Textured organic surfaces associated with the Ediacara biota in South Australia

The Ediacaran Period takes its name from the fossils of the Ediacara biota, which represent the first appearance of large and diverse assemblages of organisms in the fossil record. Although the global record of these distinctive body fossils is now well known, a previously unrecognized megascopic organic record of textured organic surfaces (TOS) occurs in the Ediacara biota. However, TOS is also a feature over a wider range of paleoenvironmental settings, where body fossils are unknown, in Ediacaran siliciclastic successions that have been studied in Australia, Namibia and western North America.Paleoecological analysis of successive bedding planes of strata from the late Ediacaran Rawnsley Quartzite in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia, reveals that TOS represent the most common organic features in bedding-surface assemblages of the Ediacara biota. The TOS consist of preserved, patterned assemblages of textured organic mats, fibers and simple tubular body fossils. Complex Ediacara body fossils while striking for their distinctive body plans, and dominating some of the beds, are relatively minor components of combined overall surface area. Many elements of TOS have previously been miss-diagnosed as trace fossils, which are in practice limited to two or at most three morphotypes that indicate the presence of Bilateria. Although TOS represent a simpler grade of organismic construction than discrete and more complex Ediacara body fossils, they were preserved in a similar manner. Marked variability in all components of the biota between successive surfaces suggests that Ediacara ecologies fluctuated at short intervals despite an apparently consistent sedimentary regime.     

Were Ediacaran siliciclastics of South Australia coastal or deep marine?

The Late Neoproterozoic Ediacara Member of the Rawnsley Quartzite in South Australia has been considered aeolian, fluvial, intertidal and deep marine by various authors. Palaeosols would not be expected for the deep marine interpretation, but some palaeosols should be evident for the aeolian–fluvial–intertidal interpretations, and this is the first study to examine the Ediacara Member at a petrographic and geochemical scale appropriate to recognize potential palaeosols. Recognition of palaeosols and floodplain facies in Neoproterozoic rocks is a challenge because such rocks are too ancient for diagnostic non‐marine fossils such as root traces. The varied thickness of Ediacara Member red siltstones and white sandstones is distinct from laterally persistent overlying and underlying grey shales and limestones with acritarchs, stromatolites and other marine fossils. The sandstones are trough cross‐bedded and fill palaeovalleys. The red siltstones have poorly sorted, highly angular, silt‐size grains characteristic of loess. Particular sandy and silty beds were sampled for detailed petrographic and geochemical studies, because they include desiccation cracks, sand crystals, ice cracks, carbonate nodules and soft‐sediment deformation like those of palaeosols. Chemical and grain‐size variations within these beds reveal surficial clay formation and oxidation from feldspar as in soils. Petrographic studies also revealed surficial disruption of these palaeosols by filamentous structures comparable with microbial ropes of biological soil crusts. This array of palaeosol features may be of use for recognizing palaeosols in other Neoproterozoic siliciclastic sequences.     

Fluviodeltaic sedimentology and ichnology of part of the Silurian Grampians Group,western Victoria

The mid‐Silurian Major Mitchell Sandstone of the Grampians Group outcrops at Mt Bepcha, western Victoria, represent a prograding fluviodeltaic sequence comprising four lithofacies and five ichnofacies. The stratigraphically lowest Interbedded Sandstone/Siltstone Facies is characterised by thin sandstone and siltstone beds with soft‐sediment deformation and scours with gravelly lag deposits. This lithofacies contains Thalassinoides, Palaeophycus, Rhizocorallium and intrastratal burrows, together indicative of the Cruziana Ichnofacies, and is interpreted as a shallow‐marine depositional environment on a low‐energy delta front with minor tidal influences. The overlying Massive Sandstone Facies lacks silt, and consists of predominantly massive and some plane‐laminated sandstone, abundant Skolithos linearis , rare Palaeophycus and a single small Cruziana problematica ; the trace‐fossil assemblage is assigned to the Skolithos Ichnofacies. This facies is believed to have been deposited in a marine high‐energy shoreface environment with continuously shifting sands, affected by periodic flooding events from the mouth of a nearby river. Above this is the Trough Cross‐bedded Facies, which contains trough cross‐bedding with gravelly lag deposits, a northwest palaeocurrent direction and large Taenidium barretti burrows (Burrowed Ichnofacies). This facies also contains abundant plane‐laminated sandstone with a northeast‐southwest palaeocurrent direction and ichnofossils of Scoyenia and Daedalus , representing the Scoyenia Ichnofacies. The Trough Cross‐bedded Facies is interpreted to have been deposited in shallow low‐sinuosity channels by overbank‐flooding events, most likely on a delta plain. The uppermost facies, the Plane‐laminated Facies, contains thin beds of current‐lineated, plane‐laminated graded coarse to fine sandstone that preserve arthropod trackways (Arthropod Ichnofacies). This facies was deposited on a periodically sheet‐flooded, subaerially exposed delta plain.     

