Graphite deformation in marble and mylonitic marble, Grenville Province, Canadian Shield

In the southern Grenville Province of the Canadian Shield (Otter Lake area), high-grade marble, gneiss and amphibolite have been folded about north- to north-east-trending axes; mylonite zones, parallel to layering and 0.1–10  cm wide, are locally present in marble.
In nonmylonitic marble, graphite occurs as c . 1–mm hexagonal prisms, which are commonly accompanied by a relatively few crystals that have been deformed, resulting in cleavage separation and the formation of folds and kink bands. Fracture-filled calcite contains less Mg and Fe than surrounding calcite (e.g. <0.30 compared with 1.8–2.7  wt% MgO, and 0.02–0.12 compared with 0.13–0.18  wt% FeO); the composition of fracture-filled dolomite is similar to that of the surrounding dolomite. In semimylonite, graphite forms elongate streaks of fragmented crystals and, in mylonite, further fragmentation has occurred to produce extremely small particles. The fragmentation has not destroyed the atomic structure (hexagonal modification) of graphite.
The behaviour of biotite was similar to that of graphite, but extreme fragmentation did not occur. Dolomite was more rigid than calcite, and in mylonite it occurs more commonly as relics. Amphibole and pyroxene crystals remained undeformed but are locally replaced by calcite.
The numerous microprocesses that have evidently occurred in marble and mylonitic marble of the study area are: coarsening (calcite, graphite), twinning (calcite, dolomite), slip (calcite, dolomite, graphite, biotite), strain-induced recrystallization (calcite), microfolding and kink-band formation (graphite, biotite), fragmentation (graphite) and the pressure-induced transport of calcite and dolomite to voids in graphite and biotite.     

上扬子台地三叠系碳酸盐岩中的特形白云石及其指相意义初探

在上扬子台地早三叠世嘉陵江组的白云岩中，产有一种呈“针状”、“板柱状”、“麦粒状”或“树枝状”等形态的不同于常见沉积白云石的特形白云石。本文借鉴国外近年来在特形方解石方面的研究成果，提出特形白云石是由类似形态的特形方解石经白云石化作用假像交代而成，因而它同特形方解石一样，可以指示沉积及成岩环境，具有大气渗流、介质溶液过饱和及微生物强烈参与等特点。     

中国中寒武世岩相古地理

本文是《中国早寒武世岩相古地理》的继续。本文的基础是笔者等的华北地区、华南地区和西北地区寒武纪和奥陶纪定量岩相古地理研究及编图的成果。定量,即每个古地理单元的划分都有确切的定量资料和定量图件为依据。在此基础上,结合其他地区的地质资料,主要是蒙兴地区、西藏地区、海南岛地区和台湾地区的地质资料,全面分析,综合判断,编制出了中国中寒武世岩相古地理图并撰写出本文。因此,在本文中,华北、华南和西北地区的岩相古地理图及其文字论述是定量的和比较精细的,其他地区的图件和论述则是定性的和概略性的。在中国中寒武世,早寒武世的“两槽和三台相间分布”的古地理格局仍未改变。两槽即天山北山蒙辽吉槽地和昆仑秦岭槽地,三台即准噶尔蒙兴台地、塔里木柴达木华北台地和西藏华南台地。这5个古地理单元的范围与早寒武世的基本相同,但他们的次级古地理单元的特征却与早寒武世的有所不同或大不相同。     

黄土碳酸盐古气候意义及其研究展望

碳酸盐是黄土中的主要矿物,是黄土—古土壤序列中含量变化最显著的矿物之一,其在表生环境下极易移动,并且它的迁移变化受大气降水、温度等古气候因素制约,在黄土高原风尘堆积序列的古气候研究中具有极其重要的意义,其变化能够较好地反映古季风的演变规律。黄土—古土壤中碳酸盐的含量变化和东亚夏季风降水的强度密切相关,碳酸盐矿物中白云石和方解石的存在与否及淋失深度对夏季风演变同样有很好的指示意义。稳定同位素δ¹⁸O可以作为夏季风的代用指标,指示成壤时期环境中的古温度;δ¹³C值表现出在黄土层中高,而在古土壤层中低,因此碳酸盐δ¹³C值可能更多反映了植被发育程度。碳酸盐中Sr同位素能够反映风化作用的强弱,而去除碳酸盐后的Sr同位素则能更好地反映成壤作用的强度和判别风尘物质的来源。与其它季风气候替代性指标相比,酸溶相中的δ¹¹B值变化与降水有直接关系,可以很好地作为夏季风降水指标。非传统稳定同位素Li、Ba和Fe有应用于黄土研究中,但目前的研究表明它们对气候环境暂无较好的指示意义。     

贵州遵义黄家湾下寒武统牛蹄塘组镍-钼富集层电子探针研究

对贵州遵义黄家湾下寒武统牛蹄塘组镍-钼富集层进行电子探针研究,发现镍主要赋存于黄铁矿、针镍矿、辉砷镍矿、铁辉砷镍矿、紫硫镍矿、赫硫镍矿;钼主要以"碳硫钼矿"的形式存在。镍钼硫化物多与黄铁矿、白铁矿交代共生,反映矿物经历了不同的成矿阶段。岩石中不仅富集Ni、Mo元素,而且Se元素存在超常富集,可以视为热液作用或生物作用的结果。遵义黄家湾下寒武统Ni-Mo富集层应为海底热液沉积和生物沉积混合成因,其物源较为复杂。     

Evolution of Carbon Isotope Composition in Potential Global Stratotype Section and Point at Luoyixi, South China, for the Base of the Unnamed Global Seventh Stage of Cambrian System

This work deals with the evolution of carbon isotope composition in the Luoyixi (罗依溪) Section, a candidate of the Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP), defining the base of the as-yet-undefined seventh stage of Cambrian System at the first appearance of the cosmopolitan agnostoid Lejopyge laevigata. This level is favored in a vote of International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy (ISCS) as the biohorizon for defining the base of a global stage. Two hundred and sixty-four samples for carbon and oxygen isotope analysis have been collected from the carbonate successions at an interval of 0.25 to 0.5 m in this section. Results of the carbon isotope data exhibit a remarkable disciplinarian trend. The pattern of the carbon isotope evolution is gently undulant with a relatively long period during the underlying Drumian Stage, and then the values of δ13C fluctuate sharply with a short period in provisional seventh stage. The onset of sharp fluctuation in the δ13C values begins at the proposed GSSP level, defining the base of the global seventh stage, where δ13C values change from a gentle trend to a sharp trend. Distinct covariant-relationships among δ13C, δ13O, and sea level fluctuations suggest that a warming change in paleoclimate took place during the early global seventh stage, which led to a positive shift in δ13C values.     

塔里木盆地英买力凸起南部寒武系褶皱的地质属性及其油气成藏条件分析

传统上,塔北隆起英买力凸起南部多个寒武系大型异常体被认为是中寒武统盐构造的反映。笔者研究发现这些大型异常体的解译有一定的多解性。分析认为,构造的主体存在碳酸盐岩生物建隆块体的可能,后期被断裂复杂化形成大型叠置复合褶皱。寒武系褶皱内幕的断层和裂缝极其发育,大大改善了寒武系白云岩储层物性,有利于油气聚集;基底断裂发育,能有效沟通油源;中寒武统泥岩或含膏泥岩形成良好的盖层,封闭条件良好;综合分析认为英买力南部寒武系大型构造具备优越的油气成藏和保存条件,有利于形成大中型油气田,是塔里木盆地潜在的油气勘探新领域。     

Sr isotope excursion across the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary in the Three Gorges area, South China

The Precambrian/Cambrian (PC/C) boundary is one of the most important intervals for the evolution of life. However, the scarcity of well-preserved outcrops across the boundary leaves an obstacle in decoding surface environmental changes and patterns of biological evolution.In south China, strata through the PC/C boundary are almost continuously exposed and contain many fossils, suitable for study of environmental and biological change across the PC/C boundary. We undertook deep drilling at four sites in the Three Gorges area to obtain continuous and fresh samples without surface alteration and oxidation. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the fresh carbonate rocks, selected based on microscopic observation and geochemical signatures of Mn/Sr and Rb/Sr ratios, aluminum and silica contents, and δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values, were measured with multiple collector-inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometric techniques.The chemostratigraphy of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the drilled samples displays a smooth curve and a large positive anomaly just below the PC/C boundary between the upper part of Baimatuo Member of the Dengying Formation and the lower part of the Yanjiahe Formation. The combination of chemostratigraphies of δ¹³C and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr indicates that the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr excursions preceded the δ¹³C negative excursion, and suggests that global regression or formation of the Gondwana supercontinent, possibly together with a high atmospheric pCO₂, caused biological depression.     

