Devonian Frasnian-Famennian Transitional Milankovitch Cycles and High-Resolution Stratigraphic Correlation

Four hierarchical cyclothems, superbundlesets, bundlesets, bundles and laminae, have been identified from the Devonian Frasnian-Famennian carbonate strata in Guangxi, South China. Their hierarchical structures, ratio relationships and sequence in conodont zones are continuous and stable and can be traced across different facies zones and sedimentary basins. Our data show that hierarchically organized superbundlesets, bundlesets, bundles and laminae correspond to the long eccentricity, eccentricity, obliquity or precession and sub-Milankovitch cycles respectively. Their periods were 400,000, 100,000, 33,333, 16,667 and 8,000–17,000 a, respectively. The ratios of long eccentricity to eccentricity, eccentricity to obliquity, and eccentricity to precession in the Devonian are 1:4, 1:3 and 1:6 respectively. Using these hierarchical Milankovitch cyclothems, chronostratigraphical division and correlation can be realized at a resolution of 100 ka or 10 ka at the Frasnian-Famennian transition. The time intervals of the Upper rhenana Zone, linguiformis Zone, and the Lower, Middle and Upper triangularis Zone are 0.6, 0.8, 0.3, 0.3 and 0.3 Ma, respectively. Sea-level changes of the Frasnian-Famennian transition were not coherent and synchronous at the resolution of 100 ka or 10 ka in the basin-slope carbonate sequences of Guangxi, South China.

Late Carboniferous-Early Permian Volcanic Event Deposits and Stratigraphic Correlation in Shandong Province and Its Adjacent Regions

Deposits of 10 volcanic events of 6 stages have been discovered by the authors after detailed field and lab studies of the Benxi and Taiyuan Formations in Shandong Province and its adjacent regions. They show certain temporal-spatial distribution characteristics. Volcanic fragments were probably derived from two different volcanic sources north and south of the North China Platform, while the magma of the two volcanic sources was probably derived from the lower crust. A new stratigraphic correlation scheme is put forward for the Benxi and Taiyuan Formations in this region on the basis of previous biostratigraphic work with the regionally widespread volcanic event layers as the marker bed for the isochronous stratigraphic correlation on a super-regional scale and in conjunction with the maximum transgressive event layers.

Carbon Isotope Features of the Sugetbrak Section in the Aksu-Wushi Area, Northwest China: Implications for the Precambrian/Cambrian Stratigraphic Correlations

The upper Qigeblaq Formation （Fm） dolostones and the Yurtus Fm phosphatic cherts, black shales, limestones, and dolostones are widely distributed in the Precambrian/Cambrian transitional succession of the Aksu-Wushi area. Negative δ13C excursion above the Yurtus Fm/ Qigeblaq Fm boundary was determined in this study. The pronounced negative carbon isotope excursion occurs in the phosphatic chert layers at the bottom of the Cambrian Yurtus Fm, below which the first appearance of the Asteridium- Heh＇osphaeridium-Comasphaeridium （AHC） acritarch assemblage zone. The δ13C curve of the lower part of the Yurtus Fm in the Aksu-Wushi area was found to be correlated with the early Cambrian δ13C curves of the Zhujiaqing Fm （Daibu Member）, the lower part of the Yanjiahe Fm on the Yangtze Platform in China, the lower Tal Fm in India, the Sukharikha Fm in Siberia, and the upper part of the Tsagaan Oloom Fm in Mongolia through biostigraphy. The lower part of the Yurtus Fm in the Tarim Basin is at the Nemakit-Daldynian stage, and the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary of the Aksu-Wushi area may be located in the phosphatic chert unit which just below the first appearance AHC acritarch assemblage zone. The negative δ13C excursion （N1） across the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary in the studied section may have resulted from oceanic overturning and sea level rise.

Stratigraphical Time——Correlation and Mass Extinction Event Near Permian——Triassic Boundary in South China

Shaw's method used to correlate 40 sections across the Permo-Triassic boundary in South China is applied in the paper. Two steps are adopted to get an Integral Composite Section (ICS) by synthesizing these data : First , South China is divided into five areas and composite section developed for each area . Then the second step . the Changxing composite section is regarded as a composite standard (CSRS) while the ICS is produced by matching the CSRS with composite sections of the other areas. Three biozones in the Changxingian and two biozones in the Griesbachian can be discerned on the basis of computing Z values in the ICS. These biozones are marked by the Z values which quantitatively represent their time ranges ; therefore , they may increase accuracy of stratigraphic time correlation . The mass extinction at the end of the Permian is an abrupt event that is supported by the relative rate of extinction near the P/T boundary . About 90% of invertebrate species died out by the end of the Permian . The duration of the mass extinction is rather short ,approximately 0.018Ma .

