西藏洞错埃达克质火山岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其构造意义

班公湖-怒江缝合带是青藏高原的主要缝合带之一,其闭合时限还存在争议,制约了班公湖-怒江特提斯洋演化历史的研究。在班公湖-怒江缝合带洞错地区新识别出一套早白垩世晚期的粗安岩,LA-ICP-MS测得其锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄为102.0±1.9Ma,岩石高SiO_2、Al_2O_3、富Na及高的Sr/Y值(25.2~42.2),贫Nb(11.1×10~(-6)~16.6×10~(-6))、Y(11.7×10~(-6)~18.3×10~(-6))和Yb(1.06×10~(-6)~1.77×10~(-6)),轻、重稀土元素分异明显,具有与埃达克质岩相似的地球化学特征,同时具有高Mg~#的特点(Mg~#=50.0~54.1)。认为洞错高Mg~#埃达克质岩很可能是残留洋壳部分熔融上升过程中交代地幔的产物,形成于板内构造环境。由此推测,洞错早白垩世晚期埃达克质岩的形成与班公湖-怒江洋盆闭合后拉萨地块与羌塘地块碰撞有关,结合区域地质资料,认为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋闭合时限应该在102Ma之前。     

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带西段去申拉组泥质硅质岩的发现及其地质意义

首次在班公湖-怒江缝合带西段去申拉组中发现了泥质硅质岩,呈2个层位产出。为探讨泥质硅质岩的沉积环境、成因及与班-怒特提斯洋西段构造演化的关系,进行岩石学和地球化学分析,结果显示,第一层位泥质硅质岩Al_2O_3/(Al_2O_3+Fe_2O_3)、Ce/Ce~?、(La/Ce)_N、V/(Ni+V)、Ce/La、Ce_(anom)、Eu_(anom)平均值分别为0.60、0.80、1.24、0.72、1.84、-0.08、0.01,第二层位泥质硅质岩相应比值平均值分别为0.65、0.83、1.16、0.77、1.97、-0.07、0.02。结合泥质硅质岩的Fe_2O_3/TiO2-Al_2O_3/(Al_2O_3+Fe_2O_3)、(La/Ce)N-Al_2O_3/(Al_2O_3+Fe_2O_3)、Hf/3-Th-Ta关系图解,表明第一、二层位泥质硅质岩形成于活动大陆边缘,沉积时水-岩界面为水体分层不强烈的厌氧环境。U-Th、Zn-Ni-Co、La-Ce、La/Yb-REE关系图解和稀土元素特征指示了第一、二层位泥质硅质岩为热水成因,热水活动与玄武岩岩浆活动有关,第二层位泥质硅质岩沉积时热水活动更强烈。去申拉组泥质硅质岩的岩石学、地球化学特征表明,狮泉河地区班-怒特提斯洋至少在早白垩世仍具有一定规模的洋盆,其闭合时间应晚于约109Ma,进一步限定了洋盆的闭合时间。     

班公湖-怒江洋形成演化新视角:兼论西藏中部古-新特提斯转换

班公湖-怒江洋的形成演化是认识班公湖-怒江成矿带成矿地质背景的关键,近几年中国地质调查局在青藏高原部署了大量1∶50000区域地质调查工作,取得了很多重要发现。对班公湖-怒江结合带两侧关键性海陆沉积地层对比研究,认为南羌塘地块与拉萨地块晚古生代-晚三叠世地层沉积特征及岩石组合基本一致,二者在班公湖-怒江中生代洋盆形成以前是一个整体,为冈瓦纳大陆北缘被动陆缘环境。班公湖-怒江洋在早中侏罗世裂解形成,至中侏罗世趋于稳定且范围最大;向北俯冲消减作用始于中晚侏罗世,晚侏罗世-早白垩世演化为残留海,早白垩世中晚期出现短暂的裂解,致使海水重新灌入;晚白垩世班公湖-怒江洋盆进入闭合后的隆升造山阶段,发生了残留盆地迁移,形成了磨拉石建造。班公湖-怒江洋类似古加勒比海(现今墨西哥湾地区)的形成机制,并与大西洋、太平洋的形成过程关系密切。对于班公湖-怒江洋的闭合和冈底斯弧的形成,本文提出了另一种可能解释,即,新特提斯洋向北俯冲下,岩浆弧逐步南迁,在弧后形成了一系列伸展性质的弧后盆地,两者组成微陆块由北向南逐渐增生形成了现今的拉萨地体,持续向北俯冲也导致了班公湖-怒江洋最终闭合。     

