Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of fluvial red beds by statistical analysis of palaeocurrent data: Examples from the buntsandstein (lower triassic) of the eifel and bavaria in the German basin (middle Europe)

Palaeocurrent data from parts of the Upper Buntsandstein (Lower Triassic) of both the western (Eifel: Kyllburg-Schichten) and eastern (Bavaria: Plattensandstein) margin of the German Triassic Basin (Middle Europe) have been interpreted by circular directional statistics, eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis, autocorrelation analysis and vector trend analysis. Examination of current roses, histograms of normalized vector magnitudes and plots, of circular skewness of the distribution vs. circular kurtosis, together with the palaeocurrent plots indicate bimodal palaeocurrent distributions with bipolar orientations within long, short and very short sedimentary sequences. Subset I of the directional data is interpreted to represent larger, more continuous flows in a high-energy regime of probably perennial type, whereas subset II may represent smaller, partially episodic flows of probably ephemeral type with larger variability in direction and flow regime; transport and sedimentation rates being significantly smaller than during deposition of subset I. A part of the bimodal palaeocurrent distributions within short sedimentary sequences fits rather well into the general transport pattern. Other bipolarities are primarily interpreted as effects of superimposition of channels of different orientations as well as of main channels and crevasse-splay channels, and condensation of deposition from discontinuous or episodic flows. The main mechanism creating the vertical succession of various directions is stacking of different substratum members to multistorey complexes by primary-depositional restriction of formation and/or secondary-erosional removal of topstratum sediments. The occasional occurrence of herring-bone cross-stratification representing bipolarities within very short depositional sequences, testifies to probably episodic and random changes in water surface slopes allowing currents to reverse locally. Examination of long sedimentary sequences by autocorrelation analysis reveals changes of transport directions with time in a sinusoidal manner, indicating a conformable environmental development of the alluvial watercourses which reflects a time-cyclic trend of sedimentation by spatially continuous and time-concordant shifting of the channel system. The results of the statistical analysis enable an enhanced palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the alluvial network which fits best to a transitional meandering-thalweg-braided channel pattern. Comparison of the statistical results, especially in the light of vector trend surface analysis, clearly reflects the different palaeogeographic positions of both investigated areas, but rules out only minor influences of regionally different palaeoslopes on the alluvial depositional environment, with the basic principles of fluvial style at the western margin (Eifel) generally matching those at the eastern margin (Bavaria) of the German Basin.     

Silurian to mid-Devonian basin development of the Melbourne Zone, Lachlan Fold Belt, southeastern Australia

The Melbourne Zone comprises Early Ordovician to Early Devonian marine turbidites, which pass conformably upward into a mid-Devonian fluviatile succession. There are four pulses of Silurian to mid-Devonian deep-marine sandstone-dominated sedimentation: Early Silurian (late Llandovery), Late Silurian (Ludlow), earliest Devonian (Lochkovian) and late Early Devonian (Emsian). Two dispersal patterns have been defined using more than 1100 palaeocurrent measurements, mainly from sole marks and cross-laminations in graded beds, together with sandstone compositions. The older pattern, of Silurian to earliest Devonian age, contains the lowest three sandstone pulses. Palaeocurrents and provenance define a wedge of southwesterly derived sediment, of largely cratonic provenance, thinning eastward. This older dispersal pattern is part of an Early Ordovician to earliest Devonian east-facing passive continental margin succession. Palaeocurrents and provenance in the Emsian sandstone pulse comprise three patterns: (1) west- to southwesterly directed palaeocurrents associated with fine- to coarse-grained, locally conglomeratic, lithic sandstones containing a high proportion of volcanic detritus; (2) east- to northeasterly directed palaeocurrents associated with fine- to medium-grained quartz-lithic sandstones; (3) north- to northwesterly and south- to southeasterly directed palaeocurrents associated with fine- to medium-grained sandstones of variable lithic composition. The palaeocurrent and provenance pattern defines a NNW-elongate basin with a tectonically active eastern margin, and is similar to the coeval Mathinna basin of northeastern Tasmania. Both basins are part of the same system of wrench basins, which developed along the western side of the Wagga–Omeo Metamorphic Belt during the earliest Devonian to Middle Devonian. The change in tectonic setting in the earliest Devonian appears to have occurred during an interval of significant dextral translation of the eastern Lachlan Fold Belt towards the SSE along the Governor and associated fault zones.     

