Mass transport debris and deepwater fans - sedimentary structures
Left to right are Peter Haughton, Christopher Kendall, Emiliani Mutti, Arnold Bouma and William Helland-Hansen
Introduction
Primary sedimentary structures are used to determine paleocurrent direction of flow or orientation of flow across fans and in the deeper portions of the Basin of deposition. Some of these sedimentary structures provide flow direction with relation to the outcrop and the time at which the sediment accumulated. Statistic analyses of these structures provide data on the average current directions within the basin of deposition.
Sedimentary Structures
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Click on image to link to deepwater structure galleries |
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Fans, Channels & their Fill (Images 1-60) |
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Graded Beds (Images 61 - 82) |
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Condensed Beds (Images 83 - 95) |
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Slumping (Image 96 - 120) |
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Sole Marks
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Ripples (121 - 180) |
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Hummocky Beds (121 - 180) |
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Flute casts (121 - 180) |
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Grooves (121 - 180) |
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Prod Marks (121 - 180) |
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Dewatering Structures |
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Flames (121 - 180) |
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Ball & pillow (121 - 180) |
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Elephant skin |
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Submarine volcanoes (181 - 205) |
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Tracks & trails(206 - 214) |
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Burrows(206 - 214) |
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Links to Photo Galleries of Turbidites
Dawn Sumner of UC Davis has an eclectic gallery of annotated turbidite pictures, some of which have been included in this web site in the gallery illustrating sedimentary structures associated with deepwater sedimentation. Also she has all sorts of videos and other goodies.
Paul Heller of the University of Wyoming has placed notes, and power point lectures with field photos, and movies of turbidites on line. Some of his photographs have been included on in the gallery above of Sedimentary Structures associated with deepwater sedimentation.
Click on highlighted Deepwater Gallery for access to a complete index to images, maps, diagrams and photographs of deepwater geology including the geology of Co Clare or access this gallery using the pull down menu on the header bar above.
References Cited
Nilsen, Tor H., Gary S. Steffens, and Joseph J. R. Studlick, 2006, "Mass Transport Deposits in Deepwater Outcrops: Depositional Setting(s), Types, and Recognition", SEPM Research Symposium: The Significance of Mass Transport Deposits in Deepwater Environments II, AAPG Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2006 Technical Program
Reading, H. G., & Richards, M. (1994). "Turbidite systems in deep-water Basin margins classified by grain size and feeder system". Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol., 78, 792-822.
Stow, D.A.V., 1994. "Deep-sea processes of sediment transport and deposition. In: Sediment Transport and Depositional Processes", ed. by K. Pye, Blackwell Sci. Publ. pp 257-293.
Stow, D.A.V. and Mayall, M., editors, 2000. Deep-water Sedimentary Systems: Thematic Set, Marine and Petroleum Geology, Volume 17, No. 2.