Origin and geochemical evolution from ferrallitized clays to karst bauxite: An example from the Lower Cretaceous of NE Spain

Four outcrops of Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) karst bauxites located in Teruel (NE Spain) were analysed. The deposits show a heterogeneous-chaotic lithostructure consisting of pisolitic bauxite blocks embedded in lateritic red clays filling karst cavities. The research has focused on the geochemical study of major, minor, and trace elements (including some critical to industry) of both the bauxites and clays. The objective was to investigate the bauxite precursor material and to characterize the system’s geochemical evolution. Geochemical analyses were carried out by inductively-coupled plasma optical emission and mass spectroscopy. An absolute weathering index has been calculated to estimate element mobility, assuming Ti as an immobile element and the Upper Continental Crust (UCC) as parent material. Further, selected samples were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The data indicate that both the bauxites and red clays originated by intense chemical weathering from more mafic argillaceous sediments than the UCC. Ongoing weathering caused the bauxitization of the upper parts of the original profile, preventing the lower parts from being bauxitized, thus producing the ferrallitized clays underlying the pisolitic bauxites. Subsequent karst reactivation gave rise to the current lithostructure. Ferrallitization is related to Fe, Sc, and V enrichment. On the other hand, although bauxites are relatively enriched in some elements compared to clays, the more intense chemical weathering associated with bauxitization led to chemical homogenization and widespread element depletion. During the bauxitization, Al, Ti, Zr, Cr, and probably Hf and the critical element Nb behaved as more immobile elements in the system. Bauxitization also enhanced homogenization and depletion of the REE, which is more pronounced for the LREE. HREE trends seem to be partly related to the concentration of Ti oxides in the bauxites, whereas P-bearing phases, more frequent in the clays, control the LREE. Subsequent to bauxitization, partial kaolinization of the bauxite took place related to the circulation of acid solutions that also caused the karst reactivation. These late processes caused some Al depletion in the bauxites and enhanced Fe loss together with V and, to a lesser extent, Ge.     

A new tribe of Diamesinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia

A new tribe of Diamesinae, Eugenodiamesini tr. nov. (Diptera: Chironomidae), is described based on a single pupa from Khutel Khara (lower part of the Tsagan Tsab Formation, Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia). The most distinctive characters of the new taxon are numerous multibranched lateral setae on tubercles along entire margins of abdominal segments II–VIII, and a unique setation of the anal lobes, with two multibranched anal macrosetae on each side and one simple near the apex. The fossil is the oldest known member of Diamesinae.     

Turtles from the Lower Cretaceous of the Cameros Basin (Iberian Range, Spain)

Knowledge of the turtle fauna from the Lower Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula has been very limited until now. There are several fossil sites where Lower Cretaceous associations of continental vertebrates have been found. Although turtles have been identified in some of them, most of these specimens have not been studied, so the diversity is unknown. Among all these findings, the turtles from the Cameros Basin are considered particularly relevant, both in their abundance and diversity. Their study has allowed the identification of several taxa. At least one representative of Solemydidae and three taxa of Eucryptodira are recognized. This study establishes kinship and biogeographic relationships between the taxa in Cameros with those found in other Spanish fossil sites and with those of other European regions.     

First fossil insect from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber in Syria (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Lebanoculicoides bloudani a new species of Ceratopogonidae from the Lower Cretaceous ambers of Syria and Lebanon is studied. The new species is characterized, described, illustrated, and compared with the other fossil taxa of the same extinct genus. A key to the species of the genus Lebanoculioides is proposed.     

New Cretaceous Scoliidae (Vespida=Hymenoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain and Brazil

A new genus, Cretaproscolia, and three new species of scoliid wasps, Archaeoscolia hispanica, Cretoscolia montsecana and Cretaproscolia josai, are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain and Brazil. The species representing the new genus is attributed to the plesiomorphic extant subfamily Proscoliinae, while the two other new species are assigned to two previously described genera in the extinct, archaic subfamily Archaeoscoliinae. The Brazilian species is the first Mesozoic scoliidid to have been described from the New World.     

Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) biostratigraphy and cephalopods from north central Tunisia

Thick Aptian deposits in north central Tunisia comprise hemipelagic lower Aptian, reflecting the sea-level rise of OAE 1a, and an upper Aptian shallow marine environment characterized by the establishment of a carbonate platform facies. Carbon stable isotope data permit recognition of the OAE 1a event in the Djebel Serdj section. Cephalopods are rare throughout these successions, but occurrences are sufficient to date the facies changes and the position of the OAE1a event. Ammonite genera include lower Aptian Deshayesites, Dufrenoyia, Pseudohaploceras, Toxoceratoides and ?Ancyloceras; and upper Aptian Zuercherella, Riedelites and Parahoplites. Correlation of carbon isotope data with those of other Tethyan sections is undertaken together with the integration of planktonic foraminiferal data.     

The Lower Albian (Lower Cretaceous) Monk's Bay Sandstone Formation (formerly the Carstone) of the Isle of Wight: Its distribution, litho- and biostratigraphy

The Monk's Bay Sandstone Formation (MBSF) is the new name for the Lower Albian ferruginous sandstone that was formerly known as the Carstone of the Isle of Wight. The new term was proposed to remove any confusion with the Carstone, of similar age and lithology, described from the separate Lower Cretaceous sedimentary basin of Eastern England. This paper formalises the nomenclatural change outlined in the Lower Cretaceous Framework Report, ratified by the Geological Society Stratigraphy Commission.The MBSF, representing a major mid-Albian transgressive event, is described from a series of boreholes drilled by the British Geological Survey across the Isle of Wight, and from additional coastal exposures, together with reinterpretations of sections described in earlier works.The age range of the MBSF is determined in relation to recent biostratigraphical schemes supported with new data from the previously unknown presence of foraminifera. Deposits, belonging to the Leymeriella regularis Subzone, were previously considered to be absent from the succession and represent the stratigraphical gap separating the formation from the underlying Sandrock Formation. However a first occurrence of tubular foraminifera resembling Hyperammina/‘Rhizammina cf dichotomata’ suggest that the oldest part of the formation in the northeast of the island may be of regularis Subzone age. This unconformity is correlated with the sequence boundary LG4 of Hesselbo and the presence of the Sonneratia kitchini Subzone at the base of the MBSF on the Isle of Wight suggests that this boundary should be placed at the lower of two candidate horizons within the successions of the Weald.The formation is restricted to the Isle of Wight but is coeval with similar coarse-grained sediments, e.g. the Carstone and ‘JunctionBeds’ to the north. The palaeogeography of the formation and the relationship with these similar deposits and the implications for the timing of mid-Albian structural events is briefly discussed. The identification of older Lower Greensand Group sediments beneath the MBSF in boreholes north of the Isle of Wight structure, together with new survey data indicating north-south orientated faulting affecting the early Cretaceous implies a tectonic element to the distribution the Lower Greensand Group sediments. Taken together these imply a complex interaction of tectonics and transgressive events throughout the Aptian and Albian over this structural high.     

New fossil mesosciophilids (Diptera: Nematocera) from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of western Liaoning,China

A new genus with two new species, Orentalphila gravia gen. et sp. nov. and O. caloa sp. nov., and three new species in two known genera, Sinosciophila angustia sp. nov., Sinosciophila seboa sp. nov. and Similsciophila undulata sp. nov., are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian Formation at Huangbanjigou, Beipiao City, western Liaoning, China. These new taxa, representing the first records of mesosciophilids from this locality, provide morphological information and diversity for Mesosciophilidae in the Early Cretaceous. An updated key to known genera of Mesosciophilidae is provided. In addition, according the generic diagnosis revised by Zhang, 2007, Mesoplecia antiqua Hao and Ren, 2009 should be transferred to Mesosciophila Rohdendorf, 1946.     

A new species of Leptotarsus (Diptera: Tipulidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil

Leptotarsus (sensu lato) lukashevichae sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on a single but very well preserved female specimen from the Crato Formation of Brazil (Aptian, ca. 112 Ma). Along with other Leptotarsus species recently described from Lower Cretaceous beds of Brazil, Spain, Russia and China, this new species is among the oldest known records of the genus Leptotarsus and the family Tipulidae.     

