Tectonics versus eustatic control on supersequences of the Zagros Mountains of Iran

At least 12 km of strata ranging in age from the latest Precambrian to the Recent are exposed in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. This sedimentary cover is characterized by distinct stratal packages separated by major unconformities forming twelve supersequences. They are informally named as: (1) Late Precambrian – Cambrian Hakhamanesh Supersequence, (2) Ordovician Kourosh Supersequence, (3) Silurian Camboojiyeh Supersequence, (4) Devonian Darioush Supersequence, (5) Mississippian – Pennsylvanian Khashayar Supersequence, (6) Permian – Triassic Ashk Supersequence, (7) Jurassic Farhad Supersequence, (8) Early Cretaceous Mehrdad Supersequence, (9) Late Cretaceous Ardavan Supersequence, (10) Paleocene – Oligocene Sassan Supersequence, (11) Oligocene – Miocene Ardeshir Supersequence, and (12) Miocene – Pleistocene Shapour Supersequence. These supersequences and their correlatives in neighboring areas have been used to infer tectonic events. The dominant interpretation has been that local or regional epeirogenic movements were responsible for the formation of these supersequences. Unconformities are considered as indications that epeirogenic movements associated with tectonic events affected the area. The present investigation provides an alternative to the established view of the Phanerozoic supersequences of the Zagros Mountains.

A good correlation exists between the lithofacies of supersequences in the Zagros Mountains and the second-order eustatic sea-level changes. Deposition of deep-water, marine shales occurred during periods of eustatic sea-level rise. Platform-wide unconformities coincided with eustatic sea-level lows. In fact, supersequences of the Zagros Mountains are nearly identical to those described from the North American Craton and the Russian Platform suggesting that these stratal packages are global. These observations suggest that supersequences of the Zagros Mountains formed by second order eustatic sea-level changes and not by local or regional epeirogenic movements.

Although tectonic events did not produce supersequences of the Zagros Mountains, they influenced regional lithofacies patterns through the formation of intrashelf depressions such as the Hormoz Salt Basin during the Precambrian and the Dezful Embayment and the Lorestan Basin during the Mesozoic. Tectonic events also affected sedimentation during the Tertiary collision of Arabia and the Central Iran microplate through uplift, erosion, and the formation of the Zagros Foreland Basin. The results of this investigation necessitate a re-evaluation of the role and the significance of pre-Tertiary tectonic events commonly used to interpret the geological evolution of the Zagros Mountains.     

The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous of eastern Heilongjiang, northeast China: stratigraphy and regional basin history

In eastern Heilongjiang, the Upper Jurassic is marine and restricted to the Suibin and Dong’an areas, where it is characterized faunally by Callovian–Volgian (Tithonian) bivalves and florally by dinoflagellates. The Lower Cretaceous is widely distributed in eastern Heilongjiang, and characterized faunally by Berriasian–Valanginian bivalves, Barremian–Albian ammonites and Aucellina, and florally by dinoflagellates. To the west, the marine facies grade into non-marine beds. Thus, in the east, for example in the Dong’an and Dajiashan areas, near the northwestern Palaeo-Pacific, the Lower Cretaceous is marine; westward, in the Yunshan, Longzhaogou, Peide, and Zhushan areas, marine and non-marine deposits alternate, whereas further west still, e.g. in the Jixi Basin, non-marine facies are intercalated with marine beds. This regional distribution is indicative of a large, shallow embayment opening eastwards to the Palaeo-Pacific; during the Early Cretaceous successive transgressive-regressive events influenced the climate and biota of eastern Heilongjiang and northeastern China. Many of the Lower Cretaceous sections contain abundant coals, demonstrating that in this region the Early Cretaceous was an important coal-forming period. Some non-marine bivalve species are common to the Lower Cretaceous Jixi Group of eastern Heilongjiang, the Jehol Group of western Liaoning and the Transbaikalian Group of Siberia, suggesting that these groups are of comparable Early Cretaceous age.     

