The early-middle Miocene submarine fan system in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea

Based on a large amount of seismic, drilling and core data, the characteristics of the early- middle Miocene submarine fans in the Baiyun Sag, northern South China Sea are investigated. By analyzing the sedimentary processes of submarine fans in SQ21 （SQ21 refers to the 3rd-order sequence with its bottom boundary 21 Ma）, a sedimentary model of the sand-rich fans is established and the main factors controlling fan deposition are detailed. The results indicate that from early to middle Miocene the Pearl River Mouth Basin developed seven 3rd-order sequences in all, with each lowstand systems tract （LST） of the sequence corresponding to submarine fans. However, only the fans in SQ13.8 and SQ21 are sand-rich fans, the others being mud-rich fans. The cores reveal that the submarine fans in the Pearl River Mouth Basin developed five lithofacies： （1） mud clast-bearing sandstone, interpreted as channel deposits; （2） typical turbidite sandstones, also interpreted as channel deposits; （3） thin-bedded sandstone and mudstone, interpreted as channel-levee complex deposits; （4） massive sandstones, interpreted as lobe deposits; （5） massive mudstone, interpreted as hemipelagic mud. The sand-rich submarine fans in the Pearl River Mouth Basin mainly developed in LST, and in LST reverse faults were active, which led to the formation of accommodation on the shelf. Different from the theory of classic sequence stratigraphy, the accommodation on the shelf captures terrigenous debris transported by the Pearl River, and the uplift at the edge of shelf serves as a ＂Linear Source＂ for the deep water area instead of the Pearl River. Therefore, the fans mainly derived from the eroded debris from the uplift. Factors controlling fan deposition include the basin＇s tectonic framework, the evolution of the slope break, relative sea-level changes as well as the evolution of the fault system, and the fans are formed under the combination of the above factors.

The Middle Miocene lobe-shaped and band-shaped submarine fans in the Lingshui Sag,Qiongdongnan Basin:source-to-sink system,genesis and implication

Deepwater oil and gas exploration is the key to sustainable breakthroughs in petroleum exploration worldwide.The Central Canyon gas field has confirmed the Lingshui Sag is a hydrocarbon-generating sag,and the deepwater reservoirs in the Lingshui Sag still have more fabulous oil and gas exploration potential.Based on drilling data and three-dimensional(3D)seismic data,this paper uses seismic facies analysis,seismic attribute analysis,and coherence slice analysis to identify the types of submarine fans(lobe-shaped and band-shaped submarine fans)that developed in the Lingshui Sag during the Middle Miocene,clarify the source-to-sink system of the submarine fans and discuss the genesis mechanism of the submarine fans.The results show that:(1)the deepwater source-to-sink system of the Lingshui Sag in the Middle Miocene mainly consisted of a“delta(sediment supply)-submarine canyon(sediment transport channel)-submarine fan(deepwater sediment sink)”association;(2)the main factor controlling the formation of the submarine fans developed in the Lingshui Sag was on the relative sea level decline;and(3)the bottom current reworked the lobe-shaped submarine fan that developed in the northern Lingshui Sag and formed the band-shaped submarine fan with a greater sand thickness.This paper aims to provide practical geological knowledge for subsequent petroleum exploration and development in the deepwater area of the Qiongdongnan Basin through a detailed analysis of the Middle Miocene submarine fan sedimentary system developed in the Lingshui Sag.

Sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-lobe systems under different seafloor topography:Insights from the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa

Seafloor topography plays an important role in the evolution of submarine lobes.However,it is still not so clear how the shape of slope affects the three-dimensional(3-D)architecture of submarine lobes.In this study,we analyze the effect of topography factors on different hierarchical lobe architectures that formed during Pliocene to Quaternary in the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa.We characterize the shape,size and growth pattern of different hierarchical lobe architectures using 3-D seismic data.We find that the relief of the topographic slope determines the location of preferential deposition of lobe complexes and single lobes.When the topography is irregular and presents topographic lows,lobe complexes first infill these depressions.Single lobes are deposited preferentially at positions with higher longitudinal(i.e.across-slope)slope gradients.As the longitudinal slope becomes higher,the aspect ratio of the single lobes increases.Lateral(i.e.along-slope)topography does not seem to have a strong influence on the shape of single lobe,but it seems to affect the overlap of single lobes.When the lateral slope gradient is relatively high,the single lobes tend to have a larger overlap surface.Furthermore,as the average of lateral slope and longitudinal slope gets greater,the width/thickness ratio of the single lobe is smaller,i.e.sediments tend to accumulate vertically.The results demonstrate that the shape of slopes more comprehensively influences the 3-D architecture of lobes in natural deep-sea systems than previously other lobe deposits and analogue experiments,which helps us better understand the development and evolution of the distal parts of turbidite systems.

