U–Pb detrital zircon ages of sediments from the Firgoun and Niamey areas (eastern border of West African Craton,West Niger)

This study uses field observations and new U–Pb ages of detrital zircon grains from three samples to question the stratigraphic position of the Firgoun and Niamey siliciclastic sediments, presumed to be Neoproterozoic in age. Sharing several lithological similarities with the Late Cryogenian “Triad” of the Taoudenni, Gourma, and Volta basins, the uppermost siliciclastic sediments of the Firgoun and Niamey areas were likely also deposited during this period. This is corroborated by matrix-supported diamictites with faceted or striated pebbles as well as by structures resembling cryoturbation processes. However, the detrital zircon U–Pb age record that we present here for the lowermost deposits of Firgoun and Niamey provides mainly Paleoproterozoic ages, and very few Archean ages, altogether in a range from 1822 ± 9 to 3392 ± 9 Ma. Therefore, the new data only show that the Firgoun and Niamey sediments were deposited before about 1800 Ma. Nevertheless, the U–Th–Pb zircon age data allows examining the possible provenance of the sediments. We show that the latter was likely in the westerly close vicinity of the studied areas. The Archean zircons are likely inherited, and possibly originating from a more westerly source. The nearby source of the Niamey and Firgoun sediments suggests that a high topographic relief was still existing in the south-central part of the West African Craton in the Mid Neoproterozoic.     

Facies characterization of the Surma Group (Miocene) sediments from Jalalabad gas field,Sylhet trough,Bangladesh: Study from cores and wireline log

The Sylhet trough located on the north-eastern margin of present Bengal basin, contains ~22 km of Tertiary sediments and well known as a hydrocarbon producing province. A detailed facies characterization of the subsurface Miocene Surma Group sediments (especial emphasis on reservoirs sandstones) from Jalalabad gas field within the Sylhet trough has been done using core log analysis and wireline log (gamma ray) interpretation. Texture and sedimentary structures of the cores suggests that the nine individual lithofacies types which can be grouped together into three facies associations, namely, fine-grained facies associations (FFA), medium-grained facies association (MFA) and coarse-grained facies associations (CFA). Major changes in gamma ray log motifs and various bounding discontinuities indicate six para-sequence sets (basin wide) and twenty eight para-sequences (local environmental changes) within the depth range from 2200-2800 m. Detailed facies analysis of the cores and wireline log reveals that the interbedding facies within the associations in the Surma Group commonly develop small-scale fining-upward (FU) cycles, coarsening-upward (CU) and random intercalations (RD). The sediments of the Surma Group of the Jalalabad field have been interpreted as deposits of the shallow marine to tide-dominated deltaic depositional setting. The cyclic nature of sedimentation pattern of the Surma Group probably records an almost continuous existence of this prograding deltaic regime and a tectonic setting characterized by a mixture of prolonged basin subsidence and regional transgression coupled with sporadic regressive phases.     

Thermotectonic evolution of a rifted continental margin: fission track evidence from the Kangerlussuaq area, SE Greenland

Fission track analyses of apatites from sediments, Precambrian gneisses and Caledonian to Tertiary intrusive rocks from the Kangerlussuaq region reveal its post-Caledonian thermotectonic history. Inland the history involves cooling to temperatures within the high temperature part of the apatite annealing interval and slow cooling (or reheating) continued in Cretaceous times through this interval. Apatites from coastal areas between Kangerlussuaq and Tasiilaq reveal only Tertiary cooling. In Tertiary times cooling accelerated after the main intrusive phase in the Tertiary. The evolution is taken as evidence for a general uplift/erosion since Caledonian times probably disturbed by basin formation and sedimentation and reheating due to magmatic activity. Thermal subsidence of the rift shoulders following the opening of the adjacent oceanic basin is not indicated. Annealing patterns inland of the plume centre in the Kangerlussuaq provide no evidence for the earlier movement of the plume from a westerly direction.     

Millennial-scale oscillations of the westerly jet path during the last glacial period

It has been established that East Asian summer monsoon intensity varies with Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles, suggesting a connection between the climates of East Asia and the North Atlantic on a millennial timescale. However, the dynamics of such a connection are still unsolved. Here we demonstrate that temporal changes in the provenance of aeolian dust in Japan Sea sediments, which we interpret to reflect changes in the westerly jet path over East Asia, exhibit variations in harmony with Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles. The dominance of dust with a Mongolian Gobi provenance during stadials suggests a westerly jet axis located to the south of the Himalaya–Tibetan Plateau throughout most of the year, whereas the co-dominance of dust from both the Taklimakan Desert and the Mongolian Gobi during interstadials suggests that the westerly jet axis jumped to the north of the Tibetan Plateau at latest in summer. As the shift of the westerly jet axis to the north of the Tibetan Plateau is closely related to the onset of the East Asian summer monsoon, changes of the westerly jet path apparently critically affect the teleconnection between the climates of Asia and North Atlantic on a millennial timescale.     

