Late Eocene Age Research Articles

Sedimentary Facies, Palynology, and Organic Geochemistry of Eocene Kalumpang Formation in Lariang and Karama Areas, West Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Kalumpang Formation was deposited in a delta plain setting. A Middle to Late Eocene age (Proxapertites operculatus zone) was inferred from palynological analysis, with a paleoenvironment in a coastal plain setting with a strong terrestrial influence. Samples from the Kalumpang Formation indicate a marginal to early mature stage for hydrocarbon generation. It is mostly composed of gas-prone to oil and gas-prone Type III kerogen facies. The biomarker character of both the rock and oil samples suggests a terrestrial origin, with a significant contribution of estuarine or bay organic material. The oil derives from a non-carbonate lithology, while the rock samples are from carbonate/calcareous shale origin. The abundance of oleanane compound and C30 resins suggests higher plant angiosperm input of Late Cretaceous or younger age for both the rock and the oil samples. The oil seep contains more abundant oleananes compared to the carbonaceous mudstone of the Kalumpang Formation. This suggests that the oil originated from more marine facies than the rock samples, which were deposited in a delta plain setting. This study demonstrated the agreement of depositional environment interpretation and age assessment between lithofacies, palynological, and organic geochemistry analysis.

Constraints from lamprophyre petrogenesis on the timing of Eocene lithospheric thinning and associated rifting of Borneo and Sulawesi

The petrogenetic history of well characterised magmatic rocks may contain invaluable information of paleo-lithospheric thickness and structure that can inform on tectonic evolution. Petrographically distinctive rocks, such as lamprophyres, provide temporal and spatial constraints to build, assess, and verify tectonic models.An alkaline lamprophyre dyke that intrudes the rift-related sediments of the Eocene Tanjung Formation of the Senakin Peninsula in South Kalimantan, Indonesia has been investigated using petrology, whole rock geochemistry and Ar-Ar geochronology.The Senakin lamprophyre dyke is mostly geochemically homogenous but petrographically stratified with vesicle free monchiquite alkaline lamprophyre mineralogy at the base and an amygdale bearing kaersutite phenocryst free upper zone. The major and trace element chemistry is consistent with an intra-plate Ocean Island Basalt like affinity. 40Ar/39Ar dating of hornblende and groundmass aliquots indicates an emplacement age of 37.45 ± 0.10 Ma (2σ), which is consistent with the Late Eocene age of the Tanjung Formation derived from microfossil analysis.The petrology and geochemistry of the Senakin lamprophyre dyke is consistent with magma genesis at > 2GPa beneath a thick lithosphere followed by fractional crystallisation at Moho depths equivalent to 0.5–0.8 GPa. This indicates a much thicker southeastern Kalimantan paleo-lithosphere. Lamprophyre magmatism was initiated by lithospheric extension associated with the opening of the Makassar Strait and also regional thermal upwelling. This extension continued to thin the lithosphere to its current thickness equivalent to 0.5 GPa.

Reconnaissance Basement Geology and Tectonics of North Zealandia

AbstractNew rock dredge samples supply key information to establish the tectonic and geological framework of the northern two‐thirds of the 95% submerged Zealandia continent. The R/V Investigator voyage IN2016T01 to the Fairway Ridge, Coral Sea, obtained poorly sorted poly‐lithologic pebbly to cobbly sandstones, well sorted fine grained sandstones, mudstones, bioclastic limestones, and basaltic lavas. Post‐cruise analytical work comprised petrography, whole rock geochemical and Sr and Nd isotopic analyses, and U‐Pb zircon, Rb‐Sr, and Ar‐Ar geochronology. A Fairway Ridge cobbly sandstone has a ∼95 Ma (early Late Cretaceous) depositional age; two biotite granite cobbles are 111 ± 1 and 128 ± 1 Ma in age, and some volcanic pebbles are also likely Early Cretaceous. Fairway Ridge basalts have intraplate alkaline chemistry and are of Late Eocene age (∼40–36 Ma). By analogy with South Zealandia, we interpret strong positive continental magnetic anomalies of North Zealandia to mainly result from Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic intraplate basalts, many of them rift‐related lavas. A new basement geological map of North Zealandia shows the position of the Mesozoic Gondwana magmatic arc axis (Median Batholith) and other major geological units. This study completes onland and offshore reconnaissance geological mapping of the entire 5 Mkm2 Zealandia continent.

