Quantitative analysis of variations in depositional sequence thickness from submarine channel levees

Abstract Thickness variations across‐levee and downchannel in acoustically defined depositional sequences from six submarine channel‐levee systems show consistent and quantifiable patterns. The thickness of depositional sequences perpendicular to the channel trend, i.e. across the levee, decreases exponentially, as characterized by a spatial decay constant, k. Similarly, the thickness of sediment at the levee crest decreases exponentially down the upper reaches of submarine channels and can be characterized by a second spatial decay constant, λ. The inverse of these decay constants has units of length and defines depositional length scales such that k^?1 is a measure of levee width and λ^?1 is a measure of levee length. Quantification of levee architecture in this way allowed investigation of relationships between levee architecture and channel dimensions. It was found that these measures of levee e‐folding width and levee e‐folding length are directly related to channel width and relief. The dimensions of channels and levees are thus intimately related, thereby limiting the range of potential channel‐levee morphologies, regardless of allocyclic forcing. A simple sediment budget model relates the product of the levee e‐folding width and e‐folding length to through‐channel volume discharge. A classification system based on the quantitative downchannel behaviour of levee architecture allows identification of a ‘mid‐channel’ reach, where sediment is passively transferred from the through‐channel flow to the levees as an overspilling flow. Downstream from this reach, the channel gradually looses its control on guiding turbidity currents, and the resulting flow can be considered as an unconfined or spreading flow.     

Effective timescales of coupling within fluvial systems

This paper presents a review of the coupling concept in fluvial geomorphology, based mainly on previously published work. Coupling mechanisms link the components of the fluvial system, controlling sediment transport down the system and the propagation of the effects of base-level change up the system. They can be viewed at several scales: at the local scale involving within-hillslope coupling, hillslope-to-channel coupling, and within-channels, tributary junction and reach-to-reach coupling. At larger scales, coupling can be considered as zonal coupling, between major zones of the system or as regional coupling, relating to complete drainage basins. These trends are illustrated particularly by the examples of hillslope-to-channel coupling in the Howgill Fells, northwest England, badland systems in southeast Spain, alluvial fans in Spain, USA and UAE, and base-level-induced dissection of Neogene sedimentary basins in southeast Spain. As the spatial scales increase, so do the timescales involved. Effective temporal scales relate to magnitude and frequency characteristics, recovery time and propagation time, the relative importance changing with the spatial scale. For downsystem coupling at the local scale, the first two are important, with propagation time increasing in importance in larger systems, especially in those involving upsystem coupling related to base-level change. The effective timescales range from the individual event, with a return period of decades, through decadal to century timescales for downsystem coupling, to tens to hundreds of thousands of years for the basinwide response to base-level change. The effective timescales influence the relative importance of factors controlling landform development.     

Effect of environmental factors on the flora of alluvial fans in southern Sinai

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the floristic and structural characteristics of simple alluvial fan vegetation of southern Sinai and to relate them to environmental variation. The main question addressed was: how does the floristic composition of fan habitats, species richness and life-form vary in relation to environmental change? Thirty-seven alluvial fans, randomly selected in two mainwadis(WadiFeiran andWadiDahab) were analysed quantitively. Two-way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) classification and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were applied in successive stages of the data analysis to describe vegetational variation in relation to physical gradients. Seven main clusters of fans were defined on the basis of environmental variation. These clusters are divided into three main groups of species richness. Species richness varied along a moisture gradient. The richest fans were the driest habitats, indicating that maximum species richness did not occur at high moisture availability. The moisture gradient is a complex gradient correlated with elevation, slope, climatic aridity, soil texture and the nature of the soil surface. Fine sand, silt plus clay and calcium carbonate showed significant differences between the internal groups and subgroups of the first and second level of the TWINSPAN classification.     

Ancient sand-rich submarine fans: depositional systems, models, identification, and analysis

Sand-rich submarine fans are radial or curved in plan view depending on the slope of the basin floor. They occur isolated or in coalescing systems. The fans' average lateral extent measures close to 25 km and their thickness usually less than 300 m. The thickness of outer fan sequences averages around 120 m and that of middle fan successions around 160 m. Rarely reported inner fan sequences have a maximum thickness of 80 m.

The formation of sand-rich fans is closely related to tectonic activity. Their sediment is coarse-grained and compositionally immature as indicated by significant feldspar content due to close provenance and rapid transport by short rivers with a steep gradient controlled by tectonism. Tectonic activity also provides for narrow shelves making the fans relatively insensitive to sealevel changes. Formation of sand-rich fans typically occurs in restricted continental basins. The tectonic settings are highly variable. Sand-rich fans typically receive their sediment through submarine canyons which intercept sand from longshore drift and/or are fed more or less directly by regional rivers.

