Stratigraphic evolution of an outcropping continental slope system, Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero, Chile

Depositional slope systems along continental margins contain a record of sediment transfer from shallow‐water to deep‐water environments and represent an important area for natural resource exploration. However, well‐preserved outcrops of large‐scale depositional slopes with seismic‐scale exposures and tectonically intact stratigraphy are uncommon. Outcrop characterization of smaller‐scale depositional slope systems (i.e. < 700 m of undecompacted shelf‐to‐basin relief) has led to increased understanding of stratigraphic packaging of prograding slopes. Detailed stacking patterns of facies and sedimentary body architecture for larger‐scale slope systems, however, remain understudied. The Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation of the Magallanes Basin, southern Chile, presents a unique opportunity to evaluate the stratigraphic evolution of such a slope system from an outcrop perspective. Inherited tectonic relief from a precursor oceanic basin phase created shelf‐to‐basin bathymetry comparable with continental margin systems (～1000 m). Sedimentological and architectural data from the Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero reveal a record of continental margin‐scale depositional slope progradation and aggradation. Slope progradation is manifested as a vertical pattern exhibiting increasing amounts of sediment bypass upwards, which is interpreted as reflecting increasing gradient conditions. The well‐exposed, seismic‐scale outcrop is characterized by four 20 to 70 m thick sandstone‐rich successions, separated by mudstone‐rich intervals of comparable thickness (40 to 90 m). Sedimentary body geometry, facies distribution, internal bedding architecture, sandstone richness and degree of amalgamation were analysed in detail across a continuous 2·5 km long transect parallel to depositional dip. Deposition in the lower section (Units 1 and 2) was dominated by poorly channellized to unconfined sand‐laden flows and accumulation of mud‐rich mass transport deposits, which is interpreted as representing a base of slope to lower slope setting. Evidence for channellization and indicators of bypass of coarse‐grained turbidity currents are more common in the upper part of the > 600 m thick succession (Units 3 and 4), which is interpreted as reflecting increased gradient conditions as the system accreted basinward.     

Geomorphic expression of neotectonic activity in a low relief area in an Airborne Laser Scanning DTM: A case study of the Little Hungarian Plain (Pannonian Basin)

The NW corner of the Little Hungarian Plain, which lies at the junction of the Eastern Alps, the Pannonian Basin and the Western Carpathians, is a neotectonically active region linking the extrusional tectonics of the Eastern Alps with the partly subsiding Little Hungarian Plain. The on-going deformation is verified by the earthquake activity in the region. An extremely flat part of the area, east of Neusiedlersee, the so-called Seewinkel, has been investigated with Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS, also known as airborne LiDAR) techniques, resulting in a digital terrain model (DTM) with a 1 m grid resolution and vertical precision of better than 10 cm. The DTM has been compared with known and inferred neotectonic features.Potential neotectonic structures of the DTM have been evaluated, together with geological maps, regional tectono-geomorphic studies, geophysical data, earthquake foci, as well as geomorphological features and the Quaternary sediment thickness values of the Seewinkel and the adjacent Parndorfer plateau. A combined evaluation of these data allows several tectonic features with a relief of < 2 m to be recognized in the DTM. The length of these linear geomorphological structures ranges from several hundred meters up to several kilometers. The most prominent feature forms a 15 km long, linear, 2 m high NE–SW trending ridge with gravel occurrences having an average grain size of ca. 5 cm on its top. We conclude this feature to represent the surface expression of the previously recognized Mönchhof Fault. In general, this multi-disciplinary case study shows that ALS DTMs are extremely important for tectono-geomorphic investigations, as they can detect and accurately locate neotectonic structures, especially in low-relief areas.     

Flexural isostasy in the Bolivian Andes: Chaco foreland basin development

The Chaco foreland basin was initiated during the late Oligocene as a result of thrusting in the Eastern Cordillera in response to Nazca–South America plate convergence. Foreland basins are the result of the flexural isostatic response of an elastic plate to orogenic and/or thrust sheet loading. We carried out flexural modelling along a W–E profile (21.4°S) to investigate Chaco foreland basin development using new information on ages of foreland basin strata, elastic and sedimentary thicknesses and structural histories. It was possible to reproduce present-day elevation, gravity anomaly, Moho depth, elastic thicknesses, foreland sedimentary thicknesses and the basin geometry. Our model predicted the basin geometry and sedimentary thicknesses for different evolutionary stages. Measured thicknesses and previously proposed depozones were compared with our predictions. Our results shed more light on the Chaco foreland basin evolution and suggest that an apparent decrease in elastic thickness beneath the Eastern Cordillera and the Interandean Zone could have occurred between 14 and 6 Ma.     

