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The Early Toarcian "Oceanic Anoxic Event" (T-OAE) is recorded by marked disruption to both the climate system and marine ecosystems. Here, we present intergraded high-resolution carbon-isotope data (δ13C), bulk geochemistry, mineral characterization from an open-ocean setting in the eastern Tethys. With these data, we (1) construct the high-resolution record of the T-OAE from an open-ocean setting in the eastern Tethys; (2) show that the T-OAE in the Sewa succession was marked by coarser-grained deposits associated with high-energy conditions within the otherwise low-energy claystone deposits that likely linked to a globally increased supply of clastic sediments into marginal and deeper marine basin; (3) propose that the low Corg:Ptotal ratios, in combination with bioturbated structure and depletion or slight enrichment in redox-sensitive trace elements of V, Mo, and U suggest a long-term oxygenation event throughout the T-OAE interval at the Sewa succession, and hence, anoxia may not play a fundamental role during the Toarcian negative CIE in this setting; (4) exhibit that a warming and more humid climate began at the start of the T-OAE, and many episodic changes in sediment provenance throughout the T-OAE interval occurred at this location; and (5) suggest that accumulation of organic-matter sediments during the T-OAE is generally controlled by global climatic changes, but a regional environmental perturbation also might influence the preservation of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature SiO2-rich springs are one of the most indicative manifestations of deep geothermal activities. Although they often represent the valuable geothermal potentials and significances of the areas, their high SiO2 contents usually bring some non-negligible problems when we exploit the geothermal resources, especially the silica scales. To understand the sedimentation sequences of SiO2-rich hot springs and to expose its potential relationships with natural sinter deposits and silica scales in geothermal plants, this study make a couple of analyses of the water and solid samples collected from a natural SiO2-rich hot spring in Tengchong (i.e. Dagunguo spring) and isothermal evaporation experiments, including water chemistry analyses, X-ray diffraction, thin-section observation, and electron microscopy analyses. The modern sinters in Dagunguo spring are amorphous SiO2 which is largely formed of tight siliceous layers and some amorphous SiO2 spheres. Some silicified microorganisms, elemental sulfur, and clay are also found. The Dagunguo spring water is Na–Cl–HCO3-type SiO2-rich water, with a pH of about 8 and low dissolved concentrations of Al3+, Fe3+ and Mg2+. Isothermal evaporation (T = 84 °C) resulted in a sequence of precipitated minerals: amorphous SiO2 → halite → sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate (trona) → potassium chloride (sylvine), accompanied by calcite, hydrous sodium sulfate (mirabilite) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The amorphous SiO2 produced in the evaporation experiments exhibited different shapes and structures than the spherical opal-A formed by hot spring water precipitation under natural conditions. The study of precipitation sequence and minerals of hot spring water provides insight into the scaling mechanism of silica-rich geothermal water and anti-scaling measures that can be applied in the process of exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Toarcian (Early Jurassic) sediments are regarded as the most significant hydrocarbon source rocks in the Qiangtang Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. In this study, geochemical and mineralogical data are reported from the Middle to Late Toarcian organic-lean sediments in the Qiangtang Basin, eastern Tethys. Combined with previous studies, the factors that control organic matter (OM) accumulation during the Toarcian are investigated. The Early Toarcian organic-rich sediments were deposited in stratified water column with oxygen-deficient bottom water, which was conducive to OM preservation. A warm and humid paleoclimatic condition favored the growth of organisms, which in turn could enhance the surficial biotic productivity. During the Middle to Late Toarcian, oxic waterbody was widely distributed in the Qiangtang Basin. This condition was unbeneficial to the preservation of OM. During this interval, a cold–arid climate had an adverse effect on organism growth, which in turn would reduce the initial productivity of surface water. The consistently low Ti/Al and Si/Al ratios revealed restricted but rather homogeneous clastic influx conditions during the Toarcian. This may suggest that the dilution of terrigenous material input had a little influence on OM accumulation. In addition, the differential enrichment of OM between shales and marls should attribute to carbonate dilution. These studies emphasize that redox conditions