Contribution of Sponge Spicules to the Composition of Biogenic Silica in the Ligurian Sea

Abstract. The importance of sponge spicules in the turnover of biogenic silica (BSi) in the detritic bottoms of the Eastern Ligurian Riviera was evaluated by studying sediment cores and the detrital matter collected by a trap over a one year period.
This study made evident that: i) Sponge spicules represent the main component of the BSi both in the sediments and in the trapped matter; ii) A correlation exists between the sponge biomass present on the overhanging cliff and the amount of sponge spicules found in the sediment below; iii) Inside the sediments, a superficial layer (10 cm deep) characterized by intensive silica dissolution processes can be observed; and iv) The amount of spicules collected using the trap is not constant throughout the year, but shows a characteristic trend with low values in spring and summer and high values in autumn and winter.     

Middle Permian radiolarians from Anmenkou, Chaohu, Northeastern Yangtze platform, China

The biostratigraphy of the Middle Permian Gufeng Formation in the northeastern Yangtze platform is examined based on radiolarians. This study is concentrated on the Anmenkou section in the Chaohu area of Anhui Province, China. The Gufeng Formation is divided into the Phosphate Nodule-bearing Mudstone Member (PNMM) and the Siliceous Rock Member (SRM) in ascending order. The former primarily consists of mudstone including abundant phosphate nodules, and the latter consists mainly of alternating beds of chert, siliceous mudstone and mudstone, with intercalations of porous chert. Ammonoids in the mudstone of the lower PNMM are Wordian. Chert, siliceous mudstone and mudstone of the SRM include abundant radiolarians with sponge spicule assemblages suggestive of the Wordian–Capitanian. Albaillellaria are predominant in the lower SRM, while Entactinaria and Spumellaria are predominant in the middle and upper SRM. These radiolarians correspond to three radiolarian assemblage zones: Pseudoalbaillella longtanensis – Pseudoalbaillella fusiformis , Follicucullus monacanthus , and Follicucullus scholasticus – Ruzhencevispongus uralicus . The assemblage of radiolarians and sponge spicule fauna suggests a depositional depth of 150–500 m. The radiolarian fauna of the Gufeng Formation is considered to be representative of the relatively shallow, tropical radiolarian fauna of the Middle Permian eastern Paleotethys.     

陕南镇巴筇竹寺期的海绵骨针化石

在陕南镇巴下寒武统西蒿坪段和水井沱组下段的碳酸盐地层中含有大量保存完好、类型多样的海绵骨针化石。基于形态描述法,对海绵骨针化石进行了详细的形态描述及产地与层位判断。结果表明：根据与其共生的小壳化石和三叶虫等生物地层学资料,发现这些海绵骨针化石属于筇竹寺期;该区海绵骨针类型不仅包含有形态规则的二轴四射骨针、三轴六射骨针、三轴五射骨针,而且还有形态不规则的四轴四射骨针、五轴五射骨针、尖头星状骨针、二歧分叉式骨针等;其中的四轴四射骨针、五轴五射骨针、五刺尖头星状骨针、二歧分叉二射式骨针为本次发现的新类型,极大地丰富了海绵骨针的类型。陕南镇巴筇竹寺期海绵骨针化石的数量以及分异度快速增加,充分说明海绵动物在陕南地区寒武纪早期开始大量繁盛并且迅速演化。     

A Wandering Population of the HexactinelIid Sponge Pheronema carpenteri on the Continental Slope off Morocco, Northwest Africa

Abstract. A photo transect along the continental slope off Morocco, Northwest Africa revealed an extensive population of the hexactinellid sponge Pheronema carpenteri ( thomson , 1869). The population forms a distinct band parallel to the depth contours between 740 and 820 m. Because of the long persistence of dead hexactinellid skeletons, living and dead individuals of P. carpenteri were recorded, together with the spicular remains of disintegrated individuals. Furthermore, the presence of small individuals and that of other epifaunal elements were recorded. The peaks of abundance of dead and living sponges, respectively. are not at the same depth, the maximum abundance of living individuals being above that of the dead ones; small, i.e ., probably young P. carpenteri individuals were observed only in the upper zone. This can be interpreted as a successional phenomenon, i.e ., the population of P. carpenteri has apparently 'moved' slowly up the slope. The fauna associated with the P. carpenteri population along the Moroccan coast seems to be much poorer than that associated with another band-shaped population in the Porcupine Seabight investigated by B ett & R ice (1992). indicating that the presence of dense hexactinellid populations does not invariably lead to conspicuous benthic faunal enrichment.     

