A review of Lower and Middle Palaeozoic biostratigraphy in west peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand in its context within the Sibumasu Terrane

Fossils from the Cambrian to Devonian rocks of southern Thailand, the Langkawi Islands, mainland Kedah, Perlis, north Perak and central West Peninsular Malaysia are listed and reviewed, and their stratigraphy and correlation reassessed. The hitherto anomalous record of the trilobite Dalmanitina from Malaysia is reviewed and found to be of latest Ordovician (Hirnantian) age, rather than Lower Silurian age as previously reported, and is considered a probable synonym of the widespread Mucronaspis mucronata. A new stratigraphical nomenclature is erected for part of the Langkawi, mainland Kedah and Perlis area successions, in which the term Setul Limestone (which stretched from the Ordovician to the Devonian) is abandoned and replaced by the Middle Ordovician Kaki Bukit Limestone, the late Ordovician and early Silurian Tanjong Dendang Formation, the Silurian Mempelam Limestone, and the early Devonian Timah Tasoh Formation, all underlying the paraconformity with the late Devonian Langgun Red Beds. There was a single depositional basin in the generally shallow-water and cratonic areas of southern Thailand, Langkawi, and mainland Kedah and Perlis, in contrast to the deeper-water basin of north Perak. Only Silurian rocks are dated with certainty within another basin in central West Malaysia, near Kuala Lumpur, which were also cratonic and shallow-water, although to the east in west Pahang there are basal Devonian deeper-water sediments with graptolites. The area is reviewed in its position within the Sibumasu Terrane, which, in the Palaeozoic, also included central and northern Thailand, Burma (Myanmar) and southwest China (part of Yunnan Province).     

Quartzite development in early Palaeozoic nearshore marine environments

Quartzites are especially characteristic of Proterozoic and Cambro‐Ordovician shallow marine strata, whereas equivalent age fluvial deposits are commonly arkosic. The absence of land vegetation in the pre‐Silurian influenced weathering processes and styles of fluvial deposition. It may also have had an impact on shallow marine sedimentation. Two field studies from the English Channel region are presented to investigate the processes leading to quartzite formation. On Alderney, nearshore marine and fluvial facies occur interbedded on a metre scale and are interpreted to represent deposition on the lower reaches of an alluvial plain, and in beach and upper shoreface environments. The marine and fluvial sandstones display marked differences in textural and mineralogical maturity, pointing to a process of sediment maturation by the destruction of feldspar and labile grains at the shoreline. At Erquy, fully mature, marine quartzites occur bounded above and below by alluvial deposits via sharp or erosional surfaces, and are interpreted to represent high energy, storm and tidally influenced lower shoreface and inner shelf deposits. A model for quartzite development is proposed where, under a cool climate, frequent storms in un‐vegetated, tectonically rejuvenated uplands provided an abundance of arkosic sand to fluvial basins and clastic shorelines. The model proposes that the marine basins were subject to high wave energies, frequent storm events and tidal currents. These were conditions conducive to transforming arkosic sand to quartz‐rich sand by the attrition of feldspar at the shoreline and in the shallow marine environment. On sediment burial, further feldspar destruction occurred during diagenesis. The proposed model highlights the potential for a step change in sediment maturity to occur at the shoreline in early Palaeozoic depositional systems tracts.     

