Late Cretaceous palynology and paleoclimate change:Evidence from the SK1(South) core,Songliao Basin,NE China

Cretaceous climate was warmer than today.The Songliao Basin contains one of the most important Late Cretaceous non-marine deposits in China for the research of the paleoenvironment and paleoclimate.This research is based on core samples from the SK1(S)borehole.The strata sampled are the upper part of the Quantou Formation to member 2 of the Nenjiang Formation,where spores,pollen,dinoflagellates,and other microfossils are abundantly preserved.Based on analysis of the spores and pollen fossils from the core samples,the following six fossil assemblage zones have been recognized in ascending order:The Cicatricosisporites-Cyathidites-Pinuspollenites,Schizaeoisporites-Cyathidites-Classopollis,Cyathidites-Schizaeoisporites,Schizaeoisporites-Cyathidites-Proteacidites,Proteacidites-Cyathidites-Dictyotriletes,and the Lythraites-Callistipollenites-Schizaeoisporites zones.The six fossil zones range from the late Cenomanian to early Campanian.The Late Cretaceous dinoflagellate cysts in the Songliao Basin are of high abundance and low diversity.Specific phytoplankton types reflect salinity changes of the Songliao Lake.Paleoecology of the dinoflagellates suggests that sediments of members 2 and 3 of the Yaojia Formation(K2y2+3)were deposited in a freshwater environment,whereas members 2 and 3 of the Qingshankou Formation(K2q2+3)and members 1 and 2 of the Nenjiang Formation(K2n1+2)were deposited in freshwater to brackish water environments.Combined with the paleoecology of dinoflagellates and the palynomorph biozones,valuable information of the paleoclimate was provided.The quantitative analyses of spores and pollen fossils,such as vegetation type,climate type,and humidity type,diversity and dominance,indicate a relatively sub-humid,mid-subtropical paleoclimate,with slight climatic fluctuation and/or temporal change.     

松辽盆地营城组火山机构相带地震-地质解译

将火山机构按距火山口远近划分为火山口-近火山口、近源和远源三个相带.营城组火山机构相带有6种地震相类型,分别是丘状、透镜状、穹状、池塘状、楔状和席状地震相.丘状、透镜状和穹状均见于火山机构中心相带,但所代表的优势岩相不同,分别与爆发相、喷溢相和侵出相对应.池塘状和楔状均为近源相带,但前者以喷溢相辫状熔岩流为主,而后者代表爆发相火山碎屑岩与喷溢相熔岩互层.席状地震相是以火山沉积相为特征的远源相带为主.火山机构中心相带岩性和岩相多变、地震相复杂,这是初始喷发条件、同生垮塌、后期断裂以及孔隙和流体综合作用的结果;该带是火山岩储层发育最有利的部位.     

松辽盆地嫩江组下部水体分层的有机地球化学证据

通过对松科1井样品的测试分析,在松辽盆地姚家组二、三段顶部至嫩江组二段底部地层中检测到了较高含量的伽马蜡烷,并据此确认了对应时期水体分层事件的存在.通过其与总有机碳(TOC)值和δ13Corg值剖面变化趋势比对发现,伽马蜡烷含量的高值与TOC高值和δ13Corg负值对应良好,表明水体分层在一定程度上促进了嫩江组沉积时期缺氧事件的发生,进而对有机质的保存起到了积极的作用.这种水体分层与当时的海侵事件密切相关.     

