Development of large‐scale seismites in Upper Cretaceous fluvial sandstones in a fault‐proximal setting

Large‐scale soft‐sediment deformation structures occur within fluvial sandstone bodies of the Upper Cretaceous Wahweap Formation in the Kaiparowits basin, southern Utah, USA. These structures represent an exceptional example of metre‐scale fault‐proximal, seismogenic load structures in nearly homogenous sandstones. The load structures consist of two types: large‐scale load casts and wedge‐shaped load structures. Large‐scale load casts penetrate up to 4·5 m into the underlying sandstone bed. Wedge‐shaped load structures include metre‐scale, parallel, sub‐vertical features and decimetre‐scale features along the periphery of the large‐scale load casts or other wedge‐shaped load structures. Wedge‐shaped load structures contain well‐developed, medial cataclastic shear deformation bands. All load structures contain pervasive well‐defined millimetre‐thick to centimetre‐thick internal laminae, oriented parallel to the outside form of the load structures and asymptotic to deformation bands. Both types of load structures formed because of an inverted density profile, earthquake‐triggered liquefaction and growth of irregularities (a Rayleigh–Taylor instability) on the sandstone–sandstone erosional contact. The internal laminae and deformation bands formed during deformation and clearly demonstrate polyphase deformation, recording a transition from liquefied to hydroplastic to brittle modes of deformation. Decimetre‐scale wedge‐shaped load structures on the edge of the large‐scale load casts probably formed towards the end of a seismic event after the sediment dewatered and increased the frictional contact of grains enough to impart strength to the sands. Metre‐scale wedge‐shaped load structures were created as the tips of downward foundering sediments were driven into fractures, which widened incrementally with seismic pulsation. With each widening of the fracture, gravity and a suction effect would draw additional sediment into the fracture. Superimposed laminae indicate a secondary syndeformational origin for internal laminae, probably by flow‐generated shearing and vibrofluidization mechanisms. Large‐scale and wedge‐shaped load structures, polyphase deformation and secondary laminae may characterize soft‐sediment deformation in certain fault‐proximal settings.     

The Molí del Baró-1 site,a diverse fossil assemblage from the uppermost Maastrichtian of the southern Pyrenees (north-eastern Iberia)

The Molí del Baró-1 site (north-eastern Iberia) has yielded one of the richest fossil assemblages of the continental upper Maastrichtian from western Europe. It includes abundant plant (charophytes, sporomorphs, angiosperm leaves, seeds and logs), invertebrate (mollusc shells, partial insect exoskeletons and eggs) and vertebrate (teeth, bones, eggshells) fossils. The fossil assemblage is composed of both parautochthonous and allochthonous remains that mostly deposited in a pool formed at the edge of a meandering river. Plant megafossil evidence suggest that at least three angiosperm species (a willow-like dicot, palms and a likely typhacean monocot) formed the plant community growing in this fluvial environment. Tooth remains indicate that crocodylomorphs were diverse (including atoposaurids, ziphosuchians and eusuchians) which together with small theropod dinosaurs likely consumed prey carcasses or scavenged near the depositional setting. Prismatoolithid eggshells also suggest the presence of nearby nesting area of theropods. On the other hand, hadrosauroids apparently dominated phytophagous faunas including lambeosaurines as well as more basal forms. The taxonomic composition of the Molí del Baró-1 site matches the expected for the timespan and environment and represents a relevant locality to know the diversity of the latest Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems in south western Europe.     

