Role of Cenozoic progradation in evolution of Great Bahama Bank
Conference
·
· AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6151201
The Bahama Banks have long been thought to have grown upward with only minor changes in the position of their margins. Instead, new multichannel seismic profiles over the top of the northwestern Great Bahama Bank reveal that progadation of some margins during the Cenozoic nearly doubled the size of smaller, nuclear platforms of the Late Cretaceous. The smaller Late Cretaceous platforms were separated by seaways. Since then, these platforms have grown vertically about 1500 m, but some of their margins have prograded as much as 25 kmexclamation This progradation, combined with high rates of accumulation in the seaways, resulted in the coalescence of the small platforms into the present-day configuration of the bank. The prograding systems display different seismic characteristics, suggesting various modes of bank margin migration. Rapid prograding systems are characterized by a series of complex sigmoid-oblique sequences with toplap within the individual sequences, steep slopes, and reflection-free spots at the edge of some of the sequences, which are interpreted as reef buildups. In shallow (-500 m) closed seaways, lower energy systems occur characterized by sigmoidal prograding sequences. Along deep closed seaways, parallel reflectors indicate the accretion along relatively steep slopes. Stationary margins are recognized on east-facing windward margins. On Northwestern Great Bahama Bank progradation occurred preferentially on west-facing, leeward margins. However, in profiles from Southern Great Bahama Bank, the direction of progradation varies and may be influenced more by circulation in the adjacent seaway than by the direction of the winds.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Miami, FL
- OSTI ID:
- 6151201
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870606-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 71:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990
· AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)
·
OSTI ID:6744948