Upper Neogene stratigraphy and tectonics of Death Valley — a review

New tephrochronologic, soil-stratigraphic and radiometric-dating studies over the last 10 years have generated a robust numerical stratigraphy for Upper Neogene sedimentary deposits throughout Death Valley. Critical to this improved stratigraphy are correlated or radiometrically-dated tephra beds and tuffs that range in age from > 3.58 Ma to < 1.1 ka. These tephra beds and tuffs establish relations among the Upper Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene sedimentary deposits at Furnace Creek basin, Nova basin, Ubehebe–Lake Rogers basin, Copper Canyon, Artists Drive, Kit Fox Hills, and Confidence Hills. New geologic formations have been described in the Confidence Hills and at Mormon Point. This new geochronology also establishes maximum and minimum ages for Quaternary alluvial fans and Lake Manly deposits. Facies associated with the tephra beds show that ∼3.3 Ma the Furnace Creek basin was a northwest–southeast-trending lake flanked by alluvial fans. This paleolake extended from the Furnace Creek to Ubehebe. Based on the new stratigraphy, the Death Valley fault system can be divided into four main fault zones: the dextral, Quaternary-age Northern Death Valley fault zone; the dextral, pre-Quaternary Furnace Creek fault zone; the oblique–normal Black Mountains fault zone; and the dextral Southern Death Valley fault zone. Post − 3.3 Ma geometric, structural, and kinematic changes in the Black Mountains and Towne Pass fault zones led to the break up of Furnace Creek basin and uplift of the Copper Canyon and Nova basins. Internal kinematics of northern Death Valley are interpreted as either rotation of blocks or normal slip along the northeast–southwest-trending Towne Pass and Tin Mountain fault zones within the Eastern California shear zone.     

Kaeveria fluegeli (Zaninetti, Altiner, Dager et Ducret, 1982) (Foraminifera) from Upper Triassic of the South-East Pamirs

Foraminifers representing species Kaeveria fluegeli have been found in the Zorkaradjilga Formation (Sagenites quinquepunctatus Zone) of the upper Norian (or lower Rhaetian) in the central structural-facies zone of the South-East Pamirs. Their occurrence here is an additional criterion substantiating age and correlation of host deposits and an evidence in favor of fauna migration from the southern Tethys during the respective time span not only in northwestern areas of that ocean (Northern Calcareous Alps), but also in its central part (the South-East Pamirs).     

Upper cretaceous (Santonian-Campanian) ammonite and inoceramid biostratigraphy of the Chico Formation,California

Outcrops of the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian-Campanian) Chico Formation, exposed along the east flank of California's northern Great Valley, have yielded a highly diverse, well-preserved molluscan fauna. Previously uncollected deposits, as well as classic localities, have been stratigraphically collected to determine the Santonian-Campanian succession of important ammonites and inoceramid bivalves.Five megafossil zones are readily identifed in outcrops of the Chico Formation. These are, in ascending stratigraphic order, the zones of Hyphantoceras venustum, Baculites capensis, Bostrychoceras elongatum, Inoceramus schmidti and Baculites chicoensis.Two of the zones, Bostrychoceras elongatum and I. schmidti, are missing at the type locality of the Chico Formation because of a stratigraphic disconformity. As a result, previous conceptions about the ranges of some important ammonites and inoceramids in California are in error.Lowest exposures of the H. venustum Zone in the Chico Formation are probably latestConiacian in age. Recent palaeomagnetic sampling of Cretaceous strata of the Great Valley (Ward et al., 1983) has confirmed that the Baculites chicoensis Zone is indicative of the lowest Campanian. The age of the I. schmidti Zone in California is therefore latest Santonian.This molluscan sequence enables precise correlation of Chico strata with other Upper Cretaceous outcrop in the Great Valley; in addition, lowermost deposits of the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group of British Columbia can now be firmly correlated with California strata.     

