湖北峡东地区九龙湾剖面震旦系陡山沱组微体化石的新发现

中国南方扬子地台震旦系陡山沱组产出丰富的微体化石,它们主要保存在磷块岩以及燧石结核和条带中。文章详细报道湖北峡东地区九龙湾剖面震旦系陡山沱组微体化石,描述以前未曾在峡东地区碳酸盐相燧石中发现的8属8种微体化石。研究九龙湾剖面陡山沱组大型带刺疑源类、微体多细胞藻类和动物胚胎化石的分布特征,发现Tianzhushania spinosa是最早出现的大型带刺疑源类分子,大冰期后微体生物的辐射是一个阶段性渐进的过程。同时．本项研究进一步证实华南扬子区陡山沱组碳酸盐相燧石和磷块岩地层中保存的微体化石面貌基本一致。     

宜昌峡东地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组疑源类化石新材料及其生物地层学意义

在湖北宜昌秭归青林口剖面埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组二段燧石结核中发现大量微体化石,其中包括大型带刺疑源类8属9种(含1个未定种):Appendisphaera?hemisphaerica,A.magnifica,Dicrospinasphaera zhangii,Eotylotopalla dactylos,Mengeosphaera chadianensis,Taedigerasphaera lappacea,Tanariumsp.,Tianzhushania spinosa,以及Variomargosphaeridium lithoschum。同时在宜昌秭归金瓜墩剖面陡山沱组二段发现一些新的具刺疑源类化石材料,结合过去的报道,总结该剖面陡山沱组二段的疑源类化石组成:共7属9种(含3个未定种和1个相似种),及1个不定种,包括Appendisphaera magnifica,Appendisphaera sp.,Dicrospinasphaera zhangii,Knollisphaeridiumsp.,Mengeosphaera chadianensis,Mengeosphaera sp.indet.,Tianzhushania spinosa,Variomargosphaeridium lithoschum,Weissiella cf.brevis,以及Weissiella sp.。在宜昌三斗坪九龙湾剖面陡山沱组二段发现具刺疑源类Variomargosphaeridium lithoschum。这些化石材料丰富了对峡东地区陡山沱组二段具刺疑源类化石组成的认识,表明峡东地区陡山沱组具刺疑源类下组合与上组合在化石组成上的差别或许小于过去的认识。     

湖北宜昌埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组天柱山卵囊胞——Tianzhushania的新认识

我国南方陡山沱组的渗透矿化微体化石为认识埃迪卡拉动物辐射前的生物多样性,提供了异乎寻常的窗口;其中包括一些被视为早期动物胚胎的磷酸盐化球形化石。但是,一些学者将之与现生Thiomargarita sp．比较,把陡山沱组胚胎解释为巨大氧化硫细菌。湖北宜昌晓峰河剖面陡山沱组中发现Tianzhushania的大型具刺疑源类的膜壳中显示有1、2、4、8、16乃至数百个卵裂细胞标本,表明它们应是真核生物,很可能是在滞育卵囊胞中保存的早期卵裂的动物胚胎。此有力地论证了我国南方埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱组动物胚胎化石的保存,并将动物化石记录推前至632Ma前。为了区别Tianzhushania的已知形态种,新建Tianzhushania fissura sp．nov．和Tianzhushania confrerta sp．nov．两个新种,它们分别以含有不同数量卵裂细胞为特征。它们在陡山沱组中、上部的集中保存,可能与海平面变化或其它地质事件密切相关。而这需要更多有效年代地层资料加以合理解释。     

湖南张家界四都坪埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组微体化石新材料

首次描述并研究了在湖南张家界四都坪乡四都坪剖面埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组下部硅质条带和结核中发现的保存精美的微体化石。化石组合包括大型具刺疑源类Cavaspina acuminata,Cavaspina basiconica,Gyalosphaeridium sp.,Mengeosphaera latibasis,Tanarium varium,Tanariumsp.和Urasphaera fungiformis;球状化石Megasphaera inornata;球状、丝状蓝藻化石Archaeophycus yunnanensis,Polytrichoides sp.,Salome hubeiensis,Siphonophycus robustum,S.typicum,S.kestron,和S.solidum以及多细胞藻类Wengania minuta。该微体化石组合与湖北峡东地区陡山沱组三段硅质结核中以大型具刺疑源类Tanarium为特征的组合面貌基本一致。这些微体化石的发现,进一步完善了我国埃迪卡拉系(震旦系)陡山沱组的生物地层序列,也为华南扬子地区陡山沱组的地层对比提供了新的古生物证据。     

