Early Cenozoic paleontological assemblages and provenance evolution of the Lishui Sag,East China Sea

The East China Sea Shelf Basin generated a series of back-arc basins with thick successions of marine- and terrestrial-facies sediments during Cenozoic. It is enriched with abundant oil and gas resources and is of great significance to the petroleum exploration undertakings. Therein, the Lishui Sag formed fan delta, fluvial delta and littoral-to-neritic facies sediments during Paleocene–Eocene, and the research on its sedimentary environment and sediment source was controversial. This study analyzed the paleontological combination characteristics, and conducted a source-to-sink comparative analysis to restore the sedimentary environment and provenance evolution of the Lishui Sag during Paleocene–Eocene based on the integration of detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra patterns with paleontological assemblages. The results indicated that Lishui Sag was dominated by littoral and neritic-facies environment during time corroborated by large abundance of foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils and dinoflagellates. Chronological analysis of detrital zircon U-Pb revealed that there were significant differences in sediment sources between the east and west area of the Lishui Sag. The western area was featured by deeper water depths in the Paleocene–Eocene, and the sediment was characterized by a single Yanshanian peak of zircon U-Pb age spectra, and mainly influenced from Yanshanian magmatic rocks of South China Coast and the surrounding paleo-uplifts. However, its eastern area partly showed Indosinian populations. In particular, the upper Eocene Wenzhou sediments were featured by increasingly plentiful Precambrian zircons in addition to the large Indosinian-Yanshanian peaks, indicating a possible impact from the Yushan Low Uplift to the east. Therefore, it is likely that the eastern Lishui Sag generated large river systems as well as deltas during time. Due to the Yuquan Movement, the Lishui Sag experienced uplifting and exhumation in the late stage of the late Eocene and was not deposited with sediments until Miocene. Featured by transitional-facies depositions of Paleocene–Eocene, the Lishui Sag thus beared significant potential for source rock and oil-gas reservoir accumulation.     

The effect of lithology on valley width,terrace distribution,and bedload provenance in a tectonically stable catchment with flat‐lying stratigraphy

How rock resistance or erodibility affects fluvial landforms and processes is an outstanding question in geomorphology that has recently garnered attention owing to the recognition that the erosion rates of bedrock channels largely set the pace of landscape evolution. In this work, we evaluate valley width, terrace distribution, and bedload provenance in terms of reach scale variation in lithology in the study reach and discuss the implications for landscape evolution in a catchment with relatively flat‐lying stratigraphy and very little uplift. A reach of the Buffalo National River in Arkansas was partitioned into lithologic reaches and the mechanical and chemical resistance of the main lithologies making up the catchment was measured. Valley width and the spatial distribution of terraces were compared among the different lithologic reaches. The surface grain size and provenance of coarse (2–90 mm) sediment of both modern gravel bars and older terrace deposits that make up the former bedload were measured and defined. The results demonstrate a strong impact of lithology upon valley width, terrace distribution, and bedload provenance and therefore, upon landscape evolution processes. Channel down‐cutting through different lithologies creates variable patterns of resistance across catchments and continents. Particularly in post‐tectonic and non‐tectonic landscapes, the variation in resistance that arises from the exhumation of different rocks in channel longitudinal profiles can impact local base levels, initiating responses that can be propagated through channel networks. The rate at which that response is transmitted through channels is potentially amplified and/or mitigated by differences between the resistance of channel beds and bedload sediment loads. In the study reach, variation in lithologic resistance influences the prevalence of lateral and vertical processes, thus producing a spatial pattern of terraces that reflects rock type rather than climate, regional base level change, or hydrologic variability. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SHRIMP U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from the Early Cretaceous Nakdong Formation,South East Korea: Timing of initiation of the Gyeongsang Basin and its provenance

