The origin and fate of silt sized carbonate in subsurface Miocene—Oligocene mudstones, south Texas Gulf Coast

Combined petrographic and geochemical data document several kinds of detrital carbonate in subsurface Miocene-Oligocene mudstones of the Texas Gulf Coast. In the extreme south of Texas, in muddy sediments deposited by ancient precursors to the modern Rio Grande, mudstone carbonate is dominated by extrabasinal detritus derived from Cretaceous limestones of the Edwards plateau. Further north, Oligocene mudstones contain carbonate that is mostly syndepositional skeletal material. Minor amounts of authigenic carbonate are found as replacements of silt sized feldspars in all the mudstones. Depth-related shifts in δ¹⁸O_calcite and δ¹³O_calcite suggest that small amounts of authigenic carbonate also form by replacement of detrital carbonate (‘recrystallization’), although this cannot be demonstrated petrographically. Pervasive carbonate cementation in primary pores in mudstones is not generally observed. Textural evidence of carbonate loss through pressure dissolution is widespread, providing a mechanism for the depth-related decline in carbonate content observed in many Gulf Coast wells. Carbonate dissolution in mudstones, and export of the CaCO₃, implies a massive acid source, probably resulting from silicate reactions within the mudstones during burial diagenesis.     

西藏勒青拉铁铅锌矿床成矿模式探讨

本文对勒青拉铁铅锌矿床形成的地质背景、矿床地质特征、成矿控矿因素和成矿模式进行了研究。研究结果表明:矿床位于冈底斯成矿带东段北矿带,铁、铅锌矿体主要呈层状产出,严格受碳酸盐岩层位及其层间破碎带的控制,成矿作用与同碰撞期居布札日花岗闪长岩(45Ma)的接触交代作用密切相关;铜铅锌矿体呈脉状产于正断层破碎带中,成矿作用与后碰撞期闪长玢岩(38.8Ma)的岩浆热液充填有关。认为勒青拉矿区深部具有铜多金属矿的找矿潜力,同时对冈底斯成矿带东段北矿带晚碰撞期花岗岩(40～25Ma)成矿作用的重要性应予以重视。     

珠江口盆地流花碳酸盐台地灰岩坑的地震反射特征及成因探讨

早中新世东沙隆起带上发育了大规模的流花碳酸盐台地,上覆巨厚未固结-弱固结泥岩。基于三维地震数据,利用相干体及可视化等方法,在台地上发现了由溶蚀垮塌作用形成的数量众多的椭圆形的灰岩坑。灰岩坑直径一般为200~700 m,最大超过900 m,深度10~90 m;灰岩坑在地震反射上表现为碳酸盐岩顶部垮塌,并导致上覆泥岩地层塌陷;灰岩坑一般沿NWW向断层分布,这些NWW向断层切割中新世碳酸盐岩和上覆海相泥岩地层,绝大多数终止于T₁₀的不整合面。综合分析东沙海区构造和沉积过程认为：发生在晚中新世末期的东沙运动形成了NWW向张扭性断层,为酸性流体提供了运移通道和物质交换场所;东沙运动伴生的基底岩浆活动可能产生了酸性热液流体;东沙运动末期发生强烈的构造抬升和大规模海底暴露,造成地表水沿断层注入,加快了碳酸盐岩的溶蚀速率。在台地底部珠海组砂岩层的高压流体、地表水和岩浆活动可能产生的酸性热液流体的共同溶蚀作用下,碳酸盐岩地层内部产生溶洞,并且越来越大,最终顶部无法承载上覆巨厚泥岩而发生垮塌,形成灰岩坑。流花碳酸盐台地灰岩坑的形成不是简单的暴露溶蚀,而是构造活动影响下深埋藏溶蚀作用的产物。     

冀南邯郸-邢台地区矽卡岩铁矿的地质特征及成矿模式

冀南邯邢地区矽卡岩型铁矿主要产出于燕山期中偏碱性闪长岩-二长岩类与中奥陶统碳酸盐岩地层接触带附近。矿体形态复杂,褶皱是重要的控矿、容矿构造;矿石类型单一,主要矿物为磁铁矿。矿化蚀变具明显的分带现象,其中钠长石化是重要的找矿标志。与成矿有关的岩体往往是多期脉动形成的,早期侵入体在钠长石化过程中提供成矿物质;后期侵入体带来的岩浆热液不仅是成矿物质的载体,所产生的压应力和热能也成为成矿流体运移的驱动力。在分析此成矿过程的基础上建立了该区矽卡岩型铁矿床的成矿模式。     