Small sized charophyte gyrogonites in the Maastrichtian of Coll de Nargó, Eastern Pyrenees: An adaptation to temporary floodplain ponds

Charophytes bearing small sized fructifications dominated in fluviatile floodplain facies (red beds) from the Maastrichtian of Coll de Nargó and neighbouring basins in the southern Pyrenees (Catalonia, Spain). These charophytes mainly belong to the genus Microchara and are often disregarded in biostratigraphic studies, which focus their attention instead on facies from permanent lakes that are richer in species which usually bear fructifications with a larger size range. However, small sized gyrogonites are also significant for biostratigraphic purposes and even include some of the index species for Maastrichtian biozones in Europe. Indeed, the charophyte assemblages from the Maastrichtian of Coll de Nargó belong to the Microchara punctata biozone, recently calibrated to the middle-upper Maastrichtian.Floodplain ponds from the Maastrichtian red beds of Coll de Nargó (Lower Red Unit) were extremely shallow, received considerable terrigenous influx and were frequently exposed, probably resulting in turbid, warm waters with high light availability. These conditions could explain the almost exclusive occurrence of charophytes with small fructifications in the Lower Red Unit. The available data, mainly based on oospores from extant species, indicate that the small size observed in gyrogonites from temporary ponds may represent an adaptation to environmental stress. Fossil species with small gyrogonites of Microchara cristata, M. punctata and Microchara nana would thus develop massively in stressed shallow ponds on fluvial floodplains. To contrast these hypotheses, we compared our results to those of four well-known case studies with similar sedimentological contexts, ranging from the Lower Cretaceous to the upper Eocene–lower Oligocene. Gyrogonite size patterns were similar in all cases, possibly suggesting that characeans display a long history of adaptation to shallow, temporary and turbid floodplain ponds by means of producing a high number of small gyrogonites, probably representing short life cycles and opportunistic strategies.     

上扬子会泽地区早三叠世飞仙关组砂岩物源特征:来自重矿物铬尖晶石和碎屑锆石的限定

上扬子会泽地区早三叠世飞仙关组主要为河流相的紫红色砂岩,物源主要来自于西部和西北部。碎屑重矿物组合表明物源主要来自于岩浆岩,且重矿物中发现大量碎屑铬尖晶石和锆石。本文运用电子探针微区成分分析和碎屑锆石U-Pb测年方法,对上扬子早三叠世飞仙关组砂岩中铬尖晶石和碎屑锆石进行分析。铬尖晶石电子探针化学成分分析显示,其具有高铬、低Fe~(3+)和高TiO_2含量的特征,源岩分析指示这些铬尖晶石来源于与洋岛/板内、岛弧以及大火成岩省相关的火成岩。同时,碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄测定表明,飞仙关组的物源主要来自于248~272Ma和715~997Ma的岩浆岩。铬尖晶石和碎屑锆石综合分析表明,248~272Ma的物源岩石具有大火成岩省玄武岩特征,主要为峨眉山玄武岩及同期基性侵入岩;715~997M的物源为洋岛/板内玄武岩类,主要为研究区周缘与新元古代苏雄组及其同期的岩浆岩;铬尖晶石指示的岛弧性质物源则可能源自1000~1100Ma的岩浆岩。同时,碎屑锆石还指示古元古代和早寒武世发育岩浆作用,且存在古老的新太古代结晶基底。这些资料为上扬子地区构造演化提供了沉积学的证据。     

中国东部高空颠簸时空分布特征及其与热带中东太平洋海温的关系

本文利用1979～2014年NCEP-DOE日平均再分析资料和中国区域2375份航空器空中颠簸报告资料,研究中国东部区域高空颠簸的时空分布特征及其与热带中东太平洋海温异常（简称“海温异常”;空间范围:5°S～5°N,120°～170°W）的关系以及产生这种关系的可能原因。结果表明:中国东部地区高空颠簸与东亚副热带西风急流之间存在显著时空相关关系,其原因是高空纬向风引起的垂直风切变是构成高空颠簸时空分布的主导因素。中国东部夏季高空颠簸与海温异常存在正相关关系;冬季呈现南北两个正负相关区:以30°N为界,北部区域存在显著的负相关,南部区存在显著的正相关,在30°N急流轴附近区域无显著相关关系。海温异常影响中国高空颠簸时空分布的可能原因是海温变化引起对流层高层温度出现异常,进而影响温度的经向梯度,导致东亚副热带西风急流强度和位置出现异常（夏季,急流轴南侧出现西风异常;冬季,急流轴北侧出现东风异常,南侧出现西风异常）。高空纬向风的变化导致纬向风的垂直梯度和经向梯度出现异常,最终影响高空颠簸的时空分布特征。对流层高层温度的异常变化可能是由与热带海温异常相关的平流层水汽变化所引起。     

