Chronology of the Mediterranean sea-level highstand during the Last Interglacial: a critical review of the U/Th-dated deposits

Relative sea-level (RSL) evolution during Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 5 in the Mediterranean basin is still not fully understood despite a plethora of morphological, stratigraphic and geochronological studies carried out on highstand deposits of this area. In this review we assembled a database of 323 U/Th-dated samples (e.g. corals, molluscs, speleothems) which were used to chronologically constrain RSL evolution within MIS 5. The application of strict geochemical criteria to the U/Th samples indicates that only ~33% of data available for the Mediterranean Sea can be considered ‘reliable’. Most of these data (~65%) refer to the MIS 5e highstand, while only ~17% could be related to the MIS 5a. No attribution to MIS 5c can be unequivocally supported. Nevertheless, the resulting framework does not allow us to define a satisfactory RSL trend during the MIS 5e highstand and subsequent MIS 5 substages. Overall, the proposed selection of reliable/unreliable data would be useful for detecting areas where MIS 5 substage attributions are not supported by confident U/Th chronological data and thus the related reconstructions need to be revised. In this regard, the resulting framework calls for a reappraisal and re-examination of the Mediterranean records with advanced geochronological methodologies.     

四川盆地下古生界硅质页岩层系中硅质来源及其对有机质保存的影响初探

四川盆地下古生界两套硅质页岩层系是其重要的页岩气产层,五峰组—龙马溪组硅质含量与TOC及含气量呈正相关性,暗示硅质矿物对该地区页岩气的生成具有重要意义。但硅质来源复杂,且存在后期硅质流体的注入。因此,本文在总结前人的研究成果基础上,对四川盆地寒武系底部硅质岩系与五峰组—龙马溪组硅质岩系的硅质特征进行了详细的岩石学分析,揭示了3种硅质来源特征：①同沉积无机硅质流体;②生物硅;③后期无机硅质流体。其中寒武系底部以同沉积无机硅质流体与生物硅来源为主,同沉积硅质流体导致有机质快速石化埋藏,有机质内部结构及形态保存较好;五峰组—龙马溪组硅质来源以后期无机硅质流体与生物硅来源为主,有机质在保存过程中受硅质流体的影响很小,有机质腐泥化作用充分,内部结构和形态多数保存较差。该研究初步揭示了两套页岩层系的硅质发育岩石学特征,及其对有机质保存的影响,期望能为四川盆地两套页岩气储层差异性提供新的思路与基础地质数据。     

Sedimentology of the continental end‐Permian extinction event in the Sydney Basin,eastern Australia

Upper Permian to Lower Triassic coastal plain successions of the Sydney Basin in eastern Australia have been investigated in outcrop and continuous drillcores. The purpose of the investigation is to provide an assessment of palaeoenvironmental change at high southern palaeolatitudes in a continental margin context for the late Permian (Lopingian), across the end‐Permian Extinction interval, and into the Early Triassic. These basins were affected by explosive volcanic eruptions during the late Permian and, to a much lesser extent, during the Early Triassic, allowing high‐resolution age determination on the numerous tuff horizons. Palaeobotanical and radiogenic isotope data indicate that the end‐Permian Extinction occurs at the top of the uppermost coal bed, and the Permo‐Triassic boundary either within an immediately overlying mudrock succession or within a succeeding channel sandstone body, depending on locality due to lateral variation. Late Permian depositional environments were initially (during the Wuchiapingian) shallow marine and deltaic, but coastal plain fluvial environments with extensive coal‐forming mires became progressively established during the early late Permian, reflected in numerous preserved coal seams. The fluvial style of coastal plain channel deposits varies geographically. However, apart from the loss of peat‐forming mires, no significant long‐term change in depositional style (grain size, sediment‐body architecture, or sediment dispersal direction) was noted across the end‐Permian Extinction (pinpointed by turnover of the palaeoflora). There is no evidence for immediate aridification across the boundary despite a loss of coal from these successions. Rather, the end‐Permian Extinction marks the base of a long‐term, progressive trend towards better‐drained alluvial conditions into the Early Triassic. Indeed, the floral turnover was immediately followed by a flooding event in basinal depocentres, following which fluvial systems similar to those active prior to the end‐Permian Extinction were re‐established. The age of the floral extinction is constrained to 252.54 ± 0.08 to 252.10 ± 0.06 Ma by a suite of new Chemical Abrasion Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry U‐Pb ages on zircon grains. Another new age indicates that the return to fluvial sedimentation similar to that before the end‐Permian Extinction occurred in the basal Triassic (prior to 251.51 ± 0.14 Ma). The character of the surface separating coal‐bearing pre‐end‐Permian Extinction from coal‐barren post‐end‐Permian Extinction strata varies across the basins. In basin‐central locations, the contact varies from disconformable, where a fluvial channel body has cut down to the level of the top coal, to conformable where the top coal is overlain by mudrocks and interbedded sandstone–siltstone facies. In basin‐marginal locations, however, the contact is a pronounced erosional disconformity with coarse‐grained alluvial facies overlying older Permian rocks. There is no evidence that the contact is everywhere a disconformity or unconformity.     

