The Vigny limestones: a record of Palaeocene (Danian) tectonic-sedimentary events in the Paris Basin

Danian marine sedimentation in the Paris Basin occurred between two major erosional phases. The earlier was responsible for the stripping of presumably deposited Maastrichtian sediments and of a variable thickness of Campanian chalk. The later occurred during the late Palaeocene and resulted in the erosion of almost all Danian deposits, which are now limited to small and scattered outcrops. One of these outcrops corresponds to reefal and peri‐reefal limestones of middle to late Danian age, exposed in the quarries of Vigny (NW of Paris). Danian deposits here show intricate relations with the surrounding Campanian chalk. Danian sedimentation was contemporaneous with faulting, which generated signifiant sea‐floor relief and resulted in contrasting depositional areas: topographic highs with coralgal reefs, and depressions where calcirudite channel fill accumulated. Normal faulting occurred along WNW–ESE master faults. The generation of submarine fault scarps gave rise to various types of gravity‐driven phenomena, including the sliding and slumping of large blocks of reefal limestone and the deposition of carbonate debris flows. Along with the redeposition of the Danian carbonates, flows of fluidized and reworked Campanian chalk resulted from the peculiar physical properties of the undercompacted chalks. Erosion and faulting occurred predominantly during the Palaeocene and represent a major episode in the physiographic evolution of the Paris Basin.     

Volcaniclastic resedimentation in distal fluvial basins induced by large-volume explosive volcanism: the Ebisutoge–Fukuda tephra, Plio-Pleistocene boundary, central Japan

The Ebisutoge–Fukuda tephra (Plio‐Pleistocene boundary, central Japan) has a well‐recorded eruptive style, history, magnitude and resedimentation styles, despite the absence of a correlative volcanic edifice. This tephra was ejected by an extremely large‐magnitude and complex volcanic eruption producing more than 400 km³ total volume of volcanic materials (volcanic explosivity index=7), which extended more than 300 km away from the probable eruption centre. Remobilization of these ejecta occurred progressively after the completion of a series of eruptions, resulting in thick resedimented volcaniclastic deposits in spatially separated fluvial basins, more than 100 km from the source. Facies analysis of resedimented volcaniclastic deposits was carried out in distal fluvial basins. The distal tephra (≈100–300 km from the source) comprises two different lithofacies, primary pyroclastic‐fall deposits and reworked volcaniclastic deposits. The resedimented volcaniclastic succession shows five distinct sedimentary facies, interpreted as debris‐flow deposits (facies A), hyperconcentrated flow deposits (facies B), channel‐fill deposits (facies C), floodplain deposits with abundant flood‐flow deposits (facies D) and floodplain deposits with rare flood deposits (facies E). Resedimented volcaniclastic materials at distal locations originated from unconsolidated deposits of a climactic, large ignimbrite‐forming eruption. Factors controlling inter‐ and intrabasinal facies changes are (1) temporal change of introduced volcaniclastic materials into the basin; (2) proximal–distal relationship; and (3) distribution pattern of pyroclastic‐flow deposits relative to drainage basins. Thus, studies of the Ebisutoge–Fukuda tephra have led to a depositional model of volcaniclastic resedimentation in distal areas after extremely large‐magnitude eruptions, an aspect of volcaniclastic deposits that has often been ignored or poorly understood.     

Reef margin collapse, gully formation and filling within the Permian Capitan Reef: Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA

An area of reef margin collapse, gully formation and gully fill sedimentation has been identified and mapped within Left Hand Tunnel, Carlsbad Caverns. It demonstrates that the Capitan Reef did not, at all times, form an unbroken border to the Delaware Basin. Geopetally arranged sediments within cavities from sponge–algal framestones of the reef show that the in situ reef today has a 10° basinwards structural dip. Similar dips in adjacent back-reef sediments, previously considered depositional, probably also have a structural origin. Reoriented geopetal structures have also allowed the identification of a 200-m-wide, 25-m-deep gully within the reef, which has been filled by large (some  >15 m), randomly orientated and, in places, overturned blocks and boulders, surrounded by finer reef rubble, breccias and grainstones. Block supply continued throughout gully filling, implying that spalling of reef blocks was a longer term process and was not a by-product of the formation of the gully. Gully initiation was probably the result of a reef front collapse, with a continued instability of the gully bordering reef facies demonstrated by their incipient brecciation and by faults containing synsedimentary fills. Gully filling probably occurred during reef growth, and younger reef has prograded over the gully fill. Blocks contain truncated former aragonite botryoidal cements, indicating early aragonite growth within the in situ reef. In contrast, former high-magnesian calcite rind cements post-date sedimentation within the gully. The morphology of cavern passages is controlled by reef facies variation, with narrower passages cut into the in situ reef and wider passages within the gully fill. Gully fills may also constitute more permeable zones in the subsurface.     

