Late Silurian to Early Devonian Palynomorphs from Qujing,Yunnan,Southwest China

Well-preserved and diversified spores,cryptospores,and acritarchs have been recorded from a relatively continuous sequence that encompasses the Silurian-Devonian boundary in Qujing, Yunnan,southwest China.Four spore assemblage zones from Late Silurian to Early Devonian in age are proposed based on the first appearance datum（FAD）of characteristic spore species.In ascending stratigraphic order,they are Ambitisporites dilutus-Apiculiretusispora synorea（DS;Late Ludfordian to Early Pridoli）,Synorisporites verrucatus-Apiculiretusispora plicata（VP;Pridoli）,Apiculiretusispora minuta-Leiotriletes ornatus（MO;Lochkovian）,and Verrucosisporites polygonalis-Dibolisporites wetteldorfensis（PW;Pragian）.The acritarch assemblage from the upper part of the Yulongsi Formation,the Xiaxishancun Formation,and the lower-middle parts of the Xitun Formation indicates an age of Late Silurian.Based on palynological evidence,the upper part of the Yulongsi Formation is considered Late Ludfordian to Early Pridoli in age;the Xiaxishancun Formation is believed to be Pridoli in age;the Xitun Formation is considered Late Pridoli to Early Lochkovian in age;the Guijiatun Formation is considered Lochkovian in age;and the Xujiachong Formation is Late Lochkovian to Pragian in age.The Silurian-Devonian boundary is recognized between the VP and the MO spore biozones,and occurs within the middle part of the Xitun Formation.

Geochemical Stratigraphy and Microvertebrate Assemblage Sequences across the Silurian/Devonian Transition in South China

Carbon isotope （δ13Corg） analyses of non-marine clastic rocks and neritic carbonates and black shales spanning the Silurian/Devonian transition are compared from two richly fossiliferous sequences in Qujing of East Yunnan and Zoige of Sichuan, South China. The two sections, Xishancun and Putonggou sections in South China, reveal positive δ13Corg shifts happening in the Upper Pridoli and Lower Devonian and reaching peak values as heavy as -25.2‰ （Xishancun） and -19.9‰（Putonggou） in the lowermost Lochkovian following the first occurrence of the thelodont Parathelodus and the conodont Icriodus woschmidti woschmidti （only in Putonggou Section and together with Protathyris-Lanceomyonia brachiopod fauna）. These results replicate a globally known positive shift in δ13Corg from the uppermost Silurian to the lowermost Devonian. The δ13Corg variations across the Silurian/Devonian Boundary （SDB） at the two sections in South China exhibit a shift in carbon isotopic composition similar to the detailed SDB curves from the borehole Klonk-1 drilled at top of the Klonk Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point （GSSP） in the Prague Basin, Czech Republic. In addition, four microvertebrate assemblages, including the Liaojiaoshan, Xishancun, Yanglugou and Xiaputonggou assemblages, are recognized from the Silurian/Devonian transition exposed in the Xishancun and Putonggou sections, respectively. The results from both carbon isotope stratigraphy and microvertebrate assemblage sequences suggest that the SDB in South China is located at the base of the Xishancun Formation （between sample QX-20 and sample QX-21） in the Xishancun Section and the lower part of the Xiaputonggou Formation （between sample ZP-09 and sample ZP-10） in the Putonggou Section. The isotopic trend for organic carbon together with the changes of microvertebrate remains across the SDB can offer an approach to a potential correlation of the SDB from different sedimentary facies, which help to correlate the marine with non-marine deposits.

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Silurian adakitic granitoids in the eastern segment of the Qilian Orogenic Belt,Northwest China

Geodynamic mechanism responsible for the generation of Silurian granitoids and the tectonic evolution of the Qilian orogenic belt remains controversial. In this study, we report the results of zircon U–Pb age, and systematic whole-rock geochemical data for the Haoquangou and Liujiaxia granitoids within the North Qilian orogenic belt and the Qilian Block, respectively, to constrain their petrogenesis, and the Silurian tectonic evolution of the Qilian orogenic belt. Zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the Haoquangou and Liujiaxia intrusions were emplaced at423 ± 3 Ma and 432 ± 4 Ma, respectively. The Haoquangou granodiorites are calc-alkaline, while the Liujiaxia granites belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series.Both are peraluminous in composition and have relatively depleted Nd isotopic [ε_(Nd)(t) =(-3.9 – + 0.6)] characteristics compared with regional basement rocks, implying their derivation from a juvenile lower crust. They show adakitic geochemical characteristics and were generated by partial melting of thickened lower continental crust. Postcollisional extensional regime related to lithospheric delamination was the most likely geodynamic mechanism for the generation of the Haoquangou granodiorite, while the Liujiaxia granites were generated in a compressive setting during continental collision between the Qaidam and Qilian blocks.

