Molar tooth structures of the Neoarchean Monteville Formation, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. I: Constraints on microcrystalline CaCO3 precipitation

Molar tooth (MT) structures are enigmatic, contorted millimetre‐ to decimetre‐long veins and spheroids of microcrystalline calcite that formed during very early diagenesis in Precambrian sediments. MT structures in the ca 2·6 Ga Monteville Formation are 600–800 Myr older than previously reported occurrences and establish that conditions necessary for MT genesis were met locally throughout much of the Precambrian. In the Monteville Formation, MT structures were formed shallow subtidally, extending to depths near storm wave base, in shale host sediments intercalated with storm‐generated carbonate sand lenses. They are filled with microcrystalline calcite and rare pyrite. Microcrystalline calcite identical to that in MT structures fills other pore space, including porosity between grains in carbonate sand lenses, moldic porosity in sand grains, sheet cracks in columnar stromatolites, and shallow cracks on sandy bedding planes. Relationships in the Monteville Formation demonstrate that microcrystalline CaCO₃ precipitated in fluid‐filled cracks and pores; microcrystalline calcite characteristics, as well as the paucity of carbonate mud in host rocks, are inconsistent with injection of lime mud as the origin of MT structures. Locally, MT cracks were filled by detrital sediment before or during precipitation. Precipitation occurred in stages, and MT CaCO₃ evolved from granular cores to a rigid mass of cores with overgrowths – allowing both plastic and brittle deformation of MT structures, as well as reworking of eroded MT structures as rigid clasts and lime mud. Crystal size distributions and morphology suggest that cores precipitated through nucleation, Ostwald ripening and size‐dependent crystal growth, whereas overgrowths formed during size‐independent crystal growth.     

Secular variations of the upper crust composition: Implication of geochemical data on the Upper Precambrian shales from the Southern Urals western flank and Uchur-Maya region

In the mid-1980s, it was concluded based on geochemical study that Th, Sc, La concentrations and ratios Th/Sc, La/Sc and Eu/Eu* did not wary significantly in the post-Archean time. It was impossible to judge about compositional variations of upper crust during the Riphean and Vendian, because data of that time characterized a limited number of samples from the post-Archean basins of Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctic. Considered in this work are variations of Eu/Eu*, LREE/HREE, Th/Sc, and La/Sc ratios in Upper Precambrian fine-grained siliciclastic rock of the Southern Urals western flank (Bashkirian meganticlinorium) and Uchur-Maya region (Uchur-Maya plate and Yudoma-Maya belt). As is established, only the Eu anomaly in the studied siliciclastic rocks is practically identical to this parameter of the average post-Archean shale. Three other parameters plot on the Riphean-Vendian variation curves with positive and negative excursions of diverse magnitude, which do not coincide always in time. It is assumed that these excursions likely mark stages of local geodynamic activity, destruction of pre-Riphean cratons, and progressing recycling of sedimentary material during the Riphean.     

Geomechanical model for the post-Variscan evolution of the Permocarboniferous–Mesozoic basins in Northeast Germany

The Permocarboniferous basins in Northeast Germany formed on the heterogeneous and eroded parts of the Variscan orogene and its deformed northern foreland. Transtensional tectonic movements and thermal re-equilibration lead to medium-scale crustal fragmentation, fast subsidence rates and regional emplacement of large amounts of mostly acidic volcanics. The later basin formation and differentiation was triggered by reversals of the large-scale stress field and reactivation of prominent zones of weakness like the Elbe Fault System and the Rhenohercynian/Saxothuringian boundary that separate different Variscan basement domains in the area. The geomechanical behaviour of the latter plays an important role for the geodynamic evolution of the medium to large-scale structural units, which we can observe today in three dimensions on structural maps, geophysical recordings and digital models. This study concentrates on an area that comprises the southern Northeast German Basin, the Saale Basin, the Flechtingen High, the Harz Mountains High and the Subhercynian Basin. The presented data include re-evaluations of special geological and structural maps, the most recent interpretation of the DEKORP BASIN 9601 seismic profile and observations of exposed rock sections in Northeast Germany. On the basis of different structural inventories and different basement properties, we distinguish two structural units to the south and one structural unit to the north of the Elbe Fault System. For each unit, we propose a geomechanical model of basin formation and basin inversion, and show that the Rhenohercynian Fold and Thrust Belt domain is deformed in a thin-skinned manner, while the Mid-German Crystalline Rise Domain, which is the western part of the Saxothuringian Zone, rather shows a thick-skinned deformation pattern. The geomechanical model for the unit north to the Elbe Fault System takes account to the fact that the base of the Zechstein beneath the present Northeast German basin shows hardly any evidence for brittle deformation, which indicates a relative stable basement. Our geomechanical model suggests that the Permocarboniferous deposits may have contributed to the structural stiffness by covering small to medium scale structures of the upper parts of the brittle basement. It is further suggested that the pre-Zechstein successions underneath the present Northeast German basin were possibly strengthening during the Cretaceous basin inversion, which resulted in stress transfer to the long-lived master faults, as indicated for example by the shape of the salt domes in the vicinity of the latter faults. Contrary to this, post-Zechstein successions deformed in a different and rather complex way that was strongly biased by intensive salt tectonic movements.     

