A rockfall avalanche in a sandstone landscape,Nattai North,NSW

Rockfall avalanches are commonly associated with the alpine regions of Europe, South America and north‐western Canada, but modern examples have only been reported very recently in Australia (Pells et al. 1987). The Nattai North rockfall avalanche is located on the Burragorang Walls escarpment in the sandstone landscape of the Sydney Basin. The volume of rock involved in the failure had sufficient magnitude to enable the resulting mass of debris to flow in the manner of a semiviscous fluid. The conventional models of rockslope evolution, involving undercutting followed by blockfalls, do not apply at this site. Indeed these models do not apply to most of the large‐scale rock collapses in the Sydney Basin. All such rockfalls have occurred in the vicinity of underground coal mines. Coal mining has affected the stability of nearby escarpments by altering stress distributions within the rock mass. The subsequent failures are typically larger and of a different form than those occurring naturally.     

Structure and evolution of mass transport deposits in the South Caspian Basin,Azerbaijan

The Quaternary to late Pliocene sedimentary succession along the margin of the South Caspian Basin contains numerous kilometre‐scale submarine slope failures, which were sourced along the basin slope and from the inclined flanks of contemporaneous anticlines. This study uses three‐dimensional (3D) seismic reflection data to visualise the internal structure of 27 mass transport deposits and catalogues the syndepositional structures contained within them. These are used to interpret emplacement processes occurring during submarine slope failure. The deposits consist of three linked structural domains: extensional, translational and compressive, each containing characteristic structures. Novel features are present within the mass transport deposits: (1) a diverging retrogression of the headwall scarp; (2) the absence of a conventional headwall scarp around growth stratal pinch outs; (3) restraining bends in the lateral margin; (4) a downslope increase in the throw of thrust faults. The results of this study shed light on the deformation that occurred during submarine slope failure, and highlight an important geological process in the evolution of the South Caspian Basin margin.     

MASS WASTING IN THE SWAUK WATERSHED,WASHINGTON

Mass wasting evidence is common along the margins of the Columbia River Basalts. I identified, mapped, dated, and assessed the environment of nearly 160 discrete slope failures (excluding rockfall) along the margins of the Columbia River Basalts in the Swauk watershed of central Washington. Rotational slides, translational slides, flows, and complex slide-flows were identified via topographic map, airphoto, and field analysis. Geographic information systems analysis revealed that these features cover 38% of the watershed. Translational slides are the most numerous of the slope failures, whereas complex slide-flows cover the most area. I placed each slope failure into a relative age category (active, inactive-young, inactive mature, and inactive-old) based on the characteristics of the main scarp, lateral flanks, internal morphology, vegetation cover, and toe relationships. Most Swauk watershed slope failures are inactive-mature. Organic sediments from an inactive-mature sag pond formed ～6880 ¹⁴C yr BP, whereas inactive-young sediments dated at ～5930 ¹⁴C yr BP. Inactive slope failures are often associated with steep slopes, inclined beds, incompetent geologic units, or streamcuts. Streamcuts, roadcuts, or clearcuts typically accompany active slope failures. Rain-on-snow events and associated mass wasting in winter 1996 provide a plausible trigger analog for inactive mass wasting. Rockfall deposits cover ～29% of the watershed, range from inactive to active in age, and occur atop pre-existing slope failures in well-jointed Columbia River Basalts. Mass wasting has played a key role in shaping the topographic and hydrologic patterns of the watershed. [Key words: mass wasting, watershed, Washington state, Columbia River Basalts, rain-onsnow.]     

