A new small baurioid therocephalian from the Lower Triassic Jiucaiyuan Formation, Xinjiang, China

Several therocephalian species,mainly represented by cranial material from the late Permian,have been reported from China in recent years.Here we describe a tiny new baurioid therocephalian,Jiucaiyuangnathus confusus gen.et sp.nov.,from the Jiucaiyuan Formation,Xinjiang,China.The new taxon is represented by a partial snout with occluded partial lower jaw and two postcranial skeletons.Although juvenile in stage,the new species is diagnosed by the following features:round pit in middle of lateral surface of maxilla;lacrimal contact nasal;fossa for dentary tooth on the posterior end of the premaxilla,lateral to the anterior choana;two small vertical triangular ridges extending dorsally and ventrally on the vomerine anterior portion,and bordering a thin vomerine foramen laterally;anterior projection of the lateral part of the frontal on the nasal;symphyseal region of the dentary projected anteriorly;5 upper premaxillary teeth,upper and lower canines absent,diastema between the last premaxillary upper incisor and first maxillary tooth present,no diastema separating anterior from posterior dentition in the mandible,10 maxillary teeth and 12 dentary teeth,posterior postcanine expands mesiodistally,having a main large cusps and tiny anterior and posterior accessory cusps in line;neural arches of the atlas fused by the neural spine,neural spine of the axis projected posteriorly,procoracoid foramen lies between procoracoid and scapula.Features of the dentition resembles those of the small baurioid Ericiolacerta parva from South Africa and Silphedosuchus orenburgensis from Russia.The specimens provide the rare opportunity to know in detail the postcranial skeleton of baurioids.

Permo-Carboniferous Radiolarians from the Wupata'erkan Group,Western South Tianshan, Xinjiang, China

The Wupata'erkan Group, also called Wupata'erkan Formation, distributed in the South Tianshan, Xinjiang, China, mainly consists of gray and dark gray fine-grained clastic rocks, interlayered with volcanic rocks, carbonates and cherts. Some ultra-basic rocks (blocks) punctuate the formation. The formation was variously assigned to Silurian-Middle Devonian, Silurian-Lower Devonian, and pre-Devonian, mainly based on Atrypa bodini Mansuy, Hypothyridina parallelepipedia (Brour.) and Prismatophyllum hexagonum Yoh collected from the limestone interlayers, respectively. However, radiolarian fossils obtained from 24 chert specimens of the Wupata'erkan Group, mainly include Albaillella sp. cf. A. undulata Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon, Albaillella sp. cf. A. indensis Won, Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto, Albaillella sp. and Latentifistulidae gen. et. sp. indet., are earliest Carboniferous and Late Permian. The earliest Carboniferous assemblage is characterized by Albaillella sp. cf. A. undulata Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon and Albaillella sp. cf. A. indensis Won, and the Late Permian assemblage by Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto. This new stratigraphic evidence indicates that the Wupata'erkan Group is possibly composed of rocks with different ages from Silurian to Permian, and therefore, it is probably an ophiolite melange. The discovery of Late Permian Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa provides more reliable evidence supporting the existence of a Permian relic ancient oceanic basin in the western part of Xinjiang South Tianshan.

Discovery and Significance of the Wusunshan Early Carboniferous NbEnriched Arc Basalts in the Yining Block,West Tianshan

Nb-enriched arc basalts,an extremely special rock type,were formed in a specific tectonic setting,which have attracted much attention in recent years.Although Nbenriched basalts in the Yining Block were interpreted as arc-affinity basalts,some geologists suggested that they should be Nb-enriched continental basalts and not arcrelated.Recently,the Nb-enriched arc basalts have been first identified from the Dahalajunshan Formation in southern Wusunshan,Yining.

Geochronology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes of Early Carboniferous magmatism in southern West Junggar, northwestern China: Implications for Junggar oceanic plate subduction

West Junggar is a key area for understanding intra-oceanic plate subduction and the final closure of the Junggar Ocean.Knowledge of the Carboniferous tectonic evolution of the Junggar Ocean region is required for understanding the tectonic framework and accretionary processes in West Junggar,Central Asian Orogenic Belt.A series of Early Carboniferous volcanic and intrusive rocks,namely,basaltic andesite,andesite,dacite,and diorite,occur in the Mayile area of southern West Junggar,northwestern China.Our new LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb geochronological data reveal that diorite intruded at 334(±1)Ma,and that basaltic andesite was erupted at 334(±4)Ma.These intrusive and volcanic rocks are calc-alkaline,display moderate MgO(1.62%-4.18%)contents and Mg#values(40-59),and low Cr(14.5×10-6-47.2×10-6)and Ni(7.5×10-6-34.6×10-6)contents,and are characterized by enrichment in light rare-earth elements and large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in heavy rare-earth elements and high-field-strength elements,meaning that they belong to typical subduction-zone island-arc magma.The samples show low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios(range of 0.703649-0.705008),positiveεNd(t)values(range of 4.8-6.2 and mean of 5.4),and young TDM Nd model ages ranging from 1016 to 616 Ma,indicating a magmatic origin from depleted mantle involving partial melting of 10%-25%garnet and spinel lherzolite.Combining our results with those of previous studies,we suggest that these rocks were formed as a result of northwestward subduction of the Junggar oceanic plate,which caused partial melting of sub-arc mantle.We conclude that intra-oceanic arc magmatism was extensive in West Junggar during the Early Carboniferous.

A Study on Palaeogeography and Metallogenic Conditions of Early Carboniferous Bauxite Deposits of Old Weathered Crust in Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei Provinces

There are four subtypes. namely, Ia, Ib, Ic and Id of the Early Carboniferous bauxite deposits of the old weathered crust type in Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei provinces. They are all distributed in the Upper Yangtze old land. As a result of the Hunan-Guizhou palaeo-faulting, the crust on the northern side of the fault was uplifted and became land, thus suffering denudation. The bauxitic substances left in the weathered crust evolved and were reworked into bauxite. On the other hand, the crust on the southern side of the fault sank and remained to be part of an ocean. The bauxite deposits of Ia and Ib subtypes were formed by in-situ enrichment of residual bauxitic substances in the weathered crust of the old land, but bauxite deposits of Ic and Id subtypes resulted from transportation, accumulation and sedimentation of allothogenous bauxitic substances on the weathered crust of the old land. The processes of transportation may be distinguished as dry transportation and wet transportation, both of which proceeded under atmospheric conditions.

Early Jurassic Soft-Sediment Deformation Interpreted as Seismites in the Wuqia Pull-Apart Basin and the Strike-Slip Talas-Ferghana Fault, Xinjiang, China

The early Jurassic soft-sediment deformation occurring within lacustrine sandstone is distributed mainly in the Wuqia region of SW Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, western China. Triggered by earthquakes, such deformation was found to occur in three beds overlying the lower Jurassic Kangsu Formation. The main styles of deformation structures comprise load cast, ball-and- pillow, droplet, cusps, homogeneous layer, and liquefied unconformity. The deformation layers reflect a series of three strong earthquakes at the end of early Jurassic in the Wuqia region. The differences of deformation mechanisms undergone might represent the varying magnitudes of the earthquake events. During the early Jurassic, the Wuqia region was located in a pull-apart basin controlled by the significant Talas-Ferghana strike-slip fault in central Asia, which initiated the soft-sediment deformation induced by earthquakes. Our research suggests that the paleoseismic magnitudes could have ranged from Ms 6.5 to 7.

