Palaeogene Sandstones Research Articles

Palaeogene Sandstones of the Manika Plateau in Kolwezi (DR Congo): Sedimentological and Geochemical Characterization, Provenance, Palaeoalteration and Tectonic Context

Palaeogene Sandstones of the Manika Plateau in Kolwezi (DR Congo): Sedimentological and Geochemical Characterization, Provenance, Palaeoalteration and Tectonic Context

Petrography and geochemistry of Palaeogene sandstones of Geku Formation, Yinkiong Group, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India: implications on provenance and tectonic setting

Petrography and geochemistry of Palaeogene sandstones of Geku Formation, Yinkiong Group, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India: implications on provenance and tectonic setting

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes of Mesozoic through Cenozoic sandstones from the southern Junggar Basin, NW China: Implications for the provenances and uranium source

Junggar Basin is an important exploration zone for sandstone‐hosted uranium deposits in north‐west China. However, neither the provenance of the host sandstone nor the uranium supply capacity of the potential source rocks have been well evaluated. To determine the provenances of the Mesozoic to Cenozoic sandstone grains and to evaluate relationships between the uranium source and the detritus provenances, a field investigation was performed at the Honggou section in the southern Junggar Basin. U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes were obtained from populations of detrital zircons from Jurassic through Palaeogene sandstones. The detrital zircon U–Pb ages display three main groups: 145–190 Ma, 250–360 Ma, and 360–460 Ma. The detrital zircon age distributions and the Hf isotopic characteristics of the sandstones correspond to different igneous rock units within the North and Central Tianshan Mountains. Therefore, the changes in the relative proportions of the zircon age populations indicate that there were major shifts of the provenance areas for the sandstones throughout the Early Jurassic to Palaeogene interval. The majority (92%) of Hf isotope εHf(t) values are positive and in the range of +0.7 to +15.5, which indicates that the majority of the zircons had crystallized in igneous rocks that were mainly derived from juvenile crust or depleted mantle. The majority (93%) of the two‐stage model ages (TDM2) are less than 1.8 Ga, thereby indicating the source of the majority of the igneous rocks was from the melting of ancient Meso‐Proterozoic juvenile crust. Carboniferous–Permian intermediate‐felsic igneous rocks in the Tianshan Mountains may be the primary source of released mobilized uranium and uranium‐enriched siliciclastics into the southern Junggar Basin. This study will assist in future uranium prospecting in this region.

Timing and characterization of multiple fluid flow events in the Beibuwan Basin, northern South China Sea: Implications for hydrocarbon maturation

The history of thermal and fluid flow events is of crucial importance to understand the mechanism of hydrocarbon maturation. The northern South China Sea (SCS) contains abundant hydrocarbon resources with high heat flow anomalies, but the mechanisms responsible for modification of thermal regimes are poorly understood. Here we conducted the first high-precision Rb-Sr isochron dating and geochemical analyses of authigenic illites separated from the Palaeogene sandstones in the Beibuwan Basin, northern SCS. Eight high-precision Rb-Sr isochron ages reveal three major thermal and fluid flow events in the Beibuwan Basin, northern SCS. The 34.5 ± 0.9 Ma and 23.6 ± 0.8 Ma events occurred in the western area are probably related to the Eocene-Oligocene transition characterised by a significant regional unconformity resulted from intensive uplift of Hainan Uplift and Oligocene-Miocene transition marked by a post-rift unconformity, respectively. By contrast, the 31.2 ± 0.6 Ma event affecting the eastern area appears to be closely associated with the igneous intrusion dated by zircon U/Pb to 32.3 ± 0.7 Ma. REE and stable isotope characteristics indicate that the illites from the western area formed within a meteoric-hydrothermal system, whilst those from the eastern area were likely precipitated from fluids heated by the large-scale igneous intrusion at higher water/rock ratios. Moreover, our data in conjunction with palaeo-temperature reconstructions show that the fluid flow events had profound effects on the rapid organic maturation in the northern SCS.

