The Carboniferous sequence in the Gloucester‐Myall Lake area,New South Wales

The stratigraphic succession of formations in the Myall district comprises in ascending order the Bunyah Beds, Wallanbah Formation, Kataway Mudstone, Boolambayte Formation (new names), Nerong Volcanics (E'ngel, 1962), Booti Booti Sandstone, Yagon Siltstone, Koolanock Sandstone, Muirs Creek Conglomerate (new names) and Alum Mountain Volcanics (Engel, 1962). The units range in age from possibly Devonian to possibly Permian, most being Carboniferous. The Mograni (new name), Tugrabakh (Voisey, 1940) and Mayers Flat Limestones (new name) are members of the Wallanbah Formation. The Violet Hill Volcanics (new name) is a member of the Yagon Siltstone. The Burdekins Gap Basalt Member and Lakes Road Rhyolite are members of the Alum Mountain Volcanics.

Environments of deposition range from nonmarine (Nerong Volcanics, Alum Mountain Volcanics, Muirs Creek Conglomerate, upper part of Koolanock Sandstone) through shallow marine (Booti Booti Sandstone, lower part of Koolanock Sandstone, calcareous parts of Wallanbah Formation) to deep marine (most other units). Facies relationships indicate a progressive deepening of the sedimentary environment to the east throughout most of the Carboniferous sequence. The Tournaisian sequence is readily correlated with a similar sequence in the Rocky Creek and Belvue Synclines. Higher units are correlated with sequences at Gloucester (Campbell & McKelvey, 1972) and Booral (Campbell, 1962).     

东澳大利亚南悉尼盆地二叠纪的地层、沉积环境与盆地演化

晚石炭世末期-三叠纪东澳大利亚的鲍恩-冈尼达-悉尼（Bowen- Gunnedah-Sydney）盆地系是位于拉克伦（Lachlan）褶皱带和新英格兰（New England）褶皱带之间的一个长条形的构造盆地。从北部的冈尼达（Gunnedah）到南部的巴特曼斯（Batemans）湾，悉尼盆地是鲍恩-冈尼达-悉尼盆地系南端的一个次级盆地。悉尼盆地的二叠系包括河流、三角洲、滨浅海沉积岩和火山岩地层。南悉尼盆地的西南部二叠系不整合覆盖于变形变质的拉克伦（Lachlan）褶皱带之上。二叠系由下部的塔拉特郎（Tallaterang）群、中部的肖尔黑文群（Shoalhaven Group）和上部的伊勒瓦拉煤系（Illawarra Coal Measures）组成。从晚石炭世末到中三叠世悉尼盆地经历了弧后扩张到典型的前陆盆地的不同阶段：弧后扩张阶段、被动热沉降阶段和挤压挠曲负载阶段。     

Modelling cover deformation and decoupling during inversion,using the Mid-Polish Trough as a case study

Seismic sections across the NW part of the Polish Basin show that thrust faults developed in the sedimentary units above the Zechstein evaporite layer during basin inversion. These cover thrust faults have formed above the basement footwall. Based on the evolution of the basin, a series of scaled analogue models was carried out to study interaction between a basement fault and cover sediments during basin extension and inversion. During model extension, a set of normal faults originated in the sand cover above the basement fault area. The distribution and geometry of these faults were dependent on the thickness of a ductile layer and pre-extension sand layer, synkinematic deposition, the amount of model extension, as well as on the presence of a ductile layer between the cover and basement. Footwall cover was faulted away from the basement only in cases where a large amount of model extension and hanging-wall subsidence were not balanced by synkinematic deposition. Model inversion reactivated major cover faults located above the basement fault tip as reverse faults, whereas other extensional faults were either rotated or activated only in their upper segments, evolving into sub-horizontal thrusts. New normal or reverse faults originated in the footwall cover in models which contained a very thin pre-extension sand layer above the ductile layer. This was also the case in the highly extended and shortened model in which synkinematic hanging-wall subsidence was not balanced by sand deposition during model extension. Model results show that inversion along the basement fault results in shortening of the cover units and formation of thrust faults. This scenario happens only when the cover units are decoupled from the basement by a ductile layer. Given this, we argue that the thrusts in the sedimentary infill of the Polish Basin, which are decoupled from the basement tectonics by Zechstein evaporites, developed due to the inversion of the basement faults during the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary.     