BOUNDARIES BETWEEN DIVISIONS OF THE PERMIAN IN SOUTHERN EUROPE AND SOUTHERN ASIA

The literature reflects differences of opinion on the boundaries between the several divisions of the Permian in certain classical sections. The Sosio limestone of Sicily should be referred to the lower portions of the upper, rather than lower, division of the Permian. Accordingly beds with higher fusulinids in other Eurasian sections must represent a similar stratigraphic position. The fauna of the Productus zone of the Salt Range is considered and it is concluded that the lower member of this limestone is Lower Permian; the two upper members represent the Upper Permian. The Jisu-Honguer limestone of southeast Mongolia should be referred to the lower part of the Upper Permian. The fauna of these deposits was described by Grabau.—Auth. English summ.     

川北广元须家河组一段沉积相与沉积环境演化分析

四川盆地北部三叠系—侏罗纪发育,出露良好,是三叠纪—侏罗纪转换时期古气候与古环境变化的良好物质记录.其中,晚三叠世诺利期是四川盆地海陆转换的重要过渡期,尤其是对陆地生态系统的影响更加显著.以川北广元剖面为研究对象,对晚三叠世诺利期末须家河组须一段进行沉积相及沉积环境演化的分析,结果表明:研究剖面发育潟湖沼泽—三角洲平原...     

非海相双壳类江西蛤（Jiangxiella）首次发现于日本

首次报道日本西南部发现的晚三叠世非海相双壳类江西蛤（Jiangxiella)，并讨论这一发现的意义。认为原产于湘、赣、粤地区的江西蛤是地理分布极有限的土著属，它在日本西南部的发现表明当时该区与华南东部的古地理关系极为密切，可能原属同一地块。     

Valanginian perisphinctid ammonites from the Kisújbánya Basin (Eastern Mecsek Mts., Hungary)

The most complete Hungarian Valanginian perisphinctid ammonite fauna of the Mecsek Mountains (South Hungary) consists of 14 species is reported. Thurmanniceras sp. aff. otopeta, Fuhriella michaelis, F. cf. hoheneggeri, Sarasinella cf. ambigua, Neocomites (Neocomites) subtenuis, Neocomites (Eristavites) platycostatus are reported for the first time from Hungary. The fauna comprises 23 ammonite species and is reported from Valanginian tuffaceous marl, alternating marl–limestone beds and loose limestone blocks. Two studied sections represent the Lower Valanginian Thurmanniceras pertransiens and partly the Busnardoites campylotoxus Zones while ammonites from loose blocks indicate the latter and possibly the Upper Valanginian Saynoceras verrucosum Zone. Variations in the faunal composition of the marl beds and the limestone blocks respectively, refer to the contrast between the ammonite ecological demands. Phylloceratid and lytoceratid ammonites prevail the marl beds, while olcostephanid and neocomitid ammonites prevail the shallower platform-like limestones. Sediment accumulation rate in that palaeo volcano related environment was high and bottom currents frequently washed together ammonite shells or filled their body chambers with smaller ammonite shell fragments. Due to the fast sedimentation the sections represent only partially the recognized ammonite zones therefore long-term or even infra-regional correlation was not possible. Palaeobiogeographically, the ammonite fauna has Mediterranean character and it shows close relationships to the Valanginian faunas of the Bakony Mts. (Hungary), Western Carpathians (Slovakia), Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria), and SE Spain. The presence of Fuhriella species is remarkable and enlarges our knowledge on the distribution of this enigmatic ammonite taxon adding new data to its Valanginian stratigraphic position and geographic distribution.     

High-resolution stratigraphy of the Upper Jurassic section(Laptev Sea coast)

Jurassic strata are widespread through Arctic Siberia and host oil and gas fields. However, in most cases, the geology of such vast areas still remains unexplored, and study of the Jurassic stratigraphy and reconstructions of geologic history are possible only through analysis of sediment cores. In this connection, there is a clear need for detailed studies of microfaunas (foraminifera, ostracods) and palynomorphs (dinocysts, spores, and pollen). The studied reference section of the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous is located on the left side of Anabar Bay of the Laptev Sea (Nordvik Peninsula, Cape Urdyuk-Khaya). An uninterrupted and continuous section from the Upper Oxfordian to the Lower Valanginian is exposed in coastal cliffs and consists mainly of silty clay deposits with abundant macro- and microfossils. Integrated field studies (biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, sedimentology) allow a more detailed characterization of the regional geologic framework. A detailed subdivision of the section is based on the systematic composition of ammonites from Upper Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian deposits. Several foraminiferal zones of the Upper Oxfordian and Lower Volgian are defined, and some of them are denfined for the first time. The distribution of ostracods in the section is analyzed for the first time. The section is also studied using palynological analysis, that results in its detailed subdivision on palynological data and recognition of two sequences of palynostratigraphic units. The integrated stratigraphy is used to establish the precise position of stage and substage boundaries. The continuity of the section is defined based on micropaleontological and palynological data.     

