The late Pleistocene - Holocene sedimentary evolution in the  Ba Lat River mouth area of the Red River Delta

Dien Tran Ngoc; Ha Vu Van; Amelie Paszkowski; Quang Nguyen Minh; Dao Ngo Thi; Min Nguyen Thi; Tung Dang Xuan; Dung Nguyen Chi; Tuyen Vu Ngoc; Tung Nguyen Khanh; Huan Tran Ngoc

doi:10.15625/2615-9783/18408

Author affiliations

Authors

Tran Ngoc Dien Department of Marine Geology and Minerals - General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam
Vu Van Ha 1-Institute of Geological Sciences, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2-Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Amelie Paszkowski Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, UK
Nguyen Minh Quang Institute of Geological Sciences, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ngo Thi Dao Institute of Geological Sciences, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Min Institute of Geological Sciences, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Dang Xuan Tung Institute of Geological Sciences, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nguyen Chi Dung Institute of Geological Sciences, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Vu Ngoc Tuyen Department of Marine Geology and Minerals - General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nguyen Khanh Tung Department of Marine Geology and Minerals - General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tran Ngoc Huan Department of Marine Geology and Minerals - General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/18408

Keywords:

Red River Delta, Late Pleistocene - Holocene, sedimentary facies, incised valley

Abstract

The Ba Lat estuary is part of the downstream stretch of the Red River Delta, the second-largest Delta in Vietnam and the 12^th largest in the world. This study analyses GAT borehole sediments in the Ba Lat estuary area to assess environmental changes during the Late Pleistocene - Holocene period. This entailed detailed analyses of 70 m-deep borehole data from the Ba Lat estuary area, including structural analysis of 70 m-deep sediment core samples, 230 samples of grain size, 49 samples of Foraminifera, five samples of petrographic thin slices, and four samples of radiocarbon dating.

The data reveal nine sedimentary facies, including river channel sand facies, floodplain clayey silt facies, tidal flat sandy-silty facies, bay clayey silt facies, pro-delta clayey silt facies, delta front sandy-silty clay facies, mouth bar sand facies, tidal flat sandy - silty clay facies, and delta plain silty clay facies. The combined nine sedimentary facies formed sequentially in time, representing the evolution of the sedimentary environment from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene and the evolutionary process from the continental to the estuarine and Delta environment.

The results also enable the geographic identification and delineation of the incised valley in the Red River Delta during the Late Pleistocene to Holocene period. The sedimentation rate in the incised valley varies from period to period. In the sedimentation phase of the incised valley, the average accretion rate reached 11.64 mm/year. In contrast, during the open sea regime (shallow sea near the coast), the accretion rate was observed to be very low, with a rate of 1.27 mm/year and the period of delta formation had the highest accretion rate, reaching 13.41 mm/year.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Armon R.H., Hänninen O., 2015. Environmental indicators. Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg, 350p.

Davis R.A., 1992. Depositional Systems: An Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Prentice Hall, 634p.

Debenay J.-P., 2012. A Guide to 1,000 Foraminifera from Southwestern Pacific: New Caledonia. IRD Editions, 385p.

Debenay J.-P., Bénéteau E., Zhang J., Stouff V., Geslin E., Redois F., Fernandez-Gonzalez M., 1998. Ammonia beccarii and Ammonia tepida (Foraminifera): morphofunctional arguments for their distinction. Mar. Micropaleontol, 34, 235-244.

Doan Thi O., Duong Thi T., Nguyen Thi Nhu H., Hoang Thi Q., Le Thi Phuong Q., Duong Hong P., Le Phuong T., Bui Huyen T., 2021. Preliminary results on microplastics in surface water from the downstream of the Day River. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 43(4), 485-495. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/16504.

Duong N.T., 2009. Palynological investigation from a deep core at the Coastal area of the Red River Delta, Vietnam. VNU J. Sci. Earth Environ. Sci., 25, 192-203.

Duong N.T., Lieu N.T.H., Cuc N.T.T., Saito Y., Huong N.T.M., Phuong N.T.M., Thuy A.T., 2020. Holocene paleoshoreline changes of the Red River delta, Vietnam. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol, 278, 104235.

Fan D., 2012. Open-coast tidal flats. Princ. Tidal Sedimentol, 187-229.

Funabiki A., Haruyama S., Van Quy N., Van Hai P., Thai D.H., 2007. Holocene delta plain development in the Song Hong (Red River) delta, Vietnam. J. Asian Earth Sci., 30, 518-529.

Gallagher S.J., Wallace M.W., Li C.L., Kinna B., Bye J.T., Akimoto K., Torii M., 2009. Neogene history of the West Pacific warm pool, Kuroshio and Leeuwin currents. Paleoceanography, 24, PA1206. Doi.org/10.1029/2008PA001660.

Hai N.M., Ouillon S., Vinh V.D., 2022. Sea-level rise in Hai Phong coastal area (Vietnam) and its response to ENSO-evidence from tide gauge measurement of 1960-2020. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 44(1), 109-126.

Hanebuth T., Stattegger K., Grootes P.M., 2000. Rapid Flooding of the Sunda Shelf: A Late-Glacial Sea-Level Record. Science, 288, 1033-1035.

Hanebuth T.J.J., Saito Y., Tanabe S., Vu Q.L., Ngo Q.T., 2006. Sea levels during late marine isotope stage 3 (or older?) reported from the Red River delta (northern Vietnam) and adjacent regions. Quat. Int., Quaternary sea-level changes: contributions from the 32nd IGC 145-146, 119-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2005.07.008.

