Late Cenozoic fluvial successions in northern and western India: an overview and synthesis

Late Cenozoic fluvial successions are widespread in India. They include the deposits of the Siwalik basin which represent the accumulations of the ancient river systems of the Himalayan foreland basin. Palaeomagnetic studies reveal that fluvial architecture and styles of deposition were controlled by Himalayan tectonics as well as by major climatic fluctuations during the long (∼13 Ma) span of formation. The Indo-Gangetic plains form the world's most extensive Quaternary alluvial plains, and display spatially variable controls on sedimentation: Himalayan tectonics in the frontal parts, climate in the middle reaches, and eustasy in the lower reaches close to the Ganga–Brahmaputra delta. Climatic effects were mediated by strong fluctuations in the SW Indian Monsoon, and Himalayan rivers occupy deep valleys in the western Ganga plains where stream power is high, cut in part during early Holocene monsoon intensification; the broad interfluves record the simultaneous aggradation of plains-fed rivers since ∼100 ka. The eastward increase in precipitation across the Ganga Plains results in rivers with low stream power and a very high sediment flux, resulting in an aggradational mode and little incision. The river deposits of semi-arid to arid western India form important archives of Quaternary climate change through their intercalation with the eolian deposits of the Thar Desert. Although the synthesis documents strong variability—both spatial and temporal—in fluvial stratigraphy, climatic events such as the decline in precipitation during the Last Glacial Maximum and monsoon intensification in the early Holocene have influenced fluvial dynamics throughout the region.     

Clay-mineral distribution patterns in late Neogene fluvial sediments of the Subathu sub-basin,central sector of Himalayan foreland basin: implications for provenance and climate

The late Neogene (6–0.5 Ma) fluvial succession of the Subathu sub-basin, a part of the Himalayan foreland basin, comprises a 2.4-km-thick pile of conglomerate, grey and buff sandstone, and mudstone, representing Middle and Upper Siwalik subgroup. This basin is filled mainly by major trunk and piedmont drainage, which are nearly perpendicular to each other. The clay-mineral assemblages of this sedimentary succession have illite (7–82%), smectite (0–90%), chlorite (2–23%) and kaolinite (1–13%). The grey sandstones have moderate to abundant smectite (23–90%), whereas the buff sandstones have abundant illite (66–79%) and low to absent smectite (0–14%). The mudstones that dominates the succession (>50%) have clay-mineral assemblages similar to grey and buff sandstones, or intermediate proportion. The temporal distribution of clay minerals in mudstones shows occasional intense zigzag pattern with either smectite (3–81%) or illite (15–82%) abundance.The smectite-rich grey sandstones and mudstones are deposited by trunk drainage, and the illite-rich buff sandstones and mudstones are deposited by piedmont drainage. The intense zigzag distribution pattern of clay minerals in mudstone indicates interfingering of floods from trunk and piedmont drainages. The interfingering was severe, ranging between 4.8 and 3.36 Ma and between 2.60 and 1.77 Ma, related to tectonic activity. The association of smectite (>36%) bearing mudstones and piedmont source-derived buff sandstone and conglomerate towards the upper part of the section (above 1.77 Ma) suggests either floodwater of trunk drainage over spill on the fringe of piedmont alluvial fan or derivation from smectite bearing Middle Siwalik rocks, exposed due to the activity of an intra-foreland thrust (IFT) in the piedmont zone. The occurrence of smectite and its variable proportion with time suggests its probable derivation not only from the sparsely exposed basic rock in the catchment area but also from siliceous and metamorphic rocks under favourable climatic conditions between 6 and 0.5 Ma.     

Clay Minerals in Soils as Evidence of Holocene Climatic Change, Central Indo-Gangetic Plains, North-Central India

