全球寒武-奥陶系界线划分对比的标志和纽带——中国北方小阳桥剖面的启示

根据对中国小阳桥剖面高精度生物、层序、化学和磁性地层学综合研究的新成果及其与绿岬全球界线层型剖面(GSSP)的详细对比,进一步厘定了加拿大绿岬"金钉子"剖面所定义的奥陶系底界划分与对比的标志,并指出:(1)与所定义的全球标准奥陶系底界相当的界线位于小阳桥剖面块状叠层石灰岩之上19.9 m处的薄层纹层灰岩中(BD-24层...     

全球奥陶系底界的“金钉子”问题及我国特马豆克阶(Tremadocian)的划分与对比

对全球寒武系与奥陶系界线层型剖面和点位(GSSP)——西纽芬兰绿岬(Green Point)剖面和我国吉林白山(原浑江)大阳岔小洋桥原全球寒武系与奥陶系界线候选剖面的对比研究表明,绿岬"金钉子"剖面所指定的界线生物标志——波动古大西洋牙形石(Iapetognathus fluctivagus)并不存在于所指定的界线生物层和点位上,而且在分布和分类上是均存在争议的物种,更遗憾的是,所展示的大部分牙形石和笔石标本图片以及碳氧同位素异常数据也并非来自该"金钉子"剖面,因而完全违背了选择金钉子剖面的原则和要求,有必要进行重新的评估。小洋桥寒武系与奥陶系界线剖面交通方便、环境优美,寒武系与奥陶系界线地层系由一套深水且未变质的黑色、黄绿色页岩与灰色薄层瘤状灰岩所构成的韵律沉积组成,并保存了完整的具有广泛代表性牙形石和笔石序列,在详细研究的34 m界线间隔中,自下而上保存了完整的Cambrostodus、Codylodus proavus、C.intermedius、C.lindstromi和C.angulatus等5牙形石生物带,在C.intermedius带上部至C.angulatus带之间,还依次出现3层笔石,归属于重新厘定的Rhabdinopora parabola和Anisograptus matanensis等2个笔石带,此外还有大量三叶虫和介形类化石共生,结合高精度同位素地球化学的研究,笔者等建议,以全球广泛分布的牙形石C.intermedius的首现,取代Iapetognathus fluctivagus,作为寒武系与奥陶系界线划分对比的标志,其层位与原来所指定的界线层几乎一致或接近,界线之上所记录的最大碳同位素异常和首次出现的最早的浮游正笔石——R.parabola(含R.praeparabola),可作为该界线划分的辅助标志。     

Characteristics of the Sahara as a meteorite recovery surface

We describe the geological, geomorphological, and paleoclimatic setting of the Sahara of North Africa in particular, focused on the main meteorite dense collection areas (DCA; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya). We report on the outcome of several meteorite recovery field expeditions in Morocco and Tunisia since 2008, by car and by foot, that applied systematic search methods. The number of meteorites collected is 41 ordinary chondrites and one brachinite. The statistics of unpaired ordinary chondrites indicates that H chondrites are more abundant (21) than L chondrites (12), while LL chondrites are rare (2). Our meteorite density estimates for Tunisia and Morocco are in the order of magnitude of 1 met km^?2. An estimate of the total maximum number of meteorites that could be recovered from the Sahara is 780,000 meteorites. We selected 23 meteorites from Aridal, Bou Kra, Bir Zar, and Tieret DCAs for ¹⁴C dating. The results show a wide range of terrestrial ages from 0.4 to more than 40 kyr with a majority of meteorites showing ages between 0.4 and 20 kyr. The weathering degree of these meteorites is ranges from minor (W1) to strong (W4). The highest weathering grades result from repeated oscillations between high and low humidity in the Sahara. However, there appears to be no correlation between weathering grade and terrestrial age of meteorites.     

Geochemical variations in the Cocos Plate subducting beneath Central America: implications for the composition of arc volcanism and the extent of the Galápagos Hotspot influence on the Cocos oceanic crust

New geochemical data from the Cocos Plate constrain the composition of the input into the Central American subduction zone and demonstrate the extent of influence of the Galápagos Hotspot on the Cocos Plate. Samples include sediments and basalts from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1256 outboard of Nicaragua, gabbroic sills from ODP Sites 1039 and 1040, tholeiitic glasses from the Fisher Ridge off northwest Costa Rica, and basalts from the Galápagos Hotspot Track outboard of Central Costa Rica. Site 1256 basalts range from normal to enriched MORB in incompatible elements and have Pb and Nd isotopic compositions within the East Pacific Rise MORB field. The sediments have similar ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and only slightly more radiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotope ratios than the basalts. Altered samples from the subducting Galápagos Hotspot Track have similar Nd and Pb isotopic compositions to fresh Galápagos samples but have significantly higher Sr isotopic composition, indicating that the subduction input will have a distinct geochemical signature from Galápagos-type mantle material that may be present in the wedge beneath Costa Rica. Gabbroic sills from Sites 1039 and 1040 in East Pacific Rise (EPR) crust show evidence for influence of the Galápagos Hotspot ∼100 km beyond the morphological hotspot track.     

