北大别早白垩纪花岗岩类的Sm-Nd和锆石Hf同位素及其构造意义

大别造山带产出两期早白垩纪造山后花岗岩类:早期(≈132Ma)变形的角闪石英二长岩和斑状二长花岗岩具高钾的类埃达克岩的地球化学特征,形成于增厚地壳(>50km)的下地壳部分熔融;晚期(≈128Ma)未变形的花岗岩包括细粒二长花岗岩和钾长花岗(斑)岩,属于正常安山岩-英安岩-流纹岩系列岩石,它们形成于相对薄的地壳(<35km)的下地壳部分熔融。早期变形的花岗岩类中,角闪石英二长岩的(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i=0.7066～0.7076,ε_(Nd)(t)=-20.3～-27.8,类似于扬子下地壳基性麻粒岩的Sr-Nd同位素特征,其中白垩纪岩浆锆石(≈132Ma)Hf同位素初始比值(ε_(Hf)(t))和两阶段Hf模式年龄(t_(DM2))分别为-29.30.5和303065Ma;我们认为角闪石英二长岩源于锆石Hf模式年龄约3.0Ga的基性下地壳部分熔融。早期斑状二长花岗岩的(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i=0.7078～0.7083,ε_(Nd)(t)=-15.8～-20.0,类似于北大别英云闪长质-花岗质片麻岩的Sr-Nd同位素特征,其白垩纪岩浆锆石(≈132Ma)的ε_(Hf)(t)和t_(DM2)分别为-24.80.5和274434Ma。我们认为宽状二长花岗岩源于约2.7Ga的中酸性下地壳部分熔融。晚期未变形的花岗岩的(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i=0.7069～0.7105,ε_(Nd)(t)=-16.4～-22.1,类似于北大别英云闪长质-花岗质片麻岩的Sr-Nd同位素特征;其白垩纪岩浆锆石(≈128Ma)的ε_(Hf)(t)具有较大的变化范围(-25.2～7.4),主要峰值为-22.5±0.5,次要峰值为-16.3±0.7,并有少量正的ε_(Hf)(t)值5.8～7.4,与ε_(Hf)(t)值对应的t_(DM2)分别为2600±40Ma、2211±68Ma和743±130Ma。我们认为晚期未变形的花岗岩源于锆石Hf模式年龄约2.6～2.2Ga的中酸性下地壳部分熔融,源区夹杂新元古代新生的陆壳。在大别造山带垮塌之前(>132Ma),增厚地壳(>50km)的下地壳存在双层结构:锆石Hf模式年龄约为3.0Ga的基性下地壳基底和约2.7Ga的中酸性(英云闪长质-花岗质)上部下地壳.在大别造山带伸展垮塌的晚期阶段(≈128Ma),减薄的下地壳(<35km)主要为锆石Hf模式年龄约2.6～2.2Ga的中酸性(英云闪长质-花岗质)岩石,并夹杂少量新元古代Rodinia超大陆裂解时形成的新生陆壳。     

柴北缘苦水泉金矿英云闪长岩和细粒闪长岩年代学、地球化学和Hf同位素及地质意义

苦水泉金矿床位于柴北缘构造带中段,是近年来新发现的金矿床。该矿床具有造山型金矿的特征,矿体沿断裂构造分布在英云闪长岩中,空间上与细粒闪长岩脉密切相关。本文对苦水泉金矿中的英云闪长岩和细粒闪长岩进行了地球化学、锆石U-Pb定年和Hf同位素研究。全岩地球化学分析显示,英云闪长岩具有富钠贫钾(Na₂O/K₂O=6.24～13.09)、高Sr低Y(Sr/Y=205～335)的埃达克岩的特征,与锡铁山榴辉岩中的埃达克质浅色脉体十分相似;细粒闪长岩富铝、钙、铁,贫镁,富集轻稀土(LREEs)和大离子亲石元素(LILEs),贫高场强元素(HFSEs),Ni、Co含量低,为典型的大陆下地壳来源的岩石。锆石U-Pb定年显示,英云闪长岩和细粒闪长岩分别形成于429.9±2.5Ma和428.0 ± 1.9Ma,Hf同位素分析显示英云闪长岩锆石ε_Hf(t)值为+9.8～+11.9,二阶段模式年龄(t_DM2)为613～747Ma,细粒闪长岩锆石ε_Hf(t)值为-31.4～-9.9,二阶段模式年龄(t     

