Using sea-floor morphometrics to constrain stratigraphic models of sinuous submarine channel systems

Reimchen, Aaron P.; Hubbard, Stephen M.; Stright, Lisa; Romans, Brian W.

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.06.003

Cited by 40 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…The two phases of evolution identified in channel‐system f are commonly recognized at various scales in submarine channel deposits globally (Deptuck et al ., ; McHargue et al ., ; Sylvester et al ., ; Covault et al ., ; Hodgson et al ., ; Jobe et al ., ; Reimchen et al ., ; Fig. C).…”

Section: Stratigraphic Architecturementioning

confidence: 82%

Tectonically controlled initiation of contemporaneous deep‐water channel systems along a Late Cretaceous continental margin, western British Columbia, Canada

et al. 2018

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Submarine channel-systems are globally prevalent on continental margins and their deposits record the transfer of significant volumes of sediment from continental catchments to deep-water environments. These deposits contain signals of past events that can provide critical insight into the geological history of an area, including the long-term (>1 Ma) controls on sedimentation. Well-exposed outcrops of the Late Cretaceous Nanaimo Group, British Columbia, Canada, provide an opportunity to investigate long-term sediment-routing in a tectonically active setting. This study combines detrital zircon geochronology with stratigraphic analysis to establish a robust, basin-wide palaeogeographic framework that constrains the timing and distribution of coarse-grained sediment transport and deposition in the Nanaimo forearc basin. Three south-west trending submarine conduits are documented along a 135 km long strike-oriented transect, parallel to the north-west/south-east trending basin. Composite conduit deposits are 350 to 700 m thick, 4 to 16 km wide, and record substantial delivery of coarsegrained detritus (up to boulder-sized clasts) within submarine channel-lev ee systems. Maximum depositional ages derived from detrital zircon datasets constrain contemporaneous sediment transfer and deposition at each conduit location, which spanned between 73Á5 AE 1Á3 Ma to 69Á1 AE 1Á1 Ma around the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary. Submarine conduits are spaced at 40 km and 70 km, and were likely connected to fluvial drainage systems sourced in uplifted catchments. Widespread, coarse-grained deposits suggest that surface uplift associated with concurrent regional events (such as deformation and/or magma emplacement) along the North American margin may have promoted sediment delivery to the deep-water basin. Comparisons to modern and ancient analogues support palaeogeographic interpretations, as well as the interpretation that pervasive coarse-grained deep-water sediment delivery was linked to tectonic activity. The integrated stratigraphicgeochronological approach used provides unique insight into the influence of regional tectonics on continental margin physiography and the nature of deep-water sediment dispersal.

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Section: Stratigraphic Architecturementioning

confidence: 82%

Tectonically controlled initiation of contemporaneous deep‐water channel systems along a Late Cretaceous continental margin, western British Columbia, Canada

et al. 2018

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“…The degree of facies asymmetry probably correlates with the morphological asymmetry, which is a function of sinuosity and curvature. Straight channel segments and inflection points between channel bends tend to have more symmetric facies patterns than bend apices (Reimchen et al, 2016).…”

Section: Submarine-channel Faciesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…1D) (Abreu et al, 2003;Campion et al, 2005;Pyles et al, 2010;Reimchen et al, 2016). This variability of facies across a strike-oriented cross section of a channel fill, or facies asymmetry, is likely a result of elevated shear stresses along outer bends (Jobe et al, 2010;Pyles et al, 2010): sediment gravity flows have the highest velocities close to the outer bank (Straub et al, 2008;Peakall and Sumner, 2015).…”

Section: Submarine-channel Faciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Stratigraphic Record of Submarine-Channel Evolution

Covault¹,

Sylvester²,

Hubbard³

et al. 2016

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“…Variations of palaeocurrent direction suggest that there were local changes of sediment source potentially associated with delta lobe switching and channel feeder avulsion, as well as autogenic evolution of deepwater slope channels (e.g. Reimchem et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facies and architectural variability of sub‐seismic slope‐channel fills in prograding clinoforms, Mid‐Jurassic Neuquén Basin, Argentina

et al. 2019

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Most slope‐channel outcrop studies have been conducted at continental margin‐scale on seismic data. However, in foreland and back‐arc deepwater settings, sub‐seismic scale slope channels hold equally important information on deepwater sediment delivery, often in hydrocarbon‐bearing provinces. One such slope‐channel system is examined in Lower Jurassic prograding shelf‐margin clinoforms in Bey Malec Estancia, La Jardinera area, southern Neuquén Basin, Argentina. In a 4 km wide, 300 m tall, slightly oblique‐ to depositional‐dip section of Jurassic Los Molles Formation deepwater slope deposits, seven clinoform timelines were identified by isolated slope‐channel fills with thicknesses less than 50 m. Sedimentary logs, satellite images, a digital elevation model and drone photogrammetry were used to map variations in downslope channel geometry and infill facies. The slope channels are filled with sediment density flow deposits: poorly sorted conglomeratic debrites, structureless sandy high‐density turbidites and well‐sorted, fine‐grained, graded low‐density turbidites. The debrite portion decreases downslope, whereas high‐ and low‐density turbidites increase. A grain‐size analysis reveals a broad downslope fining trend of turbidite and debrite beds within slope channels with increasing water depth, and some notable bypass of conglomeratic facies to the lowermost slope channels and basin floor fans. The architecture of the slope channels changes from lateral to aggradational infill downstream. The Bey Malec clinoforms and its slope channels add new knowledge on downslope changes for sediment delivery in relatively shallow (<500 m water depth), prograding‐dominant deepwater basins. They also highlight one of very few outcropping examples of oblique‐type clinoforms.

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Using sea-floor morphometrics to constrain stratigraphic models of sinuous submarine channel systems

Cited by 40 publications

References 91 publications

Tectonically controlled initiation of contemporaneous deep‐water channel systems along a Late Cretaceous continental margin, western British Columbia, Canada

Tectonically controlled initiation of contemporaneous deep‐water channel systems along a Late Cretaceous continental margin, western British Columbia, Canada

The Stratigraphic Record of Submarine-Channel Evolution

Facies and architectural variability of sub‐seismic slope‐channel fills in prograding clinoforms, Mid‐Jurassic Neuquén Basin, Argentina

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