Calcareous nannofossils from chalky limestone of upper Abderaz Formation and lower part of Abtalkh Formation in the Kopet-Dogh range NE Iran

For the first time, the calcareous nannofossils of the chalky limestone of upper Abderaz Formation and lower part of Abtalkh Formation have been studied. In this study, 83 nannoplanktonic species of 45 genera were identified and presented. A biostratigraphic study of calcareous nannofossils from this section has allowed the recognition of five calcareous nannofossil biozones of Sissingh (Geol Mijnbouw 56:37–65, 1977) CC17–CC21. On the obtained calcareous nannofossils, the age of this section is Late Santonian/Early Campanian–Early Late Campanian.     

北美西部内陆海盆Niobrara组的钙质超微化石及其环境意义——Ⅰ：钙质超微化石及其分带

北美西部内陆海盆上白垩统Niobrara组中的钙质超微化石十分丰富,且多保存良好,呈现典型的晚白垩世远洋钙质超微化石组合面貌,经系统鉴定,计有60属100余种和亚种。为适应不同的环境,Kansas西部和South Dakota东部的钙质超微化石组合面貌稍有不同。经与白垩纪颗石藻化石带对比,可将Kansas西部的Niobrara组划分为6个化石带(CC13～CC18)和8个亚带,其中,根据本文研究地区的化石序列,CC15和CC16带被进一步划分。根据与同一剖面所建立的无脊椎动物化石带对比,钙质超微化石CC17带的时代被重新厘定,即该带应始于中Santonian的晚期,结束于晚Santonian的早期,并据此将Santoniatr／Campanian的界线划在CC18带之内。     

An integrated study of upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian carbon isotopes and calcareous plankton biostratigraphy of the Kurdistan Region,northeastern Iraq

New carbon (δ¹³C) isotope records calibrated by planktonic bioevents provide general support for a late Campanian age assignment of the Shiranish Formation (Fm.) and its boundaries in the Dokan section (NE Iraq). The Shiranish Fm. is characterised at the base by a mid-Campanian unconformity as can be interpreted by absences of nannofossil zones CC20-21. The Shiranish Fm. then spans nannofossil biozones CC22-CC23a (UC15d-e^TP to UC16a^TP). Results obtained on carbon isotopes suggest that diagenesis affected and compromised a few carbonate samples in the uppermost 50 m of the section. However, once these samples are discarded, pristine trends suggest that the top of the section records a negative carbon isotope excursion that is interpreted as CMBa-c events that straddle the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary. This interpretation is supported by the lowermost occurrence of planktic foraminifers Rugoglobigerina scotti and Contusotruncana contusa some 30 m above the base of the negative excursion and 10 m below a positive excursion identified as the Maastrichtian M1+ event. Discrepancies in the stratigraphic range of several planktic foraminifer bioevents are highlighted and advocate for the need of many more integrated records of planktic foraminifer and nannofossil biostratigraphy alongside carbon isotope stratigraphy in the eastern Tethys in order to improve regional and global schemes.     

Calcareous Nannoplankton Biostratigraphy of the Bartin Province,Western Black Sea,Turkey

Calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy has been performed on five sedimentary sections through the marine Akveren Formation from the Bartin region of northern Turkey, on the southern Black Sea coast. This new biostratigraphy provides an age for the formation of the Early Campanian (nannofossil zone UC15aTP) to Early Selandian (nannofossil zone NP5), and highlights the presence of the Campanian/Maastrichtian, Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T), and Danian/Selandian boundaries in this intermediate palaeolatitude location. Micula murus was identified below the K/T boundary, but Micula prinsii and Nephrolithus frequens were not, which implies that the K/T boundary interval is not complete in the study area. These dates are in agreement with previous micropaleontological studies.     

