Collision-related break-up of a carbonate platform (Eratosthenes Seamount) and mud volcanism on the Mediterranean Ridge: preliminary synthesis and implications of tectonic results of ODP Leg 160 in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Robertson, Alastair H.F.; Emeis, Kay–Christian; Richter, Carl; Blanc-Valleron, Marie-Madeleine; Bouloubassi, Ioanna; Brumsack, Hans‐Jürgen; Cramp, A.; Gori, Stefano; Flecker, Rachel; Frankel, Ernst G.; Howell, Michael L.; Janecek, Thomas R; Jurado, María José; Kemp, Alan E. S.; Koizumi, Itaru; Kopf, Achim J; Major, Candace O.; Mart, Yossi; Pribnow, Daniel; Rabaute, Alain; Roberts, A. P.; Rullkötter, Jürgen; Sakamoto, Takashi; Spezzaferri, Silvia; Staerker, T. Scott; Stoner, J. S.; Whiting, Brian M.; Woodside, John

doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.1998.131.01.16

Cited by 20 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The activity of mud volcanoes in the Alboran Sea seems to be episodic as observed in other Mediterranean settings, e.g., the Mediterranean Ridge in the eastern basin (Robertson and Ocean Drilling Program Leg 160 Scientific Party, 1996;Robertson et al, 1998) and recurrent over timescales of thousands of year. Recent extrusive activity in the Southern MV Field started earlier than 16 ka BP, while the age of the last extrusive episode differs among the studied MVs by thousands of years (from >15.6 ka at Maya to >0.27 ka at Carmen).…”

Section: Recent Volcanic Activitymentioning

confidence: 78%

Sedimentary sources of the mud-breccia and mud volcanic activity in the Western Alboran Basin

et al. 2013

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During the TTR-17 Leg 1 cruise in the West Alboran Basin, gravity cores were acquired from three mud volcanoes (MVs): Dhaka, Carmen and the recently discovered Maya. This paper presents micropaleontological and radiocarbon dating results from the three mud volcanoes, using cores containing mud breccias overlain by and interbedded with hemipelagic sediments. At Dhaka MV, the mud-breccia matrix contains very rare Holocene planktonic foraminifera associated with abundant reworked specimens of mixed Late Cretaceous to Mio-Pliocene age. At Carmen MV, the reworked assemblage is dominated by Miocene to Pliocene foraminifera occurring together with rare Late Cretaceous species while at Maya MV the mud-breccia matrix is characterized by the dominance of Santonian-Maastrichtian forms, with subordinate Tertiary species. Shallow-water benthic foraminifera such as Ammonia spp. and Elphidium spp. are generally rare and randomly distributed, but present at all studied sites. Based on these results, we suggest that the main sediment source of the mud-breccia extruded at Dhaka, Carmen and Maya MVs is possibly the lowermost overpressured olistostromic Unit VI (Aquitanian?-Burdigalian). Differences in the micropaleontological composition of the mud-breccia matrix at different sites are most likely due to differences in the main source layer and in the plumbing systems underneath the MVs. Radiocarbon dating of hemipelagic sediments associated to the mud-breccia allowed to define the age of the latest extrusion activities (>0.27 ka to > 15.6 ka BP), which seem to be episodic, short-lived and recurrent over thousands of years.

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Section: Recent Volcanic Activitymentioning

confidence: 78%

Sedimentary sources of the mud-breccia and mud volcanic activity in the Western Alboran Basin

et al. 2013

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“…Previous studies of the Pleistocene of southern Cyprus, including evidence from shallow-marine and continental sediments and geomorphic erosion surfaces, have indicated that strong surface uplift of the Troodos ophiolite took place, beginning in the upper Pliocene (Robertson, 1977;McCallum and Robertson, 1990;Houghton et al, 1990;Poole and Robertson, 1991). The results of Leg 160, following geophysical surveys (Limonov et al, 1994;Robertson et al, 1995a), suggest that the overall driving force of the uplift of the Troodos ophiolite was the collision of a continental fragment, the Eratosthenes Seamount, with the active boundary of the Eurasian and African plates (i.e., the Cyprus active margin) located directly south of Cyprus (Robertson et al, 1995a, b;Emeis, Robertson, Richter, et al, 1996;Fig. 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Pleistocene fanglomerate deposition related to uplift of the Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus

Poole¹,

Robertson²

1998

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program

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The Pleistocene Fanglomerate Group of the southern part of Cyprus exemplifies coarse alluvial clastic deposition within a zone of focused tectonic uplift, related to collision of African and Eurasian plates, as documented by Ocean Drilling Program Leg 160. During the Pleistocene, the Troodos ophiolite was progressively unroofed, resulting in a near-radial pattern of coarse clastic sedimentation. The Pleistocene Fanglomerate Group depositionally overlies Pliocene marine sediments. Along the southern margin of the Troodos Massif the contact is erosional, whereas along its northern margin a regressive fan-delta (Kakkaristra Fm.) intervenes.The Pleistocene Fanglomerate Group is subdivided into four units (termed F1−F4), each of which were formed at progressively lower topographic levels. A wide variety of alluvial units are recognized within these, representing mainly high-energy coarse alluvial fans, channel fans, braidstream, and floodplain environments. A near-radial sediment dispersal pattern away from Mt. Olympos is indicated by paleocurrent studies, based on clast imbrication.Provenance studies indicate relatively early unroofing of the ophiolite, but with only minor localized erosion of ultramafic rocks from the Mt. Olympos area. Clasts of erosionally resistant lithologies, notably ophiolitic diabase and Miocene reefrelated limestone, are volumetrically over-represented, relative to friable basalt and early Tertiary pelagic carbonate sediments.The younger Fanglomerate Group units (F3 and F4) can be correlated with littoral marine terraces previously dated radiometrically at about 185−219 ka and 116−134 ka, respectively. However, the earlier (F1 and F2) Fanglomerate Group units can, at present, be dated only as early to middle Pleistocene.The principle variables that affected deposition of the Pleistocene Fanglomerate Group as a whole are tectonic uplift isostatic effects, glacio-eustatic sea-level change, short-and long-term climatic change, and lithology. However, the dominant control was tectonic uplift that apparently peaked during early and middle Pleistocene time. Aggradation of fluvial sediments (F1 and F2) took place at times of relative sea-level high with associated terrace formation. This was followed by downcutting during periods of relative sea-level fall when surface uplift continued.The dominant control on the younger (F3 and F4) units was glacio-eustatic sea-level change, during a time when littoral marine sediments accumulated, and rates of surface uplift may have decreased. Finally, the Holocene alluvial deposition was also affected by anthropogenic effects, notably deforestation.

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“…Cretaceous and Eocene microfossils are also present, but these are reworked together with younger microfossils within the clasts (Emeis, Robertson, Richter, et al, 1996;Robertson et al, 1996). Additional material recovered from different volcanoes in the Olimpi field during TREDMAR cruises (Limonov et al, 1994 also yielded nannofossils and pelagic foraminifers of mainly Miocene age, with some Pliocene, Oligocene, and rare Cretaceous forms, many of which were also reworked (Premoli-Silva et al, 1996).…”

Section: Age Of Clastsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In this synthesis, we will first summarize key post-cruise results that supplement initial shipboard studies of the mud volcanoes (Emeis, Robertson, Richter, et al, 1996;Robertson et al, 1997;Kopf et al, in press). We will then outline current knowledge of the present-day tectonic setting of the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex in relation to mud volcanism, and go on to discuss the Mesozoic-Holocene tectonic development of the southerly Neotethyan basin in which the mud volcanoes developed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectonic setting and processes of mud volcanism on the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex: evidence from Leg 160

Robertson¹,

Kopf²

1998

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, 160 Scientific Results

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Mud volcanism was initiated when overpressured muds rose through the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary prism. Early mud volcanism was marked by eruption of coarse clastic sediments forming small cones of debris flow deposits and turbidites, followed by eruption of large volumes of clast-rich matrix-supported debris flows. Eruption was accompanied by progressive subsidence to form moat-like features. Later, clast-poor mud flows spread laterally and built up a flat-topped cone (Napoli mud volcano). Clasts in the mud volcano sediments are mainly angular and up to 0.5 m in size. These clasts are dominated by claystone, sandstone, and limestone of early-middle Miocene age that were previously accreted. Matrix material of the mud breccias probably originated from Messinian evaporite-rich sediments located within the décollement zone beneath the accretionary wedge, at an estimated depth of 5−7 km. Pressure release triggered hydrofracturing of poorly consolidated mud near the seafloor. Eruption was accompanied by release of large volumes of hydrocarbon gas. Conditions were suitable for gas hydrate genesis at shallow depths beneath the seafloor at the Milano mud volcano. The mud volcanism is probably related to backthrusting concentrated along the rear of the accretionary wedge near a backstop of continental crust to the north. Clasts within the mud breccias were mainly derived from the North African passive margin, but subordinate lithoclastic ophiolite-related material was also derived from the north, probably from now largely obliterated higher thrust sheets of Crete. Comparisons show that in contrast to other mud volcanoes both on the seafloor (Barbados) and on land (Trinidad), which are usually relatively transient features, mud volcanism on the Mediterranean Ridge has persisted for >1 m.y. A revised hypothesis of mud volcanism at the Ocean Drilling Program sites is proposed, in relation to progressive tectonic evolution of the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex.

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Collision-related break-up of a carbonate platform (Eratosthenes Seamount) and mud volcanism on the Mediterranean Ridge: preliminary synthesis and implications of tectonic results of ODP Leg 160 in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 20 publications

References 37 publications

Sedimentary sources of the mud-breccia and mud volcanic activity in the Western Alboran Basin

Sedimentary sources of the mud-breccia and mud volcanic activity in the Western Alboran Basin

Pleistocene fanglomerate deposition related to uplift of the Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus

Tectonic setting and processes of mud volcanism on the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex: evidence from Leg 160

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