西藏措勤盆地下白垩统多巴组沉积环境分析

西藏措勤前陆盆地下白垩统多巴组是一套分布面积广大,比较特征的碳酸盐、陆源碎屑混合沉积的地层,本文通过对几条较完整的主干剖面的详细沉积相分析,揭示了多巴组的主要沉积环境包括潮坪、低能潮下带、近岸碳酸盐台地缓坡、台缘介壳滩及碳酸盐台地等几种主要类型,建立了多巴组的沉积相模式,并指出多巴组的沉积演化主要受控于盆地构造运动和全球海平面变化,这将有助于该地区的构造沉积演化研究。     

南祁连盆地木里坳陷石炭系—侏罗系天然气水合物潜在气源岩地质特征

通过对南祁连盆地木里坳陷石炭系、二叠系、三叠系、侏罗系等4套层系5条剖面的野外测量及室内地质分析,明确了该区天然气水合物潜在气源岩的岩性特征、沉积相类型及沉积演化过程。石炭系—二叠系整体以出露中厚层砂岩夹薄层泥岩为主要特征,沉积浅海陆棚相、滨岸相和三角洲相,由于断层发育致使局部地层厚度减薄且泥质岩大部分缺失,可能难以成为天然气水合物潜在气源岩;上三叠统整体以发育中薄层泥岩与中薄至中厚层砂岩互层为主要特征,沉积相类型为潮坪相、湖泊相和河流相,泥岩累积厚度较大,是天然气水合物主要潜在气源岩;中侏罗统整体上以发育厚层泥岩、砂岩为主要特征,沉积相类型为辫状河相、三角洲相和湖泊相,是天然气水合物次要的潜在气源岩。研究结果为南祁连盆地木里坳陷天然气水合物气源岩研究提供了重要地质依据。     

Sedimentology and evolution of the Martinsburg Formation (Upper Ordovician) fine-grained turbidite depositional system, central Appalachians

The Upper Ordovician Martinsburg Formation of eastern Pennsylvania consists of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone turbidites that accumulated in a tectonically active foreland basin. The mudstone-rich Bushkill Member, the stratigraphically lowest unit of the Martinsburg in this area, grades upward into approximately equal proportions of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone of the Ramseyburg Member. Many of the turbidites of these units are arranged in small-scale (1–9 m) fining-upward sequences that are interpreted as reflecting the influence of external or allocyclic controls such as variations in the local rate of sea-level rise and/or variations in the intensity of tectonic activity in shelf/nearshore or hinterland areas rather than more commonly cited autocyclic mechanisms. The thick (approximately 2000 m) Bushkill-Ramseyburg coarsening-upward sequence records progradation of a muddy turbidite depositional system along the axis of the foreland basin. Although this sequence accumulated during a Caradocian eustatic rise in sea-level, sedimentation rates landward of the shoreline were apparently great enough to allow for long-term seaward progradation of the shelf source. The paucity of depositional lobe-like facies (coarsening-upward sequences) in the Bushkill Member allows for tentative comparison of the progradational Bushkill-Ramseyburg system with the active fan lobe of the Mississippi Fan. Progradation of the Bushkill-Ramseyburg system ceased abruptly when mudstone turbidites and laminated black shale of the upper unit of the Martinsburg, the Pen Argyl Member, accumulated. The great thickness of some mudstone turbidite beds of the Pen Argyl Member is interpreted to record topographic confinement of the central Appalachian foreland basin, which may have helped to preclude continued progradation of the Bushkill-Ramseyburg turbidite system.     

