The sequence stratigraphy and geochronology of the terrestrial dinosaur-bearing strata,i.e.,the Qiupa Formation,were poorly studied in the Luanchuan-Tantou Basin in western Henan,China.This study shows that these stra...The sequence stratigraphy and geochronology of the terrestrial dinosaur-bearing strata,i.e.,the Qiupa Formation,were poorly studied in the Luanchuan-Tantou Basin in western Henan,China.This study shows that these strata represent a complete succession from the Late Cretaceous to the early Paleogene,including the K/T boundary,in this area.Here we report a detailed study of the K/T boundary,especially its stratigraphic sequence,sedimentary characteristics,integrity,continuity,and geological implications.展开更多
The complex patterns of trace elements including Ir and isotope distributions in the three K/T sections of the Nanxiong Basin prove the existence of two environmental events in the latest Cretaceous and earliest Paleo...The complex patterns of trace elements including Ir and isotope distributions in the three K/T sections of the Nanxiong Basin prove the existence of two environmental events in the latest Cretaceous and earliest Paleocene. The first geochemical environmental event occurred at about 2 Ma prior to the K/T boundary interval, where the dinosaur diversity was hardly reduced, except that a number of patho-logical eggshells appeared. The second one was larger and occurred just at and near the Creta-ceous-Paleogene (K/T) boundary. The extinction of the dinosaurs spread out within 250 ka with major extinction beginning at the boundary interval. This is even later than their extinction in Montana, North America and in India. The cause of the dinosaur extinction may be the result of a complex multiple events brought about by the coincidence of global environment change marked by multiple Ir and δ 18O anomalies, and environmental poisoning characterized by other trace elements derived from the local source. Successive short- and long-term conditions of geochemically induced environmental stress negatively affected the reproductive process and thus contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.展开更多
Fossil woods were collected from the Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene beds distributed around Heilong- jang （Amur） River area of China and Russia. A total of 43 specimens were collected from Baishantou, Long- gushan, a...Fossil woods were collected from the Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene beds distributed around Heilong- jang （Amur） River area of China and Russia. A total of 43 specimens were collected from Baishantou, Long- gushan, and Yong＇ancun in Jiayin, China, and 85 specimens from Zeya-Bureya Basin lying southeast of Blagoveshchensk in Russia. Selected specimens were sectioned and studied anatomically. The source deposits of almost all identifiable specimens belong to the Upper Cretaceous （Campanian） Taipinglinchang Formation and the Paleocene Wuyun Formation in China, and the Paleocene Upper Tsagayan Formation in Russia. Al- though the results obtained are still far from complete, the taxonomic composition of the fossil woods show marked stratigraphic differences between the two horizons beyond the K/T boundary in China. There is also a strong similarity in wood flora between the Wuyun Formation of China and the Upper Tsagayan Formation of Russia. All identified specimens from the Taipinglinchang Formation are Xenoxylon latiporosum, This is one of the stratigraphically younger records of Xenoxylon, which is a conifer morphogenus of uncertain affinity most common in the Triassic to Early Cretaceous. Only one specimen with possible derivation from either the Wuyun or the Maastriehtian Furao Formation in China was identified as Taxodioxylon sp. The Wuyun Formation yielded both conifers and dicotyledonous woods. The conifers include Taxodioxylon sequoianum of the Taxodiaceae, and Protopiceoxylon amurense, which is attributable to the extant genera Keteleeria or Nothotsuga of the Pinaeeac, both are at present endemic to China. At least two morphotypes of dicotyledonous woods were recognized, with one identified as el. Hamamelidoxylon , and the other diffuse porous wood is characterized by numerous heterogeneous rays. From the Zeya-Buleya Basin of Russia, Taxodioxylon sequoianum and cf. Hamamelidoxylon sp. were identified from the Upper Tsagayan Formation. The similarity of wood composition in both Wuyun and Upper Tsagayan Formations support lithological as well as biostratigraphic correlations proposed for the two formations.展开更多
