The enigma of fine-grained alluvial basin fills: the Permo-Triassic (Cumbrian Coastal and Sherwood Sandstone Groups) of the Solway Basin,NW England and SW Scotland)

The late Permian to Triassic sediments of the Solway Basin consist of a layer-cake succession of mature, predominantly fine-grained red clastics laid down in semi-arid alluvial plain to arid sabkha and saline marginal marine or lacustrine environments. The Cumbrian Coastal Group consists of Basal Clastics and Eden Shales. The Basal Clastics are thin regolith deposits resting unconformably on all-underlying units and are composed of mixtures of angular local gravel and far-transported fine to very fine-grained sands deposited as basal lag. The Eden Shales are predominantly gypsiferous red silty mudstones, with thin very fine-grained sandstone beds, and with thick marine gypsum beds at the base, deposited at a saline lake margin. The overlying Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group consists of the Annan and Kirklinton Sandstones. The Annan Sandstones are predominantly thick-bedded, multi-storied, fine-grained mature red quartz sandstones in which coarse sand is practically absent despite channels with clay pebbles up to 30 cm in diameter. The overlying, predominantly aeolian, Kirklinton Sandstones consist of festoon cross-bedded and parallel-laminated fine-grained sandstones, almost identical to the Annan Sandstones except that mica and clay are absent. The Stanwix Shales, located above, consist of interbedded red, blue and green mudstones, siltstones, and thin very fine-grained sandstones, with gypsum layers. Although the entire succession can plausibly be interpreted as deposited in a large desert basin opening into a hypersaline marine or lacustrine embayment to the southwest, the uniformly fine-grained nature of the succession is unusual, as is the absence of paleosols, and body and trace fossils. There is almost no coarse sand even in the river channel units, and it seems likely that the basin was not only extremely arid but supplied predominantly by wind rather than water.     

北京西山下苇甸地区青白口系长龙山组沉积相及层序地层研究*

北京西山下苇甸地区出露良好的青白口系长龙山组,笔者通过实测野外露头剖面以及岩石薄片镜下鉴定,对该组下部沉积相及层序地层进行研究,并对沉积环境演化进行分析。识别出长龙山组下部8种岩石类型有含砾砂岩、羽状交错层理砂岩、丘状交错层理砂岩、波状层理粉砂岩、脉状层理粉砂岩、透镜状层理粉砂岩、碳质泥岩以及水平层理泥岩;并识别出辫状河道、潮坪(潮道)、潮下浅水及潮下深水等沉积相类型,建立该区辫状河—滨岸潮坪沉积模式。进而通过识别长龙山组与其下伏地层之间的区域不整合面和下切谷河道充填砂砾岩底面确定层序界面。其中,初始海泛面以每个砂体之上覆盖的细粒沉积的底面为代表,最大海泛面以厚层碳质泥岩及水平层理泥岩的底面为代表。依据这些关键层序地层界面,将该区长龙山组下部划分为3个层序,每个层序内部进一步划分为低位体系域、海侵体系域以及高位体系域。综合分析表明,京西的长龙山组发育于由燕辽裂陷槽转为华北稳定克拉通的过渡期。     

塔里木盆地塔中32井中上奥陶统内潮汐沉积

塔里木盆地塔中32井的中、上奥陶统钻遇厚度为1 462 m。它是一套巨厚的深灰色泥岩、页岩与灰色砂岩、粉砂岩互层夹少量灰岩的地层。其中深灰色泥岩、页岩最多；砂岩和粉砂岩主要分布于上部和下部，中部砂岩和粉砂岩较少；鲕粒灰岩数量少，主要夹于深灰色泥页岩中。这些砂岩和鲕粒灰岩既可单独成层，但更常见它们与深灰色泥页岩组合成薄互层。薄互层中发育脉状、波状和透镜状层理，并普遍发育交错层理和双向交错纹理。这些特征表明砂岩和鲕粒灰岩为深水斜坡上的内潮汐沉积的产物。这些内潮汐沉积进一步划分为4种类型：双向交错纹理细砂岩型、单向交错层和双向交错纹理中-细砂岩型、韵律性砂泥岩薄互层型和鲕粒灰岩型。它们具有5种垂向沉积层序，在剖面上常形成多旋回韵律性沉积组合。     

浙江桐庐上奥陶统堰口组岩石特征及沉积环境分析

浙江桐庐地区上奥陶统堰口组主要为一套灰色细砂岩、粉砂岩与深灰色-灰黑色泥岩、粉砂质泥岩的韵律性薄互层, 底部发育2～3层灰色中-厚层的砾岩, 其砂泥岩薄互层中发育有典型的脉状、波状和透镜状层理及韵律层理。这种砾岩过去一直被认为是底砾岩, 其上的砂泥岩韵律性薄互层被认为是典型的古代潮坪沉积。野外调查并结合区域地质资料分析结果表明, 堰口组沉积环境应为较深水斜坡环境,而非浅水海岸环境;其底部的砾岩应为富基质的碎屑流沉积,而不应是底砾岩;中上部的砂泥岩韵律性薄互层应为较深水斜坡上的内潮汐沉积,而不是浅水潮坪沉积。这一内潮汐沉积具有典型的对偶层双向递变层序, 可能为内潮汐的大潮和小潮周期性变化的结果,这是在中国首次识别出的古代内潮汐沉积。     

新疆罗布泊地区侏罗纪地层的发现及其意义

在距罗布泊以西20 km的沙漠与戈壁交界处(Y=157339013,X=4516330)发现了完整的侏罗系,地层为早、中侏罗世苏康组砾岩、砂岩、粉砂岩、泥岩夹多层煤层(线),在粉砂岩中保存有大量的硅化木化石,化石主要为石松柏纲Coniferae sp．,Cupressinoxycon sp．。这为研究塔里木盆地侏罗纪植物群及古气候提供了重要的古生物化石资料。在塔里木盆地东北地区阿满坳陷东北向沙漠中发现的侏罗系,对确定侏罗系的分布范围具有一定的意义,而且也填补了罗布泊地区侏罗系的空白。同时,还发现侏罗系中多层煤层,这为塔里木盆地油气勘探研究提供了重要的材料。     

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.     

Facies and Architecture of a Carboniferous Grounding-line System From the Guandacol Formation, Paganzo Basin, Northwestern Argentina

New outcrops of Middle Carboniferous glacigenic deposits found in the Guandacol Formation (western Paganzo Basin) are described in this paper. The study locality of Los Pozuelos Creek (northwestern Argentina) includes coarse-grained diamictites, rhythmites, laminated pebbly mudstones and shales that represent an expanded column of the Gondwanic glaciation in this region. Thirteen lithofacies recorded at the measured section have been grouped into three facies associations. Facies Association I is composed of coarse-grained massive and stratified diamictites (lithofacies Dmm, Dms, Dmg, Dcs), laminated siltstones with dropstones (Fld) and interstratified sandstones and mudstones (Fl, Sr). These rocks represent both tillites and resedimented diamictites closely associated to small water bodies where laminated siltstones with dropstones and stratified sandstones and mudstones were deposited. Facies Association II comprises couplets of matrix-supported thinly bedded diamictites (Dmld) and laminated mudstones with dropstones (Fld). This facies association results from the combination of three different processes, subaqueous cohesionless debris flows, coeval rainout of ice-rafted debris and settling of fine-grained particles from supension. Finally, Facies Association III is made up of laminated mudstones without dropstones, thin marl levels and scarce fine- to very fine-grained sandstones. This assemblage clearly suggests sedimentation in a deep marine environment below the wave base.The architecture of the glacigenic deposits has been investigated using photomosaic panels. The geometry of the depositional bodies and facies suggest that Los Pozuelos Creek outcrops exhibit a well preserved three-dimensional example of a grounding-line system. In particular, three different subenvironments of a morainal bank were interpreted: a bank-front, a bank-core and a bank-back. The bank-front assemblage is characterized by coarse-grained, mainly resedimented, diamictites grading laterally to prograding clinoforms composed of interbedded matrix-supported thinly bedded diamictite and mudstones. The bank-core assemblage is formed by a stacking of coarse-grained diamictites where at least five major erosional surfaces, bounding four multistory diamictite bodies, can be recognized. Finally, the bank-back assemblage corresponds to discontinuous intervals of striated lodgement till, and coarse-grained resedimented diamictites showing important post-depositional deformation. The retrogradational stacking of the morainal banks indicate an overall glacial retreat and a glacioeustatic sea-level rise. Erosional surfaces at the base of each morainal bank suggest intervening short term episodes of ice advance.The new data presented here confirm the existence of "true" tillites in western Paganzo Basin and suggest several (at least four) pulses of glacial advance and retreat during the Namurian glaciation in the region and permit a more refined interpretation of the glacial deposits in the Huaco area.     

扬子克拉通北缘中元古界神农架群台子组沉积特征*

有关扬子克拉通北缘神农架地区中元古界神农架群台子组沉积环境的认识一直存有分歧,文中基于野外和室内的综合研究讨论了台子组的沉积环境。台子组底部为蛋青色砂砾岩,下部为灰色、肉粉色细粉晶白云岩,中部为灰绿色、浅灰色石英中—细砂岩、粉砂岩与深灰色粉砂岩、粉砂质泥岩和泥质粉砂岩组合,上部则是粉砂岩—泥岩韵律。同时,台子组石英砂岩中以发育块状层理和平行层理为主,粉砂岩和泥岩则发育丰富的水平层理和透镜状层理。砂岩粒度概率累计曲线显示斜率较大,跳跃组分为主,悬浮组分含量低,无滚动组分,其中跳跃组分又以二段或多段式为特征。上述沉积指相标志和粒度分析均表明,台子组形成于滨岸与潮坪沉积环境,同时纵向沉积序列上,碎屑岩沉积物粒度表现为粗—细—粗—细演化特征,沉积相由下部到上部呈现滨岸相—碳酸盐岩缓坡台地相—潟湖相—潮坪相—潟湖相的演替规律,总体上构成由退积—进积—退积—进积的沉积序列。     

Alluvial fan and lacustrine sediments from the Stephanian A and B (La Magdalena, Ciñera—Matallana and Sabero) coalfields, northern Spain

Vertical sequence analysis within 1500-2500 m thick coarse-grained coalfield successions allows six sedimentary associations to be distinguished. These are interpreted in terms of depositional environments on, or related to alluvial fans which fringed a fault bounded source region. (i) Topographic valley and fanhead canyon fills: occurring at the bases of the coalfield successions and comprising sporadically reddened, scree, conglomeratic thinning and fining upward sequences, and fine-grained coal-bearing sediments. (ii) Alluvial fan channels: conglomerate and sandstone filled. (iii) Mid-fan conglomeratic and sandstone lobes: laterally extensive, thickly bedded (1-25 m) and varying from structureless coarse conglomerates and pebbly sandstones, to stratified fine conglomerates and cross-bedded sandstones. (iv) Interlobe and interchannel: siltstones, fine-grained sheet sandstones, abundant floras, thin coals and upright trees. (v) Distal fan: 10 cm-1.5 m thick sheet sandstones which preserve numerous upright trees, separated by silt-stones and mudstones with abundant floras, and coal seams. The sheet sandstones and normally arranged in sequences of beds which become thicker and coarser or thinner and finer upwards. These trends also occur in combination. (vi) Lacustrine: coals, limestones, and fine-grained, low-energy, regressive, coarsening upward sequences. Proximal fan sediments are only preserved in certain basal deposits of these coalfields. The majority of the successions comprise mid and distal alluvial fan and lacustrine sediments. Mid-fan depositional processes consisted of debris flows and turbulent streamflows, whilst sheetfloods dominated active distal areas. A tropical and seasonal climate allowed vegetation to colonize abandoned fan surfaces and perhaps resulted in localized diagenetic reddening. Worked coals, from 10s cm-20 m thick, occur in the distal fan and lacustrine environments. These alluvial fan deposits infill‘California-like’basins developed and preserved along major structural zones. In many of their characteristics, in particular the occurrence of thinning and fining, and thickening and coarsening upward sequences and megasequences, these sediments have similarities to documented ancient submarine fan deposits.     

川西南荥经坳陷川荥页1井奥陶系沉积相与古生物特征及地层厘定

对川西南荥经坳陷内三口页岩气井尤其是川荥页1井奥陶系开展了系统的岩心观察和分析。三口钻井在梁山组之下均发育十余米厚的灰黑色泥岩,其中川荥页1井灰黑色泥岩厚近16m。沉积相分析认为灰黑色泥岩为浅水陆棚相,泥岩之下发育的大套砂岩为滨岸近滨亚相,总体向上海水逐渐变深。砂岩中发育丰富的沉积软变形构造及波状交错层理、浪成沙纹层理、平行层理、斜层理等构造。川荥页1井上部泥岩中见大量三叶虫、笔石和腕足等化石及其碎片,鉴定表明含有代表中下奥陶统的常见生物分子,如对笔石(Didymograotus sp.)、大洪山虫(Taihungshania sp.)等。该套砂泥岩组合在沉积相及古生物化石等方面明显区别于荥经坳陷周缘奥陶系五峰组—志留系龙马溪组,与研究区及邻区中下奥陶统红石崖组、湄潭组、大湾组、大官山组中段等层位相当。     

Distal alluvial deposits in a foreland basin setting—the Lower Freshwater Miocene), Switzerland: sedimentology, architecture and palaeosols

The Lower Freshwater Molasse (Untere Susswasser Molasse) crops out over a wide area of the Swiss Molasse Basin. Coarse grained alluvial fan conglomerates dominate in proximal basin areas along the Alpine front. These conglomerates pass northwards into sandstones and mudstones of an extensive northeastward draining meandering river system which ran parallel to the basin axis. Sedimentological study of outcrops, quarry exposures and boreholes in the basal Miocene (‘Aquitanian‘) has permitted detailed facies analysis of this distal alluvial sequence. The distal Aquitanian is made up of distinct ‘architectural elements’characterized by their geometries and sedimentary structures. Each may be assigned to a particular depositional setting: meander belt, levees, crevasse channels and splays, overbank fines and palaeosols, and lacustrine. Meander belt sandstones were deposited in mixed load channels with a dominant bedload component. Sandstones commonly comprise amalgamated and locally stacked ribbon bodies 2–15 m thick and 150–1500 m wide. Interbedded rippled, laminated and mottled fine grained levee sandstones and siltstones form lenticular packages up to 3 m thick and 30–100 m across. Small scale crevasse channel sandstones 2–4 m thick and 5–10 m across pass laterally into metre scale, medium to fine grained crevasse sandstone sheets. Rare laminated lacustrine siltstones occur only in the north-east part of the basin. Floodplain mudstones and marls make up the remainder of the succession. These display a variety of pedogenic features recording cyclical palaeosol development. Palaeosols show strong variations in morphology and maturity both laterally across the floodplain and downstream along the basin axis, reflecting local variation in aggradation rate associated with proximity to alluvial channel courses as well as regional variation in subsidence and floodplain drainage. Analysis of the organization and distribution of the various sediment bodies permits reconstruction of the fluvial system and allows development of a model for the sedimentary architecture of the Lower Freshwater Molasse in the study area. Integration of palaeosol studies into a well defined architectural framework assists recognition of areal facies belts and may aid location of sand-prone sequences in the subsurface.     

Depositional facies of the subsurface Neogene Surma Group in the Sylhet Trough of the Bengal Basin,Bangladesh: record of tidal sedimentation

The Bengal Basin, in the north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, contains a thick (± 22 km) early Cretaceous-Holocene sedimentary succession. The Neogene succession in the Sylhet Trough of the basin reaches a thickness of more than 6 km of which the Surma Group contains important sandstone reservoirs. Lithologically, the group consists of a succession of alternating shales, siltstones, sandy shales and sandstones, with minor conglomerates. This research work is a sedimentological analysis of the subsurface Neogene succession encountered in the petroleum exploration wells in the Sylhet Trough of the Bengal Basin. Detailed lithologic logs of the cores, based on considering texture and sedimentary structure, permit a subdivision into eight lithofacies, e.g., a shale-dominated facies, interbedded fine sandstones and mudstones, ripple-laminated sandstones, parallel-laminated sandstones, massive sandstones, cross-bedded sandstones, cross-bedded sandstones with pebble/granule lag and conglomerates. Characteristic sedimentary structures of the Surma Group, such as flaser-, wavy- and lenticular-bedding, bipolarity of ripple cross-stratification, evenly laminated sand/silt-streaked shales, reactivation surfaces within cross-bedded sandstone sets, mud-drapes on foreset laminae and herringbone cross-stratification as well as small-scale vertical sequences (several fining-upward cycles) are diagnostic for tidal influence. On the basis of the lithofacies associations and prograding character of the deposits revealed from the electrofacies associations, the Surma Group sediments have been interpreted as representing deposits of tide-dominated deltaic depositional setting.     