Sedimentary and faunal events revealed by a revised correlation of post‐glacial Hirnantian (Late Ordovician) strata in the Welsh Basin,UK

The discovery of a previously unrecognized unconformity and of new faunas in the type Llandovery area underpins a revised correlation of Hirnantian strata in mid Wales. This has revealed the sedimentary and faunal events which affected the Lower Palaeozoic Welsh Basin during the global rise in sea level that followed the end‐Ordovician glacial maximum and has allowed their interpretation in the context of local and global influences. In peri‐basinal shelfal settings the onset of post‐glacial deepening is recorded by an unfossiliferous, transgressive shoreface sequence (Cwm Clyd Sandstone and Garth House formations) which rests unconformably on Rawtheyan rocks, deformed during an episode of pre‐Hirnantian tectonism. In the deep water facies of the basin centre, this same sequence boundary is now recognized as the contact between fine‐grained, re‐sedimented mudstones and an underlying regressive sequence of turbidite sandstones and conglomerates; it is at a level lower than previously cited and calls into question the established lithostratigraphy. In younger Hirnantian strata, graptolites associated with the newly recognized Ystradwalter Member (Chwefri Formation) demonstrate that this distal shelf unit correlates with the persculptus graptolite‐bearing Mottled Mudstone Member of the basinal succession. Together these members record an important macrofaunal recolonization of the Welsh Basin and mark a key event in the post‐glacial transgression. Further deepening saw the establishment of a stratified water column and the imposition of anoxic bottom water conditions across the basin floor. These post‐glacial Hirnantian events are consistent with the re‐establishment of connections between a silled Welsh Basin and the open Iapetus Ocean. However, a comparison with other areas suggests that each event records a separate deepening episode within a pulsed glacio‐eustatic transgression, while also reflecting changes in post‐glacial climate and patterns of oceanic circulation and associated biotic flux. British Geological Survey © NERC 2009. All rights reserved.     

Principal faults in the Shatsky Rise and their influence upon the evolution of the geological structure in the East Black Sea Region

A fault was traced along the southwestern margin of the Shatsky Rise. It extends to land where it crosses the Mountainous Crimea. Interpretation and analysis of marine seismic and magnetic survey data, as well as geological data on land, allow stating that the fault originated during the rift evolution stage of the East Black Sea Basin. Currently, the fault is in the sea and is a channel for migrating hydrocarbon fluids. Another fault was traced from the West Caucasus into the sea, where it separates the Shatsky Rise into two structural units.     

Coeval versus reciprocal mixed carbonate–siliciclastic deposition, Middle Devonian Baltic Basin, Eastern Europe: implications from the regional tectonic development

The Middle Devonian Narva succession in the Baltic Basin represents a significant turnaround in the history of the basin. The detailed study of core and outcrop sections and the three‐dimensional correlations across the Baltic Basin reveal a carbonate‐dominated, mixed retrogressive succession, overlain by a siliciclastic‐dominated, progradational succession. The palaeogeographic reconstructions show how the shallow, tide‐influenced basin expanded from south‐west to north‐east and, later during the transgression, also to the north, south and east. The transgressive portion of the basin fill is dominated by carbonate‐rich sabkha and supratidal to intertidal deposits on the basin margins, and subtidal carbonates in the basin centre. Siliciclastic material was derived by tidal currents and storm waves from the south‐west through a tidal inlet and flood‐tidal delta complex. This initial transgressive phase is characterized by the lack of subsidence or even episodic uplifts in the northern/north‐western part of the basin margin, shown by convergence of timelines and the thin (30 m) transgressive succession. In contrast, on the southern margin, the facies associations stack vertically into a 70 to 80 m thick succession, indicating significantly higher subsidence rates. The upper part of the transgressive phase indicates subsidence across the whole basin. The upper, progradational portion of the basin fill is dominated by coarse, siliciclastic, tide‐influenced deltaic deposits that rapidly prograded from north‐west to south‐east. This detailed study on the Narva succession shows that siliciclastic and carbonate deposition was coeval and that mixing occurred at different temporal and spatial scales. The mixing was controlled by grain‐size, volume and location of siliciclastic input rather than relative sea‐level changes as suggested in widely used reciprocal mixing models. It is suggested that the forebulge of the Scandinavian Caledonian fold‐and‐thrust belt migrated to the north‐western margin of the Baltic Basin during the earliest Eifelian, as indicated by the lack of subsidence and probable uplift in the northern/north‐western margin during the early transgressive phase. The forebulge migration ceased although the forebulge had already started to subside during the later stages of the transgressive phase. The deltaic progradation is interpreted to be associated with the orogenic collapse and uplift in the Scandinavian Caledonides that caused the erosion of the foreland basin fill and the coarse sediment transport into the Baltic Basin.     

