Maximum Flooding Surface Research Articles

Transition from a transgressive to a regressive river-mouth sediment body in Tokyo Bay during the early Holocene: Sedimentary facies, geometry, and stacking pattern

Sedimentary facies, geometry, and stacking pattern transitions of river-mouth sediment bodies recording the turnaround from a transgressive estuary to a regressive delta system have not been sufficiently clarified in the Asian sedimentary record. In this study, the temporal and spatial distributions of sedimentary facies of the post-Last Glacial Maximum incised-valley fills (pLGMIVFs), including those recording delta initiation in the Tama River Lowland, on the west coast of Tokyo Bay, are described taking into account 14 sediment cores, 186 radiocarbon dates, and 8745 geotechnical borehole logs. The pLGMIVFs in the Tama River Lowland, which unconformably overlie Plio-Pleistocene deposits, can be divided into braided-river, meandering-river, estuary, and delta systems in an ascending order. The boundaries between the braided-/meandering-river or estuary systems and the estuary/delta systems correspond to a transgressive surface (20 ka) and a maximum flooding surface (8 ka), respectively. In the estuary system, the river-mouth sediment body, accumulated during 10–8 ka, gradually became smaller and coarser-grained landward; in contrast, the delta system's river-mouth sediment body became larger, finer-grained as it prograded seaward during the past 8 ky. With decelerating sea-level rise at 8 ka, the delta initiated as a sediment body, consisting of 5-m-thick, upward-coarsening sand and gravel beds, distributed in an area of 2 km wide and 2 km long in a funnel-shaped river mouth. This initial delta prograded locally in the subaqueous river mouth, with the saltmarsh spreading widely landward at the margins of the delta to the highest sea-level peak at 7 ka. This separation of subaqueous delta progradation and inland saltmarsh expansion occurred because the volume of sediment deposition was almost equal to the increase in accommodation space due to the 7 mm/yr sea-level rise during 8–7 ka.

Paleodepositional Environment and Sequence Stratigraphy of Miocene Sediments in Well TN-1, Coastal Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

This research focused on the interpretation of paleodepositional environment and development of a sequence stratigraphic framework for the well TN-1 section, located in the coastal swamp depositional belt of the Niger Delta Basin. Integration of interpreted litho- and biofacies data sets that facilitated the interpretation of the paleodepositional environment enabled the erection of a sequence-stratigraphic framework. Three lithotypes (sand, clay, and shale) distributed within fourteen facies variants were integrated with palynomorph components to delineate five paleodepositional cycles ranging from distal delta plain to bathyal. Eight systems tracts (closely related to depositional cycles, but transcended depositional boundaries in some intervals) that hosted three maximum flooding surfaces (MFS), three sequence boundaries (SBs), distributed within four third-order and three second-order sequences, were defined. Age-significant palynomorphs recovered indicated an Aquitanian to Messinian age range (with non-deposition or erosion of Burdigalian, Langhian, Serravallian Stages sediments), distributed within five pollen zones (P628–P840) that correlated with published global cycles. This study demonstrates the significance of integrated studies to erect a sequence-stratigraphic framework applicable for field and basin-scale exploration and exploitation purposes.
 Keywords: Sequence stratigraphy, paleodepositional cycles, systems tract, cyclic sedimentation,lithofacies analysis, integrated studies.

Reservoir characterization of the upper Turonian – lower Coniacian Khasib formation, South Iraq: Implications from electrofacies analysis and a sequence stratigraphic framework

The Upper Turonian – Lower Coniacian Khasib Formation is a significant hydrocarbon reservoir in southern Iraq. The present study integrates multiple data sets of 33 wireline wells, available core, and thin sections from two important oilfields: Amara and Noor to interpret the lateral and vertical facies changes and petrophysical reservoir variability within a sequence stratigraphic framework. Cluster analysis based on well log data including gamma ray, sonic, neutron, bulk density data were used to classify the Khasib Formation into five carbonate electrofacies and determine the petrophysical properties. These electrofacies consists of compacted marly, argillaceous, chalky, porous, and vuggy limestones which are interpreted to have been deposited in a ramp setting. Sequence stratigraphic analysis shows that the Khasib Formation consists of two third-order sequences with three sequence boundaries refer to global sea-level changes: the Mishrif-Khasib regional unconformity, the intra-Khasib unconformity, and the Khasib-Tanuma formational boundary. Each sequence consists of a transgressive system tract (TST) and a highstand systems tract (HST) which are separated by a maximum flooding surface (MFS). Reservoir correlation and mapping of the Khasib Formation in both the Amara and the Noor oilfields show the best important oil-bearing zones are located dominantly in transgressive system tracts (TSTs).

