Facies relationships and systems tracts in the late Holocene Mississippi Delta plain

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Sedimentary Petrology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6111449

Kosters, E C ^[1]; Suter, J R ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Utrecht (Netherlands). Inst. of Earth Sciences
2. Exxon Production Research Co., Houston, TX (United States)

Facies relationships in abandoned Holocene Mississippi Delta complexes are characteristic of both retrogradational transgressive systems tracts (TST) and progradational highstand systems tracts (HST). In the Barataria interlobe basin, delta-plain facies of the early Holocene Maringouin/Teche delta complex (TST), which accumulated from 7,500 to 6,000 yr BP, are overlain by a lagoonal facies 1-2 m thick (MFS) that accumulated during the maximum flooding event from 6,000 to 3,500 yr BP. Wave reworking transformed the distributary sands of retrogradational delta complexes into stratigraphically backstepping shoreline sand bodies. The most landward of these shorelines, the Teche shoreline, overlies the MFS and is, by definition, the shoreline of maximum transgression (SMT). Relatively thick peats of high organic content, dating from 2,400 to 1,100 yr BP, are located immediately landward of this shoreline. Younger delta lobes, rapidly prograding since 1,100 yr BP, have shifted the coastline seaward of the Teche shoreline, and form the first progradational HST parasequence. Thin, organic-poor salt marsh sediments are accumulating within this parasequence landward of the present shoreline. Rising relative sea level provides increased accommodation space while fresh water may be held within the delta plain, creating conditions of both groundwater and nutrients favorable to accumulation of high-quality organic facies of this type. In a subsequent progradational setting, stable relative sea level results in less accommodation space landward of the shoreline, while fresh water and nutrients are discharged into the Gulf of Mexico, forcing formation of brackish and salt marsh environments, unfavorable to accumulation of high-quality organic facies. These hypotheses may help explain the variability of some littoral high-quality coals vs. carbonaceous shales in the rock record.

• OSTI ID: 6111449
• Journal Information: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology; (United States) Vol. 63:4; ISSN JSEPAK; ISSN 0022-4472
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENOZOIC ERA
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COASTAL REGIONS
DEPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGY
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RESOURCES
RIVER DELTAS
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
STRATIGRAPHY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS