The eastern flank of the Caspian Basin: Sedimentary complexes and sedimentation conditions in the Early-Middle Carboniferous

Carboniferous and Lower Permian Carbonate and terrigenous rocks with the total thickness of >4000 m serve as the productive units in the Paleozoic subsalt complex at the eastern flank of the basin surrounding the northern area of the present-day Caspian Sea (hereafter, Caspian Basin in the broad sense). In recent years, several large oil and gas-condensate fields were discovered in these rocks. The complexity of geological evolution of this region, which is situated at the junction between the East European Platform and the Ural orogen, as well as multiple changes of sedimentation conditions during the Middle and Late Paleozoic, are reflected in the diversity of types of terrigenous and carbonate sediments and their facies alterations. Reconstruction of these environments makes it possible to elucidate specific features of the location of reservoir rocks in vertical and horizontal sections, as well as regularities of variations in their filtration-capacitive properties.     

柴达木盆地东部上泥盆统—下石炭统沉积分异特征及其主控因素讨论

泥盆系/石炭系是广泛的不整合界面。在我国柴达木盆地东部,上泥盆统至下石炭统呈现明显的沉积分异,这种差异代表着晚泥盆世以来沉积环境巨大变迁。为探究二者之间的差异和内在联系,本次利用岩石学研究手段,通过柴达木盆地东部上泥盆统与下石炭统的岩石组合、分布及岩相对比,刻画晚泥盆世至早石炭世沉积物质空间分布特征,并结合地质背景讨论了沉积物质分布差异内在因素。结果认为,柴达木盆地东部上泥盆统与下石炭统物质特征、古地貌特征既有区别又有内在联系。尽管二者存在沉积间断,但早石炭世早期沉积物质仍呈现对前者地貌特征的继承性。受加里东末期南北向应力作用影响,晚泥盆世区内地貌开始呈现南北分异的格局,发育冲积扇-火山为特征的沉积体系。早石炭世早期地貌格局呈现更为清晰的继承性,其沉积岩石基本组分与晚泥盆世相似。但造山作用减弱使夷平作用主导,加之气候进一步湿润使其又有所不同,岩石组合自底部氧化色向上演化成灰色、灰黑色,岩相从辫状河转变为混积潮坪,并伴有小规模海侵成因泥灰岩,含生物泥灰岩夹层。早石炭世晚期更多表现为差异性大于继承性,至早石炭世晚期,夷平作用结束。受全球性大规模海侵以及全球冰雪消融、气候回暖、古亚洲洋-古特提斯洋扩张和海水向北漫至该区影响导致全面海泛。加之此时柴达木地处低纬度地区温暖气温有助于海洋生物繁盛,最终促使柴东地区大规模陆表海碳酸盐岩沉积。     

Structure of the Maikop complex of the Caspian Sea region based on seismic stratigraphic research

The paper reports on the structure of the Oligocene–Lower Miocene Maikop complex of the Caspian Sea and its margin on the basis of seismic and geological data. It is shown that the regional structure of Maikop deposits of Ciscaucasia and the Middle Caspian is characterized by large clinoform sedimentary bodies. New data on formation, structure, and occurrence of clinoforms in Maikop deposits are generalized for the researched region. Two main systems of clinoforms were defined in the Maikop complex: the single large cone located in the Middle Caspian and Eastern Ciscaucasia and the southeastern system of clinoforms located in the area of Kazakh Bay. Structural characteristics and sedimentogenesis of a clinoform formation are revealed using seismic and sequence stratigraphic methods.     

Middle–Late Paleozoic Duplex Rifting of the Barents Continental Margin and the Role Played in Formation of the East Barents Megabasin

Based on analysis and interpretation of seismic and other geological-geophysical data, duplex rifting is identified in the Paleozoic evolution of the South Barents Basin. Its first, pre–Late Devonian, phase was manifested on the southeastern side zone that limited the Pechora Plate structures. After a certain pause, a second, pre–Late Carboniferous phase involved the western Barents Sea region, including the slope of the Central Barents Rise and the western South Barents Basin. Thus, Late Paleozoic riftogenic structures in the western and southeastern South Barents Basin formed at different times. All this caused an asymmetric structure profile and asynchronicity of evolution of the rift system sides. In the Mesozoic, under the effect of formation of the Novaya Zemlya fold-and-thrust structure, the asymmetry of the riftogenic trough became even more contrasting.     

