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Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Systems

Edited by Arnold H. Bouma, William R. Normark and Neal E. Barnes

With 251 Figures

Springer-Verlag New York Berlin Heidelberg Tokyo

Arnold H. Bouma* Gulf Research & Development Company 11111 South Wilcrest Drive Houston, Texas 77236 U.S.A.

William R. Normark U.S. Geological Survey Mail Stop 999 Menlo Park, California 94025 U.S.A.

Neal E. Barnes* Gulf Research & Development Company 11111 South Wilcrest Drive Houston, Texas 77236 U.S.A.

*currently with Chevron Oil Field Research Company

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Submarine fans and related turbidite systems.

(Frontiers in sedimentary geology) Includes index. I. Submarine fans. 2. Turbidites. I. Bouma,

Arnold H. II. Normark, William R. III. Barnes, Neal E. IV. Series. GC87.6.S92S82 1985 552'.5 85-7994

Earlier versions of 27 chapters in this book were included in the journal, Geo-Marine Letters, Volume 3, No. 2-4, published in 1984 by Springer-Verlag, New York. © 1984/1985 by Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc.

© 1985 by Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1985 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be translated or reproduced in any form without written permission from Springer-Verlag, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, U.S.A. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, etc., in this publication, even if the former are not especially identified, is not to be taken as a sign that such names, as understood by the Trademarks and Merchandise Marks Act, may accordingly be used freely by anyone.

Typeset by David E. Seham Associates, Inc., Metuchen, New Jersey.

987654321

ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-9570-9 DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4612-5114-9

e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-5114-9

Preface

Exchange of information in the field of earth sciences is increasingly needed to stay informed about advances. However, the continuous increase in the number of journal articles and books is very noticeable, while the available time to keep up is decreasing. Such a large flow of information commonly necessitates professionals to search selec­tively for material and special publications in one's sub-discipline that have more specific coverage.

In addition to surveying research needs, earth scientists working in a pure or applied research environment collect and produce information that often is of interest to the much larger group of industry-employed geologists and geophysicists, to professionals employed by agencies, and to students.

To accommodate this exchange of needed information, Springer-Verlag is launching a monograph series entitled "Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology." This series will cover a number of subjects related to sediments and sedimentary rocks in a manner that both the researcher and the industrially oriented earth scientist can use constructively. Pub­lications in this monograph series may fit one or more of the following main categories:

Topical

A topical subject will cover either the different aspects of a selected environment of deposition, or present a world tour of a particular depositional environment to dem­onstrate its variability and its commonalities. The author(s) or editor(s) accepts the responsibility to guide the reader as to the state of knowledge, rather than providing a set of independent chapters.

Regional

This category may deal with large areas in both a descriptive and interpretive manner, with the results being applicable worldwide. The topic may emphasize the influence of sea level variations on depositional environments, the mechanics and results of ocean­ographic forces on sediments such as waves and currents, or the effect of large scale

VI Preface

and small scale tectonics on depositional basins. Each subject should stand by itself concerning the region under discussion, while the author(s) or editor(s) bears the re­sponsibility to demonstrate its applicability to other areas.

Interdisciplinary

Unconsolidated sediments and sedimentary rocks are seldom studied using strictly se­dimentological approaches. Examples of potential subjects include principles of seismic stratigraphy and acoustical facies, geotechnical approaches and the new field of geo­technical stratigraphy, diagenetic studies and changes in porosity and permeability, the principles of wire-line logs and their relationships to petrophysical and lithological char­acteristics, and the multi-disciplinary approach to the study of one type of sediment. Such topics should be treated very carefully to avoid loss of direction.

Any combinations of these three broad categories are likely to occur in a publication in this monograph series. However, it is our intent to publish only subjects of current interest, and to insure that sufficient new information is supplied to arouse the reader's interest.

The first volume in the monograph series "Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology" deals with submarine fans and related turbidite systems. This topic has received much interest in the past by the scientific community and more recently has found a growing audience in the industry. This edited volume is intended to update the reader on the status of current knowledge by presenting many examples of modern fans and ancient turbidites in a comparative manner. It is clear that we still treat the subject as two different sed­imentary bodies with significant differences in study approaches, with the result that they cannot be compared yet as one sedimentary family. It also demonstrates the dif­ficulty with our present models and the confusion in terminology.

