Desert rhizoliths are generally found as weathered,broken and scattered samples on dune field surface,but rarely insitu in their initial states buried under the soil of desert in the Badain Jaran Desert,northwest Chin...Desert rhizoliths are generally found as weathered,broken and scattered samples on dune field surface,but rarely insitu in their initial states buried under the soil of desert in the Badain Jaran Desert,northwest China.This study off ers an assessment of the morphological,mineralogical,and chemical properties of intact and in-situ rhizoliths found in soils of swales and depressions among dune chains.The characteristics of these rare and precious objects were assessed using optical polarizing microscopy,cathodoluminescence,scanning electronic microscopy,radiocarbon dating,and stable isotopic analyses,providing the opportunity for discussion of the rhizolith formation mechanisms and associated environmental conditions.Field and laboratory investigations showed that the in-situ intact rhizoliths were formed only in the places where Artemisia shrubs are living,and the remaining root relicts within rhizoliths belong to this species.The spatial distribution of rhizoliths also suggested that low topographic positions on a landscape provided soil moisture,and redox environments favored rhizolith formation.A semi-closed redox environment in the subsoil at swales and depressions,where water is always present,along with the sandy soil texture,facilitated fast water percolation to deeper depths and condensation.Such a soil environment not only provides water for Artemisia growth,but also for the weathering of minerals such as felspars and calcite from primary carbonates,and for the decomposition of root relicts.Furthermore,harsh climatic conditions,such as strong winds and solar radiation,led to water evaporation through dead root channels and triggered the calcification along the root relicts.The entrapped lithogenic carbonates and to a lesser extent the decomposition of Artemisia roots provided the carbon sources for the rhizoliths formation,while the weathering of soil minerals,particularly feldspars and carbonates,was the main source of Ca.Rhizoliths in the Badain Jaran desert formed relatively quickly,probably over a few soil drying episodes.This led to the entrapment of a large quantity of lithogenic carbonates(more than 90%of carbon)within rhizolith cement.The re-dissolution of the entrapped lithogenic carbonates in rhizolith tubes should be taken into account in the paleoenvironmental interpretation ofC ages,the latter suggesting that rhizoliths formed during the Holocene(~2053 years cal BP,based on root organic relicts).展开更多
The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune an...The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune and interdune deposits.In the dunes,large-scale festoon cross-bedding,humped cross-bedding and high-angle foreset bedding are well developed,and in the interdunes,large-scale flat-bedding and low-angle wedge shaped cross-bedding are well developed.The sedimentary structures and lamella features indicate that the aeolian deposits are driven mainly by the northeast monsoon.The aeolian biocalcarenite and paleosols may reflect the arid and humid climates of the East Asian monsoon,respectively.By comparison with the stalagmite oxygen isotope climosequence of Hulu Cave,Nanjing,we inferred that the aeolianite formed in the last glacial stage,and the paleosols were formed during relatively long-term warm events.展开更多
基金the Natural Science Foundation of China(41561046)Chinese-German Centre(Sino-German Mobility M-0069)the German Research Foundation(DFG)(ZA 1068/4-1)。
文摘Desert rhizoliths are generally found as weathered,broken and scattered samples on dune field surface,but rarely insitu in their initial states buried under the soil of desert in the Badain Jaran Desert,northwest China.This study off ers an assessment of the morphological,mineralogical,and chemical properties of intact and in-situ rhizoliths found in soils of swales and depressions among dune chains.The characteristics of these rare and precious objects were assessed using optical polarizing microscopy,cathodoluminescence,scanning electronic microscopy,radiocarbon dating,and stable isotopic analyses,providing the opportunity for discussion of the rhizolith formation mechanisms and associated environmental conditions.Field and laboratory investigations showed that the in-situ intact rhizoliths were formed only in the places where Artemisia shrubs are living,and the remaining root relicts within rhizoliths belong to this species.The spatial distribution of rhizoliths also suggested that low topographic positions on a landscape provided soil moisture,and redox environments favored rhizolith formation.A semi-closed redox environment in the subsoil at swales and depressions,where water is always present,along with the sandy soil texture,facilitated fast water percolation to deeper depths and condensation.Such a soil environment not only provides water for Artemisia growth,but also for the weathering of minerals such as felspars and calcite from primary carbonates,and for the decomposition of root relicts.Furthermore,harsh climatic conditions,such as strong winds and solar radiation,led to water evaporation through dead root channels and triggered the calcification along the root relicts.The entrapped lithogenic carbonates and to a lesser extent the decomposition of Artemisia roots provided the carbon sources for the rhizoliths formation,while the weathering of soil minerals,particularly feldspars and carbonates,was the main source of Ca.Rhizoliths in the Badain Jaran desert formed relatively quickly,probably over a few soil drying episodes.This led to the entrapment of a large quantity of lithogenic carbonates(more than 90%of carbon)within rhizolith cement.The re-dissolution of the entrapped lithogenic carbonates in rhizolith tubes should be taken into account in the paleoenvironmental interpretation ofC ages,the latter suggesting that rhizoliths formed during the Holocene(~2053 years cal BP,based on root organic relicts).
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2009CB219406)the Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS (KZCX2-YW-229)National Science & Technology Major Project (No. 2008zx05025-003-03)
文摘The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune and interdune deposits.In the dunes,large-scale festoon cross-bedding,humped cross-bedding and high-angle foreset bedding are well developed,and in the interdunes,large-scale flat-bedding and low-angle wedge shaped cross-bedding are well developed.The sedimentary structures and lamella features indicate that the aeolian deposits are driven mainly by the northeast monsoon.The aeolian biocalcarenite and paleosols may reflect the arid and humid climates of the East Asian monsoon,respectively.By comparison with the stalagmite oxygen isotope climosequence of Hulu Cave,Nanjing,we inferred that the aeolianite formed in the last glacial stage,and the paleosols were formed during relatively long-term warm events.
