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.

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.

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-bear-ing 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 euhe-dral-subhedral in shape, and display fine-scale oscillatory growth zoning, indicating a magmatie origin. LA- ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating result indicates that the garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranites formed in the mid-dle Triassic （243 Ma ）. The garnet-bearing muscovite monzogranites have high SiO2 （SiO2 = 74.1%- 76.49% ）, rich aluminum （A1203 = 14.47%-14.68% ） and alkali （ NazO ＋ K20 = 4.31%-7.9% ）, low Fe203T and MgO （MgO =0.1%-0. 13% , Fe203T =0.46%-1.02% ）. The ratio of CaO/Na20 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 εHf（t） values and TDM2 of zircons range from ＋ 6. 10 to ＋ 8.00 and from 725 Ma to 814 Ma, respectively. The above features indicate that gar- net-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 eollisional and thickening event took place during the Middle Triassic.

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.

Late Olenekian Radiolarians from Bedded Chert of Ashio Terrane, Northeast Japan, and Faunal Turnovers in Western Panthalassa during Early Triassic

Late Olenekian assemblages in the western Panthalassa have been recovered from bedded radiolarian chert sequences of an accretionary complex, the Ashio belt. These faunas are documented and considered in terms of radiolarian diversity and faunal turnover during the latest Permian to Middle Triassic time. The fauna includes 30 radiolarians belonging to Spumellaria or Entactinaria, with two relicts from the Late Permian. This late Olenekian fauna is markedly different from Permian and Anisian faunas, respectively, and is herein named the Minowa fauna. Study of the literature indicates that radiolarian provinces were significantly disconnected between the western Panthalassa and eastern Tethys during late Olenekian time. Furthermore, 121 of 143 species disappeared during late Olenekian time, and in turn 118 new species appeared in the western Panthalassa around the Olenekian Anisian boundary. It is concluded that faunal turnover occurred at least three times between the latest Permian and Middle Triassic. The first turnover is the Paleozoic type radiolarian extinction at the Permian Triassic boundary, the second is the diversification of spheroidal Spumellaria and Entactinaria between early and late Olenekian time, and the third is a faunal turnover from the Minowa fauna to the true Mesozoic type radiolarian faunas that are characterized by multi segmented Nassellaria.

川东北宣汉地区海相“新型杂卤石钾盐矿”的发现、突破与前景

全球探明钾盐资源主体为古代海相可溶性固体钾盐矿床(氯化钾、光卤石),仅少量来自现代盐湖卤水钾矿。与国外不同的是,目前我国探明钾盐资源主体为现代陆相盐湖钾矿,古代海相可溶性固体钾盐找矿40余年,未获突破。四川盆地是我国主要大型海相成钾盆地之一,前人在中—下三叠统发现大量与硬石膏和白云石共伴生或互层的杂卤石,但绝大部分埋深超过2000 m,目前尚难以开发利用。2017年以来,笔者通过对四川盆地东北部宣汉盐盆普光地区卤水探井(恒成2、3井)岩芯复查,发现杂卤石主要与石盐共伴生,大量破碎的杂卤石碎屑颗粒分布于石盐基质中,KCl含量达边界工业品位以上,不同于钾石盐和光卤石,亦不同于前人发现的与硬石膏和白云石共伴生或互层的杂卤石(石膏型杂卤石),将之命名为“新型杂卤石钾盐矿”。小试和中试结果表明,该“新型杂卤石钾盐矿”可以采用对接井注水溶采,是能够得到规模化开发利用的“活矿”,是一种全新的硫酸盐+氯化物复合型海相可溶性固体钾盐矿床新类型。通过成钾条件、成矿规律综合研究,笔者提出了新型杂卤石钾盐矿“双控复合成矿”理论新认识、建立了“三高、两低、一大”综合测井识别新模型,创新理论技术指导设计部署“钾锂兼探”基准井——川宣地1井,探获厚29.46 m、氯化钾(KCl)平均含量12.03%(最高20.5%)的“新型杂卤石钾盐矿”厚层高品位工业矿层。与此同时,采用岩芯样品实测数据和测井解释数据拟合的方法,建立矿石K含量和密度参数的测井定量预测模型,结合“气钾兼探”,利用33口钻井数据,依据古代固体盐类勘查规范(2020),运用“几何法”,初步估算“新型杂卤石钾盐矿”氯化钾(KCl)资源规模:推断资源量2.45亿t(超大型)、潜在资源4.65亿t,合计7.1亿t,奠定了川东北达州市宣汉地区形成中国首个亿吨级海相钾盐基地的资源基础,取得了我国海相可溶性固体钾盐找矿的重大突破。

川西地区中三叠统雷口坡组四段古海湾特征及其油气地质意义

基于四川盆地西部(简称川西)地区11条重点露头剖面与盆地内部400余口钻井资料,通过沉积学、岩石学和测井分析等手段,结合微生物岩、膏盐岩、风暴岩等特殊岩相标志,明确川西地区中三叠统雷口坡组四段(简称雷四段)的沉积相类型,刻画川西地区雷四段海湾相的展布特征及演化,并探讨其油气地质意义。研究表明:①川西地区雷四段沉积期为“海—湾—坪”沉积模式,自东向西依次为蒸发潮坪相、局限潮坪相和海湾相3个相带,其中海湾相发育海湾边缘、潮下海湾和海湾斜坡亚相;②海湾边缘主要发育微生物礁和颗粒滩微相,潮下海湾发育微生物坪、深水海绵礁和静水泥微相,海湾斜坡则主要为上斜坡的风暴和垮塌沉积;③雷四段1亚段沉积期由于海平面下降,海湾边界位于广元—梓潼—都江堰一带;雷四段2亚段沉积期,海湾边界退至上寺—江油—都江堰一带以西;雷四段3亚段沉积期,发生小规模海侵,海湾边界扩展至盆地中北部的上寺—梓潼—阆中—武胜—盐亭—成都一带;④川西地区雷四段沉积期古海湾呈现出一隆两凹的古构造地貌格局,形成源储平面间互、纵向叠置的配置关系,海湾边缘发育微生物礁和颗粒滩储层,海湾两侧凹陷内发育优质烃源岩,由此构建了旁生侧储与自生自储两种高效的源储配置模式,这些新认识有望开启雷口坡组油气勘探的新局面。