ESR and U-series ages of coral reef samples from shallow drill holes in the South China Sea

The ages of coral reef samples from several shallow drill holes in the South China Sea are determined by ESR and U-series (230Th/234U) methods. The experimental results show ideal agreement between ESR and U-series ages and that the coral reefs were formed in the early Holocene. In the determination of natural total dose of coral reef by use of the additive dose method good results can be obtained by exponential fitting, no matter how the effect of dose saturation is. It was found that the ratio of the natural ESR signal intensity ( I0) to the ESR signal intensity at dose saturation ( Imax) of sample can reflect the significance of a irradiation efficiency-k value. Using the k value of sample determined by the formula given in this paper, the precision of ESR dating of marine carbonates can be improved.

Activity of Changbaishan Tianchi Volcano Since Late Pleistocene——The Constrain From Geochronology of High Precision U-Series Tims Method

samples of lava and pumice from the cone of Changbaishan Tianchi Volcano, Jiling, China, were dated by using high precision U-series TIMS method. We conclude that the bottom of the cone formed before 350 ka, the middle part in 70～80 ka, the upper during 20～1ka, and the top less than 1ka, and the age based periods of the volcano eruption since Late Pleistocene is given as follows: >350ka,70ka,18～25ka,10ka, 4C5ka, 1～0.75ka, which may offer the basis for the study of volcanic disaster in future. In addition, the principle of dating young volcanic rocks by using U-series TIMS method is introduced briefly. Differentiation characteristics of U and Th in different minerals of the volcanic rocks are discussed, and the ability producing isochrons, based on U and Th differentiation, are discussed. In the last part of the paper, the closure of samples to the elements U and Th, which is important for age results, is discussed by using ( 234 U/ 238 U) radioactivity ratio which can be used to monitor if the samples have been weathered or eroded or leached since the time they formed. In this study, all samples have ( 234 U/ 238 U) activity ratios within 1% of secular equilibrium (( 234 U/ 238 U) radioactivity ratios are unity), indicating no disturbance of the 234 U～ 238 U system. All of these discussions show that the TIMS method is good to date Tianchi volcanics and the results are reliable.

Timing of Holocene sea-level highstands by mass spectro-metric U-series ages of a coral reef from Leizhou Peninsula, South China Sea

Systematic mass spectrometric 230Th ages are reported for a Ponies coral reef terrace from Dengloujiao, Leizhou Peninsula, South China Sea. Seven episodes of coral growth were recognized in this terrace: 7125±96, 6764±29, 5826±37, 5006±54, 2543±24, 1915±15, and 1513±22 calendar years before present (cal. aBP). 50% of the coral age popula-tion fall between 7200 and 6600 cal. aBP, marking post-glacial stabilization of global sea level. Considering the facts that (i) Dengloujiao reef flat was measured at 1.6-2.5 m above modern tidal datum plane; (ii) modern Parties corals in the South China Sea are living at least ~1 m below the modern tidal datum plane; (iii) the top 20-30 cm of the reef was eroded; and (iv) crustal subsidence in the region since mid-Holocene was negligible, we conclude that the above age groups record at least two major periods (7200-5000 and 2500-1500 cal. aBP) of high sea-level at least 2.9-3.8 m above the present-day level.

Precise timing of lacustrine gypsum in Luobubo,Xinjiang using the thermal ionization mass spectrometry U-series method

Dating techniques including gypsum dissolution in water, iron hydroxide co-precipitation with uranium and thorium and mass spectrometric determination have been investigated in this note. The ages of the gypsum samples in a CK core from Luobubo lacustrine sediments are in the range of (12.85±0.21) kaBP (4 m distance from the top core) to (153.2 ± 7.2) kaBP (49 m distance from the top core) with the relative errors of ( 1.6%-±4.7%. It indicates that the sedimental environment of the CK core was situated in the middle-late Pleistocene and Holocene periods, corresponding to 1-6 stages of oxygen isotopes in the abyssal sediments and included much information from last inter-glacial to Holocene warm periods.