Sequence stratigraphic analysis and hydrocarbon prospectivity of AMO Field, deep offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria

An integrated interpretation of processed 3D seismic data, a suite of well logs, biostratigraphic data and core photographs of AMO Field, deep offshore Niger Delta, is carried out for the sequence stratigraphic analysis of strata penetrated by wells. Lithologic and key stratigraphic surfaces, that is, the maximum flooding surfaces (MFSs) and sequence boundaries (SBs), are identified based on bioevents and log motifs. Biostratigraphic data help the delineation of MFSs and SBs, as well as dating, determination of depositional environment and paleobathymetry. The sequence stratigraphic study reveals seven MFSs (of 13.0 Ma, 11.0 Ma, 9.5 Ma, 7.4 Ma, 5.8 Ma, 5.0 Ma and 2.7 Ma) and six SBs (of 12.1 Ma, 10.3 Ma, 8.5 Ma, 6.3 Ma, 5.5 Ma and 4.2 Ma). The key stratigraphic surfaces identified involve three depositional sequences characterized by lowstand, transgressive and highstand system tracts respectively. The studied section is deposited in a deepwater environment ranging from Lower to Upper Bathyal and can be dated back to the Middle Miocene - Middle Pliocene in age. Seven faults and two horizons (corresponding to reservoir units) are identified and mapped across the seismic data volume to establish a continuity of the reservoir to areas lacking well control. The established sequence stratigraphic framework displays successions of sediments (system tracts) where the reservoir sand units of the lowstand and highstand system tracts are of hydrocarbon prospective units in the field.

Chemostratigraphy as a tool for sequence stratigraphy in the Devonian Hare Indian Formation in the Mackenzie Mountains and Central Mackenzie Valley, Northwest Territories, Canada

The Hare Indian Formation (HIF) is a late Eifelian to Givetian organic-rich mudstone constituting the lower portion of the Horn River Group (HRG), which has been minimally scrutinized in the literature. This paper proposes depositional environments and a sequence stratigraphic framework for the HIF. Using composition data collected via energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, geochemical proxies inform detrital input, silica source, and paleoredox conditions. Cross-plots and chemostratigraphic profiles of detritally sourced Al, Ti, and K and redox-sensitive Mo and V inform depositional and stratigraphic constraints. Silica proportions vary, indicating that sediment was derived from detrital and biogenic sources. Al, Ti, and K distributions increase upwards, showing increased continentally sourced minerals. Redox-sensitive metals are highest in the Bluefish Member (BM), suggesting intermittent euxinia. Based on the presence of continental and pelagic sediments, the sedimentary environment is interpreted as proximal- to mid-shelf. These proxies guide systems tract interpretations. Si and redox-sensitive metal concentrations peak higher in the BM, accompanied by lowered concentrations of Al, Ti, and K, suggesting a maximum flooding surface. At the top of the Prohibition and Bell Creek members, redox-sensitive enrichments are lower with higher concentrations of Al, Ti, and K, suggesting a maximum regressive surface. Transgression occurred during the initial deposition of the BM, followed by regression for the remainder of the HIF. The sedimentology of the HIF can be difficult to decipher; the use of chemostratigraphy supports its geological history (including sedimentation trends and a local record of relative sea level) using methods that may be applied to other fine-grained successions.

Mineralogical and petrographic characteristics of the Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale in the Sichuan Basin and implications for depositional conditions and diagenesis of black shales

Depositional and diagenetic processes play important roles in controlling the fabric and petrophysical properties of black shales. In this study, an outcrop section of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale was studied through sedimentologic facies analysis, petrographic observations (both transmitted- and reflected-light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy), and X-ray diffraction analysis to investigate how depositional and diagenetic processes controlled the accumulation and evolution of organic-rich black shales. The studied Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale consists of over-mature black shales, with an equivalent vitrinite reflectance of 3.07%. Organic matter is dominated by pyrobitumen and graptolite, the former of which hosts abundant organic pores. Minerals mainly consist of quartz (average 42 wt %), carbonates (average 37.4 wt %), and clay minerals (average 15 wt %). Eighty percent of quartz is of biogenic origin, which occurs as siliceous fossils and microcrystalline quartz. Microcrystalline quartz forms a rigid framework and preserves organic pores from compaction. Clay minerals comprise dominantly (95 wt %) illite and mixed-layer illite/smectite. The vertical variations in lithofacies and quartz and carbonate mineral content exhibit three cycles, likely corresponding to three transgressive-regressive cycles. Within each cycle, quartz content first increases to reach a maximum at the maximum flooding surface, and then decreases. Although long being considered as deposited under quiescent and anoxic conditions, sedimentologic and petrographic analyses in this study indicate that the deposition of the Wufeng Formation and lower Longmaxi Formation was subject to intermittent reworking by bottom currents and bottom-water dysoxia. Meiofauna capable of tolerating low oxygen content could have lived in surficial sediments and disrupted the original fabric of sediments formed by bottom currents. Mineralogical and petrographic analyses in this study provide new insights into the accumulation mechanism of the organic-rich black shales of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formations, calling for a critical reappraisal of other black shales that have conventionally been considered as deposited under mostly quiet and anoxic conditions. • Mineralogical and petrographic characteristics were studied. • Three stratigraphic cycles were identified. • Depositional conditions were not persistently quiescent and anoxic. • Intermittent reworking by bottom currents and bottom-water dysoxia existed.

