南极洲泥盆系概况及其与中国泥盆系之比较

南极洲的泥盆系主要分布于横贯南极山脉的麦克默多和俄亥俄岭－埃尔斯活思山等两个沉积盆地中。前一个盆地 盆系代表从海岸泻湖－河流三角到近岩冲积平原的层序；后一个盆地的彭萨科拉山的泥盆系较厚，从非海相冲积扇－冲积平原－浅海相，最扣又恢复到非海相沉积环境。但在俄亥俄岭却沉积了厚度不大的浅海     

广东省大江地区泥盆系岩石地层特征及沉积环境判别

本文结合广东省台山市大江镇附近泥盆系实测地层剖面,对该处泥盆系岩石地层特征进行综合分析,将该处泥盆系地层划分为早泥盆世杨溪组(D1y)、中泥盆世老虎头组(D2l)及晚泥盆世春湾组,且认为杨溪组为河流相沉积,老虎头组为河流相—滨浅海相沉积,春湾组为三角洲—浅海相,三者整合接触,反映由浅到深的水动力环境。     

可可西里古近系含盐系地层沉积特征及古盐湖成盐模式讨论

可可西里是羌北—滇西构造域中重要的新生代沉积盆地,其古近系红层是认识中国陆相微陆块成盐作用的重要窗口。该区南部沱沱河盆地、北部错仁德加盆地古近系雅西措群地层中明显包含两套含盐系地层,两套层系形成的时代、古气候条件相同,但古地理条件、古盐湖盆地规模、成盐机制各异。渐新世时期沱沱河盆地属于封闭型的干盐湖沉积,错仁德加盆地属于开放型干盐湖沉积环境,预示着青藏高原中部渐新世大可可西里盆地并非相互连通,其中小型盆地的沉积成盐环境存在差异。     

老挝万象平原含钾地层的岩相古地理

老挝万象平原的钾镁盐矿主要赋存在塔贡组下段膏盐岩亚段(E1 tg1-1)中。经对6条实测剖面、53个钻孔的岩石组合、沉积构造、岩石特征、地层厚度分析,塔贡组下段(E1 tg1)岩相古地理具如下特征:①含钾地层可划分为半深湖亚相、浅湖亚相、滨湖亚相、湖泊三角洲亚相。滨湖亚相可进一步划分出内带和外带;②钾镁盐矿产于半深湖亚相、浅湖亚相、湖泊三角洲亚相中,前者厚度较大;③万象成钾盆地为东深西浅的不对称盆地,盆地的古地理特征与现在的万象平原较为相似;④在沉积过程中,盆地基底由持续下降到逐步趋于稳定,卤水由逐步浓缩到迅速淡化,古气候由持续干燥炎热到湿热多雨,水体由弱还原向弱氧化环境变迁。     

南极洲极地投影图教学难点处理

南极洲极地投影图是世界地理分区图中较为特殊的一个，其地球自转方向的确定、地理方位的判别、东西半球的划分以及四周海陆的辨认，是教学中的四个难点。尽管“南极洲图”并非是本节教学重点，但对图中四个难点的解决，不仅有助于学生更好地理解和掌握南极洲的地理知识，而且对学生学会阅读地图，形成较强的读图能力，为将来进一步学好地理知识起着很好的帮助作用。     

老挝万象通芒矿区成盐期元素地球化学特征研究

呵叻高原是世界上最大的钾盐矿床之一,老挝万象盆地是呵叻高原北部沙空那空盆地的一个次级盆地,通芒矿区则是万象盆地钾盐矿床的重要组成部分。近期,大量钾盐地质勘探工作的实施为该地区钾盐沉积的研究提供了良好条件和物质基础。研究表明,含盐地层包括上、中、下3个盐段,巨厚钾镁盐主要富集在塔贡组下盐段。盐类矿物主要包括石盐、光卤石、钾石盐、水氯镁石、溢晶石、硬石膏等,还包括一些碳酸盐和硼酸盐矿物。矿石类型以光卤石矿为主。含盐层位的Br含量、Br×10³/Cl比值在剖面上的变化指示了成盐期卤水不断蒸发浓缩,最终形成了具有重要经济价值的钾镁盐矿床。与世界其它海相及陆相钾盐矿床对比表明,通芒矿区钾盐沉积具有明显的海相特征,成盐成钾物质应该来自海水。     