Preliminary considerations on the potential influence of submarine fans on marine delimitation

The complex issues associated with marine delineation for the outer limit of continental shelf and the boundary delimitation have provoked considerable attention among researchers in a variety of academic circles, particularly in the juristic filed and the geo-science field. In the present contribution, we start from an overview of submarine fans, as one of common types of sediment-deposit bodies in the ocean, and ex- plore the related geological features which may be of relevance to the marine delimitation in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We carry out a comparative assessment of certain significant geological features of submarine fans, using the Bengal fan as an example, which is the biggest submarine fan in the world and represents an important factor in the maritime boundary dispute between the neighboring states currently. The relationship between the special geological bodies and the international principle in the 1982 United Nations Convention can be established by combining geological and juristic analyses. This preliminary observation on the effect of submarine bodies both on the marine entitlement and boundary delimitation indicates that it is important for the international society to appro- priately deal with this problem so that the marine right of any state can be protected.

Lithofacies Characters and Significance of the Submarine Fan of the Liufengguan Group in Qinling

Field investigation and laboratory research on flysch of the Liufengguan Group in Qinling indicate the following： （1） Sandstone of the Liufengguan Group is categorized as feldspathic lithic graywacke with a minor amount of lithic graywacke in the QFR triangular diagram. Grain size〈0.3 mm. Bedding plane structures such as groove casts and suspected flute casts can be found at the bottom of the sandstone. It is inferred that currents may have come from the southeast during deposition. Bedding structures such as ripple marks, graded bedding, parallel bedding, small-scale cross bedding, climbing bedding, suspected convolute bedding, microlamination and sliding structures have also been observed, which are of indicative significance. It is thought that the Liufengguan Group has the sedimentary characteristics of bedding, bedding plane structures and lithologicai assemblages of deep-sea low-density turbidity current deposits. The vertical succession of the Bouma sequence in the inner fan subfacies zone is generally incomplete： the assemblage of Ta and Tabc is commonly seen; the succession of the middle fan subfacies zone is relatively complete; and divisions Te and Tb are common in the outer fan subfacies zone. （2） The flysh of the Liufengguan Group is a sequence of deep-sea argillaceous-arenaceous submarine fan deposits, in which the authors recognize the inner, middle and outer fan subfacies and also nine types of lithofacies： normal graded sandstone （A1）, medium- to thick-bedded, fine-grained sandstone （A2）, medium- to thick-bedded and massive siltstone （A3）, thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone and mudstone （B1）, irregular interbeds of thinbedded, fine-grained sandstone and siltstone （B2）, thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone （C1）, very thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone （D1）, olistostromes （El） anddeep-sea mudstone （F）. The inner fan consists of four microfacies： natural levee （A1）, water channel （A2, A3） and olistostrome （El）; in the middle fan there also occur four microfacies, i.e., branch channel （B1）, branch channel （B2）, interdistributary bay （D1） and olistostrome. The outer fan is made up of the branch channel （C1） and sheet sand （D1） microfacies, which alternate vertically with sediments of deep-sea plain subfacies （F）. There occur fining- and thinning-upward channel deposits in the outer-fan subfacies zone of the submarine fan of the Liufengguan Group observed in this study. The quartz content of the graywacke of the deposits is all higher than 40% and may reach as high as 60%. Therefore, on the basis of the aforementioned features, this flysh should be formed in a passive continental-margin tectonic environment.