Petrography and geochemistry of the Middle Siwalik sandstones (tertiary) in understanding the provenance of sub-Himalayan sediments in the Lish River Valley,West Bengal,India

A petrography–geochemistry-based evaluation of the provenance of the sandstones of the Tertiary Middle Siwalik Subgroup in the Lish River Valley, West Bengal, is presented. The framework grains in the sandstones suggest mixing of sediments from spatially separated gneissic, quartzitic and phyllitic source rocks. Modal values of different framework minerals suggest that recycled sediments in an orogenic setting were deposited in the Middle Siwalik basin in the area. The major and trace element ratios suggest dominantly felsic input and mixing with subordinate basic material in an upper continental crustal setup. The major and trace element data also indicate that rocks of a passive margin setting acted as the source to the sediments. The present paper postulates that the Middle Siwalik sediments were derived from pre-Himalayan gneissic and metabasic rocks of an erstwhile passive margin setting and presently forming the Higher and Lesser Himalaya, respectively.     

Petrology and geochemistry of sandstones in the southern Benue Trough of Nigeria： Implications for provenance and tectonic setting

Petrographic and geochemical analyses of three Cretaceous lithostratigraphic sandstone units were undertaken to constrain their provenance and tectonic setting. Petrographic analysis showed that there are differences in composition between the three sandstone bodies, which can be attributed to differences in provenance relief, transport distance and geology of the terrain. Composition of the three lithostratigraphic sandstone bodies fall within the craton interior field.
Framework mode and chemical features indicated their derivation from basaltic volcanics, source rocks during the early rifting stage, and felsic, intermediate and mafic igneous source rocks located at the southeast basement complex terrain, with minor sedimentary components from the uplifted and folded older Cretaceous strata.
The chemical composition of the sandstones is mainly related to source rocks, chemical weathering conditions and transport agents. The source rocks were derived mainly from the southeastern Precambrian basement of Nigeria. Through examination of the sandstones, the tectonic setting was modeled. The Benue Trough belongs to a continental sedimentary basin of the passive margin type.
The tectonic evolution from Albian to Maastrichtain of the trough is contributed to the difference in framework mode and chemical composition of the sandstones. The evolution of the basin was reconstructed in terms of sandstone petrology and geochemistry. The tectonic evolution can be subdivided into three stages from the petrology and geochemistry data. The first stage covers Albian; the second stage the Turonian-Coniacian, and the third stage the Campanian-Maastrichtain. These are the three mega discontinuities in the sandstone composition among these three stages. These three discontinuities signify the influence of tectonism.     

Petrography and Geochemistry of the Upper Triassic Sandstones from the Western Ordos Basin,NW China: Provenance and Tectonic Implications

Petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the Upper Triassic sandstones in the western Ordos Basin were studied to provide insight into weathering characteristics, provenance, and tectonic implications. Petrographic features show that the sandstones are characterized by low-medium compositional maturity and textural maturity. The CIA and CIW values reveal weak and moderate weathering history in the source area. The geochemical characteristics together with palaeocurrent data show that the northwestern sediments were mainly derived from the Alxa Block with a typical recycled nature, while the provenance of the western and southwestern sediments were mainly from the Qinling-Qilian Orogenic Belt. The tectonic setting discrimination diagrams signify that the parent rocks of sandstones in the western and southern Ordos Basin were mainly developed from continental island arc, which is closely related to the evolution of the Qinling-Qilian Orogenic Belt. However, the sandstones in the northwestern Ordos Basin show complex features, which may be resulted from a typical recycling process. Overall evidence from petrography, geochemistry and sedimentology, together with previous researches suggest the Kongtongshan and Helanshan areas were the southwestern and northwestern boundary of the Ordos Basin, respectively, and there was no clear boundary between the Hexi Corridor Belt and Ordos Basin, where a large, uniform sediment dispersal system developed during the Late Triassic.     

志留—泥盆纪华北高地的猜想：从甘肃的研究说起

为华北克拉通缺失晚奥陶世—早石炭世地层的记录,岩相古地理解释为一个古陆,我们研究认为它可能是一个高地。寒武—奥陶纪时华北克拉通为广泛的浅海相碳酸盐岩沉积,指示为海台地势,地壳厚度〈30km。志留—泥盆纪时为一高地,地壳厚约〉40km。晚石炭世发育海相、海陆交互相沉积,地壳厚度也在30km左右。高地的形成与构造挤压有关,...     