渤海湾盆地南堡凹陷南部深层沙一段优质碎屑岩储层特征及成因机制

利用岩芯、薄片、扫描电镜和分析化验等资料,对南堡凹陷南部深层古近系沙一段（沙河街组一段）优质碎屑岩储层特征进行了分析并揭示其成因机制。研究表明：①南堡凹陷南部沙一段优质碎屑岩储层属于低孔中渗储层,发育原生孔隙、次生孔隙和微裂缝;②沙一段沉积期处于强水动力沉积环境,辫状河三角洲前缘水下分流河道砂体普遍发育,岩性主要为中粗砂岩、含砾砂岩和砂砾岩等粗岩性,岩石类型主要为岩屑长石砂岩,石英、岩浆岩岩屑等刚性组分含量高,储层在强压实作用下仍保留了局部原生残余粒间孔,部分刚性组分强压条件下形成微裂缝;③沙一段与东三段为区域不整合接触,大气水的酸性流体在成岩初期以及烃源岩成熟之后产生的有机酸在成岩后期通过油源断裂和不整合面进入储层,造成长石、易溶碎屑等组分溶蚀形成次生孔隙,溶蚀作用不仅增加孔隙空间,而且扩大喉道宽度。结论认为：粗岩性和高刚性颗粒含量为原生孔隙的保存提供了物质基础;油源断层、不整合面为酸性流体的进入提供路径,促进了次生孔隙发育。     

陇中盆地及周边地区主夷平面演化与高原隆升

陇中盆地及周边地区是青藏高原向北东方向扩展的最前缘部位,其地貌演化过程的研究对于深入理解高原的隆升与扩展过程具有重要意义。鉴于夷平面在探讨高原隆升年代、幅度和过程方面的可靠性,首先总结陇中盆地及周边地区夷平面相关研究的前期成果,并结合最新年代数据,确定了不同区域主夷平面的发育和解体年代;再利用古河道拟合等方法定量评估了相关夷平面的隆升量;最后探讨了主夷平面的性质及其隆升过程。研究发现,陇中盆地及周边的地区的高海拔低起伏地貌面是被抬高的先存夷平面;不同区域主夷平面的发育与解体时间整体同步,它们自晚渐新世开始发育,并于晚中新世8~6 Ma左右解体;模拟结果表明,美武高原主夷平面自晚中新世以来相对陇中盆地隆升了约1 400~1 600 m,并且早更新世以来的隆升速率明显大于晚中新世-早更新世时期。     

Unveiling buried aeolian landscapes: reconstructing a late Holocene dune environment using 3D ground-penetrating radar

