Source-to-Sink System of the Steep Slope Fault in the Western Shaleitian Uplift

Abstract

During the early stage of Palaeogene, western Shaleitian uplift and surrounding areas constituted a complete Source-to-Sink system under the control of steep slope fault. We analyzed the characteristics of Source-to-Sink elements (provenance system, sediment-routing system, and sedimentary system), discussed the relativities among the three elements and established the coupling model of steep slope fault based on detritus, thin section and the geophysical response datain this study. Results show that the provenance of western Shaleitian uplifts was filled by Proterozoic metamorphic rocks. Based on the Paleogene palaeo-geomorphology, we divided the provenance into four third-order catchment units, obtained the quantitative parameters of height difference and catchment area, and confirmed the distribution and scales of incised valleys and faulted-troughsediment-transport pathways. The facies architecture and sediment-dispersal characters of fan-deltas system in the third member of Eocene Shahejie Formation have been analyzed by the stratal slice images. Quantitative analysis of the parameters in the source-to-sink system show that the total sediment volume yielded by the eroded and weathered hinterland into the basin is closely related to the catchment area and the height difference of the hinterland. Then, the coupling model of source (migmatitic granite)-channel (incised valleys or fault-trough sediment-transport pathways)-sink (near-source coarse grain size fan delta-gravity flow-lake system) controlled by fault steep slopehas been established.