About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

GCAGS Transactions

Abstract


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Vol. 48 (1998), Pages 457-466

Salt/Sediment Interaction; a Case Study from the Northern Green Canyon and Central Ewing Bank Areas, Northern Gulf of Mexico

Peter Varnai (1)(2), Paul Weimer (1)

ABSTRACT

The northern Green Canyon and central Ewing Bank protraction areas are characterized by complex syndepositional salt deformation and growth-faulting that affect the Pliocene and Pleistocene bathyal turbidite systems. Analysis of a series of isopach maps of the ten studied sequences revealed characteristic thickness variations. The localized depositional thicks consist of divergent seismic facies in the middle of the basin. The thicks are interpreted as the result of syndepositional salt withdrawal and growth faulting.

There are great variations in the position, areal extent and the number of the depositional thicks. The systematic analysis of these depositional thicks showed how salt withdrawal and growth faulting affected the deposition of the different turbidite elements.

Salt tectonics had the most important influence on the distribution of basin-floor fans. The thickest and largest fans are interpreted in the southeastern part of the area in the 5.6 - 3.6 Ma interval, where salt withdrawal was most active. Basin-floor fan deposition gradually shifted to the north, following the northward shift in the area of maximum salt withdrawal. No large basin-floor fans were deposited elsewhere, even though extensional growth faulting created large mini-basins in the northern part of the area. This type of extension probably did not create a significant decrease in slope gradient for the coarse grained fraction in turbidity currents to be deposited.


Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24