HEFEI BASIN IN EARLY CRETACEOUS -CHARACTERIZATION AND ANALYSIS OF PETROLEUM POTENTIAL

Comprehensive analyses were made based on seismic prospecting data, electrical prospecting data and basin simulation data as well as regional geological data and thorough discussions were conducted about the complicated structures, features and evolution of Hefei Basin in Early Cretaceous in this study, and it was derived that that Hefei Basin was a composite basin formed during the transformation of the stress field from compressive toward tensile in Early Cretaceous. In other words, this basin was a foreland basin of gliding-thrust type, which is mainly controlled by the Dabie orogenic belt in the south side in the early to middle period of Early Cretaceous, while being a strike-slip basin of pull-apart type, which is mainly controlled by the activity of Tanlu fracture in the east side in the middle to late period of Early Cretaceous. Moreover, the potential Lower Cretaceous oil and gas system in the pull-apart basin and the vista for its prospecting were explored in this study. Tectonism of the Tanlu fracture was further discussed based on the results of characterization of the basin, and it was pointed out that this is beneficial and instructive to the oil and gas prospecting in Hefei Basin.     

Tectonic controls on spatio-temporal development of depositional systems and generation of fining-upward basin fills in a strike-slip setting: Kyokpori Formation (Cretaceous), south-west Korea

Abstract The Kyokpori Formation (Cretaceous), south‐west Korea, represents a small‐scale lacustrine strike‐slip basin and consists of an ≈ 290 m thick siliciclastic succession with abundant volcaniclasts. The succession can be organized into eight facies associations representing distinctive depositional environments: (I) subaqueous talus; (II) delta plain; (III) steep‐gradient large‐scale delta slope; (IV) base of delta slope to prodelta; (V) small‐scale nested Gilbert‐type delta; (VI) small‐scale delta‐lobe system; (VII) subaqueous fan; and (VIII) basin plain. Facies associations I, III and IV together constitute a large‐scale steep‐sloped delta system. Correlation of the sedimentary succession indicates that the formation comprises two depositional sequences: the lower coarsening‐ to fining‐upward succession (up to 215 m thick) and the upper fining‐upward succession (up to 75 m thick). Based on facies distribution, architecture and correlation of depositional sequences, three stages of basin evolution are reconstructed. Stage 1 is represented by thick coarse‐grained deposits in the lower succession that form subaqueous breccia talus and steep‐sloped gravelly delta systems along the northern and southern basin margins, respectively, and a sandy subaqueous fan system inside the basin, abutting against a basement high. This asymmetric facies distribution suggests a half‐graben structure for the basin, and the thick accumulation of coarse‐grained deposits most likely reflects rapid subsidence of the basin floor during the transtensional opening of the basin. Stage 2 is marked by sandy black shale deposits in the upper part of the lower succession. The black shale is readily correlated across the basin margins, indicating a basinwide transgression probably resulting from large‐scale dip slip suppressing the lateral slip component on basin‐bounding faults. Stage 3 is characterized by gravelly delta‐lobe deposits in the upper succession that are smaller in dimension and located more basinward than the deposits of marginal systems of the lower succession. This lakeward shift of depocentre suggests a loss of accommodation in the basin margins and quiescence of fault movements. This basin evolution model suggests that the rate of dip‐slip displacement on basin‐margin faults can be regarded as the prime control for determining stacking patterns of such basin fills. The resultant basinwide fining‐upward sequences deviate from the coarsening‐upward cycles of other transtensional basins and reveal the variety of stratigraphic architecture in strike‐slip basins controlled by the changes in relative sense and magnitude of fault movements at the basin margins.     

Spatial variability of palaeosols across Cretaceous interfluves in the Dunvegan Formation, NE British Columbia, Canada: palaeohydrological, palaeogeomorphological and stratigraphic implications

A basic sedimentological and palaeopedological framework is now in place for non-marine sequence models. The variability of interfluve palaeosols has not, however, been systematically documented, nor have the stratigraphic implications of that variability been incorporated into sequence models. Interfluve palaeosol variability in the deltaic Dunvegan Formation, NE British Columbia, Canada, is investigated, for which a detailed allostratigraphic and palaeogeographic framework has been developed, based on abundant well (> 2300 logs) and outcrop (> 60 sections) control. Regionally extensive valley fills and interfluves have been mapped in coastal plain deposits over an area of about 50 000 km². This palaeogeographic framework permits interfluve surfaces exposed in outcrop to be located in terms of distance from the margins of coeval valleys. The micromorphological, geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of five representative sequence-bounding palaeosols located from 250 m to more than 15 km from coeval valley margins are described. These interfluve palaeosols are similar to modern Alfisols and all record (i) aggradation on an alluvial/coastal plain; (ii) a subsequent static and/or degradational phase related to valley incision, non-deposition and soil thickening; and (iii) a final aggradational phase related to valley filling and renewed sedimentation across the coastal plain. Within this overall template, however, variations in palaeosol thickness, redoximorphic features, illuvial clay content and geochemistry suggest developmental control by hydrological characteristics that were influenced by both the nature of the underlying alluvial sediments and distance from the valley margin. The presence of mature interfluve palaeosols with complex developmental histories suggests that landscape dissection may have been related to terrace development associated with valley incision. Palaeosols closer to valley margins are thicker, contain more illuvial clay and display characteristics suggesting better drained conditions relative to those palaeosols that developed further from valley margins. Subsequent deposition on interfluves also reflects distance from valleys, with those sites close to valleys accumulating cumulic soils with evidence of brackish groundwater, whereas far from valleys (> 10–15 km), groundwater was fresh and clastic supply minimal, encouraging peat formation. Variations in drainage and palaeotopography during landscape dissection resulted in different palaeosol development styles on interfluve surfaces that can be shown, on the basis of physical correlation, to have the same geomorphic age. These observations support the concept of the soil-forming interval as a basis for pedostratigraphic correlation in ancient terrestrial deposits. Palaeosol variability on interfluves is to be expected, and recognition and documentation of this variability is an important prerequisite to palaeogeomorphological, palaeoclimatic and sequence stratigraphic interpretations.     

