Coupling relationships between brachiopods and Girvanella during the Late Devonian F-F transition in Guilin, South China

The abundance curves derived from area proportions of brachiopods and Girvanella in the thin sections from the Yangdi section, South China, exhibits complex relationships during the Late Devonian Frasnian-Famennian transition. The living activity of brachiopods such as grazing and borrowing did great damage to the growth of Girvanella. However, there was more to just a mere a survival competing relationship between them, Girvanella actually improved marine environments by oxygenating the dysoxic ambient sea-water through photosynthesis in the lower Kellwasser Horizon. Profited from this improvement brachiopods’ abundance increased subsequently and suppressed Girvanella again. Nonetheless, without Girvanella’s photosynthesis, brachiopods were wiped out by the farther anoxic environments in the upper Kellwasser Horizon. The complex relationships between Girvanella and brachiopods may be a key to unlocking the relationships between geomicrobes and metazoans in the geological overturn periods. Supported by NSFC Innovation Research Group Program (Grant No. 40621002), MOE Innovative Research Team Program (Grant No. IRT0546), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40472020, 40730209, 40802005 and 40872001) and SINOPEC Project (Grant No. G0800-06-ZS-319)     

Extinction pattern and process of siliceous sponge spicules in deep-water during the latest Permian in South China

Diverse and abundant siliceous sponge spicules were found in the latest Permian beds, Dongpan and Ma'anying sections, South China, including 52 types and 85 forms. Further investigation on these spicules allows us to understand extinction patterns and processes of deep-water sponges. These sponge spicules rapidly decreased below the Permian/Triassic boundary (PTB), and the extinction rates reach up to 88%-90% for types and 88%-92% for forms. Their extinction pattern is a gradual one that consists of two stages: the first is characterized by a gentle and slow extinction speed and low extinction rate, and the second by sharp and fast extinction speed and high extinction rate. The morphological extinction process is involved in the disappearance first of the triaxons and tetraxons, then of the polyaxons and demas, and last of monaxons. In exterior structure extinction, the complex spicules with branches and spines became extinct more easily than did smooth spicules. After the end-Permian mass extinction, only five common and smooth forms survived: Oxeas A, Oxeas B, Strongles B, Oxy-orthpentactines and Oxy-orthohexactines A.     

First record of contourites from Lower Devonian Liptrap Formation in southeast Australia

Typical contourite deposits associated with submarine turbidite fan deposits are recognized for the first time from the Lower Devonian Liptrap Formation at Cape Liatrap, Victoria in southeast Australia. The contourites are well integrated within the turbidite fan deposits and are characterized by thin (5-8 cm), lenticular, well-sorted coarse-grained siltstones to fine-grained sandstones with current-ripples and cross beddings. The palaeocurrent directions of the turbidite fan and contourites are perpendicular to each other, with the former directed generally westward while the latter varying from 165° to 190° southward. In view of the facies types and architecture, we suggest that the turbidite fan was developed at the base of a westward inclined palaeo-slope, at the front of which the contourites were deposited as a result of southward flowing deep-sea contour (geostrophic) currents. The depositional setting inter- preted for the Liptrap Formation thus may provide a provisional model for the Lower Devonian conti- nental slope and abyssal basin environment in the southeastern part of the Melbourne Trough.     

Microtektites in the Middle Pleistocene deep-sea sediments of the South China Sea*

This is a preliminary study on the microtektites that were found in large numbers from the interval between 7.80 and 8.10 m depth of core S095-17957-2 (10°53.9’N, 115°18.3’E, water depth 2 195 m), northern Nansha area of the South China Sea. The microtektites vary in shape, with spherules predominating, and are commonly less than 1 mm in diameter, transparent or semitransparent, brownish in color, with bubbles inside. Based on coarse fraction stratigraphy and foraminifera/nanofossil biostratigraphical events the microtektite layer was assigned to nearly the Bm-hes/Matuyama magnetic reversal boundary (some 0.78 MaBP). Obviously, the present microtektites, and those found from the middle Pleistocene of the Indian Ocean, Australia and loess of northern China, were products of the same impact event and therefore, are useful as a reliable mark in Quaternary stratigraphy, as well as in paleoclimatic studies. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49676287, 49732060).     

Chemocline instability and isotope variations of the Ediacaran Doushantuo basin in South China

Stable isotope analyses in sections across a shelf to basinal transect of the Ediacaran Doushantuo basin show substantial isotope variabilities. In Songlin section where sediments were deposited in an intrashelf basin, δ 13C values are persistently negative (_3‰ to _5‰, VPDB) through the entire Doushantuo Formation, similar to those obtained from the slope section in Wuhe (_5‰ to _10‰, VPDB). Shallow water sections in Weng'an and Duoding show two broad δ 13C anomalies overprinted with significant meter-scale variations, but none of the curves has similar absolute δ 13C values compared to the Yangtze Gorges areas in South China and other sections globally. Such isotope variations, if partially recording ancient seawater signature, imply spatial and temporal chemocline instability in the Doushantuo basin. In combination with available δ 13C records from other Ediacaran successions globally, the data from the Doushantuo basin are consistent, in first order, with the existence and oxidation of a large dissolved organic carbon (DOC) reservoir in Ediacaran oceans, but imply local environmental controls on Neoproterozoic isotope values and call attentions for using δ 13C anomalies as time lines in stratigraphic correlation.     

Sedimentary facies of Carboniferous–Permian mid-oceanic carbonates in the Changning–Menglian Belt, West Yunnan, Southwest China: Origin and depositional process

Huge carbonate rock bodies ranging in age from the Visean (Middle Mississippian/Early Carboniferous) to the Changhsingian (Lopingian/Late Permian) overlie a basaltic basement in the Changning–Menglian Belt, West Yunnan, Southwest China. These carbonates lack intercalations of terrigenous siliciclastic material throughout. These lines of evidence indicate that they formed upon an isolated and continuously subsiding mid-oceanic island (or plateau), probably of hotspot origin. The carbonates are grouped into a shallow-water carbonate platform facies regime observed in the Yutangzhai section and a relatively deep-water carbonate slope facies regime typically represented in the Longdong section. These two facies regimes developed contemporaneously as parts of a carbonate depositional system on and around a mid-oceanic volcanic edifice. The carbonate platform is subdivided into four facies, including platform-margin, shoal, lagoon, and peritidal facies. Along the measured Yutangzhai section of the platform facies regime, the vertical facies succession from the platform-margin facies into inner-platform facies such as the shoal and lagoon facies is recognized. This facies succession is explained as resulting from the progradation of the carbonate platform. Worm tubes occur as a main reef builder in platform-margin facies of the Mississippian. Their occurrence as major constituents in a high-wave-energy reef is peculiar to Carboniferous reef distributions of the world. The occurrences of other reef- and/or mound-building organisms and peritidal dolo-mudstone are almost consistent in timing with those of Panthalassan counterparts such as the Akiyoshi and Omi limestones of Japan, and probably exhibit the worldwide trend.     

A high-resolution history of vegetation and climate history on Sunda Shelf since the last glaciation

This paper presents 16500-year-long high-resolution pollen and spore records from sediments of core 18287 on the continental slope of the southern South China Sea. In the period of 16.5―13.9 ka B.P., the low-mountain rainforest dominated the continental slope of the South China Sea. And in the period of 13.9―10.2 ka B.P., the lowland rainforest and ferns expanded greatly, while the low-mountain rainforest shrank, which indicated a warming at the last deglaciation. Also during this period, the pollen sedi-mentation rates reduced sufficiently. This might imply a rise of the sea level and therefore the sub-mergence of the shelf, resulting in the broadening of the distance between the source area and the slope. After 10.2 ka B.P, decreasing of the fern indicates the early Holocene (10.2―7 ka B.P.) is a cold period, while the increasing of fern marks the rising temperature (7―3.6 ka B.P.).     

