Slope-to-basin stratigraphic evolution of the carbonate northwestern Great Bahama Bank (Bahamas) during the Neogene to Quaternary: interactions between downslope and bottom currents deposits Melanie Principaud, Jean-Pierre Ponte, Thierry Mulder, Hervé Gillet, Cécile Robin, Jean Borgomano
To cite this version:
Melanie Principaud, Jean-Pierre Ponte, Thierry Mulder, Hervé Gillet, Cécile Robin, et al.. Slope-to- basin stratigraphic evolution of the carbonate northwestern Great Bahama Bank (Bahamas) during the Neogene to Quaternary: interactions between downslope and bottom currents deposits. Basin Research, Wiley, 2017, 29 (6), pp.699-724. 10.1111/bre.12195. insu-01294294
HAL Id: insu-01294294 https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01294294 Submitted on 29 Mar 2016
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. This article isprotected rights by All copyright. reserved. 10.1111/bre.12195doi: lead todifferences version between this andthe ofPleasecite article Version Record. this as been and throughtypesetting, proofreading thecopyediting, process pagination This article undergone has for and buthas accepted been not review publication fullpeer Neogene GreatBahama Bank Mass Contourit Carbonate stratigraphy Seismic Keywords * *** ** Pessac France cedex, * Borgomano Principaud bottomand currents Quaternary: to Neogene the during (Bahamas) Bank Slope Articletype : Original Article Accepted Date 18: Revised Date : 10 Received Date: 22 Corresponding author
Accepted 33 Hilaire, St Geoffroy Allée B18, Bat EPOC, Article 5805 UMR Bordeaux, de Université Université de1, UMR6118,Campus Beaulieu,France Rennes Cedex, 35042Rennes
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This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. topped platform Pliocene slop h platform the Miocene, a with associated edge shelf the of stacking vertical T slope averaging 2 Cretaceo Late the since Straits a of consists Jurassic Upper the conditions tropical America North of part southeastern the in province carbonate extensive an shallow forms which archipelago, largest the is (GBB) Bank Bahama Great The INTRODUCTION changes inthe American Central the of closure re the oceanographic global a with coincides also which (CAS) Seaway from resulting as interpreted is and Ma 3.6 around drif basinal of occurrence debrites deposits Pliocene Late Indeed, feature massive correlative and retreat and growth of phases successive continuous a forming slope, GBB northwestern Langhian. the since current bottom by Drift Santaren the of Pleistocene.duringthe Pliocene apron period this through architecture stratigraphic The Neogene ( Bank Bahama M ABSTRACT he GBB GBB he Accepted Article ultichannel e and massive sedimentary apron sedimentary massive and e
uig the during
, and then (iii) return to a to return (iii) then and , - and Quaternary and et ln te mid the along belt Quaternary carbonate slope Quaternarycarbonate Fg 1) (Fig. was mainly was
leeward leeward h Northern Hemisphere. Northern igh
GBB (Eberli &(Eberli Ginsburg, 1987,1989) - I is It . 8° from 250 8° from , and , - Miocene
r Msfro Eel, 1999) Eberli, & (Masaferro slto simc data seismic esolution )
, Bahamas, , aggr open open Th
h the as show a significant turnover from a distally steepened ramp to a flat a to ramp steepened distally a from turnover significant a show as is t that operated since 15 Ma showed a significant upslope growth upslope significant a showed Ma 15 since operated that t adational
(ii) , developed a more prograding pattern, with a steep end steep a with pattern, prograding more a developed geometric evolution was broadgeometricwas evolution m been et modern best - - ri, which argin, slope are confinedare 800 mwater depth us
a highly productive carbonate factory since its inception in inception its since factory carbonate productive highly a details a (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1987, 1989). It 1989). 1987, Ginsburg, & (Eberli slope peetn ter re xaso it te basin the into expansion free their preventing , debris d -
uring the Lower Neogene, Lower the uring to (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1987, 1989). In contrast, In 1989). 1987, Ginsburg, & (Eberli - - basin area basin apron the internal geometry and depositional history of history depositional and geometry internal the - xml o a ioae pafr operat platform isolated an of example dominated
a rgae about prograded has into the moat the into influence along
with very short prograding clinoformal aprons aprons clinoformal prograding short very with . .
(Jo, 2013;Betzler(Jo, . evolves
h wsen ie f h G the of side western The
the northwestern margin of the Great Great the of margin northwestern the d gently dipping slope dipping gently
base the the
, forming a strike a forming , -
ly constrained by the developmentbythe constrained ly ae pafr o te Bahamian the of platform water downslope - from of - lp apron slope The drift drift The and was was and (i) 7k towards km 27 - a et al climate and organization mud sediments distribution sediments
is characterized by a a by characterized is ., 2014) characterized by characterized xad along expands . - -
contin
dominated F uig the during rom the Middle Middle the rom BB currently currently BB
.
u that shows shows that the Florida Florida the ous coarse coarse ous ing
- t member member he he
slope . under under
Late Late The the the the a - - .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. description associated to is paper this of purpose The Neogene water processes adjacent Straits (MulderFlorida of the floor high analysis the platform of Schlager Sheridan &(Mullins Schlager Neumann, &1979;Crevello 1979; & 1980; Chermak, Schlager, basins ProgramB (ODP) inthe productivity. of (appearance 2009). Szatmari, climate (Duque CAS the by and 1989) Ginsburg, T lowstands. exporte largely be can calciturbidite dominated platform the although fringes. the to production sediment 1983) Mullins, 1981; commonly basin Hine 1977; off preferential east dominant wind sea by C A e rwh f h platform the of growth he arbonate production on th on production arbonate Acceptedlthough a Article - quality multibeam and quality multibeam and
regime (Wilson & Roberts, 1992, 1995) in the Bahamian region strongly influences the the influences strongly region Bahamian the in 1995) 1992, Roberts, & (Wilson regime
(Wilber (Wilber - as well as documented
level fluctuations level changes (Mullins - et al et al Quaternary
s
assigned
facies et al et
large number ofseismic datalarge number sets
- nbe s o rps a ocpul eoiinl oe fr h Neogene the for model depositional conceptual a propose to us enable ., 1988; Eberli ., 1988;Eberli ., 1981; Mullins ., 1981;Mullins Caro, 1990; Steph Steph 1990; Caro, - west direction of the progradation and is therefore thought to be the result of result the be to thought therefore is and progradation the of direction west t al et -
bank sediment transport on the western leeward margin leeward western the on transport sediment bank ., 1981b) ., and toreconstruct
cooa palmata, Acropora ln te otwsen B slope. GBB northwestern the along , 90 Rnl & eje, 2002) Reijmer, & Rendle 1990; ., hs glo These to .
wis te aln sae expo stages falling the whilst , - late - slope ahamas areaahamas slope
(Eberli et al. and responsible and
stageof e GBB platform is interpreted as interpreted is platform GBB e seismic dataseismic imaging
et al - Miocene
- eie sdmnain a b cnie a rdcd skeletal reduced, as consider be can sedimentation derived platform progradation, facies, processesplatformand progradation, sedimentation et al basin system at a regional scale has not been undertaken.basin ata system has scale regional been not
a cnrle bt b mjr e lvl hne (bri & (Eberli changes level sea major by both controlled was bal changes therefore affected the platform ecosystems ecosystems platform the affected therefore changes bal 1987; Haug & Tiedemann, 1998; Bartoli 1998; Tiedemann, &1987; Haug characterize ., 1997a; Ginsburg,Bergman, 2005) 2001; et et al et ., 1984; Austin ., 1984;Austin the marginbasin architecture and
al. sea
have revealed thegeneral revealed have the slopesand anatomy of
- ., 1997b; Betzler 1997b; ., , 2006) that caused a caused that 2006) , Pliocene - oee, eje e a. 21) eosrtd that, demonstrated (2012) al. et Reijmer However, level highstands level McNeill et al., 1997) and associated carbonate carbonate associated and 1997) al., et McNeill for et al
, resedimented deposits upon t upon deposits resedimented the coring expeditions tectonic activity linked to the closure of the the of closure the to linked activity tectonic ., 2012) allow usto
depositional sequences, their geometry and and geometry their sequences, depositional the the drn high during d et al north ., 1986; Ladd., 1986; & 1987; Sheridan, Te ihs sdmnain rate sedimentation highest The . , et al et e te ltom n rsrce the restricted and platform the sed
prior to platform flooding(Schlager, to prior esi rfeto data reflection Seismic western slope of the GB slopewestern of
global ocean re ocean global ., 1999) ., having been having - rqec gail sea glacial frequency and Drilling Ocean
better constrainbetter deep evo . T he lution during the lution et al et
(Hine & Neumann, Neumann, & (Hine he slope and in the in and slope he
easterly , a detailed largely controlled controlled largely - organization ., 2005; Potter & ., 2005;Potter B and the
prevailing prevailing and
New
-
s level level - core
and and are - - This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. re caused collision The Bahamas. southern the over northward advancing belt arc thrusting a formed by Late Cretaceous The seafloorGBB along the m NW by segmented also was Channel banks Santaren carbonate isolated separating troughs striking south, Further fault a by separated Andros) and (Bimini banks carbonates shallow smaller two into segmented was grabens ser a by fragmented subsequently 2001) Kennan, & Pindell 1988; Scotese, & Ross 1985; (Pindell, region of time a was Cretaceous Late The CretaceousMiddle a and subsidence thermal significant to due Bahamas S exte mega carbonate marine widespread III Denny 1985; of opening the since episodes structural of succession a by punctuated was that realm Caribbean the of evolution present The Geodynamic GEOLOGIC along strikedistribution. deposits contourite associated and currents bottom large role the evaluate (ii) Mioceneperiod, the during strike variabilityalongmorphologic apron carbonates. Quaternary hallow marine limestonesinterbedded withevaporites predominantly occur overwestern the Accepted Article collision collision Msfro Eel, 1995) Eberli, & (Masaferro nded over an extensive geographic area including the Bahamas the including area geographic extensive an over nded - collapse deposits upon the slope apron physiography, (iii) physiography,apron slope the upon deposits collapse - one N bounded
(Sheridan - organization of the West Bahamian realm Bahamian West the of organization - between day configuration of the Bahamian archipelago results in a complex geodynamic complex a in results archipelago Bahamian the of configuration day evolution theBahamasevents of andmajor structural AL faults were reactivated were faults t al et SETTING
- t al et (Schlager S
- Jurassic Late the during Atlantic North the – the Caribbean the rnig ordr ( corridor trending , 1994) .,
M
,18; Corso 1981; ., Furthermore, control factors are discussed that: (i) explain the slope the explain (i) that: discussed are factors control Furthermore, (Sheridan
iddle Eoceneiddle
et al .
ae uasc rifting Jurassic Late . ies of ies ., 1988). et F - and platform (“megabank”) during the Lower Cretaceous that Cretaceous Lower the during (“megabank”) platform
aulting al as tectonic . was , 1981;Bergman, 2005)
t al et prevalent N prevalent North American plates American North normal faults faults normal i.e.