试论岩溶型铅锌矿床的成矿作用及其特点——以云南兰坪金顶矿床为例

当碳酸盐类岩石位于地下水的活动带时往往发生岩溶。在云南金顶岩溶作用改造了早第三纪热液期形成的原生铅锌矿石,而金顶穹隆促进这种作用的进行。最后,在岩溶系统中重新形成了岩溶型矿石。碳酸盐岩石的溶蚀改造,既能为其后的成矿作用提供有利的容矿空间,也能提供成矿物质,形成一类特征的矿床——岩溶型矿床。     

贵州紫云方解石矿床地球化学特征及成因研究

贵州紫云方解石矿床是在贵州西南部新发现的非金属矿床,方解石矿体呈脉状、透镜状和似层状产出。对紫云火山关、达则等方解石矿床开展同位素地球化学及微量元素、稀土元素研究,结果表明碳、氧同位素显示成矿物质来源于海相碳酸盐岩,成矿流体以富含HCO3-为主,大气水参与成矿,与岩浆作用关系不大。其中达则矿段相对于围岩,成矿物质具有较高的Sr、Zn和Ni含量,稀土元素配分曲线明显区别于围岩,δEu显示正异常等特征,暗示可能有深部流体参与成矿。火山关、打劳等其他矿段,矿体和围岩具有相似的稀土配分模式和∑REE变化规律,表明成矿物质来源于碳酸盐岩围岩。通过区域成矿作用比较,认为成矿时代可能属于印支—燕山期。     

小柳沟铜钨矿床地质特征

小柳沟铜钨矿床产于朱龙关裂谷带中,矿化主要产于长城系朱龙关群基性火山岩及碳酸盐岩中,层控及岩控特征明显.加里东晚期,由于隐伏花岗岩的侵入,在矿区形成"D"字型穹窿及其断裂构造,含矿热液沿环状、放射状断裂上侵,在围岩中以充填、交代和叠加改造的形式成矿,主要铜钨矿体共4条,呈层状、似层状产出,矿床成因类型为火山沉积-热液叠加改造型.     

Metallogeny of the Baiyangping Lead‐Zinc Polymetallic Ore Concentration Area,Northern Lanping Basin of Yunnan Province,China

The Lanping Basin in the Nujiang‐Lancangjiang‐Jinshajiang (the Sanjiang) area of northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is an important part of eastern Tethyan metallogenic domain. This basin hosts a number of large unique sediment‐hosted Pb‐Zn polymetallic deposits or ore districts, such as the Baiyangping ore concentration area which is one of the representative ore district. The Baiyangping ore concentration area can be divided into the east and west ore belts, which were formed in a folded tectogene of the India‐Asia continental collisional setting and was controlled by a large reverse fault. Field observations reveal that the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary strata were outcropped in the mining area, and that the orebodies are obviously controlled by faults and hosted in sandstone and carbonate rocks. However, the ore‐forming elements in the east ore belt are mainly Pb‐Zn‐Sr‐Ag, while Pb‐Zn‐Ag‐Cu‐Co elements are dominant in the west ore belt. Comparative analysis of the C‐O‐Sr‐S‐Pb isotopic compositions suggest that both ore belts had a homogeneous carbon source, and the carbon in hydrothermal calcite is derived from the dissolution of carbonate rock strata; the ore‐forming fluids were originated from formation water and precipitate water, which belonged to basin brine fluid system; sulfur was from organic thermal chemical sulfate reduction and biological sulfate reduction; the metal mineralization material was from sedimentary strata and basement, but the difference of the material source of the basement and the strata and the superimposed mineralization of the west ore belt resulted in the difference of metallogenic elements between the eastern and western metallogenic belts. The Pb‐Zn mineralization age of both ore belts was contemporary and formed in the same metallogenetic event. Both thrust formed at the same time and occurred at the Early Oligocene, which is consistent with the age constrained by field geological relationship.     

