Sedimentary features influencing the occurrence and spatial variability of seismites (late Messinian, Gargano Promontory, southern Italy)

Morsilli, Michele; Bucci, Monica Giona; Gliozzi, Elsa; Lisco, Stefania; Moretti, Massimo

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2020.105628

Cited by 24 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…In contrast, allogenic causes are phenomena that are not part of the depositional setting where the SSDS are observed, and these could possibly be tremors caused by seismic activity, consequent ground failure, or change in the former climatic conditions. The SSDS of the Abu Madi Formation present analogies with SSDS observed in other lacustrine deposits (e.g., Morsilli et al, 2020 and references therein), showing the alternation of non‐deformed parallel beds and thick undeformed sand layers. This may exclude autogenic processes as the prominent deformation triggers because in this case the fluvial sandstones between the two heterolithic successions should at least display some signs of deformation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…For the purpose of the current study, SSDS have only been described in boreholes. No further observation has been documented in the literature, or in trenches, and there are no Messinian outcrops in the Nile Delta, hence information is missing in terms of lateral variations (Morsilli, Bucci, Gliozzi, Lisco, & Moretti, 2020), as well as the extent of these structures in the Abu Madi Formation. One of the widely accepted methodologies for supporting the interpretation of the origin of SSDS is the stratigraphic analysis and facies interpretation (Moretti et al, 2016; Moretti & van Loon, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soft‐sediment deformation structures in the Late Messinian Abu Madi Formation, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Triggers and tectonostratigraphic implications

et al. 2022

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The Upper Messinian Abu Madi Formation of the Nile Delta constitutes sediments deposited during the final stage of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC). Several levels of soft‐sediment deformation structures (SSDS) were observed in the transgressive heterolithic fluvial facies deposited adjacent to the deep‐seated faults. The most common deformation features include diapiric structures, intraformational lithoclastic breccia, small‐scale normal faults, slump folds, and liquefied beds. Such association of SSDS typically resembles those described elsewhere as generated by a complex interplay of gravity‐driven and seismically induced liquefaction processes. The pore pressure measurements revealed high pore fluid density ~ 9.1 ppg equivalent density values which reflect a mild pressure disequilibrium in Abu Madi sediments. Pressure disequilibration is observed all over the studied section of the Abu Madi Formation and is not only restricted to the fluvial channel sandstones deposited during rapid loading. Therefore, allogenic seismic activity has been proposed as the main trigger for pressure disequilibrium and the development of SSDS in the Abu Madi Formation. The heterolithic nature of the Abu Madi sediments as well as the scarcity of bioturbation provides the favourable conditions for the preservation of the seismically induced deformation. The lateral variation in thickness suggests deposition of the Abu Madi Formation during periods of active subsidence which promotes the generation of the SSDS. Late MSC tectonism likely controlled the evolution and sedimentary facies variability of the Abu Madi canyon‐infill system, and therefore the distribution of Abu Madi facies varies significantly over very short distances. Abu Madi SSDS follows the spatial distribution observed in other “lago‐mare” deposits (e.g., Foes Formation and SE Spain), characterized by spatial variability and vertical rhythmic alternation between deformed and non‐deformed layers. Accordingly, regional tectonic instability in the circum‐Mediterranean margins during the late stage of the MSC is proposed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft‐sediment deformation structures in the Late Messinian Abu Madi Formation, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Triggers and tectonostratigraphic implications