浊积扇体系沉积微相对物性及成岩控制的定量研究——以鄂尔多斯盆地ZH40区块为例

以鄂尔多斯盆地ZH40区块水下浊积扇沉积体系为例,根据储层物性、铸体薄片鉴定、扫描电镜和X-衍射分析等资料,定量研究水下浊积扇沉积体系沉积微相对物性和成岩的控制作用。分析表明:从水下扇的扇根到扇中,再到扇缘,矿物成分成熟度呈先增加后降低的趋势,扇中微相的长石砂岩最为发育,成分成熟度和结构成熟度最好;在水下扇浊积体系中,扇中微相砂体的溶蚀作用和次生孔隙最为发育;扇根、扇中和扇缘微相砂体机械压实作用引起的孔隙度损失程度接近,而扇根和扇缘微相砂体的胶结作用强烈。储集层成岩作用研究和孔隙度预测中,必须考虑沉积微相的控制作用。     

关于敦化盆地下白垩统的讨论

前人根据敦化盆地的地层的地层,认为该盆地下白垩统为河流—湖泊相碎屑岩。通过对新钻的敦参1井岩屑录井资料的分析、对16条二维地震资料的层位标定与追踪,以及对敦化盆地早白垩世盆地演化阶段的分析,得到了以下主要结论:1)敦化盆地下白垩统可能有两种分布形态,在盆地的主体部位,以浅变质岩形态存在,而在其他部位则以正常沉积岩形态零星存在;2)敦化盆地白垩系的分布规模不大,夹持于一个北北东向的狭窄长槽内;3)敦化盆地早白垩世处于裂谷盆地发展的初始张裂阶段;4)敦化盆地下白垩统不宜作为勘探目的层。     

鄂尔多斯盆地侏罗纪西界分析

鄂尔多斯盆地西界,特别是其早—中侏罗世盆地西界,由于不同期次、不同性质的构造相互叠加而模糊不清,究竟是在贺兰山以西还是现在银川盆地以东的问题,至今尚无共识,极大地影响着矿产资源的评价和找矿战略的部署。本文在前人工作的基础上,通过针对性的野外工作,分析和筛分了不同时期的古构造,探讨了晚侏罗世和早—中侏罗世盆地的西界。文章认为,鄂尔多斯盆地西部巨大的近南北向挤压构造形成于晚侏罗世,而东西向的挤压构造则出现于晚三叠世。两期方向截然不同的挤压构造相互叠加,构成了鄂尔多斯盆地西部复杂的叠加构造和不规则的盆地西界。晚期挤压构造较为清晰,表现为近南北向的逆冲推覆构造带和纵贯盆地南北的“古脊梁”,使盆地西界退缩到桌子山东麓断裂、横山堡—磁窑堡断褶带以及马儿庄冲断裂和崆峒山断裂以东。早期挤压构造受后期构造的叠加改造,断断续续,时隐时现。近东西向挤压构造受古亚洲域的影响,是印支运动的产物,近南北向挤压构造转受滨太平洋域的作用,是燕山运动的表现。在古亚洲域向太平洋域转换过程中的早—中侏罗世,鄂尔多斯盆地西部出现了近东西向的拉张伸展,在盆地内部表现为近东西向隆起凹陷的古地形,使盆地西缘波状弯曲,而非平直,“银川古隆起”和“汝箕沟—鄂尔多斯盆地”两者并存,并不矛盾。早—中侏罗世盆地西界可能远至阿拉善地块。上述中生代构造又经新生代构造改造,变得更加复杂多样,甚至面目全非。如不注意构造筛分,中生代构造乃至盆地边界的研究就会被误导,从而得出错误结论。     

准噶尔盆地天然气成藏体系和成藏过程分析

准噶尔盆地目前已发现的天然气以中—小型的中浅层晚期次生气藏为主。研究表明,以区域盖层上三叠统白碱滩组泥岩为界可划分为下部近源原生天然气成藏体系和上部远源次生天然气成藏体系,前者一般具有异常高压的特征,后者则具有正常的压力系统。通过对盆地东部地区、腹部地区、西北缘地区、莫索湾凸起天然气成藏过程的解剖获得了比较一致的认识,即上部次生天然气是在下部原生天然气的改造和调整的基础上形成的,下部天然气成藏体系的原生大—中型天然气藏是未来准噶尔盆地天然气的勘探方向。值得注意的是南缘冲断带的上部成藏体系既有源自侏罗系煤系烃源岩的原生天然气聚集,又伴随有次生天然气藏的形成。