华南印支期碰撞造山--十万大山盆地构造和沉积学证据

十万大山盆地是云开造山带前陆地区的一个窄长的晚二叠世—中三叠世沉积盆地,位于扬子与华夏陆块拼接位置的西南端。十万大山盆地晚二叠世—中三叠世沉积由巨厚的磨拉石建造组成,并构成多个向上变粗和向上变细的构造-地层层序。云开造山带及前陆冲断带上泥盆统至下二叠统中发育了大量的印支期形成的薄皮褶皱和冲断构造。这些指示扬子和华夏陆块在印支期发生了强烈陆内碰撞与会聚及前陆盆地的沉积作用。P2 /P1 之间的不整合面是伸展构造向挤压构造转换的转换面,为华南印支期碰撞挤压造山或活化造山的序幕。T3 /T2 之间不整合面是挤压构造向伸展构造转换的转换面,是印支期活化挤压造山结束的界面,标志着晚二叠世开始的碰撞造山作用的结束。华南内部晚二叠世—中三叠世构造运动性质及转换与当时华南南缘存在的古特提斯洋的闭合及印支板块与华南陆块的碰撞作用有关。     

Tasman Fold Belt System in Tasmania

In western Tasmania Eocambrian and Cambrian rock sequences accumulated in narrow troughs between and within Precambrian regions which became geanticlines. The largest trough is meridional and is flanked by the Tyennan Geanticline to the east and the Rocky Cape Geanticline to the west. Within this trough ultramafic and mafic igneous masses, some of which are dismembered ophiolites, occur below a structurally conformable but erosional surface. This surface is at the base of an early-Middle Cambrian turbidite sequence, which grades upward into a probable correlate of the Owen Conglomerate that ranges into the Ordovician. Fault-bounded areas of Rocky Cape strata occur at the eastern boundary of the sedimentary trough deposits. A considerable pile of mineralized calcalkalic volcanic material, in which granite was emplaced, accumulated between the sedimentary trough deposits and the Tyennan Geanticline. Movements along Cambrian faults near and parallel to the margin of the Tyennan Geanticline caused angular unconformities. Above the unconformities occur volcaniclastic sequences that pass conformably upward into shallow marine and terrestrial Owen Conglomerate, derived from the Tyennan Geanticline.The transgressive Owen Conglomerate and its correlates are followed conformably by shallow marine limestone, of Early to Late Ordovician age. These limestone deposits covered much of western Tasmania and are succeeded conformably by Silurian to Early Devonian beds of shallow-marine quartz sandstone and mudstone.Pre-Middle Devonian rocks of western Tasmania extend to the Tamar Tertiary trough. In the northeast of Tasmania, immediately to the east of the Tamar trough, are sequences of interbedded mudstone and turbidite quartz-wacke of the Mathinna Beds, ranging in age from Early Ordovician to Early Devonian.The Cambrian to Early Devonian rocks of Tasmania are extensively deformed and show flattened parallel folds. In western Tasmania the folds are dated as late-Early to early-Middle Devonian because fragments of the deformed rocks occur in undisturbed Middle Devonian terrestrial cavern fillings. Folds of the northeastern Tasmania Mathinna Beds are probably of the same age. This widespread Devonian deformation is correlated with the Tabberabberan Orogeny of eastern Australia.In western Tasmania the geanticlines of Cambrian times behaved as relatively competent blocks during the Devonian folding, which is of two main phases. In the earlier phase the competent behaviour of the Tyennan Block determined the fold patterns. In the north the dominantly later folds resulted from movement from the northeast. During this later Devonian phase the Tyennan Block yielded in a northwesterly trending narrow zone of folding.In northeast Tasmania the Mathinna Beds exhibit folds which indicate a tectonic transportation opposite in direction to that which resulted in the folds of similar age in western Tasmania.Granitic rocks, dated 375-335 m.y., were emplaced within the folded rocks of Tasmania with usually sharp, discordant contacts. Foliations in the batholiths of northeast Tasmania suggest post-intrusion deformations involving east—west flattening. The late deformations may be related to lateral movements along a fracture zone which brought the Mathinna Beds of northeast Tasmania into juxtaposition with the rocks of contrasting stratigraphical and structural characteristics of western Tasmania.Flat-lying Late Carboniferous and younger deposits rest unconformably on the older rocks.     

Structural architecture of the Owen Conglomerate,West Coast Range,western Tasmania: field evidence for Late Cambrian extension.

