Reliability of Relative Paleointensity Recorded in Chinese Loess–Paleosol Sediments

A detailed paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic investigation spanning loess L7 to paleosol S8 has been carried out at the Baoji and Xifeng sections. Results of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility confirm that the studied loess–paleosol sediments retain primary sedimentary fabrics. Stepwise thermal demagnetization shows that two well-defined magnetization components can be isolated from both loess and paleosol specimens. A low-temperature component, isolated between 100°C and 200°C, is consistent with the present geomagnetic field direction, and a high-temperature component, isolated between 200–300°C and 620–680°C, includes clearly normal and reversed polarities. Isothermal remanent magnetization and thermomagnetic analyses indicate that characteristic remanent magnetization is mainly carried by magnetite and hematite. The Day plot, together with the stratigraphic variations of rock-magnetic parameters, shows that the uniformity of magnetic mineralogy and grain size fulfills the criteria for relative paleointensity (RPI) studies. RPI records have been constructed using natural remanent magnetization (NRM) intensity after thermal demagnetization at 300°C normalized by low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (NRM300/χ). The results show that the RPI record from the Baoji section, where pedogenesis is quite weak, is compatible with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, suggesting that it might reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. The RPI record from the Xifeng section, where pedogenesis is rather strong, indicates a clear dissimilarity with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, implying that it does not reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. Our new results show that the NRM300/χ from the strongly pedogenetic paleosols does not completely eliminate the pedogenetic (climatic) influence, so it might be unsuitable for a reliable paleointensity study.     

黄土剖面中氧化物的比值和相对淋溶、积聚值在地质上的意义

As have been determined, the ratios of oxides and the contents of CaCO3 show a tendency to increase from bottom to top in Luochuan loess section, whereas an opposite tendency is observed for the relative values of weathering leaching or accumulation of loess, Moreover, the limits of oxide ratios from less to greater than the average value coincide with the boundary between Wucheng and Lishi loess strata, as well as with the boundary of magnetic polarity reversal. The ratios of oxides and the variations of relative weathering-leaching or accumulation extents are synchronous with the fluctuation of CaCO3 contents. From this investigation, it is shown that the ratios of oxides in the superimposed loees and paleosols from the loess profile are found rhythmically varied. These Characteristics might be explained by the hypothesis of repeated climatic fluctuation from dry (loess) to humid (paleosol) during the Quaternary period.     

Behaviours of REE and Other Trace Elements During Pedological Weathering-Evidence from Chemical Leaching of Loess and Palaeosol from the Luochuan Section in Central China

The chemical leaching method is used for a systematic analysis of distribution characteristics of acid-soluble and acid-insoluble REE and other trace elements from the Luochuan loess deposits. The study shows that the acid-insoluble phase in loess and palaeosol is a stable component of old aeolian dusts and is characteristic of the provenance; the acid-soluble phase is the unstable component in the weathering pedogenic process and reflects rock-forming features after accumulation of aeolian dusts. The acid-insoluble REE and acid-soluble Sr and Pb can be used as geochemical indicators respectively to trace the provenance characteristics and the weathering pedogenic process.     

黄河中游全新世黄土

Holocene loess in the Middle Huanghe Valley can be subdivided into 3 formations which are composed commonly of upper loess and lower dark loessial soil (a kind of paleosol) : the Xifeng Formation of Late Holocene, the Longxi Formation of Middle Holocene and the Luochuan Formation of Early Holocene. The layers of dark loessial soil at similar stratigraphic levels in different localities show such a change in age that samples from south are older than those from north, indicating a northward shift of the climate, belt during pedogenesis.     

Characteristics and genesis of hematite in Chinese loess and paleosol sequences： Mineral genetic restriction for magnetic susceptibility as paleoclimate proxy and iron geochemistry

