Paliurus (Paliureae,Rhamnaceae) from the Miocene of East China and its Macrofossil-based Phylogenetic and Phytogeographical History

The extant genus Paliurus Miller is divided into P. ramosissimus and P. spina-christi groups and is diagnostically characterized by distinctive orbicular-winged fruits with a trilocular （or often bilocular） ovary and basally triveined leaves with a subentire to serrate margin. Here, structurally preserved winged fruits and associated compressed leaves of Paliurus （Paliureae, Rhamnaceae） are reported from the Middle-Upper Miocene Shengxian Formation of Tiantai, Zhejiang, eastern China. The fruits can be identified as Paliurus microcarpa Xiang-Chuan Lisp. nov., the diagnostic characters of external morphology and anatomy of which differ from those of both extant and fossil generic members; the leaves can be designated as Paliurus sp. The species based on winged fruits, P. microcarpa, might represent an ancient intermediate link exclusively known across the P. ramosissimus and P. spina-christi groups, showing a closer affinity to the P. ramosissimus group based on the resemblant smaller fruits with a narrower wing, and to the P. spina-christi group based on the similar wing structure and texture, respectively. Morphological analyses of the present and previous fossil fruit records around the world indicate that diversification of Paliurus had begun in northern transpacific regions by the Late Eocene. The macrofossil records, i.e., fruits and leaves of Paliurus globally when projected on paleoenvironmental maps in view of changing continental positions through time （from Eocene to Miocene） display that the past distribution of the genus was much wider than the present and belongs to a tropical and warm temperate realm of the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the modern restricted disjunction in tropical and warm temperate regions of East Asia and South Europe （even eastwards West Asia） might represent glacial refugia for some of the generic ancient lineages to survive severe cold at least since the terminal Pliocene.     

特提斯成矿域中新世斑岩铜矿岩石成因、源区、构造演化及其成矿作用过程

作为全球三大成矿域之一,特提斯成矿域发育众多的世界级成矿带(矿床),例如,旁地德斯、萨汉德-巴兹曼、贾盖、玉龙、冈底斯成矿带等。为了进一步了解特提斯成矿域中新世斑岩铜矿的成因及成矿作用,本文对萨汉德-巴兹曼、贾盖和冈底斯铜矿带典型矿床的地质、地球化学、Sr-Nd-Pb数据进行对比分析,探讨含矿斑岩岩石成因、源区特征和构造环境,归纳其构造演化与其成矿作用过程。地球化学数据显示,这三个铜矿带中新世斑岩体总体显示钙碱性I型花岗岩的特征,具有埃达克岩亲和性。与冈底斯铜矿带相比较,萨汉德-巴兹曼铜矿带和贾盖铜矿带斑岩体显示出弧岩浆岩与埃达克岩过渡的地球化学特征,暗示其岩浆源区MORB质角闪榴辉岩或榴辉岩可能发生的较大程度的部分熔融。Sr-Nd-Pb同位素数据显示,这些含矿斑岩主要来源于受岩浆作用控制的壳幔混合物质,显示DUPAL异常。综合研究分析,认为这些含矿斑岩可能形成于岛弧造山带演化过程中,是洋壳俯冲消减和大陆碰撞过程中增厚下地壳部分熔融的结果。     

西沙-南海北部晚第三纪生物礁的比较沉积学研究

在西沙群岛琛航岛一井晚第三纪生物礁中发现了９属４３种造礁钙藻和９个生物化石群落,与在南海北部陆架珠江口盆地惠州３３－１－１井发现的７属１６种造礁钙藻,７个生物化石群落() 及在莺歌海-琼东南盆地区莺６井发现的５属２１种造礁钙藻和５个生物化石群落() 一起,并列为迄今在研究区发现生物礁的三大典型研究剖面。本文较详细地从比较沉积学的角度讨论了这三个生物礁的异同点。生物礁最为重要的鉴定标志就是它具备典型的生物骨架结构。利用有关三个生物礁化石群落的鉴定成果、分布特征、组合关系、剖面演变规律的资料,指出皮壳状与坚硬分枝状珊瑚藻（Ｍｅｌｏｂｅｓｉａｅ）、直立分节状珊瑚藻（Ｃｏｒａｌｉｎａａ）和仙掌藻（Ｈａｌｉｍｅｄａ）在成礁过程中形成格架,扮演了“开路先锋”、“主力军”、“收容队的角色;尤其绿藻门仙掌藻作为其中最为重要的骨架生物之一在西沙生物礁中形成剖面序列,对于完善成礁理论和探索中国的“Ｍｅｓｓｉｎｉａｎ”事件-“南中国海”事件具有重要的古海洋学意义。三地生物礁因陆架海与陆缘海的区别而在沉积环境方面有所不同;成礁基有碳酸盐台地、古老的前第三纪基岩或“海台”;主要成礁期为中新世不同阶段;重要的岩石类型包括珊瑚藻礁灰岩与白云。     