- marked by the Cuban Cuban bythe marked eae tpgah sil oal peal at prevails locally still topography related
., 1985). ., tat o Andros) of Straits - lt re plate striking striking - S oriented S
upon was , h otwsenGet aaa Bank Bahama Great northwestern The
to which was locally affected by the re the by affected locally was which - ragmn afcig h Caribbean the affecting arrangement normal important n
create several deep, narrow, WNW narrow, deep, several create Msfro Eel, 1999) Eberli, & (Masaferro olwd y h dvlpet f a of development the by followed the
.
. fault downslope deposits and their their and deposits downslope
faults with faults
T highlight the influence of the the of influence the highlight – Eel & isug 1987) Ginsburg, & (Eberli Orogeny, which was caused waswhich Orogeny, he northern margin of Cuba of margin northern he
Early Cretaceous Early
(Ladd & Sheridan, 1987) Sheridan, & (Ladd - bounded horsts and deep deep and horsts bounded rwig nw i known drowning . The megabank The . offsets
up to 1200 to up
(Pindell, (Pindell, . The The . the n wa the the
of of s - - . .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. currents shallow Channel Santaren the currentthrough inflow of contributions with Mexico, of Gulf the of Current Loop Lee strong that is GBB of slope western The Currents sediments duringall Neogene. the of distribution the and GBB the of configuration the in re role crucial a play morphological would that entrant a formed Embayment Bimini the Oligocene, Late the during inception west the in whilst, part southern the shelf western Tertiary the the during configuration segmentation, inherited its to Due Bank Bimini the from west the towards km 27 over platform carbonate extensive an of progradation and aggradation subsequent coalesce shelves carbonate GBB Cretaceous fragmented The rates of and uplift folding Santaren the of south the in Neogene entire the syn coeval with ( Oligocene Late the during erosion displayed GBB the of north the whilst Cretaceous blocks. buried inherited the of top the at unconformities syntectonic and thrusts folds, compressional def is hypothesis This north. further possible and GBB south the in banks carbonate Cretaceous the the to due GBB South formed newly foreland the in forebulge flexural a of establishment the and faults slip faul Jurassic of activation
Accepted Article ormation ofre b Bergman by confirmed et al et
flow (Hine & Neumann, 1977; Hine 1977; Neumann, & (Hine
s
urface The south of the Santaren the of south The
., 1995; Wang & Mooers, 1997, 1998) 1997, Mooers, & Wang 1995; ., (Masaferro, 1997; Masaferro & Eberli, 1999) Eberli, & Masaferro 1997; (Masaferro,
in the Florida Straits and the Santaren Channel ( Channel Santaren the and Straits Florida the in forebulge migration away from the collision zone collision the from away migration forebulge irto porsiey prtd hog tm aog h GBB the along time through operated progressively migration - water current that flows northward northward flows that current water - tectonic sedimentation tectonic nlec bto dpst and deposits bottom influence
ts, the formation of NW of formation the ts, (Masaferro& Masaferro 1999; Eberli, (2005) currently n
orth, the Bimini the orth, and is and
C
hannel was affected was hannel ~ et al et
(Atkin h dmntae ta sc a such that demonstrates who 2 5 both dominated by both shallow both by dominated
characterized by a gentle N gentle a by characterized ., 1981b ., a. umrn got o te Santaren the of growth Submarine Ma). son indicate that indicate . It is mainly nourished by the outflow of the of outflow the by nourished mainly is It . et al et C ie ie o several to rise give ; Eberli & Ginsburg, 1987, 1989) 1987, Ginsburg, & Eberli ; - hannel but was marked by episodic higher higher episodic by marked was but hannel (Mullins (Mullins SE thrust and folds, WNW striking strike striking WNW folds, and thrust SE B
ank shows a net protrusion towards the the towards protrusion net a shows ank ., 1995; Leaman1995; ., (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1987, 1988, 1989) 1988, 1987, Ginsburg, & (Eberli Cuban contractional contractional Cuban . Masaferro .
- by the Cuban Orogeny Cuban the by contraction edge et al et Fig. 1). Fig. , d
may during the Neo the during ., 1987; Leaman 1987; ., et al ipae a asymmetrical an displayed
(1997) have
-
The Florida Current Florida The ., 2002) and deep and -
from et al et S oriented curvature in curvature oriented S remain contourite
initiate otwr far northward
., 1995) ., suggests
a weaker shallow shallow weaker a deformation and and deformation . ed
gene due to the to due gene - that water currents currents water
d active during during active
drift et al et exposure of exposure . in the the in
Both mainBoth , prograded . Since its its Since . that uplift uplift that
A forming s ., 1995; 1995; ., nticline
in the the in - field field Late is
a - - . This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. mid the Cretaceous. since evolution settings depositional Schlag and succession by sedimentary 2) its of (Fig. retracing GBB northwestern on well Isaac Great the basin the to platform the from transect the complete 1987 Ginsburg, & Eberli originally line platform the of top 626). (well part northern the in performed was one only whereas 1006) and 1007 1003, 1004, 1005, (wells area study (Austin Drilling successive Ocean two during Bank Bahama Great the of basin adjacent the and slope of base the T ima quality excellent of are data migration. gradient velocity constant (3) and stacking fold 96 (2) correction, performed positioning source m sections for km 2.5 of spacing average cruise Carambar km 5000 approximately covering data study This DATA AND METHODS per in resulting accumulation entirely, accumulation prevent or deposits, slope rework slope the in important are currents Bottom Correa countercurrentsand tidally (Fig.1) area study he 2D seismic survey is intersected by six published wells published six by intersected is survey seismic 2D he -
Accepted of signal frequency acoustic average an Article with streamer long ging toapproximately~1 sof two et al . Seismic sections were shot using a mini a using shot were sections Seismic . et al et relies using
., 2012) ., 1986; Eberli 1986; .,
(Coniglio & Dix, 1992) &(Coniglio Dix,
curd y etr Gohscl hneot kon as known (henceforth Geophysical Western by acquired
rga (ODP) Program
in November 2010 November in on a ~1480 km grid of 2D High 2D of grid km ~1480 a on SISPEED software (©Ifremer). Basic processing flow included (1) NMO NMO (1) included flow processing Basic (©Ifremer). software SISPEED
. as part of the Bahamas Drilling Project Drilling Bahamas the of part as were were
(Hine (Hine
Two other exploration wells (Clino and Unda) were Unda) and (Clino wells exploration other Two derived from vessel DGPS. Processing of this seismic data was was data seismic this of Processing DGPS. vessel from derived
) - t al et Tee atr w wells two latter These . driven reversing currents currents reversing driven et al et ,
with vertical resolution approaching 2 m and usable acoustic acoustic usable and m 2 approaching resolution vertical with , 91; ega, 2005) Bergman, 1981a; ., ., 1997a) ., sections dip l g 11 n 166 and 101 egs
(Mulder (Mulder . -
way travel 2 , collected . Five . -
to
et al et n bten ad 0 m for km 30 and 5 between and -
basin transition basin well
time (TWTT).time - -
., 2012) ., GI 24/24 in 24/24 GI Resolution multichannel seismic reflection seismic multichannel Resolution on the R/V R/V the on s were drilled in the southern the in drilled were s , form
( ersn te sha the represent ( Figs. epciey h respectively
in (
Fig. 1 Fig. . (Ginsburg, 2001), 2001), (Ginsburg,
that 2 Florida A
3 and
Le Suroît Le t because
air gun air
were drilled along the slope, the along drilled were rae water greater ). ). 40 3 The s The er
) (Grasmueck (Grasmueck . The re The . - e 350 d n 198 in ld t al et , and a 96 a and , they can winnow and and winnow can they llow
eismic during
the z Srae and Streamer Hz. (1988) . - - water sites and and sites water os f o net no of iods
along a seismic seismic a along margin examination of of examination etr Line Western drilled on the on drilled
depth, minor minor depth, The obtained obtained The line 5 Leg 1 Leg - et al traces /700 traces
n 199 and part s - allowed allowed have ., 2006; ., parallel parallel
of the the of of the of an an 6) 6) - - ; This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. such system. depositional interpreted their are thickness meters) in isochore and 5). isochron (Fig. sections seismic from interpreted geometries and studies cores from issued paper. (SU from ( Surface Pleistocene to through ( Surface Oligocene Late the from age, relative their from named are surfaces The and 2000). nannofossil(Eberli biozones etal., Eberli, 1997; time in calibrated and basin to platform from define been have Mitchum to according regionally and extensive seismically nine into subdivided been has survey 2D the within encountered succession stratigraphic day present to Neogene The sections. seismic processed the of interpretation for used was (©Total) software SISMAGE Absolute with ages were updated which the to Oligocene Late the from zones nannofossil and foraminifer planktonic Ages software inFigure1007. isillustrate 4by thewell 4) check a and imported are (P properties physical of measurements well, time 1006 and used 1007is for (©Total). package software Sismage Time Well tying Seismic interpretation .
Accepted Article Calibration between well and seismic data and the time the and data seismic and well between Calibration illustrated -
9).
