The environments of deposition of the Triassic Main Buntsandstein Formation in the P and Q quadrants, offshore the Netherlands

Abstract

Interpretations of core and log data within the P and Q quadrants were used to quantify the relative change in the distribution of environments of deposition within each of the five members of the Main Buntsandstein Formation. This Triassic formation was deposited in a semi-arid continental basin. Sediments reached the P and Q quadrants in braided stream complexes from a hinterland to the southeast. The braided stream complexes were flanked by aeolian, interdune, flood-plain and crevasse-splay environments and terminated in playa lakes. The distribution and systematic arrangement of environments of deposition migrated subtly across the study area. This is attributed to slight fluctuations in climatic conditions (rainfall and windstrength or direction).