Carbonates within a Pleistocene glaciomarine succession, Yakataga Formation, Middleton Island, Alaska

Uplifted during the 1964 Alaskan earthquake, extensive intertidal flats around Middleton Island expose 1300 m of late Cenozoic (Early Pleistocene) Yakataga Formation glaciomarine sediments. These outcrops provide a unique window into outer shelf and upper slope strata that are otherwise buried within the south‐east Alaska continental shelf prism. The rocks consist of five principal facies in descending order of thickness: (i) extensive pebbly mudstone diamictite containing sparse marine fossils; (ii) proglacial submarine channel conglomerates; (iii) burrowed mudstones with discrete dropstone layers; (iv) boulder pavements whose upper surfaces are truncated, faceted and striated by ice; and (v) carbonates rich in molluscs, bryozoans and brachiopods. The carbonates are decimetre scale in thickness, typically channellized conglomeratic event beds interpreted as resedimented deposits on the palaeoshelf edge and upper slope. Biogenic components originated in a moderately shallow (ca 80 m), relatively sediment‐free, mesotrophic, sub‐photic setting. These components are a mixture of parautochthonous large pectenids or smaller brachiopods with locally important serpulid worm tubes and robust gastropods augmented by sand‐size bryozoan and echinoderm fragments. Ice‐rafted debris is present throughout these cold‐water carbonates that are thought to have formed during glacial periods of lowered sea‐level that allowed coastal ice margins to advance near to the shelf edge. Such carbonates were then stranded during subsequent sea‐level rise. Productivity was enabled by attenuation of terrigenous mud deposition during these cold periods via reduced sedimentation together with active wave and tidal‐current winnowing near the ice front. Redeposition was the result of intense storms and possibly tsunamis. These sub‐arctic mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate sediments are an end‐member of the Phanerozoic global carbonate depositional realm whose skeletal attributes first appeared during late Palaeozoic southern hemisphere deglaciation.     

Triassic carbonate submarine fans along the Arabian platform margin, Sumeini Group, Oman

ABSTRACT The Sumeini Group formed along the passive continental margin slope that bounded the northeastern edge of the Arabian carbonate platform. With the initial development of this passive continental margin in Oman during Early to Middle Triassic time (possibly Permian), small carbonate submarine fans of the C Member of the Maqam Formation developed along a distally steepened slope. The fan deposits occur as several discrete lenticular sequences of genetically related beds of coarsegrained redeposited carbonate (calciclastic) sediment within a thick interval of basinal lime mudstone and shale. Repeated pulses of calciclastic sediment were derived from ooid shoals on an adjacent carbonate platform and contain coarser intraclasts eroded from the surrounding slope deposits. Sediment gravity flows, primarily turbidites with lesser debris flows and grain flows, transported the coarse sediments to the relatively deep submarine fans. Channel erosion was a major source of intraformational calcirudite. Two small submarine fan systems were each recurrently supplied with calciclastic sediment derived from point sources, submarine canyons. The northern fan system retrogrades and dies out upsection. The southern fan system was apparently longer-lived; calciclastic sediments in it are more prevalent and occur throughout the section. The proximal portions of this fan system are dominated by channelized beds of calcirudite which represent inner- to mid-fan channel complexes. The distal portions include mostly lenticular, unchannelized beds of calcarenite, apparently mid- to outer-fan lobes. Carbonate submarine fans appear to be rare in the geological record in comparison with more laterally continuous slope aprons of coarse redeposited sediment. The carbonate submarine fans of the C Member apparently formed by the funnelling of coarse calciclastic sediment into small submarine canyons which may have developed due to rift and/or transform tectonics. The alternation of discrete sequences of calciclastic sediment with thick intervals of ‘background’ sediment resulted from either sea-level fluctuations or pulses of tectonic activity.     

