Geomorphological and Pedological Investigations on the Glacial History of the Kali Gandaki (Nepal Himalaya)

In semi-arid orographic left tributaries of the Kali Gandaki at the northern and western flank of the Nilgiri Himal, glacio-geomorphological and pedological investigations were carried out on prehistoric moraines. Geomorphological relief analysis was derived from other literature and the own fieldwork of the author. The resulting glacial chronology was used as benchmark to explore the limits of different pedological dating methods regarding the degree of soil development. These methods are based on iron fractionation, total element contents and particle size distribution. In general the different glacial stages are mirrored correctly in the relative graduation of soil development. The ratio of well crystallised pedogenic iron-oxides to the total iron content and the ratio fine clay to total clay are most suitable, because they are almost independent from existing changes in the lithological composition. The total element based weathering indices are less suitable, because they react highly sensitive to the geology dependent shift to higher carbonate contents. Most of the grain size based weathering indices are inapplicable because of the typically high textural variability within till deposits.     

Structural geology of Kusma-Sirkang section of the Kali Gandaki valley and its bearing on the tectonic framework of Nepal Himalaya

The rocks of the Kali Gandaki valley along the Kusma Sirkang section of Central West Nepal fall into two tectonic units having a marked difference in the grade of metamorphism. The units are demarcated by the NW-SE extending Phalebas Thrust which has been considered equivalent to the Chail Thrust of the Kumaon Himalaya by earlier workers. The Kusma Reverse Fault to the north parallels the Phalebas Thrust, both being related to Late Orogenic movements.The fold pattern shows at least four episodes, and it is believed that two of them existed prior to the main Himalayan orogeny of Tertiary time.     

Geomorphological and pedological investigations on the glacial history of the Kali Gandaki (Nepal Himalaya)

In semi-arid orographic left tributaries of the Kali Gandaki at the northern and western flank of the Nilgiri Himal, glacio-geomorphological and pedological investigations were carried out on prehistoric moraines. Geomorphological relief analysis was derived from other literature and the own fieldwork of the author. The resulting glacial chronology was used as benchmark to explore the limits of different pedological dating methods regarding the degree of soil development. These methods are based on iron fractionation, total element contents and particle size distribution. In general the different glacial stages are mirrored correctly in the relative graduation of soil development. The ratio of well crystallised pedogenic iron-oxides to the total iron content and the ratio fine clay to total clay are most suitable, because they are almost independent from existing changes in the lithological composition. The total element based weathering indices are less suitable, because they react highly sensitive to the geology dependent shift to higher carbonate content. Most of the grain size based weathering indices are inapplicable because of the typically high textural variability within till deposits.     

吕梁山西麓吴家峁剖面红粘土的古地磁年代及构造意义

新近纪中晚期以来吕梁山西麓堆积了一套厚层红粘土。由于红粘土堆积早期有水流作用的参与,导致红粘土中夹杂有数层砾石层,这些砾石层记录了吕梁山山体隆升的信息。文章对山西省吕梁市中阳县吴家峁剖面红粘土进行了沉积学和磁性地层学研究,探讨吕梁山西麓红粘土的堆积过程以及吕梁山新近纪的抬升事件。磁性地层结果显示吴家峁剖面的古地磁年龄大约为7.1~2.6 Ma。所含砾石层的古地磁年龄分别为6.2 Ma、5.9 Ma、5.8 Ma、5.5 Ma、4.9 Ma、4.0 Ma和3.7 Ma,其中6.2 Ma和4.9 Ma两层砾石层较厚,延伸较远,较稳定。结合吕梁山西麓中段卫家洼和复兴剖面的研究,得出红粘土中砾石层是吕梁山隆升剥蚀的产物,推断在大致8.1~3.7 Ma之间吕梁山有较为明显的隆升。目前在吕梁山西麓中段的研究不支持这些砾石层是古黄河或者古湖泊沉积物。     

