Pub Date : 2025-06-20DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106925
Javier Elorza , Clemente Recio
Isolated beachrocks appear as relict patches normally attached to protrusions of lower-upper Cretaceous limestones outcropping at Noja, Somo and Sonabia zones in the eastern coast of Cantabria (northern Spain). Additionally, remnant cemented dunes (eolianites) are present at different heights above present sea level. We concentrate on the petrographic features of first-generation cements, that are different in the lower foreshore and upper foreshore-backshore. δ13C and δ18O values measured in the cements of both beachrock and eolianite suggest mixing between marine and meteoric waters, generally with preponderance of the continental contribution. In all the studied examples, Coccus-type bacterial activity has been recognized, suggesting that it is the main trigger for the initiation of cementation. 14C dating shows that the different cementations studied did not occur in a single event at a specific age, since there is a notable variation, from the highest values of 8760 years BP to 2740 years BP, despite the beachrock patches being at the height of the current intertidal zone. In the non-cemented intertidal sands that form the current beaches there are also important variations, difficult to justify, from similar ages of 3050 years BP (Noja) and 3010 years BP (Somo) to a mere 390 years BP (Sonabia).
{"title":"Residual beachrock and coastal eolianite patches without anthropogenic components on the eastern coast of Cantabria (Spain)","authors":"Javier Elorza , Clemente Recio","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Isolated beachrocks appear as relict patches normally attached to protrusions of lower-upper Cretaceous limestones outcropping at Noja, Somo and Sonabia zones in the eastern coast of Cantabria (northern Spain). Additionally, remnant cemented dunes (eolianites) are present at different heights above present sea level. We concentrate on the petrographic features of first-generation cements, that are different in the lower foreshore and upper foreshore-backshore. δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>18</sup>O values measured in the cements of both beachrock and eolianite suggest mixing between marine and meteoric waters, generally with preponderance of the continental contribution. In all the studied examples, <em>Coccus</em>-type bacterial activity has been recognized, suggesting that it is the main trigger for the initiation of cementation. <sup>14</sup>C dating shows that the different cementations studied did not occur in a single event at a specific age, since there is a notable variation, from the highest values of 8760 years BP to 2740 years BP, despite the beachrock patches being at the height of the current intertidal zone. In the non-cemented intertidal sands that form the current beaches there are also important variations, difficult to justify, from similar ages of 3050 years BP (Noja) and 3010 years BP (Somo) to a mere 390 years BP (Sonabia).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 106925"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-18DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106924
Francesco Perri , Sara Criniti , Francesco Cavalcante , Manuel Martín-Martín , Antonio Sánchez-Navas , Salvatore Critelli
The Sierra Espuña and the Mula-Gebas intramontane basin, SE Spain, represent the Internal-External Zone Boundary (IEZB) of the eastern Betic Cordillera. The Miocene infill of this basin seals the IEZB and is mainly derived from the Internal Zone. This deposition is coeval with a Late Miocene volcanism. Therefore, the study of these sediments is crucial for the source-area provenance, sorting and recycling, paleoclimate, weathering, unroofing and tectonic processes, during the intramontane basins developing of the western peri-Mediterranean Chains. Sandstone detrital modes, and mineralogical and chemical compositions of mudrocks were arranged in two sedimentary cycles: (1) the middle Burdigalian-early Langhian, and (2) the middle Tortonian-early Messinian. The quartzolithic to feldspathic lithoarenites infer the erosion from a lithic-transitional recycled to transitional-quartzose recycled orogen, since low-medium grade metamorphic lithics and rare coeval volcanics with andesitic, andesitic-dacitic and rhyodacitic-rhyolitic sources are present. The mudrocks reveal a felsic (granitic-gneiss) source with a minor mafic input in the Upper Miocene. A shallow burial history and low thermal conditions (<∼50 °C) has been also evidenced. Moreover, the paleoclimate changed from warm and/or wet during the Middle Miocene to cold/arid in the Late Miocene.