Soft-sediment Deformation Structures Related to Earthquake from the Devonian of the Eastern North Qilian Mts.and Its Tectonic Significance

Devonian in the North Qilian orogenic belt and Hexi Corridor developed terrestrial molasse of later stage of foreland basin caused by collision between the North China plate and Qaidam microplate. The foreland basin triggered a intense earthquake, and formed seismites and earthquake-related soft-sediment deformation. The soft-sediment deformation structures of Devonian in the eastern North Qilian Mts. consist of seismo-cracks, sandstone dykes, syn-depositional faults, microfoids （micro-corrugated lamination）, fluidized veins, load casts, flame structures, pillow structures and brecciation. The seismo-cracks, syn-depositional faults and microfolds are cracks, faults and folds formed directly by oscillation of earthquake. The seismic dykes formed by sediment instilling into seismic cracks. Fluidized veins were made by instilling into the seismo-fissures of the fluidized sands. The load casts, flame structures and pillow structures were formed by sinking and instilling caused from oscillation of earthquake along the face between sandy and muddy beds. The brecciation resulted from the oscillation of earthquake and cracking of sedimentary layers. The seismites and soft-sediment deformations in Devonian triggered the earthquake related to tectonic activities during the orogeny and uplift of North Qilian Mts.

A Combination of N2 and CO2 Adsorption to Characterize Nanopore Structure of Organic-Rich Lower Silurian Shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform, South China： Implications for Shale Gas Sorption Capacity

The pores in shales are mainly of nanometer-scale, and their pore size distribution is very important for the preservation and exploitation of shale gas. This study focused on the organic-rich Lower Silurian black shale from four wells in the Upper Yangtze Platform, and their TOC, mineralogical composition and pore characterization were investigated. Low pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption were conducted at 77.35 K and 273.15 K, respectively, and the pore structures were characterized by modified Brunauer-Emmett-Teller （BET）, Dubinin-Radushkevich （DR）, t-plot, Barrett- Joyner-Halenda （BJH） and density functional theory （DFT） methods and then the relationship between pore structure and shale gas sorption capacity was discussed. The results indicate that （1） The Lower Silurian shale has high TOC content of 0.92%~96%, high quartz content of 30.6%-69.5%, and high clays content of 24.1%-51.2%. The total specific surface area varies from 7.56 m^2/g to 25.86 m^2/g. Both the total specific surface area and quartz content are positively associated with the TOC content. （2） Shale samples with higher TOC content have more micropores, which results in more complex nanopore structure. Micropore volumes/surface areas and non-micropore surface areas all increase with the increasing TOC content. （3） A combination of N2 and CO2 adsorption provides the most suitable detection range （~0.3-60 nm） and has high reliability and accuracy for nanopore structure characterization. （4） The TOC content is the key factor to control the gas sorption capacity of the Lower Silurian shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform.

Evolutionary Significance of Pylentonemid Radiolarians and Their Late Devonian Species from Southwestern Tianshan,China

A group of radiolarian fossils with a complete morphological gradient of increasing polarization are reported from upper Devonian successions in southwestern Tianshan, China. Specifically, the important transitional mophotypes, Pylentonema transitorum sp. nov., Archocyrtium medium sp. nov. and Quadrapesus transitivus sp. nov, were found. Based on the fact that the new transitional radiolarian fossils resemble more closely to pylentonemids （cyrtoid nassellarians） than to entactinids （spumellarians） in morphology, they are assigned to pylentonemids. Pylentonemids share characters of both the Nassellaria （e.g., horned cephalis, basal opening with pylome） and Spumellaria （e.g., system of trabecular spicules）, and they are thus of evolutionary significance. The evolutionary trend from spumellarians to nassellarians is characterized by （1） internal spicule： from simple trabecular spicules to complicate components （A;Ir,II;D;V;Lr,Li;MB）; （2） polarization of the radiolarian tests due to rearrangment of spine, from radial to an axial symmetry; （3） the gradual formation of a basal opening （aperture, pylome, or podome）; and the transition from a pseudopylome, a primative pylome with a narrow margin on the outer shell, to a true pylome rimmed with a narrow, elevated impermite wall.

