Hellenic Trench sedimentation: An approach using terrigenous distributions

Sand-sized terrigenous material from 450 samples representing 24 piston cores is used to compare slope, perched slope basin, and trench apron, plain and margin depositional environments within the Hellenic Trench west of the Peloponnesus. Recognition of three stratigraphically defined layers in the core sections served as a basis for evaluating changes in time. Statistical testing showed that within the upper defined layer (0–5700 yrs. B.P.) terrigenous grains are distributed rather uniformly throughout the slope and basin complexes in contrast to distributions in underlying layers (5700–17,000 and 17,000–45,000 yrs. B.P., respectively. These distributions reflect intense reworking by gravitative processes as evidenced by sediment structures, incomplete slope sections, high accumulation rates, and dilution of sapropels. The homogeneity of the upper layer is explained by failure and downslope transport of sediments that were deposited on the slope during lower stands of sea level. The quantitative analyses performed highlight the rapidity by which land-derived sediments by-pass high-relief slopes, temporarily reside in perched basins on the slope, and ultimately are dispersed to distal trench apron and basin environments by sporadic gravity flows.     

Lithofacies and origin of the Late Triassic muddy gravity-flow deposits in the Ordos Basin,central China

Fine-grained sediments from the Late Triassic Yanchang Fm. in the Ordos Basin (central China) were studied by core analysis and geophysical logging. Part of the mudstones in this formation are stratified, part of them are unstratified; the various mudstones can be subdivided into eight types on the basis of their structures and textures. They represent a variety of environments, ranging from delta fronts and subaqueous fans to deep-water environments. Part of the sediments were reworked and became eventually deposited from subaqueous gravity flows, such as mud flows, turbidity currents and hyperpycnal flows that easily developed on the clay-rich deltaic slopes. The sediments deposited by such gravity flows show abundant soft-sediment deformation structures. Understanding of such structures and recognition of fine-grained sediments as gravity-flow deposits is significant for the exploration of potential hydrocarbon occurrences. Because fine-grained deposits become increasingly important for hydrocarbon exploration, and because the sediments in the lacustrine Yanchang Formation were deposited by exactly the same processes that play a role in the accumulation of deltaic and prodeltaic fine-grained sediments, the sedimentological analysis provided here is not only important for the understanding of deep lacustrine sediments like the Yanchang Formation, but also for a better insight into the accumulation of fine-grained prodeltaic deep-marine sediments and their potential as hydrocarbon source rocks and reservoir rocks.     

S. E. M. analysis of quartz sand grains from selected Hong Kong and Chinese littoral environments

This pilot study attempts to demonstrate some underlying scanning electron microscopy themes of quartz grain surface textures. A variety of textural patterns and individual features are described for grains selected from various littoral environments. An attempt was made to differentiate samples on surface textures alone, but limitations of using this technique in sedimentological isolation were apparent. Statistical analysis of checklist data and photographic evidence revealed some of the more important feature combinations used in environmental diagnosis. The use of discriminant analysis provided quantitative sample separation.     

The steady-state calcium carbonate ion activity product of recent shallow water carbonate sediments in seawater: a comparison of field observations and laboratory experiments

