Flow-Deposit Interaction in Submarine Lobes: Insights from Outcrop Observations and Realizations of a Process-Based Numerical Model

Groenenberg, Remco; Hodgson, David M.; Prélat, Amandine; Lüthi, Stefan M.; Flint, Stephen S.

doi:10.2110/jsr.2010.028

Cited by 90 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

107

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…6). This variation is also documented in the Tanqua depocenter (Rozman, 2000;Prélat et al, 2009;Groenenberg et al, 2010) and is interpreted to relate to differences in flow processes in distal frontal versus distal lateral run outs (Spychala et al, 2017b).…”

Section: Discussion Units A/b B/c and D/ementioning

confidence: 66%

Disconnected submarine lobes as a record of stepped slope evolution over multiple sea-level cycles

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of abrupt changes in slope angle and orientation on turbidity current behavior have been investigated in numerous physical and numerical experiments and examined in outcrop, subsurface, and modern systems. However, the long-term impact of subtle and evolving seabed topography on the stratigraphic architecture of deep-water systems requires fine-scale observations and extensive 3-D constraints. This study focuses on the Permian Laingsburg and Fort Brown formations, where multiple large sand-rich systems (Units A-F) have been mapped from entrenched slope valleys, through channel-levee systems, to basin-floor lobe complexes over a 2500 km 2 area. Here, we investigate three thinner (typically <5 m in thickness) and less extensive sand-rich packages, Units A/B, B/C, and D/E, between the large-scale systems. Typically, these sand-rich units are sharp-based and topped, and contain scours and mudstone clast conglomerates that indicate deposition from high-energy turbidity currents. The mapped thickness and facies distribution suggest a lobate form. These distinctive units were deposited in similar spatial positions within the basin-fill and suggest similar accommodation patterns on the slope and basin floor prior to the larger systems (B, C, and E). Stratigraphically, these thin units represent the first sand deposition following major periods of shut-down in sediment supply, and are interpreted as marking a partial re-establishment of sand delivery pathways creating "disconnected lobes" that are fed mainly by flows sourced from failures on the shelf and upper slope rather than major feeder channel-levee systems.Thickness and facies patterns throughout the deep-water stratigraphy suggest seabed topography was present early in the basin formation and maintained persistently in a similar area to ultimately form a stepped slope profile. The stepped slope profile evolved through three key stages of development: Phase 1, where sediment supply exceeds deformation rate (likely caused by differential subsidence); Phase 2, where sediment supply is on average equal to deformation rate; and Phase 3, where deformation rate outpaces sediment supply. This study demonstrates that smaller systems are a sensitive record of evolving seabed topography and they can consequently be used to recreate more accurate paleotopographic profiles.

show abstract

Section: Discussion Units A/b B/c and D/ementioning

confidence: 66%

Disconnected submarine lobes as a record of stepped slope evolution over multiple sea-level cycles

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…by Groenenberg et al (2010) from process-based numerical modelling of lobes, who suggested that 413 depositional relief of preceding lobes could help to focus these types of flow into distal areas. 414…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Frontal and Lateral Submarine Lobe Fringes: Comparing Sedimentary Facies, Architecture and Flow Processes

