印度河扇水道堤岸外侧更新世沉积物波发育特征与形成过程分析*

印度河扇更新世发育的沉积物波结构复杂、形态多样,其形成过程的认识程度低。本次研究通过高分辨率地震数据和地震解释技术,研究了印度河扇沉积物波的波长、形态、波峰变化等形态特征;阐述了沉积物波与沉积物变形特征的差异、识别了两者的区分标志;总结了水道堤岸斜坡和区域斜坡上沉积物波的分布规律;在此基础上,讨论了沉积物波的形成机理和控制因素,分析了沉积物波的形成过程,并建立了印度河扇沉积物波的形成模式。研究表明: (1)研究区沉积物波波长平均为486.84 m,最大1473 m;波高在10~60 m之间,平均30 m。(2)沉积物波的形态有对称型和非对称型,其迁移方式有上坡迁移型、加积型和下坡迁移型;沉积物波主要发育在水道堤岸的斜坡上,在区域斜坡上也发育少量的沉积物波,这2种沉积物波波脊的走向差异很大,水道堤岸斜坡上的沉积物波主要分布于水道凹岸堤岸的外侧,距离水道越远其规模(波长、波高)越小,波脊走向近于NE-SW方向,与水道的走向平行或斜交;区域斜坡上的沉积物波波脊的走向多为NW-SE向,平行于区域斜坡的走向,离源区越远规模越大。(3)水道堤岸斜坡上的沉积物波是由水道型浊流在离心力的作用下,溢出水道的凹岸,在堤岸外侧的斜坡上沉积形成的,堤岸斜坡的角度对沉积物波的发育规模影响不大,浊流的强度和输沙量对其规模影响大;区域斜坡上发育的沉积物波是由顺坡而下的非水道化的浊流沉积形成;滑塌变形造成的起伏地貌以及早期沉积物波的存在,也都影响了后期沉积物波的发育。     

西非科特迪瓦盆地深水底形样式及成因分析

通过三维地震资料海底平面成像和浅层地震剖面解释、分析,识别和描述了西非科特迪瓦盆地深水底形类型。研究区发育下切水道、侵蚀冲坑、周期阶坎、小型沉积物波、大型沉积物波多种深水底形。下切水道表现为直线型,地形坡度从上斜坡5°过渡到下斜坡1.9°,水道历经多次合并,合并后水道内部起伏地貌指示侵蚀—沉积交互作用;识别出孤立状、串珠状和猫爪状三种类型侵蚀冲坑;在斜坡限制性水道内部地形坡度1.9°～3.1°之间识别出8个不同波长和波高的“周期阶坎”底形,周期阶坎具有剖面上向上游方向迁移、平面上呈新月形态的特征,从上游到下游波长有逐渐变短的趋势。小型沉积物波发育于水道内和水道外两种环境,其中限定性环境小型沉积物波发育在周期阶坎上游方向,非限定环境小型沉积物波发育地形坡度为1°左右,具有加积或轻微向下迁移的内部反射结构。大型沉积物波发育在非限定环境中,显示为长波长、低幅度浅层构造特征,分析认为早期滑塌地貌对晚期大型沉积物波的形成具有重要的控制作用。在现象描述基础上,对不同底形的成因、形成过程、控制因素和其发育的深水动力学背景与环境展开探讨,加深了对西非赤道段科特迪瓦盆地深水底形成因的认识,可对未来深水区...     

东南极普里兹湾陆隆区脊状沉积体的结构和形成过程

东南极普里兹湾陆隆区发育数个近垂直陆缘的脊状沉积体,这些沉积体记录了区域冰川活动和底流变化的历史。本文主要利用多道地震资料和水深资料对这些脊状沉积体的平面展布、走向上的结构差异进行了研究,在此基础上讨论了不同脊状沉积体的形成过程。结果表明研究区内脊状沉积体有两种不同结构类型:西部Wild峡谷两侧不对称发育的浊流堤岸沉积形成两个平行峡谷的脊状沉积体;东部数个脊状沉积体的形成与其下长期存在的浊流活动引起的穿时沉积间断面有关。不同峡谷的浊流活动起始时代不一,西部的Wild峡谷起始时代和陆隆区冰海沉积起始时代(P1)一致;东部Wilkins峡谷以及Murray峡谷从后期的P3(约26.1 Ma)开始,代表普里兹湾地区的一次冰川极盛事件。研究区所有峡谷及其浊流活动均随时间向海扩展,造成相应的脊状沉积体向海扩展。在脊状沉积体外缘区域,浊流输送而来的细粒沉积物在向西的底流作用下形成大型深海沉积物波。     