Carbon isotope chemostratigraphy of a Precambrian/Cambrian boundary section in the Three Gorge area, South China: Prominent global-scale isotope excursions just before the Cambrian Explosion

Carbon isotope chemostratigraphy has been used for worldwide correlation of Precambrian/Cambrian (Pc/C) boundary sections, and has elucidated significant change of the carbon cycle during the rapid diversification of skeletal metazoa (i.e. the Cambrian Explosion). Nevertheless, the standard δ¹³C curve of the Early Cambrian has been poorly established mainly due to the lack of a continuous stratigraphic record. Here we report high-resolution δ¹³C chemostratigraphy of a drill core sample across the Pc/C boundary in the Three Gorge area, South China. This section extends from an uppermost Ediacaran dolostone (Dengying Fm.), through a lowermost Early Cambrian muddy limestone (Yanjiahe Fm.) to a middle Early Cambrian calcareous black shale (Shuijingtuo Fm.). As a result, we have identified two positive and two negative isotope excursions within this interval. Near the Pc/C boundary, the δ¹³C_carb increases moderately from 0 to + 2‰ (positive excursion 1: P1), and then drops dramatically down to − 7‰ (negative excursion 1: N1). Subsequently, the δ¹³C_carb increases continuously up to about + 5‰ at the upper part of the Nemakit–Daldynian stage. After this positive excursion, δ¹³C_carb sharply decreases down to about − 9‰ (N2) just below the basal Tommotian unconformity. These continuous patterns of the δ¹³C shift are irrespective of lithotype, suggesting a primary origin of the record. Moreover, the obtained δ¹³C profile, except for the sharp excursion N2, is comparable to records of other sections within and outside of the Yangtze Platform. Hence, we conclude that the general feature of our δ¹³C profile best represents the global change in seawater chemistry. The minimum δ¹³C of the N1 (− 7‰) is slightly lower than carbon input from the mantle, thus implying an enhanced flux of ¹³C-depleted carbon just across the Pc/C boundary. Hence, the ocean at that time probably became anoxic, which may have affected the survival of sessile or benthic Ediacaran biota. The subsequent δ¹³C rise up to + 5‰ (P2) indicates an increase of primary productivity or an enhanced rate of organic carbon burial, which should have resulted in lowering pCO₂ and following global cooling. This scenario accounts for the cause of the global-scale sea-level fall at the base of the Tommotian stage. The subsequent, very short-term, and exceptionally low δ¹³C (− 9‰) in N2 could have been associated with the release of methane from gas hydrates due to the sea-level fall. The inferred dramatic environmental changes (i.e., ocean anoxia, increasing productivity, global cooling and subsequent sea-level fall with methane release) appear to coincide with or occur just before the Cambrian Explosion. This may indicate synchronism between the environmental changes and rapid diversification of skeletal metazoa.     

Internal structures and U–Pb ages of zircons from a tuff layer in the Meishucunian formation, Yunnan Province, South China

The Precambrian/Cambrian (PC/C) boundary is one of the most important intervals for the evolution of life, represented by prominent biological evolution from the first appearance of soft-bodied animals from the late Neoproterozoic to the sudden diversification of animals with mineralized skeletons in the Cambrian. In South China several areas contain many fossils and are well exposed, suitable for the investigation of PC/C boundary. However, geochronological relationships are still poorly known because of lack of combined detailed investigations of internal structures of zircons and in-situ U–Pb dating.We focus on the internal structure of zircons from a tuff layer within Bed 5 in the Meishucun section on which we undertook cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging and in-situ U–Pb dating with LA-ICP-MS and nano-SIMS. Over 600 zircons from the tuff layer were classified into three types based on their CL images: oscillatory rims, inherited cores and dull structures. U–Pb dating of the internal structure of the zircons by LA-ICP-MS clearly shows a distinct unimodal age population dependent on the structure: 531 ± 17 Ma for the oscillatory rims and 515 Ma for the dull structures. The clear oscillatory zonation, the prismatic morphology, and their occurrence indicate that the oscillatory rims were formed from felsic magmatism, and that the U–Pb nano-SIMS age of 536.5 ± 2.5 Ma records the depositional age of the tuff. Our results indicate that the PC/C boundary is situated below Bed 5, and therefore the bottom of Zone 1 (Marker A) is more appropriate for the PC/C boundary than is the top of Zone 1 (Marker B). The age of a positive anomaly (P2) in the early Cambrian is estimated to be ca. 536 Ma.