西秦岭早三叠世沉积特征及其构造控制作用

西秦岭早三叠世沉积由深水浊积岩、角砾岩、砾岩、滑塌堆积、深水灰岩和钙质泥岩六个岩相组成，在垂向上表现为受构造控制而形成的四个沉积旋回。浊积岩及滑塌堆积的指向表明，大陆边缘的斜坡倾向西南，古水流方向２００-２６０°、说明沿碌曲－成县以北的北方板块边缘在早三叠世存在一引张构造背景，这与扬子板块向北俯冲引起的拖拉滚动有关。     

楚雄前陆盆地系统的构造单元及沉积标识

楚雄盆地是一个中生代周缘前陆盆地。地表及深部地质资料显示,盆地内部以渔泡江-沙桥断裂为界可划分为西部推覆带和东部前陆带。本文运用前陆盆地系统新理论,结合沉积、构造和地化标识,认为西部推覆带是典型的楔顶沉积,而不是前人划分的前渊沉积,东部前陆带上经历了递进式前陆盆地系统沉积作用,早期典型的前渊沉积可能消减于西部推覆带之下。     

A tectono-stratigraphic record of an extensional basin: the Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation of east-central Iran

The Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation consists of siliciclastic strata which are widespread and superbly exposed across the Tabas and Lut blocks of east-central Iran. The formation records the geodynamic history of central Iran during the Early Jurassic in the aftermath of the main Cimmerian event (near the Triassic–Jurassic boundary) through its sedimentary facies and stratigraphic architecture and allows palaeogeographic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. We measured and studied three well-exposed outcrop sections and identified lithofacies and facies associations (fluvial plain, delta plain, delta front, prodelta, and shallow-marine siliciclastic shelf). The integration of all geological, stratigraphic, and sedimentological data shows a west-to-east continental-to-marine gradient within the Ab-Haji Formation. Based on thickness variations, lateral facies changes, palaeocurrent patterns, and changes in the nature of the basal contact of the Ab-Haji Formation on the Tabas and Lut blocks, we locate the fault-bounded Yazd Block in the west and the Shotori Swell at the eastern edge of the Tabas Block as provenance regions. The pattern of thickness variations, rapid east–west facies changes, and provenance is best explained by a tectonic model invoking large tilted fault blocks in an extensional basin. The basal unit shows distinct increase in grain size at the base of the Ab-Haji Formation, similar to the Shemshak Group of the Alborz Mountains (the base of the Alasht Formation) and the non-marine time-equivalent succession of the Binalud Mountains of northeastern Iran. This grain size pattern may have been caused by rapid source area uplift due to slab break-off of the subducted Iran plate in the course of the Cimmerian collision in east-central Iran.     

