Late Paleozoic brachiopod faunas of the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, and their paleobiogeographic and tectonic implications

Abstract    Late Paleozoic (Middle Devonian, Early Carboniferous and Middle Permian) brachiopod faunas of the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, are closely related paleobiogeographically to those of the Xinjiang–Inner Mongolia–Jilin region, northwest–northeast China. This relationship suggests that the South Kitakami Belt was part of the trench or continental shelf bordering the northern and eastern margins of North China (Sino-Korea) during the Middle Devonian to Middle Permian times. Among the three models on the origin and tectonic development of the South Kitakami Belt, the strike–slip model is most consistent, but both the microcontinent model and the nappe model have considerable inconsistencies with the above paleobiogeographic and paleogeographic evidence.     

中国西北地区各构造单元之间地层和生物古地理的亲缘关系--兼论西北地区构造格局

在分析近年来不同学科提出的新见解及其依据的基础上，着重从基底形成期、扬子型南华系—震旦系及其冰碛岩、早古生代地层层序特征和生物古地理特征及各构造单元间的边界性质，揭示与西北地区有关的板块、块体的亲疏关系。经分析认为，西北地区构造格局是：塔里木与扬子板块为一体，与华北、西伯利亚为并立的3个不同的构造域；柴达木-祁连-阿拉善为一楔状地块，来源于塔里木-扬子板块。该楔状地块是在新生代青藏高原大规模隆升、北推高峰期时，西沿阿尔金、东沿贺兰山西缘-龙门山断裂带错移、向北楔入的一个三角形地块。     

Bartonian orthophragminids from the Fulra Limestone (Kutch,W India) and coeval units in Sulaiman Range,Pakistan: a synthesis of shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for the Indian Subcontinent

Orthophragminids from the Bartonian Fulra Limestone in Kutch, India and the coeval units in Sulaiman Range in Pakistan suggest the establishment of a significant number of endemic species in the Indian subcontinent (Eastern Tethys). Among a total of fifteen species of Discocyclina, Orbitoclypeus and Asterocyclina, six of them appear to be confined to Indian subcontinent while seven species are common both to the peri-Mediterranean/Europe region (Western Tethys) and Indian subcontinent. Two species, Asterocyclina sireli, a four-ribbed species of possibly Indo-Pacific origin, and Orbitoclypeus haynesi that form large populations in Fulra Limestone, appear to have spread into North Africa and Turkey but not into European platforms as a response to Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO). The lack of Lutetian and Priabonian fauna in the studied sections, either due to a hiatus or unsuitable depositional environments, hampers the establishment of the actual stratigraphic ranges of the identified taxa. Our record provides us to characterize the orthophragminids in shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for Eastern Tethys in detail by comparing the data from the above localities with those from the North Africa, Europe and Turkey, showing the change in diversity.     

Nummulitids,lepidocyclinids and Sr-isotope data from the Oligocene of Kutch (western India) with chronostratigraphic and paleobiogeographic evaluations

Due to its intermediate geographical position between the Mediterranean and W Pacific, the Oligocene shallow-marine sequence of Kutch (India) is of key importance in paleobiogeographical interpretations. Larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) are a fundamental link for the correlation between the Mediterranean shallow benthic zones (SBZ) and the W Pacific ‘letter stages’. LBF were re-evaluated by morphometric studies of the internal test from five stratigraphic sections of the Maniyara Fort Formation. Based on their significant affinity to coeval fauna in the Mediterranean, they were assigned to W Tethyan SBZ zones, supported by Sr-isotope stratigraphy. In the Basal Member, traditionally considered as early Rupelian, we identified Nummulites bormidiensis, N. kecskemetii and Heterostegina assilinoides assigning it to the early Chattian SBZ 22B Zone. The Coral Limestone Member, previously considered as late Rupelian, is also assigned to this zone, for the presence of N. bormidiensis, Eulepidina formosoides-dilatata and Nephrolepidina morgani-praemarginata. Its early Chattian age (26.5–29 Ma) is further supported by Sr-isotope data. Miogypsinoides complanatus and Spiroclypeus margaritatus in the Bermoti Member (the top of the formation) document the late Chattian SBZ 23 Zone and the Sr-isotope data (22.5–24 Ma) place it close to the Oligocene–Miocene boundary.     

Coevolution of Brachiopod Paleobiogeography and Tectonopaleogeography during the Early–Middle Permian

A comprehensive compilation and systematic analysis of known early and middle Permian brachiopod faunas shows that the early Permian brachiopod faunas comprise three realms, six regions, and eleven provinces, while those of the middle Permian comprise three realms, four regions, and eight provinces. A comparison and analysis of brachiopod faunal patterns reveal a coevolution between global brachiopod paleobiogeography and tectonopaleogeography during the early–middle Permian. Although temperature/latitude is the main factor controlling the formation of three realms, tectonopaleogeographic factors determine the temperature/latitude in which the continents were located. The ‘continental barrier' of Pangea, as a ‘central axis' continent, divided the three realms into six regions, which indicates that the formation of biogeographic regions was controlled mainly by the tectonopaleogeographic factors. The evolution of tectonopaleogeography was sometimes a long-term process, so that the biogeographic regions(or provinces) controlled by tectonopaleogeography displayed relative stability. Shifts in the nature of biogeographic provinces(e.g., from cool water to warm water, and vice versa), extensions or narrowing of geographical ranges, and recombinations of some provinces were all related to regional tectonic evolution. The study of the coevolution between brachiopod paleobiogeography and tectonopaleogeography not only accounts for the formation mechanisms of brachiopod paleobiogeographic patterns during the early–middle Permian, but also provides evidences for the locations and configurations of oceans and plates(blocks) during this period.     

