东天山大盐池西闪长岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb测年——对伴生超基性岩时代下限的制约

大盐池西超基性岩一直缺乏可靠的年龄资料,因此时代厘定一直存在疑问.该超基性岩侵入于一个闪长岩体中,1∶5万区域地质矿产调查获得该闪长岩的年龄为303Ma±15Ma.这表明该超基性岩形成于晚石炭世以后.     

西藏阿里札达盆地早更新世早期沉积及其古气候与古环境变化

综合分析了西藏阿里札达盆地早更新世早期的多种与气候环境变化密切相关的地质记录，结果表明该区早更新世早期的沉积可划分为3种不同的沉积相和4个岩性段；古气候与古环境变化可划分为4个阶段：（1）2．68-2．45Ma。为冲洪积相沉积。冻融褶皱开始出现，植被以乔木为主，主要为松、藜、蒿，属山地寒温气候；（2）2．45-2．11Ma，为冲洪积相，地层中冻融褶皱多呈扭曲状，草本植物迅速上升，显示出灌木草原气候特征，气候变得凉爽干燥；（3）2．11-1．49Ma，沉积相为冲洪积相-冰缘沉积相，以冰缘沉积相为主，冻融褶皱层开始增多，出现了喜凉的介形类化石。草本植物数量和种类达到最大，灌木也相对增加，显示气候进一步趋于干旱；（4）1．49-1．36Ma，为冰湖沉积相。地层中普遍出现冻融褶皱，喜凉的介形类化石丰度很高，草本植物有小幅下降，但蕨类植物增加幅度较大，显示了干冷草原气候特征。气候干旱寒冷。     

河南汝阳地区-巨型蜥脚类恐龙股骨化石的发现及其地层学意义

报道了首次在河南省汝阳县发现的大型蜥脚类恐龙股骨化石。从股骨近端的大小来判断，该股骨的实际长度可能超过2m，应属于巨型蜥脚类恐龙的股骨无疑。虽然化石破碎，种属的归属存在一定的困难，但是它的发现无论从晰脚类恐龙的分布、演化还是从地层学上都具有重要意义。该恐龙股骨化石的发现，将该地区原认为属于古近系蟒川组的时代向前推至早白垩世晚期或晚白垩世早期，同时其下伏地层陈宅沟组也应划归白垩纪时期的沉积。     

A New Titanosaurian Sauropod from Late Cretaceous of Nei Mongol, China

A specimen collected from the Upper Cretaceous Erlian Formation of Nei Mongol （Inner Mongolia）, China, represents a new genus and species of titanosaurian sauropod. The new taxon is named and described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which comprises several dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, and much of the pelvis. Diagnostic features of the new species include a thick ridge extending down from the postzygapophysis on the lateral surface of the neural arch of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, a transversely oriented accessory lamina present between the anterior centroparapophyseal limina and the lateral centraprezygapophyseal lamina of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, long, anteroventrally directed caudal rib that bears two distinctive fossae on its posterior margin on the anterior caudal vertebrae and a prominent vertical ridge above the pubic peduncle on the medial surface of the ilium, among others. The ilium is pneumatic, a feature not common among non-avian dinosaurs. The new taxon has an unusual combination of primitive and derived character states. Preliminary character analysis shows a complex character distribution within the Titanosauriformes. Recent titanosauriform discoveries suggest that a significant radiation occurred in Asia early in the titanosauriform evolution.     

藏北色哇地区索布查组、曲色组岩石地层、层序地层、生物地层特征及三叠系与侏罗系界线

对藏北羌塘盆地南缘色哇地区的三叠纪与侏罗纪地层进行研究,在下侏罗统曲色组之下发现了一套以灰岩为主的地层,建立了索布查组,该组下部产晚三叠世腕足类、双壳类、六射珊瑚,上部产早侏罗世菊石,因此确定索布查组地质时代为晚三叠世—早侏罗世。三叠系-侏罗系界线应在索布查组之内,三叠系与侏罗系可能为整合接触。     

Quaternary depositional patterns and sea-level fluctuations, northeastern North Carolina

