Non-marine gastropods from the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition in the Pingyi Basin,eastern China

Our results present a taxonomic and palaeoecological study on non-marine gastropods from the latest Cretaceous to Paleocene deposits of the Pingyi Basin, Shandong Province, eastern China. These gastropods are systematically described: three species belonging to three genera including Physa dongtaiensis Gu, 1989, Hydrobia datangensis Yü, 1977, and the newly established species Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov.; two indeterminata genera and species including Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet., and Pomatiopsidae gen. et sp. indet. Among them, Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet. and Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov. are the dominant species with the longest record. Cyathopoma pingyiensis, sp. nov. is the earliest representative of this widely distributed Asian extant genus. Sedimentological facies analysis of the gastropod-bearing beds suggested that Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet. lived in a small pond with a river inlet and a shallow lake, while Ph. dongtaiensis, ?Pomatiopsidae gen. et sp. indet, and ?H. datangensis only thrived in the shallow lake. Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov. inhabited the land area around the shallow lake. Our results showed that no significant species change of the gastropod fauna across the K/Pg (Cretaceous/Paleogene) boundary was observed in the Pingyi Basin.     

Early Cretaceous rift-related volcanism in the Songliao Basin,NE China – A geochemical study

Following the amalgamation of the Siberian and North China Cratons, NE China, as part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), underwent Late Mesozoic lithospheric extension that was associated with volcanic activity. The Songliao Basin is the most important rift structure formed during these processes and contains voluminous volcanic rocks interlayered with sedimentary infill. Mafic-to-intermediate lavas are associated with felsic ones. This study focusses on the geochemical compositions of the less-widespread Early Cretaceous mafic-to-intermediate lavas in the Songliao Basin and compares them with the more abundant felsic rocks. Two mafic-to-intermediate magma series, one with alkaline and the other with sub-alkaline affinity, were identified. High MgO and Cr contents, low Th/Nb and La/Nb ratios, and variable but depleted Nd isotope compositions indicate that both magma suites were most likely formed by the melting of enriched upper mantle sources. Sub-alkaline mafic-to-intermediate rocks and I-type rhyolites define a co-genetic magma series. This rock suite was produced by the melting of subduction-modified lithospheric mantle and subsequent magma evolution as well as crustal melting during lithospheric extension. Alkaline mafic-to-intermediate rocks and A-type rhyolites form another co-genetic magma suite that was produced under within-plate conditions from an OIB-type mantle source, supposed to be the heterogeneous shallow asthenosphere and/or the lower lithosphere. Decompression partial melting of this mantle source requires a relatively thin lithosphere. The development of alkaline mafic rocks and A-type rhyolites as typical bimodal volcanic assemblage reflects that lithospheric thinning below the Songliao Basin reached its maximum, whereas basin rifting terminated afterwards.     

Late Mesozoic Intracontinental Rifting and Basin Formation in Eastern China

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Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Basalts in the Tuyon Basin, South Tianshan Mountains

1. Introduction The Tianshan Mountains is a typical intercontinental orogenic belt in the world. From late Carboniferous to Permian, the old Tianshan formed during the tectonic amalgamation of the Tarim block, Tianshan block and Siberia craton (Carroll et al, 1990). Mid-Cenozoic basalts are widely distributed in both the Tuyon basin of southwest Tianshan and its western part of Tianshan in Jierjisi in late Cretaceous-Paleogene period, which indicates the activation of the old Tianshan.…     

Paleoenvironmental conditions across the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition at the Apennines sections (Italy): An integrated geochemical and ichnological approach