台湾东部海域沉积物波特征及其成因探讨

利用地震剖面对沉积物波的分布、形态和内部结构进行了分析,结合区域地质背景对沉积物来源和成因进行了探讨。识别出的沉积物波域主要位于台东峡谷与陆坡其他峡谷的交汇区,单个波形的波长为0.8～7.2 km,波高为18～75 m左右,呈NE—SW向展布。台东峡谷弯曲段内侧向上坡迁移的沉积物波,其底界发育块体流沉积,内部可细分为下部过渡单元和上部波形单元。弯曲段外侧的沉积物波呈垂向加积的特征,底部无块体流沉积。基于沉积物波的几何形态,估算整个波域的流体厚度在196～356 m之间,流体速度在15～21 cm/s之间。沉积物波的形态特征、内部结构、分布规律以及数值计算表明这些沉积物波为浊流成因。台湾东部海域沉积物波域的发育与台湾西南部的沉积物波域一样,是台湾造山运动的沉积响应。距今3.5 Ma以来花东海脊的形成以及广燠火山岛—绿岛—兰屿火山岛间闸口的抬升和封闭使得沉积物经由卑南溪及海下水道向南输送到绿岛西侧的台东海槽残留弧前盆地时受阻,转而沿台东峡谷及陆坡冲沟体系向东输送入花东海盆。浊流沉积物沿着峡谷/沟谷体系向下坡方向输送的过程中,在峡谷/冲沟的嘴部等地形限制性降低的位置卸载,或在台东峡谷的高弯曲段漫溢出来,从而形成沉积物波域。     

东非鲁武马盆地海底水道-朵体体系粗粒浊流沉积物波特征及主控因素

海底水道-朵体体系内粗粒沉积物波的研究可以深化浊流搬运过程的认识。利用先进的地球物理成像技术,通过地震地貌分析,对东非鲁武马盆地海底水道-朵体体系内这种后期易被改造的特殊沉积体进行识别和解释,结合粗粒沉积物波的形态、尺度、移动方式、厚度变化、平面分布等特征,探讨其成因和影响因素。鲁武马盆地近海底水道-朵体体系内的粗粒浊流沉积物波具有多变的地貌和逆行砂丘的底形。水道内粗粒沉积物波规模较小,分布范围局限;水道-朵体过渡带的粗粒沉积物波规模大,波高约45~110 m,波长可达一千余米,总体规模大于其他地区已识别出的粗粒深水沉积物波。构造活动、超临界流产生的水跃作用、地形地貌的变化以及底流作用是鲁武马盆地粗粒浊流沉积物波形成的主控因素。     

南海海盆东南部大型深水浊积扇体系及其成因的构造控制

运用近年来海洋地质调查工程获取的最新地质地球物理数据，在南海海盆东南部水深2000～3800 m区域，发现中中新世到第四纪多期大型浊积扇沉积体系，揭示了南海南部深海沉积作用及沉积演化过程。该浊积扇体系以沉积物波、水道充填、海底扇、块体流等沉积体为主，总体上由海盆东南部向海盆中央呈扇形推进，推进距离为150～ 260 km，从老到新规模和结构不断变化，蕴含了丰富的海平面变化信息。垂向上浊流沉积层层叠置发育，形成厚层的浊积砂体。海底水道十分发育，水道砂体底部呈“V”型展布，由南向北延伸，揭示出物源主要来自礼乐滩及北巴拉望区域。该浊积扇的形成明显受到构造控制，与中中新世以来礼乐滩—巴拉望岛的隆升和晚中新世以来的岩浆活动密不可分。浊流发育位置处于南海东南部陆缘和深海平原之间，是陆源物质由浅海输送到深海平原的重要机制，构成南海南部“源-汇”沉积体系的重要环节。     

