Architecture of a Distributive Submarine Fan: The Ross Sandstone Formation

Abstract

The Ross Sandstone Formation contains some laterally continuous exposures of turbidites, and is an excellent outcrop analogue for distributive submarine fans, which form important oil and gas reservoirs around the world. This chapter presents an overview of the geological setting of the formation, together with its lithofacies and main characteristics. It discusses some excursions, which provide an opportunity to visit the principal outcrops of the Ross Sandstone Formation and examine the wide array of sedimentary structures and facies that comprise this beautifully exposed ancient distributive submarine fan. Pyles described twelve lithofacies in the Ross Sandstone, that are characterised by bed thickness, grain size, internal stratification and nature of lower bounding surfaces of beds. The chapter documents five outcrops of the Ross Sandstone in the axis of the basin. The palaeogeographic map represents a time slice through the upper Ross Sandstone.