The Cretaceous Songliao Basin:Volcanogenic Succession,Sedimentary Sequence and Tectonic Evolution,NE China

The Songliao basin （SB） is a superposed basin with two different kinds of basin fills. The lower one is characterized by a fault-bounded volcanogenic succession comprising of intercalated volcanic, pyrodastic and epiclastic rocks. The volcanic rocks, dating from 110 Ma to 130 Ma, are of geochemically active continental margin type. Fast northward migration of the SB block occurred during the major episodes of the volcanism inferred from their paleomagnetic information. The upper one of the basin fill is dominated by non-marine sag-style sedimentary sequence of silicidastics and minor carbonates. The basin center shifted westwards from the early to late Cretaceous revealed by the GGT seismic velocity structure suggesting dynamic change in the basin evolution. Thus, a superposed basin model is proposed. Evolution of the SB involves three periods including （1） Alptian and pre- Aptian： a retroarc basin and range system of Andes type related to Mongolia-Okhotsk collisional belt （MOCB）; （2） Albian to Companian： a sag-like strike-slip basin under transtension related to oblique subduction of the Pacific plate along the eastern margin of the Eurasian plate; （3） since Maastrichtian： a tectonic inverse basin under compression related to normal subduction of the Pacific plate under the Eurasian plate, characterized by overthrust, westward migration of the depocenter and eastward uplifting of the basin margin.

Provenance and Paleogeography of the Late Cretaceous Mengyejing Formation,Simao Basin,Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

The Mengyejing potash salt deposit(MPSD)is the only pre-Quaternary potash salt deposit in China.The MPSD is located in the southern Simao Basin,southeastern Tibetan Plateau.The MPSD,along with rock salts and clastic rocks,

Tectono-paleogeographic study of the Early Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin

Based on first-hand material from the geological exploration of petroleum,we made a detailed study of the tectonic development in the Early Cretaceous and the distribution of basement rifts in the Songliao Basin.The sedimentary characteristics of this epoch and the tectono-paleogeography of the basin were expounded.The results show that in its early stages,the Songliao Basin was characterized by a detached faulted basin in which mainly lake facies developed among mountains.It became gradually one lake during the late stages of the Early Cretaceous.During this period,the fault activity in the Songliao Basin changed from a turbulent to a quiet development,the water area from small separated lakes to one large lake,in which the sedimentary facies were divided into asymmetric eastern and western parts.In the basin a volcanic clastic rock-alluvial fan system developed and a fan delta-lake-small delta-river system was mainly deposired.Our research also shows that the basement rifts not only controlled the distribution of fault depressions and the tectonic development in the Early Cretaceous,but had also an effect on the orientation of sedimentation,source area and river system,which determine the tectonopaleogeography of the Early Cretaceous.

Organic matter enrichment in the first member of the Xiagou formation of the lower Cretaceous in the Jiuquan Basin, China

The sources and enrichment of organic matter in a sediment core in the first member of the Xiagou Formation(K_1g^1) from the Chang 2-2 borehole of the Jiuquan Basin,NW China,have been examined using Rock-Eval,maceral,carbon isotopes and biomarker data.This data indicates that highly variable organic matter sources and preservation conditions in response to climate change.TOC content,HI,and δ^(13)C value were strongly correlated with the abundance of gammacerane,woody organic matter content,steranes/hopanes ratio,and C_(29) sterane content.This correlation demonstrates the importance that the control of the salinity of the depositional environment and organic matter sources can have upon the enrichment,type,and carbon isotopic composition of organic matter.In the Jiuquan Basin's relatively high temperature and arid climate,high salinity lakes with high primary productivity of algae,planktons,and bacteria,and good organic matter preservation conditions(anoxic bottom water) resulted in the enrichment of isotopically-light algae-bacterial organic matter.In the Jiuquan Basin's regions with a relatively low temperature and wet climate,fresh lakes with low primary productivity of algae,planktons,and bacteria received significant terrigenous high plants input,resulting in the deposition of a low abundance of isotopically heavier terrestrial organic matter.