{"title":"The Miocene sedimentary cover of the Mula-Gebas Basin: Internal-External Zone Boundary of the Betic Cordillera, South Spain","authors":"Francesco Perri , Sara Criniti , Francesco Cavalcante , Manuel Martín-Martín , Antonio Sánchez-Navas , Salvatore Critelli","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106924","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106924","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Sierra Espuña and the Mula-Gebas intramontane basin, SE Spain, represent the Internal-External Zone Boundary (IEZB) of the eastern Betic Cordillera. The Miocene infill of this basin seals the IEZB and is mainly derived from the Internal Zone. This deposition is coeval with a Late Miocene volcanism. Therefore, the study of these sediments is crucial for the source-area provenance, sorting and recycling, paleoclimate, weathering, unroofing and tectonic processes, during the intramontane basins developing of the western peri-Mediterranean Chains. Sandstone detrital modes, and mineralogical and chemical compositions of mudrocks were arranged in two sedimentary cycles: (1) the middle Burdigalian-early Langhian, and (2) the middle Tortonian-early Messinian. The quartzolithic to feldspathic lithoarenites infer the erosion from a lithic-transitional recycled to transitional-quartzose recycled orogen, since low-medium grade metamorphic lithics and rare coeval volcanics with andesitic, andesitic-dacitic and rhyodacitic-rhyolitic sources are present. The mudrocks reveal a felsic (granitic-gneiss) source with a minor mafic input in the Upper Miocene. A shallow burial history and low thermal conditions (<∼50 °C) has been also evidenced. Moreover, the paleoclimate changed from warm and/or wet during the Middle Miocene to cold/arid in the Late Miocene.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 106924"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144338611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Recent studies on Early Eocene climate have established that global climatic warming, characterized by negative carbon isotopic excursions (CIE, hyperthermals) in the atmosphere, are responsible for drastically changes in the terrestrial sedimentary record of sub-tropical basins. Here we present a key sedimentary record to understand geological and climatological changes in order to evaluate the impact of hyperthermals on sediment transport and deposition in continental setting during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) in Europe. Based on an integrative study combining sedimentology, sequential stratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy (carbon isotopes, δ13Corg), the study proposes a detailed constrained chronostratigraphic framework of continental sedimentary series of the Minervois Basin (South of France). Using facies association analysis, the sedimentary succession is divided into three continental sequences bounded by subaerial unconformity deposited through the development of an endoreic underfilled basin. The sequences are composed of floodplain to palustrine-shallow lacustrine carbonate deposits reflecting arid climatic conditions during the EECO. They are cyclically punctuated by the sudden arrival of detrital fluxes with deposits of supercritical bedforms associated to an ephemeral multistorey braided channel plain, reflecting intense and extreme rainfall events in the hinterland. The latter coincides to CIEs corresponding to hyperthermals identified as C24n.1nH1/K (ETM3), C23rH2 (M), and C23n.2nH1-C23n.2nH2 (NO) interval. Extreme monsoon-type events triggered by intense warm-ups during hyperthermals are proposed to explain sudden detrital inputs in the basin. This work confirms that transient hyperthermals can generate drastic hydrological changes in the sedimentary record.
{"title":"Abrupt changes in continental sedimentation triggered by monsoon-type event during EECO hyperthermals, Minervois Basin, Southern France","authors":"Cindy BOYRIE , Flavia GIRARD , Johan YANS , Grégory BALLAS , Fabrice LIHOREAU , Mouloud BENAMMI , Hélène BOURGET , Géraldine GARCIA , Christine LEREDDE , Aimée PELLISSIER-TANON , Xavier VALENTIN , Dominique VIDALENC , Rodolphe TABUCE","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent studies on Early Eocene climate have established that global climatic warming, characterized by negative carbon isotopic excursions (CIE, hyperthermals) in the atmosphere, are responsible for drastically changes in the terrestrial sedimentary record of sub-tropical basins. Here we present a key sedimentary record to understand geological and climatological changes in order to evaluate the impact of hyperthermals on sediment transport and deposition in continental setting during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) in Europe. Based on an integrative study combining sedimentology, sequential stratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy (carbon isotopes, δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>org</sub>), the study proposes a detailed constrained chronostratigraphic framework of continental sedimentary series of the Minervois Basin (South of France). Using facies association analysis, the sedimentary succession is divided into three continental sequences bounded by subaerial unconformity deposited through the development of an endoreic underfilled basin. The sequences are composed of floodplain to palustrine-shallow lacustrine carbonate deposits reflecting arid climatic conditions during the EECO. They are cyclically punctuated by the sudden arrival of detrital fluxes with deposits of supercritical bedforms associated to an ephemeral multistorey braided channel plain, reflecting intense and extreme rainfall events in the hinterland. The latter coincides to CIEs corresponding to hyperthermals identified as C24n.1nH1/K (ETM3), C23rH2 (M), and C23n.2nH1-C23n.2nH2 (N<img>O) interval. Extreme monsoon-type events triggered by intense warm-ups during hyperthermals are proposed to explain sudden detrital inputs in the basin. This work confirms that transient hyperthermals can generate drastic hydrological changes in the sedimentary record.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 106923"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144518051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-12DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106913
