Palynological evidence for dating Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary sediments in the Bureya basin, Russian Far East

Palynological complexes from the coaliferous Talyndzhan and Dublikan formations of the Bureya sedimentary basin are analyzed. The palynological assemblage from the upper part of the Talyndzhan Formation is characterized by dominant gymnosperms largely close to Pinaceae and Ginkgocycadophytus. The content of ferns is insignificant against the background of their relatively high taxonomic diversity. The assemblage is marked by the last occurrence of Staplinisporites pocockii, Camptotriletes cerebriformis, C. nitida, and Cingulatisporites sanguinolentus spores typical of the Late Jurassic palynofloras. The palynological assemblage from the Dublikan Formation is dominated by Pteridophyts representing mainly by Cyathidites and Duplexisporites. In addition to the conifer, the role of Classopollis increased among the gymnosperms in this assemblage. It also includes the first-appearing Stereisporites bujargiensis, Neoraistrickia rotundiformis, Contignisporites dorsostriatus, Duplexisporites pseudotuberculatus, D. rotundatus, Appendicisporites tricostatus, and Concavissimisporites asper. These sporomorphs are characteristic of the Berriasian palynofloras. Thus, the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary is most likely located between the Talyndzhan and Dublikan formations.     

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous coal-forming plants of the Bureya Basin,Russian Far East

The analysis of the composition of fossil palynomorphs from coals and clastic rocks of the Talyndzhan, Dublikan, Soloni, Chagdamyn, and Chemchuko formations of the Bureya coaliferous Basin revealed that the main coal-forming plants during the Talyndzhan and Dublikan time were represented by cyatheaceous ferns, plants similar to Pinaceae, and plants produced Ginkgocycadophytus pollen. In the Soloni time, the boggy plant communities were composed of dominant Cyatheaceae, subordinate Pinaceae, rare Gleichenaceae representatives, and Ginkgocycadophytus-producing plants. During the Chagdamyn time, the main coal-forming role belonged to gleicheniaceous ferns, bryophytes, and lycopsids, while the Chemchuko time was marked by the dominant contribution of Gleicheniaceae, Cyatheaceae, Ginkgocycadophytus, and plants close to Taxodiaceae to the coal formation.     

Deep structure,genesis, and seismic activation of the Bureya orogen,Russian Far East

The Bureya orogen is a special object among the geodynamic factors determining the high seismicity of the Lower Amur region. Its location and deep structure are studied on the basis of comprehensive geophysical and tectonic data. This orogen is a low-density lithospheric domain expressed by an intensive negative gravity anomaly and Moho sunken down to 40 km depth. Within the limits of this lithospheric structure, contemporary uplifting takes place to form a meridional dome peaking at more than 2000 m altitude. The position of the orogen in the regional structure gives us grounds to think that the Bureya orogen formed in the Paleogene, at the finishing stage of tectonic block movement along the Pacific margin represented by the NE-trending strike-slip faults of the Tang Lu Fault Zone. Compression was concentrated at the triple junction between the Central Asian, Mongolian–Okhotian, and Sikhote Alin tectonic belts. The meridional orientation of the Bureya orogen is associated with the parallel elongated Cenozoic depressions in the region. The united morphotectonic system may have formed resulting from lithospheric folding under horizontal shortening in the Paleocene–Eocene. The wavelength of the Lower Amurian fold system is 250 km, which is consistent with the theoretical estimates and examples of lithospheric folds in other regions. The contemporary activation of the Bureya orogen began in the Miocene, under the effect of the Amurian Plate front moving in the northeastern direction. As a result of shortening, the meridional cluster of weak (M ≥ 2.0) earthquakes formed along the western boundary of the orogenic dome. The most intensive deformations caused another type of seismicity associated with the activation-related uplift of the mentioned orogen. As a result, the so-called Bureya seismic zone formed above the apex of the dome, and it is here that the strongest regional earthquakes (M ≥ 4.5) occur.     

Sources and formation conditions of ferromanganese mineralization of the Bureya and Khanka massifs,Russian Far East

The geochemical features of typical representatives of ferromanganese deposits are studied in the eastern Bureya and Khanka massifs (Russian Far East). Based on the major-, trace-, and rare-earth element distribution, the hydrothermal–sedimentary (with hydrogenic component) nature of their mineralization is established and the geodynamic setting and depth of ore formation are estimated. The differences in the depth and redox conditions of ore formation resulted in the metallogenic zonation of the Khingan block (Bureya Massif), which is expressed in a westward change in ore composition from the magnetite ores of the Kosten’ga–Kimkan zone to the hematite–magnetite and iron–manganese ores of the South Khingan zone. The conclusions about the participation of hydrothermal sources in the formation of ore mineralization of the studied deposits and the specifics of their localization require revision of the strategy of exploration and evaluation of ferromanganese ores in the southern Far East.     

