Geological and geochemical aspects of a Devonian siliceous succession in northern Thailand: Implications for the opening of the Paleo-Tethys

The opening of the Paleo-Tethys are reconstructed, including the depositional setting and redox conditions, based on an analysis of radiolarian fossils and the geochemistry of a Devonian siliceous succession in the Chiang Dao area of northern Thailand. The succession is subdivided into the following five rock types (in ascending stratigraphic order): black shale (Lower Devonian), siliceous shale (Middle Devonian), tuffaceous chert and tuff (Middle/Upper Devonian), and chert (Upper Devonian). The succession was deposited in continental margin and pelagic environments between the Sibumasu Block and the Indochina-North China blocks. The concentrations of terrestrial-derived elements (Al₂O₃, TiO₂, Rb, and Zr) suggest that the succession (except for the chert) was supplied with terrigenous material and volcanic ash from the adjacent continent, deposited within a SiO₂-rich environment. Geochemical indicators of redox conditions (total organic carbon and the Th/U ratio) reveal a gradual change from anoxic to oxic oceanic conditions between the black shale and chert. Taking into account the interpreted depositional setting and redox conditions, the initial Paleo-Tethys developed as a small, closed anoxic-suboxic oceanic basin during the Early to Middle Devonian, located close to the continental margin. Black shale and siliceous shale were deposited in the basin at this time. Opening of the Paleo-Tethys started around the Middle and Upper Devonian boundary, marked by voluminous volcanic activity. The tuffaceous chert was deposited under oxic conditions, suggesting that ash and pumice within the chert were derived from a continental source. After the Late Devonian, the Paleo-Tethys developed as a deep, broad ocean in which pelagic chert was deposited.     

Late Triassic, Early and Middle Jurassic Radiolaria from ferromanganese-chert ‘nodules’ (Angelokastron, Argolis, Greece): evidence for prolonged radiolarite sedimentation in the Maliac-Vardar Ocean

In the Argolis, the Basal Sequence, constituting the eastern Pelagonian margin which bordered the Maliac-Vardar oceanic domain, includes shallow-water carbonates of Late Triassic-Early Jurassic, condensed pelagic limestones of Early-Middle Jurassic, radiolarian cherts of late Middle-Late Jurassic age and siliceous mudstones and sandstones rich in ophiolite fragments. Up-section, coarse breccias, including clasts of boninites derived from the ophiolite obducted onto the Pelagonian margin in Late Jurassic times crop out. Near Angelokastron a small quarry exposes pervasively sheared dark reddish-brown, radiolarian-bearing cherty shales with disrupted fragments of chert and chert nodules impregnated by ferro-manganese oxides. These shales occur in the footwall of a thrust bringing them into contact with the Pantokrator Limestone of the Basal Sequence. We collected more than 30 samples of the chert fragments and the shaly matrix. Thirteen nodules and one matrix sample yielded determinable radiolarians. Low to non-detectable concentrations of trace metals such as Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb indicate a hydrothermal origin of the ferro-manganese mineralization. The radiolarian taxa found indicate four age groups for the nodules that are embedded in the siliceous shale matrix that yielded a Middle Jurassic age (middle Bathonian). The first group includes a nodule of Late Triassic age (late Norian to Rhaetian); the second group nodules of Early Jurassic age (late early to late Pliensbachian and probably middle-late Toarcian); the third group nodules of early Middle Jurassic age (Aalenian–Bajocian); the last group finally includes nodules of late Middle Jurassic age (Bajocian–Bathonian). The presence of Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic Mn-impregnated chert nodules in a Middle Jurassic matrix indicates a deep oceanic environment of deposition outside the Pelagonian realm (easternmost Adria Plate), which at that time was a shallow-water carbonate platform with a thin pelagic limestone cover. The chert nodules are with all certainty derived from the oceanic Maliac-Vardar domain and were, together with their host formation, tectonically emplaced onto the Pelagonian margin. We speculate that these nodules, more lithified than their matrix, were exhumed on the slope of an intra-oceanic accretionary wedge and were redeposited in the Middle Jurassic siliceous mudstones on the floor of the subducting Maliac-Vardar Ocean.     

