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Title: Factors controlling ebro deep-sea fan growth, Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Tectonic, sediment-source and sea-level factors control depositional patterns of the Ebro deep-sea fan system. In unstable, steep continental slope terrain, mass movement of material results in wide gullied canyons and formation of non-channelized debris aprons. These fan channels develop low sinuosity and generally traverse the continental rise without feeding into depositional lobes because of steep gradients (1:50 to 1:100) and sediment draining into the subsiding Valencia Valley graben. An abundance of sediment input points from mass failure and many river-fed canyons contributes to a depositional pattern of side-by-side debris aprons and separate channel-levee complexes. When a large sediment supply feeds a channel for a relatively long period 1) fan valley sinuosity increases: 2) channel walls are modified through undercutting, slumping, and crevasse splays: 3) channel bifurcation occurs: 4) incipient depositional lobe formation begins. Lowering of sea levels in Late Pleistocene time permitted the access of coarse river sediment to slope valleys and promoted deposition of numerous turbidites and active growth of the fan. During the Holocene, when sea levels have been high, a regime of hemipelagic sedimentation, mass movement, and debris apron sedimentation has dominated.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6320029
Report Number(s):
CONF-8510489-
Journal ID: CODEN: GAAPB
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; MEDITERRANEAN SEA; OCEANOGRAPHY; SUBMARINE CANYONS; ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS; CONTINENTAL SLOPE; SLOPE STABILITY; DEPOSITION; GEOLOGIC HISTORY; GEOMORPHOLOGY; PLEISTOCENE EPOCH; SEA LEVEL; SEDIMENTS; CENOZOIC ERA; CONTINENTAL MARGIN; GEOLOGIC AGES; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; GEOLOGY; LEVELS; QUATERNARY PERIOD; SEAS; STABILITY; SURFACE WATERS; 580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989); 580500 - Oceanography- (1980-1989)

Citation Formats

Nelson, C H, Maldonado, A, Alonso, B, Palanques, A, Ryan, W B.F., Kastens, K, and O'Connel, S. Factors controlling ebro deep-sea fan growth, Mediterranean Sea. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Nelson, C H, Maldonado, A, Alonso, B, Palanques, A, Ryan, W B.F., Kastens, K, & O'Connel, S. Factors controlling ebro deep-sea fan growth, Mediterranean Sea. United States.
Nelson, C H, Maldonado, A, Alonso, B, Palanques, A, Ryan, W B.F., Kastens, K, and O'Connel, S. 1985. "Factors controlling ebro deep-sea fan growth, Mediterranean Sea". United States.
@article{osti_6320029,
title = {Factors controlling ebro deep-sea fan growth, Mediterranean Sea},
author = {Nelson, C H and Maldonado, A and Alonso, B and Palanques, A and Ryan, W B.F. and Kastens, K and O'Connel, S},
abstractNote = {Tectonic, sediment-source and sea-level factors control depositional patterns of the Ebro deep-sea fan system. In unstable, steep continental slope terrain, mass movement of material results in wide gullied canyons and formation of non-channelized debris aprons. These fan channels develop low sinuosity and generally traverse the continental rise without feeding into depositional lobes because of steep gradients (1:50 to 1:100) and sediment draining into the subsiding Valencia Valley graben. An abundance of sediment input points from mass failure and many river-fed canyons contributes to a depositional pattern of side-by-side debris aprons and separate channel-levee complexes. When a large sediment supply feeds a channel for a relatively long period 1) fan valley sinuosity increases: 2) channel walls are modified through undercutting, slumping, and crevasse splays: 3) channel bifurcation occurs: 4) incipient depositional lobe formation begins. Lowering of sea levels in Late Pleistocene time permitted the access of coarse river sediment to slope valleys and promoted deposition of numerous turbidites and active growth of the fan. During the Holocene, when sea levels have been high, a regime of hemipelagic sedimentation, mass movement, and debris apron sedimentation has dominated.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6320029}, journal = {Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}

Conference:
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