Paleontological and magnetostratigraphic data on Upper Cretaceous deposits from borehole no. 8 (Russkaya Polyana District, Southwestern Siberia)

This work presents results of complex research (palynological, macro- and microfaunistic, and paleomagnetic) of Upper Cretaceous deposits, opened by borehole no. 8 in the Russkaya Polyana District (the southern margin of the Omsk Depression, Southwestern Siberia). The paleontological data obtained allowed us to establish the age of deposits. Based on dinocysts, nannoplankton and spore-pollen complexes, the section of borehole no. 8 has been divided into Pokur, Kuznetsovo, Ipatovo, Slavgorod, and Gan’kino Formations. This work gives data on the composition of zonal palynomorphs, nannoplankton, and microfaunistic complexes. Based on the complex data obtained, the magnetostratigraphic section of Upper Cretaceous deposits has been developed. The section consists of three magnetozones: normal and two reversed polarity magnetozones. The Pokur, Kuznetsovo and Ipatovo Formation (Cenomanian-Santonian) belong to the long normal polarity magnetozone; the Slavgorod and Gan’kino Formations (Campanian-Maastrichtian), separated by a stratigraphic break, belong to reversed polarity magnetozones. The magnetostratigraphic section has been correlated with the general magnetostratigraphic and magnetochronological time scales.     

Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene Deposits in the South of Western Siberia by Example of Russkaya Polyana Boreholes,Omsk Trough

The detailed study of Boreholes 8, 10, and 2 in the Russkaya Polyana district (Omsk Trough) made it possible to reveal the complex structure of the Upper Cretaceous sediments formed in unstable conditions of the marginal part of the Western Siberian basin. The Pokur, Kuznetsovo, Ipatovo, Slavgorod, and Gan’kino formations were subjected to palynological analysis and substantiation of their Late Cretaceous age. Eight biostratigraphic units with dinocysts and five units with spores and pollen from the Albian to the Maastrichtian were identified. The joint application of biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic methods made it possible to reveal the stratigraphic breaks in the studied sedimentary stratum and to estimate their scope. The age of the Lower Lyulinvor Subformation was specified in the marginal part of the Omsk Trough. The ingression traces of the Western Siberian basin in the Albian were found for the first time in the considered region.     

Magnetostratigraphy of the Campanian–Maastrichtian Bakchar Basin (southeastern West Siberia)

In this paper the results of magnetostratigraphic studies of the Upper Cretaceous penetrated by two wells (S-124 and S-114) drilled in the Tomsk structural-facies zone (Bakchar iron ore deposit) are presented. The obtained biostratigraphic data show that the sediments formed in the Campanian–Maastrichtian time interval. The high-temperature component of the remanent magnetization identified in the rocks allowed us to compile paleomagnetic columns for each well and correlate the columns, using paleontological data, with each other and with the general magnetostratigraphic and magnetochronological scales. In magnetostratigraphic sections of two wells, the Campanian reverse-polarity Slavgorod Formation (R(km)) with a normal-polarity horizon is correlated with Chron C33(r) (top) and C33(n) (bottom) of the Gradstein scale, and the Maastrichtian normal-polarity Gan’kino Formation with a thin reverse-polarity horizon (N(mt)) is correlated with Chron C30 of this scale.     

Paleomagnetism and magnetostratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous and Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary intervals,southern Kulunda basin (West Siberia)

The study presents new paleomagnetic data on the Upper Cretaceous and Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary intervals of the southern Kulunda basin (Alei area), which were obtained from core samples collected from a 305-m-thick section penetrated in two wells. The paleomagnetic sections of each well were compiled and correlated based on the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM). Paleomagnetic, geological, stratigraphic, and paleontological data were used to compile the Upper Cretaceous and Cretaceous-Paleogene magnetostratigraphic section of the southern Kulunda basin. The magnetostratigraphic section consists of five magnetozones, one normal polarity zone, and four reversed polarity zones spanning the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene. The lower part of the Gan’kino Horizon, showing normal polarity, forms a single normal polarity magnetozone N. The upper part of the Gan’kino Horizon comprises two reversed polarity magnetozones (R₁km and R₂mt). The Talitsa and Lyulinvor Formations of Lower Paleogene age correspond to two reversed polarity magnetozones (R₁zl and R₂i). The compiled Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene magnetostratigraphic section was correlated with the geomagnetic polarity time scale. Two options were considered for correlating the lower normal polarity part of the section with geomagnetic polarity time scale of Gradstein.     

Stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits of the Bakchar iron ore deposit (southwestern Siberia): New data

The results of complex palynological and microfaunistic studies of Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits of the Bakchar iron ore deposit are presented. Geochronologically, the age of the deposits varies from Campanian to Quaternary. It was established that the Slavgorod, Gan’kino, and Jurki (?) formations contain four biostratons in the rank of beds with dinocysts and three biostratons in the rank of beds with spores and pollen. The Cenozoic continental deposits contain four biostratons in the rank of beds, containing spores and pollen. As a result of the study, a large stratigraphic gap in the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary deposits, covering a significant part of the Maastrichtian, Paleocene, Ypresian, and Lutetian stages of the Eocene, was established. The remnants of a new morphotype of heteromorphic ammonites of genus Baculites were first described in deposits of the Slavgorod Formation (preliminarily, upper Campanian). The distribution features of the different palynomorph groups in the Upper Cretaceous–Cenozoic deposits in the area of study due to transgressive-regressive cycles and climate fluctuations were revealed.     

New Cretaceous paleomagnetic results from the foreland of the Southern Alps and the refined apparent polar wander path for stable Adria

The central-western and the eastern Southern Alps are separated by the triangular shaped Adige embayment, which belongs to stable Adria and was the site of pelagic sedimentation from the Tithonian through Maastrichtian. The first part of this study presents paleomagnetic results from the Tithonian–Cenomanian Biancone and Turonian–Maastrichtian Scaglia Rossa formations sampled at 33 geographically distributed and biostratigraphically dated localities.The new and high quality paleomagnetic results from the Adige embayment are then combined with coeval paleomagnetic directions from autochthonous Istria (Márton et al., 2008), which also belongs to stable Adria. The combined data set (which for the Late Albian–Maastrichtian time period is constructed similarly to the synthetic African curve by Besse and Courtillot, 2002, 2003) reveals an important tectonic event (Late Aptian–Early Albian) characterized by 20° CCW rotation and sedimentary hiatus.Comparison between paleomagnetic declinations/inclinations expected in an African framework (i.e. with the assumption that Adria is still an African promontory) leads to the following conclusions. The time-distributed Tithonian and Berriasian (150–135 Ma) paleomagnetic directions exhibit the “African hairpin” with an inclination minimum and a sudden change from CW to CCW rotation at 145 Ma. Concerning the younger ages, the declinations for Adria continue to follow the African trend of CCW rotation till the end of Cretaceous. However, the Tithonian–Maastrichtian declination curve for stable Adria is displaced by 10° from the “African” curve as a result of two rotations. The first, an about 20° CW rotation of Adria with respect to Africa took place between the Maastrichtian and the mid-Eocene. During this time the orientation of Adria remained the same, while Africa continued its CCW rotation. The younger rotation (30°CCW) changed the orientation of Adria relative to Africa as well as to the present North.     