Permian and Triassic radiolarians from chert breccia in the Nong Prue area,western Thailand: its origin and depositional setting in the Paleotethys

Bedded chert and siliceous shale successions previously regarded as the Silurian–Devonian rock units, distributed in the Nong Prue area, northwest of Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, yielded Lopingian (upper Permian) and Lower–Middle Triassic radiolarians. We found chert breccia layers in northern Nong Prue area, mainly consisting of angular to sub-angular chert clasts with matrices of silt-sized chert grains and clay minerals. We discriminated uppermost Pennsylvanian–Lopingian (upper Carboniferous–upper Permian) and Middle Triassic radiolarian-bearing chert clasts from four different levels of the chert breccia; 28 species of 15 genera with one radiolarian gen. et sp. indet. are identified. On the basis of sedimentary characteristics of the chert breccia, we suggest that the chert breccia is of sedimentary origin. The radiolarian assemblages reported here, together with previously known lithological and paleontological evidence, further indicate that the chert breccia was deposited in the Paleotethys with chert clasts derived from fine grained siliceous rocks in the continental margin to deep ocean basin of the Sibumasu Terrane.     

桂东、桂东南晚泥盆世一个弗拉斯期放射虫动物群

本文系统描述了广西玉林、贺县等地晚泥盆世榴江组硅质岩中的放射虫化石4属14种,其中有1新属2新种。这个放射虫动物群的多数分子曾见于苏联南乌拉尔地区和澳大利亚的弗拉斯阶。     

新疆中天山汗吉尕组Helenifore robustum放射虫动物群及其年代地层学意义

汗吉尕组是新疆中天山温泉小区中泥盆统的一个地层单元,为海相碎屑岩夹火山碎屑岩沉积。过去在灰岩团块和灰岩砾石中发现较为丰富的中泥盆世珊瑚和腕足类化石。这次,我们在该组上部地层硅质岩透镜体中首次发现晚泥盆世弗拉晚期的放射虫Helenifore robustum动物群。对于温泉地区该组地层的时代归属,我们认为:由于已发现的中泥盆世珊瑚、腕足类化石主要产于灰岩砾石或外来块体中,因此,这些化石的时代并不代表该组形成的时代;而产于硅质岩透镜体中的晚泥盆世弗拉晚期的放射虫化石很可能代表该组的年代。全文共描述放射虫5属11种,归属3目4科。     

First evidence of Late Carnian radiolarians from the Izmir-Ankara suture complex, central Sakarya, Turkey: implications for the opening age of the Izmir-Ankara branch of Neo-Tethys

Within the Late Cretaceous mélange complex of the Izmir-Ankara suture zone in central Sakarya area, north-western Turkey, a megablock with radiolarian cherts associated with basaltic pillow lavas has been dated by radiolarians. The studied radiolarian assemblage and conodonts yielded an early Late Carnian age. This age is the oldest obtained from the chert blocks all along the suture belt and has important implications for the rifting/opening age of the Izmir-Ankara branch of the Tethys ocean in north-western Turkey. Based on this new data, it is concluded that during the Late Triassic the Izmir-Ankara seaway was connected to the other Tethyan oceanic branches and deep enough to provide chert sedimentation and exchange radiolarians with the main open oceans. It is further suggested that the long-lasting misinterpretation of a Liassic rifting/opening of the Izmir-Ankara ocean should be revised.     

New radiolarians from the Devonian of the southern Ural Mountains: 2. Middle-Late Devonian

Middle-Late Devonian Radiolarians are recorded for the first time in the southern Ural Mountains in Bashkortostan, in a section of Kariukmas Mountain (Upper Eifelian) and on the southern slope of Argagan Mountain (Middle Frasnian). The new Late Eifelian assemblage is composed of 17 species of 11 genera, and Middle Frasnian radiolarians comprise 13 species of 7 genera of spherical, discoidal, pylomate, and spiny radiolarians. A new species, Primaritripus kariukmasensis, sp. nov., is described. The prevalence of discoidal forms in the oryctocenosis suggests shallow marine conditions in the Late Eifelian and Middle Frasnian basins. Two new biostratons, the Upper Eifelian beds with Primaritripus kariukmasensis and Middle Frasnian beds with Primaritripus chuvashovi, are established based on radiolarians.     

