Conjunctive use of spectral gamma-ray logs and clay mineralogy in defining late Jurassic-early Cretaceous palaeoclimate change (Dorset, U.K.)

Detrital clay mineralogy is controlled by weathered source rock, climate, transport and deposition that in turn influence the spectral gamma-ray (SGR) response of resultant sediments. Whilst a palaeoclimate signal in clay mineralogy has been established in some ancient successions, the SGR response remains contentious, largely because the data sets have yet to be collected at the same or appropriate vertical scales to allow comparison. In addition, the influence of organic matter on SGR is not always considered. Here, we present clay mineralogical, total organic carbon (TOC) and SGR analyses from the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous of the Wessex Basin, a period of previously documented palaeoclimate change. The aim of this paper is to estimate the sensitivity of SGR as palaeoclimatic tool, SGR and clay mineral data having been collected at the same sample points, making this one of the most rigorous comparison of clay mineral and SGR to date. Overall, the correlation between high thorium/potassium or thorium/uranium and kaolinite associated with a well-established palaeoclimate change shows that elevated thorium may be used as a proxy for humid palaeoweathering, as suggested by few previous studies.     

Upper Maastrichtian depositional environments and sea-level history of the Kopet-Dagh Intracontinental Basin, Kalat Formation, NE Iran

The Kopet-Dagh Basin is located in northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan. The Late Maastrichtian Kalat Formation caps the Cretaceous interval in this Basin. Based on eight measured stratigraphic sections, the depositional environments and the sea-level history of the Kalat Formation have been interpreted. Petrographic and field observations led to identification of four major carbonates (A–D) and two siliciclastic lithofacies types. Carbonate rocks were deposited on a ramp setting within three zones including restricted and semi-restricted lagoons, bars, and open marine environments, while the siliciclastics were deposited at the shoreline. Sequence stratigraphic analysis identified two depositional sequences in the western and eastern parts and three depositional sequences in the central parts of the study area. Comparing the sea-level curve of Late Maastrichtian time in the Kopet-Dagh Basin with the global sea-level curve for the same time interval, there are some geometrical similarities and differences. The variations in the Basin are related to regional tectonic settings and sediment loading of the study area. Reconstructions of depositional environment during eight time slices of the Late Maastrichtian are presented. These results could be used for comparison with other localities worldwide and provide additional data for Late Cretaceous paleogeographic reconstructions.     

Saline paleolake of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic), Cerro Cóndor, Chubut province (Patagonia), Argentina

The carbonate-evaporitic sequence of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation that crops out in Cañadón Carrizal (Chubut province, Argentina) is characterized by a lacustrine facies association. This sequence includes an extensive biohermal belt, flood facies with high lake-level and low lake-level stages, and desiccation–evaporation facies. The biohermal belt shows three growth-stages of microbial communities. This belt controlled sedimentation in nearby areas, favoring the formation of the pan lake of Cañadón Carrizal. High lake-level flood facies represent sedimentation during periods of great water input to the pan lake. Low lake-level flood facies are characterized by low-energy conditions and by the development of a shallow lake with marginal zones and palustrine subenvironments. Desiccation facies represent a dry mudflat that borders the saline lake. Evaporation facies are related to the shrinkage of the water body and to the migration of the shallower facies towards the center of the ephemeral lake.     

Facies of a Lower Ordovician carbonate shelf (Mungok Formation: Taebaeksan Basin,Korea)

Summary The lithologic associations within the Lower Ordovician Mungok Formation in Korea define four depositional facies that formed across a continental margin fringing the Sino-Korean block: these facies represent lagoonal/restricted marine, shoal, inner shelf, and outer shelf environments. The stacking pattern of these facies reveals two systems tracts composed of five depositional sequences. The lower highstand systems tract consists of the lagoonal/restricted marine and shoal facies, whereas the upper lowstand systems tract comprises, in ascending order, inner shelf, outer shelf, and inner shelf facies. Three trilobite biofacies are recognized in the Mungok Formation: i.e.,Yosimuraspis, Kainella, andShumardia biofacies in ascending order. TheYosimuraspis Biofacies is dominated byYosimuraspis but also containsJujuyaspis andElkanaspis. The predominance of the endemic eponymous taxon suggests a lagoonal/restricted marine environment. The nearly monotaxicKainella Biofacies, which comprises pandemic genera such asKainella and occasionallyLeiostegium, may represent a less restricted environment than theYosimuraspis Biofacies. TheShumardia Biofacies occurs in the marlstone/shale lithofacies through relatively thick stratigraphic interval and is dominated by cosmopolitan trilobite taxa with some endemic species. The lithofacies and cosmopolitan trilobite assemblage of theShumardia Biofacies indicate that it occupied an outer shelf environment. The vertical succession of lithofacies and trilobite biofacies in the Mungok Formation records in general a shift from a restricted, shallow water environment to deeper-water environment.     

湘西北晚二叠世-早三叠世早期牙形石古生态

通过对牙形石器官的对称性、相分布和地球化学特征的研究,探讨湘西北晚二叠世至三叠纪初牙形动物的生态分布.按器官所包括不同对称型分子的比例,牙形动物器官的对称性可分为4级,器官的对称性越高,动物运动能力越强.湘西北晚二叠世一三叠纪初地层可分为6种沉积相,即盆地相、盆缘-台坡相、开阔台地相、边缘浅滩相、局限台地相和泥坪相.具不同对称级器官的属种在6种沉积相中的差异分布,反映了牙形动物的3种生态类型:自由游泳型、浮游型和底栖型.牙形石地球化学组分的变化与当时环境演变相吻合.随水深增加,化石中的P含量升高,而Ca、s、sr的含量降低;Al、Fe和Ba在近岸浅水环境的牙形石中富集;而Mg的富集指示高盐环境.基于上述研究,划分了4个牙形石相,建立了一个组合横向替代的牙形动物生态分布模式.     

