Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105301
Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza , Marco A. Aquino-López , Maarten Blaauw , Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández , Johanna L.J. Jupin , Lysanna Anderson , Clarke A. Knight , Marie Rhondelle Champagne , Nicole K. Sanderson , Simon Goring , J. Andrés Christen
<div><div>Accurate reconstructions of past environmental changes are crucial in paleoecological research and require reliable chronologies of sedimentary archives. Establishing robust age-models and obtaining the most appropriate proxies for analysis is a complex scientific endeavor, requiring extensive resources and collaboration among specialists, including radiochronologists. Radiometric dating methods, such as <sup>210</sup>Pb and radiocarbon (<sup>14</sup>C), are frequently employed to establish chronologies in aquatic sedimentary deposits and peat bogs. In this study, we review key aspects of sampling, analysis, and the principles underlying <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>14</sup>C age-models, focusing on methods for developing robust joint chronologies for paleoenvironmental research. Drawing largely from the authors' experiences and group discussions during and after a scientific workshop in 2022, we discuss important considerations for site selection, sampling strategies, and radiometric dating to construct integrated <sup>210</sup>Pb −<sup>14</sup>C age-models. Using expert consensus, this group – called Paleostats – aims to provide a set of best practices for other geochronologists with this methods paper. Among our conclusions, we emphasize the importance of accounting for site-specific factors such as prior information on sedimentation rates to establish appropriate sampling and analytical strategies. The use of appropriate coring devices can minimize disturbance to sediments and ensure the core surface remains intact and preserved until sectioning. Where excess <sup>210</sup>Pb (<sup>210</sup>Pb<sub>ex</sub>) is expected, sectioning at intervals of ≤1 cm provides an adequate sampling resolution for <sup>210</sup>Pb dating. Exceptions are possible, allowing for ∼2–3 cm sections in areas with confirmed high sedimentation rates (e.g., > 1 cm yr<sup>−1</sup>). Recovering deeper core sections for <sup>14</sup>C dating with sufficient overlap allows for accounting errors in depth estimates made in the field. Special attention is advised during time intervals where validation proxies, such as the human-made radionuclides <sup>137</sup>Cs or post-bomb <sup>14</sup>C, are expected, and to determine the depth of secular equilibrium between <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>226</sup>Ra. Radiocarbon analyses are commonly performed by accelerator mass spectrometry, and age models are constructed mainly using Bayesian statistics with Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques (e.g., <em>Bacon</em>). A Bayesian approach (<em>Plum</em>) is now available for producing <sup>210</sup>Pb age-models, which infers the <sup>210</sup>Pb<sub>ex</sub> flux, eliminates the need for selecting an equilibrium depth, and allows dating cores with incomplete <sup>210</sup>Pb<sub>ex</sub> inventory. <em>Plum</em> offers improved chronologies by integrating raw <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>14</sup>C data, and these age-models can be enriched with other dating methodologies, such as iden
准确地重建过去的环境变化在古生态学研究中是至关重要的，并且需要可靠的沉积档案年表。建立可靠的年龄模型并获得最合适的分析代理是一项复杂的科学努力，需要广泛的资源和专家之间的合作，包括放射年代学家。放射性测年方法，如210Pb和放射性碳（14C），经常用于确定水生沉积物和泥炭沼泽的年代学。在这项研究中，我们回顾了采样、分析的关键方面，以及210Pb和14C年龄模型的基本原理，重点介绍了开发用于古环境研究的可靠联合年表的方法。根据作者在2022年科学研讨会期间和之后的经验和小组讨论，我们讨论了建立综合210Pb−14C年龄模型时选址、采样策略和放射性定年的重要考虑因素。利用专家共识，这个被称为古统计学家的小组旨在通过这篇方法论文为其他地质年代学家提供一套最佳实践。在我们的结论中，我们强调了考虑特定地点因素的重要性，如沉积速率的先验信息，以建立适当的采样和分析策略。使用合适的取心设备可以最大限度地减少对沉积物的干扰，并确保岩心表面在切片前保持完整和保存。在预计超过210Pb （210Pbex）的地方，间隔≤1 cm的切片为210Pb定年提供了足够的采样分辨率。例外是可能的，允许在已确认的高沉积速率（例如，> 1 cm yr - 1）的地区进行~ 2-3 cm的剖面。恢复更深的岩心剖面进行14C测年，有足够的重叠，这允许在现场进行的深度估计中出现会计错误。在预计会有验证代理的时间间隔内，如人造放射性核素137Cs或原子弹爆炸后的14C，建议特别注意，并确定210Pb和226Ra之间的长期平衡深度。放射性碳分析通常由加速器质谱法进行，年龄模型主要使用贝叶斯统计和马尔可夫链蒙特卡罗技术（例如Bacon）构建。现在，贝叶斯方法（Plum）可用于生成210Pb年龄模型，该模型推断210Pbex通量，无需选择平衡深度，并允许在210Pbex库存不完整的情况下确定岩心的年代。Plum通过整合原始的210Pb和14C数据提供了改进的年表，并且这些年龄模型可以通过其他定年方法来丰富，例如确定tephras和其他记录良好的历史事件。统一报告将有助于使辐射年龄模型具有可重复性，这将受益于国际努力。利用210Pb和14C生成综合年龄模型可以更好地了解自然和近期人为强迫对生态系统的相互作用。这可以增强我们对环境过程及其对气候变化的影响的理解，最终支持基于科学的评估和决策。
{"title":"Guidelines for producing integrated 210Pb and 14C age-models","authors":"Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza , Marco A. Aquino-López , Maarten Blaauw , Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández , Johanna L.J. Jupin , Lysanna Anderson , Clarke A. Knight , Marie Rhondelle Champagne , Nicole K. Sanderson , Simon Goring , J. Andrés Christen","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105301","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate reconstructions of past environmental changes are crucial in paleoecological research and require reliable chronologies of sedimentary archives. Establishing robust age-models and obtaining the most appropriate proxies for analysis is a complex scientific endeavor, requiring extensive resources and collaboration among specialists, including radiochronologists. Radiometric dating