Sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene of eastern Jylland, Denmark: role of structural relief and variable sediment supply in controlling sequence development

The Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene succession in eastern Jylland can be subdivided into three sequences (A–C from older to younger) deposited on and around the Ringkøbing-Fyn High. The development of the sequences reflects a complex interaction between eustatic sea-level changes, physiography and variable sediment supply. Superimposed on this, frequent storms promoted longshore sediment transport and the development of spit systems adjacent to structural highs. As a consequence, sequence boundaries and flooding surfaces are not always expressed as portrayed in conventional sequence models; sequence boundaries or flooding surfaces may only be marked by subtle changes in depositional environment that can only be revealed by careful integration of sedimentological observations with palynological data. The influence of the topography resulted in the development of brackish water basins that were sufficiently large to permit the deposition of hummocky cross-stratified sands with muds. These deposits are overlain by clean hummocky and swaley cross-stratified sands that were deposited in a fully marine, high-energy environment. This evolution from mud-rich, storm-influenced sediments to sand-dominated shoreface sediments resulted from a rise in sea level and was not the result of shoreface progradation and downstepping during a sea level fall. In addition to the topographic control on sequence development, sediment supply to the study area changed significantly during the deposition of the three sequences. Initially the basin was sediment-starved, favouring the formation of glaucony-rich sediments. The sediment input gradually increased and the influence of structural highs and lows became less significant with time. Consequently, both sequence boundaries and flooding surfaces are characterized by more conventional features in the younger part of the succession, where a basinward displacement of the shoreline resulted in thick lowstand delta deposits.     

Pleistocene and Holocene aeolian facies along the Huelva coast (southern Spain): climatic and neotectonic implications

The stratigraphic relationships, genesis and chronology, including radiocarbon dating, of the Quaternary sandy deposits forming the El Asperillo cliffs (Huelva) were studied with special emphasis on the influence of neotectonic activity, sea-level changes and climate upon the evolution of the coastal zone. The E-W trending normal fault of Torre del Loro separates two tectonic blocks. The oldest deposits occur in the upthrown block. They are Early to Middle Pleistocene fluviatile deposits, probably Late Pleistocene shallow-marine deposits along an E-W trending shoreline, and Late Pleistocene and Holocene aeolian sands deposited under prevailing southerly winds. Three Pleistocene and Holocene aeolian units accumulated in the downthrown block. Of these, Unit 1, is separated from the overlying Unit 2 by a supersurface that represents the end of the Last Interglacial. Accumulation of Unit 2 took place during the Last Glacial under more arid conditions than Unit 1. The supersurface separating Units 2 and 3 was formed between the Last Glacial maximum at 18 000 ¹⁴C yr BP and ca. 14 000 ¹⁴C yr BP, the latter age corresponding to an acceleration of the rise of sea level. Unit 3 records wet conditions. The supersurface separating Units 3 and 4 fossilised the fault and the two fault blocks. Units 4 (deposited before the 4th millennium BC), 5 (> 2700 ¹⁴C yr BP to 16th century) and 6 (16th century to present) record relatively arid conditions. Prevailing wind directions changed with time from W (Units 2–4) to WSW (Unit 5) and SW (Unit 6).     

Palynology of Lagoa dos Patos sediments,Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

With the purpose of studying the vegetation and climatic changes in the last millenia of the Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a palynological study was made of the sediments of the northern part of Lagoa dos Patos lagoon. Twenty-four samples from a 2.26 m core taken at a depth of 7.70 m (30° 50 50 S and 50° 59 05 W) were collected.The analyses revealed marine transgression at 5170±120 years B.P., giving rise to local vegetation consisting chiefly of xerophytes and halophytes. Vegetation characteristic of a humid environment was present along adjacent portions of the Coastal Plain at this time. Transgression increased at about 4080±110 years B.P., when the greatest level of tidewater was reached. This coincided with the beginning of forest vegetation development along the inner portions of the Coastal Plain. These data suggest that marine transgression may have been a consequence of higher temperatures and more humidity. After 4000 years B.P., regression occurred, resulting in fresh waters characteristics in the northern portion of the lagoon. The development of forest vegetation began at this time.This is the fourth in a series of papers published in this issue on Paleolimnology in Southern South America. Dr. C. A. Fernández served as guest editor for these papers.     

Palynological evidence for the astronomical origin of lignite-detritus sequence in the Middle Pleistocene Marathousa Member, Megalopolis, SW Greece

The Marathousa Member, Middle Pleistocene strata in the fluvio-lacustrine Megalopolis basin, southwest Greece, displays distinct but complicated lithological cycles comprising first-order alternation of lignites and detrital muds and second-order alternation expressed by frequent intercalation of organic layers. Palynological evidence indicates that the lithological cycles are driven by the Earth’s orbital forcing. All the lignite seams yield temperate oak forest whereas the detrital beds provide semi-arid steppe mainly of Artemisia. This means that the first-order lithological cycle represents the glacial/interglacial cycle (i.e., the 100-kyr eccentricity cycle), providing a timescale of at least 350 kyr to the Marathousa Member. Pollen also detects smaller-scale climate fluctuations in many of the subordinate organic layers, with the total number of fluctuations being five in a complete lignite-detritus couplet. This means that the second-order lithological cycle reflects the 21-kyr insolation cycle. A tentative phase relation between the lithological cycles and the astronomical cycles is shown based on palynostratigraphy and electron spin resonance dating. Lacustrine environments with increased water tables are implied for the glacial periods sedimentologically, in contrast to local swamp vegetation for the interglacial periods. The subordinate organic layers were formed under intermediate environments (climate, water depth, etc.) between full glacials and interglacials.     