Closed system equilibration experiments between natural seawater and shallow water calcium carbonate-rich sediments from the Bahamas yielded steady-state calcium carbonate ion activity products (CCIAP). Results obtained from initially supersaturated and undersaturated solutions were in good agreement. Experiments conducted with the addition of a biocide and/or the destruction of sediment organic matter gave results similar to those obtained in systems where these treatments were not used. Excellent agreement was also found between CCIAP values for 8 day and more than 50 day equilibration times. Our results, therefore, meet the major criteria for at least metastable equilibrium between the solution and carbonate sediment.Fine-grained samples produced a CCIAP close to the value predicted for aragonite, which is the major carbonate phase in all samples. Coarse-grained sediments produced larger CCIAP values of up to 2.8 times that predicted for aragonite equilibrium. The CCIAP for the coarse-grained sediments is probably produced by high-Mg calcite which is a significant component of these sediments. Oolite samples were among the coarse-grained sediment samples studied. They also produced results much greater than expected for aragonite equilibrium. This brings into question their use as material for measuring aragonite solubility as has been done in the past.The CCIAP measured in the laboratory experiments are in good agreement with field observations of pore-water CCIAP values from the fine-grained sediments. Coarse-grained sediments showed greater variability, with higher CCIAP values generally occurring in the pore waters than in the laboratory experiments. Since the overlying waters were always at a higher CCIAP than the pore waters, the major factor causing this difference is believed to be the short residence time of pore waters in the coarse-grained sediments, which is the result of the high-energy hydrodynamic environments in which they reside.     

Continental slope sedimentation adjacent to an ice margin I. Seismic facies of Labrador Slope

Sleeve-gun, 3.5-kHz, and 12-kHz profiles from the Labrador Slope provide the basis for an analysis of sedimentary facies, processes, and evolution of a continental slope adjacent to an ice margin. The upper slope is deeply incised by numerous canyons reflecting headward canyon branching. The less rugged middle-slope topography has fewer canyons and large slide and slump scars followed downslope by debris-flow deposits. Echo character of seismic profiles reflects the difference in sediment types supplied from mud-dominated sources and sand-, gravel- and till-dominated sources. On the rise, debris-flow deposits are largely confined to canyons. Intercanyon areas are dominated by spill-over turbidites alternating with hemipelagic sediments, which on some of the southern to southwestern levees occur in sediment-wave fields formerly attributed to bottom-current activity.     

Qualitative assessment of gas hydrate and gas concentrations from the AVO characteristics of the BSR in the Ulleung Basin,East Sea (Japan Sea)

The presence of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea), inferred by various seismic indicators, including the widespread bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), has been confirmed by coring and drilling. We applied the standard AVO technique to the BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments crosscutting the dipping beds and those in debris-flow deposits to qualitatively assess the gas hydrate and gas concentrations. These BSRs are not likely to be affected by thin-bed tuning which can significantly alter the AVO response of the BSR. The BSRs crosscutting the dipping beds in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments are of low-seismic amplitude and characterized by a small positive gradient, indicating a decrease in Poisson’s ratio in the gas-hydrate stability zone (GHSZ), which, in turn, suggests the presence of gas hydrate. The BSRs in debris-flow deposits are characterized by a negative gradient, indicating decreased Poisson’s ratio below the GHSZ, which is likely due to a few percent or greater gas saturations. The increase in the steepness of the AVO gradient and the magnitude of the intercept of the BSRs in debris-flow deposits with increasing seismic amplitude of the BSRs is probably due to an increase in gas saturations, as predicted by AVO model studies based on rock physics. The reflection strength of the BSRs in debris-flow deposits, therefore, can be a qualitative measure of gas saturations below the GHSZ.     

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON GENETIC ENVIRONMENT OF SEDIMENTS OF THE EAST CHINA SEA

In order to show the relationship between the grain size model and sedimentary environment of the East China Sea, typical samples have been selected from analytical data of 1233 surface sediments, and mathematical statistic analyses of these samples have been made. Based on these analyses and combined with the compositions of the sediments and history of its formation, the authors try to divide the genetic types of the sediments of the East China Sea, with focus on the discussion of the characteristics of ancient and present hydrodynamic environments.     