青藏高原和亚洲夏季风动力学研究的新进展

亚洲夏季风环流受海陆和伊朗高原—青藏高原大地形的热力作用调控.亚洲季风所释放的巨大潜热又对大气环流形成反馈.这种相互反馈过程十分复杂,揭示其物理过程对理解气候变化格局的形成和变化以及提高天气预报及气候预测的准确率十分重要.夏季北半球副热带对流层上层环流的主要特征是存在庞大的南亚高压(SAH)以及强大的对流层上层温度暖中心(UTTM).本文介绍了温度—加热垂直梯度(T-Q_Z)理论的发展,并用以揭示SAH和UTTM的形成机制.指出沿副热带欧亚大陆东部的季风对流潜热加热及其中西部的表面感热加热和高层长波辐射冷却是导致SAH和UTTM在南亚上空发展的原因.文中还介绍了Gill模型用于上部对流层研究的局限性及解决的办法.     

东昆仑花石峡北部上二叠统格曲组源区特征:来自碎屑组成和岩石地球化学的证据

东昆仑南缘上二叠统（乐平统）格曲组为一套由砾岩、砂岩和钙质泥岩构成的扇三角洲-浅海碳酸盐台地相沉积组合,记录了东昆仑造山带海西-印支过渡期构造演化过程,是解析该构造演化过程的理想对象。通过分析花石峡北坦地克借地区格曲组碎屑岩的碎屑组成与主量、微量和稀土元素特征,探讨了其物源区属性。结果显示,砂岩类型为长石砂岩和岩屑长石砂岩,石英、长石和岩屑平均含量分别为50.9%、36.8%、12.4%,长石以钾长石为主,岩屑和砾石成分复杂。砂岩的SiO₂、Al₂O₃、TiO₂、TFe₂O₃、MgO、K₂O和Na₂O平均百分含量分别为62.06%、13.26%、0.44%、4.53%、3.02%、2.42%和3.18%;微量元素比值Th/Sc和Th/U较高,平均为1.06和7.71;稀土元素总量∑REE平均120.43×10-6,LREE/HREE和（La/Yb）_N均值分别为9.34和12,轻稀土相对富集,δEu平均为0.96,Eu异常不明显,REE特征与大陆岛弧背景区杂砂岩相似,与东昆仑地体加里东期俯冲-碰撞型火山弧花岗岩具有亲缘性。碎屑组分和主量、微量元素特征与判别图解揭示,格曲组砂岩物源区为海西旋回早期从东昆仑地体裂离的东昆南微地块,源岩以花岗岩为主,变质岩、沉积岩和酸性-基性火山岩较少,其中花岗岩形成构造背景为加里东期的大陆岛弧。结合区域地质和前人研究成果,认为格曲组为前陆盆地系统的隆后盆地沉积。     

