Similarity of palaeocurrent: A tool for stratigraphic correlation

Conventional stratigraphic correlations are based on similarity of lithology, order of superposition, marker bed, unconformity, grade of metamorphism, fossil content and geochronology of the rock units. The Gondwana strata have been correlated referring to the above mentioned criteria. In the present work, the Talchir and Karharbari formations of two adjacent Gondwana basins separated by over 200 Km were examined with respect to their palaeocurrent directions. The study suggests that the palaeocurrent populations of different formations in both the basins are statistically dissimilar, this is because, both are stratigraphically distinct in order of superposition and thus are not correlatable. On the other hand, the palaeocurrent populations of the same formation in both the basins are statistically similar and stratigraphically correlatable. It is suggested that the similarity of palaeocurrent can be regarded as a criterion for stratigraphic correlation at least in local and regional scale.     

The Upper Oligocene of Antigua: the volcanic to limestone transition in a limestone Caribbee

Antigua is a small island at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles chain. Its geology is largely limited to the Upper Oligocene and it records with unusual fidelity the transition from island arc volcanism to quiescence and limestone deposition. Despite the apparent limitation of a rock record confined to a short stratigraphical interval, Antigua has a geodiversity that ranges from thick andesites through silicified logs and freshwater snails in cherts to limestones that include both shallow and deeper water facies, and fine karstic features.     

Stratigraphy and magnetic polarity of the high terrace remnants in the upper Ohio and Monongahela Rivers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio

A synthesis of previous work and new data on the stratigraphy of high terraces of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers upstream from Parkersburg, West Virginia, indicates a correspondence between terrace histories in the ancient Teays and Pittsburgh drainage basins. Four terraces are identified in each. Sediments of the lower three alluvial and slackwater terraces, correlated with Illinoian, early Wisconsin, and late Wisconsin glacial deposits, have been traced along the modern Ohio River through the former divide between the Teays and Pittsburgh basins. Sediments in the fourth terrace, the highest well-defined terrace in each basin, were deposited in two ice-dammed lakes, separated by a divide near New Martinsville, West Virginia. Some deposits of the highest slackwater terrace in both the Teays and Pittsburgh basins have reversed remanent magnetic polarity. This, and the stratigraphic succession in the two basins, suggests that both were ponded during the same glaciation. Reversed polarity in these terrace sediments restricts the age of the first ice-damming event for which stratigraphic evidence is well-preserved to a pre-Illinoian, early Pleistocene glaciation prior to 788,000 yr ago. In contrast, slackwater sediments in the Monongahela River valley, upstream from an outwash gravel dam at the Allegheny-Monongahela confluence, have normal remanent magnetic polarity, corroborating correlation with an Illinoian ponding event.     

A High-precision planetary stratigraphic correlation of sedimentary Phanerozoic sequences using a combination of methods of event,paleomagnetic, sequence and cyclic stratigraphy

For the first time a high-precision planetary stratigraphic correlation of Phanerozoic sedimentary marine and continental deposits on the level of mark beds and members was produced, using a combination of methods of event, paleomagnetic, sequence and cyclic stratigraphy. Schemes of diachronism of biostratigraphic zones for the Late Maastrichtian are proposed.     

The copper-nickel concentration log: A tool for stratigraphic interpretation within the ultramafic and basal zones of the stillwater complex, Montana