广西六寨中泥盆统台地边缘丘状叠置礁内的层孔虫生物礁

南丹六寨中泥盆统台地边缘层孔虫生物群内的层孔虫头骨有块状、柱状、板状、短粗枝状及皮壳包覆状等五大类型(其中块状又可分为孤立的11种类型和复合的9种类型,它们是丘状礁主要的建造格架块状体),分属8个属,可鉴定15个种。层孔虫大多分布于礁相,少数分布于礁相和非礁相,极少数只在非礁相出现。有三点结论:1.造架层孔虫共骨外形表现出较高的稳固性。这些形态基本上限于礁相。它们都具有较强的生长扩展特征。2.共骨外形在礁相的远较在非礁相的多样化,并具多变性。3.环境中底质性质和沉积速率是造架层孔虫生长发育的制约因素;也是层孔虫格架礁形成和发育规模的制约因索。     

The marine paleogene of the tremp region (NE Spain)-depositional sequences,facies history,biostratigraphy and controlling factors

Summary The marine Paleogene of the Tremp Basin in the Central Southern Pyrenees corresponds to four depositional sequences which are related to global eustatic third order cycles (Tejas A 2.3–2.6). Associated transgressive and downlap surfaces coincide with boundaries of biozones. Lowstand systems tracts consist of estuarine and braid delta systems. Transgressive and highstand systems tracts are composed of carbonate banks and reefs. Slow thrust-induced changes of the basin topography conditioned the basic type and the areal distribution of carbonate highstand and clastic lowstand systems. Rapid relative sea level changes controlled the activity and internal dynamic of the depositional systems. E-W directed blind thrust anticlines are covered during highstand periods by carbonate fringing banks withNummulites bars. N-S orientation of thrust anticlines leads to the evolution of reef-dominated barrier banks and shelf lagoonal homoclinal ramps. On-bank transport of carbonate sands dominates during transgressions, off-bank transport during highstand periods. Continuous thrusting during the Ilerdian caused angular unconformities only in combination with relative sea level fall. Sequence-internal onlap configurations result from contemporaneous tectonic tilting. Fourth order carbonate bank margin cycles contain well developed lowstand tracts due to increased subsidence rates. Fourth order flooding surfaces are marked by paleosoil horizons at their landward continuation.     

塔中16井区晚奥陶世良里塔格组的沉积相

塔里木板块中央隆起区的塔中低隆带上奥陶统凯迪阶良里塔格组礁相群落是晚奥陶世生物礁演化阶段的例证。该组分为5个岩性段。塔中16井区位于塔中Ⅰ号断裂坡折带向台地内部延伸的缓坡区,海水深度和水流能量显著控制碳酸盐岩的岩相分布。良里塔格组所赋存的典型动物格架礁集中于台地边缘的高能区,而塔中16井区不属于大型动物格架礁建造的富集区域,其早期多以低能带沉积为主,特别是塔中16井和塔中166井灰泥坪常见;晚期常见高能滩相和灰泥丘以及近礁沉积,可划归为台缘坡折带大型格架礁建造向台内的延伸区,这里的水深和能量变化更频繁。偏西北的井在良二段沉积之后抬升较早,东南的塔中161井则保存部分良一段沉积。     

Charophyte-rich microfacies in the Barremian of the Eastern Iberian Chain (Spain)

Non-marine carbonate microfacies based on charophytes are a useful palaeoenvironmental tool that has been poorly developed to date. In the Barremian of the Maestrat Basin (Eastern Iberian Chain), five such microfacies are described and interpreted in terms of sedimentology and palaeoecology: (1) Microfacies of clavatoracean remains are mudstones and wackestones rich in utricles and well-preserved charophyte thalli of the genus Clavatoraxis, representing in situ deposition of clavatoracean meadows. (2) Microfacies of filamentous algae and clavatoraceans are mudstones with a high proportion of calcified filaments attributed to cyanobacteria and green algae. This facies may correspond to the open lake benthos. (3) Microfacies of Intraclasts and Charophyte remains are packstones formed on the shores of freshwater lakes or brackish swamps that underwent subaerial desiccation and wave reworking. (4) Microfacies of Porocharacean remains are wackestones and packstones with abundant gyrogonite fragments of genus Porochara. They are related to the reworking of a porocharacean meadow in shallow brackish marshes. (5) Microfacies of Munieria grambasti Bystricky 1976 fragments are grainstones attributed to the reworking of Munieria-dominated meadows. In consequence to these results, a palaeoecological model based on charophyte remains is proposed as a useful tool in carbonate facies analysis.     

Late Ordovician Brachiopods From The Otar Member Of The Chu-Ili Range, South Kazakhstan

Brachiopods from the Otar Member (upper Caradoc) of the Dulankara Formation, Kazakhstan, are revised. Twenty-one species are represented of which the orthoid genus Bokotorthis and strophomenoid genus Karomena are new. New species are Phaceloorthis reconditaPlaesiomys fidelisAnoptambonites kovalevskii, Karomena squalidaDzhebaglina plicata. Three ecological associations are identified, the Altaethyrella-Nalivkinia (Pronalivkinia) Association, the Ctenodonta-Sowerbyella Association and the Dinorthis Association, all living in shallow-water (BA2) environments. The fauna shows closest affinity with South China, but contains two genera only known elsewhere from Australia.