Drumlin formation: a time transgressive model

Graphical and numerical reconstructions of the Rainy and Superior lobes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet suggest that drumlin formation was time transgressive. Suites of glacial landforms including drumlins, tunnel valleys, eskers, and ice-collapse features can be correlated with specific recessional ice margins and are used as boundary conditions in the modeling. A contour map of the ice surface is then drawn using a specified basal shear stress. The shear stress can be constant or allowed to vary with position on the bed and is chosen to be consistent with the subglacial regime indicated by field evidence. Assuming that ice flow is parallel to drumlin orientations and perpendicular to the ice surface contours and moraines, the trend of drumlin axes is best accommodated by time transgressive drumlin formation during minor stillstands in the overall ice recession. The alternative, that drumlins were formed while the ice was at the Late Wisconsin maximum limit, requires large spatial variations in the basal shear stress distribution and therefore implies large mass-balance gradients or large variations in basal sliding velocities over small distances, for which there is little evidence.     

On the structural age of the Rhoscolyn antiform,Anglesey, North Wales

In the Rhoscolyn area of Anglesey, the late Precambrian interbedded psammites and pelites of the Monian Supergroup are folded into a kilometre‐scale antiform, plunging about 25°NE and with an axial surface dipping about 40°NW. Numerous folds of up to a few tens of metres in wavelength are present on both limbs of this antiform. These smaller‐scale folds also plunge about 25°NE but clearly belong to two separate episodes of folding, and it has become a matter of longstanding controversy as to whether the larger antiform belongs to the first or second of these episodes. Close examination of the cleavage/bedding asymmetries from all the lithologies, however, shows that the large antiform is a second‐generation structure, and that on the gently dipping northwest limb, the sense of cleavage/bedding asymmetry of the earlier cleavage in the psammitic units has been almost uniformly and homogeneously reversed (so that it appears to be axial planar to the antiform), while in the pelitic units the sense of cleavage/bedding asymmetry of the earlier cleavage has been preserved. Many of the small‐scale complexities of the observed cleavage/bedding relationships may be explained by appealing to differences in the timing of the formation of buckling instabilities relative to this reorientation of the early cleavage in the psammites during the second deformation. A first‐order analysis of the finite strains from around the large‐scale antiform shows that the orientation of the first cleavage prior to the second deformation was steeply dipping to the southeast. The second deformation correlates with the southeast‐verging Caledonian deformation affecting the Monian and Ordovician units elsewhere in northwest Anglesey, while the northwest‐verging first deformation event, which is not present in the Ordovician rocks, must have occurred before they were deposited. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Origin of late Devensian sands and gravels,southeast Anglesey,N. Wales

The Lleiniog Sand and Gravel Formation, of late Devensian age, has been divided into four Members. The sediments are interpreted as the sequential products of the wasting of a single ice lobe. Member I formed where subglacial streams debouched into a pro-glacial lake and is noteworthy for the occurrence of a bedform, hitherto undescribed but which may be common in many outwash sequences; Member 2 consists of channel sands and gravels deposited by pro-glacial streams; Member 3 has the characters of a melt-out till deposited after a readvance; and Member 4 accumulated in pools of meltwater on the irregular surface of Member 3. Clasts above granule grade are dominantly of locally-derived Carboniferous rocks although a far travelled component from northern England and southern Scotland can be distinguished as well as a small but constant input of Lower Palaeozoic rock types from the Conwy area. The sand grade is dominated by quartz grains released from Permo-Triassic sandstones. Clay grade material has been derived from Carboniferous shales.     

