Lithostratigraphy,sedimentology, and cyclicity of the Duwi Formation (late Cretaceous) at Abu Tartur plateau,Western Desert of Egypt: evidences for reworking and redeposition

The Duwi Formation (late Cretaceous) represents the first onset of fully marine conditions and comprises sediments that were confined by a preexisting depression enclosed by the Dakhla uplift in the west and Kharga uplift in the east. The Duwi Formation overlies unconformably the Qusseir Formation and underlies conformably the Dakhla Formation. The Duwi Formation could be subdivided vertically into three remarkable informal lithostratigraphic units. The Duwi Formation comprises a heterogeneous suite of shallow marine rocks (phosphorite, shale, mudstone, marlstone, glauconite, and dolomite). A model has been presented for the mode of phosphorite accumulation. This model includes aspects from both the traditional upwelling phosphogenic model and key elements from the non-upwelling model. The role played by high-energy events (e.g., internal waves) in phosphorite accumulation was achieved by the interplay between the physicochemical and hydrodynamical processes. Internal waves are thought to be the triggering mechanism for the density flows. Internal waves and induced bottom currents are sporadic but strong enough to bring sediments into suspension. Accumulation of phosphorites by high-energy waves is evidenced by the predominance of many types of bedform sequences. Such type of bedforms are represented by fining upward, firm grounds, erosive pockets and pot holes, planar lags, imbrication, sorting, and fragmentation. The Duwi Formation has been divided into several meter-scale cycles of three types (gradual, non-gradual, and truncated). This represents the higher frequency sea-level fluctuations forming shallowing–upward cycles that were arranged into the larger regressive megasequence during a third-order sea level change.     

中国南方晚震旦世沉积相及磷块岩的时空分布

本文扼要阐述扬子地台及邻区晚震旦世地层的研究现状,沉积相带(台地相、斜坡相及盆地相)及古地理轮廓、磷块岩的时空分布(包括地理、地层及沉积相的分布)。同时还着重指出了台地边缘及斜坡相带的上部是寻找磷块岩的有利地区。     

湘西震旦—寒武纪交替时期古海洋环境的恢复

前寒武纪至寒武纪的交替时期是地质史和生命史的重要转折。中国南方地区广泛发育了上震旦统、下寒武统的黑色岩系。文中运用沉积学和沉积地球化学的理论和方法对湘西黑色岩系的岩石类型、矿物组成、元素地球化学特征、干酪根的结构以及碳同位素的组成等方面进行了研究 ,讨论了黑色岩系的形成条件 ,恢复了震旦纪 /寒武纪地史转折期的古环境。研究认为 ,湘西地区在晚震旦世和早寒武世地史转折期的生物爆发和高有机质的产率是形成缺氧环境的重要因素之一。     

Geochemistry of carboniferous shales of the Sardar Formation,east central Iran: Implication for provenance,paleoclimate and paleo-oxygenation conditions at a passive continental margin

The Sardar Formation (Carboniferous) has a lithological variation that is characterized by sandstone, shale and limestone members. Shales of the Sardar Formation from the east central Iran have been analyzed for major elements and a number of trace elements. The shales of Sardar Formation are rich in quartz minerals and clay minerals of the bulk minerals. Clay minerals of shales are composed of illite, kaolinite and slightly montmorillonite. SiO₂ versus K₂O/Na₂O diagram shows these shales plotted in the passive continental margin or cratonic field. Geochemical data suggest high acidic source rocks similar to granite and intermediate igneous rocks. CIA and ICV suggest semi-humid climatic conditions during depositions and indicate high chemical weathering in the source area. The geochemical parameters such as V/Cr, Ni/Co and Cu/Zn ratios indicate that these shales were deposited in oxic environment.     

Effect of the depositional environment on the compositional variations among the phosphorite deposits in Egypt

