ALBERT

Notes: A carbon isotope stratigraphy from the lowest Cambrian strata in the Adelaide fold belt of South Australia is interpreted in terms of the geological context of the sequence: major transgression, developing circulation patterns and upwelling resulting from an adjacent opening ocean, and biomass increases stemming from the Cambrian radiation event. There is also evidence from the textures of ooids and cements in late Precambrian-Cambrian strata for subtle variations in seawater chemistry across the boundary and these may well have been instrumental in the development of calcareous skeletons in the early metazoans.

Notes: The microfacies of a Lower Cretaceous carbonate drillcore from Oman are characterized using optimizing matrices of Jaccard's similarity coefficients of community. Other than systems tract boundaries, there is no obvious evidence of individual parasequences in the core. However, diagnostic patterns in microfossil distribution identify environmental gradients recording changes in water depth. These gradients are used to define individual parasequences, parasequence sets, stacking patterns and key surfaces. The patterns suggest that deposition was controlled by successive fourth- to fifth-order (high-frequency) relative sea-level cycles superimposed on an underlying third-order relative sea-level rise. Although the correlation of these depositional subunits to systematic changes in water depth and the rate of carbonate accumulation alone is not incontrovertible proof of such a sea-level control, concurrent multiorder relative sea-level cyclicity provides by far the most likely explanation. A microfacies deposited when the water depth was shallowing is characterized by a relay of microfossils with affinities that shallow upwards. Conversely, a microfacies that records a gradual increase in water depth has a relay of microfossils with affinities that deepen upwards. Microfacies characterized by an assemblage of microfossils with similar affinities record deposition when the benthic environmental conditions remained stable, either because of an equilibrium between shallow water carbonate deposition and rising sea level, or in deeper water where sediment composition was relatively insensitive to changes of water depth. Microfacies characterized by mixed affinity assemblages record syndepositional reworking. During periods of embedded multiorder sea-level changes, individual parasequences within systems tracts are shown to record more complex environmental gradients than simply the repetition of successive shallowing-up units as traditionally represented in carbonate sequence stratigraphic models. The microfacies of an individual parasequence may shallow up, or may record both deepening-up and shallowing-up depositional phases, as well as periods of sedimentation when benthic environments remained stable. Individual parasequence boundaries may be submarine or subaerial unconformities, or be conformable, as part of a predictable stratigraphic pattern related to the temporal position of an individual parasequence within the underlying third-order cycle of relative sea-level change. The hitherto ubiquitous use of assemblages to describe carbonate microfacies, coupled with the widespread use of the metre-scale shallowing-up template to identify parasequences, may have led to such complexities previously being overlooked.

Notes: The depositional organization and architecture of the middle–late Devonian Yangdi rimmed carbonate platform margin in the Guilin area of South China were related to oblique, extensional faulting in a strike-slip setting. The platform margin shows two main stages of construction in the late Givetian to Frasnian, with a bioconstructed margin evolving into a sand-shoal system. In the late Givetian, the platform margin was rimmed with microbial buildups composed mainly of cyanobacterial colonies (mostly Renalcis and Epiphyton). These grew upwards and produced an aggradational (locally slightly retrogradational) architecture with steep foreslope clinoforms. Three depositional sequences (S3–S5) are recognized in the upper Givetian strata, which are dominated by extensive microbialites. Metre-scale depositional cyclicity occurs in most facies associations, except in the platform-margin buildups and upper foreslope facies. In the latest Givetian (at the top of sequence S5), relative platform uplift (± subaerial exposure) and associated rapid basin subsidence (probably a block-tilting effect) caused large-scale platform collapse and slope erosion to give local scalloped embayments along the platform margin and the synchronous demise of microbial buildups. Subsequently, sand shoals and banks composed of ooids and peloids and, a little later, stromatoporoid buildups on the palaeohighs, developed along the platform margin, from which abundant loose sediment was transported downslope to form gravity-flow deposits. Another strong tectonic episode caused further platform collapse in the early Frasnian (at the top of sequence S6), leading to large-scale breccia release and the death of the stromatoporoid buildups. Siliceous facies (banded cherts and siliceous shales) were then deposited extensively in the basin centre as a result of the influx of hydrothermal fluids. The platform-margin sand-shoal/bank system, possibly with gullies on the slope, persisted into the latest Frasnian until the restoration of microbial buildups. Four sequences (S6–S9), characterized by abundant sand-shoal deposits on the margin and gravity-flow and hemipelagic deposits on the slope, are distinguished in the Frasnian strata. Smaller-scale depositional cyclicity is evident in all facies associations across the platform–slope–basin transect. The distinctive depositional architecture and evolution of this Yangdi Platform are interpreted as having been controlled mainly by regional tectonics with contributions from eustasy, environmental factors, oceanographic setting, biotic and sedimentary fabrics.

