Three orders of regional sea-level changes control facies and stacking patterns of shallow platform carbonates in the Maestrat Basin (Tithonian-Berriasian,NE Spain)

Middle Tithonian-Berriasian shallow platform carbonates of the Maestrat Basin (Salzedella and Montanejos sections, NE Spain) are stacked in sequence stratigraphic units of different orders. Higher-order sequences (parasequences and subunits) have a shallowing or deepening-shallowing evolution. They have been related to the short-term eccentricity and precession cycles. Major facies changes and stacking pattern of parasequences reveal the presence of two 2nd-order sequences. The Lower Sequence is middle Tithonian-mid early Berriasian in age. The Upper Sequence extends up to the mid-late Berriasian. It is suggested that local subsidence changes along with regional sea-level changes controlled the long-term evolution of accommodation in the Maestrat Basin. Facies evolution, stacking pattern and sharp lithological changes have allowed the definition of five 3rd-order sequences in the Lower Sequence in Montanejos. The transgressive deposits are characterised by the progressive absence of the restricted lagoon facies, and the presence of deepening-upward intervals in the parasequences. The highstand deposits display an increase in siliciclastics and a progressive predominance of restricted lagoon facies. Some of the 3rd-order sequence boundaries match the sequence boundaries identified in other European basins and may be related to sea-level falls (induced by the long-term eccentricity cycle) enhanced during periods of long-term loss of accommodation.     

河流沉积占优势地层中高频层序地层——以贵州盘县西部龙潭组为例

贵州西部龙潭组主要含有6种沉积相组合:即浅海沉积、细粒滨岸平原沉积、溢岸沉积、小型河道砂体、叠置河道砂体和煤层。多层叠置砂体一般10-25m厚,2-10km宽,常含海绿石,切入下伏的三角洲平原、滨岸平原和浅海沉积中,被认为是下切谷充填。在龙潭组中共识别出广泛发育的10个层序界面,由此所限定的层序大致相当于4级旋回层序。在这些层序中,准层序或准层序组识别不出,然能识别体系域,层序几乎全由海进体系域(TST)和高位体系域(HST)组成,低位体系域(LST)发育不好。在垂向上,它们又可叠置成3级复合层序,并由低位、海进和高位层序组组成。在低位层序组中,河道下切常冲刷掉下伏层序的全部HST和部分TST,致使其与下伏层序的下切谷充填重合。在海进层序组中,下切作用最弱,具最小砂/泥比值,下切谷充填侧向孤立。高位层序组是低位和海进层序的过渡类型,下切谷充填也趋于孤立。     

河流沉积占优势地层中高频层序地层——以贵州盘县西部龙潭组为例

 贵州西部龙潭组主要含有6种沉积相组合:即浅海沉积、细粒滨岸平原沉积、溢岸沉积、小型河道砂体、叠置河道砂体和煤层。多层叠置砂体一般10-25m厚,2-10km宽,常含海绿石,切入下伏的三角洲平原、滨岸平原和浅海沉积中,被认为是下切谷充填。在龙潭组中共识别出广泛发育的10个层序界面,由此所限定的层序大致相当于4级旋回层序。在这些层序中,准层序或准层序组识别不出,然能识别体系域,层序几乎全由海进体系域(TST)和高位体系域(HST)组成,低位体系域(LST)发育不好。在垂向上,它们又可叠置成3级复合层序,并由低位、海进和高位层序组组成。在低位层序组中,河道下切常冲刷掉下伏层序的全部HST和部分TST,致使其与下伏层序的下切谷充填重合。在海进层序组中,下切作用最弱,具最小砂/泥比值,下切谷充填侧向孤立。高位层序组是低位和海进层序的过渡类型,下切谷充填也趋于孤立。     

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.     

