开江-梁平陆棚东南延伸部分——建南陆棚的发现

自王一刚发现开江-梁平陆棚后,作者对其东南延伸部位进行了追踪。通过地表露头剖面及钻井、地震资料等研究后认为,长兴期开江-梁平陆棚自宣汉达县、梁平及开江地区向东南延伸至建南地区,称之为建南陆棚,该陆棚可能与东部的鄂西陆棚相连。建南陆棚与开江-梁平陆棚既有相似性也有重大差别。相似性表现在两方面,一是沉积物岩性相似,都为泥晶灰岩;二是陆棚边缘都发育生物礁,生物礁顶部发育生屑滩白云岩储层。差别主要体现在四个方面:一是水体深度,建南陆棚水浅,开江-梁平陆棚水深,深水与浅水的交汇处在涪陵地区中石化二维地震剖面线TB16与TB17之间;二是斜坡坡度,开江-梁平陆棚边缘斜坡坡度陡,建南陆棚斜坡坡度缓;三是生物礁规模,开江-梁平陆棚边缘生物礁、白云岩储层厚度大,建南陆棚边缘生物礁、白云岩储层厚度小;四是陆棚发育时间,建南陆棚仅发育于长兴早中期,晚期因填平补齐而消失,开江-梁平陆棚发育于整个长兴期。建南陆棚与周边构成碳酸盐缓坡沉积模式,生物礁规模较小,生物礁是优质储发育的主要地区。     

Anatomy of shelf deltas at the edge of a prograding Eocene shelf margin, Spitsbergen

Abstract Although shelf‐edge deltas are well‐imaged seismic features of Holocene and Pleistocene shelf margins, documented outcrop analogues of these important sand‐prone reservoirs are rare. The facies and stratigraphic architecture of an outcropping shelf‐edge delta system in the Eocene Battfjellet Formation, Spitsbergen, is presented here, as well as the implications of this delta system for the generation of sand‐prone, shelf‐margin clinoforms. The shelf‐edge deltas of the Battfjellet Formation on Litledalsfjellet and Høgsnyta produced a 3–5 × 15 km, shelf edge‐attached, slope apron (70 m of sandstones proximally, tapering to zero on the lower slope). The slope apron consists of distributary channel and mouth‐bar deposits in its shelf‐edge reaches, passing downslope to slope channels/chutes that fed turbiditic lobes and spillover sheets. In the transgressive phase of the slope apron, estuaries developed at the shelf edge, and these also produced minor lobes on the slope. The short‐headed mountainous rivers that drained the adjacent orogenic belt and fed the narrow shelf, and the shelf‐edge position of the discharging deltas, made an appropriate setting for the generation of hyperpycnal turbidity currents on the slope of the shelf margin. The abundance of organic matter and of coal fragments in the slope turbidites is consistent with this notion. Evidence that many of the slope turbidites were generated by sustained turbidity currents that waxed then waned includes the presence of scour surfaces and thick intervals of plane‐parallel laminae within turbidite beds in the slope channels, and thick spillover lobes with repetitive alternations of massive and flat‐laminated intervals. The examined shelf‐edge to slope system, now preserved mainly below the shelf break and dominated by sediment gravity‐flow deposits, has a threefold stratigraphic architecture: a lower, progradational part, in which the clinoforms have a slight downward‐directed trajectory; a thin aggradational zone; and an upper part in which clinoforms backstep up onto the shelf edge. A greatly increased density of erosional channels and chutes marks the regressive‐to‐transgressive turnaround within the slope apron, and this zone becomes an angular unconformity up near the shelf edge. This unconformity, with both subaerial and subaqueous components, is interpreted as a sequence boundary and developed by vigorous sand delivery and bypass across the shelf edge during the time interval of falling relative sea level. The studied shelf‐margin clinoforms accreted mostly during falling stage (sea level below the shelf edge), but the outer shelf later became estuarine as sea level became re‐established above the shelf edge.     

Cenozoic stratigraphy of the northern Sakhalin shelf

The analysis of diatom, palynofloral, and benthic foraminiferal assemblages made it possible to substantiate the age of Cenozoic sections recovered by wells on the northern and northeastern Sakhalin shelf. Biostratigraphic materials, lithological properties of stratigraphic units, and standard logs served as the basis for developing the first stratigraphic correlation scale of Cenozoic sequences on the Sakhalin shelf.     

