Geochemistry of fine-grained sediments of the upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Gosau Group(Austria,Slovakia):Implications for paleoenvironmental and provenance studies

Bulk rock geochemistry of 169 fine-grained sediment samples of the upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Gosau Group （Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria and Slovakia） fiom borehole and outcrop localities was performed to separate non-marine and marine deposits. Geochemical characteristics of different Gosau depositional systems, basins and sediment provenance using major-, trace-, and rare earth elements were also investigated. Geochemical proxies such as boron concentrations were tested for seeking the possibilities of paleosalinity indicators. Due to the [act that several pelagic sections are represented by extremely low boron contents, B/AI＊ ratios are recognized as more robust and differentiate reliably between marine （mean： 160 ± 34） and non-marine （mean： 133 ± 33） samples. Using statistical factor analysis, hemipelagic to pelagic samples flom the Gieghi_ibl Syncline and Slovakian equivalents can be differentiated from marginal-marine to non-marine samples from the Grtinbach and Glinzendorf Syncline related to terrigenous （SiO2, AI203, K20, Th, Rb, Zr and others） and pelagic indicative elements （CaO, St, TOT/C and B/AI＊）. A clear indication for ophiolitic provenance is traced by high amounts of chromium and nickel. Only non-marine successions of the Glinzendorf Syncline show higher Cr and Ni concentrations （up to 250 and 400 ppm, respectively） and enriched Cr/V and Y/Ni ratios trending to an ultramafic source.

Orbital cyclicity in sedimentary sequence and climatic indications of C-O isotopes from Lower Cretaceous in Qingxi Sag, Jiuquan Basin, NW China

Sedimentary deposits of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation form the most significant potential hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Qingxi Sag, Jiuquan Basin(NW China). Zircon U-Pb ages of the dated basalts at the top of the Xiagou Formation give an isochron age of 115.6 Ma, and the sedimentation interval of the Xiagou Formation was speculated to range from about 125/124 Ma to 115 Ma based on paleontological research and stratigraphic correlation analysis. Here we use GR logging data as a palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic proxy to conduct a detailed cyclostratigraphic study of five selected wells. Power spectra, evolutionary fast Fourier transformation and wavelet analysis all reveal significant sedimentary cycles in the Xiagou Formation. The ratios of cycle wavelengths in these stratigraphic units are 33.82 m : 7.91 m : 3.06 m : 1.79 m, which is similar to the ratio of orbital targets of 20 : 5 : 2 : 1. The ratio of 20 : 5 : 2 : 1 is interpreted as Milankovitch cycles of 405 kyr long eccentricity,100 kyr short eccentricity, 37 kyr obliquity, and 22 kyr precession cycles respectively. A high-resolution astronomical time scale is constructed by tuning the stratigraphy into target curves of orbital cycles respectively. Based on the astronomical time scale, the absolute ages of 55 samples were estimated,which are used for subsequent stable carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphy analysis. The analysis results of the five studied wells in the Qingxi Sag indicate:(1) a negative trend of δ^(13)C values upwards in the Xiagou Formation, and(2) negative δ^(18)O values with a positive trend upwards. Both relatively heavy values and pronounced covariances of δ^(13)C values and δ^(18)O values indicate an arid-evaporationcontrolled climate during the sedimentary period of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation, Qingxi Sag, Jiuquan Basin. Moreover, positive covariances of SQK_1g_(2+3) indicate extremely high temperature, and negative covariances of SQK_1g_1 indicate a relatively low temperature.

Astronomical forcing of sedimentary cycles of Late Eocene Liushagang Formation in the Bailian Sag, Fushan Depression, Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea

Sediments in the Liushagang Formation of Late Eocene form a group of key hydrocarbon play fairways in the Beibuwan Basin,South China Sea.As an important reservoir-forming combination,the Liushagang Formation consists of deltaic siliciclastic and show clear sedimentary cyclicity.According to paleontology research and stratigraphic correlation,the boundary between Liushagang Formation(Els)and Weizhou Formation(Ewz)is regarded as the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.The oxygen isotope dating for well cores from the top of the first Member of Liushagang Formation(Els1)and the bottom of the third Member of Weizhou Formation(Ewz3)give an isochron age of 35.2 Ma.Here,we use GR logging data as a paleoenvironmental proxy to conduct a detailed cyclostratigraphic study of the Els1 in the Bailian Sag,Fushan Depression.Power spectra,evolutionary fast Fourier transformation and wavelet analysis all reveal significant sedimentary cycles in Els1.The ratios of cycle wavelengths in these stratigraphic units are 21?5?2.8?1.2?1,and are interpreted as Milankovitch cycles of 400 ka and 96 ka eccentricity,52 ka obliquity,22ka and 19 ka precession cycles,respectively.An astronomical time scale is established by tuning filtered 96 ka eccentricity cycles to a target curve of Well L2 in the Bailian Sag.Based on regional stratigraphic framework,combined with seismic,cores and logging data,the HST of the first member of the Liushagang Formation(Els1)delta in Well L2 was divided into six parasequence sets named Ps1-Ps6.According to the spectrum analysis by Simple Lomb periodogram from PAST program packages,the sediment accumulation rate of each parasequence sets first increased and then decreased as time went by.The sediment accumulation rate of Ps4 reached the maximum(0.127 m/ka)during the most prosperous period of delta prograding.Finally,the duration of each period of parasequence sets and more accurate geological age were calculated on the basis of sediment accumulation rate.The ages of each depth are precisely estimated and provide new constraints on the Late Eocene.

A Periglacial Palaeoenvionment in the Upper Carboniferous-Lower Permian Tobra Formation of the Salt Range,Pakistan

The Upper Carboniferous-Lower Permian （Upper Pennsylvanian-Asselian） Tobra Formation is exposed in the Salt and Trans Indus ranges of Pakistan. The formation exhibits an alluvial plain （alluvial fan-piedmont alluvial plain） facies association in the Salt Range and Khisor Range. In addition, a stream flow facies association is restricted to the eastern Salt Range. The alluvial plain facies association is comprised of clast-supported massive conglomerate （Gmc）, diamictite （Dm） facies, and massive sandstone （Sm） iithofacies whereas the stream flow-dominated alluvial plain facies association includes fine-grained sandstone and sUtstone （Fss）, fining upwards pebbly sandstone （Sf）, and massive mudstone （Fro） lithofacies. The lack of glacial signatures （particularly glacial grooves and striations） in the deposits in the Tobra Formation, which are, in contrast, present in their time-equivalent and palaeogeographically nearby strata of the Arabian peninsula, e.g. the Al Khlata Formation of Oman and Unayzah B member of the Sandi Arabia, suggests a pro-to periglacial, i.e. glaciofluvial depositional setting for the Tobra Formation. The sedimentology of the Tobra Formation attests that the Salt Range, Pakistan, occupied a palaeogeographic position just beyond the maximum glacial extent during Upper Pennsylvanian-Asselian time.

Advances in the Study of the Non-Marine Ostracods in Luanping Basin, Northern Hebei (North China): A Preliminary Result

The Luanping Basin of northern Hebei, North China, is well known for its continuous nonmarine Lower Cretaceous deposits and the preservation of the Jehol Biota. However, there are still some controversies about the stratigraphic correlation in these regions. Here we report some advances on the study of the nonmarine ostracods of Luanping, focusing on its biostratigraphical utility. Preliminary results indicate that the nonmarine ostracods from Luanping Basin consist of 17 genera and around 44 species. The ostracod assemblages of the Dabeigou, Dadianzi and Xiguayuan formations of this Basin can be assigned to the Luanpingella-Ocrocypris-Eoparacypris (Late Valanginian-Early Hauterivian age), Cypridea-Timiriasevia-Daurina (Late Huaterivian-Barremian age) and Cypridea-Limnocypridea-Lycopterocypris (Aptian stage) zones, respectively. This temporary framework can be served as a stratigraphic correlation tool in northern Hebei, as well as contributed to a better understanding of the evolution of the Jehol Biota.

Special Topic： Cretaceous greenhouse palaeoclimate and sea-level changes

Earth's climate has oscillated between greenhouse(warm)and icehouse(cold)modes throughout Earth history.At present,Earth is in the midst of an icehouse climate interval,despite the anthropogenic contribution to global warming and sea-level