The type of ancient fan system (radial, curved, isolated, coalescing) may be identified through paleocurrent map plots, facies map sketches, recognition of lateral thickness variations and sediment influx centers, as well as lateral bed correlations defining the minimum fan extent.

Important in distinguishing different environments of ancient fans are detailed measured sections, their comparison and correlation. Channelized inner fan and middle fan deposits may be distinguished from the unchannelized outer fan successions through bed correlation tests which reflect their different stratigraphic architectures and bedding patterns. Bedding in outer fan deposits (lobes) is relatively simple, parallel, and regular. The lateral bed continuity is relatively high. Channel fills, especially those of middle fan distributary channels, display a complicated bedding pattern with vertical and lateral random distribution of channel fills, axial erosion, and bed convergence towards the channel margins. Channel fills exhibit only linear bed continuity. Thus, the probability in carrying out local to regional scale lateral bed correlations is almost exclusively limited to outer fan deposits.

The measured sections will help further distinguish fan environments by revealing: (1) different facies associations in outer fan sequences (mainly B, C and D) and middle fan successions (mainly A, B, C, D, and channel margin facies); (2) greater average bed and layer thicknesses in middle fan as opposed to outer fan successions (“bed” and “layer” as used herein); (3) more frequent amalgamation surfaces in channel fills than in unchannelized outer fan deposits; (4) more frequent tabular amalgamation surfaces in outer fan sections; (5) more frequent nontabular amalgamation surfaces in channel fills; and (6) more frequent dish structures in middle fan than outer fan successions.

Rarely exposed fan valley fills may be identified by coarse conglomerates. Moreover, in proximity to fan valley fills, relatively mud-rich sediments may be observed that derive from the depositional system of the basin slope.     

海底热液成矿活动研究的进展、热点及展望

海底热液活动研究进展迅速,热液矿化作用已成为当前国际地球科学最为活跃的研究领域之一。本文叙述了:(1)热液调查新技术、新方法、矿床赋存状态、主要类型以及热液矿化作用的研究进展:(2)当前国际研究的热点,包括海底热液矿床和构造岩浆背景、热液流体形成和金属浸析作用、热液沉淀过程中的金属分馏作用、热液排放与大洋的质重平衡等。最后强调加强海洋地球科学国内外合作的必要性。     

Contrasting morphodynamics in alluvial fans and fan deltas: effect of the downstream boundary

Alluvial fans and fan deltas can, in principle, have exactly the same upstream conditions, but fan deltas by definition have ponding water at their downstream boundary. This ponding creates effects on the autogenic behaviour of fan deltas, such as backwater adaptation, mouth bars and backward sedimentation, whereas alluvial fans may lack these effects. Hence the present authors hypothesize that morphodynamics on alluvial fans are determined primarily by upstream boundary conditions, whereas morphodynamics on fan deltas are determined by both the upstream and the downstream boundary condition and changes therein. To isolate the effects of the upstream and downstream boundaries, five new alluvial fan experiments are compared with the details of three fan deltas published earlier that were formed under very similar and simple conditions. Similar to the fan deltas, the alluvial fans build up by sheet flow, whilst quasi‐regular periods of incision cause temporary channelized flow. Incision is followed by channel backfilling, after which the fan returns to sheet flow. The channelization and backfilling in alluvial fans is markedly less pronounced and more prone to autogenic disturbance than in fan deltas. The difference is caused by morphodynamics at the downstream boundary. In a fan delta, the flow expansion of the channel causes deposition of all the sediment, which forms a mouth bar and causes strong backfilling. In an alluvial fan, on the other hand, the slope break at the fan perimeter causes some deposition, but transport is not reduced to zero. Consequently, the backfilling in alluvial fans is less pronounced than in fan deltas. Other published experiments support this trend: removal of the mouth bar by a river leads to permanent channelization, whilst pronounced mouth‐bar formation in highly channelized deltas promotes backward sedimentation. The experimental results for this study predict that, when alluvial fans prograde into lakes or deep rivers, they transition to fan deltas with increasingly deeper channels and thicker backfill deposits.     

