New data on the continental deposits from the Cao Bang Basin (Cao Bang-Tien Yen Fault Zone, NE Vietnam) – biostratigraphy, provenance and facies pattern

Authors

  • Anna Wysocka Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089, Warsaw
  • Phan Dong Pha Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Building A27, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Str., Cau Giay Distr., Hanoi,
  • Ewa Durska Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089, Warsaw
  • Urszula Czarniecka Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089, Warsaw
  • Do Van Thang Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089, Warsaw
  • Anna Filipek Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089, Warsaw
  • Nguyen Quoc Cuong Institute of Geological Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 84 Chua Lang Str., Dong Da Distr., Hanoi
  • Dang Minh Tuan Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Building A21, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Str., CauGiay Distr., Hanoi
  • Nguyen Xuan Huyen Institute of Geological Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 84 Chua Lang Str., Dong Da Distr., Hanoi
  • Hoang Van Tha Institute of Geological Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 84 Chua Lang Str., Dong Da Distr., Hanoi

Keywords:

Continental environments, Pollen and spores, Provenance, Palaeogene, Cao Bang, Vietnam

Abstract

The Cao Bang Basin is the northernmost of the basins related to the Cao Bang-Tien Yen Fault Zone in northern Vietnam. The basin is filled with a thick series of continental deposits. However, the exact age of the sedimentary basin infill has been under discussion for a long time. Because of new published data, the authors have decided to revisit this basin. Palynological data has allowed us to assign the Cao Bang Basin infill to the Lower Oligocene PC1 complex of the Shangcun Fm. (southern China). Among the saccate grains of gymnosperms, the domination of Cathaya and Pinus was observed, whereas angiosperms are represented by Carya, Celtis, Hammamelidaceae, Ulmus and also Pterocarya, Quercus, the Castanea–Castanopsis–Lithocarpus group, and the Loranthaceae. Among pteridophytes occur Laevigatosporites, Osmundaceae, and Pteris. The sedimentological features of the Cao Bang Basin are distinct from those of other basins from the Cao Bang-Tien Yen Fault Zone. The basin is filled with a wide variety of clastic deposits, from some of coarse-grained, alluvial-fan origin, through sandy beds of fluvial origin up to fine, organic-rich lacustrine deposits. The coarse-grained lithofacies are built of clasts derived mainly from local sources. The sandstones from the basin equally are submature or immature. They contain a lot of lithoclasts, the composition of which depends on the sample location within the basin. The potential source area is composed of older sedimentary units and of granitic rocks. The geochemical samples studied reflect the geochemical composition of silicic source rocks with only a minor contribution of basic components. The succession that fills the basin is interpreted as a typical fill for relatively long-lasting evolving half-graben or strike-slip basins. Moreover, the basin is partly occupied by a subsequent present-day sedimentary basin of Quaternary age.

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Published

2019-04-12

Issue

Vol. 68 No. 4 (2018): Andrzej Radwański Memorial Volume

Section

Articles