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1.
综合利用油田开发区岩心和测井等资料,对黄骅盆地港西开发区一区l断块新近系明化镇组进行沉积微相研究。结果表明,明化镇组为中一高弯度曲流河沉积,沉积微相单元可以细分为主河道、支河道、河间溢岸沉积、废弃河道和泛滥平原等,不同的微相单元在测井曲线上具有较好的电性响应特征。在总结沉积微相发育模式的基础上,认为在高可容纳空间体系阶段,孤立的条带状河道砂体镶嵌在大面积分布的河间及泛滥平原细粒沉积背景当中,河道砂体被泥岩所分隔;而在低可容纳空间体系阶段,多层不同期次的河道砂体发生切割叠置,造成砂体厚度较大,连通性较好。垂向上,河道砂体的不同配置方式体现了A／S比值随时间的旋回性变化的控制作用。 相似文献
2.
渤海湾中部南堡35-2地区新第三系河流沉积及油气勘探意义 总被引：4，自引：8，他引：4
渤海湾中部南堡35-2地区新三系河流沉积十分发育，可分为曲流河沉积和辫状河沉积两种类型。曲流河沉积以发育点砂坝、决口扇、天然堤和泛滥平原等微相单元为特征。辫状河沉积主要发育河道和心滩微相，泛滥平原微相不太发育。本重点研究了河流沉积各类微相的沉积特点，并将河流沉积的垂向层序归纳为6种类型。本还探讨了各类砂体的储集物性特征，认为点砂坝和心滩砂体是形成大油气田的优质储层，而油气藏的形成除与砂体的储集物性有关外，主要与区域构造条件密切相关。 相似文献
3.
在岩心描述的基础上，对杏河地区长6油层沉积相进行了分析，提出了该区主要沉积相为湖泊环境的河控三角洲体系，主要为三角洲前缘亚相沉积，主要沉积微相有水下分流河道、分流河口砂坝、前缘砂席和分流间等，分流河道和河口砂坝是本区占主导地位的骨架砂体。该区长6油层的三角洲体系是安塞三角洲体系最早发育的一支，早期分流来自于北部，后期分流转由东北方向进入，由于各期分流河道迁移、袭夺、决口以及因压实的均衡调整等，从而形成三角洲复合体内部各分流三角洲砂体的相互叠置交错。根据岩心微相分析、小层砂体形态和测井剖面对比分析，对该区长6油层砂组及小层的沉积微相进行了研究，掌握了沉积微相的时空展布和变化规律。 相似文献
4.
分支河流体系的讨论有助于促进各类冲积体系的分类学研究,并可促进源—汇体系分析的定量化。博茨瓦纳的奥卡万戈（Okavango）曲流河扇是分支河流体系的典型代表,具有独特的沉积学、水文学和地貌学特征,主要特点如下：①河道形态属于单线曲流河道向下游分叉型,顺流方向产生弯度不一的分支河道网络,从顶点向下游方向,河道呈放射状,由河谷内的限制性河道变为盆地内的非限制性河道;②顺斜坡向下,河道分叉作用增强,河道的尺度和规模减小,受物源控制,无论是曲流河道还是低弯度河道,皆为砂质载荷,河道宽度、水体深度和沉积物粒度虽有系统变化但不显著,且在极低的坡度控制下,随着流量的减少,河道由曲流河逐渐变为低弯度河,河道形态转化的主要影响因素是坡度、流量、沉积物粒级和河岸强度;③根据湿地和河道分布特征,可将扇体划分为补给河谷、近源扇、中部扇和远端扇4个亚环境：补给河谷以单线曲流带和不同规模的迂回坝发育为特征,近源扇主要为泥炭限制的分支河道和河间沼泽沉积,中部扇主要为曲流河和低弯度河沉积,沼泽减少,漫滩增加,远端扇为宽浅型的非限定性河道,以沙岛林地之间的漫滩沉积为主;④沉积物主要为未固结的石英砂,主要来源于卡拉哈里盆地近代风成沉积,砂质纯净,分选和磨圆俱佳,缺乏细粒杂基,粒间细粒组分主要为生物成因的硅藻、植硅石和有机物质,亦见有方解石和二氧化硅胶结物。
对现代曲流河扇体系进行调查的重要目的就是研究地下类似沉积体系的分布。通过对我国大型含油气盆地相关“内陆三角洲”沉积特征和沉积规律的重新认识,可为油气资源的勘探开发提供预测模式。鄂尔多斯盆地山西组沉积时期,沉积作用受盆地北缘物源控制,来自北部物源的碎屑物质在宽阔的湿地平原上发育了多套分支河流沉积体系,主要为曲流河扇沉积体系。顺着沉积斜坡向下,河道的尺度和规模减小,沉积物粒度变细,煤层和暗色泥岩厚度变小,缺乏明显的三角洲前缘沉积环境及稳定的前三角洲深水相。沉积组合主要表现为分支河道砂岩、漫岸细粒沉积与湿地泥岩及薄煤层的互层,为大气田的形成奠定了沉积基础。 相似文献
5.
分支河流体系的讨论有助于促进各类冲积体系的分类学研究,并可促进源—汇体系分析的定量化。博茨瓦纳的奥卡万戈（Okavango）曲流河扇是分支河流体系的典型代表,具有独特的沉积学、水文学和地貌学特征,主要特点如下：①河道形态属于单线曲流河道向下游分叉型,顺流方向产生弯度不一的分支河道网络,从顶点向下游方向,河道呈放射状,由河谷内的限制性河道变为盆地内的非限制性河道;②顺斜坡向下,河道分叉作用增强,河道的尺度和规模减小,受物源控制,无论是曲流河道还是低弯度河道,皆为砂质载荷,河道宽度、水体深度和沉积物粒度虽有系统变化但不显著,且在极低的坡度控制下,随着流量的减少,河道由曲流河逐渐变为低弯度河,河道形态转化的主要影响因素是坡度、流量、沉积物粒级和河岸强度;③根据湿地和河道分布特征,可将扇体划分为补给河谷、近源扇、中部扇和远端扇4个亚环境：补给河谷以单线曲流带和不同规模的迂回坝发育为特征,近源扇主要为泥炭限制的分支河道和河间沼泽沉积,中部扇主要为曲流河和低弯度河沉积,沼泽减少,漫滩增加,远端扇为宽浅型的非限定性河道,以沙岛林地之间的漫滩沉积为主;④沉积物主要为未固结的石英砂,主要来源于卡拉哈里盆地近代风成沉积,砂质纯净,分选和磨圆俱佳,缺乏细粒杂基,粒间细粒组分主要为生物成因的硅藻、植硅石和有机物质,亦见有方解石和二氧化硅胶结物。
对现代曲流河扇体系进行调查的重要目的就是研究地下类似沉积体系的分布。通过对我国大型含油气盆地相关“内陆三角洲”沉积特征和沉积规律的重新认识,可为油气资源的勘探开发提供预测模式。鄂尔多斯盆地山西组沉积时期,沉积作用受盆地北缘物源控制,来自北部物源的碎屑物质在宽阔的湿地平原上发育了多套分支河流沉积体系,主要为曲流河扇沉积体系。顺着沉积斜坡向下,河道的尺度和规模减小,沉积物粒度变细,煤层和暗色泥岩厚度变小,缺乏明显的三角洲前缘沉积环境及稳定的前三角洲深水相。沉积组合主要表现为分支河道砂岩、漫岸细粒沉积与湿地泥岩及薄煤层的互层,为大气田的形成奠定了沉积基础。 相似文献
6.
陕北东部地区长2+3油层组远源砂质辫状河沉积特征 总被引：2，自引：1，他引：2
通过地表露头与钻井剖面的观测分析综合研究,证实陕北东部地区长2 3油层组属于在泛滥平原下游发育的远源砂质辫状河沉积。沉积类型可划分出河道亚相与泛滥平原亚相等两个亚相以及河床滞留、河道砂坝、天然堤、决口扇、泛滥平原等5个可识别的微相。河道砂坝为其沉积的主体。长3到长2期,远源砂质辫状河沉积在平面展布和剖面组合上均表现出向三角洲相区持续推进和逐步超覆的特点。远源砂质辫状河沉积在其平面相区内一般无明显的、限制性的河道表现,河道砂坝复合连片,形成大规模的砂坪或广泛分布的"叠覆泛砂体"沉积,泛滥平原发育区仅在局部有所残留;剖面组合上河道砂坝极为发育,复合迭加程度高,形成连续性和连通性良好的宽厚的复合河道砂坝砂体以及"砂包泥"的沉积组合。同时,远源砂质辫状河流的发育使得与其相邻的三角洲沉积具有了类似"辫状河三角洲"的性质和特点。 相似文献
7.
