Late Cretaceous biota and the Cretaceous-Paleogene(K--Pg)Boundary in Jiayin of Heilongjiang,China

An international cooperative study of the Late Cretaceous biota and non-marine strata including the Cretaceous-Paleogene(K--Pg) boundary in Jiayin near the Heilongjiang River,China during 2002-2010,is summarized in this paper. The strata includes the Upper Cretaceous Yong'ancun-,Taipinglinchang-,Yuliang-zi-,and Furao formations,and the Paleocence Wuyun Formation consisting of Baoshantou Member and a Coalbearing Member. Seven palynological assemblages from Santonian to Paleocene are recognized,which is used for definition of the K--Pg boundary. Through the palynological analysis of three drilled boreholes (XHY-2005,2006,2008) in Xiaoheyan of western Jiayin,the K--Pg boundary is defined within 20. 00-20. 05 m in the borehole XHY-2006 (as a standard boundary) which is just between the top of Furao Formation (late Maasterichtian) and the base of Baishantou Member (early Danian) . These new research results are supported by paleo- magnetic,geochemical and other analyses,also. On the other hand,the presence of eight taxa of Maasterichtian dinosaurs (mostly hadrosaurids) have been recognized by the authors; and two mega-plant assemblages from the Yong'ancun Fm (Santonian) to Taipinglinchang Fm (Campanian) are confirmed. These research a-chievements indicate that the Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene in Jiayin can be well correlated to the strata in the neighboring Zeya-Bureja basin,Russia. The K--Pg boundary definited in Jiayin is the first well documented non-marine K--Pg boundary in China. Also the related paleoclimate,paleoenvironment and the mass extinctions in this area during the Cretaceous-Paleocene transition are also discussed.

Model Forming of Mesoarchean Gridino Mafic Dyke Swarm during Subduction "Mid-Ocean Ridge – Continent"

The high-pressure metamorphosed Gridino dyke swarm comprises a major group of Mesoarchean 2.87-2.82 Ga mafic dykes intruded within the Mesoarchean continental crust of the Kola craton(the Belomorian tectonic province

Mesoarchean Gridino Mafic Dykes Swarm of the Belomorian Eclogite Province of the Fennoscandian Shield(Russia)

Two eclogite associations have been recognized within Belomorian TTG gneisses:(1)the subduction-type Salma association and(2)Gridino eclogitized mafic dykes.Protoliths of the Salma eclogites represent a sequence

Structural and geochemical features of coal‑bearing sediments and sources of rare element impurities in coals of the Rakovka depression,Primorsky Krai,Russia

There are known brown coal deposits in Primorsky Krai(Russian Federation),where coals contain rare elements(Ge,U,REE,etc.)up to industrial concentrations.One of the known metalliferous coals is the Rakovka coal-bearing depression,located on the southern edge of the Khanka(Prikhankaiskaya)Lowland,with an area of about 70 km2.Rare-metal granites with a developed weathering crust are spread in its basement and flanks.The structural conditions forming the depression were studied using measurements of orientations of structural elements(layering,contacts,veins,and dikes)with regard to kinematic conditions of faulting.The coal and host rocks were sampled in sections in the cross strike of the coal seam.Granites and dikes cutting them were sampled by separate rock chip samples.The chemical composition and element content were determined for all samples.It was found that the adjacent rocks played a major role in the formation of the Rakovka rare-metal-coal deposit.The rare-elements enrichment is not associated with active tectonics,faults,and hydrothermal sources,as was previously assumed.Rather,it was caused by the hydrogenic and clastogenic removal of these metals from the weathering crust of granites of the depression's flanks and argillated basite dikes cutting the granites.The hydrogenic nature of the anomalous accumulation of U in sorbed form on organic matter of coals is confirmed by the predominant enrichment of low-ash beds.Rare earth elements entered coal seams both in mineral and dissolved forms.A model of REE and uranium input into the coal-bearing sediments of the Rakovka depression was proposed.

Geochemistry and petrology of superpure quartzites from East Sayan Mountains, Russia

Quartzites are widespread within Earth's lithosphere, but their highly pure varieties occur quite infrequently. With the development of alternative energy sources, including solar, and with increasing demand for high-purity quartz for optics, interest has risen in highpurity silicon-bearing materials. The quartzites discovered in the southeast part of the Eastern Sayan Mountains are particularly attractive for exploration in terms of their raw material quality and feasibility to be enriched. For this reason, their genesis also merits study. Available geochemical data show that chemogenic(d^(18)O>29.2%)siliceous-carbonate sediments of the Irkut Formation are fairly pure(impurity elements <800 ppm), and that half the impurities are easily removed carbonate components of the rock. Bedded quartzites remote from the intrusive granitoids and near-contact quartzites were recognized based on geochemical and petrographic data. Influenced by the Sumsunur granitoids, the near-contact quartzites originally contained >0.9% impurities, but later, under the action of sliding slabs of ophiolite dynamothermal treatment reduced impurities to < 100 ppm, resulting in ‘‘superquartzites' '(highly pure quartzites). The presence of only minor structural impurities is due to the enrichment capacity of superquartzites to 10.1 ppm(7.2 ppm under special conditions) of 10 elements: Fe, Al, Ti, Ca, Mg, Cu,Mn, Na, K, and Li.

3D model of Svecofennian Accretionary Orogen and Karelia Craton based on geology,reflection seismics,magnetotellurics and density modelling:Geodynamic speculations

A 3D model of deep crustal structure of the Archaean Karelia Craton and late Palaeoproterozoic Svecofennian Accretionary Orogen including the boundary zone is presented.The model is based on the combination of data from geological mapping and reflection seismic studies,along profiles 1-EU,4 B,FIRE-1-2 a-2 and FIRE-3-3 a,and uses results of magnetotelluric soundings in southern Finland and northern Karelia.A seismogeological model of the crust and crust-mantle boundary is compared with a model of subhorizontal velocity-density layering of the crust.The TTG-type crust of the Palaeoarchaean and Mesoarchaean microcontinents within the Karelia Craton and the Belomorian Province are separated by gently dipping greenstone belts,at least some of which are palaeosutures.The structure of the crust was determined mainly by Palaeoproterozoic tectonism in the intracontinental settings modified by a strong collisional compression at the end of the Palaeoproterozoic.New insights into structure,origin and evolution of the Svecofennian Orogen are provided.The accretionary complex is characterized by inclined tectonic layering:the tectonic sheets,~15 km thick,are composed of volcanic-sedimentary rocks,including electro-conductive graphite-bearing sedimentary rocks,and electro-resistive granitoids,which plunge monotonously and consecutively eastward.Upon reaching the level of the lower crust,the tectonic sheets of the accretionary complex lose their distinct outlines.In the seismic reflection pattern they are replaced by a uniform acoustically translucent medium,where separate sheets can only be traced fragmentarily.The crust-mantle boundary bears a diffuse character:the transition from crust to mantle is recorded by the disappearance of the vaguely drawn boundaries of the tectonic sheets and in the gradual transition of acoustically homogeneous and translucent lower crust into transparent mantle.Under the effect of endogenic heat flow,the accretionary complex underwent high-temperature metamorphism and partial melting.Blurring of the rock contacts,which in the initial state created contrasts of acoustic impedance,was caused by partial melting and mixing of melts.The 3 D model is used as a starting point for the evolutionary model of the Svecofennian Accretionary Orogen and for determination of its place in the history of the Palaeoproterozoic Lauro-Russian intracontinental orogeny,which encompassed a predominant part of the territory of Lauroscandia,a palaeocontinent combining North American and East European cratons.The model includes three stages in the evolution of the Lauro-Russian Orogen(-2.5,2.2-2.1 and 1.95-1.87 Ga).The main feature of the Palaeoproterozoic evolution of the accretionary Svecofennian Orogen and Lauroscandia as a whole lay in the causal link with evolution of a superplume,which initiated plate-tectonic events.The Svecofennian-Pre-Labradorian palaeo-ocean originated in the superplume axial zone;the accretionary orogens were formed along both continental margins due to closure of the palaeo-ocean.

Chromite in the Mantle Section of the Oman Ophiolite: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Oman Ophiolite

Structure and composition of the Uralian ophiolites reflect a large spectrum of geodynamic environment of their creation during Paleozoic time： from mid-ocean ridge, rift zone in continental margin, and suprasubduction spreading zone （SSZ） with resultant lherzolite or harzburgite ophiolite type （LOT and HOT）.

Ammoniteand bivalve-based biostratigraphy and Panboreal correlation of the Volgian Stage

The current ammoniteand buchiid-based biostratigraphical successions of the Volgian Stage are outlined, with an analysis of the most important data that support correlation throughout the Panboreal Superrealm. Updated ammonite zonal schemes were proposed for the Volgian of the type region (the Russian Platform) and Svalbard. The lower Volgian successions in all areas except the Russian Platform, with its eudemic1) virgatitid lineage and Submediterranean faunal elements, were dominated by Pectinatites and Eosphinctoceras-Subdichotomoceras. The last two genera were especially common eastwards from the Ural Mountains. During the middle Volgian, provincialism developed quickly within the ammonites, and unified assemblages with early Palvovia and Dorsoplanites at the base of the substage were replaced by numerous local eudemic faunas. Despite this, migrations of species of Crendonites, Laugeites, Epivirgatites Epipallasiceras, Epilaugeites, and Taimyrosphinctes occurred at regular intervals and these enable precise correlations between the faunal sub-provinces. The zonation of the upper Volgian is mainly based upon the succession of Craspedites (on Subcraspedites in England and North Sea), and can be traced throughout the Arctic. Zonation based on the bivalve Buchia enables correlations to be made between the successions over much of the Northern Hemisphere, including Northern California, British Columbia, Arctic areas, and the Russian Platform. Each substage of the Volgian is characterized by buchiids with different types of the ontogenetic development. Research on the infrazonal subdivision of the Volgian Stage based on buchiids is currently in progress. Our analyses of the ammonite and buchiid successions of the Panboreal Superrealm lead us to conclude that there are no major faunal gaps in Volgian successions of the Russian Platform and Northern Siberia.

New types of low temperature deposits in the eastern part of the Siberian plate

IN recent years (1986-1996), many deposits, ore occurrences and numerous haloes of ore mineralization connected with low temperature alterations have been revaled and studied in the eastern part of theSiberian plate. It is established that all of them are located either in a zone of structural-stratigraphic unconformity (SSU) and above this zone, on different levels of stratified volcanogenic, terrigenic and carboniferous units. Most of the ore occurrences are situated on the territory of the Ulkansky and UchurskyProterozoic basins (see figure 1).