Quantitative geochemical reconstruction of Eocene paleoenvironment in Fushun Basin,northeast China

The quantitative estimation of key parameters of paleotemperature and paleoprecipitation is crucial for paleoclimate reconstruction.Geochemical data from mod-ern sediments are highly consistent with climate data,and their relationship can provide an important reference for the quantitative reconstruction of the paleoclimate.In this study,detailed inorganic geochemical analysis was carried out using high-precision sampling of the Paleogene(LFD-1 well)Guchengzi,Jijuntun and Xiloutian Formations in the Fushun Basin located in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.The Eocene Guchengzi Formation(54.51–47.8 Ma)and Jijuntun Formation(47.8–41.2 Ma)in the Fushun Basin were found to have been deposited under a humid climate.The lower(41.2–40.1 Ma)and upper(40.1–37.8 Ma)parts of the Xiloutian Formation were character-ized by semiarid and semihumid–semiarid climates,respec-tively,which is very similar to the paleoclimatic information reflected by organic carbon isotopes.The Eocene Thermal Maximum 2(ETM2,~53.7 Ma),Early Eocene Climatic Optimum(EECO,~53.1–46.5 Ma),Eocene Thermal Maxi-mum 3(ETM 3,~52.8 Ma),and Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum(MECO,~40.7–40.1 Ma)events significantly enhanced chemical weathering during these periods.The rapid increase in pCO_(2)concentration leads to an increase in temperature,precipitation,and surface runoff,exhibiting strong chemical weathering.The mean annual temperature(MATa)and mean annual precipitation(MAPa,MAPb,and MAPc)were estimated using parameters,such as the corrosion index without potassium(CIA-K),CaO/Al_(2)O_(3),and(Na_(2)O+K_(2)O)/Al_(2)O_(3).Comparing MAPa,MAPb,and MAPc with the MAP estimated using pollen data,MAPa and MAPb were found to be more sensitive to the climate during high precipitation periods(precipitation>1000 mm,Guchengzi Formation),and the recovered average precipi-tation was similar to MAP.In contrast,MAPc was more sensitive to the climate during low precipitation periods(precipitation<1000 mm,Jijuntun,and Xiloutian Forma-tions),with higher accuracy.To fully consider the influence of soluble inorganic salts Ca^(2+)and Na^(+),multivariate linear equations of CIA-K and CaO/Al_(2)O_(3)with CIA,and CIA-K and CaO/Al_(2)O_(3)with MAP were constructed,namely MAPd and MAPe.The results show that MAPe has the highest per-formance and can be effectively used to estimate the change of paleoprecipitation in Northeast Asia.

Paleosalinity reconstruction in offshore lacustrine basins based on elemental geochemistry:a case study of Middle Upper Eocene Shahejie Formation,Zhanhua Sag,Bohai Bay Basin

Salinity is a crucial property of water body and is essential for the restoration of paleoecology and paleoenvironment.However,the theoretical method of application of elemental geochemical proxies to paleosalinity reconstruction is still underdeveloped.Moreover,accurate determination and reconstruction of paleosalinity and its variation in an offshore lacustrine basin have been extremely challenging thus far.This study presents detailed elemental geochemical investigations from the Zhanhua Sag in the southern Bohai Bay Basin to reconstruct the salinity variation in the Paleogene Eocene Shahejie Formation(50.8-33.9 Ma).Based on the variation of strontium barium ratio(Sr/Ba)and boron gallium ratio(B/Ga),we determined three typical salinity types of water body:salty water(Sr/Ba>0.5,B/Ga>6),brackish water(0.2<Sr/Ba<0.5,3<B/Ga<6),and fresh water(Sr/Ba<0.2,B/Ga<3),after eliminating carbonate-sourced strontium(Sr).The salinity values following Couch’s paleosalinometer r anged from 3.1 to 11.9,reflecting the overall characteristics of oligohaline(0.5<salinity value<5)to mesohaline(5<salinity value<18)brackish water.All proxies yielded similar trends in paleosalinity variation,demonstrating a clear trend of rising and then declining from 50.8 Ma to 33.9 Ma.We considered that the B/Ga ratio had the highest reliability and resolution in determining the salinity types of water body in the study area.The environmental factors causing paleosalinity variation were also thoroughly analysed based on the temporal relationship among the salinity types of watermasses,paleoclimate characteristics from pollen records,and marine transgression events from marine fossils.Our research established a model of paleoclimatic and eustatic mechanisms to explain paleosalinity variation,providing reasonable and integral driving forces for the salinity variation of all offshore lacustrine basins.

