川西北早志留世陆源碎屑──碳酸盐混积缓坡

研究区位于扬子地块西北缘，由一套巨厚的页岩、泥岩层夹生物礁及透镜状和不规则层状风暴生屑灰岩、瘤状灰岩组成。根据区内特征的岩石类型及其组合、分布和相应的化石生态，作者认为本区兰多维列期至早温洛克期时为一典型的陆源碎屑－－碳酸盐混积均斜缓坡，并且从浅到深划分为滨岸、浅缓坡、深缓坡及盆地等亚环境。滨岸区位于潮间带，以潮坪碳酸盐岩为代表；浅缓坡位于浪基面至风暴浪基面之间，岩性组合为Ａ、Ｂ类风暴岩，Ａ、Ｂ类瘤状灰岩、生物礁灰岩及粘结岩；深缓坡位于风暴浪基面至最大风暴浪基面之间，岩性以Ｄ、Ｅ类风暴岩、Ｃ类瘤状灰岩及泥页岩组合为特征；盆地处于最大风暴浪基面之下，为黑色泥页岩沉积。结合早志留世时全球冰川作用，文中讨论了海平面变化的原因及对环境的影响。     

湘中下石炭统风暴岩的研究

本文在对湘中各地发现的下石炭统风暴岩的一般特征的讨论的基础上,区分出浅缓坡近源型、过渡带远源型以及深缓坡末梢型等风暴岩类型,并认为这些风暴岩的发育受当时全球古地理控制。早石炭世北方大陆和南方大陆之间存在的古地中海,造成了赤道附近飓风的形成条件。当时华南板块位于赤道以南接近赤道的地方,必然形成了大量风暴沉积。     

Facies partitioning and sequence stratigraphy of cool-water, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediments (Upper Miocene Guadalquivir Domain, southern Spain)

During the late Miocene, the Guadalquivir Basin and its satellite basin, the Ronda Basin, were under Atlantic cool-water influence. The aim of our study is to develop a sequence stratigraphic subdivision of the Ronda Basin fill and to provide models for the cool-water carbonates. The Upper Miocene of the Ronda Basin can be divided into three depositional sequences. Sequence 1 is early Tortonian, Sequence 2 late Tortonian to earliest Messinian, and Sequence 3 Messinian in age. The sediments were deposited in a ramp depositional system. Sequence 1 is dominated by conglomerates and marls. In Sequence 2 and Sequence 3, carbonate deposits dominate in the inner ramp whereas siliciclastics preferentially occur in the middle and outer ramp. Bryomol carbonate sediments occur in all sequences whereas rhodalgal carbonates are restricted to Sequence 3. In bays protected from siliciclastic influx, rhodalgal deposits formed under transgressive conditions. A bryomol factory occurs in zones of continuous siliciclastic supply. This distribution results from facies partitioning during the flooding of the Ronda Basin, which has a rugged and irregular relief. Embayments were protected from siliciclastic influx and provided regions with less hydraulic energy.     

山东省中部上寒武统碳酸盐风暴沉积的综合模式

我国的碳酸盐风暴岩丰富多样,但前人对不同环境风暴岩的沉积作用、沉积序列和沉积模式的总结还不够完善.山东省中部上寒武统炒米店组碳酸盐风暴岩发育频繁,分布广,提供了全面分析风暴沉积作用的理想场所.基于该区详实的露头观察,可识别出冲刷面、渠模、丘状交错层理等典型的风暴沉积构造,以及砾屑灰岩、递变层理含砾砂屑灰岩-砂屑灰岩、纹层状粉-砂屑灰岩等风暴岩类型.根据砾屑颜色、磨圆度、排列方式、支撑结构、充填物等岩石学特征,研究区首要发育的砾屑灰岩可被细分为紧密堆积棱角状砾屑灰岩、基质支撑砾屑灰岩、砂屑支撑砾屑灰岩、水平-叠瓦状砾屑灰岩和放射状排列砾屑灰岩5种岩相类型,其分别归属于台前缓坡带原地-近源堆积、碎屑流、高密度-低密度浊流、风暴砾滩和风暴涡流沉积.对台前缓坡、台地边缘和开阔台地等不同环境的风暴沉积序列进行了归纳,建立了缓坡型碳酸盐台地风暴沉积的综合模式,并指出研究区频繁的风暴作用与全球气候变暖、海平面上升以及地震活动存在密切联系.研究表明较多台地边缘发育的大型渠模构造,其充填砾屑呈放射状排列,指示了渠模的风暴涡流成因      

