Provenance of Conglomerate and Sandstone from Early Permian Shoushangou Formation in Xi Ujimqin,Inner Mongolia:Implications for Understanding Paleo-Asian Ocean Subduction

During the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian,a rift was formed by post-collisional extension after ocean closure or an island arc-related basin formed by Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO)subduction in the Xi Ujimqin area.Nevertheless,the closure time of the PAO is still under debate.Thus,to identify the origin of the PAO,the geochemistry and U-Pb age of zircons were analyzed for the extra-large deep marine,polymict clastic boulders and sandstones in the Shoushangou Formation within the basin.The analyses revealed magmatic activity and tectonic evolution.The conglomerates include megaclasts of granite(298.8±9.1 Ma)and granodiorite porphyry(297.1±3.1 Ma),which were deposited by muddy debris flow.Results of this study demonstrated that the boulders of granitoids have the geochemistry of typical I-type granite,characterized by low Zr+Nb+Ce+Y and low Ga/Al values.The granitoid boulders were formed in island arc setting,indicating the presence of arc magmatism in the area that is composed of the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian subduction-related granitoid in southern Xi Ujimqin.Multiple diagrams for determining sedimentary provenance using major and trace elements indicate that Shoushangou sediments originated from continental island arc-related felsic rocks.Detrital zircon U-Pb age cluster of 330–280 Ma was obtained,indicating input from granite,ophiolite,Xilin Gol complex,and Carboniferous sources to the south.The basin was geographically developed behind the arc during the Early Permian period because the outcropped intrusive rocks in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian form a volcanic arc.The comprehensive analyses of source areas suggest that Shoushangou sediments developed in a backarc basin in response to the northward subduction of the PAO.The backarc basin and intrusive rocks,in addition to previously published Late Carboniferous to Early Permian magmatic rocks of arc unit in Xilin Gol,confirm the presence of an Early Permian trencharc-basin system in the region,represented by the Baolidao arc and Xi Ujimqin backarc basin.This study highlights the importance and potential of combined geochemical and geochronological studies of conglomerates and sandstone for reconstructing the geodynamic setting of a basin.

Geochemical Characteristics and Geological Significance of Early Permian Baya'ertuhushuo Gabbro in South Great Xing'an Range

Field geological investigation and geochemical analysis are carried out on Baya＇ertuhushuo Gabbro in South Great Xing＇an Range. Field investigation reveals that the gabbro is a magmatic intrusion rather than a component of an ophiolite suite as previously thought. Zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy （LA-ICP-MS） U-Pb dating indicates the gabbro was formed in 274-275 Ma, just as the widespread volcanic rocks of Dashizhai Formation （P1d）, monzogranites and miarolitic alkali-feldspar granites in the study area. The gabbro has SiO2 content between 47.23 wt% and 50.17 wt%, high MgO and FeOT contents of 6.95-11.29 wt% and 7.32- 12.24wt%, respectively, and it belongs to low-K tholeiitic series in the SiO2-K2O diagram. The Chondrite-normalized rare earth element （REE） patterns and primitive mantle-normalized spider diagrams of the gabbro are similar to those of Normal Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt （N-MORB） except for the enrichment of large ion lithophfle elements （LILE）, such as Rb, Ba and K. In trace element tectonic discriminative diagrams, the samples are mainly plotted in the N-MORB field, and Zircon in situ Lu-Hf isotopic analysis also indicates the gabbro originated from depleted mantle. Through synthetic studies of the geochemical characteristics and petrogenesis of Baya＇ertuhushuo gabbro, volcanic rocks of Dashizhai Formation and granitoids in the area, it is suggested that the early Permian magmatism in the Xilinhot-Xiwuqi area formed in the tectonic setting of asthenosphere upwelling, which was caused by breaking-off of the subducted Paleo-Asian Ocean slab.