大巴山与龙门山前晚三叠世构造运动的储集层沉积学响应*

通过对大巴山前樊哙剖面与龙门山前小塘子村剖面上三叠统沉积相垂向演化分析、砂泥岩X射线荧光光谱分析、储集层微观薄片研究,认为川东北与川西北地区上三叠统的沉积环境、沉积水体的深度和盐度及砂岩碎屑组分与印支晚幕构造运动有紧密的关系。印支晚幕运动早期,大巴山与龙门山前的小塘子组沉积水体盐度较高,属温暖潮湿气候下的潮坪沉积;须家河组二段沉积时期,随着大巴山与龙门山的低幅隆升,古气候由温暖潮湿逐渐变为较干冷,沉积水体变浅且盐度高,属辫状河三角洲沉积。须三段沉积时期,大巴山与龙门山前古气候又演变为温暖潮湿,沉积水体加深,湖泊沉积较发育,水体盐度逐渐降低。印支晚幕安县运动发生后,大巴山前与龙门山前的古气候变得干冷,沉积水体变浅,盐度降低,沉积物属典型的陆相淡水沉积。同时,小塘子组-须家河组砂岩碎屑成分也随着构造运动的演化具有显著的不同。     

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.     

云南兰坪盆地三叠纪沉积作用与古地理演化

根据岩石沉积类型、物源供给、成因机制和沉积序列 ,结合区域地质特征 ,将兰坪盆地三叠系划分为陆相火山泥石流、河流相、三角洲相、潮坪相、浅海陆棚相、碳酸盐台地相和深水盆地相7种主要沉积类型。通过对沉积相的详细分析 ,恢复其古地理格架和面貌 ,探讨岩相古地理的变迁历史 ,从而表明三叠纪早期到晚期 ,其古地理经历了陆相环境→碎屑海盆→碳酸盐海盆到碎屑海盆的转换 ,即两次海侵 海退旋回。早期的海域分布范围较小 ,晚期的海域分布范围较宽 ,并成为统一的海盆。     

Stratigraphic evolution of an outcropping continental slope system, Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero, Chile

Depositional slope systems along continental margins contain a record of sediment transfer from shallow‐water to deep‐water environments and represent an important area for natural resource exploration. However, well‐preserved outcrops of large‐scale depositional slopes with seismic‐scale exposures and tectonically intact stratigraphy are uncommon. Outcrop characterization of smaller‐scale depositional slope systems (i.e. < 700 m of undecompacted shelf‐to‐basin relief) has led to increased understanding of stratigraphic packaging of prograding slopes. Detailed stacking patterns of facies and sedimentary body architecture for larger‐scale slope systems, however, remain understudied. The Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation of the Magallanes Basin, southern Chile, presents a unique opportunity to evaluate the stratigraphic evolution of such a slope system from an outcrop perspective. Inherited tectonic relief from a precursor oceanic basin phase created shelf‐to‐basin bathymetry comparable with continental margin systems (～1000 m). Sedimentological and architectural data from the Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero reveal a record of continental margin‐scale depositional slope progradation and aggradation. Slope progradation is manifested as a vertical pattern exhibiting increasing amounts of sediment bypass upwards, which is interpreted as reflecting increasing gradient conditions. The well‐exposed, seismic‐scale outcrop is characterized by four 20 to 70 m thick sandstone‐rich successions, separated by mudstone‐rich intervals of comparable thickness (40 to 90 m). Sedimentary body geometry, facies distribution, internal bedding architecture, sandstone richness and degree of amalgamation were analysed in detail across a continuous 2·5 km long transect parallel to depositional dip. Deposition in the lower section (Units 1 and 2) was dominated by poorly channellized to unconfined sand‐laden flows and accumulation of mud‐rich mass transport deposits, which is interpreted as representing a base of slope to lower slope setting. Evidence for channellization and indicators of bypass of coarse‐grained turbidity currents are more common in the upper part of the > 600 m thick succession (Units 3 and 4), which is interpreted as reflecting increased gradient conditions as the system accreted basinward.     

Depositional processes of the Zhushadong and Mantou formations (Early to Middle Cambrian), Shandong Province,China: roles of archipelago and mixed carbonate–siliciclastic sedimentation on cycle genesis during initial flooding of the North China Platform

