Acyclic isoprenoid biomarkers and evolution of biosynthetic pathways in green microalgae of the genus Botryococcus

Acyclic isoprenoids were among the earliest lipids on Earth and today > 30,000 isoprenoid-derived compounds are known, testifying to the remarkable diversification in isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways over time. Many of the isoprenoids have proven to be useful biomarkers in geochemical studies and evidence from sedimentary studies has the potential to provide a timeline for the evolution of different types of isoprenoid biosynthesis. A single green microalgal species termed Botryococcus braunii has been recognised as a major contributor of organic matter to sediments as old as the Precambrian. Modern studies of the taxonomy of B. braunii using molecular biology techniques have shown that the major clades identified from 18S rRNA gene sequences correspond to races A, B, L and S, which are defined on the basis of their hydrocarbon composition. The biosynthetic pathways by which C₃₀–C₃₇ botryococcenes are produced by the B race have now been shown to be due to a duplication of the squalene synthase gene, followed by subsequent changes to the genes, such that one pathway leads to the production of the C₃₀ botryococcene and the other to squalene. Both products are then methylated to produce botryococcenes and methylated squalenes having higher carbon numbers. The mode of biosynthesis of lycopadiene in race L is unclear, but may involve coupling of two C₂₀ phytyl diphosphates. From an examination of the geological record of botryococcenes and lycopadiene it seems likely that these pathways probably evolved early in the Eocene (ca. 55 Ma) and thus are more recently evolved than the genes for highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes first produced by diatoms about 92 Ma ago. Botryococcane produced from botryococcenes and a monoaromatic hydrocarbon produced from lycopadiene-related lipids, presumably under anoxic conditions, show promise as age diagnostic biomarkers. In view of these results, it seems likely that the Botryococcus species recorded in sediments predating the Eocene lacked the ability to produce botryococcenes or lycopadiene, but nonetheless still contained polymeric non-isoprenoid alkyl chains in the form of an algaenan which on preservation gave rise to a multitude of organic rich rocks.     

Paralic parasequences associated with Eocene sea-level oscillations in an active margin setting: Trihueco Formation of the Arauco Basin, Chile

The Eocene Trihueco Formation is one of the best exposed successions of the Arauco Basin in Chile. It represents a period of marine regression and transgression of second-order duration, during which barrier island complexes developed on a muddy shelf. The strata are arranged in classical shoaling-upward parasequences of shoreface and beach facies capped by coal-bearing, back-barrier lagoon deposits. These fourth-order cycles are superimposed upon third-order cycles which caused landward and seaward shifts of the coastal facies belts. The final, punctuated rise in sea level is represented by shelf mudrocks with transgressive incised shoreface sandstones. Relative sea-level oscillations as revealed in the stratigraphy of the Trihueco Formation show a reasonable correlation with published Eocene eustatic curves.     

Climate‐modulated sequence development in a tropical rift basin during the Late Palaeocene to Early Eocene super greenhouse Earth

Sequence developments in rift basins are considered to be influenced largely by tectonics and to a lesser extent by eustatic sea‐level and climate. Studies indicate that in passive margin basins, climate can mask the effects of tectonics and eustasy by modulating the sediment supply. It is, however, less understood how the sedimentary sequence in rift basins might respond to strong climatic fluctuations where tectonic pulses generate rapid accommodation space. Here a case study has been provided to assess the effect of climate vis à vis sea‐level and tectonics on sequence development in the Cambay rift basin, western India, during the Early Palaeogene (Late Palaeocene to Early Eocene) super greenhouse globe. Facies analysis of this shale–lignite sequence suggests deposition in a lagoon/bay, developed over the Deccan Trap basement. Detailed sequence stratigraphic analysis using basin‐wide representative composite sections, marker lignite seam, event bed and high‐resolution carbon isotope (δ¹³C) chemostratigraphy suggest an overall transgressive motif. Among the three prominent Early Eocene eustatic highstands, only the one at ca 53·7 Ma is expressed by the thickest coal accumulation throughout the basin. Expression of the other sequence stratigraphic surfaces is subdued and can be due to the overall finer grain size of the sediment or local variation in the subsidence rate at different fault‐controlled mini‐basins. Enigmatic presence of a maximum flooding surface coinciding with the 53·7 Ma climate event (Eocene Thermal Maximum 2), manifested by negative carbon isotope excursion, indicates possible influence of climate over and above tectonics in developing the rift sequence. Qualitative rainfall variation assessed using the magnitude of the carbon isotope excursion and pollen abundance show that a relatively dry/low precipitation climatic phase during the Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 hindered the siliclastic supply to the basin. Thus, it has been inferred that climate‐induced high siliciclastic supply possibly enhanced the autocyclic reorganization and hindered the development of the key sequence stratigraphic surfaces across the basin during climate extremes.     

