The Ultrastructure and Origin of Upper Sinian Cherts on the Southeast Continental Margin of the Yangtze Platform1

Abstract Through microscopic and SEM observations and X-ray diffraction and energy spectrum analyses, the oldest sponge spicules and radiolarians have been found in bedded cherts and it is proposed that microbial activity of algae and bacteria played an important role in silica precipitation. The microbial activity resulted in the formation of a series of single crystals and crystal aggregates with peculiar shapes. Biogenic single crystals usually occur in spherical, rod, platy, colloidal and granular forms. The most common aggregates are framboidal aggregates composed of dense spherical quartz crystals, which are considered to be of typical bacterial origin. Other aggregates, such as favositic, double-spherical, chain -spherical and coccoid ones, are considered to be probably the result of silicification of algal cells and mainly of primary sedimentary origin. This paper also discusses the ultrastructural features and diagnostic indications of jasper rocks formed in a submarine hydrothermal environment and cherts formed by replacement and diagenetic recrystallisation.     

A biomarker and δ15N study of thermally altered Silurian cyanobacterial mats

Early Silurian cherts from the Holy Cross and Bardzkie Mountains (Poland) contain abundant microfossils morphologically resembling contemporary cyanobacteria. Most of the organic matter preserved in the cherts is highly mature and extensively degraded because of biological decomposition and progressive thermal alteration. These processes may have changed the original morphology of the deposited microbial remains, so the microfossil origin could be easily misinterpreted. The cherts were therefore examined using organic geochemical and stable isotope techniques to provide support for the presence of cyanobacterial remains. The nitrogen isotopic composition of bulk sediments and extractable organic matter ranged from +0.1‰ to ?2.2‰ and from +1.8‰ to ?1.7‰, respectively. The δ¹⁵N values are thus in good agreement with a contribution of diazotrophic cyanobacteria for both locations. Biomarkers in the Holy Cross Mts. cherts included mid-chain branched monomethyl alkanes, indicative of a cyanobacterial contribution. However, molecular fossils of a cyanobacterial origin were not detected in the Bardzkie Mts. cherts, most likely because of the greater maturity than those from the Holy Cross Mts.     

秦皇岛地区奥陶纪硅质岩地球化学特征及沉积环境意义

秦皇岛地区位于华北地台东北缘,该区奥陶系亮甲山组和马家沟组主要由细晶白云质灰岩、细晶白云岩、豹皮状灰岩、砾屑灰岩组成,灰岩中普遍含有结核状、条带状和团块状硅质岩。XRD分析显示硅质岩主要矿物成分为石英、方解石和少量白云石,硅质岩显微镜下为蠕虫状、球状、针状玉髓集合体,个别样品可见交代结构。硅质岩贫Mn、Fe,Mn/Ti...     

辽西下白垩统义县组湖相碳酸盐岩中的燧石成因

辽西义县鹰窝山下白垩统义县组砖城子层中部发育一套湖相碳酸盐岩,可识别出4种岩相类型,其中角砾化团块灰岩相中含有大量燧石,所含的燧石可据形态划分为结核状、透镜状和团块状3种类型,据颜色和透明度识别出两种类型。燧石以微晶石英和玉髓为主,含少量的白云石和方解石晶粒。该岩相系相对干旱气候背景下的洪积-漫湖沉积体系中较浅储水洼地沉积,火山活动也具一定的影响力。     

下三叠统鲕粒灰岩中微生物矿化组构特征及意义 ——以川东北地区飞仙关组为例

PTB全球最大生物灭绝事件后,早三叠世被认为是微生物发育繁殖的黄金时期,浅水环境是微生物活动及微生物岩形成的最有利环境。借助高分辨率扫描电镜和能谱分析,在川东北地区开江—梁平海槽西侧下三叠统飞仙关组浅水碳酸盐岩台地边缘的鲕粒灰岩中发现了三种微生物矿化组构:空腔状微生物矿化组构、显微瘤状微生物矿化组构和纤状微生物矿化组构;通过沉积学、岩石学及地球化学的综合分析,认为显微瘤状微生物矿化组构是微生物新陈代谢时形成的纳米球状云质颗粒,纤状微生物矿化组构是微生物的胞外聚合物,而空腔状微生物矿化组构则属于微生物个体。这些微生物矿化组构的发现,为早三叠世微生物大爆发提供了一定的直观证据;推测大量的微生物活动是早三叠世碳酸盐快速沉积现象的直接诱因,并导致于二叠纪末发育的克拉通内裂陷——开江—梁平海槽在早三叠世被快速填平。     

