This study collected the early Oligocene to middle Miocene sediments from the Gerze Basin of Tibet, and used X-Ray diffraction （XRD） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） to discuss their clay mineralolgy, clay i...This study collected the early Oligocene to middle Miocene sediments from the Gerze Basin of Tibet, and used X-Ray diffraction （XRD） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） to discuss their clay mineralolgy, clay indices, better understand the clay mineralogy and its paleoclimatic significance. The results show that clay minerals of the Gerze Basin sediments are mainly composed of iilite and chlorite, with minor amounts of smectite and kaolinite, and their relative content varies along the section. Variations of relative contents and clay indices suggest that the Gerze Basin has experienced three-stage evolution of paleoclimate： I ） high ilUte and chlorite contents, with fluctuant smectite and low （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio, indicative of a dominant seasonal arid climate from the early Oligoeene to late Oligocene; Ⅱ） higher illite and chlorite contents and larger （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio but absence of kaolinite, indicating a colder and drier climate from the late Oligocene to early Miocene; Ⅲ） high iilite and chlorite contents with fluctuant （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratios and occasional occurrence of kaolinite, suggesting that the climate became warmer and more humid compared with that of stage Ⅱ in the mid-Miocene. These conclusions were also reinforced by the clay morphology, which suggests that physical weathering dominated in stage Ⅱ, while relatively strong chemical weathering was dominant in stages Ⅰ and Ⅲ Clay minerals of the sediments mainly consist of illite and chlorite, indicating that the source rock played a significant role in clay origin. It is inferred that global cooling and the enhancement of denudation and obstruction of northward moisture due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were responsible for the provenance of iUite and chlorite under weak chemical weathering. Though the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau reached a certain elevation by the mid-Miocene, yet the mid-Miocene widespread warming might have largely impacted the Gerze climate.展开更多
The clay mineralogy of the clay intervals interbedded with siliceous mudstones across the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) in Pengda, Guiyang, Guizhou province, was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high reso...The clay mineralogy of the clay intervals interbedded with siliceous mudstones across the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) in Pengda, Guiyang, Guizhou province, was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The clay mineral assemblages of the sediments are mainly I/S clays and minor smectite, kaolinite, and illite as reveled by XRD analyses. The peak-shape parameters BB1 and BB2 of I/S clays of the representative clay bed PL-01 are 4.7° and 4.4°, and the peak position of the low angle reflection is at 6.8° 2θ (13.6 ), suggesting that the I/S clays has a IS type of ordering. However, the presence of multi-order reflections and their intensities are different from those of completely ordered 1∶1 mixed-layer I/S clay rectorite, indicating that I/S clays of the Pengda section have partially ordered IS structures. HRTEM observations show that most of the I/S clays exhibit an IS stacking ordering. However, in some areas within a IS particle, smectite layer is observed in doublets, triplets, and quartets, which are interstratified by various amounts of illite layers, suggesting the presence of other irregular stacking in addition to the major 1∶1 IS ordered stacking. Transformation of smectite layer into illite layers is also observed in the I/S clays, suggesting that the Pengda I/S clays are derived from smectite illitization, in good agreement with the clay mineral assemblage. The I/S clays of the Pengda section contain up to 45% to 95% smectite layer, the notably higher contents of smectite layer relative to those of other PTB stratigraphic sets in south China can be attributed to difference in alteration and smectite illitization processes due to different sedimentary environments.展开更多
Linxia Basin is a late Cenozoic fault-block basin along the border between the Tibet plateau and the Loess plateau in Northwestern China. Its formation and sediments record may be directly affected by the structural d...Linxia Basin is a late Cenozoic fault-block basin along the border between the Tibet plateau and the Loess plateau in Northwestern China. Its formation and sediments record may be directly affected by the structural dynamics and the uplift of the Tibet Plateau. For this reason, we studied the mineral characteristics of the Maogou formation of Miocene sediments using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results showed that quartz, chlorite, illite, calcite, plagioclase, orthoclase, kaolinite, and trace palygorskite are present throughout the sequence of the cross-section in Linxia basin. In contrast, gypsum and ankerite occur occasionally in the upper portion of the Miocene deposits. The content of calcite varied with layers in the profile and was relatively concentrated in mudstone. Chlorite and illite were observed transforming into palygorskite under SEM observation. Based on the mineral characteristics and the change of mineral composition, especially the clay minerals, it could be inferred that an arid environment prevailed in the region with warm and cold intervals during Miocene time.展开更多
