Eustatic and hydrodynamic controls on the architecture of a deep shelf sand bank (Celtic Sea)

The architecture of a tidal sand bank in the south-eastern Celtic Sea was examined using very high-resolution seismic surveys. The bank comprises four depositional units. The lowest unit 1 is characterized by gently dipping (1–8°) strata that strike parallel to the length of the bank. Unit 1 is erosionally overlain by unit 2, which forms the bulk of the bank. This unit consists of stacked sets of downcurrent-dipping (7–12°) master bedding formed by climbing, sinuous-crested tidal dunes that are up to 20 m high. These deposits are locally incised by an anastomosed channel network (unit 3) that may represent a buried swatchway system. The upper part of the bank comprises wave-related deposits that are mainly preserved on the bank flanks (unit 4). The outer bank surface is erosional. The bank is believed to have formed during the last post-glacial sea-level rise. The facies evolution from unit 1 to unit 3 indicates an upward increase in tidal energy, mainly characterized by the thickening of dune cross-bed sets in unit 2. The majority of bank growth is inferred to have occurred in water depths of the order of 60 m. This evolution was controlled by relative sea-level rise, which is likely to have caused an episode of tidal resonance with associated strong tidal currents that were responsible for the incision of the deep, cross-cutting channels of unit 3. The transition to wave-dominated sedimentation in unit 4 is related to the decay of resonance with continued sea-level rise.     

MIS 3晚期以来江苏中部海岸的层序地层

通过对苏北岸外西洋潮流通道内钻孔和地震剖面的地层沉积学、年代地层学、地震地层学和层序地层学等多学科再研究,以及区域钻孔再对比,本文确定该海域约从35kaBP(14C惯用年龄)开始经历了滨岸砂坝、淡水湖沼、河流泛滥平原、滨岸沼泽、潮流沙脊和潮流通道一系列的环境演变,主要受控于MIS3晚期以来的海平面旋回以及古河流入海沉积物供给,而构造沉降是相对次要的,由此形成了五级层序地层中的末次冰期晚间冰阶准层序和冰后期准层序,以及前者的高水位体系域和强制海退楔体系域、后者的海侵体系域和高水位体系域。海域中潮流沙脊可能开始发育于冰后期海侵淹没本区(约9calkaBP)之后,但一直只是水下暗沙且处在不断调整之中,直到1128～1855AD间黄河夺淮从苏北入黄海,大量泥沙充填潮道,部分水下暗沙出露海面成为明沙。西洋潮流通道并非是晚全新世期间通过沙脊的蚀低而形成,而在全新世高海面前后就已具雏形并持续至1128AD,1128～1855AD和1855AD至今分别经历了充填淤浅与冲刷成型的过程,且今后具有进一步展宽刷深的趋势。     

麻江古油藏周缘露头层序地层与南方海相油气藏保存条件

中国南方发育了巨厚的碳酸盐岩,由于经历了多起构造活动、多期生排烃和多幕次的油气充注和破坏,油气的保存条件是决定现今南方是否存在具有经济价值的油气藏的关键.通过对麻江古油气藏周缘野外露头层序地层学分析,识别出3种不同背景条件控制下发育的层序即缓坡型(无明显坡折)、生长断层型和陆架坡折型.通过考察层序地层与油气显示的关系,发现主要的油气显示(沥青脉)多赋存于海泛体系域直接覆盖的低位体系域或下伏层序的高位体系域中,充分说明海泛体系域是南方海相油气藏最主要的盖层.暗示南方海相油气藏勘探应重视区域性和全球性的海泛面所形成的区域盖层对油气藏的保存作用,局部海泛所形成的局部盖层不足以使油气藏在多期构造反转和抬升剥蚀中免于破坏.同时应加强构造活动中不同层序发育模式中不同体系域保存条件的差异性分析,采用不同的油气勘探战略.     

