A preliminary study on fingerprinting approach in marine sediment dynamics with the rare earth elements

Locating the quantitized natural sediment fingerprints is an important work for marine sediment dynamics study. The total of 146 sediment samples were collected from the Shelf of the East China Sea and five rivers, including Huanghe (Yellow), Changjiang (Yangtze), Qiantang, Ou and Min River. The sediment grain size and the contents of rare earth elements (REEs) were measured with laser particle size analyzer and ICP-MS technology. The results show that absolute REE content (Sigma REE) and the concentration ratio of light REEs to heavy REEs (L/HREE) are different in the sediments among those rivers. There are higher REE contents in being less than 2 m and 2-31 mu m fractions in the Changjiang Estuary surface sediments. The REE contents of bulk sediment are dominated by the corresponding values of those leading size-fractions. Sigma REE of sediment is higher close to the estuaries and declines seaward on the inner shelf of the East China Sea (ECS). The L/HREE ratio has a tendency of increase southward from 28 degrees N. Hydrodynamic conditions plays a predominate role on spacial distributions of the surficial sediment's REE parameters. In some situations, the currents tend to remove the coarser light grains from initial populations, as well as the deposit of the finer heavy mineral grains. In other situations, the currents will change the ratio of sediment constituents, such as ratio between silts and clays in the sediments. As a result, the various values of Sigma REE or L/HREE ratio in different bulk sediments are more affected by the change of size-fractions than source location. Under the long-term stable hydrodynamic environment, i.e., the East China Sea Shelf, new sediment transport model based on the size and density gradation concept may help to understand the spatial distribution patterns of REE parameters.

天山南北山前盆地中-新生代沉积记录及其动力学分析

It has been long known that intense multiple Mesozoic-Cenozoic intracontinental deformations have controlled the grand scale basin-range structural evolution of the Tianshan and its adjacent basins. So it is important to study the sedimentary records of the piedmont basins along the two sides of the Tianshan synthetically for the continental geodynamic research.We carried out a magnetostratigraphy study on Cretaceous- Tertiary succession and U-Pb dating analysis of detrital zircons from the representative sandstone samples of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic deposits in Kuqa Subbasin, northern Tarim Basin, combining our previous results of multiple depositional records from different profiles including paleocurrent data, conglomerate clast, sandstone framswork grains, detrital heavy minerals and geochemistry analysis, so the multiple intracontinental tectonic processes of Tianshan and their depositional response in the Kuqa Subbasin can be revealed. The results show that the tectonic evolution of the Tianshan Orogen and the sedimentary processes of the Kuqa Subbasin can be divided into four periods: early Triassic(active period), from middle Triassic to late Jurassic(placid period), from early Cretaceous to Tertiary Paleocene(active period) and from Neogene to present (intensely active period). Simultaneously，the depositional records reveal the provenance types and tectonic attributes in different periods. As follows, the lower Triassic with a dominant age ranging from 250 to 290Ma of the Zircons, which were principally derived from alkali feldspar granites and alkaline intrusion obviously, relative to the magma activity in Permian. In middle Triassic-late Jurassic, the two samples collected from the Taliqike formation and the Qiakemake formation respectively show the age peak at 350～450Ma, which was relative to the subduction of the Tarim Block to Yili-Central Tianshan Plate. In this period the provenance of the Kuqa deposits was the Central Tianshan arc orogenic belts distantly with little height predominance.During early Cretaceous-Paleogene, two major zircons age spectra at 240~330Ma and 370~480Ma have been acquired, with some other not dominant age ranges, indicating complicated provenance types. In Neogene, the detrital zircons age dating ranges from 460 to 390 Ma primarily. What’s more, the newer chronology of the stratigraphy and the older source age, indicating that Tianshan was uplifted and exhumated further strongly. Further study on the heavy mineral and the detrital zircons age dating of the Mesozoic-Paleogene representative profiles in southern Junggar Basin, combined with the published results of the sandstone framework grains, we consider that it occurred obvious sedimentary and tectonic changes occurred in the inside of Jurassic, from late Jurassic to early Cretaceous and form early Cretaceous to late Cretaceous. On this faces, there are remarkable changes of the steady minerals and unstable minerals, the sandstone maturity and the age spectra of the detrital zircons. Compared the sedimentary records from the two sides of the Tianshan, We find that they are different obviously since Middle Jurassic. It can be concluded that Tianshan have uplifted highly enough to influence the paleo-climatic. According to the current strata division, the structural activity apparently showed a migration from north to south. That is to say, the South Tianshan uplift later than the north, especially from late Jurassic to early Cretaceous , but it was uplifted and exhumated more strongly. Furthermore, correlating the depositional records and tectonic styles in the Kuqa-South Tianshan basin-range conjugation site in the east with the west, the obvious differentiation between the west and the east from the Cretaceous especially in Tertiary along the Tianshan-Kuqa belt was revealed, probably showing earlier uplifting in the east while greater exhumation depth and sediment rates in the west. In addition, the contacting style of Kuqa subbasin to the Tianshan Orogenic belts and the basement structure are also inconsistent at different basin-range conjugation sites. It is probably controlled by a series of N-S strike adjusting belts within the Kuqa subbasin, or probably correlated with the material difference at the complicated basin-range boundary. The research on the Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic-depositional response in the piedmont basins along the two sides of the Tianshan shows that the basin-filling process was controlled by the intracontinental multicyclic basin-range interactions, especially affected by the intense tectonic differentiations of basin-range system, which can’t be illuminated using a single evolutionary model.