To constrain the depositional age of the lowermost Nakdong Formation in the Early Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin, SHRIMP U–Pb age determination was carried out on zircon separates. The U–Pb compositions of detrital zircons from the Nakdong Formation yield a wide range of ages from the Archean to the Cretaceous but show a marked contrast in age distribution according to the geographical locations within the basin. The provenance of the southern Nakdong Formation is dominantly the surrounding Yeongnam Massif, which is composed of Paleoproterozoic metamorphic rocks and Triassic to Jurassic plutonic rocks, whereas the central to northern Nakdong Formation records significant sediment derivation from the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt, which is distributed to the northwest, in addition to the contribution from the Yeongnam Massif. It is suggested that the maximum depositional age of the Nakdong Formation is ca 127 Ma, based on its youngest detrital zircon age population. The onset of its deposition at 127 Ma coincided with the tectonic inversion in East Asia from a compressional to an extensional geodynamic setting, probably due to the contemporaneous change in the drift direction of the Izanagi Plate and its subsequent oblique subduction.     

One Million Years tephra record at IODP Sites U1436 and U1437: Insights into explosive volcanism from the Japan and Izu arcs

The 1 Myr tephra records of IODP (International Ocean Discovery Program) Holes U1436A and U1437B in the Izu‐Bonin fore‐ and reararc were investigated in order to assess provenance and eruptive volumes, respectively. In total, 304 tephra samples were examined and 260 primary tephra layers were identified. Tephra provenance was determined by means of major and trace element compositions of glass shards and distinguished between Japan and Izu‐Bonin arc origin of the tephra layers. A total of 33 marine tephra compositions were correlated to the Japan arc and 227 to the Izu arc. Twenty marine tephra layers were correlated between the two drilling sites. Additionally, we defined eleven correlations of marine tephra deposits to major widespread Japanese eruptions; from the 1.05 Ma Shishimuta‐Pink Tephra to the 30 ka Aira‐Tn Tephra, both from Kyushu Island. These eruptions provide independent time markers within the sediment record and six correlations were used to date tephra layers from Japan in Hole U1436A to establish an alternative age model for this hole. Furthermore, the minimum distal tephra volumes of all detected events were calculated, which enabled the comparison of the tephra volumes that derived from the Japan and the Izu‐Bonin arcs. For some of the major Japanese eruptions these are the first volume estimations that also include distal deposits. All of the Japanese tephras derived from events with eruption magnitude M_v ≥ 5.6 and three of the investigated eruptions reach magnitudes M_v ≥ 7. Volcanic events of the Izu‐Bonin arc have mostly eruption magnitudes M_v ≤ 5.     

青海共和盆地早全新世古风向重建及其对黄土物源的指示

青藏高原东北部地处黄土与沙漠的过渡地区,在冰期-间冰期旋回中受中纬西风与东亚季风环流的交替控制,曾发生大范围的沙漠进退,是黄土高原重要的潜在物源区。恢复该区地质历史时期的大气环流格局可为重建东亚地区的环境面貌、探讨黄土高原的物源区、检验东亚地区古气候模拟结果的有效性等方面提供重要依据。但目前对高原东北部的古大气环流特征却鲜有研究。青藏高原东北部保存有一系列的古沙丘,可为古大气环流的重建提供直接依据。本文选取青海共和盆地一处代表性新月形古沙丘开展光释光测年研究,并通过其平面形态和前积层产状恢复了当时的古风向。结果表明:共和盆地的风沙活动自早全新世以来开始显著减弱,此时近地面盛行与现今风向一致的西北风。前人的研究揭示出青藏高原东北部在冰期时很可能盛行西风,并存在广泛的荒漠化,因而很可能是黄土高原冰期时重要的物源区之一。而本研究指示,该区的盛行风向在早全新世以来转变为西北风,且荒漠范围显著退缩,导致其全新世不再是黄土高原的物源区。青藏高原东北部的盛行风向和荒漠范围在冰期-间冰期旋回中的这种变化,为理解黄土高原的粉尘物源在空间和冰期-间冰期旋回上的变化提供了依据。     

