Zeolite potential of Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene sedimentary rocks in the eastern and southeastern Russian Plate

More than 70 samples of Turonian-Danian samples from the eastern and southeastern Russian Plate were studied by the X-ray phase analysis and classical wet chemistry. It has been established that zeolites occur in all studied types of carbonate, siliceous, and clayey rocks. Steadily high zeolite concentrations were revealed in sections of the Santonian formation. Character of zeolite formation was examined simultaneously in both spatiotemporal and lithogenetic aspects. Analysis of the stagewise distribution of zeolites supports the concept of primary volcanogenic nature of the zeolite-forming material and actually represents an indicator of the activity of explosive volcanism in the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene. It is emphasized that high zeolite concentrations in Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene formations are a prospecting guide for zeolite raw material. They can serve as scientific basis for the formulation of prognostic-revision and prospecting works in the study region     

Oxygen Isotope Records of Core 8KL of the South China Sea and Sea - level Change

Based on a comparison between the oxygen isotope records of benthic and plank tonic foraminifers from core 8KL of the South China Sea and sea-level change records derived from the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea, it is found that both records are very similar from 72 K a B.P. to the present, especially for the benthic oxygen isotope record. The linear regression shows that δ18O changes (0.9995‰ for benthic foraminifers and 1.022‰ for planktonic foraminifers) are equal to 100 m in sea-level fluctuation. After making temperature correction in the δ18O record of benthic foraminifers from 72 to 120 Ka B.P., the curve of sea-level oscillation of the South China Sea since 186 Ka B.P. has been reconstructed. The lowermost sea - level that occurred in the last glacial maximum and oxygen isotope stage 6 is approximately - 130 m.     

Distribution of gold in igneous granitoid complexes in the central and southwestern areas of eastern Transbaikalia

The distribution of gold in rocks from some igneous complexes of the central and southwestern areas of eastern Transbaikalia (Daurian, Aga, and Argun structure-formational zones) was studied by quantitative extraction–atomic-absorption analysis and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (Element-2 mass spectrometer). High gold concentrations (on average, 0.0043 ppm) are typical of the most widespread hornblende-biotite granodiorites and granites of the main phases of batholith intrusions in the Upper Paleozoic Unda complex in the east of the study area and in the Triassic–Middle Jurassic Kyra complex in the west. The rocks of the Early–Middle Jurassic (Sokhondo) and Middle–Upper Jurassic (Shakhtama, Kharalga, and Kukul’bei) complexes have much lower Au concentrations (mainly 0.0014–0.0030 ppm), with the minimum ones established in the Shakhtama complex. During the magmatic differentiation of granitoid intrusions, the concentrations of gold in the late leucogranite differentiates decreased.The Au concentrations in the studied complexes do not depend on the composition of the host terrigenous rocks of different ages, which evidences the endogenous nature of the revealed differences in Au concentrations in the regional granitoids. Abnormally high concentrations of gold in some studied samples are observed mainly in the regional hydrothermal mineralization occurrences.The classification R-type cluster analysis showed that all variables of the studied igneous rocks are subdivided into three groups by the degree of correlation. Gold shows a distinct tendency to the correlation with siderophile oxy- and sulfurophile groups of metals. The Q-type analysis generally confirmed the correctness of the known formational classification of the regional granitoids.     

New Evidence for a Cretaceous Age for a Mesozoic Nonmarine Bivalve Assemblage from Paekto-dong, Sinuiju City, The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

The Sinuiju Formation in Paekto-dong, Sinuiju City in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has yielded Mesozoic nonmarine bivalve fossils, which is the first occurrence of such in the DPRK. Based on these fossil specimens, a new Cretaceous bivalve assemblage, the Arguniella yanshanensis-Sphaerium anderssoni Assemblage is erected. This assemblage includes Arguniella yanshanensis, A. lingyuanensis and Sphaerium anderssoni and can be compared with the Jehol Biota. The age of the Sinuiju Formation is also clarified and on the basis of the bivalves and the presence of a Eosestheria–Ephemeropsis–Lycoptera(E–E–L) assemblage, the formation is not Upper Jurassic, but Lower Cretaceous in age.     

