资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

This paper reexamines the late Pleistocene to early Holocene transgressive succession (ca. 19.0-8.0 cal. k.y. B.P.) beneath the modern Changjiang delta plain, one of the world's great rivers, by means of a detailed process-oriented investigation of the sedimentary facies and stratigraphic architecture in two newly drilled cores (ZK01 and ZK02), supplemented by correlation with previous work and comparison with the modern deltaic deposits. Results suggest that the study interval, which has previously been considered to have accumulated in an estuary, instead represents a back-stepping delta. The target succession shows a general fining-and muddier-seaward trend for both the channel-bottom and adjacent tidal-or point-bar sediments, from coarse sand and gravels of the purely fluvial channel, through tide-influenced fluvial-channel deposits dominated by medium to coarse sand, to fine-grained sandy or muddy deposits of the (terminal) distributary channels, and finally to prodeltaic mud; the sand-dominated deposits that characterize transgressive estuary mouths are not present. The prodeltaic and delta-front deposits of the paleo-and modern Changjiang deltas display strong similarities, including the pervasive interbedding of tide-and wave-generated fluid-mud deposits and muddy tidal-bar deposits, which are punctuated by terminal-distributary-channel - facies that are not expected in an estuary. In more detail, three superimposed successions are recognized, each of which displays an upward-shallowing trend indicating a pro-gradational nature, which is also indicated by the presence of seaward-dipping seismic reflectors in the correlative seaward part of this stratigraphic interval. The three successions show an overall retrogressive, fining-upward trend as a result of stepwise transgression like that seen in the Mississippi and Ganges-Brahmaputra River deltas. This architecture indicates that the large sediment supply of the Changjiang was able to keep pace with or exceed the rate of relative sea-level rise at certain times and locations during the later part of the postglacial transgression. We also propose that the maximum flooding surface occurred at ca. 9.0 cal. k.y. B.P., which is earlier than previously thought; this is also a reflection of the high rate of sediment input of the Changjiang, which causes a turnaround from net transgression to net progradation to occur when the rate of sea-level rise is higher. This study shows that we should not just - simply interpret any transgressive succession in an incised valley as estuarine. This study provides significant new insights into the interpretation and sequence-stratigraphic reconstruction of ancient deltaic deposits, and it advances our understanding of the nature of tide-dominated delta successions.