Emplacement mechanisms of the South Kona slide complex,Hawaii Island: sampling and observations by remotely operated vehicle Kaiko

Emplacement of a giant submarine slide complex, offshore of South Kona, Hawaii Island, was investigated in 2001 by visual observation and in-situ sampling on the bench scarp and a megablock, during two dives utilizing the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Kaiko and its mother ship R/V Kairei. Topography of the bench scarp and megablocks were defined in 3-D perspective, using high-resolution digital bathymetric data acquired during the cruise. Compositions of 34 rock samples provide constraints on the landslide source regions and emplacement mechanisms. The bench scarp consists mainly of highly fractured, vesiculated, and oxidized aa lavas that slumped from the subaerial flank of ancestral Mauna Loa. The megablock contains three units: block facies, matrix facies, and draped sediment. The block facies contains hyaloclastite interbedded with massive lava, which slid from the shallow submarine flank of ancestral Mauna Loa, as indicated by glassy groundmass of the hyaloclastite, low oxidation state, and low sulfur content. The matrix facies, which directly overlies the block facies and is similar to a lahar deposit, is thought to have been deposited from the water column immediately after the South Kona slide event. The draped sediment is a thin high-density turbidite layer that may be a distal facies of the Alika-2 debris-avalanche deposit; its composition overlaps with rocks from subaerial Mauna Loa. The deposits generated by the South Kona slide vary from debris avalanche deposit to turbidite. Spatial distribution of the deposits is consistent with deposits related to large landslides adjacent to other Hawaiian volcanoes and the Canary Islands.     

New SHRIMP U-Pb age from the Wuqiangxi Formation of Banxi Group: Implications for rifting and stratigraphic erosion associated with the early Cryogenian (Sturtian) glaciation in South China

In South China, the Wuqiangxi Formation of the Banxi Group and its equivalents underlie the early Cryogenian (Sturtian) glacial deposits but their thickness varies from <200 m to >2000 m. In the Guzhang section of western Hunan, the Wuqiangxi Formation is only 152 m thick, and an ash bed 58 m below the glacial diamictite yielded a SHRIMP U-Pb age of 809.3±8.4 Ma. In contrast, 90 km south of the Guzhang section towards the basin in Zhijiang area where the Wuqiangxi Formation is ~2200 m thick, an age of 725±10 Ma has been reported from the top of this unit, 300 m below the glacial diamictite. These ages provide new evidence for the regional stratigraphic correlation across the Nanhua basin, and suggest unusually large (>2 km) stratigraphic erosion potentially associated with the Sturtian glaciation in South China. The magnitude of erosion may imply significant uplifting and tectonotopography at the onset of the Sturtian glaciation.     

Formation of “old red sands” and paleogeographic environment on South China coasts

The formation and development environment of the “old red sands” on South China coasts is discussed according to the investigation in the field and laboratory works. The authors believed that the “old red sands” are the aeolian sediments deposits in the last glacial period of late Pleistocene when the sea level was lower than the present, and the laterization took place under the hot and wet climate during the later interglacial and postglacial periods when the sea level was relatively high. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49671012)     

Processes of the deposition and vicissitude of Mu Us Desert, China since 150 ka B.P.

“Milanggouwan stratigraphical section” named lately takes down 27 cycles of alternately evolutionary histories of desert depositions in the Mu Us area with the fluviolacustrine facies and palaeosols since 150 ka B. P. Studies show that the sedimentary form was induced by the growth and decline and confrontation each other between the winter monsoon and the summer monsoon of East Asia in the past 150 ka. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49473192).     

Re-Os isotope dating of molybdenites in the Huang-shaping Pb-Zn-W-Mo polymetallic deposit, Hunan Province, South China and its geological significance

The large-scale Huangshaping Pb-Zn-W-Mo polymetallic deposit is located in the central Nanling min- eralization zone, South China. Six molybdenite samples from the Huangshaping deposit were selected for Re-Os isotope measurement in order to define the mineralization age of the deposit. It yields a Re-Os isochron age of 154.8±1.9 Ma (2σ ), which is in accordance with the Re-Os model ages of 150.9― 156.9 Ma. This age is about 7 Ma younger than their host granite porphyry, which was dated as 161.6±1.1 Ma by zircon U-Pb method using LA-ICPMS. All these ages demonstrate that the Huang- shaping granite and related Pb-Zn-W-Mo deposit occurred in the middle Yanshanian period, when many other granitoid and related ore deposits emplaced and formed, e.g. the Qitianling granite and Furong tin deposit, the Qianlishan granite and giant Shizhuyuan W-Sn-Mo-Bi deposit and Jinchuantang Sn-Bi deposit in the nearby area. They constitute the main part of the magmatic-metallogenic belt of southern Hunan, and represent the large-scale metallogeny in middle Yanshanian in the area. The lower rhenium content in molybdenite of Huangshaping deposit suggests that the ore-forming material was mainly of crust origin.     

