Yin Hongfu

An accurately delineated Permian-Triassic Boundary in continental successions

The Permian-Triassic Boundary Stratigraphic Set (PTBST), characteristic of the GSSP section of Meishan and widespread in marine Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB) sequences of South China, is used to trace and recognize the PTB in a continental sequence at Chahe (Beds 66f–68c). Diversified Permian plant fossils extended to the PTBST, and a few relicts survived above which they are replaced by gymnosperm pollen of Triassic aspect. In the nearby Zhejue Section, the continental PTBST is characterized by the fungal ‘spike’ recorded in many places throughout the world. The boundary claybeds (66f and 68a,c) of the PTBST are composed of mixed illite-montmorillonite layers analogous with those at Meishan. They contain volcanogenic minerals such as β quartz and zircon. U/Pb dating of the upper claybed gives ages of 247.5 and 252.6 Ma for Beds 68a and 68c respectively, averaging 250 Ma. In contrast to the situation in Xinjiang and South Africa, the sediment sequence of the Permian-Triassic transition in the Chahe section (Beds 56–80) become finer upward. Shallowing and coarsening upward is not, therefore, characteristic of the Permian-Triassic transition everywhere. The occurrence of relicts of the Gigantopteris Flora in the Kayitou Fm. indicates that, unlike most marine biota, relicts of this paleophytic flora survived into the earliest Triassic. It is concluded that Bed 67 at Chahe corresponds to Bed 27 at Meishan, and that the PTB should be put within the 60-cm-thick Bed 67b④, now put at its base tentatively. This is the most accurate correlation of the PTB in continental facies with that in the marine GSSP.

The fluctuating environment associated with the episodic biotic crisis during the Permo/Triassic transition: Evidence from microbial biomarkers in Changxing, Zhejiang Province

The environmental conditions and the biotic crisis during the Permo-Triassic (Tr/P) transition received increasing attention in the past decades. Presented herein are the molecular fossil records of cyanobacteria and green sulfur bacteria, the base of the marine ecosystem, to highlight the episodic nature of both the environment and the biotic crisis during this critical period. At least two episodes of cyanobacterial expansion are documented by 2-methylhopanes ranging from C28 to C32 in carbon number, indicative of the instable marine ecosystem and the fluctuant aquatic nutrients. Meanwhile, the index of 2-alkyl-1,3,4-trimethylbenzenes (biomarkers of green sulfur bacteria) and the ratio of pristane to phytane (Pr/Ph) witness the fluctuation of sedimentary environmental redox conditions. The above molecular evidence suggests the occurrence of highly fluctuating environmental conditions during the Tr/P transition, which is consistent with, and probably the cause of, the multi-phased biotic crisis and the prolonged faunal recovery.

Mass extinction and Pangea integration during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition

The greatest Phanerozoic mass extinction happened at the end-Permian to earliest Triassic. About 95% species, 82% genera, and more than half families became extinct, constituting the sole macro-mass extinction in geological history. This event not only caused the great extinction but also destroyed the 200 Myr-long Paleozoic marine ecosystem, prompted its transition to Mesozoic ecosystem, and induced coal gap on land as well as reef gap and chert gap in ocean. The biotic crisis during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition was a long process of co-evolution between geospheres and biosphere. The event sequence at the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) reveals two-episodic pattern of rapidly deteriorating global changes and biotic mass extinction and the intimate relationship between them. The severe global changes coupling multiple geospheres may have affected the Pangea integration on the Earth’s surface spheres, which include: the Pangea integration→enhanced mountain height and basin depth, changes of wind and ocean current systems; enhanced ocean basin depth→the greatest Phanerozoic regression at PTB, disappearance of epeiric seas and subsequent rapid transgression; the Pangea integration→thermal isolation effect of continental lithosphere and decrease of mid-ocean ridges→development of continental volcanism; two-episode volcanism causing LIPs of the Emeishan Basalt and the Siberian Trap (259–251 Ma)→global warming and mass extinction; continental aridification and replacement of monsoon system by latitudinal wind system→destruction of vegetation; enhanced weathering and CH4 emission→negative excursion of δ13C; mantle plume→crust doming→regression; possible relation between the Illa-warra magnetic reversal and the PTB extinction, and so on. Mantle plume produced the Late Permian LIPs and mantle convection may have caused the process of the Pangea integration. Subduction, delamination, and accumulation of the earth’s cool lithospheric material at the “D” layer of CMB started mantle plume by heat compensation and disturbed the outer core thermo-convection, and the latter in turn would generate the mid-Permian geomagnetic reversal. These core and mantle perturbations may have caused the Pangea integration and two successive LIPs in the Permian, and probably finally the mass extinction at the PTB.

Proposed new Lower Triassic stages in South China

As the global Lower Triassic stages are not properly defined, a Chinese scheme of the Lower Triassic subdivision was recently proposed to meet the insistent need of the general investigation in China. The Lower Triassic sequences of South China are briefly summarized and the twofold Lower Triassic subdivision is discussed. The type sections of the two Chinese Lower Triassic stages, Yinkengian and Chaohuan, and their definitions are stated.

Progress and perspective on frontiers of geobiology

Geobiology is a new discipline on the crossing interface between earth science and life science, and aims to understand the interaction and co-evolution between organisms and environments. On the basis of the latest international achievements, the new data presented in the Beijing geobiology forum sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013, and the papers in this special issue, here we present an overview of the progress and perspectives on three important frontiers, including geobiology of the critical periods in Earth history, geomicrobes and their responses and feedbacks to global environmental changes, and geobiology in extreme environments. Knowledge is greatly improved about the close relationship of some significant biotic events such as origin, radiation, extinction, and recovery of organisms with the deep Earth processes and the resultant environmental processes among oceans, land, and atmosphere in the critical periods, although the specific dynamics of the co-evolution between ancient life and paleoenvironments is still largely unknown. A variety of geomicrobial functional groups were found to respond sensitively to paleoenvironmental changes, which enable the establishment of proxies for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and to play active roles on the Earth environmental changes via elemental biogeochemical cycles and mineral bio-transformations, but to be deciphered are the mechanisms of these functional groups that change paleoenvironmental conditions. Microbes of potential geobiology significance were found and isolated from some extreme environments with their biological properties partly understood, but little is known about their geobiological functions to change Earth environments. The biotic processes to alter or modify the environments are thus proposed to be the very issue geobiology aims to decipher in the future. Geobiology will greatly extend the temporal and spatial scope of biotic research on Earth and beyond. It has great potential of application in the domains of resource exploration and global change. To achieve these aims needs coordinative multidisciplinary studies concerning geomicrobiology and related themes, database and modeling of biogeochemical cycles, typical geological environments, and coupling of biological, physical, and chemical processes.

Application of ecostratigraphy to sequences tratigraphy

The results of ecostratigraphy can directly serve sequence stratigraphy. The habitat type curve is useful not only in the analysis of sequences and parasequences, but also in demonstration of the process of regional sea level change. The various biological surfaces usually coincide with or relate to the boundaries of sequences or system tracts. The ecostratigraphic framework composed of coenozones, community sequences and ecotracts with good timing completely corresponds to the sequence stratigraphic framework of the sedimentary basin. Therefore, through establishment of the habitat type curve in individual section, recognition of the various biological surfaces, regional ecostratigraphic correlation and the formation of an ecostratigraphic framework of the sedimentary basin, ecostratigraphy plays an important role in the study of sequence stratigraphy and the reconstruction of regional and even global sea level changes.

On the Flood Disasters in the Lower Jingjiang Reaches: Grey Prediction Model and Application

Abstract In the light of the historical substantial data (covering a 70-year period) collected in the Lower Jingjiang segment and aided by topological grey method, here we attempt to characterize the occurrence and future trend of flood calamities in the study area. Our findings indicate that overall the high-frequent flood disasters with middle to lower damage prevail at present. A series of dramatic flood waves will appear in the years of 2016, 2022, 2030 and 2042, particularly a destructive flood will occur between 2041 and 2045 in the Lower Jingjiang reaches. Typical of sensitive response to flood hazards in close association with its special geographical location, the lower Jingjiang segment hereby can reflect the development trend of floods in the middle Yangtze reaches. According to the results, a good fitness was revealed between the prediction and practical values. This actually hints that the topological grey method is an effective mathematical means of resolving problems containing uncertainty and indetermination, thus providing valuable information for the flood prediction in the middle Yangtze catchment.

