The morphology and histology of a juvenile Sinokannemeyeria from the Middle Triassic Ermaying Formation of Shanxi, North China

Kannemeyeriiformes were dominated tetrapods in the Middle Triassic terrestrial faunae of China.Although abundant materials of Sinokannemeyeria have been collected, their postcranial morphology information is not well studied, especially the juveniles. This paper presents a description of an articulated Sinokannemeyeria skeleton from the Middle Triassic Ermaying Formation and reports the histological microstructure of its femur. This specimen represents a late-stage juvenile based on the histological information. For the first time, this specimen offers insights into the postcrania information of juvenile Sinokannemeyeria.

First Record of Protorosaurid Reptile (Order Protorosauria) from the Middle Triassic of China

A new genus and species of the family Tanystropheidae, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a nearly complete skull. This is the first record of the order Protorosauria from China. It also represents the only known occurrence of Tanystropheidae outside Europe, the Middle East and North America. Dinocephalosaurus is quite similar to Tanystropheus from Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland. Primarily it is distinguished from Tanystropheus in the shape of the premaxilla, maxilla, jugal and parietal. Although the family Tanystropheidae is now referred to the order Protorosauria, the new material from China indicates that the archosauromorph affinities of tanystropheids need further investigation. The discovery of Dinocephalosaurus provides new clues for the study of the evolution and radiation of Protorosauria and Tanystropheidae. It is also important for the study of the eastern Tethyan Fauna and the paleobiogeographical relationship between Europe and southern China in the Triassic.

Biodiversity and Sequence of the Middle Triassic Panxian Marine Reptile Fauna,Guizhou Province,China

The Middle Triassic Panxian fauna is a physical marker and representative record of the rapid recovery of the Triassic marine ecosystem following the Early Triassic stagnant stage after the end-Permian mass extinction. Ten marine reptile taxa have been found from the 1.82-2.10 m-thick fossiliferous level in the Upper Member of the Guanling Formation, which can be subdivided into three marine reptile beds through the analysis on the stratigraphic distributions of fossil reptiles. The Lower Reptile Bed yields the sauropterygians Placodus inexpectatus Jiang et al., 2008 and Lariosaurus hongguoensis Jiang et al., 2006, the ichthyopterygians Xinminosaurus catactes Jiang et al., 2008 and Phalarodon cf. Phalarodon fraasi Merriam, 1910, associated with Mixosaurus panxianensis Jiang et al., 2006, representing a stage of predominance of durophagous taxa. In this bed, the large complete skeletons may reach up to 2.3 m in length, and lithofacies and chemostratigraphic analyses indicate a relatively deep carbonate platform with an oxic water environment near the bottom, as well as a rising sea level The Middle Reptile Bed yields the sauropterygian Nothosaurus yangjuanensis Jiang et al., 2006 and the archosaur Qianosuchus mixtus Li et al., 2006, associated with Mixosaurus panxianensis Jiang et al., 2006. The fossils in this bed are characterized by its pincering dentition and large overall body size, with the largest possibly exceeding 3 m in length. This bed might represent a time of deepest basin with relatively anoxic condition near the bottom. The Upper Reptile Bed yields the sauropterygians Wumengosaurus delicatomandibularis Jiang et al., 2008, Keichousaurus sp., the protorosaur Dinocephalosaurus orientalis Li, 2003, and the ichthyopterygian Mixosaurus panxianensis Jiang et al., 2006. In this bed, reptilian taxa characterized by suction feeding appeared, and most are less than 1 m long. This bed corresponds to a period of decreasing water depth.

A New Perleidiform(Actinopterygii,Osteichthyes)from the Middle Anisian(Middle Triassic)of Yunnan,South China

Two complete specimens from the Pelsonian （Middle Anisian, Middle Triassic） of Luoping, Yunnan Province, South China are referred to a new actinopterygian genus, Luopingichthys gen. nov., and ascribed to the perleidiform family Polzbergidae based especially on a typical synapomorphy of a peculiar premaxillary-maxillary complex, i.e., the fusion between premaxillary and maxillary along the antero-dorsal margin of the maxillary. The new taxon differs from other deep-bodied representatives of the family, Felberia and Stoppania, in its fusiform or deep fusiform body shape; sickle-shaped preopercular with short infraorbital process; lack of modified scales at the base of the anal fin; the short-based dorsal fin; scarcely ornamented scales; and thin anterior teeth. Based on a redescription of the holotype of the taxon Ctenognathichthys hattichi from the Middle Triassic （Ladinian） Prosanto Formation, Canton Graubiinden, eastern Switzerland, the only known specimen, which shows the same fusion between premaxillary and maxillary, the systematic position of the species is clarified and the taxon is proposed to be a further representative of the family Polzbergidae, and is transferred to the new genus.

