华南地区早古生代沉积演化与油气地质条件

从构造角度上,现今的华南地区可以分为扬子地块和华夏地块,从成冰纪(南华纪)开始,由于受基底性质和构造活动等因素的影响,华南地区的沉积演化出现了分异,在扬子地块和华夏地块具有不同的沉积环境和沉积充填序列。总体上讲,扬子地块主体属于克拉通盆地,其多数时期为陆表海和局限浅海环境,构建了稳定的碳酸盐台地沉积和广泛分布的黑页岩沉积;而华夏地块处于构造活动环境,早期火山活动强烈,属于裂陷盆地,未形成统一的碳酸盐台地沉积,以陆源碎屑沉积充填为主体。两者不同的沉积环境和沉积序列决定了两个地区油气基本地质条件的差异:扬子地块具有丰富的烃源岩、良好的储集层以及封盖层的先天条件,而华夏地块没有较好的生油层和储集层。因此,在针对以早古生代地层为目的层的油气勘探工作部署时,应优先集中在扬子地块区。     

内蒙古通辽南部石炭纪岩相古地理特征

研究区位于内蒙古自治区奈曼旗和库伦旗南部，构造区划属于华北板块北缘的天山-赤峰活动带^[1]。区内晚石炭世地层以陆源碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩沉积为主。二者在空间上具有相变关系。按微相组合或基本层序，沉积构造，生物特征及其空间分布规律，可划分出滨岸相，潮坪相，台后盆地相及台地相4种岩相，8个微相；它们构成一个较为完整的海进层序，属于海侵体系域沉积。反映华北板块北缘晚石炭世海槽属于被动陆源盆地-即陆表海环境。     

新疆北部石炭纪岩相古地理

文章采用野外露头、钻井地质相结合的分析方法,讨论了新疆北部石炭纪的岩相古地理环境。野外露头、钻井资料的沉积建造、沉积相分布及古生物组合特征综合表明,新疆北部石炭纪古地理总体特征表现为由早石炭世的深海-半深海相、浅海相向晚石炭世的浅海相、海陆过渡相及陆相演化的趋势。岩石组合类型由早石炭世的活动陆缘型岛弧火山岩、深海复理石及海相碳酸盐岩向晚石炭世的裂谷型火山岩、陆相碎屑岩、海相碎屑岩及海相碳酸盐岩过渡。早、晚石炭世不同地区的古地理及其相应的岩石组合类型存在明显的差异。     

塔里木盆地上泥盆统与石炭系层序地层分析

塔里木盆地晚泥盆世-石炭纪为远离陆棚边缘的陆棚内部碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩陆表海沉积环境,在层序地层分布模式上与Vail等根据被动大陆边缘盆地提出的层序地层分布模式有所不同。共将上泥盆统-石炭系划分出五个层序,十四个体系域。其中,第Ｉ层序是在快速的海平面上升和陆源碎屑物质快速补偿条件下形成的;第Ⅱ层序代表陆源物质补给由快变慢的条件下形成的;第Ⅲ层序代表海面由慢速上升至快速下降过程中且陆源物质补给相对稳定条件下形成的;第Ⅳ层序代表海平面快速上升与陆源物质补给相对稳定的条件下形成的;第Ⅴ层序是在快速海平面上升及陆源物质供给补偿不足的条件下形成的。塔里木盆地晚泥盆世-石炭纪的沉积史是在相对海平面呈阶段性上升的海侵过程中发生的,可将这一时期的海平面变化划分为五个二级周期旋回。其中构造作用对第Ｉ、Ｉ、Ｖ周期的形成起了重要的作用。     

四川龙门山地区中泥盆统金宝石组混合沉积特征

四川龙门山地区是中国泥盆系出露较好、研究程度较高的地区。中泥盆统金宝石组发育由碎屑岩、碳酸盐岩、混积岩组成的混积沉积。本研究以平武县平驿铺剖面和北川县甘溪剖面为切入点,基于实测资料和薄片观察对金宝石组沉积相开展详细研究,认为龙门山地区中泥盆统金宝石组发育河流、碎屑滨岸、陆棚和碳酸盐岩缓坡4种沉积相,沉积演化经历了2个沉积旋回。金宝石组以相混合和原地混合2种方式形成混合沉积。相对海平面的变化、陆源碎屑的供应、碳酸盐生产速率和古气候是引起相混合的主要控制因素,波浪和风暴浪则是引起陆源碎屑和碳酸盐组分混合沉积的主要作用方式。对金宝石组沉积序列、沉积特征及沉积演化过程的研究,有利于增进对龙门山地区泥盆系沉积古环境的认识。     

