--> Abstract: A Synthesis of Terrestrial Sedimentation Across the Accommodation Spectrum, by Ron Boyd, Claus Diessel, Jennifer Wadsworth, Roy Davies, Dale Leckie, and Brian Zaitlin; #90039 (2005)

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A Synthesis of Terrestrial Sedimentation Across the Accommodation Spectrum

Ron Boyd1, Claus Diessel1, Jennifer Wadsworth1, Roy Davies2, Dale Leckie3, and Brian Zaitlin4
1 University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
2 University of Liverpool,
3 Nexen Inc, Calgary, AB
4 Suncor Energy Inc, Calgary, Cape Verde

Terrestrial sedimentation occurs over a spectrum of accommodation both within and between basins. The basin setting in relation to its position in the accommodation spectrum can be used to characterise the resulting stratigraphic response. We have conducted detailed stratigraphic studies over a range of sedimentary basins from low accommodation (Western Canada Sedimentary Basin or WCSB – Early Cretaceous in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta) to intermediate accommodation (Cretaceous WCSB in central Alberta) and high accommodation (Cretaceous WCSB in NW Alberta and NE British Columbia; Permian in Sydney Basin Australia). In addition, we have examined the stratigraphic response over a range of accommodation in adjacent members of the Blackhawk Formation in the Book Cliffs, Utah. Due to the lack of suitable stratigraphic markers in most basins we have used coals and their associated sediments to determine the accommodation trends both within units and throughout basin successions.

In low accommodation settings, organic facies are rare and sediments are deposited in thin units separated by unconformities and characterized by well developed soil profiles and frequent incised valley systems. In intermediate accommodation settings, incised valley systems are still common, coals seams are present but are often split or composite seams, and sequence boundaries are more widely spaced. In higher accommodation settings, incised valleys are rare, coals are common but each unit commonly has a coal associated with it, and associated floodplain and lacustrine facies are often present.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005