热液喷口生物群的研究现状

深海热液喷口生物群的研究已取得了一些进展，其研究内容主要包括两方面：一是现代热液喷口生物群的地理分布、种类划分、生态习性与食物来源及其对海底的依存性等；二是古海底热液喷口生物群化石的个体大小、化学成分、形态分布、矿化方式以及与现代海底生物群的比较。     

内蒙古热河生物群化石分布特征及其古气候、古环境意义

热河生物群是分布于亚洲东部早白垩世的著名古生物化石群,地质时代距今120~131 Ma. 早期研究认为,热河生物群主要分布于中国冀北、辽西等地区. 直到20世纪80年代内蒙古地区开展专题区域地质研究,才陆续发现了许多新的热河生物群化石分布区域和重要的化石产地. 通过对内蒙古自治区东、西部白垩纪热河生物群分布特征及地层对比研究,明确了内蒙古热河生物群分布区域、产出层位、组合差异及古气候和古环境演变规律,进一步理清了内蒙古地区白垩纪沉积古地理、古气候和古环境演变与热河生物群辐射演化的制约和协同关系.     

晚中生代地球表层重大地质事件的陆地环境剧变与生物群演替响应

晚中生代时期华北东北部发育燕辽生物群、热河生物群和阜新生物群陆地生物群。它们的快速演变过程和华北克拉通上同时期发育的岩石圈减薄、大面积强烈岩浆活动、变质核杂岩及伴随的伸展盆地等地球表层重大地质事件并行发生,表现着地壳表层系统圈层间的相互作用和响应。生物群的繁盛与灭绝与地球表层大规模岩浆-火山活动(髫髻山组—张家口组和大北沟组—义县组)发育时代高度协同一致。地球表层重大地质事件直接或间接地控制或改造着地球表层古地理和古生态环境,生物群只得调整自身去适应环境和生态背景的改变。火山-岩浆活动改变着地质-生态环境,生物群都紧密联系多期次火山-岩浆活动,化石也都被埋葬在沉积-火山碎屑岩中。华北克拉通破坏重大地质事件发生响应于全球变化和统一地球表层系统。盆地沉积充填序列、特殊陆相环境沉积建造、特殊环境沉积物等记录了响应的古地理、古环境变化与响应。陆地生物群分布、演化、更替与精确定年,脊椎-无脊椎生物(化石)埋葬特征,生物演化速率、消长关系和生物群(组合)更替的形式和性质,以及脊椎动物骨骼、牙齿的常量、微量元素、H-B-C-N-O-S和C-O-Sr等地球化学特征的研究可以恢复和重建古地理、古生态环境和古生态系统。     

云南罗平中三叠世安尼期生物群的发现及其意义

本文介绍了云南罗平地区新发现的罗平生物群的产出层位、生物面貌、保存特征、古地理位置及其研究意义。该生物群产于关岭组二段薄层泥晶灰岩中,地层对比和化石鉴定表明其时代为中三叠世安尼期,以鱼类为主,伴生有爬行类、两栖类（？）、棘皮动物、节肢动物（甲壳类、昆虫等）、双壳类、腹足类以及植物化石;化石保存完好,分布广泛,埋藏方式独特。罗平生物群无论在丰度、分异度及化石保存上都极为罕见和独特,对研究埋藏学、古生态学、古地理以及三叠纪海洋生物尤其是海生爬行类都具有极为重要的意义。     

现代大洋喷口生物的特征与远古时期的类比及其启示

现代喷口生物群的特征与其特定的构造部位、玄武岩、极端环境等紧密相关;而这种特定环境的产物,在地质时期,尤其是造山带地区也不乏出现。本文以造山带东昆仑中、新元古界海山地层序列为例,指出古喷口的地质背景是不可缺少的重要因素,它对古喷口群的识别有决定性的作用。现代喷口生物群特征研究给远古时期古喷口研究具有一系列新的启示。加强对远古时期喷口生物群研究,无论在二者研究的互动上还是对生物学、矿物学、岩石学、成矿等诸多方面都具有重要意义和启示。     

