Guadalupian （Middle Permian） Conodont Faunas at Shangsi Section, Northeast Sichuan Province

This study recovered the Guadalupian conodont faunas from Shangsi (上寺) Section in Northeast Sichuan (四川). Four genera and nine species were identified, and three conodont zones were recognized and established; they include Jinogondolella nankingensis Zone, J. aserrata Zone, and J. postserrata Zone. The Roadian and Wordian boundary is set in the interval 5 m from the top of Bed 86 by the first appearance of the conodont J. aserrata. The Wordian and Capitanian boundary is set in the interval 2.3 m from the top of the Bed 95 by the first appearance of J. postserrata. Most of the specimens demonstrated low color alteration index (CAI) as 1.5-3, indicating that most part of the Maokou (茅口) Formation may have the suitable thermal conditions for the formation of oil source rocks.     

The Best Natural Boundary:a New Concept Developed by Combining the Sequence Boundary with the GSSP

Through a detailed study of sequence boundaries, it is concluded that sequence stratigraphy is an independent regional and transitional stratigraphic system between local lithostratigraphy and global chronostratigraphy. Therefore, a new tripartite stratigraphic classification scheme has been proposed. By combining organically the concept of sequence boundaries with the GSSP, it is suggested that the GSSP should be chosen in a conformale portion of a related sequence boundary, and the boundary established in light of this concept is defined as the Best Natural Boundary (BNB). The definition of the BNB points out the working area and stratigraphic level for the GSSP. By referring to a case study of the Permian Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary, the concept of the BNB has been elaborated in detail, and it is proposed that the BNB of the Guadalupian and the Lopingian lies between the Mesogondolella granti Zone and the Ctarkina postbitteri Zone, which is also the sequence chronostratigraphic boundary between th     

Controlling factors of volumetrically important marine carbonate cementation in deep slope settings

The controlling parameters of early marine carbonate cementation in shoal water and hemipelagic to pelagic domains are well‐studied. In contrast, the mechanisms driving the precipitation of early marine carbonate cements at deeper slope settings have received less attention, despite the fact that considerable volumes of early marine cement are present at recent and fossil carbonate slopes in water depths of several hundreds of metres. In order to better understand the controlling factors of pervasive early marine cementation at greater water depths, marine carbonate cements observed along time‐parallel platform to basin transects of two intact Pennsylvanian carbonate slopes are compared with those present in the slope deposits of the Permian Capitan Reef and Neogene Mururoa Atoll. In all four settings, significant amounts of marine cements occlude primary pore spaces downslope into thermoclinal water depths, i.e. in a bathymetric range between some tens and several hundreds of metres. Radial, radiaxial and fascicular optic fibrous calcites, and radiaxial prismatic calcites are associated with re‐deposited facies, boundstones and rudstones. Botryoidal (formerly) aragonitic precipitates are common in microbially induced limestones. From these case studies, it is tentatively concluded that sea water circulation in an extensive, near‐sea floor pore system is a first‐order control on carbonate ion supply and marine cementation. Coastal upwelling and internal or tidal currents are the most probable mechanisms driving pore water circulation at these depths. Carbonate cements precipitated under conditions of normal to elevated alkalinity, locally elevated nutrient levels and variable sea water temperatures. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future work are discussed.     

Middle Permian organic carbon isotope stratigraphy and the origin of the Kamura Event

Large carbon cycle perturbations associated with the Middle Permian (Capitanian) mass extinction have been widely reported, but their causes and timing are still in dispute. Low resolution carbon isotope records prior to this event also limit the construction of a Middle Permian chemostratigraphic framework and global or local stratigraphic correlation, and hence limit our understanding of carbon cycle and environmental changes. To investigate these issues, we analyzed the ¹³C_org values from the Middle Permian chert-mudstone sequence (Gufeng Formation) in the Lower Yangtze deep-water basin (South China) and compared them with published records to build a chemostratigraphic scheme and discuss the underlying environmental events. The records show increased δ¹³C_org values from late Kungurian to early Guadalupian, followed by a decrease to the late Wordian/early Capitanian. The early-mid Capitanian was characterized by elevated δ¹³C_org values suggesting the presence of the “Kamura Event”: an interval of heavy positive values seen in the δ¹³C_carb record. We propose that these heavy Capitanian δ¹³C values may be a response to a marked decline in chemical weathering rates on Pangea and associated reduction in carbonate burial, which we show using a biogeochemical model. The subsequent negative δ¹³C excursion seen in some carbonate records, especially in shallower-water sections (and in a muted expression in organic carbon) coincide with the Capitanian mass extinction may be caused by the input of isotopically-light carbon sourced from the terrestrial decomposition of organic matter.     

