Triassic Scleractinian Corals in China: A Review of Present Knowledge

Scleractinian corals appeared during the Anisian period of the Triassic after the end-Permian mass extinction, which in Triassic were distinct from the Jurassic-Cretaceous scleractinian corals. The study on Triassic scleractinian coral fauna as a separate field is significant for exploring the development and evolution of modern corals and investigating environmental changes since the Mesozoic. The first Triassic coral in China was reported in 1925, and since then, nearly 25 articles dealing with taxonomy and 17 papers about fossil reports on Triassic scleractinian corals in China have been published, which refer to 60 genera and 312 species, 49 localities and 25 strata. In this paper, the history, taxonomy, localities, stratigraphic distribution, current research, and existing knowledge gaps of the Triassic scleractinian corals in China are reviewed. More specifically, the research findings of the Triassic scleractinain coral in China since 1925 are discussed; the species of the Triassic scleractian coral fossil reported in China, has been examined and its synonyms have been sorted out; the geographical distributions of the Middle and Late Triassic scleractinian corals in China are systematically treated; the Triassic coral biostratigraphy in China has been improved; and the stratigraphic ranges of existing genera and species are provided. The above conclusions are presented in the form of complete figures. At the same time, we analyzed shortcomings in current research and identified productive future research directions of the Triassic scleractinian corals in China.     

Main Structural Styles and Deformation Mechanisms in the Northern Sichuan Basin, Southern China

The Triassic Jialingjiang Formation and Leikoupo Formation are characterized by thick salt layers. Three tectono-stratigraphic sequences can be identified according to detachment layers of Lower-Middle Triassic salt beds in the northern Sichuan Basin, i.e. the sub-salt sequence composed of Sinian to the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation, the salt sequence of the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation and Mid-Triassic Leikoupou Formation, and the supra-salt sequence composed of continental clastics of the Upper-Triassic Xujiahe Formation, Jurassic and Cretaceous. A series of specific structural styles, such as intensively deformed belt of basement-involved imbricated thrust belt, basement-involved and salt-detached superimposed deformed belt, buried salt-related detached belt, duplex, piling triangle zone and pop-up, developed in the northern Sichuan Basin. The relatively thin salt beds, associated with the structural deformation of the northern Sichuan Basin, might act as a large decollement layer. The deformation mechanisms in the northern Sichuan Basin included regional compression and shortening, plastic flow and detachment, tectonic upwelling and erosion, gravitational sliding and spreading. The source rocks in the northern Sichuan Basin are strata underlying the salt layer, such as the Cambrian, Silurian and Permian. The structural deformation related to the Triassic salt controlled the styles of traps for hydrocarbon. The formation and development of hydrocarbon traps in the northern Sichuan Basin might have a bearing upon the Lower-Middle Triassic salt sequences which were favorable to the hydrocarbon accumulation and preservation. The salt layers in the Lower-Middle Triassic formed the main cap rocks and are favorable for the accumulation and preservation of hydrocarbon.     

Sedimentary Facies Architectures of Third-Order Sequences from Early to Middle Triassic in Nanpanjiang Basin

There are complex and regular changes on sedimentary facies from the Early to the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang basin. After the obvious drowned event of carbonate platforms in the transitional period between Permian and Triassic, carbonate platforms have evolved into the ramp type from the rimmed-shelf type. The differentiation of sedimentary facies becomes dearer in space, which are marked by the changes from an attached platform to a turbidity basin and several isolated platforms in the basin. The striking characteristics are the development of oolitic banks on isolated platforms in Nanning and Jingxi and the reef- and bank-limestones in the margin of the attached platform in the Early Triassic. Despite the difference of the time-span and the architectnre of fades succession of third-order sedimentary sequences, the process of the third-order relative sea-level changes reflected by the sedimentary facies succession of the third-order sequences is generally synchronous. Therefore, six third-order sequences could be discerned in the strata from the Early to the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang basin. Using two types of facies changing surfaces and two types of diachronisms in stratigraphic records as the key elements, the sedimentary facies architectures of the third-order sequences that represent sequence stratigraphic frameworks from the Early to the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang basin could be constructed.     