《地下水》2016,(1)
基于前人对研究区延长组长2段沉积相成岩作用等研究较少,应用现代沉积学原理,对靖边油田南部延长组长2段沉积相进行系统分析。研究表明,长2段的沉积物颜色为灰白色、浅灰色,显示出一种水体较浅、水上的沉积环境;发育有板状交错层理、槽状交错层理、平行层理、砂纹层理等构造;沉积时水动力条件较强,发育曲流河和辫状河沉积。曲流河沉积主要发育在长2~1油层组。根据河道砂坝的沉积物组成,可将其区分为两种类型:以砾质沉积为主的砾质辫状河和以砂质沉积为主的辫状河流。研究区长2~2、长2~3沉积类型表现为砂质辫状河流沉积。以河道砂坝为主,局部发育不完整泛滥平原。在长2~1时期,研究区的沉积类型由辫状河变为曲流河,侧向加积形成较宽的河道砂体。长2~2时期延续了长2~3时期的辫状河沉积类型。整体砂体厚度较厚。 相似文献
8.
掌握沉积特征并建立准确的沉积模式对解译古代岩石的沉积环境和构建地下油气储层构成模型起到至关重要的作用.在梳理内陆湖盆干旱河流体系沉积模式形成和发展的基础上,综述玻利维亚乌尤尼盐湖边缘现代Colorado曲流河末端体系的研究成果.明确干旱曲流河末端沉积体系通常发育在低缓的湖岸线附近,仅有一条活跃河道且为曲流河,并具有向下游沿程的河道横截面积减小的特征,其余河道均废弃并已充填或者部分充填.指出干旱曲流河末端沉积体系河道演化的主控因素,低频、高强度的雷暴引发的洪水导致漫溢和改道,漫溢促使大量决口扇沿河道两侧形成与演化,决口扇砂体叠加形成席状砂;而河流改道促使河道砂体相互叠加切割,形成假分枝状的形态.细粒曲流河末端沉积体系主要包括河道沉积、漫溢沉积和洪泛平原沉积,其中大量发育的决口扇沉积为该体系最显著的特征之一,提出了干旱湖盆曲流河末端细粒沉积体系的沉积模式.最后,讨论了该体系与浅水三角洲的形成条件,如气候和地貌(坡度)方面存在的显著差异.干旱曲流河末端体沉积模式不仅丰富当前内陆湖盆边缘河流沉积理论,同时有助于精细刻画类似油气储层构型,也为油气的勘探开发提供思路. 相似文献
9.
河流相沉积中准层序与短期基准面旋回对比研究——以四川中部须家河组为例 总被引：4，自引：1，他引：3
通过详细分析曲流河沉积动力学特点,在四川中部须家河组建立了河流相沉积的准层序模式。曲流河沉积中可发育粒级向上变细准层序,也可以发育粒级向上变粗的准层序。辫状河准层序表现为粒级向上变细、河道水体向上变浅的准层序,而粒级向上变粗的准层序不发育。河流相准层序界面是河道砂体底部的冲刷侵蚀面,在粒级向上变粗的泛滥平原-决口扇或决口河道沉积中,准层序界面为暴露过泥岩与上部洪水期的暗色泥岩间的界面。将河流相准层序与短期基准面旋回进行精细的分析与对比认为,二者在层序地层学级次划分中时限相当,发育时间为0.01~0.05Ma;二者的界面是相同的,均为河道砂体底部的冲刷侵蚀面或者是暴露过泛滥平原泥岩、根土岩等。河流相中准层序与短期基准面旋回其实是相同时间内沉积的一套相同的沉积体,二者的不同只是分析的角度不同,其实质内容是一致的,即在曲流河短期基准面升降变化过程中,所保留下来的沉积物总是相对河水位是向上变浅的,由位于河水面以下的河道或边滩砂体向上变浅至河水面之上的天然堤、泛滥平原泥岩,此相序特征也正与准层序向上变浅的定义相同。 相似文献
10.
依据新的地层划分方案及大量钻井、露头及岩芯资料，详细研究了鄂尔多斯中南部地区中侏罗世延安期沉积体系、岩相古地理特征及演化。认为延10期为冲积扇－河流沉积体系，低弯度砾砂质河道发育，盆地内存在多个古地貌高地，4条水系汇入甘陕主河；延9至延6期为多源河湖三角洲沉积体系，具大三角洲平原、中三角洲前缘和小前三角洲的特征，三角洲平原及前缘的位置不断向湖区推进；延4＋5期为网状河－残余湖泊沉积体系，湖泊淤塞，水体变浅。延9至延4＋5期网状砂质河道发育，西部地区广泛发育平原沼泽煤系沉积。 相似文献
11.