The Chaqupacha Mississippi Valley-type Pb–Zn deposit,central Tibet: Ore formation in a fold and thrust belt of the India–Asia continental collision zone

The newly discovered Chaqupacha Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb–Zn deposit in central Tibet has been found to be helpful for understanding MVT ore formation relative to tectonic evolution of a foreland fold and thrust belt. The deposit lies in the Tuotuohe area of the western Fenghuo Shan-Nangqian fold and thrust belt of the India–Asia continental collision zone. It contains NNW-striking and folded Late Permian strata including an upper clastic unit and an underlying limestone unit. The strata overlie late Oligocene clastic rocks through a south-dipping reverse fault that is associated with regional northward thrusting during the Paleogene. The Late Permian and late Oligocene strata are unconformably overlain by flat-lying early Miocene marl and mudstone of the Wudaoliang Formation. Lead and zinc ores are mainly hosted by pre-ore dissolution and collapse breccias in the Late Permian limestone. The style of mineralization is epigenetic, as shown by replacement of the pre-ore dissolution breccia matrix and open-space-fill by galena, sphalerite, calcite, and minor barite and pyrite. δ³⁴S values of the main sulfide galena range from − 27.5‰ to + 12.6‰. These features, together with the lack of magmatic activity during the mineralization, suggest that Chaqupacha is an MVT deposit. Subordinate mineralization is also present in the early Miocene Wudaoliang Formation marl and the paleokarst breccia which contains matrix compositionally equivalent to strata of the Wudaoliang Formation. The mineralization shares similar mineral associations and textures with the pre-ore dissolution breccia-hosted mineralization. Thus, the Pb and Zn mineralization in the entire deposit probably resulted from the same mineralizing event, which is younger than the youngest ore-hosting rocks (i.e., the early Miocene Wudaoliang Formation). Considering that thrusting in the Tuotuohe area had ceased prior to deposition of the Wudaoliang Formation host rocks, the mineralization at Chaqupacha post-dated the regional deformation. The Chaqupacha deposit thus provides a good example of MVT mineralization in a foreland fold and thrust belt that post-dates regional thrusting.     

Facies analysis of the Plateau Sandstones (Eocene to early Miocene?), Bako National Park,Sarawak, Malaysia

Sandstones, located in the Kuching area, western Sarawak, are known as the ‘Plateau Sandstones’ (of possible Eocene to early Miocene age). However, based on a number of factors, including: (i) anomalous kerogene compositions; (ii) proximity of the on-lap surface; and (iii) palaeocurrent direction (generally to the NNE), it is thought that the sands exposed on the Bako Peninsula are unrelated to the Plateau Formation (located to the south of the Bako Penisula) and therefore a new name is coined; the Bako Sandstones, which form a subgroup of the Bako Sandstone Group. The Bako Sandstones form the Bako Peninsula, a flat-topped cliffed plateau which extends into the South China Sea at a latitude of 1°30′N. The plateau has a gently dipping surface, sloping northwards from a height of about 300 to 150 m. The sandstones form a succession of very thick bedded sandstones (up to 6 m thick), with lenses of conglomerates and subordinate sandy mudstones. The sandstones consist of pebbly coarse-medium grained sands, interbedded with polymictic pebble conglomerates. The sandstones are mainly lithic arenite, poorly to moderately sorted and consist of subangular to subrounded grains. Isolated pebbles are common throughout the sandstones. The most common structure in both sandstones and conglomerates is cross-bedding; planar cross-bedding and trough cross-bedding, together with thick sequences of climbing ripples. These structures suggest extensive tractional transport, forming both ripple and dune structures along the base of the channel. The geometry of the sands is either (i) lensoidal, or (ii) tabular, with the channel-fill interpreted as scour-fill channels or migrating dunes, respectively. Both types are commonly stacked vertically or amalgamate laterally to form thick interconnected units. The conglomeratic lenses, scour-fill features and rip-up shale clasts are related to higher energy erosional events, whilst the mud-draped ripples, ripple rejuvenation surfaces and two-tiered channel margins indicate a lower energy and stasis period. Slope instabilities at the channel margin are inferred from the slump structures present and shale clast slurries. The sandstones at Bako are thought to have formed within a braided channel environment (subject to exposure, from the presence of mud cracks within the formation).     

西藏冈底斯成矿带西段矿床类型、成矿作用和找矿方向

在前人已有成果基础上,通过大量的野外地质调查与室内综合研究,初步论述了冈底斯成矿带西段的金属矿床类型、时空分布特征和成矿作用,探讨了下一步找矿方向.研究结果表明,冈底斯成矿带西段金属矿床(点)类型主要有矽卡岩型、斑岩型和浅成低温热液型,矿床在空间分布上具有东西成带,相对集中的特征,成矿时代集中于中、新生代.依据矿床成因及成矿动力学背景,冈底斯成矿带西段有5期关键成矿作用,分别为晚三叠世-晚白垩世与新特提斯洋北向俯冲有关的铜金多金属成矿作用、中侏罗世-早白垩世与中特提斯洋南向俯冲有关的铁铜金多金属成矿作用、早白垩世末-晚白垩世末与羌塘-拉萨地块碰撞有关的铜金钼成矿作用、晚白垩世末-始新世与印度-亚洲大陆碰撞有关的铜铅锌银多金属成矿作用、渐新世末-中新世与印度-亚洲大陆后碰撞伸展有关的铜金钼多金属成矿作用.冈底斯成矿带西段优势矿种是铜、铁、铅锌、金银等,主攻矿床类型为矽卡岩型矿床、浅成低温热液型矿床和斑岩型矿床等.     

