Climbing‐ripple successions in turbidite systems: depositional environments,sedimentation rates and accumulation times

Climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination is most commonly deposited by turbidity currents when suspended load fallout and bedload transport occur contemporaneously. The angle of ripple climb reflects the ratio of suspended load fallout and bedload sedimentation rates, allowing for the calculation of the flow properties and durations of turbidity currents. Three areas exhibiting thick (>50 m) sections of deep‐water climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination deposits are the focus of this study: (i) the Miocene upper Mount Messenger Formation in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand; (ii) the Permian Skoorsteenberg Formation in the Tanqua depocentre of the Karoo Basin, South Africa; and (iii) the lower Pleistocene Magnolia Field in the Titan Basin, Gulf of Mexico. Facies distributions and local contextual information indicate that climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination in each area was deposited in an ‘off‐axis’ setting where flows were expanding due to loss of confinement or a decrease in slope gradient. The resultant reduction in flow thickness, Reynolds number, shear stress and capacity promoted suspension fallout and thus climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination formation. Climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination in the New Zealand study area was deposited both outside of and within channels at an inferred break in slope, where flows were decelerating and expanding. In the South Africa study area, climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination was deposited due to a loss of flow confinement. In the Magnolia study area, an abrupt decrease in gradient near a basin sill caused flow deceleration and climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination deposition in off‐axis settings. Sedimentation rate and accumulation time were calculated for 44 climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination sedimentation units from the three areas using TDURE, a mathematical model developed by Baas et al. (2000) . For T_c divisions and T_bc beds averaging 26 cm and 37 cm thick, respectively, average climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination and whole bed sedimentation rates were 0·15 mm sec^?1 and 0·26 mm sec^?1 and average accumulation times were 27 min and 35 min, respectively. In some instances, distinct stratigraphic trends of sedimentation rate give insight into the evolution of the depositional environment. Climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination in the three study areas is developed in very fine‐grained to fine‐grained sand, suggesting a grain size dependence on turbidite climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination formation. Indeed, the calculated sedimentation rates correlate well with the rate of sedimentation due to hindered settling of very fine‐grained and fine‐grained sand–water suspensions at concentrations of up to 20% and 2·5%, respectively. For coarser grains, hindered settling rates at all concentrations are much too high to form climbing‐ripple cross‐lamination, resulting in the formation of massive/structureless S₃ or T_a divisions.     

波—流相互作用机制与复合流的沉积构造鉴别标志*

波—流相互作用是复杂水动力条件下流体相互作用的主要方式之一,由波—流相互作用形成的复合流沉积是目前沉积学在流体相互作用这一领域研究较多的一种沉积类型。以已有的文献为基础,对波—流相互作用下细砂级颗粒的运动机制进行了综述,预测了波—流相互作用的沉积特征,总结了复合流的沉积构造鉴别标志。取得的主要认识有: (1)波—流相互作用总体上属于衰弱流(waning flow)悬浮沉积,其微观的沉积机制可分为5种: 越过崩落点的喷射沉积(S1)、残余涡动沉积(S2)、未到崩落点的喷射沉积(S3)、背流面的崩落沉积(S4)、垂直降落沉积(S5);(2)波—流相互作用的沉积过程总体上受悬砂量和沉积时间的控制,5种微观沉积机制在不同的悬砂量和沉积时间条件下可形成不同的沉积机制组合,从而导致不同的底床形态;(3)复合流沉积构造鉴别标志主要有: 复合流波痕、复合流层理、爬升型复合流层理、不对称丘状交错层理、准平行层理和频繁交替的不能充分发育的浪成波纹层理与流水层理等6类。上述认识对于复杂水动力条件下的沉积学研究及对深水、浅水沉积环境的识别均具有重要的意义。     

Preservation of pre-vegetational mixed fluvio–aeolian deposits in a humid climatic setting: an example from the Middle Proterozoic Eriksfjord Formation, Southwest Greenland