藏南泽当岛弧花岗岩成因限定——来自角闪石岩锆石U-Pb、地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素的证据

泽当岛弧位于藏南乃东县境内,主要由英云闪长岩、花岗闪长岩、奥长花岗岩和角闪石岩组成,是晚侏罗世洋壳俯冲的产物。本文对该地区出露的角闪石岩开展了野外地质调查,通过室内SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年、全岩地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素等研究,探讨了泽当角闪石岩的成因、源区及其与花岗岩的成因关系,获得以下认识:角闪石岩成岩年龄为159.1±7.2 Ma;角闪石岩具有较低Sr含量、较高的Y含量和较低的Sr/Y值,富集MREE;角闪石岩与花岗岩Sr-Nd同位素特征一致,角闪石岩~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr (t)值(0.704 0～0.704 5)较低,εNd (t)值变化范围为+5.5～+6.1。结合前人研究认为,泽当岛弧的英云闪长岩、花岗闪长岩、奥长花岗岩和角闪石岩均来自地幔楔部分熔融作用。英云闪长岩为相对原始的岩浆,在角闪石分离结晶作用未结束前,先从岩浆房中分离出来;残余岩浆继续发生角闪石分离结晶作用,导致Sr/Y值进一步升高和Cr、Ni、MREE含量进一步降低。因此,角闪石的分离结晶作用是泽当岛弧高Sr/Y花岗岩形成的关键因素。     

北淮阳沙坪沟钼矿床成矿斑岩体特征与成因

沙坪沟钼矿床位于大别山北麓的北淮阳构造带,是近年来新发现的特大型斑岩钼矿床。区内燕山期岩浆岩广布,岩性有二长花岗岩、花岗闪长岩、闪长岩、石英正长岩、花岗斑岩、正长花岗岩、隐爆角砾岩等,钼矿床与最晚期的石英正长岩-花岗斑岩成因有关。对最晚期的花岗斑岩体系进行了LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年,结合前人已发表的年代学数据,将区内岩浆岩划分为3个阶段:第一阶段141~133 Ma,主要发育二长花岗岩,具有高Sr、低Y的地球化学特征,形成于加厚下地壳的部分熔融;第二阶段132~125 Ma,包括中基性的含斜长石辉石岩、斜长角闪石岩、闪长岩和酸性的花岗岩、花岗闪长岩等,中基性岩的出现表明地幔物质参与了该阶段岩浆岩的形成,可能与加厚地壳拆沉、软流圈物质上涌有关;第三阶段120~110 Ma,主要发育石英正长(斑)岩和花岗斑岩,为壳源成因。第一阶段岩浆岩的ε_(Hf)(t)介于-28.3~-22.5,与大别造山带大范围分布的中生代岩浆岩一致,结合前人研究分析表明,沙坪沟第一阶段岩浆岩为类似南秦岭陡岭群片麻岩源区构成的加厚下地壳部分熔融的产物。相比第一阶段岩浆岩,第三阶段石英正长岩、正长花岗岩脉、隐爆角砾岩和花岗斑岩的ε_(Hf)(t)非常一致,介于-18.4~-13.3之间,与北淮阳千鹅冲钼矿成矿花岗斑岩及汤家坪钼矿成矿花岗斑岩一致,其ε_(Hf)(t)明显偏高,应为较浅岩浆源区熔融的结果。华南板块广泛分布的古生代富Mo黑色页岩具有和北淮阳成钼矿岩浆岩具有一致的模式年龄,是形成北淮阳钼矿岩浆岩的理想层位。     

