Neogene-quaternary calcareous algae from Saurashtra basin,Western India: Implications on paleoenvironments and hydrocarbon exploration

The Cenozoic and Quaternary sediments of Saurashtra basin encompass signatures of sea level fluctuations, environments of deposition and presence of hydrocarbons. These sediments are divided into seven formations that in order of superposition are: Deccan Trap (late Cretaceous to Eocene), Gaj (early Miocene), Dwarka (middle Miocene to early Pliocene), Miliolite (middle Pleistocene), Chaya (late Pleistocene to late Holocene), Katpur (middle Holocene) and Mahuva Formation (late Holocene). The fossil calcareous algae are significant constituents of these sediments and in all 88 species so far have been recorded by different workers from three prominent areas: Dwarka-Okha area (38 coralline algal species:28 nongeniculate and 10 geniculate), Porbandar area (37 coralline algal species:25 nongeniculate and 12 geniculate species) and Diu area (13 calcareous algal species:6 nongeniculate coralline algal species, 5 geniculate coralline algal species; 1 dasycladalean algal species and 1 halimedacean algal species) of the Saurashtra basin. The present paper provides a checklist of these 88 calcareous algal species documented from the different formations of this basin and their implications for paleoenvironments and petroleum exploration.     

Cephalopod accumulations from the Late Ordovician of Cumbria: Mud mounds and stromatolites

Accumulations of cephalopods in the Late Ordovician (Katian [Ka4]) Troutbeck Siltstone Member of the Ash Gill Mudstone Formation at Skelghyll Beck in the Lake District and in the Keisley Limestone Formation of the Cross Fell Inlier contribute toward an understanding of their respective depositional environments as well as the palaeogeography of the southeastern margins of the Lakesman Terrane. The accumulation present in the Troutbeck Siltstone Member is interpreted as having been deposited in a shallow, near-shore lagoon that supported stromatolite growth. The shore lay to the north of this site. Geopetals infilling cephalopods forming concentrations in the Keisley Limestone Formation indicate that the conchs came to rest on angles of 30–40° to horizontal. The lithologies of the matrix suggest that they were deposited in cavities or fissures from which fine-grained carbonate was either excluded or winnowed away. Both observations accord with hypotheses that the Keisley Limestone Formation represents the remnants of a carbonate mud mound, and facilitate comparison with the contemporaneous Boda mounds of Siljan, Sweden. Comparison with local late Katian – Hirnantian successions indicate that the Keisley mound would have formed a prominent feature on the sea floor, becoming largely buried by argillaceous sediments during the Hirnantian.     

Stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental evolution of the mid- to upper Palaeozoic succession in Northwest Peninsular Malaysia

The stratigraphy of the Devonian to Permian succession in Northwest Peninsular Malaysia is revised. The Timah Tasoh Formation consists of black mudstone containing graptolites and tentaculitids indicating a Pragian or earliest Emsian age. The Sanai Limestone overlies the Timah Tasoh Formation at Sanai Hill B and contains conodonts indicating a Late Devonian (Frasnian to possibly early Famennian) age. In other places, Late Tournaisian chert of the Telaga Jatoh Formation overlies the Timah Tasoh Formation. The overlying Kubang Pasu Formation is predominantly composed of mudstone and sandstone, and can be divided into 3 subunits, from oldest to youngest: (1) Chepor Member; (2) Undifferentiated Kubang Pasu Formation; (3) Uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation. The ammonoid Praedaraelites tuntungensis sp. nov. is reported and described from the Chepor Member of Bukit Tuntung, Pauh. The genus indicates a Late Viséan age for part of the subunit. Dropstones and diamictites from the Chepor Member indicate a glacial marine depositional environment. The Carbo-Permian, undifferentiated Kubang Pasu Formation consists of similar interbedded mudstone and sandstone. The uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation of Kungurian age consists of coarsening upward cycles of clastics, representing a shallow marine, wave- and storm-influenced shoreline. The Permian Chuping Limestone also represents shallow marine, wave- and storm-influenced deposits. A Mid-Palaeozoic Unconformity separating Early–Late Devonian rocks from overlying Late Devonian–Carboniferous deposits probably marks initiation of rifting on Sibumasu, which eventually led to the separation of Sibumasu from Australian Gondwana during the late Sakmarian (Early Permian).     

