中国北方宁南盆地古近纪晚期咸化湖盆演化及其区域地质意义

本文以宁南盆地北部的贺家口子清水营组剖面为研究目标,对古近纪晚期清水营组的岩性特征、石膏主元素地球化学特征和泥岩有机地球化学特征进行研究,结果表明:清水营组岩性以灰绿-紫红色泥岩、石膏及二者互层为主,可划分为8个二级沉积旋回和3个一级沉积旋回。石膏中CaO含量反映了咸化湖盆中石膏的化学沉积作用,Al_2O_3等为陆源碎屑来源,清水营组下段为盐湖深水环境沉积的纯净石膏;中段石膏沉积的水体较浅。清水营组下段地层泥岩TOC和生烃潜量(S_1+S_2)较高,说明在咸化湖盆演化早期气候较湿润、水体较深;而泥岩降解潜力相对小,反映有机质以高等植物来源为主,陆源输入较多。在此研究基础上,认为宁南盆地清水营组沉积包括:蒸发岩的沉积和碎屑岩的沉积;咸化湖盆演化尚未达到钾盐等盐岩沉淀的高浓缩阶段。咸化湖盆演化主要经历了早期封闭深水盐湖发育阶段、中期封闭浅水盐湖鼎盛阶段和晚期开阔浅水盐湖消亡阶段。宁南盆地古近纪晚期咸化湖盆演化与盆地的持续构造沉降和各次级沉积坳陷最终连为统一的湖泊这一重大区域沉积事件有明显的响应关系。     

东濮凹陷下第三系沙三段盐岩和膏盐岩的成因

在东濮凹陷下第三系沙三段发育暗色泥岩与盐岩和膏盐岩的频繁互层沉积,暗色泥岩为深水成因。根椐盐岩和膏盐岩的沉积序列特点、与盐岩和膏盐岩互层的泥岩和砂岩的沉积特点,沙三段沉积期的古气候和古环境特点,认为盐岩和膏盐岩是浅水蒸发成因的。深水相泥岩与浅水成因的盐岩或膏盐岩频繁互层,说明沙三段沉积时期,湖平面变化频繁。也正是由于湖平面变化频繁,在沉积中心的周围主要物源方向上形成一系列低水位期的砂体。这些低水位期砂体是形成岩性油气藏的主要储层。     

塔里木盆地西南凹陷古新统巨厚海相石膏岩沉积特征及环境意义

塔里木盆地(简称塔,下同)西南凹陷古新世阿尔塔什组发育巨厚层海相石膏岩,夹薄层泥岩、粉砂岩及灰岩,是塔西南凹陷断续海侵环境下多期次蒸发沉积的产物。野外调查显示,该层海相石膏岩出现于皮拉里、阿尔塔什、麻扎塔格及大山口地区的阿尔塔什组露头剖面。石膏岩在凹陷内分布广泛,在西昆仑山前、南天山山前及麦盖提斜坡带均有发育且沉积厚度比较稳定。石膏岩中主要盐类矿物为石膏、硬石膏。扫描电镜分析发现,石膏岩中尚含石盐、钙芒硝及含钾镁的硫酸盐等;石膏岩样品中石盐、石膏、硬石膏等多呈细晶或自形微晶,推测阿尔塔什组沉积期,古盐湖曾出现过富钾卤水;通过对皮拉里剖面石膏岩样品进行地球化学分析,揭示该地区古新世古盐湖演化过程中出现2个相对富钾峰值。在古盐湖演化过程中,由于多期次特提斯海水的侵入,凹陷内部阿尔塔时期发育了碎屑岩—巨厚层石膏岩—碎屑岩的沉积韵律,古盐湖卤水表现为淡—咸—淡的变化规律。伴随着阿尔塔时期4次大规模的海侵,石膏岩沉积从西昆仑山前扩展到麦盖提斜坡地带,海侵范围也逐渐扩大。在阿尔塔什组顶部发育中厚层灰岩,显示在阿尔塔什组沉积晚期,塔西南凹陷沉积环境从●湖相逐渐向浅海相环境演变。     

