Calibration of the Albian/Cenomanian Boundary by Ammonite Biostratigraphy: U.S. Western Interior

Calibration of numerical ages to the geological time scale is a long scientific pursuit that requires the integration of multiple data sets. A case study of the Albian/Cenomanian stage boundary, also the Lower/Upper Cretaceous series boundary, illustrates the calibration process. The numerical age of this boundary has shifted from 96 Ma to 99 Ma over a time span of nearly fifty years. Re-calibration resulted first from improvements in radiometric dating, and later from inferences about ammonite phylogeny, and most recently from radiometric dates of newly discovered volcanic beds interbedded with diagnostic guide fossils. However, the calibration process continues with study of cosmopolitan dinoflagellates.     

Sealing of fluid pathways in overpressure cells: a case study from the Buntsandstein in the Lower Saxony Basin (NW Germany)

We studied veins in the Triassic Buntsandstein of the Lower Saxony Basin (NW Germany) with the aim of quantifying the evolution of in-situ stress, fluids and material transport. Different generations of veins are observed. The first generation formed in weakly consolidated rocks without a significant increase in fracture permeability and was filled syntectonically with fibrous calcite and blocky to elongate-blocky quartz. The stable isotopic signature (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) indicates that the calcite veins precipitated from connate water at temperatures of 55–122°C. The second vein generation was syntectonically filled with blocky anhydrite, which grew in open fractures. Fluid inclusions indicate that the anhydrite veins precipitated at a minimum temperature of 150°C from hypersaline brines. Based on δ³⁴S measurements, the source of the sulphate was found in the underlying Zechstein evaporites. The macro- and microstructures indicate that all veins were formed during subsidence and that the anhydrite veins were formed under conditions of overpressure, generated by inflation rather than non-equilibrium compaction. The large amount of fluids which are formed by the dehydrating gypsum in the underlying Zechstein and are released into the Buntsandstein during progressive burial form a likely source of overpressures and the anhydrite forming fluids.     

Upper Maastrichtian ammonite biostratigraphy of the Gulf Coastal Plain (Mississippi Embayment,southern USA)

The Cretaceous outcrop belt of the Mississippi Embayment in the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP) spans the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. A detailed reconstruction of this time interval is critical for understanding the nature of biotic and environmental changes preceding the end-Cretaceous Mass Extinction event and for deciphering the likely extinction mechanism (i.e., bolide impact versus volcanism). Eight sections encompassing the K/Pg succession across the Mississippi Embayment were analyzed using biostratigraphic sampling of ammonites, dinoflagellates, and nannofossils. An upper Maastrichtian ammonite zonation is proposed as follows, from oldest to youngest: Discoscaphites conradi Zone, D. minardi Zone, and D. iris Zone. Our study documents that the ammonite zonation established in the Atlantic Coastal Plain (ACP) extends to the GCP. This zonation is integrated with nannofossil and dinoflagellate biostratigraphy to provide a framework to more accurately determine the age relationships in this region. We demonstrate that ammonites and dinoflagellates are more reliable stratigraphic indicators in this area than nannofossils because age-diagnostic nannofossils are not consistently present within the upper Maastrichtian in the GCP. This biostratigraphic framework has the potential to become a useful tool for correlation of strata both within the GCP and between the GCP, Western Interior, and ACP. The presence of the uppermost Maastrichtian ammonite D. iris, calcareous nannofossil Micula prinsii, and dinoflagellates Palynodinium grallator and Disphaerogena carposphaeropsis suggests that the K/Pg succession in the GCP is nearly complete. Consequently, the GCP is an excellent setting for investigating fine scale temporal changes across the K/Pg boundary and ultimately elucidating the mechanisms causing extinction.     

Revision of the ammonite index species Berriasella jacobi Mazenot, 1939 and its consequences for the biostratigraphy of the Berriasian Stage

Berriasella jacobi is a key ammonite taxon that has been widely used for the definition of the Tithonian/Berriasian boundary and has been widely quoted in the literature as the index species for the lowest zone of the Berriasian Stage. The taxonomic revision of B. jacobi shows that it should be excluded from the genus Berriasella and transferred to the genus Strambergella. Analysis of the literature has convinced us that most specimens illustrated as B. jacobi have been misidentified. New collection at Le Font de Saint Bertrand (Les Combes, Glandage, Drôme, France) shows us the type series corresponds to the microconch form of a dimorphic pair. New integrated data on its stratigraphic distribution causes us to question its value as an index species for the base of the Berriasian.     

