Floral biodiversity and geology of the Talcher Basin,Orissa, India during the Permian–Triassic interval

The review paper provides an updated account of the previous and recently published records concerning the palaeobiology and the geology of the Talcher Basin of Orissa State, India. We conclude that fossil floral species in this basin originated in the earliest Permian Talchir Formation and evolved and diversified through the Karharbari Fm., Barakar Fm., Barren Measures Fm. and the uppermost Kamthi Fm. (Late Permian–Triassic). The megaflora and the palynology of the different formations of the basin are also discussed briefly. The geological setting of the basin along with the status of different formations (especially the Kamthi Formation) has been redefined. The post‐Barakar Fm. rocks, earlier retained in the Raniganj/Kamthi, Panchet and Mahadeva formations in this basin, have been critically assessed and redefined as the Lower and Upper Kamthi formations of Late Permian and Triassic ages, respectively. Accordingly, the geological map of the basin has been modified. Permian deposits (particularly the Barakar and the lower Kamthi formations) not only have the best preserved flora but also possess the highest diversity, whereas the upper Kamthi Triassic sediments have a meagre number of taxa. The plant diversity of the basin has been discussed in detail to interpret the development of the flora, evolutionary trends and palaeoenvironments of the basin. The patchy Gangamopteris vegetation of the Talchir glacial phase has ultimately evolved and diversified through time (Karharbari Fm. to Lower Kamthi Fm.) and gave rise to the thick dense swampy forests consisting of large Glossopteris trees and other shade‐loving under‐storied pteridophytes. Several groups of plants including spores and pollen have disappeared in a ladder pattern during the Permian–Triassic interval (Lower Kamthi–Upper Kamthi Fm.) and, similarly, in steps, many new fore‐runners appeared in the Upper Kamthi Formation. Records of marine acritarchs and ichnofossils in this basin at various Permian–Triassic levels demonstrate that there were marine influences. These features suggest a paralic (coastal marine to deltaic) mode of origin of the coal beds and associated sediments in the basin. The present study also advocates the continued survival of plants, rather than a mass extinction near the vicinity of the Permian–Triassic (P–T) boundary in this basin. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discussion of Jamaican Cenozoic ichnology: review and prospectus: (v. 50, pp. 364–382)

We make two comments on the paper ‘Jamaican Cenozoic ichnology: review and prospectus’ by Donovan et al. (2015). Based on biostratigraphy and new radiometric dates, we recommend the separation of the Richmond Formation (deposited in the Wagwater Graben and onlapping onto the edges of the Clarendon Block and Blue Mountains Block) and the Moore Town Formation (deposited in the John Crow Mountain Graben) which are of early Eocene and early Paleocene age, respectively. The ichnofossils of the Scolicia ichnocoenesis are different in the two basins. We also point out that extensive borings recorded from the late Eocene Somerset Formation of the White Limestone Group most probably came from the late Oligocene Walderston Formation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

澳大利亚寒武系生物地层研究新进展(英文)

澳大利亚寒武系集中分布在一南北向分布的从澳大利亚的北部、中部直到南澳大利亚克拉通地块上,少量寒武纪地层分布在新南威尔士、维多利亚和塔斯马尼亚。寒武系的底在中澳大利亚的Amadeus盆地出露得最好。下寒武统(大致相当于纽芬兰统和第二统)在澳大利亚北部大多数是不含化石的火山岩,而在澳大利亚中部和南澳大利亚的盆地中,其中最有名的是南澳大利亚的Arrowie和Stansbury盆地则是各种含化石的巨厚沉积序列。澳大利亚的下寒武统没有分阶方案,尽管在生物地层研究上最近取得很大进展,现在可以利用疑源类、遗迹化石、古杯类、三叶虫、腕足类、软体动物和其他小壳化石进行化石带的划分。很长一段时间内澳大利亚中部和北部的Ord-ian阶被认为是中寒武世最早期的,现在证明它可能相当于第二统的全部或者一部分;含化石的中寒武统和芙蓉统(或上寒武统)在Georgina盆地东部发育非常完整,在中澳大利亚、新南威尔士、维多利亚和塔斯马尼亚也可见到,都可以划分到阶。芙蓉统的底大致与Idamean阶的底相当。化石带的建立主要综合考虑球接子三叶虫、多节类三叶虫,自Iverian期晚期起再加上牙形类化石。寒武系的顶大致相当于Warendan阶的底,相关地层在Georgina盆地东部发育得很好。     

