Eocene Research Articles

Mixed sources and complicated petrogenetic processes of the Himalayan granites recorded by apatite in-situ geochemistry of the Eocene Yardoi-Lhunze complex, southeast Tibet

The Cenozoic Himalayan granites are widely accepted as the anatectic products of crustal rocks. However, previous geochemical studies on their petrogenesis are mainly based on whole-rock analyses. Here we conducted a detailed petrographic, trace elemental and Sr isotopic investigations of apatite from the Middle Eocene (44–40 Ma) two-mica granites and subvolcanic porphyritic leucogranites of the Yardoi-Lhunze complex from the Tethyan Himalayan Sequence in the southeast Tibet, with the aim to constrain their magma sources and petrogenetic processes. The results show that apatites from the Quedang and Dala two-mica granites are characterized by euhedral to subhedral crystal shape, and have a wide range of initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7016–1.0088). They show significant negative Eu anomaly and varied concentrations of Sr and Y, indicating they are typical magmatic apatites. Apatites from the Qiaga porphyritic leucogranites can be divided into two groups based on Eu anomaly. Group-I apatites with positive Eu anomaly mainly display euhedral to subhedral crystal shape but with alteration rim, suggesting from the influence of hydrothermal fluids. Group-II apatites with negative Eu anomaly also have euhedral to subhedral crystal shape but they exhibit patchy or oscillatory zones, consistent with a magmatic origin. However, both group-I and II apatites have comparable initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios, 0.7198–0.9966 and 0.7174–0.9999, respectively. Previous studies based on whole-rock petrology and geochemistry have suggested that the Quedang and Dala two-mica granites and the Qiaga porphyritic leucogranites represent cumulates and fractionated melt-rich magmas, respectively. This is evidenced by systematic variations between Sr, Y, (La/Sm)N and Eu/Eu* in magmatic apatites from Quedang and Dala, consistent with the fractionation crystallization of plagioclase and monazite.Apatite has a wide range of initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7016–1.0088), far exceeding the range of whole-rock records (0.7011–0.7204). Notably, most of the analyzed apatites show lower range of initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios consistent with locally exposed amphibolites (0.7109–0.7332). The remaining small portion of apatites have initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios falling within the data range of the locally exposed metapelites (0.8517–0.9527). Therefore, the investigated granites have mixed magma sources dominated by amphibolites with subordinate metapelites. This can be inferred by apatite Sr isotopes alone, but not by whole-rock Sr isotopes alone. Our investigations highlight that in-situ geochemistry of apatite can provide a powerful means to unravel the mixed magma sources and complicated magmatic processes for granites.

New remains of Siamochoerus banmarkensis Ducrocq, Chaimanee, Suteethorn & Jaeger, 1998 (Artiodactyla, Suidae) from the late Eocene of Thailand

We report here new craniodental remains from the late Eocene Krabi coal mine in Thailand that can be attributed to the suoid Siamochoerus banmarkensis Ducrocq, Chaimanee, Suteethorn & Jaeger, 1998. This material that includes the complete lower dentition and isolated upper molars provides new information on the dental morphology of this species and makes S. banmarkensis, together with Egatochoerus jaegeri Ducrocq, 1994 from Krabi, the second best documented early suoid in the Eocene of Asia. A few dental features that can be observed on these new remains suggest that S. banmarkensis might be more closely related to Suidae Gray, 1821, but it also illustrates the difficulty to attribute a precise taxonomic position to Eocene taxa.