松辽盆地白垩系营城组隐伏火山机构物理模型和地震识别

将火山机构分为火山口-近火山口相 (CNCF)、近源相 (PF)和远源相 (DF)三个相带.露头揭示这三个相带的倾角范围为：CNCF-40～70°,PF-25～45°,DF-20～35°.这三个相带的裂缝线密度为：CNCF-10～30条/m,PF-3～25条/m,DF-2～11条/m.这三个相带的相干值的关系为：CNCF相似文献   

Neogene palynological assemblages in the west slope of Songliao Basin and their geological implications

Abundant palynological fossils are found from the drill core in the west slope of Songliao Basin, the first full coring borehole that drilled throughout the Neogene. Two Palynological assemblages are recognized according to their vertical distributions, i.e., the late early Miocene–middle Miocene assemblage from the Da'an Formation named as Caryapollenites simplex-Momipites coryloides-Celtispollenites sp.-Tsugaepollenites igniculus, and the late Miocene-early Pliocene assemblage from the Taikang Formation named as Artemisiaepollenites minor-Betulaceoipollenites sp.-Carpinipites sp.-Polypodiaceaesporites sp. On the basis of the composition of each assemblage, we infer that the climate was warm-temperate to sub-tropic during the late early Miocene–middle Miocene and the vegetation was mainly deciduous broadleaved forest and subordinate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest with few understory ferns, and probably some shallow fresh water wetlands. The climate then turned cooler and drier in the late Miocene–early Pliocene, represented by the development of xerophytic herbs and temperate plants, although the canopy of the forest remained relatively stable. The results significantly improve the understanding of the Cenozoic palynostratigraphy in the Songliao Basin, and provide new data for both stratigraphical correlation and paleovegetational and paleoclimatical analysis in adjacent area.     

Abiogenic hydrocarbons in commercial gases from the Songliao Basin, China

This paper discusses the kinetic fractionation, composition and distribution characteristics of carbon and hydrogen isotopes for various alkane gases formed in different environments, by different mecha- nisms and from different sources in nature. It is demonstrated that the biodegradation or thermode- gradation of complex high-molecule sedimentary organic material can form microbial gas or thermogenic gas. The δ 13C1 value ranges from -110‰ to -50‰ for microbial gases but from -50‰ to -35‰ (even heavier) f...     

水位波动下的呼伦湖上覆水体与沉积物间隙水之间溶质的运移特征

为了探求内蒙古呼伦湖上覆水体和沉积物间隙水之间溶质运移机制,对呼伦湖的1个沉积物柱芯的间隙水、3个湖泊水体以及湖周边7个地下水体中的氯离子(Cl~-),氢、氧稳定同位素(δD和δ~(18)O)分别进行分析测试,并利用其示踪性对沉积物中溶质运移特征进行研究.结果显示,δD、δ~(18)O和Cl~-浓度在不同水体中的分布具有相似的分布规律,整体上从底部沉积物到上部湖水浓度分布呈现逐渐递减的抛物线趋势,在间隙水中最大值位于所取沉积物柱芯的最深处,Cl~-浓度为306 mg/L,δD和δ~(18)O分别为-58‰和-5.9‰;最小值位于沉积物柱芯上层,并与上覆水体中的值相似,Cl~-浓度为159 mg/L,δD和δ~(18)O分别为-66‰和-7.3‰.为了明确沉积物柱芯中间隙水的高浓度Cl~-和偏正δD、δ~(18)O的来源,比较不同水体的δ~(18)O-δD关系点分布,表明含有偏正值的δD、δ~(18)O和高浓度Cl~-的间隙水与上覆湖水关系密切,可能是由于低水位时期湖水与间隙水相互发生扩散作用而产生的结果.一维对流扩散迁移模型证实扩散作用是控制着沉积物间隙水中溶质浓度在垂向上分布的主要机制,同时湖水水位的变化会影响沉积物间隙水与上覆水体的扩散过程,特别是在水位上升期,富集在沉积物中的溶质可能成为湖水的重要物质来源,影响上覆水体的水质.因此,对于封闭湖泊水位的控制和管理不仅在维持湖泊水量方面有着直接的作用,同时在稳定湖泊水质条件上也有着重要的意义.     

