Early Ordovician conodonts from the Sakmara Zone of the Southern Urals) and their biogeography

The new data obtained on conodonts from the Lower Ordovician of the Kidryasovo, Akbulaksai, and Kuagach formations (the central part of the Sakmara Zone of the Southern Urals) allow to evaluate the biogeography of conodonts of this region. The comparison of conodont assemblages of the Southern Urals with well-studied conodont assemblages of the Baltoscandian Basin situated in the northwestern part of the East European Platform show that these assemblages were biogeographically isolated. This shows that basins of the central and eastern parts of the East European Platform were separated by land in the Early Ordovician.     

A new type of noble metal mineralization in terrigenous rocks of the Shatak graben, western slope of the southern Urals

The paper presents materials on a new (unconventional for the Urals) noble metal (platinum-gold-iron oxide) mineralization confined to terrigenous sequences of the Middle Riphean Mashak Formation on the western slope of the southern Urals. The mineralization is related to the percolation of reduced mantle fluids into upper levels of the crust at early stages of riftogenesis, their inversion in the crust, and redeposition of oreforming elements.     

The Hirnantian δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C Positive Excursion in the Nabiullino Section (South Urals)

The upper Sandbian, Katian, and Hirnantian complexes of conodonts in the upper Ordovician section of the western slope of the Southern Urals near the village of Nabiullino were studied. The δ¹³C positive excursion with a maximum of 3.3‰ associated with the global Hirnantian isotopic event, HICE, was fixed for the first time. This excursion shows the beginning of the Hirnantian stage in the terrigenous–carbonate section of the upper Ordovician in the Southern Urals. It coincides with the first occurrence of the Hirnantian conodont species of Gamachignathus ensifer and the conodonts of shallow-water biophacies, Aphelognathus-Ozarkodina, reflecting the global glacio-eustatic event.     

浙江长兴煤山二叠-三叠系界线层牙形石序列及其全球对比

在详细研究全球二叠－三叠系界线层候选剖面───中国浙江长兴煤山剖面Ｐ／Ｔ界线层牙形石动物群序列基础上，自下而上识别出４个牙形石带：（１）ＣｌａｒｋｉｎａｃｈａｎｇｘｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓＣｌａｒｋｉｎａｄｅｆｌｅｃｔａ带；（２）Ｉｓａｒｃｉｃｅｌｌａｐａｒｖａ带；（３）Ｉｓａｒｃｉｃｅｌｌａｉｓａｒｃｉｃａ带；（４）ＣｌａｒｋｉｎａｃａｒｉｎａｔａＣｌａｒｋｉｎａｐｌａｎａｔａ带，并在第一带中划分出３个动物群，从下向上是：ＣｌａｒｋｉｎａｃｈａｎｇｚｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓＣｌａｒｋｉｎａｄｅｆｌｅｃｔａ－Ｃｌａｒｋｉｎａｓｕｂｃａｒｉｎａｔａ动物群，Ｈｉｎｄｅｏｄｕｓｌａｔｉｄｅｎｔａｔｕｓ－Ｃｌａｒｋｉｎａｍｅｉｓｈａｎｅｎｓｉｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．动物群和Ｈｉｎｄｅｏｄｕｓｔｙｐｉｃａｌｉｓ动物群，煤山剖面二叠、三叠系界线层牙形石序列的建立、完善，对确立该剖面在全球二叠、三在系界线高精度对比中的标准地位具重要意义。     

Low-carbonaceous shales in the Riphean stratotype,plume events,and supercontinent breakup: Analysis of the relationship

The relationship of events of igneous plume activity to the periods of low-carbonaceous clay shale deposition has been considered in the Riphean stratotype (western slope of the Southern Urals). The relation between plume events, warm climate periods, and active black shale deposition assumed in the Early Precambrian is poorly defined in the Late Precambrian.     

荆州地区晚三叠世—中侏罗世地层及沉积环境

晚三叠世—中侏罗世沉积地层特征表明，该时期荆州地区为前陆盆地构造环境，形成于秦岭造山带南部前陆地带，沉积特征及上下接触关系表明其为Ⅰ级构造层。上三叠统和中下侏罗统具有相反的粒序特征和不同的建造特征，分属于两个Ⅱ级层序，分别由３个和７个Ⅲ级层序构成。综合研究结果表明，荆州前陆盆地经历了三个演化阶段，即挠曲变形阶段（Ｔ３ｊ）—粘弹性流变阶段（Ｔ３ｗ）—后期前陆盆地演化阶段（Ｊ１－２），不同演化阶段前陆盆地沉降中心及前隆具纵向迁移的特征，同时，沉积盆地规模及拗陷幅度亦显示规律性变化。     

U-Pb systematics of detrital zircons from the Serebryanka Group of the Central Urals

Based on the LA-ICP-MS data, detrital zircons from the tillite-type conglomerates of the Tanin Formation (Serebryanka Group) on the western slope of the Central Urals include approximately equal proportions of crystals with Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic U-Pb ages. Therefore, we can assume that crystalline rocks of the basement beneath the eastern part of the East European Craton served as a provenance for aluminosilicate clastics in the initial Serebryanka period. Detrital zircons from sandstones of the Kernos Formation have the Meso-Neoarchean (∼15%), Paleoproterozoic (∼60%), and Mesoproterozoic (∼26%) age. Comparison of the obtained data with the results of the study of detrital zircons from Riphean and Vendian sandstones of the Southern Urals shows that the Riphean and Lower Vendian rocks are mainly represented by erosional products of Middle and Upper Paleoproterozoic crystalline rocks that constitute the basement of the East European Craton. In addition, a notable role belonged to older (Lower Proterozoic, Neoarchean and Mesoarchean) rock associations during the formation of the Serebryanka Group. The terminal Serebryanka time (Kernos Age) differed from its initial stage (Tanin Age) by the appearance of Mesoproterozoic complexes in provenances. According to available data, these complexes played an insignificant role in the formation of Riphean-Vendian rocks in the neighboring South Uralian segment. This implies a spatiotemporal diversity of clastic material sources for Upper Precambrian rocks in the western megazone of the Southern and Central Urals.     

Biostratigraphy of the Late Middle Pleistocene (Middle Neopleistocene) of the Southern Urals region

A summary of published and unpublished materials on the stratigraphy of the Late Middle Pleistocene (Middle Neopleistocene according to the Russian stratigraphic scheme) of the Southern Urals region is given. Deposits of different origin in the regional stratigraphic units are characterized. The results of mammalian investigations provide the basis for the stratigraphical subdivision. Mollusca and palynology are used for the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironments. The stratigraphical positions of the main Middle Neopleistocene localities and precise definitions of the stratigraphical scheme of the Southern Urals region are discussed. The Southern Urals subdivisions are correlated with the Western European stratigraphical schemes (Holsteinian–Saalian interval).     

The microstructural properties and deformation environments of the Kugarchi folded complex,Southern Urals

The Kugarchi folded complex is located on the western slope of the Southern Urals; it is a region of complex disharmonic folding in the Lower Carboniferous limestones. We revealed and studied two systems of mineral veins and accompanying veinlets in limestones. The microstructural analysis was used to recognize several deformation stages and orientations of the principal strain directions. This folded complex is interpreted to have formed under conditions close to uniaxial compression accompanied by a progressive change in the extensional strain direction from vertical to horizontal.     

浙江长兴地区二叠纪与三叠纪之交牙形石动物群及地层意义

本文把采自华南浙江长兴煤山二叠系与三叠系界线剖面的牙形石动物群从老至新分为三个带:1.Gondolella subcarinata-G·wangi组合带;2.G.changxingensis-G.deflecta组合带;3.Anchignathodus parvus带。将煤山剖面的二叠系与三叠系界线划在2、3组合带之间。并初步探讨了长兴地区长兴期至早格里斯巴赫期的牙形石分异度与沉积环境变迁。     

Ore deposit types and tectonic evolution of the Iberian Pyrite Belt: From transtensional basins and magmatism to transpression and inversion tectonics

