Typology of detrital zircon as a key to unravelling provenance in rift siliciclastic sequences (Permo-Carboniferous of Spiti,N India)

Abstract

Detrital zircon populations from Carboniferous to Permian sandstones from the Lozar Section of Spiti, northern India, were analyzed with the typology method in order to obtain complementary information on the source areas of the sediments. Zircon grains were subdivided into several groups and subgroups, according to degree of abrasion and morphological features.

First appearance of detrital zircons with distinct typologic signature within successive stratigraphic intervals provided useful data about the tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Indian margin during Late Paleozoic rifting of Gondwana and initial opening of Neotethys. The base of the studied sequence (Lower Carboniferous Thabo Fm.) is characterized by a largely cratonic provenance, seemingly from the Indian Shield to the South. In the Upper Carboniferous Chichong Fm., first occurrence of typical zircons from anatectic granites and increasing abundance of granitoid detritus suggest rapid uplift and unroofing of anatectic rocks of probable Cambro-Ordovician age. In the lowermost Permian (Asselian) glaciomarine Ganmachidam Diamictite, euhedral detrital zircons with peculiar features, associated with Cr-rich chromian spinels and mafic to felsic volcanic rock fragments, hint at emplacement of bimodal alkaline magmatic suites. The same sources, possibly including subvolcanic bodies, continued to be eroded until final break-up, documented by the Permian Kuling Group.     

北疆沙尔布尔提山地区早泥盆-早石炭世沉积相、物源演变及其意义

准噶尔西北部沙尔布尔提山地区下泥盆统到下石炭统的沉积可划分为滨海相和海岸平原相。其中下泥盆统和布克赛尔组底部的乌图布拉克亚组为滨海碎屑岩相,曼格尔亚组为滨海碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩相,芒克鲁亚组为滨海碳酸盐岩相。中泥盆统呼吉尔斯特组为海岸平原相。上泥盆统洪古勒楞组底部为海岸平原相,向中部过渡为滨海碳酸盐岩相,顶部为滨海碎屑岩相。下石炭统黑山头组为滨海碎屑岩相。下泥盆统和下石炭统的古流向总体从北向南,显示研究区以北地区为物源区,即成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台褶皱带。结合沉积相的研究成果,本区可能属成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台褶皱带以南的晚古生代陆缘区。物源演变趋势分析揭示早泥盆世成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台带中的早古生代岛弧发生隆起,为乌图布拉克亚组提供成熟度很低的碎屑物质。随着岛弧被剥蚀殆尽,中、晚泥盆世呼吉尔斯特组和洪古勒楞组沉积时转而接受岩屑型再旋回造山带的物源供应,而早石炭世的物源则为过渡型再旋回造山带区。这种物源变化反映了成吉斯-塔尔巴哈台褶皱带的建造特征和隆起过程。     

