Evolution of Miocene Fluvial Environments in Northern Pakistan

研究将继续对河流，中新世西瓦利克 位于巴基斯坦北方的Potwar高原。 这 包括建立详细的沉积学日志， Chinji，Magri和Shok Pathan地层， 盆地的几个不同部分， 年龄约会 几个重要的50至100米厚的地层 将详细说明每个测量序列中的间隔 从沉积学和古生物学角度来看， 横向，使用照片镶嵌和紧密间隔（100米）日志。 将对古土壤碳酸盐取样进行碳同位素分析。 这将使我们能够在时间和空间上重建 不同的古环境在古河道的几何形状和 水力学、古土壤性质、动植物活动和 沉积速率 将特别注意：（1） 上肖克帕坦组（6 mpBP），有证据表明， 主要的气候、植被和动物群变化;（2） Chinji-Nagri转换（10百万年B. P.）如有足够证据证明 一个主要的动物更替，增加沉积率， 河道沉积物的比例和粒度增加， 增加的通道大小，但没有气候变化的证据。 这样就有可能理解一个重要的时期， 陆地生物的进化与环境变化的关系 物理和化学环境。 这项研究还将 对河流之间关系的更普遍的影响 矿床（以及它们所含的化石）、构造运动和气候。

Research wil continue on the fluvial, Miocene Siwalik deposits of the Potwar Plateau in northern Pakistan. This involves construction of detailed sedimentological logs through the Chinji, Magri and Shok Pathan formations formations in several different parts of the basin where there is paleomagnetic age dating. Several important 50 to 100 m thick stratigraphic intervals in each measured sequence will be detailed sedimentologically and paleontologically over several km laterally, using photo mosaics and closely-spaced (100 m) logs. Paleosol carbonates will be sampled for Carbon isotope analysis. This will allow us to reconstruct the temporally and spatially varying paleoenvironments in terms of paleochannel geometry and hydraulics, nature of paleosols, animal and plant activity and deposition rates. Particular attention will be paid to: (1) the upper Shok Pathan Formation (6mpBP) where there is evidence for a major climatic, vegetational and faunal change and (2) the Chinji-Nagri transition (10 m.y.B.P.) where there is evidence of a major faunal turnover, increasing depositional rates, increasing proportion and grain size of channel deposits, and increasing channel size, but no evidence of a climatic change. It will then be possible to understand an important period of evolution of land organisms in relation to changes in the physical and chemical environment. This study will also have more general implications for the relationship between fluvial deposits (and the fossils they contain), tectonism and climate.