Accumulation and Reformation of Silurian Reservoir in the Northern Tarim Basin

Silurian sandstone in Tarim Basin has good reservoir properties and active oil and gas shows, especially thick widely-distributed bituminous sandstone. Currently, the Silurian was found containing both bitumen and conventional reservoirs, with petroleum originating from terrestrial and marine source rocks. The diversity of their distribution was the result of ＂three sources, three stages＂ accumulation and adjustment processes. ＂Three sources＂ refers to two sets of marine rocks in Cambrian and Middle-Upper Ordovician, and a set of terrestrial rock formed in Triassic in the Kuqa depression. ＂Three stages＂ represents three stages of accumulation, adjustment and reformation occurring in Late Caledonian, Late Hercynian and Late Himalayan, respectively. The study suggests that the Silurian bitumen is remnants of oil generated from Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks and accumulated in the sandstone reservoir during Late Caledonian-Early Hercynian and Late Hercynian stages, and then damaged by the subsequent two stages of tectonic uplift movements in Early Hercynian and Pre-Triassic. The authors presumed that the primary paleo-reservoirs formed during these two stages might he preserved in the Silurian in the southern deep part of the Tabei area. Except for the Yingmaili area where the Triassic terrestrial oil was from the Kuqa Depression during Late Himalayan Stage, all movable oil reservoirs originated from marine sources. They were secondary accumulations from underlying Ordovician after structure reverse during the Yanshan- Himalayan stage. Oil/gas shows mixed-source characteristics, and was mainly from Middle-Upper Ordovician. The complexity and diversity of the Silurian marine primary properties were just defined by these three stages of oil-gas charging and tectonic movements in the Tabei area.

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.

A Middle-Upper Devonian Boundary Section in the Open Platform,Platform Margin Facies of Guilin,South China

The Caiziyan Middle and Upper Devonian boundary section is located approximately 30 km northeast of Guilin. It hosts relatively abundant benthic and common-rare pelagic fossils, including brachiopods, corals, tentaculites, and conodonts, which may serve as a better suitable section for pelagic and neritic stratigraphic correlation. In this section, 10 ＂standard＂ conodont zones are recognized across the Givetian-Frasnian boundary, including, in descending order, the Lower hassi Zone, punctata Zone, transitans Zone, the Upperfalsiovalis Zone, the Lowerfalsiovalis Zone, disparilis Zone, the Upper hermanni-cristatus Zone, the Lower hermanni-cristatus Zone, the Upper varcus Zone, and the Middle varcus Zone, all of which are defined by the first occurrence of their defining conodont species. The Middle-Upper Devonian （Givetian-Frasnian） boundary is defined by the first occurrence of Ancyrodella pristina in accordance with the Global Stratotype Section and Point （GSSP）, which is assigned at 6.2m above the base of bed 19 in the Caiziyan section.

Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous Sequence Stratigraphy of South China

In South China four depositional sequences are recognized in the upper part of Upper Devonian and Tournaisian. They are named SQ0 SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 in ascending order. SQ0 is Strunian (uppermost Devonian), and the other three Tournaisian in age. These four depositional sequences appear to correlate fairly well with the four sequence recognized in Europe, North America and other areas. This may suggest that these sequences are synchronous depos- its resulted from the eustatic changes. The present study on sequence stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and event stratigraphy indicates that in neritic facies areas of South China, the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary, matching the boundary between Siphonodella praesulcata zone and S. sulcata zone in pelagic facies areas, is not only higher than the top of the Cystophrentis zone, but also higher than the top of the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary event bed. In neritic facies areas, the Devonian-Carbonifrerous boundary is marked by the most distinct transgressive surface within the Cystophrentiseudouralina interval zone, i. e. at the base of the TST of the SQ1. This boundary coincides with the top surface of the event bed resulted from the eustatic fall, and approximately corresponds to the basal part of Rseudouralina assemblage zone.

