松辽盆地白垩纪微体生物群分布特征与富烃源岩层的形成

松辽盆地是我国白垩纪最大的陆相含油气盆地,晚白垩世两次大的湖侵事件导致了微体生物群的繁盛和富烃源岩层的形成。在论述松辽盆地白垩纪微体古生物群分布特征的基础上,着重阐述了以微体生物为核心的松花江生物群的发育与富烃源岩层形成的关系。认为大型富营养湖泊的发育为松花江生物群的繁盛创造了良好的外部条件,而湖盆内繁盛的微体生物群则为富烃源岩层的形成提供了丰厚的物质基础,与此同时,长期继承性深水构造凹陷和非补偿沉积则是富烃源岩层形成的有利场所。     

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian to Campanian) paleoenvironmental history of the Eastern Canadian margin of the Western Interior Seaway: bonebeds and anoxic events

Upper Cretaceous strata in the Pasquia Hills of the northern Manitoba Escarpment, eastern Saskatchewan, Canada provide a detailed paleoenvironmental and sea-level record of the eastern margin of the Western Interior Seaway. Sediments deposited during the Cenomanian/Turonian Greenhorn marine cycle are dominantly black mudstones deposited in a stratified water column, with bottom-water anoxia recurrently reaching into the photic zone. A middle Cenomanian sea-level lowstand event followed by transgression left a series of bonebeds within the Belle Fourche Member of the Ashville Formation, indicating a sedimentary environment starved of coarse siliciclastics. Maximum sea level resulted in the formation of limestone beds within the Favel Formation, further favoured by reduced terrigenous sediment input compared to the western margin. Limestone sedimentation was followed by a phase of increased freshwater input under lower sea level conditions, and reducing zoo- and phytoplankton diversities. During final Greenhorn regression, eastern Saskatchewan probably turned into a restricted basin severely limiting marine circulation. Poor or absent benthic foraminiferal assemblages and biomarker analysis suggest prevailing watermass stratification throughout the Cenomanian/Turonian transgressive/regressive cycle. This was caused either by a freshwater lid, stratification of Boreal and Tethyan-derived watermasses, or both, to various intensities affected by changing sea level. Basin oxygenation during Niobrara time varies between localities along the eastern margin as documented by presence/absence of benthic and planktic foraminifera.     

内蒙古海拉尔盆地白垩纪生物地层研究进展

兴安岭群龙江组产Ephemeropsistrisetalis等热河生物群分子,九峰山组产富含Cicatricosisporites,Pilosisporites,Concavissimisporites的孢粉组合,兴安岭群龙江组、甘河组火山岩同位素年龄为105-141Ma,证实兴安岭群的时代为早白垩世早期;扎赉诺尔群中以Cypridea,Limnocypridea,Ilyocyprimorpha和Hailaeria等属为代表的介形类动物群,以Nyktericysta,Vesperopsis等属为代表的NV浮游植物群,以富含Lygopodiaceae科各属孢子,尤其是Cicatricosisporites高含量的孢粉组合,代表了中国北方早白垩世特有的动、植物群面貌,而其中Asteropollis,Tricolpites和Polyporites等被子植物花粉化石的发现,这一事实似乎暗示了扎赉诺尔群的时代为早白垩世中、晚期;青元岗组产以Talicypridea,Altanicypris,Chinocypridea和Harbinia为代表的介形类动物群,具有显著的地域性特点,可与松辽盆地四方台组对比,其时代为晚白垩世Maastrichtian期。     

新疆北部侏罗、白垩纪非海相腹足类

记述新疆准噶尔盆地和吐鲁番盆地侏罗、白垩纪非海相腹足类１０属１５种，其中６新种、１未定种。根据这些腹足类的地层分布特点将它们划分为３个组合，自下而上为１）Ｖｉｖｉｐａｒｕｓｓａｎｇｏｎｇｈｅｅｎｓｉｓ组合，时代为早侏罗世；２）Ｖｉｖｉｐａｒｕｓｑｉｋｅｔａｉｅｎｓｉｓ－Ａｍｐｌｏｖａｌｖａｔａｓｕｔｕｒａｌｉｓ组合，时代为中侏罗世；３）Ｃｉｎｃｉｎｎａｔｕｒｇｅｎｓｉｓ组合，时代为早白垩世。对这些腹足类生活习性的分析，这两个盆地在早侏罗世气候温暖湿润，草木繁茂，大部分地区为平静、滞流的湖泊、沼泽；中侏罗世盆地相对下陷，水域扩大加深；中侏罗世末期至晚侏罗世早期，盆地抬升，水域范围明显缩小；至早白垩世，盆地又扩大加深。     