Sedimentological studies of a 30 m thick coastal cliff section within the Middle Proterozoic Eriksfjord Formation in western South Greenland reveals three distinct types of fluvial sand sheet deposits that reflect perennial streams (Type I), semi-perennial streams (Type II), and ephemeral flash floods (Type III). Perennial river sand sheets are characterised by co-sets of medium-scale trough cross-beds, interbedded with isolated medium- and large-scale, high-angle, tabular cross-beds. Indications of desiccation or subaerial exposure are absent. Semi-perennial fluvial sand sheets consist predominantly of low-angle cross-beds, interbedded with isolated sets of high-angle tabular cross-beds with common reactivation surfaces. Horizontal lamination and climbing ripple lamination form subordinate structures. Associated with the sand sheets are adhesion structures and 0.05–0.4 m thick sets of wind ripple-lamination indicating periods of subaerial exposure and aeolian reworking. High-energy ephemeral flash flood sand sheets consist almost exclusively of planar-parallel lamination and climbing ripple lamination with some isolated sets of low-angle cross-bedding. Scouring and internal truncation surfaces are common. The three types of sand sheets are considered to reflect deposition under changing climatic conditions, varying from humid to arid or semi-arid. Aeolian deposits are preserved within the sand sheets showing characteristics of dominantly perennial flow punctuated by shorter periods of desiccation (Type II), while sand sheets showing features typical of arid and or semi-arid flow conditions (Type III) contain no preserved aeolian deposits. This selective preservation is interpreted to be a result of the combined effect of groundwater table level and fluvial style which in turn are inferred to have been controlled by the climatic regime. The deposits show that during pre-vegetational times the preservation of aeolian deposits, under certain conditions, may be more optimal in fluvial systems formed in a humid climate than in fluvial systems formed under semi-arid or arid circumstances. The occurrence of aeolian deposits within a Precambrian succession of fluvial deposits therefore, need not be an indication of the most arid environmental conditions.     

广西凭祥盆地深水底流沉积类型及其研究意义

内波、内潮汐沉积和复合流沉积是二十余年来在古代深水环境中新发现的一种具牵引流性质的沉积相类型,由于地层沉积记录十分有限,制约了深水底流沉积的沉积学研究。大比例尺实测地质剖面和精细露头测量表明,底流沉积发育于凭祥盆地深水沉积之中,通过对其沉积构造精细剖析和古水流测量,识别出内波、内潮汐沉积和复合流沉积,其中内波、内潮汐沉积以双向交错层理、单向交错层理、透镜状层理为特征,复合流沉积以复合流层理、丘状交错层理和较陡的爬升波纹层理为特征,进一步表明存在浊流和底流的交互作用,为古代地层中的深水底流沉积提供了又一研究实例。     

塔里木盆地苏盖特布拉克地区下寒武统风暴岩及其地质意义

塔里木盆地苏盖特布拉克地区下寒武统肖尔布拉克组发育较为典型的风暴岩。风暴沉积标志主要有冲刷充填构造、风暴砾屑层和丘状交错层理等。在野外实测和室内薄片观察基础上,依据风暴沉积物、沉积位置和沉积标志组合的不同,划分出5种风暴沉积序列。序列Ⅰ为mm级或cm级的递变纹层,截切深水微生物礁,为风暴浪基面以下的深水陆棚远源风暴浊流沉积;序列Ⅱ发育异地型风暴砾屑、粒序段、平行纹层段和水平层理黑色钙质页岩,为风暴浪基面与晴天浪基面之间的缓斜坡下部沉积;序列Ⅲ为风暴成因的生屑、砾屑与平行纹层、丘状纹层的组合,多出现在风暴浪基面与晴天浪基面之间的缓斜坡上部;序列Ⅳ以渠模与复合丘状交错层理的组合为特征,为水体较浅的晴天浪基面附近的沉积;序列Ⅴ由风暴砂砾屑及沉积充填构造、平行纹层段组成,上部单元为正常天气沉积的蓝细菌礁滩垮塌体,为晴天浪基面以上的台地边缘礁滩前缘沉积。风暴层序自下而上的沉积环境演化为深水陆棚→浅水陆棚缓斜坡下部→缓斜坡上部→台地边缘前缘,形成向上变浅沉积特征。风暴岩的发现和研究,对于塔里木早寒武世古纬度与古板块演化、古地理及沉积学研究具有重要意义。     