南京下蜀土的地球化学特征及其物源指示意义

风尘堆积的物源研究对于揭示物源区的环境演化状况、重建古风场强度和古大气环流格局等都具有重要的意义。目前长江下游地区下蜀土的物质来源问题仍然存在争议。为了解决这一争议问题,本文以南京泰山新村下蜀土剖面为研究对象,开展了系统的地球化学研究。通过对南京下蜀土的常量元素、微量元素、Nd同位素进行测试,并与黄土高原同期黄土进行对比分析,探讨其对长江下游下蜀土的物源指示意义。南京下蜀土与北方黄土具有相似的常、微量元素UCC标准化曲线和稀土元素球粒陨石标准化曲线,但是它的Zr、Hf含量较高,Tl、Pb含量较低,且具有较高的SiO2/Al2O3、TiO2/Al2O3、Nb/Ta和GdN/YbN,较低的SiO2/TiO2、Zr/Hf、Y/Ho、Lu/Hf和εNd(0)值,说明南京下蜀土的物质来源明显有别于黄土高原黄土。南京下蜀土与长江中游下蜀土在地球化学特征方面有较多的相似性,指示其物质来源与中游下蜀土的物质来源相似,主要来源于长江中下游地区的松散沉积物。     

石榴石微量元素地球化学及其在沉积物源分析中的应用

石榴石是沉积物中常见的重矿物,其可来源于多种岩石,而且不同类型母岩中石榴石具有多样的地球化学组成,因此碎屑石榴石的地球化学分析在沉积物源研究中应用广泛。通过电子探针分析可以容易地获得单颗粒碎屑石榴石的主量元素地球化学组成,可借此探讨其母岩类型,但也存在一定的局限性,比如中酸性火成岩和部分变沉积岩来源的石榴石通常都具有高Fe、Mn的特征,不易于区分。本文系统地收集了不同岩石类型的石榴石微量元素数据,尝试利用微量元素地球化学的差异性对碎屑石榴石物源分析进行补充。最终得出以下结论:(1)石榴石的稀土元素(REE)组成与钇(Y)元素指标可区分中酸性火成岩和变沉积岩来源的碎屑石榴石;(2)基性岩(橄榄岩、辉石岩)及所对应的变基性岩石(榴辉岩)中石榴石的微量元素地球化学组成相近,但部分橄榄岩来源的石榴石在镨/钬(Pr_N/Ho_N)值和重稀土总量(ΣHREE含量)上与辉石岩和榴辉岩的有显著差别,这一特点可运用于以基性岩母岩为主的碎屑沉积物源研究中;(3)夕卡岩中的石榴石在主量元素地球化学组成上表现为高度一致的高Ca特征,而稀土元素组成具有两种典型的分配模式,岩浆型(指示富铁、氧化环境)与热液型(指示富铝、还原环境)。综上所述,石榴石微量元素地球化学可以有效地运用于沉积物源分析研究中,是其主量元素物源分析方法的重要补充。     

华北南缘中元古界高山河群碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义*

为了探讨华北板块南缘中元古代沉积地层的时代归属和物质来源、区域古地理格局和大地构造特征,对豫西灵宝福地地区的高山河群进行碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和锆石微量元素特征研究。获得的高山河群年龄最小(年轻)的单颗碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄值为1685±39 Ma,从而限制了高山河群最早沉积年龄不早于1700 Ma。结合上覆的龙家园组年代学标定(1594±12 Ma),将高山河群的形成年代限定为1700—1600 Ma,即中元古代长城纪的中晚期,属国际地质年表的“固结纪”。高山河群中碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄范围为1685—2751 Ma,呈现1850 Ma、2150 Ma、2300 Ma和2500 Ma共4个年龄峰值,对应于华北克拉通古元古代重要的地质事件,并且高山河群以1850 Ma和2500 Ma峰值年龄段的地质体为主要的物源区。根据高山河群与云梦山组碎屑锆石年龄频率对比,推测在豫西地区西侧存在以往报道较少的年龄为2500 Ma的地质体。根据熊耳群火山岩及其对应锆石的地球化学特征和熊耳期盆地动力学性质,并结合高山河群沉积相特征和沉积盆地构造属性,认为熊耳群形成于与“岛弧”共生的拉张性质的弧后盆地地区,而其上覆的高山河群为弧后盆地靠近大陆一侧的具有被动大陆边缘性质的滨浅海沉积。     