Qualitative assessment of gas hydrate and gas concentrations from the AVO characteristics of the BSR in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea)

The presence of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea), inferred by various seismic indicators, including the widespread bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), has been confirmed by coring and drilling. We applied the standard AVO technique to the BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments crosscutting the dipping beds and those in debris-flow deposits to qualitatively assess the gas hydrate and gas concentrations. These BSRs are not likely to be affected by thin-bed tuning which can significantly alter the AVO response of the BSR. The BSRs crosscutting the dipping beds in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments are of low-seismic amplitude and characterized by a small positive gradient, indicating a decrease in Poisson’s ratio in the gas-hydrate stability zone (GHSZ), which, in turn, suggests the presence of gas hydrate. The BSRs in debris-flow deposits are characterized by a negative gradient, indicating decreased Poisson’s ratio below the GHSZ, which is likely due to a few percent or greater gas saturations. The increase in the steepness of the AVO gradient and the magnitude of the intercept of the BSRs in debris-flow deposits with increasing seismic amplitude of the BSRs is probably due to an increase in gas saturations, as predicted by AVO model studies based on rock physics. The reflection strength of the BSRs in debris-flow deposits, therefore, can be a qualitative measure of gas saturations below the GHSZ.     

Sedimentology, stratigraphic occurrence and origin of linked debrites in the West Crocker Formation (Oligo-Miocene), Sabah, NW Borneo

The West Crocker Formation (Oligocene–Early Miocene), NW Borneo, consists of a large (>20 000 km²) submarine fan deposited as part of an accretionary complex. A range of gravity-flow deposits are observed, the most significant of which are mud-poor, massive sandstones interpreted as turbidites and clast-rich, muddy sandstones and sandy mudstones interpreted as debrites. An upward transition from turbidite to debrite is commonly observed, with the contact being either gradational and planar, or sharp and highly erosive. Based on their repeated vertical relationship and the nature of the contact between them, these intervals are interpreted as being deposited from one flow event which consisted of two distinct flow phases: fully turbulent turbidity current and weakly turbulent to laminar debris flow. The associated bed is called a co-genetic turbidite–debrite, with the upper debrite interval termed a linked debrite. Linked debrites are best developed in the non-channellised parts of the fan system, and are absent to poorly-developed in the proximal channel-levee and distal basin floor environments. Due to outcrop limitations, the genesis of linked debrites within the West Crocker Formation is unclear. Based on clast size and type, it seems likely that a weakly turbulent to laminar debris-flow flow phase was present when the flow event entered the basin. A change in flow behaviour may have led to deposition of a sand-rich unit with ‘turbidite’ characteristics, which was subsequently overlain by a mud-rich unit with ‘debrite’ characteristics. Flow transformation may have been enhanced by the disintegration and incorporation into the flow of muddy clasts derived from the upstream channel floor, channel mouth or from channel-levee collapse. Lack of preservation of this debrite in proximal areas may indicate either bypass of this flow phase or that the available outcrops fail to capture the debris flow entry point. Establishing robust sedimentological criteria from a variety of datasets may lead to the increasing recognition of co-genetic turbidite-debrite beds, and an increased appreciation of the importance of bipartite flows in the transport and deposition of sediments in deepwater environments.     

Glaciomarine sedimentation and palaeo-glacial setting of Maxwell Bay and its tributary embayment, Marian Cove, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica

High-resolution (3.5 kHz and multi-channel) seismic profiles and piston cores were collected from Maxwell Bay and its tributary embayment, Marian Cove, in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, during the Korea Antarctic Research Program (1992/93 and 1995/96) to elucidate the glaciomarine sedimentation processes and recent glacial history of the area. Seismic data from Maxwell Bay reveal a rugged bay margin and flattened basin floor covered with well-stratified hemipelagic muds. On the base-of-slope, acoustically transparent debris flows occur, indicating downslope resedimentation of glaciomarine sediments. Despite the subpolar and ice-proximal settings of Marian Cove, the seafloor is highly rugged with a thin sediment drape, suggesting that much of the area has been recently eroded by glaciers. Sediment cores from the cove penetrated three distinct fining-upward lithofacies: (1) basal till in the lower part of the core, accumulated just seaward of the grounding line of the tidewater glacier; (2) interlaminated sand and mud in the middle part, deposited in ice-proximal zone by a combination of episodic subglacial meltwater inflow and iceberg dumping; and (3) pebbly mud in the upper part, deposited in ice-distal zone by both surface meltwater plume and ice-rafting from the glacier front. A reconstruction of the glacial history of these areas since the late glacial maximum shows an ice sheet filling Maxwell Bay in late Wisconsin time and grounding of the tidewater glacier in Marian Cove until about 1300 yr BP.     