Tidal-shelf sedimentation: an example from the Scottish Dalradian

The Jura Quartzite, a formation of probably late Precambrian metasediments over 5 km thick from the Caledonian belt in Southwest Scotland, has been divided into a coarse and three fine facies. The former comprises cross-bedded sands with some laminated sands and silt horizons, interpreted as the deposits of shallow marine tidal dunes and other bedforms together with some beach units. Deposition from suspension of silt and sand formed climbing dunes while largescale erosion produced flat or channelled surfaces. The fine facies comprise laterally persistent, parallel and cross-laminated sand units from millimetres to decimetres thick, interbedded with muds. The coarse and fine facies can be finely interbedded, the former sometimes filling decimetre deep, straight channels, cut in the latter. The fine facies exhibit structures indicative of deposition from decelerating currents and are interpreted as shallow marine storm deposits. The facies are compared with a model developed from published observations on modern shelf areas. Zones of erosion, large and small dunes, flat bedded sand and mud are considered to be the end product of a wide spectrum of tidal and storm conditions. During severe storms the fair weather tidal dunes may be modified or washed out, new dunes may be initiated downcurrent of the normal dune field while storm-sand layers are deposited in the distal zones. Hence, the nature of the preserved sediment blanket reflects the rare severe storm event rather than normal tidal conditions. The Jura Quartzite was deposited in a tidal gulf intimately connected with an ocean basin. The north-northeast directed palaeocurrent modes are probably roughly parallel to the coastline.     

川西汉旺地区雷口坡组四段风暴岩特征及地质意义

通过野外实测剖面和镜下薄片观察,川西汉旺地区雷口坡组四段发育典型的风暴岩,具有底冲刷—充填构造、风暴砾屑层、菊花构造和丘状交错层理等典型风暴沉积标志。根据该风暴岩岩性、沉积位置、沉积标志组合特征,共识别出三种风暴沉积序列类型:1)序列Ⅰ由侵蚀底面及砾屑段、粒序段组成,代表靠近风暴浪基面附近的台前缓斜坡下部环境; 2)序列Ⅱ由侵蚀底面及砾屑段、粒序段、平行纹层段、丘状纹层段组成,代表靠近正常浪基面附近的台前缓斜坡上部环境; 3)序列Ⅲ由粒序段、平行纹层段组成,代表台地边缘环境。风暴层序自下而上的沉积演化为:台前缓斜坡下部—台前缓斜坡上部—台地边缘,整体为一个向上变浅的沉积序列。     

Recent, arctic deltaic sedimentation: Olivier Islands, Mackenzie Delta, North-west Territories, Canada

