国际新元古代年代地层学研究进展与发展趋势

国际地层委员会末元古系分会1989年正式成立以来,经过各国地层古生物学家近十五年的努力,国际末前寒武纪年代地层学研究已取得很大进展.全球末元古系的正式名称--埃迪卡拉系(Ediacaran)以及埃迪卡拉系的底界层型已经国际地科联批准,在国际地层委员会2004年版"国际地层表"中被正式应用(Gradstein et al.,2004).本文综合近年来国际地层委员会末元古系分会有关文件和部分委员的有关建议,对国际新元古代年代地层学研究的进展与未来发展动向作一概要介绍,以期引起国内晚前寒武纪地层古生物学者的广泛关注.     

宁镇山脉的盖帽碳酸盐岩北大核心CSCD

埃迪卡拉系底部发育一套覆盖在成冰纪冰碛杂砾岩之上的碳酸盐岩地层,被称为"盖帽碳酸盐岩",它是超级温室气候事件的沉积标志层,代表了新元古代"雪球"冰期的结束。通过对宁镇山脉地区新元古代地层的野外调查,在镇江丹阳帽山剖面南沱冰碛杂砾岩层顶部发现厚约4 m的含锰碳酸盐岩。沉积岩石学和稳定碳、氧同位素研究表明,这层碳酸盐岩具有盖帽碳酸盐岩的典型特征,可以与扬子板块其他地区的盖帽碳酸盐岩进行对比。这是宁镇山脉地区存在盖帽碳酸盐岩的首次报道。     

陡山沱组盖帽碳酸盐岩C同位素特征及形成环境——以扬子北缘神农架地区为例

神农架地区位于华南扬子克拉通北缘,发育完整的成冰系- 埃迪卡拉系地层层序。本研究基于新近发现的6个埃迪卡拉系盖帽碳酸盐岩剖面,系统研究了其地层学、沉积学和C同位素地球化学特征,并依据盖帽碳酸盐岩发育的一系列沉积指相标志,讨论了盖帽碳酸盐岩形成的沉积环境。神农架盖帽碳酸盐岩由细粉晶白云岩组成,盖帽白云岩与下伏冰碛岩接触关系多较截然,部分为渐变过渡关系,沉积构造单调,以水平层理或块状层理为主,少见其他特殊沉积构造或岩石、矿物组分,偶见团粒、叶枝状等藻类生物,盖帽白云岩和上覆岩系构成快速海侵 退积的沉积层序。盖帽白云岩δ13C剖面显示,由下向上从极低(-6‰~-9‰)到中低(-4‰~-5‰)负漂移,或从中下部中低幅负偏逐渐向上更负偏(-4‰~-5‰间)或在中低负值附近高频振荡,但上覆沉积物的δ13C剖面保持持续中低负偏。研究表明,沉积指相标志及C同位素共同指示盖帽碳酸盐岩与冰后期海平面快速上升同步,这6个盖帽白云岩剖面 主要发育于神农架中西部浅水陆架潮坪区域。这些盖帽白云岩剖面的δ13C值基本类同于国内外埃迪卡拉盖帽白云岩δ13C剖面的变化规律,具有广泛的全球变化和对比意义。同时,神农架的这几个盖帽白云岩剖面δ13C值有其独特性,该特征是对冰后初期浅水碳酸盐岩沉积作用平衡全球海平面快速上升的响应。进一步研究发现,埃迪卡拉系初期盖帽碳酸盐岩沉积于扬子克拉通广泛的浅水陆架沉积环境,并非发育于从深水盆地—斜坡—陆架的各个沉积相区。     

