Discussion of alluvial architecture for the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in terms of sedimentological impact of terrestrial vegetation on fluvial sedimentation: A case study at Pu′an section in Yongchuan of Chongqing
Mei Mingxiang, Liu Shaofeng
School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resources，China University of Geosciences（Beijing），Beijing100083
Although there are some different recognitions or controversies，more and more geological facts support that terrestrial vegetation had made obvious impact on fluvial sedimentation，which is chiefly expressed through the protection to riverbank resulted from carbonaceous materials that are preserved in the form of coal or peat and this promoted the development of meandering and anastomosing rivers.The Xujiahe Formation of the Upper Triassic in the Sichuan Basin is marked by a set of alluvial succession with coal seams，which makes up a succession of the molasses with the nature of foreland basin and becomes an example to study the fluvial succession controlled by vegetation.The Xujiahe Formation at the Pu′an section in Yongchuan of Chongqing is mainly composed of a fluvial succession，which can be subdivided into 6 members，i.e.， the fine-grained clastic deposits with coal seams belonging to the low-energy fluvial facies constitute the Members 1，3 and 5，and the sandy bottom-load deposits belonging to the high-energy fluvial facies make up the Members 2，4 and 6.The stratigraphic cyclicity reflected by lithostratigraphic divisions becomes the foundation to sequence-stratigraphic discerning and division;thus，the Xujiahe Formation at the Pu′an section can be grouped into three fluvial third-order depositional sequences. The fluvial sequences of the Xujiahe Formation at the Pu′an section have great significance, which is mainly based on the following two main features: （1）a particular alluvial architecture made up a generally upward-coarsing fluvial sequences that are different from the current model of the fluvial sequence;（2)high-energy channel sandstones that are obviously influenced by the development of vegetation.The observation and study on the fluvial depositional sequences of the Xujiahe Formation at the Pu′an section based on the sedimentological impact of the terrestrial vegetation to fluvial sedimentation will provide an important clue and a thinking approach for the further study on analysis of sedimentary facies of the Xujiahe Formation that is one of the more controversial issues in current stratigraphic research.
About author: Mei Mingxiang，born in 1965，graduated from China University of Geosciences(Beijing)in 1993，and obtained his Ph.D.degree.Now he is a professor at School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resource，China University of Geosciences(Beijing)，and is engaged in sedimentology and stratigraphy.E-mail:meimingxiang@263.net.
Cite this article:
Mei Mingxiang,Liu Shaofeng. Discussion of alluvial architecture for the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in terms of sedimentological impact of terrestrial vegetation on fluvial sedimentation: A case study at Pu′an section in Yongchuan of Chongqing[J]. JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY, 2013, 15(2): 143-154.
Mei Mingxiang,Liu Shaofeng. Discussion of alluvial architecture for the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in terms of sedimentological impact of terrestrial vegetation on fluvial sedimentation: A case study at Pu′an section in Yongchuan of Chongqing[J]. JOPC, 2013, 15(2): 143-154.
陈发景，汪新文，张光亚，等.1996.中国中、新生代前陆盆地的构造特征和地球动力学［J］.地球科学（中国地质大学学报），21(4):366-372.
陈公信，金经炜.1996.湖北省岩石地层［M］.湖北武汉: 中国地质大学出版社，1-284.
陈留勤，霍荣，段凯波，等.2012.川北前陆盆地上三叠统须家河组陆相层序地层［J］.吉林大学学报(地球科学版)，42(3): 600-611.
董卫平.1997.贵州省岩石地层［M］.湖北武汉:中国地质大学出版社，1-306.
辜学达，刘啸虎.1997.四川省岩石地层［M］.湖北武汉: 中国地质大学出版社，1-417.
贵州省地质矿产局.1987.贵州省区域地质志［M］.北京: 地质出版社，1-698.
姜在兴，田继军，陈桂菊，等.2007.川西前陆盆地上三叠统沉积特征［J］.古地理学报，9(2):143-154.
李勇，苏德辰，董顺利，等.2011.晚三叠世龙门山前陆盆地早期(卡尼期)碳酸盐缓坡和海绵礁的淹没过程与动力机制［J］.岩石学报，27(11):3460-3471.
李勇，曾允孚，伊海生.1995.龙门山前陆盆地沉积及构造演化［M］.四川成都:成都科技大学出版社，1-92.
刘和甫，梁惠社，蔡立国，等.1994.四川盆地西部龙门山造山冲断系构造与前陆盆地演化［J］.地质学报，68(2):101-113.
刘少峰，张国伟.2008.东秦岭—大别山及邻区盆—山系统演化与动力学［J］.地质通报，27(12):1943-1960.
刘焕，彭军，李丽娟，等.2012.川西坳陷中段上三叠统须家河组砂岩特征与物源分析［J］.中国地质，39(5):1271-1279.
