基于结构体的峨眉山玄武岩风化程度评价（Ⅱ）：玄武岩斜坡地下水及浸泡液水文地球化学

岩石风化过程中的元素活动性评价除应考虑该元素在风化产物中残留与淋失状况及在淋滤液(地下水及室内浸泡液等)中的浓度外,还应考虑其在母岩中的相对含量.峨眉山玄武岩斜坡地下水及室内浸泡液中各元素原子个数比值与母岩中对应比值之间均存在显著差异,其造岩矿物的非全等溶解特征显著.综合考虑风化过程中的岩石成分变化、斜坡地下水及室内浸泡液化学成分确定的峨眉山玄武岩风化过程中的元素活动性顺序为Ca＞Na＞Mg≥Si＞K＞Fe.活动性强或惰性程度高、对风化程度变化响应敏感应成为岩石风化程度指示性元素的选择标准,Ca和Fe应成为峨眉山玄武岩风化程度评价的首选元素.     

黔北白云岩红色风化壳元素地球化学特征

选取贵州高原喀斯特地区典型白云岩风化剖面作为研究对象,探讨了红土剖面元素迁移特征及其影响因素,为进一步认识红色风化壳元素地球化学特征提供依据。结果表明:（1）红土剖面中土壤样品（XPS-4~XPS-25）Fe、K、Mn常量元素及Co、Pb、Zn微量元素的分布曲线相对于其他元素靠近 UCC,元素Mg、Ca、Na、Ti和 Li、Cr、Ba、V 的数据点则显著偏离了上部陆壳的平均组成。（2）元素对协变分析得出Ti与Fe、Ba和V的积累特征一致,呈增加趋势;Ti与Mg呈反向变化特征。（3）以Ti为参比元素的剖面迁移特征表明,绝大部分元素的地球化学行为表现为迁移淋失,仅 Fe 、Cr和V 富集。K、Ba总体上呈迁出趋势,个别层段有轻微富集;Na和Co在风化原岩处有一个富集端点。元素在风化过程中的迁移聚集与土壤剖面的pH值和剖面结构变化、粘土矿物和有机质等的吸附有关。      

全谱拟合定量研究气候对土壤成壤机制的约束:以鲁粤土壤剖面为例

以山东棕壤剖面和广东红壤剖面为研究对象,通过X射线衍射(XRD)和基于Rietveld技术的全谱拟合定量分析土壤中的矿物组成、在剖面上的含量变化并研究粘土矿物之间的相互转化关系,揭示气候对土壤成壤机制的约束。结果表明,2个剖面中的矿物组成不同:山东棕壤中非粘土矿物有长石、石英、方解石及少量的铁铝氧化物和闪石类矿物,粘土矿物有伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石和蒙脱石,且粘土矿物含量伊利石>绿泥石≈蒙脱石>高岭石;广东红壤的矿物组成为石英、赤铁矿、针铁矿、三水铝石、高岭石、伊利石和蛭石,其中高岭石>伊利石>蛭石。此外,两地的土壤中均含有少量的非晶质物质。山东气候干冷,以物理风化为主,化学风化较弱,原生闪石类原生硅酸盐矿物和易被溶蚀的方解石等仍有存留;广东气候湿热,化学风化强烈,存在明显的脱硅富铝作用,铁铝氧化物富集。3)利用定量结果计算的化学风化指数与矿物的变化是一致的。     