Gravel bodies in the Kumtagh Desert and their geomorphological implications

Although developed in predominantly arid environments, desert geomorphology sometimes bears information about past environmental change. China’s Kumtagh Desert has only recently been studied by researchers. These investigations revealed the existence of several unique features compared with other Chinese deserts, including gravel bodies distributed in the northern part of the desert. This paper summarizes the results of previous research in the region, as well as information obtained from remote sensing and field investigations, then discusses the geological background, underlying Quaternary geomorphology, and the types, development stages, and geomorphological implications of the desert’s gravel bodies. Four main types of gravel bodies and four developmental stages were identified. It is suggested that the great elevation difference between the Altyn Tagh Mountains and the Kumtagh Desert caused by uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau constitutes the overall background for the development of gravel bodies, but subsequent climatic events were the direct causes of their evolution. The gravel bodies resulted from alluvial deposits on loose fine sediments mainly of aeolian origin that were subsequently subjected to wind erosion. Erosion cycles then progressively scattered these gravels to form gravel sheets. The gravel bodies have three main geomorphological implications: they record anomalous ancient climate events after the dune field formed and have little influence on the development of nearby seif dunes in the northeast, demonstrate that the Altyn Tagh Mountains are the main sediment source for the Kumtagh Desert, and suggest that the evolution of the environment and geomorphology of the Kumtagh Desert have been influenced by neotectonic movements.     

新疆叶城晚新生代山前盆地演化与高原北缘的隆升—Ⅰ地层学与岩石学证据

叶城晚新生代山前盆地的岩性主要由中新世的细粒泥岩和砂岩（乌恰群）,上新世的砂岩夹薄层砾岩（阿图什组）及上新世－更新世的粗粒砾岩（西域组）构成。中新世的沉积以细颗粒泥砂岩为主,表明物源区较远,古流域坡度较小,搬运距离较长。古流向分析显示物源区位于南和偏南方,此时昆仑山的地势起伏尚不大。到上新世的阿图什组沉积时,开始出现砾石沉积,反映西昆仑山已经开始有规模地隆升。西域砾岩的沉积标志着作为物源区的西昆仑山民有相当的高度,随着山系的隆升,基底岩石被暴露和剥蚀。     

从新疆叶城剖面砂岩和砾岩组分看西昆仑山的剥蚀历史

叶城晚新生代山前盆地沉积序列由中新统乌恰群,上新统阿图什组和上新统-更新统西域组构成。乌恰群岩性为细粒泥岩夹砂岩,阿图什组为砂岩夹薄层砾岩,西域组为粗粒砾岩。中新世的沉积以细颗粒泥岩和砂岩为主,表明物源区较远,古流域坡度较小,搬运距离较长。叶城剖面碎屑岩粒度总体上是沿剖面向上逐渐变粗,到上新统的阿图什组时,开始出现砾石沉积,砂岩的岩屑成分增加,成熟度降低,反映西昆仑山已经开始有规模地隆升。西域组的沉积标志着作为物源区的西昆仑山已有相当的高度。西域组砾石成分在剖面下部以沉积岩为主,向上过渡为沉积岩和深变质岩为主,反映了源区的沉积盖层首先被剥蚀,随着山系的隆升,基底岩石(深变质岩和侵入岩)也被暴露和剥蚀。      

Recent colluvial sedimentation in Jordan: fans evolving into sand ramps

Abstract High‐angle accumulations of sand and escarpment‐derived gravel along the outcrop walls of Plio‐Pleistocene sandstones, eastern Jordan, form small, coalesced colluvial fans, built by rockfalls, rockfall‐derived debris flows, dry sandfalls and sandy grainflows. These deposits are sourced through wind erosion of fault‐controlled outcrops of weakly cemented sandstone and a hard, gypsum‐cemented sandstone and fine conglomerate caprock exposed in sandpits. Eroded sediment is supplied to the fans directly as rockfalls and sandfalls, and indirectly as gully‐confined sandy grainflows. The preserved colluvium fans comprise sandy, matrix‐rich rockfall, rockfall‐derived, dry debris‐flow lenticular gravel deposits and minor lenticular sandy grainflow deposits. The fans develop initially against the footwall escarpment and, as erosion continues, the outcrop and the fans become covered by stable sand sheet ramps in a self‐regulatory geomorphic system. Preserved fan–sand ramp systems in eastern Jordan are characterized by a threefold hierarchy of genetically related bounding surfaces, which develop over short time scales. Rapid fault‐controlled uplift and/or rapid stream incision may produce non‐equilibrium scarp faces, identical to those in the sandpits, associated with the colluvial fan–sand ramp systems. Thus, such systems have the potential to identify fault‐related unconformities, rapid uplift events and episodes of rapid downcutting in the rock record. Colluvium deposits have good preservation potential, but are often associated with complex, coarse, basin‐margin facies, and are thus difficult to identify in the stratigraphic record; a problem exacerbated by the lack of adequate colluvium facies models and diagnostic sedimentary criteria.     

