Spherules from the Late Cretaceous Phosphorite of the Fatehgarh Formation, Barmer Basin, India

A first report of discovery of spherules, glassy balls, highly magnetic fine dust and microbracciated matrix in the Fatehgarh Formation of Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, India is being presented in this paper. The Fatehgarh Formation is a mixed siliciclastic, carbonate and phosphorite formation of Cretaceous age in the Barmer Basin that comprises sediments of Middle Jurassic to Lower Eocene age. The phosphorite zone in the Fatehgarh Formation is 8 metre-thick zone that comprises phosphatic sandstone, bone bed, bedded phosphorite and phosphatic and non phosphatic gastropod beds. The spherules occur in a thin phosphatic-clay mud and silt band of bone bed, which also yielded a very rich and diverse microvertebrate assemblage with a dominant Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) form of Igdabatis along with forms comprising of Semionodontid, Lapisosteum and Enchodontid. The end Cretaceous is marked for a mass extinction of numerous species including dinosaurs. An extraterrestrial impact is interpreted as the reason for this mass extinction. Whether these spherules are related to the volcanic source or K/T Boundary impact ejecta found at Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico region needs detailed chemical and age characterization for which study is in progress.     

The age of the Nodular Limestone Formation (Late Cretaceous), Narmada Basin,central India

The age of the marine Nodular Limestone Formation of the Bagh Group is refined at Substage level through ammonoid and inoceramid index taxa. The study is based on the fresh collections from three well-defined successive intervals (Lower Karondia, Upper Karondia and Chirakhan members) of this formation having excellent exposures in different localities of the Narmada Basin, central India. The first record of the widely distributed Turonian ammonoid genera Spathites Kummel and Decker and Collignoniceras Breistroffer from the Nodular Limestone Formation constrained its age exclusively to Turonian. The Early Turonian species Spathites (Jeanrogericeras) aff. revelieranus (Courtiller) and Mytiloides labiatus (Sclotheim) occur in the lower part, while the Middle Turonian marker Collignoniceras cf. carolinum (d’Obrbigny) and Inoceramus hobetsensis (Nagao and Matsumoto) occurs in the upper part of the Karondia Member. The record of the index species Inoceramus teshioensis (Nagao and Matsumoto) in association with Placenticeras mintoi Vredenburg from Chirakhan Member allows a definite Late Turonian age. The present contribution is an attempt to resolve the controversies in the age of the Nodular Limestone Formation and also demarcation of the three divisions (Early, Middle and Late) of the Turonian Stage in the Narmada Basin, central India.     

黑龙江三江盆地晚白垩世海浪组孢粉组合

依据东基三井1 226. 0～1 538. 0 m井段的孢粉鉴定结果,结合前人资料,首次将该井段孢粉组合命名为Cyathidites-Taxodiaceaepolleni-Aquilapollenites组合。其组合特征为:裸子植物花粉占48. 10%～78. 58%,蕨类孢子占2. 44%～34. 18%,被子植物花粉占0%～28. 26%;蕨类孢子中Cyathidites百分含量最高(0. 79%～37. 50%),其次是Cicatricosisporites (0%～12. 50%)和Leiotriletes (0%～10. 00%),重要分子有Appendicisporites、Schizaeoisporites、Lygodiumsporites和Lygodioisporites;裸子植物花粉中Inaperturopllenites的百分含量最高(11. 29%～38. 83%),其次是Taxodiaceaepollenites (12. 66%～28. 57%),重要分子有Tsugaepollenites、Parcisporites、Parvisaccites、Ephedripites和Classopollis等;被子植物花粉中Tricolpites的百分含量最高(0%～16. 46%),其次是Betulaepollenites (0%～15. 22%),含量较高的还有Momipites和Tricolporopollenites,重要分子有Aquilapollenites、Fibulapollis和Proteacidites等。该组合可以与松辽盆地嫩江组孢粉组合对比,地质时代为晚白垩世Santonian-Campanian期。鉴于宁安市南团子山、高家等露头区海浪组所产Estherites mitsuishii、E. liuxinensis、Tylestheria cf. shanhoensis、Halysestheria yui、Calestherites sp.和Brachygrapta? sp.等叶肢介化石群,系松辽盆地嫩江组常见分子,故将东基三井1 226. 0～1 538. 0 m井段划归为海浪组,废弃"七星河组"一名。     

Late Cretaceous lithoevents in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Czechoslovakia

Facies evolution and vertical changes within the Late Cretaceous sequence of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin reveal fluctuations of intra- and extrabasinal circumstances. Evidence of periodic oscillations is recognized and two categories of aperiodic event indications are distinguished according to their significance and lateral persistence. Several lithoevents may be related to eustatic changes, while others indicate the independent evolution of the basin, influenced by epeirogenetic movements of segments of the Bohemian Massif.     

