Basement tectonics and flexural subsidence along western continental margin of India

The Paleocene-recent post-rift subsidence history recorded in the Mumbai Offshore Basin off western continental margin of India is examined. Results obtained through 2-D flexural backstripping modelling of new seismic data reveal considerable thermo-tectonic subsidence over last ca. 56 Myr. Reverse postrift subsidence modelling with variable β stretching factor predicts residual topography of ca. 2000 m to the west of Shelf Margin Basin and fails to restore late Paleocene horizon and the underlying igneous basement to the sea level. This potentially implies that:(1) either the igneous basement formed during the late Cretaceous was emplaced under open marine environs; or(2) a laterally varying cumulative subsidence occurred within Mumbai Offshore Basin(MOB) during ca. 68 to ca. 56 Ma. Pre-depositional topographic variations at ca. 56 Ma across the basin could be attributed to the extensional processes such as varied lower crustal underplating along Western Continental Margin of India(WCMI). Investigations about basement tectonics after unroofing of sediments since late Paleocene from this region support a transitional and heavily stretched nature of crust with high to very high β factors. Computations of past sediment accumulation rates show that the basin sedimentation peaked during late Miocene concurrently with uplift of Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau and intensification of Indian monsoon system. Results from basin subsidence modelling presented here may have significant implications for further studies attempting to explore tectono-climatic interactions in Asia.     

赣南—粤北版石群及其地质时代

赣南—粤北中生代晚期存在上、中、下3个不同时代的火山岩系,其中上火山岩系称为版石群。根据岩性岩相特征,版石群可进一步划分为两个岩组:下岩组称为合水组,以砾岩、砂岩、页岩等沉积岩为主、夹火山岩,代表火山活动初始期的产物;上岩组称为优胜组,岩性为流纹岩、流纹质凝灰岩、熔结凝灰岩,代表火山活动喷发期的产物。长塘盆地优胜组熔结凝灰岩全岩RbSr等时线年龄为89.5Ma;仁差盆地优胜组流纹岩全岩RbSr等时线年龄为91.9～94Ma,熔结凝灰岩锆石UPb法年龄为86.5Ma,次流纹斑岩锆石UPb法年龄为93.5Ma;菖蒲盆地优胜组流纹岩全岩RbSr等时线年龄为104Ma;版石盆地优胜组流纹岩全岩RbSr等时线年龄为72.2Ma,全岩KAr法年龄为77.6Ma,可见版石群优胜组的地质时代为早白垩世晚期—晚白垩世早期。另外,合水组的生物化石反映出早白垩世的特征,因此,将版石群置于早白垩世—晚白垩世早期是可信的。     

江西贵溪毫纲山剖面原罗塘组的研究及其意义

分析了江西贵溪毫纲山剖面原罗塘组红色碎屑岩系的沉积特征、化石特征及时代意义 ,讨论了岩石地层划分及其命名。原罗塘组是一个完整沉积旋回的产物 ,其地质时代属早白垩世晚期 -晚白垩世早期 ,它不能与弋阳盆地的周家店组对比 ,也不能与赣州盆地的赣州组或“赣州群”对比。建议将罗塘组升组为群 ,并根据岩性岩相特征进一步划分为白埠组、周田组和邓家组。     

Depositional history of a muddy sabkha complex in the Sokoto Basin of Nigeria,West Africa

Sedimentological and stratigraphical analysis of the Sokoto Basin has resulted in recognition of four lithostratigraphic units. They are Unit A—siltstone and fine-grained sandstone; Unit B—shale and marl; Unit C—limestone and calcareous shale; and Unit D—red sandstone. Unit A represents a wadi plain system composed of desert-alluvial beds; Unit B, a mud-rich sabkha system; and Unit C, an inner-shelf carbonate system. A marine transgression from the northwest began in the Maastrichtian and reached its peak in the Palaeocene. After regression in the late Palaeocene, the area was subjected to erosion, followed by fluvial sedimentation of Unit D. Wadi plain beds and mud-rich sabkha facies of Sokoto Basin are similar to alluvial and coastal mud-flat deposits in the northwestern Gulf of California and ephemeral stream and tidal-flat sediments in Gladstone Embayment, Australia.     

