海相深水沉积研究现状及展望

深水沉积根据沉积物来源可以分为深水异地沉积和深水原地沉积.深水异地沉积是指海洋深水区经横向搬运而形成的沉积,它是相对于垂直降落沉积作用形成的原地沉积而言的.通常前者形成的沉积物比后者的粒度粗.深水异地沉积主要包括重力流沉积和深水牵引流沉积两大类;深水原地沉积主要包括深水泥页岩沉积.重力流沉积还可以按其发育的沉积环境而划分为扇状沉积体系(海底扇或湖底扇)、沟道或槽谷沉积体系、层状或带状沉积体系等.深水牵引流沉积是20世纪60年代以来沉积学迅速发展的一个新的研究领域.目前深水牵引流沉积的研究主要集中于等深流沉积和内潮汐、内波沉积.深水牵引流沉积的储集性能优于浊流沉积,故具有非常重要的含油气潜能.     

塔里木盆地东部寒武系碳酸盐深水重力流沉积及其储集性能

通过野外露头、钻井岩心薄片的观察,在塔里木盆地东部辨识出寒武系大量碳酸盐深水重力流沉积,并划分出斜坡角砾岩、高密度钙屑浊积岩、低密度钙屑浊积岩等三种类型。通过单井厚度标定、地震相分析和区域成图,平面上沿斜坡发育较大规模碳酸盐深水重力流沉积,宽度达40~80 km,厚度达50~150 m。分析测试和测井解释资料表明,重力流(特别是高密度浊积岩)可以发育厚度较大的良好储层。塔东寒武系斜坡区碳酸盐深水重力流油气显示丰富,是值得深入探索的勘探领域。     

藏南江孜盆地晚侏罗至早白垩世重力流沉积

西藏南部江孜盆地的沙拉岗矿区发育一套晚侏罗至早白垩世的碎屑流、滑动流与浊流等重力流沉积,主要由斜坡相碎屑岩夹硅质岩和灰岩构成。在这个斜坡背景中出现了上斜坡相,下斜坡相与海底扇相等3种类型的岩相组合。其中,上斜坡以各种规模的滑动沉积为特色,下斜坡以不同性质的碎屑流沉积为特征。海底扇具有完整的内扇、中扇与外扇组合,可划分出进积型和退积型两种序列类型,它们多半是由浊流形成的各种砂体组成的。     

深水重力流沉积研究进展

深水重力流沉积研究经历了半个多世纪发展,从浊流及鲍马序列开始,到把深水砂岩普遍解释为浊流成因以及海底扇模式的建立,再到今天学者们对鲍马序列的质疑,深水重力流沉积的研究经历了认识上的螺旋式上升旋回。目前关于深水重力流沉积争议的焦点在于高密度浊流是否属于浊流的范畴,深水砂岩是否都是浊流成因。以Shanmugam为代表的学者认为,绝大多数的深水砂岩都是碎屑流成因而非浊流成因,并且提出了重力流分类新方案,同时建立了与其匹配的深水斜坡沉积模式。通过对前人成果的广泛调研,经过对比总结,认为:1根据流变学和沉积物搬运机制,重力流分为碎屑流(砂质碎屑流和泥质碎屑流)、颗粒流、浊流;2浊流的韵律结构特征为明显的正粒序且没有漂浮的碎屑颗粒,碎屑流自下而上呈逆-正粒序的两套韵律变化且发育有漂浮的碎屑颗粒;3Walker的综合扇模式与Shanmugam的斜坡沉积模式,二者是可以共存的,只是在某一地区适用性不同而已。     

