The Carboniferous coal swamp floras of England: a window on an ancient tropical ecosystem

England has an exceptional range of Westphalian—Stephanian (late Bashkirian—Moscovian) fossil floras spanning some 10 million years. They represent vegetation growing in part of a swamp that covered large areas of tropical Euramerica and which was responsible for the removal of vast quantities of carbon from the atmosphere. This coincided with significant global climatic cooling—the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age. The cratonic Pennine Basin in central and northern England has some of the best preserved fossil floras of this age anywhere in the world, especially notable being those of the Barnsley Thick Seam in Yorkshire and Derbyshire, the Bensham Seam in Northumberland and Durham, and the Coseley Ten Foot Ironstone in the West Midlands. The floras in southern England are mostly not as well preserved but include the historically important Radstock flora of Somerset. The taxonomic diversity dynamics of the fossil floras of the Pennine Basin are rather different from those seen in South Wales, probably due to differences in landscape and habitat, which in turn probably reflect the different tectonic settings. However, evidence of a significant change from lycophyte- to fern-dominated vegetation in latest Westphalian times, recognisable across Euramerica, can be seen in the English floras.     

贺兰山北段石炭纪和二叠纪植物群

贺兰山北段石炭纪和二叠纪植物化石经鉴定,计有39属104种。讨论了植物群的性质,划分了5个组合,即(1)晚石炭世早期Bothrodendroncirculare—Mesocalamitescistiformis组合;(2)晚石炭世中期Lepidodendronsubrhombicum—Conchophyllumrichthofenii组合;(3)晚石炭世晚期Lepidodendronszeianum—Neuropterisovata组合;(4)早二叠世早期Lepido dendronposthumii—Callipteridiumkoraiense组合和(5)早二叠世晚期Caulopteriswudaensis—Paratingiadatongensis组合。这5个组合的代表岩组分别为红土洼组、羊虎沟组、太原组下部、太原组中上部和山西组。其地质时代大致相当于纳缪尔B—C期、维斯发期、斯蒂芬期、阿赛尔期、萨克马尔期和阿丁斯克期。植物群含有大量的华夏型分子,为典型的华夏植物群。此外还讨论了植物群的演化。     

甘肃靖远石炭系研究新进展

<正> 甘肃靖远磁窑的石炭系出露完整,富含生物化石,李星学等(1974)作了较详细研究,奠定了本区石炭系层序的基础,首次建立了西北地区属于纳缪尔期的地层单元——靖远组。此后,不少地层和古生物工作者在对靖远磁窑石炭系作过调查,高联达对下石炭统作过孢粉研究(1980),王志浩、王成源(1983),史美良、赵治信(1985)对该区石炭系部分层     

全球石炭纪-二叠纪植物群的演化和分布特征

在全球范围内，石炭纪和二叠纪植物群可以划分为五个植物群，即早石炭世（杜内期、维宪期和纳缪尔Ａ期）的全球性拟鳞木植物群（Ｌｅｐｉｄｏｄｅｎｄｒｏｐｓｉｓｆｌｏｒａ）和晚石炭世（纳缪尔Ｂ—Ｃ期、威斯发期和斯蒂芬期）至二叠纪的华夏植物群、欧美植物群、安加拉植物群和冈瓦纳植物群。早石炭世拟鳞木植物群广泛分布于世界许多地区，具有全球一致性，以Ｌｅｐｉｄｏｄｅｎｄｒｏｐｓｉｓ，Ｓｕｂ ｌｅｐｉｄｏｄｅｎｄｒｏｎ，Ａｒｃｈａｅｏｓｉｇｉｌａｒｉａ，Ａｒｃｈａｅｏｃａｌａｍｉｔｅｓ，Ｃａｒｄｉｏｐｔｅｒｉｄｉｕｍ，Ｒｈｏｄｅｏｐｔｅｒｉｄｉｕｍ，Ｒｈａ ｃｏｐｔｅｒｉｓ，Ａｄｉａｎｔｉｔｅｓ，Ｔｒｉｐｈｙｌｏｐｔｅｒｉｓ等为特征。拟鳞木植物群逐渐从泥盆纪植物群分离出来，繁盛于早石炭世早期，绝灭于早石炭世末期。在早石炭世和晚石炭世的转换期，全球性气候变化和构造运动导致早石炭世拟鳞木植物群典型分子的绝灭和晚石炭世植物群先驱分子的出现。因此，华夏植物群、欧美植物群、安加拉植物群和冈瓦纳植物群衍生于早石炭世全球一致性拟鳞木植物群，但它们各自发展在不同的环境中。     

