The turbidite-contourite-tidalite-baroclinite-hybridite problem: orthodoxy vs. empirical evidence behind the “Bouma Sequence”

AbstractThe underpinning problems of deep-water facies still remain unresolved. (1) The Tb, Tc, and Td divisions of the turbidite facies model, with traction structures, are an integral part of the “Bouma Sequence” (Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, Te). However, deposits of thermohaline contour currents, wind-driven bottom currents, deep-marine tidal currents, and baroclinic currents (internal waves and tides) also develop discrete rippled units, mimicking Tc. (2) The application of “cut-out” logic of sequences, which was originally introduced for the “Bouma Sequence”, with sharp basal contacts and sandy divisions containing well-developed traction structures, to muddy contorts with gradational basal contacts and an absence of well-developed traction structures is incongruent. (3) The presence of five internal divisions and hiatus in the muddy contoured facies model is in dispute. (4) Intersection of along slope contour currents with down slope sediment-gravity flows, triggering hybrid flows, also develops traction structures. (5) The comparison of genuine hybrid flows with down slope flow transformation of gravity flows is inconsistent with etymology of the term “hybrid”. (6) A reexamination of the Annot Sandstone at the Peira Cava type locality in SE France fails to validate either the orthodoxy of five internal divisions of the “Bouma Sequence” or their origin by turbidity currents. For example, the “Ta” division is composed of amalgamated units with inverse grading and floating mudstone clasts, suggesting a mass-transport deposit (MTD). The “Tb” and “Tc” divisions are composed of double mud layers and sigmoidal cross bedding, respectively, which suggest a tidalite origin. (7) Although it was reasonable to introduce a simplistic “Bouma Sequence” in 1962, at a time of limited knowledge on deep-water processes, it is obsolete now in 2021 to apply this model to the rock record amid a wealth of new knowledge. (8) The disconnect between 12 observed, but questionable, modern turbidity currents and over 10,000 interpreted ancient turbidites defies the doctrine of uniformitarianism. This disconnect is attributed to routine application of genetic facies models, without a pragmatic interpretation of empirical data. (9) A suggested solution to these problems is to interpret traction structures in the sedimentary record pragmatically on the basis of empirical field and experimental evidence, without any built-in bias using facies models, such as the “Bouma Sequence”. (10) Until reliable criteria are developed to distinguish traction structures of each type of bottom currents based on uniformitarianism, a general term “BCRS” (i.e., bottom-current reworked sands) is appropriate for deposits of all four kinds of bottom currents.

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Hybrid turbidite-drift channel complexes: An integrated multiscale model

Geology ◽

10.1130/g47179.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (6) ◽

pp. 562-568 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

A. Fuhrmann ◽

I.A. Kane ◽

M.A. Clare ◽

R.A. Ferguson ◽

E. Schomacker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sediment Transport ◽

High Resolution ◽

Large Scale ◽

Sediment Accumulation ◽

Multiscale Model ◽

Transport Processes ◽

Bottom Current ◽

Oceanic Circulation ◽

Bottom Currents ◽

Gravity Flows

Abstract The interaction of deep-marine bottom currents with episodic, unsteady sediment gravity flows affects global sediment transport, forms climate archives, and controls the evolution of continental slopes. Despite their importance, contradictory hypotheses for reconstructing past flow regimes have arisen from a paucity of studies and the lack of direct monitoring of such hybrid systems. Here, we address this controversy by analyzing deposits, high-resolution seafloor data, and near-bed current measurements from two sites where eastward-flowing gravity flows interact(ed) with northward-flowing bottom currents. Extensive seismic and core data from offshore Tanzania reveal a 1650-m-thick asymmetric hybrid channel levee-drift system, deposited over a period of ∼20 m.y. (Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene). High-resolution modern seafloor data from offshore Mozambique reveal similar asymmetric channel geometries, which are related to northward-flowing near-bed currents with measured velocities of up to 1.4 m/s. Higher sediment accumulation occurs on the downstream flank of channel margins (with respect to bottom currents), with inhibited deposition or scouring on the upstream flank (where velocities are highest). Toes of the drift deposits, consisting of thick laminated muddy siltstone, which progressively step back into the channel axis over time, result in an interfingering relationship with the sandstone-dominated channel fill. Bottom-current flow directions contrast with those of previous models, which lacked direct current measurements or paleoflow indicators. We finally show how large-scale depositional architecture is built through the temporally variable coupling of these two globally important sediment transport processes. Our findings enable more-robust reconstructions of past oceanic circulation and diagnosis of ancient hybrid turbidite-drift systems.