Sedimentary facies of the Tsagayan Formation is distributed in the eastern Zeya-Bureya Basin has been analyzed. The formation is of the Maastrichtian to Danian in age and characterized by the cyclicity of the fining-u...Sedimentary facies of the Tsagayan Formation is distributed in the eastern Zeya-Bureya Basin has been analyzed. The formation is of the Maastrichtian to Danian in age and characterized by the cyclicity of the fining-upwards successions. Analysis of environmental changes during the K/T boundary is the focus of this study. Five facies have been identified: Facies A, thick and laterally extensive coarse-grained to medium-grained sandstone units, interpreted as channelfill deposits; Facies B, parallel-laminated to massive mudstone units interpreted as interchannel lakes and flood plain deposits; Facies C, sheet-like medium-grained to fine-grained sandstones interpreted as crevasse splay deposits; Facies D, coal to coaly mudstone beds interpreted as deposits of peatlands; Facies E, very poorly sorted sandy mudstone beds interpreted as debris flow deposits. Fluvial environments with the low-relief flat topography was inferred. A channel transported large volumes of clasts, and a flood basin with interchannel lakes and peatlands was deciphered. Any distinct change of sedimentary environments has not been identified throughout the Tsagayan Formation (including the K/T boundary). However, two beds of debris flow deposits were identified. The one occurs at the uppermost part of the lower Tsagayan Subformation and contains dinosaur fossils. The other is intercalated in the upper Tsagayan Subformation.展开更多
The chemical species of anomalous Ir in the Fish Clay K-T boundary at Stevns Klint, Denmark, was studied by using a newly-developed chemical stepwise dissolution procedure and neutron activation analysis. The experime...The chemical species of anomalous Ir in the Fish Clay K-T boundary at Stevns Klint, Denmark, was studied by using a newly-developed chemical stepwise dissolution procedure and neutron activation analysis. The experimental results indicate that the anomalous Ir mostly exists in the acid-insoluble residue phase. The Ir pattern of the K-T boundary resembles that of the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite, while remarkably different from those of the ultrabasic rock and volcanic lava. Thus, we deduce that the Ir anomaly at K-T boundary is mainly extraterrestrial, instead of volcanogenic or geochemical enrichment origin. The patterns of other trace elements in various phases also confirm the above conclusion.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.90914003,40872017)National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2006CB70145)
文摘The sequence stratigraphy and geochronology of the terrestrial dinosaur-bearing strata,i.e.,the Qiupa Formation,were poorly studied in the Luanchuan-Tantou Basin in western Henan,China.This study shows that these strata represent a complete succession from the Late Cretaceous to the early Paleogene,including the K/T boundary,in this area.Here we report a detailed study of the K/T boundary,especially its stratigraphic sequence,sedimentary characteristics,integrity,continuity,and geological implications.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40472018)the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 21039751)
文摘The complex patterns of trace elements including Ir and isotope distributions in the three K/T sections of the Nanxiong Basin prove the existence of two environmental events in the latest Cretaceous and earliest Paleocene. The first geochemical environmental event occurred at about 2 Ma prior to the K/T boundary interval, where the dinosaur diversity was hardly reduced, except that a number of patho-logical eggshells appeared. The second one was larger and occurred just at and near the Creta-ceous-Paleogene (K/T) boundary. The extinction of the dinosaurs spread out within 250 ka with major extinction beginning at the boundary interval. This is even later than their extinction in Montana, North America and in India. The cause of the dinosaur extinction may be the result of a complex multiple events brought about by the coincidence of global environment change marked by multiple Ir and δ 18O anomalies, and environmental poisoning characterized by other trace elements derived from the local source. Successive short- and long-term conditions of geochemically induced environmental stress negatively affected the reproductive process and thus contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
基金NSFC Project 30220130698 to G. S.the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research no.1425507 from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology of Japan to H.N.