吉林省松辽盆地东缘晚期中生代植物群及其古生态研究

本文在系统研究吉中地区晚期中生代植物群的基础上,论述了沙河子组和大羊革沟组植物群的演替,分析了化石植物群的保存特点及其沉积环境。应用现代植物生态学的原理和方法,依据现实主义类比原则,分析了植物群的古气候意义,认为本区晚中生代由温暖、潮温的温带型气候转变为温热、湿润的暖温带型气候条件。根据植物群的组成和性质特征,认为本区晚中生代植物地理区应属瓦赫拉梅耶夫(1988)划分的西伯利亚—加拿大植物地理区范畴。     

Palaeo‐climate controlled diagenesis of the Westphalian C & D fluvial sandstones in the Campine Basin (north‐east Belgium)

The Westphalian C and D fluvial sandstones in the Campine Basin (north‐east Belgium) are potential reservoirs for the sequestration of CO₂ and interesting analogues of the hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Southern North Sea. Although these sandstones were deposited in a relatively short period of time, their reservoir properties and mineralogical compositions are very different. A petrographic study complemented with stable isotope analyses, fluid inclusion microthermometry and X‐ray diffraction analyses of the clay fractions of the sandstones, which were sampled from deep boreholes (>1000 m) in the Campine Basin, revealed that these differences are related mainly to the climate at the time of deposition. The most important eogenetic processes affecting the Westphalian sandstones were the generation of a pseudomatrix by physical compaction of Al‐silicates and lithic fragments that were strongly altered by extensive meteoric leaching, kaolinitization of unstable silicates and precipitation of siderite. These processes had a detrimental influence on the reservoir properties of Westphalian C sandstones, but their impact on the Westphalian D sandstones was minimal. The difference is assumed to be related to the climate at the time of deposition, which changed from tropical humid in the Westphalian C to semi‐arid/arid during the Late Westphalian D. Both the Westphalian C and D sandstones were affected by similar mesogenetic processes. Mesogenetic quartz cementation resulted from chemical compaction and illitization of kaolinite, K‐feldspar and smectitic clays. Illitization of kaolinite was controlled by the available quantities of co‐existing kaolinite and K‐feldspar and mainly affected the Westphalian D sandstones. Illitization of K‐feldspar was controlled by the K‐feldspar content. It had a much larger impact on the reservoir properties of the Westphalian D as, in these sandstones, K‐feldspar was less affected by eogenetic alteration. The illitization of smectitic clays resulted in illite, quartz and ankerite cementation in both reservoirs. This process had a more important impact on the Westphalian C reservoir, since cementation here also resulted from smectite to illite conversion in the interbedded and underlying shales. The effect of mesogenetic alterations on the reservoir properties was much less drastic than the impact of eodiagenesis. Mesogenetic alterations do exert a significant control on the properties of the Westphalian D. The vast impact of eodiagenesis on the Westphalian C sandstones made them less susceptible to mesogenetic alteration. The effect of telogenetic processes on the porosity and permeability of the Westphalian sandstones was small and restricted to the top reservoir intervals that directly underlie the Cimmerian Unconformity. No significant telogenetic alterations related to the Variscan Unconformity were observed.     

Stratigraphy and correlation of Carboniferous ignimbrites,Rocky Creek region,Tamworth Belt,Southern New England Orogen,New South Wales

Carboniferous (Visean to Westphalian) pyroclastics and lava flows in the Rocky Creek region, used to redefine the base of the Kiaman reversal, are formally defined or redefined and the status of the main formations clarified. These units include the Caroda Formation, containing the Kooringal Dacite, Boomi Rhyolite and Barney Springs Andesite Members; the Clifden Formation with the Wanganui Andesite, Glen Idle Rhyolite, Appleogue Dacite, Bexley Rhyolite, Pine Cliffs Rhyolite and Downs Rhyodacite Members; Rocky Creek Conglomerate with the Hazelvale Rhyodacite, Mt Hook Rhyolite, Darthula Rhyodacite and Pound Rock Rhyodacite Members; and Lark Hill Formation with the Eulowrie Pyroclastic, Tycannah Rhyodacite and The Tops Rhyolite Members; a number of informal units are also described. The restriction of most volcanic units to one of the three thrust blocks (Boomi, Kathrose and Darthula blocks) of the Rocky Creek region, suggests their current relationships reflect either shortening due to overthrusting or an original distribution affected by depositional or erosional processes. A westerly increase in the proportion of ignimbrites indicates nearness to sources in that direction. Intermediate volcanism, largely confined to southern and central parts of the Boomi block in the east, began in the Visean and ended in the early Namurian. Acid volcanism also began in the Visean in the northern Boomi block but, with the exception of the Peri Rhyolite Member of the Clifden Formation, did not become widespread until later in the Namurian and Westphalian. In contrast, only acid volcanism took place during the early Namurian to Westphalian in the Kathrose and Darthula blocks. Correlations based on AS3 and SL13 SHRIMP dates illustrate a discordance of about 3% when compared with the most likely location for the base of the Kiaman reversal. The bases of both the Rocky Creek Conglomerate and Lark Hill Formation appear to be slightly diachronous.     

Uplift and late orogenic deformation of the Central European Variscan belt as revealed by sediment provenance and structural record in the Carboniferous foreland basin of western Poland

The Carboniferous foreland basin of western Poland contains a coherent succession of late Viséan through Westphalian turbidites derived from a uniform group of sources located within a continental magmatic arc. Detrital zircon geochronology indicates that two main crustal components were present in the source area of Namurian A sediments. They represent Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous ages, respectively. The detritus from Westphalian D beds is much more diversified and contains admixture of Late Carboniferous zircons suggesting rapid unroofing of Variscan igneous intrusions in the hinterland between Namurian A and Westphalian D times. Tectonic repetitions of tens of metres thick fault-bounded stratigraphic intervals, recorded in several wells, provide evidence for compressional regime that occurred in the SW part of the Carboniferous basin not earlier than during the Westphalian C and produced NW–SE trending folds, concordant with the structural grain of the adjacent, NE part of the Bohemian Massif.     

Floral biostratigraphy of the upper silesian pennant measures of south wales

New information on the distribution of Upper Carboniferous fossil plants in South Wales has led the author to revise the positions of the chronostratigraphical boundaries in the Pennant Measures. The base of the Westphalian D is now placed in the upper Rhondda Beds. The middle Westphalian D floral change has been found to occur in two steps, one in the lower and one in the upper Hughes Beds. The Westphalian-Stephanian boundary is provisionally placed near the top of the Grovesend Beds.     

宁夏及邻区石炭纪植物群

本文对宁夏及邻区石炭纪植物化石进行了系统研究，共鉴定植物化石２４属６２种，讨论了植物群的特征，划分了４个植物组合，即（１）Ｃａｒｄｉｏｐｔｅｒｉｄｉｕｍｓｐｅｔｓｂｅｒｇｅｎｓｅ－Ａｒｃｈａｅｏｃａｌａｍｉｔｅｓｓｃｒｏｂｉｃｕｌａｔｕｓ组合；（２）Ｍｅｓｏｃａｌｕｍｉｔｅｓｃｉｓｔｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ－Ｐｅｃｏｐｔｅｒｉｓａｓｐｅｒａ组合；（３）Ｃｏｎｃｈｏｐｈｙｌｌｕｍｒｉｃｈｔｈｏｆｅｎｉｉ－Ｐａｒｉｐｔｅｒｉｓｋａｉｐｉｎｇｉａｎａ组台；（４）Ｌｅｐｉｄｏｄｅｎｄｒｏｎｐｏｓｔｈｕｍｉｉ－Ｎｅｕｒｏｐｔｅｒｉｓｏｖａｔａ组合．这４个植物组合的地质时代大致与西欧的杜内期－维宪期、纳缪尔期、维斯发期和斯蒂芬期相当，其代表岩组分别为前黑山组－臭牛沟组、靖远组、羊虎沟组和太原组．     

华北板块北缘中二叠统于家北沟组植物化石及其大地构造意义

通过对内蒙古赤峰市广兴源乡于家北沟组模式剖面植物化石和安山质晶屑岩屑凝灰岩锆石U-Pb同位素年代学的研究,结合动物化石的分析,确认于家北沟组地质时代为中二叠世。于家北沟组植物化石以Gigantonoclea hallei Asama、Fascipteris sinensis Stockm. et Math.、Pecopteris taiyuanensis Halle、Pterophyllum daihoense Kaw.等众多华夏植物群典型分子为特征,属于典型的华夏植物群。目前,在中二叠世植物群中,从未发现有华夏和安加拉两大植物群的混生现象,这一事实进一步表明,中二叠世横亘于华北板块和佳蒙地块之间的古亚洲洋尚未闭合,在植物地理分布上起着重要的阻隔作用。     

