Paleoenvironment reconstruction of the Middle Ordovician thick carbonate from western Ordos Basin, China

Reconstructing paleoenvironments has long been considered a vital component for understanding the development and evolution of carbonate reservoirs.The Middle Ordovician Period is considered the archetypical greenhouse interval,and also a critical period in biological evolution.The Middle Darriwilian isotope carbon excursion has been observed in many areas of the world and may be related to the biological explosions caused by decreases in the temperature.The thick carbonate rocks in the fifth member of the Middle Ordovician Majiagou Formation in the Dingbei area of the Ordos Basin were chosen as an example,based on the concentration of major,trace and rare earth elements as well as C,O and Sr isotopic analyses,the paleoenvironment was reconstructed.And its impact on natural gas exploration was analyzed.The results show that the seawater paleotemperature was 29℃,suboxicanoxic paleoredox conditions were observed,and the seawater paleosalinity was high.A large number of plankton in the biological explosion caused a rapid increase in the total organic carbon in carbonate rocks,which provided natural gas as supplemental source rocks.Affected by early meteoric water,the dissolution of gypsum laid the foundation for high-quality reservoirs,and the residual gypsum also further preserved natural gas.This study provides new data for the paleoenvironment and a theoretical basis for further natural gas exploration.

Conodont Biostratigraphy of the Middle Cambrian through Lowermost Ordovician in Hunan, South China

Since 1985, samples with a total weight of more than 14,000 kg, mainly from three key sections in western and northwestern Hunan, South China, have been processed for conodonts. In strata older than the late Late Cambrian paraconodonts have proved useful for stratigraphic subdivision and correlation. Thirteen conodont zones are proposed in the Middle Cambrian through lowermost Ordovician. The correlation between these zones and those of North China, western U. S.A., western Newfoundland, Canada, and Iran is discussed. In ascending order, these 13 zones are as follows: The Gapparodus bisulcatus-Westergaardodina brevidens Zone, Shandongodus priscus-Hunanognathus tricuspidatus Zone, Westergaardodina quadrata Zone, Westergaardodina matsushitai-W. grandidens Zone, Westergaardodina lui-W. am Zone, Westergaardodina cf. calix-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zone, Proconodontus tenuiserratus Zone, Proconodontus Zone, Eoconodontus Zone, Cordylodus proavus Zone, Cordylodus intermedius Zone, Cordylodus lindstromi Zone, and Cordylodus angulatus Zone (lower part). The Westergaardodina lui-W. ani and Westergaardodina cf. calix-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zones replace the Westergaardodina proligula and Westergaardodina cf. behrae-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zones, respectively, in the lowermost Upper Cambrian. Two new species (Westergaardodina Iui and Westergaardodina ani) and one conditionally identified species (Westergaardodina cf. calix) are described.

Biostratigraphic and Chemostratigraphic Correlation for the Base of the Middle Ordovician between Yichang and Western Zhejiang Areas,South China

The base of the Middle Ordovician （i.e. Dapingian Stage） has been defined at the first appearance datum （FAD） of conodont Baltoniodus？ triangularis at Huanghuachang, Yichang, China,but the precise correlation of the boundary to regions of other facies remain to be resolved. Herein we review the biostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy of the Huanghuachang Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point （GSSP） section, and present our latest stratigraphic work on the nearby Chenjiahe s ection in Yichang, and the Hengtang Quarry section, Jiangshan, Zhejiang, which is regarded as representative of slope facies. The conodont and graptolite biostratigraphy as well as chemostratigraphy of the Chenjiahe section indicate that the base of the Middle Ordovician also falls within the graptolite Azygograptus suecicus Zone, and coincides with a high or maximum δ13C value within a minor positive carbon isotope excursion, suggesting that the base boundary can be readily recognized across the entire Yangtze Gorges area. The integrated graptolite and conodont biostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy of the Hengtang section, Jiangshan, indicates that the basal boundary probably falls within the graptolite lsograptus caduceus imitatus Zone that overlies the Azygograptus suecicus Zone, and coincides with a remarkable drop of δ13C. This difference indicates that a multi-disciplinary approach is critical to identify the base boundary in those regions where the Baltoniodus ？ triangularis is absent.