高家山生物群化石组合面貌及其特征

新元古代末期的高家山生物群 ,经系统研究自下而上可以划分为 3个化石组合带 ,即 :以蠕形动物爬迹为代表的 Shaanxilithes- H elminthopsis组合带 ;以锥管虫类和瓶状化石为主 ,并见大量软躯体蠕形动物和宏观藻类的Conotubus- Gaojiashania- Protolagena组合带 ;以多种管状骨骼化石共生为特征 ,并伴生有杯 (钵 )状、分枝管状及球状化石等的 Sinotubulites- Cloudina组合带 ,代表了高家山生物群鼎盛时期的产物。进一步的研究揭示高家山生物群是迄今为止地球上所发现的最早且最为多样化的骨骼化石组合。     

滇中中元古代昆阳群因民组碎屑风暴岩及其意义

滇中地区中元古代昆阳群因民组以碎屑岩为主,内发育典型的风暴沉积构造 (包括渠铸型、丘状交错层理和洼状交错层理、递变层理等 )。风暴沉积主要包括 4种岩相类型 :A -具口袋构造的递变层理砂岩段。B -具丘状或洼状交错层理的砂岩段。C -具均质层理的粉砂岩、泥质岩段。D -具水平层理的泥质岩段。上述岩相A、B、C分别代表风暴流作用 -风暴浪作用 -风暴后期的快速悬浮沉积 (事件沉积 ),D代表风暴过后缓慢悬浮沉积 (背景沉积 ),它们组合成不同的风暴沉积序列。滇中地区昆阳群风暴沉积的发现表明中元古代大气圈、水圈及其相互作用与现今近似;中元古代滇中地区位于低纬度 (5 - 30°)的风暴作用带。该沉积对于解释因民组递变层砂岩的成因、证实昆阳群的地层层序也具有重要意义。     

川西峨眉晚古生代和中生代河流沉积中的痕迹化石群落

川西峨眉地区晚古生代和中生代地层中可识别出三种不同河流沉积环境的痕迹化石群落:(1)Scoyenia-Rhizoliths痕迹群落,产于上二叠统沙湾组,代表一种炎热潮湿气候条件下的远源曲流河沉积环境;(2)Trichichnus特化痕迹群落,发育于下三叠统飞仙关组,属近海冲积平原上时常干旱且环境条件不稳定的河流沉积环境;(3)Scoyenia-Rusophycus痕迹群落,产自上白垩统夹关组,反映经常干旱和周期性泛滥的内陆河流沉积环境.     

Lithofacies Characters and Significance of the Submarine Fan of the Liufengguan Group in Qinling