中国现代网状河流沉积特征和沉积模式 总被引：5，自引：0，他引：5
中国境内的许多河流发育有网状河段,从长江、黑龙江、珠江等这样的大型河流到嫩江、赣江等中小型河流都有。依据这些网状河的地理和构造背景的不同,可以把它们划分为:平原网状河流、山谷网状河流、入湖三角洲平原网状河流和入海三角洲平原网状河流四大类型。作者通过实地挖掘探槽、密集采样,对嫩江齐齐哈尔平原网状河段、赣江入湖三角洲平原网状河段、珠江入海三角洲平原网状河段沉积特征进行了详细描述和研究,并建立了网状河的沉积模式,探讨了网状河的成因。认为网状河流体系的发育不受气候和地理位置的限制,低坡降是形成网状河的必要条件,相对稳定的网状河道不同于曲流河和辫状河,湿地环境是网状河流体系中最发育的地貌单元,堤岸植被繁茂、粘结性高是河道稳定的重要因素,与曲流河和辫状河相比,网状河出现的几率较低。 相似文献
12.
Provenance analysis of the Upper Miocene turbidite sand-bodies in deep-sea basin of northern South China Sea 
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下载免费PDF全文 Zhou Jun-Shen Shao Lei Qiao Pei-Jun Cui Yu-Chi Sun Zhen Hou Yuan-Li Yang Yi-Kai 《古地理学报》1999,22(4):775-784
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 367/368 reported massive Upper Miocene deep-sea turbidite in the northern South China Sea basin. The Upper Miocene turbidite sand-bodies at Site U1500 were examined with detrital zircon U-Pb dating to conduct the source-to-sink analysis. This study shows that the U-Pb age spectrums of Site U1500 sample are similar to those detrital zircons from the Miocene Qiongdongnan Basin and the Pearl River Mouth Basin. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot also shows that the turbidite sand-bodies at Site U1500 are closely related to the sediments in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and Qiongdongnan Basin. It is likely that the thick deep-sea turbidite succession in the deep-water basin of northern South China Sea was formed by a mixed provenance pattern during the late Miocene. On the one hand, terrigenous sediments from the west of the South China Sea were transported along the Central Canyon to the eastern South China Sea deep-sea basin in the form of turbidity current. On the other hand, terrigenous sediments were also transported from the Pearl River through the slope canyon system to the northern South China Sea in the form of gravity flow . Those mixed sediments from two different source areas have collectively deposited at the deep-sea basin and thus, give rise to turbidite sequence of hundred meters. Provenance analysis of the thick turbidites sand-bodies in the deep-sea basin is of great significance to the profound understanding of the tectonic evolution, filling processes, provenance evolution, and the palaeogeographic characteristics of the Cenozoic basins of the South China Sea. 相似文献
13.
IODP367/368航次在南海北部深海盆地多个站位发现上中新统厚达数百米的大规模深海浊积岩。采用碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄谱系分析方法对U1500站上中新统浊积砂体进行源汇对比分析。研究结果表明U1500站上中新统浊积岩碎屑锆石年龄谱系与其西侧琼东南盆地和北侧珠江口盆地中新世沉积物特征类似。多维排列分析(MDS)结果也显示,该站位样品与珠江口盆地、琼东南盆地沉积物关系密切,表明南海北部深海盆地内厚达数百米的上中新统浊积砂体为南海北部物源和南海西部物源混合堆积形成。南海西部陆源输入物质以浊流搬运的方式,沿中央峡谷从西到东搬运至南海东部深海盆地;南海北部珠江物源以重力流的形式,经南海北部陆坡峡谷搬运至深海盆地中,两种来源的沉积物在深海盆地发生混合沉积,形成U1500站厚达数百米的浊积砂体。南海北部深海盆地厚层浊积砂体物质来源的准确识别,对深刻理解南海新生代盆地的构造演化、沉积物充填过程、物源演变以及古地理特征均具有重要意义。 相似文献
14.