Sedimentation and depositional environments of the Barremian-Cenomanian Debre Libanose Sandstone,Blue Nile (Abay) Basin,Ethiopia

Exploration of oil and gas deposits in the Blue Nile Basin targeted the Debre Libanose Sandstone as a reservoir objective. The unit was deposited in broad alluvial plains, and shows some elements of the Platte type braided river sedimentation in the lower and middle succession. The braided river sedimentation is dominated by single storey and multistorey amalgamated sandstone bodies, and is characterized by high- and low-flow regime sedimentation.The upper part of the unit is characterized by well-developed cyclicity, fining-upward trend, lateral accretion surfaces, flood-plain sediments, point bar deposits, and calcrete are consistent with of meandering river sedimentation. The siltstones, mudstones, and shales were developed from suspension-dominated waning flood water. The presence of black mudstones and black shales in the uppermost part of the unit possibly indicate lacustrine environments.The unit has a complex diagenetic history and is cemented dominantly by silica, calcite, kaolinite, and hematite. The maximum porosity and permeability reaches up to 22.2% and 809 mD, respectively. The fine- to medium-grained sandstones are potential oil and gas reservoirs. The low-permeability siltstones and mudstones are possible gas reservoirs.     

四川会理—会东及邻区中元古界昆阳群沉积特征及演化

四川会理 会东及邻区中元古界昆阳群 ,由下而上可分为力马河组、凤山营组和天宝山组 ,与古元古界河口群为不整合接触 ,其代表年龄值为 1 70 0± 1 0 0Ma～ 1 2 0 0± 1 0 0Ma。对这套地层的沉积学研究 ,前人涉及甚少。笔者在野外考察和室内分析的基础上 ,对其沉积相和沉积环境进行了详细的研究。初步认为研究区的中元古界昆阳群可分为 7种沉积相 ,进而探讨了该区的沉积演化历史。     

Contribution of Grenvillian events to the formation of most complete Riphean sedimentary successions in Northern Eurasia

The Grenvillian orogeny (～1250 to 980 Ma) was one of the most significant Riphean events. It determined the formation of many structures observable now in North and South America, northwestern Europe, South Africa, Western Australia, Antarctica, and other regions. Nevertheless, its reflections in the most complete and relatively well investigated Upper Precambrian sedimentary sections of northern Eurasia such as the Riphean stratotype (Bashkir meganticlinorium) and hypostratotype (Uchur-Maya region) still remain unknown. This is primarily true of the petrographic and chemical compositions of terrigenous rocks. This work is dedicated to the analysis of peculiar features in variations of the whole-rock chemical composition of sandstones and fine-grained clastic rocks (shales, mudstones, fine-grained clayey siltstones) that constitute Middle-Upper Riphean boundary layers of the Bashkir meganticlinorium, Kama-Belaya aulacogen, and Uchur-Maya region. The analysis reveals no tendency for the decrease in the degree of the chemical and, consequently, mineralogical maturity in the upward direction through the Middle-Upper Riphean sections in the above-mentioned regions. The whole-rock compositions of fine-grained clastic rocks associated with sandstones correspond mostly to that of “common” Upper Precambrian clayey rocks. The formation of practically the entire Yurmatinian-Karatavian succession in the Bashkir meganticlinorium proceeded under relatively stable T_DM and ?_Nd(T) values. The period of 1250 to 980 Ma in the central and eastern parts of the Siberian Platform was marked by repeated rifting episodes alternating with accumulation of mature platformal sediments, although repercussions of Grenvillian collisional processes are missing from this region as well. The performed analysis provides grounds for the conclusion that contribution of the Grenvillian events to the formation of most complete Riphean successions in northern Eurasia was insignificant.     