文摘Fossil woods were collected from the Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene beds distributed around Heilong- jang （Amur） River area of China and Russia. A total of 43 specimens were collected from Baishantou, Long- gushan, and Yong＇ancun in Jiayin, China, and 85 specimens from Zeya-Bureya Basin lying southeast of Blagoveshchensk in Russia. Selected specimens were sectioned and studied anatomically. The source deposits of almost all identifiable specimens belong to the Upper Cretaceous （Campanian） Taipinglinchang Formation and the Paleocene Wuyun Formation in China, and the Paleocene Upper Tsagayan Formation in Russia. Al- though the results obtained are still far from complete, the taxonomic composition of the fossil woods show marked stratigraphic differences between the two horizons beyond the K/T boundary in China. There is also a strong similarity in wood flora between the Wuyun Formation of China and the Upper Tsagayan Formation of Russia. All identified specimens from the Taipinglinchang Formation are Xenoxylon latiporosum, This is one of the stratigraphically younger records of Xenoxylon, which is a conifer morphogenus of uncertain affinity most common in the Triassic to Early Cretaceous. Only one specimen with possible derivation from either the Wuyun or the Maastriehtian Furao Formation in China was identified as Taxodioxylon sp. The Wuyun Formation yielded both conifers and dicotyledonous woods. The conifers include Taxodioxylon sequoianum of the Taxodiaceae, and Protopiceoxylon amurense, which is attributable to the extant genera Keteleeria or Nothotsuga of the Pinaeeac, both are at present endemic to China. At least two morphotypes of dicotyledonous woods were recognized, with one identified as el. Hamamelidoxylon , and the other diffuse porous wood is characterized by numerous heterogeneous rays. From the Zeya-Buleya Basin of Russia, Taxodioxylon sequoianum and cf. Hamamelidoxylon sp. were identified from the Upper Tsagayan Formation. The similarity of wood composition in both Wuyun and Upper Tsagayan Formations support lithological as well as biostratigraphic correlations proposed for the two formations.
文摘Sedimentary facies of the Tsagayan Formation is distributed in the eastern Zeya-Bureya Basin has been analyzed. The formation is of the Maastrichtian to Danian in age and characterized by the cyclicity of the fining-upwards successions. Analysis of environmental changes during the K/T boundary is the focus of this study. Five facies have been identified: Facies A, thick and laterally extensive coarse-grained to medium-grained sandstone units, interpreted as channelfill deposits; Facies B, parallel-laminated to massive mudstone units interpreted as interchannel lakes and flood plain deposits; Facies C, sheet-like medium-grained to fine-grained sandstones interpreted as crevasse splay deposits; Facies D, coal to coaly mudstone beds interpreted as deposits of peatlands; Facies E, very poorly sorted sandy mudstone beds interpreted as debris flow deposits. Fluvial environments with the low-relief flat topography was inferred. A channel transported large volumes of clasts, and a flood basin with interchannel lakes and peatlands was deciphered. Any distinct change of sedimentary environments has not been identified throughout the Tsagayan Formation (including the K/T boundary). However, two beds of debris flow deposits were identified. The one occurs at the uppermost part of the lower Tsagayan Subformation and contains dinosaur fossils. The other is intercalated in the upper Tsagayan Subformation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
文摘The chemical species of anomalous Ir in the Fish Clay K-T boundary at Stevns Klint, Denmark, was studied by using a newly-developed chemical stepwise dissolution procedure and neutron activation analysis. The experimental results indicate that the anomalous Ir mostly exists in the acid-insoluble residue phase. The Ir pattern of the K-T boundary resembles that of the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite, while remarkably different from those of the ultrabasic rock and volcanic lava. Thus, we deduce that the Ir anomaly at K-T boundary is mainly extraterrestrial, instead of volcanogenic or geochemical enrichment origin. The patterns of other trace elements in various phases also confirm the above conclusion.