Semi-automated bathymetric spectral decomposition delineates the impact of mass wasting on the morphological evolution of the continental slope,offshore Israel

Understanding continental-slope morphological evolution is essential for predicting basin deposition. However, separating the imprints and chronology of different seafloor shaping processes is difficult. This study explores the utility of bathymetric spectral decomposition for separating and characterizing the variety of interleaved seafloor imprints of mass wasting, and clarifying their role in the morphological evolution of the southeastern Mediterranean Sea passive-margin slope. Bathymetric spectral decomposition, integrated with interpretation of seismic profiles, highlights the long-term shape of the slope and separates the observed mass transport elements into several genetic groups: (1) a series of ~25 km wide, now-buried slide scars and lobes; (2) slope-parallel bathymetric scarps representing shallow faults; (3) slope-perpendicular, open slope slide scars; (4) bathymetric roughness representing debris lobes; (5) slope-confined gullies. Our results provide a multi-scale view of the interplay between sediment transport, mass transport and shallow faulting in the evolution of the slope morphology. The base of the slope and focused disturbances are controlled by ~1 km deep salt retreat, and mimic the Messinian base of slope. The top of the open-slope is delimited by faults, accommodating internal collapse of the margin. The now-buried slides were slope-confined and presumably cohesive, and mostly nucleated along the upper-slope faults. Sediment accumulations, infilling the now-buried scars, generated more recent open-slope slides. These latter slides transported ~10 km³ of sediments, depositing a significant fraction (~3 m in average) of the sediments along the base of the studied slope during the past < 50 ka. South to north decrease in the volume of the open-slope slides highlight their role in counterbalancing the northwards diminishing sediment supply and helping to maintain a long-term steady-state bathymetric profile. The latest phase slope-confined gullies were presumably created by channelling of bottom currents into slide-scar depressions, possibly establishing incipient canyon headword erosion.     

New classification system for mass transport complexes in offshore Trinidad

This paper delineates our use of 10 708 km² of three‐dimensional (3D) seismic data from the continental margin of Trinidad and Tobago West Indies to describe a series of mass transport complexes (MTCs) that were deposited during the Plio‐Pleistocene. This area, situated along the obliquely converging boundary of the Caribbean/South American plates and proximal to the Orinoco Delta, is characterized by catastrophic shelf‐margin processes, intrusive/extrusive mobile shales and active tectonism. Extensive mapping of different stratigraphic intervals of the 3D seismic survey reveals several MTCs that range in area from 11.3 to 2017 km². Three types of MTCs are identified: (1) shelf‐attached systems that were fed by shelf‐edge deltas whose sediment input is controlled by sea‐level fluctuations and sedimentation rates; (2) slope‐attached systems, which occur when upper‐slope sediments catastrophically fail owing to gas‐hydrate disruptions and/or earthquakes and (3) locally detached systems, formed when local instabilities in the seafloor trigger relatively small collapses. Such classification of the relationship between slope mass failures and sourcing regions enables a better understanding of the nature of initiation, length of development history and petrography of such MTCs. 3D seismic enables more accurate calculation of deposit volumes, improves deposit imaging, and, thus, increases the accuracy of physical and computer simulations of mass failure processes.     

Geomorphological characteristics of slope failures in northeast Viti Levu island,Fiji, triggered by Tropical Cyclone Winston in February 2016

The highways circumnavigating Viti Levu play a pivotal role in Fiji's socioeconomic development, and are a crucial link to transport aid during disasters. Slope failures triggered by heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones have led to considerable damage and fatalities along Viti Levu's main roads in the past. Knowledge of slope instability mechanisms is key for the successful identification and management of slope failure hazards, however, there is a paucity of such information for Fiji's main roads. Severe Tropical Cyclone (STC) Winston was the strongest cyclone on record to make landfall in Fiji and affected the Fiji Islands from the early hours of 20 February until 3 am, 21 February, 2016. We present a field reconnaissance examining the characteristics and mechanisms of slope failures induced by STC Winston along a 35 km stretch of the northern part of the Viti Levu's ring road, “Kings Road”. Approximately 61 distinct shallow, small‐scale slope failures were identified most of which were of a complex type and included earth and debris slides (planar and rotational) with a minor flow component. The trigger for the slope failures was the ~258 mm of rainfall in 24 hours after 30‐days of antecedent rainfall totalling 482 mm. This caused rapid increases in porewater pressures, especially at the contact of residual soils and the underlying weathered basement rock. Evidence of recurring slips along Kings Road indicates that contemporary slope instability is likely caused by elevated porewater pressure during high intensity rainfall events in clay‐dominated soils.     