The Owen Conglomerate comprises coarse-grained siliciclastics that were deposited in response to Late Cambrian extension. The identification of normal faults that host thickened accumulations of siliciclastics is used here to support interpretation of syn-fill extension. Local mapping and section construction have identified a series of north-trending, en échelon, segmented normal faults that exhibit changes in along-strike polarity. The Late Cambrian faults are adjacent to sedimentary packages that define half-graben geometries, with an unconformity that defines basal contacts with underlying Mt Read Volcanics and onlap geometries onto the opposing basin margin. Faults that were active during deposition of the Owen Conglomerate were subsequently reversed during D₁ Middle Devonian deformation, with reverse displacement controlling the development of inversion structures defined by north-trending fold structures. Pervasive northwest-trending D₂ deformation extensively overprints earlier deformation features, and has led to the spectacular development of type 1 interference patterns that largely control outcrop distributions along the West Coast Range. Field evidence is documented in support for a simple structural history that accounts for geometries associated with Late Cambrian extension, prior to Middle Devonian inversion (D₁) and subsequent shortening (D₂).     

The Plio–Pleistocene evolution of extensional tectonics in northern Tuscany,as constrained by new gravimetric data from the Montecarlo Basin (lower Arno Valley,Italy)

A detailed gravimetric study has been integrated with the most recent stratigraphic data in the area comprised between the Arno river and the foothills of the Northern Apennines, in northern Tuscany (central Italy). A Plio–Pleistocene basin lies in this area; its sedimentary succession can be subdivided from the bottom, in five allostratigraphic units: (1) Lower–Middle Pliocene shallow marine deposits; (2) Late Pliocene (?)–Early Pleistocene fluvio-lacustrine deposits; (3) late–Early Pleistocene–Middle Pleistocene alluvial to fluvial red conglomerates (Montecarlo Formation); (4) Middle Pleistocene alluvial to fluvial red conglomerates (Cerbaie and Casa Poggio ai Lecci Formations); (5) alluvial to fluvial deposits of Late Pleistocene age. The Bouguer anomaly map displays a strong minimum in the northeastern sector of the basin, and a gentle gradient from west to east. The map of the horizontal gradients permits to recognise three major fault zones, two of which along the southwestern and northeastern margins of the basin, and one along the southeastern edge of the Pisani Mountains. A 2.5D gravimetric modelling along a SW–NE section across the basin displays a thick wedge of sediments of density 2.25 g/cm³ (about 1700 m in the depocenter) overlying a layer of density 2.55 g/cm³, 1000 m thick, which rests on a basement of 2.72 g/cm³. The most of the sediment wedge is here referred to Upper Pliocene (?)–Lower Pleistocene, because borehole data show Pliocene marine deposits thinning northward close to the southern margin of the area. The layer below is referred to Ligurids and upper Tuscan Nappe units; the densest layer is interpreted as composed of Triassic evaporites, quartzites and Palaeozoic basement. According to Carmignani low-angle extensional tectonics began between Serravallian and early Messinian, thinning the Apennine nappe stack. At the end of Middle Pliocene, syn-rift deposition ceased in the Viareggio Basin (west of the investigated area) as demonstrated by Argnani and co-workers, and high-angle extensional tectonics migrated eastward up to the Monte Albano Ridge. A syn-rift continental sedimentary wedge developed in Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene, until its hanging wall block was dismembered, during late Early Pleistocene, by NE-dipping faults, causing the uplift of its western portion (the Pisani Mountains). This breakup caused exhumation and erosion of Triassic units whose clastics where shed into the surrounding palaeo-Arno Valley in alluvial–fluvial deposits unconformably overlying the Lower Pleistocene syn-rift deposits. In the late Pleistocene SW–NE-trending fault systems created the steep southeastern edge of the Pisani Mountains and the resulting throw is recorded in Middle Pleistocene deposits across the present Arno Valley. This tectonic phase probably continues at present, offshore Livorno, as evidenced by the epicentres of earthquakes.     

Tectonic and climatic controls on sedimentation during deposition of the Sinakumbe group and Karoo supergroup,in the mid-Zambezi Valley Basin,southern Zambia

Sediments of the Ordovician to Devonian Sinakumbe Group (∼210 m thick) and overlying Upper Carboniferous to Lower Jurassic Karoo Supergroup (∼4.5 km thick) were deposited in the mid-Zambezi Rift Valley Basin, southern Zambia.The Sinakumbe-Karoo succession represents deposition in a extensional fault-controlled basin of half-graben type. The basin-fill succession incorporates two major fining-upward cycles that resulted from major tectonic events, one event beginning with Sinakumbe Group sedimentation, possibly as early as Ordovician times, and the other beginning with Upper Karoo Group sedimentation near the Permo-Triassic boundary. Minor tectonic pulses occurred during deposition of the two major cycles. In the initial fault-controlled half-graben, a basin slope and alluvial fan system (Sikalamba Conglomerate Formation), draining southeastward, was apparently succeeded, without an intervening transitional facies, by a braided river system (Zongwe Sandstone Formation) draining southwestward, parallel to the basin margin. Glaciation followed by deglaciation resulted in glaciofluvial and glacio-lacustrine deposits of the Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian Siankondobo Sandstone Formation of the Lower Karoo Group, and isostatic rebound eventually produced a broad flood plain on which the coal-bearing Lower Permian Gwembe Coal Formation was deposited. Fault-controlled maximum subsidence is represente by the lacustrine Upper Permian Madumabisa Mudstone Formation. Block-faulting and downwarping, probably due to the Gondwanide Orogeny, culminated with the introduction of large quantities of sediment through braided fluvial systems that overwhelmed and terminated Madumabisa Lake sedimentation, and is now represented by the Triassic Escarpment Grit and Interbedded Sandstone and Mudstone Formations of the Upper Karoo Group. Outpourings of basaltic flows in the Early Jurassic terminated Karoo sedimentation.     