西藏班公湖地区侏罗纪-白垩纪沉积及古海洋盆地的演化

在西藏1∶25万喀纳幅、日土县幅地质调查图成果的基础上,重建了班公湖-怒江结合带西段3个地层区的侏罗纪-早白垩世沉积地层序列,对地层纵向、横向序列变化和沉积环境进行对比分析,指出在侏罗纪-早白垩世时,班公湖-怒江中特提斯洋盆沉积与其南、北两侧大陆边缘沉积有明显差异;中特提斯海洋盆地演化经历了早-中侏罗世深海-半深海沉积、晚侏罗世-早白垩世残余海(洋)盆地沉积和晚白垩世残余海盆消亡等3个阶段。     

西藏班戈地区侵入岩年代学和地球化学: 对班公湖-怒江洋盆演化时限的制约

详细的野外地质调查、室内锆石U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究显示,班戈地区侵入岩可以分为4期:早白垩世早期石英闪长岩和英云闪长岩(138Ma±),早白垩世中期花岗闪长岩(132~128Ma),早白垩世中晚期二云二长花岗岩(130~114Ma),晚白垩世二长花岗岩(80Ma±),从北到南各期次侵入岩具有成岩年龄逐渐变新,形成环境由岛弧环境→同碰撞造山环境→后碰撞环境演变。这一成果为确定班公湖-怒江洋盆的俯冲极性及演化时限提供了新的资料。班戈地区班公湖-怒江洋盆在中侏罗世之前已开始向南俯冲消减,这种俯冲消减活动一直持续至早白垩世中期最终闭合(130~125Ma),拉萨地体与羌塘地体开始发生碰撞作用,这种碰撞作用大约持续了20~30Myr,在晚白垩世早期进入后碰撞阶段(100~80Ma)。     

四川理塘地区二叠—三叠纪硅质岩的地球化学特征及地质意义

甘孜—理塘蛇绿混杂岩带位于西南"三江"东缘,为义敦—理塘弧盆系的重要组成部分,其内部发育大量不同时代不同类型的硅质岩。本次研究在理塘县理觉公路硅质岩夹层泥岩、泥灰岩中发现含有大量的中二叠—晚二叠世牙形石,在查日查东村附近硅质岩中采获中三叠世放射虫。通过对研究区硅质岩岩石学、地球化学特征研究,探讨硅质岩的成因类型及其沉积环境。结果表明,理塘地区硅质岩SiO_2质量分数为66.13%～85.89%, Al_2O_3质量分数为4.69%～7.85%, Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)值介于0.44～0.73之间, U/Th比值为0.10～0.19,δCe值为1.00～1.63,这些特征共同指示其为生物成因硅质岩。Al_2O_3/(Al_2O_3+Fe_2O_3)质量比为0.52～0.79, MnO/TiO_2质量比为0.05～0.27,∑REE为(49.26～165.41)×10~(–6),平均为94.37×10~(–6),(La/Yb)N比值为0.78～2.32,(La/Ce)N比值为0.72～1.26,指示其应形成于大陆边缘环境。理塘地区理觉公路和查日查东村二叠—三叠纪大陆边缘型硅质岩的厘定,不仅丰富了甘孜—理塘蛇绿混杂岩带的物质组成,也为甘孜—理塘洋盆二叠—三叠纪地质演化提供了新的证据。     