广西来宾蓬莱滩剖面中上二叠统硅质岩的地球化学特征及沉积背景

广西来宾地区中上二叠统广泛发育硅质岩,蓬莱滩剖面和铁桥剖面是本地区中上二叠统出露最好的剖面.本文对蓬莱滩剖面28件硅质岩(分别为中二叠统茅口组3件与上二叠统合山组25件)的主量和稀土元素进行了分析研究,并结合岩石学特征,认为:蓬莱滩剖面合山组硅质岩沉积于受到陆源物质影响的边缘海盆环境,它们的硅质主要来源于硅质生物,为生物成因;而其茅口组硅质岩则沉积于远离陆源物质影响的边缘海盆环境,它们的硅质主要来源于热液,为热液成因.通过与铁桥剖面的热液成因硅质岩的沉积背景对比研究,结果表明:中晚二叠世时期,来宾地区为富硅的边缘海盆环境,而陆源物质输入程度的差异是造成本地区形成不同成因硅质岩的主要因素.     

Sedimentology of cherts in the Early Proterozoic Wishart Formation, Quebec-Newfoundland, Canada

The siliciclastic Wishart Formation of the Early Proterozoic Labrador trough is a high-energy shelf deposit. Wishart sandstones contain both interstitial chert with textures of void-filling cement and thin chert intercalations contaminated with siliciclastic mud. Although volumetrically minor, these cherts occur in several thin, areally extensive stratigraphic intervals. The Wishart contains intraclasts of both the chert-cemented sandstone and the impure chert layers (as well as several other types of chert sand and gravel). This suggests the cherts formed penecontemporaneously, which is consistent with the absence of any signs of replacement in all but one of the chert types and the clear-cut distinctions between chert types, even where they are side by side in a single thin section. The origin which appears to be most compatible with available evidence is that the cherts represent silica precipitated from thermal waters that rose through the sediments of the Wishart shelf and discharged into suprajacent seawater. A biogenic origin is unlikely in view of the lack of appropriate organisms during the Early Proterozoic and the rapidity with which the cements formed. A volcanogenic origin is unlikely because volcaniclastic textures are plentiful in associated formations but absent from the Wishart. Precipitation induced by evaporative concentration is unlikely in view of the widespread evidence of tidal currents and the lack of evidence of desiccation in the Wishart. Finally, the cherts are not restricted to the lowest-energy facies, and therefore they presumably did not accumulate as a background sediment. Deposition of silica above the sediment/water interface was probably made possible by ambient concentrations of silica that were significantly higher than those of Phanerozoic seawater. Cherts with similar textures occur in other Early Proterozoic sediments, most notably arenitic or granular iron-formations.     

Microbial biomineralization processes forming modern Ca:Mg carbonate stromatolites

Modern Ca:Mg carbonate stromatolites form in association with the microbial mat in the hypersaline coastal lagoon, Lagoa Vermelha (Brazil). The stromatolites, although showing diversified fabrics characterized by thin or crude lamination and/or thrombolitic clotting, exhibit a pervasive peloidal microfabric. The peloidal texture consists of dark, micritic aggregates of very high‐Mg calcite and/or Ca dolomite formed by an iso‐oriented assemblage of sub‐micron trigonal polyhedrons and organic matter. Limpid acicular crystals of aragonite arranged in spherulites surround these aggregates. Unlike the aragonite crystals, organic matter is present consistently in the dark, micritic carbonate comprising the peloids. This organic matter is observed as sub‐micron flat and filamentous mucus‐like structures inside the interspaces of the high‐Mg calcite and Ca dolomite crystals and is interpreted as the remains of degraded extracellular polymeric substances. Moreover, many fossilized bacterial cells are associated strictly with both carbonate phases. These cells consist mainly of 0·2 to 4 μm in diameter, sub‐spherical, rod‐like and filamentous forms, isolated or in colony‐like clusters. The co‐existence of fossil extracellular polymeric substances and bacterial bodies, associated with the polyhedrons of Ca:Mg carbonate, implies that the organic matter and microbial metabolism played a fundamental role in the precipitation of the minerals that form the peloids. By contrast, the lack of extracellular polymeric substances in the aragonitic phase indicates an additional precipitation mechanism. The complex processes that induce mineral precipitation in the modern Lagoa Vermelha microbial mat appear to be recorded in the studied lithified stromatolites. Sub‐micron polyhedral crystal formation of high‐Mg calcite and/or Ca dolomite results from the coalescence of carbonate nanoglobules around degraded organic matter nuclei. Sub‐micron polyhedral crystals aggregate to form larger ovoidal crystals that constitute peloids. Subsequent precipitation of aragonitic spherulites around peloids occurs as micro‐environmental water conditions around the peloids change.     