To understand the depositional processes and environmental changes during the initial flooding of the North China Platform, this study focuses on the Lower to Middle Cambrian Zhushadong and Mantou formations in Shandong Province, China. The succession in the Jinan and Laiwu areas comprises mixed carbonate and siliciclastic deposits composed of limestone, dolostone, stromatolite, thrombolite, purple and grey mudstone, and sandstone. A detailed sedimentary facies analysis of seven well‐exposed sections suggests that five facies associations are the result of an intercalation of carbonate and siliciclastic depositional environments, including local alluvial fans, shallowing‐upward carbonate–siliciclastic peritidal cycles, oolite dominant shoals, shoreface and lagoonal environments. These facies associations successively show a transition from an initially inundated tide‐dominated carbonate platform to a wave‐dominated shallow marine environment. In particular, the peritidal sediments were deposited during a large number of depositional cycles. These sediments consist of lime mudstone, dolomite, stromatolite and purple and grey mudstones. These shallowing‐upward cycles generally resulted from carbonate production in response to an increase of accommodation during rising sea‐level. The carbonate production was, however, interrupted by frequent siliciclastic input from the adjacent emergent archipelago. The depositional cycles thus formed under the influence of both autogenetic changes, including sediment supply from the archipelago, and allogenic control of relative sea‐level rise in the carbonate factory. A low‐relief archipelago with an active tidal regime allowed the development of tide‐dominated siliciclastic and carbonate environments on the vast platform. Siliciclastic input to these tidal environments terminated when most of the archipelago became submerged due to a rapid rise in sea‐level. This study provides insights on how a vast Cambrian carbonate platform maintained synchronous sedimentation under a tidal regime, forming distinct cycles of mixed carbonates and siliciclastics as the system kept up with rising relative sea‐level during the early stage of basin development in the North China Platform.     

Anatomy of an Upper Triassic continental to marginal‐marine system: the mixed siliciclastic–carbonate Travenanzes Formation (Dolomites,Northern Italy)

The Travenanzes Formation is a terrestrial to shallow‐marine, siliciclastic–carbonate succession (200 m thick) that was deposited in the eastern Southern Alps during the Late Triassic. Sedimentary environments and depositional architecture have been reconstructed in the Dolomites, along a 60 km south–north transect. Facies alternations in the field suggest interfingering between alluvial‐plain, flood‐basin and shallow‐lagoon deposits, with a transition from terrestrial to marine facies belts from south to north. The terrestrial portion of the Travenanzes Formation consists of a dryland river system, characterized by multicoloured floodplain mudstones with scattered conglomeratic fluvial channels, merging downslope into small ephemeral streams and sheet‐flood sandstones, and losing their entire discharge subaerially before the shoreline. Calcic and vertic palaeosols indicate an arid/semi‐arid climate with strong seasonality and intermittent discharge. The terrestrial/marine transition shows a coastal mudflat, the flood basin, which is usually exposed, but at times is inundated by both major river floods and sea‐water storm surges. Locally coastal sabkha deposits occur. The marine portion of the Travenanzes Formation comprises carbonate tidal‐flat and shallow‐lagoon deposits, characterized by metre‐scale shallowing‐upward peritidal cycles and subordinate intercalations of dark clays from the continent. The depositional architecture of the Travenanzes Formation suggests an overall transgressive pattern organized in three carbonate–siliciclastic cycles, corresponding to transgressive–regressive sequences with internal higher‐frequency sedimentary cycles. The metre‐scale sedimentary cyclicity of the Travenanzes Formation continues without a break in sedimentation into the overlying Dolomia Principale. The onset of the Dolomia Principale epicontinental platform is marked by the exhaustion of continental sediment supply.     

The Bude Formation (Lower Westphalian), SW England: siliciclastic shelf sedimentation in a large equatorial lake