This publication certainly does not close the subject, nor does it provide all the de­finitive answers. On the contrary, its aim is to provide documentation and to bring the topic into focus by comparing several examples and indicating present weaknesses. Its strength comes forward by viewing modern and ancient systems, and by presenting detailed studies based on recent drilling by the Deep Sea Drilling Project on the Mis­sissippi Fan; the only submarine fan drilled so far in a systematic manner.

Arnold H. Bouma

Contents

Preface.................................................................................. v Contributors ............................................................................ xi

Section I Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Sequences General Topics

Introduction to Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Systems A.H. Bouma

2 COMFAN: Needs and Initial Results A.H. Bouma, W.R. Normark, and N.E. Barnes

3 Diagnostic Parameters for Comparing Modern Submarine Fans and Ancient

3

7

Turbidite Systems ................................................................ 13 N.E. Barnes and W.R. Normark

4 Sedimentary, Tectonic, and Sea-Level Controls D.A. V. Stow, D.G. Howell, and C.H. Nelson

15

5 Eustatic Control of Submarine Fan Development .............................. 23 G. Shanmugam, R.i. Moio/a, and J.E. Damuth

6 Submarine Fan Models: Problems and Solutions. ... .. . .. ..... .. ... .. .. .. . .. ... 29 G. Shanmugam and R.i. Moiola

7 Potential Petroleum Reservoirs on Deep-Sea Fans off Central California .... 35 P. Wilde, W.R. Normark, T.E. Chase, and C.E. Gutmacher

Section II Modern Submarine Fans Active Margin Setting

8 Astoria Fan, Pacific Ocean ...................................................... 45 C.H. Nelson

viii Contents

9 Crati Fan, Mediterranean ........................................................ 51 F. Ricci Lucchi, A. Colella, G. Gabbianelli, S. Rossi, and W.R. Normark

10 Delgada Fan, Pacific Ocean...................................................... 59 W.R. Normark and C.E. Gutmacher

11 La Jolla Fan, Pacific Ocean...................................................... 65 S.B. Bachman and S.A. Graham

12 Magdalena Fan, Caribbean....................................................... 71 V. Kolla and R.T. Buffler

13 Monterey Fan, Pacific Ocean.................................................... 79 W.R. Normark, C.E. Gutmacher, T.E. Chase, and P. Wilde

14 Navy Fan, Pacific Ocean......................................................... 87 W.R. Normark and D.J. W. Piper

Section III Modern Submarine Fans Passive Margin Setting

15 Amazon Fan, Atlantic Ocean .................................................... 97 J.E. Damuth and R.D. Flood

16 Bengal Fan, Indian Ocean ....................................................... 107 F.J. Emmel and J.R. Curray

17 Cap-Ferret Fan, Atlantic Ocean ................................................. 113 M. Cremer, P. Orsolini, and C. Ravenne

18 Ebro Fan, Mediterranean ........................................................ 121 C.H. Nelson, A. Maldonado, F. Coumes, H. Got, and A. Monaco

19 Indus Fan, Indian Ocean V. Kolla and F. Coumes

129

20 Laurentian Fan, Atlantic Ocean ................................................. 137 D.J. W. Piper, D.A. V. Stow, and W.R. Normark

21 Mississippi Fan, Gulf of Mexico ................................................. 143 A.H. Bouma, C.E. Stelting, and J.M. Coleman

22 Rhone Fan, Mediterranean ..................................................... _ .. 151 W.R. Normark, N.E. Barnes, and F. Coumes

23 Wilmington Fan, Atlantic Ocean ................................................ 157 W.J. Cleary, O.H. Pi/key, and J.C. Nelson

Section IV Ancient Turbidite Systems Active Margin Setting

24 Blanca Turbidite System, California ............................................ 167 H. McLean and D.G. Howell

Contents

25 Butano Turbidite System, California T.H. Nilsen

ix

173

26 Cengio Turbidite System, Italy .................................................. 179 C. Cazzola, E. Mutti, and B. Vigna