methods, such as <sup>210</sup>Pb and radiocarbon (<sup>14</sup>C), are frequently employed to establish chronologies in aquatic sedimentary deposits and peat bogs. In this study, we review key aspects of sampling, analysis, and the principles underlying <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>14</sup>C age-models, focusing on methods for developing robust joint chronologies for paleoenvironmental research. Drawing largely from the authors' experiences and group discussions during and after a scientific workshop in 2022, we discuss important considerations for site selection, sampling strategies, and radiometric dating to construct integrated <sup>210</sup>Pb −<sup>14</sup>C age-models. Using expert consensus, this group – called Paleostats – aims to provide a set of best practices for other geochronologists with this methods paper. Among our conclusions, we emphasize the importance of accounting for site-specific factors such as prior information on sedimentation rates to establish appropriate sampling and analytical strategies. The use of appropriate coring devices can minimize disturbance to sediments and ensure the core surface remains intact and preserved until sectioning. Where excess <sup>210</sup>Pb (<sup>210</sup>Pb<sub>ex</sub>) is expected, sectioning at intervals of ≤1 cm provides an adequate sampling resolution for <sup>210</sup>Pb dating. Exceptions are possible, allowing for ∼2–3 cm sections in areas with confirmed high sedimentation rates (e.g., > 1 cm yr<sup>−1</sup>). Recovering deeper core sections for <sup>14</sup>C dating with sufficient overlap allows for accounting errors in depth estimates made in the field. Special attention is advised during time intervals where validation proxies, such as the human-made radionuclides <sup>137</sup>Cs or post-bomb <sup>14</sup>C, are expected, and to determine the depth of secular equilibrium between <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>226</sup>Ra. Radiocarbon analyses are commonly performed by accelerator mass spectrometry, and age models are constructed mainly using Bayesian statistics with Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques (e.g., <em>Bacon</em>). A Bayesian approach (<em>Plum</em>) is now available for producing <sup>210</sup>Pb age-models, which infers the <sup>210</sup>Pb<sub>ex</sub> flux, eliminates the need for selecting an equilibrium depth, and allows dating cores with incomplete <sup>210</sup>Pb<sub>ex</sub> inventory. <em>Plum</em> offers improved chronologies by integrating raw <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>14</sup>C data, and these age-models can be enriched with other dating methodologies, such as iden","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105301"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145615570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-23DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105341
Daniele Carbone , Flavio Cannavò , Marco Liuzzo , Giovanni Bruno Giuffrida , Filippo Greco
The 24–27 December 2018 Mt. Etna's flank eruption was one of the most important from this volcano in the last 20 years, especially in terms of the associated pre-, syn- and post-eruptive dynamics, as testified by the impressive ground deformation and release of seismic energy. Here, we build on existing literature and integrate it with previously unpublished findings, retrieved from the analysis of gravity time series, to gain unprecedented insight into the deep processes that determined the conditions for the breakout of the December 2018 eruption.
Pre-eruptive emplacement of magma at shallow depth (∼2 km b.s.l.) did not occur progressively over the months preceding the eruption, but, rather, within a one-month timeframe (early October to early November 2018), as revealed by a marked gravity increase. This magma transfer was favored by enhanced permeability of the central discharge system, which also led to a decrease in the peripheral CO2 flux. Ground deformation data point to a volume change at deeper depth, suggesting that the shallower magma influx was mostly accommodated (and “hid”) by compression of pre-existing magma. Since early November, further overpressurization could no more be buffered by the compressibility of the magma at 2 km depth, due to the decrease in the volume fraction of exsolved gas, and was more effectively transmitted to the host rock, which enhanced transfer of gas and magma through the uppermost part of the discharge system, accompanied by growing unrest.
In our view, the important amount of magma which accumulated at relatively shallow depth during early October to early November pushed the plumbing system of Mt. Etna under disequilibrium conditions, ultimately favoring the emplacement of the dike which fed the December 2018 eruption.
Besides establishing a long-term framework to consistently explain the geophysical and geochemical observations related to the December 2018 eruption, we come to the more general conclusion that multiparameter evaluation is essential to properly understand the behavior of a complex volcano, like Mt. Etna. We also highlight the important role played by magma compressibility in controlling pre-eruptive processes and shaping the characteristics of certain observables used to monitor and study active volcanoes.
