Seismic records of late Pleistocene aridity in Lake Tanganyika,tropical East Africa

New intermediate-resolution, normal-incidence seismic reflection profiles from Lake Tanganyika’s central basin capture dramatic evidence of base-level change during two intervals of the late Pleistocene. Four seismically-defined stratigraphic sequences (A–D) tied to radiocarbon-dated sediment cores provide a chronology for fluctuating environmental conditions along the Kalya Platform. Stacked, oblique clinoforms in Sequence C are interpreted as prograding siliciclastic deltas deposited during a major regression that shifted the paleo-lake shore ∼21 km towards the west prior to ∼106 ka. The topset-to-foreset transitions in these deltas suggest lake level was reduced by ∼435 m during the period of deposition. Mounded reflections in the overlying sequence are interpreted as the backstepping remnants of the delta system, deposited during the termination of the lowstand and the onset of transgressive conditions in the basin. The youngest depositional sequence reflects the onset of profundal sedimentation during the lake level highstand. High amplitude reflections and deeply incised channels suggest a short-lived desiccation event that reduced lake level by ∼260 m, interpreted as a product of Last Glacial Maximum (32–14 ka) aridity. Paleobathymetric maps constructed for the two interpreted regressions reveal that despite the positive lake-floor topography created by the Kavala Island Ridge Accommodation Zone, Lake Tanganyika remained a large, mostly connected water body throughout the late Pleistocene. The results of this analysis further imply that Lake Tanganyika is the most drought resistant water body in the East African tropics, and may have acted as a refuge for local and migrating fauna during periods of prolonged aridity.     

RASC/CASC: Example of Creative Application of Statistics in Geology

RASC/CASC is a computer-based system for quantitative stratigraphic analysis developed by Agterberg, Gradstein, and co-workers. The application of the system to the Neogene biostratigraphy of the Pearl River Mouth Basin demonstrates the advantages of the system. The occurrence data of hundreds of fossils from dozens of wells are analyzed objectively based on established stratigraphic and statistical rules embedded in the system. Through permutation of the score matrix, the optimum sequence of fossil events is obtained. The calculation of inter-fossil distances allows the automated biostratigraphic zonation and the age-event correlation. Then the regional geological timetable is constructed and the inter-well chronological correlation and high-resolution subsidence analysis becomes possible, even for wells with incomplete fossil records. Uncertainty at each step is quantified. While all these are important accomplishments in a stratigraphic study, results of the study also help identify problems in allocation of fossil events and dating lithologic divisions.     

近岸水下扇沉积体系高精度层序地层学研究

以东营凹陷胜北断层下降盘坨85块沙河街组沙三中亚段近岸水下扇沉积体为例,对近岸水下扇沉积体系下的高精度层序地层学进行了研究。经过分析认为,近岸水下扇沉积体系中的高精度层序地层单元划分为准层序组、准层序、层组、层四级,并对准层序和层组的类型和对比方法进行了总结。将近岸水下扇积体系中的层组类型划分为Fu(Fineup)、Cu(Coareseup)和Hu(Homogenicup)三大类,准层序类型划分为Cu-Fu、Cu-Cu、Cu-Hu三大类,同时总结出了沿物源方向的相序递变和垂直物源方向的侵蚀切割对比2种准层序对比模式和侵蚀叠置、相变对比、薄砂层对比、相似渐变等4种层组对比模式。     

松辽盆地西部坡折带的成因演化及其对地层分布模式的控制作用

大型坳陷湖盆中存在与海相盆地中陆坡相似的坡折带。松辽盆地西部发育套堡-双岗高位坡折带和红岗-海坨子低位坡折带两级坡折带,本次研究系统分析了坡折带的成因演化及对其地层分布的控制作用。早期两级坡折带都受到基底断裂的影响,后期发育过程中套堡-双岗高位坡折带物源的方向和侵蚀力是其主控因素,红岗-海坨子低位坡折带后期主要受沉积物的供应和差异压实作用的影响。套堡-双岗高位坡折带和沟槽的共同作用控制了沉积体系的展布,红岗-海坨子低位坡折带控制了低位域发育的范围。     

构造活动盆地的层序地层与构造地层分析--以中国中、新生代构造活动湖盆分析为例

中国中、新生代构造相对活动的断陷或陆内前陆盆地充填序列一般可划分出5个级别具有地层对比意义的层序地层单元。层序构成和沉积体系域的发育分布受到盆地形成演化过程中各种构造作用的控制。盆地规模的沉积旋回多是盆地幕式裂陷、多幕挤压挠曲沉降、多期构造反转、断块差异沉降等构造作用的沉积响应;高频层序单元的发育则主要与湖平面和沉积物供给量的变化有关。不同构造演化阶段的层序结构和沉积体系域构成等存在显著差异,主要取决于古构造格架和同沉积构造的活动。构造坡折带是由构造活动所产生的、对沉积作用具有长期控制作用的古沉积斜坡或古地貌突变带,在断陷或前陆等盆地中普遍发育,其识别对阐明盆内沉积体系域,特别是构成重要油气藏的低位域的分布和预测具有重要意义。     

Sedimentary regimes in Arctic's Amerasian and Eurasian Basins: Clues to differences in sedimentation rates

A standard lithostratigraphic model based on cores retrieved 1963–1973 from the ice island T-3 was developed by Clark et al. [Stratigraphy and glacial-marine sediments of the Amerasian Basin, central Arctic Ocean. Geological Society of America Special Paper, 181, 1–57, 1980] for the Amerasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean. We have investigated whether or not it is possible to apply this lithostratigraphy to cores from the Lomonosov Ridge, which can be correlated to Eurasian Basin cores, for the purpose of correlating the Amerasian and Eurasian stratigraphies. Published averaged sedimentary proxies from a selected set of T-3 cores are used to correlate with the identical published proxies for the included Lomonosov Ridge cores. The standard lithostratigraphic classification could not be applied to the Lomonosov Ridge cores, which is interpreted to result from differences in sedimentary regimes in the Amerasian and Eurasian Basins. These differences also apply to the barrier between the two basins, the Lomonosov Ridge. The general sedimentation rates are three to four times lower in the Amerasian Basin than in the Eurasian Basin if the first down-core paleomagnetic inclination change is used to correlate between the two basins whereas correlation based on sediment coarse fraction suggests only two times lower rates in the Amerasian Basin.     