华南（东）变质基底特征、古构造型式及铀、金矿化远景

华南（东）变质基底由杨子及华夏两块不同特征的地质体组成，中元古代之后，该地区分别经过了碰撞对接、拉开、再拼贴的演化过程。碰撞对接带和在古裂谷系基础上成型的陆内推覆及平移、剪切型拼贴带构成了本区基底构造主要型式。铀及金矿远景与基底特征关系密切，铀矿主要产于基底裂隆带部位，金则主要产于裂凹（裂陷）带部位。古基底构造交叉部位是中新生代构造活动活跃部位，受其控制的早期横向火山裂谷盆地，在晚期拉张条件下形成的岩浆杂岩带是铀、金、多金属成矿最佳远景区。     

甘肃敦煌-北山早前寒武纪岩石组合-构造初步框架

甘肃敦煌－北山地区广泛出露早前寒武纪岩石。这些岩石在早期的《甘肃省区域地质志》中被确定为前长城系、长城系、奥陶－志留系及部分石炭系。本文认为这些岩石应属太古宙和古元古代。据此，重新厘定了该区早前寒式纪岩石－构造框架。自南向北划分为敦煌太古宙杂岩区、北山南带古元古代剪切构造区和北山北带古元古代－太古宙杂岩区，并根据变形特点和岩石组合，进一步划分出次级带。     

冀西北麻粒岩区早前寒武纪主要地质事件的年代格架

本文通过年代学资料和其它地质依据建立了冀西北及邻区麻粒岩地体早前寒武纪主要地质事件的年代格架。早期的基性火山喷发事件发生在2868—2932Ma期间,形成本区的早期地壳。在2761Ma左右发生了大规模的TTG岩浆侵位事件,在2650Ma时发生了基性岩浆侵位,使地壳加厚。在2561—2503Ma期间,花岗闪长质岩浆在本区广泛侵入,使地壳进一步加厚。2477—2461Ma期间,紫苏花岗岩以岩株形式侵入,同时发生区域麻粒岩相变质,早期地壳受到改造。大约在2300Ma时发生第二阶段的麻粒岩相变质。此后,在2144—2087Ma期间红色花岗岩侵位,形成花岗岩带。     

微陆块属性厘定的依据——以中亚造山带南缘中段为例

造山带中残存有许多前寒武纪地质体,其中一些被当作前寒武纪基底用于探讨所在微陆块的大地构造属性。由于微陆块属性对于造山带结构和演化具有重要意义,以及所讨论的前寒武纪地质体蕴含地球早期历史演化信息,对微陆块属性的厘定成为造山带研究的重点和难点问题之一。笔者等以中亚造山带南缘中段的微陆块为例,总结梳理了微陆块厘定的相关依据：岩石组合和变质变形特征,碎屑锆石谱峰显示的源区时代特征,地质事件序列,前寒武纪地壳演化信息,继承锆石、捕获锆石和古生代侵入体同位素显示的深源地壳信息,以及地球物理等方面的特征。由于不同学者采用的厘定依据不同,对微陆块属性认识争论不断,即使相同依据也有一定的差异,从而影响对造山带结构和演化的认识。基于以上原因,笔者等认为前寒武纪基底的亲缘性探讨不仅要注重岩石组合和形成时代,还要在精细野外解剖和高精度年代学工作基础上,注意其变质—变形特征、接触关系、源区时代特征、岩石成因和构造环境、地壳增生信息和深源地壳信息等的综合对比分析,以得到较全面依据,探讨其构造属性。当获得一组前寒武纪地质体信息时,可先进行同构造单元内对比,再与其他构造单元对比。当特征相异时则需进行构造单元拆分或考虑构造就位的可能（包括但不限于推覆体、走滑外来体、俯冲刮削的构造岩片）;当特征相似时,可能指示了相同微陆块的裂解或破坏或者不同的微陆块共同经历了相似的前寒武纪演化历程。     

四川盆地东缘寒武系盐下油气勘探领域探讨

地球物理资料显示四川盆地东缘齐岳山附近寒武系高台组膏盐岩层下深部存在逆冲构造,其形成过程以及油气地质意义未见深入研究。笔者等综合四川盆地东部石柱地区线束三维和建南地区二维地震反射资料,并结合钻井资料以及区域地质研究成果,从构造继承性的角度探讨四川盆地震旦系灯影组台缘带类型,并分析了川东地区寒武系盐下油气圈闭特征。研究获得如下认识：①川东齐岳山北段构造变形强烈,普遍发育基底卷入构造,构造样式受青白口纪—南华纪裂谷与转换带构造位置的控制。②依据构造继承关系将盆内灯影组台缘带划分为德阳—安岳地区原生型台缘带、万源—达州地区继承型台缘带以及石柱地区继承—改造型台缘带。③依据青白口纪—南华纪裂谷的分布和后期构造作用影响大小,认为沿齐岳山向南至南川一带存在与石柱地区相似的灯影组继承—改造型台缘带,忠县、南川以西存在灯影组继承型台缘带。④研究区新元古界—下寒武统烃源岩、灯影组—龙王庙组滩相白云岩储层与寒武系膏盐岩层系构成完整的生储盖组合。⑤寒武系盐下基底逆冲可形成成排、成带的构造,与灯影组继承—改造型台缘带、龙王庙组滩相白云岩储层配置,形成断层相关的构造—岩性圈闭带,成为川东地区油气规模聚集有利区。研究认为四川盆地东部石柱地区震旦纪—早寒武世早期继承了青白口纪—南华纪裂谷构造特征,燕山期构造反转,高台组盐下形成基底卷入逆冲构造,具备生储盖等基本石油地质条件,具有重要的油气勘探现实意义。