Cong Lin , Chaodong Wu , Xutong Guan , Elias J. Rugen , Chufan Ren , Wei Zhang
Cenozoic sedimentary archives are of great importance for understanding the tectono-climatic evolution of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Here, we integrate a detailed field investigation, microscopic observations, unmanned aerial vehicle 3D models, seismic profiles, and transgressive-regressive sequence (T-R sequence) stratigraphy to elucidate the sedimentary and sequence stratigraphy evolution of the SW Qaidam Basin. Three second-order sequences (SS1, SS2, and SS3) were identified based on the unmanned aerial vehicle 3D models and seismic profiles, along with their corresponding underfilled, balanced-filled, and overfilled lake basins. The infilling processes of SS1 and SS2 were significantly influenced by the uplift and strike-slip of the Altyn Tagh Range, paleoclimate variations, and fluctuations of the proto-Paratethys Sea, whereas SS3 was primarily controlled by the intensified uplift and strike-slip of the Altyn Tagh Range. The Altyn Tagh Range experienced multiple stages of uplift, with the incipient strike-slip motion occurring before the Oligocene epoch. Microbialites that formed during periods of relatively high lake level within regressive systems tract act as markers for the maximum regressive surface. Additionally, we propose that these microbialites demonstrate paleoclimate transitions, particularly the climatic shift towards wetter conditions in the Oligocene following their deposition. Newly identified Miocene eolian deposits in the SW Qaidam Basin not only indicate an increasing aridification but also present potential as lithological reservoirs for hydrocarbons.
{"title":"Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of strike-slip fault-controlled continental lakes: Insights from the SW Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Cong Lin , Chaodong Wu , Xutong Guan , Elias J. Rugen , Chufan Ren , Wei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cenozoic sedimentary archives are of great importance for understanding the tectono-climatic evolution of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Here, we integrate a detailed field investigation, microscopic observations, unmanned aerial vehicle 3D models, seismic profiles, and transgressive-regressive sequence (T-R sequence) stratigraphy to elucidate the sedimentary and sequence stratigraphy evolution of the SW Qaidam Basin. Three second-order sequences (SS1, SS2, and SS3) were identified based on the unmanned aerial vehicle 3D models and seismic profiles, along with their corresponding underfilled, balanced-filled, and overfilled lake basins. The infilling processes of SS1 and SS2 were significantly influenced by the uplift and strike-slip of the Altyn Tagh Range, paleoclimate variations, and fluctuations of the proto-Paratethys Sea, whereas SS3 was primarily controlled by the intensified uplift and strike-slip of the Altyn Tagh Range. The Altyn Tagh Range experienced multiple stages of uplift, with the incipient strike-slip motion occurring before the Oligocene epoch. Microbialites that formed during periods of relatively high lake level within regressive systems tract act as markers for the maximum regressive surface. Additionally, we propose that these microbialites demonstrate paleoclimate transitions, particularly the climatic shift towards wetter conditions in the Oligocene following their deposition. Newly identified Miocene eolian deposits in the SW Qaidam Basin not only indicate an increasing aridification but also present potential as lithological reservoirs for hydrocarbons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 106913"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144313019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-02DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106912
Stanislava Vodrážková , Magdalena Koubová , Axel Munnecke , Tomáš Kumpan , Radek Vodrážka , Ondřej Pour , Jiří Frýda
The formation of clay minerals in marine environments, referred to as reversed weathering, represents an important process significantly affecting seawater chemistry. In this study, we describe organomineralization represented by clay mineral authigenesis associated with remnants of carbonaceous microstructures, interpreted as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), from Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous coated grains (ooids, oncoids, and cortoids) and peloids (micritized grains). Multiple lines of evidence support the authigenic origin of these clay minerals: (1) Systematic spatial relationships with organic templates demonstrated through BSE imaging and elemental mapping; (2) Consistent qualitative elemental compositions across samples of varying ages, depositional settings, and burial histories; (3) Systematic textural, morphological, and compositional differences from detrital clay minerals, including filamentous texture, diffuse irregular boundaries, and higher Mg/(Al + Mg) and Si/(Si + Al) ratios; (4) XRD identification of authigenic I/S R3 with a diagnostic 1Md polytype structure; and (5) Consistency with the well-documented association of authigenic clay minerals with microbial surfaces, as evidenced by numerous laboratory experiments.