Precise U-Pb dating of incremental calcite slickenfiber growth: Evidence for far-field Eocene fold reactivation in Ireland

Abstract The Variscan orogen in southern Ireland and Britain is characterized by an intensely deformed, E-W–trending fold-and-thrust belt. Farther north in Ireland, the Carboniferous North Dublin Basin exhibits tight chevron folds and kinematically linked en echelon vein sets, along with bedding-parallel veins with slickenfibers. This deformation is assumed to be Variscan in age, despite lying 150 km north of the supposed Variscan “front.” The laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb dating of these calcite veins undertaken for this study showed that relict Variscan U-Pb ages are very poorly preserved. Instead, late Eocene ages were obtained from many calcite veins, including fold hinge breccias and bedding-parallel slickenfiber veins associated with N-S shortening (flexural slip). Also, U-Pb ages from one bedding-parallel vein showed protracted flexural slip over ~5 m.y. during late Eocene times. Detection of the growth domains within this vein was facilitated by the imaging approach to LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating adopted in this study, which can identify age-homogeneous domains by integrating spatial U-Pb isotopic information with maps of petrogenetically diagnostic major and trace elements. The late Eocene fold reactivation phase was hitherto undetected on the Irish mainland, but regional Cenozoic N-directed shortening has been documented in Mesozoic–Cenozoic sequences of the southern Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, southern England, and the Paris Basin. We attribute late Eocene fold reactivation to far-field, N-directed shortening associated with the Alpine/Pyrenean orogenies. It is likely that many Variscan or Caledonian folds, particularly in southern onshore Ireland, were reactivated during Eocene–Oligocene shortening, which has not been recognized to date because of the lack of post-Variscan markers (e.g., dikes, Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover sequences).

Geological heritage of Valerian Domger in the Middle Dnipro Region


 
 
 The paper looks at the significance of the scientfic geological studies of the famous geologist Valerian Domger and their importance for the development of geotourism in the region and Ukraine in general. We analyzed his works in the historical aspect from the beginning of his work as a geological practitioner to his becoming a reseracher of stratigraphy, paleontology and lithology of sedimentary deposits and geology of Precambrian formations of the Ukrainian Shield. We focused on the geological routes he took when travelling along the lines of railroad construction, including Orenburg, Ural, Mariupol (Donetsk) and Katerynoslav, analyzing the conclusions on the structures of those territories, as well as perspectives of finding natural resources in them. We characterized the most important routes V. Domger travelled when he was conducting geological surveys of the 47th sheet of the ten-versta map on the area of about 13 thou versts in Verhniodniprovsk and Katerynoslav powiets of Katerynoslav governorate, and also Kherson and Oleksandria powiets of Kherson governorate, which led to his most notable discoveries, namely the Nikopol deposits of manganese ores, a unique location of the Mandrykivka fossil fauna of the Upper Eocene and others. The achievements of V. Domger as a paleontologist were ahead of his time and – despite attempts of some notable researchers to refute the Late Eocene age of the Mandrykivka layers, the first identifications of the researcher were accurate and have been convingcingly confirmed by modernday studies. Despite their high popularity, the layers had no status in the stratigraphic resarch until 2000. The Commission of the Stratigraphic Classification and Nomenclature of National Stratigraphy Committee of Ukraine had examined the application from the author of this article regarding the Mandrykivka layers and recognized them as an individual stratigraphic unit (layers with a geographic name). For the first time, we noted the importance of the V. Domger’s routes and the outcrops he described when creating the data base of those geological heritage objects, their further inclusion to the Nature-Protection Fund of Ukraine and their use in the development of the region’s geotourism.
 
 

Plant Megafossils, Palynomorphs, and Paleoenvironment from the Late Middle to Late Eocene Burnaby Mountain Flora, Huntingdon Formation, British Columbia, Canada

