Characteristics and provenance implication of detrital minerals since Marine Isotope Stage 3 in Core SYS-0701 in the western South Huanghai Sea

The previous studies of the sedimentology and chronology of sediment core SYS-0701, which was recovered from the western South Huanghai Sea （Yellow Sea）, have revealed the changes in the sea-level and sedimen- tary evolution during the late Quaternary in the region. The present study used mineralogical data from the section of the core deposited since Marine Isotope Stage （MIS） 3, to decipher the provenance of sediments of the paleo-delta deposited during MIS 3 and MIS 1. Based on the lithologic features and the variations with depth of the concentrations of carbonates and both heavy and light minerals in bulk samples, the up- per part of Core SYS-0701 can be divided into three units designated DU1, DU4, and DU5, in accord with previouslyused terminology. Sub-units of units DU1 （DU1-1 and DU1-2） and DU4 （DU4-1 and DU4-2） have also been identified. DU1 was deposited during MIS 1, and DIJ4 and DU 5 were formed during MIS 3. All data pertaining to dominant heavy mineral assemblages, diagnostic minerals, ratios of diagnostic minerals, light mineral associations, textural maturities, and carbonate contents, indicate that the sediments of Core SYS-0701 are comparable with Huanghe River （Yellow River） sediments. Moreover, the mineralogy of the sediment evidenced its dependence on supply rates and hydrodynamic conditions. Weak hydrodynamics （DU5 and DU4-2） and/or low sediment supply （DU1-2） led to sediment containing less hornblende and epidote, with a large specific gravity and high content of flaky minerals, and vice versa in cases of strong hydrodynamics （DIJ4-1） and very large sediment supply （DUI-1）.

Mineral provinces and material provenance of the surficial sediments near the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea

Characteristics and distribution patterns of clastic minerals （0. 063 -0. 125 mm） in bottom sediments represent a significant indi- cator for the identification of the origin of sediment. One hundred and fourteen surface sediment samples, which were collected from the area near the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, were analysed to identify the mineral suites and their distributions in the study area. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces ： （Ⅰ） a province of biogenic minerals, which mainly originate from the Zhongsha Atoll ; （ Ⅱ） a province of volcanogenic minerals, which are mainly derived from local basaltic seamounts and small-scale volcanoes that are probably erupting, with some influences from the island-arc volcanic region around the South China Sea; and （ Ⅲ） a mixed mineral province whose material source includes biogenic minerals, volcanogenic minerals and terrigenous minerals; the last province can be subdivided into a mixed mineral sub-province of the northeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are mainly derived from China＇ s Mainland and do not exceed 17°N, and a mixed mineral subprovince of the southeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are derived from Kalimantan and Indochina Peninsula and might be further transported into the deep sea basin through submarine canyons.

Mineral provinces and matter provenance of the surficial sediments in the western Philippine Sea:implication for modern sedimentation in West Pacific marginal basin

The characteristics and distribution patterns of detrital minerals （0. 063 -0. 125 mm） in marine sediments provide a significant indicator for the identification of the origin of sediment. The detrital mineral composition of 219 surface sediment samples was ana- lysed to identify the distribution of sediments within the western Philippine Sea. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces ： （Ⅰ） province east of the Philippine Trench, the detrital minerals in this province are mainly composed of calcareous or siliceous organisms, with the addition of volcanogenic minerals from an adjacent island arc; （Ⅱ） middle mineral province, clastic minerals including feldspar, quartz and colorless volcanic glass, sourced from seamounts with intermediate-acid volcanic rock, or erupting intermediate-acid volcano; （Ⅲ） province west of the Palau--Kyushu Ridge, the matter provenance within this province is complex; the small quantity of feldspar and quartz may be sourced from seamounts or erupting volcano with intermediate - acid composition, with a component of volcanic scoria sourced from a volcano erupting on the Palau--Kyushu Ridge. it is suggested that, （ 1 ） Biogenic debris of the study area is closely related to water depth, with the amount of biogenic debris controlled by carbonate lysocline. （2） Volcaniclastic matter derived from the adjacent island arc can be entrained by oceanic currents and transported towards the abyssal basin over a short distance. The weathering products of volcanic rocks of the submarine plateau （e. g. , Benham Plateau） and adjacent ridges provide an important source of detrital sedimentation, and the influence scope of them is constrained by the intensity of submarine weathering. （3） Terrigenous sediments from the continent of Asia and the adjacent Philippine island arc have little influence on the sedimentation of this study area, and the felsic mineral component is probably sourced from volcanic seamounts of intermediate-acid composition.

Visible light driven mineralization of spiramycin over photostructured N-doped TiO2 on up conversion phosphors

A novel visible light-active photocatalyst formulation（NdT/OP） was obtained by supporting N-doped TiO2（NdT） particles on up-conversion luminescent organic phosphors（OP）. The photocatalytic activity of such catalysts was evaluated for the mineralization process of spiramycin in aqueous solution. The effect of NdT loading in the range 15–60 wt.% on bulk and surface characteristics of NdT/OP catalysts was investigated by several chemicophysical characterization techniques. The photocatalytic performance of NdT/OP catalysts in the removal of spyramicin from aqueous solution was assessed through photocatalytic tests under visible light irradiation. Total organic carbon（TOC） of aqueous solution,and CO and CO2 gas concentrations evolved during the photodegradation were analyzed. A dramatic enhancement of photocatalytic activity of the photostructured visible active NdT/OP catalysts,compared to NdT catalyst,was observed. Only CO2 was detected in gas-phase during visible light irradiation,proving that the photocatalytic process is effective in the mineralization of spiramycin,reaching very high values of TOC removal. The photocatalyst NdT/OP at 30 wt.% of NdT loading showed the highest photocatalytic activity（58%of TOC removed after 180 min irradiation against only 31% removal after 300 min of irradiation of NdT）. We attribute this enhanced activity to the high effectiveness in the utilization of visible light through improved light harvesting and exploiting. OP particles act as ＂photoactive support＂,able to be excited by the external visible light irradiation,and reissue luminescence of wavelength suitable to promote NdT photomineralization activity.