The Northwest Atlantic Mid-Ocean Channel of the Labrador Sea. V. Sedimentology of a giant deep-sea channel

1987 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1595-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhard Hesse ◽  
Sung Kwun Chough ◽  
Allan Rakofsky
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Labrador Sea ◽  
Turbidity Currents ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Seismic Profiles ◽  
Northwest Atlantic ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Meandering Channel ◽  
History Of

The Northwest Atlantic Mid-Ocean Channel (NAMOC) is one of the largest deep-sea channels of the world's oceans. During the late Cenozoic glacial period, the channel played a major role in the depositional history of the Labrador Sea and northwest Atlantic in controlling sedimentation of a broad (approx. 500 m thick and 200 km wide) lens of turbidites. This sediment sequence interfingers laterally with the acoustically transparent pelagic and contourite facies found in the Labrador Basin. The meandering channel is a depositional–erosional feature formed by submarine mass flows, predominantly turbidity currents.The channel contains a meandering talweg that appears to be associated with a sequence of submarine point bars containing thick-bedded, coarse-grained turbidites and gravel layers (channel-fill facies). Old channel positions on seismic profiles indicate that the channel has migrated laterally up to 30 km both to the west and to the east.Natural levees flank the channel for its entire length, extending laterally into turbidite plains 60–100 km wide. The spill-over facies comprises thin-bedded, fine-grained turbidites dominated by thinly laminated muds. Individual units of parallel-laminated mud, which result from single turbidity currents overtopping the channel banks, average 3 cm in thickness. A layer by layer correlation of a sequence of spill-over turbidites is possible between two adjacent cores 70 km apart. Coarse-grained off-channel sediments recently discovered on both levees at distances up to 55 km from the NAMOC occur in tributary channels.Turbidity current activity in the channel probably started with the onset of glaciation at about mid-Pliocene time and ceased at about 7000 years BP, when deglaciation proceeded rapidly. The sedimentation rate for the last episode of overbank deposition on the levees, which probably occurred between 11 000 and 7000 years BP, is 13 cm/1000 years. Towards the end of glacial episodes the northwestern Labrador Sea was probably covered with sea ice.

Crystallisation of fine- and coarse-grained A-type granite sheets of the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen, U.S.A.

2000 ◽  
Vol 91 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 139-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Hogan ◽  
M. Charles Gilbert ◽  
Jon D. Price
Keyword(s):  
Solidus Temperature ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Mafic Complex ◽  
Southern Oklahoma ◽  
History Of ◽  
Volcanic Pile ◽  
Crustal Magma

A-type felsic magmatism associated with the Cambrian Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen began with eruption of voluminous rhyolite to form a thick volcanic carapace on top of an eroded layered mafic complex. This angular unconformity became a crustal magma trap and was the locus for emplacement of later subvolcanic plutons. Rising felsic magma batches ponding along this crustal magma trap crystallised first as fine-grained granite sheets and then subsequently as coarser-grained granite sheets. Aplite dykes, pegmatite dykes and porphyries are common within the younger coarser-grained granite sheets but rare to absent within the older fine-grained granite sheets. The older fine-grained granite sheets typically contain abundant granophyre.The differences between fine-grained and coarse-grained granite sheets can largely be attributed to a progressive increase in the depth of the crustal magma trap as the aulacogen evolved. At low pressures (<200MPa) a small increase in the depth of emplacement results in a dramatic increase in the solubility of H2O in felsic magmas. This is a direct consequence of the shape of the H2O-saturated granite solidus. The effect of this slight increase in total pressure on the crystallisation of felsic magmas is to delay vapour saturation, increase the H2O content of the residual melt fractions and further depress the solidus temperature. Higher melt H2O contents, and an extended temperature range over which crystallisation can proceed, both favour crystallisation of coarser-grained granites. In addition, the potential for the development of late, H2O-rich, melt fractions is significantly enhanced. Upon reaching vapour saturation, these late melt fractions are likely to form porphyries, aplite dykes and pegmatite dykes.For the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen, the progressive increase in the depth of the crustal magma trap at the base of the volcanic pile appears to reflect thickening of the volcanic pile during rifting, but may also reflect emplacement of earlier granite sheets. Thus, the change in textural characteristics of granite sheets of the Wichita Granite Group may hold considerable promise as an avenue for further investigation in interpreting the history of this rifting event.