Clay mineralogy of the first and second members of the Nenjiang Formation,Songliao Basin: Implications for paleoenvironment in the Late Cretaceous

The first and second members of the Nenjiang Formation (K₂n¹⁺²) in the Songliao Basin, northeast China, are an interval of dark-colored mudstone. Paleoenvironmental studies of these strata are useful for understanding the terrestrial environment under a greenhouse climate and hydrocarbon accumulation in lake basins. In this study, clay mineralogy of the K₂n¹⁺² from four borehole or outcrop sections is investigated to understand terrestrial paleoenvironment during the depositional period in the Late Cretaceous. In the mudstone samples, smectite and illite are the predominant clay minerals, and were derived from weathering of parent rocks in a temperate, sub-humid to sub-arid climate; kaolinite and chlorite are minor clay species. The difference in the clay-mineral assemblages between the eastern and western margins of the basin was primarily controlled by provenance lithology, and the high smectite content in the western basin resulted from alteration of volcanic rocks exposed in the Greater Xing’an Range area. The increasing illite content and ratio of illite/smectite percentages in the upper part of the first member of the Nenjiang Formation indicate paleoenvironmental change. This temporal change in the clay-mineral composition was primarily caused by a regionally cooler and drier paleoclimate, consistent with previous paleoenvironmental reconstructions.     

Pollen and spores from Lower Cretaceous in Guyang Basin of Inner Mongolia,China and their palaeoclimatic and paleoecological significance

Research on the climate and vegetation of the Cretaceous is fundamental to understanding the present environment. The present study focuses on the Lower Cretaceous Guyang Formation (Inner Mongolia), which yields unique macrofossils and diverse palynological assemblages that are used to understand the palaeoecology. In total, 56 genera are identified in the examined assemblage, which are dominated by spores and pollen of pteridophytes and gymnosperms. The gymnosperm pollen is dominated by Taxodiaceae, which belong to Coniferales, and a large proportion of pollen attributable to the Cycadophyta and Ginkgopsida. The pteridophyte spores are dominated by taxa attributable to the Lygodiaceae and Cyatheaceae. Quantitative analysis based on the geographical distribution of modern plant communities and the Sporomorph Ecogroup (SEG) model, the palynomorph associations are used to infer the presence of a closed coniferous forest dominated by Podozamitales, Picea and Podocarpus with understory vegetation comprising ferns prevailed. The fossil palyno flora indicates a warm and humid subtropical climate during Early Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia.     

呼伦湖晚第四纪湖相地层沉积学及湖面波动历史

对内蒙古呼伦湖盆地扎赉诺尔地区晚第四纪湖泊沉积物进行了沉积学（沉积构造、结构、垂向层序等）和＾１４Ｃ年代地层学研究,并逐层识别出地层剖面的各种沉积相类型,包括开阔湖、近岸带、滨岸沙滩、滨岸沼泽和滨岸沙丘等不同类型沉积,依此恢复了３０ｋａＢ．Ｐ．以来的湖泊演化和湖面波动历史。其中１３￣１１ｋａＢ．Ｐ．是湖面最高时期;１０．９￣１０．６ｋａＢ．Ｐ．的低湖面可能与新仙女木事件有关。     

Geochemical characteristics of pyrolysis gas from epimetamorphic rocks in the northern basement of Songliao Basin,Northeast China

The Xushen gas field,located in the north of Songliao Basin,is a potential giant gas area for China in the future.Its proved reserves have exceeded 1000×10 8 m 3 by the end of 2005.But,the origin of natural gases from the deep strata is still in debating.Epimetamorphic rocks as a potential gas source are widely spreading in the northern basement of Songliao Basin.According to pyrolysis experiments for these rocks in the semi-confined system,gas production and geochemistry of alkane gases are discussed in this paper.The Carboniferous-Permian epimetamorphic rocks were heated from 300℃to 550℃,with temperature interval of 50℃.The gas production was quantified and measured for chemical and carbon isotopic compositions.Results show thatδ13C 1 is less than?20‰,carbon isotope trend of alkane gas isδ13C 1 <δ13C 2 <δ13C 3 orδ13C 1 <δ13C 2 >δ13C 3 ,these features suggest that the gas would be coal-type gas at high-over maturity,not be inorganic gas with reversal trend of gaseous alkanes (δ13C 1 >δ13C 2 >δ13C 3 ).These characteristics of carbon isotopes are similar with the natural gas from the basin basement,but disagree with gas from the Xingcheng reservoir.Thus,the mixing gases from the pyrolysis gas with coal-typed gases at high-over maturity or oil-typed gases do not cause the reversal trend of carbon isotopes.The gas generation intensity for epimetamorphic rocks is 3.0×10 8 ―23.8×10 8 m 3 /km 2 ,corresponding to Ro from 2.0%to 3.5%for organic matter.     