鄂尔多斯盆地西缘奥陶系拉什仲组深水水道沉积类型及演化

深水水道沉积是深水区重要沉积类型之一,对其形成机制研究不仅能提高深水沉积认识,还能为油气勘探提供帮助.以露头资料为基础,对鄂尔多斯盆地西缘奥陶系拉什仲组深水水道形成机制进行了详细研究.拉什仲组岩性以灰绿色页岩及砂岩为主,另见少量的粉砂岩及砾岩.槽模、交错层理、粒序层理及变形构造等发育.总体反映深水沉积环境,重力流沉积较为发育.其中,深水水道沉积极为典型.根据形态、结构及沉积方式等,将研究区深水水道沉积划分为限制型和非限制型水道沉积.前者包括复合型及垂向加积型水道沉积,后者由迁移型及孤立型小水道沉积组成.复合型水道沉积厚约7.5 m,岩性以粗砂岩为主,底部见砾岩,水道轴部沉积、次级水道及水道-堤岸复合体沉积发育,可分为早期、中期和晚期.垂向加积型水道沉积宽为12.4 m,厚为1.3 m,宽深比为9.54,以中砂岩及细砂岩为主,水道内部以层状砂岩充填为主.迁移型水道沉积宽为6.9~12.3 m,厚为0.23~0.73 m,宽厚比14.11~53.48,以中-细砂岩为主,具有明显的北西向迁移特征;孤立型小水道沉积宽为0.5~0.6 m,厚为0.15~0.25 m,宽厚比为2.4~3.33,多为细砂-粉砂岩组成,透镜状,规模小.重力流爆发初期,能量高,侵蚀作用强,发育复合型及垂向加积型水道沉积;重力流中-后期,能量逐渐降低,迁移型水道沉积开始发育;在重力流后期及末期,其能量进一步降低,发育孤立型小水道沉积.而在空间位置上,复合型及垂向加积型水道沉积多发育在斜坡中上部,中部及下部发育迁移型水沉积道,斜坡脚及深海盆地以孤立型小水道沉积最为发育.      

深水单向迁移水道建造模式与成因机制研究进展*

深水水道是发育于大陆坡—海底平原的一种常见地貌。单向迁移水道是深水水道中的一种特殊类型,其成因主要源于垂直陆坡走向浊流与平行陆坡走向底流(即等深流)的交互作用。单向迁移水道的迁移—建造特征目前存在2种截然不同的模式。其一为下游迁移模式,即水道顺着等深流的流动方向单向迁移,该模式下水道建造特征表现为非对称“U”形或“V”形剖面形态、顺直—低弯度平面特征、外堤岸缺乏,以水道内的侵蚀—充填建造为主。其二为上游迁移模式,即水道向等深流的来源方向单向迁移,该模式下水道建造特征表现为非对称“鸥翼”状剖面形态、低—高弯度平面特征、外堤岸单侧较发育,以水道—堤岸建造为主。这2种截然不同的迁移—建造特征表明交互作用成因的深水单向迁移水道的形成机制及古海洋学意义目前还存在较大争议。现代化的重力流与底流交互作用模拟实验(如数值模拟、水槽模拟)、地质露头分析和近海底流体原位观测可能是解决该争议的最有力手段。     

巴颜喀拉三叠纪沉积盆地岩相与古地理——以阿坝-若尔盖盆地为例

以阿坝－若尔盖盆地岩相与古地理研究为例,并结合区域上有关资料,认为巴颜喀拉三叠纪沉积盆地发育有世界上罕见的巨型浊流沉积,主要由一套大陆斜坡浊积扇相组合与深海盆地相组合等构成,而斜坡浊积扇,深海盆地的形成一发展和海平面的下降期与上升存在着对应关系,发育一系列叠复的浊积扇舌状体;浊流沉积物在陆源碎屑为主,伴有火山物质和碳酸盐岩的混合源型,物源主要来自北西侧与北侧的浅变质岩区;盆地属多阶段、多物源,不同     