scholarly journals The Ogooue Fan (offshore Gabon): a modern example of deep-sea fan on a complex slope profile

Solid Earth ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 851-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salomé Mignard ◽  
Thierry Mulder ◽  
Philippe Martinez ◽  
Thierry Garlan
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Sedimentary Facies ◽  
Turbidity Currents ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Deposition Processes ◽  
Sea Fan ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The effects of changes in slope gradient on deposition processes and architecture have been investigated in different deep-sea systems both in modern and ancient environments. However, the impact of subtle gradient changes (< 0.3∘) on sedimentary processes along deep-sea fans still needs to be clarified. The Ogooue Fan, located in the northeastern part of the Gulf of Guinea, extends over more than 550 km westwards of the Gabonese shelf and passes through the Cameroon volcanic line. Here, we present the first study of acoustic data (multibeam echosounder and 3.5 kHz, very high-resolution seismic data) and piston cores covering the deep-sea part of this West African system. This study documents the architecture and sedimentary facies distribution along the fan. Detailed mapping of near-seafloor seismic-reflection data reveals the influence of subtle slope gradient changes (< 0.2∘) along the fan morphology. The overall system corresponds to a well-developed deep-sea fan, fed by the Ogooue River sedimentary load, with tributary canyons, distributary channel–levee complexes and lobe elements. However, variations in the slope gradient due to inherited salt-related structures and the presence of several seamounts, including volcanic islands, result in a topographically complex slope profile including several ramps and steps. In particular, turbidity currents derived from the Gabonese shelf deposit cross several interconnected intra-slope basins located on the low gradient segments of the margin (< 0.3∘). On a higher gradient segment of the slope (0.6∘), a large mid-system valley developed connecting an intermediate sedimentary basin to the more distal lobe area. Distribution and thickness of turbidite sands is highly variable along the system. However, turbidite sands are preferentially deposited on the floor of the channel and the most proximal depositional areas. Core description indicates that the upper parts of the turbidity flows, mainly composed of fine-grained sediments, are found in the most distal depocenters.

Characteristics and origins of ridges and troughs on the top of the Middle Miocene strata in the Beijiao sag of the Qiongdongnan basin, northern South China Sea

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-57
Author(s):  
Yufeng Li ◽  
Renhai Pu ◽  
Gongcheng Zhang ◽  
Hongjun Qu
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Northern South China Sea ◽  
Qiongdongnan Basin ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Bottom Currents ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Sediment Waves ◽  
History Of

Sedimentary structures generated by bottom currents are poorly understood worldwide. Ridges and troughs are imaged for the first time by 3D high-resolution seismic data and drilled by a well, YL19-1-1, in the Beijiao sag of Qiongdongnan basin (QDNB). Combined with 2D high resolution seismic data, they are analyzed in detail. The results show that ridges and troughs occur on the top of the Middle Miocene, dominantly present a wave-shaped structure. Their magnitudes are larger on the middle (regional) slope than on the upper and lower slope. They extend for tens of kilometers, dominantly parallel to one another, evenly spaced and nearly E-W directed distribution, some of which locally merge and bifurcate. They are aligned oblique to the regional slope. Both internal mounded reflections and parallel underlying-strata reflections, occur within ridges. The presence of polygonal faults and weak-to-moderate amplitudes within the ridges and troughs, suggests that they consist of fine-grained mudstones, as confirmed by well YL19-1-1. High amplitudes filled within troughs are probably composed of coarse-grained turbidite sandstones where polygonal faults are inhibited. Truncated reflections and onlaps occur along the thalweg of a trough, and are also clearly observed on the sides of ridges and troughs. We conclude the troughs are a product of erosion of bottom currents, and ridges are remnant underlying (sediment waves) strata as a result of this erosion. Besides, troughs are filled by turbidite sandstones with high amplitudes in the southwestern part of the study area, where ridges and troughs a combined result of early erosion by bottom currents and later reworking by turbidity flows. Conceptual schematic models are proposed to show the evolutionary history of ridges and troughs. This study provides new insights into further understanding of erosion and deposition of bottom currents.