Quality variations and controlling factors of deepwater submarine-fan reservoirs,Rovuma Basin,East Africa

The mechanisms causing quality variations and key control factors of submarine-fan reservoirs in the gas field X of the Rovuma Basin,East Africa are analyzed based on core and well-log data in this paper.Depositional fabric,lithofacies difference and characteristics of genetic units are the fundamental reasons of reservoir quality variations.In the case of weak cementation,porosity and permeability of submarine-fan reservoirs are controlled by grain sorting and clay content,respectively.Reservoir quality variations for 5 main lithofacies are related to variable depositional fabrics and calcite cementation.Among them,massive medium-coarse sandstones with weak cementation have the highest porosity and permeability,and coarser or finer sandstones have poorer reservoir quality.The existence of bottom current can develop laminated sandstones,improving the pore structure and physical properties greatly.Lithofacies vary among different types,locations and stages of genetic units,and they control the distribution patterns of submarine-fan reservoir quality:the physical properties of channel shaft or lobe main body are better than those of the channel or lobe edge.The sandstone sorting and physical properties are gradually improved from near-source to far-source.When multi-stage sand bodies are superimposed,the sand-mud ratio in the later stage is higher than that in the earlier stage,making the physical properties get better in the later stage.

Late Eocene–early Miocene provenance evolution of the Crocker Fan in the southern South China Sea

There are many large-scale Cenozoic sedimentary basins with plentiful river deltas,deep-water fans and carbonate platforms in the southern South China Sea.The Crocker Fan was deposited as a typical submarine fan during the late Eocene–early Miocene,and stretches extensively across the entire Sarawak–Sabah of the northern Borneo area.However,systematic analyses are still lacking regarding its sediment composition and potential source suppliers.No consensus has been reached yet on the provenance evolution and sedimentary infilling processes,which seriously impeded the oil-and-gas exploration undertakings.By combining with sedimentaryfacies identification,heavy mineral assemblages,elemental geochemistry and detrital zircon U-Pb dating,this paper aims to generalize an integrated analysis on the potential provenance terranes and restore source-to-sink pathways of the Crocker Fan.In general,the Crocker Fan was initially formed over the Cretaceous–lower/middle Eocene Rajang Group by an angular Rajang unconformity.The continual southward subduction of the protoSouth China Sea resulted in magmatic activities and subsequent regional deformation and thrusting along the Lupar Line in the northern Borneo.The lowermost Crocker sequence is featured by a thick conglomerate layer sourced from in-situ or adjacent paleo-uplifts.From the late Eocene to the early Miocene,the Crocker Fan was constantly delivered with voluminous detritus from the Malay Peninsula of the western Sundaland.The Zengmu Basin was widely deposited with delta plain and neritic facies sediments,while the Brunei-Sabah Basin,to the farther east,was ubiquitously characterized by turbiditic sequences.The Crocker Fan successions are overall thick layers of modest-grained sandstones,which formed high-quality reservoirs in the southern South China Sea region.

Platform Evolution in an Oligo-Miocene Back-arc Basin:An Example from the Central Iran Basin

The Qom Formation is the most important hydrocarbon reservoir target in Central Iran.The Qom platform developed in a back-arc basin during the Oligo-Miocene due to the closing of the Tethyan Seaway.This formation consists of a variety of carbonate and non-carbonate facies deposited on a platform ranging from supratidal to basin.A combination of tectonic and eustatic events led to some lateral and vertical facies variations in the study area.Six third-order depositional sequences and related surfaces were identified regarding vertical facies changes in the studied sections of this Oligo-Miocene succession.According to all results and data,this succession was initially deposited during the Chattian upon a distally steepened ramp of siliciclastic-carbonate composition,including the Bouma sequence.Then,from the late Chattian to the Aquitanian,the platform changed into a homoclinal carbonate ramp with a gentle profile.With respect to tectonic activity,this phase was a calm period during the deposition of the Qom Formation.Finally,a drowned carbonate platform and a rimmed shelf emerged during the Burdigalian,terminated by the continental deposits of the Upper Red Formation.Regarding all geological characteristics,three main tectono-eustatic evolutionary phases have been recognized in the Qom back-arcbasin.

