Paleo-sedimentary environmental restoration and its significance of Chang 7 Member of Triassic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin,NW China

Paleo-sedimentary environment of Chang 7 Member of Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin, including the paleoclimate, paleo-salinity and paleo-redox conditions were restored through geochemical elements analysis of 289 samples collected from the outcrop sections around and wells drilled in the basin and using a series of identification indexes of paleo-climate, paleo-salinity and paleo-redox conditions, such as CaO/MgO?Al2 O3, Sr/Cu, Rb/Sr, Rb/K2 O, Th/U, V/(V+Ni), the content of element B tested from the mudstone. Comprehensive analysis shows that in sedimentary period of the Chang 7, the paleo-climate was warm temperate to subtropical climate with temperature higher than 15 ?C, the water body was continental brackish water to freshwater, and the sediments were deposited under strong reduction conditions. Suitable temperature, extensively deep lake basin and strongly reductive paleo-sedimentary environment led to the blooming, enrichment and preservation of organic matter in the submember Chang 73. As a result, a set of high-quality source rock was formed, laying material foundation for large-scale accumulation of shale oil.

Advances and Overview of the Study on Paleo-earthquake Events: A Review of Seismites

The distribution and formation mechanisms of typical identified seismites are analyzed based on various factors from plate tectonic positions, types of sedimentary basins and properties of seismogenic faults to focal mechanisms.Especially, structural styles, reserved positions, activity times, formation mechanisms and dynamics of soft-sediment deformation structures triggered by seismic activity are systematically analyzed.According to the genetic types of seismites, we propose 5 categories, including liquefied deformation, thixotropic deformation, hydroplastic deformation, superimposed gravity driving deformation and brittle deformation.Further, based on the main genetic types, composition of sediments and deformation styles, we draw up 35 secondary classifications.To determine paleo-seismic sequences in different times, activities of seismogenic faults, high-resolution tectonic events in one main tectonic movement and paleo-tectonic settings, and to understand the inducing mechanisms of paleo-earthquakes and ecologic environment evolution, researching on seismites are of great significance.Combing multiple approaches to identify the paleoearthquake records, simulating experiments on various soft-sediment deformation structures triggered by different magnitudes of shocking, dating precisely on paleo-seismic events, impacting on paleogeography and biological environment and on energy and resources domain are the frontiers of paleoseismic research.

Carboniferous-Permian Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Environment of Southeastern Inner Mongolia,China:Constraints on Final Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

In this paper we discuss the timing of final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean based on the field investigations of the Carboniferous-Permian stratigraphic sequences and sedimentary environments in southeastern Inner Mongolia combined with the geology of its neighboring areas. Studies show that during the Carboniferous-Permian in the eastern segment of the Tianshan-Hinggan Orogenic System, there was a giant ENE-NE-trending littoral-neritic to continental sedimentary basin, starting in the west from Ejinqi eastwards through southeastern Inner Mongolia into Jilin and Heilongjiang. The distribution of the Lower Carboniferous in the vast area is sparse. The Late Carboniferous or Permian volcanic-sedimentary rocks always unconformably overlie the Devonian or older units. The Upper Carboniferous-Middle Permian is dominated by llttoral-neritic deposits and the Upper Permian, by continental deposits. The Late Carboniferous-Permian has no trace of subduction-collision orogeny, implying the basin gradually disappeared by shrinking and shallowing. In addition, it is of interest to note that the Ondor Sum and Hegenshan ophiolitic melanges were formed in the pre-Late Silurian and pre-Late Devonian respectively, and the Solonker ophiolitic melange formed in the pre-Late Carboniferous. All the evidence indicates that the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean had closed before the Late Carboniferous, and most likely before the latest Devonian （Famennian）.

Petroleum Migration Direction of the Silurian Paleo-pools in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The results obtained in this paper indicate that carbazole-type compounds have high thermal stability and also show stability in oxidation and bio-degradation. This kind of compounds still has a high concentration and complete distribution in the analyzed dry asphalt samples, showing that they are particularly useful in studying petroleum migration of paleo-pool. During the basin＇s first-stage of oil-gas pool formation in the Silurian in Tazhong and Tabei areas of Tarim Basin （at the end of Silurian period） and the second-stage in the Awati area （in Permian）, the petroleum experienced a long-distance migration. During the formation of the Silurian paleo-pools in Tazhong Uplift at the end of Silurian, the petroleum mainly came from the lower and middle Cambrian source rocks in the Manjiaer sag. The petroleum migrated towards the southwest-south entering the Silurian reservoir beds in Tazhong first. Then, it further migrated within Silurian from northwest to southeast along the highs of the Structural Belts to the region of the Silurian pinchout boundary in Tazhong. In Tabei Uplift, during the first-stage of pool formation, the petroleum was also from the lower and middle Cambrian source rocks in the Manjiaer sag. It migrated northwest entering the Silurian reservoir beds in the Tabei Uplift firstly, and then the migration continued in the same direction within the Silurian reservoirs and finally the petroleum was trapped in higher positions. During the second-stage pool formation in the Silurian beds in the areas around Awati sag, the petroleum mainly came from the lower-middle Cambrian source rocks in the Awati sag. The petroleum migrated from the generation center to Silurian reservoirs in all directions around the sag through major paths, and the petroleum was finally trapped in higher locations.

Paleo-fires and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels in the Latest Permian:Evidence from Maceral Compositions of Coals in Eastern Yunnan,Southern China

Inertinite maceral compositions of the Late Permian coals from three sections in the terrestrial and paralic settings of eastern Yunnan are analyzed in order to reveal the paleo-fire events and the atmospheric oxygen levels in the latest Permian. Although the macerals in the studied sections are generally dominated by vitrinite, the inertinite group makes up a considerable proportion. Its content increases upward from the beginning of the Late Permian to the coal seam near the Permian- Triassic boundary. Based on the microscopic features and the prevailing theory that inertinite is largely a by-product of paleo-fires, we suggest that the increasing upward trend of the inertinite abundance in the latest Permian could imply that the Late Permian peatland had suffered from frequent wildfires. Since ignition and burning depend on sufficient oxygen, a model-based calculation suggests that the 02 levels near the Wuchiapingian/Changhsingian boundary and the Permian-Triassic boundary are 27% and 28% respectively. This output adds supports to other discoveries made in the temporal marine and terrestrial sediments, and challenges the theories advocating hypoxia as a mechanism for the PermianTriassic boundary crisis.

Geochronology and geochemistry of Permo-Triassic sandstones in eastern Jilin Province(NE China): Implications for final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

In the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) in northeastern(NE) China, scattered outcrops of molasse deposits mark the ending of an orogeny and are crucial for understanding the evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO). However, the timing of tectonic events and the relationships among these strata remain controversial. To better constrain these geologic events, a comprehensive study of the detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the sandstones of the Kaishantun(KST) Formation and Kedao(KD) Group in eastern Jilin Province, NE China, was conducted. The KST Formation is traditionally considered a molasse deposit. The sandstones display low CIA, PIA and high ICV values and low Th/U and Rb/Sr ratios, which suggest that the rocks were derived from an immature intermediate-felsic igneous source and experienced a simple sedimentary recycling history with relatively weak chemical weathering. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of detrital zircons from two samples of the KST Formation yields ages of 748-252 Ma, suggesting that the KST Formation was deposited between 254.5 Ma and 252 Ma in Late Permian. The zircons were mainly derived from the continental northern part of the North China Craton(NCC). In contrast, the U-Pb dating of detrital zircons from five samples of the KD Group yields ages of 2611-230 Ma, suggesting that the KD samples were deposited in the Early to Middle Triassic(ca. 248-233 Ma). The detrital zircon ages for the KD samples can be divided into groups with peaks at 2.5 Ga, 1.8 Ga, 800-1000 Ma, 500 Ma and 440-360 Ma, which suggest that the samples were derived from bidirectional provenances in the Jiamusi-Khanka Block and the NCC. These new data,combined with previously published results, suggest that at least three orogenic events occurred in central-eastern Jilin Province during the Early Permian(270-262 Ma), Early Triassic(254-248 Ma) and Middle-Late Triassic(242-227 Ma). The final closure of the PAO occurred during 242-227 Ma in the Middle-Late Triassic along the Changchun-Yanji suture zone. The detrital zircon geochronological data clearly record plate convergence and the scissor-like closure of the PAO in the eastern CAOB.