Field investigation and laboratory research on flysch of the Liufengguan Group in Qinling indicate the following: (1) Sandstone of the Liufengguan Group is categorized as feldspathic lithic graywacke with a minor amount of lithic graywacke in the QFR triangular diagram. Grain size≤0.3 mm. Bedding plane structures such as groove casts and suspected flute casts can be found at the bottom of the sandstone. It is inferred that currents may have come from the southeast during deposition. Bedding structures such as ripple marks, graded bedding, parallel bedding, small-scale cross bedding, climbing bedding, suspected convolute bedding, microlamination and sliding structures have also been observed, which are of indicative significance. It is thought that the Liufengguan Group has the sedimentary characteristics of bedding, bedding plane structures and lithological assemblages of deep-sea low-density turbidity current deposits. The vertical succession of the Bouma sequence in the inner fan subfacies zone is generally incomplete: the assemblage of Ta and Tabc is commonly seen; the succession of the middle fan subfacies zone is relatively complete; and divisions Te and Tb are common in the outer fan subfacies zone. (2) The flysh of the Liufengguan Group is a sequence of deep-sea argillaceous-arenaceous submarine fan deposits, in which the authors recognize the inner, middle and outer fan subfacies and also nine types of lithofacies: normal graded sandstone (A1), medium- to thick-bedded, fine-grained sandstone (A2), medium- to thick-bedded and massive siltstone (A3), thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone and mudstone (B1), irregular interbeds of thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone and siltstone (B2), thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone (C1), very thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone (D1), olistostromes (E1) and deep-sea mudstone (F). The inner fan consists of four microfacies: natural levee (A1), water channel (A2, A3) and olistostrome (E1); in the middle fan there also occur four microfacies, i.e., branch channel (B1), branch channel (B2), interdistributary bay (D1) and olistostrome. The outer fan is made up of the branch channel (C1) and sheet sand (D1) microfacies, which alternate vertically with sediments of deep-sea plain subfacies (F). There occur fining- and thinning-upward channel deposits in the outer-fan subfacies zone of the submarine fan of the Liufengguan Group observed in this study. The quartz content of the graywacke of the deposits is all higher than 40% and may reach as high as 60%. Therefore, on the basis of the aforementioned features, this flysh should be formed in a passive continental-margin tectonic environment.     

A depositional model for offshore deposits of the lower Blue Gate Member,Mancos Shale,Uinta Basin,Utah, USA

Depositional models that use heterogeneity in mud‐dominated successions to distinguish and diagnose environments within the offshore realm are still in their infancy, despite significant recent advances in understanding the complex and dynamic processes of mud deposition. Six cored intervals of the main body of the Mancos Shale, the lower Blue Gate Member, Uinta Basin, were examined sedimentologically, stratigraphically and geochemically in order to evaluate facies heterogeneity and depositional mechanisms. Unique sedimentological and geochemical features are used to identify three offshore environments of deposition: the prodelta, the mudbelt and the sediment‐starved shelf. Prodelta deposits consist of interlaminated siltstone and sandstone and exhibit variable and stressed trace fossil assemblages, and indicators of high sedimentation rates. The prodelta was dominated by river‐fed hyperpycnal flow. Mudbelt deposits consist of interlaminated siltstone and sandstone and are characterized by higher bioturbation indices and more diverse trace fossil assemblages. Ripples, scours, truncations and normally graded laminations are abundant in prodelta and mudbelt deposits indicating dynamic current conditions. Mudbelt sediment dispersal was achieved by both combined flow above storm wave base and current‐enhanced and wave‐enhanced sediment gravity flows below storm wave base. Sediment‐starved shelf deposits are dominantly siltstone to claystone with the highest calcite and organic content. Bioturbation is limited to absent. Sediment‐starved shelf deposits were the result of a combination of shelfal currents and hypopycnal settling of sediment. Despite representing the smallest volume, sediment‐starved shelf deposits are the most prospective for shale hydrocarbon resource development, due to elevated organic and carbonate content. Sediment‐starved shelf deposits are found in either retrogradational to aggradational parasequence sets or early distal aggradational to progradational parasequence sets, bounding the maximum flooding surface. An improved framework classification of offshore mudstone depositional processes based on diagnostic sedimentary criteria advances our predictive ability in complex and dynamic mud‐dominated environments and informs resource prospectivity.     

Depositional Record of Tidal-Flat Sedimentation in the Permian Coal Measures of Central India: Barakar Formation, Mohpani Coalfield, Satpura Gondwana Basin

The Permian Barakar Formation in the Mohpani coalfield, Satpura Gondwana basin, is composed of three broad lithologies that occur repetitively and are iterdigitated: (1) several metres thick coarse- to medium-grained sandstone bodies with scoured bases, (2) 5-20 m thick medium- to fine-grained sandstone bodies and (3) 5-20 m thick mudstone-dominated packages with variable proportions of centimetre- to decimetre-scale, fine- to medium-grained sandstone, carbonaceous shale and coal. The Barakar strata were previously interpreted as deposits of braided rivers and associated inter-channel flood basin in a continental setting. However, this study recognizes signatures of tidal current from the mudstone-dominated packages implying marine influence during Barakar sedimentation.