中山市神湾镇晚中生代花岗岩风化壳剖面元素地球化学特征

选择珠三角沿海地区有代表性的中山市神湾镇三个晚中生代花岗岩风化壳剖面进行系统采样和主量、微量元素分析,研究了花岗岩风化壳剖面元素地球化学特征.花岗岩风化壳剖面自上而下可划分为淋溶层(E)、淀积层(B)、半风化层(C)和基岩层(R),不同层位的Si、Al、K、Rb、U、Nb、Ta、Hf、Th、Se含量均高于大陆上地壳相应元素的丰度平均值,Na、Ca、Mg、Mn、Ti、P、Sr、Cu、Cr、Ni、Zr含量则低于大陆上地壳相应元素的丰度平均值.剖面从母岩向上到表土层,化学风化程度逐渐增强,元素含量除继承母岩特征外,还发生了分异,其中Na、Ca、K、Mg、Rb、Sr、U等元素含量随风化程度的加深而降低,表现出在风化过程中淋失亏损的特征;Ti、P、Ta、Hf、Se、Nb、Th、Zr等元素含量随风化程度的加深而增高,表现出在风化过程中富集的特征.风化作用导致了研究区上层土壤中养分元素K、Ca、Mg淋失缺乏,硒在表层土壤中富集.     

安徽宣城红土剖面中粘土矿物过渡相及其意义

为研究长江中下游红土剖面中粘土矿物的特征及其成因意义, 对安徽宣城红土剖面中粘土矿物进行深入、系统的X射线衍射分析.结果表明, 宣城剖面各土壤层中粘土矿物成分基本一致, 主要为蛭石、伊利石、高岭石, 以及粘土矿物过渡相. 由采自剖面上部样品的X射线衍射图可知, 经乙二醇饱和后7 ?衍射峰可分解为7.15、7.60和7.92 ?三部分, 表明除了高岭石(7.15 ?)外, 还存在高岭晶层含量分别为~80%和~95%的2种高岭-蒙脱石过渡相, 并以前者为主; 剖面下部样品在乙二醇饱和后, 7 ?衍射峰可分解为7.16、7.79和8.35 ?等3个衍射峰, 其中8.35 ?峰衍射强度很小, 表明除了高岭石外, 样品中存在高岭晶层含量为~90%和~43%的高岭-蒙脱石过渡相, 后者含量甚少.甲酰胺饱和结果表明, 高岭-蒙脱石混层粘土矿物相中高岭晶层为埃洛石相.加热试验的衍射图中10 ?衍射峰强度明显增强, 证实高岭相中含有一定数量的来源于绿泥石风化的蒙脱石间层; 而10 ?衍射峰的低角度一侧没有出现拖尾现象, 则指示高岭-蒙脱石混层矿物中的蒙脱石不是简单的羟基间层蒙脱石.此外, 红土剖面中还普遍出现过渡性粘土矿物伊利石-蒙脱石混层和伊利石-蛭石混层粘土矿物.大量过渡性粘土矿物相的出现, 从成土作用的角度上说明红土沉积物经历了沉积-风化、以及多期风化作用叠加, 而且在沉积-风化成土过程中, 气候环境变化于强烈化学风化的温暖、季节性干旱和强烈风化淋滤的温暖而更加潮湿的条件.蛭石-伊利石混层粘土矿物仅发育于红土剖面上部, 表明总体上剖面上部的化学风化程度低于剖面下部.      

广东省典型花岗岩成土剖面元素垂向分布特征

对广东省南部花岗岩广泛发育地区的两个花岗岩风化剖面进行部分主量元素和重金属元素含量变化的研究表明:研究区成土过程是Na、Mg、K、Ca持续风化淋失的过程,且风化程度较高,土壤剖面中重金属元素与主量元素含量的变化趋势一致.研究区两土壤剖面的淋溶作用较强,淋溶层深达200 cm,淀积层深度为100～300 cm.在淀积层内,随着Ca、K、Na、Mg等主量元素的新生矿物沉淀,As、Cd、Pb、Zn、Ni等元素也相对富集,是广东地区深层土壤As、Pb等元素含量高于表层土壤的可能成因之一.     