Clay mineral assemblages of a soil chrono-association comprising five fluvial surface members (QGH1 to QGH5) of the Indo-Gangetic Plains between the Ramganga and Rapti rivers, north-central India, demonstrate that pedogenic interstratified smectite–kaolin (Sm/K) can be considered as a potential indicator for paleoclimatic changes during the Holocene from arid to humid climates. On the basis of available radiocarbon dates, thermoluminescence dates, and historical evidence, tentative ages assigned to QGH1 to QGH5 are <500 yr B.P., >500 yr B.P., >2500 yr B.P., 8000 TL yr B.P., and 13,500 TL yr B.P., respectively. During pedogenesis two major regional climatic cycles are recorded: relatively arid climates between 10,000–6500 yr B.P. and 3800–? yr B.P. were punctuated by a warm and humid climate. Biotite weathered to trioctahedral vermiculite and smectite in the soils during arid conditions, and smectite was unstable and transformed to Sm/K during the warm and humid climatic phase (7400–4150 cal yr B.P.). When the humid climate terminated, vermiculite, smectite, and Sm/K were preserved to the present day. The study suggests that during the development of soils in the Holocene in alluvium of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, climatic fluctuations appear to be more important than realized hitherto. The soils older than 2500 yr B.P. are relict paleosols, but they are polygenetic because of their subsequent alterations.     

华北临汾盆地中部柴庄上新世-更新世剖面沉积学特征及其构造意义

临汾盆地位于华北克拉通汾渭地堑系中南部,是典型的受控于北东-南西向和近东西向正断层的晚新生代断陷盆地。沉积相、古水流和重矿物综合分析表明,盆地中部的柴庄新生界剖面除顶部的风成黄土之外,可以划分为3个岩性段,分别具有不同的物源,反映了不同时期的构造背景。第一岩性段为上新统（5.0~2.6 Ma）,冲积扇和风成红黏土沉积,冲积扇碎屑物源为盆地周缘的灰岩等沉积岩类;第二岩性段为更新统下部（2.6~1.0 Ma）,三角洲相沉积,沉积物来自盆地南缘中条山北部和东缘太行山西部的太古宇-下元古界的花岗片麻岩和片麻岩、上元古界-古生界的碳酸盐岩、中生界的陆源碎屑岩及少量不同时代的花岗岩;第三段为更新统中上部（ < 1.0 Ma）,河流相沉积,主要物源为盆地北东缘太行山的花岗岩类、少量沉积岩和变质岩。结合区域应力演化过程认为,距今5.0~2.6 Ma期间,受北西-南东向伸展作用影响,北东-南西向正断层为盆地的主控断层;距今2.6~1.0 Ma时期,主要受到北东-南西伸展应力的影响,近东西向断层开始活动;距今1.0 Ma以来,沉积环境由三角洲和湖泊相转为河流相沉积,指示盆地发育的减弱,可能与后一期伸展应力的减弱有关。上述结果表明,受青藏高原向北东扩展的影响,汾渭地堑系至少经历了中新世晚期-上新世早期（>5 Ma）、2.6 Ma和1.0 Ma等主要构造转换时代。      

A grain size model for role of tectonics and climate on sedimentation in Siwaliks in Mohand area

The physical characteristics of sedimentary record are governed largely by grain size distribution in Mohand area where Middle and Upper Siwalik successions are investigated to characterize the sediments deposited in response to the prevailing tectonic activities and climatic conditions. Here we show with the help of cluster analysis that precipitation and tectonic perturbations generate characteristic patterns of grain sizes and stratigraphic succession. Previous studies suggested an increase in precipitation represented by the abrupt accumulation of sediments to foreland Siwalik basin around 11 to 10 Ma. First appearance of diagnostic minerals of the Great Himalayan complex in Siwalik sediments at 9.2 Ma implies the accelerated erosion of Himalaya during Middle to Late Miocene. The response of sedimentation to tectonic activity is resulted by the presence of coarse grained gravel units in Siwalik succession of Mohand area. Apatite fission-track dates and muscovite cooling ages confirm the strong activity on boundary thrusts during 8-6 Ma. Although the responses are non-linear and transient, we clusterize these non-linear responses to tectonics and climate and quantify them to find out the role of tectonics and climate in architecture of sedimentary succession.     

