A riparian plant community from the upper Maastrichtian of the Pyrenees (Catalonia,NE Spain)

Angiosperms began to colonise riparian habitats very soon in their evolutionary history, probably already in the Aptian, but it is still poorly known when flowering plants finally dominated entirely these kind of communities as they do in the present. A new fossil plant locality (Molí del Baró-1) from the upper Maastrichtian of the Southern Pyrenees is described in which meandering river facies represent one of the first riparian communities formed only by angiosperms. The fossil assemblage consists of abundant leaves, seeds, logs and sporomorphs. Angiosperms remains dominate in all these cases and the leaf sample is mostly composed of a new eudicot willow-like species, Saliciphyllum gaetei sp. nov., the palm Sabalites longirhachis and an helophytic monocot. Pollen remains suggest that the later belonged to Typhaceae. Most of these plant remains were parautochthonous and deposited in a pond formed in the accretional part of a meander loop. The locality of Molí del Baró-1 represents an unique plant fossil assemblage in the uppermost Cretaceous of southern Europe. It clearly differs from those reported in other Maastrichtian localities of the Pyrenees (Fumanya and South Isona) and from the Campanian-Maastrichtian of Austria and Romania. In addition, it reflects a surprisingly modern physiognomy for a Late Cretaceous riverine plant assemblage that was built up with willow-like plants, palms and reeds.     

A mineral survey of the Cretaceous of the Benue Valley,Nigeria

The economic importance of the Cretaceous sequence of the Benue Valley is highlighted. The linear sedimentary basin or trough, as sometimes described, is underlain essentially by marine Cretaceous rocks, starting from the Middle Albian, and ranging to the Maastrichtian. There is, so far, no evidence of the occurrence of younger rocks in the Upper and Middle Benue area, though in the Lower Benue and the Niger Delta regions, Palaeocene to Recent formations overlie the older formations.The depositional processes and the tectonics associated with this period caused the emplacement of an accumulation of a number of important minerals of sedimentary and igneous origins, including lead-zinc, barytes, limestone and coal. There are indications of the possible occurrence of evaporites as evidenced by brine-springs associated with collapse features and fracture systems related to diapiric dome structures. The use of the minerals in the Nigerian economy is discussed. There are also favourable prospects for uranium and hydrocarbons. The immediate future will usher in a period of intensive exploration work aimed at evaluating these resources.     

Evidence of multiple evaporite recycling processes in a salt‐tectonic context,Sivas Basin,Turkey

The isotopic composition of evaporites can shed light on their environment of precipitation and their subsequent recycling processes. In this study, we performed Sr, O and S isotopic analyses on evaporitic sulphates in the halokinetic Sivas Basin. The main objectives were to decipher the age and origin of the evaporites responsible for the salt tectonics, and to test whether diapir dissolution acts as the source of younger evaporitic layers in continental mini‐basins. The Sr isotopes demonstrate that the first evaporites precipitated from seawater during the Middle–Late Eocene. The similar isotopic values measured in the halokinetic domain confirm that the Eocene evaporites triggered the salt tectonics and were continuously recycled in Oligo‐Miocene mini‐basins as lacustrine to sabkha evaporites. Modern halite precipitates suggest that the dissolution and recycling of diapiric halite is ongoing. This study demonstrates the efficiency of isotopic analyses in constraining evaporite recycling processes in continental halokinetic domains.     

New data on the palaeobiogeography of Loftusia genus (Foraminiferida). An in situ presence of the genus in eastern Greece (Boeotia)

An Upper Maastrichtian horizon rich in Loftusia is for the first time described in situ in Greece in the province of Boeotia. It is found in a continuous undisturbed carbonate sequence of the eastern Greece platform (Subpelagonian zone) of Maastrichtian–Paleocene age followed by flysch sedimentation. Loftusia is found in a facies reflecting an outer shelf environment, associated with debris of rudists, Orbitoides spp., Siderolites calcitrapoides, Omphalocyclus macroporus, Hellenocyclina beotica, Sulcoperculina sp., and echinoderms. Similar fauna, but without Loftusia, is found in the surrounding levels of Late Maastrichtian age as well. This recovery of the genus in the western part of its distribution area, where it is not as abundant as in the eastern part, is considered significant for the palaeobiogeography of the genus in Tethys Ocean during Late Cretaceous. To cite this article: A. Zambetakis-Lekkas, A. Kemeridou, C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Enigmatic structures within salt walls of the Santos Basin—Part 1: Geometry and kinematics from 3D seismic reflection and well data