{"title":"Multiparameter insights into the months-long evolution of Mt. Etna discharge system prior to the December 2018 eruption","authors":"Daniele Carbone , Flavio Cannavò , Marco Liuzzo , Giovanni Bruno Giuffrida , Filippo Greco","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 24–27 December 2018 Mt. Etna's flank eruption was one of the most important from this volcano in the last 20 years, especially in terms of the associated pre-, <em>syn</em>- and post-eruptive dynamics, as testified by the impressive ground deformation and release of seismic energy. Here, we build on existing literature and integrate it with previously unpublished findings, retrieved from the analysis of gravity time series, to gain unprecedented insight into the deep processes that determined the conditions for the breakout of the December 2018 eruption.</div><div>Pre-eruptive emplacement of magma at shallow depth (∼2 km b.s.l.) did not occur progressively over the months preceding the eruption, but, rather, within a one-month timeframe (early October to early November 2018), as revealed by a marked gravity increase. This magma transfer was favored by enhanced permeability of the central discharge system, which also led to a decrease in the peripheral CO<sub>2</sub> flux. Ground deformation data point to a volume change at deeper depth, suggesting that the shallower magma influx was mostly accommodated (and “hid”) by compression of pre-existing magma. Since early November, further overpressurization could no more be buffered by the compressibility of the magma at 2 km depth, due to the decrease in the volume fraction of exsolved gas, and was more effectively transmitted to the host rock, which enhanced transfer of gas and magma through the uppermost part of the discharge system, accompanied by growing unrest.</div><div>In our view, the important amount of magma which accumulated at relatively shallow depth during early October to early November pushed the plumbing system of Mt. Etna under disequilibrium conditions, ultimately favoring the emplacement of the dike which fed the December 2018 eruption.</div><div>Besides establishing a long-term framework to consistently explain the geophysical and geochemical observations related to the December 2018 eruption, we come to the more general conclusion that multiparameter evaluation is essential to properly understand the behavior of a complex volcano, like Mt. Etna. We also highlight the important role played by magma compressibility in controlling pre-eruptive processes and shaping the characteristics of certain observables used to monitor and study active volcanoes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105341"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145583848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105320
Arnaud Broussolle , Min Sun , Yingde Jiang , Karel Schulmann , Carmen Aguilar , Yang Yu , Jérémie Soldner , Jean Wong
<div><div>Traditionally, the Wilson cycle is regarded as a convincing theory to explain plate tectonics; however, the links between long-lived accretionary orogens and supercontinent assemblies remain unclear. Long-lived accretionary orogens are proposed to have evolved around external oceans, potentially persisting for up to two billion years. In this paper, we revisit the supercontinent cycle based on hafnium isotope trends of the Precambrian Mongolian Ribbon (PMR) and the Mongolian Accretionary Collage (MAC), which possibly highlight the evolution of two consecutive external oceans in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). By considering these proposed external oceans, we suggest that extroversion, rather than orthoversion or introversion, could be the dominant mechanism for the formation of supercontinents. Compilation of 5706 Hf zircon isotopes from magmatic and detrital data from subduction-related rocks in the PMR and MAC reveals two distinct external advancing and retreating modes of subduction trends that switch at the assembly of each presumed supercontinent (2000, 1000, 540 and 260 Ma; millions of years ago). The subduction-related Hf trends connected to external geodynamics record the evolution of the PMR from ca. 2500 to 550 Ma and the MAC from ca. 550 to 300 Ma. Two phases of the retreating mode are observed ca. 2000 Ma to 1000 Ma and ca. 400 Ma to 300 Ma, while three phases of the advancing mode occurred ca. 2500 Ma to 2000 Ma, ca. 750 Ma to 550 Ma and ca. 550 Ma to 400 Ma. Therefore, we propose a cycle of extroversion modulated by alternating periods of advancing and retreating modes of subduction between the assemblies of Columbia, Rodinia, and Gondwana, which terminated with the assembly of Pangea. While the Cryogenian–Ediacaran period is characterised by a snowball Earth, the Ediacaran to Cambrian transition is not marked by a change in subduction mode despite the assembly of Gondwana. The Gondwana supercontinent was stable after ca. 540 Ma, and a subduction girdle developed in advancing mode. The stability of this supercontinent is supported by well-known evidence, such as the formation of a slab graveyard after assembly. Nonetheless, no explanation exists for why the advancing/advancing mode phenomenon occurred. Our hafnium model suggests that an interconnected cycle may govern the Earth's evolution and speculates that a feedback loop exists between advancing and retreating modes and between “top-down” and “bottom-up” processes, leading to a fully operative supercontinent cycle. In addition, tectonic switching from these processes might control extreme magmatism and metamorphism during supercontinent assembly. For instance, these two latter extreme proxies are observed in the assembly of Eurasia within the collisional belts as well as in the subduction girdle of the external ocean at ∼40 Ma to ∼20 Ma. Our model not only predicts future plate movements but also speculates their eventual amalgamation into a supercontinent, Pan
{"title":"The supercontinent cycle seen from a hafnium isotope perspective in the Mongolian Accretionary Collage","authors":"Arnaud Broussolle , Min Sun , Yingde Jiang , Karel Schulmann , Carmen Aguilar , Yang Yu , Jérémie Soldner , Jean Wong","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditionally, the Wilson cycle is regarded as a convincing theory to explain plate tectonics; however, the links between long-lived accretionary orogens and supercontinent assemblies remain unclear. Long-lived accretionary orogens are proposed to have evolved around external oceans, potentially persisting for up to two billion years. In this paper, we revisit the supercontinent cycle based on hafnium isotope trends of the Precambrian Mongolian Ribbon (PMR) and the Mongolian Accretionary Collage (MAC), which possibly highlight the evolution of two consecutive external oceans in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). By considering these proposed external oceans, we suggest that extroversion, rather than orthoversion or introversion, could be the dominant mechanism for the formation of supercontinents. Compilation of 5706 Hf zircon isotopes from magmatic and detrital data from subduction-related rocks in the PMR and MAC reveals two distinct external advancing and retreating modes of subduction trends that switch at the assembly of each presumed supercontinent (2000, 1000, 540 and 260 Ma; millions of years ago). The subduction-related Hf trends connected to external geodynamics record the evolution of the PMR from ca. 2500 to 550 Ma and the MAC from ca. 550 to 300 Ma. Two phases of the retreating mode are observed ca. 2000 Ma to 1000 Ma and ca. 400 Ma to 300 Ma, while three phases