Magnetostratigraphy and pavleo-environmental record of Tertiary deposits of Lanzhou Basin

The Tertiary deposits of the Yongdeng section, the Lanzhou Basin were studied by means of magnetostrati-graphy. The magnetostratigraphic sequences from Paleocene to Miocene were established, and the time scale for the corresponding stratigraphy and mammalian faunas was also established by referring to their correlation to the GPTS of BKSA95 (The geomagnetic polarity time scale which was thoroughly revised and updated by Berggreen et al. in 1995). In the end the paleoenvironmental records and their relationship with the uplifting of the Tibetan Plateau were discussed. The results are as follows. The top boundary of the Xiliugou Formation is dated to be 51 Ma, i.e. Eocene. TheYehucheng Formation covers the time span of 51-31.5 Ma, i.e. from late Early Eocene to early Early Oligocene. The Xianshuihe Formation covers the time span of 31.5-15 Ma, i.e. from Early Oligocene to Middle Miocene. The lower member of the Xianshuihe Formation spans from 31.5 to 20.0 Ma, i.e. from Early Oligocene to early Early Miocene. The middle member is from 20.0 to 16.5 Ma, i.e. in the middle Early Miocene.     

Oligocene mammals from Ethiopia and faunal exchange between Afro-Arabia and Eurasia

Afro-Arabian mammalian communities underwent a marked transition near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary at approximately 24 million years (Myr) ago. Although it is well documented that the endemic paenungulate taxa were replaced by migrants from the Northern Hemisphere, the timing and evolutionary dynamics of this transition have long been a mystery because faunas from about 32 to 24 Myr ago are largely unknown. Here we report a late Oligocene fossil assemblage from Ethiopia, which constrains the migration to postdate 27 Myr ago, and yields new insight into the indigenous faunal dynamics that preceded this event. The fauna is composed of large paenungulate herbivores and reveals not only which earlier taxa persisted into the late Oligocene epoch but also demonstrates that one group, the Proboscidea, underwent a marked diversification. When Eurasian immigrants entered Afro-Arabia, a pattern of winners and losers among the endemics emerged: less diverse taxa such as arsinoitheres became extinct, moderately species-rich groups such as hyracoids continued into the Miocene with reduced diversity, whereas the proboscideans successfully carried their adaptive radiation out of Afro-Arabia and across the world.     

Magnetostratigraphic dating of mammalian fossils in Junggar Basin, northwest China

The first detailed chronology for the late Oligocene to early Miocene continental record in northern Junggar Basin is presented,based on rock magnetic experiments and magnetostratigraphic investiga-tions of a 192 m thick mammal-bearing section in the Ulungur River area. Magnetites and hematites were identified as the main carriers for the characteristic remanent magnetization,and the resulting polarity sequence allows an unambiguous correlation to the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS). Furthermore,the Tieersihabahe fauna layer occurs below the Paleocene/Neocene boundary,and the Suosuoquan fauna layer is just above the Neocene onset. Therefore,the age of the Tieersihabahe fauna and Suosuoquan fauna layers can be definitely estimated to be about 25.2 Ma and 22.5 Ma,respectively.     

用碳氧同位素对沱沱河盆地古近纪及新近纪早期气候变化的研究

鉴于目前对位于青藏高原上的沱沱河盆地研究不多,作者试用碳氧同位素比值的方法研究该地区新生代的始新世到中中新世这一时段内的气候环境变化情况.经过数据计算、图解和分析表明,沱沱河盆地从始新世到中中新世的气候环境变化可划分为两个阶段,即始新世-渐新世的炎热干燥气候期和中中新世的温暖湿润气候期.此研究结果将为进一步研究该地区的古环境变化提供依据.     

喀什凹陷的成因及找油方向

通过对喀什凹陷的基底结构和变形特征分析认为，喀什凹陷在侏罗纪—中新世期间的沉降主要与塔拉斯—费尔干纳断裂的拉分作用有关；上新世以后的变形受天山和昆仑山山前逆冲作用控制；凹陷北部斜坡带的变形机制主要是山前重力滑动和山麓逆冲作用。根据与喀什凹陷有类似成因联系的中亚含油气盆地的油气勘探经验预测，喀什凹陷的油气主要赋存于山前构造带向斜盆地内部的低凸起中，下第三系膏盐层为主要勘探标志层。     

柴达木盆地断裂特征研究

阿尔金断裂带、昆北断裂带和北缘断裂带控制了柴达木盆地的形成与演化过程.盆地内部还发育了大量性质各异的断裂,主要呈NW,NE和NNW向展布.断裂在剖面上的组合样式主要有5种,即逆冲叠瓦型、对冲型、背冲型、花状和伸展断裂组合.平衡剖面复原结果表明,断裂的形成演化主要有3类模式,一类是在渐新世就已发育完全而定型,一类是在中新世—第四纪期间发育形成,还有一类是在盆地形成演化过程中一直都是活动的长期发育的断裂.     

