Sandy high-energy flood sedimentation — Some criteria for recognition, with an example from the devonian of S.W. England

Abstract

Many modern sand deposits resulting from episodic floods in semi-arid zones are dominated by parallel laminations, but parallel-laminated sands are not a major feature in perennial streams. Single flood events may deposit over 1.5 m of parallel-laminated sand. Hence, ancient parallel-laminated, sand-dominated alluvial deposits may be the product of ephemeral flows. The Trentishoe Formation (Hangman Sandstone Group — Middle Devonian) of North Devon consists, in part, of laterally extensive beds of parallel-laminated, fine-grained red sandstones that build multistorey sand bodies. Individual beds are little more than 1 m thick, but may extend laterally for hundreds of metres. A vertical sequence of erosion surface, sparse silt clasts, parallel laminations, silt drape, is often found, suggesting high flow stage deposition of plane-bedded sand, followed by a very rapid waning of flow with silt fallout in the final stages of the flood. This sequence bears marked similarity to certain modern ephemeral flow sands.