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The Dabashan Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt is an important natural laboratory for exploring the Meso‐Cenozoic intracontinental orogenic evolution in China. Due to the severe lack of post‐Early Cretaceous strata, little attention has been paid to Cenozoic tectonic in the Dabashan. This study presents structural analysis, in‐situ U‐Pb dating of calcite in conjunction with petrographic and stable isotopic analyses along the eastern segment of the Chengkou Fault in the Dabashan. Structural analysis coupled with U‐Pb dating of syn‐kinematic calcite slickenfibres suggests two discrete S‐N compressional strike‐slip deformation events associated with localized E‐W extension along the eastern segment of the Chengkou Fault have occurred at the Early Eocene (~57–50 Ma) and Late Oligocene‐Early Miocene (~23–17 Ma), respectively. We tentatively related the Cenozoic deformation events in the study area to the clockwise rotation of the Sichuan Basin, resulting from the combined far‐field stress effects between the India, Eurasia and western Pacific plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ordos block is an important active block in North China during the Cenozoic and modern tectonic activity. Based on a large amount of GPS observation data, an accurate and dense GPS velocity field of the Ordos block is calculated through frame transformation. The results indicate that the estimated internal principal tensile and compressive strain rates of the Ordos block are 2.7 10-9/yr and 1.510-9/yr, respectively. Additionally, the block exhibits rigidity and there is negligible counterclockwise rotation. Relative to the Ordos Basin, the Loop Fault on the north side of the Ordos Block displays a left-rotation strike-slip rate of approximately 0.9 mm/yr and a dip-slip rate of around 0.5 mm/yr, accompanied by slight extrusion. The dip slip rate of the southern section of Taihang Mountain fault system indicates that there is spreading movement in the southeastern part of the block. The southwestern Liupanshan fault also experiences extrusive motion. These block motion features and fault sliding distributions provide a reliable database for understanding the possible motion and dynamics mechanisms of the Ordos region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The tall eucalypt forests (TEFs) of the Australian tropics are often portrayed as threatened by ‘invasive’ neighboring rainforests, requiring ‘protective’ burning. This framing overlooks that Australian rainforests have suffered twice the historical losses of TEFs and ignores the ecological and paleobiological significance of rainforest margins. Early Eocene fossils from Argentina show that biodiverse rainforests with abundant Eucalyptus existed > 50 million years ago (Ma) in West Gondwana, shaped by nonfire disturbance factors such as landslides and volcanic flows. Humid volcanic environments with eucalypts were also present in eastern Australia over much of the Cenozoic. The dominance of fire‐adapted eucalypts appears to be geologically recent and is linked to Neogene C4 grassland expansion, Pleistocene climate cycles, and human activity. We suggest that characterizing TEFs and rainforests as adversarial results from misinterpreting the evolutionary history and expansion‐contraction dynamics of a single humid forest system, whose features are now heavily modified by human activities. The resulting management practices damage the outstanding World Heritage values and carbon storage of affected areas and thus have impacts far beyond Australia. The fossil evidence shows that rainforest margins preserve ancient, still evolving, and globally significant forest interactions that should be prioritized for restoration and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baddeleyite is an important U‐Pb geochronometer and Hf isotope tracer that commonly occurs as an accessory phase in silica‐undersaturated igneous rocks of terrestrial and extra‐terrestrial origin. Currently, very few well‐characterised, large sized reference materials are available for baddeleyite U‐Pb geochronology and Hf isotope measurement. In this study, we document a baddeleyite reference material (SK10‐3) of Cenozoic age. SK10‐3 is inclusion‐free and does not contain secondary alteration minerals. The baddeleyite has uniform U‐Pb ages and Hf isotope ratios, within analytical uncertainty, as demonstrated by multiple LA‐ICP‐MS spot analyses (weighted mean 206Pb/238U age: 31.59 ± 0.11 Ma, MSWD = 0.7, n = 197) and LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS analyses (arithmetic mean 176Hf/177Hf ratio: 0.282741 ± 59, 2s, n = 188). Seven ID‐TIMS analyses yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 31.592 ± 0.020/0.022/0.040 Ma (n = 7, 2s, MSWD = 2.2). Nine aliquots of MC‐ICP‐MS analyses yielded an arithmetic mean 176Hf/177Hf ratio of 0.282742 ± 8 (2s). We further demonstrate that the method of shallow‐pit (~ 2 μm depth) ablation substantially improves the precision and accuracy of baddeleyite U‐Pb ages. SK10‐3 has a relatively high 176Yb/177Hf ratio (~ 0.007) compared with most other baddeleyites, allowing the precise measurement of βYb and may be useful in generating the βYb‐βHf relationship during LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS Hf isotope measurement. SK10‐3 may be a useful addition to previously distributed baddeleyite reference materials for microbeam‐based U‐Pb geochronology and Hf isotope measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiton (Class Polyplacophora) fossils are rare globally, mostly because they are restricted to hard habitats such as rocky shores that are taphonomically under-represented in the geological record. New Zealand is rich in Cenozoic marine molluscan fossils, but chitons are very uncommon. The earliest New Zealand records of fossil chiton species are all from the Late Oligocene (Duntroonian) Chatton Formation in Southland. They include Callochiton chattonensis Ashby 1929 [New Zealand fossil Polyplacophora (Chitons). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 60:366–369], Acanthochitona (Notoplax) ashbyi (Laws 1932 [New Tertiary Mollusca from New Zealand. No. 2. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62:183–199]) and Rhyssoplax allanthomsoni Mestayer 1929 [Notes on New Zealand Mollusca. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 60(4):247–150]. At Cosy Dell farm, Waimumu, New Zealand, the Chatton Formation contains a diverse chiton fauna representing seven families and seven genera, including Callochiton cf. chattonensis, Acanthochitona cf. ashbyi, Ischnochiton sp., Leptochiton cf. inquinatus, Lorica sp., Plaxiphora sp., and Rhyssoplax sp., the highest recorded fossil chiton diversity in New Zealand. All genera described in the fossil assemblage are associated with extant taxa around modern New Zealand rocky intertidal and shallow near shore environments. The study extends the New Zealand stratigraphic range of four genera (Ischnochiton, Plaxiphora, Lorica and Leptochiton) back to the Duntroonian (Late Oligocene), provides the first taxonomic descriptions of each chiton taxon from the site and discusses the paleoecological and biostratigraphic significance of these rarely preserved components of a rocky shore ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The northern South China Sea (SCS) divergent margin developed on a heterogeneous crust that inherited the structures of the Mesozoic convergent margin. However, in the past, studies focused mainly on Cenozoic structures and neglected Mesozoic basement structures. On the basis of the latest high–resolution 3D seismic volumes, we first identify the fault features and evidence in the granite basement. We then identify three sets of Mesozoic fault systems in the northern SCS and discuss their properties and genesis. The NE–trending thrust system (Seismic Reflection 1), formed by forward compression, corresponds to the NW‐ward subduction of the palaeo‐Pacific plate; the NE–trending extensional system (Seismic Reflection 2 and small residual half‐grabens) is related to post‐orogenic extension caused by slab rollback and retreat of the palaeo‐Pacific plate; and the NNE–trending thrust system (Seismic Reflection 3) formed by a transpressional effect related to the palaeo‐Pacific plate and the Eurasian plate changed from the long‐term NW‐ward orthogonal convergence to a NNW‐ward oblique convergence. Finally, by combining previous results on the regional tectonic evolution of onshore and offshore South China, we establish a model for the late Mesozoic evolution of the northern SCS from the Andean‐type margins to the western Pacific‐type margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The overpressure record of the Cenozoic rifting basins in China was recently renewed in the Miocene reservoirs of the Yinggehai Basin, which became an ideal natural laboratory for revealing the hydrocarbon accumulation mechanism under the ultrahigh overpressure setting. Using 3D seismic data, two new fluid expulsion structures were identified in the Yinggehai Basin: layer‐bound faults and pipes. Layer‐bound faults were primarily generated at ~10.5 Ma and subsequently served as vertical channels for hydrocarbon migration. Pipes can be divided into three episodes, generated at ~5.5, ~2.4 and < 1.9 Ma, caused by hydraulic fracturing during focused flow in highly overpressured reservoirs. Pipes generated simultaneously with hydrocarbon charging indicate that the aqueous pressure before hydrocarbon charging did not reach the threshold of hydraulic fracturing and could result in dynamic hydrocarbon accumulation. In contrast, pipes generated before and after hydrocarbon charging increased the unfilling and draining risks of the traps, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lottiidae (Gray, 1840) is a derived family of Patellogastropoda and an important component of intertidal benthic communities. The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been frequently used to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of Patellogastropoda. We used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to sequence the complete mitogenomes of five species. We analyzed the basic base composition characteristics of these mitogenomes, constructed a phylogenetic tree, compared the characteristics of gene