Stratigraphic evolution of a fluvial–eolian succession: The example of the Upper Jurassic—Lower Cretaceous Guará and Botucatu formations, Paraná Basin, Southernmost Brazil

The Guará and Botucatu formations comprise an 80 to 120 m thick continental succession that crops out on the western portion of the Rio Grande do Sul State (Southernmost Brazil). The Guará Formation (Upper Jurassic) displays a well-defined facies shift along its outcrop belt. On its northern portion it is characterised by coarse-grained to conglomeratic sandstones with trough and planar cross-bedding, as well as low-angle lamination, which are interpreted to represent braided river deposits. Southwards these fluvial facies thin out and interfinger with fine- to medium-grained sandstones with large-scale cross-stratification and horizontal lamination, interpreted as eolian dune and eolian sand sheets deposits, respectively. The Botucatu Formation is characterised by large-scale cross-strata formed by successive climbing of eolian dunes, without interdune and/or fluvial accumulation (dry eolian system). The contact between the Guará and the Botucatu formations is delineated by a basin-wide deflation surface (supersurface). The abrupt change in the depositional conditions that took place across this supersurface suggests a major climate change, from semi-arid (Upper Jurassic) to hyper-arid (Lower Cretaceous) conditions. A rearrangement of the Paraná Basin depocenters is contemporaneous to this climate change, which seems to have changed from a more restrict accumulation area in the Guará Formation to a wider sedimentary context in the Botucatu Formation.     

西藏西南部札达盆地新近纪沉积序列研究

札达盆地为一个藏南晚新生代断陷盆地,基于岩性岩相、古流向和物源分析,认为札达盆地主要经历了裂陷充填期(9.2~7.8 Ma),稳定发展期(7.8~2.6 Ma)和裂后消亡期(2.6~1.7 Ma)。沉积相主要有辫状河相、淡水湖泊相和冲积扇相,以湖相为主;古流向由南西向转变为盆地周缘指向湖盆中心,发展到最后为南东向;物源主要来自北侧的阿伊拉日居山地区,古地势由北东高南西低,经差异抬升变为北西高南东低,沉积中心位于湖盆南缘。至约1.7 Ma之后,贡巴砾岩的出现代表了札达盆地的消亡。札达盆地的演化表明藏南裂陷盆地经历了拉张形成、湖盆最大化而后快速消亡的过程,揭示了藏南在获得最大高度后进一步构造伸展垮塌的演变历程。
      

Depositional environment and provenance of Middle Siwalik sediments in Tista valley,Darjiling District,Eastern Himalaya,India

The frontal part of the active, wedge-shaped Indo-Eurasian collision boundary is defined by the Himalayan fold-and-thrust belt whose foreland basin accumulated sediments that eventually became part of the thrust belt and is presently exposed as the sedimentary rocks of the Siwalik Group. The rocks of the Siwalik Group have been extensively studied in the western and Nepal Himalaya and have been divided into the Lower, Middle and Upper Subgroups. In the Darjiling–Sikkim Himalaya, the Upper Siwalik sequence is not exposed and the Middle Siwalik Subgroup exposed in the Tista river valley of Darjiling Himalaya preserves a ~325 m thick sequence of sandstone, conglomerate and shale. The Middle Siwalik section has been repeated by a number of north dipping thrusts. The sedimentary facies and facies associations within the lithostratigraphic column of the Middle Siwalik rocks show temporal repetition of sedimentary facies associations suggesting oscillation between proximal-, mid- and distal fan setups within a palaeo-alluvial fan depositional environment similar to the depositional setup of the Siwalik sediments in other parts of the Himalaya. These oscillations are probably due to a combination of foreland-ward movement of Himalayan thrusts, climatic variations and mountain-ward shift of fan-apex due to erosion. The Middle Siwalik sediments were derived from Higher- and Lesser Himalayan rocks. Mineral characteristics and modal analysis suggest that sedimentation occurred in humid climatic conditions similar to the moist humid climate of the present day Eastern Himalaya.     

柴达木盆地北缘结绿素-红山地区古新统至中新统沉积相

根据柴达木盆地北缘露头剖面、钻井剖面的地层学和岩石学研究所取得的各种定量及定性资料,采用冯增昭教授倡导的单因素分析多因素综合作图法,编制了柴达木盆地北缘结绿素—红山地区古新统—始新统、渐新统和中新统的各种单因素图和沉积相图。这是首次将定量的沉积相研究方法应用于柴达木盆地的古新统至中新统。结绿素—红山地区古新统至中新统发育2种沉积相类型,即冲积扇和辫状河。其中辫状河可划分为砾质辫状河和砂质辫状河。古新世—始新世发育冲积扇—辫状河—湖泊沉积体系,渐新世—中新世发育辫状河—湖泊沉积体系。从古新世到中新世,柴达木盆地北缘经历了由大规模冲积扇沉积到辫状河沉积的演化过程。     

