Multiple Alluvial fan aprons: Bajadas

Note the tongue-like shapes of the

avalanche deposits;
The bigger the avalanche, the longer the tongue
40m
Characteristics of the mid-fan
Field example of debris flow
• Sometimes reversely-graded
Distal alluvial fan deposits, New Zealand
DEVONIAN alluvial fans from the
North Sea. Note enveloping facies –
mostly lacustrine.

None of the fans are producing

reservoirs
from Millennium Atlas
(Geological Society, London 2003)
Alluvial Fan wire line
has higher GR due to
muddy matrix and a higher
mica content, and lower
porosity of conglomerates

Intervening sandstones
have porosities to 20%

Conglomerates have a
diverse clast type with
basement origin
from Millennium Atlas, 2003
Profiles across petroleum-
producing alluvial fans
in a syn-rift basin,
China

(a) Seismic profile;

(b) Interpretation

(from Weimer and Link, 1990)

Schematic cross section showing stages of divergent basin margin
development (a) prerift; (b) synrift and (c) postrift

(from Weimer and Link, 1990)

 Alluvial Fan References

• AITKENSON, C.D., McGOWEN, J.H., BLOCH, S., LUNDELL, L.L. and TRUMBLY,
P.N. (1990). Braidplain and deltaic reservoir, Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska. In: Barwis,
J.H., McPherson, J.G. and Studlick, R.J. (eds). Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs.
Springer-Verlag, New York.
• HARVEY, A.M. 1997. The occurrence and role of arid zone alluvial fans. In Thomas,
D.S.G., ed., Arid Zone Geomorphology. Process form and change in drylands. Wiley.
• HEWARD, A.P. 1978. Alluvial fan sequence and megasequence models: with
examples from Westphalian D – Stephanian B coalfields, northern Spain. In: Miall,
A.D., ed., Fluvial Sedimentology. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir
5, p. 669-702.
• MACK, G.H. and RASMUSSEN, K.A. 1984. Alluvial-fan sedimentation of the Cutler
Formation (Permo-Pennsylvanian) near Gateway, Colorado. Geological Society of
America Bulletin, v.95 p. 109-116.
• STEEL, R.J., MAEHLE, S. NILSEN, H. RØE, S.L. and SPINNANGER, A. 1977.
Coarsening-upward cycles in the alluvial of Hornelen Basin (Devonian) Norway:
Sedimentary response to tectonic events. Geological Society of America Bulletin,
v.88 p. 1124-1134.
• WALKER, R.G. and JAMES, N.P. 1992. Facies Models: Response to sea level
change. Geological Association of Canada, 1992.