Trace fossils as diagnostic indicators of deep-marine environments, Middle Eocene Ainsa-Jaca basin, Spanish Pyrenees

A quantitative study of trace fossil abundance in the Middle Eocene deep-marine clastic systems, Ainsa-Jaca basin, Spanish Pyrenees, shows that they are powerful discriminators of submarine fan and related environments. Sixteen fan and related environments are recognized from upper-slope gully to the distal basin-floor. For each environment, the degree of bioturbation (density), trace-fossil diversity, number of pre-depositional and post-depositional trace fossils, as well as the number of graphoglyptid ichnospecies were quantified. In the more laterally confined and channel-dominated Ainsa basin, there is a trend of increasing bioturbation intensity and trace-fossil diversity away from channel-axis to off-axis environments. In the more unconfined and distal Jaca basin, there is a trend of increasing trace-fossil diversity and number of pre-depositional trace fossils including graphoglyptids from the channel-lobe transition to the fan-fringe. The trace-fossil assemblages of the Ainsa-Jaca basin are characteristic of a number of sub-ichnofacies of the Nereites ichnofacies. In the distal Jaca basin, the Paleodictyon sub-ichnofacies occurs in the lobe-fringe and fan-fringe, whereas the distal basin-floor has a trace-fossil assemblage typical of the Paleodictyon sub-ichnofacies, but with a high proportion of post-depositional fodinichnia . Trace-fossil assemblages of proximal basin, axial, environments are characteristic of the Ophiomorpha rudis sub-ichnofacies, whilst proximal off-axis environments, have a mixed Paleodictyon-Ophiomorpha rudis sub-ichnofacies trace-fossil assemblage.     

Ramp sedimentation across a middle Albian,Arctic embayment: Influence of subsidence,eustasy and sediment supply on stratal architecture and facies distribution,Lower Cretaceous,Western Canada Foreland Basin

Regional mapping of Middle Albian, shallow‐marine clastic strata over ca 100 000 km² of the Western Canada Foreland Basin was undertaken to investigate the relationship between large‐scale stratal architecture and lithology. Results suggest that, over ca 5 Myr, stratal geometry and facies were dynamically linked to tectonic activity in the adjacent Cordillera. Higher frequency modulation of accommodation is most reasonably ascribed to eustasy. The Harmon and Cadotte alloformations were deposited at the southern end of an embayment of the Arctic Ocean. The Harmon alloformation, forming the lower part of the succession, constitutes a wedge of marine mudstone that thickens westward over 400 km from <5 m near the forebulge to >150 m in the foredeep. Constituent allomembers are also wedge‐shaped but lack distinct clinothems, a rollover point or downlapping geometry. Ubiquitous wave ripples indicate that the sea floor lay above storm wave base. Deposition took place on an extremely low‐gradient ramp, where accommodation was limited by effective wave base. Lobate, river‐dominated deltas fringed the southern margin of the basin. The largest deltas are stacked in the same area, suggesting protracted stability of the feeder river. A buried palaeo‐valley on the underlying sub‐Cretaceous unconformity may have influenced compaction and controlled river location for ca 3 Myr. Adjacent to the western Cordillera, a predominantly mudstone succession is interbedded with abundant storm beds of very fine‐grained sandstone and siltstone that reflect supply from the adjacent orogen. Bioturbation indices in the Harmon alloformation range from zero to six which reflects the influence of stressors related to river‐mouth proximity. Harmon alloformation mudstone grades abruptly upward into marine sandstone and conglomerate of the overlying Cadotte alloformation. The Cadotte is composed of three allomembers ‘CA’ to ‘CC’, that represent the deposits of prograding strandplains 200 × 300 km in extent. Allomembers ‘CA’ and ‘CB’ are strongly sandstone‐dominated, whereas allomember ‘CC’ contains abundant conglomerate in the west. The dominantly aggradational wedge of Harmon alloformation mudstone records flexural subsidence driven by active thickening in the adjacent orogen: the high accommodation rate trapped coarser clastic detritus close to the basin margin. In contrast, the tabular, highly progradational sandstone and conglomerate bodies of the Cadotte alloformation record a low subsidence rate, implying tectonic quiescence in the adjacent orogen. Erosional unloading of the orogen through Cadotte time steepened rivers to the extent that they delivered gravel to the shore. These observations support an ‘anti‐tectonic’ model of gravel supply proposed previously for the United States portion of the Cretaceous foreland basin. Because Cadotte allomembers do not thicken appreciably into the foredeep, accommodation changes that controlled these transgressive–regressive successions were probably of eustatic origin.     