New data on the basement of Franz Josef Land,Arctic region

We have studied pebbles of igneous rocks from the Lower Jurassic sedimentary succession of Hall Island, Franz Josef Land. Pebbles are represented by felsic intrusive and extrusive rocks, often cataclased and greisenized. The U–Pb age of crystallization for zircons of the studied samples yielded the Latest Devonian–Early Carboniferous and Early–Middle Permian ages. In addition, the studied zircons demonstrate a broad scatter of ages, from Middle Paleozoic to Mesozoic, suggesting repeated thermal reworking and metamorphism of granites. It is shown that coeval Late Paleozoic magmatism indicates the similarity of the geological evolution of the northern Barents Sea and the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago.     

南盘江盆地石炭系沉积体系及页岩气有利区带

综合利用重点剖面实测资料、区域地质调查资料,结合公开发表的成果,讨论了南盘江盆地石炭系沉积体系类型、特征及其分布规律,基于深水沉积相带的分布,预测了南盘江盆地石炭系页岩气有利区。南盘江盆地石炭系发育三角洲—碎屑滨岸、滨海沼泽、陆源碎屑陆架、碎屑陆坡、局限海台地、开阔海台地、台地边缘、深水盆地8种沉积体系。石炭纪,马关隆起、康滇隆起、江南隆起及云开隆起为暴露剥蚀区,但陆源碎屑供应较弱,陆源碎屑沉积主要发育于石炭纪早期,整个石炭纪以内源沉积占优势。早石炭世,云开隆起周边发育陆源碎屑滨岸沉积,在江南隆起南缘发育碎屑滨岸和滨海沼泽沉积,主体为局限台地—开阔台地—孤立台地—台地边缘—深海的沉积格局。晚石炭世,隆起区和深海区均有所缩小,开阔台地范围显著扩大,隆起周缘主要发育局限台地。南丹—河池、罗甸西、柳城—鹿寨—平乐地区、象州—武宣—桂平等地区上古生界出露地表,石炭系埋藏浅,且以深海沉积为主,是寻找石炭系页岩气最为有利的地区。     

Episodes of development of some major structural elements of Eurasia in connection with distribution of oil-gas provinces (basins) and their resources

The area of Eurasia and the shelves of the marginal and internal seas have been sufficiently investigated by geological, geophysical, and drilling means to formulate a number of regional conclusions about the association between various types of tectonic structures and distribution of the petroliferous provinces (basins). This problem has been considered against the background of platforms of different age, the ancient pre-Riphean (East European and Siberian) and the epi-Paleozoic types (West Siberian and West European, and also the South Caspian intrageosynclinal basin). There are significant differences in their geological evolution, which exerted a direct effect on the distribution of the petroliferous complexes. Within the Siberian Platform, the fundamental stages in downwarping were associated with the deposition of Vendian and lower Paleozoic sediments. The principal stages in the formation of the sedimentary cover of the East European Platform were associated with the Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian periods.

For all types of structural zones under consideration, an association has heen established between distribution of oil and gas reserves and episodes of development of major structural elements. They define the overall stratigraphic range of the petroleum occurrences within the young and old platform and the fold regions, and also the concentration of the reserves of hydrocarbons in the complexes corresponding to the principal stages of downwarping of the basins.—Authors     

The hercynian chain in Sardinia (Italy)

Abstract

A new geodynamic model for the Sardinian segment of the Hercynian chain is presented. The improvement of knowledge regarding several geological, metamorphic, magmatic and geochronological aspects of the Sardinian Palaeozoic basement, mainly achieved in the last few years, allows us to propose a more complete picture of its evolution.

The occurrence of remnants of an oceanic suture along a major tectonic lineament in northern Sardinia, as well as the products of Ordovician calc-alkaline magmatism, testifies to the presence, during the Lower Paleozoic, of an ancient (Precambrian- Cambrian) oceanic domain and its consumption along an Andean- type subduction zone. The following Carboniferous continental collision caused crustal stacking with Barrovian metamorphism and southward-migrating deformation from the suture zone toward the foreland.