模拟不同气候条件下碳酸盐岩风化作用的淋溶实验研究

通过模拟干热、湿热与干冷3种气候条件,以饱和CO2水作为淋溶液,对黔中岩溶区3条碳酸盐岩风化壳岩-土界面的岩粉层试样进行了淋溶实验(其中干热、湿热条件下淋溶到残余酸不溶物阶段),对淋出液的pH值以及主要造岩元素的浓度进行了动态分析。结果表明,碳酸盐岩风化壳岩-土界面由岩到土的转变过程中,伴随碳酸盐的溶蚀,酸不溶物已表现出明显的风化倾向。碳酸盐的溶蚀强度表现为干冷>干热>湿热的变化趋势。温度低,碳酸盐的溶解速率大;排水条件好,碳酸盐溶解释放的Ca、Mg易随风化流体排出体系。对于酸不溶物组分,淋溶实验中有:(1)K、Na、Mg、Si、P的载体矿物风化强度在干热条件下最大(至于Ca,由于方解石与白云石均是其主要的载体矿物,酸不溶物相中的Ca难以在淋出液中有效识别)。在干冷与湿热之间,K、Na、Mg等盐基离子的溶出能力大多表现为湿热>干冷,指示了温度对盐基离子释放强度的重要制约作用;而Si和P未表现出一致的变化趋势,可能源于淋溶体系微环境的差异。(2)Fe与Mn表现出弱迁移性。其中,Fe在干冷环境下淋出强度最弱,说明温度是制约含Fe矿物分解速率的重要因素。而Fe在干热与湿热之间,以及Mn在3种淋溶条件下,未呈现出一致的变化趋势。(3)Al和Ti在碳酸盐岩风化过程中表现出强烈的惰性。      

广西桂林石灰土元素迁移特征及影响因素——以会仙峰丛谷地石灰土为例

碳酸盐岩的化学风化是岩溶关键带各圈层相互作用的主要形式,风化壳中蕴含重要气候环境和物质循环信息。通过对广西桂林会仙峰丛谷地石灰土的化学风化强度及元素迁移特征的研究,并与滇黔湘和青藏高原的岩溶风化壳的对比分析,结果表明:（1）会仙石灰土化学蚀变指数（CIA）均值为92.14,与贵州兴义岩溶风化壳相当,反映炎热潮湿气候下的强烈化学风化;白云岩风化壳CIA与灰岩风化壳相当,CIA值主要受“不溶物”含量的影响;地形上,从上坡到下坡,从坡地到谷地,垂向剖面从浅部到深部,碳酸盐岩风化壳的CIA值呈减小趋势;（2）包括会仙石灰土在内的中国南方碳酸盐岩风化壳的CIA值与纬度成负相关,青藏高原地区和北方地区碳酸盐岩风化壳的CIA值与纬度不存在相关性,可能受晚第三纪以来印度板块俯冲推挤,青藏高原地区构造抬升和夷平面变形的影响;（3）与硅酸盐风化壳、黄土剖面不同,碳酸盐岩风化壳CIA和Na/K（摩尔比值）不存在相关性,但CIA和K/Al（摩尔比值）则存在显著负相关,可采用K/Al来表征碳酸盐岩剖面的风化程度,其主要是受可溶成分的快速淋失影响;会仙石灰土、贵州兴义风化壳较其他风化壳更接近Al端,化学风化程度更高;（4）会仙石灰土的化学成分与中国其他地区碳酸盐岩风化壳基本一致,剖面上分布均匀;与上陆壳相比,Na、K、Ca、Mg表现为亏损,其他元素为富集;和下伏碳酸盐岩的稳定元素Ti相比,除了Cr、Fe、P、Al富集或不变外,其他元素都发生明显的迁移淋失;会仙风化壳元素的迁移性由强到弱为:Ca ? Mg ? B ? Na ? N ? Cd ? Zn ? As ? K ? Pb ? Si ? Mn ? Al ? Cr ? Fe ? P,高含量Ca、Mg的快速溶失对其他元素的迁移性有重要影响。      

