Evolutionary pattern of fusulinacean foraminifer in Maokouan, middle Permian

A composite standard section (CSS) has been established for the Maokouan (≈ Guadalupian) in Guizhou Province, southwestern China, which includes stratigraphical ranges of 179 fusulinacean species from five sections of the Maokou Formation in this area. Based on statistical results of the first and last appearances of fusulinacean species in the CSS, three evolutionary radiations and four pulses of extinction, characterized by high rates of species origination and extinction significantly different from the rates of background evolution, are recognized in the Maokouan fusulinacean fauna. The evolutionary pattern of fusulinacean foraminifer suggests that the Maokouan mass extinction probably started at the middle Maokouan and dramatically intensified in the late Maokouan. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49572075) and the Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 9528417).     

Inter-taxa differences in extinction process of Maokouan (Middle Permian) fusulinaceans

Analyses of the extinction process of fusulinacean in the Maokouan (Middle Permian) biotic crisis have revealed remarkable differences between taxa with various morphological features. Nankinellinids suffered a heavy loss of species in the early stage of the Maokouan event. Schwagerinids and neoschwagerinids both showed a stepwise decrease in species diversity, but the pulses of species extinction occurred in different stages of the extinction process. The species extinction of verbeekinids happened primarily in the Late Maokouan.     

Evolutionary patterns of Productida (Brachiopoda) morphology during the Permian in South China

The evolutionary patterns of Productida (brachiopod) morphology throughout the Permian show that while the percentage proportion of Productida (brachiopod) with strongly concentric and radial ornamentation declined from the Cisuralian to the Guadalupian, and then increased towards the Changhsingian via Wuchiapingian, the percentage proportion of Productida (brachiopod) with fine concentric and radial ornamentation distinctly increased from the Cisuralian to the Guadalupian, slightly declined towards the Wuchiapingian, and then increased towards the Changhsingian. From the Cisuralian to the Changhsingian, the percentage proportion of brachiopods with spinose ornamentation shows a persistent declining trend. The shell size generally indicates a miniaturization trend at species level during the Wuchiapingian to Changhsingian (including the transitional bed). These evolutionary patterns of brachiopod ornamentation and size are possibly related to the anoxia, food shortage, sea-level fluctuation, and change of substrate in the Permian (including the Permian-Triassic transitional interval) in South China.     

Microbial and molecular fossils from the Permian Zoophycos in South China

The trace fossil Zoophycos was enriched in the lower part of the Guadalupian Maokou Formation of Permian in Laibin, Guangxi of South China, and characterized by observable lamellae within its spreiten. Associated with these lamellae are the prolific coccus- and spirillum-shaped microbe fossils. These microbes morphologically identified are 0.4―3.0 μm in diameter or length. Molecular fossils, including normal alkanes (dominated by C18, without an odd-over-even predominance), acyclic isoprenoids (such as pristane (Pr) and phytane (Ph)), extended tricyclic terpanes, pentacyclic triterpanes, steranes, al-kylcyclohexanes, dibenzothiophenes, benzonaphthothiophenes, benzobisbenzothiophenes, were in-strumentally identified in the wackestone characterized by the occurrence of abundant Zoophycos (composite ichnofabric indices are 4) and crowded microbial fossils. The value of the Pr/Ph ratio is less than 1, indicative of a dysoxic condition. The identification of abundant sulfur compounds (the thio-phene series) related to the contribution of reductive sulfur favors the occurrence of sulphate-reducing bacteria. The association of abundant microbial colonies with microbial molecular fossils within the spreiten suggests that trace fossils Zoophycos would be a multifunctional garden carefully constructed by the Zoophycos-producer, where different microbial colonies were orderly and carefully planted and cultured in different minor lamellae within spreiten. Hence, it is proposed that the Zoophycos-producer symbiosed with microbial colonies on the mutual basis of food supply and the redox conditions.     

