Sedimentary facies, lithofacies paleogeography, and an evaluation of the Ordovician sequences in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China

Ordovician strata in the Sichuan Basin occur in formations of varying thicknesses. Deposited in intracratonic and craton margin depressions of the Yangtze Block, these strata are rarely exposed in the basin with poorly described facies types and multiple controversies in sequence stratigraphy, which can lead to inaccurate interpretations of depositional settings and paleogeography. We studied outcrops, samples, and thin sections, and conducted interpretations of the environment of deposition and sequence stratigraphy as well as the lithofacies paleogeographic characteristics of different depositional stages of Ordovician units. Macroscopic facies (08) and their associated microfacies (14) were identified from outcrops and thin sections. The depositional environments of the carbonate rocks were interpreted using the standard microfacies types (SMF) of Flugel (2010) as a reference. The Ordovician units in the Sichuan Basin were divided into three 2nd-order sequences, including two complete cycles (SSQ1 and SSQ2) and one semi-cycle (SSQ3), and further subdivided into ten 3rd-order sequences (SQ1SQ10). Ordovician units were partitioned into seven formations: the Tongzi, Honghuayuan, Meitan, Shizipu, Baota-Linxiang, and Wufeng formations. Based on the variation characteristics of the carbon-13 isotope (delta 13C) curve, two large cycles of sea-level rise and fall were detected in the study area. An extensional rifting event occurred in the basin during the first cycle (Lower Tongzi Formation to Early/Middle Meitan Formation). The basin was in a compressive stage during the second cycle (Late Meitan Formation to Late Wufeng Formation). The Early Ordovician Tongzi and Honghuayuan formations were deposited in shallow water. During the deposition of these units, shoal facies occurred in the platform margin. Afterward, rimmed carbonate platforms occurred in the platform margin with a fauna mainly composed of brachiopods, echinoderms, trilobites, bryozoans, and algae. The Middle Ordovician Meitan Formation is characterized by increased clastic components deposited in continental shelf environments with graptolite and trilobite fossils. The Late Ordovician Baota Formation is marked by the development of slope facies deposited in carbonate ramp environments with cephalopod and trilobite fragments. The Late Ordovician Wufeng Formation was deposited in deep water shelf settings characterized by graptolite fossils. Tectonic activities and relative sea-level change mainly controlled the paleogeographic pattern and the evolution of the Sichuan Basin. The results presented in this study provide valuable insights and fill a significant gap in facies analysis, sequence stratigraphic division, and paleogeography of Ordovician units in the Sichuan Basin.