Albian-Paleocene flora of the north pacific: Systematic composition, palaeofloristics and phytostratigraphy

Principal attention is focused on phytostratigraphy and comparative palaeofloristics of the Anadyr-Koryak (AKSR) and Northern Alaska (NASR) subregions of the North Pacific Region. The high-resolution Upper Albian-Paleocene phytostratigraphic schemes of these subregions are based on perceived stages of their floral evolution. In the AKSR the scheme includes seven subdivisions of subregional extent: the Early Ginter (upper Albian), Grebenka (upper Albian-Cenomanian-lower Turonian), Penzhina (upper Turonian), Kaivayam (Coniacian), Barykov (Santonian-lower to ?middle Campanian), Gornorechenian (?upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian), and Koryak (lower to upper Maastrichtian-?Danian) phytostratigraphic horizons. The phytostratigraphic scheme of the NASR includes three subregional phytostratigraphic horizons and five plant-bearing beds. These are the Kukpowruk (?lower to middle-?upper Albian), Niakogon (upper Albian-Cenomanian), Kaolak (Turonian) horizons and beds with the Tuluvak (Coniacian), Early Kogosukruk (upper Santonian-Campanian), Late Kogosukruk (Campanian-Maastrichtian), Early Sagwon (Danian-Selandian), and Late Sagwon (Selandian-Thanetian) floras. The comparative analysis of coeval (or close in age) floras distinguished in the AKSR and NASR shows that they are either similar to each other (floras Early Ginter and Kukpowruk, Grebenka and Niakogon, Penzhina and Kaolak, Koryak and Early Sagwon) or different in systematic composition (floras Kaivayam and Tuluvak, Gornorechenian and Kogosukruk). Similarities between the floras imply that plant assemblages of two subregions evolved under comparable climatic conditions and freely intercommunicated via the Bering Land Bridge during the Albian-Turonian and terminal Maastrichtian-Paleocene. Floras of the AKSR and NASR, which are of different composition, existed in particular intervals of geological history when trans-Beringian plant migrations were limited or even ceased because of palaeoclimatic difference between the subregions. Floras of the AKSR and NASR survived crisis at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary without essential evolutionary consequence which does not support a hypothesis of a global ecological crisis at this boundary. From the analysis of the Arctic end-Cretaceous flora and palaeoclimate we conclude that the large Northern Alaskan dinosaurs were driven by lack of resources (food and shelter) to migrate 1200–1300 kilometres to the South to find forage, warmer temperatures and better light conditions before winter set in. A scenario of the Albian-Late Cretaceous florogenesis in the North Pacific Region is proposed. A primary driver of Albian-Late Cretaceous florogenesis was the gradual invasion by novel angiosperm-rich plant communities into the Asiatic continental interiors and a replacement of pre-existing vegetation dominated by ancient ferns and gymnosperms. Plant fossils representing Mesophytic and Cenophytic communities usually do not mix in the individual assemblages.     

The Maastrichtian flora of the Amaam Lagoon area (Northeastern Russia)

The Maastrichtian Koryak flora from the Amaam Lagoon area is comprehensively studied with reference to available data on the stratigraphy of the study area and age assessment of the flora-bearing deposits. In the Koryak flora 32 species of plant fossils are identified and systematically described in the work. The established traits of the Koryak floristic assemblage are used to correlate it with the other assemblages close in age from different localities of Northeastern RNortheastern Russiaussia and Alaska. The results of correlation and taxonomic revision of plant fossils from the upper part of the Prince Creek Formation, Northern Alaska show that in the Anadyr-Koryak and Northern Alaska circum-Pacific regions the Koryak stage of flora development and the respective phytostratigraphic horizon (upper Maastrichtian-Selandian), of key significance for interregional correlation of continental deposits, are distinguishable. Floristic changes recorded in the northern circum-Pacific regions across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary suggest that the evolution of vegetation was gradual, controlled by climatic change, evolutionary factors and plant migration. These results are inconsistent with the postulated global significance of the ecological crisis at that time.     