滇西梁河地区闪长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

对滇西梁河地区早白垩世闪长岩岩株中的花岗闪长岩和闪长岩进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄测试,获得206Pb/238U年龄分别为118.7Ma±1.5Ma和119.8Ma±1.0Ma,表明它们与早白垩世花岗岩体基本同时形成。其中在闪长岩中发现1颗约140Ma的岩浆锆石,可能指示梁河地区早白垩世初期的岩浆事件,2颗晚三叠世锆石继承核的年龄分别为208.2Ma±6.7Ma和221.9Ma±2.4Ma,记录了印支期的岩浆活动。花岗闪长岩和闪长岩具有相似的全岩εNd(t)值(-8.03、-7.70),但却表现出不均一的锆石εHf(t)值(118.7Ma:-5.60~-3.28;119.8Ma:-6.73~-3.09),表明它们来自于结晶基底重熔的长英质岩浆与幔源岩浆的混合。不同锆石的Hf同位素组成显示,与北冈底斯带相比,滇西梁河地区早白垩世幔源组分参与花岗质岩石形成的程度较低。滇西梁河地区花岗闪长岩和闪长岩的形成,可能与地壳加厚的构造背景有关。     

内蒙古北山造山带花岗岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素特征及地质意义

砾石滩地区位于内蒙古额济纳旗西部,晚古生代花岗岩出露广泛,是研究北山造山带晚古生代地质演化的关键地区.锆石LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb测年结果显示,该地区的花岗岩形成于晚石炭世,其中英云闪长岩年龄为310.8±1.4 Ma,花岗闪长岩年龄为310.3±1.4 Ma和306.0±1.2 Ma,二长花岗岩年龄为308.7±1.4 Ma.岩石学及化学成分显示其为准铝质-弱过铝质、中钾钙碱性系列岩石;稀土配分曲线呈现轻稀土元素相对富集的右倾分布特征,弱负铕异常（δEu为0.7~0.9）;岩石富集大离子亲石元素Rb、K等,具有负的Nb、Ta和Ti异常;英云闪长岩、花岗闪长岩具有不均一的ε_Hf（t）值（3.8~14.8）、（7.3~14.0）,二阶段Hf同位素模式年龄t_DMC分别为378~1 083 Ma、433~868 Ma.北山造山带北部晚石炭世英云闪长岩、花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩的形成与壳幔混合有关,产生于大洋岩石圈俯冲过程中,形成于陆缘弧环境,该过程诱发了地幔对流,因而产生了幔源岩浆底侵,并将元古宙基底岩石熔融,壳幔混合之后形成晚石炭世大规模花岗岩类.      

甘肃马庄山地区花岗岩类的元素地球化学、U-Pb年代学及Nd-Hf同位素特征

北山造山带位于中亚造山带南缘,连接了东天山和索伦缝合带,对认识中亚造山带的构造演化具有十分重要的意义。本文选择北山造山带西段马庄山地区的花岗闪长岩、钾长花岗岩和闪长岩进行岩石学、地球化学、Nd-Hf同位素及LAICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学的研究。结果表明,英云闪长岩、花岗闪长岩、钾长花岗岩具有高硅(64.54%～78.48%)、高钾(1.53%～4.95%)、低磷(0.01%～0.21%)的特征,显示出高钾钙碱性-钙碱性岩石的特点。岩石整体相对富集Rb、K、Th和U大离子亲石元素,亏损P、Ta、Nb和Ta高场强元素,与弧火成岩的微量元素特征一致。花岗闪长岩和英云闪长岩的SiO_2与P_2O_5呈负相关关系,Rb与Y、Th均呈现正相关关系,说明其属于Ⅰ型花岗岩。钾长花岗岩和花岗闪长岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为317.7±1.0Ma和320.2±0.8Ma,表明岩浆侵位时代为晚石炭世。它们的初始ε_(Nd)(t)值介于-5.31～-4.24之间,锆石ε_(Hf)(2)介于-3.6～-0.2之间,Hf的t_(DM2)为1318～1537Ma,暗示岩石来自于下地壳物质的部分熔融,原始岩浆在上侵过程中有部分地幔物质的加入。综合地质、地球化学和年代学特征,认为北山西段,在晚石炭世,马庄山地区处于与俯冲相关的弧环境。     

大别山木子店地区斑状角闪黑云二长花岗岩株的锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

大别山木子店地区岩浆岩由中生代花岗岩类和元古宙石英闪长岩、英云闪长岩组成。对中生代斑状角闪黑云二长花岗岩进行了原位LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素测定。结果表明,该花岗岩形成于(133±2)Ma,为早白垩世岩浆活动的产物。锆石εHf(t)介于-26.5~-19.6,平均值为-24.9,二阶段模式年龄T_(DM2)主要介于2 531~2 139Ma,2个继承锆石分析点分别给出了-3.0和-0.3的εHf(t)值,二阶段模式年龄T_(DM2)分别为1 589Ma和1 654Ma。上述研究表明,木子店地区斑状角闪黑云二长花岗岩为古元古代古老地壳物质部分熔融形成,形成过程中可能有新元古代地壳物质加入。综合分析认为,该花岗岩可能形成于大别造山带从挤压向伸展的转换阶段。与沙坪沟赋矿花岗岩具有类似的岩浆物质来源,指示木子店地区具有寻找早白垩世早期钼矿的可能。     

