Evidence of a Cretaceous remagnetization in the Cameros Basin (North Spain): implications for basin geometry

The paleomagnetic results obtained in 23 sites from red beds of the northern border of the inverted Cameros Basin (northern Iberian Peninsula) prove a Cretaceous widespread remagnetization. Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses indicate that the Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) is dominated by a stable and always normal polarity component carried by haematite. Two conglomerate test and five-fold test indicate that this component is a syn-tectonic overprint dated between Albian and Santonian times, most probably Albian, contemporary with a low-grade metamorphism. Remagnetization was acquired before compressional deformation and post-dates the main extensional stage of basin formation (Berriasian–Albian). Incremental fold tests provide best clustering solutions showing dispersed results and far from the expected direction. An alternative procedure to obtain fold test solution was applied considering asymmetric limb rotation. Mean directions obtained from these “asymmetric solutions” are consistent with the expected direction and yield a statistical value for significant grouping at the 95% confidence level in all fold tests performed. This reconstruction allows to determine the tilting of beds at the moment of acquisition of magnetization. These original dips were used to reconstruct the original geometry of the northern basin border, later modified during the Tertiary inversion stage. This extensional geometry can be characterised as a large-scale syn-sedimentary normal fault drag, with a minor roll-over anticline. The procedure developed in this paper should be tested in other inverted basins that also have undergone burial remagnetizations.     

山东诸城晚白垩世王氏群恐龙化石层碎屑锆石定年和物源示踪

山东东部诸城晚白垩世王氏群大面积、高密度集群埋藏的恐龙化石是近年研究的热点,但其沉积物源与精确沉积时限目前尚不明确。本文通过对山东诸城王氏群恐龙化石层中6个砂岩样品的碎屑锆石U-Pb定年表明,样品090414-24-D中最年轻的单颗粒锆石年龄(YSG)为77.3 Ma,应代表王氏群恐龙化石层的最大沉积时限(下限),结合前人对王氏群红土崖组的年代学研究表明,其沉积时限应老于73.5 Ma(上限),也说明赋存恐龙化石层的王氏群上部红土崖组为Campanian期沉积;碎屑锆石定年揭示物源的锆石年龄组成分布在100～130 Ma之间,6个样品的年龄主峰值多在110 Ma或120 Ma左右,与下伏的早白垩世青山群火山岩年龄主峰较为吻合。王氏群恐龙化石层砾岩的砾石成分和古水流研究显示,其中3组砾石统计表明砾岩层砾石成分主要由火山岩或火山碎屑岩组成,3组古水流数据表明,诸城地区王氏群红土崖组砾岩层的古流向以南和南东方向为主,尚有1组显示古流向为向北,表明王氏群物源主要来自盆地北侧莱阳和北西侧沂沭断裂带的青山群火山岩,其次为盆地南缘。本研究为诸城王氏群化石层沉积时限的限定和沉积物源的判断,以及胶莱盆地王氏群时期古地理格局的恢复等提供了重要的依据。     

中国主要块体奥陶纪达瑞威尔期（Darriwilian）晚期—凯迪期（Katian）早期海相红层及其构造意义

根据中国主要块体奥陶纪达瑞威尔期地层学、古生物学和岩石学的特点,本文主要论述了中国9个块体,其中包括5个主要块体（扬子克拉通、中朝克拉通、塔里木克拉通、拉萨地块和喜马拉雅北坡）中达瑞威尔晚期—凯迪期早期海相红层的分布、岩性特征和古动物群。它们的岩性特征：如红色灰岩;古生物群特征：如牙形石Pygodus serra动物群,P.anserinus动物群和Hamarodus europaeus动物群,珊瑚Yohophyllum动物群,以及头足类Sinoceras chinense动物群均十分相似或相同。这就充分阐明,中华古陆块群（包括扬子、中朝和塔里木克拉通等）与冈瓦纳古陆北缘古陆块群（包括拉萨地块和喜马拉雅北坡等）之间的关系十分密切,可能在此之前它们同属于冈瓦纳古陆。这对于阐明中华古陆块群与冈瓦纳古陆之间的关系具有重要意义。此外,还将海相红层分为两类：陆棚红层和大洋红层。陆棚红层主要见于寒武纪至三叠纪,大洋红层主要见于白垩纪至现代。     

Origin and evolution processes of hybrid event beds in the Lower Cretaceous of the Lingshan Island,Eastern China