New information on the thermal history of the southwestern Lower Saxony Basin, northern Germany, based on fission track analysis

The southwestern part of the Lower Saxony Basin (LSB) is characterized by gravity and magnetic anomalies and by an extremely high thermal maturity of organic matter. This was for many years attributed to a Late Cretaceous intrusion, but actually deep burial is being debated. The complex thermal history of the area has been studied by fission track analysis. Zircon data provide evidence for widespread (hydro)thermal activity during the Permian and Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous. Apatite ages indicate a major cooling event in the mid Cretaceous (∼89–72 Ma) reflecting the time of inversion of the LSB. During the Cretaceous, the cooling of the basin centre was rapid compared to the basin margins. Apatite fission track ages from borehole samples which are recently within the upper part of the APAZ indicate a young heating of the sedimentary sequences until present.     

A revised ammonoid biostratigraphy for the Aptian of NW Africa: Essaouira-Agadir Basin,Morocco

A revised ammonoid biostratigraphy is presented for the Aptian of NW Africa, Essaouira-Agadir Basin (EAB), Morocco, based on detailed analysis of 5 key sections. A number of bio-events are documented and 26 genus and 43 species fully documented, forming the largest published Aptian ammonite collection made from NW Africa. The section at Tiskatine is documented as the type section, and 8 zones and subzones are defined, of which 5 are new. This work allows correlation of the Aptian of the EAB to the Standard Mediterranean Ammonite Scale (SMAS).Two main hiatuses are identified at the scale of the basin scale: a major one that includes most of the lower Aptian and the base of the upper Aptian and a second one encompass the top of the upper Aptian and the base of the lower Albian. The ammonite fauna displays a clear Tethyan palaeobiogeographic character affected by a fairly high degree of endemism at the genus and species level. The new genus and species Elsaisabellia tiskatinensis is introduced.     

冀北张家口组、大北沟组的岩石地层学、生物地层学特征及其在东北亚地层划分对比中的意义

冀北张家口组、大北沟组及内蒙古相当地层的岩石地层、生物地层的综合对比研究表明：大北沟组与典型的张家口盆地的张家口组上部相当。大北沟组可以区分出一个Nestoria pissovi叶肢介组合和Ambonella lepida－Jibeilimnadia ovata亚组合、Keratestheria gigantean－Abrestheria rotunda亚组合;介形类可以区分出Luanpingella－Torinina－Eoparacypris组合和Luanpingella postacuta亚组合、Torinina obesa亚组合。生物组合、亚组合的识别为区域地层的划分、对比树立了标准和提供了有效手段。     

冀北张家口组、大北沟组的岩石地层学、生物地层学特征及其在东北亚地层划分对比中的意义

冀北张家口组、大北沟组及内蒙古相当地层的岩石地层、生物地层的综合对比研究表明：大北沟组与典型的张家口盆地的张家口组上部相当。大北沟组可以区分出一个Nestoria pissovi叶肢介组合和Ambonella lepida－Jibeilimnadia ovata亚组合、Keratestheria gigantean－Abrestheria rotunda亚组合;介形类可以区分出Luanpingella－Torinina－Eoparacypris组合和Luanpingella postacuta亚组合、Torinina obesa亚组合。生物组合、亚组合的识别为区域地层的划分、对比树立了标准和提供了有效手段。     

冀北滦平盆地大北沟组—大店子组介形类生物地层和侏罗系—白垩系界线

冀北滦平盆地火斗山乡张家沟大北沟组一大店子组剖面连续、出露好、沉积序列全、化石十分丰富。介形类的研究可划分为1个延限带、4个组合带和7个亚带。其中第1（Luanpingella-Torinina-Eoparacypris）组合带及所包含的1、2（Luanpingella posta-cuba和Torininaobesa）亚带,分布于大北沟组,显示了晚侏罗世晚期的特征。第Ⅱ一Ⅳ（Yanshanina-Cypridea-Rhinocypris,Cypridea-Yanshanina-Timiriasevia和Cypridea sulcata-C shanyingensis）组合带及所包含的3-7（Cypridea stenolonga,C xitaiyangpoensis,Cluanpingensis,Csulcata和Cshanyingensis）亚带分布在大店子组,Cypridea开始并相继大量出现和繁盛,明显地具有早白垩世早期的特征。故侏罗系—白垩系的界线应置于第1组合带与第Ⅱ组合带,即第2亚带与第3亚带之间。     

A comparison of burial,maturity and temperature histories of selected wells from sedimentary basins in The Netherlands

Sedimentary basins in The Netherlands contain significant amounts of hydrocarbon resources, which developed in response to temperature and pressure history during Mesozoic and Cenozoic times. Quantification and modelling of burial, maturity and temperature histories are the major goals of this study, allowing for a better understanding of the general geological evolution of the different basins as well as petroleum generation. All major basins in The Netherlands encountered at least one time of inversion and therefore moderate to high amounts of erosion. In order to determine the amount of inversion the basins have experienced, a 1D study was performed on 20 wells within three basins (West Netherlands, Central Netherlands and Lower Saxony Basins). New vitrinite reflectance values were obtained and existing data re-evaluated to gain a good data base. The burial histories of six wells, two for each studied basin, are presented here, to demonstrate the differences in basin evolution that led to their present shape and petroleum potential. The Permo-Triassic subsidence phase can be recognized in all three basins, but with varying intensity. In the Jurassic, the basins experienced different relative movements that culminated in the Cretaceous when the influence of the inversion caused erosion of up to 2,500 m. Most wells show deepest burial at present-day, whereas the timing of maximum temperature differs significantly.     

