冀中中奥陶统高频率旋回层序的基本特征

通过野外实测剖面及路线观察，河北中部中奥陶统马家沟群的高频率旋回可划分为三个级别，并与层序地层学术语可以对比，由低到高为；六级旋回──韵律层；五级旋回──准层序；四级旋回──准层序组。这些由米兰柯维奇驱动力所控制的旋回层序在不同的沉积环境中具有不同岩石组合特征，反映了高频率旋回的沉积模式。     

山东聊城石炭二叠系层序划分及海平面变化响应

在钻井、测井资料分析的基础上,利用沉积学、古生物学、地层学等技术手段,识别出聊城地区的晚古生代沉积7种层序界面,并将其划分出6个三级层序。在此基础上,研究不同级别的海平面变化原因和特点。其中,三级海平面主要受冰川消融作用影响,四级海平面变化则是由三级海平面变化起主导作用或地表潜水位降低导致地层基准面下降而产生的;海平面震荡和沉积物供给变化成为五级海平面变化影响因素。总结层序地层与海平面变化、基准面旋回耦合关系．发现三者具有一致性,长期基准面受三级海平面变化的影响,形成了三级层序．四级层序并受控于四级海平面的变化,形成了体系域。五级基准面旋回受控于五级海平面变化,形成小层序。     

利用自然伽马能谱测井识别碳酸盐岩高频层序——以塔里木盆地塔中地区T1井良里塔格组为例

碳酸盐岩系地层中普遍发育高频层序,且与四级、五级层序界面伴生的早期岩溶作用对油气储层的改善十分关键,然而基于测井资料如何客观的识别和划分高频层序是学界不断探索的难点问题。论文选取塔里木盆地塔中地区的T1井,利用自然伽马能谱测井中Th/U （钍/铀）比值曲线,使用滑动平均滤波和小波变换等方法,对上奥陶统良里塔格组开展了高频层序研究。结果表明,Th/U比值曲线滑动平均滤波处理后,能清晰、客观地反映沉积旋回,其比值的增加指示沉积水体加深、泥质增多,比值减少指示沉积水体变浅、泥质减少;该井良里塔格组可划分为3个三级层序、8个四级层序和32个五级层序,三～五级层序分别与小波变换得出一维离散曲线的振荡趋势非常吻合,四级和五级层序极有可能分别反映了米兰科维奇旋回中地球偏心率长周期旋回（0.4 Ma）和短周期旋回（0.1 Ma）;连井对比表明塔中地良里塔格组下部的三级和四级层序发育具有明显差异,这种差异受控于良里塔格组沉积前古地貌形态;储层发育段均与四级、五级层序界面有关,塔中地区东部更易发育有利的储层。研究结果对于依据测井资料开展碳酸盐岩高频层序研究具有理论意义,对于建立区内的高精度层序地层格架进而预测礁滩相储层分布具有实际意义。     

上扬子地台南缘不同沉积相区上泥盆统和下石炭统沉积层序之对比

层序的空间分布是否具有全球性,地史时期海平面变化是否具有全球等时一致性,是层序地层学的根本问题。上扬子地台南缘不同沉积相区上泥盆统和下石炭统沉积层序研究表明,不同级别的层序具有特定的空间分布和对比范围,虽然形成各种级别层序的海平面变化基本上是全球性的。本文把空间分布,特别是在不同沉积相区的分布作为定义和识别各种级别层序的一个标准。正层序（ 三级层序） 的分布可能是全球性的,至少可以在同一大陆边缘的不同相区辨认,并能进行远距离对比,有些甚至可以进行全球对比。一般来说,亚层序（ 四级层序,时间间隔0.5 M a～ 1.5 M a） 在不同的沉积相区对比比较困难,虽然有些亚层序的空间分布也可以是全球性的。亚层序至少应当在一个沉积相带内可以普遍识别和对比。更高级的层序,包括副层序（ 五级层序,即Wang 和 Shi 1996 年使用的亚层序） 和小层序（ 六级层序） 的分布是区域性的或地区性的,它们可能分别反映米兰柯维奇旋回的长周期和短周期。正层序和亚层序一般可在不同沉积相区识别,而副层序和小层序一般仅能在浅海相区识别,在斜坡和盆地相区则不易辨认。     

