Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China,which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage,Terreneuvian Series,Cambrian System.The nodules are r...Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China,which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage,Terreneuvian Series,Cambrian System.The nodules are rich in small shelly fossils and hence attract the attention of numerous paleontologists and sedimentary geologists.However,the genesis of the nodules and the preservation of the small shelly fossils are poorly understood.Here we analyze morphological,structural,mineralogical and chemical features of the nodules in multiscale using a combination of micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser Raman spectroscopy.Results reveal that nodules are concentric in chemical and mineralogical compositions,comprising a silica-phosphatic core encrusted sequentially by a phosphatic zone,a siliceous zone and a very thin pyrite outer rim.The black shales hosting the nodules demonstrate a laminated texture of alternating clayey and silty laminae,which were respectively deposited in sulfidic/less sulfidic,high/low production,intense/weak chemical weathering conditions.The phosphogenesis of the nodules resulted in the phosphatization of small shelly fossils,which prevented the fossils from being dissolved during diagenesis,whereas the silica encrustation sealed the fossils within the nodules and thus protected the fossils from alteration by deep burial and surface weathering.展开更多
Here we report a detailed trace element study of the cherts from Liuchapo Formation, which is a terminal Ediacaran (551-542 Ma) succession in South China deposited in deep-water basinal setting. The REE of Liuchapo ch...Here we report a detailed trace element study of the cherts from Liuchapo Formation, which is a terminal Ediacaran (551-542 Ma) succession in South China deposited in deep-water basinal setting. The REE of Liuchapo cherts shows similar features as observed for anoxic modern seawater (but not for hydrothermal fluids), characterized by positive La anomaly (LaN/CeN = 0.83–1.91, average 1.37), moderately negative Ce anomaly (0.53–1.1, average 0.73), positive Gd anomaly (average 1.08), positive Y anomaly (average 1.21), and depleted LREE and MREE. In addition, the Liuchapo cherts have low ΣREE (3.36–56.13 ppm, average 20.6 ppm), low Al2O3, Ti, Th and Zr concentrations, and high Y/Ho ratios (up to 43.9). The redox-sensitive trace elements concentrations in the cherts do not correlate with detrital input proxies. All of these features suggest that the redox-sensitive trace elements in the cherts were authigenically concentrated in water column and their concentrations thus are excellent indicators of ancient redox conditions. Very low Th/U ratios, high V/(V+Ni) and Fe?/Al ratios, enrichments of redox-sensitive trace elements (U, V, Mo), and low concentration of Mn in the cherts imply anoxia in the deep seawater. Our data reveal that the terminal Ediacaran ocean was not completely oxidized and the deep ocean was still anoxic, at least in South China. We propose that although the oxidative events existed in the terminal Ediacaran oceans, decomposition of organic matter prolonged anoxia in the deep ocean.展开更多
Cherts in the Laobao Formation in the Silikou section,South China were deposited in terminal Ediacaran deep-water.The speciations of iron in cherts,such as pyrite Fe(FeP),HCl-extractable Fe(FeH),and total Fe(FeT),and ...Cherts in the Laobao Formation in the Silikou section,South China were deposited in terminal Ediacaran deep-water.The speciations of iron in cherts,such as pyrite Fe(FeP),HCl-extractable Fe(FeH),and total Fe(FeT),and their interrelationships,are proxies for distinguishing oxic,anoxic but ferruginous,and sulfidic conditions,which is an effective method for studying the terminal Ediacaran ocean environment.For chert samples from the Laobao Formation,pyrite concentrations are generally low(<0.56%),degree of pyritization(DOP)ranges from<0.01 to 0.78 and most are<0.45;(FeP+FeH)/FeT ratios are between 0.27 and 0.84 and most exceed 0.38,and most of FeT/Al ratios range from 0.55 to 5.87(averaging 1.1).Relatively high content of highly reactive Fe and low content of pyrite indicate a scarcity of H2S and Fe-enriched deep-water.These features suggested that the deposition setting of Laobao cherts was anoxic and ferruginous.Terminal Ediacaran deep-water in the South China Basin was most likely anoxic and ferruginous,which played a key role in the emergence and evolution of early multicellular life.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos.41890843 and 41920104009)the Innovation Group Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(Grant No.311021003)。