长江三峡地区埃迪卡拉(震旦)系锆石U-Pb新年龄对庙河生物群和马雷诺冰期时限的限定

首次报道应用高分辨率、高精度离子微探针(SHRIMPⅡ)定年方法,对采自三峡地区黄陵背斜西翼湖北省秭归县九曲脑剖面震旦系灯影组与陡山沱组界线和陡山沱组底部的凝灰岩锆石进行的U-Pb定年研究.分析结果,灯影组与陡山沱组界线的凝灰岩锆石测点形成2组,较年轻的一组由16个测点组成,舍去偏离较大的1个点,给出的206Pb/238U比值年龄加权平均值为549.9 Ma±6.1 Ma(MSWD=1.48),代表该层位的实际年龄并限定了庙河生物群的最小年龄.采自陡山沱组底部的另一样品测点同样分为2组一组由3个点组成,给出784Ma±15Ma(MSWD=0.05)的继承年龄值;另一组由15个测点组成,给出206Pb/238U比值年龄加权平均值为628.3Ma±5.8Ma(MSWD=0.86).这一定年结果是目前中国震旦(埃迪卡拉)系陡山沱组底部首次获得的SHRIMp锆石U-Pb年龄.采样点紧邻作为震旦系底界的"盖帽碳酸盐岩"之上,基本可以限定震旦系的底界年龄.该结果与国际地层委员会2004年发布的<国际地层表>中埃迪卡拉系(Ediacaran)的底界年龄630 Ma非常接近,表明中国修订后的震旦系/南华系界线年龄应为630Ma左右.     

中国南华系的范畴、时限及地层划分北大核心CSCD

南华系是2000年第三届全国地层委员会审议通过,介于震旦（埃迪卡拉）系和青白口系之间的一个系级年代地层单位,地层范围是原震旦系下统含有新元古代冰积杂砾岩的地层。“南华系”名称来源于刘鸿允先生称谓的“南华大冰期”。由于近年来在华南和新疆获得了大量南华系SHRIMP锆石U—Pb年龄资料,结合莲沱组及其相当层位碎屑建造中发现指示寒冷气候的化学地层证据,南华系底界确定为出现新元古代最早冰期寒冷事件杂砾岩或与之相当的碎屑岩建造的下界;同时依据在华南和新疆所获得的南华系同位素年龄和化学地层资料,以及南华系所出现冰期或寒冷事件的地层序列,将南华系自下而上划分为下、中、上三统。下统时限为725～780Ma,中统时限为660～725Ma,上统时限为635～660Ma。南华系的下、中、上三统分别相当全球新元古代Kaigas冰期（≈770～735Ma）,Sturtian冰期（≈715～680Ma）,Marinoan冰期（≈660～635Ma）。依据目前的同位素年龄资料,南华系底界年龄被厘定为780Ma;顶界年龄即震旦系底界年龄为635Ma。     

新近系保德阶建阶研究新进展

根据与古地磁极性年表的对比 ,山西保德冀家沟剖面含保德动物群的保德组上界年龄为 5 .30 Ma,底界年龄不超过 10 Ma,其红黏土的底界为 8Ma,显示该剖面不存在定义的保德阶 11.2 Ma的下界 ,也没有保存保德阶下部的沉积。《国际地层指南》提倡用选择下界的界线层型来确定年代地层单位 ,其上界应该由后续单位的下界来确定。冀家沟剖面显然不具备保德阶的下界 ,但甘肃临夏盆地郭泥沟剖面含三趾马动物群的红黏土之下还有发育的中中新世沉积出露 ,因此 ,后一个地点应存在保德阶的下界 ,并有保德阶最底部的化石和适合于作古地磁分析的沉积物 ,所以临夏盆地是一个有可能建立保德阶下界界线层型的有利地点     

建议在我国统一使用全球通用的正式年代地层单位——埃迪卡拉系（纪）

震旦系（纪）的涵义屡屡变更,争论不断,出现过许多问题。系名Sinian（震旦系）和系的“层型剖面”都是在选取“末元古系”的正式名称和“金钉子”的国际竞争中没有得到多数国际学者支持的候选名称和候选剖面。我国最新正式修订的“震旦系（纪）”与全球年代地层（地质年代）单位埃迪卡拉系（纪）的概念完全相当。系一级的全球单位一旦正式...     

