ABSTRACT
A stratigraphic motif observed in many foreland basins is the development of
basinward tapering siliciclastic wedges characterized by various scales of
depositional cycles. The Middle Devonian (Givetian) Mahantango Formation in the
central Appalachian foreland basin is such an example. It consists of both small-
and large-scale thickening- and coarsening-upward cycles; the small-scale cycles are
typically less than 10 m thick whereas larger-scale cycles are generally a few tens of
metres thick and commonly contain several of the smaller-scale cycles. Outcrop-
based facies analyses indicate that the depositional cyclicity resulted from episodic
progradation of a regionally straight, tide-dominated shoreline onto a storm-
dominated, shallow marine shelf. The depositional model for this ancient shallow
marine system consists of a vertical facies succession in which storm-dominated
offshore marine mudstone and fine sandstone pass gradationally upward into storm-
dominated nearshore marine shelf and shoreface sandstone overlain by, in proximal
sections, tide-dominated shoreline sandstone, pebbly sandstone and mudstone.
Transgressively reworked lag deposits cap most of the thickening- and coarsening-
upward packets. In this model, coarse-grained rocks, rather than implying basinward
shifts of facies, are a consanguineous part of the stacked shoaling cycles. Lateral facies
relationships show that the dominance of storm- vs. tide-generated sedimentary
features is simply a function of palaeogeographical position within the basin;
proximal sections contain tidally influenced sedimentary features whereas more distal
sections only display evidence for storm-influenced deposition. These results suggest
caution when inferring palaeoceanographic conditions from sedimentological datasets
that do not contain preserved examples of palaeoshorelines.
cyclicity of the Mahantango rocks records the in Pennsylvania and adjacent New York (Fig. 1).
episodic advance and retreat of a tide-dominated The formation is up to 400m thick and defines
shoreline onto a storm-dominated shelf. Thus, one of the earliest basinward prograding clastic
in this ancient shelf-shoreline system, field wedges associated with the Mid to Late Devonian
evidence that reflects the principal sediment Acadian orogeny [Dennison & Hasson, 1976;
transport process is strongly biased by palaeogeo- Ettensohn, 1985; Faill, 1985). It consists mostly
graphical position within the basin; shorelines of shallow marine fossiliferous mudstone and
were tide-dominated whereas sediment dispersal sandstone arranged in a nested hierarchy of
on the shelf was mainly by storms. An appreci- coarsening-upward cycles each several metres to
ation of this potential preservational bias (distal a few tens of metres thick. Numerous workers
vs. proximal settings rather than changing palae- have investigated the Mahantango succession and
oceanographic condition) is important because have offered contrasting interpretations of the
palaeoclimate and palaeoceanographic models depositional cyclicity. These include a fluvial-
are strongly dependent on sedimentological data dominated delta (Willard, 1935; Willard et al.,
indicative of tide- or storm-generated currents 1939; Ellison, 1965; Kaiser, 1972; Faill & Wells,
along palaeoshelves. In many instances then, a 1974; Faill et al., 1978; Hoskins, 1978), a storm-
tidal influence may be fully appreciated only if dominated prograding shoreline (Goldring &
palaeoshorelines are preserved. Bridges, 1973) and a storm-generated shelf sand
ridge system (Sarwar & Smoot, 1983; Sarwar,
STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK 1984). Our work indicates that depositional
cyclicity resulted from the repeated progradation
The Mahantango Formation (Givetian) comprises and retreat of a regionally straight, tide-influenced
the bulk of the Middle Devonian Hamilton Group shoreline system onto a storm-dominated marine
0 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedirnentology, 43, 611-629
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 613
mottled, argillaceous sandstone or sandy mud- sandstone beds as the distal portions of the
stone containing isolated remnants of stratified thicker, coarser storm deposits of facies associ-
layers. ation 2. Accordingly, the arrangement of these
The rocks of facies associations 1 and 2 contain two facies associations into metre(s1-scale
a variety of palaeoflow indicators including asym- thickening- and coarsening-upward packets (Fig.
metric ripple crests, ripple cross-lamination and 5) records progradation of proximal offshore
sole marks. The combined measurements of these marine over distal deeper marine deposits.