苏皖玄武岩土壤中风尘的识别及风化特征

风尘传输与沉降影响生态系统和元素的生物地球化学循环,对其在成壤作用中的识别与贡献进行研究有重要意义。文章选择在非风尘沉降区的苏皖玄武岩台地典型的两个风化剖面（安徽明光梅花村和江苏盱眙宝塔村）和部分表土及水系沉积物样品,系统分析主要矿物、粘土矿物、常量元素、微量元素及Sr、Nd同位素组成。结果显示,玄武岩基岩基本由斜长石和辉石组成,而风化基岩则主要由蒙脱石构成,风化土壤则出现基岩和风化基岩中未出现的石英、伊利石等风尘特征矿物;基岩和风化基岩以高Mg,低Si、K,无Eu异常等特征,风化土壤则以高Si、K,低Mg,负Eu异常等特征;基岩和风化基岩的εNd偏正,⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr值较低,而风化土壤εNd偏负,⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr值较高;各种证据都显示风尘对风化土壤有重要贡献,通过Nd同位素混合模式计算,风尘对土壤的贡献达60%以上。玄武岩风化表现为完全的蒙脱石化,为显著的去Ca、Mg作用,在梅花村剖面,表层土壤出现Ce负异常,而在下部层位出现Ce正异常,研究还发现在风尘的加积作用,土壤的Si、K含量得以上升。受相对较大的玄武岩台地高程差影响,玄武岩风化产物和沉降的风尘易被降水侵蚀,造成风化剖面较薄,促使玄武岩风化处于“供应限制”模式。本次工作为玄武岩的风化机制,风尘在元素地球化学循环中的作用等提供了新的地质证据。     

滇东地区碳酸盐岩上覆风化层的元素地球化学特征及其成因讨论

碳酸盐岩风化形成的红土保存着喀斯特发展演化历史证据,同时也是喀斯特地区土壤研究的重要对象。文章选取云 南石林地区的两处典型碳酸盐岩剖面为研究对象,对主量元素,微量元素及稀土元素在风化层的迁移特征及分布规律进行 研究,为探究风化层的成因提供依据。结果显示：（1） 以Ti为参比元素的剖面迁移特征表明,两剖面的主量元素在成土过 程中有相似的迁移规律,多数表现为淋失;微量元素略有差异,富集淋失程度不一。（2） UCC 标准化蜘蛛图显示,相对于 基岩,风化层中的Ca和Sr均出现亏损;与UCC相比,Fe、Ti等元素轻微富集,Mg、Ca、Na、K、P等元素显示了强烈的亏 损特征。（3） 基岩与风化层的REE分布模式相似,但风化层的稀土相对富集,轻稀土元素间的分异较大而重稀土元素间的 分异较小,且SJC剖面的轻、重稀土元素比值大于QST剖面;稀土元素球粒陨石标准化后,SJC剖面的Eu为负异常,剖面 上部和下部出现Ce负异常;QST剖面Ce负异常,Eu明显负异常。（4） 元素含量变化和元素对Al-Ti、Al-Fe及Zr-Hf相关性 说明剖面上覆红土是下伏基岩风化的结果。研究结果显示,两个剖面的元素地球化学特征与基岩存在很好的继承性,风化 层是基岩原位风化的产物。     

吉林东部花岗岩区地下水化学成分及其对岩石风化作用的制约

在吉林东部花岗岩区地下水化学成分和化学类型研究的基础上,以Na作为参比元素,确定了花岗岩风化过程中22种主量元素和微量元素的相对活动顺序。花岗岩区地下水的地球化学类型属低矿化度(变化范围为69.51×10-6~386.49×10-6,平均值为199.48×10-6)的HCO3-Ca和HCO3-Na-Ca型。花岗岩风化过程中元素的活动性顺序(RM)从大到小依次为:B、Ca、Mo、Zn、Sr、Na、Mg、Cr、Cu、Ni、K、Co、Li、V、As、Ba、Si、Y、Fe、Ti、Al、Mn。风化产物中的粘土矿物主要为高岭土、蒙脱石,反映出本区花岗岩的风化淋滤程度较弱的特点。     

Chemical weathering in Luzon, Philippines from clay mineralogy and major-element geochemistry of river sediments

