库车坳陷古近系库姆格列木组高精度层序地层分析及其油气勘探意义

库车坳陷古近系库姆格列木组是盆地内重要的含油气层段。本文应用高精度层序地层学的理论和方法，在库车坳陷古近系库姆格列木组地层中划分出3个三级层序、14个四级层序和数十个五级层序(准层序)。四级层序中发育有冲积扇、辫状河、曲流河、辫状河三角洲和滨浅湖等沉积体系，局部地区发育下切水道、干旱盐湖、泻湖—海湾、半深湖、浊流—重力流等沉积。该组下部四级层序：Psk1、Psk5和中上部四级层序Psk7、Psk12等的砂质沉积形成区内的主力储层，主要分布在盆地北—西北缘和东—东南缘，与其上覆的泥岩、膏泥岩形成有利的储盖组合。     

陆相伸展盆地的层序类型、结构和序列与充填模式--以冀中坳陷下第三系为例

陆相层序受自然地理景观、影响地层发育的地质营力及地层类型等因素影响,因此层序类型多种多样。在冀中坳陷同伸展期发育洪积层序、湖泊层序和冲积层序等三种层序类型。洪积层序是盆地伸展初期地貌反差较大物源供给充分气候干旱条件下发育的一种陆相层序类型,以冲积扇沉积为主,山高盆窄,汇水湖泊面积较小;湖泊层序发育在盆地强烈伸展基底快速沉降气候湿润湖泊水域宽深时期,湖泊水域宽,连通好,湖水深,是烃源岩发育的黄金时期。湖泊层序以湖泊沉积为主,其次为河流和少许冲积扇沉积。冲积层序是在盆地伸展末期地貌反差强度减弱物源距离逐渐加大时的沉积产物,主要为干旱气候条件下的河流、三角洲沉积,湖泊沉积局限。研究表明,影响陆相层序形成的构造、物源、气候等因素与湖泊水体或水平面变化构成一种多元“函数”关系,湖平面变化是上述因素的综合体现。陆相断陷盆地的层序结构大多与湖泊水体之间存在密切联系,因此层序的结构以三分为主。受地壳构造运动控制,断陷盆地发育的层序具有序列性,即下部洪积层序、中部湖泊层序和上部冲积层序。这种序列性是盆地充填对地壳幕式伸展的沉积响应。在盆地充填过程中,不同类型的陆相层序其体系域发育程度具有较大差异。一般地,洪积层序的低位域沉积?     

黑龙江北部孙吴——嘉荫盆地沉积相类型及其演化

通过对孙吴-嘉荫盆地淘淇河组、永安村组、太平林场组、鱼亮子组、乌云组和孙吴组露头剖面详细的沉积学研究,查明该盆地从淘淇河组到孙吴组发育的沉积相类型有冲积扇、辫状河、曲流河、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、曲流河三角洲、湖底扇和湖泊。冲积扇及扇三角洲主要发育于淘淇河组和孙吴组;辫状河及辫状河三角洲主要发育于鱼亮子组和乌云组;曲流河及曲流河三角洲主要发育于永安村组和太平林场组,各组均有湖泊相沉积发育。孙吴-嘉荫盆地从淘淇河组到乌云组,具有冲积扇-扇三角洲-湖泊→曲流河-曲流河三角洲-湖泊→辫状河-辫状河三角洲-湖泊→冲积扇-扇三角洲-湖泊的沉积演化规律,反映晚白垩-古新世构造活动性减弱,中-上新世孙吴组沉积时重又趋于活动。     

第四纪洞庭盆地沅江凹陷东缘鹿角地区构造—沉积演化研究

沅江凹陷为第四纪洞庭盆地东部的一个次级凹陷。通过地表地质调查和钻孔资料,在沅江凹陷东缘北部鹿角地区第四纪构造、沉积及地貌特征研究基础上,探讨并提出其构造-沉积演化过程：早更新世早期洪湖-湘阴断裂和荣家湾断裂相继活动,断裂以西地区断陷沉降并沉积,以东地区则构造抬升而遭受风化剥蚀。早更新世末期凹陷区东部构造反转抬升并遭受侵蚀。中更新世早期和中期凹陷区断陷沉降并接受沉积。中更新世晚期研究区整体抬升而遭受剥蚀。晚更新世西部主凹陷区在稳定或弱沉降并形成泥质沉积,东部间歇性抬升。在上述中更新世晚期开始的构造抬升的同时,研究区东部产生了自东向西、自南向北的构造掀斜。全新世构造总体稳定,西部洞庭湖区形成湖冲积。区域上,第四纪洞庭盆地构造性质经历了早期断陷到晚期坳陷的转变。     

