Deep-water deposits of the Eocene Tyee Formation, Oregon

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-48
Author(s):  
Gwladys T. Gaillot* ◽  
Michael L. Sweet ◽  
Manasij Santra
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Submarine Fan ◽  
University Of Texas ◽  
Source To Sink ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Basin Floor ◽  
Geological Sciences ◽  
The University

ABSTRACT The Eocene Tyee Formation of west central Oregon, USA, records deposition in a forearc basin. With outcrop exposures of fluvial/deltaic to shelf and submarine fan depositional environments and known sediment sourcing constrained by detrital zircon dating and mineralogy linked to the Idaho Batholith, it is possible to place deposits of the Tyee Formation in a source-to-sink context. A research program carried out by the Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin and ExxonMobil Research Company’s Clastic Stratigraphy Group has reconstructed the Eocene continental margin from shelf to slope to basin floor using outcrop and subsurface data. This work allows us to put observations of individual outcrops into a basin-scale context. This field trip will visit examples of depositional environments across the entire preserved source-to-sink system, but it will focus on the deep-water deposits of the Tyee Formation that range from slope channels to proximal and distal basin-floor fans. High-quality roadcuts reveal the geometry of slope channel-fills in both depositional strike and dip orientations. Thick, sand-rich medial fan deposits show vertical amalgamation and a high degree of lateral continuity of sandstones and mudstones. Distal fan facies with both classic Bouma-type turbidites and combined flow or slurry deposits are well exposed along a series of new roadcuts east of Newport, Oregon. The larger basin-scale context of the Tyee Formation is illustrated at a quarry in the northern end of the basin where the contact between the oceanic crust of the underlying Siletzia terrane and submarine fan deposits of the Tyee Formation is exposed. The Tyee Formation provides an excellent opportunity to see the facies and three-dimensional geometry of deep-water deposits, and to show how these deposits can be used to help reconstruct ancient continental margins.

scholarly journals Environment of Deposition and Paleogeography of the Late Cretaceous Glenburn Formation, Eastern North Island, New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
James McClintock
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Tectonic Deformation ◽  
Turbidity Currents ◽  
Submarine Fan ◽  
Submarine Channels

<p>The Glenburn Formation of the East Coast of New Zealand is a Late Cretaceous sedimentary formation consisting of alternating layers of sandstone, mudstone and conglomerate. The Glenburn Formation spans a depositional timeframe of over 10 Ma, is over 1000 m thick, is regionally extensive and is possibly present over large areas offshore. For these reasons, it is important to constrain the paleoenvironment of this unit.  Late Cretaceous paleogeographic reconstructions of the East Coast Basin are, however, hampered by a number of factors, including the pervasive Neogene to modern tectonic deformation of the region, the poorly understood nature of the plate tectonic regime during the Cretaceous, and a lack of detailed sedimentological studies of most of the region’s Cretaceous units. Through detailed mapping of the Glenburn Formation, this study aims to improve inferences of regional Cretaceous depositional environments and paleogeography.  Detailed facies based analysis was undertaken on several measured sections in eastern Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay. Information such as bed thickness, grain size and sedimentary structures were recorded in order to identify distinct facies. Although outcrop is locally extensive, separate outcrop localities generally lie in different thrust blocks, which complicates comparisons of individual field areas and prevents construction of the large-scale, three-dimensional geometry of the Glenburn Formation.  Glenburn Formation consists of facies deposited by sediment gravity flows that were primarily turbidity currents and debris flows. Facies observed are consistent with deposition on a prograding submarine fan system. There is significant variation in facies both within and between sections. Several distinct submarine fan architectural components are recognised, such as fan fringes, fan lobes, submarine channels and overbank deposits. Provenance and paleocurrent indicators are consistent with deposition having occurred on several separate submarine fans, and an integrated regional paleogeographic reconstruction suggests that deposition most likely occurred in a fossil trench following the mid-Cretaceous cessation of subduction along the Pacific-facing margin of Gondwana.</p>

Contributors to this issue

Geophysics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 1237-1240
Keyword(s):  
Data Processing ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Civil Engineering ◽  
Seismic Data Processing ◽  
University Of Texas ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Geological Sciences ◽  
The University ◽  
And Inversion

Faruq E. Akbar received his BS (1988) in civil engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and his MS (1992) in geophysics from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is currently a PhD student in the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin. His professional interests are seismic data processing, modeling, migration, and inversion.