Understanding intrasalt structure may elucidate the fundamental kinematics and, ultimately, the mechanics of diapir growth. However, there have been relatively few studies of the internal structure of salt diapirs outside the mining industry because their cores are only partly exposed in the field and poorly imaged on seismic reflection data. This study uses 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the São Paulo Plateau, Santos Basin, offshore Brazil to document the variability in intrasalt structural style in natural salt diapirs. We document a range of intrasalt structures that record: (i) initial diapir rise; (ii) rise of lower mobile halite through an arched and thinned roof of denser, layered evaporites, and emplacement of an intrasalt sheet or canopy; (iii) formation of synclinal flaps kinematically linked to emplacement of the intrasalt allochthonous bodies; and (iv) diapir squeezing. Most salt walls contain simple internal anticlines. Only a few salt walls contain allochthonous bodies and breakout-related flaps. The latter occur in an area having a density inversion within the autochthonous salt layer, such that upper, anhydrite-rich, layered evaporites are denser than lower, more halite-rich evaporites. We thus interpret that most diapirs rose through simple fold amplification of internal salt stratigraphy but that locally, where a density inversion existed in the autochthonous salt, Rayleigh–Taylor overturn within the growing diapir resulted in the ascent of less dense evaporites into the diapir crest by breaching of the internal anticline. This resulted in the formation of steep salt-ascension zones or feeders and the emplacement of high-level intrasalt allocthonous sheets underlain by breakout-related flaps. Although regional shortening undoubtedly occurred on the São Paulo Plateau during the Late Cretaceous, we suggest this was only partly responsible for the complex intrasalt deformation. We suggest that, although based on the Santos Basin, our kinematic model may be more generally applicable to other salt-bearing sedimentary basins.     

Late Santonian–Early Maastrichtian calcareous nannofossils from marly deposits near Kerman (Central Iran)

For the first time, the calcareous nannofossils of marly deposits near Kerman (Bardsir area) have been studied. This study presents the integrated (calcareous nannofossils) biostratigraphy of the Bardsir section in the Kerman basin, Central Iran. In most parts of Central Iran, the Upper Cretaceous sequence is complete and continuous and is divided into two groups: Cenomanian–Touronian flysch and Campanian–Maastrichtian flysch. Flyschs composed of sets of green marl sequences (Coniacian–Santonian) have been separated to reduce the basin depth and refer to the relative calm. Bardsir is located 57.6 km from Kerman (Central Iran). The lithology of this area includes light green marl with layers of calcareous siltstone, limestone, and flysch rocks. In this study, 24 samples were taken and prepared with smear slide. Most species were photographed with a light microscope. As a result of this study, 30 genera and 42 species of nannofossils have been identified. A high-resolution calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic study has been carried out, allowing the division of the studied section into eight biozones of Late Santonian to Early Maastrichtian age (CC17–CC24).     

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.     

The fossil vertebrates from Lano (Basque Country, Spain); new evidence on the composition and affinities of the Late Cretaceous continental faunas of Europe

A newly discovered fossil locality at Lano (Basque Country) has yielded a vertebrate assemblage of probably Maastrichtian age comprising fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. It considerably enlarges our knowledge of the Late Cretaceous continental faunas of Europe, hitherto based on a much less complete record. Some taxa are recorded for the first time in Europe, and the fauna also contains the oldest known representatives of some groups (amphisbaenians, salamandrids). The Lan assemblage reveals an original fauna comprising both forms related to Asian and North American groups and elements with Gondwanan affinities.     