Taxonomy,Zonation and Correlation of the Graptolite Fauna across the Lower/Middle Ordovician Boundary Interval in the Yangtze Gorges Area,South China

The graptolite fauna across the Lower and Middle Ordovician boundary at the Huanghuachang GSSP section, Yichang and the Jianyangping section, Xingshan County is described. The taxonomy of the pendent didymograptids, the graptolite zonations across the base of Middle Ordovician and their correlations are discussed in this paper. The two revised graptolite zones, the Didymograptellus bifidus Zone and the Azygograptus suecicus Zone, can be well correlated to their equivalents elsewhere in the world.

Origin of dolomite in the Middle Ordovician peritidal platform carbonates in the northern Ordos Basin, western China

The carbonates in the Middle Ordovician Ma_5～5submember of the Majiagou Formation in the northern Ordos Basin are partially to completely dolomitized.Two types of replacive dolomite are distinguished：（1） type 1dolomite,which is primarily characterized by microcrystalline（〈30 urn）,euhedral to subhedral dolomite crystals,and is generally laminated and associated with gypsumbearing microcrystalline dolomite,and（2） type 2 dolomite,which is composed primarily of finely crystalline（30-100 urn）,regular crystal plane,euhedral to subhedral dolomite.The type 2 dolomite crystals are truncated by stylolites,indicating that the type 2 dolomite most likely predated or developed simultaneously with the formation of the stylolites.Stratigraphic,petrographic,and geochemical data indicate that the type 1 dolomite formed from near-surface,low-temperature,and slightly evaporated seawater and that the dolomitizing fluids may have been driven by density differences and elevation-related hydraulic head.The absence of massive depositional evaporites in the dolomitized intervals indicates that dolomitization was driven by the reflux of slightly evaporated seawater.The δ～（18）O values（-7.5 to-6.1 ‰） of type1 dolomite are slightly lower than those of seawaterderived dolomite,suggesting that the dolomite may be related to the recrystallization of dolomite at higher temperatures during burial.The type 2 dolomite has lowerδ～（18）O values（-8.5 to-6.7 ‰） and Sr～（2＋） concentration and slightly higher Na～＋,Fe～（2＋）,and Mn～（2＋） concentrations and～（87）Sr/～（86）Sr ratios（0.709188-0.709485） than type 1 dolomite,suggesting that the type 2 dolomite precipitated from modified seawater and dolomitic fluids in pore water and that it developed at slightly higher temperatures as a result of shallow burial.

Positive carbon isotope excursions:global correlation and genesis in the Middle-Upper Ordovician in the northern Tarim Basin,Northwest China

Stable carbon isotope ratio （δ13Ccarb） analysis has been widely applied to the study of the inter-conti- nental or global marine carbonate correlation. Large-scale Cambrian-Ordovician carbonate platforms were developed in the Tarim Basin. But research on fluctuation character- istics and global correlation of δ13Ccarb is still weak. Based on conodont biostratigraphy and whole-rock δ13Ccarb data in the Tahe oil-gas field of the northern Tarim Basin, the global correlation and genesis of positive carbon isotope excursions in the Darriwilian--Early Katian was exam- ined. Three positive excursions were identified in the Tahe oil-gas field including the middle Darriwilian carbon iso- tope excursion （MDICE）, the Guttenberg carbon isotope excursion （GICE）, and a positive excursion within the Pygodus anserinus conodont zone which is named the Early Sandbian carbon isotope excursion （ESICE） in this paper. Furthermore, these positive excursions had no direct relation with sea level fluctuations. MDICE and GICE could be globally correlated. The Middle-Upper Ordovi- cian Saergan Formation source rocks of the Kalpin outcrops were in accordance with the geological time of MDICE and ESICE. GICE had close relationship with the source rock of the Lianglitag Formation in the basin.Massive organic carbon burial was an important factor controlling the genesis of these positive excursions.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications of Middle Ordovician Ocean Island Basalts from the Chagantaolegai Ophiolitic Mélange in Junggar,NW China

