Surface textures of turbidite sand grains, Laurentian Fan and Sohm Abyssal Plain |
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Authors: | YING WANG DAVID J W PIPER GUSTAVS VILKS |
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Institution: | Geological Survey of Canada, Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2, Canada |
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Abstract: | Surface textures of quartz grains have been examined from five samples from the Laurentian Fan and Sohm Abyssal Plain, representing varied transport distances and power of the depositing turbidity current. The grains retain their primary irregular shape derived from glacial erosion, and glacial surface textures are preserved in dish-shaped depressions. These features have been superimposed by a slight rounding of edges and an abundance of collision-induced markings, particularly mechanical V-forms. The most intense current modification of this sort occurs in mid-Wisconsinan or earlier sands that have been transported over 1000 km to the distal Sohm Abyssal Plain by turbidity currents. Collision textures probably develop during grain flow on the steep continental slope: delicate resedimented shelf foraminifera are preserved in the same turbidites and most have been transported exclusively in suspension. |
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