Deltaic sedimentation in the Devonian of Western Libya

Middle and Upper Devonian deposits from the Aouinet Ouenine Formation in the southern Ghadames Basin of western Libya provide a well exposed example of a deltaic complex containing both progradational and transgressive facies. Progradational facies comprise both laterally accreting and incised distributary channels overlying prodelta deposits. Also present is a progradational beach environment showing build-up from an offshore shelf through nearshore shelf to shoreface and foreshore sub-environments. Over-lying these progradational facies are transgressive tidal-flat, washover-fan, foreshore and nearshore deposits.The characteristics and interrelationships of the different facies are explained by two sedimentation models: progradational facies existed contemporaneously during phases of active sediment supply whereas the transgressive facies existed contemporaneously during periods of diminished or absent detrital influx.     

The Messinian Sicilian stratigraphy revisited: new insights for the Messinian salinity crisis

Controversies around the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) are because of the difficulties in establishing genetic and stratigraphic relationships between its deep and shallow‐water record. Actually, the Sicilian foreland basin shows both shallow and deep‐water Messinian records, thus offering the chance to reconstruct comprehensive MSC scenarios. The Lower Gypsum of Sicily comprises primary and resedimented evaporites separated in space and time by the intra‐Messinian unconformity. A composite unit including halite, resedimented gypsum and Calcare di Base accumulated between 5.6 and 5.55 Ma in the main depocentres; it records the acme of the Messinian Salinity Crisis during a tectonic phase coupled with sea‐level falls at glacials TG14‐TG12. These deposits fully post‐date primary gypsum, which precipitated in shallow‐water wedge‐top and foreland ramp basins between 5.96 and 5.6 Ma. This new stratigraphic framework results in a three‐stage MSC scenario characterized by different primary evaporite associations: selenite in the first and third stages, carbonate, halite and potash salt in the second one associated with hybrid resedimented evaporites.     

Messinian deposits and erosion in northern Tunisia: inferences on Strait of Sicily during the Messinian Salinity Crisis

Outcrops, offshore wells, electric logs and seismic profiles from northern Tunisia provide an opportunity to decipher the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Strait of Sicily. Messinian deposits (including gypsum beds) near the Tellian Range reveal two successive subaerial erosional surfaces overlain by breccias and marine Zanclean clays, respectively. In the Gulf of Tunis, Messinian thick evaporites (mostly halite) are strongly eroded by a fluvial canyon infilled with Zanclean clays. The first erosional phase is referred to the intra-Messinian tectonic phase and is analogous to that found in Sicily. The second phase corresponds to the Messinian Erosional Surface that postdates the marginal evaporites, to which the entire Sicilian evaporitic series must refer. The Western and Eastern Mediterranean basins were separated during deposition of the central evaporites.     

Messinian events in the Black Sea

Past hydrological interactions between the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea are poorly resolved due to complications in establishing a high‐resolution time frame for the Black Sea. We present a new greigite‐based magnetostratigraphic age model for the Mio‐Pliocene deposits of DSDP Hole 380/380A, drilled in the southwestern Black Sea. This age model is complemented by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of a volcanic ash layer, allowing a direct correlation of Black Sea deposits to the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) interval of the Mediterranean Sea. Proxy records divide these DSDP deposits into four intervals: (i) Pre‐MSC marine conditions (6.1–6.0 Ma); (ii) highstand, fresh to brackish water conditions (~6.0–5.6 Ma); (iii) lowstand, fresh‐water environment (5.6–5.4 Ma) and (iv) highstand, fresh‐water conditions (5.4–post 5.0 Ma). Our results indicate the Black Sea was a major fresh‐water source during gypsum precipitation in the Mediterranean Sea. The introduction of Lago Mare fauna during the final stage of the MSC coincides with a sea‐level rise in the Black Sea. Across the Mio‐Pliocene boundary, sea‐level and salinity in the Black Sea did not change significantly.     