Early Carboniferous Culm-type facies sediments, deposited in the outermost zone of the chain, imply that continental collision took place earlier in the internal zone, from Late Devonian or Early Carboniferous.

The collisional orogenic wedge experienced ductile extension during the Late Carhoniferous as a result of gravitational collapse of the thickened continental crust.

Extensional tectonism enhanced the uplift of the chain and some regions underwent tectonic denudation or LP/HT metamorphism and somewhere anatexis. The emplacement of calc-alkaline batholiths and the development of Late Carboniferous - Early Permian molasse basins occurred during extension that prolonged throughout the Permian.     

黑龙江多宝山古生代海盆闭合的岩石学证据

综合研究黑龙江多宝山地区古生代沉积地层、生物化石,通过分析侵入岩岩石地球化学及其锆石U--Pb 同位素测年资料,表明该地区早奥陶世至晚泥盆世早期为海相沉积地层,晚泥盆世晚期为海陆交互相沉积地层,早石炭世为陆相河湖沉积地层。多宝山海盆东南侧出露一套年龄为( 300 ± 3 ～ 357 ± 4) Ma 的花岗岩,其中正长、二长花岗质糜棱岩为后造山花岗岩,碱长花岗岩为造山后A 型花岗岩。表明多宝山海盆于晚泥盆世开始闭合,至早石炭世为陆相河湖沉积,晚石炭世-早二叠世为抬升剥蚀阶段。表现为多宝山地区于早石炭世开始造山,晚石炭世晚期或延至早二叠世发生造山后伸展作用。     

Middle Paleozoic basaltic and kimberlitic magmatism in the northwestern shoulder of the Vilyui Rift,Siberia: relations in space and time

A Middle Paleozoic tectonothermal event in the eastern Siberian craton was especially active in the area of the Vilyui rift, where it produced a system of rift basins filled with Devonian–Early Carboniferous volcanics and sediments, as well as long swarms of mafic dikes on the rift shoulders. Basalts occur mostly among Middle Devonian sediments and are much less spread in Early Carboniferous formations. The dolerite dikes of the Vilyui–Markha swarm in the northwestern rift border coexist with the Mirnyi and Nakyn fields of diamond-bearing kimberlites. The voluminous dikes and sills intruded before the emplacement of kimberlites. The Mir kimberlite crosscuts a dolerite sill and a dike in the Mirnyi field, while a complex dolerite dike (monzonite porphyry) cuts through the Nyurba kimberlite in the Nakyn field. Thus, the kimberlites correspond to a longer span of Middle Paleozoic basaltic magmatism. The basalts in Middle Paleozoic sediments have faunal age constraints, but the age of dolerite dikes remains uncertain. The monzonite porphyry dike in the Nyurba kimberlite has been dated by the 40Ar/39Ar method, and the obtained age must be the upper bound of the dike emplacement. The space and time relations between basaltic and kimberlitic magmatism were controlled by Devonian plume–lithosphere interaction.     

新疆北部古生代构造演化的几点认识

最近的地质调查和研究资料揭示,新疆北部古生代存在"三块两带"的构造格局,并经历了复杂的洋陆转换过程。地质、地球物理和碎屑锆石年龄结果显示,准噶尔盆地南部应存在一个至少发育前震旦系的古老陆块;初步认为东准噶尔北自额尔齐斯构造带东南的玛依鄂博地区至南部的卡拉麦里构造带南界,整体为一增生杂岩体,西准噶尔自额尔齐斯构造带南缘至谢米斯台南缘亦为一增生杂岩体。提出新疆北部加里东运动表现为准噶尔-吐哈陆块、中天山陆块群、伊犁地块等拼合形成哈萨克斯坦板块的一部分。从新疆北部泥盆系建造组合和沉积环境演变视角,探讨了早古生代形成的哈萨克板块北部洋盆从早泥盆世开始,至晚泥盆世拼合,洋盆经历了逐渐变浅直至消亡的演化过程。结合区域地质调查资料,提出南天山为一巨大的增生杂岩体,代表了哈萨克斯坦板块与塔里木板块最后增生拼合的位置,亦是古亚洲洋在中国境内最后闭合的位置,闭合的时限为早石炭末期。在以上认识的基础上,提出新疆北部晚古生代构造演化的"三块两带"基本框架:即在统一哈萨克斯坦板块形成后,自北而南依次存在西伯利亚板块、哈萨克斯坦板块、塔里木板块及其间的准噶尔洋盆和南天山洋盆。晚泥盆世哈萨克斯坦板块与西伯利亚板块完成增生拼贴;早石炭世末,塔里木板块与西伯利亚-哈萨克斯坦联合板块完成增生拼贴,古亚洲洋结束洋陆转换;晚石炭世至早二叠世,新疆北部进入后碰撞伸展至大陆裂谷演化阶段。     

