广西龙头山斑岩型金矿成岩成矿锆石SHRIMP U Pb年代学研究

贵县龙头山金矿位于大瑶山隆起西南部,成矿作用与燕山晚期流纹斑岩和花岗斑岩有关。金（银）矿体主要赋存于斑岩和断裂破碎带中。运用高分辨率和高灵敏度离子探针（SHRIMP）分析技术,作者对矿区流纹斑岩和花岗斑岩进行了锆石UPb定年,获得流纹斑岩和花岗斑岩的年龄分别为103.3±2.4Ma（95%可信度,MSWD=2.1）和100.3±1.4Ma（95%可信度,MSWD=0.40）,表明龙头山金矿区的成岩成矿作用都发生于中晚白垩世。并认为花岗斑岩和流纹斑岩系同期岩浆作用的产物,矿床是在同一成矿作用下形成的,似乎不存在多期矿化的可能。     

新疆伊吾琼河坝地区铜、金矿成矿时代及其找矿前景

文章采用高分辨率、高灵敏度离子探针(SHRIMP)和Rb-Sr等时线定年技术,对新疆伊吾琼河坝地区的云英山斑岩铜矿和淖毛湖北山金矿床的岩体和矿体进行了年代学研究,获得云英山斑岩铜矿区内斜长花岗斑岩体SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄为(411.7±7.1)Ma(95%置信度,MSWD=3.0),该矿床的含矿石英脉石英矿物Rb-Sr等时线年龄为(357±15)Ma(95%置信度,MSWD=0.16);淖毛湖北山金矿含矿石英脉中石英矿物Rb-Sr等时线年龄为(346±10)Ma(95%置信度,MSWD=0.19).测定结果显示,该区斑岩型铜矿和破碎带蚀变岩型金矿的形成时间为晚泥盆世-早石炭世,表明云英山式斑岩型铜金矿和淖毛湖式金矿成矿作用与泥盆纪-石炭纪汇聚阶段的火山-次火山岩浆活动有关,也意味着在琼河坝地区具有寻找与火山作用有关的铜、金多金属矿的潜力.     

长江中下游金牛盆地花岗斑岩和流纹斑岩的锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

金牛盆地位于鄂东南矿集区,是长江中下游成矿带重要的火山岩盆地之一.相对宁芜和庐枞盆地,金牛盆地找矿一直没有取得重大突破,对其中次火山岩的年代学、成因和成矿属性的研究也很少.本次选择盆地中心吴佰浩地区深部钻孔中的花岗斑岩和流纹斑岩,开展锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素的研究工作,获得了流纹斑岩锆石206Pb/238U的加权平均年龄为128±1Ma (n=14,MSWD=2.5),锆石Hf同位素(176Hf/177Hf),和εHf(t)分别为0.28247～0.28262和-2.5～ -7.7;花岗斑岩锆石206 Pb/238U的加权平均年龄为129±1Ma (n=12,MSWD=1.3),锆石Hf同位素(176Hf/177Hf),和εHf(t)分别为0.28239～0.28259和-3.6～-10.7.本文确定金牛盆地中流纹斑岩和花岗斑岩的形成时代为129～128Ma,与金牛盆地火山岩的形成时代(130～125Ma)相当,暗示金牛盆地火山岩和次火山岩均形成于早白垩世,流纹斑岩和花岗斑岩是壳幔混合的产物.金牛盆地火山岩的形成时代与宁芜、、庐枞盆地相当,次火山岩的形成时代也与宁芜、庐枞盆地玢岩铁矿的成矿岩体相当.提出金牛盆地除应关注玢岩铁矿外,更应该关注与次火山岩有关的热液金矿.     

内蒙古正蓝旗丹金地区赋矿火山岩年代学、地球化学特征及铀成矿时代

内蒙古锡林郭勒盟正蓝旗丹金地区近年来取得了较好的铀矿找矿成果,但赋矿火山岩与铀成矿时间关系及成岩成矿背景尚不明确。本文开展了成岩成矿年代学和岩石地球化学研究,表明赋矿围岩流纹质晶屑熔结凝灰岩和流纹斑岩分别形成于143.8±0.5Ma(MSWD=0.61)和141.5±0.5Ma(MSWD=0.40),属于早白垩世早期;铀矿石的铀铅等时线年龄分别为113.0±1.0Ma(MSWD=0.10)和80.6±2.6Ma(MSWD=1.60),分别属于早白垩世晚期和晚白垩中期;赋矿岩石属于过铝质亚碱性系列流纹岩类,来源于陆壳部分熔融,属A型流纹岩。两个铀成矿年龄与赋矿岩石存在约30Ma和63Ma的时差,成矿作用可能与对应同时期火山活动有关。该火山岩是重要的铀源体,同时充足的成岩成矿时差、构造叠加及流纹斑岩等共同控制着该区的铀成矿。     