太行山北段王安镇杂岩体中酸性岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

太行山北段王安镇杂岩体花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩、髫髻山组火山岩-安山岩精细SHRIMP U-Pb定年和Hf同位素地球化学研究表明:花岗闪长岩体形成于135.7±1.3Ma,二长花岗岩体形成于133.7±1.1Ma,安山岩形成于138.89±0.9Ma,与杂岩体内基性侵入岩(138Ma)具有相似的形成年龄。花岗闪长岩的锆石εHf(t)值为-21.81~-16.09,相应tDMC为2.2~2.6Ga;二长花岗εHf(t)值为-20.50~-16.31,相应tDMC为2.2~2.5Ga,与杂岩体内基性岩体具有极为相似的Hf同位素特征εHf(t)=-22.8~-15.3。杂岩体中酸性岩类岩石成因可解释为:富集地幔(EMI)部分熔融形成的玄武质岩浆遭受一定程度的地壳混染以及之后的分离结晶作用对形成王安镇杂岩体中酸性岩类发挥着关键作用。与华北克拉通内部其他地区相同,晚侏罗-早白垩世北太行地区处于软流圈上涌的岩石圈伸展构造背景。     

内蒙古牙克石地区晚古生代弧岩浆岩:年代学及地球化学证据

在内蒙古牙克石地区晚古生代岩浆岩中发现了岛弧火山岩和埃达克质花岗闪长岩。火山岩由玄武岩、安山岩、英安岩及凝灰岩组成,属于钙碱性系列,它们富集大离子亲石元素(LILE)、轻稀土元素(LREE),亏损高场强元素(HFSE)。玄武岩的SHPIMP锆石U-Pb年龄表明其形成于373.2±5.3Ma。锆石εHf(t)值为+14.67～+18.67,类似大洋中脊玄武岩(MORB)和现代俯冲带玄武岩的Hf同位素特征。上述特征说明,玄武岩很可能起源于受俯冲板片流体改造的亏损地幔楔,形成于活动大陆边缘。花岗闪长岩的结晶年龄为331.2±3.7Ma。岩石高SiO2、Sr,高Sr/Y比值,富集轻稀土元素,亏损重稀土元素和Y及高场强元素,铕异常基本不明显,具备埃达克岩的地球化学特征。锆石εHf(t)值较高(+12.78～+14.54),说明源区可能为亏损地幔或新生的玄武质下地壳。根据微量元素组成认为花岗闪长岩主要起源于晚古生代底侵的岛弧玄武-安山质下地壳。弧火山岩和埃达克质花岗闪长岩的发现表明,区内晚泥盆世-早石炭世发生过大洋板片的俯冲作用,可能与额尔古纳-兴安地块与松嫩地块的碰撞拼合密切相关。     

Police, politics, and the right to the city

Space and spatiality have recently been at the core of debates concerning the political possibilities of the city. The arguments advanced in this paper might be seen as an attempt to contribute to these debates through a reflection on the spatiality of (in) justice, politics, and the right to the city. The case of French urban policy, with its focus on distressed urban areas, and the `suburban problem' in France are used as examples to make arguments more concrete.     