华南上扬子区早-中奥陶世疑源类古环境意义

对上扬子区 7个剖面早—中奥陶世疑源类研究表明 ,这些疑源类组合在分异度及属种组成上呈现有规律的变化 ,这种变化是上扬子区古环境变化的反映。在上扬子区西部 ,近岸碎屑岩相沉积的滇东红石崖组所产疑源类组合分异度低 ,为个体较小、壳饰较简单的分子 ;上扬子区中部 ,以黔北湄潭组为代表的浅海相碎屑岩和灰岩沉积中 ,疑源类分异度较高 ,并出现许多个体较大、壳饰较复杂的分子 ;而在上扬子区东部鄂西宜昌大湾组陆棚相灰岩与泥岩中 ,疑源类分异度继续增高 ,其中个体大、具粗大、长而复杂突起的分子占优势。     

北美西部内陆海盆Niobrara组的钙质超微化石及其环境意义——Ⅱ：古环境研究

沉积于北美西部白垩纪内陆海盆的Niobrara组，是一套以白垩，白垩质灰岩，以及钙质页岩为主的海相沉积，其中自垩的主要组分为颗石藻及其它钙质超微化石。通过对Kansas州西部和South Dakota州东部四条剖面中Niobrara组的岩性，沉积物厚度，及钙质超微化石的研究，证明北美西部内陆海盆的沉积环境及水体温度在Niobrara组沉积时期因地而异。在Niobrara组沉积初期，海盆内的水体温度为北冷南暖，其后，至少在位于Kansas西部海域的海水温度呈与时逐渐降低趋势。钙质超微化石有关属种在盆地内的分布差异，进一步说明海水变冷的直接原因源自北极海域水体的缓慢南浸。     

Palynological assemblages of non-marine rocks at the Permian–Triassic boundary, western Guizhou and eastern Yunnan, South China

Marine and non-marine facies of the Permian–Triassic boundary stratigraphic set (PTBST) are well developed in South China. Palynological assemblages enable subdivision and correlation of the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) rocks. Three palynological assemblages are recognized across the PTBST in two terrestrial PTB sections in western Guizhou and eastern Yunnan, South China. Assemblage 1 (Xuanwei Formation) is a Late Permian palynological assemblage dominated by ferns and pteridosperms, with minor gymnosperms. Most taxa are typical long-ranging Paleozoic forms, but the appearance of Lueckisporites confirms a Late Permian age for this assemblage. Assemblage 2 (PTBST) is marked by an abrupt decrease in palynomorph abundance and diversity, and thriving fungal/algal(?) spores. Assemblage 2 is still dominated by ferns and pteridosperms, with a few gymnosperms, but is characterized by a mixed palynoflora containing both Late Permian and Early Triassic elements. Most taxa are typical Late Permian ones also found in Assemblage 1, however, some taxa of Early Triassic aspect, e.g. Lundbladispora and Taeniaesporites, appeared for the first time. In Assemblage 3 (top Xuanwei Formation and Kayitou Formation), the proportion of gymnosperm pollen increases rapidly, exceeding that of ferns and pteridosperms, but the abundance of palynomorphs is still low. Typical Early Triassic taxa (such as Lundbladispora, Aratrisporites and Taeniaesporites) are present in greater abundance and confirms an Early Triassic age for this assemblage.     

中亚与亚洲中部晚白垩世的陆生脊椎动物组合对比

通过对前人建议的26个生物地层标志化石存在与否的简约分析,中亚与亚洲中部晚白垩世的陆生脊椎动物组合的相对层位得到了更清楚的揭示。此区最古老的组合是乌兹别克斯坦克孜勒库姆沙漠的Khodzhakul组合(早塞诺曼期),其次为蒙古戈壁沙漠东部BaynShire组的下部和上部的组合(塞诺曼期至桑顿期)。中国内蒙古二连达布苏动物群与中亚的土伦期—桑顿期动物群属于同一类群,因为它们均具龟鳖类Khunnuchelys,前者时代可能为桑顿期。三个中亚的组合(Bissekty、Yalovach和Bostobe组合)中有两个地方性的鳄形类(Kansajsuchus和Tadzhikosuchus)和一个出现于戈壁沙漠的鳄形类(Shamosuchus)化石。戈壁沙漠的坎潘期至马斯特里赫特期组合与北美同期动物群为同一类群。Djadokhta组与BarunGoyot组的坎潘期脊椎动物组合具有高度的地方性,并反应了半干旱的古环境。产自Nemegt组的组合生存于比较潮湿的环境。在组成上,这一组合与其他河流相沉积环境(Bissekty、二连达布苏以及北美Judithian期和Lancian期的组合)相似。具顶饰的鸭嘴龙Saurolophus的存在,支持了Nemegt组合为马斯特里赫特期时代。戈壁沙漠的这三个组合(Djadokhta、Barun Goyot和Nemegt组合)被归为一类,因为它们共同拥有地方性的龟类Mongolemys和兽脚亚目的小驰龙类。亚洲中部和北美的坎潘期至马斯特里赫特期组合与亚洲更加古老的组合不同在于存有暴龙科、肿头龙亚目和鸭嘴龙科。在中亚,由于地区性的海侵,这一时间段内的陆生脊椎动物组合多不清楚。     

Upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian planktonic foraminifers and biostratigraphy of the Moni Formation,southern Cyprus

The first data on the taxonomic composition and stratigraphic range of the late Campanian planktonic foraminifers encountered in the middle and upper parts of the Moni Formation, southern Cyprus, are reported. Finds of planktonic foraminifers are associated with the bentonitic clay that composes the matrix of the Moni Formation. The planktonic foraminiferal assemblages revealed are very similar to those from the Kannaviou Formation, western Cyprus, but they are more diverse and yield several key species missing in the Kannaviou sediments. The planktonic foraminiferal assemblages discussed are referred to the Globotruncana aegyptiaca Zone and to the lowermost Gansserina gansseri Zone of the upper upper Campanian of the standard scale. The intraregional correlation of the Moni sections, depth of erosion of the upper part of the formation, and its relationship with the Kannaviou Formation have been refined. When subdividing the upper Campanian sediments based on planktonic foraminifers it is suggested that additional datum planes are used, such as the FADs of Globotruncanella citae and Trinitella scotti. For tracing the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary (GSSP), attention should be paid to the LADs of Globotruncana bulloides and Contusotruncana fornicata and the potential use of Globotruncanita (Elevatotruncana) eolita sp. nov. should be assessed. It is shown that subfamily Archaeoglobigerininae Salaj, 1987, emend. O. Korchagin is the older synonym of subfamily Archaeoglobigerininae Georgescu, 2005. Two poorly known and three new planktonic foraminiferal species are described.     

Correlation and paleoenvironments of middle Paleogene marine beds based on dinoflagellate cysts in southwestern Patagonia,Argentina

An understanding of paleonvironmental and paleoceanographic evolution of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean during the Palaeogene is prevented by the lack of precise tools to date and correlate the sedimentary units. Palynological samples collected in the upper portion of the Man Aike Formation, which crops out southern Lago Argentino area, in the southwest of the Austral Basin (50°21′45″S–72°14′30″W), contain well preserved marine organic dinoflagellate cysts, which are potentially important biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental indicators. Herein we describe the composition of the Man Aike Formation's dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and compare them to similar assemblages collected in the same basin in the upper member of the Río Turbio Formation using Compositional Statistical Analysis. The dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the upper part of the Man Aike Formation are highly correlated to the assemblages from the upper member of the Río Turbio Formation from outcropping sections (51°31′13″S–72°15′11″W) and with the lower part of sediment cores drilled by Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales in the Río Turbio Formation area. These dinoflagellate cyst assemblages show a very low correlation with the assemblages from the upper part of the Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales's cores. The comparison of our results with the high-resolution Southern Pacific Ocean dinoflagellate cyst zonation for the late Palaeocene to late Eocene allow us to date some of the dinoflagellate events recorded in formations of southwestern Patagonia. The assemblages from the Man Aike Formation and the lower part of the upper member of the Río Turbio Formation relate to the zones SPDZ11 and SPDZ12 and are assigned to the mid-middle Eocene (late Lutetian to early Bartonian). The biostratigraphy proposed herein constrains the age of the Man Aike Formation and equivalent units based on calcareous microfossil data, mollusks affinities and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic values to an age ranging between ∼42 and 39 Ma. The assemblages from the upper part of the upper member of the Río Turbio Formation relate to the SPDZ13 Zone, which corresponds to the late Eocene (early Priabonian). The dinoflagellate cyst assemblages indicate that they were under the influence of relatively warm, marine open waters in an inner-shelf environment for the lower part of the sections. In the upper part of the sections, the assemblages suggest shallow marine waters associated with coastal areas and high trophic levels, possibly as a result of freshwater inputs.     

