The Oligocene Te Kuiti Group in Waitomo County, North Island, New Zealand, is divided into two subgroups, six formations and seven limestone members; six of the members are new. The stratigraphic definition, distribution, thickness, lithology and contacts of major rock units, and the three dimensional relationships between them, are described and figured in detail. Rapid lateral and vertical lithologic variation in strata is accomodated by recognition of 31 lithofacies. Te Kuiti sediments, which include mainly bioclastic lutites, bioclastic arenites and biocalcarenites, were deposited in sublittoral waters, from a few to about 100 metres depth, as seas transgressed south over a topoqraphically subdued, but locally varied landscape cut in Mesozoic lutites and arenites. Distribution of major paleotectonic elements indicates the gross sedimentary environment was one of a north-facing, partly enclosed basin with a prominent north-trending median basement ridge (Piopio High) in the south. Deposition continued until this ridge was almost completely buried, at which time the Te Kuiti embayment expanded rapidly and linked with more southerly basins. The contact with the overlying Mahoenui Group is generally conformable in Waitomo County. Formations and members are commonly bounded by unconformities, mainly disconformities, some of which preserve features consistent with their interpretation as submarine hardgrounds. The unconformities record periods of erosion or non-deposition during major downward shifts in base level controlled partly by eustatic sea level changes. Comprehensive paleontological charts are prepared for each formation and age relationships established. Macrofossils are generally scarce, and dominated by thick-shelled, epifaunal bivalves. Foraminifera are more abundant and are mainly benthonic forms. Formations may straddle New Zealand stage boundaries and, within Waitomo County, are not strongly diachronous. Primary sedimentary structures in arenites and calcarenites include mainly thinly bedded wavy-, lenticular-, and cross-stratification formed by the spreading and interfering of sand sheets, sand ribbons and sand waves across extensive areas of flat shallow sea floor, possibly under the influence of tidal currents. Lutites and muddy arenites are massive and bioturbated. A new classification for mixed terrigenous-allochemical rocks is proposed and an X-ray technique developed for modal analyses of lutites. The petrography of individual lithofacies is described and illustrated in detail and summarised on pie diagrams. Variations in the kind, quantity, size, sorting and abrasion of bioclasts, in the king and quantity of matrix add/or cement, and in the content of glauconite and terrigenous sand and mud serve to distinguish the various lithofacies. Bioclasts are derived principally from bryozoans, echinoids and benthonic foraminifers and, to a lesser extent, from coralline algae, planktonic foraminifers, molluscs and brachiopods. Siliciclasts include mainly quartz, oligoclase – andesine plagioclase, potash feldspar, montmorillonitic clays and glauconite. Quartz and feldspar were detritally inherited from Mesozoic basement rocks; montmorillonite formed from the marine diagenetic transformation of vermiculite and degraded chlorite and illite derived from Oligocene soils; glauconite developed from mont-morillonitic clays under specific environmental conditions. Complete chemical analyses of seven glauconite concentrates are presented and compared with published analyses. The principal non-opaque heavy minerals in the group are zircon, epidote and apatite. Sediment pores are infilled with granular and rim ortho-sparite cement, or by a variety of matrix materials, including micrite, calcilutite and lutite. Petrologs display the vertical variation in petrographic properties through the group and, in conjunction with grain size analyses of insoluble residues, are used to interpret the energy level of the environment of deposition of individual rock units. Te Kuiti sediments accumulated under a spectrum of environmental energy conditions, ranging from quiet to strongly agitated waters. The primary Te Kuiti sediment was dominated by metastable magnesium calcite and, less abundant, aragonite skeletons. These skeletons underwent syndiagenetic stablisation reactions at, or close below, the sea floor. Large quantities of skeletal aragonite were dissolved from the sediment before lithification. Aragonite was preserved only where anaerobic conditions were maintained in the sediment. Stabilisation of magnesium calcite grains involved the texturally non-destructive process of incongruent dissolution, which yielded a replacement product of calcite. Sources of CaCO3 for cement included (a) solution of aragonite grains, (b) intergranular solution of bioclasts and, most important, (c) pervasive solution of bioclasts, under shallow burial loads, at those levels in the sediment relatively enrichment in siliciclastic, and especially muddy, material. Dissolved CaCO3 was precipitated as calcite cement in adjacent or nearby sediment layers. A paragenetic sequence of diagenetic events is established for the group. Finally, Oligocene paleogeography and paleoclimate are outlined and a synthesis of the environment of formation and depositional history of sediments of the Te Kuiti Group in Waitomo Country is established.

