Annelid from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation in Northeastern Guizhou,China

Wenghuiia jiangkouensis gen. et sp. nov., characterized by modern annelid taxonomy in morphology and functional biology, is found in black carbonaceous shale from the Neoproterozoic Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation （about 555 Ma） near Wenghui, Jiangkou, northeastern Guizhou Province. The elongate, cylindrical body is composed of many homologous metameres with a true coelom and coelomic pouches. The mouth is at the front of the first segment and the anus at the end of body. A long 11th or 12th segment is probably functionally for procreation, being a clitellum. There are parapodia on the venter of the segments from the rear of the second segment to the front of the clitellum. The setae on all metameres, on the parapodia, and around the anus, differ. In the centre of body, a line probably represents the alimentary canal passing through the body from mouth to anus. A closed vascular system consists of a dorsal vessel at least. W. jiankouensis might represent the oldest discovered ＇modern＇ annelid but it is not a primitive type. It lived on the depositional surface of a shallow sea with an environment of calm-water and abundant light.

Acanthomorph Biostratigraphic Succession of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the East Yangtze Gorges,South China

Large acanthomorphic acritarchs have been found in chert of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation at several localities in South China, including the East Yangtze Gorges of Hubei Province,Weng＇an area of Guizhou Province, and elsewhere. However, their potential for biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of Ediacaran successions is limited by facies control, taphonomic biases,and taxonomic problems. In the Yangtze Gorges, the Doushantuo Formation is generally subdivided into four lithologic members. However, in the Weng＇an area, the Doushantuo Formation comprises just a lower and upper part separated by a mid-Doushantuo erosional surface. In the Yangtze Gorges at the Zhangcunping section, the Doushantuo succession is similar to that at Weng＇an. So far, the correlation between the Yangtze Gorges and Weng＇an area, and elsewhere has been an issue of debate. To resolvethe debate, we selected eight sections in the Yangtze Gorges area and systemically sampled chert nodules of the Doushantuo Formation, focusing in particular on the upper Doushantuo Formation. Our data confirm two different assemblages appearing separately in the second and third members, which are separated by a negative δ13C excursion （EN2）. The lower assemblage is characterized by Tianzhushania and a diverse suite of large acanthomorphic acritarchs. The upper assemblage is distinguished from the lower assemblage, by （1） absence of Tianzhushania; （2） occurrence of abundant,100-150 μm, smooth-walled spherical microfossils; （3） occurrence of highly diverse acanthomorphic acritarchs including species extending from the second member and new forms in this member; （4）occurrence of unnamed new forms of protist; and （5） occurrence of the tubular microfossil Sinocyclocylicus guizhouensis. Since the Tianzhushania-dominated assemblage is not present in Australia, it seems that only the upper acanthomorph assemblage is present and thus the lower Doushantuo acanthomorph assemblage is missing in Australia.

Megascopic Symmetrical Metazoans from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Northeastern Guizhou,South China

In South China, various megascopic symmetrical metazoan fossils were found in the upper Doushantuo （陡山沱） Formation of the Neoproterozoic Ediacaran. The worm-like fossil is characterized by modern taxological annelid, for many metameres, parapodia, one possible tentale, an alimentary canal, and a dorsal vessel. The triradiate discoidal fossils belong to Trilobozoa, and the octaradiate discoidal fossil might be Ctenophora. All these fossils indicate that the megascopic metazoans have appeared in the Doushantuoian of Eidacaran and imply that the symmetrical metazoans must have originated at least 550 Ma ago.

New Data of Phosphatized Acritarchs from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation at Weng'an,Guizhou Province,Southwest China

Abundant phosphatized acritarchs are preserved in the late Precambrian （Ediacaran） Doushantuo Formation at Weng＇an, Guizhou Province, southwest China. Most of them are large with various spinous ornaments and multilayered outer walls. The general characters of these fossils are quite similar to those found from the homochronous deposits of the Yangtze Gorges, southern China. Therefore the Doushantuo Formation in the Weng＇an area can be correlated directly with the Doushantuo Formation of the Yangtze Gorges. Four species in four genera, including two new genera, two new species and one uncertain species are systematically described for the first time from the studied locality. The taxa are Bacatisphaera baokangensis Zhou, Brasier et Xue, 2001, Taeniosphaera doushantuoensis gen. et sp. nov., Rugospinasphaera speciosa gen. et sp. nov. and Meghystichosphaeridium sp. The new data enriches the famous Weng＇an biota, especially the marine microplankton flora in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation.