An analogue to the electric well log was devised for copper-nickel concentration drill-hole data from the Basal and lower part of the Ultramafic zones of the Stillwater Complex using automated data processing. The copper-nickel concentration logs graphically represent intensity (concentration) values that reflect the distribution of the elements in sulfide and silicate minerals. Four major patterns are recognized by their characteristic variations in copper and nickel intensity: (1) relatively flat, low-level copper-intensity signatures associated with arcuate nickel-intensity patterns that correlate with rocks in the Peridotite member of the Ultramafic zone; (2) arcuate or bulb-like patterns of copper and nickel intensity that correlate closely with the Basal bronzite cumulate member of the Basal zone; (3) complex patterns consisting of intervals of low-intensity copper and moderate-intensity nickel, spikes of high nickel and copper intensity, and high copper intensity associated with low nickel intensity that correlate respectively with cordierite-pyroxene hornfels, massive sulfide, norites and mineralized diabase dikes in the Basal norite member; and (4) large intervals of extremely low copper and nickel intensity that correlate with quartz-orthopyroxene hornfels. The recognition and interpretation of these patterns allow two- and three-dimensional stratigraphic and lithologic reconstructions to be done by means of concentration-log correlations instead of variable quality lithologic logging.     

Geochemical soil surveys over cambrian and lower devonian formations in the belgian ardennes as a tool for geological mapping

A geochemical soil survey was made over outcropping Cambrian and Lower Devonian formations in the Belgian Ardennes. About 300 soil samples were collected in an area of 2.5 × 1.1 km².Analysis of rock samples from scarce, but stratigraphically well-known outcrops show that the Cambrian rocks are richer in copper than those of the Lower and Upper Gedinnian (Lower Devonian). The Upper Gedinnian rocks are more nickeliferous than the other horizons.In the well-drained soils, copper and lead distributions permit precise location of the boundary between Cambrian and Lower Gedinnian formations. The nickel distribution seems to be a good stratigraphic indicator for distinguishing Upper from Lower Gedinnian. Zinc distribution seems unrelated to underlying bedrock geology.Regression analysis confirms that the content of Cu, Pb and Ni is essentially a function of lithostratigraphy. However, the distribution of these elements is more influenced by pedological factors in the poorly drained soils.     

Basin characteristics of the early devonian part of the hill end trough,New South Wales,based on a stratigraphic analysis of the merrions tuff

The Merrions Tuff is the structural‐stratigraphic marker of the flysch‐like fill of the Hill End Trough, a Siluro‐Devonian basin lying in central‐western New South Wales and bounded to the east and west by coeval, linear, meridional, shoalwater accumulations of limestones and volcanics. The Merrions Tuff is grossly tabular in form and consists of sheet‐like to lobate horizons of dacitic lavas and volcaniclastics. Internal vertical and lateral heterogeneities allow subdivision into members. Although some members are regionally extensive, others are not, so leading to a complex internal stratigraphy. Identification of regionally extensive time planes and analysis of the time‐stratigraphy shows that the base of the Merrions Tuff is diachronous. Although mesoscopic sedimentary structures such as sole structures are rare or not exposed, analysis of the parameters (spatial distribution of members, variation of and within members of their shape, thickness, grainsize, sand‐to‐shale ratios, numbers of sedimentation units, and distribution of vitriclasts), demonstrates that the Merrions Tuff was not derived from a single source and a single eruptive phase, but from several sources which were variously active at different times. Furthermore, through time there appears to have been a shift in the direction of dominant influx of basin fill, from the west through to the south, to the southeast and finally the east. Depositional patterns were controlled by a changing basin‐floor topography which was particularly influenced by the emplacement of the very thick member B lava. The effect of this flow was to displace the northwesterly‐trending basin axis existing at the beginning of the history of the Merrions Tuff to the east.     

Late Eocene and Maastrichtian paleomagnetic poles for the Pacific plate: implications for the validity of seamount paleomagnetic data

Mean paleomagnetic poles for the Pacific plate have been calculated for the Late Eocene (39 Ma) and the Maastrichtian (69 Ma). The former is located at 77.6°N, 7.6°E, the latter at 69.9°N, 0.9°E. Although these pole positions are little changed from previous calculations they are better constrained with additional data. Slightly less than half of the data are derived from the inversion of seamount magnetic fields providing an excellent opportunity to compare such data with other paleomagnetic data of the same age. As no significant systematic difference between the two types of data is evident, it is inferred that most seamount paleomagnetic data are probably useful indicators of the paleomagnetic field direction.     