Sedimentary Features and Distribution of High-Quality Reservoirs in the Ledong Area, Yinggehai Basin

The Ledong-30 area is located in the southern part of the central depression of the Yinggehai basin, where the exploration activity aims to gas in the middle and deep strata is started lately. The previous studies on the sedimentary system and main controlling factors of reservoir formation are mainly focused on the middle and shallow strata above the Huangliu Formation. Based on a fine interpretation of seismic data, the sedimentary characteristics, internal structures, and distribution rules of submarine fans and gravity flow channels in the Ledong-30 area are analyzed in this paper. In addition, the dynamic migration processes of their planar distribution and the vertical evolution law (vertical sequence combinations and superposition features of turbidity events) are also addressed. At last, the internal structural characteristics of the gravity flow system and comprehensive formation mechanisms of the large-scale gravity flow sediments (turbidities fans) are also been analyzed, which is helpful for the prediction of favorable reservoir distribution. The results can be used directly to guide oil and gas exploration in the Ledong area of the Yinggehai basin.

Glossary:A supplement to “Submarine fans:A critical retrospective(1950-2015)” in the Journal of Palaeogeography (2016,5[2])

In this Gtossary, setected terms and concepts associated with submarine fans are defined.

Evolution of deepwater sedimentary environments and its implication for hydrocarbon exploration in Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea

Over the past several years, a number of hydrocarbon reservoirs have been discovered in the deepwater area of Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea. These oil/gas fields demonstrate that the evolution of the deepwater sedimentary environment are controlling the formation and distribution of large-scale clastic reservoirs. Integration between seismic and borehole data were necessary to best clarify the distribution and quality of these deepwater reservoirs. Geochemical and paleobiological evidence from discrete samples was also applied to document specific information regarding the sedimentary environment. Results show that the Qiongdongnan Basin has existed as a thriving marine environment since Oligocene, when several rifting depressions developed throughout the entire Qiongdongnan Basin. Triggered by the faults activities, several distinct provenances supplied the coarse sediments, transporting and depositing them in deep parts of the rifting depressions. A fan delta system then formed nearby the source in the deeper area of these rifting depressions. The sedimentary environment of Qiongdongnan gradiationally became deepwater since early Miocene. Consequently, abundances of sediments were transported from Hainan Island and Southern Uplift, and then sunk into the basin center. The submarine fans revealed by many boreholes in this area verified them as good reservoir. Because the area reached its lowest sea level at late Miocene and the Southern Uplift subsidenced under sea level, not providing any sediment, so that the carbonate mesa and biorhythms characteristic of this area also developed during this period. In the west part of Qiongdongnan Basin, sediments transported from Vietnam increased in response to the Tibetan Uplift. Consequently, a central canyon developed along the center of Qiongdongnan Basin, which has been confirmed by several boreholes as a favorable hydrocarbon reservoir. The clarification of the deepwater sedimentary environment’s evolution is potentially highly beneficial to future hydrocarbon exploration in the deepwater area of Qiongdongnan Basin.

Deep-water Depositional Features of Miocene Zhujiang Formation in Baiyun Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin

Eleven lithofacies and five lithofacies associations were indentified in the Miocene Zhujiang Formation on the basis of detailed core analysis. It could he determined that three depositional types developed, namely submarine fan, basin and deep-water traction current. Six microfacies were further recognized within the fan, including main channels in the inner fan, distributary channels in the middle fan, inter-channels, levees and the outer fan. The lower Zhujiang Formation, mainly sandstone associations, was inner fan and inner-middle fan deposits of the basin fan and the slope fan. The middle part, mainly mudstone associations, was outer fan deposits. With the transgression, the submarine fan was finally replaced by the basinal pelagic deposits which were dominated by mudstone associations, siltstone associations, and deep-water limestone associations. During the weak gravity flow activity, the lower channels, the middle-upper outer fans and basin deposits were strongly modified by the deep-water traction current. The identification of the deep-water traction deposition in Miocene Zhujiang Formation would be of great importance. It could be inferred that the deep- water traction current had been existing after the shelf-break formation since the Late Oligocene （23.8 Ma） in the Baiyun sag, influencing and controlling the sediment composition, the distribution, and depositional processes. It would provide great enlightenment to the paleo-oceanic current circulation in the northern South China Sea.