Despite a low tidal range and relatively low wave conditions, the Mackenzie Delta is not prograding seaward but rather is undergoing transgressive shoreface erosion and drowning of distributary channel mouths. In the Olivier Islands region of the Mackenzie Delta the resultant morphology consists of a network of primary and secondary channels separated by vegetated islands. New ground is formed through channel infilling and landward-directed bar accretion. This sedimentation is characterized by seven sedimentary facies: (1) hard, cohesive silty clay at the base of primary channels which may be related to earlier, offshore deposition; (2) ripple laminated sand beds, believed to be channel-fill deposits; (3) ripple laminated sand and silt, interpreted as flood-stage subaqueous bar deposits; (4) ripple laminated or wavy bedded sand, silt and clay, representing the abandonment phase of channel-fill deposits and lateral subaqueous bar deposition from suspension settling; (5) a well sorted very fine sand bed, presumed to result from a single storm event; (6) parallel or wavy beds of rooted silt, sand and clay, interpreted as lower energy emergent bar deposits; and (7) parallel or wavy beds of rooted silt and clay, believed to represent present-day subaerial bar aggradation. The distribution of sedimentary facies can be interpreted in terms of the morphological evolution of the study area. Initial bar deposition of facies 3 and channel deposition of facies 2 was followed by lateral and upstream bar sedimentation of facies 3 and 4 which culminated with the deposition of the storm bed of facies 5. Facies 6 and 7 signify bar stabilization and abandonment. Patterned ground formed by thermal contraction and preserved in sediments as small, v-shaped sand wedges provides the most direct sedimentological indicator of the arctic climate. However, winter ice and permafrost also govern the stratigraphic development of interchannel and channel-mouth deposits. Ice cover confines flow at primary channel mouths, promoting the bypassing of sediments across the delta front during peak discharge in the spring. Permafrost minimizes consolidation subsidence and accommodation in the nearshore, further enhancing sediment bypass. Storms limit the seaward extent of bar development and promote a distinctive pattern of upstream and lateral island growth. The effects of these controls are reflected in the vertical distribution of facies in the Olivier Islands. The sedimentary succession differs markedly from that of a low-latitude delta.     

纹层状细粒碳酸盐岩成因:以贵州习水吼滩剖面下奥陶统为例

纹层是组成层理的基本单位,既可以是低能深水沉积环境的产物,也可能形成于高能环境中。在受风暴影响的区域,微小的泥质颗粒能够在流动过程中发生絮凝形成絮粒并沉积下来形成纹层。贵州习水吼滩剖面下奥陶统桐梓组碳酸盐岩纹层发育,纹层中风暴沉积构造丰富,包括风暴侵蚀面和渠模等。基于细致的野外观察和室内沉积学研究,将在风暴作用影响下形成的纹层划分为5个类型:平行厚纹层、单向交错薄纹层、平行薄纹层、波状厚纹层和水平厚纹层。采用EDS元素面扫描方法,发现亮、暗纹层中都含有铝、硅和镁元素且分布都比较均匀,而暗纹层所含黏土矿物稍多,所以暗纹层中3种元素的含量比亮纹层的稍高。利用开尔文—赫姆霍兹不稳定性解释了亮、暗纹层的形成机制,即絮粒与未发生絮凝的微小颗粒在开尔文—赫姆霍兹不稳定性作用下交替沉积,其中以絮粒为主的纹层更容易发生重结晶形成亮纹层。根据各纹层不同的垂向结合序列划分出3种风暴序列,且从Ⅰ型到Ⅲ型风暴作用逐渐减弱。     

苏皖辽地区新元古代微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩的沉积岩相与环境约束

国内外元古代碳酸盐岩中常见席状、透镜状、脉状和块状等形态的微亮晶碳酸盐岩。微亮晶体宏观、微观边界清晰,内部充填均一等粒结构的方解石微亮晶。宿主岩相以含泥质或粉砂质的细砂屑、粉泥屑灰岩为主,经常与风暴岩共生。微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩发育在缓坡型台地,沉积层序中常见潮汐流、风暴流侵蚀-充填和浪成交错层理与递变层理。微亮晶构造碳酸盐岩发育严格受沉积环境和岩相约束,形成于 (内缓坡深部-中缓坡浅部 )潮下带和环潮坪,风暴浪基面是其发育的最大深度。垂向序列由高频潮下带和环潮坪微层序加积而成,单个微层序顶部通常为环潮坪为纹层状含铁质有机质泥屑碳酸盐岩披盖层,是一个向上沉积动力减弱、沉积物变细和水体变浅的沉积旋回。     