Late Cretaceous Kholokhovchan Flora of Northeastern Asia: Composition,age and fossil plant descriptions

The Kholokhovchan Flora comes from tuffaceous – terrigenous deposits of the Vetvinskaya Member (Chalbugchan Group) in the Penzhina and Oklan rivers interfluve, Northeastern Russia. The depositional environment of the plant-bearing deposits is interpreted to have been a freshwater lake. The Kholokhovchan Flora hosts 42 fossil plant species belonging to Marchantiopsida, Polypodiopsida, Ginkgoales, Leptostrobales, Bennettitales, Pinales and Magnoliopsida. It is characterised by diverse angiosperms, less diverse conifers and ferns, by the presence of relatively ancient Sphenobaiera, Phoenicopsis and Pterophyllum together with advanced Late Cretaceous Taxodium, Glyptostrobus and angiosperms, among which platanoids are quite diverse. The Kholokhovchan Flora is most similar to Penzhina and Kaivayam floras of the Anadyr-Koryak Subregion and Arman Flora of the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanogenic belt (Northeastern Russia) and should be dated as Turonian–Coniacian. The Kholokhovchan Flora, that populated volcanic plateaus and intermontane valleys, are characterised by a mixture of ancient “Mesophytic” plants with typical Late Cretaceous “Cenophytic” taxa. This peculiar composition probably reflects a gradual penetration of new angiosperm-dominated plant assemblages into older floras: during the Late Cretaceous, “Cenophytic” assemblages migrated along river valleys and other disturbed habitats into the interior of Asia, eventually occupying volcanogenic uplands, and in places replacing the “Mesophytic” fern-gymnospermous communities that existed there. Two new angiosperm species, as well as four the most characteristic conifers of the Kholokhovchan Flora, are described: Cupressaceae gen. et sp. indet. cf. Widdringtonites sp., Taxodium cf. olrikii, Taxodium sp., Glyptostrobus sp., Ettingshausenia vetviensis sp. nov. and Parvileguminophyllum penzhinense sp. nov.     

Arman’ Flora of the magadan region and development of floras in the North Pacific during the Albian-Paleocene

The Arman’ Flora from volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits in the Arman’ River basin and Naraula Formation in the Nel’kandzha-Khasyn interfluve includes 82 species of fossil plants comprising liverworts, horsetails, ferns, caytonealeans, cycadaleans, ginkgoaleans, czekanowskialeans, conifers, gymnosperms incertae sedis, and angiosperms. The Arman’ Flora appears to be of Turonian-Coniacian age, as it is close to the reliably dated Penzhina and Kaivayam floras from the Northwest Kamchatka and to Tyl’pegyrgynai Flora of the Pekul’nei Ridge. The dating is consistent with isotopic dates (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and U-Pb SHRIMP) characterizing the age of plant-bearing sequences. Based on the considered position of the Arman’ Flora in the scheme of Cretaceous florogenesis, a leading role in that florogenesis was played by the gradual invasion of floras by new, angiosperm dominated, plant communities. These communities initially populated unstable habitats in the coastal lowlands of Northeast Asia and Alaska, gradually invading with time the Asiatic intracontinental areas. The peculiar combination of Early and Late Cretaceous plants characteristic of the Arman’ Flora is strong evidence that Cenophytic plant communities dominated by angiosperms colonized areas still populated in the Late Cretaceous by Mesophytic communities. Absence of Mesophytic and Cenophytic taxa mixing in the Arman’ Flora burials suggests a replacement of plant communities as whole rather than of separate plants by more advanced taxa.     

Campanian Climatic Change: Isotopic Evidence from Far East, North America, North Atlantic and Western Europe