features from throughout the study area are The palaeoflow data from the storm deposits are
shown on Fig. 4. dispersed (Fig. 4). Nevertheless, the ripple cross-
lamination and sole mark data broadly indicate
Interpretation. Both facies associations contain that most sediment was transported west-north-
an abundant body and trace fossil assemblage westward. If, as Duke (1990) argued, these
indicative of an open marine setting. We interpret small-scale features reflect generally shore-
the decimetres-thick, sharp-based sandstones of normal directions of peak instantaneous shear
facies association 2, which display hummocky stress beneath storm-generated flows, then a more-
cross-stratification, grading and symmetric to or-less NE-SW-trending shoreline is implied.
combined-flow rippled bedtops, as episodic storm Such a trend is supported by the (admittedly
deposits under oscillatory-dominated combined sparse) wave ripple crest data (Fig. 4). This con-
flows (e.g. Dott & Bourgeois, 1982; Duke, 1985). In clusion is not surprising given that workers since
many instances their emplacement was rapid the time of Barrel1 (1913) and Willard (1935) have
enough to cause loading and foundering into the inferred such shoreline orientations for the Mid to
underlying muddy substrate (detached load casts Late Devonian strata of the central Appalachian
and ball-and-pillow structures). The mudstone foreland basin.
represents hemipelagic deposition during post-
storm and fair-weather conditions. Thus, the
interbedded mudstone and sandstone beds of Facies associations 3 and 4: hummocky and
facies association 2 record deposition well above swaley cross-stratified sandstone bodies
effective storm wave base in an offshore marine
setting. In contrast, the dominance of mudstone Description. Facies associations 3 and 4 are char-
and the thinness of sandstone beds in facies acterized by tabular sandstone bodies a few to
association 1 implies deposition in settings several metres in thickness. Facies association 3
experiencing far fewer high-energy events. We consists of fine sandstone beds that typically are
interpret the mudstones as hemipelagites of an several decimetres in thickness. Bed bases are
open marine setting well below fair-weather wave erosional, resulting in an undulatory, pinch-and-
base and the thin, sharp-based siltstone and fine swell bed geometry; lateral amalgamation of beds
(-, 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 615
shallow marine invertebrates are disseminated
throughout beds but most commonly occur as
concentrates along the erosional contacts of
SHORELINE DATA individual beds. Trace fossils are sparse and
facies assoc. 5-6 mostly Skolithos burrows.
trough cross-bedding Facies association 4 similarly consists of fine
sandstone in decimetre- to metre-thick tabular
bodies. However, in contrast to facies association
3, individual beds are difficult to distinguish
because of their textural similarity. These sand-
stones are well sorted and compositionally
mature with no mudstone partings or rip-up
'1
clasts. They are characterized by swaley cross-
stratification and flat lamination (Fig. 7). Locally,
thick-shelled brachiopod fragments and rounded
quartz granules and pebbles occur as thin concen-
trates along the bases of swales. No biogenic
structures were observed. Rarely, decimetre-thick
20" classes lenses of medium sandstone occur and display
trough cross-bedding in 5-20-cm-thick sets.
sandstone beds. The sandstones are more argilla- flat and wavy-parallel lamination, but ripple and
ceous than those in other facies associations. Beds climbing ripple cross-lamination, and small-scale
are laterally continuous across the outcrop and trough cross-bedding can be locally abundant.
typically separated by similarly continuous, thin Much less common are occurrences of small-scale
mudstone partings (Fig. 8). Bed thicknesses re- hummocky cross-stratification and structureless
main more-or-less consistent both laterally and intervals. A relatively diverse ichnofossil assem-
vertically, thus no thickening-upward trends are blage dominated by Skolithos and Planolites is
produced. There is a tendency, albeit weak, for present in varying densities. Brachiopods are the
coarsening-upward trends to occur. The bases of most plentiful body fossil and occur dispersed
sandstone beds are mostly sharp, flat, and non- throughout beds as disarticulated, abraded frag-
erosive (there is no evidence of scour into or ments or, rarely, as articulated valves. In places
truncation of underlying mudstone partings). Bed brachiopod coquinites up to 1cm thick can be
tops are commonly capped with symmetric, cur- found. Crinoid ossicles and ostracods also are
rent or combined-flow ripples and draped by present but are much less common.
