Palaeogeographical influence on Late Eocene biosiliceous sponge-rich sedimentation, southern Western Australia

Late Eocene nearshore shallow-marine environments within the Bremer and western Eucla Basins of southern Western Australia were characterized by the thick deposition of spongolite and spiculite deposits. Epibenthic sponge communities dominated estuaries and topographically complex basin margin embayments-archipelagos, while cool-water carbonates with up to 10% sponges accumulated in open-shelf environments. The transition from a biosiliceous to calcareous epibenthos was related to the degree of palaeogeographical 'protection'. Within basement-protected embayments there was an offshore gradation from shoreface spongolite and pure spiculite to a muddy spiculite facies towards central embayment areas. Calcareous fossils are rare throughout embayment facies, but rapidly increase in more open outer archipelago areas. This depositional relationship occurred along 2000 km of the Late Eocene southern Australian coastline. Palaeogeographical protection from strong currents acted in concert with: (1) a planar, low-gradient inland topography with sluggish run-off, supplying fine-grained sediment, nutrients, and abundant dissolved silica; and (2) a microtidal setting, weak to moderate swells and opposing wind and Coriolis surface current forcing, which inhibited water exchange between embayments-estuaries and the open shelf. This situation led to an embayment water chemistry that encouraged prolific sponge growth. Calcareous spiculites record the mixing front between these embayment waters and normal open-shelf waters supporting cool-water carbonates.     

藏南岗巴—定日地区始新世化石碳酸盐岩微相与沉积环境

藏南岗巴-定日地区发育着西藏最晚期的海相沉积，对这套海相沉积的研究，可提供关于西藏特提斯演化晚期的良好信息，本文对岗巴-定日地区始新世遮普惹组的化石碳酸盐岩微相进行了较为详细的分析和研究。参考Wilson(1975)的标准微相，初步识别出10种微相和5种生物相类型。同时对遮普惹组中的砾状灰岩的成因机制作了有益的探讨，它完全是由沉积作用而成；胶结物不是源于物质的重新分配，而是台地边缘斜坡的等深流沉积。以此为基础，对西藏特提斯晚期沉积环境的演变进行了较为详细的分析。笔者认为：岗巴-定日盆地在始新世Ypresian-Lutetian早期接受海侵；自Lutetian晚期开始，区内总体处于一种海退环境，但由于受板块碰撞作用的影响，岗巴地区在Lutetian晚期-Bartonian晚期成为-深水坳陷盆地；至Priabonian早期，海水完全退出本区。     

A point-sourced calciclastic submarine fan complex (Eocene Anotz Formation, western Pyrenees): facies architecture, evolution and controlling factors

A complete transect of a fossil carbonate ramp slope has been reconstructed using outcrop data from the Lower-Middle Eocene Anotz Formation in the western Pyrenees. The Anotz Formation contains four calciclastic (mostly bioclastic) members encased within hemipelagic marl/limestone alternations, each calciclastic member representing a submarine fan system. Individual fans are composed of a gullied upper slope, a leveed feeder channel, a channelized lobe area, an unconfined lobe zone and a peripheral lobe fringe that grades downcurrent into basinal deposits. Quantitative data on the dimensions and degree of lateral continuity and vertical connectivity of the Anotz calciclastic fan elements are presented. These data provide information for a better understanding of the intrinsic nature of calciclastic submarine fans and to model their reservoir potential. The long-term evolution of the Anotz carbonate slope was generally progradational, as evidenced by the four discrete episodes of calciclastic-fan development. The location of the fans was controlled by the synsedimentary tectonic activity of the Pamplona fault, which created a slope valley along which the reworked shallow-water calciclastic sediments were funnelled. In addition, episodic basinward tilting of the shallow-water carbonate ramp, linked to the development of the South Pyrenean foreland basin, switched on and off the process of calciclastic resedimentation and determined the growth or abandonment of the fan systems.     