Polyphase erosion of subaerial omission surfaces in the Late Dinantian of Anglesey, North Wales

The Lower Carboniferous of Anglesey consists of bioclastic carbonates and subsidiary terrigenous siliciclastics built as a cyclic succession against the northern flank of the contemporary Welsh landmass. Cycle boundaries are marked by subaerial erosive features that are unlike the normal Late Dinantian palaeokarst association, and one such surface, at Red Wharf Bay, shows remarkable evidence of polyphase erosion indicating at least three distinct periods of karstification and one of fluvial channelling. Each erosive period was succeeded by an interval of lithification during which newly arrived siliciclastic sediment was stabilized. Diagenetic textures in the underlying limestones reveal no evidence of this complex surface history, and seen in cathodoluminescence the earliest pore filling cements evidently post-date the entire emergent episode. The karsts occupy positions adjacent to channels and are attributable to overbank flooding rather than atmospheric weathering. Autocyclic mechanisms may be responsible for the polyphase development but the overall control of sedimentary cyclicity is considered to have been eustatic.     

Hydrofracturing in response to the development of an overpressurised subglacial meltwater system during drumlin formation: an example from Anglesey,NW Wales

This paper presents the results of a detailed study of a complex hydrofracture system and host diamictons exposed within a longitudinal section through an elongate drumlin located to the west of Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, NW Wales. This complex, laterally extensive sand, silt and clay filled hydrofracture system was active over a prolonged period and is thought to have developed beneath the Late Devensian (Weichselian) Irish Sea Ice Stream as it overrode this part of NW Anglesey. The sediment-fill to the hydrofracture system is deformed with kinematic indicators (folds, thrusts, augen) recording a SW-directed sense of shear, consistent with the regional ice flow direction across this part of the island. The lack of any geomorphological evidence for active retreat of the Irish Sea ice across Anglesey has led to the conclusion that hydrofracturing at the Cemlyn Bay site occurred within the bed of the Irish Sea Ice Stream whilst this relatively faster flowing corridor of ice was actively overriding the island. Shear imposed by the overriding ice led to the development of a subglacial shear zone which facilitated the propagation of the hydrofracture system with the laterally extensive feeder sills occurring parallel to Y-type Riedel shears. Although a subglacial setting beneath the active Irish Sea Ice Stream can be argued for the Cemlyn Bay hydrofracture system, its relationship to the formation of the ‘host’ drumlin remains uncertain. However, evidence presented here suggests that hydrofracturing may have occurred during the later stages or post landform development in response to the migration of overpressurised meltwater within the bed of the Irish Sea ice; possibly accompanying the local thinning and shutdown of the Irish Sea Ice Stream on Anglesey.     

On the deformation sequence in the New Harbour Group of Holy Island,Anglesey, North Wales

Four phases of deformation are recorded by minor structures in the New Harbour Group (NHG) of southern Holy Island. The regional schistosity in these rocks is a differentiated crenulation cleavage of D₂ age. An earlier preferred orientation (S₁) is commonly preserved as crenulations within the Q-domain microlithons of the S₂ schistosity and is demonstrably non-parallel to bedding. F₃ folds are widely developed in S₂ and, to a lesser extent, in bedding. S₃ crenulation cleavage is sporadically developed but can be intense locally. A major antiformal fold exists in the NHG near Rhoscolyn. This fold is of D₃ age since it clearly deforms S₂ schistosity and is consistent with the vergence of F₃ minor structures. All planar structures are deformed by folds of D₄ age. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Periglacial disruption and subsequent glacitectonic deformation of bedrock: an example from Anglesey,North Wales,UK

The deformed metasedimentary bedrock and overlying diamictons in western Anglesey, NW Wales, record evidence of glacier-permafrost interactions during the Late Devensian (Weichselian). The locally highly brecciated New Harbour Group bedrock is directly overlain by a bedrock-rich diamicton which preserves evidence of having undergone both periglacial (brecciation, hydrofracturing) and glacitectonic deformation (thrusting, folding), and is therefore interpreted as periglacial head deposit. The diamicton locally posses a well-developed clast macrofabric which preserves the orientation of the pre-existing tectonic structures within underlying metasedimentary rocks. Both the diamicton and New Harbour Group were variably reworked during the deposition of the later Irish Sea diamicton, resulting in the detachment of bedrock rafts and formation of a pervasively deformed glacitectonite. These structural and stratigraphic relationships are used to demonstrate that a potentially extensive layer of permafrost developed across the island before it was overridden by the Irish Sea Ice Stream. These findings have important implications for the glacial history of Anglesey, indicating that the island remained relatively ice-free prior to its inundation by ice flowing southwards down the Irish Sea Basin. Palynological data obtained from the diamictons across Anglesey clearly demonstrates that they have an Irish Sea provenance. Importantly no Lower Palaeozoic palynomorphs were identified, indicating that it is unlikely that Anglesey was overridden by ice emanating from the Snowdon ice cap developed on the adjacent Welsh mainland. Permafrost was once again re-established across Anglesey after the Irish Sea Ice Stream had retreated, resulting in the formation of involutions which deform both the lower bedrock-rich and overlying Irish Sea diamictons.     