The Upper Paleozoic preflysch and overthrusting in the Türkstan-Alay ranges,southern Fergana

The Upper Paleozoic preflysch sedimentary rocks in the Türkstan-Alay ranges are combined in a common section with limestone of autochthon and synsedimentation carbonate nappes, thus forming the upper-most layers of the stratigraphic section of the latter. By their lithology, relatively small thickness, facies variability, and position at the boundary between carbonate and flysch-olistostrome sequences (in the autochthon), these rocks correspond to a certain extent to preflysch of the Urals and the Mediterranean Alpine Belt. This association of clayey, carbonate, and terrigenous rocks is strictly constrained in stratigraphy (the upper portion of the lower Moscovian substage and the lower portion of the upper Moscovian substage) and localization (the southern slopes of carbonate platforms). The formation of this rock association immediately predated the Late Paleozoic overthrusting and deposition of terrigenous flysch. In paleotectonic terms, preflysch is an indicator of the initial stage of tectonic and magmatic activation that led to the replacement of carbonate sedimentation with deposition of terrigenous and clayey sediments, coeval volcanism, and stratiform ore formation. The following sequence of events has been outlined in the Early and Middle Carboniferous: (1) thrusting of volcanic-sedimentary rocks filling troughs over the northern margins of carbonate platforms, (2) lateritic weathering and deposition of marine bauxite in the Bashkirian and early Moscovian, (3) repeated overthrusting and deposition of preflysch on southern slopes of platforms, (4) invasion of the frontal flysch trough from the south, (5) scouring of preflysch and the underlying limestone, and (6) formation of flysch-olistostrome sequences and tectonic and gravity nappes in the late Moscovian time. This interpretation takes into account the southward vergence of thrust sheets and nappes, the structure and localization of allochthonous fragments of marginal zones of carbonate platforms, and the pre-Bashkirian thrusting of volcanic and sedimentary rocks over the condensed pelagic deposits of the Shalan Group. It is suggested that bauxite and preflysch materials had the same source and were deposited in the Middle Carboniferous on the offshore carbonate shoals.     

Metallogeny and tectonic development of the tasman fold belt system in tasmania

In western Tasmania, Precambrian sedimentary sequences form the basement for narrow trough accumulations of Eocambrian and younger sequences. The main trough, the meridional Dundas Trough, is flanked to the west by the Rocky Cape region of Precambrian rocks within which major, apparently stratiform, exhalative magnetite-pyrite deposits are intercalated with metabasaltic volcanics and ultramafic bodies.The Eocambrian-Cambrian troughs apparently developed during extension of Precambrian continental crust. Early shallow-water deposition includes thick dolomite units in some troughs. Deepening of the troughs was accompanied by turbidite sedimentation, with minor limestone, and submarine basaltic volcanism with associated minor disseminated native copper. Ultramafic and related igneous rocks were tectonically emplaced in some troughs during a mild compressional phase. They contain only minor platinoids, copper-nickel sulphides and asbestos, but are source rocks for Tertiary secondary deposits of platinoids, chromite and lateritic nickel.In the Dundas Trough, Eocambrian-Early Cambrian rocks are separated by an inferred erosional surface from structurally conformable overlying Middle to Late Cambrian fossiliferous turbidite sequences. The structural conformity continues through overlying Ordovician to Early Devonian terrestrial and shallow-marine stable shelf deposits.A considerable pile of probable Middle Cambrian felsic volcanics accumulated between the sedimentary deposits of the Dundas Trough and the Tyennan region of Precambrian rocks to the east. A lava-dominated belt within the volcanics hosts major volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, including those of the exhalative type, which in the south are enriched in copper, gold and silver, whereas in the north they are rich in zine, lead, copper, gold and silver. Cambrian movements along faults near the margin of the Tyennan region resulted in erosion of the mineralized volcanics, locally exposing sub-volcanic granitoids. Above the local unconformities occur unmineralized volcaniclastic sequences that pass conformably into Ordovician to Early Devonian shelf deposits. Ordovician limestone locally hosts stratabound disseminated and veined base metal sulphide deposits.Pre-Middle Devonian rocks of western Tasmania differ, for most part, from those in the northeast where deeper marine turbidite quartz-wacke sequences were deposited during the Ordovician and Early Devonian.The Eocambrian to Early Devonian rocks of Tasmania were extensively deformed in the mid-Devonian. The Precambrian regions of western Tasmania behaved as relatively competent blocks controlling early fold patterns. In northeastern Tasmania, folding is of similar age but resulted from movements inconsistent with those affecting rocks of equivalent age in western Tasmania.The final metallogenic event is associated with high-level granitoid masses emplaced throughout Tasmania during the Middle to Late Devonian. In northeastern Tasmania, extensive I-type granodiorite and S-type granite, with alkali-feldspar granites, are associated with mainly endogranitic stanniferous grelsens and wolframite ± cassiterite vein deposits. In contrast, scheelite-bearing skarns and cassiterite stannite pyrrhotite carbonate replacement deposits are dominant in western Tasmania, associated mainly with S-type granites. Several argentiferous lead-zinc vein deposits occur in haloes around tin-tungsten deposits. A number of gold deposits are apparently associated with I-type granodiorite, but some have uncertain genesis.The contrasting regions of western and northeastern Tasmania have probably been brought together by lateral movement along an inferred fracture. Flat-lying, Late Carboniferous and younger deposits rest on the older rocks, and the only known post-Devonian primary mineralization is gold associated with Creta ceous syenite.     