A gravel lobe deposit in the prodelta of the Doumsan fan delta (Miocene), SE Korea

The Doumsan fan-delta system in the Pohang Basin (Miocene), SE Korea comprises tripartite components of Gilbert-type topset, foreset, and bottomset environments with an extended prodelta in the deeper part (a few hundred metres deep). The present study documents sedimentologic features and origin of a gravel body (here interpreted as a gravel lobe) formed in the prodelta region of the Doumsan fan delta. The gravel lobe lies on sandy mud deposits and is capped by a thick massive sand bed. It extends for more than 1.5 km with a height of up to 30 m and shows a narrow tongue-like geometry. Eight sedimentary facies have been distinguished to describe characteristic features of the gravel lobe and the associated deposits. Of these, three types of gravelly sedimentary facies are important with regard to volumetric contribution and depositional processes: (1) crudely stratified pebble-grade conglomerate; (2) disorganized, clast-rich pebble(-to-cobble)-grade conglomerate; and (3) matrix-rich, bimodal cobble-grade conglomerate. The former two types dominate the central part of the lobe where they are not accompanied by sand beds, whereas the latter, as subordinate units, is prevalent in the fringe which otherwise is dominated by thick sandy mud deposits. The stacked successions of crudely stratified pebble-grade conglomerate are representative of the active aggradational phases of the gravel lobe, whereas the occurrence of channels within the lobe reflects that the gravel lobe prograded under the influence of subaqueous channel systems. The gravel lobe resulted from catastrophic disturbance (slumping) on the foreset region that further caused the development of channel systems, promoting efficient transport of gravelly sediments. This type of deposit may represent an important additional category of low-efficiency subaqueous fans.     

Terrace staircases of the River Euphrates in southeast Turkey,northern Syria and western Iraq: evidence for regional surface uplift

We present the first overall synthesis of the terrace deposits of the River Euphrates in SE Turkey, northern Syria, and western Iraq, combining new observations with summaries of data sets from different reaches that had previously been independently studied on a piecemeal basis. The largest number of terraces observed in any reach of the Euphrates is 11, in western Iraq, where this river leaves the uplands of the Arabian Platform. In many other localities not more than 5 or 6 terraces have previously been identified, although we infer that some of these are resolvable into multiple terraces. These terraces are typically formed of gravel, principally consisting of Neotethyan ophiolite and metamorphic lithologies transported from Anatolia. Although older gravels are also evident, most of the Euphrates terrace deposits appear, given the chronologies that have been established for different parts of the study region, to date from the late Early Pleistocene onwards, the cold stages most often represented being interpreted as marine Oxygen Isotope Stages 22, 16, 12, 8, 6 and/or 4, and 2. The formation of this terrace staircase reflects regional uplift of the Arabian Platform. Estimated amounts of uplift since the Middle Pliocene decrease southeastward from almost 300 m in SE Turkey to ∼150 m in western Iraq. Uplift rates increased in the late Early Pleistocene, the uplift estimated since then decreasing from ∼110 m in SE Turkey to a minimum of ∼50 m in the Syria–Iraq border region, then increasing further downstream across western Iraq to ∼70 m. Numerical modelling of this uplift indicates a relatively thin mobile lower-crustal layer, consistent with the low surface heat flow in the Arabian Platform.     