中国中、上扬子区石炭纪古构造沉积盆地类型

中、上扬子区石炭纪继承了加里东运动后的构造格局,滇中前寒武纪基底隆起区——康滇古陆(Ⅰ_1~1)不断向东扩大,与滇东早奥陶世后隆起区(Ⅰ_1~2)归拼。由于川中早志留后隆起区(Ⅰ_1~8)徐徐上升,它把川东鄂西泥盆世后隆起区(Ⅰ_1~(11))、以及武当、大洪山(Ⅰ_1~4)、湘西武陵山(Ⅱ_1~5)、雪峰山(Ⅱ_1~6)前寒武基底隆起区基本连在一起,从而使中、上扬子地块上的“中、上扬子古陆”雏形大致形成。晚泥盆世扬子古陆北缘被动大陆边缘盆地等与石炭纪早期基本相仿。湘、桂交界处,以龙胜-永福断裂为界,其西南为右江张性被动大陆     

The sedimentary record of the exhumation of a granitic intrusion into a collisional setting: the lower Gonfolite Group,Southern Alps,Italy

The clastic wedge of the Gonfolite Lombarda Group (GLW) accumulated during Oligocene–Miocene times in the Southern Alps foreland basin, formed on the southern, inner side of the Alpine belt. It represents the depositional counterpart of the exhumation and erosion of the Central Alps metamorphic–magmatic units.Among the Central Alps units, the Tertiary Bergell Intrusion (TBI) is one of the principal sources of pebbles occurring within the GLW. Geochronologic data, both from intrusive pebbles and present-day outcrops of intrusive rocks, document the rapid uplift history of the GLW source area.The lower Gonfolite clastic wedge (Como Conglomerate and Val Grande Sandstone Formations, Oligocene–Early Miocene) has been investigated through the study of sandstone and conglomerate petrology for detecting the effects in the sedimentary record of this collision-related event.The main results are: (i) sandstone petrology of the Como Conglomerate records an evolution from feldspatholithic to feldspathic sandstones; (ii) the related Q/F–F/L ratios suggest an evolution from a mixed plutonic–metamorphic to a mainly plutonic source; (iii) consistently, conglomerate petrology records a progressive increase of plutonic pebbles (from nearly 0–50% of the total), a corresponding decrease of metamorphic clasts (from nearly 80 to nearly 50%) and the disappearance of cover rock fragments. Considering the high relief/short transport setting of the GLW clastic routing system, these values probably resemble the real proportions of such rocks in the Gonfolite catchment area.During the Aquitanian, the return to a metamorphic-rich source is recorded both by sandstones and conglomerates at the top of the Como Conglomerate and in the Val Grande Sandstone. This last signal is interpreted as the result of the reorganisation of the Gonfolite source area, possibly related to the northward shift of the main Alpine divide.     