New Early Cretaceous Pterosaur-Bird Track Assemblage from Xinjiang, China:Palaeoethology and Palaeoenvironment

A pterosaur-bird track assemblage from a sandstone-siltstone-mudstone sequence of the Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Group of Xinjiang comprises the first pterosaur track record from this province and the largest specimen thus far known from China.The pterosaur tracks are assigned to the ichnogenus Pteraichnus based on the triangular overall-shape,the four elongate digit traces and the robust manual digit trace Ⅲ.Supposed trackmakers were dsungaripterid pterodactyloids whose skeletal remains are well known from the Tugulu Group.The bird tracks that occur on the same surface,are those of typical shorebirds,known from different other localities in southeast Asia.The congruence with Koreanaornis dodsoni described from the same stratigraphic level justifies an assignment to this ichnospecies.This is a further evidence of the co-occurrence of pterosaurs and birds in a typical iakeshore environment with possible seasonal alteration of water supply and aerial exposure indicated by wave ripples,mudcracks and repeated cycles of coarse to fine sediment.Pterosaurs and birds frequented the shoreline and may have fed also on the numerous invertebrates such as the Scoyenia tracemaker that left abundant burrows.

Carboniferous Mixed Terrigenous Clastic, Carbonate and Sulphate Sediments in the Bachu Area, Xinjiang

The Carboniferous system in the Xiaohaizi area, Bachu County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, composed of typical mixed terrigenous clastic, carbonate and sulphate sediments, was mainly deposited in the tidal flat and lagoon environments. The mixed sediments occur as the following eleven types: 1. limestone intercalated with siltstone; 2. interbeds of shale and limestone; 3. gypsolyte interbedded with limestone; 4. gypsolyte intercalated with siltstone; 5. gypsolyte interbedded with shale; 6. gypsolyte intercalated with siltstone, limestone and dolomite; 7. siltstone interbedded with gypsolyte and limestone; 8. terrigenous detritus scattered in carbonate matrix; 9. carbonate as cement in clastic rocks; 10. mixed sediments of carbonate and terrigenous mud; 11. mixed sediments of carbonate grains with terrigenous sand. Based on the analysis of the dynamic mechanism of mixed sediments, it is believed that these types of mixed sediments in the study area were controlled by climate, sea level change and sources of sediments.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LATE CARBONIFEROUS FLYSCH FORMATION IN LIUSHUGOU-URHO, XINJIANG

In early Late Carboniferous only the South Junggaru-Bogeda area of the ancient North Xinjiang geosynclinal region was still in the geosynclinal stage,when it was the critical Period for closing of the geosynclinal region. The crust movement was in a special form with frequent rhythm,and there developed a typical flysch formation in Liushugou-Urho in Late Carboniferous. A thorough investigation and study on the flysch formation have been carried out,based on a great number of the firsthand field information and experiment analytical data.The Late Carboniferous flysch formation in Liushugou-Urho,Xinjiang,formed in the Bashkirian .consisting mainly of the Baogutu Formation. There are outcrops if the flysch at Liushugou ,Kesongertai, Kayinte, Hatu, Dongfeng Wudui, Urho, etc. The outcrops at Kesongertai and Urho, 422m and 1228m thick respectively,are more typical and complete flysch formation.The Late Carbonilerous flysch formation in Liushugou-Urho consists mainly of the rhythmic series of sandstone and shale. The shale (or mudstone) component increases southeastward to Urho and sandstone component increases southwestward to Liushugou-Kayinte. Body fossils are seldom in the formation but the Nereites ichnofacies are common. The distribution of trace elements is stable and belongs to the regular pattern. THe flysch formation at the Urho formed chiefly in a bathyal sedimentary environment,possessing a complete transgressive-and-regressive sequence. At Liushugou -Kayinte, the formation can obviously be divided into the upper and lower parts. The upper formed in a littoral-neritic oscillatory environment,while the lower deposited in a bathyal turbidite basin. The two parts constitute a transgressive sequence.

