A new varanoid squamate from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian–Aptian) of Burgos,Spain

A new anguimorph lizard from the late Barremian–Aptian of the Salas de los Infantes area (Cameros Basin, Iberian Peninsula) is described here as Arcanosaurus ibericus gen. et sp. nov. It corresponds to the first squamate remains from the Burgos Province. The unique combination of morphological and microanatomical characters enables us to erect a new genus and species that we tentatively assign to Varanoidea despite the strange seemingly absence on the axis of a posterior hypapophysis. The combination of both microanatomical and geological data suggests an essentially terrestrial mode of life. This discovery reveals itself particularly interesting concerning the evolutionary history of varanoids as this new Spanish taxon might correspond to the oldest terrestrial varanoid known to date.     

Barremian ammonite faunas from the western High Atlas,Morocco – biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography

An analysis of the stratigraphic distribution of ammonite faunas collected from several sections in the Essaouira-Agadir area (western High Atlas, Morocco) has enabled the establishment of a detailed succession of assemblages for the uppermost Hauterivian to lower Upper Barremian interval. All Mediterranean standard zones of this interval have been identified. The correlation potential of bioevents which define and characterise these units is discussed. Two significant regional hiatuses, one at the Hauterivian/Barremian boundary, the other involving the lower part of the Kotetishvilia nicklesi Zone, are related to third-order sea level falls. Moreover, the upper part of the succession corresponding to the upper Toxancyloceras vandenheckii Zone and the entire Heinzia sartousiana Zone is markedly condensed. The taxonomic composition of the ammonite assemblage reveals a strong Mediterranean character, yet, it shows some peculiar features as well.     

Integrated Biostratigraphy, Depositional Setting and Geochemical Analyses for Petroleum Potential Evaluation of the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian – Albian) Strata of the Koppeh-Dagh Basin, Northeastern Iran

The lower Cretaceous rock units of the Koppeh-Dagh Basin of northeastern Iran were investigated here in terms of biostratigraphy, depositional setting and geochemical analyses to find out if they, alike other parts of the world, are rich in petroleum. For this purpose, a stratigraphic framework is established using calcareous nannofossil and palynological elements. A nannoplankton zonation based on which subzones of the zones CC7 – CC8 of Sissingh(1977) and their equivalent NC6 – NC8 of Roth(1978) was established indicating a Late Barremian–Albian age. Palynological assemblages led us to establish the local palynozone of Odontochitina operculata. A dominantly marginal basin to a transitional zone between shelf and basin under a dysoxic–anoxic condition with low to moderate sedimentation rates coincided with a gradual sea level rise was introduced as the environment of deposition for the strata via interpretation of the palynological parameters and quantitative palynology. The obtained data from Rock-Eval pyrolysis in compilation with palynofacies analysis reveals that the studied succession contains mainly gas-prone type III kerogen. The Spore Coloration Index(SCI) alongside with the Rock-Eval pyrolysis results(low values of HI and TOC) proves that these rock units locally produced natural gas during the time under consideration.     

Southern Hemisphere Early Cretaceous (Valanginian-Early Barremian) carbon and oxygen isotope curves from the Neuquén Basin,Argentina

The first carbon and oxygen isotope curves for the Valanginian to Early Barremian (Early Cretaceous) interval obtained from outcrops in the Southern Hemisphere are presented. They were obtained from well-dated (by ammonites) sediments from the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Measurements were acquired by the innovative method of analysing fossil oyster laminae. The occurrence of the well-established mid-Valanginian positive carbon isotope excursion is documented, while less well-marked positive events may also correlate with peaks identified in the well-known successions of SE France. The mid-Valanginian positive carbon isotope event in the Neuquén Basin is possibly associated with organic-rich sediments. A similar relationship is seen in the European Alps and in oceanic cores in some areas of the world.     

Cephalopod associations and palaeoecology of the Cretaceous (Barremian–Cenomanian) succession of the Alpstein,northeastern Switzerland

The Alpstein (cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and St. Gallen, northeastern Switzerland) has been of great interest for geologists over the last decades because of its excellent outcrops. However, there was no comprehensive overview over its Cretaceous fossil content. Here, we describe the cephalopod associations, which are moderately to highly diverse in some strata of the Alpstein. Furthermore, we document the regional palaeoecological changes that occurred during the radiation of heteromorph ammonites (ancyloceratids, scaphitids, turrilitids). To examine the palaeoecological changes, we quantitatively determined the macrofossil content of 11 associations of Barremian to early Cenomanian age. Here, we document 6 species (3 genera) of nautilids and 77 species (45 genera) of ammonoids (29 of the species are recorded from Switzerland for the first time). Our palaeoecological analyses revealed the disappearance of nektoplanktonic forms after the late Barremian to the middle early Aptian in the course of the development of a shallow carbonate platform. The upper lower Aptian to middle Albian strata were eroded due to successive emersion phases and condensation processes. In the late Albian, the number of nektoplanktonic species surged again with some benthos, followed by the Cenomanian fauna, which is dominated by nektoplanktonic elements including ammonites, belemnites and nautilids with only very little benthos. These results correlate well with the regional sea level fluctuations.     