西藏改则盆地晚始新世康托组介形类动物群及地质意义

西藏改则盆地新生代陆相康托组地层发育,记录了青藏高原腹地始新世气候变化和隆升历史。本文通过对改则盆地中南部改则县嘎热村康托组剖面进行系统的采样和室内处理,获得363个介形类个体,共鉴定11属27种(包括1个未定种)。通过研究区介形类动物群的特征分子Heterocypris igneus及与东濮、渤海、华北、江汉等地区介形类动物群对比研究,认为康托组上部的沉积时代应为晚始新世。本文首次报道了改则盆地康托组的介形类动物群面貌,据介形类组合厘定了康托组沉积时代,为研究青藏高原腹地新生代地层提供了基础资料。     

华南泥盆系法门阶浅海相四射珊瑚的组合序列

晚泥盆世弗拉期末F-F的生物灭绝事件,导致珊瑚以及许多浅海底栖生物灭绝,几乎整个法门期珊瑚群都处于残存阶段,华南地区目前只在湖南的个别地方发现少量的Smithiphyllum。直到法门期末珊瑚和其它一些造礁底栖生物开始复苏,出现了不少与典型泥盆纪珊瑚存在很大差别的新分子。华南泥盆纪最晚期(Strunian)的珊瑚可划分成上、下两个组合:上部Cystophrentis组合;下部Eocaninophyllum组合。泥盆—石炭纪之交的另一次生物灭绝事件,使新生的泥盆纪最晚期的珊瑚又遭灭绝。     

Late Devonian Conodonts from the Zeravshan-Gissar Mountainous Area,Uzbekistan

Late Devonian conodonts, recovered from the siliceous and carbonate rocks of the upper part of the Akbasay Formation on the left side of the Kule Gorge, Zeravshan-Gissar mountainous area (Uzbekistan), are studied. Seven conodont associations are defined for the Frasnian–Famennian interval.     

Integrated radiolarian and conodont biostratigraphy of the Middle Permian Gufeng Formation (South China)

Radiolarians are usually abundant in chert sequences and they have thus been widely used for the biostratigraphy of deep-water sediments. However, there are many difficulties in the correlation of radiolarian biostratigraphic schemes with the standard conodont zones. In this study, 21 radiolarian species were extracted from the Gufeng Formation that crops out in the Luojiaba (LJB) section (western Hubei, China), together with 5 co-occurring conodont species. In this way, it is the first time that the Pseudoalbaillella globosa, Follicucullus monacanthus and F. scholasticus radiolarian zones can be directly correlated with the Jinogondolella nankingensis gracilis, J. aserrata and J. postserrata conodont zones. Accordingly, the 3 radiolarians zones are now firmly correlated with the Roadian to middle Capitanian interval (Middle Permian).     

广西东南部钦州地区早石炭世放射虫化石

广西钦州地区的板城石夹水库首次发现早石炭世杜内期和维宪期放射虫化石,计10属14种(亚种)和5未定种,其中有1新属(Guangxitrisphaera)和2新种(G.wanyaoensis和Pylentonemabanchensensis),它们分属于Albaillella paradoxa组合带和A.cartalla组合带。这些化石可以同西欧和北美两个同名化石组合带对比。     

Geological significance of the discovery of Middle Triassic (Ladinian) radiolarians from the Hong Hoi Formation of the Lampang Group,Sukhothai Zone,northern Thailand

This paper presents a newly found fauna of Ladinian (Middle Triassic) radiolarians from the Hong Hoi Formation of the Lampang Group, Sukhothai Zone, northern Thailand. The Ladinian age determined by the radiolarian fauna concords with the age previously determined by mollusks. The study section consists of intercalated sandstone and shale in the lower part and a thick conglomerate in the upper part. The radiolarian-bearing siliceous beds are intercalated within the lower unit. The lithic sandstone of the lower unit consists mainly of volcanic rock fragments, quartz, and feldspar, whereas the thickly bedded conglomerate of the upper unit is characterized by abundant gravel-sized clasts of volcanic rock and limestone. These lithic features of the study section suggest that during deposition the Hong Hoi Formation was located near a supply of volcanic materials. A forearc basin close to the Sukhothai Arc would be the most suitable environment for the deposition. The Ladinian age determined by the radiolarian fauna supports the occurrence of intensive volcanic activity within the Sukhothai Arc during the Middle Triassic.     