新疆温泉县托克赛铅锌矿综合找矿模型

新疆托克赛铅锌矿床位于伊犁-伊赛克湖微板块赛里木地块,矿体赋存于下元古界温泉群碳酸盐岩中,含矿层延伸稳定,矿体呈层状顺层产出,矿石主要呈条带状、纹层状构造,矿石矿物组合简单,分析认为其成因类型属碳酸盐岩容矿的沉积－变质型铅锌矿床。矿区处于1∶20万水系沉积物及金属量测量异常区内,1∶5万水系沉积物测量在矿区内圈出了Pb-Zn-Ag综合异常,主成矿元素Pb、Zn异常面积大,强度高,套合较好,与地表铅锌矿化体对应极好。激电扫面圈出的中低电阻、高极化率异常反映了地表及浅部铅锌矿化体分布范围,瞬变电磁测量高磁变率异常可以较好地指示中深部富矿体的存在。在综合分析矿床成矿地质条件、地球化学、地球物理异常特征的基础上,初步建立了矿床的地质－地球化学－地球物理综合找矿模型。     

Biostratigraphy,Depositional and Diagenetic Processes in Carbonate Rocks from Southern Lebanon: Impact on Porosity and Permeability

Carbonate rocks contain prolific hydrocarbon reserves all over the world, particularly in the Middle East. For exploration and production strategies, it is essential to understand carbonate reservoirs in terms of their internal characteristics, depositional environment, relative age, diagenetic processes and impact on petrophysical properties. This study has been performed on exposed Cretaceous, Paleocene and Miocene marine carbonate sedimentary sequences in two localities (Maghdoucheh and Qennarit) near the city of Sidon (Southern Lebanon). It represents the first comprehensive study that takes into consideration the carbonate reservoir facies, diagenetic history and reservoir quality in the area. Rocks at Maghdoucheh are mainly dominated by limestone beds showing sedimentary structures and erosive bases alternating with microfossil-rich silty marls, related to a shallowing upward sequence in a restricted marine platform environment. Shells of benthic foraminifera and mollusks dominate the fossil assemblage extracted from the studied rocks. The microfossil and nannofossil assemblage detected in the Maghdoucheh sections indicates a middle Miocene age. Rocks at Qennarit are composed of mudstone/wackestone limestone beds rich in planktonic foraminifera and nannofossils related to open marine conditions. Based on the nannofossil content, rocks from Qennarit 1 and 2 are Paleocene and Cretaceous in age, respectively. Four main types of microfacies have been identified, i.e. (1) microbioclastic peloidal calcisiltite, (2) pelagic lime mudstone and wackestone with planktonic microfossils, (3) grainstone/packstone with abundant foraminifera and (4) fenestral bindstones, mudstones and packstones with porostromate microstructures. The porosity-permeability (poro-perm) analysis of representative samples reveals moderate to good porosity but very low permeability. This is mainly due to the presence of large moldic pores that are isolated in nature. The diagenetic features are dominated by micritization and dissolution (both fabric selective and non-fabric selective). Among all diagenetic features, dissolution in both localities contributes to porosity enhancement, while micritization, cementation, compaction and the filled fractures have negative impacts on permeability; hence the overall reservoir quality.     

Footwall mineralization during Late Miocene extension along the West Cycladic Detachment System,Lavrion, Greece

The West Cycladic Detachment System (WCDS) has been mapped from the western Cycladic islands to Lavrion (mainland Greece), where several top‐to‐SSW low‐angle normal faults at different structural levels are observed. Near the detachment horizon, hydrothermal fluid flow originating from Miocene intrusions lead to high‐temperature carbonate strata‐bound Pb–Ag–Zn ore deposits. Zircon (U–Th)/He cooling ages from the mineralized footwall are 7.1 ± 0.6 to 7.9 ± 0.6 Ma. Carbon‐ and O‐isotope analyses of the carbonate host indicate high water‐to‐rock ratios during brittle deformation‐induced metasomatism, and that this interaction, unrelated to proximity of the intrusions, plays the dominant role in the mineralization. The Late Miocene geology of Lavrion is strikingly similar to Serifos island on the SE termination of the WCDS, both characterized by strong localization of detachment faulting and the interaction of brittle deformation with the injection of fluids related to granitoid intrusions.     