云南楚雄盆地上三叠统沉积及地球化学的海相特征

楚雄盆地为中生代形成的典型前陆盆地。三叠纪是其形成的主体阶段和盆山转换的重要时期,也是由海相向陆相沉积环境的转折期,同时上三叠统是楚雄盆地最重要的油气资源层系。通过对楚雄盆地上三叠统进行系统的沉积学、层序地层学和波动地质学分析,在上三叠统识别出3个三级层序,建立了层序地层格架和高频波动曲线。对层序地层格架内的碳、氧同位素和微量元素的特征进行分析,发现楚雄盆地晚三叠世诺利晚期—瑞替期沉积具有海相沉积环境的地球化学特征,同时综合多学科的研究成果,指出楚雄盆地该时期为一与海域相接的近海湖盆,并受到间歇性海侵的影响。而海相烃源岩与陆相烃源岩在生烃能力、分布规律等方面均具有较大的差异。因此,这一认识对于重新评价楚雄盆地晚三叠世烃源岩具有重要意义。     

Sedimentology of the Baluti Formation in the Galley Derash,Amadiya, North Iraq: insight on carbonate turbidite facies and their depositional environmental

The Baluti Formation is exposed succession of the Rhaetian age (Upper Triassic). These strata are interpreted herein for the first time to redeposit in a deep marine setting (distally steepened carbonate ramp/medial to distal slope) on the northwestern margin of the Neo-Tethys. The Galley Derash section is apparently continuous with no evidence for either subaerial exposure or submarine erosion. The absence of erosional scours in the study area confirms emplacement of these strata below both fair-weather and storm wave base. Event beds, particularly those resulting from sediment gravity flows, dominate the Rhaetian interval. The Upper Rhaetian strata are primarily assigned to the Galley Derash Valley. It records an upward transition from moderate-scale, olistolith-bearing debris flow deposits (debrite) to medium-/thin-bedded turbidites remobilized as sediment slumps/slides. The succession is dominated by medium- to thin-bedded calcareous turbidites and hemipelagic suspension deposits. Very low fossil assemblages, particularly stromatolite fragments, and planktonic bivalves occur within some intervals in the section. Rapid and relatively continuous sedimentation is attested to by the thickness of the section, the abundance of calcareous turbidites, and the thin nature of the intercalated hemipelagic beds. Low content of badly preserved fossils and evidence of continuous and rapid sedimentation refer to alteration by tectonic disturbances or diagenesis. This makes the Baluti Beds as a supplementary section for the Rhaetian successions in Iraq.     

楚雄前陆盆地的充填层序与造山作用

楚雄盆地是一中生代前陆盆地，发展过程有两个阶段：晚三叠世卡尼期至诺利期为前陆复理石充填期；诺利晚期至瑞替期为前陆磨拉石充填期。相应的形成两个二级层序和四个三级层序。层序的构型显然与造山过程耦合。哀牢山前缘逆冲带推进的速度控制着楚雄盆地基底挠曲幅度，因而决定了盆地的沉降率；逆冲带隆升幅度则决定了陆源区的物源供给量。由于可容空间和物源供给率是控制盆地层序地层格架的两个基本因素，因此前陆逆冲载荷的迁移就是控制层序地层的关键。作者以盆地中的充填层序反馈哀牢山造山作用的特点和过程：早、中期，盆地中以向上变深的二级沉积层序代表了哀牢山道冲的初始价段，逆冲载荷达到盆地拉张变薄的基底上，前陆挠曲幅度大，造山带抬升的相对高度较低。晚期，盆地中以向上变浅的二级沉积层序代表了逆冲载有推进到克拉通基底上，地壳挠由受阻，物源供给量加大。三级沉积层序的相互叠量则反映了造山带多幕次、多周期活动的特点。     

