Shallow Marine Shelf Research Articles

Interpretation of Depositional Environment of Fusulinid Bearing Middle Permian Succession of Bolula and Khaja Ghar Formation, Bamian Zone, Central Afghanistan

The study area belongs to the north Afghanistan having complex tectonic setting, because of separation of the Afghanistan plate from Pangea in Early Permian and its subsequent northward journey and collision with Eurasian plate. The rock exposed in the area belongs to Paleozoic, Mesozoic to Quaternary with Proterozoic basement. Particularly the Permian succession of Afghanistan is rich in fusulinids (larger foraminifera), is age diagnostic, provides strong biostratigraphic tool for the Permian deposits, and has paleobiogeographic applications. The Bamian zone of north Afghanistan has good exposure to Middle Permian and is designated as Bolula and Khaja Ghar Formation is undertaken in this study. The Bolula Formation overlies the greenschist and basalts, composed mainly of carbonate rocks (Dolostone and limestone), having massive limestone, with some quartz and secondary calcite vein in the succession. The intermittent siliciclastic wedges within the carbonate succession are identified as input within the platform with tectonic pulses in the hinterland. Bolula and Khaja Ghar succession is divided into 8 lithofacies ( Facies A to H) and 6 carbonate Facies viz. Sparry calcites limestone, Micritic limestone, Fossiliferous limestones (Biomicrite), Peloidal limestone (Fecal pellets), Interlaminated micritic and sparite limestone, and sandy limestone (micritic). The Bolula and Khaja Ghar Formation in the Bamian area have deposited in a shallow marine shelf environment because of predominance of carbonate rocks and presence of shallow-water marine fossils including fusulinids, small benthic foraminifera, algae, bivalve, brachiopods fragments, corals and bryozoans, etc. In the Bamian zone the unconformity between Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian; indicates extensive gap in sedimentation, traceable to many parts of Afghanistan as unconformity or tectonic contact is considered here as sequence boundary.

From shallow into deep sea: Sedimentary facies and U-Pb zircon ages in the early Paleozoic Noric Group at Veitsch (Eastern Greywacke Zone, Austria)

Abstract The low-grade metamorphic early Paleozoic basement of the Veitsch area presents a wide variety of sedimentary facies domains. The first domain consists of thick metadacites of Middle Ordovician age (Blasseneck Porphyroid), overlain by fine-grained metaclastics of the Rad Formation (Late Ordovician to Silurian) and Devonian limestones and calcitic marbles (Kaiserstein and Kaskögerl Formation, respectively). Rhyolitic to dacitic magmatism initiated at ca. 479 Ma (LAMC-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon data) and lasted until ca. 444 Ma. The second domain comprises metaclastics of the Stocker Formation (Early Ordovician to Silurian), characterized by thin volcanics and volcaniclastics of andesitic and rhyolitic composition. U-Pb zircon data give Middle Ordovician age (463 Ma – 468 Ma). The third domain, exposed northwest of Veitsch, consists of thick metadacites (Blasseneck Porphyroid, ca. 478 Ma), followed by (siliceous) phyllites which grade into turbiditic metasediments (Sommerauer Formation, Late Ordovician to Devonian?). Clastic sediments of the Stocker and Sommerauer Formations were sourced from northern Gondwana showing a prominent Pan-African detrital zircon peak at ca. 640 Ma. Middle to Upper Ordovician volcanics (ca. 462 Ma – 448 Ma) represent the second source. Tectonic reconstruction leads us to the arrangement of three facies domains. A shallow marine shelf facies is located in the present days southwest. A marginal basin with volcanic islands on a sloping continent, and a deep-water environment containing turbidites are situated further to the northwest. The present arrangement of these facies domains is explained by eo-Alpine and Variscan thrust tectonics.