- the of the seismic seismic the of depth conversion and subsequent seismic interpretation were performed using the the using performed were interpretation seismic subsequent and conversion depth s elcin ofgrto, mltd, emty n srcue ltrl facies lateral structure, and geometry amplitude, configuration, reflection as facilitate The ODP wells have been corr been have wells ODP The
T hoooial ods to oldest chronologically , he nine depositional packages and their bounding surfaces are analyzed in this this in analyzed are surfaces bounding their and packages depositional nine he
seismic calibration andchronostratigraphic framework calibration seismic
n Figs in regional correlations performed correlations regional , respec reflect
1 et al et
1 maps -
e stratigraphical key shot survey was survey shot and or tively attributed to each tively attributed to . (1977), Vail (1977), . s
are provided from accurate chronological constraints based on based constraints chronological accurate from provided are - 1 i mlieod o two of milliseconds (in depth and well d conversion totie data toseismic Ple 2 . the S .4 the imc ais ee dniid n gopd codn to according grouped and identified were facies eismic ) ( ) Time Scale The seismic The They elated with respect of bio of respect with elated Table 1 Table onet Simc nt (SU 1 Unit Seismic youngest: correlative et al et used
were distinguished through a series of series a through distinguished were
- surfaces wave velocity, density and natural gamma natural and density velocity, wave . (1977) and Sarg (1988) terminology. The SB SB The terminology. (1988) Sarg and (1977) . )
, to define a define to
from Cohen from and the depositional packages are numbered are packages depositional the and using
profile
bounding surfaces andbounding surfaces depositional
defined as sequence boundaries (SB) (SB) boundaries sequence as defined the ODP the
- that a travel way
t ime -
depth law law depth et al crosses ODP wells 1003, 1004, 1003, wells ODP crosses
- with - d wells (Eberli (Eberli wells units, units, zonations, facies sequences sequences facies zonations, . (2013) epth
planktonic foraminifera planktonic ie n approximate and time
law - ) o esi Ui 9 Unit Seismic to 1) bounded returned by Sismage Sismage by returned .
seismic sequences,seismic
for each one ( one each for et al et ata. Pleistocene by laterally laterally by properties ., 1997a). ., For each Foreach L.
Olig - Both Both ray) ray) Fig. Fig. ) ,
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. conformable and ( horizontal rather is but 7) and 5 (Figs. area northern the in The SU deep as interpreted water (Schlager slopedeposits muds, pelagic minor with grainstones to packstones neritic indicates chert with grainstones to north the wackestone t of facies area, southern the In margin. Cretaceous Late easterly the from disconnected apron slope Here,SU 1989). 1988, 1987, Ginsburg,&(Eberli ( Bank Bimini faulted southern the from inherited surface escarpment the against east the overlay conformably which SU theywhilst are affectedbyNE gentle continuous surface Ma). 25 (~ Oligocene Late to assigned is and (1987) Sheridan & Ladd of surface the with correlated be may it however, morphology), discontinuity, (reflectivity, attributes seismic between similarities of Because data. chronological of lack a to owing dated poorly as at bounded SU SU slope stratigraphySeismic ofthe of northwestern Bank Great the Bahama RESULTS of the seismic data six The relationships, Figs.
Accepted Article - - a - - 2: Burdigalian (19.2: Burdigalian (~251: OligoceneMa) Late 1 1 SU
distinct distinct i osss of consists 7 s to s
- ODP Bur
and 2 seismic unit is bo is unit seismic 2 ern area ern the oldest unit described in this study and consists of an an of consists and study this in described unit oldest the ,
s the
ofral simc reflector seismic conformable 8
( with wells high 19.4 ) geometries
.
base by the the by base The ,
- well intercalat
s st of set a as mltd, semi amplitude,
( Ma ( Table 2 Table
Leg top ) 8 626 shows 626
s 101 and 101 s
( of SU of Ma)
Figs. s of the bounding surfaces, lithology surfaces, bounding the of
). conformable ed (Austin unded at at unded
-
chert - he upper he et al Langhian (15.9 Ma)Langhian very 6 2 is limited limited is 2 L.Olig - -
8
Burdigalian grain 166 ) - ., 1988). which , s otnos esi reflecto seismic continuous t al et low - (wells 1007 and 1003) (Eberli (Eberli 1003) and 1007 (wells the SW oriented domalstructures oriented SW )
Surface. In the southern area, strata onlap towards the the towards onlap strata area, southern the In Surface. - most within the study area provide the provide area study the within the
supported facies characterized by characterized facies supported
- Late Oligocene surface Oligocene Late base by the the by base , 1986) ., amplitude
. L by the the by
osss f a of consists
The part part . Strata are planar and horizontal in the south, south, the in horizontal and planar are Strata
Olig ( 19
- . of SU of top top .
1 8 Langhian surface surface Langhian
Even further north, the Great Isaac well well Isaac Great the north, further Even
horizon of Bergman (2005), and therefore therefore and (2005), Bergman of horizon
therefore forms a westa thereforeforms Ma) n semi and Bur f SU of - 1 are made up of up made are 1
surface,
low - i limited is 1
- - and continuous
– (is 6 (Figs. r o medium to (
L. which is a downlap surface surface downlap a is which
Early Tertiary escarpment escarpment Tertiary Early aggrading succession aggrading depositional environment depositional Olig in thebasin northern et al et Langh ) ., 1997a), .,
lithology that usually appears appears usually that mud - by the the by skeletal packstones skeletal - 8). The surface is is surface The 8). esi reflectors, seismic
dipping aggrading aggrading dipping -
( mltd, semi amplitude, 15.9 - supported
in the south south the in Burdigalian Ma)
whereas in in whereas calibration , which , Fig. . .
bio It
Br
3) 3) is - - - .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. floatstones to packstones with interbedded are deposits These forami planktonic of alternation ( 1003 S according displays wedge the in reflector surface Serravallian SU SU to floatstones mud indicate of block platform Bimini easterly the of surface escarpment faulted a against east SU the described towards previously the for as similarly south, the In deposits. (~80 thickness constant high to SU accumulatedat t sub erosional with associated facies chaotic stacked (Austin unit the of base the at limestones and cherts with bedded skeletal amalgamated clinofor hummocky Bur area SU V surface north,the Inarea.study the mostly is akd ovx lens convex tacked -
Accepted Article shaped valleys incised - - - -
3: Langhian (15.93: Ma) Langhian 2 thins downslopewhere2 thins and tocontinuous progressivelyconformable, passes it medium 2 3
Surface (
thickness is bounded at the base by base the at bounded is forms
north (Fig. 6) (Fig. north - Fig. - (~ amplitude undulated reflectors (SF reflectors undulated amplitude
foraminiferal
semi in the south south the in
50 characterized by characterized to
ms 0
4 a over 25 km 25 over Betzler -
- ) that gradewestward SF into supported bio supported light lenses convex continuous
massive slightly tilted tilted slightly massive > niae ht SF that indicate he base
300 ms) that progressively thins progressively that ms) 300
ni (Fig. - thick) grey wackestones/packstones dominated by shallow by dominated wackestones/packstones grey fera ms . Se.2 et al et es
and west (Figs. 6 and 7) 7) and 6 (Figs. west and packstone In the south, south, the In
,
- (SF - and dark and
) Eel & isug 18, 98 18) Well 1989). 1988, 1987, Ginsburg, & (Eberli 3) of 0 s vrtesuhr ra n r nepee s hemipelagic as interpreted are and area southern the over ms) 100 hrceie by characterized
( . (1999) .
( that progressively thins thins progressively that Fig. (1 Fig. low -
- slope of the SW flank of thenorthern flankBimini Bankslope of( theSW a - - 1
3
n irregular n Serrava aksoe wt dark with wackestones . ht rett predclry o h slope. the to perpendicularly orientate that , 9 - 6 6 angle prograding clinoforms with dips between 2.7° and 0.3° 0.3° and 2.7° between dips with clinoforms prograding angle
al 2 Table ) Ma) ).
. the facies - -
grey wackestones/packstones grey 3 and H
plunges plunges ere, the unit is made up made is unit the ere, . SU l s opsd of composed is Langh lian (1 lian Se. 2 Se. progradational characterized by characterized
)
rich in skeletal packstone and grainstone clasts, inter clasts, grainstone and packstone skeletal in rich -
and unconformable and 3 r osre along observed are -
orsod t an to corresponds - 1
medium 1, displays a displays 1 , which isinterpreteda , surface and at the at and surface rapidly . 9 Table 2 Table wh
Ma) ilst
(~75 ms) (~75 - (
westward and is affected by amalgamated affected byamalgamated and is westward -
~
grey inter grey
wedge - it becomes irregular becomes it o high to ). These basinal facies show a relatively a show facies basinal These ). 5 s westwards ms) 75
vertical scars are interpreted as MTCs MTCs as interpreted are scars vertical mud sub medium
- horizontal and continuous and horizontal -
ih abnts ae p f an of up made carbonates rich to of sub of in seismic reflecto seismic
- strike aggradational to aggradational amplitude wards
rich in rich top -
the north the - beds of bioclastic packstones bioclastic of beds rich in rich
to high to
s hemipelagic ooze s hemipelagic by -
parallel, parallel, (
Fig. the SW SW the t al et shallow the conformable Upper Upper conformable the clay minerals clay - smtms forming sometimes , - - , SU 1, ern part of the study the of part ern water allochems and and allochems water amplitude
8 (Fig and unconformable and Well ., 1986). Laterally, Laterally, 1986). ., ) . 1003 and 1007 s semi r over the whole whole the over r downlapping Well - . - water bioclasts bioclasts water
progradational pnhs out pinches 2 Fig. 626 3). - continuous, 10 and 1007 s the ancient ancient the
reflectors. reflectors. 8). It mainly mainly It
indicates (>15%) . seismic
the the - - .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. the upper slope 6)(Anselmetti (Fig. unconformable, sub a with sub Messinian the of top the to assigned SU SU gravity debris erosive downslope trigger may al as interpreted in rich are that SF 2 SF SU of apron formed basinwards o previously the of up made is which slope, middle along km 70 to up basin, the with surfaces decollement large form facies chaotic bounded SF area, northern the In skeletal foraminifera sands planctonic 626. with inwell nort the towards upslope migrates that south the towards out wedge SF reflection toe The 2 On foraminifera planktonic and ), which locally displays a concave lens shape with an with shape lens concave a displays locally which ), unit unit ., 1986) - - Accepted- Article - - 6 to chaotic a into laterally passes 7 ( 3 the north the 4: Serrava 4 is bounded at bounded is 4 is made up of around around of up made is ( Figs. - Fig. flow event. carbonate facies in which remnant stratified packages have also been observed (SF observed been also have packages stratified remnant which in facies - of 100 s .
SF - of medium of 8) lp ad h bsn r caatrzd by characterized are basin the and slope - 3 ern margin ern ver more 20km. ver than - oiotl n cnombe reflector conformable and horizontal - .