从弧后盆地到前陆盆地——北祁连造山带奥陶纪—泥盆纪的沉积盆地与构造演化

北祁连加里东期造山带是在新元古代Rodinia联合大陆(Pangea-850)基础上裂解,经由寒武纪裂谷盆地、奥陶纪初期成熟洋盆、奥陶纪中晚期北祁连活动大陆边缘、志留纪—早、中泥盆世碰撞造山而形成的。奥陶纪中、晚期,北祁连、走廊地区中、上奥陶统发育洋壳-岛弧-弧后火山岩,形成典型的沟-弧-盆体系的沉积。志留纪—早、中泥盆世是北祁连-走廊沉积盆地的转换时期。除天祝、古浪、景泰及肃南等局部地区发育下志留统钙碱性系列火山岩以外,全区志留系均以碎屑岩沉积为主。志留系底部多见一套砾岩层。下—中志留统为典型复理石相的浊流沉积。上志留统变为滨浅海相磨拉石沉积。早、中泥盆世雪山群为典型的陆相粗碎屑磨拉石沉积。从空间分布上看,志留系—泥盆系在走廊—北祁连地区也有自北向南厚度加大、粒度变粗的特征,古流以由南向北、来自造山带的古流为特征。北祁连-河西走廊奥陶纪弧后盆地火山岩—志留系复理石-海相磨拉石—中、下泥盆统陆相磨拉石的充填序列以及空间分布特点,反映为典型的弧后盆地向前陆盆地转化的沉积序列。     

兴蒙造山带中与古亚洲洋演化有关的成矿系统初步研究

古亚洲洋演化过程中在兴蒙造山带中形成了大量金属矿床。早古生代早期,古亚洲洋向北俯冲,形成了奥陶纪多宝山-铜山斑岩Cu-Au成矿系统;早古生代晚期,古亚洲洋向南俯冲并形成了晚奥陶世白乃庙Cu-Mo-Au成矿系统和志留纪别鲁乌图海底喷流块状硫化物成矿系统。古亚洲洋在晚古生代早期向北俯冲,形成了晚泥盆世欧玉陶勒盖Cu-Au成矿系统。基本同时,古亚洲洋向南俯冲,形成了晚泥盆世哈达门沟Mo成矿系统。早石炭世,研究区构造体制从岛弧环境逐渐转变为陆内伸展环境,并在此过程中形成了豆荚状铬铁矿成矿系统和小型斑岩Mo-Cu成矿系统。     

Metallogeny and tectonic development of the Tasman Fold Belt System in New South Wales

The northwestern corner of New South Wales consists of the paratectonic Late Proterozoic to Early Cambrian Adelaide Fold Belt and older rocks, which represent basement inliers in this fold belt. The rest of the state is built by the composite Late Proterozoic to Triassic Tasman Fold Belt System or Tasmanides.In New South Wales the Tasman Fold Belt System includes three fold belts: (1) the Late Proterozoic to Early Palaeozoic Kanmantoo Fold Belt; (2) the Early to Middle Palaeozoic Lachlan Fold Belt; and (3) the Early Palaeozoic to Triassic New England Fold Belt. The Late Palaeozoic to Triassic Sydney—Bowen Basin represents the foredeep of the New England Fold Belt.The Tasmanides developed in an active plate margin setting through the interaction of East Gondwanaland with the Ur-(Precambrian) and Palaeo-Pacific plates. The Tasmanides are characterized by a polyphase terrane accretion history: during the Late Proterozoic to Triassic the Tasmanides experienced three major episodes of terrane dispersal (Late Proterozoic—Cambrian, Silurian—Devonian, and Late Carboniferous—Permian) and six terrane accretionary events (Cambrian—Ordovician, Late Ordovician—Early Silurian, Middle Devonian, Carboniferous, Middle-Late Permian, and Triassic). The individual fold belts resulted from one or more accretionary events.The Kanmantoo Fold Belt has a very restricted range of mineralization and is characterized by stratabound copper deposits, whereas the Lachlan and New England Fold Belts have a great variety of metallogenic environments associated with both accretionary and dispersive tectonic episodes.The earliest deposits in the Lachlan Fold Belt are stratabound Cu and Mn deposits of Cambro-Ordovician age. In the Ordovician Cu deposits were formed in a volcanic are. In the Silurian porphyry Cu---Au deposits were formed during the late stages of development of the same volcanic are. Post-accretionary porphyry Cu---Au deposits were emplaced in the Early Devonian on the sites of the accreted volcanic arc. In the Middle to Late Silurian and Early Devonian a large number of base metal deposits originated as a result of rifting and felsic volcanism. In the Silurian and Early Devonian numerous Sn---W, Mo and base metal—Au granitoid related deposits were formed. A younger group of Mo---W and Sn deposits resulted from Early—Middle Carboniferous granitic plutonism in the eastern part of the Lachlan Fold Belt. In the Middle Devonian epithermal Au was associated with rifting and bimodal volcanism in the extreme eastern part of the Lachlan Fold Belt.In the New England Fold Belt pre-accretionary deposits comprise stratabound Cu and Mn deposits (pre-Early Devonian): stratabound Cu and Mn and ?exhalite Au deposits (Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous); and stratabound Cu, exhalite Au, and quartz—magnetite (?Late Carboniferous). S-type magmatism in the Late Carboniferous—Early Permian was responsible for vein Sn and possibly Au---As---Ag---Sb deposits. Volcanogenic base metals, when compared with the Lachlan Fold Belt, are only poorly represented, and were formed in the Early Permian. The metallogenesis of the New England Fold Belt is dominated by granitoid-related mineralization of Middle Permian to Triassic age, including Sn---W, Mo---W, and Au---Ag---As Sb deposits. Also in the Middle Permian epithermal Au---Ag mineralization was developed. During the above period of post-orogenic magmatism sizeable metahydrothermal Sb---Au(---W) and Au deposits were emplaced in major fracture and shear zones in central and eastern New England. The occurrence of antimony provides an additional distinguishing factor between the New England and Lachlan Fold Belts. In the New England Fold Belt antimony deposits are abundant whereas they are rare in the Lachlan Fold Belt. This may suggest fundamental crustal differences.     