Proximal–distal facies relationships and sedimentary processes in a storm dominated carbonate ramp (Kimmeridgian,northwest of the Iberian Ranges,Spain)

Facies analysis of the upper Kimmeridgian rocks in the outcrops located near Ricla (Zaragoza province, northeast Spain) and the integration of the resultant data in a broader context (the northern part of the Iberian Basin), has produced two general models showing the facies distribution and the processes that controlled the sedimentation in the Kimmeridgian carbonate ramp. Using these two models the transition from shallow to relatively deep environments of the carbonate ramp is examined in detail. Model 1 corresponds to the development of a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic ramp during a slow rise and stillstand of sea level (Sequence 1-HST), whereas Model 2 represents the growth of a pure carbonate ramp during a rapid rise of sea level (Sequence 2-TST).Carbonate production was higher in the shallow ramp domains (coral reefs and oolitic shoals in Model 1 and reefs in Model 2) than in deeper domains, where there is no indication of significant pelagic or benthic production. The activity of unidirectional return flows induced by winter storms and hurricanes, played an important role in the redistribution of the sediment across the ramp, generating different coarse-grained deposits. In the inner and mid-ramp settings dunes, lower scale bedforms and tempestites occur in Model 1, and storm lobes, bars and tempestites in Model 2. Moreover, a significant bulk of the carbonate mud produced in shallow areas would eventually be resedimented in the outer ramp as suspended load in the density currents. Stillstand of sea level in Model 1 involved a rapid progradation of the inner and proximal mid-ramp carbonate and siliciclastic facies. The rapid relative sea level rise of Model 2 is determined by the dominance of the carbonate facies and by the presence of aggradational geometries in the transitional area between shallow and deep-ramp domains. The presence of relatively thick sections in the outer-ramp settings (instead of condensed sections, as observed in Model 1) during times of sea level rise (Model 2) can mainly be explained by the increase of the shallow production in the reef dominated areas.     

Episodic sedimentation on an early Silurian, storm-dominated carbonate ramp, Becscie and Merrimack formations, Anticosti Island, Canada

The 150–160 m thick lowermost Silurian (Rhuddanian) Becscie and Merrimack formations of Anticosti Island, Canada, represent continuous deposition on a shallow, open marine carbonate ramp. Several rock types are identified: (a) laminated and homogenous mudstone; (b) laminated and homogenous packstone; (c) argillaceous mudstone and packstone; (d) calcareous shale; (e) laminated calcisiltite; (f) medium- to fine-grained grainstone; and (g) bio/intraclastic rudstone. These rock types are arranged into five distinct lithofacies: (LF1) calcareous mudstone-shale; (LF2) laminated-homogenous mudstone; (LF3) calcareous grainstone-shale; (LF4) laminated mudstone-grainstone; and (LF5) laminated calcisiltite-grainstone. The sequence reflects deposition on a low-energy, muddy, carbonate to argillaceous ramp subject to short-lived, episodic high-energy storms. These events produced fining-upwards storm units 5–80 cm thick, or tempestites, consisting of: a sharp scoured base overlain by intra/bioclastic rudstone grading upwards into medium-grained grainstone, finely laminated calcisiltite and mudstone, or shale. These are interbedded with low-energy, fairweather mudstones and calcareous shales. Deposition progressed from a carbonate mud-dominated ramp in the Becscie Formation to an argillaceous mud-dominated ramp in the Merrimack Formation. Lateral tempestite proximality trends and lithofacies distribution indicate that the Anticosti Basin deepened to the south-east into the Iapetus Ocean and shallowed towards a SW—NE-orientated shoreline to the north-west. Vertical tempestite proximality trends and lithofacies changes identify third-order eustatic sea-level changes. After an initial deepening at the base of the formation, a shallowing-deepening event dominated the sequence. Several higher order fluctuations, defined by lithofacies and tempestite proximality trends, are superimposed on these changes. The fluctuations identified with the aid of tempestite proximality trends are of an order of magnitude higher than those identified by either lithofacies or palaeontological methods.     

