Late Paleozoic to Jurassic chronostratigraphy of coastal southern Peru: Temporal evolution of sedimentation along an active margin

We present an integrated geochronological and sedimentological study that significantly revises the basin and magmatic history associated with lithospheric thinning in southern coastal Peru (15–18°S) since the onset of subduction at ∼530 Ma. Until now, estimating the age of the sedimentary and volcanic rocks has heavily relied on paleontologic determinations. Our new geochronological data, combined with numerous field observations, provide the first robust constraints on their chronostratigraphy, which is discussed in the light of biostratigraphical attributions. A detailed review of the existing local units simplifies the current stratigraphic nomenclature and clarifies its absolute chronology using zircon U–Pb ages. We observe that the Late Paleozoic to Jurassic stratigraphy of coastal southern Peru consists of two first-order units, namely (1) the Yamayo Group, a sedimentary succession of variable (0–2 km) thickness, with apparently no nearby volcanic lateral equivalent, and (2) the overlying Yura Group, consisting of a lower, 1–6 km-thick volcanic and volcaniclastic unit, the Chocolate Formation, and an upper, 1–2 km-thick sedimentary succession that are in markedly diachronous contact across the coeval arc and back-arc. We date the local base of the Chocolate Formation, and thus of the Yura Group, to 216 Ma, and show that the underlying Yamayo Group spans a >110 Myr-long time interval, from at least the Late Visean to the Late Triassic, and is apparently devoid of significant internal discontinuities. The age of the top of the Chocolate Formation, i.e. of the volcanic arc pile, varies from ∼194 Ma to less than ∼135 Ma across the study area. We suggest that this simplified and updated stratigraphic framework can be reliably used as a reference for future studies.     

洁居纳卓组:西藏措勤地区的上新统岩石地层单位

分布于措勤县城一带的一套地层在1：100万日喀则幅区调中校划属上新统乌郁群，由下部火山岩和上部沉积岩组成。在1：25万措勘县幅区调中，根据获得的同位素年龄值已将下部火山岩地层划归古新统的典中组，而上部的沉积地层中含圆笠虫等有孔虫化石应属下白垩统。在这一地区还新发现一套陆相碎屑地层，根据其岩性组合、ESR年龄值及区域地层对比，本文将其新命名为上新统洁居纳卓组。     

Biostratigraphy,sequence stratigraphy,and paleoecology of the Lower–Middle Miocene of Northern Bandar Abbas,Southeast Zagros basin in south of Iran

The Guri Member is a limestone interval at the base of the calcareous marls of the Mishan Formation. It is the youngest hydrocarbon reservoir of the southeast part of the Zagros sedimentary basin. This Member overlaid siliciclastic rocks of Razak Formation and is overlain by green and gray marls of the Mishan Formation. In order to consider the paleoecology and paleoenvironments of the Lower–Middle Miocene (Guri Member), we have studied biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Guri Member based on foraminifer and microfacies in two stratigraphic sections including Dorahi–Homag and Chahestan. A total of 33 genera and 56 species of benthic and planktonic foraminifera were identified in two studied stratigraphic sections. Benthic and planktonic foraminifera demonstrate Aquitanian to Langhian age (Early–Middle Miocene) for this Member at the study area. Studied interval has deposited in four facies association including supratidal, lagoon, coral reef, and open sea on a carbonate ramp. Carbonate rocks of the Guri Member have precipitated in two and three depositional sequences at Chahestan and Dorahi–Homag sections, respectively. Sedimentation of marine carbonates of the Guri Member on siliciclastic deposits reflects a major transgression of sea level at Lower to Middle Miocene that led to creating a new sea in the Zagros basin at that age. Increasing siliciclastic influx along with a sea level fall finally caused burying of the carbonate ramp. Except for the beginning of sedimentation of carbonate at the base of both stratigraphic sections (depositional sequence 1), most of the system tracts are not matched to global sea level curve that reflect local effects of the basin. Distribution of foraminifera suggests precipitation in tropical to subtropical in mesotrophic to oligotrophic and eutrophic to oligotrophic conditions. Based on large benthic foraminifera (porcelaneous large benthic foraminifera and hyaline larger benthic foraminifera), water temperature average was determined between 25 and 30 °C that was confirmed by analyzing oxygen and carbon stable isotopes. Finally, we have utilized achieved data to reconstruction and modeling of paleoecology, paleoenvironments, and sea level changes in the southeast part of the Zagros basin.     