Two distal Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary sections in the Central Apennine region (Italy) have been studied: Bottaccione Gorge and Contessa Highway. Geochemical and carbon isotope analyses on the infilling of trace fossils and on the host sedimentary rocks were performed to determine paleoenvironmental conditions during the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition. Major and trace element contents were measured in a 63 cm-thick interval at Bottaccione Gorge (from 22 cm below to 41 cm above the K/Pg boundary) and in a 72 cm-thick interval at Contessa Highway (from 43 cm below to 29 cm above the K/Pg boundary). Even though the K/Pg ejecta layer is now depleted at these sections due to continuous oversampling, the uppermost Maastrichtian and lowermost Danian deposits record the paleoenvironmental conditions prior to and after the K/Pg event. We used redox-sensitive element ratios (V/Al, Cr/Al, Co/Al, Ni/Al Cu/Al, Zn/Al, Mo/Al Pb/Al and U/Mo) and detrital element ratios (K/Al, Rb/Al, Zr/Al and ƩREE/Al) as proxies of certain environmental parameters, used for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. In general, similar values for elemental ratios are registered within Maastrichtian and Danian deposits, which supports similar paleoenvironmental conditions prior to and after the K/Pg event as well as the rapid reestablishment of the pre-impact conditions (i.e., oxygenation, nutrient availability, and/or sedimentary input). An enrichment in certain redox-sensitive elements above the K/Pg at the Bottaccione Gorge section suggests lower oxygenation, as also evidenced by the tracemaker community. Carbon isotope composition data from the infilling material of trace fossils furthermore reveals values similar to those of the host rocks at the corresponding depth, which supports an active infilling by nearly contemporaneous bioturbation during sediment deposition.     

A New Enantiornithes (Aves) from the Early Cretaceous of China

A new bird from the early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China is described. This new species, Grabauornis lingyuanensis, shares several synapomorphies with the Enantiornithes. The specimen is relatively well preserved. The skeletal morphology of Grabauornis bears close resemblance to that of other Chinese members of this clade. The brachial index （the ratio between the lengths of humerus and ulna） is 0.95, which is close to the average for enantiornithine birds. It indicates that Grabauornis was a rather good flyer, and the presence of an alula in the wing further testifies to this.     

Ruthenium-ion-catalyzed oxidation of asphaltenes and oil-source correlation of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields in the Tarim Basin, NW China

The identification of marine source rocks in the Tarim Basin is debated vigorously. The intention of this paper is to investigate the asphahenes in heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tabe oilfields and Well TD2 with ruthenium-ions-catalyzed oxidation technique (RICO), in order to explore its role in oil-oil and oil-source correlations, The RICO products included n-alkanoic acids, α,ω-di-n-alkanoic acids, branched alkanoic acids, tricyclic terpanoic acids, hopanoic acids, gammacerane carboxylic acid , regular sterane carboxylic acids and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids. The n-alkyl chains and biomarkers bounded on the asphaltenes were of unsusceptibility to biodegradation. The distribution and absolute concentrations of n-alkanoic acids in the RICO products of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tabe oilfields are different from those of Well TD2. The biomarkers bounded on the asphahenes, especially steranes, have a distribution trend similar to that of the counterparts in saturates. The sterane carboxylic acids and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids in the RICO products of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields, dominated by C30 sterane and C31 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids, respectively, are significantly different from those of the heavy oils of Well TD2, whose dominating sterane and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids are C28 sterane and C29 4-methylsterane acids, respectively. The RICO products of the asphaltenes further indicate that the Middle-Upper Ordovician may be the main source rocks for heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tabe oilfields.     

Partitioning of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin in the central South China Block by exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains during a transition from extensional to compressional tectonics?

The formation of a series of intermountain basins is likely to indicate a geodynamic transition, especially in the case of such basins within the central South China Block (CSCB). Determining whether or not these numerous intermountain basins represent a division of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin by exhumation of Xuefeng Mountains, is key to understanding the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic tectonics of the South China Block (SCB). Here we present apatite fission track (AFT) data and time–temperature modeling in order to reconstruct the evolution history of the Pan-Yangtze Basin. Fourteen rock samples were taken from a NE–SW-trending mountain–basin system within the CSCB, including, from west to east, the Wuling Mountains (Wuling Shan), the south and north Mayang basins, the Xuefeng Mountains (Xuefeng Shan) and the Hengyang Basin. Cretaceous lacustrine sequences are well preserved in the south and north Mayang and Hengyang basins, and sporadically crop out in the Xuefeng Mountains, whereas Paleogene piedmont proluvial–lacustrine sequences are only found in the south Mayang and Hengyang basins. AFT results indicate that the Wuling and Xuefeng mountains underwent rapid denudation post-84 Ma, whereas the south and north Mayang basins were more slowly uplifted from 67 and 84 Ma, respectively. Following a quiescent period from 32 to 19 Ma, both the mountains and basins have been rapidly denuded since 19 Ma. Both the AFT data and sedimentary facies changes suggest that the Cretaceous deposits that cover the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins through to the Xuefeng Mountains define the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin. Integrating our results with tectonic background for the SCB, we propose that rollback subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate produced the Pan-Yangtze Basin, which was divided into the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins by the abrupt uplift and exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains from 84 Ma to present, apart from a period of tectonic inactivity from 32 to 19 Ma. This late Late Cretaceous to Paleogene denudation resulted from movement on the Ziluo strike–slip fault, which formed due to intra-continental compression most likely associated with the Eurasia–Indian plate subduction and collision. Sinistral transpression along the Ailao Shan–Red River Fault at 34–17 Ma probably transformed this compression to the extrusion of the Indochina Block, and produced the quiescent window period from 32 to 19 Ma for the mountain–basin system in the CSCB. Therefore, the initiation of exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains at 84 Ma indicates a switch in tectonic regime from Cretaceous extension to late Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic compression.     

