Stratigraphic Analysis of Upper Cretaceous Rocks in the Mahajanga Basin, Northwestern Madagascar: Implications for Ancient and Modern Faunas

Upper Cretaceous strata of the Mahajanga Basin, northwestern Madagascar, yield some of the most significant and exquisitely preserved vertebrate fossils known from Gondwana. The sedimentology of these strata and their stratigraphic relations have been the focus of renewed geological investigations during the course of five expeditions since 1993. We here designate stratotypes and formalize the terrestrial Maevarano Formation, with three new members (Masorobe, Anembalemba, Miadana), and the overlying marine Berivotra Formation. The Maevarano Formation accumulated on a broad, semiarid alluvial plain bounded to the southeast by crystalline highlands and to the northwest by the Mozambique Channel. The Berivotra Formation was deposited in an open marine setting that evolved from a clastic- to a carbonate-dominated shelf, resulting in deposition of the overlying Betsiboka limestone of Danian age. New stratigraphic data clearly indicate that the Maevarano Formation correlates, at least in part, with the Maastrichtian Berivotra Formation, and this in turn indicates that the most fossiliferous portions of the Maevarano Formation are Maastrichtian in age, rather than Campanian as previously reported. This revised age for the Maevarano vertebrate assemblage indicates that it is approximately contemporaneous with the vertebrate fauna recovered from the Deccan basalt volcano-sedimentary sequence of India. The comparable age of these two faunas is significant because the faunas appear to be more similar to one another than either is to those from any other major Gondwanan landmass. The revised age of the Maevarano Formation, when considered in the light of our recent fossil discoveries, further indicates that the ancestral stocks of Madagascar's overwhelmingly endemic modern vertebrate fauna arrived on the island in post-Mesozoic times. The basal stocks of the modern vertebrate fauna are conspicuously absent in the Maevarano Formation. Finally, the revised age of the Maevarano Formation serves to expand our global perspective on the K/T event by clarifying the age of a diverse, and arguably the best preserved, sample of Gondwanan vertebrates from the terminal Cretaceous.     

Newly Discovered Fish Faunas from the Early Triassic, Karoo Basin, South Africa, and their Correlative Implications

Recent collecting in exposures of the lowermost Burgersdorp Formation (Beaufort Group), of the Karoo Basin of South Africa, has revealed a previously unknown fish fauna from the Early Triassic (Scythian), lowermost Cynognathus Assemblage Zone (CAZ), which forms an important component of the total vertebrate assemblage. The newly discovered fish material includes lungfish, saurichthyids, and a large microfauna that includes numerous isolated chondrichthyan teeth, two fin spine fragments, and actinopterygian scales and teeth. The latest fish finds, together with the lowermost Cynognathus Assemblage Zone vertebrate faunas, make this Karoo Basin Assemblage Zone one of the most diverse Early Triassic faunal assemblages, comparable in faunal diversity to those from the Czatkowice Formation (Poland) and the Arcadia Formation (Australia). The presence of the lungfish Ptychoceratodus phillipsi in the early Middle Triassic Cynognathus Assemblage Zone (Subzone B), and in the underlying latest Early Triassic Cynognathus Assemblage Zone (Subzone A), indicates that these lungfish could serve as range index fossils within the CAZ, and thus are potentially useful biostratigraphic markers across the Early-Middle Triassic boundary. Furthermore the ‘new’ fish fauna provides a vital marine realm link in particular with the faunas of Madagascar and Australia, that is unavailable using the tetrapod faunal elements of the lower CAZ.     

Correlation of the Early Permian faunas of Gondwana : Implications for the Gondwanan Carboniferous‐Permian boundary

In an attempt to elucidate their ages, the often incomplete and poorly known early Permian marine faunas and sequences of India, Tibet, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Oman are compared with those of the Perth, Carnarvon and Canning Basins of Western Australia, where faunas are documented and in sequence, and stratigraphic relationships between units are clear. This comparison indicates that the faunas discussed are Latest Asselian or younger in age, and that most of the underlying glacial beds are probably Early Permian (Asselian) in age. By implication, the Permo‐Carboniferous boundary for Gondwana is considered to lie at or near the base of Unit II/Stage 2 and equivalent palynomorph zones throughout Gondwana.     