Hierarchical delineation and multivariate statistical discrimination of chemozones of the Cauvery Basin,south India:Implications on spatio-temporal scales of stratigraphic correlation

Success in locating oil pools in the Cauvery Basin,south India had been found to be based on the ability to delineate precisely the stratigraphic traps resulting from frequent sea level changes.However,recognition and delineation of them in terms of depositional units through conventional stratigraphic methods have been elusive owing to the limitations of such methods and lack of unified stratigraphic markers that could be traced at regional and basinal scale.This paper attempts to recognize depositional units in terms of chemozones,chronologic and lithostratigraphic units by assigning distinct geochemical signatures.Geochemical signatures were assigned through hierarchical delineation and discriminant function analysis.It is observed that individual depositional units could be recognized statistically with whole-rock geochemical composition.The strata under study show two second order chemozones comprising six major chemozones that in turn correspond to third order sea level cycles and minor chemozones at the scale of fourth order and/or further shorter sea level cycles.The geochemical signatures showed 100% distinctness between sample populations categorized according to chronostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy.The durations of these stratigraphic units range from 18 million years to less than a million years and indicate distinct geochemical compositional change at different time slices.By implication and also due to the close correspondence between sea level variations reported from this basin and global sea level cycles,it is suggested that recognition and correlation of individual depositional units with distal counterparts could be made accurately.Implication of these results is that stratigraphic units,at varying scales either temporally or spatially,could be assigned with unique geochemical signature,with which accurate prediction and correlation of similar units elsewhere is possible with measurable accuracy.

Stratigraphic Correlation And Division of the Salite Strata

1 Introduction Stratigraphic correlation is the most important basic work in oil and gas exploration and development,Scientific and reasonable stratigraphic correlation is the premise of developing fine reservoir description,and it is

Stratigraphic Correlation of Middle TriassicSequences among Different Paleogeographic Sedimentary Facies in South China

Affected by the Indosinian movement, the sediments in the main part of South China, Yangtze platform, started to transform from marine to continental during the Middle Triassic. In the meantime, a noticeable paleogeographic and sedimentary facies differentiation occurred in the marginal regions of the platforms and produced completely different lithologic and paleontologic sequences in various paleogeographic gradients and sedimentary facies areas, which brought about the difficulties for the stratigraphic correlation based on the traditional stratigraphies. This paper proposes to use some characteristic environmental events as the markers of the stratigraphic correlation across various paleogeographic sedimentary facies, considering that some distinctive regional environmental events should have affected at the same time on the entire basin or the connected sedimentary regions and produced some closely related sedimentary records in the stratigraphic sequences though the affected intensity and recorded pattern might be different among the regions. The change of violent relative sea level (generally water depth) and the alteration of tectonic activity summarized from the dynamic mechanism of sedimentation are the best markers of environmental events for stratigraphic correlation. Based on the analysis and recognition of some significant environmental events at the typical stratigraphic sequences from various paleogeographic sedimentary facies and combined with the consideration of the variations in expressed form and strength of the events among different paleogeographic gradients and sedimentary facies, the stratigraphic sequences from different sedimentary facies can be easily correlated directly. Furthermore, the evolutionary history of the whole sedimentary basin can be clearly established.

The Discovery of the Bivalve Fossil Arguniella from the Lower Cretaceous Shangkuli Formation in Northern Greater Khingan Mountains, China: Implications for Stratigraphic Correlation

Objective Typical Early Cretaceous non-marine bivalve fossils from Eastern Asia are represented by the Arguniella-Sphaerium assemblage,and they were important members of the Jehol Biota.Historically,the genus Arguniella in western Liaoning had been mistakenly identified as the Jurassic Ferganoconcha,re-identified as Arguniella with。

Discovery of Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis from the Lower Cretaceous of Wangqing,Jilin Province,and Its Significance in Correlation of Cretaceous Red Beds in China