LYSTROSAURS OF XINJIANG, CHINA

Since the first report on Chinese lystrosaurs made by Yuan and Young in 1934, abundant material has been collected from the Early Triassic of Jiuchaiyuan Formation of Jimusar (Fuyuan), Junggar basin and Taoshuyuan, Turpan basin. Up to now 7 species of Lystrosaurus——L. broomi, L. hedini, L. weidcnreichi, L. youngi, L. robustus, L. latifrons and L. shichanggouensis, have been erected in China. All the species were described based on almost complete skulls, except L. weidenreichi, which was on some materials of postcranial skeleton. It was thought generally that L. broomi and L. youngi are closely related to the South African L. murrayi and L. curvatus respectively. Furthermore, the two Chinese species were considered as synonymous with their counterparts of South Africa by Colbert in 1974, when he revised this genus. The characters of the Chinese lystrosaurs, however, appeared to give no support to Colbert’s suggestion. A comprehensive study of the Chinese lystrosaurs based on the type specimens and the additional materials, and the revised diagnoses. for 4 species are given in the present paper.

The geochemical characteristics,geochronology and tectonic significance of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Santanghu area in northeastern Xinjiang,China

The Santanghu area is located on the northeastern margin of the Junggar Basin,northern Xinjiang,Northwest China.The Carboniferous volcanic rocks in this area are widely distributed in Kaokesaiergaishan,Santanghu,Daheishan and Naomaohu districts,which are located to the north of the Kalameili Fault.These rocks,sourced from a cognate magma,consist of basic,intermediate,and acidic lavas,and pyroclastic rock.The basic volcanic rocks are enriched with large-ion lithophile elements(LILE),but are relatively depleted in high field strength elements(HFSE),and have an obvious negative Nb-Ta-Ti anomaly.They were most probably derived from a depleted mantle source,and during their ascent,these magmas were not contaminated by the crustal material as they underwent magma crystallization differentiation.Based on the Carboniferous volcanic assemblage and geochemical data,it is apparent that the early Carboniferous volcanism occurred in a subduction-related tectonic setting.New LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb analyses constrain the age of the andesite within the volcanic rocks as the early Carboniferous(328.9-331.3 Ma).Combined with the regional geological record,comprehensive analysis of the isotope geochronological data indicates that the subduction of the Junggar Ocean predates the early Carboniferous,and that the Santanghu island arc magmatism was induced by the subduction of the Junggar Ocean in the Carboniferous.

Hydrocarbon accumulation mechanism and structure of largescale volcanic weathering crust of the Carboniferous in northern Xinjiang,China

The Upper Carboniferous in northern Xinjiang, China was formed in a post-collisional depression and collapsed structural setting. Within the Upper Carboniferous, volcanic rocks and source rocks alternate over a wide region. At the end of the Carboniferous, these layers were uplifted by plate collisions and subsequently weathered and leached. Volcanic weathering and leaching led to the establishment of weathered crusts that can be divided into five layers. Corrosion and crumble zones in these layers form favorable reservoirs. Volcanic weathering crust formed in sub-aerially exposed paleogeomorphic areas; the five relatively continuous layers are generally preserved in paleogeomorphic lowland and slope regions, but the upper soil layer is usually absent in structurally higher parts of the rock record. The thickness of the weathered layer has a positive nonlinear ex- ponential relationship to the duration of weathering and leaching, and the dynamic equilibrium time of weathered crust is about 36.3 Ma. The thickest weathered layer （~450 m） is located in fracture zones. Weathered crusts are possible from a range of volcanic rocks with different lithologies, given sufficient time for weathering and leaching. The combination of volcanic weathered crust and source rocks results in three types of hydrocarbon accumulation models： （1） sequences of volcanic weathered crust interbedded with source rocks, （2） a quasi-layered weathered volcanic core located above source rocks, and （3） volcanic rocks associated with pectinate unconformities adjacent to source rocks. Each of these three types has the potential to form a giant stratigraphic reservoir of volcanic weathered crust. This knowledge has changed the traditional exploration model of searching for favorable lithologic and lithofacies zones in volcanic rocks, and has changed the viewpoint that the Carboniferous does not have the genetic potential to be the basement of the basin in northern Xinjiang. The concepts developed here are of great scientific significance and application for focusing oil and gas exploration on volcanic weathered crust. As such, the Paleozoic volcanic weathered crust in the midwestern part of China may possibly contain large-scale stratigraphic reservoirs and thus could be a new oil and gas exploration target in the future.

