High‐resolution X‐ray fluorescence profiling of hybrid event beds: Implications for sediment gravity flow behaviour and deposit structure

Hussain, Arif; Haughton, Peter D. W.; Shannon, Patrick M.; Turner, Jonathan; Pierce, Colm; Obradors‐Latre, Arnau; Barker, Simon P.; Martinsen, Ole J.

doi:10.1111/sed.12722

Cited by 39 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Sand, garnet and microplastics particles were moderately to highly spherical, and angular to sub-rounded. The sediment had a mixed median grain size of fine sand (Table 1; D 50 of 141 μm), similar to deposits of many ancient and modern deep-water systems (Bell et al, 2018a;Fildani et al, 2018a;Hussain et al, 2020;Jobe et al, 2017;Kane et al, 2017;Marzano, 1988;Porten et al, 2016;Sylvester & Lowe, 2004).…”

Section: Experiments Set-upmentioning

confidence: 61%

Flow‐process controls on grain type distribution in an experimental turbidity current deposit: Implications for detrital signal preservation and microplastic distribution in submarine fans

Bell

Soutter

Cumberpatch

et al. 2021

The Depositional Record

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Deep‐water depositional systems are the ultimate sink for vast quantities of terrigenous sediment, organic carbon and anthropogenic pollutants, forming valuable archives of environmental change. Our understanding of the distribution of these particles and the preservation of environmental signals, in deep‐water systems is limited due to the inaccessibility of modern systems, and the incomplete nature of ancient systems. Here, the deposit of a physically modelled turbidity current was sampled (n = 49) to determine how grain size and grain type vary spatially. The turbidity current had a sediment concentration of 17%. The sediment consisted of, by weight, 65% quartz sand (2.65 g/cm3), 17.5% silt (2.65 g/cm3), 7.5% clay (2.60 g/cm3) and 5% each of sand‐grade garnet (3.90 g/cm3) and microplastic fragments (1.50 g/cm3). The grain size and composition of each sample was determined using laser diffraction and density separation, respectively. The results show that: (a) bulk grain size coarsened axially downstream on the basin floor challenging the notion that basin floor deposits fine radially from an apex upon becoming unconfined; (b) no sample composition matched the input composition of the flow, indicating that allogenic signals can be autogenically shredded and spatially variable in sediment gravity flow deposits; and (c) microplastic fragments were concentrated in levee and lateral basin floor fringe positions; however, microplastic concentrations in these positions were lower than input, suggesting microplastics bypassed the sampled positions. These findings have implications for: (a) the development of ‘finger‐like’ geometries and facies distributions observed in modern and ancient systems; (b) interpreting environmental signals in the stratigraphic record; and (c) predicting the distribution of microplastics on the sea floor.

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Section: Experiments Set-upmentioning

confidence: 61%

Flow‐process controls on grain type distribution in an experimental turbidity current deposit: Implications for detrital signal preservation and microplastic distribution in submarine fans

Bell

Soutter

Cumberpatch

et al. 2021

The Depositional Record

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“…The lower cohesive mud content and the stronger overall normal grading of H3a than H3b suggest that the former has a lower overall yield strength (Fig. 5; also see Hussain et al, 2020). The H3a divisions contain sheared clean sand patches (Figs 3 to 5), in which identical terrestrial plant fragments were present.…”

Section: Origin Of the H3 Divisionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The repeated occurrences of the upper H3b and the lower H3a divisions can reflect trailing vertically stratified low-strength debris flows, with the muddier section at the top and sandier part at the base (Kane & Pont en, 2012;Kane et al, 2017; and see vertical stratification and longitudinal fractionation models in fig. 18 in Hussain et al, 2020). According to Hussain et al (2020), downward settling of coarse particles from H3b and upward displacement of cohesive mud as well as fluid into H3b cause the bipartite structure of the flow with higher mud content in the upper layer.…”

Section: Origin Of the H3 Divisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Haughton et al (2009) describe an idealized hybrid event bed that comprises up to five internal divisions that include, from base up: a clean and often graded structureless sandstone (H1), a banded sandstone (H2), a chaotic muddy sandstone (H3), a thin parallel and/or ripple laminated fine-grained sandstone (H4), and a mudstone cap (H5). The following works refine this classification by describing several types of H3 divisions (Fonnesu et al, 2018), or defining internal boundaries within the H3 division (H3a and H3b of Hussain et al, 2020), based on distinguishable thresholds in the internal clay content. The origin of HEBs is still debated, but many authors agree that the rapid incorporation of large quantities of clay from the substrate by dense flows is the major trigger of their development in deep-water systems (Haughton et al, 2009;Fonnesu et al, 2016Fonnesu et al, , 2018Mueller et al, 2017;Hussain et al, 2020;Patacci et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The following works refine this classification by describing several types of H3 divisions (Fonnesu et al, 2018), or defining internal boundaries within the H3 division (H3a and H3b of Hussain et al, 2020), based on distinguishable thresholds in the internal clay content. The origin of HEBs is still debated, but many authors agree that the rapid incorporation of large quantities of clay from the substrate by dense flows is the major trigger of their development in deep-water systems (Haughton et al, 2009;Fonnesu et al, 2016Fonnesu et al, , 2018Mueller et al, 2017;Hussain et al, 2020;Patacci et al, 2020). In delta front environments, floods can create a high sediment concentration of bottom-hugging hyperpycnal flows (Mutti et al, 1996(Mutti et al, , 2000(Mutti et al, , 20032009;Mutti & Tinterri, 2015;Tinterri, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hybrid event beds generated by erosional bulking of modern hyperpycnal flows on the Choshui River delta front, Taiwan Strait

