Depositional environments of the Triassic system in central Saudi Arabia

Facies analysis of Triassic rocks in central Saudi Arabia indicates a wide expanse of interfingering siliciclastic and carbonate rocks with some evaporites. Eight distinctive sedimentary facies have been recognized. The distribution of these facies show a systematic gradual change in their presumed depositional environments, laterally as well as vertically. The Lower Triassic Sudair facies represents a widespread regressive condition where the Upper Permian marine conditions gave way to the Lower Triassic with predominantly fine clastic deposits representing a restricted shallow marine shelf. This fine-grained clastic facies consists mainly of unfossiliferous, laminated or massive, varicoloured shale with some silty shale, siltstone and very fine-to fine-grained sandstone. The facies is highly calcareous and gypsiferous in the northern area. A belt of Middle Triassic rocks of mostly non-marine sandstone with some shale is present in the southern area passing into mixed siliciclastic-carbonate facies of continental aspect with some intermittent emergence and nearshore conditions in the central area. This facies grades in the northern area into carbonate-evaporite facies of restricted to more open marine shelf conditions. Thick siliciclastic deposits characterize the Upper Triassic Minjur facies, where a uniform repeated fining-upward sequence of mainly sandstone and some shale developed in a non-marine environment with some intermittent emergence in the northern area.     

Facies Analysis and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Qal’eh Dokhtar Formation (Middle–Upper Jurassic) in the West of Boshrouyeh, East Central Iran

The study area is located in the east Tabas Block in Central Iran. Facies analysis of the Qal’eh Dokhtar Formation (middle Callovian to late Oxfordian) was carried out on two stratigraphic sections and applied to depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy interpretation. This formation conformably overlies and underlies the marly-silty Baghamshah and the calcareous Esfandiar formations, respectively. Lateral and vertical facies changes documents low- to high energy environments, including tidal-flat, beach to intertidal, lagoon, barrier, and open-marine. According to these facies associations and absence of resedimentation deposits a depositional model of a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic ramp was proposed for the Qal’eh Dokhtar Formation. Seven third-order depositional sequences were identified in each two measured stratigraphic sections. Transgressive systems tracts (TSTs) show deepening upward trends, i.e. shallow water beach to intertidal and lagoonal facies, while highstand systems tracts (HST) show shallowing upward trends in which deep water facies are overlain by shallow water facies. All sequence boundaries (except at the base of the stratigraphic column) are of the no erosional (SB2) types. We conclude eustatic rather than tectonic factors played a dominant role in controlling carbonate depositional environments in the study area.     

Paleobiological fades as exemplified by the Cenomanian Basin (southwestern Russian Platform)

Existing facies concepts and terminology do not integrate biotic and abiotic aspects of present and ancient environments into a whole paleogeographical framework. The facies is the basic structural-morphological unit of paleobiogeography. Facies concepts are reviewed, and their applicability to interpretation of relationships between biota and physicochemical environment in paleobiogeography discussed. The term "paleobiofacies" is proposed as the basic unit of paleobiogeography and defined as the unit assemblage, reconstructed on paleoecological data, interrelating biotic and abiotic environmental components, occupying a definite ecological position influenced by the whole geological development of the region. Paleobiofacies in the early.Cenomanian basin, southwest slope of the Russian Platform, are characterized by faunal assemblages with explicit morphological-stratigraphic aspects and restricted to a particular rock type within two distinct sedimentation areas: 1) coastal shoal deposits, quartz-glauconite sand, spongolites, and oyster beds around the ancient island of Podol'ye, and 2) deep water detrital limestone and chalk. Paleobiofacies characterizing earliest Cenomanian deposits in the shoal water zone are described: 1) rocky littoral Gastrochaena facies; 2) sponge-Arnphidont, sandy sublittoral facies; 3) Syncyclonema-Amphidont spongitic sublittoral facies; 4) Amphidont-Chlamys sandy sublittoral, facies; 5) echinord-coral calcareous sandy sublittoral facies; 6) Rotalipora, sandy argillaceous sublittoral facies; 7) Amphidont-oyster bed facies; and in deep water 8) the Syncydonema-Gryphaea, calcareous ooze, pseudoabyssal facies. Late Early Cenomanian shallow water paleobiofacies are 1) sandy sublittoral facies; 2) Rotalipora, sandy-argillaceous sublittoral fades. Pseudo-abyssal paleobiofacies are 3) Syncyclonema-Chlamys, calcareous-detrital, pseudo-abyssal fades; 4) Syncyclonema-Gryphaea, calcareous ooze, pseudo-abyssal facies. All paleobiofacies are charted. -- E. J. Kauffman.     