滇西保山、泰国西部和南部及澳大利亚悉尼盆地的冈瓦纳相二叠系对比

对滇西保山地块、泰国西部和南部及澳大利亚悉尼盆地的冈瓦纳相二叠纪地层进行了对比。前两者的二叠纪地层岩性和所含生物群面貌基本可以对比 ,皆反映出由冈瓦纳相向特提斯相的转变 ,后者是典型的冈瓦纳相 ,仅早二叠世地层的岩性和所含化石与前两者相似。     

Late Olenekian Radiolarians from Bedded Chert of Ashio Terrane, Northeast Japan,and Faunal Turnovers in Western Panthalassa during Early Triassic

Late Olenekian assemblages in the western Panthalassa have been recovered from bedded radiolarian chert sequences of an accretionary complex, the Ashio belt. These faunas are documented and considered in terms of radiolarian diversity and faunal turnover during the latest Permian to Middle Triassic time. The fauna includes 30 radiolarians belonging to Spumellaria or Entactinaria, with two relicts from the Late Permian. This late Olenekian fauna is markedly different from Permian and Asisian faunas, respectively, and is herein named the Minowa fauna. Study of the literaure indicates that radiolarian provinces were significantly disconnected between the western Panthalassa and eastern Tethys during late Olenekian time. Furthermore, 121 of 143 species disappeared during late Olenekian time, and in turn 118 new species appeared in the western Panthalassa around the Olenekian-Anisian boundary. It is concluded that faunal turnover occurred at least three times between the latest Permian and Middle Triassic.The first turnover is the Poalaozoie-type radiolarian extinction at the Permain-Triassic boundary,the second is the diversification of spheroidal Spumellaria and Entactinaria between early and late Olenekian time, and the third is a faunal turnover from the Minowa fauna to the true Mesozoic-type radiolarian famas that are characterized by mulit0segmented Nassellaria.     

Dating of detrital zircon grains and fossils from Late Palaeozoic sediments of the Baruo area,Tibet: constraints on the Late Palaeozoic evolution of the Lhasa terrane

ABSTRACT

To determine the Late Palaeozoic evolution of the Lhasa terrane, we report the results of field mapping, petrological and fossil investigations, and U–Pb dating of detrital zircon grains (n = 474) from lower-greenschist-facies clastic rocks of the Lagar Formation in the Baruo area, Tibet. Our results indicate that the Lagar Formation was deposited during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian in a shallow-marine environment on the northern margin of Gondwana. Glacial marine diamictites are common within the Lagar Formation and record glaciation of Gondwana during the Late Palaeozoic. Moreover, the detrital materials of the Lagar formation originated mostly from the collision orogenic belt. The ages of detrital zircon grains from the Lagar Formation make up five main groups with ages of 410–540 Ma, 550–650 Ma, 800–1100 Ma, 1600–1800 Ma, and 2300–2500 Ma, which display three characteristic age peaks at ~1150, 2390 and 2648 Ma. We tentatively suggest that the Lhasa terrane was a shallow-marine basin under the influence of the Gondwanan glaciation during the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian.     

中国陆相上新统麻则沟阶

年代地层单位麻则沟阶是中国上新统的两个阶之一,代表陆相上上新统,1999年由第二届全国地层委员会正式命名,对应于麻则沟期。"麻则沟"一名源自同名岩石地层单位麻则沟组,典型剖面位于山西省榆社县云簇镇赵庄—大马岚。麻则沟阶对应于"国际地层表"中的皮亚琴察阶,其共同的底界定义为古地磁Chron C2An.3n的底,即高斯正极性带的底,绝对年龄为3.6 Ma,这条界线在榆社赵庄剖面位于第6层麻则沟组下部的紫红色黏土层的中部,以张洼沟姬鼠(Apodemus zhangwagouensis)的首现为标志。麻则沟期与欧洲陆生哺乳动物分期的Villa-nyian早期或Villafranchian早期相当,包含1个哺乳动物群单位,即NMU13,可与欧洲的MN16对比。在榆社盆地发现的麻则沟动物群就相当于NMU13。在中国的上新世哺乳动物群中,甘肃灵台的任家沟动物群和雷家河V带动物群、河北阳原泥河湾的稻地动物群、陕西渭南的游河动物群、山西静乐的贺丰动物群、四川德格的汪布顶动物群也相当于NMU13。河北泥河湾的花豹沟剖面是麻则沟阶的辅助层型剖面。     