Clay mineralogy and major-element geochemistry of 35 surface sediment samples collected in 21 major to moderate rivers of Luzon, Philippines are used to evaluate the present chemical weathering process. The clay mineral assemblage consists mainly of smectite (average 86%) with minor kaolinite (9%) and chlorite (5%) and very scarce illite (1%), and does not show strong island-wide differences. The major element results of both bulk and clay-fraction sediments indicate that the formation of clay minerals is accompanied by leaching of Ca and Na first and of Fe and Mn thereafter during the chemical weathering process. A low-moderate chemical weathering degree of bulk sediments and a moderate-intensive degree of clay-fraction sediments are obtained in Luzon rivers based on proxies of chemical index of alteration (CIA) and smectite crystallinity. It is suggested that the majority of andesitic–basaltic volcanic and sedimentary rocks along with the tectonically active geological setting and sub-tropical East Asian monsoon climate are responsible for the predominance of smectite in the clay mineral assemblage.     

钱塘江下切河谷SE2孔全新世沉积物黏土矿物特征及其意义*

通过X射线衍射系统分析了杭州湾地区SE2孔全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成,结果显示研究层段黏土矿物主要由伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石和蒙脱石组成;伊利石结晶度较好,化学风化指数普遍大于0.5,表明以化学风化为主,且风化趋势自下而上呈递减趋势。通过对比中国东南部主要河流沉积物的黏土矿物组成,认为钱塘江下切河谷全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成具有较好的物源指示意义: 全新世 Ⅰ 段(即古河口湾和河漫滩)沉积物主要来自钱塘江上游,特征黏土矿物为高岭石,河口外物质贡献不大;Ⅱ 段(即现代河口湾和近岸浅海)沉积物包含较多蒙脱石,表明不仅包括钱塘江上游物质,河口外长江物质也开始进入钱塘江河口。黏土矿物中,高岭石对气候有较好的指示作用:中全新世高岭石含量达到最高值,反映气候最为湿热,化学风化程度最高;晚全新世含量逐渐降低,反映气候逐渐回冷,化学风化强度降低。     

钱塘江下切河谷SE2孔全新世沉积物黏土矿物特征及其意义*

通过X射线衍射系统分析了杭州湾地区SE2孔全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成,结果显示研究层段黏土矿物主要由伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石和蒙脱石组成;伊利石结晶度较好,化学风化指数普遍大于0.5,表明以化学风化为主,且风化趋势自下而上呈递减趋势。通过对比中国东南部主要河流沉积物的黏土矿物组成,认为钱塘江下切河谷全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成具有较好的物源指示意义: 全新世 Ⅰ 段(即古河口湾和河漫滩)沉积物主要来自钱塘江上游,特征黏土矿物为高岭石,河口外物质贡献不大;Ⅱ 段(即现代河口湾和近岸浅海)沉积物包含较多蒙脱石,表明不仅包括钱塘江上游物质,河口外长江物质也开始进入钱塘江河口。黏土矿物中,高岭石对气候有较好的指示作用:中全新世高岭石含量达到最高值,反映气候最为湿热,化学风化程度最高;晚全新世含量逐渐降低,反映气候逐渐回冷,化学风化强度降低。     

Minéralogie et bilan de matière de l''altération supergène d''un basalte alcalin du Moyen Atlas Marocain

In the Middle Atlas of Morocco, alkali basaltic flows record successive weathering phases during the Quaternary. In fresh basalt interior and intermediate external zones, the first weathering stage is characterised by glass dissolution and the formation of a Si-Al poorly-crystallised product. Advanced weathering phases are characterised by 10 Å halloysite, kaolinite and goethite, located within the primary minerals or as secondary products in fissures. Olivine and iddingsite are transformed into Si-rich goethite, plagioclase into halloysite and pyroxene into a mixture of halloysite + geothite. Dissolution of Ti-magnetite and ilmenite yielded Ti-rich products. In these conditions, the weathering of basalts and development of a soil matrix are accompanied by the elimination of certain chemical elements, such as Si, Ca, Na and K, and the concentration of Fe and Al. In the soil, clay minerals such as illite and vermiculite, do not have any genetic relationship with weathered basalt and were probably introduced externally.     