Soft-shelled turtles (Trionychidae) from the Bissekty Formation (Late Cretaceous: late Turonian) of Uzbekistan: Shell-based taxa

In this paper we describe previously unpublished trionychid turtle material, consisting of numerous shell fragments, from the Late Cretaceous (late Turonian) Bissekty Formation of the Dzharakuduk locality in Uzbekistan. This material is assigned to two shell-based taxa: Aspideretoides cf. riabinini and “Trionyx” cf. kansaiensis. The material which cannot be confidently attributed to these two taxa is identified as Trionychidae indet. In addition to these shell-based trionychid taxa, the Dzharakuduk turtle assemblage includes two skull-based taxa of trionychids (Khunnuchelys kizylkumensis and Trionychini indet.). The trionychids from the Bissekty Formation are most similar to trionychids from the younger (Santonian – early Campanian) Bostobe Formation of Kazakhstan, represented by three shell-based taxa (Aspideretoides riabinini, Paleotrionyx riabinini and “Trionyx” kansaiensis), and one skull-based taxon (Khunnuchelys sp.). We provide an improved understanding of the subtle similarities and differences between four closely related Cretaceous turtle assemblages of Middle Asia and Kazakhstan.     

Upper Campanian–Maastrichtian holostratigraphy of the eastern Danish Basin

One of the most expanded upper Campanian–Maastrichtian successions worldwide has been cored in a series of boreholes in eastern Denmark. A high-resolution holostratigraphic analysis of this part of the Chalk Group has been undertaken on these cores, notably Stevns-1, in order to provide a record of changes in chalk facies, water depths and sea-water temperatures. Combined lithological data, a suite of petrophysical logs including gamma ray (GR) logs, nannofossil and dinoflagellate palaeontology, stable carbon isotopes, seismic reflection and refraction sections form the basis for the definition of two new formations and six members, three of which are new, and for recognition of Boreal nannofossil subzones UC15e^BP to UC20d^BP. The upper Campanian–lowermost Maastrichtian Mandehoved Formation is subdivided into the Flagbanke and Boesdal Members and the Maastrichtian Møns Klint Formation is subdivided into the Hvidskud, Rørdal, Sigerslev, Kjølby Gaard Marl and Højerup Members. The Boesdal and Rørdal Members show high GR values and a pronounced chalk-marl cyclicity. The Rørdal and the thin Kjølby Gaard Marl Members have a regional distribution and can be traced over most of the Danish Basin, whereas the Højerup Member is restricted to the easternmost part of Sjælland. The other members consist of rather featureless white chalk.     

Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Campanian–Maastrichtian Toyajo Formation in Wakayama, southwestern Japan

The Upper Cretaceous Toyajo Formation is distributed around the Mt. Toyajo in the Aridagawa area, Wakayama, southwestern Japan. The formation is subdivided into three newly defined members, the Nakaibara Siltstone Member, Hasegawa Muddy Sandstone Member, and Buyo Sandstone Member, in ascending order. Close field observation elucidated the detailed biostratigraphy of the Toyajo Formation, and high-precision biostratigraphic correlation was made with the Yezo Group in Hokkaido (northern Japan) and Sakhalin and the Izumi Group in southwestern Japan.The Toyajo Formation contains diversified lower Campanian to upper Campanian heteromorph ammonoid assemblages, including Eubostrychoceras and Scaphites. Discovery of the heteromorph fauna demonstrates that scaphitid ammonoids survived until Campanian time in the northwestern Pacific region. Although Eubostrychoceras elongatum has been known in the northeastern Pacific region, the occurrence of this species in the northwestern Pacific region has been uncertain before. The rich occurrence of E. elongatum in the Aridagawa area indicates that this species was distributed widely in the northern Pacific realm.The Toyajo Formation is similar to the Izumi Group in various geologic features, and may indicate that the Toyajo Formation was deposited in a strike-slip basin along the Chichibu Belt formed by the movement along the Kurosegawa Tectonic Zone in the latest Cretaceous, like the Izumi Group, along the Median Tectonic Line.     