西藏自治区革吉县米多南地区欧利组厘定的古生物证据及其意义

研究区位于羌塘地块与班公湖—怒江结合带交汇处,保存有一套晚侏罗世—早白垩世海相沉积记录,是研究晚侏罗世—早白垩世班公湖—怒江特提斯洋沉积环境演化及其沉积盆地类型的理想地区。通过对岩性组合、沉积环境、古生物化石等方面进行研究,厘定出欧利组,并探讨了欧利组时代归属及沉积盆地类型。根据欧利组中发现的小光星珊瑚、轮形异通珊瑚、米契林柱剑珊瑚、安多准柱剑珊瑚等化石,确定欧利组时代为晚侏罗世。初步分析沉积环境为局限台地-潮坪沉积,局部具潮汐水道沉积,沉积相分析表明研究区晚侏罗世—早白垩世沉积盆地类型为弧后前陆盆地。     

藏北尼玛地区白垩纪岩浆岩对班公湖-怒江缝合带演化的制约

班公湖-怒江缝合带及其两侧广泛分布白垩纪岩浆岩,这些岩浆活动记录了班公湖-怒江特提斯洋俯冲至闭合以及拉萨-羌塘板块碰撞过程。为了约束该缝合带在早-晚白垩世的演化过程,本文对缝合带中段尼玛地区花岗岩进行岩相学、地球化学、锆石年代学和Hf同位素研究。尼玛北部虾别错花岗岩侵入到中生代地层中,发育石英闪长质包体。锆石U-Pb定年结果表明寄主花岗岩和包体形成于早白垩世(122Ma和121Ma)。这些锆石均具有正的ε_Hf(t)值,分别为+2.4~+7.0和+3.0~+5.1。寄主花岗岩具有高硅和高钾钙碱性特征,属于准铝质-弱过铝质系列。包体相对低硅,属于中钾钙碱性准铝质系列。寄主花岗岩和包体具有相似的微量元素分布,如均亏损Nb、Ta和Ti,富集Th、U和Pb。综合分析,虾别错寄主花岗岩和包体是壳幔熔体混合作用的产物。尼玛南部张乃错花岗岩侵入到古生代地层里。锆石U-Pb年龄为97Ma,形成于晚白垩世。锆石ε_Hf(t)值在+2.2~+6.0之间。张乃错花岗岩具有高硅特征,属于高钾钙碱性弱过铝质系列。岩体显著亏损Ba、Sr、Ti和Eu,富集Rb、Th、U和Pb等元素。该花岗岩来源于新生地壳部分熔融,并在后期经历结晶分异。结合区域地质概况,虾别错早白垩世花岗岩(和包体)形成于班公湖-怒江特提斯洋闭合过程,而张乃错晚白垩世花岗岩形成于洋盆闭合之后拉萨-羌塘板块碰撞背景。尼玛地区早-晚白垩世岩浆活动记录了班公湖-怒江缝合带从洋盆闭合到拉萨-羌塘板块挤压碰撞的演变过程。     

西藏东巧—北拉地区班公湖—怒江洋俯冲闭合及对南羌塘盆地演化的制约

应用地层对比、砂岩岩相学和碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学的方法,重建东巧—北拉地区物源转换和班公湖—怒江洋多期次俯冲及微陆块的拼合过程。研究表明：东卡错微陆块南侧的中下侏罗统希湖群下段表现为上三叠统确哈拉群的再旋回沉积,而北侧上段则开始出现来自羌塘地区的物质。这标志着北侧早侏罗世俯冲的东巧分支洋盆消亡,东卡错微陆块在中侏罗世与羌塘地块拼合开始形成初始周缘前陆盆地。接奴群的物源完全来自南羌塘地区,表明周缘前陆盆地在微陆块南侧北拉洋俯冲挤压下持续发育。晚侏罗世—早白垩世(147～141 Ma)拉萨地块和羌塘地块东西向全面碰撞,至早白垩世晚期(约120 Ma)南侧的分支洋盆北拉洋消亡代表碰撞结束。南羌塘地区受班公湖—怒江洋俯冲作用控制在早侏罗世发育由弧前—岩浆弧—弧后盆地组成的“一隆两坳”古地貌,并沉积了曲色组页岩和布曲组石灰岩。微陆块碰撞导致南羌塘盆地的隆起和海平面的下降,形成夏里组含膏质泥岩的潮坪相沉积。随着拉萨地块和羌塘地块的全面碰撞,南羌塘盆地从弧相关盆地卷入前陆盆地褶皱冲断带中,发生差异埋藏和隆升剥蚀。晚侏罗世—早白垩世,南羌塘盆地曲色组烃源岩和布曲组石灰岩在构造挤压作用下发生快速埋藏,进...     