Sedimentary lithofacies characteristics and sweet-spot interval characterization of the Sinian Doushantuo Formation in Upper Yangtze Platform, South China

The Sinian Doushantuo Formation is the oldest shale gas reservoir discovered in the world, which contains good shale gas shows as the Eyangye-1 and Zidi-1 wells in the Yichang Region of western Hubei province, China. The shales in the Doushantuo Formation feature considerable thickness (135 m), high gas content (4.83 m^3/t) and high fragile mineral content (up to 75%). Due to the influences of the sedimentary environment, the shale reservoirs here have high dolomitic content (54%) and abruptly changes in vertical lithofacies. Moreover, the characteristics of the shale sweet-spot differ significantly from that in the Wufeng Formation and Longmaxi Formation in southeast Sichuan Basin. A high-resolution sequence stratigraphic correlation was performed on the shales of the Doushantuo Formation at the Eyangye-1 well, Zidi-1 well, Zidi-2 well and some outcrop profiles in Yichang area for the identification of their sedimentary microfacies characteristics. A comprehensive comparative analysis was made by incorporating the elemental geochemistry, wireline and mud logging data of the well to further identify the sweet-spot interval therein. With the analysis of Eyangye-1 well, the sweet-spot interval of the Doushantuo Formation is 3360?3408 m, of which sedimentary microfacies is deepwater reduced environment with many pyrite laminaes, and the TOC is high to 3.42%, the Ro is 3.3%, the organic and matrix pore are well developed and the aperture more than 50 nm, the porosity is 2.7%, the desorption gas content average is 2.16%, and the main mineral is dolomitic (54%) and siliceous quartz (21%). Additionally, these parameters combined with previous studies will shed light on evaluating and characterizing the layers therein, also provide referential geological data for the following exploration and development activities of this shale system.

Phosphatized biotas from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation on the Yangtze Platform

The Doushantuo Formation in South China was deposited after the Nantuo glaciation but before the evolution of complex Ediacaran metazoans. It contains multiple taphonomic windows, in its cherts, carbonaceous shales, and phosphorites, onto the late Neoproterozoic biosphere. The phosphatic window is unusually clear; Doushantuo phosphorites at Weng’an (Guizhou Province) are known to exquisitely preserve a multitude of single-celled eukaryotes, muiticellular algae, and microscopic animals. Our recent survey reveals that, in addition to the now famous Weng’an locality, Doushantuo phosphorites at Baokang (Hubei), Chadian (Shaanxi), and Shangrao (Jiangxi) also contain diverse eukaryotes preserved at the cellular level. All these phosphorites were deposited in shallow-water environments, typically above fair weather wave base and close to ancient islands. Along with Doushantuo cherts and shales, these phosphorites give us a clearer and more complete picture of late Neoproterozoic biological evolution: there

Early diagenetic growth of carbonate concretions in the upper Doushantuo Formation in South China and their significance for the assessment of hydrocarbon source rock

Mineralogical and textural characteristics and organic carbon composition of the carbonate concretions from the upper Doushantuo Formation (ca. 551 Ma) in the eastern Yangtze Gorge area reveal their early diagenetic (shallow) growth in organic-rich shale. High organic carbon content (up to 10%) and abundance of framboidal pyrites in the hosting shale suggest an anoxic or euxinic depositional environment. Well-preserved cardhouse clay fabrics in the concretions suggest their formation at 0-3 m burial depth, likely associated with microbial decomposition of organic matter and anaerobic oxidation of methane. Gases through decomposition of organic matter and/or from methanogenesis created bubbles and cavities, and anaerobic methane oxidation at the sulfate reduction zone resulted in carbonate precipitation, filling in bubbles and cavities to form spherical structures of the concretions. Rock pyrolysis analyses show that the carbonate concretions have lower total organic carbon (TOC) content but higher effective carbon than those in the host rocks. This may be caused by enclosed organic matter in pores of the concretions so that organic matter was protected from further modification during deep burial and maintained high hydrocarbon generating potential even in over-matured source rock. As a microbialite sensu latu, concretions have special growth conditions and may provide important information on the microbial activities in depositional and early burial environments.