Facies and sequence stratigraphy of a Late Barremian wave-dominated deltaic deposit, Agadir Basin, Morocco

The late Barremian succession in the Agadir Basin of the Moroccan Western High Atlas represents wave-dominated deltaic deposits. The succession is represented by stacked thickening and coarsening upwards parasequences 5–15 m thick formed during fifth- or fourth-order regression and building a third-order highstand systems tract. Vertical facies transitions in parasequences reflect flooding followed by shoaling of diverse shelf environments ranging from offshore transition interbedded mudstones, siltstones and thin sandstones, lower shoreface/lower delta front hummocky bedforms to upper shoreface/upper delta front cross-bedded sandstones. The regional configuration reflects the progradation of wave-dominated deltas over an offshore setting. The maximum sea-level fall led to the development of a sequence boundary that is an unconformity. The subsequent early Aptian relative sea-level rise contributes to the development of an extensive conglomerate lagged transgressive surface of erosion. The latter and the sequence boundary are amalgamated forming a composite surface.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘保德地区上古生界层序地层与沉积相特征*

为了揭示鄂尔多斯盆地东缘层序地层与沉积相特征,以层序地层学和沉积学理论为指导,对鄂尔多斯盆地东缘保德扒楼沟剖面及周缘上古生界的层序与体系域界面类型、层序结构、沉积相类型及沉积演化进行研究。依据区域性不整合面、下切谷冲刷面、海侵方向转换面和区域性海退面等层序界面将研究区上古生界划分为7个三级层序,分别对应于本溪组、太原组2段、太原组1段、山西组、下石盒子组、上石盒子组和石千峰组。保德扒楼沟及周缘上古生界剖面发育16种岩石类型和8种岩石组合。区内上古生界发育障壁海岸相、碳酸盐岩台地相、辫状河相和曲流河相。SQ1-SQ3中低位体系域发育风化壳和潮道亚相,海侵体系域发育潮坪亚相和潟湖亚相,高位体系域发育碳酸盐岩台地相、潟湖亚相和潮坪亚相;SQ4-SQ7中低位体系域发育辫状河河床亚相,海侵体系域主要发育曲流河泛滥平原亚相,高位体系域主要发育多期曲流河河床亚相—堤岸亚相—泛滥平原亚相的演化序列。区内上古生界经历了由障壁海岸相和碳酸盐岩台地相向河流相的演化过程,沉积演化主要受物源供给、海平面变化和构造活动的控制。     

The application of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy to fluvial systems: a case study from the Upper Carboniferous Breathitt Group, eastern Kentucky, USA

The Pennsylvanian Pikeville, Hyden and Four Corners formations of the Breathitt Group in eastern Kentucky, USA, contain six major facies associations along with a number of subassociations. These facies associations are offshore siltstone, rhythmically bedded mouthbar heteroliths, predominantly fine-grained floodplain deposits, minor channel fills, major distributary channels and major, stacked fluvial bodies. The stacked fluvial bodies are incised into a variety of open marine and delta plain deposits, have widths of several kilometres and exhibit a range of sandy fill types. These fluvial complexes are interpreted as incised valley fills. Parasequences and parasequence sets are not identifiable. Nonetheless, it is possible to identify systems tracts on the basis of sequential position, facies associations and systematic changes in architectural style and sediment body geometries. The studied portion of the Breathitt Group comprises stacked 4th-order sequences, which occur in lowstand, transgressive and highstand sequence sets related to the development of a lower frequency base level cycle. In the lowstand sequence set, incision associated with successive 4th-order sequence boundaries has commonly removed all the HST and TST of the underlying sequences, such that succeeding 4th-order incised valley fills are amalgamated. Within the transgressive sequence set, incision is at a minimum and incised valley fills tend to stack discretely with the maximum amount of fine-grained TST and HST between them. The highstand sequence set is transitional between the lowstand and transgressive sequence sets in terms of the amount of transgressive and highstand deposits preserved. Incised valley fills tend to stack discretely.     

淄博博山地区晚古生代煤系层序地层与聚煤作用

为揭示渤海湾盆地陆表海背景下的煤系层序地层界面形成机制以及层序地层格架内的聚煤作用特征,以淄博博山地区为例开展了本溪组、太原组和山西组的层序地层及聚煤作用研究。研究区内共识别出古构造运动形成的区域性构造不整合面、正常海退形成的下切谷冲刷面、盆地基底构造运动形成的海侵方向转换面、初始海泛面、最大海泛面以及最大海退面等层序界面类型,将研究区含煤地层划分为三个七级层序。经对比研究层序内的煤层的发育特征后认为,潮坪泥炭坪、潟湖及三角洲平原泥炭沼泽为煤层最有利发育相带。SQ2、SQ3、SQ4、SQ5、SQ6层序内均有可采煤层发育。     

Sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

The Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation corresponds to a second-order depositional sequence that formed within a continental shelf setting under relatively low-rate conditions of positive accommodation (< 200 m during 3–6 My). This overall trend of base-level rise was interrupted by three episodes of base-level fall that resulted in the formation of third-order sequence boundaries. These boundaries are represented by subaerial unconformities (replaced or not by younger transgressive wave ravinement surfaces), and subdivide the Bahariya Formation into four third-order depositional sequences.