Functional spectral analysis of paleoclimatic evolution in Lanzhou area over the last 15 ka

In this paper, we make use of the functional spectral analysis to infer the periodicity of paleoclimate in the Hongzuisi section since about 15 ka. Through combined analysis of organic carbon isotope and CaCO3 content, the law of paleoclimatic evolution of the Hongzuisi section is obtained. There were climatic changes from 10 ka to about 0.1 ka over the last 15 ka. Among these cycles, the cycle of several ka is most remarkable. The result indicates that functional spectral analysis is helpful for paleoclimatic study, which can provide useful information about paleoclimatic reconstruction and future forecast.

Late Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic Circum-Pacific Events and Their Global Correlation: List of contributors

List of contributors Preface 1. Major global change: framework for the modern world J. M. Dickins, Yang Zunyi and Yin Hongfu 2. Carboniferous-to-Triassic evolution of the Panthalassan margin in southern South America Oscar R. Lopez-Gamundi and Christoph Breitkreuz 3. Permian and Triassic geologic events in Sonora, northwestern Mexico Carlos Gonzalez-Leon, Spencer G. Lucas and Jaime Roldan-Quintana 4. Advances in the correlation of the Permian Galina V. Kotlyar 5. Examples of late Hercynian transtensional tectonics in the Southern Alps (Italy) G. Cassinis, C. R. Perotti and C. Venturini 6. Succession of selected bioevents in the continental Permian of the Southern Alps (Italy): improvements in intrabasinal and interregional correlations Maria Alessandra Conti, Nino Mariotti, Umberto Nicosia and Paola Pittau 7. Permian chronostratigraphic subdivisions and events in China Yang Zunyi, Zhan Lipei, Yang Jiduan and Wu Shunbao 8. Indosinian Tectogeny in the geological correlation of Vietnam and adjacent regions J. M. Dickins and Phan Cu Tien 9. Sitsa flora from the Permian of South Primorye Vera G. Zimina 10. Late Permian bimodal volcanism in South Primorye Alexander A. Vrzhosek 11. Syngenetic and epigenetic mineral deposits in the Permian and Triassic sequences of the Primorye region Lev N. Khetchikov, Ivan V. Burij, Vitaliy G. Gvozdev, Vadim G. Khomich, Vladimir V. Ivanov, Vera A. Pakhomova and Vladimir V. Ratkin 12. The mid-Permian: major changes in geology, environment, and faunas and some evolutionary implications J. M. Dickins 13. Variations in the disappearance patterns of rugosan corals in Tethys and their implications for environments at the end of the Permian Yoichi Ezaki 14. Fluctuations in pelagic environments near the Permian-Triassic boundary in the Mino-Tamba Terrane, southwestern Japan Yoichi Ezaki and Kiyoko Kuwahara 15. Late Changxingian ammonoids, bivalves and brachiopods in South Primorye Yuri D. Zakharov, Alexander Oleinikov and Galina V. Kotlyar 16. Radiolaria from Permian-Triassic boundary beds in cherty deposits of Primorye (Sikhote-Alin) Valeria S. Rudenko, Eugene S. Panasenko and Sergey W. Rybalka 17. Early Mesozoic magnetism in the Russian Far East Vladimir G. Sakhno 18. Transgressive conodont faunas of the early Triassic: an opportunity for correlation in the Tethys and the circum-Pacific Rachel K. Paull and Richard A. Paull 19. Triassic biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography of East Asia Yin Hongfu 20. Classification and correlation of Triassic limestones in Sikhote-Alin on the basis of corals Tatiana A. Punina 21. Evolution of the platform elements of the conodont genus Metapolygnathus and their distribution in the Upper Triassic of Sikhote-Alin Galina I. Buryi 22. Late Triassic North American halobiid bivalves: diversity trends and circum-Pacific correlations Christopher A. McRoberts 23. Upper Triassic Chinle Group, Western United States: a nonmarine standard for late Triassic time Spencer G. Lucas 24. Otapirian stage: its fauna and microflora J. D. Campbell 25. Upper Paleozoic glaciation and Carboniferous and Permian faunal changes in Argentina C. R. Gonzalez Index.

