Lower Cretaceous paleosols and paleoclimate in Sichuan Basin, China

Li, J.; Wen, Xingyue; Huang, Chunyan

doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2015.10.002

Cited by 37 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 70 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The results of the work presented in this paper may (in the future) be applied to other non‐marine Lower Cretaceous facies such as in China (e.g. Tang et al ., ; Li et al ., ; Chen et al ., ; Ju and Sun, ; Li et al ., ) and South America (e.g. Legarreta et al ., ; Paredes et al ., ; Richiano, ; Garrido and Salgado, ; Ferreira et al ., ) and can be used as analogue for other non‐marine Lower Cretaceous facies elsewhere (e.g.…”

Section: Significance and Wider Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Multi‐proxy approach to palaeoenvironmental modelling: the English Lower Cretaceous Weald Basin

Akinlotan

2017

Geological Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the Wealden (Lower Cretaceous) in southeast England have been previously based mainly on field and fossil data. This study presents new interpretations of multi-proxy data sets such as sandstone petrography, elemental geochemistry and sideritic ironstones, supplemented by outcrop and clay mineralogical data. The dominance of quartz arenites, kaolinite and thorium and the presence of Zr in the sediments suggest that they were sourced mainly from granitic and/or gneissic rocks. Materials from metamorphic sources are secondary in abundance. The mineral and textural maturity of the sediments coupled with inferred short transport distances suggests reworking from older sources. Palaeoclimatic conditions in the source areas were generally warm and humid in nature, which supported an intensive weathering regime. The nature of the sediments suggests they may have been sourced directly or indirectly from a stable craton. The lithology, facies, sedimentary structures, architecture and gamma ray data confirm the freshwater origin of the sediments. Redox-sensitive trace elements such as Mo, U, V and Co suggest anoxic conditions in the basin. The results presented in this paper reinforce the importance of integrating multi-proxy data sets for interpreting the palaeoenvironmental conditions of sedimentary basins: when traditional data sets such as field and fossil data are not readily available or insufficient to enable adequate interpretations, the integration of petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical data sets may prove to be useful in similar palaeoenvironmental studies.

show abstract

Section: Significance and Wider Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include China (e.g. Tang et al, 2001;Li et al, 2013;Chen et al, 2014;Ju and Sun, 2016;Li et al, 2016), South America (e.g. Figure 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi‐proxy approach to palaeoenvironmental modelling: the English Lower Cretaceous Weald Basin

Akinlotan

2017

Geological Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study, the mineralogical composition of the rocks has provided useful information on tectonic settings and nature of provenance, weathering patterns, sediment transport, and diagenesis of rocks within the Weald Basin. The interpretations presented in this work can also be applied to other non‐marine Lower Cretaceous facies such as in China (Li et al ., ) and South America (Ferreira et al ., ) and can be used as analogue for other non‐marine Lower Cretaceous facies elsewhere (Haywood et al ., ; Dejax et al ., ).…”

Section: Significance and Wider Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2) allows non-marine and fluvial-related sedimentation patterns to be studied in a variety of conditions and this can be applied to similar sedimentary basins elsewhere (Allen & Wimbledon, 1991). These facies also make it possible to study changes that accompanied the transition to the Early Cretaceous in northwest Europe (Ruffell, 1991;Akinlotan, 2017b), China (Li et al, 2016), South America (Richiano, 2014) and other non-marine Lower Cretaceous facies. The Wealden sections may also be useful for analogue studies of basin tectonics (Ziegler, 1981;Mansy et al, 2003) and hydrocarbon reservoirs (Akinlotan, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralogy and palaeoenvironments: the Weald Basin (Early Cretaceous), Southeast England

Akinlotan

2017

The Depositional Record

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Determination of the mineralogy of sedimentary rocks is important in palaeoenvironmental interpretations, especially when outcrop and field data are insufficient or not accessible. The Lower Cretaceous Wealden facies, presented here as a case study, is one such example. Petrographic analysis of this suite of sediments reveals that the arenaceous facies are mainly quartz arenites, quartzose siltstones and lack significant feldspar. The clay minerals are illite, kaolinite, illite-montmorillonite, vermiculite and illite-smectite. The presence of quartz arenites and kaolinite suggests that the rocks were reworked from granitic and/or gneissic rocks. Directly or indirectly, the rocks may have been obtained from a stable craton. The mineral and textural maturity, together with a travel distance of ca 300 km point to matured sources. A warm and humid palaeoclimate in the source areas resulted in extensive weathering.

show abstract

“…The Cretaceous terrestrial deposits in the Sichuan Basin, China, which were also regarded as “red beds” or “gray beds,” are widespread in the south, west, and northwest of the basin (Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Sichuan Province, ; Li, He, et al, ; Figure c) and had been subdivided geographically into the following four sections: Jiange, Zitong–Bazhong, Yibin, and Chengdu–Ya'an, based on depositional environment, sedimentary facies and biofacies, and stratigraphic completeness or incompleteness in accordance with the regional geology of Sichuan Province (Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Sichuan Province, ; Figure d). A variety of Cretaceous paleosols (e.g., entisols, inceptisols, aridisols, and alfisols) commonly preserved in sedimentary strata have been discovered in the northwestern (i.e., Jiange and Zitong–Bazhong) sections of the Sichuan Basin, and regional paleoclimate in the early Cretaceous (constrained within the Berriasian–Hauterivian) are mainly sourced from these paleosols (Huang et al, ; Li, Wen, & Huang, ; Figure d). However, the Cretaceous (beyond the Berriasian–Hauterivian) paleosols and regional climate in this typical depositional basin have not been systematically examined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower and upper Cretaceous paleosols in the western Sichuan Basin, China: Implications for regional paleoclimate

Wen

Huang

2018

Geological Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pedogenic features of paleosols preserved in the lower and upper Cretaceous sedimentary strata of the western Sichuan Basin, China, were described and examined in terms of their macromorphology and micromorphology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. These Cretaceous paleosols (entisols, inceptisols, and aridisols) are analogous to modern soil orders based on soil taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 2014). A quantitative reconstruction of paleoclimates inferred from the geochemical composition of paleosol horizons, depth to carbonate nodules, and the stable oxygen isotopic composition of pedogenic carbonates in paleosols indicates that a cool-arid climate associated with short-term subhumid fluctuations prevailed in the early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) and a cool-arid climate regime existed in the late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of the Sichuan Basin. Atmospheric CO 2 concentrations estimated from the paleosol barometer indicated values between 156 ± 138 and 753 ± 339 ppmv for the Hauterivian and between 110 ± 71 and 235 ± 77 ppmv for the middle-lateMaastrichtian. An overall coupling between atmospheric pCO 2 and paleotemperature occurred in the Sichuan Basin, while the covariations are likely linked to global cooling events in the Maastrichtian and/or are likely associated with the Faraoni oceanic anoxic event (F-OAE) during the late Hauterivian. Paleoclimate variations in the Sichuan Basin were controlled by regional paleogeography, the prevalence of subtropical high-pressure systems, monsoonal circulation, and the atmospheric CO 2 level in the early and late Cretaceous.

show abstract

Lower Cretaceous paleosols and paleoclimate in Sichuan Basin, China

Cited by 37 publications

References 70 publications

Multi‐proxy approach to palaeoenvironmental modelling: the English Lower Cretaceous Weald Basin

Multi‐proxy approach to palaeoenvironmental modelling: the English Lower Cretaceous Weald Basin

Mineralogy and palaeoenvironments: the Weald Basin (Early Cretaceous), Southeast England

Lower and upper Cretaceous paleosols in the western Sichuan Basin, China: Implications for regional paleoclimate

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About