Organic geochemical and petrographical characteristics of the major lower cretaceous petroleum source rock (Makhul Formation) in Kuwait - Arabian Gulf

The Lower Cretaceous Makhul Formation is one of the major petroleum source rocks in Kuwait. This study aims to evaluate the Makhul source rock for its organic matter richness and its relation to the rock composition and depositional environment. A total of 117 core samples were collected from five wells in Raudhatain, Ritqa, Mutriba, Burgan, and Minagish oil fields north and south Kuwait. The rock petrographical studies were carried out using a transmitted and polarized microscope, as well as SEM and XRD analyses on selected samples. Total organic matter TOC and elemental analyses were done for kerogen type optically. The GC and GC-MS were done as well as the carbon isotope ratio. The results of this study show that at its earliest time the Makhul Formation was deposited in an anoxic shallow marine shelf environment. During deposition of the middle part, the water oxicity level was fluctuating from oxic to anoxic condition due to changes in sea level. At the end of Makhul and the start of the upper Minagish Formation, the sea level raised forming an oxic open marine ramp depositional condition. Organic geochemical results show that the average TOC of the Makhul Formation is 2.39% wt. High TOC values of 6.7% wt. were usually associated with the laminated mudstone intervals of the formation. The kerogen is of type II and is dominated by marine amorphous sapropelic organic matter with a mixture of zoo- and phytoplankton and rare terrestrial particles. Solvent extract results indicate non-waxy oils of Mesozoic origin that are associated with marine carbonate rocks. The formation is mature and at its peak oil generation in its deepest part in north Kuwait.

Paleogeographic and litho-facial conditions of meso-cenozoic sediment formation of the Anadyr depression

Background.The Anadyr depression has a marginal structure. It comprises four sub-regional elements. Disjunctive dislocations are widely developed within the area.Aim.To reconstruct the paleogeographic and litho-facies conditions of the formation of the Meso-Cenozoic sediments of the Anadyr depression. The reconstruction was performed by evaluating the initial data and developing paleogeographic and litho-facies maps. Data on the conditions of sediment formation in the study area, rich in hydrocarbon and mineral deposits, is essential from a practical standpoint.Materials and methods.Paleogeographic reconstructions of the Anadyr depression were performed based on an analysis of the sediment thickness and litho-facies composition of the relevant age. To build litho-facies maps, we used the data on the material composition of the Bering Sea sedimentary cover and adjacent areas, including well-drilling data, outcropping descriptions, thickness gradient analysis, seismic study results, etc.Results.In the course of the work, sedimentary environment maps were created. Litho-facies maps were developed for all four main sedimentary complexes of the Anadyr depression. Based on the generalised geological data and paleoreconstructions, we constructed forecasting schemes of the distribution of barrier formations in the study area.Conclusions.It was found that the formation of the sedimentary cover of the Anadyr depression took place mainly in shallow-water sedimentary environments. In addition, the depths of paleobasins did not overpass the internal relatively shallow marine shelf. Based on the analysis, two most probable reservoirs were selected. Regional fluid and potential seals were characterised.

Paleozoic basin indication at south of Papua, Indonesia

Eastern Indonesia Paleozoic basin to recent is still an under-explored basin. The study about this oldest sediment sequence is needed to be done because, in Australia, this sequence is already producing hydrocarbon in several basins, known as the Larapintine petroleum system. This paper is subjected to present Paleozoic sediment occurrence in the south of the Papua area, from outcrop, several wells penetrated this unit and from seismic data. Furthermore, this paper aims to construct a geological schematic diagram in the south of the Papua area. Identified Paleozoic rocks in the southern Papua area are Pre-Permian sequence, consist of Otomona Formation (Late Proterozoic–Cambrian), Tuaba Formation (Ordovician) and Modio Formation (Silurian–Devonian), and Aiduna Formation (Late Carboniferous–Permian) from the Permian–Triassic sequence. Otomona Formation was deposited at the submarine fan environment while the Tuaba Formation was deposited in a shallow marine shelf setting. Modio Formation was deposited at shallow marine to shelf environment, and Aiduna Formation was accumulated at deltaic setting. Paleozoic basin occurred from Arafura sea to onshore of southern Papua with a thickness of up to 5 seconds. This unit’s potential trap is the gentle anticline with geometry up to 8 km long and stratigraphic trap top lap with the unit above it.

