Interdistributary Bay Research Articles

Sedimentology and Coalbed Methane Geology of Middle Jurassic Coal Measures in Juhugeng Mine, Qinghai Province

Field-based lithofacies in the Middle Jurassic coal measures of the Juhugeng coal mine area of Qinghai Province have been identified employing lithology, geometry and lateral facies relationships. The coal measures were deposited in a range of environments spanning from braided river, delta to lake, and economic coal seams have been formed in the deltaic interdistributary bay and fluvial flood basin environments. The coal has a rank ranging from gas coal to coking coal, and the vitrinite macerals have a relatively high content, being from 60%~80%. Cleats and fractures of coal reservoirs are well developed. The isothermal adsorption experiments reveal that coal in the Juhugeng mine has relatively low Langmuir volume and relatively high Langmuir pressure with low to medium absorbability. All these conditions are beneficial to the formation and preservation of the coalbed methane.

Delta Front Depositional System Study Based on Seismic Attributes and Well Logging Facies

Along with analysis of logging facies characteristics of drilled wells, isometric strata slicing technique for seismic attribute is applied to interpret the distribution of the depositional systems in the study area. It is understood that Nenjiang3 Formation in Xinbei area of Xinli field consists of water regressive and sand progressive delta front depositional system from bottom to top. Combined with analogue analysis of well logging facies and planar seismic attributes, it is learned that sediments generally came from the north area, and main sedimentary microfacies include underwater distributary channels, river mouth bars, sheet sands body and interdistributary bays of delta front. With isometric slicing for the extraction of seismic attributes and logging operation, the distribution rules for sedimentary systems could analyzed, thereby providing a feasible method that could be referenced by the study on sedimentary system distribution of other areas.

Sedimentological and ichnological signatures of changes in wave, river and tidal influence along a Neogene tropical deltaic shoreline

AbstractAnalysis of Neogene cores from the Eastern Venezuela Basin along 65 km of a west–east trending shoreline allows characterization of the sedimentological and ichnological signatures of wave, river and tidal processes. The area displays deltas prograding northward from the Guyana Shield. Twenty‐three facies are defined and grouped into four categories (wave‐influenced, river‐influenced, tide‐influenced and basinal). Wave‐dominated deltaic deposits occur mostly in the Tácata Field. The delta plain was characterized by tide‐influenced distributary channels separated by interdistributary bays. Fluvial discharge in the delta front and prodelta was repeatedly interrupted by storm‐wave reworking and suspended sediment fallout. Delta‐front and prodelta deposits contain some ichnotaxa that typically do not occur in brackish water (for example, Chondrites and Phycosiphon). Amalgamated storm deposits are unburrowed or contain vertical Ophiomorpha. Lateral (especially on the updrift side) to the river mouths, waves caused nearly continuous accretion of the associated strandplains. These deposits are the most intensely bioturbated, and are dominated by the estenohaline echinoid‐generated ichnogenus Scolicia. River‐dominated deltaic deposits are present in the Santa Bárbara, Mulata, Carito and El Furrial Fields. Low‐sinuosity rivers characterized the alluvial plain, whereas the subaerial delta plain was occupied by higher‐sinuosity rivers. The subaqueous delta plain includes distributary channels and tide‐influenced interdistributary bays. Further seaward, successions are characterized by terminal distributary‐channel and distributary mouth‐bar deposits, as well as by delta‐front and prodelta deposits showing evidence of sediment gravity‐flow and fluid‐mud emplacement. Delta‐front and prodelta deposits are unbioturbated to sparsely bioturbated, suggesting extreme stress, mostly as a result of high fluvial discharge and generation of sediment gravity flows. Tidal influence is restricted to interdistributary bays, lagoons and some distributary channels. From an ichnological perspective, and in order of decreasing stress levels, four main depositional settings are identified: river‐dominated deltas, tide‐influenced delta plains, wave‐dominated deltas and wave‐dominated strandplain–offshore complexes.