Luminescence dating of an Upper Pleistocene alluvial fan and aeolian sandsheet complex: The Senne in the Münsterland Embayment,NW Germany

An up to 15 m thick alluvial fan and aeolian sandsheet complex is exposed in the upper Senne area, on the southern slope of the Teutoburger Wald Mountains (NW Germany). The origin and age of these deposits have been controversially discussed for many years, ranging from Saalian glaciofluvial to periglacial Weichselian deposits. In order to provide a high-resolution chronological framework for the deposits, we conducted luminescence dating of 12 samples from two localities (Oerlinghausen and Augustdorf pits). Both coarse-grain potassium-rich feldspar and quartz minerals were used for luminescence dating. Feldspar was measured using an elevated temperature post-IR infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL). Quartz was measured using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) with a conventional single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocol. Feldspar results tend to overestimate quartz ages for the lower part of the sections (alluvial plain and alluvial fan facies) but are consistent with quartz ages for the upper part of the sections (aeolian facies). Quartz ages from both central and minimum age models suggest deposition during the Late Pleistocene Pleniglacial to Late Glacial.     

On steps and methods for the establishment of global boundary stratotype section and point (GSSP) from the viewpoint of integrated stratigraphy

The steps and methods for the establishment of the global boundary stratotype section and point (GSSP) are summed up briefly as follows. (i) Select rock sequences of approximately the same age duration in a region, make a thorough study of their properties or attributes in order to establish the high-resolution stratigraphic units reflecting the natural rhythms in Earth's history, and proceed by multidisciplinary comprehensive studies to reveal the relationship, including time-space relation and possible mutual causality, among the various stratigraphic units and the different natural rhythms established. (ii) Seek for the "natural break" that represents the "major natural changes in the historical development of the Earth" in shallow marine facies areas, which is frequently the third-order sequence boundaries. (iii) Trace from shallow marine facies areas toward the continental slope and bathyal areas to seek for a continuous depositional sequence that corresponds in time span to the "natural break" of shallow marine facies areas. (iv) Seek for a horizon within the continuous depositional sequence that approximately coincides with the maximum regressive point in the "natural break". This horizon is commonly within a lowerstand systems tract (LST) or a shelf margin systems tract (SMST) of the relevant third-order sequence. (v) Seek immediately above this horizon of maximum marine regression for an organic radiation or explosion event closely related to the natural boundary, which is generally the first flooding surface (FFS) of the relevant third-order sequence. (vi) Select within the organic event deposits closely related to the FFS the base boundary of a fossil taxon with widest geographical range as the Leading Group biozone for designation of the stratigraphic boundary. (vii) Select from among the sections with continuous depositional sequence formed under similar sedimentary palaeogeographic background (in general continental slope or bathyal environments) the section which possesses the shortest distance between the base boundary of the Leading Group biozone and the immediately underlying FFS of the relevant third-order sequence as the global stratotype section. The first appearance datum (FAD) of the Leading Group biozone species in the section may be regarded as the ideal GSSP. The steps suggested above are a supplement and improvement of the currently used procedures and methods for establishing GSSP. The GSSP established by using the steps and methods suggested here would make the stratigraphic boundaries better reflect the "major natural changes in the historical development of the Earth", more readily distinguishable and easily operable in recognition and correlation, and at the same time also make the designation of boundaries more objective.     