刘树根，罗志立，戴苏兰，等.1995.龙门山冲断带的隆升与四川盆地西部前陆盆地的沉降［J］.地质学报，69(3):205-214.
梅冥相.2010a.中上扬子印支运动的地层学效应及晚三叠世沉积盆地格局［J］.地学前缘，17(4):99-111.
梅冥相.2010b.从正常海退与强迫型海退的辨别进行层序界面对比: 层序地层学的进展之一［J］.古地理学报，12(5):549-564.
施振生，谢武仁，马石玉，等.2012.四川盆地上三叠统须家河组四段—六段海侵沉积记录［J］.古地理学报，14(5): 583-595.
四川省地质矿产局.1991.四川省区域地质志［M］.北京: 地质出版社，1-730.
王尚彦，张惠，彭成龙，等.2005.贵州西部古—中生代地层及裂隙槽盆的演化［M］.北京: 地质出版社，1-146.
吴熙纯.2009.四川盆地西部北晚三叠世卡尼期硅质海绵礁—鲕滩组合的沉积相分析［J］.古地理学报，11(2):125-142.
吴因业，张天舒，张志杰，等，2010.沉积体系域类型、特征及石油地质学意义［J］.古地理学报，12(1):69-81.
吴应林，朱洪发，朱忠发，等.1994.中国南方三叠纪岩相古地理与成矿作用［M］.北京: 地质出版社，1-143.
夏邦栋，李培军.1996.中国东部扬子板块同华北板块在中—晚三叠世拼接的沉积学证据［J］.沉积学报，14(1):12-21.
曾允乎，李勇.1995.龙门山前陆盆地的形成和演化［J］.矿物岩石，15(1):40-49.
赵小明，童金南，姚华，等.2010.三峡地区印支运动的沉积响应［J］.古地理学报，12(2):177-185.
赵自强，丁启秀.1996.中南区区域地层［M］.湖北武汉: 中国地质大学出版社，1-197.
郑荣才，翟文亮，朱如凯，等.2008.四川盆地西部类前陆盆地晚三叠世须家河期构造演化及层序充填样式［J］.中国地质，35(2):246-255.
郑荣才，戴朝成，朱如凯，等.2009.四川类前陆盆地须家河组层序—岩相古地理特征［J］.地质论评，55(4):484-495.
朱如凯，白斌，刘柳红，等.2011.陆相层序地层学标准化研究和层序岩相古地理: 以四川盆地上三叠统须家河组为例［J］.地学前缘，18(4):131-143.
Adams M M，Bhattacharya J P.2005.No change in fluvial style across asequence boundary，Cretaceous Blackhawk and Castlegate formations of central Utah，USA［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research，75: 1038-1051.
Arnott R W C，Zaitlin B A，Potocki D J.2002.Stratigraphic response to sedimentation in a net-accommodation-limited setting，Lower Cretaceous Basal Quartz，southcentral Alberta［J］.Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology，50(1):92-104.
Ashley G M.1990.Classification of large-scale sub-aqueous bedforms: A new look at an old problem［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology，60: 160-172.
Bridge J S.2006.Fluvial facies models: Recent developments［C］.In: Posamentier H W，Walker R G(eds).Facies Models Revisted.SEPM: Society for Sedimentary Geology，85-170.
Capuzzo N，Wetzel A.2004.Facies and basin architectural of the Late Carboniferous Salvan-Dorénaz continental basin(Western Alps，Switzerland/France)［J］. Sedimentology，51: 675-697.
Catuneanu O.2006.Principles of Sequence Stratigraphy［M］.Amsterdam: Elsevier.1-375.
Catuneanu O，Beaumont C，Waschbusch P.1997.Interplay of static loads and subduction dynamics in foreland basins: Reciprocal stratigraphies and the “missing” peripheral bulge［J］.Geology，12: 1087-1090.
Catuneanu O，Abreu V，Bhattacharya J P， et al. 2009.Towards the standardization of sequence stratigraphy［J］.Earth-Science Reviews，92: 1-33.
Collinson J D.1996.Alluvial Sediments［M］.In: Reading H G(ed).Sedimentary Environments and Facies. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing，37-82.
Davies N S，Gibling M R.2010a.Cambrian to Devonian evolution of alluvial systems: The sedimentological impact of the earliest land plants［J］.Earth-Science Reviews，98: 171-200.
Davies N S，Gibling M R.2010b. Paleozoic vegetation and the Siluro-Devonian rise of fluvial lateral accretion sets［J］.Geology，38: 51-54.
Enos P，Wei Jiayong，Lehrmann D J.1998.Death in Guizhou: Late Triassic drowning of the Yangtze carbonate platform［J］.Sedimentary Geology，118(1-4): 55-76.
