China News Network, Nanjing, March 6 (Reporter Yang Yanci) The reporter learned from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences on the 6th that during the second comprehensive scientific investigation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the researchers of the institute found a beast in the northern Qiangtang block of Tibet. Typical mound-like biological point reefs were found near Xinghu Lake.
After research, the age of the reef is Middle Devonian Givet period, about 390 million years ago.
Relevant research results were officially published in the well-known academic journal Palaeoworld.
The North Qiangtang Block in Tibet is located in the hinterland of the Northern Tibet Plateau. The paleogeographical evolution of this block has been a frontier research topic in recent years, especially related to the mutual position of the North Qiangtang and its surrounding terranes and the attribution of structural units. question.
At the same time, understanding the paleogeographic evolution of the North Qiangtang Block will help the academic community to deeply understand the petroleum geological conditions of the North Qiangtang Basin, and has important guiding significance for the exploration of energy resources.
During the second comprehensive scientific expedition to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Associate Researcher Liang Kun, Associate Researcher Chen Wei, Assistant Researcher Sheng Qingyi, and Researcher Zhang Yichun of the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences went deep into the Lazhulong-Bangdaco area of Qiangtang, Tibet to conduct geological research. comprehensive research.
Field photographs near the animal-shaped lake in the Zhulong-Bangdacuo area of Alila, Tibet, and an aerial view of the Middle Devonian point reef.
Photo provided by Nangu
The scientific research team found typical mound-like biological point reefs near the zoomorphic lake. By collecting samples of the three most prominent point reefs and conducting detailed analysis and statistics on the 1085 thin sections obtained, the team restored the area Structure and diversity components of reefs.
Studies have shown that point reefs are mainly constructed by 10 species of corals and layer foraminifera, and they are combined with each other to form a plate-shaped and block-shaped stable reef structure.
At the same time, there are complex ecological relationships among reef-building organisms, and the growth characteristics of corals and layer foraminifera are also in line with the characteristics of the mesophotic coral reef ecosystem.
According to experts, this study found that the main reef-building molecule of point reefs is the two fossil species of bald columnar sponges, which are also commonly found in South China and Qamdo regions. They have closely arranged fine layers and pillars, and they are only distributed in these three regions. .
Therefore, the study provides favorable evidence that there is a relatively close biopaleogeographic relationship between Lazhulong-Bangdacuo, South China and Qamdo.
In addition, according to the assemblage characteristics of bedplate corals and foraminifera, the age of this point reef is identified as Middle Devonian Givetian.
Therefore, the Devonian strata in the Lazhulong-Bangdaco area can be traced back to at least the Middle Devonian, which enriches paleontologists' understanding of the distribution characteristics of the Devonian strata in this area.
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