Geochemistry and tectonic setting of Tertiary volcanism in the Güvem area, Anatolia, Turkey

Detailed field mapping in the Güvem area in the Galatia province of NW Central Anatolia, Turkey, combined with K–Ar dating, has established the existence of two discrete Miocene volcanic phases, separated by a major unconformity. The magmas were erupted in a post-collisional tectonic setting and it is possible that the younger phase could be geodynamically linked to the onset of transtensional tectonics along the North Anatolian Fault zone. The Early Miocene phase (18–20 Ma; Burdigalian) is the most voluminous, comprising of over 1500 m of potassium-rich intermediate-acid magmas. In contrast, the Late Miocene volcanic phase (ca. 10 Ma; Tortonian) comprises a single 70-m-thick flow unit of alkali basalt. The major and trace element and Sr–Nd isotope compositions of the volcanics suggest that the Late Miocene basalts and the parental mafic magmas to the Early Miocene series were derived from different mantle sources. Despite showing some similarities to high-K calc-alkaline magma series from active continental margins, the Early Miocene volcanics are clearly alkaline with higher abundances of high field strength elements (Zr, Nb, Ti, Y). Crustal contamination appears to have enhanced the effects of crystal fractionation in the petrogensis of this series and some of the most silica-rich magmas may be crustal melts. The mantle source of the most primitive mafic magmas is considered to have been an asthenospheric mantle wedge modified by crustally-derived fluids rising from a Late Cretaceous–Early Tertiary Tethyan subduction zone dipping northwards beneath the Galatia province. The Late Miocene basalts, whilst still alkaline, have a Sr–Nd isotope composition indicating partial melting of a more depleted mantle source component, which most likely represents the average composition of the asthenosphere beneath the region.     

Bottom-current deposits in the Miocene–Pliocene Misaki Formation, Izu forearc area, Japan

Sedimentary structures in the middle–late Miocene to early Pliocene Misaki Formation, Miura Group, Miura Peninsula, Central Japan, were studied, and paleocurrent data were interpreted as the result of deep-sea bottom-current flow. These current data were further compared with present-day bottom currents in the northwestern Pacific region. The Misaki Formation is thought to be a forearc deposit within the Izu oceanic arc, and is composed of thick volcaniclastic beds interbedded with siliceous biogenic clayey sediments. Sedimentary structures showing paleocurrent directions are involved in the upper part of the volcaniclastic beds, in the pumiceous beds just above the volcaniclastic beds, and in the pelagic sediments. Based on paleomagnetic data suggesting considerable rotation of the beds, all the current directions were reconstructed to their original orientation. The paleocurrents are summarized into the following three groups. The first group in the volcaniclastic beds indicates southeast-directed paleocurrent directions. The second group in the upper parts of volcaniclastic beds and in some pumiceous beds exhibits a southwest- and northeast-directed paleoflow. The third group usually observed in the pumiceous beds with parallel lamination displays a northwest- or southeast-directed paleocurrent. The origin of each group's paleoflow direction is attributed to turbidity current, internal tidal current, and contour current influences, respectively. Present-day observations of the deep-sea northwest Pacific suggest that most of the bottom-current indicators in the Misaki Formation are related to North Pacific Deep Water, possibly Antarctic Bottom Water as well as a combination of tidal and local effects. It is concluded that the beds of the Misaki Formation were deposited in the proto-Sagami basin ca 9 Ma and were formed under weak bottom currents in a wide and flat basin during colder climatic conditions, whereas the beds dated at ca 6 Ma were deposited under strong bottom-current flow, and were then accreted to the Honshu arc.     

Geochemical zonation of the Miocene Alborán Basin volcanism (westernmost Mediterranean): geodynamic implications

We present new major and trace element and O–Sr–Nd-isotope data for igneous rocks from the western Mediterranean Alborán Sea, collected during the METEOR 51/1 cruise, and for high-grade schists and gneisses from the continental Alborán basement, drilled during the Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP Leg 161, Site 976). The geochemical data allow a detailed examination of crustal and mantle processes involved in the petrogenesis of the lavas and for the first time reveal a zonation of the Miocene Alborán Sea volcanism: (1) a keel-shaped area of LREE-depleted (mainly tholeiitic series) lavas in the central Alborán Sea, generated by high degrees of partial melting of a depleted mantle source and involving hydrous fluids from subducted marine sediments, that is surrounded by (2) a horseshoe-shaped zone with LREE-enriched (mainly calc-alkaline series) lavas subparallel to the arcuate Betic-Gibraltar-Rif mountain belt. We propose that the geochemical zonation of the Miocene Alborán Basin volcanism results from eastward subduction of Tethys oceanic lithosphere coupled with increasing lithospheric thickness between the central Alborán Sea and the continental margins of Iberia and Africa. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Stratigraphy and sedimentology of phosphate-rich sediments in Malta and south-eastern Sicily (latest Oligocene to early Late Miocene)

