About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 68 (1984)

Issue: 4. (April)

First Page: 477

Last Page: 477

Title: Morphology and Growth Pattern of Amazon Deep-Sea Fan: A Computer-Processed GLORIA Side-Scan Sonar Mosaic: ABSTRACT

Author(s): Roger D. Flood, John E. Damuth

Abstract:

Deep-sea fans have become increasingly important targets for exploration because of their favorable facies associations. A better understanding of deep-sea fans is needed to successfully exploit these complex sediment bodies. Recent studies of the Amazon fan, using long-range side-scan sonar (GLORIA) and single-channel seismic data, provide an overall view of channel patterns on this fan and demonstrate the relationship between successive channel/levee systems. The digitally collected GLORIA data have been computer processed to produce a mosaic of the fan. Computer processing has corrected the records for slant range and ship navigation, and targets have been enhanced. Many features of the modern fan system are readily apparent on the sonar mosaic. The 1.5 to 0.5-km (5,00 to 1,600-ft) wide channels meander intensely across the fan with sinuosities up to 2.5. Because of these meanders, the channel gradients decrease regularly across the fan despite changes in regional slope. Other channel-related targets include cutoff meanders, overbank deposits (especially small debris flows), and channel branchings. Other debris flows cover large areas of the fan and override channel/levee systems. Air-gun records show that this fan is built of a series of channel/levee systems that overlay one another. Channels from at least 6 of these systems are visible at the surface now, but apparently only one channel at a time has been active. The length of time needed to build a single channel/levee system is not known, but it appears to be rapid.

End_of_Article - Last_Page 477------------

Copyright 1997 American Association of Petroleum Geologists