Deep Continental Scientific Drilling Engineering Project in Songliao Basin: progress in Earth Science research

The Songke No.2 well (eastern hole) (referred to as Well SK-2), one of the “two wells and four holes” of the Deep Continental Scientific Drilling Engineering Project in the Songliao Basin, is in Anda City, Heilongjiang Province, and was officially completed on May 26, 2018. The scientific goals of Well SK-2 cover four aspects: paleoclimate research, resource and energy exploration, primary geological research, and development of deep earth exploration techniques. Since the official commencement of drilling in 2014, the Well SK-2 scientific drilling engineering team has organized and implemented drilling for coring, in situ logging, chemical analysis of core elements, and deep structural exploration around the well. Currently, the following preliminary scientific research progress has been made: 4334.81 m in situ core data has been obtained; the centimeter-level high-resolution characterization of the most complete and continuous Cretaceous continental strata ever unearthed has been completed, and the standard profile of continental strata has been initially established; the unconventional natural gas resources and basin-type hot dry rocks in the deep Songliao Basin were found to have good prospects for exploration and development; the climatic evolutionary history of the Cretaceous continental strata was rebuilt for the first time, covering hundreds of thousands to millions of years, and the major events of Cretaceous climate fluctuations have been discovered; all these reveal strong evidence for the subduction and aggregation of paleo-ocean plates, providing a theoretical basis for the re-recognition of the genesis of the Songliao Basin and for deep earth oil and gas exploration. The implementation of the Deep Continental Scientific Drilling Engineering Project in the Songliao Basin is of great significance for exploring the mysteries of the Earth and solving major problems such as those related to the deep energy environment. It is a solid step along the road of “going deep into the Earth”.     

Microfacies and depositional environment of Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene oil shales from Jordan

The purpose of this study is to better understand the depositional setting of Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene oil shales from southeast and central-east Jordan. One core from both the Jafr and the Azraq-Hamza Basins was logged, and their lithology, texture, and ichnofabrics were recorded. A total of 79 thin sections were analyzed petrographically, and eight microfacies types recognized. Both cores show lithologic and petrographic similarities. The oil shales are Maastrichtian to Danian in age and can be described as organic matter and calcite-rich mudrocks. The most abundant granular components are foraminifera and various types of phosphatic bio- and lithoclasts. Macrofossils (bivalves, ostracods, echinoderms) were recorded in some intervals. The current results were compared with data from a previous publication on Maastrichtian oil shales from the Jafr Basin. A new model explaining the deposition of the oil shales of the Jafr and Azraq-Hamza Basins is proposed. The onset of the Maastrichtian oil shale deposition in both basins coincides with the early Maastrichtian transgression in this region. The organic matter-rich sediments were deposited in a mid to outer ramp setting below the storm wave base. Younger oil shales of Late Maastrichtian to Danian age were deposited in a shallower environment, below the fair weather wave base. The Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary is marked by a hiatus in both cores. The Danian oil shales show relatively lower “total organic carbon” content than the Maastrichtian ones. The former are believed to have been deposited in more oxygenated bottom waters of a mid-ramp zone.     

