Clay mineral distribution characteristics of surface sediments in the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Clay minerals are usually considered as important indicators to identify sources in both terrigenous and marine sediments.In particular,clay minerals in metalliferous sediments(MS)have long been studied in global oceans except in South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(SMAR)due to limited explorations.Thus,32 MS and 34 non-MS(NMS)samples were analyzed to clarify the distribution characteristics and mineral compositions of clay minerals.All the sediments were collected along the SMAR between 12°S and 27°S.After removal of organic matter and carbonate,clay fractions(<2μm)were investigated by Xray diffraction(XRD)analysis.Results show that clay mineral assemblages of surface MS consist dominantly of smectite,less abundant illite,chlorite,and kaolinite in average weight percentage of 30%,21%,18%,and 16%,respectively.On the other hand,clay mineral assemblages in the NMS consist mainly of illite,less abundant kaolinite,chlorite,and very scarce smectite in average weight percentage of 47%,29%,24%,and 0.2%,respectively.The clay fractions in MS are mainly composed of amorphous or poorly crystallized Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides,clay mineral,quartz,and plagioclase.However,the counterparts in the NMS are mainly composed of well-crystallized clay minerals,quartz,and plagioclase without the presence of Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides.It is suggested that most of the illite,kaolinite,and chlorite in both MS and NMS are likely aeolian dust in origin from South Africa continent.In addition,the abundance of kaolinite dominates the clay mineral assemblage at low latitudes,where the intensive chemical weathering of continental source rocks facilitating the formation of kaolinite.In terms of smectite,it is indicated of authigenic origin in consideration of only smectite is available in several MS and the absence in NMS.Moreover,the MS samples with only smectite available are always accompanied by goethite.Therefore,it is assumed that most of smectite occurred in studied area is the results of interaction between hydrothermal Fe-oxyhydroxide,silica,and seawater.

Sources and degradation of organic matter in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea:insights from amino acids

In the context of global warming and rapid environment change in the Arctic,the supply of organic matter(OM)has increased significantly and a large amount of OM are buried on the Arctic shelf.Studying the fate of OM in Arctic shelf sediments is crucial to understanding the global carbon sink.As a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean,the Chukchi Sea is one of the most critical areas where OM is buried.Based on the surface sediment samples collected during the sixth Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2014 and the SinoRussian joint Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2016,this study takes amino acids(AAs)as the primary tool to explore the source and degradation of OM in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea.This study shows that total hydrolyzable amino acid(THAA)concentrations(dry weight)are high,with a mean value of(32.7±15.8)μmol/g.Their spatial distribution is related to primary productivity,hydrodynamic conditions,sediment properties and other factors.The source of OM in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea is dominated by diatom-dominated marine productivity,with some input from terrestrial sources.Bacteria,as the main source of the D-enantiomer of AA(D-AA),not only have transforming effect on OM,but their cell walls and remnants likewise supply the OM pool.Based on a series of diagenetic indicators,we conclude that the OM in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea has undergone extensive degradation[DI(degradation index)=-0.59±0.44],and the degradation degree in the slope is higher than that in the shelf.This study uses AA to explore the sources and degradation of OM in the sediments of the Chukchi Sea,which facilitates our understanding of OM transport and transformation on the Arctic shelf.

The biogenic silica variation and paleoproductivity evolution in the eastern Indian Ocean during the past 20 000 a

The biogenic silica of sediment samples from Core CJ01-185 which is collected from the eastern India Ocean off the Sunda Strait is analyzed to evaluate the impact of the opening of the Sunda Strait on a paleoproductivity evolution. The new results indicate that the biogenic silica mass values of Core CJ01-185 show the lowest 0.86% in the last glacial period, and reach its maxima of 1.89% in the late Holocene. Furthermore, the biogenic silica mass accumulation rate(MARBSi) values also vary with much higher during the late Holocene than during the last glaciation. The input of additional terrigenous materials from the Java Sea has enhanced the paleoproductivity and increased the biogenic silica mass and MARBSi values after the opening of the Sunda Strait. It is suggested that the paleoproductivity in the study area is mainly influenced by the southeast monsoon and upwelling before the opening of the Sunda Strait. However, the paleoproductivity is dominated by the terrigenous materials input other than by the southeast monsoon or upwelling in the Holocene.