用Fischer图解研究山西临汾中奥陶世马家沟组旋回层序

山西临汾奥陶纪马家沟组顶底与上覆和下伏地层呈平行不整合,是一套沉积于广阔陆表海浅水台地上的碳酸盐、蒸发岩潮坪层序。泥晶石灰岩、白云岩、蒸发岩等岩石类型和沉积构造如鸟眼、干裂、石膏、石盐假晶、叠层石等反映出来的旋回性清晰明显。在野外共划分出了８４个旋回层,用Ｆｉｓｃｈｅｒ图解对马家沟组的旋回层序进行了分析,共划分出３个三级旋回,１２个四级旋回。８４个旋回层可能是因地球偏心率变化而引起的米兰柯维奇旋回     

川东南—黔北地区龙马溪组沉积环境及对烃源岩的影响

川东南—黔北地区下志留统龙马溪组发育富含有机质泥页岩,是华南地区海相地层中的优质烃源岩之一,且分布广泛,厚度大,是有利的页岩气勘探区。通过研究区30条野外露头剖面和12口钻井的资料分析,结合岩性、元素地球化学、测井地球物理及古生物等相标志研究,对川东南—黔北地区下志留统龙马溪组沉积环境、沉积演化及其对烃源岩的影响进行了研究,在川东南—黔北地区龙马溪组识别出泥质深水陆棚、泥质浅水陆棚、砂泥质浅水陆棚、砂质浅水陆棚、灰泥质浅水陆棚、灰质浅水陆棚、浊流沉积、台地边缘浅滩-生物礁浊流等8种沉积类型,其中泥质深水陆棚是龙马溪组烃源岩形成的主要沉积环境。通过对沉积环境的研究,认为龙马溪组底部缺氧的滞留环境和缓慢的沉积速率是龙马溪组优质烃源岩发育的主要因素。研究为区内页岩气勘探开发提供有力保障。     

江西信江盆地罗塘凹陷膏盐微量元素地球化学特征

江西信江盆地罗塘凹陷发育一套晚白垩世周田组暗色泥岩与膏盐岩互层沉积,为了解膏盐岩成因,综合利用钻井资 料和地球化学分析手段进行研究。结果表明,研究区膏盐岩主要发育在周田组二、三、四段,岩性为含钙石膏泥岩和泥质 石膏岩,其次为（硬） 石膏岩。稀土和微量元素地球化学特征揭示了膏盐岩与围岩的物源均来自陆源,而非深部卤水。膏 盐岩具有早期高水位浅水区和晚期低水位深水区两种沉积模式。早期高水位浅水区沉积模式主要分布在盆地边缘,沉积了 紫红色含钙质结核泥岩夹膏盐岩;晚期低水位深水区沉积模式主要分布在盆地中心,发育了膏盐岩与暗色泥岩互层沉积, 并组成多个盐韵律。平面上由盆地边缘到中心依次沉积了碳酸盐岩、膏盐岩类的典型蒸发岩序列。     

黔北大竹园地区铝土矿含矿岩系沉积环境及形成机制

黔北大竹园地区铝土矿含矿岩系的岩石地层为上石炭统大竹园组,是在晚石炭世马平期渝鄂海湾南西侧近海湖泊群中的濯水湖沉积形成的。大竹园组下段沉积时期,距渝鄂海湾的海岸线较近,濯水湖面积较大(约480 km~2),水位较高,属永久性低能浅水湖泊,以化学沉积作用为主,沉积了大面积的绿泥石岩、绿泥石黏土岩、铁质黏土岩以及少量鲕绿泥石铁矿和赤铁矿。大竹园组上段沉积时期,与渝鄂海湾海岸线间距拉大,湖水变浅,面积缩小(约288km~2),成为间歇性洪控高能浅水湖泊,以物理沉积作用为主,沉积了分布连续、面积巨大的碎屑状铝土矿(岩)体。     

