阵发性洪水条件下辫状河型冲积扇构型研究:以准噶尔盆地西北缘现代白杨河冲积扇为例*

白杨河冲积扇是由阵发性洪水期的碎屑流沉积物与间洪期辫状河沉积物组成的复合型冲积扇,其构型与碎屑流扇的构型和河流型扇的构型有很大的不同。本研究选取准噶尔盆地西北缘干旱气候下发育的现代白杨河冲积扇作为解剖实例,对103个天然剖面和9个人工大型探槽进行了详细测量,在沉积微相及不同级别的沉积构型的观测和分析的基础上,分析了阵发性洪水条件下间歇性辫状河型冲积扇体的地貌单元的演化过程和沉积构型特征,研究不同流态的阵发性洪水条件下各种建造和改造机制,明确受阵发性洪水控制的间歇性辫状河型冲积扇的沉积特征,建立了其沉积构型模式。认为: 在洪水期,阵发性洪流(碎屑流)形成席状化的片流(或片洪)沉积,在洪退期,随着洪水强度的减弱,又转变为辫流沉积,而在间洪期,仍有持续的辫状流体(牵引流)在限制性的水道中流动,并对洪水期的碎屑流沉积物进行改造,形成了限制性的(条带状的)辫状河道沉积,2个时期的沉积物在时空上频繁叠置,形成了一种更加复杂的沉积构型。该模式对油田地下冲积扇砂砾储集层的成因识别、预测及对比具有一定的参考价值。     

砾质辫状河型冲积扇岩相类型、成因及分布规律 ——以准噶尔盆地西北缘现代白杨河冲积扇为例

冲积扇砂砾岩储层是准噶尔盆地一类重要的油气储层类型,由于其具岩相类型多、连续性差等特点,对冲积扇内部岩相成因解释一直是冲积扇相带认知的基础和难点。以准噶尔盆地西北缘现代白杨河冲积扇为例,在大量的野外露头资料和粒度分析数据的基础上,结合冲积扇源区母岩类型、水文资料以及冲积扇文献资料,对现代白杨河冲积扇岩相的类型、成因及分布规律进行探讨。按沉积机制,白杨河冲积扇属于辫状河型冲积扇,具有规模大(扇体总面积约327.6 km^2),坡度平缓(约1‰～7‰),沉积粒度粗等特征。在白杨河冲积扇内共可识别出16种岩相类型,并根据岩相形成的流体动力差异划归为5类成因,即重力流成因、高流态牵引流成因、低流态牵引流成因、静水沉积成因以及风成沉积成因。重力流以洪流沉积为主;高流态牵引流主要包括片流沉积和湍流沉积;低流态牵引流以砂(砾)质河道沉积为主;静水沉积以蓄水细粒沉积为主;风成沉积以风携细粒沉积为主。根据各岩相沉积构造、粒度特征及展布规模,可将岩相划分为四类:Ⅰ类岩相沉积构造特征明显并具有较大展布规模;Ⅱ类岩相沉积构造特征明显但展布规模局限;Ⅲ类岩相为不具层理构造但具有较大展布规模的岩相;Ⅳ类岩相不具层理构造并且展布规模局限。其中Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类岩相多为牵引流成因,多发育于洪水期扇体扇中、扇缘区域以及间洪期扇体的扇中区域,并可在地下继承性发育为较好的储集相带。     

Alluvial fans of the Eastern Italian Alps: morphometry and depositional processes

Abstract

Alluvial fans are abundant in many valleys of the Alps, consisting of important sites for human settlements. Relationships between alluvial fan morphometry and drainage basin characteristics have been investigated in six valleys of the Eastern Italian Alps, displaying different geological and morphological conditions. Both debris flow fans and fluvial fans are present in the studied region, the latest occurring only in quite large basins. Expansion of alluvial fans is greatly determined by the topographic characteristics of receiving valleys. Fan gradient is mainly affected by basin ruggedness conditioning depositional processes, by debris size, and, in some cases, by post-depositional reworking of fan surfaces.     