Middle–Upper Cambrian Trilobites of the Genus Nganasanella Rosova, 1963 and Their Stratigraphic Significance

Abstract —This paper presents a revision for the genus Nganasanella Rosova, 1963, first described in the stratotype of the Kulyumbean Regional Stage of the Kulyumbe River section (northwest of the Siberian Platform). This section is typical of the upper Cambrian sediments of the Kotuy–Igarka facies region, formed in a shallow marine shelf. As shown by the study, the genus comprises seven species. The species N. nganasanensis Rosova, 1963 (type species), N. tavgaensis Rosova, 1963, N. glabella (Kobayashi), 1943, N. granulosa Rosova et Makarova, 2009, and N. vernacula Rosova et Makarova, 2009 are found in the Siberian Platform. The species N. australica sp. nov. occurs in northeastern Australia. The species N. trisulcatus (Ergaliev), 1980 is widespread in southern Kazakhstan. Some species (N. granulosa and N. vernacula) are found in open marine facies sediments along with the cosmopolitan agnostid species Glyptagnostus reticulatus (Angelin), 1851, serving as a marker of the lower boundary of upper Cambrian strata in the International Chronostratigraphic Chart and the General Stratigraphic Chart of Russia. The species N. trisulcatus and N. australica are found slightly above Glyptagnostus reticulatus. Representatives of the genus Nganasanella are a link between strata of different facies containing different trilobite associations. Their stratigraphic position can serve as an argument for the correlation of the Kulyumbean Regional Stage with units containing Glyptagnostus reticulatus, i.e., the Omnian and Idamean regional stages, the lower parts of the Kutugunian Horizon and the Sakian Regional Stage, and the Paibian Stage of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart.

Predicting the Depositional Environments of Mishrif Formation from Seismic Isopach Map in the Dujaila Oil Field, Southeast-Iraq

In this paper, we attempt to predict the depositional environments with associated lithofacies of the main reservoir of the late Cretaceous Mishrif carbonate Formation, depending on the analysis of the created seismic isopach map by integrating seismic and well data. The isopach map was created from a 3D-seismic reflection survey carried out at the Dujaila oil field in southeastern Iraq, which is of an area of 602.26 Km2, and integrated with the data of the two explored wells. Based on the interpretation of the seismic isopach map, the diagram of the 3D-depositional environment model of Mishrif Formation was constructed. It showed three distinguished depositional environments, which were graduated from a back reef lithofacies of a shallow open marine (shelf) environment in the west and NW, to a shoal environment of isolated Rudist reefal buildup in the middle, and a fore reef lithofacies of the deep open marine basin environment in the SE of the field. A 3D-instantaneous frequency model was generated to verify the capability of the seismic isopach map of predicting the depositional environments, which in turn showed that the low frequency was restricted in the region of the high thickness of Rudist reefal buildups (porous reservoir facies) in the vicinity of the productive well Dujaila-1.

Sponge Takeover from End-Permian Mass Extinction to Early Induan Time: Records in Central Iran Microbial Buildups

