Devonian integrative stratigraphy,biotas,and paleogeographical evolution of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas

The Devonian System in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas is widely distributed,diverse in lithotypes and rich in fossils.It records the crucial processes of continuous subduction and reduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the northern hemisphere and the transformation of the Proto-Tethys Ocean into the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the southern hemisphere.Thus,it is of great significance for explaining the global paleogeographic evolution,tectonic activities and biodiversity changes during this critical period.The blocks on both sides of the southern Tienshan suture zone and the Longmu Co-ShuanghuChangning-Menglian suture zone belong to different sedimentary systems and paleobiogeographic realms and regions,showing important tectonic paleogeographic partitioning significance.The two suture zones represent the main branches of the PaleoAsian Ocean and the Paleo-Tethys Ocean,respectively,and on this basis the Devonian System can be subdivided into three types:the Tienshan type,the Tethys type and the Gondwana type.Based on recent research progress on the Devonian stratigraphy and paleontology in combining provenance analysis and biotic characteristics in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas,this paper aims to establish the latest integrative stratigraphic framework and conduct paleogeographic reconstruction,providing foundation for exploring the geological evolution and dynamic mechanisms of various terranes and blocks in the northern margin of Gondwana.The results indicate that the North Qiangtang,South Qiangtang,Simao,Baoshan and Tengchong terranes,as well as the Himalaya Tethys Zone and the South China Block have affinities with the Indian Block,while the Lhasa Terrane has affinities with the Australian Block,and may be located between the South China and Australian blocks.In the Emsian(Early Devonian),the South China Block separated from the northern margin of Gondwana,a process that was accompanied by the opening of the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan Ocean.In the Middle Devonian,the mid-oceanic ridge of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean expanded rapidly,corresponding with a global sea-level rise,the widespread development of carbonate platforms and nadir values of Devonian seawater strontium isotopes.By the Late Devonian,the Paleo-Tethys Ocean had reached a considerable size,leading to abundant occurrences of Upper Devonian radiolarian cherts in the Paleo-Tethys suture zones.

Characteristics of Paleontological Communities in Surface Sediments of the Southern South China Sea and Their Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Significance

Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of different paleontological communities in the southern South China Sea(SCS)is fundamental to explore its paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes.In this study,foraminifera,pollen and diatoms from 100 surface sediment samples covering 40000 km^(2) of sea floor in the southern SCS were comprehensively investigated in terms of their assemblage and distribution.The results showed the existence of abundant foraminifera and pollen in most of the samples,although diatom communities were relatively scarce.Foraminifera were dominated by G.sacculifer,G.menardii,G.ruber,while diatoms were characterized by T.simonsenii,T.nitzschioides and T.longissima,indicating a typical tropical marine environment.The pollen assemblages showed a better reflection of montane rainforest,tropical rainforest and mangrove.The spatial differences among foraminifera assemblages may indicate the effect of water depth and a warmer environment in the southeast part of the study area,while the spatial patterns of diatom and pollen assemblages imply the influence of coastal current.Our study also noted that the compositions of paleontological communities in the SCS can vary significantly in a short distance,and synthesized studies on multiple biological groups are needed to reconstruct the Quaternary climate and the oceanographic environment.

Devonian integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China

The Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points(GSSPs) for the bases of all seven international Devonian stages have been formally defined and ratified by IUGS till 1996, and nowadays, the main tasks for Devonian stratigraphers include further subdivision of these standard stages, strictly constrained absolute ages for the boundaries, and precise neritic-pelagic and marine-terrestrial correlations using multidisciplinary stratigraphy methods. Establishment of high-resolution Devonian integrative stratigraphy framework and timescale of China would play an important role in improving regional and international correlation, facilitating the recognition of important stratigraphic levels in different paleogeographic settings, and understanding the evolution pattern of biota, paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during this critical interval. Based on well-studied bio-and chronostratigraphy of Devonian in South China and adjacent areas, in combination with recent achievements in carbon isotope stratigraphy, event stratigraphy and radioactive isotope ages, this paper briefly summarize the research history and current status of Devonian chronostratigraphy of China, and for the first time introduce Devonian integrative stratigraphy framework of China.Up to date, few studies have been conducted on the astronomical cyclostratigraphy and high-resolution radioactive isotope dating in Devonian of China, which should be our main focuses in the near future.