Two Zosterophyll Plants from the Lower Devonian(Lochkovian)Xitun Formation of Northeastern Yunnan,China

Two zosterophyll plants are described from the Lower Devonian （Lochkovian） Xitun Formation of Qujing, Yunnan, China. Xitunia spinitheca gen. et sp. nov. has stalked sporangia laterally attached on the axis in a helical arrangement. Sporangia are dorsoventrally flattened and composed of two unequal valves; the adaxial valve is round in face view, while the abaxial valve is larger than the former, triangular or wedge-shaped, and radially bears long spiny appendages along the distal margin. Xitunia shows new variation of sporangial morphology within the zosterophylls. Zosterophyllum minorstachyum sp. nov. has K-shaped branchings at the basal parts and small-sized terminal spikes, which consist of round to elliptical sporangia arranged helically. This paper provides new data on the diversity of plant types during Lochkovian when rare vascular plants were reported. As for various species of Zosterophyllum in South China, their apparent evolutionary trend of features from the Late Silurian to Early Devonian （Emsian） is discussed.

Origin of the Silurian Crude Oils and Reservoir Formation Characteristics in the Tazhong Uplift

The Silurian stratum in the Tazhong uplift is an important horizon for exploration because it preserves some features of the hydrocarbons produced from multi-stage tectonic evolution. For this reason, the study of the origin of the Silurian oils and their formation characteristics constitutes a major part in revealing the mechanisms for the composite hydrocarbon accumulation zone in the Tazhong area. Geochemical investigations indicate that the physical properties of the Silurian oils in Tazhong vary with belts and blocks, i.e., heavy oils are distributed in the TZ47-15 well-block in the North Slope while normal and light oils in the No. I fault belt and the TZ16 well-block, which means that the oil properties are controlled by structural patterns. Most biomarkers in the Silurian oils are similar to that of the Mid-Upper Ordovician source rocks, suggesting a good genetic relationship. However, the compound specific isotope of n-alkanes in the oils and the chemical components of the hydrocarbons in fluid inclusions indicate that these oils are mixed oils derived from both the Mid- Upper Ordovician and the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks. Most Silurian oils have a record of secondary alterations like earlier biodegradation, including the occurrence of ＂UCM＂ humps in the total ion current （TIC） chromatogram of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and 25-norhopane in saturated hydrocarbons of the crude oils, and regular changes in the abundances of light and heavy components from the structural low to the structural high. The fact that the Silurian oils are enriched in chain alkanes, e.g., n-alkanes and 25-norhopane, suggests that they were mixed oils of the earlier degraded oils with the later normal oils. It is suggested that the Silurian oils experienced at least three episodes of petroleum charging according to the composition and distribution as well as the maturity of reservoir crude oils and the oils in fluid inclusions. The migration and accumulation models of these oils in the TZ47-15 well-blocks, the No. I fault belt and the TZ16 well-block are different from but related to each other. The investigation of the origin of the mixed oils and the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation mechanisms in different charging periods is of great significance to petroleum exploration in this area.

Silurian Seismites in Hanxia,Yumen,North Qilian Mountains,and Their Tectonic Significance

The Caledonian orogenic belt of the North Qilian Mountains is an intensely active structure belt. In the process of the Late Caledonian syn-orogeny, the North Qilian-Hexi Corridor area was situated on the tectonic background of a syn-orogenic basin. In response to the orogenic process of the North Qilian Mountains, typical earthquake event deposits—seismites of the Silurian were widely distributed around Hanxia of Yumen City, the Liyuan River of Sunan County and Biandukou of Minle County. In the Hanxia area, where seismites are typically developed, clastic deposits of tidal-flat facies are the background deposits of the Hanxia Formation. The earthquake event deposits are characterized by sandy mudstone veins, synsedimentary microfractures, micro-corrugated laminations and earthquake breccias, which in turn constitute complex seismites, featuring seismic corrugation, shattering and liquefied sandy mudstone veins, auto-clastic breccias and intraclastic parabreccias. The seismites and tidal flat deposits formed typical sequences of earthquake event deposits.