Late Miocene sedimentary architecture of the Ebro Continental Margin (Western Mediterranean): implications to the Messinian Salinity Crisis

The Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) resulted from a significant multi-phase drop and subsequent reflooding of the Mediterranean Sea from 5.96 to 5.33 Ma. Well-developed drainage networks, characterized by step-like profiles and abrasion platforms, are associated to this event. The Ebro Continental Margin (Western Mediterranean) presents an additional complexity since the capture of the drainage of the adjacent subaerial Ebro Basin took place sometime prior to the Messinian stage. Using 3D seismic reflection data, this work provides new insights into the origin of the step-like profile of the Messinian erosional surface (MES) and timing of the capture of the subaerial Ebro Basin. The results obtained indicate a sedimentary-active continental slope and delta progradation during Middle-Late Miocene, in a normal regressive context associated to a pre-Messinian proto-Ebro River. The mature development attained by the Messinian Ebro River network during the MSC corroborates that the capture of the Ebro Basin occurred prior to the MSC. The configuration of the clinoforms below the MES suggests that deltaic sediments of the Messinian Paleo-Ebro River deposited during the Tortonian and initial Messinian sea-level drawdown. The MES formed at the top of the Tortonian Highstand, where a fluvial network was deeply carved, and in the topset region of the Messinian Falling Stage Systems Tract, where minor erosion occurred. Fluvial deposits are outstandingly preserved on the main valleys of the MES. Therefore, the step-like profile of the MES was not created during Zanclean inundation, but during the latest stages of the main Messinian sea-level fall and lowstand.     

Probable late Messinian tsunamiites near Monte Dei Corvi, Italy, and the Nijar Basin, Spain: expected architecture of offshore tsunami deposits

Three distinct, 30- to 80-cm-thick, graded, multilayered, coarse-grained sandstone layers, intercalated in the late Messinian mudstones of the Colombacci formation in Lago Mare facies of the Trave section are interpreted as tsunamiites (Ts1?CTs3). Each of these layers is sheet-like and could be followed along strike over several tens of meters. The lower two layers (Ts1?CTs2) occur in the lower part of the Colombacci formation and the third (Ts3) just below a conspicuous white ??colombacci?? limestone near the top of the formation. The three sandstone layers represent unique sedimentary events within the 120-m-thick San Donato-Colombacci mudstones, which contain many thin, fine-grained, possibly storm-related turbidites. Each of the three clastic layers is overall graded and strongly cross-bedded. A single layer consists of a stack of several graded sublayers that are eroded into the underlying mudstones and into each other. Absence of hummocky cross-stratification (HCS) indicates that the layers are not produced during a large, catastrophic storm event. Current ripples such as dm-sized trough cross-beds suggest strong, prolonged, unidirectional currents, capable of carrying coarse conglomeratic sands. Climbing ripples in middle-fine sand units indicate a high suspension load settling under waning current strength. Each of the Ts1?CTs3 beds satisfies a combination of criteria, described in this paper, that allow interpretation as a tsunamiite in an offshore environment. Tsunamiite Ts2 is underlain by a 15-cm-thick meshwork of synsedimentary fissures, filled with coarse sand. Ground movements induced by strong earthquakes probably caused these crevasses. The uniqueness of each layer, the erosion of the base of each of the sublayers into underlying mudstones and previously deposited sublayer and the consistent stacking of graded sandstone beds within each of the three layers, underlain by earthquake-produced fissures, strongly point to deposition by traction currents produced by the surges of a large tsunami event, triggered by a large vertical fault movements. Vertical fault displacements most likely occurred along the thrust faults like the Sibilline thrust at the SW of the Laga foreland basin, which were active at late Messinian times. A series of cyclic graded turbidites, underlain by seismically induced sand-filled fissures in the Late Messinian Feos formation in SE Spain, are interpreted as tsunamiites produced by a tsunami or seiche.     

青藏高原渐新世构造岩相古地理

在研究区已发表的渐新统资料的基础上,分析了青藏高原渐新世残留盆地的构造背景、岩石地层序列,并对青藏高原渐新世构造岩相古地理特征进行了讨论,该时期总体地势格局仍为东高西低,塔里木、柴达木、羌塘、可可西里、成都等地区主体表现为大面积的压陷湖盆沉积,冈底斯、喜马拉雅和喀喇昆仑等大面积隆升,沿雅鲁藏布江自东向西的古雅江河形成。渐新世构造岩相古地理的演化特征揭示出该时期青藏高原及邻区构造隆升与沉积响应的耦合关系,划分出2个强隆升期,分别是强隆升期A(34～30Ma)和强隆升期B(25～23Ma)。     

A lithofacies model of upper jurassic productive deposits in the eastern part of the Shirotnoye Priobie region (Western Siberia)

On the basis of an integrated interpretation of well data, core analysis, geophysical well logging, and seismic data a new geological model of the JV₁¹⁻² stratum is suggested for one of the Shirotnoye Priobie areas in Western Siberia. The results of acoustic inverse and the rock elastic property research were used for the validation of lithofacies zonation. Supplementary exploration of the area and production drilling are recommended.     