Evidence for rapid ice flow and proglacial lake evolution around the central Strait of Magellan region,southernmost Patagonia

This paper presents a detailed palaeoglaciological reconstruction of ice sheet dynamics in the Seno Skyring, Seno Otway and Strait of Magellan region of the former Patagonian Ice Sheet, with a particular focus on previously hypothesised zones of rapid ice flow and the evolution of proglacial lakes. Geomorphological mapping from a combination of satellite imagery and oblique and vertical aerial photographs reveals a variety of glacial landforms that are grouped into several discrete flow‐sets and associated ice margin positions. The most distinct features are represented by flow‐sets of highly elongate streamlined glacial lineations on both sides of the Strait of Magellan. Based on the shape and dimensions of the flow‐sets and their abrupt lateral margins, a transverse and longitudinal variation in glacial lineation length and elongation ratio, and the reported presence of a potentially deformable bed and thrust moraines, the flow‐sets are interpreted as zones of rapid ice flow within the Otway and Magellan lobes. We hypothesise that this provides evidence for contemporaneous surge‐like advances within the lobes, which may explain the asymmetry in the lobate margin positions on either side of the strait. The mechanisms that initiated rapid flow are unclear, but are likely to have been influenced by internal factors such as a change in thermal/hydrological conditions at the bed. The topography of the region suggests ice‐dammed lakes would have formed as the ice lobes retreated. The westernmost of the former lakes, Lake Skyring, is delimited by a series of palaeo‐shorelines surrounding the present‐day lake Laguna Blanca and we reconstruct lake evolution based on manipulation of a digital elevation model. The size and orientation of meltwater channels and a large outwash plain indicate that Lake Skyring drained eastwards towards the Strait of Magellan, probably quite rapidly. We conclude that the potential for quasi‐independent surge‐like behaviour within adjacent lobes raises the possibility that, during climate‐driven ice expansion, some advances in this region may have been partly controlled by secondary internal feedback mechanisms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentary facies of the central part of radial tidal sand ridge system of the eastern China coast

A unique radial tidal sand ridge system (RTSRS) has developed under a complex tidal current field on the eastern China coast between the Yangtze River delta to the south and the abandoned Yellow River (Huanghe) delta to the north. The present study examines the sedimentary evolution of a ridge-channel pair in the central RTSRS. Three cores, with two on the ridges and one in the channel, were drilled to reveal the late Pleistocene-Holocene deposits of the system. Five sedimentary facies were distinguished, i.e. ridgeshallow subtidal facies, ridge-deep subtidal facies, nearsurface channel bottom facies, middle tidal flat facies and low tidal flat facies. The ridge-shallow subtidal facies consists of sandy strata with ripple cross beddings, horizontal lamina, and massive beddings. Bioturbation seldom occurs. The ridge-deep subtidal facies is primarily characterized by sandy and muddy interlayers with common flaser and lenticular bedding structures. Bioturbation appears abundantly. Massive and graded sediment sequences of storm origin are present as characterized by rich shell fragments. The nearsurface channel bottom facies consists of loose, soft, clayey silt deposits with deformed sedimentary layers. This facies occurs in the deeper part of the active channels. The middle tidal flat and lower tidal flat facies composed of silt-clay couplets prevailed primarily in the tidal flats. Incomplete sedimentary successions show that coastal plain deposits dominate in the study area during 12–13 ka B.P. The sandy ridge and channel facies became dominant during 4–6 ka B.P. when the sea level receded temporarily. Tidal ridge and channel in the study area became active during the last four decades. Sediment reworking due to typhoon and sandy ridge migration plays a key role in shaping the present radial ridge system.     