200 ms thick (TWT) thick ms 200 mud l 7 may pass do 7 may pass
and lian (1 lian
displaying ihfe seea ltolss f ytr hls n crl fragments coral and shells oyster of lithoclasts skeletal lithified - stacked 5
to grain to the ) whilst whilst ) 1 - . amplitude , the ,
9 base by the by base
- Ma) in SU in i ocsoal cross occasionally is 2
irregular - collapse blocks that have glided downslope upon a series of of series a upon downslope glided have that blocks collapse
unit thin unit 50 m 50 wnslope SF into supported debrites overlain by high by overlain debrites supported - (Eberli (Eberli
- n h nrh ra it area, north the in west and form a thick mound thick a form and west - strike ( strike
Messinian (5.Messinian - 2/3. They are interpreted as MTCs that extend over 25 km in km 25 over extend that MTCs as interpreted are They 2/3.
(
of SF
coffer et al Se.2 features et al et s Fig. coarse
- upslope 2 moderately discontinuous layered facies ( facies layered discontinuous moderately ( h , ., 2000). - ., 1997a; Betzler 1997a; ., - Table 2 Table surface lw poess hog a nqe n localized and unique a through processes flows - stage 8). The vertical scars are localized in the upper to upper the in localized are scars vertical The 8). Fig. like strata made up of up made strata like -
- grain 7 incised by deep (30 deep by incised 6, suggesting thatupslope rock
(35 ms) (35 Ma) 6). Austin et al. (1986) described winnowed winnowed described (1986) al. et Austin 6). (
5.7 ). In the the In ). and at and - ed
u aog h slope the along cut onlap
Ma)
bio n h basin the in but still but
- the
s
packstones, floatstones to rudstones to floatstones packstones,
(Figs. 6 and 7), which 7), and 6 (Figs. erosive basal surface. basal erosive south, this facies this south, the moh prle ad continuous and parallel smooth, et al et - top shaped body at the base the at body shaped Langh
conformablyoverlays
., 1999; Betzler Betzler 1999; ., by - - density 50 ms) 50 low the Messinian surface Messinian the
ufc ( surface - u bcms strongly becomes but
y a by to medium to
turbidites V - -
shaped valleys shaped
3. MTCs extend extend MTCs 3. - interfinger fall mechanisms fall mechanisms eis of series Fig.
et al et At corresponds corresponds SF -
-
(Austin amplitude 7). These These 7). 6 well - - ., 2000) ., 6 ). of the SU the
,
It . s sharp - Strata Strata Table Table
slope slope
with 626 Me
in in et is - - . ,
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. 9) V erosional it whilst 7) (Fig. basin the in horizontal reflecto seismic continuous surface Pliocene Early the The SU pass laterallyforeslope facies tolower ( ( 626 well in observed en eastward the of expense the at down slows progressively to tended apron slope Miocene accreting the ( east the towards upslope grade progressively they as commonly contourites south, the (Austin deposits drift as interpreted been have and 1006 by medium characterized are facies seismic Basinal into laterally passes it where setting, basinal reflectorshorizontal (SF the reaches it until west the towards thins Complex Transport Mass the SU of km 4 tilted km 10 than less over out spreads and slope upper west northeast, the In also occur upper slopes. onthemidand I shallow by dominated wackestones/packstones amalgamated medium the downlap that display wedge west the the south, the To nter - . shaped incised valleys incised shaped Accepted Article - 5: Messinian (5.75:Ma) Messinian SU - bed - 4 ( 4 - - - 5 amplitude s ( Figs.
~ o high to seismic unit is bounded at bounded is unit seismic - of 2 ms) 120 long mega long rahet f h cnort dpst. n h nrh atog dit eois are deposits drift although north, the In deposits. contourite the of croachment
convex lenses convex mud s 7
semi
and Ser.2 unit - -
ampl upre bio supported (SF - n terminates and 9). Here, SU Here, 9). continuous, sub continuous,
- - Austin Austin is a is blocks are still attached at the upper slope and illustrate the instability the illustrate and slope upper the at attached still are blocks
- ipn sgodl lnfrs om prhd rs ta le a the at lies that prism perched a form clinoforms sigmoidal dipping surface surface itude 2, 2, - 1) (
( -
Figs. Table 2 Table
thick E rs over the study area (Figs. 6 (Figs. area study the over rs
Figs. arly Pliocene (3.6arly Pliocene Ma) (SF Pl.1 es triggered during SU during triggered es et al et hummocky to wavy reflectors that may may that reflectors wavy to hummocky ( 3 - Figs. progradational
3, , - interfinger with the downslope facies of the adjacent apron apron adjacent the of facies downslope the with interfinger 7 aktns o floatstones to packstones ). They are represented by represented are They ). ., 1986) ., - 36 Ma) (3.6 5
4 locally backfills the depression produced by the scar of of scar the by produced depression the backfills locally 4 and
Table 2 Table and vr 5 m rm h soe edge slope the from km 25 over - the parallel 7 Fig.
9). and
10 base by the by base , this upslope migration is less obvious as deposits deposits as obvious less is migration upslope this ,
) 6). 6). ). . It disappears in the east and north (Figs. 8 (Figs. north and east the in disappears It . 8 ht itntvl ocr a a high a as occurs distinctively that Wells 1007 and 1003 reveal an alternation an reveal 1003 and 1007 Wells ) low
- ( wedge ae alces n pakoi foramifera planktonic and allochems water conformable Betzler along - angle (between 1.2° and 3.3°) clinoforms 3.3°) and 1.2° (between angle
- onlp. ueos ihfe slightly lithified Numerous downslope. 3 ( 3 erosional erosional Figs. (~2 the slope the
Fig. et al et et al et - 5 8). The The 8). 3 0
ih in rich ., 1986; Eberli 1986; .,
., 1999) ., 9). This stranded SU stranded This 9). and and 626 wells in facies muddy ms) that progressively thin progressively that ms) n cniuu reflect continuous and Me , where it is characterized by characterizedby is it where , 5). Here, the upbuilding of upbuilding the Here, 5).
Pl.1 surface lntnc foraminifera planktonic .
Clinoforms consist of of consist Clinoforms
( surface is planar and planar is surface Figs. coalesce
and at the top by by top the at and et al et 3
., 1997a). ., and - amplitude, amplitude, -
4 rapidly rapidly 4 o form to 5). ors
The The s
and and
of of In of to .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. 1 bounded phases. Faug SU important migration upslope characterized 10’s (< rapid km 1m.y.). bytranslation 1’sto simil Pl dipping a with geometry, horizons seismic a by bounded slope eastern and on terminations Downlap with geometry be can 6 clay and shows 1006 Well slope. easterly the (SF 8) (Fig. reflections SU and 6). (Fig. basin ( slope the along surface is major a forms andreflector amplitude SU SU the slopeandinterpreted is as being contourites. high tabular of wedge thick m 130 a basin, recorded been has layer ash volcanic a which in thick, m 25 Me previous the of gullies and valleys incised the fills entirely and 1007, and 1003 1005, wells ( (SF amplitude low very of reflections slope, southern the On Table 2 and Figs. andTable 2 - Accepted Articleby topped 1 -
- - - surface in the upper slope. In well 626, SU 626, well In slope. upper the in surface 6: Early Pliocene (3.66: Ma) Early Pliocene 6 is a 200 m thick mounded stratified morphologic feature of sub of feature morphologic stratified mounded thick m 200 a is 6 bo is 6 i itrrtd s asv mudd otuie rf, codn t te classifica the to according drift, contourite mounded massive as interpreted is 6 5). .
è r o h udryn sub underlying the to ar res lhuh hs sub this Although
In the median part of the study area, area, study the of part median the In progradational geometry progradational are that s
et al et - udvdd no w sub two into subdivided ne a te ae y the by base the at unded k wide km 2
the Late Pliocene surface Pliocene Late the . (1999) and Bergman (2005). This drift formed during two distinct building distinct two during formed drift This (2005). Bergman and (1999) . Pl.2 a dominate progradational configuration progradational
marked aggradational component that component aggradational marked rich 3
locally merges with merges locally
and
in n in -
hoi fce ( facies chaotic 2, 2, SU 5). - Figs. nt hw high shows unit 2), Table annofossils and planktonic foraminifera planktonic and annofossils Pl in the basin the in - This interval consists of hemipelagic cha consists This interval is 5 - 1
- - 7 surface
unit (Eberli (Eberli unit
- Late Pliocene (2.6 Ma) PlioceneLate well ti (25 thin a )ad hc eoe ofral n otnos n the in continuous and conformable becomes which and 8) also characterized by eastward downlap terminations upon terminations downlap eastward by characterized also
that thickens in the basin and progrades upslope towards upslope progrades and basin the in thickens that - - sub lower The units. fine very Pl.1 developed onlap .
SF Pl.2 - The upper sub upper The Pl.1 defin ) hc itrigr ih SF with interfinger which 1)
- - 7 ufc, hc i dfnd y cniuu, high continuous, a by defined is which surface, - - amplitude facies (SF facies amplitude . -
mltd rfetr, esi fce (SF facies seismic reflectors, amplitude , 0 ms) 50
at the middle slope position position slope middle the at to SU e (2.6 Ma), which is an irregular, unconformable unconformable irregular, an is which Ma), (2.6 t al et al 2 Table
- - - both an grained stratified calcit stratified grained downlap surface over the entire area. entire the over surface downlap 5 is a coarse a is 5
-
6 moat
asymmetric shape with a steeper northern northern steeper a with shape asymmetric , 97) Te pe sub upper The 1997a). ., is cross is northward interval ) -
unit ( that
Figs.
laterally change laterally -
cut by cut
has - - xed over extend unit unit grained condensed section about about section condensed grained of continuous and conformable conformable and continuous of 7
and eastward and a sigmoidal sigmoidal a and ( - Austin Austin 2,
hw a shows a series of vertically sharp vertically of series a
(Eberli (Eberli Table 2 Table 9) lk rich in nannofossils in innannofossils in lk rich - parallel, low parallel, . e -
a te toe the at 2 Conformable Conformable ooze/chalk with silts with ooze/chalk s t al et in the south south the in 0 o 0 m n the in km 20 to 10 in et al et ) smooth smooth to oblique mound mound oblique to to
thins out toward out thins - ( , 1986) ., nt hw an shows unit Figs. a steeper east steeper a ., 1997a). SU 1997a). ., - amplitude 5 mounded
- The unit unit The of
. ( stacked - and tion of of tion Figs. 2) are are 2) In the the In - slope slope
8 ) 3 - - - - .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. wakestones grey intervalstopackstones, of an with of alternation the upper (ii) lastone slope, along needles aragonite in rich wakestones to mudstones, peloidal dolomitized moderately to down a shows wedge the 1005, and 1004 1003, wells medium t south, the In that ms) ~150 (thickness wedge progradational edge( 17kmfrom the slope westprogressively over andterminates the to thins stranded steep a displays slope The 7). SU SU grain ( with patterns, sedimentological and architectural SU depression of MTCs thePliocene ( km 50 over convex amalgamated form debrites (Eberli back net a showing upslope, faunamigrate progressively shelf and algae red debris, corals coarse aragonite and peloidal SU that indicates 1007 Well basin. the into further extend not does and drift 6 2 higher by top the at and base the at bounded facies chaotic and co and conformable is it whilst 6). and 5 (Figs. Pl SU SU 1997a) ( (Eberli 1005) and 1004 (wells upslope deposition apron slope occ stranded concomitant coevally limestones peloidal dominated (Principaud contourites into interbedded MTCs formed and basin. Austin Austin ). SU ).