干旱条件下冲积扇的沉积构型和演化过程: 基于水槽模拟实验

利用延时相机以及3D激光扫描仪等设备,通过水槽实验获得了74组扇面地貌数据,并采用定量化的软件对这些数据进行了精细的沉积学分析,明确了干旱条件下冲积扇的沉积演化过程及其控制的沉积构型。研究表明: (1)干旱条件下冲积扇沉积演化过程中水动力、水流样式、扇体增生规律等均存在明显的差异性,根据这些差异将整个模拟实验分为早期、中期、晚期3个阶段。(2)实验早期,扇体水动力较强,主控沉积作用为片流沉积,根据片流沉积的分布范围,可将其分为整体片流沉积和局部片流沉积。(3)实验中期,扇体中远端水动力及扇面扩大速率均有所减小,主控沉积作用为非限定性水道,主要沉积体为朵体沉积,非限定性水道主要分布在近源端,而朵体主要分布在水道末端的开阔地带。(4)实验晚期,受巨大的扇体影响,水动力进一步减小,主控沉积作用为限定性水道沉积。(5)通过实验研究,建立了具有明显3层结构的干旱条件下冲积扇沉积构型模式,其中底层是片流朵体复合体、中层为非限制性水道与末端朵体复合体、顶层是水道和小型末端朵体复合体。     

Anatomy, hydrodynamics and depositional setting of a Westphalian C lacustrine delta complex, West Midlands, England

Studies, spanning a 3 year period, of Westphalian C strata exposed in an active quarry have enabled three dimensional reconstruction of a lacustrine delta complex. The sequence exhibits a complex history of lake infilling by sediment introduced by intermittent high energy, low sinuosity distributary channel flows. Deposition in the small 0.2 km² lake prior to delta formation was dominated by organic matter and typified rheotrophic swamp conditions. Large lycopods colonized the swamp floor. The lake was filled by a prograding delta which comprised six horizontally and vertically stacked delta lobes. The presence of lycopods aided sediment accumulation. Fluctuations in river discharge and consequent lake level rise and fall exerted a fundamental control on delta progradation and aggradation. Flooding during low lake levels first produced erosion on the existing lobe followed by a lake level rise which created accommodation for aggradation of a new delta lobe. Further lobe erosion and low stand lobe formation occurred during lake level fall. The area's proximity to alluvial fans resulted in hyperconcentrated flood flow within the distributary channels. The occurrence upon in-channel surfaces of plant colonization, including lycopods, testifies to the ephemeral nature of the flow. The lacustrine delta complex formed at the front of a terminal alluvial fan. Northward progradation of the alluvial fan was achieved by the capture and infilling of lakes by northerly flowing distributary channels.     

Architectures and evolution of arid alluvial fans: Insights from a flume experiment

Using time-lapse cameras and a 3D laser scanner,74 groups of geomorphic data of alluvial fans were obtained through flume experiments. Then a detailed sedimentary analysis based on these data was performed by using a quantitative software to reveal the sedimentary evolution process of the arid alluvial fan and its depositional architecture. Results suggest that there are obvious differences in hydrodynamics,water flow patterns and growth pattern during the evolution of arid alluvial fans. Based on these differences,the experiment is divided into three stages,including an early,middle,and late stage. In the early stage,the fan surface hydrodynamics was relatively strong,and the sheet flow dominated the deposition. According to the distribution of sheet flow deposits,it can be divided into wide-spread sheet flow deposition and local sheet flow deposition. In the middle period of the experiment,the hydrodynamic strength and expansion rate at the middle-distal part of the fan body reduced. The non-confined channel which is close to the source dominated the deposition,and terminal lobe was mainly deposited on the edge of the river channel. In the late stage of the experiment,the hydrodynamic further reduced causing by the large fan surface and confined channels were the main deposits. Through the flume experiment,an arid alluvial fan depositional architecture model with a three-layer structure has been established. The bottom layer is of a sheet flow lobe complex,the middle layer is characterized by unconfined channels and terminal lobes,and the top layer is constituted by stacked confined channels and small terminal lobes.     

