In the Indian Himalaya,the Cambrian sequences are exposed in the Lesser and Tethyan Himalayan zones(LHZ and THZ).In the LHZ,the Cambrian biozonation is available at four stratigraphic intervals,i.e.,at~542-535 Ma,~524...In the Indian Himalaya,the Cambrian sequences are exposed in the Lesser and Tethyan Himalayan zones(LHZ and THZ).In the LHZ,the Cambrian biozonation is available at four stratigraphic intervals,i.e.,at~542-535 Ma,~524-513 Ma,~516 Ma,and~512 Ma.In the THZ,the Cambrian biozonation exists broadly at two stratigraphic intervals,i.e.,~514-505 Ma(in the Spiti region and partially in the Kashmir region)and~505-498 Ma(in the Zanskar region and partially in the Kashmir region).The Indian Cambrian faunal elements share Gondwanan and peri-gondwanan affinities.The depositional environments of the Cambrian sediments of THZ and LHZ show a wide array of settings.展开更多
The basic geological characteristics of the Qiongzhusi Formation reservoirs and conditions for shale gas enrichment and high-yield were studied by using methods such as mineral scanning,organic and inorganic geochemis...The basic geological characteristics of the Qiongzhusi Formation reservoirs and conditions for shale gas enrichment and high-yield were studied by using methods such as mineral scanning,organic and inorganic geochemistry,breakthrough pressure,and triaxial mechanics testing based on the core,logging,seismic and production data.(1)Both types of silty shale,rich in organic matter in deep water and low in organic matter in shallow water,have good gas bearing properties.(2)The brittle mineral composition of shale is characterized by comparable feldspar and quartz content.(3)The pores are mainly inorganic pores with a small amount of organic pores.Pore development primarily hinges on a synergy between felsic minerals and total organic carbon content(TOC).(4)Dominated by Type I organic matters,the hydrocarbon generating organisms are algae and acritarch,with high maturity and high hydrocarbon generation potential.(5)Deep-and shallow-water shale gas exhibit in-situ and mixed gas generation characteristics,respectively.(6)The basic law of shale gas enrichment in the Qiongzhusi Formation was proposed as“TOC controlled accumulation and inorganic pore controlled enrichment”,which includes the in-situ enrichment model of“three highs and one over”(high TOC,high felsic mineral content,high inorganic pore content,overpressured formation)for organic rich shale represented by Well ZY2,and the in-situ+carrier-bed enrichment model of“two highs,one medium and one low”(high felsic content,high formation pressure,medium inorganic pore content,low TOC)for organic-poor shale gas represented by Well JS103.It is a new type of shale gas that is different from the Longmaxi Formation,enriching the formation mechanism of deep and ultra-deep shale gas.The deployment of multiple exploration wells has achieved significant breakthroughs in shale gas exploration.展开更多
The Cambrian platform margin in the Tarim Basin boasts favorable source-reservoir-cap assemblages,making it a significant target for hydrocarbon exploration in ultra-to extra-deep facies-controlled for-mations.Of the ...The Cambrian platform margin in the Tarim Basin boasts favorable source-reservoir-cap assemblages,making it a significant target for hydrocarbon exploration in ultra-to extra-deep facies-controlled for-mations.Of the three major basins in western China,Tarim is the only basin with large-scale platform margin where no exploration breakthrough has been achieved yet.This study determines the vertical and lateral differential evolution of the platform margin(in the Manxi area hereafter referred to as the Cambrian Manxi platform margin)through fine-scale sequence stratigraphic division and a segmented analysis.The platform margin can be divided into the Yuqi,Tahe,Shunbei,and Gucheng segments,from north to south,based on the development of different ancient landforms and the evolutionary process of the platform.The Yuqi and Shunbei segments exhibit relatively low-elevation ancient landforms.Both segments were in a submarine buildup stage during the Early Cambrian,resulting in overall limited scales of their reservoirs.The Gucheng segment features the highest-elevation ancient landforms and accordingly limited accommodation spaces.As a result,the rapid lateral migration of high-energy facies zones leads to the development of large-scale reservoirs with only limited thicknesses.In contrast,the Tahe segment,exhibiting comparatively high-elevation ancient landforms,is identified as the most favorable segment for the formation of large-scale reservoirs.The cap rocks of the platform margin are dominated by back-reef dolomitic flats and tight carbonate rocks formed in transgressive periods.A comprehensive evaluation of source rocks,reservoirs,and cap rocks indicates that the Tahe segment boasts the optimal hydrocarbon accumulation conditions along the platform margin.In this segment,the Shayilike Formation transgressive deposits and the high-energy mound-shoal complexes along the platform margin of the Wusonggeer Formation constitute the optimal reservoir-cap rock assemblage,establishing this segment as the most promising target for hydrocarbon exploration in the platform margin.展开更多
The ultra-deep(deeper than 8000 m)petroleum in the platform-basin zones of the Tarim Basin has been found mainly in the Lower Paleozoic reservoirs located to the east of the strike-slip fault F5 in the north depressio...The ultra-deep(deeper than 8000 m)petroleum in the platform-basin zones of the Tarim Basin has been found mainly in the Lower Paleozoic reservoirs located to the east of the strike-slip fault F5 in the north depression.However,the source and exploration potential of the ultra-deep petroleum in the Cambrian on the west of F5 are still unclear.Through the analysis of lithofacies and biomarkers,it is revealed that there are at least three kinds of isochronous source rocks(SRs)in the Cambrian Newfoundland Series in Tarim Basin,which were deposited in three sedimentary environments,i.e.sulfide slope,deep-water shelf and restricted bay.In 2024,Well XT-1 in the western part of northern Tarim Basin has yielded a high production of condensate from the Cambrian.In the produced oil,entire aryl-isoprenoid alkane biomarkers were detected,but triaromatic dinosterane was absent.This finding is well consistent with the geochemical characteristics of the Newfoundland sulfidized slope SRs represented by those in wells LT-1 and QT-1,suggesting that the Newfoundland SRs are the main source of the Cambrian petroleum discovered in Well XT-1.Cambrian crude oil of Well XT-1 also presents the predominance of C29 steranes and is rich in long-chain tricyclic terpanes(up to C39),which can be the indicators for effectively distinguishing lithofacies such as siliceous mudstone and carbonate rock.Combined with the analysis of hydrocarbon accumulation in respect of conduction systems including thrust fault and strike-slip fault,it is found that the area to the west of F5 is possible to receive effective supply of hydrocarbons from the Cambrian Newfoundland SRs in Manxi hydrocarbon-generation center.This finding suggests that the area to the west of F5 will be a new target of exploration in the Cambrian ultra-deep structural-lithologic reservoirs in the Tarim Basin,in addition to the Cambrian ultra-deep platform-margin facies-controlled reservoirs in the eastern part of the basin.展开更多