Early diagenesis of redox-sensitive trace metals in the northern Okinawa Trough

The early diagenesis processes of several redox-sensitive trace metals(RSMs)(Mo, U and V) were studied with several short sediment cores(~25 cm) collected in the northern Okinawa Trough(OT). Pore water vertical profiles indicated that the sedimentary environments in all cores were between oxic and suboxic, not yet reaching anoxic sulfidic conditions. The recycling process of Mo in sediments was clearly associated with Mn and yielded little authigenic accumulation, while U showed a downcore increase in sediment and its authigenic mass accumulation rate(MAR) was estimated to be ~23% of the Changjiang(Yangtze) and Huanghe(Yellow) riverine flux. Benthic diffusive fluxes and MAR were calculated and the comparison of them showed that U and V fluxes matched relatively well both in direction and in magnitude, implying that diffusion processes at the sedimentwater interface is the dominant process controlling the remobilization or burial of V and U in northern OT. This work provided a systematic study(both in pore water and solid phase) on the RSMs geochemical behaviors during early diagenesis process, yielding a quantitative assessment of the remobilization or burial fluxes of the RSMs in northern OT. Such studies are in general lacking in the coastal margin of Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Implications of the melting depth and temperature of the Atlantic mid-ocean ridge basalts

Mid-ocean ridge basalts(MORBs) are characterized by large variations in trace element compositions and isotopic ratios, which are difficult to be interpreted solely by using magmatic process such as partial melting of a peridotitic mantle and subsequently fractional crystallization. Geochemical diversity of MORBs have been attributed to large-scale heterogeneity within the underlying mantle, and the heterogeneity might have been caused by addition of recycled crustal component, subcontinental lithosphere, metasomatized lithosphere and outer core contribution. In this study, we investigated the MORBs along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge(MAR) by estimating the temperature and pressure of partial melting, and comprehensively comparing trace element and isotope ratios. The data for MORBs from areas close to mantle plumes show large variations. Mantle plumes can affect mid-oceanic ridges 1 400 km away, but plume effects did not cover all of the ridge segments, and those segments without plume effects did not have any abnormalities in temperature, trace element or isotope ratios.We ascribed the above phenomena to result from the shapes of the plume flow, which we categorized as "pipelike channels" and "pancake-like channels". The "pancake-like channels" plumes affected the ambient mantle nondirectionally, but the range of the mantle affected by the "pipe-like channels" plumes were selective. Element ratios of MORBs reveal that the mantle source of the MORBs along the MAR is highly heterogeneous. We suggest that most of source heterogeneities of the MORBs may be due to the presence of subducted slab and delaminated lower crust in the source. In addition, the plume that carried materials from the core-mantle boundary may affect some of the segments.

Property and performance amelioration of pelagic clay from the East Pacific

To make use of the pelagic clay as polymer filling,the properties of clay sediments from the ocean investigation zone of China in the East Pacific were studied by the SSA,XRF,ICP/MAS,FTIR,XRD,SEM,DTA/TG and granularity distributing etc.,and experiments were settled to improve the whiteness and activation of the clay based on these data.Compared with land clay,pelagic clay holds many particular features,such as fine particles and incompact accumulation,worse crystallization and more defects,high activity,complex mineral and chemical components,and low whiteness etc.Processing the purified pelagic clay with acids and zinc,then baked it at different temperatures,the whiteness of clay can be increased from 23.8% to 73.1%,and the optimized conditions is:consistency of vitriol 25%,ratio of clay to water 4∶1,reaction time 4h,reaction temperature 90℃,dosage of zinc 2.0 g/L,and baking temperature 700℃.And the SSA of whited clay is increased too.Using the dry milling method to modify the pelagic clay with organic reagents,the optimized technique is KH550,concentration 1.5%,reaction time 20 min.XRD,FTIR and SEM testing indicate that the mechanism of organic activation was mainly surface absorbing and chemical combination secondly.