辽宁兴城地区前寒武纪地层序列和不整合

辽宁兴城地区位于华北克拉通中、新元古代燕山裂陷槽盆地（燕辽海盆）的东南边缘,地层序列和沉积特征与同属盆地边缘区的河北滦县、北京南口、以及太行山区等地类似。研究区新太古代花岗岩之上沉积了长城系（常州沟组、串岭沟组、团山子组、大红峪组）,蓟县系（高于庄组、杨庄组、雾迷山组）,以及青白口系（长龙山组、景儿峪组）。与天津蓟县中、新元古界标准剖面相比,本区地层厚度较薄、长城系碳酸盐岩较少、碎屑物粒度较粗、部分层位（铁岭组、洪水庄组、下马岭组？）缺失,几大沉积层序的底界超覆明显,体现了典型的古陆边缘特征。中元古界常州沟组至团山子组为一套局限分布的滨、浅海相海进至海退旋回沉积,常州沟组滨海相砂岩与下伏新太古代花岗岩沉积接触;大红峪组沉积时期广泛海侵,以石英砂岩和粉砂质页岩为主,下部发育复成分角砾岩和石英砂岩质砾岩,与下伏地质体有沉积接触（非整合）、角度不整合、微角度不整合、岩溶不整合等多种接触关系,说明大红峪组沉积之前发生过沉积间断和地层褶皱变形,“兴城运动”所指的不整合并非单纯的海进超覆成因;蓟县系高于庄组下部为一套海侵陆源碎屑岩序列,不整合在大红峪组和新太古代花岗岩之上,中、上部为碳酸盐岩台地沉积;蓟县系杨庄组和雾迷山组总体为碳酸盐岩,仅含少量陆源碎屑成分或薄层;新元古界青白口系长龙山组为又一套陆源碎屑岩海进序列,平行不整合在蓟县系雾迷山组或待建系下马岭组？角砾状含燧石白云质灰岩之上,指示了芹峪上升和蔚县上升影响期间的岩溶平原发育历史;寒武系昌平组角砾状白云质灰岩平行不整合在景儿峪组中、薄层白云质灰岩之上。上述不整合及地层建造特征还说明山海关古陆长期存在并对辽西南部的沉积古地理有明显影响。此外,大红峪组的沉积在区内具有承前启后的意义,自大红峪组沉积开始本区与燕辽海盆完全连通,整个盆地的演化也从强烈断陷向稳定沉降转变。     

BASIN-RANGE TRANSITION AND GENETIC TYPES OF SEQUENCE BOUNDARY OF THE QIANGTANG BASIN IN NORTHERN TIBET

BASIN-RANGE TRANSITION AND GENETIC TYPES OF SEQUENCE BOUNDARY OF THE QIANGTANG BASIN IN NORTHERN TIBET     

四川盆地震旦纪-早寒武世构造-沉积演化过程

前人对四川盆地震旦纪-早寒武世构造-沉积演化的认识存在较大分歧.利用最新的地震、钻井及露头资料,系统论述了四川盆地震旦纪-早寒武世构造-沉积演化特征.四川盆地在陡山沱组沉积前呈现隆坳相间地貌格局,汉南古陆构造高点从陡山沱期到早寒武世持续向北东方向迁移;开江-宣汉古隆起灯一、灯二段沉积期为主要发育时期,古隆起核部出露水面,灯三、灯四段沉积期古隆起规模减小,转为水下隆起,到早寒武世与川中古隆起合并.通过连井剖面、典型井元素测井、野外露头特征综合分析认为德阳-安岳古裂陷槽内发育灯三、灯四段深水沉积.在此基础上总结古裂陷发育模式:古裂陷具有明显的多期发育特征,东侧台地边缘不断向北东方向迁移,灯二段沉积期台缘位于双探地区,灯四段沉积期台缘位于元坝西地区;同时古裂陷具有"北早南晚、先断陷后坳陷"的发育特征,灯影组沉积期在川中-川北发育,具有断陷发育特征,早寒武世裂陷槽转为坳陷发育特征,川南地区开始大规模发育,川中-川北地区持续向北东方向迁移,川北元坝-仁和场-马路背地区转化为深水沉积,发育厚层筇竹寺组烃源岩层系,至早寒武世晚期,古裂陷消亡、被填平补齐.      

北部湾盆地北部坳陷古近系构造发育特征及其对沉积的控制作用

北部湾盆地北部坳陷古近系NE-NEE 向断裂控制凸凹格局, NEE 与NW 向断裂控制次级构造单元发育展布,整体 表现为一个北西断、南东超、呈NEE 向展布的新生代箕状断陷盆地,其中涠西南凹陷为复式半地堑,海中凹陷为简单半地 堑,而涠西南低凸起为单断式低凸起。研究区古近纪构造演化分为裂陷期（长流组-涠三段沉积期）和断拗转换期（涠二 段-涠一段沉积期）两个阶段,而裂陷期又分为裂陷Ⅰ幕（长流组-流二段沉积期）和裂陷Ⅱ幕（流一段-涠三段沉积期）。 响应于盆地结构特征和构造演化,研究区在裂陷Ⅰ幕,构造活动强烈,形成了统一湖盆,沿陡坡处发育较多扇三角洲、近 岸水下扇,缓坡则为辫状河三角洲,洼陷内主要为湖相及少量湖底扇;裂陷Ⅱ幕,构造活动较强,涠西南低凸起出露水面 而对涠西南凹陷与海中凹陷起一定分隔作用,在陡坡处仍发育有较多近岸水下扇、扇三角洲,缓坡处主要为大型辫状河三 角洲,而洼陷内为湖相与较多湖底扇,且沿涠西南凹陷长轴方向发育大型辫状河三角洲和曲流河三角洲;断拗转换期,构 造活动微弱,整体以滨浅湖亚相为主,陡坡和缓坡都发有大量辫状河三角洲,涠西南低凸起仍暴露水面而遭受剥蚀。     

