Seismic reflection profiles across the "Mine Series" in the Noranda camp of the Abitibi belt, eastern Canada

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Verpaelst ◽  
A. Shirley Péloquin ◽  
Erick Adam ◽  
Arthur E. Barnes ◽  
John N. Ludden ◽  
...  

The Abitibi–Grenville Lithoprobe project completed a regional (line 21) and a high-resolution (line 21-1) seismic survey in the Noranda Central Volcanic Complex of the Blake River Group, Abitibi, Quebec. Line 21 provides a regional framework in which the Archean crust is divided into three layers, two of which are discussed here: the uppermost layer, which corresponds to the Blake River Group, is the least reflective, and lies above 4 s (12 km), and the mid-crustal layer, which is composed of a complex pattern of generally east-northeast-dipping reflectors and lies between 4 and 8 s. Within the regional data, the Mine Series of the Central Volcanic Complex is imaged as a semitransparent series of reflectors overlying a highly reflective east-facing structure interpreted as the subvolcanic Flavrian pluton. The high-resolution data (line 21-1) were collected in the vicinity of the Ansil mine. The seismic images in this region can be controlled by surface geology and extensive drill-hole data, and the project was designed to test the applicability of seismic reflection profiling in providing structural and stratigraphic information for use in mineral exploration: shallow-dipping reflectors correlate well with lithological variations or contacts in the volcanic sequence; strong subhorizontal reflectors correspond to diorite and gabbro dykes and sills; several abrupt lateral changes in the reflectivity coincide with known intrusive contacts such as the Lac Dufault pluton.

1974 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis H. King ◽  
Brian MacLean ◽  
Gordon B. Fader

Four erosional unconformities have been recognized within the Mesozoic-Cenozoic succession on the Scotian Shelf, on the basis of data from high resolution seismic reflection profiles. Older unconformities are known from well data and others may be revealed by detailed biostratigraphic studies.The oldest of the four unconformities discussed in this paper is of Early Cretaceous age and appears to mark, with discordance, the boundary between Jurassic and Cretaceous strata on the western part of the shelf. A second angular unconformity, of Late Cretaceous age, has been recognized on the central part of the shelf where the basal part of the Banquereau Formation (Tertiary and uppermost Cretaceous) oversteps the zero-edge of the Wyandot Formation (Upper Cretaceous) and lies upon truncated beds of the Dawson Canyon Formation (Upper Cretaceous). Cut-and-fill relationships characterize a third unconformity developed during Early Tertiary time. A fourth unconformity was developed in Late Tertiary – Pleistocene time by fluvial processes and later by glacial processes. Although in many areas the latest unconformity appears to be the most conspicuous one on the shelf, its configuration closely follows the geomorphic expression developed during the previous period of erosion. The regional extent of the Cretaceous unconformities is not known, and they might only occur near basin margins and on structural and basement highs.


1996 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 194-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen A. Cowan ◽  
Paul R. Carlson ◽  
Ross D. Powell

The advance of Hubbard Glacier, near Yakutat, Alaska, U.S.A., in spring 1986 blocked the entrance to Russell Fiord with an ice-and-sediment dam, behind which a lake formed. The water level in Russell Lake rose to 25.5 m a.s.l. The dam catastrophically failed in October 1986, releasing 5.4 km3of water into Disenchantment Bay. High-resolution seismic-reflection profiles show a 7.5 km long channel system cut into and buried by glacimarine sediment, represented by continuous, parallel reflections. The chaotic seismic facies filling the channel is interpreted to be debris flow deposits. A gravity core from channel-overbank deposits contained sandy diamicton with mud clasts. Above the channel a 1–2 m thick sediment drape extends across the bay. Laminated mud, fining-upward sand beds and diamicton were recovered from this unit. The sediment-drape deposits were produced by suspension settling from turbid plumes and non-channelized turbidity currents generated by the outburst flood.


1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Parson ◽  
D. G. Masson ◽  
R. G. Rothwell ◽  
A. C. Grant

A large group of discrete peaks occurs on the northeastern surface of Orphan Knoll at water depths between 1800 and 2800 m. Long-range side-scan sonographs are used in conjunction with seismic reflection profiles to establish their flattened conical form. They commonly rise to 300 m above the sea floor and occupy basal areas up to 2 km in diameter at that level. Inclusion of the buried lower parts of these mounds may double estimates of both the height and diameter. The sonographs indicate that the mounds have a random distribution within an elongate northwesterly trending belt. Previous suggestions of their possible origin, such as remnants of dykes or ridges of resistant sedimentary strata, are rejected and an alternative explanation of a zone of partially buried Devonian reef knolls is proposed.


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