Variations in paleoproductivity and the environmental implications over the past six decades in the Changjiang Estuary

Total organic carbon and organic carbon stable isotope, biogenic silica, chlorin were measured from a high resolution sediment core to indicate the variation in paleoproductivity and the environmental implications over the past decades （1942 to 1997） in the Changjiang Estuary. Based on these biomarkers, the shift in the phytoplankton community structure in the past decades was discussed in response to the long-term variations in nutrient concentrations and nutrient ratios. The results showed that the δ 13 C values varied from –26.15‰ to –19.5‰, suggesting the combined organic carbon sources of riverine and marine organisms. Based on the biogenic proxies, paleoproductivity changes were categorized into three stages： low production before 1950; an increase in production with the dominance of diatoms during 1950 to 1980, consistent with increasing of nutrient concentrations; a decrease in production after 1980 when the diatom production decreased while the production of non-silicious phytoplankton increased due to high nutrient inputs, and high N/P and P/Si ratios in the Changjiang Estuary. The sedimentation records also indicated that the riverine organic carbon increased since 1980.

Biogeochemical Records at Shangsi Section,Northeast Sichuan in China:The Permian Paleoproductivity Proxies

The marine primary producers assimilate the atmospheric CO2 to form the organic carbon in surface water. The organic carbon then settles down through the water column and is removed from the oceans by final preservation in sediments in the form of petroleum or nature gases. The reconstruction of paleoproductivity will thus improve our understanding of the biological processes in the formation of fossil energy resource and help to locate new sites for future exploration. In this study, biorelated elements P, Cd, Al, Ba, as well as redox sensitive element Mo, were analyzed in the 448 rock samples collected from Permian strata at the Shangsi （上寺） Section, Guangyuan （广元）, Northeast Sichuan （四川） in China. On the basis of the Ti content, the nondetrital contents of P, Ca, and Al, denoted as Pxs, Cdxs, and Alxs, were calculated and found to coincide with the TOC content throughout the whole section, with some enrichment intervals being found in the middle part of Chihsia Formation, topmost Maokou （茅口） Formation, and Dalong （大隆） Formation. This suggests that the biorelated elements could he used as proxies for the paleoproductivity here in this section. Baxs, a paleoproductivity indicator widely used in the paleoceanography, shows insignificant correlation with TOC, Pxs, Cdxs, and Alxs, probably arising from the loss of biological barium in anoxic conditions. Compiled with the data of TOC content and Pxs, Cdxs, and Alxs, three episodes of enhanced paleoproductivity were identified in Permian strata including the middle part of Chihsia Formation, topmost Maokou Formation, and Dalong Formation.

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.

Environmental Effects on Differential Organic Matter Enrichment of the Lower Cambrian Shale,Tarim Basin,NW China

Early Cambrian shale is an important petroleum source rock around the world.Because of little drilling data and poor seismic data,until recently,organic matter enrichment of the Lower Cambrian Yuertusi and Xishanbulake formations shale is still an enigma in the Tarim Basin,northwestern China.Total organic carbon(TOC),major and trace element data of Cambrian shale samples from five boreholes have been analyzed to decipher the mechanism of the organic matter enrichment.The results show that the shales deposited in the western restricted intraplatform have much higher TOC contents(3.2%-19.8%,on average 11.0%)than those from the eastern basin(2.2%-10.2%,on average 4.5%).The paleoproductivity proxies(Ba,Ba/Al,P/Al)in the western restricted platform are much higher than those in the eastern basin.The trace element indicators such as V/Cr,Ni/Co,Mo-TOC and Mo_(EF)-U_(EF)suggest an anoxic environment across the basin,but a more restricted environment in the western intraplatform.The paleoproductivity rather than anoxic condition and hydrothermal activity are concluded to have resulted in the differentiation of the organic matter enrichment from the western intraplatform to eastern basin in the early Cambrian shales;the restricted environment was favorable for paleoproductivity and preservation of organic matter.

The main controlling factors and developmental models of Oligocene source rocks in the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

Coals developed in the Oligocene Yacheng and Lingshui formations in the Qiongdongnan Basin have high organic matter abundance, and the dark mudstones in the two formations have reached a good source rock standard but with strong heterogeneity. Through the analysis of trace elements, organic macerals and biomarkers, it is indicated that plankton has made little contribution to Oligocene source rocks compared with the terrestrial higher plants. The organic matter preservation depends on hydrodynamics and the redox environment, and the former is the major factor in the study area. During the sedimentary period of the Yacheng Formation, tidal flats were developed in the central uplift zone, where the hydrodynamic conditions were weak and the input of terrestrial organic matter was abundant. So the Yacheng Salient of the central uplift zone is the most favorable area for the development of source rocks, followed by the central depression zone. During the sedimentary period of the Lingshui Formation, the organic matter input was sufficient in the central depression zone due to multiple sources of sediments. The semi-enclosed environment was favorable for organic matter accumulation, so high quality source rocks could be easily formed in this area, followed by the Yacheng salient of central uplift zone. Source rocks were less developed in the northern depression zone owing to poor preservation conditions,