A detailed record of late Quaternary sea-level oscillations is preserved within the upper 45 m of deposits along an eight km transect across Croatan Sound, a drowned tributary of the Roanoke/Albemarle drainage system, northeastern North Carolina. Drill-hole and seismic data reveal nine relatively complete sequences filling an antecedent valley comprised of discontinuous middle and early Pleistocene deposits. On interfluves, lithologically similar marine deposits of different sequences occur stacked in vertical succession and separated by ravinement surfaces. Within the paleo-drainage, marine deposits are separated by fluvial and/or estuarine sediments deposited during periods of lowered sea level. Foraminiferal and molluscan fossil assemblages indicate that marine facies were deposited in a shallow-marine embayment with open connection to shelf waters. Each sequence modifies or truncates portions of the preceding sequence or sequences. Sequence boundaries are the product of a combination of fluvial, estuarine, and marine erosional processes. Stratigraphic and age analyses constrain the ages of sequences to late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 and younger (∼ 140 ka to present), indicating multiple sea-level oscillations during this interval. Elevations of highstand deposits associated with late MIS 5 and MIS 3 imply that sea level was either similar to present during those times, or that the region may have been influenced by glacio-isostatic uplift and subsidence.     

Early Pleistocene climate changes in the central Mediterranean region as inferred from integrated pollen and planktonic foraminiferal stable isotope analyses

Vegetation inherited from a Pliocene subtropical climate evolved through obliquity oscillations and global cooling leading to modern conditions. An integrated, highly time-resolved record of pollen and stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C of Globigerina bulloides) was obtained to understand vegetation responses to Early Pleistocene climate changes. Continental and marine responses are compared in the Central Mediterranean region with a particular consideration of environmental changes during anoxic events.Pollen data illustrate vegetation dynamics as follows: [1] development of mesothermic elements (warm and humid conditions); [2] expansion of mid- and high-altitude elements (cooler but still humid conditions); and [3] strengthening of steppe and herb elements (cooler and dry conditions). These successions correlate with precession. δ¹⁸O variations recorded by Globigerina bulloides define two cycles (MIS 43-40) related to obliquity. At northern low- to mid-latitudes, the pollen signal records temperature and wetness changes related to precession even during global climate changes induced by obliquity. This may result in unexpected increasing wetness during glacial periods, which has to be considered specific to the Central and Eastern Mediterranean region. Lastly, an analysis of anoxic events reveals that enhanced runoff is indicated by increasing frequency of the riparian trees Liquidambar and Zelkova.     

Paleoenvironmental analysis of a middle Wisconsinan biota site, southwestern Virginia, U.S.A.

The Ratcliff Site in southwestern Virginia lies in a small second-order stream valley filled with approximately 3.5 m of organic-rich deposits that contain bones of mammoth, mastodon, deer (or antelope), logs, and plant macrofossils. Radiocarbon analyses indicate the age of the organic-rich sediment ranges from > 44,000 to 29,100 ¹⁴C yr BP, a time period with no fossil remains reported in this region of the Appalachians. Analyses of field observations, textural data, organic carbon content, and plant macrofossils indicate that the organic-rich sediments contain interbedded standing-water and debris-flow deposits. Up to 6 m of oxidized debris-flow sediments bury the organic-rich sediments. The presence of Rubus parviflorus (Thimble Berry) throughout the deposit indicates the site had a boreal environment from > 44,000 to 29,100 ¹⁴C yr BP. Plant macrofossil evidence indicates the uplands had stands of spruce/jack-pine forests while the valley contained ponds and associated wetlands. Three debris flows occurred at the site between approximately 38,000 and 29,000 ¹⁴C yr BP, suggesting a recurrence interval for major storms of approximately 3000 yr, even though the apparent stability of the boreal environment implies a climate not conducive to catastrophic rainstorms. This conflicting combination of features suggests that during the middle Wisconsinan this area experienced generally cool climates, dominated by polar air masses, but was punctuated by relatively brief warm periods marked by incursions of tropical air masses.     

Episodes of late Holocene aridity recorded by stalagmites from Devil's Icebox Cave, central Missouri, USA

Two stalagmites from Devil's Icebox Cave, central Missouri, display similar δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values and trends during the late Holocene. Positive δ¹³C excursions at 3.5-2.6 ka and 1.2-0.9 ka are interpreted to reflect drier conditions. These elevated stalagmite δ¹³C values could have plausibly been driven by increasing C₄ plant abundances over the cave or an increased contribution of bedrock carbon, both of which could reflect decreased effective moisture. A lack of corresponding oxygen isotopic anomalies during these intervals suggests that neither mean annual temperature nor the seasonality of precipitation changed concomitantly with dryness. Both of the δ¹³C excursions identified in our stalagmite record are roughly coincident with dry intervals from a number of sites located across the Great Plains.