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Calcareous interbeds control the migration of oil and water in marine strata. However, in China, the origins of such calcareous interbeds have not been investigated in detail. In this paper, we present a study of calcareous interbeds in marine strata of the Zhujiang Formation in the Wenchang Oil Field, which is located in the southeast of Hainan Province, China. The lithological characteristics, types and features of diagenesis, and formation of the calcareous interbeds were investigated using core, thin-section, scanning electron microscopy, and cathodoluminescence observations, and stable carbon and oxygen isotope data. The calcareous interbeds consist of mixed sediments, which are dominated by bioclastic limestones containing terrigenous clasts, along with subordinate calcareous sandstone. The interbeds are densely cemented. The bioclasts are dominantly brachiopods, pleopods, and foraminifera, with minor amounts of echinodermata, bivalves, red algae, ostracods, and bryozoa. Diagenesis involved calcitic cementation, associated with relatively weak compaction. Carbon and oxygen isotopic data indicate the pore water that formed the carbonate cement was mostly sourced from seawater and minor amounts of meteoric water. The degree of carbonate cementation was significantly related to the bioclast content. On the basis of our study, a genetic model for the macroscopic and microscopic formation of calcareous interbeds is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Permian Changhsing Formation is one of the most important gas-bearing formations in the Eastern Sichuan Basin. Nonetheless, the primary factors controlling the reef-shoal gas reservoirs of different regions are diverse. Clarifying the controlling factors for the formation of intra-platform reef-shoal reservoirs will promote the exploration and development process of the Changhsing Formation. By using outcrop data, core observation, thin section identification, scanning electron microscope analysis, physical property study, and logging interpretation, this paper analyse the characteristics and factors controlling the reef-shoal reservoir in Dianjiang area of the Eastern Sichuan Basin. The results show that the reef cap and reef base microfacies fine-to-medium crystalline dolomite reservoir have the best physical properties, and the reservoir spaces are primarily composed of intercrystalline pores, intercrystalline solution pores, karst caves, and fractures. The main lithology of reservoir formation is reef-shoal facies. The results for the carbon and oxygen isotopes show that dolomites of different particle sizes are formed in three environments. Affected by regression in the late Changhsingian Age, the reef-shoal of the Changhsing Formation were subaerially exposed to meteoric water diagenesis environments, resulting in the highly dispersed particles in rocks that formed a honeycomb karst system, which greatly improved the physical properties of the reservoirs. After reflux dolomitization, the honeycomb karst system was well preserved due to strong resistance to pressure and dissolution of dolomite. Therefore, dolomitization in the Changhsing formation contributed to reservoir porosity. Later, tectonic fracturing has adjusted and modified the reef-shoal reservoir. In summary, penecontemporaneous karstification was the key to the formation of the reef-shoal reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleo-altitude reconstructions using oxygen isotopes provide past surface elevation data that can constrain the topographic evolution of mountain belts. This paper presents oxygen and carbon stable isotopic compositions of gastropod fossils, carbonate cements, and shelly sandstones in the Anjihai and Shawan formations located in the Sikeshu drainage basin, northern Tianshan, western China. Correlations between the stable isotopic compositions and lithofacies suggest that the Sikeshu drainage basin was mainly an open hydrological depositional environment. Based on the oxygen isotopic compositions of the gastropod fossils and petrographic examination, the δ13C and δ18O values have not been reset by late-stage diagenesis. Paleo-altitudes were reconstructed using the corrected paleo-surface water δ18O psw values recovered from gastropod fossils, carbonate cements, and shelly sandstones. An empirical formula was developed to calculate the paleo-latitudes when the Anjihai and Shawan formations were deposited. The paleo-altitude of the Sikeshu drainage basin had attained an elevation exceeding 2000 m by 28 Ma, similar to the present-day elevation in this area. This conclusion contributes to our understanding of the extent of surface uplift in the Cenozoic of Tianshan