A lithostratigraphic revision and palaeoenvironmental assessment of the Cretaceous System exposed in the onshore Cauvery Basin, southern India

The exposed Cretaceous shelf succession of the Cauvery Basin, southeastern India, has provided a world-class record of mid and Late Cretaceous invertebrates, documented in a substantial literature. However, the lithostratigraphy of the succession has been little studied and previously subject to a range of nomenclature. It is revised here, on the basis of intensive regional mapping, to stabilize the definition and nomenclature of lithostratigraphic units. The Uttattur Group is restricted in outcrop to the Ariyalur district and divided into the Arogypapurum Formation (new; Albian), Dalmiapuram Formation (late Albian), and Karai Formation (late Albian–early Turonian) for which the Odiyam and Kunnam Members are recognized. The Trichinopoly Group follows unconformably and is also restricted in outcrop to the Ariyalur district. It is divided into the Kulakkalnattam Formation (Turonian) and Anaipadi Formation (late Turonian–Coniacian). The Ariyalur Group is more widely distributed. In the Ariyalur district, the Sillikkudi Formation (Santonian–Campanian) and its Kilpaluvari Member, the Kallakurichchi Formation (early Maastrichtian), the Kallamedu Formation (mid and Late Maastrichtian) and the Niniyur Formation (Danian) are recognized. The sequence in the Vriddhachalam area consists of the Parur and Patti formations (Campanian), Mattur Formation (late Campanian–earliest Maastrichtian) and Aladi Formation (Maastrichtian). For the Pondicherry district, the Valudavur and Mettuveli formations (Maastrichtian) and Kasur and Manaveli formations (Paleocene) comprise the succession. The interpreted depositional environments for the succession in the Ariyalur district indicate four eustatic cycles in the mid and Late Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary: late Albian–early Turonian, late Turonian–Santonian, Campanian, Maastrichtian, and Paleocene. Overall the Cauvery Basin sequence is arenaceous and relatively labile in terms of framework grain composition, and contrasts with the pelitic assemblage developed on the west Australian margin from which eastern India separated in the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian). The difference is ascribed to palaeoclimate as controlled by palaeolatitude. For the Late Cretaceous, the Cauvery Basin drifted north on the Indian plate from 40 to 30°S. This zone is inferred to constitute Southern Hemisphere horse latitudes for Late Cretaceous time, characterized by an arid climate, physical weathering and the production of labile sands. By contrast, the west Australian margin of matching tectonic history remained in a high palaeolatitude (>40°S) throughout the Late Cretaceous, experiencing a pluvial climate, the dominance of chemical weathering and the production of clays.     

哈萨克斯坦东部斋桑盆地恐龙蛋壳化石与白垩系-古近系界线

在晚白垩世期间,哈萨克斯坦东部的斋桑盆地形成了一个湖盆,一直延续到现在。古斋桑湖中最老的沉积是Tayzhuzgen组,由厚达136m的泥岩、粉砂岩、页岩、石英砂岩、砾岩和淡水石灰岩红层组成。按照当地的地层名称,Tayzhuzgen组包括Manrak、Tayzhuzgen、Aulisbulak、Aktobe、Dysum bay和Kiin Kerish层。在斋桑湖以南的Tayzhuzgen河附近一个地点的Tayzhuzgen组下部,发现了恐龙蛋壳碎片,蛋壳至少包括有两个主要类型:圆形蛋类和长形蛋类。恐龙蛋壳指示了Tayzhuzgen组下部的时代为晚白垩世(可能是马斯特里赫特期)。在本组的较高层位,发现了晚?古新世的植物化石,因此斋桑盆地的白垩系-古近系界线在Tayzhuzgen组内部。在Tayzhuzgen组中,白垩纪与古新世化石层之间的地层间隔只有约50m,由此推测在Tayzhuzgen组内部可能存在一个或多个不整合,或是本组的中部为凝缩沉积,即在白垩系-古近系界线处的沉积速率非常缓慢。Tayzhuzgen组顶部有一个显著的不整合,那里中或晚始新世(Arshantan,Irdinmanhan或Egilian陆生哺乳动物"期")的地层存在于含哺乳动物化石剖面的底部。斋桑盆地的白垩系-古近系界线位于古斋桑湖沉积剖面的下部。这不是一个完整的界线剖面,可能是一个包含有一个或多个不整合和/或一个由慢速沉积造成的凝缩剖面。     

