Reply to the Comment by Tan Mingxuan et al.(2017), on “A new Discovery of the Early Cretaceous Supercritical Hyperpycnal Flow Deposits on the Lingshan Island, East China”

We thank Tan Mingxuan et al. （2017） for their comments stimulated by our short paper in the recent Acta Geologica Sinica （English edition）. We are grateful for the opportunity to expand on the model of the supercritical hyperpycnal flow deposits in the Beilaishi section on the Lingshan Island, and to explain why the model proposed by Tan Mingxuan et al. （2017） cannot explain the bulk of the deposits in the Beilaishi section. We do not dispute that the recognition of supercritical flow deposits remains ambiguous （Ono and Plink-Bjorklund, 2017）. To some extent, the morphology of deep-water supercritical flow deposits is similar to hummocky and swaley cross- stratification （Ono and Plink-Bjorklund, 2017）. Besides, distinguishing the deposits laid down by gravity flows in deep-water systems from those produced by storm-related combined flows in continental shelf systems is not an easy task （Ono and Plink-Bjorklund, 2017）. However, a correct interpretation is crucial for understanding the paleogeographic and depositional model.

A new discovery of The Early Cretaceous Supercritical Hyperpycnal Flow Deposits on Lingshan Island,East China

Objective Understanding the dynamics of sediment gravity flows is of great importance to correctly interpret their related deposits. The discovery of supercritical sediment gravity flows provides some new viewpoints for the explanation of controversial sediment gravity flow deposits. However, the dynamics, formation, evolution processes of supercritical sediment gravity flows and their recognition criteria from their associated deposits are still worldwide controversial. The supercritical hyperpycnal flow deposits recognized in the upper part of Early Cretaceous Lingshandao Formation provide a rare opporttmity to understand their sedimentary characteristics. This work is aimed at documenting the typical sedimentary structures associated with the supercritical hyperpycnal flow, and discussing the vertical stacking and its relationship with flow evolution.

Fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation and its influence on development of shale oil sweet sections in lacustrine basins in China

The geological conditions and processes of fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation in continental lacustrine basins in China are analyzed to construct the model of fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation in lacustrine basin,reveal the development laws of fine-grained deposits and source-reservoir,and identify the sweet sections of shale oil.The results show that fine-grained gravity flow is one of the important sedimentary processes in deep lake environment,and it can transport fine-grained clasts and organic matter in shallow water to deep lake,forming sweet sections and high-quality source rocks of shale oil.Fine-grained gravity flow deposits in deep waters of lacustrine basins in China are mainly fine-grained high-density flow,fine-grained turbidity flow(including surge-like turbidity flow and fine-grained hyperpycnal flow),fine-grained viscous flow(including fine-grained debris flow and mud flow),and fine-grained transitional flow deposits.The distribution of fine-grained gravity flow deposits in the warm and humid unbalanced lacustrine basins are controlled by lake-level fluctuation,flooding events,and lakebed paleogeomorphology.During the lake-level rise,fine-grained hyperpycnal flow caused by flooding formed fine-grained channel–levee–lobe system in the flat area of the deep lake.During the lake-level fall,the sublacustrine fan system represented by unconfined channel was developed in the flexural slope breaks and sedimentary slopes of depressed lacustrine basins,and in the steep slopes of faulted lacustrine basins;the sublacustrine fan system with confined or unconfined channel was developed on the gentle slopes and in axial direction of faulted lacustrine basins,with fine-grained gravity flow deposits possibly existing in the lower fan.Within the fourth-order sequences,transgression might lead to organic-rich shale and fine-grained hyperpycnal flow deposits,while regression might cause fine-grained high-density flow,surge-like turbidity flow,fine-grained debris flow,mud flow,and fine-grained transitional flow deposits.Since the Permian,in the shale strata of lacustrine basins in China,multiple transgression-regression cycles of fourth-order sequences have formed multiple source-reservoir assemblages.Diverse fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation processes have created sweet sections of thin siltstone consisting of fine-grained high-density flow,fine-grained hyperpycnal flow and surge-like turbidity flow deposits,sweet sections with interbeds of mudstone and siltstone formed by fine-grained transitional flows,and sweet sections of shale containing silty and muddy clasts and with horizontal bedding formed by fine-grained debris flow and mud flow.The model of fine-grained gravity flow sedimentation in lacustrine basin is significant for the scientific evaluation of sweet shale oil reservoir and organic-rich source rock.