湖相重力流沉积特征及沉积模式

应用深水沉积学和地震沉积学的相关理论,通过岩心观察描述、钻测井资料分析及平面沉积相编图,对下刚果盆地A区块白垩系Pointe Indienne组深水重力流的类型、沉积特征、垂向沉积组合及沉积模式进行了探讨分析,指出该地区发育砂质碎屑流、泥质碎屑流、浊流及与重力流形成过程相关的滑动—滑塌沉积,并总结了该深水重力流的沉积模式。结果表明:砂质碎屑流沉积以块状层理细砂岩为主,含大型漂浮泥砾和泥岩撕裂屑;泥质碎屑流沉积以泥级碎屑为主,含有少量的暗色泥岩碎屑和砂质团块,见“泥包砾”结构;浊流沉积以发育完整或不完整的鲍马序列为特征;滑动—滑塌沉积具有明显的剪切滑移面,可见旋转火焰构造、砂岩扭曲杂乱分布及褶皱变形层;纵向上可识别出4种类型的重力流沉积垂向组合,以多期砂质碎屑流沉积叠置和砂质碎屑流沉积与浊流沉积叠置最为常见;研究区深水重力流沉积可分为上部扇、中部扇和外部扇3部分,上部扇以主水道沉积为主;中部扇以辫状水道和溢岸沉积为主,砂体厚度较大;外部扇以朵叶体沉积和薄层浊积岩为主,砂体厚度相对较薄。     

广西来宾-合山一带晚二叠世海底扇浊积岩相

广西来宾蓬莱滩及合山马滩两地的晚二叠世地层中发育有典型的重力流沉积构造,如粒序层理、包卷层理、槽模、重荷模、碟状构造和滑塌褶皱等。通过对蓬莱滩合山组和大隆组以及马滩剖面的大隆组岩相特征的详细研究,提出来宾蓬莱滩晚二叠世合山组和大隆组以及合山马滩晚二叠世大隆组形成于海底扇环境,划分出具碟状构造的块状砂岩(B１)、块状砂岩(B2)、近基浊积岩(C)、远基浊积岩(D)、不规则互层的砂泥岩(E)、滑塌褶皱层(F)及含浮游生物化石的页岩、硅质岩(G)等岩相类型,同时归纳出外扇相组合、中扇舌状体相组合、中扇水道相组合、斜坡相组合及深切谷水道相组合等,还对这些海底扇浊积岩系的古地理意义做了讨论。桂中碳酸盐岩台地相区和云开古陆之间在晚二叠世为一发育海底扇浊积岩的深水盆地,其中来宾-合山一带在大隆组沉积期处于水深约300～1 000 m的深水盆地环境,合山一带火山活动提供的火山物质及来自东侧云开古陆的陆源物质构成该区浊积岩的主要物源。     

陕西富平中-上奥陶统深水碳酸盐重力流沉积模式

陕西富平地区,在中-晚奥陶世位于华北地台南侧的弧后盆地的大陆边缘。其中完好地保存了一套以半远洋的泥晶灰岩夹重力流的角砾灰岩和砂屑灰岩为特征的深水沉积岩系。一般认为,与半远洋的石灰岩共生的碳酸盐重力流沉积的复杂岩相,是大陆坡的标志,而相应的陆源碎屑沉积,则被作为海底扇的产物。然而,富平地区的碳酸盐重力流沉积,却是在弧后盆地伸进浅水台地之间的深海前槽中,沿海槽轴向呈席状流搬运、沉积的。     

南海北部陆坡深水沉积体系研究

陆源碎屑物质是深水地质研究的重要内容,在全球“从源到汇”研究计划中占有重要地位。海底峡谷-水道搬运沉积体系和块体搬运沉积体系（海底滑坡）是大陆坡最重要的两种搬运沉积过程。根据高分辨率2D、3D多道反射地震资料、多波束测深法、旁扫声纳、重力与活塞取样等资料研究发现,在南海北部陆坡地层中,广泛发育大型深水块体搬运体系和相应深水水道沉积体系。针对白云凹陷和琼东南盆地深水陆坡区的实例研究,揭示了典型深水块体搬运的平面形态、内部结构和变形过程,进而深入认识这一地质体的形成演化过程。采用2D/3D地震资料和多种数值模拟新方法发现了第四系深水高弯曲水道及其沉积相特征、上新世琼东南盆地中央水道及中新世古珠江深水水道体系。深水沉积体系对研究我国深水油气资源的成因机理和分布规律,以及深水工程的地质灾害预测和防护具有十分重要的意义。     