The Lower Cambrian shales in the Sichuan Basin are considered one of the most promising shale gas resources in China.However,large-scale commercial development has not been achieved due to the relatively low and signi...The Lower Cambrian shales in the Sichuan Basin are considered one of the most promising shale gas resources in China.However,large-scale commercial development has not been achieved due to the relatively low and significantly variable gas contents of the drilled shales.Excitingly,the first major breakthrough in deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shale gas was made recently in the well Z201 in the southern Sichuan Basin,with a gas yield exceeding 73×10^(4)m^(3)/d.The success of well Z201 provides a favorable geological case to reveal the distinct enrichment mechanism of deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shale gas.In this study,at drilling site of well Z201,fresh shale core samples with different gasin-place contents were collected,and their geochemical,pore development and water-bearing characteristics were analyzed systematically.The results showed that the Z201 organic-rich shales reached an overmature stage,with an average Raman maturity of 3.70%.The Z201 shales with high gas-in-place contents are mainly located in the Qiongzhusi 12section and the upper Qiongzhusi 11section,with an average gas-in-place content of 10.08 cm^(3)/g.Compared to the shales with low gas-in-place contents,the shales with high gas-in-place contents exhibit higher total organic carbon contents,greater porosities,and lower water saturations,providing more effective pore spaces for shale gas enrichment.The effective pore structures of the deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shales are the primary factors affecting their gas-in-place contents.Similar to the shales with high gas-in-place contents of well Z201,the deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shales in the Mianyang-Changning intracratonic sag,especially in the Ziyang area,generally developed in deep-water shelf facies with high total organic carbon contents and thick sedimentary thickness,providing favorable conditions for the development and preservation of effective pores.Therefore,they are the most promising targets for Lower Cambrian shale gas exploration.展开更多
Abundant and well-preserved remains of noncalcareous algae and soft-bodied metazoans were collected from Middle Cambrian Kaili biota in Taijiang county, Guizhou Province, China. These remains provide further evidence ...Abundant and well-preserved remains of noncalcareous algae and soft-bodied metazoans were collected from Middle Cambrian Kaili biota in Taijiang county, Guizhou Province, China. These remains provide further evidence for the wide geographic distribution of many Burgess Shale taxa. Among the algae, 5 genera (including two new genera) and 5 species are described. They are Marpolia spissa Walcott, Acinocricus stichus Conway Morris and Robison, Udotealga erecta Yang, Eosargassum sawata Yang, and Rhizophyton zhaoyuanlongii Yang. Contrasting the macroalgal fossil assemblage in the Kaili biota with one in the Burgess Shale biota, it is clear that similarity of the Kaili biota and the Burgess Shale biota is reflected by the same content of not only the soft-bodied metazoans, but also the noncalcareous algae.展开更多
Based on the latest drilling, seismic and field outcrop data, the geological characteristics(e.g. strata, development and sedimentary evolution) of the southern segment of the Late Sinian–Early Cambrian Deyang–Anyue...Based on the latest drilling, seismic and field outcrop data, the geological characteristics(e.g. strata, development and sedimentary evolution) of the southern segment of the Late Sinian–Early Cambrian Deyang–Anyue rift trough in the Sichuan Basin are analyzed. First, the strata in the southern segment are complete. The first to second members of Dengying Formation(Deng 1 + Deng 2) are found with relatively stable thickness(400–550 m), and the third to fourth members(Deng 3+ Deng 4) show great thickness difference between the marginal trough and the inner trough, which is up to 250 m. The Cambrian Maidiping Formation and Qiongzhusi Formation in southern Sichuan Basin are relatively thin, with the thickness changing greatly and frequently. Second, the Deyang–Anyue rift trough extended southward during the Deng 4 period, affecting southern Sichuan Basin. Compared to the middle and northern segments of the rift trough, the southern segment is generally wide, gentle and shallow, with multiple steps, and alternating uplifts and sags, which are distributed in finger shape. Third, the Deng 1 + Deng 2 in southern Sichuan Basin records the dominance of carbonate platform and unobvious sedimentary differentiation, and the Deng 4 exhibits obvious sedimentary differentiation, namely, basin–slope–secondary slope–slope–secondary slope–platform margin–restricted platform, from the inner trough to the marginal trough. Fourth, the rift trough in southern Sichuan Basin has evolved in four stages: stabilization of Deng 1–Deng 2, initialization of Deng 3–Deng 4, filling of Maidiping–Qiongzhusi, and extinction of Canglangpu Formation.展开更多
Well preserved Early Cambrian small individual megascopic carbonaceous algal fossils have been found from the Chengjiang Biota. This paper deals with the new megascopic algal fossils in the Early Cambrian also from Ch...Well preserved Early Cambrian small individual megascopic carbonaceous algal fossils have been found from the Chengjiang Biota. This paper deals with the new megascopic algal fossils in the Early Cambrian also from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village, Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, southwest China. Two new taxa, Longfengshania cordata sp. nov. and Plantulaformis sinensis gen. et sp. nov. are described here in detail. These new findings show that the Chengjiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution. Moreover, the fossils described here might belong to the megaalgal fossils according to detailed morphological study on the relationships of Longfengshania. Additionally, the occurrence of Longfengshania in the early Cambrian and the Neoproterozoic probably indicates a wide ecological tolerance and flexibility and apparently reflects its evolutionary conservation and a high degree of inherent genetic stability.展开更多
The Cambrian of the North China platform consists chiefly of shallow water deposits and shows the sedimentary characters of an epicontinental sea basin. Controlled mainly by global sea level changes and sedimentary in...The Cambrian of the North China platform consists chiefly of shallow water deposits and shows the sedimentary characters of an epicontinental sea basin. Controlled mainly by global sea level changes and sedimentary influx, the depositional sequences all exhibit as composite sequences. From bottom upward, 14 sequences (3rd order) are recognized, which may be grouped into 5 sequence sets and further into 2 mesosequences (2nd order). It is suggested herein that the Cambrian/Ordovician boundary may better be set at the MFS (maximum flooding surface) of the sequence OSq1, above which the conodont Cordylodus lindstroemi occurs. This position is about 40 m above the traditional Cambrian/Ordovician boundary and is within the Yeli Formation.展开更多
The paper deals with the new phaeophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village of Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China. Three new taxa, Punctatiopsis latifolia gen. et sp. nov., P. ...The paper deals with the new phaeophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village of Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China. Three new taxa, Punctatiopsis latifolia gen. et sp. nov., P. simplex gen. et sp. nov. and Vendotaenia cf. antiqua Gnilovskaya axe described here in detail. These new findings show that the Chengjiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution. The fossil genus described here is found to have a close relationship with the living Punctatia based on similar morphology. The results suggest that the Chengjiang Biota in Haikou area of Kunming was living in an intertidal and subtidal seawater environment.展开更多