A Cretaceous Desert-Playa Sedimentary System Controlled the Potash Formation in the Simao Basin

Objective The Simao Basin in Yunnan Province has developed Cretaceous evaporite-bearing clastic deposits, including the Mangang and Mengyejing Formations which were originally interpreted as fluvial and lacustrine deposits. The Mangang Fm. composed of well-rounded quartz sandstones, were commonly considered as the bottom part of the Mengyejing salt series. Dttring last decades,

Discovery of Oil and Gas Shows in the Lower Cretaceous of the Hongmiaozi Basin, Southeastern Songlibao Peripheral Basin

Objective The Hongmiaozi Basin in the southeastern part of the Songliao peripheral basin is a new oil and gas exploration area with a very low exploration level.This basin covers an area of 795 km;.It is adjacent to the Liuhe Basin and Tonghua Basin in the north,and to the Huanren Basin in the south.In order to identify the basic oil and gas geological characteristics,the deep structures and the

Clay Mineralogical and Geochemical Studies of Detrital Rocks of the Upper Cretaceous Salt-bearing Strata,Simao Basin,SW China:Implication for Provenance and Source Weathering

1 Introduction Geological studies established on several sections in Lanping-Simao basin have shown that the salt-bearing strata of Mengyejing formation(Yunlong Fm.in Lanping basin)are constituted by an alternation of salt layers and interbedded facies.The latter consists mainly of mudstones,and mudstone-rich conglomerate.The mineralogy and geochemistry of salt-bearing beds and

On the Age of the Dongtang Formation in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan and the Cretaceous and Tertiary Boundary

Since the coexistence of the Cretaceous and Palaeocene was ascertained in the Hengyang Basin of Hunan in the middle of the 1960's, the Cretaceous and Tertiary boundary has been discussed in several papers, but it still remains controversal. The points at issue are the connotation, stratigraphical position and lateral correlation of the Dongtang (or Chejiang) Formation.

Identification Marks of Cretaceous Shallow-Water Delta in the Songliao Basin,China

Shallow-water deltas are now a research focus of international sedimentology. Researchers have recently discovered that water depth is an important controlling factor for the development of shallow deltas, and that significant differences exist between shallow-water deltas and the traditional Gilbert deltas. The identification marks of shallow-water deltas are critical for better understanding sedimentary characteristics of these deltas. In continental basins, especially China＇s Mesozoic and Cenozoic continental basins, shallow-water deltas are widely developed. Thus, this work took the Songliao Basin as an example to analysis this kind of deltas.

Micropaleontology and palaeoclimate during the early Cretaceous in the Lishu depression,Songliao basin,Northeast China

Diverse and abundant microfossils, such as palynomorphs, algae and Ostracoda, were collected from lower Cretaceous strata of Lishu depression, located in southeastern Songliao basin, and were identified and classified in order to provide relevant, detailed records for paleoclimate research. The early Creta- ceous vegetation and climate of southeastern Songliao basin have been inferred from the analysis of palynomorph genera, algae and Ostracoda of the LSI and SW110 wells. The lower Cretaceous strata include, in ascending stratigraphic order, the Shahezi, Yingcheng and Denglouku formations. Palyno- logical assemblages for each formation, based on biostratigraphic and statistical analyses, provide an assessment of their longitudinal variations. During deposition of the Shahezi Formation, the climate was mid-subtropical. Vegetation consisted of coniferous forest and herbage. During deposition of the Ying- cheng Formation, the climate was south Asian tropical. Vegetation consisted mainly of coniferous forest and herbal shrub. In addition, fresh and saline non-marine water dominated the lacustrine setting during deposition of these formations. Deposition of the Denglouku Formation, however, occurred under a hot and dry tropical climate. The vegetation was mostly coniferous forest and lake waters became saline. Palaeoclimate variation is correlated by the lake level change and the development of sedimentary facies. Palaeoclimate contribute to the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks and reservoir.