塔里木北部库车前陆盆地晚白垩世和古新世的钙质超微化石组合

库车前陆盆地是中国大型油气基地之一,盆地中的白垩系及古近系为盆地油气的主要储层。对本区白垩系的时代划分和沉积环境的精确确定直接关系到对油气田的规模、储量和分布范围的正确评价。本研究在前人划分为陆相下白垩统巴什基奇克组的顶部首次发现了由10属15种组成的晚白垩世海相钙质超微化石组合Arkangelskiellacymbiformis—Quadrumgartneri。此外,在由前人定为古新统—始新统的塔拉克组下段也发现了晚白垩世Arkangel skiellacymbiformis—Quadrumgartneri组合,在该组上段发现了古新世化石Biantholithussparsus。该成果既为准确确定这两个岩组的地质时代提供了可靠的古生物证据,又为本区存在晚白垩世地层和海相沉积提供了佐证,表明巴什基奇克组顶部存在晚白垩世的海相沉积,塔拉克组下段属于上白垩统,上段属于古新统。     

西藏仲巴地区白垩纪末期—始新世早期海相地层

西藏仲巴县北部地区出露有晚白垩世至古近纪的海相地层 ,本次工作新测制了卓勒剖面 ,并对原错江顶剖面上部地层做了再次研究。地层中化石丰富 ,据有孔虫化石研究结果重新厘定曲下组时代为古新世早期、加拉孜组上段属始新世早期 ,认为该区白垩 /古近纪界线位于曲贝亚组与曲下组之间。在这一界面上 ,古新世磨拉石直接覆于晚白垩世的陆棚碳酸盐台地沉积之上 ,其间存在沉积间断 ,为弧前盆地演化后期的重大沉积转变。古新世早期曲下组为近海相磨拉石沉积 ,古新世晚期至始新世早期加拉孜组为残留海盆沉积。加拉孜组顶部为该区最高海相地层 ,其上为冈底斯群的磨拉石不整合覆盖。冈底斯群的时代应晚于始新世中期。     

Sedimentology and depositional environments of the Maastrichtian Patti Formation, southeastern Bida Basin, Nigeria

The Maastrichtian Patti Formation, which consists of shale - claystone and sandstone members, constitutes one of the three Upper Cretaceous lithostratigraphic units of the intracratonic southeastern Bida Basin, in central Nigeria. Well exposed outcrops of this formation were investigated at various locations around the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers. The lithostratigraphic sections were measured and their peculiar sedimentological features such as textures, physical and biogenic sedimentary structures, facies variations and associations were documented and used to interpret the depositional environments and develop a paleogeographic model. Some selected representative samples of the sedimentary depositional facies were also subjected to grain size analysis.Three shoreline sedimentary depositional facies composed of shoreface, tidal channel, and tidal marsh to coastal swamp facies were recognized in the study area. Continental sedimentary depositional facies such as fluvial channel, swamp, and overbank were also documented. The sandstones of the shoreface and tidal channel facies are medium- to coarse-grained, moderately sorted (standard deviation ranges from 0.45–1.28 averaging 0.72), and quartzarenitic. The fluvial channel sandstone facies are coarse- to very coarse-grained, mostly poorly sorted (standard deviation ranges from 0.6–1.56 averaging 1.17), and subarkosic. Typical sedimentary structures displayed by the shoreface and tidal channel facies include burrows, clay drapes, hummocky and herringbone cross stratifications, whereas the fluvial channel sandstone facies are dominated by massive and planar cross beddings. The tidal marsh to coastal swamp shales and ferruginised siltstone facies are fossiliferous and bioturbated, whereas the nonmarine swamp siltstones contain vegetal imprints and lignite interbeds. The overbank claystone facies are massive and kaolinitic.In the study area, a regressive to transgressive model is proposed for the Patti Formation. This model correlates with stratigraphically equivalent sediments of the Ajali and Mamu Formations in the adjacent Anambra Basin to a great extent.     