Ostracod Biostratigraphy of the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin

An ostracod biostratigraphic study was performed on 425 samples from the composite geological section constructed by using cores taken from five selected wells drilled in the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao basin.A total of 19 ostracod zones are established in the formation,of which 3 are newly established and 3 are revised.The 19 ostracod zones are described in detail.This study provides a basis for the detailed stratigraphic division and correlation of the Qingshankou Formation and the Gaotaizi oil reservoir in the oilfield in the Songliao basin.     

Implications of trace fossil assemblages from Late Paleozoic Glaciomarine Talchir Formation, Raniganj Basin, India

The trace fossil assemblages of the ice-marginal shallow marine sediments of the Talchir Formation (Permo-Carboniferous), Raniganj Basin, India, record the adverse effect of extreme climatic conditions on biota. The glaciomarine Talchir succession starts with glacial sediments near the base and gradually passes to storm-laid shallow marine sediments up-section. The fine-grained storm sediments host abundant trace fossils. Although the studied ichnites characteristically show marginal marine affinity, the ichnodiversity and bioturbation intensity suggest a lower than normal shallow marine trace fossil population. Further, endobenthic annelids, worms and crustaceans are identified as dominant trace-makers.

Sediment reworking near the ice-grounding line, extremely cold climate, high-energy storm sedimentation and anomalous water chemistry hindered organic colonization during the early phases of Talchir sedimentation. Later, climatic amelioration ushered in a favourable ambience for the benthic community to colonize within or beyond the storm weather wave-base in the outer shoreface–shelf environment. Fluctuating storm energy dominantly controlled the availability and influence of other environmental stimuli in the environment, and thus, governed the distribution, abundance and association of the studied ichnites. However, impoverished ichnodiversity, sporadic distribution of the traces, overall smaller burrow dimensions, absence of body fossils, dominance of worms and annelids as trace-makers all indicate a stressed environmental condition, induced by cold climate and lowered marine salinity due to influx of glacier melt-out freshwater during climatic amelioration, in the Permo-Carboniferous ice-marginal sea.     

Provenance and Paleogeography of the Late Cretaceous Mengyejing Formation,Simao Basin,Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

正The Mengyejing potash salt deposit(MPSD)is the only pre-Quaternary potash salt deposit in China.The MPSD is located in the southern Simao Basin,southeastern Tibetan Plateau.The MPSD,along with rock salts and clastic rocks,     

Palynochronology of Lower Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary succession of the Rajmahal Formation in the Rajmahal Basin, India

In the Rajmahal Basin Lower Cretaceous rocks are classified under the Rajmahal Formation. It includes a series of volcanic basalt flows and associated sedimentary intertrappean beds. Up to 15 basalt flows have been recorded in this basin. The intertrappean beds comprise sandstone, shale, siltstone, and clay deposits which are rich in spores and pollen. The palynoflora recovered from intertrappean beds shows definite pattern of evolution and diversification. On the basis of its overall composition, distribution pattern of age marker taxa and the First Appearance Datum of key taxa, four palynological assemblages have been identified. The chronology of these assemblages in ascending order is (1) Ruffordiaspora australiensis, (2) Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis, (3) Foraminisporis asymmetricus, and (4) Coptospora verrucosa. These assemblages ascertain the age of the volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Rajmahal Formation in the Rajmahal Basin as Berriasian to Aptian. The palynochronology of the intertrappean beds enables their correlation in the Rajmahal Basin. In different areas of the basin, the palynological dating of the lowermost intertrappean bed within the Rajmahal Formation which overlies the Dubrajpur Formation, has provided a Berriasian to Aptian age. The palynological assemblage indicating the Berriasian age is inferred as the time of the initiation of volcanic activity which continued up to the Aptian in the Rajmahal Basin.     