A biogeographically mixed late Guadalupian (late Middle Permian) brachiopod fauna from an exotic limestone block at Xiukang in Lhaze county, Tibet

A total of 17 brachiopod species belonging to 15 genera are recorded from a limestone block of about 3×4 km² in the Indus–Tsangbo suture zone at Xiukang in Lhaze County of Tibet. The brachiopod fauna generally indicates a Late Guadalupian age (late Wordian–Capitanian, late Middle Permian) based on its association with the Timorites-bearing ammonoid fauna and the presence of the brachiopod Urushtenoidea crenulata. Palaeobiogeographically, the fauna exhibits transitional/mixed characters between the warm-water Cathaysian and cold to temperate Gondwanan faunas and may have developed on a carbonate build-up or seamount on the oceanic crust.     

天山东段地区二叠系芦草沟组沉积特征与古环境对比

天山东段地区二叠系芦草沟组的沉积时代、沉积环境和构造背景存在争议。根据芦草沟组中发现的标准化石桃树园吐鲁番鳕、托姆介介形虫和孢粉化石组合,结合沉积地层中大量碎屑锆石最年轻峰值年龄261 Ma,认为芦草沟组的沉积时代为瓜德鲁普世(中二叠世)而非乌拉尔世(早二叠世)。近年来,在芦草沟组中发现典型海相指示矿物海绿石、海相或海陆交互相托姆介介形虫,加之超高盐度咸化湖盆的证实,认为芦草沟组主体为湖相沉积,但部分沉积时段受到海侵(泛)事件影响。天山东段地区准噶尔盆地、三塘湖盆地、吐哈盆地二叠系芦草沟组具有相似的岩石组合、动物群面貌和构造特征,但不同盆地古盐度、古气候、古氧化还原条件、古水深、初级生产力及热液输入强度等具有差异,分析认为芦草沟组形成于相似的伸展裂谷构造背景,但不同盆地之间沉积特征具有差异、不具备统一的沉积中心,为一系列弥散性裂谷盆地群。     

上扬子区下志留统四射珊瑚组合带与层序地层序列的关系

摘 要　 根据动物群演替和层序地层的研究‚厘定上扬子区下志留统 （Llandovery） 四射珊瑚 组合带序列：（1） 香树园组 Dinophyllum-Rhabdocyclus 组合带‚时限为 Aeronian 期;（2） 雷家 屯组下部 Stauria-Briantelasma 组合带; （3） 雷家屯组上部 Maikottia-Kodonophyllum 组合带‚ 它们对应于 Telychian 早期;（4） 宁强组 Gyalophylloides -Idiophyllum 组合带‚相当于 Telychian 晚期。上扬子区下志留统可以划分为5个三级层序‚四射珊瑚组合带分别位于三级层序的高 水位体系域内。     

Age Assignment of the Lycoptera- bearing Bed

In the Yanliao area, the occurrence of the Nestoria-Keratestheria fauna and the Eoparacypris- Luanpingella-Darwinula assemblage in the Dabeigou Formation s.s., a Rb-Sr isochron age of 145.2 Ma for the Baiqi Formation and a complete stratigraphic sequence-all this proves that the Lycoptera-bearing bed overlies the Upper Jurassic. The Jehol fauna comprises the primitive Trigonioidids fauna, Eosestheria fauna, Lycoptera fauna et al., and their own laws of evolution expound that they belong to Cretaceous faunas. The associations of Eosestheria with Yanjiestheria, Lycoptera with Eosestheria, and Kuntulunia with Yanjiestheria as well as the occurrence of early angiosperms and sporo - pollen in the Fuxin Formation and its equivalents also demonstrate that the Lycoptera-bearing, bed should be assigned to the Cretaceous. The confirmation of the existence of Aucellina in the Jixi Group and the correlation of Trigonioidids and Cypridids with those in the equivalent strata of Japan and Western Europe have also been     

Preliminary correlation of palynological assemblages from Oman with the Granulatisporites confluens Oppel Zone of the grant formation (lower Permian), Canning Basin, Western Australia

The presence of Granulatisporites confluens Archangelsky and Gamerro indicates an Asselian-Tastubian (lowermost Permian) age for glaciogene sediments in the Amal-6 borehole, Oman. This suggests that the Al Khlata Formation is in part coeval with glaciogene sediments of the Canning Basin, Western Australia, and sediments of the Chacoparana Basin, Argentina.     