Lithofacies Characters and Significance of the Submarine Fan of the Liufengguan Group in Qinling

Abstract:Field investigation and laboratory research on flysch of the Liufengguan Group in Qinling indicate the following: (1) Sandstone of the Liufengguan Group is categorized as feldspathic lithic graywacke with a minor amount of lithic graywacke in the QFR triangular diagram. Grain size ≤0.3 mm. Bedding plane structures such as groove casts and suspected flute casts can be found at the bottom of the sandstone. It is inferred that currents may have come from the southeast during deposition. Bedding structures such as ripple marks, graded bedding, parallel bedding, small‐scale cross bedding, climbing bedding, suspected convolute bedding, microlamination and sliding structures have also been observed, which are of indicative significance. It is thought that the Liufengguan Group has the sedimentary characteristics of bedding, bedding plane structures and lithological assemblages of deep‐sea low‐density turbidity current deposits. The vertical succession of the Bouma sequence in the inner fan subfacies zone is generally incomplete: the assemblage of Ta and Tabc is commonly seen; the succession of the middle fan subfacies zone is relatively complete; and divisions Te and Tb are common in the outer fan subfacies zone. (2) The flysh of the Liufengguan Group is a sequence of deep‐sea argillaceous‐arenaceous submarine fan deposits, in which the authors recognize the inner, middle and outer fan subfacies and also nine types of lithofacies: normal graded sandstone (A1), medium‐ to thick‐bedded, fine‐grained sandstone (A2), medium‐ to thick‐bedded and massive siltstone (A3), thin‐bedded, fine‐grained sandstone and mudstone (B1), irregular interbeds of thin‐bedded, fine‐grained sandstone and siltstone (B2), thin‐bedded, fine‐grained sandstone (C1), very thin‐bedded, fine‐grained sandstone (D1), olistostromes (E1) and deep‐sea mudstone (F). The inner fan consists of four microfacies: natural levee (A1), water channel (A2, A3) and olistostromc (E1); in the middle fan there also occur four microfacies, i.e., branch channel (B1), branch channel (B2), interdistributary bay (D1) and olistostrome. The outer fan is made up of the branch channel (C1) and sheet sand (D1) microfacies, which alternate vertically with sediments of deep‐sea plain subfacies (F). There occur fining‐ and thin ning‐upward channel deposits in the outer‐fan subfacies zone of the submarine fan of the Liufengguan Group observed in this study. The quartz content of the graywacke of the deposits is all higher than 40% and may reach as high as 60%. Therefore, on the basis of the aforementioned features, this flysh should be formed in a passive continental‐margin tectonic environment.

Study on Sedimentary Macrofacies of Sandy Group V of the Second Section of Qingshankou Formation, Daqingzi Region

According to the core observation and log facies analysis, in the stage of the sand group V of the second section of Qingshankou formation, it mainly develop the delta of type IV which was proposed by Coleman and Wright and in Daqingzi region ,the delta can be classified into two subfacies : delta front and prodelta. The delta front can be divided into underwater distributary channel, river mouth bar, offshore sandbar, coastal sand sheet, interdistributary bay and shallow lake. According to the distribution of sedimentary macrofacies, it can provide guidance to find favorable areas.

Study on Sedimentary Macrofacies of Sandy Group V of the Second Section of Qingshankou Formation, Daqingzi Region

According to the core observation and log facies analysis, in the stage of the sand group V of the second section of Qingshankou formation, it mainly develop the delta of type IV which was proposed by Coleman and Wright and in Daqingzi region ,the delta can be classified into two subfacies : delta front and prodelta. The delta front can be divided into underwater distributary channel, river mouth bar, offshore sandbar, coastal sand sheet, interdistributary bay and shallow lake. According to the distribution of sedimentary macrofacies, it can provide guidance to find favorable areas.