西藏革吉地区沙木罗组碎屑锆石年代学研究:物源及其对班公湖-怒江特提斯洋西段闭合时限的制约

班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆的闭合时限对理解班公湖-怒江结合带的构造演化意义重大。本文采用碎屑锆石年代学的方法,分析了班公湖-怒江结合带西段革吉地区沙木罗组下段与沙木罗组上段的物源特征及差异,为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆西段的闭合时间提供了新的证据。研究结果表明沙木罗组下段碎屑锆石年龄分布于2586±26Ma～130±1. 5Ma之间,显示出1个主峰年龄约165Ma,1个次峰年龄约240Ma。碎屑锆石年龄分6个组别,集中在2600～2400Ma、2000～1900Ma、1000～840Ma、500～400Ma、340～200Ma和200～130Ma,分别与新太古代克拉通汇聚事件、哥伦比亚超大陆相关的构造热事件、新元古代构造热事件、冈瓦纳大陆边缘安第斯型造山作用的岩浆活动事件、龙木错-双湖结合带岩浆活动事件和班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆俯冲消减的岩浆活动事件一一对应。沙木罗组上段碎屑锆石年龄分布于2558±22Ma～101±1. 0Ma之间,显示出1个主峰年龄约107Ma,2个次峰年龄分别约226Ma、150Ma。碎屑锆石年龄集中分布于1个年龄组为122～101Ma,记录了班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆俯冲消减的岩浆活动。通过与潜在源区的年龄谱峰进行对比,沙木罗组下段物源区与南羌塘地块有良好的亲缘性,表明其沉积物物源主要为南羌塘地块,其中南羌塘岩浆弧可能为其主要贡献者。沙木罗组上段物源区与南羌塘地块和北拉萨地块均具有良好的亲缘性,其沉积物物源具有双源性,分别来源于南羌塘岩浆弧和北拉萨岩浆弧。沙木罗组下段和上段沉积物物源的差异性暗示它们形成的沉积环境和物源区不同。对比分析沙木罗组下段和上段岩石学、碎屑锆石形态学等特征,也揭示了类似的差异性。结合其他相关地质资料,认为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆在革吉地区的主体闭合时间约115～110Ma,其代表性岩浆事件为南羌塘地块和北拉萨地块的早白垩世岩浆弧,沙木罗组为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆由俯冲消减到闭合过程中的沉积产物。     

Police, politics, and the right to the city

Space and spatiality have recently been at the core of debates concerning the political possibilities of the city. The arguments advanced in this paper might be seen as an attempt to contribute to these debates through a reflection on the spatiality of (in) justice, politics, and the right to the city. The case of French urban policy, with its focus on distressed urban areas, and the `suburban problem' in France are used as examples to make arguments more concrete.     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

Influences of the unsaturated,saturated, and riparian zones on the transport of nitrate near the Merced River,California, USA

Transport and transformation of nitrate was evaluated along a 1-km groundwater transect from an almond orchard to the Merced River, California, USA, within an irrigated agricultural setting. As indicated by measurements of pore-water nitrate and modeling using the root zone water quality model, about 63% of the applied nitrogen was transported through a 6.5-m unsaturated zone. Transport times from recharge locations to the edge of a riparian zone ranged from approximately 6 months to greater than 100 years. This allowed for partial denitrification in horizons having mildly reducing conditions, and essentially no denitrification in horizons with oxidizing conditions. Transport times across a 50–100-m-wide riparian zone of less than a year to over 6 years and more strongly reducing conditions resulted in greater rates of denitrification. Isotopic measurements and concentrations of excess N₂ in water were indicative of denitrification with the highest rates below the Merced River. Discharge of water and nitrate into the river was dependent on gradients driven by irrigation or river stage. The results suggest that the assimilative capacity for nitrate of the groundwater system, and particularly the riverbed, is limiting the nitrate load to the Merced River in the study area.     