Paleocurrents and depositional environments of deep water conglomerates in the Cambro-Ordovician Cap Enragé Formation, Quebec Appalachians

1979 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 1375-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry A. Johnson ◽  
Roger G. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
The West ◽  
Submarine Fan ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Flow Directions ◽  
La Jolla ◽  
Contrast Flow

The Cap Enragé conglomerates are deep water, resedimented types associated with pebbly and massive sandstones. They resemble other deep water conglomerates in Quebec, especially those at Lévis-Lauzon, L'Islet Wharf, and Grosses Roches. All of these conglomerates were derived from a carbonate shelf to the northwest, and flow directions at Lévis and L'Islet are dominantly southward. By contrast, flow directions at Grosses Roches are to the west and southwest, suggesting deflection of conglomeratic flows by a topographic obstruction.In the Cap Enragé, only published flow directions from sandstones suggest flow toward south and southeast. One published conglomeratic flow direction indicates southwestward flow. Our paleoflow work on the entire outcrop length of the Cap Enragé conglomerates demonstrates dominantly westward and southwestward flow, reinforcing the idea of a topographic obstruction deflecting flows.We have demonstrated some consistent horizontally-fining facies relationships in the conglomerates. Beginning with massive, coarse cobble–boulder conglomerates, there are horizontal passages into finer conglomerates with crude stratification shown up by rows of cobbles and then pebbles, and finally into well stratified coarse sandstones with layers of granules and pebbles. Compared with local flow directions, these horizontally-fining relationships occur in upstream, downstream, and lateral directions.We suggest that southeastward, downslope-flowing currents were forced to swing southwestward by an obstruction, and hence the entire Cap Enragé Formation was deposited in a broad depression or channel trending parallel to the base of slope. Within this overall interpretation, we suggest that the conglomerate members of the Cap Enragé were deposited in meandering talweg channels, similar to those of the modern La Jolla submarine fan channel. Upstream-, downstream-, and laterally-fining facies sequences may be related to the filling of large scours within the talweg, or to facies changes from the talweg to adjacent terraces.

scholarly journals Paleoenvironmental change recorded in submarine fans: the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition in the Alpine foreland basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euan Soutter ◽  
Ian Kane ◽  
Ander Martínez-Doñate ◽  
Adrian Boyce ◽  
Jack Stacey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Submarine Fan ◽  
Paleoenvironmental Change ◽  
Submarine Fans ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin

The Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT) was a period of considerable environmental change, signifying the transition from Paleocene greenhouse to Oligocene icehouse conditions. Preservation of the sedimentary signal of such an environmental change is most likely in net-depositional environments, such as submarine fans, which are the terminal parts of sedimentary systems. Here, using sedimentological and stable isotope data from the Alpine foreland basin, we assess whether this major climatic transition influenced the stratigraphic evolution of submarine fans. Results indicate that submarine fan retreat in the Alpine foreland basin corresponds with positive δ13C excursions related to major global perturbations of the carbon cycle and cooling in the earliest Oligocene. Submarine fan retreat is suggested to be influenced by this cooling through enhanced aridity and reduced subaerial runoff from the Corsica-Sardinia hinterland. The influence of aridity was periodically overwhelmed by local environmental factors, such as hinterland uplift, which increased sediment supply to deep-water during arid periods. These results highlight that: 1) hinterland climate may play a greater role than sea-level in dictating sediment supply to deep-water and, 2) submarine fan evolution occurs through a complex interplay between climate, eustasy and tectonics, which makes robust interpretations of paleoenvironmental change from their stratigraphic record, without multi-proxy records, difficult.