and the climatic differences on either side of Tianshan during the Cenozoic. Unlabelled Image • This study is the first in Tianshan to provide quantitative evidence for uplift and exhumation. • δ18O date of gastropod fossil analyzed in situ by NanoSIMS rule out diagnetic reset. • Paleoelevation of the north of Tianshan have exceeded 2000 m at least before 28 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Paleoproterozoic Jingshan Group marble displays a pronounced positive δ13C V-PDB. • The positive excursion appears to have been a response to the Lomagundi-Jatuli event. • The carbon isotope anomaly appears most pronounced in shallow marine deposits. • BIF and graphite deposits formed coeval with increasing atmospheric oxygen levels. The North China Craton, one of the oldest continental blocks in the world, comprises Paleoproterozoic metamorphic sedimentary formations that record the effects of multiple major events in early Earth history, including the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) and its consequent Lomagundi-Jatuli carbon isotope event (LJE). The lack of focused research on the geological record of LJE-equivalent rocks of the Jiaodong Peninsula, Shandong Province, eastern China, has hindered our understanding of the Precambrian atmospheric oxygen evolution recorded by rocks of the North China Craton. This paper considers carbon and oxygen isotope and trace element geochemical data recovered from marble deposits of the Paleoproterozoic Jingshan Group (2.20–1.90 Ga) of the Jiaolai Basin. The investigated strata display a pronounced positive δ13C V-PDB excursion greater than 4.2 ‰. δ13C V-PDB and δ18O V-SMOW values range from −3.7 ‰ to 5.4 ‰ and 4.5 ‰ to 18.7 ‰, respectively. Positive co-variance of carbon and oxygen isotope values of the analyzed Jingshan Group samples is interpreted to reflect the effects of metamorphism and water–rock reactions. Marble deposits of the Jingshan Group experienced recrystallization, metamorphism, and silicification resulting in strong decarbonation. High amphibolite facies metamorphism may have reduced δ13C V-PDB by 3 ‰ to 5 ‰. Thus, estimated original sedimentary δ13C V-PDB values of as great as +8.4 ‰ suggest the existence of a strong positive anomaly that may reflect the global Lomagundi-Jatuli event. Rare earth and other trace element geochemical results of the present study suggest that banded iron formation (BIF) deposits associated with the Jingshan Group marble formed in a redox stratified ocean in the Jiaolai Basin dominated by ferruginous conditions. Moreover, our results suggest that positive carbon isotope anomaly associated with the LJE is largely constrained to sediment deposited in shallow and coastal marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the influence of glacial-interglacial climate change and regional tectonic activities in the Quaternary, the sedimentary environments of the Bohai Sea changed greatly, providing significant information on transgression-regression events, East Asian monsoon changes and regional tectonic activities. This study analyzed the sedimentological characteristics of the BH1302 core (water depth of 12.3 m, length of 70.2 m) in the southern Bohai Sea based on grain size, foraminiferal assemblages, carbon and oxygen isotopes in foraminiferal shells and element geochemistry, and established a chronological framework based on AMS 14C, optically stimulated luminescence dating and Oxcal age-depth model using Bayesian modeling. The results showed that three interglacial transgressions and one interstadial transgression were revealed in BH1302 since the late Quaternary, corresponding to marine isotope stages (MIS) 7, 5, 3 and 1, and three subinterglacial transgressions were further identified during MIS 7. The sedimentary environments of Laizhou Bay transitioned from an estuary environment dominated by rivers to a neritic environment dominated by marine conditions because of subsidence of the Miaodao uplift in late MIS 7.1. Three subinterstadial transgressions occurred in both MIS5 with two subinterstadial in MIS 3, and the highstand sea level of MIS 3 reached approximately −18 ∼ −21 m. Under the influence of sea level fluctuations and the East Asian monsoon, the sedimentary environments of MIS 1 can be divided into a low salinity tidal-flat environment (12.0–7.0 kyr BP), a low salinity neritic environment (7.0–4.5 kyr BP) and a modern neritic environment (∼4.5 kyr BP). • The isotopes in the foraminifera shells have good indications to the impact of freshwater input on the neritic environments. • Except for 4 interglacial transgressions, the paper further identifies 3 sub-interglacial transgressions in the MIS7 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of