新疆莱历斯高尔铜钼矿床的同位素年代学研究

前人根据区域地质背景的研究,提出莱历斯高尔铜钼矿区岩浆与成矿作用的时代为加里东期。笔音通过对该矿床的围岩、辉钼矿及其共生石英的年代学研究,分别获得花岗闪长斑岩锆石 SHRIMP U-Pb 和全岩 Rb-Sr 等时线年龄为362±12Ma(95%可信度)和350±15Ma(95%可信度)、辉钼矿 Re-Os 等时线和舍矿石英矿物 Rb-Sr 等时线年龄为359±8Ma(95%可信度)和341±9Ma(95%可信度)。上述测定结果表明,产于西天山博罗科努地区的莱历斯高尔钼矿床及其相关的岩石形成于晚泥盆世-早石炭世,与区域上同时代的陆相火山岩型金矿(如阿希)及吐拉苏火山盆地北侧博罗霍洛隆起带上的喇麻苏斑岩-矽卡岩型铜矿相伴,均属海西期岩浆活动的产物。     

东天山哈密地区赤湖钼铜矿区斜长花岗斑岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄

东天山赤湖斑岩钼铜矿床的形成时代和成矿地质背景至今尚存在争议,前人根据同一成矿带中土屋-延东斑岩铜矿的同位素地质年龄信息,认为赤湖钼矿的形成时代为中-晚泥盆世,系塔里木板块北部活动陆缘泥盆纪岛弧火山-深成作用的产物;近期一些研究者根据赤湖斑岩钼铜矿区斜长花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb和谐曲线年龄,认为矿化斜长花岗斑岩的侵位时代为晚石炭世,成矿作用与哈萨克斯坦-准噶尔板块南部活动陆缘晚石炭世汇聚阶段钙碱性岩浆侵入作用有关.在前人研究基础上,笔者对赤湖斑岩钼铜矿区矿化斜长花岗斑岩体进行了锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年研究,获得322Ma±10Ma(95%可信度)的年龄值,表明赤湖斑岩铜矿床的形成时代为晚石炭世,成矿作用与晚石炭世钙碱性岩浆浅成侵位有关.     

粤北大宝山钼钨多金属矿床年代学研究及其意义

本文对大宝山钼钨多金属矿床中不同类型矿石中黄铁矿及石英矿物用Rb-Sr等时线法进行了精细测定,分别获得层纹状矿石中黄铁矿的年龄为168±5Ma(95%可信度),辉钼矿石英脉中石英矿物年龄为164±3Ma(95%可信度)和黄铁矿石英脉中石英矿物年龄为162±4Ma(95%可信度),测定结果表明,大宝山钼钨多金属矿床铜铅锌和钼钨成矿阶段形成的时间在168~162 Ma之间。本研究所获得的结果也与前人所获得的层状铜铅锌矿石和脉状矿石中辉钼矿的Re-Os模式年龄为165±1Ma一致。鉴于铜铅锌和钼钨矿床在形成时间和空间上与次英安斑岩和花岗闪长斑岩具有明显的耦合关系,据此表明,其成矿作用主要与区内燕山早期岩浆活动有关。     

冈底斯中段岗讲斑岩铜钼矿床锆石U-Pb和辉钼矿Re-Os年代学及其地质意义

岗讲铜钼矿床是西藏冈底斯成矿带中段典型的斑岩型矿床,岗讲矿床成岩成矿时代、岩浆演化过程及其与成岩成矿关系尚不明确,利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年方法对岗讲矿区主要岩体二长花岗斑岩、花岗闪长斑岩和英云闪长玢岩成岩时代进行研究,获得锆石U-Pb年龄加权平均值分别为16.6±0.3 Ma (MSWD=0.94,n=10)、16.1±0.2 Ma (MSWD=1.07,n=12)、14.4±0.4 Ma (MSWD=1.12,n=7);同时采用辉钼矿Re-Os同位素测年方法首次对岗讲矿床石英硫化物脉中的辉钼矿进行定年,获得12件辉钼矿Re-Os同位素模式年龄集中于13.24±0.20 Ma~13.55±0.22 Ma,加权平均年龄为13.4±0.1 Ma (MSWD=0.65),等时线年龄为13.6±1.6 Ma (MSWD=1.2).结果表明:(1) 岗讲矿区复式岩体侵入序列为含巨斑黑云二长花岗岩-二长花岗斑岩-花岗闪长斑岩-流纹斑岩 (深部定名为英云闪长玢岩),成岩时限为16.6~14.4 Ma,成矿时代为13.4 Ma左右,成岩成矿是一个连续的岩浆演化过程;(2) 辉钼矿中Re含量为155.4~171.1 μg/g,均值为162.9 μg/g,指示其成矿物质中有幔源成分的加入;(3) 矿床产出于中新世印度-亚洲大陆碰撞后伸展构造环境.      