Late Cretaceous economic phosphorites from the Red Sea, Nile Valley, and Abu Tartur areas, Egypt, show distinct variations in the lithology of associated sediments, mineralogy of nonphosphatic constituents, and distributions of major and trace elements. In the Red Sea area, the phosphorite beds are intercalated with laminated black shales, and the nonphosphatic constituents are detrital quartz and calcite, ankerite, and pyrite cements. In the Nile Valley, the phosphorite beds are intercalated with chert, marl, and sandstone and the nonphosphatic constituents are detrital quartz and calcite and chalcedony cements. In the Abu Tartur Plateau, the phosphorite beds are intercalated with laminated black shales, and the nonphosphatic constituents are detrital quartz and ankerite and pyrite cements. The phosphorites studied also show distinct variations in major- and trace-element concentrations. The Abu Tartur phosphorites have higher contents of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, K₂O, Co, Nb, Pb, Sr, Th, Y, and Zr and lower SiO₂, Ba, and U contents as compared to those in the Red Sea and Nile Valley areas. The positive correlations between Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, K₂O, Nb, Y, and Zr suggest the detrital origin of these constituents.Similarity in the phosphatic constituents, which were derived from outside the depositional sites, and variations in the lithology of associated sediments and the mineralogy and geochemistry of the nonphosphatic constituents, which reflect the conditions at the depositional sites, suggest that the variations in the depositional environment of the phosphorites are the potential controlling factor of the compositional variations among these phosphorites. The abundance of black shales in the Red Sea and Abu Tartur areas, as well as the occurrence of ankerite and pyrite as cementing materials for the phosphatic constituents, might reflect reducing conditions in these areas, while the abundance of siliciclastic sediments and calcite and chalcedony cements suggests oxidizing conditions in the Nile Valley. The reducing conditions in the Red Sea and Abu Tartur areas were probably developed within the pre-existing depressions in a shelf environment. These depressions might have formed as a result of a change in the movements of the North Atlantic, Eurasian, and African Plates during the late Santonian, which led to transgressive inversion of rifts along northern Egypt and consequent folding in the continental interior. The higher contents of detrital components in the Abu Tartur phosphorites compared to the Red Sea and Nile Valley areas suggest more detrital inputs during the deposition of the phosphorites in Abu Tartur. The products of the diagenesis and weathering of these deposits also reflect the variations in the depositional conditions.     

Geochemistry of approximately 1.9 Ga sedimentary rocks from northeastern Labrador, Canada

Fifty-eight rock chips from fifteen samples of sedimentary rocks from the Ramah Group (approximately 1.9 Ga) in northeastern Labrador, Canada, were analyzed for major and minor elements, including C and S, to elucidate weathering processes on the Earth's surface about 1.9 Ga ago. The samples come from the Rowsell Harbour, Reddick Bight, and Nullataktok Formations. Two rock series, graywackes-gray shales of the Rowsell Harbour, Reddick Bight and Nullataktok Formations, and black shales of the Nullataktok Formation, are distinguishable on the basis of lithology, mineralogy, and major and trace element chemistry. The black shales show lower concentrations than the graywackes-gray shales in TiO2 (0.3-0.7 wt% vs. 0.7-1.8 wt%), Al2O3 (9.5-20.1 wt% vs. 13.0-25.0 wt%), and sigma Fe (<1 wt% vs. 3.8-13.9 wt% as FeO). Contents of Zr, Th, U, Nb, Ce, Y, Rb, Y, Co, and Ni are also lower in the black shales. The source rocks for the Ramah Group sediments were probably Archean gneisses with compositions similar to those in Labrador and western Greenland. The major element chemistry of source rocks for the Ramah Group sedimentary rocks was estimated from the Al2O3/TiO2 ratios of the sedimentary rocks and the relationship between the major element contents (e.g., SiO2 wt%) and Al2O3/TiO2 ratios of the Archean gneisses. This approach is justified, because the Al/Ti ratios of shales generally retain their source rock values; however, the Zr/Al, Zr/Ti, and Cr/Ni ratios fractionate during the transport of sediments. The measured SiO2 contents of shales in the Ramah Group are generally higher than the estimated SiO2 contents of source rocks by approximately 5 wt%. This correction may also have to be applied when estimating average crustal compositions from shales. Two provenances were recognized for the Ramah Group sediments. Provenance I was comprised mostly of rocks of bimodal compositions, one with SiO2 contents approximately 45 wt% and the other approximately 65 wt%, and was the source for most sedimentary rocks of the Ramah Group, except for black shales of the Nullataktok Formation. The black shales were apparently derived from Provenance II that was comprised mostly of felsic rocks with SiO2 contents approximately 65 wt%. Comparing the compositions of the Ramah Group sedimentary rocks and their source rocks, we have recognized that several major elements, especially Ca and Mg, were lost almost entirely from the source rocks during weathering and sedimentation. Sodium and potassium were also leached almost entirely during the weathering of the source rocks. However, significant amounts of Na were added to the black shales and K to all the rock types during diagenesis and/or regional metamorphism. The intensity of weathering of source rocks for the Ramah Group sediments was much higher than that of typical Phanerozoic sediments, possibly because of a higher PCO2 in the Proterozoic atmosphere. Compared to the source rock values, the Fe3+/Ti ratios of many of the graywackes and gray shales of the Ramah Group are higher, the Fe2+/Ti ratios are lower, and the sigma Fe/Ti ratios are the same. Such characteristics of the Fe geochemistry indicate that these sedimentary rocks are comprised of soils formed by weathering of source rocks under an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The atmosphere about 1.9 Ga was, therefore, oxygen rich. Typical black shales of Phanerozoic age exhibit positive correlations between the organic C contents and the concentrations of S, U, and Mo, because these elements are enriched in oxygenated seawater and are removed from seawater by organic matter in sediments. However, such correlations are not found in the Ramah Group sediments. Black shales of the Ramah Group contain 1.7-2.8 wt% organic C, but are extremely depleted in sigma Fe (<1 wt% as FeO), S (<0.3 wt%), U (approximately l ppm), Mo (<5 ppm), Ni (<2 ppm), and Co (approximately 0 ppm). This lack of correlation, however, does not imply that the approximately 1.9 Ga atmosphere-ocean system was anoxic. Depletion of these elements from the Ramah Group sediments may have occurred during diagenesis.     