定州市燕家佐锶－偏硅酸天然矿泉水

饮用天然矿泉水水源地位于太行山前的唐河、大沙河冲洪积扇交叠部位。“矿水床”深度为６０～１３６ｍ，上更新统下部为石英、长石质粗砂及花岗岩、片麻岩、石英岩质的砾石、卵石。长石类矿物均有风化现象，经过与地下水化学成分的交替、溶滤作用，在地下水中某些有益组分得以富集，Ｓｒ含量０．２７～０．４７６ｍｇ／Ｌ，Ｈ＿２ＳｉＯ＿３２６．４７～３１．４１ｍｇ／Ｌ，Ｎａ９．３～１６．６ｍｇ／Ｌ，矿化度３２１～４７５ｍｇ／Ｌ，属低钠、低矿化度、锶－偏硅酸重碳酸钙型饮用天然矿泉水。其中，尚含Ｌｉ，Ｚｎ，Ｂｒ等对人体健康有益的微量元素。同位素氚的测试结果：１９．２１±５．３５ＴＵ及５．０７±３．２２ＴＵ。抽水试验结果为Ｓ＝５ｍ时，Ｑ＝３６～１９７ｍ￣３／ｈ。     

Submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the Okinawa Trough, SW of Japan: an overview

The Okinawa Trough is a heavily sedimented, rifted back-arc basin formed in an intracontinental rift zone. Submarine hydrothermal activity is located within the six back-arc rifts located in the middle and southern Okinawa Trough and its distribution is controlled principally by tectonic factors. Subduction of the Daito and Gagua Ridges beneath the Ryukyu Arc has resulted in fracturing of the brittle lithosphere beneath the Okinawa Trough. Hydrothermal activity is strongest in the volcanic arc-rift migration phenomenon (VAMP) area plus the JADE site and Southernmost Part of the Okinawa Trough (SPOT) area which form the prolongation of these two ridges. These areas are characterized by extremely high heat flow locally. Submarine hydrothermal fluids from the Okinawa Trough tend to be strongly influenced by interaction of the hydrothermal fluids with organic matter in the sediment resulting in high alkalinity and NH₄⁺ concentrations of the fluids. The fluids also contain high concentrations of CO₂ of magmatic origin. Submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the trough is diverse. The CLAM site consists principally of carbonate chimneys. Interaction of the hydrothermal fluid with organic matter in the sediment is particularly strong at this site. This is most probably a sediment-hosted deposit in which sulphide minerals have deposited within the sediment column leaving ‘spent ore-fluids’ to emerge at the seafloor. The JADE site consists of active and inactive sulphide–sulphate chimneys and mounds. The Zn–Pb-rich sulphides at this site contain the highest concentrations of Pb, Ag and Au so far recorded in submarine hydrothermal sulphide deposits. At Minami-Ensei Knoll and Hatoma Knoll, active and inactive chimneys consist principally of anhydrite and barite as a result of phase separation of the hydrothermal fluids beneath the seafloor. An intense black smoker has recently been discovered at Yonaguni Knoll in the SPOT area. If it is confirmed that sulphide mineralization is dominant at this site, this could be a highly prospective area. The most prospective areas for economic-grade minerals in the Okinawa Trough appear to be the JADE site and the SPOT area.     

扬子东南大陆边缘晚前寒武纪古海洋演化的稀土元素记录

本文采用中子活化方法分析了晚震旦～早寒武纪１９件样品的稀土元素组成,发现硅质岩石ＲＥＥ配分形式有着复杂的变化,初步可以划分为五种类型,包括“台地型”、“红海型”、“海水型”及两种特殊的配分形式。剖面上Ｃｅ异常由小到大的演变反映了古海洋底层水由缺氧环境向氧化条件的逐渐转化。正Ｅｕ异常的出现代表了热水沉积事件的存在。     

柴达木盆地西南区震积岩的发现及其引发的勘探启迪

随着勘探和开发的需要,岩性油气藏成为柴达木盆地西南区石油勘探的一个重要领域,然而由于受多期的构造叠加改造,致使柴达木盆地西南区岩性油气藏分布规律不清,勘探接替领域不明确。笔者通过研究发现,由于受盆缘及其北西向二级断裂的影响,盆地西南区地震活动强烈,深、浅层均发现一系列与地震有关的震积岩,可见阶梯状小断层、液化砂岩脉、振动液化卷曲变形构造、砂火山、火焰状构造、假结核、震积砂枕、震积砂球构造、串珠状构造及震褶层等原地震积岩的软沉积物变形特征,另外可见地震引起的重力滑塌或泥石流形成的滑塌构造和角砾岩化变形特征,诸如震裂岩、震塌岩、自碎屑角砾岩、液化角砾岩、内碎屑副角砾岩等异地震积岩。事实上这些震积岩能够极大地改善储集层渗透性,使渗透率大幅度增加,为油气勘探和开发提供了新的视角和领域。更为重要的启迪是形成震积岩的古地震具有重要的触发机制,很容易引起三角洲前缘相的岩性发生滑塌,进而形成滑塌扇、浊积等一系列沉积现象,这种储集体将成为油田储量增长的新亮点,本着这种思想,笔者通过叠前地震多属性的预测及先进的叠前AVO反演预测,在柴达木盆地西南区跃东斜坡带发现这种滑塌体的存在,并建立了相应的沉积模式图。这样将可能突破以往该区"...