The 1300-m-thick turbiditic Bude Formation was deposited in a lake, Lake Bude, but disagreement persists over whether the environment was a deltaic or deep-water fan. The tectonic setting of the lake was the northern flank of a northerly advancing Variscan foreland basin, close to the Westphalian palaeo-equator. Palaeocurrents indicate sediment sourcing from all quadrants except the south. There is a dm-m scale cyclicity, whereby sandstone bodies comprising amalgamated event beds alternate with mudstone intervals containing non-amalgamated event beds. The ‘ideal’ cycle is a symmetrical coarsening-up/fining-up cycle, consisting of three facies (1, 2 and 3) arranged in 12321 order. Facies 3, in the middle of the cycle, is an amalgamated sandstone body up to 10 m thick which interfingers laterally with thin (cm) mudstone layers. The sandstone body comprises amalgamated beds of very fine sandstone which are largely massive and up to 0.4 m thick. Channels are absent except for scours up to 0.2 m deep which truncate the interfingering mudstone layers. Sandstone bodies are inferred to be tongue-shaped in three dimensions. Facies 1 and 2, completing the 12321 cycle, are respectively dark-grey fine and light-grey coarse, varved(?) mudstone containing thin (< 0.4 m) sandstone event beds. Fossils and burrows indicate that facies 1 and 2 were deposited, respectively, in brackish (rarely marine) and fresh water. Hence, the ideal cycle (12321) reflects an upward decrease then increase in salinity (brackish-fresh-brackish); this is attributed to the lake sill being periodically overtopped by the sea, due to glacio-eustatic sea-level oscillations. The resulting oscillations in lake depth produced the coarsening-up/fining-up (regressive-transgressive) cyclicity, the central sandstone body representing the regressive maximum. Event beds are interpreted as river-fed turbidites deposited during catastrophic storm-floods. Combined-flow ripples and other wave-influenced structures occur in event beds throughout the ideal cycle, suggesting deposition of the entire Bude Formation above storm wave base. The proposed environment is a shelf, of continental-shelf dimensions, but lacustrine instead of marine. Sandstone bodies are interpreted to be river-connected tongues or lobes. The absence of cycles containing nearshore or emergent facies is attributed to: (i) the lake sill preventing the water level from falling below sill level, thereby insulating the lake floor from eustatically forced emergence; and (ii) relatively distal deposition, beyond the reach of shoreline progradations. The lack of palaeoflow from the south is attributed to a (now eroded?) deep-water trough lying to the south, in front of the northerly advancing orogen. Some facies 2 laminated mudstone beds grade laterally into massive and/or contorted beds, interpreted as in-situ seismites (Facies 4), consistent with an active foreland basin setting. Development of seismites was possibly facilitated by gas bubbles and/or weak cohesion in the (fresh water) bottom mud. The late Quaternary Black Sea, with its broad northwestern shelf, is probably a good physiographical analogue of Lake Bude, and was likewise fresh at times.     

珠江口盆地白云凹陷晚渐新统-早中新统沉积特征及演化规律

以珠江口盆地白云凹陷钻井、测井、地震和古生物资料为基础,结合前人研究成果,系统的分析了白云凹陷晚渐新统到早中新统沉积相发育特征及凹陷沉积充填演化过程。研究结果表明,珠海组下部发育大型陆架边缘三角洲沉积,地震反射特征表明该三角洲发育三期;钻遇水下分支河道、支流间湾、河口坝及远砂坝微相,沉积物以富砂为特征,发育冲刷-充填构造、递变层理及较粗的水平潜穴等多种构造;珠海组上部为浅海相,沉积物以海相砂泥岩互层为主,此时期陆架坡折带位于白云凹陷南坡;珠江组沉积时期,海平面升降旋回频繁,陆架坡折带迁至凹陷北坡。随着古珠江流域扩大,沉积物输入量增加,在珠江组下部发育了深水扇,沉积物以细-粗砂岩为主,夹少量粉砂岩及深海泥岩,发育颗粒流、液化流、浊流及碎屑流等四种主要的重力流,钻遇内扇水道,中扇废弃水道及水道间漫溢沉积,外扇深海泥沉积;珠江组上部为半深海相,沉积物以深海泥岩为主。      

Submarine fan facies of the Upper Cretaceous Great Valley sequence,northern and central California