湖北宜昌樟村坪埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱组磷酸盐化微体化石组合

保存于华南新元古代晚期陡山沱组中的磷酸盐化化石被认为与后生动物起源、真核生物演化有重要联系。位于鄂西黄陵隆起北缘的樟村坪地区,是华南最重要的工业磷矿产地之一,主要磷矿层属于埃迪卡拉纪地层,却鲜有磷块岩化石报道。此次研究利用钻孔样品的大量连续切片,在陡山沱组磷矿层中发现了丰富的保存精美的微体化石,化石组合包括可能的动物胚胎化石Megasphaera inornata;大型具刺疑源类Appendisphaerasp.,Cymatiosphaeroides kullingii,Dicrospinasphaera sp.,Ericiasphaera magna,Weissiella sp.;多细胞藻类Wengania globosa,W.exquisite,Sarcinophycus papilloformis,Thallophyca sp.,以及球状丝状蓝藻化石Archaeophycus yunnanensis,Cyanonema majus,Salome nunavutensis,Obruchevella minor,Siphonophycus kestron,S.typicum,S.robustum,S.septatum。这些微体化石的发现丰富了该区磷酸盐化化石资料,同时该化石组合面貌与黔中地区陡山沱组上磷块岩"瓮安生物群"以及峡东陡山沱组典型硅化生物群都具有相似性,化石层位的探讨也为华南不同沉积相区陡山沱组的地层对比提供了新的参考依据。     

峡东地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组疑源类生物地层序列

峡东地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组自下而上可分4个岩性段:第1段为1.5-5m具帐篷和板裂构造的"盖帽白云岩";第2段是90-120m白云质灰岩夹黑色页岩,富含燧石结核;第3段为40-70m的白云岩夹燧石层和燧石结核;第4段10-20m为黑色碳质页岩夹碳酸盐岩透镜体.根据对该区九龙湾、王丰岗、田家园子、九曲脑、晓峰河、樟村坪等多条陡山沱组剖面的重新调查,确认第2和第3段分别含有不同的疑源类组合,二者被之间出现的δ13C负漂移(EN2)所分隔.下组合以Tianzhushania和高分异的具刺疑源类出现为特征.上组合与下组合的区别是:(1)Tianzhushania绝迹;(2)出现大量表面光滑,介于90-150μm的球状膜壳;(3)高分异的具刺疑源类既包括下伏上延的种类,又含有首次出现的新类型;(4)还出现可能为单细胞原生动物的微化石;(5)管状化石震旦圆圆茎(Sinocyclocylicus guizhouensis)首现.     

湖北保康白竹磷矿埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组微体化石新材料

埃迪卡拉纪(震旦纪)是早期多细胞生物起源与辐射的重要地质时期,磷酸盐化保存的微体化石则是研究该时期生命演化的重要窗口。目前对我国扬子地台埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组磷酸盐化微体化石的研究主要集中于贵州瓮安等地,其他地区的研究偏少。本次研究报道了保存于湖北保康白竹磷矿埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组磷块岩的微体化石。这些微体化石以三维磷酸盐化形式保存,种类丰富,共计14属21种,包括大型带刺疑源类Asterocapsoides sp.,Dicrospinasphaera sp.,Knollisphaeridium sp.,Mengeosphaera chadianensis,Tanarium conoideum,T.digi-tiforme,T.pilosiusculum,Tianzhushania sp.;球状化石Megasphaera inornata;球状蓝藻Archaeophycus yunnanensis,丝状蓝藻Cyanonema majus,Obruchevella minor,Salome sp.,Siphonophycus septatum,S.robustum,S.typicum,S.kestron;以及多细胞藻类Gremiphyca corymbiata,Thallophyca ramosa,Wengania exquisita,W.globosa。这些微体化石的发现,进一步丰富了白竹磷矿陡山沱组的化石组合,为华南扬子地台陡山沱组的生物地层对比提供了新的材料。     

