Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of eolian dust of the arid-semiarid areas in China： Implications for loess provenance and monsoon evolution

Strontium (Sr) is a divalent alkaline earth element. Its ionic radius (0.113 nm) is slightly larger than that of calcium (0.099 nm), and Sr thus substitutes isomor- phously for Ca in many minerals. Neodymium (Nd) is a rare earth element. Its chemical prop…     

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.     

Determination on ^87Sr/^86Sr ratio and stratigraphic dating of single-grain foraminifera

Information on palaeoocean and palaeoclimate can be recorded in foraminifera, and formation ages of the fo- raminifera are nevertheless essential for such study of pa- laeoenvironment. The growth rate of seamount ferroman- ganese crusts is normally very l…     

Identifying paleoflood deposits archived in Zhongba Site, the Three Gorges reservoir region of the Yangtze River, China

Based on the principle that the present is the key to the past, detailed analyses, such as AMS ^14C dating, grain size, component and morphology of heavy minerals, micro-morphology of zircon, Rb/Sr, magnetic susceptibility and total organic carbon （TOC）, were conducted to identify paleoflood sediments archived in Zhongba Site. The results indicate that the plaeoflood sediments bear great similarities with modern flood sediments in the following aspects： （1） probability cumulative curves mainly show a pattern of 3-4 segments; （2） grain-size distribution of suspended matter ranges between 3 and 10（I）; （3） the sediments are well-sorted, most of which are suspended matter （〉50%）; （4） the same species, quantity and morphology of heavy minerals; （5） scanning electronic microscope images show that shapes of zircon are mainly oval and nearly spheral, rounded due to long-distance transport; （6） higher Rb/Sr values （0.55-0.66）than those of sediments from cultural layers （0.03-0.26）; （7） magnetic susceptibility values （133.73-433.05 10^-6m^3/kg） are lower than those of sediments from cultural layers （959.25-2442.44 10^-6 m^3/kg）; （8） TOC （0.14%- 0.33%） are lower than those of sediments from cultural layers （1.13%-2.95%）. Our results demonstrate that, except for the 1981 flood, there are at least six paleoflood events that occurred during the Qing Dynasty, the middle of Song Dynasty, the early Warring States （400BC-350BC）, the West Zhou Dynasty （920BC-900BC）, the Xia Dynasty （2070BC-1600BC）, and the late Neolithic Age （3000BC-2300BC）, respectively.     

锶同位素地层学在海相地层定年中的潜在价值

锶同位素地层学在海相地层的对比和定年中具有十分重要的作用。随着锶同位素地层学的深入研究，人们清楚地认识到海水的锶同位素组成是全球变化的灵敏指示剂。显生宙以来全球海水的^87Sr／^86Sr比值是时间的函数，可以把锶同位素组成用于海相地层的定年和进行全球对比，估计沉积间断持续时间、生物带的时间范围和发展阶段，从而为重要地球化学周期的预测提供基础参数。当锶同位素地层学用于定年时，其地质年龄的精确度取决于几个因素，包括样品原始锶同位素组成的保存情况、分析精度、用于建立数据库样品年龄的可信度以及^87Sr／^86Sr比值—年龄曲线的最佳拟合方法等。     

Carbon isotopic record of foraminifers in surface sediments from the South China Sea and its significance

Since the 1990s, the papers and data involved withthe South China Sea (SCS) have been emerging in largenumbers in the world as people pay more attention to thepaleoceanography of the SCS. There have been more than100 cores mentioned in papers containing p…     

Temperature-induced fractionation of oxygen isotopes of diatom frustules and growth water in Lake Sihailongwan in Northeast China

Diatom oxygen isotopes have been widely applied in quantitative reconstruction of the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment, but have rarely been reported in China. In the present study, Lake Sihailongwan in Northeast China was selected for detailed investigation of oxygen isotopic fractionation between diatom frustules and lake water induced by growth temperature. This study involved a 2-year period of field monitoring of the lake water temperature at multiple depths and biweekly collections of traps for both sediment and water at shallow and bottom depths (7 and 49 m below the lake surface, respectively), diatom separation and purification of the trap sediments, and oxygen isotope measurement for diatom silica and lake water samples. The conditioned experiment conducted herein demonstrated that the laboratory device, methods and techniques used in this study were capable of generating reliable data for the typical oxygen isotope composition of diatom frustules. The data obtained revealed a prominent linear relationship between the oxygen isotope composition of the modern diatom and lake temperature during growth. The fractionation coefficient was about −0.185‰/°C−0.238‰/°C in the temperature range of 3.6–24°C, which is consistent with the observations from various aquatic environments and laboratory culture with different diatom taxa. These findings provide strong support for the dominant control of the growth temperature on the oxygen isotope fractionation between the diatom frustules and ambient water. A notable difference in the fractionation coefficient was observed between the surface and bottom diatom oxygen isotopes, suggesting that various depositional processes and taphonomic effects influenced the surface and bottom trap samples. Another factor leading to this difference may be that enrichment by evaporation and dilution by rainfall have a stronger influence on the surface. Overall, the results presented here demonstrate significant progress in evaluation of diatom oxygen isotopes in China and draw attention to the differences between surface and bottom diatom oxygen isotope compositions.     