The documentation of authigenic clays associated with microbial structures in these common constituents of carbonate rocks suggests a potentially significant impact on element sequestration at the sediment-water interface and in the pore-water environment. We conclude that when properly contextualized, authigenic clay minerals can serve as indicators of former microbial surfaces.
{"title":"Clay mineral authigenesis as an example of organomineralization in Paleozoic coated grains and peloids","authors":"Stanislava Vodrážková , Magdalena Koubová , Axel Munnecke , Tomáš Kumpan , Radek Vodrážka , Ondřej Pour , Jiří Frýda","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106912","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106912","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The formation of clay minerals in marine environments, referred to as reversed weathering, represents an important process significantly affecting seawater chemistry. In this study, we describe organomineralization represented by clay mineral authigenesis associated with remnants of carbonaceous microstructures, interpreted as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), from Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous coated grains (ooids, oncoids, and cortoids) and peloids (micritized grains). Multiple lines of evidence support the authigenic origin of these clay minerals: (1) Systematic spatial relationships with organic templates demonstrated through BSE imaging and elemental mapping; (2) Consistent qualitative elemental compositions across samples of varying ages, depositional settings, and burial histories; (3) Systematic textural, morphological, and compositional differences from detrital clay minerals, including filamentous texture, diffuse irregular boundaries, and higher Mg/(Al + Mg) and Si/(Si + Al) ratios; (4) XRD identification of authigenic I/S R3 with a diagnostic 1Md polytype structure; and (5) Consistency with the well-documented association of authigenic clay minerals with microbial surfaces, as evidenced by numerous laboratory experiments.</div><div>The documentation of authigenic clays associated with microbial structures in these common constituents of carbonate rocks suggests a potentially significant impact on element sequestration at the sediment-water interface and in the pore-water environment. We conclude that when properly contextualized, authigenic clay minerals can serve as indicators of former microbial surfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"484 ","pages":"Article 106912"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144243448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-31DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106903
Jinlin Chen , Junhui Wang , Guofeng Yin , Yang Wu , Zhengming Dai , Yonglin Li , Jinhao Ma , Zaixing Jiang , Jie Xu
Paleowind is an important paleoclimate parameter, but its study has been limited due to the lack of research methods. Recently, some researchers have proposed a method combining wind fields, waves, and the scale of ancient bar sand bodies to indirectly reconstruct paleowind. However, this method can only be used in lacustrine environments since in existing reconstruction methods, the fetch—a necessary parameter approximating the distance that wind blows—is difficult to obtain in marine environments. This study introduces the concept of “fully developed waves”, eliminating the need of fetch, which improves the current method of reconstructing paleowind using bars and extends its application to marine environments. The method is easy to operate and it only needs two parameters: the thickness of longshore bars and the seabed slope. This study further focuses on the bars of the Pinghu Formation in the Pingbei slope zone of the Xihu Sag within the East China Sea Shelf Basin. Using the proposed method, the paleowind variations during the depositional period (37.2–35.5 Ma) were reconstructed. The results show that the Xihu Sag was primarily influenced by easterly winds during this time, with wind speeds ranging from 8.76 to 19.71 m/s. This method removes the limitation of using bars for quantitative paleowind reconstruction exclusively in lacustrine settings, thereby enhancing its application potential and contributing to providing more data for paleoclimate reconstruction.
{"title":"Quantitative reconstruction of paleowind strength based on ancient marine longshore bars: A case study of the Pinghu Formation in Pingbei slope zone, Xihu Sag","authors":"Jinlin Chen , Junhui Wang , Guofeng Yin , Yang Wu , Zhengming Dai , Yonglin Li , Jinhao Ma , Zaixing Jiang , Jie Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Paleowind is an important paleoclimate parameter, but its study has been limited due to the lack of research methods. Recently, some researchers have proposed a method combining wind fields, waves, and the scale of ancient bar sand bodies to indirectly reconstruct paleowind. However, this method can only be used in lacustrine environments since in existing reconstruction methods, the fetch—a necessary parameter approximating the distance that wind blows—is difficult to obtain in marine environments. This study introduces the concept of “fully developed waves”, eliminating the need of fetch, which improves the current method of reconstructing paleowind using bars and extends its application to marine environments. The method is easy to operate and it only needs two parameters: the thickness of longshore bars and the seabed slope. This study further focuses on the bars of the Pinghu Formation in the Pingbei slope zone of the Xihu Sag within the East China Sea Shelf Basin. Using the proposed method, the paleowind variations during the depositional period (37.2–35.5 Ma) were reconstructed. The results show that the Xihu Sag was primarily influenced by easterly winds during this time, with wind speeds ranging from 8.76 to 19.71 m/s. This method removes the limitation of using bars for quantitative paleowind reconstruction exclusively in lacustrine settings, thereby enhancing its application potential and contributing to providing more data for paleoclimate reconstruction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"484 ","pages":"Article 106903"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144221429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study focuses on the extensive development of soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) within the Holocene fluvial-lacustrine strata in the central and southern Qingshuihe Basin, located on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Through basin-wide sedimentological analysis, the study systematically examines the development characteristics, formation mechanisms, and triggering factors of SSDS across various sedimentary facies, while also exploring their relationship with regional seismic events.
