The Orinoco turbidite system: Tectonic controls on sea-floor morphology and sedimentation

Callec, Yannick; Deville, É.; Désaubliaux, Guy; Griboulard, Roger; Huyghe, Pascale; Mascle, A.; Mascle, Georges; Noble, Mark; Carillo, C. Padron De; Schmitz, Julien

doi:10.1306/11020909021

Cited by 34 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Elucidating the timing of slope systems provides insight into the mecha-nisms that initiated and propagated phases of their evolution (cf. Callec et al, 2010). Understanding the timing of episodic terrigenous sediment delivery to the deep sea at ≥1 m.y.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Timing of deep-water slope evolution constrained by large-n detrital and volcanic ash zircon geochronology, Cretaceous Magallanes Basin, Chile

et al. 2017

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Deciphering depositional age from deposits that accumulate in deep-water slope settings can enhance understanding of shelf-margin evolutionary timing, as well as controlling mechanisms in ancient systems worldwide. Basin analysis has long employed biostratigraphy and/or tephrochronology to temporally constrain ancient environments. However, due to poor preservation of index fossils and volcanic ash beds in many deepwater systems, deducing the timing of slope evolution has proven challenging. Here, we present >6600 new U-Pb zircon ages with stratigraphic information from an ~100-kmlong by ~2.5-km-thick outcrop belt to elucidate evolutionary timing for a Campanian-Maastrichtian slope succession in the Magallanes Basin, Chile. Results show that the succession consists of four stratigraphic intervals, which characterize four evolutionary phases of the slope system. Overall, the succession records 9.9 ± 1.4 m.y. (80.5 ± 0.3 Ma to 70.6 ± 1.5 Ma) of graded clinoform development punctuated by out-of-grade periods distinguished by enhanced coarse-grained sediment bypass downslope. Synthesis of our results with geochronologic, structural, and stratigraphic data from the basin suggests that slope evolution was largely controlled by an overall decline in basin subsidence from 82 to 74 Ma. In addition to providing insight into slope evolution, our results show that the reliability of zircon-derived depositional duration estimates for ancient sedimentary systems is controlled by: (1) the proportion of syndepositionally formed zircon in a strati

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Timing of deep-water slope evolution constrained by large-n detrital and volcanic ash zircon geochronology, Cretaceous Magallanes Basin, Chile

et al. 2017

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“…Only few published works describe the deposition systems, the spatial distribution and the geometry of the turbidite reservoirs in tectonically active context. Also, only few explanations have been published about the fact that these tectonically active systems are less prone to develop canyons at the shelf-edge (Orinoco, Magdalena, MacKenzie;Callec et al, 2010;Ercilla et al, 2002). Deep water erosional processes of the tectonic structures are also poorly understood Huyghe et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectonics and sedimentation interactions in the east Caribbean subduction zone: An overview from the Orinoco delta and the Barbados accretionary prism

Deville

Mascle

Callec

et al. 2015

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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Several marine geophysical data and piston-coring surveys acquired during the last decade allow one to better understand the close dynamic interactions between the sand-rich Orinoco turbidite system and the compressional structures of the Barbados prism. These interactions have been active since Eocene time as illustrated by the study of outcrops onshore Barbados Island. Because of strong morphologic and tectonic control in the east-Caribbean active margin, the present-day Orinoco turbiditic pattern system does not exhibit a classic fan geometry. The sea-floor geometry between the slope of the front of the Barbados prism and the slope of the South-American margin induces the convergence of the turbidite channels toward the abyssal plain, at the front of the accretionary prism. Also, whereas in most passive margins the turbidite systems are organized upstream to downstream as canyon, channel-levee and lobes, here, due to the tectonic control, the sedimentary system is organized upstream to downstream as channel-levee, canyons and channelized lobes. Indeed, at the edge of the Orinoco platform, the system has multiple sources with several distributaries and downstream the channel courses are complex with frequent convergences or divergences that are emphasized by the effects of the undulating seafloor tectonic morphologies associated with active thrust tectonics and mud volcanism. On top of the accretionary prism, turbidite sediments are filling transported piggy-back basins whose timing of sedimentation vs. deformation is complex. While erosion processes are almost absent on the highly subsiding Orinoco platform and in the upper part of the turbidite system, they develop mostly between 2000 and 4000 m of water depth, above the compressional structures of the Barbados prism (canyons up to 3 km wide and 300 m deep). In the abyssal plain, the main turbiditic channel develops toward the east and connects with the Vidal mid-Atlantic channel. The sediments transported in this channel are filling several elongated basins linked with fracture zones (notably the Barracuda Basin), and finally end their course in the Puerto-Rico trench, the deepest morphologic depression of the region. Piston-cores have demonstrated that turbidite sediments above the Highlights ► An overview of the nature and architecture of the Orinoco turbidite system is proposed. ► We discuss how the active margin tectonic processes control the turbidite system. ► We discuss the specificity compared with turbidite systems in passive margins. ► Deep-marine erosion processes and sediments transport are described. ► A numerical model is proposed and compared with the actual sedimentary system.

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“…If the scale independence of braided channel planform morphology holds [ Parker , ; Sapozhnikov and Foufoula‐Georgiou , ; Parker et al ., ; Kleinhans and van den Berg , ; Foreman et al ., ], it should be possible to estimate sediment flux through these multithread systems without extensive instrumental observation. Moreover, our findings suggest that geologists should observe lithologic evidence, likely in the form of grain size variation that correlates to active bed load transport (active channel) or suspended load transport (inactive transport), among exposed channels [ Hein and Walker , ; Belderson et al ., ; Hesse et al ., ; Callec et al ., ]. Feasibly, estimates of sediment flux could be generated from this information, combined with experimental results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stream power controls the braiding intensity of submarine channels similarly to rivers

Lai

Hung

Foreman

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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We use physical experiments to investigate the response of submarine braided channels driven by saline density currents to increasing inflow discharge and bed slope. We find that, similarly to braided rivers, only a fraction of submarine braided networks have active sediment transport. We then find similar response to imposed change between submarine and fluvial braided systems: (1) both the active and total braiding intensities increase with increasing discharge and slope; (2) the ratio of active braiding intensity to total braiding intensity is 0.5 in submarine braided systems regardless of discharge and slope; and (3) the active braiding intensity scales linearly with dimensionless stream power. Thus, braided submarine channels and braided rivers are similar in some important aspects of their behavior and responses to changes in stream power and bed slope. In light of the scale independence of braided channel planform organization, these results are likely to apply beyond experimental scales.

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The Orinoco turbidite system: Tectonic controls on sea-floor morphology and sedimentation

Abstract: International audienc

Cited by 34 publications

References 34 publications

Timing of deep-water slope evolution constrained by large-n detrital and volcanic ash zircon geochronology, Cretaceous Magallanes Basin, Chile

Timing of deep-water slope evolution constrained by large-n detrital and volcanic ash zircon geochronology, Cretaceous Magallanes Basin, Chile

Tectonics and sedimentation interactions in the east Caribbean subduction zone: An overview from the Orinoco delta and the Barbados accretionary prism

Stream power controls the braiding intensity of submarine channels similarly to rivers

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