Late Cretaceous stratigraphy,sediments and structure: Gems of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site (Jurassic Coast), England

Extraordinary, long-distance litho-marker beds such as the Lewes and Shoreham Tubular Flints and associated marl seams and fossils, recognised in cliff exposures and cliff-fall boulders, are keys to unlocking the stratigraphy and tectonic structures in the Late Cretaceous of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site (Jurassic Coast). Durdle Cove is a special gem exposing the Lewes and Seaford Chalk stratigraphy where new marker beds are identified and sediments and tectonic structures provide clues to timing of movements that produced a Late Cretaceous pericline which grew into a Miocene monocline along the line of the underlying Purbeck Reverse Fault. During ‘inversion’ along this fault some Late Cretaceous Chalk formations were in part or completely ‘lost’ (e.g. Middle Turonian New Pit Chalk Formation) and others were condensed (e.g. Late Santonian and Early Campanian Newhaven Chalk Formation). Excavation of the A354 road cutting at the Lower Bincombe Farm, has greatly added to the stratigraphical records of Late Cretaceous fossils in South Dorset, especially Coniacian and Early Campanian inoceramid bivalves and the various stratigraphically specific forms of the Late Santonian to Early Campanian echinoid fossil Echinocorys scutata spp. not recorded before in this coastline. The very large bivalve fossil Platyceramus sp. provides clues to chalk sea-floor environments.     

Late Cretaceous tectono-sedimentary events in NW Europe

Late Cretaceous sedimentary history has been strongly influenced by both sea-level fluctuations and inversion tectonics. Evidence for tectonic movements, originally identified in German Late Cretaceous basins, is applied to the UK successions. Two periods of movement are conspicuous: a Middle Turonian episode involving huge loss of section along anticlinal axes in southern England and a Late Santonian-Early Campanian episode also involving section loss on structure and section gain off structure. This pattern is repeated where folds or blocks are underlain by inversion thrust faults (e.g. the Purbeck Fault in Dorset, the Falmer Fault in Sussex, the Portsdown Fault in Hampshire and the Bray Fault in Upper Normandy). Other episodes of inversion in the Late Turonian to Middle Coniacian and the late Early Campanian are investigated and are a probable cause of slump beds and slides. These tecto-sedimentary episodes can be applied to structures in Northern Ireland, Inner Hebrides, North Sea and Yorkshire as well as southern Britain. Beyond NW Europe the Late Santonian – Early Campanian event is widely recognised in the Carpathians, southern Europe, Africa and the Levant and coincides with the end of the Long Cretaceous Quiet Zone (Chron 34N to 33R) perhaps representing a major change in Earth dynamics related to Mid-Ocean Ridge crustal production and intra-continental crust tectonism.     

The lithostratigraphy of the English Chalk Rock

The Upper Turonian Chalk Rock occurs within a nodular unit within the otherwise generally soft, white chalk that dominates the English Upper Cretaceous. The nodular unit is condensed, and contains a number of hardgrounds that are designated here as the Chalk Rock Formation. The Chalk Rock contains some seven or eight hardgrounds, most of which are lithologically distinctive and can be traced over distances of up to 250 km. Nine beds within the Chalk Rock are named, comprising six hardgrounds and three marl seams. The lowermost widespread hardground appears to be more or less equivalent to the “Spurious Chalk Rock” of the south coast of England. In two areas the thickness of the Chalk Rock is greatly diminished. The most marked area, in west Wiltshire, is located close to the Palaeozoic Mendip Hills and indicates that the Mendip structure has influenced Turonian sedimentation. The other region of thinning is a platform-like area in the eastern Chiltern Hills WNW of London.     