A Pleistocene sandur in western Norway: facies relationships and sedimentological characteristics

At Godøya near Ålesund sequences of unconsolidated fine sand and silt below two till beds are interpreted as remains of a sandur. Two facies sequences dominate: One comprises erosional scours followed by horizontally and current-ripple laminated fine sand, massive silt and erosional scours. The other sequence differs by planar wedge-shaped cross-beds replacing the horizontal lamination. The planar cross-beds are assumed to represent migrating linguoid or transverse bars, with an orientation partly at a high angle to current ripples in the same beds. The frequent silt beds are interpreted as a result of rapid vertical accretion due to isostatic subsidence during deposition. A Middle Weichselian age is assumed from thermoluminescence, radiocarbon and amino acid dates.     

Deep-water Combined-flow Deposits of the Upper Ordovician Lashenzhong Formation in Zhuozishan Area,Western Margin of Ordos Basin

The research of deep-water combined-flow deposits is still in its infancy at present, which has great significance for discovering new case study and discussing the indication effects of combined-flow sedimentary structures on depositional environment. The Upper Ordovician Lashenzhong Formation in Zhuozishan area, Inner Mongolia, in the north of western Ordos Basin, is mainly deposited by turbidity currents concomitant with contour currents as well as internal-waves and internal-tides in deep-water slope and basin floor environment which display typical complex hydrodynamic conditions. Here we studied the deep-water combined-flow sedimentary structures of Lashenzhong Formation in detail based on careful field work, combined with the results of flume experiments and other related case studies in literatures. Several combined-flow sedimentary structures were found in deep-water environment, which include combined-flow-ripple lamination, quasi-planar lamination and small-scale hummocky cross-stratification-like structures. These sedimentary structures can be summarized vertically as 6 sedimentary structure successions: normal graded layer through wave-ripple lamination to combined-flow-ripple lamination (a), quasi-planar lamination through normal graded layer to combined- flow-ripple lamination (b), amphibolous normal graded layer overlaying by quasi-planar lamination (c), quasi-planar lamination through bi-directional cross-lamination to small-scale hummocky cross-stratification-like structures (d), amalgamated small-scale hummocky cross-stratification-like structures enveloped claystone (e) and combined- flow-ripple lamination enveloped claystone (f). The origin of deep-water combined-flow deposits perhaps is the interactions of turbidity currents, contour currents and internal-wave currents according to the sedimentary types and environment in Lashenzhong Formation. Based on the interactions between sedimentary currents and sea floor topography, four sedimentation zones were suggested: turbidity currents restrained zone (succession a and b), strong interaction zone (succession c), internal-wave action zone (succession d) and weak interaction zone (succession e and f). This study will be helpful for the study of interactions of internal-waves and internal-tides with sea floor topography, and related sedimentation zone division in geological records.     

Slurry-flow deposits in the Britannia Formation (Lower Cretaceous), North Sea: a new perspective on the turbidity current and debris flow problem