Zarafasaura oceanis, a new elasmosaurid (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and the palaeobiogeography of latest Cretaceous plesiosaurs

Though the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco have yielded very rich marine vertebrate assemblages, plesiosaurs remain very scarce in these strata. The only hitherto recognized taxon was Plesiosaurus mauritanicus Arambourg, 1952, regarded here as a nomem dubium. Here we describe a new genus and species of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, Zarafasaura oceanis, which represents the first valid elasmosaurid plesiosaur described from the latest Cretaceous of Africa, and the second one from this continent. A phylogenetic analysis of plesiosauroids indicates that Zarafasaura oceanis has close affinities with elasmosaurids from the Late Cretaceous of North America and Japan. Among its distinctive suite of characters, the general shape and organisation of its squamosal and palate are unique among elasmosaurids. This new taxon completes our understanding of Late Cretaceous plesiosaur palaeobiodiversity and palaeobiogeography, and shows that Maastrichtian plesiosaurs were characterized by a quite high degree of endemism. They were also highly diversified and distributed worldwide, which supports the hypothesis of a catastrophic extinction of plesiosaurs at the K/T boundary.     

Diversity of theropod ootaxa and its implications for the latest Cretaceous dinosaur turnover in southwestern Europe

The scarcity of diagnostic skeletal elements in the latest Cretaceous theropod record of the Ibero-Armorican domain (southwestern Europe) prevents to perform accurate phylogenetic, paleobiogeographic, and diversity studies. In contrast, eggs and eggshells of theropod dinosaurs are relatively abundant and well known in this region from which several ootaxa have been described. Here, we describe the first Late Maastrichtian theropod ootaxon (Prismatoolithus trempii oosp. nov.) from SW Europe and demonstrate that oological record can be used as a proxy for assessing diversity of egg-producers and may help to complement their scarce bone record. The performed analyses indicate that the theropod taxa and ootaxa reach their diversity maxima during the Late Campanian and start to decrease near the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary at both global and regional scales. The oological diversity of theropods in the Ibero-Armorican domain is consistent with the theropod diversity identified at high taxonomic level. Two distinct assemblages of theropod ootaxa can be recognized in the latest Cretaceous of the Ibero-Armorican domain. Their temporal transition can be correlated with other dinosaur faunal changes recorded in the region. This faunal turnover took place around the Early–Late Maastrichtian boundary, involving ornithopods, sauropods, ankylosaurs and, according to the present results, theropods as well.     

Late Mesozoic to Paleogene stratigraphy of the Salar de Atacama Basin, Antofagasta, Northern Chile: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the Central Andes

The Salar de Atacama basin, the largest “pre-Andean” basin in Northern Chile, was formed in the early Late Cretaceous as a consequence of the tectonic closure and inversion of the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Tarapacá back arc basin. Inversion led to uplift of the Cordillera de Domeyko (CD), a thick-skinned basement range bounded by a system of reverse faults and blind thrusts with alternating vergence along strike. The almost 6000-m-thick, upper Cretaceous to lower Paleocene sequences (Purilactis Group) infilling the Salar de Atacama basin reflects rapid local subsidence to the east of the CD. Its oldest outcropping unit (Tonel Formation) comprises more than 1000 m of continental red sandstones and evaporites, which began to accumulate as syntectonic growth strata during the initial stages of CD uplift. Tonel strata are capped by almost 3000 m of sandstones and conglomerates of western provenance, representing the sedimentary response to renewed pulses of tectonic shortening, which were deposited in alluvial fan, fluvial and eolian settings together with minor lacustrine mudstone (Purilactis Formation). These are covered by 500 m of coarse, proximal alluvial fan conglomerates (Barros Arana Formation). The top of the Purilactis Group consists of Maastrichtian-Danian alkaline lava and minor welded tuffs and red beds (Cerro Totola Formation: 70–64 Ma K/Ar) deposited during an interval of tectonic quiescence when the El Molino–Yacoraite Late Cretaceous sea covered large tracts of the nearby Altiplano-Puna domain. Limestones interbedded with the Totola volcanics indicate that this marine incursion advanced westwards to reach the eastern CD slope. CD shortening in the Late Cretaceous was accompanied by volcanism and continental sedimentation in fault bounded basins associated to strike slip along the north Chilean magmatic arc to the west of the CD domain, indicating that oblique plate convergence prevailed during the Late Cretaceous. Oblique convergence seems to have been resolved into a highly partitioned strain system where margin-parallel displacements along the thermally weakened arc coexisted with margin-orthogonal shortening associated with syntectonic sedimentation in the Salar de Atacama basin. A regionally important Early Paleocene compressional event is echoed, in the Salar de Atacama basin by a, distinctive, angular unconformity which separates Paleocene continental sediments from Purilactis Group strata. The basin also records the Eocene–Early Oligocene Incaic transpressional episode, which produced, renewed uplift in the Cordillera de Domeyko and triggered the accumulation of a thick blanket of syntectonic gravels (Loma Amarilla Formation).     