Pleistocene mammals from the southern Brazilian continental shelf

Fossils of terrestrial mammals preserved in submarine environment have been recorded in several places around the world. In Brazil such fossils are rather abundant in the southernmost portion of the coast, associated to fossiliferous concentrations at depths up to 10 m. Here is presented a review of such occurrences and the first record of fossils in deeper areas of the continental shelf. The fossils encompass several groups of both extinct and extant mammals, and exhibit several distinct taphonomic features, related to the marine environment. Those from the inner continental shelf are removed and transported from the submarine deposits to the coast during storm events, thus forming large konzentrat-lagerstätte on the beach, called “Concheiros”. The only fossils from deeper zones of the shelf known so far are a portion of a skull, a left humerus and of a femur of Toxodon sp. and a lower right molar of a Stegomastodon waringi, all collected by fishermen at depths around 20 m. The presence of fossils at great depths and distances from the present coastline, without signs of abrasion and far from areas of fluvial discharges does indicate that these remains have not been transported from the continent to the shelf, but have been preserved directly on the area that today correspond to the continental shelf. These remains indicate the existence of large fossiliferous deposits that have developed during periods of sea-level lowstand (glacial maxima) and have been submerged and reworked by the sea-level rise at the end of the last glaciation.     

Origin of diamictons on the Barents Sea shelf

Occurrence conditions and lithological-paleontological characteristics of two diamicton units developed in the southeastern segment of the Barents Sea shelf are considered. It is shown that they are lithologically analogous to the present-day (undoubtedly aqueous) diamicton mud. Correlation between bulk densities of both varieties and consolidation degree (consistency) is described by a single regression equation. We present pieces of evidence contradicting the widespread point of view about the diamicton as a glacial till moving along the seafloor. They are primarily represented by paleontological remains, mainly foraminiferal assemblages. It is shown that dislocations observed in cores and traditionally considered as glaciotectonic movements are confined to fault zones in the acoustic basement and they represent fragments of secondary neotectonic structures. Ridges and hills mapped previously as glacial accumulation morphostructures reflect a relict topography of the recent subaerial shelf development not masked by sedimentation so far.     

Respiration rates and hypoxia on the Louisiana shelf

The spatial and temporal variation in water-column respiration, estimated from enzymatic respiratory electron-transport-system activity, was measured monthly on a cross-shelf transect on the Louisiana shelf from May through October 1991. In July 1991, water-column respiration was also determined on an alongshore transect, and in situ benthic respiration and photosynthesis rates were determined at jour stations on the cross-shelf transect. Bottom waters were persistently hypoxic (O₂<2 mg 1^?1) at most stations in July and August and sporadically hypoxic at other times. Water-column respiration rates were in the same range as earlier, less extensive studies and not unusually high for coastal and estuarine waters. They were highest in summer, decreased with distance offshore and depth, and increased with temperature. Their variation with pigment and oxygen concentrations were complex functions of season and depth. Oxygen depletion below the oxycline could occur within days to months, depending on the season and location. In July, benthic respiration rates were also not unusually high in comparison with other shallow sediments, although the ratio of benthic: total (water column+benthic) respiration was high. Combined water-column and benthic respiration could deplete the bottom water oxygen in approximately 1 mo. Because the system rarely goes anoxic (defined as observing sulfide), some mechanism(s) must exist to reaerate bottom waters. Most physical mechanisms are unlikely to provide significant reaeration at this time of year. Measured benthic and conservatively estimated bottom-water photosynthesis could resupply 23% of the oxygen lost daily by respiration. Although this is too limited a dataset from which to draw conclusions about the relative importance of bottom-water and benthic respiration and photosynthesis in determining bottom-water oxygen concentrations, it does suggest that all these processes must be considered.     

Pleistocene proboscidean fossils from the Alaskan continental shelf

Pleistocene proboscidean fossils recovered from the Bering Land Bridge strengthen the hypothesis that man may have originally colonized the Americas via this route during times of lowered sea level.     