The Upper Cretaceous part of the Great Valley Sequence provides a unique opportunity to study deep-marine sedimentation within an arc-trench gap. Facies analysis delineates submarine fan facies similar to those described from other ancient basins. Fan models and facies of Mutti and Ricci-Lucchi allow reconstruction of the following depositional environments: basin plain, outer fan, midfan, inner fan, and slope. Basin plain deposits are characterized by hemipelagic mudstone with randomly interbedded thin sandstone beds exhibiting distal turbidite characteristics. Outer fan deposits are characterized by regularly interbedded sandstone and mudstone, and commonly exhibit thickening-upward (negative) cycles that constitute depositional lobes. The sandstone occurs as proximal to distal turbidites without channeling. Midfan deposits are characterized by the predominance of coarse-grained, thick, channelized sandstone beds that commonly are amalgamated. Thinning-upward (positive) cycles and braided channelization also are common. Inner fan deposits are characterized by major channel-fill complexes (conglomerate, pebbly sandstone, and pebbly mudstone) enclosed in mudstone and siltstone. Positive cycles occur within these channel-fill complexes. Much of the fine-grained material consists of levee (overbank) deposits that are characterized by rhythmically interbedded thin mudstone and irregular sandstone beds with climbing and starved ripples. Slope deposits are characterized by mudstone with little interbedded sandstone; slumping and contortion of bedding is common. Progressions of fan facies associations can be described as retrogradational and progradational suites that correspond, respectively, to onlapping and offlapping relations in the basin. The paleoenvironments, fan facies associations, and tectonic setting of the Late Cretaceous fore-arc basin are similar to those of modern arc—trench systems.     

西藏南部羊卓雍措地区晚侏罗世维美组沉积特征及环境演化

通过沉积岩石学、岩相学、粒度分析等研究方法,对维美组沉积特征、沉积环境及演化提出新的认识和探讨。晚侏罗世维美组主要为一套陆源碎屑物质沉积,沉积期共经历4个沉积旋回,每个沉积旋回的岩石组合大致为含砾石英砂岩-中、粗粒石英砂岩-细粒石英砂岩(长石石英砂岩)-粉砂岩(泥岩、页岩),由底到顶粒度变细,层厚减薄。识别出6种岩相类别:含砾石英砂岩、石英砂岩、长石石英砂岩、泥质粉砂岩、薄层页岩-泥岩互层;发现平行层理、水平层理、粒序层理和重荷模等沉积构造;识别出陆棚、滨岸和陆棚下切河道3类沉积相,其中陆棚相包括内陆棚和外陆棚亚相,滨岸相包括近滨上部和近滨下部亚相;陆棚下切河道充填结构大致为:下部河道砂砾岩层,中部不等粒长石砂岩、杂砂岩层,上部细粒石英砂岩、泥岩层。综合来看,维美组沉积环境为位于克拉通边缘上浅海环境,沉积物质及沉积序列受海平面升降变化影响显著,主要形成于全球海平面下降之后上升的阶段。     

Facies analysis and depositional environment of the Jurassic, Jumara Dome sediments, Kachchh, western India

The study deals with the depositional environment of Jumara Dome sediments. The Jumara Dome is an important outcrop of Bathonian to Oxfordian sediments amongst the Kachchh Mainland exposures. On the basis of facies analysis three associations have been documented, namely, G-1 consisting of low energy facies comprising of cross-bedded sandstone, massive sandstone, grey shale and thin bedded sandstone, bioclastic — lithoclastic grainstone, bioclastic — lithoclastic packstone, microbioclastic packstone/wackestone, bioturbated laminated wackestone to mudstone and pelagic lime mudstone; G-II consisting of moderate energy facies comprising of laminated sandstone and grapestone or agglutinated grainstone; G-III consisting of high energy facies comprising of interbedded gypsiferous shale and sandstone/siltstone, oolitic grainstone to conglomerate and bioclastic grainstone. The facies associations reflect an ideal shallowing upward sequence representing slope, bioclast bar, lagoon and inner shelf. Presence of wide range of facies indicates that the rocks of the studied area were deposited during the fluctuating sea level, interrupted by the storms, in the shallow marine environment.     