Depositional facies,environments and sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the Middle Triassic–Lower Cretaceous (pre-Late Albian) succession in Arif El-Naga anticline,northeast Sinai,Egypt

The Middle Triassic–Lower Cretaceous (pre-Late Albian) succession of Arif El-Naga anticline comprises various distinctive facies and environments that are connected with eustatic relative sea-level changes, local/regional tectonism, variable sediment influx and base-level changes. It displays six unconformity-bounded depositional sequences. The Triassic deposits are divided into a lower clastic facies (early Middle Triassic sequence) and an upper carbonate unit (late Middle- and latest Middle/early Late Triassic sequences). The early Middle Triassic sequence consists of sandstone with shale/mudstone interbeds that formed under variable regimes, ranging from braided fluvial, lower shoreface to beach foreshore. The marine part of this sequence marks retrogradational and progradational parasequences of transgressive- and highstand systems tract deposits respectively. Deposition has taken place under warm semi-arid climate and a steady supply of clastics. The late Middle- and latest Middle/early Late Triassic sequences are carbonate facies developed on an extensive shallow marine shelf under dry-warm climate. The late Middle Triassic sequence includes retrogradational shallow subtidal oyster rudstone and progradational lower intertidal lime-mudstone parasequences that define the transgressive- and highstand systems tracts respectively. It terminates with upper intertidal oncolitic packstone with bored upper surface. The next latest Middle/early Late Triassic sequence is marked by lime-mudstone, packstone/grainstone and algal stromatolitic bindstone with minor shale/mudstone. These lower intertidal/shallow subtidal deposits of a transgressive-systems tract are followed upward by progradational highstand lower intertidal lime-mudstone deposits. The overlying Jurassic deposits encompass two different sequences. The Lower Jurassic sequence is made up of intercalating lower intertidal lime-mudstone and wave-dominated beach foreshore sandstone which formed during a short period of rising sea-level with a relative increase in clastic supply. The Middle-Upper Jurassic sequence is represented by cycles of cross-bedded sandstone topped with thin mudstone that accumulated by northerly flowing braided-streams accompanying regional uplift of the Arabo–Nubian shield. It is succeeded by another regressive fluvial sequence of Early Cretaceous age due to a major eustatic sea-level fall. The Lower Cretaceous sequence is dominated by sandy braided-river deposits with minor overbank fines and basal debris flow conglomerate.     

The Cretaceous Uhangri Formation, SW Korea: lacustrine margin facies

The Uhangri Formation forms part of the Cretaceous sedimentary sequence deposited in a series of inland basins in the south-western Korean Peninsula. It comprises an approximately 400-m-thick epiclastic sequence of conglomerate, (gravelly) sandstone, cherty mudstone and black shale. The entire sequence can be represented by 16 distinctive sedimentary facies organized into four facies associations. Facies association I is characterized by thick homogeneous brownish siltstone, wedge-shaped disorganized conglomerate and thinly interlayered gravelly sandstone units. The siltstone units were formed by large floods submerging the alluvial fan fringe (floodplain), whereas the conglomerate and gravelly sandstone units were deposited by sheetfloods and debris flows. Facies association II consists of stratified conglomerate — gravelly sandstone, laminated sandstone and sandstone/siltstone couplets which form fining-upward cycles. Some facies units are low-angle trough cross-bedded and show broad channel geometries. This association represents subaqueous delta lobes fed by high- and low-concentration turbidity currents in the distal delta realm. Facies association III is characterized, by wedged conglomerate and gravelly sandstone facies with interfingered massive sandstone bounded by scoured bases. It represents a delta front where distributary channels and mouth bars are dominant. Facies association IV consists of laterally continuous sequence of laminated black shale, crudely stratified sandstone and convoluted sandstone/cherty mudstone. This facies association is suggestive of depositional processes controlled by chemical equilibrium resulting from an interaction between density inflows and lake water. The cherty mudstone resulted from inorganic precipitation from siliceous solution provided by acidic volcanism. The Uhangri sequence generally shows a fining-upward trend with a transition from alluvial fan fringe, coarse-grained subaqueous delta, to shallow lake. The retrogradation was probably due to continuous subsidence related to continental rifting in the oblique-slip mobile zone.     