Extractable and kerogen-bound hopanoids from typical Eocene oil shales in China

This study conducted a comparative analysis of extractable hopanoid hydrocarbons and those released via stepwise pyrolysis of typical Eocene immature oil shales in China,namely the Huadian,Maoming,and Fushun shales.Both the Huadian and Maoming shales exhibit immature indicators in extractable and kerogen-bound hopanoids(notably,high abundance of C_(29)to C_(32)17β,21β-hopanes and unsaturated hopenes).In contrast,the Fushun oil shale's hopanoids from extracts and pyrolyzates suggest a higher maturity level.The absence of neohopenes in the pyrolyzates of the shales underpins that the kerogenbound hopanoid skeletons resist rearrangement.However,the Huadian oil shale's asymmetric distribution of C_(29)and C_(30)hopenes and neohopenes hints at the presence of an additional source.Novel unsaturated hopenes,such as hop-20(21)-enes,identified in pyrolyzates of the three kerogens at various pyrolysis temperatures,reveal the occurrence of double bonds in kerogen-bound hopanoid skeletons without methyl rearrangements.The absence of hop-20-(21)-ene in extracts suggests that it might act as an intermediate of these novel hopenes during the epimerization of hopanoid skeletons within kerogen.The extractable and pyrolytic hopanoids'stereochemical alignment indicates that epimerization may occur in both ring systems and alkyl side chains of kerogen-bound hopanoid skeletons.Sequential stepwise pyrolysis proves to be a quick screening method for geological hopanoids without causing any significant alteration to the original skeletons even when cracking multiple covalent bonds is necessary.

Contributions to the knowledge of Antarctodon sobrali(Mammalia:Astrapotheria)from the Eocene of Antarctica

The Astrapotheria constitutes one of the five orders of extinct South American native ungulates,with a fossil record that also extends to the Eocene of the Antarctic Peninsula.In contrast to the abundant specimens known for litoptern Sparnotheriodontidae and metatherians,astrapotheres are represented by scant remains assigned to the endemic Antarctodon sobrali and indeterminate astrapotheres,restricted to levels 35C_(u0)and 35n of the Cucullaea I Allomember of the La Meseta Formation.The discovery of alower molar assignable to this species in the Eocene levels of Seymour(Marambio)Island,enables a revision of the diagnosis and the homologies of the dental characters used to describe this taxon.A reanalysis of its phylogenetic relationships reveals the nearly simultaneous presence of basal astrapotheres in the early Eocene of Itaboraí(Brazil),Patagonia,and West Antarctica.These taxa are characterized by lacking dental specializations usually associated with more abrasive diets like terminal forms of Uruguaytheriinae and Astrapotheriinae.Antarctodon appears to have thrived on the Antarctic continent during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum within the paleoclimatic context of a hot-house world.Unlike present conditions in Antarctica where no terrestrial mammals inhabit,the early Eocene climate was characterized by warmer temperatures and a biologically diverse environment rich in primary producers,dominated by Nothofagus forests,encompassing both deciduous and evergreen forests,which supported a diverse assemblage of continental vertebrates.