Late Triassic Intracontinental Deformation of South Tianshan, Central Asia: Evidence from Syn-tectonic Sedimentation and Detrital Zircon Provenances of the Kuqa Depression

The Tianshan range, a Paleozoic orogenic belt in Central Asia, has undergone multiple phases of tectonic activities characterized by the N–S compression after the early Mesozoic, including the far-field effects of the Cenozoic Indian–Asian collision. However, there are limited reports on the tectonic deformation and initiation of Triassic intracontinental deformation in the Tianshan range. Understanding this structural context is crucial for interpreting the early intracontinental deformation history of the Eurasian continent during the early Mesozoic. Growth strata and syn-tectonic sediments provide a rich source of information on tectonic activities and have been extensively used in the studies of orogenic belts. Based on detail fieldwork conducted in this study, the middle–late Triassic Kelamayi Formation of the northern Kuqa Depression in the southern Tianshan fold-thrust belt has been identified as the typical syn-tectonic growth strata. The youngest detrital zircon component in two lithic sandstone samples from the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata yielded U-Pb ages of 223.4 ± 3.1 and 215.5 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively, indicating that the maximum depositional age of the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata is 226–220 and 218–212 Ma. The geochronological distribution of detrital samples from the Early–Middle Triassic and Late Triassic revealed abrupt changes, suggesting a new source supply resulting from tectonic activation in the Tianshan range. The coupling relationship between the syn-tectonic sedimentation of the Kelamayi Formation and the South Tianshan fold-thrust system provides robust evidence that the Triassic intracontinental deformation of the South Tianshan range began at approximately 226–220 Ma (during the Late Triassic) and ended at approximately 218–212 Ma. These findings provide crucial constraints for understanding the intraplate deformation in the Tianshan range during the Triassic.     

Lower Triassic and Induan-Olenekian Boundary in Chaohu, Anhui Province, South China

Since the West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu was proposed as the candidate of the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Induan-Olenekian boundary in 2003, the Lower Triassic of Chaohu has been extensively studied. Based on the studies on the Lower Triassic of Chaohu, (1) a continuous conodont zonation is established, which has become an important reference for Lower Triassic stratigraphic correlation over the world; (2) the First Appearance Datum of conodont Neospathodus waageni was suggested and has been basically accepted as the primary marker to define the Induan-Olenekian boundary; (3) a characteristic Lower Triassic excursion of carbon isotopes was brought to light and has been proven to be not only an excellent index for the stratigraphic correlation but also a unique indication for the perturbation of ecological environments in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction; (4) a magnetostratigraphic sequence is constituted with a certain biostratigraphic control in the low-latitude region and it presents an important correlation to the Boreal sequence; (5) a cyclostratigraphic study provides an alternative method to constrain the age of the chronostratigraphic units; and (6) a scheme of the Olenekian subdivision is recently suggested to define the boundary between the Smithian and Spathian Substages. In addition, Chaohu is also the type locality of the Chaohuan Stage, the upper stage of the Lower Triassic in the China Chronostratigraphic System. Thus, the Lower Triassic of Chaohu is not only a classic sequence in South China, but also a key reference sequence to the investigation of the corresponding stratigraphy and geological events over the world. The recent achievements are viewed here for an overall understanding of the sequence. Then the current situation of the Induan-Olenekian and Smithian-Spathian boundaries is discussed to provide a reference for later works.     

Episodic Carbonate Deposits on the Triassic Continental Slope in Southern China

Episodic carbonate deposits on the Triassic continental slope in southern China are mainly com-posed of gravity-flow limestones and contourite limestones. Gravity-flow limestones were well developed in thelower and middle Yangtze area in the Early Triassic and in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi area in the Early and Mid-dle Triassic. Five fundamental types of gravity-flow limestones are recognized: slide limestone, debris-flow lime-stone, grain-flow limestone. turbidite limestone and rockfall limestone. They form six types of assemblage beds:slide-debris-flow limestones, slide-debris-flow-turbidite limestone, slide-debris-flow-grain-flow-turbidite lime-stone, rockfall-debris-flow limestone, debris-flow-turbidite limestone, and debris-flow-grain-flow-turbidite lime-stone. The first two were formed mainly in the Early Triassic slopes. The Middle Triassic slopes were charcterizedby widespread rockfall limestone. Growth faults, storms, earthquakes and oversteepened slopes are considered to bethe probable triggers of the gravity flows. Contourite limestones appear as isolated lenses or thin and ripple-laminated beds of grainstones occurring inhemipelagic argillaceous limestones and lime mudstones. They were formed at the base of the slope. Palaeocurrentdata indicate that the contour currents are perpendicular to the slope. The contourite limestones are not as common asthe gravity-flow ones, but they are important in the reconstruction of the palaeogeographical and palaeotectonic set-tings in southern China.     

