Calcretes of Olduvai Gorge and the Ndolanya Beds of northern Tanzania

Pedogenic calcretes are closely associated with Pliocene to Holocene wind-worked deposits of volcanic ash in the Olduvai and Ndolanya Beds of northern Tanzania. The typical profile with calcrete consists of an unconsolidated sediment layer, an underlying laminar calcrete, and a lowermost massive calcrete. The laminar calcrete is a relatively pure limestone, whereas massive calcrete is aeolian tuff cemented and replaced by calcite. An Olduvai calcrete profile can develop to a mature stage in only a few thousand years. Carbonatite ash was the dominant source for most of the calcite in the calcretes. Replacement was a major process in formation of the massive calcretes, and oolitic textures have resulted from micrite replacing pelletoid clay coatings around sand grains. Phillipsite and possible other zeolites were extensively replaced in the massive calcretes. Replacement of clay by micrite in the Olduvai calcretes is accompanied by dissolution or leaching of phengitic illite and the formation of clay approaching the composition of halloysite or kaolinite. In the upper calcrete of the Ndolanya Beds, montmorillonite was altered to a kaolinite-type mineral and to dioctahedral chlorite. Authigenic dolomite, zeolite, and dawsonite in the Olduvai calcretes probably received at least some of their components from replaced materials.     

Calcretes in the Thar desert: Genesis,chronology and palaeoenvironment

The calcretes in the Thar desert occur in a variety of settings, including the piedmonts, sheetwash aggraded plains; and this study adds calcretes in regolith and colluvio-alluvial plains to the group of settings in which calcretes occur in the region. Field logs, morphological details and analytical data such as petrographic, cathodoluminescence and geochemical characteristics are described along with a discussion on their implications. Sand dunes and sandy plains dating to < 20 ka have weakly developed calcretes. The better-developed calcrete horizons occur in piedmonts, interdunes or in areas that have sufficient groundwater. Deep sections in the region show phases of calcrete development in aeolian sand aggradation at ∼ 150, ∼ 100, ∼ 60 and 27–14 ka. The extensive sheetwash plains have mature calcretes and date to mid-Pleistocene. Our studies indicate that these calcretes represent a hybrid process, where carbonate enrichment of the originally calcareous host occurred due to periodically raised groundwaters, and its differentiation into nodules occurred under subaerial environment i.e., after recession of groundwater. Deep sections also show a stack of discrete calcretes that developed in individual aggradation episodes with hiatuses as indicated by ESR dating results. Nodules display a multiplicity of carbonate precipi tation events and internal reorganization of calcitic groundmass. The process is accompanied by degradation and transformation of unstable minerals, particularly clays and with a neosynthesis of palygorskite. The ancient calcretes are dated from the beginning of the Quaternary to ∼ 600 ka and show more evolved morphologies marked by brecciation, dissolution, laminar growth on brecciated surfaces, pisolites and several generations of re-cementation. Mica/chlorite schists and such other rocks are particularly vulnerable to replacement by carbonate. In an extreme case, replacement of quartzose sandstone was observed also. The presence of stretches of alluvio-colluvial plains in an area presently devoid of drainage bespeaks of occasional high-energy fluvial regime, under a semi-arid climate. The mid-Pleistocene period saw a shift towards more arid climate and this facilitated sheetwash aggradation. Finally, during the late Pleistocene, aggradation of aeolian sands indicated a progressively drier climate. However, this does not find its reflection in stable isotope data. The amount of carbonate in the form of calcretes is substantial. The present studies indicate that aeolian dust or rainwater are minor contributors to the carbonate budget. A more important source was provided by the pre-existing calcretes in the sheetwash aggraded plains and detrital carbonate in the aeolian sediments. The original source of carbonate in the region, however, remains unresolved and will need further investigations. Electron spin resonance protocols for the dating of calcretes were developed as a part of this study and the results accorded well with geological reasoning     

Stable isotope geochemistry of Quaternary calcretes in the Mersin area, southern Turkey – A comparison and implications for their origin

In the Mersin area, Quaternary calcretes are widespread, and occurred in a variety of forms, as namely powdery, nodular, tubular, fracture-infill, laminar crust, hard laminated crust (hardpan), pisolithic crust. They are predominantly calcite, and small amount of palygorskite associated with them as a minor component. Calcite δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of the calcretes vary from −4.31 to −6.82 and from −6.03 to −9.65‰ PDB, respectively. These values are consistent with values of pedogenic calcretes reported in literature from worldwide sites. The oxygen isotope values indicate formation under the influence of meteoric water at estimated temperatures from 25 to 32 °C. The carbon isotope values are typical for pedogenic calcretes, reflecting development under the C3-dominated vegetation cover and semiarid or seasonally arid climatic conditions.     