Early Eocene Radiolarian Fauna from the Sangdanlin, Southern Tibet: Constraints on the Timing of Initial India-Asia Collision

This is a new report on the early Eocene radiolarian fauna from the Sangdanlin section in the Gyirong region, along the southern margin of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone. The Sangdanlin section measured in this study is divided into three lithostratigraphic units from bottom to top： the Zongzhuo, Sangdanlin, and Zheya formations. Abundant radiolarian fossils were obtained from the Sangdanlin section and 54 species of 30 genera were identified and assigned as follows： Cryptamphorella conara-C. macropora the late Cretaceous Zone and Amphis_phaera coronate, Bur）ella tetradica-Bekoma campechensis, and B.bidartensis-B. divaricata the Paleocene-early Eocene Interval Zones. The Paleocene- early Eocene radiolarian zones are comparable to the radiolarian zones RP4-RP8 in New Zealand. Based on the data of radiolaria and lithofacies, it is suggested that the Zongzhuo Formation should be deposited along the base of the north-facing, continental slope of the Greater Indian continental margin, and the Sangdanlin Formation should be a deep marine, sedimentary sequence located in a foreland basin. The early Eocene radiolarian fauna in the Sangdanlin Formation constrains the initial age of the India-Asia collision to no later than 53.6 Ma.

Biostratigraphy of a Paleocene-Eocene Foreland Basin boundary in southern Tibet

This study of the Paleocene--Eocene boundary within a foreland basin of southern Tibet, which was dominated by a carbonate ramp depositional environment, documents more complex environmental conditions than can be derived from studies of the deep oceanic environment. Extinction rates for larger foraminiferal species in the Zongpu-1 Section apply to up to 46% of the larger foraminiferal taxa. The extinction rate in southern Tibet is similar to rates elsewhere in the world, but it shows that the Paleocene fauna disappeared stepwise through the Late Paleocene, with Eocene taxa appearing abruptly above the boundary. A foraminifera turnover was identified between Members 3 and 4 of the Zongpu Formation-from the Miscellanea--Daviesina assemblage to an Orbitolites-Alveolina assemblage. The Paleocene and Eocene boundary is between the SBZ 4 and SBZ 5, where it is marked by the extinction of Miscellanea miscella and the first appearance of Alveolina ellipsodalis and a large number of Orbitolites. Chemostratigraphically, the δ^13C values from both the Zongpu-1 and Zongpu-2 Sections show three negative excursions in the transitional strata, one in Late Paleocene, one at the boundary, and one in the early Eocene. The second negative excursion of δ^13C, which is located at the P-E boundary, coincides with larger foraminifera overturn. These faunal changes and the observed δ^13C negative excursions provide new evidence on environmental changes across the Paleocene--Eocene boundary in Tibet.

LATE EOCENE MAMMALIAN FAUNA OF HUANGZHUANG,QUFU,SHANDONG

This paper describes Mammalian fossils of 18 species discovered at Donghuangzhuang,about 15 km from NE of Qufu county,Shandong Province.The materials were collected bya farmer in 1984 and were sent to The Shandong Provincial Museum for studing.A short fieldinvestigation was made by Wang Jinwen,Sha Yesue(BGMRSD),Han Qingwen(SDM)andthe present author in same year.The age of the fauna is tentatively considered as the late Late Eocene,probably correlatedas the Heti Fauna(Yuanqu Basin).It represents the first occurrence of Late Eocene fossils inthis province.

Primary Study on Quantitative Reconstruction of Middle-Late Eocene Climate in Jianghan Basin

This paper reports our primary effort in the quantitative reconstruction ofpaleoclimate based on the thrine in phytoecology of the affinity parent plants in the stratigraphicpollen records. The Eocene pollen data come from our former study on the Mingjia borehole 1 in theJianghan basin. The fluctuating trend in the parameter curve of climate shows that the climate inthe Middle Eocene in the Jianghan basin was more or less comparable with that of the present22°―26°N, characteristic of a humid, semi-humid central-southern subtropical climate. The annualtemperature at that time dropped by 1 ℃― 4 ℃ in the Late Eocene, approximately equal to that ofthe present 23°―28°N of northern-central subtropical climate. However, the climate composite atthat time, characterized by higher temperature, small annual range and big fluctuation inprecipitation, was quite different from the present one. The average temperature in January in theMiddle Eocene, higher than that of today, ranged between 5 ℃ and 9 ℃, indicating that no effect ofwinter monsoon occurred in the Middle Eocene, though such an effect may have occurred occasionallyin the Late Eocene. Major temperature decline is recognized at the depth of 2 100 m in the borehole,as was indicated by the decline in average January temperature, the increase in annual range, andthe increase in the deciduous broad-leaved types of trees in the spore-pollen assemblage. The sharpfluctuation in the annual precipitation, usually raging from 300 to 1 700 mm, was favorable for themigration and accumulation of salty deposit. When the precipitation was lower than 1 000 mm,ephemera shrub increased at the same depth as that of the salty deposit. It is, therefore, deducedthat the formation of the salty deposit was attributed mainly to the dry and hot environment in thehigh mountains and deep basins. The small annual precipitation and the intense fluctuation arefavorable for the sustainable accumulation of the salts, which is different from the present saltyaccumulation in the Northwest China.