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Gravity flows: Types, definitions, origins, identification markers, and problems

Indian Association of Sedimentologists ◽

10.51710/jias.v37i2.117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 61-90

Author(s):

Shanmugam G

Keyword(s):

Debris Flow ◽

Deep Water ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Gravity Flow ◽

Turbidity Currents ◽

Hyperpycnal Flows ◽

Gravity Flows ◽

Sediment Gravity Flow ◽

Aeolian Dunes ◽

C 50

Abstract This review covers 135 years of research on gravity flows since the first reporting of density plumes in the Lake Geneva, Switzerland, by Forel (1885). Six basic types of gravity flows have been identified in subaerial and suaqueous environments. They are: (1) hyperpycnal flows, (2) turbidity currents, (3) debris flows, (4) liquefied/fluidized flows, (5) grain flows, and (6) thermohaline contour currents. The first five types are flows in which the density is caused by sediment in the flow, whereas in the sixth type, the density is caused by variations in temperature and salinity. Although all six types originate initially as downslope gravity flows, only the first five types are truly downslope processes, whereas the sixth type eventually becomes an alongslope process. (1) Hyperpycnal flows are triggered by river floods in which density of incoming river water is greater than the basin water. These flows are confined to proximity of the shoreline. They transport mud, and they do not transport sand into the deep sea. There are no sedimentological criteria yet to identify hyperpycnites in the ancient sedimentary record. (2) A turbidity current is a sediment-gravity flow with Newtonian rheology and turbulent state in which sediment is supported by flow turbulence and from which deposition occurs through suspension settling. Typical turbidity currents can function as truly turbulent suspensions only when their sediment concentration by volume is below 9% or C < 9%. This requirement firmly excludes the existence of 'high-density turbidity currents'. Turbidites are recognized by their distinct normal grading in deep-water deposits. (3) A debris flow (C: 25-100%) is a sediment-gravity flow with plastic rheology and laminar state from which deposition occurs through freezing en masse. The terms debris flow and mass flow are used interchangeably. General characteristics of muddy and sandy debrites are floating clasts, planar clast fabric, inverse grading, etc. Most sandy deep-water deposits are sandy debrites and they comprise important petroleum reservoirs worldwide. (4) A liquefied/fluidized low (>25%) is a sediment-gravity flow in which sediment is supported by upward-moving intergranular fluid. They are commonly triggered by seismicity. Water-escape structures, dish and pillar structures, and SSDS are common. (5) A grain flow (C: 50-100%) is a sediment-gravity flow in which grains are supported by dispersive pressure caused by grain collision. These flows are common on the slip face of aeolian dunes. Massive sand and inverse grading are potential identification markers. (6) Thermohaline contour currents originate in the Antarctic region due to shelf freezing and the related increase in the density of cold saline (i.e., thermohaline) water. Although they begin their journey as downslope gravity flows, they eventually flow alongslope as contour currents. Hybridites are deposits that result from intersection of downslope gravity flows and alongslope contour currents. Hybridites mimic the "Bouma Sequence" with traction structures (Tb and Tc). Facies models of hyperpycnites, turbidites, and contourites are obsolete. Of the six types of density flows, hyperpycnal flows and their deposits are the least understood.