Petrogenesis of graphitic cherts in the Armorican segment of the Cadomian orogenic belt (NW France)

Graphitic cherts are interbedded within terrigenous sediments in the Cadomian orogenic belt of end-Proterozoic age. In the Armorican Massif (NW France), the graphitic cherts are of two types: massive cherts essentially composed of quartz (SiO₂ > 96%) and with rare sedimentary structures; laminated cherts containing up to 3·4% Al₂O₃ and 92–98% SiO₂. Sedimentary structures observed in the laminated cherts are indicative of a restricted hypersaline tidal or supratidal environment. The origins of both types of chert are to be found in the diagenetic processes of silification of terrigenous and mixed terrigenous-evaporitic facies. These processes, which could be mediated by the presence of organic matter, were controlled by the migration of the freshwater/saltwater mixing zone during periods of relative sea-level change. The proposed diagenetic origin for the cherts places a number of constraints on their use in the establishment of stratigraphic correlations.     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带及藏南地区硅质岩微组构特征及其地质意义

在雅鲁藏布江缝合带及藏南地区产出红、绿、黑、褐等多色调的中生代硅质岩.石英是它们的主要矿物,但不同样品的石英晶体微形貌各有特征,X衍射和红外吸收光谱特征表现出细微差别.夏鲁和彭错林分别作为生物成因和热水成因硅质岩的代表,它们在矿物演化路径、石英晶体微形貌和集合体微结构存在差异,为利用微组构区分不同成因硅质岩提供了参考依据.在夏鲁硅质岩中生物化石残骸内存在方英石和玉髓,为反演生物成因硅质岩的矿物演变序列提供了很好的证据.硅质岩成岩过程中微组构演变和元素迁移具有良好的对应关系.石英在重结晶过程中对杂质元素的剔除作用是促使某些微量元素产生富集的重要机制.从微组构角度切入硅质岩研究是一种新的研究思路,它综合运用微区微束手段对硅质岩的微观组构特征进行测试,进而探讨微观组构信息所指示的地质意义.结果对探讨硅质岩的成因、演化和藏南地区硅质岩容矿型Au-Sb-Cs矿床的成矿机理具有重要的指导作用.     

Depositional environments of the Senonian chert, phosphorite and oil shale sequence in Israel as deduced from their organic matter composition

In the Upper Cretaceous sequence of the Negev (southern Israel) the organic matter in phosphorites and cherts differs from that associated with oil shales in its higher content of humic substances and lower kerogen content, and in its more intensive microbial alteration. The n-alkane distribution pattern of the oil shales, phosphorites and cherts indicates that marine biota, probably algae, are the main organic precursors of their organic matter. In some of the oil shales, however, some contribution of terrestrial organic matter is also evident. Similar high phytane/pristane ratios indicate that the organic matter in the oil shales as well as in the phosphorites and cherts accumulated under reducing conditions. The main differences in the organic matter composition are attributed to early diagenetic processes rather than to different biotic precursors or to late modifications due to temperature-induced maturation. The depositional model suggested for the sequence involves upwelling conditions at the boundary between the deep Tethys and the shallow shelf, which induced high organic productivity deep into the inner shelf. Bottom water circulation enabled intensive microbial alteration of the organic matter, followed by a winnowing process leading to phosphorite formation. Since humification is considered an oxygen-consuming reaction, these processes favoured the formation of oxygen-enriched humic substances and the oxidation of humic substances already present. These humic substances are relatively resistant to further alteration and their conversion into kerogen is thus retarded. Subsequently, syndepositional tectonic activity resulted in the introduction of less saline water, restriction of bottom-water circulation and the establishment of a density stratification in the water body. Consequently, aeration of the bottom layer and the sediments was inhibited, microbial alteration was reduced and later winnowing processes were prevented. Such conditions favoured the formation of kerogen directly, rather than through humic substances, and also favoured the preservation of most of the organic matter in the form of oil shale deposits instead of phosphorites.     