四川盆地：周缘活动主控下形成的叠合盆地

四川盆地位于扬子板块西缘和青藏高原东缘,地震勘探资料等揭示盆地前寒武纪基底保存完整的古俯冲带和地堑-地垒结构,说明盆地基底后期构造活动非常稳定;显生宙以来经历晚震旦世-石炭纪、二叠纪-中三叠世两幕克拉通边缘强拉张-强挤压,而克拉通内弱拉张-弱挤压的构造演化过程,体现出盆地内部稳定性结构沉积演化特征。克拉通内弱拉张初期以海相碳酸盐岩大面积稳定沉积（即震旦系灯影组和二叠系栖霞-茅口组）和随后的风化壳岩溶作用（即桐湾期、东吴期等不整合面）为特征,弱拉张期以拉张槽（如：绵阳-长宁拉张槽和开江-梁平拉张槽等）的形成为典型特征;弱挤压则以古隆起（如：加里东期乐山-龙女寺古隆起、印支期泸州古隆起等）的发育为典型特征。四川盆地晚三叠世后的前陆盆地演化阶段受控于其周缘造山带逆冲推覆构造活动,是现今地貌和构造盆地的主要建造期,形成了四川盆地周缘突变（线型）和渐变（弥散型）两种盆山结构。盆地西边界（龙门山）和北边界（米仓山-大巴山）即是线型突变边界,也是扬子地块（板块）的边界,边界几何形状和扬子板块刚性特征对盆山系统结构-构造特征等有较大的控制作用;四川盆地的东边界（齐岳山-大娄山）和西南边界（大凉山）即是渐变弥散型边界,同时也是板（陆）块内部的边界,它们受控于邻区（盆外）的构造变形和盆内沉积盖层中滑脱层的分布特征。受控于盆地（克拉通）周缘活动,四川盆地垂向上前寒武纪基底与盖层、盖层内早期和晚期构造具解耦特征。基底与盖层构造的解耦有利于盆地内部前寒武纪基底结构构造的保存和盖层内大型隆-坳结构的形成演化;盖层内早期和晚期构造的解耦有利于早期构造免遭后期破环,对深层油气藏的保存意义重大。总之,四川盆地可能是具独特形成过程和特征的叠合盆地新类型,其突出特征表现为周缘活动、内部稳定及早期和晚期构造解耦。     

Cretaceous extensional and compressional tectonics in the Northwestern Andes,prior to the collision with the Caribbean oceanic plateau

The Cretaceous units exposed in the northwestern segment of the Colombian Andes preserve the record of extensional and compressional tectonics prior to the collision with Caribbean oceanic terranes. We integrated field, stratigraphic, sedimentary provenance, whole rock geochemistry, Nd isotopes and U-Pb zircon data to understand the Cretaceous tectonostratigraphic and magmatic record of the Colombian Andes. The results suggest that several sedimentary successions including the Abejorral Fm. were deposited on top of the continental basement in an Early Cretaceous backarc basin (150–100 Ma). Between 120 and 100 Ma, the appearance of basaltic and andesitic magmatism (~115–100 Ma), basin deepening, and seafloor spreading were the result of advanced stages of backarc extension. A change to compressional tectonics took place during the Late Cretaceous (100–80 Ma). During this compressional phase, the extended blocks were reincorporated into the margin, closing the former Early Cretaceous backarc basin. Subsequently, a Late Cretaceous volcanic arc was built on the continental margin; as a result, the volcanic rocks of the Quebradagrande Complex were unconformably deposited on top of the faulted and folded rocks of the Abejorral Fm. Between the Late Cretaceous and the Paleocene (80–60 Ma), an arc-continent collision between the Caribbean oceanic plateau and the South-American continental margin deformed the rocks of the Quebradagrande Complex and shut-down the active volcanic arc. Our results suggest an Early Cretaceous extensional event followed by compressional tectonics prior to the collision with the Caribbean oceanic plateau.     

Stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Blue Nile Basin,Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau

The Blue Nile Basin, situated in the Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau, contains ∼1400 m thick Mesozoic sedimentary section underlain by Neoproterozoic basement rocks and overlain by Early–Late Oligocene and Quaternary volcanic rocks. This study outlines the stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Blue Nile Basin based on field and remote sensing studies along the Gorge of the Nile. The Blue Nile Basin has evolved in three main phases: (1) pre‐sedimentation phase, include pre‐rift peneplanation of the Neoproterozoic basement rocks, possibly during Palaeozoic time; (2) sedimentation phase from Triassic to Early Cretaceous, including: (a) Triassic–Early Jurassic fluvial sedimentation (Lower Sandstone, ∼300 m thick); (b) Early Jurassic marine transgression (glauconitic sandy mudstone, ∼30 m thick); (c) Early–Middle Jurassic deepening of the basin (Lower Limestone, ∼450 m thick); (d) desiccation of the basin and deposition of Early–Middle Jurassic gypsum; (e) Middle–Late Jurassic marine transgression (Upper Limestone, ∼400 m thick); (f) Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous basin‐uplift and marine regression (alluvial/fluvial Upper Sandstone, ∼280 m thick); (3) the post‐sedimentation phase, including Early–Late Oligocene eruption of 500–2000 m thick Lower volcanic rocks, related to the Afar Mantle Plume and emplacement of ∼300 m thick Quaternary Upper volcanic rocks. The Mesozoic to Cenozoic units were deposited during extension attributed to Triassic–Cretaceous NE–SW‐directed extension related to the Mesozoic rifting of Gondwana. The Blue Nile Basin was formed as a NW‐trending rift, within which much of the Mesozoic clastic and marine sediments were deposited. This was followed by Late Miocene NW–SE‐directed extension related to the Main Ethiopian Rift that formed NE‐trending faults, affecting Lower volcanic rocks and the upper part of the Mesozoic section. The region was subsequently affected by Quaternary E–W and NNE–SSW‐directed extensions related to oblique opening of the Main Ethiopian Rift and development of E‐trending transverse faults, as well as NE–SW‐directed extension in southern Afar (related to northeastward separation of the Arabian Plate from the African Plate) and E–W‐directed extensions in western Afar (related to the stepping of the Red Sea axis into Afar). These Quaternary stress regimes resulted in the development of N‐, ESE‐ and NW‐trending extensional structures within the Blue Nile Basin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The correlation and sequence architecture of the Ormskirk Sandstone Formation in the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group of the East Irish Sea Basin,NW England