川东北前陆盆地上三叠统沉积相及沉积演化

在对川东北前陆盆地上三叠统须家河组露头剖面野外实测和钻井等资料综合研究的基础上,对该区上三叠统须家河组层序及沉积相类型、沉积特征进行了详细的研究。结果表明:研究区内主要发育冲积扇、辫状河、曲流河、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、曲流河三角洲、湖泊、海相三角洲等八种主要的沉积相类型。古地理演化经历了由海相环境—海陆过渡相环境—陆相环境的转变。反映了川东北前陆盆地晚三叠世须家河期盆-山耦合过程及其沉积响应。须一段(即小塘子期)发育时期,受印支期构造运动的影响,本区大部分隆升成陆,仅在研究区北西部广元、剑阁等地发育海相三角洲相沉积。须二段发育时期,米仓山-大巴山构造山系的逆冲推覆构造作用较为强烈,川东北前陆盆地坳陷幅度加大,沉积物供给充分,沿米仓山-大巴山前缘地带主要发育辫状河三角洲沉积,而盆地西南部主要发育浅湖沉积。在须三段发育时期,米仓山-大巴山构造山系构造活动逐渐减弱,处于低幅稳定隆升状态,碎屑物供给量减少,沿米仓山-大巴山前缘地带主要发育辫状河三角洲沉积;从盆地前缘地带向中心地带则主要发育浅湖沉积。须四-须六段发育时期,米仓山-大巴山开始进入强烈逆冲推覆和构造隆升阶段,川东北前陆盆地坳陷幅度急剧加大,碎屑物供给量骤然增多,从盆地前缘地带向中心地带主要发育冲积扇-扇三角洲-辫状河三角洲、曲流河、曲流河三角洲相到浅湖相沉积。     