冲积扇沉积构型研究进展*

冲积扇是发育于盆地边缘的一种重要的沉积相类型。近20年来,在冲积扇分布的控制作用、内部构型及储集层特征研究等方面取得了很大的进展:(1)深化了断层活动、物源岩性条件及不同级次基准面旋回对冲积扇沉积构型的控制作用机理;(2)建立了碎屑流主控、碎屑流与河流主控、河流主控的冲积扇以及末端扇的沉积构型模式;(3)分析了冲积扇沉积机制及沉积构型对储集层质量的控制作用。今后有必要充分应用水槽模拟实验、沉积数值模拟和探地雷达等先进技术,对冲积扇沉积过程、内部构型及储集层非均质性进行更为深入的研究。     

柴达木盆地西北缘现代冲积扇沉积特征及石油地质意义

柴达木盆地处于古亚洲构造域和特提斯－喜马拉雅构造域的结合部，构造应力大而复杂，导致盆内地势起伏大，加上西南暖湿气流受喜马拉雅山系阻隔难以进入境内，盆内气候干旱，最终导致盆地内冲积扇极为发育。通过对大柴旦地区大头羊煤矿、鱼卡河、波门河和八里沟四个冲积扇的实地考察，共观测到3个亚相8个微相：扇根亚相沉积物最粗，分为古沟道、主水道和主水道间微相；扇中亚相沉积物偏细，成熟度增高，分为辫状水道、辫状水道间和纵坝微相；扇缘亚相沉积物最细，流体能量最低，分为水道径流和片流微相。不同沉积微相其沉积特征差异较大，认为古沟道、主水道和辫状水道微相具有较好的储集性能。勘探表明，冲积扇沉积与储层有着密切的关系，其内形成的油藏具有“自我保护”的能力；另外，冲积扇的形成很可能导致上覆地层形成扇背斜油藏，也可能导致下伏基岩形成基岩风化壳油藏。     

砾质辫状河型冲积扇沉积微相及沉积模式:以准噶尔盆地西北缘现代白杨河冲积扇为例*

冲积扇砂砾岩储集层具有相变快、连续性差等特点,显示冲积扇内部沉积环境的复杂性。本次研究以准噶尔盆地西北缘现代白杨河冲积扇为例,在丰富的野外露头资料基础上,结合区域水文资料以及冲积扇文献资料,对白杨河冲积扇沉积演化特征及沉积模式进行探讨。按其沉积机制,白杨河冲积扇属于辫状河型冲积扇,具有规模大(扇体总面积约327.6km²)、坡度平缓(约4‰~7‰)、沉积粒度粗和漫洪细粒沉积物不发育的典型特征。在白杨河冲积扇内共可识别出16种岩相类型,并根据岩相形成的流体动力差异划归为5类成因,即重力流成因、高流态牵引流成因、低流态牵引流成因、静水沉积成因以及风成沉积成因。白杨河冲积扇扇体建造过程可划分为洪水期和间洪期2个时期,洪水期以沉积作用为主,从扇根至扇缘依次发育扇根补给水道沉积、扇根片流沉积、扇中片流沉积、扇中辫状水道沉积、扇缘径流水道沉积和扇缘湿地沉积6种沉积微相类型;间洪期以改造作用为主,从扇根至扇缘依次发育扇根主槽沉积、扇中辫状沟槽沉积和扇缘湿地沉积3种沉积微相类型。最后,依据白杨河冲积扇建立了砾质辫状河型冲积扇洪水期和间洪期的沉积模式。     

Debris-flow hazards on tributary junction fans,Chitral, Hindu Kush Range,northern Pakistan