水下沉积物重力流与海底扇相模式研究进展

水下沉积物重力流将大量沉积物搬运至海底,形成了地球上最大的沉积体系——海底扇。综合前人研究成果,梳理水下沉积物重力流的基本概念、分类和识别标志,介绍了现代观测的重要结果和海底扇相模式的研究进展。浊流和碎屑流是重力流最主要的两类流体,浊流为逐层沉积,发育正粒序;碎屑流为整体沉积,垂向无序。由浊流转换为碎屑流的重力流称混合流,陆上洪水入海(湖)形成的浊流称异重流。现代观测的结果表明:浊流底部存在高密度层,横向结构并不都是涌浪型,浊流的持续时间可以长达1周。海底扇通常采用组构分析和层级分类进行研究,由水道、天然堤、朵体、远洋—半远洋沉积和块体搬运沉积组成。水道侧向延伸窄,发育侵蚀结构;天然堤由薄层泥—粉砂质浊积岩组成,横向呈楔形变薄;朵体侧向延伸宽,颗粒粒度集中,侵蚀结构较少。水道的层级从低到高依次为水道单元、水道复合体和水道复合体群。朵体的层级从低到高依次为层、朵体元素、朵体和朵体复合体。     

Linking submarine channel–levee facies and architecture to flow structure of turbidity currents: insights from flume tank experiments

Submarine leveed channels are sculpted by turbidity currents that are commonly highly stratified. Both the concentration and the grain size decrease upward in the flow, and this is a fundamental factor that affects the location and grain size of deposits around a channel. This study presents laboratory experiments that link the morphological evolution of a progressively developing leveed channel to the suspended sediment structure of the turbidity currents. Previously, it was difficult to link turbidity current structure to channel–levee development because observations from natural systems were limited to the depositional products while experiments did not show realistic morphodynamics due to scaling issues related to the sediment transport. This study uses a novel experimental approach to overcome scaling issues, which results in channel inception and evolution on an initially featureless slope. Depth of the channel increased continuously as a result of levee aggradation combined with varying rates of channel floor aggradation and degradation. The resulting levees are fining upward and the grain‐size trend in the levee matches the upward decrease in grain size in the flow. It is shown that such deposit trends can result from internal channel dynamics and do not have to reflect upstream forcing. The suspended sediment structure can also be linked to the lateral transition from sediment bypass in the channel thalweg to sediment deposition on the levees. The transition occurs because the sediment concentration is below the flow capacity in the channel thalweg, while higher up on the channel walls the concentration exceeds capacity resulting in deposition of the inner levee. Thus, a framework is provided to predict the growth pattern and facies of a levee from the suspended sediment structure in a turbidity current.     

The formation of large mudwaves by turbidity currents on the levees of the Toyama deep-sea channel, Japan Sea

The development of mudwaves on the levees of the modern Toyama deep‐sea channel has been studied using gravity core samples combined with 3·5‐kHz echosounder data and airgun seismic reflection profiles. The mudwaves have developed on the overbank flanks of a clockwise bend of the channel in the Yamato Basin, Japan Sea, and the mudwave field covers an area of 4000 km². Mudwave lengths range from 0·2 to 3·6 km and heights vary from 2 to 44 m, and the pattern of mudwave aggradation indicates an upslope migration direction. Sediment cores show that the mudwaves consist of an alternation of fine‐grained turbidites and hemipelagites whereas contourites are absent. Core samples demonstrate that the sedimentation rate ranged from 10 to 14 cm ka^?1 on the lee sides to 17–40 cm ka^?1 on the stoss sides. A layer‐by‐layer correlation of the deposits across the mudwaves shows that the individual turbidite beds are up to 20 times thicker on the stoss side than on the lee side, whereas hemipelagite thicknesses are uniform. This differential accretion of turbidites is thought to have resulted in the pattern of upcurrent climbing mudwave crests, which supports the notion that the mudwaves have been formed by spillover turbidity currents. The mudwaves are interpreted to have been instigated by pre‐existing large sand dunes that are up to 30 m thick and were created by high‐velocity (10°ms^?1), thick (c. 500 m) turbidity currents spilling over the channel banks at the time of the maximum uplift of the Northern Japan Alps during the latest Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. Draping of the dunes by the subsequent, lower‐velocity (10^?1ms^?1), mud‐laden turbidity currents is thought to have resulted in the formation of the accretionary mudwaves and the pattern of upflow climbing. The dune stoss slopes are argued to have acted as obstacles to the flow, causing localized loss of flow strength and leading to differential draping by the muddy turbidites, with greater accretion occurring on the stoss side than on the lee slope. The two overbank flanks of the clockwise channel bend show some interesting differences in mudwave development. The mudwaves have a mean height of 9·8 m on the outer‐bank levee and 6·2 m on the inner bank. The turbidites accreted on the stoss sides of the mudwaves are 4–6 times thicker on the outer‐bank levee than their counterparts on the inner‐bank levee. These differences are attributed to the greater flow volume (thickness) and sediment flux of the outer‐bank spillover flow due to the more intense stripping of the turbidity currents at the outer bank of the channel bend. Differential development of mudwave fields may therefore be a useful indicator in the reconstruction of deep‐sea channels and their flow hydraulics.     