Influence of mass transport deposit (MTD) surface topography on deep-water deposition: an example from a predominantly fine-grained continental margin, New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Bull ◽  
Greg H. Browne ◽  
Malcolm J. Arnot ◽  
Lorna J. Strachan
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Surface Topography ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Basin Floor ◽  
Detachment Surface ◽  
Image Part

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) seismic data reveal the complex interplay between the surface topography of a c. 4405 km3 mass transport deposit (MTD) and overlying sedimentary packages over approximately the last two million years. The data image part of the Pleistocene to recent shelf to slope to basin-floor Giant Foresets Formation in offshore western New Zealand. The MTD created substantive topographic relief and rugosity at the contemporaneous seabed, formed by the presence of a shallow basal detachment surface, and very large (up to 200 m high) intact slide blocks, respectively. Sediments were initially deflected away from high-relief MTD topography and confined in low areas. With time, the MTD was progressively healed by a series of broadly offset-stacked and increasingly unconfined packages comprised of many channel bodies and their distributary complexes. Positive topography formed by the channels and their distributary complexes further modified the seafloor and influenced the location of subsequent sediment deposition. Channel sinuosity increased over time, interpreted as the result of topographic healing and reduced seafloor gradients. The rate of sediment supply is likely to have been non-uniform, reflecting tectonic pulses across the region. Sediments were routed into deep water via slope-confined channels that originated shortly before emplacement of the MTD.

scholarly journals A 3D geological model of a structurally complex relationships of sedimentary Facies and Petrophysical Parameters for the late Miocene Mount Messenger Formation in the Kaimiro-Ngatoro field, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surya Tejasvi Thota ◽  
Md Aminul Islam ◽  
Mohamed Ragab Shalaby
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Sedimentary Facies ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Sequential Gaussian Simulation ◽  
Root Mean Square Amplitude ◽  
Petrophysical Parameters ◽  
Basin Floor ◽  
Complex Relationships

AbstractThe present study investigates the reservoir characteristics of the Mount Messenger Formation of Kaimiro-Ngatoro Field which was deposited in deep-water environment. A 3D seismic dataset, core data and well data from the Kaimiro-Ngatoro Field were utilized to identify lithofacies, sedimentary structures, stratigraphic units, depositional environments and to construct 3D geological models. Five different lithologies of sandstone, sandy siltstone, siltstone, claystone and mudstone are identified from core photographs, and also Bouma sequence divisions are also observed. Based on log character Mount Messenger Formation is divided into two stratigraphic units slope fans and basin floor fans; core analysis suggests that basin floor fans show better reservoir qualities compared to slope fan deposits. Seismic interpretation indicates 2 horizons and 11 faults, majority of faults have throw less than 10 m, and most of the faults have high angle dips of 70–80°. The Kaimiro and Ngatoro Fields are separated by a major Inglewood fault. Variance attribute helped to interpret faults, and other seismic attributes such as root-mean-square amplitude, envelope and generalized spectral decomposition also helped to detect hydrocarbons. The lithofacies model was constructed by using sequential simulation indicator algorithm, and the petrophysical models were constructed using sequential Gaussian simulation algorithm. The petrophysical parameters determined from the models comprised of  up to ≥ 25% porosity, permeability up to around 600mD, hydrocarbon saturation up to 60%, net to gross varies from 0 to 100%, majority of shale volumes are around 15–20%, the study interval mostly consists of macropores with some megapores and 4 hydraulic flow units. This study best characterizes the deep-water turbidite reservoir in New Zealand.

scholarly journals Evolution of a Late Miocene Deep-water Depositional System in the Southern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clayton Silver ◽  
Heather Bedle
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Late Miocene ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Architectural Elements ◽  
Shelf Slope ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Channel Systems

A long-standing problem in the understanding of deep-water turbidite reservoirs relates to how the three-dimensional evolution of deep-water channel systems evolve in response to channel filling on spatio-temporal scales, and how depositional environments affect channel architecture. The 3-D structure and temporal evolution of late Miocene deep-water channel complexes in the southern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand is investigated, and the geometry, distribution and stacking patterns of the channel complexes are analyzed. Two recently acquired 3-D seismic datasets, the Pipeline-3D (proximal) and Hector-3D (distal) are analyzed. These surveys provide detailed imaging of late Miocene deep-water channel systems, allowing for the assessment of the intricate geometry and seismic geomorphology of the systems. Seismic attributes resolve the channel bodies and the associated architectural elements. Spectral decomposition, amplitude curvature, and coherence attributes reveal NW-trending straight to low-sinuosity channels and less prominent NE-trending high-sinuosity feeder channels. Stratal slices across the seismic datasets better characterize the architectural elements. The mapped turbidite systems transition from low-sinuosity to meandering high-sinuosity patterns, likely caused by a change in the shelf-slope gradient due to localized structural relief. Stacking facies patterns within the channel systems reveal the temporal variation from a depositional environment characterized by sediment bypass to vertically aggrading channel systems.