New data from abundant vegetative shoots and cuticular analysis are provided for the Cretaceous cheirolepidiaceous conifer Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis Deng, Yang et Lu. The material was found from a new locality of the Lower Cretaceous strata in the Luozigou Basin, Wangqing, Jilin Province, northeastern China. Pseudofrenelopsis is a common plant in the Dalazi Formation of the Yanji Basin about 150 km from Wangqing, but there exists different species, Pseudofrenelopsis dalatzensis only. Both P. dalatzensis and P. gansuensis have been recorded from the Lower Cretaceous of Jiuquan, Gansu Province, but they are in different stratigraphic horizons. The Lower Cretaceous plant-bearing strata in Luozigou have used to correlate with the Dalazi Formation of the Yanji Basin. The discovery of P. gansuensis, which is lower in horizon than P. dalatzensis in Jiuquan, may indicate that they are also different in horizon in Jilin. Cheirolepidiaceous conifers are among the few fossils of red beds of the Early Cretaceous in China. The present discovery of Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis provides important evidence for classification, correlation and determination of geological ages of the Early Cretaceous non-marine red deposits of the two separate basins in remote areas of North China.

Volcanic Event Layers——A Marker Bed of Correlation of Coal Measures

Upper Carboniferous-Lower Permian volcanic event deposits from two cross sections in Nanpiao, Liaoning Province, and the Daqing Mountains, Inner Mongolia, were examined by systematic rock and mineral identification, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and trace element and rare earth element quantitative analysis. According to the results, twelve sequences of volcanic event deposits have been distinguished from bottom to top, including 34–39 volcanic event layers. As these layers each have their own distinctive petrological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics and were derived from the same source, they provide new evidence for further ascertaining the distribution characteristics of volcanic event deposits on the northern margin of the North China plate and carrying out the stratigraphic correlation using volcanic event layers as marker beds.

Geochemical Stratigraphy and Microvertebrate Assemblage Sequences across the Silurian/Devonian Transition in South China

Carbon isotope （δ13Corg） analyses of non-marine clastic rocks and neritic carbonates and black shales spanning the Silurian/Devonian transition are compared from two richly fossiliferous sequences in Qujing of East Yunnan and Zoige of Sichuan, South China. The two sections, Xishancun and Putonggou sections in South China, reveal positive δ13Corg shifts happening in the Upper Pridoli and Lower Devonian and reaching peak values as heavy as -25.2‰ （Xishancun） and -19.9‰（Putonggou） in the lowermost Lochkovian following the first occurrence of the thelodont Parathelodus and the conodont Icriodus woschmidti woschmidti （only in Putonggou Section and together with Protathyris-Lanceomyonia brachiopod fauna）. These results replicate a globally known positive shift in δ13Corg from the uppermost Silurian to the lowermost Devonian. The δ13Corg variations across the Silurian/Devonian Boundary （SDB） at the two sections in South China exhibit a shift in carbon isotopic composition similar to the detailed SDB curves from the borehole Klonk-1 drilled at top of the Klonk Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point （GSSP） in the Prague Basin, Czech Republic. In addition, four microvertebrate assemblages, including the Liaojiaoshan, Xishancun, Yanglugou and Xiaputonggou assemblages, are recognized from the Silurian/Devonian transition exposed in the Xishancun and Putonggou sections, respectively. The results from both carbon isotope stratigraphy and microvertebrate assemblage sequences suggest that the SDB in South China is located at the base of the Xishancun Formation （between sample QX-20 and sample QX-21） in the Xishancun Section and the lower part of the Xiaputonggou Formation （between sample ZP-09 and sample ZP-10） in the Putonggou Section. The isotopic trend for organic carbon together with the changes of microvertebrate remains across the SDB can offer an approach to a potential correlation of the SDB from different sedimentary facies, which help to correlate the marine with non-marine deposits.