吐鲁番坳陷中——上侏罗统碎屑岩中的自生粘土矿物特征及其成岩意义

利用岩石薄片和扫描电镜观察以及Ｘ－衍射资料研究了吐鲁番坳陷中上侏罗统碎屑岩中的自生粘土矿物特征,发现碎屑岩中的自生粘土矿物主要有五种类型,即蒙脱石、伊利石－蒙脱石混层、伊利石、绿泥石和高岭石。自生粘土矿物的形成和转化取决于碎屑岩原始矿物组分及其成岩环境。蒙脱石的迅速转化和高岭石的大量析出与碎屑岩的大规模溶解有着密切的关系。根据自生粘土矿物的组合特征,可以有效地确定碎屑岩的成岩阶段及其孔隙发育特征。     

Liquefaction evidence for strong earthquakes of Holocene and latest Pleistocene ages in the states of Indiana and Illinois, USA

Sand- and gravel-filled clastic dikes of seismic liquefaction origin occur throughout much of southern Indiana and Illinois. Nearly all of these dikes originated from prehistoric earthquakes centered in the study area. In this area at least seven and probably eight strong prehistoric earthquakes have been documented as occurring during the Holocene, and at least one during the latest Pleistocene. The recognition of different earthquakes has been based mainly on timing of liquefaction in combination with the regional pattern of liquefaction effects, but some have been recognized only by geotechnical testing at sites of liquefaction.

Most paleo-earthquakes presently recognized lie in Indiana, but equally as many may have occurred in Illinois. Studies in Illinois have not yet narrowly bracketed the age of clastic dikes at many sites, which sometimes causes uncertainty in defining the causative earthquake, but even in Illinois the largest paleo-earthquakes probably have been identified.

Prehistoric magnitudes were probably as high as about moment magnitude M 7.5. This greatly exceeds the largest historic earthquake of M 5.5 centered in Indiana or Illinois. The strongest paleo-earthquakes struck in the vicinity of the concentration of strongest historic seismicity. Elsewhere, paleo-earthquakes on the order of M 6–7 have occurred even where there has been little or no historic seismicity.

Both geologic and geotechnical methods of analysis have been essential for verification of seismic origin for the dikes and for back-calculating prehistoric magnitudes. Methods developed largely as part of this study should be of great value in unraveling the paleoseismic record elsewhere.     

全新世渤、黄、东海陆架泥沙输运演变过程模拟研究

模拟了全新世 9个特定时期潮流作用下渤、黄、东海陆架上的泥沙输运状况。结果表明 ,东海外陆架梳状古沙脊形成的盛期在 - 80m至 - 52m海面期间 ,主要是潮流将侵蚀的海底晚更新世物质与河流的入海泥沙向东南方向输运而形成 ;- 52m海面之后 ,该古沙脊逐渐停止发育。扬子浅滩形成于 - 52m海面之后 ,至 - 30m海面时已发育比较成熟 ,它主要是旋转流将海底晚更新世物质与全新世河流入海泥沙中的细粒物质呈扇形向外簸选掉 ,粗粒物质留在原地而形成。南黄海中部泥在 - 52m海面时已开始形成 ,该泥是细粒物质的汇 ,泥沙来源具有多源性 ,但泥沙来量不足。西朝鲜湾沙脊与江华湾沙席、辽东浅滩沙脊与渤中浅滩沙席、海州湾中砂质沉积、南黄海辐射状沙脊以及北黄海西部泥、渤海中央泥、浙闽岸外泥主要形成于全新世最大海侵以来。西朝鲜湾沙脊与江华湾沙席分别是强往复流与旋转流主要侵蚀海底的晚更新世物质而形成。辽东浅滩沙脊与渤中浅滩沙席主要是强潮流将老铁山水道中的晚更新世物质带到辽东半岛西侧海域沉积而形成。海州湾中的砂质沉积是潮流将海底晚更新世物质与河流入海泥沙中的细粒物质带往外海、留下粗粒泥沙而形成。南黄海辐射状沙脊是辐射状潮流场改造北来的黄河泥沙与南来的长江泥沙而形成。北黄海西部泥的     

