Paleosalinity reconstruction in offshore lacustrine basins based on elemental geochemistry:a case study of Middle Upper Eocene Shahejie Formation,Zhanhua Sag,Bohai Bay Basin

Salinity is a crucial property of water body and is essential for the restoration of paleoecology and paleoenvironment.However,the theoretical method of application of elemental geochemical proxies to paleosalinity reconstruction is still underdeveloped.Moreover,accurate determination and reconstruction of paleosalinity and its variation in an offshore lacustrine basin have been extremely challenging thus far.This study presents detailed elemental geochemical investigations from the Zhanhua Sag in the southern Bohai Bay Basin to reconstruct the salinity variation in the Paleogene Eocene Shahejie Formation(50.8-33.9 Ma).Based on the variation of strontium barium ratio(Sr/Ba)and boron gallium ratio(B/Ga),we determined three typical salinity types of water body:salty water(Sr/Ba>0.5,B/Ga>6),brackish water(0.2<Sr/Ba<0.5,3<B/Ga<6),and fresh water(Sr/Ba<0.2,B/Ga<3),after eliminating carbonate-sourced strontium(Sr).The salinity values following Couch’s paleosalinometer r anged from 3.1 to 11.9,reflecting the overall characteristics of oligohaline(0.5<salinity value<5)to mesohaline(5<salinity value<18)brackish water.All proxies yielded similar trends in paleosalinity variation,demonstrating a clear trend of rising and then declining from 50.8 Ma to 33.9 Ma.We considered that the B/Ga ratio had the highest reliability and resolution in determining the salinity types of water body in the study area.The environmental factors causing paleosalinity variation were also thoroughly analysed based on the temporal relationship among the salinity types of watermasses,paleoclimate characteristics from pollen records,and marine transgression events from marine fossils.Our research established a model of paleoclimatic and eustatic mechanisms to explain paleosalinity variation,providing reasonable and integral driving forces for the salinity variation of all offshore lacustrine basins.

Paleosalinity in the Tianluoshan site and the correlation between the Hemudu culture and its environmental background

Paleosalinity records of the Tianluoshan site are derived from measurations data of clay mineral, boron, strontium, barium, after field sampling in three profiles of the Tianluoshan site. The relative sea level changes are discussed according to the lab results. The record indicates that the region where the Tianluoshan site located has witnessed at least three times of relative sea level high-stand before, during and after the Hemudu period. Based on previous researches, this paper also focuses on discussing several environmental elements, the inter-relationships between environmental condition, human activities and development of the Hemudu culture comprehensively.

Paleosalinity and Its Association with Organic Matter: A Case Study from the Eocene Shahejie Formation, Laizhou Bay Sag, Bohai Bay Basin (China)

Paleosalinity is vital for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction and affects the formation of source rock.The lower-middle sections of the third member of Eocene Shahejie formation(Es3M-L)constitute the most important source rock layer in Laizhou Bay Sag.However,the paleosalinity of the depositional water in which Es3M-L submembers are deposited remains unclear.A series of integrated experiments,including major and trace elements,X-ray diffraction,total organic carbon,and Rock-Eval,was performed to reveal the paleosalinity and its relationship with organic matter(OM).Various inorganic proxies(Sr/Ba,Rb/K,B/Ga,Walker’s paleosalimeter,Adam’s paleosalimeter,and Couch’s paleosalimeter)were employed to determine the paleosalinity of samples.Prominent differences existed in the proxies.Couch’s paleosalimeter is the most reliable and qualitative approach for Laizhou Bay Sag.Samples from the lake center(depocenter)and margin showed paleosalinities from 4.92 wt‰to 9.73 wt‰,suggesting a ubiquitous brackish(oligohaline-mesohaline)water body in the paleolake.Molybdenum enrichment in samples indicates an oxygen-depleted(suboxic or anoxic)condition.The increase in salinity has a certain but non-significant positive correlation with oxygen reduction.This condition may be attributed to the weak stratification of the water column in brackish water bodies.Moreover,paleosalinity has a weak and indirect relationship with OM accumulation during the deposition of Es3M-L submembers in Laizhou Bay Sag.

