection limit as low as 1.0×10⁻⁶ mol/L. The relative standard deviation was 3.5% for 5 successive determinations of H₂O₂ at 1.0×10⁻⁵ mol/L. The modified electrode was used successfully in rainwater analysis. Foundation item: Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (98J040). Biography: Li Chun ya(1972-), Ph. D. candidate, research direction: electroanalysis and electrosynthesis.     

Asian summer monsoon precipitation recorded by stalagmite oxygen isotopic composition in the western Loess Plateau during AD1875―2003 and its linkage with ocean-atmosphere system

Based on 5 high-precision ^230Th dates and 103 stable oxygen isotope ratios （51eO） obtained from the top 16 mm of a stalagmite collected from Wanxiang Cave, Wudu, Gansu, variation of monsoonal precipitation in the modern Asian Monsoon （AM） marginal zone over the past 100 years was reconstructed. Comparison of the speleothem δ^18O record with instrumental precipitation data at Wudu in the past 50 years indicates a high parallelism between the two curves, suggesting that the speleothem δ^18O is a good proxy for the AM strength and associated precipitation, controlled by ＂amount effect＂ of the precipitation. Variation of the monsoonal precipitation during the past 100 years can be divided into three stages, increasing from AD 1875 to 1900, then decreasing from AD 1901 to 1946, and increasing again thereafter. This variation is quite similar to that of the Drought/Flooding index archived from Chinese historical documents. This speleothem-derived AM record shows a close association with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation （PDO） between AD 1875 and 1977, with higher monsoonal precipitation corresponding to cold PDO phase and vice versa at decadal timescale. The monsoonal precipitation variation is out of phase with the PDO after AD 1977, probably resulting from the decadal climate jump in the north Pacific occurring at around AD 1976/77. These results demonstrate a strong linkage between the AM and associated precipitation and the Pacific Ocean via ocean/atmosphere interaction. This relationship will aid to forecast future hydrological cycle for the AM monsoon region, and to improve forecasting potential of climatic model with observation data from cave.     

Seasonal variations in the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of suspended particulate matter in the lower Changjiang River: Provenance and erosion constraints

Suspended particulate matter samples were collected monthly for more than 2 years in Nanjing,China to examine seasonal changes in the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the lower Changjiang River(CR).The results indicate that the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the samples ranges from 0.725352 to 0.738128,and the values ofεNd(0)ranges from-10.55 to-12.29.The Sr-Nd isotopic compositions show distinct seasonal variations.The samples had lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios and higherε Nd(0)values during the flood season than the dry seasons.The seasonal variations primarily reflect the controls of provenance rocks and erosion in different sub-catchments.The relative decrease in 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the increase inε Nd(0)values during the flood season may reflect an increasing in the mechanical erosion rate in the upper basin and the contribution of more sediment from the upper reaches.The end member values of 87Sr/86Sr andε Nd(0)of the samples were 0.728254 and?11.26,respectively.     

Abrupt climate change of EastAsian Monsoon at 130 kaBP inferred from a high resolu-tion stalagmite δ18O record

^230Th ages and oxygen isotope data of a stalagmite from Shanbao Cave in Hubei Province characterize the East Asian Monsoon precipitation from 133 to 127ka. The decadal-scale high-resolution δ^18O record reveals a detailed transitional process from the Penultimate Glaciation to the Last Interglaciation. As established with ^230Th dates, the age of the Termination Ⅱ is determined to be 129.5±1.0 kaBP, which supports the Northern Hemisphere insolation as the triggers for the ice-age cycles. In our δ^18O record, the glacial/interglacial fluctuation reaches about 4‰, almost the same level as in other Asian Monsoon cave stalagmite δ^18O records. The transition of the glacial/interglacial period in our record can be recognized as four stepwise stages, among which, a rapid rise of monsoon precipitation follows the stage of “Termination Ⅱ pause”. The rapid rise is synchronous with the abrupt change of global methane concentration, which reflects that an increase in both Asian Monsoon precipitation and tropical wetland plays an important role in the global climate changes.     