The Lower Cretaceous Britannia Formation (North Sea) includes an assemblage of sandstone beds interpreted here to be the deposits of turbidity currents, debris flows and a spectrum of intermediate flow types termed slurry flows. The term ‘slurry flow’ is used here to refer to watery flows transitional between turbidity currents, in which particles are supported primarily by flow turbulence, and debris flows, in which particles are supported by flow strength. Thick, clean, dish‐structured sandstones and associated thin‐bedded sandstones showing Bouma T_b–e divisions were deposited by high‐ and low‐density turbidity currents respectively. Debris flow deposits are marked by deformed, intraformational mudstone and sandstone masses suspended within a sand‐rich mudstone matrix. Most Britannia slurry‐flow deposits contain 10–35% detrital mud matrix and are grain supported. Individual beds vary in thickness from a few centimetres to over 30 m. Seven sedimentary structure division types are recognized in slurry‐flow beds: (M₁) current structured and massive divisions; (M₂) banded units; (M₃) wispy laminated sandstone; (M₄) dish‐structured divisions; (M₅) fine‐grained, microbanded to flat‐laminated units; (M₆) foundered and mixed layers that were originally laminated to microbanded; and (M₇) vertically water‐escape structured divisions. Water‐escape structures are abundant in slurry‐flow deposits, including a variety of vertical to subvertical pipe‐ and sheet‐like fluid‐escape conduits, dish structures and load structures. Structuring of Britannia slurry‐flow beds suggests that most flows began deposition as turbidity currents: fully turbulent flows characterized by turbulent grain suspension and, commonly, bed‐load transport and deposition (M₁). Mud was apparently transported largely as hydrodynamically silt‐ to sand‐sized grains. As the flows waned, both mud and mineral grains settled, increasing near‐bed grain concentration and flow density. Low‐density mud grains settling into the denser near‐bed layers were trapped because of their reduced settling velocities, whereas denser quartz and feldspar continued settling to the bed. The result of this kinetic sieving was an increasing mud content and particle concentration in the near‐bed layers. Disaggregation of mud grains in the near‐bed zone as a result of intense shear and abrasion against rigid mineral grains caused a rapid increase in effective clay surface area and, hence, near‐bed cohesion, shear resistance and viscosity. Eventually, turbulence was suppressed in a layer immediately adjacent to the bed, which was transformed into a cohesion‐dominated viscous sublayer. The banding and lamination in M₂ are thought to reflect the formation, evolution and deposition of such cohesion‐dominated sublayers. More rapid fallout from suspension in less muddy flows resulted in the development of thin, short‐lived viscous sublayers to form wispy laminated divisions (M₃) and, in the least muddy flows with the highest suspended‐load fallout rates, direct suspension sedimentation formed dish‐structured M₄ divisions. Markov chain analysis indicates that these divisions are stacked to form a range of bed types: (I) dish‐structured beds; (II) dish‐structured and wispy laminated beds; (III) banded, wispy laminated and/or dish‐structured beds; (IV) predominantly banded beds; and (V) thickly banded and mixed slurried beds. These different bed types form mainly in response to the varying mud contents of the depositing flows and the influence of mud on suspended‐load fallout rates. The Britannia sandstones provide a remarkable and perhaps unique window on the mechanics of sediment‐gravity flows transitional between turbidity currents and debris flows and the textures and structuring of their deposits.     

Contrasting sediment gravity flow processes in the late Llandovery,Rhuddnant Grits turbidite system,Welsh Basin

The Rhuddnant Grits turbidite system was deposited within an elongate, fault-bounded trough in the late Llandovery (Telychian) Welsh Basin. Two groups of sandstones are identified within the system: high-matrix sandstones and laminated sandstones. The high-matrix sandstones are medium to very thick bedded, fine to very coarse-grained muddy sandstones. The high-matrix sandstone beds are almost entirely structureless and have several features indicative of deposition from high density turbidity currents, probably undergoing late stage debris flow behaviour (e.g. grain size discontinuities, inverse grading, floating clasts). The laminated sandstones are thin to very thin bedded, fine-grained and have a distinctive mud/silt lamination. Tractional structures and convolution are common in these beds. They were probably deposited by slow moving, dilute turbidity currents. Dissimilar palaeocurrent vectors and estimates of flow properties from the two types of sandstone support the contrasting nature of the depositing flows. A coarsening and thickening upwards trend is identified in the laminated sandstones of the Rhuddnant Grits Formation. This trend is not reflected in the high-matrix sandstone beds. Although the high-matrix sandstones appear in packets or groups within the laminated sandstone background, they were otherwise deposited in an entirely random manner throughout the exposed system. This may suggest that the two types of sandstone are the result of different triggering mechanisms at source, or of contrasting flow properties developed early in the flow histories.     