陆相前陆盆地沉积充填与层序地层模式探讨——以库车前陆盆地为例

以库车前陆盆地为例,对陆相前陆盆地的形成、沉积充填与层序地层结构、不整合面与层序界面、层序地层组成与其模式、生储盖组合与岩性地层圈闭等关键问题进行了探讨。认为前陆层序是盆缘构造运动的响应,由低位(冲积)体系域、湖侵体系域、高位体系域组成。前陆盆地层序界面表现为构造或沉积不整合面,代表了一次构造幕的发生,其层序地层样式是盆缘造山带构造楔推进作用的结果,是盆地演化的不同阶段的响应,反映了构造运动由强到弱的间歇变化。前陆层序界面代表了沉积结构的大转换,之下为构造稳定阶段的湖相泥岩或膏泥岩,之上为代表构造运动的冲积扇—扇三角洲相的巨厚磨拉石沉积充填。在构造活动期和静止期,盆地不同位置形成不同的沉积充填和地层结构特点。构造活动期以低位(冲积)体系域为主,在毗邻造山带侧以巨厚的冲积扇-扇三角洲-辫状河三角洲相等冲积沉积物为主;构造静止期以湖侵体系域为主,为广泛的河流-湖泊相沉积。沉积厚度从靠近冲断带侧向盆地内逐渐变小。陆相前陆盆地的生储盖组合配置好,储集体广泛分布于低位、湖侵和高位体系域中,以辫状河三角洲和滨湖相为主。其岩性地层圈闭主要分布在前缘斜坡带上,包括沿古隆起边缘的地层超覆不整合圈闭和地层削蚀不整合圈闭,将会成为今后油气勘探的新领域。     

内蒙古查干凹陷下白垩统层序地层格架与沉积体系分布

充分利用岩性组合、岩心、测井、地球化学及古生物等响应,结合构造演化及地震反射特征,在查干凹陷下白垩统识别出7个三级层序界面,将其划分为6个三级层序和16个体系域。层序展布早期具有北薄南厚、东薄西厚的特征,晚期沉积中心北移,呈西厚东薄、北厚南薄的格局。在层序格架内,早期由于毛敦次凸的分割作用,凹陷东西两侧的沉积格局存在差异,总体以水下扇、扇三角洲和辫状河三角洲沉积为主;晚期毛敦次凸逐渐接受沉积,沉积了一套冲积平原、泛滥平原及河流相沉积。下白垩统由下而上发育3套生储盖组合,下部SQ1的低位体系域储层与水进域的泥岩盖层形成自生自储的生储盖组合;中部生储盖组合以SQ2的高位域及SQ3的低位域储层为主;上部组合储层主要为SQ4—SQ6碎屑岩及火山岩储层。     

酒泉盆地营尔凹陷下白垩统层序地层划分及沉积体系特征

以层序地层学为指导,以营尔凹陷地震、钻测井等资料为基础,结合酒泉盆地以往层序地层研究成果,通过对三级层序测井、录井特征分析和地震剖面上局部削截、上超等三级层序标志的识别,确定了层序边界,将下白垩统划分出1个Ⅰ级层序、3个Ⅱ级层序、7个Ⅲ级层序、18个体系域;在层序地层研究的基础上,总结出营尔凹陷下白垩统下沟组具有近物源、多物源、快速沉降、快速沉积的特点,凹陷缓坡发育大型扇三角洲,凹陷陡坡发育近岸水下扇,并指出南部陡坡一系列近岸水下扇应是下一步油气勘探的有利区带。     

New paleomagnetic data on the Anabar Uplift and the Uchur-Maya region and their implications for the paleogeography and geological correlation of the Riphean of the Siberian Platform

The results of paleomagnetic studies of the reference sections of the Riphean and Late Proterozoic intrusive bodies of two remote areas of the Siberian Platform are presented. Within the limits of the Uchur-Maya region the sedimentary rocks of the Gonam, Omakhta, Ennin and Konder formations were studied; and the Riphean sedimentary rocks of the Burdur and Kotuykan formations on the northern and western slopes of the Anabar Uplift and, also, the Late Proterozoic intrusive complexes, located in the basins of the Fomich, Magan, Dzhogdzho and Kotuykan Rivers were studied. The paleomagnetic poles obtained in the course of this work and the present-day geochronological data give grounds to assume that: (1) the accumulation of the Riphean of the Anabar Uplift occurred after the formation of the Uchurskaya series of the Uchur-Maya region and was completed in approximately 1.5 Ga; (2) the Konder layers, compared according to the correlation pattern accepted at the present time [Semikhatov and Serebryakov, 1983] with the bottoms of the Totta formation, can be related to the appreciably more ancient stratigraphic level; (3) the intrusion of the studied intrusive bodies of the northern and western slopes of the Anabar Uplift occurred nonsimultaneously, although within close time intervals of approximately 1.5 Ga. The estimates of the kinematic parameters of the drift of the Siberian Platform within an interval of 1.7–1.0 Ga is carried out.