粤西圆珠顶斑岩型铜钼矿床成矿地质特征成岩成矿作用年代学研究

园珠顶大型铜钼矿床位于大瑶山隆起北缘、粤桂交界的广东省封开县境内。铜钼矿化普遍发育于斑岩体及其外接触带中,岩体内部见星点状黄铁矿、黄铜矿、辉钼矿分布,但铜钼工业矿体主要产于岩体外接触带中,并围绕着岩体具椭圆形环状矿化分带特征,由内向外依次为钼矿化带→铜钼矿化带→铜矿化带,成矿作用与二长花岗斑岩有关。运用高分辨率和高灵敏度离子探针和Re-Os分析技术,作者分别对矿区二长花岗斑岩和矿体进行了年代学研究,获得二长花岗斑岩的锆石U-Pb SHRIMP年龄为154±2Ma(95%可信度,MSWD=0.75,N=11),铜钼矿体辉钼矿Re-Os等时线年龄为155±5Ma(95%可信度,MSWD=0.31,N=8),表明圆珠顶斑岩型铜钼区的成岩成矿作用都发生于中侏罗世晚期,成矿作用发生于华南拉张大地构造背景下。     

湖南水口山矿区花岗闪长岩中的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年及其地质意义

前人曾对与水口山矿田成矿关系密切的花岗闪长岩、花岗闪长斑岩、花岗斑岩、英安玢岩等进行了黑云母、全岩K-Ar 法和颗粒锆 U-Pb 稀释法同位素年龄测定,年龄结果介于120～172Via 之间,不同的研究者和不同的方法所测定的结果大不相同。本文对水口山矿区花岗闪长岩中的锆石进行了 SHRIMP U-Pb 年龄的精确测定,结果为163±2Ma(95%可信度,MSWD=1.2)。因此,本文认为:(J)该矿床形成于燕山早期,与华南中生代大规模的成矿作用时间一致,而且与花岗闪长岩有密切的成因联系,成岩与成矿是同时的;(2)结合岩石的微量元素地球化学特征认为,矿床是在中晚侏罗世时地壳处于拉张-减薄构造环境下形成的。     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

高压微波消解法测定醋酸纤维过滤器采集的微尘粒子中的砷镉钴铬铜铁锰镍铅钒锌

最新的流行病学研究表明,空气中较高浓度的悬浮细颗粒可能对人类的健康有不利的影响。根据该项研究显示,由于心脏病、慢性呼吸问题和肺功能指标恶化而导致死亡率的升高与细尘粒子有关。这些研究结果已经促使欧盟于1999年4月出台了限制空气中二氧化硫、二氧化氮、氧化氮、铅和颗粒物含量的法案(1999/30/EC),对各项指标包括对可吸入PM10颗粒的浓度提出了新的限制性指标。PM10颗粒是指可以通过预分级器分离采集的气体动力学直径小于10μm的细颗粒。目前研究的兴趣重点逐步偏向PM2.5这些更细微颗粒物,PM2.5这种颗粒物对健康有明显的不利影响。在欧盟指令2008/50/EC中,对PM10和PM2.5都提     

Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites

Komatiites are mantle-derived ultramafic volcanic rocks. Komatiites have been discovered in several States of India, notably in Karnataka. Studies on the distribution of trace-elements in the komatiites of India are very few. This paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, and non-destructive wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometric technique for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites, and discusses the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, x-ray spectral-line interferences, inter-element effects, speed, advantages, and limitations of the technique. The accuracy of the technique is excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th and very good (within 4%) for Y. The precision is also excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th. The limits of detection are: 1 ppm for Sc and V; 2 ppm for Cr, Co, and Ni; 3 ppm for Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr; 4 ppm for Y and Zr; 6 ppm for Nb; 10 ppm for Ba; 13 ppm for Pb; and 14 ppm for Th. The time taken for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in a batch of 24 samples of komatiites, for a replication of four analyses per sample, by one operator, using a manual WDXRF spectrometer, is only 60 hours.     

