Facies analysis and its relation to point-sourced growth faults in river-dominated prodeltaic delta front deposits of the Cretaceous Ferron Notom Delta, Utah, USA

Abstract

This study evaluates the evolution of a small-scale growth fault within a deltaic parasequence of the Ferron Sandstone, Utah. Analysis is based on 4 stratigraphic logs, and a panorama covering 100 m of lateral exposure.Five growth-fault blocks are displayed in strike and dip views. The listric faults dip basinward, and sole out into bedding parallel decollement surfaces associated with deformed prodelta shales, which also form diapirs. Throw on individual faults averages 4 m and heave increases with depth from ∼2.5 to ∼5 m. Strikes on fault planes average 160°, and fault dip decreases with depth from 50° to 0°, where they become parallel to bedding.Pre-growth facies comprise heterolithics with abundant graded beds, current-ripples, wave-ripples, small-scale soft sediment deformation, and a low bioturbation index. This indicates deposition in a river-dominated, storm-influenced delta that was supplied primarily by storm-triggered flood events and prograded rapidly. Growth strata are primarily planar and quasi-planar fine sandstones deposited as upstream and downstream accreting mouth bars.Faulting initiates with the building of a “critical load” reflecting a low-angle delta front foreset, probably linked to deposition in a mouth bar. Mobile prodelta muds form diapirs that breached the sediment-water interface, providing accommodation for the fault blocks. Termination of faulting occurred when sandy growth strata contacted and locked into higher strength pre-growth heterolithics deeper in the section. Minor deformation of growth strata is demonstrated by synthetic microfaulting in growth sands.This study emphasizes a localized stress field (i.e., point sourced) associated with sandy mouth bar deposits, which acted as fault initiation points. This contrasts with the distributed stress regimes commonly associated with regional-scale growth faults along continental margins. This can lead to expanded, but localized, reservoir compartments within river-dominated deltaic systems, especially those in epeiric seas or other shallow-water sedimentary basins, such as Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska.