Deep-water sedimentation controlled by interaction between bottom current and gravity flow: A case study of Rovuma Basin, East Africa

Luan, Xiwu; Lu, Yuanzheng; Fan, Guozhang; Ran, Weimin

doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104228

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The sedimentary system of the Rovuma Basin is mainly fed by the Rovuma River system, which forms the Rovuma delta. Sediments from the Rovuma River and Delta are transported to the deep‐water environment, forming the submarine‐fan deposits analysed in the present study (Liu et al., 2017; Luan et al., 2021), including channel and lobe architectures (Figure 1a,b). The deep‐water area of the basin can be divided into three zones from west to east: the shelf‐slope area (including the Palma Toe Thrust Belt), the Kerimbas Graben and the Davie Ridge.…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Previous research on mixed systems has mainly focused on submarine channels (Fonnesu et al, 2020;Fuhrmann et al, 2020;Gong et al, 2013Gong et al, , 2016Miramontes, Garreau, et al, 2019;Miramontes et al, 2020Miramontes et al, , 2021. Bottom currents mainly result in enhanced deposition in the levee located in the downstream direction of bottom currents and thus in the development of asymmetric channel-levee systems (Fonnesu et al, 2020;Lu, 2017;Luan et al, 2021;Miramontes et al, 2020). In contrast, much less is known about the effect of bottom currents on the architecture of submarine lobes (Fonnesu et al, 2020;Fuhrmann et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The purpose of this study is to analyse the stacking patterns, morphology and connectivity of different hierarchical lobe architectures using 3‐D seismic and well data and to discuss the potential role of bottom currents in their development. The study area is located in the Rovuma Basin, offshore of northern Mozambique, where mixed turbidite‐contourite systems have already been previously identified (Chen et al., 2016; Fonnesu et al., 2020; Luan et al., 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sedimentary architecture of submarine lobes affected by bottom currents: Insights from the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa

Chen,

Wu,

Wang

et al. 2023

Basin Research

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The influence of bottom currents on submarine channels has been widely recognized, for instance, by the formation of asymmetric channel‐levee systems and drifts. In contrast, it is often considered that submarine lobes can be only reworked by strong bottom currents and are not affected by bottom currents during their deposition. In this study, we analyse the potential effect of bottom currents on different hierarchical lobe architectures that formed during the lower Oligocene in the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa. We characterize the stacking patterns, morphology and connectivity of different hierarchy lobes using well data and three‐dimensional seismic data. We found no direct influence of bottom currents on the lobe complexes and single lobes that show a unidirectional stacking pattern that is opposite to the direction of bottom currents. Lobe elements in single lobes display vertical accretion with no obvious relationship with bottom currents. Additionally, the first deposited single lobe morphology presents an asymmetric shape, with a thicker lobe margin on the downstream side of the bottom currents, but this is due to an initial low topography on the downstream side rather than bottom currents. The architectural distribution reflects that the topography present before the depositions of the submarine lobes was controlled by previous asymmetrical channel‐levee systems formed by the synchronous interaction of bottom currents and gravity flows. This asymmetric topography controls the subsequent deposition of lobes and results in the migration of single lobes in the upstream direction of bottom currents. Although weak to moderate bottom currents may not be able to substantially rework submarine lobes, our results demonstrate that they may control the geometry and evolution of submarine channels and thus indirectly affect the thickness and migration of lobes in more environments than previously thought.

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Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 71%