东昆仑东段新生代高原隆升重大事件的沉积响应

根据新生代沉积盆地的地层序列、环境演变及地貌和水系变迁分析将研究区新生代高原隆升过程划分为5个重大事件.首次在研究区内海拔5400m的主夷平面上发现古土壤、岩溶角砾岩及钟乳石等, 认为沱沱河组上段细碎屑沉积及五道梁组石膏沉积(中新世) 是主夷平面形成期的沉积响应, 提出了主夷平面的高程具有东西向排列的盆岭地貌特点, 这种高程差异反映了后期构造隆升的不均衡, 应该是上新世以来差异断块抬升的结果; 早更新世中期(1525.5ka后) 一套河流砂砾卵石沉积是青藏运动C幕的沉积响应, 体现在布尔汗布达山的强烈上升和成山; 早更新世晚期(1113.9~836.3ka) 先湖滨砾石沉积, 后转为河流砂砾卵石沉积, 是昆黄运动在研究区的沉积响应, 并体现在马尔争-布青山的强烈上升和成山, 中更新世早期冰碛物的发育说明昆黄运动后研究区已隆升达到"水汽冻结高度"; 研究区T5阶地沉积前的强烈下蚀, 柴达木盆地内陆水系溯源侵蚀切过布尔汗布达山主分水岭, 袭夺了昆南断裂带原由西向东流向共和古湖的东西向水系并到达阿拉克湖一带, 晚更新世洪冲积角度不整合于中更新世洪冲积之上等是共和运动的具体表现.      

Transition from foreland- to piggyback-basin deposition, Plio-Pleistocene Upper Siwalik Group, Shinghar Range, NW Pakistan

Plio-Pleistocene synorogenic deposits of the Upper Siwalik Group in the Shinghar Range (Trans-Indus Salt Ranges) of north-western Pakistan record the transition from foreland-basin to piggyback-basin deposition on the hangingwall of the Salt Range thrust. The Siwalik and Upper Siwalik Groups are over 4 km thick in the Shinghar Range. The lower 3 km consists of the Miocene Siwalik Group, which was deposited by a south-flowing foreland trunk stream, the palaeo-Indus River. The upper 1·5 km consists of the Upper Siwalik Group, which is herein divided into three members. The lowest member includes deposits of the south-flowing palaeo-Indus River and is distinguished from the underlying Siwalik Group by the first appearance of conglomerate. The transition from the lower member to the middle member is interpreted as recording uplift on the Salt Range thrust. As the Salt Range thrust was active, the palaeo-Indus River was bifurcated to the east and west around the embryonic Shinghar Range and overbank and lacustrine deposition occurred, represented by the middle member. When the Shinghar Range achieved significant topography, the upper member was deposited by streams transporting gravel and sand that flowed north and west out of the range and into a piggyback basin that formed on the hangingwall of the Salt Range thrust. New and previously published palaeomagnetic stratigraphy and fission-track ages from volcaniclastic deposits within the Upper Siwalik Group provide tight constraints on the chronology of sedimentary-facies transitions and timing of uplift of the Shinghar Range. The integration of sedimentological and geochronological data indicates that motion on the Salt Range thrust and repositioning of the Indus River began at ～1·0 Ma.     

基于地震资料的陆相湖盆物源通道特征分析: 以渤中凹陷西斜坡东营组为例

针对渤中凹陷西斜坡无井、少井的地质特征, 基于最新的三维地震资料, 讨论了沙垒田凸起、石臼坨凸起之间的古物源搬运通道及其控制沉积的差异性.研究结果表明, 渤中凹陷西斜坡东营组发育3种类型的沉积物搬运通道: 古沟谷物源通道、断槽物源通道、构造转换带物源通道.研究区的沉积主要受到源于沙垒田凸起NEE向条带状展布的断槽物源通道控制; 古沟谷物源搬运通道控制的沉积主要分布石臼坨凸起南部的局部地区; 构造转换带物源通道控制的沉积主要分布在沙垒田凸起东南缘的局部地区.研究区发育的这3种物源搬运通道, 代表陆相湖盆物源从源区到沉积区的搬运途径, 并分别对应不同的源-渠-汇的空间耦合模式.研究区源于沙垒田凸起的断槽物源通道模式观点的提出, 改变了传统上认为沙垒田凸起东缘为近源快速堆积的扇三角洲为主的认识, 为寻找有利的储层和油气分布建立了指导模式.      