Hoan H.V., Larsen F., Pham Quy N., Tran Vu L., Nguyen Thi Thanh G., 2022. Recharge mechanism and salinization processes in coastal aquifers in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 44(2), 213-238. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/16864.

Hoang Van L., Nguyen Tien T., Vu Tat T., Nguyen Thanh T., Nguyen Lam A., Dao Bui D., Le Van D., Tran Ngoc D., Nguyen Huu H., 2021. Holocene sedimentation offshore Southeast Vietnam based on geophysical interpretation and sediment composition analysis. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 43(3), 336-379. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/16268.

Hori K., Tanabe S., Saito Y., Haruyama S., Nguyen V., Kitamura A., 2004. Delta initiation and Holocene sea-level change: example from the Song Hong (Red River) delta, Vietnam. Sediment. Geol., 164, 237-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2003.10.008.

Lac M.V., Thu V.A., Thuoc D.T.B., 2009. Ecological and evolutionary divergence of Foraminifera in the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 31(2), 139-147.

Lam D.D., Boyd W.E., 2001. Some facts of sea-level fluctuation during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene in HaLong Bay and Ninh Binh area (in Vietnam). Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 23(1), 86-91.

Le Duc L., Nguyen H., Shinjo R., B. Shakirov R., Obzhirov A., 2021. Chemical, mineralogical, and physicochemical features of surface saline muds from Southwestern sub-basin of the East Vietnam Sea: Implication for new peloids. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 43(4), 496-508. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/16561.

Le N.D., Hoang T.T.H., Duong T.T., Phuong N.N., Le P.T., Nguyen T.D., Phung T.X.B., Le T.M.H., Le T.L., Vu T.H., Le T.P.Q., 2022. Microplastics in the Surface Sediment of the main Red River Estuary. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 45(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/17486.

Lei Y., Li T., 2016. Atlas of benthic Foraminifera from China seas: The Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Springer Geology, 399p. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-53878-4.

Li Shunli, Li Shengli, Shan X., Gong C., Yu X., 2017. Classification, formation, and transport mechanisms of mud clasts. Int. Geol. Rev., 59, 1609-1620. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2017.1287014.

Luu T.T., Hien N.T.T., 2022. Rooftop rainwater harvesting and artificial groundwater recharge-a case study: Thanh Xuan district in south of Hanoi. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 44(2), 286-300.

McGowen J.H., Garner L.E., 1970. Physiographic Features and Stratification Types of Coarse-Grained Pointbars: Modern and Ancient

Examples1. Sedimentology, 14, 77-111. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1970.tb00184.x.

Milliman J.D., Syvitski J.P., 1992. Geomorphic/tectonic control of sediment discharge to the ocean: the importance of small mountainous rivers. J. Geol., 100, 525-544.

Nghi T., Toan N.Q., 2000. Development history of deposits in the Quaternary of Vietnam. Weather. Crust Quat. Sediments Vietnam Dep. Geol. Miner. Vietnam, Hanoi, 177-192.

Ngoc N., Cu N.H., Bat D., 2006. Cenozoic Foraminifera in the shelf and adjacency of Vietnam, VAST, 392p.

Nichols G., 2009. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. John Wiley & Sons, 419p.

Reimer P., et al., 2020. The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curve (0-55 cal kBP). Radiocarbon, 62(4), 725-757. Doi: 10.1017/RDC.2020.41.

Reymond C.E., Mateu-Vicens G., Westphal H., 2014. Foraminiferal assemblages from a transitional tropical upwelling zone in the Golfe d'Arguin, Mauritania. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 148, 70-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.05.034.

Stanley D.J., Warne A.G., 1994. Worldwide Initiation of Holocene Marine Deltas by Deceleration of Sea-Level Rise. Science, 265, 228-231. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.265.5169.228.

Tanabe S., Hori K., Saito Y., Haruyama S., Kitamura A., 2003a. Song Hong (Red River) delta evolution related to millennium-scale Holocene sea-level changes. Quat. Sci. Rev., 22, 2345-2361.

Tanabe S., Hori K., Saito Y., Haruyama,S., Sato,Y., Hiraide S., 2003b. Sedimentary facies and radiocarbon dates of the Nam Dinh-1 core from the Song Hong (Red River) delta, Vietnam. J. Asian Earth Sci., 21, 503-513.

Tanabe S., Saito Y., Vu Q.L., Hanebuth T.J., Ngo Q.L., Kitamura A., 2006. Holocene evolution of the Song Hong (Red River) delta system, northern Vietnam. Sediment. Geol., 187, 29-61.

Thanh N.T., Liu P.J., Dong M.D., Nhon D.H., Cuong D.H., Dung B.V., Van Phach P., Thanh T.D., Hung D.Q., Nga N.T., 2018. Late Pleistocene-Holocene sequence stratigraphy of the subaqueous Red River delta and the adjacent shelf. Vietnam J. Earth Sci., 40(3), 271-287.

Zhao B., Yan X., Wang Z., Shi Y., Chen Z., Xie J., Chen J., He Z., Zhan Q., Li X., 2018. Sedimentary evolution of the Yangtze River mouth (East China Sea) over the past 19,000 years, with emphasis on the Holocene variations in coastal currents. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 490, 431-449.