The Mackenzie Delta: sedimentary processes and facies of a high-latitude, fine-grained delta

The Mackenzie Delta is a large fine‐grained delta deposited in a cold arctic setting. The delta has been constructed upon a flooding surface developed on a previous shelf‐phase delta. There are three principal depositional zones: the subaerial delta plain, the distributary channel mouth region and the subaqeous delta. The subaerial delta plain is characterized by an anastomosing system of high‐sinuosity channels and extensive thermokarst lake development. This region is greatly influenced by the annual cycle of seasonal processes including winter freezing of sediments and channels, ice‐jamming and flooding in the early spring and declining river stage during the summer and autumn. Deposition occurs on channel levees and in thermokarst lakes during flood events and is commonly rhythmic in nature with discrete annual beds being distinguishable. In the channel mouth environment, deposition is dominated by landward accretion and aggradation of mouth bars during river‐ and storm surge‐induced flood events. The subaqeous delta is characterized by a shallow water platform and a gentle offshore slope. Sediment bypassing of the shallow‐water platform is efficient as a result of the presence of incised submarine channels and the predominance of suspension transport of fine‐grained sediments. Facies of the shallow platform include silty sand with climbing ripple lamination. Offshore facies are dominated by seaward‐fining fine sand to silt tempestites. Sea‐ice scouring and sediment deformation are common beyond 10 m water depth where bioturbated muds are the predominant facies. The low angle profile of the shallow‐water platform is interpreted to be the combined response of a fine‐grained delta to (1) storm sediment dispersal; (2) autoretreat as a result of the increasing subaerial and subaqeous area of deposition as the delta progrades out of its glacial valley; (3) limited water depth above the underlying flooding surface; and (4) efficient nearshore bypassing of sediment through subice channels at the peak of spring discharge. Several indicators of the cold climate can be used as criteria for the interpretation of ancient successions, including thermokarst lake development, submarine channel scours, freeze–thaw deformation and ice‐scour deformation structures. Permafrost inhibits compaction subsidence and, together with the shallow‐water setting, also limits autocyclic lobe switching. The cold climate can thus influence stratal architecture by favouring the development of regional‐scale clinoform sets rather than multiple, smaller scale lobes separated by autocyclic flooding surfaces.     

浙西皖南晚奥陶世复理石的沉积环境,兼谈鲍马层序应用问题

本文研究的复理石具有多种类型的递变层理,有大量波痕,尤其是干涉波痕及浪成波痕发育,古水流方向有双向性,有多级别韵律发育等,说明这一复理石是由波浪、底流、潮流等多种水动力作用叠加而形成的,其沉积环境属浅海直至潮坪。     

重庆凉风垭飞仙关组风暴流沉积

本文根据重庆中梁山凉风垭下三叠统飞仙关组中风暴岩的特征,讨论了在风暴作用下的沉积环境中形成一系列独特的沉积物类型和沉积标志。一个完整的风暴流沉积序列,由底部、中部和顶部三个部分六个层段组成。并根据剖面上各单元风暴层各层段发育程度和滞留砾石特点不同,划分出原地型滞留砾石近积风暴岩、异地型滞留砾石近积风暴岩和迭加型近积风暴岩三种类型。     

The hydraulic interpretation of turbidites from their grain sizes and sedimentary structures

