Typical contourite deposits associated with submarine turbidite fan deposits are recognized for the first time from the Lower Devonian Liptrap Formation at Cape Liatrap, Victoria in southeast Australia. The contourite...Typical contourite deposits associated with submarine turbidite fan deposits are recognized for the first time from the Lower Devonian Liptrap Formation at Cape Liatrap, Victoria in southeast Australia. The contourites are well integrated within the turbidite fan deposits and are characterized by thin (5-8 cm), lenticular, well-sorted coarse-grained siltstones to fine-grained sandstones with current-ripples and cross beddings. The palaeocurrent directions of the turbidite fan and contourites are perpendicular to each other, with the former directed generally westward while the latter varying from 165° to 190° southward. In view of the facies types and architecture, we suggest that the turbidite fan was developed at the base of a westward inclined palaeo-slope, at the front of which the contourites were deposited as a result of southward flowing deep-sea contour (geostrophic) currents. The depositional setting inter- preted for the Liptrap Formation thus may provide a provisional model for the Lower Devonian conti- nental slope and abyssal basin environment in the southeastern part of the Melbourne Trough.展开更多
Research into the contourite deposits in the Upper Meishan Formation of the southern Qiongdongnan Basin in South China Sea is weak;their characteristics,distribution and original geological conditions are not clear.Us...Research into the contourite deposits in the Upper Meishan Formation of the southern Qiongdongnan Basin in South China Sea is weak;their characteristics,distribution and original geological conditions are not clear.Using geologic al and geophysical methods including seismic and drilling data,based on seismic reflection characteristics,geometrical configuration description,and wave impedance inversion,two types of contourite deposits are recognized.Contourite deposits have blurred boundaries between each deposit and disordered internal seismic reflections;They are mound-shaped only in transverse section,and banded in the longitudinal direction.TypeⅠcontourite deposits are conical,with mediumhigh amplitude,low-continuity,low-frequency mound-shaped seismic facies,and subparallel-chaotic reflections internally.These deposits are conical with sharp tops,the canal between mounds is V-shaped and deep.The western wing is gentle and the eastern wing is steep,with the slope toe mostly between 10°and 20°,and width height ratio about 1-2.TypeⅡcontourite deposits are flat,exhibiting medium-amplitude,medium-continuity,low-frequency mound-shaped seismic facies,with subparallel weak reflections internally.Their mounds are flat with gently arced tops,with shallow canals between.The slope toe is between 5°and 10°,with a width height ratio of about 2-5.The wave impedance value of these contourite deposits is 4.6 kg/m^(3)×m/s to 6.8 kg/m^(3)×m/s,about 5.8 kg/m^(3)×m/s on average,which is presumed to represent marlycalcareous clastic sediments.The contourite deposits mainly develop beneath the slope break at the margin of the faultcontrolled platform in the Southern Uplift zone of the basin.In plane view,they are distributed approaching a west-to-east direction,and in section,lie in low-lying areas near the faults at fault-controlled terraces of the Southern Uplift zone,with a paleo-current direction nearly west-to-east.The paleotectonic setting of the gentle monoclinic platform was favorable for the development of such contourite deposits.The intensification of the Mid-Miocene deepest bottom current gave rise to the contourite-forming currents around the Southern Uplift zone in the northern South China Sea,which flow from Hainan Island to the Xisha Trough in a nearly west-to-east direction leading to the contourite deposits developing in the late MidMiocene transgressive environment,with multiple slow sea-level fall cycles.展开更多
Hemipelagic contourites were interpreted in the Silurian Kepingtage （柯坪塔格） Formation in the Tarim basin, Northwest China, through studies of outcrop, core, well-log, and seismic data. They are characterized by t...Hemipelagic contourites were interpreted in the Silurian Kepingtage （柯坪塔格） Formation in the Tarim basin, Northwest China, through studies of outcrop, core, well-log, and seismic data. They are characterized by thin to thick bedded mudstone, with contour current irregularly thin bedded-lentiform siltstone and sandstone. Chitin stone, graptolite, thin-shelled bivalve, dissoconch, and acritatch fossils are present in dark-colored mudstones. A Helminthopsis-Scolicia trace fossil assem-blage was observed in the outcrop and drilling core. Sandstones are mainly well-sorted and subangular-subrounded sublitharenite. Sedimentary structures include oriented current structure, erosional surface, and small-scale cross stratifications. The potential of contourites as hydrocarbon source and reservoir rocks was evaluated on the basis of previous interpretations of paleoclimate and paleosalinity.展开更多