The existing stratigraphic nomenclature applied to the Early and Middle Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group in NW England has resulted from more than 150 years of geological investigation, but is characterized by a lithostratigraphic system that is insufficiently flexible to allow for variations in lithology and sedimentary facies within a continental depositional system. A revised well correlation based on the detrital mineralogical and chemical composition of the Ormskirk Sandstone Formation in four offshore wells, that is then extended to provide near‐basin‐wide well correlations using a regional shale marker, confirms previously suggested but unproven diachroneity at the top of the Sherwood Sandstone Group. It also reveals the presence of incised valleys filled by stacked amalgamated fluvial channel sandstones and cut into previously deposited aeolian and sandflat sequences as well as older fluvial channel sandstones. The combination of well correlations indicates that the valleys were incised by a fluvial system flowing NW from the Cheshire Basin into the East Irish Sea Basin and then west towards the Peel and Kish Bank basins. The stratal geometry of the upper part of the Sherwood Sandstone Group is suggested to conform to models of climatically mediated alternations of fluvial degradation and aggradation in response to changes in the relationship between sediment flux and stream discharge. This model is supported in the Sherwood Sandstone Group by climatically driven variations in the non‐channelized facies which record upward wetting and drying cycles that can be locally tied to fluvial incision surfaces, and suggest a hierarchy of at least three levels of climatic cyclicity recorded within the sedimentary succession. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural evolution of the Early Cretaceous depocentres,Otway Basin,Victoria

The dominant control on the (transition between) depositional settings of the Crayfish Group of the Otway Basin in Victoria, Australia has been determined. The study first involved seismic mapping of six stratigraphic units within the Early Cretaceous, continental Crayfish Group. The resulting 3D structural model was used to identify major Early Cretaceous depocentres, and to determine which Crayfish Group sediments are restricted to individual rift depocentres and which are more widespread as a result of inter-connectivity of the basin. Five structural cross-sections were then constructed across each major depocentre of the basin; these were balanced and restored, and missing section estimated, in order to test the validity of the structural interpretations. This also enabled analysis of differing extensional rates within each depocentre and the calculation of the cumulative displacement of each major bounding fault. Results show that displacement rate, growth and linkage of the faults, as well as the amount of subsidence within the depocentres, had a significant effect on the distribution and development of the major facies within the Crayfish Group. The Casterton Formation and Sawpit Shale equivalent/McEachern Sandstone were restricted to rapidly subsiding, structurally controlled depocentres in the west, while the succeeding Sawpit Sandstone equivalent was deposited within the same depocentres, across the intervening structural highs and in the eastern part of the basin where depocentres had just begun to form. The Pretty Hill Formation shows a similar distribution pattern, while the overlying fine-grained Laira Formation also drapes structural highs but is replaced in the east by coarser-grained sediments of the upper Pretty Hill Formation. Extension was locally up to 21% in the central Otway Basin but was much less in the eastern Otway Basin.     

Pyrite composition and ore genesis in the Prince Lyell copper deposit, Mt Lyell mineral field, western Tasmania, Australia

