Citation: | De-zhi Yan, Ru-kai Zhu, Hao Shou, Zhao-hui Xu, Wei-hong Liu, Si-cheng Zhu, Zhi-cheng Lei, Jing-ya Zhang, Chang Liu, Yi Cai, Huai-min Xu, 2024. Depositional process of hyperpycnal flow deposits: A case study on Lower Cretaceous Sangyuan outcrop in the Luanping Basin, Northeast China, China Geology, 7, 505-516. doi: 10.31035/cg2023096 |
Sedimentary process research is of great significance for understanding the distribution and characteristics of sediments. Through the detailed observation and measurement of the Sangyuan outcrop in Luanping Basin, this paper studies the depositional process of the hyperpycnal flow deposits, and divides their depositional process into three phases, namely, acceleration, erosion and deceleration. In the acceleration phase, hyperpycnal flow begins to enter the basin nearby, and then speeds up gradually. Deposits developed in the acceleration phase are reverse. In addition, the original deposits become unstable and are taken away by hyperpycnal flows under the eroding force. As a result, there are a lot of mixture of red mud pebbles outside the basin and gray mud pebbles within the basin. In the erosion phase, the reverse deposits are eroded and become thinner or even disappear. Therefore, no reverse grading characteristic is found in the proximal major channel that is closer to the source, but it is still preserved in the middle branch channel that is far from the source. After entering the deceleration phase, normally grading deposits appear and cover previous deposits. The final deposits in the basin are special. Some are reverse, and others are normal. They are superimposed with each other under the action of hyperpycnal flow. The analysis of the Sangyuan outcrop demonstrates the sedimentary process and distribution of hyperpycnites, and reasonably explain the sedimentary characteristics of hyperpycnites. It is helpful to the prediction of oil and gas exploration targets in gravity flow deposits.
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Location and geological map of the Luanping Basin, demonstrating the stratigraphic distribution, bounding fault, and location of Sangyuan outcrop (a), and length, height and strike of the Sangyuan Section (b).
FAA examples of proximal main channel deposits (modified from Yan DZ et al., 2020).
FAB outcrop of middle branch channel deposits (modified from Yan DZ et al., 2020).
Distal lobe deposits (FAC) (modified from Yan DZ et al., 2020).
Schematic diagram of the hyperpycnal flow into basin (after Bates CC, 1953).
Flood hydrograph and associated sequence of hyperpycnal flow. “A” means deposit from low-velocity flood (low-density hyperpycnal flow). “B” means deposits from high-velocity flood (high-density hyperpycnal flow). The subscripts D and E refer to depositional and erosional flows respectively. The black dashed line shows the fluctuation of flood flow velocity.
a‒Photograph of an event bed of FAB on Sangyuan section; b‒schematic drawing of an event bed, interpreted from one fluctuation of hyperpycnal flow, showing initial deposition of trough cross-bedding (C) in sandstone, then higher-energy bed (P) in sandstone, and finally trough cross-bedding (C) in sandstone; c‒hypothetical flood hydrograph that generates a hyperpycnal flow.
Hyperpycnal flow with extrabasinal-derived bedload common in proximal zones characterized by high shear forces and in distal zones characterized by lofting plume.
Conceptual model explaining the depositional process of hyperpycnal flow. In Stage 1, when flood initially enters the lake basin, it becomes a hyperpycnal flow at a slow and then gradually increasing velocity, resulting in reverse grading sediments (Fig. 6). In Stage 2, with the increase of the velocity of the hyperpycnal flow, it begins to erode early sediments and creates channels. As the velocity decreases, coarse sediments are deposited and fill in the channels in a normal grading manner. Stage 2 covers erosion and early deceleration (Fig. 6). After entering Stage 3, the hyperpycnal velocity further decreases, and fine sediments are gradually deposited in distal lobes (Fig. 6).
Hypothetical diagram showing a curve of fluctuating velocity of a quasi-steady underflow and its consequences for sedimentation at a fixed point in a basin (modified from Zavala C, 2006). Three main phases are recognized. Acceleration phase (AP): Accumulation of intervals 1 to 7 by an accelerating and fluctuating flow. Erosion-plus-bypass phase (EP): Erosion of some of the preceding deposits. Deceleration phase (DP): Accumulation of intervals 9 to 15 from a decelerating and fluctuating flow.