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On Dense Bottom Currents in the Baltic Deep Water

Hydrology Research ◽

10.2166/nh.1977.0024 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 297-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Flemming Bo Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Deep Water ◽

Oxygen Supply ◽

Bottom Current ◽

Bornholm Basin ◽

Bottom Currents ◽

Water Currents ◽

Baltic Proper ◽

The Baltic

A rational entrainment function for a subcritical dense bottom current is outlined. As an example the formula has been used to some orders of magnitude calculations of the deep water currents from the Darss Sill to the Stolpe Channel. It is shown that the salt and oxygen supply to the deep water of the Baltic Proper during a »normal« year stems from this bottom current and its entrained water. The renewal of the deep water in the Baltic Proper can be traced in the Bornholm Basin, and hence it is strongly recommended, that continous measurements of salinity, temperature, oxygen, phosphate etc. are performed in the Bornholm Basin, especially in the highly entraining area just north of Bornholm.

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Benthic foraminiferal zonation in deep-water carbonate platform margin environments, northern Little Bahama Bank

Journal of Paleontology ◽

10.1017/s0022336000058819 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 62 (01) ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ronald E. Martin

Keyword(s):

Deep Water ◽

Benthic Foraminifera ◽

Carbonate Platform ◽

Sedimentary Facies ◽

Depositional Environments ◽

Near Surface ◽

Sediment Gravity Flows ◽

Gravity Flows ◽

Platform Margin ◽

Water Carbonate

The utility of benthic foraminifera in bathymetric interpretation of clastic depositional environments is well established. In contrast, bathymetric distribution of benthic foraminifera in deep-water carbonate environments has been largely neglected. Approximately 260 species and morphotypes of benthic foraminifera were identified from 12 piston core tops and grab samples collected along two traverses 25 km apart across the northern windward margin of Little Bahama Bank at depths of 275-1,135 m. Certain species and operational taxonomic groups of benthic foraminifera correspond to major near-surface sedimentary facies of the windward margin of Little Bahama Bank and serve as reliable depth indicators. Globocassidulina subglobosa, Cibicides rugosus, and Cibicides wuellerstorfi are all reliable depth indicators, being most abundant at depths >1,000 m, and are found in lower slope periplatform aprons, which are primarily comprised of sediment gravity flows. Reef-dwelling peneroplids and soritids (suborder Miliolina) and rotaliines (suborder Rotaliina) are most abundant at depths <300 m, reflecting downslope bottom transport in proximity to bank-margin reefs. Small miliolines, rosalinids, and discorbids are abundant in periplatform ooze at depths <300 m and are winnowed from the carbonate platform. Increased variation in assemblage diversity below 900 m reflects mixing of shallow- and deep-water species by sediment gravity flows.

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Deep-water renewal by turbidity currents in the Sulu Sea

Nature ◽

10.1038/348320a0 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 348 (6299) ◽

pp. 320-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Detlef Quadfasel ◽

Hermann Kudrass ◽

Andrea Frische

Keyword(s):

Deep Water ◽

Turbidity Currents ◽

Water Renewal ◽

Sulu Sea

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Autogenic influence on the morphology of submarine fans: an approach from 3D physical modelling of turbidity currents

Brazilian Journal of Geology ◽

10.1590/2317-4889201720170066 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 345-368

Author(s):

Cristiano Fick ◽

Rafael Manica ◽

Elírio Ernestino Toldo Junior

Keyword(s):

Deep Water ◽

Physical Modelling ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Experimental Series ◽

Turbidity Currents ◽

Geometrical Parameters ◽

Submarine Fans ◽

Relative Standard ◽

Length Width ◽

Depositional Evolution

ABSTRACT: Autogenic controls have significant influence on deep-water fans and depositional lobes morphology. In this work, we aim to investigate autogenic controls on the topography and geometry of deep-water fans. The influence of the sediment concentration of turbidity currents on deep-water fans morphology was also investigated. From the repeatability of 3D physical modeling of turbidity currents, two series of ten experiments were made, one of high-density turbidity currents (HDTC) and another of low-density turbidity currents (LDTC). All other input parameters (discharge, sediment volumetric concentration and grain size median) were kept constant. Each deposit was analyzed from qualitative and quantitative approaches and statistical analysis. In each experimental series, the variability of the morphological parameters (length, width, L/W ratio, centroid, area, topography) of the simulated deep-water fans was observed. Depositional evolution of the HDTC fans was more complex, showing four evolutionary steps and characterized by the self-channelizing of the turbidity current, while LDTC fans neither present self-channelizing, nor evolutionary steps. High disparities on the geometrical parameters of the fans, as characterized by the elevated relative standard deviation, suggest that autogenic controls induced a stochastic morphological behaviour on the simulated fans of the two experimental series.