mudstone. Internally, beds display a wide variety Facies association 6 consists of relatively thick
of sedimentary structures. The most common are bodies (1-lorn) of poorly sorted, medium to
0 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedirnentology, 43,611-629
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 6 1 7
coarse sandstone and, locally, sandy conglomer- of trough cross-bedding are the most prevalent
ate. Beds are several decimetres up to a couple of sedimentary structure (Fig. 10)although flat lami-
metres in thickness. Basal contacts are slightly nated and structureless intervals also occur. Many
undulatory to irregularly scoured with local relief cross-bed set boundaries as well as individual
up to 0-5 m. Many beds fine upward from basal foresets are marked by millimetre-thick argilla-
pebbly lags into medium sandstone. Pebbles ceous partings and drapes (Fig. 11) and some
are predominantly rounded to subangular, vein superposed sets show reversing flow direc-
quartz and quartzite clasts with apparent long tions. In other instances, reactivation surfaces,
axis diameters u p to 5 cm. Very rare gneissic and small current ripples, or thin sets of ripple
schistose clasts (1-2 cm diameters) occur in the cross-lamination having migration directions
most proximal sections. Some of the thicker beds opposite those of the subjacent cross-beds, define
define large channel-like structures infilled with coset bounding surfaces. In numerous places,
lateral accretion sets 1-10 m thick (Fig. 9). These decimetre-thick intervals of repetitively bundled
lateral accretion sets display sigmoidal forms finer, argillaceous and coarser, cleaner laminae
(epsilon cross-bedding) that dip up to 15relative sets occur (Fig. 1 2 ) . Shale rip-up clasts and dis-
to basal bedding surfaces. Decimetre-thick cosets articulated thick-shelled brachiopod fragments are
(> 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
618 A. R. Prave et al.
dispersed through many beds. Trace fossils are that the depositing flows within this marine set-
common and dominated by Skolithos and other ting varied in magnitude over relatively brief time
unidentified large subvertical to subhorizontal intervals. Additionally, the argillaceous textures,
burrows (diameters up to 1 cm and lengths of nonerosive sandstone bases, tabular bed geometry
1-15 cm); some of these larger burrows display a (i.e. retaining a more-or-less constant thickness at
knobby ornamentation (Rosselia?). any given occurrence) and the presence of climb-
ing ripples suggest that the sands were deposited
Interpretation. The presence of marine inverte- under rapidly decelerating flows and sediment
brates and ichnofauna indicate a nearshore fallout. The repeated draping of rippled bed tops
marine environment for both facies associations. by mudstone indicates that the transition from
However, the lithological character of facies higher energy sand-depositing events to lower
association 5 rocks, typified by diverse stratifi- energy mud deposition was rather abrupt and
cation types in sandstone of uniform grain size and of short duration. These inferences and obser-
a consistent vertical repetition of laterally continu- vations, combined with bidirectional palaeocur-
ous, thin sandstone-mudstone beds, implies rent indicators from this facies association (Fig.
0 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 619
4), are evidence that the depositing flows periodi- reactivation surfaces, mudstone drapes, and yield
cally reversed and were separated by relatively bidirectional rosettes (Fig. 4). Flat laminae sets
short episodes of slack water. Thus, we interpret commonly display centimetre-scale bundling.
these rocks as tidally influenced deposits of a Such features imply strong, in places locally con-
subtidal, nearshore setting. The paucity of wave- fined, periodically reversing flows and we inter-
formed sedimentary structures (rarity of sym- pret these rocks as tide-dominated deposits of
metric ripples and small-scale hummocky sandy subtidal (and possibly intertidal) flats dis-
cross-stratification) suggests that this setting was sected by a tidal channel network. The lateral
somewhat protected from waves and storms, in accretion bedsets and fining-upward channellized
strong contrast to the open marine settings inferred beds record the lateral migration and gradual
for facies associations 1-4. abandonment of the tidal channels.