A geochemical and biostratigraphic approach to investigating regional changes in sandstone composition through time; an example from Paleocene–Eocene strata, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

AbstractA geochemical and biostratigraphic approach has been applied to investigate the spatial and stratigraphic variability of Palaeogene sandstones from key wells in Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. Chronostratigraphic control is predominantly based on miospore zonation, while differences in the composition of Paleocene and Eocene sandstones are supported by geochemical evidence. Stratigraphic changes are manifested by a significant decrease in Na2O across the New Zealand miospore PM3b/MH1 early Eocene zonal boundary, at approximately 53.5 Ma. The change in Na2O is associated with a decrease in baseline concentrations of many other major (MnO, CaO, TiO2) and trace elements, and is interpreted to reflect a significant change in sandstone maturity. Paleocene sandstones are characterized by abundant plagioclase (albite and locally Na–Ca plagioclase), significant biotite and a range of heavy minerals, while Eocene sandstones are typically quartzose, with K-feldspar dominant over plagioclase, low mica contents and rare heavy minerals comprising a resistant suite. This change could reflect a change in provenance from local plutonic basement during the Paleocene Epoch to relatively quartz- and K-feldspar-rich granitic sources during Eocene time. However, significant quartz enrichment of Eocene sediment was also likely due to transportation reworking/winnowing along the palaeoshoreface and enhanced chemical weathering, driven in part by long-term global warming associated with the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. The broad-ranging changes in major-element composition overprint local variations in sediment provenance, which are only detectable from the immobile trace-element geochemistry.

Is Cr-Spinel Geochemistry Enough for Solving the Provenance Dilemma? Case Study from the Palaeogene Sandstones of the Western Carpathians (Eastern Slovakia)

The provenance of the Proč and Strihovce sandstones is crucial for understanding the relationship between the Pieniny Klippen (PKB) and Flysch (FB) belts in the easternmost part of the Western Carpathian realm. Detrital Cr-spinels in these tectonic units were assertively interpreted as sourced from the southern sources representing the Meliata mélange. In this study, we use the geochemistry of detrital chromian spinels to identify the mafic and ultramafic source of the sediments and to compare them each other. Simultaneously, we compare their chemical compositions with those from the different Western Carpathian geological units, which could feed the Proč and Krynica basins during the Paleogene, where the Proč and Strihovce formations (fms), respectively, were deposited. Chromian spinels from the Proč and Strihovce fms exhibit similar geochemical characteristics (Cr# = 0.44–0.88 and 0.29–0.89, Mg# = 0.17–0.68 and 0.2–0.72, TiO2 = 0.0–3.67 and 0.01–2.08 wt.%, respectively). The spinels show both supra-subduction zone (SSZ) peridotite signatures and volcanic origin. Whereas volcanic spinels from the Proč Formation (Fm.) were formed under an ocean island basalt (OIB) and back-arc basin basalt (BABB) geodynamic setting, those from the Strihovce Fm. suggest a predominantly mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) origin. To avoid mistakes in the provenance interpretations, the data from garnet geochemistry of both formations is supplied. The analysed Cr-spinels do not absolutely overlap with spinels reported from the Meliata Unit, and their composition indicates at least two independent sources.

Diverse response of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic minerals to deformation from Intra-Carpathian Palaeogene sedimentary rocks: Comparison of magnetic susceptibility and magnetic remanence anisotropies

All the minerals in a rock contribute to its anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS). In weakly magnetic sedimentary rocks, the strongest contributors are the paramagnetic minerals, predominantly represented by clay minerals, together with the ferrimagnetic minerals that are typically magnetite and/or maghemite. In contrast, ferrimagnetic minerals solely control the anisotropy of magnetic remanence (AMR). An investigation of both AMS and AMR can therefore help distinguish among the deposition, diagenetic and deformation histories of the paramagnetic and ferrimagnetic minerals in the same rock specimen. We present a test case from relatively weakly deformed Intra-Carpathian Palaeogene sandstones (Skorušina Hills, Slovak Republic) where AMR and AMS fabrics generally coaxial yet also exhibited notable differences. In particular, AMR foliations were more readily deflected away from the bedding plane, perpendicular to the maximum stress axis, than the AMS foliations. These factors are interpreted in terms of higher sensitivity of the ferrimagnetic minerals to ductile deformation than that of the paramagnetic clay minerals.