The Ilchulbong tuff cone, Cheju Island, South Korea

The Ilchulbong mount of Cheju Island, South Korea, is an emergent tuff cone of middle Pleistocene age formed by eruption of a vesiculating basaltic magma into shallow seawater. A sedimentological study reveals that the cone sequence can be represented by nine sedimentary facies that are grouped into four facies associations. Facies association I represents steep strata near the crater rim composed mostly of crudely and evenly bedded lapilli tuff and minor inversely graded lapilli tuff. These facies suggest fall-out from tephra finger jets and occasional grain flows, respectively. Facies association II represents flank or base-of-slope deposits composed of lenticular and hummocky beds of massive or backset-stacked deposits intercalated between crudely to thinly stratified lapilli tuffs. They suggest occasional resedimentation of tephra by debris flows and slides during the eruption. Facies association III comprises thin, gently dipping marginal strata, composed of thinly stratified lapilli tuff and tuff. This association results from pyroclastic surges and cosurge falls associated with occasional large-scale jets. Facies association IV comprises a reworked sequence of massive, inversely graded and cross-bedded (gravelly) sandstones. These facies represent post-eruptive reworking of tephra by debris and stream flows. The facies associations suggest that the Ilchulbong tuff cone grew by an alternation of vertical and lateral accumulation. The vertical buildup was accomplished by plastering of wet tephra finger jets. This resulted in oversteepening and periodic failure of the deposits, in which resedimentation contributed to the lateral growth. After the eruption ceased, the cone underwent subaerial erosion and faulting of intracrater deposits. A volcaniclastic apron accumulated with erosion of the original tuff cone; the faulting was caused by subsidence of the subvolcanic basement within the crater.     

Controls on sedimentation in distal margin palaeovalleys in the Early Tertiary Alpine foreland basin, south-eastern France

The influence of palaeodrainage characteristics, palaeogeography and tectonic setting are rarely considered as controls on stratigraphic organization in palaeovalley or incised valley systems. This study is an examination of the influence of source region vs. downstream base level controls on the sedimentary architecture of a set of bedrock-confined palaeovalleys developed along the distal margin of the Alpine foreland basin in south-eastern France. Three distinct facies associations are observed within the palaeovalley fills. Fluvial facies association A is mainly dominated by poorly sorted, highly disorganized, clast-to-matrix-supported cobble-to-boulder conglomerates that are interpreted as streamflood deposits. Facies association B comprises mainly yellow siltstones and is interpreted as recording deposition in an estuarine basin environment. Estuarine marine facies association C comprises interstratified estuarine siltstones and clean, well-sorted washover sandstones. The sedimentary characteristics of the valley fill successions are related to the proximity of depositional sites to sediment source areas. Palaeovalleys located proximal to structurally controlled basement palaeohighs are entirely dominated by coarse fluvial streamflood deposits. In contrast, distal palaeovalley segments, which are located several kilometres downstream, contain successions showing upward transition from coarse fluvial facies into estuarine central basin fines, and finally into estuarine-marginal marine facies. Facies distributions suggest that the fluvial deposits form wedge-shaped, downstream-thinning sediment bodies, whereas the estuarine deposits form an upstream-thinning wedge. The vertical stacking of fluvial to estuarine to marginal marine depositional environments records the fluvial aggradation and subsequent transgression of relatively small bedrock-confined river valleys, which drained a rugged, upland terrain. Facies geometries suggest that a fluvial sediment wedge initially prograded downvalley, in response to high bed load sediment yields. Subsequently, palaeovalleys became drowned during the passage of a marine transgression, with the establishment of estuarine conditions. Initial fluvial aggradation and subsequent marine flooding of the palaeovalleys is a consequence of the interaction of high local rates of sediment supply and relative sea-level rise driven by flexural subsidence of the basin.     