Many mound-shaped reflectors with different features and shapes are evident in the Upper Member of the Meishan Formation from seismic profiles taken in the deep-water area of the Southern Qiongdongnan Basin.Based on t...Many mound-shaped reflectors with different features and shapes are evident in the Upper Member of the Meishan Formation from seismic profiles taken in the deep-water area of the Southern Qiongdongnan Basin.Based on the drilling,2 D and 3 D seismic data from the study area,descriptions of the seismic reflection characteristics as well as the geometric shape,wave impedance inversion,analogy and comparative analyses are carried out.Taken in conjunction with research on the paleo structure and paleo sedimentary background,we consider that the mound-shaped seismic reflectors are distributed in the Southern Slop belt and the Southern High-rise of the Qiongdongnan Basin,which can be subdivided into three types:reefs,contourite mounds and magmatic diapirs.The first type,reefs,includes patch reefs,platform marginal reefs and pinnacle reefs.Patch reefs present mound-shaped seismic facies with medium frequency and a moderately strong amplitude,being distributed at the uplift of the fault control platform on the Southern Slop belt.The platform marginal reefs have flat mound-shaped seismic facies with strong amplitude and medium frequency,developing at the margin of the carbonate platform in the Southern High-rise.The pinnacle reefs have mound-shaped seismic facies with strong amplitude and medium frequency and are developed on an isolated volcanic cone.The boundaries between individual reefs are clear on the seismic section,with reef ridge and reef ditch developed,the phenomenon of’front product’being visible within,two-way superelevation between wings is developed and they exist visibly as mounds in any viewed direction of the crosssection.They are slightly asymmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the paleodepth the reef body being steep near the deep-water side,while being gentle near the shallow water side.The wave impedance of a patch reef is about 7 kg/m^(3)×m/s,while the wave impedance of a platform marginal reef is about 7.5 kg/m^(3)×m/s.The second type-contourite moundsare mainly developed under the slope break of the southern slope fault control platform’s edge.They are subdivided into two types:conical and flat.The former has mound-shaped seismic facies with medium-strong amplitude and low frequency,the latter having mound-shaped seismic facies with medium amplitude and low frequency.The internal texture of the mounds is not clear on the seismic section,with the boundaries between contourite mounds being blurred.They are mound-shaped only in cross-section,being banded in the extending direction.The upper surface of a single contourite mound is relatively gentle near the deep-water side,while being steep near the shallow water area.The wave impedance of contourite mounds is about 5.8 kg/m^(3)×m/s,which is speculated to represent a marly to calcareous clastic deposit.The third type is the magmatic diapir,which has’roots’.They have a dome-shaped upper boundary,are bottomless,with a chaotic interior.They penetrated multiple formations,opening towards the base.There are two major accumulation assemblages of reefs,one is the platform margin reef accumulation assemblage with distant source rocks and long-distance migration through an unconformity surface in the Southern High-rise,the other is the patch reef accumulation assemblage with twin sources and short distance migration through faults in the Southern Slop belt near the Central Depression zone.The latter is the main exploration targets at present.There are contourite mound accumulation assemblages with nearby source rocks and short distance vertical migration through faults,which are potentially important targets.The magmatic diapirs pierce the overlying strata and form good hydrocarbon traps and migration pathways,thus representing potential prospecting targets.展开更多