Sandstone diagenesis of the Lower Cretaceous Sindong Group, Gyeongsang Basin, southeastern Korea: Implications for compositional and paleoenvironmental controls

Abstract The Gyeongsang Basin is a non‐marine sedimentary basin formed by extensional tectonism during the Early Cretaceous in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. The sediment fill starts with the Sindong Group distributed along the western margin of the basin. It consists of three lithostratigraphic units: the Nakdong (alluvial fan), Hasandong (fluvial) and Jinju (lacustrine) formations with decreasing age. Sindong Group sandstones are classified into four petrofacies (PF) based on their detrital composition: PF‐A consists of the lower Nakdong Formation with average Q₇₃F₁₂R₁₅; PF‐B the upper Nakdong and lower Hasandong formations with Q₆₆F₁₅R₁₈; PF‐C the middle Hasandong to middle Jinju formations with Q₄₉F₂₉R₂₂; and PF‐D the upper Jinju Formation with Q₂₆F₃₄R₄₁. The variations of detrital composition influenced the diagenetic mineral assemblage in the Sindong Group sandstones. Illite and dolomite/ankerite are important diagenetic minerals in PF‐A and PF‐B, whereas calcite and chlorite are dominant diagenetic minerals in PF‐C and PF‐D. Most of the diagenetic minerals can be divided into early and late diagenetic stages of formation. Early diagenetic calcites occur mostly in PF‐C, probably controlled by arid to semiarid climatic conditions during the sandstone deposition, no early calcite being found in PF‐A and PF‐B. Late‐stage calcites are present in all Sindong Group sandstones. The calcium ions may have been derived from shale diagenesis and dissolution of early stage calcites in the Hasandong and Jinju sandstones. Illite, the only diagenetic clay mineral in PF‐A and lower PF‐B, is inferred to be a product of kaolinite transformation during deep burial, and the former presence of kaolinite is inferred from the humid paleoclimatic conditions during the deposition of the Nakdong Formation. Chlorites in PF‐C and PF‐D are interpreted to be the products of transformation of smectitic clay or of precipitation from alkaline pore water under arid to semiarid climatic conditions. The occurrence of late‐stage diagenetic minerals largely depended on the distribution of early diagenetic minerals, which was controlled initially by the sediment composition and paleoclimate.     

燕山地区承德盆地下白垩统磁性地层学研究 及其对华北克拉通破坏的制约

华北克拉通破坏的重要标志是岩石圈减薄、地幔性质转变以及伸展构造活动.长期以来这一重大地质事件发生的时代备受关注,目前已有大量地质、地球物理和地球化学研究结果,但对于华北克拉通破坏的准确时代,尚存争议.本文试图从地磁学的角度为华北克拉通破坏时代提供可靠约束.选取位于华北克拉通北缘的燕山造山带中段—承德盆地作为研究对象.磁性地层学研究结果表明研究剖面记录了三个磁极性段:下部正极性段(N2)、中部负极性段(R1)和上部正极性段(N1),与2004年地磁极性年表对比并结合129～128 Ma的火山岩同位素年龄(与B. Schoene 私人通信),认为剖面下部正极性段(N2)对应于M3n,负极性段(R1)对应于M1r,上部正极性段(N1)对应于M1n,由此得出承德盆地袁家庄剖面沉积作用起始年龄约为128 Ma.作为华北克拉通重要断陷盆地之一,承德盆地的沉积年龄可以为华北克拉通破坏时代提供有力约束.岩石磁学研究结果表明,研究剖面火山岩的剩磁载体十分复杂,可能与伴随华北克拉通破坏峰期出现的地壳变形、岩浆活动、地幔上涌、下地壳重熔等深部动力过程密切相关.综合分析结果表明,华北克拉通破坏的峰期为128～125 Ma.     

