Evolution Of Drainage Patterns Research Articles

Tracing drainage capture between the two large tributaries of the Yangtze River in the southeastern Tibetan plateau: Insights from detrital apatite fission-track thermochronology

The evolution of drainage patterns in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau remains a highly controversial topic. In this study, we provide solid evidence that the Dadu and Anning Rivers, located in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, have undergone reorganization after the plateau uplift. Through detrital apatite fission-track dating on modern sediments from both rivers, as well as the upper Pliocene - lower Pleistocene Xigeda Formation of the Anning, we reveal that the modern sediments of the Dadu River are dominated by young AFT ages (<5 Ma), consistent with the bedrock ages in its drainage basin. Similarly, the Anning modern sediments and the Xigeda Formation exhibit a significant portion of young ages (peaking at 4.2 and 4.4 Ma, respectively), contrasting with the older ages observed in the bedrocks of the Anning drainage basin but comparable to those of the Dadu drainage basin. We conclude that the Anning and Dadu Rivers were connected during the deposition of the Xigeda Formation, and the modern Anning River receives significant recycled sediments from this formation.

Controls on Late Miocene to Early Quaternary continental sedimentation during the development of the Sohag basin, Nile Valley, Egypt

Sohag Basin is a Late Cenozoic rift basin that follows the course of the River Nile and contains a sequence of Early Miocene to Quaternary times. The present study outlines the impact of the allocyclic factors controlling a sequence of a fluvio-lacustrine succession dated from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene and is subdivided into Units II and III. Unit II is made mostly of fluvial siliciclastic sediments (FA1), interpreted as channels and floodplains. Unit III consists of alluvial conglomerates (FA2) followed upwards by lacustrine carbonates (FA3) covering the whole basin. These two units are arranged in two depositional sequences (DSQ-1 and DSQ-2), bounded by sequence boundaries. Both sequences are composed of the Low- and High-Accommodation System Tracts (LAST, HAST), and they are distinguished primarily by the facies associations and the nature of the contacts that separate them. Allogenic controls strongly influenced the general evolution of the fluvio-lacustrine system. Tectonics determined the variations in thickness and lithofacies of Units II and III, where the basin was affected by the reactivation of basin-bounding faults, and suggested that the basin physiography changed from the full-graben to half-graben stage. The variation in the lacustrine facies associations and the pedogenic features show the response to tectonics and local climate conditions. Provenance played a role in the drainage pattern evolution. Using the Facies architecture and sequence stratigraphic framework, a depositional model was constructed and strongly influenced by tectonic subsidence and uplift of the basin concurrent with the reactivation of the Gulf of Suez-Red Sea rifting.

Evolution of drainage patterns in active fold-thrust belts: A case study in the Qilian Mountains

The Qilian Mountains are a typical active fold-thrust belt. A series of large and elongated drainage basins are oriented almost parallel to the Mountain Chain. Conversely, on North flank of the Qilian Mountains, transverse rivers dominate the drainage network. However, the evolution of these drainage patterns is still poorly understood. Here, we first review the evolutionary history of the drainage pattern of major rivers in the Qilian Mountains. We find that early transverse-dominated river networks are progressively replaced by longitudinal-dominated rivers during mountain building. Because the incision rate of transverse rivers is defeated by the uplift rate of mountains, the transverse rivers would be diverted toward the fold tips and gradually lengthened. Then, we analyze the evolutionary trends of drainage networks using topographic metrics. We suggest that longitudinal rivers, especially the upper reach of longitudinal rivers, will be captured by transverse rivers. Our study shows that the evolution of drainage patterns in active fold-thrust belts has two stages: in the early stage, transverse rivers would be replaced by longitudinal rivers; in the later stage, the upper longitudinal rivers would be captured by transverse tributaries. Moreover, the evolution model of drainage patterns in active fold-thrust belts is validated by using the TopoToolbox Landscape Evolution Model (TTLEM). Tectonics and deformation impart a lasting impression on the planform pattern of drainage networks. However, the drainage network will show different patterns in various evolution stages, even with consistent tectonic conditions. The results of this study may help investigate the drainage network evolution process in other active fold-thrust belts.