Precise measurement of stable (δ 88/86Sr) and radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr) strontium isotope ratios in geological standard reference materials using MC-ICP-MS

A new method for high-precision measurements of stable (δ88/86Sr) and radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr) Sr isotope ratios was developed on the MC-ICP-MS using a standard-sample-standard bracketing protocol. By carefully monitoring and controlling the accumulation of the on-peak backgrounds (i.e. the carryover memory) on the instrument, our method can provide an external precision of around 0.010‰ to 0.014‰ for 88/86 Sr measurements. Such precision is comparable to that achieved by double-spike TIMS method (DS-TIMS), and 2-3 times better than those of the previously reported results by MC-ICP-MS without spiking. The results of the standard seawater IAPSO are also identical to those by DS-TIMS. However, our method is more advantageous, efficient and convenient to use for routine Sr isotopic analysis than the DS-TIMS method as there is no need to prepare and calibrate the 84Sr-87 Sr double spike. Using this method, we measured the δ88/86Sr values in a series of international geological rock standards, which show large variability, with the lowest value (0.20‰) registered in JG-2, a terrestrial granite, and the highest value (0.539‰) in UB-N, a serpentinite. This may provide an additional means for isotopic characterization of geological processes, adding a new dimension over the traditional use of radiogenic Sr isotopic ratio 87Sr/86Sr.     

Apparent ages of suspended sediment and soil erosion of the Pearl River (Zhujiang) drainage basin

The carbon isotopic composition (Δ 14 C,δ 13 C) and apparent ages of suspended sediment were determined in the Pearl River in the years 1998,2000 and 2005.These results indicate that suspended POC consists mostly of young carbon and some old carbon.Apparent ages of suspended POC range from 540 to 2050 a BP.The apparent ages are older in the Xijiang and Beijiang Rivers,while these values are variable in the Dongjiang River,including old and young samples.The suspended POCδ 13 C values increase with increasin...     

Mercury isotope variations in surface soils in different contaminated areas in Guizhou Province, China

Guizhou Province is known as a heavily Hg-polluted area in China due to its special geochemical background and complicated Hg emission sources.In this study,we investigated the Hg isotope compositions of surface soil samples in the Hg mining area,zinc smelting area,coal combustion area,which are known to be the typical pollution regions of Hg in this province.We also compared the Hg isotopic fingerprints of primary Hg sources,such as hydrothermal Hg-bearing ores,coals and atmospheric Hg samples.According to our study,Hg stored in surface soils in different pollution regions in Guizhou Province displays a wide range of both mass dependent fractionation(MDF,δ202Hg) and mass independent fractionation(MIF,△199Hg).δ 202 Hg varies by 2.0‰ and △199Hg varies by 0.25‰ in the investigated surface soils.This study demonstrated that using a "MDF-MIF" two dimensional Hg isotope system could be particularly useful in discriminating Hg sources in soils.     

Evidence from carbon isotope measurements for biological origins of individual longchainn-alkanes in sediments from the Nansha Sea, China

Carbon isotopes are measured for individual long-chain n-alkanes in sediments from the Nansha Sea. The features of carbon isotopic compositions of individual n-alkanes and their origins are studied. The results show that the long-chain n-aikanes have a light carbon isotopic composition and a genetic feature of mixing sources, and low-latitude higher plants and microbes are considered to be their main end member sources. Based on the abundances and carbon isotopic compositions of individual n-alkanes, the fractional contributions of the two end member sources to individual n-aikanes are quantitatively calculated by using a mixing model. The obtained data indicate that the fractional contributions of the two biological sources are different in the three samples. A trend is that the contribution of microbes increases with the depth. These results provide the theory basis and quantitatively studied method for carbon isotopic applied research of individual n-alkanes.     