Clay Mineralogy and its Paleoclimatic Significance of the OligoceneMiocene Sediments in the Gerze Basin,Tibet

This study collected the early Oligocene to middle Miocene sediments from the Gerze Basin of Tibet, and used X-Ray diffraction （XRD） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） to discuss their clay mineralolgy, clay indices, better understand the clay mineralogy and its paleoclimatic significance. The results show that clay minerals of the Gerze Basin sediments are mainly composed of iilite and chlorite, with minor amounts of smectite and kaolinite, and their relative content varies along the section. Variations of relative contents and clay indices suggest that the Gerze Basin has experienced three-stage evolution of paleoclimate： I ） high ilUte and chlorite contents, with fluctuant smectite and low （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio, indicative of a dominant seasonal arid climate from the early Oligoeene to late Oligocene; Ⅱ） higher illite and chlorite contents and larger （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio but absence of kaolinite, indicating a colder and drier climate from the late Oligocene to early Miocene; Ⅲ） high iilite and chlorite contents with fluctuant （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratios and occasional occurrence of kaolinite, suggesting that the climate became warmer and more humid compared with that of stage Ⅱ in the mid-Miocene. These conclusions were also reinforced by the clay morphology, which suggests that physical weathering dominated in stage Ⅱ, while relatively strong chemical weathering was dominant in stages Ⅰ and Ⅲ Clay minerals of the sediments mainly consist of illite and chlorite, indicating that the source rock played a significant role in clay origin. It is inferred that global cooling and the enhancement of denudation and obstruction of northward moisture due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were responsible for the provenance of iUite and chlorite under weak chemical weathering. Though the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau reached a certain elevation by the mid-Miocene, yet the mid-Miocene widespread warming might have largely impacted the Gerze climate.     

Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment of Gonghe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, During the Lastdeglacial: Weathering, Erosion and Vegetation Cover Affect Clay Mineral Formation

With the analysis of the sources and formation mechanism of the clay minerals in the sediment core from the Dalianhai lake in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau,clay mineral composition proxies,grain-size and carbonate contents have been employed for high-resolution study in order to reconstruct East Asian Summer Monsoon （EASM） over the northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau during the lastdeglacial.The study also extended to establish a relationship between vegetation cover changes and erosion during the last 14.5 ka with pollen record and clay mineral proxies.Smectite/kaolinite and smectite/（illite＋chlorite） ratios allow us to assess hydrolysis conditions in lowlands and/or physical erosion process in highlands of the Gonghe Basin.Before 12.9 Cal ka BP,both mineralogical ratios show low values indicative of strong physical erosion in the basin with a dominant cold and dry phase.After 12.9 Cal ka BP,an increase in both mineralogical ratios indicates enhanced chemical weathering in the basin associated with a warm and humid climate.The beginning of Holocene is characterized by high smectite/（illite＋chlorite） and smectite/kaolinite ratios that is synchronous as with deposition of many peat laminae,implying the best warm and humid conditions specifically between 8.0 to 5.5 Cal ka BP.The time interval after 5.0 Cai ka BP is characterized by a return to high physical erosion and low chemical weathering with dry climate conditions in the basin.Comparing variations of clay mineral assemblages with previous pollen results,we observe a rapid response in terms of chemical weathering and physical erosion intensity to a modification of the vegetation cover in the basin.     