山西宁武煤田大同组植物群特征

山西宁武煤田大同组植物化石笔者鉴定计２１属４１种，以真蕨类，银杏类为主，有节类，柏柏类次之，苏铁类稀少。该植物群可归于北方普遍发育的Ｃｏｎｉｏｐｔｅｒｉｓ－Ｐｈｏｅｎｉｃｏｐｓｉｓ植物群，并可与大同煤田的大同组、北京西山门头沟群、鄂尔多斯盆地延安组及表海大煤沟组所含植物各对比，时代属中侏罗世。     

Burial history and thermal evolution of Westphalian coal-bearing strata in the Campine Basin (NE Belgium)

A 1D-modelling program has been applied to reconstruct the burial and thermal histories of two exploration boreholes, KB172 and KB174, located in the Campine Basin. The results show differences in geological histories. The coalification of the Westphalian A and B strata in KB174 (0.66–0.98% R_o) was pre-Permian. Calculated maximum temperatures, based on borehole data and vitrinite reflectance, regional thicknesses and a heat flow of 84 mW/m² during the Late Westphalian, range from 110 °C at the top to 175 °C at the bottom of the Westphalian cored in this borehole. The high coalification (0.85–1.30% R_o) of the Westphalian C and D strata in KB172 could be the result of the deposition of 2500 m of Upper Permian to Middle Jurassic sediments in combination with elevated heat flows (71–80 mW/m²). Two coalification periods, i.e. Late Westphalian and Middle Jurassic, are suggested for this borehole. The simulated maximum temperatures range from 130 °C at the top to 175 °C at the bottom of the investigated Westphalian C and D. The differences in the burial and thermal histories of both boreholes can be related to the activity of the transversal Donderslag Fault, a major structural element in the Campine coalfield, and the Roer Valley Graben.     

CHANNELS FROM THE UPPER CARBONIFEROUS COAL MEASURES OF SOUTH WALES

Sandstone-filled channels occur widely in the Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian) rocks of South Wales. Subsurface and outcrop studies of channels and associated structures in three formations within the Westphalian sequence reveal significant regional variations in orientation, transverse profile, geometry and lithology of fill. The pattern of channel-orientation in each formation is consistent with the system of palaeocurrents derived from independent studies of cross-bedding and indicates that in the lowest Westphalian (Basal Coal Measures) derivation was principally from the north and east, with intermittent supply from the south, whereas in the Upper Westphalian material was derived mainly from the south and east but with substantial contributions from the north.
Formation of the channels is ascribed to fluvial erosion and filling. The mutually consistent regional variations in channel-parameters are compared with the conspic- uous changes in lithofacies and interpreted as indicating diRerences in Auviohydraulic locale within the original basin of sedimentation.     

黑龙江伊春红山华夏—安加拉混生植物群

系统研究了黑龙江省伊春红山地区晚二叠世红山组植物群,认为其性质为华夏—安加拉混生植物群。华夏植物区与安加拉植物区的界限,应以内蒙古陆及其东、西延展部分为界。     

Carboniferous palaeomagnetism of the Rocky Creek Block,northern Tamworth Belt,and the New England pole path