Quantitative reconstruction of the paleosalinity in the Daihai Lake,Inner Mongolia,China

Ostracods are small bivalved aquatic crustaceans. They secrete shells of low-Mg calcite that are often preserved in lake sediments. Recent work has shown that the uptake of trace elements (especially Mg and Sr) into the shell may be a function of the salinity and temperature of the host water. We measured Sr/Ca ratios in living ostracod valves from the species of genus Limnocythere cf. inopinata and Sr2+/Ca2+ ratios of the host water to calculate distribution coefficient of genus Limnocythere cf. inopinata in the Daihai Lake. A function for Sr2+/Ca2+ ratio and salinity was established by measuring a series of Sr2+/Ca2+ ratios and salinities of the lake water in different places of the Daihai Lake. Finally paleosalinities of the lake water were quantitatively reconstructed by the Sr/Ca ratios of ostracod shells of the same species in sediment core of the Daihai Lake.

Paleosalinity and lake level fluctuations of the 3rd Member of Paleogene Shahejie Formation,Chezhen Sag,Bohai Bay Basin

The Chezhen Sag,located in the north-western Jiyang Depression,is one of the most important oil-bearing sags in the Bohai Bay Basin.Due to the low degree of exploration in the sag,paleosalinity and sedimentary environment of the sag in the 3rd Member of Paleogene Shahejie Formation(Es3)is not clear.Recovering the paleosalinity and lake level fluctuations is helpful for understanding organic matter rich rocks sedimentation.Therefore,a detailed geochemical,mineralogical and paleontological analysis of the Es3 in the Chezhen Sag was conducted.Index like Sr/Ba ratios,B/Ga ratios,equivalent boron content and methods concluding Adams'formula and Couch's method were adopted to reveal the paleo-salinity and lake level variations.The results indicate that the lower submember(Lower Es3)was deposited in a salt water with high salinity,accompanied by dry climate and transgression event.The middle submember(Middle Es3)and upper submember(Upper Es3)record a freshwater to brackish environment.The paleosalinity and paleoclimate changes are consistent with the global sea level variations.The type and content of sporopollen indicate a dry climate in Lower Es3,which further confirms the reliability of the reconstruction results of paleosalinity.Combined with the paleoclimate and previous marine paleontological evidence,we proposed that the high salinity period is associated with a high lake level and a large-scale transgression event in Lower Es3.According to salinities and corresponding Lake depths,we established a sedimentary environment variation model of the Es3 Member in Chezhen Sag.

A New Understanding of the Sedimentary Environment of the Laiyang Group in the Lower Cretaceous of Lingshan Island,Shandong Province,East China

The sedimentary background and sedimentary environment of the Lower Cretaceous of Lingshan Island,Shandong,remain unclear.There is considerable controversy as to whether the sedimentary environment was marine or continental.In this study,analyses were conducted with respect to indicators of paleosalinity,the chemical composition of clay,paleobiota,the characteristics of strata exhibiting salinization in eastern China during the Early Cretaceous,and the relationship between paleosalinity and paleoclimate.The results indicate that the sedimentary environment of the Lower Cretaceous Laiyang Group of Lingshan Island was that of a salified lake rather than a marine environment.This study not only provides a reference for determining the sedimentary environment of the Lower Cretaceous Laiyang Group of Lingshan Island but also offers a new perspective for the study of Cretaceous strata with salinization characteristics in eastern China.

Paleo-Environment Reconstruction of the Middle Permian Lucaogou Formation,Southeastern Junggar Basin,NW China:Implications for the Mechanism of Organic Matter Enrichment in Ancient Lake

The Middle Permian Lucaogou Formation is the source rock and the main oil shale producing formation in the southeastern Junggar Basin.This study focused on the Lucaogou Formation exposed in two outcrop sections on the northern flank of the Bogda Mountain,namely the Jingjingzigou and Dalongkou sections.Here,we present integrated analysis of the sedimentology,major and trace elements,mineral components and total organic carbon contents.The paleo-environment was reconstructed including provenance,redox conditions,paleo-salinity,chemical weathering intensity and primary organic matter productivity.The results showed that the upper and lower units were deposited in distinct depositional environments with different organic matter accumulation mechanisms.The lower unit was characterized by low lake level,dry climate,fresh-brackish and well-oxygenated water.While during the deposition of the upper unit the lake level rose,climate turned wetter and the bottom water became less oxidized and much saltier.The mechanism of the organic matter accumulation is different for these two units.The preserved organic matters were mainly controlled by the primary productivity in the lower unit and by the redox conditions in the upper unit.