Intracontinental Collisional Orogeny During Late Permian-Middle Triassic in South China: Sedimentary Records of the Shiwandashan Basin

Sedimentary response to an orogenic process is important for determining whether South China had compressional or extensional orogeny during the period from the Late Permian to the Middle Triassic besides the tectonic and magmatologic evidence. An intracontinental collision event took place between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in the Late Permian. Beginning at the Late Triassic, the tectonic movement was completely changed in nature and entered a post-collisional extensional orogenic and basin-making process. This paper presents sedimentological evidence from the Late Permian to the Middle Triassic in the Shiwandashan basin at the southwestern end of the junction zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks.

New species of Saurichthys(Actinopterygii:Saurichthyidae)from Middle Triassic(Anisian)of Yunnan Province,China

Saurichthys dawaziensis sp. nov., from the third member of the Gejiu Formation （Anisian of Middle Triassic） in the vicinity of Luoping, Yunnan Province, is a small to mediumsized saurichthyid fish. It is characterized by the efferent pseudobranchial arteries penetrating on the parasphenoid and the mandible sensory canal with a branch in the angular. The new species is more derived than the Lower Triassic species in having a relatively narrow postorbital region, short preopercular, single ossification of the sclerotic ring, small haemal arches between the pelvic fins and the anal fin without ossified spines, and in the absence of quadratojugal. It is more primitive than the Middle and Upper Triassic Saurichthys in having fringing fulcra and numerous segments in the unpaired fins, and the presence of both prae- and post-zygapophyses in the neural arches. Some anatomic changes related to the vertebral column and unpaired fins of the genus are also discussed.

Sedimentary Facies Architectures of Third-Order Sequences from Early to Middle Triassic in Nanpanjiang Basin

There are complex and regular changes on sedimentary facies from the Early to the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang basin. After the obvious drowned event of carbonate platforms in the transitional period between Permian and Triassic, carbonate platforms have evolved into the ramp type from the rimmed shelf type. The differentiation of sedimentary facies becomes clearer in space, which are marked by the changes from an attached platform to a turbidity basin and several isolated platforms in the basin. The striking characteristics are the development of oolitic banks on isolated platforms in Nanning and Jingxi and the reef and bank limestones in the margin of the attached platform in the Early Triassic. Despite the difference of the time span and the architecture of facies succession of third order sedimentary sequences, the process of the third order relative sea level changes reflected by the sedimentary facies succession of the third order sequences is generally synchronous. Therefore, six third order sequences could be discerned in the strata from the Early to the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang basin. Using two types of facies changing surfaces and two types of diachronisms in stratigraphic records as the key elements, the sedimentary facies architectures of the third order sequences that represent sequence stratigraphic frameworks from the Early to the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang basin could be constructed.

Sedimentary-volcanic tuffs formed during the early Middle Triassic volcanic event in Guizhou Province and their stratigraphic significance

The sedimentary-volcanic tuff (locally called “green-bean rock”) formed during the early Middle Triassic volcanic event in Guizhou Province is characterized as being thin, stable, widespread, short in forming time and predominantly green in color. The green-bean rock is a perfect indicator for stratigraphic division. Its petrographic and geochemical features are unique, and it is composed mainly of glassy fragments and subordinately of crystal fragments and volcanic ash balls. Analysis of the major and trace elements and rare-earth elements (REE), as well as the related diagrams, permits us to believe that the green-bean rock is acidic volcanic material of the calc-alkaline series formed in the Indosinian orogenic belt on the Sino-Vietnam border, which was atmospherically transported to the tectonically stable areas and then deposited as sedimentary-volcanic rocks there. According to the age of green-bean rock, it is deduced that the boundary age of the Middle-Lower Triassic overlain by the sedimentary-volcanic tuff is about 247 Ma.

Study of the Early and Middle Triassic Lower Yangtze Sea Basin

The Early and Middle Triassic primary lower Yangtze sea basin was formed before the Yangtze and Sino. Korean blocks collided and were assembled. showing the characteristics of an open continental shelf.continental margin sea. In order to provide evidence useful for oil and gas exploration in the studied region, this paper centres on the features of the sediments and their facies framework in the basin and the sedimentation parameters such as the deposition rate, palaeotemperature, palaeosatinity, palaeodepth of water and palaeocurrents of the basin.