Compaction Rate of an Early Permian Volcanic Tuff from Wuda Coalfield, Inner Mongolia

Compaction rates of sediments or volcaniclastic material are needed to reconstruct original thickness of a bed, which in turn is required to reconstruct subsidence rates, sea-level rise, or in the case of volcanielastic, the location or direction of the eruption site. The knowledge of compaction rates can also aid in the reconstruction of deformed fossils. The known shape of deformed fossils can allow the determination of the compaction they experienced. Here we report the compaction rate in an early Permian volcanic tuff from Wuda, Inner Mongolia, determined from the deformation of standing tree fern stems of known anatomy. The compaction rate has been found to be 0.56 in this case, indicating that 44% of original thickness remains.

Progress,Problems and Prospects on the Stratigraphy and Correlation of the Kungurian Stage,Early Permian (Cisuralian) Series

The Kungurian Stage is one of the three remaining stages of the Permian that is not yet defined at the base by a Global Stratotype Section and Point （GSSP）. The candidate section at the Yuryuzan＇River in the Urals yields few conodonts, and contains non-marine sediments near the boundary. The search for a suitable, continuous marine succession is a principal task for the Subcommission on Permian Stratigraphy. The Leonardian, with its type area in the southwest United States, and in objective stratigraphic succession directly beneath the basal Guadalupian Roadian Stage,has priority to serve as a subseries of the Lower Permian. However, distinct provincialism limits the correlation of Leonardian fossil zones with the fusuline-based Tethyan timescale. Conodonts can be correlated in many important regions on opposite sides of Pangea, yet contradictions arise when relating conodont zones with fusuline and ammonoid zones. The different taxonomic philosophies are highly suspected for the cause of the conflicts, but also there are different conodonts from the type Roadian in West Texas. Given that the Pamir and Darvaz in central Asia are difficult to access, further investigations should focus on South China, where abundant fusulines and ammonoids facilitate correlation throughout the Tethyan region, and where conodonts permit correlation with North America.

Petrogenesis of Early Permian Intrusive Rocks from Southeastern Inner Mongolia, China: Constraints on the Tectonic Framework of the Southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The late Paleozoic tectonic framework of the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt is key to restricting the accretion orogeny between the Siberia Craton and the North China Craton. To clarify the framework, petrogenesis of early Permian intrusive rocks from southeastern Inner Mongolia was studied. Zircon U-Pb dating for bojite and syenogranite from Ar-Horqin indicate that they were emplaced at 288–285 Ma. Geochemical data reveal that the bojite is highly magnesian and low-K to middle-K calc-alkaline, with E-MORB-type REE and IAB-like trace element patterns. The syenogranite is a middle-K calc-alkaline fractionated A-type granite and shows oceanic-arc-like trace element patterns, with depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes,(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)I = 0.7032–0.7042, ε_(Nd)(t) = +4.0 to +6.6 and zircon ε_(Hf)(t) = +11.14 to +14.99. This suggests that the bojite was derived from lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted slab melt, while the syenogranite originated from very juvenile arc-related lower crust. Usng data from coeval magmatic rocks from Linxi-Ar-Horqin, the Ar-Horqin intra-oceanic arc was reconstructed, i.e., initial transition in 290–280 Ma and mature after 278 Ma. Combined with regional geological and geophysical materials in southeastern Inner Mongolia, an early Permian tectonic framework as ‘one narrow ocean basin of the PAO', ‘two continental marginal arcs on its northern and southern' and ‘one intra-oceanic arc in its southern' is proposed.

The Early Permian Woniusi Flood Basalts from the Baoshan Terrane, SW China: Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Implications

The Woniusi flood basalts from the Baoshan terrane,SW China,represent a significant eruption of volcanic rocks which were linked to the Late Paleozoic rifting of the Cimmeria from the northern margin of East Gondwana.However,the precise mechanism for the formation and propagation of the rifting is still in debate.Here we report 40 Ar/39 Ar dating,whole-rock geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes for the Woniusi basalts from the Baoshan terrane of SW China,with the aim of assessing if a mantle plume was related to the formation of the continent Cimmeria.40 Ar/39 Ar dating of the Woniusi basalts yielded ages of 279.3±1.1 Ma and 273.9±1.5 Ma,indicating they were emplaced during the Early Permian.Whole-rock geochemistry shows that these basalts have subalkaline tholeiitic affinity,low Ti O2(1.2-2.2 wt%),and fractionated chondrite-normalized LREE and nearly flat HREE patterns[(La/Yb)N=2.86-5.77;(Dy/Yb)N=1.21-1.49]with noticeable negative Nb and Ta anomalies on the primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagram.Theε(Nd)(t)values(-4.76 to+0.92)and high(206 Pb/204 Pb)i(18.40-18.66)along with partial melt modeling indicates that the basalts were likely derived from a sub-continental lithospheric mantle(SCLM)source metasomatized by subduction-related processes.On the basis of a similar emplacement age to the Panjal basalts and Qiangtang mafic dykes and flood basalts in the Himalayas,combined with a tectonic reconstruction of Gondwana in the Early Permian,we propose that the large-scale eruption of these basalts and dykes was related to an Early Permian mantle plume that possibly initiated the rifting on the northern margin of East Gondwana.