Comparing the Upper Triassic Deep-sea Flysch of theShannan Terrane with the Coeval Shallow Shelf Sediments ofthe Tethys Himalaya,Southern Tibet

The provenance and paleogeography of the Upper Triassic deep-sea flysch Langjiexue Group(LG) of the Shannan Terrane in the northeastern Himalaya orogen, south of Yarlung Zangbo, have been disputed in recent years since its affinity to the Tethys Himalaya was suspected during the early 2000 s. Based on the earlier discoveries of the Upper Permian–Triassic basalts and mafic dykes from the LG and of coeval detrital zircons from the Qulonggongba Formation(QF) in shallow shelf sediments of the Tethys Himalaya, the previous viewpoints on the basin and tectonics of the LG have been recently rejected. We compared the two units of the Upper Triassic, and our results reveal a number of differences,discrepancies, and inconsistencies in the debate, raising crucial questions on the postulation and provenance model of the remote Gondwanide Orogen for the LG. It is suggested that more observations and evidence are needed to further improve the paleogeographic understanding and relationship of the two units.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000266

Major,trace and rare earth element(REE) concentrations of Late Triassic sediments(finegrained sandstones and mudstones) from Hongcan Well 1 in the NE part of the Songpan-Ganzi Basin, western China,are used to reveal weathering,provenance and tectonic setting of inferred source areas. The Chemical Index of Alteration(CIA) reflects a low to moderate degree of chemical weathering in a cool and somewhat dry climate,and an A-CN-K plot suggests an older upper continental crust provenance dominated by felsic to intermediate igneous rocks of average tonalite composition.Based on the various geochemical tectonic setting discrimination diagrams,the Late Triassic sediments are inferred to have been deposited in a back-arc basin situated between an active continental margin(the Kunlun-Qinling Fold Belt) and a continental island arc(the Yidun Island Arc).The Triassic sediments in the study area underwent a rapid erosion and burial in a proximal slope-basin environment by the petrographic data. while the published flow directions of Triassic lurbidites in the Aba-Zoige region was not supported Yidun volcanic arc source.Therefore,we suggest that the Kunlun-Qinling tcrrane is most likely to have supplied source materials to the northeast part of the Songpan-Ganzi Basin during the Late Triassic.     

Permian/Triassic Boundary and Its Correlation in the Daxian-Xuanhan Area, Northeastern Sichuan Province, China

There are different opinions about the Permian/Triassic boundary and its correlation in the Daxian-Xuanhan area because of lacking typical lithological symbols and fossil criterions. Especially, it is very hard to determine the Permian/Triassic boundary in the Daxian-Xuanhan buried areas. This brings many difficulties to geological research and oil and gas exploration. Based on field investigation and studies of well cores, newly found fossils, lithological characteristics and well log analyses, the authors discussed the Permian/Triassic boundary in the Daxian-Xuanhan area and brought forward a specific scheme for its determination and regional correlation.     

东北地区的印支运动

东北地区的印支运动,一直受到地学界的关注(赵宗溥,1959;潘广,1963;黄振辉,1966),但由于缺乏三叠纪地层资料而未能作深入论述。近年来,本区三叠纪的调查研究有了重大进展,相继在东北南部发现或对比确定了早、中、晚三叠世的陆相地层(张武、董国义,1983);在东北北部,除早已报道的海相三叠系外,又发现早、晚三叠世的陆相堆积层和火山岩建造(长春地质学院等,1977;吴水波等,1980;陈巫基等,1981)¹⁾。     

川西北若尔盖一带三叠系层序及沉积环境分析

川西北地区三叠系广泛发育，其地层层序及岩性特征与相邻的西秦岭南部一带十分相似。根据若尔盖—南坪实测地层剖面资料的对比研究，将该区三叠系划分为：中三叠统光盖山组和上三叠统咀朗组、纳鲁组、卡车组４个岩石地层单位。通过沉积相标志的综合分析，该区中—晚三叠世时期主要有以下几种沉积类型：碳酸盐岩碎屑流沉积，等深流沉积，陆源碎屑浊流沉积，非重力流正常深海盆碳酸盐岩及碎屑岩沉积。表明该区为大陆斜坡至深海盆地环境     

The Triassic of the Thakkhola (Nepal). II: Paleolatitudes and comparison with other Eastern Tethyan Margins of Gondwana

During the Triassic, the Thakkhola region of the Nepal Himalaya was part of the broad continental shelf of Gondwana facing a wide Eastern Tethys ocean. This margin was continuous from Arabia to Northwest Australia and spanned tropical and temperate latitudes.A compilation of Permian, Triassic and early Jurassic paleomagnetic data from the reconstructed Gondwana blocks indicates that the margin was progressively shifting northward into more tropical latitudes. The Thakkhola region was approximately 55° S during Late Permian, 40° S during Early Triassic, 30° S during Middle Triassic and 25° S during Late Triassic. This paleolatitude change produced a general increase in the relative importance of carbonate deposition through the Triassic on the Himalaya and Australian margins. Regional tectonics were important in governing local subsidence rates and influx of terrigenous clastics to these Gondwana margins; but eustatic sea-level changes provide a regional and global correlation of major marine transgressions, prograding margin deposits and shallowing-upward successions. A general mega-cycle characterizes the Triassic beginning with a major transgression at the base of the Triassic, followed by a general shallowing-upward of facies during Middle and Late Triassic, and climaxing with a regression in the latest Triassic.     