湖北嘉鱼县蛇屋山金矿硅质岩地球化学特征及成矿环境约束

湖北蛇屋山金矿是亚洲最大的红土型金矿,矿区内硅质岩发育,覆于含矿红土层之上,并与硅化灰岩呈渐变过渡。硅质岩主要由微晶和隐晶组成,其SiO2含量为96.87%～97.90%,w(Si)/w(Al)=92.84～287.66,平均值为173,处于纯硅质岩的范畴。硅质岩样品的w(Al)/w(Al+Fe+Mn)为0.189～0.388,平均值为0.303,具热液成因硅质岩的特征。根据Al、Fe、Mn三角图的投点,认为本研究区硅质岩为热液成因硅质岩。微量元素w(Ni)/w(Co)、w(Fe)/w(Ti)、w(Ti)/w(V)、w(U)/w(Th)也说明了硅质岩具有热水沉积成因。w(Ce)/w(Ce*)为1.05～1.27,平均值为1.12,(La/Ce)N为0.84～1.12,平均值为0.98,微量元素V的含量(3.02～4.26μg/g)以及常量元素w(MnO)/w(TiO2)(1.0～2.0)都显示此研究区硅质岩具有大陆边缘硅质岩的特征。结合宏观特征,确定硅质岩有可能形成于卡林型金矿去碳酸盐化阶段,属于热液活动的产物。     

滇东南麻栗坡中—下二叠统硅质岩地球化学特征及地质意义

滇东南麻栗坡位于右江盆地西南缘,该处蛇绿岩被认为是古特提斯洋壳的遗迹,对蛇绿岩所代表八布洋的研究是全面了解右江盆地与华南西南缘古特提斯构造演化的重要环节。研究区广泛发育一套夹有硅质岩的深水相沉积,对麻栗坡八布和西牛堡中—下二叠统他披组硅质岩的地球化学特征研究表明:硅质岩Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)值为0.43~0.70,Al₂O₃/TiO₂值为25.5~44.8,Eu/Eu*值为0.81~1.02,为非热液成因硅质岩。硅质岩Ce/Ce*值分别为0.67~1.29和0.77~1.18,Y/Ho值分别为28.84~31.23和26.41~28.91,形成于大陆边缘环境。结合其他地区硅质岩地球化学特征,认为早—中二叠世八布洋盆的西南缘可能为活动大陆边缘,其洋壳的俯冲方向为南西向。     

桂西地区上二叠统硅质岩地球化学特征及对本区烃源岩发育潜力的指示意义

通过对桂西地区南丹龙王坡11件上二叠统硅质岩样品和平果四塘6件上二叠统硅质岩样品的主量和微量元素分析研究,并结合已发表的崇左东攀部面大隆组的硅质岩地球化学数据,认为桂西地区上二叠统硅质岩为生物成因,形成于受陆源碎屑影响的大陆边缘沉积环境,其沉积水体为氧化条件.研究区内硅质岩的TOC为0.10%～0.19%,平均为0.1...     

中国早古生代若干高硒黑色岩系中层状硅质岩的地球化学特征及其成因意义

在中国早古生代若干高硒黑色岩系中发育有数层的厚度不等的层状硅质岩,SiO₂含量一般在 90%以上,岩石富Fe,相对贫Mn、Al、Ti。亲石元素大量亏损,但富典型的热水沉积指示元素Ba、As、Sb,也有一定的铂族元素(PGE)的异常,稀土元素的配分模式呈左倾,有明显的Ce的负异常和轻微的Eu的正异常。δ3 0 Si值变化范围为- 0 .7‰～ 1.2‰,δ18O值变化范围为 17.6‰～ 2 9.0‰。硅质岩的地球化学表明其为热水沉积作用的产物。文章最后讨论了热水成因硅质岩的形成与硒富集的关系,认为形成硅质岩的构造环境可能是地壳深部Se得以上升到浅部聚集的前提,而含硅热液则可能是硒的良好的”溶剂”。     

The Origin of Bedded Cherts of the Early Permian Gufeng Formation in the Lower Yangtze Area, Eastern China

Bedded cherts occurring in the Early Permian Gufeng Formation in the Lower Yangtze region, eastern China, are nearly 20-80 m in thickness and contain varying amounts of radiolarians and sponge spicules. There are three types of section for the Gufeng Formation: chert, carbonate and chert-carbonate mixing types. Bedded cherts mainly occur in the first and third types of section. The depocentres of silica are marked by some small (not larger than a few thousand square kilometres in area) rhombic or elliptic hollows and their formation was controlled by faults. Argillaceous volcanic rocks in cherts occur as numerous thin layers. Bedded cherts are characterized by higher Fe and lower Al contents, enrichment in such trace elements as As, Sb, Bi, Ga, Au, Ag and Cr, lower total REE abundance, negative Ce anomaly and varying degrees of HREE enrichment. These characteristics are important evidence for hydrothermal cherts. Minor amounts of substances of non-hydrothermal origin are mixed in the cherts. The tempera     