Sedimentary facies and diagenetic features of the Early Cretaceous Fahliyan Formation in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt,Iran

The Early Cretaceous Fahliyan Formation (middle part of the Khami Group), is one of the important reservoir rocks in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt. The Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt is located on the boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian lithospheric plates and formed from collision between Eurasia and advancing Arabia during the Cenozoic. In this study area, the Fahliyan Formation with a thickness of 325 m, consists of carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite). This formation overlies the Late Jurassic Surmeh Formation unconformably and underlies the Early Cretaceous Gadvan Formation conformably at Gadvan Anticline. The formation was investigated by a detailed petrographic analysis to clarify the depositional facies, sedimentary environments and diagenetic features in the Gadvan Anticline. Petrographic studies led to recognition of the 12 microfacies that were deposited in four facies belts: tidal flat, lagoon, and shoal in inner ramp and shallow open marine in mid-ramp environments. The absence of turbidite deposits, reefal facies, and gradual facies changes show that the Fahliyan Formation was deposited on a carbonate ramp. Calcareous algae and benthic foraminifera are abundant in the shallow marine carbonates of the Fahliyan Formation. The diagenetic settings favored productioning a variety of features which include cements from early to late marine cements, micritization, dolomitization, compaction features, dissolution fabric, and pores. The diagenetic sequence can be roughly divided into three stages: (1) eugenic stage: marine diagenetic environment, (2) mesogenic stage: burial environment, and (3) telogenic stage: meteoric diagenetic environment.     

Genesis and diagenetic evolution of Habo formation,Kachchh, Gujarat

The Kachchh Basin is a pericratonic rift basin situated at the western margin of the Indian plate. The Habo Dome embodies an important exposure of Bathonian to Kimmergian sediments among the Kachchh Mainland exposures. Based on vertical facies transitions, facies associations were documented: mixed shallow marine (Facies association 1), shoreface and lagoon deposits (Facies association II) and subtidal innershelf below fair weather wave base (Facies association III). The documented facies associations reflect that Habo Dome sediments deposited in a variety of environments from shallow marine to fluvio-deltaic and were strongly influenced by fluctuation of relative sea level. The dominance of floating grains and point contacts in the sandstone indicate that detrital grains do not show much pressure effects as a result of either shallow burial or early cementation. The sandstones were cemented by iron oxide, carbonate and silica in order of abundance. Three types of cements, blocky, rim and fibrous cement occur in the studied limestone representing phreatic, fresh water phreatic and deep burial diagenetic stages. Neomorphism and micritization are common. Both primary and secondary porosity exists in these sediments. Different graphs of porosity versus depth suggest a depth of burial in the range of 615–769 m.     

Tropical/subtropical Upper Paleocene–Lower Eocene fluvial deposits in eastern central Patagonia,Chile (46°45′S)

A succession of quartz-rich fluvial sandstones and siltstones derived from a mainly rhyolitic source and minor metamorphic rocks, located to the west, represent the first Upper Paleocene–Early Eocene deposits described in Chilean eastern central Patagonian Cordillera (46°45′S). This unit, exposed 25 km south of Chile Chico, south of lago General Carrera, is here defined as the Ligorio Márquez Formation. It overlies with an angular unconformity Lower Cretaceous shallow marine sedimentary rocks (Cerro Colorado Formation) and subaerial tuffs that have yielded K–Ar dates of 128, 125 and 123 Ma (Flamencos Tuffs, of the Divisadero Group). The Ligorio Márquez Formation includes flora indicative of a tropical/subtropical climate, and its deposition took place during the initial part of the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene Cenozoic optimum. The underlying Lower Cretaceous units exhibit folding and faulting, implying a pre-Paleocene–Lower Eocene contractional tectonism. Overlying Oligocene–Miocene marine and continental facies in the same area exhibit thrusts and normal faults indicative of post-Lower Miocene contractional tectonism.     