The Recognition of the Chuxiong Foreland Basin System in Yunnan, China

THE RECOGNITION OF THE CHUXIONG FORELAND BASIN SYSTEM IN YUNNAN,CHINA     

中、上扬子北部盆-山系统演化与动力学机制

中国南方中生代经历了中国大陆最终主体拼合的陆缘及其之后的陆内构造演化。晚古生代末期,在秦岭—大别山微板块与扬子板块之间存在向西张口的洋盆,即勉略古洋盆。中三叠世末期开始,扬子板块相对于华北板块发生自南东向北西的斜向俯冲碰撞作用,扬子北缘晚三叠世至中侏罗世发育陆缘前陆褶皱逆冲带与前陆盆地系统。晚侏罗世至早白垩世,中国东部的大地构造背景发生了重要的构造转变,中、上扬子地区处于三面围限会聚的大地构造背景。在这种大地构造格局下,中、上扬子地区晚侏罗世至早白垩世发育陆内联合、复合构造与具前渊沉降的克拉通内盆地系统。自中侏罗世末期开始,扬子北缘前陆带与雪峰山—幕阜山褶皱逆冲带经历了自东向西的会聚变形过程及盆地的自东向西的迁移过程和收缩过程。扬子北缘相对华北板块的斜向俯冲导致在中扬子北缘的深俯冲及超高压变质岩的形成。俯冲之后以郯庐断裂—襄广断裂围限的大别山超高压变质地块在晚侏罗世向南强逆冲,致使扬子北缘晚三叠世至中侏罗世前陆盆地被掩覆和改造。     

东昆仑印支期区域构造背影的花岗岩记录

研究表明：东昆仑未见早三叠世花岗岩出露;中三叠世花岗岩仅见于昆中区;晚三民花岗岩在昆北区１昆中区和昆南区广为分布。昆中区花岗岩（Ⅰ型）形成于昆南板片向北俯冲的碰撞造山阶段;其Ｓ型、Ａ型花岗岩的产出,是陆内俯冲作用的结果。昆北区出露的Ⅰ型、Ｓ型、Ａ型花岗岩,形成于昆中板片,在晚三叠世沿昆中断开明发生的陆内俯冲。Ａ型花岗岩的产出表明进入造山后阶段。因此,早、中三叠世昆南板片没昆南缝合带向北造山俯冲,Ａ     

大别-苏鲁造山带的东延及板块缝合线:郯庐-鸭绿江-延吉断裂的厘定

根据大别-苏鲁造山带北缘和吉林-黑龙江东部的三叠纪浅变质加积杂岩特征标志,认为大别地区的板块缝合线为信阳-舒城断裂,苏鲁地区的为郯庐-鸭绿江断裂,且苏鲁造山带向北延入东北的吉林-黑龙江东部地区,而华北与扬子板块之间构造缝合线的东延部分则为郯庐-鸭绿江-图们江-延吉断裂。在此基础上,提出了亚洲东部三叠纪以来连续的俯冲-加积模型：(1)三叠纪扬子板块在华北板块向南突出部位(大别-苏鲁一带)发生点碰撞形成超高压变质岩,之后扬子板块由点碰撞逐渐向两侧旋转拼贴形成加积杂岩;(2)侏罗纪-新生代在三叠纪碰撞基础上,太平洋板块向欧亚大陆连续俯冲和加积,进而形成由三叠纪-新生代杂岩组成的欧亚大陆东部地区的巨大加积杂岩带。     

龙门山中段山前带浅层冲断系统的结构、形成与演化

本文依据断层相关褶皱几何学原理,对龙门山中段地震剖面进行了精细解释。研究发现,龙门山中段山前带浅层冲断系统存在多套滑脱层,具有上下分层变形特征。浅层滑脱层为上三叠统须家河组三段(T_3~x3)的碳质页岩夹煤层,其上发育双重构造和叠瓦构造;下三叠统嘉陵江组四、五段(T_1j~(4-5))的膏岩层,发育断层传播褶皱、冲起构造和构造楔;深层为下寒武统的泥页岩层,发育断层转折褶皱和滑脱褶皱。该区滑脱断层所控制的地层变形和缩短量各不相同,其中三叠系上统缩短量最大,大于30 km;三叠系下统至古生界地层缩短量约为14.5 km;侏罗系以上的地层缩短量则较小。研究区内的通济场断裂(F_3)为印支末期形成的一套逆冲断层组,其下部交于下寒武统滑脱层,深度约为10 km;关口断层(F_4)和彭县断裂(F_5)为晚侏罗世一早白垩世形成的逆冲断层,下部交与下三叠统嘉陵江组滑脱层,深度大约为8～10 km。这些断层以前展的方式破裂,并且长期活动。龙门山中段自中生代以来存在多期构造事件,主要发生诺利末期、印支晚幕、燕山期和喜马拉雅期。其中,燕山期和喜马拉雅期是龙门山活动最强烈的两个阶段,在龙门山中段山前带表现为大量断裂的长期活动,地壳缩短和龙门山快速隆升,并形成多种构造样式。     