The Longmyndian Rocks of the Old Radnor Inlier,Welsh Borderland

Two formations are named in the presumed Precambrian sedimentary rocks of the Old Radnor Inlier. The Strinds Formation comprises fine- to medium-grained sandstones and pebbly sandstones. Grain-size, texture, clast types, and lithological invariance support correlation with the homogeneous and cross-bedded sandstone facies of the Bayston-Oakswood Formation of the Longmyndian, assigned to a braided alluvial plain environment. The Yat Wood Formation comprises fine-grained sandstones, siltstones, and laminated mudstones. It may be equivalent to some part of the Burway, Synalds, or Lightspout Formation. The Strinds and Yat Wood Formations are petrographically similar to each other and to the type Lonmyndian, and were sourced either directly or indirectly from a magmatic arc. The Strinds and Yat Wood Formations are seen only in faulted contact, and the inlier itself is partly or wholly bounded by strands of the Church Stretton fault zone. Similar faulted relationships are seen further northeast along the system at Pedwardine and in the Church Stretton area. A fault explanation for the juxtaposition of contrasting facies is favoured over that of an original unconformity of Strinds on Yat Wood Formation.     

The ashgill rocks of the glyn ceiriog district. North wales

The Ashgill rocks of the Glyn Ceiriog district comprise a relatively thick sequence of mudstones and siltstones with subordinate sandstones and locally developed limestone members. Closely related deposits are found in the inliers of Cym-y-brain and Mynydd Cricor to the north. Correlation with other areas of Ashgill rocks suggests that the Dolhir Formation, of the Glyn Ceiriog district, can be dated as mid-Cautlcyan to Rawtheyan while the overlying Glyn Formation is high Rawtheyan to Himantian. In the inliers to the north, that part of the Cyrn-y-brain Formation which is exposed is dated as Rawtheyan and both the Plas Uchaf Formation (Cym-y-brain) and Cricor Formation (Mynydd Cricor) are taken to be Hirnantian. The succession is interpreted as a transgressive-regressive sequence in which shallow shelf mud-stones and siltstones with storm-sand and coquinid layers are overlain by shallow water shoreline deposits. Although the base of the Ashgill is not exposed in the inliers to the north, in the Glyn Ceiriog district it is seen to rest unconformably on older Ordovician strata; in all three areas the Ashgill is apparently conformably overlain by Lower Llandovery shales and sandstones.     

Turbidite sedimentation during Alpine thrusting: the Taveyannaz sandstones of eastern Switzerland

The Taveyannaz sandstones of eastern Switzerland are a succession of turbidites found within the Tertiary North Helvetic Flysch system; they represent a portion of the early, underfilled stage of the North Alpine Foreland Basin. The Taveyannaz sandstones were deposited in two sub-basins (Inner and Outer basins) separated by a topographic high trending ENE-WSW (parallel to the subsequent structural strike of the region), interpreted as an emergent thrust tip that propagated into the basin. The southerly Inner basin is therefore considered as a ‘piggy-back’basin comprising a 140 m thick succession dominated by approximately 12 very thick bedded sandstones with thick mudstone caps; these very thick bedded sandstone-mudstone couplets are interpreted as having resulted from the ponding of megaturbidite flows in the topographically confined Inner basin. Intercalated with the very thick bedded sandstones are thin to medium bedded sandstones. The Outer (northerly) basin comprises at least 240 m of turbidites characterized by sandstone packets (5–50 m thick) with extensive amalgamation of beds and a dominantly symmetrical vertical bed thickness and grain size profile. Intercalated between the sandstone packets are laminated graded siltstones and mudstones. The Inner basin sediments underwent localized deformation on the sea floor, generating an irregular surface topography which was then capped by a mud sheet emplaced by superficial sliding. During the emplacement of the mud sheet, large sandstone blocks (up to 130 m across) were incorporated from the underlying succession. The resultant geometry of the upper surface of the Inner basin sandstones exhibits vertical walls which truncate, and are perpendicular to, the underlying beds. The depositional style and structural control of the Taveyannaz sandstones, in association with the emplacement of superficial mud sheets, reflect processes that are highly analogous to those occurring in modern accretionary wedge environments. The sandstone packets of the Outer basin reflect a cyclical pattern of sedimentation alternating between deposition of sandstones and mudstones. The autocyclical or allocyclical controls on these high frequency alternations are difficult to interpret; likely mechanisms include lobe switching, climatic variations, eustatic sea level fluctuations and changes of horizontal in-plane deviatoric stress on the lithosphere. In this example, an alternative mechanism is speculated upon. This is based on the analogy with accretionary wedge processes. In this hypothesis, it is proposed that high frequency fluctuations in the accommodation space available on the shelf may result from fluctuations in the topographic slope of an accretionary wedge around its critical taper. Hence, during periods of accelerated frontal accretion, the taper angle of the thrust wedge becomes subcritical resulting in a broad, low angle topographic slope and increased shelfal accommodation. Consequently, sediment becomes trapped in a relatively landward position. The necessary rejuvenation of the surface slope of the thrust wedge to a critical taper is achieved through internal reactivation resulting in tectonic uplift and hence a relative fall in sea level; this leads to the reworking of sediment to the base of slope or outer trench. Repeated alternations of relative sea level between a subcritical highstand and a supercritical lowstand are considered to be sufficient to generate the observed alternations between sandstone and mudstone packages in the turbidite basin.     