Premise of research. The Eocene fossil flora of the area around Vancouver, British Columbia, is poorly known despite work beginning in the 1890s to 1920s. The floristic character of the previously unstudied Burnaby Mountain flora from the Huntingdon Formation in British Columbia is reconstructed using plant megafossils and palynology. This site offers insight into the terrestrial vegetation and paleoclimate during the late middle to late Eocene of the Pacific Northwest of North America in a coastal setting during a global cooling trend.Methodology. Megaflora and microflora were identified, and the combined flora was compared with that of coeval floras from northwestern Washington. Paleoclimate was reconstructed from leaf morphology using the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program, leaf margin analysis, and leaf area analysis. A probabilistic nearest-living-relative approach was used to reconstruct paleoclimate independently of leaf morphology, using taxonomic identifications from both mega- and microfossils. These data were combined in an ensemble approach.Pivotal results. The Burnaby Mountain fossil flora is late middle Eocene to late Eocene in age and shares key plant taxa with the coeval Upper Ravenian flora of the Puget Group and the upper Chumstick Formation of northwestern Washington. The fossil flora contained a mix of subtropical and temperate forest elements, including rare palm and possible cycad leaf fragments, rare conifer pollen, and a diversity of broad-leaved trees.Conclusions. The reconstructed paleoclimate suggests humid warm-temperate to marginally subtropical conditions in coastal British Columbia during the late middle Eocene to late Eocene. An ensemble paleoclimate approach provided a most parsimonious mean annual temperature estimate of 16.2°C±3.1°C for the Burnaby Mountain fossils and mean annual precipitation of 134±56 cm. A modern climatic analog is present on the East Coast of the United States in North Carolina, where palms are part of the native flora.

Foraminifera of the Eocene Shitakara Formation in eastern Hokkaido, with the designation of neotype specimens of Yoshida (1957)

Forty-three species belonging to thirty-seven genera of benthic foraminifera were differentiated from the Eocene Shitakara Formation in the eastern part of the Kushiro Coalfield, eastern Hokkaido. The foraminiferal assemblages show upward transgression from the inner to outer sublittoral condition. They contain abundant agglutinated and calcareous hyaline benthic species, including Labrospira crassiformis, Haplophragmoides subamakusaensis, and Cribroelphidium sorachiense, indicating similarity to the Eocene fauna in central Hokkaido. Two planktonic species Chiloguembelina ototara and Tenuitella insolita also indicate a late Eocene age. Neotype specimens of Cyclammina pacifica var. kushiroensis, Nonion kushiroense, and Nonion sorachiense var. konbumoriense described by Yoshida (1957) have been designated as replacements for holotype specimens that were lost in a fire in May 1965. A taxonomical reexamination based on the neotypes and topotypes indicates that Cyclammina pacifica var. kushiroensis is a distinct species, whereas Nonion kushiroense and Nonion sorachiense var. konbumoriense are junior synonyms of Cribroelphidium sorachiense (Asano 1954). All foraminiferal taxa are illustrated with taxonomical notes.

Geochemistry and geochronology of intrusive units in the Suyoc epithermal deposit: Constraints on magma fertility in the Mankayan Mineral District, Philippines

The Mankayan Mineral District in northern Luzon, Philippines is host to world-class Cu-Au hydrothermal deposits such as the Far Southeast porphyry copper deposit and the Lepanto, Victoria, and Teresa epithermal deposits. It also hosts the Suyoc epithermal prospect in the southern portion of the district. This study focuses on the petrography, whole rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry and U-Pb dating of the three massive batholitic intrusive units (gabbro-diabase basement, tonalite-granodiorite, and hornblende quartz diorite) in Suyoc. U-Pb dating results reveal that the tonalite is Late Eocene in age (37.20 ± 4.70 Ma), while the hornblende quartz diorite was dated 3.18 ± 0.77 Ma (Middle Pliocene). The gabbro-diabase exhibits tholeiitic signature while the tonalite-granodiorite and hornblende quartz diorite are calc-alkaline. Trace element plots for the three host rocks indicate formation in a subduction setting. Furthermore, discrimination diagrams point to an adakitic character for the younger hornblende quartz diorite and typical arc rock signatures for the older gabbro and tonalite-granodiorite. The results indicate that hydrothermal mineralization is attributed to the hornblende quartz diorite, which coincides with the Pliocene mineralization recognized in the Mankayan Mineral District.