新疆莎车盆地上白垩统-古近系蒸发岩沉积及成钾前景

新疆莎车盆地发育大范围的蒸发岩。蒸发岩沉积与海侵-海退密切相关,自晚白垩世—渐新世以来,莎车盆地至少有5次小规模海侵-海退旋回,除阿尔塔什组石膏岩为断续海侵期沉积外,其余基本为海退期沉积。莎车盆地主要的蒸发岩沉积层位为吐依洛克组上段及阿尔塔什组。野外调查显示,吐依洛克组石盐岩露头主要沿西昆仑山前呈长条状分布,基本呈透镜体,阿尔塔什组石膏岩露头则见于盆地大部分地区,包括西昆仑山前、南天山山前及麦盖提斜坡,横向上持续稳定。野外调查及室内分析显示,盐类矿物主要为石盐、石膏、硬石膏,少量杂卤石、钙芒硝及钾石膏。盆地中石盐岩透镜体在横向上的不连续性,可能反应了吐依洛克组沉积晚期西昆仑山前存在多个次级古盐湖凹地,在干旱条件下浓缩成盐,而次级古盐湖在演化过程中大范围巨厚石膏岩的缺失,可能与当时的海退时间极短有关。依据莎车盆地蒸发岩沉积特征、盐类矿物组合、古盐湖演化环境,推测盆地有利的成钾层位为吐依洛克组上段,在乌帕尔一带发现成钾显示,可能为有利的成钾区域;而盆地小范围、厚度不大的石盐沉积及埋藏深度大为不利的找钾因素。     

鄂东黄石地区下三叠统大冶组风暴沉积

鄂东黄石地区下三叠统大冶组灰岩中发育了典型的风暴沉积,风暴岩由砾屑灰岩、颗粒灰岩和泥灰岩组成,其中风暴沉积构造包括丘状交错层理、递变层理、砾屑的撕裂构造及水平层理等,不同层位具有不同的风暴沉积构造类型和组合特征。根据风暴沉积的岩石特征、构造类型、规模、组合特点,并结合沉积背景分析,风暴沉积序列可进一步分为深水远源型、过渡型和浅水近源型。大冶组一段风暴沉积具有深水远源特点,沉积环境为水体较深的外陆棚; 大冶组二段风暴沉积具有过渡型特点,沉积环境为向上变浅的内陆棚; 大冶组三、四段风暴沉积具有浅水近源特点,沉积环境为浅水陆棚至滨岸。大冶组沉积序列具有向上变浅的特点,沉积环境由深水陆棚逐渐向滨岸转变。风暴沉积的识别对重建鄂东黄石地区早三叠世古地理具有重要意义。     

库车坳陷膏岩沉积特征及形成环境分析

库车坳陷是塔里木盆地的一个大型坳陷区,蒸发岩广泛分布,硫酸盐矿物是蒸发岩中最常见的矿物之一,其中石膏矿物是分布最为广泛的硫酸盐矿物。研究表明,不同蒸发岩岩相中产出的石膏矿物类型多样,产状、沉积构造复杂多变,不同的原生石膏矿物组合指示着不同的沉积相和沉积环境,利用岩矿鉴定方法分析石膏沉积特征与形成环境。     

Holocene stromatolites and microbial laminites associated with lenticular gypsum in a marine-dominated environment, Ras El Shetan area, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt

Field and petrographic investigations of Holocene evaporites in the Ras El Shetan area, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt, indicate the presence of microbial mats either in the form of laminites or stromatolites. The morphology of microbial mats and gypsum crystal size characterize the following lithofacies: (1) slump-stromatolitic gypsarenite, (2) random gypsrudite, (3) stromatolitic gypsarenite, and (4) microbially laminated gypsrudite. These evaporite lithofacies are formed above pre-evaporitic mudstones rich in disrupted cyanobacterial filaments, burrows and cerithid gastropods. The morphology of the gypsum crystals is mainly lenticular, indicating enrichment of dissolved organic compounds in the depositional environment. The difference in size of the lenticular gypsum crystals is related to minor changes in salinity and temperature of the parent brine. Fluid inclusions in gypsum crystals indicate their formation at low temperature (<50°C) in a seawater sourced brine that evaporated to gypsum saturation or higher. The brine salinities range from 10·62 to 12·99 equivalent wt% NaCl, and the brine densities range from 1·08 to 1·11 g/cm³. The change in morphology of the microbial mats (stromatolites and laminites) is related mainly to changes in water depth, from a very shallow salina to a coastal sabkha. Lenticular gypsum nucleated displacively in the microbial mats from saline, oxygenated groundwater that seeped from the sea through a barrier.     