加里东运动构造古地理及滇黔桂盆地的形成--兼论滇黔桂盆地深层油气勘探潜力

中国南方的滇黔桂地区,早古生代与晚古生代之交曾经发生过较为强烈的加里东运动,包括三个幕:寒武纪末期的郁南运动,中、奥陶世末期的都匀运动以及志留纪末期的广西运动;奥陶系与志留系的残留不全和晚奥陶世至志留纪大片古陆———滇黔桂古陆的展布是加里东运动的重要体现。志留纪末期的广西运动之后,在大致相当于早古生代“滇黔桂古陆”分布的地区形成一个特殊的“滇黔桂盆地”,而且在滇黔桂盆地的主体部位常常是泥盆系直接覆盖在寒武系之上。寒武系,特别是下寒武统,由于寒武纪初期的快速海侵作用而在研究区域普遍发育烃源岩系;研究区域的泥盆系,特别是中泥盆统,在台间盆地中发育优质烃源岩。因此,巨大的构造古地理演变和海陆变迁,形成了一个晚古生代的泥盆系优质烃源岩与早古生代的下寒武统优质烃源岩的空间叠合区域,该叠合区域的加里东运动不整合面上、下的储集体即成为该地区的深层油气勘探对象,预示着滇黔桂盆地的深层存在较大的油气勘探潜力。     

Types of massive sulphide deposits in the Urals

Massive sulphide deposits in the Urals are found within volcanic and volcanic-sedimentary sequences of Ordovician to Middle Devonian ages. Four types of economic sulphide deposits have been recognized: Cyprus, Besshi, Urals and Baimak. The Cyprus-type copper sulphide deposits are hosted by mafic volcanites that occur in the basal parts of Palaeozoic volcanic sequences. The Besshi-type copper-zinc deposits are located within clastic sedimentary rocks intercalated with basalts and andesites. Zinc-copper deposits of the Urals-type are hosted by bimodal rhyolite-basalt assemblages, which occur at a higher stratigraphic level than those of Cyprus- and Besshi-types. The Baimak-type zinc-copper-barite deposits are associated with intrusive quartz porphyries which occur in the upper parts of bimodal volcanic successions. In addition there are some sulphide deposits of zinc-lead-barite and zinc-copper composition hosted by Ordovician terrigenous sequences which occur within depressions in Precambrian blocks. These types of sulphide deposits have been formed at various stages of divergence and convergence of the Earth's crust during the orogenic history of the Urals. Received: 27 June 1997 / Accepted: 14 May 1998     

塔里木盆地塔中隆起构造演化与油气关系

笔者结合塔里木盆地形成的构造背景对塔中隆起的主要构造演化过程进行了研究，并具体分析了各构造演化阶段与志留系油气的关系。研究表明，塔中隆起源于早古生代拉张背景下的正断层，寒武-奥陶纪为其烃源岩形成的重要时期；早奥陶世末-晚奥陶世末的构造反转是塔中隆起的主要形成期，同时也为志留系的形成及复合圈闭提供了古地理背景；泥盆纪末塔中鼻状隆起基本定型，古油藏遭受破坏，形成了沥青砂岩；早二叠世晚期的构造变形使古油藏遭受进一步的破坏；二叠纪后构造变动主要以调节为主。伴随整个构造的演化，志留系的油气聚集也是分期次、不同规模的进行。     

River functioning prior to the rise of land plants: A uniformitarian outlook

The study of geomorphic processes in barren landscapes, Precambrian and modern, has wide implications for planetary science. A long‐held status quo has been that, prior to the Palaeozoic evolution of vegetation, fluvial channels would have been invariably shallow, wide, braided in planform and flashier in discharge than vegetated ones. These assumptions are challenged through a threefold analysis of channel morphometry, discharge regimes and planform style. Measurements of modern and Proterozoic channel sections reveal overlapping morphometric ranges irrespective of climate and vegetation, pointing to shared scalar properties. Discharge regimes and planform styles inferred from Proterozoic records are akin to the spectrum observed in modern systems. Current criteria employed to identify meandering planforms are biased towards mud‐prone systems, and fail to address the sand‐rich nature of prevegetation alluvium. Vegetation forcing on river functioning cannot be entirely downplayed, although available data are construed towards an uniformitarian appraisal of pre‐Silurian fluvial dynamics.     

