Stratigraphic classification of ancient lakes: Balancing tectonic and climatic controls

Research Article| February 01, 1999 Stratigraphic classification of ancient lakes: Balancing tectonic and climatic controls Alan R. Carroll; Alan R. Carroll 1Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 1215 West Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kevin M. Bohacs Kevin M. Bohacs 2Exxon Production Research Company, P.O. Box 2189, Houston, Texas 77252, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Alan R. Carroll 1Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 1215 West Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Kevin M. Bohacs 2Exxon Production Research Company, P.O. Box 2189, Houston, Texas 77252, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1999) 27 (2): 99–102. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)0272.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Alan R. Carroll, Kevin M. Bohacs; Stratigraphic classification of ancient lakes: Balancing tectonic and climatic controls. Geology 1999;; 27 (2): 99–102. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)0272.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Lakes and lake deposits present two fundamental paradoxes: (1) Modern lakes are vastly complicated, but the rock records of lakes are relatively simple; extensive observations reveal three distinct facies associations of common and widespread occurrence. These are referred to here as fluvial-lacustrine, fluctuating profundal, and evaporative facies associations. (2) Most explanations of modern and ancient lakes attribute their nature to climate, but neither modern lake parameters (lake size, depth, and salinity) nor the character of ancient-lake strata (thickness, extent, lithology) correlate with measured or inferred climatic humidity. We propose that it is the relative balance of rates of potential accommodation (mostly tectonic) with sediment + water fill (mostly a function of climate) that controls lake occurrence, distribution, and character. Lake basins may be termed overfilled, balanced fill, or underfilled, depending on the balance between these rates. We conclude that climate and tectonics exert coequal influence on lake deposits at both mesoscales (1 m to hundreds of meters) and macroscales (hundreds to thousands of meters). This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.