The anatomy of a sulphate platform and adjacent basin system in the Leba sub-basin of the Lower Werra Anhydrite (Zechstein, Upper Permian), northern Poland

The Lower Werra Anhydrite (Zechstein, Upper Permian) deposits of the teba area originated in a deep basin setting, in shallow to deep water conditions. Facies changes occur within small distances and suggest fluctuating boundaries between well defined basins and platforms. This pattern of local platforms and adjacent basins developed during deposition. In basinal areas, the sequence is clearly transgressive, whereas on platforms accumulation kept pace with subsidence after an initial transgression. Nodular anhydrite represents a polygenetic deposit which formed at different times with respect to deposition. Massive anhydrite with pseudomorphs after upright-growth gypsum crystals suggest rapid precipitation in a subaqueous environment and/or fluctuating, but generally high, salinity conditions. Massive clastic sulphate originated due to periodic high energy events and resedimentation, or due to brecciation possibly connected with salinity fluctuations and the dissolution of halite. Massive, textureless anhydrite is locally porous and passes upward into breccia, indicating a strongly saline environment. Bedded anhydrite is considered to form in shallow water environments and laminated anhydrite in deep water. Bedded anhydrites contain portions which are graded. Intercalations of sulphate turbidites and upright-growth gypsum suggest fluctuating water depths, with comparatively deep water during turbidite deposition, but shallower conditions during upright-growth gypsum deposition. The sequence observed in slope zones at platform-basin margins, detrital (parautochthonous) sulphate sand to graded beds to basinal laminites, indicates that redistribution processes were important. At the onset of the Lower Werra Anhydrite deposition bathymetric relief existed between the central part of the basin and its margins, where carbonate platforms remained subaerially exposed. Formation of local platforms and adjacent basins required a relatively high subsidence rate, as pre-existing relief cannot account for the total accumulated thickness of the Lower Werra Anhydrite deposits. One implication of this is that the main argument against ‘the shallow water - shallow basin’ evaporite basin model, i.e.,a very fast rate of subsidence, may not be valid for the Łeba Lower Werra Anhydrite basin.     

Depositional environments of Upper Miocene (Messinian) evaporite deposits of the Sicilian Basin*

In Sicily, Messinian evaporitic sedimentary deposits are developed under a wide variety of hypersaline conditions and in environments ranging from continental margin (subaerial), to basin-margin supratidal, to intertidal, to subtidal and out into the hypersaline basin proper. The actual water depth at the time of deposition is indeterminate; however, relative terms such as ‘wave base’ and ‘photic zone’ are utilized. The inter-fingering relationships of specific evaporitic facies having clear and recognizable physical characteristics are presented. These include sub-aerial deposits of nodular calcium sulphate formed displacively within clastic sediments; gypsiferous rudites, arenites and arenitic marls, all of which are reworked sediments and are mixed in varying degrees with other clastic materials (subaerial, supratidal, and intertidal to deep basinal deposits). Laminated calcium sulphate alternating with very thin carbonate interlaminae and having two different aspects; one being even and continuous and the other of a wavy, irregular appearance (subtidal, intertidal, and supratidal deposits). Nodular calcium sulphate beds, usually associated with wavy, irregular laminated beds (supratidal, sabkha deposits); very coarsely crystalline gypsum beds (selenite), associated with more even, laminated beds (subaqueous, intertidal to subtidal deposits); wavy anastomozing gypsum beds, composed of very fine, often broken crystals (subaqueous, current-swept deposits); halite having hopper and chevron structures (supratidal to intertidal); and halite, potash salts, etc. having continuous laminated structure (subaqueous, possibly basinal). Evidence for diagenetic changes is observed in the calcium sulphate deposits which apparently formed by tectonic stress and also by migrating hypersaline waters. These observations suggest that the common, massive form of alabastrine gypsum (or anhydrite, in the subsurface) may not always be ascribed to original depositional features, to syndiagenesis or to early diagenesis but may be the result of late diagenesis.     

