Nonmarine time-stratigraphy in a rift setting: An example from the Mid-Permian lower Quanzijie low-order cycle, Bogda Mountains, NW China
Jonathan Obrist-Farner1, *, Wan Yang1,2
1. Geology and Geophysics Program, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409, USA��
2. Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Research, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
Sedimentological and stratigraphic studies of seven stratigraphic sections of Permian Hongyanchi (HYC) and Quanzijie (QZJ) low-order cycles (LCs) in the Tarlong-Taodonggou half graben and Dalongkou area in Bogda Mountains, NW China, demonstrate effective approaches and methodology in cyclo- and time-stratigraphic analyses of complex fluvial-lacustrine deposits in an intracontinental rift setting. A new synchronous stratigraphic unit, the lower QZJ LC is defined. The lower and upper boundaries of this cycle include a regionally correlative disconformity, erosional unconformity, and conformity, across which significant and abrupt changes in palaeoenvironments and tectonic and climatic conditions occurred. The lower boundary is an erosional unconformity and disconformity with a high-relief topography that juxtaposes lacustrine deposits of the underlying HYC LC with the overlying meandering stream deposits of the lower QZJ LC, and was caused by a regional tectonic uplift. The upper boundary is a disconformity and local erosional unconformity and conformity, juxtaposing stacked paleosols developed on fluvial sediments with overlying fluvial and loessial deposits of the upper QZJ LC. The paleosols indicate landscape stability and a prolonged period of subaerial exposure and minimal deposition and suggest that climatic conditions were semi-arid with strong precipitation seasonality in the Tarlong-Taodonggou half graben and subhumid in the Dalongkou area. The fluvial-loessial deposits indicate a renewed tectonic uplift and a change in the atmospheric circulation pattern. The newly-defined lower QZJ LC facilitates accurate palaeogeographic reconstruction in the study area during a period of major tectonic and climatic changes. The interpreted tectonic and climatic conditions provide a critical data point in the mid-latitude east coast of NE Pangea during the Mid-Permian icehouse-hothouse transition. The results demonstrate that a process-response approach is effective in time-stratigraphic analysis of complex fluvial-lacustrine strata in a highly-partitioned rift basin.
We would like to thank Drs. J. Wang and M. L. Wan of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Y. Yang of Xi’an Petroleum University, Dr. X. Luo of Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Q. Feng of Shandong University of Science and Technology, S. S. Wang, J. J. Liu, T. Foster, Z. X. Li, J. J. Li, L. L. Cheng, C. C. Zhou, Y. M. Gao, and B. Sun for field, funding, and/or logistic assistance. This research was partially supported by four student research grants from Geological Society of America, Ed Picou/GCSSEPM, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the Al Spreng Graduate Research Grant from the Geology and Geophysics Program of Missouri University of Science and Technology to Jonathan Obrist-Farner, and by a research grant from University of Missouri Research Board and a research grant (No. 2011ZX05008-004-053) from Institute of Geology and Geophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences to Wan Yang. Acknowledgement is made to the donors of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, for a grant to Wan Yang. We are grateful to Professors Zeng-Zhao Feng, Jing-Tai Han, and an anonymous reviewer for the constructive comments that improved the quality of this contribution.
Jonathan Obrist-Farner,Wan Yang. Nonmarine time-stratigraphy in a rift setting: An example from the Mid-Permian lower Quanzijie low-order cycle, Bogda Mountains, NW China[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2015, 4(1): 27-51.
Jonathan Obrist-Farner,Wan Yang. Nonmarine time-stratigraphy in a rift setting: An example from the Mid-Permian lower Quanzijie low-order cycle, Bogda Mountains, NW China[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2015, 4(1): 27-51.
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