湖南地区晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期早期沉积特征及沉积模式*

湖南地区地处扬子陆块和华夏陆块之间,根据沉积地层的岩石学特征、古生物特征及其他沉积特征变化,将湖南地区晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期早期的沉积相,划分为开阔台地相、浅海陆棚相、深水盆地相和陆架边缘—斜坡相。开阔台地相以沉积“龟裂纹”灰岩和瘤状灰岩为特征,浅海陆棚相转为沉积砂质板岩,板岩并夹有粉砂岩及泥灰岩透镜体。深水滞流盆地发育黑色碳质页岩及含放射虫硅质页岩,沉积厚度很小,代表了一个相对缺氧还原的欠补偿深水环境;陆架边缘—斜坡相则为岩屑石英粉—细砂岩,长石石英粉—细砂岩及砂质板岩、板岩的韵律互层,沉积厚度超过1000m,具浊流沉积特征。晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期早期,湖南地区总体表现为由西北和东南方向往中部逐渐变深,湘中南一带为水体最深地区。     

The trinity of depositional phase of foreland basins: An example from the western Taiwan foreland basin

Due to oblique arc-continent collision, the west-ern Taiwan foreland basin has evolved into three dis-tinct subbasins: an over-filled basin proximal to the Taiwan orogen, mainly distributed in the Western Foothhils and Coastal Plain provinces, a filled basin occupying the shallow Taiwan Strait continental shelf west of the Taiwan orogen and an under-filled basin distal to the Taiwan orogen in the deep marine Kaop-ing Slope offshore southwest Taiwan, respectively. The over-filled depositional phase is dominated by fluvial environments across the structurally controlled piggy-back basins. The filled depositional phase in the Taiwan Strait is characterized by shallow marine en-vironments and is filled by Pliocene-Quaternary sedi-ments up to 4,000 m thick derived from the Taiwan orogen with an asymmetrical and wedge-shaped cross section. The under-filled depositional phase is charac-teristic of deep marine environments in the wedge-top basins accompanied by active structures of thrust faults and mud diapers.     

Synorogenic alluvial-fan – fan-delta deposition in the Papuan foreland basin: Plio-Pleistocene Era Formation,Papua New Guinea

The Pliocene to possibly Pleistocene uppermost Orubadi and Era Formations, southwest margin of the Papuan Peninsula, are interpreted as having been deposited in alluvial-fan, fan-delta and shallow-marine environments. The alluvial-fan facies consists primarily of lenticular, coarse-grained conglomerate (up to 2 m boulders) and cross-bedded and horizontally laminated sandstone. Conglomerate and sandstone were deposited in shallow fluvial channels and by overbank sheetfloods. The facies also contains thick mudflow diamictite and minor tuff and terrestrial mudstone. The shallow-marine and fan-delta facies, in contrast, consists of heterogeneously interbedded marine and terrestrial mudstone, sandstone, diamictite, conglomerate and limestone. Marine mudstone is calcareous, sandy, bioturbated, and contains marine shells. Limestone is mostly packstone that has a varied, open-marine fauna. Rare coral boundstone is also present. Marine sandstone is burrowed to bioturbated and is hummocky cross-stratified in places. Some marine mudstone contains sandstone pillows formed by loading of unconsolidated sand by storm waves. Other sandstone in the fan-delta facies is cross-bedded, lacks shells and was probably deposited by fluvial processes. Several conglomerate beds in the fan-delta facies are well sorted and imbricated and were also deposited by stream floods. The synorogenic Orubadi and Era Formations were deposited in a foreland basin formed from loading of the Papuan–Aure Fold and Thrust Belt on the edge of the Australian craton. Deformation in the fold and thrust belt was probably related to docking and compression of the Finisterre Terrane–Bismarck Arc against the New Guinea Orogen. The Era Formation interfingers with the reefal Wedge Hill Limestone in which reef facies likely grew on a deforming anticline. Era Formation siliciclastics were sourced from volcanic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks that were uplifted in the orogen to the northeast. Volcanic sediment was derived mostly from a then-active volcanic arc likely related to southward subduction at the Trobriand Trough.     