Biostratigraphy, palaeoecology, and palaeobiogeography of the Middle–Late Eocene ostracods, north‐west Fayoum area, Egypt

The present study focuses principally on the late Middle Eocene–early Late Eocene ostracods from two successions (Garet Umm Rigl section and Qasr El Sagha sections), in the northwestern portion of Fayoum area, Egypt. Stratigraphically, the studied successions are classified into three formations (from base to top), the Gehannam, Birket Qarun, and Qasr El Sagha (Temple Member). The recorded ostracod assemblage contains 33 species belonging to 20 genera and 9 families. According to their stratigraphic ranges, three local biozones are recognized, Asymmetricythere yousefi–Loxoconcha pseudopunctatella, Reticulina heluanensis–Leguminocythereis sadeki, and Trachyleberis nodosus nodosulcatus–Ruggeria (Keijella) glabella. The comparison of the proposed biozones with their equivalents inside Egypt denotes a Middle–Late Eocene age for the studied sections. Based on the character of investigated ostracods, three ecozones are distinguished. An inner–outer neritic environment is suggested for the first ecozone, inner‐middle neritic conditions for the second, while shallow water conditions are proposed for the third ecozone. In addition, this paper represents an attempt to detect the palaeobiogeographic provinces of Eocene ostracods by means of multivariate analyses (principle component analysis, Q‐mode cluster analysis and similarity index). These analyses are applied on a matrix composed of some selected Eocene species from 10 regions located at the southern Tethys and western Africa. The results identify three distinctive provinces, North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt), the Middle East (Jordan and Israel) and West Africa (Senegal, Togo, Ivory Coast and Nigeria). The distinctive affinities between these provinces suggests ostracod migration along the southern Tethys during the Eocene age.

The earliest <i>Ancistrolepis</i> (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) and its geologic implications

The buccinid gastropod Ancistrolepis carolineae Squires, 1984 is the earliest known and shallowestmarine species belonging to the extant genus Ancistrolepis Dall, 1895, which is endemic to the NorthPacific region. This species is of late early Eocene (Ypresian Stage) age and is about 7 million years older than the previously oldest known record (late Eocene) of the genus. This rare species occursat several localities in a 1-m thick bed (“Stewart bed”) of fossiliferous shallow-marine sandstone within the Llajas Formation, on the north side of Simi Valley, Ventura County, southern California.The “Stewart bed” contains a rich fauna of subtropical mollusks and other invertebrates, which lived just below effective wave base, at the distal edge of a braid delta, immediately adjacent to an upper bathyal prodelta/slope environment, where a rich microfauna of calcareous nannofossils and benthic foraminifers lived. Dispersal of A. carolineae would have been either via drifting of buoyant “pouches” containing its non-planktonic eggs or by rafting of its adults in buoyant plant material debris. The dispersal of A. carolineae northward coincided with the cooling of the NorthPacific waters during the late Eocene, thereby providing the opportunity for Ancistrolepis to adapt to living in bathyal waters and also to living in association, in some cases, with chemosynthetic (methane) cold seeps.

The macroscopic Paleo-pedogenic features and their significance in deducing the continuity of sedimentation and the climatic changes during the Eocene/Oligocene transition, Dur At Talah sequence, central Libya

The studied sequence is 150 m thick of siliciclastic strata, well-exposed as a prominent escarpment that extends along 25°:45ʺN at the southern flank of Sirt Basin and dated as of Late Eocene age. It is built up from the base to top by three sedimentary units: (i) very fine sandstones and mudstones called New Idam Unit (NIU), (ii) medium-grained sandstones called Lower Sarir Unit (LSU) and (iii) very coarse to microconglomeratic sandstones called Upper Sarir Unit (USU). Pedogenic modifications which are differentially recurring from the base to the top of this sequence have not been paid sufficient attention in the previous studies. This study benefited the widespread macroscopic pedogenic features, introduced them and discussed their usefulness for estimating the continuity of the sedimentation and thus inferring the paleoclimate responsible for their formation.The exposed pedogenic features characteristic of each unit are described and then discussed in light of the documented modern and ancient analogues and case studies in order to comprehend the depositional continuity through time. The discussion is passed via analysing the prevailed climate because it is the fundamental factor controlling the formation of these features. Ultimately, this research allowed, for the first time, the recognition of a major (end Eocene) unconformity embedded within the sequence. This is certainly of interest for the hydrocarbon exploration in and around the basin.