华北中元古代陆表海氧化还原条件

文石海底沉淀是地球早期大气高CO2浓度、海洋贫氧条件下,CaCO3过饱和而直接沉淀于海底所形成的自生碳酸盐,可反映古海洋贫氧状态.对华北中元古界雾迷山组(ca 1.50～1.45 Ga)碳酸盐岩的研究发现:潮下带下部黑色纹层石由针状文石假晶等厚层与微生物席层交互堆叠而成;潮下带中部凝块石白云岩(A单元)主要由针状文石假...     

Sedimentology of a lacustrine fan-delta system, Miocene Horse Camp Formation, Nevada, USA

A 1600-m-thick succession of the Miocene Horse Camp Formation (Member 2) exposed in east-central Nevada records predominantly terrigenous clastic deposition in subaerial and subaqueous fan-delta environments and nearshore and offshore lacustrine environments. These four depositional environments are distinguished by particular associations of individual facies (14 defined facies). Subaerial and subaqueous fan-delta facies associations include: ungraded, matrix-and clast-supported conglomerate; normally graded, matrix- and clast-supported conglomerate; ungraded and normally graded sandstone; and massive to poorly laminated mudstone. Subaqueous fan-delta deposits typically have dewatering structures, distorted bedding and interbedded mudstone. The subaerial fan-delta environment was characterized by debris flows, hyperconcentrated flows and minor sheetfloods; the subaqueous fan-delta environment by debris flows, high- and low-density turbidity currents, and suspension fallout. The nearshore lacustrine facies association provides examples of deposits and processes rarely documented in lacustrine environments. High-energy oscillatory wave currents, probably related to a large fetch, reworked grains as large as 2 cm into horizontally stratified sand and gravel. Offshore-directed currents produced uncommonly large (typically 1–2 m thick) trough cross-stratified sandstone. In addition, stromatolitic carbonate interbedded with stratified coarse sandstone and conglomerate suggests a dynamic environment characterized by episodic terrigenous clastic deposition under high-energy conditions alternating with periods of carbonate precipitation under reduced energy conditions. Massive and normally graded sandstone and massive to poorly laminated mudstone characterize the offshore lacustrine facies association and record deposition by turbidity currents and suspension fallout. A depositional model constructed for the Horse Camp Formation (Member 2) precludes the existence of all four depositional environments at any particular time. Rather, phases characterized by deposition in subaerial fan, nearshore lacustrine and offshore lacustrine environments alternated with phases of subaerial fan-delta, subaqueous fan-delta and offshore lacustrine deposition. This model suggests that high-energy nearshore currents due to deep water along the lake margin reworked sediment of the fan edge, thus preventing development of a subaqueous fan-delta environment and promoting development of a well-defined nearshore lacustrine environment. Low-energy nearshore currents induced by shallow water along the     

Depositional environments of Upper Miocene (Messinian) evaporites of Sicily as determined from analysis of intercalated carbonates

Various workers have suggested that the Upper Miocene (Messinian) evaporites of the Sicilian Basin formed in a topographic basin of considerable relief, filled with hypersaline water. Our studies indicate that this basin contained shallow water, at least during the deposition of the carbonate rocks intercalated between the gypsum beds. We recognize four basic kinds of limestone: (1) pelletal and pisolitic limestone; (2) skeletal limestone; (3) oöitic limestone, and (4) laminated lime-stone-dolostone. Modern analogs suggest that three of these four kinds of carbonate must have formed close to or above sea level. The evidence supporting this contention includes pellets with algal coatings, pisolites, quiet-water oöids, and algal laminates. Therefore we suggest that the evaporites associated with these carbonates may likewise have formed in relatively shallow water. An alternative conclusion would be that the level of the sea, and the salinity, underwent irregular patterns of profound change.     

