Holocene climatic and environmental changes recorded in Baahar Nuur Lake core in the Ordos Plateau, Inner Mongolia of China

A 5.3 m lake core was drilled in Baahar Nuur Lake in the Ordos Plateau, and measurements of meangrain size, organic δ 13C (δ 13Corg), organic carbon content (TOC), C/N, carbonate content, carbonate δ 13C(δ 13Ccar) and δ 18O (δ 18Ocar) were conducted for retrieving the Holocene chronosequence of climaticchanges based on 15 AMS 14C dates. The record documented four major stages of climate change inthe Ordos Plateau: (IV) a cold and dry condition before ～7.65 14C ka BP; (III) a warm and humid stagebetween ～7.65 and ～5.40 ka BP; (II) a generally drier and cooler climate since ～5.40 ka BP with twohumid events occurring from ～4.70 to ～4.60 ka BP and from ～4.20 to ～3.70 ka BP, and (I) a dry climatecharacterized by complete desiccation of the lake after 3.70 ka BP. Stage III can be further divided intothree sub-stages: (IIIa) a warm and humid episode from ～7.65 to ～6.70 ka BP, (IIIb) a warm and relativelydry episode from ～6.70 to ～6.20 ka BP, and (IIIc) the magthermal and maghumid episode of the Holo-cene from ～6.20 to ～5.40 ka BP.     

Study of the varve record from Erlongwan maar lake, NE China, over the last 13 ka BP

In a sediment sequence from Erlongwan maar lake that spans the last 13 ka BP, two main varve types can be recognized： biogenic varves （from the present to -11.2 ka BP, 0-632 cm） and clastic varves （from -11.2 to -12.7 ka BP, 632-700 cm）. Based on the dominant types of algae contained in the sediment, the biogenic varves can be classified into dinocyst-biogenic varves （0-63 cm） and mixed （dinocyst and diatom）-biogenic varves （214-632 cm）. In this paper, the formation process and components of the varve are described, the possible reason for the types of varve changing throughout the record is discussed and a high-resolution varve chronology is established spanning the last 13 ka BP. Although further varve counting and error assessment are needed, the results presented here represent a solid foundation for studying the palaeoclimate record of Erlongwan maar lake.     

Fluorescence determination of tetracycline by Eu (III)/TOPO/TC system

The fluorescence intensity of the europium (III)-tetracycline (TC) complex can be greatly increased by TOPO, TBP, TTA and surfactans, among which TOPO showed the greatest enhancement. The formation of ternary complex was proposed to be responsible for the fluorescence enhancement. The Eu (III)-TOPO-TC system can be applied to the determination of trace amounts of tetracycline in urinous sample; the maximum fluorescence intensity was obtained in the pH range of 8.2∼9.5 with excitation and emission wave-lengths at 396 nm and 616 nm, respectively. The linear range for tetracycline is 6.0×10⁻⁹−5.0×10⁻⁷ mol·L⁻¹. The detection limit is 2.0×10⁻⁹ mol·L⁻¹(SNR=3). Experimental conditions and the mechanism of the enhancement effect are discussed. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China Huang Chunbao: born in 1958, Associate professor     

Oxygen isotopic compositions of zircons from pyroxenite of Daoshichong,Dabieshan: Implications for crust-mantle interaction

Oxygen isotopic compositions of zircons from pyroxenite (～145 Ma) of Daoshichong, Dabieshan have been measured by an ion microprobe. Both within the single grain and among different grains, oxygen isotopic ratios are homogeneous, δ 18O = (7.66‰±0.46)‰ (1 SD, 1 σ = 0.10, n = 22). High δ 18O values indicate that the mantle-derived parent magma of Daoshichong pyroxenite have undergone interaction with crustal materials. Combing with other geochemical constraints, the way of crust-mantle interaction is suggested to be source mixing other than crustal contamination. The time interval between crust-mantle interaction and formation of the parent magma of Daoshichong pyroxenite is less than several million years. The crustal component involving in crust-mantle interaction is mafic lower crust, and the parent magma of pyroxenite possibly contain large proportion (>37%) of such lower crust.     

Preliminary results of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mapping using Imaging Interferometer data from Chang’E-1

The distribution of titanium abundance on the lunar surface is important knowledge for lunar geologic studies and future resource utilization.In this paper,we develop a preliminary model based on"ground truths"from Apollo and Luna sample-return sites to produce a titanium abundance map from Chang’E-1 Imaging Interferometer(IIM) images.The derived TiO2 abundances are validated with Clementine UVVIS results in several regions,including lunar highlands neighboring the Apollo 16 landing site,and high-Ti and low-Ti maria near the standard site of Mare Serenitatis(MS2) .The validation results show that TiO2 abundances modeled with Chang’E-1 IIM data are overestimated for highlands(～0.7 wt.%) and low-Ti maria(～1.5 wt.%) and underestimated for high-Ti maria(～0.8 wt.%).     