扬子北缘马元铅锌矿床闪锌矿微量元素及S-Pb-He-Ar-C同位素地球化学研究

马元铅锌矿床是近年扬子陆块北缘铅锌找矿的新突破。矿体呈层状、似层状产于碑坝隆起翼部震旦系灯影组角砾状白云岩层间构造带中,围岩蚀变很弱。矿石中硫化物以闪锌矿、方铅矿为主,中粗粒晶质结构,充填于白云岩角砾间。闪锌矿富集Cd、Ge、Ag,贫In、Tl、Se,Ga/In为6~132,Ge/In多1000,成矿温度以中-低温为主。金属硫化物ε~(34)S值相对集中,为12.9‰~19.4‰,平均为17.4‰,来自于海相硫酸盐的还原。铅同位素组成稳定,~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb为17.858~17.918:~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb为15.603~15.694;~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb为37.756~38.046,具有造山带和上地壳铅的特征,震旦系可能提供了金属成矿物质。闪锌矿中流体包裹体的~3He/~4He为0.03Ra~1.05Ra,~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar为326.1~765.1,~(38)Ar/~(36)Ar为0.183~0.204,表明成矿流体主要为地壳流体和饱和大气水(大气降水或海水)的混合。闪锌矿内流体包裹体挥发分δ~(13)C_(CH_4)值为-36.01‰~-28.80‰,δ~(13)C_(C_2H_6)值为-27.72‰~-22.44‰,δ~(13)C_(CO_2)值为-23.24‰~-9.68‰,表明有机流体参与了成矿作用。石英、方解石的H-O同位素结果表明具有海水和有机水混合的特征。可见,成矿流体具有两种流体混合的特征,一为蒸发海水与围岩反应所形成的盆地卤水,二为有机流体。推测矿区可能存在一个古油气藏,由于TSR生成一高硫气藏,为区内还原性有机流体的主要来源。当富含Pb、Zn等成矿物质的成矿流体运移至富含CH_4和H_2S的还原性流体的矿区角砾岩带时,两种流体混合,Pb、Zn等遇到H_2S发生反应而沉淀成矿,并伴生热液白云石等,形成了马元铅锌矿床。综上所述,我们认为马元矿床属MVT型铅锌矿床。     

Rb-Sr, K-Ar, H-and O-Isotope systematics of the Middle Riphean shales from the Debengda Formation, the Olenek Uplift, North Sibera

Clay subfractions (SFs) of <0.1, 0.1–0.2, 0.2–0.3, 0.3–0.6, 0.6–2 and 2–5 μm separated from Middle Riphean shales of the Debengda Formation are studied using the TEM, XRD, K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotopic methods. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions in the SFs are studied as well. The low-temperature illite-smectite is dominant mineral in all the SFs except for the coarsest ones. The XRD, chemical and isotopic data imply that two generations of authigenic illite-smectite different in age are mixed in the SFs. The illite crystallinity index decreases in parallel with size diminishing of clay particles. As compared to coarser SFs, illite of fine-grained subfractions is enriched in Al relative to Fe and Mg, contains more K, and reveals higher K/Rb and Rb/Sr ratios. The Rb-Sr age calculated by means of the leachochron (“inner isochron”) method declines gradually from 1254-1272 Ma in the coarsest SFs to 1038-1044 Ma in finest ones, while the K-Ar age decreases simultaneously from 1225–1240 to 1080 Ma. The established positive correlation of δ¹⁸O and δD values with dimensions of clay particles in the SFs seems to be also consistent with the mixing systematics. The isotopic systematics along with data on mineral composition and morphology lead to the conclusion that mixedlayer illite-smectite was formed in the Debengda shales during two periods 1211–1272 and 1038–1080 Ma ago. The first period is likely close to the deposition time of sediments and corresponds to events of burial catagenesis, whereas the second one is correlative with the regional uplift and changes in hydrological regime during the pre-Khaipakh break in sedimentation.     