青藏高原古新世构造岩相古地理

在系统分析青藏高原及邻区古新世残留盆地类型、形成构造背景、岩石地层序列的基础上,对青藏高原古新世构造岩相古地理演化特征进行讨论:青藏高原西北部的西昆仑,北部的阿尔金、祁连、西秦岭,东北部的松潘-甘孜和南部的冈底斯陆缘弧带,以及北部的阿拉善古陆和南部的上扬子古陆和印度古陆为隆起剥蚀区。西宁-兰州、成都和班戈地区零星分布个别构造压陷湖盆。高原西部和南部为新特提斯海。南部的特提斯-喜马拉雅海区的古地理格局为萨嘎以西为残余洋盆,以东为前陆盆地。由此提出,白垩纪晚期—古新世印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞起始于东部构造结,新特提斯洋的闭合是自东向西进行的。     

How did the Messinian Salinity Crisis end?

The cause of the desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea during the Messinian Salinity Crisis has been widely debated, but its re-flooding remains poorly investigated. Interpretations generally involve tectonic collapse of the Strait of Gibraltar or global sea-level rise, or even a combination of both. The dramatic sea-level fall in the Mediterranean has induced deep fluvial incision all around the desiccated basin. We investigate erosion dynamics related to this base level drop by using the numerical simulator EROS. We show that intense regressive erosion develops inevitably in the Gibraltar area eventually inducing the piracy of the Atlantic waters by an eastward-flowing stream and the subsequent re-flooding of the Mediterranean.     

Age refinement of the Messinian salinity crisis onset in the Mediterranean

We propose a revised age calibration of the Messinian salinity crisis onset in the Mediterranean at 5.971 Ma based on the recognition of an extra gypsum cycle in the transitional interval of the Perales section (Sorbas basin, Spain) and the revision of the magnetostratigraphy of the Monticino section (Vena del Gesso basin, Italy). This age re‐calibration allows to state more accurately that: (i) the interval encompassing the MSC‐onset is continuous, thus ruling out any erosional feature or stratigraphic hiatus related to a major sea‐level fall affecting the Mediterranean; (ii) the first gypsum was deposited during the summer insolation peak at 5.969 Ma associated with an eccentricity minimum and roughly coincident with glacial stage TG32; (iii) the MSC‐onset was preconditioned by the tectonically‐driven reduction of the hydrological exchanges with the Atlantic Ocean and finally triggered by glacial conditions in the northern hemisphere and by arid conditions in northern Africa.     

青藏高原中新世构造岩相古地理

系统分析青藏高原新生代中新世50余个沉积盆地的类型、构造背景、岩石地层序列,对青藏高原中新世构造岩相古地理演化特征进行分析和探讨。中新世,青藏高原海相沉积已经全面退出,全部转为陆相沉积,约23Ma时高原及周边不整合面广布,标志高原整体隆升。塔里木、柴达木及西宁-兰州、羌塘、可可西里等地区主体表现为大面积的构造压陷湖盆沉积。约17.2Ma左右,阿尔金山显著隆升,使柴达木盆地西叉沟一带再无生物礁灰岩出现,且在盆地西部出现了短暂的沉积间断。这一时期,柴达木盆地西部开始进入湖退期,而东南部则快速湖进;同时,大约17.7Ma索尔库里山间盆地初始凹陷形成。另外,高原腹地五道梁-沱沱河盆地受南部唐古拉山的挤压抬升,在16Ma左右结束了五道梁组的沉积,在可可西里—唢呐湖一带则再次凹陷接受唢呐湖组沉积,形成高原腹地的大型压陷湖盆。13～10Ma期间,藏南南北向断陷盆地的形成,是高原隆升到足够高度开始垮塌的标志;约8Ma以来,高原东北部几乎所有湖盆均进入湖退期,普遍出现冲积扇、辫状河和水下扇砂砾岩堆积。     