Facies and sequence stratigraphic analysis in an intracratonic, thermal-relaxation basin: the Early Proterozoic, Lower Quilalar Formation and Ballara Quartzite, Mount Isa Inlier, Australia

The Quilalar Formation and correlative Mary Kathleen Group in the Mount Isa Inlier, Australia, conformably overlie rift-related volcanics and sediments and non-conformably overlie basement rocks. They represent a thermal-relaxation phase of sedimentation between 1780 and 1740 Ma. Facies analysis of the lower siliciclastic member of the Quilalar Formation and the coeval Ballara Quartzite permits discrimination of depositional systems that were restricted areally to either N-S-trending marginal platform or central trough palaeogeographic settings. Four depositional systems, each consisting of several facies, are represented in the lower Quilalar Formation-Ballara Quartzite; these are categorized broadly as storm-dominated shelf (SDS), continental (C), tide-dominated shelf (TDS) and wave-dominated shoreline (WDS). SDS facies consist either of black pyritic mudstone intervals up to 10 m thick, or mudstone and sandstone associated in 6–12-m-thick, coarsening-upward parasequences. Black mudstones are interpreted as condensed sections that developed as a result of slow sedimentation in an outer-shelf setting starved of siliciclastic influx. Vertical transition of facies in parasequences reflects flooding followed by shoaling of different shelf subenvironments; the shoreface contains evidence of subaerial exposure. Continental facies consist of fining-upward parasequences of fluvial origin and tabular, 0·4–4-m-thick, aeolian parasequences. TDS facies are represented by stacked, tabular parasequences between 0·5 and 5 m thick. Vertical arrangement of facies in parasequences reflects flooding and establishment of a tidal shelf followed by shoaling to intertidal conditions. WDS facies are preserved in 0·5–3-m-thick, stacked, tabular parasequences. Vertical transition of facies reflects initial flooding with wave reworking of underlying arenites along a ravinement surface, followed by shoaling from lower shoreface to foreshore conditions. Parasequences are stacked in retrogradational and progradational parasequence sets. Retrogradational sets consist of thin SDS parasequences in the trough, and C, TDS and probably WDS parasequences on the platforms. Thick SDS parasequences in the trough, and TDS, subordinate C and probably WDS parasequences on the platforms make up progradational parasequence sets. Depositional systems are associated in systems tracts that make up 40–140-m-thick sequences bounded by type-2 sequence boundaries that are disconformities. Transgressive systems tracts consist of C, TDS and probably WDS depositional systems on the platforms and the SDS depositional system and suspension mudstone deposits in the trough. The transgressive systems tract is characterized by retrogradational parasequence sets and developed in response to accelerating rates of sea-level rise following lowstand. Condensed-section deposits in the trough, and the thickest TDS parasequences on the platforms reflect maximum rates of sea-level rise and define maximum flooding surfaces. Highstand systems tract deposits are progradational. Early highstand systems tracts are represented by TDS and probably WDS depositional systems on the platforms and suspension mudstone deposits in the trough and reflect decreasing rates of sea-level rise. Later highstand systems tracts consist of the progradational SDS depositional system in the trough and, possibly, thin continental facies on the platforms. This stage of sequence development is related to slow rates of sea-level rise, stillstand and slow rates of fall. Lowstand deposits of shelf-margin systems tracts are not recognized but may be represented by shoreface deposits at the top of progradational SDS parasequence sets.     

