New bryozoans from the Devonian of Afghanistan and the Carboniferous of Iran

A new family, Vidronovellidae, with a new genus, Vidronovella, and its type species V. fastigata sp. nov., and a new species, Europora gerirudensis, are described from the Famennian of Afghanistan, and the new species Primorella iranica, Heloclema magnificum, and Worthenopora elbursensis are described from the Viséan of Iran.     

Microbial carbonate production in a starved basin: The crenistria Limestone of the upper Viséan German Kulm facies

The crenistria Limestone is a set of three autochthonous massive limestone beds occurring with great lithological persistence in the Kulm Facies (cd III , upper Viséan) of the eastern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge. Microfacies analysis reveals mainly minipeloidal fabrics and homogeneous micrite. Uncrushed, sediment-filled conchs of goniatites represent loci of sheltered preservation of primary carbonate textures. Calcified radiolarians are abundant, forming between 20 and 80% of total rock volume. The alleged algal genus Rectangulina is common in the crenistria Limestone. It is reinterpreted to represent the faeces of goniatites. For the first time the presence of in situ preserved sponges is reported. They can be recognized as delicate networks of microsparitic needles embedded in peloidal fabrics. Hexactinellids with primary spicule arrangements can be found embedded in homogeneous micrite. The carbonate forming the limestone beds was produced microbially during decomposition of soft tissue of the radiolarians and sponges. During the cd III , anoxia in the bottom waters of the Kulm Basin persisted for long periods due to stable density stratification of the water column under humid climatic conditions. Oxic conditions in the bottom waters during formation of the limestone are indicated by bioturbation, the presence of sponges and the high Mn-contents of the carbonate. The latter derived from reduction of Mn-oxides during microbial carbonate formation.     

Geochronology,geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes of Early Carboniferous magmatism in southern West Junggar,northwestern China: Implications for Junggar oceanic plate subduction

West Junggar is a key area for understanding intra-oceanic plate subduction and the final closure of the Junggar Ocean. Knowledge of the Carboniferous tectonic evolution of the Junggar Ocean region is required for understanding the tectonic framework and accretionary processes in West Junggar, Central Asian Orogenic Belt. A series of Early Carboniferous volcanic and intrusive rocks, namely, basaltic andesite, andesite, dacite, and diorite, occur in the Mayile area of southern West Junggar, northwestern China. Our new LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb geochronological data reveal that diorite intruded at 334 (±1) Ma, and that basaltic andesite was erupted at 334 (±4) Ma. These intrusive and volcanic rocks are calc-alkaline, display moderate MgO (1.62%-4.18%) contents and Mg# values (40-59), and low Cr (14.5×10^-6-47.2×10^-6) and Ni (7.5×10^-6-34.6×10^-6) contents, and are characterized by enrichment in light rare-earth elements and large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in heavy rare-earth elements and high-field-strength elements, meaning that they belong to typical subduction-zone island-arc magma. The samples show low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (range of 0.703649-0.705008), positive ε_Nd(t) values (range of 4.8-6.2 and mean of 5.4), and young T_DM Nd model ages ranging from 1016 to 616 Ma, indicating a magmatic origin from depleted mantle involving partial melting of 10%-25% garnet and spinel lherzolite. Combining our results with those of previous studies, we suggest that these rocks were formed as a result of northwestward subduction of the Junggar oceanic plate, which caused partial melting of sub-arc mantle. We conclude that intra-oceanic arc magmatism was extensive in West Junggar during the Early Carboniferous.     

内蒙古东部博克图地区石炭纪埃达克质花岗岩地质特征及构造意义

报道了大兴安岭东部博克图地区二支沟岩体的岩相学、岩石地球化学以及地质年代学特征,探讨了它们的形成时代、岩石成因以及成岩构造背景。根据LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果,二支沟岩体的侵位年龄为(317.2±2.2) Ma与(319.2±2.3) Ma。二支沟岩体岩性为花岗闪长岩,具高硅、富碱,低MgO、CaO的特征,属于准铝质-过铝质,高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩。二支沟岩体的Ba/Nb=70.44~98.20,Ba/La=17.85~28.12,δEu具负异常,暗示源区可能为壳源,存在少量地幔物质与强氧化流体混入。此外,二支沟岩体具有高Sr和低Y、Yb的特征(Sr含量>400×10^-6,Y含量<18×10^-6,Yb含量<1.9×10^-6),与埃达克岩类似,但其更为富钾,表明二支沟岩体具有C型埃达克岩特征。二支沟岩体富集大离子亲石元素(LILE) Rb、K、Ba、Th,相对亏损Ta、Nb、P、Hf、Zr等高强场元素(HFSE),其 (La/Yb)_N=12.05~18.03,轻稀土元素(LREE)富集,重稀土元素(HREE)亏损。其Rb、Ba含量和Rb/Yb(51.49~148.93)、Ba/Yb(430.17~698.83)比值明显高于MORB,与海拉尔盆地和西藏冈底斯埃达克岩相似,表明其成因为底侵作用新生的增厚的玄武质下地壳的熔融。研究区晚石炭世岩浆形成于造山阶段挤压环境。额尔古纳-兴安地块与松嫩地块于晚石炭世((317.2±2.2) Ma之后)构造背景由碰撞造山晚期的挤压、地壳加厚向造山后期的伸展、垮塌的环境转换,并向更加稳定的板内构造环境演变。     