以珠江口盆地白云凹陷钻井、测井、地震和古生物资料为基础,结合前人研究成果,系统的分析了白云凹陷晚渐新统到早中新统沉积相发育特征及凹陷沉积充填演化过程。研究结果表明,珠海组下部发育大型陆架边缘三角洲沉积,地震反射特征表明该三角洲发育三期;钻遇水下分支河道、支流间湾、河口坝及远砂坝微相,沉积物以富砂为特征,发育冲刷-充填构造、递变层理及较粗的水平潜穴等多种构造;珠海组上部为浅海相,沉积物以海相砂泥岩互层为主,此时期陆架坡折带位于白云凹陷南坡;珠江组沉积时期,海平面升降旋回频繁,陆架坡折带迁至凹陷北坡。随着古珠江流域扩大,沉积物输入量增加,在珠江组下部发育了深水扇,沉积物以细-粗砂岩为主,夹少量粉砂岩及深海泥岩,发育颗粒流、液化流、浊流及碎屑流等四种主要的重力流,钻遇内扇水道,中扇废弃水道及水道间漫溢沉积,外扇深海泥沉积;珠江组上部为半深海相,沉积物以深海泥岩为主。 相似文献
15.
早更新世晚期(加拉米洛亚时开始到松山时结束)，中国东部陆架发生海侵。随着海侵的推进，在南黄海中部出现了较厚的三角洲沉积。在沉积层的垂直序列上，发现了分流河口沙坝、分流河道和分流河口间湾等三角洲前缘沉积亚相的交替。这是一个海侵序列的三角洲层序。在海侵进程中三角洲的进积速率与海水进侵速率基本平衡。南黄海晚松山时古长江三角洲的发现，从一个侧面证明了浙闽隆起带在早期第四纪仍然是继承晚第三纪的一个构造上的隆起及地貌上的屏障，它制约着古长江流向东北方向。 相似文献
16.
R. B. Salama 《Australian Journal of Earth Sciences》2013,60(6):751-765
The Salt River System forms the connection between the saline lakes of the Yilgarn River catchment in the east and the rejuvenated Avon River System in the west. Judging from the age of the deposits in the palaeochannels of the Salt River after the Darling uplift and from the deltaic deposits of the river before the uplift, it appears that the river has been occupying this same course since the Early Tertiary. The uplift dammed the course of the river and caused the formation of large inland lakes. The inland lake at Yenyening persisted for a long time until the opening of the northern outlet of the Avon. This explains the absence of sedimentary deposits from the Avon in the Perth Basin during the closure time. The relatively thick sediments that fill up the palaeochannels comprise three formations of the Salt River Group: South Caroline Clay, Yenyening Formation and Quairading Sandstone. The reconstruction of the palaeoriver showed that the river was occupying a steep gorge about 70 m deep with a slope of about 0.35 m km‐1. 相似文献
17.
红河盆地的化学风化作用:主要和微量元素地球化学记录 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
河流沉积物的元素含量有助于反映其流域的自然风化过程。红河是世界上重要的河流之一,但其沉积物的地球化学研究却几乎没有。本文通过开展红河盆地干流和主要支流40个样品的主要和微量元素地球化学分析,发现红河流域硅酸盐岩的化学风化作用为中等强度,与长江及亚马逊河的风化强度相近,而高于黄河,低于珠江;且化学风化作用受该区域的气候和构造作用控制。 相似文献
18.
现代珠江三角洲地区QZK4孔第四纪沉积年代 总被引：2，自引：2，他引：0
在地质环境变迁迅速的现代珠江三角洲地区,对于第四纪沉积的年代存在多种认识。结合南中国海的海平面变化记录,通过AMS14C和光释光测年发现,珠江三角洲腹地QZK4孔第四纪岩心底部最老年龄约为43.71ka BP。岩心记录的第四纪环境对南中国海海平面变化有着良好的响应:岩心下部陆相河流沉积和暴露风化层发育于末次冰期至早全新世的低海平面时期,上部滨海—河口湾沉积发育于早中全新世以来的高海平面时期。根据钻孔岩心的环境分析,推测现代珠江三角洲地区第四纪的底界可能较本钻孔记录的更老。 相似文献
19.