Submarine fans： A critical retrospective (1950-2015)

When we look back the contributions on submarine fans during the past 65 years （1950 -2015）, the empirical data on 21 modern submarine fans and I0 ancient deep-water sys- tems, published by the results of the First COMFAN （Committee on FANs） Meeting （Bouma eta｜., 1985a）, have remained the single most significant compilation of data on submarine fans. The 1970s were the ＂heyday＂ of submarine fan models. In the 21st century, the general focus has shifted from submarine fans to submarine mass movements, internal waves and tides, and contourites. The purpose of this review is to illustrate the complexity of issues surrounding the origin and classification of submarine fans. The principal ele- ments of submarine fans, composed of canyons, channels, and lobes, are discussed using nine modern case studies from the Mediterranean Sea, the Equatorial Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Pacific, the NE Indian Ocean （Bay of Bengal）, and the East Sea （Korea）. The Annot Sandstone （Eocene-Oligocene）, exposed at Peira-Cava area, SE France, which served as the type locality for the ＂Bouma Sequence＂, was reexamined. The field details are documented in questioning the validity of the model, which was the basis for the turbidite- fan link. The 29 fan-related models that are of conceptual significance, developed during the period 1970-2015, are discussed using modem and ancient systems. They are： （I） the classic submarine fan model with attached lobes, （2） the detached-lobe model, （3） the channel-levee complex without lobes, （4） the delta-fed ramp model, （5） the gully-lobe model, （6） the suprafan lobe model, （7） the depositional lobe model, （8） the fan lobe model, （9） the ponded lobe model, （I0） the nine models based on grain size and sediment source, （11） the four fan models based on tectonic settings, （12） the Jackfork debrite model, （13） the basin-floor fan model, （14） supercritical and subcritical fans, and （15） the three types of fan reservoirs. Each model is unique, and the long-standing belief that submarine fans are composed of turbidites, in particular, of gravelly and sandy high-density turbi- dites, is a myth. This is because there are no empirical data to validate the existence of gravelly and sandy high-density turbidity currents in the modern marine environments. Also, there are no experimental documentation of true turbidity currents that can trans- port gravels and coarse sands in turbulent suspension. Mass-transport processes, which include slides, slumps, and debris flows （but not turbidity currenrs）, are the most viable mechanisms for transporting gravels and sands into the deep sea. The prevailing notion that submarine fans develop during periods of sea-level lowstands is also a myth. The geologic reality is that frequent short-term events that last for only a few minutes to several hours or days （e.g., earthquakes, meteorite impacts, tsunamis, tropical cyclones, etc.） are more important in controlling deposition of deep-water sands than sporadic long- term events that last for thousands to millions of years （e.g., lowstand systems tract）. Submarine fans are still in a stage of muddled turbidite paradigm because the concept of high-density turbidity currents is incommensurable.

Age of the Purported Zhanjin Formation in Gêrzê County, Tibet: A New Understanding and Its Significance