Sedimentation in the Narrabeen Group,southern Sydney basin,New South Wales

A study of the Narrabeen Group in the southern part of the Sydney Basin has provided a more complete understanding of the conditions of deposition in the area during the Lower Triassic. The sedimentology of the sequence indicates that several different types of fluvial deposits are represented, with an upward succession from piedmont conditions with braided streams to a swampy deltaic plain. This sequence is interpreted as the onshore portion of a slow marine transgression, probably brought about by declining erosive activity in the hinterland.

The palaeocurrent pattern shows that drainage was principally to the south‐southwest, parallel to the basin axis, and the lateral transition from quartzose to lithic sediments across the basin can be interpreted as a blending of sediment from western and northern source areas. In addition several influxes of material from a source east of the present coastline are indicated, with reworked volcanic debris being introduced into the south coast district. This southeasterly source area did not greatly impede the drainage of the basin during lower Narrabeen deposition, but was responsible for a major diversion of stream patterns as the topmost beds were laid down. This diversion was completed by a northeasterly drainage pattern during deposition of the overlying Hawkesbury Sandstone.     

Oblique convergence during the Cimmerian collision: Evidence from the Triassic Aghdarband Basin,NE Iran

The Lower-Middle Triassic Aghdarband Basin, NE Iran, consists of a strongly deformed arc-related marine succession deposited along the southern margin of Eurasia in a highly mobile tectonic context. This basin is a key-area for the study of the Cimmerian events, as the Triassic units show severe deformations, which occurred short time after the collision of Iran with Eurasia, and were sealed by the Middle Jurassic succession. In this work, we document the structural setting and evolution of this area, based on detailed mesoscopic structural analyses of faults and folds, paleostress reconstruction and revision of the Triassic stratigraphy. The Triassic sequences are deeply involved in a N-verging thrust stack interacting with an important left-lateral transpressional fault zone characterized by strike-slip faults, vertical folds and high angle reverse faults generating intricate positive flowers. Systematic folds asymmetry indicates that they developed in a left-lateral transpressional zone coeval to thrust imbrication to the south, due to a marked strain partitioning.The extent of the transpressional zone shows that important left-lateral movements developed parallel to the belt during the Cimmerian collision, in response to oblique convergence between Iran and Eurasia. Inversion of Triassic syn-sedimentary faults, possibly inherited from Palaeozoic structures of the Kopeh Dagh basement and favouring strain partitioning, is suggested by unconformities, significant differences in the sedimentary successions, repeated olistoliths, scarp-related coarse breccias and rapid tectonic drowning, occurring especially along the northern tectonic boundary of the basin. Paleostress analyses point to a complex stress pattern showing a 45° rotation of the stress field along the left-lateral fault system, related to a complete deformation partitioning in two domains respectively characterized by pure reverse dip-slip and strike-slip motions. The main direction of compression, possibly oriented NE–SW in present days coordinates, favoured the development of large shear zones disrupting the eastern portion of the Cimmerian orogen.     

