Magnetochronology of Mid-Miocene mammalian fauna in the Lanzhou Basin,northeastern Tibetan Plateau:Implications for Asian mammal migration

The Quantougou(QTG) Fauna in central Lanzhou Basin is an important late Mid-Miocene fauna on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau margin,but its numerical age remains a matter of debate.Here,we present a new magnetostratigraphic record for a fluvio-lacustrine section to further constrain the age of the QTG Fauna.Results suggest that the studied section spans from polarity chrons C5Cn.2n to C5 n.2n or C5 An.1n,with ages of ca.16.5 Ma to 10 Ma or 16.5 Ma to 12 Ma.The QTG Fauna is located at the top of polarity chron C5r.3 r or C5 Ar.2 r,which corresponds to an age of 11.7 Ma or 12.8 Ma for the fauna.Accordingly,the associated Myocricetodontinae(a subfamily of Gerbillidae,Rodentia) is suggested to have appeared in the Lanzhou Basin at 11.7 Ma or 12.8 Ma,which is the oldest Myocricetodontinae in East Asia but is still much younger than the ～20 Ma appearance of this subfamily in West and South Asia.Our age data support the interpretation that East Asian Myocricetodontinae originated from South Asia.The QTG fauna further suggest a dry and open grassland environment,which is consistent with global cooling after the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum.     

Maeotian mammalian localities of Eastern Paratethys: Magnetochronology and position in European continental scales

The Maeotian of Eastern Paratethys corresponds to the interval of the magnetochronological scale from the base of the subchron C4Ar2n to upper parts of the Chron C4n (9.6–7.5 Ma). Fission-track dates of Maeotian deposits are in general agreement with paleomagnetic chronology. In the continental stratigraphic scale of Western Europe this interval corresponds to zones MN10 (save the lowermost parts), MN11, and MN12 (upper part). Taking into account age estimates of MN zones boundaries established in Western Europe, the East European mammalian localities of Ukraine and Moldova can be stratified as follows: MN10, Raspopeni, Grebeniki, Novaya Emetovka 1, ?lower bed of Ciobruci; MN11, Novaya Emetovka 2; MN12, Cimislia, Ciobruci upper bed, Cherevichnoe, Tudorovo, Dzedzvtakhevi, and sites in the lower Pontian deposits. The faunal criteria used to distinguish MN zones in Western Europe cannot be completely applied to sites of the Eastern Paratethys because of paleozoogeographic distinctions between West and East European provinces. Specific criteria of zone boundaries definitions should be developed for the East European province.     

云南临沧晚中新世槭属叶片和翅果研究

云南省是研究我国植物多样性,植物区系演化及被子植物迁徙路线的有利场所。文中鉴定并描述了采自云南临沧上中新统邦卖组的槭属(Acer)8块叶片和17块翅果化石,共鉴定为4个种,其中包括1个新种和1个相似种,分别为Acer lincangense sp.nov.和Acer cf.jingdongense。槭属化石在云南邦卖组的出现,证明了该植物群具有北温带和古热带的混生特征,反映了当时植物区系类型的多样化构成了云南现代植物多样性的基础。另外,通过对Acer全球大化石记录以及现生种的统计,总结得出槭属的地史演化具有3个发展高峰期:依次为始新世、中新世和全新世,从古至今呈现一种螺旋式递增趋势。     

Extensional tectonics of northwestern Macedonia,Greece, since the late Miocene

Tectonic field studies in the Florina-Ptolemais basin (northwestern Greece) were carried out in an attempt to define the regional stress tensors in selected areas affected by Neogene and Quaternary faulting, using recently proposed quantitative methods. The analysis allows us to distinguish two extensional phases in the area: a late Miocene-Pliocene one with a NESW average direction of extension: and a Pleistocene-Recent one with a NWSE direction of extension. We conclude that the principal stress axes α₂ and α₃ were interchanged in passing from one phase to the other. These results are reasonably consistent with results of studies carried out in other parts of the Aegean area, especially the south Aegean back-arc domain.     