Morphology and systematics of anthracomartidae (Arachnida: Trigonotarbida)

Abstract: X‐ray microtomography (XMT) was applied to three species of the extinct arachnid order Trigonotarbida, hosted in siderite nodules from the late Carboniferous British Middle Coal Measures. All three, Cryptomartus hindi ( Pocock, 1911 ), Cleptomartus plautus ( Petrunkevitch, 1949 ) and Maiocercus celticus ( Pocock, 1902 ), belong to the family Anthracomartidae. As well as providing interactive three‐dimensional visualisations of their likely appearance in life, XMT study has resolved new morphological detail, yielding key data about the likely stance and habitus of these early arachnids. Similarities in the form of the carapace, eyes and coxosternal region between anthracomartids and the Devonian genus Palaeocharinus Hirst, 1923 are highlighted. Analogies in limb disposition are drawn between anthracomartids and modern crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae), which exhibit sit‐and‐wait style predatory behaviour. Anthracomartids are relatively common fossils at many Coal Measures localities. Although they appear to exhibit limited morphological variation, numerous genera and species have been proposed in the literature, often distinguished from each other on rather trivial characters. From our reconstruction of well‐preserved examples, we have resolved a number of common features likely to be present in a typical anthracomartid. Comparisons to this model suggest that the characters on which many anthracomartid genera are distinguished may be artefacts of preservation. We hence treat Promygale Fri?, 1901 , Brachylycosa Fri?, 1904 , Perneria Fri?, 1904 , Coryphomartus Petrunkevitch, 1945 , Cryptomartus Petrunkevitch, 1945 , Pleomartus Petrunkevitch, 1945 , Cleptomartus Petrunkevitch, 1949 and Oomartus Petrunkevitch, 1953 as junior synonyms of the type genus of the family, Anthracomartus Karsch, 1882 . Only the genera Brachypyge Woodward, 1878 and Maiocercus Pocock, 1911 are additionally retained. Within Anthracomartus, Cleptomartus planus Petrunkevitch, 1949 , Cryptomartus meyeri Guthörl, 1964 , Cleptomartus hangardi Guthörl, 1965 and Cryptomartus rebskei Brauckmann, 1984 are treated as junior synonyms of A. hindi Pocock, 1911 (all syn. nov.). Cleptomartus plautus Petrunkevitch, 1949 and Anthracomartus denuiti Pruvost, 1922 are treated as junior synonyms of A. priesti Pocock, 1911 (both syn. nov.).     

东天山博格达晚石炭世双峰式火山岩地球化学特征及意义

东天山博格达造山带晚石炭世柳树沟组为一套由玄武岩和流纹岩组成的双峰式火山岩,形成于晚石炭世,其Si O_2含量介于46.18%～46.56%和76.06%～76.25%之间,具有明显的Daly成分间断。其中,玄武岩具富Na贫K特征,Ti O_2、Al_2O_3、Ca O和MgO含量均较高,∑REE为75.54×10~(-6)～80.22×10~(-6),LREE/HREE值为3.00～3.12,以富集Ba、Rb等大离子亲石元素(LILE)和不相容元素(P、K),相对亏损Ti、Ta、Nb等高场强元素(HFSE)和不相容元素(U、Th)为特征;流纹岩Na_2O/K_2O值为0.32～0.36,属低Ti、低Mg类流纹岩,∑REE为520.72×10~(-6)～595.26×10~(-6),LREE/HREE值为5.60～6.53,具有Rb、Th、K、La、Ce、Zr、Hf、Sm等元素的富集以及Ba、U、Ta、Nb、Sr、P和Ti元素的亏损特征。柳树沟组双峰式火山岩形成于大陆裂谷环境,具板内成因特征,玄武岩可能为亏损尖晶石相地幔橄榄岩向石榴石相地幔橄榄岩过渡相较高程度部分熔融的产物,受到地壳物质混染;流纹岩具典型的A型花岗岩的地球化学特征。     

