Megaripples from the Mesoproterozoic of the Kimberley region, northwestern Australia and its geological implications

Abstract

AbstractLarge ripples are described from the Mesoproterozoic Hilfordy Formation in the Kimberley region, northwestern Australia. Both ripple index (RI) and ripple symmetry index (RSI) suggest the Kimberley ripples were likely generated by storm waves. Their wave height is up to 15–23cm and wave length is up to 70–90cm. These features, incorporated with other morphological characteristics such as symmetry, steepness, ripple spacing, and compositions, agree well with the megaripples previously reported from the intertidal-nearshore settings of modern seas and the geological past. The Mesoproterozoic ripples were likely generated by the storm-induced flows. Literature survey of the global record of megaripples reveals that such structures have occurred through the geological past from the Archean to present day. They were particularly common in the Neoproterozoic and had the largest ripple length and ripple height among the modern and geological records. This is probably because extreme storms prevailed at that time. Their frequent occurrence in present day beach is probably due to the prevalence of extreme storms caused by the monsoon or tsunami/earthquake influenced climatic regimes.