Subtropical to temperate facies from a transition zone, mixed carbonate–siliciclastic system, Palaeogene, North Carolina, USA

Palaeogene passive margin sediments on the US mid‐Atlantic coastal plain provide valuable insight into facies interaction and distribution on mixed carbonate–siliciclastic shelves. This study utilizes well cuttings, outcrop, core, and seismic data to document temporal and spatial variations in admixed bryozoan‐rich skeletal carbonates and sandy siliciclastic units that were deposited on a humid passive margin located in the vicinity of a major marine transition zone. This zone was situated between north‐flowing, warm waters of the ancestral Gulf Stream (carbonate dominated settings) and south‐flowing, cold waters of the ancestral Labrador Current (siliciclastic dominated settings). Some degree of mixing of carbonates and siliciclastics occurs in all facies; however, siliciclastic‐prone sediments predominate in nearshore settings, while carbonate‐prone sediments are more common in more open marine settings of the inner shelf break and deep shelf. A distinctive dual‐break shelf depositional profile originated following a major Late Cretaceous to Palaeocene transgression that drowned the earlier shallow platform. This profile was characterized by prominent mid‐shelf break dividing the shallow shelf from the deep shelf and a major continental shelf/slope break. Incomplete filling of available accommodation space during successive buildup of the shallow shelf preserved the topographic break on this passive margin. Storm wave base also contributed to the preservation of the dual‐break shelf geometry by beveling shallow shelf sediments and transporting them onto and seaward of the mid‐shelf break. Sediment fines in deep shelf facies were produced in place, transported downdip from the shallow shelf by storm ebb currents and boundary currents, and reworked from adjacent areas of the deep shelf by strike‐parallel boundary currents. Regional climate and boundary currents controlled whether carbonate or siliciclastic material was deposited on the shelf, with warmer waters and more humid climates favouring carbonate deposition and cooler, more arid conditions favouring glaucony and siliciclastic dominated deposition. Continuous wave and current sweeping of the shallow shelf favoured deposition of mud‐lean facies across much of the shallow shelf. Skeletal components in much of the carbonate‐rich strata formed in warm, nutrient‐rich subtropical waters, as indicated by widespread occurrences of larger benthic foraminifera and molluscan assemblages. These indicators of warm water deposition within the bryozoan‐mollusk‐rich carbonate assemblage on this shelf provide an example of a warm water bryomol assemblage; such facies generally are associated with cooler water depositional settings.     

湘西-黔东地区寒武系都匀阶清虚洞期 岩相古地理与铅锌成矿关系研究

依据地层记录中的两种相变面和两种穿时性,结合上扬子地区寒武系十余条代表性剖面的沉积特征及其横向展布规律,应用等时面优势相成图方法编制了寒武系都匀阶清虚洞期岩相古地理图.区内古地理格局具有西高东低、北浅南深(水深)的特点,沉积自北西向南东超覆,层位逐渐抬高穿时;岩性、厚度、颜色和沉积相类型上的差异是统一沉积背景下沉积物相变、穿时的结果.清虚洞组由灰岩段和白云岩段组成,以发育缓坡型碳酸盐台地为特征,纵向上构成总体向上变浅的沉积相序列,同时反映了缓坡型碳酸盐台地的生长发育过程;横向上从北西至南东发育从混积潮坪相、浅缓坡相、中缓坡相、深缓坡相和陆棚-盆地等沉积.岩相古地理对层控铅锌矿具有明显的控制作用,主要分布于中缓坡相藻灰岩微晶丘中,浊积岩、微晶丘、砾(粒)屑灰岩构成一完整的铅锌控矿序列.     

