The sedimentary record of drifting ice (early Wisconsin Sunnybrook deposit) in an ancestral ice-dammed Lake Ontario, Canada

Outcrops of pebbly mud (diamict) at Scarborough in Southern Ontario, Canada (the so-called Sunnybrook ‘Till’) are associated with the earliest incursion of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) into mid-continent North America some 45,000 years ago. The Sunnybrook is a blanket-like deposit containing deepwater ostracodes and occurs conformably within a thick (100 m) succession of deltaic and glaciolacustrine facies that record water depth changes in a large proglacial lake. Contextual evidence (associated facies, sedimentary structures, deposit geometry and landforms) indicates a low energy depositional setting in an ice-dammed ancestral Lake Ontario in which scouring by floating ice masses was an important process. U-shaped, iceberg-cut scours (with lateral berms) up to 7 m deep, occur on the upper surface of the Sunnybrook and are underlain by ‘sub-scour’ structures that extend several meters below the scour base. Ice-rafted concentrations of clasts (‘clast layers’), grooved surfaces formed by floating ice glissading over a muddy lake floor (‘soft sediment striations’) and melanges of sand and mud mixed by grounding ice keels (‘ice keel turbates’) are present and are all well known from modern cold environments. The wider significance of this depositional model is that the LIS margin lay east of Scarborough and did not overrun Southern Ontario. This finding is in agreement with recent data from the Erie Basin of Canada, Ohio, and Indiana where deposits formerly correlated with the Sunnybrook (and thus implying an extensive early Wisconsin ice sheet) are now regarded as Illinoian. A speculative hypothesis is proposed that relates deposition of the Sunnybrook and two younger deposits of similar sedimentology, to surge-like instabilities of the southern LIS margin.     

Micromorphology of ice keel scour in pebbly sandy mud and fine‐grained sands: Scarborough Bluffs,Ontario, Canada

The keels of icebergs and ice‐pressure ridges plough through unconsolidated sea/lake sediments gouging out long grooves known as ice keel scour marks. Although the surface and (more recently) subsurface morphology of scours are well‐documented, little is known of the effect of grain size on the detectability, style and intensity of sub‐scour deformation. This investigation macroscopically and microscopically (two‐dimensional thin sections) examines suspected ice keel scour in: (i) glaciolacustrine pebbly sandy mud and (ii) fine‐grained sands at Scarborough Bluffs, Ontario, Canada. In this investigation, there is an almost identical suite of deformation structures (individual structures and overprinted structural patterns) to those identified in iceberg‐scoured clays from former Glacial Lake Agassiz (Manitoba, Canada); this confirms that deformation in the pebbly sandy mud and fine‐grained sands at Scarborough Bluffs is likely to be indicative of ice keel scour. Discrete differences in the detectability, style and intensity of deformation between the Scarborough Bluffs and Glacial Lake Agassiz sediments are probably a function of grain size in response to ice keel scour. This research provides additional information on the types of structures that are associated with sediment deformation by processes of ice keel scour in a variety of grain sizes. This information is particularly valuable to inform palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and offshore engineering in areas where ice keel scour occurs in a variety of grain sizes. It also demonstrates the potential value of micromorphology where, for example, the study of cores is necessary.     

Evidence of iceberg-ploughing in a subaqueous ice-contact fan, glacial Lake Rinteln, NW Germany

The Coppenbrügge subaqueous ice‐contact fan complex of early Saalian age is about 10 km long and up to 10 km wide and is composed of offset‐stacked fan clinothems that are transgressive‐regressive sequences formed during an overall lake level rise. The individual fan bodies consist of coarse gravel in the ice‐proximal part, passing distally into sandy facies and showing large‐scale foreset bedding. The iceberg scour recognized in an open‐pit outcrop is up to 1.5m deep, up to 2m wide and cut in undisturbed mid‐fan deposits. The scour‐fill can be traced laterally for about 15m and consists of sheared sand and, in the frontal zone, of downbent overlying strata surrounded by a zone of deformed sediments. The deformed sediment produced by the iceberg keel's shearing of the trough walls is a sand mass containing angular soft‐sediment clasts that show internal folds and fractures. The basal surface of the deformed sediment is a nearly horizontal shear plane, steepening up laterally as a discrete thrust and showing a flat‐ramp‐flat geometry. The scour was formed by the iceberg keel's ploughing the substrate and pushing the sediment sideways and frontally, forming a ridge of deformed sediments at the trough end. This ridge was concurrently eroded by an accompanying meltwater underflow which apparently developed a horseshoe system of scouring vortices around the grounded iceberg. The current's scour was filled with massive, non‐stratified sand deposited rapidly from turbulent suspension. The iceberg eventually broke up and its keel part was buried. As these ice fragments gradually melted, the space was closed by normal faulting and downbending of overlying strata. The collapsing scour‐fill became partly liquified, and the resulting water‐escape structures cut the normal faults and the overlying deposits. Though produced chiefly by tangential shear strain, iceberg‐ploughing features are readily distinguishable from other glaciotectonic deformations. They can serve as a diagnostic criterion for glaciolacustrine or glaciomarine environments and the distinguishing of ice‐contact subaqueous fans from ice‐contact deltas in the stratigraphic record.     

