Biogenic and Geochemical Properties of Intertidal Biosedimentary Deposits Related to Mytilus Beds

Abstract. Biofacies development, sedimentology, and geochemical properties of intertidal Mytilus beds in the German Wadden Sea have been studied in vertical profiles in situ and in box core samples. Characteristic features of both the live mussel beds and the underlying sediment sequences were detected. The deposition of faeces, pseudofaeces, and trapped fine-grained material results in the formation of well-defined biosedimentary mud layers of several centimetres thickness. The initial stages of this deposition process were observed in a young, growing Myrilus colony over a 17-month period. In an old mussel bed, being in state of decline, both reworking of dead shells and erosion of the biosedimentary mud layers were recognisable. However, deeper parts of the sediment column reveal shell horizons rich in "pairs" of dead Mytilus shells, i.e ., corresponding right and left valves found close together. These represent subrecent records of former Mytilus colonisation. Historically, they point to long-term occurrence of mussel beds at typical localities, in the framework of fluctuation and patchiness patterns, in the more recent past. On the other hand, mud banks at tidal flat margins adjacent to channels suggest a high preservation potential of biosedimentary mud layers in the low-water level environment. Geochemical properties of these muddy sediments corroborate their biodepositional origin.     

宁夏中卫、中宁地区纳缪尔期贫氧生物相特征

宁夏中卫、中宁地区纳缪尔期动物群以游移的软体动物为主,伴以底栖固着的珊瑚、苔藓动物、腕足类和棘皮动物;个体小;具有以食肉或食腐肉及食沉积物为主的独特营养结构,食悬浮物的滤食性生物较少;有些化石已黄铁矿化。上述特征均直接与贫氧环境的含氧度低有关。根据岩石学特征分析,本区纳缪尔期的古地理环境为温暖、贫氧、盐度不稳定、水动力较弱、能量较小的浅海深水盆地。     

Late Permian- Early Triassic Conodont Biofacies and Bioprovinces in South China and Himalaya

On the basis of existing conodont data, the authors have studied the Late Permian-Early Triassic conodonts of different forms and biofacies in detail. Five conodont biofacies are recognized, from shallow to deep waters 1. Hindeodus conodont biofacies, 2. Pachycladina-Parachi rognathus conodont biofacies, 3. Gondolella -Hindeodus conodont biofacies, 4. Gondolella-Neospathodus conodont biofacies, and 5. Xaniognathus conodont biofacies. Considering the temporal and spatial changes of these conodont biofacies, 3 conodont bloprovinces have been divided. In light of the biofacies changes of each bioprovince, the authors also discuss, in this paper, the regularity of transgression-regression cycles of eastern Tethys and their possible relation to the mass biotic alternation.     

Stratigraphy and ecostratigraphic distribution of foraminiferal morphogroups from the Upper Jurassic of the Makar’yev section (Unzha River,Volga River basin)

Investigation of the Upper Callovian to Lower Kimmeridgian microfossils from the Makar’yev reference section (Unzha River, East European Platform) has been carried out. The section is characterized by ammonite debris and abundant associations of benthic and planktic foraminifers. It is a perfect object for stratigraphic and paleoecological researches. The biostratigraphic distribution of foraminifers from the Makar’yev section allows one to identify standard foraminifera zones of the East European Platform, as well as to upgrade some of them. The analysis of vertical and lateral ammonites and foraminiferal distribution, completed with litho stratigraphy, has precised the stratigraphic volume and position of boundaries of several lithological units.An improved stratigraphic scheme for the Kostroma area of the Moscow Depression is proposed. Analysis of the composition, structure, and dynamic changes of the foraminiferal assemblages has been performed. The morphofunctional analysis of foraminiferal genera has for the first time identified how foraminiferal morphogroups differing in their life style and feeding strategy varied with short-term paleoenvironmental changes. These morphogroup changes allow establishing four ecostratigraphic levels. These paleoecological data have been calibrated along with geochemical factors. They have shown a crisis of foraminiferal association during the Late Oxfordian and Early Kimmeridgian. A similar crisis has also been discovered in the north of Siberia, which may be an argument for its global distribution. The analysis of the taxonomic composition and the density of foraminiferal associations, in parallel with the structure of the association, has revealed a succession of transgressive and regressive events during the Late Callovian-Early Kimmeridgian. It allows the typification of each assemblage in relation with each event and underlines the occurrence of second-order sea-level fluctuations (middle part of the Middle Oxfordian and the earliest Kimmeridgian).     

Geological characteristics and spatial distribution of paleo-inlet channels beneath the outer banks barrier islands,North Carolina,USA

Nearly 200 km of high-resolution ground penetrating radar (GPR) data were acquired along the Outer Banks barrier island system of North Carolina, USA. GPR data combined with lithofacies and biofacies data reveal multiple depositional facies including inlet channel, flood-tide delta, overwash, peat and inner shelf. Previously undocumented paleo-inlet channels constitute a significant portion of the shallow geologic framework between Oregon Inlet and Cape Hatteras. GPR data reveal the complex stratigraphy associated with multiple sequences of cut-and-fill within inlet channels. Two types of paleochannels (non-migrating and migrating) were classified based on geometry and fill-patterns. Sediments and foraminifera collected from vibracores were correlated to GPR data to define the regional shallow stratigraphic framework. Channel-fill facies are characterized by clinoform packages, sometimes bounded by erosional surfaces, indicating variable sediment transport directions from the ocean and sound sides. Channels are incised into older flood-tide delta deposits corresponding to older inlet activity when barriers existed further seaward. Flood-tide delta deposits are capped with marsh peat and overwash units. Migrating inlet facies occur under the widest portions of the island, whereas narrow portions of the island are underlain by the non-migrating inlet facies or flood-tide delta/overwash facies. This geologic/geomorphic relationship is attributed to the successional stage of island evolution during transgression, and sediment transport processes associated with the different inlet types. The radar facies, lithofacies, and biofacies provide a comprehensive dataset that will permit more precise identification of barrier island facies in the geologic record.     