Carbonate platform growth and cyclicity at a terminal Proterozoic passive margin, Infra Krol Formation and Krol Group, Lesser Himalaya, India

Abstract The Infra Krol Formation and overlying Krol Group constitute a thick (< 2 km), carbonate-rich succession of terminal Proterozoic age that crops out in a series of doubly plunging synclines in the Lesser Himalaya of northern India. The rocks include 18 carbonate and siliciclastic facies, which are grouped into eight facies associations: (1) deep subtidal; (2) shallow subtidal; (3) sand shoal; (4) peritidal carbonate complex; (5) lagoonal; (6) peritidal siliciclastic–carbonate; (7) incised valley fill; and (8) karstic fill. The stromatolite-rich, peritidal complex appears to have occupied a location seaward of a broad lagoon, an arrangement reminiscent of many Phanerozoic and Proterozoic platforms. Growth of this complex was accretionary to progradational, in response to changes in siliciclastic influx from the south-eastern side of the lagoon. Metre-scale cycles tend to be laterally discontinuous, and are interpreted as mainly autogenic. Variations in the number of both sets of cycles and component metre-scale cycles across the platform may result from differential subsidence of the interpreted passive margin. Apparently non-cyclic intervals with shallow-water features may indicate facies migration that was limited compared with the dimensions of facies belts. Correlation of these facies associations in a sequence stratigraphic framework suggests that the Infra Krol Formation and Krol Group represent a north- to north-west-facing platform with a morphology that evolved from a siliciclastic ramp, to carbonate ramp, to peritidal rimmed shelf and, finally, to open shelf. This interpretation differs significantly from the published scheme of a basin centred on the Lesser Himalaya, with virtually the entire Infra Krol–Krol succession representing sedimentation in a persistent tidal-flat environment. This study provides a detailed Neoproterozoic depositional history of northern India from rift basin to passive margin, and predicts that genetically related Neoproterozoic deposits, if they are present in the High Himalaya, are composed mainly of slope/basinal facies characterized by fine-grained siliciclastic and detrital carbonate rocks, lithologically different from those of the Lesser Himalaya.     

湘西北上震旦统碳酸盐层序地层

碳酸盐层序地层应考虑碳酸盐＂加工厂＂、气候条件、构造背景、沉降速率、与陆地连接情况和底质类型等多种因素。碳酸盐层序地层模式在大多数情况下有别于Ｖａｉｌ的碎屑岩层序地层模式，并且气候条件是一个值得多加考虑的因素。通过不同相区碳酸盐层序地层的划分，笔者建立了研究区上震旦统碳酸盐层序地层模式，即陵山沱期为缓坡背景碳酸盐层序地层模式，灯影期为碳酸盐台地（初始）背景层序地层模式。在高水位体系域中识别出早期高水位体系域和晚期高水位体系域。已识别出浅潮下和环潮坪两种不同类型的副层序旋回。通过层序地层分析，笔者认为陡山沱底部的白云岩属于低水位楔。     

巢县二叠系栖霞组臭灰岩段异地成因碳酸盐岩

下扬子地区二叠系栖霞组臭灰岩段广泛发育。以巢县为例 ,研究表明组成臭灰岩段的石灰砾岩并非正常沉积。剖面特征 ,岩石学、沉积学和地球化学特征的分析结果 ,显示了石灰砾岩的砾石来源于浅海碳酸盐台地 ,它们作为碳酸盐岩碎屑流的产物 ,沿着台地边缘的斜坡 ,被搬运到半深海—斜坡处再沉积。环绕于砾石周围的胶结物和砾岩层之间的薄层硅质粒泥灰岩 ,主要是由等深流沉积物组成。因此 ,臭灰岩段碳酸盐岩主要是异地成因 ,沉积环境属于碳酸盐台地周缘水体较深的斜坡。     

