Article
Paleontology
Chenchen Ling, Jin Peng, Hui Zhang, Yifan Wang, Yunbin Shao, Quanyi Sun, Qiujun Wang
Summary: The phylogenetic position of Saetaspongia remains uncertain, but new fossil evidence suggests a closer affinity to the protomonaxonid rather than the hexactinellid class. Fossil specimens with typical skeletal architecture of Saetaspongia have been found in the Cambrian Balang Biota of China, pointing to a wide geographic distribution during the early Cambrian period. The plumose architecture is a critical diagnostic feature of Saetaspongia, while hexactine-based spicules are absent in this genus.
JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Xiong Liu, Yuanlong Zhao, Xinglian Yang, Zhengpeng Chen, Shengguang Chen, Xue Luo
Summary: An exceptionally preserved hyolithid fossil with attached stalked eocrinoids was found, confirming a symbiotic relationship between the two organisms. The reconstruction of their epibiotic relationship provides insights into the ecology and environment of the Cambrian period.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hui Liu, Lin Dong, Shujian Qin, Wei Liu, Chenqing Li
Summary: The globally distributed string fossils, Horodyskia and Palaeopascichnus, have been a subject of debate regarding their origins for decades. Through a study of the Liuchapo Formation in South China, similar string fossils to Horodyskia minor and Palaeopascichnus jiumenensis were found. Based on the reconstruction of their morphological characteristics, the string fossils were renamed as Parahorodyskia and Ordinilunulatus, suggesting a biological rather than diagenetic origin. Additionally, a new strip-like fossil named Jiumenia was discovered in the Liuchapo Formation. The wide occurrences of Parahorodyskia and Ordinilunulatus in South China may have biostratigraphic significance for the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition.
PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Xiantao Yu, Fang Xiang, Zhongtang Su, Deyan Zhang, Gary G. Lash, Kunmei Yang, Wenzhi You
Summary: Trace fossils are crucial for understanding metazoan evolution and species extinction, with investigations revealing the presence of small Planolites in the early Toyonian period. These findings shed light on their formation mechanisms and relationship with the extinction of Archaeocyathids, indicating a key role in ecosystem recovery post-extinction event. The study suggests that trace-makers utilized a trophic specialization strategy in a low-energy environment, contributing to the recovery and expansion of microbial reefs.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lei Gao, Ruidong Yang, Tong Wu, Chaokun Luo, Hai Xu, Xinran Ni
Summary: This study focuses on the biological fossil assemblage, characteristics of phosphorus, and the relationship between biological and phosphorus enrichment of the lower Cambrian phosphorites. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between biological activity and phosphorite deposition. Geochemical analysis shows that the phosphorite block was deposited in an oxygen-rich environment and was affected by high-temperature hydrothermal fluids.
Article
Biology
Buqing Wei, Yuan Wang, Xinglian Yang, Weiyi Wu
Summary: A number of well-preserved fossils of Hadrotreta were found in south China for the first time in the Tsinghsutung Formation. Hadrotreta shows an expanding trend in global distribution from the Cambrian Age 4 to the Miaolingian Epoch, with a preference for low-latitude regions. It was mainly found in deep-water continental shelf environments during the Cambrian Epoch 2, Age 4, but later expanded its distribution to shallow-water platform environments during the Miaolingian Epoch.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yan Zhang, Shan Chang, Qinglai Feng, Shucan Zheng
Summary: The transition from the Ediacaran to Cambrian period resulted in significant biological and environmental changes, which are reflected in the fossil records. However, the distribution of fossils was uneven, with limited reports from deep-water areas. This study discovered a diverse assemblage of fossils from the Liuchapo Formation in China, expanding the geographic distribution and providing new insights into the biodiversity during this critical time interval.
JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jinwen Chen, Han Zhang, Meiqing Yang, Rui Wang, Hongling Zhang, Zheng Ren, Qiyan Wang, Yubo Liu, Jing Chen, Jingyan Ji, Jing Zhao, Guanglin He, Jianxin Guo, Kongyang Zhu, Xiaomin Yang, Hao Ma, Chuan-Chao Wang, Jiang Huang
Summary: This study investigates the genetic variation and admixture history of Tibeto-Burman-speaking populations in the low-altitude region of Southwest China. The results show that these populations have genetic variation in an intermediate position in the modern Tibetan-Tai-Kadai/Austronesian genetic cline, suggesting a large-scale gene flow from lowland southern China. Additionally, the Tibeto-Burman groups in the Guizhou region received additional gene flow from the southeast coastal area of China.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ying Bai, Zhenyu Zhao, Zhe Zhao, Jianrong Gao
Summary: This study investigates the Cambrian dolomite reservoirs of the North China Platform and identifies the important role of multiphase dolomitization in the formation of paleo-reservoirs with acceptable porosity. Different types of dolomites are identified through various analyses, and the mechanisms of dolomitization are explained. It is found that the structureless dolomite in the late highstand systems tract and the saddle dolomite in the early highstand systems tract exhibit better reservoir porosity.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhidong Gu, Lidia Lonergan, Xiufen Zhai, Baomin Zhang, Weihua Lu
Summary: The Sichuan Basin in South China formed a NW-SE trending intraplatform trough during the Early Ediacaran to Lower Cambrian, with three distinct stages of development. Tectonic subsidence analysis showed increasing subsidence from the center to the NW of the basin, suggesting the basin formed by low amounts of lithospheric stretching. Interestingly, the margins of the trough do not correlate with increased tectonic subsidence, indicating it was a palaeogeographic embayment within a broad, ramp-like area of slow and low subsidence.
Article
Paleontology
Yu-Juan Liu, Jin Peng, Yuan-Long Zhao, Yong-Qin Mao
Summary: New material of Schizopholis napuru was discovered from Guizhou Province, China, for the first time, indicating the distribution of this species in China. These specimens were preserved in mudstone, providing new information on the paleogeographic distribution and paleoecology of this species.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yaqin Qiang, Jiaxin Peng, Zuchen Song, Jie Sun, Xiaofang Zhao, Guoxiang Li, Jian Han, Junfeng Guo
Summary: New well-preserved specimens of Anabarella were found in the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges area, confirming the presence of A. plana and revising the taxonomy of the genus in South China. The microstructures of A. plana suggest that it may have had a semi-infaunal mode of life and indicate its potential ancestral relationship with Watsonella.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Yifan Wang, Jin Peng, Qiujun Wang, Rongqin Wen, Hui Zhang, Guangying Du, Yunbin Shao
Summary: Understanding the moulting behavior of trilobites through different growth stages, this study focuses on the detailed exploration of moulting behaviors in Arthricocephalites xinzhaiheensis based on a large number of disarticulated specimens. The findings show that the trilobites commonly utilized cephalic sutures and cephalothoracic joint for moulting, involving rotation or inversion of the cranidium to create a wide exuvial gape.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yan Li, Sibo Wang, Jia Xia, Zhiguang Song
Summary: The study analyzed shale samples from Guizhou Province to understand the organic sources and marine environmental conditions during the deposition of Lower Cambrian shales in South China. The results showed a variety of lipid biomarkers, indicating contributions from bacterial microorganisms and algae thriving in low-salinity, stable anoxic environments. The difference in mineral and carbon isotope composition between shale samples suggests changes in primary production and paleoocean environments due to sea-level rise. High primary productivity driven by sea-level rise is suggested to be the main factor controlling organic matter enrichment in certain shale samples under stable anoxic conditions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Weiqiang Yang, Huayao Zou, Ting Li, Liwen Hu, Chengkun Deng, Zhongzhen Cheng, Caijun Lan, Zhehang Xu, Haoru Chen, Chaojin Lu, Pingping Li
Summary: This study evaluates the influence of stylolites on the carbonate reservoirs of the Longwangmiao Formation. It finds that the dolomite content and carbonate lithofacies are related to the density and amplitude of stylolites.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)