Tasmanian Cambrian biostratigraphy—a preliminary report

In Tasmania shelly fossils are known from Middle and Upper Cambrian sediments of the Dundas Trough, Fossey Mountain Trough, Dial Range Trough, Beaconsfield Trough, Smithton Basin, Adamsfield Trough and from within sediments associated with the Mount Read Volcanics of Western Tasmania. In the Dundas Trough fossils range in age from early Middle Cambrian (Ptychagnostus gibbus Zone) to the middle Late Cambrian (pre‐Payntonian A or B). Late Middle Cambrian fossils occur in sediments associated with the Mount Read Volcanics in two places in Western Tasmania. Late Middle Cambrian fossils only are known from the Smithton Basin and the Beaconsfield Trough. Late Middle to early Late Cambrian faunas are known from the Dial Range Trough; the Adamsfield Trough contains middle Middle to middle Late Cambrian fossils. Tasmanian Cambrian faunas show affinities with those of Queensland, China, the northwest Siberian Platform and northern Victoria Land, Antarctica.     

The base of the Cambrian

The Cambrian System by definition must include the rocks (in the Caledonian geosyncline of Wales) to which this name was first applied. Its type sequence, however, does not define its boundaries. Evidence on the base of the Cambrian can be found in the Caledonian sedimentary areas of Scandinavia and in the adjoining Baltic region where the Blue Clay contains the oldest known Cambrian fauna. Further east, older rocks of similar character are known and there are references to glauconites over 1,200 million years (m.y.) old in these rocks. The base of the Cambrian cannot be extended down to the base of the sedimentary cover of the shelves surrounding the old shields. “Eocambrian” is probably the oldest defined term suitable for late Precambrian rocks which often resemble the Cambrian lithologically. They may contain a similar microflora, though their fauna which is rare and consists mostly of soft‐bodied animals, is different. There are in many areas tillites in rocks which could be Eocambrian, but their correlation is not yet definitely established. The definition of the base of the Cambrian rests therefore on biostratigraphic evidence and on chronological data (Glaessner, 1963).     

华南寒武纪碳酸盐岩中最早腕足动物的辐射、发育与分布

腕足动物是寒武纪冠轮动物分支的重要类群,在寒武纪大爆发期间海洋底栖动物群落结构构建中发挥着重要作用。研究表明华南最早的腕足动物出现在寒武系第二统。通过大量酸蚀处理和系统分析,发现华南寒武纪第二世碳酸盐岩相中赋存的腕足动物可分为8属12种和3个未定属种,都属于磷酸钙质舌形贝型,揭示了寒武纪早期磷酸钙质壳腕足动物的多样性及其形态差异。通过全球对比,力求探索寒武纪最早腕足动物的起源、多样性、分布与辐射。通过个体发育研究,揭示了异时发育在乳孔贝形态多样性中发挥的重要作用,同时表明寒武纪舌形贝型腕足动物发育中普遍存在滤食型浮游幼虫和变态发育的过程。因此变态发育的浮游幼虫可能是腕足动物的祖先特征。这与现代舌形贝明显不同,现代舌形贝的浮游幼虫为次级幼虫,演变为直接发育。此外,对比全球不同大陆腕足动物的首现,认为舌形贝型亚门腕足动物可能在寒武纪第二世初起源于东冈瓦纳与华南板块,随后开始向全球扩散。对寒武纪早期腕足动物多样性、个体发育与生物地层的深入研究,有助于增进对关键动物门类的早期起源与系统演化的认识,同时也将推动全球和区域寒武纪生物地层的划分与对比。     

Cambrian Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten in South China: Distribution and significance

The final assembly of the supercontinent Gondwana during the Pan-African orogenic episodes (ca. 550–520 Ma) almost simultaneously took place with the Cambrian explosion that is best manifested by a number of Cambrian Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten in South China. The relationship between South China and Gondwana during the Cambrian is far from consensus. Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten may have potential importance for the paleogeographic reconstruction. However, such Lagerstätten have been known in large number only in Laurentia and South China, far less common in Gondwana and other continents. Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten in South China are not evenly spaced through the Cambrian. They appear to be concentrated in the Lower Cambrian, particularly in the Canglangpuian and Qiongzhusian stages, much reduced in number from the uppermost Lower Cambrian. Of ten reported such Lagerstätten, only the Kaili biota (basal Middle Cambrian) is known to be younger than Early Cambrian. This reduction could be explained by the fact that vast areas of siliciclastic facies in both the western plate interior (platform) and the eastern slope basin during most time of Early Cambrian (Meishucunian to Canglangpuian) is evolved into carbonate facies at the very end of Early Cambrian (Longwangmiaoian). It has been known from this study that both siliciclastic platform facies and slope basin facies (shale basin) could preserve soft-bodied fossils. Cambrian Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten in South China are of great significance for providing a sequences of exceptionally preserved biota in a chronological succession. Comparison of such Lagerstätten in a chronological framework may give us more details on the Cambrian explosion events.     