The results reveal that a wide variety of SSDS are present in the basin, including small-scale faults, pseudofaults, load structures, water-escape structures, clastic dikes, deformed laminations, tension veins, and mixed accumulations. Most SSDS occur alongside syn-sedimentary faults (small-scale faults or pseudofaults) and exhibit significant directional features. SSDS in fluvial facies are more prominent than those in lacustrine facies, with the former displaying clear stratification, while the latter shows multi-phase deformation. Both fluvial and lacustrine SSDS are closely correlated in stratigraphic position and formation age with tension veins observed in loess deposits on the western side of the basin. Furthermore, the intensity of deformation exhibits a significant negative correlation with the distance from boundary faults. Most SSDS display characteristics of liquefaction, fluidization, and brittle deformation, consistent with seismic shaking.
Radiocarbon dating of 35 samples and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of 7 samples indicate that the SSDS in the southern part of the basin (6220 ± 95 a BP to 717 ± 24 a BP) are strongly associated with three major seismic events along the Haiyuan-Liupan Mountain Fault (a paleo-earthquake from 6600 ± 500 a BP to 5640 ± 540 a BP, the 1219 Guyuan M7 earthquake, and the 1306 Guyuan M7 earthquake). Meanwhile, SSDS in the central basin (11,270 ± 1100 a BP to 7728 ± 36 a BP) likely reflect three significant seismic events along the southeastern segment of the Xiangshan-Tianjingshan fault (XS-TJSF). These earthquakes are estimated to have magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.3, with epicenters located in the central region of the southeastern segment of the XS-TJSF.
This study refines the criteria for identifying earthquake-induced SSDS and provides critical evidence for reconstructing the regional paleo-seismic history, thereby enhancing the understanding of the complex tectonic activity in the area.
本文研究了青藏高原东北缘清水河盆地中南部全新世河湖地层中广泛发育的软沉积变形构造(SSDS)。通过全盆地的沉积学分析,系统探讨了不同沉积相下SSDS的发育特征、形成机制、触发因素,并探讨了其与区域地震事件的关系。研究结果表明,盆地内存在多种类型的断裂构造,包括小尺度断裂、假断裂、负荷构造、泄水构造、碎屑岩脉、变形层状、张拉脉和混合堆积等。大多数SSDS发生在同沉积断层(小断层或假断层)附近,并具有明显的方向性特征。河流相的SSDS比湖相的SSDS更为突出,河流相的SSDS表现为明显的分层作用,而湖相的SSDS表现为多期变形。盆地西侧黄土沉积中所发现的张拉脉与河流和湖泊的SSDS在地层位置和形成年代上具有密切的相关性。变形强度与离边界断层的距离呈显著负相关。大多数固态岩石表现出液化、流态化和脆性变形的特征,与地震震动相一致。35个样品的放射性碳定年和7个样品的光学激发发光(OSL)定年表明,盆地南部(6220±95 a BP ~ 717±24 a BP)的SSDS与海原-六盘山断裂带的3次大地震(6600±500 a BP ~ 5640±540 a BP的古地震、1219年固原7级地震和1306年固原7级地震)密切相关。同时,盆地中部(11,270±1100 a BP ~ 7728±36 a BP)的SSDS可能反映了香山-天景山断裂东南段(ks - tsf)的3次重大地震事件。据估计,这些地震的震级在6.5到7.3级之间,震中位于xs - tsf东南段的中部地区。该研究完善了地震诱发SSDS的识别标准,为重建区域古地震历史提供了重要依据,从而增强了对该区复杂构造活动的认识。
{"title":"Holocene seismically induced soft-sediment deformation structures in the Qingshuihe Basin, northeastern Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Ting Huang , Zhenhong Li , Xiaopeng Dong , Zhonghai Wu , Linlin Kou , Fang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on the extensive development of soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) within the Holocene fluvial-lacustrine strata in the central and southern Qingshuihe Basin, located on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Through basin-wide sedimentological analysis, the study systematically examines the development characteristics, formation mechanisms, and triggering factors of SSDS across various sedimentary facies, while also exploring their relationship with regional seismic events.</div><div>The results reveal that a wide variety of SSDS are present in the basin, including small-scale faults, pseudofaults, load structures, water-escape structures, clastic dikes, deformed laminations, tension veins, and mixed accumulations. Most SSDS occur alongside syn-sedimentary faults (small-scale faults or pseudofaults) and exhibit significant directional features. SSDS in fluvial facies are more prominent than those in lacustrine facies, with the former displaying clear stratification, while the latter shows multi-phase deformation. Both fluvial and lacustrine SSDS are closely correlated in stratigraphic position and formation age with tension veins observed in loess deposits on the western side of the basin. Furthermore, the intensity of deformation exhibits a significant negative correlation with the distance from boundary faults. Most SSDS display characteristics of liquefaction, fluidization, and brittle deformation, consistent with seismic shaking.</div><div>Radiocarbon dating of 35 samples and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of 7 samples indicate that the SSDS in the southern part of the basin (6220 ± 95 a BP to 717 ± 24 a BP) are strongly associated with three major seismic events along the Haiyuan-Liupan Mountain Fault (a paleo-earthquake from 6600 ± 500 a BP to 5640 ± 540 a BP, the 1219 Guyuan M7 earthquake, and the 1306 Guyuan M7 earthquake). Meanwhile, SSDS in the central basin (11,270 ± 1100 a BP to 7728 ± 36 a BP) likely reflect three significant seismic events along the southeastern segment of the Xiangshan-Tianjingshan fault (XS-TJSF). These earthquakes are estimated to have magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.3, with epicenters located in the central region of the southeastern segment of the XS-TJSF.</div><div>This study refines the criteria for identifying earthquake-induced SSDS and provides critical evidence for reconstructing the regional paleo-seismic history, thereby enhancing the understanding of the complex tectonic activity in the area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"484 ","pages":"Article 106902"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106901
Mengqing Ye , Bolin Zhang , Peng Zhu , Xia Wang , Xianguo Lang , Fengcun Xing , Jingjing Liu
The Early Triassic was a crucial period for biotic recovery immediately after the end-Permian mass extinction, with widespread development of ooid deposits around the world. However, two competing hypotheses regarding the inorganic or organic origins of ooids remain under debate. Here, we focus on the Lower Triassic Yelang Formation in the Yunfeng section of Guizhou Province and conduct sedimentological and geochemical analyses, combined with statistical analysis of ooid size and morphology, to reveal the origin of ooids and explore their formation in relation to extreme environmental changes. Our results show that hydrodynamic conditions and microbial activities are key factors influencing ooid formation. The evolution of sedimentary facies, changes in ooid size and types, and variations in ooid morphology and sorting all suggest that stronger hydrodynamic conditions favor ooid formation, leading to more abundant and larger ooid deposits. Low δ15N values (average +1.51 ‰) suggest flourishing microbes dominated by photoautotrophic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, while the C/N vs. Δ13Ccarb-org crossplot indicates a significant contribution from eukaryotic algae. Furthermore, microstructural evidence of microbial remains and borings in ooids indicates both constructive and destructive roles of these microbes in their formation. Abundant filamentous microbial fossils and nanograin aggregates observed in ooids also provide direct evidence of biogenic signatures intrinsically related to organomineralization. A comprehensive biochemical model of ooid formation is proposed here, involving microbial-induced mineralization and biomediated carbonate precipitation. In addition, we suggest that the combined effects of exacerbated marine anoxia and extreme hyperthermal climates contributed to the widespread development of ooids during the Early Triassic.