Spychala¹,

Hodgson²,

Prélat³

et al. 2017

Journal of Sedimentary Research

116

144

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

13Submarine lobe fringe deposits form heterolithic successions that may include a high proportion of 14 hybrid beds. The identification of lobe fringe successions aids interpretation of paleogeographic 15 setting and the degree of basin confinement. Here, for the first time, the sedimentological and 16 architectural differences between frontal and lateral lobe fringe deposits are investigated. Extensive 17 outcrop and core data from Fan 4, Skoorsteenberg Formation, Karoo Basin, South Africa, allow the 18 rates and style of facies changes from axis to fringe settings of lobes and lobe complexes in both 19 down-dip (frontal) and across-strike (lateral) directions to be tightly constrained over a 800 km 2 20 study area. Fan 4 comprises three sand-prone divisions that form compensationally stacked lobe 21 complexes, separated by thick packages of thin-bedded siltstone and sandstone intercalated with 22 2 (muddy) siltstone, interpreted as the fringes of lobe complexes. Lobe-fringe facies associations 23 comprise: i) thick-bedded structureless or planar laminated sandstones that pinch and swell, and are 24 associated with underlying debrites; ii) argillaceous and mudclast-rich hybrid beds; and iii) current 25 ripple-laminated sandstones and siltstones. Typically, frontal fringes contain high proportions of 26 hybrid beds and transition from thick-bedded sandstones over length-scales of 1 to 2 km. In 27 contrast, lateral fringe deposits tend to comprise current ripple-laminated sandstones that transition 28 to thick-bedded sandstones in the lobe axis over several kilometers.

show abstract

“…The Cabrillo National Monument area is interpreted by Fleming (2010) to represent four lobe elements within the distal part of Complex 3 (Fleming, 2010). However, rapid lateral thickness changes occur at the bed-scale (Figure 10), which is not typical of distal lobe models but has been document in other recent outcrop studies (Walker & Mutti, 1973;Ricci-Lucchi, 1975;Shanmugam & Moiola, 1988;Lien et al, 2003;Prélat et al, 2009;Groenenberg et al, 2010;Etienne et al, 2012;Spychala et al, 2015;Fonnesu et al, 2016;.…”

Section: Geologic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 52%

“…Depositional models and outcrop studies for submarine lobe deposition generally display a decreasing sand content, amalgamation, and bed thickness from axis to margin/fringe (Walker & Mutti, 1973;Ricci-Lucchi, 1975;Shanmugam & Moiola, 1988;Sullivan et al, 2000;Deptuck et al, 2008;Jegou et al, 2008;Prelat et al, 2009;Groenenberg et al, 2010;Etienne et al, 2012;Spychala et al, 2015;Fonnesu et al, 2017). My results confirm that sandstone bed thickness decreases and mudstone content increases from proximal to distal for unconfined and confined 18 lobes ( Figure 7).…”

Section: Lobe Sub-environments and Effective Confinement: Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of the Bed-scale Architecture of Submarine Depositional Environments and Application to Lobe Deposits of the Point Loma Formation, California

Fryer¹

2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Submarine-fan deposits form the largest sediment accumulations on Earth and host significant reservoirs for hydrocarbons. While many studies of ancient fan deposits qualitatively describe lateral architectural variability (e.g., axis-to-fringe, proximal-to-distal), these relationships are rarely quantified. In order to enable comparison of key relationships that control the lateral architecture of submarine depositional environments, we digitized published bed-scale outcrop correlation panels from five different environments (channel, levee, lobe, channel-lobe-transition-zone, basin plain). Measured architectural parameters (bed thickness, bed thinning rates, lateral correlation distance, net-to-gross) provide a quantitative framework to compare lithology architectures between environments. The results show that sandstone and/or mudstone bed thickness alone or net-to-gross do not reliably differentiate between environments. Lobe sub-environments display the most variability in all parameters, which could be partially caused by subjectivity of qualitative interpretations of environment and demonstrates the need for more quantitative studies of bed-scale heterogeneity. These results can be used to constrain forward stratigraphic models and reservoir models of submarine depositional environments.

show abstract

Flow-Deposit Interaction in Submarine Lobes: Insights from Outcrop Observations and Realizations of a Process-Based Numerical Model

Cited by 90 publications

References 41 publications

Disconnected submarine lobes as a record of stepped slope evolution over multiple sea-level cycles

Disconnected submarine lobes as a record of stepped slope evolution over multiple sea-level cycles

Frontal and Lateral Submarine Lobe Fringes: Comparing Sedimentary Facies, Architecture and Flow Processes

Quantification of the Bed-scale Architecture of Submarine Depositional Environments and Application to Lobe Deposits of the Point Loma Formation, California

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About