High-precision thermal ionization mass spectrometry dating of young volcanic rocks by using U-series method

A high precision thermal ionization mass spectrometric (HP-TIMS) technique is used to determine 238U,234U,232Th,230Th concentrations and their ratios in whole rocks and minerals separated from Ouaternary Maanshan, Dayingshan and Heikongshan volcanic rocks of Tengchong volcanic field .Yunnan Province, China. The 238U-230Th isochrons are given, yielding four age values (227 ? 20) ka (D-1, Dayingshan), (79.6 ±5.5) ka (D-7, Dayingshan), (21.9 ± 3.0) ka (h-1, Heikongshan), and (7.5 ± 1.0) ka (M-1, Maanshan). The result is not only consistent with but also preciser than those measured by the K-Ar method and the alpha spectrometry U-series method, indicating that the HP-TIMS method is reliable and has high precision. Besides, a procedure of HP-TIMS analysis of young volcanic rocks in China is set up preliminarily.

Element enrichment and U-series isotopic characteristics of the hydrothermal sulfides at Jade site in the Okinawa Trough

The geochemical and U-series isotopic characteristics of hydrothermal sulfide samples from the Jade site (127°04.5′E, 27°15′N, water depth 1300-1450 m) at Jade site in the Okinawa Trough were analyzed. In the hydrothermal sulfide samples bearing sulfate (samples HOK1 and HOK2), the LREEs are relatively enriched. All the hydrothermal sulfide samples except HOK1 belong to Zn-rich hydrothermal sulfide. In comparison with Zn-rich hydrothermal sulfides from other fields, the contents of Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Au and Hg are higher, the contents of Fe, Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Sr, Te, Cs, Ti and U lower, and the 210Pb radioactivity ratios and 210Pb/Pb ratios very low. In the hydrothermal sulfide mainly composed of sphalerite, the correlations between rare elements Hf and U, and Hf and Mn as well as that between dispersive elements Ga and Zn, are strongly positive; also the contents of Au and Ag are related to Fe-sulfide, because the low temperature promotes enrichment of Au and Ag. Meanwhile, the positive correlations between Fe and Bi and between Zn and Cd are not affected by the change of mineral assemblage. Based on the 210Pb/Pb ratios of hydrothermal sulfide samples (3.99×10-5-5.42×10?5), their U isotopic composition (238U content 1.15-2.53 ppm, 238U activity 1.07-1.87 dpm/g, 234U activity 1.15-2.09 dpm/g and 234U/238U ratio 1.07-1.14) and their 232Th and 230Th contents are at base level, and the chronological age of hydrothermal sulfide at Jade site in the Okinawa Trough is between 200 and 2000 yr.

High-precision U-series dating of Holocene corals from South China Sea by thermal ionization mass spectrometry(TIMS)

Using the isotopic diluting and thermal ionization mass spectrometric (TIMS) technique, the U-series dating procedure was established on the basis of measurement of national standard GBW04412. With this highly precise technique the Holocene corals from the South China Sea were dated. Comparison between this method and α-spectrometry was made. The results show that a thriving period of corals in the South China Sea appeared at 6 800—5 800 a BP, during which the paleosea level was the higher than at present in the Holecene.

TIMS U-series ages of speleothems from the Tangshan caves, Nanjing

U-series ages of a set of speleothem samples from the two caves near Tangshan Town, Nanjing, determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), range from older than 500 KaBP to around 20 kaBP. These dated speleothems with unequivocal stratigraphic layers in cave sediments provide basic data to establish a geochronologic sequence for the

DATING OF THE BASEMENT BENEATH EOLIANITE ON SHIDAO ISLAND WITH REFERENCE TO ESR AND U-SERIES AGES

Since the first discovery of eofianite on Shidao Island(Xisha Islands)in 1983, several papers have been published. The basement beneath eolianite on Shidao Island is explicitly separated by a clear erosion surface. Its age is 70 ka deduced by oxygen stable

Age dating of lacustrine sediments in Lake Tianshuihai of the Tibetan Plateau by using U-series isochron method and its significance

The age of the clastic-clay sediments with varied content of carbonate in core TS95 taken from the Lake Tianshuihai in the northwest of the Tibetan Plateau was determined successfully by using the total sample dissolution U-series isochron method for the first time. With this method, the serial absolute timescale (isotope time scale) covered the last 240 ka in the main body of the Tibetan Plateau with a sea level up to 4000 m is also established for the first time, thereby laying the foundation for the research on the paleo-climate and palaeoenvironment in the Lake Tianshuihai region as well as the relationship between evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and global changes. In addition to a brief introduction of the basic principles, the procedures of experiments, and the results, this note also presents the adaptability and superiority of this method as well as its possible problems.