Plastome evolution of Engelhardia facilitates phylogeny of Juglandaceae

BackgroundEngelhardia (Juglandaceae) is a genus of significant ecological and economic importance, prevalent in the tropics and subtropics of East Asia. Although previous efforts based on multiple molecular markers providing profound insights into species delimitation and phylogeography of Engelhardia, the maternal genome evolution and phylogeny of Engelhardia in Juglandaceae still need to be comprehensively evaluated. In this study, we sequenced plastomes from 14 samples of eight Engelhardia species and the outgroup Rhoiptelea chiliantha, and incorporated published data from 36 Juglandaceae and six outgroup species to test phylogenetic resolution. Moreover, comparative analyses of the plastomes were conducted to investigate the plastomes evolution of Engelhardia and the whole Juglandaceae family.ResultsThe 13 Engelhardia plastomes were highly similar in genome size, gene content, and order. They exhibited a typical quadripartite structure, with lengths from 161,069 bp to 162,336 bp. Three mutation hotspot regions (TrnK-rps16, ndhF-rpl32, and ycf1) could be used as effective molecular markers for further phylogenetic analyses and species identification. Insertion and deletion (InDels) may be an important driving factor for the evolution of plastomes in Juglandoideae and Engelhardioideae. A total of ten codons were identified as the optimal codons in Juglandaceae. The mutation pressure mostly contributed to shaping codon usage. Seventy-eight protein-coding genes in Juglandaceae experienced relaxed purifying selection, only rpl22 and psaI genes showed positive selection (Ka/Ks > 1). Phylogenetic results fully supported Engelhardia as a monophyletic group including two sects and the division of Juglandaceae into three subfamilies. The Engelhardia originated in the Late Cretaceous and diversified in the Late Eocene, and Juglandaceae originated in the Early Cretaceous and differentiated in Middle Cretaceous. The phylogeny and divergence times didn’t support rapid radiation occurred in the evolution history of Engelhardia.ConclusionOur study fully supported the taxonomic treatment of at the section for Engelhardia species and three subfamilies for Juglandaceae and confirmed the power of phylogenetic resolution using plastome sequences. Moreover, our results also laid the foundation for further studying the course, tempo and mode of plastome evolution of Engelhardia and the whole Juglandaceae family.

Arc building and maturation of the Lombok Island, East Sunda Arc

Intra-oceanic subduction zones are major sites of crust–mantle material exchange and crustal growth; however, the processes responsible for the magmatic evolution and transformation of nascent arcs into mature oceanic arcs with thicker crust are debated. We present mineral chemistry, zircon UPb age and Hf isotopic data, and whole-rock chemical and Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopic data for Cenozoic volcanic rocks on Lombok in the East Sunda Arc, Indonesia, to investigate their petrogenesis and arc maturation. SIMS zircon UPb analyses of lavas from southern Lombok yield an early Oligocene age of ∼30 Ma. The lavas can be divided into three groups based on their ages and geochemical characteristics: group I (late Eocene) and II (∼30 Ma) lavas from southern Lombok, and group III lavas (∼3–0 Ma) from northern Lombok. The lavas are characterized by a progressive enrichment in K2O and incompatible element contents, and NdHf isotopic compositions with time. Group I lavas are tholeiitic basalts with low K2O contents (0.15–0.17 wt%) and Indian-MORB like rare earth element (REE) patterns and NdHf isotopic compositions (εNd = +7.4; εHf = +14.5), enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, U, and K), and typical forearc basalt (FAB) geochemical characteristics. Group II lavas are low-K basaltic andesites to dacites that yield flat chondrite-normalized REE patterns [(La/Sm)N = 0.9–1.4], uniform initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7038–0.7042), and positive εNd(t) (+5.9 to +6.8) and εHf(t) (+13.9 to +14.4) values. Group III lavas are typically medium- to high-K calc-alkaline basalt to andesite and are enriched in light REEs [(La/Sm)N = 1.6–3.3] with uniform initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7038–0.7042) and slightly low εNd(t) (+3.9 to +5.4) and εHf(t) (+10.5 to +12.5) values. Progressive enrichment in incompatible element contents and NdHf isotopic compositions over time, from FAB to high-K calc-alkaline lavas, reflect the maturation of the East Sunda Arc. Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic mixing models, along with trace element ratios (e.g., Ba/Th, La/Yb, Th/Yb), suggest that increasing amounts of sediments were incorporated into the mantle sources of the magmas from group I (∼0%) to group II (<0.5%) and group III (0.5%–1.0%) lavas. Partial melting models show that the formation of group I and II lavas can be reproduced by high-degree (∼10%) partial melting of spinel peridotite, whereas the group III lavas were formed by low-degree (∼5%) partial melting of spinel peridotite. We propose that the evolution of Lombok arc magmas was controlled mainly by the fluxes of subducted slab material, along with decreasing degrees of partial melting as a result of crustal thickening over time.