The Upper Carboniferous Zhanjin Formation has attracted much attention from geoscientists for containing glacial–marine diamictite and cold-water fauna typified by the bivalve Eurydesma.The presence of this Formation has provided important evidence for determining the northern border of Gondwana.Previous researchers have classified those strata north of Niangrong Co in the Gêrzê region as part of the Zhanjin Formation based on the presence of glacial–marine diamictite, although the absence of biological fossil evidence has defied clear age determination.Our field investigations first discovered large quantities of corals, sponges and bryozoans.All coral fossils were identified as belonging to the Hexacorallia subclass including 13 genera and 25 species, primarily including Conophyllia guiyangensis Deng et Kong, Coryphyllia regularis Cuif, Cuifia columnaris Roniewicz, Distichophyllia norica Frech, Distichophyllia gigas Vinassa de Regny, Pamiroseris rectilamellosa Winkler, Retiophyllia clathrata Emmrich, and Retiophyllia paraclathrata Roniewicz.Extensive biostratigraphic correlations show that the hexacorallia should belong to the Late Triassic, thereby negating the presence of the Zhanjin Formation in the study area.Based on analyses of sedimentary facies and detailed study of the glacial–marine diamictite as supposed by earlier researchers, the limestone blocks and gravels within the facies are slope facies olistostromes and waterway sediments from lime slurry debris flows in the submarine fan rather than primary sedimentary products.Among them, lenticular sandstone should be sequentially distributed waterway sand bodies, indicating that the strata have no glacial–marine diamictite.In addition, the rocks containing the mentioned fossils are just limestone blocks from olistostromes, and limestone gravels from waterways of submarine fans.Such a result further negates the presence of the Zhanjin Formation in the study area, and indicates that the age of the studied strata should be youner than the Late Triassic.Through regional stratigraphic comparisons and the study of tectonic settings of the strata, the sedimentary characteristics of the subject strata, including lithology, lithofacies and fossils, are confirmed to be similar to the widely distributed Sêwa Formation in this region.We thus infer that the strata belong to the Middle–Lower Jurassic Sêwa Formation.This finding is important for both studying paleogeography of Tibet and determining the northern boundary of Gondwana.

Cambrian- Ordovician Deep - Water Deposits in Southwest Jiangxi, China

The Cambrian-Ordovician rocks in southwestern Jiangxi are mainly composed of deep-water deposits, in which 5 facies have been recognized: sandstone facies, sandstone-mudstone facies, siltstone-mudstone facies, mudstone (slate)facies, and chert facies. They are of turbidity current origin and are related to pelagic and hemipelagic deposits. In the light of facies distribution, the Cambrian-Ordovician deposits can be classified into 3 facies associations formed in middle fan, outer fan and deep-sea plain environments respectively. The 3 different orders of vertical cycles in the stratigraphic sequence are considered to be controlled by factors such as sea-level fluctuation, basin subsidence and submarine fan progradation. The tectonic setting of the sedimentary basin is interpreted as passive continental margin based on the chemical composition analysis of the sandstone.

Words of the Editor-in-Chief——A state-of-the-art academic paper: Submarine fans: A critical retrospective(1950-2015)

Prof. Dr. G. Shanmugam is a distinguished, pragmatic and iconoclastic geologist, especially a deep water process sedimentologist. This paper entitled “Submarine fans： A critical retrospective （1950-2015）” by Prof. Dr. G. Shanmugam published in the 2016 April issue of Journal of Palaeogeography, is not only a research result and a retrospective of submarine fans worldwide （1950-2015）, but also a guide for future research.

A remarkable decade of learning and sharing knowledge through the Journal of Palaeogeography(JoP)(2014-2024):Reminiscences from an Associate Editor-in-Chief

In this editorial,an Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Palaeogeography(JoP)reminisces his publication experience in JoP during the period 2014-2024.1)During a period of nine years,he contributed eight review articles,three discussions,two replies,one book review,one glossary,and one tribute to the first Editor-in-Chief Prof.Zeng-Zhao Feng.His contributions totaled 534 printed pages.2)His contributions examined 19 different domains,such as landslides,submarine fans,seismites,SSDS,hyperpycnites,rivers,etc.3)His contributions coincided with the formative years of JoP.4)The impact of his articles is evident from the Stats published by ResearchGate.For example,his review article“The Landslide Problem”has reached11,611 Reads and 186 Citations after nine years of publication in 2015.5)In 2023,the CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure)recognized his article“Submarine fans:a critical retrospective(1950-2015)”as the Top-1%most-highly cited publications in the Journal of Palaeogeography published during a 10-year survey period:2012-2022.6)He was inducted as a Founding Member of the International Society of Palaeogeography(ISP)at Changping District of China University of Petroleum(Beijing),Beijing on July 16,2022.7)His JoP editorship during the past 10 years has been the most challenging,inspiring,and rewarding experience of his global scientific journey spanning over six decades(1962-2024).

The hyperpycnite problem

Sedimentologic, oceanographic, and hydraulic engineering publications on hyperpycnal flows claim that （1） river flows transform into turbidity currents at plunge points near the shoreline, （2） hyperpycnal flows have the power to erode the seafloor and cause submarine canyons, and, （3） hyperpycnal flows are efficient in transporting sand across the shelf and can deliver sediments into the deep sea for developing submarine fans. Importantly, these claims do have economic implications for the petroleum industry for predicting sandy reservoirs in deep-water petroleum exploration. However, these claims are based strictly on experimental or theoretical basis, without the supporting empirical data from modern depositional systems. Therefore, the primary purpose of this article is to rigorously evaluate the merits of these claims. A global evaluation of density plumes, based on 26 case studies （e.g., Yellow River, Yangtze River, Copper River, Hugli River （Ganges）, Guadalquivir River, Rio de ]a Plata Estuary, Zambezi River, among others）, suggests a complex variability in nature. Real-world examples show that density plumes （1） occur in six different environments （i.e., marine, lacustrine, estuarine, lagoon, bay, and reef）; （2） are composed of six different compositional materials （e.g., siliciclastic, calciclastic, planktonic, etc.）; （3） derive material from 11 different sources （e.g., river flood, tidal estuary, subglacial, etc.）; （4） are subjected to 15 different external controls （e.g., tidal shear fronts, ocean currents, cyclones, tsunamis, etc.）; and, （5） exhibit 24 configurations （e.g., lobate, coalescing, linear, swirly, U-Turn, anastomosing, etc.）. Major problem areas are： （1） There are at least 16 types of hyperpycnal flows （e.g., density flow, underflow, high-density hyperpycnal plume, high-turbid mass flow, tide-modulated hyperpycnal flow, cyclone-induced hyperpycnal turbidity current, multi-layer hyperpycnal flows, etc.）, without an underpinning principle of fluid dynamics. （2） The basic tenet that river currents transform into turbidity currents at plunge points near the shoreline is based on an experiment that used fresh tap water as a standing body. In attempting to understand all density plumes, such an experimental result is inapplicable to marine waters （sea or ocean） with a higher density due to salt content. （3） Published velocity measurements from the Yellow River mouth, a classic area, are of tidal currents, not of hyperpycnal flows. Importantly, the presence of tidal shear front at the Yellow River mouth limits seaward transport of sediments. （4） Despite its popularity, the hyperpycnite facies model has not been validated by laboratory experiments or by real-world empirical field data from modern settings. （5） The presence of an erosional surface within a single hyperpycnite depositional unit is antithetical to the basic principles of stratigraphy. （6） The hypothetical model of ＂extrabasinal turbidites＂, deposited by river-flood triggered hyperpycnal flows, is untenable. This is because high-density turbidity currents, which serve as the conceptual basis for the model, have never been documented in the world＇s oceans. （7） Although plant remains are considered a criterion for recognizing hyperpycnites, the ＂Type 1＂ shelf-incising canyons having heads with connection to a major river or estuarine system could serve as a conduit for transporting plant remains by other processes, such as tidal currents. （8） Genuine hyperpycnal flows are feeble and muddy by nature, and they are confined to the inner shelf in modern settings. （9） Distinguishing criteria of ancient hyperpycnites from turbidites or contourites are muddled. （10） After 65 years of research since Bates （AAPG Bulletin 37： 2119-2162, 1953）, our understanding of hyperpycnal flows and their deposits is still incomplete and without clarity.

3D palaeogeographic reconstructions of the Phanerozoic versus sea-level and Sr-ratio variations:Discussion

Verard et el. （2015, Journal of Palaeogeography, 4（1 ）： 64-84） claim that their global geodynamic model allows one to reconstruct the surface features of topography on rand and in adjacent oceans （i.e., pateobathymetry） anywhere on the gtobe and at any geological time during the past 600 miltion years （Ma）. Such a grand model requires a rigorous scrutiny. The purpose of this discussion is to illustrate that the modet suffers from （1） the selective omission of real-world datasets that do not fit the model, （2） the inclusion of datasets without revealing their original sources or without citing relevant peer-reviewed publications, （3） the emphasis on ＇unpublished＇ internal company datasets that disallow open access to the international scientific community, and （4） the use of poorly understood concepts without providing the basic conceptual clarity. These deficiencies undermine the credibility of the heuristic modet.