Geochemistry of the Eocene Felsic Porphyric Rocks and High-Mg Potassic Rocks along JARSZ:Implication for the Tectonic Evolution in Eastern Tibet

Eocene felsic porphyric rocks and the high-Mg potassic volcanic rocks（HMPR） occur along the Jinshajiang-Ailao Shan-Red River shear zone（JARSZ） in eastern Tibet.Compared with the HMPR,which are generally believed to be sourced from an enriched mantle,the felsic porphyric rocks show similar K_2O contents,enrichment in LREE and LILE,particularly radiogenic isotope（e.g.Sr and Nd） features much similar to the former,implying generation of the felsic porphyric rocks most likely related to the HMPR,although they both have clearly different major and trace element compositions. The close relationship in spatial-temporal distribution and similar Sr-Nd characteristics between the felsic porphyric rocks and HMPR in eastern Tibet indicate that both of them were possibly formed by a similar tectonic process（event）.Combining the basic dikes in southern and eastern Tibet,we suggest that the break-off of north-dipping Neo-Tethyan slab in southern Tibet during 50-40 Ma,triggered formation of high-Mg potassic magma.This led to developing felsic porphyric magma production by partial melting of underplating HMPR in the lower crust,or fractionation crystallization of the high-Mg potassic magmas.The break-off of slab in the Eocene may also have contributed to the abundant ore-forming material related to earlier subduction events,resulting in formation of the porphyric deposits along JARSZ in eastern Tibet.

Formation of fine crystalline dolomites in lacustrine carbonates of the Eocene Sikou Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, East China

The genesis of the fine crystalline dolomites that exhibit good to excellent reservoir properties in the upper fourth member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation（Es4s）around the Sikou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, is uncertain. This paper investigates the formation mechanisms of this fine crystalline dolomite using XRD, SEM, thin section analysis and geochemical data. The stratigraphy of the Sikou lacustrine carbonate is dominated by the repetition of metre-scale, high-frequency deposition cycles, and the amount of dolomite within a cycle increases upward from the cycle bottom. These dolomite crystals are 2–30 μm in length, subhedral to anhedral in shape and typically replace both grains and matrix. They also occur as rim cement and have thin lamellae within ooid cortices. Textural relations indicate that the dolomite predates equant sparry calcite cement and coarse calcite cement. The Sr concentrations of dolomites range from 900 to 1200 ppm. Dolomite δ18O values（-11.3 to-8.2 ‰ PDB） are depleted relative to calcite mudstone（-8.3 to-5.4 ‰ PDB） that precipitated from lake water, while δ13C values（0.06–1.74 ‰ PDB） are within the normal range of calcite mudstone values（-2.13 to 1.99 ‰ PDB）. High87Sr/86Sr values（0.710210–0.710844） indicate that amounts of Ca2＋ and Mg2＋have been derived from the chemical weathering of Palaeozoic carbonate bedrocks. The high strontium concentration indicates that hypersaline conditions were maintainedduring the formation of the dolomites and that the dolomites were formed by the replacement of precursor calcite or by direct precipitation.