The “underfilled trinity model” of foreland basins revisited: reality or myth?

The “underfilled trinity” model of foreland-basin stratigraphy was proposed based on the observation that the initial sedimentary stages along the western and northern front of the western and central Alps were represented by shallow-water carbonates (Calcaires à Nummulites) overlain by hemipelagic marls (Marnes Bleues) and capped by siliciclastic turbidites (Grès d’Annot). Subsequently, this model has been widely accepted and applied in foreland basins worldwide. We here re-investigated the Eocene-Oligocene sedimentary succession of the Western Alps to check its validity. Major geological features of this region include: i) the existence of a Cretaceous-Eocene unconformity spanning more than 25 Myr in the studied sections; ii) a virtually synchronous age of the Calcaires à Nummulites, Marnes Bleues, and Grès d’Annot formations across the Western Alps; iii) a long-term deepening-upward trend, from inner to outer ramp, documented by the Calcaires à Nummulites, followed by the pelagic Marnes Bleues and by the Grès d’Annot turbidites; iv) the provenance of the Grès d’Annot Formation from the Maures-Estérel Massif and/or Corsica-Sardinia block in the south, rather than from the Alpine orogen in the east. By integrating field observations, sedimentological, biostratigraphic, and provenance analyses, we found the Eocene “underfilled foreland” model too simplistic and inadequate to explain the basin evolution in the western Alpine region. Based on the alternative scenario proposed herein, the Annot and Barrême basins formed in the late Eocene (40-35 Ma) in an extensional/transtensional setting during a period of major change in tectonic stress fields across western Europe on the upper plate of the Apennine subduction.

A revision of the late early Eocene mammal faunas from Mas de Gimel and Naples (Montpellier, Southern France) and the description of a new theridomorph rodent

A revision of the late early Eocene mammal faunas from Mas de Gimel and Naples (Montpellier, Southern France) and the description of a new theridomorph rodent

Fracture stratigraphy in oil-rich shale of the Upper Xiaganchaigou Formation (upper Eocene), western Qaidam Basin

Natural fractures in wells from oil-rich shale of the Upper Xiaganchaigou Formation in Qaidam Basin, the largest Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the Tibetan Plateau, vary systematically by stratigraphic position, allowing reconstruction of fracture generation processes during regional tectonic deformation. Compacted fractures, layer-bounded fractures, and low-angle (or bed-parallel) fractures were widely identified in oil-rich shale cores obtained from vertical wells. The layer-bounded fractures can be subdivided into two sets: one prevalent in light-colored (low gamma-ray) stiff layers and arrested by dark-colored (high gamma-ray) compliant layers, the other set primarily confined to the dark-colored compliant layers. The strikes of layer-bounded fractures, revealed by horizontal well FMI logs, are dominantly N60°-80°E and N10°-30°E within the light and dark intervals respectively. These strikes are consistent with natural hydraulic fracturing of the light layers during the Oligocene and the dark layers during the Middle Miocene-Holocene, based on a regional anticlockwise rotation of the compressional strain orientation. The abutment of layer-bounded fractures against low-angle (or bed-parallel) fractures in dark layers implies that the low-angle fractures were hydraulically fractured under a vertical least compressive stress during the Early Miocene, which produced the most intense tectonic compression. Layer-bounded fractures generally remain unmineralized in the dark layers but were mineralized in the light layers, suggesting that fractures confined in light layers would not decrease the sealing capacity of the shale oil system and fractures confined in dark layers can increase the pore space of shale oil storage. The Oligocene and Early Miocene fractures represented mechanical flaws that affected the initiation of Middle Miocene-Holocene fractures, implying that all natural fractures may alter hydraulic fracture stimulations to some extent.