Facies association 6 rocks are characterized Critical to the interpretation of these two facies
by their coarseness, decimetre-thick cosets of associations is the observation that facies associ-
trough cross-beds, commonly channellized bed ation 6 always occurs stratigraphically above
geometries, fining-upward trends and lateral facies association 5. Combining the observations
accretion bedsets. Cross-bed sets typically display and inferences for both facies associations, we
0 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
620 A. R. Prave et al.
conclude that they represent different but related of poorly sorted, commonly bioturbated, argil-
components of a tide-influenced shoreline; coarse laceous sandstone to sandy quartz-pebble con-
sediment was transported via an ebb-dominated glomerate (Figs 13 and 14). The composition and
distributary system (implied by the greater size of pebbles and clasts within this facies are the
number of offshore-directed palaeocurrent indi- same as those described above for facies associ-
cators for facies association 6; Fig. 4) into sandy ation 6. The lags vary from laterally discontinu-
subtidal settings. The evidence for rapid sediment ous, thin veneers of coarse clasts one to a few
fallout for facies association 5 can be explained grain diameters thick to laterally continuous
within the context of flow expansion and conse- decimetre-thick intervals composed of several
quent deceleration common to the seaward flaring distinct beds generally separated by mudstones of
(funnel-shaped) mouths of tidal channels in their lesser thickness. Most occurrences contain vary-
subtidal portions (e.g. Dalrymple, 1992). Thus, we ing abundances of abraded fossil fragments, typi-
envisage facies association 5 as subtidal channel- cally brachiopod valves, crinoid ossicles and
mouth shoals (ebb-tidal deltas?) which accumu- coral fragments; in some places coquinites form.
lated in or seaward of the tidal channel and flat Differing degrees of cementation occur; some lags
depositional system of facies association 6. are well cemented and stand in relief, others are
Although there are no preserved exposures of poorly cemented and weather recessively. Several
Middle Devonian fluvial systems in Pennsylvania, of the lags are ferruginous with iron oolites and
it was argued early on (e.g. Willard, 1935) that the hematitic cement and locally become ironstones
gravels in the Mahantango rocks must have been (Kaiser, 1972; Prave & Duke, 1990).
supplied by relatively high-gradient rivers drain- Four distinct lag types were defined on their
ing the rising Acadian highlands. The gravels stratification and textural character; single-bed,
could not have been derived from reworking multi-bed, bioturbated and cross-bedded. Single-
because similarly coarse material is mostly absent bed lags range in thickness from several centi-
in subjacent facies. Thus, the coarseness of tidal metres to a few decimetres. These lags typically
channel deposits certainly supports the inference are laterally continuous across the outcrop but
for a fluvial derivation and implies that the tidal the thinner examples can exhibit pinching-and-
channels were connected to rivers via a distri- swelling. Textures are independent of thickness
butary network debouching across a coastal plain. and can consist of either poorly sorted argilla-
ceous sandstone, pebbly sandstone or fossilifer-
Facies association 7: cycle bounding lag ous wackestone (mostly abraded brachiopod
deposits fragments). Bioturbation is not typical, but verti-
cal burrows are present locally. Multi-bed lags
Description. This facies association consists of define occurrences in which two or more single-
variably developed, sharp-based lags composed bed lags are separated by mudstone layers up to
C) 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 6 2 1
fragments, are highly abraded. Weakly developed,
large-scale, broad, shallow trough cross-bedding
gives this lag its distinctive character.
All lag occurrences, regardless of exact litho-
logical character, consistently occur at the top of
coarsening-upward cycles (Figs 1 3 and 14). In
nearly every instance, the lags comprise concen-
trates of the coarsest material eroded from sub-
jacent deposits. In several occurrences, the lags
contain clasts coarser than any present in the
immediately underlying rocks [see Fig. 14), but
nowhere are clasts larger than the largest ones
observed in facies association 6.
uniform flooding event, but rather a somewhat persistent one-to-one cycle equivalence and cor-
episodic or stuttered one. relation between sections. The small-scale cycle
development from proximal to distal sections is
even more striking; distal sites contain no evi-
DEPOSITIONAL FRAMEWORK dence for the smaller-scale depositional cyclicity
so characteristic of proximal settings (Fig. 15).