论陡山沱组的年代

三峡地区震旦系的三层式地层结构 (冰积层 ,陡山沱组特色的大型带刺疑源类组合层 ,埃迪卡拉生物化石层 )在世界其它地区是常见的。通过生物和化学地层对比我们认为陡山沱组及其化石组合层是在马雷诺恩 ( Marinoan)冰期之后、埃迪卡拉生物群分异之前沉积的。根据这一地层对比方案以及西伯利亚、纳米比亚和阿瓦龙半岛 ( Avalon Peninsula)新元古代地层的精确放射性同位素测年资料 ,陡山沱组的沉积年龄很可能在五亿五千万年至六亿年之间。这一估计要新于以前发表的铷锶法或钾氩法测定的陡山沱组黑色页岩或海绿石年龄。更精确地估算陡山沱组的沉积年龄还有待于在陡山沱组地层中发现火山灰以及对火山灰的精确年龄测定 ,但我们根据地层对比估算的陡山沱组年龄 ,为评估庙河和瓮安陡山沱组生物群的演化意义提供了必要的地层框架。     

湖北西部震旦系陡山沱组奥勃鲁契夫藻的发现

湖北西部震旦系十分发育(插图1),自下而上可分为下统莲沱组、南沱组和上统陡山沱组、灯影组,是我国震旦系的典型地区。我们应努力加强该区震旦系生物地层学研究,使它成为国际通用的年代地层单位。近年来,作者研究湖北西部震旦系上统陡山沱组微体化石,从岩石薄片中已发现多种丝状体化石,计有:Doushantuonema peatii Zhang,     

中国湖北秭归县庙河村早寒武世天竺山段的硅化微体化石

描述了湖北秭归县庙河村寒武系最底部(天竺山段)硅化微体化石13属16种,并论述了其地层意义.所有微体化石皆见于燧石切片中,此组合含大量小个体的具刺凝源类,以Micrhystridium ampliatum Wang为主,并与Paracymatiosphaera spp.,其它球形分子Lelosphaeridia,Favososphaeridium,Eoaperturilites及丝状体Obruchevella 和Megathrix共生,此地真正的陡山沱组是以含大量的和形态复杂的疑源类及简单的丝状体和球状化石为特征,这两个可靠的微体化石组合的发现和区分对本区及邻区震旦系-寒武系过渡层的划分和地层对比有重要意义.     

Three-Dimensional Phosphatic Preservation Of Giant Acritarchs From The Terminal Proterozoic Doushantuo Formation In Guizhou And Hubei Provinces, South China

During the last two decades, a diverse assemblage of multicellular algae, spherical microfossils, bacteria and cyanobacteria (the Weng'an Biota) has been reported from the Terminal Proterozoic Doushantuo phosphorite in south China, which provides an important window for evolutionary studies of multicellular life just before the Ediacaran animal radiation. In this paper we report on three-dimensionally preserved acritarchs from the Doushantuo phosphorites at Weng'an in Guizhou Province and, for the first time, from Baokang in Hubei Province. Our assemblage contains species of the genus Meghystrichosphaeridium Zhang, Yin, Xiao and Knoll, 1998 non Chen and Liu, 1986 including M. chadianensis (Chen and Liu) Zhang, Yin, Xiao and Knoll, emend. 1998, and M. reticulatum Xiao and Knoll, 1999; the genus Echinosphaeridium Knoll, 1992 including the species E. maximum (Yin) Knoll, 1992; the new genus Bacatisphaera including the new species B. baokangensis and the new genus Castaneasphaera including the new species C. speciosa . The latter shows a marked resemblance to similarly preserved phosphatized Palaeozoic acritarchs called 'mazuelloids', consistent with a phytoplanktonic mode of life for the global Doushantuo/Pertatataka microflora (DPM).     