The construction of the sequence stratigraphic framework of the Bahariya Formation is based on the lateral and vertical changes between shelf, subtidal, coastal and fluvial facies, as well as on the nature of contacts that separate them. The internal (third-order) sequence boundaries are associated with incised valleys, which explain (1) significant lateral changes in the thickness of incised valley fill deposits, (2) the absence of third-order highstand and even transgressive systems tracts in particular areas, and (3) the abrupt facies shifts that may occur laterally over relatively short distances. Within each sequence, the concepts of lowstand, transgressive and highstand systems tracts are used to explain the observed lateral and vertical facies variability.

This case study demonstrates the usefulness of sequence stratigraphic analysis in understanding the architecture and stacking patterns of the preserved rock record, and helps to identify 13 stages in the history of base-level changes that marked the evolution of the Bahariya Oasis region during the Early Cenomanian.     

胜利油区石炭二叠系含煤地层层序地层学初探

胜利油区石炭二叠系含煤地层包括中石炭统本溪组、上石炭统太原组和下二叠统山西组。可识别出潮坪沉积、障壁岛湖沉积和三角洲沉积三种沉积类型。根据区域地质及古生物资料,确定了三个等时面,划分出２个层序１４个准层序,每个层序包括低位体系域、海侵体系域及高位体系域,而以高位体系域最发育。纵观整个含煤地层的沉积演化过程,本溪组沉积期以滨浅海相为主;太原组沉积期为海陆交替相;山西组沉积期以三角洲相为主,总体表现为海退层序。     

High-resolution sequence stratigraphy of a complex, incised valley succession, Cobequid Bay — Salmon River estuary, Bay of Fundy, Canada

The post-glacial succession in the Cobequid Bay — Salmon River incised valley contains two sequences, the upper one incomplete. The lower sequence contains only highstand system tracts (HST) deposits which accumulated under microtidal, glacio-marine deltaic conditions. The upper sequence contains two, retrogradationally stacked parasequences. The lower one accumulated in a wave-dominated estuarine environment under micro-mesotidal conditions. It belongs to the lowstand system tract (LST) or early transgressive system tract (TST) depending on the timing and location of the lowstand shoreline, and contains a gravel barrier that has been overstepped and preserved with little modification. The upper parasequence accumulated in the modern, macrotidal estuary, and is assignable to the late TST. Recent, net progradation of the fringing marshes indicates that a new HST has begun. The sequence boundary separating the two sequences was formed by fluvial incision, and perhaps also by subtidal erosion during the relative sea level fall. Additional local erosion by waves and tidal currents occurred during the transgression. The base of the macrotidal sands is a prominent tidal ravinement surface which forms the flooding surface between the backstepping estuarine parasequences. Because fluvial deposition continued throughout the transgression, the fluvial-estuarine contact is diachronous and cannot be used as the transgressive surface. The maximum flooding surface will be difficult to locate in the macrotidal sands, but is more easily identified in the fringing muddy sediments. These observations indicate that: (1) large incised valleys may contain a compound fill that consists of more than one sequence; (2) relative sea level changes determine the stratal stacking patterns, but local environmental factors control the nature of the facies and surfaces; (3) these surfaces may have complex origins, and commonly become amalgamated; (4) designation of the transgressive surface (and thus the LST) is particularly difficult as many of the prominent surfaces in the valley fill are diachronous facies boundaries; and (5) the transgression of complex topography may cause geologically instantaneous changes in tidal range, due to resonance under particular geographical configurations.     

