论西藏扎达上白垩统波林夏拉组

上白垩统波林夏拉组的命名地点位于西藏西南部扎达波林,是一套以泥灰岩及灰岩为主的地层,底部以含海绿石灰岩与下伏下白垩统嘎姐组含海绿石石英砂岩整合接触,未见顶。波林夏拉组的时代据其所含丰富浮游有孔虫可被确定为晚白垩世Albian晚期至Maastrichtian晚期,其所含化石组合可以与晚白垩世特提斯喜马拉雅从台地到盆地的同...     

中国晚白垩世陆相红层与恐龙蛋化石群序列及其地层学意义

中国的恐龙蛋化石埋藏丰富,分布广泛。迄今为止,已报道有14个省(区)发现恐龙蛋化石。尤其在浙江天台盆地、山东莱阳盆地、广东南雄盆地以及河南西峡和淅川盆地等晚白垩世陆相红层中发现大量的恐龙蛋化石,同时也发现大量共生的恐龙等脊椎动物化石。中国恐龙蛋化石具有数量大、种类多、保存好、分布广、时代跨度大等特点,因此恐龙蛋可以作为中国白垩纪陆相地层划分与对比的重要化石之一。本文在建立天台盆地赖家组和赤城山组的岩石地层、年代地层和恐龙蛋生物地层层序框架的基础上,重点对比讨论了我国几个主要含恐龙蛋沉积盆地的恐龙蛋类群组合序列及其对应的地层关系。同时,对我国周边相邻地区如蒙古、韩国和印度以及其他各个大陆发现的恐龙蛋化石进行了初步对比讨论。天台恐龙蛋化石群与我国其他几个主要的恐龙蛋化石群之间存在一定的差距。相比较而言,天台恐龙蛋化石群和南雄恐龙蛋化石群组合特征鲜明,前者主要以网形蛋类和蜂窝蛋类为主,后者以长形蛋类为优势类群,结合天台盆地陆相红层中多个凝灰岩夹层获得的98～91Ma和南雄盆地67Ma的同位素年龄,据此,天台恐龙蛋化石群代表了晚白垩世早期的恐龙蛋组合,而南雄恐龙蛋化石群则代表了晚白垩世晚期的恐龙蛋组合。天台恐龙蛋化石群与莱阳恐龙蛋化石群明显不同,莱阳盆地的主要蛋化石类型——圆形蛋类和椭圆形蛋类在天台盆地至今没有被发现。但莱阳恐龙蛋化石群与南雄恐龙蛋化石群比较相似,如莱阳盆地金刚口组以椭圆形蛋类为主,含有少量的长形蛋类,而南雄盆地以长形蛋类为主,含有少量的椭圆形蛋类,其中金刚口椭圆形蛋、薄皮椭圆形蛋、长形长形蛋和安氏长形蛋等2属4种蛋化石在两个盆地均有发现。此外,在莱阳盆地王氏群中下部的将军顶组还发现了相对原始的网形蛋类。综合以上分析,莱阳恐龙蛋化石群大致介于晚白垩世早期的天台恐龙蛋化石群和晚白垩世晚期的南雄恐龙蛋化石群之间,更接近于南雄恐龙蛋化石群,时代应为晚白垩世中晚期。天台恐龙蛋化石群与西峡恐龙蛋化石群非常相似,在科一级分类单元中,至少有巨型长形蛋类、蜂窝蛋类和棱柱形蛋类等6个蛋科在两个盆地中均有发现,尤其是巨型长形蛋科仅在天台和西峡两个盆地中有化石记录,其中西峡巨型长形蛋这一蛋种同时产于西峡盆地走马岗组、赵营组和天台盆地的赤城山组。西峡盆地发现的其他一些蛋化石也可以归入到天台盆地新建立的一些蛋化石类型中。据此推断,走马岗组和赵营组与赤城山组的层位可能大致相当。虽然我们对西峡盆地已报道的部分恐龙蛋化石进行了初步厘定,但鉴于西峡盆地大量恐龙蛋化石的形态学和分类学尚存在较多的问题,两盆地的详细对比还有待于进一步的研究。天台恐龙蛋化石群与淅川盆地的恐龙蛋化石组合差别很大,相应的淅川盆地的恐龙蛋类群与相邻的西峡盆地的差别也较大,此外,在淅川盆地高沟组发现有树枝蛋类,这一类蛋化石在天台盆地未发现,据此推测淅川盆地的时代应晚于天台盆地和西峡盆地。相比较而言,淅川盆地的蛋化石组合与莱阳和南雄恐龙蛋化石群有一定的相似性,都含有长形蛋类、圆形蛋类和椭圆形蛋类等,因而,淅川盆地的马家村组和寺沟组的层位被认为可能与莱阳盆地的金刚口组和南雄盆地的坪岭组相当。综上分析,我们可以初步建立我国晚白垩世恐龙蛋化石群的组合序列及其对应的地层层序和时代框架,从下至上至少包含了4个恐龙蛋化石群:1)天台恐龙蛋化石群,赋存层位为天台群中上部的赖家组和赤城山组,时代约为晚白垩世早期(塞诺曼期土伦期);2)西峡恐龙蛋化石群,赋存层位为走马岗组、赵营组和六爷庙组,晚白垩世早中期(土伦期桑顿期);3)莱阳恐龙蛋化石群,赋存层位为王氏群中上部的将军顶组和金刚口组,晚白垩世中晚期(科尼亚克期坎潘期);4)南雄恐龙蛋化石群,赋存层位为南雄群园圃组和坪岭组,晚白垩世晚期(坎潘期马斯特里赫特期)。此外,随着研究工作的继续和深入,有望建立起包括早白垩世恐龙蛋化石群在内的白垩纪恐龙蛋化石群的组合特征序列,为进一步划分与对比我国白垩纪地层提供更多的基础资料。     

Foraminiferal sequence biostratigraphy of the Oligo‐Miocene Janjukian strata from Torquay,southeastern Australia

The foraminiferal fauna from two holes near the coastal section of marls and limestones at Torquay is dominated by inner to mid‐shelf benthic forms, especially the cibicidids, discorbids and miliolids. Planktonic species are rare and rarely age‐diagnostic. A cluster analysis of the species occurrences and relative abundances identified four assemblages, A to D up‐section. These assemblages also closely correspond to lithological changes characterising lithostratigraphic units: Angahook Formation (assemblage A), lower and upper Jan Juc Formation (B, C) and Puebla Clay (D). Biofacies trends based on the relative abundances of inner and outer neritic taxa led to the recognition of third‐order sequences and boundaries equivalent to TB1.1 to TB1.4, confirming a previous identification on sedimentological grounds. They demonstrate that foraminiferal assemblages were directly influenced by third‐order sea‐level fluctuations and can be used to predict third‐order sequences. The long‐uncertain regional Oligocene‐Miocene boundary is placed at the Jan Juc Formation—Puebla Clay contact, across which there was a major faunal change. Several benthic forms disappeared, at least temporarily: Cibicidoides perforatus, Amphistegina lessonii and Pararotalia mackayi. The typical Miocene planktonic taxa Globoquadrina dehiscens and Globoturborotalita brazieri made their first appearance. These events were associated with an increase in inner neritic benthos signalling a low sea‐level, consistent with the contemporaneous global pattern.     

U–Pb zircon age of the Walloon Coal Measures in the Surat Basin,southeast Queensland: implications for paleogeography and basin subsidence

The Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures of the Surat Basin were previously estimated to be of Middle Jurassic age, ranging from Aalenian to Callovian, based on an uncalibrated eastern Australian biostratigraphic framework. New U–Pb dates of 162.55 ± 0.05 Ma and 158.86 ± 0.04 Ma obtained from zircons in ash-fall volcanic tuffs now place the Walloon Coal Measures of the Surat Basin in the Upper Jurassic Oxfordian. The new dates have several implications for the interpretation of the Jurassic strata in the Surat Basin. First-order subsidence rates of 61 m/Myr for the Walloon Coal Measures are more akin to those of foreland basins than the previously assumed intracratonic setting. The dates also imply deposition of the Walloon coals in substantially higher latitudes than previously assumed and that they accumulated as peats in mires that experienced more than three months’ continual darkness each winter. Zircon dating of tuffs and associated geochemistry should assist with the correlation of the laterally impersistent coals, fluvial sandstone and mudstone of the Walloon Coal Measures, which are currently difficult to correlate over distances of more than a few kilometres. Dating of the palynostratigraphic zones APJ4.2 to APJ5 (Aequitriradites norrisii Association Zone to Murospora florida Association Zone) will also need to be recalibrated.     

Quantitative Biostratigraphic Analysis upon the Upper Cretaceous in Tethyan Himalaya

Biostratigraphic analysis is an essential element for understanding global tectonics and the evolution of life on Earth. Quantitative analysis of sedimentary sequences provides the precise age constraints on timing of significant events in Earth’s history. This paper presents results from quantitative stratigraphic analysis of Upper Cretaceous Tethyan Himalayan sequences. This analysis resulted in a new composite stratigraphic section for the Cretaceous strata of Tibet (TIBETKCS). The eight Upper Cretaceous sections were analyzed in this study and 12 planktonic foraminifera zones were recognized based on available data. Quantitative measurements were made using a Graphic Correlation with Graphcor 3.0 software and correlated to the world standard Cretaceous Composite Section (MIDKCS). The sections were also examined using Constrained Optimization software by CONOP9. Level Penalty was applied as the rule to measure misfit among automatically correlated sections. The new TIBETKCS correlates well with planktonic foraminifera ages from previous work in southern Tibet. A fitting equation of y=?0.19x+305 with a correlation coefficient of 0.94 was obtained from this work. The ages of the first and last appearances of 64 planktonic foraminifera can be calculated with this equation with ± 0.3 Ma precision. This level of precision is approximately 10 times higher than age determinations with traditional methods. Two extinction events were resolved within this analysis at ~93.5 Ma and ~85.5 Ma corresponding to the Ocean Anoxic Events at Cenomanian–Turonian and Coniacian–Santonian boundaries respectively.     

