Comparison of the carbon isotope composition of total organic carbon and long-chain n-alkanes from surface soils in eastern China and their significance

Surface soil samples collected over a high spatial resolution in eastern China were analyzed for carbon isotope composition(δ 13C) of total organic carbon(TOC) and higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes,with the latter reported as weighted mean values.The two sets of δ 13C values are significantly correlated and show similar trends in spatial variation.The spatial distribution of δ 13C shows less negative values in the mid-latitudes between 31°N and 40°N and more negative ones at higher and lower latitudes.This is consistent with previously reported carbon isotope data from surface soil phytoliths in the same region and suggests that the mid-latitude area provides relatively favorable growing conditions for C4 plants.Furthermore,δ 13C values of both TOC and long-chain n-alkanes from 12 surface soil samples collected from a small grassland in north China displayed similar carbon isotope values and the difference between paired δ 13C of a soil samples remains relatively constant.Our data demonstrate that in eastern China,soil δ 13C composition of both TOC and long-chain n-alkanes is effective indicators of C3/C4 ratios of the prevailing vegetation.This work suggests that -22‰ and -32‰ are good estimated end members for the weighted mean δ 13C values of long-chain n-alkanes(C27,C29 and C31 n-alkanes) from soils under dominant C4 or C3 vegetation,allowing us to reconstruct paleovegetation trends.     

Age and genesis of the Myanmar jadeite: Constraints from U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes of zircon inclusions

Myanmar jadeite (jadeitite) is well known for its economical value and distinctive tectonic locality within the collisional belt between India and Eurasian plates. However, it is less studied for its genesis and geodynamic implications due to precipitous topography, adverse weather and local military conflicts in the area. By means of combined ICP-MS and LA-MC-ICPMS techniques, we have carried out in-situ trace elements, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes for zircon inclusions in a piece of jadeite gem sample. CL imaging suggests that the zircons are metasomatic in origin, and contain mineral inclusions of jadeite and omphacite. Seventy-five analyses on 16 grains of the zircons yield a U-Pb age of 158 ± 2 Ma. The Myanmar zircons differ from other types in that they have no significant Eu anomalies despite high HREE concentrations. Measured ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios range from 0.282976 to 0.283122, with an average value of 0.283066 ± 7; ε_Hf(t) value of 13.8 ± 0.3 (n=75). These results indicate that the Myanmar jadeite was formed in the Late Jurassic, probably by interaction of fluid released from subducted oceanic slab with mantle wedge. Therefore, its formation has no genetic relationship to the continental collision between Indian and Euroasian plates. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40673039) and the Science Plan Foundation of Guangdong (Grant No. 2007B031200005)     

峨眉山柿子坪热田地下水碳氧同位素特征初步研究

在峨眉山柿子坪热田地质调查及热水勘探过程中 ,采用了碳、氧同位素地球化学方法 ,结果发现不同成因类型的地下水其碳、氧同位素组成特征各不相同 ,为查明地下热水的形成条件提供了重要依据 ,表明用地下水中 HCO-3 的碳、氧同位素组成来研究地下热水系的发育特征是有前景的     

华南晚泥盆世腕足动物壳体保存状况及其氧碳同位素比较研究

对华南湘中地区上泥盆统弗拉/法门(F/F)界线附近的几种腕足动物化石壳体结构所进行的详细研究表明,其原始结构主要表现为两种类型：一是具有棱柱状第三层,二是缺失棱柱状第三层。基于壳体保存程度的详细分析,以阴极发光程度、壳体显微结构为参数建立了壳体成岩作用改造程度的量化模式,经化石壳体氧、碳同位素值的验证,这一模式基本可以用来对不同保存环境下的样品进行筛选。在对比研究中发现,以无洞贝目(Atrypida)为代表的具有柱状第三层结构的样品不仅在保存状况上优于只具有纤维层结构的壳体,而且其氧、碳同位素数值的分布也较为集中,从而说明无洞贝目的壳体是进行氧、碳同位素研究较为理想的材料。     

Water isotope variations in the snow pack and summer precipitation at July 1 Glacier, Qilian Mountains in northwest China

This paper presents the stable isotope data of the snow pack and summer precipitation collected at the July 1 Glacier, Qilian Mountains in northwest China and analyses their relationships with meteorologi- cal factors. On an event scale, there is no temperature effect on the δ 18O values in the summer pre- cipitation, whereas the amount effect is shown to be clear. By tracing the moisture transport history and comparing the precipitation with its isotopic composition, it is shown that this amount effect not only reflects the change in moisture trajectory, which is related to the monsoon activities, but is also associated with the cooling degree of vapor in the cloud, the evaporation of falling raindrops and the isotopic exchange between the falling drops and the atmospheric vapor. As very little precipitation occurs in winter, the snow pack profile mainly represents the precipitation in the other three seasons. There are low precipitation δ 18O ratios in summer and high ratios in spring and autumn. The Meteoric Water Line (MLW) for the summer precipitation is δ D = 7.6 δ 18O 13.3, which is similar to that at Delingha, located in the south rim of the Qilian Mountains. The MWL for the snow pack is δ D = 10.4 δ 18O 41.4, showing a large slope and intercept. The deuterium excess (d) of the snow pack is positively correlated with δ 18O, indicating that both d and δ 18O decrease from spring to summer and increase from early autumn to early spring. This then results in the high slope and intercept of the MWL. Sea- sonal fluctuations of d in the snow pack indicate the change of moisture source and trajectory. During spring and autumn, the moisture originates from continental recycling or rapid evaporation over rela- tively warm water bodies like Black, Caspian and Aral Seas when the dry westerly air masses pass over them, hence very high d values in precipitation are formed. During summer, the monsoon is responsi- ble for the low d values. This indicates that the monsoon can reach the western part of the Qilian Mountains.     

川东北宋家洞石笋氧碳同位素周期分析

对采自川东北宋家洞的石笋SJ3的氧碳同位素值进行了小波分析和REDFIT分析,得到以下结果:(1)氧同位素值在18.3～17.5 ka有显著的174 a的周期,碳同位素值在16.2～15.4ka、18.3～17.8ka有显著的174 a的周期;(2)氧碳同位素值的周期与太阳活动周期有关。这些表明石笋记录在短时间尺度上与太阳活动存在显著关联。     

降雨入渗条件下土壤水同位素变化实验

 通过输入比初始土壤水富集轻同位素且同位素组成稳定的降雨进行室内降雨入渗实验,研究土壤水氢氧同位素在土壤中变化情况。实验结果表明,降雨在入渗过程中,降雨同位素与初始土壤水同位素发生混合稀释,出流同位素组成随时间减小,最后趋于稳定,接近降雨同位素组成;出流氢氧同位素关系线斜率由以初始土壤水和降雨同位素组成为端点的混合线斜率决定;通过曲线拟合出流同位素随时间的变化函数关系,确定其传递函数分布为指数-活塞流模型分布,且氢同位素和氧同位素的传递函数相同。