Palaeomagnetic, rock magnetic and magnetic fabric results are presented for a Carboniferous (Visean to Westphalian) succession of felsic, mainly ignimbritic, volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks from the Rocky Creek Block of the northern Tamworth Belt, southern New England Orogen. Detailed thermal demagnetisation of 734 samples from 64 sites show three groups of magnetic components with low (<300°C), intermediate (300–600°C) and high (500–680°C) unblocking temperature ranges. Well‐defined primary magnetisations have been determined for 28 sites with evidence of four overprint phases. The overprints arise from a mid‐Tertiary weathering event (or possibly recent viscous origin), and from fluid movements associated with the Late Cretaceous opening of the Tasman Sea, thrusting during the Middle Triassic main phase of the Hunter‐Bowen Orogeny, and latest Carboniferous — Early Permian formation of the Bowen‐Gunnedah‐Sydney Basin system. Rock magnetic tests establish that the primary magnetisation carriers in the volcanic rocks are mainly magnetite (predominantly single domain, or pseudo‐single domain, and little or no multidomain) and hematite. Optimal magnetic cleaning is achieved at high to very high temperatures, with subtle, but systematic, directional and statistical differences between primary components derived from the mainly hematite fraction and pseudo‐components derived from the mainly magnetite fraction. The 28 primary magnetisation results are presented as six mean‐site results, summarised below and representing 25 sites, and three single‐site results. Fold tests could be applied to five mean‐site results. These are all positive, but one of these results may represent a secondary magnetisation. The primary magnetisation results define a Visean to Westphalian pole path. This long pole path indi cates extensive latitudinal and rotational movement for the Rocky Creek Block, and potentially for the New England Orogen, as follows: (i) Yuendoo Rhyolite Member (Caroda Formation, Visean) pole 235.8°E, 27.7°S, ED₉₅ = 9.0°, n = 3; (ii) Peri Rhyolite Member/Boomi Rhyolite Member (Clifden Formation, Namurian, 318.0 ± 3.4 Ma) pole 177.4°E, 63.4°S, ED₉₅ = 5.2°, n = 3; (iii) tuffaceous beds above Boomi Rhyolite Member (Clifden Formation?, Namurian) pole 162.2°E, 59.1°S, ED₉₅ = 10.2°, n = 3; ((iv) upper Clifden Formation/lower Rocky Creek Conglomerate (Namurian/Westphalian) pole 95.3°E, 49.6°S, ED₉₅ = 8.1°, n = 3 (possible overprint)); (v) Rocky Creek Conglomerate (Westphalian) pole 136.5°E, 57.6°S, ED₉₅ = 5.3°, n = 5; (vi) Lark Hill Formation (Westphalian) pole 127.0°E, 50.4°S, ED₉₅ = 4.8°, n = 8.     

论福建坂头组的时代及对比

<正> 坂头组系陈恺(1943)命名,未指定建组剖面,以永安城北坂头村一带的岩性为标准。当时称坂头系,时代为早白垩世。坂头组分布在崇安、永安和泰宁举岚等盆地,宁化、安溪、仙游、古田和霞浦等地亦有零星出露。对坂头组的时代归属存在二种意见:福建省区调队(1976—1985)、原福建石油地质队(1978)、顾知微(1980、1982)、王思恩等(1985)归于     

Fossil Liverworts from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation in Inner Mongolia, China

A new genus and species, Rebouliothallus huolinhensis sp. nov., and two uncertain species, Ricciopsis sp. and Hepaticites sp., are described. The fossils were collected from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation of Huolinhe Basin, northeastern China. The new genus Rebouliothallus was established in the Aytoniaceae family of Marchantiales. Rebouliothallus huolinhensis appears to be quite similar to species of the extant genus Reboulia Raddi. The species is characterized by the relatively large ventral scales. Ventral scales are large, imbricate and arranged in two rows on the ventral surface. Rhizoids are either pegged or smooth. Ricciopsis sp. is characterized by the rosette-forming thallus. Hepaticites sp. shows some similarities to liverworts. Of the forty-nine Early Cretaceous floras of China, only two floras, one from the Huolinhe basin, Inner Mongolia and the other from the Jixi Basin, Heilongjiang Province, contain fossil liverworts. The rare fossil liverwort records in the Early Cretaceous floras of China may be the result of taphonomic bias.     

Macrofloral biostratigraphy of the Newent Coalfield,Gloucestershire

Boreholes recently drilled by the British Geological Survey provide the first extensive collection of fossil plants from the Newent Coalfield, Gloucestershire. They belong to the Lobatopteris vestita Biozone, indicating a late Westphalian D age. The Newent sequence is thus homotaxial with part of the Forest of Dean Coalfield, and supports the view of Wills (1956) that there was a ‘strait’ extending across St George's Land during the late Westphalian.     

The Age and Character of the Yu''erhong Flora from Yumen, Gansu

From a fresh field investigation, it has been ascertained that the Late Palaeozoic Yu'erhong (Yuernhung) flora from Yu'erhong, Yumen, Gansu, northwestern China, studied by Bohlin in 1971 includes plants from the Westphalian Yangfukou Formation and the Stephanian to Sakmarian Taiyuan Formation. The Yu'erhong flora from the Yanghukou Formation is dominated by Euramerican elements with a few elements of the Cathaysian flora. No Angarian elements have be found in this section for lack of Late Permian strata. The specimens studied by Bohlin might possibly come from the upper part of the Upper Permian at tne southeastern corner . of the Yu'erhong basin. Those fossils from different horizons and localities might be mixed with each other during collection ;so they fail to reflect the exact horizon of certain plant fossils.