合肥盆地中生代地层时代与源区的碎屑锆石证据

合肥盆地位于大别造山带北侧、郯庐断裂带西侧,其发育过程与这两大构造带演化密切相关。本次工作对合肥盆地南部与东部出露的中生代砂岩与火山岩进行了锆石年代学研究,从而限定了各组地层的沉积时代,确定了火山岩喷发时间,指示了沉积物的源区。这些年代学数据表明,合肥盆地南部的中生代碎屑岩自下而上分别为下侏罗统防虎山组、中侏罗统圆筒山组或三尖铺组、下白垩统凤凰台组与周公山组(或黑石渡组)与上白垩统戚家桥组,其间缺失上侏罗统。盆地东部白垩系自下而上为下白垩统朱巷组与响导铺组和上白垩统张桥组。该盆地出露的毛坦厂组或白大畈组火山岩喷发时代皆为早白垩世(130～120 Ma)。盆地南部的下——中侏罗统及白垩系源区皆为大别造山带,分别对应该造山带的后造山隆升与造山后伸展隆升。而盆地东部白垩系的源区始终为东侧的张八岭隆起带,后者属于郯庐断裂带伸展活动中的上升盘。     

Sedimentation regime and accommodation space in the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous on the eastern Russian Plate

This study presents new data on transgressive-regressive and accommodation-sedimentation regimes in the eastern Russian Plate during the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous. The proposed generalized scheme illustrating the combined effects of three major factors (eustasy, tectonic “noise”, and depositional gradient) controlling the deposition of sequences with different stratal architecture allowed us to quantify the parameters of sedimentation (5S) and accommodation (5A) for second- and third-order cycles. A distinctive feature of the evolution of the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary basin is the excess of accommodation space over sediment supply, which was not conducive to creation of clinoforms. The difference between stacking patterns in individual time intervals and the estimated values of 5A/5S may be indicative of the presence of unidentified stratigraphic breaks in the Bathonian and Late Tithonian-Berriasian, which were accompanied by erosion and reworking of sand strata. The stepwise regressive-transgressive deepening during the Oxfordian-Early Tithonian and transgressive-regressive shallowing during the Late Tithonian-Berriasian were probably caused by short-term manifestations of local tectonic “noise”, and depositional hiatuses accompanied by the erosion of missing elements in the structure of third-order cycles. The Lower Cretaceous succession exhibits no mismatch between transgressive-regressive and retrogradational-progradational cycling, which provides another supporting evidence for a quiet tectonoeustatic and sedimentation regime during the Early Cretaceous compared to that of Middle-Late Jurassic time.     

黔中隆起及其周缘地区下古生界油气勘探前景与方向

黔中隆起位于上扬子板块东南缘,经历了前震旦纪基底形成、早震旦世裂谷、晚震旦世—志留纪被动大陆边缘、泥盆纪—中三叠世陆内裂谷与克拉通盆地和晚三叠世—第三纪陆内盆地5大演化阶段。该区具有较好的成油气地质条件;发育上震旦统陡山沱组泥页岩和下寒武统牛蹄塘组泥页岩两套区域烃源岩及下奥陶统湄潭组和下志留统龙马溪组局部泥页岩烃源岩,具有很强的生烃潜力;发育上震旦统灯影组白云岩、寒武系金顶山组碎屑岩、高台组—娄山关组碳酸盐岩和下奥陶统—下志留统储层;而牛蹄塘组泥岩和娄山关组膏盐白云岩与上二叠统龙潭组含煤泥岩是该区区域性盖层,湄潭组、龙马溪组为局部盖层;该区保存条件复杂,燕山、喜山构造运动对早期油气藏的改造和破坏较大,是该区油气成藏的主要控制因素,也是该区油气勘探的主要风险所在。研究认为该区油气勘探潜力较大,而安顺凹陷、三塘—百兴凹陷和黔西凹陷整体油气保存条件较好,为最有利天然气勘探区带。     