Early Permian Qiangtang Mantle Plume, Northern Tibet, China: Evidence from Geochemistry, Geochronology and Geological Responses

Late Paleozoic igneous rocks are extensively developed in Qiangtang terrene,including west Qiangtang(WQT),east Qiangtang(EQT)and the central Qiangtang(CQT)metamorphic belt.The igneous rocks distributed in WQT

Distribution of Rare Earth Elements in Early Permian Reef-Island Ocean Sediments in Eastern Kunlun

Abstract: Based on the study of stratigraphy and fossils, the Early Permian ocean in eastern Kunlun is recognized as a kind of reef-island ocean, in which there exist many different kinds of sediment, including patch carbonate platform, reef facies, transitional facies and deep basin sediments. It has been found that the total contents of REEs increase gradually from carbonate platform facies to deep basin facies. Meanwhile, sediments of different facies have different REE distribution patterns and different Ce anomalies. Most of the sediments of patch carbonate platform facies or reef facies are characterized by extremely negative Ce anomalies or moderately negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce*=0.33 to 0.55), and medium or thin-bedded limestones of transitional facies by moderately negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce*=0.49 to 0.60). However, sediments of deep basin facies show weak or no negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce*=0.69 to 1.47), among which the value of Ce/Ce* in the radiolarian chert is 1.47.

The Relationship between the Distribution of Thick Coal Belts and the Late Carboniferous-Early Early Permian Marine Transgression-Regression in the North China Platform

Four great second-order transgressions occurred during the Late Carboniferous to early Early Permian and they came from both the eastern and western sea areas in the North China Platform. As time went on, depocentres, depositional extent, transgression directions, coastline position and distribution of minable coal seams were changing continuously. The third great second-order transgression occurring at the beginning of the early Early Permian marks the maximum transgression period and before its arrival, i.e. at the close of the late Late Carboniferous, there was the super-regional coal-forming environment. During the second, third and fourth transgressions, the northern North China Platform was all along situated on the transgressive margin of the epicontinental sea and became the major distribution area of thick coal belts because it maintained a coal-forming environment for a long period of time from the close of the late Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian.

Early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province in northwest China

Tarim Large Igneous Province （TLIP） is the second Late Paleozoic LIPs in China after the recognition of Emeishan LIP, and is a hot research topic in geosciences. On the basis of the analysis of research history about TLIP, this paper summarizes the re- search result during last twenty years and suggests the key research area in the future. The residual distribution range of TLIP is up to 250000 km2, and the largest residual thickness is 780 m. The eruption of basalt happened during 290-288 Ma and be- longs to LIPs magmatic event with fast eruption of magma. The lithological units of the TLIP include basalt, diabase, layered intrusive rock, breccia pipe mica-olivine pyroxenite, olivine pyroxenite, gabbro, ultramafic dyke, quartz syenite, quartz syenite porphyry and bimodal dyke. The basalt and diabase of TLIP exhibit OIB-like trace element patterns and enrichment of LILE and HFSE, and mainly belong to high TiO2 series. There is an obvious difference in isotope among the basalt from Keping and the basalt and dibase from the northern Tarim Basin. The basalt from Keping with negative eNa and high REE value derives from enriched mantle, and the diabase and basalt from the northern Tarim Basin with positive ENa and low REE value axe re- lated to depleted mantle. The crust uplifting in the Early Permian and the development of picrite and large scale dyke and for- mation of large scale V-Ti-Magnetite deposit in Wajilitag area support the view that the TLIP is related to mantle plume. The TLIP has a temporal-spatial relationship with Permian basic to ultra-basic igneous rock, which is distributed widely in Central Asia, and they represent a tectono-magmatic event with very important geodynamic setting. This paper also suggests that the deep geological process, the relation with mantle plume, mineralization, the relation with environmental change and biological evolution, and the geodynamics of the TLIP will be the key research topics in the future.

