| Citation: |
Xiao-jie Wei, Zong-xing Li, Yin-sheng Ma, Yi-fan Li, Jun-jie Hu, Kui Liu, Xin-xin Fang, 2021. Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the mixed clastic-carbonate deposits in the Late Paleozoic icehouse period: A case study from the northern Qaidam Basin, China Geology, 4, 673-685. doi: 10.31035/cg2021068
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Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the mixed clastic-carbonate deposits in the Late Paleozoic icehouse period: A case study from the northern Qaidam Basin
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Abstract
The widely-developed, mixed clastic-carbonate succession in the northern Qaidam Basin records the paleo-environment changes under the glacial activity during the Late Paleozoic icehouse period in the context of regional tectonic stability, however, the depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy characteristics of the mixed deposits is rarely reported and still not clear. Combined the latest drilling wells data, we analyzed the sedimentary and stratigraphic characterization of the mixed strata via detailed field outcrops and core observations and thin section microscopic observations and recognized three depositional systems, including progradational coastal system, incised valley system, and carbonate-dominated marine shelf system, and identified four third-order sequences, SQ1, SQ2, SQ3 and SQ4, consisting of LST, TST, and HST. The depositional environment is overall belonged to marine-continental transition context and shifted from marine to continental environment frequently, showing an evolutionary pattern from marine towards terrestrial-marine transition and then back into the marine environment again in the long-term, which was controlled by the regional tectonic subsidence and the high-frequency and large-amplitude sea-level changes due to the Late Paleozoic glacial activity. The result is of significance in understanding the evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the sedimentation-climate response.
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References
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Xiao-jie Wei, Zong-xing Li, Yin-sheng Ma, Yi-fan Li, Jun-jie Hu, Kui Liu, Xin-xin Fang, 2021. Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the mixed clastic-carbonate deposits in the Late Paleozoic icehouse period: A case study from the northern Qaidam Basin, China Geology, 4, 673-685. doi: 10.31035/cg2021068
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Figure 1.
The regional location map of the Northern Qaidam Basin (after Wei XJ et al., 2018).
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Figure 2.
Sedimentary construction within structural divisions in the northern Qaidam Basin.
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Figure 3.
Examples of progradational coastal system and the vertical succession in the Upper Carboniferous of the Qaidam Basin (Shihuigou section). a, b‒Hummocky and swaley cross strata, which is interpreted as storm-wave controlled distal coastal deposits; c‒interbedded sandstone and mudstone deposits within coastal plain; d‒stacked compound dunes probably deposited as tide-dominated distal coastal deposits.
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Figure 4.
Sedimentary characteristics and vertical succession of incised valley deposits in the Upper Carboniferous strata of northern Qaidam Basin. a‒large-scale, well-organized, stacked compound cross strata; b‒poorly-sorted, conglomerates lined at erosive base; c‒example of incised valley system, with the red line representing the base of incised valley, and the yellow dot line suggesting the discontinuous limestone layer.
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Figure 5.
Examples of shallow shelf sedimentary systems and sedimentary sequences of the Upper Carboniferous, northern Qaidam Basin (Shihuigou section). (a‒c)‒aggradational shallow marine shelf; (d‒f)‒progradational shallow marine shelf.
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Figure 6.
Characteristics of internal sequence boundary within C2k Formation of the northern Qaidam Basin. a‒discontinuity of the strata; b‒exposure of unconformity – paleosol.
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Figure 7.
The bottom surface of the incised valley in the Upper Carboniferous, northern Qaidam Basin – 3rd order sequence boundary.
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Figure 8.
Well correlation of the 3rd-order sequence and sedimentary characteristics in the Upper Carboniferous, northern Qaidam Basin.
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Figure 9.
Depositional model of mixed clastic-carbonate successions of the Upper Carboniferous strata in the northern Qaidam Basin under the control of the 3rd-order sequence stratigraphic framework.