鄂尔多斯盆地西南部上三叠统延长组长8、长6油层组 的沉积体系与物源方向

野外露头剖面的岩石学与岩相组合,沉积特征与相标志,古流向测定,室内砂岩的骨架矿物、重矿物组合及其平面分布规律的研究结果表明：鄂尔多斯盆地西南部上三叠统延长组长8油层组是以线状或点状物源为特征的一套近源快速堆积的冲积扇与扇三角洲沉积体系,形成于盆地由快速拗陷转入逆冲负荷沉降期间。长8沉积期盆地西南部的古水流与物源主要来自盆地西南方向,其次为西北和东南方向。长6油层组沉积期,盆地内部底床下沉作用减缓,湖盆开始收缩,湖盆西岸除北部有少量扇三角洲沉积外,主要为辫状河三角洲沉积：而盆地东北部与东部的沉积作用大大加强,致使在盆地东部形成一系列大型曲流河三角洲沉积体系,至盆地西南部相变为半深湖-深湖相与浊流相沉积。长6沉积期古水流除来自西南、西北和东南方向外．还有来自北东和正东方向的次要物源,它们在盆地西南部悦乐-玄马-板桥-固城-合水-带汇合,使该地带成为混合物源区。     

鄂尔多斯盆地西南部上三叠统延长组长8、长6油层组的沉积体系与物源方向

野外露头剖面的岩石学与岩相组合,沉积特征与相标志,古流向测定,室内砂岩的骨架矿物、重矿物组合及其平面分布规律的研究结果表明：鄂尔多斯盆地西南部上三叠统延长组长8油层组是以线状或点状物源为特征的一套近源快速堆积的冲积扇与扇三角洲沉积体系,形成于盆地由快速拗陷转入逆冲负荷沉降期间。长8沉积期盆地西南部的古水流与物源主要来自盆地西南方向,其次为西北和东南方向。长6油层组沉积期,盆地内部底床下沉作用减缓,湖盆开始收缩,湖盆西岸除北部有少量扇三角洲沉积外,主要为辫状河三角洲沉积：而盆地东北部与东部的沉积作用大大加强,致使在盆地东部形成一系列大型曲流河三角洲沉积体系,至盆地西南部相变为半深湖-深湖相与浊流相沉积。长6沉积期古水流除来自西南、西北和东南方向外．还有来自北东和正东方向的次要物源,它们在盆地西南部悦乐-玄马-板桥-固城-合水-带汇合,使该地带成为混合物源区。     

塔里木盆地喀什凹陷侏罗系沉积特征及其演化

野外地质调查和室内地震解释认为,喀什凹陷侏罗系为陆相河流—湖泊沉积,整个侏罗纪代表了一个水体由浅—深—浅的沉积演化,早侏罗世莎里塔什组属干燥、氧化环境中的冲积扇沉积,到康苏组时演化为潮湿气候条件下的辫状河流沉积;中侏罗世盆地沉积范围扩大,出现湖泊和扇三角洲沉积,晚侏罗世盆地又演化为干燥—半干燥环境下的河流与冲积扇沉积。     

鄂尔多斯盆地及周缘地区下二叠统沉积特征

通过大量的野外剖面观察和盆地内钻井岩心的详细描述,综合测井资料,从岩石类型、结构、沉积构造、古生物化石及测井曲线响应特征等方面对鄂尔多斯盆地及周缘地区下二叠统太原组和山西组沉积相特征进行了全面分析研究。结果表明,太原组主要发育陆棚、海岸、冲积扇和三角洲等沉积相,海岸沉积相包括障壁岛、潟湖和潮坪沉积,三角洲沉积相可划分为三角洲平原、三角洲前缘和前三角洲沉积。山西组主要发育冲积扇、河流、曲流河三角洲、湖泊和海岸沉积相,其中河流沉积相包括辫状河和曲流河沉积,曲流河三角洲沉积相可划分为曲流河三角洲平原、曲流河三角洲前缘和前三角洲沉积,而湖泊沉积相以浅湖沉积为主,海岸沉积主要为潟湖沉积。太原期,海相沉积占主导,主要分布于银川-榆林北部一线以南广大地区,并且从东西两侧至中部地区由浅海陆棚沉积和滨浅海过渡为潟湖沉积和潮坪沉积,其间发育障壁岛。盆地西北缘发育冲积扇和扇三角洲沉积,北部广大地区以三角洲沉积为主,自北向南依次为三角洲平原和三角洲前缘沉积。山西期,海水从盆地东南部退却,整体演变为海陆过渡相沉积,盆地北部乌达-杭锦旗-鄂尔多斯一线发育冲积扇沉积,向南至靖边一带依次发育辫状河和曲流河沉积,靖边以南至延安以北地区以三角洲平原沉积为主,向南至同心-庆阳一线发育三角洲前缘沉积,盆地南部彭阳-泾阳地区主要为浅湖沉积,再向南发育物源来自南部的三角洲沉积,在东南部武乡-义马一带为潟湖沉积。     

