广西上泥盆统肾形藻泥丘的沉积模式和成岩模式

本文从沉积学角度研究肾形藻泥丘的形成、发育及其成岩作用,对肾形藻及其有关藻类给予了初步的形态分类,指出广西含肾形藻的地层分布于贵塘组至融县组,并阐述了肾形藻地层的古地理概况;根据肾形藻的含量不同将(含)肾形藻碳酸盐岩进行了成因分类,对其岩石学特征进行了讨论。本文还探讨和分析了肾形藻、肾形藻泥丘的分布规律和环境意义,并深入系统地研究和建立了肾形藻泥丘的沉积模式和成岩模式,将广西上泥盆统肾形藻泥丘的发育过程分为4个时期,其结构分为3个亚相;并详细阐述了肾形藻泥丘成岩过程的8个阶段。指出肾形藻泥丘可能是寻找油、气的目的层。     

一个最古老的肾形藻泥丘相的首次发现及其地质意义——以滇东北地区震旦系灯影组为例

迄今为至,国内外对肾形藻的研究还很少,而且研究多集中在寒武纪泥丘相(Pratt,1984;James＆Klappa,1983;王剑等,1990)和泥盆纪泥丘相(Mountjoy＆Jull,1978;高健,1991)中,还未涉及到前寒武纪。近年来,通过对滇东北地区震旦纪灯影期中大比例尺岩相古地理研究,作者首次发现表附-肾形藻不仅发育于古生代,而且更发育于震旦纪灯影期(距今约为650Ma)。这是全球范围内发现的最古老的肾形藻生长层位。灯影期肾形藻的发育程度,包括肾形藻的含量及其功能、空间展布和分布于相剖面上的纵向厚度等,均远超过古生代的任何一个时期。一种可能的解释就是震旦纪灯影期缺乏食藻类动物,从而     