27 Chugach Turbidite System, Alaska .............................................. 185 T.H. Nilsen

28 Ferrelo Turbidite System, California ............................................ 193 D.G. Howell and 1.G. Vedder

29 Gottero Turbidite System, Italy ................................................. 199 T.H. Nilsen and E. Abbate

30 Hecho Turbidite System, Spain ................................................. 205 E. Mutti

31 Marnoso-Arenacea Turbidite System, Italy ..................................... 209 F. Ricci Lucchi

32 Peira-Cava Turbidite System, France ........................................... 217 A.H. Bouma and 1.M. Coleman

33 Torlesse Turbidite System, New Zealand ....................................... 223 T.e. MacKinnon and D.G. Howell

Section V Ancient Turbidite Systems Passive Margin Setting

34 Brae Oilfield Turbidite System, North Sea ..................................... 231 D.A.V. Stow

35 Kongsfjord Turbidite System, Norway .......................................... 237 K.T. Pickering

Section VI Mississippi Fan, DSDP Leg 96 Seismic Surveys and Drilling Results

36 Mississippi Fan: Leg 96 Program and Principal Results. . ..................... 247 A.H. Bouma, 1.M. Coleman, and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

37 Depositional Units and Growth Pattern of the Mississippi Fan M.H. Feeley, R.T. Buffler, and W.R. Bryant

253

38 Mississippi Fan Sedimentary Facies, Composition, and Texture ............. 259 D.A. V. Stow, M. Cremer, L. Droz, W.R. Normark, S. O'Connell, K.T. Pickering, C.E. Stelting, A.A. Meyer-Wright, and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

39 Biostratigraphy and Sedimentation Rates of the Mississippi Fan ............. 267 B. Kohl and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

x Contents

40 Drilling Results on the Middle Mississippi Fan ................................. 275 e.E. Stelting, K.T. Pickering, A.H. Bouma, J.M. Coleman, M. Cremer, L. Droz, A.A. Meyer-Wright, W.R. Normark, S. O'Connell, D.A. V. Stow, and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

41 Migratory Characteristics of Mid-Fan Meander Belt, Mississippi Fan ....... 283 e.£. Stelting and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

42 Drilling Results on the Lower Mississippi Fan ................................. 291 S. O'Connell, e.E. Stelting, A.H. Bouma, J.M. Coleman, M. Cremer, L. Droz, A.A. Meyer-Wright, W.R. Normark, K.T. Pickering, D.A. V. Stow, and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

43 Consolidation Characteristics and Excess Pore Water Pressures of Mississippi Fan Sediments ....................................................... 299 W.R. Bryant and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

44 X-ray Radiography of Mississippi Fan Cores ................................... 311 J.M. Coleman, A.H. Bouma, H.H. Roberts, P.A. Thayer and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

45 Thin-Section Studies, Mississippi Fan .......................................... 319 M. Cremer, L. Droz, W.R. Normark, S. O'Connell, K.T. Pickering, e.E. Stelting, D.A. V. Stow, and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

46 Geochemistry of Mississippi Fan Sediments .................................... 325 M.e. Kennicutt II, R.e. Pflaum, D. DeFreitas, J.M. Brooks, and DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientists

47 Petrology of Mississippi Fan Depositional Environments ..................... 331 H.H. Roberts and P.A. Thayer

Section VII Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Systems Conclusions

48 Comments and New Directions for Deep-Sea Fan Research .................. 341 W.R. Normark, N.E. Barnes, and A.H. Bouma

Index .................................................................................... 345

Contributors

ERNESTO ABBATE, Istituto di Geologia, Universita de Firenza, Florence, Italy

STEVEN B. BACHMAN, Crouch, Bachman & Associates, San Diego, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

ONEAL E. BARNES, Gulf Research & Development Company, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

*0 ARNOLD H. BOUMA, Gulf Research & Development Company, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

*JAMES M. BROOKS, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

*WILLIAM R. BRYANT, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

RICHARD T. BUFFLER, Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

CARLO CAZZOLA, Istituto di Geologia, Universita de Parma, Parma, Italy

THOMAS E. CHASE, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

WILLIAM J. CLEARY, Department of Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.A.