Cyclostratigraphy and high-frequency carbon isotope fluctuations in Upper Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates, southern Italy

Abstract A detailed carbon isotope study has been carried out on a Santonian (Upper Cretaceous) carbonate platform succession that crops out at Monte Sant'Erasmo (southern Italy). Previous centimetre‐scale studies on this succession have shown that high‐frequency eustatic changes, resulting from the Earth's orbital fluctuations, controlled the hierarchical organization of the depositional and early diagenetic features in elementary cycles, bundles (groups of three to five elementary cycles) and superbundles (groups of three or four bundles). The elementary cycles, which correspond to single beds, suggest a control caused by Earth's precession; the bundles and superbundles record the short (≈ 100 kyr) and long (≈ 400 kyr) eccentricity periodicity respectively. The δ¹³C signal of the Monte Sant'Erasmo succession is cyclic in nature and may be considered to be a reliable proxy for the sedimentary evolution (and related sea‐level history) of the analysed sequence. The carbon isotope cyclicity is recorded at bundle and superbundle level, but it is not evident at the scale of the elementary cycles, at least with the sampling interval used in this study. Spectral analysis of the δ¹³C record shows two main peaks corresponding to the short‐ and long‐eccentricity periodicity, whereas the precession signal is not evident in the power spectrum. In addition, lithofacies analysis shows that, in each bundle (and superbundle), higher C isotope values occur in sediments characterized by marine cements, whereas lower values are normally found in more restricted deposits overprinted by early meteoric diagenesis. Early diagenesis, driven by periodic sea‐level fluctuations, developed in either shallow‐subtidal (marine diagenesis) or subaerial‐exposed (meteoric overprint) sedimentary environments and directly influenced the carbon isotope signature. As a consequence, the δ¹³C record at Monte Sant'Erasmo reflects high‐frequency climatic oscillations controlling both environmental and early diagenetic changes. The long‐term isotopic record is similar to that of contemporaneous pelagic sections in England and elsewhere in Italy. It is concluded that the δ¹³C signature of shallow‐water carbonates, such as those of Monte Sant'Erasmo, offers great potential for correlation with coeval sections, including those of the pelagic realm.     

Orbital forcing in turbidite accumulation during the Eocene greenhouse interval

The influence of astronomically driven short‐term climate change (Milankovitch cycles) on deep‐marine turbidite systems is not well‐known, particularly in the case of long‐term greenhouse intervals with no significant glacio‐eustatic sea‐level fluctuations. This study, carried out at the Gorrondatxe section (Global Stratotype Section and Point for the base of the Lutetian Stage in the western Pyrenees), demonstrates that the characteristics of lower–middle Eocene fan‐fringe/basin‐plain turbiditic and pelagic deposits varied in line with orbitally forced fluctuations in seasonal rainfall, runoff and terrigenous input to the sea. Reduced turbiditic activity during the formation of pelagic limy precessional hemicouplets indicates subdued seasonality and low terrigenous input. Conversely, turbidity currents were more frequent, had greater energy and were more voluminous during the formation of pelagic marly hemicouplets, suggesting precessional hemicycles with strong seasonality and heavy summer rainfall. These differences at precessional time scales were enhanced at maximum eccentricity because turbiditic activity was most intense when boreal summer occurred at perihelion (i.e. maximum seasonality) but declined when it occurred at aphelion. At minimum eccentricity, with relatively weak seasonality throughout one (or more than one) precessional cycle (>21 kyr), turbiditic activity remained relatively low. The pattern observed at the Gorrondatxe fan‐fringe/basin‐plain succession implies that the orbitally forced environmental changes must also have affected the inner and middle parts of the submarine fan. The astronomical influence on terrigenous sediment input also determined the changing characteristics of the pelagic sedimentation. Thus, terrigenous sediment contribution to pelagic sedimentation fluctuated by a factor of five during opposite precessional situations at maximum eccentricity, whereas there was almost no fluctuation at minimum eccentricity.     

Mesophotic coral buildups in a prodelta setting (Late Eocene,southern Pyrenees,Spain): a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic system