Third-order depositional sequences reflecting Milankovitch cyclicity

The origin of third-order depositional sequences remains debatable, and in many cases it is not clear whether they were controlled by tectonic activity and/or by eustatic sea-level changes. In Oxfordian and Berriasian–Valanginian carbonate-dominated sections of Switzerland, France, Germany and Spain, high-resolution sequence-stratigraphic and cyclostratigraphic analyses show that the sedimentary record reflects Milankovitch cyclicity. Orbitally induced insolation changes translated into sea-level fluctuations, which in turn controlled accommodation changes. Beds and bedsets formed in rhythm with the precession and 100-kyr eccentricity cycles, whereas the 400-kyr eccentricity cycle contributed to the creation of major depositional sequences. Biostratigraphical data allow the correlation of many of the 400-kyr sequence boundaries with third-order sequence boundaries recognized in European basins. This implies that climatically controlled sea-level changes contributed to the formation of third-order sequences. Furthermore, this cyclostratigraphical approach improves the relative dating of stratigraphic intervals.     

基于米氏旋回的黔西盘县上二叠统煤系高频层序研究

上二叠统记录了地质历史时期最大规模的生物灭绝事件和最深刻的环境变化。对上二叠统的层序地层格架进行精细 描绘，建立高分辨率的地层序列，是深入了解此次事件及其演化的基础和关键。基于钻测井、岩心观测及地球化学分析测 试结果等资料综合分析，并运用小波分析技术，对黔西盘县上二叠统煤系进行了米氏旋回的识别和划分，结果表明，研究 区上二叠统煤系记录了稳定的米兰科维奇旋回，天文轨道周期对其沉积过程具有明显影响，由长、短偏心率、地轴斜率和 岁差周期引起的地层旋回厚度分别为16.06~17.24 m、5.39~5.70 m、2.11~2.15 m、1.12~1.21 m，长偏心率周期对地层中沉积 旋回的控制和影响最强。对长、短偏心率周期进行滤波分析后，建立了上二叠统煤系“浮动”天文年代标尺，为约束同沉 积火山事件层（Tonstein） 的形成及其持续时限提供了年代学依据。以区域等时对比效果明显的长偏心率旋回为标尺，并结 合旋回沉积序列、旋回界面特征等，将上二叠统煤系划分为4个三级层序，并进一步划分为16个四级层序（对应于中期旋 回），建立了研究区高频层序地层格架。     

基于米氏旋回的黔西盘县上二叠统煤系高频层序研究

上二叠统记录了地质历史时期最大规模的生物灭绝事件和最深刻的环境变化。对上二叠统的层序地层格架进行精细 描绘,建立高分辨率的地层序列,是深入了解此次事件及其演化的基础和关键。基于钻测井、岩心观测及地球化学分析测 试结果等资料综合分析,并运用小波分析技术,对黔西盘县上二叠统煤系进行了米氏旋回的识别和划分,结果表明,研究 区上二叠统煤系记录了稳定的米兰科维奇旋回,天文轨道周期对其沉积过程具有明显影响,由长、短偏心率、地轴斜率和 岁差周期引起的地层旋回厚度分别为16.06~17.24 m、5.39~5.70 m、2.11~2.15 m、1.12~1.21 m,长偏心率周期对地层中沉积 旋回的控制和影响最强。对长、短偏心率周期进行滤波分析后,建立了上二叠统煤系“浮动”天文年代标尺,为约束同沉 积火山事件层（Tonstein） 的形成及其持续时限提供了年代学依据。以区域等时对比效果明显的长偏心率旋回为标尺,并结 合旋回沉积序列、旋回界面特征等,将上二叠统煤系划分为4个三级层序,并进一步划分为16个四级层序（对应于中期旋 回）,建立了研究区高频层序地层格架。     