Seamount accretion is one of the most significant accretionary orogenic processes in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,but there are few paleo-seamounts reported from and debate on the tectonic evolution of the Junggar Ocean still exists.In this study,we present geochronological,mineralogical,geochemical and isotopic data for basalts from the Chagantaolegai ophiolitic mélanges in Junggar.Zircon U-Pb dating on one basalt yielded a weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U age of 469±7 Ma,which suggests that it formed in the Middle Ordovician.All rock samples belong to alkaline basalt and show similar geochemical characteristics,displaying high TiO_(2)(~3 wt%),(La/Yb)N(17.6–19.0),ΣREE(232–289 ppm)and enrichment in Nb and Ta,which implies an ocean island basalt(OIB)affinity.Based upon positiveεN d(t)(+4.16 to+4.23),ΔNb(0.20–0.22)and low initial^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr(0.70425 to 0.70452)and Zr/Nb(3.35–3.57),we suggest that the Chagantaolegai OIB samples were likely derived from a fertile mantle source related to plume.The OIB rock assemblage,chert and marble in the southern part of the Chagantaolegai ophiolitic mélange indicates that a Middle Ordovician seamount was accreted to the Boshchekul-Chingiz arc due to the northward subduction of the Junggar-Balkhash Ocean.

Middle Ordovician Bioturbation Structures from Southeastern Margin of Ordos Basin and Their Environmentary Interpretation

Trace fossils were discovered in the Middle Ordovician Badou Member of Fengfeng Formation and the Member 1 of Jinsushan Formation in Mt. Jinsu of the Fuping region which lies at the southeastern margin of the Ordos basin. The rocks of the fore-mentioned parts contain a considerable amount of bioturbation structures, in which ichnogenus and ichnospecies can not be identified, and abundant stromatolites.The distributions and characteristics of the bioturbation structures are analyzed and summarized in this paper. The paleoenvironments of related formations and members were interpreted in the method of semiquantitative analysis of bioturbation structures with researches on stromatolites and sedimentology. It is suggested that Fuping zone, located in the southeastern margin of the Ordos basin, was a carbonate platform where stromatolite-developing tidal flat and low-energy subtidal open platform environments dominated. Also that this zone experienced three paleogeographic evolutions from tidal flat to low-energy subtidal open platform environments, that is, three larger-scale eustatisms occurred during the sedimentary period of Middle Ordovician Badou Member of Fengfeng Formation to the Member 1 of Jinsushan Formation.

Geochemical,mineralogical,and petrological analyses for the interpretation of the sedimentary environment of the Middle-Late Ordovician Majiagou Formation(northern China)as a tool for more effective gas exploration

Core samples from the deeply buried Ordovician Majiagou Formation below the Huainan Coalfield(E China) have been investigated for their carbonate types,major and trace elements(including rare earth elements) and C and O isotopes,The objective was to get a better insight into the possible occurrences of gas(and possibly oil) derived from Carboniferous coals.It was found that the carbonates are dolomites with strongly varying amounts of CaO and MgO.The low concentrations of SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),and Fe_(2)O_(3)indicate deposition in a normal marine environment with little terrigenous input,The Na_(2)O/K_(2)O,Fe/Mn and Sr/Ba ratios,as well as the Ga values indicate mainly a marine salinity and a hot and humid climate.The slight depletion of Ce and Eu,the depletion of heavy rare earth elements(HREE) and the enrichment of light rare earth elements(LREE) indicate deposition in a reducing environment.It thus appears that the Majiagou Formation below the Huainan Coalfield closely resembles that in the eastern part of the Ordos Basin,where several gas reservoirs are present,so that the Majiagou Formation under the Huainan Coalfield represents a promising target for hydrocarbon exploration.