Santonian Radiolarians and Foraminifers from Brežđe Section,Western Serbia

New data on the radiolarians and foraminifers (planktonic and benthic) from the lower part of Struganik limestones (Bre??e Section, Western Serbia) are presented. The Afens perapediensis Zone of a new detailed scale based on radiolarians for the Tethyan supra-region was traced for the first time. This allowed classification of the studied deposits to a narrow stratigraphic interval, that is, the upper Santonian. The age of the studied sediments is determined in the Santonian for planktonic foraminifera because of the joint presence of abundant Marginotruncana (extinct in the latest Santonian) and Globotruncana linneiana (d’Orbigny) (which appeared in the early Santonian). The radiolarian and planktonic and benthic foraminifera data agree with one another.     

Stratigraphic status,age, and paleobathymetry of the Grey shale Member,Dalmiapuram Formation,Cauvery Basin,India

Grey shale Member of the Dalmiapuram Formation, Ariyalur Group, Cauvery Basin, India was studied for its stratigraphic position, age, and paleobathymetry with a re-look into the lithological relationship and foraminifer assemblages in the deepened limestone mine excavations at M/s Dalmia Cements, Dalmiapuram. Twenty grey shale samples from Kovandankurchchi (pit-4) and Kallakkudi mines yielded diversified calcareous, benthic, and rare index planktic foraminifera. The foraminiferal assemblages suggest a latest Albian age and middle neritic depositional conditions. The abundance of kaolinite and smectite clay minerals relate to warm/humid climate which corroborate with rising relative sea level during grey shale deposition. The grey shale occurs in patches within the marl bedded limestone member which exhibits cyclic deposition of limestone and marl. The limestone mine sections demonstrate that the grey shale forms part of basal marl bedded limestone, directly overlying the coral algal limestone. The present study demonstrates that the grey shale outcrops in Dalmiapuram Formation should be placed stratigraphically as part of marl bedded limestone. The member status for grey shale which is current usage stands discounted.     

浙西松木坞群的解体—同位素定年的证据

松木坞群是浙西前晨旦纪重要地层单元，其上部主要为玄武岩－流纹岩组合，中、上部主要为灰紫色、灰绿色滨海砂屑岩。现对其上部酸性火山岩中的单颗粒锆石测得Ｕ－Ｐｂ同位素年龄值８２７Ｍａ和８０９Ｍａ，由此确定它相当于杭州萧山地区的上墅组火山－沉积岩单元。     

New data on Maastrichtian-Paleocene foraminifers from the Sinegorsk Horizon of Southern Sakhalin

Data on planktonic foraminifers first found in the reference section of the Sinegorsk Horizon outcropping along the Naiba River are discussed. The lower part of this stratigraphic unit yields an assemblage of upper Maastrichtian low-latitude thermophilic species, while its upper layers contain upper Paleocene (Thanetian) taxa. Beds with different benthic foraminifers are also defined in the unit.     

西秦岭白依沟群沉积环境分析

白依沟群是西秦岭地区迄今发现的最古老地层,厘定为震旦系下统,是一套浅变质水携火山碎屑岩—陆源碎屑岩建造。依据其沉积环境的差异和岩石组合,划分为上、中、下三段。通过笔者研究,认为是大陆山间河流出口处近源冲积扇体中形成的辫状河体系,为主河道—河道心滩—洪泛平原与湖泊等环境的沉积产物。     