Systems tracts of the San Juan Formation (Ordovician), Argentine Precordillera: Conodont record analyses, thin sections and its intercontinental importance

In this paper, first and last occurrences of conodont species and petrographic thin sections are used for detection of systems tracts in the San Juan Formation. After analysis of 16,432 conodont elements from Cerro La Silla and Cerro Viejo of Huaco (Los Gatos Creek), Precordillera, Argentina, two transgressive systems tracts (TST) and two highstand systems tracts (HST) are recognized in the San Juan Formation (Lower−Middle Ordovician), including the location of the maximum flooding surface corresponding to each depositional sequence. This study includes the analysis of 32 thin sections of limestones. The maximum flooding surface of the first depositional sequence is recorded in deposits of the lower Floian Prioniodus elegans Zone, whereas the second depositional sequence is located in lower Darriwilian rocks (Lenodus variabilis Zone). At Cerro La Silla and Cerro Viejo of Huaco, the global transgressions of the middle−upper Prioniodus elegans Zone (Billingen transgression) and the lower Oepikodus evae Zone (Evae transgression) are identified. In order to get contrasting results on sea-level changes from the analysis of first and last occurrences of conodont species, it is necessary to account for a high amount of conodonts from most productive samples. Conodont specimens have been recovered from average weight samples and analyses are undertaken including lithology and petrographic sections.

Sedimentology and ichnology of the mid-Cretaceous succession of Ouled Nail Mounts (Eastern Saharan Atlas, Algeria)

Shallow marine deposits characterize the upper Albian – lower Cenomanian deposits of Northern Algeria. In Djebel Azzeddine (Ouled Nail Mounts), the corresponding sediments have been subdivided into three distinctive units A to C. The first discovered ammonite fauna from the Bou Saada area allowed the attribution of a part of the mid-Cretaceous post-Continental Intercalaire deposits to the upper Albian. The ammonite-bearing level indicates a maximum flooding surface and could be correlated with similar levels from Northern Algeria. The studied succession is characterized by a low ichnodiversity containing eight ichnotaxa with abundant Thalassinoides, common Skolithos, and rare Gyrolithes, Oichnus, Planolites and cf. Tisoa. This ichnoassemblage is dominated by domichnion, fodinichnion and praedichnion trace fossils, and is attributed to the Skolithos and Glossifungites ichnofacies. These traces are produced mainly by decapod crustaceans, polychaetes and naticid gastropods. The sedimentological and ichnological data suggest shoreface to backshore environments with mixed tide/storm energy, and long subaerial exposures indicated by Lofer cyclothems in the lowermost part and dinosaur footprints in the upper part of the section.

Holocene sedimentary evolution of a subaqueous delta off a typical tropical river, Hainan Island, South China

High-resolution seismic surveys were conducted off the eastern coast of Hainan Island to study the distribution and mass budget of Holocene subaqueous clinoform sediments. The Holocene subaqueous clinoform extends 45 km seaward across the shelf and more than 80 km northeastward along the shore. It covers an area of over 3,000 km2, which is almost equivalent to the expansion of large river systems. Overlying the transgressive surface, the deltaic sequence can be divided into a transgressive unit and a highstand unit separated by a downlap maximum flooding surface. The volume of sediments within the Holocene subaqueous clinoform is estimated to be 33.12×109 m3, equivalent to an annual accumulation of 3.61–3.31 Mt/yr, which is substantially higher than the global average. The high sediment yield presumably resulted from strong tropical weathering and active tectonics. The sediment flux during the transgression and sea-level highstand were 3.85–3.08 and 3.47 Mt/yr, respectively, suggesting no substantial changes in sedimentation. Compared to river systems originating from high mountain glaciers, the sedimentation variation of small tropical rivers throughout the Holocene is relatively minor. However, the sediment discharge of the Wanquan River has drastically decreased in recent decades because of increased human activity.