The Chitral district of northern Pakistan lies in the eastern Hindu Kush Range. The population in this high-relief mountainous terrain is restricted to tributary-junction fans in the Chitral valley. Proximity to steep valley slopes renders these fans prone to hydrogeomorphic hazards, including landslides, floods and debris flows.This paper focuses on debris-flow hazards on tributary-junction fans in Chitral. Using field observations, satellite-image analyses and a preliminary morphometry, the tributary-junction fans in the Chitral valley are classified into (1) discrete and (2) composite. The discrete fans are modern-day active landforms and include debris cones associated with ephemeral gullies, debris fans associated with ephemeral channels and alluvial fans formed by perennial streams. The composite fans are a collage of sediment deposits of widely different ages and formed by diverse alluvial-fan forming processes. These include fans formed predominantly during MIS-2/Holocene interglacial stages superimposed by modern-day alluvial and debris fans. Composite fans are turned into relict fans when entrenched by modern-day perennial streams. These deeply incised channels discharge their sediment load directly into the trunk river without significant spread on fan surface. In comparison, when associated with ephemeral streams, active debris fans develop directly at composite-fan surfaces. Major settlements in Chitral are located on composite fans, as they provide large tracts of leveled land with easy accesses to water from the tributary streams. These fan surfaces are relatively more stable, especially when they are entrenched by perennial streams (e.g., Chitral, Ayun, and Reshun). When associated with ephemeral streams (e.g., Snowghar) or a combination of ephemeral and perennial streams (e.g., Drosh), these fans are subject to frequent debris-flow hazards.Fans associated with ephemeral streams are prone to high-frequency (∼10 years return period) debris-flow hazards. By comparison, fans associated with perennial streams are impacted by debris-flow hazards during exceptionally large events with return periods of ∼30 years. This study has utility for quick debris-flow hazard assessment in high-relief mountainous regions, especially in arid- to semi-arid south-central Asia where hazard zonation maps are generally lacking.     

Hydrological response of a dryland ephemeral river to southern African climatic variability during the last millennium

A long-term flood record from the Buffels River, the largest ephemeral river of NW South Africa (9250 km²), was reconstructed based on interpretation of palaeoflood, documentary and instrumental rainfall data. Palaeoflood data were obtained at three study reaches, with preserved sedimentary evidence indicating at least 25 large floods during the last 700 yr. Geochronological control for the palaeoflood record was provided by radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. Annual resolution was obtained since the 19th century using the overlapping documentary and instrumental records. Large floods coincided in the past within three main hydroclimatic settings: (1) periods of regular large flood occurrence (1 large flood/~30 yr) under wetter and cooler prevailing climatic conditions (AD 1600–1800), (2) decreasing occurrence of large floods (1 large flood/~100 yr) during warmer conditions (e.g., AD 1425–1600 and after 1925), and (3) periods of high frequency of large floods (~ 4–5 large floods in 20–30 yr) coinciding with wetter conditions of decadal duration, namely at AD 1390–1425, 1800–1825 and 1915–1925. These decadal-scale periods of the highest flood frequency seem to correspond in time with changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, as inferred when comparing their onset and distribution with temperature proxies in southern Africa.     

江西信江盆地白垩系沉积体系及其与丹霞地貌的关系

根据野外沉积层序、岩石学特征、古生物资料和地貌景观特征,本文对江西信江盆地白垩系沉积相进行了初步分析,首次探讨了沉积体系与丹霞地貌发育特征之间的内在联系。信江盆地白垩系主要发育4种沉积体系,即冲（洪）积、三角洲、湖泊和扇三角洲。早白垩世主要发育半深湖-深湖、扇三角洲相沉积,晚白垩世从盆地南缘到北缘大致为洪冲积相→辫状河流→三角洲→滨浅湖→三角洲→辫状河流→洪冲积相的展布方式。研究表明,该区丹霞地貌形成的物质基础主要是上白垩统冲积扇、辫状河相沉积产物,丹霞地貌的空间分布与盆地冲积扇、辫状河沉积相的平面展布具有较好的一致性,同时,沉积亚相、微相类型对丹霞地貌的发育起到一定的控制作用。     