The Prince Lyell copper-gold-silver deposit occurs in the late Cambrian Mt Read Volcanics, at Queenstown, Tasmania. Steeply plunging, broadly conformable lenses of disseminated and stringer pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralisation occur in quartz-sericite-chlorite rocks derived from intense alteration of predominantly felsic lavas and volcaniclastic rocks. Middle Devonian deformation has substantially modified primary sulphide textures.Although extensively fractured, pyrite grains in the ore have retained their original pre-deformation internal structure and chemistry which are revealed by etching and electron microprobe analysis. Earliest sulphide mineralisation produced oscillatory zoned, cobalt-rich pyrite (Pyrite I), coeval with chalcopyrite mineralisation. Cobalt-rich pyrite is commonly associated with Cambrian volcanic rocks in western Tasmania and suggests a volcanogenic origin for the ore fluids at Prince Lyell. Pyrite I was corroded by later hydrothermal fluids and reprecipitated as unzoned, trace element-poor pyrite (Pyrite II), commonly as overgrowths on Pyrite I cores. Minor amounts of a second cobalt-rich pyrite (Pyrite III) occurs with Pyrite II in composite pyrite overgrowths. Sulphur isotope ratios from all pyrite generations fall within a small range (3 to 11‰). In situ isotopic analyses showed no consistent δ³⁴S variation between the various pyrite generations, suggesting recycling of sulphur derived from a single Cambrian volcanogenic source.Hematite alteration, derived from oxidised fluids possibly from the adjacent hematitic Owen Conglomerate, occurs in the structural footwall volcanics and the Great Lyell fault zone. Hematite inclusions in Pyrite II and III indicate that these pyrite generations occurred after or during deposition of the conglomerate. It is postulated that Pyrite II and III were deposited during waning volcanism, contemporaneous with Owen Conglomerate sedimentation in the late Cambrian or early Ordovician. The Great Lyell fault would have acted as a growth fault margin between a terrestrial basin, filling rapidly from the east, and the volcanic terrane to the west. The scenario raises the possibility that the concentration of mineral deposits and hematitic alteration along the Great Lyell fault resulted from the subsurface interaction of reduced volcanogenic fluids and oxidised basin waters along the growth fault contact.     

Alpine polyphase tectono-metamorphic evolution of the South Carpathians: A new overview

The main terrains involved in the Cretaceous–Tertiary tectonism in the South Carpathians segment of the European Alpine orogen are the Getic–Supragetic and Danubian continental crust fragments separated by the Severin oceanic crust-floored basin. During the Early–Middle Cretaceous times the Danubian microplate acted initially as a foreland unit strongly involved in the South Carpathians nappe stacking. Multistage folding/thrusting events, uplift/erosion and extensional stages and the development of associated sedimentary basins characterize the South Carpathians during Cretaceous to Tertiary convergence and collision events. The main Cretaceous tectogenetic events responsible for contraction and crustal thickening processes in the South Carpathians are Mid-Cretaceous (“Austrian phase”) and Latest Cretaceous (“Laramide” or “Getic phase”) in age. The architecture of the South Carpathians suggests polyphase tectonic evolution and mountain building and includes from top to bottom: the Getic–Supragetic basement/cover nappes, the Severin and Arjana cover nappes, and Danubian basement/cover nappes, all tectonically overriding the Moesian Platform. The Severin nappe complex (including Obarsia and Severin nappes) with Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous ophiolites and turbidites is squeezed between the Danubian and Getic–Supragetic basement nappes as a result of successive thrusting of dismembered units during the inferred Mid- to Late Cretaceous subduction/collision followed by tectonic inversion processes.

Early Cretaceous thick-skinned tectonics was replaced by thin-skinned tectonics in Late Cretaceous. Thus, the former Middle Cretaceous “Austrian” nappe stack and its Albian–Lower Senonian cover got incorporated in the intra-Senonian “Laramide/Getic” stacking of the Getic–Supragetic/Severin/Arjana nappes onto the Danubian nappe duplex. The two contraction events are separated by an extensional tectonic phase in the upper plate recorded by the intrusion of the “Banatitic” magmas (84–73 Ma). The overthrusting of the entire South Carpathian Cretaceous nappe stack onto the fold/thrust foredeep units and to the Moesian Platform took place in the Late Miocene (intra-Sarmatian) times and was followed by extensional events and sedimentary basin formation.     

Phanerozoic stratigraphy and structure of the northern Barrier Ranges,western New South Wales

Devonian strata near Fowlers Gap and Nundooka Stations, northern Barrier Ranges comprise ～2.7 km of sparsely fossiliferous, fluvially deposited sandstones (Mulga Downs Group). These strata are subdivided into the Coco Range Sandstone (oldest, Emsian‐Eifelian) found west of the north‐trending Nundooka Creek Fault, and the Nundooka Sandstone (youngest, ?Frasnian‐Famennian found east of the fault). Eleven stratigraphic units are mapped and two of these in the Coco Range Sandstone are formally named as The Valley Tank Arenite and Copi Dam Arenite Members. The Coco Range Sandstone and Nundooka Sandstone are tentatively correlated with strata in the Bancannia Trough. Deposition of the Coco Range Sandstone and Nundooka Sandstone was, however, separate from that of the Bancannia Trough, probably due to topographic highs which occurred east of the Western Boundary Fault.