Tectonic and climatic events controlling deposition in Tanzanian Karoo basins

The depositional megasequence of the Tanzanian Karoo resulted from an intracratonic phase of sedimentation prevailing during the maximum extension of Pangea in Late Palaeozoic and Triassic times. Karoo rocks are contained in a number of basins, extending from northeastern-most Tanzania to Lake Nyasa and beyond into neighbouring countries. The type section of the Tanzanian Karoo is the Songea Group of the Ruhuhu Basin, situated at the NE-shoulder of the Nyasa Rift. The succession, which reaches a thickness of more than 3000 m, is of Late Carboniferous to Mid-Triassic age. It exhibits five distinctive sequences, each commencing with rudaceous sediments and fining up towards the top. A sixth sequence of Middle to Late Triassic age is recognized in the Selous Basin, NE of the Ruhuhu Basin. The climate ranged from cold, semi-arid conditions in the Stephanian and Asselian to generally warm to hot climates, with fluctuating precipitation in the remaining Permian and Triassic. A marked peak in precipitation is evidenced in the Early Triassic. Each of the sedimentary sequences reflects tectonic movements related to the formation of non-volcanic rift systems during the Permian, and to detachment faults and crustal foundering during the Triassic. The intracratonic Karoo rifts were part of the Malagassy Trough, a large chasm emanating from the Tethyan margin of Gondwana in early Permian times. The Karoo rifts were terminated by their transformation to a pericratonic, passive margin in the Early Jurassic.     

Research on Outcrop Sequence Stratigraphy of Permian in Middle—Lower Yangtze Region

According to the latest International Chronostratigraphic Scheme (ICS, 2000), the Permian in the Middle-Lower Yangtze region of South China can e divided into three series and nine stages relevant to the traditional six stages of South China. From Assellian to Changxingian of Permian, 44 Main age range, the strata are composed of 14 third-order sequences, each of which is 3.14 Ma in average age range. There is one third-order sequence of Zisongian, equivalent to middle and upper Chuanshan Formation or equal to Asselian and two thirds of Sakmarian. There are two third-order sequences, corresponding to Liang-shan Formation or Zhenjiang Formation and upper Chuanshan Formation, which are assigned to Longlingian, coinciding with Artinskian and one third of Sakmarian. In addition, three third-order sequences, equal to Qixia Formation, are attributed to Chhsian, corresponding to Kubergandian and one third of Roadian. Four third-order sequences, comprising Gufeng, Maokou, Yanqiao,Yinping and Wuxue formations, are assigned to Maokouan, equivalent to two thirds of Roadian, Wordian and Capitanian. Two third-order sequences, equal to Longtan Formation or Wujiaping Formation, are included in Wuchiapingian. Other two third-order sequences, corresponding to changxing Formation or Dalong Formation, are assigned to Changhsingian. In brief, these above third-order sequences can be incorporated into 4 sequences sets.     

Basin fill evolution and paleotectonic patterns along the Samfrau geosyncline: the Sauce Grande basin–Ventana foldbelt (Argentina) and Karoo basin–Cape foldbelt (South Africa) revisited