Conditions under which a supercritical turbidity current traverses an abrupt transition to vanishing bed slope without a hydraulic jump

2007 ◽  
Vol 586 ◽  
pp. 119-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
SVETLANA KOSTIC ◽  
GARY PARKER
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Jump ◽  
Turbidity Current ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Turbidity Currents ◽  
Jump Problem ◽  
Fall Velocity ◽  
Supercritical Flow ◽  
Subcritical Flow ◽  
Fine Grained

Turbidity currents act to sculpt the submarine environment through sediment erosion and deposition. A sufficiently swift turbidity current on a steep slope can be expected to be supercritical in the sense of the bulk Richardson number; a sufficiently tranquil turbidity current on a mild slope can be expected to be subcritical. The transition from supercritical to subcritical flow is accomplished through an internal hydraulic jump. Consider a steady turbidity current flowing from a steep canyon onto a milder fan, and then exiting the fan down another steep canyon. The flow might be expected to undergo a hydraulic jump to subcritical flow near the canyon–fan break, and then accelerate again to critical flow at the fan–canyon break downstream. The problem of locating the hydraulic jump is here termed the ‘jump problem’. Experiments with fine-grained sediment have confirmed the expected behaviour outlined above. Similar experiments with coarse-grained sediment suggest that if the deposition rate is sufficiently high, this ‘jump problem’ may have no solution with the expected behaviour, and in particular no solution with a hydraulic jump. In such cases, the flow either transits the length of the low-slope fan as a supercritical flow and shoots off the fan–canyon break without responding to it, or dissipates as a supercritical flow before exiting the fan. The analysis presented below confirms the existence of a range associated with rapid sediment deposition where no solution to the ‘jump problem’ can be found. The criterion for this range is stated in terms of an order-one dimensionless parameter involving the fall velocity of the sediment. The criterion is tested and confirmed against the experiments mentioned above. A sample field application is presented.

scholarly journals A massive input of coarse-grained siliciclastics in the Pyrenean Basin during the PETM: the missing ingredient of a coeval abrupt change in hydrological regime

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 2889-2931 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Pujalte ◽  
J. I. Baceta ◽  
B. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Hydrological Regime ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Simultaneous Increase ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Carbon Isotopic ◽  
South Central

Abstract. The Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) is represented in numerous shallow and deep marine sections of the south-central and western Pyrenees by a 2–4 m thick unit (locally ca. 20 m) of clays or marly clays intercalated within a carbonate-dominated succession. The massive input of fine-grained terrestrial siliciclastics into the Pyrenean Gulf recorded by that unit has been attributed to an abrupt hydrological change during the PETM. However, the nature of such change remains controversial. Here we show that, in addition to fine-grained deposits, large volumes of coarse-grained siliciclastics were brought into the basin that were mostly accumulated in incised valleys and a long-lived deep-sea channel, both spatially restricted settings. The occurrence of these coarse-grained deposits had been known for some time, but their correlation with the PETM is reported here for the first time. The bulk of incised valley PETM deposits are cross-bedded sands and pebbly sands, almost exclusively made of quartz, currently being actively quarried. Proof of their belonging to the PETM include: (1) their stratigraphic position, sandwiched between upper Thanetian and lower Ilerdian marine carbonates, (2) organic carbon isotope data, and (3) the fact that clay minerals from the sand matrix are more than 80 % kaolinite. The axially-flowing deep-sea channel existed throughout Paleocene times in the Pyrenean Basin, within which coarse-grained calciclastic turbidites, and lesser volumes of siliciclastic turbidites, were accumulated. This Paleocene succession is capped by thick-bedded turbiditic quartz sandstones and pebbly sandstones, here assigned to the PETM based on calcareous nannoplankton, clay mineral and organic carbon isotopic data. The large and simultaneous increase in coarse- and fine-grained terrestrial siliciclastic material delivered to the Pyrenean Gulf is related to an increased intra-annual humidity gradient. During the PETM longer and drier summer seasons facilitated the erosion of landscapes, whereas a dramatic enhancement of precipitation extremes during the wet seasons led to intensified flood events with rivers carrying greater volumes of bed and suspended loads. This scenario argues against the possibility that PETM kaolinites indicate a coeval warm and humid climate in northern Spain. Instead, the erosion of thick Cretaceous lateritic profiles developed in the Hercinian basement is proposed here as the most likely alternative.