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Characteristics of Current-Induced Harmonic Tremor Signals in Ocean-Bottom Seismometer Records

Seismological Research Letters ◽

10.1785/0220200397 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David Essing ◽

Vera Schlindwein ◽

Mechita C. Schmidt-Aursch ◽

Celine Hadziioannou ◽

Simon C. Stähler

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Fundamental Frequency ◽

Volcanic Tremor ◽

Mode Locking ◽

Spectral Amplitude ◽

Bottom Current ◽

Ocean Bottom ◽

Ocean Bottom Seismometer ◽

Natural Sources ◽

Bottom Currents

Abstract Long-lasting harmonic tremor signals are frequently observed in spectrograms of seismological data. Natural sources, such as volcanoes and icebergs, or artificial sources, such as ships and helicopters, produce very similar harmonic tremor episodes. Ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) records may additionally be contaminated by tremor induced by ocean-bottom currents acting on the OBS structure. This harmonic tremor noise may severely hinder earthquake detection and can be misinterpreted as volcanic tremor. In a 160-km-long network of 27 OBSs deployed for 1 yr along the Knipovich ridge in the Greenland Sea, harmonic tremor was widely observed away from natural sources such as volcanoes. Based on this network, we present a systematic analysis of the characteristics of hydrodynamically induced harmonic tremor in OBS records to make it distinguishable from natural tremor sources and reveal its generation processes. We apply an algorithm that detects harmonic tremor and extracts time series of its fundamental frequency and spectral amplitude. Tremor episodes typically occur twice per day, starting with fundamental frequencies of 0.5–1.0 Hz, and show three distinct stages that are characterized by frequency-gliding, mode-locking, and large spectral amplitudes, respectively. We propose that ocean-bottom currents larger than ∼5 cm/s cause rhythmical Karman vortex shedding around protruding structures of the OBS and excite eigenvibrations. Head-buoy strumming is the most likely source of the dominant tremor signal, whereas a distinctly different tremor signal with a fundamental frequency ∼6 Hz may be related to eigenvibrations of the radio antenna. Ocean-bottom current velocities reconstructed from the fundamental tremor frequency and from cross correlation of tremor time series between stations match observed average current velocities of 14–20 cm/s in this region. The tremor signal periodicity shows the same tidal constituents as the forcing ocean-bottom currents, which is a further evidence of the hydrodynamic nature of the tremor.

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The gravity flow dynamics of submarine fan sedimentation in the Magura Basin of the Western Carpathians (Magura Nappe, Slovakia)

Geologica Carpathica ◽

10.2478/v10096-010-0011-6 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 61 (3) ◽

pp. 201-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

František Teťák

Keyword(s):

Deep Water ◽

Flow Dynamics ◽

Western Carpathians ◽

Gravity Flow ◽

Submarine Fan ◽

Sedimentary Structures ◽

Gravity Flows ◽

Bed Thickness ◽

Change Position ◽

Current Arrangement

The gravity flow dynamics of submarine fan sedimentation in the Magura Basin of the Western Carpathians (Magura Nappe, Slovakia)This article deals with the dynamics of the deep-water gravity flows sedimentation within the Magura Formation. This investigation is based on analysis of the Magura sandstone sedimentary structures studied on the outcrops. The final comparison of the sedimentary structures and cycles with the paleocurrent directions provided an interpretation of the gravity flows dynamics and helped to restore the migration of the sandy lobes in space and time. Three modes of sedimentation are recorded: regular cyclic sedimentation from the lobe, irregular sedimentation from the immature lobe and pelitic sedimentation on the basin plane without the lobe influence. We compared the occurrence of some sedimentary structures with the changes of the current directions and bed thickness. The following interpretations of gravity flow fan dynamics are results of this comparision: the fan consists of one or several lobes, the lobe branches out into branches with the radial current arrangement, the lobes laterally change position and the lobes suddenly die out.

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