dolostones from the Lei 4 Member (T2l4) of the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation in the Western Sichuan Depression is unclear. The occurrence and genetic evolution of dolostones in T2l4 were analysed by polarised thin-sections and cathodoluminescence, major- and trace-element, scanning electron microscope, and carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope analyses. The study results are summarised as follows. (1) The dolostones were mainly precipitated in three stages of <40 °C, 40–60 °C and 60–80 °C, corresponding with three paleodepth ranges of 167–300 m, 433–1000 m and 1067–1433 m. The micritic dolostones and the fabric-retentive dolostones (algal dolostone, granular dolostone) mainly formed in a near-surface–shallow-burial environment, and the crystalline dolostones were mainly formed under intermediate burial conditions. (2) 87Sr/86Sr ratios are equivalent to that of the Middle Triassic seawater, Sr/Ba and V/Ni ratios >1, Na notably higher than that in coexisting limestones of T2l4, and the dolostones always coexist with evaporative minerals such as gypsum, indicating that dolomitisation fluids mainly originated from evaporative concentrated seawater. (3) The dolostones mainly inherit materials from precursor limestones based on trace-element distribution patterns, and carbon and oxygen isotope values that are consistent with coexisting limestones of T2l4. (4) Mediated by micro-organisms during the syngenetic period, micritic dolostones and some algal dolostones were formed by replacing aragonites and calcites. During shallow burial, concentrated seawater rich in Mg2+ from the supratidal–intertidal zone flowed downward owing to gravity along the platform and replaced the underlying carbonate rocks, promoting continuous growth of the early dolomites. In the intermediate burial period, the Mg2+-depleted dolomitisation fluid caused the early micritic and silt-crystalline dolostones to recrystallise into silt- or fine-crystalline dolostones with larger crystals and altered the fabric-retentive dolostones into crystalline dolostones. (5) The evaporative dolostones deposited in the near-surface environment are characterised by maximal enrichment of Fe, Sr and Na, the highest δ18O values, the lowest order degree and the highest Ca/Mg ratios. The reflux dolostones formed in a shallow-burial environment characterised by the lowest Fe, medium δ18O values and the lowest order degree. The burial dolostones that developed in the intermediate burial environment are characterised by relative enrichment of Fe and Mn, minimal Na, the lowest δ18O values, the highest order degree and medium Ca/Mg ratios. The fabric-retentive dolostones mainly formed in a near-surface–shallow-burial environment, and the crystalline dolostones mainly formed under intermediate burial conditions. Dolomitisation fluids mainly originated from the evaporative concentrated seawater, and the dolostones inherit materials from the precursor limestones. Micritic dolostones were formed by evaporative dolomitisation; algal dolostone and granular dolostone were formed by evaporative dolomitisation and reflux dolomitisation; and silt-crystalline dolostone were formed by reflux dolomitisation and burial dolomitisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researches into shale lithofacies, their sedimentary environments and relationship benefit understanding both of sedimentary cycle division and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration in lacustrine basins. Based on a 100∼300‐m‐thick dark shale, mudstone and limestone encountered in the lower third member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation (Es3l member) in Zhanhua Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, routine core analysis, thin sectioning, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mineralogical and geochemical measurements were used to understand detailed facies characterization and paleoclimate in the member. This Es3l shale sediment includes three sedimentary cycles (C3, C2 and C1), from bottom to top, with complex sedimentary characters and spatial distribution. In terms of the composition, texture, bedding and thickness, six lithofacies are recognized in this succession. Some geochemical parameters, such as trace elements (Sr/Ba, Na/Al, V/Ni, V/(V + Ni), U/Th), carbon and oxygen isotopes (δ18O, δ13C), and total organic carbon content (TOC) indicate that the shales were deposited in a deep to semi‐deep lake, with the water column being salty, stratified, enclosed and reductive. During cycles C3 and C2 of the middle‐lower sections, the climate was arid, and the water was salty and stratified. Laminated and laminar mudstone–limestone was deposited with