Manganese abnormity in holocene Sediments of the Bohai Sea

Manganese abnormity has been observed in the Holocene sediments of the mud area of Bohai Sea. On the basis of grain size, chemical composition, heavy mineral content and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) C-14 dating of foraminifer, relationships between manganese abnormity and sedimentation rates, material source, hydrodynamic conditions are probed. Manganese abnormity occurred during the Middle Holocene when sea level and sedimentation rates were higher than those at present. Sedimentary hiatus was not observed when material sources and hydrodynamic conditions were quite similar. Compared with the former period, the latter period showed a decrease in reduction environment and an inclination toward oxidation environment with high manganese content, whereas provenance and hydrodynamic conditions showed only a slight change. From the above observations, it can be concluded that correlation among manganese abnormity, material source, and hydrodynamic conditions is not obvious. Redox environment seems to be the key factor for manganese enrichment, which is mainly related to marine authigenic process.

中国东部沙地物源示踪及地质意义

Heavy mineral assemblages, chemical compositions of diagnostic heavy minerals such as garnet and tourmaline, and U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of zircons are very effective means to determine sediment provenance. An integrated application of the above provides insight on the lithologies, crystallization ages and crustal formation ages of the parent magma of sediment source areas. As a result, the locations and characteristics of potential source areas can be constrained and contributions of different source regions may be evaluated. In addition, the study provides evidence for the magmatic and tectonic history of source areas using a novel approach. The heavy mineral assemblages, and chemical compositions of detrital garnets and tourmalines, U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of zircons for sand and loess samples deposited since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) from the Hulunbeier, Keerqin and Hunshandake sandlands were analyzed and compared to those of central-southern Mongolia, the central Tarim and surrounding potential source areas, the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and North China Craton (NCC). The following remarks on provenance and tectonic history can be made: 1. The source compositional characteristics of the Hulunbeier, Keerqin and Hunshandake sandlands are similar. They are derived from the CAOB and NCC whose contributions for the Keerqin and Hunshandake sandland are about 50%. For the Hulunbeier sandland it is somewhat less, about 40%. 2. Loesses around of the sandlands have the identical source signiture as the sands, implying that they are sorted by the same wind regime. 3. The source characteristics of the present and LGM sands are the same, providing direct evidence that the present sands originated from the reworking of LGM sands. 4. The provenance characteristics of the three sandlands differ from those of the Tarim. As a result, the possibility that the three eastern sandlands were sourced from the Taklimakan desert can be ruled out. 5. The source compositions of sand samples derived from the CAOB indicate that the occurrence of Archean and Paleoproterozoic metamorphic basement rocks is limited and continuous subduction-accretion events from the Neoproterozoic to the Mesozoic occurred. This implies that the CAOB is a orogenic collage belt similar to the present day southwest-Pacific, and formed by the amalgamation of small forearc and backarc ocean basins occurring between island arcs and microcontinents during continuous collision and accretion. The Hf isotopic signitures of detrital zircons indicate that large amounts of juvenile mantle materials were added to the CAOB crust during the Phanerozoic.

