The origin and maturation of lagoonal glauconites: a case study from the Oligocene Maniyara Fort Formation,western Kutch,India

An integrated study of the sedimentology, micropalaeontology, mineralogy and geochemistry of glauconites in the Oligocene Maniyara Fort Formation (western Kutch, India), has been undertaken. Authigenic glauconites, mostly of evolved type, formed within a back‐barrier lagoonal environment. Foraminifera help constrain the biostratigraphy and along with sedimentological evidence, provide information on the depositional conditions. Glauconite in the Maniyara Fort Formation occurs either as infillings within intra‐particle pores of larger foraminifers, or as an altered form of faecal pellets. X‐ray diffraction studies reveal the less mature nature of glauconite infillings compared to the glauconite pellets. Electron microprobe investigation confirms a relative enrichment of K₂O and total Fe₂O₃ in the latter. Both varieties of glauconite formed by initial authigenic precipitation of K‐poor glauconite and subsequently matured by addition of potassium in the interlayer sites and fixation of total iron in the octahedral sites; calcium, magnesium and aluminum were released from the glauconite structure concomitantly. Alkaline conditions during the entire process of glauconite formation did not allow dissolution of foraminiferal tests. Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of the Maniyara Fort Formation glauconites are more similar to deep marine glauconites than those reported from other shallow or marginal marine settings. A low negative cerium anomaly, as well as abundant pyrite, suggests formation of glauconite in sub‐oxic micro‐environments, created by decay of organic matter associated with foraminiferal chambers and faecal pellets. Sub‐oxic condition apparently prevailed relatively longer within the Maniyara Fort Formation lagoons. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Constraining the age of the last marine sediments in the late Cretaceous of central south Pyrenees (NE Spain): Insights from larger benthic foraminifera and strontium isotope stratigraphy

The uppermost Cretaceous (upper Campanian–Maastrichtian) marine deposits of the central south Pyrenees host a rich larger benthic foraminiferal fauna and several rudist-rich levels. These marine deposits are directly overlain by the continental facies of the Arén and Tremp Formations, which are famous for their fossil dinosaur remains. Larger benthic foraminiferal distribution documents an important faunal turnover in all the carbonate platform environments within the photic zone, from open marine to littoral areas. Biostratigraphy indicates that this turnover occurred close to the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary. This is also confirmed by strontium isotope stratigraphy which indicates an earliest Maastrichtian age for the appearance of the larger benthic foraminiferal assemblage constituted by Lepidorbitoides socialis, Clypeorbis mammillata, Wannierina cataluniensis, Orbitoides gruenbachensis, Siderolites aff. calcitrapoides, Fascispira colomi, Omphalocyclus macroporus and Laffiteina mengaudi. In particular, a numerical age of 71 Ma is obtained for the Hippurites radiosus level, just a few meters below the first continental deposits of the Arén sensu stricto Formation. The youngest marine sediments of the central south Pyrenees are early Maastrichtian in age. This is also an important constraint for the age of the end-Cretaceous dinosaur fossil localities of the Tremp basin.     

Cantabriconus reocinianus n. gen., n. sp. a new conical agglutinating benthic foraminifera from the upper Aptian-lower Albian of Cantabria,N-Spain

A new large conical agglutinating benthic foraminifer is described as Cantabriconus reocinianus n. gen., n. sp. from the upper Aptian-lower Albian Urgonian limestones of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin. It is characterized by a prominent initial trochospire, an undivided marginal zone, an endoskeleton of massive, vertically aligned, and often fused pillars, as well as a thick, most likely pseudo-keriothecal wall structure. Due to the generic characteristics, the new taxon is assigned to the Coskinolinidae. Cantabriconus n. gen. is compared with the Cretaceous Pseudolituonella Marie, and the early Paleogene taxa Coskinolina Stache and Coskinon Hottinger & Drobne as well as the Middle Jurassic Conicopfenderina Septfontaine. Cantabriconus reocinianus n. gen., n. sp. has been observed in the upper Aptian Reocín Formation and in the lower part of the Albian Ramales and Meruelo Formations to the east of Santander. It might therefore be considered an index taxon for Urgonian-type limestones of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin in this time interval.     

New biostratigraphic data for the Chikkim Formation (Cretaceous, Tethyan Himalaya, India)

The Chikkim Formation as exposed in the Tethyan Himalaya (India) has been studied at its type locality, using planktonic foraminifera for a detailed biostratigraphic elaboration. Divided into two members, the Lower and Upper Chikkim members, this formation ranges in age from Albian to early Maastrichtian(?), and reaches a maximum thickness of 150 m. Examination of thin sections has yielded 34 species of foraminifera in five genus-level assemblages. The Lower Chikkim Member is about 55 m thick; its basal portion is of Albian age based on the presence of Biticinella breggiensis and Planomalina buxtorfi. At 26 m above the base, Whiteinella archaeocretacaea documents OAE 2 (Oceanic Anoxic Event 2), and thus the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary in this section. The carbonate sequence is capped by a Santonian-age hardground with iron oxide crusts and bioturbation. Macrofossils, including belemnites (at the base) and irregular echinoids (upper part), are present. The basal carbonaceous marls of the Upper Chikkim Member yield both large (benthic) rotaliid as well as planktonic foraminifera (Globotruncanita elevata, Gl. stuartiformis, Gl. stuarti, Gansserina gansseri and others), indicating a Campanian age. The co-occurrence of Gl. elevata and G. gansseri in a single thin section results either from condensation or reworking in the basal part of the Upper Chikkim Member. Late Cretaceous index foraminifera such as Gl. elevata document deposition within the Tethyan Realm. The original thickness of the Upper Chikkim Member is uncertain, but would have been around 100 m; the unit appears markedly reduced through weathering at a height of about 5000 m above sea level. Equivalent sediments are exposed in the Zanskar area to the northwest, and in Nepal and Tibet. Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) are probably missing due to the proximality of these pelagic settings.     

Microfacies Analysis and Paleoecology of the Oligocene Succession in a Central Tethyan Carbonate Platform,Zagros Basin,SW Iran

Two stratigraphic sections (Arjooieh and Firoozabad) of the Mymand anticline, located in the Interior Fars sub-basin of the Zagros Mountains, were measured and sampled, in order to document sedimentological characteristics, microfacies types and paleo-seagrasses indicators of the Oligocene succession (Asmari Fm.). Planktonic and benthic foraminifera and coralline red algae are the principal fossils from these strata. Foraminifera are represented by the following families: Soritidae, Peneroplidae, Austrotrillinidae, Alveolinidae, Planorbulinidae, Discorbidae, Lepidocyclinidae, Amphisteginidae, Rotaliidae, Nummulitidae and Globigerinidae. Nine microfacies types were recognized, namely planktonic foraminifera-peloidal packstone (MF1), bioclast nummulitid/Nerorotalia/Amphistegina?packstone-grainstone-rudstone-floatstone (MF2),?Neorotalia-echinoid coralline red algae packstone-grainstone (MF3), coral boundstone (MF4), coral/coralline red algae rudstone-floatstone-packstone-grainstone (MF5), diverse imperforate foraminifera bioclast packstone-grainstone (MF6), peloid wackestone-packstone-grainstone (MF7), fenestrated mudstone and microbial mats (MF8) and anhydrite (MF9). MF1 indicates an outer ramp, MFs 2-4 represent a mid-ramp and MFs 5–9 are interpreted as inner ramp environment. Paleo-seagrass indicators consisting of foraminifera, hooked and tabular forms of coralline red algae and corals. They were identified in MFs 5 and 6, reflecting the presence of vegetated environments within the mid/inner ramp setting.?The Mymand anticline was dominated by the outer ramp environment at the start of the Rupelian. Mid to inner ramp environments prevailed during the Rupelian. The Chattian corresponds to the spread of the inner ramp setting over the Mymand anticline.     

Bartonian orthophragminids from the Fulra Limestone (Kutch,W India) and coeval units in Sulaiman Range,Pakistan: a synthesis of shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for the Indian Subcontinent

Orthophragminids from the Bartonian Fulra Limestone in Kutch, India and the coeval units in Sulaiman Range in Pakistan suggest the establishment of a significant number of endemic species in the Indian subcontinent (Eastern Tethys). Among a total of fifteen species of Discocyclina, Orbitoclypeus and Asterocyclina, six of them appear to be confined to Indian subcontinent while seven species are common both to the peri-Mediterranean/Europe region (Western Tethys) and Indian subcontinent. Two species, Asterocyclina sireli, a four-ribbed species of possibly Indo-Pacific origin, and Orbitoclypeus haynesi that form large populations in Fulra Limestone, appear to have spread into North Africa and Turkey but not into European platforms as a response to Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO). The lack of Lutetian and Priabonian fauna in the studied sections, either due to a hiatus or unsuitable depositional environments, hampers the establishment of the actual stratigraphic ranges of the identified taxa. Our record provides us to characterize the orthophragminids in shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for Eastern Tethys in detail by comparing the data from the above localities with those from the North Africa, Europe and Turkey, showing the change in diversity.     

