Ornithomimidae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Bissekty Formation (Upper Cretaceous: Turonian) of Uzbekistan

The stratigraphically oldest remains of ornithomimid theropod dinosaurs are known from the Cenomanian Khodzhakul Formation and the Turonian Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan. The ornithomimid from the Bissekty Formation is documented by more than 800 isolated bones that represent much of the skeleton. It shows at least three unambiguous synapomorphies of Ornithomimidae: length of anterior cervical centra three to five times greater than transverse width; low and rounded fibular crest of tibia; metatarsal III pinched between metatarsals II and IV; and proximal end of metatarsal III not visible in anterior view. Phylogenetic analysis, based on a dataset with 568 morphological characters and including all known ornithomimosaurian taxa, places the ornithomimid from the Bissekty Formation near the base of the ornithomimid radiation, between Archaeornithomimus asiaticus and Sinornithomimus dongi.     

地球圈层之间相互作用对白垩纪大洋缺氧与富氧过程的制约

白垩纪诸多地质事件中,以黑色页岩为特征的大洋缺氧事件和以红层为特征的大洋富氧环境尤其引人关注。本文探讨了白垩纪大洋从缺氧到富氧转化的过程与机制,认为上述沉积事件是地球圈层之间相互作用的结果。白垩纪岩石圈剧烈的岩浆活动,是缺氧、富氧事件发生的源动力,水圈、大气圈、生物圈的共同作用是沉积事件发生的结果。具体过程为:白垩纪大规模的火山喷发,改变了海陆面积的对比,并引起地球内部大量热能释放和大气中CO_2气体浓度的升高,最终导致大气温度的升高。海水温度的升高和CO_2浓度的增加导致海洋环境中溶解O_2的降低,缺氧事件随之而产生。同时,海底岩浆喷发在海底产生大量的富含铁元素的基性和超基性岩石,通过海底风化和热液活动,铁元素从岩石圈进入水圈。海水中的铁元素是海洋浮游植物宝贵的营养盐类,其含量的增加可激发浮游植物的大规模繁盛,而这一生命过程可以吸收海水中大量的CO_2,并且产生等量的O_2。随着海水中O_2浓度的不断升高,以富含Fe3+的红色沉积物为特征的海洋富氧环境出现。藏南和深海钻探、大洋钻探典型剖面的数据证实大洋缺氧和富氧发生的韵律性,即缺氧事件之后往往伴随富氧环境的出现。研究认为,白垩纪大洋缺氧和富氧事件是同一原因导致的不同结果,地球圈层相互作用是其根本制约因素。由岩浆活动引起的缺氧事件和同样由其造成的富氧环境,其机制存在明显的差异,前者以物理、化学过程为主,后者除此之外还演绎了更为复杂的生物-海洋地球化学过程。     

The Pushtashan juvenile suprasubduction zone assemblage of Kurdistan (northeastern Iraq): A Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Neo-Tethys missing link

The Pushtashan suprasubduction zone assemblage of volcanic rocks, gabbros, norites and peridotites occurs in the Zagros suture zone, Kurdistan region, northeastern Iraq. Volcanic rocks are dominant in the assemblage and consist mainly of basalt and basaltic andesite flows with interlayered red shale and limestone horizons. Earlier lavas tend to be MORB-like, whereas later lavas display island arc tholeiite to boninitic geochemical characteristics. Tholeiitic gabbros intrude the norites and display fractionation trends typical of crystallisation under low-pressure conditions, whereas the norites display calc-alkaline traits, suggesting their source included mantle metasomatised by fluids released from subducted oceanic crust. Enrichment of Rb, Ba, Sr, Th and the presence of negative Nb anomalies indicate generation in a suprasubduction zone setting. Trondhjemite and granodiorite intrusions are present in the volcanic rocks, gabbros and norites. SHRIMP U-Pb dating of magmatic zircons from a granodiorite yields a mean~(206)Pb/~(238)U age of 96.0 ±2.0 Ma(Cenomanian). The initial ε_(Hf) value for the zircons show a narrow range from +12.8 to+15.6, with a weighted mean of + 13.90±0.96. This initial value is within error of model depleted mantle at 96 Ma or slightly below that, in the field of arc rocks with minimal contamination by older continental crust. The compositional bimodality of the Pushtashan suprasubduction sequence suggests seafloor spreading during the initiation of subduction, with a lava stratigraphy from earlyerupted MORB transitioning into calc-alkaline lavas and finally by 96 Ma intrusion of granodioritic and trondhjemitic bodies with juvenile crustal isotopic signatures. The results confirm another Cretaceous arc remnant preserved as an allochthon within the Iraqi segment of the Cenozoic Zagros suture zone. Implications for the closure of Neo-Tethys are discussed.     

A proposal for a new position for the Aptian/Albian boundary

The Aptian/Albian boundary, as currently placed, presents problems which have not yet been solved and possibly never will be. No detailed definition of recent years can be applied on a world-wide scale, which will be needed for any definition acceptable to the Subcommission on Cretaceous Stratigraphy. The only satisfactory and workable solution is to choose a completely new position. It is suggested that this should be at the base of the Zone of Lyelliceras lyelli. This would change the start of the Albian from appproximately 112 Ma to 109 Ma but it would be a standard which should be recognizable on all five continents.     