Provenance of the Hangu Formation,Lesser Himalaya,Pakistan: Insight from the detrital zircon U-Pb dating and spinel geochemistry

Clastic rich Hangu Formation of the Early Paleocene exposed at the apex of Hazara-Kashmir syntaxis, is significant in providing evidence of the regional Mesozoic–Cenozoic unconformity and nature of detritus supplied. The current study focuses on U-Pb age dating of the detrital zircons along with spinel geochemistry to interpret tectonic implications on provenance. The Hangu Formation is composed of coarse grained sandstone, arenaceous limestone, carbonaceous shale and laterite around the Paras region and rests unconformably over Mesozoic Samana Suk Formation. The probability density plots of the detrital zircons of the Hangu Formation exhibit strong similarity to the Tethyan Himalayan detrital record. The younger Mesozoic detrital zircons exhibit resemblance to Tethyan Himalayan as well as ophiolitic detrital suites, but are very few compared to their coeval Stumpata, Jidula and Denggeng/Sangdanlin formations. The quantitative comparison reflects strong resemblance to the Tethyan Himalaya, whereas, the ophiolitic component relationship is quite poor. Comparison of spinel geochemical data with Northwestern ophiolites (Chilas Ophiolites) and Tethyan Himalaya exhibits mixed source regime of the Hangu sediments. However, the combined U-Pb dating, sandstone petrography and spinel geochemical data suggest that the detritus of the Hangu Formation is mainly derived from the Tethyan Himalayan source (Indian source). The absence of ophiolitic signature in petrography and U-Pb geochronology may suggest that the northern ophiolites were not exposed to provide detritus to the Early Paleocene Hangu Formation. This may also be interpreted that the ophiolites were emplaced during the Late Cretaceous on the northern Indian margin but uplifted and eroded later with the final India–Eurasia collision, which is clearly recorded in various studies all along the Indian margin. This fact also intimates the ophiolite emplacement as a possible cause of the regional Mesozoic–Cenozoic unconformity.     

内蒙古东南部开鲁盆地晚白垩世嫩江组孢粉植物群

开鲁盆地白垩系发育,至今已有200余口探井钻遇到上白垩统,其中嫩江组滨浅湖相沉积地层厚度稳定,分布广泛,含较丰富的孢粉化石。通过对嫩江组孢粉化石的系统研究,建立了以Schizaeoisporites-BeaupreaiditesLythraites为代表的孢粉组合。孢粉组合和岩石组合的对比表明,开鲁盆地缺失松辽盆地嫩江组中上部地层。根据沉积特征和孢粉植物群面貌,对古植被、古气候和古环境进行了讨论,认为本区晚白垩世处于东北中生孢粉植物区南缘,孢粉植物群具有过渡性质,反应了偏干的暖温带—亚热带气候特征。     

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.     

Limestone interbedded with submarine volcanics: the Early–Middle Miocene Conejo Volcanics, California

Carbonate sedimentation concurrent with submarine volcanism is very rare in the geologic record but is well displayed in the Early to Middle Miocene Conejo Volcanics of the central Santa Monica Mountains of southern California. Limestone occurs as lenticular deposits on the surface of composite flows units, as matrix within breccia of pebble- to cobble-size volcanic clasts, within primary voids extending down from flow surfaces, as lenses between flows within composite flow units, and as neptunian dikes. The common depositional sequence is of limestone lying on a flow and being overlain by hyaloclastic breccia. Limestone is not deposited on hyaloclastic breccia. Limestone deposition was controlled locally by relief on the sea floor that formed as the volcanic rocks accumulated. The limestone is predominantly skeletal packstone; volcanic clasts ranging in size from silt to boulders are locally common. Major constituent fossils are shallow-water bivalve mollusks, barnacles, serpulids, and regular echinoids; most are epifaunal and hard-substrate taxa in contrast to the soft-substrate and burrowing infaunal biota otherwise dominant in Cenozoic strata along the Pacific Coast of North America. The biota is diagnostic of a non-tropical, warm temperate environment. The limestone was deposited within a local basin that formed along the plate boundary at the western margin of the North American Plate. While volcanic rocks accumulated in the basin at bathyal depth, carbonate sediment accumulated on the outer-shelf margin of the basin and was transported intermittently into the basin by gravity flow. Neogene limestone occurs at only a few other sites in southern California. These have an origin that is similar to those in the Conejo Volcanics but differ in occurring with basin fill of diatomaceous sedimentary rocks rather than of submarine volcanics.     

