Extreme oxygen isotope ratios in the early Solar System

The origins of the building blocks of the Solar System can be studied using the isotopic composition of early planetary and meteoritic material. Oxygen isotopes in planetary materials show variations at the per cent level that are not related to the mass of the isotopes; rather, they result from the mixture of components having different nucleosynthetic or chemical origins. Isotopic variations reaching orders of magnitude in minute meteoritic grains are usually attributed to stellar nucleosynthesis before the birth of the Solar System, whereby different grains were contributed by different stars. Here we report the discovery of abundant silica-rich grains embedded in meteoritic organic matter, having the most extreme 18O/16O and 17O/16O ratios observed (both approximately 10(-1)) together with a solar silicon isotopic composition. Both O and Si isotopes indicate a single nucleosynthetic process. These compositions can be accounted for by one of two processes: a single exotic evolved star seeding the young Solar System, or irradiation of the circumsolar gas by high energy particles accelerated during an active phase of the young Sun. We favour the latter interpretation, because the observed compositions are usually not expected from nucleosynthetic processes in evolved stars, whereas they are predicted by the selective trapping of irradiation products.     

Neolithic trade routes re-aligned by oxygen isotope analyses

Oxygen isotope analyses of Spondylus shells from neolithic sites suggest that the source for the shells used as ornaments in the Balkans and central Europe during the fourth millennium BC was the Aegean and not the Black Sea. The trade in Spondylus may have taken the form of an exchange of gifts.     

Paleoecological implications of the nitrogen isotope signatures in the sediments amended by Antarctic seal excrements

The nitrogen isotope signatures in the sediments amended by seal excrements, from Fildes Peninsula of King George Islands, Antarctica, were examined for their paleoecological application potential. The contents of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) and the atomic C/N ratios in the sediments show that the organic carbon and nitrogen are predominantly of marine origin and derived from seal excrements. The remarkably high δ15N values in the sediments may be related to at least two important factors of trophic enrichment and NH3 volatilization, which requires further studies. The large variations in the seal hair abundances and the determinedδ15N values in the sediments signify similar changes of the historical seal populations around the study site. A significant negative correlation between the δ15N values and seal hair abundance was observed, and this suggests that the δ15N values, like the number of seal hairs,can be used as a paleoecological proxy for the historical seal populations. The time-integrated δ15N signatures in the sediments with predominantly animal-derived nitrogen source thus provide a new tool for estimating historical populations of seals and penguins and interpretlng the underlying paleoecological processes.     

An improved method for analysis of oxygen isotope in organic matter

Conclusions  

金刚石薄膜表面含氧基引入研究

为了改进金刚石薄膜表面的性能,本文通过电化学氧化的方法,采用在NaOH溶液中保持电势在3V左右实施阳极极化,金刚石薄膜电极的表面就可变成氧化状态的表面,然后用X光电子能谱仪（XPS）对其表面进行分析,证实此实验的可行性．     

Laserprobe oxygen isotope analysis of minerals from mantle-derived rocks in eastern China

Oxygen isotope analyses were carried out by the laserprobe technique for mineral separates from mantle xenolith and megacryst in Cenozoic basalts, East China. The results not only give the δ I8O range consistent with that reported for peridotites in the world, but also yield oxygen isotope equilibrium between coexisting minerals.     

CO self-shielding as the origin of oxygen isotope anomalies in the early solar nebula

The abundances of oxygen isotopes in the most refractory mineral phases (calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions, CAIs) in meteorites have hitherto defied explanation. Most processes fractionate isotopes by nuclear mass; that is, 18O is twice as fractionated as 17O, relative to 16O. In CAIs 17O and 18O are nearly equally fractionated, implying a fundamentally different mechanism. The CAI data were originally interpreted as evidence for supernova input of pure 16O into the solar nebula, but the lack of a similar isotope trend in other elements argues against this explanation. A symmetry-dependent fractionation mechanism may have occurred in the inner solar nebula, but experimental evidence is lacking. Isotope-selective photodissociation of CO in the innermost solar nebula might explain the CAI data, but the high temperatures in this region would have rapidly erased the signature. Here we report time-dependent calculations of CO photodissociation in the cooler surface region of a turbulent nebula. If the surface were irradiated by a far-ultraviolet flux approximately 10(3) times that of the local interstellar medium (for example, owing to an O or B star within approximately 1 pc of the protosun), then substantial fractionation of the oxygen isotopes was possible on a timescale of approximately 10(5) years. We predict that similarly irradiated protoplanetary disks will have H2O enriched in 17O and 18O by several tens of per cent relative to CO.     