北极巴罗AB-67钻孔岩芯的沉积过程分析

对巴罗ＡＢ－６７钻孔岩芯的粒度分析资料和地球化学分析资料进行了系统的多变量沉积过程分析。结果表明,３２～６０ｃｍ岩芯段为陆相沉积,该段沉积环境和沉积过程都较为稳定;２０～３２ｃｍ岩芯段为由陆相向海相转换的过渡时期,此时粗粒的含Ｃｒ磁性矿物由峰值跌入谷值,硅、钙质氧化物减少,钛、铁质氧化物增加,有机质成分增加;０～２０ｃｍ岩芯段为海相沉积,本段沉积粗粒成分很少,氧化物、粘土、有机质和吸附成分波动很大,表层淋溶残余成分迅速增加,物源环境稳定,但动力条件变化较大     

天山北麓河流下游冲积平原沉积记录的中晚全新世环境演变

天山北麓河流下游冲积平原与古尔班通古特沙漠交汇带，沉积环境独特，对全球气候变化响应敏感。囿于年代校正不确定性、代用指标的多解性以及地形地貌格局等因素的影响，该区域全新世时期沉积环境演变过程和气候演化模式研究，尚存在不同认识。重建该区域的中晚全新世环境演变历史及其对气候变化的响应过程，有助于加深对天山北麓冲积平原沉积环境演化时空特征的认识。本文选取天山北麓中部河流下游冲积平原四个典型冲积-湖积-风积地层剖面为研究材料，以光释光(OSL)测年确定地层绝对年代，综合沉积构造特征、沉积物粒度参数和石英砂表面微结构特征分析，探讨河流下游中晚全新世冲积-湖积平原沉积序列的演变过程和驱动因素。结果表明：(1)研究剖面主要由黏土、粉砂和极细砂含量较高的河湖相沉积构成，靠近北部沙漠边缘以极细砂、细砂为主的风成砂层明显增多，形成以冲积相、湖沼相和风沙相交替叠覆的沉积序列，其沉积相组合具有明显的时空变化特征；(2)沉积物石英颗粒表面常见冰川、流水、风力等多种外营力作用的痕迹，表明河流下游平原沉积物主要来源于山区冰川搬运、磨蚀的碎屑物质，并经流水和风力分选后成为古尔班通古特沙漠的重要物源；(3) 7.59～6...     

南极乔治王岛始新统化石山组沉积火山碎屑岩特征

南极乔治王岛化石山剖面的化石山组主要由沉积火山碎屑岩（包括沉火山角砾岩和沉凝灰岩）组成，上部夹正常沉积岩和两层薄煤层，形成从粗到细的两个沉积旋回。第１旋回的沉火山角砾岩和沉凝灰岩由不同粒级的火山岩岩屑、斜长石晶屑和细火山尘基质组成，火山碎屑物质含量在９０％以上，沉积特征显示从火山碎屑流（？）到低密度流的快速堆积性质。其中第１、２层沉凝灰岩受强烈的沸石化（浊沸石和方沸石）作用，而泥级沉凝灰岩夹层的细火山尘物质多已变成绿泥石－蒙脱石规则混层矿物；因为这种混层矿物也常常被沸石化，故其形成应在沸石化作用之前。Ｘ－衍射分析显示较多钠长石的存在。钠长石和方沸石的钠可能来自中长石被浊沸石化后释放出的Ｎａ＋。第２旋回由沉火山角砾岩、沉凝灰岩夹岩屑长石杂砂岩和薄煤层组成，显示正常沉积物经常被携入沉积盆地。第３、４层的泥级沉凝灰岩以显著的蒙皂石化为特征，沸石化作用不发育；其中的斜长石主要是中长石和（或）拉长石。化石山组泥级沉凝灰岩的微量元素组分及含量与下伏玛瑙滩组顶部安山岩的相当，但第２～３层间有某些元素迁移和富集，这可能与层间热水溶液的活动有关。Ｂ含量特别低（＜１×１０－６），不仅指示背景值低，而且也说明沉积环境与海水没有关     

兴化XH-1孔记录的苏北盆地晚新生代沉积体系及环境变化过程

通过对位于苏北盆地中部的兴化XH-1孔350.08 m连续岩芯的古地磁测年,确定了年代地层序列.在此基础上,对钻孔沉积物进行了以粒度特征为重点,包括矿物组成、结构、沉积构造和沉积组合在内的综合岩相古地理分析,划分出8个沉积相和19个沉积亚相.并根据沉积相的组合特征,将苏北盆地3.20Ma以来的沉积环境演化划分为沉降盆地...     