Bamboo Leaf and Pollen Fossils from the Late Miocene of Eastern Zhejiang,China and their Phytogeological Significance

Fossil bamboo leaves and pollen from Upper Miocene deposits of the Shengxian Formation in Tiantai and Ninghai counties,eastern Zhejiang,China represent a rare record in Asia.The distinctive pseudopetiole and parallel venation of the leaf blades and the clearly thickened annulus of the pollen aperture place them in the subfamily Bambusoideae.Morphological analysis supports the determination of these fossil leaves as belonging to the genus Bambusium and two new species are described.Bambusium latipseudopetiolus Q.J.Wang et B.N.Sun sp.nov.has a distinctly wide pseudopetiole of 0.23 cm in width and 0.40 cm in length,several vascular bundles on parallel veins,and 5–8 lateral veins on both sides of the midrib.Bambusium longipseudopetiolus Q.J.Wang et B.N.Sun sp.nov.has a distinctly long pseudopetiole of 0.60 cm in length and 0.10 cm in width,several vascular bundles on the pseudopetiole,and 6 lateral veins on both sides of the midrib.Pollen grains from the same layer provide additional evidence of bamboos.They are characterized by 32.0–51.0 μm in diameter,a round pore 3.0–4.0 μm in diameter with a broad thickened annulus 2.5–3.5 μm around,and several conspicuous secondary folds on the exine surface.The morphological analysis leads to their assignment to Graminidites bambusoides Stuchlik.These fossils are important for the study of bamboo phytogeography in China.They demonstrate that there were bamboos growing in southeastern China during the Late Miocene and that bamboos in Zhejiang begin to diversify no later than the Late Miocene.In combination with bamboo fossils from other places,it seems that bamboos had a wide distribution across southern China during the Miocene,ranging from southwestern Yun'nan to southeastern Zhejiang.     

Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic evidence for origin and evolution of the Miocene Pangeon granitoids,Southern Rhodope,Greece

The Sr-Nd isotopic ratios of selected post-collisional, calc-alkaline, I-type granitoids from the Pangeon pluton, intruding the lower tectonic unit (LTU) in the Southern Rhodope in the Miocene, support the existence of two types of granitoids (PTG porphyritic tonalite granodiorite and MGG biotite granodiorite to two-mica granite) unrelated by crystal fractionation and likely derived by partial melting of the same source under different P-T conditions. The Sr-Nd isotopic ratios of mafic enclaves in the granitoids as well as metamorphic rocks from the LTU have also been determined. At 22 Ma, the IR_Sr range between 0.706850 and 0.708381, whereas the ε_Nd(22) range from –3.86 to –1.05, with no relationship to granitoid types. The relationships between Sr and Nd isotopes as well as these isotopes and SiO₂ provide evidence of contamination of mafic melts by interaction with crust during magma differentiation. Both partial melting and AFC processes (r = 0.2) may account for compositional variations in the Pangeon magmas. The mafic enclaves display IR_Sr from 0.706189 to 0.707139, and ε_Nd(22) from –2.29 to –1.94, similar to the granitoids, supporting the hypothesis of a common origin. Amphibolites inferred to be subduction-enriched metabasalts under-plated crust during old subduction can represent the source of the Pangeon melts. The T_DM of the Pangeon granitoids is in the range 0.7–1.1 Ga for the inferred extraction age of the LILE-enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle source. The upper crustal geochemical signatures and the relatively small isotopic composition of the Pangeon granitoids make these rocks similar to the coeval eastern-Mediterranean lamproites emplaced within the same geodynamic setting; this prompts similar melt sources. Lastly, the Pangeon granitoids display geochemical characteristics, isotopic ratios, and T_DM also similar to other Tertiary magmatic rocks from the Southern Rhodope and Biga peninsula, western Anatolia, suggesting a similar tectonic environment and co-magmatic evolution throughout the area.     

内蒙古苏尼特左旗中新世晚期孢粉记录干旱事件

对中中新统通古尔组和上覆地层宝格达乌拉组的40个孢粉样品的分析表明通古尔期晚期形成环境较早期温湿,在通古尔期向宝格达乌拉期过渡期间,灌木和草本植物花粉由19·7%增加到46%,而乔木植物花粉总数由69·5%下降为34·7%,松蒿比(A/C)由4突降为0·64,标志着干旱事件的开始。将该地区的古地磁、哺乳类化石和孢粉资料与前人研究进行对比,结果显示干旱事件发生在晚中新世约8·5Ma,这一事件在华北具有广泛的可比性。     

Spatial distribution of climatic conditions from the Middle Eocene to Late Miocene based on palynoflora in Central,Eastern and Western Anatolia

