Latest Campanian and Maastrichtian Siderolitidae (larger benthic foraminifera) from the Pyrenees (S France and NE Spain)

The siderolitids from the uppermost Campanian and Maastrichtian deposits of the Pyrenees have been re-studied. This has revealed a high diversity and rapid replacement of taxa, confirming the group as a good tool for high resolution biostratigraphy. Two genera have been found in the uppermost Campanian–Maastrichtian interval in the Pyrenean deposits: Siderolites Lamarck, and Wannierina Robles-Salcedo. Siderolites, with canaliferous spines or denticulate periphery, is represented by four species replacing each other from the latest Campanian to Maastrichtian: Siderolites praecalcitrapoides (latest Campanian), S. pyrenaicus sp. nov. (early Maastrichtian), Siderolites calcitrapoides (late Maastrichtian) and Siderolites denticulatus (late Maastrichtian). Wannierina is characterised by well-developed keels and ramified marginal canals. Two species of Wannierina have been identified and they succeeded one another from latest Campanian to early Maastrichtian: Wannierina vilavellensis sp. nov. (latest Campanian) and Wannierina cataluniensis (early Maastrichtian). The species of the genus Siderolites inhabited shallow waters of tropical to subtropical platforms with moderate-to-high water-energy conditions and those of the genus Wannierina are typical of deep–water low-energy environments but still in the eutrophic zone.     

泥河湾盆地晚新生代微体古生物地层及环境演化的探讨

通过对泥河湾盆地43条剖面和6个钻孔晚新生代地层和微体古生物(介形类和有孔虫)的调查研究,发现非常丰富的介形类,计26属70余种,有孔虫4属4种,其中介形类自下而上可明显地划分为5个组合带:(1)Potamocypris plana-Candoniella-Ilyocypris组合带;(2)Leucocythere-Ilyocypris-Candoniella组合带;(3)Leucocythere-Cytherissa-Limnocythere组合带;(4)Ilyocypris-Limnocythere flexa-Limnocythere dubiosa组合带;(5)Limnocythere dubiosa-Limnocythere sancti-Patricii-Ilyocypris组合带。按以上5个介形类组合带的分布,第1组合带及所含地层红崖村组和石匣组的时代为上新世;第2~4组合带及所含地层泥河湾组的时代为早更新世;第5组合带为中-晚更新世,分布于虎头梁组和许家窑组,虎头梁组置中更新世为宜,许家窑组为晚更新世。根据5个介形类组合带和有孔虫的分布及介形类的始现、繁盛、兴衰的演替特征,对泥河湾古湖和盆地的形成经历了上新世的起始,早更新世早期的扩展,中、晚期稳定、发展、湖面最大,中更新世向西部退缩和晚更新世消亡、桑干河水系形成五个发展阶段的演化进行了探讨。     

Carbon and strontium isotope stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Campanian) shallow-water carbonates of southern Italy: Chronostratigraphic calibration of larger foraminifera biostratigraphy

Shallow-water carbonates are invaluable archives of past global change. They hold the record of how neritic biologic communities reacted to palaeoenvironmental changes. However, attempts to decipher these geological archives are often severely hampered by the low stratigraphic resolution attained by biostratigraphy. This is particularly the case for the Upper Cretaceous carbonate platforms of the central Tethyan realm: their biostratigraphy suffers from very low resolution and poor correlation with the standard biochronologic scales based on ammonites, planktic foraminifers and calcareous nannoplankton.In this paper we show how this problem can be tackled by integrating biostratigraphy with isotope stratigraphy. We present a detailed record of the benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and carbon and strontium isotope stratigraphy of three upper Cenomanian-middle Campanian sections belonging to the Apennine Carbonate Platform of southern Italy. For the upper Cenomanian-Turonian interval, the carbon isotope curves of the studied sections are easily correlated to the reference curve of the English Chalk. The correlation is facilitated by the matching of the prominent positive excursion corresponding to the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2. For the Coniacian-middle Campanian interval, the correlation is mainly based on strontium isotope stratigraphy. We use the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the low-Mg calcite of well preserved rudist shells to obtain accurate chronostratigraphic ages for many levels of the three studied sections. The ages obtained by Sr isotope stratigraphy are then used to better constrain the matching of the carbon isotope curves.From the high-resolution chronostratigraphic age-model stablished by isotope stratigraphy, we derive the chronostratigraphic calibration of benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphic events. For the first time the benthic foraminiferal biozones of the Apennine Carbonate Platform can be accurately correlated to the standard ammonite biozonation. This result is of great relevance because the biostratigraphic schemes of other carbonate platforms in the central and southern Tethyan realm are largely based on the same biostratigraphic events.     

Ashgill trilobite faunas from the Llŷn Peninsula,North Wales,U.K.

The Crugan Mudstone Formation is formalized and the Dwyfor Mudstone Formation proposed for restricted Ashgill outcrops respectively near Llanbedrog and Llanystwmdwy in the Llŷn Peninsula. These mudstones contain brachiopods of the Foliomena fauna and a total of 26 determined genera of trilobites, one, Pseudosphaeroxochus represented by a new species, P. seabornei sp. nov. Elements of the trilobite fauna are used to demonstrate a Rawtheyan age for the mudstones. The generic assemblages both of brachiopods and of trilobites present in the mudstones indicate relatively deep water environments of deposition, that of the Dwyfor Mudstones probably being the deeper. The trilobites belong to what is here described as the Nankinolithus-Opsimasaphus association.     

