First boganiine beetle in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Boganiidae)

Cretoboganium gei gen. et sp. nov., a new amber inclusion of the cucujoid family Boganiidae is described and figured based on a well-preserved adult from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar), some 99 million years ago. Based on the presence of a pair of pronotal callosities, Cretoboganium can be firmly placed in the extant subfamily Boganiinae, a small group currently comprising two small austral genera. Our discovery represents the first fossil record for Boganiinae. It also demonstrates another example that an apparently austral group may have its sister group occurred in today’s northern hemisphere. Together with the other fossil boganiid known from the Middle Jurassic of China, the finding suggests that Boganiidae is an ancient and relict group. Moreover, the present biogeographic distribution of Boganiinae is indicative of an earlier origin of this subfamily, which likely originated before the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent.     

First Psocodean (Psocodea,Empheriidae) from the Cretaceous Amber of New Jersey

<正>Representatives of the extinct psocid family Empheriidae are known from Eocene Baltic amber, Lowermost Eocene French amber(Oise),and Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber(Alava).We report herein the first discovery of an empheriid psocid from the Cretaceous amber of New Jersey as Jerseyempheria grimaldii gen.et sp. nov.The fossil is figured and described.The new species is distinguished from related taxa.A discussion and checklist of Empheriidae are provided.     

大同盆地中侏罗世河流沉积体系及古河型演化

通过对大同云冈出露的部分中侏罗统的沉积物特征、沉积构造特征、岩相和结构单元的研究,识别出该剖面是由下伏的曲流河沉积体系和上覆的辫状河沉积体系组成的。由此认为研究区在中侏罗世早期为曲流河沉积环境,此后开始转化为辫状河流沉积环境。河型的转化受制于流域基底差异抬升的影响,而流域气候由湿润向半干旱-干旱的转化也起了促进作用。     

A new tribe of Galerucinae leaf beetle (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from the Upper Cretaceous Taimyr amber

The new tribe Taimyralticini trib. nov., new genus Taimyraltica gen. nov. and new species Taimyraltica calcarata sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) are described from Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Taimyr amber of northern Siberia (Yantardakh locality). The new genus shares characters with genera of the tribe Alticini (small size, transverse antebasal groove on pronotum, regular punctate-striate elytra) and the Galerucini (narrow, non-swollen metafemora). A possible apomorphy of the new genus and tribe is a large and acute metatibial spur, erect and oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of tibia. This character state is unknown in recent and fossil genera of Galerucinae. Early evolution and divergence of leaf beetles are discussed, and a Jurassic and Early Cretaceous subfamily radiation is proposed. Fossil galerucines are reviewed. The oldest Phyllotreta is recorded from the lower Miocene of Izarra (Spain). Our findings show an extreme rarity of Phytophaga in Taimyr amber from Yantardakh. Absence of Phytophaga was recorded earlier at Obeschayuschiy (Santonian-Campanian of the Magadan Region) and compared with their much larger share in Khetana (north of Khabarovsk Krai); we find nearly the same differences between Taimyr amber from Yantardakh and Canadian amber. In Obeschayuschiy this appears due to the Mesophytic character of the flora. It is assumed that the Santonian amber gymnosperm forest of the Khatanga Basin had the same character.     

The first hangingfly from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Mecoptera: Bittacidae)

The Bittacidae (hangingflies) were abundant and widespread during the Mesozoic, but much of their diversity falls within the Jurassic whereas in the Cretaceous they are less common. A new bittacid, Burmobittacus jarzembowskii gen. et. sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. This new find is the first bittacid from Burmese amber and also the first Mesozoic bittacid preserved in amber. The new genus is distinguished from all known bittacids in having a long and narrow wing with Rs arising from R and forking very early (in the basal one-fourth of the wing), resulting in the stem of Rs being very short (about 1/8th of the length of Rs₁₊₂), and stems of the main branches of Rs (Rs₁₊₂ and Rs₃₊₄) being unusually long.     