Lower Priabonian coral bioherms and biostromes, encased in prodelta marls/clays, occur in the Aínsa‐Jaca piggyback basin, in the South Central Pyrenean zone. Detailed mapping of lithofacies and bounding surfaces onto photomosaics reveals the architecture of coral buildups. Coral lithosomes occur either isolated or amalgamated in larger buildups. Isolated lithosomes are 1 to 8 m thick and a few hundred metres wide; clay content within coral colonies is significant. Stacked bioherms form low‐relief buildups, commonly 20 to 30 m thick, locally up to 50 m. These bioherms are progressively younger to the west, following progradation of the deltaic complex. The lowermost skeletal‐rich beds consist of bryozoan floatstone with wackestone to packstone matrix, in which planktonic foraminifera are abundant and light‐related organisms absent. Basal coral biostromes, and the base of many bioherms, consist of platy‐coral colonies ‘floating’ in a fine‐grained matrix rich in branches of red algae. Corals with domal or massive shape, locally mixed with branching corals and phaceloid coral colonies, dominate buildup cores. These corals are surrounded by matrix and lack organic framework. The matrix consists of wackestone to packstone, locally floatstone, with conspicuous red algal and coral fragments, along with bryozoans, planktonic and benthonic foraminifera and locally sponges. Coral rudstone and skeletal packstone, with wackestone to packstone matrix, also occur as wedges abutting the buildup margins. Integrative analysis of rock textures, skeletal components, buildup anatomy and facies architecture clearly reveal that these coral buildups developed in a prodelta setting where shifting of delta lobes or rainfall cycles episodically resulted in water transparency that allowed zooxanthellate coral growth. The bathymetric position of the buildups has been constrained from the light‐dependent communities and lithofacies distribution within the buildups. The process‐product analysis used here reinforces the hypothesis that zooxanthellate corals thrived in mesophotic conditions at least during the Late Eocene and until the Late Miocene. Comparative analysis with some selected Upper Eocene coral buildups of the north Mediterranean area show similarities in facies, components and textures, and suggest that they also grew in relatively low light (mesophotic) and low hydrodynamic conditions.     

Stratigraphic framework of the thrust geometry and structural inversion in the southeastern Pyrenees : La Garrotxa area

Abstract

The structure of la Garrotxa area within the Cadi unit (south-eastern Pyrenees) consists of a set of duplexes at different scales which repeat the different carbonatic litho-units of the Lower and Middle Eocene. These duplexes are folded by antiformal stacks structures with basement rocks in their cores. The north boundary of these antiformal stacks represents an inversion of pre-existent extensional faults which formed half-graben geometries. The basement rocks involved in the structure represent short-cuts formed in the footwall of the extensional faults. All thrusts of La Garrotxa area branch with the upper Garrotxa thrust. The more complex structure of La Garrotxa area than the adjacent areas within the Cadí unit, is due to the initial complex synsedimentary geometry of the sedimentary pile.

The Cadi unit overlies the Serrat unit with a hangingwall ramp geometry. This unit was deduced from the Serrat-1 well, drilled in 1987. The Serrat unit is made up of a Middle Eocene evaporitic sequence, with alternating shales and anhydrites and a 100 meters thick salt layer close to the top. The total thickness of this evaporitic Beuda sequence is 1 000 meters. The Beuda sequence clearly controlled the thrust geometry of the younger thrusts.     

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.     

Multiepisodic evaporite sedimentation as an indicator of palaeogeographical evolution in foreland basins (South‐eastern Pyrenean basin,Early–Middle Eocene)

Extensive deposition of marine evaporites occurred during the Early–Middle Eocene in the South‐eastern Pyrenean basin (north‐east Spain). This study integrates stratigraphic and geochemical analyses of subsurface data (oil wells, seismic profiles and gravity data) together with field surveys to characterize this sedimentation in the foredeep and adjacent platform. Four major evaporite units were identified. The oldest was the Serrat Evaporites unit, with a platform‐slope‐basin configuration. Thick salina and sabkha sulphates accumulated on the platform, whereas resedimented and gravity‐derived sulphates were deposited on the slope, and salt and sulphates were deposited in the deep basin. In the subsequent unit (Vallfogona evaporites), thin sulphates formed on the platform, whereas very thick siliciclastic turbidites accumulated in the foredeep. However, some clastic gypsum coming from the platform (gypsarenites and gypsum olistoliths) was intercalated in these turbidites. The following unit, the Beuda Gypsum Formation developed in a sulphate platform‐basin configuration, where the topography of the depositional surface had become smooth. The youngest unit, the Besalú Gypsum, formed in a shallow setting. This small unit provides the last evidence of marine influence in a residual basin. Sulphur and oxygen isotope compositions are consistent with a marine origin for all evaporites. However, δ³⁴S and δ¹⁸O values also suggest that, except for the oldest unit (Serrat Evaporites), there was some sulphate recycling from the older into the younger units. The South‐eastern Pyrenean basin constitutes a fine example of a foreland basin that underwent multiepisodic evaporitic sedimentation. In the basin, depositional factors evolved with time under a structural control. Decreasing complexity is observed in the lithofacies, as well as in the depositional models, together with a diminishing thickness of the evaporite units.     