The end-Permian mass extinction was the most severe biotic crisis in Earth’s history. In its direct aftermath, microbial communities were abundant on shallow-marine shelves around the Tethys. They colonized the space left vacant after the dramatic decline of skeletal metazoans. The presence of sponges and sponge microbial bioherms has largely gone unnoticed due to the sponges’ size and the cryptic method of preservation. In addition to sponge dominated facies recently described in South Armenia and Northwestern Iran, we describe here sponge-microbial bioherms cropping out in two well-known Permian-Triassic boundary localities: the Kuh-e Hambast section, south-east of Abadeh city and the more distal Shahreza section, near Isfahan. In both sections, the extinction horizon is located at the top of an upper Changhsingian ammonoid-rich nodular limestone, calledParatiroliteslimestone. At Kuh-e Hambast, the overlying decimetric thick shale deposit called “boundary clay,” the latest Permian in age, is conformably overlain by well-dated transgressive basal Triassic platy limestone containing four successive levels of decimeter to meter scale, elongated to form cup-shaped mounds made of branching columnar stromatolites. Sponge fibers from possibly keratose demosponge, are widely present in the lime mudstone matrix. At the Shahreza section, above the extinction level, the boundary clay is much thicker (3 m), with thin platy limestone intervals, and contains two main levels of decimeter to meter scale mounds of digitate microbialite crossing the Permian-Triassic boundary with similar sponge fibers. Three levels rich in thrombolite domes can be seen in the overlying 20 m platy limestone of earliest Triassic age. Sponge fibers and rare spicules are present in their micritic matrix. These sponge fibers and spicules which are abundant in the latest Permian post-extinction boundary clay, followed microbial buildups during the Griesbachian time.

Depositional Architecture of Eocene and Cretaceous Reservoirs (Blending Seismic and Well Data) in Mubarik Area, Central Indus Basin, Pakistan

Structural and stratigraphic geometries in the Central Indus Basin of Pakistan are subjects of interest for explorers. The thickening and thinning sequences in conjunction with structural anomalies often provide an environment for hydrocarbon accumulation. Hydrocarbons play a vital role in the energy mix of Pakistan. With the help of well correlation, work on seismicity can be confirmed by marking terminations, depositional extent and thickness variation at different stratigraphic levels. Therefore, this work presents depositional geometries of Eocene and Cretaceous reservoirs [Sui Main Limestone (SML) and B-sand interval of Lower Goru Formation], keeping in view the vertical and lateral resolution of the seismic data and the distance between the wells for correlation. The Eocene SML and Cretaceous B-sand are extensively mapped as isochrones using 20 seismic lines and correlated with ten wells. The results give evidence of a building up of shallow marine shelf carbonate in Eocene SML. The isochrone maps also indicate that Eocene SML has untapped potential east of the study area. The Cretaceous B-sand demonstrates sheet-like geometry of sand-filled delta progrades in the west to southwest direction in a ramp setting. This geometry suggests an updip hydrocarbon potential in Cretaceous B-sand reservoir in the north of the study area. Because of the pinching out behavior and excellent stratigraphic trapping system, these two reservoirs can be considered future exploration targets.

Timing of hydrocarbon entrapment in the eastern foothills of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia

The eastern foothills in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera have been an important oil-producing region since the discovery of the Cupiagua and Cusiana fields. Three organic-rich units are considered to be the main source rocks. The Aptian Fómeque and the Cenomanian-Coniacian Chipaque Formations comprise a siliciclastic to locally carbonate shallow marine shelf succession with type-II kerogen, whereas the Paleocene Los Cuervos Formation consists of marginal marine to nonmarine siliciclastic rocks with type-III kerogen. We modeled the petroleum systems of these three source units to characterize the hydrocarbon generation-accumulation processes within the basin. The structural record of the Eastern Cordillera shows that the most important tectonic event began in early Oligocene with contractional deformation along the Soapaga through Guaicaramo faults during early Miocene, culminating during the Pliocene with the Cusiana and Yopal faults. These variable rates of burial and exhumation resulted in contrasting time-temperature histories for each of the source rocks. The Fómeque Formation reached the oil window during the Paleocene in the south and the Eocene to the north. In contrast, the Chipaque Formation generation started during Early Oligocene in the south and by Late Oligocene to the north. Conversely, maturation for the Los Cuervos Formation was uniform along the foothills, reaching the oil window during Late Oligocene. Charge history modeling suggested that the Albian sandstones reservoirs were filled between Oligocene to Miocene. In contrast, the proven reservoirs in the area (the Upper Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Eocene sandstones) were filled by late Miocene, with a second episode of recent charge in the Eocene reservoirs, and perhaps active, from the Los Cuervos Formation. The results of this work proved that petroleum system modeling is useful not only to characterize generation-migration processes but it also can be used as a prediction tool in structurally complex areas such as the Colombian foothills.