Synthesis and antimutagenic effects of selena-morpholine hydrate

The synthesis of selenamorpholine hydrate was described and its antimutagenic effects were investigated by the Ames tests. The results indicated that the mutation induced by the indirect mutagen 2-AF was inhibited obviously by selenamorpholine hydrate at the dosage of Se 0. 16～100 μg /dish for 35.8%～53.7%(TA97) and the mutation induced by direct mutagen Dexon was inhibited for 6.2%～30.0%(TA97) and 2.3%～34.1%(TA100). The mutagenesis of the indirect mutagen cyclophosphamide was suppressed for 5.4%～16.1% by selenamorpholine hydrate at the dosage of Se 0. 16～100 μg /dish.     

Finding of ancient materials in Cathaysia and implication for the formation of Precambrian crust

U-Pb dating for fifty-six detrltsl zircons from a paragneiss in Nanxiong area, northern Guangdong Province, Indicates that the latest Neoproterozoic sediments in Cathaysia hinterland are composed of numerous Grenvillian and Necerchaean clasUc materials, as well as some Mesoproterozolc detritus. Minor Paleoarchaean （3.76 Ga） and Mesoarchaean （3.0-3.2 Ga） zircons, which are the oldest zircons In South China, also are firstly found in the sediments, suggesting that the Cathaysia Block may contsln very old materials. The Hf isotope compositions of thirty-seven zircons reveal that these clastlc materials have different origins. Minor zircons crystslllzed from magma generated from relatively juvenile crust, while the parental magma of most zircons was derived from ancient crust. Integration of U-Pb dating and Hf Isotope analysis of these zircons suggests that the generation of juvenile crust in the Cathaysia block mainly occurred at 2.5-2.6 Ga. Mesoarchaean （3.0-3.3 Ga）, late Paleoproterozolc （-1.8 Ga） and Paleoarchaean （-3.7 Ga） may also be important episodes of crustal growth. Grenvllllan magmatism is extremely Intense, but it mainly involved recycling of ancient crustal components with little formation of Juvenile crust. The marked presence of -2.1 Ga Hf model ages and the absence of the zircons with crystsllizatlon ages at -2.1 Ga suggest that the parental magma of many zircons was probably derived from the mixed source consisting of Neoarchaean and late Paleoproterozoic materlals.     

Discovery of ∼4.0 Ga detrital zircons in the Changdu Block,North Qiangtang,Tibetan Plateau

Using in situ zircon dating by LA-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, detrital zircon of 3981±9 Ma age was found in metamorphic rocks of the Ningduo Rock Group, Changdu Block of Northern Qiangtang. This is the oldest age record that has been found in the Qiangtang area. This finding also constitutes the third zircon locality in China with an age older than 3.9 Ga. Thus, the discovery provides new information for the study of Hadean crust. In addition, we found 3.51–3.13 Ga, ∼2440 Ma, ∼1532 Ma, ∼982 Ma and ∼618 Ma age peaks from 100 test spots. The younger ages of ∼982 Ma and ∼618 Ma correspond to the formation of the Rodinian super-continent and the Pan-African event, respectively. These findings suggest a close relationship between these zircons and the Gondwanan super-continent. The age of ∼618 Ma defines the lower limit on the deposit time of the protolith for the garnet-mica-quartz schist in the Ningduo Rock Group. Zircons with an age of ∼982 Ma generally display a negative ɛ_Hf(t) and a two-stage Hf model with concentrated ages around 1933–2553 Ma. This pattern indicates that the source area of the Ningduo Rock Group underwent a significant separation of depleted mantle into the crust during the Paleoproterozoic Era. However, zircons with ages of 2854–3505 Ma also show a negative ɛ_Hf(t) and a two-stage Hf model with a concentration of ages around 3784–4316 Ma. These results demonstrate that the source area of the Ningduo Rock Group contains a residual amount of ancient (Hadean) crustal materials. This paper provides new information on the relationship between the basement of the Qiangtang area and the Paleoproterozoic basements of the Gangdese and Himalayan regions, which constrains the northern boundary of Gondwana.     