Notes: During the early Middle Devonian in South China, an extensive carbonate platform was broken up through extension to create a complex pattern of platforms, and interplatform basins. In Givetian and Frasnian carbonate successions, five depositional facies, including peritidal, restricted shallow subtidal, semi-restricted subtidal, intermediate subtidal and deep subtidal facies, and 18 lithofacies units are recognized from measured sections on three isolated platforms. These deposits are arranged into metre-scale, upward-shallowing peritidal and subtidal cycles. Nine third-order sequences are identified from changes in cycle stacking patterns, vertical facies changes and the stratigraphic distribution of subaerial exposure indicators. These sequences mostly consist of a lower transgressive part and an upper regressive part. Transgressive packages are dominated by thicker-than-average subtidal cycles, and regressive packages by thinner-than-average peritidal cycles. Sequence boundaries are transitional zones composed of stacked, high-frequency, thinner-than-average cycles with upward-increasing intensity of subaerial exposure, rather than individual, laterally traceable surfaces. These sequences can be further grouped into catch-up and keep-up sequence sets from the long-term (second-order) changes in accommodation and vertical facies changes. Catch-up sequences are characterized by relatively thick cycle packages with a high percentage of intermediate to shallow subtidal facies, and even deep subtidal facies locally within some individual sequences, recording long-term accommodation gain. Keep-up sequences are characterized by relatively thin cycle packages with a high percentage of peritidal facies within sequences, recording long-term accommodation loss. Correlation of long-term accommodation changes expressed by Fischer plots reveals that during the late Givetian to early Frasnian increased accommodation loss on platforms coincided with increased accommodation gain in interplatform basins. This suggests that movement on faults resulted in the relative uplift of platforms and subsidence of interplatform basins. In the early Frasnian, extensive siliceous deposits in most interplatform basins and megabreccias at basin margins correspond to exposure disconformities on platforms.

Notes: The Upper Triassic in South Wales is composed of up to 100 m of red, dolomitic mudstones of the Mercia Mudstone Group which overlie and are laterally equivalent to basin margin coarse clastic deposits. In the Sully Island and Dinas Powys areas, a series of carbonate deposits was laid down within small basins adjacent to the main Bristol Channel Basin. The rocks consist of dolomites containing replaced evaporites, overlain by perilittoral freshwater limestones. The limestones are fenestral intrasparites and contain abundant pedogenic and stromatolitic horizons, as well as locally developed travertines. Evidence for vadose diagenesis within the limestones is common. The travertines consist of sheets of fibrous calcite (flowstone) associated with pisoids and flöe calcite. Most of the travertines consist of single sheets several millimetres in thickness although ‘mounds’up to 1 m in height and 5 m in diameter are also present. The topmost metre of the limestones, which has been dolomitized, is deformed into tepee and megapolygonal structures.The carbon and oxygen stable isotopic composition of the limestones suggests that they were precipitated in low salinity waters. Successive samples from individual bands of flowstone show a covariance of δ18C and δ13C which is consistent with the mixing of resurgent groundwaters with pools of more evolved waters at the surface. The sedimentological and geochemical evidence suggests that the limestones were deposited in a small, enclosed basin fed by upwelling meteoric groundwaters in an environment distinct from that in which the laterally equivalent gypsiferous red mudstones were formed.