Spherules from the Late Cretaceous Phosphorite of the Fatehgarh Formation, Barmer Basin, India

A first report of discovery of spherules, glassy balls, highly magnetic fine dust and microbracciated matrix in the Fatehgarh Formation of Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, India is being presented in this paper. The Fatehgarh Formation is a mixed siliciclastic, carbonate and phosphorite formation of Cretaceous age in the Barmer Basin that comprises sediments of Middle Jurassic to Lower Eocene age. The phosphorite zone in the Fatehgarh Formation is 8 metre-thick zone that comprises phosphatic sandstone, bone bed, bedded phosphorite and phosphatic and non phosphatic gastropod beds. The spherules occur in a thin phosphatic-clay mud and silt band of bone bed, which also yielded a very rich and diverse microvertebrate assemblage with a dominant Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) form of Igdabatis along with forms comprising of Semionodontid, Lapisosteum and Enchodontid. The end Cretaceous is marked for a mass extinction of numerous species including dinosaurs. An extraterrestrial impact is interpreted as the reason for this mass extinction. Whether these spherules are related to the volcanic source or K/T Boundary impact ejecta found at Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico region needs detailed chemical and age characterization for which study is in progress.     

Geochemistry of the Paleocene Clastic Rocks in Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Implications for Tectonic Background and Provenance

The Lishui Sag, in the East China Sea Shelf Basin, is rich in hydrocarbons, with the major hydrocarbon-bearing layers being the Paleocene Mingyuefeng clastic rocks. Analysis of the implicit geologic background information of these Paleocene clastic rocks using petrological and geochemical methods has significant practical importance. These Paleocene sandstones are mainly lithic arenite, lithic arkose and greywacke, composed of K-feldspar, plagioclase, authigenic clays, silica and carbonates. As continental deposits, Yueguifeng clastic rocks have high aluminosilicate and mafic detritus contents, while the Lingfeng and Mingyuefeng Formations are rich in silica due to an oscillating coastal marine depositional environment. The major element contents of these Paleocene sandstones are low and have a concentrated distribution, indicating that the geochemical composition is non-epigenetic, transformed by sedimentary processes and diagenesis. The Yueguifeng detritus comprises recycled sediments, controlled by moderate weathering and erosion, while the Lingfeng and Mingyuefeng detritus is interpreted as primarily first-cycle materials due to low chemical weathering. In the Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene, the Pacific Plate began subducting under the Eurasian Plate, causing an orogeny by plate collision and magma eruption due to the melting of subducted oceanic crust. This resulted in the dual tectonic settings of “active margin” and “continental island arc” in the East China Sea Shelf Basin. During the Late Paleocene, the Pacific Plate margin migrated eastward along with development of the Philippine Ocean Plate, and the tectonic setting of the Lishui Sag gradually turned into a passive continental margin. Detrital sources included both orogenic continental blocks and continental island arcs, and the parent rocks are primarily felsic volcanic rocks and granites.     

黑龙江省东北部桦南隆起的隆升时期

黑龙江省东北部三江、虎林、勃利、鸡西、双鸭山、双桦等盆地与桦南隆起的关系对本区油气资源的勘探开发有重要的意义。从区域地层对比、海相古生物化石、盆地边界断裂以及地球物理MT剖面等方面对其进行了探讨,揭示黑龙江省东北部盆地群具有相同的演化历史,在城子河、穆棱期由东向西共同遭受海侵事件,现今盆地南界均为破坏性逆冲断层,综合认为各盆地在城子河、穆棱期为一统一的大陆边缘近海盆地--三江-穆棱盆地,桦南隆起尚未隆升。结合猴石沟组的古水流向、砂岩的物源区分析及砾岩砾石成分统计认为,桦南隆起应于东山组沉积期后隆升,并在猴石沟组沉积期已隆升一定高度,为周缘盆地提供物源,形成现今黑龙江省东北部地区的“盆岭格局”。     