High-resolution transgressive-regressive sequence stratigraphy of Chang 8 Member of Yanchang Formation in southwestern Ordos basin, northern China

The reservoirs within the Chang 8 Member of Yanchang (延长) Formation in the southwestern Ordos basin are characterized by low permeability. It is significant to build a high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework for the exploration and development of these reservoirs. Based on an integrated investigation of well logs, seismic data, cores and outcrops, the Chang 8 Member is interpreted as a 3rd-order transgressive-regressive (T-R) sequence, which consists of six 4th-order T-R sequences, namely, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 and K6, respectively, from base to top. Each 4th-order sequence comprises a transgressive systems tract overlain by a regressive systems tract. From K1 to transgressive systems tract of K4, it is characterized by the landward shifts of facies and overall retrogradational sequence stacking pattern due to accommodation increase more than sediment supply during the 3rd-order base-level rise. The distributary channels are mainly deposited in the transgressive systems tracts, and the interdistributary bays, sheet sands, and small-scale mouth bars are primarily developed in the regressive systems tracts in response to the 4th-order base-level fluctuations. From the regressive systems tracts of K4 to K6, it is characterized by the basinward shifts of facies and overall progradational sequence stacking pattern because of accommodation increase less than sediment supply during a fall in 3rd-order base level. The distributary channels are mainly accumulated in the transgressive systems tracts, and distributary channels and mouth bars are deposited in the regressive systems tracts as a result of the 4th-order base-level changes. Detailed stratigraphic and sedimentological analyses indicate that sequences K1, K2, K5 and K6, as well as the basin edge of K3 and K4, remain potential for exploration and development due to their high reservoir quality in response to the low accommodation and more sediment supply.

Hierarchy Analysis for Flow Units Division of Low-Permeability Reservoir: A Case Study in Xifeng Oilfield, Ordos Basin

The Chang 8 Member of Yanchang Formation in Xifeng Oilfield is deposited by delta front, and the mircofacies contains distributary channel, mouth bar, sheet sands and interdistributary bay. The reservoirs within the Chang 8 Member are characterized by strong heterogeneity, great lateral change of facies and low permeability with a value of 0.1–10mD. It is significant for the effective development of these low-permeability reservoirs to divide the flow units accurately. Base on the principle that flow units are controlled by macroscopic sedimentation and microscopic petrophysics, a hierarchy analysis for flow units division was proposed. The reservoir unit can be subdivided into three hierarchies which comprises genetic unit, architectural unit and flow unit. Macroscopically, genetic unit is designated by sequence stratigraphic interpretation, and architectural unit is delineated within genetic unit by reservoir architecture analysis. Microscopically, flow unit is defined within architectural unit by petrophysical parameters measurement. The method was applied to divide flow units of low permeability reservoirs within the Chang 8 Member of Xifeng Oilfield. It was shown that the flow unit of type A and B with good development potential dominantly locate in the main part of distributary channel and mouth bar, and the flow unit of type C with poor development potential mainly locates in sheet sands, edges of mouth bar and distributary channel. The study indicates that the flow units are identified by the method which reflects macroscopic characteristics of sedimentation, as well as microscopic details of petrophysical properties.

Taphonomic and sedimentologic interpretations of the dinosaur-bearing Upper Cretaceous Strata of the Prince Creek Formation, Northern Alaska: Insights from an ancient high-latitude terrestrial ecosystem