ALBINA COLELLA, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita della Calabria, Cosenza, Italy

*OJAMES M. COLEMAN, Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A.

*RICHARD E. CONSTANS, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

°FRANCIS COUMES, Societe National Elf Aquitaine, Pau, France

*MICHEL CREMER, Laboratoire de Geologie et Oceanographie, Universite de Bordeaux, Talence, France

xii Contributors

°JOSEPH R. CURRAY, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Geological Research Division, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

°JOHN E. DAMUTH, Mobil Research & Development Corporation, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

D. DEFREITAS, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

*LAURENCE I. DROZ, Laboratoire de Geodynamique Sous-Marine, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

FRANS J. EMMEL, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Geological Research Division, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

MARY H. FEELEY, Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

ROGER D. FLOOD, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, U.S.A.

GIANNI GABBIANELLI, Istituto di Geologia, Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

HENRY GOT, Centre de Recherches de Sedimentologie Marine, Universite de Perpignan, Perpignan, France

STEPHAN A. GRAHAM, Departments of Applied Earth Sciences and Geology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A.

CHRISTINA E. GUTMACHER, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

°DAVID G. HOWELL, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

*TOSHIO ISHIZUKA, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

*MAHLON C. KENNICUTT, II, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

*BARRY KOHL, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

°V. KOLLA, Elf-Aquitaine Petroleum, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

°FRANCO RICCI LUCCHI, Istituto di Geologia, Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

°TIMOTHY R. McHARGUE, Chevron Overseas Petroleum, Inc., San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

T. C. MACKINNON, Chevron Oil Field Research Company, La Habra, California, U.S.A.

HUGH McLEAN, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

ANDRES MALDONADO, Instituto de Geologia, Jaime Almera, C.S.I.C., Barcelona, Spain

*AUDREY A. MEYER-WRIGHT, Ocean DrUling Project, Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

RICHARD J. MOIOLA, Mobil Research & Development Corporation, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

ANDRE MONACO, Centre de Recherches de Sedimentologie Marine, Universite de Perpignan, Perpignan, France

°EMILIANO MUTTI, Istituto di Geologia, Universita de Parma, Parma, Italy

Contributors

0c. HANS NELSON, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

J. C. NELSON, Department of Geology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A.

°TOR H. NILSEN, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

*OWILLIAM R. NORMARK, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

*SUZANNE O'CONNELL, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, U.S.A.

PATRICK ORSOLINI, Elf-Aquitaine Petroleum, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

*MARY E. PARKER, Department of Geology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.

R. C. PFLAUM, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Texas, U.S.A.

xiii

*KEVIN T. PICKERING, Department of Geology, Goldsmith's College, University of London, London, Great Britain

ORRIN H. PILKEY, JR., Department of Geology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A.

°DAVID J.W. PIPER, Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Geological Survey of Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

CHRISTIAN RAVENNE, Institut Francais du Petrole, Rueil-Malmaison, France

HARRY H. ROBERTS, Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A.

SERGIO ROSSI, Istituto di Geologia Marina, C.N.R., Bologna, Italy

*CLAUDIA SCHROEDER, Department of Geology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

G. SHANMUGAM, Mobil Research & Development Corporation, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

*OCHARLES E. STELTING, Gulf Research & Development Company, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

*ODORRIK A.V. STOW, The University of Nottingham, Department of Geology, Nottingham, Great Britain

*WILLIAM E. SWEET, Mineral Management Service, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.A.

PAUL A. THAYER, Amoco Production Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

JOHN G. VEDDER, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.

BARTOLOMEO VIGNA, Istituto di Geologia, Universita de Parma, Parma, Italy

°ROGER G. WALKER, McMaster University, Department of Geology, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

* ANDREAS WETZEL, Geologisches Institut, Tiibingen, Federal Republic of Germany

xiv Contributors

*JEAN K. WHELAN, Department of Chemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

PAT WILDE, Marine Sciences Group, University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.

*DSDP Leg 96 Shipboard Scientist

°Participant in the COMF AN meeting