Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study presents an outcrop characterisation and modelling of the excellently exposed Permian Kookfontein Formation of the Ecca Group in the Tanqua-Karoo sub-Basin. The sedimentary modelling (i.e. facies architecture and geometry) and petrophysical characterisation followed a hierarchical and deterministic approach. Quantitative outcrop data were based on the thirteen sedimentary cycles that characterise this stratigraphic succession at the Pienaarsfontein se Berg locality; and these data were analysed using a combination of detailed sedimentary log, gamma ray log and photopanel analysis, as well as petrographic thin-section and grain size-based petrophysical analysis. Based on texture and sedimentary structures, twelve depofacies are recognised which are broadly grouped into four lithofacies associations i.e. sandstone facies, heterolithic facies, mudstone facies and soft-sediment deformation facies; these depofacies and lithofacies form the basic building blocks for the flooding surface-bounded facies succession (i.e. cycle). Also, based on sediment stacking and cycle thickness patterns as well as relative position to the shelf break, the succession is sub-divided into: (1) the lower Kookfontein member (i.e. cycles 1 to 5) exhibiting overall upward thickening and coarsening succession with progradational stacking pattern; representing deposition of mid-slope to top-slope/shelf-margin succession, and (2) the upper Kookfontein member (i.e. cycles 6 to 13) exhibiting overall upward thickening and coarsening succession with aggradational stacking pattern; representing deposition of top-slope/shelf-margin to outer shelf succession. Lateral juxtaposition of observed vertical facies variations across each cycle in an inferably basinwards direction exhibits upward change in features, i.e. decrease in gravity effects, increase in waves and decrease in slope gradient of subsequent cycles. This systematic upward transition in features, grading vertically from distal to proximal, with an overall upward thickening and coarsening progradational to aggradational stacking pattern indicates a normal regressive prograding delta. However, in detail, cycles 1-3 show some anomalies from a purely thickening and coarsening upward succession. Deposition of each cycle is believed to result from: (1) primary deposition by periodic and probably sporadic mouthbar events governed by stream flow dynamics, and (2) secondary remobilisation of sediments under gravity. The facies distribution, architecture and geometry which governs the sedimentary heterogeneity within the deltaic succession is therefore mainly a consequence of the series of mouthbar flooding events governed by sediment supply and base-level changes. These series of flooding events resulted in the delineation of the studied stratigraphic interval into two main parasequence sets, i.e. transgressive sequence set and the overlying regressive sequence set. This delineation was aided through the identification of a maximum flooding surface (i.e. maximum landwards shift in facies) above Cycle 3 in the field. The architecture and geometry of the ensuing deposystem is interpreted to have been a river-dominated, gravitationally reworked and waveinfluenced shelf edge Gilbert-type delta. Widespread distribution of soft-sediment deformation structures, their growth-style and morphology within the studied succession are empirically related to progradation of Gilbert-type mouthbars over the shelf break as well as the slope gradients of the Kookfontein deltaic clinoformal geometry. Analysis of hypothetical facies stacking and geometrical models suggests that the Kookfontein sedimentary cyclicity might not be accommodation-driven but rather sediment supply-driven. The workflow employed for petrophysical evaluation reveals that the distribution of reservoir properties within the Kookfontein deltaic sandbody geometries is strongly influenced both by depositional processes and by diagenetic factors, the latter being more important with increased burial depth. The reservoir quality of the studied sandstones decreases from proximal mouthbar sands, intermediate delta front to distal delta front facies. The major diagenetic factors influencing the reservoir quality of the studied sandstones are mechanical compaction, chemical compaction (pressure solution) and authigenic pore-filling cements (quartz cement, feldspar alteration and replacement, calcite cement, chlorite and illite). Mechanical compaction was a significant porosity reducing agent while cementation by authigenic quartz and clay minerals (i.e. illite and chlorite) might play a major role in permeability distribution. The porosity-permeability relationship trends obtained for the studied sandstones show that there is a linear relationship between porosity and permeability. The relative timing of diagenetic events as well as the percentages of porosity reduction by compaction and cementation indicates that compaction is much more responsible for porosity reduction than cementation. The described internal heterogeneity in this work is below the resolution (i.e. mm-scale) of most conventional well-logs, and therefore could supplement well-log data especially where there is no borehole image and core data. The combination of ‗descriptive‘ facies model and schematic geological model for this specific delta, and petrophysical characterisation make the results of this study applicable to any other similar ancient deposystem and particularly subsurface reservoir analogue. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie bied ‘n dagsoomkarakterisering en -modellering van die duidelik blootgelegde Permiese Kookfontein-formasie van die Ecca-groep in die Tankwa-Karoo-subkom. Wat die sedimentêre modellering (d.w.s. fasiesargitektuur en -geometrie) en petrofisiese karakterisering betref is ‘n hiërargiese en deterministiese benadering gevolg. Kwantitatiewe dagsoomdata is gebaseer op dertien sedimentêre siklusse wat hierdie stratigrafiese opeenvolging in die Pienaarsfontein se Berg-lokaliteit kenmerk; en die data is geanaliseer met behulp van ‘n kombinasie van gedetailleerde sedimentêre seksie, gammastraal-profiel en fotopaneelanalises, asook petrografiese slypplaatjie- en korrelgrootte-gebaseerde petrofisiese analises. Op grond van tekstuur en sedimentêre strukture is twaalf afsettingsfasies onderskei wat rofweg in vier assosiasies van litofasies gegroepeer kan word: sandsteenfasies, heterolitiese fasies, moddersteenfasies en sagtesediment-deformasiefasies. Hierdie afsettingsfasies en litofasies vorm die basiese boustene vir die fasiesopeenvolging (d.w.s. siklus) wat oorstromingsoppervlakgebonde is. Verder word die opeenvolging aan die hand van sedimentstapeling en skilusdiktepatrone, asook relatiewe posisie tot die rakbreuk, in die volgende onderverdeel: (1) die benede-Kookfontein-deel (d.w.s. siklus 1 tot 5), wat in die geheel ‘n opwaartse verdikkings- en vergrowwingsopeenvolging met ‘n progradasiestapelpatroon vertoon en die afsetting van middelhelling-tot-boonstehelling- of rakrand-opeenvolging verteenwoordig, en (2) die benede-Kookfontein-deel (d.w.s. siklus 6 tot 13) wat in die geheel ‘n opwaartse verdikkings- en vergrowwingsopeenvolging met ‘n aggradasiestapelpatroon vertoon en die afsetting van boonste helling- of rakrand-tot-buiterakopeenvolging verteenwoordig. Die laterale jukstaposisie van waargenome vertikale fasiesvariasies oor elke siklus heen, in ‘n afleibare komwaartse rigting, vertoon opwaartse verandering wat kenmerke betref, naamlik afname in gravitasiegevolge, toename in golwe en afname in die hellinggradiënt van daaropvolgende siklusse. Hierdie stelselmatige opwaartse oorgang van kenmerke, wat vertikaal van distaal tot proksimaal gradiënteer en in die geheel opwaartse verdikking en vergrowwing in ‘n progradasie-tot-aggradasie-stapelpatroon vertoon, dui op ‘n normale regressiewe progradasiedelta. Van naby beskou, vertoon siklus 1-3 egter bepaalde afwykings van ‘n suiwer opwaartse verdikkings- en vergrowwingsopeenvolging. Die afsettings van elke siklus is vermoedelik die gevolg van: (1) primêre afsetting deur periodieke en waarskynlik sporadiese mondversperringsgebeure wat deur stroomvloeidinamika beheer word, en (2) sekondêre hermobilisering van sedimente deur gravitasie. Die fasiesverspreiding, -argitektuur en -geometrie wat die sedimentêre heterogeniteit in die deltaïese opeenvolging beheer, is dus hoofsaaklik ‘n gevolg van die reeks oorstromingsgebeure by die mondversperring, wat deur sedimentvoorsiening en basisvlakveranderings beheer word. Hierdie reeks oorstromingsgebeure het gelei tot die delineasie van die bestudeerde stratigrafiese interval volgens twee hoofparasekwensie stelle, naamlik die transgressiewe opeenvolgings- en die oordekkende, regressiewe opeenvolgingsgroep. Dié delineasie word ondersteun deur die feit dat ‘n maksimum oorstromingsoppervlak (d.w.s. maksimum landwaartse verskuiwing in fasies) bo siklus 3 in die veld uitgeken is. Die argitektuur en geometrie van die daaropvolgende afsettingstelsel word geïnterpreteer as behorende tot ‘n Gilbert-rakranddelta wat deur ‘n rivier gedomineer, deur gravitasie herbewerk en deur golfwerking beïnvloed is. Die wye verspreiding van sagtesediment-deformasiestrukture, en die groeiwyse en morfologie daarvan binne die bestudeerde opeenvolging, is empiries verwant aan die progradasie van Gilbertmondversperrings oor die rakbreuk heen, asook aan die hellinggradiënte van die Kookfontein-deltaïese, klinoformele geometrie. Die analise van hipotetiese fasiesstapeling en geometriese modelle dui daarop dat die Kookfontein-sedimentêre siklisiteit dalk nie deur akkommodasieruimte gedryf word nie, maar deur