The seafloor around carbonate platforms is largely shaped and modified by downslope processes.However,the role of alongslope processes,including bottom currents,on the morphological development of carbonate platforms ...The seafloor around carbonate platforms is largely shaped and modified by downslope processes.However,the role of alongslope processes,including bottom currents,on the morphological development of carbonate platforms remains poorly understood.Here,we use high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and two-dimensional seismic profiles to investigate the detailed sea-floor morphology around the Zhongjianbei carbonate platform(ZCP)in the northwest South China Sea.A series of depositional bodies and erosional channels are identified to the south of the ZCP and are interpreted as contourite drifts and channels resulted from the interaction between bottom currents and bathymetric features.In addition,active fluid seepages have led to the formation of widespread pockmarks on the seafloor.Importantly,the contourite channels and widespread pockmarks also show a close relationship in their distribution.We propose that the contourite channels around the ZCP are evolved from the coalescence of pockmarks under the persistent erosion of bottom currents.Based on the morphological analysis,we reconstruct the past bottom-current pathways around the ZCP that are parallel to the platform slopes and heading to the south.This study provides new insights into the formation of complex bathymetry and helps understanding how bottom currents and active fluid seepages can influence the morphological development around carbonate platforms.展开更多
Carbonate contourite drift at Jiuxi. Taoyuan, northern Hunan, was developed in a deepwater area ofnorthern Hunan on the margin of the Early Ordovician South China palcocontinent. The Lower Ordoviciansequence in the ar...Carbonate contourite drift at Jiuxi. Taoyuan, northern Hunan, was developed in a deepwater area ofnorthern Hunan on the margin of the Early Ordovician South China palcocontinent. The Lower Ordoviciansequence in the area is more than 350 m thick and contains well-developed contourites that can be groupedinto the following five types: the calcilutitic, the arenitic, the siltitic. the fine ruditic and the bioclastic. Thefirst three often constitute a complete or incomplete contourite succession. The arenitic contourite is nearlyuniformly distributed as interlayers throughout the succession, creating a monotonously rhythmic texture inthe contourite drift. The pattern of spatial distribution of the succession shows that the contourite drift is ahuge ridge-like sedimentary body extending along the trend of paleoslope. Numerous marks of flow direc-tion have pointed to an eastward paleoflow direction along the slope.展开更多
The Lower Triassic Xikou Formation in southwestern Fujian, China is a set of complex deep water sediments which includes turbidites, sandy contourites and isolated olistoliths. Five facies and seven subfacies are reco...The Lower Triassic Xikou Formation in southwestern Fujian, China is a set of complex deep water sediments which includes turbidites, sandy contourites and isolated olistoliths. Five facies and seven subfacies are recognized in the deep water turbidites, which are considered to belong to five facies associations of upper, middle and lower fans, respectively. The sandy contourites, which occur within turbidites as isolated thin layers with structures of traction current, are formed by reworking turbidites. They occur in discrete units, not as a part of a vertical sequence of structures, such as Bouma sequence. Paleocurrent directions derived from sandy contourites are perpendicular to or at a large angle of those derived from turbidites. In some areas, within the Formation there exist large oolitic limestone blocks slided from shallow sea. The temporal spatial distribution of three types of sediments mentioned above and the related evidences could indicate that a passive continental margin from shallow sea to bathyal abyssal region, dipping toward southeast, once occurred in study area during the early Triassic. The early Triassic represents a period of sea level uprising. The uprising of sea level and the development of isolated olistoliths probably imply gradual shrinking of an ocean basin at that time.展开更多
Ⅰ. INTRODUCTIONThe study area is located at the northern mountains of Chaohu City in central Anhui Province. The Silurian system, consisting of the lower series Gaojiabian and the middle series Fentou formation with ...Ⅰ. INTRODUCTIONThe study area is located at the northern mountains of Chaohu City in central Anhui Province. The Silurian system, consisting of the lower series Gaojiabian and the middle series Fentou formation with total thickness over 570 m, is parallelly unconformably overlain and underlain by Ordovician Maoshan formation and Silurian Wutong formation, respectively. The contourite or contour current deposit occurs at the lower Craojiabian formation.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40672080, 40621002)the Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. IRT0546)the Australian Research Council (Grant No. DP0772161 to GRS)