新书介绍

杨瑞东.著.2006.贵州凯里生物群藻类化石及古生态学研究.贵阳:贵州科技出版社,16开,162页,图版24页.本书是觊里生物群系列研究成果之一。全书共分九章,系统论述了贵州早、中寒武世觊里组中疑源类(微体藻类)的组合特征以及它们在中、下寒武统地层界线划分中的作用;论述了宏观藻类组合和形态特征及保存方式;探讨了宏观藻类的演化趋势及生物地理分区;介绍凯里生物群中发现的最古老的钙质珊瑚藻类化石和最古老的类似苔藓植物化石。结合凯里生物群化石埋藏特征、化石埋藏序列、沉积环境、沉积相和地球化学等综合分析,认为凯里生物群中相当一部分…     

古太平洋淮南—小达尔生物地理区的初步确认及其意义——重建新元古代Rodinia超大陆的古生物学证据

淮南生物群和小达尔生物群化石分别产于我国华北地台和北美劳伦古陆新元古代地层中。在我国华南地块、前苏联西伯利亚地台、南亚印度古陆、澳大利亚和北欧波罗的海地盾等都有发现。在今天的地理分布上 ,它们或远隔重洋 ,或处于欧亚大陆东西两端 ,然而它们为什么会有如此相同的化石组合和大体相同时代的地层层位呢 ?以前从事前寒武纪地层古生物研究的国内外学者很少探讨这一问题。近年来 ,国内外学者根据各大陆新元古代地层构造资料并参照古地磁学研究成果重建的新元古Rodinia超大陆似乎较好地回答了这一问题。笔者将淮南生物群和小达尔生物群化石在各大陆的分布同新元古超大陆Rodinia各古陆块相对位置对照研究后发现 :淮南—小达尔生物群主要分布在古太平洋海槽南北两侧 ,形成一个以淮南生物群和小达尔生物群为代表的生物地理区系。古太平洋淮南—小达尔生物地理区系的初步识别和确认 ,为重建新元古Rodinia超大陆提供了古生物学上的直接证据 ,具有地层学、大地构造学上的重要意义和实际价值     

全球早、中寒武世藻类生物地理分区初探

澄江生物群、凯里生物群、加拿大布尔吉斯生物群和西伯利亚藻群中均有丰富的藻类化石。根据前寒武纪宏观藻类的分布以及凯里生物群和布尔吉斯页岩生物群中藻类和后生动物的相似性，讨论了前寒武纪至中寒武世期间生物地理分区的控制因素。对几个生物群中的藻类化石和后生动物化石的对比研究发现,在相近的纬度范围内, 动植物化石组合特征非常相似; 而纬度明显差异时, 藻类生物群及后生动物群也具有明显的差异。由于后生生物在前寒武纪至中寒武世期间具有低的演化程度和分异能力，因此生物地理分布的主要控制因素是古纬度。而Schopf (1976)的生物地理分区模式不适合这一时期的生物地理分区。结合前寒武纪至中寒武世后生生物化石的分布情况，建立了前寒武纪-中寒武世时期的生物地理分区模式。这个模式较好地解释了分布在北美大陆和华南大陆上的寒武纪生物群相似的原因。     

华北北部侏罗—白垩过渡期陆相红层及其古地理、古生态和构造演化

中生代是地球演化史上的一个重要时期, 特别是晚中生代以来, 全球发生了众多重大的地质事件, 如Pangea古陆的裂解、大西洋的打开、华北克拉通破坏、印度与欧亚板块碰撞及青藏高原隆升等, 这些都已成为当前国际地学界研究的热点。近些年来, 华北克拉通破坏的研究获得了广泛的关注。克拉通的破坏不仅表现在巨厚岩石圈的丢失和岩石圈地幔物理化学性质的改变, 而且还对地壳表层古地理、古环境和古生态产生了重要影响。目前, 虽然大量研究表明克拉通破坏的峰期时间在130 Ma左右, 但对于130 Ma之前特别是晚侏罗世—早白垩世克拉通的构造背景及动力学机制却存在着巨大争议。此外, 华北东北部中生代发育两个重要的土著型陆地生物群: 燕辽生物群(165–152 Ma)和热河生物群(140–120 Ma), 它们以产大量保存完好的带毛恐龙、哺乳类、翼龙、鱼类和昆虫等为特征, 展现了恐龙时代特殊的陆地生态系统与生物多样性。然而, 由于侏罗-白垩过渡期地层中可用于对比研究的动植物化石匮乏, 目前对于这两个生物群之间的演替关系及其对华北克拉通侏罗—白垩过渡期古地理和古环境的响应还不太清楚。因此, 开展华北北部及邻区侏罗—白垩过渡期沉积地层和盆地的研究对探讨华北克拉通破坏、古地理、古环境和生物群演替等具有重要意义。     

