Hydrodynamic of the Lower Eocene in the Ruvuma Basin, East Africa

doi:10.11885/j.issn.1674-5086.2024.09.03.03

Abstract

Abstract: The interaction between gravity flow and underflow can form an asymmetric unidirectional migration channel. The evolution model of unidirectional migration channel has been established by predecessors, but the hydrodynamic mechanism of the interaction between gravity flow and underflow is relatively weak. In this study, the sedimentary hydrodynamic numerical simulation of the interaction between gravity flow and underflow under different conditions in the early and late Lower Eocene in the Ruvuma Basin, East Africa was carried out. The results of the study are as follows: in the early Lower Eocene of the Ruvuma Basin, the restrictive effect of the channel is strong, and the sedimentation of gravity flow is the main effect; in the late period, Under the interaction of gravity flow and bottom current, the fine sediment at the top of gravity flow in the channel drifts northward, forming an asymmetric natural dike on the north side of the channel. Under the action of the crosswise fluid caused by the bottom current, the fine sediment at the top of the gravity flow is transported northward. As sediments gradually accumulate on the north side to form drift deposits, lateral sedimentation steepens the north side of the channel. The two opposite fluids collide in the south side of the channel, the erosion effect is enhanced, in the south side of the strong erosion, the restrictive action is weakened and a new negative terrain is formed. This asymmetric sedimentation pattern gradually migrates the sewers to the south for a long time. By revealing the depositional hydrodynamic processes of the interaction between gravity flow and bottom current in different periods of the Lower Eocene in the Ruvuma Basin, this study elucidates the sediment-erosion mechanism of the fluid structure on the channel and analyzes the genetic mechanism of the asymmetric unidirectional migration channel from the perspective of fluid dynamics.

Key words: gravity current, bottom current, numerical simulations, interactive mechanism, the Ruvuma Basin, East Africa

CLC Number:

TE122

ZHAO Wenkai, XU Xiaoyong, TIAN Dongmei, ZHANG Ying, WU Jianan. Hydrodynamic of the Lower Eocene in the Ruvuma Basin, East Africa[J]. Journal of Southwest Petroleum University(Science & Technology Edition), 2025, 47(1): 80-94.

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http://journal15.magtechjournal.com/Jwk_xnzk/EN/Y2025/V47/I1/80

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