Triple oxygen isotope evidence for elevated CO2 levels after a Neoproterozoic glaciation

Understanding the composition of the atmosphere over geological time is critical to understanding the history of the Earth system, as the atmosphere is closely linked to the lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Although much of the history of the lithosphere and hydrosphere is contained in rock and mineral records, corresponding information about the atmosphere is scarce and elusive owing to the lack of direct records. Geologists have used sedimentary minerals, fossils and geochemical models to place constraints on the concentrations of carbon dioxide, oxygen or methane in the past. Here we show that the triple oxygen isotope composition of sulphate from ancient evaporites and barites shows variable negative oxygen-17 isotope anomalies over the past 750 million years. We propose that these anomalies track those of atmospheric oxygen and in turn reflect the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P(CO2)) in the past through a photochemical reaction network linking stratospheric ozone to carbon dioxide and to oxygen. Our results suggest that P(CO2) was much higher in the early Cambrian than in younger eras, agreeing with previous modelling results. We also find that the (17)O isotope anomalies of barites from Marinoan (approximately 635 million years ago) cap carbonates display a distinct negative spike (around -0.70 per thousand), suggesting that by the time barite was precipitating in the immediate aftermath of a Neoproterozoic global glaciation, the P(CO2) was at its highest level in the past 750 million years. Our finding is consistent with the 'snowball Earth' hypothesis and/or a massive methane release after the Marinoan glaciation.     

川西地区中二叠统-下三叠统碳酸盐岩碳氧同位素特征

 针对川西地区中二叠统-下三叠统碳酸盐岩,通过分析3 个剖面的碳氧同位素数据,计算Z 值及古温度,并结合沉积相、古生物等,对该区域碳酸盐岩碳氧同位素演化特征及古环境进行了系统研究。结果表明,川西地区中二叠统-下三叠统碳酸盐岩的δ¹³C 值为-3.90‰~2.80‰,主要值域为-2.80‰~2.80‰,均值为-0.04‰;δ¹⁸O 值为-9.70‰~-1.80‰,主要值域为-8‰~-4‰,均值为-6.60‰。研究区古环境基本处于海相环境,东北边缘水体相对较深,西南边缘水体相对较浅,海水温度为8.8~68.4℃,主要值域为16~33℃,属于温暖或炎热的亚热带气候,经历了栖霞期-茅口期、吴家坪期-长兴期、飞仙关期-嘉陵江期3 次大的海平面变化旋回,且其间各有若干次次级旋回。     

Different fossil brachiopod skeletal microstructure of different information on carbon and oxygen isotope contents

Whether there is isotope fractionation caused by metabolism (vital effect) of bra-chiopods in geologic time with their shells' δ18O and δ13C has been studied intensively in the field of carbonate isotope geochemistry in the last decade. The approach to dealing with the problem is by comparing isotopic compositions between different fossil brachiopods with their secondary shells which usually consist of two kinds of layers: prismatic layer composed of prismatic low-Mg calcite crystals, and fibrous layer comprising fibrous ones. The isotopic compositions of the two secondary layers have been investigated by comparison of carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions between five genera of Atrypidae collected from Givetian, Middle Devonian in Longmenshan, Sichuan Province, China. Due to different microstructures of the two secondary layers, their abilities to prevent from being altered by diagenesis are also different, thus in their state of preservation. The fibrous layer is more susceptible to the diagenetic alternation than the prismatic one in the way of microfracture filling between fibrous crystals in the elongated direction. Consequently, the isotopic compositions of the fibrous layer are systematically lower than those of the prismatic layer in their δ18O and δ13C by (0.53 ± 0.08)‰ and (0. 12 ± 0.04)‰, respectively. This suggests that further studies of vital effects with brachiopod in geological times by comparison of isotopic compositions in the secondary shell take into consideration of the different states of preservation between the fibrous and the prismatic layer.     

Superconductivity in diamond

Diamond is an electrical insulator well known for its exceptional hardness. It also conducts heat even more effectively than copper, and can withstand very high electric fields. With these physical properties, diamond is attractive for electronic applications, particularly when charge carriers are introduced (by chemical doping) into the system. Boron has one less electron than carbon and, because of its small atomic radius, boron is relatively easily incorporated into diamond; as boron acts as a charge acceptor, the resulting diamond is effectively hole-doped. Here we report the discovery of superconductivity in boron-doped diamond synthesized at high pressure (nearly 100,000 atmospheres) and temperature (2,500-2,800 K). Electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and field-dependent resistance measurements show that boron-doped diamond is a bulk, type-II superconductor below the superconducting transition temperature T(c) approximately 4 K; superconductivity survives in a magnetic field up to Hc2(0) > or = 3.5 T. The discovery of superconductivity in diamond-structured carbon suggests that Si and Ge, which also form in the diamond structure, may similarly exhibit superconductivity under the appropriate conditions.     