川西地区中二叠统—中三叠统古生态研究

研究区内二叠系—三叠系生物化石较丰富,门类有腕足类、蜓类、珊瑚、菊石、牙形石、双壳类及有孔虫等。这些生物门类明显受沉积环境控制。对研究区内中二叠统—中三叠统的古生物化石进行了详细的分析和埋藏特征研究,根据生物化石在时间与空间上的组合特征,将研究区中二叠统—中三叠统生物群划分为17个生物群落,并论述了各群落的组成、结构和环境特征。研究表明,不同生态类型的群落其分布的地理位置有一定差异,主要体现在以下2个大的区块,即分别分布于研究区的主体区块和其边缘区块,前者以底栖固着型为特征,后者以游泳型及底栖游移型为特征。根据化石群落与沉积特征的组合情况,识别出6种类型的生物相,并总结了其生物相模式,阐述了各生物相中的生物类别、生态类型、典型群落以及对应的沉积相等特征。化石群落的划分和分析对于四川盆地二叠纪—三叠纪的古环境、古地理及其演化的研究具有一定的意义,生物相的研究对于研究区古生物地理学和古板块构造的恢复具有一定的意义。     

深海洋底热泉生态系和冷泉生物研究综述

现代海洋学、微生物学和生物学的研究表明，在深海火山活动和板块消减带所形成的地质背景下分别可能有海底热泉和冷泉的存在。在这种海底热泉和冷泉区的特殊环境中能够能海底热泉生态系的冷泉生物。它们能够依靠体内共生化学厌氧合成细菌产生营养，因而可能存在于完全缺氧的还原环境。海底热泉和冷泉生物学研究是对传统的生物学和地质学的挑战，人们还可能通过古代海底热泉和冷泉生态系的识别和分析，对涉及生命发生、生物演化、生物     

World's largest known Precambrian fossil black smoker chimneys and associated microbial vent communities, North China: Implications for early life

Black smoker chimneys and biological vent communities have been identified at many sites on the deep seafloor, particularly along oceanic spreading centers. We report the largest and oldest known, microbe-rich sub-meter-sized black smoker chimneys and mounds from a 1.43 billion-year old sulfide deposit in a continental graben in northern China. These chimneys are especially well preserved, with characteristic morphology, internal textures and internal cylindrical mineralogical zonation. Four main types of chimneys are distinguished on textural and mineralogical criteria, exhibiting either Zn–Fe-sulfide or Pb–Zn–Fe-sulfide internal cylindrical mineralogical zones. The chimneys mark vent sites in submarine grabens indicating focused flow-venting processes. The fossil chimneys have mineralogical and geological evolutionary features similar to their counterparts on the modern seafloor and other submarine hydrothermal vents. Black smoker vent fluids and seafloor tectonism played important roles for formation of the massive sulfide deposits in the Mesoproterozoic.We also report the first known, remarkably diverse assemblage of fossil microbialites from around and inside Precambrian vent chimneys, demonstrating that Proterozoic life flourished around submarine hot vents and deep within the chimney vent passages. Filamentous, spherical, rod, and coccus-shaped fossil microbes are preserved preferentially on sulfide precipitates. Based on the depth and setting of the fossil biota, the organisms that produced the microbialites were likely sulfate-reducing chemosynthetic and thermophyllic microbes. Textural and mineralogical evidence shows that biomineralization processes enhanced chimney growth and sulfide precipitation.Close association of microorganisms with sulfide chimneys in modern deep-sea hydrothermal vents and younger ophiolites has sparked speculation about whether life may have originated at similar vents. However, little is known about fossil equivalents of vent microfossils and black smoker chimneys from Earth's early evolution. The fossilized microorganisms from the Gaobanhe black smoker chimney sulfide deposits include thread-like filaments with branching and twisted forms and preserved organic carbon, representing fossilized remnants of microbial mats metabolized at high temperatures characteristic of venting fluids. The preservation of fossil microorganisms provides evidence that microbial populations were closely associated with black smoker chimneys in Earth's early history. The microbial population clearly constitutes the site for mediating mineral formation. These ancient microbial fossils lead to a much better understanding of early life on the deep seafloor. The discovery of the Mesoproterozoic microfossils within black-smoker hydrothermal chimneys indicates that hydrothermal activity around sea-floor vents supported dense microbial communities, and supports speculation that vent sites may have hosted the origin of life.     

