Abstract
Without understanding the true meaning of why it is called Shell Bar, and ignoring the unreliability of OSL dating and the data of Fan (2009), Lai et al. (J Paleolimnol 51:197–210, 2014) concluded that the upper part of the Shell Bar section from Qaidam Basin, which they call the SB section, was formed during MIS5 (~113–99 ka). This is at odds with Zhang et al. (Quat Sci 27:427–436, 2007a, Radiocarbon 50:255–265, 2008b) who argued that the whole 260-cm section accumulated between ~39.7 and ~17.5 14C ka BP. Using grain-size data and ostracod assemblages, they further asserted that the elevated sediments of the Shell Bar were stream deposits (Mischke et al. in J Paleolimnol 51:179–195, 2014) and support their conclusion using a nearby section they call the SSB section. This section, we believe, is old, fluvial–alluvial and shallow-water sediments, interbedded with eolian deposits, and its cliff-like appearance can be attributed to backward erosion processes during a high-water stand. All the OSL measurements used to date the section were produced at one laboratory, and the results are at odds with their conclusions. It is impossible for Lai et al. (J Paleolimnol 51:197–210, 2014) to ignore the AMS 14C dates and rely fully on their OSL ages, which are not constrained or verified by other dating techniques. For the sedimentation and geomorphologic processes to be fully understood, we must have a solid understanding of the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes, and paleolake evolution, reconstructed using lake deposits, geomorphologic features, microfossil and macrofossils, pollen and other environmental variables.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bronk-Ramsey C, Staff RA, Bryant CL, Brock F, Kitagawa H, van der Plicht J, Schlolaut G, Marshall MH, Brauer A, Lamb HF, Payne RL, Tarasov PE, Haraguchi T, Gotanda K, Yonenobu H, Yokoyama Y, Tada R, Nakagawa T (2012) A complete terrestrial radiocarbon record for 11.2 to 52.8 kyr B.P. Science 338:370–374
Cai YF, Zhang HC, Wang Q, Chang FQ, Chen GJ, Wang XF, Li HY, Zhang ZQ, Duan LZ (2013) The ostracode assemblages and environmental evolution of the Qingtu lake, Minqin county, Gansu Province since 7ka BP. Acta Micropalaeontol Sin 30:263–274 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Chang FQ, Zhang HC, Chen Y, Niu J, Yang MS, Zhang WX, Lei GL, Fan HF (2007) Stable isotopes of carbonate and fossil shells from the Shell Bar section of the paleolake Qarhan, Qaidam Basin. Quat Sci 27:427–436 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Chang FQ, Zhang HC, Chen Y, Yang MS, Niu J, Fan HF, Lei GL, Zhang WX, Lei YB, Yang LQ (2008) Sedimentary geochemistry and environmental changes of Paleolake Qarhan during the Late Pleistocene in Qaidam Basin, China. J. China Univ. Geosci 18:135–141
Chang FQ, Zhang HC, Lei GL, Pu Y, Chen GJ, Yang LQ (2010) Geochemical behaviors of strontium isotopes and related elements of the lacustrine deposits and their application to paleoenvironment reconstruction. Quat Sci 30:1–11 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Chang FQ, Zhang HC, Ming QZ, Chen GJ, Zhang WX, Shi ZT, Feng ZD (2011) AMS radiocarbon dating problems between 10 and 8 ka BP in lacustrine deposits from lake Gun Nur, northern Mongolia. Radiocarbon 53:501–509
Chen KZ, Bowler JM (1986) Late Pleistocene evolution of salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai Province, China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 54:87–104
Chen KZ, Bowler JM (1987) Evolution of salt lakes in Late Pleistocene in Qaidam Basin, Qinghai Province, China. In: Members of Sino-Australia Joint Research Group, CAS (ed) Pap. Coll. of Sino-Australia Conf. on Quaternary Sci. Publ. House Sci., Beijing, pp 106–114 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Chi ZQ, Liu XQ, Hu X, Wang Y, Min LR, Liu ZJ (2010) Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes during 47–25 ka BP as indicated by Jing’erwa section in Nihewan Basin. Acta Geologica Sini 84:839–846 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Fan QS (2009) Quartz optically stimulated Luminescence chronology for high lake levels in the eastern Qaidam Basin, northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau since the late Quaternary and its palaeoenvironmental implications. Ph. D thesis, CAS, pp 135 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Fan AC, Li SH, Chen YG (2012) Late Pleistocene evolution of Lake Manas in western China with constraints of OSL ages of lacustrine sediments. Quat Geochronol 10:143–149