中朝板块新元古代微亮晶(臼齿构造)碳酸盐事件、层序地层和建系研究

通过对中朝板块燕山、吉辽和徐淮地区新元古代地层的沉积学、旋回地层学、锶同位素地层学以及(臼齿构造)碳酸盐岩事件和海平面变化研究,特别是IGCP447项目的全球性综合调查和对比研究,提出了增建北华系的地层划分和对比方案:以南华系底界(730±10Ma)也就是全球性成冰系的底界为北华系的顶界,而北华系底界应该对应于青白口系顶界(850Ma),即以钓鱼台组底界作为青白口系与北华系的界线。辽宁大连金石滩剖面可以作为北华系界线层型剖面的候选剖面。     

峡东青林口地区新元古代地层序列及沉积演变

峡东地区的新元古界由于保存良好的“雪球地球”沉积记录及其崩解后的“盖帽碳酸盐岩”和“庙河生物群”等关键地质记录,因而成为国际新元古界研究的热点地区之一.此次报道的青林口剖面是目前在峡东地区发现的出露最为完整的新元古代地层序列,对于揭示这一关键地质时期的重大生物演变和地球环境发展历程具有重要研究价值.重点介绍该剖面的地层序列并简要分析其沉积演变特点.该剖面出露新元古代地层自下而上依次包括莲沱组、南沱组、陡山沱组和灯影组.其中,莲沱组以紫红色砂岩夹页岩为主,由两个沉积旋回组成;南沱组角度不整合在莲沱组之上,以灰绿色杂砾岩为特征,划分为3个岩性段;陡山沱组以“盖帽白云岩”的出现为底界,以黑色硅质页岩的结束为顶界,划分为4个明显的岩性段;灯影组整体具有“两白夹一黑”的特征,自下而上划分为蛤蟆井段、石板滩段和白马沱段.青林口剖面地层出露完整,各组段岩性特征明显,清晰地反映了该区域的沉积环境演变历程.沉积记录显示,本区新元古代中期开始接受沉积,最先沉积陆相莲沱组,经历成冰纪晚期南沱组代表的“雪球”事件后转为海相沉积,埃迪卡拉纪沉积的陡山沱组和灯影组均为浅海开阔碳酸盐相或局限页岩相,成为后生动物起源和宏观藻类分异发展的创新基地.      

贵州凯里生物群中的陡山沱藻(Doushantuophyton Chen et Xiao)

陡山沱藻Doushantuophyton Chen et Xiao是湖北秭归庙河埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组及安徽休宁埃迪卡拉系蓝田组中常见的种群,该属先后建立了5个种:D.lineare Chen et Xiao,1991;D.rigidulum,Chen1994;D.sinuolatum Hu,1996;D.quyuaniChen,Xiao and Yuan,1994,emend.Xiao et al.,2002和D.cometa Yuan et al.,1999。本文对贵州凯里组苗板坡剖面和乌溜-曾家崖剖面的30多块标本进行了详细描述,并与湖北庙河陡山沱组和安徽休宁蓝田组的陡山沱藻进行对比,结果表明,该属的模式种D.lineare Chen et Xiao和D.cometa Yuan et al.的时代可延伸到寒武纪第3世(原中寒武世)凯里生物群,并成为凯里生物群宏观藻类中的重要种群之一。也反映从埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱期至寒武纪第3世,经历了近5千多万年,特别是埃迪卡拉纪末期的生物灭绝事件,这2种的形态结构特征没有发生明显变化,说明陡山沱藻有些种具有较强的生存竞争能力以及遗传上的稳定性,从而表现出演化上的保守性和环境上的适应性。     

解读国际地层委员会2004年前寒武纪地层表及2004-2008年参考方案

国际地层委员会前不久公布了2 0 0 4年“国际地层表”,并专门提出了“2 0 0 4—2 0 0 8年前寒武纪年表参考方案”。在2 0 0 4年版“国际地层表”中,新建了埃迪卡拉系,其时限从6 30 Ma至5 4 2 Ma。“2 0 0 4—2 0 0 8年前寒武系划分参考方案”指出应该根据唯一客观的物理标准——现存的岩石记录,对前寒武纪地质年表重新进行界定。前寒武纪的地层界线应标定于地层记录中的关键事件或转变点上,以突出反映地球系统演化的巨变。在介绍有关埃迪卡拉系的背景、地质特征和时限的同时,对“参考方案”中有关前寒武系划分原则和具体划分方案的新思路进行了介绍和评述,对“参考方案”中值得商榷的问题进行了初步分析,并对我国前寒武纪年代表制定中有关重点提出了建议     

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.     

Radiometric and stratigraphic constraints on terminal Ediacaran (post-Gaskiers) glaciation and metazoan evolution

Radiometric constraints on mid-Ediacaran Period glaciation (Gaskiers) in Newfoundland narrowed the known temporal gap between widespread ice ages and the evolution of complex metazoans to several million years. To further evaluate this claim we studied an Ediacaran glacial diamictite at the base of the Fauquier Formation of northern Virginia, and discovered a conformable relationship between the post-glacial cap carbonate and overlying volcanic rocks of the Catoctin Formation. U/Pb zircon age constraints for the rift-related volcanic flows suggest initial emplacement around 571 million years ago. Application of the Catoctin age to the Fauquier succession indicates the occurrence of an ice age about 10 million years younger than the 582 Ma Gaskiers event, supporting the view of multiple Ediacaran Period glaciations. Furthermore, the age constraint from eastern Laurentia falls within radiometric uncertainty of fossiliferous strata in Avalonia, indicating that the Fauquier glaciation was coincident with early metazoan evolution.     

Late Cryogenian glaciation in South Australia:Fluctuating ice margin and no extreme or rapid post-glacial sea-level rise

Postulated extreme sea-level rise of up to 1-1.5 km with the late Cryogenian Ghaub deglaciation in Namibia is contentious,as is the great rapidity(<104 yr)of the sea-level rise.Such extreme glacioeustatic events,if real,would have been global and affected all continents.In South Australia,up to six glacial advances and retreats during the late Cryogenian Elatina glaciation indicate a fluctuating ice margin.The latter stage of the Elatina glaciation and the immediate post-glacial environment are examined here for evidence of extreme and rapid sea-level rise.In the central Adelaide Rift Complex,diamictite with faceted and striated clasts occurs at the top of the Elatina Formation<1-2 m beneath the early Ediacaran Nuccaleena Formation’cap carbonate’.One hundred kilometres to the south,~30 m of siltstone and sandstone followed by^6 m of clast-poor diamictite with clasts 10+cm long occur between tidal rhythmites and the cap carbonate.Three hundred kilo metres further south,~70 m of siltsto ne,dolo mitic siltstone and minor dolomite separate tidal rhythmites and early Ediacaran strata.Hence the rhythmites were deposited during a high stand(interstadial or interglacial),not during post-glacial sea-level rise.Storm-generated erosional surfaces within tidal rhythmites at Warren Gorge indicate intermittent rhythmite deposition,and water depth and other palaeoenvironmental factors are uncertain,casting doubt on a published estimate of rapid sea-level rise during rhythmite deposition.The lack of late Cryogenian deeply incised valleys and thick valley-fill deposits in South Australia and central Australia argues against extreme sea-level variations.A hiatus occurred between Elatina deglaciation and deposition of the Nuccaleena cap carbonate,and three palaeomagnetic polarity chrons identified in the cap carbonate imply slow deposition spanning 10^5-10^6 yr.This is supported by independent evidence from magnetic chronostratigraphy for Ediacaran strata in South Australia and California,and by stratigraphic and sedimentological arguments for condensed deposition of cap carbonates.It is concluded that neither extreme nor rapid sea-level rise was associated with late Cryogenian deglaciation in South Australia.     

Qingbaikouan and Crygenian in South China: Constraints by SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb dating

The Qingbaikouan System is the lowest unit of the Neoproterozoic Erathem in Chinese stratigraphic succession,and it now provides a precise geochronological framework and geological time scale for mapping and stratal correlation in China.However,a sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe （SHRIMP） U-Pb zircon age date （1368±12 Ma） obtained from a bentonite in the Qingbaikouan Xiamaling Formation indicates that it belongs to the Mesoproterozoic Erathem instead.This change is a milestone in understanding the Precambrian Stratigraphic Time Scale in China,and it has had great influence on Precambrian correlations in Asia.Otherwise,a large amount of geochronological work has been done in the ＂Jiangnan Orogen Belt＂ of South China,and new isotopic data have redefined the traditional recognition of metamorphosed Mesoproterozoic strata from the Sibao orogeny to the Neoproterozoic Erathem.Based on SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age data,the authors regard the Sibao orogeny （equal to the Wuling orogeny） as a movement at ca 820 Ma,meaning that the Sibao orogeny was not equivalent to the Grenvillian orogeny.Finally,we report here the first SHRIMP U-Pb age of the boundary between the top of the Qingbaikouan Gongdong Formation （786.8±5.6 Ma） and the bottom of the Chang＇an （diamictite） Formation （778.4±5.2 Ma）,which is the age of the lowest diamictite of the Nanhuan System in China.     

