Alkane Biomarkers in Permian—Triassic Boundary Strata at Meishan Section, Changxing, Zhejiang Province

Meishan Section D in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China has been selected as the global stratotype of the Permian-Triassic boundary and various studies hav been done at the boundary but the gas chromatographic-mass spectrographic analysis of alkane biomarkers has not been investigated. This paper presents of results of a study of the biomarkers analyzed in a series of samples across the permian-Triassic boundary at both Meishan Section A and Section D. The results show that the overall concentration of alkane biomarkers in the Permian-Triassic boundary strata is high in Bed 26 while it is low in Bed 27. A variety of biomarker parameters demonstrate that the main sources of organic matter in the sediment are algae and bacteria and that the depositional enviroment varied from weakly oxidizing to reducing during the studied interval.     

Microfossils from the Chert in the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation at Miaohe, Zigui, Hubei Province

This paper reports for the first time on the microfossils discovered in the black cherts of the basal part of the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation at Miaohe village, Zigui County, Hubei Province, all of which were observed in thin sections. Nine genera, 9 species and 3 indeterminate species (including a new species) are described. According to these microfossils, the conclusion is made that the microfossil zone may be equivalent to the small shelly fossil assemblage zones 2—3 of the Meishucun stage. They have provided another important line of evidence for the correlation of the Sinian-Cambrian boundary strata with those of the adjacent areas.     

A Further Research on the Precambrian-Cambrian Boundary at Meishucun Section of Jinning,Yunnan, China

This paper gives a brief report on the latest results in litho-, bio-, and chrono-stratigraphy obtained fromthe authors' further research on the Meishucun section during 1987-1988. More attention was paid to the studyof the microtexture of Lapworthella and some new materials of trace fossils. Phycodes pendum Seilacher, animportant index for correlation, was also discovered in the Zhongyicun Member. In the Yu' anshan Membermany worms, medusas and arthropods of the Chengjiang fauna have been found by other workers. Asupplemental study was made on the fossil zones of the Meishucunian stage. Based on new isotopic data, theage of the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary should now be 597 Ma. It is further suggested that point "B" re-mains as an optimum selection for defining the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary.     

A Comprehensive Evaluation on the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary Stratotype Candidate Section in Nanbiancun, Guilin, Guangxi

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation on the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary (DCB) sectionin Nanbiancun. Guilin. Guangxi on the basis of Palaeontological, biostratigraphical and sedimentarypetrological studies as well as microfacies analysis. REE and trace element analysis and isotopic dating. The DCB at this section conforms to the definition of this boundary and essentially measure up the criteriaand conditions for selection of the boundary stratotype. Up to 14 fossil groups are contained in the section. Thesection presents a general biostratigraphical framework with multispecies fossils zones, assemblage zones andmultiple groups of fossils and has latent preponderant conditions for magnetostratigraphic andchronostratigraphic studies. The boundary and point occur in a persistent and continuous monofacialcarbonate succession. and the section is located in a tourist city with convenient communication, where variousfacies of DCB sections are developed. allowing the correlation within a small area. So it is an ideal candidateboundary stratotype.     

Discussion on Induan—Olenekian Boundary in Chohu,Anhui Province, China

This paper proposes a scheme for the definition of the Lower Triassic Induan-Olenekian boundary(IOB) based on investigation of sections in Chaohu, Anhui Province, China as well as data accunulated from other studies elsewhere. The conodont Neospathodus waageni is suggested as the index fossil of the boundary. According to the FAD of N.waageni, the IOB is at the base of bed 25-2 of the West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu,42.19 m above the Permian-Triassic boundary, and it is slightly higher than the base of the Flemingites-Euflemingites Ammonoid Zone at the section.     

Correlation of the Meishucunian Stage in South Asia

The determination of boundary points and their correlation are prerequisites for defining the PrecambrianCambrian boundary and the intercontinental correlation. A large number of good Precambrian-Cambrian boundary sections in South Asia not only possess the conditions for selection of a boundary stratotype, but also provide the basis for the long-distance correlation of those boundary sections.Through a detailed study of the latest data obtained from the typical sections in South China, the Lesser Himalaya Mountains and the Alborz Mountains. the locations of boundary points have been defined, and a correlation scheme is proposed, which contributes to the solution of the problem of worldwide correlation of boundary sections.     