Paleomagnetic results from Late Carboniferous to Early Permian rocks in the northern Qiangtang terrane, Tibet, China, and their tectonic implications

Results of a systematic paleomagnetic study are reported based on Late Carboniferous to Early Permian sedimentary rocks on the north slope of the Tanggula Mountains, in the northern Qiangtang terrane （NQT）, Tibet, China. Data revealed that magnetic minerals in limestone samples from the Zarigen Formation （CP^z）are primarily composed of magnetite, while those in sandstone samples from the Nuoribagaribao Formation （Pnr） are dominated by hematite alone, or hematite and magnetite in combination. Progressive thermal, or alternating field, demagnetization allowed us to isolate a stable high temperature component （HTC） in 127 specimens from 16 sites which successfully passed the conglomerate test, consistent with primary remnance. The tilt-corrected mean direction for Late Carboniferous to Early Permian rocks in the northern Qiangtang terrane is D°=30.2°, Is=-40.9°, ks=269.0, a95=2.3°, N=16, which yields a corresponding paleomagnetic pole at 25.7°N, 241.5°E （alp/rim=2.8°/1.7°）, and a paleolatitude of 23.4°S. Our results, together with previously reported paleomagnetic data, indicate that： （1） the NQT in Tibet, China, was located at a low latitude in the southern hemisphere, and may have belonged to the northern margin of Gondwana during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian; （2） the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was large during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian, and （3） the NQT subsequently moved rapidly northwards, perhaps related to the fact that the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was rapidly contracting from the Late Permian to Late Triassic while the Bangong Lake-Nujiang Ocean, the northern branch of the Neo-Tethys Ocean, expanded rapidly during this time.

A New Species of Araucarioxylon Kraus from the Early Early Permian, Nei Mongol, China

A kind of silicified fossil wood with mixed pits on the radial tracheid wall is described. The fossil wood was collected from the top of Taiyuan Formation (early Early Permian) in Wuda Mining District, Nei Mongol. Compared with the Paleozoic fossil woods in the world, it is put into Araucarioxylon Kraus and named as A. laoshidanense sp. nov. Based on the character of possessing mixed pittings (alternate and opposite pittings) on the radial tracheid wall, the fossil wood is believed to be one of the unknown primitive conifers.Diagnosis of the new species: Only secondary xylem preserved and consisting of axial tracheids and rays. Growth ring boundary, resin duct and axial parenchyma absent. One to Four (commonly 2 or 3) seriates of bordered pits (mostly alternate but sometimes opposite) on the radial tracheid wall. One to Four (commonly 1, rarely 2 to 4) Cupressoid pits in each cross_field. Rays usually uniseriate, sometimes partly_ biseriate and 2 to 39 (mainly 3-5) cells high.

Depositional model of Early Permian reef-island ocean in Eastern Kunlun

Many fusulinid fossils have been found in thin- to middle-bedded limestones which are distributed between the Early Permian limestone hills and formerly considered as Early Triassic. The fusulinid fossils, identified asNeoshwagerina sp.,Verbeekina sp. andSchwagerina sp., can also be found in massive limestone hills. At the same time, Early Permian radiolarian chert of deep basin facies was discovered in Animaqing. All the above show that the massive limestone hills, thin- to middle-bedded limestones and radiolarian chert belong to syndeposits in Early Permian ocean. The sediments in the study area can roughly be divided into three types: shallow facies, basin facies and transitional facies. The carbonate buildup can be subdivided into massive bioclastic limestone and reef framestone. Basin facies contains thin- or middle-bedded limestone, abyssal red mudstone or ooze, blue-green mudstone and radiolarian chert. Transitional facies includes reef talus and platformal skirt facies. The Early Permian ocean in Eastern Kunlun is recognized as a kind of reef-island ocean environment according to distribution and composition of different facies. The reef-island ocean in Eastern Kunlun is characterized by reef islands (or carbonate buildups) alternating with basins, complicated sea-floor topography, sharp facial change and well-developed reefs.

