前寒武纪“臼齿状构造谜”的一些认识：来自天津蓟县剖面高于庄组的信息

臼齿状构造是一种主要分布在前寒武纪非叠层石碳酸盐岩中的、特殊的“谜”一样的沉积构造,以发育一系列奇形怪状、大大小小的裂缝和裂隙为特征,这些裂缝和裂隙由等粒和均匀的微亮晶方解石充填。臼齿状构造时代分布的特殊性（新太古代至新元古代）以及分布的全球性,使其在显生宙还未发现类似的对等物。对臼齿状构造成因的不同认识使其成为“臼齿状构造谜”。天津蓟县剖面中元古界高于庄组（1600 Ma 至 1400 Ma）第3段隐晶质泥晶灰岩序列中的臼齿状构造,以其特别的沉积特征为了解“臼齿状构造谜”提供了一些有用的信息。这些特征包括：(1)臼齿状构造特别的形态学特征,(2)由微亮晶所充填的臼齿状裂缝具有明显的边界（以富集残余有机质和黄铁矿为特点）,(3)臼齿状构造的宿主岩石是不发育叠层石和纹理化构造的隐晶质泥晶灰岩,(4)与臼齿状构造常常共生的极为特别的宏观藻类化石等。因此,臼齿状构造可以解释为一种发育在席底生境中、由一系列复杂的作用过程所形成的、与微生物相关的原生沉积构造。作为前寒武纪最普遍的沉积现象,臼齿状构造为更好地理解复杂多变的前寒武纪碳酸盐岩提供了许多有意义的信息。     

臼齿构造主要成因模式及时空分布意义

在综述臼齿碳酸盐岩成因研究历程和国内外最新研究成果的基础上,总结评述了6种主要的臼齿构造成因模式,其核心问题是在元古代正常潮下浅海环境中构建成岩作用早期臼齿构造裂缝形成及等粒微亮晶方解石快速沉淀充填的物理、化学及微生物条件。其中,气泡扩张裂缝模式、微生物-地球化学模式和同沉积地震脱水模式等具有一定的代表性。臼齿构造多产出于正常浅海潮下环境,并且呈幕式特点产出于前寒武纪地层记录中,其时空发育特点似乎表明与叠层石发育的不相容性。臼齿碳酸盐岩在中新元古代集中发育的事实可能反映了有利的物理、化学和生物条件在地质历史上的唯一结合。理清臼齿构造成因问题是认识前寒武纪复杂的碳酸盐岩世界的重要线索。     

贵州紫云上石炭统叶状藻礁灰岩胶结物特征

贵州紫云县猴场镇扁平村的上石炭统叶状藻礁及其周边灰岩中广泛发育大量的各类胶结物。通过对胶结物的形态、结构和阴极发光特征以及胶结物间的接触关系的研究,可以确定成岩作用的先后并识别成岩环境。浅海海底同生成岩阶段大的孔隙中形成等厚环边针状胶结物、葡萄状胶结物,小的孔隙里形成微晶胶结物。早成岩阶段形成微亮晶和斑块状亮晶方解石胶结物和放射纤维扇状胶结物,表生成岩阶段的溶蚀作用和胶结作用强烈,胶结物类型有斑块状或等粒的方解石胶结物和等厚环壁柱状胶结物,等厚环壁柱状胶结物在所有胶结物中体积是较大的。早期胶结作用使叶状藻礁灰岩孔隙度大为降低。中、晚成岩阶段,孔隙被等厚环壁刃状胶结物和晶簇或斑块状亮晶方解石所充填,有些先成的胶结物被热液改造。后生作用阶段发生的主要是构造破裂作用,其中少数裂隙被红褐色含Fe2O3微晶层和晶体粉砂及渗流豆粒充填。叶状藻礁灰岩的孔隙在晚成岩阶段前或中被胶结而之后没有创造出大且连通的孔隙,是它没能成为油气储集层的原因之一。     