of the advancing mode occurred ca. 2500 Ma to 2000 Ma, ca. 750 Ma to 550 Ma and ca. 550 Ma to 400 Ma. Therefore, we propose a cycle of extroversion modulated by alternating periods of advancing and retreating modes of subduction between the assemblies of Columbia, Rodinia, and Gondwana, which terminated with the assembly of Pangea. While the Cryogenian–Ediacaran period is characterised by a snowball Earth, the Ediacaran to Cambrian transition is not marked by a change in subduction mode despite the assembly of Gondwana. The Gondwana supercontinent was stable after ca. 540 Ma, and a subduction girdle developed in advancing mode. The stability of this supercontinent is supported by well-known evidence, such as the formation of a slab graveyard after assembly. Nonetheless, no explanation exists for why the advancing/advancing mode phenomenon occurred. Our hafnium model suggests that an interconnected cycle may govern the Earth's evolution and speculates that a feedback loop exists between advancing and retreating modes and between “top-down” and “bottom-up” processes, leading to a fully operative supercontinent cycle. In addition, tectonic switching from these processes might control extreme magmatism and metamorphism during supercontinent assembly. For instance, these two latter extreme proxies are observed in the assembly of Eurasia within the collisional belts as well as in the subduction girdle of the external ocean at ∼40 Ma to ∼20 Ma. Our model not only predicts future plate movements but also speculates their eventual amalgamation into a supercontinent, Pan","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105320"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145441353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-08DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105323
Ara Jeong , Yeong Bae Seong , Kwang Hee Choi , Zuzanna M. Swirad
Rocky coasts are actively evolving geomorphic features whose long-term evolution is critically influenced by Relative Sea Level (RSL) change. Cosmogenic radionuclides (CRNs) offer a powerful tool to quantify these millennial-scale rates of shore platform evolution and cliff retreat. This study synthesizes global CRN research on rocky coasts and presents a detailed case study of the Korean Peninsula, a unique natural laboratory with distinct RSL end-members: the actively uplifting East Coast and the tectonically stable West Coast. Our analysis, incorporating new and re-evaluated 10Be data, reveals contrasting evolutionary patterns. East Coast platforms predominantly show Holocene formation with varied site-specific cliff retreat rates (e.g., Jangsa: 1.4 to 7.0 mm/yr acceleration; Ayajin/Jukbyeon-ri: deceleration). In stark contrast, West Coast platforms exhibit significantly higher 10Be concentrations and “stair-step” profiles, providing strong evidence for widespread interglacial relict surfaces. These findings underscore RSL change as a fundamental long-term boundary condition, interacting with regional tectonics and oceanographic forcing. While CRNs offer invaluable insights, challenges remain in model assumptions and accounting for complex shielding. Future research necessitates enhanced data acquisition, refined process-based modeling, and integrated datasets to improve predictions of rocky coast responses to accelerating sea-level rise.
{"title":"Global patterns of shore platform evolution and cliff retreat: Insights from cosmogenic radionuclides","authors":"Ara Jeong , Yeong Bae Seong , Kwang Hee Choi , Zuzanna M. Swirad","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rocky coasts are actively evolving geomorphic features whose long-term evolution is critically influenced by Relative Sea Level (RSL) change. Cosmogenic radionuclides (CRNs) offer a powerful tool to quantify these millennial-scale rates of shore platform evolution and cliff retreat. This study synthesizes global CRN research on rocky coasts and presents a detailed case study of the Korean Peninsula, a unique natural laboratory with distinct RSL end-members: the actively uplifting East Coast and the tectonically stable West Coast. Our analysis, incorporating new and re-evaluated <sup>10</sup>Be data, reveals contrasting evolutionary patterns. East Coast platforms predominantly show Holocene formation with varied site-specific cliff retreat rates (e.g., Jangsa: 1.4 to 7.0 mm/yr acceleration; Ayajin/Jukbyeon-ri: deceleration). In stark contrast, West Coast platforms exhibit significantly higher <sup>10</sup>Be concentrations and “stair-step” profiles, providing strong evidence for widespread interglacial relict surfaces. These findings underscore RSL change as a fundamental long-term boundary condition, interacting with regional tectonics and oceanographic forcing. While CRNs offer invaluable insights, challenges remain in model assumptions and accounting for complex shielding. Future research necessitates enhanced data acquisition, refined process-based modeling, and integrated datasets to improve predictions of rocky coast responses to accelerating sea-level rise.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105323"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145473289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105322
Octavio E. Sequeiros , Benoit Spinewine , Gary Parker , Carlos Pirmez , Enrica Viparelli , Juan J. Fedele , Marcelo H. García , Débora Koller , Michele Bolla Pittaluga , Miwa Yokokawa
Bedforms in rivers have been extensively studied for decades. Turbidite outcrops also display bedforms emplaced subaqueously by turbidity currents. Recent breakthroughs in the attainable resolution of deep underwater bathymetric/seismic mapping have revealed that bedforms in submarine environments may be as widespread and diverse as those associated with fluvial flows. Turbidity currents that emplace subaqueous bedforms run down submarine canyons, traverse and overflow leveed channels on submarine fans, or manifest themselves as sheet turbidity currents along continental margins. Submarine bedforms present features that appear to be analogous to their fluvial counterparts. Submarine bedforms have traditionally been interpreted with the use of tools, and in particular phase diagrams, that were developed solely for fluvial bedforms. The use of such tools is motivated by the fact that simultaneous observation of the bedforms as they evolve in the field and the turbidity currents that create them remains at the edge of present capabilities. We fill this gap in part with a technique that has been successfully implemented for fluvial bedforms, i.e. experimentation. We present observations of bedforms emplaced by saline and turbidity currents in laboratory flumes. The experimental flows span a wide range of densimetric Froude numbers, including both subcritical and supercritical regimes, and produced various bedform types including subcritical and supercritical-regime ripples/dunes, upstream-migrating and downstream-migrating antidunes, and cyclic steps. We have gathered a comprehensive set of fluvial and submarine field bedforms worldwide from multiple environments including submarine canyons, levees, slopes, and fans; some of which include associated flow observations. The data are summarized in a set of bedform dimensions and regime diagrams, which are applicable to saline and/or turbidity currents, and generally to any down-slope moving bottom flow. The regimes for submarine bedforms show both similarities and differences with fluvial regimes. Our diagrams and guidelines constitute a new tool for the interpretation of field-scale bedforms generated by turbidity currents.