scholarly journals EFEITO DO TAMANHO DOS SEDIMENTOS SOBRE A ÁREA ATINGIDA POR FLUXOS DE DETRITOS: ESTUDO DE CASO DA BACIA DO ARROIO BÖNI, SERRA GAÚCHA.

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 299
Author(s):  
Maurício Andrades Paixão ◽  
Masato Kobiyama
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Sediment Size ◽  
History Of

The present paper aimed to evaluate the size sediment effects on runout area damaged by debris flow by using Kanako-2D in Böni Watershed, Serra Gaucha. This watershed presents a vast history of natural disasters, highlighting the events occurred in 1982 and 2000. The sediment sizes considered in the simulations and evaluated in terms of erosion, deposition and reached area were 0.15, 0.30, 0.50, 1.0, 1.3, 2.0 and 3.0 m. The sediment size strongly influenced on the erosion, deposition and total area reached by debris flow. Fine-grained sediments presented higher mobility, traveling greater distances and reaching larger areas than coarse-grained sediments. The obtained results confirm that Kanako-2D can be an important tool to predict susceptible areas to debris flow.

scholarly journals A Basin Analysis of the Wabigoon Area of Lake Agassiz, a Quaternary Clay Basin in Northwerstern Ontario

2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Sharpe ◽  
Susan E. Pullan ◽  
Timothy A. Warman
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Basin Analysis ◽  
Turbidity Currents ◽  
Seismic Profiles ◽  
Lake Agassiz ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Bedrock Topography ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Subglacial Meltwater

ABSTRACT Information from a wide range of sources is integrated in a basin analysis of the Wabigoon Basin, a Quaternary clay basin located on the Canadian Shield in northwestern Ontario. The basin sediments were deposited between 10.9 ka and 9.5 ka, along the margin of the Rainy Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, which formed the northern boundary of proglacial Lake Agassiz. The basin architecture is dominated by four major elements: end moraines, eskers, kames and a clay plain, all of which overlie irregular bedrock topography. End moraines, eskers and kames are composed mainly of a fining upward sequence of gravels and sands. The geometry of these sedimentary units, and their sedimentary structures indicates they were deposited mainly by high and low-density turbidity currents, on ice-marginal subaqueous outwash fans. Eskers contain a core of coarse gravel and sand deposited within subglacial meltwater conduits, overlain by subaqueous fan sediments deposited at the conduit mouth. Esker ridges were formed during conduit filling events and flanking deposits were formed when a conduit remained in use during ice-marginal retreat. Where conduits were shortlived, isolated subaqueous fans (kames) were formed. A depositional model is proposed which relates moraine formation to catastrophic releases of subglacial meltwater and sediment simultaneously along the entire margin of the Rainy Lobe. The clay plain forms a broad blanket of fine-grained, rhythmically-bedded sediment which obscures bedrock topography, and often buries esker and kame deposits. Seismic profiles and overburden drilling reveal deep (50-70 m) bedrock lows beneath the clay plain. These lows, oriented sub-parallel to the ice margin, acted as sediment traps, and were infilled by the deposits of underflows generated at the ice margin.

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