Hajdas I (2008) Radiocarbon dating and its applications in Quaternary studies. Eiszeitalt Ggw Quat Sci J 57:2–24
Hartmann K, Wünnemann B, Zhang HC (2009) Evidence of neotectonic impact on a large sedimentary basin between Tibetan Plateau and Gobi Altay, NW China. Quat Sci 29:687–695
Hartmann K, Wünnemann B, Hölz S, Krätschell A, Zhang HC (2011) Neotectonic subsidence of a large sedimentary inland basin in the northern vicinity of Tibetan Plateau, derived from palaeolake-lake sediments and geomorphology. In: Gloaguen R, Ratschbacher L (eds) Growth and collapse of the Tibetan Plateau. Geological Society, London, pp 221–233. doi:10.1144/SP353.11 Special Publications 353
Hölz S, Polag D, Becken M, Fiedler-Volmer R, Zhang HC, Hartmann K, Burkhardt H (2007) Electromagnetic and geoelectric investigation of the Gurinai Structure, Inner Mongolia, NW China. Tectonophysics 445:26–48
Houmark-Nielsen M (2008) Testing OSL failures against a regional Weichselian glaciation chronology from southern Scandinavia. Boreas 37:660–677
Huang Q, Cai PQ (1987) Geochronological study on the sediments in Qarhan Lake. In: Members of Sino-Australia Joint Research Group, CAS (ed) Pap. Coll. of Sino-Australia Conf. on Quaternary Sci. Publ. House Sci, Beijing, pp 106–114 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Lai ZP, Mischke S, Madsen D (2014) Paleoenvironmental implications of new OSL dates on the formation of the ‘‘Shell Bar’’ in the Qaidam Basin, northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. J Paleolimnol 51:197–210. doi:10.1007/s10933-013-9710-1
Lei GL, Zhang HC, Zhang WX, Chang FQ, Fan HF, Yang MS, Chen Y, Niu J (2007) Characteristics of grain-size and sedimentation of shell bar section in salt lake Qarhan, Qaidam Basin. Acta Sedimentol Sin 25:274–282 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Li SJ, Zheng BX, Jiao KQ (1991) Preliminary research on lacustrine deposits and lake evolution on the south slope of the west Kunlun Mountains. Sci Geogr Sin 11:306–314 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Li SH, Chen YY, Li B, Sun JM, Yang LR (2007) OSL dating of sediments from deserts in northern China. Quat Geochronol 2:23–28
Li SJ, Zhang HL, Shi YF, Zhu ZY (2008) A high resolution MIS 3 environment change record derived from lacustring deposit of Tianshuihai lake, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Quat Sci 28:122–131 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Liu XQ, Herzschuh U, Chi ZQ, Wang Y, Ni J, Xu QH (2014) A MIS3 charcoal and pollen record and quantitativeprecipitation inferences from the Jingerwa sectionof the Nihewan Basin, north-central China. J Paleolimnol 51:211–221
Long H, Lai ZP, Fuchs M, Zhang J, Yang L (2011) Palaeodunes intercalated in loess strata from the western Chinese Loess Plateau: timing and palaeoclimatic implications. Quat Int 263:37–45
Lu YC, Wang XL, Wintle AG (2007) A new OSL chronology for dust in the last 130,000 years. Quat Res 67(1):152–160
Lü YW, Gu ZY, Aldahan A, Zhang HC, Possnert G, Lei GL (2010) 10Be in quartz gravel from the Gobi Desert and evolutionary history of alluvial sedimentation in the Ejina Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Chin Sci Bull 55:3802–3809
Ma YZ, Zhang HC, Pachur H-J, Wuennemann B, Li JJ, Feng ZD (2003) Late Glacial and Holocene vegetation history and paleoclimate of the Tengger Desert, northwestern China. Chin Sci Bull 48:1457–1463
Ma YZ, Zhang HC, Pachur H-J, Wuennemann B, Li JJ, Feng ZD (2004) Modern pollen-based interpretations of the middle Holocene paleoclimate (8500 to 3000 yr cal BP) in the southern margin of the Tengger Desert, NW China. Holocene 14:841–850
Madsen DB, Ma H, Rhode D, Brantingham PJ, Forman SL (2008) Age constraints on the late Quaternary evolution of Qinghai Lake, Tibetan Plateau. Quat Res 69:316–325