Eocene Planktonic Foraminifera and the Age of the Youngest Marine Sediments in Tuna,Yadong,Southern Tibet

1 Introduction The collision evolution between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate is one of the significant geological events since the Mesozoic.It has profoundly influenced the global tectonic framework and led to the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,which has attracted extensive attention of global geologists and become a research hotspot(Butler,1995;Li and Wan,2003a and b;Wang et al.,2003;Aitchison et al.,2007).

Eocene lignites from Cambay basin, Western India： An excellent source of hydrocarbon

In the present paper lignites from the Cambay basin have been studied for their hydrocarbon potential.The samples were collected from three lignite fieldse Vastan, Rajpardi and Tadkeshwar, and were investigated by petrography, chemical analyses and Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The results are well comparable with the empirically derived values. The study reveals that these ‘low rank C＇ lignites are exceedingly rich in reactive macerals（huminite t liptinite） while inertinite occurs in low concentration. These high volatile lignites generally have low ash yield except in few sections. The Rock-Eval data indicates the dominance of kerogen type-III with a little bit of type-II. The study reveals that the lignites of Vastan（lower and upper seams） and Tadkeshwar upper seam are more gas-prone while Rajpardi and Tadkeshwar lower seams are oil-prone. Further, the fixed hydrocarbons are several times higher than the free hydrocarbons. The relation between TOC and fixed hydrocarbon indicates that these lignites are excellent source rock for hydrocarbon which could be obtained mainly through thermal cracking. The empirically derived values reveal a high conversion（94e96%） and high oil yield（64e66%） for these lignites.

Weiwoboidae fam.nov.of 'Higher' Fulgoroidea (Hemiptera:Fulgoromorpha) from the Eocene Deposits of Yunnan,China

A new family of so-called ‘higher’ planthoppers, Weiwoboidae fam. nov., from the Lower Eocene of Yunnan is described. A new monotypic genus, Weiwoboa gen. nov., with Weiwoboa meridiana sp. nov. is also described and illustrated. The characters of tegmen venation of the new family, its evolution, and supposed relationships are briefly discussed.

Variability in distribution of major and trace elements in Lower Eocene siliceous sections of the Transuralian Region, Russia

This paper presents lithologic and geochemical data from the sequence of the Eocene Irbit formation siliceous rocks(Transuralian Region) outcropping in a quarry in the Irbit deposit(thickness of 15 m) and in a large natural outcrop, Belaya Gorka(thickness of 13 m). The data show that both outcrops are composed of diatomites and clayey diatomites, both characterized by a certain degree of lithologic heterogeneity around their chemical,granulometric, and mineralogical compositions;microstructural features; and degree of diatom preservation. The values of indices important for the classification of siliceous rocks and determination of prospects for their industrial application—SiO_2, Al_2O_3, Fe_2O_3, and clay fraction content—ranged from 66% to 77%, 7% to 14%,3.00% to 5.60%, and 23% to 50%, respectively. In all studied lithologic varieties, element abundances of V, Cr,Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, and Sb were two to three times higher than their respective abundances in the Earth's crust. This is probably related to these elements' involvement in the biological cycle and favorable conditions for transport. Rb, Cs, Ba, and Sr, as well as rare earth elements,are considered the most reliable indicators of lithologic and geochemical subdivision of a sequence of siliceous rocks,as they are associated mainly with clayey minerals. Variations in these indicators have recorded, with great probability, even short-term cycles and semi-cycles of silicasedimentation in the Transuralian Region, as well as tectonic regime and involvement of terrigenous influx.

Leaf Cuticle Microstructure of Machilus maomingensis sp.nov.(Lauraceae) from the Eocene of the Maoming Basin,South China

Machilus maomingensis Jin et Tang,sp.nov.from the Eocene Youganwo Formation of the Maoming Basin,South China,is studied in detail from the perspective of the leaf architecture and the excellently preserved cuticle.The leaf margin is entire,the primary venation is pinnate;6 to 8secondary veins are present and the major secondary venation is eucamptodromous.Stomata are paracytic and occur on the lower epidermis.Trichome bases are unicellular.Oil cells are present in the upper epidermis.The new fossil species described has features of the Lauraceae,particularly of the extant genus Machilus Rumphius ex Nees,and it is most similar to Machilus chinensis（Bentham）Hemsley,an extant species distributed in southern China and Vietnam.Hence,Machilus maomingensis sp.nov.is inferred to live in a warm and humid climate.The discovery of the present fossil indicates that Machilus has existed in South China from at least the Eocene.