Metals,arsenic, and sulfur in the Aue and Eibenstock granites,Erzgebirge

Average concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and other metals, as well as S and As, were calculated for the Aue granitic cupola, the contact aureole of which hosts the large vein-type uranium deposit of Schlema-Alberoda and the Schneeberg uranium-base metal deposit (Erzgebirge, Germany). The cupola was exposed by mine workings and boreholes, which provided an opportunity to evaluate variations in the abundances of metals in the granites over a vertical interval of more than 2.5 km and estimate their losses in the upper oxidized part of the investigated volume of the cupola (coefficient of iron oxidation, KO _Fe, increases in the granites from bottom to top from 7 to 70%) compared with the lower unaltered and unoxidized part (with a KO _Fe plateau at about 5%). The average concentrations of metals in the upper part of the cupola are lower than those in the lower part by a factor of 2.5 for Pb, 1.56 for Zn, 1.45 for Cu, 1.3 for Co, etc. A similar decrease in the abundances of ore elements along the vertical section associating with the relative epigenetic alteration and oxidation of the granite was previously described by us for U and Th and for the components of high-temperature ores, W, Sn, and Mo. The removal of ore elements from the granite was accompanied by a decrease in the bulk contents of sulfur and arsenic by a factor of 1.35 and 1.65, respectively. The leaching of trace metals from the granites of the upper part of the Aue cupola was followed by their partial redeposition above the cupola in the ore veins of the Schlema and Schneeberg deposits. Original Russian Text ? Vikt. L. Barsukov, N.T. Sokolova, O.M. Ivanitskii, 2006, published in Geokhimiya, 2006, No. 9, pp. 967–982.     

Text, talk, things, and the subpolitics of performing place

This article tells the story of how a group of Dutch and Belgian citizens organized themselves to promote an area that they valued, to put it on the map, to raise awareness about its qualities, and to protect it from urban and industrial development. Our theoretical perspective focuses on the performative and political aspects of this place-making process and the discursive and material practices involved. We connect this to Beck’s concept of subpolitics.Our findings show how the group performed this place not only through text and talk - giving the area a name, using their knowledge and expertise to raise awareness about its values, lobbying and cooperating with decision-makers -, but also through things - installing art objects and information signs that articulate certain characteristics and values of the area. Our findings demonstrate the struggles involved in these performances. The group involved multiple perspectives on what the important values and characteristics of the area are and on what strategies would work best in trying to influence decision-making and protect the area. However, the use of expertise as the main strategy to gain influence excluded the more critical and activist strategies and privileging archaeological and historical values and characteristics came at the expense of attention on agricultural and natural values.Our findings make clear that performing place cannot be taken to be homogeneous and that it inevitably involves multiple perspectives and demands. The struggles, power relations and dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that this multiplicity implicates reveal a form of sub-politics that involves both politicization and depoliticization. Also, it is a form of subpolitics that is more diverse and ambiguous than Beck’s conceptualization presupposes by its emphasis on the role of outsiders as a homogeneous group.     

Total mercury and monomethylmercury in water, sediments, and hydrophytes from the rivers, estuary, and bay along the Bohai Sea coast, northeastern China

Mercury contamination in aquatic environments is of worldwide concern because of its high biomagnification factor in food chains and long-range transport. The rivers, estuary and the bay along the northwestern Bohai Sea coast, northeastern China have been heavily contaminated by Hg due to long-term Zn smelting and chlor-alkali production. This work investigated the distributions of total Hg (THg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) in the water, sediment and hydrophytes from this area. Concentrations of THg in sediment (0.5–64 mg kg⁻¹) and water (39–2700 ng L⁻¹) were elevated by 1–3 orders of magnitude compared to background concentrations, which induced high concentrations of MMHg in these media. The highest concentration of MMHg in sediment reached 35 μg kg⁻¹, which was comparable to that in the Hg mining area, Wanshan, China, and the highest MMHg concentration of 3.0 ng L⁻¹ in the water sample exceeded the MMHg Chinese drinking water guideline of 1.0 ng L⁻¹. Concentrations of THg in a sediment profile from Jinzhou Bay were found to be consistent with annual Hg emission flux from a local Zn smelter (r = 0.74, p < 0.01), indicating that Hg contamination was mainly caused by Zn smelting locally. For some freshwater hydrophytes, concentrations of THg and MMHg ranged from 5.2 to 100 μg kg⁻¹ and 0.15 to 12 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Compared to sediment, concentrations of THg in hydrophytes were 2–3 orders of magnitude lower but MMHg was comparable or higher, indicating that the bioaccumulation in plants was distinct for the two Hg species studied. The data suggest that a significant load of Hg has been released into the northwestern coastal region of the Bohai Sea.     