Late quaternary sediments in Lake Zürich,Switzerland

Lake Zürich occupies a glacially overdeepened perialpine trough in the northern Middlelands of Switzerland. A total of 154.4 m of Quaternary sediments and 47.3 m of Tertiary Molasse bedrock has been cored from the deepest part of the lake, some 10 km south of the city of Zürich. Some 16.8 m of gravels and sands directly overlying the bedrock include basal till and probably earliest subglacial fluvial and lacustrine deposits. These are overlain by 98.6 m of fine-grained, glacial-aged sediments comprising completely deformed proglacial and/or subglacial lacustrine muds, separated by four basal mud tills. The lack of interglacial sediments, fossils, and other datable material, and the presence of severe sediment deformation and unknown amounts of erosion prevent the establishment of an exact chronostratigraphy for sediments older than the upper mud till. Above it some 8.6 m of lacustrine muds were deposited, folded, faulted, and tilted during the final opening of the lake at about 17,500–17,000 years ago. Superimposed are 30.4 m of final Würm and post-glacial sediments comprising (from oldest): cyclic proglacial mud, thick-bedded and laminated mud, a complex transition zone, laminated carbonate, laminated marl, and diatom-calcite varves. These sediments reflect changing catchment and lacustrine conditions including: glacial proximity, catchment stability, lake inflow characteristics, thermal structure, chemistry, and bed stability. Average sedimentation rates ranged from 11 cm yr⁻¹ immediately after glacier withdrawal, to as low as 0.4 mm yr⁻¹ as the environment stabilized. The lack of coarse outwash deposits separating the fine-grained glaciolacustrine sediments from a corresponding underlying basal till suggests that deglaciation of the deep northern basin of Lake Zürich was by stagnation-zone retreat rather than by retreat of an active ice-front.     

沉积物颜色和粘土矿物对库车坳陷第三纪气候变化的指示

库车坳陷第三纪连续的碎屑沉积,记录了丰富的古环境与古气候变化的信息。在详细的磁性地层年代学基础上,对库车坳陷北部第三系沉积剖面进行了系统的沉积物颜色测定和粘土矿物分析。结果表明,库车坳陷第三纪沉积物颜色变化与全球第三纪温度的变化有一致的趋势,随着全球气温的降低,沉积物的颜色的红色指数降低。粘土矿物的组合和含量变化在13 M a出现了一个转折,在此之前,库车坳陷泥岩样品中的粘土矿物组合为伊利石和绿泥石,指示干旱的气候环境。在13 M a之后,库车坳陷的粘土矿物组合变为蒙脱石、高岭石、绿泥石和伊利石,指示干冷与温湿交替的气候环境,与亚洲内陆季风气候加强相对应。由此,可以认为库车坳陷第三纪13M a的气候变化与青藏高原的隆升密切相关。     

Early Himalayan exhumation: Isotopic constraints from the Indian foreland basin

Nd- and Sr-isotopic compositions of Palaeogene foreland basin sediments are used to provide insights into early Himalayan evolution, particularly the timing of exposure of high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr units, erosion of which may have caused the late Tertiary increase in oceanic Sr-isotopic ratios. During the late Palaeocene–early Eocene, erosion was from mixed sources including suture zone rocks. Exhumation of the High Himalaya was occurring by the time of deposition of alluvial sediments after mid-Oligocene times and this source has dominated Himalayan sediments from at least this time until the present day. The transition is interpreted to reflect exhumation of 'basement rocks' of the Indian plate, when the High Himalaya became a sufficient topographic barrier to separate suture zone rocks from the foreland basin. The marked rise in seawater ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 40 Ma is consistent with the erosion of a Himalayan source with a high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio.     

印度尼西亚库泰盆地油气地质特征及勘探方向

库泰盆地是印度尼西亚最大、最深的第三系含油气盆地,也是该国最主要的产油气盆地。盆地经历了断陷期、拗陷期和反转期三个发育阶段,充填的第三系沉积物厚度达14 km。盆地发育四套烃源岩,其中,中中新统三角洲平原煤和三角洲前缘碳质泥岩是滨浅海区有效烃源岩,上中新统富含碳质碎屑浊积岩是深水区有效烃源岩;油气纵向上主要富集于中中新统、上中新统及上新统,平面上主要富集于背斜构造中。综合分析认为,深海平原区上中新统斜坡扇、盆底扇砂岩是下库泰盆地潜在勘探领域,渐新统—下中新统是三马林达复背斜带有利勘探领域,始新统盆地边缘上超尖灭砂体是上库泰盆地潜在勘探领域,始新统—中新统台地生物礁是库泰盆地深层潜在勘探领域。     