End-signature of deep-marine basin-fill, as a structurally confined low-gradient clastic system: the Middle Eocene Guaso system, South-central Spanish Pyrenees

The ca 300 m thick Guaso system is the youngest part of the ca 4 km thick deep-marine fill of the Middle Eocene Ainsa basin, Spanish Pyrenees. It is overlain by 150 to 200 m of fine-grained slope, prodelta and deltaic sediments. The ca 25 discrete deep-marine sandbodies within the Ainsa basin accumulated over ca 10 Myr, making eustasy the most likely control for coarse sand deposition (probably the ca 400 kyr Milankovitch mode). The first-order control on basin-scale accommodation, however, was tectonically-driven subsidence. Previously, the Guaso sandbodies were interpreted as linked to deep erosional, canyon-like features, but here it is argued that they are laterally extensive sandbodies, built by lateral-switching of 3 to 10 m deep erosional channels, and confined only by basin structure during deposition. The Guaso system represents the end of deep-marine deposition in a structurally-confined, delta-fed, low-gradient clastic system. The critical end-signature of deep-marine deposition was a phase of differential tectonic uplift above the underlying (Boltaña) thrust creating a narrower and shallower basin morphology, thus allowing sedimentation to create a low-gradient clastic system. Then, the next eustatic sea-level fall was insufficient to permit the cutting of canyons or deeply-incised slope channels, as had been the case earlier when the topographic relief between shelf and basin was at least several hundred metres greater. Such low-gradient clastic systems may characterize the end-signature for the infill of other shallowing-up deep-marine basins where a tectonic driver on subsidence is removed and/or differential uplift/subsidence leads to reduced sea floor gradients, leaving eustasy and sediment flux as the principal control on sediment supply.     

Mid-Cretaceous hydrothermal vents and authigenic carbonates in a transform margin, Basque-Cantabrian Basin (western Pyrenees): a multidisciplinary study

A comprehensive study of authigenic carbonates and associated fauna in Late Albian organic‐rich, deep‐water deposits (the Black Flysch Group) reveals that carbonate precipitation was a by‐product of the anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbon‐rich hydrothermal fluids. The authigenic carbonates are exposed along the Kardala and Alkolea sea cliffs in the western Pyrenees. The two vent carbonates occur 1 km apart adjacent to the synsedimentary, right‐reverse Mutriku fault, but in contrasting structural domains: the Kardala carbonates occur on a structural ridge (hangingwall) and the Alkolea carbonates are positioned at the base of an erosional scarp (folded downward footwall). The similarity in pattern of the carbonate phases and complex paragenetic events for both vent precipitates implies that hydrothermal fluid generation processes and pore‐water evolution during early and late diagenesis were similar. Nevertheless, a comparison of the geochemistry, fossil fauna and morphology of carbonate structures of both precipitates suggests that the vented hydrocarbon type, flow intensity and temperature of hydrothermal fluids were different. At the Kardala vent, intense focused flow of hot (up to 109 °C), oil‐rich fluids were generated, allowing the development of a relatively abundant chemosynthesis‐based fauna. In contrast, at the Alkolea vent, diffuse flows of warm, thermogenic methane‐rich fluids were expelled to the sea floor and no chemosynthetic fauna developed. These differences are related to the contrasting structural setting of each locality. Similar δ¹³C_org values for both pyrobitumen‐fills and host unit organic matter suggest that the hydrocarbon source was the Black Flysch Group. Contact alteration of these organic‐rich sediments by syndepositional hydrothermal fluids generated hydrothermal petroleum (oil and gas hydrocarbons) which probably migrated updip to the sea floor by contemporary compression tectonics.     