新疆且末卡特里西铜锌矿地质特征及找矿标志

卡特里西铜锌矿位于塔里木陆块南缘晚古生代喀拉米兰弧沟系中,成矿与海相火山沉积作用有关,含矿地层为下石炭统托库孜达坂群基性凝灰岩层,矿体与基性凝灰岩层产出几乎一致,层控特征明显,一般呈层状、似层状、透镜状。以寻找海相火山沉积型矿床为目标,在矿区共圈出5条工业矿体,并经深部钻探,结果显示含矿层延深稳定,矿区资源储量规模有望达到中大型,深部找矿潜力突显。通过深入总结卡特里西铜锌矿的地质特征及找矿标志,为矿区下一步找矿及东昆仑地区同类型矿床的找矿工作提供参考。     

Early Carboniferous paleogeography of the northern Verkhoyansk passive margin as derived from U–Pb dating of detrital zircons: role of erosion products of the Central Asian and Taimyr–Severnaya Zemlya fold belts

The first U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from the Lower Carboniferous sandstones in the frontal part of the northern Verkhoyansk fold-and-thrust belt showed that detrital zircon age spectra for the Lower Visean (Krestyakh Formation) and the Upper Visean–Serpukhovian (Tiksi Formation) rocks are quite different. The Early Visean sandstones contain up to 95% detrital zircons of Precambrian age, while those of Late Visean–Serpukhovian age, only 55%. The shape of age distribution plots of Precambrian zircons for both samples is similar, indicating that reworking of terrigenous sediments of the Krestyakh Formation or the same sources dominated in Early Visean time (crystalline basement of the craton, eroded Meso- and Neoproterozoic sedimentary complexes, and igneous rocks of Central Taimyr) contributed significantly to the accumulation of the Late Visean–Serpukhovian deposits. In the rocks of the Tiksi Formation, 45% of detrital zircons are of Paleozoic age, while 24% are Early Paleozoic, with prevailing Cambrian and Ordovician ages. Possible provenance areas with abundant igneous rocks of this age could be the Taimyr–Severnaya Zemlya and Central Asian fold belts extending along the northern, western or southwestern margins of the Siberia. The presence of Middle–Late Devonian zircons is thought to be related to the erosion of granitoids of the Yenisei Ridge and the Altai–Sayan region. Early Carboniferous detrital zircons probably had a provenance in igneous rocks of the Taimyr–Severnaya Zemlya fold belt, on the assumption that collision between the Kara block and the northern margin of the Siberian continent had already occurred by that time. In Early Visean time, sedimentation occurred in small deltaic fans, likely along steep fault scarps that formed as a result of Middle Paleozoic (Devonian–Carboniferous) rifting. The clastic material came from small rivers that eroded the nearby area. Late Visean–Serpukhovian time was marked by a sharp increase in the amount of clastic material and by the appearance of detrital zircons coming from new provenance regions, such as fold belts extending along the northern and southwestern margins of the Siberian continent. A large river system, which was able to transport clastic material over large distances to deposit it in submarine fans on the northern Verkhoyansk passive continental margin, had already existed by that time.     