Delivery of Trace Metals (Al,Fe, Mn,V, Co,Ni, Cu,Cd, Ag,Pb) from the Trinity River Watershed Towards the Ocean

The Trinity River (Texas, USA) contains in its watershed 23 different reservoir lakes, the largest one being Lake Livingston situated in the lower Trinity River watershed and two potentially polluting metroplexes, Dallas and Houston. In order to determine fluxes of nutrients and trace metals to Galveston Bay, a survey that included 24 discreet samples collected over a year and at various stages of discharge was carried out during 2000–2001. Geochemical (i.e., sorption by Fe oxyhydroxides), biological (i.e., seasonal uptake by sinking algae in Lake Livingston), and hydrological (i.e., dilution effects by increasing flow rates) controls were found to be mainly responsible for variations in dissolved trace metal concentrations rather than pollution sources. The Trinity River loads of suspended sediments and pollutant trace metals entering Galveston Bay at Anahuac were <20% of those reaching Lake Livingston, and only a few percent of the total upstream trace metal load is entering the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, during the transit through the 23 man-made lakes and an estuary, >96% of the pollutant trace metal load is lost to sediments.     

海南长塘岭矿区大坡岩体岩石学、地球化学特征及其含矿性初探

海南大坡岩体位于五指山褶皱带内,主要受昌江—琼海构造带、琼西构造带与潭爷断陷构造带控制.岩石地球化学及岩石学研究表明,大坡岩体形成于海西-印支晚期,岩性单一,主要为中细粒似斑状黑云母二长花岗岩.岩体显示为Ⅰ型花岗岩与S型花岗岩的混合,主体以地壳物质部分熔融为主,形成过程有少量地幔物质加入.元素对的比值及稀土元素配分特征说明岩体钨锡等多金属含矿性可能较差.     

贵州岑巩羊桥罗家塘杷榔动物群的发现及其后生动物早期演化的意义

岑巩县羊桥乡罗家塘杷榔组仅出露中-上部地层,岩性单一,均为青灰、灰绿色粉砂质泥、页岩.在其上部层位发现了俞氏贵州始海百合(Guizhoueocrinus yui Zhao,Parsley et Peng,2007),计有棘皮动物始海百合、腕足动物、软体动物-软舌螺、节肢动物-三叶虫等8属9种,包括了2个未定名的新种和1...     

Breakthroughs in the biodiversity, biogeography, biostratigraphy, and basin analysis of the Beaufort group

Over the past decade researchers working on the rocks of the Beaufort Group in the main Karoo Basin of South Africa have vastly increased our understanding of this important Permo-Triassic sequence. Many new fossil forms have been discovered, allowing for breakthroughs into the biodiversity, biogeography and biostratigraphy of the group. Taxonomic and phylogenetic advances are many and varied, and cover most of the vertebrate taxa, but with emphasis placed on the temnospondyl amphibians, archosauriforms and non-mammalian synapsids, in particular the anomodontia. Biostratigraphic breakthroughs have centered on the Middle Permian Eodicynodon and Tapinocephalus assemblage zones, the Late Permian Dicynodon Assemblage Zone, and the Triassic Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus assemblage zones. Correlation of these biozones with better dated sequences in Europe, Russia and China has allowed for many chronostratigraphic refinements, which are in turn vital for sequence stratigraphical analysis of the basin fill. Based on fossil data, both the lower (Ecca–Beaufort) and upper (Beaufort–Molteno) contacts of the group have been proved to be highly diachronous. The refined chronostratigraphic framework has also allowed for a better analysis of the basin evolution through time, particularly in terms of the correlation of external stimuli that affect basin sedimentation patterns.