et al. 2022

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“…This criterion has been widely used to identify events of seismite formation in various tectonic settings in both consolidated and unconsolidated rocks (e.g. Sims, 1975; Hibsch et al ., 1997; Hilbert‐Wolf et al ., 2009, 2016; Alsop & Marco, 2011; Gibert et al ., 2011; Mazumder et al ., 2016; Van Loon et al ., 2016; Pisarska‐Jamroży et al ., 2018a; Alsop et al ., 2019; Morsilli et al ., 2020). Consistent with the seismic origin is that the individual deformed layers at Dyburiai are laterally extensive and have well‐defined tops and bottoms (for example, SSDS‐3, SSDS‐4, SSDS‐5, SSDS‐6, SSDS‐7 and SSDS‐8; cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This vertical repetition, among other criteria, has been used to identify seismites both in tectonically active interplate areas (e.g. Sims, 1975; Alsop & Marco, 2011; Gibert et al ., 2011; Alsop et al ., 2019; Morsilli et al ., 2020) and in intraplate regions of low‐seismicity (e.g. van Loon et al ., 2016; Pisarska‐Jamroży et al ., 2018a, 2019a; Pisarska‐Jamroży & Woźniak, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the characteristic features of sediments affected by episodes of seismicity‐induced liquefaction is the vertical repetition of laterally continuous deformed layers interbedded with undeformed sediments, called ‘sandwich‐like distribution’ (Hilbert‐Wolf et al ., 2009, and references therein; Owen & Moretti, 2011; van Loon et al ., 2016; Morsilli et al ., 2020). This vertical repetition, among other criteria, has been used to identify seismites both in tectonically active interplate areas (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Repetitive Late Pleistocene soft‐sediment deformation by seismicity‐induced liquefaction in north‐western Lithuania

et al. 2021

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Liquefaction can cause deformation of unconsolidated sediment, but specific processes involved and the trigger mechanisms often remain obscured. This study describes multiple deformed sediment layers in a succession of lacustrine sand, silt and clay deposited during the Marine Isotope Stage 5d in north-western Lithuania. The deformation structures (load casts, pseudonodules, ball-and-pillow structures, broken-up laminae and injections) are embedded in ten separate layers of fine-grained, laterally continuous sediments. Detailed mesoscale sedimentological analyses suggest that each deformation event consisted of numerous successive stages of sediment advection facilitated by liquefaction. Low-permeability fine-grained laminae contributed to localized pore-water pressure build-up and lowering of sediment strength. Erosional top surfaces that truncate layers with soft-sediment deformation structures suggest that at least seven deformation events were separated by successive periods of initial erosion and then uninterrupted deposition in the lake. The most likely trigger of the deformation was recurrent palaeoseismic activity possibly linked to a late glacial isostatic adjustment following the Scandinavian Ice Sheet melting after the Saalian glaciation. This study emphasizes the potential role of seismic processes in shaping the sedimentary record of the intraplate region of north-eastern Europe and contributes to constraining the depth of liquefaction, regardless of the actual trigger mechanism.

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Determining the microstructure of soft sediments by automatic analysis of scanning electron microscope images of the Dead Sea fault seismites

Balaban‐Fradkin

Siman‐Tov

Marco

et al. 2022

The Depositional Record

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The Dead Sea seismites comprise the worlds longest record of earthquakes. The seismites appear as deformed layers enclosed between undeformed layers of alternating millimetre-thick laminae with annual pairs of winter detritus and summer evaporitic aragonite. Understanding the physical conditions that govern their formation will promote the recovery of the causative earthquake properties from the deformation character. The first step towards this goal is understanding the microscopic structure of the seismites. To this end, scanning electron microscope images of the Dead Sea Basin sediments were analysed to extract their pore and grain sizes. The implementation of image processing techniques to determine the microscopic-scale physical properties of the deformed and undeformed layers are in general agreement with results from classical labour-intensive instruments.However, the image processing analyses provide more detailed unbiased information. A MATLAB-based code has been developed as a ready-to-use package, which can be easily implemented on any other occurrence of soft sediment outcrops to analyse sediment microscopic-scale physical properties from scanning electron microscope images.

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Sedimentary features influencing the occurrence and spatial variability of seismites (late Messinian, Gargano Promontory, southern Italy)

Cited by 24 publications

References 103 publications

Soft‐sediment deformation structures in the Late Messinian Abu Madi Formation, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Triggers and tectonostratigraphic implications

Soft‐sediment deformation structures in the Late Messinian Abu Madi Formation, onshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Triggers and tectonostratigraphic implications

Repetitive Late Pleistocene soft‐sediment deformation by seismicity‐induced liquefaction in north‐western Lithuania

Determining the microstructure of soft sediments by automatic analysis of scanning electron microscope images of the Dead Sea fault seismites

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