The Coco Range Sandstone is cut by northeast‐trending faults splaying from the Nundooka Creek Fault. These faults have vertical planes and are thought to predate deposition of the Nundooka Sandstone. In the Late Cretaceous the Nundooka Creek and Western Boundary Faults became active and areas west of these faults were uplifted to form Coco Range and Bald Hill. This fossil landscape was progressively buried by deposition of the Palaeocene‐Eocene Eyre Formation until it was half covered by strata. During the Oligocene silcrete of the Cordillo Surface formed and was overlain conformably by the sandy Doonbara Formation (Miocene). Since the Miocene, much of the Eyre Formation has been removed by erosion to exhume a Late Cretaceous landscape. Subsequently in the ?Pliocene there was some faulting along the Nundooka Creek and Western Boundary Faults because locally the Cordillo Surface and the Doonbara Formation dip toward the faults at 30–72°. At three localities there is evidence of probable Quaternary activity on the Nundooka Creek and the Western Boundary Faults (downthrow to the east) suggesting a different style of tectonics from that in the Miocene.     

Basement geology of the southern Thomson Orogen

Abstract

The diverse geological and geophysical data sets compiled, interrogated and interpreted for the largely undercover southern Thomson Orogen region reveal a Paleozoic terrane dominated by deformed metasedimentary rocks intruded by S- and I-type granites. An interpretive basement geology map and synthesis of geochronological constraints allow definition of several stratigraphic packages. The oldest and most widespread comprises upper Cambrian to Lower Ordovician metasedimentary rocks deposited during the vast extensional Larapinta Event with maximum depositional ages of ca 520 to ca 496 Ma. These units correlate with elements of the northern Thomson Orogen, Warburton Basin and Amadeus Basin. The degree of deformation and metamorphism of these rocks varies across the region. A second major package includes Lower to Middle Devonian volcanic and sedimentary units, some of which correlate with components of the Lachlan Orogen. The region also includes a Middle to Upper Ordovician package of metasedimentary rocks and a Devonian or younger package of intermediate volcaniclastic rocks of restricted extent. Intrusive units range from diatremes and relatively small layered mafic bodies to batholithic-scale suites of granite and granodiorite. S-type and I-type intrusions are both present, and ages range from Ordovician to Triassic, but late Silurian intrusions are the most abundant. Two broad belts of intrusions are recognised. In the east, the Scalby Belt comprises relatively young (Upper Devonian) intrusions, while in the west, the Ella Belt is dominated by intrusions of late Silurian age within a curvilinear, broadly east–west trend. The stratigraphic distributions, characteristics and constraints defined by this interpretive basement mapping provide a basic framework for ongoing research and mineral exploration.     

Alteration and mineral zonation at the Mt Lyell copper–gold deposit,Tasmania

The Mount Lyell copper deposits are located in the middle Cambrian Mount Read volcanic belt of western Tasmania and consist of more than 24 separate copper–gold–silver orebodies. The dominant copper mineralisation style is disseminated pyrite–chalcopyrite subvertical pipes with subordinate chalcopyrite–bornite ± other copper phases, massive pyrite and base metal sulfides. A zonation in mineralisation style within the pipes is defined from chalcopyrite–magnetite at depth to chalcopyrite–pyrite at intermediate levels, to chalcopyrite–bornite at the shallowest level. Alteration is developed broadly symmetrically around the ore zones and zoned from quartz–chlorite–phengite ± biotite at depth to quartz–muscovite at intermediate levels, and a quartz–muscovite–pyrophyllite–zunyite assemblage at the shallowest levels. This is interpreted to be a result of a fluid that evolved from hot, reduced and neutral conditions at depth to cool, oxidised and acidic conditions at the shallowest level. The chalcopyrite–bornite deposits occur at the top of the hydrothermal system and are associated with intensely silicified rock and muscovite/pyrophyllite alteration. The close relationship of these deposits with the top of the pipes suggests they are part of a single mineralising event. Where the chalcopyrite–bornite deposits are juxtaposed with the Owen Group, rather than a simple chalcopyrite–bornite mineralogy, there are numerous other copper phases, which represent higher oxidation states and collectively suggest variable and fluctuating fluid conditions during deposition. It is proposed that these deposits are formed by an interaction of the reduced hydrothermal fluid with an oxidised fluid generated at very shallow levels within and during deposition of the Owen Group. Mineralisation within the middle Owen Group sandstones and clasts of altered rock within the middle and upper Owen Group sediments marks the end of the hydrothermal system. Around the entire edge of the Mt Lyell field, there is a variation in the white mica composition from proximal muscovite to distal phengite that represents the neutralisation of the hydrothermal fluid by fluid–wall rock interaction.