Deformation Structures in a Large Slump Horizon, Paleoproterozoic Vempalle Formation, Cuddapah Basin, Southern India

Occurrence of slump folds and associated faults generated by soft-sediment deformation from the Paleoproterozoic Vempalle Formation, southwestern Cuddapah basin, India, is being reported here for the first time. The slump horizon is preserved within a more or less undeformed shallow to deep-water carbonate unit in the Cuddapah basin exposed near Parnapalle village, Andhra Pradesh, India. The stratigraphic framework includes the Gulcheru Quartzite, lowermost unit of the Cuddapah basin succession, deposited in an alluvial to shallow marine shelf environment, and the overlying Vempalle Formation, representing a ramp-type stromatolitic carbonate platform. The synsedimentary sliding along a steepened ramp is evidenced by northeast-verging kink-like folds with wavelength up to 400 m and an overprinting set of thrusts with ramp-flat geometry, fault-cored folds or small break-thrusts showing top-to-southwest displacement, and smaller congruent folds. From the isolated occurrence within a generally undeformed succession, association of structures, and the stratigraphic context, we suggest soft-sediment deformation at the toe of a large (kilometer-scale) slump, with the prevalent bedding-parallel anisotropy exploited for common flexural slip and ramp-flat geometry. In addition, the bedding-parallel slickensides in the Gulcheru Quartzite immediately below the Vempalle Formation indicate a top-to-east-northeast, normal sense of slip representing extensional slip at the slump head. Northeast-verging large folds in the Parnapalle slump horizon possibly represent structures formed during the translation phase of slumping. As the large northeast propagating slump was halted, the backthrust-like structures and associated folds developed at the slump toe.

A detailed chrono-stratigraphical record of canarian dune archives - Interplay of sand supply and volcanism

The dune sequences of Fuerteventura mainly consist of biogenic carbonate sands which originate from the shallow marine shelf. By onshore winds those carbonate sands migrate landwards, building up sequences of different dune generations with intercalated reddish silty layers. Former studies discussed the formation of dune generations on Fuerteventura against climatic shifts, sea level changes or changing wind directions, and the more researchers just focused on the volcanism of that island but the influence of volcanism on the formation of dune archives has never been discussed. According to this, the absence of sand deposits is not always climatically controlled nor by sea level changes nor by changing wind direction. The distribution and dating (sharding and OSL dating) of deposits on northern Fuerteventura indicate that the palaeo dune fields close to the western coast were cut off from sand supply gradually, caused by different periods of volcanism. For northern Fuerteventura three main periods can be differentiated:I. Period: around 180–170 ka, II. Period: around 135 ka and III. Period: not later than 50 ka.In that course, we investigated a palaeo dune field close to the eastern coast to illustrate exemplarily the impact of volcanic activity on dune field formation and its morphology. Additionally, we aimed to extend the chrono-stratigraphic correlation of dune sequences (according to Roettig et al., 2017). Now, the correlation across the island is spanning from the western to the eastern coastline and dates back to 450 ka.In terms of luminescence dating, the layers dominated by carbonate sands show only small amount of datable minerals, whereas the material of reddish silty layers are dominated by the imprint of Saharan dust and therefore contain increased content of quartz and feldspar. In contrast to material dominated by carbonate sands the dating performed on palaeosurface material seem to reveal uniformly younger IRSL ages.

