浑江煤田石炭二叠纪含煤岩系层序地层与聚煤作用

运用层序地层学有关理论和方法,分析了浑江煤田石炭系-二叠系含煤岩系的层序,探讨了聚煤作用的控制因素。石炭纪-二叠纪含煤地层共识别出4个层序边界,划分为3个三级层序。为分析煤层厚度与地层厚度及砂岩百分含量的关系,绘制了三维相关图。研究表明,层序2地层厚度在40-70 m时,层序3地层厚度在50-80 m时,煤层发育较厚,而此时砂岩百分含量小于50%,表明有利于煤层聚积的环境是沉降速率中等、陆源碎屑供给相对较少的沉积环境,主要是三角洲间湾以及下三角洲平原地区。研究区含煤岩系层序地层格架中,不同层序沉积时期,煤层的分布有所不同,对于层序2来说,主要可采煤层分布在最大海泛带两侧,而层序3主要可采煤层分布在海侵面附近,此时较低的泥炭堆积速率与较慢的可容空间增加速率相平衡,从而形成该煤层。     

New data on the stratigraphy and depositional environment for Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Stolbovoi Island (New Siberian Islands)

The section of Mesozoic terrigenous deposits over 1200 m thick has been described, and a new geological map of the Stolbovoi Island southern half has been compiled. The inference has been made that the sedimentary sequence represents a single uniform turbidite complex, which is indivisible into lithological units and which does not show transition to shallow-marine facies either in the visible foot section or visible roof section. The complex accumulated in the foreland basin emerged on the margin of the Novosibirsk-Chukchi continental block during the Anyuian orogeny. The presence of upper Volgian deposits (Upper Jurassic) with a visible thickness of 640 m, Berriasian (Ryazanian) deposits about 100-m thick, and lower Valanginian deposits with a visible thickness of ～200 m has been established on the basis of identification of fossils represented by remains of bivalve mollusks (the genus Buchia). Finds of upper Volgian buchias in the southeastern part of the island are inconsistent with field geological observations of the sequence of deposits. Paleontological data acquired for the island southern part suggest the presence of a transverse thrust fault, along which upper Volgian rocks were thrust over lower Neocomian rocks. The possibility of another interpretation of the data has also been considered. The correlation of the Buchia Beds of the Stolbovoi Island, Nordvik Peninsula, the basin of the Anyui River, and northern California has been carried out. The inference about a close relationship between the biota of the Stolbovoi Island and the North Pacific paleobiogeographic realm has been drawn.     

The geometry and organization of fluviodeltaic channel sandstones in the Jurassic Saltwick Formation, Yorkshire, England

Within the Middle Jurassic Saltwick Formation of Yorkshire, England, 65% of the fluvial channel sandstones (n= 22) have width to thickness ratios in the range 17–30. More than 90% lie in the range 17–67 and are classified as narrow sheet channel sandstones. A broad sheet channel sandstone (c. 15 m thick, 3 km wide, width to thickness ratio of 200) occurs at the base of the formation in the proximal part of the studied depositional system. The thicknesses of the channel sandstones are in the range 4 m to more than 22 m, with 90% in the range 4–12 m. The widths of the channel sandstone sections are in the range 100–800 m, with 80% between 100 and 400 m. In plan view the channel sandstones display relatively constant thicknesses across the main part (80%) of the channel body. Channel sandstones are usually multistorey. The storeys are separated by major scour surfaces, with depths of scour ranging from 2 m to 8–10 m. The individual storeys are 4–13 m thick, and transverse and oblique storey sections have lateral extents of 60–480 m. Vertical stacking of storeys is accompanied by a decrease in the width to thickness ratio of the channel sandstones, whereas lateral stacking of storeys is accompanied by an increase. Mudstones and siltstones within channel sandstone bodies occur at the top of storeys and were in most cases deposited during channel abandonment. The Saltwick Formation was deposited during increasing accommodation forming a transgressive systems tract. The channel sandstone to interchannel sediment ratio is highest in the lower parts of the transgressive systems tract. The quantitative geometry and architecture data from the Saltwick Formation may be useful for describing and modelling humid delta plain hydrocarbon reservoirs of transgressive systems tracts.     