鄂西宜昌斜坡带五峰组—龙马溪组页岩优势岩相及其生气潜力

【研究目的】不同页岩岩相的矿物组分、含气性和可压性等的差异,决定不同岩相的开发潜力不同,页岩岩相的划分及评价对找寻页岩气勘探开发甜点具有重要指导意义。【研究方法】基于钻井、岩心和分析测试资料,综合利用地质理论结合硅质矿物-黏土矿物-碳酸盐矿物含量三端元图解,对鄂西宜昌斜坡带上奥陶统五峰组—下志留统龙马溪组下段含气页岩岩相进行划分,结合有机碳含量、含气量、岩心镜下特征等划分优势岩相。优选有机质丰度、硅质矿物含量、黏土矿物含量3项指标与页岩含气量进行相关性分析,建立了五峰组—龙马溪组含气页岩优势岩相的分级标准。【研究结果】研究区优势岩相均为II类优势岩相,II₁类（最优）优势岩相为S-2混合硅质页岩相和S-3含黏土硅质页岩相,位于龙马溪组一亚段和五峰组上段,厚6 m;II₂类（次优）优势岩相为S硅质页岩相,位于五峰组下段,厚4 m。【结论】宜昌斜坡带和涪陵地区具有相似的岩相垂向演化序列,优势岩相均位于五峰组—龙马溪组一亚段,但同一岩相组合的页岩厚度和品质差异较大,发生在鲁丹阶早期的湘鄂西水下隆起和鲁丹阶晚期的水下隆起是造成宜昌地区优势岩相的厚度和品质均要差于涪陵地区的主要原因。创新点：建立五峰组—龙马溪组含气页岩优势岩相的分级标准,提出龙马溪组一亚段和五峰组是优势岩相发育层位。     

青藏高原始新世构造岩相古地理

在前人研究成果的基础上,分析青藏高原始新世残留盆地的构造背景、岩石地层序列和青藏高原始新世期间的构造岩相古地理特征。松潘-甘孜和冈底斯带为大面积构造隆起蚀源区,塔里木东部、柴达木、羌塘、可可西里地区主体表现为大面积的构造压陷湖盆-冲泛平原沉积,高原西部和南部为新特提斯海。从构造岩相古地理演化的角度揭示青藏高原始新世构造隆升与沉积响应的耦合关系,划分出2个强隆升期,分别是强隆升期Ⅰ(55-51Ma)和强隆升期Ⅱ(45-34Ma)。     

Limestone lithofacies from the South African continental margin

Carbonate sedimentation has played an important part in the Cainozoic history of the South African offshore areas. The Agulhas Bank sector of the continental shelf and upper slope is covered by a patchy veneer of relict and Recent sediment. Under this thin cover of sediment lies a succession of Cainozoic carbonate rocks very different from those exposed onshore. The Agulhas Bank rocks have been divided into the following lithofacies: (1) lagoonal-quartzose lime wackestones; (2) pelagicforaminiferal lime packstones; and (3) infralittoral-skeletal lime packstones. The rocks within each lithofacies are not necessarily time-equivalents; indeed any one lithofacies may have a considerable time range.     

青藏高原上新世构造岩相古地理

在前人研究成果的基础上,划分出青藏高原及邻区上新世残留盆地共95个,探讨了青藏高原及邻区上新世构造岩相古地理演化。青藏高原上新世总体构造地貌格局主要受控于印度板块与欧亚板块沿雅鲁藏布江缝合带的碰撞及持续挤压,影响着青藏高原广大范围内的构造抬升。东北部昆仑山、祁连山地区是两大构造隆起蚀源区,两大山系夹持的柴达木盆地是高原东北部最大的陆内盆地,祁连山以北和以东地区则以盆山相间的格局接受周围山系的剥蚀物质,直到晚上新世(青藏运动"A"幕)高原东北部进一步强烈隆升,山间盆地抬升成为剥蚀区。新疆塔里木和青藏高原东部羌塘、可可西里地区主体表现为大面积的构造压陷湖盆-冲泛平原沉积区。高原东南部为一系列走滑拉分断裂运动形成的拉分盆地,上新世早期堆积洪冲积相砾岩,中期为湖泊、三角洲沉积,晚期随着山体的进一步抬升,盆地又接受冲洪积扇相砾岩堆积,并被河流侵蚀剥露。高原南部上新世多分布一些近南北向盆地,是响应高原隆升到一定程度垮塌而成的断陷盆地,同东南部拉分盆地类似,上新世沉积相也由早至晚分为3个阶段。恒河地区上新世由于喜马拉雅山的快速抬升,沉积以粗碎屑为主,形成狭长的西瓦利克群堆积。上新世青藏高原总体地势继承了中新世西高东低、南高北低的地貌特征,但地势高差明显较中新世增大。     