Geochronology, Geochemistry and Tectonic Significance of the Early Carboniferous Gabbro and Diorite Plutons in West Ujimqin, Inner Mongolia

Early Carboniferous gabbros and diorites are distributed in West Ujimqin, Inner Mongolia. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of the gabbro and diorite samples are 321± 2 Ma（MSWD=0.65） and 319.4± 1.5 Ma（MSWD=0.42）, respectively. In addition, new geochemistry data from three gabbro and three diorite samples are presented. All six samples show high Al_2O_3 contents but low-TiO_2 contents, belonging to tholeiitic and calc-alkali basalt series. All of the samples have similar chondrite normalized REE patterns characterized by moderate depletion in LREE similar to normal middle oceanic ridge basalt（MORB）. The MORB and PM-normalized trace element patterns show the enrichment in large ion lithophile elements（LILE, e.g., Rb, Ba and Sr）, depletion in high field strength elements（HFSE） and distinctly negative Nb and Ta anomalies similar to volcanic arc basalt. Furthermore, as shown in the correlation plots of La/Ba vs. La/Nb, Ba/La vs. Ce/Pb, Th/La vs. Ce/Pb, Nb/La vs. Ba/Rb, and Nb/Y vs. La/Yb, the magma source has underwent contamination and metasomatism from the subduction fluid. According to the Zr/Nb, La/Nb, and La/Ta ratios and the Nb/Y vs. Zr/Y and Sm/Yb vs. La/Sm diagrams, the magma was derived from shallow depleted lithospheric mantle and formed by moderate（5%~20%） partial melting of spinel lherzolites. Tectonic setting discrimination diagrams reveal that the gabbros and diorites display both characteristics of MORB and volcanic arc basalt, which is consistent with their geochemical characteristics. On the basis of the geochemical features of these samples, combined with regional geological data and many previous researches in the study area, the Early Carboniferous gabbros and diorites of West Ujimqin are suggested to be formed in an intensely extensional rift setting, and a limited immature ocean basin probably formed after subsequent development.

NEW DISCOVERIES IN THE EARLY CAMBRIAN BRADORIIDA FROM WUSHI OF XINJIANG

The Bradoriida (Crustacea) collected previously from South China, particularly from the southwest part of the district, are of the Chiungchussu Stage or late Early Cambrian. In Xinjiang, Liangshanella liangshanensis Huo, L. orbicularis Lee, L.(?) kalpingensis Zhang, Yaoyingella(?) wushiensis Zhang, Shensiella sp. and Tsunyiella sp. which are distributed in the lowest trilobite zone, the Shizhudiscus sugaitensis Zone of Xiaor-

Reassessment of petrogenesis of Carboniferous—Early Permian rift-related volcanic rocks in the Chinese Tianshan and its neighboring areas

The Carboniferous-Early Permian rift-related volcanic successions, covering large areas in the Chinese Tianshan and its adjacent areas, make up a newly recognized important Phanerozoic large igneous province in the world, which can be further divided into two sub-provinces： Tianshan and Tarim. The regional unconformity of Lower Carboniferous upon basement or pre-Carboniferous rocks, the ages （360--351 Ma） of the youngest ophiolite and the peak of subduction metamorphism of high pressure-low temperature metamorphic belt and the occurrence of Ni-Cu-bearing mafic-ultramafic intrusion with age of ~352 Ma and A-type granite with age of ~358 Ma reveal that the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean might take place in the Early Mississippian. Our summation shows that at least four criteria, being normally used to identify ancient asthenosphere upwelling （or mantle plumes）, are met for this large igneous province： （1） surface uplift prior to magmatism; （2） being associated with continental rifting and breakup events; （3） chemical characteristics of asthenosphere （or plume） derived basalts; （4） close links to large-scale mineralization and the uncontaminated basalts, being analogous to those of many ＂ore-bearing＂ large igneous provinces, display Sr-Nd isotopic variations between plume and EMI geochemical signatures, These suggest that a Carboniferous asthenosphere upwelling and an Early Permian plume played the central role in the generation of the Tianshan--Tarim （central Asia） large igneous province.