Создание концептуальной геологической модели, основанной на литолого-петрографических исследованиях, на примере пермокарбоновой залежи Усинского месторождения

The work intends to develop a conceptual model of the Permo-Carboniferous deposit of the Usinskoye field. In the furtherance of this goal, the authors have addressed the tasks of designing a specialised table format to describe thin sections of carbonate core samples and create a database based on the developed format for the subsequent analysis. The paper deals with studying the Permo-Carboniferous deposit of the Usinskoye field, located in the Komi Republic. A unique database of 1,710 described thin sections from 12 wells was created based on the developed format. The classification of carbonate rocks by R.J. Dunham supplemented by Embry and Kloven (based on the dominating fabric in limestone, type of cementing agent and their relationships in the rock) was used as a basis. According to rock material compositions and textural properties, the following nine rock lithotypes were identified: Mudstone, Wackestone, Packstone, Grainstone, Boundstone, Floatstone, Rudstone, Crystalline Carbonate (Dolomite), and Clayey Carbonate Silicite. By following the rock lithology type identification results and the seismic data, three main facies zones were determined in the section of the mid- Carboniferous and Lower Permian sediments: carbonate shoal (inner ramp zone), organogenic buildup (middle ramp zone) and shallow marine shelf plain (mid-ramp zone, partially outer ramp zone). A moderately deep marine shelf plain facies (outer ramp zone) was provisionally defined. Following the study results, two profiles of the Mid-Carboniferous and Lower Permian sediments of the Usinskoye field were plotted along two well lines. The presented sections support the conceptual model developed. Based on the core sample findings, the zone of organogenic build-ups stands out in the eastern part of the field, dating back predominantly to the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian periods. An inner ramp with the carbonate shoal facies supposedly exists in the field north-west. The conducted work has resulted in the development of a conceptual model of the Permo-Carboniferous deposit of the Usinskoye field, which can be used for further development of more reliable 3D facies models, commercial-scale estimations of reserves and field development designs.

Life on a Mesoarchean marine shelf \u2013 insights from the world\u2019s oldest known granular iron formation

The Nconga Formation of the Mesoarchean (~2.96–2.84 Ga) Mozaan Group of the Pongola Supergroup of southern Africa contains the world’s oldest known granular iron formation. Three dimensional reconstructions of the granules using micro-focus X-ray computed tomography reveal that these granules are microstromatolites coated by magnetite and calcite, and can therefore be classified as oncoids. The reconstructions also show damage to the granule coatings caused by sedimentary transport during formation of the granules and eventual deposition as density currents. The detailed, three dimensional morphology of the granules in conjunction with previously published geochemical and isotope data indicate a biogenic origin for iron precipitation around chert granules on the shallow shelf of one of the oldest supracratonic environments on Earth almost three billion years ago. It broadens our understanding of biologically-mediated iron precipitation during the Archean by illustrating that it took place on the shallow marine shelf coevally with deeper water, below-wave base iron precipitation in micritic iron formations.

Sedimentologic and stratigraphic properties of Early Cretaceous Neo-Tethys shelf margin of Arabia: The Qamchuqa Formation of the Zagros Folded zone – Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The Qamchuqa Formation is well-exposed in the High Folded Zone (HFZ) of northeast Iraq. The formation is highly dolomitized and contains thick reservoir units in the subsurface region south of the HFZ. Deposition of the formation took place at the shelf margin of Early Cretaceous Neo-Tethys Ocean. It merges south- and southeastward to the shallow marine shelf of Arabia and to deep basin accumulations farther north. In the study area, the formation is divided into three members: lower member (250m thick) of interbedded bioclastic calcimudstone/wackestone (MW), bioclastic packstone (BP), bioclastic floatstone (BF) and medium-to coarse-crystalline dolorudstone/dolograinstone (CD). These strata accumulated in low to medium energy, subtidal, fore-shoal setting. The middle member consists of thick succession (325m) of massively bedded CD lithofacies interpreted as high energy shoal facies which represents Barremian-Aptian main shelf-margin succession. The upper member (155m thick) consists of three lithofacies of MW, CD and fine crystalline dolomudstone (FD), in ascending order. It is interpreted as lagoon (MW) through subtidal carbonate sand shoal (CD) to supratidal (penecontemporaneous) dolomudstone (FD). The lower two members represent a long-term Barremian to Aptian shallowing-upward megacycle capped by late Aptian unconformity incurred by relative sea level drop. This temporal gap is coeval with an erosional vacuity recognized throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Sea level rise in early Albian heralded deposition of the upper member which also represents a shallowing-upward cycle surmounted by regionally extensive subaerial unconformity recognized in the Arabian Peninsula. Correlation and stratigraphic position of the formation under regional context has been discussed.