Petrology and geochemistry of South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(19°S) lava flows:Implications for magmatic processes and possible plume-ridge interactions

The South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(SMAR)19°S segment,approximately located along the line of Saint Helena volcanic chain(created by Saint Helena mantle plume),is an ideal place to investigate the issue whether the ridgehotpot interaction process affected the whole MAR.In this study,we present major and trace elemental compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic ratios of twenty fresh lava samples concentrated in a relatively small area in the SMAR 19°S segment.Major oxides compositions show that all samples are tholeiite.Low contents of compatible trace elements(e.g.,Ni=239-594 ppm and Cr=456-1010 ppm)and low Fe/Mn(54-67)and Ce/Yb(0.65-1.5)ratios of these lavas show that their parental magmas are partially melted by a spinel lherzolite mantle source.Using software PRIMELT3,this study obtained mantle potential temperatures(Tp)beneath the segment of1321-1348℃,which is lower relative to those ridges influenced by mantle plumes.The asthenospheric mantle beneath the SMAR 19°S segment starts melting at a depth of^63 km and ceases melting at^43 km with a final melting temperature of^1265℃.The extent of partial melting is up to 16%-17.6%with an average adiabatic decompression value of 2.6%/kbar.The correlations of major oxides(CaO/Al2 O3)and trace elements(Cr,Co,V)with MgO and Zr show that the parental magma experienced olivine and plagioclase fractional crystallization during its ascent to the surface.87Sr/86Sr(0.702398-0.702996),143 Nd/144 Nd(0.513017-0.513177)and 206Pb/204Pb(18.444-19.477)ratios of these lavas indicate the mantle source beneath the SMAR 19°S segment is composed of a three-component mixture of depleted MORB mantle,PREMA mantle,and HIMU mantle materials.The simple,binary mixing results among components from plume-free SMAR MORB,Saint Helena plume and Tristan plume show that asthenospheric mantle beneath the SMAR 19°S segment may be polluted by both Saint Helena and Tristan plume enriched materials.The abovementioned mantle potential temperatures,together with the low Saint Helena(<10%)and Tristan(<5%)components remaining in the asthenospheric mantle at present,show that the physically ridge-hotspot interactions at SMAR 19°S segment may have ceased.However,the trace element and SrNd-Pb isotopically binary mixing calculation results imply that these lavas tapped some enriched pockets left when Saint Helena and/or Tristan plume were once on the SMAR during earlier Atlantic rifted history.

Chemical composition of sediments from the subducting Cocos Ridge segment at the Southern Central American subduction zone

Subducted sediments play an important role in the magmatism at subduction zones and the formation of mantle heterogeneity,making them an important tracer for shallow crustal processes and deep mantle processes.Therefore,ascertaining the chemical compositions of different subduction end-members is a prerequisite for using subducted sediments to trace key geological processes.We reports here the comprehensive major and trace element analyses of 52 samples from two holes(U1414 A and U1381 C)drilled on the subducting Cocos Ridge segment at the Southern Central American(SCA)subduction zone during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program(IODP)Expedition 344.The results show that the SCA subducting sediments contain 51%(wt%)Ca CO_(3),27%(wt%)terrigenous material,16%(wt%)opal,and 6%(wt%)mineral-bound H2 O+.Compared to the global trenches subducting sediment,the SCA subducting sediments are enriched in biogenic elements(Ba,Sr,and Ca),and depleted in high field strength elements(Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf,and Ti)and alkali elements(K,Rb,and Cs).Meanwhile,the sediments in this area were affected by the carbonate crash event,which could have been caused by a~800 m rise in the carbonate compensation depth at 11 Ma in the Guatemala Basin.The reason for the sedimentary hiatus at Hole U1381 C may be the closure of the Panama Isthmus and the collision between the Cocos Ridge and the Middle America Trench.In addition,the sediments from the subducting Cocos Ridge segment have influenced the petrogenesis of volcanic lavas erupted in the SCA.