rearrangement with other related species, and discussed the evolutionary patterns between gastropod species and the evolutionary relationships of each subclass. In addition, we aim to infer the differentiation time and evolutionary characteristics of various species in the order Patellogastropoda. These results will enrich the mitogenome database of Patellogastropoda and enhance our understanding of the genetic characteristics of Lottiidae and the phylogenetic relationships between gastropods. Results: We obtained the mitogenomes sequences of Lottia peitaihoensis, Patelloida saccharinoides, Patelloida ryukyuensis, Nipponacmea sp. and Nipponacmea nigrans, using next-generation sequencing technology. We analyzed the basic structural characteristics of their mitogenomes and found that their lengths ranged from 16.6 kbp to 19.1 kbp. While N. nigrans and P. saccharinoides contain 39 genes, L. peitaihoensis, P. ryukyuensis, and Nipponacmea sp. have only 38 genes, with one trnW less. The most abundant base among the five species is T, and most protein coding genes (PCGs) use ATT, ATG, and ATA as starting codons, and TAA and TAG as stopping codons. We selected the mitogenomes of 10 Lottiidae species for selection pressure analysis and found that all PCGs were subject to purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Patellogastropoda is a fundamental branch of the Gastropoda, and Lottiidae, within Patellogastropoda, is an independent branch at the outermost of the entire phylogenetic tree. Comparison of mitochondrial gene sequences of all Patellogastropoda species revealed a high degree of gene rearrangement within the family Lottiidae, eight sequences present among the 10 species examined. By estimating their divergence times, we found that the divergence of limpets occurred as early as the Permian period of the Paleozoic Era, and a large number of species diverged in the Cenozoic Era. Conclusion: The data obtained from this study will provide information on the assembly of the mitochondrial genome of the Lottiidae species, which will contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary status and relationship among thes family of Patellogastropoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has been rising to an ever‐increasing prominence in the news headlines in recent years, as local and global temperature records are obliterated, and extreme weather events occur with increasing frequency and severity. Preparing for an uncertain future climate represents one of the biggest challenges humans have ever faced. Here, I take you back 62 million years ago (Ma) to a poorly studied short‐lived global warming event known as the Latest Danian Event (LDE), which may represent a good analogue for current human‐induced climate change. I discuss evidence for changes in temperature and pH of the oceans during the LDE, using novel geochemical proxies on the calcite shells of zooplankton to prove that the LDE was the first global 'hyperthermal' event of the Cenozoic. I also delve into the potential forcing mechanisms behind the event, outlining the critical outstanding questions which palaeoclimatologists are yet to answer. Most importantly, I highlight the lessons we can learn from the LDE about our future climate, allowing us to better plan, prepare and adapt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolutionary history of the East Asian continental margin has been the focus of many researchers because of the overprinting of multiple tectonic domains. Previous studies have suggested that the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate and the Pacific Plate resulted in the deconstruction of the North China Craton and controlled the formation of the related basins on the continental margin of East Asia. However, controversy remains regarding the tectonic transition processes and mechanisms that occurred from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic. Since the Mesozoic, the Bohai Bay Basin on the eastern margin of the North China Craton of East China has been influenced by multiple tectonic domains of the Paleo-Tethys, Paleo-Pacific, and Pacific oceans, and there are complete records of these tectonic transition processes. The Bozhong Depression is a subbasin in the Bohai Bay Basin, which is a crucial area for researching the tectonic evolution of the Bohai Bay Basin throughout the Mesozoic-Cenozoic and the regional tectonic evolution of the eastern continental margin of China. Based on 3-D seismic data, logging core data, and a balanced cross section in the Bozhong area, combined with data from the apatite fission-track inversion model, we reconstructed the tectonic evolutionary history of central Bohai Bay Basin and established a three-cycle and eight-stage tectonic model of the central Bohai Bay Basin during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. The three cycles are the Indosinian, the Yanshinian, and the Himalayan. (1) The Indosinian was marked by two stages. During the early Indosinian, NW-trending thrust faults were formed due to the collision and northward subduction of the South China Block underneath the North China Block. In the late Indosinian, the tectonic stress in the central Bohai Bay Basin shifted from compression to extension. Consequently, the thrust faults reversed, leading to the deposition of Early-Middle Jurassic strata. (2) The Yanshanian cycle comprises three main phases. Early Yanshanian transpressional shearing led to the formation of a NE/NNE-trending, left-lateral strike-slip fault due to NWW-directed subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate. Middle Yanshanian transtensional shearing was driven by Paleo-Pacific Plate rollback and resulted in regional extension and the negative inversion of previous compressive faults. Late Yanshanian compression gave rise to the basin reversion, which resulted from an increased subduction speed of the Paleo-Pacific Plate and a transition from a high angle to a low angle. (3) The Himalayan cycle was marked by three phases. During the early Paleogene, the region was characterized mainly by extension, and NEtrending, right-lateral strike-slip normal faults began to form. This coincided with a decrease in the Pacific Plate's subduction speed. In the late Paleogene, the subduction rate of the Pacific Plate increased, resulting in the change of the central Bohai Bay Basin from an extensional environment to one marked by regional differential compression. In the Neogene, regional thermal subsidence and depression sedimentation occurred, which were probably induced by the increasing subduction speed and rollback of the Pacific Plate. The Bozhong Depression has experienced multiple stages of tectonic evolution, which indicates the concurrent and superimposed effects and transition of multiple tectonic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial disintegration of Gondwana during the Paleozoic laid the foundation for the formation of the Tibetan Plateau in the Cenozoic. Determining the relative positions of the microterranes in Gondwana during the Paleozoic not only informs the subsequent drift and accretion processes of these microterranes but is also crucial to the paleogeographic reconstruction of Gondwana. However, the lack of paleomagnetic constraints on the Devonian paleogeography of the microterranes in the northern part of Gondwana makes this effort challenging. Here, we report paleomagnetic results for the first time from the Early-Middle Devonian sediments of the Zhongba microterrane. The site-mean direction is declination (Ds) = 310.7°, inclination (Is) = -67.2°, ks = 31.2, a95 = 8.3°, and n = 11, in stratigraphic coordinates. Positive fold and reversal tests, together with rock magnetism results and microscopic observations, strongly suggest that the remanence carriers are of depositional origin. The paleomagnetic results meet the paleomagnetic reliability criteria and therefore can be used for tectonic reconstructions. Our results constrain the paleolatitude of the Zhongba microterrane to be 50.0°S ± 11.7°S in the Early-Middle Devonian. Combined with published detrital zircon ages as well as paleomagnetic results and geological data, our data indicate that the Zhongba microterrane, which had no tectonic affinity with the Lhasa terrane, was part of the northern margin of Greater India during 408-388 Ma and coupled with the South Qiangtang terrane, Tethyan Himalayas, and other terranes to form the continuous northern continental margin of East Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexities of convergent margins commonly include the interactions of subduction zones, with many geological records of “double” subduction. Here, we build two-dimensional numerical models to explore the evolution of complex subduction systems by systematically testing single and inward-dipping double subduction beneath a continental upper plate and the impact of continental collision on these systems. When compared to single subduction models, the inward-dipping double subduction shows hindered trench migrations and larger volumes of upwelling mantle enhanced by excess sinking slab mass. Double subduction draws larger volumes of hotter mantle beneath the continent in an area much broader than the marginal basins of single subductions, contributing to subcontinental heating by ∼200 °C. As collision jams one margin of a double subduction system, the other margin follows the evolution of migrating single subduction zones, although characterized by persisting higher mantle temperatures and strong upwellings, inherited from the double subduction stage, and large-scale upper plate extension. The modeling outcomes are compared to scaling arguments to test the viability of the mechanism proposed for tectonics of the Cenozoic South China Sea and Neoproterozoic Yangtze Block (southeastern China), where the inward-dipping double subduction provides a context for protracted large-scale continental extension, hotter subcontinental temperatures, and channeled mantle flow not easily reconciled with the dynamics of single subduction zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, soft-tissue remains of extinct incirrate octopods have been described exclusively from Upper Cretaceous deposits. Here, three specimens of an incirrate octopodid with well-preserved soft tissue imprints are described for the first time from