Petrographic characteristics and depositional conditions of Eocene coals of platform basins, Meghalaya, India

The coal deposits of Meghalaya occur in the Lakadong Sandstone (25–250 m thick) of Eocene age. The coal-bearing formations are understood to have been deposited over platform areas in estuarine and lagoonal environments and subjected to recurrent marine transgressions and regressions during the Eocene period. There are three major groups of coalfields in Meghalaya, viz. Garo Hills (West Daranggiri and Siju Coalfields), Khasi Hills (Langrin and Mawlong–Shella Coalfields) and minor coalfields (Laitryngew, Cherrapunji and Bapung Coalfields). Pillar coal samples have been collected from 10 seams at 15 locations and have been subjected to a detailed petrographic examination for their characterization. An effort has been made to trace the path of their evolution based on coal petrography-based models. The quantitative petrographic analysis shows that these coals are vitrinite rich (45.0–92.9%, mean 73.4% mmf basis) with low concentration of inertinite (0.0–13.8%, mean 3.0% mmf basis), whereas the liptinite occurs in appreciable concentration (5.5–53.1%, mean 22.5% mmf basis). Further, these coals are rich in vitrite (51.6–100%, mean 78.3% mmf basis). The volatile matter (from 38.5% to 70.0%, d.a.f.) and vitrinite reflectance (Rom from 0.37% to 0.68%) characterize these coals, as per German (DIN) and North American classification, approximately as sub-bituminous ‘C' to high volatile ‘C' bituminous. The occurrence of teleutospore (single, double and triple celled) suggests that these coals have originated from a characteristic Tertiary flora. The maceral and microlithotype composition in the coal petrography-based depositional models suggest that the coals of Garo Hills were formed in reed to open water swamps in telmatic to limnic conditions. The coals of Khasi Hills were dominated by forest swamps and telmatic to limno-telmatic conditions. In addition, the occurrence of large-size resins suggests prolific growth of conifers in the swamps.     

生物硅早期成岩作用研究进展

硅质浮游生物是海洋初级生产力的主要提供者,其死亡后所产生的硅质残骸(生物硅)向海底的传输,是保持海洋硅循环动态平衡的重要环节。由于海洋沉积物中的硅质微体生物化石记录了古海洋初级生产力的变化及其时空分布,因而生物硅也成为古环境重建的重要替代指标。本文对生物硅在水柱沉降和表层沉积物埋藏过程中所发生的早期成岩转变及其主要影响因素进行了综述,为全面了解最近几十年来该领域的研究进展提供参考。     

四川盆地南部花果山地区嘉陵江组储层特征与成岩作用

在对四川盆地南部嘉陵江组沉积背景认识的基础上,通过大量岩心观察、薄片鉴定、扫描电镜观察,结合孔隙度、渗透率分析测试结果,对泸州古隆起花果山地区嘉陵江组主要储集层段的储层特征及成岩作用进行研究。结果表明:(1)花果山地区嘉陵江组顶底界面清楚,主要产层为嘉一和嘉二段,储集层岩性为粉晶含泥质粒屑白云岩及亮晶粒屑灰岩、细粉晶灰岩,孔隙类型以晶间(溶)孔为主,总体以低孔低渗的Ⅲ类储层为主,储集空间类型主要为裂缝-孔隙型;(2)按成岩作用是否形成孔、缝等储集空间和是否对油气的生、储、运有贡献,将成岩作用划分为建设性成岩作用、破坏性成岩作用和保持性成岩作用,并对孔隙成因做出分析,并找出岩石学证据;(3)准同生和表生阶段的大气淡水作用是形成储层的基础,白云石化作用和埋藏溶蚀对孔隙的发育具有重要的建设性作用,古隆起时期的构造破裂作用能够为溶蚀性流体提供运移通道,有利于溶蚀作用的进行;(4)综合考虑不同成岩作用先后次序,以及次生矿物之间的切割、伴生以及交代关系,对成岩演化史和孔隙演化史进行了恢复。     

Seagrass development in terrigenous-influenced inner ramp settings during the middle Eocene (Urbasa–Andia Plateau,Western Pyrenees,North Spain)