et al. 2021

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Hyperpycnal flows are important agents for transporting detrital sediments from rivers to oceans. Previous studies often assumed that the deposits of flood-controlled delta fronts would be dominated by graded sand with common hummocky cross-stratification. This study documents, for the first time, hybrid event beds and plumite deposits inside the succession of a modern delta front. This delta in the Taiwan Strait is fed by the Choshui River, which is considered a highly efficient sediment transport system with individual floods with extremely high suspended sediment concentrations. The deltaic event beds recorded in the core were interpreted as hyperpycnal flow-generated hybrid event beds and turbidites triggered by hypopycnal flows. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 14 C dating, grain-size analysis and measurements of stable isotopic composition of organic matter were conducted to delineate the depositional process of the recognized beds. The internal subdivisions of the hybrid event beds were differentiated mainly based on sedimentary textures, including cohesive mud content, sand content and sorting. The disorganized portion (division H3) appears internally chaotic and contains large rafted substrate clasts but also displays an upward increase in dispersed cohesive mud from 35% (division H3a) to 50% (division H3b). In contrast, massive H1 divisions are characterized by much lower cohesive mud of ca 8%. The vertical arrangement between depositional facies allows the discrimination of three hybrid event bed types. The stable carbon isotopic composition of the organic matter reveals that the cohesive mud in each division of the hybrid event beds was sourced from marine substrate, rather than supplied by the original hyperpycnal flows. Therefore, the hybrid event beds are generated by energetic hyperpycnal flows, which can delaminate the muddy sea-floor and incorporate large quantities of substrate fragments. The bulking of erosional hyperpycnal 2500

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Channel‐lobe transition zone development in tectonically active settings: Implications for hybrid bed development

Brooks

Itô

Zuchuat

et al. 2022

The Depositional Record

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Channel‐lobe transition zones are dynamic areas located between deepwater channels and lobes. Presented here is a rare example of an exhumed channel‐lobe transition zone from an active‐margin setting, in the Kazusa forearc Basin, Boso Peninsula, Japan. This Plio‐Pleistocene outcrop exposes a thick (tens of metres) channel‐lobe transition zone succession with excellent dating control, in contrast to existing poorly dated studies of thinner (metres) deposits in tectonically quiescent settings. This high‐resolution outcrop permits the roles of climate and associated relative sea‐level changes on stratigraphic architecture to be assessed. Three development stages are recognised with an overall coarsening‐upward then fining‐upwards trend. Each stage is interpreted to record one obliquity‐driven glacioeustatic sea‐level fall‐then‐rise cycle, based on comparison with published data. Deposition of the thickest and coarsest strata, Stage 2, is interpreted to record the end of a period of relative sea‐level fall. The thinner and finer strata of Stages 1 and 3 formed during interglacial periods where the stronger Kuroshio Oceanic Current, coupled to increased monsoonally driven tropical cyclone frequency and intensity, likely resulted in inhibited downslope sediment transfer. A key aspect of channel‐lobe transition zone deposits in this case is the presence of a diverse range of hybrid beds, in contrast to previous work where they have primarily been associated with lobe fringes. Here hybrid bed characteristics, and grain‐size variations, are used to assess the relative importance of longitudinal and vertical segregation processes, and compared to existing models. Compared to channel‐lobe transition zones in tectonically quiescent basin‐fills, this channel‐lobe transition zone shows less evidence of bypassing flows (i.e. thicker stratigraphy, more isolated scour‐fills, fewer bypass lags) and has significantly more hybrid beds. These features may be common in active basin channel‐lobe transition zones due to: high subsidence rates; high sedimentation rates; and disequilibrium of tectonically active slopes. This disequilibrium could rejuvenate erodible mud‐rich substrate, leading to mud‐rich flows arriving at the channel‐lobe transition zone, and decelerating rapidly, forming hybrid beds.

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High‐resolution X‐ray fluorescence profiling of hybrid event beds: Implications for sediment gravity flow behaviour and deposit structure

Cited by 39 publications

References 82 publications

Flow‐process controls on grain type distribution in an experimental turbidity current deposit: Implications for detrital signal preservation and microplastic distribution in submarine fans

Flow‐process controls on grain type distribution in an experimental turbidity current deposit: Implications for detrital signal preservation and microplastic distribution in submarine fans

Hybrid event beds generated by erosional bulking of modern hyperpycnal flows on the Choshui River delta front, Taiwan Strait

Channel‐lobe transition zone development in tectonically active settings: Implications for hybrid bed development

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