moderate organic matter (average TOC 1.8%) and good reservoir quality (average porosity 6.5%), which can be regarded as favorable reservoir. During the C1 cycle, a large amount of organic matter was input from outside the basin and this led to high productivity with a more humid climate. Massive calcareous mudstone was deposited, and this is characterized by high TOC (average 3.6%) and moderate porosity (average 4%), and provides favorable source rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes numerous siderite occurrences from Nb-Zr-REY-Ga-enriched beds of tuffaceous mudstone from the Yujingshan borehole, eastern Yunnan, southwestern China. The mineral phases in the samples were identified and characterized through macroscopic observation, XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis, optical microscopy, and FE-SEM (field emission-scanning electron microscopy). The results show that the siderite occurs in the drill core from depths of 664.07 to 729.21 m, where its content varies from 15.1 to 65.7%, 31.3% on average. Modes of occurrence of authigenic siderite include irregular banded or massive aggregates, discrete fine particles, oolitic aggregates, and double or multi-ring ellipsoid-shaped or rhombohedral aggregates. The mineralogical association with quartz, anatase, ilmenite, chromite, and zircon with sharp-edged outlines, high-temperature cracks and/or corroded embayments, and REE-bearing minerals and geochemical characteristics such as Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 between 3 and 8, less commonly 8–23.77, indicate that abundant siderite was produced by hydrothermal alteration of airborne volcaniclastic materials. The δ 13C PDB , δ 18O PDB , and δ 18O SMOW values of siderite in the argillized tuff range from −12.56 to −1.32‰, −8.98 to −5.88‰, and 21.60 to 24.80‰, respectively. In the δ 13C PDB - δ 18O SMOW diagram, plots of the studied siderite are distributed between the fields of marine carbonate rocks, sedimentary organic matter, and carbonates of hydrothermal ores. Some siderite from the upper part of the studied borehole is isotopically close to REY carbonates from the Abramovka lignite deposit, Far Eastern Russia, which precipitated from evolved basinal waters mixed with CO 2 from a mantle source. In summary, this indicates a hybrid origin for the studied siderite including carbonate dissolution, dehydroxylation of sedimentary organic matter, and hydrothermal activity. Furthermore, the paleosalinity (Z) and paleotemperature (T) of the ore-forming fluids were calculated based on the age-corrected stable carbon and oxygen isotopic data in the samples. The Z values range from 96.65 to 121.5‰, suggesting the formation of siderite under brackish-water conditions. The T values vary from 19.47 to 47.12 °C, with some sharp fluctuations that may be due to ash falls and/or hydrothermal injections. Overall, our data support the model for critical-metal Nb(Ta)-Zr(Hf)-REY-Ga enrichment in tuffaceous deposits of southwest China including a combination of volcanic activity and terrestrial organic-rich sedimentation under warm and humid conditions, followed by low-temperature alteration evolved from acidic leaching, which is responsible for the Nb-Zr-REY-Ga enrichment, and, subsequently, formation of authigenic siderite with associated quartz, sulfide minerals, and phosphate minerals under reducing neutral/weakly alkaline conditions. • Abundant siderite is documented in the clay-altered tuffaceous horizons. • Fe was primarily derived from airborne pyroclastics. • C and O were sourced from carbonate, organic matter, and hydrotherm. • C-O isotopes show that siderite was affected by seawater and hot fluids. • A genetic model of siderite in Nb-Zr-REY-Ga deposits has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation is a typical tight gas reservoir in which natural fractures determine the migration, accumulation and production capacity of tight gas. In this study, we focused on the influences of natural fractures on the tight gas migration and production. We clarified characteristics and attributes (i.e. dips, apertures, filling degree and cross-cutting relationships) of the fractures based on image logging interpretations and core descriptions. Previous studies of electron spin resonance, carbon and oxygen isotopes, homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions analysis and basin simulation were considered. This study also analysed the fracture sequences, source of fracture fillings, diagenetic sequences and tight gas enrichment stages. We obtained insight into the relationship between fracture evolution and hydrocarbon charging, particularly the effect of the apertures and intensity of natural fractures on tight gas