Deepwater Canyons Reworked by Bottom Currents: Sedimentary Evolution and Genetic Model

Caili Lü; Yongjian Yao; Yuehua Gong; Shiguo Wu; Xuejie Li

doi:10.1007/s12583-012-0280-3

Volume 23 Issue 5

Oct 2012

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Journal of Earth Science > 2012 > 23(5): 731-743.

Caili Lü, Yongjian Yao, Yuehua Gong, Shiguo Wu, Xuejie Li. Deepwater Canyons Reworked by Bottom Currents: Sedimentary Evolution and Genetic Model. Journal of Earth Science, 2012, 23(5): 731-743. doi: 10.1007/s12583-012-0280-3

Citation:

Caili Lü, Yongjian Yao, Yuehua Gong, Shiguo Wu, Xuejie Li. Deepwater Canyons Reworked by Bottom Currents: Sedimentary Evolution and Genetic Model. Journal of Earth Science, 2012, 23(5): 731-743. doi: 10.1007/s12583-012-0280-3

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Deepwater Canyons Reworked by Bottom Currents: Sedimentary Evolution and Genetic Model

doi: 10.1007/s12583-012-0280-3

1.
Key Laboratory of Marine Geology & Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
2.
Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
3.
Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510075, China

Funds:

the CAS Knowledge Innovation Program of China KZCX2-YW-229

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 40930845

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 2009CB219505

More Information

Corresponding author: Yongjian Yao, yjyao64@yahoo.com.cn
Received Date: 02 Apr 2011
Accepted Date: 15 Sep 2011
Publish Date: 01 Oct 2012

Abstract

Abstract

Based on multi-beam bathymetric data and 2D high-resolution, multi-channel seismic profiles, combing ODP1148 drilling data, the morphology, internal sedimentary architecture, and evolution pattern of 17 deepwater canyons from the Middle Miocene to present are documented in the northern Baiyun (白云) sag (BS), Pearl River Mouth basin (PRMB), and northern South China Sea (SCS). There exist six seismic architectural elements in these canyons, including basal erosive surfaces (BES), thalweg deposits (TD), lateral migration packages (LMP), mass transport deposits (MTD), canyon margin deposits (CMD), and drape deposits (DD). According to the stratigraphical ages and geometrical features of these canyons, their formation and evolution processes are divided into three stages: (1) Middle Miocene scouring-filling, (2) Late Miocene lateral migration, and (3) Pliocene-Quaternary vertical overlay. An auto-cyclic progressive process of eroding and filling by turbidity currents results in the scouring-filling and vertical overlay; bottom currents are responsible for the remarkable asym- metry between the two flanks of canyons; and faults are inherent dynamic forces triggering these can yons. It is inferred that these canyons are caused by the double effects of turbidity and bottom currents under the control of faults as inherent dynamic forces.
- deepwater canyon-channel,
- bottom current,
- turbidity current,
- lateral migration,
- South China Sea

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References(37)

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