Drainage pattern evolution during continental indentation in Central Alps: Constraints from the sedimentary record of associated deep-water clastic offshoots

This work reconstructs the evolution of a source-to-sink system in a transpressional setting from compositional changes within its deep-water clastic offshoots. Field-based clast counts on 10 conglomerate beds of three transects, combined with petrographical and mineralogical (XRD) analyses on 14 samples, have been used to integrate the already-existing large dataset developed during more than 60 years of study on the Como Conglomerate (the base of the Gonfolite Lombarda Group, Chattian to Aquitanian – Northern Italy). The results shed a new light on the terranes involved in the production of sediments and further constrain the evolution of the fluvial drainage in response to the Cenozoic Adria indentation during the post-collisional phases of Alpine orogeny. In particular, it has been possible to track-back the steps during which paleorivers were connected, and later disconnected, with the basin due to the Oligo-Miocene activity of the right-lateral Periadriatic Fault System (PFS). During its transpressive movement, accommodating the Adria westward indentation, the PFS cumulated a total displacement increasing from ca. 20 km to the west, up to ca. 60 km, to the east. The results of this study also constrain the post-depositional kinematics of the clastic wedge, which was progressively rotated clockwise and thrust to its present-day position, onto the Southalpine Mesozoic sequence. This model represents a fundamental step forward in the comprehension of how tectonic indentation interacts with surface source-to-sink systems, and demonstrates that tectonic induced connections/disconnections of fluvial systems are as fundamental as exhumation processes in the transfer of sediments from source to sink areas.

Drainage Pattern Evolution During Continental Indentation in Central Alps: Constraints from the Sedimentary Record of Associated Deep-Water Clastic Offshoots

Drainage Pattern Evolution During Continental Indentation in Central Alps: Constraints from the Sedimentary Record of Associated Deep-Water Clastic Offshoots

Quantitative evaluation of drainage attributes to infer hydrologic and morphological characteristics of upper Beas Basin, Himachal Pradesh: A GIS-based approach

ABSTRACT Drainage morphometric analysis is a quantitative indexing of linear, areal, and relief attributes of a watershed, which is an essential prerequisite to understand the ongoing geomorphological, geological, and tectonic processes in a watershed that modifies its landscape. The present study is an investigation of the morphometric parameters of upper Beas basin. ALOS PALSAR digital elevation model available at 12.5 m resolution from Alaska Satellite Facility has been used for the study in Arc GIS 10.2 environment. The findings of the study categorize upper Beas as a sixth order drainage basin with a total area of 4958.98 km2. High bifurcation values infer an accelerated state of erosion and underline the mountainous origin and late youthful stage of river Beas and its tributaries. Geometrically, the basin has an elongated shape indicating lower peak flow but for a longer duration making flood management ambiguous. Upper Beas basin has a coarse drainage density and texture, suggesting high infiltration and less surface water availability. Tectonically, studyarea has some prominent faults and thrusts (MBT, MCT, and STD), making the region susceptible to water infiltration. These observations unquestionably indicate a strong tectonic and lithological control over the evolution of drainage patterns in the study area.

Miocene long-runout debris-avalanche deposits in the Eastern Pamir foreland basin record cataclasis and fragmentation mechanisms

The Miocene Aertashi Debris-Avalanche Deposits at the southwestern Tarim Basin, the foreland basin of the Eastern Pamir (NW Tibetan Plateau), have an incredibly long-runout distance (much longer than 130 km) and provide critical constraints on the evolution of drainage patterns, tectonics, and geochronological framework of the region. To investigate when and how the deposits formed, we conducted extensive field and microstructural observations, as well as geochronologic analyses. The deposits are massive, poorly sorted, and matrix-supported, containing massive blocks, jigsaw-fractured clasts, and fluidal-shaped cataclastic lava bodies. Some cataclastic lava bodies up to ~25 m across are compact on the hand-specimen scale but are pervasively fragmented on the microscale. Microstructural observations of particles show abundant diagnostic features of highly-energetic collisions, such as conchoidal fractures and microcracks. Both field and microstructural observations indicate that the deposits were derived from a debris avalanche. Pervasive cataclasis of many fluidal-shaped lava bodies is interpreted to record intense shear of hot, semisolid lavas close to the glass-transition temperature, in which phenocrysts deformed brittlely while the glassy components mainly deformed plastically and controlled the rheology of the bodies as ductile material. The mechanical properties of clasts are important in controlling their deformation within debris avalanches. The presence of abundant hot, semisolid lavas in the studied deposits may be critical for the survival of megaclasts after a long-runout distance. The field and microstructural observations and geochronologic analyses show that debris-avalanche deposits can aid in constraining regional geochronologic framework. These results consistently confirm that the Aertashi Debris-Avalanche Deposits were deposited at ~11 Ma, during rather than long after the eruptive period.