Lacustrine massive mudrock in the Eocene Jiyang Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,China: Nature,origin and significance

Massive mudrock refers to mudrock with internally homogeneous characteristics and an absence of laminae. Previous studies were primarily conducted in the marine environment, while notably few studies have investigated lacustrine massive mudrock. Based on core observation in the lacustrine environment of the Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China, massive mudrock is a common deep water fine-grained sedimentary rock. There are two types of massive mudrock. Both types are sharply delineated at the bottom and top contacts, abundant in angular terrigenous debris, and associated with oxygen-rich (higher than 2 ml O₂/L H₂O) but lower water salinities in comparison to adjacent black shales. In addition, type 1 is laterally isolated and contains abundant sand injections and contorted layers formed in the depositional process, but type 2 exactly distributes in the distal part of deep water gravity-driven sandstone units, and shows scoured bases, high-angle mineral crytsals, and fining-upward trend. It is suggested that type 1 is a muddy mass transport deposit (MMTD) formed by slide, slump, and/or debris flow, and type 2 is a turbiditic mudrock deposited by settling from dilute turbidity currents. A warm and humid climate and high subsidence rate are two main triggering events. Because of its mass movement nature, MMTD preserves the mineralogic composition and organic matter characteristics of the source sediment. By contrast, dilute turbidity currents are able to greatly entrain biochemically-formed micrite and planktonic organisms from the water column, and deposit them in the turbiditic mudrock. Because of their different ability to deposit organic matter, MMTD have poor or fair source rock potential, but the turbiditic mudrock is able to be a potentially effective source rock. The minerals in the massive mudrock are disorganized and chaotic, which cause fractures to develop in various directions, thereby, enhancing the vertical migration of oil and gas molecules to horizontal wellbore in shale reservoir exploitation.     

Hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics of Eocene source rocks in the Huilu area,northern Pearl River Mouth basin,South China Sea: Implications for tight oil potential

In recent years, new oil reservoirs have been discovered in the Eocene tight sandstone of the Huilu area, northern part of the Pearl River Mouth basin, South China Sea, indicating good prospects for tight oil exploration in the area. Exploration has shown that the Huilu area contains two main sets of source rocks: the Eocene Wenchang (E₂w) and Enping (E₂e) formations. To satisfy the requirements for further exploration in the Huilu area, particularly for tight oil in Eocene sand reservoirs, it is necessary to re-examine and analyze the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics. Based on mass balance, this study investigated the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics as well as the tight oil resource potential using geological and geochemical data and a modified conceptual model for generation and expulsion. The results show that the threshold and peak expulsion of the E₂w source rocks are at 0.6% vitrinite reflectance and 0.9% vitrinite reflectance, respectively. There were five hydrocarbon expulsion centers, located in the western, eastern, and northern Huizhou Sag and the southern and northern Lufeng Sag. The hydrocarbon yields attributed to E₂w source rocks are 2.4 × 10¹¹ tons and 1.6 × 10¹¹ tons, respectively, with an expulsion efficiency of 65%. The E₂e source rock threshold and peak expulsion are at 0.65% vitrinite reflectance and 0.93% vitrinite reflectance, respectively, with hydrocarbon expulsion centers located in the centers of the Huizhou and Lufeng sags. The yields attributed to E₂e source rocks are 1.1 × 10¹¹ tons and 0.2 × 10¹¹ tons, respectively, with an expulsion efficiency of 20%. Using an accumulation coefficient of 7%–13%, the Eocene tight reservoirs could contain approximately 1.3 × 10¹⁰ tons to 2.3 × 10¹⁰ tons, with an average of 1.8 × 10¹⁰ tons, of in-place tight oil resources (highest recoverable coefficient can reach 17–18%), indicating that there is significant tight oil potential in the Eocene strata of the Huilu area.     

Eocene succession on the East Shetland Platform, North Sea

A sand-prone Middle Eocene sequence is recognized in three cored boreholes on the East Shetland Platform. Three lithostratigraphic divisions are recognized: Lower Sand Unit, Main Sand Unit and Upper Claystone Unit. The Lower Sand Unit is of fluvio-deltaic origin, occurring on the southern part of the East Shetland Platform. The Main Sand Unit represents the subsequent transgression of the delta. The unit comprises a set of highstand shelf systems tracts separated by glauconitic bands and reflected by palynological assemblage breaks. The presence of reworked palynofloras in sediments of late Middle Eocene age implies derivation of sediment from the north-west part of the East Shetland Platform. Although it is tempting to ascribe sea level changes to the sediment pattern, a tentative correlation with the Hampshire Basin only highlights the difficulties involved.     