Chronology of recent sedimentary infill of the Inner R\xedo de la Plata Estuary, Argentina

The Inner Río de la Plata Estuary is a sedimentary depositional system that resulted from fluvial-deltaic activity. Gentle Pliocene–Pleistocene slopes make-up the northern side of the estuary whereas small cliffs of the same age constitute the southern side. A long coastal estuarine barrier developed at about 6000 years BP when the maximum flooding surface occurred. Attached to this barrier, and at a lower elevation, is a large strandplain (covering an area of about 2400 km2) which displays more than 220 beach ridges. In different areas, the dating indicates a periodicity of 13.4–13.7 years for the development of each beach ridge. These data are like the periodicity of the ENSO effects, which could be associated with the variability of Sunspots. These ridges were formed shortly after the maximum flooding surface, which was followed by a gradual fall in sea-level that contributed significantly to the Inner Río de la Plata Estuary sedimentary infill. In addition, ENSO activities were probably instrumental in the distribution of the main geoforms in the Inner Rio de la Plata Estuary. Small deltas, which were generated by other rivers and creeks such as the Nogoyá Arroyo and the Gualeguay River, developed coevally with the coastal estuarine barrier. The Ibicuy Delta grew in the middle of the inner Río de la Plata Estuary when the former Paraná River flowed northwards during the sea-level fall. The upper part of the delta front was reworked, giving rise to a large dunefield. Thereafter, a chenier plain developed along with tidal flats. The current Paraná Delta continues to prograde at a rate of about 56–64 m/year (m year−1). The sedimentary infill of the Inner Río de la Plata Estuary occurred along the Holocene.

Middle Ordovician Upwelling-Related Ironstone of North Wales: Coated Grains, Ocean Chemistry, and Biological Evolution

Middle Ordovician phosphatic ironstone of the Welsh Basin provides new insight into the paleoenvironmental significance of ironstone and Ordovician ocean chemistry. Deposition occurred in a back-arc basin along the southern margin of Avalonia as the Rheic Ocean opened to the south. Ironstone is interpreted to have accumulated as part of an aggradational parasequence on a storm-dominated shelf with coastal upwelling. This parasequence has a laminated pyritic mudstone base that grades upward into variably bioturbated mudstone and coated grain-rich, intraclastic ironstone, which is overlain in turn by cross-stratified grainstone composed entirely of coated Fe grains. A coarser clastic parasequence composed of more proximal lithofacies rests conformably above and suggests the contact between the two parasequences is a maximum flooding surface marking the onset of highstand conditions. Lithofacies associations suggest that sustained coastal upwelling created a wedge of nutrient-rich, ferruginous seawater on the middle shelf that stimulated high surface ocean productivities. Large, coated Fe grains (granule size) composed of discontinuous and concentric carbonate fluorapatite, hematite, and chamosite cortical layers record fluctuations in pore water Eh that are interpreted to have been related to changes in upwelling intensity and intermittent storm reworking of the seafloor. Results support an emerging model for Ordovician ironstone underpinned by the development of ferruginous bottom water that was periodically tapped by coastal upwelling. Expanding, semi-restricted seaways such as the Rheic Ocean were ideal locations for the ponding of this anoxic, hydrothermally enriched seawater, especially during the early Paleozoic when the deep ocean was variably and inconsistently oxygenated. The coincidence of ironstone depositional episodes with graptolite diversification events suggests that, in addition to Fe, the sustained supply of upwelling-related P may have driven the radiation of some planktonic ecosystems during the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. Concomitant minor extinctions of benthic trilobites occurred as these ferruginous waters impinged on the shelf.