An overview of the Tertiary geology and hydrogeology of the northern part of the Arabian Gulf region with special reference to Kuwait

Tertiary sediments constitute the main source of usable groundwater in Kuwait. Tectonics, depositional environment, lithology and the hydrogeology of these sediments have been reviewed on a regional scale, with special reference to Kuwait. The review showed that Kuwait was situated at the boundary of the stable shelf towards southwest and the unstable shelf towards northeast throughout the Tertiary period. The Tertiary sedimentation started in this area with a marine transgression in the Palaeocene. Shallow marine to sabkha conditions prevailed in the area until the end of the Eocene; a carbonate-evaporite sequence (Umm Er-Radhuma, Rus and Dammam Formation) was deposited during this period. The sea regressed at the end of Eocene, and a widespread unconformity, causing the absence of Oligocene deposits over most of the area, marked the event. The karstification of the Dammam Limestone Formation, that provides localized easier pathways for ground water, took place during this period. The deposition of the clastic sediments of the Kuwait Group and its equivalents on the stable shelf, under mostly continental conditions, started in the early Miocene. The Tertiary aquifers of the area are recharged by occasional rainstorms in the outcrops of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The water flows towards the north and east in the direction of the regional dip and discharges along the present-day coast of the Gulf. The water quality deteriorates in the same direction, being more mineralized as it flows through the aquifers. The aquifers are presently being exploited at a comparatively high rate. Since the aquifers extend beyond the political boundaries, cooperation among the countries of the region is recommended to ensure the optimum utilization of the scarce water resources of this desert environment.     

渤中坳陷油气包裹体与油气成藏

含油气盆地中油气包裹体对油气运移、聚集成藏具有示踪作用。应用油气包裹体统计分析表明渤中坳陷油气运移聚集的主要层位为浅部第三系。其中下第三系砂岩中普遍含有两类油气包裹体,即原生油气包裹体和次生油气包裹体,它们分别记录了研究区两次油气运移、聚集成藏过程。次生油气包裹体个体大、分布广、含量明显高于原生油气包裹体,其主要充填分布在次生溶蚀孔隙和裂隙中。均一温度测量、包裹体成分和生物标志化合物分析结果综合表明,次生油气包裹体记录的第二次油气运移是本区最主要的一次油气聚集成藏过程,其油气来源于下第三系湖相泥质烃源岩。结合地质演化特征分析认为,渤中坳陷目前油气勘探的重点应是浅部下第三系地层,而不是深部其它地层。早第三纪晚期构造运动、沉积间断和次生溶蚀孔隙特征研究,以及与之相关储层预测是本区油气勘探获得突破的关键所在。     

Pre-Cenozoic geology of the Latrobe Valley Area—onshore Gippsland Basin,S.E. Australia

In 2010–2011, a well on the uplifted northern edge of the Latrobe Valley (Yallourn North-1A) cored a 550 m section of mostly arenaceous sediments from the Lower Cretaceous Tyers River Subgroup. A follow-up core-hole (Yallourn Power-1) aimed at extending the Tyers River Subgroup section some 5 km south into the Latrobe Valley instead encountered Paleozoic basement rocks immediately below Cenozoic coal measures. From a re-examination of earlier coal and groundwater bore results, and new interpretations from gravity, seismic and magneto-telluric (MT) surveys, there is a significant area of Paleozoic basement rock that may underlie the whole northern Latrobe Valley area. The uplifted Yallourn North Lower Cretaceous sediments are a separate basin entity herein named the Monash trough. It appears they are separate from the main Lower Cretaceous Strzelecki Group Basin sediments on the southern side of the Latrobe Valley. Attributes of the Monash trough may underlie the main Strzelecki Basin, but this remains to be substantiated by further drilling. The intervening subcrop of Paleozoic basement rocks is herein named the Glengarry basement block. It shows characteristic gravity, MT and seismic features covering some 200 km² of the northern Latrobe Valley area. The boundary between the Glengarry basement block and Strzelecki Basin approximates to the Princes Highway. It is uncertain whether structural separation of the Monash trough from the main Strzelecki Basin always existed, or whether uplift and stripping of Cretaceous rocks over the Glengarry basement block occurred in post-Cretaceous but pre-Cenozoic times. Comparative rank and maturity indices indicate a greater depth of burial of the Glengarry basement block than what exists today, whereas less stripping and loss of section have occurred to the Monash trough. Cretaceous sediments of the Tyers River Subgroup (Rintouls Creek Formation, Tyers Conglomerate) in the Monash trough are dominated by mudstones, siltstones with lesser quartzose sandstones, conglomerates and thin coals. The sediments are over 300 m thick and are conformably overlain by 100 m of volcaniclastic sediments typical of the main Strzelecki Group, in turn overlain by nearly 100 m of Cenozoic coal measures. New detailed spore–pollen dating of Yallourn North-1A cores indicates that all Cretaceous sediments in the Monash trough are Barremian in age. This revises the traditional Neocomian age assigned to the formation. High total organic carbon levels in the 100 m-thick mudstones of the Locmany Member in the Rintouls Creek Formation constitute a mature petroleum source rock worthy of future hydrocarbon exploration.     