A karst of thousands: Jamaica's limestone scenery

About two-thirds of the surface-rock outcrop of Jamaica consists of Cretaceous and Cenozoic, particularly mid-Tertiary, limestones. The island has been subaerially exposed for less than 10 million years. During this time, a combination of high tropical temperatures and high seasonal rainfall, coupled with widespread jointing and faulting related to the island's position within the North Caribbean Plate Boundary Zone, has led to the development of an impressive karst topography over much of Jamaica.     

The Cretaceous–Tertiary transition in Guatemala: limestone breccia deposits from the South Petén basin

Limestone breccia deposits in southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize have recently been interpreted as proximal to distal ballistic fallout deposits, generated by a bolide impact that struck Yucatan at K/T boundary time. We review the age, lithology and the depositional environment of five K/T boundary sections in the South Petén area of Guatemala (Caribe, Aserradero, Chisec, Actela, Chemal) in order to evaluate the nature and origin of K/T limestone breccia deposition. The sections are located 500?km south of the proposed impact site at Chicxulub and trend in an east–west direction from the Guatemala/Mexico border to southern Belize. In four of the five sections examined, a breccia unit up to 50?m thick overlies reef-bearing shallow-water limestones of late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) age. Rhythmically bedded limestones, marls and siltstones of early Danian age overlie the breccia and were deposited under middle-to outer-neritic conditions. The breccia consists of differently coloured layers of shallow-water limestones. Clast size generally decreases upsection to thin layers of predominantly rounded clasts, and these fine-grained rudstones grade into grainstones at the top. In at least one section (EI Caribe) diagenetically altered glass spherules are present in the uppermost layers of the grainstone. These glass spherules are of stratigraphic position and chemical composition similar to black and yellow glass from Beloc, Haiti and Mimbral, Mexico, which some workers have chemically linked to melt glass within the breccia of the Chicxulub cores. We suggest that breccia deposition in Guatemala may have been multi-event, over an extended time period, and related to the collision of the Yucatan and Chortis plates as well as related to a major impact or volcanic event at the end of the Cretaceous.     

The Karelian Craton in the Paleoproterozoic: New paleomagnetic data

New paleomagnetic data on Paleoproterozoic complexes of the Central Karelian and Vodlozero terranes of the Karelian Craton were obtained. A new key paleomagnetic pole (1.98 Ga) was calculated for rocks of the Vodlozero terrane. The positions of Central Karelian and Vodlozero terranes 1.98 Ga ago in subtropical and moderate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, respectively, were reconstructed. The latitudinal difference (1.98 Ga) between the positions of Central Karelian and Vodlozero terranes supports the existence of oceanic basins between separate terranes of the Karelian Craton.     

The genesis, mineralization, and stratigraphic significance of phosphatic/glauconitic condensed limestone unit in the Manavgat Basin, SW Turkey

A condensed hemipelagic limestone unit with glauconite and phosphate separates a drowned Late Burdigalian carbonate platform from overlying Langhian pelagic mudstones, marls, and calcarenitic tempestites within the Neogene Manavgat Basin of southwestern Anatolia, Turkey. The unit consists of coeval lenticular limestone bodies, between 1 cm and 15 m in thickness, ranging from 10 m to 3 km in lateral extent. The P2O5 content of this limestone ranges from 0.2 to 10% by weight and the iron-oxide, clay, and other metal-oxide contents of this unit substantially exceed those of the underlying and overlying rocks.This condensed stratigraphic unit was deposited on the southwesterly outer shelf portions of drowned horsts that directly faced upwelling currents. The unit displays three main facies: 1) glauconitic phosphate crusts associated with hardgrounds; 2) bedded glauconitic-phosphatic limestones; and 3) glauconitic-phosphatic limestones interbedded with resedimented limestones. Facies (1) forms the thinnest units whereas facies (3) is the thickest, since the thickness and spatial distribution of this facies are related to environmental contrasts caused by block faulting of the underlying carbonate platform.This lithostratigraphic unit of hemipelagic glauconite–phosphate deposition represents an interval of maximum flooding in tectonically active situations and depositional hiatus on submarine highs that separate the carbonate transgressive systems tract from the overlying terigenic tempestite highstand systems tract. This appears to be the sole condensed unit within the Miocene Manavgat Basin; and is here ascribed to a third-order (2.3) eustatic rise in sea level comprising the maximum flooding of the first-order cycle. This is also the time for early–Mid Miocene major changes in Mediterranean climate from tropical to temperate.     