雅鲁藏布江断裂带的形成

雅江断裂带①主要由4条断层组成3个向西南突出的巨大弧形断裂带。晚三叠世至第四纪,雅江断裂带都有沉积地层发育,从西北向东南,各弧形断裂带成为相继接受沉积的坳陷区,而同一时期,与之紧邻的南北两盘却为隆升区。雅江断裂带,正是在该区地壳多次层波运动中形成的。      

A magnetic fabric study of Late Whitcliffian (U. Silurian) siltstones from the Welsh Borderland

The uppermost Whitcliffian strata of the Welsh Borderlands record the final phase of marine sedimentation in the Silurian basin and shelf environments. They give way transitionally to the succeeding non-marine Lower Old Red Sandstone. As a contribution to the understanding of the change from marine to continental facies, the magnetic fabric method was used to obtain palaeocurrent data for the uppermost Whitcliffian. The results confirm that the uppermost Whitcliffian palaeocurrent pattern is essentially “Silurian” in character and does not foreshadow the deltaic and littoral patterns of sediment distribution observed in the basal Old Red Sandstone.     

Petrography and Geochemistry of the Upper Triassic Sandstones from the Western Ordos Basin,NW China: Provenance and Tectonic Implications

Petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the Upper Triassic sandstones in the western Ordos Basin were studied to provide insight into weathering characteristics, provenance, and tectonic implications. Petrographic features show that the sandstones are characterized by low-medium compositional maturity and textural maturity. The CIA and CIW values reveal weak and moderate weathering history in the source area. The geochemical characteristics together with palaeocurrent data show that the northwestern sediments were mainly derived from the Alxa Block with a typical recycled nature, while the provenance of the western and southwestern sediments were mainly from the Qinling-Qilian Orogenic Belt. The tectonic setting discrimination diagrams signify that the parent rocks of sandstones in the western and southern Ordos Basin were mainly developed from continental island arc, which is closely related to the evolution of the Qinling-Qilian Orogenic Belt. However, the sandstones in the northwestern Ordos Basin show complex features, which may be resulted from a typical recycling process. Overall evidence from petrography, geochemistry and sedimentology, together with previous researches suggest the Kongtongshan and Helanshan areas were the southwestern and northwestern boundary of the Ordos Basin, respectively, and there was no clear boundary between the Hexi Corridor Belt and Ordos Basin, where a large, uniform sediment dispersal system developed during the Late Triassic.     

History of faulting in the Northern Hastings Block,southern New England Orogen

Brittle failure is common in the Devonian to Permian rocks in the Northern Hastings Block (NHB) and is manifested by faults of different orientation and kinematic histories, but the timing of fault movement is not well defined. In this study, faults in the NHB were analysed with the map pattern of cross-cutting faults used to estimate the relative time of movement and relationship to other faults. We defined five episodes of faulting or fault reactivation that affected the NHB. The Yarras Fault System on the southwestern side of the NHB and the Parrabel Fault and related faults on the eastern side of the NHB are the two major fault systems responsible for transporting and rotating the NHB in the late Carboniferous. Faults on the eastern, northeastern and northern part of Parrabel Dome started and stopped moving after emplacement of the Hastings Block and before the intrusion of the Werrikimbe Triassic granitoids. We suggested that the movement on the major bounding faults is related to the accommodation of the NHB to the folding and cleavage development in the adjoining Nambucca Block, and is associated with the earliest part of the Hunter–Bowen Orogeny. Limited dextral movement on the extensions of the Taylors Arm Fault System caused minor displacements in the northeastern part of the NHB during the Late Triassic. Some small faults cut the Triassic granitoids or Triassic Lorne Basin sediments indicating tectonic activity continued post-Triassic.     

Tectonic Control of the Triassic Santa Maria Supersequence of the Paraná Basin, Southernmost Brazil, and its Correlation to the Waterberg Basin, Namibia