Sporopollen Assemblages from the Cretaceous Yimin Formation of the Hailar Basin, Inner Mongolia, China

Three sporopollen assemblages are recognized for the first time from the Cretaceous Yimin Formation in the Hailar Basin of eastern Inner Mongolia. They are （in ascending order）： the lmpardecispora-Aequitriradites- Clawttipollenites assemblage; the Triporoletes-Pilosisporites-Asteropollis assemblage; and the Appendicisporites- Asteropollis-Tricolpites assemblage, distributed in Members 1, 2 and 3 of the Yimin Formation respectively. Recognition of this biostratigraphic sequence is very important for the division and correlation of the Yimin Formation in the basin. Meanwhile, the age of the Yimin Formation is considered to be Barremian to Early Albian based on the palynological data.     

Paleoclimatic implications (Late Cretaceous–Paleogene) from micromorphology of calcretes,palustrine limestones and silcretes,southern Paraná Basin,Uruguay

Sedimentologic and petrographic analyses of outcroping and subsurface calcretes, palustrine carbonates, and silcretes were carried out in the southern Paraná Basin (Uruguay). The aim of this work is to describe the microfabric and interpret the genesis of these rocks through detailed analyses, since they contain significant paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic evolution information.The main calcrete and silcrete host rock (Mercedes Formation) is represented by a fluvial thinning upward succession of conglomerate and sandstone deposits, with isolated pelitic intervals and paleosoils. Most of the studied calcretes are macroscopically massive with micromorphological features of alpha fabric, originated by displacive growth of calcite in the host clastic material due to evaporation, evapotranspiration and degassing. Micromorphologically, calcretes indicate an origin in the vadose and phreatic diagenetic environments. Micrite is the principal component, and speaks of rapid precipitation in the vadose zone from supersaturated solutions. The abundance of microsparite and secondary sparite is regarded as the result of dissolution and reprecipitation processes.Although present, brecciated calcretes are less common. They are frequent in vadose diagenetic environments, where the alternation between cementation and non-tectonic fracturing conditions take place. These processes generated episodes of fragmentation, brecciation and cementation. Fissures are filled with clear primary sparitic calcite, formed by precipitation of extremely supersaturated solutions in a phreatic diagenetic environment. The micromorphological characteristics indicate that calcretes resulted from carbonate precipitation in the upper part of the groundwater table and the vadose zone, continuously nourished by lateral migration of groundwater.The scarcity of biogenic structures suggests that they were either formed in zones of little biological activity or that the overimposed processes related to water table fluctuations produced intense recrystallization completely obliterating the biogenic fabric.Limestone beds containing terrestrial gastropods are geographically restricted. Situated at the top of the calcrete successions, they exhibit brecciated and peloidal-intraclastic textures but lack lamination, edaphic structures, aggregates and vertical rhizoliths. This indicates they correspond to low-energy palustrine deposits, generated in shallow, local and ephemeral ponds developed in topographic depressions. When water table levels dropped, the palustrine deposits were exposed. This favours the presence of terrestrial gastropods, seeds and insect nests. The combination of calcretes and palustrine carbonates indicates periods and areas with a reduced clastic input and a predominantly semiarid climate, with well-defined humid and dry seasons.Characteristics of the later developed massive and nodular horizons of silcretes, such as, preservation of the internal structure of the host rock, the small areal extent, the formation of massive lenses, the complex pore infillings and the lack of a columnar upper section, indicate that they were generated from groundwaters. Every silcretized horizon shows different positions of the groundwater table and relates to the dissection of landscape.The age of calcretization and silcretization is bracketed between the Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) and the Early Eocene. Paleoclimate indicates changing conditions from warm and humid at the end of the Cretaceous (Mercedes Formation) to semiarid and seasonal during Paleocene (groundwater calcretes and palustrine deposits) and subtropical and seasonal in the early Eocene (Asencio Formation).     