The Cambrian of Bennett Island (New Siberian Islands)

The paper presents new data on the Cambrian stratigraphy of Bennett Island, one of the least explored East Arctic islands. The section, about 500 m of total thickness, comprises four lithological units that store a record of the deposition history: (1) clastic sediments including storm sandstones; (2) shallow-marine mudstone; (3) lagoonal variegated mudstone and limestone; (4) black shale. It is suggested to classify the units as formations with their proper names. The section spans all epoches of the Cambrian stratigraphy constrained by trilobite fossils. In the Cambrian, territory of the island belonged to Siberia rather than to some exotic terrane, judging by abundant endemic Siberian trilobite species in the Bennett section. This inference is supported by synchronicity in recorded deposition events of Bennett Island and northeastern Siberia (Kharaulakh Mountains). The Cambrian sediments of the two areas were deposited in different parts of a single shallow sea which extended as far as Taimyr.     

Facies architecture and sequentiality of nearshore and 'shelf'sandbodies; Haystack Mountains Formation, Wyoming, USA

The Haystack Mountains Formation (Campanian, Mesaverde Group, US Western Interior Basin, Wyoming) contains a series of shallow-marine sandbodies, extending tens of kilometres out from a basin margin. The study succession (around 200 m thick) is composed of eight major sandstone tongues (Bolten Ranch, O'Brien Spring, Seminoe 1–2–3–4, Hatfield 1 and 2 members), each partially encased within marine shale intervals. The Formation is ‘sequential’at several scales. At the largest scale, the whole succession presents an aggradational to basinward-stepping stacking pattern of the sandstone tongues. At a lower level, each tongue (member) is characterized internally by two different types of lithosome: the first represents shoreface progradation with hummocky cross-strata passing up to swaley and trough cross-stratified sandstones. This lithosome is erosively truncated at its top in most cases, and has a general sheet-like geometry along strike, whereas down dip it displays a series of sharp-bounded clinothems. The latter sometimes indicate a downward as well as a basinward shift through time, as suggested by the occurrence of coarser and/or shallower facies at a lower level in the shoreface profile. The second type of lithosome is sheet- or wedge-like and sharply overlies the shoreface deposits. The lithosome consists of laterally widespread units of planar tabular to trough cross-bedded medium sandstones passing laterally (in a dip direction) into bioturbated sandstones. The lower part of this lithosome is progradational, becoming retrogradational into the overlying shales. The facies within the cross-bedded lithosome suggest a tidally dominated delta front to estuarine depositional setting. The two types of lithosome are not related genetically. The erosion surface separating the two lithosomes is a sequence boundary separating forced-regressive (relative sea-level fall) shoreface deposits from lowstand to transgressive (early relative sea-level rise), cross-bedded deposits. The uppermost part of the cross-stratified lithosome shows a landward-stepping of component parasequences and is abruptly blanketed by open-marine shales. The most widespread cross-bedded lithosomes are apparently best developed in the lowermost members of the Haystack Mountains Formation, i.e. in the aggradational part of the large-scale progradational succession. In the uppermost, highly progradational sandstone tongues, the shoaling-upward shoreface lithosome dominates, whereas the cross-bedded lithosome occurs in narrow, lensoid belts, or is absent. The middle portion of the succession shows intermediate characteristics. The vertical variation in geometry, thickness and progradational extent of successive cross-bedded lithosomes results from greater confinement of the incised nearshore systems both in space (landward direction) and in time (from the aggradation to the progradation architecture). The latter is a consequence of a decreasing rate of accommodation creation through time.     

Sedimentology and early diagenesis of the Broadford Beds (Lower Jurassic), Skye,north-west Scotland

The Broadford Beds comprise a basal carbonate-dominated unit overlain by dark muddy sandstones and an upper cross-bedded sandstone unit. The limestones include coralliferous and oolitic lithologies and the sandstones include pisolitic berthierine ironstones and abundant phosphate nodules. The Broadford Beds have a maximum thickness of 140 m and can be subdivided into 17 parasequences, each initiated by an approximately 20 m rise in relative sea level. Marine flooding surfaces are most readily recognized in the lower parts of the succession, where diagenetic data can be utilized to locate emergence surfaces. There is no diagenetic evidence of early emergence in the upper parts of the sequence, but a variety of sedimentological data can be used to identify parasequence boundaries. Deposition of the Broadford Beds occurred largely around the shores of a number of islands in the northern Hebridean area. These islands partly isolated the Skye–Applecross area from a deeper marine basin to the west, and this may have enhanced the formation of authigenic phosphates and iron silicates. It is possible to use the regional variability of parasequence thicknesses to investigate the role of active local tectonism in governing differential subsidence and sediment supply.     