A new interpretation of the structural evolution of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) and volcanogenic massive sulfide mineralization (VMS) is presented in this work, based on a review of the ore deposit types, the analysis of the hosting volcanic sequences and the tectonic evolution. The VMS deposits of the IPB are hosted by volcanic and siliciclastic rocks. Four main volcano-sedimentary sequences (VSC), from VSC₀ to VSC_3, have been assumed, the main deposits being located in the VSC₀ and at the top of the VSC₂.We have defined three main sectors oriented approximately E-W and hosting the VMS deposits. In the Northern sector, which is mostly located in Spain, graben basins and local pull-aparts are the main structures. In this sector, two belts can be distinguished, the deposits being located at the top of the VSC₂ felsic volcanism (Rio Tinto-type IPB deposits). In the Central sector, both in Spain and Portugal, half-graben basins are the most common structures, and the deposits are mostly located in the VSC₀ andesitic volcanic-sedimentary sequence (Tharsis-type IPB deposits). In the Southern sector, which is only located in Portugal, a graben basin with a pull-apart is again the main structure, and the deposits are located in black slates and at the top of a felsic volcanism, Strunian in age (VSC₀). The deposits located in graben basin with a pull-apart are essentially felsic volcanic-hosted with some siliciclastic material, mostly black shales. By contrast, those located in half-graben basins are mainly hosted by black-shales with minor amounts of andesitic rocks.The tectonic evolution shows that as a result of a counterclockwise rotation of the stress axes, the formation of the IPB and the associated ore deposits took place during several episodes, from transtension (with the development of both graben with pull-aparts and half-graben basins), through left lateral E-W shearing, to transpression. At the beginning of the transtensional process, several extensional, roughly E-W trending faults that developed graben and half-graben basins were generated and the first volcanic andesite-rhyolite rocks (VSC₀) formed. The Tharsis-type deposits, mainly hosted by black slates with some volcanic rocks, were formed in the Central sector while the Neves Corvo-type deposit, hosted by black slates and felsic volcanism formed in the Southern one. After a period characterized by barren mafic volcanism (VSC₁), a sinistral shear affected the previous fractures due to the stress axis rotation and felsic crustal volcanism started (VSC₂). Rhyolites and dacites were particularly abundant in two graben basins, which developed rollovers in pull-apart zones, forming the Rio Tinto-type deposits in the Northern sector. The thermal increase associated with VSC₀ and VSC₂ gave rise to the development of crustal-scale hydrothermal convective cells, which generated both types of deposits.After a barren VSC₃ felsic volcanism, subsequently, during the Variscan transpressional phase, the E-W extensional faults were reactivated as reverse faults, affecting the volcanic sequence (VSC₀ to VSC₃) as well as the interbedded sedimentary rocks (mostly black shales). As has been recognized at the Rio Tinto deposit, buttressing must have played a significant role in the geometry of inverted structures, and the VMS ores were intensely recrystallized.It should be emphasized that this new regional geological model for the IPB is an approach to provide a better insight into VMS deposits and could be a key-point for further studies, providing a new tool to improve knowledge of the VMS mineralizations and exploration guidelines elsewhere in the IPB.     

松辽盆地南部西部斜坡区晚白垩世坳陷盆地坡折带研究

通过对晚白垩世松辽盆地南部西部斜坡区的综合研究,从基底构造、古地理位置、地层产状和厚度、钻井和地震资料特征及构造发育情况等方面表明,该区在青山口组-嫩江组坳陷期发育侵蚀坡折带、沉积坡折带和构造坡折带.由于多种类型坡折带的存在,制约着盆地充填可容空间的变化,控制了区内的层序发育、沉积体系展布和非构造圈闭类型.松辽盆地南部西部斜坡区湖盆坡折带附近是非构造油气藏发育的有利部位,可以应用坡折带理论指导本区的隐蔽油气藏勘探.     

滇东下寒武统含磷岩系底部火山喷发事件沉积及其意义

云南曲靖德泽剖面下寒武统梅树村组待补段底和晋宁梅树村剖面小歪头山段底粘土岩层的岩石、矿物和元素地球化学特征表明，这些粘土岩层是由酸性火山灰蚀变而成的变斑脱岩。它们是同期火山喷发事件沉积的标志，也是滇东地区下寒武统梅树村组底界等时对比的标志层。根据这个标志层以及小歪头山段和待补段沉积序列的对比，梅树村剖面小歪头山段仅相当于小江断裂以东地区的待补段下部白云岩层，缺失上部硅质岩层，因而它不能代表滇东地区下寒武统梅树村组下段的沉积序列。     