Proterozoic aeolian quartz arenites from the Hornby Bay Group, Northwest Territories, Canada: Implications for Precambrian aeolian processes

The Hornby Bay Group is a Middle Proterozoic 2.5 km-thick succession of terrestrial siliciclastics overlain by marine siliciclastics and carbonates. A sequence of conglomeratic and arenaceous rocks at the base of the group contains more than 500 m of mature hematitic quartz arenite interpreted to have been deposited by migrating aeolian bedforms. Bedforms and facies patterns of modern aeolian deposits provided a basis for recognizing two sequences of aeolian arenite. Both sequences interfinger with alluvial—wadi fan conglomerates and arenites deposited by braided streams. Depositional processes, facies patterns and paleotopographic position of the arenites are consistent with modern sand sea dynamics.Distal aeolian facies in both sequences are composed of trough crossbed megasets deposited by climbing, sinuous-crested, transverse dunes. Megasets comprise a gradational assemblage of tabular to wedge-planar cosets formed by deflation/reactivation of dune lee slopes and migration of smaller superposed aeolian bedforms (small dunes and wind ripples). Megasets in the proximal facies are thinner, display composite internal stratification and have a tabular-planar geometry which suggests that they were formed by smaller, straight-crested transverse dunes. Most stratification within the crossbeds is inferred to have formed by the downwind climbing of aeolian ripples across the lee slopes of dunes.Remarkably few Precambrian aeolian deposits have been reported previously. This seems anomalous, because most Precambrian fluvial sediments appear to have been deposited by low sinuosity (braided) streams, the emergent parts of which are prime areas for aeolian deflation. Frequent floods and rapid lateral migration of Precambrian humid climate fluvial systems probably restricted aeolianite deposition to arid paleoclimates. Thus the apparent anomaly may reflect non-recognition and/or non-preservation of aeolianites and/or variations in some aspect of sand sea formation and migration unique to the Precambrian. Reconstruction of the Hornby Bay Group aeolianites using recently developed criteria for their recognition suggests that the latter reason did not exert a strong influence.     

鄂西北上震旦统灯影组沉积相及构造古地理

湖北省丹江口、谷城、郧县及邻区河南浙川等地广泛分布的灯影组碳酸盐岩,几乎均系较深水或深水环境下的产物。按照沉积作用特征将其分为6种成因类型,即重力流沉积、滑坡滑塌沉积、较深水静水沉积)。浅水机械沉积和生物沉积（藻）碳酸盐岩及少量陆源碎屑岩。它们组成了5种不同的剖面结构（岩相序列）。根据各种类型剖面的空间分布对灯影期沉积古地理进行了恢复。该区在灯影期系一总体呈北西向延伸的被动大陆边缘,西北部发育藻礁沉积,推测北部淅川附近存在碳酸盐水下高地。     

论古代海洋碳酸盐沉积环境基本模式

我国碳酸盐地层分布广泛,厚度巨大,类型复杂,从而为我国碳酸盐研究提供广阔前景。解放以后,我国首先在四川盆地的二、三叠系碳酸盐岩中获得高产气田,推动了碳酸盐岩的研究。     

鄂北南化地区寒武纪缓坡沉积及层序

出露于鄂北南化地区的寒武纪地层，总厚约１４００ｍ，主体为一套碳酸盐岩。对沉积岩相及相组合的分析表明，本区寒武系主要是形成于碳酸盐缓坡之上，并可以划分出四种主要的沉积相带:浅水陆棚、深水缓坡、浅水缓坡建隆和近岸浅水缓坡。本文还初步研究了区内寒武系露头的层序地层学特征，划分出两个亚层序，并探讨了亚层序内部岩相的不同叠置类型及其在时间上的演化与相应的海平面升降变化。通过与已有的旋回性海平面变化模式相对比，得出了本区寒武纪层序内部的次级旋回可能指示第三级海平面变化旋回的认识。     