深海热液喷口生物群落研究进展

近年来深海热液喷口生物群落的研究取得了大量的成果。通过调查发现,除温度外,环境化学参数、地理位置、喷口类型、热液活动周期、生物可利用率等因素都对深海热液喷口生物群落分布产生影响。随着实验室热液微生物的分离、培养成功,一些新的属种及其特殊的生理特征被发现。分子生物学技术的发展,使得对于深海热液生物基因测序、基因功能的研究和表达,功能基因对微生物生理功能的调控作用,动物与微生物之间的共生关系,生物对极端环境的适应机制等问题的研究都能够进行。对于目前不能进行实验室分离培养的微生物,通过基因组分析,也能够了解其群落结构。不同的深海热液喷口,其病毒的类型、分布、丰度以及病毒对热液生态系统的影响是不同的。通过这些研究,科学家探讨了热液喷口环境中生物群落的能量合成与代谢途径的相关理论,并提出了生命有可能起源于热液喷口环境的假说。     

Intracellular and extracellular mineralization of a microbial community in the Edmond deep-sea vent field environment

Microbial biomineralization in submarine hydrothermal environments provides an insight into the formation of vent microfossils and the interactions between microbes, elements and minerals throughout the geological record. Here, we investigate microbial biomineralization of a deep-sea vent community in the Edmond vent field and provide ultrastructural evidence for the formation of microfossils and biogenic iron-rich minerals related to Archaea and Bacteria. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) analysis shows that filamentous and spiral microbes are encrusted by a non-crystalline silica matrix and minor amounts of iron oxides. Examination by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals acicular iron-rich particles and aggregates that occur either intracellularly or extracellularly. A culture-independent molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrates a diverse range of Bacteria and Archaea, the majority of which are related to sulfur metabolism in the microbial mats. Both Archaea and Bacteria have undergone silicification, in a similar manner to microorganisms in some terrestrial hot springs and indicating that silicification may be driven by silica supersaturation and polymerization. Formation mechanisms of intracellular and extracellular iron oxides associated with microbes are discussed. These results enhance our understanding of microbial mineralization in extreme environments, which may be widespread in the Earth's modern and ancient hydrothermal vent fields.     

贵州遵义松林寒武系底部热液喷口及与喷口相关生物群特征

贵州遵义寒武系底部黑色页岩中含Mo、Ni、U等重金属的富集层，它们一直被认为与热水沉积作用有关。本文通过对贵州遵义松林小竹一带的寒武系底部地层的系统的岩石、矿物、地球化学研究，认为遵义松林小竹一带寒武系底部黑色页岩中富含Mo、Ni、U等重金属层属于热液（水）喷流沉积，主要依据有：①含大量的黄铁矿、针镍矿、硫钼矿及较多的锑硫镍矿、黄铜矿、闪锌矿、重晶石、石英、石膏等矿物；②具有大量的同生砾屑，砾屑成分为黑色碳质体和碎屑状黄铁矿、针镍矿、硫钼矿等矿石，它们堆积成层状结构，碎屑呈被撕裂状、棱角状、熔蚀港湾状等结构，球状、脸盆状、枕头状等构造，它们类似海底喷流沉积；③硅同位素、锶同位素、Re／Os值、Th／Sc值、Th／U值都表明有深部物质加入；④黑色岩系中夹碳酸盐岩透镜体，碳同位素具有强烈负异常特征，表明有热液作用；⑤超强富集元素Mo、As、Se、Re和T1都属于典型的气相迁移元素，而钼是典型的高温气相迁移元素，暗示了可能存在火山射气作用；而强富集的Ni、U、Au、Ag、PGE元素组合是超基性岩浆活动的产物，表明有热液活动。研究发现在热液（水）喷流沉积形成的富集Mo、Ni、U等重金属硫化物层之上，产出丰度大、分异度低、含大型海绵类、双壳类、菌藻类和少量大型蠕虫化石的生物群，它的特征与现代太平洋海底热喷口附近的生物群类似，因此认为遵义小竹一带寒武系底部生物群属于与海底热喷口相关生物群，这一新发现对研究寒武纪生态和生物爆发具有重要意义。     