Hematite is an important iron oxide mineral in loess-paleosol sequences in central China. Investigation of the mineralogical characteristics, genetic mechanism and relationship of hematite with other iron oxides and Fe-bearing minerals will help understand the geochemical process before and after eolian deposit, paleocliamte significance of magnetic susceptibility and reconstruct paleoclimate in central China. So, hematite and related minerals of the loess and paleosol units from Chinese Loess Plateau were investigated using optical microscope, X-ray powder diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and high-resolution transmission microscopy （HRTEM）. The results show that there are five genetic types of hematite in loess-paleosol sequences of central China： （1） weathering of Fe-bearing silicate minerals, for instance, chlorite, will release iron that is precipitated as aggregates of hematite nano-crystals on mineral surfaces; （2） hematite combined with eolian magnetite grains that resulted from partial oxidation of magnetite, even though the partial oxidation may occur in the original area; （3） phase transformation from eolian goethite to hematite; （4） hematite formed on the edge and surface of maghemite because of dissolution and hematite recrystallization; and （5） eolian detrial hematite. The hematite formed from chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates with nanoporous texture because of dehydration from iron hydroxide is the most important genetic mechanism. It is proposed that the fact that hematite was formed from chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates is a main reason for the redness in paleosol units. However, too intense pedogenesis and high amounts of precipitation will promote oxidation of eolian magnetite and maghemite dissolution, which may result in the decreasing of magnetic susceptibility.     

Leachate Lithium Characteristics of Loess-paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau and their Paleoclimatic Significance

The geochemical components of the leachate from loess-paleosol deposits can provide information about climate-related post-depositional processes. For example, leachate lithium ([Li]leachate) is a potential paleoclimate proxy because lithium is a typical lithophile element that is readily adsorbed by clay minerals during weathering and pedogenesis, and thus stratigraphic variations in [Li]leachate can reflect these processes. We investigated the [Li]leachate values of two loess-paleosols profiles (the Luochuan and Weinan sections), on a north–south climatic gradient on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Independent paleoclimate information was provided by measurements of magnetic susceptibility, grain size, Rb/Sr ratios, and clay mineral content. During the last glacial-interglacial period, [Li]leachate increased from 0.39 to 1.97 μg/g at Luochuan and from 0.67 to 2.45 μg/g at Weinan, mainly due to increasing pedogenesis. Based on these results we developed a conceptual model to explain the variations in [Li]leachate. Li+ within loess layers is mainly derived from dust input and the decomposition of primary minerals, influenced by the East Asian winter monsoon, while in paleosol layers Li+ is mainly derived from clay mineral adsorption during pedogenic processes, influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon.     

Discovery and Significance of Malan Loess on the Piedmont Plain in Pinggu District,Beijing

The platforms on both sides of the Malangou River （a lateral ditch of the Qingshui River that is a tributary of the Yongding River） where Malan Village in Zhaitang Town of Mentougou District of Beijing is located are the place of China＇s typical section of the Quaternary Malan loess. During the investigation in the eastern suburbs of Beijing City, the authors not only clarified 5 grades of terraces on the Pinggu piedmont plain, but also found a clayey silt section mixed with a small amount of alluvial-diluvial gravel layers at a height of 15-25 m above the river level near a Fishpond in Xinli Village of Nandule Town. Results of the study of grain size of the section document that the loess mostly is silty soil （0.05--0.005 mm）, and that the grain size probability cumulative curves of the section are dominated by single-peak, coarse-grained segment I and coarse-grained segment II types, reflecting that its depositional environment is similar to eolian phase. Identification results of heavy minerals from the section show that their contents account for 0.01%-0.11%, averaging 0.04%. There are 24 kinds of heavy minerals, most of which are stable heavy minerals, and the clay minerals mostly are illite, which is consistent with the Malan loess on the Loess Plateau. The chemical composition data reflect that the source area of the loess is relatively arid. The six grade classification of sporopollen in the section further shows the subdivision of the history of alternating warm and humid phases in this geological period. The thermoluminescence dating results range from 21.0 ka to 59.2 ka, convincingly demonstrating that the section indeed consists of Malan loess. The above studies provide a new basis for overall understanding of the distribution of the Malan loess at the northeast margin of the North China Plain and its environment change in the Late Pleistocene.     