Joints as fingerprints of stress in the quaternary carbonate deposits along coastal Saurashtra,Western India

Coastal cliffs and shore platforms are important geomorphic features of coastal areas of Saurashtra. These features are composed of medium to coarse grained carbonate sand and are designated as “Miliolitic limestones” that range in age from Middle to Late Pleistocene. Significant jointing has been observed in the Middle Pleistocene Miliolite Formation as well as in the younger shell limestone that comprises Chaya Formation of Late Pleistocene. Along with NE-SW trend which is the direction of maximum horizontal compressive stress [S_Hmax] for Indian sub-continent, other trends recorded are NNE-SSW, N-S, NW-SE and E-W. When compared with other regional studies, neotectonic episode in Saurashtra peninsula appears to be younger than at least 125ky. The present study on joint sets also indicates that they are important to understand stresses associated with anticlockwise rotation of the Indian plate.     

鄂尔多斯盆地大牛地气田奥陶系马家沟组中下组合沉积模式*

碳酸盐岩是鄂尔多斯盆地古生代重要的油气储集层。综合利用岩心、薄片和测井资料,在鄂尔多斯盆地大牛地气田奥陶系马家沟组中下组合识别出蒸发台地、开阔台地和局限台地沉积亚相类型,详细分析了不同沉积亚相特征,建立受海平面升降控制的大牛地气田马家沟组中下组合沉积模式。马一段至马三段沉积时期海平面较低,沉积了蒸发台地相,其中马一段和马三段的盐湖微相主要分布于东南部,膏湖微相分布于盐湖外围,而马二段海平面略有上升,随之沉积了覆盖全区的泥云坪微相和膏云坪微相;马四段形成于最大海泛期,沉积开阔台地相,自下而上依次形成覆盖全区、稳定分布的灰坪微相和云灰坪微相;马五段形成于海退—海侵—海退过程,主体沉积局限台地相,马五_7-10亚段的云坪微相覆盖全区,马五₆亚段自西北往东南发育大面积的泥云坪微相,马五₅亚段中部以灰坪微相为主,云坪微相围绕灰坪分散分布。     

Depositional model of the lower-middle Ordovician Majiagou Formation in Daniudi Gas Field,Ordos Basin

Carbonate rocks are the important Paleozoic oil and gas reservoirs in the Ordos Basin. Based on the comprehensive analyses of core and thin section and logging data,the depositional subfacies,including evaporation platform,open platform and confined platform,were identified in the lower-middle Ordovician Majiagou Formation of the Daniudi Gas Field in the Ordos Basin. The characteristics of different depositional subfacies were analyzed in detail,and the depositional model of the lower-middle Majiagou Formation in the Daniudi Gas Field controlled by sea level fluctuation was established. The sea level was relatively low during the depositional period of the Members 1-3 of the Majiagou Formation,resulting in the development of evaporation platform. The saline lake of the Members 1 and 3 of the Majiagou Formation was mainly distributed in the southeast with the gypseous lake around it. The sea level rose slightly during the depositional period of the Member 2 of the Majiagou Formation,and subsequently muddy-dolomitic flat and gypseous-dolomitic flat developed in the entire study area from bottom to top. The open platform was developed in the Member 4 of the Majiagou Formation when the sea level reached the maximum,and uniformly distributed lime flat and overlying dolomitic-lime flat covered the whole area in the platform. The confined platform predominated the Member 5 of the Majiagou Formation during the regression-transgression-regression. In the Member 5 of the Majiagou Formation,the dolomitic flat of the 7th-10th sub-members covered the whole area,the large extent of muddy-dolomitic flat expanded from northwest to southeast in the 6th sub-member,and the lime flat of the 5th sub-member was developed in the central part with the scattered dolomitic flat around it.     