The carbonate—clastic cycles of the East-Alpine Raibl group: Result of third-order sea-level fluctuations in the Carnian

The Carnian Raibl group of the Eastern Alps consists of three 50–100 m thick, alternating carbonate and clastic third-order cycles, each of which can be traced for hundreds of kilometers. Tectono-eustatic sea-level fluctuations of a few tens of metres, spanning a few millions of years, are the driving mechanism of this cyclicity. The carbonate intervals represent restricted marginal marine, tidal and evaporitic environments. The clastic intervals represent inner and outer shelf facies, and are related to the fluviatile “Schilfsandstein” of the Germanic facies belt. In the Raibl group, contrary to other carbonate/clastic depositional settings, relative sea-level lowstands are dominated by carbonate production, and highstands are dominated by clastic deposition.

Each of the three Raibl cycles corresponds to a type-2 sequence, containing shelf margin, transgressive and highstand systems tracts. During sea-level lowstands, deltaic point sources were near the shelf margin, allowing clastics to bypass the carbonate platform. This setting corresponds to a shelf margin systems tract. Transgressive and highstand systems tracts developed during the subsequent sea-level rise, as deltaic clastics were reworked and redistributed over the carbonate platform, and the deltas retrograded to the inner shelf. The highstand systems tracts are capped by a type 2 sequence boundary, which is conformable in the study area. The systems tracts can be further subdivided into shallowing upward subcycles, caused by fourth-order sea-level fluctuations, believed to represent Milankovitch rhythms.

The middle Raibl cycle is consistently thinner, and may represent a shorter termed, third-order sea-level fluctuation. Our data also corroborate a second-order transgressive trend for the Carnian.     

高频层序研究在碳酸盐岩储层对比中的应用--以塔河油田TK625井区鹰山组上部储层为例

鹰山组是塔河油田奥陶系油藏主要产层,由于储层非均质性严重,长期以来对其连通性认识不清,严重影响到油田的合理开发.高频层序地层学是研究碳酸盐岩地层形成与分布的有效手段,本文利用高频层序地层学理论和技术方法研究了塔河油田鹰山组上部层序地层特征,将其划分为28个五级层序和4个四级层序,四级层序包括2个退积准层序组和2个进积准层序组.由于四级层序、五级层序是受米兰科维奇天文周期控制的异旋回成因层序,横向变化不大,能够在大范围内追踪对比.因此,根据高频层序划分结果建立高精度的层序地层格架,在此基础上开展储层对比研究.研究表明,塔河油田鹰山组中,孔洞型储层的分布与层序的形成有密切关系,能够在高频层序地层格架内进行对比;裂缝型储层,由于是受后期构造应力作用,横向变化快,相邻井间不具有对比性.     

东营凹陷沙河街组四段滩坝砂米氏旋回层序划分与对比

东营凹陷南斜坡沙河街组四段上亚段滨浅湖滩坝相砂体分布规律复杂、预测难度大,高分辨率层序地层学因为存在高级别层序划分标准不严格的问题,难以形成统一的精细等时地层格架。借用米氏旋回地层学研究方法识别出的米氏旋回作为天然时间标尺,对该地区博15井、官9井和王94井沙四上地层进行了米氏旋回高级别层序划分与对比,所获得的高级别层序地层格架不受人为因素的影响,且能合理地解释地层的形成环境、预测有利砂体的分布规律,因而是有效且准确的。     