Taphonomic history of a ‘duck-bill’ dinosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Upper Cretaceous,Campanian) Coahuila,Mexico: Preservational and paleoecological implications

The Cerro del Pueblo Formation in the state of Coahuila, Mexico is becoming recognized worldwide due to its abundant and diverse fossil material. While most previous paleontological work from this rock unit has been directed towards taxonomic investigation, this study is directed towards the taphonomy of a “duck-billed” dinosaur (Ornithischia: Hadrosauridae). The hadrosaur skeleton is represented by several skull bones, vertebrae and ribs, a scapula, pubis, and various appendicular elements. The following taphonomic parameters were considered: (1) bone frequency; (2) hydraulic equivalence; (3) degree of bone articulation; (4) abrasion; (5) weathering; (6) breakage; (7) tooth marks; and (8) trampling activities. The low degree of weathering and abrasion suggests that the specimen experienced a short time of subaerial exposure and underwent a short transportation distance before deposition. Burial occurred within a perimarine lagoonal environment. Furthermore, the lack of hydraulic equivalence with the rock matrix, a high degree of disarticulation and a chaotic distribution of the bones in the fossiliferous bed, suggest that it was transported as a “bloated carcass”. The finding of distinct types of tooth marks evidence some sort of predator/scavenging activities on the specimen. Finally, an almost vertical orientation of various bones and the presence of spiral fractures may indicate that these elements were trampled by other animals.     

白垩纪红层冰筏沉积的古气候及古地理意义

冰筏沉积是负载沉积物的冰块进入海洋或湖泊中,冰块融化沉积物坠落所形成的,它们可形成于高海拔具有明显气候垂直分带的低纬度地区或者是高纬度地区。我们在研究松辽盆地白垩纪古气候时,首次在泉头组红层中发现冰筏沉积。根据泉头组孢粉缉合的研究表明,它们除了具有热带一亚热带植物的孢粉以外,还有少量喜冷分子混生现象。经研究这些矛盾现象,反映泉头组时期盆地外围地形高差大,形成明显的气候垂直分带现象,这是造成这些矛盾现象的主要原因。冰筏沉积的发现对松辽盆地古气候古地理的恢复皆具有十分重要的意义。     

四川大邑—崇州地区的白垩、第三系

四川大邑、崇州地区的白垩、第三系发育良好 ,地层呈北东—南西走向。在《万家坪幅》区域地质调研期间 ,对该区的白垩系、第三系测制了多条剖面 ,划分出了天马山组、夹关组、灌口组、名山组及大邑砾岩等岩石地层单元 ,总结了它的岩石特征相变情况 ,讨论了白垩、第三纪地的地质时代及划分对比 ,简述了这一时期沉积环境的演变是由冲积扇到河、湖相的划分依据     

2020年7月12日唐山MS5.1地震预警处理能力分析

2020年7月12日,河北唐山发生M_S5.1地震,河北省地震预警系统成功地处理并产出了这次地震预警各种结果数据,本文借助此次地震对河北地震预警网内震中距200km范围内台站产出质量以及地震预警前5次处理结果进行详细分析。此次地震发生在河北地震预警网内,平均台间距为10km,首台触发后3s、震后6s发布首次处理结果,与编目结果相比,震级偏差为-1.3,震中位置偏差为2.6km,盲区半径为18km。随着参与定位台站数量增多,震级与位置偏差越来越小,但震级仍整体偏小。河北地震预警网台站产出质量整体较高,其中烈度台作为地震预警最重要的组成部分,是决定预警效果的关键因素。本次地震震中距200km范围内,烈度台平均信噪比为48,震中距50km范围内平均信噪比为112,符合预警系统对信噪比的要求。本次地震预警结果表明,河北地震预警网内台站布局基本合理,波形质量较高,地震预警系统处理软件在本次地震中预警产出效果较好,已经具备了一定的地震预警能力。     

Charophytes from the Upper Berriasian of the Western Interior Basin of the United States

A charophyte flora from the Upper Berriasian is described from the Lakota (Black Hills, South Dakota) and Cedar Mountain formations (San Rafael Swell, Utah) of the Western Interior Basin, United States of America. Whereas the latter is dominated by monotonous assemblages of the clavatoracean Nodosoclavator bradleyi (Harris, 1939), found in temporary lakes within palustrine facies, the flora of the Lakota Formation consists of more varied assemblages of the clavatoraceans N. bradleyi (Harris, 1939), Clavator grovesii grovesii Harris 1939, C. bilateralis Peck 1957 and early characeans (Mesochara sp. or Tolypella sp.). This flora was found in deposits related to permanent lakes in fluvial floodplains, i.e. lacustrine marls and limestones that do not show any evidence of subaerial exposure. To date, little is known about C. bilateralis, we provide a new definition on the basis of its particular structure, which shows lateral bract-cell units with a pinnate arrangement. This species appears to be endemic to North America and stratigraphically limited to the earliest Cretaceous. C. grovesii grovesii is part of a long-lasting charophyte lineage, which until now was considered to have originated in the Central Tethyan Archipelago (Europe) during the Early Berriasian, about 145 Ma, and limited to Eurasia until most of the Early Cretaceous. The new data presented here suggest that during the Berriasian this species was very broadly distributed, comprising North America, Europe and China.