The Cretaceous Uhangri Formation, SW Korea: lacustrine margin facies

The Uhangri Formation forms part of the Cretaceous sedimentary sequence deposited in a series of inland basins in the south-western Korean Peninsula. It comprises an approximately 400-m-thick epiclastic sequence of conglomerate, (gravelly) sandstone, cherty mudstone and black shale. The entire sequence can be represented by 16 distinctive sedimentary facies organized into four facies associations. Facies association I is characterized by thick homogeneous brownish siltstone, wedge-shaped disorganized conglomerate and thinly interlayered gravelly sandstone units. The siltstone units were formed by large floods submerging the alluvial fan fringe (floodplain), whereas the conglomerate and gravelly sandstone units were deposited by sheetfloods and debris flows. Facies association II consists of stratified conglomerate — gravelly sandstone, laminated sandstone and sandstone/siltstone couplets which form fining-upward cycles. Some facies units are low-angle trough cross-bedded and show broad channel geometries. This association represents subaqueous delta lobes fed by high- and low-concentration turbidity currents in the distal delta realm. Facies association III is characterized, by wedged conglomerate and gravelly sandstone facies with interfingered massive sandstone bounded by scoured bases. It represents a delta front where distributary channels and mouth bars are dominant. Facies association IV consists of laterally continuous sequence of laminated black shale, crudely stratified sandstone and convoluted sandstone/cherty mudstone. This facies association is suggestive of depositional processes controlled by chemical equilibrium resulting from an interaction between density inflows and lake water. The cherty mudstone resulted from inorganic precipitation from siliceous solution provided by acidic volcanism. The Uhangri sequence generally shows a fining-upward trend with a transition from alluvial fan fringe, coarse-grained subaqueous delta, to shallow lake. The retrogradation was probably due to continuous subsidence related to continental rifting in the oblique-slip mobile zone.     

Sedimentology and tectonic implications of Cretaceous fan-delta conglomerates, Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada

The Honna Formation, of Coniacian age, consists of several hundred metres of polymictic clast-supported conglomerate associated with sandstone and mudstone. Five conglomerate facies are recognized: ungraded beds; inverse graded beds; normal graded beds; inverse-to-normal graded beds; and parallel-stratified beds. These facies are interpreted as the deposits of subaqueous cohesionless debris flows and/or high-density turbidity currents. The depositional environment was a deep-water, gravelly fan that draped a fault-controlled, basin-margin slope. The fan is inferred to have passed upslope directly into an alluvial fan (unpreserved); hence, the name fan delta can be applied to the overall depositional system. This type of fan delta, of which the Brae oilfield in the North Sea is an example, is defined here as a deep-water fan delta. The lack of a shelf is in marked contrast to other types of fan delta. Three facies associations are recognized in the Honna Formation: subaqueous proximal-fan conglomerates, distal-fan turbiditic sandstones, and pro-fan/interfan mudstones with thin sandy turbidites. The proximal fan is envisaged as an unchannelled gravel belt with a downslope length of at least 20 km; such a long subaqueous gravel belt lacks a known modern analogue. The distal fan was an unchannelled sandy extension of the proximal gravel belt. It is postulated that the Honna Formation accumulated in a foreland basin which migrated westwards from the Coast Mountains where the Wrangellia-Alexander terrane was colliding with North America. In this model, the Honna fan delta was sourced by a (west-verging) thrust sheet whose sole-thrust was the Sandspit Fault immediately to the east. Deep-water fan deltas appear to develop preferentially when eustatic sea-level is relatively high, so that the‘feeder’ alluvial fan is small, and gravelly throughout. In petroleum exploration and field development, care should be taken to distinguish deep-water fan deltas from base-of-slope (canyon-fed) submarine fans, because the two systems differ significantly in terms of coarse-sediment distribution.     

