Revised Chronostratigraphic Framework of the Metamorphic Strata in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt,South China and its Tectonic Implications

In a re-study of regional geology by the China Geological Survey （CGS）, the key problem is in the stratigraphical division and correlation. According to the new isotopic dating of the Mesoand Neoproterozoic in China, there have been great changes in the strata correlation and tectonic explanation. The authors obtained four zircon sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe （SHRIMP） U- Pb datings from the bentonite of the Lengjiaxi Group （822±10 Ma, 823±12 Ma and 834±11 Ma） and Banxi Group （802.6±7.6 Ma） in north Hunan Province, which is considered to be the middle part of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt. On the basis of the zircon dating mentioned above, the end of the Wuling orogen is first limited in the period from 822 Ma to 802 Ma in one continued outcrop （Lucheng section） in Linxiang city, Hunan Province. Combining a series of new zircon U-Pb datings in the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, several Neoproterozoic volcanic events and distribution of the metamorphic rocks in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt have been distinguished. In the context of the global geodynamics, it is useful to set up a practical and high precision chronological framework and basic and unified late Precambrian section in South China.

Relationship between sequence stratigraphical boundary and chronostratigraphical boundary

Sequence stratigraphy is a science studying the genetically related facies within achronostratigraphic framework. Sequence is the basic unit of sequence stratigraphy,which is a 'succession of genetically related, essentially conformable strata bounded

Detrital Zircon Dating of Meso-and Neoproterozoic Rocks in North China and Its Implications

New dates from Meso- and Neoproterozoic strata contribute to the recently defined Precambrian stratigraphical timescale of China agreed by the Subcommission on the Precambrian System, and the National Commission on Stratigraphy of China on Nov. 24, 2009. First, the age range of the Changcheng System, including the Changzhougou, Chuanlinggou, Tuanshanzi and Dahongyu formations has been constrained to 1.8-1.6 Ga. Second, the Jixian System including the Gaoyuzhuang,Yangzhuang, Wumishan, Hongshuizhuang and Tieling formations has been constrained to 1.6-1.4 Ga.Third, an as-yet unnamed （undefined） system （1.4-1.0 Ga） is only developed in the Xiamaling Formation at the Jixian section, Tianjing. Fourth, the Qingbaikou System, including the Luotuoling and Jing＇eryu formations has been constrained to 1.0-0.78 Ga. Fifth, the Nanhuan System ranges between 780-635 Ma, and the Sinian System is within 635-542 Ma. However, according to a series of SHRIMP U-Pb dates from the late Precambrian in the Jiangnan Orogen Belt in South China Platform, the constrained strata will be redefined as in the upper part of the Qingbaikou System. To aid global geodynamies, it is useful to denote a late Precambrian section with unified, precise and high-precision chronological dating; this is here defined in North China Block and Jiaoliao-Korean Block. However, the Neoproterozoic Qingbaikou study in North China will be influence in whole Meso- and Neoproterozoic in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt in between the Yangtze Block and the Cathaysia Block in South China.

Phanerozoic Quartz Arenite Formation and Sequence-Analytical Patterns: Indirectly Relating to Major Impacting and Super Plume Volcanism, Jordan, Arabian Plate

This paper deals with indirect effects of major impacting throughout the Early Paleozoic resp. with those of super plume activity during the Early Cretaceous, both applied to the siliciclastic series of Jordan deposited on the Arabian Platform, Arabian Plate. Its focus is mainly directed on gases released by both processes (CO2, SO2, NOx, HCl, HF) and the relating acids, challenged by experiments and microscopic analysis of grain mounts and thin sections that reveal chemical instability of quartz and ultrastable heavy minerals (i.e. tourmaline) under high acidity (pH °C - 90°C). According to Lopatin’s Time/Temperatur-Index the Lower Cambrian reached the onset of hydrocarbon generation (liquid window) during the Lower Early Cretaceous. Unstable heavy minerals (apatite, garnet, hornblende, epidote, zoisite/clinozoisite) are generally absent in quartz arenites while in arkosic sandstones of marine environment carbonate cement and primary clay minerals (illite) provide conservation. As known since the eighties, the K/T-event’s indirect effects had global influence on Earth’s surface sediments and atmospheric chemistry by wildfires, hot whirl storms, acidic “sturz rain”, dust, soot, darkness, loss of photosynthesis, toxic metals, gases and relating acids. All of them are here concerned and applied to major impacting throughout the Early Paleozoic using the impact data of Price (2001);while superplume volcanism during Cretaceous led to the opening of the South Atlantic accompanied by the cyclic outflow of the Para?a/Etendeka Flood Basalts and relating gases in a gigantic scale (137 - 127 Ma). Assuming that the gases cause similar global effects on Earth’s surface sediments, an according result may be expected in form of quartz arenites and their sequence-analytical patterns (cyclic SBs, MFSs).*