中国元古代碳酸盐岩微亮晶构造及形成的沉积环境约束

微亮晶构造(Microspar,Molar-Tooth Structure,简称MT)发育于全球各稳定克拉通的中、新元古代盖层碳酸盐岩中。微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩也发育于中国大部分地区的中、新元古代地层中。全球范围的中、新元古代微亮晶构造都表现显著一致的岩石学和沉积学特征。微亮晶构造呈肠状褶皱状等复杂形态。微亮晶由5~15μm的均匀、等粒状,规则或不规则多边形方解石或白云石组成。宿主沉积岩相岩石主要含有少量陆源碎屑物质的碎屑灰岩。微亮晶构造在阴极发光(CL)和背散射(BS)显微镜下显示,每个微晶方解石个体内部发育似棱形的晶核,其外为叠置的微晶方解石晶簇,说明微亮晶构造是围绕微晶核"增生"加大的集合体。微亮晶和宿主围岩电子探针测试表明,微亮晶Ca含量38%~40%,Mg、Al、Si、P、K、Fe含量小于0.2%,基质中粘土矿物含量和Si和Al的含量较高。微亮晶宿主岩相主要砂屑、粉屑和泥屑灰岩(白云岩)与含铁含泥灰质泥页岩,垂向岩相序列表现为向上变浅、变薄,其中频繁发育冲刷、充填和硬底(hardground)与压溶构造,以及平行层理,各种规模斜层理、波状层理-水平层理、粒序层理、同沉积揉皱构造和变浅与暴露构造等,反应了微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩的形成严格受沉积环境和微沉积岩相的约束,无一例外地发育于浅潮下带-潮上带(环潮坪)环境。微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩不仅是环潮坪沉积环境的指相标志,也是全球元古代时期特殊与重要沉积岩石类型,其形成受控于全球古地理和古海洋地球化学条件与背景,是中、新元古代时期全球变化的沉积记录,有益于全球对比和元古代古地理、大地构造重建。     

微亮晶（臼齿）碳酸盐成因及其在元古宙地球演化中的意义

本文应用多种技术方法,对微亮晶碳酸盐岩的成岩作用及其成因从宏观至微观进行了分析。根据岩石矿物学、地球化学和有机地球化学等研究证明,它是早期成岩过程中,在超高压的大气 CO_2,水平急剧下降的转折期,快速石化作用形成的具等粒结构μm级的微亮晶方解石集合体。MT 碳酸盐岩微亮晶成岩作用有两种类型:一是主要发生在海底沉积软泥中,在其底基质软泥中经差异压实作用形成褶皱肠状及复杂形的 MT 构造;二是直接在海水中或重力流搬运过程中形成的微亮晶球粒(核)。简言之,MT 碳酸盐岩石是在地球早期浅海环境下,由于微生物自养作用形成的地球化学成因产物。微亮晶碳酸盐岩是约束古大气圈和古海洋环境变化的最灵敏标志。通过详测 MT 丰度值和编制地球古大气圈 CO_2水平演化模式等,在前寒武纪发现有太古宙末期、早元古宙末期、中元古宙中期和新元古宙早-中期四个 MT 碳酸盐岩发育高峰值期,证明全球古大气圈 CO_2水平发生过四次不连续性、跳跃式下降周期,直到晚新元古宙未,全球雪球事件的发生,导致了 MT 碳酸盐岩的消失。其后,才进入显生宙的 CO_2低水平状态。MT 碳酸盐岩具有重要的油气资源远景,应予以重视。     

徐淮地区上元古界臼齿构造碳酸盐岩事件

臼齿构造是一种发育在中—上元古界中的特殊类型的沉积构造，具有特定的时限。在对徐淮地区上元古界臼齿构造碳酸盐岩旋回层序、岩石学特征和臼齿构造形成环境研究的基础上，探讨了臼齿构造碳酸盐岩的成因。采用旋回层序、海平面变化及臼齿构造碳酸盐岩事件的综合分析方法，划分了徐淮地区上元古界臼齿构造发育的地层层序。臼齿构造主要出现在泥晶灰岩中，而在粗颗粒灰岩中则很少出现，臼齿构造与基质碳酸盐岩在组分和结构上有明显不同，臼齿构造是由纯净的微亮晶方解石组成，而基质则是由含粘土和细粉砂的泥晶碳酸盐岩组成，二者呈突变接触关系。对臼齿构造在层序中相序分布关系的详细研究表明，臼齿构造具有重要的环境意义，从台地内缓坡下部、中缓坡到外缓坡上部均有分布，但在不同环境中臼齿构造的类型不同。     

北京南口长城系高于庄组硅质臼齿状构造的发现及成因

臼齿构造主要发育于中新元古代地层中,目前所报道的臼齿构造均由纯净的、基本等粒的微晶方解石（或白云石）构成.野外地质考察中,在北京南口长城系高于庄组第3段泥晶灰岩中发现了形态多样的臼齿状构造,野外观察和室内显微镜下分析,发现臼齿状构造与宿主岩石边界多呈圆弧状或港湾状,界线清晰.扫描电镜（SEM）和能谱分析（EDX）表明,"臼齿"成分主要以硅质为主,矿物成分为玉髓和自生石英.从臼齿状构造的形态和充填序列分析,发现南口臼齿状构造形成经历了裂缝形成、裂缝充填和后期破坏再充填等过程.认为臼齿状构造可能是多成因的结果,其中在半固结的条件下由地质事件引起的微裂隙系统可能是臼齿状构造形成的重要因素之一.      

豫西登封地区寒武系第三统鲕粒和鲕粒灰岩演化及其意义*

豫西登封寒武系第三统灰岩中的鲕粒自下而上个体直径与鲕核逐渐变小、形态变得更加浑圆、鲕粒间胶结程度更高,反映了从深水不稳定鲕粒灰岩到浅水高速建造鲕粒滩的演变过程。研究区鲕粒灰岩发育可以分为3个阶段:(1)台地深斜坡鲕粒灰岩建造阶段(A段),主要发育放射鲕及同心—放射鲕,鲕粒形态多样、粒径大,粒间多为灰泥充填;(2)滩前缓斜坡鲕粒灰岩建造阶段(B段),主要发育同心—放射鲕、同心鲕,鲕粒含量极不稳定,粒径差异大,粒间由微亮晶及亮晶方解石胶结;(3)台内鲕粒滩高速建造阶段(C段), 主要发育白云化的同心鲕和微晶鲕,鲕粒含量极高、粒径极小,鲕核也很小,粒间由亮晶方解石胶结。由A段到C段,相对水深逐渐变浅,成鲕环境变得成熟而稳定,鲕粒沉积规模逐渐扩大。     

豫西登封地区寒武系第三统鲕粒和鲕粒灰岩演化及其意义

豫西登封寒武系第三统灰岩中的鲕粒自下而上个体直径与鲕核逐渐变小、形态变得更加浑圆、鲕粒间胶结程度更高,反映了从深水不稳定鲕粒灰岩到浅水高速建造鲕粒滩的演变过程。研究区鲕粒灰岩发育可以分为3个阶段:(1)台地深斜坡鲕粒灰岩建造阶段(A段),主要发育放射鲕及同心—放射鲕,鲕粒形态多样、粒径大,粒间多为灰泥充填;(2)滩前缓斜坡鲕粒灰岩建造阶段(B段),主要发育同心—放射鲕、同心鲕,鲕粒含量极不稳定,粒径差异大,粒间由微亮晶及亮晶方解石胶结;(3)台内鲕粒滩高速建造阶段(C段),主要发育白云化的同心鲕和微晶鲕,鲕粒含量极高、粒径极小,鲕核也很小,粒间由亮晶方解石胶结。由A段到C段,相对水深逐渐变浅,成鲕环境变得成熟而稳定,鲕粒沉积规模逐渐扩大。     

蓟县高于庄组臼齿构造形态特征及成因意义

本文以蓟县地区高于庄组发育的臼齿构造为例,通过对臼齿构造详细的岩石学、形态学和岩性与流变学的关系,以及追踪具独特岩性的臼齿构造母岩的变化.结果表明,微亮晶方解石大小、底基质岩性和粘性在臼齿构造发育过程中具有重要作用;相对的,岩性均一地层中臼齿构造形态多种多样.而臼齿构造直径与其弯曲度之间的关系说明臼齿构造形成过程本身也...     

宏观藻类化石及其相关的“前寒武纪谜”:对天津蓟县剖面中元古代早期高于庄组第三段中一些现象的思考

在漫长的前寒武纪,存在若干谜一样的问题,如叠层石的生长机理、臼齿状构造的成因、白云岩的形成机制和宏观藻类化石的生物学属性及其分类归属等。宏观藻类化石是指那些肉眼可见的低等植物化石,因为与现代藻类的亲缘关系尚未完全确定,它们的生物学属性及其分类位置还存在较多的争议,所以宏观藻类化石成为一个"前寒武纪谜"。发现于天津蓟县剖面高于庄组第三段非叠层石灰岩(均一石灰岩)中的可能的实体宏观藻类化石,与成因还存在争议的臼齿状构造共生,包括球状丘尔藻、椭球状寿县藻、带状塔乌藻和豆荚状荚藻等4种类型,尤其以前两种居多,组成一个丘尔藻-寿县藻组合;这些多为球状体的化石,曾经被认为是臼齿状构造的一种,称为"球状臼齿状构造",但是,由于这些宏观藻类化石具有规则的形态、较为明显的可能的细胞显微结构,与充填臼齿状构造的方解石微亮晶形成明显的区别,不属于臼齿状构造;而且以实体化石产出,与多年来所描述的碳质压型化石又存在较大的区别;同时,该球状化石的中心部位硅化而边部为钙化体,也明显区别于一般的钙质结核、燧石结核、凝灰岩结核和气泡构造等。这些球状实体化石,要比H.J.Hofmann所报道的加拿大麦肯齐山小达尔群(Little Dal Group)的臼齿状构造灰岩中的实体宏观藻类化石的形成时代要老得多,有可能是最为古老的实体宏观藻类化石。高于庄组臼齿状构造灰岩中的实体宏观藻类化石,成为思考若干前寒武纪谜的重要现象。     