The geobiological formation process of the marine source rocks in the Middle Permian Chihsia Formation of South China

The Chihsia Formation is one of the four sets of regional marine hydrocarbon source rocks from South China.In the past two decades,detailed geochemical and sedimentological studies have been carried out to investigate its origination,which have demonstrated that the high primary productivity plays a primary role in the deposition of sediments enriched in the organic matter.However,the mechanism of this high productivity and the path of the deposition and burial of the organic matter have always been a mystery.Based on the previous studies on the Shangsi Section in Guangyuan City,Sichuan Province,we proposed that the development of the equatorial upwelling due to the sea level rise is responsible for the relatively high productivity in the Chihsia Formation.The sea waters with high nutrient were transported by the sub-surface currents along the equator.High organic carbon flux was deposited on the deeper shelf,and then decomposed by bacteria,leading to the occurrence of anaerobic respiration.The metabolism of the microorganisms consumed the dissolved oxygen in waters,which was in favor of the preservation of the organic matter.This suggested geobiological model integrating with paleoclimatology,paleoceanography and geomicrobiology will help us to understand the causes of this particular sedimentary sequence.     

Community replacement sequences and paleoenvironmental changes in reef areas of South China from Late Permian to Early Triassic exemplified by Panlongdong section in northeastern Sichuan Basin

The well-known Permian Changhsingian calcisponge reef located at Panlongdong section,Xuanhan county,northeastern Sichuan Basin has attracted wide attention.Due to severe dolomitization and poor quality of the fossils,the P-T boundary in this section is difficult to determine.This study,for the first time,recognized six communities in the Upper Permian Changhsingian Changxing Formation through the Lower Triassic Induan Feixianguan Formation of the Panlongdong section.They are Bryozoan-Archaeolithoporella-calcisponge Community,Calcareous green algae-foraminifer-crinoid Community,Microgastropod-foraminifer Community,Ostracod-microgastropod-cystic microbe Community,Ostracod-small brachiopod Community,and Non-calcified cyanobacteria Community.By using community replacement and palaeoenvironmental analysis,for the first time,we set the P-T boundary of the Panlongdong section at the middle of the calcimicrobialite containing cystic microbes.The community replacement sequence in the Panlongdong section is similar to that in other contemporaneous sections in reef areas of South China,indicating universal palaeoenvironmental changes during the Permian-Triassic transition.The results show that:(1)Changhsingian calcisponge reefs in South China generally vanished before the mass extinction and may be related to the large regression in the Late Permian.(2)The Calcareous green algae-foraminifer-crinoid Community replaced reef community and continued till the mass extinction.The mass extinction was probably related to the global sea-level drop.(3)The first aftermath community was dominated by specialized microgastropods,followed by the microbes,and then by the specialized microgastropods and small brachiopods.The succession of the three communities reflected the change in environmental conditions from dysoxic to anoxic and again to dysoxic.(4)In the Early Triassic,the relict community in shallow sea had very low diversity and low abundance,and was dominated by crinoids,gastropods,and bivalves.     

Structure and evolution of Middle Permian palaeo- seamounts in Bayan Har and its adjacent area

1 Regional geology Bayan Har Middle Permian palaeo-seamounts are located in the area of Zaling Lake, near the source of Yellow River (Fig.1). The main strata outcropped in this area are Triassic sandstone and slate. Some Mid-dle Permian limestone blocks are towering above the Triassic sandstone and slate, which become one par-ticular topographical scenery in this area. These lime-stone blocks are distributed not only in Bayan Har but also in A’nyêmaqên and the southern slope of East …     

Extinction pattern and process of siliceous sponge spicules in deep-water during the latest Permian in South China

Diverse and abundant siliceous sponge spicules were found in the latest Permian beds, Dongpan and Ma'anying sections, South China, including 52 types and 85 forms. Further investigation on these spicules allows us to understand extinction patterns and processes of deep-water sponges. These sponge spicules rapidly decreased below the Permian/Triassic boundary (PTB), and the extinction rates reach up to 88%-90% for types and 88%-92% for forms. Their extinction pattern is a gradual one that consists of two stages: the first is characterized by a gentle and slow extinction speed and low extinction rate, and the second by sharp and fast extinction speed and high extinction rate. The morphological extinction process is involved in the disappearance first of the triaxons and tetraxons, then of the polyaxons and demas, and last of monaxons. In exterior structure extinction, the complex spicules with branches and spines became extinct more easily than did smooth spicules. After the end-Permian mass extinction, only five common and smooth forms survived: Oxeas A, Oxeas B, Strongles B, Oxy-orthpentactines and Oxy-orthohexactines A.     