辽宁西部晚中生代地层研究之进展及存在问题——辽宁西部晚中生代地层和鱼群研究之四

辽宁西部晚中生代地层的综合层序为:义县组、九佛堂组、沙海组/张老公屯组、阜新组和孙家湾组.中西部朝阳—喀左—建昌以及凌源—三十家子盆地的义县组大致相当于东部阜新—义县—锦州盆地的狭义义县组及其底部的北票尖山含化石沉积夹层;中西部的九佛堂组则可与东部的金刚山、吐呼鲁和九佛堂三个岩组相对比;张老公屯组火山岩在层序上大部分可能位于九佛堂组和阜新组之间.以北票鲟、中华弓鳍鱼和狼鳍鱼为代表的鱼类化石普遍见于中国北方热河群及其相当岩群的下部河湖相地层中,以粒鳞鱼、固阳鱼和副狼鳍鱼为代表的鱼类化石多见于上部的扇三角洲和湖沼相含煤地层中.热河群及相当岩群时代的确定以及陆相侏罗—白垩系界线的厘定受制于目前地层和生物化石的研究程度.从鱼群的面貌看,义县—九佛堂组、沙海—阜新组及相当地层的时代可能分别为晚侏罗世晚期—早白垩世早期和早白垩世中期.     

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.     

Geochronology of the Turkana depression of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia

Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in the Turkana Depression of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia rest on basement rocks that yield K/Ar cooling ages between 433 and 522 Ma. Proven Cretaceous strata are exposed in Lokitaung Gorge in northwest Kenya. Eocene basalts and rhyolites in Lokitaung Gorge, the Nabwal Hills, and at Kangamajoj, date between 34 and 36 Ma, recording the earliest volcanism in the region. Oligocene volcanic rocks, with associated fossiliferous sedimentary strata at Eragaleit, Nakwai, and Lokone, all west of Lake Turkana, are 23 to 28 Ma old, as is the Langaria Formation east of Lake Turkana. Lower and Middle Miocene volcanic and sedimentary sequences are present both east and west of Lake Turkana, where ages from 17.9 to 9.1 Ma have been measured at many levels. Upper Miocene strata are presently known only at Lothagam, with ages ranging from 7.4 to 6.5 Ma. Deposition of Pliocene strata of the Omo Group begins in the Omo-Turkana, Kerio, and South Turkana basins -4.3 Ma ago and continues in parts of those basins until nearly the present time, but with some gaps. These strata are linked through volcanic ash correlations at many levels, as are Pleistocene strata of the Omo Group (principally the Shungura, Koobi Fora, and Nachukui formations). (40) Ar/(39) Ar dates on many volcanic ash layers within the Omo Group, supplemented by K/Ar ages on intercalated basalts and paleomagnetic polarity stratigraphy, provide excellent age control from 4.2 to 0.75 Ma, although there is a gap in the record between -1 Ma and 0.8 Ma. Members I to III of the Kibish Formation in the lower Omo Valley record deposition between 0.2 and 0.1 Ma ago; Member IV, correlative with the Galana Boi Formation, was deposited principally between 12 and 7 ka BP.     

Bivalve Wood Borings of the Ichnogenus Teredolites Leymerie from the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (Upper Cretaceous,Czech Republic)

Finds of fossil wood with bivalve wood borings (Teredolites clavatus and T. longissimus) occur in various facies and presumed sedimentary settings of the platform, shallow-marine Bohemian Crectaceous Basin. The basin comprises areas with sandy-dominated sediments, with marl and clay-dominated sediments, areas with predominat sandy-marly rocks, and finally areas dominated by calcareous nearshore sediments. Teredolites clavatus is common in fossil wood of sandstones, originating in beach or deltaic settings; marl and clay-dominated rock frequently bear wood fragments densely bored by Teredolites longissimus. When accompanied by evidence of marine environments as body fossils, glauconite or typical trace fossils, most of the wood fragments are bored. The presence/absence of borings in wood fragments can be considered the most reliable and easily useable criterion of distinction of marine settings in sandy sediments of the margin of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin.     