sedimentvoorsiening. Die werkvloei wat vir petrofisiese evaluering gebruik is dui daarop dat die verspreiding van reservoir-eienskappe in die Kookfontein- deltaïese sandliggaam geometries sterk beïnvloed word deur afsettingsprosesse en diagenetiese faktore. Die diagenetiese faktore word belangriker op groter begrawing diepte. Die reservoir-aard van die bestudeerde sandgesteentes neem algaande af van proksimale mondversperring-sandsoorte tot intermediêre deltafront tot distale deltafrontfasies. Die hoof-diagenetiese faktore wat die reservoir-kenmerke van die bestudeerde sandsteensoorte beïnvloed is meganiese verdigting, chemiese verdigting (oplossingsdruk) en outigeniese porievullingsement (kwartssement, veldspaatomsetting en -vervanging, kalsietsement, chloriet en illiet). Meganiese verdigting is ‘n beduidende poreusheidreduseermiddel, terwyl sementering deur outigeniese kwarts- en kleiminerale (d.w.s. illiet en chloriet) moontlik ‘n belangrike rol by permeabiliteitsverspreiding kan speel. Die poreusheid-permeabiliteit-verhoudingstendense wat bekom is vir die bestudeerde sandsteensoorte dui daarop dat daar ‘n lineêre verhouding tussen poreusheid en permeabiliteit bestaan. Die relatiewe tydberekening van diagenetiese gebeure, asook die persentasie poreusheidvermindering deur verdigting en sementering, dui daarop dat verdigting baie meer as sementering tot poreusheidvermindering bydra. Die interne heterogeniteit wat in hierdie werk beskryf word, is onder die resolusie (d.w.s. mm-skaal) van die meeste konvensionele boorgatopnames, en kan dus boorgatopnamedata aanvul, veral waar daar geen boorgatafbeelding en kerndata bestaan nie. Die kombinasie van die 'deskriptiewe‘ fasiesmodel en skematiese geologiese model vir hierdie spesifieke delta, asook petrofisiese karakterisering, beteken dat die resultate van hierdie studie op enige ander soortgelyke antieke afsettingstelsels toegepas kan word, maar veral op suboppervlakreservoir-analoogstelsels.

Le comportement des rivières au cours du rifting joue un rôle important dans la sédimentation syn-rift et la distribution de la subsidence. Pendant la croissance des failles normales, les rivières répondent aux mouvements verticaux. En réponse au soulèvement tectonique, les rivières peuvent être déviées vers les zones en subsidence ou inversées. Les rivières peuvent aussi inciser les zones en soulèvement. L'évolution à long terme des rivières et leurs enregistrements stratigraphiques restent mal documentés pendant les processus de croissance et de migration des failles normales. Cette thèse analyse les interactions entre les rivières antécédentes et la croissance des réseaux de failles normales. Les implications en termes de distribution des faciès syn-rift sont étudiées à l'échelle du bassin et des blocs de failles. Les dépôts fluviatiles et deltaïques sont préservés dans plusieurs blocs de failles normales soulevés le long de la marge sud du rift de Corinthe (Grèce). Les logs sédimentaires et la cartographie des faciès syn-rift permettent le découpage lithostratigraphique de la zone d'étude. La série syn-rift est principalement conglomératique et difficile à dater. La magnétostratigraphie et quelques marqueurs biostratigraphiques sont utilisés pour dater et corréler les dépôts entre les différents blocs de faille. L'analyse des isotopes cosmogéniques 26Al et 10Be dans les dépôts a permis la détermination d'âge d'enfouissement. L'ensemble des âges obtenus par ces différentes méthodes permet de proposer un modèle de corrélation et de reconstruire l'évolution du rift précoce entre 3,6 et 1,8 Ma environ. (1) Le système fluviatile étudié évolue à travers plusieurs blocs de failles actives. (2) Le système de drainage antécédent hérité de la chaîne hellénique est caractérisé par un flux sédimentaire important depuis le début du rifting. (3) Le système fluviatile (au moins 30 km de long) remplit le paléorelief et le flux sédimentaire dépasse largement l'accommodation créée par les failles. L'enfouissement des failles par le système fluviatile limite la création de topographie et le développement d'un réseau de drainage conséquent. (4) L'axe fluviatile antécédent reste constant et contrôle la distribution des faciès. (5) Les changements de faciès et les architectures alluviales sont observés à l'échelle du bassin et ne sont pas directement contrôlés par les variations d'accommodation dans les blocs de failles. (6) Les zones d'accommodation maximale sont ici disposées parallèlement à l'axe fluviatile antécédent. La persistance des rivières et le flux sédimentaire pendant plusieurs centaines de milliers d'années ont permis la localisation de la déformation, induisant une rétroaction positive sur la croissance des failles. Le système distributaire se termine à l'est où des deltas progradent en milieu lacustre peu profond. Les systèmes de dépôts fluviatiles, deltaïques et turbiditiques