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE EOCENE DROSH-VOLCANO-SEDIMENTARY BASIN IN NW-KOHISTAN ISLAND ARC TERRANE, HINDUKUSH, N. PAKISTAN

In NW Himalayas, the suture zone between the collided Indian and the Karakoram plates is occupied by crust of the Cretaceous Kohistan Island\|Arc Terrane [1] . Late Cretaceous (about 90Ma) accretion with the southern margin of the Karakoram Plate at the site of the Shyok Suture Zone turned Kohistan to become an Andean\|type margin. The Neotethys was completely subducted at the southern margin of Kohistan by Early Tertiary, leading to collision between Kohistan and continental crust of the Indian plate at the site of the Main mantle thrust.More than 80% of the Kohistan terrane comprises plutonic rocks of (1) ultramafic to gabbroic composition forming the basal crust of the intra\|oceanic stage of the island arc, and (2) tonalite\|granodiorite\|granite composition belong to the Kohistan Batholith occupying much of the intermediate to shallow crust of the terrane mostly intruded in the Andean\|type margin stage [2] . Both these stages of subduction\|related magmatism were associated with volcanic and sedimentary rocks formed in Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary basins. This study addresses tectonic configuration of Early Tertiary Drosh basin exposed in NW parts of the Kohistan terrane, immediately to the south of the Shyok Suture Zone.

Eocene magmatism(Maden Complex) in the Southeast Anatolian Orogenic Belt: Magma genesis and tectonic implications

The origin and geodynamic setting of the Maden Complex, which is situated in the Bitlis-Zagros Suture Zone in the Southeast Anatolian Orogenic Belt, is still controversial due to lack of systematic geological and geochemical data. Here we present new whole rock major-trace-rare earth element and Sre Nd isotope data from the Middle Eocene volcanic rocks exposed in Maden Complex and discuss their origin in the light of new and old data. The volcanic lithologies are represented mainly by basalt and andesite, and minor dacite that vary from low-K tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, high-K calc-alkaline, and shoshonitic in composition. They exhibit enrichments in large ion lithophile and light rare earth elements, with depletions in high field strength elements. Basaltic rocks have uniform Sr and Nd isotope ratios with high εNd(t) values varying from t5.5 to t6.7, in contrast to, andesitic rocks are characterized by low εNd(t) values ranging from à1.6 to à10. These geochemical and isotopic characteristics indicate that two end-members, a subduction-related mantle source and a continental crust, were involved in the magma genesis. Considering all geological and geochemical data, we suggest that the Eocene Maden magmatism occurred as a post-collisional product by asthenospheric upwelling owing to convective removal of the lithosphere during an extensional collapse of the Southeast Anatolian ranges.

Latitudinal trends in genus richness of vascular plants in the Eocene and Oligocene of North America

The latitudinal richness gradient is a frequent topic of study on the modern landscape,but its history in deep time is much less well known.Here,we preliminarily evaluated the paleolatitudinal richness gradient of vascular plants for the Eocene(56-33.9 million years ago) and Oligocene(33.9-23 million years ago) epochs of North America north of IVlexico using 201 fossil floras.We calculated the direction and shape of the gradient using quadratic regression to detect linear and curvilinear trends.We performed regressions for the Eocene and Oligocene as well as for informal time intervals within the Eocene:early,middle,and middle + late.We found that quadratic models better explain the data than linear models for both epochs as well as for the early Eocene.A roughly linear trend in the middle and middle + late intervals may reflect limited sampling of high latitude floras for those times.The curvilinear relationship was weak for the Eocene and the model showed a peak in richness at 45.5°N.The curvilinear relationship was much stronger for the Oligocene and the peak occurred at 48.5°N.In the Eocene,the mid-latitude peak in richness may be explained by mean annual temperature,which was probably higher at some mid-latitudes than at lower ones.For the Oligocene,the peak in richness at midlatitudes may be explained by evolutionary diversification within the temperate zone or by increased aridity at low latitudes.We also assessed the latitudinal richness gradient of genera within modern floras in North America north of Mexico and we found a weak,curvilinear trend with a peak in richness at 31.5°N.Our results suggest that the latitudinal genus richness gradient of vascular plants in North America continued to develop into its modern structure following the Oligocene.