非海相白垩纪沟鞭藻生物地层学

现代沟鞭藻可以在淡水中生存,在1995年美国报道了中新世淡水多甲藻类沟鞭藻后,证实了有淡水沟鞭藻化石的存在。白垩纪非海相沟鞭藻最早发现于英格兰南部,之后在澳大利亚西南端以及中国的很多陆相沉积盆地中陆续被报道。本文在了解白垩纪非海相沟鞭藻的组合面貌和它们的地质时代以及地层对比关系的基础上,讨论淡水沟鞭藻的生物地层和古环境意义。中国白垩纪沟鞭藻组合面貌如下:早白垩世时松辽盆地的非海相沟鞭藻组合自下而上为:沙河子组和营城组的Vesperopsis-Balmula组合、登楼库组的Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)zhaodongensis组合、泉头组三、四段的Quantouendinium dictyophorum-Operculodinium组合、青山口组的Kiokansium-Tetrachacysta tuberculata组合、姚家组二、三段的Dinogymniopsis daqingensis组合、嫩江组一、二段的Cleistosphaeridium-Dinogymniopsis minor组合、嫩江组三、四段的Nenjiangella granulata-Valensiella dictyophora组合、四方台组中的Pediastrum-Aquadulcum组合和明水组中的Tetranguladinium组合。黑龙江省三江盆地的非海相沟鞭藻组合自下而上为:城子河组的Nyktericysta(Nyktericysta)puyangensis-Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)sanjiangensis组合、Oligosphaeridium-Nyktericysta-Vesperopsis组合、Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)sanjiangensis组合、Nyktericysta(Nyktericysta)puyangensis-Lecaniella proteiformis组合和Vesperopsi,(Ves-peropsis)jixianensis-Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)suibinensis组合、穆棱组的Quantouendinium cf.dictyophorum组合。黑龙江省鸡西盆地滴道组有Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)didaoensis-Lagenorhytis granorugosa非海相沟鞭藻组合。吉林省延吉盆地有铜佛寺组二段的Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)cf.zhaodongensis-Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)yanjiensis非海相沟鞭藻组合和铜佛寺组三段的Filisphaeridium-Sentusidinium非海相沟鞭藻组合;大砬子组中有零星非海相沟鞭藻出现,未能建组合。辽宁省阜新盆地阜新组产Australisphaera fragilis-Ripea sussexensis非海相沟鞭藻组合。内蒙古开鲁盆地非海相沟鞭藻共自下而上分为5个组合:九佛堂组沙海组Quantouendinium cf.microreticulata-Vesperopsis(Vesperopsis)suibinensis组合、阜新组Vesperosis(V.)sp.2-Quantouendinium cf.dictyophorum组合、姚家组Concentricystes组合、嫩江组Leiosphaeridia组合、四方台组Subtilisphaera-Pediastrum组合。内蒙古海拉尔盆地非海相沟鞭藻自下而上可分为5个组合:南屯组Protoellisodinium fibratum-Dinogymniopsis daqingensis组合、大磨拐河组一段上部至二段Versperopsis(Contrangularia)granulata-Vesperopsis(Contrangularia)reticulata组合、大磨拐河组三段Nyktericysta(Nyktericysta)reticulata组合、大磨拐河组四段Palaeoperidinium-Pareodinia组合和伊敏组一段Nyktericysta(Hailaera)hailaerensis组合。内蒙古二连盆地非海相沟鞭藻自下而上2个组合:赛汗塔拉组三段Parabohaidina-Fromea-Quantouendinium-Vesperopsis组合和哈达图组Porusphaeraerenensis组合。江苏省淮安地区泰州组有Palaeoperidinium-Laciniadinium非海相沟鞭藻组合。晚白垩世时广东省三水盆地大塱山组含两个非海相沟鞭藻组合(自下而上):Palaeostomocystis-Campenia组合和Saeptodinium-Laciniadinium组合;湖北省江汉盆地渔洋组有Saeptodinium-Laciniadinium非海相沟鞭藻组合;海南省乐东地区鹿母湾组有Laciniadinium granulatum-Granodiscusgranulatus非海相沟鞭藻组合。国外已报道的非海相沟鞭藻有英格兰Wessex-Weald盆地Weald Clay群Wessex组和Vectis组的Australisphaerafragilis-Ripea sussexensis组合;澳大利亚西南部Perth盆地Parmelia组的Fusiformacystatumida组合带。这些组合中所含沟鞭藻大多为地方性属种,能进行洲际地层对比的属种较少,因此它们的地质时代的确定有时还要依靠其他生物门类和手段。非海相沟鞭藻组合有一些共同的特征,如分异度通常都较低,但丰度可变;沟鞭藻囊孢的形态与海相的相比形态和纹饰都较简单等。一些非海相的属如Nyktericysta和Vesperopsis可视作早白垩世的标准化石,但白垩纪非海相沟鞭藻组合中的多数种都是地方性的,这些组合之间很难直接对比,也不能与海相组合作种级的对比,因此确定它们的地质时代经常需要依靠其他化石。非海相沟鞭藻组合中不同组成分子可以指示古盐度的变化,如角藻类囊孢占主导时,表示接近于淡水,而膝沟藻类囊孢占主导时,则为微咸水或半咸水。古盐度的变化可能是盆地附近海平面变化和古气候变化的结果。一些淡水和微咸水的其他藻类与沟鞭藻的共同存在,如Pediastrum,Scenedesmus和Botryococcus等,是指示古环境的证据之一。虽然非海相沟鞭藻的发现颠覆了传统认为沟鞭藻是海相的观念,但是并不意味着它们不能指示古环境,因为非海相与海相沟鞭藻组合是可以区分开来的。     

晚震旦世—寒武纪沟鞭藻存在的生物和分子地球化学证据

沟鞭藻是反映现代海洋和湖泊生态条件的单细胞生物,其最早的无可争议的化石纪录是从中三叠世(约240Ma前)开始。最近,Moldowan等(1996)在对不同地质时代海相岩石的调查中,发现在前寒武纪至泥盆纪富有机质的沉积岩石中具有丰富的三芳甲藻甾烷。Summons等(1992)也注意到甲藻甾烷出现在前寒武纪岩石抽提有机质中。而作为甲藻甾类烃(甲藻甾烷和三芳甲藻甾烷)的生物化学先质的甲藻甾醇是唯一由沟鞭藻衍生的(Volkman等,1990;1998)。这种甲藻甾烷与沟鞭藻之间的亲缘关系几乎可将其作为证明沟鞭藻存在的生物分子化石。Moldowan和Talyzina(1998)在一些已知形态特征的经过富集了的早寒武世(约520ma以前)微化石中鉴定出了一系列沟鞭藻生源的生物标志物(甲藻甾烷和4α-甲基-24-乙基胆甾烷),并认为这些微化石是古老的沟鞭藻祖先。     