Why Terrestrial Stable Carbon-isotope Stratigraphy Works: a Review

Carbon-isotope stratigraphy launched since the early technological development of carbon- isotope measurement in 1950s, however, the emergence and advance of terrestrial carbon-isotope stratigraphy took quite a long way. At early stage the exploration of carbon-isotope stratigraphy based on the marine biological shell carbonates was verified by repeatable carbon-isotope stratigraphic data, laboratory chemical experiments and the later laboratory foraminiferal culture experiments. The breakthrough for testifying the fundamentals of terrestrial carbon-isotope stratigraphy lies on the synchronous fluctuations between the carbon-isotope stratigraphic curves derived from marine biological shell carbonates and those derived from terrestrial C3 plants. The character that carbon-isotope stratigraphic curves can be globally synchronously correlated over the marine and terrestrial/atmospheric reservoir mainly excludes the potential biasing factors, such as diagenetic bias, carbon-isotope variations in intra/inter individual plant in same species or between species, ecological changes, changes in aridity, changes in source input and representative sampling. Therefore, the fundamentals of terrestrial carbon-isotope stratigraphy based on C3 plant successfully established. The terrestrial carbon-isotope stratigraphy can be used for global stratigraphic correlation, reconstructing the evolution of atmospheric CO2 and can further verify the published global carbon-cycle models. The terrestrial carbon-isotope stratigraphy based on the compound specific biomarkers and single-grained pollen may be a promising perspective in future.

New Material of Sinosauropteryx （Theropoda： Compsognathidae） from Western Liaoning, Chinae

An incomplete specimen of Sinosauropteryx prima collected from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of the Dawangzhangzi area in Lingyuan, western Liaoning is depicted. It represents the first systematically described material of this feathered compsognathid outside the Sihetun area in Beipiao. This specimen shows some diagnostic features of Sinosauropteryx prima, such as the very short forelimb in relation to hindlimb with the length ratio of humerus plus radius to femur plus tibia just around 30%, and the long and massive first manual ungual subequal in length to radius. The presence of Sinosauropteryx prima only at Sihetun and Dawangzhangzi supports the suggestion that the fossil-bearing beds in the Sihetun and Dawangzhangzi areas are equivalent to each other within the Yixian Formation.

Advances in sediment geochemistry and chemostratigraphy for reservoir characterization

Sedimentary sequences preserve the records of changes in major controls of sedimentation namely,tectonics,climate,relative sea level and sediment production and preservation.The potential to characterize these changes in spatial and temporal scales has led to the development of the branch of chemostratigraphy.Chemostratigraphic study of sedimentary sequences commenced from recognizing identical/contrasting geochemical features across major geochronological boundaries,and evolved into one of the essential tools in exploration,characterization,and well development strategies.Chemostratigraphy incorporates applications on continuous,real-time geochemical mapping and direction of lateral drilling,and machine learning,among others.As the sedimentary systems operate on a variety of temporal scales that range from few hours(tidal cycles)to few tens of millions of years,within which many perturbations such as catastrophic and diagenetic events take place,that lead to unique geochemical signature which can be correlated at appropriate spatial and temporal scales.The application of chemostratigraphic technique in hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir characterization has gained momentum in recent years,particularly with the advent of developments in analytical instrumentation.This has also led to the integration of a variety of data from field sedimentary structures,mineralogy,major,trace and isotopic chemical compositions of whole rock,selected components of rocks,organic and inorganic components of oil and gas,etc.,for reservoir characterization more accurately than ever.The geochemical fingerprinting of oil and gas reservoir components plays a major role in the identification of source rocks,discrimination of oil families,characterization of reservoir,source,and seal segments in petroleum systems.Future trends indicate the relevance and growing applications of machine learning techniques,artificial intelligence in real-time assessment,monitoring and planning of hydrocarbon exploration and production.

A Study on Sequence Stratigraphy of Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic in Southern North China Platform

The southern part of North China platform is one of the regions where the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic are well developed and is also an ideal place for the study or sequence stratigraphy. The paper deals mainly with the sequence stratigraphy of Meso-Neoproterozoic in western part of Henan Province. Based on the analysis of sedimentary features, main types and characters of parasequences, integrated with the study of sequence boundary and maximum-flooding surface, the sedimentary systems tracts and sequences are determined. Ruyang Group is divided into 6 third-order sequences Luoyu Group into 2 third-order sequences and Sinian is divided into 3 third-order sequences. Based on the present study, a new scheme about the correlation of Meso-Neoproterozoic Earthen in the region is proposed.