鄂尔多斯盆地中奥陶统马五6亚段高频旋回层序研究:论海平面升降与横山凸起沉积分异效应*

高频旋回分析有利于揭示浅水碳酸盐岩台地海平面升降、沉积物响应、古地理单元演化及对盆地内沉积分异影响等诸多沉积学信息。依据鄂尔多斯盆地横山地区丰富的钻井取心资料,通过岩石类型、典型五级旋回结构等分析,对中奥陶统马家沟组马五₆亚段开展了高频旋回研究。研究表明: (1)基于研究区内马五₆亚段碳酸盐岩与蒸发岩共生组合的9种岩石类型,识别出5种典型T-R单旋回,其中旋回Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ为云质潟湖—颗粒滩—灰泥丘沉积,Ⅳ、Ⅴ为膏盐质潟湖沉积,并以5种单旋回为基本单元搭建骨架井五级高频旋回结构剖面;(2)依据五级高频旋回结构剖面建立的Fischer图解,认为马五₆亚段处于三级旋回晚期,内部发育“2个”四级旋回,具有初次海退—快速海侵—再次海退的相对海平面变化趋势;(3)结合五级旋回厚度统计,认为第1套四级旋回沉积期处于隆拗格局发育阶段,该时期横山凸起作为水下高地,对东西两侧海水封隔明显;至第2套四级旋回沉积阶段,填平补齐作用导致横山凸起影响减弱,海水循环得到改善,凸起东西两侧盐度明显下降。以马五₆亚段为例的高频旋回研究,在横山地区马五₆亚段地层学、沉积学研究中取得了较好的效果,以期在鄂尔多斯盆地马家沟组未来研究中得到进一步推广和实践。     

Stratigraphical architecture at the muddy margin of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, southern Utah

The Tropic Shale and correlative Tununk Shale Member of the Mancos Shale accumulated during Cenomanian-Turonian time, within prodeltaic environments near the western margin of the Western Interior Seaway of North America. Stratigraphical and sedimentological analysis has revealed a detailed history of relative sea level change in the thick, fine grained succession. The Tropic and Tununk shales were deposited during the Greenhorn second-order sea level cycle, over a time span of about 2–5 million years. In southern Utah, six depositional sequences are superposed upon the record of this long term sea level change. The sequences developed during third-order relative sea level cycles of hundreds of thousands of years duration and are composed of at least 37 parasequences, arranged in retrogradational, aggradational and progradational parasequence sets. The Tropic Shale and Tununk Shale Member accumulated just basinward of the axis of maximum subsidence of a foreland basin. Stratal geometries and facies distribution patterns in the succession indicate that in southern Utah the Greenhorn cycle was tectonically controlled. During the Greenhorn transgression and highstand, rapid rates of tectonic subsidence trapped terrigenous sediment to the west of the study area, in the more proximal foreland. At this time, hemipelagic facies accumulated at relatively slow rates in southern Utah and type 2 sequences developed during third-order sea level cycles. In contrast, during the Greenhorn regression rates of thrust-induced subsidence in the proximal foreland basin evidently slowed, and deltaic clinoforms prograded across the study area. At least one forced regression occurred in southern Utah at this time, and type 1 sequences developed. The formation of type 1 sequence boundaries in the upper part of the Tropic Shale and Tununk Shale Member points to episodes of base level fall and indicates that the six third-order sea level cycles recorded in the succession were not the result of changes in sediment supply alone. The third-order cycles may have been a consequence of episodic tectonism. The timing of these cycles, however, suggests that development of sequences and parasequences in the Tropic Shale and Tununk Shale Member may have been related to orbital forcing in the Milankovitch band. Glacioeustasy or climatically related fluctuations in the amount of groundwater stored on continents may explain these high frequency sea level changes.     