华南强震动力分析

根据华南陆缘扩张的动力来源和现代构造运动特征及强震震源断层最新活动性质,通过对华南地震活动与地球自转速率变化、GPS观测基线变化、理论面应变的关系分析,认为地幔流向洋侧的蠕散是造成华南现今地壳变形和张剪性构造运动为主的原因,而区域地球的波动膨胀拉张是引发强震的动力。     

Alkaline syenites in eastern Cathaysia (South China): link to Permian–Triassic transtension

Two alkaline syenite plutons, the Tieshan and Yangfang plutons, have recently been recognized within NE-trending fault zones in eastern Cathaysia, South China. The rocks are very enriched in K₂O (6.28–9.39 wt.%), rare earth elements (REE; particularly light REE) and large ion lithophile elements, but are relatively low in high field strength elements. Isotopically, they are characterized by high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7093 to 0.7123) and low _Nd(t) values (−5.64 to −10.63). The geochemical data suggest that the alkaline syenites most likely formed via fractional crystallization of enriched mantle-derived magmas. Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe zircon U–Pb dating indicates that these two intrusions have Late Permian (254±4 Ma) and Early Triassic (242±4 Ma) crystallization ages, respectively. Our data suggest that a tectonic regime dominated by transtension probably existed from at least the latest Permian into the Triassic and was responsible for the formation of the Tieshan and Yangfang alkaline syenites. When combined with previous paleomagnetic, structural, and sedimentology data, we suggest that the transtension along the NE-trending strike-slip fault zones was related to oblique subduction of the Pacific plate underneath South China.     

Establishment and adjustment of monsoon-driven circulation in the South China Sea

The South China Sea (SCS) is one of the large marginal seas of the western Pacific Ocean. In comparison with open oceans, the SCS circulation has obviously transient characteristics due to its small basin-scale and semi-annually reversed monsoon forcing. …     

Geochemical characteristics of Cretaceous basaltic rocks in South China and constraints on Pacific plate subduction

The South China, including Yangzi Craton and the Cathaysian Block, belongs to the southern part of East Asia continent. It borders Pacific plate on the east side and Qinling-Dabie Orogen on the north side. During the middle-late Cretaceous, a number of downfaulted red basins (the terrestrial sedimentary basins in Fig. 1) and volcanic- sedimentary basins had been developed in South China[1,2], in which the con-temporaneous basaltic rocks were generally distributed (Fig. 1). Although the …     

Metallogenic systems related to Mesozoic and Cenozoic granitoids in South China

CenteredbytheNanlingRange,SouthChinaisanimportantareaofmineralresourcesproduction,especiallyfornonferrous,precious,andraremetals.Manydepositsoflargeandsuper-largesizesarelocatedinthisarea,includingtheworldlargestantimonydeposit(Xikuangshan),severalworld-c…     

Sea-level changes and hydrothermal sedimentary mineralization of large-superlarge ore deposits among Sinian to Triassic in South China

Among the Sinian to Triassic strata in South China, the stratiform, quasi-stratiform and lenticular metallic deposits in association with hydrothermal sedimentation mainly occur in the four periods: (1) the Sinian Datangpo interglacial period, (2) the early period of Early Cambrian, (3) the late period of Middle Devonian to early period of Late Devonian,and (4) the late period of Early Permian. The four mineralization periods all happened around the maximum flooding period in the third-order seal-level cycle during the ascending stage in the first-order sea-level cycle. The deep seawater layer, starved and non-compensatory basin, low sedimentary rate, and low energy and anoxic environment during the maximum flooding period are very suitable for the formation and preservation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits. The maximum flooding period also coincided with the intensified regional tectonism, extensive deep magmatism and hydrothermal sedimentation, which provide, for the formation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits through the rapid accumulation of hydrothermal sediments, the needed dynamics, ore-forming materials and favorable passway for hydrothermal fluids to enter the basin.     