{"title":"Regimes of bedforms created by down-slope density currents","authors":"Octavio E. Sequeiros , Benoit Spinewine , Gary Parker , Carlos Pirmez , Enrica Viparelli , Juan J. Fedele , Marcelo H. García , Débora Koller , Michele Bolla Pittaluga , Miwa Yokokawa","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bedforms in rivers have been extensively studied for decades. Turbidite outcrops also display bedforms emplaced subaqueously by turbidity currents. Recent breakthroughs in the attainable resolution of deep underwater bathymetric/seismic mapping have revealed that bedforms in submarine environments may be as widespread and diverse as those associated with fluvial flows. Turbidity currents that emplace subaqueous bedforms run down submarine canyons, traverse and overflow leveed channels on submarine fans, or manifest themselves as sheet turbidity currents along continental margins. Submarine bedforms present features that appear to be analogous to their fluvial counterparts. Submarine bedforms have traditionally been interpreted with the use of tools, and in particular phase diagrams, that were developed solely for fluvial bedforms. The use of such tools is motivated by the fact that simultaneous observation of the bedforms as they evolve in the field and the turbidity currents that create them remains at the edge of present capabilities. We fill this gap in part with a technique that has been successfully implemented for fluvial bedforms, i.e. experimentation. We present observations of bedforms emplaced by saline and turbidity currents in laboratory flumes. The experimental flows span a wide range of densimetric Froude numbers, including both subcritical and supercritical regimes, and produced various bedform types including subcritical and supercritical-regime ripples/dunes, upstream-migrating and downstream-migrating antidunes, and cyclic steps. We have gathered a comprehensive set of fluvial and submarine field bedforms worldwide from multiple environments including submarine canyons, levees, slopes, and fans; some of which include associated flow observations. The data are summarized in a set of bedform dimensions and regime diagrams, which are applicable to saline and/or turbidity currents, and generally to any down-slope moving bottom flow. The regimes for submarine bedforms show both similarities and differences with fluvial regimes. Our diagrams and guidelines constitute a new tool for the interpretation of field-scale bedforms generated by turbidity currents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105322"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145510006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105342
David Cruset , Jaume Vergés , Marc Viaplana-Muzas , Xavier Bolós , Adelina Geyer , Jordi Díaz , Mahdi Najafi , Mar Moragas , Leo J. Millonig , Axel Gerdes , Estefanía Bravo-Gutiérrez , Montserrat Torné , Ivone Jiménez-Munt , Daniel García-Castellanos
Transfer fault zones are commonly associated with volcanic activity. While geochronological methods such as the UPb and ArAr dating have been traditionally used to establish the absolute timing of volcanism, recent advances allow us the dating of fracture-filling minerals. However, integrated tectono-volcanic and geochronological studies of fault zones are scarce, limiting our ability to constrain accurately the evolution of fault-controlled volcanic zones.
This paper reviews the tectono-volcanic history of northeastern Iberia through the geochronological and kinematic analysis of well-known examples of Neogene to Quaternary fault zones with associated volcanism along the Transverse Ranges. These fault zones are located at the northwestern tip of a NW-SE transfer zone that segmented the Liguro-Provençal Rift. We integrate available geological and geophysical data with new structural analysis of meter scale fractures across three fault zones and UPb dating of fracture-filling carbonates.
The UPb dating of fracture-filling calcite reveals early Eocene strike-slip faulting at ∼49 Ma, during the Alpine compression, and synchronous strike-slip and extensional dip-slip faulting from ∼22 to ∼2 Ma, coinciding with the Liguro-Provençal rifting. We propose a new lithospheric-scale model in which faults acted as sub-vertical conduits for the ascent of magmas sourced from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, based on the composition of recovered xenoliths. Our geochronological dataset supports the hypothesis that fault reactivation governs the timing, location and migration of volcanism in the Neogene to Quaternary Catalan Volcanic Zone, which was additionally influenced by lithospheric thinning and the development of transfer fault zones that potentially reflect the reactivation of Mesozoic structures. These processes share striking similarities with those observed in the western Mediterranean Region, the European Cenozoic Rift System, and other extensional systems worldwide, highlighting the role of inherited transfer fault zones in the evolution of volcanism.