This paper reports for the first time on the microfossils discovered in the black cherts of the basal part of the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation at Miaohe village, Zigui County, Hubei Province, all of which were...This paper reports for the first time on the microfossils discovered in the black cherts of the basal part of the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation at Miaohe village, Zigui County, Hubei Province, all of which were observed in thin sections. Nine genera, 9 species and 3 indeterminate species (including a new species) are described. According to these microfossils, the conclusion is made that the microfossil zone may be equivalent to the small shelly fossil assemblage zones 2—3 of the Meishucun stage. They have provided another important line of evidence for the correlation of the Sinian-Cambrian boundary strata with those of the adjacent areas.展开更多
The lower Cambrian sediments of the Flinders Ranges,South Australia can be divided into three sequence sets.They rest unconformably on the Ediacaran succession.Sequence set C–1 comprises lower clastic units overlain ...The lower Cambrian sediments of the Flinders Ranges,South Australia can be divided into three sequence sets.They rest unconformably on the Ediacaran succession.Sequence set C–1 comprises lower clastic units overlain by a carbonate dominated marine succession that shows marked lateral and vertical facies changes.Sequence sets C–2 and C–3 together comprise a largely clastic dominated succession of marginal marine to nonmarine sediments with subordinate shallow marine carbonates.Sequence set C–1 is richly fossiliferous at some levels with biostratigraphy established for trilobites,archaeocyaths,brachiopods,small shelly fossils,acritarchs and molluscs.The Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte(Cambrian Series 2)from the north coast of Kangaroo Island occurs within a clastic-rich shelf succession dominated by conglomerate and sandstone.The fossil content is dominated by trilobites in terms of relative abundance and currently over 50 taxa are known including,Anomalocaris,the bivalved arthropods Isoxys and Tuzoia,the nektaspids Emucaris and Kangacaris,the megacheiran Oestokerkus amongst a variety of other arthropods.Other common taxa include palaeoscolecid worms,Myoscolex,sponges,hyoliths,brachiopods,a vetulicolian and several other enigmatic forms.The oldest known well preserved complex arthropod eyes occur in this biota.展开更多
Research into the long-recognized‘Cambrian Explosion’of animal life(e.g.,Lipps and Signor,1992;Briggs,2015)has,in recent decades,increasingly sought to resolve the interplay between evolutionary,geochemical and envi...Research into the long-recognized‘Cambrian Explosion’of animal life(e.g.,Lipps and Signor,1992;Briggs,2015)has,in recent decades,increasingly sought to resolve the interplay between evolutionary,geochemical and environmental changes that occurred over an extended Ediacaran to Cambrian transitional interval.This wider interval encompasses several significant geological events,including large-scale glaciations,supercontinental reorganization,global marine transgression,and perturbations in oxygen levels,other isotope proxies,and UV-B radiation(summarised in Narbonne et al.,2012;Meert et al.,2016).These events occurred contemporaneously with evolutionary developments including the radiation of macroscopic eukaryotes,the appearance of the extant animal phyla,the onset of burrowing and biological sediment processing,and the evolution of biomineralization(e.g.,Kouchinsky et al.,2012;Mangano and Buatois,2016;Cunningham et al.,2017).Biological and geological phenomena are widely considered to have been linked during the Ediacaran to Cambrian transition(e.g.,Canfield et al.,2007;Sperling et al.,2013;Boyle et al.,2014;Herringshaw et al.,2017;Shields,2017),and their interaction across this interval is an area of considerable scientific interest.Stratigraphic correlation and subdivision of Ediacaran and Cambrian sections worldwide has been identified as a key objective in order to better understand the co-evolution of the Earth and life systems,and in recent years there have been substantial advances in discussions relating to this challenge(Narbonne et al.,2012;Peng et al.,2012;Landing et al.,2013b;Babcock et al.,2014;Xiao et al.,2016).展开更多
A Burgess Shale-type biota is, in part, characterized by a wide diversity of taxa and soft-part preservation. Each provides unique historical insights into early metazoan evolution. Among the more than 40 globally dis...A Burgess Shale-type biota is, in part, characterized by a wide diversity of taxa and soft-part preservation. Each provides unique historical insights into early metazoan evolution. Among the more than 40 globally distributed biotas, the early Cambrian Chengjiang and Middle Cambrian Burgess-type biotas are the largest. The Kaili Biota, from the earliest Middle Cambrian of Guizhou, China, contains representatives of 110 metazoan genera belonging to 10 phyla. It contains many well-persevered soft-bodied specimens. This Chinese biota has become the third most taxonomically diverse Burgess Shale-type fauna. Because the Kaili Biota formed in an outer-shelf environment, its main faunal character is large numbers of eocrinoids and planktoic trilobites. The Kaili is younger than the Chengjiang Biota but older than the Canadian Burgess Shale Biota; it shares 30 genera with the Chengjiang and 38 genera with the Burgess Biota. The Kaili Biota displays a taphonomic window to the diversification and evolution of marine offshore organisms covering 5.13 million years between the Early and Middle Cambrian.展开更多
Since 1985, samples with a total weight of more than 14,000 kg, mainly from three key sections in western and northwestern Hunan, South China, have been processed for conodonts. In strata older than the late Late Camb...Since 1985, samples with a total weight of more than 14,000 kg, mainly from three key sections in western and northwestern Hunan, South China, have been processed for conodonts. In strata older than the late Late Cambrian paraconodonts have proved useful for stratigraphic subdivision and correlation. Thirteen conodont zones are proposed in the Middle Cambrian through lowermost Ordovician. The correlation between these zones and those of North China, western U. S.A., western Newfoundland, Canada, and Iran is discussed. In ascending order, these 13 zones are as follows: The Gapparodus bisulcatus-Westergaardodina brevidens Zone, Shandongodus priscus-Hunanognathus tricuspidatus Zone, Westergaardodina quadrata Zone, Westergaardodina matsushitai-W. grandidens Zone, Westergaardodina lui-W. am Zone, Westergaardodina cf. calix-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zone, Proconodontus tenuiserratus Zone, Proconodontus Zone, Eoconodontus Zone, Cordylodus proavus Zone, Cordylodus intermedius Zone, Cordylodus lindstromi Zone, and Cordylodus angulatus Zone (lower part). The Westergaardodina lui-W. ani and Westergaardodina cf. calix-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zones replace the Westergaardodina proligula and Westergaardodina cf. behrae-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zones, respectively, in the lowermost Upper Cambrian. Two new species (Westergaardodina Iui and Westergaardodina ani) and one conditionally identified species (Westergaardodina cf. calix) are described.展开更多