Cambrian-early Ordovician volcanism across the South Armorican and Occitan domains of the Variscan Belt in France:Continental break-up and rifting of the northern Gondwana margin

The Cambrian-lower Ordovician volcanic units of the South Armorican and Occitan domains are ana- lysed in a tectonostratigraphic survey of the French Variscan Belt. The South Armorican lavas consist of continental tholeiites in middle Camhrian-Furongian sequences related to continental break-up. A significant volcanic activity occurred in the Tremadocian, dominated by crustal melted rhyolitic lavas and initial rifting tholeiites. The Occitan lavas are distributed into five volcanic phases： （I） basal Cambrian rhyolites, （2） upper lower Cambrian Mg-rich tholeiites close to N-MORBs but crustal contaminated, （3） upper lower-middle Cambrian continental tholeiites, （4） Tremadocian rhyolites, and （5） upper lower Ordovician initial rift tholeiites. A rifting event linked to asthenosphere upwelling took place in the late early Cambrian but did not evolve. It renewed in the Tremadocian with abundant crustal melting due to underplating of mixed asthenospheric and lithospheric magmas. This main tectono-magmatic conti- nental rift is termed the ＂Tremadocian Tectonic Belt＂ underlined by a chain of rhyolitic volcanoes from Occitan and South Armorican domains to Central Iberia. It evolved with the setting of syn-rift coarse siliciclastic deposits overlain by post-rift deep water shales in a suite of sedimentary basins that fore- casted the South Armorican-Medio-European Ocean as a part of the Palaeotethys Ocean.

塔里木盆地塔河地区中下奥陶统沉积特征及其演化模式

沉积环境对岩溶型储层的发育起着基础性作用,影响着岩溶体的规模和强度,加强沉积环境研究有助于优质岩溶储层的勘探与预测。为深入认识塔河地区中下奥陶统沉积特征,在野外调查基础上,结合岩石颜色、类型、组合、结构、构造、古生物、地球化学特征等岩石学和岩相学标志,利用岩心、测录井、地震和区域宏观沉积资料,对中下奥陶统沉积环境进行了精细识别和划分。结果显示,研究区岩石类型主要为颗粒灰岩、泥晶灰岩、生物灰岩和过渡岩类;共发育5种沉积环境,蓬莱坝组以局限—半局限台地为主,鹰山组以半局限台地、开阔台地为主,一间房组以开阔台地、台地边缘、淹没台地为主;共发育11种地震相,与各类沉积相带具有较明显的对应关系。总的来说,研究区以台地相为主,时空演化差异明显。纵向上,自蓬莱坝组至一间房组沉积水体逐渐加深,沉积环境由局限逐渐变为开阔;横向上,研究区主体以开阔台地、台地边缘为主,向东、向南至研究区外部逐渐过渡为斜坡、盆地相。综合前人资料,建立了研究区自下奥陶统蓬莱坝组局限台地→半局限台地→中下奥陶统鹰山组开阔台地→中奥陶统一间房组台地边缘→一间房组晚期、吐木休克组淹没台地的演化模式。

鄂尔多斯盆地中奥陶统乌拉力克组页岩油气富集条件及勘探方向

鄂尔多斯盆地油气资源丰富,常规油气与非常规油气并存,是中国油气重点勘探开发的含油气盆地之一。近年来,盆地中奥陶统乌拉力克组先后有多口探井获得工业油气流,展现出该盆地海相页岩油气良好的勘探开发新局面,研究其油气富集规律对于客观认识地质特征和指导下一步油气勘探具有重要意义。为此,基于岩心观察、铸体薄片、扫描电镜、核磁共振和有机地球化学分析等资料,系统分析了页岩烃源条件、储层特征及控藏因素,探讨了乌拉力克组海相页岩油气富集条件及勘探方向。研究结果表明:(1)与四川盆地下志留统龙马溪组页岩气藏相比,海相乌拉力克组页岩气藏具有“低丰度、低含气量、深埋藏、常压”的不足和“高硅质含量、高脆性指数”的优势;(2)乌拉力克组页岩总有机碳含量平均值为0.86%,含气量一般介于0.94~2.21 mL/g,埋深一般介于3 700~4 500 m,地层压力系数介于0.96~1.00,硅质矿物含量平均值为54.0%,脆性指数平均值为75.0%;(3)乌拉力克组页岩大面积含气、局部富集,具有“三元控藏”的特征,硅质页岩大规模发育是物质基础,良好的顶底板是必要条件,稳定的构造条件是页岩气富集的关键。结论认为,鄂尔多斯盆地海相乌拉力克组页岩油气发育4个勘探有利区,有利勘探面积为5 500 km^(2),其中马家滩、棋盘井地区为目前现实的页岩气勘探目标区。