The continental climatic evolution of Anatolia has been reconstructed quantitatively for the last 45 million years using the coexistence approach. Although there were some regional effects, the Anatolian Cenozoic continental climate record correlated with the European climatic condition and the global oxygen isotope record from marine environments. From middle Eocene to late Miocene, continental warming in Anatolia was pronounced for inferred winter temperature and mean annual temperature as in Europe. Generally, the palaeoclimatic property of Anatolia resembles the European climatic changing and marine temperature changing based on the oxygen isotope record; however, climatic values of the terrestrial area in Anatolia are higher from Lutetian to Aquitanian and these values are lower than European values from Aquitanian to Tortonian. Correspondingly, Cenozoic climatic cooling in Anatolia is directly associated with an increase of seasonality, palaeogeographic position and terrestrial condition. Furthermore, mean annual precipitation values of Anatolia remained relatively stable during the Eocene–Oligocene; however, these values indicated changing throughout middle–late Miocene. Moreover, in this study, decline of abundance and variables for the mangrove and back mangrove palaeocommunities during the last 45 million years is recorded because of the decreasing of humidity, temperature and increasing of terrestrial condition.     

Luminescence chronology of late pleistocene loess-paleosol and tephra sequences near Fairbanks, Alaska

Thermoluminescence (TL) and infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) sediment-dating methods have been applied to paleosol- and tephra-bearing loess sequences younger than marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 7 at three important sites. TL ages indicate the development of significant paleosols ∼75,000 and ∼30,000 yr ago in the loess sequence at the Gold Hill site. Relatively minor soil development occurred ∼70,000 and ∼48,000 yr ago. Like the ∼75,000-yr-old soil, the 30,000-yr-old soil is apparently of global extent, and consistent in timing with inferred warm intervals elsewhere (e.g., Greenland, Europe, western and central China). At Birch Hill, replicate TL dating of primary loess combined with two earlier TL results from the same site, and with an earlier mean fission-track-glass-shard age of 140,000 ± 10,000 yr for the associated Old Crow tephra, yield a more precise numeric age of 142,300 ± 6600 yr for this Alaska/Yukon chronostratigraphic marker ash bed. Three of the TL ages at the Halfway House site are difficult to interpret, but combined with other evidence, they indicate: (1) the upper 5-6 m of loess from Halfway House is not part of the Gold Hill Loess (equivalent to pre-MIS 5 age) as long thought by T.L. Péwé, but rather is much younger; (2) the regionally significant variegated tephra, found in the Fairbanks and Klondike areas and previously thought to be older than MIS 5, has an age of 77,800 ± 4100 yr (late MIS 5).     

Morphometric analysis of the drainage network of Samos Island (northern Aegean Sea): Insights into tectonic control and flood hazards

The morphometric analysis of alluvial drainage provides insights into its dynamics, erosion capacity, susceptibility to floods and possible genetic relations to tectonic faulting. In this study, we analysed the drainage system of Samos Island, located in the northern Aegean Sea. The results indicate a vulnerability to erosion and flooding events, and these intense phenomena concentrate mostly on third-order catchments. Two dissimilar drainage network systems are shown: an older drainage network system with a main NW–SE direction, which includes fourth- and fifth-order branches, and a recent drainage network system, which includes new, smaller order branches with a main NE–SW direction. The major tectonic fault orientations are NNW–SSE. The branches of the hydrographic network and faults present different directions, which indicates that the hydrographic pattern is not affected by tectonics.     

Origin and distribution of saline groundwaters in the upper Miocene aquifer system, coastal Rhodope area, northeastern Greece

 This paper describes the origins and distribution of saline groundwaters in the coastal area of Rhodope, Greece. The aquifer system includes two aquifers within coarse-grained alluvial sediments in the coastal part of the study area. Two major water-quality groups occur in the study area, namely Ca²⁺-rich saline groundwater and Ca²⁺-poor, almost fresh groundwater. The main process controlling the groundwater chemistry is the exchange of calcium and sodium between the aquifer matrix and intruding seawater. The natural salt water in the study area is probably residual water that infiltrated the aquifer system during repeated marine transgressions in late Pleistocene time. Seawater intrusion into the coastal aquifer system occurs as a result of overpumping in two seawater wedges separated vertically by a low-permeability layer. The rate of intrusion averages 0.8 m/d and is less than expected due to a decline of the aquifer's permeability at the interface with the seawater. The application of several hydrochemical techniques (Piper and Durov diagrams; Na⁺/Cl^–, Ca²⁺/Cl^–, Mg²⁺/Cl^–, and Br^–/Cl^– molar ratios; Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ weight ratio; and chloride concentrations), combined with field observations, may lead to a better explanation of the origin of the saline groundwater. Received, May 1997 / Revised, May 1998, December 1998 / Accepted, February 1999     

Middle to late Miocene sequence stratigraphy of the Transylvanian Basin (Romania)

The history of Middle to Late Miocene evolution of the Transylvanian Basin was determined by the bordering Carpathian orogen evolution, the tectonic events being well recorded by the sedimentary history. The basin evolved in a back-arc setting, under a regional, compressional stress field. The major tectonic events produced during the Late Sarmatian and Post-Pannonian were related to the reactivation of the pre-Badenian fault systems. The Transylvanian Basin got uplifted after the Late Pannonian (? during the Pliocene), and at least 500 m of sedimentary cover was eroded.