Paleogene strata. This material originates from the upper Ypresian (lower Eocene) fish-bearing levels of the Bolca Konservat-Lagerstätte in the Pesciara of Bolca in north-eastern Italy. Previously, these specimens had tentatively been interpreted as teuthids. Based on a detailed study of their anatomical structure, a new genus and species of octopodid, Bolcaoctopus pesciaraensis, belonging to the extant family Octopodidae, are here erected. Bolcaoctopus gen. nov. may be distinguished from the Late Cretaceous genus Styletoctopus by the presence of long and thin arms and an elongated body shape with a narrowed apical end and covered by longitudinal wrinkles. Although finds of fossil octopuses in the Bolca Konservat-Lagerstätte remain extremely rare, it is worth noting that Cenozoic marine vertebrate localities constitute an important potential source of additional finds of coleoid cephalopods, the study of which may shed light on a poorly understood period in the evolutionary history of these molluscs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape analysis of a large sample of the thecideid brachiopod Thecidellina from the Pliocene and Pleistocene rocks on the Caribbean island of Curaçao highlights asymmetry within the population. However, the 30 analysed specimens display a lack of a consistent asymmetry. The brachiopods were cemented to substrates by a cicatrix, accommodated by a change in shell structure. The plastic morphology of Thecidellina may have been due to overcrowding and competition for resources on limited substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Millettioid/Phaseoloid (or the Millettioid) clade is a major lineage of the subfamily Papilionoideae (Fabaceae) that is poorly understood in terms of its diversification and biogeographic history. To fill this gap, we generated a time‐calibrated phylogeny for 749 species representing c. 80% of the genera of this clade using nrDNA ITS, plastid matK, and plastome sequence (including 38 newly sequenced plastomes). Using this phylogenetic framework, we explored the clade's temporal diversification and reconstructed its ancestral areas and dispersal events. Our phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of the Millettioid/Phaseoloid clade and four of its tribal lineages (Abreae, Desmodieae, Indigofereae, and Psoraleeae), while two tribal lineages sensu lato millettioids and phaseoloids are polyphyletic. The fossil‐calibrated dating analysis showed a nearly simultaneous divergence between the stem node (c. 62 Ma) and the crown node (c. 61 Ma) of the Millettioid/Phaseoloid clade in the Paleocene. The biogeographic analysis suggested that the clade originated in Africa and dispersed to Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas at different periods in the Cenozoic. We found evidence for shifts in diversification rates across the phylogeny of the Millettioid/Phaseoloid clade throughout the Cenozoic, with a rapid increase in net diversification rates since c. 10 Ma. Possible explanations for the present‐day species richness and distribution of the Millettioid/Phaseoloid clade include boreotropical migration, frequent intra‐ and intercontinental long‐distance dispersals throughout the Cenozoic, and elevated speciation rates following the Mid‐Miocene Climatic Optimum. Together, these results provide novel insights into major diversification patterns of the Millettioid/Phaseoloid clade, setting the stage for future evolutionary research on this important legume clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Roses have been horticulturally important for centuries, but their biogeographic history has remained largely unresolved. Fossil occurrences indicate that the genus was present in North America by the late Eocene and in Europe and Asia by the Oligocene. Given the age and importance of this genus, it is desirable to update as new fossils are uncovered and technologies advance. Methodology. Specimens preserved in lacustrine shales were studied by reflected light microscopy and micro–computed tomography scanning. Pivotal results. The fossil record of roses is summarized based on stipulate compound leaves and fruiting remains from western North America. Diagnostic characters of foliage and fruiting receptacles confirm identifications of Rosa from late Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene sites in western North America and distinguish them from European and Asian fossil species. Rose hip species were found to vary in body shape and length of the apical neck. The hips from Colorado and Montana lacked prickles, while those from Oregon bore small prickles on the pedicel. Conclusions. A single largely uniform foliage type, R. hilliae Lesquereux, is recognized in the late Eocene and early Oligocene of western North America, while fruiting remains allow discrimination of two species, R. ruskiniana Cockerell from the late Eocene and early Oligocene of Colorado and Montana and R. mariae sp. nov. from the early Oligocene of Oregon. Another new species, R. packardae sp. nov., is recognized based on hips from the middle Miocene of Oregon. Reproductive structures were distinguished on the basis of differences in calyx lobing, receptacle shape, and epidermal projections on the pedicel. Among extant Rosa species, hip shapes are most commonly globose or subglobose, whereas North American fossils mostly display elliptical or urceolate hips. Urceolate hips in extant species are found in the subgenus Rosa , sections Cinnamomeae or Canieae, indicating potential infrageneric affinities for these fossils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The influence of the India–Asia collision is far‐reaching on the Cenozoic continental deformation in East Asia. Several cratonic lithospheres surrounding Tibet exhibit distinct lithospheric morphologies. However, the mechanisms driving these diverse responses of strong terranes remain incompletely understood. Here, we conduct thermo‐mechanical models to explore the effects of the width of the mobile belts, lithospheric properties and convergence rate on the deformation of the strong terranes. The model results reveal three different deformation modes. Far‐field strong terranes are vulnerable to delamination or underthrusting when the mobile belt is narrow and detached, whereas they remain largely undeformed when it is wide and strong. These deformation patterns align with the observed lithospheric structures around the Tibetan Plateau and are primarily influenced by the convergence rate and proximity to the collision front. Our findings provide new insights into the lithospheric deformation mechanisms of cratonic terranes in response to continental collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-component crustal sources are universally acknowledged as the overriding factor in causing geochemical heterogeneities of the Cenozoic Himalayan leucogranites. In previous studies, metasedimentary rocks from the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex were always underlined to be the dominant origin for leucogranites after the Eocene and Oligocene transition (ca. <36 Ma). However, given that the petrological diversity of the Greater Himalayas, especially the widespread and high-grade metamorphosed granitic gneisses; this traditional standpoint has been increasingly questioned nowadays. To further demonstrate the role of granitic gneiss in leucogranite generation, a rounded compilation of geochronological and geochemical data for leucogranites, granitic gneisses, and other related rocks from the specified N – S striking Yardoi – Cuonadong – Tsona transect has been conducted. After making comprehensive comparison and discussion between leucogranites and granitic gneisses, we argue that Cenozoic Himalayan leucogranites may not be pure metasediments derived S-type granites as orthogneisses could be another important endmember for the provenance of them based on the following evidence: (1) Abundant relict zircons within the Himalayan leucogranites display two evident U – Pb age clusters at ca. 850–800 Ma and ca. 520–470 Ma, which are contemporaneous with the Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic granitic magmatism, respectively. (2) Zircon Hf isotopes of Himalayan-aged rims (−11.21 to −4.82) could be perfectly constrained by two evolution lines derived from Neoproterozoic (−6.40 to 0.16) and early Paleozoic (−2.37 to 6.15) zircon groups. (3) In terms of whole-rock Sr – Nd isotopes (all corrected to 20 Ma), there is a notable overlap between leucogranites (0.7142 to 0.8429 for Sr; and −17.34 to −9.86 for Nd) and granitic gneisses (0.7703 to 0.8716 for Sr, and −16.27 to −9.80 for Nd). (4) Although the fertility of granitic gneisses should be poorest in the absence of a separate aqueous phase; however, the evolutionary P – T – XH2O conditions triggered by compressional thrust activity of the Main Central Thrust and arc-parallel extension have remarkably modified original source structures (infiltration by LHS-derived fluids) and melting behaviours (more recognized fluid-present partial melting cases). Consequently, the role the granitic gneisses would be strengthened because of the greatly improved fertility via fluid-present melting; and the Sr – Nd isotopic signatures of Himalayan leucogranites would be spatially-temporally evolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafloor fabric indicators are the main features used for dating global-scale plate reorganizations. However, the lack of oceanic crusts older than 200 Ma limits their application only to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Furthermore, in cases such as the mid-Cretaceous time when reversals in Earth's magnetic field did not occur, the plate reorganization ages obtained from seafloor fabric indicators are imprecise. I propose the record of continental deformation as an alternative approach for dating these events. A compilation of cooling/deformation, migmatization, and unconformity ages recorded around the globe collectively indicates that continental deformation associated with the mid-Cretaceous plate reorganization culminated at 107 Ma. This age strongly correlates with ages obtained from other data such as palaeomagnetic poles. Considering that the deformational features similar to which are compiled in this study appear to be temporally correlated with other reorganization events, the