Oxygen isotope stratigraphy and events in the northern South China Sea during the last 6 million years

Based on the stable isotopic analysis of more than 1000 samples of planktonic and benthic foraminifers from ODP Site 1148 in the northern South China Sea (SCS), the oxygen isotope stratigraphy has been applied to the last 3 million years for the first time in the SCS. Furthermore, the paleoceanographic changes in the northern SCS during the last 6 million years have been unraveled. The benthic foraminiferal δ180 record shows that before ~3.1 Ma the SCS was much more influenced by the warm intermediate water of the Pacific. The remarkable decrease in the deepwater temperature of the SCS during the period of 3.1-2.5 Ma demonstrates the formation of the Northern Hemisphere ice-sheet. However, the several sea surface temperature (SST) reductions during the early and middle Pliocene, reflected by the planktonic foraminiferal δ18O, might be related to the ice-sheet growth in the Antarctic region. Only those stepwise and irreversible SST reductions during the period of ~2.2-0.9 Ma could be related to the formation and growth of the Northern Hemisphere ice-sheet.

Geochemical Stratigraphy and Microvertebrate Assemblage Sequences across the Silurian/Devonian Transition in South China

Carbon isotope （δ13Corg） analyses of non-marine clastic rocks and neritic carbonates and black shales spanning the Silurian/Devonian transition are compared from two richly fossiliferous sequences in Qujing of East Yunnan and Zoige of Sichuan, South China. The two sections, Xishancun and Putonggou sections in South China, reveal positive δ13Corg shifts happening in the Upper Pridoli and Lower Devonian and reaching peak values as heavy as -25.2‰ （Xishancun） and -19.9‰（Putonggou） in the lowermost Lochkovian following the first occurrence of the thelodont Parathelodus and the conodont Icriodus woschmidti woschmidti （only in Putonggou Section and together with Protathyris-Lanceomyonia brachiopod fauna）. These results replicate a globally known positive shift in δ13Corg from the uppermost Silurian to the lowermost Devonian. The δ13Corg variations across the Silurian/Devonian Boundary （SDB） at the two sections in South China exhibit a shift in carbon isotopic composition similar to the detailed SDB curves from the borehole Klonk-1 drilled at top of the Klonk Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point （GSSP） in the Prague Basin, Czech Republic. In addition, four microvertebrate assemblages, including the Liaojiaoshan, Xishancun, Yanglugou and Xiaputonggou assemblages, are recognized from the Silurian/Devonian transition exposed in the Xishancun and Putonggou sections, respectively. The results from both carbon isotope stratigraphy and microvertebrate assemblage sequences suggest that the SDB in South China is located at the base of the Xishancun Formation （between sample QX-20 and sample QX-21） in the Xishancun Section and the lower part of the Xiaputonggou Formation （between sample ZP-09 and sample ZP-10） in the Putonggou Section. The isotopic trend for organic carbon together with the changes of microvertebrate remains across the SDB can offer an approach to a potential correlation of the SDB from different sedimentary facies, which help to correlate the marine with non-marine deposits.

Discovery of SPICE and carbon isotope stratigraphic correlation of the Cambrian Furongian Series in Tarim Craton, NW China

The Furongian Series of the Cambrian in the Tarim Craton(NW China)is mainly composed of crystalline dolostones,and is an important target for oil and gas exploration.The chronostratigraphic framework of the Furongian Series in the Tarim Craton has not yet been established due to the scarcity of fossils and the absence of the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion(SPICE),which is the primary global carbon isotope excursion of the Furongian Series.In this study,the SPICE was discovered by examining the carbon isotopes of the representative drilling wells in the West Platform and East Basin.A positive carbon isotope anomaly withδ13C values ranging from 1.5‰to 1.9‰(PDB),were found in the middle of the Xiaqiulitag Formation of the three drilling wells in the West Platform,and a positive excursion withδ13C values up to 4.0‰(PDB),which is correlated with the SPICE,was found in the lower limestone of the Tuershaketag Formation in the East Basin.Based on the carbon isotopic data and chemostratigraphic correlation,the chronostratigraphic framework of the Furongian Series across different facies in the Tarim Craton is preliminarily established.The basal boundary of the Furongian Series was preliminarily defined by the occurrence of the SPICE.Aweak positive anomaly ofδ13C was observed at the base of the Penglaiba Formation of the three boreholes in the West Platform and the top of the Tuershaketag Formation of Tadong-2 well.We propose that the positive anomaly of the carbon isotope above the weak negative anomaly at the base of the Penglaiba Formation and the top of the Tuershaketag Formation can be used to define the Cambrian-Ordovician boundary in the Tarim Craton.

The Silurian-Devonian boundary in East Yunnan(South China)and the minimum constraint for the lungfish-tetrapod split

The Silurian-Devonian interval is an essential period in Earth history for witnessing the rise of sarcopterygian fishes and terrestrial vascular plants.In addition to its implication in global stratigraphic correlation,the precise location of the Silurian-Devonian boundary(SDB)in East Yunnan closely relates to the minimal and maximal estimated dates for the lungfish-tetrapod split.Several geochemical indicators including the values and curves ofδ^(13)C_(org),δ^(13)Ccarb and TOC are obtained from the continuous SDB sequence in Dahe,Yiliang County,East Yunnan.The results reveal the significant positiveδ^(13)C_(org) shifts in the upper part of the Yulungssu Formation and the lower part of the Xishancun Formation,and the peak value(−20.0‰)in the sample YD-25 from the lowermost of the Xishancun Formation,replicating theδ^(13)C_(org) variation trend from the uppermost Silurian to the lowermost Devonian worldwide.Theδ^(13)C_(org) variation across the SDB at the Dahe Section resembles the SDB curve from the borehole Klonk-1 drilled at the top of the Klonk GSSP in the Prague Basin,Czech Republic.As such,we place the SDB in the Dahe Area between the samples of YD-17 and YD-18 from the lowermost part of the Xishancun Formation.This SDB assignment is corroborated by new findings of Early Devonian thelodont Parathelodus from the lower part of the Xishancun Formation in Qujing Area.The resolution of the SDB in Dahe,coupled with available paleontological data and the biostratigraphic zonation in East Yunnan,has provided vital data for the geological ages of the fish-bearing strata in East Yunnan.The earliest rhipidistian Youngolepis from the Xishancun Formation(Lochkovian,Devonian)and earliest stem-sarcopterygian Psarolepis from the Kuanti Formation(Ludfordian,Silurian)in East Yunnan indicate that the split between lungfish and tetrapods occurred between 426.5 and 416.0 Ma.