Thèse (D.R.Min.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, programme extensionné à l'Université du Québec à Montréal, 2003. / Bibliogr.: f. 203-204. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 225 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-116).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-77).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 2003. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-77)

The Oligocene Te Kuiti Group in Waitomo County, North Island, New Zealand, is divided into two subgroups, six formations and seven limestone members; six of the members are new. The stratigraphic definition, distribution, thickness, lithology and contacts of major rock units, and the three dimensional relationships between them, are described and figured in detail. Rapid lateral and vertical lithologic variation in strata is accomodated by recognition of 31 lithofacies. Te Kuiti sediments, which include mainly bioclastic lutites, bioclastic arenites and biocalcarenites, were deposited in sublittoral waters, from a few to about 100 metres depth, as seas transgressed south over a topoqraphically subdued, but locally varied landscape cut in Mesozoic lutites and arenites. Distribution of major paleotectonic elements indicates the gross sedimentary environment was one of a north-facing, partly enclosed basin with a prominent north-trending median basement ridge (Piopio High) in the south. Deposition continued until this ridge was almost completely buried, at which time the Te Kuiti embayment expanded rapidly and linked with more southerly basins. The contact with the overlying Mahoenui Group is generally conformable in Waitomo County. Formations and members are commonly bounded by unconformities, mainly disconformities, some of which preserve features consistent with their interpretation as submarine hardgrounds. The unconformities record periods of erosion or non-deposition during major downward shifts in base level controlled partly by eustatic sea level changes. Comprehensive paleontological charts are prepared for each formation and age relationships established. Macrofossils are generally scarce, and dominated by thick-shelled, epifaunal bivalves. Foraminifera are more abundant and are mainly benthonic forms. Formations may straddle New Zealand stage boundaries and, within Waitomo County, are not strongly diachronous. Primary sedimentary structures in arenites and calcarenites include mainly thinly bedded wavy-, lenticular-, and cross-stratification formed by the spreading and interfering of sand sheets, sand ribbons and sand waves across extensive areas of flat shallow sea floor, possibly under the influence of tidal currents. Lutites and muddy arenites are massive and bioturbated. A new classification for mixed terrigenous-allochemical rocks is proposed and an X-ray technique developed for modal analyses of lutites. The petrography of individual lithofacies is described and illustrated in detail and summarised on pie diagrams. Variations in the kind, quantity, size, sorting and abrasion of bioclasts, in the king and quantity of matrix add/or cement, and in the content of glauconite and terrigenous sand and mud serve to distinguish the various lithofacies. Bioclasts are derived principally from bryozoans, echinoids and benthonic foraminifers and, to a lesser extent, from coralline algae, planktonic foraminifers, molluscs and brachiopods. Siliciclasts include mainly quartz, oligoclase – andesine plagioclase, potash feldspar, montmorillonitic clays and glauconite. Quartz and feldspar were detritally inherited from Mesozoic basement rocks; montmorillonite formed from the marine diagenetic transformation of vermiculite and degraded chlorite and illite derived from Oligocene soils; glauconite developed from mont-morillonitic clays under specific environmental conditions. Complete chemical analyses of seven glauconite concentrates are presented and compared with published analyses. The principal non-opaque heavy minerals in the group are zircon, epidote and apatite. Sediment pores are infilled with granular and rim ortho-sparite cement, or by a variety of matrix materials, including micrite, calcilutite and lutite. Petrologs display the vertical variation in petrographic properties through the group and, in conjunction with grain size analyses of insoluble residues, are used to interpret the energy level of the environment of deposition of individual rock units. Te Kuiti sediments accumulated under a spectrum of environmental energy conditions, ranging from quiet to strongly agitated waters. The primary Te Kuiti sediment was dominated by metastable magnesium calcite and, less abundant, aragonite skeletons. These skeletons underwent syndiagenetic stablisation reactions at, or close below, the sea floor. Large quantities of skeletal aragonite were dissolved from the sediment before lithification. Aragonite was preserved only where anaerobic conditions were maintained in the sediment. Stabilisation of magnesium calcite grains involved the texturally non-destructive process of incongruent dissolution, which yielded a replacement product of calcite. Sources of CaCO3 for cement included (a) solution of aragonite grains, (b) intergranular solution of bioclasts and, most important, (c) pervasive solution of bioclasts, under shallow burial loads, at those levels in the sediment relatively enrichment in siliciclastic, and especially muddy, material. Dissolved CaCO3 was precipitated as calcite cement in adjacent or nearby sediment layers. A paragenetic sequence of diagenetic events is established for the group. Finally, Oligocene paleogeography and paleoclimate are outlined and a synthesis of the environment of formation and depositional history of sediments of the Te Kuiti Group in Waitomo Country is established.