Stratigraphic framework and calcareous nannofossil productivity of the Essaouira-Agadir Basin (Morocco) during the Aptian–Early Albian: Comparison with the north-Tethyan margin

In the southern Tethyan margin, the Essaouira-Agadir Basin (EAB), south of Morocco, exhibits well-exposed and fossiliferous sections of Aptian–Albian age. Biostratigraphy by ammonoids and sedimentological analysis have been realized for five sections located along an E-W transect in the EAB. The studied successions were dated from the latest Early Aptian to the Early Albian and are characterized by five major sedimentary discontinuities defining at least four main sedimentary sequences. The Late Aptian–Early Albian succession can be considered a gently westward-dipping ramp, marked by a deepening upward evolution. A quantitative study of calcareous nannofossils and calcium carbonate content has been performed on three of these sections. At this time, the EAB was located in the tropical-equatorial hot arid belt. The decrease in both calcium carbonate content and Nannoconus abundances at the Aptian–Albian transition could be the result of cooler climatic conditions recognized in the EAB, and/or of the associated increasing terrigenous input and nutrients, which hindered carbonate production. In the EAB, the nannofossil productivity is higher below the deposition of dark levels, which are coeval with the Niveau Paquier, recognized as the expression in southern France of the OAE 1b (Early Albian). During the Early Albian, the EAB was characterized by nannofossil fluxes two times lower than the upwelling-influenced Mazagan Plateau (southern Tethyan margin) and eight times lower than the Vocontian Basin (northern Tethyan margin). These results show that, with respect to the northern Tethyan margin, trophic conditions in sea surface waters of the pelagic realm of the southern Tethyan margin were lower. Comparable results obtained by Heldt et al. in the neritic realm of the southern Tethyan margin have been ascribed to more arid climatic conditions.     

The palynology and geology of the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of Munday’s Hill Quarry,Bedfordshire, UK

Early Cretaceous sediments of Aptian–Albian age outcrop at Munday’s Hill Quarry, Bedfordshire, England. Previous papers describing the section have resulted in different terminologies being applied. The Lower Cretaceous in Bedfordshire is represented by sediments belonging to the Lower Greensand Group and the Gault Clay Formation. Within the Lower Greensand Group in the study area the Woburn Sands Formation, are of Aptian–Albian age. Selected samples have been analysed for palynology. The analysis reveals diverse palynomorph assemblages, including well-preserved dinoflagellate cysts and sporomorphs. Comparison of the assemblages with published records indicates that the lower samples are of Late Aptian age. Forms recorded include common Kiokansium unituberculatum, Cerbia tabulata, Aptea polymorpha and Cyclonephelium inconspicuum. An Early Albian age is indicated for the uppermost sample.     

Evidence of palaeo-wildfire from the upper Lower Cretaceous (Serra do Tucano Formation,Aptian–Albian) of Roraima (North Brazil)

Wood fossil charcoal is identified from the upper Lower Cretaceous (Serra do Tucano Formation, Aptian–Albian) of Roraima (North Brazil). The presence of charcoal demonstrates the occurrence of Early Cretaceous palaeo-wildfires for the first time in this region and only the third time for the entirety of South America. A gymnospermous taxonomic affinity can be established for the charred woods and a relationship with conifers is likely, thus providing additional evidence for the taxonomic composition of Early Cretaceous floras in this region.     

Taxonomy and stratigraphy of late Barremian–Albian species of Horiopleura Douvillé (Hippuritida,Polyconitidae) of the Mediterranean and southwestern Asian regions

The genus Horiopleura Douvillé is restricted to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asian regions, and is represented by eight species developed during the late Barremian–Albian. This revision of species contributed to delineate generic and specific characters. The definition of species is based on a set of external and internal qualitative and quantitative characters, the key characters being size, radial bands, ornamentation and the presence of a left posterior canal. Morphometry documents the dimorphism of some species, corroborated by regression analysis. Horiopleura dumortieri is an upper Barremian–lowermost Bedoulian species from SE France, Horiopleura brevis n. sp. is a Bedoulian, Mediterranean species, extending to the lower Gargasian, Horiopleura gigantea (pro Monopleura) is a Bedoulian species, restricted the Ukrainian Carpathes. Horiopleura lamberti and H. almerae are Upper Aptian to lower Albian species, and are known from Southern Europe and North Africa. Horiopleura haydeni is essentially late Aptian and typifies the southwestern Asia “Yasin fauna”. Horiopleura distefanoi and H. gemmellaroi (both formerly placed in Polyconites) are restricted to the Albian of the peri-Adriatic regions and North Africa, the former being present in the Middle East. Multiple correspondence analysis using six categorical variables and their categorical states, applied to the comparison of species, tends to corroborate our overall taxonomic frame-work, and reveals three groups of species with distinctive ages.     

