Shelf Margin Systems Tract Research Articles

The carbonate—clastic cycles of the East-Alpine Raibl group: Result of third-order sea-level fluctuations in the Carnian

The Carnian Raibl group of the Eastern Alps consists of three 50–100 m thick, alternating carbonate and clastic third-order cycles, each of which can be traced for hundreds of kilometers. Tectono-eustatic sea-level fluctuations of a few tens of metres, spanning a few millions of years, are the driving mechanism of this cyclicity. The carbonate intervals represent restricted marginal marine, tidal and evaporitic environments. The clastic intervals represent inner and outer shelf facies, and are related to the fluviatile “Schilfsandstein” of the Germanic facies belt. In the Raibl group, contrary to other carbonate/clastic depositional settings, relative sea-level lowstands are dominated by carbonate production, and highstands are dominated by clastic deposition.Each of the three Raibl cycles corresponds to a type-2 sequence, containing shelf margin, transgressive and highstand systems tracts. During sea-level lowstands, deltaic point sources were near the shelf margin, allowing clastics to bypass the carbonate platform. This setting corresponds to a shelf margin systems tract. Transgressive and highstand systems tracts developed during the subsequent sea-level rise, as deltaic clastics were reworked and redistributed over the carbonate platform, and the deltas retrograded to the inner shelf. The highstand systems tracts are capped by a type 2 sequence boundary, which is conformable in the study area. The systems tracts can be further subdivided into shallowing upward subcycles, caused by fourth-order sea-level fluctuations, believed to represent Milankovitch rhythms.The middle Raibl cycle is consistently thinner, and may represent a shorter termed, third-order sea-level fluctuation. Our data also corroborate a second-order transgressive trend for the Carnian.

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Jurassic-Lowermost Cretaceous of East Greenland (1)

The Jurassic-lowermost Cretaceous succession of East Greenland was deposited in a seaway formed over a series of old extensional basins between Greenland and Norway. The succession is interpreted within a sequence stratigraphic framework with the main emphasis on the Middle and Upper Jurassic. The vertical and lateral dimensions of the stratigraphic units are measured in kilometers and hundreds of kilometers, respectively. The interpretation is comparable to seismic-scale sequence stratigraphy, and the results can be compared directly to those derived from conventional reflection-seismic studies of subsurface successions. Sequence boundaries, and thus sequences, are defined differently by various research groups. In contrast, systems tracts representing linkages of deposi ional systems are considered the basic building blocks in both genetic and sequence stratigraphy. In the present study, systems tracts are recognized as the unit of highest rank within the concept of sequence stratigraphy. Ten major systems tracts are recognized. A Pliensbachian-Toarcian transgressive systems tract consisting of a slightly retrogradational parasequence set is overlain by a thin uppermost Toarcian-Aalenian(?) highstand systems tract (290-420 m in total thickness). The 140-700 m thick upper Bajocian-middle Callovian interval is represented by a basal aggradational to slightly retrogradational parasequence set interpreted as a shelf margin systems tract transitional to a transgressive systems tract. This interval is overlain by a strongly onlapping retrogradational set form d under rapid sea level rise and high sediment input, and interpreted as a transgressive systems tract. The upper Callovian-middle Oxfordian forms a composite progradational parasequence set that downlaps onto the top of the transgressive systems tract and represents a highstand systems tract. The transitional strata between the two systems tracts are highly condensed distally and contain the maximum flooding surface. Major regional deepening began in the late Oxfordian, and a thick succession of shales and turbiditic gully sandstones was deposited across the whole region. This succession represents another transgressive systems tract formed during a rapid sea level rise reaching highstand in the early Volgian when a sandy highstand systems tract prograded into the basin. The middle Volg an-Valanginian interval was characterized by rotational block faulting in northern East Greenland, in contrast to southern East Greenland, which continued its regular subsidence. A succession of a lowstand or shelf margin systems tract, a transgressive systems tract, and a highstand systems tract is recognized in both regions. This similarity may allow separation of sea level and tectonic signals in the two contemporaneous successions. The sequence stratigraphic analysis forms the basis for a coherent genetic model for the Jurassic-lowermost Cretaceous succession. The model may prove to be of value in interpreting deeply buried correlative hydrocarbon reservoirs in the northern North Sea and the Norwegian shelf.