鄂尔多斯盆地西南部华亭—陇县地区志丹群的介形类

华亭一陇县地区志丹群含丰富的介形类化石,计9科、29属(亚属),206种(亚种)和16未定种。其中新亚属1个,新种(亚种)162个。依据介形类化石在剖面上的垂直演化规律划分出4个不同的介形类化石组合,并就各组合的特点、地层时代、生物地理区的意义以及与国内外有关的地层进行了深入的讨论,取得了一些新的认识和结论。这不仅是志丹群研究上的一次重要进展,而且对我国陆相早白垩世介形类动物群及其地层、古地理、生物区等问题的研究都具有重要的意义。     

广西有孔虫藻核形石

一、广西有孔虫藻核形石的特征 Johnso(1946)认为Osagia是由蓝藻(多孔层)和壳层有孔虫组成的。广西有孔虫藻核形石和国外报导的Osagia的特征基本相同,笔者称之为广西Osagia,主要产于广西六寨中泥盆统泥晶灰岩中,单层厚0.5—3m左右。下伏岩层为中泥盆统泥晶灰岩,上覆岩层为中泥盆统珊瑚层孔虫礁灰岩。横向相变为中泥盆统竹节石泥岩或竹节石硅质泥岩。有孔虫藻核形石外形呈椭球状、球状、不规则状,个体大小2—15cm或更大些均有。含量20—70％,呈单体或复体不均匀地埋藏在泥晶基质中。于泥晶基质中尚可见有原地生长     

鄂尔多斯盆地西南部华亭—陇县地区志丹群的介形类

华亭—陇县地区志丹群含丰富的介形类化石,计9科、29属(亚属),206种(亚种)和16未定种。其中新亚属1个,新种(亚种)162个。依据介形类化石在剖面上的垂直演化规律划分出4个不同的介形类化石组合,并就各组合的特点、地层时代、生物地理区的意义以及与国内外有关的地层进行了深入的讨论,取得了一些新的认识和结论。这不仅是志丹群研究上的一次重要进展,而且对我国陆相早白垩世介形类动物群及其地层、古地理、生物区等问题的研究都具有重要的意义。     

南海ODP184航次1148站位渐新世沟鞭藻生物地层

大洋钻探184航次1148站位从南海当前的深海陆坡区取得了距今32.8Ma以来的沉积纪录,其中渐新世(32.8—23.8Ma)沉积包含了丰富的沟鞭藻化石,通过定量和定性结合的分析方法对沟鞭藻进行了研究。依据可指示地层时代关键种的最高产出层位和沟鞭藻组合特征,建立了1个组合带和2个亚带:Cleistosphaeridium diver-sispinosum组合带(A带)、Enneadocysta pectiniformis亚带(A-1亚带)和Cordosphaeridium gracile亚带(A-2亚带)。由Cl.diversispinosum、Co.gracile、Hystrichokolpoma pusillum和Homotryblium vallum的最高产出层位标定A带顶界,时代为渐新世;据Enneadocysta partridgei和E.pectiniformis最高产出层位划分出A-1亚带和A-2亚带;由E.partridgei,E.pectiniformis和Phthanoperidinium amoenum的生存时限可确定A-1亚带为早渐新世鲁培尔期(Rupelian);由Co.gracile,Distatodinium ellipticum,Wetzeliella articulata,W.gochtii和W.symmetrica等种的最高产出层位和分布时限可确定A-2亚带为晚渐新世夏特期(Chattian)。根据共存的沟鞭藻属种特征,新建立的化石带在不同程度上可与世界其他地区的同期沟鞭藻化石带或组合带进行对比,某些关键沟鞭藻种共存有助于确定化石带的年龄。     

西沙群岛西科1井第四纪钙藻及其生态功能

对西沙群岛西科1井第四纪地层中的钙藻进行了初步研究, 共鉴定钙藻3科7属, 包括红藻门珊瑚藻科让氏藻属、蟹手藻属、珊瑚藻属、石枝藻属和石孔藻属, 以及绿藻门松藻科仙掌藻属和粗枝藻科伞轴藻属.通过对地层中钙藻形态功能的分析, 西科1井第四纪早期海水较深, 沉积环境为礁前相, 中期外礁坪和内礁坪交替沉积, 至晚期出现短时间的泻湖相之后沉积环境演变为礁后滩相.西科1井第四纪钙藻在造礁功能上主要体现在2个方面: (1)通过自身的钙化作用, 为生物礁的生长供应微小碳酸盐颗粒沉积物; (2)利用自身形成的节片结构和生物捆扎-粘结结构参与造礁.      