Cretaceous desert cycles,wind direction and hydrologic cycle variations in Ordos Basin: Evidence for Cretaceous climatic unequability

Whether climate under greenhouse condition in geological history, especially in Cretaceous, was eq-uable or not has been acutely debated for a long time. Early studies[1—8] show that the subtropical zones then expanded northwards and southwards to the latitudes about 65S and 65N, while the temperate zones oc-cupied the latitudes of 65—90S and 65—90N. Con-sequently, the two poles were ice-free, equator-to-pole surface temperature gradient was obviously reduced, amplitude of climatic change…     

松科2井东孔营城组高放射性异常层测井响应特征及成因初探

松科2井东孔是松辽盆地科学钻探工程的主体钻孔,按照计划在全井段进行地球物理测井资料采集,为深部资源勘探及白垩纪古气候、古环境研究提供准确和全面的地球物理信息.在诸多测井方法中,自然伽马测井和自然伽马能谱测井能够测量地层的天然放射性强度和铀、钍、钾元素含量等参数,被有效地应用于放射性矿床勘查,尤其是铀资源的勘查与研究;电阻率、声波、密度和中子测井等常规测井和核磁共振成像、电阻率成像、元素俘获谱测井等特殊测井能够获取地层岩性和物性参数等信息,为铀矿勘查提供有力支持.本文利用松科2井东孔自然伽马测井资料来识别高放射性异常层;基于常规测井与特殊测井资料,结合前人的地质研究成果,分析放射性异常层的特征和成因.核测井曲线指示营城组存在两段高放射性异常层,深度分别为3096.8~3102.8 m（Ⅰ号层）、3168.3~3170.9 m（Ⅱ号层）.Ⅰ号层自然伽马值最高达360 API,铀含量范围20.5~29.3 ppm,综合测井和岩心资料判断该层为砾岩,具有铀成矿潜力;分析表明,构造条件和后生改造作用是影响Ⅰ号层铀富集的关键因素,推测断裂-火山活动和盆地抬升剥蚀为含铀地下水及油气运移至Ⅰ号层提供了通道,油气的后生还原作用最终导致了Ⅰ号异常层的铀富集.Ⅱ号层自然伽马值最高达250API,钍含量22.4~37.3 ppm,铀含量5.9~11.0 ppm,为集块熔岩及凝灰岩,高放射性异常可能是高钍含量的流纹质成分和粘土矿物对铀的吸附作用导致的.松科2井东孔营城组高放射性异常层具有埋藏深度深、铀含量高等特点,表明松辽盆地深部具有找铀矿前景.

     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of Early Cretaceous high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks in the Laiyang Basin of the Sulu Belt, eastern China