Authigenic seep-carbonates cementing coarse-grained deposits in a fan-delta depositional system (middle Miocene, Marnoso-arenacea Formation, central Italy)

Seep‐carbonates (¹³C‐depleted) are present at different levels within the Miocene terrigenous succession of Deruta (Marnoso‐arenacea Formation, central Italy); they are associated with pebbly sandstones and conglomerates in a tectonically active fan‐delta slope depositional system. Most of these seep‐carbonates are included in slide/slump horizons as scattered blocks. The occurrence of seep‐carbonates is clear evidence of the flow of methane‐rich fluids pervading the sediments. Fluids, probably of biogenic origin, may have reached the sea‐bottom through thrust faults and selectively infiltrated the more permeable coarse‐grained horizons deposited along the slope. Different stages of fluid emissions are documented: slow flux stage, corresponding to the development of large carbonate bodies and dense chemosynthetic communities; and fast fluid flow associated with intense carbonate brecciation, pipes and veins. Large amounts of authigenic carbonates are reworked by slope failures triggered by tectonics and fluids reducing sediment strength; in situ cementation of slide blocks may also have occurred due to remobilization of methane‐rich fluids by mass‐wasting processes.     

The Proterozoic (1.85 Ga) Älvestorp Conglomerate,Bergslagen, Central Sweden

The Älvestorp conglomerates, deposited in an alluvial fan setting, form part of the Svecofennian orogenic belt in west Bergslagen, south central Sweden and are estimated to be as old as c. 1.85 Ga. Reaching a thickness of one kilometre, their architecture and form suggest an alluvial origin. Along sections, massive conglomerates often grade into pebbly mudstones and greenschist facies slates, while pure slates with dolomite concretions and olistolites occur in dark slatey mudstones on the eastern shore of lake Brunnsjön. Inner fan trenches are filled with massive, clast‐supported conglomerates that contain more than 80 percent epiclastic tuffaceous material. The Älvestorp conglomerate is therefore classified as the product of a Proterozoic stream‐flow channel and debris flow, or alluvial fan. The Grythyttan Basin to the north originated by extension after the first of two orogenic stages of Bergslagen.     

Hydrochemical and isotopic study of groundwater in Wadi El Hechim–Garaa Hamra basin, Central Tunisia

Hydrochemical and isotopic study of Miocene and Mio-Plio-Quaternary (M-P-Q) aquifers in Wadi El Hechim?CGaraa Hamra basin, Central Tunisia was undertaken in order to investigate recharge mode and processes leading to mineralization of groundwater as well as interaction between both systems. The results revealed striking differences between the two aquifer systems. While the Miocene aquifer contains recently recharged waters with generally low mineralization (around 0.5?g?L^?1), stemming mainly from dissolution of carbonate minerals, the M-P-Q aquifer reveals TDS values reaching 3?g?L^?1, controlled mainly by dissolution of evaporitic minerals. Isotopic data indicate that the Miocene aquifer contains water recharged in past several decades (bomb tritium and bomb radiocarbon detected). The M-P-Q system appears to be much slower, with time scales of groundwater flow possibly reaching some thousands of years. Sharp discontinuity of hydrochemical and isotope characteristic of groundwater observed across the major tectonic fault separating the Miocene and M-P-Q aquifers supports the idea of very limited (if any) hydraulic interconnection between both studied systems. This in turn calls for revision of existing conceptual models of groundwater flow in the region postulating significant groundwater fluxes crossing the fault in the direction of M-P-Q aquifer and adjacent aquifers in the Wadi al Fakka plain.     