四川盆地及邻区晚震旦世古地理与构造—沉积环境演化

利用最新的地震资料、探井资料及区域地质资料等,结合前人的研究成果,建立四川盆地及邻区晚震旦世区域地层格架,编制晚震旦世各沉积时期构造—沉积环境图,并探讨构造—沉积演化过程。研究认为,四川盆地及邻区晚震旦世构造—沉积环境展布受基底构造限制,并具一定继承性。晚震旦世开始大规模的碳酸盐岩台地沉积,整体来看自西向东海域环境由浅变深,由古陆过渡至碳酸盐岩台地、向东至台地边缘—斜坡沉积泥质岩,至深水盆地相沉积硅质岩,各相带总体呈南西—北东走向。上震旦统灯影组一段（简称灯一段）沉积时期—灯二段沉积中期为填平补齐沉积充填过程;灯二段沉积时期末—灯三段沉积期在克拉通内拗陷盆地基础上初步形成了平缓的克拉通内部隆起;灯四段沉积时期伴随着海平面的下降,碳酸盐岩台地边界整体向东迁移。灯二、灯四段沉积时期末受桐湾运动两期抬升的影响,川中部分地区形成岩溶不整合面,盆地西部灯三、灯四段遭受强烈剥蚀。灯影组是四川盆地及邻区重要的油气储集层。     

Regional tectonic framework,structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India

The Kutch-Saurashtra, Cambay and Narmada basins are pericontinental rift basins in the western margin of the Indian craton. These basins were formed by rifting along Precambrian tectonic trends. Interplay of three major Precambrian tectonic trends of western India, Dharwar (NNW-SSE), Aravalli-Delhi (NE-SW) and Satpura (ENE-WSW), controlled the tectonic style of the basins. The geological history of the basins indicates that these basins were formed by sequential reactivation of primordial faults. The Kutch basin opened up first in the Early Jurassic (rifting was initiated in Late Triassic) along the Delhi trend followed by the Cambay basin in the Early Cretaceous along the Dharwar trend and the Narmada basin in Late Cretaceous time along the Satpura trend. The evolution of the basins took place in four stages. These stages are synchronous with the important events in the evolution of the Indian sub-continent—its breakup from Gondwanaland in the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic, its northward drifting during the Jurassic-Cretaceous and collision with the Asian continent in the Early Tertiary. The most important tectonic events occurred in Late Cretaceous time. The present style of the continental margins of India evolved during Early Tertiary time.The Saurashtra arch, the extension of the Aravalli Range across the western continental shelf, subsided along the eastern margin fault of the Cambay basin during the Early Cretaceous. It formed an extensive depositional platform continuous with the Kutch shelf, for the accumulation of thick deltaic sediments. A part of the Saurashtra arch was uplifted as a horst during the main tectonic phase in the Late Cretaceous.The present high thermal regime of the Cambay-Bombay High region is suggestive of a renewed rifting phase.     

苏北盆地东部凹陷上白垩统泰州组沉积相*

苏北盆地是在晚白垩世发育起来的箕状断陷盆地。上白垩统泰州组（K₂t）为东部凹陷发育初期形成的一套碎屑岩沉积地层,自下而上总体构成由粗到细的沉积旋回。通过对区内52口探井的录井、测井和岩心资料综合分析,认为泰州组主要发育辫状河三角洲、曲流河三角洲及湖泊相3种沉积相类型,在此基础上又进一步识别出7种亚相和12种微相。泰州组分为两段,泰州组一段沉积早、中期为辫状河三角洲沉积,晚期转变为(曲流河)三角洲沉积;泰州组二段早期为深湖—半深湖沉积,中晚期为浅湖亚相。伴随湖平面的反复升降,表现出明显的多旋回性。研究区泰州组一段表现为典型的退积型三角洲沉积。通过进一步研究泰州组一段各沉积时期沉积相的平面分布及演变特征,指出在梁垛—安丰—李堡一带沉积砂体发育,是油气储集层发育的有利地区。     