山东省唐王寨上寒武统崮山组沉积环境及竹叶状灰岩的多成因分析

华北地台上寒武统崮山组出现了大量的竹叶状灰岩。通过对山东唐王寨剖面崮山组的系统研究,识别出页岩、疙瘩状泥晶灰岩、泥质条带泥晶灰岩、薄层状泥晶灰岩、生物扰动泥晶灰岩、颗粒质（生物碎屑）泥岩-泥质颗粒岩、含交错层理鲕粒灰岩及竹叶状灰岩8种岩石类型,这些岩石类型组成了页岩盆地、深潮下带及浅潮下带岩石组合。竹叶状灰岩中砾屑和基质的特征及其沉积序列,表明砾屑和基质的来源多样并且在不同的沉积环境中其成因具有多样性。据此总结出崮山组竹叶状灰岩具有4种可能的成因类型：1）竹叶状灰岩中砾屑和基质可能均为原地形成或者仅有短距离的搬运过程;2）竹叶状灰岩中砾屑和基质可能均为近岸形成并经历了长距离的搬运过程,或者竹叶状灰岩的沉积环境经历了海平面的突然升高;3）竹叶状灰岩中基质可能来源于近岸未固结的鲕粒和生物碎屑及原地的灰泥,与原地破碎生成的砾屑和灰泥等混合沉积;4）竹叶状灰岩中砾屑可能来源于远岸的固结的泥晶灰岩,并经搬运作用与原地未固结的灰泥及骨架颗粒等基质混合沉积。     

吉林南部通化二道江剖面新元古界万隆组臼齿构造及其沉积特征

吉林南部通化二道江剖面新元古界万隆组广泛发育缓坡碳酸盐岩沉积,其中发育的一种特殊的碳酸盐岩——臼齿碳酸盐岩,近年来引起了中国乃至世界各国地质学家的重视。通过对野外露头的详细观察和描述、室内薄片观察、扫描电镜、能谱分析等测试手段,揭示了二道江剖面万隆组的地层、岩石、臼齿构造(MT)及沉积岩相和沉积环境特征。臼齿构造是特指那些发育在前寒武纪细粒碳酸盐岩中有清晰边界、粒度在0·01mm左右的由等轴或多边形的微亮晶方解石组成的集合体,其形态可分为条带状构造、瘤状构造及棱角碎块状构造。臼齿构造的形成严格受沉积岩相和沉积环境的控制。万隆组由下而上可分为3段第1段下部为发育臼齿构造的纹层状泥晶灰岩、砂屑灰岩及风暴砾屑灰岩,为中—深缓坡沉积环境的产物;上部由浅缓坡相的泥灰岩、钙质页岩、砂屑灰岩与叠层石灰岩组成;第2段为厚层泥晶灰岩和粉屑泥晶灰岩、瘤状灰岩组成的深缓坡相沉积;第3段本剖面未出露。万隆组形成于缓坡沉积环境,其中浅缓坡相可分为4种岩相组合,中缓坡相可分为11种岩相组合,深缓坡相有6种岩相组合。     

Pliocene sedimentation in a shallow, cool-water, estuarine gulf, Murray Basin, South Australia

