Palaeoenvironments and weathering regime of the Neoproterozoic Squantum ‘Tillite’, Boston Basin: no evidence of a snowball Earth

The snowball Earth hypothesis describes episodes of Neoproterozoic global glaciations, when ice sheets reached sea‐level, the ocean froze to great depth and biota were decimated, accompanied by a complete shutdown of the hydrological cycle. Recent studies of sedimentary successions and Earth systems modelling, however, have brought the hypothesis under considerable debate. The Squantum ‘Tillite’ (Boston Basin, USA), is one of the best constrained snowball Earth successions with respect to age and palaeogeography, and it is suitable to test the hypothesis for the Gaskiers glaciation. The approach used here was to assess the palaeoenvironmental conditions at the type locality of the Squantum Member through an analysis of sedimentary facies and weathering regime (chemical index of alteration). The stratigraphic succession with a total thickness of ca 330 m documents both glacial and non‐glacial depositional environments with a cool‐temperate glacial to temperate non‐glacial climate weathering regime. The base of the succession is composed of thin diamictites and mudstones that carry evidence of sedimentation from floating glacial ice, interbedded with inner shelf sandstones and mudstones. Thicker diamictites interbedded with thin sandstones mark the onset of gravity flow activity, followed by graded sandstones documenting channellized mass gravity flow events. An upward decrease in terrigenous supply is evident, culminating in deep‐water mudstones with a non‐glacial chemical weathering signal. Renewed terrigenous supply and iceberg sedimentation is evident at the top of the succession, beyond which exposure is lost. The glacially influenced sedimentary facies at Squantum Head are more consistent with meltwater dominated alpine glaciation or small local ice caps. The chemical index of alteration values of 61 to 75 for the non‐volcanic rocks requires significant exposure of land surfaces to allow chemical weathering. Therefore, extreme snowball Earth conditions with a complete shutdown of the hydrological cycle do not seem to apply to the Gaskiers glaciation.     

First known Cretaceous glaciation: Livingston Tillite Member of the Cadna‐owie Formation,South Australia

A 2 m‐thick diamictite occurs near the base of the Cretaceous Eromanga Basin succession at Trinity Well, at the northern extremity of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. The diamictite consists of a matrix of silt‐ and clay‐size particles and a framework of sand and coarser materials up to small boulder size. Scanning electron microscope study reveals the presence of numerous quartz grains displaying extreme angularity and surface textures attributed to glacial crushing. Sandy sediments considered as fluvioglacial in origin and a locally developed facies displaying flow structures attributed to solifluction processes constitute the basal 3–5 m of the sequence. In places these directly underlie the diamictite and rest with angularity on Neoproterozoic Adelaidean strata. Conformably above the diamictite at the type locality ‘Recorder Hill’ is a sequence approximately 15 m thick of fine sand and silt units containing lonestones up to ～70 cm diameter and hummocky cross‐stratification. These sediments have been assigned to the Cadna‐owie Formation and are dated on palynology as Berriasian to Valanginian. The occurrence of diamictite containing glacially affected quartz grains contributes to our interpretation that the southern margin of the Eromanga Basin, and at least the adjacent part of the northern Flinders Ranges, were affected by glaciation in the Early Cretaceous. The associated dropstone and solifluction facies and nearby glendonite pseudomorphs after ikaite are further evidence of at least intermittent cold climates at this time.     

贵州丹寨地区南华系地层地球化学特征及其对古气候、古环境的意义

南华系是地球历史上最重要的成冰时期,为了示踪冰期前后的气候与环境的变化,本文通过对南华系细屑岩的化学成分分析,重塑南华系古气候、古环境的演化过程。分析结果显示铁丝坳组具有明显低的CIA指数以及低Ti/Al比值,说明该时期主要以寒冷干燥气候为主,化学风化程度低,物源供应和沉积速率相对较低,为冰期特征,隆里组和大塘坡组具有高的CIA指数以及相对较高的Ti/Al比值,表明该时期主要以温暖湿润气候为主,化学风化程度相对较高,物源供应和沉积速率相对较高,为间冰期特征。南沱组的CIA指数以及Ti/Al比值具有交替变化特征,说明南沱组沉积时期气候存在冷暖交替变化,反映了冰期与间冰期的相互转换特征。另外,在铁丝坳组顶部和大塘坡组的下部以及南沱组中上部,具有一定程度的正Eu异常,说明在南华系沉积时期,存在热液活动,而这种热液活动可能与冰期的消亡存在着成因联系。     

碧口群内冰川沉积及冰期的划分与对比

碧口群内前人曾怀疑为冰碛岩的一套岩石,已取得了大量冰川证据,肯定了冰川作用的存在。其时代属早震旦世。据沉积特征、层位及上下接触关系等,将其划为长安、南沱两个冰期,南沱冰期又进一步划分为两个亚冰期,并分别与国内外有关地区作了对比。     

Re-assessment of the northern Guinean “Koubia–Lessere unconformity” (KLU): Consequences on the geological correlations throughout West Africa

New radiometric data from recent cartographic projects (2007, 2010) lead to a re-interpretation of the “Koubia–Lessere Unconformity” (KLU). This unconformity is evidenced in the Bassaride Ranges (northern Guinea) and in two western inliers (Tominé and Kemberra). The KLU was previously correlated with the main unconformity (Jbeliat unconformity [JU]) separating the lower “super group 1” from the middle “super group 2” of the large Taoudeni basin. Consequently, the brecciated level (partly glaciogenic) that underlines the “KLU” was correlated with the “tillitic” level located at the base of the super group 2. The latter is linked to the worldwide “Marinhoan” glacial event (650–635 Ma). However, 32 recently published U/Pb age data on detrital or new formed zircons show clearly that the Bassarides groups (ante KLU), deformed and slightly metamorphosed by the Panafrican-II orogen, belong to the super group 2 of the Taoudeni basin. Consequently, the overlying “Koubia–Lessere unconformity” (KLU) cannot be linked to the “Jbeliats unconformity” (JU) that separates the super groups 1 and 2 in the Taoudeni basin. The KLU is younger than the Panafrican-II orogen and probably younger than the last volcanic basaltic flows (492 Ma) outcropping in the Bassaride belt. Consequently, the glaciogenic levels that outcrop in the KLU should be distinguished from the numerous “Marinhoan” glacial levels of West Africa. This new KLU interpretation implies some important changes in the stratigraphic correlations and interpretations all over the West African domain.