酒西白垩纪盆地沉积构成及盆地演化动力学分析

酒西白垩纪盆地是酒西含油气盆地的一个单型盆地，发育了冲积扇、水下重力流扇、扇三角洲、湖泊、河流沉积体系。在湖盆演化的不同阶段形成冲积扇—扇三角洲—滨浅湖-砾质辫状河、近岸水下重力流扇。中深湖—扇三角洲和扇三角洲—中浅湖—河流沉积体系组合型式。依据答时界面，将湖盆充填序列划分为3个构造层序，相对应于初始裂陷、扩张裂陷—热衰减沉陷和湖盆萎缩关闭3个演化阶段。地幔热柱的形成和衰减、燕山运动等远程应力作用控制着盆地的演化。     

中国西北部南北向伸展构造存在的新证据——酒泉早白垩世半地堑断陷成因初探

酒泉早白垩世半地堑断陷呈南北向或北东向展布，进一步分为多米诺骨牌式、对倾式和背倾式三种。其充填物明显地受近南北向或北东向正断裂控制，其中的火山岩均为碱性玄武岩，可能由地幔熔融形成。初步认为，酒泉半地堑断陷是早白垩世陆内地幔热隆诱发的近南北向伸展构造。在新生代，由于印度板块的挤压作用，北祁连山前展式北向推覆作用可能使早白垩世半地堑断陷的南部地区转换成山脉，现今的半地堑南部边界被掩伏于北祁连山之下；同时，印度板块的挤压作用使控制半地堑沉积体系的近南北向或北东向正断裂转换为逆冲断裂．发生反转。     

Morphometric analysis of variability in the shell of some Nigerian Turonian (Cretaceous) ammonites

An appraisal of studies concerned with vascoceratids of the Nigerian Cenomanian–Turonian transitional beds, using methods of standard multivariate statistical analysis and geometric morphometrics, supports the hypothesis that at least one species of the Tunisian genus Thomasites entered the Nigerian realm via the trans-Saharan seaway some time in the late Cenomanian. The special suite of fluctuating ecological chemical and physical factors that pertained in the long, narrow and shallow epicontinental sea, with ‘Caspian Sea type‘ episodes, favoured ecogenetic consequences leading to the appearance of two highly variable species of Thomasites, one of which is referred to a sub-genus, Bauchioceras; both species have a similar norm of reaction. Bauchioceras bears a superficial relationship to Pseudotissotia, but the two have a different ontogeny, are geometric morphometrically distinct and lack a proven evolutionary connexion.     

西藏北部永珠蛇绿岩带晚侏罗世—早白垩世日拉组、日拉组索尔碎屑岩及生物群特征

在开展藏北多巴区幅1∶25万区域地质调查时,在申扎地区永珠—雄梅—果芒错一带发现了一套沿永珠蛇绿岩带(?)分布,岩性特征及成因环境较为特殊的晚侏罗世—早白垩世地层,建立了日拉组及日拉组索尔碎屑岩单位。     

Taxonomy, facies relationships and palaeobiology of bakevelliid bivalves from the Lower Cretaceous of west-central Argentina

Cretaceous bakevelliids in Argentina are restricted to the Lower Cretaceous. They are recorded in shallow marine deposits in two Mesozoic basins located in the Andes foothills in Patagonia. In the Austral Basin (44°–55°S) there is only one genus, Gervillella, represented by a single specimen from the Barremian. In the Neuquén Basin (30°–40°S) two genera, Gervillaria and Gervillella, occur, ranging from the Berriasian to the Lower Barremian. In the Pilmatué Member of the Agrio Formation two species are identified: Gervillaria alatior (Imlay) and Gervillella aviculoides (J. Sowerby). The former is also recorded in Mexico while the latter is more widespread, occurring in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the Bajada del Agrio section they come from eight tabular shell beds located near and on top of shallowing-upwards cycles. They were abundant only in four of these levels. These shell beds are interpreted as having been deposited in the mid-ramp (middle of cycles), and upper mid-ramp (top of cycles). A functional analysis of shells revealed two life habits: epibyssate and endobyssate.     

中国首次发现真正会飞的“恐龙”——中华神州鸟(新属新种)

记述了辽宁义县早白垩世九佛堂组的一件初鸟类(Avialae)化石,其嘴里无牙,前肢明显长于后肢,尾巴由20多节尾椎组成,叉骨呈U字形,飞行羽毛超过了身体的长度。各种特征表明,新发现的初鸟类真正具有了飞行能力,代表了恐龙向鸟类演化过程中的又一中间环节。正式将其命名为中华神州鸟(Shenzhouraptorsinensisgen.etsp.nov.)。     

北羌塘乌兰乌拉湖地区白垩纪岩石地层及沉积环境

详细描述了北羌塘乌兰乌拉湖地区白垩纪地层剖面，将区内白垩系划分为错居日组和桑恰山组。沉积相分析表明，乌兰乌拉湖地区错居日组主要为冲积扇至河流相沉积，岩性及厚度变化较大，而桑恰山组为湖泊、湖三角洲至河流相沉积。初步认为错居日组为早日垩世地层，桑恰山组为早白垩世晚期至晚白垩世地层。