新疆库鲁克塔格地区新元古代末期汉格尔乔克冰期成因新证据

新疆是世界上保存有完整的新元古代三大冰期的地区之一，有关新疆新元古代最末期冰期为大陆冰川早就提出，但由于证据不充分而一直受到质疑。汉格尔乔克冰碛砾岩具有典型的冰川“落石”，属于典型的冰川沉积，对其上覆的帽碳酸盐岩进行系统的碳、氧同佗素研究证明，帽碳酸盐岩具有全球新元古代冰后碳酸盐岩沉积类似的碳同位素负异常特征，特别是在帽碳酸盐岩底部发现具有典型的大气淡水成因的白云岩，证明汉格尔乔克冰期为大陆冰川。     

燕山地区下奥陶统竹叶状灰岩与中尺度涡沉积模式

20世纪中叶以来,海洋中尺度涡的发现与中大洋动力学实验(MOED)改变了此前对海洋深处海水相对平静的传统认识。由于发生中尺度涡的区域海水较深,难于观察,因此有关中尺度涡的讨论目前仅限于海洋物理及海洋生物学领域。根据燕山地区下奥陶统下部竹叶状灰岩地层单元向上变粗的沉积序列、序列内发育的变形层理、倒"V"字形裂口、岩层向下方折弯乃至断裂成藕节状等明显的重力变形和环形波痕等沉积构造,以及竹叶状砾石表面及胶结物中富含原生海绿石等特征,结合沉积动力学分析与水盆实验模拟,提出燕山地区广泛发育的竹叶状灰岩是由古海洋的中尺度涡所形成的深水碳酸盐岩沉积,并建立了竹叶状灰岩中尺度涡沉积模式。     

西天山科克苏河一带中新元古代碳酸盐岩沉积环境

新疆特克斯县科克苏河一带中—新元古代地层碳酸盐岩极为发育,但研究程度低,长期以来以群代组。通过1∶5万区调工作对本区基本层序调查和相分析,将该套地层解体。指出中—新元古代地层碳酸盐岩形成于“构造碳酸盐台地”的沉积环境,同时对角砾状灰岩的成因进行了探讨。     

西天山科克苏河一带中新元古代碳酸盐岩沉积环境

新疆特克斯县科克苏河一带中—新元古代地层碳酸盐岩极为发育,但研究程度低,长期以来以群代组。通过1∶5万区调工作对本区基本层序调查和相分析,将该套地层解体。指出中—新元古代地层碳酸盐岩形成于“构造碳酸盐台地”的沉积环境,同时对角砾状灰岩的成因进行了探讨。     

吉辽地区新元古代臼齿碳酸盐岩岩相的若干岩石学特征研究

通过研究吉辽地区新元古代地层中一种特殊的沉积构造——臼齿(简称MT)构造，揭示了它的时空分布范围、分类和含该沉积构造岩石的宏观和微观特征，并对该种构造的形成环境进行了简要讨论。吉林辽宁地区的臼齿构造主要发育在新元古代地层中，按其成因可分为原地和异地两类。其中原地MT主要分布在泥晶灰岩、粉屑泥晶灰岩、泥灰岩或泥岩中，按其形态可分为丝状，条带状和瘤状3个亚类，13种微相类型。异地MT主要发育在砂屑灰岩、钙质粉砂岩或粉砂质泥岩中。臼齿碳酸盐岩的岩石学特征指示其形成并发育于稳定克拉通浅海潮下环境，特别是中-深缓坡     

新元古代晚期盖帽碳酸盐岩的成因与“雪球地球”的终结机制

新元古代晚期约635 Ma的地球发育了到达赤道附近的冰川作用，地质记录上表现为代表寒冷气候的冰期沉积杂砾岩，直接被代表温暖环境的碳酸盐岩层（常称盖帽碳酸盐岩）覆盖。由于盖帽碳酸盐岩奇特的岩石学和地球化学特征，引起了对其成因认识的巨大争论，提出了“雪球地球”和“甲烷渗漏”等假说。“雪球地球”假设可以解释一些令人困惑的地学现象，如低纬度和低海拔冰川沉积、盖帽碳酸盐岩、碳酸盐δ13C负漂移和条带状铁矿层等，但许多科学家对此提出了质疑。最近对盖帽碳酸盐岩的δ13C分析结果（最低达-41‰）、盖帽碳酸盐岩发育的类似现代冷泉碳酸盐岩沉积组构等似乎支持“甲烷渗漏”假说。     