海底扇沉积相模式、沉积过程及其沉积记录的指示意义

海底扇是由沉积物重力流形成的海底沉积体。其分类学和相模式研究表明,海底扇主要由海底水道、溢岸及朵叶体等沉积单元构成。然而古代和现代海底扇沉积均无法由单一的通用相模式进行解释。以粒度差异所建立的相模式类型涵盖了多方面信息,相对简单实用。海底扇的触发机制主要包括海底沉积物失稳、洪水型异重流、海洋动力过程及复合成因机制等类型。海底扇的主导流体类型（碎屑流与浊流）、海底地貌形态（限制性与非限制性）及海洋动力条件（底流作用）深刻影响了海底扇的沉积作用、平面形态及空间组合特征,整体上分为三类。其中,浊流沉积主导的海底扇在非限制性海底环境中主要表现为扇状或指状形态,在限制性海底环境中则直接受控于盆地的地貌形态;碎屑流沉积主导的海底扇以块体搬运为特征,平面上表现为舌状和叶状展布形态;底流与重力流共同作用形成的混合型海底扇朵叶体沿底流流向侧向偏转,部分受底流改造沉积形成孤立漂积丘状形态。海底扇沉积物记录了环境信号从“源”到“汇”传输效率和保存程度,对构造变形和古气候变化具有重要的指示作用。人类世以来的现代海底扇沉积物同时也是深海微塑料、陆源有机碳的重要储库,定量评估其丰度特征对于环境评价、污染治理与管控及全球碳循环均具有深远的现实意义。     

Sedimentation of submarine fan deposits in the Pindos foreland basin,from late Eocene to early Oligocene,west Peloponnesus peninsula,SW Greece

Turbidite facies distribution and palaeocurrent analysis of submarine fan evolution in the Pindos foreland basin of west Peloponnesus peninsula (SW Greece) indicate that this part of the foreland was developed during Late Eocene to Early Oligocene in three linear sub‐basins (Tritea, Hrisovitsi and Finikounda). The basin fill conditions, with a multiple feeder system, which is characterized by axial transport of sediments and asymmetric stratigraphic thickness of the studied sediments, indicate that the Pindos Foreland Basin in this area was an underfilled foreland basin. Sediments are dominated by conglomerates, sandstones and mudstones. The flow types that controlled the depositional processes of the submarine fans were grain flows, debris flows and low‐ and high‐density turbidity currents. The sedimentary model that we propose for the depositional mechanisms and geometrical distribution of the turbidite units in the Tritea sub‐basin is a mixed sand‐mud submarine fan with a sequential interaction of progradation and retrogradation for the submarine fan development and shows a WNW main palaeocurrent direction. The Hrisovitsi sub‐basin turbidite system characterized by small‐scale channels was sediment starved, and the erosion during deposition was greater than the two other studied areas, indicating a more restricted basin topography with a NW main palaeocurrent direction. The Finikounda sub‐basin exhibits sand‐rich submarine fans, is characterized by the presence of distinct, small‐scale, thickening‐upward cycles and by the covering of a distal fan by a proximal fan. It was constructed under the simultaneous interaction of progradation and aggradation, where the main palaeocurrent direction was from NNW to SSE. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A reconnaissance of the sedimentology of lower Silurian mudstones, English Lake District

Polished slabs and thin sections of lower Silurian graptolitic mudstones and interbedded barren mudstones show three main lithologies are present (a) unfossili-ferous green mudstones, sometimes with indistinct silt laminae, (b) a similar black pyritic lithology, with rare graptolites, (c) striped mudstones, with prominent carbonaceous and silt laminae, and common graptolites. The abundance of silt laminae suggests that the striped mudstone facies represents the highest energy depositional conditions. Comparison of sedimentary structures with modern deep sea muds suggests this facies is distal turbidite. Graptolite preservation was favoured by rapid burial.     