Paleoclimatic settings have been reconstructed for the Campanian using original oxygen-isotopic analyses of well-preserved molluskan and foraminifera shells from Russian Far East, Hokkaido, USA, Belgium and some DSDP holes (95, 98, 102, 390A, and 392A) in North Atlantic. Early Early Campanian climatic optimum has been recognized from data on high bottom shelf water paleotemperatures in middle latitudes of both the western circum-Pacific (to 24.2°C) and the eastern circum-Pacific (to 26.4°C) areas and high bottom shallow water paleotemperatures in high latitudes of the Koryak Upland (22.4–25.5°C), which agrees with the data on the Campanian Barykovskaya flora in high latitudes (Golovneva and Herman, 1998) and Jonker flora and its equivalents in middle latitudes. Judging from the data on comparatively high bottom shallow water paleotemperature values in high latitudes, South Alaska (19.4°C) and the Koryak Upland (22.4–25.5°C), we also expect Latest Campanian temperature maximum, which has not been confirmed, however, for low and middle latitudes by neither of isotopic nor paleobotanic data now. Main climatic tendency during the Campanian (with the exception of Latest Campanian) has been learned from isotopic composition of Campanian aragonitic ammonoid shells from the Hokkaido-South Sakhalin (Krilyon) marine basin. In contrary to Huber’s et al. (2002) assumption, we expect warm greenhouse conditions during the most part of the Campanian.     

New data on the composition and age of the Ust’-Emuneret flora from the Enmyvaam River basin (Central Chukotka)

The Ust’-Emuneret floristic assemblage from the Emuneret Formation developed in the Enmyvaam River basin (Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanogenic belt) is described. The age of flora-bearing deposits is debatable, being previously determined in the interval of the Cenomanian to Campanian. According to the new data, the assemblage includes 57 species of fossil plants with dominant angiosperms, subdominant conifers, and subordinate ferns, liverworts, ginkgoaleans, and czekanowskialeans. The Ust’-Emuneret flora is characterized by the presence of advanced forms among different plant groups, which occur in Santonian-Campanian and younger floras of northeastern Russia, and by the presence of relict ginkgoaleans and czekanowskialeans. The flora is compared with other floras from neighboring regions, which provides grounds for the inference on its most probable Late Santonian age (probably, including the Early Santonian and initial Campanian).     

A re-evaluation and spatial analysis of evidence for a Younger Dryas climatic reversal in Beringia

An objective classification of paleoclimatic proxies from 75 lake and peat records is used to re-evaluate data quality and inferred climatic patterns in Beringia during the Younger Dryas. Mapped data reveal coherent but spatially-complex regional patterns, suggesting the Younger Dryas was characterized by: (1) cooling in Southern Alaska, Eastern Siberia, and portions of Northeastern Siberia; and (2) uniform to warmer-than-present conditions through most of Central Alaska, Northeastern Siberia, and possibly the Russian Far East and Northern Alaska. The Beringian patterns correspond to distinctive large-scale climatic forcings, although in some locations further modified by more local influences, such as topography. General circulation models and modern synoptic climatology provide a conceptual framework for exploring possible mechanisms responsible for the observed changes. Forcings and associated climatic responses consistent with the proxy data include: (1) lowered sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic and Pacific reducing temperature and precipitation in Eastern Siberia; (2) intensified Aleutian low and lowered sea-surface temperatures causing cooler summers and higher winter precipitation in Southern Alaska; (3) stronger Pacific Subtropical High and an eastward shift of the East Asian Trough reducing summer temperatures in Southern Alaska and causing relative warmth in Northeastern Siberia; and (4) strong high pressure system producing warm, dry conditions in interior Alaska.     

Paleogeography of Cretaceous ammonoids of the Pacific coast of Russia

This work presents the results of a study of the biogeographical distribution of Late Albian-Maastrichtian ammonites, found in sequences of the Pacific coast of Russia. The taxa typical of the Pacific Realm were identified, and their distribution traced beyond the borders of this region. In addition, species-migrants, distributed within the studied area were established. As a results of our works, a high level of endemism of ammonite fauna of the East of Russia was noted (75–88% of endemic species, on average). The bipolarity, previously established in the distribution of ammonoids within the Pacific Paleobiogeographical Realm, as well as their high regional provincialism, was confirmed. The following division of the studied area into faunal ammonite provinces in the Late Cretaceous was proposed: Arctic Province; Boreal-Pacific Province, including northeastern Russia (Chukotka Peninsula, the Koryak Upland, Penzhyna Gulf) and the boreal coast of North America (Alaska Peninsula, Arctic Canada and British Columbia); Northwest Pacific Province, including the Primorye Territory, Sakhalin and Shikotan Islands, the Japanese Islands; Northeast Province of the Pacific (the western coast of the United States and Mexico); Southwest Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Oceania) and Southeast (the western coast of South America and Antarctica, Seymour and James Ross Islands) Provinces. This division is confirmed by data on inoceramid species. In addition, levels of global transgressions and general sea level rise, associated with the appearances of most of widespread marine taxa in the Pacific shelf seas, are established. These include Late Albian, Cenomanian-Turonian boundary, Late Coniacian, Late Campanian, Early-Late Maastrichtian boundary. Moreover, migration of ammonites occurred due to the Tethys Ocean extension and followed the northern sea straits in the Arctic Ocean and within the Pacific Realm, depending on warm currents. Both the counter and one-way migrations were established.     