Classification of uranium deposits

A listing of the recognized types of uranium mineralization shows nineteen determinable types out of which only six can be classified as of economic significance at present: Oligomictic quartz pebble conglomerates, sandstone types, calcretes, intra-intrusive types, hydrothermal veins, veinlike types. The different types can be genetically related to prevalent geological environments, i. e. 1. the primary uranium occurrences formed by endogenic processes, 2. the secondary derived from the primary by subsequent exogenic processes, 3. the tertiary occurrences are assumed to be formed by endogenic metamorphic processes, however, little is known about the behaviour of the uranium during the metamorphosis and thereby the metallogenesis of this tertiary uranium generation is still vague. A metallotectonic-geochronologic correlation of the uranium deposits shows that a distinct affinity of the uranium exists to certain geologic epochs: to the Upper Archean — Lower Proterozoic, to the Hercynian and in a less established stage: to the Upper Proterozoic.     

华蓥山地区二叠纪生物礁顶部钙结壳的岩石学特征及成因探讨

华蓥山地区上二叠统长兴阶生物礁顶部普遍存在一套数米至十余米厚的钙结壳．含有钙结壳中常见的渗滤豆石、钙质结核、蜂窝状构造、根模、钙化细菌丝体、花瓣构造、微型钟乳石等典型组构，并伴有变形构造、溶蚀构造和角砾化等现象。这套钙结壳的发现对研究华南二、三叠纪之交的古气候，古地理和沉积发育史具有重要意义，本文主要描述钙结壳的岩石学特征，并简要讨论了本地区钙结壳的成因。     

Carboniferous calcretes in the Canadian Arctic

Calcrete palaeosols have been found in the Upper Carboniferous Canyon Fiord Formation of southwestern Ellesmere Island, Canadian Arctic. These calcretes were developed in fluvial and shallow marine sediments that accumulated within two adjacent subbasins, in which the tectono-sedimentary environment led to the deposition of five different sedimentary facies: (i) floodbasin sandstones; (ii) alluvial fan sandstones; (iii) alluvial fan conglomerates; (iv) braided fluvial sandstones; and (v) shallow marine limestones. Nodular/massive palaeosol profiles, consisting of cryptic, nodular, massive and laminar horizons, occur within the floodbasin sandstone and alluvial fan sandstone facies. Plugged palaeosol profiles, consisting of cryptic, plugged and laminar horizons, are restricted to the alluvial fan conglomerate facies. Massive/brecciated palaeosol profiles, consisting of cryptic, massive/brecciated and laminar horizons, occur essentially within the shallow marine limestone facies. The relationships between calcrete profiles and sedimentary facies suggest that profile types were controlled mainly by the texture and composition of the parent material: nodular/massive profiles are restricted to silicate-rich sandstone hosts, plugged profiles are restricted to carbonate-rich conglomerate hosts and massive/brecciated profiles are restricted to limestone hosts. Important relationships also exist between the maturity levels of nodular/massive profiles and sedimentary facies: profiles are generally mature in the floodbasin sandstones, invariably immature in the alluvial fan sandstones and absent from the braided fluvial sandstones. These different maturity levels were probably controlled mainly by exposure time, vegetation and substrate composition.     

株洲天元白垩纪含化石层地质记录及恐龙死亡、埋藏过程初探

株洲天元恐龙化石遗迹区,是湖南省新发现的一个恐龙化石产地,亦是当今世界上为数不多的位于大中城市中心的恐龙化石埋藏地之一。本文在区域资料的基础上,首次在上白垩统含化石层段中识别出暴露地质记录、洪水记录及震积记录等3个特殊的地质体;同时,通过大量砾石的科学统计,明确了株洲天元湖盆的古流向为自南往北,进而指出恐龙生活在呈NE-SW向展布的株洲湖盆南岸。在上述研究基础上,本文推测：在气候干旱少雨、植被稀少的古环境中,火山（?）、地震、滑坡、洪积等一系列局部性突发的地质事件直接导致了株洲天元地区生态环境的恶化,这亦成为该区恐龙死亡的主导因素。其骨骼埋藏与河道冲积入湖形成三角洲沉积体系这一过程密切相关。     

Morphometry of microstromatolites in calcrete laminar crusts and a fractal model of their growth