Sedimentary history with biotic reaction in the Middle Permian shelly sequence of the Southern Kitakami Massif,Japan

The transition of sedimentary environments and their organism‐related responses is exemplified in the active margin setting of the Middle Permian in the Southern Kitakami Massif. The transition in the sedimentary environment began with a shallowing‐upward sequence at an upper slope to an outer shelf depositional setting that was associated with a delta system which transported abundant botanic remains in the Hoso‐o Formation. By contrast, the sediments of the overlying Kamiyasse Formation, the base of which is roughly equivalent to the lowermost Capitanian, were deposited at a lower shoreface to the outer shelf setting, which originated from complex depositional sources, including beach, near shore reef mounds and a nearby independent area of shallow and hard substratum with a considerable difference of depth. This unique depositional setting resulted in the seemingly ‘mixed’ fauna associated with this formation. The depositional environment of the overlying Kurosawa Formation is similar to that of the Hoso‐o Formation, but with far fewer monotonous biotic remains. A comparison of lithological characteristics and fossil remains with those of neighboring regions suggests that the independent mounds were generated as if the talus formed elsewhere so as to provide a large amount of skeletal elements to a deeper basin in the earliest Capitanian. Accordingly, the complex sedimentary setting observed in the Kamiyasse Formation occurs widely throughout the South Kitakami Massif, making possible the ‘mixed’ and seemingly diverse fauna from a mixture of multiple allochthonous origins.     

The age of the Cuddapah and Kurnool systems,southern India

In southern India the older Precambrian is overlain unconformably in the Cuddapah Basin by the Cuddapah and Kurnool Systems. The former is tilted and unmetamorphosed in the west but eastwards becomes strongly folded and metamorphosed. It contains lavas and sills, particularly in the lower two groups, is intruded by dolerites and at Chelima by diatremes of kimberlitic affinities related to those intruding the older gneisses west of the Cuddapah Basin in the Wajrakarur area. The Kurnool System lacks any igneous rocks; its basal conglomerate is diamondi‐ferous.

Rb‐Sr dating of lava samples from the lowest group of the Cuddapah System shows that the age of the base of the system may be as great as 1,700 m.y. Together with data for a granite which intrudes probable Cuddapah rocks near the disturbed eastern margin of the basin the data imply that the base is unlikely to be younger than 1,555 m.y. Metamorphism affected some lavas at about 1,360 m.y. The diatremes have two ages of intrusion, about 1,225 m.y. and 1,140 m.y., the latter being the age of the Majhgawan pipe near Panna in northern India. Pre‐Kurnool dolerites have an age of 980 ±110 m.y.

The lavas and dolerites show a range of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Rb ratios from about 0.704 to 0.708 and possibly 0.712.

The age data suggest that no simple correlation can be made with other Precambrian sequences in northern peninsular India. Deposition of the Cuddapah System appears to have started well before the start of the deposition of the Vindhyan System, while the Kurnool System is coeval with only part of the Upper Vindhyan. The data also suggest that present interpretations of the structural development of the Cuddapah Basin may need some revision.     

层序界面和界线层型相结合而产生的地层划分的一个新概念：最优自然界线

通过对层序界面的详细剖析，指明了层序地层系统是独立存在于地方性的岩石地层系统和全球性的年代地层系统之间的区域性、过渡性地层系统，并因此提出了一个新的三重地层分类方案；通过将层序界面概念和界线层型概念有机地结合起来，提出了应该将全球层型剖面和点选在层序界面的整合部位从而建立最佳自然界线的观点，为建阶工作指出了工程层位和地区；以二叠纪Ｇｕａｄａｌｕｐｉａｎ统和乐平统的分界研究为实例，对最佳自然界线的概     

Middle Permian Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate System on the Northwestern Margin of the Indian Plate, Pakistan: Implications for Paleoclimate and Carbonate Platform Evolution

A mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system that responds to changes in Permian climate and subsequent carbonate platform evolution is investigated using microscopic details of the Middle Permian Amb Formation(Fm.),in Saiyiduwali section,Khisor Range,northern Pakistan.Thin sections were made from rocks throughout the stratigraphic section of the Amb Fm.and analyzed with an emphasis on carbonate and clastic microfacies,and the latter interpreted within the existing chronostratigraphic framework.Outcrop observations reveal that the units comprise coarse-grained,channelized,ripplemarked,and burrowed sandstone and sandy,fossiliferous limestone with minor marls and shale intercalations,suggesting deposition in a subaqueous tide-dominated delta to beach barrier.Based on the determined seven microfacies coupled with outcrop observation,the Amb Fm.was deposited in a tide-influenced subaqueous delta to middle shelf environment under fluctuating sea level.The deposition of compositionally mature sandstone in the lower part of the formation suggests reworking of detritus from the rift shoulders and an adjacent source area with an ambient warm and humid climate.The stratal mixing of carbonates and compositionally mature siliciclastic units in the middle part suggest deposition under tectonic and climate-induced terrigenous and carbonate fluxes to the basin.Thus the deposition shows a perfect transition from clastic-dominated deltaic to pure carbonate platform settings as a result of warm climate and tectonics.This Middle Permian warming is confirmed by sea-level rise and the presence of a temperature-sensitive fusulinid fauna in association with photozoan-based ooids.Deposition of the Amb Fm.and establishment of a carbonate platform are envisaged to be associated with major rifting of northern Gondwana,which subsequently resulted in the development of a rift basin at the passive margin of the NW Indian Plate then in northern Pakistan.     

华北板块北缘中二叠统于家北沟组植物化石及其大地构造意义

通过对内蒙古赤峰市广兴源乡于家北沟组模式剖面植物化石和安山质晶屑岩屑凝灰岩锆石U-Pb同位素年代学的研究,结合动物化石的分析,确认于家北沟组地质时代为中二叠世。于家北沟组植物化石以Gigantonoclea hallei Asama、Fascipteris sinensis Stockm. et Math.、Pecopteris taiyuanensis Halle、Pterophyllum daihoense Kaw.等众多华夏植物群典型分子为特征,属于典型的华夏植物群。目前,在中二叠世植物群中,从未发现有华夏和安加拉两大植物群的混生现象,这一事实进一步表明,中二叠世横亘于华北板块和佳蒙地块之间的古亚洲洋尚未闭合,在植物地理分布上起着重要的阻隔作用。     

Emeishan large igneous province, SW China

In recent years, there have been major advances in our understanding of the Emeishan large igneous province (LIP) of SW China following publication of a number of LIP-focused investigations of the terrain and associated rocks. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge. The volcanic and upper-intrusive portion of the province is relatively small (0.3×10⁶ km³), even when offset fragments, eroded sections and buried portions are included in the volume calculation. The most reliable radiometric age dates (zircon U–Pb SHRIMP from an associated layered intrusive body several kilometers in area) indicate generation at 259 Ma, consistent with the end-Guadalupian (end Middle Permian) stratigraphic age. In addition, several Ar–Ar dating studies have been carried out, mainly on the volcanic rocks, with a number of reported dates 253–251 Ma (Late Permian), but a consensus is emerging that these ages are problematic because they are in conflict with the stratigraphic data (possibly due to a monitor standard miscalibration). The Ar–Ar investigations have also yielded a large number of secondary ages, which are clustered at 175, 142, 98 and 42 Ma, and these are inferred to record sub-regional tectonic events that affected the western Yangtze Block as East Asia was assembled and later deformed by India’s collision–indentation into Asia. Magnetostratigraphic data and field observations suggest that the bulk of the volcanic sequence formed within 1–2 my. The geochemistry of the volcanic rocks and bio-lithostratigraphic studies of the underlying Maokou Formation suggests a mantle plume generated the province. The basalts can be classified into low and high Ti groups with different parental magmas. The low Ti basalts are confined to the western part of the province and are overlain by the high Ti basalts. The low Ti magmas formed at shallow mantle depths in the spinel–garnet field transition zone (60–80 km), whereas the high Ti magmas formed by low degrees of partial melting within the deeper garnet stability field. This observation suggests a deepening of the melting column as the lithosphere thickened due to under-plating and a transition from peak basalt generation to the waning stage. Outstanding issues, which might focus future studies, are also outlined.