Depositional Processes of Pyroclastic Density Currents in Lacustrine Environments: An Example from the Cretaceous Jeonggaksan Formation in Danjang-myeon, Miryang City

Abstract

We studied the Cretaceous Jeonggaksan Formation to determine depositional processes of pyroclastic density currents entering into the lacustrine environments. This formation is composed largely of sandstone-mudstone couplets and (tuffaceous) normally graded sandstones deposited in lacustrine environments, interbedded with two pyroclastic beds: welded massive lapilli tuff and normally graded lapilli tuff. The welded massive lapilli tuff (10 m thick) is composed of poorly sorted, structureless lapilli supported by a welded ash matrix. The normally graded lapilli tuff (4 m thick) is characterized by moderately to well sorted natures and multiple normally graded divisions in the lower part of the bed with internal boundaries. The contrasting depositional features between these lapilli tuff are suggestive of different physical characteristics and depositional processes of pyroclastic density currents in the lake. Overall poorly sorted and massive natures of the thick, welded massive lapilli tuff are interpreted to have been formed by rapid settling of pyroclastic sediments from highly concentrated and sustained pyroclastic density currents. In this case, the pyroclastic density currents were able to displace lake water from shoreline and the pyrolclastic density currents preserved their own heat except for frontal parts of the currents. As a result, welded textures can be formed despite entrance of pyroclastic density currents into the lake. The internal boundaries of the normally graded lapilli tuff reflect unsteady natures of the pyroclastic density currents at the time of the deposition and the pyroclastic density currents can not provide sufficient pressure to displace lake water. As a consequence, the pyroclastic density currents transformed into water-saturated turbidity currents, forming relatively well sorted, normally graded lapilli tuff.