Cambrian-Ordovician Craton Margin Section, Southern Great Basin: A Sequence Stratigraphic Perspective

The Upper Cambrian through Upper Ordovician cratonal to miogeoclinal transition section in southern Nevada and eastern California accumulated on a gentle homoclinal ramp and includes a variety of peritidal and subtidal carbonate facies. This section consists of a westward-thickening wedge assigned to the Nopah and Mountain Springs formations and can be related to one type 1 and least four type 2 sequences. The basal part of the section is the Dunderberg Shale Member of the Nopah Formation, which is composed of meter-scale cyclical shale-carbonate bundles. Carbonate interbeds signify a variety of peritidal to deep subtidal paleoenvironments that comprise shelf margin and transgressive systems tracts. The progradation of a thrombolitic bank complex in the overlying upper Nopah may reflect emergence on the craton, evidenced by the Sauk II-Sauk III cratonic disconformity. The overlying A' member of the Mountain Springs Formation rests in sharp and, in places, slightly discordant contact with the top of the Nopah. This contact is interpreted as a marine flooding surface and type 2 sequence boundary. Member A consists of Lower Ordovician transgressive and highstand systems tracts comprised of oolitic shoal and back-shoal to intertidal carbonates. The type 1 unconformity that separates member A from overlying B' membermore » is the top of the first-order Sauk Sequence. The B' member is a thin stratal interval of late Middle to Late Ordovician age and consists of dark, burrow-mottled skeletal wackestone and mudstone that is part of a transgressive systems tract. It is bounded above by another type 1 unconformity and therefore represents the first-order Tippecanoe sequence of Sloss.« less

Latest Quaternary Outer Shelf and Slope Deposits, Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA: Industry Research Consortium

A consortium of oil companies is undertaking a multiyear shallow coring and high-resolution seismic investigation of the outer shelf-slope deposits of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The program's objective is to reconstruct the depositional, seismic stratigraphic, biostratigraphic, isotopic, and organic geochemical record of the latest Quaternary of a portion of the Gulf margin. Results will serve as an analog to deeper hydrocarbon reservoirs and to help in understanding sedimentation with glacial-interglacial sea-level changes. Nearly continuous cores up to 850 ft long from Main Pass Blocks 303, 242, 288 and Viosca Knoll Block 774 are being described and analyzed. Main Pass 303 core samples Holocene to Oxygen Isotope Stage 6 deposits and as old or older strata are expected to have been penetrated in the other boreholes. Three or four sea level cycles are represented. Seismic acquisition is planned for late 1990. The outer shelf and slope of the northern Gulf is an area of active growth faulting, high sedimentation rate, diapirism, and slumping. Recent work, including this study, shows that near-surface stratigraphy consists of coarse clastics alternating with carbonate-rich mud. Sands and gravels are inferred to have been deposited mostly during lowstands and rising sea level in deltas and valley-fillmore » systems. Delta clinoforms on high-resolution seismic may represent shelf-margin wedges, prograding wedges, or highstand systems tracts. Highstand deposits are characterized largely by thin, continuous intervals of bioturbated muds containing abundant diagenetic carbonate and pyrite. Precise dating and correlation of outer shelf-upper slope facies to magnitude and direction of sea level change is intended during the project.« less

Combined Effect of Tectonism, Eustasy, and Sediment Supply on the Depositional-Sequence History of the Western Offshore, South Africa

Interpreted seismic profiles and maps of depositional systems tracts highlight variations in basin-fill architecture and their inferred causes along western offshore South Africa. Sequence-stratigraphic concepts developed by Exxon were used to interpret 10,000 km of seismic data and logs from 31 exploration boreholes within an area of 90,000 km{sup 2}. Lower frequency second-order supercycles (5-10 Ma) are attributed to changes in the rate of subsidence and are expressed either by predominantly progradational or aggradational depositional supersequence. In addition to these long-duration, basin-wide stratigraphic packages, component depositional sequences that formed in response to third order (1-5 Ma) and higher frequency cycles vary with structural setting within the depobasin, namely depocenter, basin flanks, shelf-edge, and slope systems. High-order sequences are attributed to eustatically driven, high-frequency, base-level changes and/or localized tectonic events (i.e. slope failure, gravity faulting). Variations in the areal distribution of lowstand and shelf-margin systems tracts document lateral shifting sediment supplies and the presence of entrenched feeder-canyons linked to incised valley systems on the shelf. Many canyons, however, terminate updip and may be related to slope failure and headward erosion. The tentative correlation of regionally developed unconformities of the west coast based on microfaunal dating of a limited number of marinemore » condensed sections points to a remarkable correspondence with the Exxon global sea-level chart.« less