Breaching-related turbidites in fluvial and estuarine channels: Examples from outcrop and core and implications to reservoir models

An understanding of the paleoenvironment and the main sedimentary processes behind preserved deposits is crucial to correctly interpret and represent lithofacies and facies associations in geomodels that are used in the hydrocarbon industry, particularly when a limited dataset of cores is available. In this paper a fairly common facies association is discussed containing massive sands - here defined as thick (>0.5 m) structureless sand beds devoid of primary sedimentary structures, or with some faint lamination - deposited by mass failures of channel banks in deep fluvial and estuarine channels. Amongst geologists it is generally accepted that liquefaction is the main trigger of large bank failures in sandy subaqueous slopes. However, evidence is mounting that for sand deposits a slow, retrogressive failure mechanism of a steep subaqueous slope, known as breaching, is the dominant process. A model of breaching-induced turbidity current erosion and sedimentation is presented that explains the presence of sheet-like massive sands and channel-like massive sands and the sedimentary structures of the related deposits. Sheet-like packages of spaced planar lamination that are found together with massive sand bodies in deposits of these environments are identified as proximal depositional elements of breach failure events. The model, acquired from sedimentary structures in deposits in the Eocene estuarine Vlierzele Sands, Belgium, is applied to outcrops of the Dinantian fluvial Fell Sandstone, England, and cores of the Tilje and Nansen fms (Lower Jurassic, Norwegian Continental Shelf). The possible breach failure origin of some other massive sands described in literature from various ancient shallow water environments is discussed. Breach failure generated massive sands possibly also form in deep marine settings. The potentially thick and homogeneous, well-sorted sand deposits bear good properties for hydrocarbon flow when found in such an environment. However, in case of deposition in an estuarine or fluvial channel, these sand bodies are spatially constricted and careful facies interpretation is key to identifying this. When constructing a static reservoir model, this needs to be considered both for in-place volume calculations as well as drainage strategies.     

广西钦州湾海域表层沉积物分异特征与规律

根据2008年12月广西钦州湾海域表层沉积物粒度分析结果,结合沉积物结构、地形和水动力条件,探讨了沉积物的分布规律及其作用机制。结果表明,钦州湾海域表层沉积物在横向上,自西向东呈现出西部粗、东部细,分选程度西部好于东部的特征;在纵向上,沉积物粒径呈现由内向外粒径从粗到细的特征,大致在5m水深处存在一个明显的界限,该水深以浅区域的砂含量较高,且主要沉积砂等较粗物质;该水深以深区域以粉砂质黏土为主,砂含量较低。Flemming的三角图式表明,钦州湾海域沉积动力相对较弱。在此基础上,根据水动力差异与物源不同,将研究区划分为5m水深以浅的西部区、5m水深以浅的东部区和5m水深以深的区域等3个沉积区。     