博兴洼陷新生代构造-沉积演化及其对鲁西隆起的响应

The West Shandong Uplift and its adjacent basins, with same evolutional history before Mesozoic, are an important basin-orogenic systems in North China. After late Mesozoic, tectonic differentiation between basin and orogenic belt gradually displayed in the study area. The Boxing sag is a part of Jiyang Depression near to West Shandong Uplift, in which the whole Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata are preserved. Based on the analysis of sedimentary records in the Boxing sag, the Cenozoic structural and sedimentary evolutions in Boxing Sag and its response to Western Shandong uplift are discussed in this dissertation. The main conclusions in this research are presented as follows. Based on Seismic and well logging profile interpretation, fault growth index, thickness difference between bottom wall and top wall and fault activity rate from Eocene to Pliocene are studied. Boxing sag had three main faults, NE, NW and NEE trending faults. Research shows that the activity of the NW trending fault in the Boxing sag became weaken from E1-2S4 to N2m gradually. The evolution of NE and the NEE trending fault can be divided into three episodes, from E1-2k to E2s4, from E2s3 to E3s1, from N2m to E3d. The analysis of Paleogene samples of heavy mineral assemblages shows that metamorphic rocks represented by garnet, intermediate-acid igneous rocks represented by the assemblage of apatite, zircon and tourmaline became less from E1-2k to N2g, and sedimentary rocks represented by the assemblage of pyrite, barite and limonite also became less. Intermediate-basic igneous rocks represented by the assemblage of leucoxene, rutile and ilmenite and metamorphic rocks represented by epidote became more and more. Electronic microprobe analysis shows that glaucophane and barroisite are existed in Kongdian Formation and the 4th member of Shahejie Formation, and they demonstrate that Western Shandong and Eastern Shandong are all the source regions of the Boxing Sag, and they also indicate that oceanic crust existed before the collision between the Yangtze and North China continent. The fact that Eastern Shandong is the source region of Boxing Sag also indicates that Western Shandong was not high enough to prevent sediment from Eastern Shandong at E1-2k and E2s4. The results of the dating of five detrital zircons of Boxing Sag show Kongdian Formation and the 4th member of Shahejie Formation have the age peaks of 2800Ma and 700-800. It means that Eastern Shandong is the source region of Boxing Sag at early Paleogene and Western Shandong is not high enough to prevent the sediment from Eastern Shandong. The ages of 160-180 and 220-260 Ma, which exist in the Guantao Formation and Paleogene, are common in Eastern Shandong and rare in Western Shandong,and it implied that Western Shandong is a low uplift at 24Ma. The Paleogene strata have almost same age groups, while the Guantao Formation has significant variations of age groups, and this indicates that Boxing Sag and Western Shandong uplift had taken place tremendous changes. The results of apatite fission track in Boxing sag show that three times uplifts happened at the source region at 60 Ma, 45Ma and 15Ma respectively, and the Boxing sag experienced two subsidences at 60Ma, 45Ma and one uplift at 20Ma.