Mesozoic sandstones and the reconstruction of tectonic depositional environments in the Bureya sedimentary basin in the Far East

The early Jurassic-Early Cretaceous tectonic environments were reconstructed for the first time on the basis of the study of sandstones from the Soloni-Urgal interfluve (Bureya sedimentary basin, Far East). The mineralogical-petrographic and lithochemical studies revealed that the sandstones are mostly quartz-feldspathic and feldspathic graywackes of acid composition with less common litites, graywacke arkoses, and arkoses. It was shown that the Lower-Middle Jurassic sediments were formed in active continental margin and continental volcanic arc settings, while the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sediments were accumulated in a passive continental margin setting. Orogenic events in the Toarcian-Aalenian, Late Bajocian, and Late Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian led to sedimentation gaps.     

Buchia faunas and biostratigraphy of the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary deposits in the Komsomolsk section (Russian Far East)

Abundant Buchiidae (Bivalvia) from the Upper Volgian-Lower Valanginian sediments of the Northern Sikhote-Alin (Russian Far East) were studied in the key section at right bank of the Amur River opposite to Komsomolsk-on Amur. The analysis of the Buchiidae stratigraphic distribution in the section allowed us to reveal the sequence of Buchia-bearing beds: this is well correlated with the Buchia zonal scales of many Arctic regions. Here, from the base upward, there have been recognized the following: beds with Buchia terebratuloides, beds with B. unschensis and B. terebratuloides, beds with B. volgensis, and beds with B. inflata and B. keyserlingi. The beds with B. unschensis and B. terebratuloides also yielded the Berriasian ammonite Pseudosubplanites? sp. of Tethyan affinity. The obtained paleontological data confirm the occurrence of a large syncline in the studied section. The data also permit one to refine the age spans of the local stratigraphic units.     

Noble metal-bearing ferromanganese deposits in the Kimkan basin,Russian Far East

It has been established that large ferromanganese deposits enriched in noble metals, Co, U, V, and REE in the Kimkan sedimentary basin are confined to Vendian–Cambrian black shales. Lithostratigraphy plays an important role in the localization of such deposits and promising ore-bearing fields. Deposits and occurrences of complex iron and ferromanganese ores are polygenous and polychronous, because they underwent intense hydrothermal alterations with the superposition of noble metal and uranium mineralization in the Cretaceous. Efficient utilization of complex iron ores in the Kimkan open pit needs the construction of a metallurgical plant.     

Age and geochemistry of the Early Mesozoic granitoid massifs of the southern Bureya terrane of the Russian Far East

A massif of porhyritic microcline biotite granites located in the southern part of the Bureya (Turan) terrane has an age of 185 ± 1 Ma. The granites are characterized by (K₂O + Na₂O) > 8%, a K₂O predominance over Na₂O, and a moderately differentiated REE distribution pattern ((La/Yb)_n = 14.7–28.5). The obtained age indicates that at least one stage of the Early Mesozoic granitoid magmatism in the Bureya terrane occurred in the Early Jurassic. The formation of early Mesozoic granitoids was presumably related to collision between North Asian and Sino-Korean cratons, and the intervening Amur superterrane, although a subduction origin also cannot be completely ruled out.     

The problems of radiolarian-based dating of Jurassic-Cretaceous siliceous rocks from accretionary complexes,the Russian East

Radiolarians, which represent the most widespread fossil faunal group in jaspers and cherts, are the best tool for determining the geological age of Jurassic-Cretaceous volcanogenic-siliceous sequences in the Pacific margin of Russia, because they meet all the conditions required for orthostratigraphic groups, i.e., demonstrate rapid evolutionary changes of their assemblages, completeness of their record through the geological section, and a wide lateral distribution. The selection of biostratigraphic scales for determining the age of radiolarian assemblages is of principal significance. The significant difficulty in correlating Tethyan and Pacific assemblages is similar to that appearing in the case of the correlation between the Tethyan and Boreal ammonite standards. The existing discrepancies are explained by the different life spans of some guide species that determine the stratigraphic range of particular zones in their geographic type areas and may be different in other paleobiogeographic regions and provinces. The program of scientific studies should include the search for and thorough analysis of Jurassic-Cretaceous sections in Russia that contain simultaneously radiolarians, buchians, and ammonites. Such sections might provide the possibility for developing a single scale for the transitional sections and outlining ways for correlating the Tethyan and Pacific assemblages.     