南海东北部两种软珊瑚

金黄编笠软珊瑚Morchellana boleliformis(Ridley)和黎明编笠软珊瑚Morchellana auroro(Ridley)隶属于棘软珊瑚科Nephtheidae编笠软珊瑚属Morchellana,于1979—1983年采自南海东北部水域。     

Diagenesis of spiculites and carbonates in a Permian temperate ramp succession – Tempelfjorden Group,Spitsbergen, Arctic Norway

This paper explores little investigated diagenesis of spicule‐dominated sediments, based on Permian spiculites and cool‐water carbonates of the Tempelfjorden Group in central Spitsbergen. Field observations, petrography, stable isotope geochemistry, and mineralogical and chemical analyses reveal that the strata have been subjected to multistage diagenesis as the result of silica phase transitions at medium burial depths and deep‐burial overprinting. The growth of silica concretions occurred during the opal‐A/opal‐CT conversion and was controlled by the content and distribution of clay and spicules in the sediment, resulting in a variety of megascopic silica fabrics. Opal‐CT was subsequently dissolved, and all silica is now in a stable quartz stage. Petrographically, the rocks are characterized by a variety of chalcedony and quartz cements which perfectly preserve precursor textures. Most cements precipitated from silica‐oversaturated fluids, and their shapes reflect the silica saturation state and geometry of the pore space. Some microquartz and cryptoquartz also formed by a solid–solid inversion (recrystallization) of chalcedony. The cements have δ ¹⁸O values between +30‰ and +20‰ Standard Mean Ocean Water and display a systematic depletion in ¹⁸O from the first to the last crystallized, interpreted to reflect a gradual increase in temperature during burial. The precipitation of quartz cements started in the Middle Triassic when the strata passed the 19°C isotherm at burial depths of ca 600 m, and was completed in the mid‐Cretaceous, 2·3 km beneath the sea floor at temperatures of 75°C. Late diagenetic overprinting of the chert includes fracturing, brecciation and cementation with carbonate cements having δ ¹⁸O values between +2‰ and −30‰ Pee Dee Belemnite and δ ¹³C values between +4‰ and −14‰ Pee Dee Belemnite; they are linked to hot solutions introduced during Cretaceous volcanism or Palaeogene tectonism. This study illustrates the diagenetic pathway during burial of spicule‐rich sediments in a closed system and thereby provides a baseline for studies of more complexly altered chert deposits.     

陕南镇巴筇竹寺期的海绵骨针化石

在陕南镇巴下寒武统西蒿坪段和水井沱组下段的碳酸盐地层中含有大量保存完好、类型多样的海绵骨针化石。基于形态描述法,对海绵骨针化石进行了详细的形态描述及产地与层位判断。结果表明:根据与其共生的小壳化石和三叶虫等生物地层学资料,发现这些海绵骨针化石属于筇竹寺期;该区海绵骨针类型不仅包含有形态规则的二轴四射骨针、三轴六射骨针、三轴五射骨针,而且还有形态不规则的四轴四射骨针、五轴五射骨针、尖头星状骨针、二歧分叉式骨针等;其中的四轴四射骨针、五轴五射骨针、五刺尖头星状骨针、二歧分叉二射式骨针为本次发现的新类型,极大地丰富了海绵骨针的类型。陕南镇巴筇竹寺期海绵骨针化石的数量以及分异度快速增加,充分说明海绵动物在陕南地区寒武纪早期开始大量繁盛并且迅速演化。     

硅质海绵骨针矿化机制及仿生应用研究进展

硅质海绵动物是地球上最简单、最古老的多细胞动物,它经几百万年的自然进化成就了适应自然和接近完美的技术蓝图,为人类利用纳米生物技术仿生合成生物无机矿物材料提供了一种崭新的节能和"环境友好"技术,在光纤、微电子和生物医学材料等领域具有广阔的仿生应用前景.生长在深海1000 m以下水深的单根海绵动物的根须骨针长达3 m,是世...     

扬子地台北缘早寒武世早期的海绵骨针化石

本文详细研究了采自扬子地台北缘早寒武世早期地层中的大量海绵骨针化石。依据骨针化石的形态特征提出了海绵骨针化石的形态分类方案。总共记述了18类,28种类型。其中重点描述4个新的骨针类和11种新类型。为研究寒武纪早期海绵动物的出现、发展和演化提供了重要的实证材料。     

海绵动物骨针研究简介

海绵动物骨针是海绵动物骨骼的主要组成，是由生物矿化产生的；在地学研究中它是一种可用作地层对比的古生物化石。近年科学家发现了海绵骨针的光纤特性，特别是指出了这些特性可能引导人类开发新的光纤制造方法，从而引发了对其微结构、特性、生长机制与调控的生物学、生矿物学和仿生学的研究热潮。文章简介了海绵动物骨针的早期研究、光纤特性的发现及国内外研究概况。