record of globally distributed continental deformation might be used for other reorganization events whose timing is poorly constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate species delimitation and phylogenetic reconstruction are vital to understand biodiversity assessments, conservation management, evolutionary patterns, evolutionary processes, and historical biogeography. The taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Neolissochilus (Cyprinidae) have a confusing history. We investigated the taxonomy and phylogeny of this group and related lineages using complete mitochondrial genome sequence data from 53 Cyprinidae species and one outgroup species. These analyses show that the monophyly of Neolissochilus and Tor is not supported. N. benasi might represent a new genus, and T. qiaojiensis should be moved into Neolissochilus. We estimated divergence times, evaluated the monophyly of this group, their relationship to other cyprinids, as well as the time course and geography of speciation. The results indicated that the family Cyprinidae likely diverged from other taxa during the Eocene (ca. 54.78 Mya), and species of various genera began to undergo massive diversification events during the Cenozoic Tertiary. The differentiation and diffusion of the family Cyprinidae might be attributed to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau uplift events, one of the geological events marking the Cenozoic Tertiary period, which cut off genetic exchange between populations through geographic isolation, thus facilitating genetic divergence between populations and eventually leading to the formation of new species. In addition, the results of this study still need further improvement. The limitations are mainly due to the small sample size and the use of only mitochondrial data; therefore, it still needs to be further verified by combining nuclear genome data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Alliance of World Scientists (AWS) and the Scientists' Warning movement, which has grown to 27,000 scientists from 180 countries and published 50 articles. The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) decided not to formally recognize the Anthropocene as a new epoch, citing the need for clear geological markers. Despite this decision, the term "Anthropocene" remains valuable in highlighting human impacts on the environment and should be used in academic and public discourse. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing global environmental challenges in a holistic and socially just manner. [Extracted from the article]

Solid Earth CO2 outgassing, driven by plate tectonic processes, is a key driver of carbon cycle models. However, the magnitudes and variations in outgassing are poorly constrained in deep‐time. We assess plate tectonic carbon emissions and sequestration by coupling a plate tectonic model with reconstructions of oceanic plate carbon reservoirs and a thermodynamic model to quantify outfluxes from slabs and continental arcs over 1 billion years. In the early Neoproterozoic, our model predicts a peak in crustal production and net outgassing from 840 to 780 Ma that corresponds to a contemporaneous pulse in large igneous province eruptions. The Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations (717–635 Ma) correspond to a low in mid‐ocean ridge outgassing, while the following Ediacaran global warming coincides with a rise in net atmospheric carbon influx, driven by an increase in plate boundary and rift length. The Cambrian, Silurian/Devonian and Triassic Jurassic hothouse climates are synchronous with a reduction in carbon sequestration flux into oceanic plates, increasing net outgassing. In contrast, the Early Cretaceous hothouse climate is accompanied by a pronounced increase in mid‐ocean ridge outgassing. Both the Early Ordovician cooling and the late Paleozoic ice ages coincide with a significant decrease in net atmospheric outgassing, driven by an increase in carbon sequestration. The late Cenozoic glaciation is associated with a long‐term decrease in mid‐ocean ridge and rift degassing, and a pronounced increase in carbon flux into pelagic carbonate sediments. Our tectono‐thermodynamic carbon cycle model provides a new foundation for future long‐term climate and geochemical cycling models. Plain Language Summary: Solid Earth carbon outgassing is thought to be a driver of long‐term fluctuations in climate and surface environments, but is difficult to constrain for the geological past. We have built upon the recent development of deep‐time plate tectonic models with evolving boundaries to compute the flux of carbon into plates, the mantle and the atmosphere in the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic eons. We use a novel tectono‐thermodynamic modeling approach to compute the mobilization of carbon from subducting slabs and overriding plates along active margins. Our analysis reveals how plate tectonics drives fluctuations between hothouse and icehouse climates by modulating the balance between solid Earth carbon outgassing and storage. Earth's youngest glaciation in the Cenozoic Era is exceptional in that the biological evolution of calcifying oceanic phytoplankton has played an important role in driving an enormous growth of the reservoir of deep‐sea carbonate sediments creating a new sink for atmospheric CO2. Key Points: We combine plate tectonic and thermodynamic models to reconstruct plate tectonic solid Earth carbon outgassing and sequestration since 1 GaCarbon outgassing and plate storage flux play equally important roles in driving long‐term climate fluctuationsCryogenian glaciations correlate with low carbon degassing, while changes in plate carbon influx rise in importance during the Phanerozoic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porphyry and the associated skarn-type deposit is one of the most important types of ore deposits worldwide, which usually exhibit significant zoning of mineralization-alteration, but the research on element migration in these mineralization-alteration zones is relatively weak. The Beiya porphyry–skarn gold-polymetallic deposit is a super-large Cenozoic deposit located in the Sanjiang metallogenic belt, northwestern Yunnan, China. In this paper, through a detailed analysis of mineralization and alteration zoning and its element migration regularity, the findings are as follows: (1) Three types of hydrothermal alteration—porphyry alteration, contact alteration, and wall-rock alteration—are developed, and porphyry alteration includes potassic, phyllic, propylitic, and argillic alteration; (2) five types of mineralization—porphyry-type Cu–Au–(Mo), skarn-type Au–Fe–(Cu), hydrothermal vein-type Au–Fe, distal hydrothermal-type Pb-polymetallic, and oxidizing-leaching enriched-type Au—occur in a diversity of forms, which are dominantly controlled by structures and lithologies; (3) concentric-banded mineralization-alteration zones are exhibited centrally from the alkaline porphyry outward or upward, namely [porphyry alteration] potassic → phyllic → propylitic → argillic → [contact alteration] skarnitization–marbleization → [wall-rock alteration] marbleization–silicification–calcitization; (4) porphyry-type mineralization predominantly forms within potassic and phyllic zones, while skarn-type mineralization occurs in contact alteration zones, and proximal and distal hydrothermal (vein)-type mineralization are commonly distributed in marbleization–silicification–calcitization alteration zones; and (5) element migration analysis demonstrates a significantly lateral and vertical zoning in the metallogenic element association of Cu–Mo → Cu–Au → Au–Fe–Cu → Au–Fe → Pb–Zn–Au–Ag–Fe from alkaline porphyry outward to the wall-rock. The mineralization-alteration zoning model indicates the Beiya deposit has similar mineralization and alteration zone characteristics to the typical porphyry copper system; and element migration within mineralization-alteration zones provides new scientific information for understanding the metallogenic regularity and prospecting at Beiya, as well as the similar types of deposits in the Sanjiang metallogenic belt and elsewhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Cenozoic sedimentary archives of Tibet are crucial for elucidating the geodynamic processes related to continental collision, particularly crustal deformation and shortening. However, the lack of a reliable chronostratigraphic framework for the Cenozoic sedimentary basins in central Tibet has hindered a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the continuous India‐Asia convergence process on the tectonic evolution of the Tibetan hinterland. Here, we report new magnetostratigraphic ages and paleomagnetic results for the Niubao Formation exposed in the northern bank of the Siling Co. Positive field tests and microscopic observations suggest that the remanence is primary. We determine that the depositional age of the measured section was between 59.2 and 48.6 Ma. Our results reveal that the paleogeographic location of the Bangong‐Nujiang Suture Zone during the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene was 25.4 ± 2.1°N, thus supporting the model of two‐stage collision between India and Asia. Plain Language Summary: The tectono‐sedimentary evolution of the Cenozoic terrestrial sedimentary basins in the Tibetan Plateau was a long‐term response to Cenozoic continental collision and was critical for both constraining the amount of crustal shortening of the Asian continent and for paleogeographic reconstruction of the plateau. Nonetheless, the ages of the basins are controversial because of the discordance between radiometric dating results and paleontological ages. Siling Co is the geographic boundary between the Lunpola and Nima Basins, and the Niubao Formation is widely exposed on its northeastern margin, providing excellent research materials for studying the paleogeographic evolution of the plateau. Hence, we established a reliable magnetostratigraphic sequence of the Niubao Formation in northwestern Siling Co, combined with U‐Pb chronology, and constrained its age to 59.2–48.6 Ma. Our updated paleomagnetic results indicate that the paleolatitude of the Bangong‐Nujiang Suture Zone was 25.4 ± 2.1°N during the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene. Combined with the published paleomagnetic