Evolution of the Ediacaran Doushantuoian Meta-Paleo-Community in Northeast Guizhou,South China

Macroscopic organisms lived in the Yangtze Sea of South China during the Late Doushantuo period of the Ediacaran.The results of the specimen collections and statistics within each meter show that the macroscopic biota from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in northeast Guizhou,South China,can be subdivided into Globusphyton,Cucullus,Sectoralga-Longifuniculum, Beltanelliformis,and Baculiphyca-Gesinella paleo-communities.The paleo-community evolution indicates the relationship not only between biota and environment,but also between metaphytes and metazoans.From the Globusphyton paleo-community,through to the Sectoralga-Longifuniculum paleo-community,to the Cucullus paleo-community,the increase in the abundance and diversity of metaphytes（especially the branching macroalgae）and metazoans implies that the oxygen content in the seawater increased gradually.Both the Beltanelliformis and Baculiphyca-Gesinella paleo-communities could be related to a deteriorated environment and fragile ecosystem.The emergence,abundance,and diversity of macroscopic metaphytes,which were closely connected with the environmental microchanges,accelerated the process,improving the environment and increasing oxygen,and established an important platform for the development of macroscopic metazoans.

Sedimentary characteristics of paleo-aeolian dune sands of Salawusu Formation in the Salawusu River Valley

The Salawusu Formation of Milanggouwan section in Salawusu River Valley includes 7 layers of paleo-mobile dune sands, and 4 layers of paleo-fixed and semi-fixed dune sands. Their structures have been observed and their grain size, surface textural features and several main chemical elements have been analyzed. The results showed that： 1） Some of the aeolian structural characteristics of these dune sands are similar to that of the recent dune sands. 2） They are also similar to the recent dune sands in grain size components, and parameters of Mz,σ, Sk and Kg, as well as in several main chemical components. 3） The scattergrams of Mz-σ and SiO2-Al2O3＋TOFE and the probability curves of grain size showed that these paleo-dune sands are different from paleosols and fluvio-lacustrine facies, but are consistency with recent dune sands. 4） Quartz sands have well roundness and surface textural features such as dish-shaped pits, crescent-shaped pits, pockmarked pits, upturned cleavage plates, siliceous precipitates and siliceous crevasses, indicating that they had been carried for a long time by the wind. As the 11 layers of paleo-dune sands possess the aeolian characteristics in structure, grain size, surface textural features and chemical elements, the origin of their formation should be attributed to eolation.

Zircon U-Pb Ages and Geochemistry of Permo-Carboniferous Mafic Intrusions in the Xilinhot Area, Inner Mongolia: Constraints on the Northward Subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) resulted from accretion during the Paleozoic subduction of the PaleoAsian Ocean. The Xilinhot area in Inner Mongolia is located in the northern subduction zone of the central-eastern CAOB and outcropped a large number of late Paleozoic mafic intrusions. The characteristics of magma source and tectonic setting of the mafic intrusions and their response to the closure process of the Paleo-Asian Ocean are still controversial. This study presents LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical features of mafic intrusions in the Xilinhot area to constrain the northward subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The mafic intrusions consist of gabbro, hornblende gabbro, and diabase. Their intrusion times can be divided into three stages of 326-321 Ma, 276 Ma and 254 Ma by zircon U-Pb ages. The first two stages of the 326-276 Ma intrusions mostly originated from subduction-modified continental lithospheric mantle sources that underwent a variable degree partial melting(5-30%), recording the subduction of oceanic crust. The third stage of the 254 Ma mafic rocks also show arc-related features. The primary magma compositions calculated by PRIMELT2 modeling on three samples of ~326 Ma and two samples of ~254 Ma show that these mafic samples are characterized by a variable range in SiO2(47.51-51.47 wt%), Al2O3(11.46-15.55 wt%), ΣFeO(8.27-9.61 wt%), MgO(13.01-15.18 wt%) and CaO(9.13-11.67 wt%), consisting with the features between enriched mantle and lower continental crust. The source mantle melting of mafic intrusions occurred under temperatures of 1302-1351°C and pressures of 0.92-1.30 GPa. The magmatic processes occurred near the crust-mantle boundary at about 33-45 km underground. Combined with previous studies, it is concluded that Carboniferous to early Permian(~326-275 Ma) northward subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic crust led to the formation of the mafic magmatism in the Baolidao arc zone. The whole region had entered the collision environment at ~254 Ma, but with subduction-related environments locally. The final collision between the North China craton and the South Mongolian microcontinent may have lasted until ca. 230 Ma.