Petreşti-Arini – An important but ephemeral Upper Cretaceous continental vertebrate site in the southwestern Transylvanian Basin,Romania

The Transylvanian region of Romania preserves some of the most unusual and iconic dinosaurs in the global fossil record, including dwarfed herbivores and aberrant carnivores that lived during the very latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) in an ancient island ecosystem (the Haţeg Island). A series of artificial outcrops recently exposed during a hydroelectric project, the Petreşti-Arini section near Sebeş in the Transylvanian Basin, records a 400+ meter sequence documenting the transition from fully marine to terrestrial environments during the Campanian–Maastrichtian. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy indicates that the lower marine beds in this section, part of the uppermost Bozeş Formation, can be assigned to the CC22 biozone, corresponding to the lower–mid upper Campanian. These beds smoothly transition, via a brackish-water unit, into the fully continental Maastrichtian Sebeş Formation. Dinosaur and pterosaur fossils from the uppermost Bozeş Formation can be assigned a late Campanian age making them the oldest well-dated terrestrial fossils from the Haţeg Island, and indicating that the classic Haţeg dinosaur fauna was becoming established by this time, coincident with the first emergence of widespread land areas. Vertebrate fossils occur throughout the overlying Sebeş Formation at the site and are dominated by the small-bodied herbivorous dinosaur Zalmoxes. The dominance of Zalmoxes, and the absence of many taxa commonly seen elsewhere in Maastrichtian sites in Romania, suggests the possibility that either the Petreşti-Arini section preserves a somewhat unusual near-shore environment, or the earliest Haţeg Island dinosaur communities were structured differently from the more diverse communities later in the Maastrichtian. Alternatively, due to the limited sample size available from the studied succession, it is also conceivable that sampling biases give an incomplete portrayal of the Petreşti-Arini local fauna. Support for any one of these alternative hypotheses requires further data from Petreşti-Arini as well as from the larger Transylvania area.     

Micropaleontological data (dinocysts,nannoplankton, spores and pollen) and biostratigraphy of the Alkun Formation,North Ossetia

The initially obtained data characterize organic-walled phytoplankton (dinocysts), nannoplankton, spores, and pollen from the Upper Argun, Alkun, and Lower Assa deposits of the Fiagdon and Mairamadag sections situated on the southeast of North Ossetia (North Caucasus) in the Alkun Formation stratotype area. The lithology of the formation is described, and its position in the Oligocene-Miocene succession is considered. According to the analyzed data on organic-walled phytoplankton from the Fiagdon and Mairamadag sections, the transitional late Oligocene-early Miocene dinoflora from the top of the Argun Formation and the lower part of the Alkun Formation is in general of the Miocene aspect. Based on the dinocysts, deposits from the upper part of the Alkun Formation coupled with the Assa Formation are attributed to the lower Miocene. The entire interval of the studied deposits corresponds to the acme subzone Def of the Ebu Zone in the Mediterranean dinocyst zonation by D. Zevenboom, where it spans the top of the Chattian and lower part of the Aquitanian Stage. Nannoplankton assemblages from the Alkun deposits are tentatively correlated with the nannoplankton assemblage of Zone NN1 in the standard zonation by E. Martini. It is impossible to date precisely the Alkun Formation based on nannoplankton, as the respective deposits are lacking index species and characteristic taxa of the standard zonation. The dominance of the cosmopolitan species Cyclicargolithus floridanus is a peculiar feature of nannoplankton assemblages from the Alkun Formation. Palynological data are used to consider the dynamics of the evolution of the vegetation cover and climate. Four episodes of relative cooling are distinguished against a background of warm-temperate climatic conditions in general. The most significant episodes occurred in the mid-Alkun time and during the early phase of the Assa time.     

First occurrence of a tyrannosaurid dinosaur from the Mesaverde Group (Neslen Formation) of Utah: Implications for upper Campanian Laramidian biogeography

Although upper Campanian dinosaur assemblages are well-known from Alberta, Montana, southern Utah, and New Mexico, specimens from Wyoming and central and eastern Utah are very rare. This area constitutes a biogeographic break between northern and southern biogeographic provinces, so any specimens from this region are critical to understanding the origin, evolution, and limits of upper Campanian biogeographic zones on the west margin of the Western Interior Seaway. We report the discovery of a theropod dinosaur partial hindlimb from the Book Cliffs area northeast of Green River, Utah. The specimen was recovered from the Palisade coal zone in the Neslen Formation (Mesaverde Group), which is dated to the mid-Campanian based on ammonite biostratigraphy and radioisotopic age constraints. The specimen, comprising a partial fibula, the distal half of metatarsal II, a complete metatarsal IV, and a partial metatarsal V, can be assigned to Tyrannosauridae based on a number of synapomorphies, including a bipartite iliofibularis tubercle on the fibula and a teardrop shaped articular surface for metatarsal III on the medial surface of the distal portion of metatarsal IV. This is the first unambiguous tyrannosaurid dinosaur reported from the Mesaverde Group and represents an important biogeographic record situated between northern and southern upper Campanian vertebrate assemblages. Specifically, we identify morphological evidence on the pes that separates northern (Montana and Alberta) and southern (southern Utah and New Mexico) tyrannosaurid dinosaurs, and suggests that the Book Cliffs specimen belongs to the northern group. This implies that either the biogeographic boundary between the northern and southern Campanian assemblages lies somewhere between central and southern Utah or that the Book Cliffs taxon represents a northern emigrant in the southern assemblage.     