Carboniferous–Permian Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Environment of Southeastern Inner Mongolia, China: Constraints on Final Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

In this paper we discuss the timing of final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean based on the field investigations of the Carboniferous–Permian stratigraphic sequences and sedimentary environments in southeastern Inner Mongolia combined with the geology of its neighboring areas. Studies show that during the Carboniferous–Permian in the eastern segment of the Tianshan-Hinggan Orogenic System, there was a giant ENE–NE-trending littoral-neritic to continental sedimentary basin, starting in the west from Ejinqi eastwards through southeastern Inner Mongolia into Jilin and Heilongjiang. The distribution of the Lower Carboniferous in the vast area is sparse. The Late Carboniferous or Permian volcanic-sedimentary rocks always unconformably overlie the Devonian or older units. The Upper Carboniferous–Middle Permian is dominated by littoral-neritic deposits and the Upper Permian, by continental deposits. The Late Carboniferous–Permian has no trace of subduction-collision orogeny, implying the basin gradually disappeared by shrinking and shallowing. In addition, it is of interest to note that the Ondor Sum and Hegenshan ophiolitic mélanges were formed in the pre-Late Silurian and pre-Late Devonian respectively, and the Solonker ophiolitic mélange formed in the pre-Late Carboniferous. All the evidence indicates that the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean had closed before the Late Carboniferous, and most likely before the latest Devonian (Famennian).     

东天山吐哈盆地南缘古生代活动陆缘残片：中亚地区古亚洲洋板块俯冲的地质记录

本文根据对已有地质资料的综合研究，系统论述了吐哈盆地南缘古生代活动陆缘残片的时空分布、岩石组合和岩石化学特征，在此基础上对古亚洲洋构造演化进行了简要的探讨。该区活动陆缘残片由奥陶纪-志留纪（？）、泥盆纪、石炭纪火山沉积岩系和泥盆纪、石炭纪深成岩组成。这些不同时代岩浆岩的时空分布揭示出该区弧岩浆前锋带的演化具有向南逐渐迁移的特点。这些不同时代的火山岩和深成岩在岩石组合和岩石化学方面都类似于钙碱系列弧岩浆岩。它们的这些特征，结合它们的区域地质背景，使我们得出如下初步结论：它们的形成演化与以南侧康古尔塔格碰撞带中的洋壳残片为代表的古洋岩石圈板块向西伯利亚古板块之下的俯冲有关；它们很可能是出露在阿尔泰山南侧、蒙古南部和大兴安岭中部等地的类似杂岩一起构成了古亚洲洋中西伯利亚古板块活动陆缘；该活动陆缘的发育，提示出古亚洲洋板块向西伯利亚古板块之下的俯冲在奥陶纪至古炭纪期间一直在持续进行。     

新疆伊热达坂铅锌矿矿床地质特征及找矿标志

伊热达坂铅锌矿区位于塔里木微板块的塔里木北缘古生代被动陆缘带,阿尔彼什麦晚古生代前陆盆地,矿体主要赋存于上泥盆统哈孜尔布拉克组下段（D3h1）。本文主要对伊热达坂铅锌矿床地质特征进行分析和总结,初步揭示矿床的找矿标志。     

吐哈盆地及邻区早二叠世沉积特征与构造发育的耦合关系

通过对不同露头剖面和探井资料的分析,在吐哈盆地及邻区区分出三种不同类型沉积相：（1）裂谷型海相火山喷发沉积相;（2）裂谷型陆相火山喷发沉积相;（3）造山带磨拉石相;不同沉积相特征并结合构造分析认为,早二叠世在吐哈及邻区存在二种不同类型的盆地,即前陆盆地和裂谷盆地,同时,还探讨了大陆一大陆碰撞带上两种不同类型盆地的形成机理。     

RECENT STUDIES OF THE PALEOZOIC GROUP OF JAPAN

The history and research on the Paleozoic formations in Japan is summarized.

In the past the Japanese Paleozoic was dealt with as one system under the general name Chichibu Paleozoic, as the Chichibu system in the Kanto region was thought to represent all Paleozoic formations in Japan. However, since the discovery of Lower Carboniferous fossils by Ichiro Hayasaka in 1924, Upper Devonian fossils by Mitsuo Noda in 1934 and Gotlandian fossils by Yoshio Onuki in 1937, the distribution and stratigraphic sequence of the Japanese Paleozoic have become better known.

The Hida metamorphic rocks constitute the basement of Paleozoic sedimentary basins and are assigned to pre-Gotlandian age.