Primary versus secondary and subaerial versus submarine hydrovolcanic deposits in the subsurface of Jeju Island, Korea

Jeju Island is a Quaternary shield volcano built upon the Yellow Sea continental shelf off the Korean Peninsula. Decades of borehole drilling reveals that the shield‐forming lavas of the island are underlain by extensive hydrovolcanic deposits (the Seoguipo Formation), which are about 100 m thick and show diverse depositional features. This study provides criteria for distinguishing between hydrovolcanic deposits formed by primary (pyroclastic) and secondary (resedimentation) processes in subaerial and submarine settings based on the observations of several selected cores from the formation. Five facies associations are identified, including: (i) primary hydrovolcanic deposits formed by pyroclastic surges and co‐surge fallouts in tuff rings (facies association PH_TR); (ii) primary hydrovolcanic deposits formed by Surtseyan fallout and related pyroclastic transport processes in tuff cones (facies association PH_TC); (iii) secondary hydrovolcanic deposits formed by debris flows, hyperconcentrated flood flows, sheet floods and rill flows in subaerial settings (facies association RH_AE); (iv) secondary hydrovolcanic deposits formed in submarine settings under the influence of waves, tides and occasional mass flows (facies association RH_MAR); and (v) non‐volcaniclastic and fine‐grained deposits formed in nearshore to offshore settings (facies association NV_MAR). The primary hydrovolcanic facies associations (PH_TR and PH_TC) are distinguished from one another on the basis of distinct lithofacies characteristics and vertical sequence profiles. These facies differ from the secondary hydrovolcanic and non‐volcaniclastic facies associations (RH_AE, RH_MAR and NV_MAR) because of their distinctive sedimentary structures, textures and compositions. The depositional processes and settings of some massive and crudely stratified volcaniclastic deposits, which occur in many facies associations, could not be discriminated unambiguously even with microscopic observations. Nevertheless, these facies associations could generally be distinguished because they occur typically in packets or sequences, several metres to tens of metres thick and bounded by distinct stratigraphic discontinuities, and comprise generally distinct sets of lithofacies. The overall characteristics of the Seoguipo Formation suggest that it is composed of numerous superposed phreatomagmatic volcanoes intercalated with marine or non‐marine, volcaniclastic or non‐volcaniclastic deposits. Widespread and continual hydrovolcanic activity, together with volcaniclastic sedimentation, is inferred to have persisted for more than a million years in Jeju Island under the influence of fluctuating Quaternary sea‐levels, before effusion of the shield‐forming lavas. Extensive distribution of hydrovolcanic deposits in the subsurface of Jeju Island highlights that there can be significant differences in the eruption style, growth history and internal structure between shelfal shield volcanoes and oceanic island volcanoes.     

广西巴吉地区全新世累托石粘土岩的发现及其矿物学研究

在中国广西巴吉地区第四纪全新世发现累托石粘土岩层。主要矿物组成为累托石、少量伊利石、叶蜡石和高岭石。X射线分析显示，天然走向片累托石的d（001）=2．3994±0.011nm，经乙二醇处理后，d（001）=2．661±0．005nm，根据MacEwan的直接傅立叶变换法，计算了乙二醇处理后的累托石基面反射的傅立叶变换，并得出两种成分层的概率是PI：PM=0．499：0．501和VC=0．03，表明这是规则性极好的间层矿物。其主要化学组成是SiO2、Al2O3和H2O，微量元素Zr、Pb、Y、Sn含量高于地壳中克拉克值。还利用红外、差热和透射电镜、扫描电镜以及高分辨电镜研究了其矿物学特征。巴吉累托石粘土岩主要是由原生累托石粘土岩层经过侵蚀和搬运再沉积形成的。     