THE EVOLUTION OF LANPING RIFT BASIN FROM LADINIAN IN MIDDLE TRIASSIC EPOCH TO EARLY JURASSIC EPOCH

Lanping basin was a massif (land massif) in late Palaeozoic Era. The ocean of Jinshajiang separated it from Yangtze plate in east. Lancangjiang ocean separated it from Yunnan—Tibet plate in west. From late Permian Epoch, the oceanic crust of Jinshajiang subduced the west from east, the one of Lancangjiang down went the east from west, and then the Yunnan—Tibet ancient land gradually closed to the Yangtze. In the end of the Permian Period, two continents and Lanping plate touched together, and the evolution history of the Paleotethys was end. Hercynian orogenic belt in the east and west sides of Lanping had volcanic rock colliding in early—middle Triassic Epoch. In Ladinian in middle Triassic and Carnian in late Triassic, the north side of Lanping basin formed the serial volcanic rock of spilite—quartz keratophyre because mantle\|derived magma causing by delamination rose and mixed with the constituent of continental crust. The volcanic rock overlapped the middle Triassic and late Palaeozoic stratum in angular unconformity. It was the feature of double peak or evolution from the basic to the acid. The race element distribution of volcanic rock was same as the one of tholeiite in island and inter\|arc basin. The rate of lead isotope of the volcanic rock was much higher. These points all distributed above the NHRL in Pb\|Pb. This indicated that the Pb of volcanic rock was the mantle\|derived magma mixed with crust one. The large\|area progression in Lanping rift basin begun in late Carnian.. The east side in Lanping basin developed the sedimentary system that was granule gravel (grit) rock in border facies—limestone in beach facies—black shale, and the middle had black shale, banded siliceous rock, brecciform limestone in late Carnian to Norian. The geochemistry research of siliceous rock showed that the genesis of the chert was hot water. The development of brecciform limestone was related with action of central\|axis rift. The Lanping rift basin went into consuming stage in Rhaetian Epoch of the late Triassic. The basin developed clastic rock bearing coal of continental\|oceanic alternation facies. In early Jurassic, the sedimentary area atrophied further, and the fine lacustrine sediment whose thickness was not great developed in the east of central\|axis. The west stratum of the basin in late Triassic Epoch touched directly with the one in middle Jurassic. Lanping basin was going into another evolution stage that was down\|warped basin.

Stratigraphic Correlation of Middle TriassicSequences among Different Paleogeographic Sedimentary Facies in South China

Affected by the Indosinian movement, the sediments in the main part of South China, Yangtze platform, started to transform from marine to continental during the Middle Triassic. In the meantime, a noticeable paleogeographic and sedimentary facies differentiation occurred in the marginal regions of the platforms and produced completely different lithologic and paleontologic sequences in various paleogeographic gradients and sedimentary facies areas, which brought about the difficulties for the stratigraphic correlation based on the traditional stratigraphies. This paper proposes to use some characteristic environmental events as the markers of the stratigraphic correlation across various paleogeographic sedimentary facies, considering that some distinctive regional environmental events should have affected at the same time on the entire basin or the connected sedimentary regions and produced some closely related sedimentary records in the stratigraphic sequences though the affected intensity and recorded pattern might be different among the regions. The change of violent relative sea level (generally water depth) and the alteration of tectonic activity summarized from the dynamic mechanism of sedimentation are the best markers of environmental events for stratigraphic correlation. Based on the analysis and recognition of some significant environmental events at the typical stratigraphic sequences from various paleogeographic sedimentary facies and combined with the consideration of the variations in expressed form and strength of the events among different paleogeographic gradients and sedimentary facies, the stratigraphic sequences from different sedimentary facies can be easily correlated directly. Furthermore, the evolutionary history of the whole sedimentary basin can be clearly established.

Middle Triassic Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Paleogeography of South China

The Middle Triassic was the great turning period of South China from marine sedimentary basins to continental deposits or erosion. This paper summarizes the distribution and variation of the stratigraphic sequences, lithofacies and biotas in various Middle Triassic depositional basins of South China. The close relationship between the biotic paleoecology and the lithofacies as well as the sedimentary facies, thus the paleogeography, is demonstrated. The process of the transition from the depositional paleogeography and its relation to the tectonic settings is concluded.