Deep-water plays in the western Black Sea: insights into sediment supply within the Maykop depositional system

Abstract The Oligocene–Early Miocene Maykop depositional system of the Western Black Sea Basin is investigated in terms of sediment supply and provenance. Potential sediment source regions and conduits for sediment supply into the deep-water portion of the basin are evaluated based on the tectonic history and framework of the region, and are supported by observations from published well, reflection seismic and isopach data. The outcrop geology of the present-day land areas adjacent to the basin is used as a guide to the likely provenance and, hence, quality of potential siliciclastic reservoirs. Reservoir presence and reservoir quality are key subsurface risks for exploration in deep-water plays involving Maykop turbidite sandstones and charge from the well-known Maykop organic carbon-rich mudstones that are widespread across the basin. Sediments sourced from the NE Moesian Platform and Dobrogea, channelled into the offshore Black Sea via the Histria Trough, are considered moderate risk in terms of primary reservoir quality, as evidenced by thick packages of fine-grained sediment. In contrast, sediments derived from the southern Strandja Massif fed into the Burgas Basin, and potentially into the deeper-water Turkish Black Sea, are relatively low risk in terms of reservoir quality, given the abundance of acidic intrusions within the massif. Sediment derived from parts of the northern Strandja Massif, especially the volcaniclastics of the Srednogornie region, are likely to have poorer reservoir quality characteristics. Sediments derived from the granitic Bolu Massif within the Pontides might be of good reservoir quality but are likely to be ponded behind the offshore Kozlu Ridge. An important sediment source-to-sink system was derived from the Balkanides and entered the deeper-water western Black Sea via the Kamchia Trough. The present-day Kamchia river is a relatively minor sediment supplier to the Black Sea, but the palaeo-Kamchia river of the Oligocene–Early Miocene would have exploited a much greater drainage area consisting of an axial trunk stream, occupying the newly formed Kamchia Foredeep to the north of the Balkanides, and transverse rivers sourcing sediment from the granitic and gneissic bodies of the Balkan Mountains and from Early Cretaceous and Palaeogene sandstones. These would provide reasonable reservoir quality, and it is estimated from reference source-to-sink relationships that offshore sediment flux via this system was probably at least eight times greater than at present. Known shelf-edge canyons in offshore Bulgaria facilitated this sediment reaching the deep water offshore, where a sedimentary fan with a length in excess of 150 km is likely to have developed. This suggests that the potential is good for encountering good-quality reservoir sands in the Maykop succession deep water of the western Black Sea, and this aspect of regional play risk could be of less concern than was previously considered.

Petrography and provenance of Upper Cretaceous – Palaeogene sandstones in the foreland basin system of Central Nepal

ABSTRACTSedimentary deposits of the Cretaceous to Miocene Tansen Group of Lesser Himalayan association in central Nepal record passive-margin sedimentation of the Indian Continent with direct deposition onto eroded Precambrian rocks (Sisne Formation onto Kaligandaki Supergroup rocks), succeeded by the appearance of orogenic detritus as the Indian continent collided with Asia on a N-dipping subduction zone. Rock samples from two field traverses were examined petrographically and through detrital zircon U–Pb dating, one traverse being across the Tansen Group and another across the Higher and Tethyan Himalaya (TH). The Tansen Group depositional ages are well known through fossil assemblages. We examined samples from three units of the Tansen Group (Amile, Bhainskati, and Dumri Formations). The Sedimentary petrographic data and Qt F L and Qm F Lt plots indicate their ‘Quartzose recycled’ nature and classify Tansen sedimentary rocks as ‘recycled orogenic’, suggesting Indian cratonic and Lower Lesser Himalayan (LLH) sediments as the likely source of sediments for the Amile Formation (Am), the TH and the Upper Lesser Himalaya (ULH) as the source for the Bhainskati Formation (Bk), and both the Tethyan and Higher Himalaya (HH) as the major sources for the Dumri Formation (Dm). The Cretaceous–Palaeocene pre-collisional Am is dominated by a broad detrital zircon U–Pb ~1830 Ma age peak with neither Palaeozoic nor Neoproterozoic zircons grains, but hosts a significant proportion (23%) of syndepositional Cretaceous zircons (121–105 Ma) would be contributions from the LLH volcanosedimentary arc, Gangdese batholith (including the Xigaze forearc). The other formations of the Tansen Group are more similar to Tethyan units than to Higher Himalaya Crystalline (HHC). From the analysed samples, there is a lack of distinctive evidence or HH detritus in the Tansen basin. Furthermore, the presence of ~23±1 Ma zircons from the HH unit suggests that they could not have been exposed until the earliest Miocene time.