Mineral Resource Science in China:Review and perspective

Mineral resources are essential to prosperity and security of modern societies.How mineral resources can guar-antee sustainable development of economy in countries,especially those developing countries,has long been a focus of attention of international communities.This paper provides a comprehensive summary for major ad-vance of the research on mineral resources in past decades,and proposes some key issues regarding ore-forming mechanism,exploration and utilization of major and critical mineral resources.On the basis of these aspects,we also identify four priority science issues to be addressed in the future,including(1)mechanism of both metal circulation and extremely high concentration,(2)theories and technologies of prospecting deep-earth resources,(3)investigation of mineral resources in seafloor and polar regions,and(4)efficient,clean and recycling utiliza-tion of mineral resources.It can be expected that new advances in these four issues would tremendously promote the innovation of mineral resource science,and provide scientific and technologic support to meet the demand of mineral resources for human activities and the harmonious development of both mineral-resource exploration and ecological restoration.

Properties and organic activation of ocean clay in the East Pacific

In order to make use of ocean clay reasonably and excavate its potential applications the properties of ocean clay in Chinese investigating area of the East Pacific have been tested with the chemical analysis, XRFS, ICP/MAS, granulometry and SSA, etc. The results show that the clay sediments of this area are rich in clay minerals, fine granularity, bigger SSA, bigger water absorbability and lower ion changing ability etc. To improve the adaptability of ocean clay and macromolecule materials, using the dry milling method with silane, aluminate, stearic acid coupling agents etc the properties of ocean clay are improved. The effect has been evaluated by testing the water absorbing of the modified ocean clay and their dispersing in paraffin liquid. The result is that KH550 is better than any other active reagents, and the best activation technics is that 1.5% (volume) of KH550 quantity, 20min of milling time. The DTA, XRD, SEM and IR analyses and SSA testing show that the organic activation can not change the mineral structure but can densify the structure of clay, and activation mechanism is chemical covered mainly and chemical combined secondly.

Potassium isotopic signatures of modern offshore detrital sediments from different climatic regimes and the implications

Potassium isotopes are a novel tracer for continental weathering.Previous K isotope studies on chemical weathering generally targeted weathering profiles under a particular climate region,yet the effects of chemical weathering on K isotopes under different climatic backgrounds remain unclear.Moreover,little is known about the K isotope signatures of modern unconsolidated detrital sediments.Here,we report K isotopic data of surficial seafloor sediments from continental shelves along the east coast of China(ECC),as well as those around the tropical Hainan island in the northern South China Sea.The ECC sediments have a relatively narrow distribution ofδ^(41)K(with reference to NIST3141a)values,which range from(-0.40±0.01)‰to(-0.57±0.04)‰,with an average of(-0.51±0.09)‰.By contrast,δ^(41)K values of Hainan offshore sediments display a larger variation,ranging from(-0.28±0.07)‰to(-0.67±0.02)‰.Theδ^(41)K values of Hainan offshore sediments exhibit negative correlations with the chemical index of alteration(CIA),Al/K,Ti/K,and total iron(FeT),which underlines the control of chemical weathering on K isotopic signatures of detritus inputs into oceans.We also measured Mg isotope compositions for the same samples;interestingly,the variability inδ^(26)Mg of the samples is small(~0.24‰)for all ECC and Hainan offshore sediments,andδ^(26)Mg values do not show clear correlations with indexes of chemical weathering.Our study demonstrates the link between K isotopic variability of detrital sediments and climatic conditions including rainfall intensity,which indicates that K isotopes of the detrital component of marine sediments could be applied to study Earth’s climate in deep time.Theδ^(41)K values of the offshore detrital sediments are significantly less variable than those of pelagic marine sediments,highlighting the importance of distinguishing the effects of diagenesis and neoformation of clay minerals from continental weathering in attempts to study deep-time climate-weathering link by K isotopes in detrital sedimentary records.

两极冰盖控制的12 Ma以来南亚夏季风演化

季风是指由于大陆及邻近海洋之间存在温度差异而形成大范围盛行的、风向随季节发生改变的大气环流,是全球气候系统的重要组成部分[1].全球约有70%的人口生活在季风区,季风变化对这些地区人民的生产生活、国民经济和社会发展等方面具有重要影响.我国美丽富饶的“鱼米之乡”即是得益于充沛的季风降水而形成.但异常的季风气候也会导致干旱、洪水和其他极端天气和气候事件的发生,从而造成各种自然灾害及人民财产和生命的损失.因此,对季风变化及其机制开展研究,不仅有助于揭示季风演变与全球气候变化的联系,而且对加强防灾、减灾及实现社会的持续发展具有非常重要的理论和现实意义.