The Gotlandian system is found in regions of complex geologic structure. Its distribution, though sporadic, may bear an important significance in view of structural geology. It consists predominantly of fossiliferous limestone, associated with shale, slate, phyllite and tuff.

Distribution of the Devonian system is limited. It consists of sandstone, shale and slate, accompanied by tuff and limestone lenses. Conglomerate of schistose pebbles is locally found. The system may be conformable with the underlying Gotlandian system.

The carboniferous system is widely distributed, usually associated with the Permian, and consists chiefly of sandstone, shale, slate and schalstein, but is locally represented by limestone facies. The Carboniferous is generally uncomformable with the Permian, although locally it may be conformable.

The Permian system has the widest distribution, amounting to nearly 80 percent of the known Paleozoic, hence its stratigraphic succession, fossil horizons and sedimentary facies are fairly well known. However, varied names now in use for the respective series require unification. The system consists of sandstone, shale, slate, schalstein, chert, often accompanied by limestone and conglomerate. Existence of conglomerate is one of the characteristics of the Permian system, although the constituent pebbles vary regionally and further study is needed to clarify the distribution, stratigraphic position and lithology of the conglomerates.

According to Hisakatsu Yabe, the name Chichibu system should be used only for the Carboniferous and Permian and a new name Kitakami system be used to denote the Gotlandian and Devonian.

Major orogenic movements of the Japanese Paleozoic are, 1) Akiyoshi orogenesis, 2) Setamai fold, 3) Shimizu fold, 4) Kesen fold and 5) Hida orogenesis. — Reiko Fusejima     

Carboniferous subvolcanic activity on the Beara Peninsula,SW Ireland

Magmatic activity associated with the Munster Basin has been more widespread than previously reported. The Munster Basin is a substantial sedimentary basin, and towards the end of its extensional phase of development, at the beginning of the Variscan orogeny in Ireland, numerous intrusions were emplaced into consolidated Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous sediments on the Beara Peninsula. One hundred and sixty-four sills and dykes have been mapped which are subalkaline to alkaline in nature. Two separate suites have been identified. The northern suite comprises subalkaline basalts of Cod's Head and Dursey Island which are intruded into Devonian Red Beds, and the southern suite comprises alkali basalts, trachytes and phonolites which crop out along 9 km of the south coast of the Beara Peninsula and are suggested as Brigantian in age. They are intruded into Devonian Red Beds and marine Lower Carboniferous strata and are therefore later than the tholeiitic magmatism on the Iveragh peninsula to the north. The alkaline magmatism on Beara was induced by lithospheric thinning and controlled partly by pre-existing zones of weakness in the Caledonide crust and partly by fracture zones that developed parallel to the Munster Basin margin as it subsided. In contrast to the Iveragh Peninsula, the stretching factor for the Beara lithosphere was never large enough to lead to the production of tholeiitic magmas. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

北疆沙尔布尔提山地区早泥盆-早石炭世沉积相、物源演变及其意义

准噶尔西北部沙尔布尔提山地区下泥盆统到下石炭统的沉积可划分为滨海相和海岸平原相。其中下泥盆统和布克赛尔组底部的乌图布拉克亚组为滨海碎屑岩相,曼格尔亚组为滨海碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩相,芒克鲁亚组为滨海碳酸盐岩相。中泥盆统呼吉尔斯特组为海岸平原相。上泥盆统洪古勒楞组底部为海岸平原相,向中部过渡为滨海碳酸盐岩相,顶部为滨海碎屑岩相。下石炭统黑山头组为滨海碎屑岩相。下泥盆统和下石炭统的古流向总体从北向南,显示研究区以北地区为物源区,即成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台褶皱带。结合沉积相的研究成果,本区可能属成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台褶皱带以南的晚古生代陆缘区。物源演变趋势分析揭示早泥盆世成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台带中的早古生代岛弧发生隆起,为乌图布拉克亚组提供成熟度很低的碎屑物质。随着岛弧被剥蚀殆尽,中、晚泥盆世呼吉尔斯特组和洪古勒楞组沉积时转而接受岩屑型再旋回造山带的物源供应,而早石炭世的物源则为过渡型再旋回造山带区。这种物源变化反映了成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台褶皱带的建造特征和隆起过程。