Two new carnivores from an unusual late Tertiary forest biota in eastern North America

Late Cenozoic terrestrial fossil records of North America are biased by a predominance of mid-latitude deposits, mostly in the western half of the continent. Consequently, the biological history of eastern North America, including the eastern deciduous forest, remains largely hidden. Unfortunately, vertebrate fossil sites from this vast region are rare, and few pertain to the critically important late Tertiary period, during which intensified global climatic changes took place. Moreover, strong phylogenetic affinities between the flora of eastern North America and eastern Asia clearly demonstrate formerly contiguous connections, but disparity among shared genera (eastern Asia-eastern North America disjunction) implies significant periods of separation since at least the Miocene epoch. Lacustrine sediments deposited within a former sinkhole in the southern Appalachian Mountains provide a rare example of a late Miocene to early Pliocene terrestrial biota from a forested ecosystem. Here we show that the vertebrate remains contained within this deposit represent a unique combination of North American and Eurasian taxa. A new genus and species of the red (lesser) panda (Pristinailurus bristoli), the earliest and most primitive so far known, was recovered. Also among the fauna are a new species of Eurasian badger (Arctomeles dimolodontus) and the largest concentration of fossil tapirs ever recorded. Cladistical analyses of the two new carnivores strongly suggest immigration events that were earlier than and distinct from previous records, and that the close faunal affinities between eastern North America and eastern Asia in the late Tertiary period are consistent with the contemporaneous botanical record.     

Synchronous drying and cooling in central Asia during late Oligocene

Aridification of central Asia during late Oligocene and Early Miocene has been documented by numerous eolian records from the North Pacific and central Asia. However, direct evidence of aridity from the interior of the arid zone is still rather scarce. To better reconstruct the climate history in central Asia during the late Oligocene, we have analyzed ostracod assemblages and gypsum content in the sediments from the lacustrine Jingou River section in the northern Tianshan Mountains. Our results show that the cold water species Candona cf. Neglecta and Pseudocandona albicans replaced the warm water species Ilyocypris bradyi and Ilyocypris sp. to become the dominant species at 23.8 Ma, indicating significant cooling in central Asia at that time. At the same time, a substantial increase in gypsum content indicates the intensification of central Asian drying. The synchronous cooling and drying approximately coincided with the Oi2b.1 and/or Mi1 events, implying a causal linkage between late Oligocene global cooling and central Asian aridity.     

A Miocene ostrich fossil from Gansu Province,northwest China

A pelvic skeleton, recognized as a large terrestrial bird in the field, was recently collected by our paleomammalo-gist colleagues from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontol-ogy and Paleoanthropology from the late Miocene sandy mudstones in the Linxia Basin in Gansu Province, north-west China. We have further referred this bird to as an early representative of ostrich. Ostrich fossils usually co-existed with the famous Hipparion Fauna from the Mio-cene to Pliocene. The Linxia Basin is we…     

Neogene coupling between Kuqa Basin and Southern Tien Shan Orogen, Northwestern China

Based on the sedimentary and subsiding features of Kuqa foreland basin, this paper presents the following characteristics of Neogene coupling relationship between Kuqa Basin and Southern Tien Shan Orogen, Northwestern China:(l) The Southern Tien Shan Orogen underwent Neogene uplifting of 4 km in height and the Kuqa Basin underwent Neogene subsidence of 4-6 km in depth accordingly beginning in 25 Ma; (2) The Southern Tien Shan Orogen moved continuously toward the Kuqa Basin, with largest structural shortening rate of greater than 53.7%, and the north boundary of the Kuqa Basin retreated continuously southward accordingly since the Miocene; (3) There are two subsidence centers with high subsiding rates and large subsiding extent, located in the eastern and western Kuqa Basin respectively, with the subsiding maximizing in the deposition period of Kuqa Formation.     