APPLICATION OF ^(227)TH/^(230)TH METHOD AND RELIABILITY OF U-SERIES AGE OF STALAGMITIC CARBONATE

We have pointed out that, after excluding operational errors, the 230Th/234U age of stalagmitic calcite shows a satisfactory internal consistency. However, good precision of the results, together with its coherence with stratigraphic sequence, is only a necessary but not a sufficient condition for ascertaining its validity.

U-series dating on late Quaternary sediments from Balikun Lake

The U-series component-dating method has been employed to date the sediment core B-194 from Balikun Lake. 230Th/ 232Th and 234U/ 232Th ratios in various components of the samples dissolved in different concentration acids were measured respectively. The results indicate that there is a good relationship of the isotopic ratios between the solutions and the residues, and that uranium and thorium isotopic fractionations did not occur during acid leaching. Based on the U-series ages obtained by using component-dating method, a 144-ka time sequence was established corresponding to the upper 25-m interval of the B-194 core, which is in agreement with palaeomagnetic dating results. The fact that the palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental record labeled with U-series ages is correlative with the deep-sea δ 18O SPECMAP also demonstrates that the U-series component-dating method can be used to date lake sediments.

A palaeoearthquake event and its age revealed by the travertine layer along the Litang fault in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

The Litang fault(LTF),located in the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,is known for its high level of present-day seismicity,whereas its Pleistocene activity has been scarcely documented.This study focused on a tract of banded travertine deposits precipitated from thermal waters along the NW–SE-trending LTF trace.The role of travertine deposits in recording neotectonic activity has been studied by identifying their internal structure.Typical soft-sediment deformation structures observed within the banded travertines include micro folds,liquefied breccia,and liquefied diapirs.These deformed structures,which are restricted to a single unit separated unconformably by undeformed layers,can be traced for tens of meters,indicating that they were formed by seismic shaking triggered by LTF activity.The deformation of the banded travertine layers is attributed to the combined effects of seismic shaking,liquefaction,and fluidization,and it can be related to a paleo earthquake event with a magnitude of MS>5.The U-series ages obtained from the banded travertine deposits perturbed by the earthquakes are in the range of 130.59–112.94 ka,indicating an important fault-assisted neotectonic activity that occurred during the Middle–Late Pleistocene.Analysis of such structures,in combination with the use of U-series dating methods,can yield a reliable timing of neotectonic activity and provide new evidence for under-standing the seismotectonic setting of the Litang area.

Uranium Series Chronology of the Late Pleistocene Basalt from the Longgang Volcanoes, Jilin Province

The Longgang volcanic cluster located in Jilin Province belongs to one of the active volcanic regions in northeast China, and has been active in modern times. In view of the multiple eruptions in history, it is very important to determine the age of each eruption for evaluating the volcanic hazards. Two alkaline basalt samples taken from Dayizishan and Diaoshuihu were analyzed with the U-series component dating after magnetic separation. The ages of the two samples are (71±9) ka and (106±13) ka B.P., respectively. These data indicate that there existed intensive eruption activities during the late Pleistocene.

Precise dating of abrupt shifts in the Asian Monsoon during the last deglaciation based on stalagmite data from Yamen Cave, Guizhou Province, China

Based on 33 U/Th dates and 1020 oxygen isotopic data from stalagmite Y1 from Yamen Cave, Guizhou Province, China, a record of the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) was established. The record covers the last deglaciation and the early Holocene (from 16.2 to 7.3 ka BP) with an average oxygen isotope resolution of 9 years. The main millennial-scale deglacial events first identified in Greenland (Greenland Interstadial Events: GIS 1e through GIS 1a) and later in China are clearly present in the Y1 record. By analogy to earlier work, we refer to these as Chinese Interstadials (CIS): CIS A.1e to CIS A.1a. The onset of these events in Y1 δ18O records are nominally dated at: 14750±50, 14100±60, 13870±80, 13370±80, and 12990±80 a BP. The end of CIS A.1a or the beginning of the Younger Dryas (YD) event is nominally at 12850±50 a BP and the end of the YD dates to 11500±40 a BP. The δ18O values shift by close to 3‰ during the transition into the Bφlling-Allerφd (BA, the onset of CIS A.1e) and at the end of the YD. Comparisons of Y1 to previously published early Holocene records show no significant phase differences. Thus, the East Asia Monsoon and the Indian Monsoon do not appear to have been out of phase during this interval. The Y1 record confirms earlier work that suggested that solar insolation and North Atlantic climate both affect the Asian Monsoon.