The laminar crust, constituting the upper part of calcretes (terrestrial CaCO₃ accumulations inside surficial sediments), is a succession of thin layers of various colors and shapes resembling micro-stromatolites. The crust structure and its diagenetic evolution are similar to stromatolites. A quantitative study of its structure was made using image analysis. Euclidian parameters were calculated to describe lamina shape. Eight hundred and eighty-six laminae were divided into six classes from the flatest forms to columnar shapes. The geometrical relationships between the shapes are interpreted as steps in the growth process of the microstromatolite. A fractal model of laminar crust growth was developed, using the diffusion-limited aggregation model (DLA) and dilation (an operation of mathematical morphology). This model simulates all growth steps observed in thin section and emphasizes the necessity of an interface with the atmosphere to explain the variety of shapes. This growth model supports the theory of a surficial and biogenic origin for certain calcrete laminar crusts.     

地质历史时期海平面变化曲线的数学模型

地层层序是古海平面变化的信息记录载体, 有效容纳空间(C(t))是地层层序的堆积场所, 是海平面变化(L(t))、构造沉降(Y(t)) 和地质时间(t) 的函数.通过对上扬子地台西缘二叠—三叠系层序地层学研究, 在总结前人海平面变化曲线研究方法的基础上, 建立了海平面变化曲线的数学模型(数学地质模型和数学函数模型), 即首先创立海平面变化曲线的数学地质模型: C(t) =L(t)+Y(), 进而提出了海平面变化曲线的数学函数模型.运用该模型定量编制了上扬子地台西缘二叠—三叠纪海平面变化曲线.      

滇西北兰坪盆地北部上三叠统含盐层位的厘定及其意义

通过野外实测剖面和大量室内岩矿工作,首次指出兰坪盆地上三叠统至少存在2套含盐层位,上含盐层位于三合洞组上段(T3s2),盐类物质以石膏、天青石为主,下含盐层位于三合洞组下段(T3s1),以天青石为主。天青石和石膏均呈中厚层层状产出,与顶底板地层产状一致。不同地区含盐层岩石组合及序列不同,横向上不具有可对比性,提出其并非正常蒸发沉积产物的认识。同时,含盐地层又是盆地内铅锌矿重要的赋矿层位,因此上三叠统含盐建造层序的厘定对深化认识区域铅锌矿床成矿机制、指导盐类矿床和铅锌矿找矿具有重要的意义。     

Palaeoenvironmental significance of palustrine carbonates and calcretes in the geological record

Interest in palustrine carbonates and calcretes has increased over the last 20 years since they contain significant environmental information. Much of the work performed in this area has focused on either of two types of terrestrial carbonate—palustrine carbonates or calcretes (pedogenic and groundwater)—yet their simultaneous study shows there may be a gradual transition from one form to the other, revealing the interplay between pedogenic, sedimentary, and diagenetic processes. Three main factors control the formation of these carbonates: the position of the water table, the host rock, and the period of sub-aerial exposure. In pedogenic calcretes, precipitation of carbonate takes places mostly in the vadose zone above the water table, and within a previous host rock or sediment. In groundwater calcretes, the precipitation of carbonate also occurs within a previous host rock and around the groundwater table. In palustrine carbonates, however, the precipitation of lime mud occurs in a lacustrine water body. Palustrine carbonates necessarily form on previous lacustrine mud, whereas both types of calcretes may form on any type of sediment or soil. The sub-aerial exposure time needed to form palustrine carbonates may by relatively short (even a season), whereas pedogenic calcretes need more time (several years to millions of years). Groundwater calcretes do not form on the topographic surfaces, so there is no need of sub-aerial exposure. However, stable surfaces favour the development of thick groundwater calcretes. Small fluctuations in the water table cause gradual transitions of these three types of terrestrial carbonates and the subsequent mixture of their characteristic features, causing difficulties in the interpretation of these carbonates.

The formation of these carbonates is controlled by palaeoenvironmental factors. Both commonly form in semi-arid climates. Arid climates are also suitable for calcretes, but sub-humid conditions are more suitable for palustrine carbonates. More indications of climatic conditions may be obtained through the analysis of the δ¹⁸O content of both calcretes and palustrine carbonates, and from the depth of the horizon containing carbonate nodules in pedogenic calcretes. Vegetation is also important in the formation of these types of carbonates. Data on the prevailing vegetation can be obtained from the analysis of the micro and macrofabric as well as from the δ¹³C signal of the primary carbonates, which, in pedogenic carbonates, has also been used to estimate atmospheric pCO₂ during the Phanerozoic. These terrestrial carbonates are widely distributed on floodplains and distal areas of alluvial basins. Their presence and characteristics can be used as indicators of aggradation, subsidence or accommodation rates, and therefore as indicators of different tectonic regimes.