The Mackenzie Delta: sedimentary processes and facies of a high-latitude, fine-grained delta

The Mackenzie Delta is a large fine‐grained delta deposited in a cold arctic setting. The delta has been constructed upon a flooding surface developed on a previous shelf‐phase delta. There are three principal depositional zones: the subaerial delta plain, the distributary channel mouth region and the subaqeous delta. The subaerial delta plain is characterized by an anastomosing system of high‐sinuosity channels and extensive thermokarst lake development. This region is greatly influenced by the annual cycle of seasonal processes including winter freezing of sediments and channels, ice‐jamming and flooding in the early spring and declining river stage during the summer and autumn. Deposition occurs on channel levees and in thermokarst lakes during flood events and is commonly rhythmic in nature with discrete annual beds being distinguishable. In the channel mouth environment, deposition is dominated by landward accretion and aggradation of mouth bars during river‐ and storm surge‐induced flood events. The subaqeous delta is characterized by a shallow water platform and a gentle offshore slope. Sediment bypassing of the shallow‐water platform is efficient as a result of the presence of incised submarine channels and the predominance of suspension transport of fine‐grained sediments. Facies of the shallow platform include silty sand with climbing ripple lamination. Offshore facies are dominated by seaward‐fining fine sand to silt tempestites. Sea‐ice scouring and sediment deformation are common beyond 10 m water depth where bioturbated muds are the predominant facies. The low angle profile of the shallow‐water platform is interpreted to be the combined response of a fine‐grained delta to (1) storm sediment dispersal; (2) autoretreat as a result of the increasing subaerial and subaqeous area of deposition as the delta progrades out of its glacial valley; (3) limited water depth above the underlying flooding surface; and (4) efficient nearshore bypassing of sediment through subice channels at the peak of spring discharge. Several indicators of the cold climate can be used as criteria for the interpretation of ancient successions, including thermokarst lake development, submarine channel scours, freeze–thaw deformation and ice‐scour deformation structures. Permafrost inhibits compaction subsidence and, together with the shallow‐water setting, also limits autocyclic lobe switching. The cold climate can thus influence stratal architecture by favouring the development of regional‐scale clinoform sets rather than multiple, smaller scale lobes separated by autocyclic flooding surfaces.     

Glacial advance,occupation and retreat sediments associated with multi‐stage ice‐dammed lakes: north‐central Alberta,Canada

Ice sheets that advance upvalley, against the regional gradient, commonly block drainage and result in ice‐dammed proglacial lakes along their margins during advance and retreat phases. Ice‐dammed glacial lakes described in regional depositional models, in which ice blocks a major lake outlet, are often confined to basins in which the glacial lake palaeogeographical position generally remains semi‐stable (e.g. Great Lakes basins). However, in places where ice retreats downvalley, blocking regional drainage, the palaeogeographical position and lake level of glacial lakes evolve temporally in response to the position of the ice margin (referred to here as ‘multi‐stage’ lakes). In order to understand the sedimentary record of multi‐stage lakes, sediments were examined in 14 cored boreholes in the Peace and Wabasca valleys in north‐central Alberta, Canada. Three facies associations (FAI–III) were identified from core, and record Middle Wisconsinan ice‐distal to ice‐proximal glaciolacustrine (FAI) sediments deposited during ice advance, Late Wisconsinan subglacial and ice‐marginal sediments (FAII) deposited during ice‐occupation, and glaciolacustrine sediments (FAIII) that record ice retreat from the study area. Modelling of the lateral extent of FAs using water wells and gamma‐ray logs, combined with interpreted outlets and mapped moraines based on LiDAR imagery, facilitated palaeogeographical reconstruction of lakes and the identification of four major retreat‐phase lake stages. These lake reconstructions, together with the vertical succession of FAs, are used to develop a depositional model for ice‐dammed lakes during a cycle of glacial advance and retreat. This depositional model may be applied in other areas where meltwater was impounded by glacial ice advancing up the regional gradient, in order to understand the complex interaction between depositional processes, ice‐marginal position, and supply of meltwater and sediment in the lake basin. In particular, this model could be applied to decipher the genetic origin of diamicts previously interpreted to record strictly subglacial deposition or multiple re‐advances.     