Glacial-interglacial productivity contrasts along the eastern Arabian Sea:Dominance of convective mixing over upwelling

The western continental margin of India is one of the highly productive regions in the global ocean.Primary productivity is induced by upwelling and convective mixing during the southwest and northeast monsoons respectively.Realizing the importance of high primary productivity,a sediment core was collected below the current oxygen minimum zone（OMZ） from the southwestern continental margin of India.This was dated by AMS radiocarbon and as many as 60 paleoclimate/paceoceanographic proxies,such as particle size,biogenic components,major,trace and rare earth elements（REEs） which were measured for the first time to determine sources of sediment,biogeochemical processes operating in the water column and their variations since the last glacial cycle.R-mode factor analysis of comprehensive data indicates that the dominant regulator of paleoproductivity is the southwest monsoon wind induced upwelling.Other paleoproductivity related factors identified are the marine biogenic component and biogenic detritus（as an exported component from the water column added to the bottom sediment）.All paleoproductivity components increased significantly during the marine isotope stage-1（MIS-1）compared to those accumulated from MIS-4 to MIS-2.The second group of factors identified are the terrigenous sediments with heavy minerals like zircon and ilmenite.The terrigenous sediment,in particular,increased during MIS-2 when the sea-level was lower;however,the heavy mineral component fluctuated over time implying pulsed inputs of sediment.The diagenetic fraction and reducing component are the third group of factors identified which varied with time with increased accumulation during the MIS transitions.The primary productivity along the southwestern continental margin of India seems to have been controlled principally by the upwelling during the southwest monsoon season that was weaker from MIS-4 to MIS-2,as relative to that during the MIS-1.In contrast,increased glacial productivity noticed in sediments deposited below the current oxygen minimum zone（OMZ） along the north of the study area that can be linked to entrainment of nutrients through the intensified convective mixing of surface water during the northeast monsoon.The sequestration of greenhouse gases by the western continental margin of India was higher during glacial than interglacial cycles.

Adsorption of Th and Pa onto particles and the effect of organic compounds in natural seawater

^(231)Pa and ^(230)Th are two crucial isotopes in the ongoing GEOTRACES Project.However,the controversy on ^(231)Pa/^(230)Th proxy pertaining to archiving ocean circulation or recording paleoproductivity,is still unresolved,partly owing to the unclear understanding of fractionation between ^(231)Pa and ^(230)Th during adsorption.In this study,controlled experiments were conducted to examine the adsorption of ^(234)Th and ^(233)Pa onto biogenic particles(SiO_(2) and CaCO_(3)),authigenic minerals(MnO_(2) and Fe_(2)O_(3)),and lithogenic minerals(kaolinite,attapulgite,montmorillonite,and aluminum oxyhydroxides),and the role of organic compounds in regulating the adsorption of ^(234)Th and ^(233)Pa in natural seawater was evaluated.The distribution coefficients(K d,presented as logK_(d))varied from 3.56 to 6.05 and from 3.27 to 5.82 for ^(234)Th and ^(233)Pa,respectively.Fe_(2)O_(3) is the strongest sorbent for both ^(234)Th and ^(233)Pa.Most of the particles showed comparable logK_(d) values for either ^(234)Th(~4.8)or ^(233)Pa(~3.9)in the presence of dextran,indicating that the adsorption of Th and Pa is likely controlled by organic coating on particle surfaces.The fractionation factors(F Th/Pa)of SiO_(2)(3±1)and CaCO_(3)(33±1)suggest in situ observed preferential scavenging of ^(230)Th to ^(231)Pa in the surface water of low-to mid-latitude regions and the nearly equal removal in the Antarctic Ocean where biogenic silica dominates the particle regime.The F Th/Pa values of the lithogenic and biogenic particles indicate that ^(230)Th is scavenged prior to ^(231)Pa in the particle-scarce ocean interior.The equal scavenging of ^(230)Th and ^(231)Pa at the ocean margins and the ridge crests is dominated by high particle fl uxes instead of particle composition control.These results imply that ^(230)Th/^(231)Pa can be used as different proxies in different oceanic settings.