Isotopic chemostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of Lower Cretaceous Alisitos Formation (Punta China section), Baja California, Mexico

Nine units of carbonate rocks are recognized, of which the highest five units are examined here under biostratigraphical and chemostratigraphical aspects in order to infer mid‐Cretaceous OAE intervals in Punta China section, Baja California. The biota in Units 5, 6, 7, and 8 show low diversity, while Unit 9 is characterized by a high diversity of microfossils. Benthic foraminiferal assemblage and rudist genera identified in Unit 9 indicate a lower Albian age. Lithofacies and fossil assemblages suggest that the depositional environment was a shallow marine shelf or platform adjacent to caprinid buildups. The limestones of the Alisitos Formation show both negative and positive δ13C values that range between −0.9 and + 7.5‰. Large variations in δ18O values are noticed in the limestone units (−7.9 to −2.2‰). The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the bulk limestone samples vary between 0.706662 and 0.707305. Most of the limestones have lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios that may be the result of inclusion of less radiogenic strontium from the volcanic rocks. One limestone sample from Unit 7 has a relatively pristine 87Sr/86Sr ratio (0.707305) whose numerical age is 111.61 Ma. The carbon‐isotope curve reveals the presence of two episodes of oceanic anoxic subevents in the studied section. The lower part of Unit 9 has significant negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) that correlated with the Paquier subevent. Similarly, another negative CIE is also observed in the upper part of Unit 9, which suggests a correlation with Leenhardt subevent.

The Ordovician iron ore of the Anti-Atlas, Morocco: Environment and dynamics of depositional process

In Morocco, iron deposits of sedimentary origin are mainly developed in the Ordovician where they are interbedded at different levels of the stratigraphic column. A detailed analysis of the sedimentary facies shows that the iron ores are not randomly distributed but are concentrated at omission surfaces of the sequences thus raising the question of their sedimentological significance within the sequences that shelter them. This study determines three morphological types of ore, which provide a possible avenue for economic exploitation. These morphological types are: firstly, from metric to decametric bodies of regional extension (examples are “Caid Rami” and “Tachilla”), consisting of a set of detrital facies organized in two stratigraphic stages that cyclically recur to form genetic sequences. Within each sequence, the maximum mineralization is at the top of the prograding basal stage and is expressed by diagenetic iron cement and at the base of the regressive stage in the form of strata of iron oolites, or in massive beds. Secondly, lenses with a thickness up to 30 m over a kilometer width (example of “Imi n’Tourza” field), corresponding to incisions cut along the ravinement surfaces. The maximum mineralization of this second type is within the median sandstone stage in connection with a large transgressive event. Thirdly, there is a type of reworked material consisting of discontinuous layers of ferruginous conglomerates and bioclastics lining the ravinement surface that separates the higher order sequences. It is this third type that has generated the most economic interest. The iron-bearing mineral phases identified are: magnetite, hematite, iron chlorite, maghemite, iron hydroxides (goethite, lepidocrocite) and siderite. The ultimate source of iron would probably be the large reserves of banded iron formation of the West Africa Craton (Mauritania in particular). Intense tropical weathering would have leached the silica and left a highly enriched iron residuum that was carried as particulate iron to shallow marine shelf environments where Fe3+ was converted to Fe2+ during early diagenesis. This reduced iron was recycled into the water column by tidal currents or storm waves where it precipitated as ferric oxide or ferrous silicate ooliths. This depositional mechanism accounts for the positioning of ironstone beds at times of stasis and reworking.