The palynology and provenance of the coal fragments contained in the late-Pleistocene Lleiniog gravels of Anglesey,North Wales

The numerous coal clasts in the late-Pleistocene fluvioglacial Lleiniog Gravels of eastern Anglesey contain a varied assemblage of Westphalian A (and possibly also early Westphalian B) spores. Directional sedimentary structures indicate that the meltwater currents which deposited the gravels came mainly from the north and east, while glacial striae and erratic trains indicate that the parent (? Devensian) glacier flowed from the northeast. Consideration is given to the possibility that the coal clasts were derived from the breaking-up, fairly locally, of far-travelled rafts of Coal Measures. It is concluded, however, that the most probable explanation is still Greenly's (1919) postulate that the source is a yet-to-be-identified submarine outcrop situated only a few kilometres northeast of Lleiniog.     

Glacial deposits at Wylfa Head,Anglesey, North Wales: Evidence for Late Devensian deposition in a non-marine environment

The nature and origin of glacial sediments at Wylfa Head are described, and their significance with regard to sedimentary environments during Late Devensian deglaciation of the Irish Sea Basin is discussed. Recent models of deglaciation under glaciomarine conditions are challenged. The Quaternary sequence at Wylfa consists of eroded and glaciotectonically deformed bedrock, locally derived lodgement till, calcareous silt-rich lodgement till containing northern erratics, discontinuous units of orange-brown silty sand of possible aeolian origin, and grey laminated freshwater silts filling a small kettle hole. The till units thicken to the south where the surface is drumlinised. It is concluded that the landforms and deposits result from a warm-based Irish Sea glacier, which moved towards the southwest. Spatial variation in basal water pressure resulted from localised drainage through zones of more heavily jointed bedrock. Rapid glacial erosion occurred in areas where subglacial water pressure was relatively high, while deposition of the resulting basal sediment took place where water pressures were reduced. The glacier also carried basal calcareous silty till onshore, which was deposited by lodgement processes. None of the deposits at Wylfa are interpreted as glaciomarine in origin, and there is no evidence at this site for an isostatically induced marine transgression prior to deglaciation.     

A lithological assessment of the resistivity data acquired during the airborne geophysical survey of Anglesey,North Wales

A recent airborne geophysical survey has provided high resolution estimates of the electrical resistivity of the near-surface and deeper (bedrock) formations found across Anglesey and a portion of the coastal area of North Wales. This single small survey provides new geophysical information on both the complex configuration of the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian bedrock units and the shallow near-surface geology and glacial features.     

The relationship between formation structure and thickness in the Permo-Triassic succession of the Southern Coalfield, Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia

Using trend-surface analysis, the patterns of formation structure and thickness variation in the Permo-Triassic succession of the Southern Coalfield, Sydney Basin, are resolved into geologically meaningful large- and small-scale features. The structural trends correspond to the regional syncline of the southern Sydney Basin and the negative and positive residual domains to smaller-scale structures including the South Bulli and Douglas Park Synclines and the Bulli and Kemira Anticlines. The results of trend-surface analysis and simple linear regression reveal an inverse relationship between structural elevation (relative to sea level) and formation thickness on both a regional and a local scale. This relationship is strongest for the Bulli Coal and the Bald Hill Claystone. In the case of the Bulli Coal, the present-day structural trends and formation thickness trends show a strong inverse correlation and the residuals show a moderate inverse correlation; the correlations between the inferred Middle Triassic structure of the Bulli Coal and formation thickness are even stronger than those involving the present-day structure. These results indicate that structures which were active during the Permo-Triassic and which influenced sedimentation have been preserved in the present-day structure. The persistence of the patterns of structure and thickness variation upward through the Permo-Triassic sequence suggests that sedimentation was controlled by contemporaneous basement subsidence, rather than by short-lived compaction-induced subsidence patterns.     