Famennian conodonts from the Hongguleleng Formation at the Bulongguoer stratotype section,western Junggar,Northwest China

The Hongguleleng Formation, the highest and most important Devonian marine carbonate horizon in western Junggar, contains an endemic shallow-water Icriodus–Polygnathus conodont fauna with rare palmatolepids and other genera. The conodont faunas from the Bulongguoer and the Wulankeshun sections are similar, with high abundance (about 40%) of endemic taxa (13 taxa), indicating isolation of the Junggar Basin during early Famennian. Non-endemic species in the faunas suggest that the Lower Member of the Hongguleleng Formation is assignable to the Pa. rhomboidea Zone to the Pa. marginifera marginifera Zone of early Famennian, not including the Frasnian–Famennian boundary. The Upper Member may be of late Famennian–early Tournaisian in age on the basis of our preliminary faunal analysis.     

中国泥盆纪含鱼化石地层的世界对比

简要回顾泥盆纪含鱼化石地层分层的进展及现状,总结中国泥盆纪含鱼化石地层的层位,横向地比较了主要鱼化石的系统关系,再结合具体的地质历史背景,对比世界有关的地层。     

西藏南部聂拉木地区晚泥盆世—早石炭世的介形类

本文系统描述西藏南部聂拉木地区晚泥盆世–早石炭世介形类共计15属24种。根据介形类的组合面貌及孢子、牙形刺的研究结果推断,亚里剖面上的亚里组时代为晚泥盆世–早石炭世,泥盆系-石炭系界线(D-CB)大致位于亚里东沟段顶部至沟陇日段。亚里组产出的介形类生态组合属于光滑速足目集群或艾菲尔生态型,指示亚里组在沉积时为远岸浅水沉积环境,且在上部腊扎蒲段水深变浅。亚里组介形类面貌与华南泥盆纪介形类相似程度高,与俄罗斯和欧美地区也有相似的属种,说明泥盆纪-石炭纪之交介形类的地理隔离并不显著,在各个板块之间有属种交流的可能。     

New perspective on the architecture of the Late Devonian arborescent lycopsid Leptophloeum rhombicum (Leptophloeaceae)

A reinvestigation of the previously described Leptophloeum rhombicum trunk from the Late Devonian (Frasnian) Huangchiateng Formation of Hubei, China provides a new perspective on the architecture of this arborescent lycopsid. It is preserved as a flattened, silicified petrification with an unevenly permineralized primary vasculature and spirally arranged rhombic leaf cushions, which agree with the diagnosis of L. rhombicum Dawson distributed worldwide in the Late Devonian. Taxonomically, this plant should be assigned to its own family and within the order Iso?tales sensu lato. The anatomy, from different levels of the trunk, demonstrates that the ontogeny of the plant may conform to a determinate growth pattern. Combining previous data with current architectural analysis, it suggested that the L. rhombicum tree had a pseudomonopodial branching pattern rather than an iso-dichotomous branching crown as previously proposed. New reconstruction of the general habit for this tree is given and consists of three major architectural units: a stigmarian rhizomorph, a main trunk, and lateral branches. When these results are considered with recent cladistic work, L. rhombicum may have developed similar growth architecture to some Famennian and Carboniferous arborescent lycopsids. This growth represents one of the archetypal architectures found in the Iso?tales s.l. extending from the early Late Devonian.     

Palynostratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Padeha, Khoshyeilagh, and Mobarak formations in the eastern Alborz Range (Kopet-Dagh region), northeastern Iran

A total of 113 surface samples collected from the Padeha, Khoshyeilagh, and Mobarak formations of Kuh-e-Ozum, northeast of Jajarm town were processed for palynomorphs, in order to determine age relationships. Well-preserved and abundant palynomorphs dominated by organic-walled-marine microphytoplankton (acritarchs and prasinophyte phycomata), miospores and subordinate chitinozoans, and scolecodonts were recovered. Seven species of prasinophyte phycomata (four genera), 19 acritarch species (14 genera), one species of chitinozoa, and 26 miospore species (19 genera) were recorded and assigned to eight local Assemblage Zones. Assemblage Zones I-IV occur in the Padeha Formation and suggest an Early Late Devonian (Frasnian) age whilst assemblages zones V-VII are present in the Khoshyeilagh Formation and indicate Late Devonian (Famennian) ages. Assemblage zone VIII, which occurs in the basal part of Mobarak Formation, suggests a Lower Mississippian (Tournaisian) age for this formation. Many of the palynomorph groups encountered are closely comparable with coeval assemblages recorded from Western Australia, southwest Ireland, England, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and South America, indicating the close relationship of the Iranian Platform to other parts of the northern Gondwana Domain during the time interval represented by these strata. The presence of marine palynomorphs (acritarchs/prasinophyte phycomata, chitinozoans, and scolecodonts), and shelly macrofauna (brachiopods, gastropods, and corals) in Member c of the Padeha Formation (as well as the Khoshyeilagh and Mobarak formations), together with associated miospores, indicate an open marine (moderately nearshore) depositional environment for the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous deposits in northeastern Alborz Range (Kopet-Dagh region) of Iran.     