Variations in carbon isotopic composition in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Yangtze and North China Cratons: Evidence from in-situ analysis of diamonds using SIMS

The components and evolution of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton is a current topic in the geological study of China and the carbon isotopic composition of diamond is one of the most direct probes into cratonic lithospheric mantle processes.In this paper,in-situ SIMS(Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) techniques were used to analyze the carbon isotope compositions at different internal growth zones of diamonds from Shandong and Liaoning in the North China Craton and Hunan in the Yangtze Craton.It was found that the carbon isotopic range of diamonds from the North China Craton are rather distinct from those of the Yangtze Craton;the former has a range of 6.0‰ to 2.0‰(relative to VPDB) with an average value of 3.0‰ in their core areas,which is consistent with global peridotitic diamonds;the diamonds from the Yangtze Craton,however,have a carbon isotopic range from 8.6‰ to 3.0‰ with an average value of 7.4‰ in their core areas,being more consistent with global eclogitic diamonds.The variations of carbon isotope ratios between different internal growth zones in individual diamonds were different in the three diamond localities studied.There was a clear correlation between changes in carbon isotopic composition and phases of diamond dissolution and new growth,while no correlation was observed between δ13C and internal inclusions.The variations suggest that the carbon isotopic compositions of mantle fluids were changing during the process of diamond crystallization,and that the heterogeneity of the carbon isotopic composition in mantle carbon reservoirs was a more important factor than carbon isotope fractionation in controlling the carbon isotopic compositions and their variation in diamonds.In addition,the preliminary results of in-situ nitrogen analyses demonstrated that the variation of carbon isotopic compositions between the core and outer growth zones does not correlate with nitrogen abundances,implying either that diamonds crystallized in an open environment or that the carbon isotopic composition and nitrogen contents in mantle fluids were controlled by other,not yet understood factors.The experimental results provide hints that the isotopic composition of carbon and its original sources were different in metasomatic fluids controlling diamond formation in the mantle beneath the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton.     

Strontium and boron isotopic constraint on the marine origin of the Khammuane potash deposits in southeastern Laos

Since 2006, we have conducted a geological exploration of the Khammuane area in southeastern Laos. Several thick sequences of potash deposits containing sylvite and carnallite were discovered from drilling Paleocene strata of the Thangon Formation (E₁ tg). To constrain the origin of the brine that formed thick sequences of salt mineral deposits, we measured the strontium and boron isotope composition of some salt minerals in the potash deposit. Boron isotope composition of halite- and potash-associated minerals in the Khammuane potash deposit varied from 19.91% to 31.01‰, which differs significantly from continental evaporates (?6.83‰–?5.79‰) but is very close to that of salts precipitated from evapo-concentrated seawater (10‰–36‰). The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.707542 to 0.709461) of salts were also close to the values of Paleocene seawater (0.70772 to 0.707830). The content of Br^? (0.01%–0.25%) and Br×10³/Cl ratios (0.10–0.52) of halite were >10 times higher than that of common continental salts. These characteristics indicate clearly that the Laos potash deposits were deposited from seawater. The small variation in boron and strontium isotopes in all salt sedimentary sequences (gypsum-halite-potash-halite) also suggests that the recharge source should be stable and the effects of other continental water mixing are negligible. Large-scale potash deposits are commonly precipitated from seawater. Hence, the results of recent regional drilling work and geochemical research suggest extensive potash resources could occur in the Thangon Formation of southeastern Laos.     

赣南红层地区地下水水化学特征及成因分析

为研究赣南红层地区地下水资源及保障区域供水安全,基于水文地球化学理论,运用数理统计、Pipper三线图、Gibbs模型、水化学平衡法、同位素示踪法和离子比例系数法等方法,分析了研究区地下水水化学特征及主要离子来源。结果表明：研究区地下水水化学类型以HCO₃-Ca、HCO₃-Ca·Na为主,主要阳离子和阴离子分别为Ca²⁺和HCO^-₃;氢氧同位素特征显示研究区地下水起源于大气降水,Sr同位素主要来源于硅酸盐岩和碳酸盐岩风化的混合。地下水中石膏、岩盐、白云石、方解石和硅酸盐岩均处于未饱和状态。影响研究区地下水离子组成的是硅酸盐岩和碳酸盐岩的风化溶解作用,碳酸盐岩风化溶解控制区以方解石溶解为主。地下水在径流过程中存在阳离子交换作用,阳离子交换以地下水中的Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺置换围岩矿物的Na⁺、K⁺为主,人类活动对地下水离子组成的影响较小,其中工矿活动的影响大于农业活动和生活污水排放。     

Potential influence of water level changes on energy flows in a lake food web

Large seasonal water-level fluctuations may influence isotopic signatures of primary producers and the types and amounts of these potential food sources accessible to aquatic fauna of Poyang Lake,the largest freshwater lake in China.In this study,the isotopic signatures of primary producers and consumers were determined,stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis and mixing models were combined to investigate the influence of water levels on the diet and isotopic composition of Poyang Lake fish and inverteb...     