New fossil wasp species from the earliest Eocene Fur Formation has its closest relatives in late Eocene ambers (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pherhombinae)

Darwin wasps (Ichneumonidae) are one of the most spe­cies-rich insect families but also one of the most understud­ied ones, both in terms of their extant and extinct diversity. We here use morphometrics of wing veins and an integrative Bayesian analysis to place a new rock fossil species from the Danish Fur Formation (~54 Ma) in the tree of Darwin wasps. The new species, Pherhombus parvulus n. sp., is placed firmly in Pherhombinae, an extinct subfamily so far only known from Baltic and Rovno-Ukranian ambers, which are estimated to be 34–48 Ma and 34–38 Ma, respectively. Our phylogenetic analysis recovers a subfamily clade within the higher Ophioniformes formed by Pherhombinae, Tow­nesitinae, and Hybrizontinae, in accordance with previous suggestions. Due to the placement of the new species as sister to the remaining members of Pherhombinae, we argue that our finding is not at odds with a much younger, late Eocene age (~34–41 Ma) of Baltic amber and instead demonstrates that Pherhombus existed over a much longer period than previously thought. Our results also exemplify the power of wing vein morphometrics and integrative phy­logenetic analyses in resolving the placement even of poorly preserved fossil specimens.

Geometry and kinematics of the western part of the NE Qaidam Basin: Implications for the growth of the Tibetan Plateau

Based on field geology, seismic reflection profiling data and isopach maps, the structural deformation pattern, timing of deformation, and mechanism of formation of the western part of the NE Qaidam Basin (including the Pingtai Uplift, Lenghu and Eboliang structural belts) during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras have been investigated. Several anticlines in the Lenghu and Eboliang structural belts are generally characterized by double fault systems at different structural levels. At shallower crustal levels, a thrust fault system dominates and at lower levels positive flower structures accommodate oblique shortening, and these are mainly separated by weak strata layers in the Upper Xiaganchaigou Formation, of late Eocene age. Left-step en echelon distributed normal faults and trailing extensional imbricate fan structures consistently demonstrate that the Lenghu and Eboliang structural belts are dominated by dextral transpressional deformation. The western part of the NE Qaidam Basin experienced an initial stage of extension in the Jurassic, which was associated with the formation of several NW-striking normal faults. We hypothesize that most of the deep compressional structures and shallow anticlines were formed due to the SW-directed thrusting of the Qilian Shan since the early Eocene, as a far-field effect of the Indo-Asian “hard” collision. The NNE-directed shortening was associated with dextral transpressional deformation within the western part of the NE Qaidam Basin that took place after the deposition of the Shangyoushashan Formation, of middle-late Miocene age. We interpret this phase of deformation to have been an integral part of the pulsed growth of the whole Tibetan Plateau.

Middle Eocene flora of the Bering Island (Komandor Islands, North-eastern Asia)

In this work, a securely dated middle Eocene plant fossil assemblage is described and illustrated. Plant fossils come from the volcanogenic-terrigenous deposits of the Tolstyi Cape Formation and Buyan Formation exposed in the east and south-east parts of the Bering Island, Komandor Islands (Commander Islands) group. They belong to conifers (four species) and dicotyledonous angiosperms (five species). A new combination Cupressinocladus napanensis (Budantsev) comb. nov. is described, a neotype and emended diagnosis for the species Dicotylophyllum beringianum (Chelebaeva et Akhmetjev) Budantsev and a later synonym for the species Macclintockia sabinae (Chelebaeva et Akhmetjev) Chelebaeva are proposed. The flora is shown to be most similar to the diverse late Eocene flora of Western Kamchatka. This, in turn, allows us to suppose that the Kamchatkan flora might be middle to late Eocene in age. It reflects coniferous-broadleaved deciduous vegetation existed in a wet temperate climate of northeast Asia.

U–Pb dating of middle Eocene–Pliocene multiple tectonic pulses in the Alpine foreland

Abstract. Foreland fold-and-thrust belts (FTBs) record long-lived tectono-sedimentary activity, from passive margin sedimentation, flexuring, and further evolution into wedge accretion ahead of an advancing orogen. Therefore, dating fault activity is fundamental for plate movement reconstruction, resource exploration, and earthquake hazard assessment. Here, we report U–Pb ages of syn-tectonic calcite mineralizations from four thrusts and three tear faults sampled at the regional scale across the Jura fold-and-thrust belt in the northwestern Alpine foreland (eastern France). Three regional tectonic phases are recognized in the middle Eocene–Pliocene interval: (1) pre-orogenic faulting at 48.4±1.5 and 44.7±2.6 Ma associated with the far-field effect of the Alpine or Pyrenean compression, (2) syn-orogenic thrusting at 11.4±1.1, 10.6±0.5, 9.7±1.4, 9.6±0.3, and 7.5±1.1 Ma associated with the formation of the Jura fold-and-thrust belt with possible in-sequence thrust propagation, and (3) syn-orogenic tear faulting at 10.5±0.4, 9.1±6.5, 5.7±4.7, and at 4.8±1.7 Ma including the reactivation of a pre-orogenic fault at 3.9±2.9 Ma. Previously unknown faulting events at 48.4±1.5 and 44.7±2.6 Ma predate the reported late Eocene age for tectonic activity onset in the Alpine foreland by ∼10 Myr. In addition, we date the previously inferred reactivation of pre-orogenic strike-slip faults as tear faults during Jura imbrication. The U–Pb ages document a minimal time frame for the evolution of the Jura FTB wedge by possible in-sequence thrust imbrication above the low-friction basal decollement consisting of evaporites.