Evolution of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system during the Late Quaternary: influence of climate change on fan sedimentation

This paper presents an overview of the evolution of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system during the last 200 kyr, over a series of glacial to interglacial cycles. Six individual deep‐sea fans were identified from an extensive field data set. Each fan comprises a canyon, channel system and terminal lobes. Two of these fan systems were possibly active at the same time, at least during some periods. Large‐scale slope failures destroyed channel segments and caused the formation of new submarine fan systems. These slope failures thus played an important role in the overall evolution of the turbidite system. During the last glacial maximum (ca 25 to 14·8 ka) the central and eastern parts of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system were relatively inactive. This inactivity corresponds to a lowstand in sea‐level, and a period of arid climate and relatively low sediment discharge from the Nile fluvial system. Rapid accumulation of fluvial flood‐derived deposits occurred across the shallower part of the submarine delta during sea‐level rise between ca 14·8 and 5 ka. The most recent deep‐sea channel–lobe system was very active during this period of rising sea‐level, which is also associated with a wetter continental climate and increased sediment and water discharge from the Nile. Increased sediment deposition in shallower water areas led to occasional large‐scale slope failure. The Nile deep‐sea turbidite system was largely inactive after ca 5 ka. This widespread inactivity is due to retreat of the coastline away from the continental shelf break, and to a more arid continental climate and reduced discharge of sediment from the Nile. The Nile deep‐sea turbidite system may be more active during periods of rising and high sea‐level associated with wetter climates, than during lowstands, and may rapidly become largely inactive during highstands in sea‐level coupled with arid periods. These acute responses to climate change have produced sedimentary/stratigraphic features that diverge from traditional sequence models in their nature and timing. This large‐scale sedimentary system responded to monsoon‐driven climate change and sea‐level change in a system‐wide and contemporaneous manner.     

藏南江孜盆地下白垩统硅化层的地质地球化学特征及其成矿意义

西藏南部江孜盆地的下白垩统地层为一套浊积海底扇沉积序列。在沙拉岗一带, 这套地层中发育一段明显的硅化层。矿物学和岩石地球化学分析表明: 硅化层主要由硅化程度不等的硅化泥岩和硅化灰岩组成, 其矿物组成单调,主要包括石英、低温钠长石和被交代残余的方解石; 硅化泥岩的地球化学特征以继承原岩为主, 而硅化灰岩则受硅化流体改造的程度较大; 硅化灰岩中的微量元素随着硅化程度的递进表现出4种类型的迁移规律, 硅化灰岩的w(∑REE)和w(LREE) /w(HREE)等指标均与硅化程度成正相关关系。综合这些特征表明, 参与硅化层发育的流体可能是一种富SiO2 的偏碱性中低温热流体, 它的活动导致了硅化层的发育并可能和该区内锑矿的产生具有直接的成因联系。     

Geometry and sequence stratigraphy of the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene shelf and basin floor to slope turbidite systems, Lemnos Island, NE Greece

The Late Eocene-Early Oligocene sedimentary fill of the Lemnos Island, NE Greece, is represented by a submarine fan and shelf deposits. Turbidites in the system occur as a laterally isolated body, with one sediment influx center present. The influx center is a proximal distributary channel that occupies a position approximately in the fan’s center and displays the coarsest sediment in the study area. It also suggests in association with the main palaeocurrent direction toward NE a curved shape for the fan. The stratigraphic succession of the submarine fans indicates that their sedimentation started during the base level fall and completed shortly after the base level rise. As a consequence, the study area was filled by turbidites that correspond to forced regressive, lowstand normal regressive, and transgressive genetic units. The progradational bedsets, within the basal part of the turbidite deposits, recorded the history of the base level fall. The mixed progradational/aggradational style of the upper part of the submarine fan system suggests that the regression of the shoreline is driven by sediment supply during a period of base-level rise at the shoreline, or at a time of baselevel stillstand. The overlying shelf facies consist of thick to medium bedded sandstones and mudstones, which display a general thinning upward trend. The base of the mudstone facies that overlie the thick-bedded, amalgamated sandstones corresponds to a transgressive surface. This surface separates the low-stand deposits (thick-bedded sandstones) from the high stand deposits (mudstone facies), suggesting that deposition of shelf facies occurred during a transgressive system tract.     