Notes: Devonian limestone turbidites from North Cornwall, composed mainly of crinoidal debris, are considered to have been derived from an oceanic rise or schwelle. Large-scale cross-bedding (representing division C) occurs in some limestone bands. The turbidites lack a pelitic division and there is usually a sharp contact with the shales above. Typical flutes are rare but broad grooves and channels are present on the soles.

Notes: Spectacularly developed lower Eocene chert in the Corones platform carbonates of the Spanish Pyrenees is concentrated within a restricted, brackish-water, laminated ostracod-rich facies, which also contains abundant sponge spicules. The chert occurs as nodular, bedded and mottled varieties, and four petrographic types of quartz are developed: microquartz; length-fast (LF) chalcedony; megaquartz; and microspheres. δ18O values of chert range from 29·6‰ to 30·9‰ (SMOW), which correspond to a broad isotope rank common for biogenic and diagenetic replacement cherts. Calcian dolomite crystals with high Fe and Na are disseminated within the microquartz and LF-chalcedony, but are absent from the megaquartz and host carbonate. The chert is closely associated with desiccation cracks and with interstratal dewatering structures. Load casts are silicified, and laminae rich in sponge spicules are convoluted. Early cracks related to dewatering are filled by microquartz and quartz cements. Ostracod shells within chert are locally fractured; those in the host carbonate are commonly flattened. Late fractures are filled by LF-chalcedony and megaquartz. There is much evidence for the dissolution of sponge spicules and their calcitization in the carbonate host rock. Silica for the Corones cherts was derived from sponges during early diagenesis and shallow burial. Early mechanical compaction and sediment dewatering played a major role in sponge spicule dissolution, migration of silica-rich fluids and the consequent precipitation of chert. Quartz cements continued to be precipitated into the burial environment.

Notes: The diagenesis of carbonate platform sediments is controlled by the original facies and mineralogy, climate, sea-level changes and burial history; these controls are clearly seen in the diagenesis of the Urgonian platform carbonates of SE France. Early diagenesis in the Urgonian platform included the precipitation of marine cements, dissolution of rudist shells and minor karstification. Diagenetic features produced during this phase were controlled by several falls in relative sea-level during the Barremian to mid-Aptian punctuating platform sedimentation, the original mineralogy of the sediment and the prevailing semi-arid/arid climate in the region at this time. Following a relative sea-level rise and further sedimentation, progressive burial of the platform led to minor compaction, followed by precipitation of coarse, equant, zoned to non-luminescent, calcite cement. This cement was cut by later stylolites, suggesting a relatively shallow-burial origin. Stable isotope (mean values - 7.94%δ18O and 0.36%δ13C) and trace element (mean values of Fe 334 ppm, Mn 92 ppm and Sr 213 ppm) data suggest that these cements precipitated from meteoric fluids at temperatures slightly elevated relative to depositional temperatures.A variable thickness of replacive dolomite which occurs preferentially within the shelf-margin facies of the lower part of the Urgonian post-dates mechanical fracturing and chemical compaction, but pre-dates the main phase of stylolitization. It is probable that the dolomitizing fluid was sourced by the early compaction-driven release of connate fluids held within the underlying muddy units.The burial history of these rocks suggests that calcite cementation and dolomitization took place at relatively shallow burial depths (1–1.5 km). The overall diagenetic history of the Urgonian Limestone Formation is a reflection of the pre-conditioning of the platform limestones by climate, sea level, tectonics and the shallow burial depths experienced by the platform during the later Mesozoic.