Sedimentary evidence for deforming bed conditions associated with a grounded Irish Sea glacier,southern Ireland

Along the south coast of Ireland, a shelly diamict facies, the Irish Sea Till, has been variously ascribed to subglacial deposition by a grounded Irish Sea glacier or to glacimarine sedimentation by suspension settling and iceberg rafting. Observations are presented here from five sites along the south coast to directly address this question. At these sites, sedimentary evidence is preserved for the onshore advance of a grounded Irish Sea glacier, which glacitectonically disturbed and eroded pre‐existing sediments and redeposited them as deformation till. Recession of this Irish Sea glacier resulted in the damming of ice‐marginal lakes in embayments along the south coast, into which glacilacustrine sedimentation then took place. These lake sediments were subsequently glacitectonised and reworked by overriding glacier ice of inland origin, which deposited deformation till on top of the succession. There is no evidence for deposition of the Irish Sea diamicts by glacimarine sedimentation at these sites. The widespread development of subglacial deforming bed conditions reflected the abundance of fine‐grained marine and lacustrine sediments available for subglacial erosion and reworking. Stratigraphical and chronological data suggest that the advance of a grounded Irish Sea glacier along the south coast occurred during the last glaciation, and this is regionally consistent with marine geological data from the Celtic Sea. These observations demonstrate extension of glacier ice far beyond its traditional limits in the Celtic Sea and on‐land in southern Ireland during the last glaciation, and remove the stratigraphical basis for chronological differentiation of surficial glacial drifts, and thus the Munsterian Glaciation, in southern Ireland. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anatomy of a subaqueous ice-contact fan and delta complex, Middle Pleistocene, North-west Germany

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the high‐resolution facies architecture of the Middle Pleistocene Porta subaqueous ice‐contact fan and delta complex, deposited on the northern margin of glacial Lake Weser (North‐west Germany). A total of 10 sand and gravel pits and more than 100 wells were examined to document the complex facies architecture. The field study was supplemented with a ground‐penetrating radar survey and a shear‐wave seismic survey. All collected sedimentological and geophysical data were integrated into a high‐resolution three‐dimensional geological model for reconstructing the spatial distribution of facies associations. The Porta subaqueous fan and delta complex consist of three fan bodies deposited on a flat lake‐bottom surface at the margin of a retreating ice lobe. The northernmost fan complex is up to 55 m thick, 6·2 km wide and 6·5 km long. The incipient fan deposition is characterized by high‐energy flows of a plane‐wall jet. Very coarse‐grained, highly scoured jet‐efflux deposits with an elongate plan shape indicate a high Froude number, probably >5. These jet‐efflux sediments are deposited in front of a large ～3·2 km long, up to 1·2 km wide, and up to 25 m deep flute‐like scour, indicating the most proximal erosion and bypass area of the jet that widens and deepens with distance downstream to the region of maximum turbulence (approximately five times the conduit diameter). Evidence for subsequent flow splitting is given by the presence of two marginal gravel fan lobes, deposited in front of 1·3 to 2·5 km long flute‐like scours, that are 0·8 to 1 km wide and 7 to 20 m deep. In response to continued aggradation, small jets developed at the periphery of these bar‐like deposits and filled in the low areas adjacent to the original superelevated regions, locally raising the depositional surface and characterized by large‐scale trough cross‐stratified sand and pebbly sand. The incision of an up to 1·2 km wide and up to 35 m deep channel into the evolving fan is attributed to a catastrophic drainage event, probably related to a lake outburst and lake‐level fall in the range of 40 to 60 m. At the mouth of this channel, highly scoured jet‐efflux deposits formed under hydraulic‐jump conditions during flow expansion. Subsequently, Gilbert‐type deltas formed on the truncated fan margin, recording a second lake‐level drop in the range of 30 to 40 m. These catastrophic lake‐level falls were probably caused by rapid ice‐lobe retreat controlled by the convex‐up bottom topography of the ice valley.     