南华海泥盆纪烃源岩的古氧相和缺氧环境模式——以广西中、上泥盆统为例

缺氧条件是形成和保存优质烃源岩的重要条件。古氧相的研究对查明海相优质烃源岩时空分布、恢复地史时期古环境演化具有重要意义。泥盆纪时期,南华海受陆内裂陷作用影响,形成台地(滨岸台地和孤立台地)与台沟间列的盆地格局。不同的控制因素控制了古氧相的类型。在台沟和钦防裂陷海槽中,海水分层控制了泥盆纪的古氧相类型和变化。台沟和钦防裂陷海槽以厌氧相与准厌氧相为主。在台地相区,海平面变化控制了古氧相的类型和分布。台地相区的古氧相主要是常氧相和贫氧相。南华海中、晚泥盆世硅质沉积、磷质沉积发育,有机质丰富,形成了有机质-硅质-磷质沉积三位一体的特征,指示上升流作用明显。南华海地区泥盆纪位于赤道附近的信风带,向西的表面洋流越过南华海在西部形成离岸流,海底海水向东补充形成上升的底流,也说明了泥盆纪南华海上升流存在的可能性。     

Sedimentology of 40 000 year Milankovitch-controlled cyclothems from central Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Cyclothemic sedimentary rocks of the Plio-Pleistocene Petane Group outcrop extensively in the Tangoio block of central Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. They are products of inner to mid-shelf sedimentation and were deposited during glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations along the western margin of a shallow, pericontinental seaway located in a forearc setting. The succession consists of five laterally continuous cyclothems, each containing a fine grained interval of silt and a coarse grained interval of siliciclastic sand ± gravel or limestone. Five sedimentary facies assemblages comprising 20 separate facies have been recognized. Coarse grained intervals of cyclothems were deposited mostly during relative sea level lowstands and contain up to four facies assemblages: (1) a non-marine assemblage (with three component facies, representing braided river and overbank environments); (2) an estuarine assemblage (with three component facies, representing tidal flat and mud-dominated estuarine environments); (3) a siliciclastic shoreline assemblage (with six component facies, representing greywacke pebble beach, shoreface and inner shelf environments); and (4) a carbonate shelf assemblage (with four component facies, representing tide-dominated, inshore and shallow marine environments). Fine grained intervals of cyclothems were deposited during sea level highstands when the Tangoio area was generally experiencing mid-shelf sedimentation. This produced an offshore assemblage consisting of four component facies. The distribution of facies assemblages during relative sea level lowstands was dependent upon proximity to the shoreline, the type and rate of sediment supply to the basin, and shelf hydrodynamics. Carbonate shelf facies dominate coarse grained intervals in Cyclothems 3–5, but siliciclastic shoreline and non-marine facies dominate in Cyclothems 1 and 2. The abrupt change from siliciclastic to carbonate sedimentation during relative sea level lowstand deposition is thought to have been induced by rapidly falling interglacial to glacial sea level accentuated by regional tectonic shoaling. This caused most of the terrigenous sediment supply to bypass the Tangoio area. Consequently, carbonate sediment accumulated in inshore and shallow marine settings. Facies assemblages rarely show lateral interdigitation, but are vertically stratified over the entire Tangoio block. Facies successions in each cyclothem preserve a record of relative sea level change during deposition of the Petane Group and are consistent with a Plio-Pleistocene sea level change in eastern New Zealand of c. 75–150 m, i.e. approximately the magnitude suggested for Late Quaternary glacio-eustatic sea level changes.     