Heavy mineral record of Andean uplift and changing sediment sources across the NE margin of South America: a case study from Trinidad and Barbados

Abstract The heavy mineral compositions of sandstones in Trinidad and Barbados record the onset of Andean-related erosion and a reduction of craton-derived sediments into NE South America. The changing provenance was deduced by comparing heavy mineral assemblages interpreted from ancient sandstones with associations recognized in modern sands that can be reasonably correlated to existing tectonic domains. The impact of the Andean orogeny across the margin was to introduce a suite of minerals characteristic of low-temperature metamorphism that today is prevalent adjacent to the Caribbean Mountain belt and differs from the zircon-rich assemblage produced within cratonic plains. Twenty-one Paleocene–Late Pliocene sandstone samples from Trinidad revealed systematic changes in mineral diversity and maturity that recorded this provenance transition, and suggests Andean erosion during deposition of the Late Oligocene Nariva Formation. Similar to Palaeogene sandstones of Trinidad, four Eocene Scotland Formation samples from Barbados support craton derivation, but with additional evidence of minor Andean input probably due to the proximity of the Scotland Formation delivery systems to an earlier uplift episode. By the Late Miocene, most of the sediments delivered into Trinidad basins were supplied from the Andean orogeny as suggested by the relative abundance of minerals of this affinity. The heavy mineral records of Trinidad and Barbados are similar to that described across northern South America from both modern and ancient environments that collectively mark the uplift of the Andean mountain belt, with its strong influence on drainage patterns and reservoir provenance along this sector of the continental margin. Supplementary material: Sample location coordinates, sample and outcrop photographs, and summary outcrop sections are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18728 .

Unravelling provenance from Eocene–Oligocene sandstones of the Thrace Basin, North‐east Greece

AbstractNew sandstone petrology and petrostratigraphy provide insights on Palaeogene (Middle Eocene to Oligocene) clastics of the Thrace Basin in Greece, which developed synchronously with post‐Cretaceous collision and subsequent Tertiary extension. Sandstone petrofacies are used as a tool to unravel complex geodynamic changes that occurred at the southern continental margin of the European plate, identifying detrital signals of the accretionary processes of the Rhodope orogen, as well as subsequent partitioning related to extension of the Rhodope area, followed by Oligocene to present Aegean extension and wide magmatic activity starting during the Early Oligocene. Sandstone detrital modes include three distinctive petrofacies: quartzolithic, quartzofeldspathic and feldspatholithic. Major contributions are from metamorphic basement units, represented mostly by low to medium‐grade lithic fragments for the quartzolithic petrofacies and high‐grade metamorphic rock fragments for the quartzofeldspathic petrofacies. Volcaniclastic sandstones were derived from different volcanic areas, with a composition varying from dominantly silicic to subordinate intermediate products (mainly rhyolitic glass, spherulites and felsitic lithics). Evolution of detrital modes documents contributions from three key source areas corresponding to the two main crystalline tectonic units: (i) the Variegated Complex (ultramafic complex), in the initial stage of accretion (quartzolithic petrofacies); (ii) the Gneiss–Migmatite Complex (quartzofeldspathic petrofacies); and (iii) the Circum‐Rhodope Belt. The volcaniclastic petrofacies is interbedded with quartzofeldspathic petrofacies, reflecting superposition of active volcanic activity on regional erosion. The three key petrofacies reflect complex provenance from different tectonic settings, from collisional orogenic terranes to local basement uplift and volcanic activity. The composition and stratigraphic relations of sandstones derived from erosion of the Rhodope orogenic belt and superposed magmatism after the extensional phase in northern Greece provide constraints for palaeogeographic and palaeotectonic models of the Eocene to Oligocene western portions of the Thrace Basin. Clastic detritus in the following sedimentary assemblages was derived mainly from provenance terranes of the Palaeozoic section within the strongly deformed Rhodope Massif of northern Greece and south‐east Bulgaria, from the epimetamorphic units of the Circum‐Rhodope Belt and from superposed Late Eocene to Early Oligocene magmatism related to orogenic collapse of the Rhodope orogen. The sedimentary provenance of the Rhodope Palaeogene sandstones documents the changing nature of this orogenic belt through time, and may contribute to a general understanding of similar geodynamic settings.

