Quaternary sedimentary processes on the Bahamas: From platform to abyss

Fauquembergue, Kelly; Ducassou, Emmanuelle; Mulder, Thierry; Reijmer, John J. G.; Borgomano, Jean; Recouvreur, Audrey; Hanquiez, Vincent; Betzler, Christian; Principaud, Mélanie; Chabaud, Ludivine; Fabregas, Natacha; Giraudeau, Jacques; Bout-Roumazeilles, V.; Moal-Darrigade, P.; Perellò, Marie‐Claire; Poli, Emmanuelle

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2023.107044

Cited by 3 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…A detailed sand distribution analysis highlights that coarse‐grained sediments are concentrated at the outlet of the Exuma Canyon within the abyssal plain of San Salvador; sand dominates most of the samples in this area. The northern margin of the LBB also displays some, but less, areas enriched in sands, both on the north‐eastern lobes and on the lower slope during Marine Isotopic Stage 5 (MIS), between 130,000 and 71,000 years ago (Fauquembergue et al., 2023; Recouvreur et al., 2020). MIS 5 is the last interglacial period before the present one.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The base of the Blake Bahama Escarpment (Figure 1) is draped by contourites resulting from the circulation of the DWBC (Cartwright, 1985; Fauquembergue et al., 2023). Higher on the slope, these contourites with their homogeneous reflectivity facies are incised by deep gullies (<3,000 m), which generate a heterogeneous facies distribution (Table 2; Figure 3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The VHR seismic study shows the predominance of two types of echofacies: (a) the bedded echofacies and (b) the hyperbolic echofacies (Table 3; Figure 4). Two types of deposits can induce the presence of bedded echofacies (Figure 4): (a) hemipelagites or periplatform ooze resulting from sediment export from the shallow‐water platform as can be found along the middle (i.e., the northern LBB; Tournadour, 2015; Chabaud et al., 2015; Chabaud, 2016; Fauquembergue et al., 2018) to lower slopes (i.e., the eastern LBB; Recouvreur et al., 2020), or (b) contourites deposited or reworked by deep contour currents (e.g., northern margin of the GAC, the Nares abyssal plain (Eberli & Betzler, 2019; Fauquembergue et al., 2023; Mulder et al., 2019; Recouvreur et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2015; northwestern LBB slope cores), Chabaud (2016, northwestern LBB and western GBB slopes cores), Fauquembergue et al. (2023; northeastern LBB slope) and Fauquembergue et al. (2018; uppermost LBB slope cores) were used in this evaluation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aforementioned studies also showed the variability in sediment production, transport and deposition of individual Bahamian regions for the Quaternary (Figure 1), which are (a) the Little Bahama Bank (LBB) slope and basin where platform export is limited to a few tens of kilometers offshore of the northern LBB margin and mostly concentrated within an Holocene wedge located at the uppermost slope (Fauquembergue et al, 2018;Mulder et al, 2017;Rankey & Doolittle, 2012). This sediment distribution highlights the impact of contouritic processes within the middle and lower slope environments (Chabaud et al, 2015;Fauquembergue et al, 2023;Mulder et al, 2018;Tournadour et al, 2015). Sediment deposited during glacial intervals can locally be dominated by grain support-supported, cemented debris (Lantzsch et al, 2007); (b) in Exuma Sound the slopes and basin are fed by coarse platformderived sediments that are also transferred to the abyssal plain (Cartwright, 1985;Droxler, 1984;Le Goff et al, 2021;Reijmer et al, 1988); (c) The Tongue of the Ocean, which is a semi-enclosed basin with a high percentage of gravity-induced sediment input besides open ocean input (periplatform ooze; Droxler & Schlager, 1985;Haak & Schlager, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Sedimentology of Modern Bahamian Carbonate Slopes: Summary and Update

Fauquembergue,

Mulder,

Reijmer

et al. 2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Slopes adjacent to the Bahamian carbonate platform revealed a large variety of depositional processes. In this study, we present a synthesis summarizing 109,000 km2 of bathymetric and reflectivity data with ∼7,900 km of seismic lines and 311 m of sediment cores that were obtained over the last 50 years. These data are used to develop a conceptual model of sedimentation patterns on Quaternary carbonate slope systems and their interaction with the adjacent shallow‐water carbonate platforms. Our data highlight that during the Quaternary, factors controlling large‐scale sedimentation on Bahamian slopes have numerous similarities as they have higher sedimentation rates during interglacials. At a small scale, every slope has its own characteristics that are contemporary controlled by two main characteristics: (a) facies on the adjacent shallow‐water platform, and (b) the impact of shallow‐ and deep‐water currents. Large‐scale tectonics influence sediment deposition as it determines the position of the islands and impacts platform facies distribution.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Sedimentology of Modern Bahamian Carbonate Slopes: Summary and Update

Fauquembergue,

Mulder,

Reijmer

et al. 2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Morphology and evolution of submarine canyons around the Zhongsha Platform, South China Sea: Implications for sedimentary processes in a modern isolated carbonate setting

Chen,

Wu,

et al. 2024

Marine Geology

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The role of platform margin collapses and slope landslides in the initiation and evolution of submarine canyons

Chen,

Li,

et al. 2024

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The Zhongsha Platform is the largest modern isolated carbonate platform of around 8600 km2 in the South China Sea, providing a unique case study for sedimentary processes in pure carbonate settings. High-resolution multibeam bathymetric data, two-dimensional seismic profiles, and surface sediment cores are utilizes to reveal the initiation and evolution of submarine canyons on the northeastern slope of the Zhongsha Platform. Three submarine canyons are revealed within the survey area that incise the slope at water depths between 600 and 4100 m. C1 presents a linear pattern, whereas C2 and C3 exhibit dendritic morphologies. A large-scale scalloped collapse has deeply excavated the platform margin and slope. Within this catastrophic failure, C2 originated in a northeastward orientation and subsequently converted to an eastward direction with a length of 54.8 km. It is distinguished by the erosion of numerous tributaries in the upper course, the transition of flow direction in the middle course, and the presence of retrogressive landslides in the lower course. Slope landslides extend eastward from middle-lower slope towards the oceanic basin at water depths ranging from 2300 to 4200 m. A series of scarps and immature canyons have developed with escarpments showing pronounced relief at the landslide heads. The triggering mechanisms of platform margin collapses and slope landslides are attributed to sediment aggradation, slope oversteepening, gravity flows, relative sea-level changes, surface monsoon currents, and deep cyclonic circulation. The canyon evolution is explained through four stages: Inception stage, sediment instability on platform margin and slope-toe; Expansion stage, the presence of platform margin collapses and slope landslides; Development stage, the initiation of submarine canyons eroded by gravity flows with downslope and retrogressive erosion; Present stage, the upper slope canyon incised into the landslide area and ultimately integrated with the lower slope canyon, creating an elongated modern canyon. This work contributes to enhance our understanding of the detailed morphology, transport processes, and triggering mechanisms of submarine canyons in the pure carbonate systems.

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Quaternary sedimentary processes on the Bahamas: From platform to abyss

Cited by 3 publications

References 113 publications

Sedimentology of Modern Bahamian Carbonate Slopes: Summary and Update

Sedimentology of Modern Bahamian Carbonate Slopes: Summary and Update

Morphology and evolution of submarine canyons around the Zhongsha Platform, South China Sea: Implications for sedimentary processes in a modern isolated carbonate setting

The role of platform margin collapses and slope landslides in the initiation and evolution of submarine canyons

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