Conodont Biostratigraphy and Age Determination of the Lower–Middle Triassic Boundary in South Guizhou Province, China

The demarcation of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is a disputed problem in global stratigraphic research. Lower–Middle Triassic strata of different types, from platform to basin facies, are well developed in Southwest China. This is favorable for the study of the Olenekian–Anisian boundary and establishing a stratotype for the Qingyan Stage. Based on research at the Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county and the Qingyan section in Guiyang city, Guizhou province, six conodont zones have been recognized, which can be correlated with those in other regions, in ascending order as follows: 1, Neospathodus cristagalli Interval-Zone; 2, Neospathodus pakistanensis Interval-Zone; 3, Neospathodus waageni Interval-Zone; 4, Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Assemblage-Zone; 5, Chiosella timorensis Interval-Zone; and 6, Neogongdolella regalis Range-Zone. An evolutionary series of the Early–Middle Triassic conodont genera Neospathodus-Chiosella-Neogongdolella discovered in the Ganheqiao and Qingyan sections has an intermediate type named Neospathodus qingyanensis that appears between Neospathodus homeri and Chiosella timorensis in the upper part of the Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Zone, showing an excellent evolutionary relationship of conodonts near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is located at 1.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Qingyan section, whereas this boundary is located 0.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Ganheqiao section. There exists one nearly 6-m thick vitric tuff bed at the bottom of the Xinyuan Formation in the Ganheqiao section, which is usually regarded as a lithologic symbol of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary in South China. Based on the analysis of high-precision and high-sensitivity Secondary Ion Mass Spectrum data, the zircon age of this tuff has a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 239.0±2.9Ma (2s), which is a directly measured zircon U-Pb age of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county can therefore provide an excellent section through the Lower–Middle Triassic because it is continuous, the evolution of the conodonts is distinctive and the regionally stable distributed vitric tuff near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary can be regarded as a regional key isochronal layer. This section can be regarded not only as a standard section for the establishment of the Qingyan Stage in China, but also as a reference section for the GSSP of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary.     

A Potential Candidate For the Middle-Upper Cambrian Boundary Stratotype——An Introduction to the Paibi Section in Huayuan,Hunan

The Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary is one of the current stratigraphical problems which remain openin the geological world, since there have been no universally acknowledged delimiting standard and stratotype.Acting on the instruction of Profs. Lu Yanhao and An Taixiang the author studied in details the Paibi Section,which is well exposed as a continuous sequence at an easily accessible locality. The Middle-Upper Cambrianboundary strata are composed of biocalcimicrosparite, indicating the sedimentary environment of anunderwater upheaval on the gentle slope along the frontal margin of the Yangtze carbonate platform. For the upper Middle and lower Upper Cambrian agnostid trilobite zones and conodont zones are erected,and a more accurate correlation between the trilobite and conodont sequences is established. Based on these,the Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary is drawn more reasonably and precisely than what was done before. Inshort, the section studied is superior to other known sections of Middle-Upper Cambrian. and it will probablybe an ideal candidate for the Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary stratotype.     

Organic Carbon Isotopic Evolution during the Ediacaran-Cambrian Transition Interval in Eastern Guizhou, South China： Paleoenvironmental and Stratigraphic Implications

Secular variations of carbon isotopic composition of organic carbon can be used in the study of global environmental variation, the carbon cycle, stratigraphic delimitation, and biological evolution, etc. Organic carbon isotopic analysis of the Nangao and Zhalagou sections in eastern Guizhou reveals a negative excursion near the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary that correlates with a distinct carbonate carbon isotopic negative excursion at this boundary globally. Our results also demonstrate that several alternating positive and negative shifts occur in the Meishucunian, and an obvious negative anomaly appears at the boundary between the Meishucunian and Qiongzhusian. The isotope values are stable in the middle and lower parts but became more positive in the upper part of the Qiongzhusian. Evolution of organic carbon isotopes from the two sections in the deepwater facies can be well correlated with that of the carbonate carbon isotopes from the section in the shallow water facies. Integrated with other stratigraphic tools, we can precisely establish a lower Cambrian stratigraphic framework from shallow shelf to deep basin of the Yangtze Platform.     