川渝地区构造动力学演化与盆岭-盆山耦合构造分析

以构造动力学演化为主线,从拉张与挤压的辩证关系出发,提出了川渝地区构造动力学演化经历了挤压-区域拉张-陆隆伸展-再挤压的构造动力学演化过程;川渝地区在T3-J2期间为盆岭耦合构造格局,在当时山岭与盆地之间过渡的斜坡带前缘(大致相当于理县至都江堰地域),出现印支、燕山期滑覆构造,表现为山岭斜坡前缘逆冲叠瓦状断层与紧闭甚至倒转、平卧褶皱的出现;J3以来,构造动力学背景由伸展转变为挤压,形成基底卷入的厚皮构造,龙门山迅速崛起,四川盆地最终定型,形成现今见到的松潘甘孜高原-龙门山-四川盆地构成的盆山耦合构造格局。     

Penecontemporaneous folding, sedimentation and erosion in Campanian Chalk near Portsmouth, England

Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Chalk exposed in a quarry near Portsmouth is unusual in the occurrence of a contemporaneous anticlinal fold, probably diapiric in origin. Hardgrounds and local slumps developed over the structure, and part of the chalk succession thins considerably over its crest. Erosional channels, sometimes containing bioclastic lag deposits, formed at two levels. Movement on the anticline occurred three times during the part of the Lower Campanian represented in the section; the third phase resulted in extensive fracturing of the crestal region of the fold. Burial of the structure and the onset of normal chalk deposition concluded the Cretaceous phase of its history.     

山东灵山岛早白垩世复理石软沉积物变形期次解析

前人对软沉积物变形期次研究多数集中于触发变形的地震事件的周期,而对滑塌体内部软沉积物变形期次研究较少。山东灵山岛早白垩世复理石形成于残余盆地背景,且由于地震频发导致滑塌沉积广泛发育。滑塌沉积层中发育有丰富的软沉积物变形构造,如：同沉积滑塌褶皱、底模构造、剖面X形共轭逆断层、同沉积布丁构造、砂岩层断块及变形团块、微型地垒—地堑组合和叠瓦状倒转紧闭褶皱等。不同类型和不同部位的软沉积物变形构造显示出发育期次不同的特征。本文以灵山岛修船厂附近滑塌沉积层为例,分析软沉积物变形构造的变形机制,并将其发育期次大致分为滑塌前、滑塌中和滑塌后三个阶段。只有部分滑塌中的软沉积物变形构造具有滑塌指向意义,而滑塌前的变形构造不能用来判别滑塌体的搬运方向。     

Oxygen and carbon isotope analysis of the Mooreville Chalk and late Santonian-early Campanian sea level and sea surface temperature changes, northeastern Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A.

Oxygen and carbon isotope profiles for strata of the Mooreville Chalk (upper Santonian-lower Campanian) of the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain, U.S.A., show correlations with published curves for these isotopes. The δ¹⁸O curve exhibits a strong similarity to the Exmouth Plateau δ¹⁸O curve from ODP drilling sites offshore northwestern Australia, and the δ¹³C curve can be correlated with the δ¹³C curve from the English Chalk Trunch section.A thermal maximum probably occurred in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico during the latest Santonian (83.8 Ma), as evidenced by the minimum δ¹⁸O values in the lower Mooreville beds. A δ¹³C positive excursion occurs at the same stratigraphic level, which has been recognized as the “Santonian/Campanian boundary event” worldwide. After this event, ocean surface water temperature decreased throughout the early Campanian. This carbon isotope excursion is followed by a plateau in δ¹³C values with a peak value occurring in a condensed section (80 Ma), which has been correlated to a downlap or maximum flooding surface on seismic data from offshore Alabama. The section characterized by increasing δ¹³C values corresponds to a marine transgression. The interval characterized by decreasing δ¹³C values corresponds to regression and progradation. The maximum flooding event occurred 0.8 Ma later than the thermal maximum event.The Mooreville chalk/marl cycles are most likely a product of fluctuations in siliciclastic sediment influx into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico modulated by the precession band of the Earth's orbital cycles. Higher carbon isotope values occur in the marl beds indicating that these beds were formed in a more anoxic/dysoxic environment characterized by higher clay, silt input and higher organic carbon accumulation.     