The utility of ICS International Chronostratigraphic Charts(ICS Charts)relies on the accuracy and precision of reported geochronologic dates and their relationship to the bases of global chronostratigraphic units.Howe...The utility of ICS International Chronostratigraphic Charts(ICS Charts)relies on the accuracy and precision of reported geochronologic dates and their relationship to the bases of global chronostratigraphic units.However,an examination of some early Paleozoic dates(i.e.,Cambrian-Ordovician boundary and lowest Ordovician)on the ICS Charts shows that they differ from originally reported and late recalculated dates.Thus,they record a numerical precision that differs from these revised dates.The dates assigned to the bases of formal early Paleozoic chronostratigraphic units may be interpreted by the lay reader as precise determinations.展开更多
The mollusc Watsonella crosbyi was studied on the basis of material from the lower Cambrian Dahai Member of the Zhujiaqing Formation in eastern Yunnan, China and the Pestrotsvet Formation of the Aldan River region in ...The mollusc Watsonella crosbyi was studied on the basis of material from the lower Cambrian Dahai Member of the Zhujiaqing Formation in eastern Yunnan, China and the Pestrotsvet Formation of the Aldan River region in the Siberian Platform. This fossil had been excessively described under different names in the literature, such as Heraultia varensalensis Cobboid, 1935, H. sibirica Missarzhevsky, 1974, Heraultipegma yunnanensis He and Yang, 1982, H. yannanese He and Yang,1982, Watsonella yunnanensis, W. crosbyi Grabau, 1900, etc. Taxonomic revision shows that other species are junior synonyms of W. crosbyi. Analysis of functional morphology implies that W. crosbyi may be rather a heicionelloid than a rostroconch since its univalved conch is untorted endogastric and lacks a rostrum and a true internal pegma. Replicas of the original microstrnctures preserved on the surfaces of phosphatic internal moulds confirm that the shell consists of two layers. The inner layer is lamello-fibrillar, and the outer layer is spherulitic prismatic. The widespread geographical occurrences in both siliciclastic and carbonate rocks of the late Terreneuvian indicate that W. crosbyi is an important index fossil for global correlations and subdivision of the Cambrian Series I （Terreneuvian）.The first appearance datum （FAD） of W. crosbyi is suggested to be a potential GSSP （Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point） candidate marker for defining the base of the Cambrian Stage 2.展开更多
The Guanshan Fauna, a soft-bodied fauna intermediate between the Chengjiang Fauna and the Kaili Fauna and also the Burgess Shale Fauna stratigraphically, consists of trilobites, trilobitoides, Tuzoia, Vetulicola, Pale...The Guanshan Fauna, a soft-bodied fauna intermediate between the Chengjiang Fauna and the Kaili Fauna and also the Burgess Shale Fauna stratigraphically, consists of trilobites, trilobitoides, Tuzoia, Vetulicola, Paleoscolex, brachiopods and sponges. The discovery and research of this fauna is of great significance in understading the 'Cambrian Explosion' and the evolution of early life. The occurrence of vetulicoliids from the Guanshan Fauna not only adds new members to the taxonomic list, but also provides new information to the evolution of this animal group. This paper describe Vetulicola gantoucunensis Luo, Fu et Hu sp. nov. from the Lower Cambrian Wulongqing Formation in the Kunming area. Also presented are the amended description of Vetulicola and the comparisons with related genera within Vetulicoliids. The affinity, distribution, as well as evolution of vetulicoliids are discussed.展开更多
The Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstatte provides a good window to explorethe origin and radiation of early bilaterians. Here we describe a netted sclerite-bearing wormTabelliscolex hexagonus gen. et sp. nov., and te...The Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstatte provides a good window to explorethe origin and radiation of early bilaterians. Here we describe a netted sclerite-bearing wormTabelliscolex hexagonus gen. et sp. nov., and tentatively assign it to palaeoscolecidans ofpriapulids. The cuticle of the animal is covered with two kinds of platy sclerites which areconstructed by hexagonally arranged tubercles Similar structures of the sclerites can be seen onsome Cambrian palaeoscolecidans and lobopods, so, this new species is critical for understanding therelationships between lobopods and palaeoscolecidans.展开更多
The Early Cambrian Balang Formation is comprised of mudrock and shale, which was deposited in a shelf environment in the eastern part of Guizhou, south China. The Balang Fauna, which consists of seven phyla, occurs in...The Early Cambrian Balang Formation is comprised of mudrock and shale, which was deposited in a shelf environment in the eastern part of Guizhou, south China. The Balang Fauna, which consists of seven phyla, occurs in the middle and upper parts of the Balang Formation. Arthropods are important constituents of the Balang Fauna and include a great number of trilobites, large bivalved arthropods, and newly-discovered well-preserved bradoriid fossils. The bradoriids present include three genera and four species ： Comptaluta inflata （Cheng, 1974） emend Hou et al., 2002; Comptaluta kailiensis sp. nov., and Alutella elongeta sp. nov, Aluta sp. This faunal assemblage in the Balang Formation is distinguished from the Tsunyiella Chang, 1964, Songlinella Yin, 1978 and Kunmingella Hou, 1956 assemblage which occurs in the Niutitang and Mingxinsi formations of the Yangtze Platform in middle region of Guizhou and which is earlier than the Balang Formation in age. However, this assemblage resembles the Comptaluta Opik, 1968 assemblage from the Early Cambrian Heilinpu Formation in Wuding County, Yuanan Province and from the Ordian Stage of the Cambrian of Australia. The great abundance of Comptaluta Opik, 1968 and overall taxonomic diversity of the Comptaluta Opik, 1968 assemblage set it distinctly apart from theAlutella Kobayashi et Kato, 1951 and Aluta Hou, 1956 assemblages of the Balang Formation. Alutella Kobayashi et Kato, 1951 and Aluta Hou, 1956 also occur in the Early Cambrian Niutitang Formation of the Yangtze Platform of Guizhou. Individual Bradoriids from the Balang Formation are characterized by large size （〉3 mm）. The discovery of new Bradoriid assemblages not only expands the group＇s geographical range and assemblage affinities, but also indicates that Bradoriids migrated eastward from shallow-water to deeper-water environments during the Early Cambrian, indicating that they were capable of life in deeper-water, and adaptation to a new ecological setting.展开更多
基金The IGC-36 funding for preparation of field excursion guide for Renuka-Sector(part of NR008)is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘In the Indian Himalaya,the Cambrian sequences are exposed in the Lesser and Tethyan Himalayan zones(LHZ and THZ).In the LHZ,the Cambrian biozonation is available at four stratigraphic intervals,i.e.,at~542-535 Ma,~524-513 Ma,~516 Ma,and~512 Ma.In the THZ,the Cambrian biozonation exists broadly at two stratigraphic intervals,i.e.,~514-505 Ma(in the Spiti region and partially in the Kashmir region)and~505-498 Ma(in the Zanskar region and partially in the Kashmir region).The Indian Cambrian faunal elements share Gondwanan and peri-gondwanan affinities.The depositional environments of the Cambrian sediments of THZ and LHZ show a wide array of settings.