Features and Origin of Turbidity Current Sediment Waves in the Huatung Basin off the Eastern Taiwan Island

Based on numerous high-resolution seismic profiles, sediment waves and their distribution, morphological characteristics, internal structure, and potential origins were revealed in the eastern waters of Taiwan. The sediment waves are located at the junction between the Taitung Canyon and other canyons in the slope. The wave length and the wave height of a single waveform ranged from 0.8 to 7.2 km and from 18 to 75 m, respectively (NE-SW direction). Sediment waves, located inside the bend of the Taitung Canyon, were characterized by an upward migration and showed mass transport deposits (MTDs) at the bottom, while the inner curve of the bend was subdivided into lower and upper wavy transition units. The sediment waves on the outer curve of the bend were characterized by vertical accumulation, and there was no mass flow deposit at the bottom. According to the geometry of the sediment waves, the calculated flow thicknesses across the entire wave field ranged from 196 to 356 m, and the current velocity ranged from 15 to 21 cm/s. The morphological characteristics, the internal structure, and the distribution of sediment waves, as well as the numerical calculations, evidenced that these sediment waves had formed by turbidity currents. The development of the sediment wave field in eastern Taiwan was found to be similar to that in southwestern Taiwan. It was the sedimentary response of the tectonic movement between 3 and ~1 Ma which created the sedimentary systems where gravity flow processes predominated. Turbidity current sediments settled in the place of less topographical constraints or overflowed in the bend section of the Taitung Canyon, which resulted in the formation of sediment wave fields.     

Deep-water sediment wave fields, bottom current sand channels and gravity flow channel-lobe systems: Gulf of Cadiz, NE Atlantic

Abstract A study of the seafloor of the Gulf of Cadiz west of the Strait of Gibraltar, using an integrated geophysical and sedimentological data set, gives new insights into sediment deposition from downslope thermohaline bottom currents. In this area, the Mediterranean Outflow (MO) begins to mix with North Atlantic waters and separates into alongslope geostrophic and downslope ageostrophic components. Changes in bedform morphology across the study area indicate a decrease in the peak velocity of the MO from >1 m s^?1 to <0·5 m s^?1. The associated sediment waves form a continuum from sand waves to muddy sand waves to mud waves. A series of downslope‐oriented channels, formed by the MO, are found where the MO starts to descend the continental slope at a water depth of ≈700 m. These channels are up to 40 km long, have gradients of <0·5°, a fairly constant width of ≈2 km and a depth of ≈75 m. Sand waves move down the channels that have mud wave‐covered levees similar to those seen in turbidite channel–levee systems, although the channel size and levee thickness do not decrease downslope as in typical turbidite channel systems. The channels terminate abruptly where the MO lifts off the seafloor. Gravity flow channels with lobes on the basin floor exist downslope from several of the bottom current channels. Each gravity flow system has a narrow, slightly sinuous channel, up to 20 m deep, feeding a depositional lobe up to 7 km long. Cores from the lobes recovered up to 8·5 m of massive, well‐sorted, fine sand, with occasional mud clasts. This work provides an insight into the complex facies patterns associated with strong bottom currents and highlights key differences between bottom current and gravity flow channel–levee systems. The distribution of sand within these systems is of particular interest, with applications in understanding the architecture of hydrocarbon reservoirs formed in continental slope settings.     