In a PICL: The sedimentary deposits and facies of perennially ice‐covered lakes

Perennially ice‐covered lakes can have significantly different facies than open‐water lakes because sediment is transported onto the ice, where it accumulates, and sand grains preferentially melt through to be deposited on the lake floor. To characterize the facies in these lakes, sedimentary deposits from five Antarctic perennially ice‐covered lakes were described using lake‐bottom observations, underwater video and images, and sediment cores. One lake was dominated by laminated microbial mats and mud (derived from an abutting glacier), with disseminated sand and rare gravel. The other four lakes were dominated by laminated microbial mats and moderately well to moderately sorted medium to very coarse sand with sparse granules and pebbles; they contained minor interstitial or laminated mud (derived from streams and abutting glaciers). The sand was disseminated or localized in mounds and 1 m to more than 10 m long elongate ridges. Mounds were centimetres to metres in diameter; conical, elongate or round in shape; and isolated or deposited near or on top of one another. Sand layers in the mounds had normal, inverse, or no grading. Nine mixed mud and sand facies were defined for perennially ice‐covered lakes based on the relative proportion of mud to sand and the style of sand deposition. While perennially ice‐covered lake facies overlap with other ice‐influenced lakes and glaciomarine facies, they are characterized by a paucity of grains coarser than granules, a narrow range in sand grain sizes, and inverse grading in the sand mounds. These facies can be used to infer changes in ice cover through time and to identify perennially ice‐covered lakes in the rock record. Ancient perennially ice‐covered lakes are expected on Earth and Mars, and their characterization will provide new insights into past climatic conditions and habitability.     

湖泊细粒沉积特征精细研究：以鄂尔多斯盆地延河剖面长7油层组为例

野外地质露头为精细刻画沉积体内部结构、建立准确地下地质模型发挥着重要作用。以鄂尔多斯盆地延河剖面长7段为例,采用岩石学、野外露头沉积学方法,详细剖析了湖泊细粒沉积的岩相类型、特征、垂向组合及沉积环境。研究结果表明,延河剖面长7段发育平行层理细砂岩相、流水交错层理细砂岩相、浪成交错层理粉砂岩相、沙纹层理粉砂岩相、变形层理粉砂岩相、水平层理(泥质)粉砂岩相、块状泥岩相、水平层理(砂质)泥岩相、水平纹层页岩相9种岩相类型。在结合区域地质特征基础上,研究认为长7段为远源的曲流河三角洲前缘和浅湖-半深湖沉积,进一步细分出7类沉积单元,其中水下分支河道、支流间湾较为发育,水下天然堤、远砂坝、席状砂发育规模较小,浅湖-半深湖沉积只在长72段下部发育,河口坝基本不发育,仅局部可见。对各沉积单元的垂向分布特征进行深入研究,识别出Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ 4类垂向分布形式,其中Ⅰ、Ⅱ组合主要分布在研究区长71、长73亚段,Ⅲ、Ⅳ组合主要分布在研究区长72亚段。剖面相分析表明,长7沉积期整体为一套先变细、再变粗的细粒沉积序列,为曲流河三角洲前缘沉积—浅湖-半深湖沉积—曲流河三角洲前缘沉积。     

Flow dynamics,sedimentation and erosion of glacial lake outburst floods along the Middle Pleistocene Scandinavian Ice Sheet (northern central Europe)