Fossil preservation in the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo phosphorite Lagerstätte, South China

Phosphorites of the late Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation exposed in the vicinity of Weng'an, Guizhou Province, and Chadian, Shaanxi Province, South China, contain exceptionally well-preserved algal thalli, acritarchs, and globular microfossils interpreted as animal embryos. Combined optical microscopic and SEM observations provide insights into the taphonomy of phosphatized fossils. Algal cells and tissues are variably resistant to decay, and within preserved populations permineralization began at varying stages of degradation. In consequence, there is a spectrum of quality in cellular preservation. Algal cell walls, acritarch vesicles, and embryo envelopes are commonly encrusted by an isopachous rim of apatite, with cell interiors filled by collophane and later diagenetic dolomite. In contrast, blastomere surfaces of animal embryos are encrusted primarily by minute phosphatic spherules and filaments, possibly reflecting an immediately postmortem infestation of bacteria that provided nucleation sites for phosphate crystal growth. Thus, the same processes that gave rise to Phanerozoic phosphatized Lagerstätten - phosphatic encrustation, and impregnation, probably mediated by microbial activity - effected soft-tissue preservation in the Doushantuo Lagerstätte. It remains unclear how phosphatic ions and organic macro-molecules interact at the molecular level and to what extent specific microbial metabolisms or microenvironmental conditions control the phosphatization of soft tissues. New observations of phosphatized Doushantuo fossils include: a second locality (Chadian) for Wengania globosa , interpreted as an algal thallus and previously known only from Weng'an; microtunnels in Weng'an phosphorites interpreted as pyrite trails; and new taxa described from Weng'an: Meghystrichosphaeridium reticulatum (acritarch), Sarcinophycus radiatus (algal thallus), and one unnamed problematic form.     

Fossil preservation in the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo phosphorite Lagerstatte, South China.

Phosphorites of the late Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation exposed in the vicinity of Weng'an, Guizhou Province, and Chadian, Shaanxi Province, South China, contain exceptionally well-preserved algal thalli, acritarchs, and globular microfossils interpreted as animal embryos. Combined optical microscopic and SEM observations provide insights into the taphonomy of phosphatized fossils. Algal cells and tissues are variably resistant to decay, and within preserved populations permineralization began at varying stages of degradation. In consequence, there is a spectrum of quality in cellular preservation. Algal cell walls, acritarch vesicles, and embryo envelopes are commonly encrusted by an isopachous rim of apatite, with cell interiors filled by collophane and later diagenetic dolomite. In contrast, blastomere surfaces of animal embryos are encrusted primarily by minute phosphatic spherules and filaments, possibly reflecting an immediately postmortem infestation of bacteria that provided nucleation sites for phosphate crystal growth. Thus, the same processes that gave rise to Phanerozoic phosphatized Lagerstatten--phosphatic encrustation, and impregnation, probably mediated by microbial activity--effected soft-tissue preservation in the Doushantuo Lagerstatte. It remains unclear how phosphatic ions and organic macromolecules interact at the molecular level and to what extent specific microbial metabolisms or microenvironmental conditions control the phosphatization of soft tissues. New observations of phosphatized Doushantuo fossils include: a second locality (Chadian) for Wengania globosa, interpreted as an algal thallus and previously known only from Weng'an; microtunnels in Weng'an phosphorites interpreted as pyrite trails; and new taxa described from Weng'an: Meghystrichosphaeridium reticulatum (acritarch), Sarcinophycus radiatus (algal thallus), and one unnamed problematic form.     

贵州瓮安新元古代陡山沱组磷酸盐化管柱状微体化石新材料

在用醋酸浸泡处理采自贵州瓮安新元古代陡山沱组磷酸质岩石样品时,获得大量微体动物骨骼化石。文中重点报道部分管柱状微体化石,即：Sinoquadraticus poratus gen.et sp.nov和Sinoquadraticus wenganensis gen. et sp.nov.。并对Sinocyclocylicus的部分特征进行补充。     

