The use of multivariate statistics to elucidate patterns of floodplain sedimentation at different spatial scales

Floodplains are depositional features of riverine landscapes that display complex sedimentation patterns that are amenable to multi‐scale approaches. We examined sedimentation in the Lower Balonne floodplain, Queensland, Australia, at three different spatial scales: the channel (10³ km), floodplain process zone (10 km) and geomorphic unit (10² m) scales, and compared scale‐related patterns evident from stratigraphy with those evident from quantitative multivariate analysis. Three stratigraphic sequences were found in the Lower Balonne floodplain: generally fining upward, episodic fining upward, and mud‐dominated. Stratigraphical analysis revealed the detailed character of sedimentary sequences embedded within the scale patterns derived from multivariate analysis. Multivariate statistical analyses of a range of textural and geochemical data revealed different patterns of floodplain sedimentation at each scale. At the channel scale, sediment texture and geochemistry were more heterogeneous in the Culgoa River than in Briarie Creek. At the floodplain process zone scale clear patterns of sediment texture and geochemistry were observed along the upper, mid and lower floodplain process zones of Briarie Creek, but not along the Culgoa River. At the geomorphic unit scale, clear patterns of sediment texture and geochemistry were observed among the bank, buried channel and flat floodplain units of the Culgoa River, but were not as clear in Briarie Creek. Recognition of rivers as hierarchically organized systems is an emerging paradigm in river science. Our study supports this paradigm by demonstrating that different sedimentation patterns occur at different scales to reveal a hierarchically organized floodplain environment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rhyolitic ignimbrites in the Rogerson Graben,southern Snake River Plain volcanic province: volcanic stratigraphy,eruption history and basin evolution

The 80 km long NNE-trending Rogerson Graben on the southern margin of the central Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA, hosts a rhyolitic pyroclastic succession, 200 m thick, that records a period of successive, late-Miocene, large-volume explosive eruptions from the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province, and contemporaneous extension. The succession, here termed the Rogerson Formation, comprises seven members (defined herein) and records at least eight large explosive eruptions with numerous repose periods. Five high-grade and extremely high-grade ignimbrites are intercalated with three non-welded ignimbrites and two volcaniclastic deposits, with numerous repose periods (palaeosols) throughout. Two of the ignimbrites are dominantly rheomorphic and lava-like but contain subordinate non-welded pyroclastic layers. The ignimbrites are typical Snake River Plain high-silica rhyolites, with anhydrous crystal assemblages and high inferred magmatic temperatures (≤ 1,025°C). We tentatively infer that the Jackpot and Rabbit Springs Members may have been emplaced from the Bruneau–Jarbidge eruptive centre on the basis of: (1) flow lineation trends, (2) crystal assemblage, and (3) radiometric age. We infer that the overlying Brown’s View, Grey’s Landing, and Sand Springs Members may have been emplaced from the Twin Falls eruptive centre on the basis of: (1) kinematic indicators (from the east), and (2) crystal assemblage. Furthermore, we have established the contemporaneous evolution of the Rogerson Graben from the emplacement of the Jackpot Member onwards, and infer that it is similar to younger half-graben along the southern margin of the Snake River Plain, formed by local reactivation of Basin and Range structures by the northeastwardly migration of the Yellowstone hot-spot. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Sequence stratigraphy of Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary strata in Luanping,Northern Hebei,China

Division and correlation of terrestrial J-K bound are a knotty-argued problem. The key to solving the problem is to find a deposition-continuous section. Owing to stratigraphic hiatus and organism-phylogeny break, we have been discussing the problem without any unitary criterion for several decades. Tectonic ac-tivities occurring strongly in the J-K transitional pe-riod caused commonly sedimentary omissions and frequently volcanic eruptions in northern Hebei Prov-ince, western Liaoning Prov…     

Geology of the Side Crater of the Erebus volcano,Antarctica

The summit cone of the Erebus volcano contains two craters. The Main crater is roughly circular (∼ 500 m diameter) and contains an active persistent phonolite lava lake ∼ 200 m below the summit rim. The Side Crater is adjacent to the southwestern rim of the Main Crater. It is a smaller spoon-shaped Crater (250–350 m diameter, 50–100 m deep) and is inactive. The floor of the Side Crater is covered by snow/ice, volcanic colluvium or weakly developed volcanic soil in geothermal areas (a.k.a. warm ground). But in several places the walls of the Side Crater provide extensive vertical exposure of rock which offers an insight into the recent eruptive history of Erebus. The deposits consist of lava flows with subordinate volcanoclastic lithologies. Four lithostratigraphic units are described: SC 1 is a compound lava with complex internal flow fabrics; SC 2 consists of interbedded vitric lavas, autoclastic and pyroclastic breccias; SC 3 is a thick sequence of thin lavas with minor autoclastic breccias; SC 4 is a pyroclastic fall deposit containing large scoriaceous lava bombs in a matrix composed primarily of juvenile lapilli-sized pyroclasts. Ash-sized pyroclasts from SC 4 consist of two morphologic types, spongy and blocky, indicating a mixed strombolian-phreatomagmatic origin. All of the deposits are phonolitic and contain anorthoclase feldspar.     