阿尔金断裂东端酒西盆地古近系物源分析及意义

探讨酒西盆地古近纪沉积与阿尔金左行走滑断裂的关系。通过对酒西盆地西部红柳峡剖面古近系火烧沟组、白杨河组进行系统的沉积学和年代学分析表明:火烧沟组的砾石成分主要以中-低级变质岩和沉积岩为主,到了白杨河组则转变为以岩浆岩为主;古水流方向主体来自西部-西北部;室内砂岩碎屑鉴定结果显示古近系砂岩的碎屑成分全部落入再旋回造山带物源区;碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄测定结果表现出新元古代和中元古代2个主要的年龄峰值。综合对比酒西盆地周缘的物源区,初步认为阿尔金地体为火烧沟组和白杨河组主要的物源供给区。结合前人对阿尔金左行走滑断裂的研究,表明自渐新世以后阿尔金地体才离开酒西盆地,进一步确定阿尔金断裂带最大左行走滑量450km。     

晚新生代元谋盆地演化与河谷发育研究

元谋盆地是在晚新生代青藏高原与云南高原隆起过程中形成的众多断陷盆地之一,流经元度盆地的龙川江和金沙江。其河谷发育与盆地演化具有密切关系,通过对元谋盆地及其邻区的层次地貌与相关沉积的分析研究,认为,始新世晚期￣中新世晚期是夷平面形成时期,中新世晚期￣３．４０ＭａＢＰ前后是第一级剥蚀面形成时期;元谋盆地形成于３．４０ＭａＢＰ前后第一级剥蚀面解体过程中,其后盆地经历了３．４０￣１．７８ＭａＢＰ的古湖形成     

柴达木盆地中新世中期以来构造的运动学模型

柴达木盆地是位于青藏高原内部的山间盆地,盆地新生代的变形受到两侧山体隆升的主导.通过贯穿盆地地震剖面的精细构造解释和分析,依据生长地层的结构,我们认为自中新世中期以来昆仑山前冲断楔体以平均4.7 mm/a的速度向盆地逆冲,导致盆地南斜坡向昆仑山方向仰冲;这为东昆仑山北麓出露的倾向北向南逆冲的多条断层和盆地南部向南逆冲的断层控制的断层相关褶皱作用所证实.盆地北部祁连山前冲断楔体向盆地方向逆冲,导致盆地北部向北逆冲的断层在地表形成北翼陡、南翼缓的断层相关褶皱背斜,向北逆冲的断层在盆地东部局部位置出露地表.昆仑山前冲断楔体和祁连山前冲断楔体的楔顶已经相向冲断至盆地中部,并造成第四系的变形.     

南海深海盆的沉积充填

 依据大洋钻探井及地震剖面资料，定量确定南海同扩张期和后扩张期深海盆沉积充填差异及沉积物来源变化。研究显示，南海深海盆自渐新世（32 Ma）开始形成，随着南海二次扩张海盆范围逐渐扩大，海盆内主要充填火山碎屑角砾岩及火山灰，碳酸盐岩、超微化石软泥，泥质粘土、粉砂质粘土、泥岩及粉细砂岩。深海盆充填主要沉积物为晚中新世（11.6Ma）以来的陆源碎屑沉积，丰富陆源碎屑的供给与南海闭合过程中同期区域构造事件（如青藏高原快速隆升、菲律宾板块俯冲）密切相关，也与晚中新世以来东亚季风增强以及源区强烈的风化剥蚀有关。     

A new cheirolepidiaceous conifer from the Early Jurassic of the Junggar Basin, northern Xinjiang and its paleoclimatic implications

Mesozoic sediments are extensively developed in the vast area of Xinjiang and Jurassic strata are well exposed in the Junggar Basin. The Haojiagou geological section near Urumqi in the south of the basin is a typical section for the Lower Jurassic Badaowan and Sangonghe formations. The cheirolepidiaceous conifer Brachyphyllum (Hirmeriella?) sp., which exhibits strongly xeromorphic characters, was discovered in the Sangonghe Formation and is associated with a high relative abundance (up to 75%) of dispersed Classopollis pollen. The occurrence of cheirolepidiaceous foliage and Classopollis pollen in the Sangonghe Formation indicates that a warm and dry climate prevailed in the Junggar Basin during the Early Jurassic (Early Toarcian), supporting the hypothesis for a warming event at that time.     

A new cheirolepidiaceous conifer from the Early Jurassic of the Junggar Basin, northern Xinjiang and its paleoclimatic implications

Mesozoic sediments are extensively developed in the vast area of Xinjiang and Jurassic strata are well exposed in the Junggar Basin. The Haojiagou geological section near Urumqi in the south of the basin is a typical section for the Lower Jurassic Badaowan and Sangonghe formations. The cheirolepidiaceous conifer Brachyphyllum (Hirmeriella?) sp., which exhibits strongly xeromorphic characters, was discovered in the Sangonghe Formation and is associated with a high relative abundance (up to 75%) of dispersed Classopollis pollen. The occurrence of cheirolepidiaceous foliage and Classopollis pollen in the Sangonghe Formation indicates that a warm and dry climate prevailed in the Junggar Basin during the Early Jurassic (Early Toarcian), supporting the hypothesis for a warming event at that time.     

