Deformation styles as a key for interpreting glacial depositional environments

Lithostratigraphical and lithofacies approaches used to interpret glacial sediments often ignore deformation structures that can provide the key to environment of formation. We propose a classification of deformation styles based on the geometry of structures rather than inferred environment of formation. Five styles are recognised: pure shear (P), simple shear (S), compressional (C), vertical (V) and undeformed (U). These dictate the first letter of the codes; the remaining letters conveying the evidence. This information can be used to reconstruct palaeostress fields and to infer physical properties of sediments when they deformed. Individual structures are not diagnostic of particular environments but the suite of structures, their relative scale, stratigraphical relationships, and orientation relative to palaeoslopes and to palaeoice‐flow directions can be used to infer the environment in which they formed. This scheme is applied at five sites in west Wales. The typical succession is interpreted as subglacial sediments overlain by meltout tills, flow tills and sediment flows. Paraglacial redistribution of glacial sediments is widespread. Large‐scale compressional deformation is restricted to sites where glaciers readvanced. Large‐scale vertical deformation occurs where water was locally ponded near the ice margin. There is no evidence for glaciomarine conditions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东营凹陷永55区块沙四上亚段深水浊积扇沉积与油气

深水浊积扇是东营凹陷北部陡坡带永55区块沙四上亚段最发育的沉积相,也是最有利的砂砾岩储层。在岩心观察基础上,通过薄片鉴定、粒度分析等测试手段,综合地质、物探和测井资料,对永55区块砂砾岩体储层的沉积特征进行了研究。结果表明,本区深水浊积扇沉积具有如下特征：(1)岩石成分成熟度和结构成熟度均较低;(2)碎屑物质以递变悬浮搬运为主;(3)沉积构造具有典型的重力流成因特征;(4)岩心中见典型鲍马沉积序列。建立了深水浊积扇退积型沉积模式,并进一步细分为内扇、中扇和外扇3个亚相及4个微相。位于中扇的辫状沟道砂体物性好,可以构成优质储层,较深湖暗色泥岩为主要的烃源岩和盖层,本区生、储、盖发育齐全,有着良好的勘探开发前景。     

新生代西昆仑隆升的地层学和沉积学记录

西昆仑北坡的新生代沉积在很大程度上良好地记录了新生代西昆仑的隆升过程。区域性不整合面和沉积界面记录了隆升的阶段性；沉积环境变化反映了山体和盆地在格局上的变化；沉积物厚度、粒度变化显示了隆升的幅度和速率。就西昆仑的情况看，海相环境（塔里木海湾）由晚白垩世持续到渐新世，尽管此时海湾已退缩到西部。在此期间，形成了石膏层、瓣鳃类介壳灰岩和杂色砂泥质沉积。中新世全面出现了陆相沉积。中新世2000－3000m的沉积厚度表明了相对较高的隆升速率。从中新世后期开始的厚达2000－3000m的磨拉石沉积，其粒度向上加大，显示从中新世后期到早更新世隆升速率高而且是加速的。磨拉石沉积被早更新世的一次强烈的构造脉动所打断，它使磨拉石沉积和较老的沉积在许多地方高角度向盆地方向倾斜甚至直立、倒转。水平盖在磨拉石和更老地层之上的中－晚更新世河流和冲积扇机粗粒沉积是重新隆升的标志，亦可视为磨拉石沉积的继续。由昆仑山流向塔里木盆地的河流将中－上更新统及更老沉积切割50－100m以上，表明全新世以来的隆升速率是相当高的。     

旋回地层学理论基础、研究进展和展望

在过去30余年中旋回地层学研究得到了极大发展, 对理解和解决地球科学领域众多科学问题做出了很大贡献.旋回地层学(Cyclostratigraphy)已被定义为"对地层记录的(准)周期性旋回变化进行识别、描述、对比和成因解释, 并将其应用于地质年代学以提高地层年代框架的精度和分辨率, 实现地层高精度划分与对比的一门地层学分支学科".能够反映古气候变化的岩性、岩相、地球物理和地球化学参数(即古气候替代指标)均可用于旋回地层学分析.通过岩性组合识别、频谱分析、连续窗口频谱分析、小波分析、滤波和调谐等方法可进行识别米兰科维奇旋回信号和建立高精度天文年代标尺.中国学者在北方黄土剖面、南海新近纪海相沉积、古生代海相沉积和部分中新生代陆相沉积中获得了良好的旋回地层学研究成果.对中国东北松辽盆地陆相白垩系和华南海相二叠系乐平统—中三叠统开展旋回地层学研究有望取得重要突破.      