Early Bartonian orthophragminids (Foraminiferida) from Reineche Limestone,north African platform,Tunisia: taxonomy and paleobiogeographic implications

The orthophragminids in lower Bartonian Reineche Limestone member, a fossiliferous shallow-marine unit exposed in Cap Bon peninsula in Tunisia, are represented by 17 species assigned to Discocyclinidae Galloway 1928 and Orbitoclypeidae Brönnimann 1946. These taxa, associated with nummulitids and alveolinids, belong to the lineages of Discocyclina Gümbel 1870, Nemkovella, 1987, Orbitoclypeus Silvestri 1907, and Asterocyclina Gümbel 1870, described for the first time from north Africa lying at the southern margin of Tethyan ocean during Paleogene. We identified Nemkovella evae, previously not recorded in upper Lutetian/lower Bartonian and younger Eocene deposits of northern Tethyan platforms, and erected a new subspecies, N. evae reinechensis n. ssp. A comparison of Reineche orthophraminids, assigned to orthophragmines zone (OZ) 12 and shallow benthic zone (SBZ 17), to the well-described coeval assemblages at northern Tethyan platforms in Italy, Hungary, Turkey, and to those in Kutch Basin in the Indian subcontinent suggests that some species are confined to certain paleogeographic domains. Orbitoclypeus haynesi, the only orbitoclypeid and the most abundant orthophragminid in lower Bartonian deposits in Kutch, appears to be the most common orbitoclypeid in Reineche Limestone. In Europe, this species is not known and is replaced by Orbitoclypeus varians, the most common orbitoclypeid in middle Eocene of central Europe. Both species occur in varying proportions in marine successions in Turkey. Asterocyclina sireli, identified so far only in Turkey, occurs in Reineche Limestone and in lower Bartonian deposits in Kutch. This species is recorded for the first time in the Indian subcontinent. Relying on present study, as well as our recent studies in Kutch Basin, we conclude that the generic and specific diversity of orthophragminids decreases eastward from the peri-Mediterranean region to Indian subcontinent and to the western Pacific.     

Carbon and strontium isotope stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Campanian) shallow-water carbonates of southern Italy: Chronostratigraphic calibration of larger foraminifera biostratigraphy

Shallow-water carbonates are invaluable archives of past global change. They hold the record of how neritic biologic communities reacted to palaeoenvironmental changes. However, attempts to decipher these geological archives are often severely hampered by the low stratigraphic resolution attained by biostratigraphy. This is particularly the case for the Upper Cretaceous carbonate platforms of the central Tethyan realm: their biostratigraphy suffers from very low resolution and poor correlation with the standard biochronologic scales based on ammonites, planktic foraminifers and calcareous nannoplankton.In this paper we show how this problem can be tackled by integrating biostratigraphy with isotope stratigraphy. We present a detailed record of the benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and carbon and strontium isotope stratigraphy of three upper Cenomanian-middle Campanian sections belonging to the Apennine Carbonate Platform of southern Italy. For the upper Cenomanian-Turonian interval, the carbon isotope curves of the studied sections are easily correlated to the reference curve of the English Chalk. The correlation is facilitated by the matching of the prominent positive excursion corresponding to the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2. For the Coniacian-middle Campanian interval, the correlation is mainly based on strontium isotope stratigraphy. We use the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the low-Mg calcite of well preserved rudist shells to obtain accurate chronostratigraphic ages for many levels of the three studied sections. The ages obtained by Sr isotope stratigraphy are then used to better constrain the matching of the carbon isotope curves.From the high-resolution chronostratigraphic age-model stablished by isotope stratigraphy, we derive the chronostratigraphic calibration of benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphic events. For the first time the benthic foraminiferal biozones of the Apennine Carbonate Platform can be accurately correlated to the standard ammonite biozonation. This result is of great relevance because the biostratigraphic schemes of other carbonate platforms in the central and southern Tethyan realm are largely based on the same biostratigraphic events.     