Weathered heavy-mineral associations from the young-Tertiary deposits of Jutland,Denmark

Exemplified by young Tertiary sandy sediments from Denmark, general aspects of the study of heavy-minerals are discussed. It is demonstrated that three different heavy-mineral associations of the sediments have originated from one single association by successive chemical weathering of amphibole and epidote. Physical processes active during deposition may influence the composition within associations, but differences of this origin are shown to be insufficient to explain the differences between the associations. It has not been possible to demonstrate major influence on the heavy-mineral associations from differences in the composition within the source area, which is assumed to be part of the Scandinavian Shield.     

柴达木盆地第三系油源对比

本文利用生物标记化合物,着重讨论了柴达木盆地第三系内陆盐湖相地层中的油源对比问题.主要应用甾烷的母源参数与成熟度参数相结合的方法,和油/岩综合指纹类型曲线对比法.查明了这组同时代但不同成熟度的原油,各有其相应成熟级别(未成熟、低成熟、成熟和高成熟)的源岩.表明它们是不同成烃演化阶段的产物.研究证明,迄今柴达木盆地所找到的石油,大部分是低成熟的,而成熟和高成熟的油气资源还有很大的勘探前景.     

Sterane isomerisation and moretane/hopane ratios in crude oils derived from Tertiary source rocks

The extent of sterane isomerisation reactions and the moretane/hopane ratios of 234 crude oils, taken world wide, from a wide variety of source rocks of differing geological ages, have been measured.This data indicates that in 78 crude oils derived from Tertiary source rocks, sterane isomerisation reactions as determined by the 20S/(20S + 20R) ration of the C₂₉ 5α(H), 14α(H), 17α(H) normal-steranes and the C₂₉ iso/(iso + normal) ratio [iso = 5α (H), 14β(H), 17β(H)] are mainly incomplete and sometimes considerably so. In addition, the same crude oils have 17β(H), 21α(H)-moretane/17α(H), 21β(H)-hopane ratios which are significantly greater (predominantly in the range 0.10–0.30) than those of crude oils derived from older, mature source rocks (mainly less than 0.1).This data, for crude oils, lends support to the hypothesis, proposed by Mackenzie and McKenzie (1983) for source rock extracts, that the time/temperature constraints of sterane isomerisation reactions are such that the time available for isomerisation in Tertiary sediments is generally insufficient, despite generation of crude oil at relatively high temperatures.An alternative hypothesis is that the incomplete sterane isomerisation of Tertiary crude oils may be due to generation of these crude oils from their deltaic, land plant-containing source rocks under low heating conditions.A third hypothesis proposes that the Tertiary crude oils may have picked up the incompletely isomerised steranes from immature sediments during migration. Although possible in particular instances, such a mechanism does not appear to be generally applicable since, in that case, the phenomenon would then appear to be restricted to the Tertiary.The higher moretane/hopane ratios of the Tertiary crude oils could suggest that constraints, similar to those applying in sterane isomerisation, also operate in the conversion of moretane to 17α(H)-hopane.     

西沙海槽盆地古近系烃源岩预测与早期评价

西沙海槽盆地是南海北部陆坡深水区的有利油气勘探区域.该盆地古近系发育有始新统、渐新统两套地层.始新统主要发育一套河湖相烃源岩,其干酪根类型可能主要为I-Ⅱ型,具备较高的TOC含量,该套地层在中部坳陷厚度较大,具备较大的生烃潜力,是一套潜在的优质烃源岩;渐新统主要发育一套滨、浅海烃源岩,其干酪根类型可能以Ⅲ型为主,也是该...     

Two Phases of Cenozoic Deformation in Northeastern Tibet: Thrusting Followed by Strike-Slip Faulting

TWO PHASES OF CENOZOIC DEFORMATION IN NORTHEASTERN TIBET: THRUSTING FOLLOWED BY STRIKE-SLIP FAULTING