A storm and tidally-influenced prograding shoreline—Upper Cretaceous Milk River Formation of Southern Alberta, Canada

The Santonian-Campanian Milk River Formation of Southern Alberta represents the transition from an open shelf, through a storm-dominated shoreface into a non-marine sequence of shales and sandstones, with coal. The open shelf deposits consist of interbedded bioturbated mudstones with sharp-based hummocky cross-stratified sandstones. There are no indications of fairweather reworking of the sandstones, which are therefore interpreted as having been deposited below fairweather wavebase. The shoreface sequence consists of a 28 m thick sandstone. It has a very sharp, loaded base, and is dominated by swaley cross-stratification, a close relative of hummocky cross-stratification. Angle of repose cross-bedding is preserved in scattered patches only in the top 5 m of the sand body. Channels up to 180 m wide and 7 m deep are cut into this sand body, with channel margins characterized by lateral accretion surfaces. Regional dispersal trends, as well as local palaeocurrent readings suggest flow toward the NW. Within the channels there is some herringbone cross-bedding and at least two examples of neap-spring bundle cycles, suggesting that the channels are tidally-influenced. Above the channels there is a sequence of carbonaceous shales with in situ root casts and lignitic coal seams. No marine, brackish or lagoonal fauna was identified, and the sequence appears to represent a distal floodplain. The sequence from interbedded hummocky cross-stratified sandstones and bioturbated mudstones into a 10–20 m thick, sharp-based shoreface sandstone characterized by swaley cross-stratification is uncommon. The scarcity or absence of angle of repose cross-bedding in the shoreface, and the dominance of swaley cross-stratification suggests that the shoreface was so storm-dominated that almost no fairweather record was preserved. Other examples of swaley cross-stratified shorefaces are reviewed in the paper.     

Palaeotemperatures and Diagenetic Phases of the Upper Triassic Oil-bearing Sandstones in the Eastern Part of the Ordos Basin

The maximum palaeotemperature of oil-bearing sandstones in the UpperTriassic in the eastern Ordos basin has been determined by using many methods including thevitrinite reflectance, fluid inclusion, apatite fission track, illite crystallinity, chlorite polytypeand diagenetic change of authigenic minerals. The thermal gradient in the Late Mesozoic wasabout 2.9-3.0℃/100m. The Upper Triassic was in a mature stage of organic matter andhydrocarbon began to be generated and migrated during this period. The palaeotemperatures ofoil-bearing sandstones were in the range of 88-110℃; those for the generation and migrationof oil ranged from 112 to 122℃. The thickness of the denuded strata overlying the UpperTriassic was 2465-2750m. The present burial depth of oil-bearing sandstones is generally from400 to 1200m. At a depth of ca. 1900m, the temperature may reach 140℃. Below this depth,organic matter was supermature and mainly generated gas.     

河南省嵩山区五佛山群内的砂岩岩墙及构造解释

河南省嵩山地区中—新元古代五佛山群沉积岩中发育几百条砂岩岩墙、砂岩岩脉和砂岩岩床 ,形成一个壮观的砂岩岩墙群。它们的地质关系、几何学、组成和结构特征显示 ,其母源层是骆驼畔组含砾中粗粒砂岩及中细粒砂岩 ,主要是在五佛山群重力滑动构造发育过程中 ,准稳定的骆驼畔组砂岩经液化及流体化 ,由上向下注入到下伏的葡峪组页岩等岩层内断层、裂隙和节理中形成的。砂岩岩墙群的发育证明 ,五佛山群区域变形时 ,其整个地层序列的岩石虽已具有一定强度 ,可形成较规律性的重力滑动构造几何学和运动学图像 ,但是 ,总体尚未完全固结成岩。因此 ,五佛山群复杂的阿尔卑斯型构造属于软沉积变形 ,在中朝克拉通尺度上 ,乃是地壳局部力学不稳定性的结果     