Even though the study of these carbonates has notably increased in recent years, much less is known about them than about marine carbonates. Presently, there is much emphasis on obtaining a general model for sequence stratigraphy in terrestrial basins, with a need to include the carbonates analysed in this paper.     

Calcrete to kimberlite: A prospector’s hunt for “kimberlite traits” in calcretes

Occurrence of calcrete over kimberlite is known all over the world and calcrete can also develop over a wide variety of weathered rocks and/or soil under suitable condition of its formation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of kimberlite derived calcretes and highlights their role as an exploration tool in search of kimberlite. The present study reveals the presence of significant minerals, including diamonds, within the calcretes of “kimberlite traits”. Calcrete derived from granite and mafic (dolerite/gabbro) rocks are mineralogically very distinct with those derived from kimberlite. Calcrete can thus be a very useful prospecting tool in kimberlite and diamond exploration.     

Diversity of the Woody Vegetation of Gondwanan Southern Africa

The flora of Gondwanan southern Africa is represented in the rock record by micro-fossils, macro-fossils and petrified woods. All these types of fossils are seldom preserved together in any one particular facies because of taphonomic and preservational biases. In order to obtain as accurate a picture as possible of the woody vegetation, both the fossil woods and other macroplant fossils, such as leaf impressions, fructifications and cuticle, of woody plants, have been correlated. This was done for each Formation in the Karoo Supergroup in order to illustrate the changes in diversity of woody vegetation over time. Sediments of the Karoo Supergroup represent the terrestrial fossil record of the period Upper Carboniferous to the Lower Cretaceous when Africa finally separated from South America. In the Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian (Dwyka Formation) there are at least five described genera of woods from South Africa and Namibia. Early to Middle Permian woods (Ecca Group) are a little more diverse with six genera, representing the glossopterids, cordaitaleans and possibly other seed fern groups. Late Permian to Early Triassic (Beaufort Group) woods show very little change in diversity in spite of the major floral and biotic turnover evident from the rest of the fossil record. Although the Late Triassic (Molteno Formation) macro-flora has been shown to be an example of explosive diversification, the generally poorly preserved woods do not reflect this. Lower Jurassic fossils (Clarens Formation) are also poorly preserved but have araucarian characteristics. Early Cretaceous woods represent the Araucariaceae, Cheirolepidiaceae and Podocarpaceae with a number of species. The diversity of the woods has not changed as much as the rest of the floral components in southern Africa from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Cretaceous. Possible reasons for this apparent stasis are the conservative nature of wood, functional restrictions, limitations of suitable conditions for petrifications and the fact that very little research has been done on southern African woods.     

Eocene cool-water carbonate and biosiliceous sedimentation dynamics, St Vincent Basin, South Australia

Middle and Upper Eocene biogenic sediments in the Willunga Embayment along the eastern margin of the St Vincent Basin are a series of warm‐temperate limestones, marls and spiculites. The Middle Eocene Tortachilla Limestone is a thin, coarse grained, quartzose, biofragmental, bryozoan–mollusc calcarenite of stacked metre‐scale depositional cycles with hardground caps. Lithification, aragonite dissolution and the filling of moulds by sediment and cement characterize early marine‐meteoric diagenesis. Further meteoric diagenesis at the end of Tortachilla deposition resulted in dissolution, Fe‐oxide precipitation and calcite cementation. The Upper Eocene Blanche Point Formation is composed of coccolith and spiculite marl and spiculite, all locally rich in glauconite, turritellid gastropods and sponges. Decimetre‐scale units, locally capped by firmgrounds, have fossiliferous lower parts and relatively barren upper parts. Carbonate diagenesis is minor, with much aragonite still present, but early silicification is extensive, except in the spiculite, which is still opal‐A. All depositional environments are interpreted as relatively shallow water: high energy during the Middle Eocene and low energy during the Upper Eocene, reflecting the variable importance of a basin‐entrance archipelago of carbonate highs. Marls and spiculites are interpreted to have formed under an overall estuarine circulation system in a humid climate. Basinal waters, although well mixed, were turbid and rich in land‐derived nutrients, yet subphotic near the sea floor. These low‐energy, inner‐shelf biosiliceous sediments occur in coeval environments across other parts of Australia and elsewhere in the rock record, suggesting that they are a recurring element of the cool‐water, carbonate shelf depositional system. Thus, spiculites and spiculitic carbonates in the rock record need be neither deep basinal nor polar in origin. The paradox of a shallow‐water carbonate–spiculite association may be more common in geological history than generally realized and may reflect a characteristic mid‐latitude, humid climate, temperate water, palaeoenvironmental association.     