三级“源-渠-汇”耦合研究珠江深水扇系统

国外单纯地依靠建立深水扇沉积模式来研究深水沉积已经走入了困境,本文尝试通过三级“源-渠-汇”耦合研究来探索珠江深水扇系统的沉积。三级次的源-渠-汇耦合研究方法是把控制珠江深水扇系统沉积的诸因素分成宏观-中观-微观级别,分层次地考察珠江深水扇系统。强调利用宏观研究来描述发育珠江深水扇系统形成的地质条件;利用以层序地层解释为主要手段的中观研究刻画出深水扇的沉积结构模式;通过沉积内幕及其响应关系的微观研究识别珠江深水扇的供源背景、输送管道、沉积微观内幕、沉积过程、沉积流态、储集条件和圈闭性。这种方法较之传统扇模式更能从成因上分层次地揭示深水扇的形成发育演化。     

A depositional model for deep‐lacustrine,partially confined,turbidite fans: Early Cretaceous,North Falkland Basin

This paper presents a model of facies distribution within a set of early Cretaceous, deep‐lacustrine, partially confined turbidite fans (Sea Lion Fan, Sea Lion North Fan and Otter Fan) in the North Falkland Basin, South Atlantic. As a whole, ancient deep‐lacustrine turbidite systems are under‐represented in the literature when compared with those documented in marine basins. Lacustrine turbidite systems can form extensive, good quality hydrocarbon reservoirs, making the understanding of such systems crucial to exploration within lacustrine basins. An integrated analysis of seismic cross‐sections, seismic amplitude extraction maps and 455 m of core has enabled the identification of a series of turbidite fans. The deposits of these fans have been separated into lobe axis, lobe fringe and lobe distal fringe settings. Seismic architectures, observed in the seismic amplitude extraction maps, are interpreted to represent geologically associated heterogeneities, including: feeder systems, terminal mouth lobes, flow deflection, sinuous lobe axis deposits, flow constriction and stranded lobe fringe areas. When found in combination, these architectures suggest ‘partial confinement’ of a system, something that appears to be a key feature in the lacustrine turbidite setting of the North Falkland Basin. Partial confinement of a system occurs when depositionally generated topography controls the flow‐pathway and deposition of subsequent turbidite fan deposits. The term ‘partial confinement’ provides an expression for categorising a system whose depositional boundaries are unconfined by the margins of the basin, yet exhibit evidence of internal confinement, primarily controlled by depositional topography. Understanding the controls that dictate partial confinement; and the resultant distribution of sand‐prone facies within deep‐lacustrine turbidite fans, is important, particularly considering their recent rise as hydrocarbon reservoirs in rift and failed‐rift settings.     

Sedimentation model of gravel-dominated alluvial piedmont fan,Ganga Plain,India

The Piedmont Zone of the Indo-Gangetic Plain contains numerous, laterally coalescing small alluvial fans. The Latest Pleistocene–Holocene 30 km long Gaula Fan can be divided into gravelly proximal fan (0–14 km down-stream), gravel-sand rich mid fan (14–22 km) and sand–mud dominated distal fan (22–30 km). The fan succession is composed of two fan expansion cycles A and B. Separated by an undulatory erosional contact of regional extent, cycle A is characterized by river borne clast-supported gravelly deposits, and the overlying fan expansion cycle B by matrix-supported gravely debris flows. The main process behind fan development has been lateral migration of channels over the fan surface probably due to rapid sedimentation caused by increased sediment supply, and the fluctuating water budget in response to changing climate. The water laid expansion cycle A represents a humid phase. The debris flow deposits of expansion cycle B suggest a dry phase. Approximately between 8 and 3 Ka, cycle B also indicates a phase of tectonic instability in the Siwalik Hills forming the mountain front. The tectonic activity caused incision of rivers into the fan surface, and in turn resulted in reduced fan-building activity. At present the fan surface is accreting by sheet flow processes.     

