Redox status of the Mesoproterozoic epeiric sea in North China
Tang Dongjie1, Shi Xiaoying1,2, Pei Yunpeng1, Jiang Ganqing3, Zhao Guisheng1
1 School of the Earth Sciences and Resources,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing100083 2 State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing100083 3 Department of Geosciences,University of Nevada,Las Vegas,NV 89154-4010,USA
Abstract Marine authigenic aragonite crystal fans and isopachous cements are mainly formed in anoxic-dysoxic seawater or pore waters with oversaturated CaCO3 derived from bacterial sulfate reduction(BSR).Their presence can be used as a potential indicator for redox conditions of the depositional environment.Carbonate units from the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation(ca.1.5~1.45 Ga)in North China Platform show that aragonite fans and cements are common in deep subtidal deposits,but decline in shallow subtidal and disappear in intertidal deposits.Particularly the biolaminites deposited from deep-subtidal environments are composed of submillimeter-scale dark-light couplets of microbial mat and isopachous aragonite.Microscopically,the isopachous aragonites are composed of fibrous crystals or fan-shaped aggregates,similar to those recognized from the Archean strata of South Africa.Carbonates commonly form shallowing-upward cycles with shallow subtidal facies(Unit A) at the base,intertidal facies(Unit B) in the middle and supratidal facies(Unit C) at the top.The shallow subtidal facies(Unit A)contain abundant thrombolites,in which meso-clots consist typically of fabrous or fan-shaped aragonite aggregates surrounding organic-rich nuclei or pyrite grains,but rarely with carbonates micritic grains.Intertidal facies(Unit B)are dominated by laminated dolostone with interbeds of grainstones or packstones.Aragonite fans and cements are present but not abundant.Most of the aragonites in this unit grow on mat fragments or previously formed minerals,either as isopachous,fan-shaped or as botryoidal aggregates that fill cavities.Supratidal facies(Unit C)consists of micritic dolostone with pseudomorphs of halite and desiccated microbial mats but no aragonite crystal fans or cements. Geochemical analysis shows that V/Th,Mo/Th and U/Th increase from Unit C to Unit A,suggesting progressive anoxic condition with increasing water depth.Our study shows that during deposition of the Wumishan Formation(ca.1.5~1.45 Ga),the North China epeiric sea was likely anoxic below the fair-weather wave base,but the abundance of aragonite crystal fans and fibrous cements in deep-subtidal environments imply the availability of sulfate in shelf environments of the Mesoproterozoic epeiric sea.
About author: Tang Dongjie,born in 1985,is a Ph.D.candidate of paleontology and stratigraphy.E-mail: dongjtang@126.com. About the corresponding author Shi Xiaoying,born in 1956,is a professor of paleontology and stratigraphy in China University of Geosciences(Beijing).E-mail: shixyb@cugb.edu.cn.
Cite this article:
Tang Dongjie,Shi Xiaoying,Pei Yunpeng et al. Redox status of the Mesoproterozoic epeiric sea in North China[J]. JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY, 2011, 13(5): 563-580.
Tang Dongjie,Shi Xiaoying,Pei Yunpeng et al. Redox status of the Mesoproterozoic epeiric sea in North China[J]. JOPC, 2011, 13(5): 563-580.
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