Distribution of REE,LILE, and HFSE between biotite,feldspar, and the melt in the granulite facies migmatite,nimnyr block,Aldan shield

The behavior of trace elements under conditions of partial melting of granitoid rocks has been studied. The element’s partition coefficients between minerals and the melt D_i^min/melt depends, in the first place, on the composition of the primary melt. In biotite the HREE D_i are a little below 1, while those of LREE, especially D_i for Ce, are 1–3 orders of magnitude less. This leads to an efficient differentiation of REEs in anatexic melts especially when biotite is the main mineral phase of restite. On the contrary, there are feldspars, the D_i of which cannot provide such a magnitude of differentiation. Unlike garnets and pyroxenes, whose stability in restite permits enrichment of anatexic melts produced in migmatization zones with Nb, Ti, and Cr, the presence of biotite in restite causes depletion of melts with those elements as well as with Rb. Feldspars, under conditions of their fractional crystallization or during differentiation of an anatexic melt, deplete the latter with Sr, Ba, and Rb, but enrich it with Nb, Ti, Cr, Y, Zr, and V.     

Dielectric constants of apatite,epidote, vesuvianite,and zoisite,and the oxide additivity rule

The dielectric constants and dielectric loss values of 4 Ca-containing minerals were determined at 1 MHz using a two-terminal method and empirically determined edge corrections. The results are: vesuvianitel κ′ _a=9.93 tan δ=0.006 κ′ _c=9.79 tan δ=0.005 vesuvianitel κ′ _a=10.02 tan δ=0.002 κ′ _c=9.85 tan δ=0.003 zoisite1 κ′ _a =10.49 tan δ=0.0006 κ′ _b =15.31 tan δ=0.0008 κ′ _c=9.51 tan δ=0.0008 zoisite2 κ′ _a =10.55 tan δ=0.0011 κ′ _b =15.45 tan δ=0.0013 κ′ _c=9.39 tan δ=0.0008 epidote κ′ ₁₁= 9.52 tan δ=0.0008 κ′ ₂₂=17.1 tan δ=0.0009 κ′ ₃₃= 9.37 tan δ=0.0006 fluorapatite1 κ′ _a =10.48 tan δ=0.0008 κ′ _c = 8.72 tan δ=0.0114 fluorapatite2 κ′ _a =10.40 tan δ=0.0010 κ′ _c=8.26 tan δ=0.0178 The deviation (δ) between measured dielectric polarizabilities as determined from the Clausius-Mosotti equation and those calculated from the sum of oxide polarizabilities according to α _D (mineral)=∑ α _D (oxides) for vesuvianite is ～ 0.5%. The large deviations of epidote and zoisite from the additivity rule with Δ=+ 10.1 and + 11.7%, respectively, are attributed to “rattling” Ca ions. The combined effects of both a large F thermal parameter and possible F-ion conductivity in fluorapatite are believed to be responsible for Δ=+2–3%. Although variation of oxygen polarizability with oxygen molar volume (V_o) is believed to affect the total polarizabilities, the variation of V_o in these Ca minerals is too small to observe the effect.     

Breakthroughs in the biodiversity, biogeography, biostratigraphy, and basin analysis of the Beaufort group

Over the past decade researchers working on the rocks of the Beaufort Group in the main Karoo Basin of South Africa have vastly increased our understanding of this important Permo-Triassic sequence. Many new fossil forms have been discovered, allowing for breakthroughs into the biodiversity, biogeography and biostratigraphy of the group. Taxonomic and phylogenetic advances are many and varied, and cover most of the vertebrate taxa, but with emphasis placed on the temnospondyl amphibians, archosauriforms and non-mammalian synapsids, in particular the anomodontia. Biostratigraphic breakthroughs have centered on the Middle Permian Eodicynodon and Tapinocephalus assemblage zones, the Late Permian Dicynodon Assemblage Zone, and the Triassic Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus assemblage zones. Correlation of these biozones with better dated sequences in Europe, Russia and China has allowed for many chronostratigraphic refinements, which are in turn vital for sequence stratigraphical analysis of the basin fill. Based on fossil data, both the lower (Ecca–Beaufort) and upper (Beaufort–Molteno) contacts of the group have been proved to be highly diachronous. The refined chronostratigraphic framework has also allowed for a better analysis of the basin evolution through time, particularly in terms of the correlation of external stimuli that affect basin sedimentation patterns.