Trace fossils of a cyclic chalk-marl succession; the upper Maastrichtian Rørdal Member, Denmark

Trace fossils from an upper Maastrichtian cyclic chalk-marl succession, the Rørdal Member, exposed in the Rørdal quarry, Denmark, are analysed in order to test whether the changes in substrate lithology exerted any control over the ichnodiversity, tiering complexity, and density of the infauna. The cyclicity is interpreted as caused by orbital changes within the Milankovitch frequency band. The carbonate content varies between 71 and 82 weight% in the marl and 82-92 weight% in the chalk beds. The material is based on 19 samples collected from six chalk and marl beds. The investigated bedding-normal sample surfaces vary in area between 29 and 155 cm². Eight ichnogenera and two undetermined ichnogenera are recognised. The member is characterised by three ichnofabrics (A, B and C). The ichnofabric analysis is based on texture and internal structure of the sediments resulting from bioturbation. Ichnofabric A is found only in chalk samples and shows a poor preservation of trace fossils, whereas ichnofabric C is found in a few chalk and all marl samples and comprises a very dense, diverse and well preserved ichnofauna representing a high tiering complexity. Ichnofabric B represents an intermediate situation between ichnofabrics A and C and occurs in chalk samples immediately adjacent to marl beds. The observed changes in ichnofabrics between chalk and marl are related to the amount of clay in the samples and the differences in the occurrence of trace fossils are interpreted as due to differences in the visibility of traces between chalk and marl and not due to differences in ecological stress upon the endobenthic community of the two lithologies. The study thus provides an excellent example of how the effect of taphonomic factors may give a misleading and biased impression of apparent differences in the endobenthic community between chalk and marl.     

川东—武陵地区构造格局及其演化

陆内变形是现今大陆动力学研究的重要内容之一。川东-武陵地区位于扬子地块的内部,远离板块边界,是研究陆内变形的绝佳场所。通过野外断裂构造详细的解析、褶皱构造的形态分析以及沉积地层接触关系的研究,建立了川东-武陵地区显生宙构造格局,探讨了多期构造演化过程。晚中生代以来的两次构造作用奠定了研究区的构造格架,认为滑脱层的深度及数量从根本上控制了川东-武陵地区侏罗山式褶皱变形的差异,褶皱与断裂构造几乎同时形成,川东地区的隔挡式褶皱为单层滑脱变形的结果,而武陵地区的褶皱构造是由于多层次滑脱背景下、差异隆升剥蚀造成的不同构造层次褶皱出露的结果。结合区域地质演化,提出川东-武陵地区显生宙时期主要经历了五期构造演化。晚志留-中泥盆世、石炭纪末和中、晚三叠世之交,研究区均以整体的抬升作用为主,不发育任何褶皱构造;晚侏罗-早白垩世发生大规模褶皱-逆冲作用;新生代晚期,受印度与欧亚大陆汇聚作用的影响,区内断裂带走滑方向发生反转,早期构造被强烈改造。      

A chalk revolution: what have we done to the Chalk of England?

Inversion tectonic episodes are identified in the Upper Turonian - Lower Coniacian, Santonian - Lower Campanian and later Lower Campanian Chalk. It is suggested that episodic tectonism created the seabed topography on which sea levels and erosional currents acted. Marked differentiation into linear belts of local basins and swells with a greater variety of sediments is present in the Santonian and Lower Campanian. During this same period the locus of sedimentation shifts westwards from the southern margin of the Weald to Wessex as Weald Basin inversion increases. Tectonic episodes also produced synsedimenary fracturing of the Chalk and evolution of vein networks and stylolytes. Upper Cretaceous tectonic and sea-level events also affected the platform of Europe, the Carpathians and the Syrian Arc where sedimento-tectonic scenarios provide analogues for the Chalk. Linking sea-level oscillations and tectonic episodes with microtectonic studies suggests a frequency of events within the range of 0.35-1.5 Ma.     