大别山北缘早白垩世黑石渡组沉积体系研究

分布于大别山北缘晓天-磨子潭断裂以北和金寨-响洪甸-西汤池断裂以南呈东西向延伸的早白垩世黑石渡组,厚达千米,岩相主要有角砾岩、砾岩、砂岩、粉砂岩、泥岩等,包括冲积扇、河流、扇三角洲和湖泊沉积体系,其中河流沉积主要由洪泛平原和决口扇组成。黑石渡组属于向上变细层序,早期为冲积扇沉积,中期为洪泛平原、决口扇和扇三角洲沉积,晚期为深湖浊流沉积。冲积扇和湖相浊流沉积主要发育于盆地东段舒城晓天地区,洪泛平原和决口扇沉积主要发育于盆地西段霍山地区,扇三角洲在两地都比较发育。这是一个不对称的断陷盆地,晓天-磨子潭断裂可能对盆地的发育具有控制作用。     

鄂尔多斯盆地及周缘地区下二叠统沉积特征*

通过大量的野外剖面观察和盆地内钻井岩心的详细描述,综合测井资料,从岩石类型、结构、沉积构造、古生物化石及测井曲线响应特征等方面对鄂尔多斯盆地及周缘地区下二叠统太原组和山西组沉积相特征进行了全面分析研究。结果表明,太原组主要发育陆棚、海岸、冲积扇和三角洲等沉积相,海岸沉积相包括障壁岛、潟湖和潮坪沉积,三角洲沉积相可划分为三角洲平原、三角洲前缘和前三角洲沉积。山西组主要发育冲积扇、河流、曲流河三角洲、湖泊和海岸沉积相,其中河流沉积相包括辫状河和曲流河沉积,曲流河三角洲沉积相可划分为曲流河三角洲平原、曲流河三角洲前缘和前三角洲沉积,而湖泊沉积相以浅湖沉积为主,海岸沉积主要为潟湖沉积。太原期,海相沉积占主导,主要分布于银川—榆林北部一线以南广大地区,并且从东西两侧至中部地区由浅海陆棚沉积和滨浅海过渡为潟湖沉积和潮坪沉积,其间发育障壁岛。盆地西北缘发育冲积扇和扇三角洲沉积,北部广大地区以三角洲沉积为主,自北向南依次为三角洲平原和三角洲前缘沉积。山西期,海水从盆地东南部退却,整体演变为海陆过渡相沉积,盆地北部乌达—杭锦旗—鄂尔多斯一线发育冲积扇沉积,向南至靖边一带依次发育辫状河和曲流河沉积,靖边以南至延安以北地区以三角洲平原沉积为主,向南至同心—庆阳一线发育三角洲前缘沉积,盆地南部彭阳—泾阳地区主要为浅湖沉积,再向南发育物源来自南部的三角洲沉积,在东南部武乡—义马一带为潟湖沉积。     

Causes of the catastrophic failure of an earth dam built on gypsiferous alluvium and dispersive clays (Altorricón,Huesca Province,NE Spain)

This paper analyses the causes of the catastrophic failure of an earth dam that took place on 21 January 2001 during the first filling test in the NE of Spain (Altorricón village, Huesca Province). The San Juan reservoir, with a capacity of 850,000 m³, was built in 1999 on gypsiferous mantled pediment deposits overlying Tertiary dispersive clay sediments. The basin of the reservoir was excavated in the alluvial cover and Tertiary bedrock. An earth dam was constructed on the pediment surface along the perimeter of the artificial basin. The dam has a core of compacted clay material derived from the excavation, which is indented 1 m in the Tertiary shales of the bedrock, cutting the highly pervious alluvial mantle. Field observations, analysis of the basin and dam materials and eyewitnesses accounts have helped to infer the processes involved in the failure of the earth dam. These processes include (1) subsidence and ravelling (suffosion) processes induced by the dissolution of the 4-m-thick detrital cover with a gypsum content of around 40%; (2) piping processes affecting the embankments and core of the dam built with dispersive clays that have high exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and show active pipes; and (3) water circulation through biogenic burrows in the pediment deposits. This case study demonstrates the frequently hidden limitations that evaporite sediments and dispersive clay materials pose to the construction of dams. It also shows that highly permeable surficial deposits should be stripped before the construction of the dam structure.     

Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of a middle Miocene alluvial fan to cyclic shallow lacustrine depositional system in the Calatayud Basin (NE Spain)

ABSTRACT The middle Miocene sedimentary fill of the Calatayud Basin in north‐eastern Spain consists of proximal to distal alluvial fan‐floodplain and shallow lacustrine deposits. Four main facies groups characteristic of different sedimentary environments are recognized: (1) proximal and medial alluvial fan facies that comprise clast‐supported gravel and subordinate sandstone and mudstone, the latter exhibiting incipient pedogenic features; (2) distal alluvial fan facies, formed mainly of massive mudstone, carbonate‐rich palaeosols and local carbonate pond deposits; (3) lake margin facies, which show two distinct lithofacies associations depending on their distribution relative to the alluvial fan system, i.e. front (lithofacies A), comprising massive siliciclastic mudstone and tabular carbonates, or lateral (lithofacies B) showing laminated and/or massive siliciclastic mudstone alternating with tabular and/or laminated carbonate beds; and (4) mudflat–shallow lake facies showing a remarkable cyclical alternation of green‐grey and/or red siliciclastic mudstone units and white dolomitic carbonate beds. The cyclic mudflat–shallow lake succession, as exposed in the Orera composite section (OCS), is dominantly composed of small‐scale mudstone–carbonate/dolomite cycles. The mudstone intervals of the sedimentary cycles are interpreted as a result of sedimentation from suspension by distal sheet floods, the deposits evolving either under subaerial exposure or water‐saturated conditions, depending on their location on the lacustrine mudflat and on climate. The dolomite intervals accumulated during lake‐level highstands with Mg‐rich waters becoming increasingly concentrated. Lowstand to highstand lake‐level changes indicated by the mudstone/dolomite units of the small‐scale cycles reflect a climate control (from dry to wet conditions) on the sedimentation in the area. The spatial distribution of the different lithofacies implies that deposition of the small‐scale cycles took place in a low‐gradient, shallow lake basin located in an interfan zone. The development of the basin was constrained by gradual alluvial fan aggradation. Additional support for the palaeoenvironmental interpretation is derived from the isotopic compositions of carbonates from the various lithofacies that show a wide range of δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values varying from ?7·9 to 3·0‰ PDB and from ?9·2 to ?1·7‰ PDB respectively. More negative δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values are from carbonate‐rich palaeosols and lake‐margin carbonates, which extended in front of the alluvial fan systems, whereas more positive values correspond to dolomite beds deposited in the shallow lacustrine environment. The results show a clear trend of δ¹⁸O enrichment in the carbonates from lake margin to the centre of the shallow lake basin, thereby also demonstrating that the lake evolved under hydrologically closed conditions.     

西藏札达盆地上新统古格组和托林组的厘定与层序地层划分

根据札达盆地剖面中地层的接触关系、沉积旋回、沉积体系和岩相岩性特征,可将上新统河湖相地层划分为2个组、5个沉积相、8个岩段。古格组(N22g)一岩段为砾岩,属河流相沉积;二、三、五岩段以细碎屑岩为主,属浅湖相沉积;四岩段以含粘土质细碎屑岩为主,属深湖相沉积。托林组(N21t)一、二、三岩段为一套砾岩、含砾中粗粒钙质长石岩屑砂岩和中细粒砂岩的碎屑岩,为典型冲(洪)积扇沉积物。ESR法和古地磁法测年结果表明,古格组形成时代为上新世晚期(4.40～2.47Ma);托林组形成时代为上新世早期(5.44～4.40Ma)。札达盆地为一同生断陷盆地,在上新世时期的构造运动过程中,盆地演化经历了水进体系域—湖泊扩张体系域—湖泊收缩体系域3个发展阶段。     