新疆准噶尔盆地西北缘洪古勒楞组时代的新认识

标准地点的洪古勒楞组长期以来一直被认为是准噶尔盆地西北缘,乃至整个新疆北部以海相为主的层位上最高的晚泥盆世晚期的沉积。然而牙形类和微体脊椎动物的研究证实,该组跨弗拉阶－法门阶（Ｆ－Ｆ）界线,它至少包括了一小部分弗拉晚期和主体部分为法门早期的沉积。两个牙形类带ＬａｔｅｒｈｅｎａｎａＺｏｎｅ和ＭｉｄｄｌｅｃｒｅｐｉｄａＺｏｎｅ被识别出,它们在Ｆ－Ｆ界线附近,并分别在大绝灭事件（在ｌｉｎｇｕｉｆｏｒｍｉｓＺｏｎｅ内）之前后。另一个层位更高的牙形类带ＬａｔｅｃｒｅｐｉｄａＺｏｎｅ也可能存在。同时还证实,长期以来一直被认为“正常层序”的标准地点的洪古勒楞组的层序是倒转的。由此,含植物大化石Ｌｅｐｔｏｐｈｌｏｅｕｍｒｈｏｂｉｃｕｍ等的陆相层在下（此层可能归于该组下伏的朱鲁木特组）,而产牙形类和其它丰富的无脊椎动物的海相层在上。按牙形类年代带的年代地层时间表（Ｆｏｒｄｈａｍ,１９９２）,该组距今约３６８－３６４百万年。至于它和邻近地区和布克河组的关系,由于后者发现了更高层位的牙形类,两者还不能完全对比。     

A Paleoarchean coastal hydrothermal field inhabited by diverse microbial communities: the Strelley Pool Formation,Pilbara Craton,Western Australia

The 3.4‐Ga Strelley Pool Formation (SPF) at the informally named ‘Waterfall Locality’ in the Goldsworthy greenstone belt of the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, provides deeper insights into ancient, shallow subaqueous to possibly subaerial ecosystems. Outcrops at this locality contain a thin (<3 m) unit of carbonaceous and non‐carbonaceous cherts and silicified sandstones that were deposited in a shallow‐water coastal environment, with hydrothermal activities, consistent with the previous studies. Carbonaceous, sulfide‐rich massive black cherts with coniform structures up to 3 cm high are characterized by diverse rare earth elements (REE) signatures including enrichment of light [light rare earth elements (LREE)] or middle rare earth elements and by enrichment of heavy metals represented by Zn. The massive black cherts were likely deposited by mixing of hydrothermal and non‐hydrothermal fluids. Coniform structures in the cherts are characterized by diffuse laminae composed of sulfide particles, suggesting that unlike stromatolites, they were formed dominantly through physico‐chemical processes related to hydrothermal activity. The cherts yield microfossils identical to previously described carbonaceous films, small and large spheres, and lenticular microfossils. In addition, new morphological types such as clusters composed of large carbonaceous spheroids (20–40 μm across each) with fluffy or foam‐like envelope are identified. Finely laminated carbonaceous cherts are devoid of heavy metals and characterized by the enrichment of LREE. This chert locally contains conical to domal structures characterized by truncation of laminae and trapping of detrital grains and is interpreted as siliceous stromatolite formed by very early or contemporaneous silicification of biomats with the contribution of silica‐rich hydrothermal fluids. Biological affinities of described microfossils and microbes constructing siliceous stromatolites are under investigation. However, this study emphasizes how diverse the microbial community in Paleoarchean coastal hydrothermal environment was. We propose the diversity is at least partially due to the availability of various energy sources in this depositional environment including reducing chemicals and sunlight.