综合地球物理方法对南海西北部-印支半岛地区中生界分布的研究

南海西北部是我国海洋油气的重要基地.为了研究该区前新生代尤其是中生代油气资源潜力,本文以岩石物性的差异为基础,建立地质界面与物性界面的联系,利用综合地球物理方法来分析目标物性界面的分布特征.在地震资料控制浅层沉积结构的约束下,根据重力资料,通过小波分析位场剥离等方法得到剩余场,由Parker界面反演法反演计算了研究区的重力基底,结合新生代沉积分布得出中生界分布特征并给出了中生代残留盆地的可能分布范围,为分析研究区中生代油气资源潜力提供参考.     

Sediment mass and distribution in the South China Sea since the Oligocene

The sediment macro-distribution patterns and their evolutionary characteristics in the South China Sea (SCS) are discussed based on a quantification of the sediment mass from the be- ginning of seafloor spreading in the Oligocene to the Present. Above the pre-Oligocene base, the total sediment mass for the whole SCS is estimated to be 1.44×1016 t, with the highest average accumulation rate of ~22 g·cm-2·ka-1 in the Oligocene. Having no large abyssal fans but fast accumulation in sedimentary basins on the continental shelf and slope, the SCS shows quite different sedimentary characters not only from the open ocean but also from small backarc basins along the marginal West Pacific, apparently controlled by the coupling between local tectonics and global climate changes.     

关于南海北部滨海断裂带的研究

南海北部的滨海断裂带是位于南澳岛之东粤东南滨海地区的一条北东东走向的构造带。由于其所处的构造位置而一直被地球科学工作者所关注,并从不同角度作了不少研究。在广泛收集有关断裂带的资料和研究成果的基础上,对前人关于断裂带存在的依据、断裂带发育的时代、断裂带的构造属性和第四纪活动情况的认识作了简要归纳,并就断裂带的分布、构造属性等作了初步分析。     

华南地区电离层在汶川地震前VTEC异常的研究

基于华南地区GPS监测网数据．解算出华南地区电离层VTEC在汶川地震前出现的异常。从时间序列和空间等值线分布两方面分析了VTEC的变化．时间序列分析表明5月4日至5月12日电离层VTEC负异常扰动明显．5月4日至5月13日的空间分布也表明了同样的结论,并同时指出负异常有向低纬度区域漂移的趋势。并对异常判断依据和机理作了初步的讨论．     

Earthquake-controlled event deposits and its tectonic significance from the Middle Permian Wandrawandian Siltstone in the Sydney Basin,Australia

Earthquake is a disaster event resulting from rapid and intensive crustal vibration caused by fault activity, volcanic eruption, or block dilapidation. Heezen and Ewing[1] and Heezen and Dyke[2] were the first to note earthquake-related mass movement and associated deposits in connection to the turbidity currents and submarine slumps triggered by the Grand Bank Earthquake in 1929. Seilacher[3] defined redeposited sedimentary beds, disturbed and modified by earth- quakes, as seismite. Since t…     

南海磁性基底分布特征的地球物理研究

利用南海最新的磁力资料,在岩石物性分析基础上,选择南海一条典型剖面拟合反演其密度与磁性结构并以拟合结果作为约束,反演全海域磁性基底的宏观分布.对南海磁力数据进行了低纬度化极处理,利用Halo小波基对化极磁异常进行了多尺度分析并依据磁力异常特征进行了磁场分区.根据剖面与全海域磁性基底反演结果认为：南海北部陆缘更倾向于非火山型的构造属性.磁性基底对浅部沉积作用的控制关系在莺歌海一带表现得非常明显.中—西沙和南沙块体的磁性基底特征十分相似,推测在海盆拉张之前,二者为同一块体.