Rare Earth Element Geochemistry of Phosphatic Rocks in Neoproterozoic Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Hushan Section from the Yangtze Gorges Area, South China

Phosphatic rocks are widely distributed in Neoproterozoic Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Yangtze Gorges Area, South China. In this study, rare earth element geochemistry of eight phosphatic rock samples from the Hushan Section has been studied. All the samples display typical hat-shaped REE patterns, moderate negative Ce anomalies（Ce/Ce＊=0.55 to 0.67）, slightly positive Eu anomalies（Eu/Eu＊=1.05 to 1.22） and low Y/Ho ratios（38.2±5.6）. The hat-shaped REE patterns indicate diagenetic alteration of the primary REE signatures, which coincides with detrital siliciclastic sources of REE based on the Y/Ho ratios. The degree of Negative Ce anomalies and positive Eu anomalies may have recorded the redox features of diagenetic fluids, suggesting an anoxic environment during the phosphogenesis processes in Neoproterozoic Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, South China. The geochemical comparison between the Lower Phosphorite Layer and Upper Phosphorite Layer at Hushan indicates a greater degree of diagenesis occurred in the Upper Layer than the Lower one. Besides the terrigenous sources of REE, organic materials could have also played a role on the REE characteristics.

Astronomical time scale for the lower Doushantuo Formation of early Ediacaran,South China

Nearly 90% of the Ediacaran Period(635–541 Ma) of the Neoproterozoic is represented by the Doushantuo Formation(DST Fm) in South China.Its lowest Member I is a 3.7 m-thick cap carbonate deposited at the termination of the Cryogenian Marinoan glaciation.The DST Fm consists of alternating organic-rich black shale and thinly bedded dolostone, and it contains some of the oldest records of multicellular life and three pronounced negative carbon isotope excursions.The Jiulongwan(JLW) section is a well-studied reference section for these Ediacaran events.Spectral analysis of geochemical data through the lower DST Fm(22.3 m) shows 27 predominant ～90 cm sedimentary cycles that correspond to 405-ka long eccentricity cycles.The power spectra of the 405-ka tuned Ca and Fe/Ti series show significant peaks at ～1.2-Ma, 405-ka, 133-ka, 128-ka, 100-ka, 82-ka, ～31-ka and 29-ka periods, respectively.A 11.16 Malong astronomical time scale has been constructed for the lower DST Fm and provide a duration of 1.6 Ma for the cap carbonate(Member Ⅰ) based on the 405-ka long eccentricity cycle tuning.Using the U-Pb age of 635.2 ± 0.6 Ma for the volcanic ash bed at the Member Ⅰ/Ⅱboundary, we proposed a 636.8 Ma age for the base of the DST Fm.These ages and astronomical timescale provide important new constraints on the subdivision of Ediacaran strata, and have implications for understanding the character of the first negative δ^(13)C excursion(EN1).Orbital forcing may have been played an important role for the climate changes and the evolution of Ediacaran multi-cellular life and the carbon cycle variations.

Organic Carbon Isotope Geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation,South China

The Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation on the Yangtze Platform, South China, documents a sedimentary succession with different sedimentary facies from carbonate platform to slope and to deep sea basin, and hosts one of the world-class phosphorite deposits. In these strata, exquisitely preserved fossils have been discovered： the Weng＇an biota. This study presents carbon isotope geochemistry which is associated paired carbonate and organic matter from the Weng＇an section of a carbonate platform （shelf of the Yangtze Platform, Guizhou Province） from the Songtao section and Nanming section of a transition belt （slope of the Yangtze Platform, Guizhou Province） and from the Yanwutan section （basin area of the Yangtze Platform, Hunan Province）. Environmental variations and bio-events on the Yangtze Platform during the Late Neoproterozoic and their causal relationship are discussed. Negative carbon isotope values for carbonate and organic carbon （mean δ^13Corg = -35.0‰） from the uppermost Nantuo Formation are followed by an overall increase in δ^13C up-section. Carbon isotope values vary between -9.9‰ and 3.6‰ for carbonate and between -35.6‰ and -21.5‰ for organic carbon, respectively. Heavier δ^13Ccarb values suggest an increase in organic carbon burial, possibly related to increasing productivity （such as the Weng＇an biota）. The δ^13C values of the sediments from the Doushantuo Formation decreased from the platform via the slope to basin, reflecting a reduced environment with minor dissolved inorganic carbon possibly due to a lower primary productivity. It is deduced that the classical upwelling process, the stratification structure and the hydrothermal eruption are principally important mechanisms to interpret the carbon isotopic compositions of the sediments from the Doushantuo Formation.

