The “Trou Sans Fond” deep-sea fan (off Ivory Coast, Equatorial Atlantic)

Abstract

Several seismic profiles recorded south of Abidjan (off Ivory Coast) show the presence of a relatively thick Neogene/Quaternary sedimentary wedge along the continental margin. Features considered as typical of a deep-sea fan are observed; among them, we note characteristic acoustic facies (chaotic, transparent, bedded) associated with a system of meandering channels and lateral levees. This deep-sea fan has developed since the late Oligocene (in response to the Oligocene regression) with the Trou Sans Fond Canyon acting as its sediments feeder, although there is no direct relationship with a modern river system.