Deposition and derivation of clastic carbonates on a Mesozoic continental margin, Othris, Greece

The Othris Mountains of eastern Greece contain a calcareous continental margin/ocean basin sequence exposed in a stack of Cretaceous thrust sheets. Upper Triassic to Lower Cretaceous shelf, submarine fan and basinal successions overlie shallow marine units of Lower Triassic and Permian age. In off-shelf sequences the older sediments are separated from the younger by a horizon of alkaline ‘early-rifting’ basalts. Ophiolites overthrust the marginal sequence. Pre-rifting sediments are represented by a varied suite of limestones and clastics resting on metamorphic basement and include distinctive, green lithic arenites. In the thrust sheet immediately over the para-autochthonous shelf sequence, pre-rifting sediments are separated from the rift basalts by an intermittent horizon of calcareous sandstones and conglomerates reworked from uplifted basement and older sediments. Textural and petrographic immaturity suggests that these are probably deposits derived from fault scarps, produced in an early phase of rifting. Above the basalts in the same sheet is a suite of calciclastic sediment-gravity-flow deposits, apparently sedimented on a submarine fan. Progressive downslope modification of calcirudites suggests deposition from evolving, high concentration flows. Massive calcarenite facies (? grain flows) are unusually abundant; a possible reflection of a shallow palaeo-shelf break since provenance and palaeocurrent evidence proves the clastic carbonates to have been derived from a calcareous shelf. In addition to limestone lithoclasts the calcirudites, but not the massive calcarenites, contain fragments of pre-rifting lithologies including the distinctive arenites. Since the shelf sequence in Othris is totally nondetrital these clasts imply derivation of coarse sediment from an off-shelf position; probably the walls of a submarine canyon. This may have occurred either by direct erosion of wall rock, or by reworking of material from an older clastic sequence. In the latter case the inferred fault-scarp deposits are a likely source.     

新疆北部石炭纪岩相古地理

文章采用野外露头、钻井地质相结合的分析方法,讨论了新疆北部石炭纪的岩相古地理环境。野外露头、钻井资料的沉积建造、沉积相分布及古生物组合特征综合表明,新疆北部石炭纪古地理总体特征表现为由早石炭世的深海-半深海相、浅海相向晚石炭世的浅海相、海陆过渡相及陆相演化的趋势。岩石组合类型由早石炭世的活动陆缘型岛弧火山岩、深海复理石及海相碳酸盐岩向晚石炭世的裂谷型火山岩、陆相碎屑岩、海相碎屑岩及海相碳酸盐岩过渡。早、晚石炭世不同地区的古地理及其相应的岩石组合类型存在明显的差异。     

中国北方地区石炭纪岩相古地理

中国北方地区包括西北地区、华北地区和东北地区。该地区石炭系划分为上、下统,在西北地区、东北地区石炭系发育完整,华北地区普遍缺失下石炭统。87个标准剖面和529个辅助剖面的岩相古地理研究表明：早石炭世中国北方地区主要存在佳木斯古陆、额尔古纳古陆、中朝古陆、东塔里木─敦煌─中祁连─阿拉善古陆、陇西古陆、准噶尔─吐哈古陆、阿勒泰古陆等;从东至西主要发育松辽海盆、辽东海湾、北山海盆、祁连海、柴达木台地、宗务隆山海槽、塔里木台地、西昆仑海盆、南天山海盆、北天山─准噶尔海盆等海相沉积。晚石炭世海侵范围扩大,佳木斯古陆、额尔古纳古陆仍然存在,中朝古陆已明显缩小至其北部地区,东塔里木-敦煌-阿拉善古陆范围缩小,陇西古陆向西延伸扩大,北准噶尔─阿勒泰连为一体形成古陆;发育松辽海盆、华北海、祁连海、柴达木台地、宗务隆山海槽、塔里木海盆、南准噶尔-博格达山海盆等海相沉积。     

新疆塔里木盆地白垩—第三纪沉积相及储集体分析

根据沉积特征、岩石矿物特征、生物特征及地球化学特征的综合分析，将塔里木盆地白垩-第三系划分为3个沉积相组、12个沉积相、20个沉积亚相和若干个沉积微相，并首次在塔北发现海相沉积，塔里木盆地白垩-第三纪储集体包括碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩两种，东北坳陷区储层主要为碎屑岩，特别是下白垩统卡普沙良群亚格列木组是沙雅隆起上的重要储层，上白垩统巴什基奇克组是库车前陆盆地的重要储层，西南坳陷区储层包括碎屑岩储层和碳酸盐岩储层两种岩性，如下白垩统上部乌鲁克恰特组滨岸海滩硝砾岩及上白垩统依格孜牙组生物丘灰岩等也构成较好的储集层。     

Evolution of the early devonian bindook volcanic complex,wollondilly basin,eastern lachlan fold belt