渝南—黔北奥陶系五峰组的同生变形构造及其地质意义

重庆綦江奥陶系五峰组中—下部的黑色页岩中发育有一系列主要由阶梯状断层和其间的小型褶皱构成的同生变形构造(contemporaneous deformed structures),并可大致分为3个构造层段。沉积后—固结成岩前所形成的同生变形构造层之上为正常沉积的黑色页岩层。另外,在贵州桐梓五峰组距底部2.3m左右的黑色页岩中也发育有与綦江地区相似的、以小型褶皱为主的同生变形构造层,且此同生变形构造层上下为斑脱岩层。同生变形构造的发现,表明渝南—黔北地区奥陶纪晚期(五峰期)的沉积盆地为非平坦的古地貌,且曾发生过多期可能与火山运动相关的构造运动。     

中上扬子地区下古生界页岩气资源前景分析

我国中上扬子地区下古生界黑色页岩是震旦系、二叠系大中型气田的重要烃源岩,同时其自身也具有形成页岩气藏的巨大潜力。初步研究表明,中上扬子地区下古生界有利页岩气层主要发育在下震旦统陡山沱组、下寒武统筇竹寺组、上奥陶统五峰组和下志留统龙马溪组,这些层位的黑色页岩厚度、有机碳含量、以及Ro值等各项参数均符合形成页岩气藏的特征,是今后页岩气勘探的潜力地层。     

Rock composition and origin of the Duwi Formation calcareous rocks, Upper Egypt

Upper Cretaceous phosphorite beds of the Duwi Formation, Upper Egypt, are intercalated with limestone, sandy limestone, marl, calcareous shales, and calcareous sandstone. Calcareous intercalations were subjected to field and detailed petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical investigations in order to constrain their rock composition and origin. Mineralogically, dolomite, calcite, quartz, francolite and feldspars are the non-clay minerals. Smectite, kaolinite and illite represent the clay minerals. Major and trace elements can be classified as the detrital and carbonate fractions based on their sources. The detrital fraction includes the elements that are derived from detrital sources, mainly clay minerals and quartz, such as Si, Al, Fe, Ti, K, Ba, V, Ni, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu, Zr, and Mo. The carbonate fraction includes the elements that are derived from carbonates, maily calcite and dolomite, such as Ca, Mg and Sr. Dolomite occurs as being dense, uniform, mosaic, very fine-to-fine, non-ferroan, and non-stoichiometrical, suggesting its early diagenetic formation in a near-shore oxidizing shallow marine environment. The close association and positive correlation between dolomite and smectite indicates the role of clay minerals in the formation of dolomite as a source of Mg^2＋ -rich solutions. Calcareous rocks were deposited in marine, oxidizing and weakly alkaline conditions, marking a semi-arid climatic period. The calcareous/argillaceous alternations are due to oscillations in clay/carbonate ratio.     