The mudstone-dominated sediment bodies are the focus of this paper and comprise of three lithofacies that bear imprints of tidal processes during Barakar sedimentation: (1) heterolith, (2) sandstone, and (3) coal-carbonaceous shale, which alternate with one another within individual bodies. The heterolithic facies show interlayering of sandstone and claystone resembling flaser, wavy and lenticular bedding, as well as pinstripe stratification. Successive sandstone-mudstone couplets indicate periodic waxing and waning of flows. Within individual heterolithic packages, the sandstone:claystone ratio along with the bedding style, varies cyclically upwards giving rise to alternate sandstone-dominated and claystone-dominated intervals suggesting tidal velocity fluctuation reflective of spring-neap lunar cycle. Thickness plots of successive sand-mud couplets also reveal cyclic variation with a conspicuous periodicity of around 12 couplets per cycle, which corroborates the spring-neap-spring (or neap-spring-neap) lunar cycle. Presence of abundant desiccation cracks indicates periodic emergence and points towards an intertidal setting. The sandstone facies is characterized by a variety of wave-generated features such as bundled and chevron upbuilding of lamina, bi-directional foreset orientations, offshooting and draping laminae, scour-and-drape feature, swollen lens-like geometries suggesting their emplacement under storm-induced combined-flow on the tidal-flat. The coal-carbonaceous shale facies represent supratidal marsh environment.     

Characterization of middle Eocene tide-influenced delta: A study from core samples of Hazad Member,Ankleshwar Formation,South Cambay Basin,India

The Hazad Member (Middle Eocene) of the Ankleswar Formation in Cambay Basin, India, is traditionally reported as deltaic system. Present work documents three major facies associations, namely, (i) sandstone-rich upper delta plain (FA-1) deposits, (ii) sandstone-mudstone heterolithic lower delta plain–delta front (FA-2) deposits, and (iii) shale-dominated prodelta (FA-3) deposits, in an overall coarsening-up to fining-up succession. Tidalites are well preserved in FA-2 and are represented by laterally accreted tidal bundles, tidal beddings and vertically accreted tidal rhythmites, described from drill core samples in this communication. Laterally accreted tidal bundles with reactivation surfaces in sand-dominated heterolithic units indicate time-velocity asymmetry in subtidal condition. Tidal beddings and tidal rhythmites in mud-dominated heterolithic units, associated with asymmetric/symmetric ripple forms and desiccation cracks, indicate periodic subaerial emergence in intertidal flat depositional setting. Systematic analysis of the architecture of the tidalites in different parts of the basin signifies rapid shift in sedimentation from subtidal to intertidal flat within the lower delta plain. Transitions from prodeltaic to tidally (subtidal-intertidal) affected delta front to lower delta plain and fluvial-dominated upper delta plain depositional systems attest to high frequency transgressive-regressive cycles in response to changing accommodation, as a result of sea level fluctuations and basinal tectonisms in the Cambay Basin.     

浙江桐庐晚奥陶世晚期沉积层序和沉积环境分析

文昌组上段顶部是一套潮汐层理非常发育的泥质砂岩或砂质泥岩,存在双向交错层理,层面有雨痕,应为潮坪沉积。潮坪沉积由小型层序构成,小型层序又是由砂、泥质单层组成。砂质单层底部通常为岩性突变面或侵蚀面,砂质纹层较厚,其中可见对称波痕或泥砾;向上砂质纹层变薄,过渡到泥质单层。砂质单层形成于暴风浪时期,泥质单层是风浪衰减后恢复正常的潮汐沉积。因此,小型层序从成因上说是一风暴层序。碎屑成份、砾石成份分析表明沉积物均来自华夏古陆的沉积岩和变质岩基底。物源一致,岩层产状变化不大,反映文昌组沉积环境稳定。岩性、粒度分析表明文昌组是一向上变细、由浅海高能环境向近岸低能环境过渡的沉积层序。文昌组下段为浅海砂岩沉积,上段顶部为潮坪沉积。二者之间是一套夹砾岩透镜体的泥质粉细砂岩,其沉积环境应介于浅海和滨岸之间,为水下岸坡沉积。砾岩层只是大的沉积旋回中出现的事件性水下冲积物。     

