Depositional Record最新文献

Determination of the physical properties of subsurface geological bodies is essential for georesource management and geotechnical applications. In the absence of direct measurements, this usually passes via geophysical methods such as seismic and ground-penetrating radar. These require conversion to physical properties, and measurements at different scales to test for consistency. This approach is non-trivial in geobodies with heterogeneous patterns of properties. Tufa mounds—in-situ terrestrial carbonate buildups precipitating from geothermal waters—are characterised by high contrasts in facies and petrophysical properties from microscale to macroscale, and are therefore ideally suited to test the ability of non-invasive geophysical methods to estimate such contrasts, and to develop petrophysical models based on geophysical properties. Here, a laboratory-based study of a Pleistocene tufa mound in Spain is presented that combines (1) petrography, (2) digital 2D pore network analysis, (3) gas porosity and permeability measurements, (4) acoustic velocity measurements and (5) electromagnetic wave velocity and porosity determination from ground-penetrating radar, to develop empirical petrophysical models. These results show the consistency of petrophysical properties determined with different methods across various observational scales. Electromagnetically derived porosity positively correlates with gas porosity. Petrophysical properties depend on measurable rock fabric parameters and the degree of cementation, which provide predictive tools for subsurface geobodies. Strongly cemented peloidal-thrombolitic fabrics with intergranular and intercrystalline pores, and a dominance of small complex pores best transmit acoustic waves. Weak cementation and a significant fraction of large simple pores (framework, vegetation moulds) increase porosity and permeability of shrubby fabrics, while causing lower acoustic velocity. This study demonstrates that ground-penetrating radar models can be used in combination with direct measurements of physical subsurface properties to capture highly contrasting physical properties associated with different sedimentary facies that would not be achievable with other methods, thus improving the understanding of formational processes.

Tides are a key driver of a range of Earth system processes, and we now have the capacity to simulate tidal dynamics on a range of temporal and spatial scales. Deep-time tidal model simulations have been used to provide insight into past ocean circulation patterns, evolution of life and the developments of the Earth-Moon system's orbital configuration. However, these tidal model simulations are relatively poorly constrained and validated because of a lack of readily available proxies. The feasibility of using two types of proxy is explored here; (1) sedimentary deposits which can directly estimate palaeotidal ranges, and (2) black shale, to constrain three palaeotidal model simulations for different time slices. Specifically, three palaeotidal range proxies were used for the early Devonian (400 Ma), three palaeotidal range proxies and five black shales for the lower Jurassic (185 Ma), and eight black shales for the early Cretaceous (95 Ma). Both tidal proxies confirm the tidal model results in most locations. The model results for 400 Ma and 185 Ma matched 2/3 of the palaeotidal range proxies for each of these periods. The locations of black shale were compared with tidal front locations predicted by the model outputs based on the Simpson–Hunter parameter and the model results from 95 to 185 Ma agree with the black shale proxies in 10/13 of the locations. In the cases where there is a disagreement, the model resolution is probably too low to fully resolve the details of the coastal topography, or—in one case—the palaeobathymetry is incorrect. Consequently, it is argued that it is worth expanding this type of work, and that such data can be used to validate both models and reconstructions.

Planar lamination is a ubiquitous component of modern and ancient fine-grained sediments deposited by subaqueous sediment gravity flows. These sediments commonly exhibit alternating sub-millimetre-thick, sharply bounded silt-rich and clay-rich layers that change little in thickness or sediment texture over lateral distances that range up to at least several tens of metres. Silt-rich layers are moderately to well-sorted and a few tens to hundreds of microns to a single silt-grain thick. In contrast, clay-rich layers are more poorly sorted, and a few tens to hundreds of microns thick. The thickness and regular alternation of these texturally differentiated interlayers, in addition to the absence of features suggesting transport bypass or deposition by migrating rugged bed forms, suggest alternating physical processes and related modes of deposition in the near-bed region immediately above the bed. Previous interpretations have focussed on clay flocculation, which is difficult to reconcile with the high fluid shear conditions in the near-bed region. Here it is suggested that in the millimetre to sub-millimetre-thick viscous sublayer at the base of a hydraulically smooth turbulent flow, a combination of high fluid shear and sediment concentration initially leads to shear thinning and enhanced mobility in the lower part of the flow, and for silt to continue settling to the bed forming a well-sorted silt lamina. As silt settles and clay-size sediment increases in concentration, hydrodynamic lubrication forces strengthen and reduce mobility of the near-bed part of the flow. This condition is then perturbed by a bedward-directed outer flow disturbance that dramatically increases frictional stresses and effective fluid viscosity and ultimately shear jamming that causes gelling and deposition of a poorly sorted clay-rich layer. This process is then repeated multiple times to build up a deposit composed of alternating silt-rich and clay-rich laminae overlain by structureless mud deposited directly from suspension.

The Middle Triassic Tredian Formation is well exposed in the western region of the Salt Range. It is mostly composed of sandstone with minor alternations of shales and dolomite. This is the first integrated attempt using petrographical and geochemical features to reveal palaeoclimate during deposition of the Tredian Formation. This work sheds light on the petrographical and geochemical properties of the Tredian sandstone in order to date various layers and evaluate the palaeoclimate. The formation was sampled at two distinct stratigraphic layers for petrographic and geochemical analysis of major and trace elements. The sandstone of the Tredian Formation is sub-feldspathic to feldspathic arenite with sub-angular to rounded grains that are moderately to extensively sorted. The relative proportions of the quartz, feldspars and lithoclasts in the examined sandstone samples shows that the Tredian sediments originated from the interior of the craton during a transitional continental regime. Chemical index of alteration values of 59, chemical index of weathering values of 67, and plagioclase index of alteration values of 74.5 indicate a low to moderate degree of weathering in the Tredian sediment source region. Based on the silica content, SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios (2.7–6.1; mean 4.1), and chemical maturity index, it is deduced that the Tredian Formation was deposited in chemically immature to sub-mature and dry to semi-arid conditions. Geochemical proxies indicate the acidic source of sediment and deposition on the passive margin of the Indian Plate. The trace element characteristics of the sediments, especially the Rb/Sr, Cu/Zn, Ni/Co, V/Cr and Sr/Ba ratios, indicate that the sediments originated from the first weathering cycle and support the notion that they were deposited in an oxidising continental environment. A semi-arid to arid palaeoclimate predominated through the Middle Triassic at the north-western passive continental margin of the Indian Plate in the south-eastern Neo-Tethys.