New species of Yuomys (Rodentia, Ctenodactyloidea) from the upper Eocene of eastern Ningxia, China

ABSTRACT A new species, Yuomys robustus of the ctenodactyloid rodent Yuomys, is described in the paper. It is from the Western margin of the Ordos Basin District in eastern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. Yuomys robustus is characterized by a combination of features: large size, high tooth crown, having a postparacrista on M2 and lacking hypocone on P4. We also emended the diagnosis of type species of Yuomys, Y. cavioides. It is characterized by the absence of hypocone on P4, having a distinct ridge connecting the metaconule to the protocone on M1–M3, a postparacrista on M1, a mesostyle on M2, and a small ridge or spur on the mesial side of the protoloph on P4 and M1; the hypoconid smaller than the protoconid and is elongated, the paraconid absent and the mesostylid faintly visible on p4, but well developed on m1–m3; the talonid basin, sinusid, and posteroflexid are large and open on lower cheek teeth. The occurrence of Lophiomeryx angarae in the same stratigraphic layer as Y. robustus indicates that the horizon is possibly late Eocene in age, not early Oligocene as suggested by previous workers. Body mass estimations of Y. cavioides, Y. eleganes, and Y. robustus show that their weights are roughly in the range of 485–880 g, which is in between those of extant Myospalax and Ratufa. From the middle Eocene to the late Eocene, Yuomys exhibited a trend of gradually enlarging the cheek teeth, and increasing the tooth crown height and body mass.

The Bawang Member, a unique unit of Belaga Formation in the Miri Zone, Central Sarawak, NW Borneo Malaysia: Revised stratigraphic and sedimentological characteristics

Bawang Member (Unit 4) of Late Eocene age is the fifth and the youngest member of Belaga Formation. In general, the Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene turbidite sequence of Rajang Group in the lower Rajang area (Central Sarawak) is characterized by Belaga Formation. This member is unique and is only exposed in the vicinity of the Tatau area (Arip valley and Tatau High region) with limited exposures. In this research we present new evidence, to support its position on the stratigraphic column, based on field observations (stratigraphic and sedimentological characteristics) and lab analysis (TOC). Numerous recently exposed sections were visited in the study area. Four litho-facies were identified in the Bawang Member based on sedimentological observations; (1) Massive sandstone facies (SF1), (2) Medium to thick-bedded sandstone facies (SF2), (3) Thin bedded heterolithic facies (SF3), and (4) Mudstone or Shale facies (SF4). Reddish maroon and green shales exposed in Tatau High region are only exposed in another member of Belaga Formation i.e. Kapit Member. The Bawang Member sediments differ from the Tatau High region sediments in absence of cleavage and internal sedimentary features (rip-up clasts), the occurrence of bioturbation, and with lesser exposures of mud facies. On the contrary, the Tatau High sediments show higher ratios of mud facies, presence of cleavage in shales and even in few sandstones, and absence of major bioturbation of strata. The presence of internal sedimentary features (rip-up clasts) in Tatau High and in Kapit Member supports the idea that these are the parts of the same rock unit. Furthermore, contrasting TOC values between these two units (Bawang and Tatau High), and the similarity of TOC among Tatau High and Kapit Member are also in support of the same idea. Based on the differences of facies (rock) types, the effect of cleavage, absence of rip-up clasts, the occurrence of bioturbations and different TOC values, we confirm that the Tatau High rocks must be older than most of Bawang Member exposures and are actually the faulted blocks of Kapit Member.