扬子区晚震旦世动物化石新材料

扬子区晚震旦世地层中已有多种类型的动物及遗迹化石的报道。文中补充了不同地区和层位的骨骼及遗迹化石新材料,包括：江西上饶王家院陡山沱组顶部磷块岩中的磷酸盐化“十”字形骨针和云南晋宁王家湾灯影组上段隧石条带中的单轴双射硅质骨针,它们可能分属于钙质海绵和普通海绵类;贵州瓮安陡山沱组上段磷质白云岩中的可疑壳状化石;宜昌三斗坪金瓜墩陡山沱组下部（第二段）遗迹化石;瓮安陡山沱组上段及湖北南漳灯影组上段底部磷质硬底中的生物扰动构造。另外还报道了贵州清镇桃子冲剖面桃子冲组最底部的瓶状动物（Pro-tolagena limbata）化石,并认定桃子冲组与灯影组之间为假整合接触,其底界并无跨入震旦系的证据。     

Wengania globosa在陕西勉县茶店陡山沱组磷块岩中的发现

本文报道陕西勉县茶店陡山沱组磷块岩中的疑源多细胞生物化石,其中Ｗｅｎｇａｎｉａｇｌｏｂｏｓａ属于首次报道。勉县茶陡山组磷块岩中的化石组合与贵州瓮安陡山沱组与可以直接对比,进一步了此两地的磷块岩属同期沉积产物。这一发现表明新元古代磷块岩中可能保存了多细胞生物早期演化中最精采的章节,因而进一步深入研究陡山沱组磷块岩大有必要。本文还讨论了疑在Ｍｅｇｈｙｓｔｒｉｃｈｏｓｐｈａｅｒｉｄｉｕｍ ｃｈａｄｉａｎ     

湖北保康陡山沱组磷酸盐化微体化石组合

中国南方震旦系陡山沱组磷块岩、燧石和页岩中陆续发现的精美保存的化石生物群,为我们提供了一个栩栩如生的新元古代晚期生物演化的图景,表明多细胞真核生物在新元古代冰期之后发生了非常显著的分异。其中磷块岩化石库以生物细胞结构的完好保存而著称。继在贵州瓮安、陕西勉县茶店和江西上饶朝阳之后,湖北保康白竹磷矿陡山沱组磷块岩中也发现了类似的磷酸盐化化石生物群。保康化石组合中包括多细胞藻类Wengania,Paramecia和原地保存的Thallophyca;大型复杂疑源类Meghystrichosphaeridium,Echinosphaeridium和目前仅在保康发现的Bacatisphaera;球状蓝菌化石Archaeophycus,丝状蓝菌化石Siphonophycus和在陡山沱组磷块岩中首次发现的Obruchevella;同时,内部保存不同数量小球体的球状化石在保康也大量产出。古地理分析表明中国南方扬子地台陡山沱组磷块岩中保存的磷酸盐化化石库大都形成于浅水台地边缘地带。     

黔东北新元古代陡山沱期宏体藻类的固着器特征及其沉积环境意义

产于贵州江口新元古界陡山沱组上部黑色碳质泥岩和硅质泥岩中的宏体生物群,多数为发育固着器的固着底栖生物。宏体藻类固着器的形态和保存方式可提供生物群生活环境和埋藏环境的信息。黔东北陡山沱期宏体生物群生活于相对平静、较为清澈的水体之中,固着基底为富含水份的粥性基底。可能与洋流有关的水流事件将宏体藻类折断或“连根”拔起;水流事件之后,沉积物将宏体藻类的遗体掩埋于还原性较强的环境之中,新生的和水流事件未致死亡的宏体生物在新的沉积物表面上继续生长。     

贵州瓮安陡山沱组磷块岩中疑源类化石壳壁超微结构

未经化学处理的原始岩石样品的扫描电镜观察,确定了瓮安陡山沱组型刺饰疑源类Meghystri chospaeridium chadianensis的微结构特征。磷酸盐化疑源类化石由表面棘刺和球体组成,球体分为壳壁和腔体二部分。球体壳壁具黑色外层和白色内层的多层结构。棘刺具有与球体相似的多层状的壳壁和腔体。首次发现了发育于球体表面和体壳壁内部的网格超微结构。球体的腔体内存在的残余有机质。