Prograding Distributive Fluvial Systems—Geomorphic Models and Ancient Examples

Weissmann, Gary S.; Hartley, Adrian J.; Scuderi, L. A.; Nichols, Gary; Davidson, Stephanie K.; Owen, Amanda; Atchley, Stacy C.; Bhattacharyya, P.; Chakraborty, Tapan; Ghosh, Parthasarathi; Nordt, Lee C.; Michel, Lauren A.; Tabor, Neil J.

doi:10.2110/sepmsp.104.16

Cited by 89 publications

(172 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…At the formation scale a DFS model based on progressive evolution of the fluvial system explains the observed trends in the channel-body distribution. These findings also fit with the qualitative observation of coals occurring only in the lower parts of the succession overlain by better-drained DFS deposits (Weissmann et al 2013). Such a model does not suggest that there are no allocyclic influences on the system, but that progradation of a distributary fan-like system is the dominant control on fluvial sandbody architecture at the scale of the entire formation.…”

Section: Implications For the Prediction Of Sandbody Geometrysupporting

confidence: 87%

Analysis Of Fluvial Architecture In the Blackhawk Formation, Wasatch Plateau, Utah, U.S.A., Using Large 3D Photorealistic Models

Rittersbacher

Howell

Buckley

2014

Journal of Sedimentary Research

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There are numerous allocyclic and autocyclic factors which influence fluvial sandbody geometry. Unraveling the relative importance of such factors is challenging because fluvial systems can migrate and avulse across significant distances on the floodplain, so that collecting datasets that cover a large enough area with sufficient detail is difficult. This problem has been addressed by acquiring an oblique helicopter-mounted lidar survey over 16 km of exposed sections from Cretaceous coastalplain deposits cropping out in the Wasatch Plateau of east-central Utah. The exposures of the Blackhawk Formation occur in steep cliffs, which are continuous for several tens of kilometers, and have been previously inaccessible for study.The recorded lidar data were used to build detailed photorealistic models (virtual outcrops) from which quantitative dimensional data on fluvial architectural elements (mostly sandstone channel bodies) were collected. Those channelized bodies show significant variation in width and thickness. 26% of the sandbodies were identified as being multistory channel bodies, with a thickness of 9.1 m (± 4.67 m; 1 s) and a width of 142.6 m (± 180.7 m), which are significantly larger than the measured single-story sandbodies (5.9 m and 96.9 m, respectively). 50% of all sandbodies have aspect ratios smaller 13:1 and the highest values reach 78:1.The spatial constraint of the 397 fluvial sandbodies enabled the recognition of a series of vertical trends within the dataset. These trends include a subtle upward increase in width and thickness of both the mean and maximum values. This is coupled with a general upward decrease in the number of sandbodies and results in a broadly constant channel-to-overbank ratio. A clear correlation between wider channels with increased distance to the shoreline could also be documented.These observations can be explained by considering the entire Blackhawk Formation as the deposits of a large distributive fluvial system. In this model the key control on channel architecture is the distance to the shoreline, contrasting with previous interpretations of the Blackhawk depositional system in which the rate of accommodation creation in the coastal plain was thought to be the key control on channel geometry and stacking patterns.

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Section: Implications For the Prediction Of Sandbody Geometrysupporting

confidence: 87%

Analysis Of Fluvial Architecture In the Blackhawk Formation, Wasatch Plateau, Utah, U.S.A., Using Large 3D Photorealistic Models

Rittersbacher

Howell

Buckley

2014

Journal of Sedimentary Research

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“…Therefore, while tectonics may have affected depositional style in the Lodève Basin, there are clearly extrabasinal mechanisms such as long-term aridification and increasing seasonality that affected the long-term history of sedimentation in the basin. A megafan sequence stratigraphic model for continental sedimentary basins suggests a common evolution of sedimentary infill that evolves from initially poorlydrained conditions to progressively better drained conditions through time (Weissmann et al, 2013). At first glance, the Lodève Basin fits this model in that the paleosols change from poorly drained Histosols in the Ghezlian to well-drained vertic Gypisols, calcic Vertisols, and Calcisols in younger Permian strata.…”

