LESSON 7 自翻案例.docx

LESSON 7 DEPOSITIONAL BASINS AND PLATE TECTONICS From analysis of stratigraphic data accumulated during the past 100 years, it is clear that preserved sedimentary rocks are dominantly marine. There are several reasons for the dominance of marine sediments: (分析过去100年的地层学数据，明显可知残留下来的沉积岩主要在海里。海洋沉积物占大部分主要有几个原因) The light sialic material that forms a large proportion of continental masses is limited in volume, with the result that continental areas constitute only about 30% of the earths surface. The marine areas are sediment traps that cover 70% of the earths surface.（构成大陆块一大部分的硅铝质物质体积有限，导致陆地区域只占地球表面约30%，海洋由沉积物构成，占地球表面的70%） Because of the movement and subduction of oceanic lithosphere at the edges of some continental blocks, topographically depressed areas (trenches) with adjacent easily eroded highland areas exist at active continental margins.（因为板块运动和一些大陆板块边缘发生的洋壳俯冲，临近的负地形（海沟）很容易侵蚀掉活动大陆边缘的高地） There has been a pronounced tendency through time for broad areas of the continental blocks to be invaded by shallow marine waters (epicontinental seas). The resulting shallow-water marine sediments are laterally extensive on the craton, although typically they are thin. Figure 11-2 shows the number and extent of the major global transgressions and regressions of these seas, as determined from seismic records; but many more minor transgressive-regressive sequences are known to be present. The tectonic explanation for at least the major cycles is the changing volume of the oceanic rift system. An increase in volume of the ridges results in a decrease in volume of the ocean basins and subsequent flooding of the low-lying parts of continents. It is clear that there have been two first-order transgressions, the first extending from Early Cambrian to Late Cambrian time and the second from Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous time. Extensive continental flooding also was prominent from Cambrian through Mississippian time. The causes of higher order cycles might be either the waxing a