Comparison of tropical,carbonate and temperate,siliciclastic tidally dominated sedimentary deposits: Examples from the Australian continental shelf

Surficial deposits of the tidally influenced Australian shelf seas exhibit a variation in fades related to energy gradient. These deposits comprise a high energy gravelly facies, a mobile sand sheet facies and a low energy muddy sand facies. Such a facies distribution conforms generally with the existing model of continental shelf tidal sedimentation, derived for the west European tidal seas. However, the carbonate rich and mainly warm water deposits of the Australian shelf differ from the mainly quartzose and temperate cold‐water deposits of the European type case in terms of: (i) the role of seagrasses in trapping fine‐grained sediment; and (ii) the relative importance of the production of carbonate mud by mechanical erosion of carbonate grains. Seagrasses in Spencer Gulf, Gulf of St Vincent and Torres Strait are located in regions of strong tidal currents, associated with bedforms and gravel lag deposits. Thus, in the case of tropical carbonate shelves, seagrass deposits containing fine‐grained and poorly sorted sediments are located in close proximity to high energy gravel and mobile sand facies. In contrast, the European model (for temperate, siliciclastic shelves) places facies in a regional gradient with a wide separation (in the order of 50–100 km).

Of the locations reviewed, the Gulf of St Vincent, Bass Strait, southern Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria exhibit zones of carbonate mud accumulation. The production and winnowing of carbonate mud from the mobile sand facies is a factor that must be taken into account in the assessment of a sediment budget for this facies, and which is of relatively greater importance for carbonate shelves. Insufficient data are presently available from the macrotidal North West Shelf to test the applicability of the model to this region.     

南黄海大型潮汐水道动力地貌环境对人类活动响应——以小庙洪水道为例

辐射沙脊群内潮汐水道由于没有固定的边界，其稳定性对人类活动影响更加敏感。通过收集近20年来辐射沙脊群南翼小庙洪海域实测高分辨率水下地形资料，结合数学模型分析研究人类活动对小庙洪海域水动力和地形冲淤累积影响。研究结果表明：近20年来小庙洪水域边滩匡围面积达126.09 km²，边滩匡围导致小庙洪尾部、中部及口门段断面流量分别减小14.2%、15.79%和9.13%；尾部、中部及口门段深槽区平均流速分别减小20~30 cm/s、10~20 cm/s和5~10 cm/s。小庙洪水道南侧-5 m等深线变化幅度较小，基本保持稳定状态；-10 m等深线继续向西延伸，向南拓展。近20年来小庙洪边滩匡围虽导致水道内纳潮量和水动力有所减弱，但由于目前匡围区均处于高滩区域，各匡围工程所引起的泥沙冲淤仅限于工程区附近，对小庙洪水道整体稳定性、深槽主轴南逼、口门水道整体北淤南冲的演变趋势没有产生明显影响。     

柴达木盆地干柴沟地区第三系湖盆边缘斜坡带沉积体系及湖盆充填模式分析

通过地面调查及钻井地质资料分析,对柴达木盆地干柴沟地区第三系湖盆边缘斜坡带沉积体系构成进行分析研究,该体系主要由扇三角洲沉积体系,水下洪积扇-近岸浊流沉积体系,辫状河三角洲沉积体系,常态湖三角洲沉积体系和湖泊沉积体系组成。对其成因地层格架及湖盆充填模式进行了探讨分析。     

Morphodynamic evolution and stratal architecture of translating tidal point bars: Inferences from the northern Venice Lagoon (Italy)