Enhanced weathering input from South Asia to the Indian Ocean since the late Eocene

nhanced silicate weathering induced by the uplift of the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau(HTP)has been considered as the major cause of pCO_(2) decline and Cenozoic cooling.However,this hypothesis remains to be validated,largely due to the lack of a reliable reconstruction of the HTP weathering flux.Here,we present a 37-million-year record of the difference in the seawater radiogenic neodymium isotopic composition(△ε_(Nd))of Ocean Drilling Program(ODP)sites and Fe-Mn crusts between the northern and central Indian Ocean,which indicates the contribution of regional weathering input from the South Asian continent to the Indian Ocean.The results show a long-term increase in △ε_(Nd) and thus provide the first critical evidence of enhanced South Asian weathering input since the late Eocene.The evolution coincided well with major pulses of surface uplift in the HTP and global climatic transitions.Our foraminiferal eNd record suggests that tectonic uplift and silicate weathering in South Asia,especially in the Himalayas,might have played a significant role in the late Cenozoic cooling.

Identification of the thick-layer greigite in sediments of the South Yellow Sea and its geological significances

Magnetic minerals in sediments of the continental shelf are sensitive to environmental changes.Therefore,to determine the exact phases of magnetic minerals is the prerequisite to investigate the paleoenvironmental significances.In this study,a comprehensive rock magnetic investigation,coupled with mineralogical studies,was carried out on the long core NHH01(with a length of 125.64 m)from the central continental shelf of the South Yellow Sea.Single-domain greigite was identified as the dominant magnetic carrier in sediments between44.90 and 51.80 m,and terrigenous magnetite is the major magnetic phase in the adjacent layers.The existence of greigite unambiguously indicates an anoxic environment.We tentatively interpreted that such an environment could be formed by the fast sea level changes,long-existing of the cold eddies during warm stages,or in a lake which might be related to locally tectonic uplifting.Therefore,the occurrence of the thick-layer greigite could supply a new perspective to paleoenvironmental or even tectonic studies.

Testing the mantle plume hypothesis： an IODP effort to drill into the Kamchatka-Okhotsk Sea basement

The great mantle plume debate(GPD) has been going on for ~15 years(Foulger and Natland, 2003;Anderson, 2004; Niu, 2005; Davies, 2005; Foulger, 2005; Campbell, 2005; Campbell and Davies, 2006),centered on whether mantle plumes exist as a result of Earth's cooling or whether their existence is purely required for convenience in explaining certain Earth phenomena(Niu, 2005). Despite the mounting evidence that many of the so-called plumes may be localized melting anomalies, the debate is likely to continue. We recognize that the slow progress of the debate results from communication difficulties.Many debaters may not truly appreciate(1) what the mantle plume hypothesis actually is, and(2) none of the petrological, geochemical and geophysical methods widely used can actually provide smoking-gun evidence for or against mantle plume hypothesis. In this short paper, we clarify these issues, and elaborate a geologically effective approach to test the hypothesis. According to the mantle plume hypothesis, a thermal mantle plume must originate from the thermal boundary layer at the core-mantle boundary(CMB), and a large mantle plume head is required to carry the material from the deep mantle to the surface. The plume head product in ocean basins is the oceanic plateau, which is a lithospheric terrane that is large(1000's km across), thick(>200 km), shallow(2–4 km high above the surrounding seafloors), buoyant(~1% less dense than the surrounding lithosphere), and thus must be preserved in the surface geology(Niu et al., 2003). The Hawaiian volcanism has been considered as the surface expression of a type mantle plume, but it does not seem to have a(known) plume head product. If this is true, the Hawaiian mantle plume in particular and the mantle plume hypothesis in general must be questioned. Therefore, whether there is an oceanic plateau-like product for the Hawaiian volcanism is key to testing the mantle plume hypothesis, and the Kamchatka-Okhotsk Sea basement is the best candidate to find out if it is indeed the Hawaiian mantle plume head product or not(Niu et al., 2003; Niu, 2004).