基金Supported by the Sinopec Major Science and Technology Project(P22081)National Natural Science Foundation of China(U24B60001).
文摘The basic geological characteristics of the Qiongzhusi Formation reservoirs and conditions for shale gas enrichment and high-yield were studied by using methods such as mineral scanning,organic and inorganic geochemistry,breakthrough pressure,and triaxial mechanics testing based on the core,logging,seismic and production data.(1)Both types of silty shale,rich in organic matter in deep water and low in organic matter in shallow water,have good gas bearing properties.(2)The brittle mineral composition of shale is characterized by comparable feldspar and quartz content.(3)The pores are mainly inorganic pores with a small amount of organic pores.Pore development primarily hinges on a synergy between felsic minerals and total organic carbon content(TOC).(4)Dominated by Type I organic matters,the hydrocarbon generating organisms are algae and acritarch,with high maturity and high hydrocarbon generation potential.(5)Deep-and shallow-water shale gas exhibit in-situ and mixed gas generation characteristics,respectively.(6)The basic law of shale gas enrichment in the Qiongzhusi Formation was proposed as“TOC controlled accumulation and inorganic pore controlled enrichment”,which includes the in-situ enrichment model of“three highs and one over”(high TOC,high felsic mineral content,high inorganic pore content,overpressured formation)for organic rich shale represented by Well ZY2,and the in-situ+carrier-bed enrichment model of“two highs,one medium and one low”(high felsic content,high formation pressure,medium inorganic pore content,low TOC)for organic-poor shale gas represented by Well JS103.It is a new type of shale gas that is different from the Longmaxi Formation,enriching the formation mechanism of deep and ultra-deep shale gas.The deployment of multiple exploration wells has achieved significant breakthroughs in shale gas exploration.
基金funded by SINOPEC Science and Technology Research Program (project Nos:P24226, P24077)Northwest Oil Field Company,SINOPEC.
文摘The Cambrian platform margin in the Tarim Basin boasts favorable source-reservoir-cap assemblages,making it a significant target for hydrocarbon exploration in ultra-to extra-deep facies-controlled for-mations.Of the three major basins in western China,Tarim is the only basin with large-scale platform margin where no exploration breakthrough has been achieved yet.This study determines the vertical and lateral differential evolution of the platform margin(in the Manxi area hereafter referred to as the Cambrian Manxi platform margin)through fine-scale sequence stratigraphic division and a segmented analysis.The platform margin can be divided into the Yuqi,Tahe,Shunbei,and Gucheng segments,from north to south,based on the development of different ancient landforms and the evolutionary process of the platform.The Yuqi and Shunbei segments exhibit relatively low-elevation ancient landforms.Both segments were in a submarine buildup stage during the Early Cambrian,resulting in overall limited scales of their reservoirs.The Gucheng segment features the highest-elevation ancient landforms and accordingly limited accommodation spaces.As a result,the rapid lateral migration of high-energy facies zones leads to the development of large-scale reservoirs with only limited thicknesses.In contrast,the Tahe segment,exhibiting comparatively high-elevation ancient landforms,is identified as the most favorable segment for the formation of large-scale reservoirs.The cap rocks of the platform margin are dominated by back-reef dolomitic flats and tight carbonate rocks formed in transgressive periods.A comprehensive evaluation of source rocks,reservoirs,and cap rocks indicates that the Tahe segment boasts the optimal hydrocarbon accumulation conditions along the platform margin.In this segment,the Shayilike Formation transgressive deposits and the high-energy mound-shoal complexes along the platform margin of the Wusonggeer Formation constitute the optimal reservoir-cap rock assemblage,establishing this segment as the most promising target for hydrocarbon exploration in the platform margin.
基金Supported by the CNPC Science and Technology Project(2024ZZ0203)。
文摘The ultra-deep(deeper than 8000 m)petroleum in the platform-basin zones of the Tarim Basin has been found mainly in the Lower Paleozoic reservoirs located to the east of the strike-slip fault F5 in the north depression.However,the source and exploration potential of the ultra-deep petroleum in the Cambrian on the west of F5 are still unclear.Through the analysis of lithofacies and biomarkers,it is revealed that there are at least three kinds of isochronous source rocks(SRs)in the Cambrian Newfoundland Series in Tarim Basin,which were deposited in three sedimentary environments,i.e.sulfide slope,deep-water shelf and restricted bay.In 2024,Well XT-1 in the western part of northern Tarim Basin has yielded a high production of condensate from the Cambrian.In the produced oil,entire aryl-isoprenoid alkane biomarkers were detected,but triaromatic dinosterane was absent.This finding is well consistent with the geochemical characteristics of the Newfoundland sulfidized slope SRs represented by those in wells LT-1 and QT-1,suggesting that the Newfoundland SRs are the main source of the Cambrian petroleum discovered in Well XT-1.Cambrian crude oil of Well XT-1 also presents the predominance of C29 steranes and is rich in long-chain tricyclic terpanes(up to C39),which can be the indicators for effectively distinguishing lithofacies such as siliceous mudstone and carbonate rock.Combined with the analysis of hydrocarbon accumulation in respect of conduction systems including thrust fault and strike-slip fault,it is found that the area to the west of F5 is possible to receive effective supply of hydrocarbons from the Cambrian Newfoundland SRs in Manxi hydrocarbon-generation center.This finding suggests that the area to the west of F5 will be a new target of exploration in the Cambrian ultra-deep structural-lithologic reservoirs in the Tarim Basin,in addition to the Cambrian ultra-deep platform-margin facies-controlled reservoirs in the eastern part of the basin.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41925014).
