Atlas of Deep Water Environments pp 167-183 | Cite as
Geometry and continuity of deep-water sandstones and siltstones, Brushy Canyon Formation (Permian) Delaware Mountains, Texas
Abstract
Sandstones and siltstones of the Permian (Guadalupian) Brushy Canyon Formation were deposited in 50 to more than 300 m of water in the Delaware Basin of west Texas. The transition from slope to basin-floor palaeoenvironments is exposed in a 24 km long transect of extensive outcrops that occur along the western flanks of the Guadalupe and Delaware mountains.
Several types of deep-water channels occur in the study area. Individual channels were filled with thick-bedded sandstones that were deposited by high-density sediment gravity flows, thin-bedded classical turbidites that were deposited by low-density turbidity currents, or siltstones that were deposited from suspension. Many channel-fills change facies laterally from amalgamated turbidite sandstones in channel axes to thin-bedded turbidites and siltstones along channel margins. Cross-bedded sandstones that occur as lag deposits at the bases of some channels are interpreted to have been deposited tractively by high-density sediment gravity flows that carried most of their sediment loads further basinward. Siltstone drapes occur along the bases and margins of some channels, are common in slope and proximal basin-floor palaeoenvironments and are interpreted to reflect channel abandonment.
Levee deposits are common in the Brushy Canyon Formation. Stratal geometries along many channel margins indicate aggradation of adjacent levee deposits during channel filling. Levee deposits commonly include laterally continuous, thin-bedded classical turbidites that were deposited by low-density flows. However, near channel margins, levees can include thick-bedded, amalgamated turbidites that were deposited by high- and low-density flows and cross-bedded sandstones that were deposited tractively by high-density flows. Along channel margins, palaeocurrents were commonly oriented parallel to slightly oblique to the channel trend and lenticular sandstone beds are common. In levee deposits, palaeocurrents generally were oriented 20–60° away from the adjacent channel margin.
Keywords
Ripple Mark Overbank Deposit Channel Margin Sediment Gravity Flow Buena VistaPreview
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