Notice of RetractionGrain-size dependence and environment significance of trace elements of quaternary sediments, Jianghan Basin

Notice of Retraction

After careful and considered review of the content of this paper by a duly constituted expert committee, this paper has been found to be in violation of IEEE´s Publication Principles.

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Trace elements of sediments from the Jianghan Basin can be used as tracers of the Tree Gorges formation, but it is a prerequisite that grain size of sediments isn´t the major controlling factor on trace element abundance. Research on geochemistry and grain-size composition of ZL core in the Jianghan Basin shows: correlation coefficient between trace elements abundance and the fractions of sands, silts and clays is 0.30, 0.24 and 0.22, this correlation is more obvious at 3~4φ than other fractions, coefficient is 0.30 and 0.35. Consequently, grain size is not the major controlling factor. Of course, some trace elements which are active in surface earth environment maybe indicate paleo-lake development in the Jianghan Basin: Variation of Sr abundance and the V/Ni ratio and Sr/Ba ratio shows that there exists a salt water lake during 2.6 ~ 2.43 Ma B.P. and a larger lake development at 2.1 Ma B.P.