火山地层中的沉积层特征及其地层对比意义:以松辽盆地营城组为例

火山地层常具穿时和倒转现象,并且缺少化石资料,致使其地层序列划分和对比困难.营城组火山地层序列是松辽盆地火山岩油气勘探的基础和关键,火山岩中的厚层沉积夹层（营城组二段）在火山地层序列划分中可作为标志层,是营城组进一步分段的关键层位.从盆缘露头剖面入手,根据实测剖面、钻井、测井、地震、同位素年龄等资料,证实徐家围子断陷存在营二段地层,通过地层对比,总结其地层发育时限、岩性及序列特征、地层分布规律及其成因、地球物理识别标志,并将其作为标志层对火山地层进行准确划分和对比.结果显示:营二段形成于早白垩世Albian期（110~108 Ma）,沉积时限2~3 Ma;以富含凝灰质夹煤层为主要特征,其碎屑粒度自下至上呈现"粗-细-粗"的全韵律;断陷内营二段地层厚度变化大,平面上存在着两类沉积中心:（1）与营一段火山岩最大厚度中心重叠的火山期后热沉降中心;（2）继承性古地貌凹陷.不同成因地层其地球物理识别特征不同.以营二段为标志层可将徐家围子断陷营城组分为3段,其中一段和三段均以火山岩为主.而原分层中的营四段实属盆地不同充填期的两套地层:下部细粒砂泥岩段应为断陷期的营二段,上部粗粒砂砾岩段应为拗陷期的登娄库组一段.该方法可为其他地区火山地层划分与对比提供借鉴.      

北祁连石灰沟奥陶纪中堡群滑塌堆积特征及其古地理环境意义

北祁连永登县石灰沟作为奥陶纪中堡群命名地,历来是研究北祁连奥陶纪构造演化的理想场所。依据实测地层剖面,石灰沟奥陶纪中堡群可以划分为上、下两段:下段以中基性火山岩、火山碎屑岩为主;上段以出现大量碳酸盐岩、硅质岩、粉砂岩,夹中基性火山碎屑岩为特征。野外调查过程中发现,中堡群上段发育多层硅质岩,其层内发育强烈的构造变形。经岩石组合、地层序列、沉积相、火山喷发相、变形特征及空间组合关系研究,认为该套特殊的沉积层系为典型的滑塌堆积。根据滑塌堆积的内部结构特征及火山-沉积相序等分析,初步判断其形成于靠近岛弧的深水盆地环境,具多岛洋构造背景。这将为恢复和建立北祁连造山带奥陶纪沉积环境和古地理演化提供可靠依据,也为进一步研究北祁连奥陶纪沟-弧-盆体系空间格局提供了重要沉积学佐证。     

Sedimentology of the upper Karoo fluvial strata in the Tuli Basin, South Africa

The sedimentary rocks of the Karoo Supergroup in the Tuli Basin (South Africa) may be grouped in four stratigraphic units: the basal, middle and upper units, and the Clarens Formation. This paper presents the findings of the sedimentological investigation of the fluvial terrigenous clastic and chemical deposits of the upper unit. Evidence provided by primary sedimentary structures, palaeontological record, borehole data, palaeo-flow measurements and stratigraphic relations resulted in the palaeo-environmental reconstruction of the upper unit.The dominant facies assemblages are represented by sandstones and finer-grained sediments, which both can be interbedded with subordinate intraformational coarser facies. The facies assemblages of the upper unit are interpreted as deposits of a low-sinuosity, ephemeral stream system with calcretes and silcretes in the dinosaur-inhabited overbank area. During the deposition of the upper unit, the climate was semi-arid with sparse precipitation resulting in high-magnitude, low-frequency devastating flash floods. The current indicators of the palaeo-drainage system suggest flow direction from northwest to southeast, in a dominantly extensional tectonic setting.Based on sedimentologic and biostratigraphic evidence, the upper unit of the Tuli Basin correlates to the Elliot Formation in the main Karoo Basin to the south.     

The Lower Paleogene Biostratigraphic Scale of the Northern Pacific Based on Deep-Water Benthic Foraminifera

Based on the stratigraphic distribution of benthic foraminifera in the lower bathyal–abyssal sediments uncovered by boreholes drilled under the framework of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) in the Northern and Southern Pacific, the Lower Paleogene biostratigraphic zonal scale based on deep-water benthic foraminifera is proposed. The proposed scale includes eight subdivisions: six zones and two subzones. The boundaries of the zonal subdivisions are determined by biotic events (appearance or disappearance (extinction)) of stratigraphically important taxa and are correlated to the zonal scales based on planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nanoplankton. Most of these events are considered to be subglobal.     