Mercury,arsenic, antimony,and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River,Bethel, Alaska,USA

The Kuskokwim River at Bethel, Alaska, drains a major mercury-antimony metallogenic province in its upper reaches and tributaries. Bethel (population 4000) is situated on the Kuskokwim floodplain and also draws its water supply from wells located in river-deposited sediment. A boring through overbank and floodplain sediment has provided material to establish a baseline datum for sediment-hosted heavy metals. Mercury (total), arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents were determined; aluminum was also determined and used as normalizing factor. The contents of the heavy metals were relatively constant with depth and do not reflect any potential enrichment from upstream contaminant sources.     

Roles of xenomelts,xenoliths, xenocrysts,xenovolatiles, residues,and skarns in the genesis,transport, and localization of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides and chromite

Most sulfide-rich magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits form in dynamic magmatic systems by partial melting S-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren to weakly-mineralized immiscible Fe sulfide xenomelts into which Ni-Cu-Co-PGE partition from the magma. Some exceptionally-thick magmatic Cr deposits may form by partial melting oxide-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of the miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren Fe ± Ti oxide xenocrysts into which Cr-Mg-V ± Ti partition from the magma. The products of these processes are variably preserved as skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles, which play important to critical roles in ore genesis, transport, localization, and/or modification. Incorporation of barren xenoliths/autoliths may induce small amounts of sulfide/chromite to segregate, but incorporation of sulfide xenomelts or oxide xenocrysts with dynamic upgrading of metal tenors (PGE > Cu > Ni > Co and Cr > V > Ti, respectively) is required to make significant ore deposits. Silicate xenomelts are only rarely preserved, but will be variably depleted in chalcophile and ferrous metals. Less dense felsic xenoliths may aid upward sulfide transport by increasing the effective viscosity and decreasing the bulk density of the magma. Denser mafic or metamorphosed xenoliths may also increase the effective viscosity of the magma, but may aid downward sulfide transport by increasing the bulk density of the magma. Sulfide wets olivine, so olivine xenocrysts may act as filter beds to collect advected finely dispersed sulfide droplets, but other silicates and xenoliths may not be wetted by sulfides. Xenovolatiles may retard settling of – or in some cases float – dense sulfide droplets. Reactions of sulfide melts with felsic country rocks may generate Fe-rich skarns that may allow sulfide melts to fractionate to more extreme Cu-Ni-rich compositions. Xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles are more likely to be preserved in cooler basaltic magmas than in hotter komatiitic magmas, and are more likely to be preserved in less dynamic (less turbulent) systems/domain/phases than in more dynamic (more turbulent) systems/domains/phases. Massive to semi-massive Ni-Cu-PGE and Cr mineralization and xenoliths are often localized within footwall embayments, dilations/jogs in dikes, throats of magma conduits, and the horizontal segments of dike-chonolith and dike-sill complexes, which represent fluid dynamic traps for both ascending and descending sulfides/oxides. If skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and/or xenovolatiles are present, they provide important constraints on ore genesis and they are valuable exploration indicators, but they must be included in elemental and isotopic mass balance calculations.     

Regional distribution of Al,B, Ba,Ca, K,La, Mg,Mn, Na,P, Rb,Si, Sr,Th, U and Y in terrestrial moss within a 188,000 km2 area of the central Barents region: influence of geology,seaspray and human activity

Five hundred and ninety-eight samples of terrestrial moss (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) collected from a 188,000 km² area of the central Barents region (NE Norway, N Finland, NW Russia) were analysed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Analytical results for Al, B, Ba, Ca, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Si, Sr, Th, U and Y concentrations are reported here. Graphical methods of data analysis, such as geochemical maps, cumulative frequency diagrams, boxplots and scatterplots, are used to interpret the origin of the patterns for these elements. None of the elements reported here are emitted in significant amounts from the smelting industry on the Kola Peninsula. Despite the conventional view that moss chemistry reflects atmospheric element input, the nature of the underlying mineral substrate (regolith or bedrock) is found to have a considerable influence on moss composition for several elements. This influence of the chemistry of the mineral substrate can take place in a variety of ways. (1) It can be completely natural, reflecting the ability of higher plants to take up elements from deep soil horizons and shed them with litterfall onto the surface. (2) It can result from naturally increased soil dust input where vegetation is scarce due to harsh climatic conditions for instance. Alternatively, substrate influence can be enhanced by human activity, such as open-cast mining, creation of ‘technogenic deserts’, or handling, transport and storage of ore and ore products, all of which magnify the natural elemental flux from bedrock to ground vegetation. Seaspray is another natural process affecting moss composition in the area (Mg, Na), and this is most visible in the Norwegian part of the study area. Presence or absence of some plant species, e.g., lichens, seems to influence moss chemistry. This is shown by the low concentrations of B or K in moss on the Finnish and Norwegian side of the (fenced) border with Russia, contrasting with high concentrations on the other side (intensive reindeer husbandry west of the border has selectively depleted the lichen population).     