The Early Devonian Bindook Volcanic Complex consists of a thick silicic volcanic and associated sedimentary succession filling the extensional Wollondilly Basin in the northeastern Lachlan Fold Belt. The basal part of the succession (Tangerang Formation) is exposed in the central and southeastern Wollondilly Basin where it unconformably overlies Ordovician rocks or conformably overlies the Late Silurian to Early Devonian Bungonia Limestone. Six volcanic members, including three new members, are now recognised in the Tangerang Formation and three major facies have been delineated in the associated sedimentary sequence. The oldest part of the sequence near Windellama consists of a quartz turbidite facies deposited at moderate water depths together with the shallow‐marine shelf Windellama Limestone and Brooklyn Conglomerate Members deposited close to the eastern margin of the basin. Farther north the shelf facies consists of marine shale and sandstone which become progressively more tuffaceous northwards towards Marulan. The Devils Pulpit Member (new unit) is a shallow‐marine volcaniclastic unit marking the first major volcanic eruptions in the region. The overlying shallow‐marine sedimentary facies is tuffaceous in the north, contains a central Ordovician‐derived quartzose (?deltaic) facies and a predominantly mixed facies farther south. The initial volcanism occurred in an undefined area north of Marulan. A period of non‐marine exposure, erosion and later deposition of quartzose rocks marked a considerable break in volcanic activity. Volcanism recommenced with the widespread emplacement of the Kerillon Tuff Member (new unit), a thick, non‐welded rhyolitic ignimbrite followed by dacitic welded ignimbrite and air‐fall tuff produced by a large magnitude eruption leading to caldera collapse in the central part of the Bindook Volcanic Complex, together with an additional small eruptive centre near Lumley Park. The overlying Kerrawarra Dacite Member (new unit) is lava‐like in character but it also has the dimensions of an ignimbrite and covers a large part of the central Bindook Volcanic Complex. The Carne Dacite Member is interpreted as a series of subvolcanic intrusions including laccoliths, cryptodomes and sills. The Tangerang Formation is overlain by the extensive crystal‐rich Joaramin Ignimbrite (new unit) that was erupted from an undefined centre in the central or northern Bindook Volcanic Complex. The volcanic units at Wombeyan and the Kowmung Volcaniclastics in the northwestern part of the complex are probably lateral time‐equivalents of the Tangerang Formation and Joaramin Ignimbrite. All three successions pre‐date the major subaerial volcanic plateau‐forming eruptions represented by the Barrallier Ignimbrite (new unit). The latter post‐dated folding and an extensive erosional phase, and unconformably overlies many of the older units in the Bindook Volcanic Complex. This ignimbrite was probably erupted from a large caldera in the northern part of the complex and probably represents surface expressions of part of the intruding Marulan Batholith. The final volcanic episode is represented by the volcanic units at Yerranderie which formed around a crater at the northern end of the exposed Bindook Volcanic Complex.     

Sedimentology,sequence stratigraphy and syn-rift model of younger part of Washtawa Formation and early part of Kanthkot Formation,Wagad, Kachchh basin,Gujarat

The 600 m thick prograding sedimentary succession of Wagad ranging in age from Callovian to Early Kimmeridgian has been divided into three formations namely, Washtawa, Kanthkot and Gamdau. Present study is confined to younger part of the Washtawa Formation and early part of the Kanthkot Formation exposed around Kanthkot, Washtawa, Chitrod and Rapar. The depositional architecture and sedimentation processes of these deposits have been studied applying sequence stratigraphic context. Facies studies have led to identification of five upward stacking facies associations (A, B, C, D, and E) which reflect that deposition was controlled by one single transgressive — regressive cycle. The transgressive deposit is characterized by fining and thinning upward succession of facies consisting of two facies associations: (1) Association A: medium — to coarse-grained calcareous sandstone — mudrocks alternations (2) Association B: fine-grained calcareous sandstone — mudrocks alternations. The top of this association marks maximum flooding surface as identified by bioturbational fabrics and abundance of deep marine fauna (ammonites). Association A is interpreted as high energy transgressive deposit deposited during relative sea level rise. Whereas, facies association B indicates its deposition in low energy marine environment deposited during stand-still period with low supply of sediments. Regressive sedimentary package has been divided into three facies associations consisting of: (1) Association C: gypsiferous mudstone-siltstone/fine sandstone (2) Association D: laminated, medium-grained sandstone — siltstone (3) Association E: well laminated (coarse and fine mode) sandstone interbedded with coarse grained sandstone with trough cross stratification. Regressive succession of facies association C, D and E is interpreted as wave dominated shoreface, foreshore to backshore and dune environment respectively. Sequence stratigraphic concepts have been applied to subdivide these deposits into two genetic sequences: (i) the lower carbonate dominated (25 m) transgressive deposits (TST) include facies association A and B and the upper thick (75m) regressive deposits (HST) include facies association C, D and E. The two sequences are separated by maximum flooding surface (MFS) identified by sudden shift in facies association from B to C. The transgressive facies association A and B represent the sediments deposited during the syn-rift climax followed by regressive sediments comprising association C, D and E deposited during late syn-rift stage.     