Dinosaur eggshells from the Santonian Milk River Formation of Alberta,Canada

The North American fossil record of dinosaur eggshells for the Cretaceous is primarily restricted to formations of the middle (Albian–Cenomanian) and uppermost (Campanian–Maastrichtian) stages, with a large gap in the record for intermediate stages. Here we describe a dinosaur eggshell assemblage from a formation that represents an intermediate and poorly fossiliferous stage of the Upper Cretaceous, the Santonian Milk River Formation of southern Alberta, Canada. The Milk River eggshell assemblage contains five eggshell taxa: Continuoolithus, Porituberoolithus, Prismatoolithus, Spheroolithus, and Triprismatoolithus. These ootaxa are most similar to those reported from younger Campanian–Maastrichtian formations of the northern Western Interior than they are to ootaxa reported from older middle Cretaceous formations (i.e., predominantly Macroelongatoolithus). Characteristics of the Milk River ootaxa indicate that they are ascribable to at least one ornithopod and four small theropod species. The taxonomic affinity of the eggshell assemblage is consistent with the dinosaur fauna known based on isolated teeth and fragmentary skeletal remains from the formation, although most ornithischians and large theropods are not represented by eggshell. Relative to the Milk River Formation eggshell, similar oospecies occurring in younger Cretaceous deposits tend to be somewhat thicker, which may reflect an increase in body size of various dinosaur lineages during the Late Cretaceous.     

Cretaceous stratigraphy of the Ionian Zone,Hellenides, western Greece

The Cretaceous sedimentary successions of the Ionian Zone, Hellenides, western Greece, are composed of pelagic limestones intercalated with cherty layers. The micritic and biomicritic beds with abundant chert nodules and cherty horizons, which were deposited during late Tithonian to early Santonian times, belong to the Vigla Limestone Formation, while the sediments deposited during the late Santonian to Maastrichtian, formed clastic limestone beds in which chert nodules also occur sparsely.In the Cretaceous beds calpionellids, planktonic and benthonic foraminifera characteristics of the Tethyan realm, and radiolaria have been recorded. The calpionellids, together with radiolaria, colonized the entire basin during the Berriasian to early Valanginian, the latter becoming dominant during the Hauterivian to early Albian as a result of anoxia. Planktonic foraminifera first appeared in the basin during the late Albian and persisted until the Maastrichtian. The numbers decreased, however, during the Cenomanian-early Turonian interval, when radiolaria increased owing to anoxic conditions, and during the Campanian-Maastrichtian interval because the basin became shallow. During this interval larger benthonic foraminifera colonized the basin. Zonal markers have been recognized in calpionellid and planktonic foraminiferal assemblages on the basis of which two calpionellid zones are distinguished, viz. the Calpionella alpina and Calpionellopsis Zones (Berriasian-early Valanginian) along with seven planktonic foraminiferal zones, viz. the Rotalipora ticinensis, Rotalipora appenninica (late Albian), Rotalipora brotzeni (early Cenomanian), Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica (early to middle Turonian), Marginotruncana sigali(late Turonian to early Coniacian), Dicarinella concavata (late Coniacian to early Santonian) and Dicarinella asymetrica (late early-late Santonian) Zones.The anoxic conditions that prevailed in the Ionian basin during the Barremian-early Albian, Cenomanian-early Turonian and Coniacian-Santonian intervals probably arose as a result of (a) the accumulation of large amounts of organic matter because the palaeotopography of the basin periodically hindered the circulation of water from the ocean and (b) the oxygen content of the intruding oceanic waters was low.     

Palynostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental significance of the Cretaceous palynomorphs in the Qattara Rim-1X well,North Western Desert,Egypt