New genus and species of Cerophytidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of Baissa (Siberia)

One new genus and two new species of fossil Cerophytidae, Baissophytum convexus gen. et. sp. nov. and Baissophytum amplus sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Zaza Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Eravnensky (Bauntovsky) District, Buriatskay Autonomous Republic (Transbaikalia), Russia.     

New fossil species of the Venicoridae (Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous of Northeast China

Specimens of the Venicoridae (Heteroptera) occur in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in northeastern China. We describe a new genus and two new species Halonatusivena shii gen. et sp. nov. and Halonatusivena nervosus sp. nov. from this formation. The veins of the membrane are distinctive; the edges of veins are not simple but resemble an irregular stain, with a reduced vasiform structure previously unknown in the Heteroptera. Remarkably, the antennae of one of the specimens of Halonatusivena shii exhibit morphological abnormality. An identification key for the known species of the Venicoridae is provided.     

Archegocimicidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from the Purbeck Limestone Group (Lower Cretaceous: Berriasian) of southern England

Four new genera and five new species of Archegocimicidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of England: namely Mortalia martini gen. et sp. nov., Tyrion lannister gen. et sp. nov., T. cersei sp. nov., Stannis baratheon gen et sp. nov., Daenerys khaleesi gen. et sp. nov. A transitional position of the complex between Asian Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous entomofaunas is indicated by this new material.     

Pes shape variation in an ornithopod dinosaur trackway (Lower Cretaceous,NW Spain): New evidence of an antalgic gait in the fossil track record

Trackways can provide unique insight to animals locomotion through quantitative analysis of variation in track morphology. Long trackways additionally permit the study of trackmaker foot anatomy, providing more insight on limb kinematics. In this paper we have restudied the extensive tracksite at Barranco de La Canal-1 (Lower Cretaceous, La Rioja, NW Spain) focussing on a 25-m-long dinosaur (ornithopod) trackway that was noted by an earlier study (Casanovas et al., 1995; Pérez-Lorente, 2003) to display an irregular pace pattern. This asymmetric gait has been quantified and photogrammetric models undertaken for each track, thus revealing distinct differences between the right and the left tracks, particularly in the relative position of the lateral digits II–IV with respect to the central digit III. Given that the substrate at this site is homogenous, the consistent repetition of the collected morphological data suggests that differences recorded between the right and the left tracks can be linked to the foot anatomy, but more interestingly, to an injury or pathology on left digit II. We suggest that the abnormal condition registered in digit II impression of the left pes can be linked to the statistically significant limping behaviour of the trackmaker. Furthermore, the abnormal condition registered did not affect the dinosaur's speed.     

A new genus of Scoliidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of northeast China

A new genus and species of Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), Sinoproscolia yangshuwanziensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Inner Mongolia, China and attributed to the subfamily Proscoliinae. Some characteristics, including complete crossveins 1r-rs and 2r-m in the forewing, and a free section present in almost all longitudinal veins indicate a basal position of the new genus in Proscoliinae. The presence of vein 2A suggests its atavistic origin in Sinoproscolia gen. nov. rather than a true plesiomorphy.     

Charophyte biostratigraphy of the non-marine Lower Cretaceous in the Central Tunisian Atlas (North Africa): Palaeobiogeographic implications