Humic acids in brown coals from the southern Russian Far East: General characteristics and interactions with precious metals

Brown coals with high Au and PGE concentrations from six deposits in the southern Russian Far East were analyzed for elemental composition, acid-base properties, and the molecular-size distribution of humic acids (HA). The ash contents of the coals were determined to be negatively correlated with their Au concentrations, and the content of “organic Au” (which is chemically bound to humic substances, HS) reaches 95%. The most probable mode of Au occurrence in the brown coals is submicrometer-sized particles of elemental gold stabilized by HA. Quantum-mechanical calculations of interactions between Au(0) clusters with model HS fragments confirm that HS could be originally strongly chemically adsorbed on the surface of elemental gold particles. Different stability of colloids during centrifuging of alkali extracts of the gold-bearing brown coals was proved to be likely responsible for the selective separation of free HA and those bound with gold particles, and this can be used to develop a technology for gold recovery from coals without decomposing their organic matrix.     

Mesozoic Metallogeny of the Russian Far East

Please?refer?to?the?attachment(s)?for?more?details.     

Paleogeography of the Bureya Foredeep (in the Far East) in the Jurassic

Using the standard methods of paleogeographic analysis, small-scale paleogeographic sketch maps of the Verkhnyaya Bureya and Gudzhik depressions of the Bureya Foredeep are compiled for the Pliensbachian, Bajocian-Bathonian, Callovian, and Tithonian ages of the Jurassic. Marine sedimentation settings that existed during the Late Triassic and the major part of the Jurassic are characterized.     

Noble metal mineralization in carbonaceous rocks: A synthesis of data on the Russian Far East

The relationship between noble metal mineralization and carbonaceous rocks (black shales and brown coals) is considered. We have confirmed the previous conclusions of multistage syn- and epimetamorphic formation of gold-bearing deposits in black shales and syn- and epigenetic accumulation of noble metals in brown coals. The gold and PGE in the brown coals of the Verkhnii Amur region and Primorye were presumably derived by disintegration of adjacent ore sources in the Cenozoic. Addition studies and sampling are required at the coal and graphite objects of the Russian Far East to solve this problem.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of early Paleozoic intrusive rocks from the Khanka Massif of the Russian Far East

The Russian Far East and Northeast(NE)China are located in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),which consists of a series of micro-continental massifs including the Erguna,Xing’an,Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range,Bureya,Jiamusi,and Khanka massifs.The Khanka Massif is located in the easternmost part of the CAOB,mainly cropping out in the territory of Russia,with a small segment in NE China.To the north and west of the Khanka Massif are the Jiamusi and Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range massifs,respectively.The boundary between these massifs is marked by the Dunhua–Mishan Fault.To the south lies the North China Craton,and to the east is the Sikhote–Alin Orogenic Belt separated by the Arsenyev Fault.However,the early Paleozoic evolution and tectonic attributes of the Khanka Massif are debated.These conflicting ideas result from the lack of systematic research on early Paleozoic igneous rocks from the Russian part of the Khanka Massif.It is generally accepted that the CAOB represents the largest known Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic belt.However,questions remain concerning the nature of the deep crust beneath the Khanka Massif,and whether Precambrian crust exists within the massif itself. In this paper,we report new zircon U–Pb ages,Hf isotopic data,and major-and trace-element compositions of the early Paleozoic intrusive rocks from the Khanka Massif of the Russian Far East,with the aim of elucidating the early Paleozoic evolution and the tectonic attributes of the Khanka Massif,as well as the nature of the underlying deep crust. New U–Pb zircon data indicate that early Paleozoic magmatism within the Khanka Massif can be subdivided into at least four stages:~502 Ma,~492 Ma,462–445 Ma,and~430 Ma. The~502 Ma pyroxene diorites show negative Eu anomalies,and the~492 Ma syenogranites,intruding the~502 Ma diorites,show positive Eu anomalies.These observations indicate that the primary parental magmas of these rocks were derived from different origins. The 462–445 Ma magmatism is made up of syenogranites and tonalites.The~445 Ma Na-rich tonalites contain low REE concentrations,and are enriched in Eu and Sr.These observations,together with the positiveεHf(t)values,indicate that they were derived from magmas generated by partial melting of cumulate gabbros. The~430 Ma I-type granodiorites and monzogranites from the northern Khanka Massif,and the A-type monzogranites from the central Khanka Massif display zirconεHf(t)values ranging from–5.4 to+5.8.This suggests that they formed from magmas generated by partial melting of heterogeneous lower crustal material. Zircon Hf isotopic data reveal the existence of Precambrian crustal material within the Khanka Massif.The geochemistry of the Middle Cambrian intrusive rocks is indicative of formation in an extensional setting,while Late Cambrian–middle Silurian magmatism was generated in an active continental margin setting associated with the subduction of a paleo-oceanic plate beneath the Khanka Massif.Regional comparisons of the magmatic events indicate that the Khanka Massif has a tectonic affinity to the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif rather than the Jiamusi Massif.     