Carboniferous integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China

The Carboniferous period lasted about 60 Myr, from ～358.9 Ma to ～298.9 Ma. According to the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the Carboniferous System is subdivided into two subsystems, i.e., Mississippian and Pennsylvanian, including 6 series and 7 stages. The Global Stratotype Sections and Points(GSSPs) of three stages have been ratified, the Tournaisian, Visean, and Bashkirian stages. The GSSPs of the remaining four stages(i.e., the Serpukhovian, Moscovian,Kasimovian, and Gzhelian) have not been ratified so far. This paper outlines Carboniferous stratigraphic subdivision and correlation on the basis of detailed biostratigraphy mainly from South China, and summarizes the Carboniferous chronostratigraphic framework of China. High-resolution biostratigraphic study reveals 37 conodont zones, 24 foraminiferal(including fusulinid) zones, 13 ammonoid zones, 10 brachiopod zones, and 10 rugose coral zones in the Carboniferous of China. The biostratigraphic framework based on these biozones warrants the precise correlation of regional stratigraphy of China(including2 subsystems, 4 series, and 8 stages) to that of the other regions globally. Meanwhile, the Carboniferous chemo-, sequence-,cyclo-, and event-stratigraphy of China have been intensively studied and can also be correlated worldwide. Future studies on the Carboniferous in China should focus on(1) the correlation between shallow-and deep-water facies and between marine and continental facies,(2) high-resolution astronomical cyclostratigraphy, and(3) paleoenvironment and paleoclimate analysis based on geochemical proxies such as strontium and oxygen isotopes, as well as stomatal indices of fossil plants.

Variabilities of carbonateδ13C signal in response to the late Paleozoic glaciations,Long’an,South China

An integrated study of biostratigraphy,microfacies,and stable carbon isotope stratigraphy was carried out on the late Famennian–early Asselian carbonates of the Long’an section in Guangxi,South China.Stable carbon isotope studies in the Long’an section have revealed four major positive shifts ofδ13C values in the Carboniferous strata in South China.The first shift occurred in the Siphonodella dasaibaensia zone in the Tournaisian,with an amplitude of 4.19‰.The second shift occurred near the Visean/Serpukhovian boundary,with an amplitude of 2.63‰.The third shift occurred in the Serpukhovian,with an amplitude of 3.95‰.The fourth shift occurred in the Kasimovian,with an amplitude of 3.69‰.Furthermore,there were several brief positiveδ13C shifts during the late Famennian to early Tournaisian.All of these shifts can be well correlated globally,and each corresponds to sea-level regressions in South China and Euro-America,indicating increases in ocean primary productivity and global cooling events.Chronologically,the four major positive excursions ofδ13C,together with several brief positiveδ13C shifts that were observed during the late Famennian to the early Tournaisian,correspond to the well-accepted Glacial I,II,and III events.

Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation in a Middle Triassic Microbial Mat Deposit from Southwestern China:New Implications for the Formational Process of Micrite

Lime mud(i.e.,micrite)is a major component of carbonate deposits.Various mechanisms(biotic versus abiotic)have been proposed for the formation of lime mud in Earth’s history.However,the detailed role that microbes play in the nucleation and subsequent precipitation of micrites remains to be resolved.Herein we undertook a detailed geobiological characterization of laminated lime mudstone from the Middle Triassic Guanling Formation in Yunnan Province,southwestern China.Morphological features,together with previous geobiological investigations,suggest that the laminated lime mudstones represent the former presence of microbial mats.These lime mudstones consist mainly of calcite,dolomite and quartz,with clay minerals and pyrites as subordinate components.In particular,micro-analysis shows copious nano-globules(65–878 nm)and capsule-shaped nano-rods in laminations.These low-Mg calcite nano-globule aggregates are closely associated with mucilaginous biofilms resembling extracellular polymeric substances(EPS).Nano-sized globules coalesce to form semi-euhedral micrite crystals.We suggest that a decaying hydrolytic destruction of the EPS by microbial communities within microbial mat leads to the precipitation of the nano-globules by enhancing alkalinity in local micro-environment.As an intermediate,these nano-globules further aggregate to form micrite crystals possibly through a dissolution-reprecipitation process.