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The distinctive features of the Lower Devonian rocks of the Longmenshan area in southwestern China are brachiopod shell concentrations, especially in the Bailiuping, Ganxi and Xiejiawan Formations, where brachiopod shell concentrations occur widely throughout. Depending on the dominant skeletal elements, six types of shell concentrations can be distinguished: Protochonete , Acrospirifer , Howellella , Orientospirifer , polyspecific shell and polyspecific fragments concentrations. According to the shell features, taphonomic signature, host sediments and their relationships, four genetic models of the various shell concentrations are described in this paper. The genetic processes and distributions along an onshore–offshore area were clarified on the base of taphonomic analysis. Pavements of opportunistic species of Protochonetes are autochthonous assemblages living in quieter, deeper, more offshore waters near the maximum storm wave base. The pavements are the result of reduced sedimentation; the substrate was silty and water-saturated with variable turbidity soupy-mud. Transport by high-energy processes is interpreted as the final formation process of polyspecific fragments concentrations with most extensive scope from intertidal zone to the maximum storm wave base. The Acrospirifer , Howellella , and Orientospirifer concentrations have been stirred by storm wave action and quickly buried after short transport tempestite model. They are most easily preserved around the average storm wave-base. The polyspecific shell concentrations, which include large bivalves are autochthonous assemblages living in shallow and relatively quieter water near shore environments. Autochthonous assemblages of the opportunist Protochonetes bailiupingensis occurring in the Bailiuping Formation of the Longmenshan area not only record of storm events, but are also important features to identify and correlate the Bailiuping Formation in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Cenozoic a typical lacustrine tempestite deposition was developed in the Lulehe and Xichagou sections of the Qaidam Basin. The sedimentary structures of these two sections above are examined here in detail, which consist of storm erosion, storm tear, storm wave and rapid storm-generated sedimentary structures after storm processes, such as groove casts, scour structures, cutoff structures, hummocky cross-stratification (HCS), parallel bedding and graded bedding. On the basis of these sedimentary characteristics and the vertical facies sedimentary sequence, the causes of the sedimentary succession are analyzed and a Cenozoic sedimentary model of the Qaidam Basin containing shallow proximal, transitional and deep distal tempestites is established. According to the tempestite scale and HCS wavelength, the Cenozoic storm was obviously more intense in the basin's Upper Ganchaigou formation than that in the Lower Youshashan formation. This variation indicates that a paleoclimatic transition largely corresponded with the second uplift of the whole Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The discovery of a Cenozoic tempestite in the Qaidam Basin is significant in the paleogeographic, paleoclimate and paleostructural fields, which provides a new insight in further study of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau uplift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Reflux seepage, burial and hydrothermal types of dolomite in the Cambrian Sanshanzi Formation are petrographically and geochemically identified. • Reflux seepage dolomitization was formed by high-salinity and Mg2+-enriched fluid penetrates downward into the limestone, and the dolomite has low δ 13C, high Sr and low Mn contents. • Burial dolomitization was due to the limestone deeply buried during the diagenetic stage and formed under a high-temperature and pressure environment. • Hydrothermal dolomitization occurred during Mg2+-rich hydrothermal fluid invaded, and the dolomite characterized by saddle dolomite with a positive δ Eu anomaly, and a low δ 18O value. The Cambrian Sanshanzi Formation is an important dolomite horizon in the Ordos Basin of northern China, and is well exposed in the western part of that basin. This paper focuses on the petrography and geochemistry of dolomites in this formation with an aim to provide a better understanding of their genesis. Reflux seepage, burial, and hydrothermal dolomites are identified in the Sa nshanzi Formation. Reflux seepage dolomites include dolomitic grainstone and powder crystal dolomite, and have high Sr and low Mn contents, a high CaO/MgO ratio and low δ 13 C values, and the reflux seepage dolomitization was formed by high-salinity and Mg2+-enriched fluid penetrates downward into the limestone. Burial dolomites are the main type of dolomite distributed through the Sanshanzi Formation. Burial dolomites are composed of fine- to coarse-crystal dolomite and have low Sr and high Mn contents, a low CaO/MgO ratio, and high δ 13C values. The features of high salinity, strong reducibility and negative δ 18O values indicate the burial dolomites formed under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, the burial dolomitization was due to the limestone deeply buried during the later diagenetic stage. Hydrothermal dolomites are mainly characterized by saddle dolomite features, a positive δ Eu anomaly, and low δ 18O values, and the hydrothermal dolomitization occurred during Mg2+-rich hydrothermal fluid invaded. The reflux seepage and hydrothermal dolomite developed in local areas, with the hydrothermal dolomite affected by the distribution of faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]