志留纪全球古板块再造及岩相古地理*

依据古地磁方法,对志留纪全球古板块进行再造,并在此基础上叠加了更新的志留纪全球大地构造背景、洋流系统、气候带分布以及岩相古地理、烃源岩分布等要素,编制了志留纪全球古板块再造图、全球古地理图、全球岩相古地理及烃源岩分布图。志留纪全球板块构造格局最重要的特点是劳俄大陆的形成以及冈瓦纳大陆北缘的持续裂解事件。早—中志留世全球性的海侵事件导致各大板块周缘普遍发育陆表海,碳酸盐岩台地广泛分布于冈瓦纳大陆的周缘以及西伯利亚板块和劳俄大陆的大部分。志留纪较高的温度以及广阔的陆表海促进了海洋生物的进一步繁盛,为烃源岩的发育提供了丰富的母质;同时,上升流作用以及冈瓦纳大陆内部大型河流的搬运作用,导致在冈瓦纳大陆的西缘(北非和阿拉伯地区)发育有厚层的黑色页岩,其为志留系重要的烃源岩。     

The onset of the Messinian salinity crisis in the deep Eastern Mediterranean basin

Astronomical tuning of the Messinian pre‐salt succession in the Levant Basin allows for the first time the reconstruction of a detailed chronology of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) events in deep setting and their correlation with marginal records that supports the CIESM ( 2008 ) 3‐stage model. Our main conclusions are (1) MSC events were synchronous across marginal and deep basins, (2) MSC onset in deep basins occurred at 5.97 Ma, (3) only foraminifera‐barren, evaporite‐free shales accumulated in deep settings between 5.97 and 5.60 Ma, (4) deep evaporites (anhydrite and halite) deposition started later, at 5.60 Ma and (5) new and published ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data indicate that during all stages, evaporites precipitated from the same water body in all the Mediterranean sub‐basins. The wide synchrony of events and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr homogeneity implies inter‐sub‐basin connection during the whole MSC and is not compatible with large sea‐level fall and desiccation of the Mediterranean.     

二叠纪古板块再造与岩相古地理特征分析

依据古地磁方法,对二叠纪全球古板块进行再造,并在此基础上,结合区域地质资料,编制了二叠系全球古板块再造图、全球岩相及烃源岩分布图和全球古地理图。二叠纪板块格局以泛大陆和泛大洋为主,大陆内部裂谷系(如劳亚板块内部北海—北大西洋裂谷系和非洲大陆内部裂谷系)持续发育,最终导致了泛大陆的裂解。二叠纪冰期持续发育,又由于干旱带广泛发育的古气候条件,造成全球海平面在晚二叠世达到整个显生宙的最低值。浅海广泛发育的古地理环境造成古、新特提斯洋周缘和劳亚大陆整体以浅海碳酸盐岩和海相碎屑岩沉积为主。冈瓦纳大陆内部以河湖相碎屑岩沉积为主。二叠系烃源岩不发育,主要层系是下二叠统泥页岩,分布集中在劳亚大陆北缘、特提斯洋周缘以及冈瓦纳大陆内部和澳大利亚东部,以海陆过渡相沉积环境为主。泛大陆形成过程中,洋壳消减与不同陆块之间的拼合,最终造成了二叠纪末气候的剧变,形成了晚古生代末超大规模的冰期。板块运动所产生的壳幔物质循环造成二叠纪全球二氧化碳含量剧烈升高,最终导致了二叠纪生物灭绝程度最大。     

岩相古地理研究与油气勘探

古地理学已具有200余年的悠久历史。它的发生、发展与沉积学和地层学的发展密切相关。古地理学的理论发展和相关的技术进步在勘探开发沉积矿产资源等方面发挥了重要作用,开拓了在河流、三角洲及滑塌浊积扇、深水重力流沉积、滩坝、礁以及碳酸盐岩建隆中找油的新领域。中国岩相古地理的研究为推动油气资源勘探开发起到了不可替代的作用,已在不同地区和地质层位中找到了极为丰富的油气资源。中国含油气盆地油气勘探表明,岩相古地理控制了油气成藏的基本要素组合和油气资源的分布,地层和岩性圈闭的发育和分布受控于古地理条件的改变。中国原油地质储量的13％、55.3％和12.6％分别分布在河流、三角洲和水下扇的沉积物中。讨论了未来岩相古地理研究应采取的指导思想、工作方法和面临的重要科学问题,指出多信息、多尺度、多元化和数字化的古地理研究必将在未来沉积矿产勘探开发和综合利用中发挥积极的重要作用。