{"title":"Tectonic controls on volcanism in transfer fault zones: Insights from the Catalan Volcanic Zone (Northeastern Iberia)","authors":"David Cruset , Jaume Vergés , Marc Viaplana-Muzas , Xavier Bolós , Adelina Geyer , Jordi Díaz , Mahdi Najafi , Mar Moragas , Leo J. Millonig , Axel Gerdes , Estefanía Bravo-Gutiérrez , Montserrat Torné , Ivone Jiménez-Munt , Daniel García-Castellanos","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transfer fault zones are commonly associated with volcanic activity. While geochronological methods such as the U<img>Pb and Ar<img>Ar dating have been traditionally used to establish the absolute timing of volcanism, recent advances allow us the dating of fracture-filling minerals. However, integrated tectono-volcanic and geochronological studies of fault zones are scarce, limiting our ability to constrain accurately the evolution of fault-controlled volcanic zones.</div><div>This paper reviews the tectono-volcanic history of northeastern Iberia through the geochronological and kinematic analysis of well-known examples of Neogene to Quaternary fault zones with associated volcanism along the Transverse Ranges. These fault zones are located at the northwestern tip of a NW-SE transfer zone that segmented the Liguro-Provençal Rift. We integrate available geological and geophysical data with new structural analysis of meter scale fractures across three fault zones and U<img>Pb dating of fracture-filling carbonates.</div><div>The U<img>Pb dating of fracture-filling calcite reveals early Eocene strike-slip faulting at ∼49 Ma, during the Alpine compression, and synchronous strike-slip and extensional dip-slip faulting from ∼22 to ∼2 Ma, coinciding with the Liguro-Provençal rifting. We propose a new lithospheric-scale model in which faults acted as sub-vertical conduits for the ascent of magmas sourced from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, based on the composition of recovered xenoliths. Our geochronological dataset supports the hypothesis that fault reactivation governs the timing, location and migration of volcanism in the Neogene to Quaternary Catalan Volcanic Zone, which was additionally influenced by lithospheric thinning and the development of transfer fault zones that potentially reflect the reactivation of Mesozoic structures. These processes share striking similarities with those observed in the western Mediterranean Region, the European Cenozoic Rift System, and other extensional systems worldwide, highlighting the role of inherited transfer fault zones in the evolution of volcanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105342"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145593687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105348
Chao Zhang, Ruoyu Sun
Mercury (Hg) stable isotopes have emerged as a powerful tracer to resolve the sources, transformations, and deposition pathways of atmospheric Hg. Beyond conventional mass-dependent fractionation (MDF), atmospheric reactions can induce unique Hg mass-independent fractionation (MIF). This review synthesizes current sampling strategies and pretreatment protocols for gaseous Hg(0) and reactive Hg(II) in particulates and precipitation, and compiles their isotope compositions (δ202Hg for MDF, Δ199Hg for odd-MIF and Δ200Hg for even-MIF) across terrestrial background, urban-industrial, marine boundary layer, and polar regions. Terrestrial background Hg(0) typically exhibits positive δ202Hg with negative Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg, whereas reactive Hg(II) shows negative δ202Hg with positive Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg. These complementary patterns reflect predominant roles of photoreduction of Hg(II) and vegetation uptake of Hg(0). Urban-industrial Hg(0) tends to have low δ202Hg and elevated Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg, consistent with anthropogenic influence. However, post-emission transformations frequently obscure primary isotope signatures of Hg(II), complicating source-receptor relationships. In polar regions, reactive Hg (II) bears strong imprints of photoredox reactions at the snow-atmosphere interface, typically exhibiting very negative Δ199Hg values. Integrating isotope observations with deposition pathways indicates that dry deposition of Hg(0) often dominates fluxes to both terrestrial and marine surfaces. Scenario analysis under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways project notable increases in δ202Hg and Δ199Hg under low-emission futures. To better implement the Minamata Convention in a changing climate, future research should prioritize species-specific Hg sampling, better mechanistic understanding of isotope fractionation, and expanded isotope monitoring in underrepresented regions.
{"title":"Atmospheric mercury stable isotopes: Advances in mercury cycle tracing and projections of future trends","authors":"Chao Zhang, Ruoyu Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105348","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105348","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mercury (Hg) stable isotopes have emerged as a powerful tracer to resolve the sources, transformations, and deposition pathways of atmospheric Hg. Beyond conventional mass-dependent fractionation (MDF), atmospheric reactions can induce unique Hg mass-independent fractionation (MIF). This review synthesizes current sampling strategies and pretreatment protocols for gaseous Hg(0) and reactive Hg(II) in particulates and precipitation, and compiles their isotope compositions (δ<sup>202</sup>Hg for MDF, Δ<sup>199</sup>Hg for odd-MIF and Δ<sup>200</sup>Hg for even-MIF) across terrestrial background, urban-industrial, marine boundary layer, and polar regions. Terrestrial background Hg(0) typically exhibits positive δ<sup>202</sup>Hg with negative Δ<sup>199</sup>Hg and Δ<sup>200</sup>Hg, whereas reactive Hg(II) shows negative δ<sup>202</sup>Hg with positive Δ<sup>199</sup>Hg and Δ<sup>200</sup>Hg. These complementary patterns reflect predominant roles of photoreduction of Hg(II) and vegetation uptake of Hg(0). Urban-industrial Hg(0) tends to have low δ<sup>202</sup>Hg and elevated Δ<sup>199</sup>Hg and Δ<sup>200</sup>Hg, consistent with anthropogenic influence. However, post-emission transformations frequently obscure primary isotope signatures of Hg(II), complicating source-receptor relationships. In polar regions, reactive Hg (II) bears strong imprints of photoredox reactions at the snow-atmosphere interface, typically exhibiting very negative Δ<sup>199</sup>Hg values. Integrating isotope observations with deposition pathways indicates that dry deposition of Hg(0) often dominates fluxes to both terrestrial and marine surfaces. Scenario analysis under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways project notable increases in δ<sup>202</sup>Hg and Δ<sup>199</sup>Hg under low-emission futures. To better implement the Minamata Convention in a changing climate, future research should prioritize species-specific Hg sampling, better mechanistic understanding of isotope fractionation, and expanded isotope monitoring in underrepresented regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105348"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145598747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105315
Jizhou Tang , Jiayu Li , Zhuo Zhang , Yu Fan , Wenya Jiang , Siwei Meng , Xianzheng Zhao
Natural fractures critically influence stimulation efficiency and fluid transport in continental shale reservoirs, yet their scale-dependent behavior under varying tectonic regimes remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the Cangdong Sag (Bohai Bay Basin) and Gulong Sag (Songliao Basin) through a multi-scale approach. At the core scale, three primary fracture types—bedding, tectonic, and diagenetic—are characterized in terms of geometry and mechanics. Outcrop-scale simulations assess fracture propagation under different injection conditions. At the seismic scale, statistical analyses quantify fracture length, density, and orientation across the two regions. These data support fully coupled 3D models to evaluate stimulated rock volume (SRV). To integrate geometric and mechanical attributes across scales, a novel Natural Fracture Activation–Probabilistic Fractal Dimension Method (NF-AP-FDM) is developed, introducing the index to describe activation potential and fracture complexity. The method is validated through SRV comparisons and applied to analyze operational parameters. Results reveal significant differences in fracture networks between the two sags, shaped by distinct tectonic histories. This work provides new insights into fracture evolution mechanisms and enhances hydraulic fracturing design in complex continental shale systems.