鄂尔多斯盆地中奥陶统马五6亚段高频旋回层序研究:论海平面升降与横山凸起沉积分异效应*

高频旋回分析有利于揭示浅水碳酸盐岩台地海平面升降、沉积物响应、古地理单元演化及对盆地内沉积分异影响等诸多沉积学信息。依据鄂尔多斯盆地横山地区丰富的钻井取心资料,通过岩石类型、典型五级旋回结构等分析,对中奥陶统马家沟组马五₆亚段开展了高频旋回研究。研究表明: (1)基于研究区内马五₆亚段碳酸盐岩与蒸发岩共生组合的9种岩石类型,识别出5种典型T-R单旋回,其中旋回Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ为云质潟湖—颗粒滩—灰泥丘沉积,Ⅳ、Ⅴ为膏盐质潟湖沉积,并以5种单旋回为基本单元搭建骨架井五级高频旋回结构剖面;(2)依据五级高频旋回结构剖面建立的Fischer图解,认为马五₆亚段处于三级旋回晚期,内部发育“2个”四级旋回,具有初次海退—快速海侵—再次海退的相对海平面变化趋势;(3)结合五级旋回厚度统计,认为第1套四级旋回沉积期处于隆拗格局发育阶段,该时期横山凸起作为水下高地,对东西两侧海水封隔明显;至第2套四级旋回沉积阶段,填平补齐作用导致横山凸起影响减弱,海水循环得到改善,凸起东西两侧盐度明显下降。以马五₆亚段为例的高频旋回研究,在横山地区马五₆亚段地层学、沉积学研究中取得了较好的效果,以期在鄂尔多斯盆地马家沟组未来研究中得到进一步推广和实践。     

Facies and sequence stratigraphy of a Late Barremian wave-dominated deltaic deposit, Agadir Basin, Morocco

The late Barremian succession in the Agadir Basin of the Moroccan Western High Atlas represents wave-dominated deltaic deposits. The succession is represented by stacked thickening and coarsening upwards parasequences 5–15 m thick formed during fifth- or fourth-order regression and building a third-order highstand systems tract. Vertical facies transitions in parasequences reflect flooding followed by shoaling of diverse shelf environments ranging from offshore transition interbedded mudstones, siltstones and thin sandstones, lower shoreface/lower delta front hummocky bedforms to upper shoreface/upper delta front cross-bedded sandstones. The regional configuration reflects the progradation of wave-dominated deltas over an offshore setting. The maximum sea-level fall led to the development of a sequence boundary that is an unconformity. The subsequent early Aptian relative sea-level rise contributes to the development of an extensive conglomerate lagged transgressive surface of erosion. The latter and the sequence boundary are amalgamated forming a composite surface.     

四川龙门山马角坝地区石炭纪层序地层及海平面变化研究

在沉积学、生物地层学研究之基础上,结合沉积地球化学资料,对龙门山马角坝地区石炭系进行了露头层序地层学研究。首次识别出9个三级层序和若干个四至五级高频层序。在三级层序中,岩关组2个、大塘组3个、威宁组2个、马平组2个,它们均可作区域性对比。其中,四个层序分别与冈瓦纳大陆晚古生代五次冰川事件中四次间冰期一冰期旋回相对应,表明其成因与冰川型全球海平面变化有关。显然,研究区石炭纪层序主要受控于全球海平面升降旋回,具有全球对比意义。     

Sequence stratigraphic analysis and the origins of Tertiary brown coal lithotypes, Latrobe Valley, Gippsland Basin, Australia