Submarine and vadose cements in Pleistocene Bermuda reef rock

Well-rounded pebbles and cobbles of reef rock, which in bio- and lithofacies closely resembles the Recent algal cup reefs, occur in the basal conglomerate of the Pleistocene Devonshire Formation cropping out along Grape Bay on the south shore of Bermuda. The framebuilders of this rock include coralline red algae, vermetid gastropods, and barnacles. Study by petrographic microscope, electron microprobe, and SEM revealed aragonite-needle and spherulitic cements, high-Mg calcite micrite and palisade cements including calcified algal filaments. Two or three generations of these may occur in a given pore. By analogy with the Recent cup-reef material, on the basis of their composition (high strontium content of aragonite, high magnesium content of calcite) and of circumstantial evidence, these are considered submarine cements.In addition, a vadose blocky low-Mg calcite cement occurs, which never precedes any, but frequently succeedes one, two, or three of the above cements. Its fabrics vary: it may exhibit an increase in crystal size toward the center or not, it may or may not be bounded by the meniscus outline characteristic of the vadose diagenetic environment. The limitation of cement precipitation by a meniscus gives rise to a large diversity of forms determined by respective combinations of solution supply, permeability of the micro-environment, and substrate morphology. To illustrate the diversity, the meniscus cement is shown in relation to sediment particles, aragonite-needle cement, and calcified filaments.From the blocky low-Mg cement, selective neomorphism extends into some aragonitic gastropod shells; it is controlled, in part, by original shell structure. The resulting low-Mg calcite mosaic is characterized by relic structures and plane crystalline boundaries. Aragonite needles between blocky calcite cement and neomorphic calcite were not affected by the process of mineralogic alteration.This study shows that cements recognized earlier in Recent Bermuda cup reefs can be traced into the past and that additions to the diagenetic sequence can be distinguished. Knowledge of these features and their sequences should help decipher the diagenetic history of other fossil reefs.     

Microorganisms Linked to Neoproterozoic Microspar Carbonate Sedimentation in the Jilin-Liaoning Area

Molar-tooth carbonate refers to a sort of rock that has ptygmatical folded structure comparable to the ivory. This kind of carbonate exists in a special time range (from Middle to Neoproterozoic). Its origin and the possibility to use it in stratigraphic correlation of the paleocontinent is the key task of the IGCP447, a project on Proterozoic molar tooth carbonates and the evolution of the earth (2001-2005). The importance lies in that the molar-tooth structure is the key to solving problems related to Precambrian biological and global geochemical events. The molar-tooth structure is associated with microorganisms. Development and recession of such carbonates have relations with the evolution process of early lives and abrupt changes in sea carbonate geochemistry. In recent years, based on researches on petrology, geochemistry and Sr isotope of molar-tooth carbonate in the Jilin-Liaoning and Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, the authors hold that it can be used as a marker for stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary     

