Neogene Depositional Processes on the Texas-Louisiana Continental Slope Revealed by High-Resolution Seismic Studies

Abstract

Systematic interpretation of high-resolution seismic profiles (3.5-10 kHz echograms and 100 Hz air gun) from the continental slope and rise of offshore Texas and Louisiana from the shelf break across the highly deformed zone of salt diapirs, folds, and intraslope basins to water depths greater than 3,500 m seaward of the Sigsbee Escarpment reveals the geometries, scales, distributions, and depositional processes of deep-water deposits in this region. The 3.5-10 kHz data indicate that redistribution of sediment by mass-transport processes a ubiquitous, and a wide spectrum of slumps, slide blocks, and debris flows are observed from small, isolated deposits in intraslope basins to large, complex deposits covering hundreds of kilometers. The reflection character (echo character) of many intraslope basin and canyon floors indicates sand-rich deposits; however, aggradational leveed-channel systems, characteristic of deep-sea fans, are not observed in the steep-walled intraslope basins. In contrast, some large submarine-fan channel-levee complexes do extend seaward from the mouths of these large canyons and basins at the base of the Sigsbee Escarpment to form one or more large deep-sea fans on the continental rise. Apparently, large quantities of terrigenous sediments can be transported by turbidity flows through the intricate network of rugged intraslope basins and canyonsmore » to feed these fans. Evidence of sediment redistribution by bottom currents (contour currents) is also observed in the form of sediment waves and drift deposits across a large area of the continental rise seaward of the southeastern base of the Sigsbee Escarpment.« less