贵州-广西地区寒武纪重晶石形成条件探讨

通过分析对比前人在黔桂地区寒武纪重晶石方面的研究资料,结合区域构造运动、沉积展布和演化特征,对寒武纪大型重晶石矿床的形成背景和条件进行了研究,认为寒武纪地层的重晶石矿热液沉积成因和生物沉积成因并不是对立的,海底热液不是由火山喷发而是通过深大断裂连接的岩浆形成海底的局部热点形成的.在谊区构造、火山运动整体较弱的背景下,热...     

Systematics, biometry of the species Opsidiscus from the Middle Cambrian succession of the Spiti basin, India

The Middle Cambrian succession of the Parahio Valley in general and Debsakhad section in particular is dominated by trilobites. Genus Opsidiscus, along with other trilobite forms dominates the lower Middle Cambrian succession. In the present study two new species of Opsidiscus, Opsidiscus wadiai and Opsidiscus srikantiai are reported from the lower Middle Cambrian succession of Debsakhad section. The species were differentiated on their morphological features and their multivariate analysis. The multivariate analysis applied here is used as a supplement method to qualitative analysis in order to differentiate between the cranidial characters of Opsidiscus. The qualitative study of each species studied individually shows more or less close affiliation as is observed by different quantitative methods. The presence of Opsidiscus has a great stratigraphic significance in this region, as they first appear from informal Stage 5 of Series 3 and goes up to the Drumian Stage of Series 3 of the Cambrian System in the Debsakhad section, which helps to correlate this section with other well known sections of the Middle Cambrian.     

Half‐a‐billion‐year‐old microscopic treasures—the Cambrian ‘Orsten’ fossils of Sweden

The creatures that gaze back at us through the binocular microscope are so uniquely well‐preserved and life‐like that had we not known better we would have thought that they were modern. Instead they are half‐a‐billion‐year‐old arthropods extracted from Cambrian rocks of Sweden. The microscopic fossils, colloquially known as the ‘Orsten’ fossils, are now world‐famous and basking in the light of the research catwalk since their discovery in the 1970s. These fossils have provided significant insight into the long lost Cambrian biotas and early animal evolution.     

Discovery of Trace Fossils from the Sinian—Cambrian Boundary Beds in Eastern Yunnan and Their Significance for Global Correlation1

Abstract There are abundant and highly varied trace fossils in the Sinian—Cambrian boundary beds in eastern Yunnan. Collections from 27 sections and their study give altogether 45 ichnogenera and 87 ichnospecies. Among them, 2 ichnogenera and 7 ichnospecies are new, and 31 known ichnogenera and 38 known ichnospecies first found in the region. According to their order of appearance in the boundary beds and their assemblage features, the trace fossils in the Sinian—Cambrian boundary beds in the region may fall into 4 trace fossil assemblage zones in ascending order. In the paper they are correlated with those in the equivalent horizons abroad and their geological significance is discussed preliminarily.     

The significance of Cambro-Ordovician trilobites from the Kalladeina 1 drill hole,Warburton Basin,South Australia

The significance of trilobites described from six cores from the Kalladeina 1 drillhole from the Warburton Basin, northeastern South Australia is discussed. The oldest are from a dark grey shale of Core 16 from a depth of 3453.7–3455.8 m; they are of possible early Drumian (Cambrian Series 3, middle Cambrian) age. The youngest come from a dark grey shale of Core 4 at a depth of 2017.2–2022.04 m. This fauna contains the trilobites Asaphellus? sp., Yosimuraspis sp., Conophrys sp. and Protopliomerops? sp. thus indicating a Tremadoc (earliest Ordovician) age. These are the youngest known trilobites from the Warburton Basin and the youngest known in South Australia.     

A Potential Candidate For the Middle-Upper Cambrian Boundary Stratotype——An Introduction to the Paibi Section in Huayuan,Hunan

The Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary is one of the current stratigraphical problems which remain openin the geological world, since there have been no universally acknowledged delimiting standard and stratotype.Acting on the instruction of Profs. Lu Yanhao and An Taixiang the author studied in details the Paibi Section,which is well exposed as a continuous sequence at an easily accessible locality. The Middle-Upper Cambrianboundary strata are composed of biocalcimicrosparite, indicating the sedimentary environment of anunderwater upheaval on the gentle slope along the frontal margin of the Yangtze carbonate platform. For the upper Middle and lower Upper Cambrian agnostid trilobite zones and conodont zones are erected,and a more accurate correlation between the trilobite and conodont sequences is established. Based on these,the Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary is drawn more reasonably and precisely than what was done before. Inshort, the section studied is superior to other known sections of Middle-Upper Cambrian. and it will probablybe an ideal candidate for the Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary stratotype.     