Definition of depositional cycles Thus, our stratigraphic observations indicate
that the small-scale cycles are laterally discon-
The recognition of depositional cyclicity is some- tinuous over a few kilometres and limited to the
times considered to be in the eye of the beholder. coarser, more proximal sections. In contrast,
In order to avoid such criticism, we have adopted everywhere along the orogenic margin of the cen-
three criteria by which to define cycles and their tral Appalachian foreland basin the Mahantango
bounding surfaces: (1) abrupt superposition of succession is characterized by thickening- and
two disparate facies (i.e. those that do not repre- coarsening-upward cycles typically tens of metres
sent adjacent environments in the Waltherian in thickness (Fig. 16). These larger-scale deposi-
sense) across a sharply defined surface; (2) the tional cycles are defined by an upward increase in
presence of erosively based transgressive lags of the proportion of shallow marine and shoreline
facies association 7 along such a surface; and sandstones concomitant with a decrease in deeper
( 3 ) the presence of either, or both, of the above at marine mudstone and finer sandstone. Such
the top of a sedimentary succession exhibiting a cycles are terminated by an abrupt contact with
systematic coarsening- and thickening-upward overlying deeper, offshore marine mudstone and
trend. Accordingly, the depositional framework much finer sandstone.
we propose for the Mahantango rocks is based on Significantly, Brett & Baird (1985, 1986, 1990)
the consistency of internal facies successions found that equivalent strata (i.e. the Skaneateles-
within depositional cycles, the magnitude of Ludlowville-Moscow Formations) adjacent to
inferred palaeobathymetric variation across and the cratonic (i.e. north-western) margin of the
within groupings of such cycles, and the relative Appalachian foreland basin in north-western
stratigraphic position and hierarchical rank of Pennsylvania and western New York lacked the
those cycles. We use the superposed clustering of two styles of depositional cycles we describe
smaller-scale cycles which display a progressive here. Consequently, we conclude that the
upward increase in sandstone-to-mudstone ratios Mahantango-style cycles record progradational
and, by inference, of shallower vs. deeper marine processes genetically linked to the orogenic mar-
deposits, as the criterion to define larger-scale gin of the basin. Such processes include spatial-
depositional cycles. Note that, in assessing depo- temporal variation in the physiography of the
sitional cycle development, we have kept in mind advancing shoreline (subject to the combined
the possibility of potential loss of a significant effects of wave attack, longshore drift and tidal
portion of shallower marine deposits during reworking), local variation in the position of the
transgressive ravinement. Thus, we emphasize locus of a point source (the lateral accretion
overall vertical facies trends to define larger-scale bedsets in facies association 6 are evidence that
cycles rather than relying solely on the presence tide-dominated channels migrated along the
or absence of shallowest water deposits at the shoreline), and fluctuations in siliciclastic influx
tops of such cycles. rate. The scalar difference between the small-
and large-scale cycles we attribute to relatively
Characteristics of depositional cycles shorter- vs. longer-term advance and retreat of the
shoreline. The larger-scale cycles record longer
The small-scale depositional cycles are generally duration progradational episodes of wide seg-
a few to many metres in thickness and their ments of the shoreline in contrast to more local-
development is limited to sandstone-dominated ized, short-lived progradational events of the
regions in proximal settings. Neither the number small-scale cycles. We will examine in more
of such cycles nor their internal facies character detail in a forthcoming paper the potential mech-
can be correlated cycle-by-cycle from section-to- anisms controlling such cyclicity, but note that
section (Fig. 15). There are instances in which the genesis of similar depositional cycles in fore-
the number of small cycles correspond between land basins elsewhere has commonly been linked
portions of closely spaced proximal sections, to variations in accommodation space associated
but nowhere have we been able to document with the repetitive emplacement and denudation
:C) 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedirnentology, 43,611-629
110 km -
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 623
2 kmA
-.