An accurately delineated Permian-Triassic Boundary in continental successions

The Permian-Triassic Boundary Stratigraphic Set (PTBST), characteristic of the GSSP section of Meishan and widespread in marine Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB) sequences of South China, is used to trace and recognize the PTB in a continental sequence at Chahe (Beds 66f―68c). Diversified Permian plant fossils extended to the PTBST, and a few relicts survived above that level. Sporomorphs are dominated by fern spores of Permian nature below the PTBST, above which they are replaced by gymnosperm pollen of Triassic aspect. In the nearby Zhejue Section, the continental PTBST is charac- terized by the fungal 'spike' recorded in many places throughout the world. The boundary claybeds (66f and 68a,c) of the PTBST are composed of mixed illite-montmorillonite layers analogous with those at Meishan. They contain volcanogenic minerals such as β quartz and zircon. U/Pb dating of the upper claybed gives ages of 247.5 and 252.6 Ma for Beds 68a and 68c respectively, averaging 250 Ma. In con- trast to the situation in Xinjiang and South Africa, the sediment sequence of the Permian-Triassic tran- sition in the Chahe section (Beds 56―80) become finer upward. Shallowing and coarsening upward is not, therefore, characteristic of the Permian-Triassic transition everywhere. The occurrence of relicts of the Gigantopteris Flora in the Kayitou Fm. indicates that, unlike most marine biota, relicts of this pa- leophytic flora survived into the earliest Triassic. It is concluded that Bed 67 at Chahe corresponds to Bed 27 at Meishan, and that the PTB should be put within the 60-cm-thick Bed 67b④, now put at its base tentatively. This is the most accurate correlation of the PTB in continental facies with that in the marine GSSP.     

Archaeoseismic evidence for a Late Roman earthquake in the Crotone area (Ionian Calabria, Southern Italy): Seismotectonic implications

The earthquakes of Calabria are among the strongest in the whole Mediterranean, and they all occurred between the disruptive sequences of 1638 and 1908 (6.7 ≤ M ≤ 7.2). Recent paleoseismological studies show that the return time of these events on their causative fault are larger than 1 ky, thus making ancient earthquakes not recognizable through ‘conventional’ historical research. On the other hand, in those areas characterized by highly erodible deposits, the identification and paleoseismic trenching of active seismogenetic faults has remained a challenge. In order to overcome these issues, we took an archaeoseismological approach for casting light on earthquake occurrence in one of these regions, i.e., the SE area of central Ionian Calabria (Marchesato region). The extensive traces of simultaneous and abrupt collapses in the Roman settlement of Capo Colonna (in the area of the sixth and fifth b.c. sanctuary of Hera Lacinia, near the town of Crotone) are evidence of a disruptive earthquake, which occurred possibly in the third century a.d. To the same event we ascribe the definitive collapse of the Hera Lacinia temple. Considering the seismotectonic framework of the region, this event could be tentatively associated with the active fault system which cuts from NW to SE the whole Sila massif and its Ionian slope, and which should be responsible for all the others known M > 6 earthquakes in the area.     

U-Pb zircon geochronology and Hf isotope study of metamorphosed basic-ultrabasic rocks from metamorphic basement in southwestern Zhejiang: The response of the Cathaysia Block to Indosinian orogenic event

A combined study using LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating, Hf isotopes, trace elements and the Ti-in-zircon geo-thermometer was carried out on zircons from the metamorphosed basic-ultrabasic rocks in the meta-morphic basement of the Cathaysia Block, southwestern Zhejiang Province. The formation and meta-morphic ages of the rocks from the metamorphic basement of the Cathaysia Block were determined based on zircon U-Pb geochronology. The age for the magmatic crystalline zircons from the protolith is about 1.85 Ga. The εHf(t) values of the older zircons were from ?7 to ?3, with two-stage model Hf ages (TDM2LC) of about 2.9 to 3.4 Ga, indicating that the source material was derived from anatexis and recy-cling of the Archean crust. The newly formed metamorphic zircons yielded U-Pb ages of 260―230 Ma. The metamorphic temperature calculated using the Ti-in-zircon geothermometer ranged from 610 to 720℃, consistent with the results from petrographic observations, indicating that the Cathaysia Block experienced an amphibolite facies metamorphism during the Indosinian. Results from this study pro-vided an important timeframe for the tectonic evolution in South China and the Southeast Asia during the Late Permian and Early Triassic times.     