The Westphalian D floral biostratigraphy of Saarland (Fed. Rep. Germany) and a comparison with that of South Wales

The fossil plant distribution in the Carboniferous of Saarland indicates that the base of the Westphalian D is in the upper Luisenthal Formation. Two distinctive changes in the middle Westphalian D floras are noted in the Heiligenwald Formation, very similar to those reported in the Upper Pennant Measures of South-Wales. These changes in the floras, recognizable in two distantly separated coalfields, are made the basis of a threefold biozonation of the Westphalian D. This is the most detailed biostratigraphical resolution presently available for non-marine strata of this age.     

莱芜煤田石炭系的划分

通过对莱芜煤田石炭系多门类化石的研究,建立了本区石炭系及牙形刺组合带,在此基础上对其地层层序及生物地层的划分和二叠系的确定进行了讨论。     

青藏高原东北缘若尔盖盆地晚新近纪地层的多重划分与对比

以新构造运动为背景,以岩石地层特征为基础,以多种方法的测年数据为依据,以生物化石种属与产出层位和气候地层为参考,按照多重地层划分观点,本文首次对若尔盖盆地更新统及全新统的生物地层、气候地层和年代地层的划分做了深入研究,进而提出了若尔盖盆地晚新近纪地层的多重划分与对比方案.在以新构造运动为背景下沉积的更新统一全新统生物地层、气候地层等在不同发展阶段具有不同的特征,相同时期不同沉积物之间可以相互对比.利用植物、孢粉和测年数据,"阿坝砾石层"时代划归为早更新世.黄河干流、黑河和白河地层中所产古脊椎动物化石和介形类化石的地质时代为晚更新世.由泥炭孢粉剖面和RM孔孢粉资料揭示出晚冰期到冰后期以来,若尔盖地区的气候表现出极大的不稳定性,冷暖变化频繁,可与由冰期与间冰期或干旱期与湿润期交替演进的气候地层划分的中更新世4366高地冰期和尼格曲一公巴拉克冰期,晚更新世末次冰期早期的木哈隆冰阶、扎尔吉冰阶、羊拱海冰阶、希门错沟冰阶和末次冰期晚期的安纳尔冰阶、全新世冰后期气候地层单位,以及河流堆积阶地划分和风成堆积划分相对应.     

The distribution of microfossil assemblages in Proterozoic rocks

A biostratigraphic model of the temporal distribution of distinctive Proterozoic microfossil assemblages is suggested, based on studies of upper Precambrian chert-embedded and compression-preserved organic-walled microfossils from the reference sections of Eurasia, North America and Australia. Microfossils from 2.0 to 0.542 Ga can be divided into seven successive informal global units which can be compared to standard units of the International and Russian time scales. Each unit is characterized by a particular association of taxa, typified by the fossil assemblage that gives it its name. These form broad biostratigraphic units comparable to assemblage zones of Phanerozoic successions; in general (but with minor differences) they correspond to chronostratigraphic units accepted by the Internal Commission on Stratigraphy. The units are: (1) Labradorian, the upper part of the Paleoproterozoic (Orosirian and Statherian), 2.0–1.65 Ga; (2) Anabarian, lower Mesoproterozoic (Calymmian–Ectasian)/Lower Riphean–lower Middle Riphean, 1.65–1.2 Ga; (3) Turukhanian, upper Mesoproterozoic (Stenian)/upper Middle Riphean, 1.2–1.03 Ga; (4) Uchuromayan, lower Neoproterozoic (late Stenian–Tonian)/lower Upper Riphean, 1.03–0.85 Ga; (5) Yuzhnouralian, upper Neoproterozoic (Cryogenian)/upper Upper Riphean, 0.85–0.63 Ga; (6) Amadeusian, lower Ediacaran/lower Vendian, 0.63–0.55 Ga; (7) Belomorian, upper Ediacaran/upper Vendian, 0.55–0.542 Ga.     

Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) biostratigraphy and cephalopods from north central Tunisia

Thick Aptian deposits in north central Tunisia comprise hemipelagic lower Aptian, reflecting the sea-level rise of OAE 1a, and an upper Aptian shallow marine environment characterized by the establishment of a carbonate platform facies. Carbon stable isotope data permit recognition of the OAE 1a event in the Djebel Serdj section. Cephalopods are rare throughout these successions, but occurrences are sufficient to date the facies changes and the position of the OAE1a event. Ammonite genera include lower Aptian Deshayesites, Dufrenoyia, Pseudohaploceras, Toxoceratoides and ?Ancyloceras; and upper Aptian Zuercherella, Riedelites and Parahoplites. Correlation of carbon isotope data with those of other Tethyan sections is undertaken together with the integration of planktonic foraminiferal data.     

A re-evaluation of the timing of the earliest reported human occupation of Britain: the age of the sediments at Happisburgh, eastern England

Lower Palaeolithic artefacts have been reported at Happisburgh, north Norfolk, in sediments that have been assigned to the late Early Pleistocene, in either marine isotope stage (MIS) 25 or 21, using magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and clast lithology. However, the proposal that these sediments were deposited by the ancestral River Thames is inconsistent both with the established late Early Pleistocene palaeogeography of the region and with the dispositions of the contemporaneous Thames terraces. The Happisburgh deposits were evidently emplaced by a local river, which reworked older sediments that from their lithology had been derived largely from the Bytham River rather than the Thames catchment. Nonetheless, the potential significance of this sedimentary succession for early human dispersal and behaviour requires a conservative assessment of its youngest possible age. Although its basal part is clearly Early Pleistocene, there is nothing to preclude an early Middle Pleistocene age for the overlying sediments that have yielded the artefacts and the mammalian biostratigraphic evidence. It is indeed arguable that these sediments date from the cooling transition at the end of MIS 15c, and are thus younger than the artefact-bearing succession at Pakefield. Pending the availability of additional dating evidence, future discussion of the Happisburgh site should be qualified with respect to any claim for an Early Pleistocene age for the human occupation indicated.