早白垩世义县盆地义县组顶部金刚山层沉积相及其古环境意义

辽西义县盆地内近东西走向的马神庙-刀把地-三百垄-金刚山一带为义县组标准地层剖面出露地,义县组建阶标准地层剖面枣茨山金刚山层为一套古湖盆相沉积组合。野外详细的沉积学和地层学研究将金刚山层自下而上划分为湖缘碎屑浊流相、浅水湖坪相和半深湖相3个沉积亚相。金刚山层下部湖缘碎屑浊流相包括3个粗-细粒序递变沉积韵律。粗粒岩石单元为灰绿色含长石岩屑凝灰质砂砾岩、杂色砾岩、灰白色含砾凝灰岩;细粒岩石单元由灰白色含砾凝灰岩、灰绿色致密凝灰岩、质纯膨润土组成。韵律沉积底部粗粒岩石单元为浊流头部沉积产物,其中常形成弥散式正粒序递变层理,细粒岩石单元为浊流体部、尾部逐渐稀释的沉积结果,其中常发育水平层理。中部浅水湖坪相沉积由5个膨润土化粉砂岩（质纯膨润土或页岩）-泥灰岩（含方解石细脉灰岩）沉积韵律构成。每一湖坪相的碳酸盐岩与下伏火山灰质沉积厚度之比值变化范围为:0.11~0.47,指示湖盆围缘经历了多期次湖坪沉积时间间隔相等的地质规律。金刚山层上部半深湖相沉积为灰白色纸片状页岩-粉砂质页岩组合。金刚山层下部湖缘火山碎屑浊流沉积指示火山喷发物质近源性、火山喷发多期作用的地质演化规律。中部湖坪相的5个膨润土化粉砂岩（质纯膨润土或页岩）-泥灰岩（含方解石细脉灰岩）沉积韵律指示古湖盆水体至少经历了5期变浅过程,在区域性干旱气候影响下,形成湖坪相泥灰岩沉积。湖盆中心相对深水沉积区接受大量细粒悬浮质沉积,形成静水半深湖相沉积。     

Review of the chronostratigraphic charts in the Sinú-San Jacinto basin based on new seismic stratigraphic interpretations

Disperse and punctual studies; absence of integration of data ranging from local to regional focus; interpretations based only on lithostratigraphic features; and interpretation of data premised on an allochthonous origin of the Caribbean plate, are some of factors that increase the confusion and uncertainty in understanding the Sinú-San Jacinto Basin. The sedimentary record of Upper Cretaceous to Eocene has been traditionally interpreted as the record of deep-water settings. However, recently these sediments have been related to shallow marine and deltaic settings. Second problematic point is about the deposition environment of the Oligocene to Late Miocene succession. Some studies suggest canyons, turbidites and sediments deposited in deep-water settings. However, recent studies propose deltaic and shallow marine settings. The last stratigraphic problem is related to the controversial fluvial vs. shallow marine interpretations of the Pliocene sediments. Based upon seismic stratigraphic analysis in recent and reprocessed 2D seismic data, integrated with well data, we propose chronostratigraphic charts for the northern, central and southern zones of the Sinú-San Jacinto Basin. Twenty seismic facies based on amplitude, continuity, frequency and geometry of seismic reflectors and twelve seismic sequences were recognized. The seismic stratigraphic analysis in this study suggests that the sediments of Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene/Eocene were associated to continental to shallow marine settings. Lagoons, coastal plain and carbonate platform dominated during this period. The Oligocene to Middle Miocene record was characterized by deep-water deposition, whereas the Late Miocene to recent sedimentation was characterized by falling base level, characterized by deltaic and fluvial deposits. Five syn-rift sequences with wedge-shaped geometry were identified in this study. Three Triassic to Jurassic syn-rift sequences were characterized by seismic facies typical of fluvial to lacustrine and flood plain sedimentation. Two Cretaceous to Paleocene syn-rift sequences were characterized by seismic facies related to lagoons to coastal plain settings. Normal high-angle faults with a northeast-southwest direction related to rifting processes controlled the development of these sequences. The sheet-drape post-rift section was characterized by passive margin settings in the northern part of the Sinú-San Jacinto Basin and by diachronic tectonic inversion of older normal faults during Cenozoic, predominantly in the central and southern zones. The stratigraphic record related to the Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic rifting; the shallow marine sedimentation during Eocene and the tectono-stratigraphic continuity across the northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela is coherent and well explained by the in situ origin of the Caribbean plate and is not explained by the “allochthonous” model.     

Stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental framework of the Early Permian sequence in the Salt Range, Pakistan

The Early Permian Gondwana regime succession of the Nilawahan Group is exposed only in the Salt Range of Pakistan. After a prolonged episode of non-deposition that spanned much of the Palaeozoic, the 350?m thick predominantly clastic sequence of the Nilawahan Group records a late glacial and post-glacial episode in which a range of glacio-fluvial, marine and fluvial environments evolved and accumulated. The Early Permian succession of the Salt Range has been classified into four formations, which together indicates a changing climatic regime during the Early Permian in the Salt Range region. The lower-most, Tobra Formation unconformably overlies a Cambrian sequence and is composed of tillite, diamictite and fresh water facies, which contain a floral assemblage (Gangamopteris and Glossopteris) that confirms an Asselian age. The Tobra Formation is overlain by marginal marine deposits of the Dandot Formation (Sakmarian), which contain an abundant brachiopods assemblage (Eurydesma and Conularia). Accumulation of the Dandot Formation was terminated by a regional sea-level fall and a change to the deposition of the fluvial deposits of the Warchha Sandstone (Artinskian). The Warchha Sandstone was deposited by high sinuosity meandering, avulsion prone river with well developed floodplains. This episode of fluvial sedimentation was terminated by a widespread marine transgression, as represented by the abrupt upward transition to the overlying shallow marine Sardhai Formation (Kungurian). The Early Permian Gondwana sequence represented by the Nilawahan Group is capped by predominantly shallow shelf carbonate deposits of the Tethyan realm. The sedimentologic and stratigraphic relationship of these four lithostratigraphic units in the Salt Range reveals a complex stratigraphic history for the Early Permian, which is mainly controlled by eustatic sea-level change due to climatic variation associated with climatic amelioration at the end of the major Gondwana glacial episode, and the gradual regional northward drift to a lower latitude of the Indian plate.     

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带白垩系沉积特征及其构造意义

班公湖—怒江位于西藏中部 ,西起班公湖日土 (33.5°N ,79°E) ,向东经由措勤、尼玛、那曲至东部怒江带 ,走向近东西、其中部大致平行于北纬 32°线 ,延长大于 15 0 0km。该带蛇绿岩发育 ,是中生代板块缝合线 ,是南部拉萨地块与北部羌塘地块的分界线。其中段班戈地区白垩系地层发育 ,包括下白垩统底部川巴组 (K1c)、多巴组 (K1d)、郎山组 (K1l)和上白垩统江巴组 (K2 j)。川巴组为浅海相黑色页岩、泥岩、粉砂岩、砂岩、煤层和火山岩 ;多巴组为含有海侵夹层的陆相碎屑岩建造 ,海侵层为含园笠虫 (Orbitolinasp .)钙质砂岩 ;郎山组为浅海相—泻湖相台地型碳酸盐岩沉积 ;江巴组以陆相、厚层块状的砂砾岩红层为特征。本区白垩系层序的总体特征 ,是以海相火山岩—细碎屑岩为先导、经海陆过渡相碎屑岩和海相碳酸盐岩到陆相红层 ,形成于与B型俯冲作用有关的活动大陆边缘构造背景.