Formation Conditions and ore potential of black shales of the Udokan Group,East Siberia

Peculiarities of formation and ore potential of black shales of the Paleoproterozoic Udokan Group are considered. They are compared to the stratotype (Khokholma Formation, Sukhoi Log gold deposit). The black shales are confined to lower parts of the Paleoproterozoic sequence of the Udokan Group. They are observed in sections of the Chitkanda, Inyr, Ayan, and Ikab’ya formations. The black shale complex of the Udokan Group is divided into three levels of Au concentration. The first level with background Au contents is typical of barren shales; the second level is confined to sulfidized rocks; and the third level is related to sulfide-quartz veins in the black shales. The average Au content is 0.12 g/t in the sulfidized shales and 0.28 g/t in the sulfide-quartz veins. Black shales of the Udokan Group and Khokholma Formation were formed in a relatively deep shelf zone, while those of the Shaman Formation precipitated in a shallow zone. Protoliths of black shales of the Udokan Group contained graywackes, diorites, syenites, basic rocks, and tuffites. Protoliths of black shales of the Khokholma Formation were produced by the intense weathering of basic and ultrabasic rocks.     

四川盆地广元地区大隆组有机质富集规律

四川盆地西北广元地区上二叠统大隆组主要为碳酸盐岩、硅质岩和页岩互层沉积.对四川广元长江沟剖面进行精细解剖的结果表明,大隆组中有机碳质量分数为0.16%~14.6%,有机碳质量分数与岩性关系密切,高有机碳质量分数赋存于黑色页岩和纹层状灰岩中,其中碳酸盐岩的有机碳质量分数与纹层厚度呈反比,即纹层厚度越大有机碳质量分数越低.大隆组优质烃源岩位于大隆组中部岩段,岩性组合为黑色页岩和硅质岩互层,间夹薄层状灰岩或纹层状灰岩.微量元素分析结果显示有机质的富集明显受控于沉积阶段及早期成岩阶段的氧化还原条件.综合分析表明大隆组烃源岩有机质富集受晚二叠世沉积环境、氧化还原条件、生物生产力、深部热液流体的影响,其中厌氧、缺氧环境是大隆组烃源岩发育的主控因素,高生物产率是有机质富集的前提条件.     

上扬子西南缘下志留统细粒沉积岩有机质富集机理研究 ——以盐津牛寨剖面为例

利用化学元素行为特征的差异性,以总有机碳(TOC)、主量元素和微量元素的含量或比值判别四川盆地西南缘盐津牛寨剖面下志留统龙马溪组细粒沉积岩形成时的初级生产力、氧化还原条件、陆源供应的输入和盆地水体滞留程度等环境特征,并对比川南沉降中心(长宁剖面)和南川非沉降中心(南川剖面)龙马溪组的古环境参数,综合探讨了早志留世上扬子...     

重庆东北城口地区黑色岩系地球化学异常模式

重庆东北城口地区黑色岩系广泛发育,主要岩性有上震旦统到下武寒统的黑色碳质粉砂岩、含碳粉砂质板岩、含碳硅质岩等,在区内进行水系沉积物测量工作取得了良好的找矿效果.以区内的黑色岩系为重点研究对象,通过对样品分析数据的综合研究,指出了区内的主要成矿元素有Mn、V、Ag、Ba等,其中Mn主要富集在灯影组和陡山沱组中,V、Ag主要富集在鲁家坪组中,Ba则富集在巴山组中,初步确定了黑色岩系的地球化学异常模式,指明了区内黑色岩系的找矿方向.     

Geochemical Signatures of Early Paleogene Source Rocks in the Sanshui Basin, South China

The Honggang member of the early Paleogene Buxin Formation is the main source rock in the Sanshui Basin, characterized by organic-rich black shales with the cyclic recurrence of organic- poor sediments. The geochemical characteristics of the Honggang member have been documented to determine the organic matter types and depositional environments in this paper. The organic matter of the black shales mainly consists of a mixture of land plant-derived and phytoplankton-derived organic matter. Total organic carbon content (TOC)–sulfur–iron (Fe) relationships suggest that the organic- rich black shales were deposited under dysoxic-to-euxinic water conditions. The time that iron minerals remained in contact with H2S in anoxic waters possibly influenced the formation of syngenetic pyrite, and organic carbon controlled the formation of diagenetic pyrite. Organic-poor intervals usually show pyrite sulfur enrichment and higher degree of pyritization values relative to low organic carbon contents. This resulted from HS– diffusing downward from overlying organic-rich sediments and formed Fe sulfides through reactions with sufficient Fe. Trace elements generally exhibit low concentrations and little TOC dependence, suggesting some degree of depletion in these elements in the early Paleogene sediments of the Sanshui Basin. This probably resulted from cyclic recurrences of oxic benthic conditions, which promoted the remobilization of trace elements and caused the low concentration of trace elements.     