{"title":"Differential impacts of multi-scale natural fractures on hydraulic fracture network formation","authors":"Jizhou Tang , Jiayu Li , Zhuo Zhang , Yu Fan , Wenya Jiang , Siwei Meng , Xianzheng Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural fractures critically influence stimulation efficiency and fluid transport in continental shale reservoirs, yet their scale-dependent behavior under varying tectonic regimes remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the Cangdong Sag (Bohai Bay Basin) and Gulong Sag (Songliao Basin) through a multi-scale approach. At the core scale, three primary fracture types—bedding, tectonic, and diagenetic—are characterized in terms of geometry and mechanics. Outcrop-scale simulations assess fracture propagation under different injection conditions. At the seismic scale, statistical analyses quantify fracture length, density, and orientation across the two regions. These data support fully coupled 3D models to evaluate stimulated rock volume (SRV). To integrate geometric and mechanical attributes across scales, a novel Natural Fracture Activation–Probabilistic Fractal Dimension Method (NF-AP-FDM) is developed, introducing the <span><math><msub><mi>D</mi><mi>dp</mi></msub></math></span> index to describe activation potential and fracture complexity. The method is validated through SRV comparisons and applied to analyze operational parameters. Results reveal significant differences in fracture networks between the two sags, shaped by distinct tectonic histories. This work provides new insights into fracture evolution mechanisms and enhances hydraulic fracturing design in complex continental shale systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105315"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145404646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105319
Lijun Liu , Qihai Shu , Kai Xing , Jinyu Liu , Litian Zhang , Qingfei Wang , Jun Deng
Porphyry deposits are the major source of copper and molybdenum of the world. The Great Xing’an Range in northeastern China is widely known for its abundant Mo deposits, some of which have giant sizes (i.e., >0.5 Mt Mo). In total, there are 27 porphyry Mo (-Cu) deposits and 14 porphyry Cu (-Mo) deposits in the region. Whether and how the formation of these deposits was controlled by the regional crust architecture remains unclear. Here, we integrated geologic and geochemical data (including zircon U-Pb dating results and Lu-Hf isotopic compositions) for the Paleozoic-Mesozoic felsic rocks and porphyry Cu (-Mo) and Mo (-Cu) deposits in the Great Xing’an Range, and imaged the crustal architecture by zircon Hf isotopic mapping. The results indicate that most of the study area is of juvenile crustal domains, with a significant mantle contribution in their formation. The northern Erguna Block and the southwestern Songliao Accretionary Terrane are characterized by ancient and reworked crustal domains, respectively. Porphyry Cu (-Mo) deposits are predominantly located in these juvenile crustal domains with high εHf(t) (>+3) values, and their distribution was controlled by the NE-trending tectonic systems. High Sr/Y and high oxygen fugacity arc magmas are associated with the formation of the subduction-related porphyry Cu (-Mo) deposits during the Early-Paleozoic and Triassic. By contrast, fault zones or the intersection of faults are favorable sites for the formation of the Jurassic to Early-Cretaceous Cu (-Mo) deposits. Porphyry Mo (-Cu) deposits in the Great Xing’an Range, however, are located in both juvenile and reworked crustal domains. The Permian to Triassic Mo (-Cu) deposits have different magmatic sources under different tectonic settings. During the Jurassic to Early-Cretaceous, a transition of the tectonic regime from compression to extension is conducive to the large-scale porphyry Mo mineralization event. This study demonstrates the usefulness of Hf isotopic mapping as a tool in characterizing the relationship between crustal architecture and porphyry deposits’ locations and types, and provides a better focus for further exploration for porphyry deposits regionally.