Reconstruction of nearshore chemical conditions in the Mesoproterozoic: evidence from red and grey beds of the Yangzhuang formation,North China Craton

ABSTRACT

Mesoproterozoic red beds near ancient coasts have not aroused extensive interest. A new geochemical study of the alternating red and grey dolostones from the Yangzhuang Formation provides a better understanding of the redox conditions of nearshore sedimentary environments. In this contribution, whole-rock samples are characterized by positive correlations of rare earth elements (REE) vs. Th and Fe_T vs. Th and flat-type REE distribution patterns, indicating massive terrigenous input, which is considered to be inherited from felsic rocks. Relatively high (Fe_mag+Fe_ox)/Fe_T and Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratios in red beds indicate more oxidized conditions in supratidal environments compared with the lower oxygen contents in intertidal environments. Under these two distinct chemical sedimentary conditions, acetic acid-leached red and grey samples both have HREE-depleted distributions, suggesting significant freshwater invasion. Moreover, limited terrigenous redox-sensitive elements (RSEs) can reach the coast where the red beds are deposited, whereas relatively high RSE enrichment factors originating from shallow oceans are recorded in grey beds. In the Mesoproterozoic, limited oxidative weathering, shallow seawater desalination, and low organic production occurred near the coast. Meanwhile, a prolonged period of low Mo and U availability preserved in carbonate minerals confirmed that marine oxygen levels failed to satisfy the deposition of offshore red beds. During the regression, potentially exposed sediments connected to atmospheric oxygen guaranteed the oxidation of iron and the formation of red beds, and these events were coupled with negative δ¹³C_carb shifts in the Yanliao rift zone.     

Correlation of Upper Cretaceous strata from Lima Peaks area to Madison Range, southwestern Montana and southeastern Idaho, USA

An⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 85.81 Ma±0.22 my was obtained on sanidine from a volcanic procellanite bed near the top of the 2135+m-thick Upper Cretaceous Frontier Formation in the Lima Peaks area of southwestern Montana. This early Santonian age, combined with previously determined age data including a palynological age of Cenomanian for the lower Frontier at Lima Peaks, and a U-Pb isotopic date of about 95 Ma for the base of the Frontier Formation in the eastern Pioneer Mountains north of the Lima Peaks area, provides an age range for the nonmarine formation. In the Madison Range, farther east in southweastern Montana, this age range corresponds to marine strata of not only the Frontier Formation, but also the overlying Cody Shale and Telegraph Creek Formation, a sequence that totals less than 760 m thick.The Upper Cretaceous marine formations of the madison Range are closely zoned by molluscan faunas that are well constrained with radiometric dates. The⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 85.81 Ma±0.22 my at Lima Peaks is bracketed by radiometric dates for theScaphites depressus—Protexanites bourgeoisianusbiozone and the overlyingClioscaphites saxitonianus—Inoceramus undulatopilcatusbiozone of the Western Interior. Fossils of both of these biozones are present in the Cody Shale and the Telegraph Creek Formation in the Madison Range. The Telegraph Creek contains two units of volcanic ash that are approximate time equivalents of the volcanic procellanite of the Lima Peaks area. Clasts in the conglomerate of the upper part of the Frontier in the Lima Peaks area were shed during the initial stages of uplift of the Blacktail-Snowcrest Highlands which rose to the north. The dated porcellanite lies above the conglomerates and indicates that the uplift was initiated by middle or late Coniacian, 87–88 Ma.     