During the Middle Pleistocene late Saalian glaciation of northern central Europe numerous pro‐glacial lakes formed along the southwestern margin of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. Little is known about the drainage history of these lakes, the pathways of glacial lake outburst floods and their impacts on erosion, sedimentation and landscape evolution. This study investigated the impact of the late Saalian Weser and Münsterland Lake (Germany) outburst floods. In particular, we reconstructed the routing and flow dynamics of the lake outburst flood and analysed the flood related sediments. We employed one‐dimensional hydraulic modelling to calculate glacial lake outburst flood hydrographs. We modelled the flow pathway and local flow conditions along the pathway based on the boundary conditions of two different hydrographs and two different ice‐margin positions. The modelling results were compared with geomorphological and sedimentological field data in order to estimate the magnitude and impact of the flood on erosion and sedimentation. Two major lake drainage events are reconstructed for the study area, during which approximately 90–50 km³ of water was released. Modelling results indicate that the lake outburst floods created a high‐energy flood wave with a height of 35–50 m in confined valley areas that rapidly spread out into the Lower Rhine Embayment eventually flowing into the North Sea basin. The sedimentary record of the outburst floods comprises poorly sorted coarse‐grained gravel bars, long‐wavelength bedforms and sandy bedforms deposited by supercritical and subcritical flows. Some parts of the sandy flood deposits are rich in reworked mammoth bones or mammoth and horse teeth, pointing to reworking of older fluvial sediments, hydraulic concentration and subsequent re‐sedimentation of vertebrate remains. These deposits are preserved in sheltered areas or at high elevations, well above the influence of postglacial fluvial erosion. The flood‐related erosional features include up to 80‐m‐deep scour pools, alluvial channels and streamlined hills.     

The Pleistocene glaciolacustrine sediments in the Bełchatów mine (central Poland): Endogenic and exogenic controls

The Quaternary overburden of Bełchatów outcrop contains five glaciolacustrine units. The three most widespread are presented. They originated during the advance of the Sanian (= Elsterian), Odranian (= Drenthian) and Wartanian (= Warthian) ice sheets. The following lake environments are distinguished: lake-bottom plain, tectonically active subaqueous slope, subaqueous fan, terminoglacial subaqueous fan and prodelta fan. The lakes formed under changing conditions; the most significant tectonic activity of the graben took place during the Odranian and the lake deposits from this glaciation represent terminoglacial conditions. The Wartanian lake deposits are the only ones that show a shallow-water facies that has not been eroded, because it has not been overridden by an ice sheet.Sedimentation conditions changed during the succeeding glaciations. Endogenic factors affecting sedimentation (i.e. tectonic activity of the graben) complemented some exogenic controls, such as the distance from the ice sheet, the thermal conditions of the lake, and the type of sediment supply. Tectonics changed the style of deposition so much that the lakes, although situated in a lowland area, displayed characteristics of deep valleys.     

Geomorphology and sedimentology of the Caol Lairig valley,Scottish Highlands: evidence for local glacier margin advance and retreat during the Loch Lomond Stadial

A sedimentological investigation of new sections of Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS) age deposits is presented from Caol Lairig valley, located adjacent to Glen Roy, Lochaber, Scottish Highlands. The ice lobes in Caol Lairig and Glen Roy blocked local fluvial drainage systems forming lakes that cut shorelines, the ‘Parallel Roads of Glen Roy’ (Agassiz, 1840; Jamieson, 1863, 1892). Within Caol Lairig sediment sequences of proximal, distal and deltaic glaciolacustrine sediments and a subglacial till are reported. The till was deposited during ice advance into the valley and the different glaciolacustrine facies formed in the gap between the head of Caol Lairig and the receding ice margin. When the sediments are related to the shoreline and glacial geomorphological evidence, phases of ice advance and ice retreat and the concomitant changes in lake levels are identified. Initially ice retreat in Glen Roy and Caol Lairig was synchronous but after the fall to 325 m the ice in Glen Roy retreated more quickly than in Caol Lairig. Differences in the ice thickness and the lake water depth in Glen Roy and Caol Lairig may have lead to preferential calving of the Glen Roy ice margin hastening ice retreat.     

Late Ordovician glacial pavements revisited: a reappraisal of the origin of striated surfaces

The recognition of ice‐related unconformities is of prime importance when dealing with the sequential architecture of pre‐Pleistocene glacial successions. Late Ordovician striated surfaces strikingly preserved in North Gondwana were long considered as abrasion surfaces at the sole of a grounded glacier overriding unlithified sediments, or having resulted from the scouring action of drifting icebergs. Field observations from Mauritania and Libya show that these striated surfaces require an alternative interpretation, which can be applied to similar surfaces described elsewhere, such as in Permo‐Carboniferous or Neoproterozoic glacial sequences. A new model is proposed that involves superimposed concurrent décollement planes within a subglacial brittle shear zone in unlithified sand beds. Shear zones in subglacial sediments are well known in Quaternary deposits but, to date, it has not been demonstrated that they may form striated surfaces occurring at continent scale with orientations consistent with palaeo ice‐flow reconstructions based on larger‐scale indicators.     