西藏措勤断块中—上三叠统嘎热扎地组的建立

在西藏措勤断块新建了中三叠统—上三叠统卡尼阶岩石地层单位——嘎热扎地组.在建组剖面上,嘎热扎地组厚约485 m,下部岩性以碎屑岩为主,上部岩性为碎屑岩夹灰岩.嘎热扎地组与下伏上二叠统—下三叠统木纠错组、上覆上三叠统诺利阶麦龙岗组均为整合接触关系.该组尚未发现指示地层时代的化石,但前人在其下伏的木纠错组中发现了早三叠世牙...     

塔里木盆地北部三叠纪孢粉植物群及层序地层的划分

依据对塔里木盆地北部库车河剖面及沙１１井和沙３２井三叠纪地层和孢粉学的研究，将本区三叠纪孢粉划分为８个孢粉组合。其中，早三叠世２个组合，中三叠世３个组合，晚三叠世３个组合。三叠纪地层除产有丰富的孢子花粉外，在不同层位还有不同丰度和分异度的疑源类、轮藻、介形虫及植物化石等。依据不同层位中各类生物的不同丰度，建立了１１个生物埋藏群落，它们反映了不同的生态和埋藏环境。按照这些生物埋藏群落在剖面纵向上的演变，将塔里木盆地北部三叠纪地层划分为９个三级地层层序，恢复了三叠纪塔里木盆地北部古湖盆湖平面的升降历史     

国际三叠纪年代地层研究进展

简要概述了近年来国际三叠纪年代地层等方面所取得的一些重要进展:国际地层委员会三叠系分会已于上世纪90年代确定将三叠系划分为3统7阶,但至今仅确定了三叠系底界一个“金钉子”,安尼阶-拉丁阶界线层型有望在近期内被最后确认,而其他5条界线仍在加紧工作中;随着同位素测年技术和手段的不断改进,三叠纪一些重要的年代地层界线的地质年龄也在不断更新;亚阶虽然不是国际三叠系研究的重点,但亚阶的划分也是三叠纪年代地层研究的重要方面,尤其在下、中三叠统研究中已有较好的基础;以脊椎动物为基础的陆相三叠纪年代地层划分方案有待在推广应用中得以完善。全国地层委员会于2 0 0 0年提出了3统6阶的中国海相三叠系划分方案和3统7阶的中国陆相三叠系划分方案,为启动中国三叠纪年代地层学奠定了基础。     

青藏羌塘地块他利克甘利山早三叠纪牙形刺的发现及地质意义

青藏高原1∶25万加措、丁固幅区调填图过程中,在他利克甘利山原划为晚三叠世的地层中,首次发现了早三叠世常见牙形刺化石Parachirognathus delicatulus和Neospathodus bicostatus。根据所发现牙形刺动物特征及岩石特征,将原肖茶卡组划为硬水泉组和康鲁组,并将其时代从过去的晚三叠世修订为早三叠世。该发现填补了测区缺失早三叠世沉积记录的空白,为测区进一步研究三叠纪岩相古地理、地层划分与对比提供了新的地层依据。     

国际三叠系研究现状

简述了三叠系的划分 ,按国际地层委员会 ( ICS)关于全球层型剖面和点的要求 ,叙述了系间界线及阶间界线的研究进展和现状 ,并简介了以四足类脊椎动物为基础的陆相三叠系划分     

First record of stereospondyls (Tetrapoda,Temnospondyli) in the Upper Triassic of Southern Brazil

Stereospondyls survived the Permo-Triassic extinctions in a refuge probably located in the landmass that nowadays comprises Australia. Subsequently, they radiated to other parts of Pangaea, reaching their highest distribution and diversification during the Early Triassic. An incomplete interclavicle from the Caturrita Formation represents their first record in the Upper Triassic of Brazil. Previously, Upper Triassic South American stereospondyls were restricted to Argentina. This new record reinforces a former hypothesis that suggests the presence of a more diverse stereospondyl fauna in South America during the Late Triassic than previously assumed. Additionally, the presence of a stereospondyl and a phytosaur in the Caturrita Formation reinforces the hypothesis of a change to more humid climatic conditions in the Paraná Basin during the Upper Triassic. The record of Early Triassic stereospondyls in South America suggests that they first colonized Brazil and/or Uruguay, spreading from South Africa during the Early Triassic, subsequently reaching Argentina. Up till now, there is no record of Middle Triassic stereospondyls in either Argentina and Brazil, probably due to either taphonomic bias or insufficient prospecting. Despite the lack of direct evidence, one should not dismiss an earlier stereospondyl colonization of Argentina still during the Early or Middle Triassic.