班公湖-怒江缝合带洞错混杂岩物质组成、时代及其意义

班公湖-怒江缝合带中段洞错混杂岩保存了完整的与大洋演化相关的混杂岩系,包括蛇绿岩岩块、洋岛残片,以及复理石岩片、大陆边缘沉积等沉积岩块体,是恢复和反演班公湖-怒江洋演化的理想地区。在综述前人研究的基础上,结合近年来的研究成果,归纳和总结洞错混杂岩的物质组成和时代,初步阐述洞错混杂岩对班公湖-怒江洋演化的指示意义。结果表明,洞错混杂岩中无论是蛇绿岩残块、洋岛残片还是次深海-深海复理石岩片等,均是不同时代多期次构造混杂的混杂体。最早的年龄记录可追溯至晚二叠世末期,最晚可延至早白垩世中晚期,是班公湖-怒江洋晚二叠世末期—早白垩世中晚期连续演化的记录。洞错混杂岩早白垩世中晚期大陆边缘沉积与蛇绿岩等的不整合仅是弧前楔顶盆地沉积的产物,不能约束班公湖-怒江洋的最终消亡。     

Geometry and structural evolution of Lorbeus diapir,northwestern Tunisia: polyphase diapirism of the North African inverted passive margin

Detailed geologic mapping, structural analysis, field cross-sections, new dating based on planktonic foraminifera, in addition to gravity signature of Lorbeus diapir, are used to characterize polyphase salt diapirism. This study highlights the role of inherited faulting, which controls and influences the piercement efficiency and the style and geometry of the diapir; and also the localization of evaporite early ascent displaying diapiric growth during extension. Salt was extruded along the graben axis developed within extensional regional early Cretaceous tectonic associated with the North African passive margin evolution. Geologic data highlight reactive diapirism during Albian time (most extreme extension period) and passive diapirism during the late Cretaceous post-rift stage. Northeastern Maghreb salt province gives evidences that contractional deformations are not associated with significant diapirism. During shortening, the initial major graben deforms as complex anticlines where diapirs are squeezed and pinched from their feeding.     

Geodynamic evolution of the Salinas de Añana diapir in the Basque-Cantabrian Basin,Western Pyrenees

The Salinas de Añana diapir is located in the Basque-Cantabrian basin part of the great evaporite basin, along with the Gulf of Mexico and the Central European basin, when the fragmentation of Pangea started. The evolution of these basins can only be achieved by understanding the control of salt in the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of these basins.Sedimentation began with clastic Buntsandstein sediments and minor Muschelkalk limestones. Subsequent Keuper evaporites are the bottom of sedimentary cover constituted by Jurassic limestones and marls, a clastic Lower Cretaceous and an alternant limestone and marl Upper Cretaceous, whose deposition has been conditioned by salt tectonics. The emplacement of salt extends from the Aptian until now, favored by the duplication of the salt thickness associated with the thrust of Sierra Cantabria, so it is an excellent example to study changes in the regime of intrusion along the time. The geodynamic evolution of the Salinas de Añana diapir was determined through the interpretation of 45 reprocessed seismic lines, along with information from three wells. Migration of the salt in this diapir, conditioned by N120E and N30E pre-Alpine basement lineations, was determined using time isopach maps of the various rock layers. Vertical evolution of the diapir was determined through the reconstruction of a north-south section at various geologic times by flattening the respective seismic horizons. A minimum of salt flow into the diapir coincides with a minimum rate of sedimentation during the Turonian. Similarly, maximum flows of salt into the diapir occurred during the Coniacian and Lower Santonian and again from the end of the Lower Miocene to the present, coinciding with maximum rates of sedimentation during these times. In the Tertiary, probably during the Oligocene, the diapir was displaced to the south by the Sierra Cantabria thrust, maintaining the contact between the evaporites of diapir and the same evaporites of the lower block. Since the Oligocene, the salts of the lower block migrated towards and into the diapir, deforming the trace of the overthrust.     

