Aggradation of gravels in tidally influenced fluvial systems: upper Albian (Lower Cretaceous) on the cratonic margin of the North American Western Interior foreland basin

A Chemostratigraphic Model for the Development of Parasequences and Its Application to Sequence Stratigraphy and Paleoceanography, Cretaceous Western Interior Basin, USA

“…Interestingly, Brenner et al (2003) suggested that the long-distance movement of gravel preserved in the late Albian Nishnabotna Member of the Dakota Formation in the central Iowa was directly related to the hydraulic flux and that this flux may have been linked to the climatic cycles. Since obliquity appears to have played a dominant role in sedimentation during the formation of the Cenomanian-Turonian Greenhorn Formation (Sageman et al, 1997), and climatically influenced sedimentation may have occurred during the deposition of the late Albian Nishnabotna Member of the Dakota Formation (Brenner et al, 2003), it seems feasible that the obliquity component of the Milankovitch-scale orbital cyclicity also played a dominant role in controlling the patterns of sedimentation in the Cenomanian nonmarine strata in the KWIB.…”

“…Since obliquity appears to have played a dominant role in sedimentation during the formation of the Cenomanian-Turonian Greenhorn Formation (Sageman et al, 1997), and climatically influenced sedimentation may have occurred during the deposition of the late Albian Nishnabotna Member of the Dakota Formation (Brenner et al, 2003), it seems feasible that the obliquity component of the Milankovitch-scale orbital cyclicity also played a dominant role in controlling the patterns of sedimentation in the Cenomanian nonmarine strata in the KWIB.…”

Sequence stratigraphic controls on synsedimentary cementation and preservation of dinosaur tracks: Example from the lower Cretaceous, (Upper Albian) Dakota Formation, Southeastern Nebraska, U.S.A.

“…Fluctuations in relative base level may have been largely driven by climatic shifts. Brenner et al (2001Brenner et al ( , 2003 presented sedimentological evidence for variable precipitation flux rates on transport of gravel-sized clasts to near base-level within the "Dakota discharge system" of the eastern margin of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway. During a period of relatively steady or constant sea level rise, the grain size of sediments accumulating within different portions of the estuary could have been greatly affected by the amount of fluvial discharge and stream competence.…”

“…During a period of relatively steady or constant sea level rise, the grain size of sediments accumulating within different portions of the estuary could have been greatly affected by the amount of fluvial discharge and stream competence. Brenner et al (2000Brenner et al ( , 2001Brenner et al ( , 2003 surmised that coarser-grained sediments were transported farther into the estuary during wetter, high discharge periods and were, conversely, trapped higher in the drainage system during drier, low discharge periods. Furthermore, Brenner et al (2003) concluded that, within the Nishnabotna Member of the Dakota Formation, transgressive systems tract sediments are represented by sandstones and conglomerates, which are overlain by estuarine or marine mudrocks.…”

“…Brenner et al (2000Brenner et al ( , 2001Brenner et al ( , 2003 surmised that coarser-grained sediments were transported farther into the estuary during wetter, high discharge periods and were, conversely, trapped higher in the drainage system during drier, low discharge periods. Furthermore, Brenner et al (2003) concluded that, within the Nishnabotna Member of the Dakota Formation, transgressive systems tract sediments are represented by sandstones and conglomerates, which are overlain by estuarine or marine mudrocks. Climatic control of sediment transport affects the amount of overall accommodation space within the basin and leads to stratigraphic stacking patterns that are indicative of minor relative sea level fluctuation.…”