New material of microfossils from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Zhangcunping area, Yichang, Hubei Province and its zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age

The Zhangcunping area is located at the north limb of the Huangling anticline in Yichang, Hubei Prov-ince. Here, the sedimentary succession of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation is similar with that in the Weng'an area, Guizhou Province. A large number of new microfossils (mainly acanthoacritarchs) from the Doushantuo Formation in this area are reported in this paper. The fossil assemblage shows similarity as the phosphatized biota of the Doushantuo Formation at Weng'an, Guizhou Province and the silicified biota of the Doushantuo Formation at the Yangtze Gorges, which suggests that the Zhangcunping area is a key for correlation of the Doushantuo Formation between the Weng'an area, Guizhou Province and the Yangtze Gorges. Besides, a new zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age (614.0±7.6 Ma) is first obtained from a horizon underneath the exposed surface in the middle of the Doushantuo Forma-tion in the Zhangcunping area. This age not only provides a new datum for subdivision of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, but also indicates that the age of the exposed surface in the middle of the Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Platform should be posterior to 614.0±7.6 Ma. Due to the horizon of the Weng'an biota situated above the exposed surface, the age of the Weng'an biota should be pos-terior to 614.0±7.6 Ma as well.

Rare earth elements and carbon isotope geochemistry of the Doushantuo Formation in South China:Implication for middle Ediacaran shallow marine redox conditions

The middle Ediacaran Shuram excursion, the largest negative δ 13 C carb excursion in Earth history, has been interpreted as indirect evidence for episodic oxidation and remineralization of deep ocean DOC (dissolved organic carbon). It has been hypothesized that such oxidation event may have occurred when anoxic DOC-laden deep water was brought to shallow shelves during oceanic upwelling, which is expected to cause localized anoxia in shallow environments. To test this prediction, we systematically analyzed rare earth elements (REE) and δ 13 C carb of the upper Doushantuo Formation carbonates in the Yangtze Gorges area of South China, which were deposited in an inner shelf environment and record a large negative δ 13 C carb excursion correlated to the Shuram event. The REE data show a significant positive shift in Ce/Ce* values, synchronous with a pronounced negative δ 13 C carb shift. This positive Ce/Ce* shift is interpreted to represent an oceanic anoxia event in shallow shelf environments, which may have been caused by the upwelling or impingement of oxygen-depleted and 12 C-enriched deep water onto shelves. This anoxia event coincides with a sharp decline in the abundance and diversity of Ediacaran acanthomorphic acritarchs, raising the possibility that these two geobiological events may be causally related.

A new discovery of macroscopic fossils from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area

Two new horizons with macroscopic fossils are reported in the Doushantuo Formation, Ediacaran System, from the Yangtze Gorges area. The fossils were discovered in the lower and middle black shales of the Doushantuo Formation in the new section at Sandouping Town, Zigui County, Hubei Province. The new macroscopic assemblages in- clude Chuaria and Tawuia, and occur below the well- known ”Miaohe Biota”. These fossils indicate that after the Nantuo ice age, macroscopic multicellular organisms gradually increased in abundance and diversity. Simple, discoidal carbonaceous compres- sions such as chuarids are present in the initial macrofossil assemblage of the Doushantuo Stage. This assemblage was eventually replaceded by the more diverse Miaohe macrofossils, including unam- biguously branching forms, in the uppermost Dou- shantuo Formation. The new discovery of carbona- ceous compression macrofossils from the Doushan- tuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area provides new evidence for the correlation of late Neoprotero- zoic successions in southern China.

Pyrite morphology and episodic euxinia of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in South China

The Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation with well-preserved fossil record in South China provides a rare window for our understanding of biological evolution,global carbon cycle,and oceanic redox states.Prominent negativeδ^(13)C anomalies(i.e.,the Shuram excursion)in Ediacaran successions worldwide fundamentally challenge the traditional models of isotopic mass balance.Additionally,conflicting opinions of both oxic and anoxic conditions have been proposed for the deep waters during this period.Here,we present a detailed study of pyrite morphology and carbonate carbon isotope data documented from drill core samples at Songtao County,northeastern Guizhou.Framboid aggregates are the dominant pyrite form in black shale and they can transfer to euhedral crystals through continuous growth of the constituent microcrystals.A positive correlation between microcrystal sizes(d)and framboid diameters(D)is observed,while the different D/d ratios of framboids in argillaceous dolostone and black shale reflect different substrate availability.Electron microprobe analyses reveal no consistent compositional patterns between framboidal and euhedral pyrites.Framboid size distributions of the investigated drill core,in combination with previously published redox data from the intra-shelf Jiulongwan section,shelf margin Zhongling section,and lower slope Wuhe section,suggest that three episodes of marine euxinia have been established throughout the deposition of the Doushantuo Formation.The time lag between the uppermost euxinic interval and the Shuram excursion may arise from the depression of sulfate reduction maintained by other oxidants.

