A continuous 200-ka palaeoclimatic record from stalagmite in Tangshan Cave, Nanjing

An oxygen isotope temperature record from 381 to 166 kaB. P. (²³⁰Th/²³⁴U dating and tuned ages) has been obtained by combining data on the isotopic composition of calcites with that of fluid inclusions trapped in a stalagmite from a limestone cave in which a fossil cranium deposited. Several laminae in microsequence of the stalagmite represent climatic events or shifts. The Nanjing man fossil was older than 381 kaB. P.     

The Juancheng chondrite──A new meteorite falling recently in China

The Juancheng chondrite, a new meteorite falling recently in Juancheng County, Shandong Province, China, is classified as an H5 (S2) chondrite based on the compositions of olivine (Fa= 19.2, σ Fa=0.46) and low-Ca pyroxene (Fs=16.9, σ Fa=0.4). The plagioclase in the Juancheng chondrite is rich in CaO, indicating a relatively high metamorphic temperature the parent body underwent.     

Discovery of eclogite at northern margin of Qaidam Basin, NW China

Eclogite was first discovered at the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in this study. It occurs as pods in the gneiss sequence of Middle to Upper Proterozoic age and is mainly composed of garnet, omphacite, phengite and rutile. The garnets contain 44%-62% of almandine, 15%-33% of grossular and 12%-30% of pyrope molecules, and the omphacites contain 40%-46% of jadeite. Applying garnet_clinopyroxene thermometry and jadeite geobarometry, the peak conditions of eclogite facies metamorphism occurred at about (722±123)℃ and at the pressure of up to c. 22 ×10 8 Pa.     

The v-v energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited states (I)

The relaxation of the highly vibrationally excited CO (v = 1–8) by CO₂ is studied by timeresolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy (TR FTIR). 193 nm laser photolysis of the mixture of CHBr₃ with O₂ generates the highly vibrationally excited CO(v) molecules. TR FTIR records the intense infrared emission of CO(v→v-1). The vibrational populations of each level of CO(v) have been determined by the method of spectral simulation. Based on the evolution of the time resolved populations and the differential method, 8 energy transfer rate constants of CO(v = 1–8) to CO₂ molecules areobtained: (5.7±0.1), (5.9±0.1), (5.2±0.2), (3.4±0.2), (2.4±0.3), (2.2±0.4), (2.0±0.4) and (1.8±0.6) (10¹⁴ cm³ · molecule⁻¹ · s⁻¹), respectively. A two-channel energy transfer model can explain the feature of the quenching of CO(v) by CO². For the lower vibrational states of CO, the vibrational energy transfers preferentially to the u³ mode of CO² For the higher levels, the major quenching channel changes to the vibrational energy exchange between CO(v→v-1) and the u¹ mode of CO².     

Marked electrical synapses on AP neuron of the leech (Whitmania pigra)

An initial attempt reveals parameters of marked electric synapse on AP perceptive neuron of leech. The width of gap between marked AP and either neuro-or glio-process is 2–3 nm, the diameter of the hexagonal array of connexion is 8–9 nm with a central pole of 2–2.5 nm, the same as the structure of annular lamellar bodies internalized by AP-glia processes in the AP.     

High-precision timing of the Quaternary standard samples with thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) U-series method

Two national stalagmite standard (GBW04412, GBW04413) and one international coral standard (RKM_4) have been determined by using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) method. The values of ( 234 U/ 238 U) act , ( 230 Th/ 234 U) act and age are all consistent in error range with the standard values obtained by using α spectrometry.     

Leakage of mantle helium from the Liaodong Peninsula, China

The isotopic cumpositions of helium have been investigated in hot spring gases sampled from the Liaodong Peninsula. China. The³He/⁴He ratios range from 0.14 Ra (0.14 times the atmospheric³He/⁴He ratio of 1.40 × 10^-6 to 0.72 Ra.³He/⁴He versus⁴He/²⁰Ne ratios and He contents suggest that a small amount of mantle-derived helium reaches the earth’s surface. Helium iwtope ratios of the hot spring gases show a distribution pattern similar to the regional heat flow values, indicating that the positive thermal anomaly occurring in the rtrea is closely associated with the presence of mantle-derived helium. The observations described above provide some significant evidence that the molten magma originating from partial melting of the upper mantle may have intruded into the continental crust along the activity fault. The coupling of the presence of mantle He and heat flow anomalies to seismic activity in studied region seem to imply that there is an internal relationship between mantle degassing and seismic activity.     

A recording phase lag between ocean and continent climate changes: Constrained by the Matuyama/Brunhes polarity boundary

The Matuyama/Brunhes polarity boundary (MBPB) is recorded in Chinese loess L8, which is associated with the glacial period. It is proved that loess L8 is capable of recording earth’s secular variation, and the lock-in depth in Chinese loess is no more than that of marine sediments. Comparison with the location of MBPB in Chinese loess and marine sediments, it is put forward that there is a recording phase lag between ocean and continent climate changes.     

Kinetic model for the smectite to illite transformation in active geothermal systems

The smectite to illite transformation in active geothermal systems of New Zealand can be simulated by a first-order reaction kinetic model, which provides direct estimates about the minumum ages of active geothermal systems themselves. The derived kinetic values show that the smectite to illite transformation is sensitive to both temperature and time.