黑龙江北部孙吴-嘉荫盆地沉积相类型及其演化

通过对孙吴-嘉荫盆地淘淇河组、永安村组、太平林场组、鱼亮子组、乌云组和孙吴组露头剖面详细的沉积学研究,查明该盆地从淘淇河组到孙吴组发育的沉积相类型有冲积扇、辫状河、曲流河、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、曲流河三角洲、湖底扇和湖泊。冲积扇及扇三角洲主要发育于淘淇河组和孙吴组;辫状河及辫状河三角洲主要发育于鱼亮子组和乌云组;曲流河及曲流河三角洲主要发育于永安村组和太平林场组,各组均有湖泊相沉积发育。孙吴-嘉荫盆地从淘淇河组到乌云组,具有冲积扇-扇三角洲-湖泊→曲流河-曲流河三角洲-湖泊→辫状河-辫状河三角洲-湖泊→冲积扇-扇三角洲-湖泊的沉积演化规律,反映晚白垩-古新世构造活动性减弱,中-上新世孙吴组沉积时重又趋于活动。     

Palynology and clay mineralogy of the Deccan volcanic associated sediments of Saurashtra,Gujarat: Age and paleoenvironments

The intertrappean sediments associated with Deccan Continental Flood Basalt (DCFB) sequence at Ninama in Saurashtra, Gujarat yielded palynoassemblage comprising at least 12 genera and 14 species including Paleocene taxa such as Intrareticulites brevis, Neocouperipollis spp., Striacolporites striatus, Retitricolpites crassimarginatus and Rhombipollis sp. The lava flows of Saurashtra represent the northwestern most DCFB sequence in India. It is considered that the Saurashtra lava flows represent the earliest volcanic activity in the Late Cretaceous of the Reunion Mantle Plume on the northward migrating Indian Plate. The present finding of the Paleocene palynoflora from Ninama sediments indicate Paleocene age for the associated lava flows occurring above the intertrappean bed which suggests that the Saurashtra plateau witnessed eruption of Deccan lava flows even during Paleocene. The clay mineral investigation of the Ninama sediments which are carbonate dominated shows dominance of low charge smectite (LCS) along with the presence of mica and vermiculite. Based on the clay mineral assemblage it is interpreted that arid climatic conditions prevailed during the sedimentation. The smectite dominance recorded within these sediments is in agreement with global record of smectite peak close to the Maastrichtian–Paleocene transition and climatic aridity.     

Stages in the Magura Basin: a case study of the Polish sector (Western Carpathians)

The Magura Basin domain developed in its initial stage as a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous rifted passive margin that faced the eastern parts of the oceanic Alpine Tethys. In the pre- and syn-orogenic evolution of the Magura Basin the following prominent periods can be distinguished: Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous syn-rift opening of basins (1) followed by Early Cretaceous post-rift thermal subsidence (2), latest Cretaceous–Paleocene syn-collisional inversion (3), Late Paleocene to Middle Eocene flexural subsidence (4) and Late Eocene - Early Miocene synorogenic closing of the basin (5). The driving forces of tectonic subsidence of the basin were syn-rift and thermal post-rift processes, as well as tectonic loads related to the emplacement of accretionary wedge. This process was initiated at the end of the Paleocene at the Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB)/Magura Basin boundary and was completed during Late Oligocene in the northern part of the Magura Basin. During Early Miocene the Magura Basin was finally folded, thrusted and uplifted as the Magura Nappe.     