Cambrian-Eocene pre-rift, pulsed rift, passive margin and emplacement processes along the northern margin of the Southern Neotethys: Evidence from the Antalya Complex in the Alanya Window (S Turkey)

Sedimentary rocks in the Alanya Window document pulsed Permian-Triassic rifting in a proximal basin setting, adjacent to the Tauride continental unit (Geyik Dağ). Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician clastic sediments accumulated along the north margin of Gondwana on a variable shallow-marine shelf. Above an unconformity related to rift-shoulder uplift, Late Permian facies document shallow-marine to evaporitic environments during regional tectonic subsidence (first main rift pulse). Above a second unconformity (both extension and sea-level controlled), Early Triassic carbonates and mudrocks accumulated on an unstable, gently subsiding shelf. Mudrocks, sandstones and lithoclastic debris-flows, derived from the underlying succession, accumulated during the Middle Triassic (Anisian-early Ladinian), implying strong tectonic subsidence and flank uplift (second main rift pulse). Radiolarian mudstones accumulated during late Middle Triassic-early Late Triassic in a well-oxidised, organically productive, but relatively quiescent, deep-water basin above the carbonate compensation depth (CCD). Thick (100s m) lithoclastic sandstone turbidites (commonly plant-rich) and localised debris-flows accumulated during the Late Triassic (Carnian), together with detached blocks of underlying lithologies (third main rift pulse), combined with regional uplift. Alkaline basaltic sills were intruded locally. Final continental break-up to create the Southern Neotethys took place regionally during the Late Triassic (Carnian). Latest Triassic-Late Cretaceous deposition records passive margin subsidence. Variable low-grade metamorphism and two-stage tectonic emplacement (southwards(?) then northwards) took place during latest Cretaceous and Eocene, respectively. The tectonic-sedimentary development of the Antalya Complex provides insights into rift/continental break-up processes that differ from the recently well-documented Alpine-North Atlantic region.

New Insight into Factors Controlling Organic Matter Distribution in Lower Cambrian Source Rocks: A Study from the Qiongzhusi Formation in South China

Sedimentary organic matter (OM) is a major reservoir of organic carbon in the global carbon cycle. Despite many studies, there still exist many debates on the mechanism of OM accumulation and preservation in marine sediments. We present a new field study of a Lower Cambrian shallow marine shelf sequence in the northern edge of the Yangtze Plate, China. Our results show that palynological OM and biogenic silica (Bio-Si) could be used alongside more conventional redox and paleo-productivity proxies to study the distribution of OM in marine sediments. The qualitative and quantitative study of palynological OM provides more detailed information on the nature of sedimentary organic carbon, which can be helpful in the assessment of primary productivity and OM preservation. In addition, the presence of Bio-Si stimulates the physical preservation of OM. Further analysis indicates that an increase in Bio-Si can promote OM preservation. This case-study provides insight into the intertwined factors controlling OM accumulation in the Early Cambrian.

A new species ofHypolophites(Chondrichthyes, Myliobatiformes) from the Lower Clayton Limestone Unit of the Midway Group (Paleocene), near Malvern, Arkansas, USA

AbstractA new species ofHypolophites(Chondrichthyes, Myliobatiformes) is described from an assemblage of isolated pavement teeth recovered from the Lower Clayton Limestone Unit of the Midway Group (Paleocene) near Malvern, Arkansas. These teeth were collected from several localized lag deposits containing an abundance of chondrichthyan and osteichthyan teeth, invertebrate remains, and trace fossils indicative of a marginal-shallow marine depositional environment. To date, only four additional species ofHypolophiteshave been reported from Paleocene deposits that occur along the west coast of central-northern Africa and in central New Jersey, USA. The identification ofHypolophites beckerin. sp. in southwestern Arkansas extends the distribution of this biostratigraphically significant genus ~1,750 km westward into the Mississippi Embayment and Gulf Coastal Plain of the USA. The distribution ofHypolophitesspecies during the Paleocene attests to the uniformity of shallow marine shelves between western Africa and the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the USA, as well as myliobatiform diversification following the K/Pg mass extinction event.UUID:http://zoobank.org/3a1580d1-a2f4-49b6-8170-69a778c49181