Trace element and rare earth element of cap carbonate in Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Yangtze Gorges

For the Doushantuo cap carbonate at the Jiulongwan section in the Yangtze Gorges, its concentrations of redox sensitive elements suggest two distinct enrichments in stratigraphy. These enrichments occur at about 0.8 m and 3.3 m above the bottom of cap carbonate, respectively. They are interpreted as the temporary anoxic depositional conditions due to the oxidation of seeped methane. REE+Y patterns of the cap carbonate are classified into three types with different styles: (1) from the bottom to 2.45 m, representing the behaviors of freshwater and suggesting that massive meltwater swarmed into surface oceans during the deglaciation; (2) from 2.45 m to 3.3 m, indicating the pattern of ancient seawater possibly due to upwelling of deep water; and (3) from 3.3 m to the top, showing "MREE bulge" pattern with HREE-depletion as a result of diagenesis. The three-stage REE+Y patterns represent the transformations of shallow water in the wake of the Marinoan glaciation in this region: the fresh meltwater was dominant first, and then it interfused into the oceanic basin by the transgression and upwelling. Bloom of plankton further introduced anoxia near the water-sediment interface.

Elemental Geochemical Anomaly in the Sinian Doushantuo Formation-Dengying FormationBoundary in Miaohe, Hubei

: No research has been made on such a lower rank boundary as the Sinian Doushantuo Formation-Dengying Formation boundary in the eastern region of the Yangtze Gorges. Elemental geochemical determination has revealed anomalies of REE and other trace elements around the boundary, which have relatively high contents than those in its overlying and underlying beds. The authors therefore think that a catastrophic event once occurred in the Miaohe area at the end of the Doushantuoan Period, which caused the mass extinction of the Miaohe biota.

Manganese carbonate stromatolites of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Chengkou,northern Yangtze Craton,China

The origin process of manganese ores remains unsolved worldwide.Exploring the origins of stromatolites that contain manganese may be a key to deciphering the sedimentary environments and metallogenic processes of these deposits.However,only a few manganese stromatolites have been discovered and described until now.Microbialites are well developed in the manganese deposits,located near the top of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Chengkou area of Chongqing,northern Yangtze Craton,but has not been explicitly studied;and whether they are true stromatolites or Epiphyton microbialites remains controversial.Based on field and core observations and thin section microscopy,the characteristics of five types of manganese stromatolites and their growth modes are described in detail in this study.The results show that these stromatolites grew in a biostrome in shoal and lagoon environments and were syngenetic with oncolites and oolites on a carbonate ramp behind the shoal.Manganese stromatolites can be categorized into three forms:(1)stratiform;(2)columnar,which includes branched and columnar types;and(3)stratiform-columnar,which is a transitional type.Based on a criterion that the diameter is less than or greater than 1 mm,columnar stromatolites are further divided into micro-columnar(<1 mm)and columnar(>1 mm)columns,which display synchronous growth and are similar to Pseudogymnosolenaceae.Their shapes are mainly controlled by water depths and hydrodynamic strengths.The greater the water depth,the more columnar the columns tend to be.Excessively strong hydrodynamic conditions decrease the growth rate of stromatolites,and they even stopped growth due to wave damage.Furthermore,pillared laminar textures(not Epiphyton),which consist of dendritic,micro-branched and microcolumnar stromatolites,are a common feature of the larger stratiform,stratiform-columnar and columnar stromatolites.The alternations of laminae with different internal textures record subtle fluctuations in water depths and hydrodynamic strengths,which indicate that stromatolite growth is controlled by tidal cycles at the lamina level.Therefore,it is possible that the vertical evolution of the stromatolites could reveal the changing characteristics of both local and regional sedimentary environments,i.e.,stromatolite shape changes from columnar to stratiform can represent the onset of shallower environments with weak hydrodynamic conditions.In addition,as important reef builders in shallow carbonate ramps,microstromatolites accelerate the development from ramp to platform.Indicators of microbial control on stromatolite shapes and manganese sedimentation processes include the fabric of stromatolite laminae,organic rhodochrosite with a micritic texture that is usually clotted,spherical,tubular,fibrous or dendritic,which suggests that the laminae resulted from microbially induced in situ precipitation.