Mischke S, Lai ZP, Zhang CJ (2014) Re-assessment of the paleoclimate implications of the Shell Bar in the Qaidam Basin, China. J Paleolimnol 51:179–195. doi:10.1007/s10933-012-9674-6
Niu J, Zhang HC, Chang FQ, Chen Y, Fan HF, Zhang WX, Yang MS, Lei GL (2007) The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of shell bar section at Charhan lake, Qaidam basin and its paleoenvironmental significance. Geol J China Univ 13:14–22 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Pachur H-J, Wuennemann B, Zhang HC (1995) Lake evolution in the Tengger Desert, Northwestern China during the last 40,000 years. Quat Res 44:178–180
Pang YZ, Zhang HC, Chang FQ, Lei GL, Li CH, Pu Y (2010) Instability record of the late glacial in the southern Tengger Desert. Quat Sci 30:69–79 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Peng JN, Zhang HC, Ma YZ (1998) Late Pleistocene limnic ostracods and their environmental significance in the Tengger Desert, northwestern China. Acta Micropalaeontol Sin 15:22–30
Pigati JS, Quade J, Lifton NA, Timothy Jull AJ, Wilson J(2006) Beyond radiocarbon’s black hole: 14C dating of old (35–55 ka) charcoal. In: 19th International 14C Conference, Oxford, England
Pigati JS, Quade J, Wilson J, Timothy Jull AJ, Lifton NA (2007) Development of low-background vacuum extraction and graphitization systems for 14C dating of old (40–60 ka) samples. Quat Int 166:4–14
Pu Y, Zhang HC, Lei GL, Chang FQ, Yang MS, Huang XY (2009) n-Alkane distribution coupled with organic carbon isotope in the Shell Bar section, Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. J China Univ Geosci 3:327–335
Pu Y, Zhang HC, Lei GL, Chang FQ, Yang MS, Zhang WX, Lei YB, Yang L, Pang YZ (2010a) Climate variability recorded by n-alkanes of paleolake sediment in Qaidam Basin on the northeast Tibetan Plateau in late MIS3. Sci China Earth Sci 53:863–870
Pu Y, Zhang HC, Lei GL, Chang FQ, Yang MS (2010b) The distribution of nitrogen-bearing lipid biomarker in the shell bar paleolake sediments from Qarhan Paleolake, Qaidam Basin. Acta Geosci Sin 31:155–162
Reimer PJ, Bard E, Bayliss A, Beck JW, Blackwell PG, Ramsey CB, Buck CE, Cheng H, Edwards RL, Friedrich M, Grootes PM, Guilderson TP, Haflidason H, Hajdas I, Heaton TJ, Hatté C, Hoffmann DL, Hogg AG, Hughen KA, Kaiser KF, Kromer B, Manning SW, Niu M, Reimer RW, Richards DA, Scott EM, Southon JR, Staff RA, Turney CSM, van der Plicht J (2013) INTCAL13 and marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years CAL BP. Radiocarbon 55:1869–1887
Shi XM, Li YL, Yang JC (2008) Climatic and tectonic analysis of Manas Lake changes. Sci Geogr Sini 28:266–271 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Taylor RE (1995) Radiocarbon dating: the continuing revolution. Evolut Anthropol 4:169–181
Thompson LG, Yao TD, Davis ME, Henderson KA, Thompson EM, Lin PN, Beer J, Synal HA, Cole-Dai J, Bolzan JF (1997) Tropical climate instability: the last glacial cycle from a Qinghai–Tibetan ice core. Science 276:1821–1825
Wan WH, Tang LY, Zhang HC, Li CH, Pang YZ (2008) Pollen record reflects climate changes in Eastern Qaidam Basin during 36–18 ka B.P. Quat Sci 28:112–121 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Wintle G (2008a) Fifty years of luminescence dating. Archaeometry 50:276–312
Wintle G (2008b) Luminescence dating: where it has been and where it is going? Boreas 37:471–482
Wünnemann B, Hartmann K, Janssen M, Zhang HC (2007a) Response of Chinese desert lakes to climate instability during the past 45,000 years. In: Madsen DB, Chen FH, Gao X (eds) Late Quaternary Climate Change and Human Adaptation in Arid China, Dev Quat Sci 9:11-24
Wünnemann B, Hartmann K, Altmann M, Hambach U, Pachur HJ, Zhang HC (2007b) Interglacial and glacial fingerprints from lake deposits in the Gobi desert NW China. In: Rirocko F, Claussen M, Sánchez Goñi MF, Litt T (eds) The Climate of Past Interglacials. Dev Quat Sci 7: 323-350
Yang LQ, Zhang HC, Lei YB, Lei GL, Zhang WX, Chang FQ, Pang YZ (2009) Compositions of the organic matter and carbonate in Xiaohushan section from Ejina Basin, Western Inner Mongolia, China and their paleoenvironmental significance. Quat Sci 23:557–564 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang HC, Wünnemann B (1997) Preliminary study on the chronology of lacustrine deposits and determination of high paleolake level in Tengger Desert since Late Pleistocene. J Lanzhou Univ Nat Sci 33:87–91 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang HC, Ma YZ, Li JJ, Wuennemann B (1999) The Holocene palaeoclimatic change in southern vicinity of Tengger Desert. Chin Sci Bull 44:550–556