扬子区早寒武世早期磷质小壳化石的再沉积和地层对比问题

扬子区早寒武世早期的磷酸盐化小壳化石的发现,为早期动物演化及震旦系-寒武系界线地层的划分与对比研究做出了重要贡献。但碳酸盐岩地层中的这类小壳化石易于被风化剥离出来并成为磷质颗粒再沉积,这种现象在地层中常能遇到,它会给对某些生物分布时限的确定和地层对比造成混乱。考虑早寒武世一些主要小壳化石的再沉积和地层对比时要注意以下问题:1)带和带的磷质小壳化石产于Paokannia或Hunanocephalus的层位,它们无疑是再沉积的;2)组合带标志性化石与组合带标准化石共生,应判定其沉积时期为组合带时;3)扬子台地区的梅树村阶地层大都不全或缺失,保存的梅树村阶地层普遍与震旦系灯影组不同层位假整合接触,其岩性及生物特征均与下伏地层不同,另建组级地层单位是合理的;4)“杨家沟段”、“西蒿坪段”、“宝石坡组”不能作为灯影组顶部地层,它们是水井沱组沉积旋回的一部分,更不能因它们是筇竹寺期的沉积而把“灯影组”顶界上升到筇竹寺阶;5)滇东北地区大海段中产有丰富的Heraultipegmayunnanensis,它与Siphogonuchitestriangularis和Paragloborilussubglobosus共生,分布局限,其他地区仅在组合带中零星分布,所以在S.triangularis-P.subglo-bosus组合带()的上部建立一个H.yunnanensis组合亚带似乎更合适些。     

Depositional architecture of a rimmed carbonate platform (Albian, Gorbea, western Pyrenees)

A Lower Cretaceous carbonate platform depositional system with a rimmed margin and an adjacent oversteepened slope was analysed in order to determine its depositional architecture and major depositional controls. The platform is made up of coral, rudist, orbitolinid and algal limestones and, in a 12-km dip transect, there is a gradation from lagoon to platform margin, slope and basin environments, each characterized by distinctive sedimentological features and facies associations. The rimmed platform is an aggradational system developed during approximately 4·2 million years of fluctuating relative sea-level rise, and it is bounded by unconformities at its base and top. Internal cyclicity in the construction of the system is evident, mainly in platform interior and slope settings. The seven recognized sequences average 0·6 million years in duration and are related to minor relative sea-level changes. Carbonate deposition occurred in shallow- and deep-water settings during periods of high relative sea level. Reduced rates of sea-level rise led to the development of shallowing upward sequences and, eventually, to the exposure of the shallowest parts of the platform during relative sea-level falls. During low relative sea level, erosion surfaces developed on the slope, and gravitational resedimentation occurred at the toe of slope. Basinwards, resedimented units pinch out over distances of a few hundred metres. Active faults controlled sedimentation at the platform margin, promoting the development of steep slopes (up to 35°) and preventing progradation of the shallow-water platform, despite high sediment production rates. The development of sequences is interpreted to be related to tectonic activity.     

Resedimentation of cold pumiceous ignimbrite into water: facies transformations simulated in flume experiments

Deposits and transport processes resulting from the resedimentation of cold, unconsolidated ignimbrite into water were simulated by flume experiments. The ignimbrite sample used was poorly sorted (σ = 2·4–3), fine ash‐rich (< 63 μm, 17–30 wt%) and included both dense lithic clasts (> 2000 kg m^?3) and pumice (500 to ca 1300 kg m^?3). As a result of the binding forces of the ash matrix, the experiments involved resedimentation from a steep front onto the floor (with or without an initial ramp) of the water‐filled tank under both still and wave‐generated conditions. Larger discrete collapse events were induced by oversteepening the sample front and by undercutting from wave action. The mass of the collapse and proportion of pore–space water strongly influenced the style of resedimentation and the deposits. Initial collapse events were from the top of the steep front and fell onto the floor. The largest, densest clasts were deposited as a lithic lag in a proximal sediment wedge or rolled down to a break‐in‐slope. Fine ash was transported in dilute turbidity currents, and coarse unsaturated pumice clasts floated off. Moderate collapse events generated high‐density turbidity currents, trapping pumice in the flow, causing them to saturate. These low‐density pumice clasts were easily remobilized by wave activity and passing currents and accumulated on the gentle slope at the bottom of the resedimented deposit. Large collapse events slumped, producing poorly sorted mounds similar in texture to the original starting material. As the matrix of the ignimbrite sample became saturated with water, moderate and large collapse events generated debrisflows and slurries that deposited massive, poorly sorted deposits. Furthermore, once more gentle slopes were established between the sample and deposit, small cascading grainflows deposited lithic clasts on the upper slopes and levees of pumice at the terminus of low‐relief, ash channels. The experiments show that, excluding large collapse events and debrisflows, resedimenting ignimbrite in water is effective at segregating low‐density pumice clasts from dense lithic clasts and fine ash. Experiments using fine‐ash poor ignimbrite and well‐sorted quartz sand for comparison formed an inherently unstable initial steep front that immediately collapsed by continuous grain avalanches. The grainflow deposits had textures similar to the fines‐poor starting material.