Statistical analysis of the distribution of fish eggs and larvae on the southeastern U.S. continental shelf with comments on oceanographic processes that may affect larval survival

Data collected in 1953 and 1954 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were statistically analyzed to ascertain where and when fish eggs and larvae are most abundant on the southeastern U.S. continental shelf. The results are related to some oceanographic processes that might affect the survival of larval fish. Along-shelf differences in numbers of eggs and larvae are minimal compared with differences that occur across the shelf. Highest numbers of fish larvae are found on the outer shelf during fall, winter and spring, but larvae are evenly distributed across the shelf in summer.Upwelling strongly influences the dynamics of plankton production on the outer shelf, and thus during most seasons of the year upwelling may be the most important process controlling the amount of food available to larval fish. During winter and spring, mean winds do not favor shoreward transport of larval fish from the outer shelf if the larvae are located in near-surface waters. Thus, during these seasons variability of winds on the ‘event’ time scale may be more important to onshore and offshore transport of larval fish than the mean strength and direction of monthly or seasonally averaged winds.     

Modelling the effect of Pliocene–Quaternary changes in sea level on stable and tectonically active land masses

A mathematical model was used to examine the effect of Pliocene and Quaternary changes in sea level on the development of tectonically active and inactive rock coasts. The model calculated rates of mechanical wave erosion according to such factors as the deep water wave regime, bottom topography and surface roughness, and the resistance of the rocks. Subaerial terraces were truncated or eliminated by subsequent terrace formation at lower elevations, especially on steeply sloping landmasses experiencing slow rates of uplift. Submarine terraces formed during glacial stillstands were best preserved when rapid subsidence quickly carried them below the level of wave action. On slowly subsiding landmasses, submarine terraces formed during interglacials and glacial periods experienced repeated erosional modification during subsequent periods of rising and falling sea level and were generally less distinctive. On rapidly rising or subsiding (>5 mm yr^‐1) landmasses, terraces that formed during interglacial stages alternated, above and below present sea level, with terraces formed during glacial stages. Despite some differences in terrace occurrence and elevational distribution, it may be difficult to distinguish profiles cut during accelerating or decelerating uplift. The amount of erosion during sea level oscillations increases with oscillation amplitude and the larger oscillations in the middle to late Quaternary were therefore more conducive to erosion than the smaller oscillations of the Pliocene and early Quaternary. The effect of oscillation amplitude may have been countered during the earlier stages of profile development, however, by steeper submarine gradients and reduced rates of wave attenuation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interranual variability in horizontal patterns of larval fish assemblages in the northeastern Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) during early summer

Larval fish community structure was studied in the northeastern Aegean Sea (NEA) over an area influenced by the advection of Black Sea water (BSW). Sampling was carried out in early summer during a period of 4 years (2003–2006). Taxonomic composition and abundance presented high variability in space that remained relatively constant among years. Tow depth and indicators of trophic conditions in the upper water column (i.e., zooplankton displacement volume, fluorescence) explained significantly the structure of larval assemblages during all surveys. The northern continental shelf (Thracian and Strymonikos shelf), where a large amount of enriched, low salinity BSW is retained, was dominated by larvae of epipelagic species, mainly anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Interannual changes in horizontal extension of the BSW seemed to match closely observed changes in the distribution of anchovy larvae. Mesopelagic fish larvae were particularly abundant beyond the continental shelf (over the North Aegean Trough) where a strong frontal structure is created between the low salinity waters of BSW origin and the high salinity waters of the Aegean Sea. Larvae of certain mesopelagic species (e.g., Ceratoscopelus maderensis) may occasionally be transported inshore when the prevailing current meanders towards the coast or feeds anticyclonic gyres over the continental shelf.