Ripple-drift Cross-lamination in Turbidites of the Ordovician Cloridorme Formation, Gaspe, Quebec

Abstract

<p> 49 beds of ripple-drift cross-lamination were measured in the Ordovician Cloridorme Formation of Gaspe, Quebec. Most of the beds are Bouma C (cross-laminated), some are BC (parallel lamination pas sing up into cross-lamination) and a few are AC and ABC types (graded bedding passing up into parallel and cross-lamination). </p> <p> Six climbing patterns have been recognised in the ripple-drift beds, namely: concave -upward, straight, sigmoidal, convex-upward, sinuous, and disconnected-irregular. Angles of climb range from 1 to 44 degrees. Commonly the angle of climb steepens up through the coset to about 1/2 or 3/4 of the coset thickness and then gradually flattens out until the bed is plane. </p> <p> Measurements of wave length, amplitude, stoss -angle, lee-angle, angle of climb and ratio of lee- to stoss-lamina thicknesses show that the wave length continues to increase upward, and the lee/stoss thickness ratio decreases upward through the coset. The amplitude, and stoss- and lee-angles increase upward through that portion of the coset in which the angle of climb increases upward. Simultaneously with the increase in amplitude and angle of climb, the shape of the foreset laminae becomes progressively more and more sigmoidal. </p> <p> Down-current changes in lamination types were recorded in several beds. The most interesting change is from parallel lamination down-current into ripple-drift, continuing downcurrent back into parallel lamination. </p>