Characteristics and Natural Gas Origin of Middle-Late Triassic Marine Source Rocks of the Western Sichuan Depression, SW China

A scientific exploration well(CK1) was drilled to expand the oil/gas production in the western Sichuan depression, SW, China. Seventy-three core samples and four natural gas samples from the Middle–Late Triassic strata were analyzed to determine the paleo-depositional setting and the abundance of organic matter(OM) and to evaluate the hydrocarbon-generation process and potential. This information was then used to identify the origin of the natural gas. The OM is characterized by medium n-alkanes(n C15–n C19), low pristane/phytane and terrigenous aquatic ratios(TAR), a carbon preference index(CPI) of ~1, regular steranes with C29 > C27 > C28, gammacerane/C30 hopane ratios of 0.15–0.32, and δDorg of-132‰ to-58‰, suggesting a marine algal/phytoplankton source with terrestrial input deposited in a reducing–transitional saline/marine sedimentary environment. Based on the TOC, HI index, and chloroform bitumen "A" the algalrich dolomites of the Leikoupo Formation are fair–good source rocks;the grey limestones of the Maantang Formation are fair source rocks;and the shales of the Xiaotangzi Formation are moderately good source rocks. In addition, maceral and carbon isotopes indicate that the kerogen of the Leikoupo and Maantang formations is type Ⅱ and that of the Xiaotangzi Formation is type Ⅱ–Ⅲ. The maturity parameters and the hopane and sterane isomerization suggest that the OM was advanced mature and produced wet–dry gases. One-dimensional modeling of the thermal-burial history suggests that hydrocarbon-generation occurred at 220–60 Ma. The gas components and C–H–He–Ar–Ne isotopes indicate that the oilassociated gases were generated in the Leikoupo and Maantang formations, and then, they mixed with gases from the Xiaotangzi Formation, which were probably contributed by the underlying Permian marine source rocks. Therefore, the deeply-buried Middle–Late Triassic marine source rocks in the western Sichuan depression and in similar basins have a great significant hydrocarbon potential.

Geochronology,geochemistry and geodynamics implications of Middle Triassic garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranite in central Jilin Province

Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology and geochemical analyses are undertaken for the garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranite in Yitong area,central Jilin Province. The formation age and petrogenesis of the granite are determined,and the regional tectonic background is discussed. Zircons from the granite are euhedral-subhedral in shape,and display fine-scale oscillatory growth zoning,indicating a magmatic origin. LAICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating result indicates that the garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranites formed in the middle Triassic( 243 Ma). The garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranites have high SiO_2( Si O2= 74. 1%--76. 49%),rich aluminum( Al_2O_3= 14. 47%--14. 68%) and alkali( Na_2O + K_2O = 4. 31%--7. 9%),low Fe_2O_3 T and MgO( MgO = 0. 1%--0. 13%,Fe_2O_3 T = 0. 46%--1. 02%). The ratio of CaO/Na_2O is between 0. 17--0. 21. The garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranites in Yitong region are relatively enriched in light rare earth elements( LREEs) and large ion lithophile elements( LILEs),and depleted of heavy rare earth elements( HREEs) and high field strength elements( HFSEs). They are characterized by high Sr and Ba,poor Rb and Y,and negative Eu abnormally( δEu = 0. 48--0. 62),with Rb/Sr < 1. The ε_(Hf)( t) values and T_(DM2) of zircons range from + 6. 10 to + 8. 00 and from 725 Ma to 814 Ma,respectively. The above features indicate that garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranites in Yitong area were derived from partial melting of metasedimentary rock.These granites have high Sr/Y ratios,which suggest they formed in a thickened continental crust. Combined with the coeval granitic rocks in central Jilin Province,we suggested that a significant collisional and thickening event took place during the Middle Triassic.

贺根山洋闭合与后造山伸展——来自科右中旗构造混杂岩带内晚三叠世花岗岩的证据

内蒙古科尔沁右翼中旗巨日合A2型二长花岗岩位于贺根山缝合带东段,侵位于早石炭世杜尔基构造混杂岩(带)中。笔者等通过对其进行系统的野外地质特征、岩石学、地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究,旨在厘定岩体成因和构造背景,为古亚洲洋分支洋盆—贺根山洋闭合时限提供证据。巨日合二长花岗岩主要由细粒二长花岗岩和中粒二长花岗岩组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果显示巨日合二长花岗岩侵位于晚三叠世(203.7±1.6 Ma)。地球化学研究显示,该岩体高硅(SiO_(2)=71.08%~76.62%)、富碱(Na_(2)O+K_(2)O=7.99%~9.28%),贫钙(CaO=0.25%~1.67%)和镁(MgO=0.05%~0.63%);负Eu异常显著(δEu=0.14~0.50),Rb、Th、U、K、Ga元素较富集,而Ba、Sr、P、Ti元素相对亏损,且10000Ga/Al(3.62~4.90)、TFeO/MgO(3.40~14.80)、(Na_(2)O+K_(2)O)/CaO(5.03~31.96)值较高,显示出A2型花岗岩特征,代表其形成于后造山伸展拉张环境。同时结合岩浆起源温压条件研究,认为岩体可能为壳源含斜长石的角闪石质岩石在脱水条件下部分熔融及其后的结晶分异作用成因。结合中亚造山带东段早石炭—晚三叠世蛇绿岩、洋内弧和后造山型岩浆岩的时空演化关系,揭示贺根山洋可能在二叠纪末期闭合,并在三叠纪进入后造山伸展拉张阶段。

