Citation: | Hong-wei Kuang, Zheng-xiu Fan, Yong-qing Liu, Nan Peng, Zhi-cai Zhu, Zhen-rui Yang, Zhi-xian Wang, Hui-liang Yu, Quan Zhong, 2019. Stromatolite characteristics of Mesoproterozoic Shennongjia Group in the northern margin of Yangtze Block, China, China Geology, 2, 364-381. doi: 10.31035/cg2018115 |
Mesoproterozoic Shennongjia Group in Shennongjia Area can be divided into three subgroups in ascender order. Of which the lower subgroup includes Yingwodong, Dayanping, Macaoyuan, Luanshigou, Dawokeng and Kuangshishan formations; the middle subgroup is formed by Yemahe, Wenshuihe and Shicaohe formations; the upper subgroup consists of Songziyuan and Wagangxi formations. Stromatolites developed very well in the carbonate rocks of each subgroup in Shennongjia Group. Based on descriptions of stromatolites macrotypes and their characteristics, this paper studied the formation environments, discussed the relationship among types, sizes, abundance of stromatolites and sedimentary environment, and established the formation and development pattern of stromatolites. As a result, this research also reveals the paleoenvironment and paleoclimate during the period of the Shennongjia Group deposited, which is beneficial to the study of paleoenvironment, paleogeography and paleoclimate, stratigraphic succession and regional correlation of the northern edge of Yangtze block. Stromatolites of Shennongjia Group are mainly conical, columnar, domal, wavy, stratiform and stromatolite reefs. The columnar and conical stromatolites are well developed. Conical stromatolites are mainly monomers, with a variety of pyramidal types, ranging in diameter from a few millimeters to several meters and formed in the high energy subtidal zone and tidal lagoon environment. Most of the columnar stromatolites are medium to small sizes implied a wide and gentle slope environment at that time. Stratiform (including wavy) stromatolites are larger scales and extends far away and distributed most widely in almost every horizon in the carbonate rocks. Stratiform stromatolites can be formed in low energy environments such as subtidal and intertidal zones and supratidal belts. Wavy stromatolites often developed in the hydrodynamic energy condition from weak energy intertidal zone gradually strengthened to the below of the high energy supratidal. Although stromatolite reefs can be a single or multiform combination, they developed mainly consisted of laminar or small walled columnar and large domal stromatolites. Shicaohe Formation also partially developed large domical stromatolites, the depositional environment is from the upper intertidal to supratidal zone. Stromatolite in Shennongjia Group usually appears as a combination of “Stratiform (wavy)-dome-columnar-coniform” or “stratiform-dome-coniform-columnar-dome-stratiform” vertieally, which represents the seawater depth from shallower to deeper or from shallow to deep and then to shallow again. These phenomenons generally reflected a stable sea level and companied with a high frequency oscillation. Comprehensive researches on the stratigraphy, sedimentary facies, sedimentary environment and the stromatolite types and their characteristics in the Shennongjia Group indicated that the Shennongjia Area is located on a gentle slope of carbonate platform in the passive continental edge, generally, i.e., one of warm and humid climate shallow water zone or/and a cold-drought climate, and had been experienced with eustatic cycles during the Shennongjia Group deposited.
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Distribution of stratigraphy and stromatolites in Shennongjia Group. Measured sections: ①–Shennongding; ②–Guanmenshan; ③–Tiechanghe; ④–Yingwodong; ⑤–Dayanping; ⑥–Macaoyuan; ⑦–Songziyuan. Chronological data: ①–1165±14 Ma (Tuff SHRIMP U-Pb, Deng Q et al., 2013); ②–1157±19 Ma (Tuff, Wang et al., 2013); ③–1139±29 Ma (Tuff, LA-ICPMS, Qiu YS et al., 2013); ④–1215.8±2.4 Ma (Tuff SHRIMP U-Pb, Li HK et al., 2013); ⑤–1180±14 Ma (Tuff, Du QD et al., 2016); NC–North China Craton; YB–Yangtze Craton.