Landslides in blanket peat on Cuilcagh Mountain, northwest Ireland

The northern and eastern sides of the Cuilcagh Mountain upland, in northwest Ireland, are mantled with over 50 km² of blanket bog that has experienced an unusually high spatial and temporal frequency of peat mass movements. In all, 29 peaty-debris slides, nine bog slides, two peat slides and five more peat landslides of uncertain type have been recorded within this study area. More than 27 km² of this peatland has been afforded several levels of statutory protection as well as international recognition of its geo-environmental importance. Field and laboratory investigations of the peat at several of the more recent failure sites showed it to be typical of Irish and Pennine (northern England) blanket bogs in most physical and hydrological respects. Field geomorphological evidence and modelling of stability thresholds indicate that the particular susceptibility of the Cuilcagh Mountain blanket bog to failure arises from two local factors: (i) the attainment of threshold maximum peat depths on the East Cuilcagh plateau, and (ii) the unconformable deposition of thin layers of glacial till (in places) and blanket peat over the pre-existing topographic surface formed from the major shale formations that underlie the northern slopes. With two exceptions, there is no conclusive evidence that human activities and management strategies for the area have had any significant influence on the occurrence of the peat landslides. The high frequency of large rainfall events since 1961 that did not trigger landslides suggests that failures are unlikely to become more frequent in response to climate change effects because they are controlled by slowly changing internal thresholds.     

Submarine sediment routing over a blocky mass‐transport deposit in the Espírito Santo Basin,SE Brazil

The control of slide blocks on slope depositional systems is investigated in a high‐quality 3D seismic volume from the Espírito Santo Basin, SE Brazil. Seismic interpretation and statistical methods were used to understand the effect of differential compaction on strata proximal to the headwall of a blocky mass‐transport deposit (MTD), where blocks are large and undisturbed (remnant), and in the distal part of this same deposit. The distal part contains smaller rafted blocks that moved and deformed with the MTD. Upon their emplacement, the positive topographic relief of blocks created a rugged seafloor, confining sediment pathways and creating accommodation space for slope sediment. In parallel, competent blocks resisted compaction more than the surrounding debrite matrix during early burial. This resulted in differential compaction between competent blocks and soft flanking strata, in a process that was able to maintain a rugged seafloor for >5 Ma after burial. Around the largest blocks, a cluster of striations associated with a submarine channel bypassed these obstructions on the slope and, as a result, reflects important deflection by blocks and compaction‐related folds that were obstructing turbidite flows. Log‐log graphs were made to compare the width and height of different stratigraphic elements; blocks, depocentres and channels. There is a strong correlation between the sizes of each element, but with each subsequent stage (block–depocentre–channel) displaying marked reductions in height. Blocky MTDs found on passive margins across the globe are likely to experience similar effects during early burial to those documented in this work.     

Tectonic compaction shortening in toe region of isolated listric normal fault,North Taranaki Basin,New Zealand

Industry 2D and 3D seismic data across the North Taranaki Basin displays two listric normal faults that formed during Pliocene shelf edge clinoform progradation. The faults die out in the down‐transport direction with no evidence for contractional structures, except for two small thrust faults in one narrow zone. When active, the detachments lay at depths of about 1000 m below the seafloor. The overlying section had high initial porosities (30–60%). It is estimated that loss of about 17–20% pore volume by lateral compaction, and fluid expulsion over a distance of about 4–6 km in the transport direction occurred in place of folding and thrusting. Seismic and well evidence for abnormally highly compacted shales suggests there is about 6% less porosity than expected for in the prekinematic section, which possibly represents a residual of the porosity anomaly caused by lateral compaction. The observations indicate significant shortening (~20%) by lateral compaction and probably some layer parallel thickening are important deformation mechanisms in near‐surface deepwater sediments that needs to be incorporated into shortening estimates and ‘balanced’ cross‐sections. A key factor in listric fault initiation near the base of slope is inferred to be transient, increased pore fluid pressure due to lateral expulsion of fluids from beneath the prograding Giant Foresets Formation.     