Climatological relationships among the tropical cyclone frequency,duration, intensity and activity regions over the Western Pacific

Climatological relationships among the tropical cyclone (TC) frequency, duration, intensity and activity regions over the Western Pacific are explored based on long-term best track data. Frequent TC occurrence does not necessarily imply a long duration of TCs in the same periods. Three types of relationship between TC number and duration in the period 1945–2007 were identified in this study: low frequency and short duration during 1945–1955 (Period I); high frequency and short duration in the 1960s (Period II); and high frequency and long duration in the 1990s (Period III). TC activity regions differed among the three periods. During Period I, the main activity regions were over the ocean east of the Philippines (120°–140°E). During period II, two prevailing storm tracks extended west-northwest between 110° and 147°E. During period III, TCs had an extensive activity region from 110° to 160°E. TC intensity is related closely to activity regions. Most strong TCs developed over the ocean far from the Philippines, and had a northwestward track. Our results also show that the relationships between TC frequency, duration and their active regions are modulated strongly by broad-scale vertical motion, geopotential height and horizontal wind anomalies.     

U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes for detrital zircons from quartzite in the Paleoproterozoic Songshan Group on the southwestern margin of the North China Craton

In situ U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analysis were carried out for detrital zircons from quartzite in the Paleoproterozoic Songshan Group on the southern margin of the North China Craton （NCC）. The results provide further constraints on the crustal formation and evolution history of NCC. Four ^207Pb/^206Pb age populations were obtained from 99 analyses, with clusters at -3.40 Ga, 2.77-2.80 Ga, -2.50 Ga and 2.34 Ga, respectively. The 3.40 Ga old zircons have similar Hf isotopic compositions to those from Archean rocks in the Jidong and Anshan areas of NCC. However, crustal remnants older than 3.6 Ga have been identified in the southern margin of NCC, the South China Craton, the northwestern part of the Qinling Orogen and its adjacent area. Thus, it is not easy to trace the source rock from which the 3.40 Ge detrital zircons were derived. It can be inferred that the crustal remnants older than 3.40 Ga might have been widely distributed in the North China Craton. The 2.77-2.80 Ga zircons make up a relatively small proportion and have the highest εHf（t） values （up to 6.1±1.6）, consistent with the Hf isotopic composition of the depleted mantle at 2.83 Ga. Their single-stage Hf model age of 2.83 Ga is close to their crystallized age, suggesting that their source rocks were extracted from the contemporaneous depleted mantle. The -2.50 Ga zircon grains constitute about 85% of the total grain population and their Hf isotopic compositions indicate major growth of juvenile crust at -2.50 Ga but minor reworking of ancient crust. The youngest zircon dated in this study gave an U-Pb age of 2337±2.3 Ma, which can be considered the maximum depositional age of the formation of the Songshan Group.     

Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronology of Late Paleozoic basalts in western Guangxi and its constraints on the eruption age of Emeishan basalt magmatism

~~Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronol-ogy of Late Paleozoic basalts in western Guangxi and its constraints on the eruption age of Emeishan basalt magmatism1. GXBGMR (Guangxi Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional Geology of Guangxi, Beijing: Geol. Pub. House, 1985, 1-853. 2. GZBGMR (Guizhou Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional Geology of Guizhou Province, Beijing: Geol. Pub. House, 1987, 1-698. 3. YNBGMR (Yunnan Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional …     

Early Pleistocene formation of the asymmetric east-west pattern of upper water structure in the equatorial Pacific Ocean

Surface-and subsurface-dwelling planktonic foraminifera from the upper 43 m of Hole A at the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 807,which was recovered from the western Pacific warm pool during ODP Leg 130,were analyzed for stable oxygen and carbon isotopes.By comparing these results with data from ODP Site 851 in the eastern equatorial Pacific,this study has reconstructed the paleoceanographic changes in upper ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific since 2.5 Ma.During the period from 1.6-1.4 Ma,the oxygen isotopes of surface and subsurface waters were found to markedly change in the western and eastern equatorial Pacific,further confirming the final formation of the well-defined asymmetric east-west (E-W) pattern at that time.This feature was similar to the zonal temperature gradient (sea surface temperature is higher in the west and lower in the east) and the asymmetric upper water structure (thermocline depth is deeper in the west and shallower in the east) in the modern equatorial Pacific.The zonal gradient change of subsurface water δ18O was greater than that of surface water δ18O,indicating that the formation of the asymmetric E-W pattern in the equatorial Pacific should be much more related to the shoaled thermocline and markedly decreased subsurface water temperature in the eastern equatorial Pacific.Moreover,since ～1.6 Ma,the carbon isotopic differences between surface and subsurface waters clearly decreased in the equatorial Pacific,and their long-term eccentricity periods changed from 400 ka to ～500 ka,reflecting the reorganization of the ocean carbon reservoir.This probably resulted from the deep water reorganization in the Southern Ocean at that time and its enhanced influence on the tropical Pacific (especially subsurface water).Our study demonstrates that the tropical ocean plays an important role in global climate change.     