A deposição aptiana da margem continental brasileira é caracterizada por dois elementos principais: 1) a presença de evaporitos (halita e/ou anidrita) num ambiente definido como lago-mar (de acordo com HSÜ, 1987); e 2) uma configuração tectonossedimentar do tipo sag. A chegada do mar às bacias, antes puramente continentais, é um evento que afeta toda a margem continental do Brasil, bem como tem ocorrência global. A sua presença nas bacias da margem equatorial , em particular, na Bacia Potiguar, possui um forte relacionamento com a existência de petróleo e gás (Bertani et al., 1989). A margem sudeste da Bacia Potiguar possui um razoável cobertura sísimica tanto 2D como 3D. As unidades estratigráficas compõe esta porção da bacia são a Formação Pendência, na base, a Formação Alagamar, a Formação Açu e no topo, a Formação Jandaíra. A Formação Pendência, na realidade mais um grupo do que formação, engloba as rochas depositadas na fase riftee da bacia (Della Favera et al., 1994). A Formação Alagamar envolve os sedimentos depositados no Aptiano, os quais estarão no foco deste trabalho; é formada por três membros: Upanema, Camadas Ponta de Tubarão e Galinhos (Della Favera, 1990). A Formação Açu, do Cretáceo Superior, separa-se discordantemente da seção da Formação Alagamar e é formada principalmente por arenitos fluviais. Esta formação transiciona para a Formação Jandaíra, denatureza carbonática, que constitui o topo da sequência sedimentar. Neste trabalho serão definidos os sistemas deposicionais e respectivos controles da sequência aptiana ao longo da borda sudeste da Bacia Potiguar a partir da identificação de eletrofácies e sismofácies. Sendo assim, nesta dissertação são mostradas as sequências de 3 e 4 ordem que representam, em conjunto, a Fm. Alagamar. Foram identificadas, em perfis elétricos de diferentes poços na área de estudo pelo menos 6 sequências de 4 ordem e 3 sequências de 3 ordem, que também foram identificadas em seções sísmicas arbitrária de direção SW-NE e SE-NW interligando os poços de etudo. A partir da análise dos dados e sequências identificadas, a reconstituiçãopaleoambiental apontou para ambiente de borda de lago (lago-mar) próxima a escarpa de falha, com depósitos de leques aluviais a delta de rios entrelaçados, praias com tempestitosareno-calcíferos, laguna salgada com formação de estromatólitos e eventuais solos carbonáticos. Sendo assim, as sequências de 3 ordem identificadas representariam cada um dos membros da Fm. Alagamar (Mb. Upanema, Mb. Ponta de Tubarão e Mb. Galinhos, da base para o topo). A correlação das sequências de 4 ordem identificadas pode ser aplicada no rastreamento de corpos arenosos, reservatórios de petróleo nessa porção da bacia. / The Aptian deposits of the Brazilian continental margin are characterized by two main elements: 1) the presence of evaporites (halite and / or anhydrite) in an environment defined as lake-sea (according to Hsu, 1987), and 2) a configuration of tectonossedimentar sag type. The arrival of the sea in basins before purely continental, is an event that affects the entire continental margin of Brazil, and has overall occurrence. Their presence in the equatorial margin basins, in particular in the Potiguar Basin, has a strong relationship with the existence of oil and gas (Bertani et al., 1989). The southeastern margin of Potiguar basin has a reasonable 2D and 3D seismic coverage. The stratigraphic units in this portion of the basin are Pendencia Formation at the base, Alagamar Formation, Acu Formation and at the top, Jandaíra Formation. The PendenciaFormation, includes rocks deposited during the rifte phase (Della Favera et al., 1994). The Alagamar Formation involves sediments deposited in the Aptian, which will be the focus of this work, consists of three members: Upanema, Layers Ponta de Tubarão and Galinhos (Della Favera, 1990). Acu Formation, Upper Cretaceous, separates the Alagamar Formation by an unconformity and it consists mainly of fluvial sandstones. The Jandaira Formation from transitional phase is represented by carbonates, which is the top of the sedimentary sequence. This work will define the depositional systems and their controls on Aptian sequence along the southeastern margin of the Potiguar basin Therefore, this dissertation shows the 3rd and 4th order sequences. These sequences, together, represent the AlagamarFm. The sequences were identified in electric logs from different wells in the studied area and at least 6 sequences of 4thand3 sequences of 3rdorder were identified for each well. These 3rd order sequences were also identified in arbitrary seismic sections (SW-NE and SE-NW directions).From the analysis of the data and the identified sequences the paleo-environmental reconstruction showed the edge of the lake (lakesea) near the Carnaubais fault zone. The reconstruction also showed, sandy beachtempestites and salty laguneswith stromatolites and carbonatic soils.Thus, the 3rd order sequences identified represent each member of Alagamar Fm. (Upanema Mb, Ponta de Tubarão Mb. And Galinhos Mb.from bottom to the top). The correlation of the 4th order sequences can be applied onidentification of sandy reservoirs in this part of the basin.