First Australian amber fossil of Podonominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the late Middle Eocene

A non-biting midge of the cosmopolitan family Chironomidae (Podonominae) is recorded in amber from the Anglesea Coal Measures, southeastern Australia. The new morphotype is likely a new species but is not formally described here because of insufficient diagnostic character states. To date, only five amber deposits in the Northern Hemisphere have yielded fossils of Podonominae, making our discovery the first amber-hosted representative of the group from the Southern Hemisphere. The single adult male individual has been assigned to the subfamily Podonominae, and shows similarities to the Austrochlus cluster group including small size, the lack of veins R2 + 3, and the distally located cross-vein m-cu. Synchrotron X-ray microtomographic imaging reveals some internal structures of the wing musculature and brain capsule, highlighting the taphonomic significance of this unique specimen. Maria Blake* [ maria.paulsen@monash.edu ], School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, 9 Rainforest Walk, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia Enrique Peñalver [ e.penalver@igme.es ], Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, CSIC, Valencia, Spain Jeffrey D. Stilwell [ jeffrey.stilwell@monash.edu ], School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, 9 Rainforest Walk, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia, and Australian Museum, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia Joseph J. Bevitt [ jbv@ansto.gov.au ], Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, New South Wales, Australia Daniel J. Bickel [ Dan.Bickel@australian.museum ] Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.

Fish otoliths from the basal Oligocene Viborg Formation in Denmark

The Viborg Formation is the lowest part of the early Oligocene in Denmark and represents the upper part of nannoplankton zone NP21. Here we describe a small assemblage of otoliths from the Viborg Formation obtained from five localities that yielded 88 specimens of nine species. The composition of the otolith-based f ish species is transitional between the terminal Eocene (Priabonian) faunas from the Latdorf Formation of northern Germany and its equivalents and the middle and upper Rupelian. The Viborg otolith association witnessed the first arrivals of the subsequently dominant Gadidae (Trisopterus elegans) and the migration of certain species of the merlucciid genus Palaeogadus from the Eastern Paratethys through the Polish gateway. Furthermore, the otoliths from the Viborg Formation f ill an important gap in the previous knowledge of late Eocene and early Oligocene otolith associations in the North Sea Basin and thus facilitate some refinement of their biostratigraphic usage.

New fossil woods from the middle Eocene climate optimum of north-central Turkey

The middle Eocene climate optimum, a crucial greenhouse event in Earth’s life history, occurred approximately 40 Ma. Fossil wood identifications of middle Eocene age reveal important evidence for the terrestrial tropical/subtropical conditions during this period. The purpose of the present study is to identify new fossil woods from the middle Eocene of north-central Turkey and to evaluate the paleoclimate and paleovegetational history of the north-central Turkey based on new records. Seven fossil woods were collected from the middle Eocene Göynücek Volcanics of the Çekerek Formation (Sarıkaya village, close to Çekerek, Yozgat). Two new species Apocynoxylon umut-tuncii Akkemik and Mantzouka, n. sp., and Ficoxylon anatolica Akkemik and Mantzouka, n. sp., are described, together with two more coniferous species Pinuxylon cf. P. tarnocziense (Tuzśon, 1901) Greguss, 1954 and Juniperoxylon cf. J. acarcaeaAkkemik, 2021a. Although dealing with a rather low number of fossil wood findings, indistinct boundaries of the tree rings, low xeromorphy ratios and high conductivity values in these two new fossil angiosperm species and less visible and indistinct boundaries in the two fossil coniferous species may reflect the warm, humid tropical conditions of the middle Eocene of north-central Turkey. The results are consistent with our former paleoecological evaluation based on the fossil woods including Actinodaphnoxylon zileensis Akkemik and Mantzouka in Akkemik et al., 2021 from the same geological unit and Palmoxylon sabaloidesGreguss, 1969 from the same area.

Lutetian–Bartonian (Middle Eocene) micropalaeontology, biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of the Mengen Coal Basin, Northwest Türkiye (Turkey)

This study focuses on the upper Lutetian–lower Bartonian Tokmaklar Formation in the Mengen Basin of Northwest Türkiye (Turkey), examining various aspects such as biostratigraphy, palaeoecology, and isotope data (δ18O and δ13C), providing insights into the geological history and environmental conditions during this interval. Moreover, the study incorporates coal petrography on four samples to explore a potential correlation between the coalification process and the preservation of palynomorphs. The formation is informally divided into two distinct categories: a coal-bearing sequence positioned at the base of the formation and a coal-free sequence above it. However due to dense vegetation and soil cover in the area, the availability of suitable outcrops for measured sections and obtaining samples is severely limited. Therefore, we relied on drilling data from Turkish Coal Enterprises (TCE) for the purpose of coal exploration, as well as two partial sections (Ender and Çorak) from underground mining. Microapalaeontological evidences involving benthic foraminiferans, ostracods, and palynomorphs, along with isotope data (δ18O and δ13C), suggest that the Tokmaklar Formation was deposited as a result of a local transgressive process during the late Lutetian–early Bartonian. Furthermore, palynological data, particularly the existence of mangroves such as Nypa, lepidocaryoid palm and Acrostichum aureum, coupled with quantitative palaeoclimate analysis, the negative δ18O values, and the lower δ13C values indicate a warm, probably tropical climate under high rainfall.