湖北宜昌志留系纱帽组几丁虫生物地层学

调查分析了湖北宜昌龚家冲志留系纱帽组剖面156件样品,在其中95件泥岩、粉砂岩样品中发现大量保存精美的早志留世几丁虫化石。自下而上识别出Conochitina malleus,Plectochitina pseudoaggltinans,Eisenackitinadolioliformis,Eisenackitina causiata等生物带。每一个几丁虫生物带均代表一次几丁虫多样性发展,由新生分子和已知分子所构成的组合特征能很好地与拉脱维亚、爱沙尼亚和沙特阿拉伯等国外同期地层的几丁虫组合进行对比。宜昌地区志留系几丁虫生物带与笔石、牙形石带的关系显示宜昌地区纱帽组的地质延限大致与笔石Stimulograptus sedgwickii带至Oktavites spiralis带相当,特列奇阶底界位于纱帽组第二段底部,与几丁虫Plectochitina pseudoagglutinans生物带的底界位置接近。同期地层,在重庆涪陵焦石坝等地为产大量笔石的富有机质页岩,是页岩气的重要储层,因此,这一研究成果对于深入认识我国南方志留系页岩气储层的分布发育特点具有重要意义。     

Leymeriellidae (Cretaceous ammonites) from the lower Albian of Esfahan and Khur (Central Iran)

Leymeriellid ammonite faunas are described from northeast of Esfahan and the Khur area (Central Iran). The faunas comprise Leymeriella (L.) tardefurcata, L. (L.) germanica and L. (L.) acuticostata? as well as L. (Neoleymeriella) regularis, L. (N.) diabola and L. (Neoleymeriella) pseudoregularis?. The leymeriellids of Iran are closely related to faunas from northwest Europe, the Vocontian Basin and Transcaspia (Mangyschlak) and thus allow for biostratigraphic correlations, indicating the earliest Albian Leymeriella tardefurcata Zone with its superimposed L. acuticostata and L. regularis subzones. We suggest that the sudden appearance of common representatives of the genus Leymeriella in the northern and Central Iranian basins (Leymeriella acme) can be used as a useful proxy marker to define the base of the Albian Stage in Iran.     

新疆准噶尔盆地侏罗系—白垩系生物地层和同位素年龄研究的新进展

研究的侏罗系—白垩系包括侏罗系头屯河组、齐古组、喀拉扎组和白垩系清水河组。清水河组的叶肢介、介形虫和孢粉化石组合研究的新成果表明:其地质时代为早白垩世早期(Berriasian)。齐古组下部的同位素年龄为164.6Ma±1.4Ma。此年龄值与国际地质年表对比,几乎与Callovian的底界年龄(164.7Ma±4.0Ma)相当。依据此年龄值和沉积厚度、沉积速率推算,齐古组的主要时代应为中侏罗世卡洛期(Callovian),其下部跨入巴通期最晚期;喀拉扎组的时代可能为牛津期最早期(early Early Oxfor-dian)。上列事实反映出在侏罗系与白垩系之间几乎缺失全部晚侏罗世的沉积,由此可以推断本区在晚侏罗世曾发生过一次较强烈的构造运动。     

新疆准噶尔盆地侏罗系—白垩系生物地层和同位素年龄研究的新进展

研究的侏罗系—白垩系包括侏罗系头屯河组、齐古组、喀拉扎组和白垩系清水河组。清水河组的叶肢介、介形虫和孢粉化石组合研究的新成果表明：其地质时代为早白垩世早期(Berriasian)。齐古组下部的同位素年龄为164.6Ma ±1.4Ma。此年龄值与国际地质年表对比,几乎与Callovian的底界年龄(164.7Ma±4.0Ma)相当。依据此年龄值和沉积厚度、沉积速率推算,齐古组的主要时代应为中侏罗世卡洛期(Callovian),其下部跨入巴通期最晚期;喀拉扎组的时代可能为牛津期最早期(early Early Oxfordian)。上列事实反映出在侏罗系与白垩系之间几乎缺失全部晚侏罗世的沉积,由此可以推断本区在晚侏罗世曾发生过一次较强烈的构造运动。     

Numerical modelling of burial and temperature history as an approach for an alternative interpretation of the Bramsche anomaly, Lower Saxony Basin

The Lower Saxony Basin, Germany, is one of the several sedimentary basins within the Central European Basin system. In its southwestern part, anomalously high maturity of organic matter has been observed to reach 4.5% VRr in Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in an area which coincides with a magnetic and a positive gravimetric anomaly. This anomaly was often interpreted as the consequence of a deep-seated igneous intrusion, the so-called Bramsche Massif. However, results obtained from calibrated numerical modelling are not in accordance with this scenario. Instead, a burial by approximately 4 km of now-eroded Cretaceous rocks was revealed to be the probable cause for the anomaly. Data and modelling results from six boreholes and two pseudo-wells support this view.     

