The Argo Abyssal Plain

Heirtzler, J. R.; Cameron, Philippa; Cook, Peter; Powell, Thomas S.; Roeser, H. A.; Sukardi, S.; Veevers, J. J.

doi:10.1016/0012-821x(78)90038-9

Cited by 57 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The three Exmouth margins abutting oceanic crust (a sheared or transform margin to the south; a rifted and thinned margin to the west; and a mixed rifted and sheared margin to the north) were compared and contrasted by Exon et al (1982). The structure and evolution of the Argo Abyssal Plain have been discussed by Hinz et al (1978), Heirtzler et al (1978), Cook et al (1978), Veevers et al (1985a), Veevers et al (1985b), Audley-Charles (1988), and Fullerton et al (1989).…”

Section: Tectonic and Stratigraphic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The basin age was originally established as Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian on the basis of results from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 261 (Veevers, Heirtzler, et al, 1974). The magnetic lineations were mapped by Larson (1975), Heirtzler et al (1978), and Veevers et al (1985aVeevers et al ( , 1985b. Latest Triassic to earliest Jurassic intermediate and acid volcanics on the northern margin, which probably overlie a thick Triassic paralic sequence (von Stackelberg et al, 1980;von Rad and Exon, 1983), are most likely related to a major synrift phase.…”

Section: Tectonic and Stratigraphic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Introduction

1990

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program

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Section: Tectonic and Stratigraphic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tectonic and Stratigraphic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction

1990

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program

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“…1). Analyses of marine magnetic anomalies (Larson, 1975;Heirtzler et al, 1978;Fullerton et al, 1989) and previous drilling of DSDP Leg 27 in the Argo Abyssal Plain (Veevers, Heirtzler, et al, 1974) suggested that the basins off northwestern Australia are among the oldest in the Indian Ocean, with an age for the oldest portion of Oxfordian to . Although DSDP Site 261 in the Argo Abyssal Plain (12.9°S, 117.9°E) was penetrated down to basaltic basement, the recovery of sediment cores was poor (20% on average), and the paleontological age of the basalt/sediment contact was not well constrained as Hauterivian-Valanginian to upper Oxfordian (Veevers, Heirtzler, et al, 1974).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Motion of the Australian Plate from Sediment Paleoinclinations, Early Cretaceous through Holocene

Kodama¹,

Ogg²

1992

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program

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The change in paleolatitude of the areas off northwestern Australia since the Early Cretaceous was determined from Paleomagnetism of cores from ODP Leg 123 (Sites 765 and 766) and DSDP Leg 27 (Site 261). The Early Cretaceous paleolatitudes determined for Sites 766 and 261 agree with each other, indicating an average paleolatitude of 37° ± 3°, which is slightly lower than expected from the Australian apparent polar wander path (APWP). The Early Cretaceous to Paleogene paleolatitudes for Site 765 are systematically lower than those predicted by the Australian apparent polar wander path. In particular, the disagreement between these data and predictions for the mid-to-Late Cretaceous is in excess of 15°. INTRODUCTIONLeg 123 of the Ocean Drilling Program was undertaken in the Argo and Gascoyne abyssal plains in the eastern Indian Ocean, which lie between the Java Trench to the north and the northwestern margin of Australia to the south (Fig. 1). Analyses of marine magnetic anomalies (Larson, 1975;Heirtzler et al., 1978;Fullerton et al., 1989) and previous drilling of DSDP Leg 27 in the Argo Abyssal Plain (Veevers, Heirtzler, et al., 1974) suggested that the basins off northwestern Australia are among the oldest in the Indian Ocean, with an age for the oldest portion of Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian (150-160 Ma). Although DSDP Site 261 in the Argo Abyssal Plain (12.9°S, 117.9°E) was penetrated down to basaltic basement, the recovery of sediment cores was poor (20% on average), and the paleontological age of the basalt/sediment contact was not well constrained as Hauterivian-Valanginian to upper Oxfordian (Veevers, Heirtzler, et al., 1974).Thus, the primary objectives of Leg 123 were (1) to recover a complete sedimentary section from the Late Jurassic to Holocene for elucidating the tectonic and paleoceanographic development of the Indian Ocean, (2) to improve the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous magnetobiostratigraphy for the Southern Hemisphere by correlating to the magnetic polarity time scale, as compiled from the Pacific and Atlantic-Tethys regions, and (3) to investigate the geochemistry and petrology of the oldest oceanic basement formed at the initial break-up of Gondwanaland. Site 765 of Leg 123 thus was placed near the ocean/continent boundary of the Argo Abyssal Plain and the Exmouth Plateau (16.0°S, 117.6°E; 5730 mbsf), where a Late Jurassic marine magnetic anomaly lineation identified as Chron M25 (late Oxfordian) by Fullerton et al. (1989) trends in an east-northeast to west-southwest direction (Fig. 2). Site 766 was located at the foot of the western Exmouth Plateau (19.9°S, 110.5°E; 4008 mbsf), about 10 km southeastward from Chron M10 of Fullerton et al. (1989). Thick sequences of Lower Cretaceous to Holocene strata, together with basaltic basement, were recovered at both sites. No Jurassic sediment, however, has been recognized from Site 765, the basal age of which was late Berriasian, while the age of the sediment/basalt Gradstein, F. M., Ludden, J. N., et al., 1992. Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 123...

