Author(s)

Yunpeng Xiao^1*, Wenjun Liang², Chunyan Sun¹, Mingyi Hu¹

¹Geosciences School of Yangtze University, Wuhan, China.
²Exploration and Development Research Institute of Huabei Oil Field Company, Petro-China, Renqiu City, China.

Based on the comparison between the sedimentary rate of the Guanyinqiao Member and modern deep sea, as well as the analysis of paleoecology, biopalaeogeographic features, sea level changes and comprehensive sedimentary characteristics, it is demonstrated by the authors that the Guanyinqiao Member in the Yangtze area is formed in the deep sea environment and belongs to contourite facies. The relationship between the events and the mass extinction at the turn of Ordovician-Silurian is discussed. The authors believe that the high-frequency volcanic events, which are widely developed at that time, may be the main and direct cause of the extinction. The coupling effects of volcanic events, iridium and carbon isotope abnormities and the initial hypoxia events in the early Silurian may be the main cause of the extinction of the Hirnantia-Dalmanitina fauna.

The Guanyinqiao Member, Sedimentary Environment, Deep-Sea, Mass Extinction, Yangtze Area

Xiao, Y. , Liang, W. , Sun, C. and Hu, M. (2018) A Discussion on Sedimentary Environment of the Guanyinqiao Member from the Upper Ordovician in Yangtze Area. Open Journal of Yangtze Oil and Gas, 3, 179-190. doi: 10.4236/ojogas.2018.33016.