Palaeoclimatic record in the loess–palaeosol sequence of the Strelitsa type section (Don glaciation area,Russia) deduced from rock magnetic and palynological data

Until now, palaeoclimatic reconstructions for the major stages in the development of the Quaternary loess–palaeosol sequence on the Russian Plain have been based on pedological, palynological and faunal (vertebrates and molluscs) analyses. In order to demonstrate the palaeoclimatic influence on the magnetic properties of this sequence, the magnetic susceptibility signature of the Strelitsa type section in the Upper Don basin is compared with a detailed landscape – climate reconstruction of loess and soil from palynological data. Large amplitude fluctuations of palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironment are reflected clearly in the lithology and in the rock magnetic properties, which usually are enhanced in wet and warm interglacial periods, but stay at low levels during cold glacial epochs. Palynological climate zonation, however, is sometimes in conflict with the pedologic–magnetic record. Strong climate fluctuations, as indicated by changing pollen assemblages, are not always paralleled by corresponding changes in lithology and/or rock magnetic properties. Alternatively, light coloured illuvial horizons with low magnetic signal sometimes appear to have formed during early stages of interglacials, and the top parts of some palaeosols apparently formed during glacial stages. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

孢粉稳定碳同位素研究进展

由于植物的光合作用途径不同,C3和C4植物的δ13C值有明显不同的分布范围,这可以用来研究环境的变化。花粉的碳同位素分析结果显示其δ13C值与植物的δ13C值变化规律一致,也能很好地反映植物的光合作用途径,进而间接反映其所处的气候环境条件。相比于植物体,化石花粉颗粒组成成分较单一,而其生成时间短,因而其碳同位素或许能较好地反映植物开花期时的环境条件,如雨水、大气CO2等的性质,为更精确的环境重建提供可能。初步的研究结果也显示花粉的δ13C值与开花期的温度存在线性关系。高精度结果的取得依赖于实验技术和仪器设备的改进,研究表明传统孢粉的醋酸酐处理过程中存在碳同位素污染,采用浓H2SO4浸泡可达到相同的去除纤维素的目的而避免污染。另外,通过对质谱仪的改进——装配旋转镍丝等进样系统(SWiM-IRMS),使实验所需的测试量大大减少,对单粒花粉进行测定也已经成为可能,但实验的精度还待进一步提高。     

Late Cretaceous-Paleogene Palynostratigraphy from the Arkhara-Boguchan Brown Coal Mine of Zeya-Bureya Depression, Russia

A well-preserved Late Cretaceous-Paleogene palynological flora from the middle member of the Tsagajan Formation and the upper member of the Tsagajan Formation including the Kivda Beds is reported for the first time from the Arkhara-Boguchan brown coal mine, southeastern part of the Zeya-Bureya Basin. Four palynocomplexes were established for the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition. The climate and phytocoenoses were also analyzed,based on the detailed palynological data. The results are coincident with those of mega-flora studied by Akhmetiev et al. (2002).     

Cretaceous Environments of Afghanistan:A Synthesis Based on Selected Sections

The Cretaceous of Afghanistan is marked by great facies diversity. The evolution of Cretaceous basins is part of a complex accretionary history involving three distinct tectonic units namely the Asian (Russian) Block separated from the Indian plate by a rather well defined transcurrent fault (Chaman-Nuski). The southwestern component is representedby the Iran-Afghanistan plate. The Lower Cretaceous of the Asian Block is represented by the Red-Grit Series which isconformable to the underlying Upper Jurassic sequences. The transition is marked by evaporitic facies dominated by salt,gypsum and marl deposits. In south Afghanistan volcanic rocks occur at Farah, with the emplacement of plutonics inwest-central Afghanistan. The Upper Cretaceous of north Afghanistan is marked by richly fossiliferous, lime stone-dominated sequences. The Upper Cretaceous of southern Afghanistan is marked by strong ophiolitic magrmatism.     

Sea‐surface conditions in northernmost Baffin Bay during the Holocene: palynological evidence

The analysis of cores collected in northernmost Baffin Bay, from within the area of the North Water Polynya, permits definition of a composite sedimentary sequence ca. 12 m thick spanning the last 10 000 ¹⁴C yr, with only a few discontinuities. Palynological analyses were performed in order to reconstruct changes in surface water conditions and biogenic production. Transfer functions, using dinocyst assemblages, were applied to estimate sea‐surface temperature (SST) and salinity, as well as the seasonal duration of sea ice cover. At the base of the record, prior to 9300 ¹⁴C yr BP, dinocysts and organic linings of benthic foraminifers are sparse, indicating harsh conditions and low productivity. After ca. 9300 ¹⁴C yr BP, the increased concentration of benthic foraminifers (up to 10³ linings cm^?3) and dinocyst fluxes (10²–10³ cysts cm^?2 yr^?1) reveals high biological productivity related to open‐water conditions. The early to middle Holocene, from ca. 9000 to ca. 3600 ¹⁴C yr BP, is marked by relatively high species diversity in dinocyst assemblages and the significant occurrence of autotrophic taxa such as Spiniferites elongatus, Pentapharsodinium dalei and Impagidinium pallidum. This assemblage suggests conditions at least as warm as at present. From ca. 6400 to ca. 3600 ¹⁴C yr BP, transfer functions indicate warmer conditions than at present, with SST in August fluctuating up to 5.5°C. After 3600 ¹⁴C yr BP, the dinocyst record suggests a trend of decreasing temperature toward modern values, marked by recurrent cooling events. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.