桂北中奥陶统升坪组页岩气储层特征:以溪水源剖面为例

为综合评价桂北地区中奥陶统升坪组页岩气储层特征,利用偏光显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、碳硫分析仪、X射线衍射仪、稳定同位素质谱仪、孔渗分析仪和有机质成熟度分析等检测方法,对广西全州县文桥镇栗水村溪水源剖面黑色页岩的有机质丰度、无机矿物组成、储集空间及物性特征等进行了探讨分析。结果表明:升坪组碳质页岩累计厚度约81 m,以Ⅰ—Ⅱ型干酪根为主,TOC值介于0.63%~3.04%之间,平均为2.04%;Ro值为3.52%~3.68%,平均为3.60%;页岩矿物成分主要有石英、长石、黄铁矿、硬石膏、白云石和方解石,脆性指数介于52.70~89.00之间,平均为73.31;黏土矿物以伊利石为主,伊/蒙混层次之,不含蒙脱石,指示了明显的蒙脱石向伊利石转换过程;孔隙类型主要为有机质铸模孔、粒间孔、晶间孔、溶蚀孔和微裂缝,孔隙度为1.0%~6.8%之间,平均为3.12%;渗透率介于0.001 3×10^(-3)μm^(2)~0.042 5×10^(-3)μm^(2)之间,平均为0.019 0×10^(-3)μm^(2)。通过与四川盆地和北美页岩气储层特征的对比分析,指出桂北地区中奥陶统升坪组中段页岩气勘探潜力较大。

塔里木盆地顺北地区中下奥陶统流体改造与油气充注耦合关系

为明确顺北地区中下奥陶统流体改造与油气充注耦合关系,通过对方解石充填物进行阴极发光、流体包裹体显微镜下观察和油包裹体及其伴生盐水包裹体均一温度测试分析,结合方解石微区原位U-Pb同位素定年开展顺北地区中下奥陶统流体改造期次及序列、油气充注期次和时期及流体改造与油气充注耦合关系研究。结果表明:一间房组和鹰山组上段均经历多期流体改造,形成了具有不同阴极发光特征的多期方解石充填物,两者区别在于鹰山组地层未经历大气水改造;油包裹体荧光显示呈现蓝绿色-蓝白色,指示原油成熟度较高,且一间房组与油包裹体共生的盐水包裹体均一温度分布范围为84~98℃,平均均一温度为92.49℃和113~130℃,平均均一温度为119.91℃、鹰山组上段均一温度分布范围91.2~104℃,平均均一温度为96.1℃和112.7~128.1℃,平均均一温度为119.97℃,表明存在加里东晚期和海西晚期-印支期两期油气充注,主成藏期为海西晚期-印支期。烃类包裹体宿主矿物方解石微区原位U-Pb测试表明,其主要形成于加里东中晚期[(466.8±8)~(470.6±4.5)Ma],揭示油气充注发生在加里东晚期混源流体改造形成的具备红色-橙红色阴极发光特征方解石之后。