柴达木盆地石炭系沉积相及其与烃源岩的关系

在实地观测柴达木盆地石炭系野外露头剖面岩性和生物特征的基础上,详细研究了柴达木盆地石炭系的沉积相类型及特征,探讨了石炭纪不同阶段的沉积演化以及沉积相对烃源岩发育的控制作用。柴达木盆地石炭系主要发育陆表海,可划分为三大沉积相:滨岸相、碳酸盐岩台地相、浅海陆棚相;六个亚相:浅滩亚相、潮坪亚相、沼泽亚相、开阔台地亚相、局限台地亚相、内陆棚亚相。石炭纪沉积演化经历了早石炭世两次海侵和晚石炭世的持续海侵,沉积环境由滨海向浅海过渡,以海陆交互沉积环境为主,大面积的海进使得北部山前局部地区出现地层超覆现象。沉积相控制了烃源岩的分布:柴达木盆地东北缘石炭系的潮坪亚相、浅海陆棚亚相广泛发育泥岩、炭质泥岩及碳酸盐岩,可作为有利的生烃源岩;柴西南缘下石炭统的局限台地亚相是碳酸盐台地上局部相对闭塞的地带,由于水体相对较深,水动能较低,沉积物中有机质丰富,也是有利的生烃源岩发育区。      

Late Carboniferous–Early Permian Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Evolution in the Northeast Ordos Basin, North China

Sequence stratigraphical analysis was applied to the Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian sedimentary succession of the northeastern Ordos Basin, north China based on data acquired from ten entire logging curves and eight outcrops. The facies framework of the lithostratigraphical unit, the Taiyuan Formation comprises seven facies in two facies associations, varying from fluvio-delta to shelf-barrier islands. The facies are presented within a chronostratigraphical framework, linked by systems tract, which in turn are limited by flooding surfaces and sequence boundaries. Six third-order depositional sequences are recognised, bounded by six type 2 unconformities. An upwards-shallowing epicontinental sea sedimentary model is created, which consists of a sandstone, coal seam and carbonate succession.     

四川龙门山北段晚二叠世晚期沉积环境及沉积模式

本文从沉积序列、岩石类型、沉积构造和生物共生组合以及古地理位置等探讨了四川龙门山北段晚二叠世晚期的沉积相和沉积模式。提出了晚二叠世晚期沉积模式为缓坡型生物浅滩边缘沉积较深水碳酸盐-硅质岩边缘海槽环境。晚二叠世晚期(长兴期)由于华力西运动的波及和北东向和北西向两组断裂系的活动,海侵继续扩大,导致了碳酸盐台地发生破裂分化,出现了岩相和生物相分异明显,深沟纵横交错的古地理格局。四川龙门山北段晚二叠世晚期属边缘海槽沉积。     

西藏羌塘盆地中侏罗世布曲期及夏里期岩相古地理与油气远景

在露头剖面地层学及沉积学研究的基础上,采用单因素分析多因素综合作图法,编制了西藏羌塘盆地中侏罗世布曲期和夏里期的单因素图和岩相古地理图。布曲期以碳酸盐岩沉积为主,自北而南依次发育局限台地（潮坪、泻湖）、开阔台地（台盆、浅滩/点礁）、台缘礁/浅滩、台缘斜坡、盆地等沉积（亚）相;夏里期以陆源碎屑沉积为主,发育泻湖、潮坪、滨岸、陆棚等沉积（亚）相。布曲组台盆和泻湖相泥灰岩和泥晶灰岩是良好的烃源岩,台缘礁和浅滩相碳酸盐岩是良好的储集岩,而上覆的夏里组泻湖和潮坪相泥岩和膏盐层是良好的区域性盖层,共同构成良好的生、储、盖组合。该生储盖组合大都被上覆的上侏罗统、白垩系、第三系覆盖。因此,布曲组是盆地内最好的油气勘探目的层,沿中央隆起带两侧以及北羌塘地区的琵琶湖－半岛湖凸起一带应是油气勘探的有利区带。     

Carbonate platform development in a Paleoproterozoic extensional basin,Vempalle Formation,Cuddapah Basin,India