actifs à l'initiation du rift de Corinthe enregistrent l'approfondissement diachrone du bassin. Le comportement des rivières antécédentes est aussi étudié à l'échelle d'une zone de relais entre deux failles bordières actuellement actives. Pendant le Pléistocène moyen et supérieur, la zone de relais a capturé la rivière antécédente de Krathis qui a construit une succession de deltas. La connexion entre les deux failles majeures est marquée par (1) des failles obliques dites "de transfert", (2) plusieurs familles de terrasses marines enregistrant le soulèvement diachrone de la rampe de relais, et (3) la migration progressive de l'accommodation vers le bassin. Cette étude permet pour la première fois de reconstruire les processus de connexion de failles sur une période 0,5 Ma. La rivière Krathis persiste au cours du développement de la zone de relais et met en évidence, une fois de plus, l'importance des rivières antécédentes dans la localisation des dépocentres majeurs dans les rifts / Rivers behaviour during early rifting can significantly impact on syn-rift sedimentation and the distribution of subsidence. During normal fault growth, existing rivers can be diverted toward subsiding zones. They can respond to footwall uplift either by reversing their flow or by incising into uplifting zones. Long-lived river systems and their stratigraphic record in rifts are poorly documented, not only during early fault propagation and linkage processes but also during successive migrating phases of fault activity. We investigate the interactions of major antecedent rivers with a growing normal fault system and the implications for facies distributions, both on a basin scale and at the scale of individual normal fault blocks. Along the southern margin of the western Corinth rift (Greece), the Plio-Pleistocene fluvial and deltaic successions are investigated. Syn-rift deposits are preserved in a series of uplifted normal fault blocks (10–20 km long, 3–7 km wide). Detailed sedimentary logging and high resolution mapping of the syn-rift deposits document variations of alluvial architecture across the basin and enable to define lithostratigraphic units. Magnetostratigraphy and rare biostratigraphic data are used to date and correlate the alluvial succession between fault blocks. Burial ages were tentatively determined using cosmogenic isotopes 10Be and 26Al produced in situ in quartz grains. Based on the correlation model, we reconstruct the evolution of the early western Corinth rift between about 3.6 and 1.8 Ma. (1) The transverse and antecedent Kalavryta river system flowed and deposited across a series of active normal fault blocks. (2) This river system was inherited from the Hellenide mountain belt and supplied high volumes of coarse sediments from the onset of extension. (3) As depocentres enlarged through time, the fluvial deposits progressively filled palaeorelief. A continuous braided plain developed above active buried faults and no significant consequent drainage system developed between the narrow fault blocks. (4) The main fluvial axis of the antecedent drainage persists through time and controlled facies distribution. (5) The length scale of facies transitions is greater than, and therefore not related to fault spacing. Here, along-strike subsidence variations in individual fault blocks represent a secondary contributor to the alluvial architecture. (6) The zones of maximum subsidence on individual faults are aligned across strike, parallel to the persistent fluvial axis. This implies that long-term sediment supply and loading influenced normal fault growth. Sediment supply largely outpaced local hangingwall subsidence and overfilled the early rift basin. The river system terminated eastward where small deltas are built into a shallow lake that occupied the central Corinth rift. During this time, another river system built fan deltas along the southern margin, recording diachronous deepening of the basin. The behaviour of antecedent rivers is also studied at the scale of a relay zone, that developed later in the rift history between two growing fault segments. During the Middle to Late Pleistocene, the relay zone captured the antecedent Krathis River, which deposited prograding Gilbert-type deltas. Transfer faults record progressive linkage and basinward migration of accommodation along the ramp axis, while marine terraces record diachronous uplift in their footwalls. Although early linkage occurred, the main normal faults continued to propagate until final connexion. For the first time a reconstruction of the linkage phase is presented over a period of ca. 0.5 Myr. Throughout this linkage history, the Krathis River continued to flow across the relay zone. Again, this emphasizes the role of antecedent rivers in supplying sediments and controlling the location of the major depocentres along the rift margins