辽西义县盆地义县组底部沉积相与沉积环境分析

辽西义县盆地下白垩统义县组底部发育有马神庙、老公沟两个沉积层。马神庙沉积层从下至上可以划分出6个沉积亚层,其下部复成分砾岩沉积层为干旱气候条件下形成的洪（冲）积扇底部沉积相、洪（冲）积扇上的山洪冲槽充填相;中部为复成分砾岩夹凝灰质沉积层;顶部被中基性的火山岩覆盖。老公沟沉积层下部是以泥质粉砂岩为主的滨浅湖相、洪（冲）积扇向湖盆过渡的季节性河流作用形成的粗砂岩—含砾粗砂岩沉积相;顶部为一套滨浅湖相的膨润土化粉砂岩—膨润土—碳酸盐岩沉积岩石组合。义县盆地演化初期气候干旱,盆地边缘地势起伏较大,盆地边缘形成洪（冲）积扇、扇面上发育洪槽充填沉积作用,洪（冲）积扇向湖盆过渡区存在季节性河流;老公沟顶部湖泊相沉积指示受区域季节性变化的半干旱、频繁火山作用影响下,湖盆水深频繁波动的古地理、古气候的沉积特征。义县组底部沉积相表现了该盆地边缘向中心横向上的洪（冲）扇、季节性河流和湖泊沉积的三相发育的古地理特征。     

Autogenic dynamics of alluvial fans in endorheic basins: Outcrop examples and stratigraphic significance

Alluvial fans are relatively simple depositional systems, due to the direct coupling of sediment sources and adjacent accumulation areas. Nonetheless, general models of alluvial‐fan evolution and stratigraphy remain elusive, due to the great sensitivity of such systems to allogenic controls and their strongly case‐specific responses. Autogenic processes intrinsic to alluvial‐fan dynamics can complicate stratigraphic architectures, with effects not easily distinguishable from those of allogenic forcing. A distinction is made here between lateral autogenic dynamics, tied to spatial sediment distribution over fan surfaces, and vertical autogenic dynamics, related to independent incision‐aggradation cycles. Autogenic mechanisms have been highlighted recently by modelling studies, but remain poorly constrained in field‐based studies. Examples are presented here from the margins of the Cenozoic Teruel and Ebro basins (Spain), where alluvial fans accumulated thick successions during phases of basin topographic closure and endorheic drainage which promoted forced aggradation. Fan successions consist of conformable architectures of stacked clastic sheets, laterally continuous and with no evidence of internal unconformities, inset architectures, fan segmentation or preserved incised channels. Continuous aggradation in these closed basins strongly inhibited ‘vertical’ autogenic dynamics in the form of fan head and through fan incision, due to the forced rise in geomorphic base level and the creation of positive accommodation. Furthermore, the lack of incised channels favoured widespread sediment transport and aggradation over broad fan sectors in relatively short time spans, in contrast to the typical occurrence of active lobes and abandoned fan surfaces caused by ‘lateral’ autogenic dynamics. Stratigraphic records of alluvial fans developed in endorheic basins are essentially complete and largely unaffected by autogenic processes. The latter characteristic implies that they can be more unambiguously interpreted in terms of allogenic forcing, because stratigraphic signatures are not complicated by the effects of complex fan autodynamics.     

The characteristics, classification and origin of late Pleistocene fan deposits in the Cass Basin, Canterbury, New Zealand

The deposits comprising 'valley-side fans' in a small intermontane basin of the Southern Alps are classified as debris flow, water-laid, intermediate and mixed deposits on the basis of particle size and clast orientation characteristics. Five varieties of debris flow deposit are identified including unimodal and bimodal 'mudflow gravels'. The fans comprise mainly unimodal mudflow gravels which although apparently similar to the mudflow gravels described from montane and periglacial environments are coarser, have less silt and clay and are better sorted than the mudflow deposits described from semiarid alluvial fans. Additions of airborne silt and fine sand to the fan catchments during later stages of fan building gave rise to bimodal debris flow deposits which appear similar to gravels described from cold-climate fans in Tasmania and classed as water-laid deposits. Braided stream deposits were added to the depositional sequence towards the closing stages of fan building indicating that the fan had become 'wetter'. In many places, however, the youngest Pleistocene fan deposits are silt-rich mixtons reflecting a peak in loess deposition.