6: Classification of VMS deposits: Lessons from the South Uralides

VMS deposits of the South Urals developed within the evolving Urals palaeo-ocean between Silurian and Late Devonian times. Arc-continent collision between Baltica and the Magnitogorsk Zone (arc) in the south-western Urals effectively terminated submarine volcanism in the Magnitogorsk Zone with which the bulk of the VMS deposits are associated. The majority of the Urals VMS deposits formed within volcanic-dominated sequences in deep seawater settings. Preservation of macro and micro vent fauna in the sulphide bodies is both testament to the seafloor setting for much of the sulphides but also the exceptional degree of preservation and lack of metamorphic overprint of the deposits and host rocks. The deposits in the Urals have previously been classified in terms of tectonic setting, host rock associations and metal ratios in line with recent tectono-stratigraphic classifications. In addition to these broad classes, it is clear that in a number of the Urals settings, an evolution of the host volcanic stratigraphy is accompanied by an associated change in the metal ratios of the VMS deposits, a situation previously discussed, for example, in the Noranda district of Canada.Two key structural settings are implicated in the South Urals. The first is seen in a preserved marginal allochthon west of the Main Urals Fault where early arc tholeiites host Cu–Zn mineralization in deposits including Yaman Kasy, which is host to the oldest macro vent fauna assembly known to science. The second tectonic setting for the South Urals VMS is the Magnitogorsk arc where study has highlighted the presence of a preserved early forearc assemblage, arc tholeiite to calc-alkaline sequences and rifted arc bimodal tholeiite sequences. The boninitc rocks of the forearc host Cu–(Zn) and Cu–Co VMS deposits, the latter hosted in fragments within the Main Urals Fault Zone (MUFZ) which marks the line of arc-continent collision in Late Devonian times. The arc tholeiites host Cu–Zn deposits with an evolution to more calc-alkaline felsic volcanic sequences matched with a change to Zn–Pb–Cu polymetallic deposits, often gold-rich. Large rifts in the arc sequence are filled by thick bimodal tholeiite sequences, themselves often showing an evolution to a more calc-alkaline nature. These thick bimodal sequences are host to the largest of the Cu–Zn VMS deposits.The exceptional degree of preservation in the Urals has permitted the identification of early seafloor clastic and hydrolytic modification (here termed halmyrolysis sensu lato) to the sulphide assemblages prior to diagenesis and this results in large-scale modification to the primary VMS body, resulting in distinctive morphological and mineralogical sub-types of sulphide body superimposed upon the tectonic association classification.It is proposed that a better classification of seafloor VMS systems is thus achievable using a three stage classification based on (a) tectonic (hence bulk volcanic chemistry) association, (b) local volcanic chemical evolution within a single edifice and (c) seafloor reworking and halmyrolysis.     

Upper carboniferous conodont zones of Russia and their global correlation

The last decade has been marked by significant progress in the study of the stratigraphic ranges of the conodonts characteristic of the Kasimovian and Gzhelian stages in shallow-water sediments of the type sections in the Moscow Basin and the deeper facies of the South Urals. This paper discusses the history of studies of the Upper Carboniferous conodont zonation in Russia and abroad, and proposes a refined zonal conodont scale for the Kasimovian and Gzhelian stages, which may be included, as a standard, into the general Carboniferous scale of Russia. In this scale, the Kasimovian and Gzhelian stages correspond respectively to six (subexcelsus, makhlinae, sagittalis, cancellosus, toretzianus, firmus) and five (simulator, vitali, virgilicus, bellus, wabaunsensis) zones. The proposed scale works for the entire East European Platform and the Urals from the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago in the north to the Mugodzhary Mountains in the south. These regions of Russia are occupied by Upper Carboniferous marine facies. At several levels (especially in the Gzhelian Stage), the scale reliably correlates with zones of the Missourian and Virgilian stages in North America and also Dalaun and Mapingian stages in China.     

6: Classification of VMS deposits: Lessons from the South Uralides

VMS deposits of the South Urals developed within the evolving Urals palaeo-ocean between Silurian and Late Devonian times. Arc-continent collision between Baltica and the Magnitogorsk Zone (arc) in the south-western Urals effectively terminated submarine volcanism in the Magnitogorsk Zone with which the bulk of the VMS deposits are associated. The majority of the Urals VMS deposits formed within volcanic-dominated sequences in deep seawater settings. Preservation of macro and micro vent fauna in the sulphide bodies is both testament to the seafloor setting for much of the sulphides but also the exceptional degree of preservation and lack of metamorphic overprint of the deposits and host rocks. The deposits in the Urals have previously been classified in terms of tectonic setting, host rock associations and metal ratios in line with recent tectono-stratigraphic classifications. In addition to these broad classes, it is clear that in a number of the Urals settings, an evolution of the host volcanic stratigraphy is accompanied by an associated change in the metal ratios of the VMS deposits, a situation previously discussed, for example, in the Noranda district of Canada.Two key structural settings are implicated in the South Urals. The first is seen in a preserved marginal allochthon west of the Main Urals Fault where early arc tholeiites host Cu–Zn mineralization in deposits including Yaman Kasy, which is host to the oldest macro vent fauna assembly known to science. The second tectonic setting for the South Urals VMS is the Magnitogorsk arc where study has highlighted the presence of a preserved early forearc assemblage, arc tholeiite to calc-alkaline sequences and rifted arc bimodal tholeiite sequences. The boninitc rocks of the forearc host Cu–(Zn) and Cu–Co VMS deposits, the latter hosted in fragments within the Main Urals Fault Zone (MUFZ) which marks the line of arc-continent collision in Late Devonian times. The arc tholeiites host Cu–Zn deposits with an evolution to more calc-alkaline felsic volcanic sequences matched with a change to Zn–Pb–Cu polymetallic deposits, often gold-rich. Large rifts in the arc sequence are filled by thick bimodal tholeiite sequences, themselves often showing an evolution to a more calc-alkaline nature. These thick bimodal sequences are host to the largest of the Cu–Zn VMS deposits.The exceptional degree of preservation in the Urals has permitted the identification of early seafloor clastic and hydrolytic modification (here termed halmyrolysis sensu lato) to the sulphide assemblages prior to diagenesis and this results in large-scale modification to the primary VMS body, resulting in distinctive morphological and mineralogical sub-types of sulphide body superimposed upon the tectonic association classification.It is proposed that a better classification of seafloor VMS systems is thus achievable using a three stage classification based on (a) tectonic (hence bulk volcanic chemistry) association, (b) local volcanic chemical evolution within a single edifice and (c) seafloor reworking and halmyrolysis.     

First findings of siegenite (CoNi2S4) in picritic and picrodoleritic complexes of the Southern Urals

This work presents data on the sulfide mineralization of picritic and picrodoleritic complexes of the western slope of the Southern Urals. The first finding of siegenite is described in igneous mafic-ultramafic rocks. The problems of the genesis of sulfides are reviewed with regard to the origin of igneous bodies. It is concluded that Co specialization of sulfides is caused by the formation of magma under the melting of the mantle substrate during the Riphean-Vendian plume origination and rifting.     

分叉波痕在广西上泥盆统钙质浊积岩中的发现及意义

小型不对称分叉波痕(简称分叉波痕)发现于桂林杨堤剖面上泥盆统弗拉斯阶linguiformis牙形石带，桂林碳酸盐台地东南缘斜坡相钙质浊积岩鲍马序列C段。波长7．5～8．0cm，波高0．5～0．8cm，波痕指数15～10；向流面长5．0～7．0cm，背流面长2．5～4．0cm，波痕对称指数2．0～1．8；背流面向东倾；波脊较圆滑、缓曲，且具明显的分叉现象。是浊流流速减缓，密度流转化为牵引流后在低流态条件下，并叠加有推进型风暴浪作用形成的复合成因波痕。根据该波痕和寄主地层特征，推断含分叉波痕的阳朔碳酸盐盆地的最大水深约100m，极限水深小于200m。这一估计值应能代表广西乃至华南板块泥盆纪广泛发育的含牙形石动物群和钙质浊积岩碳酸盐沉积盆地的定量水深，可能也代表了弗拉斯阶一法门阶之交受集群绝灭事件重创的浅水海相生物与基本未受影响的深水海相生物的水深分界线。     

Biostratigraphy of the Upper Pleistocene (Upper Neopleistocene)–Holocene deposits of the Lemeza River valley of the Southern Urals region (Russia)

Numerous caves and terraces with late Late Pleistocene (Upper Neopleistocene according to the Russian stratigraphic scale)–Holocene deposits are located in the Lemeza River valley in the surroundings of the Atysh waterfall, the native reserve territory of the Bashkortostan Republic. Lemeza River runs in the southern part of the western slope of the Urals and belongs to the Belaya River valley system (Russian Federation). A summary of the biostratigraphical investigations between 1992 and 2007 in this area is given. Deposits of cave and fluvial origin are characterized in the framework of the regional stratigraphy. The results of mammalian investigations and radiocarbon dating provide the basis for the stratigraphical subdivision. Palynology, mollusca, fishes, amphibian and reptiles are used for the reconstruction the palaeoenvironments. The Southern Urals stratigraphic subdivisions are correlated with Western European (Weichselian-Holocene), Eastern European (Russia) (Leningrad–Ostashkov–Shuvalov) and Uralian (Nevyansk–Polar Urals–Gorbunovsky) stratigraphic schemes.