Paleogeographical Distribution and Stratigraphical Range of the Lower Triassic Claraia,Pseudoclaraia and Eumorphotis(Bivalvia)

On the basis of a worldwide review of Claraia,Pseudoclaraia andEumorphotis,especially their important species,two range zones are recog-nized:the Pseudoclaraia wangi range zone——Upper Griesbachia——and the Claraia stachei-C.aurita-Eumorphotis multiformis acme zone——Upper Griesbachian to Lower Smithian .This result revises both the traditional Chinese concept regarding these fossils as limited in Lower Scythian andthe viewpoint of some Eurasian researchers who hold Eumorphotis multifor-mis to be Upper Scythian.The paleogeographical distribution of the three genera is controlledprimarily by temperature(latitude)and secondarily by physiographic separa-tions.Distribution of these fossils is subdivided into four realms and five prov-inces.The Eastern Asia province of the Tethys realm is suggested as thesource area of these fossils.The striking contrast between the composition ofthe species along the southern and northern margins of the Tethys,togetherwith other distributional characters,supports the pla     

Tectonostratigraphy and base-metal mineralization controls, Aravalli province (western India): New interpretations from geophysical data analysis

Analysis and synthesis of multi-disciplinary geoscience information from geological literature/maps and from digitally-processed aeromagnetic and gravity data pertinent to the Aravalli province were carried out to address some hitherto unresolved questions about the tectonostratigraphy of this Archaean–Proterozoic metallogenic province. Based on the magnetic anomalies, several tectonic domains were identified. These domains, bounded by regional-scale geophysical lineaments, have distinct crustal, lithological, metamorphic, and metallogenic characteristics and correlate broadly with lithostratigraphic belts identified by several earlier workers. New interpretations on the tectonostratigraphy and the base-metal mineralization controls in the Aravalli province are as follows. The Hindoli sequences, in the eastern parts of the province, constitute an independent Palaeo–Proterozoic tectonic domain and do not form part of the Archaean basement complex. The base-metal-bearing metasedimentary enclaves in the central parts of the province also constitute an independent Palaeo–Proterozoic tectonic domain, which is quite distinct from the surrounding (basement complex?) rocks. The base-metal-bearing metavolcano-sedimentary sequences in the western parts of the province constitute an independent Neo–Proterozoic tectonic domain. The base-metal deposits in the province are spatially associated with the regional-scale lineaments and with the mafic metavolcanic rocks deduced from the aeromagnetic data. The regional-scale lineaments, which possibly represent Proterozoic crustal-scale faults, are plausible structural controls on the base-metal mineralization in the province. The mafic metavolcanic rocks are plausible heat-source controls on the SEDEX- and/or VMS-type base-metal mineralizations and are possible metal-source controls on the VMS-type base-metal mineralization in the province.     

Rift-associated ultramafic lamprophyre (damtjernite) from the middle part of the Lower Cretaceous (125 Ma) succession of Kutch,northwestern India: Tectonomagmatic implications

Mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic (Sr and Nd) studies on the recently reported ca. 124 Ma ‘anorogenic lamproite’ dyke from the Palanpur area, Kutch seismogenic rift zone, northwestern India, are presented. We propose a new classification for the dyke as a damtjernite (ultramafic lamprophyre; UML) based on its porphyritic-panidiomorphic texture, abundance of phlogopite, presence of nepheline in the groundmass, and the composition of liquidus phases such as olivine, phlogopite, magnetite, and clinopyroxene (diopside). The Palanpur UML is primitive (Mg# = 74–77), silica-undersaturated (SiO₂ <40 wt.%), potassic to slightly sodic in nature, and is strikingly similar to the ∼69 Ma UML dykes and sills of the Tethyan Indus suture zone, which are considered as the earliest yet known manifestations of the Deccan Large Igneous Province (LIP). Bulk-rock (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i (0.70460–0.70461) and ɛ_Nd(t) (+2.56 to −0.69) of the Palanpur UML signify derivation from a slightly depleted mantle source similar to that of asthenospheric magmas such as OIB. This is further attested to by the high incompatible trace element ratios (viz., La/Ba, Nb/U, Nb/La and Ta/Yb) that are typical of plume-type magmas. However, the Neoproterozoic T_DM depleted mantle Nd model ages (∼655–919 Ma) also necessitate some involvement of a lithospheric mantle component in its genesis. High bulk-rock Fe₂O₃^t and TiO₂ contents require the involvement of a fertile peridotitic mantle source, whereas high La/Yb (60–80) implies a control by residual garnet. Higher Rb/Sr and lower Ba/Rb suggest phlogopite as a residual phase and high Nb and lower La/Sm favour carbonatite, rather than silicate melt as metasomatising agent. Low degrees of partial melting of a primitive garnet lherzolite mantle can account for the observed REE patterns in the Palanpur UML. The Palanpur UML shares a temporal similarity to the Kerguelen plume-derived Rajmahal basalts and associated alkaline rocks from the eastern India. The tectonomagmatic significance of its emplacement during the mid-Cretaceous vis-à-vis various models involving the timing of eruption of the Deccan and the Rahmahal Traps and the rifting in the Kutch basin induced by far-field plate reorganization is evaluated.     