Geological mapping data (1:250000) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent regions reveal the sediment sequences, distribution and tectonic evolution of the 92 Tertiary remnant basins. Southern Tibet and the Yec...Geological mapping data (1:250000) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent regions reveal the sediment sequences, distribution and tectonic evolution of the 92 Tertiary remnant basins. Southern Tibet and the Yecheng area in Xinjiang, located at southern and northwestern margins of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, respectively, were parts of the Neo-Tethys remnant sea in the Paleogene. In southern Tibet, both the subabyssal and abyssal sequences occur at the Gyangze, Saga, Guoyala, and Sangmai areas. The deep-water facies successions outcrop in the west, whereas the shallow-water facies sequences in the east, indicating the east to the west retreat of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The retreat of the Neo-Tethys Ocean in the east was contributed to the earlier tectonic uplift of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The uplift process of the Plateau from the Late Cretaceous to Pliocene is described as follows: During the Late Cretaceous, tectonic uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau occurred in the northeastern part and the configuration of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was characterized by rise in the northeast and depression in the west. In the Paleocene-Eocene interval, the Tengchong-Baingoin and Kuyake-Golmud areas experienced local tectonic uplifting, the West Kunlun uplift zone broadened easterly, the Qilian uplift zone broadened southerly, and the Songpan-Garzê uplift zone shrank easterly. The Oligocene configuration of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was characterized by mountain chains rising along its margins and sedimentary basins in the central part because of tectonic uplifts of the Gangdisê and the Himalaya blocks. Meanwhile, the Kunlun-Altyn-Qilian uplift zones have also broadened southerly and northerly. In contrast, the great uplift zones of the Gangdisê, the Himalaya, the Karakorum, and the Kunlun blocks characterize the paleogeographic contours of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Miocene-Pliocene. Additionally, the thermochronological data on tectonic uplift events in southern Tibet, West Kunlun Mountains, Altyn Tagh, eastern Tibet, and western Sichuan all suggest that the most intense deformation occurred at 13-8 Ma and since 5 Ma, respectively, corresponding to two great uplift periods in Neogene. As a result, turnover of paleogeographic configuration of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau occurred during the Neogene, experiencing a change from high contours in the east in the pre-Oligocene to high contours in the west at the end-Pliocene. The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Cenozoic was episodic, and the uplifts of various blocks within the Plateau were spatially and chronologically different.展开更多
基金financially supported by the Independent Research Project Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan (No. GBL11307)the Key Project Foundation of China Geological Survey (No. 1212011121261)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41272053 and 41072030)
文摘This study collected the early Oligocene to middle Miocene sediments from the Gerze Basin of Tibet, and used X-Ray diffraction （XRD） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） to discuss their clay mineralolgy, clay indices, better understand the clay mineralogy and its paleoclimatic significance. The results show that clay minerals of the Gerze Basin sediments are mainly composed of iilite and chlorite, with minor amounts of smectite and kaolinite, and their relative content varies along the section. Variations of relative contents and clay indices suggest that the Gerze Basin has experienced three-stage evolution of paleoclimate： I ） high ilUte and chlorite contents, with fluctuant smectite and low （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio, indicative of a dominant seasonal arid climate from the early Oligoeene to late Oligocene; Ⅱ） higher illite and chlorite contents and larger （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratio but absence of kaolinite, indicating a colder and drier climate from the late Oligocene to early Miocene; Ⅲ） high iilite and chlorite contents with fluctuant （I＋Ch）/（K＋S） ratios and occasional occurrence of kaolinite, suggesting that the climate became warmer and more humid compared with that of stage Ⅱ in the mid-Miocene. These conclusions were also reinforced by the clay morphology, which suggests that physical weathering dominated in stage Ⅱ, while relatively strong chemical weathering was dominant in stages Ⅰ and Ⅲ Clay minerals of the sediments mainly consist of illite and chlorite, indicating that the source rock played a significant role in clay origin. It is inferred that global cooling and the enhancement of denudation and obstruction of northward moisture due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were responsible for the provenance of iUite and chlorite under weak chemical weathering. Though the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau reached a certain elevation by the mid-Miocene, yet the mid-Miocene widespread warming might have largely impacted the Gerze climate.