Abstract Early Cretaceous high‐K calc‐alkaline volcanism occurring in the Laiyang Basin north of the Sulu high‐pressure to ultrahigh‐pressure (HP‐UHP) Metamorphic Belt, eastern China, comprises a wide spectrum of rock types, ranging from trachybasalts to trachydacites. The basaltic–andesitic rocks erupted at 107–105 Ma, spanning an SiO₂ range of 50.1–59.6% and an MgO range of 2.6–7.2%, and are characterized by large ion lithophile element (LILE; e.g. Ba and K) and light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, high field strength element (HFSE) depletion and highly radiogenic Sr but non‐radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(i) = 0.70750–0.70931; ?_Nd(t) = ?17.9 ? ?15.6). The geochemical similarities between these rocks and the earlier Sulu Belt lamprophyres suggest that both types of mafic rocks were derived from similar mantle sources with LILE and LREE enrichment. Thus, the Wulian–Qingdao–Yantai Fault that separates the two terranes at the surface should not be considered as a lithospheric boundary between the North China and Yangtze blocks. The felsic lavas erupted at 93–91 Ma, spanning an SiO₂ range of 61.6–67.0% and an MgO range of 1.1–2.6%, and show a trace element geochemistry similar to the basaltic rocks, but with higher radiogenic Sr and even lower Nd isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(i) = 0.70957–0.71109; ?_Nd(t) = ?19.1 ? ?17.5), similar to I‐type granitoids in the Sulu Belt. A crustal origin was proposed to explain their compositions (which are comparable to those of experimental slab melts), the >10 Ma eruption interval and the compositional gaps in some elements (e.g. P, Ti and Sr) between them and the older basaltic–andesitic rocks. These melts were derived from predominant metaigneous protoliths containing mafic accumulative counterparts of the basaltic–andesitic and/or lamprophyric magmas. The extensive extrusion of Early Cretaceous high‐K calc‐alkaline rocks in the Laiyang Basin favored an extensional regime in response to the progressive attenuation of the thickened lithosphere and orogenic collapse, as reflected in the development of the basin from a foreland basin (before the end of the Jurassic period) to a fault basin (since the Early Cretaceous period).     

Crude-oil hydrocarbon composition characteristics and oil viscosity prediction in the northern Songliao Basin

Crude oil hydrocarbon composition characteristics and oil viscosity prediction are important bases in petroleum exploration.A total of 54 oil/heavy-oil samples and 17 oil sands were analyzed and quantified using both comprehensive 2D gas chromatography(GC×GC)and comprehensive 2D gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry(GC×GC/TOFMS).The results show that crude oil in the West slope is mainly heavy oil and its hydrocarbon composition is characterized overall by paraffinsmono-aromaticsnaphthenesnon-hydrocarbonsdi-aromaticstri-aromaticstetra-aromatics.Aromatics are most abundant and non-hydrocarbons are least abundant,whilst content differences among paraffins,naphthenes,aromatics,and non-hydrocarbons are less than 15%.There are two types of heavy oil,secondary type and mixing type.Biodegradation is the main formation mechanism of heavy oil.Biodegradation levels cover light biodegradation,moderate biodegradation,and severe biodegradation.With increasing biodegradation,paraffin content decreases while contents of aromatics and nonhydrocarbons increase.In contrast,naphthene content increases first and then decreases with increasing biodegradation.In severe biodegradation stage,naphthenes decrease more quickly than aromatics and non-hydrocarbons.This provides a new method for studying oil/heavy-oil biodegradation mechanism and biodegradation resistance of different hydrocarbons at different biodegradation stages.In the Longhupao-Daan terrace and Qijia-Gulong depression,most crude oil is conventional oil.Its composition is dominated by paraffins with the lowest content of aromatics.In some casual oil wells from the Longhupao-Daan terrace,crude oil from Saertu oil reservoirs is moderately biodegraded whereas crude oil from Putaohua oil reservoir is lightly biodegraded.Chemical parameters using saturate hydrocarbons and aromatics are usually not suitable for determining organic type and thermal maturity of biodegraded oil,especially of moderately or severely biodegraded oil,whilst Ts/(Ts+Tm)ratio can be used to determine thermal maturity of both conventional crude oil and heavy oil.     