Report on the 4th International Meeting of the IUGS Lower Cretaceous Ammonite Working Group, the “Kilian Group” (Dijon, France, 30th August 2010)

The 4th Kilian Group meeting (Dijon, France, 30th August 2010) focused on the Aptian and Albian Stages. For the Aptian, a two-fold division of the stage was adopted for the Mediterranean area with a boundary between the Dufrenoyia furcata and Epicheloniceras martini Zones. The main changes to the zonal scheme concern the Lower Aptian with: the introduction of a Deshayesites luppovi Subzone in the upper part of the Deshayesites oglanlensis Zone; the replacement of Deshayesites weissi by Deshayesites forbesi as new index-species of the second interval zone; the introduction of a Roloboceras hambrovi Subzone in the upper part of the D. forbesi Zone; and the subdivision of the D. furcata Zone into the D. furcata and Dufrenoyia dufrenoyi Subzones. For the Albian, the upper part of the Douvilleiceras mammillatum Zone (Lower Albian) is now characterized by a Lyelliceras pseudolyelli Subzone. The main amendments concern the Upper Albian. The base of this substage is defined by the base of the Dipoloceras cristatum Zone. Above it, the Upper Albian zonal scheme comprises in stratigraphic order the Mortoniceras pricei, Mortoniceras inflatum, Mortoniceras fallax, Mortoniceras rostratum, Mortoniceras perinflatum and Arrhaphoceras briacensis Zones.     

Late Albian–Coniacian planktic foraminifera and biostratigraphy of the northeastern Caucasus

This paper presents a considerably revised biostratigraphy for Upper Albian through Coniacian pelagic limestone and shale sequences in the northeastern Caucasus region based primarily on planktic foraminiferal distributions. The use of concentrated acetic acid for the extraction of microfossils from the hard limestones has yielded a much more detailed planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy than has been documented previously. Because of the low latitude location of the study area the high diversity assemblages contain many of the biomarkers used to identify standard Tethyan biozones ranging from the Rotalipora appenninica Zone through the Dicarinella concavata Zone. A key result of this study is the recognition of an apparently continuous Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval within a laminated, dark marl that is enriched in organic carbon. Extinction of the single-keeled rotaliporids corresponds with the onset of deposition of the laminated marl beds.     

Inoceramid bivalves and biostratigraphy of the upper Albian and lower Cenomanian of the United States Western Interior Basin

Inoceramid bivalves of the upper Albian and lower Cenomanian of the United States Western Interior are revised, Eleven species-level taxa and three genera are described. Two new species, Gnesioceramus mowriensis, characterizing the Mowry Shale of the early, but not the earliest, Cenomanian, and Posidonioceramus merewetheri, of the lower Cenomanian, and on new genus, Posidonioceramus, are recognised. The Western Interior inoceramid species from this interval are strongly endemic and are not good tools for long-distance correlations, although they are very effective in regional dating.In terms of the inoceramid biostratigraphy, middle and upper parts of the upper Albian can be referred to the Gnesioceramus Biozone, represented by G. comancheanus (Cragin) and G. bellvuensis (Reeside). These taxa are endemic to the Western Interior and some adjacent areas (Gulf Coast; Greenland?), but are closely allied to the cosmopolitan species, Gnesioceramus anglicus (Woods). At approximately the Albian-Cenomanian boundary, the endemic clade of ‘Inoceramus’ nahwisi appears, now referred to the newly erected Posidonioceramus, resulting in a distinct P. nahwisi biozone. This zone corresponds to the lower part of the ammonite Neogastroplites’ stratigraphic range. Gnesioceramids re-appear in the early Cenomanian. Close to base of the Cenomanian, for the first in the Western Interior, the genus Inoceramus, represented by Inoceramus irenensis Warren and Stelck, 1958, apparently immigrated into the Western Interior Basin.The Western Interior inoceramids do not allow for direct correlation to chronostratigraphic standard subdivision. The Albian-Cenomanian boundary, as earlier recognized on geochronologic correlations and confirmed, to some extent, based on ammonites, may approximately be located close to the appearance level of the genus Posidonioceramus.