Petrographic, mineralogy, and geochemistry of coals of Pabedana, Kerman Province, Central Iran

This paper discusses the result of the detailed investigations carried out on the coal characteristics, including coal petrography and its geochemistry of the Pabedana region. A total of 16 samples were collected from four coal seams d2, d4, d5, and d6 of the Pabedana underground mine which is located in the central part of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent. These samples were reduced to four samples through composite sampling of each seam and were analyzed for their petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical compositions. Proximate analysis data of the Pabedana coals indicate no major variations in the moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents in the coals of different seams. Based on sulfur content, the Pabedana coals may be classified as low-sulfur coals. The low-sulfur contents in the Pabedana coal and relatively low proportion of pyritic sulfur suggest a possible fresh water environment during the deposition of the peat of the Pabedana coal. X-ray diffraction and petrographic analyses indicate the presence of pyrite in coal samples. The Pabedana coals have been classified as a high volatile, bituminous coal in accordance with the vitrinite reflectance values (58.75–74.32 %) and other rank parameters (carbon, calorific value, and volatile matter content). The maceral analysis and reflectance study suggest that the coals in all the four seams are of good quality with low maceral matter association. Mineralogical investigations indicate that the inorganic fraction in the Pabedana coal samples is dominated by carbonates; thus, constituting the major inorganic fraction of the coal samples. Illite, kaolinite, muscovite, quartz, feldspar, apatite, and hematite occur as minor or trace phases. The variation in major elements content is relatively narrow between different coal seams. Elements Sc,, Zr, Ga, Ge, La, As, W, Ce, Sb, Nb, Th, Pb, Se, Tl, Bi, Hg, Re, Li, Zn, Mo, and Ba show varying negative correlation with ash yield. These elements possibly have an organic affinity and may be present as primary biological concentrations either with tissues in living condition and/or through sorption and formation of organometallic compounds.     

Sharp-based, tide-dominated deltas of the Sego Sandstone, Book Cliffs, Utah, USA

The lower part of the Cretaceous Sego Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale in east‐central Utah contains three 10‐ to 20‐m thick layers of tide‐deposited sandstone arranged in a forward‐ and then backward‐stepping stacking pattern. Each layer of tidal sandstone formed during an episode of shoreline regression and transgression, and offshore wave‐influenced marine deposits separating these layers formed after subsequent shoreline transgression and marine ravinement. Detailed facies architecture studies of these deposits suggest sandstone layers formed on broad tide‐influenced river deltas during a time of fluctuating relative sea‐level. Shale‐dominated offshore marine deposits gradually shoal and become more sandstone‐rich upward to the base of a tidal sandstone layer. The tidal sandstones have sharp erosional bases that formed as falling relative sea‐level allowed tides to scour offshore marine deposits. The tidal sandstones were deposited as ebb migrating tidal bars aggraded on delta fronts. Most delta top deposits were stripped during transgression. Where the distal edge of a deltaic sandstone is exposed, a sharp‐based stack of tidal bar deposits successively fines upward recording a landward shift in deposition after maximum lowstand. Where more proximal parts of a deltaic‐sandstone are exposed, a sharp‐based upward‐coarsening succession of late highstand tidal bar deposits is locally cut by fluvial valleys, or tide‐eroded estuaries, formed during relative sea‐level lowstand or early stages of a subsequent transgression. Estuary fills are highly variable, reflecting local depositional processes and variable rates of sediment supply along the coastline. Lateral juxtaposition of regressive deltaic deposits and incised transgressive estuarine fills produced marked facies changes in sandstone layers along strike. Estuarine fills cut into the forward‐stepped deltaic sandstone tend to be more deeply incised and richer in sandstone than those cut into the backward‐stepped deltaic sandstone. Tidal currents strongly influenced deposition during both forced regression and subsequent transgression of shorelines. This contrasts with sandstones in similar basinal settings elsewhere, which have been interpreted as tidally influenced only in transgressive parts of depositional successions.