Characteristics and runoff volume of the Yangtze River paleo-valley at Nanjing reach in the Last Glacial Maximum

The stratigraphical cross-sections of the Yangtze River incised-valley near the No.l, No.3 and No.4 Nanjing Yangtze River bridges were established with respective bore date and documents. By ^14C age analysis of the samples of four drilling cores near the No.4 Bridge （to be built）, we can find that the time range of paleo-valley is dated in the LGM at a depth of-60 m to -90 m near Nanjing. It is also indicated that the deep incised-valley channel was narrow and the river flowed swiftly. The ancient Yangtze River deep channel presented partially and deeply incised features near the No.1 Bridge. According to previous publications, much research has been done on the main paleo-channel of the Yangtze River, but few results have been achieved on discharge estimation. In this paper, the incipient velocity and average veIocity of the LGM was calculated with Vc=4.60d^1/3h^1/6, Vc=1.281g（ 13.15. h /d95） √gd, V≈6.5u＊｜h/d90｜^1/6 etc., in terms of the river shape, sedimentary grain size and sequences near the No.3 and No.1 bridges. Moreover, the discharge in Nanjing reach of the Yangtze River during the LGM has been estimated to be around 12,000-16,000 m^3/s according to the relationship of discharge, velocity of flow and cross-section.

Multiphase tectonic movements, cap formations and evolution of the Majiang paleo-reservoir

The Majiang paleo-reservoir is a typical destroyed hydrocarbon reservoir, buried in carbonate strata of China＇s southern marine-facies. Field geological explorations, interpretations of seismic profiles and balanced cross-section restorations around this paleo-reservoir reveal that its formation and evolution have been restricted by multiphase tectonic movements of different intensities. A regional tectonic mechanism and model have been suggested for the formation and evolution of the Majiang paleo- reservoir. Geological field exploration has been carried out along three typical Silurian cross-sections and rock samples were tested in combination with water-rock interaction. Based on the result of cap tests, the planar distribution, the residual thickness, the erosion thickness and the preservation conditions, the Silurian mudstone cap is discussed around the Majiang paleo-reservoir. Combining the hydrodynamic conditions of its formation and evolution and its tectonic movements, we determined the fact that the thicker the cap is, the more resistant it is to hydrodynamic destruction. The multi-phase formation and destructive geological model of the paleo-reservoir is established through an overall analysis of multi- phase tectonic evolutions, cap developments, hydrodynamic conditions and solid mineral metallogenic ages measured by Rb-Sr, Pb and Sm-Nd isotope techniques.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia, China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9-1.0 Ga and ca. 420-440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484-383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310-254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298-269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298-246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.

