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CHARACTERISATION OF A DISTRIBUTIVE FLUVIAL SYSTEM: THE HYDEN FORMATION OF THE BREATHITT GROUP, CENTRAL APPALACHIAN FORELAND BASIN, U.S.A.
[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2021.
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Abstract
Recent studies of modern aggradational continental sedimentary basins have shown that such basins are typically dominated by distributive fluvial systems (DFS) and that the continental rock record may be dominated by such systems. The fluvio-deltaic Hyden Formation of the Breathitt Group in the Central Appalachian Foreland Basin has previously been characterised to have deposits that are distributive in nature. This study quantitively and conceptually characterises the lithological geometries, distributions and trends of the sandbodies within the Hyden Formation to test the predictions made by the DFS models. Individual sandbody geometries tend to be lobate to fan shaped, becoming more laterally extensive in distal regions. When stacked the sandbodies form a composite lithesome with a fan geometry. Proximal to distal trends of individual sand bodies include a decrease in total thickness and sandstone thickness. Downstream changes in sandbody architecture include; proximal regions are dominated by strongly amalgamated stacked channel-belts. Distal regions are dominated by compensationally stacked fan deposits. The study characterises quantitatively results for a possible ancient DFS with the objective of presenting a dataset that can be used for comparison with current and future DFS studies, particularly in the subsurface. The study also provides concepts to aid in petroleum exploration within continental strata.