The role of rifting in the evolution of the continental margin of Eastern Asia: Geophysical evidence

The role of rift processes is analysed in the structural evolution of the continental margins of Eastern Asia including the Indo-China Peninsula and North China plain. Paleoreconstructions were made for the Indo-China Peninsula to characterize individual stages of rifting covering the Late Cretaceous-Eocene, Oligocene-Middle Miocene and Late Pliocene-Early Quaternary epochs. The rifting of continental margins occurred synchronously with spreading processes in marginal seas, whereas the formation of rift structures in the North China plain was concurrent with the formation of a deep-water basin of the Philippine Sea. The development of asthenospheric diapire led to crustal extension and was responsible for the formation of rift structures in marginal seas and continental margins.     

Euxinia as a dominant process during OAE1a (Early Aptian) on the Eastern Russian Platform and during OAE1b (Early Albian) in the Middle Caspian

A detailed study of the mineral composition and microstructure of the black shales associated with OAE1a (Eastern Russian Platform), OAE1b (Middle Caspian), and the host rocks has been carried out using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopic, and microprobe analyses. The results provide important constraints for depositional environments in the sedimentary basins. Black shales with pyrite framboids imply euxinic (sulfidic) conditions with increased organic matter preservation. Disintegrating framboids suggest partial or complete dissolution of the organic matter inside the framboids due to increasing water oxygenation. OAE1a on the Eastern Russian Platform is heterogeneous as it includes thin interbeds of concretionary coccolith limestones within the interval of bituminous shales, and correlates with the Lower Aptian Rhagodiscus angustus nannofossil zone. The coccolith limestones indicate short intermittent episodes of interrupted stagnation, rapid oxygenation, and restoration of normal marine conditions. The presence of montmorillonite, albite, microcline, and diopside in the bituminous siltstones and in the host siltstones of OAE1a on the Eastern Russian Platform, as well as a high content of titanium in the black siltstones correlated with OAE1b in the Middle Caspian allow proposing significant input of pyroclastic material into the extant sea.     

The fluid regime of ore formation in the Balei gold-bearing ore-magmatic system (eastern Transbaikalia,Russia)

Based on comprehensive studies of fluid inclusions in quartz formed at different stages of hydrothermal process, we consider the physicochemical conditions of formation of epithermal ores (K₁) in the Balei ore field. The limiting parameters of hydrothermal process have been established: 353–131 °C, 150–30 bars, and salt concentrations of 7.6–0.5 wt.%-NaCl equiv. A specific feature of the ore-forming process at the Balei deposits is a rapid drop in temperature and pressure, which is typical of open hydrothermal systems. The temperature increase at the beginning of each stage evidences pulse-like ore formation. The productive stage coincides with the initiation of a drastic decrease in temperature (<225 °C) and salt concentration in the solution. The deposits resulted from the functioning of the common Balei ore-magmatic system at shallow depths with a high permeability of the host rocks. High-K calc-alkalic magmas might have been sources of gold mineralization. The ore formation zone is localized above intrusive bodies near their roof. It is not ruled out that the Balei gold was partly borrowed from the products of the early cycles (J_2-3) of gold mineralization and from the host rocks.     

An Event-Based Depositional Model for the Paleocene–Eocene Sandy–Clayey–Siliceous Sequence of the Russian Platform

An event-based depositional model for the Paleocene—Eocene sandy–clayey–siliceous deposits of the Russian Platform was proposed. The model was based on pulsational input of pyroclastic material and intrusion of sandy injectites. These processes should be taken into account to identify the stratigraphic position of the Paleocene–Eocene lithostratigraphic units in the eastern, southeastern, and southern parts of the Russian Platform.