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘大宁—吉县地区山西组页岩岩相与沉积相特征

以鄂尔多斯盆地东缘大宁—吉县地区二叠系山西组为研究对象,综合应用岩心、薄片及测井资料,开展山32亚段岩相类型、岩相组合和沉积相研究,研究结果表明:山32亚段包括粉砂质泥岩/页岩相、纹层状层理含粉砂泥岩/页岩相、透镜状层理粉砂质泥岩/页岩相、钙质页岩相、煤层、碳质页岩相、黑色页岩相、波状层理泥质粉砂岩相、交错层理中—细砂...     

南阳凹陷张店油田核二段储层物性特征及控制因素分析研究

张店油田核桃园纽核二段储层主要属于金华-张店三角洲前缘分流河道和河口坝砂体。样品物性分析研究表明：该储层属中低孔、低渗储层。其物性主要受地层水特征、岩石相类型、成因砂体和沉积相带,如颗粒粒度,分选及杂基含量等因素控制。地层水中Ca2＋、HCO3-离子增加表明碳酸盐岩溶解形成次生孔隙带,核二段储层河口砂坝物性好于分流河道砂体,以块状含砾砂岩相物性最好,其次为板状和小型槽状交错层理砂岩相,砂纹层理粉砂岩相物性较差。颗粒粒度越大、分选越接近1、碳酸盐含量越少越有利储层物性。     

The nature of Mawsonites (Ediacara fauna)

Some representatives of the Ediacara fauna have been later re-interpreted as pseudofossils. This was recently also done for Mawsonites, which was re-interpreted as a sedimentary structure formed due to interaction of a sand volcano (or water-escape structure) and a biomat. This sedimentary genesis appears not to be tenable, as several physical processes should have been involved, none of which is known from modern times or the geological past. It is concluded that Mawsonites must be considered as a fossil, either an imprint or a true fossil. This interpretation may be tested on one or more fragments of the structure.     

Shaanxilithes在贵州的发现及其意义

贵州清镇桃子冲组发现了保存精美的 Shaanxilithes,其特征与陕南高家山生物群中的相同分子基本一致 ,结合瓶状化石资料 ,初步推断桃子冲组下段的下部可与高家山段对比 ,与南澳的“可疑构造”在形态上的相似性进一步证实 Shaanxilithes具有较为稳定的地史分布 ,可以作为新元古代末期地层对比的一个潜在的重要标志。对Shaanxilithes的深入研究排除了其为遗迹化石或蠕形动物的可能 ,推测它可能是一类钙化的藻类化石碎片     

云南寻甸县灯影组第三段沉积环境分析

寻甸地区位于上扬子地台,该区灯影组三段发育了一套以白云岩夹粉砂岩泥岩为主的沉积岩层。通过对摩洛河剖面岩石学特征及沉积相的研究,结合前人的研究成果,认为该区灯影组三段可分为三个岩性段:下部以细粒石英砂岩、泥岩为主;中部以砂屑白云岩为主,夹少量石英细砂岩和泥质粉砂岩为主;上部以泥晶灰岩、泥质灰岩夹钙质泥岩钙质粉砂岩为主。岩层中主要发育水平层理和平行层理;并且认为研究区灯影组三段地层发育在碳酸盐台地一陆表海环境中,从底到顶可识别出潮坪浅滩相、瀉湖相和开阔台地相的沉积。总体上为海退一海侵的沉积旋回。     

High‐resolution stratigraphic architecture and lithological heterogeneity within marginal aeolian reservoir analogues

