Syn-rift sedimentary response to growth folding along a rift-margin transfer zone: An example from the early Miocene of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Syn‐rift tectono‐stratigraphic development of the Thebe‐0 fault system, Exmouth Plateau, offshore NW Australia: The role of fault‐scarp degradation

“…2%; Table 2, %VF), consistent with that concluded by Barrett et al. (2021) for the Thebe‐2 fault system (i.e., 10%), and from field‐based in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt (i.e., 1%–8%; Badr et al., 2022; Strachan et al., 2013). Additional depositional processes may have supplied sediment, such as the introduction of extra‐basinal material by bottom currents and/or suspension settling of pelagic and hemipelagic material (e.g., units 1b, 2d, 3, and 4b; Table 3; Appendix 4, Table 5), and source areas like hangingwall‐derived sediment (e.g., Unit 2b; Table 3, Appendix 4, Table 5) or relay‐ramps related to fault overlap supply the remaining syn‐rift hangingwall fill (ca.…”

“… Note : Facies analysis and characteristics of the interpreted seismic units. Base‐of‐scarp deposits analogues: early Miocene of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt (Badr et al., 2022); hangingwal‐derived prograding deposits analogues: El Qaa fault block, Suez Rift, Egypt (Muravchik et al., 2018). …”

“…The material supplied by gravity‐driven processes along the footwall scarp usually accumulates in the hangingwall as texturally immature syn‐rift wedges that pinch‐out away from the controlling fault (Badr et al., 2022; Barrett et al., 2021; Bilal et al., 2018; Bilal & McClay, 2021; Chiarella et al., 2021; Hoth et al., 2018; Lewis et al., 2017; McLeod & Underhill, 1999; Ravnås & Bondevik, 1997; Strachan et al., 2013), herein referred to as fault‐controlled base‐of‐scarp deposits (sensu Chiarella et al., 2021). Outcrop analogues from East Greenland (i.e., slope apron deposits, Henstra et al., 2016), the Gulf of Suez, Egypt (i.e., fans and gravel‐rich submarine fans, Badr et al., 2022; Strachan et al., 2013, respectively), and the Messina Strait, Italy (i.e., base‐of‐scarp deposits, Chiarella et al., 2021) described immature, poorly sorted breccia deposits that accumulated in the immediate hangingwall as wedge‐shaped, lenticular fans. These rocks are inferred to have been deposited by high‐energy gravity flows.…”

“…We also analysed the external geometry of mapped packages, as well as their spatial relationships. Finally, we related them to the major structures to appropriate outcrop analogues, which were used to add confidence to our seismic facies‐based interpretations (e.g., Badr et al., 2022; Chiarella et al., 2021; Henstra et al., 2016; McLeod & Underhill, 1999; Strachan et al., 2013; Underhill et al., 1997). Moreover, to guide our interpretations we used the data collected from well completion reports (i.e., palynological data), which combined with seismic facies analysis helped determine the depositional environment and water depth.…”

“…Such complexes are generally characterised by scooped‐shaped (i.e., convex‐into‐the‐footwall) listric faults that bound rotated blocks of pre‐rift material, that detach downwards into weak, intra‐stratal layers (Bilal et al., 2018; Hesthammer & Fossen, 1999). Fault‐scarp degradation complexes have been documented using field and subsurface data, both onshore and offshore, in areas including the Gulf of Corinth (Ferentinos et al., 1988; Kokkalas & Koukouvelas, 2005), the Gulf of Suez (Badr et al., 2022; Leppard & Gawthorpe, 2006; Sarhan et al., 2014), the Viking Graben (Fraser et al., 2002; Hesthammer & Fossen, 1999; McLeod & Underhill, 1999; Underhill et al., 1997), and East Greenland (Henstra et al., 2016). Footwall scarps are considered an intra‐basin source for syn‐rift sediment (Chiarella et al., 2021; Cullen et al., 2019; Gawthorpe & Leeder, 2000; Scarselli et al., 2022).…”