A Different Opinion on the Geological Age of the Longzhaogou and Jixi Groups of Eastern Heilongjiang,China1

Abstract The age of the Longzhaogou and Jixi Groups of coal measures in eastern Heilongjiang were previously considered to be Jurassic or mainly Jurassic. But there occur Middle Barremian- Early Albian Aucellina ( bivalvia) fossils in the Upper Yunshan Formation of the Longzhaogou Group and the Lower Chengzihe Formation of the Jixi Group, and the Qihulin Formation of the Longzhaogou Group yields Early Cretaceous bivalve and ammonite fossils. Consequently, the geological ages of the two groups are mainly, or even all, Early Cretaceous.     

Sedimentary response to the paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern North China Craton during the late Paleozoic and Mesozoic

With the aim of constraining the influence of the surrounding plates on the Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern North China Craton (NCC), we undertook new U–Pb and Hf isotope data for detrital zircons obtained from ten samples of upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic sediments in the Luoyang Basin and Dengfeng area. Samples of upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic strata were obtained from the Taiyuan, Xiashihezi, Shangshihezi, Shiqianfeng, Ermaying, Shangyoufangzhuang, Upper Jurassic unnamed, and Lower Cretaceous unnamed formations (from oldest to youngest). On the basis of the youngest zircon ages, combined with the age-diagnostic fossils, and volcanic interlayer, we propose that the Taiyuan Formation (youngest zircon age of 439 Ma) formed during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian, the Xiashihezi Formation (276 Ma) during the Early Permian, the Shangshihezi (376 Ma) and Shiqianfeng (279 Ma) formations during the Middle–Late Permian, the Ermaying Group (232 Ma) and Shangyoufangzhuang Formation (230 and 210 Ma) during the Late Triassic, the Jurassic unnamed formation (154 Ma) during the Late Jurassic, and the Cretaceous unnamed formation (158 Ma) during the Early Cretaceous. These results, together with previously published data, indicate that: (1) Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian sandstones were sourced from the Northern Qinling Orogen (NQO); (2) Lower Permian sandstones were formed mainly from material derived from the Yinshan–Yanshan Orogenic Belt (YYOB) on the northern margin of the NCC with only minor material from the NQO; (3) Middle–Upper Permian sandstones were derived primarily from the NQO, with only a small contribution from the YYOB; (4) Upper Triassic sandstones were sourced mainly from the YYOB and contain only minor amounts of material from the NQO; (5) Upper Jurassic sandstones were derived from material sourced from the NQO; and (6) Lower Cretaceous conglomerate was formed mainly from recycled earlier detritus.The provenance shift in the Upper Carboniferous–Mesozoic sediments within the study area indicates that the YYOB was strongly uplifted twice, first in relation to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate beneath the northern margin of the NCC during the Early Permian, and subsequently in relation to collision between the southern Mongolian Plate and the northern margin of the NCC during the Late Triassic. The three episodes of tectonic uplift of the NQO were probably related to collision between the North and South Qinling terranes, northward subduction of the Mianlue Ocean Plate, and collision between the Yangtze Craton and the southern margin of the NCC during the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian, Middle–Late Permian, and Late Jurassic, respectively. The southern margin of the central NCC was rapidly uplifted and eroded during the Early Cretaceous.     