The widespread distribution of tidal creeks and channels that undertake meandering behaviour in modern coasts contrasts with their limited documentation in the fossil record, where point‐bar elements arising from the interaction between a mix of both fluvial and tidal currents are mainly documented. The sedimentary products of tidal channel‐bend evolution are relatively poorly known, and few studies have focused previously on specific facies models for tidal point bars present in modern settings. This study improves understanding of tidal channel meander bends through a multi‐disciplinary approach that combines analyses of historical aerial photographs, measurements of in‐channel flow velocity, high‐resolution facies analyses of sedimentary cores and three‐dimensional architectural modelling. The studied channel bend (12 to 15 m wide and 2 to 3 m deep) drains a salt marsh area located in the north‐eastern sector of the microtidal Venice Lagoon, Italy. Historical photographs show that, during the past 77 years, the bend has translated seaward ca 15 m. Results show that the channel bend formed on a non‐vegetated mud flat that was progressively colonized by vegetation. Seaward translation occurred under aggradational conditions, with an overall migration rate of 0·2 to 0·3 m year⁻¹, and was promoted by the occurrence of cohesive, poorly erodible outer bank deposits. Ebb currents are dominant, and translation of the channel bend promotes erosion and deposition along the landward and seaward side of the bar, respectively. Tidal currents show a clear asymmetry in terms of velocity distribution, and their offset pattern provides a peculiar grain‐size distribution within the bar. During the flood stage, sand sedimentation occurs in the upper part of the bar, where the maximum flow velocity occurs. During the ebb stage, the bar experiences the secondary helical flow that accumulates sand at the toe of the bar. Lateral stacking of flood and ebb deposits has caused the formation of localized coarsening‐upward and fining‐upward sedimentary packages, respectively.     

四川盆地东北部下三叠统飞一—飞三段孤立碳酸盐岩台地沉积相及相关研究

四川盆地东北部在早三叠世飞仙关期的大部分时间内(飞一—飞三期)属于四周被深水海槽围绕的、受南秦岭海演化拉张断裂而形成的一个碳酸盐孤立台地环境,随四级海平面的升降变化、开江—梁平海槽的逐渐关闭和城口—鄂西海槽的东移,各种孤立台地亚相发生移动和转变,最终在飞三晚期至飞四早期孤立台地转化合并为川东北大型连陆台地。根据区域地质背景和地层沉积特征(岩性、古生物、沉积构造、测井)研究,划分了潟湖(包括蒸发潟湖、局限潟湖、半局限潟湖和点滩)、台地边缘鲕滩、斜坡、海槽4个亚相;建立出孤立台地的沉积立体模式并分析了沉积相从飞一飞三期的展布及演化过程;最后着重剖析了具备后期形成良好储层条件的孤立台地边缘鲕滩相带的迁移性、储层发育不均一性、测井和地震特征,沉积相对鲕滩气藏分布的控制,最后对孤立台地边缘鲕滩相中有望成为新的天然气勘探突破区进行了地震横向分布预测。     

Late Quaternary core stratigraphy of the northern New South Wales continental shelf

On the southeast Australian continental margin, mixed siliciclastic and temperate carbonate sediments are presently forming along the narrow 20–35 km‐wide northern New South Wales shelf over an area of 4960 km². Here, year‐round, highly energetic waves rework inner and mid‐shelf clastic sediments by northward longshore currents or waning storm flows. The strong East Australian Current flows south, sweeping clastic and outer shelf biogenic sands and gravels. Quaternary siliciclastic inner shelf cores consist of fine to medium, lower shoreface sand and graded storm beds of fine to coarse sand. Physically abraded, disarticulated molluscs such as Donacidae and Glycymeridae form isolated gravel lags. Highstand inner shelf clastics accumulate at 0.53 m/10³ y in less than 50 m water depth. Clastic mid‐shelf cores contain well‐sorted, winnowed, medium shoreface sands, with a fine sand component. Fine sand and mud in this area is discharged mainly from New South Wales’ largest river, the Clarence. The seaward jutting of Byron Bay results in weakened East Australia Current flows through the mid‐shelf from Ballina to Yamba allowing the fine sediments to accumulate. Quaternary carbonate outer shelf cores have uniform and graded beds forming from the East Australian Current and are also influenced by less frequent storm energy. Modern clastic‐starved outer shelf hardgrounds are cemented by coralline algae and encrusting bryozoans. Clay‐sized particles are dominantly high‐Mg calcite with minor aragonite and smectite/kaolinite. Carbonate sands are rich in bryozoan fragments and sponge spicules. Distinctive (gravel‐sized) molluscs form isolated shells or shell lag deposits comprising Limopsidae and Pectinidae. The upper slope sediments are the only significant accumulation of surficial mud on the margin (18–36 wt%), filling the interstices of poorly sorted, biogenic gravels. Pectinid molluscs form a basal gravel lag. During highstand the outer shelf accumulates sediment at 0.40 m/10³ y, with the upper slope accumulating a lower 0.23 m/10³ y since transgression. Transgression produced a diachronous (14–10 ka) wave‐ravinement surface in all cores. Relict marine hardgrounds overlie the wave‐ravinement surface and are cemented by inorganic calcite from the shallow and warm East Australian Current. Transgressive estuarine deposits, oxygen isotope Stage 3–5 barriers or shallow bedrock underlie the wave‐ravinement surface on the inner and mid shelf. Northern New South Wales is an example of a low accommodation, wave‐ and oceanic current‐dominated margin that has produced mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate facies. Shelf ridge features that characterise many storm‐dominated margins are absent.     