Several dinosaurian bonebeds occur within the Campanian–Maastrichtian portion of the Prince Creek Formation of northern Alaska along a 45 km stretch of the Colville River. These beds are characterized by the occurrence of bones from large numbers of juvenile to sub-adult dinosaurs entombed in a hydraulically incompatible fine-grained matrix. The skeletal elements show little evidence for articulation, though there is evidence for association. Further, the bones show little evidence of post-mortem alteration such as prolonged exposure to weathering, predation, or trampling. The sediments of the Late Cretaceous to Paleocene Prince Creek Formation represent a continental succession deposited on a high-latitude, low-gradient alluvial/coastal plain. Deposition occurred in trunk channels, on distributary-channel splay complexes, in interdistributary bays, and on floodplains. These bonebeds formed under unique paleoclimatic and paleogeographic conditions. Although mean annual temperatures on the coastal plain were higher during the deposition of the Prince Creek Formation than modern temperatures, the evolving Brooks Range orogenic belt formed the southern edge of the Colville basin, providing a high-latitude, cooler alpine environment in close proximity to these warmer lowland environments. Seasonal flow due to the combination of snow melt and alpine permafrost in the ancestral Brooks Range likely produced regularly occurring seasonal floods, which are the likely killing mechanism that resulted in the formation of these bonebeds.

Description of Cretaceous Sedimentary Sequence of the Quantou Formation Recovered by CCSD-SK-Is Borehole in Songliao Basin: Lithostratigraphy, Sedimentary Facies and Cyclic Stratigraphy

The Quantou Formation recovered by CCSD-SK-Is borehole (China Cretaceous Continental Scientific Drilling-SongkeI-the south borehole) is 132.07 m long and the recovery of cores is 100%. The sequence and process of lithology-lithofacies and cyclostratigraphy are revealed by a detailed core description. Nine rock types and three kinds of sedimentary facies including meandering river, shallow lake, and delta front are recognized from the drilling core, there are ten sedimentary microfacies, which are point bar, natural levee, crevasse splay, crevasse channel, floodplain, flood lake, distributary mouth bar, interdistributary bay, mudstone of still water, and turbidite. The Quantou Formation represents seventy-six meter-scale cycles (sixth-order cycle), twenty-five fifth-order cycles, eight fourth-order cycles, and two third-order cycles. Meticulously depicted (centimeter level) continental red beds of the third and the fourth members of Quantou Formation will be a potential formulation profile for the studies of Cretaceous global oxygen-enriched events. The reservoir sandstones of the third and the fourth members were developed basin-wide as an inevitable product before the Songliao Basin was depressed or sagged on a large scale. The period of the third and the fourth members of Quantou Formation is a stage between the development of the fault basin and the sag basin on a large scale.

Braid-delta deposits from a broad shallow-marine setting: the middle member of the Kalpingtag Formation in the central Tarim Basin

During the early Silurian, a transgressive and vast shallow sea with flat sea-floor covered the central Tarim Basin (the Tazhong area). The depositional environment of the middle member of the Kalpingtag Formation is controversial. In order to provide a basis for the prediction of reservoir sand, the sedimentary facies are recognized according to abundant core observations and de- scriptions combined with well-log analysis, isograms, seismic interpretations and regional sedimentary background. The middle member of the Kalpingtag Formation, which shows a retrograding sequence, is interpreted as braid-delta deposits influenced by mi- nor tidal reworking. The sources of clasts are from the southern uplift. The subaqueous braid-delta deposits in the study area have some characteristics quite different from the common deltas that generally deposit in marginal seas. Four facies grouped to a delta front association are recognized, ranging from distributary-channel (Facies A), front bar (Facies B), sand sheet (Facies C) and inter- distributary bay (Facies D). The distributary channels construct the sandbody framework of the delta front. Front bar deposits, which are fine-grained with low depositional dips, display a near-continuous sand strip around the entire periphery of the delta. Sand sheet deposits are mainly found in front of Facies B, gradationally contacting with the prodelta. The interdistributary bay is essentially the uppermost unit capping the channel sequence and generally made up of laminated and massive mudstones. The delta front deposits display extensive sheet-like bodies contrasting with the characteristic wedge shapes of common subaqueous delta bodies. The bi- modal cross-stratification and mud drapes in the fine- to medium-grained sandstone in the distal area are inferred to reflect high-energy tidal processes.

Depositional facies, diagenesis and their impact on the reservoir quality of Silurian sandstones from Tazhong area in central Tarim Basin, western China

The Silurian sandstones of the Tazhong area are an important oil exploration target in the Tarim Basin, western China. This study deals with the Lower Silurian of the Kalpingtag Formation, which was deposited in a braided delta system. Four major depositional microfacies are identified consisting of distributary channel, interdistributary bay, front bar and sand sheet. In spite of their large lateral extent, exploration of these sandstones is complicated by variation of sediment facies and intense diagenesis, which strongly affected reservoir quality. Depositional environment exerted an essential control on the reservoir quality. Higher energy, well-sorted and relatively coarser grained sandstones have better quality than low-energy fine-grained, clay-rich sandstones. Diagenesis was mainly composed of mechanical and chemical compaction and cementation by quartz overgrowths, carbonates and various clay minerals. Mechanical compaction was a significant porosity reducing agent in the Silurian sandstones. The presence of carbonate cement exerts a dominant influence on porosity and permeability in Tazhong area. Other cements are less important, but quartz cement is significant. The third significant element is clay minerals. The porosity reduction by compaction and cementation and the relative timing of them indicates that compaction was much more important than cementation in reducing porosity.

Changing lake dynamics and sequence stratigraphy of synrift lacustrine strata in a half‐graben: an example from the Triassic Ischigualasto–Villa Unión Basin, Argentina

AbstractWell‐exposed Triassic rift strata from the Ischigualasto–Villa Unión Basin (NW Argentina) include a 80 to ca 515 m thick lacustrine‐dominated package that can be correlated across a half‐graben using key stratigraphic surfaces (sequence boundaries, lacustrine flooding surfaces and forced regressive surfaces). The characteristics of the synrift lacustrine fill in different parts of the half‐graben have been examined and the mechanisms controlling sedimentation inferred. A variety of sedimentary environments are recognized including; volcaniclastic floodplain, mildly saline lake and playa lake, offshore lacustrine, delta front to fluvial‐dominated and wave‐dominated deltas, distributary and fluvial channel, and interdistributary bay. The succession can be divided into four stratigraphic sequences (SS1 to SS4), the oldest of which (SS1) contains volcaniclastic, fluvial and saline lake deposits; it is thickest close to the western border fault zone, reflecting more rapid subsidence here. Accommodation exceeded sediment and water input during SS1. The second and third sequences (SS2 and SS3) mark the onset of widespread lacustrine sedimentation, reflecting a balance between accommodation creation and water and sediment fluxes. Sequences SS2 and SS3 are represented by offshore meromictic lacustrine and deltaic deposits, the latter mostly sourced from the flexural and southern axial margins of the half‐graben. The presence of stacked parasequences bound by lacustrine flooding surfaces is related to climatically induced lake‐level fluctuations superimposed on variable rates of subsidence on the controlling rift border fault zone. The youngest sequence (SS4) is represented by the deposits of littoral lacustrine and shallow shelf deltas distinguished by a change in lithofacies, palaeocurrents and sandstone composition, suggesting a switch in sediment supply to the footwall margin to the NW. The change in the sediment source is related to reduced footwall uplift, the possible presence of a relay ramp and/or supply from a captured antecedent drainage network. During SS4, the rate of creation of accommodation was exceeded by the sediment and water discharge. The stratigraphic evolution of lacustrine strata in the half‐graben was mainly controlled by tectonic processes, including subsidence rate and the growth and evolution of the border fault zone, but changing climate (inducing changes in water balance and lake level) and autocyclic processes (delta lobe switching) were also important.

Permo-Carboniferous coal measures in the Qinshui basin: Lithofacies paleogeography and its control on coal accumulation

The Qinshui basin in southeastern Shanxi Province is an important base for coalbed methane exploration and production in China. The methane reservoirs in this basin are the Carboniferous and Permian coals. Their thickness is strongly controlled by the depositional environments and the paleogeography. In this paper, sedimentological research was undertaken on the outcrop and borehole sections of the Taiyuan and Shanxi formations in the Qinshui basin and the basin-wide lithofacies paleogeography maps for these two formations have been reconstructed. The Taiyuan Formation is composed of limestones, aluminous mudstones, siltstones, silty mudstones, sandstones, and mineable coal seams, with a total thickness varying from 44.9 m to 193.48 m. The coal seams have a thickness ranging between 0.10 and 16.89 m, averaging 7.19 m. During the deposition of the Taiyuan Formation, the northern part of the basin was dominated by a lower deltaic depositional system, the central and southern parts were dominated by a lagoon environment, and the southeastern corner was occupied by a carbonate platform setting. Coal is relatively thick in the northern part and the southeastern corner. The Shanxi Formation consists of sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, and coals, with the limestones being locally developed. The thickness of the Shanxi Formation is from 18.6 m to 213.25 m, with the thickness of coal seams from 0.10 to 10 m and averaging 4.2 m. During the deposition of the Shanxi Formation, the northern part of the Qinshui basin was mainly dominated by a lower deltaic plain distributary channel environment, the central and southern parts were mainly an interdistributary bay environment, and the southeastern part was occupied by a delta front mouth bar environment. The thick coals are distributed in the central and southern parts where an interdistributary bay dominates. It is evident that the thick coal zones of the Taiyuan Formation are consistent with the sandstone-rich belts, mainly located in the areas of the northern lower deltaic plain and southeastern barrier bar environments, whereas the thick coal zones of the Shanxi Formation coincide with the mudstone-rich belts, located in the areas of the central and southern interdistributary bay environments.

Variable style of transition between Palaeogene fluvial fan and lacustrine systems, southern Pyrenean foreland, NE Spain

AbstractTwo Palaeogene fluvial fan systems linked to the south‐Pyrenean margin are recognized in the eastern Ebro Basin: the Cardona–Súria and Solsona–Sanaüja fans. These had radii of 40 and 35 km and were 800 and 600 km2 in area respectively. During the Priabonian to the Middle Rupelian, the fluvial fans built into a hydrologically closed foreland basin, and shallow lacustrine systems persisted in the basin centre. In the studied area, both fans are part of the same upward‐coarsening megasequence (up to 800 m thick), driven by hinterland drainage expansion and foreland propagation of Pyrenean thrusts. Fourteen sedimentary facies have been grouped into seven facies associations corresponding to medial fluvial fan, channelized terminal lobe, non‐channelized terminal lobe, mudflat, deltaic, evaporitic playa‐lake and carbonate‐rich, shallow lacustrine environments. Lateral correlations define two styles of alluvial‐lacustrine transition. During low lake‐level stages, terminal lobes developed, whereas during lake highstands, fluvial‐dominated deltas and interdistributary bays were formed. Terminal lobe deposits are characterized by extensive (100–600 m wide) sheet‐like fine sandstone beds formed by sub‐aqueous, quasi‐steady, hyperpycnal turbidity currents. Sedimentary structures and trace fossils indicate rapid desiccation and sub‐aerial exposure of the lobe deposits. These deposits are arranged in coarsening–fining sequences (metres to tens of metres in thickness) controlled by a combination of tectonics, climatic oscillations and autocyclic sedimentary processes. The presence of anomalously deeply incised distributary channels associated with distal terminal lobe or mudflat deposits indicates rapid lake‐level falls. Deltaic deposits form progradational coarsening‐upward sequences (several metres thick) characterized by channel and friction‐dominated mouth‐bar facies overlying white‐grey offshore lacustrine facies. Deltaic bar deposits are less extensive (50–300 m wide) than the terminal lobes and were also deposited by hyperpycnal currents, although they lack evidence of emergence. Sandy deltaic deposits accumulated locally at the mouths of main feeder distal fan streams and were separated by muddy interdistributary bays; whereas the terminal lobe sheets expand from a series of mid‐fan intersection points and coalesced to form a more continuous sandy fan fringe.

Domains of spit evolution in the Goro area, Po Delta, Italy

Goro lagoon was formed during the 19th century in the southern part of the Po Delta. Its origin is related to the growth of a spit system, which progressively occluded the southernmost interdistributary bay from the sea. The development of the spits is due to the morphological prominence of the Po Delta which causes a divergent littoral drift, enhanced by wave refraction over the delta front. During the last century the spit was abandoned, destroyed, and re-constructed several times because of the development of newer spits seawards. Using historical maps and aerial photographs, three different periods are recognised, featuring distinctive spit growth styles: parallel, fan-shaped and branched. The different domains of spit evolution are related to several factors, mainly to the mutual influence of sediment discharge, sand mining along the Po river, wave action over the delta front, human-induced subsidence and direct human interventions along the spits and for flood-control.

Lithostratigraphy and depositional environments of the Pyeongan Supergroup (Carboniferous–Permian) in the Taebaek area, mid-east Korea

The Pyeongan Supergroup (Carboniferous–Permian) consists of a thick siliciclastic sequence (1700 m thick). Recent sedimentological work in the Taebaek area has refined the lithostratigraphic units: Manhang, Geumcheon-Jangseong, Hambaeksan, Dosagok, Gohan and Donggo formations in ascending order. The entire sequence is represented by thirteen sedimentary facies, which can be organized into seven facies associations (FA). The lower part of the Manhang Formation (FA 1) (Moscovian) consists of crudely cross-stratified conglomerate, massive sandstone and gray homogeneous siltstone, formed in shoreface off river mouth, whereas purple siltstone and grainstone of the upper part (FA 2) probably formed in a coastal plain environment. The Geumcheon-Jangseong Formation (Moscovian-Artinskian) consists of dark gray sandstone, dark gray shale, coal and bioturbated wackestone (FA 3) formed in a lagoonal environment. The Hambaeksan Formation (Kungurian) comprises milky white, crudely stratified, conglomerate, gray coarse sandstone and partly laminated black shale (FA 4), representing a shoreface progradation. The Dosagok Formation (Late Permian) is characterized by an alternation of purple fine sandstone and conglomerate (FA 5), formed in a bedload-dominated fluvial system. The Gohan Formation (Late Permian) is mostly composed of upward-fining units (massive sandstone to dark gray siltstone) (FA 6), suggesting a restricted inter-distributary bay environment. The Donggo Formation (?Late Permian) consists of cross-stratified coarse sandstone and purple sandstone (FA 7), interpreted as deposits of perennial, sandy braided river system.

Formation of the St. Clair River Delta in the Laurentian Great Lakes System

The St. Clair River delta, the largest in the Laurentian Great Lakes system, is located in Lake St. Clair at the mouth of the St. Clair River. It straddles the border between the state of Michigan in the USA and the province of Ontario in Canada. The current study aims at characterizing and explaining the formation and evolution of the distributary channels in the St. Clair River delta and the delta itself. The delta is classified as a river dominated feature with classic “bird's foot” structure similar to the Mississippi delta model. The delta is composed of two surfaces. The older surface at the delta apex was deposited at a higher lake level some 3,500 to 5,000 years B.P. The current delta started to form following a drop in lake level some 3,500 years B.P. and continues to build to the present day. The delta consists of seven active deep channels averaging 11 m in depth entering a lake with a mean depth of 3 m with much shallower water in the delta front region. The channels are stable and are actively eroding into the sediments of the lake creating both sub-aqueous and sub-aerial levee deposits with crevasses. The interdistributary bays are being filled with sandy deposits created by wave energy and by crevasse deposits. At the erosional front of each distributary a narrow erosional notch “leading channel” is being formed which appears to control the direction of lakeward erosion of each deep distributary channel. The emplacement of the delta body in the shallow receiving water body has been termed “burrowing” delta formation and is the mechanism controlling the formation of this sedimentary feature.