冲积-河流相层序地层模式--以济阳坳陷新近系为例

从层序边界分析人手，对层序类型体系域类型等进行了研究，认为冲积-河流相地层体系域划分具4分性，即发育有低位体系域、扩张体系域、高位体系域，当基准面缓慢下降时，还可发育收缩体系域．同时，根据济阳坳陷新近系沉积特征，指出各体系域对应的沉积体系及相类型，认为低位体系域以侵蚀下切、冲积扇．辫状河沉积为主；扩张体系域由辫状河向曲流河过渡；高位体系域时期以曲流河为主．其次，根据构造演化、古气候变化、古地形等研究认为，尽管新近纪济阳坳陷进入坳陷发育时期，断裂活动明显减弱，但是构造运动对层序发育仍有一定影响；根据古气候分析认为，新近纪经历了北亚热带温湿气候，中亚热带温湿气候，北亚热带干旱气候等阶段．这种气候变化导致了馆陶组沉积早、中期河流纵横交错，辫状河道发育，馆陶组沉积后期逐渐向曲流河过渡；明化镇组沉积期河道相对不发育．由古地形及物源供给分析，认为古地形差异的变化与物源供给对济阳坳陷新近系层序发育、层序样式等有一定程度影响．     

Hydrogeological typologies of the Indo-Gangetic basin alluvial aquifer,South Asia

The Indo-Gangetic aquifer is one of the world’s most important transboundary water resources, and the most heavily exploited aquifer in the world. To better understand the aquifer system, typologies have been characterized for the aquifer, which integrate existing datasets across the Indo-Gangetic catchment basin at a transboundary scale for the first time, and provide an alternative conceptualization of this aquifer system. Traditionally considered and mapped as a single homogenous aquifer of comparable aquifer properties and groundwater resource at a transboundary scale, the typologies illuminate significant spatial differences in recharge, permeability, storage, and groundwater chemistry across the aquifer system at this transboundary scale. These changes are shown to be systematic, concurrent with large-scale changes in sedimentology of the Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial aquifer, climate, and recent irrigation practices. Seven typologies of the aquifer are presented, each having a distinct set of challenges and opportunities for groundwater development and a different resilience to abstraction and climate change. The seven typologies are: (1) the piedmont margin, (2) the Upper Indus and Upper-Mid Ganges, (3) the Lower Ganges and Mid Brahmaputra, (4) the fluvially influenced deltaic area of the Bengal Basin, (5) the Middle Indus and Upper Ganges, (6) the Lower Indus, and (7) the marine-influenced deltaic areas.     

Transition from foreland- to piggyback-basin deposition, Plio-Pleistocene Upper Siwalik Group, Shinghar Range, NW Pakistan

Plio-Pleistocene synorogenic deposits of the Upper Siwalik Group in the Shinghar Range (Trans-Indus Salt Ranges) of north-western Pakistan record the transition from foreland-basin to piggyback-basin deposition on the hangingwall of the Salt Range thrust. The Siwalik and Upper Siwalik Groups are over 4 km thick in the Shinghar Range. The lower 3 km consists of the Miocene Siwalik Group, which was deposited by a south-flowing foreland trunk stream, the palaeo-Indus River. The upper 1·5 km consists of the Upper Siwalik Group, which is herein divided into three members. The lowest member includes deposits of the south-flowing palaeo-Indus River and is distinguished from the underlying Siwalik Group by the first appearance of conglomerate. The transition from the lower member to the middle member is interpreted as recording uplift on the Salt Range thrust. As the Salt Range thrust was active, the palaeo-Indus River was bifurcated to the east and west around the embryonic Shinghar Range and overbank and lacustrine deposition occurred, represented by the middle member. When the Shinghar Range achieved significant topography, the upper member was deposited by streams transporting gravel and sand that flowed north and west out of the range and into a piggyback basin that formed on the hangingwall of the Salt Range thrust. New and previously published palaeomagnetic stratigraphy and fission-track ages from volcaniclastic deposits within the Upper Siwalik Group provide tight constraints on the chronology of sedimentary-facies transitions and timing of uplift of the Shinghar Range. The integration of sedimentological and geochronological data indicates that motion on the Salt Range thrust and repositioning of the Indus River began at ～1·0 Ma.     