data from the intra‐oceanic arc, we suggest that the collision between the Asian and Indian continents had at least two stages and that the paleogeographic location of the collision was above 20°N. Key Points: Detrital zircon U‐Pb ages and paleomagnetic polarity patterns indicate that the Niubao Formation was deposited at 59.2–48.6 MaThe Bangong‐Nujiang Suture Zone was located at 25.4 ± 2.1°N during the Paleocene–EoceneThe amount of crustal shortening in the central Tibetan Plateau since 60 Ma is likely to be 780 ± 330 km [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field evidence indicates c. 40 Ma (Early-Middle Eocene) contractional deformation in the S Amanos Mountains. Following latest Cretaceous southward ophiolite emplacement, an intra-platform basin infilled with shallow to deeper marine, dominantly carbonate sediments. Localized thrusting, reverse faulting, and folding were followed by subaerial erosion and non-marine clastic deposition, sealed by an Early Miocene marine transgression. Eocene emergence elsewhere in SE Türkiye probably also resulted from regional crustal shortening. Alternative hypotheses for collision in SE Türkiye propose latest Cretaceous, Mid-Late Eocene, Early Miocene, or Late Miocene suturing of S Neotethys. Much geological evidence in SE Türkiye and NW Iran supports Mid-Late Eocene initial continent-continent collision. Plate reconstructions suggest S Neotethys survived in this region until the Mid-Late Eocene. Biogeographical evidence points to minor Eocene mammal migration across S Neotethys, followed by Early Miocene large-scale terrestrial migrations. Seawater isotopic data suggest a major decrease in inter-Indian Ocean-Mediterranean Sea current flow during the Early Miocene. Instrumental geophysics and both numerical and analogue modelling suggest that the northern Arabian platform underthrust Eurasia (>200 km in S central Iran). In SE Türkiye, Eocene initial ‘soft’ collision was followed by Early Miocene ‘hard collision’, with crustal thickening and exhumation continuing until the Late Miocene, followed by westward ‘tectonic escape’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cenozoic era is the digital age where people, things, and any device with network capabilities can communicate with each other, and the Internet of Things (IoT) paves the way for it. Almost all domains are adopting IoT from smart home appliances, smart healthcare, smart transportation, Industrial IoT and many others. As the adoption of IoT increases, the accretion of data also grows. Furthermore, digital transformations have led to more security vulnerabilities, resulting in data breaches and cyber-attacks. One of the most prominent issues in smart environments is a delay in data processing while all IoT smart environments store their data in the cloud and retrieve them for every transaction. With increased data accumulations on the cloud, most smart applications face unprecedented delays. Thus, data security and low-latency response time are mandatory to deploy a robust IoT-based smart environment. Blockchain, a decentralized and immutable distributed ledger technology, is an essential candidate for ensuring secured data transactions, but it has a variety of challenges in accommodating resource-constrained IoT devices. Edge computing brings data storage and computation closer to the network’s edge and can be integrated with blockchain for low-latency response time in data processing. Integrating blockchain with edge computing will ensure faster and more secure data transactions, thus reducing the computational and communicational overhead concerning resource allocation, data transaction and decision-making. This paper discusses the seamless integration of blockchain and edge computing in IoT environments, various use cases, notable blockchain-enabled edge computing architectures in the literature, secured data transaction frameworks, opportunities, research challenges, and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The events of the Cenozoic era such as mountain formation caused Iran to become one of the most amazing biodiversity hotspots in the world today. This pioneering study on Iranian snake biogeography integrates historical and ecological analyses. A phylogeographic review traces speciation and dispersal, while cluster analysis with a new snake checklist assesses faunistic similarities within Iran and its surroundings. Jaccard and Sorenson indices generate similarity dendrograms, Indicator Species Analysis pinpoints regional key species, and Endemism index calculates regional endemism rates, enriching our knowledge of Iran's species diversity. Phylogeographic analyses identify four biogeographical corridors for snake ingress into Iran: the Arabian region through southwestern Iran, the Western Asian mountainous transition zone via northwestern Iran, the Turanian region into northeastern Iran, and the Indus River Valley into southeastern and eastern Iran. Dendrogram analysis divides snake fauna into three groups. The first group associates western Zagros and Khuzestan fauna with the Sahara and Arabian regions. The second group links Kopet Dagh and Turkmen Steppe fauna with the Turanian region, and Central Plateau and Baluchistan fauna with the Iranian region. The third group connects northwest highlands, Alborz and Zagros mountains, and Caspian Sea coasts with the Western Asian Mountain transition zone. The study validates broad biogeographic patterns via ecoregional associations and indicator species analysis, providing finer resolution. Species like Platyceps najadum in Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests exemplify ecoregional alignment, while Zagros and Alborz mountains exhibit unique faunal indicators, indicating species-level divergence. Shared indicators among widespread ecoregions reflect habitat continuity; exclusive indicators emphasize regional distinctiveness. Despite endemic species prevalence, they seldom act as significant indicators due to various factors. Our research confirms the Zagros Mountains, Khuzestan Plain, Alborz Mountains, and Persian Gulf coasts as snake diversity hotspots, marked by higher species richness compared to other Iranian regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southwestern part of Turkey is called the 'western Anatolia Extensional Province'. Today, there is an approximately N-S-oriented extension in this area. The seismically active region is characterized by E-W and N-S-trending grabens. The tectonism and evolution of Tavşanlı Graben, one of these grabens, during the Plio-Quaternary period are the main subjects of this study. The Tavşanlı Graben, about which there is no information in the literature, has been defined for the first time in this study, and the geometrical and kinematic properties, relative ages, and interrelationships of some Neogene-aged faults, especially Quaternary-aged faults, have been presented in the manuscript. The data obtained indicate strike-slip faulting in the late Pliocene in the region. These E-W striking faults and the basin they formed are the first in western Anatolia with these features. In the Quaternary, E-W-oriented normal faults were formed in the region. The asymmetric topography of the graben area is consistent with the other E-W-oriented grabens in western Anatolia. Late Cretaceous basement rocks and Miocene-aged units are observed at the margins of the graben, which are fragmented by faults. The fill of the graben is Quaternary-aged fan deposits and alluvium. In this study, it was determined that the Tavşanlı Basin, which started to form with a transtensional mechanism at the end of the Pliocene, was transformed into the Tavşanlı Graben in the Pleistocene. The basin formation, which started with directional faulting in the late Pliocene, evolved into a graben in the Quaternary, and reached its present form by completing its development in two phases, supports the views that adopt the multi-stage deformation of western Anatolia in the late Cenozoic. In addition to contributing to the literature on this subject, the article will also serve as a basis for future paleoseismological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a passive rift basin in the Cenozoic, the formation and evolution process of the Weihe Basin has not been well explained. Here we estimate the stretching factor and basal heat flow for each rift period along four geological profiles using a 2D multi-stage finite extension model. The modelling is based on a reconstruction of pre-rift crustal and lithospheric thicknesses, and is calibrated with the current heat flow. The Xi'an Depression had the biggest stretching factor while the Pucheng Uplift had the smallest throughout the Cenozoic period, which saw a range of stretching factors from 1.02 to 2.06. The basal heat flow in the Weihe Basin exhibits a corresponding change. At the end of the Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene periods, the basal heat flow varied between 58.5 ~ 64.0 mW·m−2, 59.2 ~ 67.0 mW·m−2, and 59.6 ~ 78.7 mW·m−2, respectively. Increasing stretching factor and basal heat flow indicate that the Weihe Basin is currently in a state of sustained extension. The formation and development of the Weihe Basin are analysed in the context of larger tectonic changes, and it is considered that the Weihe Basin is controlled by pre-existing faults, and formed in a regional tectonic context of sliding and pulling apart first, and tensioning and lifting up later. Since the late Miocene (7.3 Ma), anomalously rapid subsidence has occurred, induced by a new phase of rifting and depth-related lithospheric extension. The thermal genesis of the geothermal system in the Weihe Basin is also thought to be closely related to the latest phase of extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) exhibit strong environmental adaptability and live in both freshwater and saltwater. However, the genetic basis of this adaptability has not been the focus of research. In this study, we successfully constructed a ∼2.21‐Gb chromosome‐level genome assembly for M. t. centrata using high‐coverage and high‐depth genomic sequencing data generated on multiple platforms. The M. t. centrata genome contains 25 chromosomes and the scaffold N50 of ∼143.75 Mb, demonstrating high continuity and accuracy. In total, 53.82% of the genome assembly was composed of repetitive sequences, and 22 435 protein‐coding genes were predicted. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that M. t. centrata was closely related to the red‐eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans), with divergence approximately ∼23.6 million years ago (Mya) during the early Neogene period of the Cenozoic era. The population size of M. t. centrata decreased significantly over the past ∼14 Mya during the Cenozoic era. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that 36 gene families related to ion transport were expanded and several genes (AQP3, solute carrier subfamily, and potassium channel genes) underwent specific amino acid site mutations in the M. t. centrata genome. Changes to these ion transport‐related genes may have contributed to the remarkable salinity adaptability of diamondback terrapin. The results of this study not only provide a high‐quality reference genome for M. t. centrata but also elucidate the possible genetic basis for salinity adaptation in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For much of the pelagic sedimentary record, time control is limited to the resolution of precession cycles (ca 20 kyr): the Milankovitch parameter that forms the most detailed metronome for the Cenozoic and Mesozoic Eras. The influence of precession is often detected in lithological alternations, where the duration represented by individual lithologies is not well constrained. Here the novel technique of extraterrestrial helium abundance (3HeET) is used to investigate the sedimentation dynamics and palaeoceanography within individual precessional cycles. High‐resolution 3HeET timescales were produced for four precession cycles from the rhythmically bedded Scaglia Bianca Formation, a sequence of Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) deep‐marine pelagic limestones from central Italy that are well characterized by cyclostratigraphy. Using 3HeET concentrations as a proxy for sedimentation rate allows instantaneous sedimentation rates and organic‐carbon mass accumulation rates to be calculated for each bed within a precession cycle. Eccentricity is known to modulate the amplitude of precession forcing, and precession cycles deposited under eccentricity maxima and minima were selected for comparison. Lithological changes through these chert–(black shale)–limestone cycles are explained using the concept of 'palaeoenvironmental thresholds'; these timescale calculations indicate that when the amplitude of precessional insolation forcing was greatest (at eccentricity maxima) the palaeoenvironmental system spent longer in the more nutrient‐rich environment under which siliceous and organic‐rich sediments were deposited, reflecting increased time spent above a 'threshold' insolation level. Estimates of primary productivity are relatively elevated for organic‐rich beds. An increase in the flux of terrestrial helium (4Heterr) during the deposition of cherts may have been coincident with an increase in terrestrially derived nutrients. The presented results indicate great potential for the use of 3HeET to understand past oceanographic, climatic and sedimentological processes at high temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallogenic geochronology plays a crucial role in the study of ore genesis and mineralization evolution. Unfortunately, accurately determining the metallogenic age of the non‐sulphide Zn–Pb deposits is difficult. Herein, we employed Rb–Sr dating of smithsonite and Sm–Nd dating of coexisting calcite to explore the mineralization ages of the Huoshaoyun Zn–Pb deposit. The Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotopic ratios yield isochron ages of 26.6 ± 1.7 and 27.5 ± 7.6 Ma, respectively. These obtained ages are identified as the metallogenic age of the Huoshaoyun deposit. Moreover, investigations into carbonate‐hosted Zn–Pb deposits in the East Tethys Metallogenic belt suggest they have formed in similar tectonic settings and yielded consistent Cenozoic ages. In sum, our research indicates that carbonate‐hosted Pb–Zn metallogenic ages in the East Tethys Metallogenic belt are principally concentrated in the late Palaeogene, and directly related to the collisional orogeny of the Tibetan Plateau during 40–26 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The San Potito area in central Apennines (Italy), enclosed within the Latium‐Abruzzi carbonate platform, exposes anomalously pelagic carbonates filling an intraplatform basin formed during Jurassic rifting. Oriented obliquely to the regional NW‐SE trend of Cenozoic thrusts and extensional faults, the basin's eastern boundary fault system, striking N‐S, played a pivotal role in structuring orogenic and post‐orogenic features. Large tracts of the fault experienced double reactivation: positive inversion during Miocene shortening, and negative during post‐orogenic extension. Double reactivation is evidenced by older‐on‐younger extensional contacts, and by the change in orientation of thrusts and recent extensional faults from NW‐SE to NNW‐SSE, the latter being consistent with the trend of Jurassic rift‐related structures of the area. This structural interplay highlights the importance of Jurassic faults and their ability in forcing the structural trends, by surviving across multiple deformation stages, even controlling active extensional seismicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the mountainous topography and high relief of the Hohe Tauern, the adjacent Nock Mountains (Gurktal Alps) are characterized by hilly topography, lower relief and rounded summits. Although the peculiar landforms in the Nock Mountains have long been recognized, little is known about the rates of landscape evolution in this area. Here we present the first set of 16 10Be-based catchment-wide erosion rates from the Nock Mountains. Our results show that the 10 main catchments erode at rates between ~ 120 and ~ 280 mm/ka. Sub-catchments comprising a high percentage of low-relief surfaces erode at lower rates than the steeper lower parts of the main catchments, which indicates active river incision and relief growth. A comparison between 10Be erosion rates and exhumation rates derived from thermochronology and thermokinematic modelling reveals that short-term and long-term erosion rates are remarkably similar. In the central Nock Mountains, the average 10Be erosion rate (166 ± 35 mm/ka) is almost identical to the average exhumation rate (160 ± 20 m/Ma since ~ 34 Ma). The southern Nock Mountains show a higher 10Be rate (202 ± 58 mm/ka) and a higher long-term exhumation rate (270 ± 30 m/Ma since ~ 18 Ma). The agreement between short-term and long-term erosion rates suggests that average erosion rates in the Nock Mountains did not change significantly during the late Cenozoic. Comparing our data to surrounding regions shows that erosion rates from the Nock Mountains fit to the general W–E decrease in catchment-wide erosion rates observed in the Eastern Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains uncertain whether a stagnant slab in the mantle transition zone can affect the asthenospheric mantle beyond its leading edge. To address this question, we investigated Cenozoic alkaline basalts from the Dariganga volcanic field (DVF) in southeastern Mongolia. The DVF is located west of North–South Gravity Lineament (NSGL) in Eastern China, which is spatially coincident with the seismically detected stagnant Pacific slab front. Basalts from the DVF consist of nephelinite, basanite and alkali olivine basalt. These rocks have relatively high Nb/U (average = 58) and Nb/La (>1) ratios and radiogenic Nd–Hf isotopic compositions. They also have high Ca/Al (0.60–1.13), Zn/FeT (13.5–16.5), and FeO/MnO (77–112) ratios as well as low δ26Mg (−0.42‰ to −0.26‰) values, reflecting an asthenospheric mantle source modified by carbonated eclogite‐derived melts. Pb–Nd–Hf isotope characteristics indicate that the carbonated eclogite‐derived melts likely originated from the stagnant Pacific slab. Although Cenozoic basalts from both the east of the NSGL (ENSGL) and DVF domains exhibit light δ26Mg values, basalts from the ENSGL nevertheless have lower δ26Mg values than those in the DVF domain. This suggests a gradual westward decline in the amount of carbonated melts/fluids derived from the stagnant Pacific slab. This variation trend, combined with a more fertile and oxidized asthenospheric mantle toward the ENSGL, indicates that the stagnant slab has affected the mantle and created a compositional aureole beyond its leading edge, which substantially contributed to the formation of the alkaline basalts in the DVF. Plain Language Summary: Subducted slabs can exert a profound influence on overlying mantle domains. However, it remains uncertain whether material from a stagnant subducted slab in the mantle transition zone can influence the mantle domain beyond its leading edge and contribute to the formation of alkaline basalts. This article presents a study on Cenozoic alkaline basalts in SE Mongolia, which lie west of the North–South Gravity Lineament, beyond the leading edge of the stagnant Pacific slab. The Cenozoic alkaline basalts in SE Mongolia are characterized by relatively high Ca/Al, Nb/U and Nb/La ratios. They also show depletion in Pb–Zr–Hf and have radiogenic Nd–Hf and relatively light Mg isotopic compositions, which is consistent with their origination from an asthenospheric mantle source modified by carbonated eclogite‐derived melts. Radiogenic isotopic compositions suggest that the carbonated melts were likely derived from the stagnant Pacific slab. Furthermore, there is a westward decline in signals of carbonated melts/fluids derived from the stagnant Pacific slab. These findings suggest that the stagnant Pacific slab has influenced the mantle domain beyond its front edge, leading to a differential modification of the asthenospheric mantle and the formation of intraplate alkaline basalts in the Dariganga volcanic field. Key Points: The Cenozoic alkaline basalts in Dariganga were sourced from asthenospheric mantle modified by carbonated eclogite‐derived meltsThe carbonated eclogite‐derived melts were derived from the subducted Pacific slab that stagnated in the mantle transitional zoneThe influence of the carbonated melts/fluids waned westward, resulting in a compositional aureole across the North–South Gravity Lineament [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran is a country characterized by high biodiversity and complex biogeographic patterns. Its diverse landscape and steep climatic gradients have resulted in significant faunal diversity and high level of endemism. To better understand these patterns, we investigated the historical environmental drivers that have shaped Iran's current geological and climatological conditions, and, consequently, have shaped the current zoological distribution patterns. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the country's zoological diversity and zoogeography by reviewing published studies on its fauna. We analyzed nearly all available catalogs, updated checklists, and relevant publications, and synthesized them to present a comprehensive overview of Iran's biodiversity. Our review reports approximately 37,500 animal species for Iran. We also demonstrated that the country serves as a biogeographic transition zone among three zoogeographical realms: the Palearctic, Oriental, and Saharo-Arabian, where distinct faunal elements intersect. This biogeographic complexity has made it challenging to delineate clear zoogeographical zones, leading to varying classifications depending on the taxon. The uplift of mountain ranges, in particular, has played a crucial role in shaping faunal diversity by serving as barriers, corridors, and glacial refugia. These mountains are largely the result of orogeny and plate collisions during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, coupled with the development of the Tethyan Sea and the uplift of several ranges during the Miocene. Despite these insights, our understanding of biodiversity distribution in Iran remains incomplete, even for some well-studied taxa, such as certain vertebrate families and arthropods. We highlight the existing gaps in knowledge regarding zoogeographical patterns and propose approaches to address these gaps, particularly concerning less-studied species and the highly diverse group of insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The now inaccessible amber deposits of the Fushun coalfield (Guchengzi Formation; Ypresian) represent the only diverse record of Paleogene arthropods from northeastern Asia. Among the wealth of inclusions recovered from the mines before they were closed and filled, only five specimens of bees were discovered. Meager as they are, these samples provide an important paleogeographical point of reference for piecing together the fauna of forest-dwelling bees during and after the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. Three species in two genera are recorded, one species representing a new extinct genus and tribe of Megachilinae related to Glyptapini, Ctenoplectrellini (here including Aspidosmia Brauns), and perhaps Dioxyini, and the other two species comprising a new genus of the eusocial corbiculate tribe Melikertini (Apinae). The early-diverging tribes of Megachilinae—Glyptapini, Ctenoplectrellini, and the new tribe, all possessing a distinct metatibial scopa—are briefly reviewed. Glyptosmia Engel, n. gen., with Glyptosmia hemiaspis Engel, n. sp., is the sole member of Glyptosmiini Engel, n. tribe. Although it somewhat resembles species of the genus Ctenoplectrella Cockerell (from Baltic, Bitterfeld, Oise, and Rovno ambers), Glyptosmia also shares distinctive traits of Glyptapini (areolate propodeum) and even the cleptoparasitic Dioxyini (tuberculate metanotum). The tribe can be distinguished by the bare compound eyes, dense mesosomal punctation, tuberculate metanotum, areolate propodeum, flattened mesoscutellum with a sinuate apical margin, and characteristically thickened metatibial spurs, among other characters. Two species of the corbiculate bee tribe Melikertini are described, both of the genus Thyreomelikertes Engel, n. gen. Thyreomelikertes lacks the facial protuberances found in genera such as Aethemelikertes Engel, Haidomelikertes Engel, Amelikertotes Engel, or Succinapis Engel and is superficially similar to Melissites Engel or Mochlomelikertes Engel, Breitkreuz, and Ohl, with its long, flattened, and trapezoidal mesoscutellum somewhat reminiscent of the latter genus. The genus is also noteworthy for the putatively plesiomorphic retention of relatively developed grooves on the outer surface of the mandible and dense mesosomal pubescence. The two included species, Thyreomelikertes electrosinicus, n. sp., and T. kongi, n. sp., can be distinguished by size and the development of setae on the meso- and metatibiae. All the individuals are morphologically workers, and so, like all other melikertines, Thyreomelikertes was social and, based on the phylogenetic position of the tribe, presumably lived in anchored eusocial colonies. By contrast, G. hemiaspis was likely a free-living solitary species. The species from Fushun amber are described, figured, and compared with other species of Cenozoic and living bees. The mandibular structure of Thyreomelikertes is unique among Melikertini and permits a fuller description of the diversity of structural homologies across corbiculate bee mandibles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negevirus is a recently proposed taxon of arthropod-infecting virus, which is associated with plant viruses of two families (Virgaviridae and Kitaviridae). Nevertheless, the evolutionary history of negevirus-host and its relationship with plant viruses remain poorly understood. Endogenous nege-like viral elements (ENVEs) are ancient nege-like viral sequences integrated into the arthropod genomes, which can serve as the molecular fossil records of previous viral infection. In this study, 292 ENVEs were identified in 150 published arthropod genomes, revealing the evolutionary history of nege-like viruses and two related plant virus families. We discovered three novel and eight strains of nege-like viruses in 11 aphid species. Further analysis indicated that 10 ENVEs were detected in six aphid genomes, and they were divided into four types (ENVE1-ENVE4). Orthologous integration and phylogenetic analyses revealed that nege-like viruses had a history of infection of over 60 My and coexisted with aphid ancestors throughout the Cenozoic Era. Moreover, two nege-like viral proteins (CP and SP24) were highly homologous to those of plant viruses in the families Virgaviridae and Kitaviridae. CP- and SP24-derived ENVEs were widely integrated into numerous arthropod genomes. These results demonstrate that nege-like viruses have a long-term coexistence with arthropod hosts and plant viruses of the two families, Virgaviridae and Kitaviridae, which may have evolved from the nege-like virus ancestor through horizontal virus transfer events. These findings broaden our perspective on the history of viral infection in arthropods and the origins of plant viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of systematic geochronological (K–Ar) studies of rocks of the Dariganga volcanic field (DVF) composed of Late Cenozoic mafic lavas are presented. Four stages of its evolution are distinguished: the Middle–Late Miocene (>10 Ma), Late Miocene–Early Pliocene (7.8–3.5 Ma), Late Pliocene (2.8–2.6 Ma), and Pleistocene (<1.7 Ma). The products of these stages are regularly distributed within the volcanic field. The main volume of eruptions was related to the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene and Pleistocene stages. The northwestern part of the lava field as a lava plateau formed during the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene. The eruptions are related to a local structural depression, which originated under extension accompanying volcanism. The southeastern part of the DVF formed during the Pleistocene volcanic eruption. Volcanism accompanied the formation of the Khukhot-Ein-Nuru Ridge in the Nukut-Daban Uplift and was responsible for the morphological peculiarities of the volcanic cover. A typical feature of it includes the large multicentered shield volcanoes related to the axial zone of the ridge, as well as the elongated valley flows along both slopes. The peculiarities of the formation of the DVF and other volcanic areas of the Late Cenozoic intraplate volcanic province of Central and East Asia are compared. Their consistent evolution indicates that the formation of the DVF was controlled by the same geodynamic mechanisms as the formation of other volcanic areas of the province, namely, by the activity of a small mantle plume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palynological analysis of the Paleogene and Neogene sequences of the southern part of West Siberia (borehole 2, Novosibirsk oblast) showed that the conifer bisaccate pollen in the spore–pollen spectra exhibits a series of morphological features allowing its comparison with the modern pollen of Cathaya argyrophylla Chun et Kuang. These palynomorphs belong to relict vegetation, which currently occurs in the wet subtropical climate of South China, and are important climate indicators. The palynomorphs are ascribed to the ancestral forms of the species Cathaya as Abietineaepollenites sellowiiformis (Zaklinskaja) Doweld 2018. The pollen is described, and its distribution along the section is shown. The maximum amount of the A. sellowiiformis pollen (up to 23.7%) is confined to the upper part of the Oligocene and the Lower Miocene and its last appearance is recognized in the Middle–Upper Miocene. These data expand our knowledge on the geographic range of the Cathaya ancestral form and its role in plant communities of Central Asia in the Cenozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the territory of Primorye, regional boundaries between the high-rank stratigraphic subdivisions were discussed, including the boundaries between the Cretaceous and Paleogene, Paleogene and Neogene, and Neogene and Quaternary systems, as well as the boundaries between series within the systems. The following boundaries can be considered as the most valid and suitable as stratotypes: the Eocene, Oligocene boundary, attributed to the transition from the coal-bearing Khasanskaya Formation to the coal-free tuff siltstone Fatashinskaya Formation (Khasan Basin); the Paleogene, Neogene boundary, marked by the change in the lithological type of rocks from coal-bearing Upper Oligocene sediments to tuff siltstones and tuffs that make up the base of the Miocene (Rakovka Basin). It is proposed that the