Problems of Paleogene–Neogene stratigraphy of the Zerkal’naya depression,East Sikhote Alin

The Paleogene–Neogene stratigraphic scale of the Zerkal’naya River basin is modified with account for new isotopic and paleobotanical data. It is established that the Tadushi Formation and underlying volcanics, which were previously considered as representing transitional Cretaceous–Paleocene strata, are separated in the section of the Ustinovka quarry by a significant stratigraphic hiatus. According to the new data, the volcanics and the Tadushi Formation are established as Campanian and Late Paleocene in age, respectively. The Bogopol Formation in the type section is dated back to the Middle–Late Paleocene. The Svetlyi Formation is now considered to be Early Eocene in age, rather than Late Eocene–Oligocene as previously thought. A new variant of the stratigraphic scale is proposed for the Paleogene–Neogene deposits of the Zerkal’naya depression.     

Interregional Correlation of the Permian Continental and Marine Deposits of Northeastern Russia,Southern Far East,Siberia, and Pechora Cisurals

Correlation of the Permian continental and marine deposits of Northeastern Russia, the southern Far East, Siberia, and the Pechora Сisurals is carried out. A consistent zonal succession of brachiopods, marine bivalves, and ammonoids is revealed and linked with the macroflora in the boundary deposits of the Cisuralian/Biarmian Series of the Boreal Superrealm. As a result, analogues of the Solikamian, Irenskii, Filippovskii, and Saraninian Horizons of the Kungurian Stage are established in the main coal basins and marine sequences of Northeastern Russia and the southern Far East. The correlative floristic horizon, stretching from the east of the East European Platform to the Pechora Cisurals, Pai-Khoy, Siberia, the Kuznetsk Basin, Northeastern Russia, and the southern Far East is established. The unity of the Sheshmian–Kazanian nonmarine floral assemblages and nonmarine bivalves, which correspond to the marine biota of Kazanian age, and their distinction from Kungurian assemblages are established. The Kungurian–Kazanian boundary is traced in marine and continental deposits within the entire Boreal Superrealm. The invalidity of the Ufimian Stage is established. The Kazanian Stage corresponds to the Roadian Stage of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart; however, the lower boundary of the Kazanian Stage is not defined precisely and can be conventionally considered isochronous to the boundary of the Roadian Stage.     

The late Cretaceous Arman flora of Magadan oblast,Northeastern Russia

The Arman flora from the volcanogenic-sedimentary beds of the Arman Formation is systematically studied using materials from the Arman River basin and the Nelkandya-Khasyn interfluve (Magadan oblast, Northeastern Russia). Seventy-three species of fossil plants belonging to 49 genera are described. They consist of liverworts, horsetails, ferns, seed ferns, cycadaleans, bennettitaleans, ginkgoaleans, czekanowskialeans, conifers, gymnosperms of uncertain systematic affinity, and angiosperms. The Arman flora shows a unique combination, with relatively ancient Early Cretaceous ferns and gymnosperms occurring alongside younger Late Cretaceous plants, primarily angiosperms. The similarity of the Arman flora to the Penzhina and Kaivayam floras of northwestern Kamchatka and the Tylpegyrgynai flora of the Pekul’nei Ridge allows the Arman flora to be dated as Turonian and Coniacian (Late Cretaceous), which is corroborated by isotopic (U-Pb and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) age determination for the plant-bearing layers.     