VALLEY SLOPE DEFORMATION BY INTERACTION OF MASS ROCK CREEP,TALUS CREEP AND RAPID LANDSLIDES ALONG THE KALI GANDAKI RIVER IN THE HIMALAYAS OF WESTERN NEPAL

VALLEY SLOPE DEFORMATION BY INTERACTION OF MASS ROCK CREEP,TALUS CREEP AND RAPID LANDSLIDES ALONG THE KALI GANDAKI RIVER IN THE HIMALAYAS OF WESTERN NEPAL1　AmatyaKM ,InavaliBM .GeologicalMapofNepalwithExplanatoryNote[M ].DepartmentofMinesandGeology(DMG) ,Kathmandu ,Nepal,1994 2　ChigiraM .Long termGravitationalDeformationofRocksbyMassRockCreep[J].EngineeringGeology ,1992 ,32 :15 7～ 184. 3　SELBYMJ .HillslopeMate…     

Fluvial gravel facies architecture of late Pleistocene age at Po Chue Tam, Lantau Island, Hong Kong: tectonic versus climatic control?

A cross-section of fluvial gravel deposits of late Pleistocene age exposed at Po Chue Tam, Lantau Island, Hong Kong contains two facies: a lower facies of planar cross-bedded gravel (Gp) and an overlying facies of clast-supported, massive gravels (Gcm). The Gp gravels include five gravel couplets. Each couplet consists of a clast-supported, coarse gravel-dominated bed and an overlying clast-supported, fine gravel-dominated bed with a discrete bounding surface. Tectonic uplift predating the last interglacial transgression produced a large amount of detritus in the source area. Excessive peak rainfall intensity resulting from enhanced seasonality of monsoonal precipitation in the following glacial period triggered catastrophic floods, which transported mature detritus in large quantities into a fault-controlled piedmont basin. The Gp gravels were deposited by pulsating flood flows. In relation to kinematic waves of particles, bedload sediment was longitudinally sorted and segregated into a train of gravel sheets. They draped over each other and accreted laterally due to expansion of flow, producing planar cross stratifications that are characteristic of recurrent, couplet-style coarse/fine cross beds. In contrast, Gcm gravels were laid down as a single, nearly horizontal bed by a catastrophic flood that was not subject to flow pulsation.     

循化-化隆盆地晚白垩世以来盆山耦合过程: 来自物源与磷灰石裂变径迹年代学分析的证据

循化-化隆盆地新生代沉积及盆地基底和周缘山系磷灰石裂变径迹年代学分析揭示了青藏高原东北缘晚白垩世以来经历过3期隆升剥露事件: (1)盆地基底及拉脊山和西秦岭北缘构造带磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分析普遍记录了晚白垩世-始新世中期相对快速的区域性的隆升剥露事件, 西秦岭北缘快速抬升的起始时间为84Ma, 受控于向北的逆冲抬升; 向北到循化-化隆盆地中部的拉目峡抬升的起始时间为69Ma; 更北的拉脊山一带快速抬升期主要为40~50Ma, 从而反映晚白垩世-始新世中期的快速抬升由南向北逐渐扩展.这一期构造隆升事件导致循化-化隆盆地和临夏盆地缺失了北部西宁-民和盆地古近纪所具有的西宁群沉积.隆升剥露结束于31Ma左右, 此时化隆-循化盆地向东与同时期的临夏盆地相连为一个统一的大型西秦岭山前盆地, 两者具有相同的构造、沉积演化史, 因此循化-化隆盆地他拉组底部地层年龄最老不会超过临夏盆地最老地层的古地磁年龄, 即29Ma.(2)渐新世晚期约26Ma拉脊山开始双向逆冲隆升, 并可能延续到中新世早期约21Ma, 隆升作用使循化-化隆盆地成为挟持于拉脊山逆冲带和西秦岭构造带之间的山前挤压型前陆盆地, 循化-化隆盆地开始大规模沉积巨厚的他拉组冲积扇相粗碎屑岩.(3)通过循化-化隆盆地咸水河组和临夏组的沉积相分析、古流方向和砾石成分分析, 揭示出拉脊山构造带在中新世8Ma左右发生的最大规模的双向逆冲隆升事件, 这次事件直接导致循化-化隆盆地由前陆挤压盆地转变为山间盆地, 形成现今青藏高原东北缘的盆山地貌基本格局.      