上扬子区下志留统四射珊瑚组合带与层序地层序列的关系

摘 要　 根据动物群演替和层序地层的研究‚厘定上扬子区下志留统 （Llandovery） 四射珊瑚 组合带序列：（1） 香树园组 Dinophyllum-Rhabdocyclus 组合带‚时限为 Aeronian 期;（2） 雷家 屯组下部 Stauria-Briantelasma 组合带; （3） 雷家屯组上部 Maikottia-Kodonophyllum 组合带‚ 它们对应于 Telychian 早期;（4） 宁强组 Gyalophylloides -Idiophyllum 组合带‚相当于 Telychian 晚期。上扬子区下志留统可以划分为5个三级层序‚四射珊瑚组合带分别位于三级层序的高 水位体系域内。     

The age and formation mechanisms of Late Triassic fissure deposits,Gloucestershire, England: Comments on Mussini,G. et al. (2020). Anatomy of a Late Triassic Bristol fissure: Tytherington fissure 2

In the Late Triassic the landscape NE of present-day Bristol, SW England was dominated by Carboniferous Limestone ridges and cuestas that became progressively buried by continental Mercia Mudstones and finally inundated during the Rhaetian marine transgression. Mussini et al. (2020) adopt the assertions of earlier collaborators back to Whiteside and Marshall (2008) that terrestrial vertebrate assemblages from sediments contained within karstic fissure systems in the former limestone ridges at Cromhall, Tytherington and elsewhere are restricted to the Rhaetian. We review and reject the sedimentological, stratigraphic, geomorphological and topographic arguments for this and reassert a long pre-Rhaetian (Norian) history for the vertebrate-bearing fissure systems at both Tytherington and Cromhall. We also reject the contemporaneous Rhaetian freshwater-seawater mixing zone dissolution model for the fissure systems adopted by Mussini et al. (2020) and reaffirm that the Tytherington and Cromhall fissures developed as conduit caves with a long Triassic history. Applying a new regional study of the Rhaetian transgressive surface, we also show that whilst the fissures at Cromhall remained sealed after the Norian, those at nearby Tytherington were re-exposed in the Late Rhaetian. Already partially filled with Norian sediments, the Tytherington fissures were subject to reworking on the seabed. Internal collapses, probably triggered by well documented repeated regional seismicity, led to the chaotic state of the Tytherington fills when downward moving Rhaetian marine components came to lie amongst and mix with earlier Norian terrestrial sediments. The vertebrate associations in the Tytherington fissures therefore contain a substantial Rhaetian input whilst those at Cromhall do not.     

Stage boundaries of the Triassic in Northeast Asia

The International Union of Geological Science approved the stage boundaries suggested by the international working groups for the Tethyan Triassic. In this work we estimate the possibility of their establishment and correlation in the Boreal sections of Northeast Asia, based on the analyzed distribution of ammonoids and conodonts. As the conodonts of the Induan Stage have not been identified for sure in the region under study, the lower boundary of the Triassic System is defined here at the base of the Otoceras concavum Zone of the ammonoid scale. In addition to the ammonoids Hedenstroemia hedenstroemi (Keyserling), the first occurrence of the conodonts Pseudogondolella nepalensis (Kozur et Mostler) is suggested to be the biomarker of the Olenekian Stage base. The lower boundaries of the Anisian and Ladinian stages, defined respectively at the basal levels of the Paracrochordiceras-Japonites Beds in Northern Dobrogea and the Eoprotrachyceras curionii Zone in the Brescian Prealps are recognizable, though with some reservations, at the base of the Grambergia taimyrensis and Eonathorstites oleshkoi zones in Northeast Asia. According to the priority principle and similarity between the ammonoid faunas of the Daxatina cf. canadensis Subzone and Frankites regoledanus Zone, the lower boundary of the Carnian Stage is defined at the base of the Alpine Trachyceras aon Zone. In Northeast Asia, this boundary is established at the base of the “Protrachyceras” omkutchanicum Zone, as we take into account the fact that the Daxatina and Stolleyites ammonoid genera occur in sections of British Columbia below the stratigraphic level of the Trachyceras forms. The lower boundary of the Norian Stage is concurrent with the base of the Guembelites jandianus Zone in the Alps and equivalent Stikinoceras kerri Zone in North America and Striatosirenites kinasovi Zone in Northeast Asia. The conodont species Norigondolella navicula (Huckriede) that is most important for the Boreal-Tethyan correlation cannot be used as a biomarker of the Norian lower boundary because of its problematic diagnosis and rare occurrence in the Boreal sections. The Rhaetian Stage base is defined at the appearance level of the Misikella conodont genus in the Hallstatt region, Austria, that is simultaneously the disappearance level of the characteristic Norian bivalves (Monotis) and ammonoids (Metasibirites). In Northeast Asia, this boundary is established at the top of the Monotis ochotica Zone. The correlation between the biostratigraphic units of the Middle-Upper Triassic conodont scale established in Northeast Asia and standard ammonoid zonation is verified.     

