Biogeographic characteristics of Zhesi brachiopod fauna and reconstruction of tectonopaleogeography of Jiamusi-Mongolia Block

The Kungurian-Capitanian （Permian） Zhesi branchiopod fauna is mainly composed of cold-water typed taxa with high diversity and abundance. This fauna is similar with the coeval brachiopod faunas from Ti- man-Pechora, Svalbard, and Queen Elizabeth Islands of the Boreal Realm, with no real ＂warm-water＂ species. Zhesi brachiopod fauna is a cold-water fauna and should be assigned to the Boreal Realm. Considering the paleogeographic characteristics of this fauna and the basic rationale of paleobiogeographie provinces being controlled by latitude-temperate, and that the above areas were located at 50°N -70°N in the global paleoclimate reconstruction map compiled by Boucot et al. , the paleo-latitude of the southern margin of Jiamusi-Mongolia Block, where developed the Zhesi brachiopod fauna, is suggested ranging from 40°N to 60°N. Zhesi brachiopod fauna is an endemic fauna, containing more than 75% endemic species and self-grouped as a biogeographic province, termed Inner Mongolia Province. These characteristics indicate that this area was closed or semiclosed at that time. On the Jiamusi-Mongolia Block, the Herlen-Jiamusi Old-land as an obvious ＂continental barrier＂ hindered the northward migration of the Zhesi brachiopod fauna and the immigration of brachiopod species from other areas. The Tarim plate has collided with the Kazakhstan plate and the western part of South Tianshan-Beishan-Xar Moron Ocean has been closed. At the same time, the western margin of Jiamusi-Mongolia Block was joined with the Tarim plate. The Xar Moron Ocean in south of Jiamusi-Mongolia Block was wide e- nough and the ocean temperature rose gradually southward, so that it is not suitable for the cold-water brachiopods to survive and thrive on the northern margin of the North China plate. Thus, the ocean with large width and high temperature formed another natural barrier for the southward migration of the cold-water brachiopods.

Mapping a Paleodrainage System of the Keriya River Using Remote Sensing Data and Historical Materials

Keriya River, one of the ancient Four Green Corridors in the Tarim Basin, recording the changes of climate-environment and the ancient Silk Road of the region. According to the archaeological data, historical materials and paleoclimates information, its eeo-environment and climate have taken great changes since the 1.09 Ma B.P, especially during the recent 2,000 years, many famous ancient cities having been abandoned and the south route of the Silk Road has been moved southward. This study illustrates the capability of the remote sensing data （radar data, topographic data and optical images） and historical materials, in mapping the ancient drainage networks. A major paleodrainage system of Keriya River has linked the Kunlun Mountains to the Tienshan Mountains, possibly as far back as the early Pleistocene. The Keriya River will have important implications for not only the understanding of the paleoenvironments and paleoclimates of Tarim Basin from the early Pleistocene to the Holocene, but also the changes of the Silk Road.

Neoproterozoic sedimentary facies and glacial periods in the southwest of Tarim Block

Based on the analysis of sedimentary facies and chemical index of alteration(CIA) in Nanhua and Ediacaran Systems in the southwest of Tarim Block,some features of glacial records in Neoproterozoic become more clear.Six sedimentary facies have been divided in the study area,including alluvial fan facies,lacustrine facies,glacial facies,littoral facies,neritic facies,and lagoonal facies,showing that this area underwent a process from continent to marine,with mainly littoral and neritic sedimentation.Two cold events have been recognized by analysis of CIA values in the study area,called Bolong and Yutang glaciation,respectively.They present as thick-layer tillite deposition in the Bolong Formation and thin-layer tillite deposition in the Yutang Formation,respectively.The Bolong glacial period in the study area can be correlated to the Yulmeinak glacial period in Aksu area,Tereeken glacial period in Qurugtagh area,and the Nantuo glacial period in South China,which is equivalent to the universally acknowledged Marinoan glacial period.The Yutang glacial period can be correlated to the Hankalchough glacial period in Qurugtagh,which is equivalent to Gaskers glaciation in Newfoundland.

Serpulids and their paleoecology of the Paleogene Kalatar Formation in southwest Tarim Basin of China

Polychaete serpulids are globally distributed tubeworms mostly in marine environments from Late Triassic to modem time. These calcareous tubeworms could be rock-forming, reef-building, or a principal fouling organism in harbor and bays. Car- bonates of the Paleogene Kalatar Formation in southwest Tarim Basin yield abundant serpulid fossils, which, together with oyster fossils, constitute the characteristic fossil assemblage of the Kalatar Formation. Other common fossils include bivalves, gastropods, ostracods, echinoderms, and bryozoans. Lithologies that yielded serpulid fossils are characterized by micritic bio- clastic limestone, sandy limestone, and shelly limestone, indicating a semi-restricted to open shallow marine environment with medium to low water energy. The research data about serpulids and their fossil materials from China are relatively rare. Based on the studies of tbssils taxonomy, community palaeoecology, and fossil taphonomy, this paper analyzed and studied the types, occurrence, distribution, and morphological characteristics of serpulids and their palaeoecological features in the Kalatar For- mation. Two serpulid community compositions were recognized in the Kalatar Formation, including a rock-forming Ditrupa community and a cluster-growth Propomatoceros community. The Ditrupa community was distributed in coastal environment of the west Kunlun piedmont, lived on sandy hard substrates with little mud, and rarely occurred in lagoon and tidal settings. The Propomatoceros community occurred in offshore middle carbonate ramp in the piedmont of the south Tianshan Moun- tains and in offshore shelf in the piedmont of the west Kunlun Mountains. According to the analysis on the host-rock litholo- gies, preservation and symbionts, it is inferred that serpulids in the Kalatar Formation grew on the oyster shell or other hard substrate, and they did not form reefs or bioherms.