Hydrocarbon Enrichment and Main Controlling Factors in Offshore Rift Basins of China:A Case Study in the Beibuwan Basin

Beibuwan B asin is an important offshore oil and gas bearing basin of China.However,the distribution of oil and gas in different sags is uneven,and the rule of hydrocarbon accumulation and main controlling factors have not been clearly understood in this basin.Based on abundant seismic,well and analytical data,the differences and main controlling of tectonic evolution,sedimentary filling and source rock quality in sags are analyzed,and combined with the study of geothermal filed,the main controlling factors of differential hydrocarbon generation in sags of the Beibuwan Basin are clarified.On the basis of the research above,the hydrocarbon enrichment of the basin is clarified through the systematic analysis of reservoir-caprock assemblage and accumulation characteristics of different structural units.The results show that there are four NE-trending sag zones in the basin,and under the influence of fault activity,the scale of sags is regularly distributed.The scale of rifts in different sag zones decreases gradually from northwest to southeast and the scale of rifts in the middle of a single sag zone is normally larger than that at two ends.Under the control of the sag-controlling faults activity,paleoproductivity and organic matter preservation conditions,the quality of source rocks in sags of the Beibuwan Basin decreases from northwest to southeast.The hydrocarbon-rich sags in the Beibuwan Basin were formed under the control of source rocks and geothermal field,and the distribution of large-medium scale fields is controlled by the favorable structural traps in the rift strata of inner gentle slope zone.The understanding of the hydrocarbon enrichment and main controlling factors in the Beibuwan Basin also provides a significant guidance for the oil and gas exploration in other rift basins.

Deep-sea benthic foraminiferal record of the paleoceanography in the southern Okinawa Trough over the last 20 000 years

Quantitative analyses have been carried out on benthic foraminifera from 66 samples of Core 255 in the southern Okinawa Trough, in combination with the stable isotopic analyses of planktonic and benthic foraminifera and AMS 14C dating, in order to reconstruct the history of change under deep water conditions and surface paleoproduclivity over the last 20 000 years. The variations in the ratio of agglutinants in benthic foraminiferal fauna and the ratio of fragments in planktonic foraminifera] fauna indicate higher carbonate dissolution during the postglacial stage than during the glacial stage. The distribution of species and the results of Q-mode factor analysis show that there are three distinctly different benthic foraminiferal assemblages during the glacial, deglacial and postglacial stages in the Okinawa Trough over the last 20000 years: the glacial Bulimina aculeata assemblage (especially the dominant species Uvigerina pereyrina) is associated with high surface primary productivity and organic

Lithofacies distribution characteristics and its controlling factors of shale in Wufeng Formation-Member 1 of Longmaxi Formation in the Jiaoshiba area

It is essential to investigate shale lithofacies distribution and controlling factor of the shale for geological evaluation of shale gas exploration and development.Through comprehensive analysis of cores,thin sections,cathode luminescence,whole-rock X-ray diffraction,element capture spectroscopy,major/trace element and other data,three major types and eight sub-type shale lithofacies in the shale of Wufeng Formation-Member 1 of Longmaxi Formation in Jiaoshiba area are identified by the three-end-member method and shale lithological classification nomenclature,and the spatiotemporal distribution law and main development controlling factors of shale lithofacies are well studied.In the Jiaoshiba area,vertically,the marine shale develops siliceous shale,mixed shale and argillaceous shale from bottom to top.Besides,lateral distribution of the shale is different from north to south;the shale lithofacies in the north area changes rapidly,the mixed shale in the north area is much thicker than that in the south area,while the siliceous shale in the south area is relatively thicker.Difference in the shale lithofacies is controlled by special sedimentary geologic events;development of the siliceous shale is controlled by the Ordovician-Silurian global volcanic event to some extent,while the mixed shale is significantly influenced by effect of bottom current,and the argillaceous shale is mainly affected by supply of terrestrial clastic material.

Contrasting Productivity and Redox Potential in Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

Understanding the past and present changes is critical for evaluating the future climatic changes. In order to understand the paleoproductivity and depositional environments of Northern In- dian Ocean, two sediment cores were collected, one each from the Arabian Sea （lat. 16°51.40′N and long. 71°54.37′E, water depth 803 m） and the Bay of Bengal （lat. 13°05.35′N and long. 91°28.21′E, wa- ter depth 3 054 m）. The surface seawater samples indicate higherpCO2 values in Arabian Sea as com- pared to the Bay of Bengal. The sediment organic carbon variations along with sedimentological and other geochemical parameters were studied. Sediment organic carbon varied from 0.5%--4.7% and 0.3%-1.22% in Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, respectively. In Arabian Sea, low productivity, oxic conditions and less intense southwest monsoon prevailed during the deglacial period, whereas productivity has increased from last 16 kyr to the modern age. In the Bay of Bengal, organic carbon decreased from the Last Glacial Maxima （LGM） to the modern age, indicating higher productivity in the past as compared to modern age. Fe was associated with organic carbon in the Bay of Bengal and increased during LGM, showing similar trend to that of organic carbon, indicating that Fe may be the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton in the Bay of Bengal in the modern age. In the Bay of Bengal, Mn is enriched during modern age and is depleted during LGM, whereas chromium showed the opposite trend indicating anoxic conditions during the LGM, whereas in Arabian Sea the trends are opposite to the Bay of Bengal.