Formation of glaciolacustrine Late Pleistocene end moraines in the Tasman Valley,New Zealand

Detailed examination of the Tekapo Formation in the Tasman Valley, New Zealand has identified 20 facies, and five facies associations. These associations are delta foresets and bottomsets, sediment density flows, ice-contact lake sediments with ice-rafted debris and resedimentation deposits, and outwash gravels. Interpretation of the sediment-landform associations informed by observations at modern glacier termini suggests that the Late Pleistocene Tekapo Formation moraines have been formed by downwasting of a more expanded Tasman Glacier. During the early stages of glacier retreat, ponds on the glacier surface develop into thermokarst lakes which enlarge and coalesce to form a large supraglacial lake. Continued downwasting causes the lake outlet river to entrench into the impounding latero-frontal ice-cored moraine, lowering the lake level. This exposes lake-bottom sediments and forms shorelines on the proximal slopes of the ice-cored moraine. As the ice-cored moraine melts, these lake sediments are deformed and deposited against the Mt. John moraine. The observations and interpretations reported here suggest the Late Pleistocene end moraine is a constructional feature not a structural (glaciotectonic) feature as suggested by previous studies.     

The origin of massive diamicton facies by iceberg rafting and scouring, Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

Almost 90% of 39 m of core material recovered from Scoresby Sund and the adjacent East Greenland shelf is massive diamicton, interpreted to be formed predominantly by the release of iceberg rafted debris and reworking by iceberg scouring. There is also likely to be a contribution from suspension settling of fines derived from glaciofluvial sources. Model calculations suggest that the ¹⁴C derived Holocene sedimentation rate of 0.1-0.3 m 1000 yr⁻¹ in Scoresby Sund can be accounted for mainly by iceberg rafting of debris. A further 4% of core material is of gravel or coarse sand lenses, interpreted to reflect iceberg dumping of debris. Intensive iceberg scouring, which reworks sea floor sediments, is observed on acoustic records from over 30 000 km² of the Scoresby Sund fiord system and the adjacent East Greenland shelf (69-72°N and 75°N). The rate of iceberg production from Greenland Ice Sheet outlet glaciers, and iceberg drift tracks on the shelf, suggests that iceberg rafting and scouring may be important over a significant proportion of the 500 000 km² area above the shelf break. The relatively extensive modern occurrence of massive diamicton, formed by iceberg rafting and scouring, together with suspension settling of fines, suggests that it may also be a significant facies in the glacier-influenced geological record. The recognition in the geological record of the massive diamicton facies described above may also indicate the former presence of fast flowing ice sheet outlet glaciers.     

岷江上游叠溪古堰塞湖沉积物粒度特征及环境意义

利用古堰塞湖沉积物中连续的地质记录来研究区域过去气候变化规律,这一方法是继通过深海沉积、极地与高山冰芯、黄土、湖泊、洞穴石笋、珊瑚等沉积物中的地质记录来研究全球气候变化途径之后的又一新途径。反映沉积物中环境信息的代用指标有多种,其中粒度特征就是其中一种,它可以反映沉积过程中的古环境、古气候特征。通过该项研究可以建立青藏高原东部边缘(岷江上游叠溪地区)2万年以来的古环境古气候演化规律以及地质环境的演化规律,找到气候环境变化与地质环境演化的相关性。本文采用精细粒度分析和系统粒度分析等方法提取了堰塞湖相沉积物的粒度特征资料,并与已有的冰川湖沉积物的研究成果进行了对比分析。通过精细分析得到了堰塞湖相沉积物多为粉土和黏土;深色沉积物与粗颗粒相对应,浅色沉积物与细颗粒相对应的关系;并结合有机质测试发现:深色沉积物有机质含量多于浅色沉积物,表明粗颗粒土代表的是雨水充沛水动力条件好且植被相对茂盛的气候环境特征,细颗粒土则与其相反;沉积物中深浅交替的纹层厚度约为2～5 cm;这些特征与冰川湖沉积物特征差别很大,因此其代表的气候环境意义也完全不同。通过整个剖面的系统粒度分析得到了整个沉积过程的粒度变化特征,并据此结合年代测试结果将整个沉积剖面划分了7个粒度变化周期,揭示了该沉积过程中该地区经历了7次气候环境的变迁。     