文摘Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China,which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage,Terreneuvian Series,Cambrian System.The nodules are rich in small shelly fossils and hence attract the attention of numerous paleontologists and sedimentary geologists.However,the genesis of the nodules and the preservation of the small shelly fossils are poorly understood.Here we analyze morphological,structural,mineralogical and chemical features of the nodules in multiscale using a combination of micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser Raman spectroscopy.Results reveal that nodules are concentric in chemical and mineralogical compositions,comprising a silica-phosphatic core encrusted sequentially by a phosphatic zone,a siliceous zone and a very thin pyrite outer rim.The black shales hosting the nodules demonstrate a laminated texture of alternating clayey and silty laminae,which were respectively deposited in sulfidic/less sulfidic,high/low production,intense/weak chemical weathering conditions.The phosphogenesis of the nodules resulted in the phosphatization of small shelly fossils,which prevented the fossils from being dissolved during diagenesis,whereas the silica encrustation sealed the fossils within the nodules and thus protected the fossils from alteration by deep burial and surface weathering.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 40532012, 40873007, 40603021)Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX3- SW-141)
文摘Here we report a detailed trace element study of the cherts from Liuchapo Formation, which is a terminal Ediacaran (551-542 Ma) succession in South China deposited in deep-water basinal setting. The REE of Liuchapo cherts shows similar features as observed for anoxic modern seawater (but not for hydrothermal fluids), characterized by positive La anomaly (LaN/CeN = 0.83–1.91, average 1.37), moderately negative Ce anomaly (0.53–1.1, average 0.73), positive Gd anomaly (average 1.08), positive Y anomaly (average 1.21), and depleted LREE and MREE. In addition, the Liuchapo cherts have low ΣREE (3.36–56.13 ppm, average 20.6 ppm), low Al2O3, Ti, Th and Zr concentrations, and high Y/Ho ratios (up to 43.9). The redox-sensitive trace elements concentrations in the cherts do not correlate with detrital input proxies. All of these features suggest that the redox-sensitive trace elements in the cherts were authigenically concentrated in water column and their concentrations thus are excellent indicators of ancient redox conditions. Very low Th/U ratios, high V/(V+Ni) and Fe?/Al ratios, enrichments of redox-sensitive trace elements (U, V, Mo), and low concentration of Mn in the cherts imply anoxia in the deep seawater. Our data reveal that the terminal Ediacaran ocean was not completely oxidized and the deep ocean was still anoxic, at least in South China. We propose that although the oxidative events existed in the terminal Ediacaran oceans, decomposition of organic matter prolonged anoxia in the deep ocean.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40532012,40873007 and 40603021)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX3-SW-141)
文摘Cherts in the Laobao Formation in the Silikou section,South China were deposited in terminal Ediacaran deep-water.The speciations of iron in cherts,such as pyrite Fe(FeP),HCl-extractable Fe(FeH),and total Fe(FeT),and their interrelationships,are proxies for distinguishing oxic,anoxic but ferruginous,and sulfidic conditions,which is an effective method for studying the terminal Ediacaran ocean environment.For chert samples from the Laobao Formation,pyrite concentrations are generally low(<0.56%),degree of pyritization(DOP)ranges from<0.01 to 0.78 and most are<0.45;(FeP+FeH)/FeT ratios are between 0.27 and 0.84 and most exceed 0.38,and most of FeT/Al ratios range from 0.55 to 5.87(averaging 1.1).Relatively high content of highly reactive Fe and low content of pyrite indicate a scarcity of H2S and Fe-enriched deep-water.These features suggested that the deposition setting of Laobao cherts was anoxic and ferruginous.Terminal Ediacaran deep-water in the South China Basin was most likely anoxic and ferruginous,which played a key role in the emergence and evolution of early multicellular life.