Cenozoic tectonic subsidence in the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

A number of major controversies exist in the South China Sea, including the timing and pattern of seafloor spreading, the anomalous alternating strike‐slip movement on the Red River Fault, the existence of anomalous post‐rift subsidence and how major submarine canyons have developed. The Qiongdongnan Basin is located in the intersection of the northern South China Sea margin and the strike‐slip Red River fault zone. Analysing the subsidence of the Qiongdongnan Basin is critical in understanding these controversies. The basin‐wide unloaded tectonic subsidence is computed through 1D backstripping constrained by the reconstruction of palaeo‐water depths and the interpretation of dense seismic profiles and wells. Results show that discrete subsidence sags began to form in the central depression during the middle and late Eocene (45–31.5 Ma). Subsequently in the Oligocene (31.5–23 Ma), more faults with intense activity formed, leading to rapid extension with high subsidence (40–90 m Myr⁻¹). This extension is also inferred to be affected by the sinistral movement of the offshore Red River Fault as new subsidence sags progressively formed adjacent to this structure. Evidence from faults, subsidence, magmatic intrusions and strata erosion suggests that the breakup unconformity formed at ca. 23 Ma, coeval with the initial seafloor spreading in the southwestern subbasin of the South China Sea, demonstrating that the breakup unconformity in the Qiongdongnan Basin is younger than that observed in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (ca. 32–28 Ma) and Taiwan region (ca. 39–33 Ma), which implies that the seafloor spreading in the South China Sea began diachronously from east to west. The post‐rift subsidence was extremely slow during the early and middle Miocene (16 m Myr⁻¹, 23–11.6 Ma), probably caused by the transient dynamic support induced by mantle convection during seafloor spreading. Subsequently, rapid post‐rift subsidence occurred during the late Miocene (144 m Myr⁻¹, 11.6–5.5 Ma) possibly as the dynamic support disappeared. The post‐rift subsidence slowed again from the Pliocene to the Quaternary (24 m Myr⁻¹, 5.5–0 Ma), but a subsidence centre formed in the west with the maximum subsidence of ca. 450 m, which coincided with a basin with the sediment thickness exceeding 5500 m and is inferred to be caused by sediment‐induced ductile crust flow. Anomalous post‐rift subsidence in the Qiongdongnan Basin increased from ca. 300 m in the northwest to ca. 1200 m in the southeast, and the post‐rift vertical movement of the basement was probably the most important factor to facilitate the development of the central submarine canyon.     

The Late Cenozoic Eridanos delta system in the Southern North Sea Basin: a climate signal in sediment supply?