Palynological and palynofacies analyses were carried out on some Cretaceous samples from the Qattara Rim-1X borehole, north Western Desert, Egypt. The recorded palynoflora enabled the recognition of two informal miospore biozones arranged from oldest to youngest as Elaterosporites klaszii-Afropollis jardinus Assemblage Zone (mid Albian) and Elaterocolpites castelainii–Afropollis kahramanensis Assemblage Zone (late Albian–mid Cenomanian). A poorly fossiliferous but however, datable interval (late Cenomanian–Turonian to ?Campanian–Maastrichtian) representing the uppermost part of the studied section was also recorded. The palynofacies and visual thermal maturation analyses indicate a mature terrestrially derived organic matter (kerogen III) dominates the sediments of the Kharita and Bahariya formations and thus these two formations comprise potential mature gas source rocks. The sediments of the Abu Roash Formation are mostly dominated by mature amorphous organic matter (kerogen II) and the formation is regarded as a potential mature oil source rock in the well. The palynomorphs and palynofacies analyses suggest deposition of the clastics of the Kharita and Bahariya formations (middle Albian and upper Albian–middle Cenomanian) in a marginal marine setting under dysoxic–anoxic conditions. By contrast, the mixed clastic-carbonate sediments of the Abu Roash Formation (upper Cenomanian–Turonian) and the carbonates of the Khoman Formation (?Campanian–Maastrichtian) were mainly deposited in an inner shallow marine setting under prevailing suboxic–anoxic conditions as a result of the late Cenomanian and the Campanian marine transgressions. This environmental change from marginal to open (inner shelf) basins reflects the vertical change in the type of the organic matter and its corresponding hydrocarbon-prone types. A regional warm and semi-arid climate but with a local humid condition developed near/at the site of the well is thought to have prevailed.     

Aptian and Albian atmospheric CO2 changes during oceanic anoxic events: Evidence from fossil Ginkgo cuticles in Jilin Province,Northeast China

The Early Cretaceous was a time with super-greenhouse conditions and episodic global oceanic anoxic events. However, relative timing of atmospheric CO₂ emissions and oceanic anoxic events, and their causal relationships remain matters of debate. Using the stomatal index approach, well-preserved fossil cuticles of Ginkgo from the Lower Cretaceous Changcai Formation, eastern Jilin, and from the Lower Cretaceous Yingcheng Formation, central Jilin, Northeast China, were investigated to reconstruct atmospheric CO₂ concentrations during the Aptian and earliest Albian (Early Cretaceous). The results indicate that the CO₂ concentrations reached 1098–1142 ppmv (Carboniferous standardization) or 970–1305 ppmv (regression function) during the Aptian and earliest Albian. Our estimates of palaeoatmospheric CO₂ concentrations during the earliest Albian (OAE 1b) are slightly higher than the data between the early Aptian Selli (OAE 1a) and the middle Aptian Fallot OAEs; this may indicate the absence of any great emissions of CO₂ during the latest Aptian and earliest Albian.     

Reconstruction of the geodynamic evolution of the Northern Calcareous Alps by means of paleomagnetism

We review the paleomagnetic studies published on the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) and also include data from two theses that were not published yet. Moreover, we present new data from upper Santonian to Maastrichtian Gosau deposits from the Neue Welt Area in the easternmost part of the NCA (D = 325.8. I = 37.1, α₉₅ = 8.3, positive fold test, thus indicating counterclockwise rotation and inclination flattening). Although several of the recently published studies provide valuable data, presently the paleomagnetic data base of the NCA does not provide a sufficient frame work for a quantitatively backed paleogeographic model. By thus documenting the state of research, we want to outline major problems regarding the paleomagnetic characterization of the NCA and also specify the kind of paleomagnetic future work that is particularly needed within this mountain range.     

Variations of the geomagnetic field during the Cretaceous

This study provides a compilation of the paleointensity records for the Cretaceous period derived from sediments of the Russian Plate and adjacent areas. The paleoinetensity values were calibrated using the laboratory redeposition experiments. Remarkable differences in the relative paleointensity variations were detected at the Berriasian–Early Barremian, Late Barremian–Santonian and Early–Late Maastrichtian boundaries. In the Berriasian–Early Barremian interval, the paleointensity varied stochastically, with the amplitude of about 1H_o and the mean value of 0.63H_o (H_o is the present-day geomagnetic field intensity assumed to be 40 μT). The records for the Barremian–Santonian give a picture of the geomagnetic field with alternating high- and low-amplitude features. The mean paleointensities remain constantly high (being on average 0.87H_o), and intervals of low-amplitude variation alternate with the pronounced bursts (3.5H_o). The Late Maastrichtian interval is characterized by high-amplitude paleointensity variations (4H_o) and a sharp drop towards the end of the interval. All records show remarkable similarities near the boundaries between geological time intervals, which are an increase in the amplitude and mean values of intensity at the end of intervals followed by a decrease towards the beginning of the subsequent interval.     