Main types of stromatolites in Shennongjia Group. a–Lamellar stromatolites, the basic layer is plat and is not obvious fluctuated, Kuangshishan Formation, Shennongding Section (SK3174); b–gentle-wave stromatolites, the basic layer for the gentle-wave, lamellar, Dawokeng Formation, Shennongding Section (SD3011); c–wavy stromatolites in Luanshigou Formation, Songluo-Xujiazhuang; d–unbranched columnar stromatolites, Panshui village, Songbai Town; e–laterally linked columnar stromatolites in Luanshigou Formation (SL1300), Shennongding section; f–cabbage stromatolites in Luanshigou Formation, Songluo-Xujiazhuang; g–stratiform-columnar stromatolites, the lower part is stratiform, the upper part is two columnar stromatolites, Luanshigou Formation (SL1065), Shennongding Section; h–simple branched columnar stromatolites, Wenshuihe Formation, Panshui village, Songbai Town; i–complex branched columnar stromatolites, divergent from the root, Yemahe Formation, Tiechanghe Section; j–large domal stromtolites of Kuangshishan Formation, Shennongding Section (SL3136); k–large domal stromtolites, Luanshigou Formation, Songluo; l–small irregular domal stromatolites, Luanshigou Formation, Songluo; m–conical stromatolites, the basic beds are gentle cones, Kuangshishan Formation (SK3122), Shennongding Section; n–conical stromatolites, the basic layer is conical, Dawokeng Formation of Shennongding Section (SD3097); o–conical-columnar stromatolites, the basic bed is domal, conical, silicon filled, Kuangshishan Formation (SK3202), Shennongding Section; p–stromatolite reefs consisting of a conical stromatolite at the bottom and a domal stromatolite at the top, Dawokeng Formation (SD3096), Shennongding Section; q–stromatolite reefs consisting of siliceous conical, strati–conical and strati- columnar stromatolites, Dawokeng Formation (SD3051), Shennongding Section; r–stromatolite reefs consisting of columnar (conical-columnar) with varying size and density, Kuangshishan Formation (SK3142-SK3143), Shennongding Section.
Microscopic characteristics of stromatolites in Shennongjia Group. a–The dark lamina is discontinuous, slightly raised and arc-shaped, and the bright lamina is relatively wide with slight recrystallization and uneven grains, and interspersed with other minerals, such as iron, appear red in the profile, showing a weak hydrodynamic condition; b–regular ribbon, dark lamina extremely developed, continuous regular shape, bright layer extremely bright, recrystallization, stromatolites should be grown in wave-washed environments; c–irregular intermittent ribbons, the column is surrounded by sparry dolomite filling without the interference of terrestrial materials; d–stromatolites are regularly ribbons, but due to the severe silicification, the original characteristics are unvisible; e–regular ribbons, similar to the characteristics of a, except that it is all micritic dolomite without recrystallization or silicification, and the bright layer is also mixed with irregular linear shape, without terrestrial source materials, and the growth of stromatolites has not been stopped; f–as a result of recrystallization the laminas of stromatolites become inconspicuous and the dark laminas are irregular patches; g–discontinuous linear, slightly recrystallized, conical stromatolite; h–wave laminas, dark lamina undulate, each ribbon consists of a series of parallel wave laminas; i–the dark lamina was irregular and clumpy, bearing quartz particles occasionally, showing that stromatolites were disturbed by storms before they were consolidated; j–it is regular linear or intermittent linear, obvious recrystallization, some lamina are intermittent, conical stromatolites; k, l–the same field of view, the left is single polarized light, the right is orthogonal polarized light, the stromatolites lamination due to the silicon effect between the light and dark lamination boundary is not very clear, it can be seen that the dark layer top boundary, the overall blanket.
Main assemblage types of stromatolites in Shennongjia Group.
Characteristics of stromatolites and their assemblages in Kuangshishan Formation of Shengnongjia Group.
Successions of stromatolites in Shennongjia Group in Shennongding Section.