Sea level controls on the textural characteristics and depositional architecture of the Hueneme and associated submarine fan systems, Santa Monica Basin, California

Hueneme and Dume submarine fans in Santa Monica Basin consist of sandy channel and muddy levee facies on the upper fan, lenticular sand sheets on the middle fan, and thinly bedded turbidite and hemipelagic facies elsewhere. Fifteen widely correlatable key seismic reflections in high-resolution airgun and deep-towed boomer profiles subdivide the fan and basin deposits into time-slices that show different thickness and seismic-facies distributions, inferred to result from changes in Quaternary sea level and sediment supply. At times of low sea level, highly efficient turbidity currents generated by hyperpycnal flows or sediment failures at river deltas carry sand well out onto the middle-fan area. Thick, muddy flows formed rapidly prograding high levees mainly on the western (right-hand) side of three valleys that fed Hueneme fan at different times; the most recently active of the lowstand fan valleys, Hueneme fan valley, now heads in Hueneme Canyon. At times of high sea level, fans receive sand from submarine canyons that intercept littoral-drift cells and mixed sediment from earthquake-triggered slumps. Turbidity currents are confined to ‘underfit’ talweg channels in fan valleys and to steep, small, basin-margin fans like Dume fan. Mud is effectively separated from sand at high sea level and moves basinward across the shelf in plumes and in storm-generated lutite flows, contributing to a basin-floor blanket that is locally thicker than contemporary fan deposits and that onlaps older fans at the basin margin. The infilling of Santa Monica Basin has involved both fan and basin-floor aggradation accompanied by landward and basinward facies shifts. Progradation was restricted to the downslope growth of high muddy levees and the periodic basinward advance of the toe of the steeper and sandier Dume fan. Although the region is tectonically active, major sedimentation changes can be related to eustatic sea-level changes. The primary controls on facies shifts and fan growth appear to be an interplay of texture of source sediment, the efficiency with which turbidity currents transport sand, and the effects of delta distributary switching, all of which reflect sea-level changes.     

层序地层格架下烃源岩地球化学研究:以尼日尔Termit盆地为例

如何利用有限的烃源岩样品的实验分析数据和地质资料尽可能地提高烃源岩评价和预测的精度,是当今烃源岩地球化学研究亟需解决的问题.采用层序地层学与油气地球化学相结合的方法,研究了非洲尼日尔Termit盆地基于层序地层格架下,上白垩统Yogou组烃源岩空间分布特征及有机质地球化学性质,初步展示了层序地层格架下烃源岩地球化学研究的方法、应用效果及优势.Termit盆地上白垩统Yogou组海相泥页岩是该盆地主要的烃源层,自下而上可划分为YSQ1、YSQ2和YSQ3共3个三级层序.根据层序/体系域发育特征、岩性录井和测井曲线响应特征,识别出外陆棚、内陆棚、三角洲、滨岸相泥岩及煤/炭质泥岩共5种不同沉积类型的烃源岩,不同层序与体系域具有不同的烃源岩纵向叠置关系和横向分布特征.不同类型的烃源岩有机质具有明显不同的地球化学性质:外陆棚和内陆棚泥岩有机质丰度中等-好,有机质生物来源中,低等水生生物贡献高,沉积于偏还原的沉积环境.滨岸和三角洲相泥岩有机质丰度高,具有低等水生生物和高等植物来源的双重贡献,沉积于偏氧化的沉积环境.三级层序或其体系域控制下的沉积相分布和演化导致不同类型烃源岩的发育和横向分布特征,同一沉积相类型的烃源岩具有相似的地球化学性质.与传统的以组、段为单元的烃源岩地球化学研究相比,层序地层格架下的烃源岩评价可以刻画不同层序、不同体系域和沉积相带烃源岩有机质地球化学性质的差异,提高资源评价和油-源对比的精度.      