Neotectonic study along mountain front of northeast Himalaya,Arunachal Pradesh,India

To study neotectonics, the structural and morphotectonic aspects are studied along a part of mountain front region of Northeast Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Unpaired river terraces are recognized near north of transverse Burai River exit, which is cut by an oblique fault. Across this fault, fluvial terraces are located at heights of 22.7 and 3 m, respectively, on the left and right banks. A water gap is formed along the river channel where the uplifted Middle Siwalik sandstone beds dipping 43° towards ENE direction, thrust over the Quaternary deposit consisting of boulders, cobbles, pebbles and sandy matrix. This river channel incised the bedrock across the intraformational Ramghat Thrust along which the rocks of the Middle Siwalik Formation thrust over the Upper Siwalik Formation. Recent reactivated fault activity is suggested north of the Himalayan Frontal Thrust that forms the youngest deforming front of the Himalaya. The uplifting along the stream channel is noticed extended for a distance of ~130 m and as a result the alluvial river channel became a bedrock river. The relative displacement of rocks is variable along the length of strike–slip faults developed later within the Ramghat Thrust zone. Longitudinal and Channel gradient profiles of Burai River exhibit knick points and increase in river gradient along the tapering ends of the profiles. The study suggests active out-of-sequence neotectonically active thrusting along the mountain front. Neotectonics combined with climatic factor during the Holocene times presents a virgin landscape environment for studying tectonic geomorphology.     

Proterozoic fluvial styles: response to changes in accommodation space (Rivieradal sandstones, eastern North Greenland)

Fluvial styles recorded by the uppermost part of the Neoproterozoic ‘Rivieradal sandstones' succession of eastern North Greenland reflect variations in rate of generated accommodation space and possibly climatic changes. Three facies associations, arranged in two genetic sequences, are recognised within the succession. The lower sequence initially records little available accommodation space. A high degree of reworking results in sheet-like, high-energy, bed-load-dominated, braided river deposits lacking recurrent facies patterns. As accommodation space increases upwards through the sequence, reduction in reworking is recorded by the development of fining- and thickening-upward muddy fluvial cycles. Evidence of desiccation or prolonged periods of drought are absent within the deposits and climate was probably relatively humid. Channel deposits in the lower sequence reflect mixed-load, braided fluvial systems with stable channel banks and floodplains, and the gradient appears to have been low to moderate. These features are generally considered favourable for the establishment of meandering river systems, but channels, nevertheless, retained an overall braided character and their deposits show no evidence of meandering. Despite indications of a climatic setting without significant periods of drought sediments indicate that large fluctuations in discharge occurred within the mixed-load streams and this is suggested to be the main cause for the absence of meandering. The swift and rather dramatic response of the fluvial systems to changes in precipitation, probably resulted from rapid runoff rates caused by the absence of vegetation. The upper sequence shows an initial return to shallow, sandy braided river deposition recording little available accommodation space. A subsequent increase in the rate of generated accommodation space is indicated by the presence of alternating sheet sandstones and sand-streaked mudstones with abundant desiccation cracks. The sheet sandstones show evidence of high-energy, unconfined ephemeral fluvial flash-flood deposition, while the mudstones are interpreted to represent muddy floodplain deposits. The change in fluvial style, combined with the widespread evidence of desiccation, suggest an evolution towards a more semi-arid climate in the upper sequence. This climatic change could account for the reduced clastic input seen in the overlying marine succession which culminated in carbonate platform deposition. The present study suggests that even under conditions considered favourable for the formation of meandering streams, these will rarely occur in Proterozoic deposits due to the lacking influence of vegetation. Although meandering deposits cannot be ruled out as having formed in pre-vegetational times, the conditions for their formation appear to have been even more restricted than previously realised.     