Carbonate ramp-to-deeper shale shelf transitions of an Upper Cambrian intrashelf basin, Nolichucky Formation, Southwest Virginia Appalachians

The Nolichucky Formation (0–300 m thick) formed on the Cambrian pericratonic shelf in a shallow intrashelf basin bordered along strike and toward the regional shelf edge by shallow water carbonates and by nearshore clastics toward the craton. Lateral facies changes from shallow basinal rocks to peritidal carbonates suggest that the intrashelf basin was bordered by a gently sloping carbonate ramp. Peritidal facies of the regional shelf are cyclic, upward-shallowing stromatolitic carbonates. These grade toward the intrashelf basin into shallow ramp, cross-bedded, ooid and oncolitic, intraclast grain-stones that pass downslope into deeper ramp, subwave base, ribbon carbonates and thin limestone conglomerate. Ribbon limestones are layers and lenses of trilobite packstone, parallel and wave-ripple-laminated, quartzose calcisiltite, and lime mudstone arranged in storm-generated, fining upward sequences (1–5 cm thick) that may be burrowed. Shallow basin facies are storm generated, upward coarsening and upward fining sequences of green, calcareous shale with open marine biota; parallel to hummocky laminated calcareous siltstone; and intraformational flat pebble conglomerate. There are also rare debris-flow paraconglomerate (10–60 cm thick) and shaly packstone/wackestone with trace fossils, glauconite horizons and erosional surfaces/hardgrounds. A 15-m thick tongue of cyclic carbonates within the shale package contains subtidal digitate algal bioherms which developed during a period of shoaling in the basin. Understanding the Nolichucky facies within a ramp to intrashelf basin model provides a framework for understanding similar facies which are widely distributed in the Lower Palaeozoic elsewhere. The study demonstrates the widespread effects of storm processes on pericratonic shelf sedimentation. Finally, recognition of shallow basins located on pericratonic shelves is important because such basins influence the distribution of facies and reservoir rocks, whose trends may be unrelated to regional shelf-edge trends.     

Siliciclastic deposit of the Nahr Umr Formation, sedimentological and depositional environment studies, central and southern Iraq

The depositional facies and environments were unraveling by studying 21 subsurface sections from ten oilfields in the central and southern Iraq and a large number of thin sections of the Nahr Umr (siliciclastic deposit) Formation (Albian). This formation is mainly composed of sandstone interlaminated with minor siltstone and shale, with occurrence of thin limestone beds. Nahr Umr Formation is subdivided into three lithostratigraphic units of variable thicknesses on the basis of lithological variations and log characters. Mineralogically and texturally, mature quartz arenite and sandstones are the common type of the Nahr Umr Formation. The sandstones are cemented by silica and calcite material and have had a complex digenetic history. Compaction, dissolution, and replacements are the main diagenetic processes. Prodelta, distal bar, distributary mouth bar, distributary channel, over bank, and tidal channel are the main depositional environments recognized for the Nahr Umr Formation, within the studied wells. This formation was deposited in shallow marine and fluvial–deltaic environments and exhibit progradational succession of facies. Eight sedimentary facies that have been identified in the Nahr Umr Formation include claystone lithofacies, claystone siltstone lithofacies, lenticular-bedded sandstone–mudstone lithofacies, wavy-bedded sandstone–mudstone lithofacies, flaser-bedded sandstone–mudstone lithofacies, parallel and cross lamination sandstone lithofacies, trough cross-bedded sandstone lithofacies, and planar cross-bedded sandstone lithofacies. The depositional model of the Nahr Umr Formation environment was built based on the lithofacies association concepts.     

湘中下石炭统粘土矿物组合特征

湖南中部下石炭统是一套以碳酸盐岩为主夹碎屑岩含煤岩系的沉积,根据粘土矿物在下石岩统剖面分布规律,结合各组段岩性岩相特征,可推断出粘土矿物组合特征及其环境分布,从滨岸碎屑沉积到滨外泥质陆棚、滨外浅水碳酸盐陆棚,到深水碳酸盐陆棚和浅海盆地,即从滨岸向盆地方向,高岭石含量急剧减少,伊利石逐渐增加,伊利石/蒙脱石混层矿物和绿泥石则先是增加,然后又趋于减少,其最高含量分别在浅水碳酸盐陆棚和滨外泥质陆棚。测水组含煤岩系粘土矿物以高岭石为主,伊利石次之,并有一定量的绿泥石和伊利石/蒙脱石混层矿物,它们在垂向上的变化反映了沉积环境水介质酸碱度和盐度的变化规律。