华北克拉通南缘石炭系本溪组铁-铝黏土矿物质来源: 以河南三门峡大安铝黏土矿床为例*

华北克拉通在中奥陶世至晚石炭世期间一直出露地表,经历了长期的风化作用,形成大规模的铁-铝黏土矿,其成矿物源一直是研究的热点,尤其是本溪组底部铁矿和铁质黏土矿与上部铝黏土矿是否为同一来源尚未查清。本研究选取克拉通南缘大安铝黏土矿床作为研究对象,展开微区矿物及元素地球化学组成分析,进一步探讨铁-铝黏土矿物质来源。大安矿床内含矿岩系自下而上包括铁质黏土岩、铝土矿、铝质黏土矿;局部喀斯特高地缺失铝土矿,铝质黏土矿直接覆盖于铁质黏土岩之上。铁质黏土岩在洼地以菱铁矿、黄铁矿和伊利石为主,在隆起区以赤铁矿、伊利石和高岭石为主。铝土矿以硬水铝石、伊利石和锐钛矿为主;铝质黏土矿主要矿物为伊利石。矿物微区分析在黏土矿底部发现大量的碳化硅和少量自然硅、硅铁矿、铬铁矿;区域对比揭示北秦岭造山带内商丹缝合带和二郎坪群中的蛇绿岩为铝黏土矿形成提供了成矿物质。本溪组底部铁质黏土与上部铝黏土矿稳定元素比率(例如Zr/TiO₂、Hf/TiO₂、Nb/TiO₂、Ta/TiO₂)存在明显差异,揭示二者为不同来源: 底部铁质黏土岩和铁矿层为底板碳酸盐岩原地风化的产物;而上部铝黏土矿是异地搬运物,北秦岭造山带在晚石炭世的整体抬升为华北铝黏土矿形成提供了重要的成矿物质。     

Provenance discrimination of fine sediments by mid-infrared spectroscopy: Calibration and application to fluvial palaeo-environmental reconstruction

Determining sediment provenance allows a better understanding of fluvial palaeo-dynamics, and identifying involved watersheds, at broad spatio-temporal scales. Conventional approaches for source identification are usually based on the physical, mineralogical, geochemical, magnetic or isotopic properties of sediments. Rapid, non-destructive and, in well-established contexts, highly accurate, mid-infrared spectroscopy is an alternative method for investigating sediment sources. The present research objectives are: (i) to use the mid-infrared spectroscopy method to discriminate the provenance of fine sediments, by applying discriminant analysis on a large set of reference samples from three different watersheds in the Upper Rhine area (associated with the Rhine, Ill and Vosges tributaries); (ii) to clarify whether the provenance spectra signatures are influenced by riverine depositional contexts (bars versus banks) and, to some extent, by grain size and/or high organic matter content; and (iii) to apply the mid-infrared spectroscopy – discriminant analysis method to a study of fluvial palaeo-dynamics and determine the provenance of palaeo-channel infillings. Three main sedimentary sources, divided into eight sub-categories, have been characterized by 196 modern reference samples from 78 collecting sites. Discriminant analysis displayed a strong separating power by classifying correctly the origin of samples without any inter-group overlap, independently from the geomorphological context (bar or bank) and associated slight changes in organic matter contents or grain size. Mid-infrared spectroscopy – discriminant analysis investigations of the palaeo-channel infill, complemented by radiocarbon dates and mineralogical data, allowed reconstructing general trends for the local morpho-sedimentary dynamics over the last ca 12 millennia.