开鲁盆地东北部钱家店凹陷晚白垩世姚家组孢粉组合及其古气候意义

对于开鲁盆地姚家组孢粉学的研究不仅丰富了该地区晚白垩世孢粉学资料,而且为该地区晚白垩世地层划分与对比提供了依据.通过对开鲁盆地钱家店凹陷钻孔QIV-48-61深315~447 m井段的岩心做了详细采样、描述,并进行了孢粉化石的处理、鉴定和分析,在其中的10个层位中发现了丰富的孢粉化石,共计73属88种,并建立了3个孢粉组合,自下而上依次为Schizaeoisporites-Cyathidites-Tricolpopollenites,Schizaeoisporites-Classopollis-Taxodiaceaepollenites和Schizaeoisporites-Exesipollenties-Tricolpopollenites,根据孢粉组合内一些重要分子的地质时限及与外区有关孢粉组合的对比,将其时代划归为晚白垩世Coniacian晚期-Santonian早期,其层位相当于姚家组.根据孢粉母体植物形态和生态特征、干湿度环境和气候环境,将其孢粉植物群反映的植被、干湿度和气候带划分为3个演化阶段:第1演化阶段(405.9~413.2 m)沉积时期植被面貌大体为针叶林与草本共生,对应于湿润、半湿润的热带-亚热带气候;第2演化阶段(389.7~405.9 m)植被面貌演化为以高大乔木型针叶树种占优势地位,并出现一次明显的干旱化事件,对应于半干旱的热带-亚热带气候;第3演化阶段(336.0~389.7 m)植被面貌与第1阶段相似,为针叶林与草本共生,干旱化有所缓解,对应于半湿润-半干旱的热带-亚热带气候.      

Rhodophycean algae from the Lower Cretaceous of the Cauvery Basin,South India

The present paper records eight Rhodophycean taxa from the Kallakudi limestone of the Uttatur Group (Lower Cretaceous) exposed in the quarries at Kallakudi and Olaipadi near Govindarajapatnam of the Cauvery Basin, south India. Of these, four species (Melobesioideae gen. et sp. indet 1, Melobesioideae gen. et sp. indet 2, Lithophyllum alternicellum and Pseudoamphiroa propria) belong to corallinaceae family, one species (Polystrata alba) is assigned to Peyssonneliaceae family, two species (Solenopora urgoniana and Parachaetetes asvapatii) are placed under Solenoporaceae; and one species (Sporolithon sp.) is referable to Sporolithaceae family. Among these, three taxa (Solenopora urgoniana, Lithophyllum alternicellum and Pseudoamphiroa propria) are recorded for the first time from India. The study also includes observations on ultrastructural morphological features of Parachaetetes asvapatii. The observations reveal absence of cell fusions, which confirms its affinities with Solenoporaceae. Palaeoecological data indicate that the assemblage from the sequence at the Kallakudi quarry is characteristic of lagoonal to reefal environment, whereas the Olaipadi quarry sequence near Govindarajapatnam points to 20 m to 30 m deep environment characterized by high- to moderate energy conditions.     

Salviniales from the Late Cretaceous of the Golfo San Jorge Basin

The freshwater ferns (Salviniales) are well represented in the Maastrichtian deposits of Cerro de los Fragmentos in the headwaters of the Río Chico, Golfo San Jorge Basin. The fossil material of Salviniaceae includes complete megaspore apparatuses with attached microspore massulae and dispersed megaspores, float systems and microspore massulae of Azolla. The new species Azolla colhuehuapensis displays distinctive morphological characters including relative small megaspore apparatuses with easily detached floats and usually attached eglochidiate massulae. The Marsileaceae are represented by the megaspore Molaspora lobata, microspores of Crybelosporites and vegetative remains of Marsileaceaephyllum sp. The assemblage also includes zygospores of the green filamentous algae Zygnemataceae, spores of Marchantiophyta and Monilophyta (Schizaeales), megaspores of Isoetalean affinity and Palm-type angiosperm pollen grains. All these organic microfossils and the associated palynomorphs indicate the presence of a freshwater environment where abundant water ferns were developing and reproducing.     