黔南上司地区石炭系有孔虫:兼论华南维宪阶有孔虫生物地层序列

石炭纪时期有孔虫具有演化快、分布广、数量丰富、分异度高的特点,对于地层的划分对比具有极为重要的意义。与全球其他重要的石炭纪沉积区相比,华南有孔虫生物地层划分精度相对较低。本文首次较为系统地报道了华南石炭系代表性岩石地层单位旧司组和上司组下部丰富的有孔虫化石及其在剖面上的分布情况,并综合现有关于华南的有孔虫化石资料,将华南维宪阶划分为7个有孔虫化石带,自下而上分别为Eoparastaffella simplex带、Viseidiscus/Planoarchaediscus带、Paraarchaediscus带、Pojarkovella nibelis带、Koskinotextularia带、Bradyina带和Janischewskina带。这些有孔虫带可与全球其他典型的石炭纪沉积区进行很好的对比,从而为相关的研究提供一个较为精细的地层格架。通过对黔南上司地区有孔虫的研究,提议中国石炭系区域性年代地层单位上司阶底界可用有孔虫Bradyina的首现定义,并将上司阶与西欧的Warnantian亚阶中上部和俄罗斯的Aleksinian亚阶—Venevian亚阶对比,对应国际维宪阶上部,为全球石炭系年代地层对比提供了可靠的化石依据。     

西昆仑玛尔坎苏石炭纪大型锰矿带构造背景与成矿条件

西昆仑北段玛尔坎苏地区探明的大型碳酸锰成矿带，是我国近年最重要的找矿成果之一。该锰矿带构造上属北昆仑晚古生代弧后伸展盆地，其构造动力学背景为古特提斯洋向北俯冲于塔里木地块之下形成的弧盆体系。锰矿体主要发育于晚石炭世喀拉阿特河组含炭泥质灰岩夹薄层灰岩中。矿石中主要金属矿物为菱锰矿（75%~95%），次为软锰矿、硫锰矿及少量黄铁矿等。含锰岩系岩性和岩相学研究表明，玛尔坎苏锰矿带属典型的海相沉积锰矿床，其矿床成因可能与晚古生代半局限盆地沉积和海底热液活动有关。海底热液活动可能为成矿提供了丰富的物质来源。含锰岩系元素和同位素地球化学特征表明，玛尔坎苏锰矿沉淀时的水体环境为常氧条件，而矿层下盘（部分）岩系的岩性及地球化学特征反映其沉积时的水体环境为低氧—贫氧条件。玛尔坎苏锰矿带锰矿石具有负的δ¹³C值（-23.3‰~-10.0‰），推测有机质导致的还原作用是该锰矿由原生氧化锰在成岩期转化为菱锰矿和形成富锰矿的重要机制。     

广西宜州裂陷槽晚古生代演化与早石炭世沉积锰矿分布*

滇黔桂地区晚古生代浅水碳酸盐岩台地与深水硅泥质盆地共存的古地理格局,是在加里东期褶皱基底上发生裂陷及差异沉降而发展起来的。广西宜州—柳州一带既是晚古生代上扬子碳酸盐岩地台南缘1条重要的沉积相分界线,也是晚古生代桂中和桂北地层分区、古生代—中生代雪峰山南段构造体系和桂中坳陷构造体系的分界线。文中通过对宜山—柳州一带晚古生代地层的区域对比和成因分析,恢复了桂中宜山—柳州地区晚古生代沉积盆地的演化历史。狭长型宜州裂陷槽盆地西起丹池断裂,向东经龙头、北牙、宜州延伸至柳州。自中泥盆世开始,首先在东西两端开始裂陷下沉,至早石炭世发展成型。受北侧来自江南隆起带陆源碎屑物质充填影响,其表现为南北不对称并在早石炭世晚期被填平。在宜州裂陷槽内发育多处早石炭世沉积型碳酸锰矿,含矿地层分布、地层序列及其沉积背景明显与裂陷槽演化有关。它们既是盆地演化历史的见证,也体现了桂中地区裂陷海槽的特色,值得在后续锰矿成因研究中予以重视。     

Discovery of the oldest known Pterygota in the Lower Carboniferous of the Upper Silesian Basin in the Czech Republic (Insecta: Archaeorthoptera)

The earliest pterygote (winged insect), dated from the Lower Carboniferous (Namurian A/E1, circa 324 millions years ago) is described from the Upper Silesian Basin in the Czech Republic. On the basis of its wing venation, it is attributed to the Archaeorthoptera Béthoux and Nel, 2002, crown group of the “Orthoptera”. Besides Apterygota (Collembola and Archaeognatha) known from the Lower Devonian, extremely rare pterygote insects are known from Lower Carboniferous deposits when they first appeared. The present discovery supports the hypothesis of the presence of the ancestor lineage of the orthopteroid in the Lower Carboniferous ecosystems.