论臭灰岩(Swine Limestone)

<正> 臭灰岩(Swine Limestone)一名是李四光1931年创立的。他将南京山(宁镇山脉)的栖霞石灰岩分为三层,下部称船山灰岩,中部名为臭灰岩,上部为栖霞灰岩(狭义)。臭灰岩在镇江船山最为发育,它的岩性为黑色富含沥青质、具臭味的灰岩,锤击之有刺激性的气味,燧石很少成层。臭灰岩下部呈薄层状,向上逐渐变厚。腕足类长身贝在一些层位富     

Tectonic control on third‐order sequences in a siliciclastic ramp‐style basin: An example from the Roper Superbasin (Mesoproterozoic), northern Australia

TThe Roper Group is a cyclic, predominantly marine, siliciclastic succession of Calymmian (Early Mesoproterozoic) age. It has a distribution of at least 145 000 km² and a maximum known thickness of ～5000 m. In the Roper River district the middle part of the Roper Group (～1300 m thick) is characterised by the cyclical alternation of mudstone and sandstone units, and can be divided into six third‐order depositional sequences. A typical sequence is broadly progradational in aspect, and comprises a lower, mudstone‐rich, storm‐dominated shelf succession (up to 330 m thick), and a sequence‐capping unit dominated by tidal‐platform cross‐bedded sandstone (up to 80 m thick); both are interpreted as highstand systems tracts. Transgressive strata are poorly represented but where present are characterised by paralic to fluvial redbed assemblages that include ooidal ironstone. Roper Group sequences lack a distinct condensed section and sequence boundaries are mostly conformable. Erosional contacts separate mud‐rich shelf facies from sequence‐capping sandstones. We infer that these erosion surfaces were generated by episodic flexural tectonism, which also generated the accommodation and sediment supply for Roper sequences.     

Lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Kuhlan Formation in Yemen

The lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Kuhlan Formation in Yemen is reviewed based on the previous literature and new examination of five widely spaced outcrops in the Kuhlan Affar, Jabal Maswar, Jabal Salab, Wadi Hajar, and Ras Falanj areas. Following the guidelines set by the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature, Kuhlan Formation, with an age as latest Triassic to the Middle Jurassic, includes three members, Azzan, Souq, and Hesn, in an ascending order. Azzan member consists mainly of about 40 m of whitish coarse grained sandstone with many conglomeratic horizons. The Souq member is characterized by its reddish to brownish sandstones as well as the presence of polygonal structures at in the central part of this member, with a thickness of about 70 m. The Hesn member consists dominantly (80 m) of whitish sandstones with some marl intercalations at its topmost part. The Kuhlan Formation was deposited in a fluviatile environment.     

The role of wave reworking on the architecture of storm sandstone facies, Bell Island Group (Lower Ordovician), eastern Newfoundland

Stacked shallow marine cycles in the Lower Ordovician, Bell Island Group, of Bell Island, Newfoundland, show upward thickening and upward coarsening sequences which were deposited on a storm-affected shelf. In the Beach Formation each cycle has a facies sequence comprised, from base to top, of dark grey mudstones, light grey mudstones, tabular sandstones and mudstones, lenticular sandstones and mudstones, and thick bedded lenticular sandstones, reflecting a progressive increase of wave orbital velocities at the sediment surface. The mudstones and tabular sandstones reflect an environment in which the sea floor lay in the lower part of the wave orbital velocity field and in which tempestites were deposited as widespread sheets from weak combined flow currents. The lenticular sandstones in the succeeding facies are wave reworked sands, commonly lying in erosional hollows and having erosional tops and internal hummocky cross-stratification. Planar lamination is relatively uncommon and sole marks are mainly absent. In this facies oscillatory currents were dominant and accumulated sand in patches generally 10–30 m in diameter. The facies formed on the inner shelf where the oscillatory currents generated by storm waves had powerful erosional effects and also determined the depositional bedforms. Mud partings and second-order set boundaries within sandstone beds are believed to separate the products of individual storms so that many lenticular sandstone beds represent the amalgamation of several event beds. This interpretation has important implications for attempts to estimate event frequency by counting sandstone beds within a sequence and for estimates of sand budgets during storm events. The thick bedded lenticular facies appears to have been formed by erosion of the mud beds between the lenticular sands, leading to nearly complete amalgamation of several lenticular sand bodies except for residual mud partings. In the overlying Redmans Formation the process of amalgamation progressed even further so that nearly all the mud partings were removed, resulting in the formation of thick bedded tabular sandstones. Sequence stratigraphic analysis of the cyclical sequence suggests that the cycles were eustatically controlled. The rising limb of the sea level curve produced only the dark grey mudstone part of the cycle while the remainder of the cycle was deposited on the falling limb. There is a gradational but rapid facies transition from the tabular to the lenticular sandstone facies which is interpreted as occurring at the inflexion point on the falling limb. The thick bedded facies of the Beach Formation and the thick bedded tabular facies of the Redmans Formation represent periods of maximum sea level fall. The stacked cycles in the Beach Formation are interpreted as an aggradational, high frequency sequence or parasequence set bounded at the top by a sequence boundary and succeeded by the three aggradational parasequences of the Redmans Formation. The recognition of storm facies with sandstone beds of very different bed length has important implications for the reservoir modelling of such facies.     