深水沉积物波及其在南海研究之现状

深水沉积物波的研究始于20世纪50年代。根据成因和结构特征，可以将深水沉积物波划分为细粒底流、细粒浊流、粗粒底流和粗粒浊流等类型。不同类型的沉积物波具有不同的形态、物质组成及分布特征。已提出的深水沉积物波的形成模式主要有背流波模式、逆行沙波模式、内波模式及底形和斜坡失稳混合模式等。1994年太阳号95航次和1999年ODP184航次揭示并证实，南海北部东沙岸外1144站所处的深水陆坡区发育有一高速沉积物牵引体。根据最新的地震资料分析发现，该牵引体实际上由一系列逆陆坡向上倾方向迁移的沉积物波组成，这一发现对于南海北部大陆边缘古海洋、古环境和古气候研究，以及南海深水油气勘探具有重要意义。     

Sedimentary processes in the Selvage sediment-wave field, NE Atlantic: new insights into the formation of sediment waves by turbidity currents

An integrated geophysical and sedimentological investigation of the Selvage sediment-wave field has revealed that the sediment waves are formed beneath unconfined turbidity currents. The sediment waves occur on the lower continental rise and display wavelengths of up to 1 km and wave heights of up to 6 m. Wave sediments consist of interbedded turbidites and pelagic/hemipelagic marls and oozes. Nannofossil-based dating of the sediments indicates a bulk sedimentation rate of 2·4 cm 1000 years^–1, and the waves are migrating upslope at a rate of 0·28 m 1000 years^–1. Sediment provenance studies reveal that the turbidity currents maintaining the waves are largely sourced from volcanic islands to the south. Investigation of existing models for sediment-wave formation leads to the conclusion that the Selvage sediment waves form as giant antidunes. Simple numerical modelling reveals that turbidity currents crossing the wave field have internal Froude numbers of 0·5–1·9, which is very close to the antidune existence limits. Depositional flow velocities range from <6 to 125 cm^–1. There is a rapid increase in wavelength and flow thickness in the upper 10 km of the wave field, which is unexpected, as the slope angle remains relatively constant. This anomaly is possibly linked to a topographic obstacle just upslope of the sediment waves. Flows passing over the obstacle may undergo a hydraulic jump at its boundary, leading to an increase in flow thickness. In the lower 15 km of the wave field, flow thickness decreases downslope by 60%, which is comparable with results obtained for other unconfined turbidity currents undergoing flow expansion.     

Submarine channel levee shape and sediment waves from physical experiments

Submarine channel levees aggrade through repeated overspill events from the channel axis. The shape of the levees may therefore reflect some characteristic(s) of the overspilling flow. It has been noted that basin floor levees typically have a relatively low-relief and taper exponentially to their termination; in contrast slope channel levees may be much steeper close to the channel. A simple physical experiment was performed where a surge-like sediment-laden current flowed through a curved channel. Significant overspill occurred and generated a deposit flanking the channel on either side. The experiment was repeated 25 times to build up low-relief channel-levees. It was found that in proximal areas, levees were steep and characterised by power-law decays, a transitional zone of logarithmically thinning levee was found a little further down-channel, followed by exponential decays in medial to distal areas. The style of levee decay is a function of spatial variation in overbank sedimentation rates. Where flows rapidly lose momentum and deposit across the grain-size spectrum, i.e., in proximal areas, levees tend to be steep; farther down the channel, the steep levee slope gives way to a more gradually tapering deposit. In more distal parts of the channel, deposition is directly related to sediment settling velocity (rather than the suspended load exceeding flow transport capacity as is the case in proximal areas), the deposit reflects this with relatively simple exponential thickness decays. Additionally, small-scale sediment waves developed under lee wave conditions on the inner-bend overbank. The waves initially migrated slightly towards the channel, but as the style of overspill evolved due to intra-channel deposition, flows moved out of the lee wave window and sedimentation became out of phase with the wavelength of the features and the topography was healed.