洛伊地区三叠系沉积体系特征及演化规律

洛伊地区三叠系沉积体系是近年来研究的重点,利用岩心、录井、测井及野外露头资料,并结合前人研究成果,对其进行分析.通过研究发现:洛伊地区三叠系沉积时期主要发育3种沉积体系类型,分别是曲流河沉积体系、三角洲沉积体系及湖泊沉积体系.中下三叠统主要发育曲流河沉积,上三叠统发育湖泊三角洲沉积,且从上三叠统沉积早期到晚期伴随着湖水面的上涨和湖盆面积的扩大.三叠系的沉积体系演化主要受控与中三叠世末印支运动的影响,印支运动造成扬子板块向华北板块俯冲,使洛伊地区周边隆起成山,并在洛伊地区形成深水湖盆.在对比洛伊地区与鄂尔多斯盆地上三叠统沉积特征及圈闭特征基础上,认为洛伊地区有较大的勘探潜力.洛伊地区沉积特征及演化规律的研究,为该地区未来的勘探提供了较为有利的地质依据.      

Diamictic sediments within high Arctic lake sediment cores: evidence for lake ice rafting along the lateral glacial margin

Sediment cores from six small lake basins in the Canadian high Arctic reveal a gravel‐rich (≤30% by weight) to gravel‐poor (≥2%) diamict facies underlying massive, post‐glacial, clayey silt. Ten other lakes contain a second diamict facies within what are interpreted to be glaciolacustrine sedimentary assemblages. The sedimentology, clast fabrics and fossil remains (diatoms, ostracodes and chironomid head capsules) within both diamict facies suggest that these deposits are not tills. Clast fabrics yielded low S₁ (0·41–0·57) and high S₃ (0·09–0·22) eigenvalues, placing them within the range of ice‐rafted diamictons and glacigenic sediment flows. The high percentage of clast dip angles >45° (15–61%), random clast azimuth and lower diamict contacts conformable to underlying current‐bedded sediment favours an origin as a rain‐out or settling deposit. Samples of the matrix and scrapings of clasts from the diamicts revealed a diatom assemblage dominated by littoral and planktonic forms, such as are found in the littoral regions of the lakes today. This contrasts sharply with the assemblages within the overlying clayey silt, in which benthic forms predominate. Clasts are thus interpreted to have been rafted from the littoral areas of the lake. The process proposed to explain this is rafting by the lake ice cover in a glacial‐marginal environment. Early season meltwater, impounded along the lateral margin of retreating cold‐based glaciers, would buoyantly lift the lake ice cover and any adfrozen lake sediment. Higher lake levels and increased areal extent of seasonal freeze‐on between the lake ice cover and the lake bed would allow the redeposition of littoral sediments to the benthic regions through greater lateral shifting of the ice cover as it broke up. Incision by meltwater streams into the lateral glacial margins would later isolate the lake, allowing seasonal warming of lake water, enough to support the growth and maturation of the ostracode and chironomid species found as fossils within the diamicts.     

辽西北票(金-羊)盆地北票组层序地层及沉积体系特征

为揭示北票(金-羊)盆地内北票组层序地层特征及沉积体系分布规律,应用层序地层学及沉积学理论和方法,综合利用野外露头、剖面等资料,建立了北票(金-羊)盆地北票组的层序地层格架,确定研究区的沉积相类型及分布规律。研究结果表明,北票(金-羊)盆地北票组可划分为2个三级层序,其内部可进一步划分为7个准层序组。在层序内识别出冲积扇、辫状河三角洲、湖泊3个沉积相。明确了沉积相的分布规律,向上形成由冲积扇到辫状河三角洲,再到湖相,最后是辫状河三角洲的沉积体系;平面上呈近北西—南东向展布的沉积体系,整体构成2个水进、水退的沉积体系。古地貌影响了底部冲积扇相沉积物的沉积特征。气候不仅影响了沉积物类型,且和湖平面变化共同控制了沉积物的演化规律。