Oligo-Miocene foraminiferal record (Miogypsinidae, Lepidocyclinidae and Nummulitidae) from the Western Taurides (SW Turkey): Biometry and implications for the regional geology

The marine Oligo-Miocene units of western Taurides, deposited under different tectonic regimes (in Bey Da?lar? platform in foreland and coeval sequences in hinterland), were studied to establish a high-resolution biostratigraphic framework. Biometric study of the full spectrum of larger foraminifera in a regional scale allowed us correlating them with the shallow benthic zonation (SBZ) system introduced by [Cahuzac, B., Poignant, A., 1997. Essai de biozonation de l’Oligo-Miocène dans les bassins européens à l’aide des grands foraminifères néritiques. Bulletin de la Société géologique de France 168, 155–169], and to determine the ages of these sites on zonal precision for the first time. In correlating these assemblages to standard shallow benthic zones, planktonic data were also used whenever possible. Taxa, classified under the genera Nummulites, Miogypsina, Miolepidocyclina, Nephrolepidina, Eulepidina, Heterostegina, Operculina and Cycloclypeus (?) and their assemblages, closely resemble to the fauna described from European basins. These groups characterize the SBZ 22B to 25 zones referring to a time interval from early Chattian to Burdigalian. However, a main gap in late Chattian (SBZ 23) and in early part of the Aquitanian (SBZ 24) is also recorded in the platform succession. In the meantime, rare Eulepidina in the Burdigalian levels suggest a clear Indo-Pacific influence. Based on the discovery of early Chattian (SBZ 22B) deposits (previously mapped under Eocene/Miocene units), the Oligo-Miocene stratigraphy of the Bey Da?lar? platform is also revised. A more precise chronology for regional Miocene transgression is presented based on the miogypsinid evolutionary scale.     

Sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphy of the Asmari Formation at Chaman-Bolbol, Zagros Basin, Iran

The Oligocene–Miocene Asmari Formation of the Zagros Basin is a thick sequence of shallow water carbonate. In the study area, it is subdivided into 14 microfacies that are distinguished on the basis of their depositional textures, petrographic analysis and fauna. Based on the paleoecology and lithology, four distinct depositional settings can be recognized: tidal flat, lagoon, barrier, and open marine. The Asmari Formation represents sedimentation on a carbonate ramp. In the inner ramp, the most abundant lithofacies are medium grained wackestone–packstone with imperforated foraminifera. The middle ramp is represented by packstone–grainstone to floatstone with a diverse assemblage of larger foraminifera with perforate wall, red algae, bryozoa, and echinoids. The outer ramp is dominated by argillaceous wackestone characterized by planktonic foraminifera and large and flat nummulitidae and lepidocyclinidae. Three third-order depositional sequences are recognized from deepening and shallowing trends in the depositional facies, changes in cycle stacking patterns, and sequence boundary features.     

Buxus Leaves from the Oligocene of Guangxi, China and Their Biogeographical Signi?cance

The present paper reports two new species of Buxus from the Oligocene Ningming Formation of Guangxi, South China, on the basis of several compressed fossil leaves. Buxus ningmingensis sp. nov. is characterized by an elliptic to ovate shape; pinnate venation with marginal secondary, long hairs on the adaxial side of the midvein base; and amphistomatic, anomocytic stomata with a prominent outer ring. All of these characteristics suggest a closest af?nity to the living Buxus microphylla subsp. sinica. Another new species identi?ed as Buxus preaustro-yunnanensis sp. nov. is characterized by the diagnostic formation of its admedially branched tertiaries, the trunks of which are often strongly thickened by sclereides. This species is most similar to the extant Buxus austro-yunnanensis. The co-occurrence of Buxus ningmingensis sp. nov. and Buxus preaustro-yunnanensis sp. nov. suggests that these two Buxus lived during the Oligocene under a warm, tropical to subtropical climate, similar to the current climate of Ningming. Our ?ndings provide the earliest fossil evidence of Buxus leaves with detailed illustrations of leaf architectural and cuticular features. The occurrence of these two species indicates that Buxus began to diversify in Guangxi no later than the Oligocene.     