藏北羌塘地区地层新资料

新的牙形石化石资料证实在羌塘北部地区有泥盆纪查桑组地层，它是该盆地保存的最古老海相沉积地层，羌塘地区中西部广大地区上侏罗统索瓦组顶部产有丰富的以Virgatosphinctes和Aulacosphinctes两属为主的菊石化石，可初步建立5个菊石组合，其中Berriasella和Blanfordiceras菊石的出现使最高海相层位上延至提塘阶顶部或贝利阿斯阶，而圆笠虫(Orbitolina)、似异卷虫（Heterohelix）出现可能反映有海相白垩纪地层的存在，在晚三叠世肖茶卡组中发现有Epigondolella牙形石动物群，这是我国晚三叠世最高位牙形石带又一产地，首次在双湖比隆组油页岩剖面顶部发现产Harploceras sp.菊石化石的层位，时代属早上托阿尔斯（Toarcian）。解决了这一特殊沉积地层单位长期争论的时代归属问题，并指出它与早侏罗世海侵高峰期全球缺氧事件有关。     

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.     

西藏林周县麦隆岗组顶部的晚三叠世牙形石

本文记述的牙形石动物群,均产自西藏林周县麦隆岗村的上三叠统麦隆岗组顶部,共计8属20种。其中Epigondolella属在此剖面上产出丰富。根据该属的不同种和种群特征,该牙形石动物群可明显地划分出4个牙形石组合带,自下而上:Epigondolella multidentata带,E.sp.C带,E.postera带,E.bidentata带。这些牙形石带,时代属中晚诺利期。     

Third-order depositional sequences controlled by synsedimentary extensional tectonics: evidence from Upper Triassic carbonates of the Carnian Prealps (NE Italy)

ABSTRACT The Upper Triassic platform-margin deposits of the Carnian Prealps fail to show the succession of the two global sea-level lowerings predicted for the Norian and Rhaetian by the Haq global sea-level curve. In both cases a relative sea-level rise occurs, a discrepancy that can be explained by an increase in tectonically controlled subsidence, a consequence of the plate-scale rifting in the NW Tethys Gulf preceding oceanic spreading in the Jurassic. Pulses of tectonic subsidence followed by relative quiescence are capable of generating depositional sequences similar in gross geometry and duration to the third-order eustatic cycles of Haq et al . The Late Triassic part of the Exxon global sea-level curve, partly derived from correlatable strata within the same palaeogeographical domain, is likely to reflect pulses of tectonically induced subsidence rather than eustatic sea-level changes.     

Detailed biostratigraphy of Triassic deposits in the Lena lower reaches (northern Yakutia)

Triassic sections of the Lena lower reaches (northern Yakutia) were studied. Stratigraphy and paleontology of the Triassic deposits were refined and described in detail, and their age was constrained by different fauna groups. The first detailed local Triassic biostratigraphic scheme is reported, which includes ammonoid, nautiloid, and bivalve zones and subzones and foraminifer beds. The scheme is compared with the Canadian Triassic Zonal and Standard (International) Scales.