Since their first occurrence in the late Cretaceous, seagrasses have played a major role in carbonate production and sedimentation across shallow-water and nearshore environments, sustaining a prolific carbonate factory and contributing to sediment accumulation through the combination of baffling and trapping effects. Most reported Palaeogene seagrass occurrences developed in oligo?mesotrophic shallow warm-water habitats and are characterized by distinct associations of small and larger benthic foraminifers adapted to low terrigenous influence. This study describes a number of seagrass episodes interbedded in the Bartonian (middle Eocene) of San Fausto–Lazkua area (Navarra region, North Spain), within a nearshore to inner-ramp succession that, in spite of being deposited under general transgressive conditions, was highly influenced by terrigenous supply from the adjacent land. Up to twelve different seagrass bed intervals occur interbedded in a cyclical manner with high-energy nearshore siliciclastics and inner ramp bioclastic carbonates rich in mesophotic?oligophotic foraminifers and heterozoan biota (red algae, echinoderms, bryozoans). Seagrass deposits exhibit typical unsorted textures, abundant bioturbation and moderate to high terrigenous content, and comprise a characteristic skeletal association of epiphytic foraminifers, red algae and, most particularly, of abundant encrusting acervulinids, commonly with distinct hooked and tubular growth forms. This abundance of suspension-feeders relative to autotrophs and mixotrophs may be indicative of temperate waters, although the taxonomic diversity of the foraminiferal assemblages in both seagrass and non-seagrass embedding deposits supports the interpretation of shallow, warm-water conditions. The studied seagrass deposits provide evidence that high siliciclastic supply and associated nutrient input may determine the occurrence of temperate-like seagrass deposits in warm-water settings, analogous to extensive heterozoan carbonate production in modern shallow-tropical environments. Thus, the identification and correct interpretation of past seagrass-vegetated environments are crucial for reconstructing palaeoecological conditions in ancient shallow-marine environments. Therefore, in comparison with carbonate-dominated environments, the mixed terrigenous?carbonate seagrass deposits are volumetrically less important, presenting a more irregular, patchy distribution, and a skeletal assemblage dominated by heterotrophs, regardless of the water temperature.     

藏南冈底斯带中段始新世岩浆作用的厘定及其大地构造意义

本文对藏南冈底斯带中段的花岗岩类和角闪辉长岩进行了锆石U-Pb年代学和全岩地球化学分析,据此阐明了岩体的形成机制与演化过程,并探讨了成岩时的大地构造背景。分析结果显示,研究区内花岗岩类和角闪辉长岩体的LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年结果为41~55Ma,为始新世早-中期岩浆活动的产物,代表了区内岩体的成岩年龄。在地球化学组成上,花岗岩类属于钙碱性到高钾钙碱性系列,均富集轻稀土(LREE)和大离子亲石元素(LILE)(Rb、Ba和K),强烈亏损Nb、Ta、P等高场强元素(HFSE),具有弧型岩浆岩的地球化学组成。此外,花岗岩类的铝饱和指数(A/CNK)小于1.1,属于准铝质到弱过铝质的I型花岗岩。角闪辉长岩为石榴橄榄岩部分熔融的产物,并在后期侵位的过程中遭受到了壳源物质的混染。综合分析表明,研究区内的岩体形成于初始碰撞向主碰撞的转化阶段。始新世早期(～50Ma)新特提斯洋板片的断离引起软流圈物质上涌,导致岩石圈地幔发生部分熔融形成基性岩浆,随后基性岩浆底侵至下地壳并诱发下地壳发生部分熔融形成花岗岩质岩浆,最后经过岩浆混合作用形成始新世早-中期冈底斯地区的花岗岩类。     

生物碎屑灰岩差异成岩及储集层特征:以伊拉克HF油田白垩系Mishirif组为例*

中东地区白垩系Mishirif组以生物碎屑灰岩为主,其形成于温暖潮湿的环境中。综合利用岩心、铸体薄片、全岩分析、常规物性及高压压汞等资料,以伊拉克HF油田Mishrif组为例,开展生物碎屑类型、分布特征、差异成岩及储集层特征等研究。Mishrif组灰岩中生物碎屑以底栖有孔虫、非固着类双壳类、厚壳蛤和棘皮动物为主,含少量苔藓动物、藻类与海绵动物,其含量、类型及大小对沉积环境有重要指示意义。沉积环境决定岩石组分与结构的差异,在此基础上成岩作用控制岩石的孔隙结构与物性特征。生物碎屑主要经历了不同程度海水环境的泥晶化和生物钻孔、大气淡水环境的溶蚀和胶结、埋藏环境的压实压溶和颗粒破裂作用。以底栖有孔虫和非固着类双壳类碎屑为主的低能沉积环境具有“弱溶蚀、强胶结、强压实”的成岩特征,主要发育微孔、晶间孔及粒内孔,孔喉分布呈偏细态细微喉单峰型,物性较差;以厚壳蛤和棘皮动物碎屑为主的高能沉积环境具有“强溶蚀、弱胶结”的成岩特征,主要发育铸模孔、粒间孔及粒间溶孔,孔喉分布呈偏粗态中粗喉极宽峰型,是Mishrif组最有利储集层。以HF油田Mishrif组为代表的白垩系生物碎屑灰岩在中东地区发育广泛,故上述成果对于该地区生物碎屑灰岩油气开发具有重要意义。     

