Bhattacharya, Janok P.1
(1) University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
ABSTRACT: Deltas revisited
With the explosion of research in shallow marine systems in the 80’s, many
deposits originally thought to be deltaic were re-interpreted as shelf sands, shorefaces,
or even incised valley-fills. There has also been an explosion of delta classification
schemes, reflecting interest in high-latitude deltas as well as integrating sequence
stratigraphic concepts. Parameters now considered to be essential include: feeder type,
river discharge, sediment caliber, water depth, basin physiography, storms, waves and
tides, sea level, physical position in the basin, and degree of soft-sediment deformation.
Clearly, combination of these parameters results in a nearly infinite number of possible
delta types reflecting a chaotic, non-linear, dynamic sedimentary continuum.
This talk will suggest that many intra-cratonic deposits in North America not thought of
as deltaic are, and many deposits interpreted as deltas are not.
New areas of progress in delta research since 1992 include: 1. Determination of the
bed-scale facies architecture of deltas. 2. Recognition of specific mouth bar and terminal
distributary channel processes in controlling formation and facies architecture of deltas.
3. Elucidation of the complex interplay between river effluent and waves in forming
wave-influenced deltas. 4. Recognition of tide-influenced deltas as distinct from
estuarine valley-fills. 5. Integration of high-resolution seismic data and biofacies
analysis (especially ichnology) in interpreting delta systems.
Future facies models must take a more quantitative, predictive, parametric approach,
focusing on the mechanics of delta formation and resulting facies distribution, informed
by focused field studies, rather than merely classifying the type of delta observed in an
outcrop or core.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90026©2004 AAPG Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, April 18-21, 2004.