How to Trace out Impact-Triggered Effects Globally Scattered around Formation Boundaries: Case Uhry, North Germany (Eocene/Oligocene Boundary)

By focusing on impact-triggered phenomena having occurred synchronously with or shortly prior to formation boundaries, two glass sand pits (Upper Maastrichtian) located near Uhry, North Germany have been studied in regard to the K/T boundary throughout the last 40 years during progressive exploitation of glass sand. However, a clastic sequence of sand, mass flow and pelite deposited in a deep channel of about 10 - 12 m in depth, eroded into the glass sand, surprisingly shows an Upper Eocene/Lower Oligocene age, well defined by a Dinocyst assemblage (Chiripteridium c. galea, Enneado cysta arcuata, Areoligera tauloma = D 12na - D 14na) from a 0.5 meter thick pelite that marks the Rupelian transgression within an estuarian system running northwest/southeastward. The section exposes a high energy mass flow and formerly solid frozen angular glass sand blocks of up to a meter-size embedded in fluvial sand of the channel base. Furthermore, erratic clastics of up to 0.4 meter in diameter appear at the pelite base. The “unusual” Dinocyst assemblage is of autochthonous origin and comprises the fresh water alga Pediastrum Kawraiskyias indicator for cold climate, hitherto only known from Quaternary. Missing pollen indicate a vegetation-less hinterland. Thus, there cannot be any doubt that around the E/O b. at least one “rare event” has happened as verified by short tremendous flooding and significant temperature fall (“cosmic winter”). According to the attitude of the global impact scientific community, these phenomena belong to the spectrum of “indirect effects” of major impacts. Radiometric ages of relevant major impact events underline that both impact craters of Popigai, Russia (100 Kilometer in diameter, 35.7 Ma) and Chesabreake, USA (85 Kilometer in diameter, 35.5 Ma) happened shortly before the E/O b.(33.75 Ma). In addition, a tektite strewn field along the eastern coast of the USA and micro-tektites (Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Barbados) yield an age of ~34.4 Ma, close to the E/O b. Consequently, there does exist an extremely high probability that Uhry site hosts impact-triggered products at the E/O b. It should be stressed that the Upper Eocene Epoch comprises an amazingly high number of impact events during the time-span 34.2 - 37.0 Ma.

Understanding the paleomires of Eocene lignites of Kachchh Basin, Gujarat （Western India）： petrological implications

The present paper entails the results of the investigations carried out on the lignite deposits of Kachchh Basin. The lignite samples were drawn from five lignite seams from Panandhro lignite field （Seam-I to -V） and eight lignite seams （Seam-I to -VIII） from the Matanomadh lignite field which are currently operational. The petrographic analysis of the lignites indicates a dominance of huminite group of macerals which is mainly contributed by ulminite-A, ulminite-B, attrinite, densinite, and phlobaphinite. Liptinite （chiefly sporinite, cutinite, resinite, and liptodetrinite） and inertinite （chiefly fusinite, funginite, and inertodetrinite） groups occur in subordinated amount. The mineral matter occurs in moderate concentration. Though sulfur content is high in these lignites, there is no fixed trend of variation of sulfur from bottom seam to top seam. The investigation reveals a flooded forest swamp having high rate of degradation. However, there were a few drier periods indicated by relatively more inertinite macerals. The petrography-based models indicate that the Kachchh lignites of Gujarat evolved in coastal marshy setting under transgressive phase. However, there were few intermittent fluvial activities giving rise to supratidal flood plain. This led to the formation of the associated carbonaceous shales in the basin.