Previous attempts to deduce the flow parameters of turbidity currents from their deposited sediments have focused on applications of criteria for the suspension or autosuspension of the grains and on hydrodynamic interpretations of the characteristic Bouma sequence of sedimentary structures. There has been a considerable diversity of opinion, however, as to how the transport criteria relate to the observed deposited grain-size distribution, and no attempt has been made to determine whether the separate analyses of deposited sediments and sedimentary structures agree as to the magnitudes of the evaluated flow parameters. Such analyses are performed on a turbidite from the Capistrano Formation (Miocene-Pliocene) of California. This turbidite is normally graded from medium sand at its base to very fine sand and silt at the top, and has the complete sequence of Bouma structures. Only a small degree of cementation has occurred so that samples from the layer could be disaggregated and grain sizes determined both by sieving and sedimentation balance analyses. It was decided to employ the grain-suspension criterion for the calculation of the flow conditions at the time of deposition, published experiments on the pipe-flow of suspensions having demonstrated that this criterion is one of deposition versus non-deposition of grains according to their settling velocities. The published work relating types of sedimentary structures to the sediment grain size and either the flow power or Shield's dimensionless stress is used to evaluate the flow parameters from the observed Bouma sequence. All methods employed yield estimates of the mean flow velocity and bed stress (force per unit bottom area). The evaluated flow parameters for the transition from a flat bed to ripples (Bouma B to C divisions) are nearly an order of magnitude greater than obtained from the grain-suspension criterion where the calculations are based on the median grain size of the deposited sediments. Agreement results only if the calculations utilizing the suspension criterion are based on nearly the coarsest grains deposited at any instant, a procedure that is difficult to justify with the expected sediment deposition from a waning current. Inclusion of other factors, such as possible lags in sediment deposition or ripple formation beneath the decelerating flow, provide no firm explanation as to the cause of the discrepancy between the results based on the two approaches, and in nearly all cases their inclusion would increase the difference. Something is amiss with our procedures for the hydraulic interpretation of sediments which can be resolved only by further study.     

Historical tsunamis and storms recorded in a coastal lowland,Shizuoka Prefecture,along the Pacific Coast of Japan

Four sand units deposited by tsunamis and one sand unit deposited by storm surge(s) were identified in a muddy marsh succession in a narrow coastal lowland along the Pacific coast of central Japan. Tsunamis in ad 1498, 1605, 1707 and 1854 that were related to large subduction‐zone earthquakes along the Nankai Trough, and storm surges in 1680 and/or 1699 were responsible for the deposition of these sand units. These sand units are distinguished by lithofacies, sedimentary structures, grain‐size and mineral composition, and radiocarbon ages; their ages are supported by events in local historical records. The tsunami deposits in the study area are massive or parallel‐laminated sands, with associated intraclasts, gravels, draping mud layers and, rarely, a return‐flow subunit. The storm surge deposits are devoid of these characteristics, and are composed of groups of thin, current ripple‐laminated sand layers. The differences in sedimentary structures between the tsunami and storm surge deposits are attributed to the different characteristics of tsunami and storm waves.     

徐州地区震旦系贾园组的风暴沉积

徐州地区震旦系下部的贾园组具有丰富典型的风暴沉积标志,包括各种冲刷－充填构造、丘状交错层理、碎屑流沉积、粒序层理及卷曲层理等。通过详细的野外观测及室内研究,根据风暴沉积标志的组合可划分出6种风暴沉积序列类型。其中,类型Ⅰ为具粒序层理的薄层含粉砂灰岩,形成于风暴浪基面以下的远源风暴浊流的末梢;类型Ⅱ以渠模与丘状交错层理的组合为特征,出现在风暴浪基面与晴天浪基面之间;类型Ⅲ为风暴流成因的碎屑流沉积内碎屑灰岩与底面的冲刷沟槽、丘状交错层理的组合,是形成于晴天浪基面附近的槽道碎屑流型风暴沉积;类型Ⅳ为具颗粒流沉积特征的内碎屑灰岩与冲刷面构造及丘状交错层理的组合,丘状纹层段中常见卷曲层理,形成于滩前陆棚斜坡的上部;类型Ⅴ为夹于湖相薄层灰岩中的鲕粒砾屑灰岩,为风暴水流冲越鲕滩,在滩后湖近滩一侧的风暴沉积;类型Ⅵ为湖相风暴岩,由冲刷面构造、薄层内碎屑灰岩及丘状交错层理的组合,顶部具晴天沉积。各种序列在垂向上叠置,构成向上变浅序列。风暴沉积的研究对于深化区域古地理及地层对比研究具有重要的理论和现实意义。