Nitrogen isotopic composition of plant-soil in the Loess Plateau and its responding to environmental change

The nitrogen isotope of soil is of emerging significance as an indicator of climatic change and biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen in nature systems. In this paper, the nitrogen content and isotopic composition of modern ecosystems from arid and semiarid Loess Plateau in northwestern China, including plant roots and surface soil, were determined to investigate trends in δ15N variation of plant roots and soil along a precipitation and temperature gradient in northwestern China under the East Asian Monsoon clim...     

Helium isotope compositions of Machangqing copper deposit in western Yunnan, China

Helium isotopic composition of inclusion fluid in pyrites from Machangqing copper deposit, China, has been measured. The measurements, with³He/⁴He ratios ranging from 0.46–2.08 Ra, indicate that the helium in ore-forming fluid is a mixture of crust and mantle, and are consistent with the fact that the parental magma responsible for the formation of ore-forming fluid of the deposit is of crust-mantle provenance.     

Carbon isotopic compositions of pore and matrix carbonates in carbonate nodules, and origin of carbonate formation

Carbon isotopes of pedogenic carbonate are often used to study paleoenvironments, but the existence of detrital carbonate changes the carbon isotopic composition. To develop an experimental method to determine existence of detrital carbonate in carbonate nodules, and to avoid it during isotope analysis, 23 pedogenic carbonate nodules in Miocene loess from the Loess Plateau of China were studied through micromorphology and carbon isotope analysis. The difference in carbon isotopic composition between matrix carbonate (B) and pore carbonate (A) (δ¹³C_(B-A)) ranges from 0.27‰ to 0.44‰ in nodules containing detrital carbonate and –0.16‰ to 0.13‰ in nodules where detrital carbonate is absent. The latter is within measurement error, but the former is beyond it. Here we propose an isotopic approach to determine if nodules contain detrital carbonate: if δ¹³C_(B-A) is within the measurement error, the nodules do not contain detrital carbonate, and vice versa. We suggest that it is better to analyze pore carbonate instead of matrix carbonate when using carbon isotope of carbonate nodules to reconstruct paleoenvironments.     

湘江沉积物铅污染计算

湘江是我国重金属污染最严重的河流之一。本次工作利用多接收同位素质谱（MC-ICP-Ms）技术,分析湘江入湖沉积物的Pb同位素组成。结果表明,湘江三角洲沉积物存在严重的pb污染。Pb同位素源区示踪分析表明,河床沉积物的铅为花岗岩自然Pb、Pb-zn矿床的矿石铅和燃煤烟尘铅的三元混合铅,其中花岗岩占20％,华南煤所占比例为10％,方铅矿所占比例为70％。;湖盆沉积物中的铅则以Pb-Zn矿床的矿石铅和燃煤烟尘铅构成的人为源Pb为主．受上游岩石风化影响较小。     

A palaeotemperature curve for the Precambrian oceans based on silicon isotopes in cherts

The terrestrial sediment record indicates that the Earth's climate varied drastically in the Precambrian era (before 550 million years ago), ranging from surface temperatures similar to or higher than today's to global glaciation events. The most continuous record of sea surface temperatures of that time has been derived from variations in oxygen isotope ratios of cherts (siliceous sediments), but the long-term cooling of the oceans inferred from those data has been questioned because the oxygen isotope signature could have been reset through the exchange with hydrothermal fluids after deposition of the sediments. Here we show that the silicon isotopic composition of cherts more than 550 million years old shows systematic variations with age that support the earlier conclusion of long-term ocean cooling and exclude post-depositional exchange as the main source of the isotopic variations. In agreement with other lines of evidence, a model of the silicon cycle in the Precambrian era shows that the observed silicon isotope variations imply seawater temperature changes from about 70 degrees C 3,500 million years ago to about 20 degrees C 800 million years ago.