徐州地区新元古界贾园组臼齿构造沉积环境分析及成因探讨

臼齿构造是一种发育于中、新元古代碳酸盐岩中的具有特殊结构和时限性的沉积构造,其成因有多种解释。徐州地区新元古界贾园组风暴沉积及臼齿构造发育。本文通过野外和室内观察研究,对研究区贾园组臼齿构造形态特征及沉积环境进行分析,并探讨其形成过程。贾园组臼齿构造集中发育于古纬度20°N~34°N的潮下碳酸盐岩缓坡地带,古海洋基底在地震波作用下产生裂隙系统,元古代特殊大气成分背景下的海水中的远源风暴流渗透进入温暖的碳酸盐缓坡地带碳酸盐沉积区的裂隙系统,并在裂隙的愈合作用下与孔隙水产生化学反应产生方解石快速结晶作用,并接受后期沉积作用改造。元古代大地构造背景、古海洋、古大气的物理化学条件是控制研究区臼齿构造时空分布的主要因素。     

南乌拉尔地区中—新元古代地层序列及碳酸盐岩和碎屑岩发现臼齿构造的地质意义

中—新元古代地层在南乌拉尔海槽中极为发育,地层厚度巨大,几个阶段的构造演化和沉积特征清晰可见。新太古代和下里菲是俄罗斯重要的大型层状铁矿和菱镁矿的宿主地层,中里菲群(元古宙地层)地层厚度极大,伴随了几次沉积旋回,发育了从深海相到大陆缓坡的碳酸盐岩沉积;随着新元古代末次冰期之后,文德系发育了可全球对比的白海动物群(伊迪卡拉动物群)。笔者首次确认了南乌拉尔地区中—新元古代地层3套臼齿构造,其中巴卡尔组(Bakal)碳酸盐岩臼齿构造与碎屑岩地震液化脉互层共生,特别是大量臼齿构造也发育在大型叠层石中。从臼齿构造与碎屑岩液化脉互层的共生特征,说明发育在碳酸盐岩中臼齿构造与地震机理的液化作用有关。该3套臼齿构造与中国华北地台中—新元古代地层中发现的臼齿构造(液化脉)时代大体接近。     

前寒武纪“臼齿状构造谜”的一些认识：来自天津蓟县剖面高于庄组的信息

臼齿状构造是一种主要分布在前寒武纪非叠层石碳酸盐岩中的、特殊的“谜”一样的沉积构造,以发育一系列奇形怪状、大大小小的裂缝和裂隙为特征,这些裂缝和裂隙由等粒和均匀的微亮晶方解石充填。臼齿状构造时代分布的特殊性（新太古代至新元古代）以及分布的全球性,使其在显生宙还未发现类似的对等物。对臼齿状构造成因的不同认识使其成为“臼齿状构造谜”。天津蓟县剖面中元古界高于庄组（1600 Ma 至 1400 Ma）第3段隐晶质泥晶灰岩序列中的臼齿状构造,以其特别的沉积特征为了解“臼齿状构造谜”提供了一些有用的信息。这些特征包括：(1)臼齿状构造特别的形态学特征,(2)由微亮晶所充填的臼齿状裂缝具有明显的边界（以富集残余有机质和黄铁矿为特点）,(3)臼齿状构造的宿主岩石是不发育叠层石和纹理化构造的隐晶质泥晶灰岩,(4)与臼齿状构造常常共生的极为特别的宏观藻类化石等。因此,臼齿状构造可以解释为一种发育在席底生境中、由一系列复杂的作用过程所形成的、与微生物相关的原生沉积构造。作为前寒武纪最普遍的沉积现象,臼齿状构造为更好地理解复杂多变的前寒武纪碳酸盐岩提供了许多有意义的信息。     

