Soft‐sediment deformation structures in a Pleistocene glaciolacustrine delta and their implications for the recognition of subenvironments in delta deposits

The development of soft‐sediment deformation structures in clastic sediments is now reasonably well‐understood but their development in various deltaic subenvironments is not. A sedimentological analysis of a Pleistocene (ca 13·1 to 15 ¹⁰Be ka) Gilbert‐type glaciolacustine delta with gravity‐induced slides and slumps in the Mosty‐Danowo tunnel valley (north‐western Poland) provides more insight, because the various soft‐sediment deformation structures in these deposits were considered in the context of their specific deltaic subenvironment. The sediments show three main groups of soft‐sediment deformation structures in layers between undeformed sediments. The first group consists of deformed cross‐bedding (inclined, overturned, recumbent, complex and sheath folds), large‐scale folds (recumbent and sheath folds) and pillows forming plastic deformations. The second group comprises pillar structures (isolated and stress), clastic dykes with sand volcanoes and clastic megadykes as examples of water‐escape structures. The third group consists of faults (normal and reverse) and extensional fissures (small fissures and neptunian dykes). Some of the deformations developed shortly after deposition of the deformed sediment, other structures developed later. This development must be ascribed to hydroplastic movement in a quasi‐solid state, and due to fluidization and liquefaction of the rapidly deposited, water‐saturated deltaic sediments. The various types of deformations were triggered by: (i) a high sedimentation rate; (ii) erosion (by wave action or meltwater currents); and (iii) ice‐sheet loading and seasonal changes in the ablation rate. Analysis of these triggers, in combination with the deformational mechanisms, have resulted – on the basis of the spatial distribution of the various types of soft‐sediment deformation structures in the delta under study – in a model for the development of soft‐sediment deformation structures in the topsets, foresets and bottomsets of deltas. This analysis not only increases the understanding of the deformation processes in both modern and ancient deltaic settings but also helps to distinguish between the various subenvironments in ancient deltaic deposits.     

Microfacies and diagenesis of older Pleistocene (pre‐last glacial maximum) reef deposits,Great Barrier Reef,Australia (IODP Expedition 325): A quantitative approach

During Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 325, 34 holes were drilled along five transects in front of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, penetrating some 700 m of late Pleistocene reef deposits (post‐glacial; largely 20 to 10 kyr bp ) in water depths of 42 to 127 m. In seven holes, drilled in water depths of 42 to 92 m on three transects, older Pleistocene (older than last glacial maximum, >20 kyr bp ) reef deposits were recovered from lower core sections. In this study, facies, diagenetic features, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of 100 samples from six of the latter holes were investigated and quantified. Lithologies are dominated by grain‐supported textures, and were to a large part deposited in high‐energy, reef or reef slope environments. Quantitative analyses allow 11 microfacies to be defined, including mixed skeletal packstone and grainstone, mudstone‐wackestone, coral packstone, coral grainstone, coralline algal grainstone, coral‐algal packstone, coralline algal packstone, Halimeda grainstone, microbialite and caliche. Microbialites, that are common in cavities of younger, post‐glacial deposits, are rare in pre‐last glacial maximum core sections, possibly due to a lack of open framework suitable for colonization by microbes. In pre‐last glacial maximum deposits of holes M0032A and M0033A (>20 kyr bp ), marine diagenetic features are dominant; samples consist largely of aragonite and high‐magnesium calcite. Holes M0042A and M0057A, which contain the oldest rocks (>169 kyr bp ), are characterized by meteoric diagenesis and samples mostly consist of low‐magnesium calcite. Holes M0042A, M0055A and M0056A (>30 kyr bp ), and a horizon in the upper part of hole M0057A, contain both marine and meteoric diagenetic features. However, only one change from marine to meteoric pore water is recorded in contrast with the changes in diagenetic environment that might be inferred from the sea‐level history. Values of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon are consistent with these findings. Samples from holes M0032A and M0033A reflect largely positive values (δ¹⁸O: ?1 to +1‰ and δ¹³C: +1 to +4‰), whereas those from holes M0042A and M0057A are negative (δ¹⁸O: ?4 to +2‰ and δ¹³C: ?8 to +2‰). Holes M0055A and M0056A provide intermediate values, with slightly positive δ¹³C, and negative δ¹⁸O values. The type and intensity of meteroric diagenesis appears to have been controlled both by age and depth, i.e. the time available for diagenetic alteration, and reflects the relation between reef deposition and sea‐level change.     