豫西下二叠统太原组遗迹化石与古氧相的响应特征*

基于对豫西禹州和焦作地区下二叠统太原组中的遗迹化石组成与产状特征的研究,以及对不同颜色Zoophycos潜穴充填物中碳氧同位素和微量元素含量的测试分析,取得成果如下: (1)灰白色充填物中δ¹³C值较低,主要介于-2‰~-4‰之间;灰色充填物中δ¹³C值大多在-0.8‰~-2‰之间。二者的V/(V+Ni)值均小于0.46,Ce/La值均小于1.5。反映其为富氧相,即氧化环境。(2)红褐色充填物中δ¹³C值一般在-0.2‰~-0.9‰之间,V/(V+Ni)值大于0.46,反映其为贫氧相,即弱还原环境。(3)黑色充填物中δ¹³C值最高,多数在0.2‰~1.6‰之间,Ce/La值大于1.8,反映其为厌氧相,即还原环境。综合分析上述特征,提出了3种古氧相(富氧相、贫氧相和厌氧相)的遗迹化石响应关系及其形成的沉积背景模式。这一研究成果可为精细分析豫西下二叠统太原组碳酸盐岩的沉积环境演变规律提供直观的生物遗迹识别标志。     

Soldier crab paleo-ichnology and its preservation in beach rock along the Pilbara Coast,Western Australia: its geoheritage significance

Ichnofossils, although small-scale geological features, can be of geoheritage significance. The Western Australian soldier crab (Mictyris occidentalis Unno 2008) presents an unusual and unique association between the crab and its ichnology because, as the species progresses through life, its behaviour becomes more complex and its traces commensurably more varied. The links between crab ichnology, life stage, behaviour, and environment are so direct that where traces are preserved they can be used to interpret fossil crab sizes, population structures, behaviour and paleo-environment. In this context the ichnofossils comprise important paleo-ecological and paleo-environmental indicators. Middle Holocene soldier crab ichnofossils occur in 5000 year-old beach rock at Port Hedland, Western Australia. The ichnofossils include rosettes, pustules, pellet-roofed tunnels, back-filled burrows and swirl lamination, air cavities and tidal-current-degraded discard pellets. They provide information on soldier crab population sizes and behaviour, and the nature of the environment along middle Holocene shores. The ichnofossils are of geoheritage significance in their own right for the paleontological and paleo-environmental information they present, however, given the rarity of their preservation, and the location of well-developed beach rock largely restricted to the arid Pilbara Coast, these ichnofossils are an uncommon and significant geological tool for use in paleo-environmental, paleo-ecological and paleoclimate reconstructions. They are of geoheritage significance because of their diagnostic signatures and rarity of occurrence. The limitations of current classifications of traces and ichnofossils, owing to restricted definition of terms, are highlighted by these ichnofossils as several ichnological products in the complex range of soldier crab traces are not possible to classify.     

二叠纪末生物大灭绝后Skolithos遗迹化石的古环境意义:以豫西和尚沟组为例*

豫西地区下三叠统遗迹化石记录了二叠纪—三叠纪之交生物大灭绝事件(PTME)后遗迹群落由残存向复苏的演变,其中Skolithos以垂直或高角度倾斜于岩层面、被动充填为典型特征,广泛保存于下三叠统和尚沟组。文中以登封、宜阳地区下三叠统和尚沟组保存良好的Skolithos遗迹化石为研究对象,从宏观和微观不同尺度分析Skolithos遗迹属。基于遗迹化石和生物扰动记录反映的生物运动能力、觅食策略、生物与沉积物相互作用的方式、生物改造沉积物的方式,构建出豫西地区和尚沟组生态空间占据和生态系统工程三维空间模式图;在此基础上,进一步分析Skolithos的古环境意义,探讨Skolithos所指示的高生态压力。研究结果表明,经历过PTME事件后的Skolithos遗迹化石主要受到高温、干热气候以及巨型季风等高生态压力的影响,并在此影响下形成机会主义遗迹组合,在曲流河、滨浅湖环境中广泛发育。该成果可为豫西地区下三叠统的陆相沉积环境以及古生态背景研究提供参考依据。     