鄂尔多斯盆地南部凝灰岩地质特征及其对构造体制转换的制约

凝灰岩是火山活动的产物,沉积盆地中的凝灰岩层往往具等时性特点,是探索沉积盆地与周邻造山带构造演化的重要纽带。鄂尔多斯盆地显生宙火山活动不发育,但早古生代晚期和晚三叠世延长期地层中广泛分布凝灰岩夹层,且主要分布在盆地南部,暗示其与周邻造山带火山活动之间联系密切。前人对这2期凝灰岩分别开展了探讨,但对为何分布于盆地南部、具有怎样的成因联系、构造意义等缺乏综合研究与探讨。基于前人成果,对上述2期凝灰岩的展布特征、源岩判别、发育时限、区域构造背景等进行了系统研究。结果显示,鄂尔多斯盆地2期凝灰岩均发育于深水—较深水环境,且由南到北厚度逐渐减薄;元素地球化学判别显示出中—酸性岩浆性质,与火山岛弧喷发成因联系密切,主要发育时限分别集中于晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期(449~453 Ma)和中晚三叠世拉丁期—卡尼期(227~242 Ma),在时空上与鄂尔多斯盆地演化转折关键时期联系密切。结合区域构造分析认为,上述2期凝灰岩是秦岭造山带加里东期商丹洋盆和印支期勉略洋盆俯冲闭合过程中火山活动事件在相邻盆地的响应和记录,秦岭造山带构造演化对鄂尔多斯盆地南部早古生代海相盆地消亡和中生代内陆大型湖盆发育具有重要的控制作用。上述认识对深入探讨鄂尔多斯盆地南部和秦岭造山带显生宙期间长时间尺度盆山演化具有重要的指导意义。

鄂尔多斯盆地中奥陶统乌拉力克组海相页岩岩相类型及优质储层发育特征

近期,鄂尔多斯盆地西缘中奥陶统乌拉力克组海相页岩获得页岩油气勘探重大突破,成为该盆地油气勘探开发的新领域,但乌拉力克组岩相类型及优质岩相分布特征不够清晰,制约了该层系下一步页岩油气的勘探开发。为此,基于岩石薄片、X射线衍射、扫描电镜和有机地球化学分析等资料,对乌拉力克组海相页岩开展了岩相类型划分,分析了不同岩相储层发育特征,明确了优质岩相的主控因素并预测了优质海相页岩储层的发育区。研究结果表明:(1)乌拉力克组主要发育富有机质硅质页岩、含有机质硅质页岩、贫有机质钙质页岩、富有机质混合页岩、含有机质混合页岩和贫有机质混合页岩6类页岩岩相;(2)乌拉力克组页岩储集空间主要为粒间孔和微裂缝,含少量黄铁矿晶间孔、有机质孔和粒内溶孔;(3)富有机质硅质页岩、含有机质硅质页岩、富有机质混合页岩、含有机质混合页岩、贫有机质混合页岩和贫有机质钙质页岩的平均孔隙度分别为2.31%、1.57%、1.07%、1.09%、0.66%和0.62%。结论认为,富有机质硅质页岩、含有机质硅质页岩和富有机质混合页岩总有机碳含量和脆性指数较高,储集物性及含气性较好,是乌拉力克组优质岩相,位于坳陷区的乌三段和乌二段下部是优质岩相的发育部位,该研究成果对于该区页岩油气勘探选区、有利目标评价以及丰富我国海相页岩气理论认识与实际勘探具有重要意义。

塔里木盆地跃进地区奥陶系储层成因机理

通过对岩芯、薄片的观察,结合扫描电镜、阴极发光、碳氧同位素、锶同位素和稀土元素的分析化验资料,探讨了塔里木盆地跃进地区中下奥陶统缝洞型储层的成因机理。沿裂缝断续分布的溶蚀孔洞、围岩和裂缝中的萤石交代产物表明存在热液溶蚀和交代作用,而基质晶间孔中的短柱状和柱状石英晶体、溶蚀孔洞方解石的低^(87 )Sr/^(86 )Sr比值(0.708407)、硅质结核的Eu正异常均表明存在岩浆期后的深部热液流体的溶蚀、交代和胶结作用。跃进地区中下奥陶统发育多期活动的走滑断裂带,由于基质低孔低渗,二叠纪晚期的岩浆期后热液流体主要沿断裂带进入中下奥陶统地层中进行溶蚀改造,随后的胶结作用对围岩中的孔隙网络造成严重的破坏,进一步增强了研究区内储层的非均质性。走滑断裂带控制着跃进地区中下奥陶统规模缝洞型储层的形成与分布,热液溶蚀作用进一步改善了缝洞型储层内部的渗流能力。