Intrinsic and scattering attenuation in western India from aftershocks of the 26 January, 2001 Kachchh earthquake

176 vertical-component, short period observations from aftershocks of the M_w 7.7, 26 January, 2001 Kachchh earthquake are used to estimate seismic wave attenuation in western India using uniform and two layer models. The magnitudes (M_w) of the earthquakes are less than 4.5, with depths less than 46 km and hypocentral distances up to 110 km. The studied frequencies are between 1 and 30 Hz. Two seismic wave attenuation factors, intrinsic absorption (Q_i^− 1) and scattering attenuation (Q_s^− 1) are estimated using the Multiple Lapse Time Window method which compares time integrated seismic wave energies with synthetic coda wave envelopes for a multiple isotropic scattering model. We first assume spatial uniformity of Q_i^− 1, Q_s^− 1 and S wave velocity (β). A second approach extends the multiple scattering hypothesis to media consisting of several layers characterized by vertically varying scattering coefficient (g), intrinsic absorption strength (h), density of the media (ρ) and shear wave velocity structure. The predicted coda envelopes are computed using Monte Carlo simulation. Results show that, under the assumption of spatial uniformity, scattering attenuation is greater than intrinsic absorption only for the lowest frequency band (1 to 2 Hz), whereas intrinsic absorption is predominant in the attenuation process at higher frequencies (2 to 30 Hz). The values of Q obtained range from Q_t = 118, Q_i = 246 and Q_s = 227 at 1.5 Hz to Q_t ≈ 4000, Q_i ≈ 4600 and Q_s ≈ 33,300 at 28 Hz center frequencies, being Q_t^− 1 a measure of total attenuation. Results also show that Q_i^− 1, Q_s^− 1 and Q_t^− 1 decrease proportional to f^−ν. Two rates of decay are clearly observed for the low (1 to 6 Hz) and high (6 to 30 Hz) frequency ranges. Values of ν are estimated as 2.07 ± 0.05 and 0.44 ± 0.09 for total attenuation, 1.52 ± 0.21 and 0.48 ± 0.09 for intrinsic absorption and 3.63 ± 0.07 and 0.06 ± 0.08 for scattering attenuation for the low and high frequency ranges, respectively. Despite the lower resolution in deriving the attenuation parameters for a two layered crust, we find that scattering attenuation is comparable to or smaller than the intrinsic absorption in the crust whereas intrinsic absorption dominates in the mantle. Also, for a crustal layer of thickness 42 km, intrinsic absorption and scattering estimates in the crust are lower and greater than those of the mantle, respectively.     

Lepidorbitoides (Foraminifera) from the lower Maastrichtian Kallankuruchchi Formation,Cauvery Basin,India: Morphometry and paleobiogeography

The southernmost occurrence of the early Maastrichtian larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) in Tethys is known from the Kallankuruchchi Formation in the Cauvery Basin, SE India, represented by Lepidorbitoides-Siderolites assemblages. The systematics, age and paleobiogeography of Lepidorbitoides here have as yet remained unresolved due to lack of information particularly on the nepionic arrangement, whereas their links with the Western Tethyan and Caribbean biogeographic domains were speculated. Lepidorbitoides, studied from the same level in seven samples in two separate areas, invariably possess quadriserial nepionts and adauxiliary chamberlets, whose mean number ranges from 3.79 to 4.67. The ratio between the sample means of the internal diameter of deuteroconch and protoconch varies between 1.72 and 1.86. The equatorial layer in the early stage consists of arcuate chambers with basal stolons, and ogival-to spatulate chamberlets with annular and oblique stolons in the later stages. These features are consistent with the phylogenetically advanced members of the Western Tethyan Lepidorbitoides lineage, such as L. minor (Schlumberger) and L. socialis (Leymerie), and all samples were assigned to the transitional development stages of these species based on the morphometry. The taxonomic status of some Lepidorbitoides species, originally described from the Kallankuruchchi Formation and widely adopted in previous works, such as L. blanfordi (Rao) and L. inornata (Rao), are not justified. We extend the geographic range of Western Tethyan Lepidorbitoides to southern India.     