A sedimentary facies model for glacial-age sediments in Baldwin Lake, Southern California

A combined sedimentological and high-resolution petrographic analysis was conducted on a glacial-age (20,000–65,000 cal yr BP) sediment core from Baldwin Lake, Southern California. The results of this research represent the most complete glacial-age, terrestrial climate record from Southern California to date. These results are used to characterize the different sediment types and to investigate the difference in depositional processes and environments between the core's three predominant sediment types: massive, semi-laminated, and laminated sediments. Massive sediments are commonly associated with a blocky texture and/or desiccation cracks, are organic-poor, have high magnetic susceptibility values, and are coarser-grained. Thin-sections from massive sediments reveal a homogenous sediment fabric. Sub-centimeter-scale laminated and centimeter-scale semi-laminated sediments are generally organic-rich, have low magnetic susceptibility values, and are finer grained. Thin-sections from laminated and semi-laminated sediments reveal diffuse sub-millimeter- to millimeter-scale laminae. This combination of sedimentological and high-resolution petrographic data enabled us to characterize four sediment facies, each related to specific depositional processes and environments: (1) a playa lake; (2) a perennial shallow lake; (3) an intermediate lake with variable lake level; and, (4) a perennial deep lake. At centennial-to millennial-timescales, lower lake levels are represented by deposition of massive to semi-laminated sediments in a playa to a perennial shallow lake environment. At similar timescales, higher lake levels are recorded by semi-laminated to laminated sediments deposited in an intermediate lake to a perennial deep lake environment. These results provide an additional sedimentological study for comparison to similar arid environment basins, and for comparison to existing regional paleoclimatic reconstructions.     

Gypsum facies transitions in basin-marginal evaporites: middle Miocene (Badenian) of west Ukraine

In the middle Miocene Badenian gypsum basin of the Carpathian Foredeep, west Ukraine, three main zones of gypsum development occur in the peripheral parts of the basin. Zone I consists entirely of stromatolitic gypsum formed in a nearshore zone. Zone II is located more basinward and is characterized by stromatolitic gypsum in the lower part of the section, overlain by a sabre gypsum unit. Zone III occurs in still more basinward areas and is characterized by giant gypsum intergrowths (or secondary nodular gypsum pseudomorphs of these) in the lowermost part, overlain by stromatolitic gypsum, sabre gypsum and then by clastic gypsum units. Correlation between these facies and zones has been achieved using lithological marker beds and surfaces. Of particular importance for correlation is a characteristic marker bed (usually 20–40 cm thick) of cryptocrystalline massive gypsum occurring in zones II and III. The marker was not distinguished in zone I, possibly because this bed is older than the entire gypsum section of that zone. These new results strongly suggest that the deposition of giant gypsum intergrowth facies and stromatolitic gypsum facies was coeval. In some sections of zones I and II, limestone intercalations have been recorded within the upper part of the gypsum sections. Considerable scatter of the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of these limestones indicates variable diagenetic overprints of marine carbonates, but a marine provenance of the limestones is confirmed by microfacies analysis. Some of the limestones are coeval with an intercalation of gypsarenitic, mostly laminated gypsum occurring in the sabre gypsum unit of zones II and III. Badenian gypsum formed in extremely shallow‐water to subaerial environments on broad, very low relief areas of negligible brine depth, which could be affected by rapid transgressions. Stable isotope (δ³⁴S, δ¹⁸O) studies of the gypsum demonstrate that the sulphate was of sea‐water origin or was derived from dissolution of Miocene marine evaporites. Investigations of individual inclusions in the gypsum indicate decreased water salinity when compared with modern marine‐derived, calcium sulphate‐saturated water. Groundwater influences are indicated by high calcium sulphate contents of the brines in the evaporite basin. The chemical composition of Badenian waters was thus a mixture of relic sea water (depleted in NaCl), groundwater (enriched in calcium sulphate) and surface run‐off.     