贵州剑河八郎“清虚洞组”Olenoides Meek,1877的研究

贵州剑河八郎松山(九高山)寒武系"清虚洞组"产有多门类具软躯体的生物群——剑河生物群,其中三叶虫非常丰富,属于叉尾虫科(Dorypygidae)的拟油栉虫(Olenoides Meek,1877),是一个重要的三叶虫属。Olenoides全球分布,出现于寒武纪第二世(都匀期),灭绝于寒武纪第三世(古丈期晚期),是进行地层对比重要的三叶虫。松山(九高山)"清虚洞组"中的Olenoides包括2个种(含1个相似种):收缩拟油栉虫Olenoides contrictus(Chien,1961)及湖北拟油栉虫(相似种)O.cf.hubeiensis(Sun,1984),两者应为"清虚洞组"上覆地层凯里组产出的O.paraptus及O.hubeiensis的原始类型。Olenoides在寒武系黔东统都匀阶"清虚洞组"的发现,为其在研究区产出的最低层位。为Olenoides早期的形态、演化及时空分布的研究提供了重要的材料,也为寒武系都匀阶(第4阶)的生物地层研究提供了一些新的信息。     

Dinomischus from the Middle Cambrian Kaili Biota, Guizhou, China

Dinomischus is a rare solitary epifaunal suspension feeder. The over-all morphology of Dinomischus consists of a conical calyx surrounded with elongate bracts and an elongate stem. Visceral mass and stomach sac are evident in the body cavity. Dinomischus is interpreted as a primative ancestor of living entoprocts based on similarities in morphology and mode of life. Previously, Dinomischus is only known in two localities： the mid-Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale Biota and the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Biota. A single specimen of Dinomischus cf. D. isolatus Cowry Morris, 1977 from the Kaili Biota, Guizhou, China is reported here. The discovery of Dinomischus in the Kaili Biota extends its geographical range and indicated that the rare Dinomischus could tolerate deeper water settings during the Middle Cambrian.     

汉中梁山小壳动物化石发现及地层意义

梁山位于陕西省汉中市附近,属西南地台的北部边缘。1979年,我系陈润业教授带领学生在梁山大南沟实习,于下寒武统郭家坝组底部,厚度不到1米的含海绿石土黄色灰质砂岩及灰白色砂质灰岩中,首次发现了小壳动物化石(图1),并提出了梁山地区有相当于梅树村期沉积的可能性。     

山东长清、薛城一带中、上寒武统界线新认识

<正> 华北中寒武统与上寒武统界线问题,实际上也涉及崮山组时代的归属问题。国外学者如B.Willis和E.Blackwelder(1907),C.D.Walcott(1913),A.W.Grabau(1924),T.Kobayashi(1935)和R.Endo(1937)等认为崮山组应归中寒武世晚期。1959年由Moore主编的《三叶虫专著》(Treatise on Invertebrade Palaeontology Part O.)将崮     

An Early Paleozoic Tectonic Mélange at the Western Margin of West Cathaysia: Constraints from Organic-walled Microfossils

The Jiangshan-Shaoxing-Pingxiang Fault(JSP Fault) is traditionally considered as the boundary between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China. Whether the previously defined Shenshan and Kuli formations located along the JSP fault and near the Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province, are continuous strata or parts of a tectonic mélange is important for understanding the geological history of South China. A carbonaceous phyllite from the area, previously considered as part of the Neoproterozoic Shenshan and Kuli formations, is analyzed palynologically in this study. The AsteridiumComasphaeridium acritarch assemblage found in the slate can be correlated with the basal Cambrian AsteridiumHeliosphaeridium-Comasphaeridium(AHC) acritarch assemblage in Tarim and the Yangtze Block. The early Cambrian biostratigraphical age assignment for the carbonaceous phyllite indicates the presence of both Neoproterozoic and Cambrian rocks in the sedimentary package, and supports that the package is a part of tectonic mélange rather than a continuous Neoproterozoic strata. The Cambrian slate is the youngest known lithology in the mélange at present.     