Accepted Articlee.1 - - - - - 8: Pleistocene (1.78: Pleistocene Ma) 7 7 8 tha north the in thinner clearly is 7 8), the unit consists of stacked concave lenticular bodies of low of bodies lenticular concave stacked of consists unit the 8),
: Late Pliocene (2.6 Ma) : Late Pliocene(2.6 (1.7 Ma) (1.7 is bo is is - These facies have been interpreted as large as interpreted been have facies These 7 is preferentially deposited in the concave depression formed by the moat of the SU the of moat the by formed depression concave the in deposited preferentially is 7 et al - Fig. bo
to high to unded at the base by the by base the at unded unded at the base by the by base the at unded ., 1986) themoat trappedupslope into ofthe former SU 5). Fig. , e eg cnit o sub of consists wedge he
which occurs as a high a as occurs which - Pl amplitude that downlap the the downlap that amplitude 8). These deposits seem preferentially backfilling inherited collapse inherited backfilling preferentially seem deposits These 8). e.1
s reua,ucnombeadmre with merges and unconformable irregular, is - Present - - ntinuous in the basin ( basin the in ntinuous Pleistocene (1.7Ma) Pleistocene rie mud grained (Principaud - - Pl Pl. up lens that are up to up are that lens up day e 2 - . amplitude seismic reflector over the entire study area area study entire the over reflector seismic amplitude 1
surface n in the south but shows at both locations similar similar locations both at shows but south the in n
- surface parallel, - o grain to Ple et al
ur along the upper slope, suggesting a a suggesting slope, upper the along ur - and and
1 and the present the and - ., 2015)
collapse that occurred during the Pliocene Pliocene the during occurred that collapse - semi surface (SF surface
stepping geometry ( geometry stepping t al et Figs. - topped by topped - dominated debrites, debrites, dominated slope facies transition from (i) sligh (i) from transition facies slope -
continuous sigmoidal clinoforms of of clinoforms sigmoidal continuous ., 1997a). Lenticular calcidebrites calcidebrites Lenticular 1997a). .,
100 m 100 asfurther they north. migrate 3 - - oiae sakd oae SF lobate stacked dominated amplitude reflectors (SF reflectors amplitude , et al et 5 , - 5, 7 the lower Pleistocene surface surface Pleistocene lower the -
and ., 2015). ., wide and extend northward extend and wide seafloor at the top (Figs. 5 (Figs. top the at seafloor Table 2 Table - 6 drift ( 6 drift Pl.2 9). In the south ( south the In 9). -
to medium to Fig. ) (Figs. 6 and 8) and 6 (Figs. )
in the upper slope upper the in In the south mud south the In hc ae ih in rich are which Figs. 5). Along strike, strike, Along 5). Figs. - 7 consists of of consists 7 6 - - amplitude 10). - 3 4, -
and Figs. related et al et
Table Table . At At . tly 5). - 4 5 ., - - - -
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. pa northern the in seafloor Aquitanian the to prior highs topographic buried formed the 2005) (Bergman, outboard blocks by peripherical scattered in resulted marked also GBB, the of NE dislocation tectonic fault transverse and large a of forms that Embayment Bimini the period of individualization a was Paleogene The interfinger withnannofossil NE a in expanding merge facies deposits muddy slope Both aggrading westward. by dominated apron an is wedge southern the whilst mud northern The thebasininto (Playton Bank Bimini the of top the at emergence e Such parallel the by whilst 1989), shelf accreting continuous characterized a Ginsburg, displays shelf northern & (Eberli is onlap passively south strata which The on faults embayment. escarpment Bimini the by separated SU The OligoceneLate SU using illustrated Neogene the during GBB the evolution paleogeographical the reconstructing The P DISCUSSION ( onlap that of succession vertical massive (SF debris SU north, the In slope. (iii) and slope lower the along intervals lithoclasts some and matrix aragonite with floatstones to packstones middle the along floatstones and grainstones Figs. a
Accepted Articleleo - -
8 seismic units ( 8 seismic units SW ori SW seismic facies analysis and analysis facies seismic geography physiography and 3
crmn margin scarpment - and hglgt to ye o strike of types two highlights 1 Ple.1 - ented axial graben (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1988, 1989) 1988, Ginsburg, & (Eberli graben axial ented ) ht cuuae aoe SU above accumulated that 4) 5).
-
- surface in the north ( north the in surface
a series of isochro of series a 8 Burdigalian -
also shows stacked lobate geometries containing grainstones rich in coral in rich grainstones containing geometries lobate stacked shows also to grain to Figs. 1 et al et l opooy n h south the in morphology al 1 ., 2010) ( - -
rich hemipelagic oozes dominated apron lies over more than 100 km towards the south, south, the towards km 100 than more over lies apron dominated and 1
( ~5 – continuous, sub continuous,
geometry of geometry Quaternary
m.y. 2):
n and isochore maps ( maps isochore and n of northwestern the Bank Great Bahama Fig. 1
Figs. ) :
Initiation ofthe Neogene slope -
iie dpstoa slope depositional limited 1 and considerable downward by downward considerable and 6 - .A ( 7 . The The . ,
individual 7 ).
Figs.
- of the northwesterly slope northwesterly the of - parallel and low and parallel and SW deep basinal area where they they where area basinal deep SW physiography and and physiography - ( slope profil slope Figs. 9) but interfinger the wedge in the south south the in wedge the interfinger but 9) 6 - 9).
seismic units seismic
in time) in 6 h bsnl eois oss o a of consist deposits basinal The a hv implied have may , 1 1 . This structural fragmentation structural This . A and 1 e (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1987). 1987). Ginsburg, & (Eberli e - amplitude reflectors (SF reflectors amplitude eodl bio peloidal for the respective SU respective the for
depositional history depositional opooy wih are which morphology, are - 2 apron apron A . Some block relics block Some . keys for tentatively for keys - ). ). - to pass of sediments of pass
- basin system of of system basin
(
SU - wackestones, long a - 1 - ) bounded bounded rt of the the of rt
lateral - margin - live - 1 to to 1
are - 2) 2) ly ly d
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Schlager ( strike feature massive correlative Drift Santaren the contourite important A flow that Ma, 15 around (1) the The the south(SU Langhian inthe north(Fig.exportation 6). Aquitanian the during slope along a This formswhich aphysiographicLanghian still endat of reentrant (Figs. the and 11B 12B). embayment, Bimini the of output the at northward km 50 terminates and south the in persists deposit large and collapse instabilities failures, slope successive of onset the constitute Bank Bimini base the at MTCs deposits. calciturbidite gentle common a forms SW and the by SU Burdigalian 1 long km 60 and wide km 17 a in results configuration physiographic This deposition. Neogene during subsidence 11B (Figs. area study 2 tog curr lthough
Accepted ArticleA - slope tobasin physiography. The establishment of contourit of establishment The 2 shows rapid variations of depositional slope types along strike (< 50 km). It km). 50 (< strike along types slope depositional of variations rapid shows 2 ). SU
rchitectural configuration may have caused large variations in sedimentation rates rates sedimentation in variations large caused have may configuration rchitectural onset of a slope apron apron slope a of onset Figs. -
3 steep et al et ed ni te pe Sraala ( Serravallian Upper the until
is marked by two bytwo marked is -
Serrava - ln te slope the along 6
-
. (1 . Langhian ( Langhian 3) (~2.5°) 1 , n set were swept ent illustrat
cetn arp sa ad ersin upslope. depression and scar abrupt creating s
988), who 988), 1 ramp
ad 1 and D expand l
lian ( lian drift sedimentation was sedimentation drift
depression at the southwestern limb of the Bimini B Bimini the of limb southwestern the at depression and narrow physiography, narrow and - - ing the influence of a bottom a of influence the ing ad 12B and D like ~3 ~4 ed
2
describe bottom describe m.y. major onlapping po ( apron C
m.y. all along northwestern GBB slope, forming a continuous and and continuous a forming slope, GBB northwestern along all (Mullins development . hs s osset with consistent is This ).
identified ): ):
e slope Northern events that occur that events - -
Langhian time interval, with a more significant material significant more a with interval, time Langhian D), inducing a hummocky topography with differential differential with topography hummocky a inducing D), Instability drifts has been identified all across the Florida Straits at Straits Florida the across all identified been has drifts ~ ° bit p y rviig sheet prevailing by up built 1°)
h SU the t al et is 1 Figs. -
of n h nrh f h GBB the of north the in - in the northern area northern the in - , 90 18, 98 Brmn 2005) Bergman, 1988; 1987, 1980, ., current deposits current evidenced slope of the southwesterly flank of the northern the of flank southwesterly the of slope -
slope 2 to the north and slope and north the to 1 B - whilst whilst apron d - ad 1 and D red - current upon the sediments distribution sediments the upon current - . Here, seismic observations show that show observations seismic Here, . simultaneously apron over more than 150 km along along km 150 than more over apron
the northwest slope displays a more more a displays slope northwest the results of Austin Austin of results evelopment (SUevelopment 2
for B -
D
that prograde that this period in period this ) . h suhetry slope southwesterly The h e The
- apron development in in development apron and Brmn 2005) (Bergman, - ie coarse like - ank ( ank crmn margin scarpment 2)
interact t al et
ODP to Figs. 1 Figs. wards (96 and (1986) . ed is marked is
well 626. well ( -
i. 1 Fig. grained to form form to 1
the W W the A and A -
scale scale no , ).
