Comparison of sediment sound-velocity functions from conjugate margins

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1981 Comparison of sediment sound-velocity functions from conjugate margins ROBERT E. HOUTZ ROBERT E. HOUTZ 1Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information ROBERT E. HOUTZ 1Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1981) 92 (5): 262–267. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1981)92<262:COSSFF>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation ROBERT E. HOUTZ; Comparison of sediment sound-velocity functions from conjugate margins. GSA Bulletin 1981;; 92 (5): 262–267. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1981)92<262:COSSFF>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract A comparison of velocity functions from 15 regions within the conjugate margins of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, Southeast Indian Ocean, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic Ocean shows that velocity functions are not significantly different across most conjugate margins. One major exception is the segment from the Blake Plateau to New England in the western North Atlantic, and its counterpart in northwest Africa. Here the velocity gradients are consistently steeper on the African side compared with those on the North American side. The reason for this unexpected difference was sought in the geologic literature of the two margins. Published studies of these two margins show that although total subsidence and sediment thickness of each of the margins are about equal, the older beds (pre-Cenozoic) are much thicker on the African side. This fundamental difference in depositional history seems to be the major cause of the difference in velocity profiles. Possible differences in the distribution of salt along the margins of Africa and North America are not considered a likely source for the trans-Atlantic differences in the velocity functions. The North Atlantic data therefore illustrate that velocity increases more rapidly with depth in sections biased toward greater proportions of older beds; that is, sedimentation rates decrease as the basin ages. These studies also reveal that sound-velocity profiles are sensitive to the early conditions of deposition on passive margins. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.