文摘The Lower Cambrian shales in the Sichuan Basin are considered one of the most promising shale gas resources in China.However,large-scale commercial development has not been achieved due to the relatively low and significantly variable gas contents of the drilled shales.Excitingly,the first major breakthrough in deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shale gas was made recently in the well Z201 in the southern Sichuan Basin,with a gas yield exceeding 73×10^(4)m^(3)/d.The success of well Z201 provides a favorable geological case to reveal the distinct enrichment mechanism of deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shale gas.In this study,at drilling site of well Z201,fresh shale core samples with different gasin-place contents were collected,and their geochemical,pore development and water-bearing characteristics were analyzed systematically.The results showed that the Z201 organic-rich shales reached an overmature stage,with an average Raman maturity of 3.70%.The Z201 shales with high gas-in-place contents are mainly located in the Qiongzhusi 12section and the upper Qiongzhusi 11section,with an average gas-in-place content of 10.08 cm^(3)/g.Compared to the shales with low gas-in-place contents,the shales with high gas-in-place contents exhibit higher total organic carbon contents,greater porosities,and lower water saturations,providing more effective pore spaces for shale gas enrichment.The effective pore structures of the deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shales are the primary factors affecting their gas-in-place contents.Similar to the shales with high gas-in-place contents of well Z201,the deep and ultra-deep Lower Cambrian shales in the Mianyang-Changning intracratonic sag,especially in the Ziyang area,generally developed in deep-water shelf facies with high total organic carbon contents and thick sedimentary thickness,providing favorable conditions for the development and preservation of effective pores.Therefore,they are the most promising targets for Lower Cambrian shale gas exploration.
文摘Abundant and well-preserved remains of noncalcareous algae and soft-bodied metazoans were collected from Middle Cambrian Kaili biota in Taijiang county, Guizhou Province, China. These remains provide further evidence for the wide geographic distribution of many Burgess Shale taxa. Among the algae, 5 genera (including two new genera) and 5 species are described. They are Marpolia spissa Walcott, Acinocricus stichus Conway Morris and Robison, Udotealga erecta Yang, Eosargassum sawata Yang, and Rhizophyton zhaoyuanlongii Yang. Contrasting the macroalgal fossil assemblage in the Kaili biota with one in the Burgess Shale biota, it is clear that similarity of the Kaili biota and the Burgess Shale biota is reflected by the same content of not only the soft-bodied metazoans, but also the noncalcareous algae.
基金Supported by the PetroChina Science and Technology Project (2021DJ0605,2022KT0101)the CNPC Major Science and Technology Project (2021DJ0501)。
文摘Based on the latest drilling, seismic and field outcrop data, the geological characteristics(e.g. strata, development and sedimentary evolution) of the southern segment of the Late Sinian–Early Cambrian Deyang–Anyue rift trough in the Sichuan Basin are analyzed. First, the strata in the southern segment are complete. The first to second members of Dengying Formation(Deng 1 + Deng 2) are found with relatively stable thickness(400–550 m), and the third to fourth members(Deng 3+ Deng 4) show great thickness difference between the marginal trough and the inner trough, which is up to 250 m. The Cambrian Maidiping Formation and Qiongzhusi Formation in southern Sichuan Basin are relatively thin, with the thickness changing greatly and frequently. Second, the Deyang–Anyue rift trough extended southward during the Deng 4 period, affecting southern Sichuan Basin. Compared to the middle and northern segments of the rift trough, the southern segment is generally wide, gentle and shallow, with multiple steps, and alternating uplifts and sags, which are distributed in finger shape. Third, the Deng 1 + Deng 2 in southern Sichuan Basin records the dominance of carbonate platform and unobvious sedimentary differentiation, and the Deng 4 exhibits obvious sedimentary differentiation, namely, basin–slope–secondary slope–slope–secondary slope–platform margin–restricted platform, from the inner trough to the marginal trough. Fourth, the rift trough in southern Sichuan Basin has evolved in four stages: stabilization of Deng 1–Deng 2, initialization of Deng 3–Deng 4, filling of Maidiping–Qiongzhusi, and extinction of Canglangpu Formation.
文摘Well preserved Early Cambrian small individual megascopic carbonaceous algal fossils have been found from the Chengjiang Biota. This paper deals with the new megascopic algal fossils in the Early Cambrian also from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village, Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, southwest China. Two new taxa, Longfengshania cordata sp. nov. and Plantulaformis sinensis gen. et sp. nov. are described here in detail. These new findings show that the Chengjiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution. Moreover, the fossils described here might belong to the megaalgal fossils according to detailed morphological study on the relationships of Longfengshania. Additionally, the occurrence of Longfengshania in the early Cambrian and the Neoproterozoic probably indicates a wide ecological tolerance and flexibility and apparently reflects its evolutionary conservation and a high degree of inherent genetic stability.
文摘The Cambrian of the North China platform consists chiefly of shallow water deposits and shows the sedimentary characters of an epicontinental sea basin. Controlled mainly by global sea level changes and sedimentary influx, the depositional sequences all exhibit as composite sequences. From bottom upward, 14 sequences (3rd order) are recognized, which may be grouped into 5 sequence sets and further into 2 mesosequences (2nd order). It is suggested herein that the Cambrian/Ordovician boundary may better be set at the MFS (maximum flooding surface) of the sequence OSq1, above which the conodont Cordylodus lindstroemi occurs. This position is about 40 m above the traditional Cambrian/Ordovician boundary and is within the Yeli Formation.