Exploring the ocean for hydrothermal venting: New techniques,new discoveries,new insights

Enumerating active hydrothermal fields on the seafloor has been a challenge since their discovery almost 40 years ago. High-temperature hydrothermal fields are readily discoverable, primarily by detecting mineral-laden plumes, but low-temperature, particle-poor vent fields resist discovery. Decades of exploration for vent fields have covered, though often cursorily, about one-third of the global lengths of both oceanic spreading ridges (OSRs) and volcanic arcs, identifying some 630 active vent fields. About 80% of these fields are on OSRs, and the spatial frequency of those fields is currently estimated as ∼0.5–5/100 km, generally increasing with spreading rate. Over the last decade, however, a few detailed surveys have added sensors capable of detecting ephemeral chemical tracers (oxidation-reduction potential) in addition to standard sensors that detect quasi-conservative optical tracers (such as light backscattering). This approach has revealed a new view of the distribution of venting fields along fast-spreading (>55 mm/yr) OSRs. Studies of four such ridge sections totaling 1470 km length suggest that the present inventory of vent fields may underestimate the true global population of vent fields on fast-spreading OSRs by a factor of 3–6. This increase implies that ridge axes are unexpectedly “leaky” reservoirs, from which hydrothermal fluids escape at far more sites than presently assumed; that the supply of dissolved hydrothermal iron, which may be fertilizing the primary production of the Southern Ocean, is higher than now calculated; and that present estimates of recoverable sulfide tonnage from ridge axes may be too low. Along slow-spreading ridges, which account for 60% of the global OSR length and 86% of known sulfide tonnage, expansive axial valleys present special exploration challenges that will not be easily overcome.     

Trace elements and their distribution in sulfides from black smokers of the Broken Spur hydrothermal vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

The distribution of trace elements in sulfide minerals from the Broken Spur hydrothermal vent field (MAR) suggests the presence of nanomineral phases for some trace elements, including Au and Ag.     

Mid-Cretaceous hydrothermal vents and authigenic carbonates in a transform margin, Basque-Cantabrian Basin (western Pyrenees): a multidisciplinary study

A comprehensive study of authigenic carbonates and associated fauna in Late Albian organic‐rich, deep‐water deposits (the Black Flysch Group) reveals that carbonate precipitation was a by‐product of the anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbon‐rich hydrothermal fluids. The authigenic carbonates are exposed along the Kardala and Alkolea sea cliffs in the western Pyrenees. The two vent carbonates occur 1 km apart adjacent to the synsedimentary, right‐reverse Mutriku fault, but in contrasting structural domains: the Kardala carbonates occur on a structural ridge (hangingwall) and the Alkolea carbonates are positioned at the base of an erosional scarp (folded downward footwall). The similarity in pattern of the carbonate phases and complex paragenetic events for both vent precipitates implies that hydrothermal fluid generation processes and pore‐water evolution during early and late diagenesis were similar. Nevertheless, a comparison of the geochemistry, fossil fauna and morphology of carbonate structures of both precipitates suggests that the vented hydrocarbon type, flow intensity and temperature of hydrothermal fluids were different. At the Kardala vent, intense focused flow of hot (up to 109 °C), oil‐rich fluids were generated, allowing the development of a relatively abundant chemosynthesis‐based fauna. In contrast, at the Alkolea vent, diffuse flows of warm, thermogenic methane‐rich fluids were expelled to the sea floor and no chemosynthetic fauna developed. These differences are related to the contrasting structural setting of each locality. Similar δ¹³C_org values for both pyrobitumen‐fills and host unit organic matter suggest that the hydrocarbon source was the Black Flysch Group. Contact alteration of these organic‐rich sediments by syndepositional hydrothermal fluids generated hydrothermal petroleum (oil and gas hydrocarbons) which probably migrated updip to the sea floor by contemporary compression tectonics.     