The Roaches and Ashover Grits: sequence stratigraphic interpretation of a ‘turbidite-fronted delta’ system

A single Upper Carboniferous fluvio-deltaic cycle (Namurian, R₂b5) in the south part of the Pennine Basin of northern England has been reinterpreted using a sequence stratigraphic approach. In upward succession the deposits comprise basinal mudstones, localized thick density current deposits, delta slope deposits and delta-top sandstones, followed abruptly by basinal mudstones. Earlier interpretations linked these elements with a single, mainly regressive, cycle, referred to as a turbidite-fronted delta. Recent evidence for strong glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations in the Namurian suggests that it is unlikely that the previous simple model can explain the spatial arrangement of all the lithological units. This paper attempts to identify elements of the Exxon sequence stratigraphic model, in which changes of sea level are an essential part. The basinal mudstones represent deep-water deposition and imply a highstand of sea level. Thick density current deposits are now known to be localized close to the basinward limit of delta progradation, so cannot be seen as a ubiquitous component of the depositional system. They may form a detached fan, or a fan located at the foot of the delta slope. Slope siltstones include turbidite-like sandstones, but these are interbedded with tractional sandstones and Pelecypodichnus trace fossils, giving no clear indication of water depth. The delta-top sandstones, some coarse and pebbly, can in places be shown to consist of two parts separated by a significant erosion surface now regarded as a type 1 sequence boundary. The erosion surface is locally incised about 80 m into the delta deposits, forming a major palaeovalley. Giant cross-beds (foresets 20 m thick) forming part of the palaeovalley fill are restricted to the basinward end of this feature. A curve of relative sea level inferred for the R₂b5 interval suggests a fourth-order cycle in which two sharp rises are separated by a gradual fall. Possible minor (fifth-order) rises and falls may be superimposed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Record of the Varanger Glaciation at the Río De La Plata Craton,Vendian-Cambrian of Uruguay

A sedimentary succession included in the lower section of the Playa Hermosa Formation from the Playa Verde Basin, Uruguay, is described. Two facies associations, one mainly coarse- to medium-grained and other one fine-grained, have been defined (FA I-II). In the first one, breccias, conglomerates, sandstones and minor mudstones were deposited in a subaqueous depositional setting (proximal) suggesting slope instability and resedimentation processes. The second one contains diamictites, rhythmites, sandstones and mudstones and presents abundant evidence of soft-deformation, also interpreted to be deposited in a subaqueous environment (distal). Dropstones, clast layers, diamictites, rhythmites and varve-like deposits are interpreted as ice rafting processes generated during a glacial episode. This glacial-related succession constitutes the first record from the Varanger glaciation at the Río de la Plata Craton of the late Neoproterozoic age and also represents one of the oldest sedimentary records after the collision of the Río de la Plata and Kalahari Cratons. A combined interaction of extensional faulting and glaciation in a tectonically active basin with locally high subsidence rates, resulted in high rates of sedimentation and resedimentation processes. As a whole, the sedimentary succession sets a relevant datum to be used in future paleogeographic reconstructions of the Vendian glacial record in southern South America.