Sealers Bay submarine fan complex, Oligocene, southern New Zealand

The Oligocene Balleny Group of Chalky Island, southwestern Fiordland, comprises a typical continental margin sequence 900 m in thickness. Thin nearshore traction deposited sediments at the base are overlain by submarine canyon and fan lithofacies that were deposited by the full range of subaqueous mass-transport processes. A steep-walled channel within Balleny Group is interpreted as a fossil proximal fan-channel. The sedimentary fill of the channel is texturally similar to sediments moving by slump-creep in Recent submarine canyons and fan-valleys. The field data presented indicate (1) that a small canyon complex at Sealers Bay was initially cut by subaqueous debris-flows derived from an adjacent cliffed continental coast; (2) that transport within the upper parts of the canyon and fanchannel complex was primarily by inertia-flow and slump-creep; and (3) that these more proximal types of mass-transport gave way gradationally and successively to fluxoturbidity and turbidity currents at locations further down-slope, with consequent deposition of sediment in more distal fan-channel and fan-surface environments as fluxoturbidites and turbidites, with lesser contributions from inertia-flows.     

Redeposited conglomerates in a miocene flysch sequence at Blackmount,Western Southland,New Zealand

The Middle Miocene Monowai Formation represents a gravel delta that prograded south into a flysch basin complex developed along the Moonlight Tectonic Zone, southern New Zealand. The delta-slope environment was characterized by a conglomeratic sequence up to 500 m thick. Most of the gravel was moved downslope by mass-transport processes. A complete spectrum exists from synsedimentary slide sheets (up to 10 m thick and 100 m long) that retain pre-sliding sedimentary structures, to more mature mass-transported sediment types in which all original structures have been destroyed. The most distal deposits include ungraded homogeneous pebble conglomerates up to 3 m thick. Some of the more mature redeposited conglomerate-sand-mud units (X–Y–Z sequences) are between 2 and 10 m thick; they comprise a basal X-division of bouldery conglomerate, a middle Y-division of pebbly mudstone or pebbly sandstone, and an upper Z-division of hydroplastically folded mudstone. Though X–Y–Z sequences may have been deposited from very proximal turbidity or fluxoturbidity currents, inertia-flow emplacement seems more likely. An inertia-flow mode of emplacement also seems most probable for the other redeposited sediment types described from the Monowai Formation.     

陆相湖盆大型重力流发育的成因机制及其优质储层特征研究:以歧口凹陷沙河街组一段为例

陆相重力流沉积是现今油气勘探领域的研究热点.发育在歧口凹陷滨海斜坡古近系沙河街组一段的大型重力流沉积体（沉积范围达到1 700 km2）具有多物源供给、长距离搬运、多级断坡传输、沿路沉积的发育过程与沉积机理特征.以渤海湾盆地富烃凹陷-歧口凹陷的大型重力流为研究对象,在构造-高精度层序地层格架下,以"源-渠-汇"的整体过程为思路,（1）研究多物源的形成、持续供给及匹配关系;（2）分析古地貌（断控陡坡带+多级断阶坡折带）的演化,及其对沉积物搬运、堆积、发育过程的控制作用;（3）针对该重力流具有大规模、多期次的沉积特征,解剖其平面展布及空间分布、沉积模式、时空演化规律;（4）综合探讨陆相重力流沉积体的成因机制、控制因素.综上可知:（1）歧口凹陷大型陆相重力流沉积体发育受多个物源体系的影响与控制,湖盆中心的重力流沉积体与供给物源之间有明确的匹配关系.在古近系沙一段沉积时期,滨海斜坡沉积区主要受北部燕山物源区的大神堂物源、茶淀物源以及西部沧县隆起物源区的葛沽物源和小站物源4个物源共同供给,持续的物源供给使得在歧口凹陷的陆相湖盆中,发育了大规模的重力流沉积体.（2）沙一段同沉积期,歧口凹陷滨海斜坡周缘整个古地貌格局主要表现为断控陡坡带与多级断阶坡折带复合体,断控陡坡带主要发育于滨海斜坡北部,多级断阶带主要呈近东西向发育于斜坡西部.这些断坡带既是物源水下搬运通道又是沉积物堆积的可容纳空间分布区,再加上这些断坡带差异性的持续沉降,对砂分散体系和相带展布具有关键的控制作用.（3）歧口凹陷沙一段重力流沉积过程机制主要表现为重力滑塌沉积、砂质碎屑流、泥质碎屑流、浊流等多种成因,具有横向连片,纵向叠置的沉积样式.      

小浪底水库淤积形态数值模拟

水库淤积形态是影响库容分布、水库排沙的一项重要因素。小浪底水库近坝段淤积泥沙粒径极细,具有流动性,针对其细颗粒泥沙淤积特点,揭示了水库细颗粒淤积物的流变特性与流型特征;通过引入水、淤积物、床面之间的界面受力分析,构建了细颗粒淤积物失稳流动描述模式,并与水沙输移模型相耦合,建立了考虑细颗粒淤积物流动特性的水库淤积形态模拟方法,在此基础上对小浪底水库淤积形态进行了验证分析。研究结果表明:低密度细颗粒淤积物为宾汉型流体,淤积平衡坡降较小,当其密度大于1.25 g/cm 3后,流动性快速减弱;考虑细颗粒淤积物流动特征的水库淤积形态模拟结果与实测结果吻合较好。研究成果可为水库淤积形态形成机理及其对水沙调控的响应研究提供技术支撑。     

小浪底水库淤积形态数值模拟

水库淤积形态是影响库容分布、水库排沙的一项重要因素。小浪底水库近坝段淤积泥沙粒径极细,具有流动性,针对其细颗粒泥沙淤积特点,揭示了水库细颗粒淤积物的流变特性与流型特征;通过引入水、淤积物、床面之间的界面受力分析,构建了细颗粒淤积物失稳流动描述模式,并与水沙输移模型相耦合,建立了考虑细颗粒淤积物流动特性的水库淤积形态模拟方法,在此基础上对小浪底水库淤积形态进行了验证分析。研究结果表明:低密度细颗粒淤积物为宾汉型流体,淤积平衡坡降较小,当其密度大于1.25 g/cm³后,流动性快速减弱;考虑细颗粒淤积物流动特征的水库淤积形态模拟结果与实测结果吻合较好。研究成果可为水库淤积形态形成机理及其对水沙调控的响应研究提供技术支撑。     

Mass-emplaced sand-fingers at Mararoa construction site, southern New Zealand

During work on a dam construction site in South Island, New Zealand, outflowing ground water resulted in extensive local mass-transport of the sands being excavated. A series of small scale sand fans was built up, probably mainly by laminar mass-flow processes. The surfaces of the fans were made up of a series of complexly interdigitating sand-fingers that are inferred to have been emplaced by viscous plug-flow. Other sedimentary processes associated with the building and synsedimentary destruction of the fans included rapid grain-flow, liquefaction and progressive slumping. Although small in scale, the Mararoa mass-flow fans may be a close analogue for some of the many‘fluxoturbidite’ or‘proximal flysch’ facies described in the sedimentological literature, and their geologic implications are therefore briefly discussed.     

Characterization of the Rapanui mass-transport deposit and the basal shear zone: Mount Messenger Formation,Taranaki Basin,New Zealand