Properties and origin of a very fine-grained kaolinitic lacustrine deposit

The Rosebrook Member of the Miocene Bunyan Formation is a highly kaolinitic clay-rock of lacustrine origin. It is ultra-fine grained, plastic and of high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 20–33 c mol(+)kg^?1 of clay. Fabrics observed optically and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate significant post-depositional consolidation and localized shear failure. Sedimentation and TEM analyses confirm its very fine grain size which is consistent with the relatively high CEC. Tertiary soils and weathering profiles in the catchment of Lake Bunyan developed under relatively moist and cool conditions. Some were gibbsitic with kaolinite and smectite clay minerals. Highly weathered soils (oxisols) on basalt under modern high rainfall environments in the region are dominated by gibbsite and kaolinite. These and other highly weathered soils in the region, formed on a range of parent rocks, have high proportions of very fine grained kaolinite in their subsoils. Such materials are likely to have been abundant in the catchment of Lake Bunyan during the Miocene and would have contributed very fine grained kaolinite directly to the lake by sedimentation. However, the unusually high proportion of kaolinite in the Rosebrook Member and its euhedral crystal form suggest that some of its features developed diagenetically.     

Provenance of Clay Minerals in the Amami Sankaku Basin and Their Paleoclimate Implications Since Late Pleistocene

We analyzed the clay mineral assemblages, content and mineralogical characteristics of Hole U1438A sediment recovered from Amami Sankaku Basin during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) expedition 351. The results show that the clay minerals are mainly composed of illite (average 57%), smectite (average 26%), chlorite (average 14%) and minor kaolinite(average 3%). The crystallinity of illite in all samples are good (<0.4 Δ° 2θ), and the chemical indexes of illite in all samples are low (<0.4). Both indicate that illite in Hole U1438A formed in cold and dry climate. By comparing clay mineral assemblages of hole U1438A and the potential sediment sources, we suggest that smectite be mainly derived from the volcanic materials around Amami Sankaku Basin. Illite, chlorite and kaolinite are mainly derived from the Asian dust. The ratios of (illite+chlorite)/smectite show a phased increase over the last 350 ka, which is consistent with the cold and drying trend of the Asian continent since late Pleistocene. The high ratios of (illite+chlorite)/smectite and (illite+chlorite)/kaolinite during glacial period indicate that much more Asian dust was input into the Amami Sankaku Basin, which are responded to the aridity of Asian continent and strengthened east Asian Monsoon during glacial period.     

Sub‐Cambrian pedogenesis recorded in weathering profiles of the Arabian‐Nubian Shield

Altered crystalline rocks occur at the peneplain exposed in southern Israel and in other localities across North Africa and Arabia where they underlie an extensive blanket of Cambro–Ordovician sandstones. This study focuses on the petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry of top basement rocks of the northern Arabian‐Nubian Shield. The altered rocks are shown to be weathering profiles that can be subdivided into three horizons interpreted as apparently unweathered granite, or saprock, which grades upwards to a saprolite, topped by a thin clayey plasmic zone. The plasmic zone is enriched in iron and aluminium and is depleted in silicon, calcium, magnesium and potassium relative to the underlying saprolite. The chemical index of alteration increases upward, but does not exceed 90 and, therefore, lags behind values observed in strongly leached present‐day tropical soils. Petrographic examinations reveal iron mobility under local fluctuating redox conditions, similar to modern and Proterozoic soils. A variety of birefringence fabrics induced by shrinkage and expansion of clays during wetting and drying cycles and clay illuviation strongly indicate pedogenic processes rather than a post‐depositional alteration. Illite and ordered illite‐smectite phases coexist with smectitic illite‐smectite in the lower part of the saprolite and with kaolinite in the plasmic zone, in line with increasing chemical index of alteration. Observations are in accordance with the current profile being a remnant of a thick weathering profile whose top was truncated by fluvial incision just prior to deposition of the overlying Early Cambrian sequence. A previously documented Devonian thermal event reaching temperatures of at least 200°C overprinted the studied rocks. During burial diagenesis, illitization affected original smectite rather than kaolinite. However, in spite of the elevated temperatures, illitization was incomplete implying restricted potassium addition. The sub‐Cambrian weathering reflects warm and humid conditions in a tropical or sub‐tropical climate, in line with several plate reconstructions placing Israel at low latitudes during Cambrian time.