GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Aggradation versus Degradation

• If sediment discharge (Qs) varies
along-stream either erosion or
deposition is taking place as long
as sediment has no other way of
entering the system.
• This is commonly controlled by a
change in slope (changes bed
shear stress).
– Deposition is favored by
decreasing slopes.
– Erosion is favored by increasing
slopes.

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Aggradation versus Degradation

• Decreasing water depth favors erosion on back of bedforms.
• Increase in water depth favors deposition in front of bedform
• Deposition is favored by decreasing slopes.
• Erosion is favored by increasing slopes.

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Shear Stress
• Reflects the downslope resolution of pressure
• The steeper the slope, the higher the shear stress.
– Flow can do more work.

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Base level
• Stratigraphic Base level
– Imaginary surface that separates erosion from deposition.
• Systems tend towards an “equilibrium” profile.
– Graded river profile
– Graded marine shelf
– Angle of repose
• Large and small-scale change in the profile can result in
deposition or erosion both locally and regionally.
• Geomorphic base level:
– The lowest level to which the land surface tends
– Approximately sea-level
– Implies a flat surface

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Sea Level Concepts

• Eustasy
– Absolute
change in sea-
level
• Relative Sea-
level
– Relative change
compared to a
datum

Erosion & Deposition

Base level
• Examples of “equilibrium”
profiles.
– Graded river profile
– Graded marine shelf
– Angle of repose

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Nickpoints
• Erosion commonly occurs at a break in slope, especially if it
becomes exposed.
• The point at which this type of erosion occurs is called a “nickpoint”.

Posamentier and Allen, 1999

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Nickpoints
• Headward erosion may
occur following a drop in
relative sea level.
• This may form a gullied
slope.
• Gullies may later connect
with trunk stream or river,
forming an incised valley.
• Gullies may fill with mud
during transgression.
• Nickpoints can also form in
the submarine environment.

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition
Nickpoints

Posamentier et al., 1992

• Gully erosion occurs at break in slope.
• Deposition occurs where slope flattens basinward

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition
Nickpoints

Salt Lake, Utah Slide

Slide courtesy
courtesy of
of H.W.
H.W. Posamentier
Posamentier

• Gully erosion occurs at break in slope.

• Deposition occurs where slope flattens basinward.

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition
Nickpoints

Posamentier
Posamentier and
and Allen,
Allen, 1999
1999

• Gully erosion occurs at breaks in slope.

• Several nickpoints may occur along a river path.

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition
Nickpoints

• Gully erosion occurs at break in slope.

• Alluvial deposition occurs where slope flattens basinward.

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Shoreline Trajectory

Gjellberg and Helland-Hansen, 1994

Sedimentological
expression of
forced regression
• Sharp-based
shorefaces seen as
indicative of non-
genetic relationship
between underlying
“shelf” mudstone and
overlying shallow-
marine sndstone

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Modern Rehoboth
Rehoboth Bay,
Bay, DE
DE

ravinement
• A diachronous
surface
• May erode up to
40m (Leckie, 1994).
• GOM ravinement
averages 9m.
• May “replace”
sequence
boundary.

Formation of a Ravinement Surface

Ravinement surface in
Gironde Estuary has
lots of space between
cobbles for animals to
burrow.

After Posamentier and Allen, 1999

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Accommodation/Accumulation
• Accommodation
– The space available for sediment infilling.
– The shape of the space can change.
– The rate at which space is created or destroyed can change

• Accumulation
– The sediment that fills the space.

– Largely controlled by sediment supply.

Accommodation vs
Sediment Supply
• Basin fill patterns
reflect Sediment
Quantity (Q) and
Receptor Value (R).
• Now known as A/S
ratio.
– Accommodation
versus Sediment
Supply

Sloss, 1962

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GEOL 6380 Sequence Stratigraphy Part 3-Base Level Concepts

Accommodation
vs
Sediment Supply

• Basin fill patterns

reflect
accommodation
versus
accumulation
ratio.

Erosion
Erosion &
& Deposition
Deposition

Concepts
• The sedimentary/stratigraphic record is largely dependant on:
– the size, shape, and rate at which accommodation increases or
decreases,
– the availability of sediment to fill that space (sediment supply).
• Accommodation is primarily controlled by:
– changes in the volume of the oceans (eustasy),
• As long as basin is linked to the sea!
– changes in tectonic subsidence and uplift,
– compactional subsidence.
• Physiography also controls accommodation:
– Shape of the land surface,
– Slope.
• Sediment availability is largely controlled by relief and climate.

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