Source-to-sink analysis of continental rift sedimentation: Triassic Cuyo basin, Precordillera Argentina

The northernmost outcrops of the Triassic extensional Cuyo basin in western Argentina reveal a basal coarse conglomerate overlain by a thinning-fining upward siliciclastic red-bedded section with subordinated tuffs and microbial-rich carbonates (Cerro Puntudo Formation), unconformably covered by a second coarse conglomerate (El Relincho Formation), which were previously interpreted as two rifting events. An integrated analysis of facies associations, stacking patterns, paleocurrent and provenance was carried out in order to reveal the rift sedimentation using a source-to-sink approach. Besides the traditional controls in continental basins (e.g.,sedimentation, tectonics and climate), this study considers possible drainage pattern evolution in order to differentiate isolated versus integrated depocenter stages. U-Pb zircon data corroborate our analysis and reveal a volcanic basement source of 256.8±3.5Ma (Permian/Lopingian) and a sedimentation age of 249.8±2.5Ma (Early Triassic) for a tuff interbedded within the Cerro Puntudo Formation, complementing previous age of 243.8±1.9Ma (Middle Triassic) at the top of this unit. Stratigraphic stacking allows the interpretation of three evolutionary stages. A first stage, represented by thick massive boulder-volcanic-rich conglomerates characterizing alluvial fan deposition, indicates strong tectonic activity of border faults (first rifting event). These features suggest high surface gradient and high available space controlling accommodation and dispersal of gravity and debris-flow deposits. Paleocurrents to the east reveal largely north-south normal faults located to the west and sediment supply from a proximal volcanic source area. A second stage, represented by a notable fining-thinning upward facies, including fluvial and palustrine (stromatolites with pedogenetic features) deposits, indicates a transition to tectonic quiescence. These facies associations developed in a context of low sedimentation rate, limited tectonic relief and low accommodation space. A third stage is represented by greenish well-roundedcoarse-grained polymictic conglomerates of El Relincho Formation that unconformably truncate the Cerro Puntudo Formation. These conglomerates are interpreted as perennial braided fluvial systems (with paleocurrents to the northwest) indicating drainage reorganization primarily influenced by climate change and combined tectonic reactivation, previously considered the second rifting event. Climate change affected sediment delivery and allowed regionally connectivity and overfilling of the depocenters. In this last stage, northwest axial transport from variable sources within the Precordillera (to the southeast) is inferred from provenance analysis indicating open linked-depocenters. This study suggests a new stratigraphic correlation for the northern part of the Cuyo basin, implying that during the first rifting event a semi-arid climate prevailed with development of isolated and independent depocenters (first and second stages), whereas above the unconformity initiating the second rifting event (third stage) depocenters were interconnected. In the light of our source-to-sink analysis, such paleogeographic change allowed overfilling and laterally linkage of separate half-grabens along the Cuyo basin. Whereas tectonic reactivation may better explain renewed conglomerate deposition, climate change toward more humid conditions allowed previously separated depocenters to be connected through axial drainages.

The northern segment of the Têt Fault (Pyrenees-Orientales) : Neogene evolution and geomorphic implications