Stratigraphy and fluvial sedimentary facies of the Neocomian lower Strzelecki Group,Gippsland Basin,Victoria

The Strzelecki Group incorporates Berriasian to Albian, fluvial sediments deposited in the Gippsland Basin during initial rifting between Australia and Antarctica. Neocomian strata of the lowermost Strzelecki Group are assigned to the Tyers River Subgroup (exposed in the Tyers area) and the Rhyll Arkose (exposed on Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula). The Tyers River Subgroup incorporates two formations: Tyers Conglomerate and Rintoul Creek Formation. The latter is subdivided into the Locmany and Exalt Members. Ten fluvial sedimentary facies are identified in the lowermost Strzelecki Group: two gravelly facies; four sandy facies; and four mudrock facies. Associations of these facies indicate: (i) prevalence of gravelly braided‐river and alluvial‐fan settings during deposition of the Tyers Conglomerate; (ii) more sluggish, sandy braided to meandering fluvial systems during Locmany Member sedimentation; and (iii) a return to active, sandy, braided‐river settings for deposition of the Exalt Member. The Tyers Conglomerate and Rhyll Arkose rest on an irregular erosional surface incised into Palaeozoic rocks of the Lachlan Fold Belt. The overlying Rintoul Creek Formation incorporates more mature sediments where lithofacies associations varied according to base‐level change, variations in subsidence rates, and/or tectonic uplift of the principal sedimentsource terranes to the northwest.     

Pre-Tertiary felsic magmatism of the Nepal Himalaya: recycling of continental crust

At least seven different groups of felsic magmatic rocks have been observed in the Lesser and Higher Himalayan units of Nepal. Six of them are pre-Himalayan. The Ulleri Lower Proterozoic augen gneiss extends along most of the length of the Lesser Himalaya of Nepal and represents a Precambrian felsic volcanism or plutono-volcanism, mainly recycling continental crustal material; this volcanism has contributed sediment to the lower group of formations of the Lesser Himalaya. The Ampipal alkaline gneiss is a small elongated body appearing as a window at the base of the Lesser Himalayan formations of central Nepal; it originated as a Precambrian nepheline syenite pluton, contaminated by lower continental crust. The “Lesser Himalayan” granitic belt is well represented in Nepal by nine large granitic plutons; these Cambro-Ordovician peraluminous, generally porphyritic, granites, only occur in the crystaline nappes; they were probably produced by large-scale melting of the continental crust at the northern tip of the Indian craton, during a general episode of thinning of Gondwana continent with heating and mantle injection of the crust. The Formation III augen gneisses of the Higher Himalaya, such as the augen gneiss of the Higher Himalayan crystalline nappes (Gosainkund) are coeval to the “Lesser Himalayan” granites, and their more metamorphic (lower amphibolite grade) equivalents. Limited outcrops of Cretaceous trachytic volcanism lie along the southern limb of the Lesser Himalaya and are coeval with spilitic volcanism in the Higher Himalayan sedimentary series. This volcanism foreshadows the general uplift of the Indian margin before the Himalayan collision. The predominance of felsic over basic magmatism in the 2.5 Ga-long evolution of the Himalayan domain constitutes an unique example of recycling of continental material with very limited addition of juvenile mantle products.     

Provenance analysis and tectonic setting of the Ordovician clastic deposits in the southern Puna Basin, NW Argentina