Jurassic-Cretaceous Boundary Strata of the Somanakamura Group in NE Japan and their Correlation with Coeval Terrestrial Deposits in China

Defining the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary is a controversy in stratigraphic study of the world. It has been widely accepted that this boundary can be defined at the bottom of Berriasian in Tethys, with the appearance of the ammonite Berriasella jacobi dating to ca. 145 Ma. However, it is difficult for the widespread terrestrial deposits in China to correlate with the international standard of marine facies. The Somanakamura Group in Japan is represented by a succession of marine-continental transitional strata. It provides a bridge of marine and nonmarine stratigraphic correlation. The ammonite and radiolarian fossils preserved in this group suggest an age from Bajocian to early Valanginian. The J-K boundary was defined in or atop the Tomizawa Formation of the group according to the ammonite data. The present authors study the fossil spores and pollen newly found from the Tomizawa and Koyamada formations. Three assemblages have been recognized. They are Assemblage 1 (Cyathidites-Classopollis) from the upper part of the Tomizawa Formation, Assemblage 2 (Cyathidites-Jiaohepollis) from the lower part of the Koyamada Formation, and Assemblage 3 (Cyathidites-Spheripollenites-Ephedripites) from the middle to upper part of the Koyamada Formation. With the reference of ammonite evidence, the J-K boundary can be defined between Assemblage 1 and Assemblage 2. This palynological J-K boundary can be correlated with that of terrestrial sequence in China. However, local biostratigraphy imply that the continental J-K boundary in China is of 135 or 137 Ma age. It has a considerable discrepancy from the marine standard. Biogeographically, the distribution pattern of spores and pollen in southern China is in accordance with that in the Somanakamura Group, which parallels the Tuchengzi Formation in northeastern China. By the palynological correlation between the Somanakamura Group and the strata in southern China, and then with the sequence in northeastern China, it is suggested that the continental J-K boundary is located in the Tuchengzi Formation.     

The Best Natural Boundary:a New Concept Developed by Combining the Sequence Boundary with the GSSP

Through a detailed study of sequence boundaries, it is concluded that sequence stratigraphy is an independent regional and transitional stratigraphic system between local lithostratigraphy and global chronostratigraphy. Therefore, a new tripartite stratigraphic classification scheme has been proposed. By combining organically the concept of sequence boundaries with the GSSP, it is suggested that the GSSP should be chosen in a conformale portion of a related sequence boundary, and the boundary established in light of this concept is defined as the Best Natural Boundary (BNB). The definition of the BNB points out the working area and stratigraphic level for the GSSP. By referring to a case study of the Permian Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary, the concept of the BNB has been elaborated in detail, and it is proposed that the BNB of the Guadalupian and the Lopingian lies between the Mesogondolella granti Zone and the Ctarkina postbitteri Zone, which is also the sequence chronostratigraphic boundary between th     

The GSSP of the Second （Upper） Stage of the Lower Ordovician Series： Diabasbrottet at Hunneberg, Province of Vaeistergoetland, Southwestern Sweden

Diabasbrottet, selected by the International Subcommisson on Ordovician Stratigraphy and in 2002 ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy as the GSSP of the Second (Upper) Stage of the Lower Ordovician, is located on the Hunneberg Mountain in southwestern Sweden. The stratigraphic succession represents an outer shelf environment near the Baltic Shield margin. The shale-dominated, biostratigraphically complete, richly fossiliferous boundary interval is completely exposed in a disused quarry. The GSSP is in the lower TФyen Shale 2.1 m above the top of the Cambrian and is marked by the first appearance of the graptolite Tetragraptus approximatus Nicholson. The boundary interval contains a diverse graptolite fauna and biostratigraphically diagnostic conodonts and trilobites that make it possible to define the boundary in terms of zone schemes based on these groups. In this respect, the Diabasbrottet and nearby sections are unique in the world among described localities having this boundary interval. Based on the appearance of T. approximatus, the base of the Second Stage can be identified in many graptolitiferous successions round the world but this level is currently more difficult to recognize precisely in some carbonate sequences outside Baltoscandia. We propose the Second Stage be called the Floan Stage. It is named for the Village of Flo, which is situated about 5 km southeast of the GSSP.     