黔中早二叠世茅口晚期断裂陆缘层序地层分析

黔中早二叠世晚期发育变异多姿的硅质岩－碳酸盐岩和火山岩，笔者通过大地构造学、火山岩岩石学和岩石地球化学、层序地层学的综合分析认为，与一般的被动大陆边缘不同，该区这种断裂大陆边缘的层序地层特征主要依据纵向上反映海平面变化的岩性突变来识别，而岩性突变又是构造变动的反映。据此，将该区茅口组二段划分为一个准层序组和两个准层序，每个准层序以突变最大海泛面为基础，包含了凝缩层和加积高位体系域；横向上解释为破裂碳酸盐台地型层序地层格架，即把构造作用与层序地层格架的形成以及沉积体系的分异统一起来，提出了断裂陆缘层序层分析的实例。     

Integrated biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironments of an upper Santonian - upper Campanian succession from the southern part of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania

Study of an upper Santonian to upper Campanian hemipelagic succession from the southern part of the Romanian Eastern Carpathians enables us to establish an integrated biostratigraphy based on planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils and to compare this record with the agglutinated foraminiferal biozonation used for the Carpathians.Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were investigated using several methods, such as agglutinated and calcareous benthic foraminiferal morphogroups, and the benthic foraminiferal oxygen index in order to determine their response to environmental parameters in the basin (correlated with sea-level maxima documented by regional sea-level curves for the Tethys). A pattern of changes in benthic foraminiferal communities associated with increased organic carbon flux and rising sea-levels can be summarized as follows in the studied succession. As sea-level begins to rise there is an increase in the proportion of calcareous benthic foraminifera at the expense of agglutinated foraminifera within the benthic assemblages (earliest Campanian, mid-late Campanian). Once sea-level rises, an increase in the elongate keeled morphotype of agglutinated foraminifera (shallower water forms) can be observed, and if sea-level remains high for an extended period (as in the early Campanian) then an invasion of both agglutinated and benthic calcareous foraminifera characteristic of outer shelf-upper slope environments take place in the basin. The variations in tubular and deep infaunal morphotypes of agglutinated foraminifera are ascribed to varying levels of organic carbon flux.     

Stratigraphy and petrology of the Archaean Nsuze Group,northern Natal and southeastern Transvaal,South Africa

The Nsuze Group is the lower, dominantly volcanic, division of the Pongola Supergroup that accumulated on a sialic basement between 3.1 and 2.9 Ga. The Nsuze Group is subdivided into a lower sedimentary unit (800 m thick), a middle volcanic unit (± 7500 m thick) and an upper volcaniclastic-sedimentary unit (5–600 m thick). The predominant sediments in the lower unit are immature, medium- to very coarse-grained quartz wackes with thin intercalated lenses of quartz and arkosic arenites, and minor conglomeratic wackes. These sediments were deposited in a distal braided stream environment.There followed a major period of volcanism during which lavas showing a continuous spectrum of compositions from basalt to rhyolite were extruded subaerially. Flows of both different and similar compositions are complexly interfingered on both regional and local scales. As volcanism waned, pyroclastic and sedimentary rocks became dominant in the upper unit. The Nsuze Group is gently dipping and is metamorphosed to low greenschist grade.The Nsuze Group is significant in that it provides evidence for the existence of high-standing continental sialic crust in the southeastern part of the Kaapvaal province at ca. 3.0 Ga. Volcanism and sedimentation in the Pongola Supergroup are more typical of Proterozoic basins than of Archaean environments, despite their age. Komatiitic and high-Mg basalts were, however, being extruded in Zimbabwe contemporaneously with the Nsuze lavas.     

Stratigraphy and paleobathymetric interpretation of the Cretaceous Karai shale formation of Uttatur Group, TamilNadu, India

The Karai shale Formation of the Uttatur Group is exposed in a bad land area at the western margin of the Cauvery Basin. This shale has been investigated based on foraminiferal fauna and clay minerals. The foraminiferal assemblages obtained contain predominantly calcareous benthic foraminifera, rare planktic and arenaceous foraminifera. The planktic foraminiferal index taxa Planomalina buxtorfi, Rotalipora reicheli, Praeglobotruncana stephani, and Hedbergella portsdownensis suggest the late Albian to middle Turonian age. The benthic assemblage dominated by Lenticulina, Gavelinella, Osangularia and Quadrimorphina, suggests an outer neritic (100–200 m) environment. The clay mineral content dominated by kaolinite-illite-montmorillonite indicates that the Karai shale was formed from weathering of igneous rocks.     