莱州湾凹陷沙三中段高精度层序地层格架及沉积体系演化

莱州湾凹陷古近系沙河街组沙三中段发育典型的辫状河三角洲沉积体系。本文基于经典层序地层学理论,通过对莱州湾凹陷三维地震、主要钻井及取心、测井等资料综合分析,对莱州湾凹陷沙三中段层序地层特征及层序格架内沉积体系展布进行精细研究。将沙三中段整体划分为1个三级层序,并根据初次湖泛面、最大湖泛面及高水位体系域域内三角洲期次包络面的界定将沙三中段进一步划分为低水位体系域、湖侵体系域和高水位体系域3个体系域及6个四级层序。在层序格架内分析了研究区沙三中段沉积体系的展布特征及演化规律。沙三中段低水位体系域西部斜坡带发育扇三角洲沉积,北部陡坡带发育近岸水下扇沉积。湖侵体系域发育辫状河三角洲沉积,高水位体系域发育4期辫状河三角洲沉积、高水位体系域Ⅰ、Ⅱ期发育坡移浊积扇沉积。根据层序发育和油气成藏条件分析,认为沙三中段低水位体系域扇三角洲、湖侵体系域辫状河三角洲、高水位体系域坡I和II期的坡移扇沉积成藏条件最为有利,是下一步寻找岩性油气藏的优先目标。     

鄂尔多斯盆地上三叠统瓦窑堡组层序地层及聚煤特征研究

利用钻孔岩心数据等资料及层序地层学的有关理论、方法,对鄂尔多斯盆地上三叠统瓦窑堡组进行了层序地层学和聚煤作用的研究。识别出区域不整合面、河流下切谷、地层颜色、岩性突变界面等4个层序界面,并划分出了3个三级层序及相应的低位、湖侵及高位体系域。从时间上看含煤性以层序3最好,层序2次之,层序1较差,煤层主要形成于三级层序的湖侵体系域,其次为高位体系域,厚煤层（5煤层）主要发育于三级层序最大湖泛面附近。综合研究区沉积环境、层序地层、岩相古地理等研究成果,得出了主要煤层（5煤层）形成于湖侵过程中湖湾沼泽、三角洲平原间湾沼泽和曲流河泛滥平原沼泽的结论。     

浙江桐庐阳新统栖霞组的(竹蜓)类化石及多重地层划分

浙江桐庐栖霞组可划分为二个(竹蜓)带:上部为Cancellina neoschwagerinoides-Verbeekina grabaui带,归属祥播阶;下部为Misellina claudiae带,归属罗甸阶.栖霞组被划分出3个正层序和6个四级层序.高频旋回层研究表明:栖霞组主要的成岩环境有台地相、浅海陆棚相和盆地相三种类型,从下至上总体反映为台地向盆地的演化环境.     

浙江桐庐阳新统栖霞组的■类化石及多重地层划分

浙江桐庐栖霞组可划分为二个带:上部为Cancelli naneoschwagerinoides-Verbeekina grabaui带,归属祥播阶;下部为Misellinaclaudiae带,归属罗甸阶。栖霞组被划分出3个正层序和6个四级层序。高频旋回层研究表明:栖霞组主要的成岩环境有台地相、浅海陆棚相和盆地相三种类型,从下至上总体反映为台地向盆地的演化环境。     

华北石炭-二叠纪层序地层格架及其特征

华北石炭二叠纪沉积建造由两部分组成,下部为碳酸盐岩与硅质碎屑岩构成的含煤建造,上部为硅质碎屑岩红色建造。根据不整合面及其它识别层序界面的标志,该沉积建造可划分为５个沉积层序。ＤＳ_１、ＤＳ_２、ＤＳ_３层序属陆表海型层序,其底界面为Ⅰ_ｅ型层序界面,层序内仅发育海侵体系域和高位体系域;ＤＳ_４层序为过渡型层序,由低位体系域、海侵体系域和高位体系域构成;ＤＳ_５层序为湖泊型层序,包括低水位体系域、水进体系域和高位体系域。盆地充填超层序（ＤＳ_１-ＤＳ_５）的发育受控于全球二级相对海平面变化,而沉积层序的发育则与区域性造山作用引起的三级海平面变化有关。     

Sequence stratigraphy in a mixed carbonate-silicilastic depositional system (Middle Miocene; Styrian Basin,Austria)

The mixed carbonate-siliciclastic Weißenegg (Allo-) Formation records three depositional sequences corresponding approximately to the TB 2.3, TB 2.4 and TB 2.5 global cycles. Sea-level fluctuations were of the order of at least 30 m. Siliciclastic lowstand systems tracts comprise lignite deposits, reworked basement and tidal siltstones (above a tectonically enhanced sequence boundary) as well as coastal sand bars. Coastal sands of the transgressive systems tract contain distinct layers of well cemented nodules. They are interpreted as the first stage in hardground formation and record superimposed minor sea-level fluctuations. Coral patch reefs and rhodolith platforms developed during transgressive phases and were subsequently drowned and/or suffocated by siliciclastics during early highstand. Shallowing upwards siliciclastic parasequences, each terminated by a bank of rhodolith limestone, form the (late) highstand systems tract. The limestone beds record superimposed fourth-order transgressive pulses. Occasionally a carbonate highstand wedge developed. Lowstand carbonate shedding occurred where the top of a platform which suffered incipient drowning during highstand was near sealevel again during the following lowstand. Late highstand delta progradation is common.     