Final Closure Time of the Paleo-Asian Ocean: Implication from the Provenance Transformation from the Yangjiagou Formation to Lujiatun Formation in the Jiutai Area, NE China

The Jiutai area is tectonically situated at the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) and is close to the North China Craton(NCC) to the south, serving as an ideal place to investigations of the closure of the PaleoAsian Ocean(PAO). Sandstone samples collected from the Yangjiagou Formation and the Lujiatun Formation in this area have been studied in detail in terms of petrology, geochronology and geochemistry. The maximum depositional time of the Yangjiagou and Lujiatun formations has been constrained to early Middle Triassic(ca. 245 Ma) and middle Late Triassic(ca. 219 Ma), respectively. The Yangjiagou Formation, with a major provenance of dissected island arcs, is dominantly composed of Phanerozoic sediments from Northeastern China(NE China) massifs. The Lujiatun Formation, with major sediments from active continental margins, has a relatively larger proportion of Precambrian sediments, in which the ~1.85 Ga and ~2.5 Ga sediments are typical of the crystalline basements of the NCC and NE China massifs, which were uplifted and eroded during the closure of the PAO. Besides, both formations show the enrichment in LREEs and the depletion in HREEs, the common Eu negative anomalies, and trace element contents similar to that of the upper continental crust. Based on the provenance analysis of these two formations, the final closure time of the PAO in this area is constrained as from the early Middle Triassic(ca. 245 Ma) to the middle Late Triassic(ca. 219 Ma).

Sources of organic matter and paleo-environmental implications inferred from carbon isotope compositions of lacustrine sediments at Inexpressible Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica

The carbon isotopic composition of organic matter （δ^13Corg） was determined in two sediment cores （IIL1 and IIL9） recovered from Inexpressible Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica, and analyzed to identify the sources of that organic matter. The δ^13Corg values of sediments of IIL9 were found to vary between -14.6‰ and -11.6‰, with a mean of-13.4‰ （n=48）. These values were significantly higher than those of IIL1 sediments which varied between -23.2‰ and -20.4‰, with a mean of-21.8%o （n=55）. The variation in δ^13Corg values in these two sediment cores indicate different sources of organic matter, The relatively high 6~3Corg values in IIL9 are in accordance with a source from algae, while the low δ^13Corg values in IIL1 evince significant influence from penguin guano with algae as the secondary source. Compared with the reference data from other high-latitude lake sediments and plants, the δ^13Corg values in IIL9 were extremely high, a result likely related to intense competition for CO2 assimilation among algal species during the growing season in this relatively shallow pond. These results indicate that sedimentary δ^13Corg is a reliable proxy for paleo-primary productivity in ponds at Inexpressible Island.

Structural patterns of fault damage zones in carbonate rocks and their influences on petroleum accumulation in Tazhong Paleo-uplift, Tarim Basin, NW China

Based on the outcrop survey,3D seismic data interpretation,drilling data analysis,the structural patterns and distribution of fault damage zones in carbonate strata of Tazhong Paleo-uplift were established to reveal the oil and gas enrichment law in the fault damage zones.The following findings were reached:(1)Through the filed survey,the fault damage zone system consists of fault core,damage zone with branch fault and fracture network.Affected by the active nature of the major faults,the fault damage zones differ in planar pattern and scale along the major faults.(2)3D seismic profiles reveal that there are three types of fault damage zones in carbonate strata in Tazhong paleo-uplift,strike-slip fault damage zones,thrust fault damage zones and superimposed fault damage zones.Featuring3 flowers and 3 root belts in vertical,the strike-slip fault damage zone can be subdivided into linear type,oblique type,feather type and horsetail type in plane.Thrust fault damage zones can be further divided into fault anticline type,anticline type and slope type.As the superimposition result of the above two kinds of fault damage zones,superimposed fault damage zones appear in three patterns,intersect type,encompassment type and penetrating type.(3)Cores from wells and geochemical data show oil and gas may migrate along the major fault and laterally.The feather type in strike-slip fault system,fault anticline type in thrust fault damage zone and intersect type in superimposed fault damage zone are possible sites for high production and efficiency wells.