Provenance studies on Early to Middle Ordovician clastic formations of the southern Puna basin in north-western Argentina indicate that the sedimentary detritus is generally composed of reworked crustal material. Tremadoc quartz-rich turbidites (Tolar Chico Formation, mean composition Q_t89 F7 L4) are followed by volcaniclastic rocks and greywackes (Tolillar Formation, mean Q_t33 F42 L25). These are in turn overlain by volcaniclastic deposits (mean Q_t24 F30 L46) of the Diablo Formation (late Arenig–early Llanvirn) that are intercalated by lava flows. All units were deformed in the Oclóyic Orogeny during the Middle and Late Ordovician. Sandstones of the Tolar Chico Formation are characterized by Th/Sc ratios > 1, La/Sc ratios ≈ 10, whereas associated fine-grained wackes show slightly lower values for both ratios. LREE (light rare earth elements) enrichment of the arenites is ≈ 50× chondrite, Eu/Eu* values are between 0·72 and 0·92, and flat HREE (heavy rare earth elements) patterns indicate a derivation from mostly felsic rocks of typical upper crustal composition. The ε_{Nd(t = sed)} values scatter around −11 to −9. The calculated Nd-T_DM residence ages vary between 1·8 and 2·0 Ga indicating contribution by a Palaeoproterozoic crustal component. The Th/Sc and La/Sc ratios of the Tolillar Formation are lower than those of the Tolar Chico Formation. Normalized REE (rare earth elements) patterns display a similar shape to PAAS (post-Archaean average Australian shale) but with higher abundances of HREEs. Eu/Eu* values range between 0·44 and 1·17, where the higher values reflect the abundance of plagioclase and feldspar-bearing volcanic lithoclasts. Average ε_{Nd(t = sed)} values are less negative at −5·1, and Nd-T_DM are lower at 1·6 Ga. This is consistent with characteristics of regional rocks of upper continental crust composition, which most probably represent the sources of the studied detritus. The rocks of the Diablo Formation have the lowest Th/Sc and La/Sc ratios, lower LREE abundances than the average continental crust and are slightly enriched in HREEs. Eu/Eu* values are between 0·63 and 1·17. The Nd isotopes (ε_{Nd(t = sed)} = −3 to −1; T_DM = 1·2 Ga) indicate that one source component was less fractionated than both the underlying Early Ordovician and the overlying Middle Ordovician units. Synsedimentary vulcanites in the Diablo Formation show the same isotopic composition. Our data indicate that the sedimentary detritus is generally composed of reworked crustal material, but that the Diablo Formation appears to contain ≈ 80% of a less fractionated component, derived from a contemporaneous continental volcanic arc. There are no data indicating an exotic detrital source or the accretion of an exotic block at this part of the Gondwana margin during the Ordovician.     

GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE ORDOVICIAN STRATIGRAPHY OF THE CHU-ILIYSKIYE MOUNTAINS

Great variety of lithic facies and abundance of varied faunas makes the Ordivician of this area ideal for study. Numerous detailed sections show that although many kinds of rock are exemplified the great majority are detrital in nature, with limestones constituting a lesser part. In order to conform to local stratigraphic circumstances, the Caradoc stage is redefined to include only the zones of Climacograptus wilsoni and Dicranograptus clingani. Similarly the Ashgill stage is redefined to include the zone of Pleurograptus linearis in addition to the zone of Dicellograptus complanatus. Throughout the section there are conflicts among the brachiopod, trilobite, cephalopod, and graptolite elements of the faunas concerning correct dating. In each case these have been resolved locally. Almost all the Ordovician series or formations overlap Precambrian rocks uncofformably at one place or another. This is particularly true of rocks below the Caradoc. The basal Akshal suite of limestones of questionable Tremadoc age is locally overlain by massive pink limestones which are of possible Arenig age. The Kopaly horizon believed to be of Llanvirn age is richly fossiliferous and composed of approximately 170 meters of detrital rocks with some impure limestones. This unit is considered Middle Ordovician because abundant trilobites and brachiopods resemble closely those of the overlying Karakan horizon believed to be of Llandeilo age. Despite the similarity of shelly faunas the graptolites of these two horizons differ markedly. The Beke series known as the “Green Flysch” overlies the Karakan to a thickness of 650 meters gradationally, and is believed to top the Llandeilo. The Caradoc Anderkenyn beds and the Caradoc and Ashgill Dulan-kara beds constitute sedimentary cycles from basal conglomerates to higher shales and limestones, as does a sequence including Upper Ashgill, Kyzyl-sai “Dark Flysch, ” the Chokpar horizon, and Lower Silurian Ul'kuntas limestone.—R. J. Ross, Jr.     