文摘The clay mineralogy of the clay intervals interbedded with siliceous mudstones across the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) in Pengda, Guiyang, Guizhou province, was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The clay mineral assemblages of the sediments are mainly I/S clays and minor smectite, kaolinite, and illite as reveled by XRD analyses. The peak-shape parameters BB1 and BB2 of I/S clays of the representative clay bed PL-01 are 4.7° and 4.4°, and the peak position of the low angle reflection is at 6.8° 2θ (13.6 ), suggesting that the I/S clays has a IS type of ordering. However, the presence of multi-order reflections and their intensities are different from those of completely ordered 1∶1 mixed-layer I/S clay rectorite, indicating that I/S clays of the Pengda section have partially ordered IS structures. HRTEM observations show that most of the I/S clays exhibit an IS stacking ordering. However, in some areas within a IS particle, smectite layer is observed in doublets, triplets, and quartets, which are interstratified by various amounts of illite layers, suggesting the presence of other irregular stacking in addition to the major 1∶1 IS ordered stacking. Transformation of smectite layer into illite layers is also observed in the I/S clays, suggesting that the Pengda I/S clays are derived from smectite illitization, in good agreement with the clay mineral assemblage. The I/S clays of the Pengda section contain up to 45% to 95% smectite layer, the notably higher contents of smectite layer relative to those of other PTB stratigraphic sets in south China can be attributed to difference in alteration and smectite illitization processes due to different sedimentary environments.
文摘Linxia Basin is a late Cenozoic fault-block basin along the border between the Tibet plateau and the Loess plateau in Northwestern China. Its formation and sediments record may be directly affected by the structural dynamics and the uplift of the Tibet Plateau. For this reason, we studied the mineral characteristics of the Maogou formation of Miocene sediments using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results showed that quartz, chlorite, illite, calcite, plagioclase, orthoclase, kaolinite, and trace palygorskite are present throughout the sequence of the cross-section in Linxia basin. In contrast, gypsum and ankerite occur occasionally in the upper portion of the Miocene deposits. The content of calcite varied with layers in the profile and was relatively concentrated in mudstone. Chlorite and illite were observed transforming into palygorskite under SEM observation. Based on the mineral characteristics and the change of mineral composition, especially the clay minerals, it could be inferred that an arid environment prevailed in the region with warm and cold intervals during Miocene time.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40621002)the Foundation of Geological Survey of China (Grant No. 1212010610103)MOE Innovative Research Team Program (Grant No. IRT0546)
文摘Geological mapping data (1:250000) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent regions reveal the sediment sequences, distribution and tectonic evolution of the 92 Tertiary remnant basins. Southern Tibet and the Yecheng area in Xinjiang, located at southern and northwestern margins of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, respectively, were parts of the Neo-Tethys remnant sea in the Paleogene. In southern Tibet, both the subabyssal and abyssal sequences occur at the Gyangze, Saga, Guoyala, and Sangmai areas. The deep-water facies successions outcrop in the west, whereas the shallow-water facies sequences in the east, indicating the east to the west retreat of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The retreat of the Neo-Tethys Ocean in the east was contributed to the earlier tectonic uplift of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The uplift process of the Plateau from the Late Cretaceous to Pliocene is described as follows: During the Late Cretaceous, tectonic uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau occurred in the northeastern part and the configuration of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was characterized by rise in the northeast and depression in the west. In the Paleocene-Eocene interval, the Tengchong-Baingoin and Kuyake-Golmud areas experienced local tectonic uplifting, the West Kunlun uplift zone broadened easterly, the Qilian uplift zone broadened southerly, and the Songpan-Garzê uplift zone shrank easterly. The Oligocene configuration of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was characterized by mountain chains rising along its margins and sedimentary basins in the central part because of tectonic uplifts of the Gangdisê and the Himalaya blocks. Meanwhile, the Kunlun-Altyn-Qilian uplift zones have also broadened southerly and northerly. In contrast, the great uplift zones of the Gangdisê, the Himalaya, the Karakorum, and the Kunlun blocks characterize the paleogeographic contours of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Miocene-Pliocene. Additionally, the thermochronological data on tectonic uplift events in southern Tibet, West Kunlun Mountains, Altyn Tagh, eastern Tibet, and western Sichuan all suggest that the most intense deformation occurred at 13-8 Ma and since 5 Ma, respectively, corresponding to two great uplift periods in Neogene. As a result, turnover of paleogeographic configuration of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau occurred during the Neogene, experiencing a change from high contours in the east in the pre-Oligocene to high contours in the west at the end-Pliocene. The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Cenozoic was episodic, and the uplifts of various blocks within the Plateau were spatially and chronologically different.