南海北部神狐海域天然气水合物钻探区第四纪以来的沉积演化特征

南海北部神狐海域是我国首次获取海洋天然气水合物实物样品的海域.然而,陆坡区深水水道和海底峡谷的侵蚀以及频发的沉积物失稳,将会加剧地层对比和沉积相识别的难度,导致目前该区域典型地震相-沉积相特征、沉积体类型、成因机制和空间匹配关系等方面还缺少精细的研究,特别是第四纪以来的沉积演化涉及较少,区域内水合物形成和分布的沉积地质条件尚不清晰.基于海底地形特征的描述、层序地层格架的对比和地震资料的综合解释,本次研究在第四纪以来的沉积充填序列中识别出5种典型的地震相类型,并分析了对应的沉积体类型:进积型的陆坡、第四纪早期发育的小型浊积水道、沉积物失稳(滑移和滑塌)、海底峡谷和伴生的沉积物变形、以及深海沉积-块体流沉积的复合体.通过沉积单元的空间匹配关系,将沉积演化划分为3个阶段:浊积水道侵蚀-沉积物再沉积阶段、陆坡进积-沉积物失稳阶段、海底峡谷的侵蚀-充填阶段.研究结果表明,受第四纪早期小型浊积水道的侵蚀,再沉积的沉积物将在中-下陆坡以"近源"的方式堆积下来,可能具有相对较好的物性条件,从而可被视为适于水合物赋存的有利沉积体.进积型陆坡带来的沉积物易于发生失稳,在研究区内广泛分布,因其具有较小的沉积物颗粒粒度和较好的垂向连续性,可被认为是水合物的区域盖层.大量发育的海底峡谷及伴生的沉积物变形,将会侵蚀和破坏先前沉积的有利沉积体,使其呈现为"斑状/补丁状"的平面展布特征,进而影响了神狐海域水合物的分布.因此,神狐海域第四纪以来的沉积演化是钻探区水合物不均匀性分布的关键控制因素之一.     

Asymmetric variability between maximum and minimum temperatures in Northeastern Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from tree rings

Ecological systems in the headwaters of the Yellow River, characterized by hash natural environmental conditions, are very vulnerable to climatic change. In the most recent decades, this area greatly attracted the public's attention for its more and more deteriorating environmental conditions. Based on tree-ring samples from the Xiqing Mountain and A'nyêmagên Mountains at the headwaters of the Yellow River in the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we reconstructed the minimum temperatures in the winter half year over the last 425 years and the maximum temperatures in the summer half year over the past 700 years in this region. The variation of minimum temperature in the winter half year during the time span of 1578―1940 was a relatively stable trend, which was followed by an abrupt warming trend since 1941. However, there is no significant warming trend for the maximum temperature in the summer half year over the 20th century. The asymmetric variation patterns between the minimum and maximum temperatures were observed in this study over the past 425 years. During the past 425 years, there are similar variation patterns between the minimum and maximum temperatures; however, the minimum temperatures vary about 25 years earlier compared to the maximum temperatures. If such a trend of variation patterns between the minimum and maximum temperatures over the past 425 years continues in the future 30 years, the maximum temperature in this region will increase significantly.     

Ecological evolution across the Permian/Triassic boundary at the Kangjiaping Section in Cili County,Hunan Province,China

The stratigraphic sequence of calcimicrobialite facies at the Permian-Triassic (P/Tr) boundary has well recorded the biotic and environmental transition across the end-Permian catastrophic events. The biostratigraphy, microfacies, carbon isotopes, and fossil records across the P/Tr boundary have been studied at the Kangjiaping Section in Cili County, Hunan Province. Three biostratigraphic zones, Palaeofusulina-Colaniella Zone, Hindeodus parvus Zone, and Isarcicella staeschei Zone, are identified. The excursion of δ¹³C_carb exhibits a sharp negative shift in the calcimicrobialite at the P/Tr boundary, which is roughly accordant with the abrupt bioclastic decline. In addition, five types of microfacies are recognized, including algal-foraminifer bioclastic limestone, algal-laminated calcimicrobial limestone, oolitic grainstone, vermiculate limestone, and intraclastic wackstone. The results indicate that the changeover of ecosystem from metazoan reef to calcimicrobialite in Cili is a classic case of marine ecological evolution during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40830212, 40621002, 40730209) and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB80640)