Abstract In intraplate areas, low tectonic deformation frequently resembles denudational processes. Fault scarps are eroded and buried by Quaternary alluvial deposits. The eastern termination of the Pyrenean orogenic belt displays a moderate tectonic and seismic deformation. In the northern segment of the Tet fault (F.T.N.), geomorphic systems are analysed with intent to detect the various response of landforms and drainage pattern to recent tectonics. We used topography, structural data, drainage pattern and sedimentological syntectonic deposits which determine the evolution of the fault scarp since the Pliocene. The F.T.N., trending N080 to 050oE, is about 30 km long. The fault, separating the Pliocene sequences in the hanging wall and granite in the footwall, is emergent along the scarp. The change in fault orientation along strike gives the fault zone a “dog-leg” pattern in plan view (fig. 1 and 2). Structural data indicate that the faults are steeply dipping (&amp;gt; 60o). The stratigraphy of the study area can be divided up into three main depositional units, bounded above and below by sequence boundaries (fig. 6 and 7). The lithofacies of the Pliocene deposits is composed of coarser conglomerate, sandstones and silts. Most of the sediments exposed in the sections were deposited by braided rivers. Palaeocurrent data indicate a dominant SW-NE directed palaeoflow, although there are also a range of lateral flow directions. Proximal breccias provide evidence for the degradation of the fault scarp (fig. 7b). In westward direction, the offset of middle Pliocene level shows a differential uplift from 150 to 300 m. In several places, the fault is covered by middle Pleistocene terrace deposits that are not apparently affected. The activity of the Têt fault and transversal faults is thus probably lower to upper Pliocene age. The geomorphological indices are useful tools in the evaluation of neotectonics. One of the major features of the relief is the fresh and immature aspect of the fault scarp. They are characterized by a sharp contact between sediments and basement, a low sinuosity index and two triangular spurs. Some statistical properties of landscape (relief, hydrographic network geometry, hypsometric integral ...) may be dominated by the influence of tectonic processes [Merrits and Vincent, 1989 ; Lucazeau and Hurtrez, 1997 ; Font, 2002]. These geomorphic parameters can provide quantitative estimates of surface displacements. But the factors other than tectonics (climate, glacioeustatism and lithology) control morphometric properties. In our study, we used topography, drainage pattern and structural data to perform quantitative morphometric analysis on the basis of field investigation and digital elevation model processed with Arcview V.3.1. The geomorphic indices of drainage basins (area, length, basin relief, slope...), physiographic of the drainage network and degree of topographic dissection of the fault scarp provide information to analyse the timing of the landscape development (tables I &amp; II, fig. 12). Hypsometry has been determined both for basins and selected lithologies within these basins. Hypsometric analysis is performed to summarize the form and evolution of drainage pattern (fig. 10). This F.T.N. is the surface expression of vertical movement located along the strike-slip fault with a normal component. The fault scarp is characterized by three segments which have different morphogenic comportements : the western segmented scarp is poorly exhumed and steeped, the central and eastern scarps are highly eroded and present a poorly geomorphic expression. In the western area, steeper topography accompanied by breaks in the slope along transverse profiles seem to correspond to the trace of recent uplift. Triangular shaped analysis, procured by degradation of the fault scarp, is a geomorphic indicator of neotectonics [Delcaillau, 2001]. Lateral propagation of the deformation and rapid valley incision in the Pliocene formation and the granite of the Millas block are the main factors of the geomorphological evolution of the fault scarp. Divergent-oblique stress leads to the development of strike slip main faults, normal faults and transtensional subbasins. The Conflent basin is in a pull-apart that was initiated during the Pliocene. The elements of the basin fill are underlain by local syndepositional relief, such as fault-flank conglomeratic wedges and evidence of syndepositional tectonism including intraformational fault and roll-overs (fig. 6c).

Evolution of drainage patterns on Cape York Peninsula, northeast Queensland

Drainage patterns along passive continental margins are often hypothesised to be the result of drainage disruption following highland uplift and downwarping of the highland flank. Several studies of stream catchments throughout southeast Australia have demonstrated that the opposite tends to be the case in this region because the field evidence favours stream and continental drainage‐divide stability. While significant advances have been made towards understanding this phenomenon in the southeastern corner of the continent, little is known of the evolution of streams and highlands in northeast Australia. Our study examines palaeochannels and fluvial sedimentary units close to the continental drainage divide in six stream catchments along the length of Cape York Peninsula. The results show that four of the catchments (Barron‐Mitchell and Stewart‐Holroyd) have experienced continental divide and drainage stability, whereas the Pascoe‐Wenlock system appears to have experienced westward migration of the continental drainage divide and diversion of the Pascoe River. River diversion here is likely to be a result of the raising of base‐level and flooding of stream channels during the Cretaceous marine transgression and subsequent stream incision by the Pascoe River along structural weaknesses in the underlying strata, following cessation of marine conditions.