New Stigmaphronidae and Megaspilidae (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea) from Canadian Cretaceous amber

Three new species within the stigmaphronid genus Tagsmiphron Engel and Grimaldi, 2009, and one new species within the megaspilid genus Conostigmus Dahlbom, 1858 are described from Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) amber originating at the Grassy Lake locality in Alberta, Canada. New taxa include Tagsmiphron spiculum sp. nov., Tagsmiphron leucki sp. nov., Tagsmiphron exitorum sp. nov., and Conostigmus cavannus sp. nov. The new Conostigmus species is a rare discovery. It is the third megaspilid species to be found in Cretaceous amber, with the two specimens described herein effectively doubling the number of known Mesozoic exemplars for the family. We provide the first comprehensive report of known Ceraphronoidea within Canadian amber, and contrast this against other Cretaceous amber assemblages, discussing the potential palaeobiogeographic and palaeoenvironmental implications of the Canadian amber assemblage.     

The aquatic and semiaquatic biota in Miocene amber from the Campo LA Granja mine (Chiapas,Mexico): Paleoenvironmental implications

Amber from the Campo La Granja mine in Chiapas, Mexico, is distinct from other sources of amber in Chiapas. Campo La Granja amber has distinct layers created by successive flows of resin with thin layers of sand on most surfaces. Aquatic and semi-aquatic arthropods are commonly found. Together these pieces of evidence suggest an estuarine environment similar to modern mangrove communities. The aquatic crustaceans are the most intriguing aspect of the biota. A large number of ostracods have been found in the amber—many with their carapaces open, suggesting that they were alive and submerged in water at the time of entombment. The only known examples of brachyuran crabs preserved in amber are found in the Campo La Granja amber. Amphipods, copepods, isopods, and tanaids are also members of the crustacean fauna preserved in amber.     

Review of the El Soplao Amber Outcrop,Early Cretaceous of Cantabria,Spain

<正>El Soplao outcrop,an Early Cretaceous amber deposit recently discovered in northern Spain (Cantabria),has been shown to be the largest site of amber with arthropod inclusions that has been found in Spain so far.Relevant data provided herein for biogeochemistry of the amber,palynology,taphonomy and arthropod bioinclusions complement those previously published.This set of data suggests at least two botanical sources for the amber of El Soplao deposit.The first(type A amber)strongly supports a source related to Cheirolepidiaceae,and the second(type B amber)shows non-specific conifer biomarkers.Comparison of molecular composition of type A amber with Frenelopsis leaves(Cheirolepidiaceae)strongly suggests a biochemical affinity and a common botanical origin.A preliminary palynological study indicates a regional high taxonomical diversity,mainly of pteridophyte spores and gymnosperm pollen grains.According to the preliminary palynological data,the region was inhabited by conifer forests adapted to a dry season under a subtropical climate.The abundant charcoalified wood associated with the amber in the same beds is evidence of paleofires that most likely promoted both the resin production and an intensive erosion of the litter,and subsequent great accumulation of amber plus plant cuticles.In addition,for the first time in the fossil record, charcoalified plant fibers as bioinclusions in amber are reported.Other relevant taphonomic data are the exceptional presence of serpulids and bryozoans on the surfaces of some amber pieces indicating both a long exposure on marine or brackish-water and a mixed assemblage of amber.Lastly,new findings of insect bioinclusions,some of them uncommon in the fossil record or showing remarkable adaptations,are reported.In conclusion,a documented scenario for the origin of the El Soplao amber outcrop is provided.     

New species of fossil oribatid mites (Acariformes,Oribatida), from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Spain

Mites are relatively common and diverse in fossiliferous ambers, but remain essentially unstudied. Here, we report on five new oribatid fossil species from Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber, including representatives of three superfamilies, and five families of the Oribatida. Hypovertex hispanicus sp. nov. and Tenuelamellarea estefaniae sp. nov. are described from amber pieces discovered in the San Just outcrop (Teruel Province). This is the first time fossil oribatid mites have been discovered in the El Soplao outcrop (Cantabria Province) and, here, we describe the following new species: Afronothrus ornosae sp. nov., Nothrus vazquezae sp. nov., and Platyliodes sellnicki sp. nov. The taxa are discussed in relation to other fossil lineages of Oribatida as well as in relation to their modern counterparts. Some of the inclusions were imaged using confocal laser scanning microscopy, demonstrating the potential of this technique for studying fossil mites in amber. A table, including all the known Mesozoic oribatid mites preserved in amber, is included.     