Depositional history and stratigraphical evolution of the Sakoa Group (Lower Karoo Supergroup) in the southern Morondava Basin, Madagascar

The Sakoa Group is the lowermost stratigraphical succession of the Karoo Supergroup and the oldest sedimentary unit in Madagascar, spanning the Late Carboniferous through Early Permian epochs. The Sakoa Group is exposed in the southern Morondava Basin. It is predominantly a siliciclastic sequence comprising seven lithofacies associations: (1) diamictites; (2) conglomeratic sandstones; (3) sandstones; (4) interbedded thin sandstones and mudstones; (5) mudstones; (6) coals; and (7) limestones. These facies represent deposition in the early extensional stages of continental rift development. The sediments were deposited predominantly on alluvial fans, and in braided to meandering stream and overbank environments. Locally lacustrine and coal swamp environments formed in low areas of the basin floor during rift initiation. Subsidence rates remained fairly constant throughout the Early Permian and were accompanied by a gradual reduction in relief of the basin margins and an increased geomorphic maturity of the fluvial systems flowing across the basin floor. Near the end of the Early Permian the southern Morondava Basin was inundated by a marine transgression , which resulted in deposition of the Vohitolia Limestone. Subsequent tectonic uplift and erosion resulted in a regional unconformity between the Sakoa Group and the overlying Sakamena Group.     

Petrography and major element geochemistry of the Permo-Triassic sandstones, central India: Implications for provenance in an intracratonic pull-apart basin

Detrital mode, composition of feldspars and heavy minerals, and major element chemistry of sandstones from the Permo-Triassic succession in the intracratonic Satpura Gondwana basin, central India have been used to investigate provenance. The Talchir Formation, the lowermost unit of the succession, comprises glacio-marine and glacio-fluvial deposits. The rest of the succession (base to top) comprising the Barakar, Motur, Bijori, Pachmarhi and Denwa formations, largely represent variety of fluvial depositional systems with minor fluvio-deltaic and fluvio-lacustrine sedimentation under a variety of climatic conditions including cold, warm, arid, sub-humid and semi-arid. QFL compositions of the sandstones indicate a predominantly continental block provenance and stable cratonic to fault-bounded basement uplift tectonic setting. Compositional maturity of sandstones gradually increases upwards from the Early Permian Talchir to the Middle Triassic Denwa but is punctuated by a sharp peak of increased maturity in the Barakar sandstones. This temporal change in maturity was primarily controlled by temporal variation in fault-induced basement uplift in the craton and was also influenced by climatic factors. Plots of different quartz types suggest plutonic source rocks for the Talchir sandstones and medium-to high-rank metamorphic plus plutonic source rocks for the younger sandstones. Composition of alkali feldspars in the Permo-Triassic sandstones and in different Precambrian rocks suggests sediment derivation from felsic igneous and metasedimentary rocks. Compositions of plagioclase in the Talchir and Bijori sandstones are comparable with those of granite, acid volcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Precambrian basement suggesting the latter as possible source. Rare presence of high-K plagioclase in the Talchir sandstones, however, indicates minor contribution from volcanic source rock. Exclusively plagioclase-bearing metasedimentary rock, tonalite gneiss and mafic rocks are the probable sources of plagioclase in the Upper Denwa sandstones. Quartz-rich nature of the sandstones, predominance of K-feldspar over plagioclase and albite rich character of plagioclase in the sandstones is consistent with deposition in an intracratonic, pull-apart basin like the Satpura Gondwana basin. Composition of garnet and its comparison with that from the Precambrian basement rocks suggests mica-schist and amphibolite as possible sources. Predominance of dravite variety of tourmaline in the Permian sandstones suggests sediment supply from metasedimentary rocks. Presence of both dravite and schorl variety of tourmaline in subequal amount in the Triassic sandstones indicates sediment derivation from granitic and metasedimentary rocks. However, schorl-bearing rocks are absent in the basement complex of the study area. A-CN-K plot suggests granites, acid volcanic rock and meta-sediments of the basement as possible sources of the Talchir sandstones and metasedimentary rocks for the Barakar to Pachmarhi sandstones. The Denwa sandstones were possibly derived from K-feldspar-free, plagioclase-bearing metasediments, mafic rocks and tonalite gneiss. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values suggest low intensity source rock weathering for the Talchir sandstones and higher intensity source rock weathering for the others. Various bivariate plots of major oxides composition of the sandstones suggest passive to active continental margin setting and even arc tectonic setting for a few samples.     