The Pliocene Norwest Bend Formation is a well‐preserved succession of terrestrial and shallow‐marine deposits in the Murray Basin, South Australia. Sediments in this unit consist of two discrete terrigenous clastic‐rich, decametre‐scale sequences, or informal members, which record episodes of marine incursion during the Early and Late Pliocene respectively. The base of each sequence is a transgressive lag and/or strandline deposit that is transitional upwards into a highstand, subtidal, terrigenous clastic and cool‐water carbonate sediment accumulation. The top of each sequence is incised by fluvial channels that are filled by river deposits which formed as relative sea‐level fell and terrestrial environments prograded basinward. Sedimentological data suggest that gross stratigraphic architecture was primarily determined by glacioeustasy. Differences in sedimentary style between these two sequences, however, reflect a major climatic change that took place in southern Australia during the mid‐Pliocene. The lower quartzose sand member is formed of siliciclastic sediment derived from prolonged, deep, subaerial weathering and contains a bivalve‐dominated, cool‐temperate, open‐marine mollusc assemblage. These sediments accumulated under an equitable, relatively warm, humid climate. The Murray Basin during this time, because of high fluvial discharge, was a salt‐wedge estuary with typical estuarine circulation. In contrast, the upper, oyster‐rich member is typified by large monospecific oyster buildups that grew in restricted coastal environments. Strandline deposits contain a warm‐temperate skeletal assemblage. Contemporaneous aeolian sediments accumulated under warm, semi‐arid climatic conditions. Well‐developed ferricrete, silcrete and calcrete horizons reflect cyclic conditions of rainwater infiltration and evaporation in the seasonally dry climate that typifies southern Australia today. Highly seasonal rainfall produced an estuary that fluctuated annually from being well to partially mixed. These Pliocene sediments support the notion that mollusc‐rich facies are the signature of cool‐water carbonate accumulations in inboard neritic environments. Unlike bryozoans that dominate the outer parts of Cenozoic cool‐water carbonate shelves, molluscs evolved to exploit an array of coastal ecosystems with wide salinity variations and variable sedimentation rates.     

Reefs in the Early Paleozoic Taebaek Group, Korea: A Review

Various early Paleozoic (Cambrian Series 3–Middle Ordovician) reefs are found in the Taebaek Group, eastern Korea, located in the eastern margin of the Sino-Korean Block. They occur in every carbonate-dominant lithostratigraphic unit of the group, but their morphology and composition differ markedly. The Daegi Formation (middle Cambrian: Cambrian Series 3) contains siliceous sponge-Epiphyton reefs formed in a shallow subtidal environment, which is one of the earliest metazoan-bearing microbial reefs after the archaeocyath extinction. The Hwajeol Formation (upper Cambrian: Furongian) encloses sporadic dendrolites consisting of Angulocellularia, which developed in a relatively deep subtidal environment, representing a rare deeper water example. The onset of the Ordovician radiation resulted in the formation of microbialite–Archaeoscyphia–calathiid patch reefs in shallow subtidal deposits of the Lower Ordovician Dumugol Formation. Subsequent late Early Ordovician relative sea-level fall established extensive peritidal environments, forming microbial mats and stromatolites of the Lower–Middle Ordovician Makgol Formation. Ensuing Ordovician radiation resulted in one of the earliest metazoan skeletal reefs of the Middle Ordovician Duwibong Formation, constructed by stromatoporoid Cystostroma and bryozoan Nicholsonella, and developed around shallow shoals. These reefs reflect ongoing evolution and sea-level change during the early Paleozoic, and exemplify a rare glimpse of peri-Gondwanan records of reef evolution, which warrant detailed investigations and comparison with their counterparts in other regions.     

Carbonates within a Pleistocene glaciomarine succession, Yakataga Formation, Middleton Island, Alaska

Uplifted during the 1964 Alaskan earthquake, extensive intertidal flats around Middleton Island expose 1300 m of late Cenozoic (Early Pleistocene) Yakataga Formation glaciomarine sediments. These outcrops provide a unique window into outer shelf and upper slope strata that are otherwise buried within the south‐east Alaska continental shelf prism. The rocks consist of five principal facies in descending order of thickness: (i) extensive pebbly mudstone diamictite containing sparse marine fossils; (ii) proglacial submarine channel conglomerates; (iii) burrowed mudstones with discrete dropstone layers; (iv) boulder pavements whose upper surfaces are truncated, faceted and striated by ice; and (v) carbonates rich in molluscs, bryozoans and brachiopods. The carbonates are decimetre scale in thickness, typically channellized conglomeratic event beds interpreted as resedimented deposits on the palaeoshelf edge and upper slope. Biogenic components originated in a moderately shallow (ca 80 m), relatively sediment‐free, mesotrophic, sub‐photic setting. These components are a mixture of parautochthonous large pectenids or smaller brachiopods with locally important serpulid worm tubes and robust gastropods augmented by sand‐size bryozoan and echinoderm fragments. Ice‐rafted debris is present throughout these cold‐water carbonates that are thought to have formed during glacial periods of lowered sea‐level that allowed coastal ice margins to advance near to the shelf edge. Such carbonates were then stranded during subsequent sea‐level rise. Productivity was enabled by attenuation of terrigenous mud deposition during these cold periods via reduced sedimentation together with active wave and tidal‐current winnowing near the ice front. Redeposition was the result of intense storms and possibly tsunamis. These sub‐arctic mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate sediments are an end‐member of the Phanerozoic global carbonate depositional realm whose skeletal attributes first appeared during late Palaeozoic southern hemisphere deglaciation.     