天津蓟县中元古界高于庄组“球形臼齿状构造”新解——1400 Ma以前球形或似球形实体宏观藻类化石的细胞显微结构

天津蓟县剖面高于庄组,组成一个复杂而特别的叠层石—非叠层石碳酸盐岩沉积序列,其中,第三段构成一个特征迥异的非叠层石碳酸盐岩沉积序列。在该非叠层石序列上部的均一石灰岩(隐晶质泥晶灰岩)中普遍发育大小不等的带状臼齿状构造,与臼齿状构造共同产出的是一些数毫米乃至厘米级的球形体或似球形体。这些球形体或似球形体,曾经被解释为球形臼齿状构造,也被解释为灰岩结核、燧石结核或凝灰岩结核。岩石薄片的显微镜观察表明,这些球形体或似球形体的内部,显示出较为明显但又较为原始的多细胞组织,如分生组织和类似于薄壁组织的成熟组织,其中一些成熟细胞还保留着较为明显的细胞显微结构,表明这些球形体或似球形体的内部结构明显不同于臼齿状构造的特殊填充物——等粒状微亮晶方解石。因此,这些球形体或似球形体应该归为丘尔藻或拟丘尔藻之类的宏观藻类化石,而不是球形臼齿状构造。尽管前人在前寒武纪地层之中描述了若干宏观藻类化石,但多以碳质压型的形式保存在泥岩之类的细粒沉积之中。发现于天津蓟县剖面高于庄组灰岩中的实体球形或似球形宏观藻类化石,以其较老的地质年代(大于1400Ma)、较为明显而又原始的多细胞组织和一些成熟细胞的可能细胞显微结构,表明该球形实体化石具明显的多细胞真核生物属性。这些初步研究和发现为探讨真核生物的起源演变、揭示宏观藻类化石的生物学属性提供了罕见的实际材料,因而具有重要的意义。     

徐州—淮南地区新元古代臼齿碳酸盐岩成因探讨

臼齿碳酸盐岩是一种发育在中—新元古代，由微亮晶方解石组成的复杂褶皱构造，其成因一百多年来一直是个谜。通过对徐州-淮南地区新元古代臼齿碳酸盐岩特征、形成环境、分布时限研究，探讨了臼齿碳酸盐岩成因。该区臼齿碳酸盐岩发育在台地缓坡沉积体系中，可作为潮下浅水环境的标志，其形态在微层序中的分布反映沉积环境，具有重要的环境意义。建立了臼齿碳酸盐岩微相环境模式。快速石化作用形成均匀、等粒微亮晶方解石，是臼齿碳酸盐岩显著特征。现代类似于发育臼齿碳酸盐岩潮下环境没有这样的快速石化条件，它要求更高的超过饱和CaCO3沉淀。臼齿碳酸盐岩在本区分布时限介于850～720Ma间，在Sturtian冰期之前消失，与全球其他地区臼齿碳酸盐岩消失的时限一致，Sturtian冰期改变了海洋化学性质，是臼齿碳酸盐岩消失的根本原因。Sturtian冰期对海洋化学性质的影响，可能是揭开臼齿碳酸盐岩成因机理的一个重要新途径。     

Tomographic study of Paleoproterozoic carbonates as key to understanding the formation of molar-tooth structure

X-ray computed tomographic studies of relatively pure Paleoproterozoic limestones from the George Formation, Muskwa Assemblage, northern British Columbia, Canada indicate that molar-tooth structures developed along linked fractures in gel-like semi-plastic carbonate mud, with a high organic content. Where pore fluid and/or gas pressures matched confining loads, MT blobs developed. Where pressure exceeded loads, cracks propagated into adjacent semi-elastic sediment and were rapidly filled by clusters of uniform, equant, microcrystalline carbonate. Where abundant carbonate was not precipitated, incipient cracks and sheets collapsed leaving residual trains of microcrystalline carbonate with similar density to the molar-tooth carbonate. Tomographic studies show that the density of calcite domains within petrographically uniform sheets of MT void-filling calcite is uneven, suggesting that precipitation was not instantaneous, but was propagated from discrete centres.It is here suggested that carbonate production and sediment rheology were both strongly influenced by organic matter. During early sea-floor diagenesis microcrystalline carbonate precipitated within organic-rich sediment with high water content, possibly within decomposing mats of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). When pore pressures in the host sediment increased in response to cyclic loading by long-period waves, pore fluids containing EPS were injected into newly created fractures, allowing rapid precipitation of molar-tooth carbonate. Because tomographic studies allow detailed resolution of minor density differences, they provide a useful method of evaluating structures in relatively uniform carbonate rocks of any age.     

Molar Tooth Structure: a Contribution from the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation, Tianjin City, North China