Modern stalagmite oxygen isotopic composition and its implications of climatic change from a high-elevation cave in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over the past 50 years

An oxygen isotope record of a stalagmite from Huanglong Cave in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau dated with 230Th and 210Pb methods provides variations of the Asian monsoon with an average resolu-tion of 1 year over the past 50 years. This study shows that the δ18O of dripwater in the cave represents the annual mean δ18O of local meteoric precipitation and the stalagmites were deposited in isotopic equilibrium. A comparison of the stalagmite δ18O record with instrumentally meteorological data indi-cates that shifts of the δ18O are largely controlled by the amount effect of meteoric precipitation con-veyed through the southwest monsoon(the Indian monsoon) and less affected by temperature. Therefore,the variations of δ18O record reflect the changes in monsoon precipitation on inter-annual time scales under the influence of the southwest monsoon. Like many other stalagmite δ18O records in the Asian monsoon regions,the δ18O record of the stalagmite from Huanglong Cave also reveals a gradually enriched trend during the past 50 years,i.e. relatively enriched in 18O. This trend may indicate the decline of the Asian monsoon intensity which is consistent with the decrease of monsoon indices. The weakening of the modern Asian monsoon well matched with the temperature changes in strato-sphere,which may illustrate that the weakening of the monsoon mainly results from the lowering of solar radiation.     

Stalagmite-inferred Holocene precipitation in northern Guizhou Province,China, and asynchronous termination of the Climatic Optimum in the Asian monsoon territory

An absolute-dated, bi-decadal-resolution, stalagmite oxygen-isotopic time series from Shigao Cave reveals the evolution of summer monsoon precipitation over the past 9.9 ka BP in northern Guizhou Province, Southwest China. The  18O-inferred climate conditions are divisible into three distinct stages: (1) a maximum humid era from 9.9-6.6 ka BP; (2) a gradual declining precipitation interval between 6.6-1.6 ka BP; and (3) a relatively low precipitation time window after 1.6 ka BP. Consistency of contemporaneous stalagmite Holocene 18O records between Shigao and other caves in the Indian and East Asian monsoon realms support the effect of primary orbital solar forcings on monsoonal precipitation. However, statistical analysis shows a significant spatial asynchroneity of the Holocene Optimum termination in the Asian monsoon territory. The Holocene Optimum ended at 7.2-7.4 ka BP in Oman, located in the Indian monsoon region, and at 5.6-5.8 ka BP in Central China, in the East Asian monsoon zone. In Southwest China, the termination occurred between these periods, at 6.6-7.0 ka BP, and was influenced by both monsoon systems. We propose that this spatially asynchronous ending of Holocene Optimum in Asia may be attributed to sea surface temperature changes in the western tropical Pacific, which is a primary moisture source for the East Asian monsoon.     

Effect of Dy3+on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mouse primary bone marrow stromal cells and adipocytic trans-differentiation of mouse primary osteoblasts

A series of experimental methods including 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurement, mineralized function, Oil Red O stain and measurement were employed to assess the effect of Dy³⁺ on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mouse primary bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and the adipogenic trans-differentiation of mouse primary osteoblasts (OBs). The results showed that Dy³⁺ had no effect on BMSC proliferation at concentrations of 1×10⁻⁸ and 1×10⁻⁵ mol/L, but inhibited BMSC proliferation at other concentrations. Dy³⁺ had no effect on OB proliferation at concentrations of 1×10⁻¹⁰ and 1×10⁻⁹ mol/L, but inhibited OB proliferation at other concentrations. Dy³⁺ had no effect on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs at concentrations of 1×10⁻⁹ and 1×10⁻⁷ mol/L, and promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs at other concentrations at the 7th day. The osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was inhibited by Dy³⁺ at concentration of 1×10⁻⁵ mol/L at the 14th day, but promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs at concentrations of 1×10⁻⁹, 1×10⁻⁸, 1×10⁻⁷ and 1×10⁻⁶ mol/L with the maximal effect at concentration of 10⁻⁶ mol/L. Dy³⁺ promoted mineralized function of BMSCs at any concentration. Dy³⁺ had no effect on adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs at concentration of 1×10⁻⁷ mol/L, but inhibited adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs at other concentrations. Dy³⁺ inhibited adipocytic trans-differentiation of OBs at any concentration, suggesting that Dy³⁺ had protective effect on bone and the protective effect on bone may be mediated by modulating differentiation of BMSCs away from the adipocyte and inhibiting adipocytic trans-differentiation of OBs which may promote differentiation and mineralization of OBs. These results may be valuable for better understanding the mechanism of the effect of Dy³⁺ on pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Supported by the Foundation for Key Program of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 208018)     