咸化湖盆细粒重力流沉积特征及其页岩油勘探意义——以准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷风城组为例

细粒重力流沉积作用是咸水深湖环境重要的沉积作用过程之一,它能把浅水细粒碎屑和有机质搬运到深湖,形成页岩油的甜点储层和优质源岩。开展咸化湖盆细粒重力流沉积特征的研究对陆相盆地页岩油评价具有重要的意义。准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷风城组(P₁f)沉积时期发育了一套咸水湖泊环境下的湖底扇沉积体系,研究表明该体系扇缘可发育8类细粒重力流岩相组合：(1)细粒浓缩密度流-细粒过渡流-细粒碎屑流岩相组合;(2)细粒异重流岩相组合;(3)细粒浓缩密度流-细粒碎屑流岩相组合;(4)细粒浓缩密度流-泥流-安静水体空落岩相组合;(5)细粒过渡流-细粒碎屑流岩相组合;(6)细粒碎屑流-泥流岩相组合;(7)细粒碎屑流-湍流尾流岩相组合;(8)细粒下部过渡塞流-细粒上部过渡塞流-准层状泥(塞)流岩相组合。这8种岩相组合是细粒重力流沉积作用相互转化的结果,它们属于不完整的混合事件层,可构成一个完整的混合事件层。咸化湖盆、深层热卤水和凝灰质的加入使该湖底扇沉积体系的沉积物普遍含白云石、碳酸钠钙石、苏打石和硅硼钠石等矿物。其中,白云石为化学沉淀的方解石在准同生期和浅埋期形成的准同生白云石,碳酸钠钙石、苏打石...     

鄂尔多斯盆地南部三叠系延长组湖相重力流沉积细粒岩及其油气地质意义

随着页岩油气勘探开发和相关领域研究的不断深入,细粒沉积物的搬运和沉积已成为当前沉积学研究的热点问题之一,但中国中生代湖泊环境中的泥质重力流沉积尚未引起应有的关注。通过岩心观察、薄片鉴定等手段及综合研究,分析了鄂尔多斯盆地晚三叠世湖相泥质重力流沉积特征,探讨了其形成机制与成因分类。鄂尔多斯盆地三叠系延长组湖相泥页岩结构类型多样,发育泥质块体流沉积、泥质碎屑流沉积、泥质浊流沉积和泥质异重流沉积等多种重力流沉积类型。按照泥质含量将重力流划分为砂质重力流、泥质重力流和混合重力流3种亚类,并根据成因将重力流划分为滑塌体、碎屑流、浊流及异重流等4种亚类;结合成因和泥质含量,将重力流沉积共划分为12种类型。滑塌岩、碎屑岩分布于三角洲前缘斜坡脚附近;浊积岩、异重岩广泛分布于三角洲斜坡至沉积中心。认为泥质沉积物可以在强水动力条件下搬运-沉积;重力流沉积细粒物质在湖相沉积中占据很大的比例;泥质重力流对泥页岩中的碎屑物质、黏土矿物及有机质的搬运和沉积起到重要作用,因而对于页岩油气的生烃、储集性能和压裂工艺研究具有重要意义。     

Triassic carbonate submarine fans along the Arabian platform margin, Sumeini Group, Oman

ABSTRACT The Sumeini Group formed along the passive continental margin slope that bounded the northeastern edge of the Arabian carbonate platform. With the initial development of this passive continental margin in Oman during Early to Middle Triassic time (possibly Permian), small carbonate submarine fans of the C Member of the Maqam Formation developed along a distally steepened slope. The fan deposits occur as several discrete lenticular sequences of genetically related beds of coarsegrained redeposited carbonate (calciclastic) sediment within a thick interval of basinal lime mudstone and shale. Repeated pulses of calciclastic sediment were derived from ooid shoals on an adjacent carbonate platform and contain coarser intraclasts eroded from the surrounding slope deposits. Sediment gravity flows, primarily turbidites with lesser debris flows and grain flows, transported the coarse sediments to the relatively deep submarine fans. Channel erosion was a major source of intraformational calcirudite. Two small submarine fan systems were each recurrently supplied with calciclastic sediment derived from point sources, submarine canyons. The northern fan system retrogrades and dies out upsection. The southern fan system was apparently longer-lived; calciclastic sediments in it are more prevalent and occur throughout the section. The proximal portions of this fan system are dominated by channelized beds of calcirudite which represent inner- to mid-fan channel complexes. The distal portions include mostly lenticular, unchannelized beds of calcarenite, apparently mid- to outer-fan lobes. Carbonate submarine fans appear to be rare in the geological record in comparison with more laterally continuous slope aprons of coarse redeposited sediment. The carbonate submarine fans of the C Member apparently formed by the funnelling of coarse calciclastic sediment into small submarine canyons which may have developed due to rift and/or transform tectonics. The alternation of discrete sequences of calciclastic sediment with thick intervals of ‘background’ sediment resulted from either sea-level fluctuations or pulses of tectonic activity.     

