Both the macroscopic feature and the sequence-stratigraphic position of the molar-tooth structure developed in the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang (高于庄) Formation at the Jixian (蓟县) Section in Tianjin (天津...Both the macroscopic feature and the sequence-stratigraphic position of the molar-tooth structure developed in the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang (高于庄) Formation at the Jixian (蓟县) Section in Tianjin (天津) can provide some useful information about its origin and can reveal some problems to be further researched in the future. The Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation is a set of 1 600 m thick carbonate strata. This formation can be divided into four members. The first member is mainly made up of stromatolitic dolomites; the second is marked by a set of manganese dolomites; the third is mainly composed of lamina limestones with the development of molar-tooth strcutures; the fourth is a set of stromatolitic-lithoherm dolomites. According to lithofacies and its succession, several types of meter-scale cycles can be discerned in the Gaoyuzhuang Formation: the L-M type, the subtidal type and the peritidal type. There is a regularly vertical stacking pattern for meter-scale cycles in the third-order sequence. Therefore, the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation can be divided into 13 third-order sequences (SQ1 to SQ13 ) and can further be grouped into 4 second-order sequences. The third member is marked by lamina limestones and can be grouped into three third-order sequences (SQ9 to SQ11 ). The molar-tooth structure is developed in the middle part of the third sequence, i.e. SQH , in the third member. Several features of this kind of molar-tooth structure reflect some features of carbonate sedimentation in the Precambrian, such as the particular configuration, abundant organic matter, and easy silication. Stromatolites are chiefly formed in a shallow tidal-flat environment; lamina are mainly formed in the shallow ramp and molar-tooth structures are mainly generated in a relatively more deep-water environment from the middle to the deep ramp. Therefore, similar to stromatolite and lamina, the molartooth structure might also be a kind of bio-sedimentation structure. This suggestion is based on macroscopic observation and the sedimentary-facies analysis of the molar-tooth structures from the sequencestratigraphic position. These features of Precambrian sedimentation also reveal the problem of Precambrian carbonate sedimentation. With more detailed study, a more practical solution for these problems may be obtained in the future.展开更多
The Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation at the Jixian section in Tianjin is a set of more than 3000-m-thick stromatolitic carbonate succession.In this succession,several lithofacies units,that is,the subtidal stromatol...The Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation at the Jixian section in Tianjin is a set of more than 3000-m-thick stromatolitic carbonate succession.In this succession,several lithofacies units,that is,the subtidal stromatolitic biostrome,the thrombolitic bioherm,tidal-flat micritic dolomite and lagoon dolomitic shale,make up many meter-scale cycles of the peritidal carbonate type that have been nominated as the Wumishan cycles.Importantly,many microdigital stromatolites make up the stromatolitic biostrome unit of the Wumishan cycles in the lower part of the Wumishan Formation. These microdigital stromatolites have been grouped as a stromatolitic assemblage by paleontologists, that is,"Pseudogymnosolen mopanyuensis-Scuphus-Yangzhuang columnaris"assemblage.These microdigital stromatolites had also been interpreted as the aragonite(tufa) sea-floor precipitates by sedimentologists,and has further been thought as the special products of the transitional period from the sea-floor aragonite precipitates of the Archean to the clastic and muddy carbonates of the Neoproterozoic.Although there are some restrictions for the stratigraphic meaning of the concept of the stromatolitic assemblage,detailed studies on classification by paleontologists provide an important clue to understand the sedimentological meaning of the microdigital stromatolites.Furthermore,an important and obvious horizon for the end of the microdigital stromatolites was recorded in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation at the Jixian section,which provides useful information to understand the stromatolite decline occurred at c.1250 Ma and the evolving carbonate world of the Precambrian.展开更多
基金This paper is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos .49802012 ,40472065) .
文摘Both the macroscopic feature and the sequence-stratigraphic position of the molar-tooth structure developed in the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang (高于庄) Formation at the Jixian (蓟县) Section in Tianjin (天津) can provide some useful information about its origin and can reveal some problems to be further researched in the future. The Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation is a set of 1 600 m thick carbonate strata. This formation can be divided into four members. The first member is mainly made up of stromatolitic dolomites; the second is marked by a set of manganese dolomites; the third is mainly composed of lamina limestones with the development of molar-tooth strcutures; the fourth is a set of stromatolitic-lithoherm dolomites. According to lithofacies and its succession, several types of meter-scale cycles can be discerned in the Gaoyuzhuang Formation: the L-M type, the subtidal type and the peritidal type. There is a regularly vertical stacking pattern for meter-scale cycles in the third-order sequence. Therefore, the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation can be divided into 13 third-order sequences (SQ1 to SQ13 ) and can further be grouped into 4 second-order sequences. The third member is marked by lamina limestones and can be grouped into three third-order sequences (SQ9 to SQ11 ). The molar-tooth structure is developed in the middle part of the third sequence, i.e. SQH , in the third member. Several features of this kind of molar-tooth structure reflect some features of carbonate sedimentation in the Precambrian, such as the particular configuration, abundant organic matter, and easy silication. Stromatolites are chiefly formed in a shallow tidal-flat environment; lamina are mainly formed in the shallow ramp and molar-tooth structures are mainly generated in a relatively more deep-water environment from the middle to the deep ramp. Therefore, similar to stromatolite and lamina, the molartooth structure might also be a kind of bio-sedimentation structure. This suggestion is based on macroscopic observation and the sedimentary-facies analysis of the molar-tooth structures from the sequencestratigraphic position. These features of Precambrian sedimentation also reveal the problem of Precambrian carbonate sedimentation. With more detailed study, a more practical solution for these problems may be obtained in the future.
基金part of the project"Study on Cycles and Events and Their Relative Sedimentological Problems for the Mesoproterozoic Jixian System in the Yanshan Region"(Grant No.40472065)financially supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China+1 种基金is part of the project"Study on Lithofacies and Paleogeography from Meso- to Neoproterozoic in North China"financially supported by the China Petrochemical Corporation(Grant No.C0800-07-ZS- 164).
文摘The Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation at the Jixian section in Tianjin is a set of more than 3000-m-thick stromatolitic carbonate succession.In this succession,several lithofacies units,that is,the subtidal stromatolitic biostrome,the thrombolitic bioherm,tidal-flat micritic dolomite and lagoon dolomitic shale,make up many meter-scale cycles of the peritidal carbonate type that have been nominated as the Wumishan cycles.Importantly,many microdigital stromatolites make up the stromatolitic biostrome unit of the Wumishan cycles in the lower part of the Wumishan Formation. These microdigital stromatolites have been grouped as a stromatolitic assemblage by paleontologists, that is,"Pseudogymnosolen mopanyuensis-Scuphus-Yangzhuang columnaris"assemblage.These microdigital stromatolites had also been interpreted as the aragonite(tufa) sea-floor precipitates by sedimentologists,and has further been thought as the special products of the transitional period from the sea-floor aragonite precipitates of the Archean to the clastic and muddy carbonates of the Neoproterozoic.Although there are some restrictions for the stratigraphic meaning of the concept of the stromatolitic assemblage,detailed studies on classification by paleontologists provide an important clue to understand the sedimentological meaning of the microdigital stromatolites.Furthermore,an important and obvious horizon for the end of the microdigital stromatolites was recorded in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation at the Jixian section,which provides useful information to understand the stromatolite decline occurred at c.1250 Ma and the evolving carbonate world of the Precambrian.