Fluvial, tidal and storm sedimentation in the Chilhowee Group (Lower Cambrian), northeastern Tennessee, U.S.A.

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Lower Cambrian Chilhowee Group of northeastern Tennessee consists of the Unicoi, Hampton and Erwin Formations, and is divided into four facies. The conglomerate facies occurs only within the lower 200 m of measured section (the Unicoi Formation) and consists of fine‐grained to pebbly quartz wacke with rare thin beds of laminated siltstone. Low‐angle to horizontally laminated, fine‐grained sandstone with laminae and lenses of granules and pebbles represents upper flow‐regime, overbank deposition within a braided stream system that was close to a coastline. Medium‐scale, planar‐tabular cross‐stratified conglomerate in which megaripple bedforms are preserved is interpreted as representing deposition in interbar pools of braided channels, as flood stage waned and larger bedforms ceased to migrate. Large‐scale, planar‐tabular cross‐stratified conglomerate beds represent migration of large transverse bars within a broad braided stream channel during high flood stage.The sandstone facies occurs throughout the Chilhowee Group, and is therefore interbedded with all other facies. It consists of mainly medium‐ to very coarse‐grained, subarkosic to arkosic arenite. Thinly interbedded, laminated siltstone and sandstone, which may exhibit wavy or lenticular bedding, represents deposition during slack water periods between ebb and flood tides. Large‐scale planar‐tabular and trough cross‐stratification reflects deposition within the deepest areas of subtidal channels, whereas medium‐scale cross‐stratification represents deposition in shallower water on shoals separating channels. Fining‐ and thinning‐upward sequences most likely resulted from the longshore migration of channels and shoals.The hummocky facies occurs only in the Erwin Formation and consists of horizontally laminated to hummocky stratified, fine‐grained arkosic to subarkosic arenite interbedded with equal amounts of bioturbated mudstone. It represents deposition between storm and fairweather wave‐base by combined‐flow storm currents.The quartz arenite facies is characterized by an absence of fine‐grained units and lithologically consists of a super‐mature, medium‐ to coarse‐grained quartz arenite. Large‐scale planar‐tabular cross‐stratification and abundant low‐angle cross‐stratification with rare symmetrical ripples (lower quartz arenite facies) occurs interbedded with the braided fluvial conglomerate facies, and was deposited within either a ridge‐and‐runnel system or a system of nearshore bars. Large‐scale, planar‐tabular cross‐stratification (upper quartz arenite facies), which forms the top of two 40 m‐thick coarsening‐upward sequences of the type: hummocky faciessandstone faciesquartz arenite facies, probably represents deposition on sand ridges that formed on a sand‐starved shelf as transgression caused the detachment and reworking of shoreface channel‐shoal couplets.Palaeocurrent data for the Chilhowee Group are unimodal but widely dispersed from 0° to 180°, and exhibit a minor mode to the west. The data are interpreted to reflect the influence of longshore, tidal and storm currents. The ichnofossil assemblage changes upsection from one characterized only by Paleophycus to a Skolithos ichnofacies and finally to a Cruziana ichnofacies. The facies sequence, biogenic and palaeocurrent data reflect the interaction through time of (I) non‐marine and marine processes; and (2) transgression coupled with shoreline progradation. The Chilhowee Group represents an overall deepening from terrestrial deposition to a marine shoreface that experienced both longshore and tidal currents, and finally to a storm shelf environment that periodically shoaled upward.