Submarine mass-transport deposits are important in many ancient and modern basins. Mass-transport deposits can play a significant role in exploration as reservoir, seal or source units. Although seismic data has advanced the knowledge about these deposits, more outcrop studies are needed to better understand gravity mass flows and predict the properties of their resultant deposits. It is proposed that sufficiently well-exposed outcrops of mass-transport deposits can be divided into three strain-dominant morphodomains: headwall, translational and toe. The outcrops of the Rapanui mass-transport deposit, part of the Lower Mount Messenger Formation in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, are exposed along a ca 4 km transect in coastal cliffs that enable the identification of the three morphodomains. The aim of this study is to characterize the stratigraphic and sedimentological nature of the Miocene-age Rapanui mass-transport deposit outcrops and the evolution of its basal shear zone. The basal shear zone of a mass-transport deposit is defined as the stratal zone formed in the interface between the overriding mass flow and the underlying in situ deposits or sea floor. Accordingly, the deformation structures in the Rapanui mass-transport deposit and the basal shear zone were documented in an established spatial framework. Traditional methodologies were used to characterize the sedimentology of the Rapanui mass-transport deposit. Data collected from intrafolial folds, rafted blocks and samples from the Rapanui mass-transport deposit were used to investigate strain and matrix texture evolution, estimate palaeoflow direction, and calculate yield strength and overpressure at time of deposition. Additionally, a one-dimensional numerical model was used to test sedimentation-driven overpressure as probable trigger. This work demonstrates that the basal shear zone, as well as the matrix texture of a mass-transport deposit, can vary spatially as sediments from underlying deposits are entrained during shear-derived mixing. This phenomenon can impact the seal potential of mass-transport deposits and their interaction with fluids in the subsurface.     

Analysis, in a free surface steady flow, of the interstitial velocity field inside a sedimentary bed

The objective of our study is to exploit ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry (UDV) to analyze the velocity field within a steady flow on a porous sedimentary bottom. Velocities are measured for several sedimentary beds, as well within the fluid vein as within the sediment. Our results highlight an exponential distribution of the velocities inside the sediment and a discontinuity of the velocity at the interface water–sediment, between the velocity in the free flow and the velocity within the sediment. These results highlight the need to base the analysis of sedimentary transport on the reality of the physical processes at the interface water–sediment.     

Large-scale stratigraphic architecture and sequence analysis of an early Pleistocene submarine canyon fill,Monte Ascensione succession (Peri-Adriatic basin,eastern central Italy)

The Monte Ascensione succession (c. 2.65–2.1 Ma) is a well-exposed example of an exhumed submarine canyon fill embedded within slope hemipelagic mudstones. This gorge represented a long-lasting pathway for sediment transport and deposition and during the Gelasian delivered Apennine-derived clastic sediment to the adjacent Peri-Adriatic basin. A total of six principal lithofacies types, representing both canyon-confining hemipelagic deposits and canyon-filling turbidity current and mass-transport deposits, can be delineated in the studied sedimentary succession. The canyon-fill deposits display a marked cyclic character and the component lithofacies succeed one another to form at least fifteen fining-upward stratal units, which are interpreted to represent high-frequency, unconformity-bounded depositional sequences. Variability in the vertical repetition of constituent lithofacies allows the identification of three basic styles of sequence architecture that can be interpreted in terms of differing positions along a conceptual down-canyon depositional profile. An integrated chronology, based on biostratigraphic data and on palaeomagnetic polarity measurements, strongly supports a one-to-one correlation between the sequence-bounding surfaces and oxygen isotope stages G2–78, suggesting that the most feasible sequence-engendering mechanism is that of orbitally dictated glacio-eustatic changes in sea level, which regulated timing of sediment storage on the shelf and its redistribution beyond the shelf edge. One of the most significant aspects of this study is the demonstration that processes occurring within upper slope canyons can be expected to be strongly influenced by variations in sea level; that is, the erosional and depositional features evident in these deposits can be strongly controlled by allocyclic processes rather than autocyclic or random processes.     