中国元古代碳酸盐岩微亮晶构造及形成的沉积环境约束

微亮晶构造(Microspar,Molar-Tooth Structure,简称MT)发育于全球各稳定克拉通的中、新元古代盖层碳酸盐岩中。微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩也发育于中国大部分地区的中、新元古代地层中。全球范围的中、新元古代微亮晶构造都表现显著一致的岩石学和沉积学特征。微亮晶构造呈肠状褶皱状等复杂形态。微亮晶由5~15μm的均匀、等粒状,规则或不规则多边形方解石或白云石组成。宿主沉积岩相岩石主要含有少量陆源碎屑物质的碎屑灰岩。微亮晶构造在阴极发光(CL)和背散射(BS)显微镜下显示,每个微晶方解石个体内部发育似棱形的晶核,其外为叠置的微晶方解石晶簇,说明微亮晶构造是围绕微晶核"增生"加大的集合体。微亮晶和宿主围岩电子探针测试表明,微亮晶Ca含量38%~40%,Mg、Al、Si、P、K、Fe含量小于0.2%,基质中粘土矿物含量和Si和Al的含量较高。微亮晶宿主岩相主要砂屑、粉屑和泥屑灰岩(白云岩)与含铁含泥灰质泥页岩,垂向岩相序列表现为向上变浅、变薄,其中频繁发育冲刷、充填和硬底(hardground)与压溶构造,以及平行层理,各种规模斜层理、波状层理-水平层理、粒序层理、同沉积揉皱构造和变浅与暴露构造等,反应了微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩的形成严格受沉积环境和微沉积岩相的约束,无一例外地发育于浅潮下带-潮上带(环潮坪)环境。微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩不仅是环潮坪沉积环境的指相标志,也是全球元古代时期特殊与重要沉积岩石类型,其形成受控于全球古地理和古海洋地球化学条件与背景,是中、新元古代时期全球变化的沉积记录,有益于全球对比和元古代古地理、大地构造重建。     

Chemostratigraphy and lithological characters of Neoproterozoic cap carbonates from the Kuruktag Mountain, Xinjiang, western China

The Neoproterozoic Era includes some of the most largest ice ages in the geological history. The exact number of glaciations is unknown, though there were at least two events of global glaciation. Neoproterozoic glacial deposits in the Kuruktag Mountain, Xinjiang, western China have proven that there had occurred three discrete Neoproterozoic glaciations. Diamictite units occurred in the Bayisi, Tereeken, and Hankalchough formations, carbonate units were recognized among the diamictites and immediately overlied the Bayisi, Tereeken and Hankalchough diamictites. Carbonates at the top of the Bayisi Formation are characterized by the dolo-sility stones with negative δ13C values ranging from -4.10‰ to -8.17‰ (PDB), comparable to the Sturtian cap carbonates that overlie the Sturtian glacial deposits from other Neoproterozoic sequences. Carbonates overlying the Tereeken Formation are characterized by the pinkish cap dolostones (ca. 10 m thick) with negative δ13C values ranging from -2.58‰ to -4.77‰ (PDB), comparable to the Marinoan cap carbonates. The cap is also characterized by tepee-like structures, barite precipitates and pseudomorphous aragonite crystal fan limestones. Carbonates at the top of the Hankalchough Formation are characterized by subaerial exposure crust (vadose pisolite structure, calcareous crust structure) dolostones with negative δ13C values ranging from -4.56‰ to -11.45‰ (PDB) and the calcareous crust dolostones, implying that the Hankalchough cap carbonates differ from either the Sturtian or Marinoan cap carbonates in sedimentary environment and carbon isotopic composition. In addition, it is suggested the Hankalchough glaciation belongs to a terrestrial glaciation and it is the third largest glaciation during the Neoproterozoic period on the Tarim platform.     

Stratigraphic position and significance of carbonate rocks related to neoproterozoic glacial horizons of the Urals

Some Neoproterozoic glacial deposits of the Urals associate with cap carbonates and carbonateterrigenous members. In addition, carbonate lenses and layers are observed in glacial series. Cap carbonates are characterized by quite variable textures and structures; because of this, it is considered that they were formed under different conditions and in the course of various processes accompanying glaciations and deglaciations. Cap carbonates have a regional stratigraphic significance. Multiplicity and complex age structure of glacial events in the Neoproterozoic do not allow us to apply cap carbonates for interregional correlations and construction of the general stratigraphic scale of the Neoproterozoic without additional biostratigraphic, geochronological, and chemostratigraphic control.     

Nature, origin and classification of peritidal tepee structures and related breccias

Distinctive peritidal tepee antiform structures, buckled margins of saucer-like megapolygons are common in marine vadose fenestral and pisolitic limestones and/or dolomites of carbonate platform sequences and occur in intertidal and supratidal carbonates ranging in age from Silurian to Holocene. These megapolygons commonly form and are sometimes truncated before the deposition of the next sedimentary layer. The megapolygons result from the expansion of surface sediments by as much as 15%. The expansion is caused by the following continuously repeated sequence of processes: (1) Desiccation and thermal contraction causing small fractures; (2) phases of wetting causing enlargement of fractures; (3) phases of crystallization of calcium carbonate and other minerals causing the enlargement, fill and cementation of the fractures. Precipitation is from brines and meteoric waters; (4) hydration of minerals, thermal expansion, breaking waves and faulting may add to this disruption. The development of the tepee fabric can be traced from an initially cemented subaerial fenestral crust, exhibiting expansion and compressional structures, to a completely disrupted and brecciated sediment riddled by a labyrinth of fractures and solution cavities. These spaces are filled by numerous phases of internal marine and fresh-water cement and sediment, the latter containing penecontemporaneous or younger marine faunas. Peritidal tepees are useful tools for geologic reconstruction and provide evidence of subaerial exposure; a tropical to subtropical climate; and back-beach or back-barrier deposition. Proper identification of tepees is of economic importance, because they provide good early porosity and permeability for petroleum entrapment and a site for mineralization. Aesthetically, tepee rocks are a fine kaleidoscopic decorative stone.     