The southern border of the Guaporé Shield in western Brazil and Bolivia: An interpretation of its geologic evolution

The geology of the southeastern and southwestern margins of the Guaporé Shield is described. The Shield rocks comprise high-grade granulite and low-grade greenschist sequences. These rocks are poorly known. Oldest recorded ages include Transamazonian datings (± 2 Ma). The margins of the shield show the development of a mobile belt formed by rocks of Upper Proterozoic to Cambrian age. Within this mobile belt, the Cuiabá Group of uncertain (but possibly Upper Proterozoic) age outcrops to the east and shows tectonic contacts with younger rocks that span the Vendian (Upper Proterozoic) to Cambrian age. The rocks of Vendian to Cambrian age form three isolated elongated basins which show evidence of fault control. The axes of these basins are equally separated by angles of ～ 120° and meet at a triple junction near Corumbá. The stratigraphy of the Vendian to Cambrian basins is correlated from Bolivia to Brazil, based on tectonic continuity, sedimentological similarity and fossil content. The central location at Corumbá shows instability since the Middle Proterozoic when important igneous activity is recorded at Rincon del Tigre (Bolivia) and in Brazil. This igneous activity is interpreted as being related to hot-spot activity in an intercratonic setting from which the younger Upper Proterozoic basins originated.     

塔里木盆地寒武纪构造-沉积环境与原型盆地演化

寒武系是塔里木盆地当前油气增储上产的重点层系,恢复寒武纪的盆地原型是油气勘探的重要基础。利用最新的钻井、地震及露头资料,以沉积相为研究实体,将盆地充填与周缘构造演化相结合,由点→线→面进行分析,恢复了塔里木盆地寒武纪不同时期的构造-沉积环境,并建立了相应的盆地充填演化模式。塔里木盆地寒武纪经历了一次完整的海侵-海退旋回,包括早寒武世早期快速海侵→中寒武世海退、晚寒武世缓慢海侵→寒武纪末海退两个次级旋回,分别对应沉积演化的2个阶段：塔西克拉通内坳陷早寒武世的碎屑滨岸-陆棚相→局限台地相→中寒武世的蒸发台地相,晚寒武世的局限台地相→寒武纪末期的台地暴露不整合;塔东克拉通边缘坳陷为深水盆地相,经历了硅质泥岩→泥岩与灰岩薄互层→碳酸盐岩的岩相演化。寒武纪塔里木原型盆地特征及演化主要受控于Rodinia超大陆的裂解,其构造-沉积格局经历了由震旦纪末的南北分异格局向中-晚寒武世的东西分异格局的演变。     

宁镇山脉小壳化石层时代的新认识

最新研究表明，句容仑山的小壳化石层和南京幕府山的一样，其层位都相当于下寒武统沧浪铺阶Ｐａｏｋａｎｎｉａ带，为我国下寒武统层位最高的一个小壳化石组合带。句容仑山当时位于台地边缘，缺失了早寒武世早期至沧浪铺期中期的沉积。     

Reconstruction of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Orogenesis in Princess Elisabeth Land (East Antarctica) from a Study of Granitic Rocks

Abundant Cambrian granitic rocks in Princess Elizabeth Land and adjacent regions of Antarctica occupy various positions (from syn- to postkinematic) in the structure of the crust. Their mineral and isotopic composition reflects both the character and age of the parental substrate and geodynamic formation conditions of the region. The study of Cambrian processes is important for this region, because almost all known models of the formation of the Gondwana supercontinent suggest the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian amalgamation of two or three continental blocks, parts of which can be distinguished in this sector. The paper presents geological data on granitic rocks, as well as their mineral and Nd isotopic composition. Field observations and analytical data indicate a different structure and petrographic composition of Cambrian granitic rocks in Princess Elizabeth Land, which are related to their different formation conditions. Synkinematic biotite or garnet–biotite peraluminous S-type granites mostly occur in the eastern Princess Elizabeth Land. Mostly late and postkinematic biotite and amphibole–biotite (±orthopyroxene) granites or granodiorites are typical of its western part. Their compositions are similar to that of A-type granites. In comparison with coeval granites in adjacent areas, the character of Cambrian granites in Princess Elizabeth Land substantiates the presence of structural zones identified from geological data and indicates the presence of a Cambrian orogen probably with a collisional nature, as well as the location of its hinterland in intracontinental Antarctica.     

塔里木盆地寒武系海相烃源岩有机成熟度及演化史

原生有机组分(镜状体和动物有机组分)反射率是评价塔里木盆地寒武系海相烃源岩有机成熟度的有效方法。从分析的探井和露头区110多个寒武系样品有机组分反射率数据来看，塔里木盆地寒武系烃源岩均处于高过成熟阶段，尚未发现目前仍处于生油窗阶段的寒武系中等成熟的烃源岩。利用BasinMod-1D软件计算了250口探井，26条地震测线中约340个人工井点有机成熟度随时间的变化，据此编制不同地质时期塔里木盆地台盆区寒武系有机成熟度平面变化图。目前满加尔凹陷中下寒武统烃源岩镜质体反射率在3％以上，中下寒武统烃源岩成熟度相对较低区分布在塔中隆起主垒带、塔北隆起的凸起区(英买力凸起)和巴楚断隆—部分地区，其等效镜质体反射率R^ 在1．6％～2．0％之间。