New Stigmaphronidae and Megaspilidae (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea) from Canadian Cretaceous amber

Three new species within the stigmaphronid genus TagsmiphronEngel and Grimaldi, 2009, and one new species within the megaspilid genus ConostigmusDahlbom, 1858 are described from Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) amber originating at the Grassy Lake locality in Alberta, Canada. New taxa include Tagsmiphron spiculum sp. nov., Tagsmiphron leucki sp. nov., Tagsmiphron exitorum sp. nov., and Conostigmus cavannus sp. nov. The new Conostigmus species is a rare discovery. It is the third megaspilid species to be found in Cretaceous amber, with the two specimens described herein effectively doubling the number of known Mesozoic exemplars for the family. We provide the first comprehensive report of known Ceraphronoidea within Canadian amber, and contrast this against other Cretaceous amber assemblages, discussing the potential palaeobiogeographic and palaeoenvironmental implications of the Canadian amber assemblage.     

Discrete lithofacies discrimination of Jurassic strata using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Data, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, USA

An investigation of the carbonate sedimentology of the Middle Jurassic strata, Bighorn Basin, North-central Wyoming, proved to be an ideal test of new spaceborne remote sensing platforms with high spatial and spectral resolution. To evaluate these new tools, it was necessary to: (i) map the occurrence of different lithofacies in at least a part of the area to establish ground truth; (ii) establish the reflectance characteristics of the different lithofacies using portable, on the ground, systems; (iii) produce maps based on spaceborne remote sensing data that discriminate between the lithological types found in the field; and, lastly, (iv) evaluate the discrimination by visiting previously unvisited areas in which these rock types are predicted to occur based upon their remote signatures. Field checking of previously unvisited outcrops demonstrated whether these remote sensing techniques allowed distinction of different lithological outcrops. This investigation determined that the new spaceborne tools could distinguish between outcrops of sparse silty oomicrites from sorted biosparites as small as 10 m by 10 m. In a study area as large as the Bighorn Basin, the ability to identify very small outcrops with a predicted lithology a priori proved to be a major advantage in maximizing field effort.     

柴达木盆地北缘侏罗系展布规律新认识

依据柴达木盆地北部冷科 1井等钻井及大煤沟剖面等露头的生物地层研究成果 ,重新建立了柴达木盆地北缘地层系统 ,并标定了地震剖面 ,追踪出了中、下侏罗统的分布范围及厚度。研究结果表明 ,早侏罗世时柴达木盆地北缘为断陷沉积 ,各次凹地层沉积最厚 ,且利于烃源岩发育 ;中侏罗世时柴达木盆地北缘为早期断陷、后期坳陷 ,烃源岩厚度及分布范围较小。这一成果 ,为确定柴达木盆地北缘主力烃源岩展布 ,开展油气地质研究及确定下步勘探方向奠定了基础     

西藏羌南坳陷中侏罗统夏里组硅化木的发现及意义

首次在羌南地区的地层中发现了硅化木化石,对硅化木的基本特征进行了描述,根据孢粉组合特征,将地层定为中侏罗统夏里组,硅化木初步定为南洋杉。同时,孢粉组合的特征反映出该区中侏罗世具干旱古气候特点。结合前人晚三叠世硅化木的发现,对羌塘盆地的性质及演化提出了新的思考。     

Frullania pinnata spec. nov. (Frullaniaceae,Porellales), a new leafy liverwort in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber from Myanmar

An inclusion in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar is described as a new fossil species in the extant liverwort genus Frullania. The name Frullania pinnata is proposed for the taxon that is characterized by entire underleaves paired with a conspicuous pinnate branching pattern, two distinctive and stable morphological features. Entire underleaves are known in several extant Frullania species but had not previously been documented in Frullania in amber. The combination of morphological characters in this new fossil species is unknown in any crown group lineage of Frullania, and may very well represent a stem lineage element of the genus. This discovery is important because it expands our understanding of the diversity of Frullaniaceae in the Burmese amber forest as well as important ramifications for the phylogenetic reconstruction of extant Frullania lineages.     