Shaler: in situ analysis of a fluvial sedimentary deposit on Mars

This paper characterizes the detailed sedimentology of a fluvial sandbody on Mars for the first time and interprets its depositional processes and palaeoenvironmental setting. Despite numerous orbital observations of fluvial landforms on the surface of Mars, ground‐based characterization of the sedimentology of such fluvial deposits has not previously been possible. Results from the NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover provide an opportunity to reconstruct at fine scale the sedimentary architecture and palaeomorphology of a fluvial environment on Mars. This work describes the grain size, texture and sedimentary facies of the Shaler outcrop, reconstructs the bedding architecture, and analyses cross‐stratification to determine palaeocurrents. On the basis of bedset geometry and inclination, grain‐size distribution and bedform migration direction, this study concludes that the Shaler outcrop probably records the accretion of a fluvial barform. The majority of the outcrop consists of large‐scale trough cross‐bedding of coarse sand and granules. Palaeocurrent analyses and bedform reconstruction indicate that the beds were deposited by bedforms that migrated towards the north‐east, across the surface of a bar that migrated south‐east. Stacked cosets of dune cross‐bedding suggest aggradation of multiple bedforms, which provides evidence for short periods of sustained flow during Shaler deposition. However, local evidence for aeolian reworking and the presence of potential desiccation cracks within the outcrop suggest that fluvial deposition may have been intermittent. The uppermost strata at Shaler are distinct in terms of texture and chemistry and are inferred to record deposition from a different sediment dispersal system with a contrasting provenance. The outcrop as a whole is a testament to the availability of liquid water on the surface of Mars in its early history.     

New results concerning the pedo- and chronostratigraphy of the loess–palaeosol sequence Attenfeld (Bavaria,Germany) derived from a multi-methodological approach

Loess–palaeosol sequences (LPS) represent important records of palaeoenvironmental dynamics throughout the Quaternary. During the Pleistocene's dry and cold phases, the Danube's riverbed was one of the major sources for loess sediments that built up LPS in southern Germany and southeastern Europe. Surprisingly, studies addressing Bavarian LPS along the Danube River often lack actuality. The Attenfeld site was one of them and is often cited as a typical LPS. Nevertheless, the site's previous interpretations are based on a few empirical data and field observations. Considering the site's closeness to the sediment's source area, the Alps, and the region's importance in Middle and Upper Palaeolithic migrational movements, those former renditions needed an evaluation. Therefore, we applied a multi-proxy approach (including analyses of grain-size distribution, element composition, and sediment colour attributes) combined with optically stimulated luminescence. Based on our findings, we conclude that the Attenfeld site's former interpretations might be too generalised. We identified units that were not mentioned by previous studies (e.g. Early Glacial dark greyish horizon). Field observations, sediment characteristics, and age estimates indicate sediment deposition of the dated units partly before MIS 4, which contrasts with previous interpretations. The results further demonstrate how sensitive LPS are to environmental settings and dynamics.     

南海北部冷泉区深水珊瑚的发现及其特征

冷水珊瑚也称为深水珊瑚, 在生物多样性、生态资源和科研价值等方面具有重要意义。文章对采自南海北部冷泉区的冷水珊瑚骨骼碎屑进行测定, 鉴定出冷水珊瑚2个种(Crispatotrochus sp.1和Crispatotrochus sp.2), 以及4个属[Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia)、Balanophyllia (Eupsammia)、Lochmaeotrochus和Enallopsammia]。测定的冷水珊瑚的δ¹³C为-7.36‰~-1.15‰, δ¹⁸O为-1.38‰~3.67‰, 与全球冷水珊瑚碳氧同位素组成相似, 但明显不同于南海暖水珊瑚、冷泉碳酸盐岩及低温热液成因碳酸盐岩的碳氧同位素组成。     

全球旋回地层学

全球旋回地层学是指在对全球沉积岩进行综合系统研究之基础上，通过估算沉积盆地中源于物源区的沉积物类型和沉积环境条件变化，来预测地层学特征的一种过程一结果模型。其研究内容包括对全球地质演化时期全球海平面变化、全球气候条件、全球构造运动、全球古地理背景、全球沉积环境特征、全球古生物事件及全球矿产形成过程进行动态模拟，强调古气候在地质记录中的意义，注重沉积记录的全球同时性研究；强调各种事件在沉积作用中的意     

Reservoir Characteristics and Genetic Mechanisms of the Mesozoic Granite Buried Hills in the Deep‐water of the Qiongdongnan Basin,Northern South China Sea

Due to its structure,rock and mineral composition,fluid and other factors,the granite Buried Hill Reservoir is highly heterogeneous with a complex longitudinal structure and a reservoir space made up of a combination of dissolution pores and fractures.This paper is based on current understanding of tectonic evolution in the northern part of the South China Sea,in conjunction with the seismic phase characteristics.It is determined that the meshed fault system was formed by three stages of movement-tectonic compression orogeny during the Indochinese epoch,strike-slip compression-tension during the Yanshanian Period,early fracture extension activation during the Himalayan-which controlled the distribution of the Buried Hill Reservoir.Drilling revealed two types of buried hills,faulted anticline and fault horst,their longitudinal structure and the reservoir space type being significantly different.The mineral composition,reservoir space and diagenetic characteristics of the reservoir rocks and minerals were analyzed by lithogeochemistry,micro section and logging etc.,it thus being determined that the Mesozoic rocks of the Songnan Low Uplift in the Qiongdongnan Basin are mainly composed of syenogranite,granodiorite,monzogranite,which is the material basis for the development of the Buried Hill Reservoir.The content of felsic and other brittle minerals is more than 70%,making it easy for it to be transformed into fractures.At the same time,the weathering resistance of granodiorite and monzogranite is weaker than that of syenogranite,which is easily weathered and destroyed,forming a thick sand gravel weathering zone.With increasing depth of burial,weathering and dissolution gradually weaken,the deep acidic fluid improving the reservoir property of internal fractures and expanding the vertical distribution range of the reservoirs.The research results lay a foundation for the exploration of Buried Hill in the deep-water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin.