Facies model of a fine‐grained, tide‐dominated delta: Lower Dir Abu Lifa Member (Eocene), Western Desert, Egypt

Sedimentology - Tập 60 Số 5 - Trang 1313-1356 - 2013
B. Legler1, Howard D. Johnson1, Gary J. Hampson1, B. Y. G. Massart1, Christopher Jackson1, Matthew D. Jackson1, Ahmed N. El-Barkooky2, Rodmar Ravnås3
1Department of Earth Science and Engineering Imperial College London Prince Consort Road London SW2 7AZ UK
2Department of Geology Cairo University & Shell Egypt 2681 El‐Horreya Cairo Egypt
3Norske Shell Tankvegen 1, 4056 Tananger Norway

Tóm tắt

AbstractExisting facies models of tide‐dominated deltas largely omit fine‐grained, mud‐rich successions. Sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the exceptionally well‐preserved Late Eocene Dir Abu Lifa Member (Western Desert, Egypt) aims to bridge this gap. The succession was deposited in a structurally controlled, shallow, macrotidal embayment and deposition was supplemented by fluvial processes but lacked wave influence. The succession contains two stacked, progradational parasequence sets bounded by regionally extensive flooding surfaces. Within this succession two main genetic elements are identified: non‐channelized tidal bars and tidal channels. Non‐channelized tidal bars comprise coarsening‐upward sandbodies, including large, downcurrent‐dipping accretion surfaces, sometimes capped by palaeosols indicating emergence. Tidal channels are preserved as single‐storey and multilateral bodies filled by: (i) laterally migrating, elongate tidal bars (inclined heterolithic strata, 5 to 25 m thick); (ii) forward‐facing lobate bars (sigmoidal heterolithic strata, up to 10 m thick); (iii) side bars displaying oblique to vertical accretion (4 to 7 m thick); or (iv) vertically‐accreting mud (1 to 4 m thick). Palaeocurrent data show that channels were swept by bidirectional tidal currents and typically were mutually evasive. Along‐strike variability defines a similar large‐scale architecture in both parasequence sets: a deeply scoured channel belt characterized by widespread inclined heterolithic strata is eroded from the parasequence‐set top, and flanked by stacked, non‐channelized tidal bars and smaller channelized bodies. The tide‐dominated delta is characterized by: (i) the regressive stratigraphic context; (ii) net‐progradational stratigraphic architecture within the succession; (iii) the absence of upward deepening trends and tidal ravinement surfaces; and (iv) architectural relations that demonstrate contemporaneous tidal distributary channel infill and tidal bar accretion at the delta front. The detailed facies analysis of this fine‐grained, tide‐dominated deltaic succession expands the range of depositional models available for the evaluation of ancient tidal successions, which are currently biased towards transgressive, valley‐confined estuarine and coarser grained deltaic depositional systems.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1111/j.1365-3091.2009.01091.x

Ahmed S.M., 2001, Contribution to sedimentary nature of Eocene sequence, Fayum, Egypt, Sedimentology Egypt, 9, 27

10.1306/06301010036

Allen J.R.L., 1965, Late Quaternary Niger delta, and adjacent areas: sedimentary environments and lithofacies, AAPG Bull., 49, 547

10.1016/0037-0738(80)90022-6

10.1098/rsta.1982.0089

Allen J.R.L., 1984, Sedimentary Structures: Their Character and Physical Basis

Allen G.P, 1991, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 16, 29

Allen P.A., 1993, Sedimentology of the Upper Marine Molasse of the Rhone‐Alp Region, Eastern France: implications for basin evolution, Eclogae geol. Helvetica, 86, 121

Allen G.P.andChambers J.L.C.(1998)Sedimentation in the modern and Miocene Mahakam Delta.Indonesian Petroleum Association Jakarta 231pp.

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1984.tb00723.x

Allen G.P., 1993, Sequence stratigraphy and facies model of an incised valley fill: the Gironde estuary, France, J. Sed. Petrol., 63, 378

10.1016/S0037-0738(02)00185-9

10.2110/jsr.60.160

Barwis J.H, 1978, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 5, 129

Bhattacharya J.P., 2001, Lowstand deltas in the frontier formation, Wyoming: implications for sequence stratigraphic models, AAPG Bull., 85, 261

Bown T.M., 1988, Geology and paleoenvironment of the Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation and adjacent rocks, Fayum Depression, Egypt, US Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 1452, 1

10.2110/pec.06.84.0171

10.1016/S0012-8252(02)00134-4

10.1016/j.margeo.2004.07.008

10.1306/030804740677

10.5724/gcs.03.23.0639

Curray J.R, 1964, Papers in Marine Geology, 175

Dalrymple R.W, 1992, Facies Models: Response to Sea Level Change, 195

Dalrymple R.W., 1999, Tide‐dominated deltas: do they exist or are they all estuaries?, AAPG, Annual Meeting Expanded Abstracts, A29

10.2110/pec.06.85.0005

10.1016/j.earscirev.2006.10.002

10.1016/S0070-4571(05)80033-0

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1990.tb00624.x

10.1306/D4267A69-2B26-11D7-8648000102C1865D

10.2110/pec.03.76.0147

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1983.tb00681.x

10.2110/pec.87.41.0223

Dolson J. El Barkooky A. Wehr F. Gingerich P.D. Prochazka N.andShann M. (2002)The Eocene and Oligocene Paleo‐Ecology and Paleo‐Geography of Whale Valley and the Fayum Basins: implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Nile Delta and Eco‐Tourism in the Greater Fayum Basin.AAPG fieldguide Search Discovery Article No. 10030.

10.1016/S0928-8937(06)80066-4

10.1016/S1874-5997(97)80007-X

Zarka M.H., 1983, Mode of hydrocarbon generation and prospects of the northern district of the Western Desert of Egypt, J. Afr. Earth Sci., 5, 285

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1974.tb01793.x

10.1144/gsjgs.121.1.0209

10.1016/S0025-3227(98)00049-8

10.1016/S0025-3227(98)00059-0

Filak J‐M. VanLint J. LeGuerroué E. Desgoutte N. Fabre G. Ali F. Ma E. Datt K. Al‐Houti R.andMadhavan S. (2012).3‐D geological modeling of the world's largest siliciclastic reservoirs: Greater Burgan Field Kuwait. AAPG Search and Discovery Article No. 20169 32pp.

10.1111/j.1365-3091.2004.00663.x

Galloway W.E, 1975, Deltas, Models for Exploration, 87

10.1002/9781444304138.ch11

10.2110/jsr.2006.060

Gingerich P.D., 1992, Marine mammals (Cetacea and Sirenia) from the Eocene of Gebel Mokattam and Fayum, Egypt: stratigraphy, age, and paleoenvironments, Univ. Michigan Pap. Paleontol., 30, 1

10.1130/G33046Y.1

10.1016/0278-4343(93)90060-B

10.1016/j.csr.2004.07.017

Hayes M.O, 1975, Estuarine Research, Vol. II Geology and Engineering, 3

Hayes M.O, 1979, Barrier Islands – From the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, 1

Homewood P., 1981, Wave‐, tide‐ and current‐controlled sandbodies of Miocene Molasse, Western Switzerland, AAPG Bull., 65, 2534

10.1130/G25481A.1

10.1023/A:1026236401104

10.1306/11230404036

10.1002/9781444304091.ch2

10.1086/629619

10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.132.01.15

10.1038/318457a0

10.1139/f83-271

10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[2585:ASMFDP]2.0.CO;2

10.2110/pec.98.61.0005

10.1016/S0025-3227(97)00075-3

10.2110/pec.05.83.0413

10.2110/pec.03.76.0109

10.1016/j.sedgeo.2010.03.013

10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2006.12.005

10.1016/j.sedgeo.2012.03.024

10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00193.x

10.1130/0016-7606(1981)92<496:BSADRN>2.0.CO;2

Luterbacher H.‐P., 2004, A Geologic Time Scale 2004, 384

10.2110/jsr.2011.74

10.2110/csp.91.03.0233

Marjanac T., 1997, Dunlin Group sequence stratigraphy in the northern North Sea: a model for Cook sandstone deposition, AAPG Bull., 81, 276

Martinius A.W., 2011, Atlas of sedimentary structures in estuarine and tidally‐influenced river deposits of the Rhine‐Meuse‐Scheldt system, 298

10.2113/50.3.370

10.1144/GSL.SP.2005.252.01.05

Meckel L.D, 1975, Deltas, Models for Exploration, 239

10.1144/GSL.SP.2000.172.01.07

Middleton G.V, 1991, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 16, ix

10.1086/628741

10.1111/j.1365-3091.2009.01082.x

Mutti E., 1985, Excursion Guidebook, 6th European Regional Meeting, 579

Nio S.‐D., 1991, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 16, 3

10.1016/0037-0738(80)90014-7

Oertel G.F., 1972, Sediment transport on estuary entrance shoals and the formation of swash platforms, J. Sed. Petrol., 42, 858

Oertel G.F, 1976, Estuarine Research, Vol. II Geology and Engineering, 267

10.2110/jsr.2006.026

10.1306/11020909072

10.1111/j.1365-3091.2011.01253.x

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1974.tb02056.x

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1993.tb01347.x

Pate R.D., 2009, Delta double‐stack; juxtaposed Holocene and Pleistocene sequences from the Bengal Basin, Bangladesh, Sed. Record, 7, 4, 10.2110/sedred.2009.3.4

10.2110/pec.85.35.0237

Pemberton S.G., 1995, AAPG Mem., 64, 429

10.2110/cor.92.01.0141

10.2110/palo.2008.p08-080r

10.1130/G31068.1

10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00869.x

10.2110/jsr.2009.005

10.1016/j.sedgeo.2009.04.003

10.1007/BF01802319

10.2110/pec.72.02.0146

10.1007/978-3-642-96291-2

Reinson G.E, 1992, Facies Models: Response to Sea‐Level Change, 179

10.1144/1354-079303-614

10.2110/pec.03.76.0125

Robinson A.H.W., 1960, Ebb‐flood channel systems in sandy bays and estuaries, Geography, 45, 183

Said R, 1990, The Geology of Egypt, 734

Salem R., 1976, Evolution of Eocene‐Miocene sedimentation patterns in parts of northern Egypt, AAPG Bull., 60, 34

10.1126/science.1147001

10.1007/s00367-006-0027-1

10.1306/01020807017

Southard J.B., 1990, Bed configurations in steady unidirectional water flows. Part 2. Synthesis of flume data, J. Sed. Petrol., 60, 649

10.2110/pec.03.76.0071

10.1016/0037-0738(75)90015-9

Swift D.J.P., 1972, Shelf Sediment Transport: Process and Pattern, 499

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1995.tb00399.x

10.2110/pec.03.76.0175

10.2110/jsr.2009.096

10.1016/S0037-0738(87)80006-4

10.1046/j.1365-3091.2001.00381.x

10.1016/j.ecss.2005.10.013

10.1130/G31820C.1

10.1017/S0016774600077866

Heerden I.L., 1988, Facies development of Atchafalaya delta, Louisiana: a modern bayhead delta, AAPG Bull., 72, 439

Straaten L.M.J.U, 1976, Benchmark Papers in Geology, 30, 25

Wagoner J.C, 1991, Sequence Stratigraphy Applications to Shelf Sandstone Reservoirs: outcrop to Subsurface Examples, 1

Wagoner J.C., 1990, Siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy in well logs, cores and outcrops, AAPG Methods in Exploration Series, 7, 55

10.1130/0091-7613(1980)8<543:NCRIHS>2.0.CO;2

Vondra C.F., 1974, Upper Eocene transitional and near‐shore marine Qasr el Sagha Formation, Fayum Depression, Egypt, Ann. Geol. Surv. Egypt, 4, 79

Wellner R., 2005, Jet‐plume depositional bodies—The primary building blocks of Wax Lake delta, Trans. Gulf Coast Assoc. Geol. Soc., 55, 867

10.1016/0025-3227(90)90044-K

10.2110/jsr.2010.044

10.2110/pec.05.83.0087

10.1046/j.1365-3091.2001.00363.x

10.1306/090602730246

10.1046/j.1365-3091.1999.00239.x

10.1038/332629a0

10.1111/j.1365-3091.1985.tb00491.x

10.1306/05140403075

10.2110/pec.94.12.0045

10.1016/0899-5362(95)00056-Y