A review of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous charophytes from the northern Aquitaine Basin in south-west France

Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous charophyte assemblages from the northern part of the Aquitaine Basin in south-west France are reviewed here to understand their palaeoecological, palaeobiogeographical and biostratigraphic features. Three sites were studied: the Tithonian-lower Berriasian of Chassiron, and the Berriasian of Cherves-de-Cognac and Angeac-Charente. Abundant porocharaceans, less abundant clavatoraceans and scarce characeans recorded in Cherves-de-Cognac and Angeac-Charente indicate that brackish water environments were substituted by freshwater environments eastwards. The occurrence of Clavator grovesii var. grovesii and morphotypes intermediate with C. grovesii var. discordis in the same areas is significant from a biostratigraphic viewpoint, since these species belong to the Maillardii, Incrassatus and Nurrensis European charophyte biozones, representing the Berriasian. This observation refutes a previous dating of the Angeac-Charente site and highlights the absence of Hauterivian–Barremian records in northern Aquitaine, which is in contrast to the more complete Lower Cretaceous record in southern Aquitaine. These contrasting records could be due to differences in the available sedimentary space produced by the opening of the Bay of Biscay during the Barremian.     

Supraproduction Volcanism of Chukotka Terrane in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (Arctic Region,Russia)

Geotectonics - The age and geodynamic position of the volcanic source of the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous deposits of Western Chukotka were determined. Products of synchronous volcanism...     

Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic Geodynamics of the Olyutorka–Kamchatka Accretionary Zone

Doklady Earth Sciences - Within the Olyutorka–Kamchatka accretionary zone, several terranes of an island-arc, marginal-sea, and oceanic nature are distinguished. The igneous complexes of...     

Sandstone petrology and mudstone geochemistry of the Peruc–Korycany Formation (Bohemian Cretaceous Basin,Czech Republic)

We have studied the petrography and the bulk-rock geochemistry of arenites and mudstones of the Cenomanian Peruc–Korycany Formation to characterize their provenance and sedimentary history, as well as the influence of weathering, hydraulic sorting, and recycling of the source rocks. The Peruc–Korycany Formation contains sedimentary facies reflecting both meandering- and braided-river systems and shallow-marine systems. Differences in the three depositional settings did not cause distinctly different modifications of the framework compositions of the arenites. The sand from the fluvial systems is very mature (Qm₉₈F₀Lt₂). These fluvial arenites were subsequently modified by shallow-marine processes; reworking produced very slight decreases in the abundance of lithic fragments and polycrystalline quartz grains. The Cenomanian strata of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin were derived dominantly from metasedimentary and crystalline rocks of the Palaeozoic Teplà-Barrandian and Cadomian Moldanubian units, respectively. Periods of low tectonic activity resulted in the deposition of arenites with quartzose framework compositions, indicating that climatic and/or transport/depositional-environmental controls overwhelmed factors such as source-rock compositions. Ultrastable dense minerals are useful indicators of sedimentary recycling within the Peruc–Korycanytarenites. Mudstone samples are characterized by abundant kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and quartz but by negligible amounts of goethite and gypsum. Concentrations normalized to the post-Archaean Australian shale (PAAS) show that the sediments are strongly depleted of Na, K, Ca, Sr, and Ba, probably because of the mobility of these elements during weathering. Chemical indices of alteration (CIA, CIW, and PIA) show that the degree of weathering of the source area was high. The data fall closer to the compositional fields of highly weathered minerals such as kaolinite, gibbsite, and chlorite on an A-CN-K diagram. The indices of compositional variability of the studied samples are much less than 1, suggesting that the samples are compositionally mature and were likely dominated by recycling. The elemental ratios critical of provenance (La/Sc, Th/Sc, Th/Co, Th/Cr, and Cr/Th) are similar to fine fractions derived from the weathering of mostly granitoids rather than mafic rocks.     