Non-uniform across-shelf variations in thickness, grain size, and frequency of turbidites in a transgressive outer-shelf, the Middle Pleistocene Kakinokidai Formation, Boso Peninsula, Japan

Across-shelf variations in thickness, grain size, and frequency of sandstone beds in a transgressive outer-shelf succession were investigated from the Middle Pleistocene (ca. 0.7 Ma) Kakinokidai Formation on the Boso Peninsula, Japan. The transgressive deposits are generally muddy and contain slumps and slump scars. The intercalated sandstone beds are interpreted to have been formed from turbidity currents as a response to erosion and resuspension of sandridge-complex deposits in the southwestern upslope area during storm events. Mapping of volcanic ash beds and a transgressive surface in the base of the formation permits detailed bed-by-bed correlation of the outer-shelf sandstone beds. Although, overall, thickness, grain size, and frequency of sandstone beds decrease in the downslope direction, some sandstone beds locally thin out and coarsen in association with slump scars in the surrounding muddy deposits. These sandstone beds subsequently thicken and fine, and finally thin out in the farther downslope area. In addition to the local thinning of sandstone beds, the frequency of sandstone beds first decreases and then increases in the farther offshore direction. From this evidence, we concluded that these non-uniform patterns of across-outer-shelf variations in thickness, grain size, and frequency of sandstone beds were caused by the local increases in flow speeds and subsequent expansion and reduced speeds of turbidity currents, along with a local increase in the seafloor gradient that was induced by the development of slump scars in the transgressive outer-shelf floor. These physiographic features in the outer shelf are interpreted not to have permitted monotonous downslope thinning and fining of sandstone beds, compared with the bed-shape models of depletive turbidity currents and with the proximality trend of shelf sandstones from modern and ancient highstand-stage shelf systems.     

贵州省织金—纳雍煤田构造特征及其成因

织金—纳雍煤田主要发育NE、NW、EW及近SN向四组褶皱与断裂,其中以NE向最为发育。在早燕山期近EW向最大主应力作用下,黔中隆起及其邻区发生剧烈造山运动,在煤田东部边界形成向西逆冲的区域性大断裂—遵义断裂,并伴生一系列近NS向褶皱及断层。自东向西的强烈挤压使得垭都—紫云断裂带发生压剪性活动,在西部边界靠近断裂带形成一系列NW向褶皱及断层。随后主应力转变为SE—NW向,受到隆起的阻隔及纳雍—瓮安断裂、垭都—紫云断裂的限制,在煤田中部形成NE向褶皱及断层,此时奠定了织纳煤田的基本构造格局。晚燕山期将早期NE向构造左行剪切成"S"形,晚燕山期及喜马拉雅期主要表现为对早期构造的继承性发展。     

Classifying chalk microtextures: Sedimentary versus diagenetic origin (Cenomanian–Santonian,Paris Basin,France)

Microtexture describes the type of particles and their arrangement in matrix samples at scanning electron microscopy scale. Although a microtexture classification exists for micritic limestone, it cannot be directly applied to chalk. This study therefore proposes a classification of chalk microtextures and discusses the origin of microtexture variability. Chalk was sampled at thirteen spatio‐temporal locations along the coastline of northern France (Cenomanian–Santonian). Four criteria are defined to describe, characterize and determine chalk matrix microtexture: (i) mineralogical content; (ii) biogenic fraction; (iii) micritic fraction; and (iv) cement fraction. From these criteria, two major groups are defined: Pure Chalk Microtexture Group, with seven classes, and Impure Chalk Microtexture Group, divided into two subgroups: Argillaceous Microtexture with four classes and Siliceous Microtexture with two classes. Microtexture variability is related both to initial sedimentation and to diagenesis. Sedimentological conditions (for example, climate and distance from shore) affect chalk composition (carbonate content and type of insoluble particles), thus influencing microtexture. Changes in Pure Chalk Microtexture are the result of increasing diagenetic intensity. This classification can also be used to characterize the microtexture of subsurface chalk reservoirs. Reservoir quality depends on the petrophysical and mechanical properties of reservoir rocks, which can be better understood by exploring their sedimentary and diagenetic history, revealed by the study of chalk microtexture variability.     