Sedimentary facies of a tide-dominated estuary and deltaic complex in a tropical setting: The middle Miocene Oficina Formation of the Orinoco Oil Belt, Venezuela

Although the middle Miocene Oficina Formation of the Orinoco Oil Belt represents most of Venezuela's hydrocarbon resource, a comprehensive and detailed sedimentary facies model for the whole belt has never been put forward. Based on the analysis of cores and well logs, nine sedimentary facies (FA-I), forming five facies assemblages (FA1-5), have been characterized. Both sedimentologic and ichnologic datasets have been integrated in this study. The Oficina Formation records the typical succession of fluvial incision during relative sea-level fall, fluvial deposition during lowstand, transition from fluvial to estuary valleys during the subsequent transgression and deltaic progradation during highstand. FA1 consists of fluvial-braided channel (FB), floodplain (FG2), and swamp (FH1) deposits, as well as paleosols (FG3). This facies assemblage occurs in the lower member, representing the infill of lowstand fluvial valleys. FA2 consists of meandering estuary-channel deposits (FA, FC, FD, FE, and FI). This facies assemblage occurs in the middle member, representing the infill of tide-dominated estuary valleys during the early stages of the Langhian transgression. FA3 consists of tidal-flat and tidal-creek (FC, FD, FE, FF, and FG2), and swamp (FH1 and FH2) deposits, together with paleosols (FG3). This facies assemblage is present in the middle member, revealing backstepping and retrogradation within the estuary system during a continuing transgression. FA4 consists of outer-estuary sandbar (FC, FD, and FG1); swamp (FH2) deposits and paleosols are present at the margins of the estuary (FG3). This facies assemblage occurs in the uppermost part of the middle members, representing a late stage of the Langhian transgression, culminating in a maximum flooding surface. FA5 consists of deltaic distributary channel (FC and FD), floodplain and interdistributary-bay (FG2), and swamp (FH1) deposits. This facies assemblage occurs in the upper member, recording sedimentation in the delta plain of a tide-dominated delta during a highstand. Freshwater conditions in the fluvial system, as well as in the inner portions of the estuary and the delta plain are further supported by the presence of the Scoyenia Ichnofacies, whereas brackish-water segments of the estuary are characterized by the Skolithos and depauperate Cruziana Ichnofacies. The substrate-controlled Teredolites, and Glossifungites Ichnofacies occur in connection to erosional exhumation during ravinement. The absence of fully marine ichnofaunas is consistent with the embayed nature of the Orinoco Oil Belt. The tropical and humid character of the Oficina depositional systems is manifested in the development of widespread wetlands in marginal-marine settings, with formation of swamps and embayed areas, typically displaying evidence of waterlogged paleosols with pervasive root trace fossils. The abundance of crustacean burrows, such as Ophiomorpha and Thalassinoides, is also typical of low-latitude marginal- and shallow-marine settings. Although tidal forces tend to be weaker in lower latitudes because Coriolis effects are stronger there, both the estuary and delta systems are regarded as tide-dominated, most likely reflecting the embayed nature of the shoreline.

Sedimentology and Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy of Alaka Well, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of Alaka well was carried out to identify the biohorizons that exist, ultimately for biozonation, chronostratigraphy and geologic age calibration of the studied interval. The study involved sedimentology analysis, gamma ray description and preparation of two hundred and twelve (212) ditch cuttings, sampled at 9.144m intervals for the study of calcareous nannofossils on smear slides. Sedimentology and gamma ray analyse showed deposition within shallow marine paleoenvironments with alternating minor transgressions in a generally progradational delta setting, accounting for the low calcareous nannofossil occurrences. The calcareous nannofossil assemblages recovered from the slide preparations consist of fourteen (14) species, comprising nine (9) long ranged, non-stratigraphic significant forms and five (5) short ranged stratigraphic significant forms. The biohorizons identified included Base (B) occurrence of Catinaster coalitus at 3578m; Discoaster hamatus at 2874m; Top (T) occurrence of Discoaster hamatus at 2518m and Base absence (Ba) of Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus at 2280m. Other biohorizons included Top occurrence (T) of Discoaster bollii at 2435m and Discoaster deflandrei at 3578m respectively. The biohorizons defined boundaries between biozones and showed that the studied interval penetrated four biozones from CNM11 to CNM14 of Backman et al. (2012), NN7 to NN10 of Martini (1971) and CN5b to CN8a of Okada and Bukry (1980). The geologic age of the studied interval ranged between about 11.60 Ma within CNM11/NN7/CN5b zone to about 8.80 Ma within CNM14/NN10/CN8a zone, the standard chronostratigraphy lies within Tortonian stage. Two chronostratigraphic surfaces were mapped in the studied section and comprised one global maximum transgression at 3514m corresponding to 10.5 Ma maximum flooding event, and one localized maximum transgression at 2847m corresponding to 9.5 Ma maximum flooding surface, separated by sea-level lowstand mapped at 3331m and corresponding to 10.35 Ma.