成都平原东郊台地中更新统合江组沉积特征及工程地质意义

通过地层沉积序列、粒度特征、砾石特征综合分析认为,成都平原东郊台地中更新统合江组为河流相沉积,垂向上具有明显的"河流二元"结构特征,主要以细粒沉积物为主,底部砾石层多为中-粗砾,磨圆较好,具有定向性。该组可细分为河道、边滩、堤岸-河漫3种沉积微相类型,对应发育3种岩相类型。河道砾石岩相沿十陵镇-红河镇-大面镇一带呈北西-南东向展布,边滩砂坝岩相集中发育于大面镇-西河镇东侧古河道凹岸处,堤岸-漫滩粘土岩相广泛分布于研究区内。这3种岩相特性及分布对工程建设的影响存在差异:河道砾石层作为地下水储集层的同时,水溶蚀使其地层结构稳定性被破坏,影响工程稳固技术的选择;边滩砂坝分布较为集中,对区内工程建设影响面最小;堤岸-河漫粘土广泛分布,是一种分布稳定的软弱层,对地下水有一定的封闭效果,同时软弱层的特性使其降低了边坡、坝体的稳定性。     

Facies characteristics, morphology and depositional models of clay-slide deposits in terraced fjord valleys, Norway

Many bedrock-confined fjord valleys along the Norwegian coast contain thick accumulations of fine-grained sediments that were deposited during and after the last deglaciation. The deposits gradually emerged above sea level due to glacioisostatic uplift, and fjord marine sedimentation was gradually followed by shallow marine and fluvial processes. During emergence terraces and river-cut slopes were formed in the valleys. Subsequent leaching of salt ions from the pore water in the marine deposits by groundwater has led to the development of quick clay. The deposits are subject to river erosion and destructive landslides involving quick clay. Most slides are of prehistoric age. Others are known from modern observations as well as from historic records.Landforms such as distinct slide scars or the hummocky terrain of slide deposits may be strongly modified by secondary processes. In addition, deposits from the most liquid part of quick clay slides may have planar surfaces. Clay-slide deposits on a fluvial or deltaic terrace, therefore, are not always easily recognized from morphology, and only exposures may reveal their internal structures and allow them to be distinguished from overbank flood sediments. Detailed sedimentological work shows that slide deposits in such setting consist of distinct facies containing reworked marine sediments. We propose three facies successions of clay-slide deposits that form a continuum. The dominant components of these succession types are: slightly deformed blocks of laminated clay and silt (A), highly deformed clay and silt with gravel clasts (B) and massive to stratified clay and silt with scattered clasts (C). We suggest that in many cases a basal muddy diamicton is a characteristic, and possibly diagnostic feature. Processes and depositional models are interpreted from the different succession types. The results may be relevant for identifying clay-slide deposits elsewhere and may be useful during general mapping of fjord marine deposits and characterization of slide-prone areas as well as during identification of prehistoric slides.     

青藏高原西北缘晚新生代的隆升特征——来自西昆仑山前盆地的沉积学证据

对西昆仑北缘山前盆地新生代沉积特征的研究结果表明,沿西昆仑山前发育的各沉积序列的垂向特征相似:古新世—中新世早期为石膏层、含瓣腮化石的石灰岩和紫红色较细粒的碎屑岩沉积,指示了海相和海陆过渡相较平静的沉积环境;中新世晚期—上新世初期开始出现陆相磨拉石,指示了陆相非平静的沉积环境,砾石的直径由下至上呈增大趋势,可能反映了西昆仑山体不断隆升,其间相对稳定的层段可能是构造运动间歇期或平稳期的沉积,指示了脉动式的隆升模式;磨拉石底部砾石的成分以沉积岩为主,向上火成岩和变质岩砾石逐渐增多,表明剥蚀程度不断加深。根据磨拉石建造的特征,判断剥蚀量和剥蚀强度自西向东有减小和变弱的趋势,可能暗示了西昆仑山晚新生代隆升有自西向东由强变弱的过渡特征。该结论与本区构造地貌学的研究结果一致。     

RECORD OF BLOCK ROTATION AND MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSALS IN THE TETHYAN HIMALAYA (HIDDEN VALLEY, CENTRAL NEPAL)

RECORD OF BLOCK ROTATION AND MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSALS IN THE TETHYAN HIMALAYA (HIDDEN VALLEY, CENTRAL NEPAL)