Microstructures of sediment flow deposits and subglacial sediments: a comparison

Microstructural analysis of glacial deposits has recently been used as a research tool to determine sediment genesis. However, the occurrence of microstructures in deposits of known origin has not been sufficiently documented, hindering our ability to confidently interpret microstructures in sediments of unknown origin. Our objective is to present a calibration study of microstructures of recent sediment flow deposits and associated sediments from the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska, and to evaluate the degree of commonality with microstructures found in subglacially deformed sediments. Microstructures in sediment flow deposits can be formed as a result of sediment transport, deposition, and/or post-depositional processes, and are related to the viscosity regime of the source flow. Characteristic microstructures formed during brittle deformation include shears, faults, and brecciation; microstructures formed during ductile deformation include folds, pressure shadows, re-orientation of clasts around a 'core' stone, fine laminations, basal shear zones, imbrication, and flow fabrics. Other microstructures include fluid escape and injection structures, clast haloes, and fissility. The results of our comparison suggest that sediment flow deposits share many microstructures in common with subglacially deformed sediments.     

束鹿凹陷古近系沙三下段沉积相特征研究

本文通过岩相特征、沉积构造特征、化石及地球化学特征,对束鹿凹陷古近系沙三下段的总体沉积特征进行了概述,将研究区的沉积相类型定为湖泊相。通过对研究区沉积微相的详细分析,认为厚层块状砂砾岩主要发育贫基质的碎屑流沉积,浊流沉积及颗粒流沉积少见;泥灰岩主要发育具有复杂沉积模式的混合沉积,细分为互层混合沉积、结构混合沉积和夹层混合沉积三种类型。通过对沉积相的平面展布特征的研究表明,研究区是以碎屑流沉积和混合沉积为主体的半深湖-深湖沉积体系。     

Status and Trends in Research on Deep-Water Gravity Flow Deposits

Deep-water gravity flows are one of the most important sediment transport mechanisms on Earth. After 60 years of study,significant achievements have been made in terms of classification schemes,genetic mechanisms,and depositional models of deep-water gravity flows. The research history of deep-water gravity flows can be divided into five stages: incipience of turbidity current theory; formation of turbidity current theory; development of deep-water gravity flow theory; improvement and perfection of deep-water gravity flow theory; and comprehensive development of deep-water gravity flow theory. Currently,three primary classification schemes based on the sediment support mechanism,the rheology and transportation process,and the integration of sediment support mechanisms,rheology,sedimentary characteristics,and flow state are commonly used.Different types of deep-water gravity flow events form different types of gravity flow deposits. Sediment slump retransportation mainly forms muddy debris flows,sandy debris flows,and surge-like turbidity currents. Resuspension of deposits by storms leads to quasi-steady hyperpycnal turbidity currents(hyperpycnal flows). Sustainable sediment supplies mainly generate muddy debris flows,sandy debris flows,and hyperpycnal flows. Deep-water fans,which are commonly controlled by debris flows and hyperpycnal flows,are triggered by sustainable sediment supply; in contrast,deep-water slope sedimentary deposits consist mainly of debris flows that are triggered by the retransportation of sediment slumps and deep-water fine-grained sedimentary deposits are derived primarily from finegrained hyperpycnal flows that are triggered by the resuspension of storm deposits. Harmonization of classification schemes,transformation between different types of gravity flow deposit,and monitoring and reproduction of the sedimentary processes of deep-water gravity flows as well as a source-to-sink approach to document the evolution and deposition of deep-water gravity flows are the most important research aspects for future studies of deep-water gravity flows study in the future.     

Neogene non-marine sedimentation and tectonics in small pull-apart basins of the San Andreas fault system, Sonoma County, California