ABSTRACT The Eridanos fluvio‐deltaic system, draining most of north‐western Europe, developed during the Late Cenozoic as a result of simultaneous uplift of the Fennoscandian shield and accelerated subsidence in the North Sea Basin. This seismo‐stratigraphic study aims to reconstruct the large‐scale depositional architecture of the deltaic portion of the basin fill and relate it to external controls. A total of 27 units have been recognized. They comprise over 62×10³ km³ in the Southern North Sea Basin alone, and have an average delta surface area of 28×10³ km², which suggests that the size of the drainage area was about 1.1×10⁶ km². Water depth in the depocentre is seen to decrease systematically over time. This trend is interrupted by a deepening phase between 6.5 and 4.5 Ma that can be correlated with the simultaneous occurrence of increased uplift of the Fennoscandian shield, increased subsidence of the Southern North Sea Basin, and a long‐term eustatic highstand. All these observations point to a tectonic control on long‐term average rates of accommodation and supply. Controls on short‐term variations are inferred from variations in rates of sediment supply and bifurcation of the delta channel network. Both rates were initially low under warm, moist, relatively stable climate conditions. The straight wave‐dominated delta front gradually developed into a lobate fluvial‐dominated delta front. Two high‐amplitude sea‐level falls affected the Pliocene units, which are characterized by widespread delta‐front failures. Changes in relative sea level and climate became more frequent from the late Pliocene onward, as the system experienced the effects of glacial–interglacial transitions. Peaks in sedimentation and bifurcation rates were coeval with cold (glacial) conditions. The positive correlation between rates of supply and bifurcation on the one hand, and climate proxies (pollen and δ¹⁸O records) on the other hand is highly significant. The evidence presented in this study convincingly demonstrates the control of climate on time‐averaged sediment supply and channel‐network characteristics, despite the expected nonuniformity and time lags in system response. The presence of a clearly discernible climate signal in time‐averaged sediment supply illustrates the usefulness of integrated seismo‐stratigraphic studies for basin‐wide analysis of delta evolution on geological time scales.     

Polygonal faults-furrows system related to early stages of compaction – upper Miocene to recent sediments of the Lower Congo Basin

A new polygonal fault system has been identified in the Lower Congo Basin. This highly faulted interval (HFI), 700±50 m thick, is characterized by small extensional faults displaying a polygonal pattern in plan view. This kind of fracturing is attributed to volumetric contraction of sediments during early stages of compaction at shallow burial depth. 3‐D seismic data permitted the visualization of the progressive deformation of furrows during burial, leading to real fractures, visible on seismic sections at about 78 m below seafloor. We propose a new geometrical model for volumetrical contraction of mud‐dominated sediments. Compaction starts at the water–sediment interface by horizontal contraction, creating furrows perpendicular to the present day slope. During burial, continued shrinkage evolves to radial contraction, generating hexagonal cells of dewatering at 21 m below seafloor. With increasing contraction, several faults generations are progressively initiated from 78 to 700 m burial depth. Numerous faults of the HFI act as highly permeable pathways for deeper fluids. We point out that pockmarks, which represent the imprint of gas, oil or pore water escape on the seafloor, are consistently located at the triple‐junction of three neighbouring hexagonal cells. This is highly relevant for predictive models of the occurrence of seepage structures on the seafloor and for the sealing capacity of sedimentary cover over deeper petroleum reservoirs.     

Event sedimentation in low‐latitude deep‐water carbonate basins,Anegada passage,northeast Caribbean

The Virgin Islands and Whiting basins in the Northeast Caribbean are deep, structurally controlled depocentres partially bound by shallow‐water carbonate platforms. Closed basins such as these are thought to document earthquake and hurricane events through the accumulation of event layers such as debris flow and turbidity current deposits and the internal deformation of deposited material. Event layers in the Virgin Islands and Whiting basins are predominantly thin and discontinuous, containing varying amounts of reef‐ and slope‐derived material. Three turbidites/sandy intervals in the upper 2 m of sediment in the eastern Virgin Islands Basin were deposited between ca. 2000 and 13 600 years ago, but do not extend across the basin. In the central and western Virgin Islands Basin, a structureless clay‐rich interval is interpreted to be a unifite. Within the Whiting Basin, several discontinuous turbidites and other sand‐rich intervals are primarily deposited in base of slope fans. The youngest of these turbidites is ca. 2600 years old. Sediment accumulation in these basins is low (<0.1 mm year^?1) for basin adjacent to carbonate platform, possibly due to limited sediment input during highstand sea‐level conditions, sediment trapping and/or cohesive basin walls. We find no evidence of recent sediment transport (turbidites or debris flows) or sediment deformation that can be attributed to the ca. M7.2 1867 Virgin Islands earthquake whose epicentre was located on the north wall of the Virgin Islands Basin or to recent hurricanes that have impacted the region. The lack of significant appreciable pebble or greater size carbonate material in any of the available cores suggests that submarine landslide and basin‐wide blocky debris flows have not been a significant mechanism of basin margin modification in the last several thousand years. Thus, basins such as those described here may be poor recorders of past natural hazards, but may provide a long‐term record of past oceanographic conditions in ocean passages.     