Cretaceous slab break-off in the Pyrenees: Iberian plate kinematics in paleomagnetic and mantle reference frames

The Pyrenees at the Iberia–Europe collision zone contain sediments showing Albian–Cenomanian high-temperature metamorphism, and coeval alkaline magmatic rocks. Stemming from different views on Jurassic–Cretaceous Iberian microplate kinematics, two schools of thought exist on the trigger of this thermal pulse: one invoking hyperextension of the Iberian and Eurasian margins, the other suggesting slab break-off. Competing scenarios for Mesozoic Iberian motion compatible with Pyrenean geology, comprise (1) transtensional eastward motion of Iberia versus Eurasia, or (2) strike-slip motion followed by orthogonal extension, both favoring hyperextension-related heating, and (3) scissor-style opening of the Bay of Biscay coupled with subduction in the Pyrenean realm, favoring the slab break-off hypothesis. We test these kinematic scenarios for Iberia against a newly compiled paleomagnetic dataset and conclude that the scissor-type scenario is the only one consistent with a well-defined ~ 35° counterclockwise rotation of Iberia during the Early Aptian. We proceed to show that when taking absolute plate motions into account, Aptian oceanic subduction in the Pyrenees followed by Late Aptian–Early Albian slab break-off should leave a slab remnant in the present-day mid-mantle below NW Africa. Mantle tomography shows the Reggane anomaly that matches the predicted position and dimension of such a slab remnant between 1900 and 1500 km depth below southern Algeria. Mantle tomography is therefore consistent with the scissor-type opening of the Bay of Biscay coupled with subduction in the Pyrenean realm. Slab break-off may thus explain high-temperature metamorphism and alkaline magmatism during the Albian–Cenomanian in the Pyrenees, whereas hyperextension that exhumed Pyrenean mantle bodies occurred much earlier, in the Jurassic.     

Reconstruction of burial history of eroded Mesozoic strata using kimberlite shale xenoliths,volcaniclastic and crater facies,Northwest Territories,Canada

Reconstruction of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary ‘cover’ on the Precambrian shield in the Lac de Gras diamond field, Northwest Territories, Canada, has been achieved using Cretaceous and early Tertiary sedimentary xenoliths and contemporaneous organic matter preserved in volcaniclastic sediments associated with late Cretaceous to early Tertiary kimberlite pipe intrusions, and in situ, Eocene crater lake, lacustrine and peat bog strata. Percent reflectance in oil (%Ro) of vitrinite within shale xenoliths for: (i) Albian to mid-Cenomanian to Turonian ranges from > 0.27 to 0.42 %Ro (mean = 0.38 %Ro), (ii) Maastrichtian to early Paleocene from 0.24 to < 0.30%; (iii) latest Paleocene to early middle Eocene 0.15 to < 0.23 %Ro (mean = 0.18 %Ro). These levels of thermal maturity are corroborated by Rock Eval pyrolysis T_max (°C) and VIS region fluorescence of liptinites, with wavelengths of maximum emission for sporinite, prasinophyte alginite and dinoflagellates consistent with vitrinite reflectance of 0.20 to < 0.50 %Ro. Burial–thermal history modeling, constrained by measured vitrinite reflectance and porosity of shale xenoliths, predicts a maximum burial temperature for Mid to Late Albian strata (∼115 Ma) of 60 °C with ∼1.2 to 1.4 km of Cretaceous strata in the Lac de Gras kimberlite field region prior to major uplift and erosion, which began at 90 Ma. Late Paleocene to middle Eocene volcanic crater lake lacustrine to peat bog strata were only buried to a few hundreds of meters and are in a peat-brown coal stage of thermal maturation.     

