Research-paper
The "value" of bivariate methods for identification and discrimination of fluvial sandstones from the Lower Cretaceous Hatira Formation northern Negev, Israel
Weinberger, Gavriel; Flexer, Akiva; Livnat, Alexander
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Abstract
The Lower Cretaceous Hatira Formation of the northern Negev (Israel) attains a thickness of about 400 m. It consists mainly of quartz arenites of fluvial origin and of subordinate limestones and dolomites. Samples collected from the fluvial sands have been analysed by various combinations of bivariate plots employed for discrimination of environments. Only one of the seven bivariate plots employed fully identified the fluvial environment. All bivariate plots correctly identified the channel-floor paleodepositional units of Hatira Formation as fluviatile. In contrast, some sandstone samples collected from the in- channel paleodepositional units have been identified as fluviatile, whereas others have been characterized as of marine origin. Samples collected from the bar-top and overbank paleodepositional units have been identified by all bivariate plots as depositional products of beach and wave processes. It is concluded that the use of bivariate textural plots is inadequate when employed towards the reconstruction and interpretation of sedimentary environments; other techniques must be employed in order to yield unambiguous solutions.