Fluvial to tidal transition zone facies in the McMurray Formation (Christina River, Alberta, Canada), with emphasis on the reflection of flow intensity in bottomset architecture

Martinius, Allard W.; Jablonski, Bryce; Fustic, Milovan; Strobl, Rudy; Berg, Jan H. van den

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-63529-7.00019-5

Cited by 21 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In the study of ancient deposits, the fluvial to marine transition zone or similar terms have been used to describe stratigraphic changes from interpreted marine or tidal to fluvial deposits (Simpson et al ., ; Makhlouf, ; Eriksson et al ., ; Abouessa et al ., ). The term has rarely been applied to interpret down dip changes in time‐equivalent deposits that formed within a well‐defined zone with mixed fluvial and marine energy (van den Berg et al ., ; Martinius & Gowland, ; Martinius & Van den Berg, ; Martinius et al ., ) or to describe the interaction of fluvial and marine processes during deposition (Ghosh et al ., ; Dalrymple et al ., ; Gugliotta et al ., ; Jablonski & Dalrymple, ). Therefore, the understanding of interactions between several processes in the fluvial to marine transition zone and how these are preserved into the rock record is still poorly constrained.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition criteria, characteristics and implications of the fluvial to marine transition zone in ancient deltaic deposits (Lajas Formation, Argentina)

et al. 2016

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The seaward end of modern rivers is characterized by the interactions of marine and fluvial processes, a tract known as the fluvial to marine transition zone, which varies between systems due to the relative strength of these processes. To understand how fluvial and tidal process interactions and the fluvial to marine transition zone are preserved in the rock record, large‐scale outcrops of deltaic deposits of the Middle Jurassic Lajas Formation (Neuquén Basin, Argentina) have been investigated. Fluvial–tidal indicators consist of cyclically distributed carbonaceous drapes in unidirectional, seaward‐oriented cross‐stratifications, which are interpreted as the result of tidal modulation of the fluvial current in the inner part of the fluvial to marine transition zone. Heterolithic deposits with decimetre‐scale interbedding of coarser‐grained and finer‐grained facies with mixed fluvial and tidal affinities are interpreted to indicate fluvial discharge fluctuations (seasonality) and subordinate tidal influence. Many other potential tidal indicators are argued to be the result of fluvial–tidal interactions with overall fluvial dominance or of purely fluvial processes. No purely tidal or tide‐dominated facies were recognized in the studied deposits. Moreover, fluvial–tidal features are found mainly in deposits interpreted as interflood (forming during low river stage) in distal (delta front) or off‐axis (interdistributary) parts of the system. Along major channel axes, the interpreted fluvial to marine transition zone is mainly represented by the fluvial‐dominated section, whereas little or no tide‐dominated section is identified. The system is interpreted to have been hyposynchronous with a poorly developed turbidity maximum. These conditions and the architectural elements described, including major and minor distributary channels, terminal distributary channels, mouth bars and crevasse mouth bars, are consistent with an interpretation of a fluvial‐dominated, tide‐influenced delta system and with an estimated short backwater length and inferred microtidal conditions. The improved identification of process interactions, and their preservation in ancient fluvial to marine transition zones, is fundamental to refining interpretations of ancient deltaic successions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition criteria, characteristics and implications of the fluvial to marine transition zone in ancient deltaic deposits (Lajas Formation, Argentina)

et al. 2016

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“…, 2012; Feldman & Demko, 2015; Martinius et al. , 2015; Jablonski & Dalrymple, 2016), where the planform geometry, and hydraulic initial and boundary conditions, are not well‐constrained. Secondly, it implies that IHS is strongly related to tidal‐processes, and de‐emphasizes the potential importance of fluvial and wind‐wave processes (Smith et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, 2012; Feldman & Demko, 2015; Martinius et al. , 2015; Jablonski & Dalrymple, 2016), but fully‐fluvial McMurray Formation barform depositional models have also been proposed (cf. Moreton & Carter, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alluvial architecture of mid‐channel fluvial–tidal barforms: The mesotidal Lower Columbia River, Oregon/Washington, USA