Sedimentology and facies analysis of Miocene mixed siliciclastic–carbonate deposits of the Dam Formation in Al Lidam area,eastern Saudi Arabia

The Burdigalian mixed siliciclastic–carbonate deposits of the Dam Formation are well-exposed in Al Lidam area, in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. They represent a shallow part of the Arabian plate continental margin. The Dam Formation is correlatable to the Miocene reservoirs in both Iran and Iraq. Therefore, studying the Dam Formation lithologic heterogeneity in a small distance with high resolution could help in further work related to pattern prediction of the Miocene reservoir properties. High-resolution sedimentological investigation was carried out through six outcrops. The facies parameters (lithology, sedimentary structures, main fossils, paleocurrent patterns and geometries of the sedimentary bodies) were described. The results revealed 15 lithofacies that have been further grouped into 7 lithofacies associations 5 of which are carbonates and include (1) interbedded dolostone and evaporates, (2) microbialite buildup, (3) ooid-dominated grainstones, (4) burrowed skeletal peloidal wackestone–packstone and (5) mollusc-dominated wackestone–packstone. The remaining two associations are of siliciclastics and include (6) intertidal siliciclastics and (7) wave-dominated siliciclastics. These lithofacies were interpreted to reflect deposition in a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate ramp system that includes subtidal, shoreface, intertidal, foreshore, supratidal and estuarine deposits in a shallowing-upward succession. Each one of these lithofacies association has distinct geometry and architecture pattern. Oolites and heterozoan lithofacies occur as sheets and show great continuity along the strike direction. Oolites pass laterally in the dip direction into more skeletal- and peloid-dominated zones, whereas heterozoan lithofacies stay continuous in the dip directions and change from siliciclastic to carbonate heterozones. In contrast, microbialite lithofacies lack continuous beds and occur as localised bioherms and biostroms. Channelised lithofacies are restricted laterally into isolated channel bodies and vertically in the contact boundary between siliciclastic and carbonate lithofacies, whereas the interbedded dolostone and evaporite lithofacies form distinct, relatively thick continuous layers. With continuous exposures in both strike (1.2 km) and dip (0.15 km) directions, the outcrops in the Al Lidam area provide unique opportunity to study the heterogeneity among lithofacies of the mixed siliciclastic–carbonate system of the Dam Formation. Such study may provide insights to predict occurrence and distribution of lithofacies bodies in their equivalent reservoirs which are important for reservoir characterisation.     

Depositional environments and sequence stratigraphy of the Bahram Formation(middleelate Devonian) in north of Kerman,south-central Iran

This study is focused on sedimentary environments, facies distribution, and sequence stratigraphy. The facies and sequence stratigraphic analyses of the Bahram Formation(middleelate Devonian) in southcentral Iran are based on two measured stratigraphic sections in the southern Tabas block. The Bahram Formation overlies red sandstones Padeha Formation in sections Hutk and Sardar and is overlain by Carboniferous carbonate deposits of Hutk Formation paraconformably, with a thickness of 354 and386 m respectively. Mixed siliciclastic and carbonate sediments are present in this succession. The field observations and laboratory studies were used to identify 14 micro/petrofacies, which can be grouped into 5 depositional environments: shore, tidal flat, lagoon, shoal and shallow open marine. A mixed carbonate-detrital shallow shelf is suggested for the depositional environment of the Bahram Formation which deepens to the east(Sardar section) and thins in southern locations(Hutk section). Three 3rdorder cyclic siliciclastic and carbonate sequences in the Bahram Formation and one sequence shared with the overlying joint with Hutk Formation are identified, on the basis of shallowing upward patterns in the micro/pertofacies.     