{"title":"Origin and paleoenvironmental significance of ooids in South China during the Early Triassic hyperthermal climates","authors":"Mengqing Ye , Bolin Zhang , Peng Zhu , Xia Wang , Xianguo Lang , Fengcun Xing , Jingjing Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106901","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106901","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Early Triassic was a crucial period for biotic recovery immediately after the end-Permian mass extinction, with widespread development of ooid deposits around the world. However, two competing hypotheses regarding the inorganic or organic origins of ooids remain under debate. Here, we focus on the Lower Triassic Yelang Formation in the Yunfeng section of Guizhou Province and conduct sedimentological and geochemical analyses, combined with statistical analysis of ooid size and morphology, to reveal the origin of ooids and explore their formation in relation to extreme environmental changes. Our results show that hydrodynamic conditions and microbial activities are key factors influencing ooid formation. The evolution of sedimentary facies, changes in ooid size and types, and variations in ooid morphology and sorting all suggest that stronger hydrodynamic conditions favor ooid formation, leading to more abundant and larger ooid deposits. Low δ<sup>15</sup>N values (average +1.51 ‰) suggest flourishing microbes dominated by photoautotrophic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, while the C/N vs. Δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>carb-org</sub> crossplot indicates a significant contribution from eukaryotic algae. Furthermore, microstructural evidence of microbial remains and borings in ooids indicates both constructive and destructive roles of these microbes in their formation. Abundant filamentous microbial fossils and nanograin aggregates observed in ooids also provide direct evidence of biogenic signatures intrinsically related to organomineralization. A comprehensive biochemical model of ooid formation is proposed here, involving microbial-induced mineralization and biomediated carbonate precipitation. In addition, we suggest that the combined effects of exacerbated marine anoxia and extreme hyperthermal climates contributed to the widespread development of ooids during the Early Triassic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"483 ","pages":"Article 106901"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144138759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106900
Christina Antoniou, Alastair H.F. Robertson
The Pleistocene development of the Tremithos River exemplifies interacting controls of fluvial and shallow-marine sedimentation. The overall driver was domal uplift of southern Cyprus, focused on the ophiolitic Troodos Massif. Middle-Upper Pleistocene fluvial sediments accumulated under the dominant influences of glacio-eustatic and related climatic changes. Early-Middle Pleistocene is preserved as remnant surfaces and rounded erosional hills. Late Pleistocene-Holocene saw pulsed incision that deepened and narrowed the channel, mainly in the upper reaches. Meanders developed in the middle reaches. A broad, shallow channel formed in the lower reaches, passing into a coastal plain and a broad delta, affected by cyclical marine transgressions and regressions. Following incision events, coarse, poorly sorted conglomerates accumulated under high-energy stream flow in a cool, wet climate, generally correlated with glacial periods. Channel fill was mainly achieved by more persistent, lower energy stream flow in semi-braided channels, coupled with overbank deposition. Common well-rounding of highly resistant lithologies (e.g. chert) within a c. 30 km-long river suggests some recycling from older terrace deposits. Chalky colluvium formed by slope wasting of nearby chalk and marl, mainly during cool, humid periods. Reddish terra rossa paleosols mainly record relatively warm, stable, humid periods. Bedrock lithologies (e.g. diabase, chert) exerted a strong influence on clast lithology and shape. Younger fluvial deposits are coeval with Holocene shallow-marine terrigenous sediments and carbonates (including solitary coral) in coastal areas. Some previously reported shallow-marine sands are reinterpreted as aeolianites. Locally, deposition was influenced by surface uplift along a near-coastal strike-slip fault, related to oblique convergence of the Africa-Eurasia plates.