Sea-level and tectonic control of middle to late Pleistocene turbidite systems in Santa Monica Basin, offshore California

Small turbidite systems offshore from southern California provide an opportunity to track sediment from river source through the turbidity‐current initiation process to ultimate deposition, and to evaluate the impact of changing sea level and tectonics. The Santa Monica Basin is almost a closed system for terrigenous sediment input, and is supplied principally from the Santa Clara River. The Hueneme fan is supplied directly by the river, whereas the smaller Mugu and Dume fans are nourished by southward longshore drift. This study of the Late Quaternary turbidite fill of the Santa Monica Basin uses a dense grid of high‐resolution seismic‐reflection profiles tied to new radiocarbon ages for Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1015 back to 32 ka. Over the last glacial cycle, sedimentation rates in the distal part of Santa Monica Basin averaged 2–3 mm yr^?1, with increases at times of extreme relative sea‐level lowstand. Coarser‐grained mid‐fan lobes prograded into the basin from the Hueneme, Mugu and Dume fans at times of rapid sea‐level fall. These pulses of coarse‐grained sediment resulted from river channel incision and delta cannibalization. During the extreme lowstand of the last glacial maximum, sediment delivery was concentrated on the Hueneme Fan, with mean depositional rates of up to 13 mm yr^?1 on the mid‐ and upper fan. During the marine isotope stage (MIS) 2 transgression, enhanced rates of sedimentation of > 4 mm yr^?1 occurred on the Mugu and Dume fans, as a result of distributary switching and southward littoral drift providing nourishment to these fan systems. Longer‐term sediment delivery to Santa Monica Basin was controlled by tectonics. Prior to MIS 10, the Anacapa ridge blocked the southward discharge of the Santa Clara River into the Santa Monica Basin. The pattern and distribution of turbidite sedimentation was strongly controlled by sea level through the rate of supply of coarse sediment and the style of initiation of turbidity currents. These two factors appear to have been more important than the absolute position of sea level.     

Calciclastic submarine fans: An integrated overview

Calciclastic submarine fans are rare in the stratigraphic record and no bona fide present-day analogue has been described to date. Possibly because of that, and although calciclastic submarine fans have long intrigued deep-water carbonate sedimentologists, they have largely been overlooked by the academic and industrial communities. To fill this gap we have compiled and critically reviewed the existing sedimentological literature on calciclastic submarine fans, thus offering an updated view of this type of carbonate slope sedimentary system.Calciclastic submarine fans range in length from just a few to more than 100 km. Three different types can be distinguished: (1) Coarse-grained, small-sized (< 10 km) fans, which are characterized by the abundance of calcirudites and the scarcity of mud. They have relatively long leveed channels and small radial lobes. (2) Medium-grained, medium-sized fans are typified by the abundance of calcarenites and lesser amounts of calcirudites and mud. They have a tributary network of slope gullies, which merge to form a leveed channel that opens to the main depositional site, characterized by extensive lobes and/or sheets, which eventually pass into basinal deposits through a narrow fan-fringe area. These fans are between 10 and 35 km in length. (3) Fine-grained, large-sized fans are rich in calcarenites and mud, but poor in calcirudites. They have wide and long slope channels that feed very extensive calciturbiditic sheets, the total length always exceeding 50 km and generally being close to 100 km. In terms of grain-size distribution the three fan types compare well with sand/gravel-rich, mud/sand-rich and mud-rich siliciclastic submarine fans, respectively. However, they show notable differences in terms of size and sedimentary architecture, a reflection of the different behaviour of their respective sediment gravity flows.Most calciclastic submarine fans were formed on low-angle slopes and were sourced from distally steepened carbonate ramps subjected to high-energy currents. Under these conditions shallow-water loose grainy sediments were transferred to the ramp slope and eventually funnelled into the submarine fan by sediment gravity flows. These conditions seem to have been more easily met on leeward margins in which the formation of reefs was hampered by cool waters, nutrient enrichment or oligophoty. Another circumstance that contributes to the transfer of shallow-water sediments to the distal ramp slope is a low sea level, forcing the carbonate factory closer to the slope break and destabilizing sediments by increased pore-water pressure. However, the most important factor controlling the development of calciclastic submarine fans was the existence of an efficient funnelling mechanism forcing sediment gravity flows to merge downslope and build up a point-sourced sedimentary accumulation. In most cases this occurred through a major slope depression associated with tectonic structures, an inherited topography, or large-scale mass failures.     

Fluvial to tidal transition in proximal,mixed tide‐influenced and wave‐influenced deltaic deposits: Cretaceous lower Sego Sandstone,Utah, USA

Facies models for regressive, tide‐influenced deltaic systems are under‐represented in the literature compared with their fluvial‐dominated and wave‐dominated counterparts. Here, a facies model is presented of the mixed, tide‐influenced and wave‐influenced deltaic strata of the Sego Sandstone, which was deposited in the Western Interior Seaway of North America during the Late Cretaceous. Previous work on the Sego Sandstone has focused on the medial to distal parts of the outcrop belt where tides and waves interact. This study focuses on the proximal outcrop belt, in which fluvial and tidal processes interact. Five facies associations are recognized. Bioturbated mudstones (Facies Association 1) were deposited in an offshore environment and are gradationally overlain by hummocky cross‐stratified sandstones (Facies Association 2) deposited in a wave‐dominated lower shoreface environment. These facies associations are erosionally overlain by tide‐dominated cross‐bedded sandstones (Facies Association 4) interbedded with ripple cross‐laminated heterolithic sandstones (Facies Association 3) and channelized mudstones (Facies Association 5). Palaeocurrent directions derived from cross‐bedding indicate bidirectional currents which are flood‐dominated in the lower part of the studied interval and become increasingly ebb‐directed/fluvial‐directed upward. At the top of the succession, ebb‐dominated/fluvial‐dominated, high relief, narrow channel forms are present, which are interpreted as distributary channels. When distributary channels are abandoned they effectively become estuaries with landward sediment transport and fining trends. These estuaries have sandstones of Facies Association 4 at their mouth and fine landward through heterolithic sandstones of Facies Association 3 to channelized mudstones of Facies Association 5. Therefore, the complex distribution of relatively mud‐rich and sand‐rich deposits in the tide‐dominated part of the lower Sego Sandstone is attributed to the avulsion history of active fluvial distributaries, in response to a subtly expressed allogenic change in sediment supply and relative sea‐level controls and autocyclic delta lobe abandonment.     

Geochemical characteristics and depositional environment of the Middle Permian mudstones from central Qiangtang Basin,northern Tibet

Geochemical characteristics of the Middle Permian mudstones from the Longge Formation in the Jiaomuri area, central uplift zone of Qiangtang Basin have been analysed to constrain their provenance, tectonic setting, depositional redox condition and palaeoclimate. Based on the geochemical parameters like CIA, PIA, ICV values and Th/U, K/Rb ratios indicate that the source rocks were affected by low degree weathering conditions. The U/Th, V/Cr, Ni/Co, V/Sc ratios and U_au, C‐values of samples suggest that the mudstones were formed in an oxic environment, with arid palaeoclimate. Bulk‐rock geochemistry analysis indicates that they are mainly arkose and subarkose, derived from dominantly andesitic rocks, probably a mixing of felsic and mafic provenance. The CIA, PIA and ICV values of these samples suggest that the Longge mudstones are compositionally immature and related to moderate weathering. The tectonic discrimination diagrams, as well as critical trace and REE characteristic parameters imply an oceanic arc or continental arc setting for the depositional basin of mudstones from the Longge Formation, probably back‐arc basin. This study supports an occurrence of archipelagic oceanic basins in the Jiaomuri area in the Middle Permian, which provides evidence for the research of the Longmu Co–Shuanghu–Lancangjiang Suture. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unravelling the microfacies signatures of parasequences using computer-optimized similarity matrices