A paleomagnetic investigation of the sudbury basin offsets, Ontario, Canada

The Sudbury offsets are a series of dike-like structures that appear either to radiate out from, or parallel the main Sudbury irruptive. In an attempt to establish the tectonic and magmatic relationship of these offsets to the main irruptive over 50 sites from 8 offsets were sampled for a paleomagnetic survey. From the over 10,000 measurements it is possible to derive a number of conclusions. First, the offsets are the end product of at least four separate intrusive pulses exactly the same as the main irruptive. The initial formation of the offsets coincides with the intrusion of the norite in the main irruptive. Second, the oldest remanence direction from the offsets exhibits the same directional differences between the north and south ranges as is seen in the norite component of the main irruptive. The offsets must therefore have suffered the same magnitude and sense of tectonic rotations as the immediately adjacent sector of the main irruptive. Three remanence components appear to be intimately associated with the distribution of sulfide rich zones. Of these three, one undoubtedly records a period of magmatic sulphide deposition. The other two appear to be recording mineralization events which require longer periods of remanence blocking and possible models include remobilization and redeposition of pre-existing deposits, and secondary hydrothermal introduction of a new generation of sulphides.     

The mesozoic evolution of the mino terrane, central Japan: A geologic and paleomagnetic synthesis

The Mino tectono-stratigraphic terrane, central Japan, underlain by Permian to Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of various origins, was formed through accretion processes associated with the Mesozoic sea-floor spreading. This conclusion has been reached mainly from the following reasoning:

1. (1) the entire boundary of this terrane is defined by tectonic belts with high-pressure metamorphic rocks and serpentinized ultramafic rocks,

2. (2) the chemistry and petrology of the Permian greenstones demonstrate their affinity with abyssal tholeiitic and alkalic basalts,

3. (3) the widespread, but chaotic, occurrence of Permian greenstones, Triassic cherts, and Jurassic siliceous shales in the younger Jurassic clastic rocks of this terrane suggests extensive post-depositional mixing of strata,

4. (4) the sedimentology of the Jurassic sandstones strongly suggests that they are turbidity-current deposits supplied from cratonic lands,

5. (5) the South-Pacific type fossil assemblage in the Mino terrane shows strong contrast with the North-Pacific type fossil assemblage of the adjacent terranes,

6. (6) the paleomagnetism of the Permian and Jurassic greenstones, the Triassic cherts, and the Jurassic siliceous shales implies long-distance northward drift in Cretaceous time of these rocks from their original low latitudinal regions.

Along with this northward migration, the Mino terrane was accreted with extensive internal deformation to northeast Asia including the present Hida terrane. Recent accumulation of paleomagnetic and paleontologic data in the Pacific peripheral regions appears to support the existence of many allochthonous terranes which migrated from the equatorial regions. The Mino terane may be regarded as one example of these Circum-Pacific allochthons.     

