A New Unusual Ice-induced Sedimentary Structure: the Silt Mushroom.
Upon channel bars or point bars within the lows of the Yellow River, a new sedimentary structure, named 'silt mushroom', has been observed. The process of their formation is interpreted to be via the ice process. The name, the silt mushroom comes from their figurative form. This is because they look somewhat similar to mushroom's in size and shape; being in the range of 1 to 10 cm in diameter, with the medium 3-5 cm, and on average 10 cm in height, occuring generally in groups, and occasionally in isolation in relatively soft silt. They develop in the transition from winter to spring, and are convincingly related to ice processes. Ice-induced silt mushrooms are best examined in association with the many other newly discovered ice-induced sedimentary structures (over 20 kinds). Clearly, up to now, ice processes have been significantly underestimated. With the substantial discovery of the ice-induced silt mushroom, it opens up new questions. This is because its structure mirrors the same sedimentary structures found in rocks, questioning their genesis, and sedimentary environment analysis. This achievement is significant not only in sedimentology, but also in palaeogeography, palaeoclimate, geological engineering, hydraulics and fluviology.
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Zhong
Z
Jianhua
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Ni
N
Liangtian
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Sun
S
Ningliang
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Liu
L
Chuang
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Hao
H
Bing
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Cao
C
Mengchun
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Chen
C
Xin
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Luo
L
Ke
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Liu
L
Shengxin
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Huang
H
Leitong
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Yang
Y
Guanqun
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Wang
W
Shaojie
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Su
S
Feifei
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
He
H
Xuejing
School of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China.
Xue
X
Yanqiu