The microfacies of a Lower Cretaceous carbonate drillcore from Oman are characterized using optimizing matrices of Jaccard's similarity coefficients of community. Other than systems tract boundaries, there is no obvious evidence of individual parasequences in the core. However, diagnostic patterns in microfossil distribution identify environmental gradients recording changes in water depth. These gradients are used to define individual parasequences, parasequence sets, stacking patterns and key surfaces. The patterns suggest that deposition was controlled by successive fourth‐ to fifth‐order (high‐frequency) relative sea‐level cycles superimposed on an underlying third‐order relative sea‐level rise. Although the correlation of these depositional subunits to systematic changes in water depth and the rate of carbonate accumulation alone is not incontrovertible proof of such a sea‐level control, concurrent multiorder relative sea‐level cyclicity provides by far the most likely explanation. A microfacies deposited when the water depth was shallowing is characterized by a relay of microfossils with affinities that shallow upwards. Conversely, a microfacies that records a gradual increase in water depth has a relay of microfossils with affinities that deepen upwards. Microfacies characterized by an assemblage of microfossils with similar affinities record deposition when the benthic environmental conditions remained stable, either because of an equilibrium between shallow water carbonate deposition and rising sea level, or in deeper water where sediment composition was relatively insensitive to changes of water depth. Microfacies characterized by mixed affinity assemblages record syndepositional reworking. During periods of embedded multiorder sea‐level changes, individual parasequences within systems tracts are shown to record more complex environmental gradients than simply the repetition of successive shallowing‐up units as traditionally represented in carbonate sequence stratigraphic models. The microfacies of an individual parasequence may shallow up, or may record both deepening‐up and shallowing‐up depositional phases, as well as periods of sedimentation when benthic environments remained stable. Individual parasequence boundaries may be submarine or subaerial unconformities, or be conformable, as part of a predictable stratigraphic pattern related to the temporal position of an individual parasequence within the underlying third‐order cycle of relative sea‐level change. The hitherto ubiquitous use of assemblages to describe carbonate microfacies, coupled with the widespread use of the metre‐scale shallowing‐up template to identify parasequences, may have led to such complexities previously being overlooked.     

琼东南盆地西区梅山组海底扇岩相-地球化学特征及源区意义

南海北部琼东南盆地西区乐东-陵水凹陷梅山组海底扇是当前天然气勘探重点领域,通过研究其岩石类型、轻/重矿物与地球化学特征,判断沉积源区性质,为储层评价及预测提供地质基础.结果表明:岩性以细砂岩为主,发育粉、中-粗砂岩,岩石类型为石英砂岩、岩屑石英砂岩、长石岩屑砂岩,重矿物组合表现为磁铁矿+锆石+电气石+白钛矿;由于发育高铁镁质矿物及粘土矿物,泥岩较砂岩SiO₂含量明显低,Fe₂O₃、MgO、CaO、K₂O含量与稀土总量偏高.说明源区富石英、贫钾长石且含有大量粘土矿物,主要为石英质沉积源区,局部为中性火成岩源区,且经历了低-中等程度的风化作用,是再循环沉积而成.      

Trace and rare earth element geochemistry of the Upper Triassic mudstones in the southern Ordos Basin,Central China

Oil‐source correlation studies have demonstrated that the crude oils in the Ordos Basin were mainly derived from organic‐rich lacustrine mudstones of the Yanchang Formation. The sedimentology, petrology and organic geochemistry of these mudstones have been studied intensively, but their trace and rare earth element (REE) characteristics have received little attention. In this paper, we present trace and rare earth element data of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation mudstones in the southern Ordos Basin to constrain the palaeoenvironment, provenance and depositional setting. Our results show that the REE and trace element concentrations of the Yanchang Formation mudstones are higher than those of the upper continental crust (UCC). The Sr contents and Sr/Ba and Y/Ho ratios of these mudstones indicate the absence of a marine transgression during the sedimentation of the Upper Triassic mudstones. The depositional environment of the Upper Triassic mudstones was slightly oxic as evidenced by the values of Eu/Eu*, Ce/Ce*, Ce_anom, δU, U/Th, V/Cr and Ni/Co. The UCC‐normalized distribution pattern of REEs, spider diagrams, the ratios of related elements, the bivariate diagrams of Th/Sc–Zr/Sc and La/Th–Hf and the ternary plots of La–Th–Sc and Th–Sc–Zr/10 signify that the provenances of the Chang9–7 mudstones were mainly derived from a continental island arc, whereas the provenances of the Chang6–3 mudstones were mainly derived from a mixture of continental island arc and active continental margin, and the latter contain less recycled materials. Combined with the previous studies of detrital zircon dating and petrography of the Yanchang Formation sandstones in the southern Ordos basin, we propose that the Qinling orogenic belt served as one of the primary source regions occurring between the Chang7 and Chang6 periods, corresponding to the initial uplift of the west Qinling Mountains due to the collision between the Yangtze and North China blocks. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Beds comprising debrite sandwiched within co-genetic turbidite: origin and widespread occurrence in distal depositional environments