第四系的正式地位和定义初步确定

国际地层委员会最新表决通过第四系为系级年代地层单位,它位于新近系之上,底界由意大利西西里岛的Monte San Nicola"金钉子"定义,也就是由定义格拉斯阶底界的"金钉子"来定义,年龄值约为2.59Ma;更新统的底界也下移到这个位置,格拉斯阶划归更新统,长期争论的第四系的地位和定义问题有望得到解决。     

Late Pleistocene sea-level oscillations (MIS 10–2) recorded in shallow marine and coastal plain sediments of the southern Wanganui Basin, New Zealand

The northern Wanganui Basin, New Zealand, is one of the key global sites for understanding marine cyclic sedimentation during the Quaternary. This paper presents the first evidence of marine cyclic sedimentation from its central-southern parts. Sedimentological, micropalaeontological and palynological analyses on a 280-m-deep borehole encountered units dating back to MIS 10. The sequence includes four marine cycles spanning MIS 9–5, which are overlain by terrestrial fluvial aggradation surfaces dating from MIS 4–2. Each marine unit represents a progressively shallowing depositional environment from the mid-shelf to coastal plain. This is overlain by a terrestrial sequence of lowstand fluvial terraces. Localized fault movements appear to have influenced the sedimentary character of the sequence during MIS 7a and 5e producing basement highs which provided protection to the shoreline. The cyclothems described in this paper now extend the already extensive, previously described record from MIS 17–10 to produce a combined eustatic record of Quaternary sea level change within the basin to MIS 5. They also provide an excellent example of the sedimentary response of a coastal basin to a progressive loss of sedimentation accommodation space.     

“崆峒山组砾岩”形成演化的动力学机制分析

查明"崆峒山组砾岩"形成的动力学环境是认识鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘的盆地原型、构造属性、华北克拉通西部破坏的关键。采用野外调查、取样与室内测样分析相结合的方法,系统研究了"崆峒山组砾岩"的沉积特征、裂变径迹热史,在此基础上以盆山耦合思想为指导,结合区域及深部背景资料,认为崆峒山组砾岩形成于秦祁海槽剪刀式闭合导致的右旋走滑区域背景下,走滑使位于砾岩西侧的青铜峡-固原古断裂复活,控制了崆峒山组砾岩形成。砾岩形成的动力学过程,可分为早期(231～218Ma)走滑拉张断陷沉积阶段,晚期(231～205Ma)走滑挤压坳陷沉积阶段和末期(205～195Ma)隆升剥蚀改造阶段,其分别与裂变径迹热史重建的砾岩快速增温、缓慢降温、快速冷却三个阶段相对应。崆峒山组砾岩埋藏增温的时刻及其形成演化的动力学过程表明,崆峒山组砾岩应为晚三叠世沉积。     

Researches on Plants from the Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation in the Qujing District, Eastern Yunnan

Fossil plants Hedeia sinica Hao et Gensel 1998, Huia gracilis Wang et Hao 2001 and Guangnania cuneata Wang et Hao are described from the Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation, the Qujing district, eastern Yunnan, China. They contribute to our knowledge of the flora in this district. Based on the occurrence of common plants (Hedeia, Huia, Guangnania and Zosterophyllum australianum) and their horizons, it is proved for the first time that the mid-lower assemblage of the Xujiachong flora is comparable with the Early Devonian ((late) Pragian) Posongchong flora of southeastern Yunnan and the upper Baragwanathia flora of Australia. In view of this fact and the stratigraphic sequence, the mid-lower part of the Xujiachong Formation is considered to be of (late) Pragian age. Through comprehensive analyses of plant, bivalve and fish assemblages and the lithology, the upper part of the Xujiachong Formation is dated to be of early Emsian age. The Xujiachong flora belonged to the northeastern Gondwana palaeophytogeogr     

青藏高原东缘中更新世伸展作用及其新构造意义

基于区域TM遥感影像资料解译和野外构造地貌调查以及晚第四纪沉积物光释光测年分析,论述了青藏高原东缘复杂地貌边界带晚第四纪伸展构造及其构造地貌特征。结果显示,伸展构造主要见于下列几个构造带:沿南北走向的安宁河谷地、大凉山构造带、若尔盖盆地、岷江断裂带等。其典型的地貌特征表现为充填晚第四纪沉积物的狭窄河谷。根据盆地沉积物的地层时代和年龄推断,正断作用主要发生在中更新世时期,大约起始于早更新世末期(1.2～0.9Ma),结束于中更新世晚期(100～200ka)。晚更新世以来,构造体制转化为走滑—逆冲机制。青藏东缘中更新世伸展构造作用可能与该地貌边界带晚新生代造山后的高原垮塌有关。     