云南西部阿冷初剖面下泥盆统牙形类生物地层

华南地区早泥盆世早—中期的地层中含有较多的碎屑岩,缺少连续的灰岩剖面及牙形类化石,因此该地区洛赫科夫阶、布拉格阶和埃姆斯阶的底界均未能以牙形类确立。滇西阿冷初剖面海相碳酸盐岩发育,具备较好的牙形类生物地层研究条件。通过对该剖面牙形类的研究,确定了志留系-泥盆系的大致界线、洛赫科夫阶-布拉格阶的界线和布拉格阶-埃姆斯阶的界线,并对剖面志留系的地层进行了初步的划分。根据现有的牙形类研究将洛赫科夫阶划分为下、中、上三部分;布拉格阶的底界以Latericriodus steinachensis eta morphotype和Pseudogondwania ethingtoni的首次出现为标志,自下而上识别出了irregularis带和kindlei-pireneae带;在华南地区首次发现了埃姆斯阶底界的标志分子Eocostapolygnathus kitabicus。据此,认为山江组下部的时代属于洛赫科夫期,中上部属于布拉格期,阿冷初组的时代为埃姆斯期,龙马溪组上部可能属文洛克统,稗子田组则为文洛克统及以上的地层。     

Cryptalgal-metazoan bioherms of early Ordovician age in the St George Group, western Newfoundland

Bioherms are common in the St George Group, a sequence of shallow-water carbonate rocks deposited on the western continental shelf of Iapetus Ocean. They range from small heads and metre-sized mounds to extensive banks and complexes many metres thick and hundreds of metres in lateral extent. The cores of these bioherms are principally composed of thrombolites (unlaminated, branching, columnar stromatolites), structures quite distinct from laminated stromatolites which are common in intertidal beds. Associated with thrombolites is a diverse fauna of burrowing invertebrates, trilobites, nautiloids, pelmatozoans, brachiopods, gastropods, rostroconchs and archaeoscyphiid sponges. On the basis of framework-building components, three main bioherm types are distinguished: (1) thrombolite mounds, (2) thrombolite-Lichenaria or -sponge mounds and (3) thrombolite-Lichenaria-Renalcis reef complexes. The framework of the last is the most complex, with abundant cavities and a demonstrably uneven growth surface of thrombolites, corals and free-standing Renalcis heads, walls and roofs. Some cavities were active sediment conduits while others were protected, their roofs draped with Renalcis and their walls coated by cryptalgal laminites. These bioherms possess the attributes of shallow-water ecologic reefs. They span a critical time gap in the development of reefs, the transition period from algal-dominated bioherms of the Precambrian and Cambrian to the metazoan-dominated bioherms of the Middle Ordovician and remaining Phanerozoic.     

湘西—黔东地区寒武系清虚洞组地层特征与铅锌成矿关系

湘西—黔东地区寒武系发育完整,是一套从黑色岩系到碳酸盐岩的沉积序列。下寒武统清虚洞组由灰岩段和白云岩段组成,纵向上构成总体向上海水变浅的沉积相序列,同时反映了缓坡型碳酸盐岩台地的发育过程。该组空间上从北西至南东可识别出潮坪相、局限台地相粉细晶云岩、台地边缘浅滩相粉细晶灰岩和台地边缘(滩)丘相微晶灰岩、浅-深缓坡相、陆棚相泥灰岩、台地前缘盆地等沉积。研究表明,地层岩性、岩相古地理对铅锌矿具有明显的控制作用,微晶丘是主要容矿层,与微生物和海底热水关系密切。铅锌成矿明显与浊流沉积和风暴沉积等事件沉积相关,浊积岩、微晶丘、砾(粒)屑灰岩构成一完整的铅锌控矿序列。     

Early Cambrian reefs, reef complexes, and associated lithofacies of the Shackleton Limestone, Transantarctic Mountains

The Shackleton Limestone formed a carbonate platform that bordered part of the Greater Antarctic craton in middle and late Early Cambrian time. In the Holyoake Range of the central Transantarctic Mountains, this unit records deposition on a stable shelf on which flourished ecological reefs composed of microorganisms and archaeocyathans. Burrow-mottled lime mudstone, wackestone and packstone with patch reefs represent accumulation in shelf areas of relatively low to moderate energy. Thick ooidal grainstone units reflect deposition in higher energy shoals and as sand sheets that were associated with extensive reef complexes. The framework of these reefs was principally the product of micro-organisms, by inference mostly cyanobacteria. Archaeocyathans constitute as much as 30% of some reefs, but commonly they form less than 10% and are absent from some. On the basis of microbial composition, three reef types are recognized. The first type is a Renalcis boundstone that lacks archaeocyathans. Within these, abundant upward-directed thalii of Renalcis formed a framework that trapped fine-grained sediment. The second type, which forms the core of some larger reefs, is composed of stromatactis-bearing, microbial boundstone. The third, yet most common, reef type is variable in composition. It is characterized by the presence of abundant Epiphyton, but may include archaeocyathans, and the microbial microfossils Girvanella and Renalcis as well as cryptomicrobial clotted micrite. In this type of reef, frame-building organisms typically constructed highly porous structures that had small interparticle and fenestral pores and large growth-framework cavities, as well as rare metre-sized caverns. Within these spaces, Epiphyton and, less commonly Renalcis, encrusted framework elements, fine-grained sediments accumulated, and pervasive sea-floor cements were precipitated. Boundstone fabrics in the Shackleton Limestone are highly complex, with fabrics analogous to younger, more metazoan-rich reefs, as well as deep-water stromatactis-bearing mud-mounds. The Epiphyton-Girvanella-archaeocyathan frameworks and stromatactis-bearing boundstones, both of which seemingly first appeared in the middle Early Cambrian, are regarded as the precursors, in structure, composition, and preferred hydrologic setting, of the more extensive reefs and complex framework styles of later Phanerozoic time.     

Sedimentological effects and palaeoecological implications of the tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega Pallas

The tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega forms intertidal mounds in association with macroalgae. This assemblage produces structures that can record tidal and seasonal cycles in the stratigraphic record. They mark low-tide levels because the assemblage occurs below neap low tide and many of the structures form when water drains off the assemblage. Mounds are created by disturbance of the sediment surface around aggregations of the assemblage and accumulation of sediments within the aggregations. The initial aggregations may be relict patches of adult worms, new clumps of juveniles or both. Juvenile worms and drift algae easily settle and survive in high-density patches, whereas predators and waves more readily disturb low-density patches. Algae and tubes extend through accumulated sediment and create a new, higher surface. Through this interactive process the high-density patches increase height rapidly while the low-density patches erode. Regardless of density, when the initial distribution is regular the surface remains flat, rising evenly or eroding evenly. Accumulation and erosion increases during spring tides and decreases during neap tides. Mound development also follows a seasonal pattern. The recruitment of juvenile worms in spring facilitates algal settlement and initiates mound buildup. The rate of tube-building and algal growth increases in early summer as the erosive forces of storms decline. This leads to the greatest development of mounds in late summer just before the macroalgae begin to die. The loss of algae coincides with autumnal storms, and causes catastrophic erosion of the mounds into relict patches of dormant tube-worms. Patches of tubes that survive the winter enhance spring recruitment and renewal of mound development. The shape of the mounds is often obscured during burial and preservation. Because of this, it may be difficult to distinguish the original form of ancient mounds without contemporaneous cementing organisms. But cycles of deposition and erosion are recorded in Lanice tubes and other biogenic structures. These structures can be used in conjunction with physical structures to define tidal height, seasonality or current regime. In general however, the presence of tube aggregations per se is not diagnostic of a specific hydraulic environment.     