Lower Cambrian shelf and shelf margin buildups,Flinders Ranges,South Australia1

Carbonate buildups in the Flinders Ranges of mid-Early Cambrian age grew during a period of high archaeocyath diversity and are of two types: (1) low-energy, archaeocyath-sponge-spicule mud mounds, and (2) high-energy, archaeocyath-calcimicrobe (calcified microbial microfossil) bioherms. Mud mounds are composed of red carbonate mudstone and sparse to abundant archaeocyath floatstone, have a fenestral fabric, display distinct stromatactis, contain abundant sponge spicules and form structures up to 150m wide and 80 m thick. Bioherms are either red or dark grey limestone and occur as isolated small structures 2–20 m in size surrounded by cross-bedded calcarenites and calcirudites or as complexes of mounds and carbonate sands several hundreds of metres across. Red bioherms comprise masses of white Epiphyton with scattered archaeocyaths and intervening areas of archaeocyath-rich lime mudstone. Grey bioherms are complex intergrowths of archaeocyaths, encrusting dark grey Renalcis and thick rinds of fibrous calcite cement. The bioherms were prone to synsedimentary fracturing and exhibit large irregular cavities, up to 1.5 m across, lined with fibrous calcite. The buildups are isolated or in contiguous vertical succession. Mud mounds occur alone in low-energy, frequently nodular, limestone facies. Individual bioherms and bioherm complexes occur in high-energy on-shelf and shelf-margin facies. The two types also form large-scale, shallowing-upward sequences composed of basal (deep water) mud mounds grading upward into archaeocyath-calcimicrobe bioherm complexes and bioherms in cross-bedded carbonate sands. The uppermost sequence is capped by ooid grainstone and/ or fenestral to stromatolitic mudstone. The calcimicrobe and metazoan associations form the two major biotic elements which were to dominate reefs throughout much of subsequent Phanerozoic time.     

Iceberg discharge to the Chukchi shelf during the Younger Dryas

The extent of glaciation in northwestern Alaska, the source of sediment supply to the Chukchi shelf and slope, and the movement of sea ice and icebergs across the shelf during the last glacial maximum (LGM) remain poorly constrained. Here we present geophysical and geological data from the outer Chukchi margin that reveal a regionally extensive, heavily ice-scoured surface ∼ 5-8 m below the modern seafloor. Radiocarbon dating of this discrete event yields age estimates between 10,600 and 11,900 ¹⁴C yr BP, indicating the discharge event occurred during the Younger Dryas. Based on mineralogy of the ice-rafted debris, the icebergs appear to be sourced from the northwestern Alaskan margin, which places important constraints on the ice extent in northern Alaska during the LGM as well as existing circulation models for the region.     

Defining the shelf edge and the three‐dimensional shelf edge to slope facies variability in shelf‐edge deltas

Shelf‐edge deltas play a critical role in shelf‐margin accretion and deepwater sediment delivery, yet much remains to be understood about the detailed linkage between shelf edge and slope sedimentation. The shelf edge separates the flat‐lying shelf from steeper slope regions, and is observable in seismic data and continuous outcrops; however, it is commonly obscured in non‐continuous outcrops. Defining this zone is essential because it segregates areas dominated by shelf currents from those governed by gravity‐driven processes. Understanding this linkage is paramount for predicting and characterizing associated deepwater reservoirs. In the Tanqua Karoo Basin, the Permian Kookfontein Formation shelf‐slope clinothems are well‐exposed for 21 km along depositional strike and dip. Two independent methods identified the shelf‐edge position, indicating that it is defined by: (i) a transition from predominantly shelf‐current to gravitational deposits; (ii) an increase in soft‐sediment deformation; (iii) a significant gradient increase; and (iv) clinothem thickening. A quantitative approach was used to assess the impact of process‐regime variability along the shelf edge on downslope sedimentation. Facies proportions were quantified from sedimentary logs and photographic panels, and integrated with mapped key surfaces to construct a stratigraphic grid. Spatial variability in facies proportions highlights two types of shelf‐edge depositional zones within the same shelf‐edge delta. Where deposition occurred in fluvial‐dominated zones, the slope is sand rich, channelized with channels widening downslope, and rich in collapse features. Where deltaic deposits indicate considerable tidal reworking, the deposits are thin and pinch‐out close to the shelf edge, and the slope is sand poor and lacks channelization. Amplification of tidal energy, and decrease in fluvial drive on the shelf, coincides with a decrease in mouth bar and shelf‐edge collapse, and a lack of channelization on the slope. This analysis suggests that process‐regime variability along the shelf edge exercised significant control on shelf‐edge progradation, slope channelization and deepwater sediment delivery.     

