Controls on fluvial sedimentary architecture and sediment fill-state in salt-walled mini-basins

Halokinesis and climate can exert strong controls on the accumulation of
fluvial stratigraphy within a series of salt walled mini-basins, which can be
expressed as a number subtle features within the preserved stratigraphic
record:
 Control of drainage networks entering the region of halokinetic
influence. Drainage pathway can be diverted or deflected by uplifted
salt walls, or alternatively, become entrenched in areas of enhanced
subsidence.
 Drainage diversion can lead to drainage isolation of mini-basins,
resulting in the accumulation of sand-poor basin-fill styles within minibasins
isolated from the main drainage pathways. Conversely, basins
which act as the main conduit to drainage may become preferentially
sand-prone relative to adjacent basins
 The interplay of sediment supply rates and subsidence rates can
control the accumulating stratigraphic style, where the interplay
between subsidence rates and sediment supply rate can result in the
accumulation of sand-prone or sand-poor basin-fills.
 The interplay between halokinesis and climate can be delineated by
local (inter- to intra-basin scale) and regional (halokinetic province
scale) variations of sediment distribution and accumulation:
halokinesis redistributes drainage pathways and sediments between
basins, where as climate is expressed as variations in sediment
accumulation style across the halokinetic region.
This study uses the Triassic Moenkopi Formation which accumulated
within the Salt Anticline Region of southeast Utah, USA, to demonstrate
the extent to which halokinesis and climate controlled the ensuing
stratigraphic accumulation of a low relief dryland fluvial system within a
series of actively subsiding salt-walled mini-basins. This knowledge can
be used for predicting distribution of fluvial elements within subsurface
halokinetic provinces for the purpose of hydrocarbon exploration.