Zircon U-Pb age of granitic gneiss on Duku highway in western Tianshan of China and its geological implications

Granitic gneiss on Duku highway in western Tianshan has been dated by the U-Pb zircon method. When plotted on the concordia diagram, the results give linear data array and the upper intercept age of (882 ± 33)Ma, and the age was considered as the crystallization age of the protolith. Granitic gneiss has high ASI value (1.09), high LILE and LREE contents, significantly negative Eu depletion, distinctly negative Ba, Sr, P, Ti and Nb anomalies and indicate continental crust parentage, which is consistent with high initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios value (0.7170) and very negative ε_Nd(t)=-14.1. The protolith magma is interpreted as a product of partial melting of the basement rocks of older basement crust.     

Chemiluminescence determination of tetracycline and oxytetracycline in pharmaceutical preparations using Ru (bipy)3 2+-cerium (IV) system

A new chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of tetracycline and oxytetracycline is developed, based on the CL reaction of tetracycline and oxytetracycline with Ru (bipy)₃ ²⁺ and Ce (IV). In sulfuric acid medium, the CL emission is generated upon continuous oxidtion of Ru(bipy)₃ ²⁺ by cerium (IV). The emission intensity is greatly enhanced when tetracycline and oxytetracycline are introduced into the reaction system after acid degradation. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curves are linear over the range of 8.0×10⁻⁸∼4.0×10⁻⁶ mol/L for tetracycline and of 2.0×10⁻⁷∼4.0×10⁻⁵ mol/L for oxytetracycline, with the detection limits are 4.2×10⁻⁸ mol/L for tetracycline and 1.5×10⁻⁷ mol/L for oxytetracycline, respectively. The proposed method was used for the determination of tetracycline and oxytetracycline in pharmaceutical formulations with good results. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province. Biography: HAH He-you (1962), male, Associate profeddor, Ph.D graduate candidate. Present address, Department of Chemistry, Huainan Teacher's College, Huainan.     

Mature Archean continental crust in the Yangtze craton: Evidence from petrology, geochronology and geochemistry

Previous studies have shown that the Archean basement is widely distributed throughout the Yangtze craton. To date, however, Archean basement terrains have not been found, except for a few Kongling high-grade metamorphic terrains in the Huangling dome that have been confirmed to be of Archean age. To further understand the basement component and crustal evolution of the Yangtze craton, we carried out a petrological, geochronological and geochemical study of the Jinshan K-feldspar granite emplaced within the Yangpo Group, located in Huji Town, Zhongxiang City, Hubei Province. Results indicate that the zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age of the Jinshan granite is 2655±9 Ma, placing it within the middle Neoarchean. Chemically, this pluton yields abundant silica and alkalis and is depleted in Ca, Mg and Ti. Furthermore, it is enriched in Rb, Th, Ga, Y and Zr, depleted in Sr, Ba, Nb and Ta, and especially lacking in Eu. High ratios of FeO*/MgO (32.0 to 58.7) and 104 ×Ga/Al (3.19 to 3.41) were also found. The pluton exhibits characteristics typical of A-type granites with crustal source magmas. Moreover, the meta-sedimentary rock association of the Yangpo Group, into which the pluton intruded, clearly shows relatively stable depositional environments of a shallow shelf sequence. Therefore, before the middle Neoarchean, the Yangtze craton contained mature continental crust. This breakthrough discovery opens a new window on the study of the formation and evolution of the Yangtze craton basement.