羌塘地块西南缘上侏罗统-下白垩统海相地层的发现

通过1∶5万区域地质调查,在青藏高原羌塘地块西南缘鸡夯地区原划上三叠统日干配错群中新识别出一套上侏罗统—下白垩统地层。本文根据该套地层的岩石组合以及古生物面貌特征,初步探讨了该套地层的沉积环境和沉积相特征,对其中发育的玄武岩夹层采用锆石U-Pb(LA-ICP-MS)同位素测年方法,获得其年龄为118.3±2.1Ma。在发育的生物碎屑灰岩夹层中采集了珊瑚、双壳类、腕足、腹足类化石,化石资料显示该套地层形成于晚侏罗世—早白垩世。这是首次在南羌塘地块发现该时期海相地层,这一发现证明南羌塘地块在晚侏罗世—早白垩世时期海水并未完全退出,而是局部发育海相三角洲。     

我国腐植煤的还原性质及其与沉积环境的关系

一、不同还原性腐植煤的基本特征在研究华北聚煤区东部晚古生代太原组（C₃）和山西组（P₁1）煤性质差别及显微特征的基础上,作者认为除煤岩成分和变质程度外,还存在着影响煤质的第三个成因因素--还原性质。     

柴达木盆地东段中、新生代沉积迁移规律及原型盆地性质研究

为明确柴达木盆地东段中、新生代沉积迁移变化及原型盆地性质,通过对柴达木盆地东段红山、霍布逊凹陷中、新生界野外地质露头追踪、钻井（孔）资料分析、岩性岩相分析、二维地震剖面解释、地层划分对比及平衡地质剖面恢复的研究,认为中、新生代沉积迁移呈现出形象的“跷跷板”移动现象,这种现象与凹陷所处的大地构造位置、盆地性质及板块运动的远程效应有关。下侏罗统局限于红山小型断陷盆地,中侏罗统范围向南扩大到霍布逊凹陷,与羌塘板块、拉萨地块与亚欧板块两次俯冲挤压碰撞之间的应力松弛作用有关,此作用在早侏罗世导致北部红山地区的板缘裂陷,在中侏罗世扩展到南部的霍布逊地区;晚侏罗世和早白垩世沉积中心位于红山挤压型盆地,这与拉萨地块与欧亚板块碰撞的远程效应导致柴北缘地区构造反转有关;古近系在北部红山凹陷的发育而在南部霍布逊凹陷的缺失,与新特提斯洋东部闭合首先导致霍布逊地区隆升有关;新近系及第四系主要分布在南部霍布逊凹陷,与此时柴北缘及周缘山系全面隆升导致沉积中心南移有关。     

扬子板块石炭纪沉积层序及其全球性对比研究

通过对石炭纪扬子板块内部、扬子板块与华北板块及扬子板块与欧美板块之间的不同级别沉积层序对比研究，编制了扬子板块、华北板块和欧美板块石炭纪的海平面变化曲线。在扬子板块内部，上、下扬子区２级沉积层序可以进行对比，但下扬子区海进和海岸上超滞后于上扬子区，由于资料的限制，３级沉积层序的对比还有困难；华北板块Ｆｕｓｕｌｉｎａ－Ｆｕｓｕｌｉｎｅｌａ带内的一个３级沉积层序和Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｉｔｅｓ－Ｐｅｕｄｏｓｃｈｗａｇｅｒｉｎａ带内的四个３级沉积层序，可以和扬子板块同期的３级沉积层序对比；扬子板块和北美中大陆不仅３级沉积层序可以对比，而且在晚石炭世Ｇｚｈｅｌｉａｎ期４级沉积层序也可以进行对比，但由于它们大地构造背景的差异，导致沉积层序组成内容的不同。上述对比结果被认为是冰川型全球海平面变化所形成全球沉积记录同时性的证据。并以冰期与非冰期、联合古陆形成前后等方面对相同板块内和不同板块间沉积层序的数量和级别的异同原因进行了探讨，认为石炭纪冈瓦纳大陆冰川消长是控制全球海平面变化的主要因素，因此，沉积层序应具全球同时性和可对比性，但局部沉积条件差异也将影响沉积层序组成。     

Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous tectonic-eustatic cyclites of the Southern East European Craton