{"title":"Crustal architecture controls on porphyry Cu and Mo fertility: constraints from zircon Hf isotopic mapping in the Great Xing’an Range, NE China","authors":"Lijun Liu , Qihai Shu , Kai Xing , Jinyu Liu , Litian Zhang , Qingfei Wang , Jun Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porphyry deposits are the major source of copper and molybdenum of the world. The Great Xing’an Range in northeastern China is widely known for its abundant Mo deposits, some of which have giant sizes (i.e., >0.5 Mt Mo). In total, there are 27 porphyry Mo (-Cu) deposits and 14 porphyry Cu (-Mo) deposits in the region. Whether and how the formation of these deposits was controlled by the regional crust architecture remains unclear. Here, we integrated geologic and geochemical data (including zircon U-Pb dating results and Lu-Hf isotopic compositions) for the Paleozoic-Mesozoic felsic rocks and porphyry Cu (-Mo) and Mo (-Cu) deposits in the Great Xing’an Range, and imaged the crustal architecture by zircon Hf isotopic mapping. The results indicate that most of the study area is of juvenile crustal domains, with a significant mantle contribution in their formation. The northern Erguna Block and the southwestern Songliao Accretionary Terrane are characterized by ancient and reworked crustal domains, respectively. Porphyry Cu (-Mo) deposits are predominantly located in these juvenile crustal domains with high ε<sub>Hf</sub>(t) (>+3) values, and their distribution was controlled by the NE-trending tectonic systems. High Sr/Y and high oxygen fugacity arc magmas are associated with the formation of the subduction-related porphyry Cu (-Mo) deposits during the Early-Paleozoic and Triassic. By contrast, fault zones or the intersection of faults are favorable sites for the formation of the Jurassic to Early-Cretaceous Cu (-Mo) deposits. Porphyry Mo (-Cu) deposits in the Great Xing’an Range, however, are located in both juvenile and reworked crustal domains. The Permian to Triassic Mo (-Cu) deposits have different magmatic sources under different tectonic settings. During the Jurassic to Early-Cretaceous, a transition of the tectonic regime from compression to extension is conducive to the large-scale porphyry Mo mineralization event. This study demonstrates the usefulness of Hf isotopic mapping as a tool in characterizing the relationship between crustal architecture and porphyry deposits’ locations and types, and provides a better focus for further exploration for porphyry deposits regionally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105319"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145435069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105327
Zhi Lin Ng , Shan Liu , Hui Chen , Shaoru Yin , F. Javier Hernández-Molina , Débora F.P. Duarte , Xinyu Xue , Zhixuan Lin , Kunwen Luo , Ming Su
Tectonic influence on bottom current processes, particularly in active margin settings, may result in contourite deposits that are morphologically distinct from those developed along passive margins. Despite numerous works on the role of tectonics in the development of contourites deposits and the evolution of water mass circulation, there remains limited consensus on standardised criteria for the identification and characterisation of contourite drifts. The aim of our study is to distinguish the various tectonic controls on contourite deposition through a comprehensive review of existing knowledge, supported by morphologic characterisation, morphometric quantification, and statistical analysis of the dimensional relationship between structural and contourite features. We present three representative analogues from the South China Sea that illustrate depositional, erosional, and mixed features of both its modern and ancient contourite systems, and compare them with the well-known Gulf of Cádiz contourite systems.
Tectonically-influenced contourite systems can be classified into three categories based on structural control: confined, fault-controlled, and obstacle-controlled drifts. The associated tectonic structures and movements—such as uplift and subsidence—affect both the external geometry and internal configuration of the drifts. To better capture the complexity of tectonic influence on contourite deposition, several conceptual models are summarised for each type of structural control, and a revised classification framework for contourite drifts is proposed.
Regional tectonic evolution also plays a crucial role in contourite development, governing their evolutionary phases—onset, growth, and buried-stages. Their long-term evolution is further influenced by global events associated with reconfiguration of oceanic gateways and changes in circulation patterns, driven by the coupling of astronomical and tectonic processes and modulated by orbital-scale variations in bottom current activity. The role of tectonics in contourite deposition carries significant geological implications—contourite drift architecture, sedimentary facies distribution, sediment supply and accommodation, seafloor stability and geohazards—as well as economic relevance to the energy sector and marine ecosystems.
{"title":"Tectonic influence on the characteristics of contourite systems","authors":"Zhi Lin Ng , Shan Liu , Hui Chen , Shaoru Yin , F. Javier Hernández-Molina , Débora F.P. Duarte , Xinyu Xue , Zhixuan Lin , Kunwen Luo , Ming Su","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tectonic influence on bottom current processes, particularly in active margin settings, may result in contourite deposits that are morphologically distinct from those developed along passive margins. Despite numerous works on the role of tectonics in the development of contourites deposits and the evolution of water mass circulation, there remains limited consensus on standardised criteria for the identification and characterisation of contourite drifts. The aim of our study is to distinguish the various tectonic controls on contourite deposition through a comprehensive review of existing knowledge, supported by morphologic characterisation, morphometric quantification, and statistical analysis of the dimensional relationship between structural and contourite features. We present three representative analogues from the South China Sea that illustrate depositional, erosional, and mixed features of both its modern and ancient contourite systems, and compare them with the well-known Gulf of Cádiz contourite systems.</div><div>Tectonically-influenced contourite systems can be classified into three categories based on structural control: <em>confined</em>, <em>fault-controlled</em>, and <em>obstacle-controlled drifts</em>. The associated tectonic structures and movements—such as uplift and subsidence—affect both the external geometry and internal configuration of the drifts. To better capture the complexity of tectonic influence on contourite deposition, several conceptual models are summarised for each type of structural control, and a revised classification framework for contourite drifts is proposed.</div><div>Regional tectonic evolution also plays a crucial role in contourite development, governing their evolutionary phases—<em>onset</em>, <em>growth</em>, and <em>buried</em>-stages. Their long-term evolution is further influenced by global events associated with reconfiguration of oceanic gateways and changes in circulation patterns, driven by the coupling of astronomical and tectonic processes and modulated by orbital-scale variations in bottom current activity. The role of tectonics in contourite deposition carries significant geological implications—contourite drift architecture, sedimentary facies distribution, sediment supply and accommodation, seafloor stability and geohazards—as well as economic relevance to the energy sector and marine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 105327"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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