Late Cenozoic geological development of the south Vøring margin,mid-Norway

Late Cenozoic seismic stratigraphy of the Vøring continental margin has been studied in detail, with emphasis on the geological development of the Naust Formation deposited during the last 3 million years. The Kai Formation (15–3 Ma) comprises mainly biogenic ooze deposited in the Møre and Vøring Basins. In Naust time, there was a marked increase in supply of sediments from the inner shelf areas and the western part of the Scandinavian mountain range, and glaciers expanded to the shelf and reached the shelf edge several times during the last 1.5–2 million years. During early to mid Naust time the shelf was widened by westerly prograding sediment units, but for a long period the shallowest part of the Helland-Hansen Arch (HHA) formed a barrier preventing glacially derived debris from being distributed farther west. West of the HHA, mainly stratified marine and glacimarine sediments were deposited. A substantial part of these sediments were transported by the north-flowing Norwegian Atlantic Current, which redistributed suspended particles from ice streams, rivers, coastal erosion and seabed winnowing. After burial of the crest of the HHA at c. 0.5 Ma, glacial debris and slide deposits were also deposited west of this high. In the north, massive units of glacial debris were distributed beyond the crest of the HHA, also in mid Naust time, thinning westwards and interfingering with fine-grained sediments on the lower slope. The Sklinnadjupet Slide, inferred to be c. 250,000 years old, corresponds in age with an earlier huge slide in the Storegga area. An elongated area of uneven seabed topography previously interpreted as diapirs (Vigrid diapirs) on the slope west of the HHA is shown to be formed by ooze eruption from the crest of the arch and submarine sliding.     

Rock Magnetic Approaches Used on Deep-sea Sediments in the Northeastern Equatorial Pacific

Rock magnetic properties of unconsolidated sediments from the Korea Deep Ocean Study area of the northeastern equatorial Pacific were analyzed to trace the time-dependent variations of sedimentary environments. For upper Pleistocene sediments, light-brown sediments predominate, whereas the lower sediments deposited in the late Pliocene are dark brown. Rock magnetic properties also clearly differ among the two distinct color environments. Values of anhysteretic remanent magnetization and low-field magnetic susceptibility are highly responsive to changes in the color of the sediment. For example, comparatively low values denote a dominance of coarse-grained magnetic minerals as observed in the lower dark-brown layers. With respect to the content of magnetic minerals, coarse magnetic grains are highly concentrated in the darker-colored sediment layers. However, both the magnetic mineral dependent parameter (S ratio) and results of the scanning electron microscope observation indicate that magnetic mineral changes did not occur along the core depth, which means that there was no apparent source change. Without distinctive source changes, the variations in the rock magnetic properties likely reflect a process by which the magnetic grains were primarily transported by enhanced wind and bottom currents and affected by diagenetic dissolution as a function of both the time from burial and the extremely low sedimentation rates after deposition.     

Measuring and modelling temporal trends of 226Ra in waters of a Spanish estuary affected by the phosphate industry

The presence and temporal evolution (1990-2001) of (226)Ra in a tidal estuary affected by the phosphate industry has been investigated. Water samples collected in the course of four separate sampling campaigns were analysed for (226)Ra content using a gas flow proportional counter following Ba coprecipitation. Two (226)Ra sources have been identified: direct discharges from the industrial complex and run-off from a phosphogypsum pile. Although activity levels are similar, or even higher, than those found in other environments affected by the phosphate industry, there has been a general decrease in contamination since direct discharges ceased in 1998 due to new regulations from the EU. However, sediments are now acting as a source of Ra to the water column due to redissolution processes. A numerical model of the estuary has been developed to describe quantitatively the experimental results. The model solves the hydrodynamics and the dispersion equation of (226)Ra including interactions with sediments. Model results are, in general, in good agreement with observations.     

Core-based reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions in the southern Drake Passage (West Antarctica) over the last 150 ka