production. We reveal that the bedding fractures are short horizontal migration channels of tight gas. The tectonic fractures with middle, high and nearly vertical angles are beneficial to tight gas vertical migration. The apertures of fractures are controlled by the direction of maximum principal stress and fracture angle. The initial gas production of the vertical wells presents a positive correlation with the fracture abundance, and the intensity and aperture of fractures are the fundamental factors that determine the tight gas production. With these findings, this study is expected to guide the future exploration and development of tight gas with similar geological backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of Precambrian stromatolites is closely related to the ancient seawater composition and the evolution of life. It is also a potential oil and gas reservoir. In what kind of environment the stromatolites of the upper Ediacaran Qigebulak Formation in the Tarim Basin developed, and whether they constitute potential hydrocarbon reservoirs, remained unclear. Stromatolites occur in 1–5 m thick layers, interbedded with thrombolites and dolostones. Distinct stromatolite morphologies were observed, including columnar, sinuous, short columnar, domal, and conical shapes. The δ13C values of the stromatolites (6.1‰ on average) are slightly lighter than those of the dolostones, and the δ18O values (− 1.4‰ on average) are significantly heavier than that of the dolostones. The stromatolites have a relatively high content of rare-earth elements and a minor Ce anomaly. The geochemical results imply that the stromatolites formed in an evaporative hypersaline lagoon environment. The presence of barrier dams near the coast led to the formation of lagoons, where hypersalinity was achieved when evaporation was greater than marine or freshwater input. High salinity conditions inhibited the growth of Ediacaran metazoans, allowing the buildup of stromatolites in the restricted lagoons. The stromatolites are rich in primary fenestral pores and sheet-like cavities along the laminae, and the secondary dissolution pores and vugs are related to meteoric karstification. The stromatolites, together with dolostones and thrombolites, constitute the majority of the hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Upper Ediacaran in the Tarim Basin. The results clarify the environment where the stromatolites could still flourish and be well preserved whereas they significantly declined globally throughout the Neoproterozoic elsewhere. The results imply that extensive stromatolites in the Proterozoic strata are potentially important reservoir rocks of Precambrian petroleum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic oscillations have been developed through the (Early) Jurassic from marine sedimentary archives but remain unclear from terrestrial records. This work presents investigation of climate-sensitive sediments and carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of lacustrine and pedogenic carbonates for the Early Jurassic Ziliujing Formation taken from the Basin in southwestern China. Sedimentary and stable isotope proxies manifest that an overall secular (semi)arid climate dominated the Sichuan Basin during the Early Jurassic, except for the Hettangian. This climate pattern is similar to the arid climate in the Colorado Plateau region in western North America but is distinct from the relatively warm and humid climate in northern China and at high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. The estimated atmospheric CO 2 concentration (p CO 2) from carbon isotopes of pedogenic carbonates shows a range of 980–2610 ppmv (∼3.5 –10 times the pre-industrial value) with a mean of 1660 ppmv. Three phases of p CO 2 (the Sinemurian 1500–2000 ppmv, the Pliensbachian 1000–1500 ppmv, and the early Toarcian 1094–2610 ppmv) and two events of p CO 2 rapidly falling by ∼1000 –1300 ppmv are observed, illustrating the p CO 2 perturbation in the Early Jurassic. The perturbation of p CO 2 is compatible with seawater temperature and carbon cycle from the coeval marine sediments, suggesting a positive feedback of climate to p CO 2 through the Early Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fracture-cave reservoir of the Yingshan Formation is an important oil and gas producing zone in the Tarim Basin. Karstification occurs at the top surface of the carbonate rocks of the Yingshan Formation on the northern slope of the Tazhong area due to a short exposure, so abundant fracture-cave spaces are formed. On the basis of the data of nearly 49 samples obtained from 21 wells, the carbon and oxygen isotopes of the fracture-cave calcite were analyzed. The carbon and oxygen