Volcanism and sedimentation in part of a Late Archaean rift: the Hartbeesfontein basin, Transvaal, South Africa

The Hartbeesfontein basin is one basin within the Late Archaean rift system of South Africa. This rift system has been recently compared to the Basin and Range province in western North America and may therefore be an ensialic extensional back-arc basin. Structurally, the Hartbeesfontein basin is a half-graben structure bounded to the south-east by a major, normal, listric fault and to the north-east and south-west by strike-slip (transfer?) fault zones. It is infilled by over 2000 m of diamictites, shales, lavas and chemical sediments. Initial basin formation appears to be accompanied by phreatomagmatic volcanic activity caused by the interaction between basic tholeiitic magmas rising along fractures and groundwater. Volcaniclastic debris from these eruptions was incorporated into laharic debris flows and deposited on basin marginal alluvial fans. At the same time a deep, permanent lake formed within the basin in which silts and muds accumulated. Major fissure eruptions of basic, tholeiitic lavas followed, their eruptive centres being apparently located along the strike-slip (transfer?) fault /ones. Initially, these fissure eruptions had high rates of magma discharge accompanied by intense fire fountaining that resulted in the rapid accumulation of aa type flows. Later lava discharge rates decreased and more quiescent pahoehoe type flows were erupted. Localized centres of acid volcanism within the basic lava pile were located along the south-western strike-slip fault zone. These acid volcanic rocks are interpreted as co-ignimbrite lag breccias and pyroclastic flow deposits and tuffs produced by the repeated formation and collapse of Plinian eruption columns. Towards the top of the basic lava pile, two breaks in volcanism permitted the formation of dolomitic playa lakes. Sedimentation in these lakes was terminated by further basic lava flows. At the top of the basin fill sequence is a thick, bedded chert interpreted as a magadiitic, alkaline playa lake fed by silica-rich hot springs located along the south-eastern edge of the basin. Quartzites and conglomerates deposited by braided rivers unconformably overlie the basin-fill sequence and probably represent a through flowing river system signifying termination of the Hartbeesfontein basin as a separate basin. The Hartbeesfontein basin and its fill demonstrate that a close relationship exists between fissure volcanism, sedimentation and basin evolution and that the strike-slip, transfer faults acted as the loci of volcanic activity.     

Carbonate sedimentation in a starved pull-apart basin, Middle to Late Devonian, southern Guilin, South China

ABSTRACT Geological mapping and sedimentological investigations in the Guilin region, South China, have revealed a spindle‐ to rhomb‐shaped basin filled with Devonian shallow‐ to deep‐water carbonates. This Yangshuo Basin is interpreted as a pull‐apart basin created through secondary, synthetic strike‐slip faulting induced by major NNE–SSW‐trending, sinistral strike‐slip fault zones. These fault zones were initially reactivated along intracontinental basement faults in the course of northward migration of the South China continent. The nearly N–S‐trending margins of the Yangshuo Basin, approximately coinciding with the strike of regional fault zones, were related to the master strike‐slip faults; the NW–SE‐trending margins were related to parallel, oblique‐slip extensional faults. Nine depositional sequences recognized in Givetian through Frasnian strata can be grouped into three sequence sets (Sequences 1–2, 3–5 and 6–9), reflecting three major phases of basin evolution. During basin nucleation, most basin margins were dominated by stromatoporoid biostromes and bioherms, upon a low‐gradient shelf. Only at the steep, fault‐controlled, eastern margin were thick stromatoporoid reefs developed. The subsequent progressive offset and pull‐apart of the master strike‐slip faults during the late Givetian intensified the differential subsidence and produced a spindle‐shaped basin. The accelerated subsidence of the basin centre led to sediment starvation, reduced current circulation and increased environmental stress, leading to the extensive development of microbial buildups on platform margins and laminites in the basin centre. Stromatoporoid reefs only survived along the windward, eastern margin for a short time. The architectures of the basin margins varied from aggradation (or slightly backstepping) in windward positions (eastern and northern margins) to moderate progradation in leeward positions. A relay ramp was present in the north‐west corner between the northern oblique fault zone and the proximal part of the western master fault. In the latest Givetian (corresponding to the top of Sequence 5), a sudden subsidence of the basin induced by further offset of the strike‐slip faults was accompanied by the rapid uplift of surrounding carbonate platforms, causing considerable platform‐margin collapse, slope erosion, basin deepening and the demise of the microbialites. Afterwards, stromatoporoid reefs were only locally restored on topographic highs along the windward margin. However, a subsequent, more intense basin subsidence in the early Frasnian (top of Sequence 6), which was accompanied by a further sharp uplift of platforms, caused more profound slope erosion and platform backstepping. Poor circulation and oxygen‐depleted waters in the now much deeper basin centre led to the deposition of chert, with silica supplied by hydrothermal fluids through deep‐seated faults. Two ‘subdeeps’ were diagonally arranged in the distal parts of the master faults, and the relay ramp was destroyed. At this time, all basin margins except the western one evolved into erosional types with gullies through which granular platform sediments were transported by gravity flows to the basin. This situation persisted into the latest Frasnian. This case history shows that the carbonate platform architecture and evolution in a pull‐apart basin were not only strongly controlled by the tectonic activity, but also influenced by the oceanographic setting (i.e. windward vs. leeward) and environmental factors.     