Provenance of Sediments Filling a Paleo-Channel that Formed on the Western Yellow Sea Continental Shelf During the Last Glacial Period

Several buried paleo-channels are located on the continental shelf of the western Yellow Sea. Research on the paleochannels is significant for both theoretical studies and practical applications. In this paper, we analyse and discuss the mineralogy of sediments in a core(SYS-0803) recovered from a buried paleo-channel on the continental shelf of the western Yellow Sea. The aim is to determine the provenance of sediments that fill the paleo-channel. The heavy mineral assemblage of sediments in the core consists of schistose minerals, common hornblende, epidote, and ilmenite. The light mineral assemblage consists of plagioclase, quartz, lithic fragments, and K-feldspar. Analysis of the compositional maturity of the sand fraction revealed a quartz/feldspar ratio of < 1. A relatively high percentage of smectite is recorded throughout the entire paleo-channel fill, with the greatest percentage in the middle to lower parts. The detrital mineral assemblage and clay mineral content indicate that the paleo-channel sediments were sourced mainly from the Huanghe River during the last glacial period.

Potential application of biogenic silica as an indicator of paleo-primary productivity in East Antarctic lakes

We collected two lake sediment cores （MC and DM） from the East Antarctic region for analysis of biogenic silica and other biogeochemical parameters （e.g., organic matter, C, N, S, H）. Based on synthetically comparative research, we focused on the potential application of biogenic silica （BSi） for the reconstruction of paleo-primary productivity in the East Antarctic lakes. Analytical results showed that a large number of diatoms were well preserved in the freshwater lake sediments, and that concentrations of biogenic silica displayed notable fluctuations over different water depths. The content of biogenic silica had a consistent profile over water depth, and this pattern changed with organic matter, reflecting their potential as eco-environmental proxies. Low lev- els of BSi and organic matter indicated reduction of lake algal production, and corresponded to decreased lake primary productivity. Due to the fragile ecosystem state and limited contribution of terrestrinl organic matter in the East Antarctic lakes, the contents of biogenic silica in the lacustrine sediments can sensitively indicate the evolutionary history of paleo-primary productivity. Overall, BSi is an ideal proxy for the reconstruction of past eeo-environmental change recorded in the lacustrine sediments on East Antarctica.

New Zircon U-Pb Age of Late Devonian Tuff in Guangxi, South China and the Significance for the Paleo-Tethys Branch Ocean

Objective The eastern extending range of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in southwest China has always been focused and controversial. At the beginning of this century some scholars proposed that the Paleo-Tethys Branch Ocean may extend to the Babu-Pingxiang and Cengxi areas along the stouthwestern margin of the South China Block （Cai and Zhang, 2009）. However, the pivotal proof of Late Paleozoic ophoilite and magmatic rocks was absent or sporadical in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, resulting in insufficient evidence to support this viewpoint. For the first time this work reported the Late Devonian tuff in the Qinzhou area in the south of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and conducted zircon U-Pb dating on it in order to constrain the extension of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the South China Block.

Late Devonian OIB Alkaline Gabbro in the Yarlung Zangpo Suture Zone:Remnants of the Paleo-Tethys?

The Yarlung Zangpo Suture Zone(YZSZ) is believed to be composed of material largely derived from the destruction of the Neo-Tethys ocean.We report here geochronological and petrological data obtained for newly discovered alkaline gabbro blocks embedded in a m(?)lange zone of the YZSZ,in Zhongba area, southwestern Tibet.The gabbros are Late Devonian in age and of intra-oceanic Ocean Island Basalt(OIB) affinity.Single-zircon U-Pb analyses from one representative gabbro sample by SIMS(Secondary

Advances in the Study of Geochemistry and Paleo-oceanography of the Co-rich Crust

The current advances in the study of geochemistry and paleo-oceanography of the Co-rich crust are reviewed in this paper. We summarize the study of geochemistry of the Co-rich crust, discuss the diffusion of elements in the Co-rich crust and the exchange with ambient seawater. Besides, we discuss the effect of phosphatization and substrate rocks on the composition of the Co-rich crust. We also introduce the application of stable isotopes(including the stable isotopes of Pb, Nd, and Hf), radioactive isotopes (including the radioactive isotopes of Be, U and Th), and elements (including the major elements, minor elements and rare earth elements) to the study of paleo-oceanography of the Co-rich crust.