Investigation of esophageal cancer with medical geology aspect in Golestan Province, lran

Background ＆ objective： Medical geology is a discipline of environmental health dealing with the impacts of geological relationship between loess deposits and certain endemic diseases such as esophagus cancer. This article deals with loess deposits with medical geology aspect toward diagnosis and prognosis. Materials ＆ Methods： In this study sampling from loess deposits from East towards West has been done. Collected samples have been undergone X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis （EDAX） for determination of minerals, surface morphology of minerals and chemical analysis for further studies, respectively. Results： In mineralogical studies dominated minerals are quartz, feldspar and calcite. Clay minerals are illite and chlorite, which are about 9.3%. The amount of quartz is variable from 56.3 to 45.4. The grains sizes are decreasing from northeast to southwest. Chemical analysis showed that loess deposits contain Si, Al, K and Ca, which are related to the presence of quartz, feldspar, calcite, illite and chlorite minerals. Conclusions： According to medical geology evidence, loess deposits of Gloestan Province could be closely related to the incidence of esophagus cancer due to effect of clay minerals on biochemical cycle, direct relation of grain size with the incidence of esophagus cancer and chemical composition of loess deposit for its high silica are also taken into consideration. As the esophagus cancer belt coincides with the loess deposits belt of the world.     

陇西黄土剖面的古地磁研究

The Longxi loess section is quite different from that at eastern Liupanshan Meuntains in stratigraphic structure, but with better magnetic stability than that of Luochuan loess. 43 samples were collected from the 95 m-thick Longxi loess section. Results of palcomagnetic measurement indicates that those samples taken from 0 down to 48m in.the section are normally magnetized. So there is no doubt that this part of Longxi loess was accumulated during the Brunhes epoch corresponding to the Middle Pleistocene Lishi Loess (Q2) and the Late Pleistocene Maian Loess (Q3). On the other hand, samples between 48-82 m within the section are mainly of reversed polarity, formed during the Matuyama reversed polarity epoch, corresponding to the Early Pleistocene Wucheng Loess (Q1). Jaramillo normal event was recorded at between 64-69m within this section. The starting point of loess accumulation is estimated to be about 1.15 my according to the boundary ages of polarity epochs and event and an accumulation rate of 8 cm per thousand years was obtained.     

陕西洛川黄土剖面中的稀土元素

The ∑REE in Ioesses of different ages in the Luochuan section shows a narrow range of variation, indicating the homogeneity of materials in chemical composition. The REE in loess are concentrated mainly in silt.sized detrital minerals. Loesses of different ages and paleosols all are relatively enriched in rare-earth elements of the Ce family, and show similar REE distribution patterns. The fractinnatlon among various REEs in the loess is different from that in morainic, marine and lacustrine sediments,but is similar to that in sand samples from deserts in Northwest China. The ratios of Ce/Ce^* and Eu/Eu^* reflect that the provenance of loessic materials and their accumulating area are all in an oxidation environment with weakly basic mediums under arid or sub-arid climate.     

新疆伊犁黄土化学风化特征及其控制因素

       通过对伊犁盆地昭苏黄土剖面元素地球化学分析,结合与黄土高原典型第四纪风成堆积洛川剖面的对比,对伊犁黄 土常量元素分布规律及化学风化特征进行初步研究发现,伊犁昭苏剖面黄土和古土壤主要元素含量具有较好的一致性,暗 示着沉积后两者所经历的风化作用相似。与黄土高原相比,伊犁黄土和古土壤除CaO,MgO和Na2O,P2O5分别出现较大程度的 富集和较小程度的亏损外,其它常量元素含量的变化趋势基本一致;CIA指数、Na/K比值及A-CN-K图解显示伊犁黄土和古土 壤均经历了低等强度的化学风化作用,弱于黄土高原的洛川黄土及古土壤,黄土和古土壤风化分异作用不明显。气候条件 尤其水热组合模式（降水、温度和蒸发量等）对伊犁黄土化学风化的起着重要的制约作用。     