Across the UK, sandy beaches and dunes protect coastal infrastructure from waves and extreme water levels during large-scale storms, while providing important habitats and recreational opportunities. Understanding their long-term evolution is vital in managing their condition in a changing climate. Recently, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods have grown in popularity in geomorphological applications, yielding centimetre-scale resolution images of near-surface stratigraphy and structure, thus allowing landscape evolution to be reconstructed. Additionally, abrupt changes in palaeo-environments can be visualized in three dimensions. Although often complemented by core data, GPR allows interpretations to be extended into areas with minimal ground-truth control. Nonetheless, GPR data interpretation can be non-intuitive and ambiguous, and radargrams may not initially resemble the expected subsurface geometry. Interpretation can be made yet more onerous when handling the large 3D data volumes that are facilitated with modern GPR technology. Here we describe the development of novel semi-automated GPR feature-extraction tools, based on ‘edge detection’ and ‘thresholding’ methods, which detect regions of increased GPR reflectivity which can be applied to aid in the reconstruction of a range Quaternary landscapes. Since reflectivity can be related to lithological and/or pore fluid changes, the 3D architecture of the palaeo-landscape can be reconstructed from the features extracted from a geophysical dataset. We present 500 MHz GPR data collected over a buried Holocene coastal dune system in North Wales, UK, now reclaimed for use as an airfield. Core data from the site, reaching a maximum depth 2 m, suggest rapid vertical changes from sand to silty-organic units, and GPR profiles suggest similar lateral complexity. By applying thresholding methods to GPR depth slices, these lateral complexities are effectively and automatically mapped. Furthermore, automatic extraction of the local reflection power yields a strong correlation with the depth variation of organic content, suggesting it is a cause of reflectivity contrast. GPR-interpolated analyses away from core control thus offer a powerful proxy for parameters derived from invasive core logging. The GPR data collected at Llanbedr airfield highlight a complex dune system to a depth of 2.8 m, probably deposited in several phases over ~700 years, similar to elsewhere in North Wales.     

浅水三角洲沉积体系与储层岩石学特征

浅水三角洲已经成为当前沉积学研究和油气勘探的重点领域,浅水三角洲常规和非常规砂岩储层中发现了丰富的油气资源。鄂尔多斯盆地中—古生界发育大型浅水三角洲沉积,结合岩芯、测井、分析化验等资料,对盆地西部地区山1—盒8段浅水三角洲的母岩特征、沉积充填、砂体展布与储层岩石学特征进行研究,为研究区常规砂岩储层和致密砂岩油气勘探提供地质依据。分析表明,研究区南部和北部砂岩重矿物组合相似,以锆石和白钛矿为主。综合La/Yb-REE与Dickinson三角图解、稀土元素配分模式和碎屑锆石定年分析认为,北部物源主要来自盆地西北部阿拉善古陆太古界和元古界花岗岩、片麻岩、石英砂岩,向南影响到陇东地区北部;南部物源主要来自盆地南部北秦岭地区太古界、元古界花岗岩、片麻岩和片岩,向北影响陇东地区中南部。山1段发育曲流河三角洲,盒8段发育辫状河三角洲,孤立型与垂向叠置型水下分支河道砂体是主要的砂体类型。盒8段沉积时期,古湖泊可能萎缩;南北物源形成的三角洲在研究区中部环县东南一带交汇混合。砂岩类型主要为岩屑质石英砂岩、石英砂岩和岩屑砂岩,结构成熟度中等—较差。砂岩成岩改造强烈,水—岩反应复杂,压实作用是储层致密化的主因,多期胶结作用使砂岩的孔喉结构变得十分复杂。孔隙类型以微米—纳米级的岩屑溶蚀孔、剩余粒间孔和高岭石晶间孔为主,整体上属于非常规致密砂岩储层。砂体分布与“甜点”预测是研究区致密油气勘探的关键。     