寒武纪三叶虫生物地理区的一些问题

文内叙述寒武纪三叶虫分类、分布和分区。世界上有两个寒武纪生物地理区,一个是北区,另一个是南区。斜坡带的球接子类及少数多节类是世界性分布的,仅能视作任何一区内的生态小区。两区的分界在北非的北部、土耳其的南部,再向东连接天山的北部边缘及蒙古的南部边缘。从南欧寒武纪三叶虫的情况看,是海水深度频繁变化的结果。中国任何一个地区,既不属东冈瓦纳,也不属西冈瓦纳。     

西藏南部下鲁硅岩晚侏罗世罩笼虫(放射虫)新材料

下鲁硅岩为藏南日喀则地区雅鲁藏布蛇绿岩南侧的晚侏罗世—早白垩世硅质岩系。本文补充描述了该岩系中 4块标本的罩笼虫亚目放射虫化石 1 6属 2 3种 ,包括 8个新种。加上这些标本原已描述过的 1 8属 3 3种 ,共有 3 4属 56种。所有的属和近一半的种见于北美西部 ,可与那里的晚侏罗世放射虫分带很好地对比 ,它们分别相当于那里牛津期的 2 γ亚带和晚启莫里期—早提索期的 3 β亚带。动物群具特提斯生物地理区特征 ,但与西特提斯的地中海地区同期动物群显然不同 ,可能当时东特提斯与太平洋联系密切。     

Paleogeographical Distribution and Stratigraphical Range of the Lower Triassic Claraia,Pseudoclaraia and Eumorphotis(Bivalvia)

On the basis of a worldwide review of Claraia,Pseudoclaraia andEumorphotis,especially their important species,two range zones are recog-nized:the Pseudoclaraia wangi range zone——Upper Griesbachia——and the Claraia stachei-C.aurita-Eumorphotis multiformis acme zone——Upper Griesbachian to Lower Smithian .This result revises both the traditional Chinese concept regarding these fossils as limited in Lower Scythian andthe viewpoint of some Eurasian researchers who hold Eumorphotis multifor-mis to be Upper Scythian.The paleogeographical distribution of the three genera is controlledprimarily by temperature(latitude)and secondarily by physiographic separa-tions.Distribution of these fossils is subdivided into four realms and five prov-inces.The Eastern Asia province of the Tethys realm is suggested as thesource area of these fossils.The striking contrast between the composition ofthe species along the southern and northern margins of the Tethys,togetherwith other distributional characters,supports the pla     

Paleogeographic changes in central Honshu, Japan, during the late Cenozoic in relation to the collision of the Izu-Ogasawara Arc with the Honshu Arc

Abstract The northern tip of the Izu-Ogasawara Arc on the Philippine Sea plate collided with the central part of the Honshu Arc in the early Quaternary. The collision history is recorded in late Cenozoic strata that are distributed widely in central Japan. To reconstruct paleotopography during the collision process, paleogeographic maps of central Japan were drawn at six time slices during the late Cenozoic. These maps were made from paleodepth data that were inferred from benthic foraminiferal fossil assemblages. Sedimentological information was also added to the maps. The paleogeographic maps show several distinctive geological features. The paleodepth of the area between the Izu-Ogasawara Arc and the Honshu Arc changed quickly from deep-sea to shallow marine during the Quaternary by means of rapid deposition of large amounts of coarse-grained detritus. The conglomerate was first deposited in a trough as deep-sea fan deposits, and filled the trough until an alluvial fan was formed. Forearc basins of the Honshu Arc facing the collision area subsided from 3 to 1 Ma. Vertical movement of the basin was inferred from a strata thickness/paleodepth correlation graph. It is thought that the tectonic inversion seen in sedimentary basins in the Kanto and Tokai regions might be closely related to the change of motion of the Philippine Sea plate. However, a basin of the Ashigara area sunk continuously without interruption until 0.7 Ma. The collision event affected strongly distribution of deep-sea benthic foraminifera. Paleogeographic maps show that a deep trough appeared in the Ashigara area between 3 and 1.5 Ma. This trough may have served as a passage for the migration of deep-sea benthic foraminifera between the Pacific and the Philippine Sea. Cold water benthic foraminiferal species occur west of the Izu-Ogasawara ridge deposited in strata during the existence of the passage.