Quantifying denudation and sediment–accumulation systems (open and closed lakes): basic concepts and first results

The quantitative aspects of denudation in the drainage areas and sediment accumulation in the corresponding closed or open lakes are approached using two methods: (1) from known mean rates of mechanical and chemical denudation and the ratio of the drainage/lake area, average terrigenous and potential chemical (biogenic and evaporites) sedimentation rates in the lake are determined; or (2) from known sedimentation rates the average denudation rate is found. In closed systems the total mass denuded during a certain unit of time is deposited in the lake as terrigenous, biogenic and evaporitic sediments, whereas open lake systems lose a major part of the dissolved river input derived from chemical denudation. Applying elementary equations describing these relationships and using ratios between mechanical and chemical denudation (weathering ratio) established in other regions, e.g. chemical weathering in the lake drainage can be estimated. Likewise, the knowledge of the ‘bio-index' (ratio of biogenic sediment/total dissolved mass) allows the calculation of the loss of dissolved matter through the outflow from the lake, etc. In a first step, existing data from modern lake systems are evaluated. Later, idealized lake systems in various climatic and morphotectonic zones can be simulated and the results utilized to better understand ancient lake systems. Modern Alpine lakes reflect increased mechanical denudation rates (100 to ≥300 mm/ka) in highly elevated drainage areas of the Central Alps (mainly crystalline rocks) and high chemical denudation (up to ca. 100 mm/ka) in carbonate rocks of the Northern Calcareous Alps. Mechanical denudation is significantly enhanced by glaciation, but transport of the detritus into lakes may be delayed until the time immediately after glacial retreat. Average rates of terrigenous lake sedimentation amount to 5 to ≥15 mm/a (crystalline rocks, high relief), or are ≤5 mm/a (carbonate rocks). Delta outbuilding was a main factor in the filling of many Alpine lakes. Lakes draining low-altitude, semi-arid parts along the eastern margin of the Alps (Lake Balaton in Hungary) have low sedimentation rates and reflect the influence of increased temperature and vegetation. In East Africa, the transition from the Late Pleistocene (arid) to the early Holocene (humid) and again back to somewhat drier conditions caused substantial rises in lake levels and changes from closed to open lake systems. In such cases, the calculation of denudation from accumulation rates is biassed as a result of intermittent sediment storage at the lake margins (low sedimentation rates in the lake centre during lake highstands) or redeposition of sediment during lowstands (lowstand shedding). The modern denudation rates of East African rift lake systems vary by a factor of ≥15 (Lake Tanganyika, crystalline rocks and more dense vegetation cover, total denudation rate ca. 4 mm/ka; Lake Turkana, young volcanic rocks and tephra, sparse vegetation, mechanical denudation rate ca. 60 mm/ka).     

Depositional environments and facies development of the Cenomanian–Turonian Galala and Maghra el Hadida formations of the Southern Galala Plateau (Upper Cretaceous,Eastern Desert,Egypt)

The Cenomanian–Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) Galala and Maghra el Hadida formations of the Southern Galala Plateau in Wadi Araba (northern Eastern Desert, Egypt) represent marine depositional systems developing in response to the early Late Cretaceous transgression at the southern margin of the Neotethyan Ocean in tropical paleolatitudes. A facies analysis (litho-, bio- and microfacies) of these successions shows the presence of 22 facies types (FTs, six are related to the Galala Formation, while the Maghra el Hadida Formation is represented by 16 FTs). The Galala Formation was deposited in a fully marine lagoonal environment developing in response to a latest Middle to early Late Cenomanian transgression. The rich suspension- and deposit-feeding macrobenthos of the Galala Formation indicate meso- to eutrophic (i.e., green water) conditions. The facies types of the uppermost Cenomanian–Turonian Maghra el Hadida Formation suggest deposition on a homoclinal carbonate ramp with sub-environments ranging from deep-subtidal basin to intertidal back-ramp. Major and rapid shifts in depositional environments, related to (relative) sea-level changes, occurred in the mid-Late Cenomanian, the Early–Middle Turonian boundary interval, the middle part of the Middle Turonian and the Middle–Late Turonian boundary interval.     