Late Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic Circum-Pacific Events and Their Global Correlation: Contents

List of contributors Preface 1. Major global change: framework for the modern world J. M. Dickins, Yang Zunyi and Yin Hongfu 2. Carboniferous-to-Triassic evolution of the Panthalassan margin in southern South America Oscar R. Lopez-Gamundi and Christoph Breitkreuz 3. Permian and Triassic geologic events in Sonora, northwestern Mexico Carlos Gonzalez-Leon, Spencer G. Lucas and Jaime Roldan-Quintana 4. Advances in the correlation of the Permian Galina V. Kotlyar 5. Examples of late Hercynian transtensional tectonics in the Southern Alps (Italy) G. Cassinis, C. R. Perotti and C. Venturini 6. Succession of selected bioevents in the continental Permian of the Southern Alps (Italy): improvements in intrabasinal and interregional correlations Maria Alessandra Conti, Nino Mariotti, Umberto Nicosia and Paola Pittau 7. Permian chronostratigraphic subdivisions and events in China Yang Zunyi, Zhan Lipei, Yang Jiduan and Wu Shunbao 8. Indosinian Tectogeny in the geological correlation of Vietnam and adjacent regions J. M. Dickins and Phan Cu Tien 9. Sitsa flora from the Permian of South Primorye Vera G. Zimina 10. Late Permian bimodal volcanism in South Primorye Alexander A. Vrzhosek 11. Syngenetic and epigenetic mineral deposits in the Permian and Triassic sequences of the Primorye region Lev N. Khetchikov, Ivan V. Burij, Vitaliy G. Gvozdev, Vadim G. Khomich, Vladimir V. Ivanov, Vera A. Pakhomova and Vladimir V. Ratkin 12. The mid-Permian: major changes in geology, environment, and faunas and some evolutionary implications J. M. Dickins 13. Variations in the disappearance patterns of rugosan corals in Tethys and their implications for environments at the end of the Permian Yoichi Ezaki 14. Fluctuations in pelagic environments near the Permian-Triassic boundary in the Mino-Tamba Terrane, southwestern Japan Yoichi Ezaki and Kiyoko Kuwahara 15. Late Changxingian ammonoids, bivalves and brachiopods in South Primorye Yuri D. Zakharov, Alexander Oleinikov and Galina V. Kotlyar 16. Radiolaria from Permian-Triassic boundary beds in cherty deposits of Primorye (Sikhote-Alin) Valeria S. Rudenko, Eugene S. Panasenko and Sergey W. Rybalka 17. Early Mesozoic magnetism in the Russian Far East Vladimir G. Sakhno 18. Transgressive conodont faunas of the early Triassic: an opportunity for correlation in the Tethys and the circum-Pacific Rachel K. Paull and Richard A. Paull 19. Triassic biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography of East Asia Yin Hongfu 20. Classification and correlation of Triassic limestones in Sikhote-Alin on the basis of corals Tatiana A. Punina 21. Evolution of the platform elements of the conodont genus Metapolygnathus and their distribution in the Upper Triassic of Sikhote-Alin Galina I. Buryi 22. Late Triassic North American halobiid bivalves: diversity trends and circum-Pacific correlations Christopher A. McRoberts 23. Upper Triassic Chinle Group, Western United States: a nonmarine standard for late Triassic time Spencer G. Lucas 24. Otapirian stage: its fauna and microflora J. D. Campbell 25. Upper Paleozoic glaciation and Carboniferous and Permian faunal changes in Argentina C. R. Gonzalez Index.