A methodical approach to assessment of the role played by vertical tectonic movements in the of tectonic-eustatic cyclicity and the facial appearance of the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous deposits on the eastern part of the East European Craton has been suggested. Resulting from comparison between the global and regional eustatic curves, the modeling of probable versions of the lithological composition for sediments during eustatic oscillations, and the comparison of modeling results with the chronostratigraphic scheme, the global eustatic component and regional ??tectonic noise?? have been identified. It has been found that the vertical tectonic movements formed the boundaries of the most distinguished cyclites on the eastern part of the East European Craton. The spatial-temporal uniformity in the material composition of cyclites, related to the long periods of stable high-stand sea level, caused their mineralogenic specialization for a broad range of non-ore mineral resources.     

Aptian and Albian atmospheric CO2 changes during oceanic anoxic events: Evidence from fossil Ginkgo cuticles in Jilin Province,Northeast China

The Early Cretaceous was a time with super-greenhouse conditions and episodic global oceanic anoxic events. However, relative timing of atmospheric CO₂ emissions and oceanic anoxic events, and their causal relationships remain matters of debate. Using the stomatal index approach, well-preserved fossil cuticles of Ginkgo from the Lower Cretaceous Changcai Formation, eastern Jilin, and from the Lower Cretaceous Yingcheng Formation, central Jilin, Northeast China, were investigated to reconstruct atmospheric CO₂ concentrations during the Aptian and earliest Albian (Early Cretaceous). The results indicate that the CO₂ concentrations reached 1098–1142 ppmv (Carboniferous standardization) or 970–1305 ppmv (regression function) during the Aptian and earliest Albian. Our estimates of palaeoatmospheric CO₂ concentrations during the earliest Albian (OAE 1b) are slightly higher than the data between the early Aptian Selli (OAE 1a) and the middle Aptian Fallot OAEs; this may indicate the absence of any great emissions of CO₂ during the latest Aptian and earliest Albian.     

Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Sahara,Northern Africa

This paper presents an overview of the Cenozoic stratigraphic record in the Sahara, and shows that the strata display some remarkably similar characteristics across much of the region. In fact, some lithologies of certain ages are exceptionally widespread and persistent, and many of the changes from one lithology to another appear to have been relatively synchronous across the Sahara. The general stratigraphic succession is that of a transition from early Cenozoic carbonate strata to late Cenozoic siliciclastic strata. This transition in lithology coincides with a long-term eustatic fall in sea level since the middle Cretaceous and with a global climate transition from a Late Cretaceous–Early Eocene “warm mode” to a Late Eocene–Quaternary “cool mode”. Much of the shorter-term stratigraphic variability in the Sahara (and even the regional unconformities) also can be correlated with specific changes in sea level, climate, and tectonic activity during the Cenozoic. Specifically, Paleocene and Eocene carbonate strata and phosphate are suggestive of a warm and humid climate, whereas latest Eocene evaporitic strata (and an end-Eocene regional unconformity) are correlated with a eustatic fall in sea level, the build-up of ice in Antarctica, and the appearance of relatively arid climates in the Sahara. The absence of Oligocene strata throughout much of the Sahara is attributed to the effects of generally low eustatic sea level during the Oligocene and tectonic uplift in certain areas during the Late Eocene and Oligocene. Miocene sandstone and conglomerate are attributed to the effects of continued tectonic uplift around the Sahara, generally low eustatic sea level, and enough rainfall to support the development of extensive fluvial systems. Middle–Upper Miocene carbonate strata accumulated in northern Libya in response to a eustatic rise in sea level, whereas Upper Miocene mudstone accumulated along the south side of the Atlas Mountains because uplift of the mountains blocked fluvial access to the Mediterranean Sea. Uppermost Miocene evaporites (and an end-Miocene regional unconformity) in the northern Sahara are correlated with the Messinian desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea. Abundant and widespread Pliocene paleosols are attributed to the onset of relatively arid climate conditions and (or) greater variability of climate conditions, and the appearance of persistent and widespread eolian sediments in the Sahara is coincident with the major glaciation in the northern hemisphere during the Pliocene.     