Este estudo teve como objetivo principal a definição da origem, evolução, geometria e preenchimento do Complexo de Canyons de Brejo Grande. Este complexo está incluído no intervalo maastrichtiano do Grupo Piaçabuçu, que é composto por uma cunha sedimentar progradante, depositada num sistema plataforma-talude-bacia, do Cretáceo Superior ao Quaternário, na Bacia de Sergipe-Alagoas. Foram utilizados dados sísmicos, perfis de poços, dados bioestratigráficos e descrições de testemunhos e amostras de calha. O complexo é composto de três canyons: Canyon de Brejo Grande, o mais antigo; Canyon do Rio Praúnas e Canyon de Aroeira, o mais novo. A localização e orientação dos canyons foram controladas por falhas da fase rift, reativadas antes da escavação. Foram reconhecidas quatro fases de preenchimento: fase inicial, fase de by-pass, fase dos complexos de canais e fase da cunha progradante. Na fase inicial, foram depositados os complexos de transporte de massa. Eles estão melhor preservados quando preenchem calhas na base do canyon. Na fase de by-pass o canyon atuou como um conduto e apenas depósitos de lags foram preservados. A fase dos complexos de canais ocorreu quando os fluxos gravitacionais não mais transportavam suas cargas para a bacia e depositavam a maior parte de sua carga dentro do canyon. A fase da cunha progradante corresponde à parte do preenchimento depositada no começo da subida do nível relativo do mar. Os complexos de canais são os componentes mais importantes do preenchimento dos canyons. Seus canais são frequentemente isolados espacialmente. Eventos sísmicos anômalos produzidos pelos canais mostram que eles são estreitos, com baixa sinuosidade e continuidade longitudinal variável. Os canais empilham-se verticalmente na parte inferior, mais confinada, do preenchimento dos canyons, e lateralmente na parte superior, menos confinada, dos canyons assimétricos. Os canais migram das partes mais confinadas para as menos confinadas. O método da estratigrafia de seqüências foi usado para estabelecer a evolução do complexo de canyons, definindo as seqüências que os preencheram, as relações de tempo entre aorigem e o preenchimento dos canyons e as superfícies limitantes e internas das seqüências. Foram definidas três seqüências de 3ª ordem. Cada canyon foi preenchido por uma seqüência deposicional composta pelos tratos de sistemas de mar baixo e transgressivo. Nos tratos de mar baixo das seqüências 1,2 e 3 foram identificados o equivalente proximal do leque de fundo de bacia e o complexo de canais do leque de talude. Na seqüência 3, além destes, foi também observada a cunha progradante. O limite inferior da seqüência 1 corresponde à base da biozona de nanofósseis N-280. O limite inferior da seqüência 2 coincide com a base da biozona de nanofósseis N-290. / Canyon The channels stack vertically in the lower, more confined portion of canyons, and laterally in the upper, less confined part of asymmetric canyons. Lateral migration of channels is from the side of steeper to the side of less steep wall, where confinement is smaller. The sequence stratigraphy method was used to establish the evolution of the canyon complex, defining the sequences that filled the canyons and the time relationship between the origin and filling of canyons and the boundary and internal surfaces of sequences. Three third order depositional sequences were defined. Each canyon is filled by a depositional sequence compounded of lowstand and transgressive system tracts. In the lowstand system tracts of the first, second and third sequences were identified a proximal equivalent of the basin floor fan andthe channel complexes of the slope fan. In the third sequence, besides those parts, was also observed the progradational wedge. The inferior limit of the first sequence corresponds to the N- 280 nannofossil biozone base and the inferior limit of the second sequence coincides with the N- 290 nannofossil biozone base.