Zhang HC, Ma YZ, Wuennemann B, Pachur HJ (2000) A Holocene climatic record from arid Northwestern China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 162:389–401
Zhang HC, Ma YZ, Wuennemann B, Pachur HJ, Li JJ, Qi Y, Chen GJ, Fang HB (2001) Abrupt climate changes during last glacial period in NW China. Geophys Res Lett 28:3203–3206
Zhang HC, Wuennemann B, Ma YZ, Pachur HJ, Li JJ, Qi Y, Chen GJ, Fang HB (2002) Lake level and climate change between 42,000 and 18,000 14C years BP in Tengger desert, NW China. Quat Res 58:62–72
Zhang HC, Peng JL, Ma YZ, Chen GJ, Feng ZD, Li B, Fan HF, Chang FQ, Lei GL, Wuennemann B (2004) Late quaternary development and levels of palaeolakes in Tengger desert, NW China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 211:41–58
Zhang HC, Lei GL, Chang FQ, Fan HF, Yang MS, Zhang WX (2007a) Age determination of shell bar section in salt lake Qarhan, Qaidam basin. Quat Sci 27:427–436 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang HC, Chang FQ, Li B, Lei GL, Chen Y, Zhang WX, Niu J, Fan HF, Yang MS (2007b) Branched aliphatic alkanes of the Late Pleistocene paleolake deposits from the Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Chin Sci Bull 52:1248–1256
Zhang HC, Chen Y, Fang HF, Yang MS, Chang FQ, Niu J, Lei GL, Zhang WX (2007c) Climate background of modern Gobicula fluminea and their stable isotopes of shells from the representative areas in continental China. Mar Geol Quat Geol 27:77–84
Zhang WX, Zhang HC, Lei GL, Yang LQ, Niu J, Chang FQ, Yang MS, Fan HF (2008a) Elemental geochemistry and paleoenvironment evolution of shell bar section at Qarhan in the Qaidam Basin. Quat Sci 28:917–928 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang HC, Fan HF, Chang FQ, Zhang WX, Lei GL, Yang MS, Lei YB, Yang LQ (2008b) AMS dating on the Shell Bar section from the Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Radiocarbon 50:255–265
Zhang HC, Wang Q, Peng JL, Chen GJ (2008c) Ostracod assemblages and their paleoenvironmental significance from Shell Bar section of paleolake Qarhan, Qaidam Basin. Quat Sci 28:103–111 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang HC, Lei GL, Chang FQ, Pu Y, Fan HF, Lei YB, Yang MS, Zhang WX, Yang LQ (2008d) Chronology of the shell bar section and a discussion on the ages of the Late Pleistocene lacustrine deposits in the paleolake Qarhan, Qaidam Basin. Front Earth Sci China 2:225–235
Zhang WX, Zhang HC, Lei GL, Yang LQ, Lei YB, Chang FQ, Pang YZ, Pu Y (2009a) The δCe-ΣREE instruction on the sedimentary facies. Quat Sci 29:789–796 (In Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang HC, Zhang WX, Chang FQ, Yang LQ, Lei GL, Yang MS, Pu Y, Lei YB (2009b) Geochemical fractionation of rare earth elements in lacustrine deposition: a case study on the Shell Bar section from Qaidam Basin. Sci China (D) 52:1703–1713
Zhang JR, Jia YL, Lai ZP, Long H, Yang LH (2011) Holocene evolution of Huangqihai Lake in semi-arid northern China based on sedimentology and luminescence dating. Holocene 21:1261–1268
Zhang JR, Jia YL, Lai ZP (2012) Luminescence chronology for late Quaternary lake levels of enclosed Huangqihai lake in East Asian monsoon marginal area in northern China. Quat Geochronol 10:123–128
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by NSFC (Grants 41030102). Special thanks to my colleagues here in China and also from the USA, Canada and Germany who read the manuscript and provided comments and suggestions that improved the paper greatly.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, H. A comment on Lai et al. (2014) concerning the origin of the Shell Bar section from the Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau: lake formation versus river channel deposit, and 14C versus OSL dates. J Paleolimnol 53, 321–334 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-014-9816-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-014-9816-0