Emplacement of Dyke Swarms, Cretaceous Volcanism and Development of Petroliferous Basins in and around Peninsular India

We illustrate intricate genetic relationship between prolonged extensional tectonics,formation of several sedimentary basins,enormous Cretaceous volcanism and emplacement of great dyke swarms as well assequential

The Depositional Environment of the Cretaceous Kizilsu Group in Xinjiang——With a Discussion of the Lowermost Marine Horizon of the Cretaceous in the Western Tarim Basin

In this paper. it is demonstrated that there exist marine horizons in the upper part of the lower subcycleand the upper subeycle of the Kizilsu Group in Xinjiang. based on new evidence of authigenic glauconite.boron content. carbon and oxygen stablc isotopic analyses. and lithological and sedimentary features. The up-per part of the lower subeycle is the lowermost marine horizon of the Cretaceous in the western Tarim Basin,which is inferred to be of Barremian age.

Cretaceous Stress Fields Evolution and Its Geodynamic Implications in Jiaolai Basin, Northern China

The Tan-Lu fault zone(TLFZ)along the East China continental margin experienced sinistral movement at the beginning of Early Cretaceous(ca.145)due to fast oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate in the Pacific Ocean.It can

Timing of the formation of the Tianhuashan Basin in northern Wuyi as constrained by geochronology of volcanic and plutonic rocks

The Tianhuashan Basin is one of the most important volcanic basins in the northern Wuyi,southeastern China,comprising two successive volcanic units,the Daguding Formation and the overlying Ehuling Formation,along with several small associated igneous intrusions.The Lengshuikeng super-large-scale Ag-Pb-Zn deposit,which is closely related to these volcanic-intrusive rocks,is located in the northwestern part of the basin.In order to understand the basin evolution and magmatism,we determined LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages for the volcanic successions and associated intrusive rocks.U-Pb zircon dating of volcanic units yielded precise ages of 144±1 Ma for crystal tuff in the lower member of the Daguding Formation,142±1 Ma for andesite within the upper member of the Daguding Formation,140±1 Ma for tuffite of the first(i.e.,lowermost) member of the Ehuling Formation,and 137±1 Ma for rhyolitic ignimbrite within the third volcano-stratigraphic member of the Ehuling Formation.Three types of intrusive igneous rocks(quartz syenite porphyry,K-feldspar granite porphyry,and rhyolite porphyry) yielded precise weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U ages of 144±1,140±1,and 140±1 Ma,respectively,suggesting that these intrusions along with the aforementioned volcanics were all emplaced during the Early Cretaceous.In addition,the weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U ages determined on zircon from two samples of a granite porphyry intrusion,which hosts ore mineralization of the Lengshuikeng Ag-Pb-Zn deposit,are 158±1 and 157±1 Ma,indicating emplacement in the Late Jurassic.These new geochronological results for igneous rocks of the Tianhuashan Basin constrain the timing of volcanic and plutonic activity in the basin,and have important implications for our understanding the tectonic history of the region,and for identifying metallogenic types and the timing of ore deposition of the Lengshuikeng deposit.

Cretaceous Carbonate Deposits of Neotethys Ocean in the Northwest of Iran

Cretaceous carbonate deposits are considerably extensively distributed in the northwest of Iran and form most of the paleohighs of the region and different Cenozoic sedimentary units have deposited over these units with angular unconformity. Cretaceous stratigraphic units of northwestern Iran can be divided into three main categories： clastic, shallow carbonate and pelagic. Clastic facies include conglomerate, breccia and fine-grained clastic groups and carbonate facies are composed of series of microfacies of open sea（A）, bar（B）, lagoon（C）, and tidal flat. Relatively deep carbonate deposits with different trace fossils are also indications of deeper parts of the Cretaceous sedimentary environments in the northwest of Iran. With reference to the expansion of narrow Neotethys Ocean（Khoy-Zanjan）, shelf margin sedimentary environments of Neotethys Ocean can be assumed for the Azarshahr-Tabriz region, where flysch and clastics facies in the coasts of Varaghan deposited towards the northern parts with increase of depth. Investigation on the expansion of narrow Neotethys Ocean by using different sedimentary facies during the present study is considered as an important step to complete paleogeographic data of Cretaceous time in the northwestern region of Iran and Middle East.