广西加里东运动构造古地理问题

广西历来被认为是我国加里东运动的典型地区,志留纪末的造山运动使早泥盆世莲花山组砾岩不整合于下伏地层之上。但是,实际上莲花山组只分布于广西中部的大明山－大瑶山地区和东北部扬子地块边缘,并且,它不具备同造山期磨拉石沉积特征,而是古陆剥蚀面上新海侵序列底部的滨海相沉积。广西西部的晚古生代台地相区,泥盆系底部为泥岩或粉砂岩,超覆于寒武系台地相沉积层之上。滇东南和越南北部邻区情况类似。推测在早古生代时它们属于一个地块,可称为“桂滇－北越地块”。早奥陶世云开地块和桂滇－北越地块、扬子地块的会聚和挤压,形成了大明山－大瑶山地体寒武系东西向的线形褶皱带。这是广西加里东运动的主幕。晚奥陶世-早志留世华夏地块和扬子地块的碰撞带在广西仅限于它的东北部,表现为震旦系-下志留统近南北向的线形褶皱带。志留纪末并无造山运动的证据。早泥盆世开始,可能由于地幔柱活动而使桂滇－北越地块裂解,形成北越地块、靖西台地和其他更小的块体。     

Geochemistry of Early–Middle Palaeozoic basalts in the Hodgkinson Province: a key to tectono-magmatic evolution of the Tasman Fold Belt System in northeastern Queensland, Australia

The Palaeozoic Hodgkinson Province in northeastern Queensland, Australia, is host to Late Ordovician to Devonian rock assemblages that contain tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalts. These basalts occur as massive fault-bounded units interspersed with marine sedimentary rocks and limestones that are metamorphosed to lower greenschist facies in the Ordovician Mulgrave, Silurian Chillagoe and Devonian Hodgkinson formations, respectively. The petrogenetic and Sm–Nd isotope characteristics of these mafic volcanic rocks were investigated to constrain the tectonic setting in which they erupted. Major, trace and rare earth element analyses were carried out on samples from these formations and intrusive dolerites. The mafic rocks can be classified as basalts and basaltic andesites with distinct MORB characteristics. Furthermore, the basalts are characterized by a slight to moderate enrichment in Th and concomitant depletion in Nb, both of which become less pronounced with basalt evolution through time. These features are consistent with decreasing volcanic arc affinity of Silurian and Devonian MORB-type basalts in the Hodgkinson Province. Sm–Nd isotope characteristics of these basalts indicate a change in source region from dominantly sub-continental lithospheric mantle in the Silurian to asthenospheric input in the Devonian. Collectively, the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the Hodgkinson Province basalts are interpreted to reflect deposition in an evolving back-arc basin setting. The onset of basin extension was initiated in the Silurian. Accelerated basin subsidence occurred throughout the Devonian and was halted by basin inversion in the Late Devonian. Basin evolution was controlled by an eastward stepping subduction zone outboard of the Australian Craton.     

Evolution of geochemistry and depositional settings of Early Palaeozoic siliciclastics of the Barrandian (Teplá-Barrandian Unit,Bohemian Massif,Czech Republic)

Cambrian and Ordovician-Middle Devonian sequences of two successive Early Palaeozoic basins of the Barrandian unconformably overlie Cadomian basement in the Bohemian Massif NW interior (Teplá-Barrandian unit) which is the easternmost peri-Gondwanan remnant within the Variscides. Correlation of stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Early Palaeozoic siliciclastic rocks elucidated sediment provenances. Sandstones of the Middle Cambrian Píbram-Jince Basin were derived from a Cadomian Neoproterozoic island arc. The source area of the Ordovician shallow-marine siliciclastics of the successor Prague Basin is a dissected Cadomian orogen. Late Cambrian acid volcanics of the Barrandian and Cambrian (meta)granitoids emplaced in the W part of the Teplá-Barrandian Cadomian basement are also discernible in these sediments. Old sedimentary component increased during the Ordovician. Early Llandovery siliciclastic rocks show characteristics of an abruptly weakened supply of terrigenous material and an elevated proportion of synsedimentary basic volcanics as a result of Silurian transgression. Emsian siliciclastics (intercalated in the Late Silurian to Early Devonian limestone suite) presumably comprise an addition of coeval basic/ultrabasic volcaniclastics. Middle Devonian flysch-like siliciclastics indicate reappearance of Cadomian source near the Barrandian during early Variscan convergences of Armorican microplates that preceeded accretion of the Teplá-Barrandian unit within the Bohemian Massif terrane mosaic.Dr. Patoka deceased in July 2004.     