The mass extinction at the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary is widely attributed to sudden and severe climate changes forced by bolide impact and/or flood basalt volcanism. In terrestrial depositional settings, these changes may potentially be recorded by palaeosols. To test the ability of pedogenic features to record both long-term climate and shorter-term changes preceding and following the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction event, palaeosols in the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Naashoibito Member of the Ojo Alamo Formation and the lower Palaeocene (Danian) Nacimiento Formation in the San Juan Basin of north-western New Mexico, USA, were examined, including data from previous studies. The fine-grained facies of the Naashoibito Member comprises grey to greenish-grey and red-banded mudstones displaying pedogenic features including colour mottling, root traces, cutans, ped fabrics, pedogenic slickensides and calcareous nodules. Aside from a high-chroma horizon at the formation base, palaeosols in the lower Nacimiento Formation are broadly similar to those observed in the Naashoibito Member. Lateral and vertical variability of the pedogenic features between correlated sections suggest that soil hydrology varied spatially and temporally from very saturated to seasonally well-drained, with temporal variations controlled by basin sedimentation rates. Abrupt and/or catastrophic climate events precisely at the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary are not recorded due to an unconformity at the top of the Naashoibito Member. However, the presence of kaolinite in the clay mineral assemblage of the Nacimiento Formation, particularly near the formation base, but not in the Naashoibito Member, indicates episodic warmth and short (10⁴ years) intervals of more intense weathering conditions during the very early Danian as compared to the late Maastrichtian. Aside from short warm intervals, the overall palaeoclimate during deposition of both formations was warm and consistently subhumid to humid and seasonal, suggesting no substantial long-term (10⁵–10⁶) climate change took place across the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary in the San Juan Basin.

Tsunamis are a major hazard along many of the world's coastlines. To understand the impact of these events, a sufficiently long record of previous events is needed, which can be provided by their sedimentary deposits. A number of past events have left extensive sedimentary deposits that can be used to understand the hydrodynamics of the tsunami. The ca 8.15 ka Storegga submarine slide was a large, tsunamigenic mass movement off the coast of Norway. The resulting tsunami had estimated run-up heights of around 10 to 20 m on the Norwegian coast, over 30 m in Shetland and 3 to 6 m on the Scottish mainland coast. New cores were taken from the Ythan Valley in North-East Scotland, where Storegga tsunami deposits have previously been found. High-resolution sedimentary analyses of the cores, combined with statistical (changepoint) analysis, shows signatures of multiple waves. Moreover, detailed CT scans of the erosional basal surface reveal sole marks called skim marks. Taken in conjunction with the grain size and sedimentary fabric characteristics of the tsunami deposits, this indicates that the flow exhibited a high-concentration basal component, with an initial semi-cohesive phase and that deposition was dominantly capacity driven. A multiple wave hypothesis is tested by creating a high-resolution numerical model (metre-scale) of the wave inundation, coupled to a previously published regional model. The inundation model confirms that multiple waves passed over the site in agreement with the sedimentological analysis. The sensitivity of the model to the reconstructed palaeocoastal geomorphology is quantitatively explored. It is concluded that local palaeogeomorphological reconstruction is key to understanding the hydrodynamics of a tsunami wave group in relation to its sedimentary deposit. Combining sedimentological data with high-resolution inundation modelling is a powerful tool to help interpret the sedimentary record of tsunami events and hence to improve knowledge of their risks.

There has been no consensus yet regarding the precise initial timing and duration of the late Mesozoic extensional tectonics in the South-eastern China Block. This work focusses on the growth strata of the Early Cretaceous red beds in the South-eastern China Block to determine the late Mesozoic tectonics and the precise timing of the initiation and duration of extensional tectonics in this area. Field observation of several terrigenous basins shows that the dip angles of the Cretaceous red beds have varied from moderate to gentle from basin edges to interiors (or centres). The visible and estimated thickness within a single bed increases slightly downwards from the upper to the lower part. These characteristics indicate that the sedimentary area of these beds has undergone an extensional process with expansion and deepening of the sedimentary basins. Rotation of the border surfaces (limbs) and downward warping of the hanging walls or retreat of the footwalls of listric normal faults causes three types of extensional growth (or syntectonic) strata in the deposits of different basins. Dating of the volcanic rocks related to the growth beds reveals that the sedimentary basins were enlarged and deepened when the Early Cretaceous strata were deposited in the South-eastern China Block from ca 140 to 137 Ma. Regionally, under the influence of Palaeo-Pacific plate rollback since ca 140 Ma, the South-eastern China Block stress field has led to lithospheric uplift and pull-apart structures near the surface, causing the half-graben basins to receive sedimentation. Although the extensional event was interrupted by a short compressional event during 120 to 105 Ma, with the oceanward retreat of the trench, the area of extension gradually enlarged and rejuvenated south-eastwards until the end of the Cretaceous. This Cretaceous extension event of the South-eastern China Block must belong to a worldwide geological event with global significance.