and paleoclimatic conditions were likely responsible for OM accumulation during the Toarcian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Jurassic Qigu Formation sandstones in the southern Junggar Basin typically have calcite cements. Two stages of calcite cements which were distinguished based on cathodoluminescence and casting body slice image increased rock pressure resistance to a certain extent, effectively prevented the quartz overgrowth, and are characterized by a style of filling of intergranular porosity that deteriorated the reservoir permeability. Result from the laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry indicates that the detrital zircons in the Qigu Formation sandstones are mostly magmatic in origin with U-Pb zircon ages of ∼300 and ∼160 Ma. These detrital zircons were largely derived from the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian and Late Jurassic magmatic rocks in the Tianshan area. All clastic rocks exhibit negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies on primitive mantle-normalized elemental diagrams and high AlO/TiO ratios, implying the existence of a sedimentary source dominated by intermediate and felsic magmatic rocks. Our result indicates that the Late Jurassic volcanism may be extensively distributed around the Tianshan area. The diagenesis of calcite cements could decrease the AlO, TiO, MgO, KO, Hf, Th, and Zr contents and increase the MnO content, which may play an important role in variational contents of elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on comprehensive studies in petrography, petrofabric analysis and geochemistry, this paper describes a unique and rare laminated micritic ferruginous primary dolostone crystallized and precipitated from the alkaline hot brine under the conditions of the Mesozoic faulted lake basin. The main rock-forming mineral of this dolostone is ferruginous dolomite with a micritic structure. This dolomite mostly exhibits laminae of 0.1–1 mm thick and is often discovered with other minerals, such as albite, analcite, barite and dickite, which have at least two types of interbedded laminae. Petrogeochemistry reveals that this dolostone contains a large number of typomorphic elements of hydrothermal sedimentation, including Sb, Ba, Sr, Mn, and V. In addition, the LREE is in relatively high concentrations and possesses the typical REE distribution pattern with negative Eu anomaly. Oxygen isotope values (δ 18O PDB) range from 5.89‰ to 14.15‰ with an average of 9.69‰. The ratio of 87Sr/ 86Sr is between 0.711648 and 0.719546, with an average of 0.714718. These data indicate that the depositional environment is a stable, blocked, anoxic low-lying hot brine pool in the bottom of deep lake controlled by basement faults. The hydrothermal fluid is the alkaline hot brine formed by the combination of the infiltration lake water and mantle-derived magmatic water, consisting of many ions, including Ca 2+, Mg 2+ and Fe 2+. Under the driving flow power of magmatic heat, gravity and compaction, the hydrothermal fluid overcame the overburden pressure and hydrostatic pressure of the lake water body, and boiled to explosion, and then the explosion shattered the original laminated micritic ferruginous primary dolostone near the vent and then formed a new type of dolostone called shattered “hydroexplosion breccias”. In the low-lying, unperturbed hot brine pool, far from the vent, the laminated micritic ferruginous primary dolostone was quickly crystallized and chemicals precipitated from the hydrotherm. This study of special rocks contributes to research into the causes of the formation of lacustrine carbonate rocks and dolostone. In particular, it provides new examples and research insights for future studies of the lacustrine dolomite from the similar Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exhalative rock occurring in the Xiagou Formation of Lower Cretaceous in Qingxi sag, Jiuxi basin is a sort of a rare lacustrine white smoke type, rich in ferrodolomites and albites. This paper introduces the geological background, mineral association, and lithology of the exhalative rock, and discusses its REE geochemical characteristics and connection with hydrothermal environment. It is shown that the exhalative rock has basal characteristics of hydrothermal depositional formation of LREE>HREE, with positive δCe and negative δEu, which is different from the characteristics of marine exhalative rock. Since the REE pattern and exceptional distribution of δEu and δCe are highly similar to the characteristics of alkalescent tholeiitic basalt in the same layer, the exhalative rock of Xiagou Formation is considered to be closely related to the origin of basalt in the same horizon. The fact that the amount of REE of exhalative rock decreases outwards indicates that exhalative rock in the Xiagou Formation may be connected with lacustrine hydrothermal convection circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]