江西信江盆地晚白垩世塘边组成壤碳酸盐岩碳、氧同位素特征

利用古土壤成壤碳酸盐岩稳定同位素组成估算古代大气CO_2浓度,是当前古气候环境研究的重要手段。对采自江西信江盆地晚白垩世圭峰群塘边组的成壤碳酸盐岩碳、氧同位素测试表明,δ13C(PDB)值在-4.30‰~-2.10‰之间,平均值为-2.84‰。δ18O(PDB)值在-6.62‰~-1.14‰之间,平均值为-3.62‰。由Cerling经验公式估算出晚白垩世Campanian晚期约75 Ma的大气CO_2浓度在782~1 420 ppmv之间,平均值为1 181 ppmv,是当今大气CO_2浓度的2~4倍。因此,基于信江盆地塘边组成壤碳酸盐岩的大气CO_2浓度估算结果,可能指示了晚白垩世Campanian晚期存在一个大气CO_2浓度高峰值,反映了晚白垩世大气CO_2浓度的波动性。     

江西省晚白垩世周田组的再划分

江西白垩纪晚世地层中发育一套湖相细碎屑岩系,前人称之为周田组,一直沿用至今.作者认为前人对该岩石地层单位的定义不够准确或不够贴切.该组并不是"普遍含膏盐层",而是仅在该组中部发育"膏盐层",所以,有必要重新厘定;鉴于"膏盐层"的特殊性、且明显区别于组内其余部分岩性,因此,建议将该岩系新建为段级岩石地层单位--"会昌膏盐段".这对当地乃至华南地区的陆相红盆的研究和地层划分对比、野外地质填图都具有重要意义,对寻找膏盐矿产资源也具有直接的指导作用.     

Paleoenvironment and Origin of the Sedimentary Phosphorite of the Yurtus Formation (Early Cambrian, Sugetbrak Phosphorite Deposit, Tarim Basin)

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

A diverse,high-latitude ichnofauna from the Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formation,Alberta, Canada

The Wapiti Formation in west-central Alberta preserves one of the most diverse Late Cretaceous terrestrial track records yet identified in Canada. At least seven morphotypes are recognized and attributed to mammals, small reptiles or amphibians, tyrannosaurids, medium-sized theropods, hadrosaurids, and ankylosaurs. Most tracks occur isolated on slump blocks associated with latest Campanian (Wapiti Formation unit 4) exposures found along Pipestone Creek and Red Willow River. With the possible exception of hadrosaurids, tracks provide some of the most compelling evidence for the occurrence of such taxa within the Wapiti Formation ecosystem. The apparent absence of ceratopsian tracks is surprising considering their bones are abundantly preserved in nearby monodominant bonebeds. The overall faunal signal represented by the Wapiti Formation trackmakers is typical of and consistent with other coeval assemblages in similar environments. The Wapiti Formation tracks, combined with the known fossil bone record, provide another data point in a growing palaeobiogeographical picture of the dinosaur faunas of high-latitude northwestern North America during the Late Cretaceous.     

Origin and geochemical characterization of the glauconites in the Upper Cretaceous Lameta Formation,Narmada Basin,central India

This study presents geochemical characteristics of glauconites in estuarine deposits within the Maastrichtian Lameta Formation in central India. Resting conformably over the Bagh Group, the Lameta Formation consists of ~4-5 m thick arenaceous, argillaceous and calcareous green sandstones underlying the Deccan Traps. The sandstone is friable, medium-to coarse-grained, well-sorted and thoroughly crossstratified, and contains marine fossils. Detailed petrography, spectroscopy and mineral chemistry indicates unique chemical composition of glauconite with high K_2O, MgO, Al_2O_3 and moderate TFe_2O_3. Glauconite is formed by the replacement of K-feldspars, initially as stringers in the cleavages and fractures of feldspars. Incipient glauconite subsequently evolves fully, appearing as pellets. Fully-evolved glauconite pellets often leave tiny relics of K-feldspar. XRD exhibits characteristic peak of 10A from basal(001)reflection of glauconite, indicating the "evolved" character. The K_2O content of glauconites in the Lameta Formation varies from 5.51% to 8.29%, corroborating the "evolved" to "highly-evolved" maturation stage.The TFe_2O_3 content of glauconite varies from 12.56% to 18.90%. The PASS-normalized-REE patterns of glauconite exhibit a "hat-shape" confirming the authigenic origin of glauconites. The slightly-negative to slightly-positive Ce anomaly value and the moderate TFe_2O_3 content of glauconite agree well with a suboxic,estuarine condition. The replacement of K-feldspar by the glauconite contributes towards the high K_2O content. Compositional evolution of glauconites in the Lameta Formation is similar to those observed in many Precambrian sedimentary sequences.     

