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Basin Clastic Sequence Hierachies
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Sequence Stratigraphy > Basin Clastic Sequence Hierachies
The purpose of this page is to prepare for the chronostratigraphic exercise that follows.
The page is based on a movie of a 3D rendered Sedpak simulation. The simulation
provides the cross sections of the evolving sedimentary geometries. Added to the
simulation output is a interpretive 3D perspective of the depositional surfaces
responding to changes in relative sea level. Without the movie, the information available
is overwhelming. The movie is intended to give a better understanding of the
depositional settings featured in the simulation. The movie shows how and why
sequence stratigraphic interpretative analysis uses the subdividing "surfaces"
enveloping discrete sediment body geometries of the sedimentary section.
The movie was built by first reversing the order of deposition by back-stripping the
geometries from oldest to youngest and then reassembling the sedimentary strata in
order of accumulation. The subdividing surfaces provide the framework to the
lithofacies geometry enabling the interpretation and rebuilding of the evolving character
of depositional setting. The simulation and so movie track how a hypothetical
siliciclastic clastic margin setting would respond to varying rates of shoreline
progradation, sea level, and base level change. So the output is expressed as a series
of block diagrams with a three dimensional perspective and involves sand and shale
deposition.
History of Relative Sea Level
The simulation traces rise in relative sea level, a lowstand of relative sea level, a
transgression of relative sea level, a highstand, a relative fall in sea level, a further rise
of relative sea level, and finally highstand of relative sea level, and a fall of relative sea
level. The sailing boat provides the viewer with a sense of where the elevation of the
sea's surface as a function of time.
Tectonic History
It was assumed that the accommodation available in the basin for the sedimentary fill
was the combined product of a history of subsidence and eustasy. Thus, for this reason,
all the changes in sea level shown on the diagram are relative changes.
Eustatic History
The simulation traces a fall in sea level, lowstand, transgression, highstand, fall, a
further rise in sea level and a final highstand. This can be tracked in the graph to the
right of the simulation and the red triangle tracks the position of the sea. This matches
the movement of the sea surface in the 3D perspective diagram. The sailing boat is
provided to help show the position of the sea's surface.
Sedimentation
The percentage of sand and shale initially coming from the left and finally from the right
is shown on the graphical display to the left. The Sedpak simulation varies the relative
percentage of these sediments as a function of time and this relative amount can be
seen when matched to the position of the sea level (the red triangle). In Sedpak, as in
nature, the carbonates accumulate more rapidly in shallow water and more slowly as
the water depth increases. Carbonate rates tend to be higher where the rates of clastic
input are low and slow to zero where the clastic inputs are high.
The Simulation
Initial LST: Note that at the beginning of the movie the sea level is falling and at first
sediment is coming from incised valleys to form deepwater fans.
In the second half of the LST the sea level fall slows and the sea level position relative to
water bottom enables shallow water conditions to exist. At this time shallow water
carbonates are able to form and this initiates the progradation of a carbonate margin
through the remaining LST while clastics dominate the lagoon to the lea of this margin.
Initial Transgression: the LST terminates with an increase in clastic influx. This influx is
 inferred to cause retardation of carbonate growth in the lagoon, presumably in
response to an increase in nutrients. However the carbonates of the margin, now
distant from the clastic source, are able to KEEP UP with sea level rise. The base of
the TST is marked by a transgressive surface (TS) . As the sea level rise continues the
rate of subsidence offshore increases and with the resultant relative rise in sea level the
carbonates of the margin are stressed but lag and then KEEP UP while the lagoonal
carbonates GIVE UP.
At the same time "ravinement " reworking of the clastics occurs along the inner edge of
the lagoonal shoreline producing an eroded surface. As the sea level rise of the TST
continues the rate of subsidence offshore further increases and so the resultant relative
rise in sea level is characterized by the carbonates of the offshore margin forming
isolated buildups and while landward closer to the left shore where subsidence is lower
the carbonates become re-established along the coastline at the mfs.

Initial HST: With the onset of the HST seaward of a deltaic margin the carbonate
margin is turned on but does not become as big a factory as it was during the earlier
LST. Offshore the margin continues to develop CATCH UP pinnacles but these don't
reach sea level till the next LST.

Final LST: The onset of the LST is accompanied by a forced regression of downward
stepping clinoforms along the left coastal margin. These develop a deltaic/chenier
coastal system on their surface while offshore the now shallow water carbonate barrier
has caught up with dropping sea level.
Seaward of this margin deeper water carbonates accumulate in the flanking basin and
to the right of this basin, the basin floor starts to uplift. Clastic input is increases towards
the end of the LST and this causes the leeward lagoon to fill with fluvio/deltaic
sediments and the carbonate margin is temporarily turned off, and deepwater clastics
bypass this margin into the flanking deepwater basin.

Final TST: The onset of the TST is accompanied by the restarting of deposition of
carbonate on the left flank of the deepwater basin. Towards the end of the TST clastics
start to increase in amount from both the left and right of the basin.

Final HST: Clastics dominate the basin fill and turn of the carbonate factory.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2013

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