Sedimentary architecture and growth pattern of turbidite systems in distal part of a median fan; example of the Upper Miocene sedimentary sequence of the Lower Congo basin

The understanding of deep-water turbidite systems implies a preliminary detailed analysis of the architectural elements which compose them. Using 3D seismic data, three architectural elements are recognized including a new one: the “meandering erosional nested channels”. The spatial organisation and the relative stratigraphic position of these “elementary bricks” allow to define four stages which form the sedimentary history of the distal part of a upper Miocene turbidite system of the Lower Congo basin: 1, depositional stage with frontal splay development; 2, erosional channel and prograding system; 3, depositional stage with vertical aggradation of the channel and 4, abandonment phase with channel avulsion.     

华南泥盆系层序地层与岩石-年代地层界线间相关性探讨

以广西六景、象州大乐、桂林塘家湾及贵州独山与贵阳东北郊乌当剖面为例,在已有的地层、古生物、沉积相研究的基础上,开展了层序地层学研究.通过这项研究,认为那高岭组与莲花山组的界线是一年代地层、岩石地层及层序地层合一的界面;论证了大乐剖面应堂组的古琶段与贵州独山剖面的龙洞水组属于下泥盆统的可行性;总结了吉维特阶与艾菲尔阶间多处存在沉积间断面或沉积停滞面的客观事实,确认该界面为一符合实际又易于识别的自然界面,可作为D_2~2 /D_2~1的界面;讨论了存在于不同沉积相中的D_3/D_2界面,认为该界面置于D_2~2上部层序之上的海进体系域顶面,与以牙形类为准确立的界线很接近,但其更利于野外实际工作;对贵阳东北郊乌当剖面乌当组的归属提出疑问,并将其定为吉维特阶早期.     

Stratigraphy,structure and tectonics of Lower Ordovician and Devonian strata of the central part of the Wonominta Block,western New South Wales

K‐Ar age determinations on granites from Central Queensland support the conclusions of field mapping, that the intrusives of the Anakie High are generally older than the rocks of the Drummond Basin. Results on granites from the Bowen‐Collinsville region indicate that they pre‐date most of the Bowen Basin sediments. Four ages are reported for basement rock from bore‐cores in the Great Artesian Basin. They confirm Precambrian basement to the south of the Mt. Isa‐Cloncurry area, and suggest possible Precambrian in the Long‐reach Spur. Two samples from the Nebine Ridge give Lower Carboniferous results. A previous report of Permian basement in the Surat Basin has been shown to be incorrect.     