Multi-Elemental Chemostratigraphy,Sequence Development,Depositional History,and Environmental Importance of Early Eocene Red Beds(Kuldana Formation)in NW Himalayas,Pakistan

The Eocene Kuldana Formation(KF)in the Yadgar area of Pakistan,comprises a diverse range of sedimentary facies,including variegated red beds of shales,mudstones,and sandstones,as well as interbedded limestone and marl.In this study,we conducted an integrated micropaleontological,sedimentological,mineralogical,and geochemical investigation to determine the depositional setting,biochronology,provenance,and paleoclimate of the KF.The study identified six lithofacies and six microfacies,which indicate a variety of environments ranging from floodplains and channels to the margins and shallow marine settings.The nannofossil biostratigraphy places the KF in the Early Eocene,more precisely the NP10 zone(Ypresian),and the fossil zone of benthic foraminifera classifies the study section as the Shallow Benthic Zone SBZ-8(Middle Ilerdian 2).In terms of petrography,the KF sandstone was classified as litharenite and feldspathic litharenite,while the QtFL diagram suggests a recycled orogen.Geochemical proxies indicate an oxidizing environment,a high-to-low regular sedimentation rate,moderate-to-intense chemical weathering in the source region,and a warm-humid to dry climate during the deposition of KF.Overall,the findings suggest that the deposition of KF marks the end of Neo-Tethys due to the Early Eocene Indian–Kohistan collision and that the uplifting of the Himalayas provided the source for the deposition of KF in the foreland basin.The study provides new insights into the depositional environment,biochronology,provenance,and paleoclimate of KF,and highlights the potential for red beds as reliable indicators of oxygenation levels in proximity to mineral deposits.

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

During the Carboniferous Period,the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas were located in quite different paleogeographic positions with various sedimentary and biological types.It is important to systematically compile and summarize the Carboniferous strata and biotas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas,to establish an integrated stratigraphic framework for correlation,and to reconstruct the paleogeography for correctly understanding the breakup of the Gondwana Continent and the evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Late Paleozoic.The Carboniferous of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas can be subdivided into the Gondwanan,Cimmerian,and Tethyan types.The Gondwanan-type Carboniferous are distributed in the North Himalayan,Kangmar-Lhunze,and Zanda-Zumba regions of the South Tibet Subprovince and northern India-Pakistan Area,where only the Mississippian is developed and the biota is of Gondwanan affinity.The Cimmerian-type Carboniferous,which are found in the Baoshan,Tengchong,Coqen-Xainza,LhasaZayu,Nagqu-Biru,and South Qiangtang regions,as well as Shan-Thai and South Afghanistan-Pamir areas,also represent only the Mississippian strata,but their biota is characterized by mixed characters of European,South China,Australian,and North American types.The Tethyan-type Carboniferous are distributed in the Tanggula Mountains,Hoh Xil-Bayanhar,ChamdoHengduanshan,Tiekelike,West Kunlun,Karakorum,East Kunlun-Central Qinling,and Qilian regions,where the Carboniferous succession is well developed,and the biota is of warm-water Tethyan affinity.The biostratigraphical correlation of the Gondwanan-type and Cimmerian-type Carboniferous is based mainly on conodonts and additionally on brachiopods and rugose corals.The Mississippian of the Tethyan-type Carboniferous is correlated mainly by using rugose corals and brachiopods,whereas in the Pennsylvanian foraminifera(fusuline)and conodonts are regarded as primary fossil groups,subordinated by rugose corals and brachiopods.Adhering to the International standard chronostratigraphy of the Carboniferous,we have reconstructed a framework of the litho-and biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas.Further studies should focus on isotope geochronology,geochemistry,paleoclimates,and paleoenvironments of the Carboniferous in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas.

Fine Stratigraphic Division of Volcanic Reservoir by Uniting of Well Data and Seismic Data—Taking Volcanic Reservoir of Member One of Yingcheng Formation in Xudong Area of Songliao Basin for an Example

Taking member one of Yingcheng Formation of Cretaceous in Xudong area, Xushen Gas Field of Songliao Basin for an example and aimed at the diachronous problem generally existed in vol- canic reservoir division, firstly advanced the method of two steps and two unites in the researches of volcanic reservoir finely division that guided by the method that sources controlled and founded the stratigraphic trellis. In this process, volcanic edifices and bodies were identified and traced. The results indicated that aimed strata in study areas could be carved up to six layers of YCII1, YCII2, YCII-II, YCIIlI, YCIII2 and YCIIII from the top to the bottom. Analyzing causes and firmly united of well data and seismic data could achieve fine stratigraphic division of volcanic reservoir. Surfaces of layers and volcanic bodies were basically unanimous in side direction. Stratum inclination gradually reduced with the distances increased from craters. The results of volcanic reservoir division had preferable con- sistency with lithologies and volcanic lithofacies and dynamic development data. The researches offered a useful method to stratigraphic division of volcanic reservoir and it had very important significance to effective development of volcanic reservoir in practice.