Mesozoic carbonate rudites, megabreccias and associated deposits from central Greece

In the Kokkinovrakhos Formation of central Greece, poorly sorted, grain supported, lithoclastic carbonate rudites, megabreccias and olistoliths are associated with accumulations of fine-grained laminated carbonates. The laminae frequently exhibit grading and are interpreted as turbidity current deposits. The coarser grained rudites and megabreccias were also redeposited but were probably transported downslope by sliding and rolling, i.e. they are rock-fall deposits. Olistoliths were emplaced into deeper water by sliding. The fine-grained sediments of the laminated facies appear to have accumulated in pockets on an uneven sea floor during episodes of minimal rock fall activity. The sedimentary association is similar to that described from some modern fore-reef environments and is possibly characteristic of accumulations of sediment on, or near to, steep slopes adjacent to carbonate platforms, when episodes of tectonic activity lead to the shearing off and transport downslope of masses of well-cemented shallow marine carbonates.     

Depositional framework and controls on mixed carbonate-siliciclastic gravity flows: Pennsylvanian-Permian shelf to basin transect, south-western Great Basin, USA

Mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediment gravity flow deposits of Late Pennsylvanian to Early Permian age are exposed in the Death Valley - Owens Valley region of east-central California. The Mexican Spring unit constitutes the upper part of the Keeler Canyon Formation and is characterized by turbidites, debris flow deposits and megabreccias, all of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic composition. The mixed composition of the Keeler Canyon Formation provides an opportunity to link facies architecture to controls on depositional system development. Depositional relationships indicate that the deposits represent a non-channellized base of slope carbonate apron system with inner, outer and basinal facies associations. These gravity flow deposits are characterized by repeated stacked, small scale (<15 m) coarsening and thickening upward cycles with superimposed medium scale (>100 m) coarsening and thickening upward cycles. Contemporaneous outer shelf and upper slope deposits of the Tippipah Limestone are exposed at Syncline Ridge on the Nevada Test Site. The deposits consist of carbonate buildups directly overlain by cross bedded, quartz-rich sandstone and conglomerate which filled channels that traversed across the previously existing carbonate shelf. Detritus was transported to the west, down the upper slope by gully systems that fed the temporally persistent base of slope apron of the upper part of the Keeler Canyon Formation. This style of deposition differs from point-sourced siliciclastic submarine fan depositional systems. However, the Keeler Canyon system has lithofacies similar to some sandy siliciclastic turbidite systems, such as the delta-fed submarine ramp facies model, which is a line-sourced, shelf-fed system that is not supply limited. The mixed clastic apron systems of the Keeler Canyon Formation differ from classical carbonate aprons in that the former is characterized by an abundance of sedimentary cycles. Controls on the development of these cycles and of the facies distribution may have resulted from changes in type and rate of sediment supply, relative sea level changes and/or tectonic events. Interpretation of the data is focused on relative changes in sea level as the most significant control on development of the depositional system. Relative sea level changes serve two important functions: (1) they provide a mechanism for bringing coarse siliciclastic and bioclastic grains together on the outer shelf, and (2) shelf margin collapse may be initiated during relative lowstands allowing for transport of the sediment to the deep basin and development of deep basinal cycles. Therefore, an abundance of mixed clastic gravity flow deposits such as these in the rock record may be an indicator of periods of high frequency changes in relative sea level, which is a characteristic of Late Palaeozoic sea level history.