Lower Cambrian patch reefs and associated sediments: southern Labrador, Canada

The complex pattern of biological accretion, internal sedimentation, early lithification, and biological destruction, that characterizes modern reefs and many fossil reefs has been recognized in archaeocyathid-rich patch reefs of Lower Cambrian age in the Forteau Formation, southern Labrador. Patch reefs occur as isolated masses or complex associations of many discrete masses of archaeocyathid-rich limestone and skeletal lime sands, surrounded by well-bedded skeletal limestones and shales. Each reef is composed of many loafshaped mounds stacked on top of one another. The limestone of each mound comprises archaeocyathids and Renalcis or Renalcis-like structures in a matrix of argillaceous lime mud rich in sponge spicules, trilobite and salterellid skeletons. Numerous growth cavities roofed by pendant Renalcis-like organisms and Renalcis are partially to completely filled with geopetal sediment indicating that much of the matrix was deposited as internal sediment. Two stages of diagenetic alteration are recognized: (1) syn-depositional, which affected only the reefs, and (2) post-depositional, which affected both reefs and inter-reef sediments. On the sea floor reef sediments were pervasively cemented and fibrous carbonate was precipitated in intraskeletal and growth cavities. These limestones and cements as well as archaeocyathid skeletons, were subsequently bored by endolithic organisms. Later post-depositional subaerial diagenesis resulted first in dissolution of certain skeletons and precipitation of calcite cement above the water table, followed by extensive precipitation of pore-filling calcite below the water table. These carbonate reefs are similar in structure to the basal pioneer accumulations of much younger lower and middle Palaeozoic reefs. They did not develop into massive ‘ecologic’ reefs because archaeocyathids never developed the necessary large, massive, hemispherical skeletons. This occurrence indicates that reefs developed more or less coincident with, and not long after, the appearance of skeletal metazoans in the Lower Cambrian.     

Microbial mounds prior to the Frasnian‐Famennian mass extinctions,Hantang, Guilin,South China

Late Frasnian mounds of the Yunghsien Formation, Guilin, South China, developed as part of the Guilin platform, mostly in reef‐flat and platform margin settings. Microbial mounds in platform margin settings at Hantang, about 10 km west of Guilin, contain Frasnian biota, such as Stachyodes and Kuangxiastraea and, thus, occur below the Frasnian‐Famennian mass extinction boundary. Platform margin facies were dominated by microbes, algae and receptaculitids. Massive corals and stromatoporoids are not common and rarely show reef‐building functions as they did in Givetian time. The margin mounds are composed of brachiopod‐receptaculitid cementstone, and a variety of boundstones that contain Rothpletzella, Renalcis, thrombolite and stromatolite. Other microbial communities include Girvanella, Izhella, Ortonella and Wetheredella. Solenoporoid algae are abundant locally. Zebra structures and neptunian dykes are well‐developed at some intervals. Pervasive early cementation played an important role in lithification of the microbial boundstones and rudstones. Frasnian reefs of many regions of the world were constructed by stromatoporoids and corals, although a shift to calcimicrobe‐dominated frameworks occurred before the Famennian. However, the exact ages of many Frasnian margin outcrops are poorly constrained owing to difficulties dating shallow carbonate facies. The Hantang mounds represent a microbe‐dominated reef‐building community with rare skeletal reef builders, consistent with major Late Devonian changes in reef composition, diversity and guild structure occurring before the end of the Frasnian. A similar transition occurred in the Canning Basin of Western Australia, but coeval successions in North America, Western Europe and the northern Urals are either less well‐known or represent different bathymetric settings. The transition in reef‐building style below the Frasnian‐Famennian boundary is documented here in the two best exposed successions on two continents, which may have been global. Set in the larger context of Late Devonian and Mississippian microbial reef‐building, the Hantang mounds help to demonstrate that controls on microbial reef communities differed from those on larger skeletal reef biota. Calcimicrobes replaced stromatoporoids as major reef builders before the Frasnian‐Famennian extinction event, and increasing stromatoporoid diversity towards the end of the Famennian did not result in a resurgence of skeletal reef frameworks. Calcimicrobes dominated margin facies through the Famennian, but declined near the Devonian‐Carboniferous boundary. Stromatolite and thrombolite facies, which occurred behind the mound margin at Hantang, rose to dominate Mississippian shallow‐water reef frameworks with only a minor resurgence of the important Frasnian calcimicrobe Renalcis in the Visean when well‐skeletonized organisms (corals) also became volumetrically significant frame builders again.     