'Cap carbonates' and Neoproterozoic glacigenic successions from the Kimberley region, north-west Australia

The term ‘cap carbonate’ is commonly used to describe carbonate units associated with glacigenic deposits in Neoproterozoic successions. Attempts to use carbonate units as stratigraphic markers have been counfounded by inconsistent identification of ‘cap carbonates’ and a somewhat broad use of the term. Systematic sedimentological and geochemical analysis of carbonate rocks (mostly dolomite) associated with glacigenic deposits from the Neoproterozoic succession of the Kimberley region, north‐western Australia, shows that it is possible to characterize such units by their specific mineralogical, sedimentological, petrographic, geochemical and stratigraphic features. Hence, it is possible to differentiate true ‘cap carbonates’ from other carbonate units that are associated with glacigenic deposits. In the Kimberley successions two broad carbonate types are identified that reflect two stratigraphically distinct depositional realms. Carbonate rocks from the Egan Formation and Boonall Dolomite (the youngest carbonate units in the succession) are characterized by sedimentary components and features that are consistent with deposition on shallow platforms or shelves, analogous to Phanerozoic warm‐water carbonate platform deposits. In contrast, dolomite from the Walsh, Landrigan and Moonlight Valley Tillites preserves a suite of sedimentary and geochemical characteristics that are distinctly different from Phanerozoic‐like carbonate rocks; they are thin (ca 6 m), laterally persistent units of thinly laminated dolomicrite/dolomicrospar recording δ¹³C fluctuations from −1‰ to −5‰. These latter features are consistent with a ‘Marinoan‐style cap‐carbonate’ rock described from other Neoproterozoic successions. The similarity and broad distribution of these rocks in Australia, when considered within the context of genetic models suggesting a global oceanographic–atmospheric event, support their use as a lithostratigraphic marker horizon for the start of the Ediacaran Period at ca 635 Ma.     

U–Pb zircon age of the base of the Ediacaran System at the southern margin of the Qinling Orogen

Global abrupt climate change from Marinoan snowball Earth to greenhouse Earth, recorded as cap carbonate overlain on diamictite, had shed the first light on Cambrian bio-radiation. The most documented cap carbonate sections are typical with comprehensive δ¹³C negative values and ubiquitous sedimentary structures, such as tepee-like, sheet-crack etc., which are associated with successive glacial eustatic variation caused by isostatic rebound in shallow-water facies. Here we report a deep-water basinal cap carbonate section with strong negative δ¹³C values in the southern margin of the Qinling Orogen, Heyu, Chengkou County, Chongqing in China, which consists of massive dolostone with abundant carbonaceous laminae. However, it lacks the sedimentary structure as mentioned above and is overlain by thin-bedded silicious shales and cherts. A K-bentonite bed was discovered within the base of cap carbonates, about 0.7 m above the top of the Marinoan diamictite. Magmatic zircons that were separated from the K-bentonite bed yield a SIMS concordia U–Pb age of 634.1 ± 1.9 Ma (1σ, MSWD_CE = 0.31, Probability_CE = 1.000, n = 20). The age is in good agreement with previously reported TIMS U–Pb ages for the termination of Marinoan glaciation and provides a geochronological constraint for the Ediacaran successions in the Qinling Orogen.     

Low-latitude and multiple geomagnetic reversals in the Neoproterozoic Puga cap carbonate, Amazon craton

Palaeomagnetic study of the carbonates that ubiquitously cap glacial deposits may constrain the latitudinal extent of Neoproterozoic glaciations and the duration of the greenhouse recovery. We present the first palaeomagnetic data on the Neoproterozoic cap carbonates covering the Amazon craton, which are folded along the Paraguay Belt. Samples collected at deformed beds along the Paraguay Belt present a single‐polarity secondary magnetization acquired by the end of the Brasiliano orogeny (540–520 Ma). In the cratonic area, a dual‐polarity component was isolated in dolostones at the base of the sequence. The presence of a stratabound reversal stratigraphy along with high unblocking temperatures strongly suggest that this magnetization is primary. This result implies a low palaeolatitude (22+6/?5°) for the Amazon block just after deposition of Puga diamictites. In addition, the presence of multiple reversals across the first 20 m of the cap carbonate sequence suggests that their sedimentation must have spanned hundreds of thousands of years at least.     