Magnetic fabric and weak deformation in sandstones of accretionary prisms of the Flysch and Klippen Belts of the Western Carpathians: Mostly offscraping indicated

The magnetic fabric of sandstones in thrust sheets of the Flysch Belt of the Western Carpathians is basically sedimentary in origin, in minority of specimens slightly affected by deformation which is generally very weak, corresponding to the earliest deformation stage and to Types I-II in terms of the magnetic fabric classification of the accretionary prisms by Parés et al. (1999) and Aubourg et al. (2004), respectively. This indicates an absence of the return flow during the subduction process. The deformation is weaker in the thrust sheets located at the margins of the Flysch Belt (the Ždánice and Silesian thrust sheets in the west and the Bílé Karpaty and Oravská Magura thrust sheets in the east) than in the Fore-Magura, Rača and Bystrica thrust sheets located in the centre of the Flysch Belt. In the Ždánice and Silesian thrust sheets, the weak deformation reflects their sedimentation on the northern (“European”) slope of the Flysch Belt Basin and relatively short transport during their thrusting over the Foredeep. In the Bílé Karpaty and Oravská Magura thrust sheets that are located near the subduction zone, the weak deformation is explained by assuming early offscraping and frontal accreting of these thrust sheets. In the Pieniny Klippen Belt, the deformation of the Palaeogene sandstones (“peri-Klippen” Palaeogene) is stronger than that in the marginal thrust sheets (Ždánice, Silesian, Bílé Karpaty and Oravská Magura thrust sheets) of the Flysch Belt, but weaker than that in the central thrust sheets (Fore-Magura, Rača and Bystrica thrust sheets) of the Flysch Belt. This is in an apparent contradiction with strong macroscopic deformation of Mesozoic rocks of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, but understandable realizing that the sediments of the “peri-Klippen Palaeogene” were deformed only during the neoalpine orogenies in Palaeogene and Neogene after the main deformation (Late Cretaceous) in the Pieniny Klippen Belt.

Detrital zircon age constraints on the provenance of sandstones on Hatton Bank and Edoras Bank, NE Atlantic

Abstract: U–Pb dating of detrital zircons shows that the provenance of Cretaceous–Palaeogene sandstones on Hatton and Edoras banks (SW Rockall Plateau) comprises magmatic rocks dated at c . 1800 Ma and c . 1750 Ma, respectively. Their depositional setting, first-cycle mineralogy and unimodal detrital zircon populations suggest that these sandstones are of local origin. The zircon age data are therefore considered to provide constraints on these poorly understood areas of the Rockall Plateau. The U–Pb dates are directly comparable with U–Pb zircon crystallization ages from granitoid rocks reported from the Ketilidian Belt of southern Greenland and from the Rhinns Complex of western Britain. Hf isotopic data from the Edoras Bank sample are consistent with derivation from a juvenile Palaeoproterozoic block. In conjunction with previously reported Sm–Nd T dm model ages from the Ketilidian Belt, Rockall Bank and the Rhinns Complex, these data extend the known distribution of a large juvenile Palaeoproterozoic terrane spanning the southern NE Atlantic. In contrast, Hf isotopic data from the Hatton Bank sample imply a large contribution from Archaean crust. The zircon population from Edoras Bank also contains sparse Mesoproterozoic grains, providing evidence for the presence of volumetrically minor Grenville-age intrusions in the southern part of the Rockall Plateau.

Lithostratigraphy of the Red Sea Region

ABSTRACT The onshore and offshore Saudi Arabian Red Sea region contains a series of lithostratigraphic units that have not previously been formally defined and described. Based on an intensive study of the succession, a lithostratigraphic scheme is proposed in a lexicon format that integrates biostratigraphic, sedimentological, seismic and field studies from the Midyan Peninsula in the north, to the Jizan Coastal Plain in the south. In view of the economic aspect of the Neogene succession and greater accessibility to Neogene subsurface samples, emphasis has been placed on a revision of the Neogene lithostratigraphy. Resting upon Proterozoic Basement, the sedimentary succession was deposited during the Cretaceous to Pleistocene times. The oldest pre-rift Suqah Group nonconformably overlies the Proterozoic Basement and consists of Upper Cretaceous shales of the Adaffa Formation and Cretaceous to Palaeogene sandstones, shales and thin limestones of the Usfan Formation. A series of volcanics includes the early to middle Oligocene Matiyah Formation and the late Oligocene-early Miocene Jizan Group. The Neogene succession displays a great lithological diversity. The Tayran Group (Al Wajh, Musayr and Yanbu Formations) includes marginal marine siliciclastics of the Al Wajh Formation, and represents the earliest rift-associated sediments deposited during the earliest Miocene. These are conformably overlain by lower Miocene shallow-marine carbonates of the Musayr Formation. In some of the central Red Sea onshore basins, thick lower Miocene submarine evaporites of the Yanbu Formation were deposited under locally restricted conditions and form the third formation of the Tayran Group. Rapid subsidence during the early Miocene caused deposition of deep-marine, planktonic-foraminiferal mudstones and thick submarine fan sandstones of the Burqan Formation. Carbonates, marine mudstones and submarine evaporites of the Maqna Group (Jabal Kibrit and Kial Formations) unconformably overlie the Burqan Formation and were deposited during latest early Miocene to earliest middle Miocene. The Jabal Kibrit Formation consists of an anhydrite-carbonate facies, of which the carbonates form the Wadi Waqb Member. Siliciclastic facies of the Jabal Kibrit Formation are termed the Umm Luj Member. Above the Jabal Kibrit Formation, the Kial Formation is typified by interbedded anhydrites, calcareous siltstones and carbonates, and includes the Sidr, Nakhlah, Yuba, Rayaman and Sabya Members. Within the region, thick evaporites of the Mansiyah Formation were deposited extensively during the middle Miocene, and are overlain by poorly exposed sands, shales and thin anhydrite beds of the middle to upper Miocene Ghawwas Formation. The Lisan Group unconformably overlies the Ghawwas Formation and consists of coarse alluvial sands and gravels of possible Pliocene to Holocene age.