文摘The paper deals with the new phaeophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village of Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China. Three new taxa, Punctatiopsis latifolia gen. et sp. nov., P. simplex gen. et sp. nov. and Vendotaenia cf. antiqua Gnilovskaya axe described here in detail. These new findings show that the Chengjiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution. The fossil genus described here is found to have a close relationship with the living Punctatia based on similar morphology. The results suggest that the Chengjiang Biota in Haikou area of Kunming was living in an intertidal and subtidal seawater environment.
基金This paper is a part of the results of project "Stratotype Section of the Sinian System in China" funded by the China National Foundation of Natural Science. Prof. Xing Yusheng, the leader of the project, also took part in the field work.
文摘This paper reports for the first time on the microfossils discovered in the black cherts of the basal part of the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation at Miaohe village, Zigui County, Hubei Province, all of which were observed in thin sections. Nine genera, 9 species and 3 indeterminate species (including a new species) are described. According to these microfossils, the conclusion is made that the microfossil zone may be equivalent to the small shelly fossil assemblage zones 2—3 of the Meishucun stage. They have provided another important line of evidence for the correlation of the Sinian-Cambrian boundary strata with those of the adjacent areas.
文摘The lower Cambrian sediments of the Flinders Ranges,South Australia can be divided into three sequence sets.They rest unconformably on the Ediacaran succession.Sequence set C–1 comprises lower clastic units overlain by a carbonate dominated marine succession that shows marked lateral and vertical facies changes.Sequence sets C–2 and C–3 together comprise a largely clastic dominated succession of marginal marine to nonmarine sediments with subordinate shallow marine carbonates.Sequence set C–1 is richly fossiliferous at some levels with biostratigraphy established for trilobites,archaeocyaths,brachiopods,small shelly fossils,acritarchs and molluscs.The Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte(Cambrian Series 2)from the north coast of Kangaroo Island occurs within a clastic-rich shelf succession dominated by conglomerate and sandstone.The fossil content is dominated by trilobites in terms of relative abundance and currently over 50 taxa are known including,Anomalocaris,the bivalved arthropods Isoxys and Tuzoia,the nektaspids Emucaris and Kangacaris,the megacheiran Oestokerkus amongst a variety of other arthropods.Other common taxa include palaeoscolecid worms,Myoscolex,sponges,hyoliths,brachiopods,a vetulicolian and several other enigmatic forms.The oldest known well preserved complex arthropod eyes occur in this biota.
文摘Research into the long-recognized‘Cambrian Explosion’of animal life(e.g.,Lipps and Signor,1992;Briggs,2015)has,in recent decades,increasingly sought to resolve the interplay between evolutionary,geochemical and environmental changes that occurred over an extended Ediacaran to Cambrian transitional interval.This wider interval encompasses several significant geological events,including large-scale glaciations,supercontinental reorganization,global marine transgression,and perturbations in oxygen levels,other isotope proxies,and UV-B radiation(summarised in Narbonne et al.,2012;Meert et al.,2016).These events occurred contemporaneously with evolutionary developments including the radiation of macroscopic eukaryotes,the appearance of the extant animal phyla,the onset of burrowing and biological sediment processing,and the evolution of biomineralization(e.g.,Kouchinsky et al.,2012;Mangano and Buatois,2016;Cunningham et al.,2017).Biological and geological phenomena are widely considered to have been linked during the Ediacaran to Cambrian transition(e.g.,Canfield et al.,2007;Sperling et al.,2013;Boyle et al.,2014;Herringshaw et al.,2017;Shields,2017),and their interaction across this interval is an area of considerable scientific interest.Stratigraphic correlation and subdivision of Ediacaran and Cambrian sections worldwide has been identified as a key objective in order to better understand the co-evolution of the Earth and life systems,and in recent years there have been substantial advances in discussions relating to this challenge(Narbonne et al.,2012;Peng et al.,2012;Landing et al.,2013b;Babcock et al.,2014;Xiao et al.,2016).
基金This research was supported in part by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(40162002,40372023,40232020)from the Foundation of the Key and Basic Project of Science and Technology of Guizhou(Gui No.2002-309)+1 种基金from the Early and Special Projects of the Key and Basic Projects of the Ministry of Technology and Science of China(2002 CCC 02600)to Zhaofrom the U S.National Science Foundation(0106883,0229757)to Babcock.
文摘A Burgess Shale-type biota is, in part, characterized by a wide diversity of taxa and soft-part preservation. Each provides unique historical insights into early metazoan evolution. Among the more than 40 globally distributed biotas, the early Cambrian Chengjiang and Middle Cambrian Burgess-type biotas are the largest. The Kaili Biota, from the earliest Middle Cambrian of Guizhou, China, contains representatives of 110 metazoan genera belonging to 10 phyla. It contains many well-persevered soft-bodied specimens. This Chinese biota has become the third most taxonomically diverse Burgess Shale-type fauna. Because the Kaili Biota formed in an outer-shelf environment, its main faunal character is large numbers of eocrinoids and planktoic trilobites. The Kaili is younger than the Chengjiang Biota but older than the Canadian Burgess Shale Biota; it shares 30 genera with the Chengjiang and 38 genera with the Burgess Biota. The Kaili Biota displays a taphonomic window to the diversification and evolution of marine offshore organisms covering 5.13 million years between the Early and Middle Cambrian.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 4037200140072007+3 种基金49772083 to Dong Xiping)by the Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy,Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant 023106 to Dong Xiping)by the Research Fund for Doctoral Program of High Education(Grant 2000000127 to Dong Xiping)by a travel grant from the Ohio State University(to Stig M.Bergstrom).
文摘Since 1985, samples with a total weight of more than 14,000 kg, mainly from three key sections in western and northwestern Hunan, South China, have been processed for conodonts. In strata older than the late Late Cambrian paraconodonts have proved useful for stratigraphic subdivision and correlation. Thirteen conodont zones are proposed in the Middle Cambrian through lowermost Ordovician. The correlation between these zones and those of North China, western U. S.A., western Newfoundland, Canada, and Iran is discussed. In ascending order, these 13 zones are as follows: The Gapparodus bisulcatus-Westergaardodina brevidens Zone, Shandongodus priscus-Hunanognathus tricuspidatus Zone, Westergaardodina quadrata Zone, Westergaardodina matsushitai-W. grandidens Zone, Westergaardodina lui-W. am Zone, Westergaardodina cf. calix-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zone, Proconodontus tenuiserratus Zone, Proconodontus Zone, Eoconodontus Zone, Cordylodus proavus Zone, Cordylodus intermedius Zone, Cordylodus lindstromi Zone, and Cordylodus angulatus Zone (lower part). The Westergaardodina lui-W. ani and Westergaardodina cf. calix-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zones replace the Westergaardodina proligula and Westergaardodina cf. behrae-Prooneotodus rotundatus Zones, respectively, in the lowermost Upper Cambrian. Two new species (Westergaardodina Iui and Westergaardodina ani) and one conditionally identified species (Westergaardodina cf. calix) are described.