Biostratigraphy,sequence stratigraphy,and paleoecology of the Lower–Middle Miocene of Northern Bandar Abbas,Southeast Zagros basin in south of Iran

The Guri Member is a limestone interval at the base of the calcareous marls of the Mishan Formation. It is the youngest hydrocarbon reservoir of the southeast part of the Zagros sedimentary basin. This Member overlaid siliciclastic rocks of Razak Formation and is overlain by green and gray marls of the Mishan Formation. In order to consider the paleoecology and paleoenvironments of the Lower–Middle Miocene (Guri Member), we have studied biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Guri Member based on foraminifer and microfacies in two stratigraphic sections including Dorahi–Homag and Chahestan. A total of 33 genera and 56 species of benthic and planktonic foraminifera were identified in two studied stratigraphic sections. Benthic and planktonic foraminifera demonstrate Aquitanian to Langhian age (Early–Middle Miocene) for this Member at the study area. Studied interval has deposited in four facies association including supratidal, lagoon, coral reef, and open sea on a carbonate ramp. Carbonate rocks of the Guri Member have precipitated in two and three depositional sequences at Chahestan and Dorahi–Homag sections, respectively. Sedimentation of marine carbonates of the Guri Member on siliciclastic deposits reflects a major transgression of sea level at Lower to Middle Miocene that led to creating a new sea in the Zagros basin at that age. Increasing siliciclastic influx along with a sea level fall finally caused burying of the carbonate ramp. Except for the beginning of sedimentation of carbonate at the base of both stratigraphic sections (depositional sequence 1), most of the system tracts are not matched to global sea level curve that reflect local effects of the basin. Distribution of foraminifera suggests precipitation in tropical to subtropical in mesotrophic to oligotrophic and eutrophic to oligotrophic conditions. Based on large benthic foraminifera (porcelaneous large benthic foraminifera and hyaline larger benthic foraminifera), water temperature average was determined between 25 and 30 °C that was confirmed by analyzing oxygen and carbon stable isotopes. Finally, we have utilized achieved data to reconstruction and modeling of paleoecology, paleoenvironments, and sea level changes in the southeast part of the Zagros basin.     

Depositional cycles: an approach to the sequence stratigraphy of the Dakhla Formation, west Dakhla-Farafra stretch, Western Desert, Egypt

The latest Campanian-Middle Palæocene Dakhla Formation has been the subject of few sedimentological studies, despite its great areal distribution. This shale/mudstone unit exhibits marked facies variations in a northwest-southeast direction. The facies distribution patterns, stratal geometries and type, as well as frequency of the associated microfauna, allow a possible subdivision of the Dakhla Formation into ten depositional cycles. These cycles are delineated from each other by a bounding surface, which is defined by an abrupt facies change and/or intensively bioturbated hardground. The sediments of these cycles have been accumulated in a shallow subtidal-upper intertidal-flat environment during Late Cretaceous and in a middle/outer shelf-lower intertidal suite during Palæocene times. Deposition took place in a topographically irregular basin under a constantly high clastic input derived largely from the south and southwest. The cyclic pattern of deposition that characterises the Dakhla Formation, points to repeated relative sea level fluctuations. The submarine palæorelief also plays a significant role on the facies pattern. It is found that the succession was deposited along the marginal part of a palæostructural low. Its deeper area is located around present-day Edmonstone. The study of sedimentary facies characteristics and cyclicity of the Dakhla Formation leads to the recognition of four depositional sequences bounded by five type 2 sequence boundaries. The first and second type 2 depositional sequences correspond to the Late Maastrichtian Mawhoob Shale and lower-middle part of the Beris Mudstone Members, respectively. The third sequence comprises the Beris Mudstone Member ‘upper part’ and the Latest Maastrichtian partition of the Kharga Shale Member. The well-documented Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary marks the type 2 sequence boundary at the top of this sequence. The last depositional sequence coincides with the late Early-Middle Palæocene subdivision of the Kharga Shale Member. These sequences comprise nine systems tracts, mainly of transgressive and highstand systems tract deposits.     