The Maesan fan delta, Miocene Pohang Basin, SE Korea: architecture and depositional processes of a high-gradient fan-delta-fed slope system

The Maesan fan-delta-fed slope system in the Miocene Pohang Basin occurs between two Gilbert-type fan deltas. Detailed analysis of sedimentary facies and bed geometry reveals that the sequence is represented by 13 sedimentary facies. These facies can be organized into three facies associations, representing distinct depositional environments: alluvial fan (facies association I), steep-faced slope (facies association II), and basin plain (facies association III). Subaerial debris flows and dense, inertia-dominated currents were transformed into subaqueous sediment gravity flows in steep-faced slope environments. Further downslope, these flows were channelized and formed lobate conglomerate and sandstone bodies at the terminal edge of the channels (or chutes). Interchannel and interlobe areas were dominated by homogeneous mudstone and muddy sandstone, deposited by suspension settling of fine-grained materials. Part of the steep-faced slope deposits experienced large-scale slides and slumps. The chutes/channels, lobes and splays on the steep-faced slope of the Maesan system are similar to those in modern subaqueous coarse-grained fan-delta systems.     

Anatomy of a modern open-ocean carbonate slope: northern Little Bahama Bank

The open-ocean carbonate slope north of Little Bahama Bank consists of a relatively steep (4°) upper slope between water depths of 200 and 900 m, and a more gentle (1–2°) lower slope between depths of 900 and 1300+ m. The upper slope is dissected by numerous, small, submarine canyons (50–150 m in relief) that act as a line source for the downslope transport of coarse-grained carbonate debris. The lower slope is devoid of any well-defined canyons but does contain numerous, small (1–5 m) hummocks of uncertain origin and numerous, larger (5–40 m), patchily distributed, ahermatypic coral mounds. Sediments along the upper slope have prograded seaward during the Cenozoic as a slope-front-fill seismic facies of fine-grained peri-platform ooze. Surface sediments show lateral gradation of both grain size and carbonate mineralogy, with the fine fraction derived largely from the adjacent shallow-water platform. Near-surface sedimentary facies along the upper slope display a gradual downslope decrease in the degree of submarine cementation from well-lithified hardgrounds to patchily cemented nodular ooze to unlithified peri-platform ooze, controlled by lateral variations in diagenetic potential and/or winnowing by bottom currents. Submarine cementation stabilizes the upper part of the slope, allowing upbuilding of the platform margin, and controls the distribution of submarine slides, as well as the headward extent of submarine canyons. Where unlithified, sediments are heavily bioturbated and are locally undergoing dolomitization. Upper slope sediments are also ‘conditioned’eustatically, resulting in vertical, cyclic sequences of diagenetically unstable (aragonite and magnesian calcite-rich) and stable (calcite-rich) carbonates that may explain the well-bedded nature of ancient peri-platform ooze sequences. Lower slope sediments have prograded seaward during the Cenozoic as a chaotic-fill seismic facies of coarse-grained carbonate turbidites and debris flow deposits with subordinate amounts of peri-platform ooze. Coarse clasts are ‘internally’derived from fine-grained upper slope sediments via incipient cementation, submarine sliding and the generation of sediment gravity flows. Gravity flows bypass the upper slope via a multitude of canyons and are deposited along the lower slope as a wedge-shaped apron of debris, parallel to the adjacent shelf edge, consisting of a complex spatial arrangement of localized turbidites and debris flow deposits. A proximal apron facies of thick, mud-supported debris flow deposits plus thick, coarse-grained, Ta turbidites, grades seaward into a distal apron facies of thinner, grain-supported debris flow deposits and thinner, finer grained Ta-b turbidites with increasing proportions of peri-platform ooze. Both the geomorphology and sedimentary facies relationships of the carbonate apron north of Little Bahama Bank differ significantly from the classic submarine fan model. As such, a carbonate apron model offers an alternative to the fan model for palaeoenvironmental analysis of ancient, open-ocean carbonate slope sequences.     