甘肃张掖地区白垩系风成砂岩沉积序列! 祁连山白垩纪隆升的沉积学响应

白垩纪祁连山隆升过程及其沉积学响应的研究,对认识青藏高原的形成及其环境效应具有重要意义。受控于祁连山隆升过程的甘肃张掖地区下白垩统,包括赤金堡组、下沟组和中沟组,其基本特征是：（1）分布局限而且厚度上千米的赤金堡组,主要由旋回性发育的“冲积扇（或洪积扇—辫状河—滨湖相风成沙丘”序列所组成,形成一种反映了“雨影效应”的粗碎屑岩序列;（2）下沟组总体为一套红层沉积,在盆地边缘发育更多的风成沙丘,可能代表了与祁连山更加快速隆升相对应的更加强烈的“雨影效应”时期的产物;（3）中沟组,从冲积体系演变为一个分布广泛的湖泊沉积体系,总体上属于潮湿气候背景下未受到“雨影效应”影响的产物,与祁连山均衡抬升存在成因联系;（4）研究区上白垩统总体缺失,可能与祁连山的卸载过程产生的山前地壳均衡反弹存在关联。因此,从赤金堡组到下沟组的风成砂岩序列、特殊的沉积相构成及其演化序列,不但成为窥视早白垩世祁连山隆升过程的物质记录,而且为早白垩世东亚大气环流格局的重建提供了另外一个重要的物质记录。     

Stratigraphy of the Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic Savory Basin,Western Australia,and correlation with the Amadeus and Officer Basins

The Savory Basin in central Western Australia was recognized in the mid‐1980s during regional mapping of very poorly exposed Proterozoic rocks previously assigned to the Bangemall Basin. All of the sedimentary rock units in the Savory Basin have been included in the Savory Group, which unconformably overlies the Mesoproterozoic Yeneena and Bangemall Groups. Correlation with adjacent basins is impeded by poor outcrop and the lack of subsurface information. Possible correlations have been investigated with the much better known Amadeus Basin to the east, and with the Officer Basin. Two correlations now clarify the age and relationships of the Savory Group. First, the Skates Hills Formation contains distinctive stromatolites previously recorded from the Bitter Springs Formation of the Amadeus Basin. In addition, the Skates Hills and Bitter Springs Formations have many lithological features in common. This correlation is strengthened by comparison with surface and subsurface units in the northern Officer Basin. Second, the intergrading sandstone‐diamictite of the Boondawari Formation is very similar to the intergrading Pioneer Sandstone‐Olympic Formation of the Amadeus Basin, and the overlying siltstone closely resembles the Pertatataka Formation and its correlative the Winnall beds. The stromatolitic and oolitic carbonates at the top of the Boondawari Formation are broadly comparable with those of the Julie Formation (which grades down into the Pertatataka Formation). Support for this set of correlations comes from carbon isotope chemostratigraphy. The stromatolites include two new forms described herein, Eleonora boondawarica and Acaciella savoryensis, together with a third form too poorly preserved to be formally defined. The age of the upper sandstones is unknown. The McFadden Formation seems to have its provenance in the Paterson Orogen. The southeastern extension of this orogen is the Musgrave Block, where compression followed by uplift at about 560–530 Ma (Peterman Ranges Orogeny) led to the formation of large amounts of conglomerate (Mt Currie Conglomerate) and sandstone (Arumbera Sandstone). If tectonic events in the Paterson Orogen were contemporaneous with those in the Musgrave Block, the McFadden Formation would correlate with the Arumbera Sandstone.     