stable isotopic characteristics recorded during paleokarstification were discussed to provide geochemical evidence for predicting the distribution of the fracture-cave reservoirs, as well as to understand the genetic mechanism of karst fracture-caves and the fluid properties and paleo-hydrological conditions of paleokarstification. The fracture-cave calcite can be divided into three types based on its carbon and oxygen isotope values, which indicate three types of paleokarst environments with different fluid properties. Type I calcite has similar carbon and oxygen isotope values to the bedrock of the Yingshan Formation, with δ13C values of − 2.0 to 1.1‰ and δ18O values of − 5.76 to − 8.16‰. These values indicate that the calcite was precipitated in the eogenetic karst environment of the Yingshan Formation. Type II calcite has a δ13C value of − 2.13 to 1.0‰ and a δ18O value of − 12.41 to − 8.0‰. It has a similar δ13C value, but a significantly negative oxygen isotope value compared with values of the bedrock of the Yingshan Formation, indicating a buried karst environment. Type III calcite has an extremely negative δ18O value (δ18O value < − 14.50‰), indicating hypothermal karst genesis. Its formation is related to magma or deep hydrothermal fluids. No calcite with atmospheric freshwater genesis and significantly negative δ13C and δ18O values was found in the samples, indicating that the formation of fracture-caves is weakly affected by atmospheric freshwater. The main reservoir space of the Yingshan Formation is karst caves. The calcite in the karst cave fillings belongs to type I, indicating an eogenetic karstification environment. Therefore, the formation of the fracture-cave reservoirs of the Yingshan Formation in the Tazhong area is related to eogenetic karstification, which occurred during exposure and mainly contributed to the formation of the reservoir spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on petrography and geochemistry, formation phases of carbonate cements and their sedimentary–diagenetic environments in Jurassic clastic rocks from the Lenghu V tectonic belt are determined. The results demonstrate that studied successions are mainly dark gray or black mudstone with interbedded thin gray siltstone and a few greywacke layers. Sandstones are lithic and feldspathic lithic greywacke with high kaolinite content. Calcite and ferrocalcite are the main carbonate cements. The carbon isotope values(δ13C) of the carbonate cements range from − 15.6 to 9.2‰ (average − 3.2‰) with a bimodal distribution. One peak is 4‰, which includes samples from the upper Xiaomeigou Formation (Fm) and the other one is − 12‰, which mainly represents the lower section. The oxygen isotope values(δ18O) have a wide range from − 18.5 to − 8.3‰ (average − 13.31‰). Combined with microscopic observations, two phases of carbonate cements are distinguished according to their isotopic characteristics. The earlier carbonate cements are mainly calcite and ferrocalcite, and they were precipitated in eodiagenesis stage. The carbon source of calcite was inorganic, and ferrocalcite was mixed with carbon from methanogenesis. This mixture led to a positive bias in the δ13C curve, which artificially inflated the paleosalinity. The later carbonate cements, formed in mesodiagenesis stage, were ferrocalcite. Decarboxylation of organic matters led to lower δ13C values. The major and trace elements data show that Sr, Ba, Fe and Mn have weak correlation with Al, Ti. So, they are effective to interpret the sedimentary environment. The Sr/Ba ratio < 1 indicates fresh water environment, Sr/Ca, Sr/Cu and Fe/Mn ratios suggest humid climate, and V/(V + Ni) ratio shows suboxic–anoxic environment. The carbon and oxygen isotopes, together with elemental geochemistry, show that the climate during the Early Jurassic was warm and wet and the studied successions were deposited in fresh water. The variations in elemental ratio curves indicate that climate became wetter and warmer later in the Early Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotopes of land snail fossil shell carbonates (δ13Cshell and δ18Oshell) provide the opportunity to decipher paleodietary and paleoenvironmental changes. However, the environmental meanings of δ13Cshell and δ18Oshell remain elusive especially in the monsoonal climate region. To elucidate this, δ13Cshell and δ18Oshell of the two most common land snails in China, Cathaica and Bradybaena, were analyzed in this study. Results show that Bradybaena has a wider distribution than Cathaica and provides considerable potential for use in paleoenvironmental reconstruction. In addition, δ13Cshell of Bradybaena increases with altitude and temperature, decreases with mean annual precipitation, and