Based on seismic and well-log interpretation, core and outcrop sedimentology, and microfauna, eight sequences were defined. The early Middle Miocene sequences are roughly synchronous to five 3rd order global sea-level cycles. Most of the recognized sequence boundaries are enhanced by regional tectonic events. The sedimentary evolution was also strongly influenced by salt-tectonics, active starting with the Late Sarmatian.

Two sequences were identified in the Lower Badenian deposits. The third sequence (late Early Badenian to early Mid Badenian) preserves information about deeper shelf settings. The lowstand of the following sequence was responsible for the deposition of the salt formation (late Mid Badenian), an important lithostratigraphic marker in the sedimentary record of the basin. In general, the Upper Badenian deposits (parts of the 4th and 5th sequences) belong to deep marine submarine fan systems. The Sarmatian (partially 5th, 6th and partially 7th sequences) was characterized by diverse salinity conditions, stretching from brackish to hypersaline, and by high tectonic instability, which induced several significant relative sea-level falls. During that time, deltaic (north) and fandeltaic (east) systems fed submarine fans, stacked between salt-related submarine heights (“channeled” deep-marine depocenters). Most of the Pannonian deposits (partially 7th and 8th sequences) belong to submarine fan systems, but shallower facies were also found in the western and eastern part of the basin.     

札达盆地晚中新世河湖相沉积物环境磁学特征与印度季风演化

晚新生代印度季风的演化一直以来是地学研究的热点问题,然而目前对印度季风的研究多集中在海洋沉积物上。磁学参数作为指示气候的重要指标,已被广泛应用于黄土高原等地区的古气候重建中,对揭示东亚季风的演化历史和驱动机制做出了重要的贡献,但利用磁学指标对印度季风变化历史的研究还很稀少。文章运用磁学方法对藏南札达盆地的河湖相厚225.5 m、年龄范围在9.4~6.0 Ma的沉积物进行分析,发现磁学参数值在8.6 Ma前后发生了明显变化,对应沉积环境和岩相的改变（由河流环境和粗颗粒沉积转变为潮上环境和较细的沉积）。8.6 Ma前磁学参数值较高,磁化率（χ）高的原因可能是风化生成的细颗粒含量多导致的,而HIRM高是由于风化形成赤铁矿增多引起的。鉴于研究剖面的沉积速率在8.6 Ma发生了快速的增加以及以前的研究揭示这段沉积物风化程度较低,我们把8.6 Ma后所有的磁学参数值的降低归因于季风增强造成沉积剥蚀搬运速率增加从而导致沉积物来不及风化,细颗粒的亚铁磁性矿物和赤铁矿没有大量生成。考虑到札达盆地记录的气候变湿时间与阿拉伯海叶蜡碳同位素记录的南亚干旱化得以缓解的时间一致,我们认为这些记录共同指示了印度夏季风的增强。在综合分析青藏高原隆升、特提斯海退缩、南北半球冰量变化和印度洋表水温度变化的基础上,我们把印度夏季风的增强归因为南极冰盖的增加或者是青藏高原的向东北扩张。这一研究加深了对印度季风变化历史和驱动机制的认识。

     

滇西北独龙江岩体晚中新世以来的热史和剥蚀历史的磷灰石裂变径迹记录

位于藏东-滇西高原构造急剧转折地段的独龙江地区,其花岗岩体内系统垂向取样的9个花岗闪长岩样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄数据在4～6.8Ma之间.裂变径迹分析显示样品应处于剥露的部分退火带,其表观年龄主体表现为冷却年龄,部分具混合年龄特征.热史分析揭示出岩体至少记录了自晚中新世以来的3个显著冷却阶段.早期的时限可推至约13～8Ma,中、晚期的时限分别在约5.5Ma和2.8Ma,基本可以与区域上的不整合相对应.依据冷却史推导的各阶段剥蚀速率分别为0.10～0.12mm/a,0.26～0.3mm/a和0.85～1.02mm/a,可以与藏东-滇西高原周缘及邻区的盆地沉积记录相对应.研究结果为探讨藏东-滇西高原晚中新世以来的构造抬升-伸展变形提供了定量的参照时限.     