Sedimentology of the Baluti Formation in the Galley Derash,Amadiya, North Iraq: insight on carbonate turbidite facies and their depositional environmental

The Baluti Formation is exposed succession of the Rhaetian age (Upper Triassic). These strata are interpreted herein for the first time to redeposit in a deep marine setting (distally steepened carbonate ramp/medial to distal slope) on the northwestern margin of the Neo-Tethys. The Galley Derash section is apparently continuous with no evidence for either subaerial exposure or submarine erosion. The absence of erosional scours in the study area confirms emplacement of these strata below both fair-weather and storm wave base. Event beds, particularly those resulting from sediment gravity flows, dominate the Rhaetian interval. The Upper Rhaetian strata are primarily assigned to the Galley Derash Valley. It records an upward transition from moderate-scale, olistolith-bearing debris flow deposits (debrite) to medium-/thin-bedded turbidites remobilized as sediment slumps/slides. The succession is dominated by medium- to thin-bedded calcareous turbidites and hemipelagic suspension deposits. Very low fossil assemblages, particularly stromatolite fragments, and planktonic bivalves occur within some intervals in the section. Rapid and relatively continuous sedimentation is attested to by the thickness of the section, the abundance of calcareous turbidites, and the thin nature of the intercalated hemipelagic beds. Low content of badly preserved fossils and evidence of continuous and rapid sedimentation refer to alteration by tectonic disturbances or diagenesis. This makes the Baluti Beds as a supplementary section for the Rhaetian successions in Iraq.     

Sedimentary facies analysis and depositional model of gravity-flow deposits of the Yanchang Formation,southwestern Ordos Basin,NW China

During the deposition of the Chang-7 (Ch-7) and Chang-6 (Ch-6) units in the Upper Triassic, gravity flows were developed widely in a deep lake in the southwestern Ordos Basin, China. Based on cores, outcrops, well-logs and well-testing data, this paper documents the sedimentary characteristics of the gravity-flow deposits and constructs a depositional model. Gravity-flow deposits in the study area comprise seven lithofacies types, which are categorised into four groups: slides and slumps, debris-flow-dominated lithofacies, turbidity-current-dominated lithofacies, and deep-water mudstone-dominated lithofacies. The seven lithofacies form two sedimentary entities: sub-lacustrine fan and the slump olistolith, made up of three and two lithofacies associations, respectively. Lithofacies association 1 is a channel–levee complex with fining-/thinning-upward sequences whose main part is characterised by sandy debris flow-dominated, thick-bedded massive sandstones. Lithofacies association 2 represents distributary channelised lobes of sub-lacustrine fans, which can be further subdivided into distributary channel, channel lateral margin and inter-channel. Lithofacies association 3 is marked by non-channelised lobes of sub-lacustrine fans, including sheet-like turbidites and deep-lake mudstones. Lithofacies association 4 is represented by proximal lobes of slump olistolith, consisting of slides and slumps. Lithofacies association 5 is marked by distal lobes of slump olistolith, comprising tongue-shaped debris flow lobes and turbidite lobes. It is characterised by sandy debris flow, muddy debris flow-dominated sandstone and sandstone with classic Bouma sequences. Several factors caused the generation of gravity flows in the Ordos Basin, including sediment supply, terrain slope and external triggers, such as volcanisms, earthquakes and seasonal floods. The sediment supply of sub-lacustrine fan was most likely from seasonal floods with a high net-to-gross and incised channels. Triggered by volcanisms and earthquakes, the slump olistolith is deposited by the slumping and secondary transport of unconsolidated sediments in the delta front or prodelta with a low net-to-gross and no incised channels.     