Sedimentological investigation of the late Paleoproterozoic (Orosirian) Vempalle Formation of the Cuddapah Basin, Dharwar craton, India, reveals three facies association that range from supratidal to deep subtidal. Sedimentary rocks of this succession are dominated by heterolithic carbonate mudstone, intraformational carbonate conglomerate, and a variety of columnar, domal, and stratiform microbialite facies. Deposition occurred in an extensional regime during development of a low-gradient ramp, where the distribution of microbialite facies is distinctly depth-partitioned. A gradual increase in synoptic relief of columnar stromatolites through the section, and the upward transition from stratiform to columnar microbialites, record a prolonged marine transgression with little or no influx of terrigenous detritus. Siliciclastic influx along the northeastern side of the shelf reflects the redistribution of topographic highs concomitant with large scale volcanic activity. Redistribution of topographic highs eventually led to progradation of peritidal facies and shutting down of the carbonate factory. Earthquake-induced ground shaking and voluminous volcanism experienced by this platform point to the reactivation of a deep-seated mantle-plume that resulted in thermal doming of the Dharwar crust prior to the onset of Cuddapah deposition. Isotopic and elemental chemistry of a selection of Vempalle Formation carbonate rocks record elevated Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ concentrations and depleted carbon isotope values in inner ramp lagoonal facies, relative to more open marine stromatolitic facies. Patterns of isotopic and elemental variation suggest the presence of geochemically distinct water masses—either within the water column or within substrate pore fluids—that resulted from a combination of globally low marine oxygenation and restricted oceanographic circulation in inner ramp environments. These data suggest that, even in the aftermath of Early Paleoproterozoic oxygenation, that ocean chemistry was heterogeneous and strongly affected by local basin conditions.     

Fluvial, tidal and storm sedimentation in the Chilhowee Group (Lower Cambrian), northeastern Tennessee, U.S.A.

The Lower Cambrian Chilhowee Group of northeastern Tennessee consists of the Unicoi, Hampton and Erwin Formations, and is divided into four facies. The conglomerate facies occurs only within the lower 200 m of measured section (the Unicoi Formation) and consists of fine-grained to pebbly quartz wacke with rare thin beds of laminated siltstone. Low-angle to horizontally laminated, fine-grained sandstone with laminae and lenses of granules and pebbles represents upper flow-regime, overbank deposition within a braided stream system that was close to a coastline. Medium-scale, planar-tabular cross-stratified conglomerate in which megaripple bedforms are preserved is interpreted as representing deposition in interbar pools of braided channels, as flood stage waned and larger bedforms ceased to migrate. Large-scale, planar-tabular cross-stratified conglomerate beds represent migration of large transverse bars within a broad braided stream channel during high flood stage. The sandstone facies occurs throughout the Chilhowee Group, and is therefore interbedded with all other facies. It consists of mainly medium- to very coarse-grained, subarkosic to arkosic arenite. Thinly interbedded, laminated siltstone and sandstone, which may exhibit wavy or lenticular bedding, represents deposition during slack water periods between ebb and flood tides. Large-scale planar-tabular and trough cross-stratification reflects deposition within the deepest areas of subtidal channels, whereas medium-scale cross-stratification represents deposition in shallower water on shoals separating channels. Fining- and thinning-upward sequences most likely resulted from the longshore migration of channels and shoals. The hummocky facies occurs only in the Erwin Formation and consists of horizontally laminated to hummocky stratified, fine-grained arkosic to subarkosic arenite interbedded with equal amounts of bioturbated mudstone. It represents deposition between storm and fairweather wave-base by combined-flow storm currents. The quartz arenite facies is characterized by an absence of fine-grained units and lithologically consists of a super-mature, medium- to coarse-grained quartz arenite. Large-scale planar-tabular cross-stratification and abundant low-angle cross-stratification with rare symmetrical ripples (lower quartz arenite facies) occurs interbedded with the braided fluvial conglomerate facies, and was deposited within either a ridge-and-runnel system or a system of nearshore bars. Large-scale, planar-tabular cross-stratification (upper quartz arenite facies), which forms the top of two 40 m-thick coarsening-upward sequences of the type: hummocky faciessandstone faciesquartz arenite facies, probably represents deposition on sand ridges that formed on a sand-starved shelf as transgression caused the detachment and reworking of shoreface channel-shoal couplets. Palaeocurrent data for the Chilhowee Group are unimodal but widely dispersed from 0° to 180°, and exhibit a minor mode to the west. The data are interpreted to reflect the influence of longshore, tidal and storm currents. The ichnofossil assemblage changes upsection from one characterized only by Paleophycus to a Skolithos ichnofacies and finally to a Cruziana ichnofacies. The facies sequence, biogenic and palaeocurrent data reflect the interaction through time of (I) non-marine and marine processes; and (2) transgression coupled with shoreline progradation. The Chilhowee Group represents an overall deepening from terrestrial deposition to a marine shoreface that experienced both longshore and tidal currents, and finally to a storm shelf environment that periodically shoaled upward.