Macroalgal holdfasts and their interaction with environments from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation in Guizhou,South China

Numerous macro-organisms of the Doushantuo macrobiota,which were found in the black carbonaceous mudstone of the upper Neoproterozoic Ediacraan Doushan-tuo Formation in Jiangkou County,Guizhou Province,China,are considered to live on sea floor by their holdfasts.The appearance and preserved forms of the macroalgal holdfasts may provide some data to the study of the living and buried environments of macrobiota.They lived in the lower energy and clear environment,and fixed on a soupground with rich water(about 79%water).Currents,possibly ocean currents,could pull out the macroalgal holdfasts from the soupground and break off the macroalgal foliations.After such events,the corpses of macro-organisms would be covered in a reduced environment by the deposits.Afterwards,a new community,including regenerating and undying macro-organisms,lived continuously on a new deposit.

Lithofacies paleogeography and exploration significance of Sinian Doushantuo depositional stage in the middle-upper Yangtze region, Sichuan Basin, SW China

In recent years, natural gas exploration in the Sinian Dengying Formation and shale gas exploration in Doushantuo Formation have made major breakthroughs in the Sichuan Basin and its adjacent areas. However, the sedimentary background of the Doushantuo Formation hasn't been studied systematically. The lithofacies paleogeographic pattern, sedimentary environment, sedimentary evolution and distribution of source rocks during the depositional stage of Doushantuo Formation were systematically analyzed by using a large amount of outcrop data, and a small amount of drilling and seismic data.(1) The sedimentary sequence and stratigraphic distribution of the Sinian Doushantuo Formation in the middle-upper Yangtze region were controlled by paleouplifts and marginal sags. The Doushantuo Formation in the paleouplift region was overlayed with thin thickness, including shore facies, mixed continental shelf facies and atypical carbonate platform facies. The marginal sag had complete strata and large thickness, and developed deep water shelf facies and restricted basin facies.(2) The Doushantuo Formation is divided into four members from bottom to top, and the sedimentary sequence is a complete sedimentary cycle of transgression–high position–regression. The first member is atypical carbonate gentle slope deposit in the early stage of the transgression, the second member is shore-mixed shelf deposit in the extensive transgression period, and the third member is atypical restricted–open sea platform deposit of the high position of the transgression.(3) The second member has organic-rich black shale developed with stable distribution and large thickness, which is an important source rock interval and major shale gas interval. The third member is characterized by microbial carbonate rock and has good storage conditions which is conducive to the accumulation of natural gas, phosphate and other mineral resources, so it is a new area worthy of attention. The Qinling trough and western Hubei trough are favorable areas for exploration of natural gas(including shale gas) and mineral resources such as phosphate and manganese ore.

湖北宜昌埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组下部无机碳同位素再研究:探寻碳酸盐岩碳同位素组成的原始海水信号

湖北宜昌地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组记录了多次显著的无机碳同位素(δ^(13)C_(carb))波动事件,它们可以在华南乃至全球范围内进行广泛对比。然而,在一些特定剖面中,陡山沱组底部盖帽碳酸盐岩记录了δ^(13)C_(carb)极负值(<-30‰,VPDB),以及上覆陡山沱组二段底部地层中δ^(13)C_(carb)在正负值之间频繁波动的现象。一般认为,成岩作用中形成的碳酸盐矿物导致了这些分布不规律的δ^(13)C_(carb)波动,并对利用碳酸盐岩全岩无机碳同位素(δ^(13)C_(bulk))数据进行古海洋碳同位素组成恢复的可靠性造成了干扰。为了评估成岩作用对δ^(13)C_(bulk)的影响,本文利用宜昌雾河地区埃迪卡拉系的一口钻井岩芯,对陡山沱组下部地层进行了详细的岩石学观察和碳同位素分析。研究结果表明,陡山沱组下部的碳酸盐岩中存在形成于成岩过程中的方解石矿物,而碳酸盐岩中的白云石组分并未遭受严重的后期成岩作用改造,白云石组分的碳同位素(δ^(13)C_(dolo))组成能够更加准确地反映沉积时的海水信息。为获得样品的δ^(13)C_(dolo)信息,本研究首先将全岩粉末样品与30%磷酸反应2 h,去除其中的方解石组分,然后测试残余样品的碳同位素。实验结果显示,该方法可以有效去除岩石粉末中的方解石组分,最终获得的数据能够准确地反映δ^(13)C_(dolo)特征。陡山沱组二段下部样品δ^(13)C_(dolo)为连续稳定的正值,且明显高于δ^(13)C_(bulk),δ^(13)C_(dolo)曲线更加真实地反映了新元古代冰期结束之后海洋碳同位素组成的变化特征。