Fanti F，Catuneanu O.2010.Fluvial sequence stratigraphy: The Wapiti formation，west-central Alberta，Canada［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research，80: 320-338.
Ghazi S，Mountney N P.2009.Facies and architectural element analysis of a meandering fluvial succession: The Permian Warchha Sandstone，Salt Range，Pakistan［J］.Sedimentary Geology，221: 99-126.
Gibling M R，Tandon S K，Sinha R， et al.2005.Discontinuity-bounded alluvial sequences of the southern Gangetic Plains，India: Aggradation and degradation in response to monsoonal strength［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research， 75: 369-385.
Gradziński R，Baryla J，Doktor M， et al.2003.Vegetation-controlled modern anastomosing system of the upper Narew River(NE Poland)and its sediments［J］.Sedimentary Geology，157: 253-276.
Hajek E A，Heller P L.2012.Flow-depth scaling in alluvial architecture and nonmarine sequence stratigraphy: Example from the Castlegate sandstone，central Utah，USA［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research，82: 121-130.
Hamilton D，Tadros N.1994.Utility of coal seams as genetic stratigraphic sequence boundaries in nonmarine basins: An example from the Gunnedah Basin，Australia［J］.American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin，78: 267-286.
Hjellbakk A.1997.Facies and fluvial architecture of a high-energy braided river: The Upper Proterozoic Seglodden Member，Varanger Peninsula，northern Norway［J］.Sedimentary Geology，114: 131-161.
Holz M，Kalkreuth W，Banerjee Ⅰ.2002.Sequence stratigraphy of paralic coal-bearing strata: An overview［J］.International Journal of Coal Geology，48: 147-179.
Jinnah Z A，Roberts E M.2011.Facies associations，paleoenvironment，and base-level changes in the Upper Cretaceous Wahweap Formation，Utah，USA［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research，81: 266-283.
Leckie D A，Wallace-Dudley K E，Vanbeselaere N A， et al. 2004.Sedimentation in a low-accommodation setting: Nonmarine(Cretaceous)Mannville and marine(Jurassic)Ellis Groups，Manyberries Field，southeastern Alberta［J］.AAPG Bulletin，88: 1391-1418.
Li Zhengxiang，Li Xianhua.2007.Formation of the 1300-km-wide intracontinental orogen and postorogenic magmatic province in Mesozoic South China: A flat-slab subduction model［J］.Geology，35: 179-182.
Mclaurin B T，Steel R J.2007.Architecture and origin of an amalgamated fluvial sheet sand，lower Castlegate Formation，Book Cliffs，Utah［J］.Sedimentary Geology，197: 291-311.
Makaske B.2001.Anastomosing rivers: A review of their classification，origin and sedimentary products［J］.Earth-Science Reviews，53: 149-196.
Martinsen O J，Ryseth A，Helland-Hansen W， et al.1999.Stratigraphic base level and fluvial architecture: Ericson Sandstone(Campanian)，Rock Springs Uplift，SW Wyoming，USA［J］.Sedimentology，46: 235-259.
Miall A D.1996.The Geology of Fluvial Deposits: Sedimentary Facies，Basin Analysis，and Petroleum Geology［M］.New York: Springer-Verlag，1-582.
Olsen T，Steel R，Hgseth K，et al.1995.Sequential architecture in a fluvial succession: Sequence stratigraphy in the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group，Price Canyon，Utah［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research，65: 265-280.
Plint A，McCarthy P，Faccini U.2001.Nonmarine sequence stratigraphy;updip expression of sequence boundaries and systems tracts in a high-resolution framework，Cenomanian Dunvegan Formation，Alberta foreland basin，Canada［J］.American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin，85: 1967-2001.
Roca X，Nadon G C.2007.Tectonic control on the sequence stratigraphy of nonmarine retroarc foreland basin fills: Insights from the Upper Jurassic of central Utah［J］.Journal of Sedimentary Research，77:239-255.
Shanley K，McCabe P.1994.Perspective on the sequence stratigraphy of continental strata［J］.AAPG Bulletin，78: 544-568.
Strong N，Paola C.2008.Valleys that never were: Time surfaces versus stratigraphic surfaces［J］.Journal of Sediment Research，78: 579-593.
Tal M，Paola C.2007.Dynamic single-thread channels maintained by the interaction of flow and vegetation［J］.Geology，35:347-350.
Wright V P，Marriott，S B.1993.The sequence stratigraphy of f luvial depositional systems: The role of f loodplain sediment storage［J］.Sedimentary Geology，86: 203-210.
Zaitlin B A，Warren M J，Potocki D， et al.2002.Depositional styles in a low accommodation foreland setting: An example from the Basal Quartz(Lower Cretaceous)，southern Alberta［J］.Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology，50(1):31-72.