云南临沧晚中新世一种水龙骨科植物化石的修订及其生物学意义

云南现代真蕨类植物资源丰富,蕨类植物多样性的地史起源,必须从化石记录入手。在云南临沧上中新统邦卖组植物化石采集中发现了槲蕨属1块不育叶和2块腐殖叶的新材料,这些标本为修订Drynaria propinqua Wen et al.,2013,以及揭示该种不育叶和腐殖叶的特征提供了新的材料。通过与槲蕨属国内外报道的化石种和现生种的详细比较,将其重新定名为Drynaria cf.propinqua。Drynaria cf.propinqua的发现,表明云南临沧晚中新世的气候与现今中国西南地区温暖湿润的气候类似,这些附生植物的生活习性表明,临沧地区复杂分层的森林生态系统至少在晚中新世已经确立。     

Proposition of dating a Miocene Alpine tectonic event using mammal biochronology: example of the Four karst filling

Abstract

Although the general tectonic history of the Ile Crémieu area (southern Jura) is known, establishing the chronology of events that have influenced the tectonic evolution seems to be much more difficult. A newly discovered layered karst filling in the Bajocian limestone, in the town of Four (Isère), is a synsedimentary evidence of a Tertiary tectonic activity. Actually, only the lower part of the filling has been folded by the movement of the fault in which the karstic network was made. Fossil mammals date the last movement on this fault plane, between 13.0 and 13.4 Ma. At a larger scale, the last activity of this fault could be correlated with a change in the paleo-stress could generated by the Alpine orogen, dating with precision an Alpine tectonic event. © 2002 Editions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.     

Late Miocene Magmatic-Hydrothermal Systems in the Jozankei-Zenibako District, Southwest Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract: Hydrothermal systems related to magmatic intrusions in the Jozankei-Zenibako district, southwest Hokkaido are examined, based on field observations, K-Ar ages, and alteration mineral assemblages. The study reveals five major magmat–ic–hydrothermal systems of Late Miocene in age, comprising Ogawa (9. 7 Ma), Jozankei (9. 5–9. 0 Ma), Otarunaigawa (8. 7 Ma), Asarigawa (8. 8 and 6. 7 Ma) and Hariusu (6. 7 Ma). The Ogawa system is related to granodiorite, and the Jozankei, Otarunaigawa and Asarigawa systems are related to quartz porphyry.
The Ogawa system includes potassic, sericitic, propylitic and advanced argillic alteration as well as base-metal mineralization, represented by the Toyotomi deposit. The Jozankei and Otarunaigawa systems lack significant potassic alteration, and are accompanied by sericitic and propylitic alteration. The Otarunaigawa system is associated with base-metal mineralization at Toyohiro and Inatoyo. The Asarigawa and Hariusu systems include advanced argillic and argillic alteration, as well as iron sulfide deposits. The presence of potassic alteration only in the Ogawa system is ascribed to deeper emplacement (˜3 km from the surface) of the intrusive magma. These systems formed in terrestrial environments that existed from ca. 11 Ma to 8. 5 Ma and after 7. 5 Ma in the district.
Age–data compilation shows that the major advanced argillic alteration events in southwest Hokkaido, including those in the Jozankei-Zenibako district, formed during the periods from 9. 7–6. 5 Ma and 3. 5–1. 5 Ma. These periods correspond to the timing of normal subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the Northeast Japan arc. Normal, in contrast to oblique, plate subduction is characterized by andesitic, polygenetic volcanism and associated advanced argillic alteration.     

青藏高原西北缘中新世晚期A型花岗岩的特征及意义

在阿克萨依湖幅1∶25万区域地质调查中,于青藏高原西北缘的西昆仑山南坡巴颜喀拉盆地发现了多个小型黑云母二长花岗岩体。对其中规模较大的一个岩体的岩石地球化学研究结果显示,该岩体富集大离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素,亏损高场强元素和重稀土元素,δEu负异常,无Nb的亏损,属壳幔混合的偏铝质A2(PA)型花岗岩。TIMS法单颗粒锆石U-Pb年龄测定获得10.0Ma±0.1Ma的年龄值(MSWD=0.66),表明该岩体为中新世晚期岩浆活动的产物。该岩体可能是中新世晚期青藏高原后造山阶段岩石圈发生拆沉作用形成的,就位于阿尔金巨型走滑断裂系的拉张区域,是阿尔金巨型走滑断裂系强烈活动阶段的反映,对青藏高原地质构造演化和高原隆升的研究可能具有重要意义。