Unravelling controls on multi‐source‐to‐sink systems: A stratigraphic forward model of the early–middle Cenozoic of the SW Barents Sea

AbstractSource‐to‐sink dynamics are subjected to complex interactions between erosion, sediment transfer and deposition, particularly in an evolving tectonic and climatic setting. Here we use stratigraphic forward modelling (SFM) to predict the basin‐fill architecture of a multi‐source‐to‐sink system based on a state‐of‐the‐art numerical approach. The modelling processes consider key source‐to‐sink parameters such as water discharge, sediment load and grain size to simulate various sedimentary processes and transport mechanisms reflecting the dynamic interplay between erosion in the catchment area, subsidence, deposition and filling of the basin. The Cenozoic succession along the SW Barents Shelf margin provides a key area to examine controls on source‐to‐sink systems along a transform margin that developed during the opening of the North Atlantic when Greenland and Eurasian plates were separated (ca. 55 Ma onwards). Moreover, the gradual cooling which culminated in major glaciations in the northern hemisphere during the Quaternary (ca. 2.7 Ma), has affected the spatio‐temporal evolution of the sediment routing along the western Barents Shelf margin. This study aims to characterize the relative importance of different source areas within the source‐to‐sink framework through SFM. In the early Eocene, the SW Barents Shelf experienced a relatively equal sediment delivery from three principal source areas: (i) Greenland to the north, (ii) the Stappen High to the east, representing a local source terrain, and (iii) a major southern source (Fennoscandia). In the middle Eocene, our best‐fit modelling scenario suggests that the northern and the local eastern sources dominated over the southern source, collectively supplying large amounts of sand into the basin as evidenced by the submarine fans in Sørvestsnaget Basin. In the Oligocene (ca. 33 Ma) and Miocene (ca. 23 Ma), significant amounts of sediments were sourced from the east due to shelf‐wide uplift. Finally, this study highlights the dynamic nature and controls of sediment transfer in multi‐source‐to‐sink systems and demonstrates the potential of SFM to unravel tectonic and climatic signals in the stratigraphic record.

Mineral chemistry and garnet U-Pb dating in the Bizmişen iron skarn deposit, Erzincan, East-Central Türkiye

In Bizmişen area, Middle Eocene (46.3–42.0 Ma) plutonic rocks (quartz diorite) were intruded into Triassic-Cretaceous limestones and Upper Cretaceous ophiolites and caused to skarn zones containing prograde (garnet, clinopyroxene) and retrograde (amphibole, epidote, calcite, magnetite, phlogopite, serpentinite and chlorite) minerals. Due to contact relationships of quartz diorites with both serpentinized ultramafic rocks and limestone blocks, the mineralogical associations represent calcic (grossular/andradite, amphibole, chlorite and epidote) as well as magnesian (diopside, serpentine, phlogopite, talc) skarns. During the skarnization process, garnet, diopside, epidote, scapolite and amphibole minerals developed in the endoskarn zone within quartz-diorite, and diopside, tremolite, serpentine, phlogopite, talc, Mg-chlorite and calcite minerals developed in the exoskarn zones in ophiolites (serpantinite and listwaenite) and limestones. Skarn and magmatic clinopyroxenes in serpentinized ultramafic hosted exoskarn zone have a compositional range of Wo45-53En35-53Fs0–15 and Wo24-51En38-76Fs0–11, and classified as diopside and augite, respectively. The end members of garnets are Adr46–54Grs43–50Prp1–2Sps1.1–5 in amphibole-epidote-calcite-garnet skarn in endoskarn zone, whereas Adr40–93Grs4–57Prp0.2–2.3Sps0.9–2 in epidote-calcite-garnet skarn in exoskarn zone, and classified as andradite-rich grandite garnets. FeO, MnO and partially MgO contents gradually increase from the edges to the center in zoned garnet grains. Amphibole compositions represent to calcic (Ca >1 atoms per formula unit) group (pargasite) and indicate the high oxygen fugacity conditions which caused the increase in the rate of magnetite crystallization. Al2O3 and FeO contents of epidotes range 23.68–27.63 and 9.10–14.45 wt%, respectively, correspond to composition of epidote and clinozoisite. The iron oxide contents (FeO, wt%) of magnetites change from 91.72 to 98.36 correspond to structural Fe3+1.88–1.97 and Fe2+0.91–1.0 values. The contents of Ti, divalent and trivalent metal cations correspond to ulvospinel-magnetite compositional line at the magnetite end-member. The mineral chemistry of skarn minerals shows similarities to those of most iron skarn deposits. Garnet U-Pb ages (46.95–45.63 Ma) are consistent with the cooling ages of the Bizmişen pluton. The prograde stage of skarn should be occurred syn-intrusion, whereas retrograde stage should be developed later than youngest garnet age (45.6 Ma) and before the oldest late stage argillic alteration (37.5 Ma).

Shallow-water whale-fall communities: Evidence from the middle–late Eocene basilosaurid whale bones, Wadi El-Hitan, Fayum, Egypt

The present study examines the basilosaurid whale bone specimens collected from the Sandouk El-Borneta section, Wadi El-Hitan (Valley of Whales), Fayum, Egypt. These specimens are embedded in highly fossiliferous calcareous sandstones of the middle Eocene Gehannam and the upper Eocene Birket Qarun formations. These whale bones display some post-mortem alterations, representing good signs of at least three distinct stages in what is called the whale fall. The co-occurrence of shark, ray, and crocodile fossil specimens with the examined whale bones may indicate the first mobile-scavenger stage. Borings of the siboglinid polychaete genus Osedax represent the most common worm type that deeply bioeroded the whale bones, contributing to their rapid degradation, and representing the enrichment-opportunist stage. These fossil traces of the bone-eating worm Osedax represent the first record in the Eocene Epoch regionally and inter-regionally, filling the gap between the Late Cretaceous and the Oligocene occurrences. Subsequently, the studied whale bones served as hard substrates for some calcareous tube-dwelling encrusting polychaetes, balanoid barnacles, sheet‐like cheilostome bryozoans, and scleractinian corals. Furthermore, a bioerosion structure produced by polychaete annelids was also observed. The presence of these sclerobionts assemblage confirms the well-developed final reef stage with prolonged exposure and colonisation of these whale bones prior to final burial. Based on the recorded post-mortem alterations, together with other sedimentological and palaeontological data, the studied whale bones were deposited in a shallow open marine bay to sheltered gulf environments, which were characterised by low depositional energy, low to moderate rate of sedimentation, and high surface water productivity.

Ypresian–Lutetian platform evolution in the Indus Basin, Southwestern Pakistan: An interplay between local and regional tectonic changes

The present investigation aims to analyze the depositional environment, sequence stratigraphy, and geochemistry of the Early–Middle Eocene succession in the Laki Range of the Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. The sequence is subsequently correlated with other sections within the Southern Indus Basin, Central Indus Basin, Upper Indus Basin, and Hazara Basin in Pakistan. For this study, the Lakhra and Laki formations were sampled from four sections in the Laki Range. Based on detailed outcrop observations, eight lithofacies were identified including four clastic lithofacies (CLF-1 to 4) and four limestone lithofacies (LLF-1 to 4). Similarly, based on detailed petrographic examination, seven microfacies were identified in limestone units. Considering the biotic paleoecology, facies texture, and chemical composition, depositional environments were assigned to the microfacies and lithofacies. All the microfacies, and the shale and sandstone lithofacies (CLF-1 and CLF-4) represent shallow inner to deeper outer-shelf settings whereas the other two lithofacies (CLF-2 and CLF-3) represent deltaic and tidal flat settings, respectively. All the microfacies and lithofacies information was used to establish sequence stratigraphy for the studied strata. The top of the Lakhra Formation and the whole of the Laki Formation in the Bara Nala Section (BNS) represent two complete, and two partial, third-order sequences, further divided into fourth order and small-scale cycles. The sequence's development is primarily influenced by regional and local tectonics. The regional correlation of the Indus Basin and Hazara Basin indicates that the regional basin's bathymetry and resultant depositional sequence were significantly influenced by the Himalayan Orogeny. The regional depositional pattern indicates that subsequent to India–Asia collision, the closure of eastern Tethys took place in a temporal succession from northwestern to the southwestern parts of the Indus Basin. In the Central Indus Basin, marine environments persisted until the Priabonian Stage (SBZ20) compared to those of the Upper (SBZ11–12) and Southern (SBZ13–14) Indus basins. This study offers valuable insights into both the local and regional depositional frameworks and the influence of local and regional tectonics on a carbonate platform evolution.