Syn-sedimentary tectonics and facies analysis in a rift setting: Cretaceous Dalmiapuram Formation,Cauvery Basin,SE India

The Cretaceous(Albian-Cenomanian) Dalmiapuram Formation is one of the economically significant constituents in the hydrocarbon-producing Cauvery rift basin, SE India that opened up during the Late Jurassic e Early Cretaceous Gondwanaland fragmentation. The fossil-rich Dalmiapuram Formation,exposed at Ariyalur within the Pondicherry sub-basin of Cauvery Basin, rests in most places directly on the Archean basement and locally on the Lower Cretaceous(Barremian-Aptian) Basal Siliciclastic Formation. In the Dalmiapuram Formation, a facies association of tectonically-disturbed phase is sandwiched between two drastically quieter phases. The early syn-rift facies association(FA 1), records the first carbonate marine transgression within the basin, comprising a bar-lagoon system with occasionally storms affecting along the shore and a sheet-like non-recurrent biomicritic limestone bed on the shallow shelf that laterally grades into pyrite e glauconite-bearing dark-colored shale in the deeper shelf. Spectacular breccias together with varied kinds of mass-flow products comprise the syn-rift facies association(FA 2). While the breccias occur at the basin margin area, the latter extend in the deeper inland sea. Clast composition of the coarse clastics includes large, even block-sized limestone fragments and small fragments of granite and sandstone from the basement.Marl beds of quieter intervals between tectonic pulses occur in alternation with them. Faulted basal contact of the formation, and small grabens filled by multiple mass-flow packages bear the clear signature of the syntectonic activity localized contortions, slump folds, and pillow beds associated with mega slump/slide planes and joints, which corroborates this contention further. This phase of tectonic intervention is followed by another relatively quieter phase and accommodates the late syn-rift facies association(FA 3). A tidal bar-interbar shelf depositional system allowed a transgressive systems tract motif to grow eventually passing upwards into the Karai Shale Formation, whose contact with the Dalmiapuram Formation is gradational.     

Fold crest degradation and slump deposition in the deepwater Niger Delta,Nigeria

This study uses 3D seismic reflection dataset to investigate the time-integrated growth and degradation of fault-propagation folds and associated slump deposits in the deepwater Niger Delta. The results of the analysis showed that slump deposits are sourced almost entirely from the degradation of growing fold crests—resulting in the development of seaward-facing scarps on the forelimbs of these folds. The scarps develop parallel to fold axes and have dips that range between 4° SW and 20° SW. The constant presence of fan-shaped slump deposits downdip of these scarps suggests a direct relationship to fold crest degradation. Moreover, the spatio-temporal distribution of the slumps also shows a direct relationship with the heights of seabed scarps along the strike of growing folds. Slumps have short run-out distances (generally less than 5 km); however, they also travel long distances downslope (up to 10 km) across growing structures by exploiting relay areas between growing scarps.     

黔西盘县地区煤层气成藏的构造控制

针对盘县地区复杂的煤层气地质条件,以构造演化为主线,结合野外地质观测和室内测试分析,探讨了构造对煤层 气成藏的控制作用。结果表明,盘县地区晚古生代以来经历了陆内裂陷（D-P）、稳定台地（T1-T2）、陆相坳陷（T3-J2）、 断褶隆升（J3-Q）四个构造演化阶段,煤层主要赋存于向斜构造,向斜控气特征明显;上二叠统含煤地层经历了两期沉降 埋藏、两期抬升剥蚀和三期煤化作用,燕山中期是煤层气成藏的关键时期,在深成变质作用基础上叠加了区域岩浆热变质 作用,奠定了煤级的现代分布格局;区内发育的压性- 压剪性构造是造成现今煤层高含气量的重要因素,近EW 向的水平挤 压现代构造应力场可能使得土城向斜和照子河向斜煤层渗透率高于向盘关向斜和旧普安向斜。     

Late Cenozoic Stratigraphy and Paleomagnetic Chronology of the Zanda Basin, Tibet, and Records of the Uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The characteristics of Late Cenozoic tectonic uplift of the southern margin of the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau may be inferred from fluvio-lacustrine strata in the Zanda basin, Ngari, Tibet. Magnetostratigraphic study shows that the very thick fluvio-lacustrine strata in the basin are 5.89- 0.78 Ma old and that their deposition persisted for 5.11 Ma, i.e. starting at the end of the Miocene and ending at the end of the early Pleistocene, with the Quaternary glacial stage starting in the area no later than 1.58 Ma. Analysis of the sedimentary environment indicates that the Zanda basin on the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau began uplift at -5.89 Ma, later than the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Presence of gravel beds in the Guge and Qangze Formations reflects that strong uplift took place at -5.15 and -2.71 Ma, with the uplift peaking at -2.71 Ma.     