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. along of persistence likely the of because upslope migrated progressively S the as Meantime, maximum. aAccepted at was progradation the when slope the shed (Eberli well) ODP 1007 in cm/kyr 4 and SU of part uppermost the in higher clearly were rates Sedimentation 12C). (Fig. conditions lowstand and high highstand during frequency calciturbidites of stacking vertical the from resulted south the in apron slope 4° and 2.6° between Bernet to According ranged 1999). al., et angle (Betzler slope apron southern the whilst (~1°) flat almost was grain sheets during and ooze periplatform muddy prevailing of accumulation ( 1987) Ginsburg, & (Eberli also was which platform, Mid The (SUdrift Serraval passiveevolution in margins. (Eberli apron slope accretion an into upwards passing as interpreted been has margin escarpment the where Italy, ArticleSimila area. strike a of development regional the with systems, slope depositional of homogeneity widespread a illustrates interval Serravallian The associated debrit and MTCs (~3.5°), low relatively is angle slope large estimated the triggered Although 11C). and (Fig. events failure upslope caused locally have may rate, sedimentation 1007 (13 measured are rates sedimentation highest the which during SU during rates sedimentation of increase widespread slope different shows paleo Mean (2) regional a with coincides Loop Current Drift Santaren the re oceanographic of extension widespread The - 1003 and 1005) according to according 1005) and 1003 l - ian - time, the northern slope northern the time, 4)
o ae icn ws akd y wswr pordto o te carbonate the of progradation westward a by marked was Miocene Late to
r architectural style changes have been also described in the Maiella Platform in in Platform Maiella the in described also been have changes style architectural r
- /Gulf Stream circulation/Gulf Stream the Upper Miocene, they differed in thickness and declivity. The northern apron The apron northern thicknessMiocene, differed anddeclivity. Upper theyin the
Messinian ( Messinian es show coarseesgrain show - organization all along GBB, GBB, along all organization et al et - angle through time. time. through angle ., 1993; Borgomano, 2000), suggesting a common depositio common a suggesting 2000), Borgomano, 1993; ., characterized by a continuous a by characterized ~4 Figs.
m.y.): 3 - apron , 1 , Eberli Eberli
- Slope 4 than in the lower part (respecti part lower the in than 4 -
1 supported re supported (Mullins (Mullins D and 1 and D - continued to prograde towards the W and SW but SW and W the towards prograde to continued et al et continuous accretion margin across the entire study study entire the across margin accretion continuous - et al et apron retreat and encroachment of the contourit the of encroachment and retreat apron This slope steepened, probably as the result of a a of result the as probably steepened, slope This et al et ., 1997a) ., . (1997a). . 2 et al . (2000), the upbuilding of the upper t upper the of upbuilding the (2000), . D eutn in resulting ). Although slope aprons accreted with the the with accreted aprons slope Although ). - sedimented material. ., 1987) , indicating that the platform probably probably platform the that indicating , - -
3. The Serravallian was the period period the was Serravallian The 3. The steep slopes, together with high high with together slopes, steep The strike accreting slope over the GBB GBB the over slope accreting strike (Fig. 1 the initiation of the the of initiation the - 3 8 mkr n D wells ODP in cm/kyr 18 - ). supported calciturbidites calciturbidites supported
vely around 13 cm/kyr cm/kyr 13 around vely
- lp bottom slope antaren Drift antaren "modern" - nal slope nal collapse collapse o mid o e - - - -
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. source the to linked be may Accepted3 (respectively G). depocenters with platform, the towards SU confined debrites Pliocene Early centra large first the triggered have might extent, some at and, Drift Santaren shelf the of smoothing sudden 1988).This resulted increase Ginsburg, bathymetric & (Eberli inboard embayment Bimini and Andros of Strait that transgression a being (Kenter as interpreted cha is significant event a caused This subsequently GBB. the over depths water SU within basin and slope the along preserved sections condensed Early the during (Kenter platform Pliocene the of flooding temporal a indicating foraminifera, water deep peloidal mixed Article and packstones reveal both wells the above just platform, GBB southern the of edge shelf the On Messinian Santaren Drift stil SU of end the at platform the from export sediment in decrease sharp a indicated observations a hiatus sedimentary iron an well, Clino the at slope upper (Kenter well Unda the in valleys incised shallow and Long materials west. towards the free further prevented they Miocene, Upper the during currents - -
4, when the shelf was entirely emerged (see also Grammer & Ginsburg (1992)). The The (1992)). Ginsburg & Grammer also (see emerged entirely was shelf the when 4, 6 is characterized by the maximum aggradation and progradation of the the of progradation and aggradation maximum the by characterized is 6 This thickness variation suggests a difference in sedimentation rates along strike strike along rates sedimentation in difference a suggests variation thickness This - duration emersion was evidenced was emersion duration l area (Principaudl area et al et -
Early ., 2001). The flooding may have also coincided with the final backfilling of the the of backfilling final the with coincided also have may flooding The 2001). ., - - 5 cm/kyr in the north and 12 cm/kyr in the in cm/kyr 12 and north the in cm/kyr 5
Late Pliocene (~1 Pliocene Late
upslopeduring (Fig.l migrated period this 11D) (SU t al et Pliocene ( Pliocene - 6/7 t the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (Eberli (Eberli boundary Miocene/Pliocene the t , 01. hs interpretation This 2001). ., - slope profiles. It may be linked to a minor upslope migration of the the of migration upslope minor a to linked be may It profiles. slope et al )
~2 ., 2015) ( change in production on the platform platform the on production in change
n sih eswr rtet f lp arn wt a moderate a with aprons slope of retreat eastward slight a in m.y.
m.y. ): Figs. 1 Generalize
) nge in the ecosystems on the carbonate platforms platforms carbonate the on ecosystems the in nge essentially at the top of SU of top the at : - manganese stained hardground indicated a major major a indicated hardground stained manganese Maximum encroachment of the contourite drift and drift contourite the of encroachment Maximum 0 , 1 1 d E -
drowning of the platform (SU theplatform of drowning - kltl aktns o risoe rc in rich grainstones to packstones skeletal developed in the southern area ( area southern the in developed
F and 1 is consistent with nannofossil chalk and and chalk nannofossil with consistent is et al et -
4 by a karstified dolomitized surface surface dolomitized karstified a by 4 ., 2001). Simultaneously, along the along Simultaneously, 2001). ., 2
south; Eberli south; E ).
- Me expansion of re of expansion -
and/or the the and/or 5, testifying an increase in in increase testifyingan 5,
surface, Clino and Unda and Clino surface, t al et - scale collapses in the in collapses scale et al et ., 1997a). These These 1997a). ., variation of the the of variation contourite drift contourite . (1997a)) . - 5) - sedimented sedimented
Figs. 1 Figs. that that 1 F,
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Kenter slope adjacent Accepted shelf upper coarse very gr skeletal deposited that 1995) 1992, Roberts, & (Wilson currents Off 1989). ( Bank Bahama Betzler to according slope upper the of part uppermost the in 45° (around slopes steep with clinoforms slope sigmoidal short by characterized growth, Pleistocene The Pleistocene (Kenter al. et ecosystems peloidal coarse off and 2000) (Eberli, highstand eustatic of combination a of result a as Pliocene Late the during GBB the over occurred margin prograding steep a of onset The freelyexportation expanded uptothe reardrift. of the ( moat drift Santaren the of geometry mounded strike Article decre progressive a causing back to accretionary an forms that style stacking ( canyons by a as interpreted therefore ( margin outer the from detached debrites stacked amalgamated Laterally seafloor sur the of reduction the to due increase to tended current the of velocity the steeper, was slope contour and seafloor the of dip the between relationship time this during constrained of intensification to linked Straits. Channel, Santaren the in confinement distance , -
continuous belt, as the result of a confined sedimentary backfilling in the former former the in backfilling sedimentary confined a of result the as belt, continuous
1997 This event This et al from ,
Fig. 1 Fig. ains on the upper slope (Kenter slope upper the on ains extensive debrites extensive - bank transport was likely favored by prevailing NNW blowing winds and tidal and winds blowing NNW prevailing by favored likely was transport bank face swept by the bottom current.face thebottom swept by (first appearance of the Caribbeanreef the appearanceof (first - ) ., 2001) (Fig.1
Present ovly prtd n h pafr a a eut f olwd ciai coo climatic worldwide of result a as platform the on operated coevally the source. the Fig. but non but 0). The lenticular shape of debrites resulted in a topographic compensation topographic a in resulted debrites of shape lenticular The 0). orsod to corresponds wa 3) (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1987; Schlager 1987; Ginsburg, & (Eberli 3) - day (~1.7 m.y.) day s relatively short, ranging over less than 1 than less over ranging short, relatively s et al et - skeletal deposits (Kenter (Kenter deposits skeletal Moreover, the southern depocenter might have been created by the the by created been have might depocenter southern the Moreover, 3 ., 2001). High sedimentation rates (10 cm/kyr at ODP well 1003 well ODP at cm/kyr (10 rates sedimentation High 2001). ., - s o off of ase - ). pass zone sh zone pass dominated slope dominated
Fg 13) (Fig. current
the second and last episode of prograding reefal platform platform reefal prograding of episode last and second the :
although s Establishment of anew of Establishment -
hl tasot nry Dbie msl fr a large a form mostly Debrites energy. transport shelf which unconfined when it merged with the Florida Florida the with merged it when unconfined which .
owing numerous deep (~50 deep numerous owing Faug et al et
- ., 2001), and caused the over the caused and 2001), ., aprons aprons è Fig. 1 Fig. e & udr (2011) Mulder & res -
stepping geometry in an upslope direction, direction, upslope an in geometry stepping et al et - uttc conditions eustatic building coralbuilding 2 developed during the Late Pliocene as as Pliocene Late the during developed ., 2001). ., G
). In the north, high rates of material material of rates high north, the In ). - current velocity. Indeed, when the the when Indeed, velocity. current et al et
slope t al et Drastic changes in biological biological in changes Drastic
., 1988; Eberli & Ginsburg, Ginsburg, & Eberli 1988; ., Acropora palmata; McNeill palmata; Acropora Fig. m - (99) vr h Great the over (1999)) . apron (SU .y. - - 100 ms TWT) V TWT) ms 100
5). The upper slope is slope upper The 5). ak rnprain of transportation bank
lo eosrt the demonstrate also and might have been been have might and that that - steepening of the of steepening were not well well not were - 8)
- derived derived - shape shape ling ling This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Acceptedcharacterized prograding byshort clinoformal aprons very ( ( (2010) the or (1986) Cook & Mullins of “by erosional L the during occurred lens inherited the of smoothing paleo the and growth apron slope of stop temporary the caused it as ( 1999) angle slope where classification respective the accordingto mud a with compared regionally The grain between Mid the from system GBB distribution facies spatial of variability strike the illustrates slope successive displayed distinctively that physiogr evolution apron slope dynamic particular deep Quaternary Article to Neogene The along the slopeoftheGreat northwestern BahamaBank Neogene of parameters control and model Depositional andooze lessactiveby ( deposition contourite drifts periplatform of renewal the by dominated mostly was sedimentation basinal whilst deposits import bystudyaffected was the area of part middle The episodes 2000). (Eberli, Shelf e shelf SU former the to compared migration stepping basinward significant a showed edge shelf the Although Eberli to according - - ide o Late to Middle - size prevalence.size slope progradation is interpreted as resulting from successive glacial and inter and glacial successive from resulting as interpreted is progradation slope topography ( topography g a a osqec o soe egtnn ad over and heightening slope of consequence a as dge Fig. 1 Fig.
i. 1 Fig. py with aphy slope morphology, average slope declivity, type of resedimented materials and and materials resedimented of type declivity, slope average morphology, slope - 7 (Eberli & Ginsburg, 1989), slope sedimentation was restricted in the vicinity of of vicinity the in restricted was sedimentation slope 1989), Ginsburg, & (Eberli 7 4 - pass” upper slope zone, and might coincide to the the to coincide might and zone, slope upper pass” A 4 D - B ). ). The Early Pliocene f Pliocene Early The ). Fig. 1 Fig. averages h Pesoee hwd h rtr o ee sepr lp morphology, slope steeper even of return the showed Pleistocene The t al et ihy iesfe fce ad lp age aog strike. along angles slope and facies diversified highly
Miocene
4 (97) sget ouios short voluminous suggest (1997a)) . C -
t Picn. hs wr dtce fo te hl eg va an via edge shelf the from detached were These Pliocene. ate ). Then, abundant strike abundant Then, ). Miocene to present to Miocene between ~2.6° and 4° and ~2.6° between Briain o pe Messinian) Upper to (Burdigalian -
- o grain to water carbonate system of the GBB accounted for a a for accounted GBB the of system carbonate water debris of Mullins & Cook (1986) and Playtonand(1986) Cook & Mullins of looding marks a break in the GBB slope evolution evolution slope GBB the in break a marks looding - oiae soe apron slope dominated - supported supported - day Fig. 1 along strike for ~10 m.y. (Betzler m.y. ~10 for strike along . Figure 14 also shows also 14 Figure . - continuous coarse skeletal calcidebrites calcidebrites skeletal coarse continuous slope
-
ant slope collapses and mass wastingmass andcollapses slope ant Quaternary 2 H Fig. 1 ). s
apron
of the shelf the of - - teeig Fg 1H. SU 11H). (Fig. steepening time exportation of material. material. of exportation time 4 base E).
oe o Playton of model or
carbonate gravity carbonate - of slope slope crtoay margin, accretionary - slope apron slope - slope
the system - et al et relatio basin of the the of basin iue 1 Figure . (2010), .
- can be be can system system glacial nships nships - et al et t al et flows - ., ., 8 4 .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Acceptedhighlighted of withtheourcurrent regard und be however, can, statements Several determine. to difficult remains area restricted spatially large these of causes The affect mud slope higher sedimen Backfilling scars. MTC of toe the at left depression the compensate to removal foreslope upper the by formed excavations nested the backfilled rapidly collapses the postdate immediately that sediments base original the of deposits debrite and megabreccias domain slope mega isolated of up calcidebrites cohesive complexes, boulder blocks, made materials resedimented disorganized of amount significant a km) 10 least at during failures upslope extensive rapidly passes that apron slope accreting short and narrow Articlevaried have apron slope GBB grain or declivity slope lateral no Although Role of large and along GBB. distribution the deep of understanding improve to systems depositional of style gravity of re a suggests therefore parameters such of Analysis deposits. distribution spatial the affecting parameters control important 2000 Betzler Eberli, 2000; 1986; Cook, & (Mullins GBB the for proposed models beendepositional have deposits, drift and that shows study This - MTCs downslope and erosional scars upslope. As a consequence of repetitive collapses, repetitive of consequence a As upslope. scars erosional and downslope MTCs oiae low dominated ed by upslope instabilities. fore
locally. The SW flank of the northern Bimini northern the of flank SW The locally. - - angle clinoforms that initiated subsequent instabilities. Conversely, the adjacent adjacent the Conversely, instabilities. subsequent initiated that clinoforms angle , collapse deposits upon theslope upon apronphysiography collapse deposits
slope forming a forming during ; Playton Playton ;
over a distance of distance a over - angle slope aprons accreted over even larger distances without being being without distances larger even over accreted aprons slope angle several morphologic and stratigraphic features, like MTC occurrences occurrences MTC like features, stratigraphic and morphologic several
hummocky the ts were forced to incline downslope over a short distance, forming distance, short a over downslope incline to forced were ts - - cl clas eet drn te Mid the during events collapse scale oiae soe eois ae en rvosy ecie as described previously been have deposits slope dominated et al et Mid - of
- ., 2010). Here, these features are considered to be the most most the be to considered are features these Here, 2010). ., - slop neetmtd n pol itgae i te previous the in integrated poorly and underestimated
to Late to m
basin .y.
e apron by by apron e less than 30 km. This area was affected by successive successive by affected was area This km. 30 than less ,
which caused caused which - floor topography up to 50 km 50 to up topography floor Miocene, the style of of style the Miocene, - size prevalence variations were variations prevalence size erstandingGBB ofthe evolution:
and coarse turbidites occurs at the base the at occurs turbidites coarse and uln & ok (1986) Cook & Mullins the the
B ank provides a good a provides ank d -
eposition eposition evaluation in the morphologi the in evaluation into adjacent larger and more more and larger adjacent into - water carbonate deposition deposition carbonate water fore -
to Late Miocene over a a over Miocene Late to slope morphology may may morphology slope of in the basin the in gigantic . -
lw carbonate flow observed h carbonate The
example of a of example t al et (>25 * 60 60 * (>25 .
, 1999, ., Similar
along - of cal cal - - This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted along can slope failure occur. which shear index ( seafloor the near almost arefound character is cementation early wells, surface Plio that show (2015) (4) the stratigraphicnot accurate frame enough is with certainty. toconclude highest, the are influxes sedimentary when sequence depositional each of end the at triggered (2010) al. et Jorry (1981), Schlager & Kendall pressured carbo platform the the recorded times Serravallian to Burdigalian (3) Articleand does justify not differences grain prevalent The (2) that largeelsewhere have MTCs periodalong aleeward occurredinthe same of margin. time from km 100 high. been have would slope the upon rates sedimentation as trapped rapidly fluid undergoing deposits mud parallel at strength shear sediment low supported (e.g. conditions angle of angular exceed metastable require also not does megabreccias large of initiation oversteepenin slope by triggered been have to appear not does therefore formation Megabreccia 4°). < (i.e. slope GGB the along all constant remains but increase declivity local indicate not does apron slope regional The (1) The early cementation can also be considered as a ma a as considered be alsocan cementation early The GBB
the tegh ut bv te ihfe hrzn my e potential a be may horizons lithified the above just strength properties and shear strengths with unlithified to partially lithified portions. The low The portions. lithified partially to unlithified with strengths shear and properties
which coincided with a regional diagenetic key stratigraphic surface. In ODP Leg 166 LegIn166 surface.regional keyODP astratigraphic diagenetic with coincided which -
wide distally steepened ramp steepened distally
material ( material (Eberli
- catastrophic slope failure slope catastrophic angle ae atr rpdy eiee a aiu aon of amount maximum a delivered rapidly factory nate - of
exclusively in glacial lowstand deposits and interpreted to have formedhave interpretedto and deposits glaciallowstand exclusively in Malone et al., 2001 al., et Malone t al et - repose in grain in repose “
Highstand shedding Highstand slopes. Submarine instabilities and sliding may be caused by decreasing decreasing by caused be may sliding and instabilities Submarine slopes. - pleistocene MTCs MTCs pleistocene - , 97) ht onie ih eustatic with coincide that 1997a) ., size of the foreslope does no show significant variations variations significant show no does foreslope the of size - overpressure at the upper to mid to upper the at overpressure in slope deposit cohesion and/orlithification along cohesion in slopedeposit strike.
of the West West the of - -
efor éolmn pae, hc cmol ocr in occur commonly which planes, décollement seafloor to debrites to ized by ized ). The lithified hardgrounds produce abrupt shifts in the in shifts abrupt produce hardgrounds lithified The ). g. Spence & Tucker (1997) Tucker & Spence g. s ”, Droxler & Schlager (1985), Schlager Schlager (1985), Schlager &Droxler ”,
have been also been have all glided along a common a along glided all well Florida - dominated foreslope) prior to failure in mud in failure to prior foreslope) dominated - . Here, ). lithified intervals (i.e., hardgrounds) which which hardgrounds) (i.e., intervals lithified h ighest rates of slope sedimentation over over sedimentation slope of rates ighest
margi
jor factor in MTCs. MTCs. in factor jor
observed in observed vn hte MC ses o be to seems MTCs whether even n (Mullins (Mullins n - derived highstands where the the where highstands derived - slope.