琼中地区中三叠世黑云母二长花岗岩成壤过程的量化指标表征

土壤是地球关键带的重要组成部分,是岩石风化的结果,是连接岩石圈、生物圈、大气圈和水圈的纽带,其形成、发育和功能将深刻影响地球生态系统的可持续性(朱永官等,2015)。由岩石到土壤的风化过程中,土壤过程是控制地球关键带中物质、能量、信息流动与转化的重要节点。受成壤母质、气候等因素的影响,元素的活动性表现出不同的特点规律。不同学科通过不同量化指标表征成壤过程中元素的规律。

陕南镇巴地区中-晚三叠世界线富锂黏土岩的发现及找矿意义

首次报道了扬子板块北缘镇巴地区中-晚三叠世界线黏土岩锂的超常富集,黏土岩产于关岭组(T_(2)g)/须家河组(T_(3)x)平行不整合界面,为古风化壳沉积物,Li_(2)O品位0.08%~0.11%,最高达0.22%,超过了该类型矿产的边界品位(0.06%),界线黏土岩的岩石学特征、矿物组成及岩石成因亟待查明。本文通过XRD分析、TIMA分析以及详细的地球化学研究,查明了界线黏土岩的矿物组成,探讨了黏土岩形成的沉积环境及物质来源,提出了不整合面黏土岩类关键金属矿产的综合找矿方向。研究表明,镇巴地区T_(2)/T_(3)界线黏土岩主要由石英、伊利石、高岭石组成,并含有极少量绿泥石、蒙脱石和铝绿泥石。主量元素(SiO_(2)、Al_(2)O_(3)、^(T)Fe_(2)O_(3)、TiO_(2))特征表明界线黏土岩属于铝土质泥岩,黏土岩CIA值(化学蚀变指数)为85~93,ICV值(成分变异指数)为0.22~0.46,说明其沉积母岩经历了强烈的化学风化作用。微量元素(V、Ni、Sr、Ba)显示黏土岩形成于氧化-还原过渡的陆相淡水沉积环境。我国目前在不整合面发现的黏土岩有铁-铝质黏土岩、铝质黏土岩、铝土岩,代表了古风化壳沉积,并产有锂、镓、稀土、铌等关键金属矿产,形成时代主要为石炭纪-二叠纪,具有多元素综合成矿的特点,建议后期加强不整合面黏土岩类的综合找矿工作,助力新一轮找矿突破。

Biostratigraphy of Triassic Marine Reptiles in Southwest Guizhou and Its Adjacent Area

This paper briefly reviews the Triassic marine reptile fossils in Guizhou Province, especially the fossils that have been recently found in the Guanling area. Based on three sections at Guanling and Xingyi, Guizhou Province and Luoping, Yunnan Province, four horizons with vertebrate fossils are recognized in the Middle and Upper Triassic of this area; They are from bottom to top: Member I and Member II of the Guanling Formation, and the Zhuganpo Member and the Wayao Member of the Falang Formation.

The Most Complete Pistosauroid Skeleton from the Triassic of Yunnan,China

A new specimen discovered from the Falang Formation in northeastern Yunnan represents the most complete skeleton of Triassic pistosauroids. The new specimen is referred to Yunguisaurus Cheng et al., 2006 on the basis of the skull features, such as the presence of a separated nasal entering the external naris, a large pineal foramen located at the frontal/parietal suture and an interpterygoid vacuity with a narrow anterior extension. The new specimen differs from the type species of Yunguisaurus liae Cheng et al., 2006 in some aspects. Most of these differences can be attributed to ontogenetic variations. The new specimen is provisionally considered as Yunguisaurus cf. liae although its relatively short snout of the skull and slenderer hyoid may not be explained ontogenetically. Whether or not the new specimen represents a different taxon has to wait for a detailed study of the whole skeleton.