The Middle and Late Triassic Santa Maria Basin, exposed in southernmost Brazil, and Waterberg Basin, in Namibia, are herein interpreted as part of en échelon small basins in southern West Gondwana. The main structures are the Waterberg-Omaruru Fault which can be connected to a NW-strike anastomosed fault zone in Brazil. Based on field structural and stratigraphic analysis two populations of NW-strike fractures, named A-type and B-type, are recognized. A-type fractures (Az = 280°-290°) occur in the Sanga do Cabral Supersequence, underlying units of Santa Maria Basin, as extension of the Waterberg-Omaruru Fault during the Early Triassic. B-type fractures (Az = 295°-345°) are observed in all studied stratigraphic units, from the Triassic Sanga do Cabral Supersequence to the Early Cretaceous Botucatu/Serra Geral formations. Based on the structural analysis we propose that NNE-SSW extension reactivated structures of the Damara Belt, Namibia, with a propagation towards Rio Grande do Sul State forming an anastomosing normal fault system and related-rift basin by Early-Middle Triassic time. The A-type fractures were preferentially active by this phase and the B-type ones are interpreted as secondary link segments within the anastomosing system. During the Gondwana break-up and South Atlantic opening (rift to proto-oceanic phase, Aptian) the B-type fractures were reactivated as normal faults by N50°E-S50°W extension.     

郯庐断裂与皖东南印支运动

本文拟就三年来的地质观察讨论郯庐断裂与印支运动的历史联系。参考前人的工作,对本区三叠系地层划分如下。     

青藏高原东北缘祁连山地区古地震记录与区域构造意义

青藏高原东北缘的地质地貌特征与基本构造格架受阿尔金左行走滑断裂、东昆仑左行走滑断裂和海源左行走滑断裂控制,在青藏高原的碰撞造山过程中地震作用贯穿始终.2011至2012年,作者对青藏高原东北缘东起靖远(海原断裂东段)西至昌马盆地(阿尔金断裂东南)的软沉积物变形(震积岩)进行的系统调研表明,青藏高原东北缘祁连山地区从三叠纪至第四纪各时代(侏罗纪以外)的地层中,均发现丰富的古地震纪录(震积岩).代表性震积岩发现点和层位有:靖远宝积山上三叠统、靖远糜滩乡下白垩统、昌马盆地下白垩统以及赤金堡和酒泉磁窑口附近的第四系.主要的震积岩类型有:液化脉、负载、球-枕构造、液化卷曲、层间微断裂等.根据区域地质资料分析,这些震积岩均分布于区域性大断裂附近.本文简单讨论了主要震积岩发现点与其相邻的区域构造(地震)活动之间的关系,根据靖远附近上三叠统普遍发育震积岩,提出海原断裂带的初始活动时间很可能就在晚三叠世,与青藏高原东缘龙门山地区印支期的造山地震同时期.     

Rifts,rivers and climate recovery: A new model for the Triassic of England

Triassic basins of England developed under a regime of largely W–E extension and progressed from non-marine fluvial and aeolian sedimentation (Sherwood Sandstone Group), through marine-influenced playa lacustrine deposits (Mercia Mudstone Group) to marine environments (Penarth Group). A new tectono-stratigraphic model for the Sherwood Sandstone Group is proposed in which two major long-distance river systems developed under conditions of relative fault inactivity in the Early Triassic (Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds and equivalent) and Middle Triassic (Otter Sandstone and equivalent). These are separated by a late Early Triassic syn-rift succession of fluvio–aeolian sandstones (Wildmoor Sandstone and Wilmslow Sandstone formations) and playa lacustrine muds (Nettlecombe Formation) which show major thickness variation and localisation with hanging wall basins. The partitioning of syn-rift deposits into mudstones within upstream basins (close to the source of water and sediment) and clean aeolian or fluvio–aeolian sandstones in downstream basins is similar to the pattern observed in the underlying late Permian. Under conditions of rapid tectonic subsidence chains of extensional basins may become disconnected with upstream basins (Wessex Basin) acting as traps for fines and water permitting more aeolian activity in temporarily unlinked downstream basins (Worcester and Cheshire basins). In addition to tectonic controls, fluctuating climate, relief related to limestone resilience in arid settings, the smoothing effect of fill and spill sedimentation and Tethyan sea-level change all contributed toward the observed Triassic stratigraphy in England.