Weathering geochemistry and palaeoclimate implication of the Early Permian mudstones from eastern Henan Province, North China

Terrigenous clastic sediments are generated by the integration of the Earth surface processes and their deep-time counterparts provide a valuable archive for regional/global climatic, geographic and landscape evolution. It is thus important to read and interpret these deep-time sedimentary records, especially for reconstructing continent climate. Previous studies on the Early Permian sequences from the North China document a dominant control of source chemical weathering on mudstone compositions and its linkage with continent climate conditions. Based on the weathering geochemical data of these mudstones, element mobility during weathering can be ordered as Ca 〉 Na ≥ Mg 〉 Sr 〉 K ≥ Ba 〉 Rb. The weathering regime in the source area is inferred to be supply-limited according to the estimated continent physical erosion rate and regional tectonic evolution, sedimentation in North China. Further exploration of palaeoclimate implication is presented in terms of variation of high-to-low latitudinal temperature gradient across the Early Permian glacial to post-glacial climate transition.

New Species of the Isolated Psaroniaceous Rachis from the Early Permian in China

A new kind of marattialean raches are reported from the coal balls in Coal Seam No.7 in the upper part of the Taiyuan Formation （early Early Permian） from Taiyuan, Shanxi, China and are assigned to the genus Stipitopteris Grand＇Eury （Psaroniaceae）. The present specimens are different from all six reported species of the genus, and are therefore proposed as a new species： Stipitopteris shanxiensis. The raches of the new species are generally dorsi-ventrally flattened. The main raches usually exhibit scales of different forms on their surface. Beneath the epidermis is a zone of parenchymatous cells, some of which contain tannin-like contents. Inside this is a zone of small sclerenchymatous cells. Inward are the ground tissue and vascular bundles. The vascular bundles are continuous and are in two circles： the outer circle assumes a transversely elliptical shape with the gap and pinna trace, and the inner circle assumes a shallow C.shape with inrolled ends. The ground tissue located at the inner side of the vascular bundle is composed of thicker-walled parenchymatous cells. The cells of the ground tissue are vertically elongated in longitudinal sections. Subordered raches are smaller and have simpler structures than the main raches. The parenchyma zone beneath the epidermis is thinner, usually one to two cells wide and the sclerenchyma zone is usually absent. The scales are poorly developed and there is only one C-shaped vascular bundle. The new species is comparable to the crosiers of Psaroniaceae of the Euramerican Flora in some aspects, for example, it has a dorsi-ventrally flattened rachis and scales on the surface of the rachis. However, the other features and the preservative conditions of the present specimens indicate that they are not crosiers, but fully developed or mature raches. The new species is the first well-studied anatomically-preserved rachis of Psaroniaceae from the Cathaysian Flora and bears significance not only in understanding the anatomy and taxonomy of Psaroniaceae in the Cathaysian Flora, but also in the relationship between the Euramerican Flora and the Cathaysian Flora.

Anatomical Structures of " Lepidodendron " pulchrum Zhang in Coal-balls from the Taiyuan Formation (Lower Lower Permian) in Shandong Province, North China