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.     

Depositional processes,triggering mechanisms and sediment composition of carbonate gravity flow deposits: examples from the Late Cretaceous of the south-central Pyrenees,Spain

Cenomanian through Coniacian strata near the town of Sopeira in the south-central Pyrenees (northern Spain) are composed of a variety of autochthonous and allochthonous carbonate slope lithologies that are divided into six depositional sequences based on facies distribution patterns and stratal relationships. The sequences record three major phases of platform margin evolution: rifting, burial, and exhumation. During the first phase (sequences UK-1, UK-2, UK-3, UK-4, and lower UK-5), deposition occurred on the edge of a wrench basin, and a normal fault located beneath the platform margin strongly influenced slope evolution. Background hemipelagic sediments on the slope were commonly redeposited by submarine slumps and slides. More intense reworking resulted in matrix-supported, slope-derived megaconglomerates (debrites).During the Cenomanian and Turonian, seismically triggered debris flows originated at the platform margin, bypassed the upper slope, and were deposited on the lower slope as polymictic, clast-supported, matrix-rich megabreccias. The megabreccias form channelized and sheet-like bodies with erosional basal surfaces. Shallow carbonate environments backstepped during the Late Turonian and Coniacian, but displacement along the fault at this time resulted in the development of a steep submarine scarp and the exposure of Cenomanian and Lower Turonian strata to submarine erosion. Matrix-poor, margin-derived megabreccias form a thick talus pile at the base of the scarp. Some of the breccias were transported into the basin as debris falls, forming sheet-like beds.Marl eventually buried the Coniacian scarp in sequence UK-5, resulting in the second major phase of platform slope evolution. The slope profile at this time was relatively gentle, and redeposited material is less common. In the third phase (sequence UK-6), tectonically induced bankward erosion during the Santonian resulted in a high (greater than 800 m) erosional scarp with a regional east–west trend that was subsequently onlapped by siliciclastic turbidites. Rejuvenation of erosion in the same vicinity suggests that long-term tectonism controlled the position of the slope, rates of erosion, and sediment type on the slope.Sediment gravity flow processes are laterally and temporally related. Submarine slide and slump deposits commonly grade laterally downslope into slope-derived megaconglomerates. Debris flows that originated at the platform margin appear to have initiated slumps, slides, and other debris flows on the slope. Debris fall deposits are commonly capped by coarse, graded, lithoclastic packstones that may represent turbidites generated by the debris falls.Sediment fabric exerted a profound impact on depositional processes, distribution of facies, and morphology of the slope. Fine-grained, mud-rich, lower slope deposits were unstable at even moderate slope angles, and have been extensively redeposited. Redeposition of grain-rich, upper slope facies was triggered by syndepositional seismic activity and upslope migration of instability and erosion. In the presence of mud, the transport mechanisms are typically cohesive debris flows, which were able to carry material onto the lower slope and into the basin. When no mud was available, rock falls and debris falls were the dominant sediment gravity flows, and their deposits are restricted to a position on the hanging wall proximal to the fault.     

湘西黔东寒武纪深水碳酸盐重力沉积

湘西黔东武陵山地区位于江南寒武纪边缘海的西北边缘[1],自早寒武世清墟洞期开始,本区主要表现为一呈北东-南西向展布的深水碳酸盐斜坡。其东南侧为深水盆地。西北侧为广阔的扬子碳酸盐台地。台地边缘区发育有以表附藻、葛万藻为主要造礁生物的蓝绿藻礁和鲕粒滩、砂屑滩。由于台地边缘的快速堆积及其向海推进,造成了台地边缘极大的不稳定性,在重力作用下,发生了大规模的沉积物横向位移。因此,自中寒武世开始，在斜坡带及盆地边缘形成了类型繁多的重力沉积物。