Oil charge history of Paleogene–Eocene reservoir in the Termit Basin (Niger)

A total of 73 oils from the sandstone reservoir of Paleocene–Eocene Sokor 1 Formation in the Termit Basin (eastern Niger) were analysed to investigate the distribution characteristics of biomarkers. Most of the oil samples are quite similar in their organic geochemical characteristics and should have been derived from the same source bed/source kitchen. The homogenisation temperatures of aqueous inclusions in Paleocene–Eocene reservoir of the Termit Basin vary with a range of 76–125?°C. By combining the homogenisation temperatures with the burial and geothermal histories reconstructed by 1-dimensional basin modelling, the timing and episode of oil charge can be obtained, i.e. 13 to 0?Ma for Paleocene–Eocene reservoirs in the Termit Basin. Two presentative geochemical parameters, i.e. Ts / (Ts?+?Tm) and 2,4-dibenzothiophene/1,4-dibenzothiophene (2,4-DMDBT/1,4-DMDBT) were applied to trace the oil migration direction and filling pathway. The preferred oil-filling points in the northwest section of the Termit Basin were determined, and the promising exploratory targets were proposed for further oil exploration in this region.     

New latest Cretaceous microvertebrate fossil assemblages from the Haţeg Basin (Romania)

Late Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems in southern Europe are relatively poorly known, although much progress has been made during the past decade, principally with regard to the microvertebrate components of these ecosystems. The Maastrichtian terrestrial deposits of the Haeg Basin, at the easternmost end of the South European archipelago and well known for reptilian fossils (e.g., turtles, crocodilians, pterosaurs and dinosaurs), have been thoroughly screened during the past five years. Important microvertebrate assemblages, both quantitatively and qualitatively speaking, were found at Pui (Sînpetru Formation), Tutea and, particularly, Vlioara (Densu-Ciula Formation). Several new taxa are noted here for the first time for the Haeg Basin, including gars, discoglossids, albanerpetontids, scincomorphan and anguimorphan lizards; dromaeosaurids and multituberculates are confirmed. Most of the microvertebrate remains are poorly preserved and precise systematic assignment has proved difficult. The Haeg fauna appears to be primitive and endemic, with a Neopangean core composition, and suggests a composite palaeobiogeographic origin for the Late Cretaceous European ecosystems, confirming conclusions reached in studies of the larger vertebrates.     

Distribution of δ~(34)S and δ~(18)O in SO_4~(2-) in Groundwater from the Ordos Cretaceous Groundwater Basin and Geological Implications

<正>The Ordos Cretaceous Groundwater Basin,located in an arid-semiarid area in northwestern China,is a large-style groundwater basin.SO_4~(2-) is one of the major harmful components in groundwater.Dissolved SO_4~(2-) concentrations,andδ~(34)S-SO_4~(2-) andδ~(18)O-SO_4~(2-) in groundwater from 14 boreholes and in gypsum from aquifer were analyzed.Results show that SO_4~(2-) in shallow groundwaters originates from precipitation,sulfide oxidation,and dissolution of stratum sulphate,with a big range ofδ~(34)S values,from-10.7‰to 9.2‰,and addition of SO_4~(2-) in deep groundwater results from dissolution of stratum sulphate,with biggerδ~(34)S values,from 7.8‰to 18.5‰,compared with those in shallow groundwater.This research also indicates that three types of sulphate are present in the strata,and characterized by highδ~(34)S values and highδ~(18)O values-style,highδ~(34)S values and middleδ~(18)O valuesstyle, middleδ~(34)S values and lowδ~(18)O values-style,respectively.Theδ~(34)S-SO_4~(2-) andδ~(18)O-SO_4~(2-) in groundwater have a good perspective for application in distinguishing different groundwater systems and determining groundwater circulation and evolution in this area.     