As integral parts of du Toit’s (1927) “Samfrau Geosyncline”, the Sauce Grande basin–Ventana foldbelt (Argentina) and Karoo basin–Cape foldbelt (South Africa) share similar paleoclimatic, paleogeographic, and paleotectonic aspects related to the Late Paleozoic tectono-magmatic activity along the Panthalassan continental margin of Gondwanaland. Late Carboniferou-earliest Permian glacial deposits were deposited in the Sauce Grande (Sauce Grande Formation) and Karoo (Dwyka Formation) basins and Falkland–Malvinas Islands (Lafonia Formation) during an initial (sag) phase of extension. The pre-breakup position of the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands on the easternmost part of the Karoo basin (immediately east of the coast of South Africa) is supported by recent paleomagnetic data, lithofacies associations, paleoice flow directions and age similarities between the Dwyka and the Lafonia glacial sequences. The desintegration of the Gondwanan Ice Sheet (GIS) triggered widespread transgressions, reflected in the stratigraphic record by the presence of inter-basinally correlatable, open marine, fine-grained deposits (Piedra Azul Formation in the Sauce Grande basin, Prince Albert Formation in the Karoo basin and Port Sussex Formation in the Falkland Islands) capping glacial marine sediments. These early postglacial transgressive deposits, characterised by fossils of the Eurydesma fauna and Glossopteris flora, represent the maximum flooding of the basins. Cratonward foreland subsidence was triggered by the San Rafael orogeny (ca. 270 Ma) in Argentina and propogated along the Gondwanan margin. This subsidence phase generated sufficient space to accommodate thick synorogenic sequences derived from the orogenic flanks of the Sauce Grande and Karoo basins. Compositionally, the initial extensional phase of these basins was characterized by quartz-rich, craton-derived detritus and was followed by a compressional (foreland) phase characterized by a paleocurrent reversal and dominance of arc/foldbelt-derived material. In the Sauce Grande basin, tuffs are interbedded in the upper half of the synorogenic, foldbelt-derived Tunas Formation (Early–early Late? Permian). Likewise, the first widespread appearance of tuffs in the Karoo basin is in the Whitehill Formation, of late Early Permian (260?Ma) age. Silicic volcanism along the Andes and Patagonia (Choiyoi magmatic province) peaked between the late Early Permian and Late Permian. A link between these volcanics and the consanguineous airborne tuffs present in the Sauce Grande and Karoo basins is suggested on the basis of their similar compositions and ages.     

The Mid-Carboniferous to Lowermost Permian succession of Spiti (Po Group and Ganmachidam Formation; Tethys Himalaya,Northern India): Gondwana glaciation and rifting of Neo-Tethys.

Abstract

The upper Lower Carboniferous to lowermost Permian terrigenous succession of the Spiti Valley can be subdivided into five formations (Thabo Formation, Fenestella Shale, Kabjima Quartzarenite, Chichong Formation and Ganmachidam Diamictite), here described in detail and subdivided into members or lithozones.

The Po Group, overlying the platform carbonates and gypsum deposits of the Lipak Formation, records an increase of subarkosic to quartzarenitic terrigenous detritus derived from uplift and erosion of continental blocks in the south during the initial stage of Neo-Tethyan rifting. Increasing mineralogic stability through the Thabo Formation broadly coincides with a climate change from tropical arid to temperate humid conditions during the Visean-Serpukhovian. The Fenestella Shale, containing rich brachiopod associations of Bashkirian age, documents a stage of widespread subsidence and transgression, followed by the regressive Kabjima Quartzarenite, which records recycling of quartzose sedimentary sequences in the south.

The Chichong Formation marks another transgressive event, associated with a significant increase of granitoid detritus, partly from nearby Lesser to High Himalayan source areas. Chaetetid, cephalopod and brachiopod faunas hint at a Moscovian age for the “Chaetetid beds”, at the top of which varve-like lamination and scattered pebbles suggest glacially influenced deposition. The overlying glacio-fluvial (?) cobble conglomerates (“Pebbly beds”) reflect onset of rapid tectonic uplift.

Abundant detritus from sedimentary rocks characterizes the overlying Ganmachidam Diamictite, deposited in glacio-marine environments; cold-water marine faunas of Asselian age occur in its middle part. Erosion of progressively older pre-rift sedimentary successions is ascribed to basin inversion, associated with unroofing of anatectic granitoids of the Lesser and High Himalayas. Basaltic to rhyolitic volcanic detritus documents alkalic magmatism at the climax of continental rifting.     