Facies and architecture of a coarse-grained alluvial-dominated incised valley fill: a case study from the Oligocene Gebel Ahmar Formation,Southern Tethyan-shelf (northern Egypt)

Exposures of multistorey, alluvial deposits from the Oligocene Gebel Ahmar Formation in the Cairo-Suez province (north Eastern Desert, Egypt) show the architecture of an up to 35 m thick continuously prograding fluvial/alluvial filling of an incised valley. The Oligocene base level fall resulted in cannibalization of the Eocene bedrock. Subsequent baselevel rise created accommodation space that was filled by deposition of four stacked storeys: lower storeys (1-2) of low sinuosity sandy braid plains and upper storeys (3-4) of gravelly braid plain. These braid plains were sourced from exposed Upper Cretaceous-Eocene and Paleozoic-Lower Cretaceous siliciclastic successions to the south. These successions dominate the Galala-Araba inverted structures. The sandy braid plain channel belts mainly downstream accretion (DA), downstream oblique accretion(DLA), lateral accretion (LA), sandy bedforms (SB), channel (CH), and Hollow (HO) elements, while the gravelly braid plain consists mainly of gravel bars and sheets (GB), gravel-sandstone foresets (GSF), gravel-sand couplets (GSC), and scour pool filling (SPF) architectures. Incised valley incision is potentially linked to a global drop of sea level caused by glaciation, although hinterland tectonism (i.e. Late Cretaceous-Paleogene tectonic inversion and Late Eocene-Oligocene crustal updoming in the source terrains) as well as Late Oligocene-Miocene rifting play a significant role in the subsequent filling. The hinterland tectonism as well as the climate controls the sediment supply. The understanding of the nature of the Oligocene incised valley fill helps in the constrain potential down depositional dip hydrocarbon reservoirs in Nile Delta, East Mediterranean basins, and similar settings in passive continental margins.     

First perissodactyl footprints from Flysch deposits of the Barail Group (Lower Oligocene) of Manipur,India

Two pes imprints of a perissodactyl mammal constituting a single step of a trackway have recently been discovered in Oligocene Flysch deposits of the Barail Group in Manipur, India. The tridactyl, mesaxonic imprints (~7 cm in length) show strong similarities to footprints known from the Paleogene of China and can be attributed to a tapiroid, rhinocerotoid or equoid trackmaker. This is the first record of perissodactyl footprints from the Lower Oligocene of India and the first evidence of mammals in the Barail Group of the age. Remarkable is the occurrence in a marginal marine setting, whereas other known perissodactyl footprints from the Eocene–Oligocene in particular from North America, Europe and China come from fluvio-lacustrine strata.     

Reply to Molina-Garza et al. (2019) “Discussion of: Ortega-Flores et al. (2018) provenance analysis of Oligocene sandstone from the Cerro Pelón area,southern Gulf of Mexico”

ABSTRACT

The origin of the Oligocene turbidites from the Cerro Pelón area in south Gulf Mexico proposed by Ortega-Flores et al. (2018) is in disagree with the interpretations made by Molina-Garza et al. (2019), which main criticism is based on U-Pb ages of detrital zircons from the matrix of a conglomerate unit, which they refer to as ‘Nanchital Conglomerate’, as well as on the presence of limestone, gabbros, and mafic protolith-derived clasts. Molina-Garza et al. (2019) basically interpret the Nanchital Conglomerate as Miocene in age, which was sourced mainly from metamorphic complexes including their sedimentary covers located to the west and south of the Cerro Pelón area. For some reason, Molina-Garza et al. (2019) suppose that the Nanchital Conglomerate should have the same provenance sources that the Oligocene turbidites from Cerro Pelón area, reported by Ortega-Flores et al. (2018). Based on the foregoing, we strongly disagree with Molina-Garza et al. (2019) considering that, from the beginning, they intend to compare two units of different age. Additionally, the scarce data reported from both the matrix and the clasts of the Nanchital Conglomerate are not determinant for interpreting the provenance of this conglomeratic unit and subsequently, to consider the same rock sources from the Oligocene through Miocene time.