Effect of groundwater and sea weathering cycles on the strength of chalk rock from unstable coastal cliffs of NW France

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role of groundwater and sea weathering on the strength of the chalk rocks exposed on the coastline of the English Channel in Normandy, NW France. We present a study of the rock strength variations of three representative chalk units (Lewes Chalk, Seaford Chalk and Newhaven Chalk) exposed at various locations on the coastal chalk cliffs. The combination of UCS tests and SEM observations have been used (1) on dry natural chalk samples, (2) on chalk samples at various moisture contents, (3) on dry chalk samples submitted to a 10-day cycle of alternating wetting and drying by distilled water and by sea water. Dry chalk samples show low UCS strength (3.46–4 MPa) indicative of very weak rocks. When chalk samples are submitted to progressive water wetting, they present a decrease of UCS strength and Young's modulus of 40% to 50%. This behaviour begins at low values of water content within the chalk, i.e., for a degree of water saturation ranging between 10% and 17%. When chalk samples are submitted to an artificial weathering cycle with distilled water, a decrease in strength is observed, whereas the Young's modulus increases. SEM observations indicate the occurrence of microcracks and particle aggregates in the sample. When chalk samples are submitted to an artificial weathering with sea water, the decrease of UCS strength and Young's modulus achieves a minimum. SEM observations indicate salt crystals within the chalk. On the coastal cliffs of NW France, weathering processes depend both on chalk lithology, which show a range of sensitivity to weathering and on the location of the chalk in the coastal area. Processes allied to the degree of weathering (e.g., salt crystallisation or fresh water disaggregation) differ in the chalk massif, on the cliff face and on the shore platform.     

The stratigraphy of the Chalk Group (Cretaceous) of the Devon coast,UK

An almost continuous layer of Upper Cretaceous deposits up to 1000 m thick was probably deposited across much of SW England. Phases of uplift in the late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic, each of which was followed by extensive erosion and dissolution, resulted in the removal of all except a few outliers of Chalk Group that crop out in east Devon and south Somerset. Those on the Devon coast between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis are some of the best exposed Cenomanian to early Coniacian successions in NW Europe and include the most westerly chalks preserved onshore in England. They form an integral part of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site. In contrast to the Chalk of much of southern England, the older formations in Devon, the Beer Head Limestone, Holywell Nodular Chalk and New Pit Chalk, show marked lateral lithological variations that result from a combination of penecontemporaneous movements on local faults and relatively shallow-water environments close to the western edge of the Chalk depositional basin. The younger parts of the succession, the Lewes Nodular Chalk and Seaford Chalk Formations, comprise chalks that do not appear to have been greatly affected by penecontemporaneous fault movements. These formations include lithological marker beds that have been correlated with marker beds in the Sussex type area. The principal sedimentary breaks in the Devon succession cannot be correlated with confidence with eustatic changes in sea level.     

广东曲仁煤田滑覆构造特征及找煤预测

印支至燕山早期,由于扬子板块与华南板块碰撞[③],使研究区北部九峰———诸广山一带相对南部曲仁煤田为隆起区,致使该区岩层从北往南顺坡滑移。首先在当冲组至龙潭组不含煤段中形成顺层滑动的F01主滑面。之后,受近南北向挤压应力继续作用,使滑覆构造总体同步褶皱,形成一系列轴向近东西的褶皱构造,同时北部的九峰—诸广山一带再次显著隆起,岩层又顺坡滑移形成F02,造成壶天灰岩大面积滑覆在D-T1地层之上。据此提出了预测找煤区。