塔里木盆地古近系层序地层研究

运用露头、钻井岩心及测井层序地层学的有关理论方法,对塔里木盆地周边露头及盆地内钻井剖面的古近系进行了详细的沉积学和层序地层学研究,共识别出6个三级层序界面,把塔里木盆地古近系划分为5个三级层序。其中,古新世-始新世早期（库姆格列木群沉积期）发育3个层序,从下到上为S1,S2和S3。S1大致相当于库姆格列木群底部的砾岩段、膏泥岩段到白云岩段,在塔西南地区相当于土依洛克组。S2和S3大致相当于库车坳陷库姆格列木群上部两套膏盐岩段以及塔西南坳陷阿尔塔什组-齐姆根组及卡拉塔尔组-乌拉根组的两套膏盐岩段。始新世晚期-渐新世（苏维依组沉积期）发育1~2个三级层序,即S4和S5。S4相当于库车坳陷的苏维依组和塔西南坳陷巴什布拉克组的主体,S5仅在部分钻井中见到,以苏维依组顶部局部发育的扇三角洲相砂砾岩为代表。在这些层序中,低位体系域往往以发育扇三角洲分流河道及辫状河道相砂砾岩以及咸化潟湖或蒸发台地相厚层膏盐岩为特征,而水进体系域多以滨浅湖相泥岩和粉砂岩为主,高位体系域则主要为碳酸盐岩及富泥质的沉积序列。     

济阳坳陷古近系区域层序地层格架地层特征对比

综合生物地层学、磁性地层学（ESR测年法）、地震地层学及层序地层学等地层学的研究成果,通过对断陷盆地区域等时界面的识别、界面级次和界面性质的分析与对比,以三级层序为基本组构单元建立了济阳坳陷古近系区域等时地层格架系统。通过分析济阳坳陷四大次级凹陷古近系各二级层序和隐蔽油气藏最为发育的重点三级层序的可对比性,认为二级层序完全受构造幕的直接控制,具有很好的可对比性。四个次级凹陷的重点三级层序地层格架的旋回性质具有一致性,标志性沉积物出现于相同或类似的旋回位置。然而,T2(沙一段底)、T4（沙三段上亚段底）和T6(沙三段中亚段底)的三级层序界面性质在不同凹陷间具有明显的差异性。从层序成因动力学角度来解释,这种旋回性质的相似性和界面性质的差异性分别表明了同一层序地层格架中沉积环境对沉积物类型起决定性的影响作用以及渤海湾盆地构造沉降沉积中心的迁移对层序界面性质所起的主要控制作用。     

Crack-seal mechanism in a limestone: A factor of deformation in strike-slip faulting

A repeated crack-seal mechanism may play a major part in the deformation process in a shear zone. This paper develops a microscopic approach to the association of shear planes and tension cracks between two en échelon faults. The simultaneous development of these fractures yields a very specific pattern.The structure, discovered in a Cretaceous limestone of the Arc basin (Bouches du Rhône, France), is located between two left-stepping sinistral strike-slip faults. The horizontal displacement does not exceed a few centimeters: therefore the structure may be representative of the early stage of deformation within a brittle shear zone. Each strain increment includes both shearing and tensile fracturing. Inhomogeneous conditions of friction seem to be prevailing.     

Sedimentology and ecology of the horn plateau formation: A middle devonian coral reef,Northwest Territories,Canada

The Horn Plateau Formation is a Middle Devonian limestone reef approximately 0.4 miles in diameter and 400 feet thick which crops out on the Interior Plains about 110 miles west of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The study is based upon examination of material collected from the outcrop and 5 core-holes drilled on and near the reef.Corals are the most important framebuilders present and crinoid ossicles contribute most to the sediment volume. Three macrofacies of this coral patch reef are recognized: 1) organic reef, an area where framebuilders grew profusely, 2) reef flat, an area characterized by sand sized sediments, and 3) reef flank, an area of predominantly gravel sized sediments. Strongly agitated water conditions prevailed over the organic reef and reef flank macrofacies whereas moderately agitated water covered the reef flat. Subdivision of the macrofacies has produced 11 microfacies of distinctive texture-composition combination.