准东喀木斯特地区中侏罗统头屯河组沉积相与铀矿化

以含矿目的层中侏罗统头屯河组为主要研究层位,通过岩性特征、岩石学特征、沉积构造、沉积体系分析及单井—联井剖面对比,从沉积学的角度解释喀木斯特地区铀矿化砂体特征.研究认为:喀木斯特地区头屯河时期发育两种沉积体系组合,一种是扇三角洲-湖泊沉积,一种是辫状河三角洲-湖泊沉积,并识别出扇三角洲平原、扇三角洲前缘、辫状河三角洲平原、辫状河三角洲前缘和滨浅湖5种亚相.镜下鉴定结果表明,含矿目的层头屯河组砂岩类型主要为长石岩屑砂岩,其次为长石岩屑杂砂岩、岩屑砂岩和岩屑长石砂岩,岩石具有典型的低成分成熟度、低结构成熟度特征.喀木斯特头屯河时期沉积相展布具有"北辫南扇"、"盆大水浅、河长扇短以及坡缓"等特点.头屯河组沉积相对喀木斯特地区铀矿化具有明显控制作用,主要体现在以下几个方面:①低位体系域的粗碎屑产物可为铀成矿提供较大的容矿空间;②辫状河道砂体是控制氧化带发育及矿体富集程度的主要因素,砂体的稳定连通为流体运移和成矿提供良好的条件;③特殊的大型"泥-砂-泥(煤)"结构有利于层间氧化带砂岩型铀矿化发育.     

贵州东部中上寒武统层序地层学及台地演化

通过对贵州东部丹寨一三都中上寒武统两个碳酸盐岩露头剖面的层序地层学研究，识别出3个(三级)层序及8个体系域，并认为由于构造升降运动，两露头剖面的沉积环境发生变化，该区台地类型由中寒武统的缓坡型陆棚演变成上寒武统的镶嵌陆架型台地。研究表明，自中元古宙晚期以来，研究区经历了由洋壳过渡到陆壳的演变过程，体现在该区自中寒武世至晚寒武世由广阔的坡缓底平的广海陆棚沉积，转为台地(斜坡)-广海(盆地)沉积环境。     

Stratigraphy of a Lateglacial lake basin sediment sequence at Turret Bank,upper Glen Roy,Lochaber: implications for the age of the Turret Fan

New lithostratigraphical, pollen-stratigraphical and tephrostratigraphical data are presented for a sediment sequence at Turret Bank, a site that lies close to the confluence of the River Turret with the River Roy in Lochaber, the western Scottish Highlands. The site is also adjacent to the inner margin of a major gravel fan, the Glen Turret Fan, the age of which has been debated and has a crucial bearing on the overall sequence of events in Glen Roy, especially concerning the maximum limit of Loch Lomond Readvance (Younger Dryas) ice. Several lines of evidence point to the sediment sequence at Turret Bank having been wholly deposited during the Loch Lomond Stadial-early Holocene transition: (i) the pollen sequence is typical for this transitional period; (ii) varved deposits preserved in the sequence bear a strong resemblance to mid-Stadial varves in a regional master varve scheme for Glen Roy and vicinity (the Lochaber Master Varve Chronology); and (iii) an early Holocene tephra – the Askja-S Tephra – is preserved within the sequence. Some limitations with the new data are considered, but it is concluded that the coherent integration of lithostratigraphic, geomorphological, pollen-stratigraphical and tephrostratigraphical data point to the likelihood that Loch Lomond Readvance ice extended to the inner margin of the Glen Turret Fan, and that the fan was probably constructed by glacial meltwaters at this time.     

Evidence of lacustrine sedimentation in the Upper Permian Bijori Formation, Satpura Gondwana basin: Palaeogeographic and tectonic implications

The Upper Permian Bijori Formation of the Satpura Gondwana basin comprising fineto coarse-grained sandstone, carbonaceous shale/mudstone and thin coal bands was previously interpreted as the deposits of meandering rivers. The present study documents abundance of wave ripples, hummocky and swaley cross-stratification and combined flow bedforms in the Bijori Formation, suggesting that a significant part of the formation was deposited in a wave-agitated environment. Evidence of near-emergent depositional conditions provided by repeated occurrence of rootlet beds and hydromorphic paleosols, local flooding surfaces denoting rapid fluctuation of water level, occurrences of temnospondyl vertebrate fossils, and absence of tidal signatures and marine fossils suggest a lacustrine rather than marine depositional regime. Five facies associations recognised within the Bijori Formation are inferred to represent fluvial channels and associated floodplains (FA1), lake shorelines (FA2), subaqueous distributary channels and associated levees (FA3), waveand storm-affected delta front (FA4), and open lacustrine/lower shoreface (FA5) deposits. The planoconcave fluvial channel-fill sandbodies with unidirectional cross-beds are clearly distinguishable from the delta front bars that show a convexo-plan or bi-convex sandbody geometry and dominance of wave and combined flow bedforms. Some of the distributary channels record interaction of fluvial and wave-dominated basinal processes. Major distributary sandbodies show a north to northwest flow direction while wave-affected delta front sandbodies show very complex flow patterns reflecting interaction between fluvial discharge and wave processes. Wave ripple crest trends show that the lake shoreline had an overall east-northeast to west-southwest orientation. The lack of documented contemporaneous lacustrine or marine sediments in the Satpura Gondwana basin posed a major problem of basin-scale palaeogeographic reconstruction. The existence of Bijori lake solves the problem and the lake is inferred to have acted as repository for the contemporaneous alluvial drainage. Development of the large Bijori lake body implies generation of accommodation space exceeding the rate of sediment supplied and thus represents locus of high tectonic subsidence. Transition of fluvial sediments with red mudstone and calcareous soil profile in the lower part of the succession to carbonaceous shale and coal-bearing lacustrine sediments in the upper part, denote a change from a warm semi-arid climate with seasonal rainfall to a more humid one.     

Progradational Holocene carbonate tidal flats of Crooked Island,south‐east Bahamas: An alternative to the humid channelled belt model

The stratigraphic record of many cratonic carbonate sequences includes thick successions of stacked peritidal deposits. Representing accumulation at or near sea‐level, these deposits have provided insights into past palaeoenvironments, sea‐level and climate change. To expand understanding of carbonate peritidal systems, this study describes the geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy of the tidal flats on the Crooked‐Acklins Platform, south‐east Bahamas. The Crooked Island tidal flats extend continuously for ca 18 km on the platformward flank of Crooked Island, reaching up to 2 km across. Tidal flats include four environmental zones with specific faunal and floral associations and depositional characteristics: (i) supratidal (continuous supratidal crust and pavement); (ii) upper intertidal, with the mangrove Avicennia germinans and the cyanobacteria Scytonema; (iii) lower intertidal (with the mangrove Rhizophora mangal) and (iv) non‐vegetated, heavily burrowed subtidal (submarine). These zones have gradational boundaries but follow shore‐parallel belts. Coring reveals that the thickness of this mud‐dominated sediment package generally is <2 m, with depth to Pleistocene bedrock gradually shallowing landward. The facies succession under much of the tidal flat includes a basal compacted, organic‐rich skeletal‐lithoclast lag above the bedrock contact (suggesting initial flooding). This unit grades upward into rhizoturbated skeletal sandy mud (subtidal) overlain by coarsening‐upward peloid‐foraminifera‐gastropod muddy sand (reflecting shallowing to intertidal elevations). Cores from landward positions include stacked thin indurated layers with autoclastic breccia, root tubules and fenestrae (interpreted as supratidal conditions). Collectively, the data reveal an offlapping pattern on this prograding low‐energy shoreline, and these Holocene tidal flats may represent an actualistic analogue for ancient humid progradational tidal flats. Nonetheless, their vertical facies succession is akin to that present beneath channelled belt examples, suggesting that facies successions alone may not provide unambiguous criteria for prediction of the palaeogeomorphology, lateral facies changes and heterogeneity in stratigraphic analogues.