朝鲜半岛平南盆地地质演化综述

平南盆地位于朝鲜半岛中部,处于华北克拉通(中朝克拉通)东缘;其演化历史长达10亿年,其地质记录为揭示东亚现今构造格局的形成提供重要制约。盆地发育中元古界-中生界,从下至上包括黄海群(1.3~1.1Ga)、祥原超群(1.0~0.9Ga,自下而上包括直岘群、祠堂隅群、默川群和灭岳山群等)、燕滩群(狗岘系,0.72~0.54Ga)、黄州系/超群(0.52~0.46Ga,包括下部黄州群和上部法洞群)和平安超群(0.33~0.24Ga)等5个构造层序;各单元之间均为平行不整合;沉积跨度超过10亿年,沉积物厚度累计达到15000m。另外,平南盆地南部发育临津群(0.42~0.35Ga),该地层与中元古界上部-奥陶系很可能呈构造接触关系。平南盆地沉积中心自中元古代晚期从南部逐渐向北部转移,新元古代及早古生代均位于中部,二叠纪盆地沉积中心位于北部。平南盆地沉积碎屑锆石年龄则显示物源发生多期变化:中元古代以盆地北侧基底~1.8Ga峰期岩浆-变质作用岩石为主;中元古代晚期以同沉积就位的岩浆岩为主;新元古代以1.6~1.5Ga和1.2~1.1Ga峰期的岩浆岩为主;寒武纪以~2.5Ga和~1.8Ga峰值的变质基底岩石为主。以上变化反映了古地理格局的显著变化。推测新元古代早期及之前,华北克拉通曾与某个发育1.6~1.5Ga和1.2~1.1Ga岩浆作用的克拉通或者岩浆弧相邻(近邻或远邻);地层记录了迄今所知新元古代最早的碳同位素负漂移(默川负漂移,~0.92Ga),地层可能还记录了最晚的负漂移(燕滩负漂移,可能对应全球Gaskiers负漂移,~0.55Ga),它们可能是对新元古代全球长期多次岩浆-裂解-冰期事件的响应。     

柴北缘苦水泉金矿英云闪长岩和细粒闪长岩年代学、地球化学和Hf同位素及地质意义

苦水泉金矿床位于柴北缘构造带中段,是近年来新发现的金矿床。该矿床具有造山型金矿的特征,矿体沿断裂构造分布在英云闪长岩中,空间上与细粒闪长岩脉密切相关。本文对苦水泉金矿中的英云闪长岩和细粒闪长岩进行了地球化学、锆石U-Pb定年和Hf同位素研究。全岩地球化学分析显示,英云闪长岩具有富钠贫钾(Na_2O/K_2O=6.24～13.09)、高Sr低Y(Sr/Y=205～335)的埃达克岩的特征,与锡铁山榴辉岩中的埃达克质浅色脉体十分相似;细粒闪长岩富铝、钙、铁,贫镁,富集轻稀土(LREEs)和大离子亲石元素(LILEs),贫高场强元素(HFSEs),Ni、Co含量低,为典型的大陆下地壳来源的岩石。锆石U-Pb定年显示,英云闪长岩和细粒闪长岩分别形成于429.9±2.5Ma和428.0 ± 1.9Ma,Hf同位素分析显示英云闪长岩锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值为+9.8～+11.9,二阶段模式年龄(t_(DM2))为613～747Ma,细粒闪长岩锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值为-31.4～-9.9,二阶段模式年龄(t_(DM2))为1722～2803Ma。综合分析表明柴北缘在早志留世正处于大陆地壳俯冲、折返阶段,苦水泉英云闪长岩为俯冲洋壳变质的榴辉岩在陆壳折返阶段发生部分熔融的产物,细粒闪长岩起源于古老的玄武质下地壳的部分熔融。分布在细粒闪长岩上下盘的矿体品位通常远高于平均品位,说明细粒闪长岩为金矿化提供了热动力和热液,也可能提供了部分成矿物质,使得矿体的品位局部变富,由此近似的将细粒闪长岩的年龄作为苦水泉金矿的成矿时代(～428Ma)。苦水泉金矿成矿时代和构造背景的确定,指示柴北缘在早志留世陆壳折返阶段存在一期金矿化。