Lower Cambrian shelf and shelf margin buildups,Flinders Ranges,South Australia1

Carbonate buildups in the Flinders Ranges of mid-Early Cambrian age grew during a period of high archaeocyath diversity and are of two types: (1) low-energy, archaeocyath-sponge-spicule mud mounds, and (2) high-energy, archaeocyath-calcimicrobe (calcified microbial microfossil) bioherms. Mud mounds are composed of red carbonate mudstone and sparse to abundant archaeocyath floatstone, have a fenestral fabric, display distinct stromatactis, contain abundant sponge spicules and form structures up to 150m wide and 80 m thick. Bioherms are either red or dark grey limestone and occur as isolated small structures 2–20 m in size surrounded by cross-bedded calcarenites and calcirudites or as complexes of mounds and carbonate sands several hundreds of metres across. Red bioherms comprise masses of white Epiphyton with scattered archaeocyaths and intervening areas of archaeocyath-rich lime mudstone. Grey bioherms are complex intergrowths of archaeocyaths, encrusting dark grey Renalcis and thick rinds of fibrous calcite cement. The bioherms were prone to synsedimentary fracturing and exhibit large irregular cavities, up to 1.5 m across, lined with fibrous calcite. The buildups are isolated or in contiguous vertical succession. Mud mounds occur alone in low-energy, frequently nodular, limestone facies. Individual bioherms and bioherm complexes occur in high-energy on-shelf and shelf-margin facies. The two types also form large-scale, shallowing-upward sequences composed of basal (deep water) mud mounds grading upward into archaeocyath-calcimicrobe bioherm complexes and bioherms in cross-bedded carbonate sands. The uppermost sequence is capped by ooid grainstone and/ or fenestral to stromatolitic mudstone. The calcimicrobe and metazoan associations form the two major biotic elements which were to dominate reefs throughout much of subsequent Phanerozoic time.     

湖北宜昌王家坪下寒武统天河板组古杯礁丘及其成岩作用

王家坪古杯礁丘是由不规则古杯和蓝绿藻Renalcis、Epiphyton、Cirvanella等组成的障积礁丘。可分为:孤立小型古杯泥丘和由丘状藻-古杯粘结岩叠置而成的点礁。以Renalcis为主的藻-古杯粘结岩与孤立小型古杯泥丘一样形成于风暴浪基面之下的低能陆架。以Epiphyton为主的藻-古杯粘结岩形成于较动荡的中-高能陆架浅滩。除造礁生物的沉积作用外,早期海底胶结作用和充填固化作用对古杯礁丘的形成亦起了十分重要的作用。     

Primary alteration—oxidation of marine algal organic matter from oil source rocks of the North Sea and Norwegian Arctic: new findings

The presence of partially oxidized algal organic matter in oil-prone marine source rocks, is the rule rather than the exception. Partially oxidized, algal kerogen can still act as a significant source of liquid hydrocarbons. However, the corresponding peak of C₁₂ + hydrocarbon generation is shifted to a considerably lower maturity level compared with that of the classical Type II kerogen. The extent of primary alteration-oxidation of marine algal kerogen is monitored by means of solid state microfluorescence spectroscopy. A new parameter, the Primary Alteration Factor (PAF) is established, and the relationships between PAF and H/C, O/C, HI, TOC and between PAF and %₀δ¹³C are determined. The present data show large variations in the bulk chemistry of immature marine algal kerogens, and reveal evidence for gradational dehydrogenation/oxidation of the source organic matter. This contrasts with the recently proposed mechanism for kerogen formation. SEM analysis reveals a relationship between the physical breakdown of algal organic matter and the formation of liptodetrinite. FTIR analysis shows that the incorporation of primary oxygen in the kerogen macromolecules is not in the form of carbonyl or carboxyl functionalities. The presence of highly unreactive, stable oxygen, associated with aromatic structures in partially oxidized algal kerogen, is suggested by resistance of the kerogen to graphitization. The FTIR data also suggest the presence of aryl ether oxygen. The present findings raise fundamental questions regarding the mechanisms of kerogen cracking and kerogen formation, and have important implications for petroleum exploration.