Intra- and extrabasinal controls on fluvial deposition in the Miocene Indo-Gangetic foreland basin, northern Pakistan

The Miocene Siwalik Group (upsection, the Chinji, Nagri, and Dhok Pathan Formations) in northern Pakistan records evolving fluvial systems within the Himalayan foreland basin. Sedimentological variations are evaluated with respect to local, regional, and global controls on fluvial deposition and basin filling. Thick (5 m to tens of metres) sandstones are composed of channel bar and fill deposits of low-sinuosity, meandering and braided rivers which formed large, low-gradient sediment fans (or ‘megafans'). River flow was dominantly toward the south-east. The proportion of thick sandstones varies in all Siwalik sections on three scales, and reflects similar variations in palaeochannel size and grain size: (1) small-scale variations are generally tens of metres thick, and reflect the alternation of thick sandstones (channel-belt deposits) and mudstone-dominated strata (overbank deposits) through the section; (2) medium-scale variations are roughly one-hundred to a few hundreds of metres thick, and primarily correspond to changes in channel-deposit thickness, but also to the degree of superposition of channel deposits and/or to changes in the number of channel-belt deposits per unit of section; and (3) large-scale variations (formation-scale) are greater than one km thick, and primarily correspond to changes in channel-deposit thickness. Time-scales of small-, medium-, and large-scale variations appear to be on the order of 10⁴, 10⁵ and 10⁶ years, respectively. The Chinji-Nagri transition is characterized by increases in channel-deposit proportion, sandstone thickness, palaeochannel size and discharge, mean grain size of sandstones, and sediment accumulation rates; and a decrease in avulsion period. The Nagri-Dhok Pathan transition is characterized by decreases in channel-deposit proportion, sandstone thickness, palaeochannel size and discharge, mean grain size of sandstones, and avulsion period; and a further increase in sediment accumulation rates. Formation boundaries across the Potwar Plateau decrease in age toward the west. The Chinji-Nagri transition ranges in age from ～ 10·9–12·7 Ma, and the Nagri-Dhok Pathan transition ranges in age from ～9·3–10·1 Ma. Small-scale variations are attributable to repeated river avulsions triggered by autocyclic processes and/or mountain-front tectonism (e.g. faulting, earthquakes). Medium-scale variations are attributable to local changes in the position of large sediment fans, also triggered by autocyclic processes and/or mountain-front tectonism. The Chinji-Nagri transition records the diversion or establishment (possibly due to river piracy) of a larger river system in the area. River diversion or piracy probably took place within the mountain belt and is attributable to increasing and spatially variable mountain-belt uplift rates, and possibly the development of associated mountain-front deformational structures. The Nagri-Dhok Pathan transition records the diversion of the larger river system out of the area and the establishment of a smaller river system. This diversion is attributable to progressively increasing rates of mountain-belt uplift and basin subsidence. The regional palaeoclimate throughout the time interval studied was apparently constant, and eustatic sea level changes apparently had no effect on deposition in the area.     

河型转化研究进展综述

河型研究是河流动力学及河流工程学中的一个基本问题,也是沉积学家判别地下不同成因砂体的一个关键问题。目前河型的分类大都基于河流的平面形态,而这一分类受到了越来越多的质疑,并提出了一些新的分类方案,许多研究者注意到河型并不是离散的,存在一系列连续变化的河型,同时,顺直河、曲流河以及辫状河这些常见的河型之间可能发生突变,河型转化是当前国际河流学界研究的前缘和薄弱环节。本文通过综述河型转化在现代沉积、模拟实验、露头以及地震四个方面的研究进展,认为河型转化主要受到构造作用、沉积物供给、气候条件和海(湖)平面变化四大因素控制,其中前三个因素对于古河型的演化至关重要。在上述因素的影响下,一条河流从上游往下游,往往具有由辫状河→低弯度曲流河→高弯度曲流河→网状河的演化规律。但是河流的位置并不是决定上述变化的主要因素,只要符合条件,即构造作用、沉积物供给及气候等因素发生重大变化的情况下,河型就可能发生转化。然而,河型转化的研究成果尚未引起石油地质学家们的足够重视,并没有被充分的应用到古代河流的解释中去,这将是今后的一个重点研究方向。     

Geomorphic positioning and depositional dynamics of river systems in Lower Siwalik basin,Kumaun Himalaya

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of river systems in the Lower Siwalik sequence has enabled characterization of channel patterns, river metamorphosis and resulting sandstone body evolution in time and space. Processes related six lithofacies repeat to generate 8–10 m thick multistoried sandstone complexes deposited in perennial channel belts. Based on lateral mapping of the sandstone bodies, the surfaces of genetic significance ranging from 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th order, suggest presence of meandering, braided and anastomosing river patterns that were responsible for the Lower Siwalik sedimentation. Variation in local base-level in response to allogenic factors including climate and tectonics forced river systems to acquire different patterns. Eustasy seems to control large-scale basin level changes. Quantitatively reconstructed morphological parameters and their comparison with modern and ancient analogues, supported by other independent evidences such as stratigraphical position of sandstone bodies in vertically measured columns and mineralogical characteristics of channel sandstones, enabled to decipher the geomorphic positioning of the Lower Siwalik channels in distal parts of megafan and interfluve areas within the foreland basin setting.     