雾水和降水的氢氧稳定同位素差异及其影响因素

为深入分析不同陆地系统中雾水和降水的氢氧稳定同位素差异及其主要影响因素,在全球尺度下搜集了雾水和降水的氢氧稳定同位素数据,统计分析了不同地区雾水和降水的氢氧稳定同位素特征及二者差异的显著性。结合雾水的lc-excess值,分类讨论并揭示了同位素差异的主要形成原因及其与雾发生类型的关系。结果表明:整体上,雾水比降水更富集重同位素, δ 2H和 δ 18O的差值分别在10‰~60‰和1.2‰~5.5‰之间。根据雾水lc-excess的特征,各地区雾水和降水氢氧稳定同位素差异可分为3类:lc-excess值近似为0,雾水分布在LMWL的95%置信区间内;lc-excess值大于0,雾水分布在LMWL上方;lc-excess值小于0,雾水分布在LMWL下方;这3类差异的主导因素分别为水汽来源、凝结温度、环境湿度。因地形雾、辐射雾、平流雾对应的水汽条件和冷凝过程不同,因此三者与降水的同位素差异也不同:地形雾与降水的同位素无显著差异;辐射雾与降水的同位素组成差异较大,雾水中重同位素明显富集;平流雾与降水的同位素组成重叠区域较小,雾水中的重同位素明显更加富集。     

局部凸空间的一致极凸性与一致极光滑性

设X是一个实线性空间,P是X上的一可分离的半范数族,(X,T_P)表示由P生成的局部凸空间,(X,P)为一个偶对.引入偶对(X,P)为一致极凸和一致极光滑的概念,并证明它们具有对偶关系,讨论了与其它几种凸性(光滑性)之间的关系,另外,在P-自反的条件下给出它们之间的对偶定理,从而推广了Banach空间相应概念和结果.     

Boron and oxygen isotope evidence for recycling of subducted components over the past 2.5 Gyr

Evidence for the deep recycling of surficial materials through the Earth's mantle and their antiquity has long been sought to understand the role of subducting plates and plumes in mantle convection. Radiogenic isotope evidence for such recycling remains equivocal because the age and location of parent-daughter fractionation are not known. Conversely, while stable isotopes can provide irrefutable evidence for low-temperature fractionation, their range in most unaltered oceanic basalts is limited and the age of any variation is unconstrained. Here we show that delta(18)O ratios in basalts from the Azores are often lower than in pristine mantle. This, combined with increased Nb/B ratios and a large range in delta(11)B ratios, provides compelling evidence for the recycling of materials that had undergone fractionation near the Earth's surface. Moreover, delta(11)B is negatively correlated with (187)Os/(188)Os ratios, which extend to subchondritic values, constraining the age of the high Nb/B, (11)B-enriched endmember to be more than 2.5 billion years (Gyr) old. We infer this component to be melt- and fluid-depleted lithospheric mantle from a subducted oceanic plate, whereas other Azores basalts contain a contribution from approximately 3-Gyr-old melt-enriched basalt. We conclude that both components are most probably derived from an Archaean oceanic plate that was subducted, arguably into the deep mantle, where it was stored until thermal buoyancy caused it to rise beneath the Azores islands approximately 3 Gyr later.     

胶州湾北岸不同水体水化学及氢氧同位素特征研究

研究不同水体的形成和运移过程,有助于合理开发利用水资源,对地表水与地下水污染协同防治和生态环境保护具有重要意义。以胶州湾北岸地区浅层地下水、河水及海水为研究对象,通过采集水化学和氢氧稳定同位素样品进行测试分析,综合运用统计学和Piper三线图,分析不同水体的水化学特征和影响因素,并结合氢氧稳定同位素特征研究其补给来源和转化关系。结果表明：研究区基岩裂隙水整体以淡水为主,部分点位受海水入侵影响,呈微咸水特征;第四系孔隙水整体为咸水且化学组分较稳定;河水水化学组分变化程度较大,呈微咸水-咸水特征。研究区地表水体间存在相互转化关系,祥茂河河水的主要来源为大气降水;洪江河、墨水河河水为大气降水与海水的混合水,且墨水河受海水混合影响程度大于洪江河;胶州湾海水为河水和标准海水的混合水。研究区地下水和地表水之间存在相互转化,基岩裂隙水来源除大气降水外,还与第四系孔隙水存在密切的水力联系,受海水入侵的影响;第四系孔隙水来源为大气降水与海水的混合水,径流过程中接受地表水体或基岩裂隙水的补给并经历不同程度的蒸发作用。     

Southwest monsoon changes indicated by oxygen isotope of ostracode shells from sediments in Qinghai Lake since the late Glacial

The δ 18O records of ostracode shells in sediments of core QH-2000 from Qinghai Lake can be used as a better proxy to reflect monsoon changes. Low monsoon precipitation between 17.5 and 11 cal. ka BP is indicated by positive δ 18O values averaging 2.37‰. A fast shift in δ 18O from positive at 11 cal. ka BP to negative at 10 cal. ka BP indicates sharp increase of monsoon precipitation. An interval of generally high monsoon precipitation is observed between 10 and 6 cal. ka BP with δ 18O values averaging -2.15‰. Decrease of monsoon precipitation between 6 and 2.5 cal. ka BP is indicated by positive δ 18O values. δ 18O keeps positive values averaging 3.0‰ between 2.5 and 0 cal. ka BP suggesting low high monsoon precipitation. The climatic changes indicated by δ 18O records of ostracode shells in sedi- ments of core QH-2000 from Qinghai Lake and our broader regional comparison show that the climate in Qinghai Lake since the late Glacial is probably controlled by southwest monsoon other than southeast monsoon.