澳门自由港优势与深水港口开发：澳门发展路向研究之二

本文通过对澳门自由港与港口历史发展的回顾,指出了由于澳门没有深水港口,其自由港和单独关税区,尤其是“欧共市”特殊贸易关系等优势受到限制。论述了建设深水港是发挥自由优势,振兴澳没经济,将澳门建设成为南中国通向世界的“第二个香港”的必由之路。     

Differential response of a Devonian-Carboniferous platform-deeper basin system to sea-level change and tectonics, N. Chilean Andes

Deposition of a 2700-m-thick clastic platform succession in a N-S striking basin in northern Chile began in the Early Devonian during a global sea-level rise. A transition to terrestrial facies took place at the Early-Late Carboniferous boundary when the Gondwana glaciation began and global sea-level dropped. On the platform, interbedded cross-bedded or bioturbated sandstones, offshore tidal dunes and sand waves, and mudstones and tempestites suggest switching intertidal and shallow or deep subtidal environments. However, evidence for subaerial erosion indicates a significant regression during the Early Devonian. In an adjacent and deeper N-S striking sub-basin to the W, up to 3600 m of turbidites were deposited from the Late Devonian to the Late Carboniferous by mainly southerly palaeocurrents. Turbidites accumulated in coarse-grained proximal sand lobes in the N, and in fine-grained lobe fringe and basin plain environments in the S, with alternating upward-thinning and upward-thickening cycles typical of tectonically controlled aggradational turbidite systems. The sedimentological data indicate that the deeper basin depositional system evolved to a large extent independently from the platform system. Sediment in the deeper basin is less mature and more poorly sorted than that on the platform, suggesting that detritus bypassed the platform and was shed directly from the source areas into the western basin. The only depositional link between the platform and deeper basin systems seems to be longshore platform currents which may have funnelled minor quantities of mature sand into the deeper basin via bypass canyons. Although platform and deeper basin evolved in a common extensional tectonic setting, the platform reflects eustatic changes of sea-level whereas deposition in the deeper basin records syndepositional tectonics.     

Tectonics and sedimentation in the hangingwall of a major extensional detachment: the Devonian Kvamshesten Basin, western Norway

The Middle Devonian Kvamshesten Basin in western Norway is a late-orogenic basin situated in the hangingwall of the regional extensional Nordfjord–Sogn Detachment Zone. The basin is folded into a syncline with the axis subparallel to the ductile lineations in the detachment zone. The structural and stratigraphic development of the Kvamshesten Basin indicates that the basin history is more complex than hitherto recognized. The parallelism stated by previous workers between mylonitic lineation below the basin and intrabasinal fold axes is only partly reflected in the configuration of sedimentary units and in the time-relations between deposits on opposing basin margins. The basin shows a pronounced asymmetry in the organization and timing of sedimentary facies units. The present northern basin margin was characterized by bypass or erosion at the earliest stage of basin formation, but was subsequently onlapped and eventually overlain by fanglomerates and sandstones organized in well-defined coarsening-upwards successions. The oldest and thickest depositional units are situated along the present southern basin margin. This as well as onlap relations towards basement at low stratigraphic level indicates a significant component of southwards tilt of the basin floor during the earliest stages of deposition. The inferred south-eastwards tilt was most likely produced by north-westwards extension during early stages of basin formation. Synsedimentary intrabasinal faults show that at high stratigraphic levels, the basin was extending in an E–W as well as a N–S direction. Thus, the basin records an anticlockwise rotation of the syndepositional strain field. In addition, our observations indicate that shortening normal to the extension direction cannot have been both syndepositional and continuous, as suggested by previous authors. Through most of its history, the basin was controlled by a listric, ramp-flat low-angle fault that developed into a scoop shape or was flanked by transfer faults. The basin-controlling fault was rooted in the extensional mylonite zone. Sedimentation was accompanied by formation of a NE- to N-trending extensional rollover fold pair, evidenced by thickness variations in the marginal fan complexes, onlap relations towards basement and the fanning wedge geometry displayed by the Devonian strata. Further E–W extension was accompanied by N–S shortening, resulting in extension-parallel folds and thrusts that mainly post-date the preserved basin stratigraphy. During shortening, conjugate extensional faults were rotated to steeper dips on the flanks of a basin-wide syncline and re-activated as strike-slip faults. The present scoop-shaped, low-angle Dalsfjord fault cross-cut the folded basin and juxtaposed it against the extensional mylonites in the footwall of the Nordfjord–Sogn detachment. Much of this juxtaposition may post-date sedimentation in the preserved parts of the basin. Basinal asymmetry as well as variations in this asymmetry on a regional scale may be explained by the Kvamshesten and other Devonian basins in western Norway developing in a strain regime affected by large-scale sinistral strike-slip subparallel to the Caledonian orogen.     