丰宁黄土-古土壤剖面常量元素地球化学特征

丰宁滦河上游的河谷地带有多处黄土堆积,由于该地区黄土分布零星、厚度较小,在以往的研究中却很少引起人们的关注,然而该地区黄土堆积是河北坝上地区环境演化和气候变化的重要地质记录.为了探讨该地区黄土的成因、物源以及化学风化强度,选取代表性的黄土-古土壤剖面77个样品进行了常量元素分析,并与已知典型风成堆积物的地球化学元素特征进行对比.结果表明:(1) 丰宁剖面的主要常量元素(SiO₂、Al₂O₃和Fe₂O₃)之和以及UCC(Upper Continental Crust)标准化曲线均与典型风成堆积物具有较好的相似性, 表明丰宁黄土和古土壤为风成成因;(2) 丰宁黄土处于初等化学风化阶段,古土壤则进入了中等化学风化阶段.与典型风成堆积物相比,化学风化强度序列为:宣城风成红土＞＞西峰红黏土、镇江下蜀土＞丰宁古土壤、洛川古土壤＞洛川黄土＞丰宁黄土;(3) 常量元素迁移特征表明丰宁黄土和古土壤的化学风化已完成了早期去Na、Ca阶段,并进入到了中期去K阶段;(4) 丰宁黄土、古土壤的K₂O/Al₂O₃和Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃比值与洛川黄土、洛川古土壤、镇江下蜀土、西峰红黏土较为接近,表明这些风成堆积物可能具有相似的源区.而TiO₂/Al₂O₃比值小于其他风成堆积物, 指示丰宁剖面具有其他物源.      

黄土高原黄土．和红粘土10Be地球化学特征

充分认识元素和同位素在不同环境条件下的地球化学行为,是运用元素和同位素示 踪环境变化的前提。对来自于黄土高原的黄土、古土壤和红粘土样品的宇宙成因核素¹⁰Be测量和化学成分分析,以及各种化学淋溶实验表明：¹⁰Be主要以吸附状态赋存于粉尘沉积物粘粒矿物的表面,部分已结合进自生的粘土矿物中;在粉尘沉积物风化过程中¹⁰Be与⁹Be和～的活动性相似,基本没有发生迁移,其原因是连续沉积的粉尘含有大量的碱性物质,阻止了…Be的解吸附和淋滤;沉积和风化作用导致了¹⁰Be浓度与化学指标在黄土-古土壤和红粘土剖面中的协同变化。     

黄土高原黄土和红粘土~(10)Be地球化学特征

充分认识元素和同位素在不同环境条件下的地球化学行为,是运用元素和同位素示踪环境变化的前提。对来自于黄土高原的黄土、古土壤和红粘土样品的宇宙成因核素10Be测量和化学成分分析,以及各种化学淋溶实验表明：10Be主要以吸附状态赋存于粉尘沉积物粘粒矿物的表面,部分已结合进自生的粘土矿物中;在粉尘沉积物风化过程中10BC与9Be和Al的活动性相似,基本没有发生迁移,其原因是连续沉积的粉尘含有大量的碱性物质,阻止了10Be的解吸附和淋滤;沉积和风化作用导致了10Be浓度与化学指标在黄土－古土壤和红粘土剖面中的协同变化。     

Climatic implications of loess deposits from the Beijing region

Variations in magnetostratigraphy, pedostratigraphy, grain size and magnetic susceptibility of the loess deposits near Beijing have been studied at two sections. The sections are about 400 km east of the main loess deposits in China, have a maximum thickness of 100 m and extend back to 1.1 Ma. The sequence consists of 14 loess–palaeosol couplets (S0‐S14), which correlate well with sequences in the Loess Plateau. Susceptibility records from the sites near Beijing are comparable to the Xifeng, Luochuan and Baoji sections located in the middle part of the Loess Plateau; however, the down‐core variations in the grain size in the Upper Lishi Formation exhibit some differences. The median grain size increases by about 25–30 µm from L4 to L2, with the sandy grains (>63 µm) increasing from 10–20 wt% to 40–50 wt% . This implies that the depositional environment of the dust sources in the Beijing loess section is different in some aspects from the Loess Plateau. The Beijing loess may have had a different dust source than the Loess Plateau. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄土频率磁化率与古气候冷暖变换

本文详细研究和对比了几个区域的黄土剖面,证明中国黄土地层发育的一致性;根据第5阶段以来黄土磁化率和深海氧同位素曲线特征的比较,证明中国黄土地层的连续性和全球气候变化的一致性。黄土地层的古气候信息强度与分辨率成反比,是全球信号和区域信号的叠加。黄土高原各地厚度或沉积速率的差别主要是1.7 Ma以来形成的。黄土地层频率磁化率数值随黄土和古土壤层的出现,分别呈波谷和波峰对应,说明在温湿条件下有许多细小(<0.03 μm)的铁磁性矿物形成,它可能是导致古土壤磁化率增高的最主要原因。这些磁颗粒的含量反映古气候温湿程度的强弱和持续时间的长短。黄土频率磁化率对古气候的突变或渐变研究可能具有十分重要的意义。     