Hydrocarbon migration characteristics of the Lower Cretaceous in the Erlian Basin

The paper systematically analyzes the hydrocarbon migration characteristics of the Lower Cretaceous in the Erlian Basin, based on the geochemical data of mudstone and sandstone in the main hydrocarbon-generating sags. (1) The source rocks in K1ba and K1bt1 are estimated to be the mature ones, their hydrocarbon expulsion ratio can reach 32%-72%. The Type-I sags in oil windows possess good hydrocarbon generation and expulsion conditions, where commercial reservoirs can be formed. (2) According to the curves of the mudstone compaction and evolution of clay minerals, the rapid compaction stage of mudstones is the right time of hydrocarbon expulsion, i.e., primary migration. (3) The timing between hydrocarbon generation and expulsion is mainly related to the accordance of the oil window and the rapid compaction stage of mudstones in the hydrocarbon generation sags of Type-I. That forms the most matching relation between hydrocarbon generation and migration. (4) The faults and unconformities are the important paths for the secondary hydrocarbon migration. Especially, the unconformity between K1ba and K1bt1 has a favorable condition for oil accumulation, where the traps of all types are the main exploration targets. (5) Hydrocarbon migration effect, in the Uliastai sag, is most significant; that in the Saihan Tal and Anan sags comes next, and that in the Bayandanan and Jargalangt sags is worst.     

Chronostratigraphy and Stratigraphic Classification of the Cretaceous of the Songliao Basin

Isotopic ages of synsedimentary clay minerals were directly determined with the ultrasonicscattering-settlement separation-K-Ar dilution technique. The apparent age of black mudstoneis 123 Ma for the Quantou Formation, 111.9-89.0 Ma for the Qingshankou Formation and77.6-76.8 Ma for the upper part of the Nenjiang Formation. The Rb-Sr isochrone age of themuddy limestone-mudstone sequence of the lower part of the Nenjiang Formation is 81 Ma andthat of the muddy evaporite of the middle part of the Quantou Formation is 122.2 Ma. On thebasis of the above isotopic ages, the authors propose a modified scheme of stratigraphic classifi-cation of the Cretaceous of the Songliao basin.     

Plant–arthropod interaction in the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) of the Araripe Basin,Brazil

Plant–arthropod interactions provide the first relevant data for addressing evidence of phytophagy for an assemblage of coniferous silicified woods from the pre-rift phase in the Araripe Basin, Brazil. A complex system of borings, sometimes filled with small, oval to hexagonal coprolites, allow inferences to be made about the activities of termites (Isoptera). Previous dendrological data indicated that the climate during the Early Cretaceous on the landmasses of the northern Afro-Brazilian Depression was dry and savanna like, where termite borings were common. Features of wood preservation demonstrate that the damage was probably caused by herbivores, not detritivores.     

Geological events of the Late Cretaceous–Early Paleogene in Western Kamchatka

The age ranges of Upper Cretaceous lithotectonic complexes of Western Kamchatka—terrigenous Kikhchik, volcanic Irunei, and terrigenous Omgon—are analyzed to reveal their almost simultaneous deposition. The pre-Cenozoic settings of these complexes are reconstructed. Based on analysis of the composition and structural features of Late Cretaceous lithotectonic complexes and on correlation of events, the Late Cretaceous paleogeography is reconstructed. It is found that the formation of the contemporary structure of the studied region would have required significant displacement of the volcanic Irunei complex from west to east and the terrigenous Omgon complex from north to south. It is concluded that the Western Kamchatka continental block (minor lithospheric plate) was independent in the Late Cretaceous.     

On the Age of the Dongtang Formation in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan and the Cretaceous and Tertiary Boundary

Since the coexistence of the Cretaceous and Palaeocene was ascertained in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan in the middle of the 1960's, the Cretaceous and Tertiary boundary has been discussed in several papers, but it still remains controversal. The points at issue are the connotation, stratigraphical position and lateral correlation of the Dongtang (or Chejiang) Formation.