豫西陕渑煤田太原组一_3煤形成环境和聚煤特征

陕渑煤田位于河南省的西部,其晚古生代煤系地层由晚石炭世太原组、早二叠世早期山西组和早二叠世晚期～晚二叠世早期石盒子群所组成。本文主要讨论太原组—3煤层形成的沉积环境和聚煤特征。—3煤沉积前的下部碎屑岩段为一套开阔型海岸碎屑潮坪体系沉积,发育潮坪以及与其共生潮道和潮沟。—3煤沉积后的灰岩段根据微相、沉积构造及其中所含的生物化石等可以确定是一套由潮间带到潮下低能带的向上变深的沉积序列。—3煤层厚度分布主要受其沉积前沉积环境的影响,其中主要潮道发育的地方以及潮坪上较低洼的地带,上覆煤层厚度小(0～0.50m),而在潮坪上其它地区,煤层则厚度大(一般大于0.50m)。—3煤硫分主要受其沉积时沉积环境和沉积后沉积环境的影响,煤层中夹有薄层混灰岩时,煤的疏分就增高。—3煤层硫分和灰分普遍高的原因是受其堆积后较深水碳酸盐沉积的影响所致。     

Geomorphic evidences of tectonic instability during the Late Quaternary Period along southern Saurashtra,western India

The coastal tract of southern Saurashtra has been studied for spectacular Miliolite Formation—its origin and depositional environment. The region had witnessed two moderate earthquakes of M_w 5.0 and 5.1 during 2007 and 2011. However, there have been limited studies which pronounce the geological and geomorphic evidences of neotectonics in southern Saurashtra. Also, there exists little to no information regarding the presence of faults from the region. The paper presents geological and geomorphic evidences of neotectonics from region between Somnath to Jafrabad, western India. A geospatial dataset was used to highlight the neotectonically active nature of the region, as well as support the claim with field evidences and drainage network anomalies. The morphometric parameters like longitudinal river profile, drainage basin asymmetry, and hypsometric integral suggest neotectonic activeness of the southern Saurashtra region. The southern Saurashtra coastal alluvial plains show presence of knick zone, ravines, coastal marine notches, and offset channels/ridges, which testifies the neotectonically active nature of the region. Presence of these features in Miliolites, Middle to Late Pleistocene age, suggests rejuvenation of the landscape post this period.     

河南省平顶山煤田晚石炭世太原组沉积环境和聚煤沉积特征

平顶山煤田的太原组属于混合型的碳酸盐浅海和陆源碎屑海岸沉积。下部和上部灰岩段主要形成于滨海潮间带和浅海中,并在其中发育行风暴浊流沉积。中部碎屑岩段为障壁岛-泻湖-潮坪体系沉积。太原组煤的显微组分为微镜惰煤,煤质属于低灰高硫煤。     

Depositional framework and controls on mixed carbonate-siliciclastic gravity flows: Pennsylvanian-Permian shelf to basin transect, south-western Great Basin, USA

Mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediment gravity flow deposits of Late Pennsylvanian to Early Permian age are exposed in the Death Valley - Owens Valley region of east-central California. The Mexican Spring unit constitutes the upper part of the Keeler Canyon Formation and is characterized by turbidites, debris flow deposits and megabreccias, all of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic composition. The mixed composition of the Keeler Canyon Formation provides an opportunity to link facies architecture to controls on depositional system development. Depositional relationships indicate that the deposits represent a non-channellized base of slope carbonate apron system with inner, outer and basinal facies associations. These gravity flow deposits are characterized by repeated stacked, small scale (<15 m) coarsening and thickening upward cycles with superimposed medium scale (>100 m) coarsening and thickening upward cycles. Contemporaneous outer shelf and upper slope deposits of the Tippipah Limestone are exposed at Syncline Ridge on the Nevada Test Site. The deposits consist of carbonate buildups directly overlain by cross bedded, quartz-rich sandstone and conglomerate which filled channels that traversed across the previously existing carbonate shelf. Detritus was transported to the west, down the upper slope by gully systems that fed the temporally persistent base of slope apron of the upper part of the Keeler Canyon Formation. This style of deposition differs from point-sourced siliciclastic submarine fan depositional systems. However, the Keeler Canyon system has lithofacies similar to some sandy siliciclastic turbidite systems, such as the delta-fed submarine ramp facies model, which is a line-sourced, shelf-fed system that is not supply limited. The mixed clastic apron systems of the Keeler Canyon Formation differ from classical carbonate aprons in that the former is characterized by an abundance of sedimentary cycles. Controls on the development of these cycles and of the facies distribution may have resulted from changes in type and rate of sediment supply, relative sea level changes and/or tectonic events. Interpretation of the data is focused on relative changes in sea level as the most significant control on development of the depositional system. Relative sea level changes serve two important functions: (1) they provide a mechanism for bringing coarse siliciclastic and bioclastic grains together on the outer shelf, and (2) shelf margin collapse may be initiated during relative lowstands allowing for transport of the sediment to the deep basin and development of deep basinal cycles. Therefore, an abundance of mixed clastic gravity flow deposits such as these in the rock record may be an indicator of periods of high frequency changes in relative sea level, which is a characteristic of Late Palaeozoic sea level history.     

巢县二叠系栖霞组臭灰岩段异地成因碳酸盐岩

下扬子地区二叠系栖霞组臭灰岩段广泛发育。以巢县为例 ,研究表明组成臭灰岩段的石灰砾岩并非正常沉积。剖面特征 ,岩石学、沉积学和地球化学特征的分析结果 ,显示了石灰砾岩的砾石来源于浅海碳酸盐台地 ,它们作为碳酸盐岩碎屑流的产物 ,沿着台地边缘的斜坡 ,被搬运到半深海—斜坡处再沉积。环绕于砾石周围的胶结物和砾岩层之间的薄层硅质粒泥灰岩 ,主要是由等深流沉积物组成。因此 ,臭灰岩段碳酸盐岩主要是异地成因 ,沉积环境属于碳酸盐台地周缘水体较深的斜坡。     

张性边缘海的成因演化特征及沉积充填模式——以珠江口盆地为例

珠江口盆地的形成和演化过程经历了晚白垩世至渐新世的裂陷-晚渐新世至中中新世的热沉降-晚中新世至今的断块升降3个演化阶段,沉积了陆相-半封闭海相-开阔海相3套不同的沉积体系组合。总结归纳出珠江口盆地新生代3个阶段的沉积充填模式,并发现：裂陷阶段以充填式堆积和河湖沉积为特征,形成盆地最重要的湖相烃源岩--文昌组泥岩;热沉降阶段以海陆交替、海相沉积体系为特征,为形成良好的储盖组合创造了条件,沉积了珠江口盆地内最主要的储油层系--珠海组、珠江组以及韩江组,主要为滨海相、三角洲相等碎屑岩沉积;晚期盆地整体下沉,区域性盖层形成。该沉积组合反映了张性边缘海盆地的演化特点,盆地演化与资源效应表现在裂陷期、热沉降期及断块升降期的生储盖配置,故勘探目的层段为热沉降阶段所形成的三角洲碎屑岩与陆棚碳酸盐岩。     