The Earliest Ordovician Graptolite Sequence of Hunjiang, Jilin Province, China

On the basis of studies of the graptolite sequence at the Xiaoyangqiao section in the vicinity of Dayangcha Village and at the Qinggouzi and Muxiantougou sections near Hunjiang City, southeastern Jilin, five graptolite zones may be recognized in the 'Yeli Formation' in ascending order: 1. Rhabdinopora parabola zone, 2. Anisograptus zone, 3. Psigraptus zone, 4. Callograptus? taizehoensis zone, and 5. Adelograptus-Clonograptus zone. The correlation of each zone with its equivalents in other areas both in China and abroad and the Cambrian-Ordovician boundary are discussed.     

A Genetic Model for the Layered Intrusions and Related V—Ti—Magnetite Deposits in Panzhihua—Xichang Region,Southwest China

The area studied had developed into an inactive continental margin on the western edge of the Yangtze plate during the Jinning period in Proterozoic time.The Yangtze plate drifted from the south northwards in Paleozoic time and reached about 9oS between Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician .The alkalic olivine basalt magma,which was produced via 2-5% partial melting of a fractionated mantle and was accumulated in a deep-seated magma chamber near the Moho.found its way upward along the reviving boundary faults into the upper crust.Two types of layered intrusions,basic and ultrabasic-basic,crystallized from the magma at different pressures.The high initial oxygen fugacity of the magma provides a favorable condition for the deposition of Fe-Ti oxides in the early stage of magmaevolution,resulting in large-sized early magmatic deposits.Magma crystallization may have been interrupted and repeated as a result of pulsative magma influx,giving rise to rhythmic cycles (including the corresponding V-Ti-magnetite ore beds).The magma was stratified owing to double diffusion at the crystallization front and convection was thus occasioned by the density gradient.This has greatly complicated the sequence as would be expected from normal crystallization.     

A New Fauna——Qinghezhen Fauna——from the Northern Margin of the North China Platform

In the Inner Mongolia axis and Jiaoliao anteclise along the northern margin of the North China Platform.it has been found that the strata formerly considered as Archaean and Proterozoic are in fact an ophiolite suitesimilar to the Early Palaeozoic Ondor Sum Group in the Northern Geosyncline region of China. The stratahave been named in northern Liaoning as the Qinghezhen Group. The emphasis of this paper is on the discus-sion of the simall shelly fossils found in the siliceous rocks in the upper part of the Qinghezhen Group. Thisophiolite suite stretches in an E-W direction for about 1000 km along the northern margin of the North ChinaPlatform. in which 15 fossil localities with stable stratigraphic horizons have been discovered. In this paper. 4types. 7 genera (including 5 new ones) and 10 species (including 8 new ones and 1 new subspecies) aredescribed, which are collectively referred to as the Qinghezhen Fauna. The characteristics of these fossils are:shell form simple. the maximum length not exceeding 4 mm. with obvious shell wall and wall ornaments. TheQinghezhen Fauna is comparable in shell structure of some genera and species with the Meishucun Fauna inSouth China, but differs from the latter in having only monotonous fossil groups developed in a distinctly va-ried ecological environment. The two faunas may belong to the same evolutionary stage of the Early Cambrianbut have developed parallelly in different regions. The existence of the Qinghezhen Fauna represents an impor-tant biological event in the Early Cambrian in the Northern Geosyncline region of China. The discovery of theQinghezhen Fauna will bring new knowledge and profound influence to a series of problems on basic geologyand mineral deposit prospecting such as the Cambrian faunas. biogeographical povincialism in China and thegeotectonic features of the northern margin of the North China Platform.     

Trace Element Geochemistry of the Permian／Triassic Boundary Section in the Selong—Xishan Area,Nyalam County,Southern Tibet,China

Samples were collected f5rom the Selong-Xishan Permian/Triassic boundary strata,Nyalam County in southern Tibet and systematically analyzed for their rare-earth elements(REE) and trace elements such as U,Th,Sr,Ba,Sc,Ta,Hf,Rb,Cs,Co,Ni,Cr,As and others with emphasis put on the distribution patterns of rare-earth elements and the variation of trace element contents along the Permial/Triassic boundary section.On this basis a discussion will be made of the paleo-ocean depositional environment.     