The methods of sequence analysis have been applied to the onshore Gippsland Basin and in particular to the Latrobe Valley Group coal measures which include up to five coal seams each exceeding 100 m in thickness. The methods appear to provide new depositional concepts to the evolution of these seams, and the development of coal lithotypes. In the eastern half of the Latrobe Valley evidence for marine transgressions into the coal measures are recorded in most of the interseam sediment splits by the presence of contained foraminifera and dinoflagellates. To the west (inland) these splits pinch out into continuous coal. However, they can be followed westwards as enhanced organic sulphur levels along sharply defined boundaries between light coal lithotypes below and dark coal lithotypes above. The dark lithotype immediately overlying each of these boundaries contains the highest sulphur value and warmer climate pollen assemblages (Sluiter et al., 1995, this volume).Colorimeter and lithotype logging strongly supports an upwards lightening cyclicity to coal colour at 12–20 m intervals through the approx. 100 m thick seams, with cycle boundaries defined at sharp planar to undulating surfaces. The lightening upward lithotype cycles together with their unique boundary conditions (i.e. enhanced organic sulphur levels, warm climatic indicators and laterally equivalent marine clay splits) are interpreted as parasequences and parasequence boundaries respectively. Each major coal seam can comprise up to five parasequences and is interpreted to represent deposition during an outbuilding high stand systems tract at one of several maximum periods of Tertiary coastal onlap. The top of each major seam shows evidence of truncation (erosion?) on a regional scale and these surfaces are interpreted to represent the sequence boundaries. The major seams are usually conformably underlain by marine clays and extensive aquifer sands, being deposits of the late transgressive systems tracts. The low stands and early parts of the transgressive systems tracts appear not to be represented in the Latrobe Valley due to its (more) basin margin location, but are probably present down-dip in the equivalent marine facies of the Seaspray Group.Stratigraphic correlation of the sequence boundaries identified in the coal measures to the adjacent, internationally dated marine Seaspray Group, provides a basis for chronostratigraphic correlation of the coal successions to the coastal onlap charts of Haq et al. (Exon Mesozoic-Cenozoic chronostratigraphic chart, version January 1988, and August 1989). From this dating it appears that each major seam is confined to high stands of third order eustatic cycles. It therefore follows that the lithotype cycles (parasequences) that comprise each seam are related to fourth order eustatic cycles. By analogy all the coal cycles may have developed under subtropical conditions as ombrogenous forested peat swamps in a similar manner to the Holocene, though tropical, swamps of Indonesia.     

Cycle anatomy and variability in the storm-dominated type cincinnatian (Upper Ordovician): coming to grips with cycle delineation and genesis

Although parasequence and sequence are scale-independent terms, they are frequently applied only to specific scales of cycles. For example, meter-scale cycles are commonly assumed to be parasequences or PACs. In the Upper Ordovician Kope and Fairview Formations of northern Kentucky, we examined a succession of 50 meter-scale cycles that have been variously interpreted as deepening-upward, shallowing-upward, or showing no relationship with water depth. Our analysis shows that these cycles, characterized by shifts in storm-bed proximality, are highly variable in their thickness and internal construction. Most cycles are best considered high-frequency sequences, because deepening-upward intervals are common, and many cycles contain evidence of abrupt basinward shifts in facies as expected at sequence boundaries. A minority fit the parasequence model of shallowing-upward cycles bounded by flooding surfaces. Larger, 20 m scale cycles are defined by systematic thickening and thinning trends of meter-scale cycles. However, meter-scale cycles do not display any systematic trends in cycle anatomy as a function of position within the 20 m cycles or position within the Kope and Fairview Formations. The high cycle variability and the lack of systematic stratigraphic organization with respect to longer-term cyclicity reflect either the irregularity of relative sea-level changes, the poor recording of sea-level changes in this deep-water setting, or the generation of these cycles by climate-induced cyclicity in storm intensity. These three mechanisms would generate similar patterns at the outcrop scale, so it is not possible at the present to distinguish between them.     

上扬子克拉通南缘中泥盆统--石炭系高频层序及复合海平面变化

上扬子克拉通南缘中泥盆统-石炭系地层高频层序可以划分为三个级别,并与层序地层学术语可以对比:六级层序-韵律层;五级层序-准层序;四级层序-准层序组。不同级别高频层序的形成受米兰柯维奇驱动力引起的具不同周期和频率的复合海平面变化控制。克拉通边缘沉积环境中,低频海平面变化的上升阶段形成以淹没节拍为主的高频层序,而在停滞至下降阶段形成以暴露节拍为主的高频层序。所以,通过对不同特征的高频层序及垂向叠加的分析,可以求解低频海平面的变化。     