湘西地区前寒武纪—寒武纪转折期碳酸盐—硅泥质沉积体系的截然转换：地层—沉积样式|形成机理及意义

前寒武纪—寒武纪转折期是地球历史演化的重要阶段之一,不仅纪录了后生动物的产生、灭绝以及加速分异的过程,同时也伴随着海洋地球化学明显的变化、长期全球性海洋缺氧等。为了更好地认识这一重要时期地球表层环境演变及动力机制,我们对湘西地区台地—盆地转换带不同沉积类型及空间变化进行了重点解剖,发现寒武纪最早期该地区在台—盆转换带上,碳酸盐岩与硅质岩地层呈现一种截然接触,显示硅岩的形成受张性同生断层控制; 该带内硅质岩成分、结构独特,主要有富管、孔丘状硅质岩、漏斗状/楔状硅质岩和脉状硅质岩体,为深部富硅热液流体沿（同生）断裂向上运移到海底喷流后沉淀（硅烟囱）而形成的一套硅质沉积。此带向盆地方向,主要发育层状硅质岩,反映热液活动衰减而海水影响增强。考虑到扬子北缘及南缘台—盆转换带的硅质岩广泛分布,因此,热液活动很有可能沿着台地边缘发育,规模巨大。在这种情况下,大量热液来源的富金属和非金属元素的还原性流体和温室气体进入海洋或大气,加速气候变暖以及海洋缺氧和富营养化。热液活动后期,由于地壳热力衰减、盆地沉降导致大规模海平面上升,深部富营养盐随上升洋流被输送至浅部,促使生物产率得到极大地提高,进而形成牛蹄塘组富有机质黑色岩系沉积。     

Sedimentation, depositional environment and diagenesis of Eocene biosiliceous deposits in Gafsa basin (southern Tunisia)

The sedimentary rocks of the Metlaoui Formation in the Gafsa basin (southern Tunisia), which may be grouped in three units: the basal (Thèlja), middle (Chouabine) and upper unit (Kef Eddour), provide a record of preserved sedimentary, authigenic and biological processes. This paper presents the findings of sedimentological investigations of the biosiliceous deposits of the middle unit. This unit contains either well-preserved (Opal-A) or diagenetically altered (Opal-CT, clinoptilolite, quartz and even clays) diatom frustules. Such diagenetic changes are commonly described in marine and lacustrine biosiliceous deposits. The fossil content of theses diatomaceous layers implies shallow-marine conditions.The opal-rich sediments, and the associated facies record the transgressive transitions associated with high organic productivity, probably enhanced by seasonal input of nutrients, and high sea level stands, and a close association with stratified water column conditions. The formation of bedded diatomaceous sediments is known to require either high organic productivity or anoxic conditions in bottom/intermediate water, and eventually both processes. The initial organic content of the biogenic deposits was impoverished in early stages of sedimentation and diagenesis. A large part of the organic matter could have been destroyed during early diagenetic processes and from further oxidation in outcrops.     

Paleoenvironmental setting and description of an estuarine oyster reef in the Eocene of Patagonia,southern Argentina

A middle Eocene Crassostrea sp. reef near Río Turbio, southwestern Patagonia (Argentina), represents the earliest record of an oyster reef associated with estuarine facies in the southern hemisphere, and also one of the few known worldwide occurring in Paleogene rocks. The reef grew in an outer estuary environment subject to periodic changes in salinity and may have reached a maturing phase. The Río Turbio reef – by its dimensions, geometry, and substrate lithology– would have been located in a tidal channel convergence area. This reef provides new evidence suggesting that estuaries served as refuges for Crassostrea populations allowing them to disperse into fully marine environments many times throughout the Cenozoic.