The Yudomian of Siberia,Vendian and Ediacaran systems of the International stratigraphic scale

In Russia, the terminal Neoproterozoic formally includes the Vendian of western part of the East European platform and the concurrent Yudoma Group of Siberia. As is shown in this work, the designated subdivisions correspond in the stratotypes only to the upper, Yudomian Series of the Vendian. In the Siberian platform, the Ust-Yudoma and Aim horizons of the Yudomian are tightly interrelated. The lower of them, bearing remains of Ediacaran Fauna, represents the Ediacarian Stage, whereas the upper one containing small-shelled fossils (SSF) corresponds to the Nemakit-Daldynian Stage divided into the trisulcatus and antiqua superregional zones. In more complete sections of the platform periphery, sediments of these subdivisions conformably rest on siliciclastic succession that should be ranked as basal subdivision of the Yudomian. The succession is concurrent to the Laplandian Stage of the East European platform. According to geochronological dates obtained recently, the Yudomian Series spans interval of 600–540 Ma. In the East European platform, the Upper Vendian (Yudomian) begins with the Laplandian basal tillites of synonymous stage. In the west of the platform, tillites are dated at 600 Ma like the Upper Vendian base in Siberia. The next Ediacarian Stage of the East European platform is stratigraphic equivalent of the Redkino Horizon, while summary range of the Kotlin and Rovno horizons is concurrent to that of the Nemakit-Daldynian Stage. The Vendian of Russia is conformably overlain by the Tommotian Stage of the Lower Cambrian. Intense pre-Vendian events constrained distribution areas of the Lower Vendian sediments in Russia. The Lower Vendian deposits of the East European platform are most representative and well studied in the central Urals, where they are attributed to the Serebryanka Group. In Siberia, separate subdivisions representing the Lower Vendian are the Maastakh Formation of the Olenek Uplift, two lower members of the Ushakovka Formation in the Baikal region, and the Taseeva Group of the Yenisei Range. Chronological interval of the Lower Vendian corresponds to 650–600 Ma. The Marinoan Glaciation dated in Australia at 650–635 Ma is concurrent to basal part of the pre-Yudomian interval of the Vendian in Russia, whereas the Laplandian Tillite and Gaskiers Glaciation (600–580 Ma) correspond to onset of the Yudomian Epoch. The new Ediacaran System (Knoll et al., 2004) legalized in the International Neoproterozoic scale is close in range to the entire Vendian (635–544 Ma), although without basal beds (Marinoan Tillite) it deprives the terminal Neoproterozoic of its original sense. Inferiority of the system consists also in its indivisibility into stages. Hence, it is clear that the Vendian System subdivided in detail in Russia should be retained in the rank of terminal system of the Precambrian, one of the basic in general scale of the Neoproterozoic.     

'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.     

塔里木盆地西南缘叶城地区新元古代冰期事件

新元古代冰期事件记录了“雪球地球”事件重要的地质信息。塔里木盆地周缘新元古代冰碛岩地层露头发育,是研究新元古代冰期事件的理想基地。由于发育多套新元古代火山岩,盆地东北缘库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩地层时代已获得较多年代学数据约束;但盆地周缘其他地区新元古代冰碛岩地层公开报道年代学数据较少,不能准确限定其沉积时代,导致冰期事件对比存在争论。为此,本文选择塔里木盆地研究程度较低的西南缘叶城地区新元古代冰碛岩地层,开展岩石学、同位素年代学、岩石地球化学等研究,明确其冰期沉积特征,约束其沉积时代,开展冰期事件对比,讨论古气候风化条件等。南华系波龙组和雨塘组冰碛岩地层具有较低的化学蚀变指数(CIA),分别代表新元古代2次寒冷的冰川气候记录。冰川沉积及其相邻层位的碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学数据显示,波龙冰期的起始年龄晚于(710±13) Ma,与全球Sturtian冰期对应;雨塘冰期的起始年龄不会早于(656±18) Ma,其结束年龄可被南华系顶界年龄635 Ma或上覆震旦系库尔卡克组碎屑锆石年龄(634±9) Ma限定,与全球Marinoan冰期对应。