The Origin of the Echelon Structures of Tungsten Veins in Xihuashan, Jiangxi

Analysis of the variations in the three-dimensional structural forms of the tungsten veins in the Xihuashantungsten district has proved that echelon structures of the veins were formed by the changes in stress directionthat caused the breakdown of the individual single veins. and are different from the echelon faults formed inshear zones. Echelon structures of the veins were produced near the lithologic boundary as a result of the rota-tion of stress direction in their neighbourhood and their control of vein distribution. The change in the echelonpattern caused by the varlation in the attitude of lithologic boundary surface in the district is an interestingstructural phenomenon, The echelon structures also reflect the variation characteristics of adjacent veins in theprocess of their propagation.     

Paleo‐fires and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels in the Latest Permian: Evidence from Maceral Compositions of Coals in Eastern Yunnan,Southern China

Inertinite maceral compositions of the Late Permian coals from three sections in the terrestrial and paralic settings of eastern Yunnan are analyzed in order to reveal the paleo-fire events and the atmospheric oxygen levels in the latest Permian. Although the macerals in the studied sections are generally dominated by vitrinite, the inertinite group makes up a considerable proportion. Its content increases upward from the beginning of the Late Permian to the coal seam near the Permian-Triassic boundary. Based on the microscopic features and the prevailing theory that inertinite is largely a by-product of paleo-fires, we suggest that the increasing upward trend of the inertinite abundance in the latest Permian could imply that the Late Permian peatland had suffered from frequent wildfires. Since ignition and burning depend on sufficient oxygen, a model-based calculation suggests that the O2 levels near the Wuchiapingian/Changhsingian boundary and the Permian-Triassic boundary are 27% and 28% respectively. This output adds supports to other discoveries made in the temporal marine and terrestrial sediments, and challenges the theories advocating hypoxia as a mechanism for the Permian-Triassic boundary crisis.     

Early cambrian carbon isotope stratigraphy in the tarim basin and a correlation with the yangtze platform

Carbon isotope chemostratigraphy has been used worldwide for stratigraphic correlation.In this study,δ13Ccarb values are estimated for the Early Cambrian Sugaitebulake section in the Tarim Basin,Xinjiang Autonomous Region,China.As a result,one positive and two negative carbon isotope excursions in the studied section were iden-tified.The δ13Ccarb values reached the maximum negative excursion(N1:-12.39‰) at the basal of the Yuertusi For-mation,and then increased to P1.After P1,δ13Ccarb values sharply decreased to about-7.06‰(N2) in the studied section.The pattern of δ13Ccarb in the Early Cambrian is comparable to the synchronous records of other sections,such as the Laolin section,the Xiaotan section and the Anjiahe section of the Yangtze Platform.It is concluded that the Early Cambrian Yuertusi Formation from the Tarim Basin is within the Nemakit-Daldynian stage,and the lower strata of the Yuertusi Formation may belong to the Zhujiaqing Formation(Meishucun Formation) of the Yangtze Platform.The Ediacaran/Cambrian boundary of the Tarim Block should be located in cherts and phosphorites suc-cessions at the basal of the Yuertusi Formation.The δ13Ccarb negative excursion N1 is just across the PC/C boundary,and may be related to certain biomass extinction due to anoxic sedimentary environment,transgression and/or the oceanic overturn.The second δ13Ccarb negative excursion N2 may account for the sea-level falling in the Early Cam-brian.     

Study on a Terrestrial Permian—Triassic Boundary Section—Zhejue Section, Weining County,Guizhou Province, China

The Zhejue Section is an excellent terrestrial permian-Triassic boundary (TPTB) section not only for its convenient accessibility and good outcrop, but also for its abundant fossils. In addition, there are two claystone beds that were formed by events across the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) at this section. The claystones provide a bridge for high-resolution correlation between marine and terrestrial PTBs. Another advantage is that the PTB at the Zhejue Section can be correlated with that of littoral and neritic facies by tracing estwards. Synthesized stratigraphic studies, including biostratigraphy, eventostratigraphy )susceptibilities and carbon isotopes across the TPTB, and microspherules found in the boundary claystones) and sequence stratigraphy, are carried out at this section.