文摘Typical contourite deposits associated with submarine turbidite fan deposits are recognized for the first time from the Lower Devonian Liptrap Formation at Cape Liatrap, Victoria in southeast Australia. The contourites are well integrated within the turbidite fan deposits and are characterized by thin (5-8 cm), lenticular, well-sorted coarse-grained siltstones to fine-grained sandstones with current-ripples and cross beddings. The palaeocurrent directions of the turbidite fan and contourites are perpendicular to each other, with the former directed generally westward while the latter varying from 165° to 190° southward. In view of the facies types and architecture, we suggest that the turbidite fan was developed at the base of a westward inclined palaeo-slope, at the front of which the contourites were deposited as a result of southward flowing deep-sea contour (geostrophic) currents. The depositional setting inter- preted for the Liptrap Formation thus may provide a provisional model for the Lower Devonian conti- nental slope and abyssal basin environment in the southeastern part of the Melbourne Trough.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.41972155)the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundtion(grant no.2020BABL211019)the National Science and Technology Major Profect(grant no.2016ZX05026007)。
文摘Research into the contourite deposits in the Upper Meishan Formation of the southern Qiongdongnan Basin in South China Sea is weak;their characteristics,distribution and original geological conditions are not clear.Using geologic al and geophysical methods including seismic and drilling data,based on seismic reflection characteristics,geometrical configuration description,and wave impedance inversion,two types of contourite deposits are recognized.Contourite deposits have blurred boundaries between each deposit and disordered internal seismic reflections;They are mound-shaped only in transverse section,and banded in the longitudinal direction.TypeⅠcontourite deposits are conical,with mediumhigh amplitude,low-continuity,low-frequency mound-shaped seismic facies,and subparallel-chaotic reflections internally.These deposits are conical with sharp tops,the canal between mounds is V-shaped and deep.The western wing is gentle and the eastern wing is steep,with the slope toe mostly between 10°and 20°,and width height ratio about 1-2.TypeⅡcontourite deposits are flat,exhibiting medium-amplitude,medium-continuity,low-frequency mound-shaped seismic facies,with subparallel weak reflections internally.Their mounds are flat with gently arced tops,with shallow canals between.The slope toe is between 5°and 10°,with a width height ratio of about 2-5.The wave impedance value of these contourite deposits is 4.6 kg/m^(3)×m/s to 6.8 kg/m^(3)×m/s,about 5.8 kg/m^(3)×m/s on average,which is presumed to represent marlycalcareous clastic sediments.The contourite deposits mainly develop beneath the slope break at the margin of the faultcontrolled platform in the Southern Uplift zone of the basin.In plane view,they are distributed approaching a west-to-east direction,and in section,lie in low-lying areas near the faults at fault-controlled terraces of the Southern Uplift zone,with a paleo-current direction nearly west-to-east.The paleotectonic setting of the gentle monoclinic platform was favorable for the development of such contourite deposits.The intensification of the Mid-Miocene deepest bottom current gave rise to the contourite-forming currents around the Southern Uplift zone in the northern South China Sea,which flow from Hainan Island to the Xisha Trough in a nearly west-to-east direction leading to the contourite deposits developing in the late MidMiocene transgressive environment,with multiple slow sea-level fall cycles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40672078)the Innovative Team Programme of Ministry of Education (No. IRT0864)
文摘Hemipelagic contourites were interpreted in the Silurian Kepingtage （柯坪塔格） Formation in the Tarim basin, Northwest China, through studies of outcrop, core, well-log, and seismic data. They are characterized by thin to thick bedded mudstone, with contour current irregularly thin bedded-lentiform siltstone and sandstone. Chitin stone, graptolite, thin-shelled bivalve, dissoconch, and acritatch fossils are present in dark-colored mudstones. A Helminthopsis-Scolicia trace fossil assem-blage was observed in the outcrop and drilling core. Sandstones are mainly well-sorted and subangular-subrounded sublitharenite. Sedimentary structures include oriented current structure, erosional surface, and small-scale cross stratifications. The potential of contourites as hydrocarbon source and reservoir rocks was evaluated on the basis of previous interpretations of paleoclimate and paleosalinity.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41872172,42072188)Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation(20202BABL211019)Open Fund Project of the Key Laboratory of Sedimentary Mineralization and Sedimentary Mineral Resources in Shandong Province(DMSM 2019008)。
文摘Many mound-shaped reflectors with different features and shapes are evident in the Upper Member of the Meishan Formation from seismic profiles taken in the deep-water area of the Southern Qiongdongnan Basin.Based on the drilling,2 D and 3 D seismic data from the study area,descriptions of the seismic reflection characteristics as well as the geometric shape,wave impedance inversion,analogy and comparative analyses are carried out.Taken in conjunction with research on the paleo structure and paleo sedimentary background,we consider that the mound-shaped seismic reflectors are distributed in the Southern Slop belt and the Southern High-rise of the Qiongdongnan Basin,which can be subdivided into three types:reefs,contourite mounds and magmatic diapirs.The first type,reefs,includes patch reefs,platform marginal reefs and pinnacle reefs.Patch reefs present mound-shaped seismic facies with medium frequency and a moderately strong amplitude,being distributed at the uplift of the fault control platform on the Southern Slop belt.The platform marginal reefs have flat mound-shaped seismic facies with strong amplitude and medium frequency,developing at the margin of the carbonate platform in the Southern High-rise.The pinnacle reefs have mound-shaped seismic facies with strong amplitude and medium frequency and are developed on an isolated volcanic cone.The boundaries between individual reefs are clear on the seismic section,with reef ridge and reef ditch developed,the phenomenon of’front product’being visible within,two-way superelevation between wings is developed and they exist visibly as mounds in any viewed direction of the crosssection.They are slightly asymmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the paleodepth the reef body being steep near the deep-water side,while being gentle near the shallow water side.The wave impedance of a patch reef is about 7 kg/m^(3)×m/s,while the wave impedance of a platform marginal reef is about 7.5 kg/m^(3)×m/s.The second type-contourite moundsare mainly developed under the slope break of the southern slope fault control platform’s edge.They are subdivided into two types:conical and flat.The former has mound-shaped seismic facies with medium-strong amplitude and low frequency,the latter having mound-shaped seismic facies with medium amplitude and low frequency.The internal texture of the mounds is not clear on the seismic section,with the boundaries between contourite mounds being blurred.They are mound-shaped only in cross-section,being banded in the extending direction.The upper surface of a single contourite mound is relatively gentle near the deep-water side,while being steep near the shallow water area.The wave impedance of contourite mounds is about 5.8 kg/m^(3)×m/s,which is speculated to represent a marly to calcareous clastic deposit.The third type is the magmatic diapir,which has’roots’.They have a dome-shaped upper boundary,are bottomless,with a chaotic interior.They penetrated multiple formations,opening towards the base.There are two major accumulation assemblages of reefs,one is the platform margin reef accumulation assemblage with distant source rocks and long-distance migration through an unconformity surface in the Southern High-rise,the other is the patch reef accumulation assemblage with twin sources and short distance migration through faults in the Southern Slop belt near the Central Depression zone.The latter is the main exploration targets at present.There are contourite mound accumulation assemblages with nearby source rocks and short distance vertical migration through faults,which are potentially important targets.The magmatic diapirs pierce the overlying strata and form good hydrocarbon traps and migration pathways,thus representing potential prospecting targets.