扬子板块西北缘下泥盆统平驿铺组双壳类遗迹化石

四川北部广元地区下泥盆统平驿铺组产出丰富的双壳类遗迹化石,但尚未开展过系统的遗迹学工作,也未进行过行为学与古生态学分析。文中针对四川广元马家剖面平驿铺组中部地层开展沉积学和系统遗迹学研究,在陆棚至近滨带下部沉积中共识别出3个属种的双壳类遗迹化石,包括Lockeia siliquaria,Protovirgularia rugosa,Ptychoplasma vagans,以及其他无脊椎动物门类遗迹化石Cruziana problematica,Dimorphichnus isp.,Lophoctenium isp.等。对双壳类遗迹化石的出现方式、形态以及保存特征的分析表明,平驿铺组中部曾出现过2种类型的双壳类,分属具分叉足(原鳃目)和楔状足的类群。原鳃目分布于过渡带和陆棚区,营沉积物摄食生活;受高能事件或沉积物掩埋影响,它们由停息状态变为“逃逸”状态的行为产生了Pro.rugosa。具楔状足的双壳类依生态类型可分为2类：在过渡带与陆棚区,漫游的、营沉积物摄食的类型产生了Pty.vagans;而在近滨下部,滤食性双壳类居群则在不同期次高能事件的间隙对沉积物进行大规模殖居,产生了L.sil...     

二叠纪末生物大灭绝后Skolithos遗迹化石的古环境意义:以豫西和尚沟组为例*

豫西地区下三叠统遗迹化石记录了二叠纪—三叠纪之交生物大灭绝事件(PTME)后遗迹群落由残存向复苏的演变,其中Skolithos以垂直或高角度倾斜于岩层面、被动充填为典型特征,广泛保存于下三叠统和尚沟组。文中以登封、宜阳地区下三叠统和尚沟组保存良好的Skolithos遗迹化石为研究对象,从宏观和微观不同尺度分析Skolithos遗迹属。基于遗迹化石和生物扰动记录反映的生物运动能力、觅食策略、生物与沉积物相互作用的方式、生物改造沉积物的方式,构建出豫西地区和尚沟组生态空间占据和生态系统工程三维空间模式图;在此基础上,进一步分析Skolithos的古环境意义,探讨Skolithos所指示的高生态压力。研究结果表明,经历过PTME事件后的Skolithos遗迹化石主要受到高温、干热气候以及巨型季风等高生态压力的影响,并在此影响下形成机会主义遗迹组合,在曲流河、滨浅湖环境中广泛发育。该成果可为豫西地区下三叠统的陆相沉积环境以及古生态背景研究提供参考依据。     

Periodic anoxic shelf in the Early-Middle Ordovician transition: ichnosedimentologic evidence from west-central Utah, USA

Ichnosedimentologic evidence of periodic anoxic shelf in the Early-Middle Ordovician transition includes lower ichnodiversity, shallower bioturbation and burrowing depth (<4 cm), rare domichnia, tinyChondrites occupying shallower or shallowest tiering, widely distributed nodules of limonite pseudomorphs after pyrite, occurrence of trace fossils being closely associated with the storm event layers, and stratigraphic successions with orbital cyclostratigraphic architecture. It is suggested that lower atmospheric oxygen level during the Early Paleozoic, the Ordovician radiation, dramatic transgression and warmer temperatures would result in the periodic anoxia in the Early-Middle Ordovician transition. This episode began at the later Early Ordovician and lasted about 3.4 Ma on the basis of orbital cyclostratigraphy.