On the basis of detailed sedimentological investigation, three types of hybrid event beds (HEBs) together with debrites and turbidites were distinguished in the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence on the Lingshan Island in the Yellow Sea, China. HEB 1, with a total thickness of 63–80 cm and internal bipartite structures, is characterised by a basal massive sandstone sharply overlain by a muddy sandstone interval. It is interpreted to have been formed by particle rearrangement at the base of cohesive debris flows. HEB 2, with a total thickness of 10–71 cm and an internal tripartite structure, is characterised by a normal grading sandstone base, followed by muddy siltstone middle unit and capped with siltstones; the top unit of HEB 2 may in places be partly or completely eroded. The boundary between the lowest unit and the middle unit is gradual, whereas that between the middle unit and the top unit is sharp. HEB 2 may be developed by up-dip muddy substrate erosion. HEB 3, with a total thickness up to 10 cm and an internal bipartite structure, is characterised by a basal massive sandstone sharply overlain by a muddy siltstone interval. The upper unit was probably deposited by cohesive debris flow with some plant fragments and rare mud clasts. HEB 3 may be formed by the deceleration of low-density turbidity currents. The distribution of HEBs together with debrites and turbidites implies a continuous evolution process of sediment gravity flows: debris flow → hybrid flow caused by particle rearrangement → high-density turbidity current → hybrid flow caused by muddy substrate erosion → low-density turbidity current → hybrid flow caused by deceleration.     

Hybrid event bed character and distribution linked to turbidite system sub‐environments: The North Apennine Gottero Sandstone (north‐west Italy)

This study documents the character and occurrence of hybrid event beds (HEBs) deposited across a range of deep‐water sub‐environments in the Cretaceous–Palaeocene Gottero system, north‐west Italy. Detailed fieldwork (>5200 m of sedimentary logs) has shown that hybrid event beds are most abundant in the distal confined basin‐plain domain (>31% of total thickness). In more proximal sectors, hybrid event beds occur within outer‐fan and mid‐fan lobes (up to 15% of total thickness), whereas they are not observed in the inner‐fan channelized area. Six hybrid event bed types (HEB‐1 to HEB‐6) were differentiated mainly on basis of the texture of their muddier and chaotic central division (H3). The confined basin‐plain sector is dominated by thick (maximum 9·57 m; average 2·15 m) and tabular hybrid event beds (HEB‐1 to HEB‐4). Their H3 division can include very large substrate slabs, evidence of extensive auto‐injection and clast break‐up, and abundant mudstone clasts set in a sandy matrix (dispersed clay ca 20%). These beds are thought to have been generated by highly energetic flows capable of delaminating the sea floor locally, and carrying large rip‐up clasts for relatively short distances before arresting. The unconfined lobes of the mid‐fan sector are dominated by thinner (average 0·38 m) hybrid event beds (HEB‐5 and HEB‐6). Their H3 divisions are characterized by floating mudstone clasts and clay‐enriched matrices (dispersed clay >25%) with hydraulically fractionated components (mica, organic matter and clay flocs). These hybrid event beds are thought to have been deposited by less energetic flows that underwent early turbulence damping following incorporation of mud at proximal locations and by segregation during transport. Although there is a tendency to look to external factors to account for hybrid event bed development, systems like the Gottero imply that intrabasinal factors can also be important; specifically, the type of substrate available (muddy or sandy) and where and how erosion is achieved across the system producing specific hybrid event bed expressions and facies tracts.     

Logging Evaluation of the Ordovician Carbonate Reservoir Beds in the Lungudong Region,Tarim Basin

<正>In recent years,great progress has been made constantly in oil and gas exploration in the Lungudong region of the Tarim Basin.However,progress has been slow in the evaluation of its main oil-producing horizons-the Ordovician carbonate reservoir beds.Based on previous researches and on the various data such as drilling,geology and oil test,in combination with the interpretation of each single-well imaging and conventional logging data,and through analysis and comparison,the identification methods in imaging and conventional logging for four types of carbonate reservoir beds in this region are summarized in this paper.Calculation formulas for four reservoir bed parameters,i. e.shale content,porosity,permeability and oil saturation in this region are proposed;and reservoir beds in this region are divided into three levels(Ⅰ,ⅡandⅢ) by combining oil test data and logging data,The lower limits of the effective porosity of reservoir beds and the fracture porosity of effective reservoir beds are determined as 1.8%and 0.04%,respectively.The physical property parameters are calculated by conventional logging curves,and the most advantageous areas for reservoir development are predicted comprehensively.On the plane,the high-value zones of reservoir bed parameters are mainly concentrated in the N-S-trending strike-slip fault,the Sangtamu fault horst zone and near the LG38 well area;vertically,the reservoir bed parameters of the Yijianfang Formation are better than those of the Yingshan and Lianglitage formations.     