A ‘snapshot’ of the evolution of the Uruguay River (Del Plata Basin): the Salto depositional sequence (Pleistocene,Uruguay, South America)

This paper provides sedimentological details of the Salto depositional sequence of western Uruguay, which includes the Salto and the Bellaco Formations. These units are interpreted as evidence, in the Uruguayan landscape, of a Pleistocene forebear of the Uruguay River. The Salto depositional sequence, encompasses two depositional cycles: (a) the lower cycle, represented only by the Salto Formation, with conglomeratic sandstones and sandstones intercalated with pelites and fine sandstones; and (b) the upper cycle, represented by the Salto Formation and the Bellaco Formation, characterized by conglomerates and conglomeratic sandstones with horizontal stratification, discontinuous silicified sandy levels and gypsum–clay bodies. The Salto sequence is characterized by braided river deposits, genetically associated with lacustrine or palustrine and possible aeolian sediments. Cyclic alternations of channelized tractive currents and interchannel contexts are indicated. A possible Pleistocene age for the Salto Formation is discussed, in the light of new and preliminary information (thermoluminescence ages) from the lower cycle. There are several lines of evidence indicating semi-arid conditions during the ‘Salto event’. Comments on regional correlation are provided, as well as the effects of neotectonic processes.     

Braidplain deposition of the Upper Triassic Molteno Formation in the main Karoo (Gondwana) Basin, South Africa

ABSTRACT The Upper Triassic (Carnian?) Molteno Formation in the main Karoo (Gondwana) Basin, South Africa forms a northerly thinning, intracratonic clastic wedge comprising sandstones, shales and coals occurring within thick (up to 140 m) laterally persistent fining-upward sequences. These sequences were deposited by braided streams draining an alluvial plain which may have been built on to the distal slopes of alluvial fan complexes of glacial outwash type. Geometric relations between sequences indicate three phases of tectonic activity. The lowermost fining-upward sequence in the south accumulated against a rising mountain front; cessation of movement and an eastward shift in the main locus of tectonism and sedimentation was followed by renewed uplift and basinwide progradation of the second fining-upward sequence adjacent to a fault-block granite terrain located close to the present south-east coastline of South Africa. This is believed to be the granite at the eastern end of the Falkland Island Plateau, an interpretation consistent with its position on most continental reconstructions and the fracture zone marking its northern scarp face. Faulting is attributed to the first phase of extension prior to continental breakup. The sourceward recession and lack of gross fining-upward trends shown by the uppermost fining-upward sequences is accounted for by limited back-faulting of the still active basin margin. Cessation of activity and further basin margin recession occurred with deposition of the overlying floodplain deposits (Elliot Formation) which were distal equivalents of the braided alluvial plain.     