关于琼东南盆地始新统地层研究的思考

始新统湖相地层是琼东南盆地原油勘探领域的主力烃源岩,历年来各轮资源评价结果均显示具有较好的石油勘探前景,但自1987年Ying9井首次钻遇油层至今,琼东南盆地原油勘探领域一直未取得重大突破。近年来寄予厚望的S3X井钻探失利具有一定典型性,笔者等以S3X井钻后分析为契机,通过与珠江口和北部湾盆地始新统地层对比研究,提出了不同于以往的看法。分析显示琼东南盆地已发现原油中,源于低等水生生物的C304 甲基甾烷含量,以及反映氧化还原条件的姥植比（Pr/Ph）参数,均弱于珠江口和北部湾盆地半深湖相优质烃源岩;琼东南盆地“低频—连续—强振幅”地震相特征与珠江口盆地钻井证实的半深湖相优质烃源岩地震反射特征差异较大;琼东南盆地在区域位置、构造演化与沉积充填模式方面与珠江口和北部湾盆地也存在明显差异,使得始新统湖相地层的分布规模和优质烃源岩的发育条件等方面,均弱于珠江口和北部湾盆地。因此,建议在与周缘盆地始新统地层的对比研究过程中应适度审慎,尤其是以陵水凹陷为代表的中央坳陷带始新统湖相烃源岩分布规模不宜过于乐观。同时,指出受地貌格局影响,不同凹陷海侵进程并不同步,琼东南盆地除始新统发育湖相地层外,渐新统崖城组早期部分凹陷也具有发育湖相地层和油型烃源岩的条件,这一新观点在一定程度可扩展琼东南盆地原油勘探研究的局面和思路。     

A large collection of Presbyornis (Aves,Anseriformes, Presbyornithidae) from the late Paleocene and early Eocene of Mongolia

We describe a large collection of fossil ‘waterfowl’ bones that are referable to the extinct clade Presbyornithidae (Anseriformes). All of these fossils were collected between 1971 and 1994 from Upper Paleocene and Lower Eocene sediments at the Tsagaan Khushuu site in the Gobi Desert of southern Mongolia. The collection includes specimens referred to a new small species within the genus Presbyornis Wetmore, 1926 as well as large numbers of bones that we place in the genus Presbyornis. On this basis of the Tsagaan Khushuu collection we suggest that several species of Presbyornis likely coexisted in this region; indeed, the presence of large numbers of middle‐sized, morphologically consistent but probably ecologically disparate species at the Tsagaan Khushuu site is consistent with the range of variation seen, for example, in taxa of extant dabbling ducks (Anatini). Although the anatomy and phylogenetic position of Presbyornithidae (in particular Presbyornis) are well known, this material from Mongolia further demonstrates the prevalence of these birds in aquatic and semi‐aquatic habitats by the earliest Paleogene. Because presbyornithids are also well documented from the late Cretaceous, their palaeoecology and morphological diversity provides a clue to selective avian survivorship across the Cretaceous‐Paleogene (K‐Pg) boundary. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

苏北盆地高邮凹陷侵入岩形成时期及成因机制探讨

通过对苏北盆地高邮凹陷的上、下两套侵入岩与断层的错断及其与构造运动强弱的关系、与油气成藏期的关系以及侵入岩的平面分布研究,提出了侵入岩的侵入时期为三垛期,而非盐城期。通过对晚白垩世以来苏北盆地各期构造运动及其伴生火山活动的分析,认为高邮凹陷侵入岩的成因主要由于晚始新世至渐新世末,该区发生了三垛运动,并发育一系列北东及北西向的断裂构造,导致了岩浆活动,并以侵入特征为主。     

Eckfeld Maar: Window into an Eocene Terrestrial Habitat in Central Europe

<正>To mark the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Rheinische Naturforschende Gesellschaft in 2009 and of the centennial of the Mainz Natural History Museum in 2010,we present a short account of our present knowledge of the Eckfeld Maar after 20 years of continuous research.This paper does not attempt to include all of the detailed results on the geology of the Eckfeld site or its biota.To date,nearly 250 papers and books have been published since the start of our project.An up-to-date list of these publications can be found at www.eckfeldermaar. de.