Molar-tooth (MT) structure is an enigmatic sedimentary structure consisting of variously-shaped cracks and voids filled with a characteristically uniform, equant calcite microspar. It is globally distributed but temporally restricted to rocks from Neoarchean to Neoproterozoic age. The origin of MT structures has been debated for more than a century and the topic continues to be highly contentious. Some features of MT structure occurring in micritic limestones of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation (ca. 1500 Ma to ca. 1400 Ma), Jixian section, Tianjin City, North China show that: 1) there is a definite interface or lining, rich in organic material and pyrite, between the MT crack-filling calcite microspar and the micritic host rock, which is also rich in organic matter; 2) the micritic host rocks are notable for the absence of stromatolites and microbial laminites; 3) distinctive conglomeratic lag deposits made up of intraclasts of MT microspar result from storm reworking of the MT structures; 4) the MT structure is associated with possible algal megafossils such as Chuaria; 5) the MT microspar is made up of the larger calcite crystal and the MT crack is marked by the diversity of configurations; 6) both the TOC content and the carbon-isotopic value (δ13CPDB) among the host rock, the MT microspar and the possible algae fossil are obviously different. For the forming mechanism of the Gaoyuzhuang MT structure, these features can still indicate that: A) the MT microspar was formed by rapid precipitation and lithification; B) the MT microspar precipitated directly within the cracks; C) the decomposition of organic matter within the host micrite might be the chief mechanism producing gas bubbles; D) microscale gas-sediment interaction led to the generation of the MT cracks and the precipitation of microspar therein; E) the MT cracks might represent the track of migration and expansion of gas bubbles, and that the recrystallization of host micrites cannot be eliminated during forming process of the MT microspar; F) the MT structure is occurred in early diagenetic period; and G) the formation of MT microspars is a complex diagenetic process. Therefore, model of the microbially-induced gas-bubble expansion and migration is the best interpretation for the formation of the MT structure. Effectively, MT structures are a type of sedimentary structure that is formed in the early diagenetic period and is related to microbial activities and organic matter degradation.     

Tomographic study of Paleoproterozoic carbonates as key to understanding the formation of molar-tooth structure

X-ray computed tomographic studies of relatively pure Paleoproterozoic limestones from the George Formation, Muskwa Assemblage, northern British Columbia, Canada indicate that molar-tooth structures developed along linked fractures in gel-like semi-plastic carbonate mud, with a high organic content. Where pore fluid and/or gas pressures matched confining loads, MT blobs developed. Where pressure exceeded loads, cracks propagated into adjacent semi-elastic sediment and were rapidly filled by clusters of uniform, equant, microcrystalline carbonate. Where abundant carbonate was not precipitated, incipient cracks and sheets collapsed leaving residual trains of microcrystalline carbonate with similar density to the molar-tooth carbonate. Tomographic studies show that the density of calcite domains within petrographically uniform sheets of MT void-filling calcite is uneven, suggesting that precipitation was not instantaneous, but was propagated from discrete centres.

It is here suggested that carbonate production and sediment rheology were both strongly influenced by organic matter. During early sea-floor diagenesis microcrystalline carbonate precipitated within organic-rich sediment with high water content, possibly within decomposing mats of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). When pore pressures in the host sediment increased in response to cyclic loading by long-period waves, pore fluids containing EPS were injected into newly created fractures, allowing rapid precipitation of molar-tooth carbonate. Because tomographic studies allow detailed resolution of minor density differences, they provide a useful method of evaluating structures in relatively uniform carbonate rocks of any age.     

中元古代罕见的实体宏观藻类化石——来自天津蓟县中元古界高于庄组第三段非叠层石碳酸盐沉积序列中的新材料

天津蓟县剖面的中元古界高于庄组可以划分为4个段,其中第三段组成一个特别的非叠层石碳酸盐岩序列。在该非叠层石碳酸盐岩序列上部的隐晶质泥晶灰岩中,发育着还存在成因争议的臼齿状构造,与其伴生的是多种类型的实体宏观藻类化石。根据宏观形态特征,可以将这些宏观藻类化石暂时归为球状丘尔藻、椭球状寿县藻、带状塔乌藻和豆荚状荚藻、卵圆状卵圆藻、舌状舌藻等多种类型,以前二种居多,组成一个球状丘尔藻—椭球状寿县藻组合。这些宏观藻类化石,曾经被认为是臼齿状构造的一种而称为"球状臼齿状构造",或被简单地当作燧石结核、钙质结核等等。但是,由于其具有规则的宏观形态,其中的球形或次球形化石在常规岩石薄片下还显示出可能的原始多细胞组织分化和可能的细胞显微结构,与充填臼齿状构造的方解石微亮晶形成明显的区别,所以不应该将其定义为臼齿状构造,更不能解释为钙质结核和燧石结核,其以罕见的实体化石不同于多年来所描述的、以碳质压型化石的形式产出的宏观藻类化石。其规则多样的宏观形态所表明的多种化石类型,以及那些球状或次球状实体宏观藻类化石显示出可能的多细胞组织及相似的细胞显微结构,表明具明显的原始多细胞真核生物特征,这为探索前寒武纪真核生物的起源与演化提供了宝贵的实际材料。