Atrypid Brachiopods from the Upper Devonian Wangchengpo Formation(Frasnian)of southern Guizhou,China—Extinction Patterns in the Frasnian of South China

The Wangchengpo Frasnian section of Dushan County contains two atrypid brachiopod assemblages. The lower is characterized by the Atryparia （Costatrypa） dushanensis fauna that appears at the base of the Hejiazhai Member approximately in the falsiovalis to transitans conodont zones： the upper is characterized by the Radiatrypa yangi fauna, which appears in the Lujiazhai Member approximately correspondent with the hassi to Upper rhenana conodont zones. Atrypid brachiopods, together with other brachiopods from the Dushan section show that the Hejiazhai Member is of Frasnian age. Preliminary analyses of Frasnian atrypid brachiopods from sections of South China indicate that there are nine genera and subgenera including Atryparia （Costatrypa）, Kyrtatrypa, Spinatrypa, lsospinatrypa, Spinatrypina, lowatrypa, Desquamatia （Desquamatia）. Desquamatia （Seratrypa）, and Radiatr）pa. Atrypid species diversity did not change much through the Frasnian. On a regional scale in South China, most atrypid species went extinct prior to the Frasnian/Famennian boundary. At any specific locality or section, these atrypids became extinct about 20-40 m below the Frasnian/Famennian （F/F） boundary, within the linguiformis conodont Zone, marking this as the major extinction level. Three new atrypid species are described： Atryparia （Costatrypa） dushanensis, lowatrypa pseudobodini, and Radiatrypa yangi.

The multi-factor recombination and processes superimposition model for hydrocarbon accumulation:application to the Silurian in the Tarim Basin

The multi-factor recombination and processes superimposition model for hydrocarbon accumulation is put forward in view of the hydrocarbon geological characteristics of multiple episodes of structural evolution, multiple sets of source-reservoir-seal assemblage, multiple cycles of hydrocarbon accumulation and multiple episodes of readjustment and reconstruction in the complex superimposed basins in China. It is a system including theories and methods that can help to predict favorable exploration regions. According to this model, the basic discipline for hydrocarbon generation, evolution and distribution in the superimposed basins can be summarized in multi-factor recombination, processes superimposition, multiple stages of oil filling and latest stage preservation. With the Silurian of the Tarim basin as an example, based on the reconstruction of the evolution history of the four factors （paleo-anticline, source rock, regional cap rock and kinematic equilibrium belt） controlling hydrocarbon accumulation, this model was adopted to predict favorable hydrocarbon accumulation areas and favorable exploration regions following structural destruction in three stages of oil filling, to provide guidance for further exploration ofoil and gas in the Silurian of the Tarim basin.

Devonian to Triassic Successions of the Changning-Menglian Belt,Western Yunnan,China

Phanerozoic strata are distributed in several north-south trending zones in the central part of the Changning-Menglian Belt. Four types of Devonian to Triassic stratigraphic successions can be identified: (1) elastics with limestone lenses in the mid-section, changing up-section into alternations of fine elastics and cherts; (2) elastics with chert intercalations and limestone lenses, and topped by Permian basic volcanics; (3) elastics-basic volcanics-carbonates-clastics; and (4) limestones, dolomitic limestones-dark gray thin-bedded limestones, argillaceous limestones, mudstones and siliceous mudstones. Devonian to Triassic cherts occur in different horizons and different zones from east to west. These cherts are usually transitional to their neighboring elastics. There is no continuous Devonian to Middle Triassic chert sequence in the central zone of the Changning-Menglian Belt as Liu et al. (1991,1993) reported. Volcanics and the overlying carbonates described by some workers as 'seamount' sequences are more likely to have formed in a marine environment on continental crust. Succession (4) is newly recognized in the area from Menglai to Yong'an in Cangyuan County and further north to Padi of Gengma County. Basalts, cherts and elastics also appear in this area. Mid-Triassic (very probably Ladinian) radiolarians extracted from bedded cherts in the Ganzhejidi section indicate that they are in higher stratigraphic positions. The change from bedded cherts via siltstones to thick-bedded sandstones with thin-bedded fine intercalations in the Ganzhejidi section and (some other outcrops along the road from Cangyuan to Gengma) suggests a fundamental change of sedimentary environment caused by a rapid increase of a large quantity of detritus supply. These siliciclastic sediments are possibly syn-orogenic deposits.

A New Lycopsid, Zhenglia radiata gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Devonian Posongchong Formation of Southeastern Yunnan, China, and Its Evolutionary Significance

A new plant, Zhenglia radiata gen. et sp. nov., from the Posongchong Formation （Early Devonian, Pragian age） of the Wenshan District of southeastern Yunnan Province, China is a small herbaceous lycopsid. The aerial branches divide into foliar and fertile stems. The arrangement of the leaf bases on the stem shows lepidodendroid-like phyllotaxy. Possibly the leaf base bears a ligulate pit. The microphyll consists of a swollen, decurrent base, and an entire, linear lamina. The fertile axis is composed of sporophylls arranged helically, forming a compact area similar to cone-like structure. Each sporophyll consists of a widened lateral extension and a distal lamina. The ovoid-elongate sporangia are attached adaxially on the surface of sporophylls. Based on morphological similarities, especially the undivided microphylls, the style of phyllotaxy, the form of the cone-like structures and sporangia, the new lycopsid Zhenglia radiata is placed in the order Protolepidodendrales and a possible evolutionary relationship with the arborescent lycopsids of the Late Devonian and Carboniferous is considered.