Ostracods and palaeobotany from the middle Permian of Oman: implications on Pangaea reconstruction

Discovery of a middle Permian ostracod fauna in the marine Khuff Formation (Sultanate of Oman), combined with palaeobotanical data from the immediately underlying continental Gharif Formation, supports new interpretations of the palaeobiogeography of the Tethys during the late Palaeozoic. A mixed ostracod fauna existed on the Arabian platform. This new record of Permian ostracods, combined with recent data obtained in other Tethyan areas, emphasizes the close relationship between the south-western Tethys realm and South China. The macro- and microfloral assemblages of the continental Gharif Formation demonstrate that this palaeoflora represents a true mixed association in which Gondwanan, Cathaysian and Euramerian elements are intermingled. Two main models exist for the reconstruction of Pangaea during the late Palaeozoic. Both ostracods and palaeobotanical evidence favour the reduction of the oceanic area between South China and Arabian plate as in the B Pangaea model favoured by recent palaeomagnetic data.     

泰国难府-程逸缝合带中灰岩块的 虫筳 类生物地层学

The study area, Nan Province, northern Thailand is geotectonically situated within the Nan-Uttaradit Suture, the once back-arc basin between the Sukhothai Zone and Indochina Block. Permian Fusulinacean fauna from limestone blocks within the suture has been investigated and the Nan area has been mapped in detail. These may provide the useful information for understanding the faunal assemblage and overall ge-ometry of stratigraphic successions in the basin. The strata were intensely folded and thrust. Scattered Per-mian limestones found in Nan area are blocks within shale interbedded with tuffaceous rock. The contact between this unit and the adjacent units, the strongly foliated shale and tuffaceous sedimentary strata that are mildly metamorphosed and giving phyllitic tex-tures, has been interpreted as a west-dipping normal fault, namely the Pha Sing Fault. This fault runs par-allel to the Highway no.1080 (Nan-Tha Wang Pha). Middle and early Late Permian fusulinacean fauna found in the Nan area contains Neoschwagerina, Pseudodoliolina, Colania, Lepidolina, and Colaniella. Additionally, late Early Permian fusulinacean and Middle Triassic radiolarian fauna have been reported in this area (e.g., Fontaine, 2002; Saesaengseerung et al. 2008). These paleontological data show the existence of Nan Back-arc Basin during late Early Permian (Artin-skian) to Middle Triassic. Moreover, the similarity of fusulinacean assemblage yielding Permian limestone blocks of the Nan Back-arc Basin and the ones of the Indochina Block has been interpreted that the Permian limestone blocks in the Nan Back-arc Basin were part of the continental shelf within the Indochina Block.     

The fossil vertebrates from Lano (Basque Country, Spain); new evidence on the composition and affinities of the Late Cretaceous continental faunas of Europe

A newly discovered fossil locality at Lano (Basque Country) has yielded a vertebrate assemblage of probably Maastrichtian age comprising fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. It considerably enlarges our knowledge of the Late Cretaceous continental faunas of Europe, hitherto based on a much less complete record. Some taxa are recorded for the first time in Europe, and the fauna also contains the oldest known representatives of some groups (amphisbaenians, salamandrids). The Lan assemblage reveals an original fauna comprising both forms related to Asian and North American groups and elements with Gondwanan affinities.     

西秦岭中、晚二叠世生物群更替事件

西秦岭地区中、晚二叠世的生物,在其发展过程中经历了一次动物群的更替事件,表现为中二叠世茅口晚期迭山组底部开始的竺蜓类化石的突然锐减或消失及腕足动物的大量繁盛。茅口中期的热让沟组上部,有Afghanella及丰富的Parafusulina,Chusenella等竺蜓类化石。但上覆的迭山组底部开始,仅有少量Parafusulina,Chusenella及Schwagerina等断续出现。而同时交替出现了以Urushtenia,N eoplicatifera为代表的小型腕足动物群及小型单体四射珊瑚。这一动物群的更替事件受到当时沉积环境变迁和区域构造活动的制约。迭山组底部的沉积环境由开阔台地的浅水环境转入半局限台地较深水滞流环境,导致了竺蜓类的消失和小型腕足动物的兴起。这种沉积相的变化与动物群的更替在层位上是完全吻合的。研究区处于西秦岭晚海西裂陷带两侧的碳酸盐台地或台地边缘,其生物群的更替和沉积相的变化必然受到区域上裂陷活动的影响。根据本区生物地层的研究,可以更为确切地认为,本区二叠纪裂陷活动的时间始于中二叠世茅口期Afghanella schencki时的后期(或N eoschwagerina时的后期) ;约终于晚二叠世长兴期Palaeofusulina时之前。