Comparative paleofloristics of the Albian-early Paleocene in the Anadyr-Koryak and North Alaska subregions,Part 3: Comparison of floras and floristic changes across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary

Floras characterizing comparable evolutionary stages in the Anadyr-Koryak and North Alaska subregions of the North Pacific show some essential distinctions despite their similarity in general. Factors responsible for appearance of their distinctive features were most likely the paleoclimatic difference between the subregions and the constrained or even interrupted trans-Beringia migration of plants in particular intervals of geological history. Floras of both subregions survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary crisis without essential consequences for their evolution, and amplitude of floristic changes across the boundary was not greater than by evolutionary changes in the crisis-free Late Cretaceous. Evolution of the North Pacific floras near this boundary has been likely controlled by the long-term paleogeographic and paleoclimatic changes and by plants evolution and migration.     

Growing folds and sedimentation of the Gosau Group, Muttekopf, Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria

Analysis of the three-dimensional geometry of Upper Cretaceous clastics in the Muttekopf area (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria) indicate fold and fault structures active during deposition. Coniacian continental to neritic sedimentation (Lower Gosau Subgroup) was contemporaneous with displacements on NW-trending faults and minor folding along NE-trending axes. From the Santonian onwards (sedimentation of the deep-marine Upper Gosau Subgroup) the NW-trending faults were sealed and large folds with WSW-trending axes developed. The direction of contraction changed to N-S after the end of Gosau deposition in the Danian (Paleocene). Synorogenic sedimentation patterns indicate continuous contraction from the Coniacian to the Late Maastrichtian/?Danian. Therefore, large-scale extension as observed in the central part of the Eastern Alps cannot be documented in the western parts of the Northern Calcareous Alps. A combination of subduction tectonic erosion for the frontal parts and gravitational adjustment of an unstable orogen after nappe stacking for the internal parts possibly accounts for the different development of Gosau basins in the frontal and trailing regions of the Austroalpine wedge.     

The western Durkan Complex (Makran Accretionary Prism,SE Iran): A Late Cretaceous tectonically disrupted seamounts chain and its role in controlling deformation style

The Durkan Complex is a key tectonic element of the Makran accretionary prism (SE Iran) and it has been interpreted as representing a continental margin succession. We present here a multidisciplinary study of the western Durkan Complex, which is based on new geological, stratigraphic, biostratigraphic data, as well as geochemical data of the volcanic and meta-volcanic rocks forming this complex. Our data show that this complex consists of distinct tectonic slices showing both non-metamorphic and very low-grade metamorphic deformed successions. Stratigraphic and biostratigraphic data allow us to recognize three types of successions. Type-I is composed by a Coniacian – early Campanian pelagic succession with intercalation of pillow lavas and minor volcaniclastic rocks. Type-II succession includes a volcanic sequence passing to a volcano-sedimentary sequence with Cenomanian pelagic limestones, followed by a hemipelagic sequence. This succession is characterized by abundant mass-transport deposits. Type-III succession includes volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequences, which are stratigraphically covered by a Cenomanian platform succession. The latter is locally followed by a hemipelagic sequence. The volcanic rocks in the different successions show alkaline geochemical affinity, suggesting an origin from an oceanic within-plate setting. Our new results indicate that the western Durkan Complex represents fragments of seamounts tectonically incorporated in the Makran accretionary wedge during the latest Late Cretaceous–Paleocene. We propose that incorporation of seamounts in the frontal prism caused a shortening of the whole convergent margin and possibly contributed to controlling the deformation style in the Makran Accretionary Wedge during Late Cretaceous–Paleocene times.     

Evaluation of Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary based on calcareous nannofossils in section of Pol Dokhtar, Lorestan, southwestern Iran

The Pol Dokhtar section of southern Lorestan, faulted Zagros range of southwestern Iran, contains one of the most complete Early Campanian to Danian sequences. The lack of a good fundamental paleontological study is a strong motivation for investigating calcareous nannofossils in southwestern Iran. The majority of the section is made of shale, marl, and partly of marly limestone and clay limestone, respectively. As a result of this study, 24 genera and 45 species of nannofossils have been identified and presented for the first time. This confirms the existence of biozone CC18 of zonation scheme of Sissingh (Geologie en Minjbouw 56:37–65, 1977) to NP1 of zonation of Martini, which suggests the age of Early Campanian to Danian. All Early Campanian to Danian calcareous nannofossil biozones from CC18 (equivalent to the Aspidolithus parcus zone) to NP1 (equivalent to the Markalius inversus zone) are discussed. Also, the zonal subdivision of this section based on calcareous nannofossils has shown continuity in Cretaceous/Paleocene boundary in south part of Lorestan Province. We can also learn about the predominant conditions of the studied sedimentary basin that was in fact part of the Neotethys basin with the existence of indexed species calcareous nannofossils that indicate warm climate and high water depths of the basin in low latitudes.     