广东河源盆地红层的初步研究

河源盆地红层厚达 5 0 0 0 m,依岩性特征自下而上划分为大凤组、主田组、浈水组、丹霞组和莘庄村组。前三组称南雄群 ,粗碎屑岩较发育 ,厚 16 0 0— 370 0 m。大凤组为紫红、暗紫红色砾岩 ,在盆地北部该组上部为细砾岩夹含砾砂岩 ,富产恐龙圆形蛋化石 ,厚 5 6 7m;主田组为紫红色含砾砂岩与不等粒砂岩互层夹细砾岩、砂质泥岩 ,富含灰质结核 ,产窃蛋龙、恐龙长形蛋、龟鳖类、腹足类和瓣鳃类化石 ,厚 90 0 m;浈水组沉积物又较粗 ,以细砾岩、含砾砂岩发育为主要特征 ,厚达 2 2 0 0 m。大凤组和主田组富含恐龙蛋化石 ,其面貌与南雄盆地相似 ,时代属晚白垩世无疑。丹霞组全为粗碎屑岩 ,为紫红色块状砾岩、砂砾岩 ,具丹霞地貌特征 ,厚 70 0 m,时代暂归晚白垩世—古新世。莘庄村组以红色细碎屑岩发育、富含灰质结核、下粗上细、上部红黑相间为主要特征 ,产介形虫、轮藻、腹足类、瓣鳃类化石 ,时代属古新世     

塔里木盆地西部白垩纪—古近纪海相地层框架及对重大地质事件的记录

塔里木盆地西部白垩纪—古近纪发生了大规模的海侵事件,形成一个喇叭状向西开口的海湾,该海湾属于东特提斯洋的一个分支。该地区白垩纪—古近纪海相地层记录了东特提斯洋演化和一系列重大地质事件,具有重要的研究价值,但对其地层的研究仍相对薄弱,对重大地质事件的研究还不够深入。本文拟通过详细的岩石地层、生物地层和其他地层方法,完善地层划分与对比框架,并在此基础上讨论Cenomanian/ Turonian界线大洋缺氧事件(OAE2)、白垩纪/古近纪界线(K/Pg)、古新世—始新世极热事件(PETM)、特提斯海进与海退等一系列重大地质事件。塔里木盆地白垩纪—古近纪海相或海陆过渡相地层自下而上为克孜勒苏群、库克拜组、乌依塔克组、依格孜牙组、吐依洛克组、阿尔塔什组、齐姆根组、盖吉塔格组、卡拉塔尔组、乌拉根组和巴什布拉克组,上述地层中含有丰富的有孔虫、介形虫、钙质超微、沟鞭藻、孢粉、双壳类、腹足类等化石,以及少量菊石、腕足类、海胆和鲨鱼牙齿等化石。综合的生物地层和年代地层研究表明,克孜勒苏群的时代为早白垩世Barremian-Albian期,库克拜组—依格孜牙组的时代为晚白垩世Cenomanian-Maastrichtian期(Cenomanian/Turonian界线可能位于库克拜组三段),吐依洛克组的时代为白垩纪—古近纪过渡期;阿尔塔什组的时代为古新世早中期,齐姆根组为古新世晚期—始新世最早期,盖吉塔格组—乌拉根组的时代为中始新世中晚期,巴什布拉克组的时代为晚始新世,但不排除最上部进入渐新世早期。塔里木盆地的海侵开始于克孜勒苏群中上部沉积期(Albian晚期—Aptian早期),但规模很有限,大规模的海侵始于晚白垩世Cenomanian早期;从晚白垩世—古新世,共经历了5次大规模的海侵—海退事件;大约41 Ma前后,海水退出盆地南部的昆仑山山前,34 Ma前后,海水退出盆地北部的天山山前。上述海侵—海退事件可能受构造和全球海平面变化的双重影响,但构造事件对海侵的启动和结束可能更具决定性的影响。阐述了塔里木盆地西部白垩纪—古近纪海相地层所记录的OAE2、K/Pg界线、PETM和特提斯海侵—海退等事件,其中笔者及团队第一次在塔里木盆地西部齐姆根组中所发现和报道的PETM事件,将有助于揭示全球近岸地区PETM的特征和生物-环境响应。在未来的研究中,需要进一步厘清塔里木盆地西部地层序列,建立更加精细的生物地层和年代地层框架,加强对PETM和特提斯海侵—海退等重大地质事件的研究。