西藏昂仁县扯假错渐新统日贡拉组地层沉积相及沉积演化特征

沉积相是研究古环境、古气候及岩相古地理的基础与重要依据。本文报道西藏昂仁县扯假错剖面渐新统日贡拉组的岩性特征、基本层序、沉积相及垂向上沉积演化特征。该组为一套紫红色碎屑岩系,为砾岩、砂岩夹粉砂岩和泥质岩,具典型的河流环境沉积特征,为进一步研究该地区该时期的沉积环境提供了线索。     

鄂尔多斯盆地元古界长城系沉积特征及天然气成藏潜力

长城系是鄂尔多斯盆地太古界—古元古界统一的结晶基底形成后所发育的最早期的沉积盖层,主要形成于区域拉张的裂陷构造背景下,在盆地内部发育多个东北向延伸的次级裂陷槽,并伴随有同构造期的基性岩浆活动。综合分析认为,长城系主要发育海相陆源碎屑建造,而在充填深海、半深海—海湾沉积的裂陷槽区,可能发育有效的海相烃源层;长城系沉积后,盆地大部分地区处于长达9～10亿年的抬升剥蚀环境,利于在其顶部形成大面积分布的风化壳储层;对长城系埋藏史分析表明其具有跨越大构造期而晚期成藏的热演化史,并未发生区域变质而遭破坏,在盆地本部地区具有有利的成藏构造保存条件;深层长城系是下一步天然气勘探值得期待的潜在层系,而勘探的关键是针对盆地本部的次级裂陷槽部署探井以确证长城系烃源岩的有效性。     

Shyok Suture Zone,N Pakistan: late Mesozoic–Tertiary evolution of a critical suture separating the oceanic Ladakh Arc from the Asian continental margin

The Shyok Suture Zone (Northern Suture) of North Pakistan is an important Cretaceous-Tertiary suture separating the Asian continent (Karakoram) from the Cretaceous Kohistan–Ladakh oceanic arc to the south. In previously published interpretations, the Shyok Suture Zone marks either the site of subduction of a wide Tethyan ocean, or represents an Early Cretaceous intra-continental marginal basin along the southern margin of Asia. To shed light on alternative hypotheses, a sedimentological, structural and igneous geochemical study was made of a well-exposed traverse in North Pakistan, in the Skardu area (Baltistan). To the south of the Shyok Suture Zone in this area is the Ladakh Arc and its Late Cretaceous, mainly volcanogenic, sedimentary cover (Burje-La Formation). The Shyok Suture Zone extends northwards (ca. 30 km) to the late Tertiary Main Karakoram Thrust that transported Asian, mainly high-grade metamorphic rocks southwards over the suture zone.The Shyok Suture Zone is dominated by four contrasting units separated by thrusts, as follows: (1). The lowermost, Askore amphibolite, is mainly amphibolite facies meta-basites and turbiditic meta-sediments interpreted as early marginal basin rift products, or trapped Tethyan oceanic crust, metamorphosed during later arc rifting. (2). The overlying Pakora Formation is a very thick (ca. 7 km in outcrop) succession of greenschist facies volcaniclastic sandstones, redeposited limestones and subordinate basaltic–andesitic extrusives and flow breccias of at least partly Early Cretaceous age. The Pakora Formation lacks terrigenous continental detritus and is interpreted as a proximal base-of-slope apron related to rifting of the oceanic Ladakh Arc; (3). The Tectonic Melange (<300 m thick) includes serpentinised ultramafic rocks, near mid-ocean ridge-type volcanics and recrystallised radiolarian cherts, interpreted as accreted oceanic crust. (4). The Bauma–Harel Group (structurally highest) is a thick succession (several km) of Ordovician and Carboniferous to Permian–Triassic, low-grade, mixed carbonate/siliciclastic sedimentary rocks that accumulated on the south-Asian continental margin. A structurally associated turbiditic slope/basinal succession records rifting of the Karakoram continent (part of Mega–Lhasa) from Gondwana. Red clastics of inferred fluvial origin (‘molasse’) unconformably overlie the Late Palaeozoic–Triassic succession and are also intersliced with other units in the suture zone.Reconnaissance further east (north of the Shyok River) indicates the presence of redeposited volcaniclastic sediments and thick acid tuffs, derived from nearby volcanic centres, presumed to lie within the Ladakh Arc. In addition, comparison with Lower Cretaceous clastic sediments (Maium Unit) within the Northern Suture Zone, west of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis (Hunza River) reveals notable differences, including the presence of terrigenous quartz-rich conglomerates, serpentinite debris-flow deposits and a contrasting structural history.The Shyok Suture Zone in the Skardu area is interpreted to preserve the remnants of a rifted oceanic back-arc basin and components of the Asian continental margin. In the west (Hunza River), a mixed volcanogenic and terrigenous succession (Maium Unit) is interpreted to record syn-deformational infilling of a remnant back-arc basin/foreland basin prior to suturing of the Kohistan Arc with Asia (75–90 Ma).     

