Evidence of internal-wave and internal-tide deposits in the Middle Ordovician Xujiajuan Formation of the Xiangshan Group, Ningxia, China

Abstract

The Xujiajuan Formation of the Lower Xiangshan Group in Ningxia, China, is composed of grayish-green to yellowish-green, fine- to medium-grained sandstone, calcareous sandstone, siltstone, and shale. The upper part is thin-bedded limestone. At the top of the second and third members of the formation, a number of beds intercalated between turbidites and deep-water shale show well-developed cross-bedding. These beds are composed mainly of thin- to medium-bedded calcareous siltstone, fine-grained sandstone, fine-grained calcisiltitic limestone, and silty shale. All bedding types reflect traction-current action. The laminae of the bidirectional and unidirectional cross-bedded units tend to dip either opposite to or at a large angle to the regional slope. The units vary in shape and orientation in both upslope and downslope directions. A comprehensive evaluation of the sedimentary structures and inferred paleocurrents suggests that the cross-bedded intervals were not formed by contour currents or turbidity currents, but most probably represent internal-wave and internal-tide deposits.