Co‐genetic debrite–turbidite beds occur in a variety of modern and ancient turbidite systems. Their basic character is distinctive. An ungraded muddy sandstone interval is encased within mud‐poor graded sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. The muddy sandstone interval preserves evidence of en masse deposition and is thus termed a debrite. The mud‐poor sandstone, siltstone and mudstone show features indicating progressive layer‐by‐layer deposition and are thus called a turbidite. Palaeocurrent indicators, ubiquitous stratigraphic association and the position of hemipelagic intervals demonstrate that debrite and enclosing turbidite originate in the same event. Detailed field observations are presented for co‐genetic debrite–turbidite beds in three widespread sequences of variable age: the Miocene Marnoso Arenacea Formation in the Italian Apennines; the Silurian Aberystwyth Grits in Wales; and Quaternary deposits of the Agadir Basin, offshore Morocco. Deposition of these sequences occurred in similar unchannellized basin‐plain settings. Co‐genetic debrite–turbidite beds were deposited from longitudinally segregated flow events, comprising both debris flow and forerunning turbidity current. It is most likely that the debris flow was generated by relatively shallow (few tens of centimetres) erosion of mud‐rich sea‐floor sediment. Changes in the settling behaviour of sand grains from a muddy fluid as flows decelerated may also have contributed to debrite deposition. The association with distal settings results from the ubiquitous presence of muddy deposits in such locations, which may be eroded and disaggregated to form a cohesive debris flow. Debrite intervals may be extensive (> 26 × 10 km in the Marnoso Arenacea Formation) and are not restricted to basin margins. Such long debris flow run‐out on low‐gradient sea floor (< 0·1°) may simply be due to low yield strength (? 50 Pa) of the debris–water mixture. This study emphasizes that multiple flow types, and transformations between flow types, can occur within the distal parts of submarine flow events.     

Anatomy, geometry and sequence stratigraphy of basin floor to slope turbidite systems, Tanqua Karoo, South Africa

The Tanqua area of the Karoo basin, South Africa, contains five Permian deep-water turbidite fan systems, almost completely exposed over some 640 km². Reconstruction of the basin-fill and fan distributions indicates a progradational trend in the 450 m+ thick succession, from distal basin floor (fan 1) through basin-floor subenvironments (fans 2, 3 and 4) to a slope setting (fan 5). Fans are up to 65 m thick with gradational to sharp bases and tops. Facies associations include basin plain claystone and distal turbidite siltstone/claystone and a range of fine-grained sandstone associations, including low- and high-density turbidite current deposits and proportionally minor debris/slurry flows. Architectural elements include sheets of amalgamated and layered styles and channels of five types. Each fan is interpreted as a low-frequency lowstand systems tract with the shaly interfan intervals representing transgressive and highstand systems tracts. All fans show complex internal facies distributions but exhibit a high-frequency internal stratigraphy based on fan-wide zones of relative sediment starvation. These zones are interpreted as transgressive and highstand systems tracts of higher order sequences. Sandy packages between these fine-grained intervals are interpreted as high-frequency lowstand systems tracts and exhibit dominantly progradational stacking patterns, resulting in subtle downdip clinoform geometries. Bases of fans and intrafan packages are interpreted as low- and high-frequency sequence boundaries respectively. Facies juxtapositions across these sequence boundaries are variable and may be gradational, sharp or erosive. In all cases, criteria for a basinward shift of facies are met, but there is no standard 'motif' for sequence boundaries in this system. High-frequency sequences represent the dominant mechanism of active fan growth in the Tanqua deep-water system.