Anatomy of an avulsion 总被引：12，自引：0，他引：12
NORMAN D. SMITH TIMOTHY A. CROSS† JOSEPH P. DUFFICY STEPHEN R. CLOUGH 《Sedimentology》1989,36(1):1-23
The Cumberland Marshes in east-central Saskatchewan, Canada, occupy over 5000 km2 and contain a variety of active and abandoned fluvial features, including straight to sinuous isolated channels, anastomosed channel systems, levees, and crevasse splays in addition to marshes, lakes and bogs. In 1873, an avulsion of the Saskatchewan River diverted most of its flow into a portion of the Cumberland Marshes (locally termed the breakout area), and altered the alluvial terrain as the invaded wetlands adjusted to the influx of sediment and water. These adjustments continue today, and so far over 500 km2 of wetlands have been affected by the avulsion. Avulsion-controlled modification of the wetlands involves the initiation and evolution of crevasse splays and splay complexes. Three intergradational forms are recognized, each associated with characteristic sand-body geometries. Stage I splays are small, lobate in plan, crossed by unstable distributary channels, and form wedge-shaped sheets which depositionally overlie fine-grained, organic-rich wetland sediments. Stage II splays and splay complexes evolve both spatially and temporally from Stage I splays. They are larger, contain dense networks of anastomosed channels, and form disconnected tabular sand bodies or continuous sand sheets, some of which incise underlying wetland sediments. Stage III splays develop from either Stage I or II splays and contain few but stable anastomosed channels that deposit isolated stringer sands encased in fine-grained floodplain sediments. Although sand bodies deposited by splays comprise important components of the evolving floodplain, various fine-grained facies occurring in levees, shallow lakes, abandoned splay channels, and interchannel floodplains dominate the avulsion deposits. The post-1873 record of deposition and terrain modification in the breakout area suggests four stages of floodplain evolution following avulsion. In the initial avulsion stage, new channels and splay complexes increase in numbers rapidly as diverted discharge of water and sediment overwhelm the adjacent floodbasin. The anastomosed stage is characterized by an approximate balance between rates of new channel and splay development, and abandonment of old ones. This stage continues for as long as new floodplain areas are invaded. The rate of new splay development eventually decreases as accessible floodplain becomes aggraded, forcing a higher rate of channel abandonment and concentration of remaining flow into fewer but larger channels (reversion stage). The result of reversion is eventual return to a single channel stage, completing the avulsive sequence and initiating a new alluvial ridge. For the Saskatchewan River, this final-stage single channel will likely produce a meander belt which occupies only a portion of the more extensive avulsion belt which preceded it. 相似文献
20.
A. G. PLINT 《Sedimentology》1983,30(5):625-653
The Bracklesham Formation is of Middle Eocene age and occurs throughout the Hampshire Basin of southern England. The basin is elongated east-west and filled with Lower Tertiary sediments. Its southern margin is marked by either large, northward-facing monoclines, or faults, both of which underwent differential movement, with uplift of the southern side throughout the Middle Eocene. The Bracklesham Formation, which is up to 240 m thick, shows pronounced lateral facies changes with dominantly marine sediments in the east passing to alluvial sediments in the west. Four principal sedimentary environments: marine, lagoonal, estuarine and alluvial are distinguished. Marine sediments comprise six facies including offshore silty clays and glauconitic silty sands, beach and aeolian dune sands, and flint conglomerates formed on pebble beaches. Offshore sediments predominate in the eastern part of the basin, as far west as Alum Bay, where they are replaced by nearshore sediments. Lagoonal sediments comprise four facies and formed in back-barrier lagoons, coastal marshes and, on occasions, were deposited over much of the basin during periods of low salinity and restricted tidal motion. Five estuarine facies represent tidal channels, channel mouth-bars and abandoned channels. These sediments suggest that much of the Bracklesham Formation was deposited under micro- to meso-tidal conditions. Alluvial sediments dominate the formation to the west of Alum Bay. They comprise coarse to fine sands deposited on the point-bars of meandering rivers, interbedded with thick sequences of laminated interchannel mudstones, deposited in marshes, swamps and lakes. Extensive layers of ball clay were periodically deposited in a lake occupying much of the alluvial basin. In alluvial areas, fault movement exposed Mesozoic rocks along the southern margin of the basin, the erosion of which generated fault-scarp alluvial fan gravels. Locally, pisolitic limestone formed in pools fed by springs emerging at the faulted Chalk-Tertiary contact. In marine areas, flint pebbles were eroded from coastal exposures of chalk and accumulated on pebble beaches and in estuaries. From other evidence it is suggested that older Tertiary sediments were also reworked. The Bracklesham Formation is strongly cyclic and was deposited during five marine transgressions, the effects of which can be recognized throughout the basin in both marine and alluvial areas. Each of the five transgressive cycles is a few tens of metres thick and contains little evidence of intervening major regression. The cycles are thought to represent small-scale eustatic sea-level rises (‘paracycles’) superimposed upon a major transgressive ‘cycle’ that began at the base of the Bracklesham Formation, following a major regression, and was terminated, at the top of the Barton Formation by another major regression. This major cycle can be recognized world-wide and may reflect a period of rapid northward extension of the mid-Atlantic ridge. 相似文献