Structural-associational complexes of the Arctic shelf of Eastern Siberia

We consider spatial relationships of complexes of the folded basement, the intermediate structural storey, and the koilogenic structural storey. A Hyperboreal Platform with a core of pre-Baykalian consolidation is surrounded on the south and east by Baykalian, Caledonian, and Cimmerian fold systems, and the region we discuss is limited to its southern slopes, in the koilogenic structural storey, we recognize the Laptev and East Siberian sedimentary basins and their constituent complexes, and establish their relationship with the underlying structural storeys. —Author.     

Non-tropical carbonate deposits on the modern New Zealand shelf

Extensive (ca. 50,000 km²) shallow-marine platforms (< 250 m) off northern (34°S) and southern (48°S) New Zealand, and more local areas of shelf between, are blanketed by skeletal carbonate sediments > 70% CaCO₃), despite proximity to a tectonically active plate margin. In these regions the terrigenous sediment supply is presently low, and growth of epibenthos is fostered by firm substrates (rock, gravels, shells, seaweeds) and the generally energetic nature and high nutrient levels of open-shelf waters. Rapid transition into adjacent terrigenous-dominated facies is characteristic. Irrespective of water depth, the carbonates are coarse-grained and fragmental; carbonate mud is rare. Calcite dominates over aragonite. High-Mg calcite, widespread off northern New Zealand, is rare in the south. Skeletal material is dominated by bryozoans and bivalve molluscs, with significant local contributions from foraminifers, barnacles, calcareous red algae and echinoderms. The name bryomol is suggested for this distinctive temperate-region skeletal carbonate facies, which can be usefully subdivided based on dominant zoarial growth forms of the bryozoan component, known to be habitat-related. Bioerosion is an important mechanism of skeletal fragmentation and degradation. Many grains, especially aragontic bivalves, are infested by endolithic borers and have low preservation potential. Ages of skeletal material in the surficial deposits range from more than 20,000 years B.P. to modern, which is consistent with both low rates of carbonate production and sediment accumulation, and the wide range in preservation state of grains. Some data suggest that the skeletal carbonates are dispersed and mixed mainly during infrequent movement of sand ribbons, sand waves and sand sheets driven by storm-assisted tidal flows. Tracts of modern, palimpsest and relict carbonates can occur in juxtaposition.

The facies characteristics of the New Zealand shelf carbonate deposits contrast significantly with those of the classical Bahaman-type carbonate model. However, they are similar to those reported from many other mid- to high-latitude carbonate shelves, and afford good analogues for most onland occurrences of New Zealand Cenozoic limestones.     

Anthropogenic factor and methane emission on the East-Siberian shelf

Results of data analysis, based on measurement of atmospheric concentrations of methane in the shallow part of the East Siberian shelf (ESS) are presented in this work. It was shown that methane emission in the atmosphere is determined not only by natural factors, but is also sensitive to anthropogenic influences, like the engine mode of a ship. It was determined that the hydraulic impact, which occurs when starting a ship’s engine after drifting through a shallow, can induce a great methane outbreak in the atmosphere. The power of these “short-lived” sources can exceed the power of any one deep-water mud volcano. In the shallow parts of the ESS, the anthropogenic factor can be one of the important factors effecting methane outbreaks in the atmosphere.     

Initial geologic hydrocarbon resources of the Laptev Sea shelf

Formation of the passive continental margin of the Laptev Sea (Laptev Plate), which was part of the Siberian Platform till the Late Cretaceous, was related to the Late Mesozoic–Cenozoic rifting of the Arctic geodepression. The regime of the passive continental margin still continues. The maximum thickness of the deposits of this age seems to exceed 6 km in the northeastern part of the shelf. The hydrocarbon resources of the Late Precambrian–Cenozoic deposits forming the Laptev Plate cover are evaluated. Based on the concept of the similar evolution of the Laptev Plate and Vilyui syneclise, the geochemical characteristics of dispersed organic matter of the coeval deposits of the Vilyui syneclise are used.