et al. 2020

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Barforms of mesotidal to macrotidal fluvial-tidal transitions, regardless of fluvial-discharge, are currently thought to display a sedimentary architecture dominated by tidal signatures. Due to the scarcity of observations from modern mesotidal fluvial-tidal transitions, especially those of multi-channelled large-rivers (mean annual discharge ≥7000 m 3 s À1 and peak discharges ≥15 000 m 3 s À1) with mid-channel bars, this concept remains unproven. The present study analyses data produced by a combination of high-resolution ground penetrating radar and coupled shallow vibracores (<5 m depth), collected from modern fluvial-tidal mid-channel bars of the mesotidal multichannelled Lower Columbia River, Washington/Oregon, USA, which can experience peak discharges ≥18 000 m 3 s À1. These data were used alongside time-sequenced aerial imagery to characterize the spatio-temporal sedimentological evolution of these barforms in singular flows or combined flows consisting of river, tidal and/or wind-wave oscillatory, current components operating in unique fluvial-tidal transition regimes. Results indicate that ca 75% of the Lower Columbia River fluvial-tidal transition produces braidbars with basal to bar-top sedimentological architectures that are indistinguishable from fluvial-only braid-bars recorded in the literature. Barform stratal characteristics within the fluvial-tidal transitions of mesotidal largerivers are therefore more likely to be dominated by downstream-oriented currents. Furthermore, a new style of low-angle (<5°) inclined heterolithic stratification found in bar-top accretion-sets within upper-mixed tidal-fluvial

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“…In individual sets the volcaniclastic cross‐strata attain their highest dip angles near the unit base, with a gradual reduction in inclination upward through the unit until they more or less parallel the unit boundaries, suggesting an almost complete preservation of the original bedforms. However, the typical tripartite division of a nearly complete dune deposit consisting of a fine‐grained, ripple‐laminated bottomset followed by high‐angle foresets that pass upward through a distinct brinkpoint to a low‐angle stratified topset (Boersma, 1967; Martinius & Berg, 2011; Martinius et al ., 2015) is not found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Sedimentary structure of inferred cyclic‐step bedforms in submarine volcaniclastic slope deposits, Cuatro Calas, south‐east Spain

Berg

Lang

2021

Sedimentology

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Cyclic steps are widespread on submarine slopes of many modern insular volcanoes. This paper provides the first detailed description and interpretation of the sedimentary structures and depositional architecture of cyclic-step deposits of such bedforms formed on the submarine slope of an ancient volcano. The partially depositional cyclic steps are preserved in a 67 m thick coset of 1 to 12 m thick cobble-based units of middle Miocene submarine volcaniclastics, exposed along a cliff outcrop in south-east Spain. The main structure in the units is unidirectional crude low-angle cross-bedding passing upward to centimetre to decimetre-scale diffuse stratification more or less parallel to the unit bounding surfaces. The depositional architecture produced by inferred sinuous to straight-crested cyclic steps is compared with deposits of crescentshaped cyclic steps formed in confined settings. With a novel method, a maximum cyclic step height and length of 22 m and 460 m, respectively, have been calculated. The architecture of some of the thicker cyclic-step units is complicated by structures that were formed as cyclic-step trough-fills, by superimposed cyclic steps or downstream migrating antidunes. These structures possibly reflect adaptation processes of the bedform morphology to a lower strength of the hydraulic jumps and related density flows. In the upper, less well-exposed part of the succession more steeply inclined gravel backsets that probably represent deposits of crescent-shaped cyclic steps accreted in a more energetic, confined setting proximal to the coastal source of the density flows. A facies model of straight-crested cyclic steps is presented that may aid in the identification of similar bedforms in submarine volcaniclastic environments and comparable non-volcanic settings.

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Fluvial to tidal transition zone facies in the McMurray Formation (Christina River, Alberta, Canada), with emphasis on the reflection of flow intensity in bottomset architecture

Cited by 21 publications

References 48 publications

Recognition criteria, characteristics and implications of the fluvial to marine transition zone in ancient deltaic deposits (Lajas Formation, Argentina)

Recognition criteria, characteristics and implications of the fluvial to marine transition zone in ancient deltaic deposits (Lajas Formation, Argentina)

Alluvial architecture of mid‐channel fluvial–tidal barforms: The mesotidal Lower Columbia River, Oregon/Washington, USA

Sedimentary structure of inferred cyclic‐step bedforms in submarine volcaniclastic slope deposits, Cuatro Calas, south‐east Spain

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