Geomorphic Effects of the Extreme Rainfall Event of 20–21 July, 2004 in the Latnjavagge Catchment, Northern Swedish Lapland

Mass transfers triggered by a rare rainfall event on 20–21 July, 2004, with 58.4 mm of rain within 24 h and 71.7 mm of rain within 48 h in the Latnjavagge catchment (9 km² , 950–1440 m a.s.l.; 68°20'N, 18°30'E) in the higher Abisko mountain region (Swedish Lapland), are quantified and analysed in direct comparison with mean annual mass transfers in this drainage basin. In years without rare rainfall events the Latnjavagge catchment is characterized by restricted sediment availability resulting in low mechanical denudation and mass transfers. During the rare rainfall event of 20–21 July, 2004, major stability thresholds on the slope systems (triggering debris flows and slides) and in the channel systems (break‐up of channel debris pavements and step–pool systems) in the Latnjavagge catchment were passed and mass transfers by debris flows, slides and fluvial debris transport in creeks and channels were several times higher than the mean annual mass transfers in Latnjavagge. In the calculation of longer‐term mass transfers and sediment budgets, rare events like the 20–21 July, 2004 rainfall event have to be considered as essential components. A reliable estimation of the recurrence intervals of such rare events is especially problematic. The general problem of defining an adequate length of process monitoring programmes is pointed out.     

Episodic fluid flow as a trigger for Miocene‐Pliocene slope instability on the Utgard High,Norwegian Sea

Mass wasting is triggered on many continental slopes by a number of mechanisms, including seismic shaking, high sedimentation rates, the presence of weak geological units and gas hydrate dissociation. In this study, the morphology of a Late Miocene–Early Pliocene mass‐transport complex (MTC) on the Utgard High is unravelled and discussed in relation to possible trigger mechanisms. The approach used here includes 3D seismic interpretation and the analysis of variance attribute maps. The interpreted MTC is located on the crest and flanks of the Utgard High and is composed of three mass‐transport deposits with seismic characters varying from transparent and chaotic seismic facies at the base to slightly deformed layers composed of mounds and rafted blocks in the middle and chaotic to transparent reflections at the top. Lithologically, the MTC consists predominantly of claystone with high gamma ray and low density and resistivity values, demonstrating that the associated mounds represent remobilized ooze sediments. A vertical stack of six magmatic sills emplaced from 55.6 to 56.3 Ma into the Upper Cretaceous shales is interpreted at depths of 3,000–5,500 ms two‐way travel time (TWTT). In association with these magmatic sills are several hydrothermal vent complexes that interacted with the top MTC horizon, signifying that episodic and secondary fluid‐venting events might be the principal mechanism facilitating mass wasting in the study area. In addition, the remobilization of ooze sediments into mounds is hypothesized to be dependent on fluids and clayey layers. As a corollary of this work, the importance of relict and recurrent episodes of fluid flow in the Vøring Basin and their influence on the geotechnical integrity of the overburden and later mass wasting is established.     

Objective landslide detection and surface morphology mapping using high-resolution airborne laser altimetry