A new amber deposit from the Cretaceous (uppermost Albian-lowermost Cenomanian) of southwestern France

A Cretaceous amber deposit has recently been discovered in a quarry of Charente-Maritime (southwestern France), at Cadeuil. This paper presents the sedimentary and palaeoenvironmental settings of the uppermost Albian-lowermost Cenomanian series including the amber deposit. A preliminary analysis of the amber samples reveals diverse fossil arthropods (a few mites and at least 20 insect families within 9 orders), as well as numerous micro-organisms, mainly algae and mycelia. A myceloid colony of bacteria, a flagellate algae and four especially well preserved insects are illustrated (Diptera Dolichopodidae, Diptera Chironomidae, Hymenoptera Parasitica, and Heteroptera Tingidae). The abundance of the limnic micro-organisms is discussed in terms of bloom events. Their relative scarcity in almost all the amber pieces containing fossil arthropods is attributed to differences in the origin of resin: production along trunk and branches for amber with arthropods; production by aquatic roots for amber rich in algae. The absence of pollen and spores in amber is attributed to differences in the respective periods of resin and palynomorph production, which may be related to a seasonal climate during the Albian-Cenomanian transition in Western Europe.     

A New Subfamily of Aphids (Hemiptera,Aphidomorpha) from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese Amber with a Description of the Oldest Apterous Morphs

<正>Aphids are marked by their high polymorphism,but species reported from the Early Cretaceous are known only from alate morphs.The discovery of an apterous adult morph in Lebanese amber and a larva of the same species are very important for the understanding of both the morphological and biological evolution of this insect group at the very early stage of development.Gondvanoaphis estephani new subfamily,new genus and species of the recent aphids family Thelaxidae is described.The characters of the new genus in respect to other genera placed in Thelaxidae are reviewed.The palaeoecological and palaeogeographical data concerning Gondvanoaphis new genus are also discussed.     

Source potential of the upper Jurassic rocks of the Barents Sea petroleum basin

A preliminary assessment of the source potential of the Jurassic section was obtained using organic geochemical data on samples collected from outcrops on Franz Josef Land and Svalbard archipelagoes as well as boreholes in the Barents Sea basin. The presence of organic-rich shale units with good source potential was reported for the first time within the studied section of Early to Middle Jurassic age, along with well-documented Upper Jurassic source rocks. The study provides an assessment of regional variations in the kerogen type, hydrocarbon generation potential, and maturation of organic matter from Jurassic sediments.     

Coal resource potential of Afghanistan

abstract

Coal exploration in Afghanistan has focused exclusively on expanding the boundaries of the known Jurassic coal deposits. The systematic stratigraphic and sedimentologic studies needed to locate and characterize new prospects in other parts of the country have never been conducted. Exploration strategies are based on received wisdom formulated before tectonic theory developed, and do not incorporate current understanding of the geologic and environmental processes responsible for peat formation and burial. This analysis reassesses existing data and limited new field reconnaissance data using modern tectonic and coal geology concepts to provide a new understanding of Afghanistan’s true coal potential. Afghanistan assembled during the Phanerozoic from a minimum of 11 microcontinental fragments, 5 arc systems, 3 accretionary wedges, and 2 rift systems. An unknown number of additional Precambrian terranes with separate tectonic histories are exposed in the cores of the Phanerozoic microcontinents. All of the Phanerozoic microcontinents separated from the disintegrating Gondwanaland. Each transited equatorial latitudes prior to accreting to Asia. From a purely theoretical standpoint, peat could have accumulated on every fragment during its equatorial transit. Mississippian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Oligocene, and Pliocene coals and carbonaceous shales are known. Triassic, Jurassic, and Pliocene deposits have been mined, but only the economically important Jurassic outcrops have been studied to any detail. Graphite-rich Precambrian strata are common from the Mesoarchean to the Neoproterozoic, and a Neoproterozoic bone coal was encountered while drilling for copper near Kabul. Jurassic and potentially Triassic and Carboniferous coals may underlie a significant percentage of the North Afghan Platform. Jurassic coals are extremely gassy and are known hydrocarbon source rocks across most of Central Asia. In Afghanistan, where these coal systems are closer to the surface, they could be coalbed methane reservoir rocks.     

The first trichomyiine from Burmese Cretaceous amber (Diptera,Psychodidae, Trichomyiinae)

A new genus and species of Trichomyiinae (Axenotrichomyia boisteli) is described herein from Burmese Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber. This new taxon is characterized, illustrated, and its taxonomic position is discussed. This discovery sheds new light for the understanding of the palaeobiodiversity of this group.