Section: Kasmentioning

confidence: 91%

Chronostratigraphy and Paleoclimatology of the Lodève Basin, France: Evidence for a pan-tropical aridification event across the Carboniferous–Permian boundary

Michel

Tabor

Montañez

et al. 2015

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

110

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a b s t r a c tPaleosols preserved within the Carboniferous-Permian succession of the Lodève Basin, Massif Central, France change stratigraphically from Histosols to calcic Vertisols and Calcisols to gypsic Vertisols and ultimately back to calcic Vertisols and Calcisols. New high-precision U-Pb zircon ages (CA-IDTIMS) for tuff beds within the Lodève and adjacent Graissessac basins significantly revise the chronostratigraphy of these and correlated Permian terrestrial basins of eastern Euramerica. Under the newly revised chronostratigraphy presented here these stratigraphic changes in morphology indicate a substantial drying of paleoenvironments across the Carboniferous-Permian boundary with a trend toward progressively more arid and seasonal climates through most of the early Permian. This newly-realized chronology provides a paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic timeline for eastern tropical Pangea that is contemporaneous with similar records in western Pangea and suggests pantropical, progressive climate change toward aridity and seasonality occurred from the Late Carboniferous through early Permian.

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“…This work evolved further with development of the pedofacies concept (Bown & Kraus 1987, Kraus 1997, which utilized stratigraphic and lateral variations in paleosol maturity to evaluate variations in sediment accumulation rates in Paleogene fluvial strata of the Willwood Basin. More recently, prograding distributive fluvial systems (DFS), or megafans, have emerged as a predictive model for lateral and vertical changes in paleosol morphologies related to evolution of fan depositional systems (Weissman et al 2010(Weissman et al , 2013. In this model, poorly drained, hydromorphic paleosols develop in distal DFS settings [Gleysols, Histosols (Mack et al 1993); aquic paleosol orders, Histosols (Retallack 1988)], and well-drained paleosols develop in proximal environments.…”

Section: Stratigraphic Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the DFS progrades basinward, there is a stratigraphic transition from poorly drained to well-drained paleosols, which may retain relatively soluble components such as calcite or gypsum. While this model of paleosol development is applicable to modern, actively aggrading basins (e.g., Hartley et al 2013), there are few examples (Weissman et al 2013) in the geological record that are adequately explained by DFS processes. Instead, soil development in the majority of ancient basins is affected more strongly by episodes of marine influence and often rapid changes in eustasy (e.g., Rosenau et al 2013a,b).…”

Section: Stratigraphic Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleosols as Indicators of Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate

Tabor

Myers

2015

Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.

157

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Paleosols are ancient soils that have been incorporated into the geological record. Soils form in response to interactions among the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere, so paleosols potentially record physical, biological, and chemical information about past conditions near Earth's surface. As a result, paleosols are an important resource for terrestrial environmental and climatic reconstructions. Long-standing paleosol research topics include morphology, classification, and clay mineralogy, all of which provide information about pedogenic processes and local paleoenvironments. Paleosols are also used to infer processes involved in the development of stratigraphic architecture and basin evolution. Recent paleosol research has introduced semiquantitative and quantitative measures for environmental and chronometric reconstructions that provide insight into major regional to global changes in temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric pCO 2 . These new proxies focus on morphological and chemical transfer functions and stable isotope geochemistry to provide estimates of precipitation, temperature, pCO 2 , and productivity, as well as chronometric estimates of mineral crystallization in deep-time pedogenic systems. Looking forward, consensus must be reached on terminology that most effectively communicates paleosol characteristics and implies important processes. Proxy development will continue to improve as data sets become available across greater ranges of environments and timescales. 11.1

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Prograding Distributive Fluvial Systems—Geomorphic Models and Ancient Examples

Cited by 89 publications

References 82 publications

Analysis Of Fluvial Architecture In the Blackhawk Formation, Wasatch Plateau, Utah, U.S.A., Using Large 3D Photorealistic Models

Analysis Of Fluvial Architecture In the Blackhawk Formation, Wasatch Plateau, Utah, U.S.A., Using Large 3D Photorealistic Models

Chronostratigraphy and Paleoclimatology of the Lodève Basin, France: Evidence for a pan-tropical aridification event across the Carboniferous–Permian boundary

Paleosols as Indicators of Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate

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