High-resolution climate variability of southwest China during 57―70 ka reflected in a stalagmite δ^(18)O record from Xinya Cave

A 26-cm-long stalagmite (XY2) from Xinya Cave in northeastern Chongqing of China has been ICP-MS 230Th/U dated, showing a depositional hiatus at 2.3 cm depth from the top. The growth of the 2.3―26 cm interval determined by four dates was between 57 ka and 70 ka, with a linear growth rate of 0.023 mm/a. We have analyzed 190 samples for δ 18O and δ 13C, mostly in the 2.3―26 cm part. The δ 18O and δ 13C values between 57 ka and 70 ka reveal decadal-to-centennial climatic variability during the glacial in-terval of Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS4), exhibiting much higher resolution than that of the published Hulu and Dongge records during this interval. Speleothem δ 18O in eastern China, including our study area can be used as a proxy of summer monsoon strength, with lighter values pointing to stronger summer monsoon and higher precipitation, and vice versa. Two decreases in the δ 18O signature of XY2 record around 59.5 and 64.5 Ka are argued to correspond to the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) events 17 and 18 respectively. The Heinrich event 6 (H6) can be identified in the record as a heavy δ 18O peak around 60 ka, indicating significant weakening of the monsoon in Chongqing during the cold period. The XY2 δ 18O record shows very rapid change toward to the interstadial condition of the D-O event, but more gradual change toward to the cold stadial condition. This phenomenon found in the Greenland ice core records is rarely observed so clearly in previously published speleothem records. According to SPECMAP δ 18O record, the glacial maximum of MIS 4 was around 64.5 ka with the boundary of MIS 3/4 around 60 ka. Unlike the marine record, the speleothem record of XY2, China, exhibits much high fre-quency variations without an apparent glacial maximum during MIS 4. However, the timing of MIS 3/4 boundary seems to be around 60 ka when the H6 terminated, in agreement with the marine chronology. The growth period of sample XY2 during glacial times probably reflects a local karstic routing of water, rather than having climatic significance.

Geochemical provenancing and direct dating of the Harbin archaic human cranium

As one of the most complete archaic human fossils,the Harbin cranium provides critical evidence for studying the diversification of the Homo genus and the origin of Homo sapiens.However,the unsystematic recovery of this cranium and a long and confused history since the discovery impede its accurate dating.Here,we carried out a series of geochemical analyses,including non-destructive X-ray fluorescence(XRF),rare earth elements(REE),and the Sr isotopes,to test the reported provenance of the Harbin cranium and get better stratigraphic constraints.The results show that the Harbin cranium has very similar XRF element distribution patterns,REE concentration patterns,and Sr isotopic compositions to those of the Middle Pleistocene-Holocene mammalian and human fossils recently recovered from the Harbin area.The sediments adhered in the nasal cavity of the Harbin cranium have a 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.711898,falling in the variation range measured in a core drilled near the Dongjiang Bridge,where the cranium was discovered during its reconstruction.The regional stratigraphic correlations indicate that the Harbin cranium was probably from the upper part of the Upper Huangshan Formation of the Harbin area,which has an optically stimulated luminescence dating constraint between 138 and 309 ka.U-series disequilibrium dating(n=10)directly on the cranium suggests that the cranium is older than 146 ka.The multiple lines of evidence from our experiments consistently support the theory that the Harbin cranium is from the late Middle Pleistocene of the Harbin area.Our study also shows that geochemical approaches can provide reliable evidence for locating and dating unsystematically recovered human fossils,and potentially can be applied to other human fossils without clear provenance and stratigraphy records.

DISEQUILIBRIUM IN ^(230)Th-^(230)U SYSTEMATICS IN CONTINENTAL YOUNG VOLCANIC ROCKS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

U-series isotopic tracing is one of the important techniques for investigation of magmatic process. In the natural 238U radioactive series, 238U and 234U are isotopes not fractionated during the partial melting and fractionation crystallization. That is to say, the radioactive ratio (234U/238U) will keep being unity in