Stratigraphic variability of Mississippian Meramec chemofacies and petrophysical properties using machine learning and geostatistical modeling, STACK trend, Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma

Mississippian Meramec deposits and reservoirs in the Sooner Trend in the Anadarko (Basin) in Canadian and Kingfisher counties (STACK) play of Oklahoma are comprised of silty limestones, calcareous sandstones, argillaceous-calcareous siltstones, argillaceous siltstones, and mudstones. We used core-derived X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data and established environmental proxies to evaluate the occurrence of specific elements (Al, K, Ti, Zr, Sr, Ca, and Si) and to illustrate their stratigraphic variability. For the Mississippian Meramec, six indicator elements or element ratios serve as proxies for clay (Al and K), detrital sediment (Ti and Zr), carbonate deposits (Sr and Ca), calcite cement (Sr/Ca), and quartz (Si/Ti and Si/Al). We used an unsupervised K-means classification to cluster elemental data from which we interpret three chemofacies: (1) calcareous sandstone, (2) argillaceous-calcareous siltstone, and (3) detrital mudstone. We used random forest to relate core-derived chemofacies to well logs and classify chemofacies in noncored wells with an accuracy of up to 83% based on blind tests. We integrated core-derived XRF, conventional well logs, and chemofacies logs to produce a cross-sectional chemofacies model that trends from the northwest to the southeast across the STACK trend. Chemofacies distribution indicates an upward increase of detrital mudstone from parasequences 1 to 3. Parasequence 3 is capped by a maximum flooding surface. From parasequences 4 to 5, an increase in argillaceous-calcareous siltstone and calcareous sandstone reflects the progradational stacking. Porosity is low in calcareous sandstones primarily due to calcite cement. Water saturation is high in argillaceous-calcareous siltstone, moderate in calcareous sandstone, and low in detrital mudstone. Interpreted biogenic quartz from element profiles corresponds to the calcareous sandstone chemofacies, which can be estimated from well logs and mapped. Effective porosity and water saturation models reflect the stratigraphic variability of chemofacies and rock types and can be predicted within the defined chemostratigraphic framework.

Tracing marine flooding surface equivalents across freshwater peats and other wetland deposits by integrated sedimentological and pollen data

Large volumes of peatland deposits characterise the Holocene stratigraphy of the Po Plain. A combination of sedimentological and pollen-based paleoenvironmental analyses enables recognition and stratigraphic correlation of small-scale (2–5 m thick) packages of peat-bearing strata, stacked rhythmically in a retrogradational to progradational set and bounded by chronostratigraphically significant surfaces. Across these repetitive lithofacies successions, the proportion of facies-controlled palynomorphs is used as a diagnostic signature to characterise marine flooding surface equivalents (helophytes and hydrophytes) and shoaling-upward (terrestrialization) trends (trees and mesophilous herbs) that record systematic variations in groundwater table associated with increasing/decreasing accommodation. Paludification surfaces at the base of peats delineate the updip (freshwater) equivalents of brackish/marine flooding surfaces recognized at seaward locations atop peat layers (give-up transgressive surfaces). Peat beds exhibit maximum thickness in aggradational strata of the lowermost highstand systems tract, above the maximum flooding surface (MFS). An extrinsic control due to eustatic rise can be inferred for peat development in transgressive deposits: peats, in particular, reveal warmer climates at flooding surfaces (specifically around the MFS) that invariably coincide with rapid shifts to deeper depositional environments. Under highstand conditions, autogenic mechanisms affected base-level changes in the paralic swamps. At this stratigraphic level, peat-bearing strata primarily reflect subtle changes in accommodation due to distributary-channel avulsion, subsidence, and peat autocompaction. Detailed patterns of Holocene peat distribution on millennial timescales can help decipher multiple high-resolution accommodation cycles developed in the rock record on sub-seismic scales, resulting in an improved stratigraphic analysis and prediction of chronologically less constrained non-marine successions.

Recognizing maximum flooding surfaces in shallow-water deposits: An integrated sedimentological and micropaleontological approach (Crotone Basin, southern Italy)

The Pliocene and Pleistocene intervals of the Neogene to Quaternary succession of the Crotone Basin, southern Italy, offer good examples of shallow-marine high-frequency sequences (fourth-order or lower rank stratigraphic frameworks) composing higher-rank units. The analysis of some representative sections from this succession has allowed performing an integrated sedimentological and micropaleontological study aimed at defining new criteria to recognize high-frequency maximum flooding surfaces. In particular, field data have been compared with some parameters derived from the micropaleontological analysis, such as the abundance, diversity and % fragmentation of benthic foraminifera, as well as the ratio between distal and proximal benthic foraminifera species and the plankton/benthos ratio. This integrated study allows to define an uncertainty interval in the high-frequency sequences, in which the maximum flooding surface should lie. This uncertainty interval is usually characterized by lower values of the % fragmentation and higher values of the abundance, diversity and distal/proximal ratio, whereas the peak of the plankton/benthos ratio allows to define a surface of maximum water depth, placed above the maximum flooding surface. Usually, the greater the magnitude of the transgression, the thinner the uncertainty interval. These results highlight the cryptic nature of the maximum flooding surface within condensed sections, even in high-resolution outcrop studies, and allow to refine the criteria based on which the position of such surface can be approximated in the field and in sediment cores.