A map of extant slope failures is the most basic element of any landslide assessment. Without an accurate inventory of slope instability, it is not possible to analyze the controls on the spatial and temporal patterns of mass movement or the environmental, human, or geomorphic consequences of slides. Landslide inventory maps are tedious to compile, difficult to make in vegetated terrain using conventional techniques, and tend to be subjective. In addition, most landslide inventories simply outline landslide boundaries and do not offer information about landslide mechanics as manifested by internal deformation features. In an alternative approach, we constructed accurate, high-resolution DEMs from airborne laser altimetry (LIDAR) data to characterize a large landslide complex and surrounding terrain near Christchurch, New Zealand. One-dimensional, circular (2-D) and spherical (3-D) statistics are used to map the local topographic roughness in the DEMs over a spatial scale of 1.5 to 10 m. The bedrock landslide is rougher than adjacent unfailed terrain and any of the statistics can be employed to automatically detect and map the overall slide complex. Furthermore, statistics that include a measure of the local variability of aspect successfully delineate four kinematic units within the gently sloping lower half of the slide. Features with a minimum size of surface folds that have a wavelength of about 11 to 12 m and amplitude of about 1 m are readily mapped. Two adjacent earthflows within the landslide complex are distinguished by a contrast in median roughness, and texture and continuity of roughness elements. The less active of the earthflows has a surface morphology that presumably has been smoothed by surface processes. The Laplacian operator also accurately maps the kinematic units and the folds and longitudinal levees within and at the margins of the units. Finally, two-dimensional power spectra analyses are used to quantify how roughness varies with length scale. These results indicate that no dominant length scale of roughness exists for smooth, unfailed terrain. In contrast, zones with different styles of landslide deformation exhibit distinctive spectral peaks that correspond to the scale of deformation features, such as the compression folds. The topographic-based analyses described here may be used to objectively delineate landslide features, generate mechanical inferences about landslide behavior, and evaluate relatively the recent activity of slides.     

The Balearic Promontory geomorphology (western Mediterranean): morphostructure and active processes

In this paper, a detailed study of the submarine geomorphology surrounding the Balearic Promontory (western Mediterranean), a northeast prolongation of the Neogene Betic Range in southern Spain, is presented from a series of high-resolution tools including swath bathymetry and seismic reflection profiling. The study identifies the main features of the continental shelf, slope and basins surrounding the Balearic Islands. We show a variety of seafloor relief that owes its origin to several geologic processes, which ultimately control the transport of sediment from the shallower areas to the deep basin. The most important processes are erosion of the shelf and upper slope (terraces associated with different Quaternary sea-level stands and canyons), transport and sediment deposition in the lower slope and base-of-slope by turbidity currents, volcanism and instability processes (landslides scarps and debris lobes). The swath data show that tectonics plays an important role in shaping the submarine slopes of Eivissa and Formentera, the two southernmost islands, as well as its interplay with sedimentary processes, especially mass wasting. Finally, several areas show evidence of pockmarks, which indicate that fluid migration take place in the sediments, probably conditioning several other processes such as mass wasting.     

Post‐seafloor spreading magmatism and associated magmatic hydrothermal systems in the Xisha uplift region,northwestern South China Sea

Submarine magmatism and associated hydrothermal fluid flows has significant feedback influence on the petroleum geology of sedimentary basins. This study uses new seismic profiles and multibeam bathymetric data to examine the morphology and internal architecture of post‐seafloor spreading magmatic structures, especially volcanoes of the Xisha uplift, in extensive detail. We discover for the first time hydrothermal systems derived from magmatism in the northwestern South China Sea. Numerous solitary volcanoes and volcanic groups occur in the Xisha uplift and produce distinct seismic reflections together with plutons. Sills and other localized amplitude anomalies were fed by extrusions/intrusions and associated fluid flow through fractures and sedimentary layers that may act as conduits for magma and fluid flows transport. Hydrothermal structures such as pipes and pockmarks mainly occur in the proximity of volcanoes or accompany volcanic groups. Pipes, pockmarks and localized amplitude anomalies mainly constitute the magmatic hydrothermal systems, which are probably driven by post‐seafloor spreading volcanoes/plutons. The hydrothermal fluid flows released by magma degassing or/and related boiling of pore fluids/metamorphic dehydration reactions in sediments produced local overpressures, which drove upward flow of fluid or horizontal flow into the sediments or even seafloor. Results show that post‐seafloor spreading magmatic activity is more intense during a 5.5 Ma event than one in 2.6 Ma, whereas the hydrothermal activities are more active during 2.6 Ma than in 5.5 Ma. Our analysis indicates that post‐seafloor spreading magmatism may have a significant effect on hydrocarbon maturation and gas hydrate formation in the Xisha uplift and adjacent petroliferous basins. Consequently the study presented here improves our understanding of hydrocarbon exploration in the northwestern South China Sea.     