Splriler hrllius
horizon
-
100
f - flooding surface
of thrust loads (e.g. Jordan, 1981; Quinlan & systems. As such, specific facies models have
Beaumont, 1984; Ettensohn, 1985; Flemings & been advanced as guides for recognizing storm-
Jordan, 1989, 1990; Jordan & Flemings, 1991; vs. tide-dominated shelf deposits and thereby as
Stockmal et al., 1992; Plint et al., 1993; evidence for palaeogeographical reconstructions
Slingerland et al., 1994). and palaeoceanographic circulation (e.g. Leckie
& Walker, 1982; Cant & Hein, 1986; Knight &
McLean, 1986; McCrory & Walker, 1986; Swift
Storms vs. tides
et a]., 1991; Dalrymple, 1992; Walker & Plint,
Sedimentologists commonly use the preponder- 1992). The depositional cycles exhibited by the
ant sedimentary feature within a given facies Mahantango rocks indicate that the evidence for
succession to invoke the principal mechanism by storms vs. tides is strongly dependent upon the
which sediment was mobilized and dispersed basinal position of any given section. Sections in
along ancient nearshore marine depositional nearshore marine settings contain evidence for
(3 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
624 A. R. Prave et al.
/base Tullyl
I I I I I
I !
I
i
I I I I I
I I I I
I I I
I I
0I
i i
I Facies Association -1 7
I50
depositional
cycle 1-2
Fig. 16. Stratigraphic development of the Mahantango depositional cycles from selected sections across the orogenic
margin of the foreland basin (see inset and Fig. 1A for locations; note that sections B & C are shown as a composite
section: B is from 0 to 80 m and C is from 80 m upward). These sections are chronostratigraphically bracketed
between the base Tully surface (in most cases, exposure is poor from the top of sections to the base Tully as implied
by the vertical dashed lines) and the underlying Marcellus black shale (the Marcellus surface is not shown but occurs
several tens up to about 50 m below the base of any given section).Note that, regardless of the sandstone-to-mudstone
ratio, all sections are characterized by relatively large-scale depositional cycles (denoted by arrows to right of
columns). Facies numbers refer to those discussed in the text and depicted on Fig. 18.
strong tidal currents whereas more distal sections when gauging storm- vs. tide-dominated circu-
only contain evidence for shoaling into the zone lation on ancient shelves. Although it is difficult
of storm-generated flows. Figure 1 7 illustrates this to assess tidal ranges, tidal channels must have
relationship using two sections representative of incised to depths equivalent to heights of indi-
depositional cycle development in proximal (sec- vidual lateral accretion bedsets (some are up to
tion F, upper part of Rockville locality) and more 4 m). This implies, assuming bankfull stage, that,
distal positions (section C, Watts locality). Expo- in places, the Mahantango shoreline could have
sures are not continuous between these two experienced high mesotidal and possibly macro-
sections, and thus we cannot physically trace the tidal ranges. Similar ranges have been suggested
bounding surfaces of individual cycles and can- for the somewhat younger Frasnian-Famennian
not confidently establish cycle-to-cycle matches. Catskill seaway by Slingerland (1986).
We do know, however, that, overall, these two
successions are coeval because they are bounded
by the superposed Mediospirifer and Devon-
The idealized depositional cycle and
ochonetes zones (Ellison, 1965). The critical
Mahantango palaeography
observation is that, regardless of the exact cycle- Three major depositional systems can be inferred
to-cycle correlation, cycles in more distal posi- from a synthesis of our field data: storm-
tions are dominated by storm deposits in contrast dominated offshore marine mudstone and fine
to tidal deposition in proximal settings. This sug- sandstone (facies associations 1 and 2), storm-
gests that, unless shorelines are preserved, sedi- dominated nearshore marine shelf and shore-
mentological datasets should be used cautiously face sandstone (facies associations 3 and 4) and
0 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 43, 611-629
Storm- and tide-influenced prograding shorelines 625
and hemipelagic mudstone pass upward into
storm-emplaced shoreface sandstones which, in
more proximal settings, are overlain by tidal
channel mouth shoals, flats and distributary sys-
tem sandstones (Fig. 18A,B). A relative rise in sea
level terminated each progradational episode
80 and produced a transgressive lag above which
deeper marine deposits herald the beginning of a
new cycle.
Most previous interpretations of the Mahantango
inferred that the large-scale depositional cycles
m defined local depocentres related to switching or
avulsing of delta lobes (e.g. Willard, 1935; Kaiser,
1972; Faill et al., 1978). This interpretation implies
that such cycles are regionally restricted, yet our
work documents large-scale depositional cycles
20
everywhere along the orogenic margin (Fig. 16).