A New Enantiornithes (Aves) from the Early Cretaceous of China

A new bird from the early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China is described. This new species, Grabauornis lingyuanensis, shares several synapomorphies with the Enantiornithes. The specimen is relatively well preserved. The skeletal morphology of Grabauornis bears close resemblance to that of other Chinese members of this clade. The brachial index （the ratio between the lengths of humerus and ulna） is 0.95, which is close to the average for enantiornithine birds. It indicates that Grabauornis was a rather good flyer, and the presence of an alula in the wing further testifies to this.     

New Fossil Procercopidae (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha) from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern China

A new fossil species,Anthoscytina macula sp.nov.,of the family Procercopidae is described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Huangbanjigou,Chaomidian Village,Beipiao City,Liaoning Province,China.A key to the species of the genus Anthoscytina Hong,1983 is provided.The diagnosis of the genus is revised.     

Integrated magnetobiochronology of the Pliocene–Pleistocene Miyazaki succession,southern Kyushu,southwest Japan: Implications for an Early Pleistocene hiatus and defining the base of the Gelasian (P/P boundary type section) in Japan

An integrated magnetobiochronology of the Miyazaki Pliocene–Pleistocene succession in the Miyazaki area, southwest Japan, was established using planktic foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy together with paleomagnetic data. The upper Miyazaki succession in the northern Miyazaki region can be divided into the Takanabe, Hisamine (redefined), and Higoyashiki (new) Formations, in ascending order. A depositional hiatus between the Hisamine Formation and the Takanabe and/or older formations was also identified based on integrated magnetobiostratigraphy from five sections including the Nagatani River (NGT) section through the uppermost Miyazaki succession. The hiatus, herein called the Hisamine unconformity, is equivalent to the Kurotaki unconformity between the Miura and Kazusa groups of the Boso Peninsula in central Japan. The depositional hiatus recognised in the lower Pleistocene of Pacific coastal areas in southwestern and central Japan may have resulted from tectonic activity associated with a change in the subduction direction of the Philippine Sea plate, which commenced prior to ca. 2.2 Ma. The youngest unit just below the hiatus is the upper part of the Takanabe Formation in the NGT section. The NGT section represents the continuous Late Pliocene to earliest Pleistocene sequence including the Gauss/Matuyama boundary and is here proposed as the type section for the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary in Japan, which the IUGS ratified as the base of the Gelasian in 2009.     

A New Carcharodontosauria (Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Guangxi, Southern China

A new large-bodied theropod dinosaur,Datanglong guangxiensis gen.et sp.nov.,was recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Xinlong Formation of the Datang Basin,Guangxi.It is unique in several features including:posteriormost dorsal vertebra with teardrop-shaped pneumatic foramen confined by enlarged pcdl,acpl and the centrum; posteriormost dorsal with well-developed,horizontal prpl; posteriormost dorsal with a parapophysis projecting more laterally than the diapophysis; brevis fossa shallow with short,ridge-like medial blade; and iliac pubic peduncle with posteroventrally expanded margin.Cladistic analysis supports the idea that this new taxon Datanglong guangxiensis is a primitive member of the Carcharodontosauria in possessing two unambiguous synapomorphies:large external pneumatic foramina and internal spaces present in the lateral surface of ilium,and a peg-and-socket ischiac articulation with the ilium.The presence of the new taxon from Guangxi further confirms that Carcharodontosauria were cosmopolitan large-bodied predators during the Early–mid Cretaceous.     

Sedimentary Characteristics of the Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin

The rupture of the lithosphere in Late Jurassic brought about the eruption of basaltic magma in the Songliao Basin. The evolution of the basin in Cretaceous progressed through six stages: pre-rift doming, extensional fracturing, fault subsidence, fault downwarping, downwarping and shringkage, resulting in the deposition of terrstrial facies nearly 10,000 m thick. There are different depositional sequences in these stages: the depositional period of the Early Cretaceous Shahezi and Yincheng Formations is the development stage of the down-faulted basin, forming a volcanic rock-alluvial fan-fan delta-lacustrine (intercalated with episodic turbidites)-swamp facies sequences; the period of the Early Cretaceous Dengluku Formation is the transformation stage of fault subsidence into fault downwarping of the basin, forming a sequence mainly of alluvial plain-lacustrine facies; the depositional period of the Early Cretaceous Quantou Formation-Late Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation is the downwarping stage of the basin, forming an alluvial plain-delta-lacustrine facies sequence; the period of the Late Cretaceous Sifangtai Formation-Mingshui Formation is the shringkage stage of the basin, forming again a sequence mainly of alluvial plain-alluvial fan and small relict lacustrine facies. These vertical depositional sequences fully display the sedimentary characteristics of a failed continental rift basin. Many facts indicate that the two large-scale lake invasions, synchronous with the global rise of sea level, which took place in the downwarping stage of the basin development, led to the connection between the lake and sea.