东濮凹陷西洼南段老第三系岩相古地理特征

东濮凹陷西洼南段老第三系属地堑型湖盆沉积,主要发育河流相、三角洲相、冲积扇相、扇三角洲相以及湖泊相。两条边界断层,尤其是西侧长垣断层的活动性控制着该区的岩相古地理格局：断层活动强烈时,湖盆水域扩大,湖水加深,主要发育扇三角洲、三角洲及深湖－半深湖沉积;断层活动减弱时,水体变浅或干涸,湖盆被充填,主要发育冲积扇或河流相沉积。     

Alluvial Fan-lacustrine Sedimentation and its Tectonic Implications in the Cretaceous Athgarh Gondwana Basin, Orissa, India

The Athgarh Formation is the northernmost extension of the east coast Upper Gondwana sediments of Peninsular India. The formation of the present area is a clastic succession of 700 m thick and was built against an upland scarp along the north and northwestern boundary of the basin marked by an E-W-ENE-WSW boundary fault. A regular variation in the dominant facies types and association of lithofacies from the basin margin to the basin centre reveals deposition of the succession in an alluvial fan environment with the development of proximal, mid and distal fan subenvironments with the distal part of the fan merging into a lake. Several fans coalesced along the basin margin, forming a southeasterly sloping, broad and extensive alluvial plain terminating to a lake in the centre of the basin. Aggradation of fans along the subsiding margin of the basin resulted in the Athgarh succession showing remarkable lateral facies change in the down-dip direction. The proximal fan conglomerates pass into the sandstone-dominated mid-fan deposits, which, in turn, grade into the cyclic sequences of sandstone-mudstone of the distal fan origin. Further downslope, thick sequence of lacustrine shales occur. The faulted boundary condition of the basin and a thick pile of lacustrine sediments at the centre of the basin suggest that tectonism both in the source area and depositional site has played an important role throughout the deposition of the Athgarh succession of the present area. The vertical succession fines upward with the coarse proximal deposits at the base and fine distal deposits at the top, suggesting deposition of the succession during progressive reduction of the source area relief after a single rapid uplift related to a boundary fault movement.The NW-SE trending fault defining the Son-Mahanadi basin of Lower Gondwana sediments are shear zones of great antiquity and these were rejuvenated under neo-tensional stress during Lower Gondwana sedimentation. The E-W-ENE-WSW trending fault of the Athgarh basin, on the other hand, define tensional rupture of much younger date. In the Early Cretaceous period, there was a reversal of palaeoslope in the Athgarh basin (southward slope) with respect to the Son-Mahanadi basin (northward slope). During the phase drifting of the Indian continent and with the evolution of Indian Ocean in the Early Cretaceous period, the tectonic events in the plate interior was manifested by formation of new grabens like the Athgarh graben.     

库车坳陷古近系层序和沉积体系发育特征

以露头和测井资料为基础,建立了库车坳陷古近系层序地层格架,划分出5个三级层序和2 4个四级层序。四级层序内识别出冲积扇/扇三角洲、辫状河、曲流河、辫状河三角洲、下切水道、滨浅湖、干盐湖、泻湖-海湾、半深湖浊流-重力流等多种沉积体系。通过层序-体系域对比,将区内的三级层序划分为6种沉积构成类型,总结了每种类型在前陆盆地中的发育和分布特征。      

Middle‐Late Pleistocene Glacial Lakes in the Grand Canyon of the Tsangpo River,Tibet

Many moraines formed between Daduka and Chibai in the Tsangpo River valley since Middle Pleistocene. A prominent set of lacustrine and alluvial terraces on the valley margin along both the Tsangpo and Nyang Rivers formed during Quaternary glacial epoch demonstrate lakes were created by damming of the river. Research was conducted on the geological environment, contained sediments, spatial distribution, timing, and formation and destruction of these paleolakes. The lacustrine sediments 14C (10537±268 aBP at Linzhi Brick and Tile Factory, 22510±580 aBP and 13925±204 aBP at Bengga, 21096±1466 aBP at Yusong) and a series of ESR (electron spin resonance) ages at Linzhi town and previous data by other experts, paleolakes persisted for 691~505 kaBP middle Pleistocene ice age, 75–40 kaBP the early stage of last glacier, 27–8 kaBP Last Glacier Maximum (LGM), existence time of lakes gradually shorten represents glacial scale and dam moraine supply potential gradually cut down, paleolakes and dam scale also gradually diminished. This article calculated the average lacustrine sedimentary rate of Gega paleolake in LGM was 12.5 mm/a, demonstrates Mount Namjagbarwa uplifted strongly at the same time, the sedimentary rate of Gega paleolake is more larger than that of enclosed lakes of plateau inland shows the climatic variation of Mount Namjagbarwa is more larger and plateau margin uplifted more quicker than plateau inland. This article analyzed formation and decay cause about the Zelunglung glacier on the west flank of Mount Namjagbarwa got into the Tsangpo River valley and blocked it for tectonic and climatic factors. There is a site of blocking the valley from Gega to Chibai. This article according to moraines and lacustrine sediments yielded paleolakes scale: the lowest lake base altitude 2850 m, the highest lake surface altitude 3585 m, 3240 m and 3180 m, area 2885 km2, 820 km2 and 810 km2, lake maximum depth of 735 m, 390 m and 330 m. We disclose the reason that previous experts discovered there were different age moraines dividing line of altitude 3180 m at the entrance of the Tsangpo Grand Canyon is dammed lake erosive decay under altitude 3180 m moraines in the last glacier era covering moraines in the early ice age of late Pleistocene, top 3180 m in the last glacier moraine remained because ancient dammed lakes didn’t erode it under 3180 m moraines in the early ice age of late Pleistocene exposed. The reason of the top elevation 3585 m moraines in the middle Pleistocene ice age likes that of altitude 3180 m. There were three times dammed lakes by glacier blocking the Tsangpo River during Quaternary glacial period. During other glacial and interglacial period the Zelunglung glacier often extended the valley but moraine supplemental speed of the dam was smaller than that of fluvial erosion and moraine movement, dam quickly disappeared and didn’t form stable lake.     

二龙山含煤盆地中新世富锦组沉积相及层序地层特征

黑龙江东部二龙山盆地是一新生代陆相聚煤盆地,中新世富锦组是其含煤地层。通过对富锦组沉积相、层序地层和聚煤作用特征的研究,可以看出:富锦组主要由凝灰质粉砂岩及中细砂岩、凝灰质砾岩及褐煤组成,发育滨浅湖相、深-半深湖相、冲积扇扇根相、扇中相及沼泽相,分别属于湖泊沉积体系和冲积扇沉积体系;富锦组是一个以区域不整合面为上下界的三级层序,其低位体系域对应底部砾岩段,湖侵体系域对应下部砂岩段和中部含煤段,高位体系域对应上部砂岩段;研究区煤层形成于湖侵体系域末期,且以盆地中部煤层厚度最大,向西北和西南方向煤层均变薄;聚煤作用明显受基底沉降作用影响,在湖侵体系域末期基底稳定沉降阶段,可容空间增加速率与泥炭堆积速率相平衡,从而形成了区内巨厚煤层。      

Infilling of the Younger Kathmandu–Banepa intermontane lake basin during the Late Quaternary (Lesser Himalaya,Nepal): a sedimentological study

The Kathmandu and Banepa Basins, Central Nepal, are located in a large syncline of the Lesser Himalayas. The Older Kathmandu Lake evolved during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene; the Younger Kathmandu Lake, which is the focus of this study, is infilled with late Quaternary sediments. Three formations, arranged in stratigraphical order, the Kalimati, Gokarna and Thoka Formations formed during the infilling stage of this lacustrine basin. Structural and textural sedimentological analyses, a chemical survey across the basin and mineralogical investigations of fine‐grained sediments form the basis of this palaeogeographical study. The basin under investigation was covered by a perennial freshwater lake before 30 000 yr BP. The lake was infilled with alluvial and fluvial sediments delivered mainly from the mountains north of the basin. A fairly low gradient was favourable for the formation of diatomaceous earths, carbonaceous mudstones and siltstones, which were laid down in the centre of the lake and in small ponds. Towards the basin edge, lacustrine sediments gave way to deltaic deposits spread across the delta plain. Crevasse splays and anastomosing rivers mainly delivered suspended load for the widespread siltstones and mudstones. The proximal parts of the alluvial–fluvial sedimentary wedge contain debris flows that interfinger with fine‐grained floodplain deposits. Three highstands of the water‐level (>30 000 yr BP, 28 000–19 000 yr BP, 11 000–4000 yr BP (?)) have been recognised in the sedimentary record of the younger Kathmandu Lake in the Late Quaternary. Second‐order water‐level fluctuations are assumed to be triggered by local processes (damming by tectonically induced landslides). First‐order water‐level fluctuations are the result of climatic changes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.