Additionally, if switching, lobate deltas were
developed, then palaeocurrent data should record
such patterns; they do not. As shown on Fig. 4 ,
transgressive lag throughout the area of the central Pennsylvania
f-flooding surface depocentre, palaeoflow directions from shoreline
facies retain a persistent NW-SE orientation. As
Tide-dominatedfacies importantly, where chronostratigraphic constraints
can be established, the coarsest shoreline deposits
appear to have limited areal development. For
example, some of the thickest such deposits in the
Storm-dominated Mahantango do not extend even 20 km in the depo-
sitional dip direction (Fig. 17). The same is true in
depositional-strike parallel directions. It appears
Fig. 17. Correlative portions of the more distal Watts that the major point sources delivering coarse de-
section (C) and the more proximal Rockville section (F; tritus to the shoreline maintained relatively fixed
see Fig. 1A for locations). These two successions record positions. Furthermore, rates of generation of
more-or-less contemporaneous development because accommodation space were increasing markedly
they occur within the superposed Mediospirifer and by Middle Devonian time (Quinlan & Beaumont,
Devonochonetes zones (Ellison, 1965). Regardless of 1984; Faill, 1985). If progradation was limited to
the exact cycle-to-cycle correlation (the two flooding delta lobes, then inter-delta regions should record
surfaces are considered correlative based on regional
trends), these overall correlative sections show strik-
significantly deeper marine settings lacking large-
ingly different sedimentation patterns; tide-dominated scale cycle development. Many sections between
deposition characterizes proximal positions (section F) the coarse depocentres are relatively fine grained
whereas storm-dominated deposition typifies more (such as section H, Fig. 16), but even the finest
distal settings (section C). The tectonic shortening grained sections exhibit large-scale cycles. Thus,
between these two sections is minimal, at most we surmise that the shoreline underwent region-
10-15%, and thus original palaeogeographical relation- ally more-or-less uniform advances (Fig. 18C).
ships are more-or-less maintained. Facies numbers
refer to those discussed in the text and depicted on Switching of major point source locations over
Fig. 18. time did not occur and that the depocentres associ-
ated with these point sources did not protrude far
out into the basin. Regions between those locations
tide-dominated shoreline sandstone, pebbly sand- probably received their finer sediment from numer-
stone and mudstone (facies associations 5 and 6). ous, smaller point sources and alongshore currents.
They are systematically arranged in thickening- On a final note, a previous interpretation for the
and coarsening-upward cycles up to a few tens of Mahantango cycles was that they resulted from
metres thick and most cycles are capped by trans- migrating shelf sand ridges (Sarwar & Smoot,
gressively reworked lag deposits (facies associ- 1983; Sarwar, 1984). We reject this interpret-
ation 7). In general, offshore marine tempestites ation because it fails to satisfactorily explain the
G 1996 International Association of Sedimentologists,Sedimentology, 43, 6 1 1-629
626 A. R. Prave et al.
B -q
Distal
"
many tens of kilometres - Proximal
rl
I
tide-dominated shoreline -
truncated by a marine
floodingldrowning surface typically
marked by a transgressive lag
deposit which heralds the
initiation of the next progradational
episode. Facies numbers refer to
TIDE-INFLUENCED those described and interpreted in
SEDIMENTATION detail in the text. (B) Tide- vs.
storm-dominated deposition simply
reflects palaeogeographical position
INFLUENCED within the basin; more proximal
SEDIMENTATION positions adjacent to the shoreline
contain evidence for tidal
influences on sedimentation
whereas those in more offshore
1-10 m positions only contain evidence for
DISTAL TO PROXIMAL CYCLE CORRELATIONS storm-influenced and hemipelagic
deposition. Numbers refer to facies
associations discussed in the text
and shown on (A). (C) Inferred
palaeogeography of the
Mahantango depositional system
0 km 100 during progradation along the
orogenic margin of the central
Appalachian foreland basin.
Terrestrial components of the
Mahantango system are not
preserved in Pennsylvania, thus
relationships landward of the
shoreline are hypothetical.
Numbers refer to facies associations
discussed in the text and shown on
(A) and (B). Letters refer to sections
shown on Fig. 1(A).