Devonian Sea-Level Change Rhythms in South China and Coupling Relationships Among the Earth-spheres

Twenty orthosequences and their corresponding sea-level change (SLC) cycles have been recognized in the Devonian overlying the Caledonian unconformity, of which 9, 5.5 and 5.5 occurred in the Lower, Middle and Upper Devonian respectively. They can be grouped into 4 orthosequence sets, in which the maximum flooding surfaces lie in the sulcutus Zone (D12), perbonus Zone (D13), Middle and Upper varcus Zone (D22) and gigas Zone (D21) respectively. Four instant palaeogeographical reconstructions of South China have been made in the Emsian and Givetian. Devonian sea-level change rhythms of South China can be divided into 3 categories: the autorhythmic, the worldwide and regional allorhythmic, and the coupling-rhythmic. They developed respectively in the Famennian, Pragian, Eifelian, Lochkovian, Emsian, Givetian, Frasnian and the F / F (between the Frasnian and Famennian) event. The cause of the worldwide allorhythmic SLC of the Pragian and Eifelian under comparatively dry, warm and tranquil conditions may be related to the pulsating expanding and contracting of the oceanic basin volume or the earth volume pulsation, rather than the common glaciation and plate tectonism. The coupling-rhythmic SLC related to the F/ F event is a sensitive indicator of the interaction between terrestrial and extraterrestrial factors, and coordinated action among the earth-spheres.

Ramp facies in an intracratonic basin:A case study from the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous in central Hunan,southern China

Detailed studies on Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous carbonate rocks in central Hunan, southern China have led to the recognition of 25 lithofacies which can be grouped into： （I） inner ramp peritidal platform, （2） inner ramp organic hank and mound, （3） mid ramp, （4） outer ramp, and （5） shelf basin facies associations. The peritidal platform facies association dominates the Zimenqiao Formation （Namurian A or late Datangian） and is characterized by gypsum and dolostone-containing sequences, indicating a peritidal platform environment. The other four facies associations dominate the Menggongao Formation （late Famennian）, Liujiatang Formation （Tournaisian or Yangruanian）, Shidengzi Formations （early Visean or early Datangian）. Five upward-shallowing cycles were distinguished in these three Formations. The predominant facies associations developed in each Formation demonstrate an overall transgression-regression cycle in the Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous in central Hunan. The overall transgressive sequence was preserved in the Shaodong, Menggongao, and Liujiatang Formations, and the overall regressive sequence was preserved in the Liujiatang, Shidengzi, Ceshui and Zimenqiao Formations.

Orbital control on cyclical organic matter accumulation in Early Silurian Longmaxi Formation shales

High resolution(939 samples)total organic carbon content(TOC)analyses were conducted on the Shuanghe Section of^152.6 m in the Changning area,Sichuan Basin.The sampling section was divided into two units considering the distinct-different deposit environment and sediments accumulation rate.The lower part(Unit 1)and the peer part(Unit 2)with high resolution sample spacing(0.08–0.4 m)enables the identification of the precession cycle in two sedimentary sequences with distinct different sedimentary accumulation rate.MTM Power spectral analyses on untuned TOC series reveals significant peaks exceeding above the 95%confidence level and shows that both Unit 1 and Unit 2 have recorded Milankovitch cycles of 405 kyr long eccentricity,short eccentricity,obliquity and precession.The floating astronomical time scale(ATS)was constructed on the Shuanghe Section in the Early Silurian(~439.673–444.681 Ma),and which was calibrated by 405 kyr long eccentricity cycles.The total duration of the Wufeng and Longmaxi shales is 5.01 Myr.The floating ATS used for estimating the duration of the graptolite zones and each stage in the study interval.Finally,we postulated two models that could verify the linkage between orbital cycle and organic accumulation.To make sure whether productivity or preservation is the main factor that under long eccentricity control,the phase correlation between the obtained filtered signal and the theoretical orbital solution should be made clear in the further research.