The chronology of dinosaur oospecies in south-western Europe: Refinements from the Maastrichtian succession of the eastern Pyrenees

The Late Cretaceous deposits of the continental Tremp Formation in the Vallcebre Syncline (South-eastern Pyrenees) provide an extensive egg record of dinosaurs. The parataxonomical study and analysis of multiple eggshell samples, the precise stratigraphical control of several sections and the time calibration of the abundant egg levels enable the establishment of a robust oospecies succession. The successive occurrence of three megaloolithid oospecies (Megaloolithus siruguei-Megaloolithus mamillare-Megaloolithus sp.) in the Early and Late Maastrichtian is well correlated with the magnetic polarity time scale throughout the chron 31. The replacement of Megaloolithus siruguei with Megaloolithus mamillare occurs around the reversal of chrons 31r-31n. A comparison with oospecies successions from Arc basin localities (France) allows the age calibration for such oospecies replacement to be confirmed. This age refinement implies that some of the stated boundaries for the proposed oospecies assemblages may change and that an in-depth revision of the age and magnetic calibration of some south European egg localities is required.     

Palynostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental significance of the Cretaceous succession in the Gebel Rissu-1 well,north Western Desert,Egypt

Palynological investigation of the Cretaceous Abu Roash, Bahariya, Kharita, Alamein, Alam El Bueib and Betty formations, encountered in the Gebel Rissu-1 well, north Western Desert, Egypt yielded 27 species of pteridophytic spores, 24 of gymnosperm pollen, 25 of angiosperm pollen and 11 of dinoflagellate cysts in addition to some acritarchs, foraminiferal test linings and freshwater algae. This enabled us to recognize five miospore biozones arranged from youngest to oldest as: Classopollis brasiliensis–Afropollis cf. kahramanensis–Dichastopollenites ghazalataensis Assemblage Zone (Late Cenomanian); Elaterosporites klaszii–Sofrepites legouxae–Afropollis jardinus Assemblage Zone (Middle/Late Albian–Early Cenomanian); Pennipollis peroreticulatus–Duplexisporites generalis-Tricolpates Assemblage Zone (Early Aptian–Early Albian); Tucanopollis crisopolensis–Afropollis sp. Assemblage Zone (Barremian) and Appendicisporites cf. tricornitatus–Ephedripites spp. Assemblage Zone (Late Neocomian).The Early Cretaceous Kharita, Alam El Bueib and the Betty formations encountered in the Gebel Rissu-1 well are interpreted to indicate oxic proximal and distal shelf deposits, characterized by type III/IV, V kerogen, which is gas prone but having little potential to produce hydrocarbons. The Upper Cretaceous Abu Roash and Bahariya formations are characterized by a distal suboxic–anoxic and marginal dysoxic–anoxic environment, and their kerogen type III/II indicates gas/oil prone nature. The Bahariya and Kharita Albian–Cenomanian sediments in the present study witnessed the onset of a semi-arid to arid climate, with local or seasonal humid conditions, based on the continuous high abundance of the elaterates pollen and Afropollis-producing plants that inhabited the paleotropical humid coastal plains.     

Cretaceous climate oscillations in the southern palaeolatitudes: New stable isotope evidence from India and Madagascar