Correlation and sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the lithostratigraphic Snake Cave Interval: Implications for hydrocarbon reservoir prospectivity between the southeast Blantyre and northwestern Neckarboo Sub-basins, Darling Basin, southeastern Australia

Correlation and sequence stratigraphic interpretation was conducted on the upper Lower through upper Middle Devonian sandstones of the Snake Cave Interval succession between the southeast Blantyre and northwestern Neckarboo sub-basins across the central Darling Basin. This article necessitated the definition and use of many sedimentary lithotypes related to different facies associations and depositional environment criteria for the purpose of establishing the sequence stratigraphy to aid hydrocarbon exploration of the studied areas. The data set used a combination of wireline logs, core/cutting data and analysis of the paleo-environments of sedimentary facies from three wells. The sedimentological analysis showed that the Snake Cave Interval section presents three different facies associations, which are visible in both vertical and lateral successions, and are characterised as: meandering and braided fluvial facies associations with minor fluvio-shallow lacustrine complex facies associations. The Snake Cave Interval section in the studied areas is consistently defined by six third-order depositional sequences informally named SCS1, SCS2, SCS3, SCS4, SCS5 and SCS6 in the Nyngynderry-1 and Mount Emu-1 exploration wells, and the Kewell East-1 stratigraphic well. All the stratal patterns in the internal sequence stratigraphic units are asymmetric and marked by lowstand, transgressive and highstand systems tracts separated by sequence boundaries, maximum flooding surfaces and transgression surfaces with unique gamma-ray log response characteristics calibrated by particular lithologic aspects. These are all incorporated within the sequence stratigraphic approach to hydrocarbon reservoir prediction. The stratigraphic architecture of the third-order depositional sequences presented here in our study has implications for the hydrocarbon potential of sandstone reservoirs in the southeastern Darling Basin including the Snake Cave Interval succession targets.

Biozonation and Sequence Stratigraphic Characterization of Sediments in X-well, JV-field Greater Ughelli Depo-belt Niger Delta Basin

Biozonation and sequence stratigraphic characterization of sediments in X-well, JV-Field Greater Ugheli Depo belt Niger Delta Basin were carried out using a total of One hundred and ninety (190) Ditch cutting samples, with the aim of identifying palynological and foraminiferal bio-events such as abundance, zones, paleoenvironment, age and also identify sequence stratigraphic key surfaces such as Maximum Flooding Surfaces (MFS) and Sequence Boundaries (SB) of sediments penetrated by the drill. Diagnostic Palynomorphs such as Praedapollis africanus, Peregrinipollis nigericus, Retibrevitricolporites obodoensis aided in the establishment of three P-zones which are P620, P580, P560 Zones in the well. P620 and P580 Zones were lumped together and occur at depth 4680ft-7620ft while P560 occur at depth 7620-11580ft, species of foraminifera recorded are calcareous and arenaceous benthic Foraminifera species. Planktic Foraminifera specie are generally absent. Species recorded include Sproplectammina wrightii, Florilus atlanticus, Florilus costiferum, Eponides cf eshira, Quinqueloculina rhodiensis, Nonion centrosulcatum, and Alveolophragmium crassum. Foraminiferal zones established are Nonion centrosulcatum (N9), Fursenkoina punctata (N5) planktic and N8-N5 zone. the well records the occurrence of Two maximum flooding surfaces (Mfs) and two sequence boundary(SB) which was establish in P620/P580 zones and one maximum flooding surface which was established in the P560 Zone. The Sequence boundaries, Maximum flooding surfaces and their respective ages in these palynological zones occurred at various depths, P620 and P580 occurred at 26.2Ma Alabamina 1 Mfs at (6397ft) and 28.1Ma BOLIVINA 27Mfs at (7401ft) and the Sequence boundaries occurred at 6750ft at 27.3Ma SB,7553ft at 29.3Ma SB, P560 occurred at depth 31.3Ma UVIGERINELLA 5Mfs at (11200ft).

Biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Toarcian Ludwigskanal section (Franconian Alb, Southern Germany)

Extensive construction work at the canal cutting of the Ludwigskanal near Dörlbach, Franconian Alb, provided the opportunity to re-investigate a scientific-historical and biostratigraphically important reference section of the South-German Toarcian. The 16 m thick section, described bed by bed with respect to lithology and macrofossils, starts within the Upper Pliensbachian Amaltheenton Formation, covers the Toarcian Posidonienschiefer and Jurensismergel Formation, and ends in basal parts of the Opalinuston Formation. Carbonate contents are high in the Posidonienschiefer and successively decline within the Jurensismergel to basal parts of the Opalinuston. The high carbonate contents in the Posidonienschiefer are associated with comparatively low organic carbon contents. However, organic carbon contents normalized to the silicate fraction are similarily high if compared to other regions in Germany. Only the persistence of high organic carbon levels into middle parts of the Upper Toarcian differs from those of most regions in central Europe.Ammonite biostratigraphy indicates a thickness of >9 m for the Upper Pliensbachian, 1.15–1.20 m for the Lower Toarcian, 5.04 m for the Upper Toarcian, and >0.5 m for the Lower Aalenian. Despite the low sediment thickness, all Toarcian ammonite zones and almost all subzones are present, except for major parts of the Tenuicostatum Zone and the Fallaciosum Subzone.On the basis of discontinuities, condensed beds, and correlations with neighbouring sections in Southern Germany, a sequence stratigraphic interpretation is proposed for the Toarcian of this region: (i) The Posidonienschiefer Formation corresponds to one 3rdorder T-R sequence, from the top of the Hawskerense Subzone to a fucoid bed at the top of the Variabilis Subzone, with a maximum flooding surface at the top of the Falciferum Zone. (ii) The Jurensismergel Formation exhibits two 3rdorder T-R sequences: The first ranges from the basis of the Illustris Subzone (i.e., the Intra-Variabilis-Discontinuity) to the top of the Thouarsense Zone, with a maximum flooding surface within the Thouarsense Zone. The “belemnite battlefield” reflects a transgressive “ravinement surface” within the first Jurensismergel Sequence, not a maximum regression surface at its basis. The second sequence extents from the erosive basis of the Dispansum Zone to the top of the Aalensis Subzone, with a maximum flooding surface at the Pseudoradiosa-Aalensis Zone boundary. Finally, the Opalinuston starts with a new sequence at the basis of the Torulosum Subzone. Transgressive system tracts of these 3rdorder T-R sequences are commonly phosphoritic, while some regressive system tracts show pyrite preservation of ammonites. The maximum regression surfaces at the basis of the Toarcian and within the Variabilis Zone reflect a significant submarine erosion and relief formation by seawater currents, while this effect is less pronounced at the basis of the Dispansum Zone and basis of the Torulosum Subzone (i.e., the boundary Jurensismergel-Opalinuston Formation).

Detecting detrital carbonate in shale successions - Relevance for evaluation of depositional setting and sequence stratigraphic interpretation

The Portwood Member of the New Albany Formation is a dolomitic black shale succession that was deposited in the western portion of the Appalachian Basin. Correlative of the Tully Limestone interval found to the northeast in the Appalachian Basin and slightly more than 5 m thick, it nonetheless consists of three erosion-bounded stratal packages that record Late Givetian eustatic sea-level variations. Detailed petrographic study shows that its carbonate interbeds, though readily interpreted as transgressive in nature, are largely detrital, and represent lowstand deposits eroded from the Cincinnati Arch in the west. Petrographical inspection showed abundant silt-sized detrital carbonate within the black shales, as well as a range of other key features, such as mud-dominated composite particles and agglutinated benthic foraminifera, that shed a new and much differentiated light on depositional setting and history of sediment accumulation. Whereas earlier recognized internal erosion surfaces still anchor the sequence stratigraphic framework, reinterpreting carbonate beds as lowstand deposits, and identifying condensed intervals and maximum flooding surfaces via distinct glauconite maxima, supports a reassessment of system tracts that is in agreement with petrographic constraints. Thin section based microfacies analysis identified multiple sedimentary settings, ranging from comparatively shallow (10's of meters, suboxic to dysoxic, tempestites) to very shallow (meters, dysoxic to oxic, wave and current action), and enabled subdivision of the Portwood into a series of upwards shallowing parasequences. This study demonstrates that petrographic due diligence is essential to correctly identify the origin of shale hosted carbonate intervals, and as an added benefit yields a sophisticated understanding of depositional conditions and long-term depositional trends that rivals what is possible for sandstone or carbonate successions.