Early and Middle Valdaian glaciations, ice-dammed lakes and periglacial interstadials in northwest Russia: new evidence from the Pyoza River area

The Pyoza River area in the Arkhangelsk district exposes sedimentary sequences suitable for study of the interaction between consecutive Valdaian ice sheets in Northern Russia. Lithostratigraphic investigations combined with luminescence dating have revealed new evidence on the Late Pleistocene history of the area. Overlying glacigenic deposits of the Moscowian (Saalian) glaciation marine deposits previously confined to three separate transgression phases have all been connected to the Mikulinian (Eemian) interglacial. Early Valdaian (E. Weichselian) proglacial, lacustrine and fluvial deposits indicate glaciation to the east or north and consequently glacier damming and meltwater run-off in the Pyoza area around 90–110 ka BP. Interstadial conditions with forest-steppe tundra vegetation and lacustrine and fluvial deposition prevailed at the end of the Early Valdaian around 75–95 ka BP. A terrestrial-based glaciation from easterly uplands reached the Pyoza area at the Early to Middle Valdaian transition around 65–75 ka BP and deposited glaciofluvial strata and subglacial till (Yolkino Till). During deglaciation, laterally extensive glaciolacustrine sediments were deposited in ice-dammed lakes in the early Middle Valdaian around 55–75 ka BP. The Barents–Kara Sea ice sheet deposited the Viryuga Till on the lower Pyoza from northerly directions. The ice sheet formed the Pyoza marginal moraines, which can be correlated with the Markhida moraines further east, and proglacial lacustrine deposition persisted in the area during the first part of the Middle Valdaian. Glacio-isostatic uplift caused erosion followed by pedogenesis and the formation of a deflation horizon in the Middle Valdaian. Widely dispersed periglacial river plains were formed during the Late Valdaian around 10–20 ka BP. Thus, the evidence of a terrestrial-based ice sheet from easterly uplands in the Pyoza area suggests that local piedmont glaciers situated in highlands such as the Timan Ridge or the Urals could have developed into larger, regionally confined ice sheets. Two phases of ice damming and development of proglacial lakes occurred during the Early and Middle Valdaian. The region did not experience glaciation during the Late Valdaian.     

A primitive cladid crinoid from the Jiacun Group,Tibet (Darriwilian,Middle Ordovician)

A collection of numerous crinoid pluricolumnals from the uppermost Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) of Tibet were derived from one biological species of crinoid. The specimens were collected from well‐lithified, bioclastic shelf limestones of the upper part of the Lower Chiatsun Group, Pygodus serra Biozone; coeval rocks of similar lithology outcrop at the summit of Everest. A new crinoid morphospecies, Segmentocolumnus (col.) hanshessi, is tentatively considered a ‘stem‐group cladid’, perhaps a dendrocrinid. The proxistele is broad and pentagonal in section with a broad, pentagonal axial canal; the mesistele of similar gross morphology is more slender with a regularly heteromorphic column and a similarly wide axial canal; the dististele is a terminal dendritic radice with a pentastellate axial canal. In the mesistele, the meric sutures correspond to the centres of the sides of the column, but in the dististele they occur in the angles. This range of morphologies would have led to their inclusion in at least two morphogenera if they had not been closely associated; as they belong to a single biological species, they have been ‘lumped’ together herein. This is a rare contribution to our knowledge of the early crinoids from a region outside Europe and North America. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conodont diversification during the Ordovician: A perspective from North China and Tarim (Northwestern China)

Review of the literature on Ordovician conodont diversification in palaeoplates of North and Western China reveals that four diversity peaks are present in North China, occurring in the middle Tremadocian, early Floian, late Floian, and late Darriwilian, with three of these peaks (excepting that in the late Floian) also being recorded in Tarim. Three diversification intervals are present in North China, during the Tremadocian, late Floian, early and middle Darriwilian; comparable intervals are observed in the early and late Tremadocian, early Floian, and the Middle Ordovician in Tarim. The main conodont diversification episode in both palaeoplates took place in the Darriwilian, at the time of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. A comparison of conodont diversity patterns in different palaeoplates (North China, Tarim, and South China) demonstrates that conodont radiation events mainly occurred within the Tremadocian, Floian, and Darriwilian. Conodont diversifications in these paleoplates also display some differences. In contrasting with Tarim and South China, North China witnessed a rapid conodont diversification during late Floian time. Conodont diversity in North China and Tarim increased continually and reached a peak in the late Darriwilian, concurrent with a prominent decreasing trend in South China. Differences of conodont diversification in these three palaeoplates may be related to their palaeogeography and tectonic history. When conodont diversifications in North China and Tarim are analysed on the background of palaeoenvironments, the main episodes are seen to be partly coincident with second order sea-level changes, particularly in North China. In general, conodont radiation correlates with large scale transgressions.