Geniculate coralline algae from the Neogene-Quaternary sediments in and around Porbandar,southwest coast of India

The present paper documents nine geniculate coralline algal species, namely Arthrocardia cretacica, Calliarthron antiquum, Corallina hayasaki, C. marshallensis, C. prisca, C. typica, Jania mengaudi, J. sripadaraoi and J. vetus from Neogene-Quaternary sediments of Porbandar area, Saurahtra, Gujarat. Out of nine species, six species namely Arthrocardia cretacica, Calliarthron antiquum, Corallina hayasaki, C. marshallensis, C. prisca and C. typica occur in the Dwarka Formation (lower-middle Miocene), one species Jania sripadaraoi occurs in the Adatiana Member of the Miliolite Formation (early middle-late Pleistocene) and two species namely, Jania mengaudi and J. vetus occur in the Porbandar Calcarenite Member of the Chaya Formation (late Pleistocene-late Holocene). These species indicate that the Dwarka Formation and the Adatiana Member of the Miliolite Formation were deposited in tropical marine environment with moderate to low energy conditions at depths ranging from intertidal to 60 m, and that the Porbandar Calcarenite Member of the Chaya Formation was deposited in a tropical marine environment under moderate to low energy conditions at depths ranging from 40 m to 60 m.     

藏北安多东巧地区晚侏罗世生物礁古生态学研究

安多东巧地区上侏罗统沙木罗组主要为一套潮坪相碎屑及台地相碳酸盐沉积,其中的特征沉积是发育有生物礁。造礁生物主要为层孔虫,其次为珊瑚,其中,层孔虫又可以分为筒状、块状和枝状3种宏观形态。在对造礁生物的个体生态学分析基础上,根据其组合特征,将生物礁划分为3个造礁群落,分别是Milleporidium—Cladocorops...     

From river to shelf,anatomy of a high‐frequency depositional sequence: The Late Pleistocene to Holocene Tiber depositional sequence

The Late Pleistocene/Holocene Tiber delta succession represents the most recent and one of the best preserved, high‐frequency/low‐rank depositional sequences developed along the Latium continental margin of the Italian peninsula. Several previous studies have established a robust data set from which it has been possible to describe the stratigraphic architecture of the entire Tiber depositional sequence from the landward to seaward sectors and over a distance of 60 km. The Tiber depositional sequence shows many characteristics found in other Late Pleistocene to Holocene deltaic and coastal successions of the Mediterranean area. The stratigraphic architecture of the Tiber depositional sequence is controlled mainly by glacioeustasy, although factors such as tectonic uplift, volcanism and subsidence, exert an influence at a local scale. The resulting depositional model allowed discussion of some important points such as: (1) the genesis of the Tiber mixed bedrock‐alluvial valley, extending from the coastal plain to the innermost portion of the shelf, recording (i) multiple episodes of incision during relative sea‐level fall, and (ii) a downstream increase of depth and width of the valley during the base‐level fall and the subsequent base‐level rise; (2) the different physical expression of the Tiber depositional sequence boundary from landward to seaward, and its diachronous and composite character; (3) the maximum depth reached by the Tiber early lowstand delta at the end of the sea‐level fall is estimated at ca 90 m below the present sea‐level and not at 120 m as suggested by previous works; (4) the backward position of the Tiber late lowstand delta relative to the deposit of early lowstand; (5) the change of the channel pattern and of the stacking pattern of fluvial deposits within the Lowstand Systems Tract, Transgressive Systems Tract and Highstand Systems Tract. All of these features indicate that the Late Pleistocene/Holocene Tiber delta succession, even if deposited in a short period of time from a geological point of view, represents the result of the close interaction among many autogenic and allogenic factors. However, global eustatic variations and sediment supply under the control of climatic changes can be considered the main factors responsible for the stratigraphic architecture of this sedimentary succession, which has been heavily modified by human activity only in the last 3000 years.