An overview of Pliocene to present-day uplift and denudation rates in the Northern Apennine

Abstract Quaternary, Holocene and present denudation rates in the Northern Adriatic basin and sedimentary supply rates, formerly to the Northern Apennine Foredeep and at present to the Adriatic Sea, are approximately consistent. The Quaternary denudation rate, based on sediment feeding to the foredeep is 0.45 mm a −1 . This value is congruous with a mean exhumation rate since the Early Pliocene, deduced from apatite fission track dating, of 0.5 mm a −1 in the Apuan Alps. The Quaternary supply rate to the foredeep (0.047 km 3 a −1 ) is over twice as fast as that of the Pliocene (0.021 km 3 a −1 ), and reflects an increased denudation rate due to higher energy relief and a slightly larger catchment basin. The Pleistocene increase in uplift/denudation rates is emphasized by the onset of fast prograding sedimentation pattern since 1.0 to 0.8 Ma on both the Padan and the Tyrrhenian side of the Apennines. Pleistocene uplift also had a considerable impact on Apennine morphology and drainage pattern evolution.

Textura y composición de los depósitos fluviales de la depresión de Valverde del Majano (Segovia) como indicadores de los cambios morfológicos y de red de drenaje

Drainage pattern evolution and river captures in the Depression of Valverde del Majano (Segovia) has been confirmed by textural and compositional analysis of their fluvial deposits and longitudinal profiles. Moros and Eresma rivers show at present a diminish of their maturity due to renewed entrenchment, while Zorita and Balisa ones present little developement. Petrographical maturity changes are controlled in this case mainly by river slope and source areas changes. An asynchronical evolution, depending on channel stage of rejuvenation and lithological changes caused by headwaters piracy, has been established.

Unconformities, Paleokarst Facies, and Porosity Evolution: ABSTRACT

The study of unconformities and paleokarsts from the perspective of modern facies analysis and modeling offers potential advantages in terms of organizing and guiding observations, comparisons, interpretations, predictions, and hydrodynamic considerations. Karsts that developed at major unconformities may result in karst facies and profiles different in many respects from those of meteoric diagenesis in Quaternary carbonates in tropical areas (e.g., the Caribbean). Many paleokarsts developed on mud-supported carbonates after mineralogical stabilization, deep burial, and tectonic deformation, but without the diffuse recharge and flow characteristics of the Caribbean model or the influence of a coastal marine mixing zone. The general concepts of water table and vadose and phreatic regimes need careful review when applied to heterogeneous permeability networks. Karst facies and profiles are controlled by (1) previous permeability networks of the affected formation, (2) balance and interaction of climatic, biologic, and hydrologic environments that enhance or reduce these permeability networks, and (3) timing, rate, and succession of environments, and stages of evolution. Karst facies, facies associations, and their profile arrangements generally vary, and may be complicated by relict and rejuvenated features common in evolved karst profiles. In detail, karst facies are defined in terms of (1) corrosion-erosion morphologies, (2) diagenetic overprints, (3) karst sediments and cements (speleothems), and (4) biologic associations. A common, mature, authigenic karst profile consists of the following zones. (1) Soil, infiltration zone--down to the limit of root penetration. (2) Percolation zone--with vertical passages and abundant sedimentation, collapse, and cementation, commonly containing relict features (cave levels) from deeper horizons or local saturation zones. (3) Oscillation zone--characterized by periodic water saturation and, in terms of lithofacies, commonly indistinguishable from the permanent lenticular zone (shallow phreatic); predominantly horizontal passages with bedding-plane control and erosional features are the key characteristics of this zone; cave sediments show evidence for reducing depositional environments; many well logs show a characteristic kick in the gamma ray (B marker), together w th a decrease in the sonic activity. And (4) deep phreatic zone--characterized by incipient, slow corrosion and/or cementation and grading into the unaffected formation. In most places, a rock formation is first exposed to the deep phreatic zone and evolves through the shallow phreatic into the vadose as a result of the dismantling of the upper part of the profile. In this way, the classic concepts of youth, maturity, and senility can apply to parts of the karst profile or to the entire profile, and can provide a basis for comparing other profiles of the same karst system. Base level changes are commonly sharp and produce repeated horizontal cave levels that are abandoned in the vadose part of the profile. In many paleokarsts, those relict cave levels have been confused with repeated surfaces of subaerial exposure. Correlating different karst profiles and the structural-lithologic patterns of the affected formation offer the possibility of reconstructing the evolution of drainage patterns during major unconformities. This karst facies modeling can also provide a basic tool for reservoir evaluation in exploration and production. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1440------------