阿尔及利亚B区块上三叠统高分辨率层序及储层特征

阿尔及利亚B区块位于Oued Mya盆地东部,自奥陶纪以后该盆地多次发生隆升剥蚀,加里东运动造成志留纪和盆纪地层不同程度的缺失。海西期基底隆升,造成石炭纪和二叠纪地层的完全缺失,并在晚三叠世早期开始发育辫状河沉积。B区块晚三叠世沉积具有从早期的辫状河向中期的曲流河和晚期的盐湖演化特点,其过程较为复杂。在晚三叠世早中期发生强烈的火山喷发作用,在研究区内堆积了厚度巨大的火山岩,使研究砂体的时空展布和演化规律变得更为复杂。通过高分辨率层序分析,建立了B区块晚三叠世的等时地层格架,为恢复研究区等时条件下的古地理特征奠定了基础,并明确了层序对储层的控制规律,为该区进一步的油气勘探和开发提供了依据。     

Provenance and reconnaissance study of detrital zircons of the Palaeozoic Cape Supergroup in South Africa: revealing the interaction of the Kalahari and R��o de la Plata cratons

In order to facilitate the understanding of the geological evolution of the Kalahari Craton and its relation to South America, the provenance of the first large-scale cratonic cover sequence of the craton, namely the Ordovician to Carboniferous Cape Supergroup was studied through geochemical analyses of the siliciclastics, and age determinations of detrital zircon. The Cape Supergroup comprises mainly quartz-arenites and a Hirnantian tillite in the basal Table Mountain Group, subgreywackes and mudrocks in the overlying Bokkeveld Group, while siltstones, interbedded shales and quartz-arenites are typical for the Witteberg Group at the top of the Cape Supergroup. Palaeocurrent analyses indicate transport of sediment mainly from northerly directions, off the interior of the Kalahari Craton with subordinate transport from a westerly source in the southwestern part of the basin near Cape Town. Geochemical provenance data suggest mainly sources from passive to active continental margin settings. The reconnaissance study of detrital zircons reveals a major contribution of Mesoproterozoic sources throughout the basin, reflecting the dominance of the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Belt, situated immediately north of the preserved strata of Cape Supergroup, as a source with Archaean-aged zircons being extremely rare. We interpret the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Belt to have been a large morphological divide at the time of deposition of the Cape Supergroup that prevented input of detrital zircons from the interior early Archaean Kaapvaal cratonic block of the Kalahari Craton. Neoproterozoic and Cambrian zircons are abundant and reflect the basement geology of the outcrops of Cape strata. Exposures close to Cape Town must have received sediment from a cratonic fragment that was situated off the Kalahari Craton to the west and that has subsequently drifted away. This cratonic fragment predominantly supplied Meso- to Neoproterozoic, and Cambrian-aged zircon grains in addition to minor Silurian to Lower Devonian zircons and very rare Archaean (2.5?Ga) and late Palaeoproterozoic (1.8-2.0?Ga) ones. No Siluro-Devonian source has yet been identified on the Kalahari Craton, but there are indications for such a source in southern Patagonia. Palaeozoic successions in eastern Argentina carry a similar detrital zircon population to that found here, including evidence of a Silurian to Lower Devonian magmatic event. The Kalahari and Río de la Plata Cratons were thus in all likelihood in close proximity until at least the Carboniferous.     

From Flysch to Molasse——Sedimentary and Tectonic Evolution of Late Caledonian-Early Hercynian Foreland Basin in North Qilian Mountains

The Late Caledonian to Early Hercynian North Qilian orogenic belt in northwestern China is an elongate tectonic unit situated between the North China plate in the north and the Qaidam plate in the south. North Qiilan started in the latest Proterozoic to Cambrian as a rift basin an the southern mar-gin of North China, and evolved later to an archipelagic ocean and active continental margin during the Ordovician and a fardand basin from Silurian to the Early and Middle Devonian. The Early Silurian fly-sch and sulmmrine alluvial fan, the Middle to Late Silurian shallow marine to tidal flat deposits and the Early and Middle Devonian terrestrial.molasse are developed along the corridor Nansimn. The shallo-wing-upward succession from subabyssal flysch, shallow marine, tidal flat to terrestrial molasse and its gradually narrowed regional distribution demonstrate that the foreland basin experienced the transition from flysch stake to molasse stake during the Silurian and Devonian time.     

Fold interference patterns in the Late Palaeozoic Anti-Atlas belt of Morocco

We document two phases of folding within the central part of the Late Palaeozoic Anti‐Atlas chain of Morocco. A first generation of SW–NE folds involve a horizontal shortening of 10–20%, accommodated by polyharmonic buckle folding of contrasting wavelengths in Ordovician Jbel Bani quartzites and Devonian Jbel Rich carbonates. A second generation of folds with similar style and wavelengths in an E–W direction lead to complex interference patterns. Dome and basins are developed within the Jbel Rich and within Lower Cambrian dolomites. Both folding phases are related to thick‐skinned uplift of Precambrian basement in a Laramide style. In contrast to the typical Rocky Mountain foreland style, however, cover deformation in the Anti‐Atlas is mostly decoupled from the undying basement along thick incompetent horizons such as the Lower Cambrian Lie‐de‐Vin and Silurian shales.     

Lower Palaeozoic unconformities in an intracratonic platform setting: glacial erosion versus tectonics in the eastern Murzuq Basin (southern Libya)

The stratigraphic record of the eastern Murzuq Basin has been importantly influenced by deformation resulting in angular and/or deeply erosional unconformities, though the overall context is intracratonic. Major transgressive events and the Ordovician glaciation are nevertheless documented, allowing the delineation of tectonic-, eustasy- or climate-driven unconformities. Lower Palaeozoic key events and related unconformities that characterize the North Gondwana platform have therefore a signature in the eastern Murzuq Basin. The basement/cover unconformity, also known as the infra-Tassilian surface, truncates all the deformed and metamorphosed Lower Cambrian and older rocks. Above is a ?Middle Cambrian to Lower Ordovician megasequence (Murizidié and Hasawnah Fms.), which is in turn truncated by an intra-Ordovician, angular unconformity. This megasequence is unconformably overlain by a Middle Ordovician (Hawaz Fm.) to Silurian (Tanzzuft and Akakus Fms) megasequence, which includes the Upper Ordovician glaciogenic unit (Mamuniyat Fm.), bounded at the base by a polygenic glacial erosion surface showing corrugated glacial lineations, tillites, and glaciotectonic structures. The Middle Ordovician to Silurian megasequence is finally truncated by a base-Devonian, angular unconformity overlain by fluvial sandstones. Regarding the possibility that those fluvial deposits may be as younger as Late Devonian in the eastern Murzuq Basin based on palaeoflora, the so-called Caledonian unconformity might be here a much younger (mid-Eifelian?) surface, and the occurrence of the Lower Devonian “Tadrart Fm.” is questioned. The Upper Ordovician glacial erosion surface, which is sometimes referred to as the Taconic unconformity, usually truncates Middle Ordovician strata in the Murzuq Basin but reaches significantly deeper stratigraphic levels in places that have been previously involved in the intra-Ordovician deformation event. In the Murizidié (southeastern Murzuq Basin), the infra-Tassilian surface, the intra-Ordovician unconformity, and the Upper Ordovician glacial erosion surface amalgamate together. Here, an estimate of the glacial erosion depth cannot be derived from the stratigraphic hiatus beneath the glacial incision, the main part of which relate to the intra-Ordovician tectonic event. The Upper Ordovician climate-related glacial erosion surface is not a valid unconformity for a sequence hierarchy framework of the Lower Palaeozoic, although it presents most of the physical attributes of tectonic-driven unconformities.