Characterization of a loess–paleosols section including a new record of the last interglacial stage in Pampean plain,Argentina

A new record of the Marine Isotopic Stage 5, the last Interglacial Stage before present is presented in this paper. Sedimentological, micromorphological, trace elements analyses (Rb–Sr) and magnetic polarity determination were performed on Buenos Aires and Ensenada Formation (Late Cenozoic) deposits in the southern Chaco-Pampean Basin (Argentina). This work aims to unravel paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental information from the analyzed data.The studied deposits encompass a complex and cyclic 8 m-thick sedimentary-pedogenetic sequence formed by loessic sediments and paleosols with volcano-pyroclastic provenance.Four tabular units, with net base and top, were defined from erosion surfaces.An OSL age >126 kyr was obtained from the upper middle part of unit B, which suggests that this unit as well as unit C, could have developed during the latest interglacial stage, equivalent to MIS 5.The occurrence of calcretes indicates periods of little clastic supply and seasonal arid or semiarid climate while iron oxides, smectites and illite-bearing pedogenetic calcretes point to annual rain rates between 100 and 500 mm. No calcretes of any origin occur in present soils of the same zone. According to our proposed interpretation of the available data, climate during MIS 5 was drier than today. The drier conditions may have been related to lower temperatures during summer.     

Occurrence of calcrete in the Phu Kradung Formation of the Mesozoic Khorat Group, NE Thailand

The Phu Kradung Formation of the Mesozoic Khorat Group is deposited by meandering river system. Floodplain deposits in the Nong Bua Lamphu section, northeastern Thailand contain paleosols with abundant calcretes. Calcretes occur within about 60 horizons in the studied section. Occurrences of calcretes are related with traces of life, such as roots and burrows. Microstructures of calcretes are mixture of biogenic and non-biogenic origin. It is suggested that the calcrete formation in the Phu Kradung Formation was affected by abundant biological activity.     

Genesis of calcretes from the calc-pan site of Singi Talav near Didwana,Rajasthan, India—A micromorphological approach

Chemistry and micromorphological studies of calcretes occurring in the interdunal calcpan site of Singi Talav, near Didwana, Rajasthan, India are presented in this paper. These analyses reveal that the calcretes are formed by a process of reprecipitation and recementation. They are pedo-sedimentary and are also affected by groundwater during origin. A geomorphic model for explaining the evolution of the calc-pan site is suggested.     

试论宏体植物的早期演化

概述了地史早期宏体植物化石的记录。从细胞群体到组织-器官构造有大约11 亿年的漫长进化史。蓝田植物群和庙河生物群标志着震旦晚期(大约7-5.4 亿年间)发生了宏体植物演化史上的一次大辐射,非矿化、弱矿化、和矿化的高级藻类出现。寒武纪发生了另一次辐射。非矿化藻类是最有发展前途的类群,可能直接导致了维管植物的出现。     

The Mesozoic ostracod genus Arculicythere Grékoff: further evidence for the southern Gondwana seaway

This paper demonstrates that Arculicythere Grékoff is a widespread taxon in the uppermost Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of Gondwana. It occurs in Madagascar, India, Israel, South Africa, the Falklands Plateau, Argentina and Australia. The earliest record is from the Upper Tithonian of Madagascar but the most profuse occurrences are in the Albian, when the genus was very widespread around Gondwana. Its distribution seems to be associated with a major southern Gondwana seaway, and the genus provides additional proof of the existence of this corridor. Unlike another endemic gondwanine genus, Majungaella Grékoff, which ranged from earlier in the Jurassic but extended into the Neogene in the Antarctic, or Rostrocytheridea Dingle that survived into the Campanian of the Antarctic, Arculicythere seems to have become extinct in the Albian.     

The first fossil mayfly nymph (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from the British Isles

Mayflies are very rare in the British fossil record. The first nymph to be found, Schistonotorum wallisi gen. et sp. nov., is described from the non-marine Lower Cretaceous of southeast England. This Early Barremian find is from the Upper Weald Clay Formation at Smokejacks brickworks, Surrey. It is preserved as an adpression in concretionary sideritic ironstone from the upper insect bed exposed in the northeast face of the pit. The palaeoecological significance of this record is discussed.