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Zusammenfassung Die Horn-Plateau-Formation ist ein mitteldevonisches Kalkriff, etwa 0,6 km breit und 120 m mächtig, das in den Interior Plains 180 km westlich von Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, aufgeschlossen ist. Die vorliegende Arbeit beruht auf einer Untersuchung von Proben aus Aufschlüssen und aus 5 Bohrungen im Riff und seiner Umgebung.Korallen sind die wichtigsten der Gerüstbildner, und Krinoiden-Reste die Hauptbestandteile der Sedimente. Drei Makrofazies werden in diesem Krustenriff erkannt: 1. der Riffkern, ein Bereich, worin riffbildende Korallen besonders häufig waren; 2. eine Riffebene charakterisiert durch Sedimente von Sand-Korngröße; und 3. eine Riffflanke mit Sedimenten von Kies-Korngröße. Über dem Kern und der Flanke war das Wasser stark bewegt, während ruhigeres Wasser die Riffebene bedeckte. Eine Unterteilung der Makrofazies ergab 11 Mikrofazies unterschiedlicher Struktur und Zusammensetzung.

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Résumé Le Horn Plateau est un récif calcaire du Dévonien moyen d'un diamètre de 0.4 mille et d'une épaisseur de 400 pieds environ. Il affleure dans les Plaines environ à 110 milles à l'Ouest de Yellowknife (Territoires du Nord-Ouest). L'étude est basée sur l'examen d'échantillons d'affleurements et de cinq forages effectués dans et près du récif.Les coraux sont les plus importants organismes constructeurs et les entroques forment la majeure partie du volume sédimentaire. Trois macrofaciès ont été reconnus dans le récif de plateforme: 1) récif organique, domaine riche en organismes constructeurs, 2) replat récifal, domaine caractérisé par des sables, et 3) flanc du récif, domaine à débris grossiers. Le récif organique et le flanc du récif se trouvaient dans des eaux très agitées tandis que des eaux modérément agitées couvraient le replat récifal. Les macrofaciès ont été subdivisés en 11 microfaciès présentant des combinaisons texture-composition distinctes.

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Interior Plains, 180 Yellowknife, Horn, 0,6 120 . , 5- . Crinoiden, — . 3 : 1) , . . , ; 2) , , 3) . , , , , . 11 .

     

A fertile harzburgite–garnet lherzolite transition: possible inferences for the roles of strain and metasomatism in upper mantle peridotites

Porphyroclastic enstatite in a garnet lherzolite xenolith from the Monastery Mine kimberlite, South Africa, has exsolved pyrope garnet, Cr-diopside and Al-chromite, and the specimen is interpreted as representing a transition from fertile harzburgite, (containing high Ca-Al-Cr enstatite) to granular garnet lherzolite. Although the exsolved phases occur in morphologically different forms (fine and coarse lamellae; equant, ripened grains), indicating textural disequilibrium, the exsolved grains are very constant in composition, indicating chemical equilibrium. Theoretically, the exsolution could have been due to a fall in temperature, but the close association of exsolution and deformation of the host enstatite suggests that exsolution was also aided by straining of the enstatite lattice. The phase compositions can be broadly matched with those in other mantle peridotites, except that all phases are characterised by a virtual absence of Ti. In the garnet and diopside Ti, Co, Zr and most of the REE are lower than in published analyses of garnet and diopside in both granular and sheared garnet lherzolites from Southern African kimberlites, and diopside/garnet partitioning for Sr and the REE is higher. Comparison with the trace element chemistry of an enstatite from a fertile harzburgite indicates that, except for Nb, the trace element content and distribution found in the Monastery phases could arise by isochemical exsolution from such an enstatite. On the assumption that (a) the Monastery specimen represents a transition from harzburgite to garnet lherzolite, and (b) many garnet lherzolites are of exsolution origin (as suggested by their modal compositions), the inference is that most garnet lherzolites, and not just the sheared variety, have been subject to varying degrees of Ti, Zr, Sr and REE metasomatism.