扬子地区古生代主要烃源岩有机质富集的环境动力学机制与差异

在扬子地块古生界发育了3套区域性的优质烃源岩,即:下寒武统、上奥陶统一下志留统、二叠系(中、上二叠统).下寒武统烃源岩主要由硅质岩(留茶坡组)和上部的硅质泥岩、碳质泥岩(或石煤)(牛蹄塘组)组成.早寒武世在台一盆转换带(或台地边缘)广泛发育的海底热液活动,喷流出大量的富硅流体,使大量硅岩得以在台缘外侧-盆地区沉淀;同时...     

柯坪断隆寒武—奥陶系硅质岩特征及储层分析

塔里木盆地柯坪断隆寒武—奥陶系硅质岩发育广泛,据野外硅质岩产状特征,将该区硅质岩大致可分为两类,即下寒武统玉尔吐斯组中与黑色泥页岩共生的薄层状硅质岩和下奥陶统蓬莱坝组碳酸盐岩中的硅质条带和结核.通过大量野外露头和镜下薄片观察,玉尔吐斯组中薄层状硅质岩含泥铁质,具纹层状构造,岩性为纹层状含泥铁质硅质岩,生长于低Eh的静水中,属Wilson模式的深水或克拉通深水盆地.蓬莱坝组的碳酸盐岩沉积相为潮下带台内滩相,部分碳酸盐矿物被硅质交代,在裂缝发育地区和旋回界面附近形成残余结构硅质岩,主要有残余砂屑硅质岩、残余藻纹层硅质岩.     

下扬子地区青龙群上部角砾岩成因问题

1989—1990年,安徽省地质科学研究所与德国下萨克森州不伦瑞克大学地质古生物研究所在下扬子地区合作进行了中三叠统的蒸发岩沉积特征及含钾性评价的研究,对下扬子地区青龙群上部(东马鞍山组)地表角砾岩层进行了详细的野外地质工作。我们认为这套以往一直被看作盐溶倒塌成因的角砾岩,主要是碎屑流沉积的结果,有少量构造角砾岩、膏溶崩坍角砾岩。碎屑流沉积发育于长江北岸的宿松、安庆、巢湖、无为和长江南岸的贵池、铜陵、繁昌、南京、镇江、溧阳等地,呈北东—南西向带状展布,分布广泛、规模大,最大沉积厚度超过百米以上,十分引人注目。     

晚奥陶世五峰期扬子板块沉积模式

本文从沉积相分析及稀土元素地球化学特征来探讨扬子板块在晚奥陶世五峰期的沉积模式,认为五峰期扬子板块南部为古陆,东西北为断续分布的碳酸盐岩台地、生物礁和隆起区所环绕,中部为半封闭的浅水滞流海盆,稀土元素分析表明扬子扳块中部广泛分布的五峰组形成于陆浅海而非深海小洋盆。     

扬子地台早寒武世梅树村早期的古地理及其磷块岩展布特征

梅树村早期的地层,是在海退背景下形成的一套富含小壳动物化石的白云岩、磷块岩和硅质岩等岩石组合,主要分布扬子西区。该期的古地理轮廓,是在灯影期古地理的基础上演化而来的,是一个四周被深水环绕的较为特殊的碳酸盐台地。工业磷块岩主要分布于靠近“康滇古岛”东侧较拗陷的地区,成磷盆地呈近于南北向带状依次间隔展布,可能是受近南北向同生断裂和近东西向隆起、拗陷的控制有关。     

下扬子地区下寒武统幕府山组黑色岩系地球化学特征及其地质意义

为探讨下扬子地区下寒武统幕府山组底部富有机质黑色岩系的物源属性及源区构造背景特征,在南京幕府山剖面幕府山组底部系统的采集样品,并对其进行地球化学测试与分析。Th/Sc?Zr/Sc图解表明幕府山组黑色岩系未曾经历沉积再循环;通过分析主量元素比值特征、稀土元素（REE）配分模式、δEu、（La/Yb）_N及La/Th?Hf和La/Yb?∑REE判别图解,认为幕府山组黑色岩系源岩主要是花岗岩和富含长英质矿物的沉积岩等上地壳长英质岩石,存在基性岩的混入。从物源属性、地质年代关系、华南大陆构造演化历程等多方面考虑,源岩中花岗岩成分主要为新元古时期岩浆活动形成的岩浆岩,物源区为江南古陆（江南造山带）。通过分析K₂O+Na₂O?SiO₂、K₂O/Na₂O?SiO₂/Al₂O₃、La?Th?Sc、Th?Co?Zr/10和Th?Sc?Zr/10图解,认为幕府山组黑色岩系源区构造背景为被动大陆边缘。