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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

CSPG Special Publications

Abstract


Canada's Continental Margins and Offshore Petroleum Exploration — Memoir 4, 1975
Pages 195-204
Atlantic Facing Margins

Late Quaternary Deep Water Sedimentation Off Nova Scotia and Western Grand Banks

David J. W. Piper

Abstract

Five facies are recognised in Late Quaternary sediments on the Nova Scotian slope and rise: (1) Holocene muds, with several percent biogenic carbonate, and occasional turbidite sands; (2) Early Holocene mud turbidites; (3) Late Wisconsin red clay, sometimes with abundant silt laminae; (4) Late Wisconsin thin turbidite sands and interbedded red mud; (5) Late Wisconsin sandy pebbly mud. A sixth facies, channel filling thick sands and gravels, known from the Laurentian Fan, is inferred.

In the Laurentian Fan, facies 3, 4 and 6 extend to the present sediment surface, suggesting turbidity current deposition throughout the Holocene. Facies 1 is reduced or absent. The relationship of facies 3 to major channels on the fan suggests it is turbidite. Turbidity currents on the Laurentian Fan were initiated by slumping on the upper slope; this process, and rip currents in submarine canyon heads, probably initiated turbidity currents on the Scotian slope.

Glacial ice in the Laurentian Channel supplied large amounts of sediment to the upper Laurentian Fan. Similar material was ice rafted westwards along the Scotian slope. Off the western Grand Banks, the only red Laurentian Channel sediment is very fine, perhaps transported in direct hyperpycnal flow of meltwater from the ice sheet.


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