Fluid inclusions hidden in coesite-bearing zircons in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from southwestern Sulu terrane in eastern China

Fluidinclusionstudiesarepowerfultoolsfordeci-pheringthefluidevolutionandfluid-rockinteractionin-volvingultrahigh-pressure(UHP)metamorphismofcrustalrocksatmantledepths.Thecompositionandprop-ertiesoffluidinclusionscanreflectthephysico-chemicalconditionsofthefluidsduringplatesubduction,UHPmetamorphismandexhumation.However,UHPmeta-morphicrockscommonlyexperiencedconsiderablede-compressionrelatedtotherapidexhumationprocess.Thishascausedtheinternalpressureoftheinclusionstrappedinthemetamorphicmin…     

Porphyry Cu-Mo deposits in the eastern Xing’an-Mongolian Orogenic Belt: Mineralization ages and their geodynamic implications

The eastern Xing’an-Mongolian (Xing-Meng) Orogenic Belt (XMOB) is one of the important areas of porphyry copper (Cu)-molybdenum (Mo) deposits in China. However, studies on the exact ages of mineralization and their geodynamic significance are very limited. In this study, granodioritic rocks from the Duobaoshan Cu deposit and Daheishan Mo deposit were selected to make zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses in order to constrain their mineralization ages. Geochronological data indicate that two episodes of mineralization took place in the Duobaoshan Cu deposits. The granodiorite related to the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu deposit was formed in the Early Paleozoic with zircon U-Pb age of 485±8 Ma, whereas the granodiorites related to the Sankuanggou skarn-type Cu deposit were emplaced in the Jurassic with zircon U-Pb ages of 176±3 and 177±3 Ma. In the Daheishan area of Jilin Province, the emplacement age of the granodiorite porphyry related to the porphyry Mo deposit was dated at 170±3 Ma, and the unmineralized monzogranite at 178±3 Ma. Therefore, two episodes of Cu-Mo mineralization were developed in the eastern XMOB, at ~485 Ma and ~175 Ma, respectively. Based on the geological history and spatial-temporal distribution of the granitoids in northeastern (NE) China, it is proposed that the Duobaoshan Cu deposit was related to the collision of the Xing’an and Erguna blocks in the Early Paleozoic, and the Sankuanggou Cu and Daheishan Mo deposits were related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate during the Jurassic.     

Melt-Water-Pulse （MWP） events and abrupt climate change of the last deglaciation

The last deglaciation is characterized by massive ice sheet melting, which results in an average sea-level rise of -120-140m. At least three major Melt-Water-Pulse （MWP） events （19ka-MWP, MWP-1A and MWP-1B） are recognizable for the last deglaciation, of which MWP-1A event lasting from -14.2 to -13.7 ka B.P. is of the most significance. However, the accurate timing and source of MWP-1A event remain debatable and controversial. It has long been postulated that meltwater of the last deglaciaUon pouring into the North Atlantic resulted in a slowdown or even a shutdown of the thermohaline circulation （THC） which subsequently affected the global climate change. Accordingly, the focus of this debate consists in establishing a reasonable relationship between MWP events and abrupt climate change. Here we summarize a variety of geological and model results for the last deglaciation, reaching a conclusion that the major MWP events did not correspond with the rigorous stadials, nor always happened within climate reversal intervals. MWP events of the last deglaciation had very weak influences on the intensity of the THC and were not able to trigger a collapse of the global climate. We need to reevaluate the influences of the temporal meltwater variability on the global climate system.     

Luminescence chronology of ＂Old Red Sand＂ in Jinjiang and its implications for optical dating of sediments in South China

A weathered deposit in South China is widespread on the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong provinces, China. This deposit consists of slightly cemented, medium- to fine-grained sands, and is characterized by its colors of red, brown red, light reddish brown or dark yellowish orange, and is usually called ＂Old Red Sand＂. The uncertainty in its formation age has been a major obstacle to the study of this type of deposit. In this paper, optically stimulated luminescence （OSL） techniques were used to date the ＂Old Red Sand＂ sediments from Jinjiang, Fujian Province, China. The effect of the geochemical behavior of uranium and thorium in sediment during chemical weathering on estimation of annual dose was investigated. The results show that the change in annual dose due to weathering poses a major problem for the optical dating of such weathered sediments. The optical dating of these weathered deposits will produce erroneous ages if average annual dose during burial cannot be correctly estimated. For the profiles studied, the OSL dates obtained on samples from the upper part do not represent the burial age of the samples. It is highly likely that they are underestimated due mainly to the accumulated radioactive elements as a result of chemical weathering. It is concluded that changes in annual dose due to chemical weathering must be considered when dating similar sediments in South China. With a detailed analysis of the OSL dating results, the chronology of the marine terraces in this area was suggested. The lowest terrace was formed at -3.5 ka and the second terrace was dated to -74 ka. The age of the highest terrace may not be established accurately, but is inferred to be older than the apparent OSL date of -77 ka and so is the Paleolithic artifacts from it.     