北京及邻区青白口纪化石生物相研究

笔者综合新元古界青白口系典型剖面－北京西山芹峪剖面和北京昌平十三陵剖面新发现的宏观藻类化石及邻区相应层位中的化石资料,通过生物相分析认为,北京西山青白口、芹裕的宏观藻类化石可能产于静水泻湖相中;而北京昌平十三陵的宏观藻类化石组合则反映出具有水下冲积型环境的特色;在河北怀来所发现的极完整又丰富的化石可以代表正常的滨海潮坪环境。因此,笔者认为青白口纪微古植物和宏观藻类化石在区域丰度和形态变化方面与水深     

Ordovician Cephalopod Biofacies of South China and Its Provincialization

INTRODUCTION Biofacies refers to an association of organism-ecology and sedi mentary characteristics , which canreflect a specific ancient environment . Research onbiofacies and its provincialization is significant notonly for increasing the precision of stratigraphic sub-division and correlation,reconstructing ancient envi-ronments and paleogeography ,and oil and gas explo-ration,but also for the study of intercontinental pa-leobiogeography and sea level changes .Although the term biofaci…     

下扬子地区中二叠世上升流相区古生态学研究

首次对下扬子地区中二叠世上升流相区古生态特征进行了研究。将栖霞组划分为5个沉积期,并划分了栖霞组各沉积期和茅口期的生物群落,其中本部灰岩段和顶部灰岩段沉积期群落分异较为明显,并阐述了各群落的组成、结构和生态环境。根据群落的组合特征和沉积学特征,在研究区识别出两种生物相类型,即陆棚缓坡底栖型生物相和陆棚盆地浮游型生物相,并论述了生物相与上升流强度之间的关系。最后,分析了上升流对生物古生态特征的控制作用,认为,上升流的发育强度和生物群落的丰度成正相关,而与分异度多成反相关。     

广西菜子岩剖面中上泥盆统界线附近沉积相与海平面变化*——兼论华南吉维期中期的海退及时间

广西菜子岩剖面处于台地边缘地带,含有底栖生物及浮游生物化石。综合岩相、生物相等资料,按牙形石带时限讨论了该地区吉维期—弗拉斯期早期主要的海平面变化历史。吉维期早期(相当于东岗岭组)经历了持续的海侵,大致下varcus带末期可能出现短暂的海退;“谷闭组”下部岩性复杂,海平面波动强烈,其中较大规模的包括了发生于上varcus带的海退(即吉维期中期海退)及下hermanni-cristatus带初期的海侵。吉维期晚期地层含有丰富的床板珊瑚以及其他礁体生物碎屑,产层孔虫、海百合等,意味着这个时期研究区可能处于礁前的上斜坡部位。“谷闭组”上部（牙形石falsiovalis带至transitans带下部）的岩性为中—薄层与厚层的灰岩互层,以正常的底栖生物为主,反映了由原来的礁前到滩前的变化,但水体深度在中—晚泥盆世界线前后可能总体相似。融县组(底部)以浅灰、灰白色的中—薄层至厚层—块状灰岩为特征,其沉积始于牙形石transitans带中部,证据表明此时海水可能变深。菜子岩剖面的白云岩位于上varcus带的下部,主要为细—中晶结构,见有灰岩残余以及正常海相生物碎屑。横向上与其他剖面对比表明,广西地区上varcus带可能出现了区域性的海退事件。     

Upper Famennian and Lower Tournaisian sections of the Moravian Karst (Moravo‐Silesian Zone,Czech Republic): a proposed key area for correlation of the conodont and foraminiferal zonations

Foraminiferal and conodont faunas at the Devonian–Carboniferous (D–C) boundary in the southern part of the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic) were studied in different facies of the basin slope. The joint presence of foraminifers and conodonts in calciturbidites along with a positive δ¹³C excursion of the Hangenberg anoxic event enabled the high‐resolution calibration of the late Famennian–early Tournaisian interval (Upper expansa–crenulata conodont zones). The conodont stratigraphic and biofacies succession reveals a strong correlation with other European areas. The Siphonodella sulcata morphotype (close to Group 1 sensu Kaiser and Corradini and “nov. gen. nov. sp. 1” sensu Tragelehn) enters prior to the Hangenberg Event, which resembles Upper and Uppermost Famennian conodont successions from Franconia, Bavaria and Morocco. The diversification of the early siphonodellids takes place after the Hangenberg Event and after the protognathodid radiation. In terms of foraminiferal biostratigraphy, the D–C boundary interval is characterized by the first appearance datum (FAD) of Tournayellina pseudobeata close below the D–C boundary followed by a sequence of Tournaisian bioevents, where apart from the last appearance datums (LADs) of quasiendothyrs, the FADs of the Neoseptaglomospiranella species and chernyshinellids play an important role in a similar manner as in Eastern Europe. The correlation of these bioevents elsewhere is often hindered by glacioeustatically‐driven unconformities and widespread occurrences of unfavourable facies for plurilocular foraminifers (Malevka beds and Bisphaera beds). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.