现代海底热液过程及成矿

原始的海水成分、基岩的组分及结构、热源性质等因素决定着现代海底热液喷口系统的流体成分, 同时, 各种地质构造背景下的岩浆脱气作用也在不同程度上影响热液流体的组成.热液流体一旦喷出海底, 就能形成不同类型的热液沉积体, 包括高温流体形成的金属硫化物或硫酸盐烟囱体、热液丘以及由低温弥散流及非浮力羽流形成的含金属沉积物堆积体.高温烟囱体的形成受控于海水和热液的混合比例, 常常表现为典型的两阶段模式, 即先形成环状硬石膏表层, 然后在其内部发生富Cu硫化物的沉淀.这一模式在更大尺度上也可以观察到, 如TAG热液丘.含金属沉积物遍布海底, 除热液羽流外, 金属硫化物烟囱体在氧化环境中氧化蚀变的产物也是其重要来源.生物的活动贯穿于现代热液过程的始终, 并在烟囱体的形成、分解以及羽流的扩散沉淀过程中起到了重要作用.当前, 热液生物矿化机理、Lost City型热液场以及超慢速扩张洋脊的有关研究是海底这一系统研究的热点, 前两者研究能使人们更好地理解地球早期的演化和生命的起源, 而后者的考察和研究能进一步丰富海底热液成矿理论, 并有助于寻找更大规模的热液矿体.      

Insights to magmatic-hydrothermal processes in the Manus back-arc basin as recorded by anhydrite

Microchemical analyses of rare earth element (REE) concentrations and Sr and S isotope ratios of anhydrite are used to identify sub-seafloor processes governing the formation of hydrothermal fluids in the convergent margin Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. Samples comprise drill-core vein anhydrite and seafloor massive anhydrite from the PACMANUS (Roman Ruins, Snowcap and Fenway) and SuSu Knolls (North Su) active hydrothermal fields. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns in anhydrite show remarkable heterogeneity on the scale of individual grains, different from the near uniform REE_N patterns measured in anhydrite from mid-ocean ridge deposits. The REE_N patterns in anhydrite are correlated with REE distributions measured in hydrothermal fluids venting at the seafloor at these vent fields and are interpreted to record episodes of hydrothermal fluid formation affected by magmatic volatile degassing. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios vary dramatically within individual grains between that of contemporary seawater and that of endmember hydrothermal fluid. Anhydrite was precipitated from a highly variable mixture of the two. The intra-grain heterogeneity implies that anhydrite preserves periods of contrasting hydrothermal versus seawater dominant near-seafloor fluid circulation. Most sulfate δ³⁴S values of anhydrite cluster around that of contemporary seawater, consistent with anhydrite precipitating from hydrothermal fluid mixed with locally entrained seawater. Sulfate δ³⁴S isotope ratios in some anhydrites are, however, lighter than that of seawater, which are interpreted as recording a source of sulfate derived from magmatic SO₂ degassed from underlying felsic magmas in the Manus Basin. The range of elemental and isotopic signatures observed in anhydrite records a range of sub-seafloor processes including high-temperature hydrothermal fluid circulation, varying extents of magmatic volatile degassing, seawater entrainment and fluid mixing. The chemical and isotopic heterogeneity recorded in anhydrite at the inter- and intra-grain scale captures the dynamics of hydrothermal fluid formation and sub-seafloor circulation that is highly variable both spatially and temporally on timescales over which hydrothermal deposits are formed. Microchemical analysis of hydrothermal minerals can provide information about the temporal history of submarine hydrothermal systems that are variable over time and cannot necessarily be inferred only from the study of vent fluids.