塔里木柯坪地区奥陶系层序地层与同位素地球化学响应特征

塔里木盆地柯坪地区奥陶系发育浅水碳酸盐岩台地、深水陆棚-盆地两大类沉积体系和局限台地、开阔台地、陆棚和盆地等4种相类型。通过露头剖面的详细观察,在该区识别出局部暴露不整合和淹没不整合两类层序界面,以此为依据将该区奥陶系划分为9个三级层序。通过对层序格架内碳同位素和元素地球化学组成分析表明,不同层序界面及层序内不同体系域的δ13C和元素地球化学组成有明显的差异,并呈现出有规律性变化,反映出该区奥陶纪发生了多次海平面升降变化。研究表明同位素和地球化学特征可以作为层序地层学研究的辅助标志。     

Signatures of climate vs. sea-level change within incised valley-fill successions: Quaternary examples from the Texas GULF Coast

The passive margin Texas Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain consists of coalescing late Pleistocene to Holocene alluvial–deltaic plains constructed by a series of medium to large fluvial systems. Alluvial–deltaic plains consist of the Pleistocene Beaumont Formation, and post-Beaumont coastal plain incised valleys. A variety of mapping, outcrop, core, and geochronological data from the extrabasinal Colorado River and the basin-fringe Trinity River show that Beaumont and post-Beaumont strata consist of a series of coastal plain incised valley fills that represent 100 kyr climatic and glacio-eustatic cycles.

Valley fills contain a complex alluvial architecture. Falling stage to lowstand systems tracts consist of multiple laterally amalgamated sandy channelbelts that reflect deposition within a valley that was incised below highstand alluvial plains, and extended across a subaerially-exposed shelf. The lower boundary to falling stage and lowstand units comprises a composite valley fill unconformity that is time-transgressive in both cross- and down-valley directions. Coastal plain incised valleys began to fill with transgression and highstand, and landward translation of the shoreline: paleosols that define the top of falling stage and lowstand channelbelts were progressively onlapped and buried by heterolithic sandy channelbelt, sandy and silty crevasse channel and splay, and muddy floodbasin strata. Transgressive to highstand facies-scale architecture reflects changes through time in dominant styles of avulsion, and follows a predictable succession through different stages of valley filling. Complete valley filling promoted avulsion and the large-scale relocation of valley axes before the next sea-level fall, such that successive 100 kyr valley fills show a distributary pattern.

Basic elements within coastal plain valleys can be correlated with the record offshore, where cross-shelf valleys have been described from seismic data. Falling stage to lowstand channelbelts within coastal plain valleys were feeder systems for shelf-phase and shelf-margin deltas, respectively, and demonstrate that falling stage fluvial deposits are important valley fill components. Signatures of both upstream climate change vs. downstream sea-level controls are therefore interpreted to be present within incised valley fills. Signatures of climate change consist of the downstream continuity of major stratigraphic units and component facies, which extends from the mixed bedrock–alluvial valley of the eroding continental interior to the distal reaches, wherever that may be at the time. This continuity suggests the development of stratigraphic units and facies is strongly coupled to upstream controls on sediment supply and climate conditions within hinterland source regions. Signatures of sea-level change are critical as well: sea-level fall below the elevation of highstand depositional shoreline breaks results in channel incision and extension across the newly emergent shelf, which in turn results in partitioning of the 100 kyr coastal plain valleys. Moreover, deposits and key surfaces can be traced from continental interiors to the coastal plain, but there are downstream changes in geometric relations that correspond to the transition between the mixed bedrock–alluvial valley and the coastal plain incised valley. Channel incision and extension during sea-level fall and lowstand, with channel shortening and delta backstepping during transgression, controls the architecture of coastal plain and cross-shelf incised valley fills.