Ecological approach of macrolide-lincosamides-streptogramin producing Actinomyces from Cuban soils

We report in this study the frequency of Streptomyces strains to produce macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) antibiotics isolated from Cuban soils. The screening assay is based on the induction of MLS-resistance phenotype in a clinical isolated strain of Staphylococcus aureus S-18. Our results suggest that of 800 Streptomyces strains isolated from different soil samples, 6% were positives in the screening test used. The ferralitic red soil from Pinar del Río (north) provided the major percentage (3.6%) of MLS producing strains. The other soil samples tested belonging to Guira de Melena and Bauta in Havana, Matanzas City, Topes De Collantes (Villa Clara), and Soroa Mountains (Pinar del Rio) hill reached very low percentages.     

Biostratigraphic zonation and Ar-Ar ages for the Neotethyan Khoy ophiolite of NW Iran

The Khoy ophiolite in northwestern Iran represents a piece of oceanic lithosphere formed in the Mesozoic Neotethys. This ophiolite consists from bottom to top of well-defined basal metamorphic rocks, peridotites, gabbros and a variety of upper to lower Cretaceous deep-marine rocks. These include pelagic fossiliferous carbonates and basalts as interlayers or exotic blocks. Four hornblende separates from gabbros and amphibolites give values from 108 to 111 Ma. The results from microfossil studies show the presence of late Cretaceous (e.g. Marginotruncana, Globotruncana) and middle to late Eocene (e.g. Globorotalia, Orbulonoides) planktonic foraminifera. The data suggest that although the initial rifting and crystallization of the oceanic crust of the Khoy ophiolite began in the late Albian, the volcanic activities continued through to the late Eocene time. Another possibility for such variation of lithofacies and biofacies and disturbances in the fossil record may be the result of bioturbation and transportation and rapid changes of depositional conditions during eruption of the basaltic lava flows. Pelagic sediments alone have been listed and of the foraminiferas the first three are planktonic, as would be expected. Only Orbulonoides is a benthic form and aberrant. The third possibility is that the Khoy ophiolite may represent a classic supra-subduction-type ophiolite where volcanic members of the different parts of oceanic environment (e.g. MORB, volcanic arc, ocean island) are now juxtaposed.     

Cambrian biostratigraphy of the Bowers back-arc basin,Northern Victoria Land,Antarctica — A review

The Bowers Mountains in Northern Victoria Land contain the richest Cambrian Series 3 (Miaolingian, middle Cambrian) and Cambrian Series 4 (Furongian, late Cambrian) fossiliferous successions in Antarctica. Almost all the fossils are found within the Bowers Supergroup, which outcrops within the Bowers Terrane, a fault-bounded northwest-southeast oriented strip in Northern Victoria Land. The fossils provide the main age control on the history and evolution of the Bowers volcanic arc and back-arc basin. The great bulk of the fossils occur within the Spurs Formation. The fossil assemblages are dominated by agnostoids and polymerid trilobites with most ranging in age from Drumian to Paibian, although one fauna is of Jiangshanian age. Over 40 agnostoid taxa and over 100 polymerid trilobite taxa have been recorded from the rocks of the Bowers Supergroup. The youngest fauna occurs within the adjacent Robertson Bay Terrane, where a limited fauna of polymerid trilobites and conodonts from within a limestone olistolith have a very late Cambrian or early Ordovician age. Faunal affinities are mainly with Australia, New Zealand, North and South China and the Himalaya with lesser ties to Iran, Kazakhstan, Siberia and Laurentia.     

Neanderthals and volcanic rocks. Opportunistic behaviour or optimized management?