Miocene, Pliocene boundary be drawn within the basaltic lava complex with sedimentary rock members forming the Shufan and Shkotov volcanic plateau at the base of the Kedrovskaya sequence. The proposed Pliocene, Quaternary boundary corresponds to the base of the red-colored "pudding" sequence (Spassk Basin). The Cretaceous, Paleogene and Paleocene, Eocene boundaries cannot be determined with acceptable accuracy due to the lack of corresponding sections in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study diatoms from some Neogene stratotype sections of Southern Primorye—the Sineutesovskaya and Novokachalinskaya formations and the Shufansky Horizon, light and scanning electron microscopy were used. The data allowed corrections to the existing Zonal Diatom Scale of the Neogene of Primorye. Studies have shown the absence of some zone index species in the deposits: Alveolophora bifaria, A. jouseana, and A. areolata. As a result, the subdivisions of the scale were renamed: Alveolophora hachiyaensis–Aulacoseira elliptica Zone, Alveolophora khankaica Zone, Alveolophora khursevichiae Zone. The position of the Shufansky horizon zones has changed: the Aulacoseira praeislandica Zone now corresponds to the Early Pliocene, and the Alveolophora tscheremissinovae Zone—to the Late Pliocene. According to the International Stratigraphic Chart of the Cenozoic, the age of the upper boundary of the Alveolophora tscheremissinovae Zone is 2.58 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comparative analysis of the Paleozoic and Cenozoic reef formation, mainly in terms of the position of reefs in the basins of continental and oceanic blocks. It is shown that the main formation of reefs took place in the Cenozoic directly in the oceans, including boundaries between oceans and continents, and, to an extremely limited scales, in the basins of the continental segment. In the Paleozoic, reefs were formed not only in oceans, but also in spacious basins of continental block. This is one of the manifestations of the general evolution of carbonate accumulation, when the Paleozoic carbonate sediments were formed in such shallow-water bodies that covered very significant surfaces of continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fossil record of the genus Carcharodon (Lamniformes: Lamnidae) dates to the late Oligocene and has a near global distribution. Today the genus is represented by a single species, the white shark Carcharodon carcharias. However, multiple extinct species are recognised in the Cenozoic including Carcharodon hastalis, Carcharodon hubbelli and Carcharodon planus comb. nov. Here we present the first occurrences of Carcharodon hubbelli and Carcharodon planus from New Zealand/Aotearoa, from the South Island/Te Waipounamu. Carcharodon hubbelli is previously reported from late Miocene deposits in the Pacific basin of North and South America, Asia, and Australia. Whereas Carcharodon planus has been reported from the Miocene of North America and Asia. One tooth from Carcharodon hubbelli is reported from the presumed late Miocene of Motunau Beach, North Canterbury, while one upper early Miocene tooth recovered from the Kakahu River, South Canterbury and an earliest Miocene tooth from the Big River mouth, Tasman District are referred to Carcharodon planus. In addition to being the first reported occurrences of these two species in New Zealand, the teeth of Carcharodon planus represent some of the earliest occurrences of the taxon as well as its southernmost occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albatrosses are among the most intensely studied groups of living birds, yet their fossil record remains sparse. Despite modern albatrosses being more abundant and widespread in the Southern Hemisphere, the vast majority of fossil albatrosses identified to date come from Northern Hemisphere localities. Here, we describe Plotornis archaeonautes sp. nov., a new albatross species from the earliest Miocene that represents the earliest record of Procellariiformes in New Zealand and the earliest uncontroversial record of the clade Pan-Diomedeidae from the Southern Hemisphere. Phylogenetic analyses support the placement of Plotornis outside of the clade uniting all extant albatrosses. The new fossil reveals that stem lineage albatrosses were widespread by the onset of the Neogene. Although the humerus of Plotornis archaeonautes exhibits a short processus supracondylaris dorsalis, this early species may have possessed at least one of the unique ossifications associated with the patagial bracing system present in modern albatrosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Because the active, left‐slip Haiyuan fault is a first‐order structure along the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau, its tectonic evolution provides insight into deformation processes along this margin over time. Late Cenozoic deformation in the area of the eastern Haiyuan fault initiated as thrust faulting, followed by left‐lateral strike slip displacement. However, the time of this kinematic change has been long debated. Here we use the structural evolution and the age of the Ganyanchi basin to date the onset of this kinematic transition. Seismic reflection data, integrated with published structural mapping, indicate that the basin is a pull‐apart controlled by strands of the eastern Haiyuan fault. Previously reported magnetostratigraphy of a core from the basin interior indicates deposition started at ∼2.8 Ma. However, this age likely postdates initiation of the bounding strike‐slip faults. We estimate that an additional 0.2–1.0 Myr of lateral slip occurred before the dated section formed. Thus, we find that the age of the eastern Haiyuan fault is at least ∼3.5 Ma, which is significantly older than early estimates of less than 2 Ma. Integrating our new data with prior work reveals that the kinematic change from NE‐SW shortening to left‐slip along the Haiyuan fault youngs to the east, which we interpret to result from growth of the Haiyuan strike‐slip fault via progressive lateral propagation from west to east. Miocene‐Pliocene onset of the Haiyuan strike‐slip fault coincides with initiation ages of other major strike‐slip faults in NE Tibet, likely implying that the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau had switched to a strike‐slip dominated mode of deformation by this time. Key Points: Seismic reflection data indicate that the Ganyanchi basin is an asymmetric pull‐apart filled with more than 900 m of growth strataWe find that the age of the eastern Haiyuan fault is at least ∼3.5 Ma, which is significantly older than early estimates of less than 2 MaKinematic change along the Haiyuan fault shows a west‐to‐east younging trend, implying the left‐slip motion propagated eastward over time [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in offshore saline aquifers stands as a primary option for reducing CO2 emissions in coastal regions. China's coastal regions, particularly Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, face significant challenges in CO2 reduction. Therefore, evaluating the feasibility of CO2 geological storage in the adjacent seas is critical. To assess the suitability of a CO2 storage site, understanding its structural and reservoir characteristics is essential to mitigate injection and storage risks. In this study, we analyzed the structural characteristics and potential traps of the Yantai Depression in the South Yellow Sea Basin based on seismic data interpretation. We further conducted well logging analysis and post-stack seismic inversion to obtain lithological data, including acoustic impedance and sandstone content percentages from the Cenozoic Funing Formation, Dainan–Sanduo Formation, and Yancheng Formation. Our findings highlight that the Yantai Depression in the South Yellow Sea Basin exhibits diverse structural traps and favorable reservoir–caprock combinations, suggesting promising geological conditions for CO2 storage. This area emerges as a suitable candidate for implementing CO2 geological storage initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining the structure and evolution of multi-trend faults is critical for analyzing the accumulation of hydrocarbons in buried hills. Based on high-resolution seismic and drilling data, the structural characteristics and evolutionary mechanism of multi-trend faults were investigated in detail through the structural analysis theory and quantitative calculations of fault activity, allowing us to determine the implication that fault evolution exerts on hydrocarbon accumulation in the BZ19-6 buried hill. There are four kinds of strike faults developed on the buried hill: SN-, NNE-, NE–ENE-, and nearly EW-trending, which experienced the Mesozoic Indosinian, Yanshan, and Cenozoic Himalayan tectonic movements. During the Indosinian, the BZ19-6 was in a SN-oriented compressional setting, with active faults composed of SN-trending strike-slip faults (west branch of the Tanlu fault zone) and near EW-trending thrust faults (Zhang-peng fault zone). During the Yanshanian, the NNE-trending normal faults were formed under the WNW–ESE tensile stress field. Since the Himalayan period, the BZ19-6 buried hill has evolved into the rifting stage. In rifting stage Ⅰ, all of the multi-trend pre-existing faults were reactivated, and the EW-trending thrust faults became normal faults due to negative inversion. In rifting stage II, a large number of NE–ENE-trending normal faults were newly formed in the NW–SE-oriented extensional setting, which made the structure pattern more complicated. In rifting stage III, the buried hill entered the post-rift stage, with only part of the NNE- and NE–ENE-trending faults continuously active. Multi-trend faults are the result of the combination of various multi-phase stress fields and pre-existing structures, which have great influence on the formation of tectonic fractures and then control the distribution of high-quality reservoirs in buried hills. The fractures controlled by the NNE- and EW-trending faults have higher density and scale, and fractures controlled by NE–ENE trending faults have stronger connectivity and effectiveness. The superposition of multi-trend faults is the favorable distribution of high-quality reservoirs and the favorable accumulation area of hydrocarbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]