台北盆地的形成演变与环境考古

本文从地形地貌，构造，地层，古文化遗存等方面，阐述台北盆地的形成及环境演变，台北盆地为断陷成因，断陷年代为中更新世末晚更新世初，盆地的发育演变，环境变迁与构造运动、里斯－玉木间冰期及其后的海平面升降波动变化息息相关。     

Tectonic evolution of the Triassic Songpan-Ganzi basin as constrained by a synthesis of multi-proxy provenance data

The triangular Songpan-Ganzi flysch terrane exposes a Triassic turbidite sequence with an average thickness of ca. 8 km. The sediments may have been accumulated in a remnant Paleo-Tethyan ocean bounded by the converging North China, South China, and the Qiangtang terrane from three sides, or a back-arc basin with an oceanic basement created during the Triassic closure of the Paleo-Tethyan ocean. To differentiate the two competing models, we systematically reviewed the available provenance data that include U–Pb detrital zircon ages at the basin scale, paleocurrent directions, sandstone petrography, and heavy-mineral assemblages from the Triassic Songpan-Ganzi basin samples. We use the Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests to differentiate competing hypotheses for detrital-zircon provenance interpretations and DZmix modelling to quantify relative contributions of detrital zircon from all potential source areas for the Triassic Songpan-Ganzi deposits. The most important result of this work is that the Songpan-Ganzi basin had a stable and locally derived source system: the western, central and eastern sub-basins were mainly sourced from the north whereas the easternmost and southeastern sub-basins were mainly sourced from westernmost South China (i.e., the Longmen Shan area) and the Qiangtang terrane. The stability of the source areas around the Songpan-Ganzi basin throughout the Triassic is most compatible with the remnant ocean model that predicts a long-lived marine basin with a pre-Triassic oceanic/continental basement trapped between converging continental blocks during the Triassic.     

Anticosti foreland basin offshore of western Newfoundland: Concealed record of northern Appalachian orogen development

The Anticosti Basin, largely hidden beneath the Gulf of St. Lawrence, includes foreland basin successions that record multiple tectonic events associated with the Ordovician to Devonian evolution of the northern Appalachian orogen. Due to the lack of well ties and minimal onshore exposure, geophysical data must be used in mapping the offshore stratigraphy. Outcropping geologic boundaries are tied to magnetic lineaments that parallel stratigraphy. These lineaments are correlated with reflections on seismic profiles in order to interpret the subsurface. Seismic isochron maps for successive basin development episodes display differences in geometry, implying that orogenic loading varied through time. The geometry and subsidence rates recorded by the Middle Ordovician Goose Tickle Group imply that it formed in a pro-arc setting associated with loading during arc-continent collision that was most intense in the northern Newfoundland Appalachians. The geometry and subsidence recorded by the overlying Long Point Group imply pro-arc loading by Taconian allochthons in the Québec segment of the orogen. Diachronous subduction polarity reversal along the margin placed the Long Point Group in a combined retro-arc and pro-arc setting, comparable to that experienced by parts of the north Australian margin at the present day. The uppermost Silurian to Lower Devonian Clam Bank Formation and Lower Devonian Red Island Road Formation represent foreland basin successions associated with the later Salinian and Acadian orogenies. Their consistent thickness implies a broad, shallow basin, suggesting that the lithosphere was cooler and stronger than during earlier subsidence, and are consistent with a retro-arc setting.     