Radiolarites et sédiments hypersiliceux océaniques: une comparaison

The mineralogical and chemical composition of Jurassic radiolarian cherts has been studied in Morocco (Rif), Italy (Lombardy basin and Apennines), Greece (Pindus zone and Vourinos Massif), some in close association with ophiolites. We have compared these samples with Cretaceous cherts from the NW Pacific (Leg 32) and with Cenozoic diatomaceous oozes from the Sea of Japan (Leg 31). The silica in the radiolarian cherts is quartz or chalcedony. Most of these rocks also contain feldspars and hematite while the clay fraction is composed of illite and/or chlorite generally associated with swelling clays and, locally, with kaolinite. In oceanic sediments all mineralogical species of silica have been detected (from opal to quartz), the clays generally being the same as those of the radiolarian cherts, the feldspars also being present. Based on the chemical composition of the radiolarian cherts, three facies can be distinguished: massive cherts, pelitic radiolarites and ferruginous radiolarites, the latter occurring only near the contact with volcanic basement. The chemical composition of cherts and diatom oozes from the Pacific is very close to the composition of radiolarian cherts. Although the mineralogy of radiolarian cherts can be related to several models (detrital, diagenesis of pelagic clays etc.) the detrital origin of part of the clay fraction seems certain. The origin of silica and its relation to the palaeolatitudes and the relatively confined nature of the Tethys oceans as well as the influence of volcanic inputs are evaluated, Chemical and mineralogical composition of radiolarian cherts shows that the diagenesis of the clay fraction is not a significant source of silica. Accumulation of diatom oozes in the Sea of Japan and in other areas, shows that the distance from continents and very deep seas are not essential to the development of siliceous sedimentation.     

Aragonite laminae in hot water travertine crusts, Rapolano Terme, Italy

Small (5–30 μm) aggregates of aragonite needles occur in calcite crystal crusts of present day hot water slope travertines at Rapolano Terme in Tuscany, Italy. The aggregates are mainly concentrated in irregular, wispy and dark laminae which cross-cut calcite crystal feathers to create a pervasive millimetre scale banded appearance in the deposit; they also occur less commonly scattered irregularly through the calcite layers. The aragonite needle aggregates are in the form of crosses, fascicles (sheaf shaped bundles, or dumbbell shaped), rosettes and spherulites. Locally, irregular masses of needles also occur. The fascicles, rosettes and spherulites have hollow centres which resemble microbial components (?fungal spores, bacterial colonies and pollen), suggesting that the aragonite crystals are biotically nucleated. The lamination is interpreted to reflect diurnal control. Stimulation of microbial activity during daylight concentrates cells in laminae and promotes aragonite calcification. Calcite feather crystals, although traversed by the aragonite aggregate laminae, have a clear appearance under the light microscope. They form more or less continuously through the diurnal cycle by abiotic precipitation. The constant association of aragonite with organic nuclei, irrespective of whether the latter are in laminae or scattered through the calcite layers, supports a biotic control on aragonite formation. Lamination in Pleistocene travertines is superficially similar to that in the present day deposits, but is diagenetically altered. In the Pleistocene deposits, the calcite feathers appear dark under the light microscope and the aragonite aggregates, where they are not altered to dark calcite, are dissolved, together with parts of the adjacent spar calcite, and therefore appear light coloured.     

西秦岭中志留统含铀岩系中硅质岩的岩石学、地球化学及其成因

根据产状和成因,本文将西秦岭中志留统含铀岩系中的硅质岩分为,(1) 成岩过程中硅化交代碳酸盐岩所形成的硅质岩,产于碳酸盐岩和泥质岩类所组成的透镜层的顶部或碳酸盐岩层内;(2) 早期成岩阶段形成的纹层状硅质岩,主要产于碳酸盐岩和泥质岩透镜层底部或呈薄层夹于粉砂岩、泥质岩层中。根据沉积环境分析及硅质岩的化学成分、REE分布模式和氧同位素组成,提出本区硅质岩形成于受大气淡水影响的局限浅海环境。