New Selachian Paleofaunas from "Fluvial" Deposits of the Ferris and Lower Hanna Formations (Maastrichtian- Selandian: 66-58 Ma), Southern Wyoming

Abstract Historically, sandy paleochannel deposits of the 2,000 m- thick Ferris (Maastrichtian–Danian: 66–62 Ma) and overlying 3,000 m-thick Hanna Formation (Danian–Thanetian: 62–55 Ma) in southern Wyoming's Hanna and Carbon basins have been interpreted as fluvial channel fills. New selachian paleofaunas from both formations are concentrated in stratigraphic intervals that also exhibit an abundance of mechanical tidal indicators and low-diversity marine ichnofossil assemblages (indicating brackish-water). Their presence in these two continental formations supports the reinterpretation of some sandy paleochannel deposits and shaly intervals as brackish-water estuaries, tidally influenced distributary channels, and interdistributary bays. Cederstroemia and Cretorectolobus are reported for the first time from Maastrichtian deposits (they previously have been documented only from Campanian and older strata). A new species of dasyatid is preserved in the middle Ferris Formation (earliest Paleocene: 64 Ma) and ...

Depositional environments and processes in Upper Cretaceous nonmarine and marine sediments, Ocean Point dinosaur locality, North Slope, Alaska

A 178-m-thick stratigraphic section exposed along the lower Colville River in northern Alaska, near Ocean Point, represents the uppermost part of a 1500 m Upper Cretaceous stratigraphic section. Strata exposed at Ocean Point are assigned to the Prince Creek and Schrader Bluff formations. Three major depositional environments are identified consisting, in ascending order, of floodplain, interdistributary-bay, and shallow-marine shelf. Nonmarine strata, comprising the lower 140 m of this section, consist of fluvial distributaries, overbank sediments, tephra beds, organic-rich beds, and vertebrate remains. Tephras yield isotopic ages between 68 and 72.9 Ma, generally consistent with paleontologic ages of late Campanian–Maastrichtian determined from dinosaur remains, pollen, foraminifers, and ostracodes. Meandering low-energy rivers on a low-gradient, low-relief floodplain carried a suspended-sediment load. The rivers formed multistoried channel deposits (channels to 10 m deep) as well as solitary channel deposits (channels 2–5 m deep). Extensive overbank deposits resulting from episodic flooding formed fining-upward strata on the floodplain. The fining-upward strata are interbedded with tephra and beds of organic-rich sediment. Vertical-accretion deposits containing abundant roots indicate a sheet flood origin for many beds. Vertebrate and nonmarine invertebrate fossils along with plant debris were locally concentrated in the floodplain sediment. Deciduous conifers as well as abundant wetland plants, such as ferns, horsetails, and mosses, covered the coastal plain. Dinosaur skeletal remains have been found concentrated in floodplain sediments in organic-rich bone beds and as isolated bones in fluvial channel deposits in at least nine separate horizons within a 100-m-thick interval. Arenaceous foraminifers in some organic-rich beds and shallow fluvial distributaries indicate a lower coastal plain environment with marginal marine (bay) influence. Marginal marine strata representing interdistributary bay deposits overlie the nonmarine beds and comprise about 15 m of section. Extensive vegetated sand flats, shoals, and shallow channels overlain by shallow bay deposits (less than 7 m deep), containing storm-generated strata characterize the marginal marine beds. Abundant bioturbation and roots characterize the stratigraphic lowest bay deposits; bioturbated sediment, pelecypods, barnacles, and benthic microfossils are found in the overlying bay storm deposits. The sediments abruptly change upward from hummocky cross-stratified bay deposits to a muddy marsh deposit containing shallow organic-rich channels to prograding nonmarine to marginal marine beds. Transgressive, abundantly fossiliferous shallow-marine strata more than 13 m thick comprise the uppermost exposures at Ocean Point. The marine beds overlie nonmarine and bay strata and represent an environment dominated episodically by storms. The age of the marginal marine and marine beds is late Maastrichtian based on pollen.