北山中南带海西-印支期岩浆活动与金的成矿作用

北山中南带地处哈萨克斯坦和塔里木板块交汇处,区内深大断裂纵横交错,各类海西期-印支期岩浆岩发育,金矿床(点)星罗棋布,是中国西北地区最重要的金成矿带之一.该区金矿床(点)大体可划分为:①火山岩型;②侵入岩型;③夕卡岩型;④变质岩型;⑤沉积岩型.尽管各类金矿床(点)的容矿围岩不同,但均与海西期或印支期火成岩具密切的时空分布关系.受海西期和印支期各板块空间分布位置、运动机制和构造应力变化的影响,强烈的构造-岩浆活动不仅可形成大面积分布的高钾钙-碱性火成岩,而且导致贵重金属元素"爆发式"堆积.研究结果表明,各金矿床(点)成矿流体大都是深源岩浆流体与大气降水相混合的产物,属混源型中温热液金矿床(点).     

Complex Petroleum Migration and Accumulation in Central Region of Southern Junggar Basin,Northwest China

The central region of the southern Junggar basin (Northwest China) is a key exploration target in this petroliferous basin. As there are four sets of potential source rocks (e.g., Permian, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene sequences), petroleum migration and accumulation are likely complex. This study represents an attempt to understand this complexity in order to provide fundamental information for future regional petroleum exploration and geological studies. Based on petroleum geology and geochemistry, i...     

Succession and sedimentation of glacigenic deposits at Hendre,Anglesey

The application of sedimentological and other techniques in a detailed small-scale study of Quaternary meltwater deposits around Pentraeth in Anglesey, North Wales has shown that interpretations based solely on surficial form are incorrect. Previous views held that the sediments were deposited sub-glacially as eskers by meltwater flowing south-west from decaying ice in Red Wharf Bay. The present work shows that in general the deposits form a coarsening upwards sequence with distinctive divisions corresponding to the lacustrine, deltaic and fluviatile phases of basin filling. The glacigenic sediments were transported by rivers flowing predominantly south-eastward and deposited in a shallow lake or lakes.     

湘南姑婆山岩体北西侧侵入接触带构造控矿研究

位于湖南南部的姑婆山岩体北西侧侵入接触带受断裂构造控制明显,表现复杂多样,是该区钨、锡多金属矿床的主要控矿构造.根据接触带不同成矿区段的空间展布特点、构造变形和矿化蚀变特征,认为该区接触带构造是岩体侵位和区域应力双重作用的结果,并首次将该侵入接触带构造划分为3种类型,即侵入接触-断裂复合型、双侵入接触-断裂复合型以及捕虏体接触-断裂复合型.明确提出了侵入接触带构造控矿的观点,从而为进一步研究其成矿及控矿作用提供必要的理论依据.     

On the Tectonic Evolution of the Kunlun-Karakorum Area, Southern Xinjiang, Northwest China

IntroductionTheKtmlundearakorumMountainRangeislocatedinthesouthernpartoftheXinjiangUygUrAutonomousRegion,NorthwestChina,belongingtotheconnectionpaftbetWeentheQinghai-TibetPlateauandthePamirPlateau.So,itstectonicfeaturesandevolutionaryhistoriesarecloselylinkedwiththesetWoplateaus(seefig.l).ThecompIexityofgeologicalstrUctUresinthisarealeadstoalotofcontfoversiesabolltitsevolutionhistoryforalongtime.TheXinjiangGeotTansect,runningacrosstheTianshanMountains,theTarimBasinandtheKunlun-Kara…