Marginal aeolian successions contain different lithological units with variable geometries, dimensions and spatial distributions. Such variations may result in considerable heterogeneity within hydrocarbon reservoirs developed in successions of this type, which poses a high risk to their efficient development. Here, such heterogeneity is described and characterized at inter‐well (<1 km) scales using two well‐exposed outcrop analogues of ‘end member’ marginal aeolian deposits from the Permian Cedar Mesa Sandstone and Jurassic Page Sandstone of south‐central Utah, USA. The sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture of the Cedar Mesa Sandstone was studied in a 1·2 km² area in the Indian Creek region of southern Utah, where the interval consists of interbedded fluvial and aeolian deposits representative of a fluvial‐dominated erg margin. The Page Sandstone was studied in a 4·3 km² area near Escalante, close to the Utah‐Arizona border, where it consists of interbedded sabkha and aeolian deposits representative of a transitional‐marine erg margin. The three‐dimensional stratigraphic architectures of both reservoir analogues have been characterized, in order to establish the dimensions, geometries and connectivity of high‐permeability aeolian sandstones. Facies architecture of the aeolian‐sabkha deposits is characterized by laterally continuous aeolian sandstone layers of relatively uniform thickness that alternate with layers of heterolithic sabkha deposits. Aeolian sandstones are thus likely to form vertically unconnected but laterally widespread flow units in analogous reservoirs. Facies architecture in the aeolian‐fluvial deposits is more complex, because it contains alternating intervals of aeolian sandstone and fluvial heterolithic strata, both of which may be laterally discontinuous at the studied length‐scales. Aeolian sandstones encased by fluvial heterolithic strata may form small, isolated flow units in analogous reservoirs, although the limited continuity of fluvial heterolithic strata results in vertical connectivity between successive aeolian sandstones in other locations. These architectural templates may be used to condition zonation schemes in models of marginal aeolian reservoirs.     

内蒙古东乌旗地区中下泥盆统泥鳅河组沉积相研究

发育于内蒙古东乌旗地区的泥鳅河组,属于早中泥盆世沉积,厚度约1000m,主要发育泥岩、粉砂岩和灰岩沉积,粉砂岩中常常发育大量腕足类和珊瑚生物化石。首次在本区发现风暴沉积和Beaconites遗迹化石:风暴沉积由下至上包括粒序层理段、平行层理段、丘状交错层理段和浪成波纹层理段4个层段;Beaconites遗迹化石具管壁和内部水平“V”字型的回填纹构造。通过对岩相、生物化石、风暴沉积和Beaconites遗迹化石的研究显示,东乌旗地区泥鳅河组为浅海相沉积。     

Sediment dispersal and organic carbon preservation in a dynamic mudstone‐dominated system,Juana Lopez Member,Mancos Shale

A balance between primary production, rates of sediment accumulation or dilution, and biological or diagenetic destruction has long been considered a key control on organic carbon preservation in modern offshore marine environments. Additionally, current understanding of sediment transport processes in offshore environments has advanced in the last decade to include variable energy and dynamic mechanisms, requiring a re‐evaluation of ancient deposits in these systems. The Juana Lopez Member of the Mancos Shale preserves organic carbon‐rich mudstone interbedded and interlaminated with sandstone that records high energy traction flow conditions. Core, outcrop and geochemical data from the Juana Lopez Member were used to elucidate sediment provenance and processes controlling organic carbon preservation and distribution in this mudstone‐dominated system. Five dominant lithofacies with varying grain size, sedimentary fabrics, composition and grain origins were differentiated and were deposited in three main environments: the prodelta, fringe zone and low angle offshore ramp. Basal deposits of the Juana Lopez Member consist of siliceous sandstone‐dominated, heterolithic deposits with characteristic sedimentary structures (for example, current ripples and normal grading) that indicate offshore‐directed underflows, or hyperpycnites, delivered from the updip Ferron/Frontier deltaic system. In the upper portion of the Juana Lopez Member, a compositional change to biogenic carbonate‐rich sandstone and mudstone is interpreted to be as a result of increased accommodation in central Utah (USA), associated base‐level rise and shoreline‐parallel sediment transport. Non‐parallel laminated, organic carbon‐rich mudstone is preserved throughout the Juana Lopez Member. Depositional fabrics and trace element signatures suggest that these deposits are the result of dynamic conditions at the sea floor and in the oxic to suboxic water column, further challenging the notion that organic‐bearing mudstone is deposited solely through suspension settling in anoxic waters. Punctuated delivery of organic carbon laden sediment from mixed terrestrial and marine sources resulted in an event‐bed style of organic carbon deposition and preservation.