A mammalian fossil from the Dingqing Formation in the Lunpola Basin, northern Tibet, and its relevance to age and paleo-altimetry

The distal extremity of a rhinocerotid humerus from the upper part of the Dingqing Formation at the Lunbori locality in Baingoin County, northern Tibet, is the first mammalian fossil found in Cenozoic deposits of the Lunpola Basin. The medial condyle of the distal trochlea of the humerus specimen from Lunbori gradually contracts from medially to laterally. The margin of the medial surface of the medial condyle is not prominent, the well-developed medial epicondyle strongly extends posteriorly, and is divided from the articular facet of the medial condyle by a groove; all of which are characteristic for the Rhinocerotidae. The medial condyle is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. The medial collateral ligament fossa is relatively shallow, and the medial collateral ligament tubercle is very weak. The medial part of the upper margin of the medial condyle smoothly connects to the bony surface above, but there is no clear boundary between them. All of these characteristics are identical with those of Plesiaceratherium. These comparisons imply that the Lunbori specimen is closest to Plesiaceratherium gracile in the Shanwang Fauna from Linqu, Shandong Province, in size and morphology. Thus, its age is suggested to be the late Early Miocene (Shanwangian Age), about 18?C16 Ma. Discovery of the rhinocerotid fossil suggests that the upper part of the Dingqing Formation deposited in the Neogene. While adjusting to paleo-temperatures of the Early Miocene, a paleo-ecosystem reconstruction indicates that the paleo-elevation was close to 3000 m in the Lunpola Basin during this time.     

Onset of Asian desertification by 22 Myr ago inferred from loess deposits in China

The initial desertification in the Asian interior is thought to be one of the most prominent climate changes in the Northern Hemisphere during the Cenozoic era. But the dating of this transition is uncertain, partly because desert sediments are usually scattered, discontinuous and difficult to date. Here we report nearly continuous aeolian deposits covering the interval from 22 to 6.2 million years ago, on the basis of palaeomagnetic measurements and fossil evidence. A total of 231 visually definable aeolian layers occur as brownish loesses interbedded with reddish soils. This new evidence indicates that large source areas of aeolian dust and energetic winter monsoon winds to transport the material must have existed in the interior of Asia by the early Miocene epoch, at least 14 million years earlier than previously thought. Regional tectonic changes and ongoing global cooling are probable causes of these changes in aridity and circulation in Asia.     

西非塞内加尔盆地重油成藏条件及富集规律

塞内加尔盆地是西非面积最大的被动大陆边缘型盆地,已发现具有一定储量规模的重油油田,但只进行了有限的勘探开发活动。研究区以白垩系森诺曼阶-土仑阶海相页岩为烃源岩,渐新统有孔虫灰岩和下中新统三角洲砂岩作为储层,中新统页岩和黏土作为盖层,生储盖配置较好。盐底辟活动形成一系列运移通道和构造-岩性圈闭,因此成藏条件好。通过对典型重油油田Dome Flore的分析,总结研究区具有盐底辟控运移、控圈闭,埋藏较浅的有利储层控藏的特征,并且呈现出盐底辟周围聚集的轻质油藏上方,即盐隆顶部的渐新统和中新统储层形成重油富集的规律。在此基础上预测了重油成藏有利区,为该区的重油资源勘探提供基础。     

准噶尔盆地西北缘吐孜阿克内沟八道湾组露头沉积特征及模式

以准噶尔盆地西北缘吐孜阿克内沟八道湾组野外露头追踪实测资料为基础,利用露头直观性识别厘定了中下侏罗统吐孜阿克内沟八道湾组层序地层界面.通过对岩性特征、沉积构造等相标志分析,对准噶尔盆地西北缘吐孜阿克内沟八道湾组沉积相特征进行解剖,识别出研究区共发育9种岩相和5种典型砾石质辫状河岩相序列组合,并判断出古气候经历了干旱向温带潮湿气候的转变.在此基础上,依据典型岩相标志分析,在吐孜阿克内沟八道湾组沉积中划分出辫状河道和河漫滩两种沉积相,进一步识别出河床滞留、心滩、泛滥平原、河漫沼泽和河漫湖泊等沉积微相,最终建立吐孜阿克内沟八道湾组的沉积序列,探讨了基准面不断上升的砾石质辫状河沉积体系模式.该研究成果可为准噶尔盆地勘探目标的优选提供地质依据,也可为该区油气勘探开发提供一定的指导.