The absolute paleoposition of the North China Block during the Middle Ordovician

Present-day hot spots and Phanerozoic large igneous provinces(LIPs) and kimberlites mainly occur at the edges of the projections of Large Low Shear Wave Velocity Provinces(LLSVPs) on the earth's surface. If a plate contains accurately dated LIPs or kimberlites, it is possible to obtain the absolute paleoposition of the plate from the LIP/kimberlite and paleomagnetic data. The presence of Middle Ordovician kimberlites in the North China Block provides an opportunity to determine the absolute paleoposition of the block during the Middle Ordovician. In addition to paleobiogeographical information and the results of previous work on global plate reconstruction for the Ordovician Period, we selected published paleomagnetic data for the North China Block during the Middle Ordovician and determined the most reasonable absolute paleoposition of the North China Block during the Middle Ordovician: paleolatitude of approximately 16.6°S to 19.1°S and paleolongitude of approximately 10°W. The block was located between the Siberian Plate and Gondwana, close to the Siberian Plate. During the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, the North China Block may have moved toward the Siberian Plate and away from the Australian Plate.

The palaeoenvironmental implication of Early-Middle Ordovician acritarch communities from South China

As primary producers,acritarchs that represented the base of the food chain in the Early Paleozoic marine ecosystem formed the marine phytoplankton communities whose distributions might affect those of other faunas.Ten acritarch ecological assemblages with their distributions controlled by the environmental factors were recognized in the Meitan Formation of the Honghuayuan section,Tongzi,Guizhou Province,the Dawan Formation of the Huanghuachang and Daping section,Yichang,Hubei Province,and the Dacao Formation and the Yingpan Formation of the Houping section,Chengkou,Chongqing through cluster and principle component analysis.

Early dolomitisation of the Lower-Middle Ordovician cyclic carbonates in northern Tarim Basin, NW China

High-frequency metre-scale cycles are present within the Lower-Middle Ordovician carbonate successions in northern Tarim Basin, NW China. These metre-scale cycles were variably dolomitised from top to bottom. Three types of replacive dolomites were recognised, including dololaminite(very finely to finely crystalline, planar-s to nonplanar-a dolomite;type-1), patterned dolomite(finely crystalline, planar-s dolomite; type-2), and mottled dolomite(finely to medium crystalline,nonplanar-a(s) dolomite; type-3). Petrographic evidence indicate these dolomites were primarily deposited in supratidal to restricted subtidal environments, and formed in near-surface to shallow burial realms. Geochemically, all types of dolomites have similar δ13C and 87Sr/86 Sr ratios comparable to calcite precipitated in equilibrium with the Early-Middle Ordovician seawater. These geochemical attributes indicate that these dolomites were genetically associated and likely formed from connate seawater-derived brines. Of these, type-1 dolomite has δ18O values(.4.97‰ to.4.04‰ VPDB) slightly higher than those of normal seawater dolomite of the Early-Middle Ordovician age. Considering the absence of associated evaporites within type-1 dolomite, its parental fluids were likely represented by slightly evaporated(i.e., mesosaline to penesaline) seawater with salinity below that of gypsum precipitation. More depleted δ18O values(.7.74‰ to.5.20‰ VPDB) of type-2 dolomite and its stratigraphic position below type-1 dolomite indicate the generation of this dolomite from mesosaline to penesaline brines at higher temperatures in near-surface to shallow burial domains. Type-3 dolomite yields the most depleted δ18O values(–9.30‰to –7.28‰ VPDB), pointing to that it was most likely formed from coeval seawater-derived brines at highest temperatures in a shallow burial setting. There is a downward decreasing trend in δ18O values from type-1 through type-2 to type-3 dolomites, and in abundance of dolomites, indicating that the dolomitising fluids probably migrated downward from above and persisted into shallow burial conditions.