Forward stratigraphic modelling of sediment pathways and depocentres in salt‐influenced passive‐margin basins: Lower Cretaceous,central Scotian Basin

Source‐to‐sink studies and numerical modelling software are increasingly used to better understand sedimentary basins, and to predict sediment distributions. However, predictive modelling remains problematic in basins dominated by salt tectonics. The Lower Cretaceous delta system of the Scotian Basin is well suited for source‐to‐sink studies and provides an opportunity to apply this approach to a region experiencing active salt tectonism. This study uses forward stratigraphic modelling software and statistical analysis software to produce predictive stratigraphic models of the central Scotian Basin, test their sensitivity to different input parameters, assess proposed provenance pathways, and determine the distribution of sand and factors that control sedimentation in the basin. Models have been calibrated against reference wells and seismic surfaces, and implement a multidisciplinary approach to define simulation parameters. Simulation results show that previously proposed provenance pathways for the Early Cretaceous can be used to generate predictive stratigraphic models, which simulate the overall sediment distribution for the central Scotian Basin. Modelling confirms that the shaly nature of the Naskapi Member is the result of tectonic diversion of the Sable and Banquereau rivers and suggests additional episodic diversion during the deposition of the Cree Member. Sand is dominantly trapped on the shelf in all units, with transport into the basin along salt corridors and as a result of turbidity current flows occurring in the Upper Missisauga Formation and Cree Member. This led to sand accumulation in minibasins with a large deposit seawards of the Tantallon M‐41 well. Sand also appears to bypass the basin via salt corridors which lead to the down‐slope edge of the study area. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the grain size of source sediments to the system is the controlling factor of sand distribution. The methodology applied to this basin has applications to other regions complicated by salt tectonics, and where sediment distribution and transport from source‐to‐sink remain unclear.     

Impact of structural and autocyclic basin-floor topography on the depositional evolution of the deep-water Valparaiso forearc basin, central Chile

The Valparaiso Basin constitutes a unique and prominent deep‐water forearc basin underlying a 40‐km by 60‐km mid‐slope terrace at 2.5‐km water depth on the central Chile margin. Seismic‐reflection data, collected as part of the CONDOR investigation, image a 3–3.5‐km thick sediment succession that fills a smoothly sagged, margin‐parallel, elongated trough at the base of the upper slope. In response to underthrusting of the Juan Fernández Ridge on the Nazca plate, the basin fill is increasingly deformed in the seaward direction above seaward‐vergent outer forearc compressional highs. Syn‐depositional growth of a large margin‐parallel monoclinal high in conjunction with sagging of the inner trough of the basin created stratal geometries similar to those observed in forearc basins bordered by large accretionary prisms. Margin‐parallel compressional ridges diverted turbidity currents along the basin axis and exerted a direct control on sediment depositional processes. As structural depressions became buried, transverse input from point sources on the adjacent upper slope formed complex fan systems with sediment waves characterising the overbank environment, common on many Pleistocene turbidite systems. Mass failure as a result of local topographic inversion formed a prominent mass‐flow deposit, and ultimately resulted in canyon formation and hence a new focused point source feeding the basin. The Valparaiso Basin is presently filled to the spill point of the outer forearc highs, causing headward erosion of incipient canyons into the basin fill and allowing bypass of sediment to the Chile Trench. Age estimates that are constrained by subduction‐related syn‐depositional deformation of the upper 700–800 m of the basin fill suggest that glacio‐eustatic sea‐level lowstands, in conjunction with accelerated denudation rates, within the past 350 ka may have contributed to the increase in simultaneously active point sources along the upper slope as well as an increased complexity of proximal depositional facies.