A Formação Piauí registra a deposição de um sistema eólico, fluvial e marinho raso acumulado em uma bacia de sinéclise intracratônica. A caracterização das associações de fácies e do arcabouço estratigráfico foi feito através de uma descrição detalhada das fácies sedimentares e levantamento de perfis de afloramentos. As fácies foram classificadas de acordo com a textura dos grãos (tamanho e seleção) e estruturas sedimentares observadas. Medidas de paleocorrentes foram feitas nas estratificações e laminações cruzadas. Os perfis foram medidos na escala 1:50 em locais com boa exposição vertical. Seis associações de fácies foram reconhecidas, dunas e interdunas eólicas, lençóis de areia eólicos, canais fluviais, canais fluviais influenciados por maré, shoreface superior e shoreface inferior. Através da correlação das superfícies estratigráficas as associações de fácies foram organizadas em tratos de sistema, que formaram oito sequências deposicionais de alta frequência, delimitados por discordâncias subaéreas. Estas sequências são compostas por um trato de sistemas de nível baixo (TSNB), que é dominado por sistemas eólicos ou fluviais, um trato de sistemas transgressivo (TST), que é formado por canais fluviais influenciados por maré e/ou depósitos de shoreface superior e inferior com empilhamento retrogradacional, e um trato de sistemas de nível alto (TSNA), que é formado por depósitos de shoreface superior e inferior com empilhamento progradacional. Duas sequências deposicionais de mais baixa frequência foram determinadas ao observar o empilhamento das sequências de alta frequência. Ambas as sequências são formadas por uma regressão inicial seguida por uma transgressão progressiva. O principal controle das variações no nível relativo do mar durante a acumulação da Formação Piauí foi glacio-eustático. Contudo, mudanças climáticas estavam associadas com as fases glacio-eustáticas e influenciaram a deposição eólica e fluvial. / The Piauí Formation records the deposition of aeolian, fluvial and shallow marine systems accumulated in a cratonic sag basin. Characterization of the facies associations and sequence stratigraphic framework was done by detailed description of sedimentary facies and logging of outcrops. The facies were classified based on grain texture (size and selection) and sedimentary structures observed. Paleocurrent orientations were measured from cross-strata. Stratigraphic sections were measured at a 1:50 scale at outcrops with good vertical exposure. Six facies associations were recognized: aeolian dunes and interdunes, aeolian sandsheets, fluvial channels, tidally-influenced fluvial channels, upper shoreface and lower shoreface. Through correlation of stratigraphic surfaces the facies associations were organized in system tracts, which formed eight high frequency depositional sequences, bounded by subaerial unconformities. These sequences are composed of a lowstand system tract (LST), that is aeolian-dominated or fluvial-dominated, a transgressive system tract (TST) that is formed by tidally-influenced fluvial channels and/or upper and lower shoreface deposits with retrogradational stacking, and a highstand system tract (HST), which is formed by lower and upper shoreface deposits with progradational stacking. Two low frequency cycles were determined by observing the stacking of the high frequency cycles. Both sequences are formed by an initial regression followed by a progressive transgression. The main control on sedimentation in Piauí Formation was glacioeustasy, which was responsible for the changes in relative sea level. Even though, climate changes were associated with glacioeustatic phases and influenced the aeolian and fluvial deposition.