南秦岭古生代沉积盆地沉积-构造事件与热水沉积成矿

地处扬子板块北部被动大陆边缘的南秦岭古生代沉积裂陷盆地具地堑-地垒式特点,沉积建造属次稳定型。早古生代加里东期发生的构造-岩浆活动颇具特点,沉积-构造事件对盆地演化及成矿起着重要作用,其与众多的(超)大型汞-锑、铅-锌、金矿关系密切。南秦岭热水沉积成矿方式主要以同生沉积-喷流方式,成矿物质来源于盆地下源深处,热水沉积作用是其主要成矿方式。热水沉积作用形成两大系列热水沉积岩:硅质岩-重晶石岩系列;钠长石岩-铁碳酸盐岩系列。铅-锌成矿与钠长石岩-铁碳酸盐岩关系更为密切。     

Hypogene Zn carbonate ores in the Angouran deposit,NW Iran

The world-class Angouran nonsulfide Zn–Pb deposit is one of the major Zn producers in Iran, with resources estimated at about 18 Mt at 28% Zn, mainly in the form of the Zn carbonate smithsonite. This study aims to characterize these carbonate ores by means of their mineralogy and geochemistry, which has also been extended to the host rocks of mineralization and other local carbonate rock types, including the prominent travertines in the Angouran district, as well as to the local spring waters. Petrographical, chemical, and stable isotope (O, H, C, Sr) data indicate that the genesis of the Zn carbonate ores at Angouran is fairly distinct from that of other “classical” nonsulfide Zn deposits that formed entirely by supergene processes. Mineralization occurred during two successive stages, with the zinc being derived from a preexisting sulfide ore body. A first, main stage of Zn carbonates (stage I carbonate ore) is associated with both preexisting and subordinate newly formed sulfides, whereas a second stage is characterized by supergene carbonates (Zn and minor Pb) coexisting with oxides and hydroxides (stage II carbonate ore). The coprecipitation of smithsonite with galena, pyrite and arsenopyrite, as well as the absence of Fe- and Mn-oxides/hydroxides and of any discernible oxidation or dissolution of the sphalerite-rich primary sulfide ore, shows that the fluids responsible for the main, stage I carbonate ores were relatively reduced and close to neutral to slightly basic pH with high fCO₂. Smithsonite δ¹⁸O_VSMOW values from stage I carbonate ore range from 18.3 to 23.6‰, while those of stage II carbonate ore show a much smaller range between 24.3 and 24.9‰. The δ¹³C values are fairly constant in smithsonite of stage I carbonate ore (3.2–6.0‰) but show a considerable spread towards lower δ¹³C_VPDB values (4.6 to −11.2‰) in stage II carbonate ore. This suggests a hypogene formation of stage I carbonate ore at Angouran from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids, probably mobilized during the waning stages of Tertiary–Quaternary volcanic activity in an environment characterized by abundant travertine systems throughout the whole region. Conversely, stage II carbonate ore is unambiguously related to supergene weathering, as evidenced by the absence of sulfides, the presence of Fe-Mn-oxides and arsenates, and by high δ¹⁸O values found in smithsonite II. The variable, but still relatively heavy carbon isotope values of supergene smithsonite II, suggests only a very minor contribution by organic soil carbon, as is generally the case in supergene nonsulfide deposits.     

Debris flow deposits of early miocene age,deadman stream,Marlborough, New Zealand

Detailed analysis is presented of a conformable succession of Early Miocene conglomerates and sandstones lying between massive marine mudstones. The coarse sediments reflect deposition by a spectrum of subaqueous debris-flow mechanisms during an early pulse of tectonism that ultimately resulted in Plio-Pleistocene eversion of the Kaikoura Mountains.Sparse pebbly mudstones and rare sandy conglomerates show disoriented clasts and reflect high-viscosity flows and slurry-creep flow mechanisms. Other deposits have little mud matrix, hence appear to reflect low-viscosity flow processes. The largest clasts in these have a preferred planar orientation, probably reflecting dispersive grain pressure, and a preferred long-axis orientation parallel to flow direction. Common sorted sandstones and some conglomeratic sandstones show diffuse parallel lamination; with rare exceptions neither grading nor traction structures are present. Other conglomeratic sandstones show trough cross-bedding which we attribute to entrained bedload movement during intersurge episodes of debris flow.Microfossil data from the mudstones indicate sedimentation in an environment of outer neritic to upper bathyal aspect. Most detritus is abraded, suggesting derivation from terrestrial or inner neritic sources, but angular calcilutitic clasts and irregular sandstone and mudstone clasts and rafts were probably derived from submarine erosion between the emergent source area and the site of accumulation. Deposits generally appear to infill broad shallow channels. Paleocurrent and fabric analysis indicate a markedly uniform flow direction throughout succession, and suggest that the locus of channeling remained relatively fixed in space throughout accumulation of hundreds of metres of superimposed, commonly amalgamated debris-flow deposits. Although lateral control away from the measured sequence is limited, we infer that the locus of deposition lay shoreward of any submarine canyon or fan.