{"title":"Middle-Late Pleistocene to Holocene sediments of the Tremithos River and related shallow-marine to non-marine coastal deposits in SE Cyprus: Products of inter-related surface uplift and glacio-eustatic controlled sea-level change","authors":"Christina Antoniou, Alastair H.F. Robertson","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106900","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Pleistocene development of the Tremithos River exemplifies interacting controls of fluvial and shallow-marine sedimentation. The overall driver was domal uplift of southern Cyprus, focused on the ophiolitic Troodos Massif. Middle-Upper Pleistocene fluvial sediments accumulated under the dominant influences of glacio-eustatic and related climatic changes. Early-Middle Pleistocene is preserved as remnant surfaces and rounded erosional hills. Late Pleistocene-Holocene saw pulsed incision that deepened and narrowed the channel, mainly in the upper reaches. Meanders developed in the middle reaches. A broad, shallow channel formed in the lower reaches, passing into a coastal plain and a broad delta, affected by cyclical marine transgressions and regressions. Following incision events, coarse, poorly sorted conglomerates accumulated under high-energy stream flow in a cool, wet climate, generally correlated with glacial periods. Channel fill was mainly achieved by more persistent, lower energy stream flow in semi-braided channels, coupled with overbank deposition. Common well-rounding of highly resistant lithologies (e.g. chert) within a c. 30 km-long river suggests some recycling from older terrace deposits. Chalky colluvium formed by slope wasting of nearby chalk and marl, mainly during cool, humid periods. Reddish terra rossa paleosols mainly record relatively warm, stable, humid periods. Bedrock lithologies (e.g. diabase, chert) exerted a strong influence on clast lithology and shape. Younger fluvial deposits are coeval with Holocene shallow-marine terrigenous sediments and carbonates (including solitary coral) in coastal areas. Some previously reported shallow-marine sands are reinterpreted as aeolianites. Locally, deposition was influenced by surface uplift along a near-coastal strike-slip fault, related to oblique convergence of the Africa-Eurasia plates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 106900"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144562952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106899
Zuriñe Larena , Concha Arenas , Josep Sanjuan , Ana Pascual , Mariano Larraz , Xabier Murelaga , Juan Ignacio Baceta
The Tortonian Peña Adrian Formation represents the youngest depositional unit of the Miranda-Trebiño basin (Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees), which developed on the Southern Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees from late Eocene to Late Miocene times. The formation is a 50–160 m thick succession of alluvial detrital grading to lacustrine carbonates that contain rich and varied calcareous fossil biota (gastropods, ostracods and charophytes). The fossil association characterizes warm temperate, shallow lakes with vegetated bottoms and well‑oxygenated and alkaline fresh waters. Integration of stratigraphic, sedimentological, paleontological and CO stable isotopic data allows the differentiation of a wide range of sedimentary facies, the construction of a depositional model and the definition of distinct evolutionary phases and relation to allogenic processes. Up to 3 metre-thick facies sequences record repetitive water-level changes, likely reflecting short-term climate changes. Overall, the succession outlines an asymmetric cycle of gradual expansion and faster contraction of a shallow ramp-like lake system evolving under oscillating climatic conditions. C and O stable isotopes are consistent with decreasing salinity and increasing precipitation/evaporation balance trough time. Excellent preservation of aragonitic and bimineralic gastropods characterizes the open lacustrine deposits, whereas shell dissolution and neomorphism are distinct in the palustrine ones. This contrasting degree of preservation of calcareous biota clearly reflects changes in the physico-chemical conditions that prevailed during sedimentation and early burial. The findings add to the knowledge of carbonate lake basins, help discern the factors that controlled their evolution and highlight specific depositional and preservation conditions for gastropod-rich carbonate records.
{"title":"Gastropod-rich lacustrine carbonate deposits in N Iberia: a depositional, climatic and ecological record of the Late Miocene","authors":"Zuriñe Larena , Concha Arenas , Josep Sanjuan , Ana Pascual , Mariano Larraz , Xabier Murelaga , Juan Ignacio Baceta","doi":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tortonian Peña Adrian Formation represents the youngest depositional unit of the Miranda-Trebiño basin (Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees), which developed on the Southern Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees from late Eocene to Late Miocene times. The formation is a 50–160 m thick succession of alluvial detrital grading to lacustrine carbonates that contain rich and varied calcareous fossil biota (gastropods, ostracods and charophytes). The fossil association characterizes warm temperate, shallow lakes with vegetated bottoms and well‑oxygenated and alkaline fresh waters. Integration of stratigraphic, sedimentological, paleontological and C<img>O stable isotopic data allows the differentiation of a wide range of sedimentary facies, the construction of a depositional model and the definition of distinct evolutionary phases and relation to allogenic processes. Up to 3 metre-thick facies sequences record repetitive water-level changes, likely reflecting short-term climate changes. Overall, the succession outlines an asymmetric cycle of gradual expansion and faster contraction of a shallow ramp-like lake system evolving under oscillating climatic conditions. C and O stable isotopes are consistent with decreasing salinity and increasing precipitation/evaporation balance trough time. Excellent preservation of aragonitic and bimineralic gastropods characterizes the open lacustrine deposits, whereas shell dissolution and neomorphism are distinct in the palustrine ones. This contrasting degree of preservation of calcareous biota clearly reflects changes in the physico-chemical conditions that prevailed during sedimentation and early burial. The findings add to the knowledge of carbonate lake basins, help discern the factors that controlled their evolution and highlight specific depositional and preservation conditions for gastropod-rich carbonate records.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21575,"journal":{"name":"Sedimentary Geology","volume":"483 ","pages":"Article 106899"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}