The Cretaceous of the East Asian continental margin: Stratigraphy,paleogeography, and paleoclimate |
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| Authors: | Galina L Kirillova |
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| Institution: | Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 65 Kim Yu Chen Street, 680?000 Khabarovsk, Russia (email: kirillova@itig.as.khb.ru) |
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| Abstract: | Lithostratigraphic correlation of a 6–10‐km‐thick Aptian–Maastrichtian terrigenous sequence of the East Asian continental margin and Sakhalin and Hokkaido Islands has revealed the existence of a single marine basin. This basin was populated by mixed Tethyan–Boreal fauna and sloped eastward until the Middle Cenomanian. Intense volcanic and tectonic processes caused the uplift of the continental margin in the mid‐Albian to Cenomanian and eastward migration of the shoreline. Paleobotanical studies have discovered a number of climatic changes. Relatively warm conditions existed in the Aptian, changing to cooler conditions in the Early Albian. The maximum warming occurred from the Late Albian to Cenomanian when large‐leaved flowering plants dominated the population. In the Late Cretaceous, the East Asian volcanic belt created a mountain edifice up to 3000 m high, which controlled longitudinal climatic and floral zonation. This control was more efficient than the latitudinal control. A wide development of flowering Platanaceae flora in the Turonian points to a relative cooling. The floral assemblage shows a temperate climate from the Early Coniacian onwards, with an optimum in the Campanian that is consistent with global transgression. As a result of the warm climate, the early Maastrichtian is characterized by highly diverse biota. Furthermore, in the middle Maastrichtian floral and faunal diversity decreased and the seasonal prevalence increased. Cooling occurred in the latest Maastrichtian. Five periods of coal accumulation are recognized throughout the Late Cenomanian to Late Maastrichtian. Shelf, deltaic, and slope turbidite facies of the continental margin contain organic carbon ranging from 0.3% to 2.2%, which together with direct evidence for oil and gas, are believed to be prolific for hydrocarbon exploration. |
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| Keywords: | correlation Cretaceous East Russia Hokkaido lithostratigraphic succession paleoclimate paleogeography petroleum potential sedimetary environments |
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