Deep Sea Sedimentation a. Pelagic sedimentation -red clays -brown clays b. Biogenic sedimentation -calcareous -siliceous c. turbidites-coarse material in deep ocean d. Ice rafting e. Manganese nodules
Deep Sea Sedimentation
a. Pelagic sedimentation -red clays -brown clays
b. Biogenic sedimentation -calcareous -siliceous
c. turbidites-coarse material in deep ocean
d. Ice rafting
e. Manganese nodules
From http://www.indiana.edu/~g131/floor3N.html
Bouma sequences: vertical stacking and lateral continuity of facies…http://www.usask.ca/geology/classes/geol243/243notes/243week4b.html
Einstein Channel Seismic Facies Show Distinct Partsof a Leveed Channel That Link to Depositional History
Two Wells Link Sedimentary Character to Seismic Faciesfor the Einstein Channel
Linear Submarine Channel and Lobe System
A. Smith, 1/99
Channel
Lobe
Small Sinuous Channel
Sidescan Sonar Shows Amazon Fan Channels Are Highly Sinuous But Not Actively Meandering (Few Cut-Off Loops or Scrolls)
Youngest Channel Deposits: Massive Turbidite Sands
Contact between Youngest Channel and Older Channel
Beaubouef and Friedmann, 2000
Brazos-Trinity Fan
Beaubouef and Friedmann, 2000
Brazos-Trinity Fan
Congo RiverSubmarine canyon-
Note sinuous patterni-
in 3000m plus waterDepths!!
from Vittori et al 2000
Multiple sinuouschannels on thisdeep sea fan….
from Vittori et al 2000
Popo Channel, Guadalupe Mtns W TexasPopo Channel, Guadalupe Mtns W Texas
What are Manganese Nodules?
• Ferromanganese nodules are small (typically pea to golf ball sized) deposits that exist in the deep ocean
• They were first discovered on the ocean floor in 1803
• They contain a relatively high percentage of the metals manganese, iron nickel, copper, and cobalt
What are Manganese Nodules?
• Mn Nodules are formed in situ from of metals and other minerals that have accumulated around a core
• Common core materials include shark teeth, whale bone or meteorite fragment.
• They grow very slowly (~mm/million years) and can be tens of millions of years old.
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/geology/sionar.html
Composition of Manganese
Nodules
Libes (1992)