子洲—清涧地区上古生界储层综合研究

The exploration and study in recent years shows that the upper Paleozoic in the east of Ordos Basin possesses major exploration potential, so it is necessary to have a comprehensive and synthetic research in this area. Following the guideline of T.A. Cross’s high resolution sequences stratigraphy and combined with sedimentology, the strata and sequence in the research area are divided and correlated. This paper emphasizes on the reservoir in this area and its major fruits are: Firstly, form the framework of the high sequence stratigraphy through mainly studying on the data of core, well drilling and field section combining. Then, think that the best reservoir formation mainly appears in the middle or lower part of long arising semi-cycle, and focus on A type and C1 middle sequence cycle that contributes to the development of formation. Next, think the sedimentary source mainly comes from the epimetamorphic crystalline basement in the north of the Ordoes Basin through analyzing depositional background, researching on sandstone petrography, distribution characteristics of the sedimentary system as well as researching on heavy mineral combination characteristics. Fourthly, give priority to Zizhou-Qingjian area for the first time and gain seven lithofacies paleography maps in the No.2 member of Shanxi and the No.8 member of Shihezi through using the method of isochronal lithofacies paleogeography mapping, then bring forth that Sh2 is mainly developed a type I sequence under the margin of ramp lake-basin background. Fifthly, through researching on the characteristics of reservoir petrography and diagenesis, think that all researched areas experienced compaction and cementation, and there is different types of rocks, only little of the primary pores that are made up of litharenite and lithoclastic quartz sandstone is left, while in lithoclastic quartz sandstone, there are still many primary pores Sixthly, through studying on pore types, microstructure, as well as physical property on the key formation, think that the researched area mostly appears typical low pore, low porosity and permeability, which mainly result from sedimentary and diagenesis. Lastly, through researching on classified evaluation in the key formation, productivity analysis, and combing with reservoir distribution, the researched area is divided into three parts, and think that exploration should be emphasized on formation I and II. The characteristics of sandstones distribution in Sh23 member, gas formation distribution and open flow capacity of exploitation well are all consistent properly with the results of reservoir comprehensive evaluation in this thesis proved by the gas production development in 2006.

岩石磨蚀性和TBM滚刀磨损机理研究

Using the popular CERCHAR testing to measure the abrasiveness of rock which is CERCHAR abrasiveness index(CAI). The digital imagine processing program IPP is used to quantify the rock texture such as the grain size, the shape of grain and the index of grain homogeneity. And the rock mechanical testing machine are used to measure the strength, hardness and elastic modulus. Basic on these three experiments, this paper finds the relationship between the CAI and physical and mechanical properties of rock. They are both the mesostructure and macroscopical properties of rock. According to the theory of tribology and wear, this paper finds the disc cutter wear mechanism during the machine and rock interaction process. The detail research results are as follows: (1) The size and form of the mineral grains constituting the rocks affect the abrasiveness of the rock. The rock abrasiveness CAI is a function of the product of the texture coefficient(TC) multiplying equivalent quarts content(Q%). (2) There is no obvious relationship between the rock abrasiveness CAI and the single macroscopical property of rock such as hardness, unconfined compressive strength, tensile strength and elastic modulus. But when taking the texture coefficient(TC) and the mineral composition in consideration, it shows that the rock abrasiveness CAI is relative to the combination of the rock mechanical property, the texture coefficient(TC) and the mineral composition. That is to say various factors which are from the mesostructure feature to the macroscopical property of rock control the rock abrasiveness. (3) The disc cutter penetrating into rock is a machine/rock interaction process. During this interaction, the wear of disc cutter is mainly coming from the abrasive of abrasiveness matters. First, the surface of the cutter ring is hunched, and then the material of the cutter ring is being wiped off during the iterative interaction. Second, the hard mineral in the rock and the muck will microcosmic cutting the surface material of cutter ring. (4) The disc cutters consumption is determined by the machine parameters and the geology condition. The machine parameters include the thrust and the revolution rate of the cutterhead. The geology condition include two aspects: the macroscopical properties which are the strength and/or hardness of rock, the presence of discontinuities in rock mass, the hardness, sharp, edge and size of the muck and so on. And the mesostructure features which are the hard mineral composition, the sharp and size of the grain of the rock.