Palaeotemperatures for the Cretaceous of India and Madagascar have been determined on the basis of oxygen isotopic analysis of well-preserved Albian belemnite rostra and Maastrichtian bivalve shells of from the Trichinopoly district, southern India, and Albian nautiloid and ammonoid cephalopods from the Mahajang Province, Madagascar. The Albian (possibly late Albian) palaeotemperatures for Trichinopoly district are inferred to range from 14.9 °C to 18.5 °C for the epipelagic zone, and from 14.3 °C to 15.9 °C for the mesopelagic zone, based on analyses of 65 samples; isotopic palaeotemperatures interpreted as summer and winter values for near-bottom shelf waters in this area fluctuate from 16.3 to 18.5 °C and from 14.9 to 16.1 °C, respectively. The mentioned palaeotemperatures are very similar to those calculated from isotopic composition of middle Albian belemnites of the middle latitude area of Pas-de-Calais in Northern hemisphere but significantly higher than those calculated from isotopic composition of Albian belemnites from southern Argentina and the Antarctic and middle Albian belemnites of Australia located within the warm-temperate climatic zone. Isotopic analysis of early Albian cephalopods from Madagascar shows somewhat higher palaeotemperatures for summer near-bottom shelf waters in this area (20.2-21.6 °C) in comparison with late Albian palaeotemperatures calculated from southern India fossils, but similar winter values (13.3-16.4 °C); however, the latter values are somewhat higher than those calculated from early Albian ammonoids of the tropical-subtropical climatic zone of the high latitude area of southern Alaska and the Koryak Upland. The new isotopic palaeotemperature data suggest that southern India and Madagascar were located apparently in middle latitudes (within the tropical-subtropical climatic zone) during Albian time. In contrast to the Albian fossils, isotope results of well-preserved early Maastrichtian bivalve shells from the Ariyalur Group, Trichinopoly district, are characterised by lower δ¹⁸O values (up to −5.8‰) but normal δ¹³C values, which might be a result local freshwater input into the marine environment. Our data suggest that the early Maastrichtian palaeotemperature of the southern Indian near-bottom shelf waters was probably about 21.2 °C, and that this middle latitude region continued to be a part of tropical-subtropical climatic zone, but with tendency of increasing of humidity at the end of Cretaceous time.     

Cretaceous trigonioidid (non-marine Bivalvia) assemblages and biostratigraphy in Asia with special remarks on the classification of Trigonioidacea

Non-marine Cretaceous bivalve Trigonioidacea, having an anterior pedal retractor scar distinctly separated from the anterior adductor scar, are subdivided herein into seven families and subfamilies, and 26 genera and subgenera. The general ornament pattern at the family and subfamily level, and features of the radial ribs, including the VA (angle of V-shaped ribs) and hinge teeth at the generic and subgeneric level serve as the basis for classification. They have a wide distribution in Asia, particularly in Middle and East Asia. Seven trigonioidid assemblages are recognized and dated on the basis of morphological features and stratigraphical occurrence of the fossils as well as associated intercalated marine deposits. The seven assemblages are as follows: (1) Hauterivian–Barremian and ?Valanginian Nippononaia (Eonippononaia) tetoriensis–Koreanaia (Eokoreanaia) cheongi–Danlengiconcha elongata assemblage; (2) Late Barremian-Early Albian, but mainly Aptian, Nippononaia (Nippononaia) ryosekiana–Koreanaia (Koreanaia) bongkyuni–Trigonioides (Wakinoa) wakinoensis–Trigonioides (Trigonioides) kodairai–Trigonioides (Trigonioides) quadratus–Plicatounio (Plicatounio) naktongensis–Pseudohyria (Matsumotoina) matsumotoi assemblage; (3) Aptian-Early Albian, but mainly Aptian, Trigonioides (Trigonioides)–Plicatounio (Guangxiconcha) suzukii assemblage; (4) Late Aptian-Early Cenomanian, but mainly Albian, Trigonioides (Diversitrigonioides) diversicostatus–Pseudohyria (Pseudohyria) subovalis assemblage; (5) Albian, probably extending down into Aptian, Trigonioides (Trigonioides) heilongjiangensis bed; (6) Cenomanian, but possibly going up into Turonian, Trigonioides (Trigonioides) paucisulcatus–Trigonioides (Trigonioides) matsumotoi–Trigonioides (Trigonioides) mifunensis–Plicatounio (Guangxiconcha) tamurai assemblage; and (7) Turonian—Early Maastrichtian, but mainly Santonian—Early Maastrichtian, Plicatounio (Plicatounio) hunanensis–Pseudohyria (Pseudohyria) turberculata–Pseudohyria (Pseudohyria) cardiiformis–Pseudohyria (Pseudohyria) aralica assemblage. This biostratigraphy permits correlation and age determination of trigonioidid-bearing formations throughout Asia.     