The use of volcanic rocks by Neanderthals is frequently considered to be opportunistic, especially when good-quality stones were rare in the site neighbourhood. An analysis of the lithic series made of volcanic rocks discovered in the Middle Palaeolithic sites of Payre and Sainte-Anne I, located in the south part and at the southeastern margin of the Massif Central of France and dated back to MIS 7 up until the end of MIS 5, illustrates the capacity of Neanderthals to manage these raw materials and enables us to compare the strategies used in two different mineral environments. Shaping and flaking reduction sequences coexist in both sites in varying proportions, depending on the available rocks in the surroundings. At Payre, artefacts made of volcanic rocks are rarer in surroundings rich in flint while at Sainte-Anne I, the different series comprise a large quantity of artefacts made of different basalts and trachy-phonolites in an environment relatively poor in flint. Most of the reduction processes took place in situ. Activities outside the sites only appear to have concerned the shaping of some heavy-duty tools and some large flakes. It is likely that volcanic rocks were considered by Neanderthals as a geo-resource, either major or lesser in importance, to provide large flakes and both heavy-duty and light-duty tools, besides flint quartz and other rocks.     

Palaeosalinity variations in the Early Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina: Evidence from oxygen isotopes and palaeoecological analysis

The Neuquén Basin is a stratigraphically- and economically-important Early Cretaceous depocentre located in west-central Argentina. The Early Valanginian to Early Barremian succession (upper Vaca Muerta, Mulichinco and Agrio Formations) contains a rich fossil record, with abundant bivalves and ammonoids. Palaeosalinities are determined systematically throughout the succession, based on an oxygen isotope analysis of unaltered oyster shells from two localities in Neuquén province. A total of 188 oyster samples from 52 stratigraphic levels were processed. A total of 52 mean values of δ¹⁸O isotope are used to calculate palaeosalinities, assuming an estimated water temperature of 25 °C. The observed range of palaeosalinities, between the maximum and the minimum, is 19, which is in conflict with published accounts of this being a fully marine succession. The isotopic data are combined with independent faunal evidence to evaluate palaeosalinity variation both laterally and temporally. Significant fluctuations in water salinity are indicated, with a clear tendency to increase from brachyhaline to euhaline and near hyperhaline conditions through time. The fluctuations were probably due to dilution from normal marine water, caused primarily by variations in rainfall and continental runoff. In addition, the presence of a volcanic island arc along the western margin of the basin may have at least partially isolated the basin from the marine waters of the Pacific Ocean. Also, a gulf-shaped basin may have inhibited hydrodynamic exchange with the ocean while enhancing retention of continental waters.     

Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the Pliocene fan-delta system of the Vera Basin (SE Spain): Fossil assemblages,ichnology and taphonomy

The marine fossil assemblages of the Pliocene of south Spain constitute the record of the marine fauna that colonised the western part of the Mediterranean after the Messinian Salinity Crisis. This work focuses on the analysis of lithofacies and fossil assemblages including trace fossils, invertebrates, and vertebrates with special attention to taphonomic features, for interpreting palaeoenvironmental conditions in the Vera Basin (SE Spain). The sedimentary sequences of the northern region of the Vera Basin display diverse stratigraphical, sedimentological, and palaeontological features that correspond to the evolution of a fan-delta in a narrow basin. The Vera Basin was characterised by shallow-marine shelf conditions during the early-mid Pliocene (Cuevas Formation). The basin emergence with the development of Gilbert-type fan deltas (Vera Member), and a protected, partially-enclosed marine embayment (Almanzora Member) occurred during the mid-late Pliocene due to regional uplift and movements of the Palomares strike-slip Fault along the eastern basin margin. The progradation of the central fan-delta lobes and the interaction with marginal fan-delta resulted in the partitioning of the basin that formed a small sub-basin with restricted stagnant conditions that favoured a Konservat Fossil-Lagerstätte. The high input of siliciclasts due to the uplift context of the margins of the basin favoured a high sedimentation rate and the fast burial of vertebrate remains. Fossil marine mammals occurs from shallow shelf deposits (Cuevas Formation) to bottomset (Cuevas Formation-Vera Member transition) and lower part of the clinoforms in the foreset (Vera Member). Cetacean remains are usually recorded not only in the relatively deep-water silty marls and sandy marls of the outer shelf and distal facies of the fan-delta (Espiritu Santo Formation), but also in the shallower coarse sands and conglomerates (Cuevas Formation and Espiritu Santo Formation). Sirenian remains, in contrast, are only recorded in coarse sand facies (Cuevas Formation and Espiritu Santo Formation) associated to charcoal wood fragments deposited in shallow waters near the shoreline. This narrow and relatively protected basin is interpreted as an area of reproduction and nursery of juveniles on the basis of the presence of cetaceans.