河流沉积学研究热点与进展--第11届国际河流沉积学大会综述

第11届国际河流沉积学大会于2017年7月17日-21日在加拿大卡尔加里大学举行,每四年举行一次的国际河流沉积学学术会议,吸引了当今北美、欧洲、澳洲及亚洲从事河流沉积学及相关学科研究的众多知名学者参会,研究成果充分体现了当前国际河流沉积学研究取得的重要进展和发展方向。重要进展有:1）河流动力学及其变化过程研究。其中包括将今论古法论现代河流沉积过程与古老地层对比,河道-洪泛平原体系的越岸复合沉积动力学,河流动力学与变化过程研究展望,恢复河道迁移过程:新一代平面图演化模式的讨论,冲积河流和基岩河流的湍流、颗粒间作用和沉积作用;2）陆缘河流。包括河流入海处的地貌动力学与沉积学,河流补给边缘的沉积物搬运、地貌和地层特征,干旱地区河流、冲积扇体系与风的相互作用,植被生长前、无植物生长、或是植被发育区河流的沉积过程研究;3）河流沉积地层及其地下资源。包括源-汇系统,"河流相模式"是否有用的讨论,辫状河、网状河、曲流河概念的厘定等;4）河流地貌变化。包括气候改变、泥泞植被洪泛平原等对河流沉积物通量、河流模式等产生影响,河道中冲积岛屿的演化和稳定河流的蛇曲化,河流环境中沉积物生物作用等。基于上述资料分析,认为河流演化过程从定性向定量化研究,物理模拟与数值模拟技术是河流沉积学研究不可或缺的手段,应用定量建模、数学计算等方法进行精准研究,碎屑锆石U-Pb定年技术是新一代从源到汇研究的重要工具等诸多方面,是我国学者应该重视并开展研究的方向。     

Fluvial and tidal sedimentation in the 3000 Ma Mozaan basin,South Africa

The 3000 Ma Mozaan Group comprises three interacting sedimentary environments: (1) braided alluvial plain, (2) offshore shelf, and (3) tidalites. The predominance of planar cross-bedded sandstones in the fluvial sequence indicates that sedimentation was dominated by southerly accreting transverse bars in a distal braided river system. However, the development of lenticular conglomerates suggests the occasional formation of longitudinal gravel bars, probably during periods of high discharge. Argillaceous sediments, some of which are ferrugineous represent an interplay between clastic sedimentation and chemical precipitation on a prograding shelf. The abnormal thickness of these shelf deposits is attributed to facies stacking. The absence of barrier beach deposits suggests that the marginal environment was controlled by macrotidal conditions. Two varieties of tidal sequences are recognized. The first, which forms the classic upward-fining succession, contains ubiquitous ebb-dominated paleocurrents and is interpreted as having been influenced by tidal asymmetry. The other, which lacks the mixed flat unit, was apparently generated by tidal currents flowing parallel to the coastline. The nature of the Mozaan sediments suggests at least incipient cratonization in eastern South Africa 3000 Ma ago.     

The Pleistocene climate-controlled fluvial sedimentary record in the Bełchatów mine (central Poland)

Sedimentological analyses of fluvial formations in the Bełchatów mine have yielded results that have more than regional significance. They concern the reaction of rivers to climatic changes in the Pleistocene. Changes in river geometry and their depositional records are examined from two fluvial formations. These formations represent different times, but show similar palaeoenvironmental changes. Cool temperate climate conditions resulted in meandering (or anastomosing) river sedimentation, which was controlled by equalized precipitation and by a well-developed vegetation cover. Cold periglacial climate conditions resulted in braided river sedimentation immediately before the Glacial Maximum, with high discharges and a high sediment load. The palaeoclimatic and palaeohydrologic analyses of the Weichselian fluvial deposits in Bełchatów provide additional information to that from similar studies in Germany and the Netherlands, thus jointly resulting in a consistent palaeogeographic model of western-middle Europe.