The Maltese archipelago and south‐eastern Sicily include an Uppermost Oligocene to Upper Miocene hemipelagic sedimentary succession representing the Malta‐Hyblean plateau, which limits the eastern Mediterranean to the west. This succession hosts a unique and well‐exposed series of condensed and allochthonous phosphate‐rich beds, which were formed in a sedimentary regime of erosion, sediment reworking and frequent gravity‐flow deposition. The combination of nannofossil biostratigraphy and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope stratigraphy allows for the precise attribution of ages to the phosphate deposits and for the distinction of three periods of major phosphogenesis. The first phase occurred between 24·5 and 21 Ma and 25 and 18·9 Ma (clustering of ages between 25 and 22·5 Ma) on Malta and Sicily, respectively. The second and third phases of phosphogenesis are documented from the Maltese Islands and are dated as 17·2 to 13·1 Ma and 10·9 to 9·8 Ma, respectively. The phosphate‐rich beds are associated with hiatuses and phases of important condensation which, for the oldest phosphogenic period, envelop the time period of 23·2 to 22 Ma for the Fomm Ir Rhi Bay section (Malta) and from 19·1 to 16·3 Ma for the sections of Sampieri and Modica (Sicily). For the second phase of phosphogenesis on the Maltese Islands, a consistent hiatus was found which embraces the time period of approximately 17 to 15 Ma. Also the third phase of phosphogenesis appears to be associated with a major hiatus, which probably envelops the time period between 12·5 and 10·9 Ma, but a better age control is needed here. The correspondence in timing of the Maltese‐Sicilian phases of phosphogenesis with major phases of phosphogenesis outside the Mediterranean realm, to maxima in oceanic phosphorus‐burial rates and maxima in the δ¹³C benthic foraminiferal record suggests that the palaeoceanographic evolution of the eastern Mediterranean was well in phase with that of other ocean basins until at least the early Late Miocene, despite its increasing isolation due to the gradual closure of the Eurasian‐Arabian Strait and progressive sea‐level fall.     

Maeotian mammalian localities of Eastern Paratethys: Magnetochronology and position in European continental scales

The Maeotian of Eastern Paratethys corresponds to the interval of the magnetochronological scale from the base of the subchron C4Ar2n to upper parts of the Chron C4n (9.6–7.5 Ma). Fission-track dates of Maeotian deposits are in general agreement with paleomagnetic chronology. In the continental stratigraphic scale of Western Europe this interval corresponds to zones MN10 (save the lowermost parts), MN11, and MN12 (upper part). Taking into account age estimates of MN zones boundaries established in Western Europe, the East European mammalian localities of Ukraine and Moldova can be stratified as follows: MN10, Raspopeni, Grebeniki, Novaya Emetovka 1, ?lower bed of Ciobruci; MN11, Novaya Emetovka 2; MN12, Cimislia, Ciobruci upper bed, Cherevichnoe, Tudorovo, Dzedzvtakhevi, and sites in the lower Pontian deposits. The faunal criteria used to distinguish MN zones in Western Europe cannot be completely applied to sites of the Eastern Paratethys because of paleozoogeographic distinctions between West and East European provinces. Specific criteria of zone boundaries definitions should be developed for the East European province.     

中太平洋CP区中新世CP30孔的沉积特征及成因

由于前人对中太平洋中新世的沉积特征及成因研究较少,笔者根据在中太平洋CP区采集的CP30孔柱状样品的测试分析结果,系统阐述了中新世的沉积物特征及元素含量在垂向的演变规律,利用grapher、spss软件及投点方式对所有样品的常、微量元素进行了R型因子分析,进一步揭示了元素的组合特征及其成因专属性,并对其沉积物成因进行了初步探讨。     

浙东中新世Betula mioluminifera Hu et Chaney的发现及古气候重建

随着古气候和古环境研究的日渐深入,“特有种气候分析法”成为新生代定量重建古气候研究的重要方法之一。使用这一方法分析了浙江东部天台中新统下南山组的古亮叶桦（Betula mioluminifera Hu et Chaney）压型化石,研究了其叶结构特征及表皮微细构造,定量推论浙江天台中新世时年平均温度为12.5～22.1℃,春季平均温度为13.0～23.1℃,较现在温暖。我国内蒙、吉林、山东、云南等地的新近系发现过古亮叶桦,分布的北界为42°N。其现存最近亲缘种亮叶桦（Betula luminifera）生活在101～119°E,23～34°N之间,海拔500～1800 m的山区,是我国特有树种。亮叶桦分布范围的缩小显示中新世一段时期我国气候逐渐变冷的趋势。