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“…In the Argo Abyssal Plain, marine magnetic surveys (Larson 1975;Heirtzler et al, 1978;Veevers et al, 1985;Fullerton et al, 1989) clearly show that the basement is oceanic. The magnetic anomalies generally trend N70°E.…”

Section: Scientific Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The result is a thin, approximately 2500 m, sequence of syn-and post-rift sediments. At Site 765, at the southernmost limit of the Argo Abyssal Plain, the sedimentary section is condensed into 900 m overlying oceanic basement.In the Argo Abyssal Plain, marine magnetic surveys (Larson 1975;Heirtzler et al, 1978;Veevers et al, 1985;Fullerton et al, 1989) clearly show that the basement is oceanic. The magnetic anomalies generally trend N70°E.…”

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confidence: 99%

Site 765

Party¹

1990

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program

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Principal results: The early tectonic and paleoceanographic history of the Indian Ocean is poorly understood. For this reason, Leg 123 Site 765 was drilled in the northeastern Indian Ocean, off northwestern Australia for the following objectives:63 SITE 7651. To elucidate the paleoceanography, sedimentology, and magmatic processes related to the rifting of the early Indian Ocean.2. To constrain the rift to drift tectonic history of one of the Earth's oldest oceanic basins.3. To improve the late Mesozoic time scale, particularly with reference to the Southern Hemisphere.4. To provide a geochemical reference section of old oceanic crust, incorporating the bulk composition of the sediments and basement, for use in geochemical and petrological, global mass-balance models.Site 765 is located on a magnetic anomaly, interpreted as local marine magnetic anomaly M26, that according to the geomagnetic time scale is of late Oxfordian age. Backtracking predicts an initial ridge-crest water depth of about 2800 m, which is comparable to that of normal oceanic crust. The site is about 15 km seaward of the geophysical ocean/continent boundary separating Australia from the Argo Abyssal Plain, and approximately 350 km south of the Java Trench.Holes 765A, 765B, and 765C, located at 15°58.541'S, 117°3 4.495'E, in a water depth of 5723 m, were continuously cored for Cenozoic and Cretaceous, fine-grained, abyssal sediments. Oceanic basement was reached at 931 mbsf in Hole 765C. Average sediment recovery was 68%. The JOIDES Resolution then was moved approximately 30 m, where Hole 765D was drilled and cased through 924 m of sediments into volcanic basement. This hole then was continuously cored another 259 m into remarkably fresh basalt. Average core recovery in Hole 765D was 31%. Both Holes 765C and 765D were logged extensively using sonic, litho-density, and geochemical tools. Site 765 is the deepest cased drill hole in the oceans. With its reentry cone on the seafloor, this site is in perfect shape for future scientific operations.Using combined nannofossil, foraminifer, radiolarian, and dinoflagellate biostratigraphy, visual core descriptions, assisted by multivariate analysis of smear-slide data and sedimentary paleomagnetics, we distinguished seven successive stratigraphic units. From basement to the seafloor, these are as follows:1. Unit I: 0-189.1 mbsf, clayey calcareous turbidites, massive slumps and debris flows, and siliceous ooze of late Miocene to Pleistocene age.2. Unit II: 189.1-474.1 mbsf, calcareous turbidites with minor clay and a massive debris flow containing basaltic pebbles of early to late Miocene age.3. Unit III: 474.1-591.7 mbsf, varicolored zeolitic clay, redeposited calcareous sediments, and dark claystones of Cenomanian-early Miocene age, with stratigraphic hiatuses.4. Unit IV: 591.7-724.1 mbsf, siliciclastic and mixed lithology turbidites, nannofossil chalk, calcareous claystone, and zeolitic clay of early Aptian-Cenomanian age.5. Unit V: 724.7-859.2 mbsf, varicolored and dark gray radiolarian and rhodochro...

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The Argo Abyssal Plain

Cited by 57 publications

References 8 publications

Introduction

Introduction

Motion of the Australian Plate from Sediment Paleoinclinations, Early Cretaceous through Holocene

Site 765

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