Rock Magnetism Study on Loess-Paleosol Sequence at Huixinggou Section of Sanmenxia Basin

Rock magnetism is the foundation of paleomagnetism and environmental magnetism study, and is effective in identifying the components, grain size and content of magnetic minerals in rocks and sediments. A systematic rock magnetism investigation has been conducted on the Huixinggou loess-paleosol sequence at Shuigou-Huixinggou Paleolithic site of Sanmenxia Basin in the southeastern Loess Plateau. Results show that the magnetic assemblage of the section is dominated by magnetite and maghemite, as well as hematite, exhibiting the average grain size of magnetic minerals is attributed to Pseudo-Single Domain (PSD). The variation curves of magnetic parameters are consistent and well comparable to marine oxygen isotope curves, with low values corresponding to the loess deposition during glacial periods, and high values corresponding to the paleosol development during interglacial periods, jointly demonstrating the glacial-interglacial cyclicities of magnetic mineral types, composition, and grain size of Chinese loess-paleosol sequences under the influence of alternating strengthening and weakening of Eastern Asian paleomonsoon over the Quaternary period. Comprehensive analysis reveals that the relative content of high-coercivity antiferromagnetic minerals is higher in loess than in paleosol, whilst the absolute content of high-coercivity antiferromagnetic minerals in paleosol is generally higher than that in loess accompanying increasing intensity of pedogenesis. The mass-specific magnetic susceptibility (χ) shows distinctly positive correlations with anhysteretic susceptibility (χ_ARM), Saturation Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (SIRM) and magnetic grain size dependent parameters (χ_ARM/SIRM and χ_ARM/χ), indicating that the pedogenic producing Single Domain (SD) and small PSD ferrimagnetic particles contribute significantly to the magnetic susceptibility enhancement.     

黄土高原风尘序列的碳酸盐成因及其风化过程

碳酸盐是黄土高原风尘序列的主要组成部分,其含量与原生碳酸盐溶解、再沉淀,以及含钙硅酸盐化学风化强度等密切相关。碳酸盐在表生环境下极易移动,且其迁移变化受大气降水、温度等古气候所制约,因此黄土次生碳酸盐记录了古气候的重要信息。甘肃西峰赵家川剖面碳酸盐含量、磁化率的系统测定和风尘序列地质特征研究表明,在整个剖面中,碳酸盐含量和磁化率曲线呈显著的负相关,并从剖面上部到红粘土底部,碳酸盐含量有增加趋势。黄土、古土壤和红粘土沉积分别处在不同风化阶段:黄土化学风化最弱,处于钙质残积阶段,古土壤处于强烈钙质淋溶阶段和硅铝残积阶段,红粘土化学风化最强烈,处于硅铝残积阶段或红土化阶段;不同的化学风化阶段古气候性质有别。     

陕西洛川黄土沉积物中稀土元素及其它微量元素的化学淋滤研究

本文采用化学淋滤的方法对洛川黄土沉积物的酸溶和酸不溶相中稀土元素以及其它微量元素的分布分配特征进行了系统的分析。     

Age of the fossil Dali Man in north-central China deduced from chronostratigraphy of the loess–paleosol sequence

Dali Man, an archaic type of early Homo sapiens, is of great significance to the origin of Homo sapiens. Achievements have been made during the past decades in the understanding of the fossil human skull as well as the accompanying mammalian fossils and stone artifacts. However, the absolute age of the fossil Dali Man still remains unclear. Based on the magnetic susceptibility of loess sediments and the relationship of terracing process with climatic condition, we correlated the loess sequence and the subjacent terrace alluvium at the Dali Man site with the well-studied loess–paleosol sequence at Luochuan in the central part of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The correlation indicates that the loess–paleosol sequence at the Dali Man site extends down to the paleosol S2, and the underlying fluvial deposits correspond to the loess L3. Because the Dali Man skull appears in the basal gravel layer of the terrace, and because the deposition of the terrace gravels would occur during the transition from S3 paleosol formation to L3 loess accumulation, the age of the fossil Dali Man is inferred to be ca 270 ka, which is equivalent to the age of the boundary between the loess L3 and paleosol S3 on the magnetic susceptibility time series of the Luochuan loess–paleosol sequence.