Scandium in the coals of Northern Asia (Siberia,the Russian Far East,Mongolia, and Kazakhstan)

We present new original data on the geochemistry of scandium in the coals of Asian Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. In general, the studied coals are enriched in Sc as compared with the average coals worldwide. Coal deposits with abnormally high, up to commercial, Sc contents were detected in different parts of the study area. The factors for the accumulation of Sc in coals have been identified. The Sc contents of the coals depend on the petrologic composition of coal basins (composition of rocks in their framing) and the facies conditions of coal accumulation. We have established the redistribution and partial removal of Sc from a coal seam during coal metamorphism. The distribution of Sc in deposits and coal seams indicates the predominantly hydrogenic mechanism of its anomalous concentration in coals and peats. The accumulation of Sc in the coals and peats is attributed to its leaching out of the coal-bearing rocks and redeposition in a coal (peat) layer with groundwater and underground water enriched in organic acids. The enrichment of coals with Sc requires conditions for the formation of Sc-enriched coal-bearing rocks and conditions for its leaching and transport to the coal seam. Such conditions can be found in the present-day peatland systems of West Siberia and, probably, in ancient basins of peat (coal) accumulation.     

柴达木盆地东部石炭系烃源岩热模拟实验及生烃潜力

通过热模拟实验及热模拟产物组分和稳定碳同位素分析,对柴达木盆地东部石炭系烃源岩的生烃能力及产物特征进行了研究。结果表明：石炭系烃源岩的气态烃产率为67.27～161.01m³/t(TOC),总气体产率为220.51～453.39m³/t(TOC),显示柴达木盆地东部石炭系烃源岩具有较高的生气能力;液态有机质产率仅为1.73～4.30kg/t(TOC),残余生油能力相对较低,但考虑到石炭系烃源岩的成熟度已经接近生油窗的下限值(1.3%),因此模拟实验的液态有机质产率不能真实反映石炭系烃源岩的生油潜力。根据模拟实验的气态烃产率可知,柴达木盆地东部石炭系泥质烃源岩的生气强度为14.2×10⁸～42.5×10⁸ m³/km²,显示其具备形成规模气藏的生烃条件。     

Mesocyclicity of Upper Triassic-Jurassic rocks in the Bureya Basin in the Far East of Russia: Their tectonics, eustasy, and sequence stratigraphy

The mesocyclicity of Upper Triassic-Jurassic rocks in the Bureya Basin located at that time at the paleocontinent margin was examined. The rock sections of this basin distinctly reflect the chronology of the eustatic sea-level fluctuations, which enabled us for the first time to construct a sequence stratigraphic model for this basin. Based on all the factors affecting the cyclicity, cycles of six orders (ranks) were recognized in the Bureya Basin for the Jurassic stage of its evolution. The tectonic factor predominates in the identification of the first three orders: the first-order cycle (the Alpian), the second-order cycles (the Indo-Sinian and Yanshanian), and the third-order cycles (the Late Indo-Sinian, Early Yanshanian, and Middle Yanshanian subcycles). The formation of the fourth-to sixth-order cycles was affected by not only the tectonic processes but also the eustatic sea-level fluctuations, the sediment supply??s volume, the sedimentary environment, and the climatic changes. Since the oil source rocks are formed during the maximal transgressions, the aleuropelitic strata of the fifth-order cycles (the Chagany, El??ga, Epikan, and Sinkal??tu formations along with the Khavagda Sequence) accumulated in the deepest parts of the basin are believed to be the most prospective objects.     

Carbonization and geochemical characteristics of graphite-bearing rocks in the northern Khanka terrane,primorie, Russian Far East

Regional carbonization was examined in Riphean metamorphic complexes in the northern part of the Khanka terrane. The results obtained by various techniques of physicochemical analysis indicate that all petrographic rock varieties of this complex bear elevated concentrations (from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁶ wt %) of Au and PGE. XRF data were used to describe a wide spectrum of trace elements: Ti, V, Ni, Cr, Pt, Pd, Re, Rh, Os, Ir, Cu, Hg, Au, Ag, Ta, Nb, Sr, Rb, Zr, La, W, Sn, Pb, and Zn. The Rb/Sr-Ba diagram shows the fields of anatectic granite-gneisses, biotite granites, lamprophyres, graphitized crystalline schists, black shales, skarns, and quartz-graphite metasomatic rocks. The C isotopic composition in graphite from the metaigneous rocks (lamprophyres and crystalline schists of the amphibolite facies) corresponds to δ¹³C from −8.5 to −8.7‰, which suggests that the carbon could be of endogenic provenance. The carbon isotopic composition of the greenschist-facies black shales corresponds to δ¹³C from −19.9 to −26.6‰, as is typical of organogenic carbon. The concentrations of precious metals in the rocks are, on average, one order of magnitude lower than in the graphitized crystalline schists. The origin of the precious-metal ore mineralization was likely genetically related to the regional carbonization process.