Diagenetic porosity creation in an overpressured graben

The Central Graben of the North Sea is an actively subsiding, highly overpressured, basin. At the present day, hydrocarbons are migrating both vertically and laterally through the stratigraphy to fill reservoirs from Permian through to Eocene. The late Jurassic Fulmar Sandstone approaches rock fracture pressure in many Central Graben areas. Petrographic studies show that sandstones originally contained as much as 35–40% potassium feldspar. This has dissolved rapidly below 3 km, so that by 4.5 km sandstones may contain only 5% feldspar. This loss is not matched by growth of authigenic clays or feldspars; aluminium is interpreted to have been exported from the sandstones by an unknown mechanism. In some cases, excess kaolin may form in overlying Palaeogene sandstones. Improved stratabound secondary porosity (an additional 5–15%) is created along the top of reservoir sandstones and at structurally high leak-off points. Leak-off points maintain high porosities, partly because overpressure reduces the effective compactional stress. This secondary porosity forms zones of good reservoir quality in predictable positions. Oils migrating vertically and laterally into Palaeogene sandstones have been bacterially oxidized, to form calcites with distinctive carbon isotope signatures. The distribution of such cements can be a guide to deeper leak-off positions. Modelling of modern temperatures across the graben shows that spikes of elevated temperature occur above leak-off positions, demonstrating that vertical fluid-flow is still active. The Central Graben, and any actively subsiding deep basin, can be viewed as one interconnected system, where localized deep porosity is created, and shallow porosity is destroyed. The organic, inorganic, temperature and overpressure fluid systems are all interactive.

Observation of core discing and in situ stress measurements; Stress criteria causing core discing

Core discing was typically observed in cores recovered from near horizontal holes drilled in Palaeogene sandstones at a depth of 1055 m in the Horonai colliery, Hokkaido, Japan. We have observed disc- and ring-like cores and measured in situ stress where they were recovered. We compared the measured stress state with an empirical criterion of core discing based on Obert and Stephenson (1965) and a theoretical criterion based on Sugawara et al. (1978) and Ishida and Saito (1989). Consequently, we found that disc-like cores were recovered under lower stress state than predicted by both criteria. The stress state where ring-like cores were recovered satisfied the empirical criterion, however, it was below the critical stress state according to the theoretical criterion. These discrepancies indicate that existing stress criteria are not satisfactory and that further experimental, theoretical and field investigations are needed.

The provenance and diagenesis of Palaeogene sandstones of southeast England as indicated by heavy mineral analysis

Two distinct heavy mineral assemblages occur in the Palaeogene sands, one derived from the Scottish Highlands, characterising the Thanet Formation, the upper part of the Woolwich and Reading Fm., the Oldhaven Fm., the London Clay Fm., the Claygate Beds and the Bagshot Beds, the other being largely confined to the bottom bed of the Woolwich and Reading Fm., and being derived from the south, either the Armorican or Ardennes-Rhenish massifs. In addition, heavy minerals indicative of contemporary volcanism occur, both in the basal London Clay, and more abundantly, in the Thanet Fm., where euhedral grains of aegirine, arfvedsonite and apatite have been recorded. Post-depositional alteration is particularly marked in the Thanet Fm., where epidote, garnet, apatite, sphene and hornblende are progressively lost towards the top of the sequence as a response to acidic groundwater circulation associated with pre-Woolwich and Reading Fm. weathering.