测井曲线在杭东勘查区煤炭普查煤岩层对比中的应用

杭东普查区煤层产状平缓,构造简单,但由于含煤地层为陆相沉积,煤层层数多、厚度、间距变化大,沉积岩相变化快、大范围内缺乏稳定的对比标志层,因此煤岩层对比是本区勘查需要重点解决的难题。通过对比杭东普查区与邻区200余孔的测井资料,分析煤岩层在各种测井曲线的异常特征与异常组合规律,确定了对煤岩层对比有重大意义的标志层,如延长组与上覆延安组的典型视电阻率异常分界;延安组在高视电阻率曲线上的“树杆”状凸起特征;安定组视电阻率曲线近直线的低值形态;4-1煤在视电阻率曲线上呈现出的“斜坡”状或“刀”状高异常,以及在自然伽玛曲线上的“凹坑”特征;侏罗系中统直罗组的高伽马异常,等等。这些典型特征保证了该区煤岩层对比可靠性,为提交优质地质勘查报告发挥了重要作用。     

Geochemical and Nd isotope composition of detrital sediments on the north margin of the South China Sea: provenance and tectonic implications

A major re‐organization of regional drainages in eastern Tibet and south‐western China took place in the Cenozoic as deformation from the growing Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau affected an increasingly wider area. The effects of these changes on the regional sediment routing systems is not well constrained. This study examines the geochemical and Nd signatures of sedimentary rocks from the Ying‐Qiong and Nanxiong basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea to constrain and identify any significant changes in sediment source. Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene sedimentary rocks in the Nanxiong Basin show higher Th/Sc, La/Sc, Th/Cr and Th/Co ratios and lower Eu/Eu* ratios than PAAS (post‐Archaean Australian Shale), which indicates that Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks of the South China Block were the main basin sediment source. In contrast, Oligocene to Pleistocene sedimentary rocks of the Ying‐Qiong Basin show an abrupt change in these trace‐element ratios between 16·3 and 10·4 Ma, indicating a mid‐Miocene shift in provenance. ɛ_Nd values from the Ying‐Qiong Basin (range = −11·1 to −2·1) reinforce this, with pre‐13·8 Ma sedimentary rocks having average ɛ_Nd of −5·6 (range = −2·1 to −7·4), and post‐13·8 Ma sedimentary rocks having average ɛ_Nd of −9·3 (range = −8·7 to −11·1). During the Oligocene, the centre of rifting transferred south and basins on the north margin of the South China Sea experienced rapid subsidence. Further uplift and erosion then exposed Mesozoic and Cenozoic granites that supplied large amounts of granitic detritus, especially to the Ying‐Qiong Basin. Then a change occurred at ca 13 Ma resulting in less input from local sources (i.e. the fault blocks formed by Mesozoic‐Cenozoic tectonics and magmatism) to an increasing contribution of older continental material, mostly from Indochina to the west of the South China Sea.     

湖南东波-平和地区中上泥盆统岩石学特征及沉积相分析

通过对湘南东波-平和地区中上泥盆统岩石学特征的详细研究,划分出了滨海相带、局限台地相带和半局限台地相带等三个沉积相带以及滨海陆屑滩相、浑水潮间泥坪相、清水潮间泥坪相、潮间混乱合坪相、潮沟相、潮汐滩相、潮下浅水相等七个相型。根据对沉积环境的古构造背景,各相型基本特征的分析及时空分布规律,建立起了该区的沉积相模式。