The chronostratigraphic framework of the non-marine deposits of the Central Tunisian Lower Cretaceous (Kebar Formation) is reviewed from a biostratigraphic viewpoint. The outcrops located in the Jebel Kebar, Jebel Ksaïra and Jebel Koumine localities provided charophyte assemblages belonging to two biochronozones: Ascidiella cruciata-Pseudoglobator paucibracteatus (upper Barremian–lower Aptian) and Clavator grovesii lusitanicus (upper Aptian–lower Albian). Clavatoraceans from the upper Barremian–lower Aptian in the Tunisian Atlas are reported here for the first time. The assemblage consists of Atopochara trivolvis var. triquetra, Ascidiella iberica var. inflata, Globator maillardii var. trochiliscoides, Globator maillardii var. biutricularis, Echinochara peckii var. lazarii, Clavator harrisii var. harrisii and Clavator harrisii var. reyi. In addition, a new characean species, Mesochara magna nov. sp. Trabelsi and Martín-Closas, is described herein. The results show that the Kebar Formation is diachronous in Central Tunisia, with a more complete record to the north (Jebel Koumine) than in the type locality (Jebel Kebar). Barremian–Aptian diapiric activity is proposed as the factor that controls the diachronous nature of this formation.The late Barremian–early Aptian charophyte assemblages from the Kebar Formation display strong affinities with the contemporaneous floras of the European basins, thus suggesting that intense supraregional floristic exchanges occurred between the Tethyan islands scattered throughout what is now Western Europe and North Africa. The biogeographic distribution of these charophytes leads to the hypothesis that the peri-Tethyan Archipelago acted as an effective bridge for the intercontinental exchanges of these plants between Laurasia and Gondwana.     

The first fossil species of subfamily Piestinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of China

Two new Early Cretaceous fossil rove beetle species, Paleosiagonium brevelytratum n. gen. n. sp. and Paleosiagonium adaequatum n. gen. n. sp. are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. They are clearly placed in the extant Piestinae according to the following characters: body elongate and flat; anterior coxae small and globose; abdomen long and parallel-sided, with six visible sterna and one pair of paratergites on segments III–VII. This is the first report on the occurrence of the coleopteran subfamily Piestinae in the fossil record. The new discoveries indicate that Piestinae have originated at least by the Early Cretaceous, at about 125–120 Ma.     

The oldest representatives of the family Throscidae (Coleoptera: Elateriformia) from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber

Two new genera and two new species of fossil Throscidae: Potergosoma gratiosa gen. et sp. nov. and Rhomboaspis laticollis gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber and are compared with extant and extinct genera. The described amber inclusions are the oldest known representatives of the family Throscidae. Some hypotheses on the phylogeny of the family Throscidae and the position of it in the superfamily Elateroidea are discussed.     

Interacting tectonics,hydrogeology and karst processes in an intramontane basin: the Jiloca graben (NE Spain)

The Jiloca basin is a NNW–SSE trending, Neogene-Quaternary graben in NE Spain, bounded by normal faults with measurable hectometre-scale throws. Its overall trend truncates previous NW–SE folds. The sedimentary infilling includes Neogene and Quaternary deposits, exceeding 80 m in thickness. The stratigraphical and structural setting controls hydrogeology of the basin. Neogene marls constitute an aquiclude that separates a main Jurassic karstic, confined aquifer from a shallow, unconfined Plio-Quaternary aquifer. The Jurassic aquifer is laterally compartmented by impervious Upper Triassic anticline cores, though its piezometric surface usually lies 30–60 m higher than the Mesozoic-Neogene boundary. The geological, and specifically the hydrogeological features are not significantly compatible with a previously published hypothesis that considers the Jiloca depression as a polje (in which the final topography is the result of suballuvial karstic corrosion) for three reasons. First, the hypothetical corrosion front shows neither a specific relationship with the epiphreatic zone, nor control by the local presence of impervious Triassic rocks. Second, chemistry of groundwater at the underlying Jurassic aquifer would not allow limestone dissolution at rates necessary for producing the supposed erosion deepening of 300 m since the late Pliocene. Finally, no evidence of swallow holes or ponors has been found.     

Possible persistence of the morganucodontans in the Lower Cretaceous Purbeck Limestone Group (Dorset, England)

‘Triconodonts’ are relatively rare in the new Purbeck Limestone Group mammal fauna, especially in comparison with the finds made in the nineteenth century in the same beds. However, besides some remains of the already known Triconodontidae, a new possible morganucodontan of uncertain familial affinities, Purbeckodon batei gen. et sp. nov., has been discovered, extending considerably the chronological range of the order while constituting another testimony to the vitality and diversity of Mesozoic mammals.