Introduction

The main objective of this the work is to determine the depositional environments of the Upper
Burdigalian sedimentary sequences from outer nappes of East Carpathians, Romania. The deposits of
the studied area are strongly folded and and faulted. The sedimentary sequences we have studied
consist of shales of Burdigalian age, with thin sandstone intercalations, and thicker sandstone
deposits, which can reach several meters. Associated with the shales deposits, we also encounter
gypsum intercalations.
Methodology
In order to achieve the goal of the paper, we have applied the principles and algorithm of facies
association. We have built lithological logs separated and interpreted the depositional facies and
ultimately separated and interpreted the sequences though depositional events (Walker and James,
1992). We have gathered a set of 20 samples which will be used for a petrographic analysis in order to
determine the source area.
Results
The sedimentological mapping of the area was done layer by layer, and thus analytic and synthetic
lithological columns were drawn out for approximately 100 meters of outcrops. We have separated
the following facies using petrographic, grain size and structural criteria:

F1 : horizontally laminated shales, indicating suspension settling

F2: couplets of shales and thin sandstone horizontally laminated, with evidence of
unidirectional current at the top of the sandy units
F3: sandstone with hummocky cross stratification suggesting storm events
F4: sandstone which can reach a few meters thickness with swaley cross stratification
suggesting storm events
F5: decametric sandstone with symmetrical climbing ripples which is the result of fair
weather waves overprint
F6: metric and decimetric sandstone normally graded with chips clast at the base suggesting
cannel fill deposits
F7: decimetric sandstone, parallel laminated at the top of the channel fill deposits
F8: thin layers of gypsum, with convolute lamination which is the expression of a lagunar
restrictive environment

These facies form a coarsening up sequence with a repetitive character (Fig.1 (B) ). At the base, the
sequence starts with marine deposits, and even restrictive offshore sedimentary environment, then we
can observe the transition to shoreface deposits or possibly sandy deltaic deposits. The sand deposits
preserve a very good evidence of fair and storm weather waves. The sedimentary rate was higher, thus
water escape structures are found in the outcrops. The sequences end with massive sand deposits,
normally graded with load cast structures which suggest the presence of distributary channels in delta
plain or even delta front environments. The recurrent succession of these sequences suggests marine
transgression and regression, but the factors which led to this are still open for debate.
Keeping into account the Burdigalian overthrustings which affected the area in question (Sandulescu,
1988) we believe that the tectonic influence primed over the climatic or eustatic changes, although
evaporitic sequences were encountered.

73rd EAGE Conference & Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2011

Vienna, Austria, 23-26 May 2011

Fig 1 lithological column of the facies association, (A) Fining up sequence,

(B) Coarsening up sequence
Conclusions
The studied Burdigalian deposits, which were correlated using facies association algorithm, suggest a
transition from distal shelf to a more proximal domain characterized by sandy shoreface deposits or
wave influenced delta. The cyclic sequences with thickness reaching a few meters suggest
progradations and regressions of the facies, but the causes which led to this are still open for
discussions.
References
SNDULESCU, M., (1988), Cenozoic tectonic History of the Carpathians, in the Pannonian Basin, a
study on basin evolution. In: Royden L. H. and Horvath F. (Eds.), AAPG Memoirs, 45, p.17-25.
WALKER, R. G., JAMES, N. P. (1992), Facies models: response to sea-level change. Geological
Association of Canada ed., St.John's, Newfoundland.

73rd EAGE Conference & Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2011

Vienna, Austria, 23-26 May 2011