Palynological characteristics of Kazakhstan Province of Carboniferous Euramerican Region

The paper presents results of palynological studies of the coal-bearing Carboniferous in Central Ka-zakhstan.A quantitative dynamics of major genera of miospores reflects an overall succession of the Carbonifer-ous miospore assemblages.Viséan Serpukhovian assemblages are dominanted by Lophozonotriletes fuscatus,Ac-anthozonotriletes cristifer,A.inclusus,Punctatisporites glabratus,Crassispora ignorata,C.scrupea,Cyclobacu-lisporites trichacanthus,Lycospora breviapiculata,L.echinata and Vallatisporites decrescens.Rare Punctatis-porites bertschoguriensis,Stenozonotriletes marginellus,Vallatisporites appilicatus,Verrucosisporites scrobiculatus,Reticulatisporites cancellatus,Granulatisporites arcuatus are recorded,which are not found in assemblages from overlying sediments.Bashkirian--Moscovian assemblages are dominated by Lycospora subtriquetra,L.pusilla,Vallatisporites ciliaris,Apiculatisporis mollis,Cyclogranisporites testiculatus,Calamospora microrugosa,Schopfi-pollenites principalis,Psilohymena psiloptera,Florinites grandis and Granulatisporites piroformis miospores.Cris-tatisporites latispinus,Angulisporites didymus,Thymospora obscura and Torispora securis are also present,as well as single Apiculatisporis curvispinus,Raistrickia inordinata,Marsupipollenites retroflexus,Entylissa caperata,Potonieisporites grandis and Cordaitina sp.A similar succession of miospore assemblages is recorded in the Carboniferous deposits of Europe and North America,which allows carrying out correlations,despite an endemic characters of many species of Paleozoic miospores from the coal-bearing Carboniferous of the Kazakh-stan Province in the Euramerian Paleofloristic Region.     

Increasing Resolution in Exploration Biostratigraphy—Part I

Crossplots with Ranking and Scaling (RASC) and Constrained Optimization (CONOP) zonal sequences increase stratigraphic resolution and correlation potential of biozonations. The crossplots reveal which events do and which do not deviate their stratigraphic position from well to well, and how well they track their average stratigraphic level. The methodology solves the problem that conventional fossil zonations do not rank taxa according to the degree of diachroneity of range endpoints in a correlation scheme. Part 1 of this study applies the crossplots method to a North Sea biostratigraphic data, and part 2 to a proprietary dataset from the Gulf of Mexico. This study is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Garry Jones, a staunch supporter of quantitative stratigraphic methods in exploration micropaleontology.     

Biostratigraphic Analysis of the Top Layer of Sediment Cores from the Reference and Test Sites of the INDEX Area

Abstract

Radiolarian fossil study in the sediment cores collected during the pre- and postdisturbance cruises of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Indian Ocean Experiment (INDEX) program of deep sea mining in the Central Indian Ocean Basin suggests a pronounced directional deposition of fossil radiolarians exhumed during the deep sea benthic disturbance experiment. The relative occurrences of the Stylatractus universus species that became extinct ～0.425 million years before present were mostly confined to the older and deeper strata of the sediment of the disturbance tract in the southwestern direction. This pattern is remarkable and suggests that the disturbance plume has been preferentially redeposited in the southwestern direction. This observation is in concurrence with the prevailing southwestern abyssal current during the disturbance experiment in the Central Indian Basin.     

An Asian origin for Sinomastodon (Proboscidea,Gomphotheriidae) inferred from a new Upper Miocene specimen from Gansu of China

We report a fossil specimen referable to Sinomastodontinae gen. et sp. indet. from the Neogene strata at Yanghecun locality, Xihe County, Gansu Province, China. The specimen is characterized by a brevirostrine mandible, complete pretrite trefoils, and relatively simple posttrite half lophids, showing typical features of Sinomastodon. It differs from the other known species of Sinomastodon by the following features: relatively short and wide m3 due to fewer lophid numbers, less inflated pretrite accessory central conules, poorly developed secondary trefoils and cementum, and relatively strong cingulid. All of these features indicate a bias towards pleisiomorphies of Sinomastodon, implying that this specimen is more ancestral than any known species of Sinomastodon. The symphysis of the new specimen is relatively long, which differs from the typical brevirostrine Sinomastodon, and thus we consider it a gen. et sp. indet. in the Subfamily Sinomastodontinae. In addition, the horizon in which the present specimen was found probably represents the Upper Miocene because it is lower than Pliocene strata yielding Hipparion (Proboscidipparon) pater. Generally, Sinomastodon is considered to have migrated from North America at about the time of the Miocene/Pliocene boundary, and to have been derived from a certain clade of American gomphotheres. However, the discovery of the Yanghecun specimen verifies that Sinomastodon lived in East Asia during the Late Miocene, and probably derived from Old World gomphotheres (e.g., G. wimani). The similarity between the members of the Subfamilies Sinomastodontinae and those of Cuvieroniinae is suggested to have been the result of parallel evolution.