A review of the origin and setting of tepees and their associated fabrics

Carbonate hardgrounds often occur at the surface of shallow subtidal to supratidal, lacustrine, and subaerial carbonate shelf sediments. These are commonly disrupted and brecciated when the surface area of these crusts increases. In the subtidal environment, megapolygons form when cementation of the matrix causes the surface area of the hardgrounds to expand. Similar megapolygons form in the supratidal, lacustrine and subaerial settings when repeated incremental fracturing and fracture fill by sediment and/or cement also causes the area of the hardgrounds to expand. The arched up antiform margins of expansion megapolygons are known as tepees. The types of tepees found in the geological record include: (1) Submarine tepees which form in shallow carbonate-saturated waters where fractured and bedded marine grainstones are bound by isopachous marine-phreatic acicular and micritic cements. The surfaces of these brecciated crusts have undergone diagenesis and are bored. Unlike tepees listed below they contain no vadose pisolites or gravity cements; (2) Peritidal and lacustrine tepees are formed of crusts characterized by fenestral. pisolitic and laminar algal fabrics. This similarity in fabric makes these tepees of different origins difficult to separate. Peritidal tepees occur where the marine phreatic lens is close to the sediment surface and the climate is tropical. They are associated with fractured and bedded tidal flat carbonates. Their fracture fills contain geopetal asymmetric travertines of marine-vadose origin and/or marine phreatic travertines and/or Terra rossa sediments. The senile form of these peritidal tepees are cut by labyrinthic dissolution cavities filled by the same material. Lacustrine tepees form in the margins of shallow salinas where periodic groundwater resurgence is common. They include groundwater tepees which form over evaporitic ‘boxwork’ carbonates, and extrusion tepees which also form where periodic groundwater resurgence occurs at the margins of shallow salinas, but the dominant sediment type is carbonate mud. These latter tepee crusts are coated and crosscut by laminated micrite; the laminae extend from the fractures downward into the underlying dolomitic micrite below the crust. Both peritidal and lacustrine tepees form where crusts experience alternating phreatic and vadose conditions, in time intervals of days to years. Cement morphologies reflect this and the crusts often contain gravitational, meniscus vadose cements as well as phreatic isopachous cement rinds. (3) Caliche tepees which are developed within soil profiles in a continental setting. They are formed by laminar crusts which contain pisolites, and fractures filled by micritic laminae, microspar, spar and Terra rossa. Most of the cements are gravitational and/or meniscoid. In ancient carbonates, when their cementation and diagenetic fabric can be interpreted, tepee structures can be used as environmental indicators. They can also be used to trace the evolution of the depositional and hydrological setting.     

皖南新元古代两次冰期事件

新元古代的冰期事件一直是地质界研究的热点之一。包括中国在内 ,世界许多地区新元古代地层中普遍发育有一至两层冰碛岩 ,有的地区甚至可以见到三层冰碛岩 ,在冰碛岩之上往往有碳酸盐岩盖层 ( Cap Carbonate)。通过对皖南休宁新元古代冰碛岩的岩石地层学 ,以及碳、氧稳定同位素化学地层学的研究 ,证实了休宁新元古代地层存在两期冰川的记录 ,并通过与国内外同时代典型地层剖面的对比 ,认为休宁蓝田剖面的两层冰碛岩可能分别相当于 Sturtian冰期和 Marinoan冰期的沉积 ,其时代分别约为 710— 73 0 Ma,5 90— 60 0 Ma     

三峡“盖帽”白云岩的碳、硫稳定同位素研究及其成因探讨

新元古代南沱组冰碛层之上的“盖帽”白云岩在全球分布广泛, 碳稳定同位素表现出强烈的负偏移, 其成因被认为与甲烷的碳源有关。通过对湖北三峡庙河地区出露的“盖帽”白云岩的野外地质构造、碳 -氧稳定同位素和重晶石夹层的硫稳定同位素特征的研究, 发现除了明显的碳稳定同位素的负偏移之外, 重晶石的硫同位素值表现出明显的正偏移, 其数值可与现代海底甲烷喷气孔附近的自生重晶石矿物的同位素组成相对比, 进而认为“盖帽”白云岩的成因是末元古代“雪球”事件之后天然气水合物的释放与全球环境突变背景下的沉积产物。该研究成果将有助于对地史时期类似地质背景下古天然气水合物背景的识别和环境效应评价。