地层学的进展对盆地研究的意义

地层学是地质研究的基本问题.从传统地层学发展到地震地层学及层序地层学,地层学的研究发生了一个极大的飞跃.其重要意义可与板块学说的问世相比拟.地震记录仪器的更新换代,地震学和地震勘探技术的发展,是层序地层学得以诞生的基础之一.运用层序地层学理论和方法确切地识别沉积相、沉积环境,建立完整的沉积体系,预测油气的生储盖组合,更易追踪对比的目标层.因此,它对于盆地研究具有非常重要的意义.     

A sediment core sectioning method to minimize the post-sampling redistribution of organisms

We present a mechanical method to horizontally section soft bottom sediment cores to minimize the vertical post-sampling redistribution of motile infaunal macroinvertebrates. A clear acrylic core tube for a standard Kajak-Brinkhurst corer was modified by cutting a series of horizontal slits into the side of the core tube to allow the insertion of sectioning plates for physically sealing each section immediately after core retrieval. The modification is simple, inexpensive and easily adapted to any open barrel gravity corer.     

Some fundamental problems in outcrop sequence stratigraphy

Some fundamental problems in outcrop sequence stratigraphy are discussed, and the following ideas are obtained: (i) Detailed sedimentary facies analysis and study on stacking pattern of parasequences, careful and accurate study of biostratigraphy, and stratigraphical correlation of different facies areas are the essential conditions for proper identification of sequences. (ii) The first flooding surface may be an ideal sequence boundary in outcrop sequence stratigraphy, where the most distinct palaeontological and sedimentary changes take place and make the surface readily recognizable in outcmp. (iii) The distribution in space, specially in different facies belts, is regarded as an important criterion for defining and recognizing the various orders of sequences. The third-order sequence is probably global in nature, which may be discerned in various depositional facies belts at least on one continental margin, and can be correlated over long distances, sometimes worldwide. (iv) The first flooding surface may be used as a useful reference marker in optimizing chronostratigraphic boundaries. Project jointly supported by the SSER, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources of China.     

Diatomeenstratigraphische Untersuchungen zur Trophieänderung und Industrieschlammakkumulation im Traunsee/Österreich

Three cores from Traunsee were investigated and compared with respect to diatom stratigraphy concerning dating of incursions into and rate of accumulation of industrial tailings in the profundal zone.

     

Evolution of the southeastern Lachlan Fold Belt in Victoria

The Benambra Terrane of southeastern Australia is the eastern, allochthonous portion of the Lachlan Fold Belt with a distinctive Early Silurian to Early Devonian history. Its magmatic, metamorphic, structural, tectonic and stratigraphic histories are different from the adjacent, autochthonous Whitelaw Terrane and record prolonged orogen‐parallel dextral displacement. Unlike the Whitelaw Terrane, parts of the proto‐Benambra Terrane were affected by extensive Early Silurian plutonism associated with high T/low P metamorphism. The orogen‐parallel movement (north‐south) is in addition to a stronger component of east‐west contraction. Three main orogenic pulses deformed the Victorian portion of the terrane. The earliest, the Benambran Orogeny, was the major cratonisation event in the Lachlan Fold Belt and caused amalgamation of the components that comprise the Benambra Terrane. It produced faults, tight folding and strong cleavage with both east‐west and north‐south components of compression. The Bindian (= Bowning) Orogeny, not seen in the Whitelaw Terrane, was the main period of southward tectonic transport in the Benambra Terrane. It was characterised by the development of large strike‐slip faults that controlled the distribution of second‐generation cleavage, acted as conduits for syntectonic granites and controlled the deformation of Upper Silurian sequences. Strike‐slip and thrust faults form complex linked systems that show kinematic indicators consistent with overall southward tectonic transport. A large transform fault is inferred to have accommodated approximately 600 km of dextral strike‐slip displacement between the Whitelaw and Benambra Terranes. The Benambran and Bindian Orogenies were each followed by periods of extension during which small to large basins formed and were filled by thick sequences of volcanics and sediments, partly or wholly marine. Some of the extension appears to have occurred along pre‐existing fractures. Silurian basins were inverted during the Bindian Orogeny and Early Devonian basins by the Tabberabberan Orogeny. In the Melbourne Zone, just west of the Benambra Terrane, sedimentation patterns in this interval, in particular the complete absence of material derived from the deforming Benambra Terrane, indicate that the two terranes were not juxtaposed until just before the Tabberabberan Orogeny. This orogeny marked the end of orogen‐parallel movement and brought about the amalgamation of the Whitelaw and Benambra Terranes along the Governor Fault. Upper Devonian continental sediments and volcanics form a cover sequence to the terranes and their structural zones and show that no significant rejuvenation of older structures occurred after the Middle Devonian.     

Correlation of Devonian rocks

The Mount Black lead‐zinc deposit at Cooleman Plains, southern New South Wales, occurs in the uppermost part of the moderately folded, weakly metamorphosed, Upper Silurian Cooleman Limestone. A joint‐controlled collapse‐breccia zone interpreted as a palaeokarst structure has been partly replaced by quartz, sphalerite, galena, and a little chalcopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, tetrahedrite, arseno‐pyrite, and mackinawite. These minerals show evidence of having encrusted and replaced limestone fragments in the breccia. Oxidic Zn, Pb, Cu, and Fe minerals have formed by the near‐surface oxidation of the sulphides.

Petrographic and field evidence indicates that the quartz and sulphides were deposited mainly by encrustation and precipitation from saline solutions (possibly diagenetically expelled connate brines) in cavities, probably at low temperature at shallow depth. The deposit has many similarities to Mississippi Valley‐type lead‐zinc deposits.