柴西南区下干柴沟组下段层序地层格架内沉积相展布及有利储集砂体分布研究

Lower member of the lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin is one of the main targeted exploration zones. With the advancement of exploration, the targets are gradually switching into the lithologic reservoirs and it is urgent to gain the more precise research results in distribution of sedimentary facies and sandstones. Guided by the theory of sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology as well as on the basis of many logging data, drillings, seismic data and chemical tests, the paper comprehensively analyzes the sedimentary facies and sandstones in the lower member of lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southern of Chaixi. According to the identification marks of the key interface in sequence stratigraphy, the key interfaces in lower member of lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin are identified as two third-order sequences SQ1、SQ2. By calibrating the synthetic seismogram, the seismic sequence, well drilling and logging sequences are united. Based on the works above, this paper chooses seven primary cross-sections and builds connecting-well stratigraphic correlation of seven main connecting-well sections. Ultimately, the high-resolution sequence stratigraphic frameworks in the lower member of the lower Ganchaigou Formation, which are uniform to logging and seismic data, are figured out. In terms of study on each sequence features, the main style of the base-level cycle overlay which forms the third-order sequence is confirmed. It contains asymmetric “becoming deep upward” style and symmetry style. Researching on the spreading characters of sequence stratigraphy indicates that SQ1 and SQ2 are rather thicker near northwest well Shashen 20 and Shaxin1 while they are quite thiner near Hongcan 1, Yuejin, Qie 4 and Dong8-Wu3, and the thickness of SQ1 is thicker than SQ2.Based on the deep analysis of the marks for depositional facies, it is proposed that the lake facies and braid river deltas facies mainly occurred in study areas. Besides, the sorts of sub-facies and micro-facies model are divided and described. Under the control of high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework, three source directions from Arlarer Mountain、Qimantage Mountain and Dongchai Mountain are identified by using the features of heavy mineral assemblage and paleogeomorphy. In addition, regularities of distribution sedimentary facies in sequence stratigraphic framework are studied in accordance with research thinking of the "point" (single well) "line" (section) "face" (plane). In the stage of lower member in the lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin, it is at the early phrase of evolution of the lake basin with the gradual outspread and the rise of the lake level. Combined with physical analysis of reservoir sands formed in different sedimentary environment, the paper studies the style of favorable sandstone bodies that are underwater distributary channel of braided rive delta front, coarse sand in mouth bar and the sand body in sand flat of shore-shallow lacustrine facies. Finally, this article comprehensively analyzes the distribution relationship between sedimentary facies and favorable sandstone body and proposes the ideas that sequence SQ1 Yuejin area, well east 8-wu3 area, well qie4-qie1 area and well hongcan2 area are distributed areas of favorable sandstone.

Heavy metals in plants and phytoremediation - A state-of-the-art report with special reference to literature published in Chinese journals

Goal, Scope and Background. In some cases, soil, water and food are heavily polluted by heavy metals in China. To use plants to remediate heavy metal pollution would be an effective technique in pollution control. The accumulation of heavy metals in plants and the role of plants in removing pollutants should be understood in order to implement phytoremediation, which makes use of plants to extract, transfer and stabilize heavy metals from soil and water. Methods. The information has been compiled from Chinese publications stemming mostly from the last decade, to show the research results on heavy metals in plants and the role of plants in controlling heavy metal pollution, and to provide a general outlook of phytoremediation in China. Related references from scientific journals and university journals are searched and summarized in sections concerning the accumulation of heavy metals in plants, plants for heavy metal purification and phytoremediation techniques. Results and Discussion. Plants can take up heavy metals by their roots, or even via their stems and leaves, and accumulate them in their organs. Plants take up elements selectively. Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in the plant depends on the plant species, element species, chemical and bioavailiability, redox, pH, cation exchange capacity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and secretion of roots. Plants are employed in the decontamination of heavy metals from polluted water and have demonstrated high performances in treating mineral tailing water and industrial effluents. The purification capacity of heavy metals by plants are affected by several factors, such as the concentration of the heavy metals, species of elements, plant species, exposure duration, temperature and pH. Conclusions. Phytoremediation, which makes use of vegetation to remove, detoxify, or stabilize persistent pollutants, is a green and environmentally-friendly tool for cleaning polluted soil and water. The advantage of high biomass productive and easy disposal makes plants most useful to remediate heavy metals on site. Recommendations and Outlook. Based on knowledge of the heavy metal accumulation in plants, it is possible to select those species of crops and pasturage herbs, which accumulate fewer heavy metals, for food cultivation and fodder for animals; and to select those hyperaccumulation species for extracting heavy metals from soil and water. Studies on the mechanisms and application of hyperaccumulation are necessary in China for developing phytoremediation.