Heterogeneous occurrence of evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia: Evidence from plant fossils

Evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various disciplines. In this study, we explored the occurrence of East Asian EBLFs from a palaeobotanical perspective. By collecting plant fossils from four regions in East Asia, we have established the evolutionary history of EBLFs. Through floral similarity analysis and paleoclimatic reconstruction, we have revealed a diverse spatio-temporal pattern for the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia. The earliest occurrence of EBLFs in southern China can be traced back to the middle Eocene, followed by southwestern China during the late Eocene–early Oligocene. Subsequently, EBLFs emerged in Japan during the early Oligocene and eventually appeared in central-eastern China around the Miocene. Paleoclimate simulation results suggest that the precipitation of wettest quarter (PWetQ, mm) exceeding 600 mm is crucial for the occurrence of EBLFs. Furthermore, the heterogeneous occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia is closely associated with the evolution of the Asian Monsoon. This study provides new insights into the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia.

The first mydid fly (Diptera: Mydidae) from the Paleocene maar of Menat (France)

AbstractPaleomydas menatensis gen. et sp. nov., the third known fossil mydid fly, is described from the Paleocene of Menat (France). The fossil fly is remarkable in its very broad hind femur, a rather infrequent character in this family, which is mainly present in the Neotropical genera Mapinguari and Ceriomydas, and to a less pronounced degree, in the Nearctic genus Phyllomydas. But the lack of information on the antenna and genitalia structures forbids us to specify its relationships within the Mydidae more precisely. Thus we propose to attribute it to a new genus. The systematic affiliation of the late Eocene Mydas miocenicus from Florissant is discussed. Because of the rarity of Diptera in the insect assemblage of the Menat outcrop, the present discovery could suggest that this nowadays rather rare family was more frequent during the Paleocene than today.

A new Trachyaspis-like pan-cheloniid turtle from the Bartonian of Kazakhstan

The article describes a fossil pan-cheloniid Protrachyaspis shorymensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Karakeshi, Kert, Kuyulus, and Monata localities of the Shorym Formation (Bartonian, middle Eocene), as well as unknown localities of the Mangyshlak Peninsula, Kazakhstan. In addition, the shell bones of small pan-cheloniids from the Kuyulus and Tuzbair localities of the Shorym Formation with some traits of P. shorymensis are described, which probably represent remains of juvenile specimens of this species. The new taxon is characterized by a number of features rarely found in pan-cheloniids, including serrated dentaries, distally displaced lateral process of the humerus, and deeply sculptured external carapace surface. These features indicate a likely herbivorous diet and pelagic lifestyle of the new pan-cheloniid. According to the results of the cladistic analysis, P. shorymensis is sister to the Neogene species Trachyaspis lardyi Meyer, 1843, from which it differs in the absence of ridges on the carapace in adult individuals, the configuration of the scutes on the parietal bone, and the structure of the plastron. The stratigraphic gap between the appearance of P. shorymensis and its sister T. lardyi suggests a long ghost lineage of members of this clade throughout the Bartonian – Aquitanian (ca. 20.7 million years) preceding the appearance of T. lardyi. In most trees, the P. shorymensis + T. lardyi clade is located within the Chelonini clade, which, taking into account the middle Eocene age of P. shorymensis, indicates the early divergence of crown cheloniids, previously established based on molecular data. The new taxon is similar to the fragmentary remains of pan-cheloniids with a sculptured external surface of the shell, previously described from four localities of the upper part of the Buchak and lower part of Kiev formations in the south of European Russia and Ukraine, which makes it possible to determine these materials as cf. Protrachyaspis sp., and probably extends the appearance of the P. shorymensis + T. lardyi clade back to the middle Lutetian.

PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE CENOZOIC SUCCESSION IN THE ZAGROS OF SW IRAN: A SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC APPROACH

The Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Zagros records the ongoing collision between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates and the closure of NeoTethys. A Paleogene NW‐SE trending foreland basin was inherited from a Late Cretaceous precursor. Widespread progradation into the foredeep was a feature of both margins which, allied to ongoing tectonism, had by the late Eocene led to the narrowing and subsequent division of the foredeep into the Lurestan – Khuzestan and Lengeh Troughs, separated by the northward continuation of the rejuvenated Qatar‐Fars Arch. This sub‐division strongly influenced subsequent deposition and the petroleum geology of the area. In addition, the diachronous nature of the Arabian – Eurasian collision led to strong diachroneity in lithostratigraphic units along the length of the Zagros. Hence its petroleum geology is best understood within a regional sequence stratigraphic framework. This study identifies three tectono‐megasequences (TMS 10, TMS 11a, TMS 11b) and multiple depositional sequences.The Cenozoic contains a world class hydrocarbon province with prolific oil reservoirs in the Oligo‐Miocene Asmari Formation sealed by the evaporite‐dominated Gachsaran Formation, mostly contained within giant NW‐SE trending “whaleback” anticlines concentrated in the Dezful Embayment. Reservoirs in the SW are dominantly siliciclastic or comprise mixed siliciclastics and carbonates, whereas those to the east and NE are dominated by fractured carbonates. There remains untested potential in stratigraphic traps, especially in deeperwater sandstone reservoirs deposited along the SW margin of the foredeep.Late Miocene to Pliocene charge to the Asmari reservoirs was mostly from Aptian – Albian Kazhdumi Formation source rocks. In some fields, an additional component was from organic‐rich late Eocene to earliest Oligocene Pabdeh Formation source rocks confined to the narrowing Lurestan – Khuzestan Trough. Where mature, the latter source rock is also a potential unconventional reservoir target, although the prospective area is limited due to recent uplift and erosion. Deeper Jurassic source rocks contributed to the Cheshmeh Khush field in Dezful North. Silurian source rocks charged gas‐bearing structures in the Bandar Abbas region.

Evaluation of Reservoir Properties of Sylhet Limestone of Jaintia Group, North-Eastern Sylhet, Bangladesh

The Sylhet Limestone in the Bengal Basin, formed in the Eocene Epoch and known for its fossil content, is significant in understanding the reservoir characteristics. Despite exposure in Jaflong and Takerghat of the Bengal Basin, little research has been conducted on reservoir characteristics. This study aimed to comprehensively examine the Sylhet Limestone Formation, encompassing its crystalline upper and fossiliferous lower sections. It utilized field investigations and laboratory analyses to address the gaps of sporadic or insufficient earlier studies. A thorough examination of thin sections from the Sylhet Limestone, exposed in the Dauki River area, provides insights into the textural and mineralogical attributes and the presence of skeletal fossils within the limestone. Based on the analysis of thin sections, the limestones are categorized as Rudestones and Packstones. The porosity observed in the exposed rocks ranges from 5% to 12%, with most pores associated with interconnected fractures and joints. However, thin-section studies also indicate evidence of diagenetic recrystallization and calcite cementation. Hence, closely spaced, interconnected joints and fractures filled with diagenetic calcite might deteriorate the reservoir quality. Notably, this limestone exhibits fossilized specimens such as Nummulite, Discocyclina, Alveolina, Assilina, and Ostracoda, among others. The combination of the fossil assemblage, limestone texture, and composition strongly suggests that this limestone formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment with minimal sediment input under a warm and humid climate. The petrographic analysis of the limestones concludes that the upper portion of the formation is fine-grained while the lower part is coarse-grained. The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 12(2), 2023, P 119-137