The San Andreas fault system in northern California forms an 80–90 km wide zone of right-lateral shear. Extensional tectonism within this broad shear zone is indicated by both Neogene silicic volcanic rocks that gradually young in the direction of shear propagation to the north-west and by numerous Neogene faultbounded structural basins filled with thick non-marine sequences. The Little Sulphur Creek basins, three well-exposed 1·5–2 km wide pull apart basins within this shear system, have sedimentation patterns analogous to those of much larger pull-apart basins. They were formed and subsequently deformed by east-west extension and by north-west to south-east-orientated right-slip concurrently with basin filling. Palaeocurrent and maximum-clast size data indicate both lateral sediment transport from fault-bounded basin margins and longitudinal transport down the basin axes. The basins are filled primarily with coarse alluvial-fan and streamflow deposits derived from a surrounding igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic provenance. Two of the basins contain basin-plain-type lacustrine turbidites that grade laterally into distal alluvial fan, fan-delta, and sublacustrine delta deposits. Talus deposits along the south-west margin of the basins contain megabreccia indicative of active uplift. Structures indicative of dewatering, liquefaction, and slumping suggest penecontemporaneous tectonism.     

深水砂质碎屑流沉积:概念、沉积过程与沉积特征

在总结国内外相关文献的基础上,对砂质碎屑流的相关概念、沉积动力学过程及沉积特征进行系统梳理,并对争议问题进行了讨论。砂质碎屑流是一种富砂质具塑性流变性质的宾汉塑性流体,代表一个从黏性至非黏性碎屑流连续系列,具有中—高碎屑浓度(体积浓度25%～95%)、较低的泥质含量(体积浓度可低至0. 5%)、湍流不发育。其沉积物以块状砂岩、含碎屑逆粒序砂岩沉积为代表,局部可见滑动剪切构造和液化漩涡构造。砂质碎屑流的形成多经历滑动→滑塌→砂质碎屑流→浊流的有序演化过程;滑水作用和基底剪切润湿作用是克服砂质碎屑流与基底剪切摩擦拖拽的重要机制,流体强度则是克服上覆环境水体混入稀释的重要原因;砂质碎屑流头部和边部优先固结沉积,进而控制流体整体沉降。砂质碎屑流是形成深水块状砂岩的主要原因之一,砂质碎屑流在相对低流体效率的深水重力流沉积环境广泛发育。     

Rollers and ripples in sand, streams and sky: rhythmic alteration of transverse and longitudinal vortices in three orders

Sediment ripples are caused by systematically-spaced transverse roller vortex systems in a moving fluid undergoing shear. With greater shear, these transverse rollers change over into longitudinal (helicoidal) vortices. This is the basic cause for the change from so-called ‘lower flow regime’ conditions to ‘upper flow regime’ conditions. All characteristics of these two regimes (sediment transport rate, bed form, sedimentary structures) are logically explained by attributing them to change in type of vortex system. For currents depositing sediments, there are three orders of magnitude of vortices, each order beginning with transverse rollers, passing through festoon to longitudinal rollers. A chaos zone (antidunes) ensues, followed by resumption of transverse rollers that are five to ten times as large as those in the previous order. Features of river sediments, marine sands, turbidites, desert sand dunes, sky, and stars are satisfactorily explained by this model.     

Internal deformation of a muddy gravity flow and its interaction with the seafloor (site C0018 of IODP Expedition 333, Nankai Trough,SE Japan)

The processes of flow deformation of marine mass-transport sediments, including their ability to affect the underlying substrate and add mass during sediment flow events, are addressed based on sedimentological analyses of strata from the distal part of a ～61-m-thick mass-transport deposit (MTD 6) drilled during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 333. Our analyses, supported by 3D seismic data, show a cohesive density flow deformed by folding, faulting and shear, except for its lowermost part (～7 m), where no deformation and sediment entrainment was identified. While the lowermost part moved as rigid sediment, the underlying sand layer acted as the basal shear zone for this part of the distal MTD 6. This shear zone was restricted to the sand, not involving the overlying sediments. From this, the studied part of MTD 6 was found to represent a case where the flow behaviour at least partly depended on the location and properties of the underlying sand layer, a situation that so far has received little attention in studies of marine flows. Our results also show that shear-induced mixing, located by the initial layering, is an important process in the flow transformation from cohesive slumps to mud flows and that this may occur over short distances (<4 km) without involving disintegration into blocks, probably due to only moderate prefailure consolidation of the sediments involved. In conclusion, we find that the bulk part of the flow was self-contained from a mass balance point of view and that that the overall amount of entrainment was limited.     

深水沉积层序特点及构成要素

本文在回顾当前国际上深水沉积研究热点的基础上,结合在墨西哥湾深水研究的成果系统描述了深水沉积的定义、形成机理、深水沉积层序及深水沉积构成要素的特点.深水沉积主要是在重力流作用下深水环境的沉积,主要形成于相对水平面下降和早期上升的时期,主要分布在低位体系域中.深水层序以凝缩段为边界,块状搬运沉积最早形成并直接位于层序界面上,其上被河道-天然堤沉积所覆盖.典型深水沉积的要素主要由河道、天然堤及越岸沉积、板状砂、块状搬运沉积等构成,这些沉积要素时空上有序地分布.深水河道是物源的主要通道和沉积的重要场所,从上游至下游河道弯曲度增加,能量逐渐减弱.侧向迁移明显,垂向上由富砂的顺直河道演化为相对富泥的弯曲河道.天然堤及越岸沉积以泥质为主,天然堤沿河道呈楔状分布,其近端砂岩含量高,地层厚且倾角较陡;远端砂岩含量低,地层薄且平缓,侧向连续性好但垂向连续性差.板状砂主要为深水扇前缘非限制性沉积,可分为块型和层型.块型侧向连续性好,同时垂向连通性高.层型侧向连续性好,垂向连通性差.块状搬运沉积主要是低水位期坡上沉积物失稳形成的各类滑塌体及碎屑流,其对下伏地层侵蚀明显,分布广泛,变形构造常见,可作为油气良好的封盖层.     

安徽月山矿田铜、金矿床氢氧同位素地球化学及成矿流体输运-化学反应成矿动力学

本文基于氢氧同位素的地球化学研究，论述了安徽月山矿田两类铜、金矿床成矿流体的来源、演化及成矿流体输运扣化学反应扣成矿作用动力学过程。结论认为。月山矿田金属矿床成矿流体为具复杂演化历史的岩浆水或多成因水的混合，主要成矿阶段成矿热液均以岩浆水占绝对优势，两类矿床是同源岩浆热液系统在不同的地质、地球化学环境下演化的产物，是成矿流体的等温输运反应及温度梯度输运反应等综合作用的结果。     

中国东部陆架全新世沉积体系:过程-产物关系研究进展评述

渤、黄、东海是典型的物源供给丰富的宽广陆架环境,形成的全新世沉积记录十分丰富。本区域潮汐作用、陆架环流作用和沉积物重力流导致的物质输运都很活跃;陆架沉积动力过程与全新世沉积体系的空间分布、物质组成、堆积速率、层序年代等特征相联系。全新世陆架与海岸沉积具有高分辨率、空间分布的不连续和沉积记录的片段性等特征。江苏海岸全新世中期海岸沉积、杭州湾全新世早-中期沉积、浙闽沿岸全新世沉积和其他陆架泥质沉积可从物质来源（海面上升中的沉积改造和河流入海通量）、输运-堆积过程、沉积层序形成的先后次序、陆架沉积记录的未来状况等方面进行分析。数值模拟可用以深化本区的过程-产物关系研究。     

Tsunami deposits in the geological record

A review is presented here of tsunami deposits in the geological record. It begins with a discussion of the relationships between the processes of tsunami generation and propagation and the sedimentary responses. This is followed by a consideration of the sedimentary processes associated with the passage of tsunami waves across coastlines. Attention is also given to the sedimentary processes associated with tsunami-triggered gravity backwash flows and comparisons are made with turbidity current action. We observe that despite sedimentary evidence for recent tsunamiites, geological research on ancient tsunamis has not identified stratigraphic units associated with onshore tsunami sedimentation. Equally, it is noted that nearly all published studies of sedimentary processes associated with modern tsunamis have not considered patterns of sediment transport and deposition in the offshore zone.