论塔里木盆地西部海相古新统划分

塔里木盆地古部海相古新统原来由陈尔塔什组和齐姆根两个组构成，根据在陈尔塔什组下伏地层－吐依洛克组发的有孔虫组合和介形虫的时代，本文将该组厘定为古新统Ｄａｎｉａｎ阶而非上白垩统，本文从生物地层学、事件地层学、稳定同位素地层学，古气候学和地球化学五个方面确定了古新统的底界；提出了古新统划分新方案，即自下而上包括吐依洛克组、阿尔塔什组和刘姆根组三个组；划分出古新统五个有孔虫组合，其中两个为新建；文中还描     

东非海岸坦桑尼亚和鲁伍马盆地天然气成藏机理

东非海岸盆地天然气资源丰富,是世界天然气勘探的热点地区.东非海岸重点盆地的天然气为腐泥型高温裂解气,主要来源于下侏罗统局限海相优质烃源岩.大型断裂控制了东非海岸重点盆地天然气的垂向运移,研究区主要发育大型伸展断裂和大型走滑断裂.大型走滑断裂是坦桑尼亚盆地南部天然气藏的主要运移通道,其主要活动时期为晚白垩世-古新世,控制了白垩系-古近系浊积砂岩气藏的油气运移成藏.大型伸展断裂是鲁伍马盆地天然气藏的主要运移通道,其主要活动时期为古新世、渐新世和新近纪,控制了古近系浊积砂岩气藏的油气运移成藏.砂体规模控制了深水区岩性或构造-岩性圈闭的大小,进而控制了天然气藏的规模.受天然气运移方式的控制,东非海岸盆地形成了大型走滑断裂控藏模式和大型伸展断裂控藏模式.      

Palynological record from a composite core through Late Cretaceous-early Paleocene deposits in the Songliao Basin, Northeast China and its biostratigraphic implications

Two boreholes drilled approximately 75 km apart in the Songliao Basin, Northeast China, have together provided a composite core that represents an almost continuous section through Late Cretaceous-early Paleocene deposits. Eight biozones have been established for this succession of seven formations based on occurrences and associations of biostratigraphically significant palynomorph genera. Seven of these suggest that there was more or less continuous deposition from the late Turonian to the early Paleocene, with the eighth encompassing a Miocene formation that overlies the succession unconformably. This zonation provides a new chronostratigraphic framework for the Late Cretaceous deposits of the Songliao Basin. The ages of most of the formations involved differ from those determined previously. One of the sedimentary units, the Mingshui Formation, includes the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary, which seems to be indicated by an apparent “mass extinction” of palynomorph taxa, a comparatively rare occurrence outside North America. The upper Quantou Formation, the lowest unit in the succession, is dated as late Turonian-Coniacian, which is much younger than previously thought. The same applies to the overlying Qingshankou and Yaojia formations, and also to the other three (Nenjiang, Sifangtai and Mingshui) but to a lesser extent, in the conformable succession. The Early/Late Cretaceous boundary must now be located probably below the Quantou Formation, either between it and the underlying Denglouku Formation or within the latter.     

Campanian-Maastrichtian radiolarians from the Malokuril’skaya Formation,the Shikotan Island

The results of radiolarian analysis confirm the Campanian-Maastrichtian age of the Malokuril’skaya Formation in the Shikotan Island. The Campanian-Maastrichtian age of the formation is implied simultaneously by radiolarians and inoceramids. The studied Campanian and Campanian-Maastrichtian radiolarian assemblages include abundant specimens representing genus Prunobrachium, characteristic of which was bipolar distribution in cold-water to temperate basins. The new occurrence site of prunobrachids is established at the latitude of 43°N, the Far East of Russia.