西秦岭上白垩统红层空间分布及其对青藏高原东北缘隆升的地质约束

通过对西秦岭上白垩统红层地层基本沉积特征的研究和空间高程分布的定量化分析,讨论了西秦岭晚白垩世时期可能的构造地貌状态及西秦岭新生代以来地壳隆升的空间变化规律。取得如下认识:1根据西秦岭上白垩统底部洪积-冲积砾岩层之上普遍存在一套厚度不等的具有风成砂岩特征的红色中细粒砂岩和上部出现以泥岩、泥质粉砂岩为主的湖相沉积,结合现今多分布在不同水系分水岭之上,以及西秦岭中部宕昌-岷县-临潭断裂带两侧上白垩统红层地层顶面高程和底部角度不整合面高程没有显著差异分析,认为西秦岭无论在晚白垩之前经历了何种构造过程,晚白垩世具有整体稳定的泛沙漠-湖盆的古构造地貌状态,且断裂带不具备控制上白垩统沉积的构造边界性质;2现今离散型分布在西秦岭的上白垩统沉积地层反映的原型盆地不是孤立的、受区域断裂控制的山间盆地,而是统一的泛沙漠-内陆湖盆,现今的离散型分布是新生代以来地壳不均匀隆升和侵蚀的结果;3西秦岭上白垩统底部的角度不整合面产状,虽然由于后期构造变动呈非完全水平状态,但总体产状平缓。从大区域尺度分析,可以近似看做原始近水平的古地貌面。通过对该角度不整合面高程信息提取和模拟分析,结果表明,其高程分布具有从南西到北东、从北西到南东逐渐降低,穿越区域断裂带没有显著梯度变化,指示了西秦岭新生代以来的隆升具有整体性和隆升幅度呈连续梯度变化的特征。这可能指示了西秦岭新生代以来的地壳隆升机制主要不是上地壳挤压逆冲缩短,而是在印度板块-欧亚板块碰撞汇聚的动力学背景下,下地壳或上地幔自西南向北东连续流变逐渐增厚,造成了青藏高原东北缘呈向北东突出的弧形扩展隆升。     

东昆仑东段布青山地区上二叠统格曲组物源分析及其构造意义

对东昆仑东段布青山得力斯坦地区出露的上二叠统格曲组砾岩层进行砾石成分、砾度统计及系统的LA-ICP-MS锆石UPb年龄谱分析。结果表明,格曲组砾岩层砾石成分以石英岩和花岗岩为主,硅质岩和基性岩次之,砂岩和灰岩较少,砾石的分散系数为1.54~2.02,该套砾岩为近源快速堆积的产物。砾岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄可分为3组:1早奥陶世—晚志留世年龄组为499~409Ma,峰值年龄为426Ma,对应早古生代末期原特提斯洋向北俯冲碰撞产生的一系列构造岩浆事件;2新元古代年龄组为744~619Ma,峰值年龄为744Ma,对应于全球Rodinia超大陆裂解事件;3古元古代年龄组为2443Ma,对应东昆仑地区古元古代构造岩浆热事件。结合碎屑锆石年龄及沉积学特征综合分析,花岗质砾石来源于北侧东昆仑造山带加里东期岩浆弧,沉积岩砾石则可能来自造山带早期的沉积地层,石英岩及其他变质岩砾石则多来自东昆仑基底变质岩系。综合判别,格曲组为一套沉积于活动大陆边缘环境的滨浅海相磨拉石建造,代表南侧古特提斯洋向北俯冲开始的构造阶段,是初始俯冲的沉积构造响应。     

大兴安岭北段上侏罗统哈日陶勒盖玄武岩的厘定及其地质意义

大兴安岭北段西部新巴尔虎右旗地区新厘定出非正式填图单元——上侏罗统哈日陶勒盖玄武岩,其岩石组合为灰黑色、深绿灰色、紫褐色玄武岩以及气孔杏仁状玄武岩、碱性橄榄玄武岩、玄武粗安岩等。锆石SHRIMP U Pb定年法测得其年龄数据为(1467±31) Ma,时代为晚侏罗世。岩石地球化学分析显示,哈日陶勒盖玄武岩属高钾钙碱性系列,岩石中Sr含量低,富集大离子亲石元素Rb、K、Ba,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ti,稀土元素含量总体较高,轻重稀土分馏明显,略具有铕负异常。上侏罗统哈日陶勒盖玄武岩的厘定说明,大兴安岭地区存在晚侏罗世基性火山岩浆活动事件。通过区域地质调查和地层对比,上侏罗统哈日陶勒盖玄武岩与上侏罗统伊列克得组原始定义相符,二者实则为同物异名,建议恢复上侏罗统伊列克得组。这一认识对大兴安岭中生代构造岩浆活动的研究及中生代火山岩地层划分对比具有重要地质意义。