文摘The utility of ICS International Chronostratigraphic Charts(ICS Charts)relies on the accuracy and precision of reported geochronologic dates and their relationship to the bases of global chronostratigraphic units.However,an examination of some early Paleozoic dates(i.e.,Cambrian-Ordovician boundary and lowest Ordovician)on the ICS Charts shows that they differ from originally reported and late recalculated dates.Thus,they record a numerical precision that differs from these revised dates.The dates assigned to the bases of formal early Paleozoic chronostratigraphic units may be interpreted by the lay reader as precise determinations.
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX3-EW-115)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2006FY120300-3)the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and National Science and Technology Major Project (2008ZX05008-001-001)
文摘The mollusc Watsonella crosbyi was studied on the basis of material from the lower Cambrian Dahai Member of the Zhujiaqing Formation in eastern Yunnan, China and the Pestrotsvet Formation of the Aldan River region in the Siberian Platform. This fossil had been excessively described under different names in the literature, such as Heraultia varensalensis Cobboid, 1935, H. sibirica Missarzhevsky, 1974, Heraultipegma yunnanensis He and Yang, 1982, H. yannanese He and Yang,1982, Watsonella yunnanensis, W. crosbyi Grabau, 1900, etc. Taxonomic revision shows that other species are junior synonyms of W. crosbyi. Analysis of functional morphology implies that W. crosbyi may be rather a heicionelloid than a rostroconch since its univalved conch is untorted endogastric and lacks a rostrum and a true internal pegma. Replicas of the original microstrnctures preserved on the surfaces of phosphatic internal moulds confirm that the shell consists of two layers. The inner layer is lamello-fibrillar, and the outer layer is spherulitic prismatic. The widespread geographical occurrences in both siliciclastic and carbonate rocks of the late Terreneuvian indicate that W. crosbyi is an important index fossil for global correlations and subdivision of the Cambrian Series I （Terreneuvian）.The first appearance datum （FAD） of W. crosbyi is suggested to be a potential GSSP （Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point） candidate marker for defining the base of the Cambrian Stage 2.
基金the joint project between the Yunnan Institute of Geological Sciences the Shenzhen Palaeontological Museum the Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province(2002D0033Q).
文摘The Guanshan Fauna, a soft-bodied fauna intermediate between the Chengjiang Fauna and the Kaili Fauna and also the Burgess Shale Fauna stratigraphically, consists of trilobites, trilobitoides, Tuzoia, Vetulicola, Paleoscolex, brachiopods and sponges. The discovery and research of this fauna is of great significance in understading the 'Cambrian Explosion' and the evolution of early life. The occurrence of vetulicoliids from the Guanshan Fauna not only adds new members to the taxonomic list, but also provides new information to the evolution of this animal group. This paper describe Vetulicola gantoucunensis Luo, Fu et Hu sp. nov. from the Lower Cambrian Wulongqing Formation in the Kunming area. Also presented are the amended description of Vetulicola and the comparisons with related genera within Vetulicoliids. The affinity, distribution, as well as evolution of vetulicoliids are discussed.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)the Ministry of Science and Technology(CMST)of China
文摘The Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstatte provides a good window to explorethe origin and radiation of early bilaterians. Here we describe a netted sclerite-bearing wormTabelliscolex hexagonus gen. et sp. nov., and tentatively assign it to palaeoscolecidans ofpriapulids. The cuticle of the animal is covered with two kinds of platy sclerites which areconstructed by hexagonally arranged tubercles Similar structures of the sclerites can be seen onsome Cambrian palaeoscolecidans and lobopods, so, this new species is critical for understanding therelationships between lobopods and palaeoscolecidans.
基金supported in part by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (40762001, 40762018)in part by the Mobile project of Science and Technology of Guizhou Province (Grant No. Gui Ji. 2007-4004)+3 种基金the Governor of Guizhou Province(Gui E. 2006-7)the Key Project of International Cooperation of Guizhou Science and Technology Department (Gui. Co. No. 2008-700110)the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS), (No. 083107)Paleontological Museum of Shenzhen Xianhu Botanical Garden, and the Major Basic Research Projects of MST of China (2006CB806401)
文摘The Early Cambrian Balang Formation is comprised of mudrock and shale, which was deposited in a shelf environment in the eastern part of Guizhou, south China. The Balang Fauna, which consists of seven phyla, occurs in the middle and upper parts of the Balang Formation. Arthropods are important constituents of the Balang Fauna and include a great number of trilobites, large bivalved arthropods, and newly-discovered well-preserved bradoriid fossils. The bradoriids present include three genera and four species ： Comptaluta inflata （Cheng, 1974） emend Hou et al., 2002; Comptaluta kailiensis sp. nov., and Alutella elongeta sp. nov, Aluta sp. This faunal assemblage in the Balang Formation is distinguished from the Tsunyiella Chang, 1964, Songlinella Yin, 1978 and Kunmingella Hou, 1956 assemblage which occurs in the Niutitang and Mingxinsi formations of the Yangtze Platform in middle region of Guizhou and which is earlier than the Balang Formation in age. However, this assemblage resembles the Comptaluta Opik, 1968 assemblage from the Early Cambrian Heilinpu Formation in Wuding County, Yuanan Province and from the Ordian Stage of the Cambrian of Australia. The great abundance of Comptaluta Opik, 1968 and overall taxonomic diversity of the Comptaluta Opik, 1968 assemblage set it distinctly apart from theAlutella Kobayashi et Kato, 1951 and Aluta Hou, 1956 assemblages of the Balang Formation. Alutella Kobayashi et Kato, 1951 and Aluta Hou, 1956 also occur in the Early Cambrian Niutitang Formation of the Yangtze Platform of Guizhou. Individual Bradoriids from the Balang Formation are characterized by large size （〉3 mm）. The discovery of new Bradoriid assemblages not only expands the group＇s geographical range and assemblage affinities, but also indicates that Bradoriids migrated eastward from shallow-water to deeper-water environments during the Early Cambrian, indicating that they were capable of life in deeper-water, and adaptation to a new ecological setting.
