Subsurface lacustrine storm-seiche depositional model in the Eocene Lijin Sag of the Bohai Bay Basin, East China

摘要

Recent progress in facies analysis helps to discriminate storm-induced deposits based on interpretation of sedimentary records of combination of oscillatory and unidirectional flows. Located in the southeastern corner of the Bohai Bay Basin in East China, the Lijin Sag is a NE-SW trending Cenozoic half-graben basin. Part of its Eocene deposits (Bindong deposits), which are deposited far away from a contemporary shoreline, consists of thin bedded fine-sandstones and siltstones, interlayed with dark-gray mudstones. New data from drilling wells permit an interpretation of the sedimentary fades. Based on seismic data, well log data, core data and thin-section analyses, storm-dominated deposits were recognized. Petrologic analysis shows that these deposits mainly consist of fine sand- to silt-sized lithic arkose. Detailed sedimentological analyses on lithofacies were conducted to address flowtypes dominant during their geneses. The beds are normal graded and contain Bouma-like sequences. The typical and complete sedimentary sequence consists of fining-upwards successions from an erosive base, followed by gravity flow-induced massive or faint laminated bed or soft sediment deformation structures and unidirectional-combined-oscillatory flow induced beddings, which are attributed to storm wave and seiche processes. From proximal to distal in plane, the Bindong storm deposits exhibit different lithofacies associations and sedimentary processes, i.e., the proximal fades is coarser and dominated by gravity flows, unidirectional flows and combined flows, and formed under strong hydrodynamic conditions; the transitional fades is formed under full range of flow regimes exhibiting a complete Bouma-like sequence; while the distal facies is dominated by gravity flows and pure unidirectional flows without influence of waves. During the deposition period of the Bindong deposits, the paleo-environmental characteristics, such as paleogeographic position, paleoclimate, provenance, paleo-water depth and paleotopography, provided an advantageous source and site for the formation of storm deposits. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.