This study reports the anatomical structures of a kind of lepidodendralean stem in coal balls from the early Early Permian Taiyuan Formation in Yanzhou Mining District, southwestern Shandong Province, North China. The leaf cushion is slightly rhomboid in outline with a height of 9 - 10 mm and a width of 7.5 9.0 mm and its lower sides are slightly longer than the upper ones. The top and basic angles of the leaf cushion are truncate and the basic angle is slightly elongate. The upper part of the leaf cushion is strongly high-rising. The leaf sear is large and lenticular in shape. The leaf trace is wide and V-shaped in the leaf scar, and horizontally elongate within the leaf cushion. The leaf trace and lateral parichnos strand extend at a nearly horizontal course outward within the leaf cushion. The ligular pit is deep and extends outward at an oblique course and its aperture is located near the top angle of the leaf scar. No infrafoliar parichnos strands are present. The stem is probably siphonostelic and its pith is probably parenchymatous. The primary xylem is exarch with a nearly smooth outer margin. Only the outer cortex is present and it consists of alternately-arranged radial cell bands and gaps within which the are-shaped or V-shaped leaf traces can be seen. The concave side of the leaf trace is toward the center of the stem. No bundle sheath is developed. Periderm is well-developed and consists of phelloderm and phellem in nearly equal thickness. Compared with the lepidodendralean stems of the Cathaysian and Euramerican Floras, the present specimens are most close to an impression-compression species Lepidodendron pulchrum Zhang in morphology of the leaf cushion and they are put into this species temporarily. Whether the present specimens or the type specimens of L. pulchrum are very different from Lepidodendron Sternburg sensu DiMichele, thus the correct nomenclature and classification of L. pulchrum needs to be reconsidered based on the study of better- and anatomically-preserved stems and fertile organs in the future. Because 'L'. pulchrum possesses the mixed features of several genera of Euramerican lepidodendralean stems, it bears significance to study the origin and evolution of the Cathaysian lepidodendralean lycopods.

New material of Cordaites baodeensis Sun from Lower Permian Shanxi Formation of Baode,Shanxi

Based on the anatomical study of leaf cuticles of Cordaites from the Lower Permian Shanxi Formation in Baode of Shanxi, the author analysed the epidermal characters of Cordaites in this area. On the base of the abundant compressions and laboratory studies, the author complemented some new data of the cuticular characters of the speeies Cordaites baodeensis Sun for its study of taxonomy. Meanwhile, the author newly discovered a number of sporopollen fossils associated with the mega-plants of Cordctitales, described 9 species of 6 genera. The palynological data can provide a supplement evidence for defining the age of C. baodeensis and its associated plants to be Early Permian.

Petrogenetic model of the Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province

Over the last two decades great strides have been made in characterizing the spatial distribution, time sequence,geochemical characteristics, mantle sources, and magma evolution processes for various igneous rocks in the Early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province(TLIP). This work has laid a solid foundation for revealing the evolutionary processes and genetic models of large igneous provinces(LIPs). This study systematically demonstrates the two-stage melting model for the TLIP based on our previous research work and predecessor achievements, and highlights the two types of magmatic rocks within the TLIP.The two-stage melting model suggests that the formation of the TLIP is mantle plume related. The early hot mantle plume caused the low-degree partial melting of the lithosphere mantle, while in the later stage, the plume partially melted due to adiabatic uplift and decompression. Therefore, this model carries signatures of both the "Parana" and "Deccan" models in terms of mantle plume activity. During the early stage, the mantle plume provided the heat required for partial melting of sub-continental lithosphere mantle(SCLM), similar to the "Parana Model", while later the plume acted as the main avenue for melting, as in the "Deccan Model". Basalts that erupted in the first stage have higher 87Sr/86 Sr, lower 143Nd/144 Nd ratios, and are enriched in large ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements, indicating a possible origin from the enriched continental lithosphere mantle,similar to the Parana type geochemical features. The basic-ultrabasic intrusive rocks in the second stage exhibit lower 87Sr/86 Sr,higher 143Nd/144 Nd ratios relative to the basalts, consistent with the involvement of a more depleted asthenospheric material,such as a mantle plume, similar to the Deccan type geochemical features. The first stage basalts can be further subdivided into two categories, i.e., Group 1 and Group 2 basalts. Group 2 basalts have lower 87Sr/86 Sr and higher 143Nd/144 Nd ratios than Group 1 basalts, and lie between compositions of the Group 1 basalts and second stage magmatism. Group 2 basalts may be the intermediate component of the TLIP, and the whole TLIP is the result of plume and lithosphere interaction. Developing this petrogenetic model for the TLIP aids in comprehensively understanding its magmatism and deep geological and geodynamic processes. Furthermore, this work enriches the theories describing the origin of large igneous province and mantle plume activity.