TY - JOUR
T1 - Sedimentary geochemical records of late Miocene-early Pliocene palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate evolution in the Ying-Qiong Basin, South China Sea
AU - Ding, Wenjing
AU - Hou, Dujie
AU - Gan, Jun
AU - Jiang, Lian
AU - Zhang, Ziming
AU - George, Simon C.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - The sedimentary geochemical records of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate variations in late Miocene-early Pliocene sediments in the Ying-Qiong Basin, South China Sea have been studied using higher plant-derived biomarkers, palynological records, trace elements, and macerals. Aliphatic biomarkers including oleanane, des-A-oleanane, bicadinanes, and C19 tricyclic terpane, and the vitrinite content of the kerogen, show a remarkable decline in the input of the main angiosperms from about 8.2 to 2.7 Ma, corresponding to the deposition of the upper Huangliu Formation (late Miocene) to the lower Yinggehai Formation (early Pliocene). Aromatic parameters including retene/(retene + cadalene), 1,2,5-TMN/1,3,6-TMN, 1-MP/9-MP and 1,7-DMP/(1,3- + 3,9- + 2,10- + 3,10-DMP) suggest that the upper Huangliu Formation received a greater gymnosperm contribution than older Miocene formations. Trace element ratios (Rb/Sr and Zr/Rb) and the proportion of alginite-amorphous macerals in the shales indicate that a cooler, more arid climate with less seasonal precipitation occurred progressively from about 8.2–2.7 Ma, as also supported by higher abundances of Pinus and Alnus and decreasing proportions of ferns in the flora. Lesser input of terrigenous higher plants and the variation in vegetation types occurred during a cooling climate that was likely associated with a weaker East Asian summer monsoon and uplift of the northern Tibet-Plateau from about 8.5 Ma.
AB - The sedimentary geochemical records of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate variations in late Miocene-early Pliocene sediments in the Ying-Qiong Basin, South China Sea have been studied using higher plant-derived biomarkers, palynological records, trace elements, and macerals. Aliphatic biomarkers including oleanane, des-A-oleanane, bicadinanes, and C19 tricyclic terpane, and the vitrinite content of the kerogen, show a remarkable decline in the input of the main angiosperms from about 8.2 to 2.7 Ma, corresponding to the deposition of the upper Huangliu Formation (late Miocene) to the lower Yinggehai Formation (early Pliocene). Aromatic parameters including retene/(retene + cadalene), 1,2,5-TMN/1,3,6-TMN, 1-MP/9-MP and 1,7-DMP/(1,3- + 3,9- + 2,10- + 3,10-DMP) suggest that the upper Huangliu Formation received a greater gymnosperm contribution than older Miocene formations. Trace element ratios (Rb/Sr and Zr/Rb) and the proportion of alginite-amorphous macerals in the shales indicate that a cooler, more arid climate with less seasonal precipitation occurred progressively from about 8.2–2.7 Ma, as also supported by higher abundances of Pinus and Alnus and decreasing proportions of ferns in the flora. Lesser input of terrigenous higher plants and the variation in vegetation types occurred during a cooling climate that was likely associated with a weaker East Asian summer monsoon and uplift of the northern Tibet-Plateau from about 8.5 Ma.
KW - Aromatic hydrocarbon
KW - East Asian monsoon
KW - Gymnosperm
KW - Higher plant-derived biomarker
KW - Kerogen
KW - Maceral
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124550054&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.margeo.2022.106750
DO - 10.1016/j.margeo.2022.106750
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85124550054
SN - 0025-3227
VL - 445
SP - 1
EP - 26
JO - Marine Geology
JF - Marine Geology
M1 - 106750
ER -