Agglutinated foraminifera from the Campanian-Maastrichtian Kiseiba Formation in the Kurkur area,Egypt

The upper Campanian to upper Maastrichtian sedimentary sequence of the Kiseiba Formation in south Western Desert is sampled and described in two surface sections (Sinn El Kaddab and Wadi Abu Siyal). Forty-four agglutinated foraminiferal species are identified from 42 samples in the studied succession. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages are dominated by agglutinated foraminifera which comprise more than 90% of the assemblage. The agglutinated foraminifera are subdivided into five morphogroups (A, B, C, D, E) according to shell architecture, integrated with the supposed microhabitat and feeding strategy. The foraminiferal assemblage is assigned to mixohaline shallow water environments. These assemblages with Ammoastuta megacribrostomoides and Ammotium bartheli suggest lagoonal environments with considerably reduced salinity in warm climates and high runoff for the late Campanian-Maastrichtian interval.     

Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils record in the upper Campanian-Maastrichtian pelagic deposits of the Malatya Basin in the Hekimhan area (NW Malatya,eastern Anatolia)

The uppermost Cretaceous (upper Campanian-Maastrichtian) pelagic successions from the Malatya Basin (NW Malatya, eastern Anatolia) were studied by 688 samples, which were collected from five stratigraphic sections in the Hekimhan area. The pelagic deposits conformably overlie rudist bearing shallow-water limestones and are overlain conformably by Maastrichtian dolomites and unconformably by Paleocene-Eocene deposits, respectively.The pelagic successions in the Hekimhan area comprise the Kösehasan Formation at the base and the Zorbehan Formation at the top and reach up to 1100 m in thickness. The Kösehasan Formation rests over the neritic rudist-bearing limestones of the Güzelyurt Formation along a sharp contact and consists mainly of flysch-type sandstone-mudstone alternation with complete and partial Bouma sequences. The carbonate content of abundant planktonic foraminifera and nannoplankton-bearing 980-m-thick succession increases upwards and the formation passes gradually to the clayey limestones and marlstones of the Zorbehan Formation to the top. Occurrences of nannoplankton Lithraphidites quadratus Bramlette and Martini and Micula praemurus (Bukry) in the first beds of the Kösehasan Formation indicate that the age of the Kösehasan Formation and overlying Zorbehan Formation is of late Maasthrichtian. Another late Maastrichtian taxa Cribrosphaerella daniae Perch-Nielsen and Arkhangelskiella maastrichtiana Burnett are observed from the lowermost part of the succession. Maastrichtian planktonic foraminifera such as Contusotruncana walfischensis (Todd) and Globotruncanita pettersi (Gandolfi) were recorded through the successions. Although planktonic foraminifera are diverse and abundant particularly in the Kösehesan Formation, index late Maasthrichtian species were not encountered. Campanian and Santonian-Campanian planktonic foraminifera, e.g. Radotruncana calcarata (Cushman) and Globotruncanita elevata (Brotzen), obtained particularly from the lower part of the succession and calcareous nannofossils such as Broinsonia parca parca Bukry, Reinhardtites anthophorus (Deflanre) and Eiffellithus eximius (Stover) are interpreted as reworked from older strata. Trace fossils are common throughout the succession.Rareness of planktonic foraminifera and nannoplankton in the uppermost part of the succession (Zorbehan Formation) indicates maximum shallowing of the latest Maastrichtian sea in this part of the basin. Rare echinoids, bivalves and ammonites are observed in that part of the sequence.The obtained data indicate that sediment accumulation rate of the pelagic deposits is rather high and about 27.5 cm/ky for this part of the basin. Changes in thickness of the formations along short distances in the five stratigraphic sections analysed in this study should be related to the diachroneity of the depositional and erosional events.     

Stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and C-isotopes of the Permian–Triassic non-marine sequence at Dalongkou and Lucaogou, Xinjiang Province, China

Measured lithostratigraphic sections of the classic Permian–Triassic non-marine transitional sequences covering the upper Quanzijie, Wutonggou, Guodikeng and lower Jiucaiyuan Formations at Dalongkou and Lucaogou, Xinjiang Province, China are presented. These measured sections form the framework and reference sections for a range of multi-disciplinary studies of the P–T transition in this large ancient lake basin, including palynostratigraphy, vertebrate biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy. The 121 m thick Wutonggou Formation at Dalongkou includes 12 sandstone units ranging in thickness from 0.5 to 10.5 m that represent cyclical coarse terrigenous input to the lake basin during the Late Permian. The rhythmically-bedded, mudstone-dominated Guodikeng Formation is 197 m and 209 m thick on the north and south limbs of the Dalongkou anticline, respectively, and 129 m thick at Lucaogou. Based on limited palynological data, the Permian–Triassic boundary was previously placed approximately 50 m below the top of this formation at Dalongkou. This boundary does not coincide with any mappable lithologic unit, such as the basal sandstones of the overlying Jiucaiyuan Formation, assigned to the Early Triassic. The presence of multiple organic δ¹³C-isotope excursions, mutant pollen, and multiple algal and conchostracan blooms in this formation, together with Late Permian palynomorphs, suggests that the Guodikeng Formation records multiple climatic perturbation signals representing environmental stress during the late Permian mass extinction interval. The overlap between the vertebrates Dicynodon and Lystrosaurus in the upper part of this formation, and the occurrence of late Permian spores and the latest Permian to earliest Triassic megaspore Otynisporites eotriassicus is consistent with a latest Permian age for at least part of the Guodikeng Formation. Palynostratigrahic placement of the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Junggar Basin remains problematic because key miospore taxa, such as Aratrisporites spp. are not present. Palynomorphs from the Guodikeng are assigned to two assemblages; the youngest, from the upper 100 m of the formation (and the overlying Jiucaiyuan Formation), contains both typical Permian elements and distinctive taxa that elsewhere are known from the Early Triassic of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. The latter include spores assigned to Pechorosporites disertus, Lundbladispora foveota, Naumovaspora striata, Decussatisporites mulstrigatus and Leptolepidites jonkerii. While the presence of Devonian and Carboniferous spores and Early Permian pollen demonstrate reworking is occurring in the Guodikeng assemblages, the sometimes common occurrence of Scutasporites sp. cf. Scutasporites unicus, and other pollen, suggests that the Late Permian elements are in place, and that the upper assemblage derives from a genuine transitional flora of Early Triassic aspect. In the Junggar Basin, biostratigraphic data and magnetostratigraphic data indicate that the Permian–Triassic boundary (GSSP Level) is in the middle to upper Guodikeng Formation and perhaps as high as the formational contact with the overlying Jiucaiyuan Formation.     

黑龙江省东部中侏罗世至早白垩世沟鞭藻组合序列

对近二十年来黑龙江省东部海相侏罗纪—白垩纪沟鞭藻地层资料进行了综合研究 ,首次为该地区建立起侏罗纪—白垩纪沟鞭藻地层序列 ,主要包含 7个组合带 (含 3个高峰带 ) ,其中绥滨地区 Callovian— Valanginian期有 4个带 ;鸡西盆地早白垩世也有 4个带 (其中包括与绥滨地区早白垩世早期同时异相的一个 )。它们自下而上为 :1)绥滨组的 Pareodinia ceratophora- N annoceratopsispellucida组合带 ;　 2 )东荣组下部的 Gonyaulacysta jurassica组合带 (高峰带 ) ;　 3)东荣组上部的 Amphorula delicata组合带 ;　 4 )东荣组最上部的海相 Oligosphaeridium pul-cherrimum组合带 (高峰带 )或鸡西盆地滴道组的微咸水—半咸水的 Vesperopsis didaoensis- L agenorhytis granoru-gosa组合带 ,两者为同时异相关系 ;　 5 )城子河组下部海相层的 Odontochitina operculata- Muderongia tetracantha组合带 (该带可进一步划分出 2个亚组合带 ) ;　 6 )城子河组上部海相层的 Canningia reticulata组合带 ;　 7)穆棱组下段的 Cribroperidinium ?parorthoceras组合带 (高峰带 )。