Nagaur — tertiary interface under Punjab-Haryana semi-desertic plains in western India

The subsurface Nagaur Basin in northwest Haryana and southwest Punjab hosts evaporite sequence, conformably overlain by Nagaur red beds and grey beds. A polymictic conglomerate intervenes the Nagaur sequence and the overlying Tertiary sequence. The focus is on the new finds of (i) distinctive ‘grey beds’ overlying ubiquitous red beds, (ii) ‘Malout conglomerate and grit’ horizon (Palaeocene-Miocene) marking an unconformity over the Nagaur Group (early Cambrian) and (iii) ‘entrapped gas and dried-up leaves/carbonaceous flakes’ in the conglomerate unit and succeeding Tertiary rocks. Palaeoenvironmental significance has been discussed. The Nagaur ‘red beds’ has been likened to ‘continental red beds’ of Schreiber (1978) and ‘reworked red beds’ of Krynine (1949). The ‘grey beds’ are channel fillings, fresh material having been derived from fresh cuttings by streams/rivers following structural grains in the Aravalli landscape where the interfluves provided weathered (oxidised) materials for the red beds. Association of continental red beds and grey beds is known in the Newark Series (Triassic) of the Eastern United States and the Keweenawan ‘late Precambrian’ of the Lake Superior region.     

Hydrogeologic factors affecting gas content distribution in coal beds

Gas content in coal is not fixed but changes when equilibrium conditions within the reservoir are disrupted. Therefore, gas content distribution in coal varies laterally within individual coal beds, vertically among coal beds in a single well, and within thicker coal beds. Major hydrogeologic factors affecting gas content variability include gas generation, coal properties, and reservoir conditions. Gas generation affects gas content variability on a regional scale, whereas coal properties influence gas content distribution on a regional and local scale. Reservoir conditions affect gas content more locally within specific fields or individual wells. The potential for high gas content is controlled directly by the amount of thermogenic and secondary biogenic gases generated from the coal which in turn are controlled by burial history, maceral composition, and basin hydrodynamics. Variability in mineral matter (ash) and moisture content, sorption behavior among macerals, diffusion coefficients, and permeability result in heterogeneous gas content distribution. Gas content decreases with decreasing pressure and temperature, and coal beds become undersaturated with respect to methane during basin uplift and cooling. Gas content generally increases where conventional and hydrodynamic trapping of coal gases occur and may decrease in areas of active recharge with downward flow potential and/or convergent flow where there is no mechanism for entrapment.     

The origin of major talc deposits in the Eastern Desert of Egypt: relict fragments of a metamorphosed carbonate horizon?

Detailed geochemical and mineralogical investigation of four talc deposits in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Atshan, Abu Gurdi, Darhib and Kashira) suggests that the deposits form a distinct lithological unit within the Shadli metavolcanic rocks. The talc crystallized from the replacement of siliceous carbonate beds locally intercalated with clastic sediments. Th/Yb vs. Ta/Yb ratios of the rocks suggest that the sediments and the host volcanic rocks formed in an active continental margin (ACM) environment. Thus, the talc deposits may represent relict fragments of an ancient, regionally extensive carbonate horizon within the arc-related metavolcanics. The talc-rich rocks, which contain relict carbonate, serpentinized olivine and tremolite, have low (<3 wt%) Al₂O₃, Cr, Ni (<20 ppm), Co and Sc (<15 ppm) concentrations, precluding mafic or felsic igneous protoliths. The deposits were locally affected by contact metamorphism, giving rise to pyroxene-hornfels and granulite facies assemblages, and by regional metamorphism which produced greenschist-amphibolite grade assemblages. Disseminated sulfides commonly occur in the talc-tremolite-rich rocks (having low Al₂O₃ concentrations), suggesting that the metals were probably present in the original carbonate beds, but were remobilized and reconcentrated during the various metamorphic events.     

Particle travel distances and bed and sediment compositions associated with rain‐impacted flows

Laboratory experiments were performed with rain of uniform drop size (2·7 mm, 5·1 mm) impacting flows over non‐cohesive beds of uniform sized sand (0·11–0·9 mm) and coal (0·2–0·9 mm) particles with flow velocities (20 mm s^?1, 40 mm s^?1) that were insufficient for the flow to entrain the particles without the aid of raindrop impact. Measurement of particle travel distance under rain made up of 2·7 mm drops confirmed a theoretical relationship between settling velocity and the distance particles travel after being disturbed by drop impact. Although, in theory, a relationship between settling velocity and particle travel distance exists, settling velocity by itself was unable to account for the effect of changes in both particle size and density on sediment discharge from beds of uniform non‐cohesive material. Particle density was also a factor. Further study of how particle characteristics influence sediment discharge will aid modelling of the impact of the soil in process‐based models of erosion by rain‐impacted flow. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.