Age and Depositional Environment of Walat Formation Based on Palynological Analysis in Sukabumi Regency, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract Walat Formation is equivalent to Bayah Formation. This formation is the beginning of Bogor basin deposition. In this case, age and environment of this formation have been analyzed by previous researchers, but the results of age and environment interpretations have different ranges, especially from its palynological aspect which until now Walat Formation is rarely analyzed using this aspect. This research was conducted to identify the age and depositional environment of Walat Formation in Sukabumi region by using pollen and spores to confirm different interpretations of previous studies. Measure section was carried out in sampling and chemical treatment method was carried out to see palynomorph content in the rock. Furthermore, data analysis was carried out with range of interval zones and pollen grouping based on their environment. The results show that Walat Formation has Late Eocene age based on the interval zone between first occurrence of Verrucatosporites usmensis and Meyeripollis naharkotensis, and the last occurence of Proxapertites operculatus, Proxapertites cursus, and Cicatricosisporites eocenicus. Walat Formation has fluvial depositional environment characterized by the dominance of Proxapertites operculatus and Proxapertites cursus. The results of this study confirm that the Walat Formation has an Eocene age and a fluvial depositional environment from a palinological aspect.

ВОЗРАСТ И ПЕТРОГЕНЕЗИС ВУЛКАНИТОВ КИСЛОГО СОСТАВА АЛГАНСКИХ ГОР КОРЯКСКОГО НАГОРЬЯ (СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОК РОССИИ)

The isotopic dating of U-Pb by the zircon method of volcanic acid zircons of the Konachan complex (Algansky mountains, northwestern part of the Koryak highlands) confirmed their Late Eocene age (34.6 ± 0.5-38.8 ± 0.4 Ma, Priabon). It has been shown that silicic rocks are represented by moderately potassium, peraluminous (ASI = 1.23–1.30), moderately and high magnesian differences, often with a high content of Cr and Ni. The contents of Sr, Y and Yb are adakite. High ratios of 143Nd/144Nd and low 87Sr/86Sr in the rocks of the complex, the distribution pattern of rare and rare-earth elements suggest that the source of salite melt, to some extent contaminated by sedimentary material, was metabasites. The formation of the Konachan complex is caused by magmatism during accretion of terranes of the Olyutor-East Kamchatka island-arc system [27]; compression processes led to the blocking of the upwelling front of the continental asthenosphere, initiating intense crustal anatexis and silicate magmatism.

LATE EOCENE BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC AGE FOR ANDESITIC VOLCANIC HOST ROCKS FORMED IN AN ISLAND ENVIRONMENT AT THE COBRE PANAMA PORPHYRY Cu-Mo-Au-Ag DEPOSIT, PANAMA

Abstract The giant Cobre Panama porphyry Cu-Mo-Au-Ag deposit in western Panama is hosted by an undated andesitic volcanic sequence, the Petaquilla batholith (32.20 ± 0.76–28.28 ± 0.61 Ma), and porphyry stocks (28.96 ± 0.62–27.48 ± 0.68 Ma). Here we present a biostratigraphic age for the volcanic sequence based on stratigraphically diagnostic large foraminifera from thin limestone beds within kilometer-thick andesitic rocks. These yield a late middle to late Eocene biostratigraphic age (41.2–33.9 Ma), with a probable late Eocene age (Priabonian stage, 37.8–33.9 Ma), which is slightly older than the age of the batholith and porphyry intrusions. The volcanic sequence is dominated by fine-grained, massive basalt to andesite lavas with subordinate volcaniclastic deposits. A preliminary description of volcanic textures based on macroscopic observation of drill core and quarry/road exposures supports the occurrence of lavas, fallout tuffs, volcanic breccias, and possible pyroclastic density current deposits. Rare polymictic conglomerates with well-rounded clasts of igneous rocks attest to minor sedimentary reworking from a nearby subaerial volcanic environment. The dated limestone that is interbedded with the submarine volcanic sequence was deposited in an estimated water depth of 50 to 80 m, probably in a middle- to outer-shelf large foraminiferal shoal. These results support deposition on the flank of an active volcanic island during early shallowing of the Isthmus of Panama. The Cobre Panama volcanic center is interpreted to have formed in the final stages of the latest Cretaceous-Eocene volcanic arc before, or possibly during, the 175-km sinistral offset of the Panama volcanic front in the late Eocene-Oligocene. However, it remains unclear whether the volcanic center formed on the western continuation of the San Blas-Chagres arc segment or the eastern termination of the Azuero-Soná arc segment and whether it was emplaced during broadening of the pre-Oligocene volcanic front or in a back-arc setting.