青海格尔木早更新世昆仑河砾岩的发现及其地质意义

昆仑河发源于昆仑山,是格尔木河的重要支流之一。前人所报道的新近纪与第四纪地层,主要集中于昆仑山垭口地区,而在昆仑河—格尔木河谷地中,只有中更新世以来的最新地层,从而提出了发生于1.1~0.6 Ma BP间的“昆仑—黄河运动”的概念。然而在昆仑河谷中发现了厚达20 m的钙质胶结的河流相砾石层(昆仑河砾岩),其分布、特征及其与纳赤台沟组、三岔河组和低阶地沉积等上覆地层的不整合接触关系,以及ESR法测定的该砾石层2个钙质胶结物样品的年龄(分别为1 042 ± 104 ka BP与1 269 ± 126 ka BP)均表明,早在距今1.27~1.42 Ma之前昆仑河—格尔木河河谷已经形成,而且已深切到现今的谷底。此后河谷内的多次切割与堆积,不应是构造运动的结果,而可能是冰期与间冰期气候变化所引起的侵蚀与搬运能力变化造成的。同样,昆仑山相对于柴达木盆地的强烈隆升至少应发生于距今1.27~1.42 Ma之前。      

洞庭盆地中更新世洞庭湖组砾石特征及其意义

对位于洞庭盆地安乡凹陷东南部的两护村ZKC1孔中更新世洞庭湖组砾石层进行了粒度和砾态的统计分析.结果表明,砾石的粒度变化反映出2个较大尺度的由大→小的旋回,早旋回由洞庭湖组下段砂砾层组成,晚旋回由洞庭湖组中段上部的砂砾层组成,反映出中更新世早-中期安乡凹陷的两次由慢→快的幕式沉降过程.在上述2个大的粒度旋回之上,叠加有多个更小尺度的砾石粗、细变化,主要与气候干湿的频繁波动有关.洞庭湖组中段顶部砾石的磨圆度明显偏低,反映其沉积时期盆地沉降和周缘隆起区抬升活动的增强.     

The North of Eastern Siberia: Refuge of Mammoth Fauna in the Holocene

The global climate changings at the end of Pleistocene led to extinction of the typical representatives of Mammoth fauna–mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, wild horse, bison, muskox, cave lion, etc.–on the huge territories of Northern Eurasia. Undoubtedly the Mammoth fauna underwent pressure from the Upper Paleolithic Man, whose hunting activity also could play the role in decreasing the number of mammoths and other representatives of megafauna (large mammals). Archaeological data testify that the typical representatives of Mammoth fauna were the Man's hunting objects only till the end of the Pleistocene. Their bone remains are not usually found on the settlements of Mesolithic Man. Formerly it was supposed that the megafauna of ‘Mammoth complex’ was extinct by the beginning of Holocene. Nevertheless the latest data testify that the global extinction of the Mammoth fauna was sufficiently delayed in the north of Eastern Siberia. In the 1990s some radiocarbon data testified that the mammoths on the Wrangel Island existed for a long time during the Holocene from 8000 till 3700 y. BP. The present radiocarbon data show that wild horses inhabited the north of Eastern Siberia (the lower stream of the Enissey river, the Novosibirskie Islands, the East Siberian sea-shore) 3000–2000 y. BP. Musk-oxen lived on the Taimyr Peninsula and the Lena River delta about 3000 y. BP. Some bison remains from Eastern Siberia belong to the Holocene. The following circumstances could promote the process of preservation of the Mammoth fauna representatives. The cool and dry climate of this region promotes the maintenance of steppe associations – habitats of those mammals. The Late Paleolithic and Mesolithic settlements are not found in the Arctic zone of Eastern Siberia from the Taimyr Peninsula to a lower stream of the Yana River; they are very rare in the basins of the Indigirka and Kolyma Rivers. So, the small number of the Stone Age hunting tribes on the North of Eastern Siberia was another factor in the long-term preservation of some Mammoth fauna representatives.