Integrated planktonic stratigraphy and paleoenvironments of the Lower-Middle Miocene successions in the central and southern parts of the Gulf of Suez,Egypt

Lower to Middle Miocene successions in three offshore wells named GS 160-2, QQ-89, and Ras Elush-2 located in the central and southern parts of the Gulf of Suez were examined for their planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossil assemblages, and paleoenvironments. These successions are subdivided from older to younger into Aquitanian Nukhul, Burdigalian-Langhian Rudeis, Langhian Kareem, and Serravallian Belayim formations. The identified foraminifera includes 54 benthic species belonging to 25 genera and 47 planktonic species belonging to 11 genera, in addition to 64 calcareous nannofossil species belonging to 21 genera. The stratigraphic distribution of these assemblages suggests classifying the studied successions into seven planktonic foraminiferal and six calcareous nannoplankton biozones. The planktonic foraminiferal and calcareous nannoplankton biozones are integrated. Different environments ranging from shallow inner to outer shelf are recognized. This is based on quantitative analyses of foraminifera including benthic biofacies, planktonic/benthonic ratio, and diversity. Syn-rift tectonics played an important role in configuration of the Miocene depositional history in the Gulf of Suez region.     

Geology of the Rosário–Neves Corvo antiform, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal: new insights from physical volcanology, palynostratigraphy and isotope geochronology studies

The lithostratigraphic sequence in the Rosário–Neves Corvo antiform comprises the Phyllite–Quartzite Group, whose top is of Famennian age, the Volcanic Sedimentary Complex, of Strunian to upper Visean age, and the Mértola Formation (the lower unit of the Baixo Alentejo Flysch Group) of upper Visean age. The volcanic sedimentary complex comprises a lower sequence of Strunian (Late Famennian) age and an upper sequence of lower to upper Visean age. Detailed mapping of the antiform towards NW of the Neves Corvo mine, supported by palynological dating, identified two new lithostratigraphic units: the Barrancão member (upper Famennian) ascribed to the Phyllite–Quartzite Group and made up of laminated dark shales with siliceous lenses and nodules, and the Ribeira de Cobres Formation of the Volcanic Sedimentary Complex, containing shales, siltstones and fine volcaniclastic rocks. Based on zircon U–Pb isotope dating, five discrete felsic magmatic events were identified at approximately 354, 359, 365, 373 and 384 Ma. This suggests that the volcanic activity in the area has extended for about 30 Ma, in a context of high regional heat flow as indicated by the geochemical signatures of the felsic volcanic rocks. The characteristics of magmatism and the depositional environment indicated by the sedimentary record should therefore have been highly favourable for massive sulphide formation. However, evidence of massive sulphide mineralization in the study area is still to be found. Moreover, reconstruction of the volcanic facies architecture demonstrated that the volcanic units in the Rosário area are strongly dominated by coherent facies typical of the inner part of thick lavas/domes. In fact, most of their external part, the more favourable location for possible massive sulphide mineralization, is missing. Palynological dating indicates a significant hiatus, recognised between the lower and upper sequences of the volcanic sedimentary complex, which implies erosion of the top of the volcanic centre, where VHMS deposits could possibly have formed. However, lateral areas of this volcanic centre, eventually preserved at depth, have good potential to host massive sulphide mineralization.     

Microfacies and age of the Ceahlău Massif carbonate olistoliths (Eastern Carpathians,Romania): Remnants of a lowermost Cretaceous carbonate platform

We carried out a comprehensive facies/microfacies, micropalaeontological and biostratigraphical analysis of several carbonate olistoliths incorporated within a widely developed Albian conglomeratic sequence from the Eastern Carpathians of Romania. The majority of the sampled olistoliths contain a rich assemblage of benthic foraminifera and calcareous green algae. All of the described microfossils represent common lowermost Cretaceous taxa not previously reported from these carbonate elements or from this region. Based on benthic foraminifera assemblages the age of the studied olistoliths is upper Berriasian–lower Valanginian, contrary to the general belief that they are Barremian–Aptian in age. The dominant microfacies types mainly reflect deposition in shallow-water environments and show similarities with synchronous platform carbonates of the central-western Neotethys Ocean. The micropalaeontological and sedimentological data support new interpretations concerning the source area of these carbonate elements and provide new information concerning the evolution of the lowermost Cretaceous carbonate platforms of the Carpathians.