Paleoenvironments and origin of the sedimentary phosphorites of the Napo Formation (Late Cretaceous, Oriente Basin, Ecuador)

The Napo phosphorites were deposited at the edge of a stable marine shelf during the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) oceanic anoxic event (OAE 3) at the transition from bioclastic limestone to organic-rich shale facies. Phosphogenesis was triggered in the shelf margin environment by a number of factors including strong upwelling currents, high biological activity, plankton blooms, and large amounts of organic matter production and subsequent accumulation. Dissolved phosphate levels increased in the sediment from a combination of anoxic conditions and microbial activity. Once dissolved phosphate concentrations were high enough, apatite began to form around nucleic sites including mineral grains, shells, wood fragments, and foraminifera tests forming peloidal fluorine rich carbonate fluoroapatite (francolite). As the peloids formed, sedimentation continued and dissolved phosphate concentrations diminished. A period of minor winnowing ensued, and as dissolved phosphate concentrations remained low, shale layers were deposited separating the various phosphate layers.     

松辽盆地嫩江组脱羟基维生素E的分布及其地球化学意义

脱羟基维生素E是沉积物（岩）中一类具有水体盐度指示意义的生物标志化合物,在现代和古代沉积物及原油中均有检出。在松辽盆地松科1井晚白垩系嫩江组岩芯样品中检测发现的脱羟基维生素E系列化合物显示脱羟基维生素E的组成分布在剖面上的变化主要反应了沉积埋葬时的环境盐度、氧化还原状态的变化,而与母源组成、有机质成熟度等无明显相关性,其中,δ-MTTC在咸水还原性环境最为丰富,而在低盐的半咸水-淡水氧化性环境中基本缺失,Ⅱ一MTTC在所有盐度环境中都很丰富,γ-MTTC的丰度则在盐水-咸水环境中明显高于低盐半咸水环境,而且在盐水环境中γ-MTTC〉β-MTTC-咸水环境显示γ-MTTC〈β-MTTC。研究发现,α-MTTC／γ-MTTC（cur）可作为Ⅱ-MTTC／δ-MTTC（α/δ）比值的替代指标,当Ⅱ-MTTC／γ—MTTC比值小于2时为盐水环境,比值大于15时为半咸水-淡水环境,介于之间为咸水环境。相关参数及综合分析显示嫩江组一、二段沉积时期水体盐度及氧化还原条件显著不同,嫩一段主力烃源岩沉积时期以与海水盐度相当的咸水、存在水体分层的还原性湖泊环境为主,顶部出现短期戚化的盐水环境,而嫩二段主要为半咸水-淡水氧化性湖泊环境,盐度比较稳定。     

Characterizing the Micropores in Lacustrine Shales of the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation of Southern Songliao Basin, NE China

Micropores of shale are significant to the gas content and production potential of shale, which has been verified in the research of marine shale gas; while, few studies have been conducted on lacustrine shales. This study collected 42 samples from three wells in the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation of the southern Songliao Basin, NE China, and investigated these samples by the focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB–SEM) and nitrogen adsorption analysis techniques. Four types of micropores were identified in the samples, i.e., intergranular pore, intracellular pore, organic matter pore and microfracture. The pore structure type is characterized by open slit pores and “ink type” pores which are mainly 1.5–5 nm in diameter with mesopores as the main pores. The mesopores account for 74.01% of the pore volume and 54.68% of the pore surface area. Compared with the lacustrine shales from the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin, the intergranular clay mineral interlayer pores are considered to be the main reservoir space for shale gas storage in the study area, followed by intraparticle pores, organic matter pores and microfractures. Maturity and micropore are the key controlling factors which affect the shale gas content of the Qingshankou Formation in southern Songliao Basin.