基金We thank the PetroChina Hangzhou Research Institute of Geology for the permissions to release the seismic data.This study was financially supported by the Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(No.GML2019ZD0104)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2020B1515020016)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2020A1515010497)the National Natu-ral Science Foundation of China(No.41876054)the Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program(No.2017GC010510)Dr.Wei Li is specially funded by the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program(No.Y8SL011001).
文摘The seafloor around carbonate platforms is largely shaped and modified by downslope processes.However,the role of alongslope processes,including bottom currents,on the morphological development of carbonate platforms remains poorly understood.Here,we use high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and two-dimensional seismic profiles to investigate the detailed sea-floor morphology around the Zhongjianbei carbonate platform(ZCP)in the northwest South China Sea.A series of depositional bodies and erosional channels are identified to the south of the ZCP and are interpreted as contourite drifts and channels resulted from the interaction between bottom currents and bathymetric features.In addition,active fluid seepages have led to the formation of widespread pockmarks on the seafloor.Importantly,the contourite channels and widespread pockmarks also show a close relationship in their distribution.We propose that the contourite channels around the ZCP are evolved from the coalescence of pockmarks under the persistent erosion of bottom currents.Based on the morphological analysis,we reconstruct the past bottom-current pathways around the ZCP that are parallel to the platform slopes and heading to the south.This study provides new insights into the formation of complex bathymetry and helps understanding how bottom currents and active fluid seepages can influence the morphological development around carbonate platforms.
文摘Carbonate contourite drift at Jiuxi. Taoyuan, northern Hunan, was developed in a deepwater area ofnorthern Hunan on the margin of the Early Ordovician South China palcocontinent. The Lower Ordoviciansequence in the area is more than 350 m thick and contains well-developed contourites that can be groupedinto the following five types: the calcilutitic, the arenitic, the siltitic. the fine ruditic and the bioclastic. Thefirst three often constitute a complete or incomplete contourite succession. The arenitic contourite is nearlyuniformly distributed as interlayers throughout the succession, creating a monotonously rhythmic texture inthe contourite drift. The pattern of spatial distribution of the succession shows that the contourite drift is ahuge ridge-like sedimentary body extending along the trend of paleoslope. Numerous marks of flow direc-tion have pointed to an eastward paleoflow direction along the slope.
文摘The Lower Triassic Xikou Formation in southwestern Fujian, China is a set of complex deep water sediments which includes turbidites, sandy contourites and isolated olistoliths. Five facies and seven subfacies are recognized in the deep water turbidites, which are considered to belong to five facies associations of upper, middle and lower fans, respectively. The sandy contourites, which occur within turbidites as isolated thin layers with structures of traction current, are formed by reworking turbidites. They occur in discrete units, not as a part of a vertical sequence of structures, such as Bouma sequence. Paleocurrent directions derived from sandy contourites are perpendicular to or at a large angle of those derived from turbidites. In some areas, within the Formation there exist large oolitic limestone blocks slided from shallow sea. The temporal spatial distribution of three types of sediments mentioned above and the related evidences could indicate that a passive continental margin from shallow sea to bathyal abyssal region, dipping toward southeast, once occurred in study area during the early Triassic. The early Triassic represents a period of sea level uprising. The uprising of sea level and the development of isolated olistoliths probably imply gradual shrinking of an ocean basin at that time.
文摘Ⅰ. INTRODUCTIONThe study area is located at the northern mountains of Chaohu City in central Anhui Province. The Silurian system, consisting of the lower series Gaojiabian and the middle series Fentou formation with total thickness over 570 m, is parallelly unconformably overlain and underlain by Ordovician Maoshan formation and Silurian Wutong formation, respectively. The contourite or contour current deposit occurs at the lower Craojiabian formation.