Relative sea-level, tectono-eustasy, geoidal-eustasy and geodynamics during the Cretaceous

A priori, the recorded relative sea-level changes during the Cretaceous must be the combined effect of tectono-eustasy, geoidal-eustasy and various crustal level changes. To this we must add the human factor of differences and errors in interpretations.A posteriori, it is claimed that geoidal-eustasy dominated during the Hauterivian, Barremian, Turonian, Santonian and Maastrichtian, that tectono-eustasy dominated during the Albian, Cenomanian, Campanian and at the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary, and that local influences of sea-floor spreading are identified from the Albian/Cenomanian boundary onwards. To this we must add the local differential crustal movements modulating the global and regional ocean level changes. Geoidal-eustasy is mainly expressed as a latitudinal differentiation of the sea-level with out-of-phase changes between the hemispheres or the both high latitude regions. Furthermore, sedimentological records seem to record short-period geoidal-eustatic cycles.     

Lithospheric thinning and ignition of a Cordilleran magmatic flare-up: Geochemical and O-Hf isotopic constraints from Cretaceous plutons in southern Korea

Northeast Asian continental margins contain the products of magma emplacement driven by prolonged subduction of the (paleo-)Pacific plate. As observed in many Cordilleran arcs, magmatic evolution in this area was punctuated by high-volume pulses amid background periods. The present study investigates the early evolution of the Cretaceous magmatic flare-up using new and published geochronological, geochemical, and O-Hf isotope data from plutonic rocks in the southern Korean Peninsula. After a long (～50 m.y.) magmatic hiatus and the development of the Honam Shear Zone through flat-slab subduction, the Cretaceous flare-up began with the intrusion of monzonites, granodiorites, and granites in the inboard Gyeonggi Massif and the intervening Okcheon Belt. Compared to Jurassic granitoids formed during the former flare-up, Albian (～111 Ma) monzonites found in the Eopyeong area of the Okcheon Belt have distinctly higher zircon ε_Hf(t) (?7.5 ± 1.3) and δ¹⁸O (7.78‰ ± 0.25‰) values and lower whole-rock La/Yb and Sr/Y ratios. The voluminous coeval granodiorite and granite plutons in the Gyeonggi Massif are further reduced in Sr/Y and to a lesser extent, in La/Yb, and have higher zircon ε_Hf(t) values (?13 to ?19) than the Precambrian basement (ca. ?30). These chemical and isotopic features indicate that Early Cretaceous lithospheric thinning, most likely resulting from delamination of tectonically and magmatically overthickened lithospheric keel that was metasomatized during prior subduction episodes, and consequent asthenospheric upwelling played vital roles in igniting the magmatic flare-up. The O-Hf isotopic ranges of synmagmatic zircons from the Albian plutons and their Paleoproterozoic and Jurassic inheritance attest to the involvement of lithospheric mantle and crustal basement in magma generation during this decratonization event. Arc magmatism then migrated trenchward and culminated in the Late Cretaceous, yielding widespread granitoid rocks emplaced at shallow crustal levels. The early Late Cretaceous (94–85 Ma) granites now prevalent in Seoraksan-Woraksan-Sokrisan National Parks are highly silicic and display flat chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns with deep Eu anomalies. Synmagmatic zircons in these granites mimic their host rock’s chemistry. Delamination-related rejuvenation of crustal protoliths is indicated by zircon ε_Hf(t) values of granites (?6 to ?20) that are consistently higher than the Precambrian basement value. Concomitant core-to-rim variation in zircon O-Hf isotopic compositions reflects a typical sequence of crustal assimilation and fresh input into the magma chamber.