Benthic foraminiferal δ^(13)C minimum events in the southeastern Okhotsk Sea over the last 180 ka

A total of six d13C minimum events,i.e.,VI,V,IV,III,II,and I,were observed via a stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of infaunal benthic foraminifera Uvigerina spp.in gravity core OS03-1 in the southeastern Okhotsk Sea over the last 180 ka.These events occurred at112–109,102–90,85–76,57–54,44–40,and 17–10 ka BP.The largest negative excursions reached 2.5%in event V and were greater than 1%in the other events.We proposed that all d13C minimum events were caused by the increase in sea surface water productivity,the weakened formation of Okhotsk Sea intermediate water,and the enhancement of the oxygen minimum zone.The negative excursions were unaffected by methane hydrate destabilization and subsequent methane release based on the results obtained by using archaeal lipid markers.

140千年以来亚北极太平洋地区一直存在地磁场非偶极子行为吗?

Paleomagnetic records from globally distributed locations are essential for fully understanding geomagnetic field variations,particularly non-dipole field fluctuations[1].Paleomagnetic studies on historical time scales have demonstrated the existence of persistent geomagnetic flux patches,such as the Canadian(North America)and Siberian(East Asia)flux lobes,which may result from an organizing structure imposed on the geomagnetic field by lower mantle heterogeneity[2].Holocene paleomagnetic secular variations,reconstructed from the Alaskan margin of the Subarctic Pacific Ocean(SPO)[3]and revealed by dynamo modeling[4],further suggest that time-varying flux expulsions on the core-mantle boundary recurrently occur in high-latitude locations(Fig.la).

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis and geodynamic process of Hemler,Vlinder,and Il'ichev seamount lavas in NW Pacific

Oceanic intraplate volcanoes with linear age progressions are usually accepted to be derived from melting of an upwelling mantle plume.Several seamount groups in NW Pacific,however,show complex age-distance relationships that are difficult to explain using the classic“mantle plume hypothesis”,and thus their origins are controversial.In this study,we present ^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar age,geochemical,and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic data of lavas from Hemler,Vlinder,and Il’ichev seamounts in NW Pacific,to elucidate their petrogenesis and geodynamic process.The lavas from Hemler,Vlinder,and Il’ichev seamounts are classified as alkali basalt,basanite/nephelinite,and trachyte.Lavas with Mg O>8 wt.%exhibit high contents of CaO,FeO^(T),and TiO_(2),similar to the composition of melts formed from reaction between carbonated eclogite-derived melts and fertile peridotite.These lavas have elevated Zr/Hf ratios(40.6-45.2)and negative Zr and Hf anomalies,indicating the presence of a carbonate component in the mantle source.They are enriched in incompatible trace elements and have enriched mantle 1(EM1)-like SrNd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions.The isotopic compositions of Vlinder,Il’ichev basanite,and Hemler lavas in this study are similar to the Rarotonga hotspot.Although occurring at the same seamount,the Il’ichev alkali basalts display more depleted SrNd-Hf isotopic compositions compared to Il’ichev basanite.According to plate tectonic reconstruction results,the ages of Hemler(100.1 Ma),Vlinder pre-(100.2 Ma)and post-shield(87.5 Ma),and Il’ichev(56.4 Ma)lavas clearly deviate from the Macdonald,Arago,Rarotonga,and Samoa hotspot tracks,indicating that they cannot directly originate from mantle plumes.We propose that in the mid-Cretaceous,when the Pacific plate passed over Rarotonga hotspot,melting of Rarotonga plume formed the Vlinder(main-shield stage),Pako,and Ioah seamounts.The Rarotonga(and possibly Samoa)plume materials would have been dispersed into the surrounding asthenosphere by mantle convection.These diffuse plume materials would undergo decompression melting beneath lithosphere fractures that are widely distributed in the Magellan area,generating non-hotspot related Hemler and pre-and post-shield Vlinder lavas.The Il’ichev alkali basalts and basanite probably result from lithospheric fracture-induced melting of heterogeneous enriched components randomly distributed in the asthenosphere.