西藏江孜-浪卡子一带的侏罗-白垩纪界线地层

侏罗系/白垩系界线是显生宙所有系级界线中存在问题最多的一个。西藏南部出露有良好的侏罗-白垩纪地层,本次工作在喜马拉雅地层区的康马隆子地层分区开展了海相侏罗系/白垩系的界线研究。江孜地区的界线地层被划分为维美组和甲不拉组;浪卡子地区的甲不拉组之下发育一套含大量火山岩层的火山－沉积地层,被称为桑秀组。该地层分区的地层系统由下至上为：维美组浅灰色厚层状粗-细粒石英砂岩;桑秀组黑色页岩、安山岩和玄武岩;以及甲不拉组黑色页岩、硅质泥页岩夹砂岩和砂质灰岩。维美组中含化石稀少,仅在江孜地区发现零星菊石Haplophylloceras、Himalayites等。桑秀组下部页岩和粉砂岩中找到少量菊石化石,属于Spiticeras、Berriasella、Haplophylloceras的一些种,和富集成层的双壳类Inoceramus everesti等。江孜甲不拉组下部化石丰富,划分为Spiticeras-Berriasella下组合和Himalayaites-Haplophylloceras上组合。本研究区的生物地层可与聂拉木地区的菊石化石组合对比。通过生物地层学对比,江孜-浪卡子地区的维美组时代为晚侏罗世Tithonian期,江孜地区甲不拉组下部和浪卡子地区的桑秀组均属于下白垩统。桑秀组下部的页岩段与江孜甲不拉组的最下部地层相当,上部火山岩的同位素年龄为133 Ma。据此,桑秀组的时代为Berriasian至Hauterivian期,侏罗系/白垩系的界线位于该组之底,以Virgatosphinctes、Aulocosphinctes的消失和Spiticeras的出现为标志。侏罗纪末期西藏特提斯海区普遍形成大规模海退,表现为维美组和门卡墩组顶部砂岩的同期沉积。     

Seismic stratigraphy of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic in northern Belgium: main results of a high-resolution reflection seismic survey along rivers and canals

This paper presents the results of high-resolution reflection seismic surveys carried out between 1989 and 1996 along rivers and canals in northern Belgium. The seismic data penetrate down to 900 m in the sedimentary cover or to the Paleozoic basement. The reflection response of the acoustic basement provides clear indications with regard to the top of the Paleozoic: crystalline basement and Lower Paleozoic metasediments and volcanics of the London-Brabant Massif and NE-dipping Devonian and Carboniferous strata. The subhorizontal Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary cover comprises 20 unconformity-bound seismic units: 5 in the Cretaceous and 15 in the Cenozoic. Based on borehole information, these units are correlated with lithostratigraphically defined formations or groups. Some of the unit-bounding unconformities are of regional importance. They are attributed i) to eustatic sea-level changes causing regional flooding during the Late Cretaceous or incision of deep valleys during the Late Oligocene and Late Miocene, ii) to regional tectonic tilting between Late Eocene and Early Oligocene, or iii) to a combination of eustasy and tectonics causing valley incisions during the Lutetian. Faults of the Roer Valley Graben have offset different stratigraphic levels by sometimes considerable amounts (up to 230 m in the Oligocene to Quaternary succession). Although the main tectonic phase took place during the Miocene, the activity has varied considerably through time, and also from fault to fault. Most faults seem to have a 10 to 30-m displacement since the Late Pliocene.     