Sedimentology and paleoenvironmental evolution of Messinian evaporites in the Iskenderun-Hatay basin complex, Southern Turkey

Messinian evaporites, which resulted from the salinity crisis during the final closure of the Mediterranean Sea, are exposed in SE Turkey. These evaporites formed in two isolated sub-basins, Iskenderun-Arsuz (IA) and Hatay-Samanda? (HS), which belong to different depositional configurations and tectonic structures. The Neogene fill of these sub-basins consists of a thick sedimentary succession that started with Early Miocene terrestrial clastics, followed by reefs (Middle Miocene) and shallow water siliciclastics (Tortonian - Early to Late Miocene) and finally Messinian evaporates. These sub-basins accumulated in a diverse range of depositional environments from very shallow to deeper water. Evaporite facies in the IA sub-basin consist of sabkhas, saline lagoons and ponds. They are mainly represented by chemical deposits such as scattered gypsum nodules and balls, nodular bedded gypsum, laminated gypsum (Type-A) and selenites (Type-S1). Evaporites in the HS sub-basin mainly consist of detrital gypsum composed of gypsum laminae (Type-B, C), gypsum arenite-rudites and deeper water selenites (≤ 20 m), and resedimented selenites (Type-S2), which were deposited on a sulfate platform with a slope-basin transitional zone. Secondary gypsum with alabastrine and porphyroblastic textures as well as satin spar veins is commonly associated with the sabkha-type evaporites of the IA sub-basin. Deeper-water clastic evaporites of the HS sub-basin have generally remained as primary gypsum or have only been slightly affected by diagenetic alterations. The isotope values (^87/86Sr; δ¹⁸O SMOW; and δ³⁴S CDT) from the different kinds of gypsum lithofacies of the sub-basin are similar to those of the Messinian evaporites in other peri-Mediterranean basins, indicating an origin from marine water without external or basinal contributions.The Messinian evaporites examined in this paper are overlain by Early Pliocene (Zanclean) deposits composed of shallow- and deep-water siliciclastics and carbonates with local intercalations of Lago-Mare-type strata. Throughout the Messinian evaporitic stage, the IA sub-basin was mainly comprised of shallow water evaporites, while the HS sub-basin underwent deepening related to regional tectonics induced by the Dead Sea Fault during the construction of the Hatay Graben.     

Recent analog of gypsified microbial laminites and stromatolites in solar salt works and the Miocene gypsum deposits of Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Accumulation of microbial mats and stromatolites dominate in the crystallization ponds of solar salt works west of Alexandria, Egypt. These microbial mats are laminar in the permanent submerged part of the ponds. The microbial mats commonly form sites for growth of gypsum crystals during periods having higher salinity. In the dominant submerged part of the pond, domal stromatolites are common around groundwater seepage holes. In the shallow, intermittent margin of the ponds, the laminated microbial structure forms laterally close-linked hemispheroidal stromatolite type, with unidirectional and multidirectional ripple mark-like morphology on their surface. The microbial laminite and stromatolite types in the modern solar salt works are similar to the organic-rich Miocene gypsum beds of El-Barqan (west Alexandria, Egypt) and Rabigh (north Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). The Miocene organic-rich beds consist of interlayered dark-colored microbial laminae and light-colored gypsum laminae. These beds may have three different variations: regular even lamination, laterally closed-linked hemispheroidal stromatolites, and/or discrete hemispheroidal stromatolites. Petrographic examination of the microbial laminites and stromatolites in the solar salt works and the Miocene gypsum beds indicate that the dark-colored, organic-rich laminae are composed of micritized microbial laminae and/or brown organic filaments. In El-Barqan area, the light-colored gypsum-rich laminae are composed of either gypsum crystal fragments, or lenticular and prismatic gypsum. These gypsum crystals are either entrapped within the microbial filaments or are nucleated at the surface of the microbial laminae to form a radial pattern, whereas in Rabigh area, the light-colored gypsum-rich laminae are composed of secondary porphyrotopic, poikilotopic, or granular gypsum crystals. By comparison of the microbial structure in the Miocene gypsum beds with the recent occurrence of the microbial laminites and stromatolites in the solar salt works, it is demonstrated that the organic-rich Miocene gypsum beds were formed in a very shallow salina with slightly fluctuating brine levels.