Earth-Moon dynamics from cyclostratigraphy reveals possible ocean tide resonance in the Mesoproterozoic era.

Cyclostratigraphy is an important observational window into the history of the Earth-Moon system. However, there is limited information from the Mesoproterozoic era (1.0 to 1.6 billion years ago); accordingly, only weak constraints on Earth-Moon separation and tidal dissipation are available for this time. To close this knowledge gap, we analyze cyclostratigraphy from the Yemahe Formation (~1.2 billion years ago), Wumishan Formation (~1.5 billion years ago), and Chuanlinggou Formation (~1.6 billion years ago) in China. We use a Bayesian inversion method to analyze the three cyclostratigraphic sections. We combine previous results with these three estimates to construct an updated Earth-Moon system evolution and tidal dissipation history after 2.5 billion years ago. The results show a tidal dissipation peak that is consistent with the model predictions within the error range but also that there may be an additional resonance fluctuation in the Mesoproterozoic era.

Geochronological results from the Zhela Formation volcanics of the Tethyan Himalaya and their implications for the breakup of eastern Gondwana.

The relationship between the Kerguelen mantle plume and the breakup of eastern Gondwana is still debated. The new Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of 139.9 ± 4.6 Ma, as well as previous ages from the Zhela Formation volcanic rocks in the Tethyan Himalaya, show that the studied Zhela Formation volcanic rocks formed during the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, rather than the Middle Jurassic. The calculated volume of the Comei-Bunbury igneous rocks is ~ 114,250 km3, which is compatible with the large igneous provinces and, consequently, the typical mantle plume models. The new date results, along with existing dates, show that the volcanism attributed to the Kerguelen mantle plume in the Tethyan Himalaya ranges from ca.147 Ma to ca.124 Ma, with two peaks at approximately 141 Ma and 133 Ma. This new finding, together with geochemical and palaeomagnetic data obtained from the Comei-Bunbury igneous rocks, indicate that the Kerguelen mantle plume contributed significantly to the breakup of eastern Gondwana and that eastern Gondwana first disintegrated and dispersed at ca.147 Ma, the Indian plate separated completely from the eastern Gondwana before ca.125 Ma.

Organic carbon burial is paced by a ~173-ka obliquity cycle in the middle to high latitudes.

Earth's climate system is complex and inherently nonlinear, which can induce some extraneous cycles in paleoclimatic proxies at orbital time scales. The paleoenvironmental consequences of these extraneous cycles are debated owing to their complex origin. Here, we compile high-resolution datasets of total organic carbon (TOC) and stable carbon isotope (δ13Corg) datasets to investigate organic carbon burial processes in middle to high latitudes. Our results document a robust cyclicity of ~173 thousand years (ka) in both TOC and δ13Corg The ~173-ka obliquity-related forcing signal was amplified by internal climate feedbacks of the carbon cycle under different geographic and climate conditions, which control a series of sensitive climatic processes. In addition, our new and compiled records from multiple proxies confirm the presence of the obliquity amplitude modulation (AM) cycle during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic and indicate the usefulness of the ~173-ka cycle as geochronometer and for paleoclimatic interpretation.

New Early Cretaceous palaeomagnetic and geochronological results from the far western Lhasa terrane: Contributions to the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision.

To better constrain the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision, a combined palaeomagnetic and geochronological study of the far western Lhasa terrane was conducted on the Duoai Formation lava flows (~113-116 Ma), as well as on the Early Cretaceous Jiega Formation limestone. Following detailed rock magnetic, petrographical, and palaeomagnetic experiments, characteristic remanent magnetisation directions were successfully isolated from most samples using principal component analysis. The tilt-corrected direction groups yielded a palaeopole at 69.1°N, 319.8°E with A95 = 4.8° (N = 19). A primary origin for the magnetisation is consistent with positive fold tests. Our results from the Early Cretaceous units, combined with published palaeomagnetic data obtained from Cretaceous strata from the Lhasa and western Qiangtang terranes, show that these two terranes had already collided by the Early Cretaceous, the Lhasa terrane had a relatively east-west alignment, and it remained at a relatively stable palaeolatitude during the entire Cretaceous. Comparing the Cretaceous palaeolatitude calculated for the western Lhasa terrane with those from Eurasia and Mongolia suggests a latitudinal convergence of ~1400 ± 290 km and ~1800 ± 300 km, respectively, since the Early Cretaceous.

Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic and geochronologic results from the Tethyan Himalaya: Insights into the Neotethyan paleogeography and the India-Asia collision.

To better understand the Neotethyan paleogeography, a paleomagnetic and geochronological study has been performed on the Early Cretaceous Sangxiu Formation lava flows, which were dated from ~135.1 Ma to ~124.4 Ma, in the Tethyan Himalaya. The tilt-corrected site-mean characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction for 26 sites is Ds = 296.1°, Is = -65.7°, ks = 51.7, α95 = 4.0°, corresponding to a paleopole at 5.9°S, 308.0°E with A95 = 6.1°. Positive fold and reversal tests prove that the ChRM directions are prefolding primary magnetizations. These results, together with reliable Cretaceous-Paleocene paleomagnetic data observed from the Tethyan Himalaya and the Lhasa terrane, as well as the paleolatitude evolution indicated by the apparent polar wander paths (APWPs) of India, reveal that the Tethyan Himalaya was a part of Greater India during the Early Cretaceous (135.1-124.4 Ma) when the Neotethyan Ocean was up to ~6900 km, it rifted from India sometime after ~130 Ma, and that the India-Asia collision should be a dual-collision process including the first Tethyan Himalaya-Lhasa terrane collision at ~54.9 Ma and the final India-Tethyan Himalaya collision at ~36.7 Ma.

Time-calibrated Milankovitch cycles for the late Permian.

An important innovation in the geosciences is the astronomical time scale. The astronomical time scale is based on the Milankovitch-forced stratigraphy that has been calibrated to astronomical models of paleoclimate forcing; it is defined for much of Cenozoic-Mesozoic. For the Palaeozoic era, however, astronomical forcing has not been widely explored because of lack of high-precision geochronology or astronomical modelling. Here we report Milankovitch cycles from late Permian (Lopingian) strata at Meishan and Shangsi, South China, time calibrated by recent high-precision U-Pb dating. The evidence extends empirical knowledge of Earth's astronomical parameters before 250 million years ago. Observed obliquity and precession terms support a 22-h length-of-day. The reconstructed astronomical time scale indicates a 7.793-million year duration for the Lopingian epoch, when strong 405-kyr cycles constrain astronomical modelling. This is the first significant advance in defining the Palaeozoic astronomical time scale, anchored to absolute time, bridging the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic transition.