Transgressive-regressive cycles in Lower Cretaceous strata,Mississippi Interior Salt Basin area of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico,USA

Four transgressive-regressive (T-R) cycles and five T-R subcycles have been recognized in Lower Cretaceous strata of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. These T-R cycles are the LKEGR-TR 1 (Lower Cretaceous, Eastern Gulf Region) (upper Valanginian–upper Aptian), the LKEGR-TR 2 (upper Aptian–middle Albian), the LKEGR-TR 3 (middle–upper Albian), and the LKEGR-TR 4 (upper Albian–lower Cenomanian) cycles. The LKEGR-TR 1 Cycle consists of three subcycles: LKEGR-TR 1–1 (upper Valanginian–lower Aptian), LKEGR-TR 1–2 (lower Aptian) and LKEGR-TR 1–3 (upper Aptian) subcycles. The LKEGR-TR 2–1 (upper Aptian–lower Albian) and the LKEGR-TR 2–2 (lower–middle Albian) subcycles constitute the LKEGR-TR 2 Cycle. The LKEGR-TR 3 and the LKEGR-TR 4 cycles consist of a single T-R cycle.Recognition of these T-R cycles is based upon stratal geometries, nature of cycle boundaries, facies stacking patterns within cycles, and large-scale shifts in major facies belts. The T-R subcycles are characterized by shifts in major facies belts that are not of the magnitude of a T-R cycle. The cycle boundary may be marked by a subaerial unconformity, ravinement surface, transgressive surface or surface of maximum regression. A single T-R cycle consists of an upward-deepening event (transgressive aggrading and backstepping phases) and an upward-shallowing event (regressive infilling phase). These events are separated by a surface of maximum transgression. The aggrading phase marks the change from base-level fall and erosion to base-level rise and sediment accumulation; this phase signals the initiation of the creation of shelf-accommodation space. The marine transgressive and flooding events of the backstepping phase are widespread and provide regional correlation datums. Therefore, these T-R cycles and subcycles can be identified, mapped, and correlated in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico area. The progradational events associated with the regressive infilling phase represent a major influx of siliciclastic sediments into the basin, the development of major reef build-ups at the shelf margin, and a significant loss of shelf-accommodation space. These T-R cycles are interpreted to be the result of the amount of and change in shelf-accommodation due to a combination of post-rift tectonics, loading subsidence, variations in siliciclastic sediment supply and dispersal systems, carbonate productivity and eustasy associated with a passive continental margin. The T-R cycles, where integrated with biostratigraphic data, can be correlated throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico region and have the potential for global correlation of Lower Cretaceous strata.     

东尼日尔Termit盆地叠置裂谷的演化:来自构造和沉积充填的制约

东尼日尔Termit盆地是中西非裂谷系中典型的中—新生代裂谷盆地。在充分应用钻井和地震解释资料的基础上,根据构造、沉积充填及主要区域性不整合面的特征,分析了该盆地的演化过程。盆地内主要发育两类断层,第一类断层形成于早白垩世,于古近纪发生继承性活动,第二类断层为形成于古近纪的新生断层。全盆地普遍存在4个主要区域性不整合面,分别位于下白垩统、上白垩统、古近系、新近系—第四系底部。下白垩统和古近系沉积特征受断层活动控制明显,上白垩统和新近系沉积中心位于盆地中部,在其沉积时构造活动较弱。构造和沉积充填特征表明,Termit盆地经历了白垩纪和古近纪—第四纪两期裂谷旋回叠置的演化过程。下白垩统和古近系沉积于同裂谷期,沉积充填受断层活动控制;上白垩统和新近系—第四系沉积于后裂谷期,以热沉降拗陷作用为主。     

Correlation of the Jurassic through Oligocene Stratigraphic Units of Trinidad and Northeastern Venezuela