Petrogenesis of Early and Late Carboniferous Volcanic Rocks in the Yining Block:Constraints from Sr-Nd Isotope

The Yining Block is located in the southwestern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt （CAOB）,which is characterized by widespread Carboniferous volcanic rocks.Recently,we carried out the National Nature Science Foundation of China （No.41273033） and Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges （No.310827153407） project,and focused on two suits volcanic rocks from the Early Carboniferous Dahalajunshan Formation and the Late Carboniferous Yishijilike Formation.Field observations,zircon U-Pb dating,and Sr-Nd isotopic dating were conducted to evaluate the petrogenesis.

Late Carboniferous-Early Permian Mafic-Ultramafic Complexes in Beishan,Southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt and Their Significance

Numeral Permian mafic-ultramafic complexes occur in the Beishan terrane atthe northeastern margin of the Tarim craton,southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt,including the Pobei,Cantoushan,Bijiashan,Hongshishan,Xuanwoling,Zhongposhan and Luodong etc.,intrusions(Qin et al.,2011;Zhang et al.,2017;Xue et al.,2018).These Beishan mafic-ultramafic complexes are composed of peridotite,pyroxenite.

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.

EARLY CARBONIFEROUS HETEROCORALLIA FROM GUILIN AREA IN GUANGXI

Samples of the Heterocorallia described in this note were collected from Thysanophylloides zone of the Huangjin Member of Datang Stage, Lower Carboniferous in Mopanshan, Guilin, Guangxi. Here Heterocorallia is abundant. It consists of 3 genera 5 species (including 4 new species), 1 subspecies and 1 indeterminate species. At present these are at the lowest horizon occurring at the Oatang Stage of the Carboniferous of China.

西准噶尔构造带洋-陆转换过程:来自白杨河组玄武岩的制约

西准噶尔构造带位于中亚造山带西南缘,是研究古亚洲洋演化的关键地区。该带在晚石炭世构造属性与演化认识久存争议。最新发现的西准噶尔构造带下二叠统白杨河组火山岩为解决这一争议提供了可能。白杨河组火山岩主要为玄武岩及其共生的次火山岩,发育完整的陆相火山机构,不整合于下二叠统佳木河组陆相磨拉石建造之上。火山岩高Al_(2)O_(3)、低TiO_(2),属钙碱性中低钾系列。ΣLREE/ΣHREE为2.31~5.00,富集LREE,δEu为0.99~1.29。富集大离子亲石元素Ba、K、Sr,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf,具有明显“TNT”负异常。(^(206)Pb/^(204)Pb)_(i)=17.924~18.000,(^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb)_(i)=15.469~15.509,(208Pb/^(204)Pb)_(i)=37.737~37.879。正的ε_(Nd)(t)(+5.93~+6.76)值和相对低的初始^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr比值(0.703974~0.704299),表明源区可能为俯冲板片脱水产生的流体交代的亏损地幔。这些特征与晚石炭世海相弧火山岩地球化学特征总体一致,时空上密切相关,具有同源、同成因、同构造背景特色,显示了较好的继承性。白杨河组晚于佳木河组陆相磨拉石,明显滞后于洋盆闭合时限,属“滞后弧型”建造。结合前人研究和区域地质背景,本文认为西准噶尔构造带洋盆在晚石炭世关闭后,深部的俯冲作用持续到下二叠统白杨河组形成后,其洋-陆转换过程中经历了“滞后弧”这一独特的构造演化过程。“滞后弧型”火山岩为追索古亚洲洋在本区闭合位置和约束构造演化过程提供新的制约。