Stratigraphy and evolution of the Galve sub-basin (Spain) in the middle Tithonian–early Barremian: Implications for the setting and age of some dinosaur fossil sites

A review of the stratigraphy of the Galve sub-basin (western Maestrazgo Basin, eastern Spain) around the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition is presented here, based on new data acquired after extensive geological mapping and logging complemented with facies analysis, new biostratigraphic data and a revision of the published information available. The results obtained are relevant for a more detailed understanding of the tecto-sedimentary evolution of the studied basin during the transition between two stages of rift evolution (i.e., syn-rift sequences 1 and 2). In addition, new information on the age and setting of numerous dinosaur fossil- and track-sites found across the Galve sub-basin and in the northern part of the nearby Penyagolosa sub-basin is provided here. Two new lithostratigraphic units are defined and characterized, the Aguilar del Alfambra and the Galve formations. The previous stratigraphic framework considered only two lithostratigraphic units (the Villar del Arzobispo and El Castellar formations) bounded by a single regional unconformity, and this resulted in significant misinterpretations. The whitish limestones, red lutites and cross-bedded sandstones of the Aguilar del Alfambra Formation were deposited in transitional environments, ranging from coastal lutitic plains to restricted lagoons. Of particular interest are the laminated micritic-peloidal limestones with abundant fenestral porosity (supratidal ponds to intertidal flats), which preserve common dinosaur footprints. This unit is bounded by widespread unconformities and is of very variable thickness (0–450 m), controlled by extensional tectonics operating at the climax of syn-rift sequence 1 during the latest Tithonian–middle Berriasian. The overlying Galve Formation is of variable thickness (from 0 to 100 m) and is also bounded by regional unconformities described in detail here. It consists of red lutites with cross-bedded and tabular-burrowed sandstones representing channel and overflow deposits in an alluvial floodplain. The sauropod dinosaur Aragosaurus ischiaticus found in this unit has a controversial age assignment. The age of the Galve Formation is poorly constrained from late Berriasian to Hauterivian, but new biostratigraphic data presented here, combined with the correlation with the nearby Penyagolosa and Salzedella sub-basins, suggest a possible equivalence to the upper Berriasian–lower Valanginian sequence deposited during the initial stage of syn-rift sequence 2.     

Permo-Carboniferous coal measures in the Qinshui basin: Lithofacies paleogeography and its control on coal accumulation

The Qinshui basin in southeastern Shanxi Province is an important base for coalbed methane exploration and production in China. The methane reservoirs in this basin are the Carboniferous and Permian coals. Their thickness is strongly controlled by the depositional environments and the paleogeography. In this paper, sedimentological research was undertaken on the outcrop and borehole sections of the Taiyuan and Shanxi formations in the Qinshui basin and the basin-wide lithofacies paleogeography maps for these two formations have been reconstructed. The Taiyuan Formation is composed of limestones, aluminous mudstones, siltstones, silty mudstones, sandstones, and mineable coal seams, with a total thickness varying from 44.9 m to 193.48 m. The coal seams have a thickness ranging between 0.10 and 16.89 m, averaging 7.19 m. During the deposition of the Taiyuan Formation, the northern part of the basin was dominated by a lower deltaic depositional system, the central and southern parts were dominated by a lagoon environment, and the southeastern corner was occupied by a carbonate platform setting. Coal is relatively thick in the northern part and the southeastern corner. The Shanxi Formation consists of sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, and coals, with the limestones being locally developed. The thickness of the Shanxi Formation is from 18.6 m to 213.25 m, with the thickness of coal seams from 0.10 to 10 m and averaging 4.2 m. During the deposition of the Shanxi Formation, the northern part of the Qinshui basin was mainly dominated by a lower deltaic plain distributary channel environment, the central and southern parts were mainly an interdistributary bay environment, and the southeastern part was occupied by a delta front mouth bar environment. The thick coals are distributed in the central and southern parts where an interdistributary bay dominates. It is evident that the thick coal zones of the Taiyuan Formation are consistent with the sandstone-rich belts, mainly located in the areas of the northern lower deltaic plain and southeastern barrier bar environments, whereas the thick coal zones of the Shanxi Formation coincide with the mudstone-rich belts, located in the areas of the central and southern interdistributary bay environments. Translated from Journal of Palaeogeography, 2006, 8(1): 43–52 [译自: 古地理学报]