The Jurassic through Oligocene stratigraphies of Trinidad and the Serrania del Interior of eastern Venezuela exhibit many similarities because of their proximity on the passive continental margin of northeastern South America. A slightly later subsidence in eastern Venezuela, and the generally deeper-water sedimentation in Trinidad, is interpreted to be the result of a serration of the original rift margin, producing an eastern Venezuelan promontory and Trinidadian reentrant. We interpret these serrations to be the result of oblique (NW-SE) spreading of North and South America during Middle and Late Jurassic time. The stratigraphies of northeastern Venezuela and Trinidad contrast in the Hauterivian-Albian interval, with dynamic shallow shelf environments prevailing in the Serrania del Interior and deeper marine submarine-fan deposition in Trinidad. Both areas develop middle to Upper Cretaceous source rocks during a time of eustatic sea level high and widespread oceanic anoxia. A slight lowering of eustatic sea level may have been responsible for the clastic influx represented by the sandstones of the Maastrichtian San Juan and Galera formations, disturbing the previous pelagic and hemipelagic sedimentation. The seaward transport of these sandstones may have been responsible for the localized erosion of the Maastrichtian section in central and southern Trinidad. Sedimentation stabilized with slope and outer-shelf turbiditic deposition during the Paleocene and Early Eocene, before diachronous, west-to-east shallowing occurred. Shallowing from the turbidites to shallow-water limestones and sandstones occurred in eastern Venezuela in the late Middle Eocene, and in the Late Eocene/Early Oligocene in Trinidad. Alhough eustasy and sediment progradation could have influenced the shallowing, its magnitude and rate requires that a tectonic uplift have occurred. Margin buckling, caused by the N-S relative convergence of North and South America, and forebulge uplift ahead of the Caribbean plate both are possible mechanisms. Following the shallowing, both areas subsided rapidly into laterally variable Oligocene to Recent flysch-like sedimentation. This is interpreted to represent the onset of direct interaction of the Caribbean plate with the South American depocenters of Trinidad and eastern Venezuela. Miocene to Recent sedimentation has been strongly influenced by these plate interactions.     

Characterization of the Lebanese Jurassic–Cretaceous carbonate stratigraphic sequence: a geochemical approach

The Lebanese crustal segment is part of a much larger carbonate platform deposited along the northwestern margin of the Arabian Plate, in the eastern Mediterranean region. It is made up mainly of Jurassic–Cretaceous carbonate rocks. Most of this stratigraphic sequence is exposed in the Nahr Ibrahim canyon and surrounding areas in central Lebanon. The various formations, from the oldest unit (the Lower Jurassic Kesrouane Formation) to the Upper Cretaceous Chekka Formation, are made up of different types of carbonate rocks including micritic limestone, medium‐ to coarse‐grained dolostone, biomicritic (chalk), biosparrudite limestone, micritic dolostone, pelmicrite, marl and marly limestone. Results of this first chemical investigation on the Lebanese carbonate platform show that the micritic limestone of the Kesrouane Formation is relatively enriched in Ca, Na and Sc, and has low rare‐earth element (REE) contents. The marl units of the Hammana Formation are enriched in Al, Fe, K, Ti, Rb, Ga, Nb, U, Th and REE. The chalk of the Chekka Formation shows the highest phosphorus content. A significant increase in P and Sr contents with time (from the Lower Jurassic to the Upper Cretaceous carbonate units) characterizes the Lebanese sequence; this is interpreted to be related to a possible increase in continental weathering rates during the Mesozoic. Enrichment in Ni, Ti and Nb in some formations is interpreted to be linked to Mesozoic volcanism in central Lebanon. The Cretaceous formations are subdivided according to their REE patterns into two distinct groups: limestones (Mdairej, Sannine and Maameltain formations) which are depleted in REE; and marl/chalk (Hammana and Chekka formations) which are significantly enriched in REE. On several geochemical variation diagrams, such as the K–Ti–P triangular plot, the Lebanese Mesozoic carbonate formations are found to occupy distinct compositional fields. Thus, carbonate geochemistry could prove to be a powerful tool (especially when combined with petrographic data) in characterizing and correlating carbonate formations (chemical stratigraphy), particularly in regions where field evidence may be limited. Results of this study have significant implications for the entire carbonate platform that covers a large part of the eastern Mediterranean region. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.