Indicator of paleosalinity: Sedimentary sulfur and organic carbon in the Jurassic–Cretaceous Tetori Group,central Japan

A simple geochemical technique using the ratio of total sulfur (TS) to total organic carbon (TOC) was successfully used to reconstruct paleoenvironments in the Jurassic–Cretaceous Tetori Group, central Japan. The TS to TOC ratio is often employed as an effective parameter to separate modern marine or brackish sediments from freshwater deposits. To test the TS/TOC method for paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Tetori Group, we first analyzed TS/TOC for samples for which depositional conditions (i.e. marine, brackish or freshwater) had been recognized paleontologically. The results indicate that the method can effectively separate sedimentary rocks deposited under freshwater from marine and brackish settings. Once we had established the effectiveness of this method, we applied it to three sections of the Tetori Group, central Japan. Stratigraphic fluctuations in TS/TOC values revealed episodic incursions of marine or brackish conditions in the dominantly freshwater depositional sequence in the middle of the Jobu Formation of the Itoshiro Subgroup at the Izumi section, Fukui Prefecture. The same paleoenvironment is also suggested to occur at the top of the Tetori Group in the Tateyama section, Toyama Prefecture. This research provides important information to paleogeographers who currently lack evidence from facies fossils to indicate if the uppermost part of the Tetori Group represents marine or brackish settings. A chemostratigraphy of TS/TOC parameters potentially could provide a correlation among Jurassic–Cretaceous sequences along continental margins over East Asia.     

Late stage thermal history of the Songliao Basin and its tectonic implications: Evidence from apatite fission track (AFT) analyses

Apatite Fission Track (AFT) data from the Songliao Basin indicates that the late stage tectonic movements in the Songliao Basin have zoning in space and episodes in time. The late stage tectonic movements started from the east part of the basin and migrated westward. AFT ages in the east part of the basin are older than those in the west part of the basin, suggesting that the uplift occurred earlier in the east than in the west. The denudation thickness in the east part of the basin is significantly greater than that in the centre and west. The thermal history evolved two episodes of rapid cooling and subsequent slow cooling processes. Age-depth relationship derived from the AFT data indicates a four-episode denudation history. Further Monte Carlo random simulation of the AFT data reveals the four changing points of the thermal evolution at 65 Ma, 43.5 Ma, 28 Ma and 15 Ma, respectively. The uplifting and denudation rates from different episodes of evolution are proportional to the plate convergence rate. Based on the above analyses and the regional geologic background, it is concluded that the late stage thermal events in the Songliao Basin are the far field response to the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Eurasian Plate. The first episode of the rapid cooling probably started at the end of the Nenjiang Formation, climaxed at the end of the Cretaceous and ceased at the Late Eocene. The subsequent slow cooling lasts another 15 Ma. The first episode of the evolution is the far field response to the major episode of the Yanshan Movement and subsequent series of the tectonic reorganization, especially the directional change of the Pacific Movement and also the subduction of the Indian Plate underneath the Eurasian Plate. While the second episode of the evolution is the far field response to the extension and closure of the Sea of Japan. Extension led to the migration and converging of the mantle heat flow to the Sea of Japan and resulted in the rapid cooling of the Songliao Basin.     

Migration of growth axial surfaces and its implications for multiphase tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Zhangwu fault depression,southern Songliao Basin,NE China

The normal fault-bend folding theory uses active axial surfaces, inactive axial surfaces, and growth axial surfaces to describe the geometric relationship between faults and deformation of a hanging wall. The dip of a growth axial surface is related to the fault slip rate and the basin sedimentation rate: higher fault slip rates result in smaller dips of growth axial surfaces, whereas higher basin sedimentation rates produce larger dips of growth axial surfaces. Moreover, the growth axial surface will be a straight line if both the fault slip and sedimentation rates remain relatively unchanged, but will become curved if both rates are variable. Therefore, the characteristics of growth axial surfaces can provide clear information on the evolution of faulting and deposition. By studying the seismic profiles of the Zhangwu fault depression of the southern Songliao Basin, we show that the migration of growth axial surfaces and unconformities can be used as indicators of basin development. Multiphase tectonic activity will not only produce unconformities but also result in migration of growth axial surfaces or inactive axial surfaces. Therefore, the normal fault-bend folding theory, particularly with regard to the evolution of growth axial surfaces, can be applied to the interpretation of geometric and kinematic evolutions of half-grabens and the exploration of related tectono-sedimentary processes.