reflects the isotopic signal of C3 plants. In contrast, Cathaica δ13Cshell documents a C3/C4 mixing signal and exhibits only a strong altitude effect. δ18Oshell of Bradybaena decreases with mean annual precipitation in the Indian monsoon and westerlies regions but increases with mean annual temperature in the East Asian monsoon region; as a strong correlation exists between the two variables, they could thus potentially be used to reconstruct paleotemperatures. However, uncertainties should be recognized due to the complexity of the land‐snails' ecophysiological responses to environmental changes. Cathaica has slightly lower δ18Oshell than Bradybaena, which suggests that the two land snails have different ecophysiological traits, and the δ18Oshell of Cathaica follows mean annual temperature in northeast China. This study lays a ground for explaining land snail stable isotopes in paleorecord in China and reasserts the importance of different ecophysiological traits of land snails in paleoclimatic research. Key Points: Stable isotopes and snail shell‐dimension studies suggest Bradybaena and Cathaica have different ecophysiological traitsδ13Cshell is a tracer of dietary vegetation and can be used to monitor rainfall in the region dominated by C3 plantsδ18Oshell of Bradybaena rises with temperature in East Asia monsoon region but declines with rainfall in Indian monsoon and westerlies areas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hosted by volcaniclastics of the Carboniferous Dahalajunshan Formation, the Songhu iron deposit is located in the central segment of the Awulale metallogenic belt, Chinese Western Tianshan. Mineralization and alteration are structurally controlled by orogen-parallel NWW-striking faults. Integrating with mineralogical and stable isotopic analyses based on paragenetic relationships, two types of iron mineralization have been identified. The deuteric mineralization (Type I) represented by brecciated, banded, and disseminated-vein ores juxtaposed with potassic-calcic alteration in the inner zone, which was formed from a magmatic fluid generated during the late stages of regional volcanism. In contrast, the volcanic-hydrothermal mineralization (Type II) is characterized by hydrothermal features occurring in massive and agglomerated ores with abundant sulfides, and was generated from the magmatic fluid with seawater contamination. Two volcaniclastic samples from the hanging and footwall of the main orebody yield zircon U-Pb ages of 327.8 ± 3.1 and 332.0 ± 2.0 Ma, respectively, which indicate Middle Carboniferous volcanism. Timing for iron mineralization can be broadly placed in the same epoch. By reviewing geological, mineralogical, and geochemical features of the primary iron deposits in the Awulale metallogenic belt, we propose that the two types of iron mineralization in the Songhu iron deposit are representative regionally. A summary of available geochronological data reveals Middle-Late Carboniferous polycyclic ore-related volcanism, and nearly contemporaneous iron mineralization along the belt. Furthermore, petro-geochemistry of volcanic-volcaniclastic host rocks indicates that partial melting of a metasomatized mantle wedge under a continental arc setting could have triggered the continuous volcanic activities and associated metallogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Langdu skarn copper deposit in the Zhongdian area, Yunnan Province, China, has an average Cu grade of 6.49 %. The deposit is related to a porphyry intrusion (~216 Ma), which was emplaced in the Upper Triassic sedimentary rocks of the Tumugou and Qugasi Formations. At the Langdu skarn copper deposit, carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of fresh limestones (δO = 3.0-5.6 ‰ relative to V-SMOW; δC = 24.5-25.7 ‰ relative to PDB) and partly altered limestones (δO = 27-7.2 to −1.9 ‰; δC = 11.8-15.2 ‰) indicated that the deposit was a typical marine carbonate source. Oxygen and carbon isotope values for calcites formed at different hydrothermal stages are −9.1 to 0.2 and 10.1-16.3 ‰, respectively. Moreover, the carbon-oxygen isotopic composition of an ore-forming fluid (δO = 5.0-9.5 ‰, δC = −7.3 to −5.3 ‰) suggested the presence of magmatic water, which most likely came from the differentiation or melting of a homologous magma chamber. The deposition of Calcite I may arise from metasomatism in an open system with a progressively decreasing temperature. Later, the minerals chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, quartz and Calcite II were precipitated due to immiscibility. Water-rock interaction could potentially be responsible for Calcite III precipitation in the post-ore stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]