Sequence Boundary:Its Significance in Stratigraphic Subdivision,Correlation and Classification

Sequence boundary is studied in detail in reference to the Permian Guadalupian Lopingian boundary, based on high resolution correlation of conodont zones. A conceptual synchronous stratigraphic boundary, corresponding to the age of the sequence boundary dated in the conformable portion of the sequence boundary, is defined as the sequence chronostratigraphic boundary (SCB). The sequence boundary is proved to be dual in nature in regards to tin-synchrony and diachroneity of stratigraphic boundaries. The merits of the sequence boundary in stratigraphic subdivision, correlation and classification are elucidated in comparison with the lithostratigraphic boundary, the biostratigraphic boundary and the traditional approach of the global stratotype section and point (GSSP ). By integrating the virtues of the sequence boundary and the GSSP, it is proposed that the GSSP should be established in the conformable portion of the related sequence boundary. The boundary established in light of this approach is defined as the best natural boundary. The analysis of the sequence boundary leads to the conclusion that sequence stratigraphy is a regional and transitional stratigraphic system between local lithostratigraphy and global chronostratigraphy. Therefore, a new tripartite stratigraphic classification scheme is tentatively proposed.

Genetic Stratigraphic Sequences of Late Tertiary Brown Coal Basins in Central Yunnan,China

There are a number of small -scale brown coal basins in the central part of Yunnan. The coal-bearing strata are made up of alluvialfan-lacustrine-swamp genetic Seguences’ On the basis of the detialedgenatic stratigraphic analyses with some basins, three types of chronestratigraphic interfaces and second grade or the geneticstratigraphic units are defined. This paper reveals inherent relationswith regrad to the genetic stratigraphic evolution and coal formation of the small-scale fault basins’

Quaternary Stratigraphic Division and Paleoenvironmental Evolution Observed from Core LZK1 on Hengsha Island, Shanghai

The Quaternary sediments in the Yangtze delta are loose and lack precise stratification marks in the lithology. Moreover, due to the limitations of dating methods, it is difficult for Quaternary cores to deliver accurate age constraints. Thus, it is a challenge to establish the Quaternary stratigraphic framework. Gravity core LZK1 was drilled on Hengsha Island, Shanghai, in the Yangtze delta, in 2012. The core was terminated at 403.83 m below the local land surface, the uppermost 291.2 m comprising a thick sequence of Quaternary sediments. This study investigated the stratigraphic subdivision and paleoenvironmental change of the Quaternary sediments. From bottom to top, the Quaternary stratigraphic sequence can be subdivided into the lower Pleistocene Anting Formation, Middle Pleistocene Jiading Formation, Upper Pleistocene Chuansha Formation and Nanhui Formation, Holocene Loutang Formation, Shanghai Formation, and Rudong Formation. According to this study, the Hengsha Island area was dominated by a freshwater lacustrine environment during the early Pleistocene, an alternation of shallow lake and shore lake environment during the Middle Pleistocene, a delta plain to lagoonal environment during the early Upper Pleistocene, a fluvial channel to floodplain environment from the LGM(Last Glacial Maximum) to the end of the Upper Pleistocene, and a delta environment during the Holocene.

Some fundamenltal problems in outcrop sequence stratigraphy

Some fundamental problems in outcrop sequence stratigraphy are discussed, and the following ideas are obtained: (i) Detailed sedimentary facies analysis and study on stacking pattern of parasequences, careful and accurate study of biostratigraphy, and stratigraphical correlation of different facies areas are the essential conditions for proper identification of sequences. (ii) The first flooding surface may be an ideal sequence boundary in outcrop sequence stratigraphy, where the most distinct palaeontological and sedimentary changes take place and make the surface readily recognizable in outcrop. (iii) The distribution in space, specially in different facies belts, is regarded as an important criterion for defining and recognizing the various orders of sequences. The third-order sequence is probably global in nature , which may be discerned in various depositional facies belts at least on one continental margin, and can be correlated over long distances, sometimes worldwide. (iv) The first flooding