A deep-sea sediment core (GC98-06) from the southernmost Drake Passage, West Antarctica, shows late Quaternary depositional environments distinctly different from sedimentary drifts commonly found along the southwestern Pacific margin of the Drake Passage. The chronology of the core has been inferred using geochemical tracers of paleoproductivity and diatom biostratigraphy, and represents the paleoceanographic conditions in a continental rise setting during the last 150,000 years. Three dominant sediment types associated with distinct sedimentary processes have been identified using textural/compositional analyses: (1) hemipelagic mud (interglacial sediments) deposited from pelagic settling of bioclasts, meltwater plumes, and ice-rafted detritus; (2) terrigenous mud (glacial sediments) delivered by turbid meltwater plumes; and (3) massive muds marking the boundaries from interglacial to glacial periods. The succession of the sedimentary facies in core GC98-06 is interpreted to reflect temporal changes in environmental conditions prevailing on the continental rise of the southern Drake Passage in the course of successive climatic stages over the last 150 ka: from the bottom upward, these are glacial, interglacial, glaciation, glacial, and interglacial episodes. Variability in sediment flux and diatom abundance seem to have been related to changes in glacial advance, sea-ice extent, and specific sedimentary environments, collectively influenced by mid- to late Quaternary climatic changes.     

九龙江河口区现代沉积环境及其物质输运趋势

对九龙江河口区58个表层沉积物样品进行了激光粒度分析,并分别应用系统聚类分析和GSTA模型分析,探讨了研究区的沉积特征、沉积环境和表层沉积物输运趋势。结果表明,九龙江河口区表层沉积物由10种沉积物类型组成,与20世纪80年代相比,该海区底质沉积物在类型分布和粒径粗细上发生了一定的变化;将研究区划分为3种与沉积动力特征相对应的主要沉积环境区;表层沉积物输运趋势因受该区特殊的地形和复杂的水动力条件影响而表现为北进南出,海门岛西北海域形成逆时针方向输运趋势,而海门岛以东海域形成三向汇聚的输运趋势。     

Origin of mass flow sedimentary structures in hemipelagic basin deposits: Santa Barbara Basin,California Borderland

Holocene mass flow processes produce distinctive sedimentary structures in this silled, anoxic basin characterized by high sedimentation rates of fine-grained fill. Mud flow deposits possess a 0899 1444 V 3 diagnostic vertical sequence of structures on the lower slope. Basin floor turbidites possess a variety of bed set combinations of: 1) finely laminated layers, 2) graded silt and clay layers, and 3) ungraded, massive silts and clays with floating sand grains. Massive, ungraded flood-derived suspensate deposits can be distinguished from turbidites. Turbidites and suspensate deposits constitute 30% of the sampled sediment column. Varve counting of the remaining 70% provides frequencies of turbidite and flood suspensate layer deposition.     

Experimental formation of massive hydrate deposits from accumulation of CH4 gas bubbles within synthetic and natural sediments

In order for methane to be economically produced from the seafloor, prediction and detection of massive hydrate deposits will be necessary. In many cases, hydrate samples recovered from seafloor sediments appear as veins or nodules, suggesting that there are strong geologic controls on where hydrate is likely to accumulate. Experiments have been conducted examining massive hydrate accumulation from methane gas bubbles within natural and synthetic sediments in a large volume pressure vessel through temperature and pressure data, as well as visual observations. Observations of hydrate growth suggest that accumulation of gas bubbles within void spaces and at sediment interfaces likely results in the formation of massive hydrate deposits. Methane hydrate was first observed as a thin film forming at the gas/water interface of methane bubbles trapped within sediment void spaces. As bubbles accumulated, massive hydrate growth occurred. These experiments suggest that in systems containing free methane gas, bubble pathways and accumulation points likely control the location and habit of massive hydrate deposits.     

Geotechnical sampling and testing of gas-charged marine sediments atin situ pressures

Gas-charged marine sediments were sampled using a pressure core barrel and a new technique involving standard wireline sampling procedures. Pressure core barrel sampling provides sediments atin situ pressures with no degassing. Analysis of gas content, geotechnical properties and microfabric were performed for samples atin situ pressures and compared with degassed results. Methane concentrations ranged from 3,450 to 137,140 ppm for pressurized samples. Microfabric analyses reveal highly nonoriented clay particles and grains in degassed samples. Degassing of these methane-rich sediments increases porosities and compression indices, while reducing undrained shear strengths and computed preconsolidation pressures.