Age of Detrital Zircons from Sandstones of the Mesozoic Flysch Formation in the South Anyui Suture Zone (Western Chukotka)

The South Anyui fold zone (western Chukotka) is considered a suture zone related to closure of the South Anyui oceanic basin and collision of Eurasia with the Chukotka–Arctic Alaska microcontinent in the Early Cretaceous. The existence of a compensatory sedimentation basin (foredeep) during folding in the terminal Jurassic–initial Cretaceous remains debatable. This work presents first data on age estimates of detrital zircons from Upper Mesozoic terrigenous sequences of the South Anyui suture zone obtained by the fission-track method. The distal flysch of presumably Late Jurassic age and the proximal flysch of probably Late Triassic age were sampled in the Uyamkanda River basin. The fission-track dating showed that sandstones from the flysch sections contain detrital zircons of two different-age populations. Young zircon populations from sandstones of distal turbidites in the upper course of the Uyamkanda River (two samples) are 149 ± 10.2 and 155.4 ± 9.0 Ma old (Late Jurassic), whereas those from coarse-grained proximal turbidites sampled in the lower course of the Uyamkanda River (one sample) is 131.1 ± 7.5 Ma old (Early Cretaceous). The data obtained indicate that the Late Mesozoic folding in the South Anyui suture zone was accompanied by the formation of a marginal sedimentary basin. Sediments accumulated in this basin compose tectonic nappes that constitute a fold–thrust structure with the northern vergence.     

Invertebrate traces in pseudo–coprolites from the upper Cretaceous Marília Formation (Bauru Group), Minas Gerais State,Brazil

Pseudo–coprolites are inorganic structures often confused with fossil faeces. The absence of some diagnostic features, such as inclusions, coprofabrics, grain adhesion, and defined shape, suffices to disregard these structures as coprolites. Herein we revise the so–called “coprolites” from the Serra da Galga Member of the Marília Formation (Maastrichtian of Bauru Group, Paraná Basin), at “Ponto 1 do Price” locality near the town of Peirópolis (Uberaba municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and conclude that they are, in fact, pseudo–coprolites related to calcretes. These data also agree with the geological setting of “Ponto 1 do Price”, composed mainly of coarse sandstones and conglomerates, in which these pseudo–coprolites were found. In addition, some of these specimens exhibit superficial traces, here described as a new boring ichnospecies, Asthenopodichnium fallax isp. nov., produced by invertebrates in Late Cretaceous fresh–water settings of Brazil.     

Réflexions sur la « révolution danienne » dans les Pyrénées

This work disproves the magmatic (ophitic rises) and sedimentological (submarine trans-Pyrenean trough filled with breccias and hemipelagites) arguments presented in favour of a Danian distension step following a major Upper to Late Cretaceous Pyrenean compression phase. In the western Pyrenees (Bearn area) the tholeiitic magmatism is really Triassic or Lowermost Liassic in age. The ophites cross mechanically the Jurassic and Cretaceous enclosing sedimentary beds without any contact metamorphism, which could give proof of a Palaeocene age for the magmatic emplacement. As for the supposed submarine breccias rich in planktonic foraminifera, they really correspond to diapiric Early Cretaceous breccias, to Cretaceous or Tertiary tectono-karstic breccias or to Quaternary colluvial deposits. The Danian/Selandian trough does not exist. The proposed interpretation assigns that the Palaeocene interval must be included within the long compression (transpression) period, which begins in the Upper Cretaceous times and increases during the Early Cenozoic, leading to the main structural step of the Pyrenean cycle, towards the Middle–Upper Eocene. To cite this article: J. Canérot, C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).