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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The geochemical characteristics of environments can be developed from geochemical studies of sedimentary rocks. Different geochemical indicators can be used for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of processes of sedimentation. Trace and major elements in sedimentary rocks are extremely sensitive to paleoenvironmental changes, making them informative when studying the paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, as well as ancient and modern anthropogenic activity. The distribution of pollutants in sediments is important for modern geoecological processes. Isotopic research into sediments is essential for performing paleoreconstructions, geochronology, and ecology.

For this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit papers on topics related to geochemistry, mineralogy, and geochronology of natural and anthropogenic sediments and environmental conditions of their formation. We also welcome contributions that address the application of different analytic methods in the study of geochemistry and the mineralogy of sediment processes.

Dr. Marianna Kulkova
Prof. Dr. Dmitry Subetto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The First Data of Strontium Isotopic Composition of Osteological Material from Late Bronze to Early Iron Age Settlements in the Crimea Region

by Marianna A. Kulkova, Maya T. Kashuba, Yulia V. Kozhukhovskaya, Vitaliy A. Tikhomirov and Alexander M. Kulkov

Minerals 2024, 14(4), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14040410 - 16 Apr 2024

Viewed by 390

Abstract

Comparison of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr signatures of archaeological osteological material with features of geological provinces can be applied to determine the places of birth and living of individuals. Such reconstructions were conducted for both humans and domestic animals at the Late Bronze–Early Iron Age sites of the Crimea. The Crimean Peninsula is an interesting testing polygon for such research because it is characterized by a diverse geological situation within a relatively small area. The initial data allowed us to distinguish between three groups of mobility at the Bai-Kiyat I settlement and two groups at the Dolgii Bugor site. The Bai-Kiyat I site is located on the seacoast, so the proxy line for this area will correspond to the value of the ratio of strontium isotopes in seawater (0.7092). The inhabitants of this settlement, including a child from a burial on the settlement, are characterized by this value of strontium isotopes. Other groups include nonlocal people. The data obtained indicate that the steppe zone of the Northern Black Sea region was an ecumene, within which active mobility of groups of people was registered. This mobility is associated primarily with the pastoral type of economy in the period from the Chalcolithic to the Early Iron Age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Geochemistry of Sediments, 2nd Edition)

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Graphical abstract

25 pages, 10679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of the Sedimentary Environment of the Shanxi Formation in the Southeastern Ordos Basin Revealed by Detrital Zircon and Geochemical Analyses

by Jiandong Li, Xianqing Li, Wen Tian, Chunhui Xiao, Yingfan Zhao, Jie Xiang and Deyao Sun

Minerals 2023, 13(10), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101331 - 14 Oct 2023

Viewed by 912

Abstract

The interpretation of the sedimentary paleogeographic environment of the Lower Permian Shanxi Formation (P₁s) coal strata in the southeastern Ordos Basin remains a subject of significant debate. In this paper, based on detrital zircon U–Pb source analysis, paleosalinity assessment, the sandstone modal composition, and other methods, we analyzed the P₁s source system and constructed a model of the sedimentary evolution. The findings reveal that the primary source of the clastic materials in the study area stems from a mixed-source within the recycling orogenic belt. During the deposition period, the Shanxi Formation developed two predominant material source systems: one in the north, primarily linked to the Paleo-Yinshan Fold Orogenic Belt (YFOB), and the other in the south, originating from the North Qinling Orogenic Belt (NQinOB). These two major source systems converged in the Yichuan–Fuxian area. From the early stages of the Shanxi Formation period (Shan1), there was a regional retreat of the sea in the area. The seawater receded in a southeastward direction, leading to a gradual reduction in the paleosalinity and Sr/Ba-ratio variability during the Shan1 period. The influence of the seawater diminished, transitioning into a deltaic depositional system. This shift towards a terrestrial lakeshore basin reached its full development during the Lower Xiashihezi period. This study concludes that the Shanxi Formation in this area represents the evolution of a deltaic depositional system originating from a shallow sea shelf. This evolution can be divided into three major stages: remnants of the shallow sea shelf, barrier island–lagoon–littoral, and deltaic deposition. Within this framework, the shoreline underwent frequent lateral migration, influencing a broad range of characteristics. In the vertical direction, numerous alternating sets of sandstone bodies and mudstone, shale, and coal beds formed, creating a significant relationship between coal hydrocarbon sources and reservoirs. This study also establishes the stratigraphic-sequence framework of the basin for this period. These results hold great importance for the expansion of natural gas exploration and development efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Geochemistry of Sediments, 2nd Edition)

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