Improvement in the intense pulsed emission stability of grown CNT films via an electroless plated Ni layer

Carbon nanotube(CNT)films were grown on silicon wafers with and without a nickel layer(Si-CNT and Ni-CNT)via the pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine.The nickel layer was prepared using the electroless plating method.To study the emission stability of Si-CNT and Ni-CNT cathodes during intense pulsed emission,emission characteristics were measured repeatedly with a diode structure using a Marx generator as a voltage source.For the peak values of the pulsed voltage,which were in the range between 1.62-1.66 MV(corresponding to electric field intensities between 11.57-11.85 V/μm),the first cycle emission current was 109.4 A for Si-CNT and 180.5 A for Ni-CNT.By comparing the normalized emission currents of the Si-CNT and Ni-CNT cathodes,the improvement in the emission stability can be easily quantified.The number of emission cycles necessary for the peak current to decay from 100%to 50%increased from~3 for Si-CNT to~11 for a Ni-CNT film.     

Trend of China land water storage redistribution at medi- and large-spatial scales in recent five years by satellite gravity observations

The GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite gravity mission has provided a new method to study land water mass redistribution at medi- and long-spatial scales in recent years. We estimate continental water mass redistribution in China using GRACE observations during 2003 to 2007. The results show some large regions with increase or decrease of land water mass storage in the central northern region, Tibetan Plateau, the Three Gorges region, the place where Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu provinces meet, and the Altun Mountains region in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In the first two regions, it is obvious that water (ice) mass storages are decreasing. Water mass in the central northern region decreases at a linear rate of 2.4 cm/a equivalent water height, equal to 5.2 billion cubic meters per year during the five years’ period, and water mass depletion in Hebei Province is ∼ 4.5 billion cubic meters per year in the same period, which is consistent with the average water mass depletion of 4.0 billion cubic meters per year of overused underground water in the recent 30 years estimated by Hebei Province Water Resources Bureau. Furthermore, GRACE can detect the water mass accumulation of ∼ 5 cm equivalent water height within the region spreading over about 0.12 million square kilometers due to the Three Gorges dam construction in June 2003. We also find a water mass gain of ∼ 1.1 cm/a in the areas where Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu provinces meet. This indicates that the climate of these regions has been becoming gradually humid in recent years. Supported by Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX2-YW-202), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40674038), and Program of Key Laboratory of Space Environment and Geodesy of Ministry of Education of China     

Photoluminescence of fullerene[60] in ultrathin ordered multilayers: The dissociation of molecular aggregation

The aggregation behavior of a substituted fullerene compound, 1-benzyl-2-hydro[60]fullerene (C₆₀-Be), in Z-type ultrathin ordered (e.g. LB) multilayers has been studied by UV-vis absorption, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. The LB multilayers of pure C₆₀-Be showed J-aggregate formation, characterized by a large red-shift of two absorption peaks (ΔE∼2 098 cm¹ from 260→275 nm and ΔE∼1 076 cm^-1 from 328→340 nm, respectively). The main fluorescence emission bands were found at 710, 646, 603, 600 and 595 nm for pure (C₆₀-Be, mixed C₆₀-Be (molar percentage 50%, 25% and 20%. respectively) multilayers and monomeric C₆₀-Be in solution, respectively. The aggregates were dissociated by mixing with some inert materials. The fluorescence decay profiles of C₆₀-Be, mixed C₆₀-Be (molar percentage 50%, 25% and 20%, respectively) in LB films could be best-fitted by using a bi-exponential decay model.     

Suppression intra-channel four-wave mixing by strong dispersion management in 160 Gb/s OTDM RZ 100 km transmission

The effect of intra-channel four-wave mixing on the performance of a 160 Gb/s OTDM RZ 100 km transmission system is analyzed. Strong dispersion management to suppress the detrimental effects of intra-channel four-wave mixing is presented theoretically and verified experimentally. Results demonstrate that amplitude fluctuation and ghost pulses are well suppressed by strong dispersion management. Stable (>2 h) error-free (10-12 ) transmission over 100 km is achieved without forward-error correction, and the power penalty is ～3.6 dB.