scholarly journals Evolution of a Late Miocene Deep-Water Depositional System in the Southern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Clayton Silver ◽  
Heather Bedle
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Late Miocene ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Architectural Elements ◽  
Shelf Slope ◽  
Structural Relief ◽  
Channel Systems

A long-standing problem in the understanding of deep-water turbidite reservoirs relates to how the three-dimensional evolution of deep-water channel systems evolve in response to channel filling on spatiotemporal scales, and how depositional environments affect channel architecture. The 3-D structure and temporal evolution of late Miocene deep-water channel complexes in the southern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand is investigated, and the geometry, distribution, and stacking patterns of the channel complexes are analyzed. Two recently acquired 3-D seismic datasets, the Pipeline-3D (proximal) and Hector-3D (distal) are analyzed. These surveys provide detailed imaging of late Miocene deep-water channel systems, allowing for the assessment of the intricate geometry and seismic geomorphology of the systems. Seismic attributes resolve the channel bodies and the associated architectural elements. Spectral decomposition, amplitude curvature, and coherence attributes reveal NW-trending straight to low-sinuosity channels and less prominent NE-trending high-sinuosity feeder channels. Stratal slices across the seismic datasets better characterize the architectural elements. The mapped turbidite systems transition from low-sinuosity to meandering high-sinuosity patterns, likely caused by a change in the shelf-slope gradient due to localized structural relief. Stacking facies patterns within the channel systems reveal the temporal variation from a depositional environment characterized by sediment bypass to vertically aggrading channel systems.

scholarly journals Environment of Deposition and Paleogeography of the Late Cretaceous Glenburn Formation, Eastern North Island, New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
James McClintock
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Tectonic Deformation ◽  
Turbidity Currents ◽  
Submarine Fan ◽  
Submarine Channels

<p>The Glenburn Formation of the East Coast of New Zealand is a Late Cretaceous sedimentary formation consisting of alternating layers of sandstone, mudstone and conglomerate. The Glenburn Formation spans a depositional timeframe of over 10 Ma, is over 1000 m thick, is regionally extensive and is possibly present over large areas offshore. For these reasons, it is important to constrain the paleoenvironment of this unit.  Late Cretaceous paleogeographic reconstructions of the East Coast Basin are, however, hampered by a number of factors, including the pervasive Neogene to modern tectonic deformation of the region, the poorly understood nature of the plate tectonic regime during the Cretaceous, and a lack of detailed sedimentological studies of most of the region’s Cretaceous units. Through detailed mapping of the Glenburn Formation, this study aims to improve inferences of regional Cretaceous depositional environments and paleogeography.  Detailed facies based analysis was undertaken on several measured sections in eastern Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay. Information such as bed thickness, grain size and sedimentary structures were recorded in order to identify distinct facies. Although outcrop is locally extensive, separate outcrop localities generally lie in different thrust blocks, which complicates comparisons of individual field areas and prevents construction of the large-scale, three-dimensional geometry of the Glenburn Formation.  Glenburn Formation consists of facies deposited by sediment gravity flows that were primarily turbidity currents and debris flows. Facies observed are consistent with deposition on a prograding submarine fan system. There is significant variation in facies both within and between sections. Several distinct submarine fan architectural components are recognised, such as fan fringes, fan lobes, submarine channels and overbank deposits. Provenance and paleocurrent indicators are consistent with deposition having occurred on several separate submarine fans, and an integrated regional paleogeographic reconstruction suggests that deposition most likely occurred in a fossil trench following the mid-Cretaceous cessation of subduction along the Pacific-facing margin of Gondwana.</p>

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