Two-phase evolution of the Shadow Valley Basin, south-eastern California: a possible record of footwall uplift during extensional detachment faulting

Miocene strata of the Shadow Valley Basin rest unconformably on the upper plate of the Kingston Range - Halloran Hills detachment fault system in the eastern Mojave desert, California. Basin development occurred in two broad phases that we interpret as a response to changes in footwall geometry. In southern portions of the basin, south of the Kingston Range, phase one began with near synchronous initiation of detachment faulting, volcanism and basin sedimentation shortly after 13.4 Ma. Between c. 13.4 and c. 10 Ma, concordantly bedded phase one strata were deposited onto the subsiding hangingwall of the detachment fault as it was translated 5–9 km south-westward with only limited internal deformation. Phase two (c. 10 to 8–5 Ma) is marked by extensional dismemberment of the detachment fault's upper plate along predominantly west-dipping normal faults. Phase two sediments were deposited synchronously with upper-plate normal faulting and unconformably overlie phase one deposits, displaying progressive shallowing in dip and intraformational onlap. Northern portions of the basin, in the Kingston Range, experienced a similar two-phase development compressed into a shorter interval of time. Here, phase one occurred between c. 13.4 and 12.8–12.5 (?) Ma, whereas phase two probably lasted for no more than a few 100000 years immediately prior to c. 12.4 Ma. Differences in the duration of basin development in and south of the Kingston Range apparently relate to position with respect to the detachment fault's breakaway; northern basin exposures overlie the upper plate adjacent to the breakaway (0–15 km) whereas southern basin exposures occur far from the breakaway (20–40 km). We interpret the phase one to phase two transition as recording breakup of the detachment fault's hangingwall during footwall uplift. We propose a model for supradetachment basin evolution in which early, concordantly bedded basin strata are deposited on the hangingwall as it translates intact above a weakly deforming footwall. With continuing extension, tectonic denudation along the detachment fault leads to an increasing flexural isostatic footwall response. We suggest that isostatic footwall uplift may drive internal breakup of the upper plate as the detachment fault is rotated to a shallow dip, mechanically unfavourable for simple upper-plate translation. Additionally, we argue that continuing hangingwall thinning during phase two places geometrical constraints on the timing, amount and, thus, rate of footwall uplift. Kinematically determined footwall uplift rates (0.5–4.5 mm/yr) are comparable with rates determined independently by thermochronological and geobarometric methods.     

Stratigraphic evidence for a Late Devonian possible back-bulge basin in the Appalachian basin, United States

Isopach and sedimentary facies maps of Upper Devonian (upper Frasnian and lower Famennian) strata deposited in a part of the central Appalachian foreland basin (eastern United States) during the Acadian orogeny show a significant change in depositional style over time. Maps of two successive upper Frasnian intervals show steady thickening to the east towards the hinterland. Coarser‐grained sediment was deposited in distinct tongues in front of the Augusta lobe, a previously recognized locus of sediment input in the central Appalachian basin. Maps of two subsequent lower Famennian stratigraphic intervals show distinct depocentres in the study area. Famennian strata thin eastward (by about 50%) over a distance of about 90 km from these depocentres to the limit of mapping at the Allegheny structural front. This is towards the Acadian sediment source and in contrast to general Upper Devonian thickening in that direction. The axes of these lower Famennian depocentres are stacked on top of each other. Also, coarser‐grained lower Famennian sediment is concentrated in strike trends just east of the axes of the depocentres, and no coarser tongues exist in front of the Augusta lobe, in contrast to the underlying (upper Frasnian) strata. The duration of each of the four study intervals is estimated to be between 0.5 and 3.0 Myr. The early Famennian depocentres may be in a back‐bulge basin, with a forebulge uplifted to the east of the study area. Earlier deposition may have occurred in a basin with a subtle, subdued, and longer wavelength forebulge (perhaps located west of the study area). Previously published regional isopachs of Upper Devonian strata suggest that the main axis of subsidence of the Acadian foreland basin (foredeep depozone) at this time was over 350 km east of the study area. Examination of published quantitative flexural models of other foreland basins with flexural rigidities close to published rigidities calculated for the Appalachian basin suggests that the proposed back‐bulge basin is in the correct location, relative to the suggested position of the foredeep at that time. Several previously recognized structural features of the northern Appalachian basin support the interpretations presented herein. Much of the Acadian foreland basin may be eroded in the central Appalachian basin. The present study demonstrates the difficulties in recognizing foreland basin depozones in partially preserved orogens.