Discovery of radiolaria from Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds in Daba, Kangmar and its paleogeographic implication

A group of varicolored marine deposits, including red colored beds, are widespread in the Kangmar area, southern Tibet. They are lithologically similar to the Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) (the Chuangde Formation) outcropping at other localities in southern Tibet. At Daba locality, they...

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Published in:Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 2011-12, Vol.312 (1-2), p.127-137
Main Authors: Guobiao, Li, Luba, Jansa, Xiaoqiao, Wan, Mao, Pan, Di, Xiu, Dan, Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CORBs
Daba
Foraminifera
Late Cretaceous
Marine
Paleogeographic reconstruction
Radiolaria
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Summary:A group of varicolored marine deposits, including red colored beds, are widespread in the Kangmar area, southern Tibet. They are lithologically similar to the Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) (the Chuangde Formation) outcropping at other localities in southern Tibet. At Daba locality, they are mainly composed of intercalated pelagic red clays and reddish colored pelagic limestones. Micropaleontologic study of the strata led to the discovery of radiolarians in siliceous rocks and siliceous limestones. Radiolaria preservation is mostly satisfactory and fifty-four species from forty-nine genera were identified. These allow recognition of three main radiolarian assemblages: Cavaspongia califoniaensis — Xitus spicularius assemblage, Praeconocaryomma lipmanae — Clathropyrgus titthium assemblage, and Lithostrobus punctulatus — Lithocampe marinae assemblage. Occurrence of these radiolarian assemblages indicate a Campanian age of the CORBs at Daba, corroborated by co-occurring planktic foraminifers. Radiolarian and foraminiferal microfossil evidence and lithology of the strata indicate that the sediments were deposited at the lower continental margin of the Indian continental plate and in an adjacent abyssal oceanic basin. The discovery of radiolarians from the CORBs at Daba area contributes to the paleogeographic interpretation of Late Cretaceous strata in southern Tibet and the Tethyan Himalaya. Unanswered is the remaining question: Was it the difference in palaeoceanography, such as ocean circulation, or plate tectonics, which resulted in the CORBs in the Tethyan Himalaya being younger than similar deposits in the western Tethys, where the deposition of this lithofacies had already begun in the Turonian? To answer this question more detailed biostratigraphic studies in southern Tibet are needed. ► We carry out radiolarian biostratigraphic study about the CORBs in Tibet. ► Occurrence of the radiolarian assemblages indicates a Campanian age of the CORBs. ► Discovery of radiolarians contributes to Cretaceous paleogeographic interpretation.
ISSN:0031-0182
1872-616X
DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.10.003