泰国湾第四纪准层序建造及气候控制的旋回性

泰国湾第四系显示出很好的旋回性。通过高分辨率二维地震(布玛)剖面图及工程钻井资料,共识别出8个准层序。在典型准层序中,沉积物自下而上,从海相泥沉积逐渐过渡为泛滥平原沉积。在每个准层序顶部都发育下切河体系及古土壤层,说明在每个准层序形成之后,都曾暴露过地表并遭受到侵蚀。每个准层序都代表一个海进和海退的过程。这些准层序的厚度为6～22m不等,平均厚度13m左右。通过与第四纪氧同位素曲线对比得出,这8个旋回的形成年代可追溯到距今730～10ka,平均91ka为一个循环周期,表明这些旋回应该是由气候因素所驱使的海平面升降导致的。该频率的气候变化周期相当于Milankovitch旋回中地球围绕太阳运动椭球体偏心率的变化周期,因此,在更早的地质历史时期中,类似的旋回也应该存在,并具有全球可对比性。     

Reef geometries, erosion surfaces and high-frequency sea-level changes, upper Miocene Reef Complex, Mallorca, Spain

The upper Miocene Reef Complex of Mallorca is a 20-km prograding unit which crops out in sea cliffs along the southern side of the island. These vertical and exceptionally clean outcrops permit: (i) identification of different facies (lagoon, reef front, reef slope and open platform) and their geometries and boundaries at different scales, ranging from metre to kilometre, and (ii) construction of a 6-km-long high-resolution cross-section in the direction of reef progradation. This cross-section shows vertical shifts of the reefal facies and erosion surfaces linked to a general progradational pattern that defines the accretional units. Four hierarchical orders of magnitude (1-M to 4-M) of accretional units are identified by consideration of the vertical facies shifts and by which erosion surfaces are truncated by other erosion surfaces. All these orders show similar patterns: horizontal beds of lagoonal facies in the upper part (landward), reefal and slope facies with sigmoidal bedding in the central part, and open-platform facies with subhorizontal bedding in the lower part (basinwards). The boundaries are erosion surfaces, horizontal over the lagoon facies, dipping basinwards over the reef-front facies and connecting basinwards with their correlative conformities over the reef-slope and open-platform facies. The four orders of accretional units are interpreted in terms of four (1-M to 4-M) hierarchies of sea-level cycles because (i) there is a close relation between the coral growth and the sea surface, (ii) there are vertical shifts in the reefal facies and their relation to the erosion surfaces, and (iii) there was very little tectonic subsidence in the study area during the late Miocene. Additionally, all these units can be described in terms of their position relative to the sea-level cycle: (i) the reefs prograde on the open-platform sediments during low stands of sea-level; (ii) aggradation of the lagoon, reef and open-platform facies dominates during sea-level rises, and the lagoonal beds onlap landwards upon the previous erosion surface; (iii) reefal progradation occurs during high stands of sea-level; and (iv) the 2-M sea-level fall produces an off-lapping reef and there is progradation with downward shifts of the reefal facies and erosion landward on the emerged (older) reefal units (A-erosion surfaces); the 3-M and 4-M sea-level falls produce only erosion (B-and C-erosion surfaces). Although precise age data do not exist at present, some speculations upon the frequency of these Miocene relative sea-level cycles can be made by comparisons with Pleistocene cyclicity. There is a good correlation between the Miocene 2-M cycles and the 100-ka Pleistocene cycles. Consequently, the 1-M cycles can be assigned to a fourth order in relation to previously proposed global cycles and the 2-M to fifth-order cycles. All these accretional units could be defined as ‘sequences’, according to the definition as commonly used in sequence stratigraphy. However, they represent higher than third-order sea-level cycles, but are not parasequences. The term subsequence, therefore, is suggested to define ‘a part of a sequence bounded by erosion surfaces (mostly subaerial) and their correlative conformities basinwards'. A hierarchy of subsequences can be established.