suggest, however, that the that however, suggest,
ek eahet layer detachment weak
privileged décollement privileged et al et Mid
Fluids may have been been have may Fluids
- ., 1986), testifying 1986), ., Miocene downslope Principaud et al. al. et Principaud Furthermore, Furthermore, et al et along strike along . (1994), (1994), . deposits deposits over
at or at - -
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Principaud MTCs of confinements contin strike a forming lens sub concave a the Mid Hemisphere North 2006). Pliocene Late the Haug 1998; Tiedemann, caused & (Haug Glaciation have may that circulation thermohaline the The of migration upslope the enable to contourite enough strong not likely were currents Bottom the by deposited slope the along calciturbidites depositing ( inte the and (NADW) water circulation deep Atlantic North the of onset the causing Langhian, the during started 1987). Caribb the in movements tectonic plate from resulting as interpreted been has which Ma, re 15 around operated that oceanographic Hemisphere general a with coincides feature basinal and growth, of phases present until evolved and & Langhian the during initiated was (Mullins Drift 14) (Fig. Straits Florida the Ne in drifts contourite forming by physiography bottom significant of onset the by marked was Faug 2005; Bergman, (e.g., suggested earlier than environment dynamic more much a out pointing deep in currents bottom of importance the recognized have authors Various Great Bahama Bank current bottom of role and Development Mullins Mullins
Accepted Article Mullins 1979; umann, , final closure of the CAS at about 4.7 and 2.7 Ma 2.7 and 4.7 about at CAS the of closure final è caused by caused res & res This event also coincides with the rapid up rapid the with coincides also event This CAS the of closure progressive the and Panama of Isthmus the of shoaling the Indeed, -
to Late Pliocene slope apronLate slope Pliocene to t al et
deposits, et al
Stow, 2008; Faug 2008; Stow, - , 1987) ., basin at the moat position (Fig. 1 (Fig. position moat the at basin . (2015)
a sea a Santaren Drift Santaren
which thereforewhich andtheof lowermost intheslope. only basin part
- ee drop, level . lateral
for thePliocenefor u nsification of the Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 13) 13) (Fig. Mexico of Gulf the in Current Loop the of nsification uig h Moee wswr down westward Miocene, the During u cas fce bl aog h mid the along belt facies coarse ous et al et formed è ., 1980, 1987; Bergman, 2005). In the study area study the In 2005). Bergman, 1987; 1980, ., migration. res & Mulder, 2011; Betzler 2011; Mulder, & res that we by a region ean
progressively migrated towards the lower to mid to lower the towards migrated progressively etapdadcnie ihnte drift the within confined and trapped re ,
where contourit where the - Pleistocene. The occurrence and emplacement of such a major major a such of emplacement and occurrence The , upon the architectural evolution of the northern northern the of evolution architectural the upon aggrading
coevally interfingered with muddy contourites contourites muddy with interfingered coevally et al et (Mullins & Neumann, 1979; Mullins Mullins 1979; Neumann, & (Mullins - flow circulation that modified the seafloor seafloor the modified that circulation flow 2C slope ., 2001; Bartoli 2001; .,
). The subsequen The ). es rapidly otuie hv be dsrbd by described been have contourites
induced drastic changes in the global the in changes drastic induced migration of the Santaren the of migration
et al et - raiain f h Northern the of organization
- prograde ., 2014a). The Mid The 2014a). ., lp o te GBB. the of slope - - flowing turbidity currents currents turbidity flowing day throughout successive successive throughout day et al et t Late Pliocene debrite debrite Pliocene Late t ., 2005; Steph Steph 2005; ., d
eastwards - - deriv , the Santaren the , water realms, realms, water D - rift along rift ed moat ed Miocene Miocene
to form to Similar Similar - t al et slope. et al et
., ., ,
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. their for reviewer anonymous a comments, second criticisms, the constructive and Jorry Stephan to grateful are authors The Marges.” pre acqui the thank to like would authors The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS between 2.7Ma,the closur simultaneously until 15Ma with re oceanographic global bottom with linked intimately illustr are traditionally drifts Contourite as physiography slope of development natural expand not could which deposits, downslope confined and trapped they depression, moat developed wit upslope features largemounded formed contourites When m.y.25 last duringthe margin T concomitant withthe steep slope physiography. angle a as evolved rather Pleistocene edge, shelf detached the was from deposition Debrite debrites. carbonate coarse of movement downslope and r a by marked was physiography slope the in variability local significant causing apron. slope the of oversteepening kilometric by typified paleo inherited the of smoothing the event flooding mud by characterized strike system extensive an as developed slope GBB The of the results, high New CONCLUSION h
Acceptedalso study is Article - processing. This work work This processing. GreatBank Bahama unti -
derived calciturbidites, debrites, and collapse and debrites, calciturbidites, derived of understanding enhance to us enabled have rey no h basin the into freely red The The - l
ult mlihne simc data seismic multichannel quality present
data author was awarded a grant by the the by grant a awarded was author in the Early Pliocene Early the in highlights the importance of importance the highlights S and Ifremer and
eturn of accreting slope morphology, characterized by significant by significant by characterized morphology, slope accreting of eturn - day - . cos Ts a MTCs across building up a a up building
eet ag MC occurred MTCs large Recent - raiain n ciae hne i te oten Hemisphere Northern the in changes climate and organization
carbonate a b has .
-
Genavir for the Carambar cruise Carambar the for Genavir - By extension, contourite deposits significantly prevented the the prevented significantly deposits contourite extension, By upre calciturbidites supported
progradational the captain and crew of the RV RV the of crew and captain the een een S
- caused the temporal cessation of slope apron growth and and growth apron slope of cessation temporal the caused uccessive upslope failures upslope uccessive topography slope d ugsin wih epd to helped which suggestions nd upre b te rnh INSU French the by supported nd coarse debrites, locally led the shortening and and shortening the led locally debrites, coarse nd base - to
drift deposits drift - - of tgte wt te nerto o OP wells ODP of integration the with together , basin
- . In the northern GBB, large collapse large GBB, northern the In . lp arn system apron slope slope company Total through the Cifre the through Total company
duringNeogene the - - -
continuous progradational progradational continuous currents which are known to reflect a a reflect to known are which currents occurred repetitively that MTCs related - the apron
locally and are interpreted as being being as interpreted are and locally
evolution of the the of evolution during the Miocene until a major major a until Miocene the during
upon the distribution of downslope of distribution the upon e ofthe CAS. ,
hrceie by characterized strike. along
organization and onboard and organization occurred during the Miocene, Miocene, the during occurred Le Suroît Le
td n h literature. the in ated ln te GBB the along considerably - Quaternary.
north
program “Actions “Actions program The Late Pliocene Pliocene Late The
for the quality of quality the for
western slope slope western a steep slope slope steep a slope
program h a wella h
improve improve - events, events, - . apron -
pass pass data The The - .
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. B B B B B B A A A REFERENCES No conflict of interestdeclared CONFLICT INTEREST OF reviewing. paper. this ETZLER ETZLER ETZLER ERNET ERGMAN ARTOLI USTIN NSELMETTI Accepted ArticleTKINSON cyclicities of a distally steepened carbonate ramp (Miocene, Great Bahama Bank). Bank). Bahama Great SciInternational Journal ofEarth (Miocene, ramp carbonate steepened distally a of cyclicities Lower (Miocene ramp carbonate outer Bahamian the of geometries and patterns Sedimentary Sarg), 166 vol. Results, Scientific In: transect. Bahamas the of part distal connection paleo the into insights glaciation. L Legreports, 10 Channel. Bahama Research:Oceans Old the in observations meter Current currents Florida: of Straits S CHUTTER EA , ,
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III, W.M., A W.M., III, C , . S W., G.P. (2000) The record of Neogene sea Neogene of record The (2000) G.P.
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1588. . D & M. .. S & P.D. College Station, Texas, Ocean Drilling Progra College Texas, Station, Ocean Drilling Variability of , , 42,871 CHLAGER
H. (1990) Neogene Stratigraphy, Paleoceanography and Paleobiogeography in in Paleobiogeography and Paleoceanography Stratigraphy, Neogene (1990) H.
o sea to , 17,63
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- 374. E. by (Ed.
Leg 166 Synthesis. In: Synthesis. 166 Leg BERLI UFFLER ,
E. by (Ed.
. B & E. , 77,203 , . . wr, . . bri M J Mln & . J. F. & Malone J. M. Eberli, P. G. Swart, K. P. G.P., R G.P., ,
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,
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, Tectonic Processes in the Northern Northern the in Processes Tectonic ai transition. basin .. 18) ritrrtto o an of reinterpretation A (1985) R.T.
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N P James) P. N. & ERWER Closure of the Isthmus of of Isthmus the of Closure
- 1147. , . -
177. K. & P & K. aie Geophysical Marine AAPG
Palaeogeography, Palaeogeography,
Facies models: models: Facies URKIS
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- S.A.M. S.A.M. Murge Murge 84, , This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. F F F F E E E E E E AUGÈRES AUGÈRES AUGÈRES LOWER AcceptedBERLI BERLI ArticleBERLI BERLI BERLI BERLI diagnosticdrifts.contourite of Sedimentology, In: controls. 63, 149 Deep Malone 166 Leg reports, initial Program, Drilling BankBahamaGreat the on drilled borings coredeep two G & 1 166 Leg reports, initial Program, Petroleum Geologists Memoir Platforms Italy). (Abruzzi, Margin Platform Maiella the progradation: SpecialMineralogists Read F. J. Wilson, Systems Basin and Platform Carbonate on Controls B 103. Bally) W. A. Bank. Bahama Great northwestern seaways, platforms, northwesternGreatBahama Bank. Palaeogeography, Palaeoecology Palaeoclimatology, Cycling. Carbon Global and Circulation Ocean Deep Development, Sheet Ice Antarctic 66 , , , , , , hm Bn, rcr o ltrl ltom rwh n sea and growth platform lateral of record a Bank, ahama
G.P., S G & G.P. , G.P. & G & G.P. G.P., S G.P.,
.. B G.P., .. G & G.P. , .. K & B.P. INSBURG , , , 850
- J. J. sea sediments sediments sea J. - - - et - C. & M & C. 214. C. & M & C.
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WART
al (Ed. by J. T. Simo, R. W. Scott Scott W. R. Simo, T. J. by (Ed. ERNOULLI
INSBURG INSBURG .) . ,
Contourites
. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Studies in Geology in Studies Geologists Petroleum of Association American INSBURG R.N. (1997b) A synopsis of the Bahamas Drilling Project: Results from Results Project: Drilling Bahamas the of synopsis A (1997b) R.N.
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N E. y . eec & . Camerlenghi) A. & Rebesco M. by (Ed. . . Sarg) J. F. EILL
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olg Sain Txs Ocean Texas, Station, College ,
. V & D. , -
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(Ed. by G. P. Eberli, P. K. Swart, M. J. J. M. Swart, K. P. Eberli, P. G. by (Ed. & In: Geology , ECSEI , 162, 1 , 162,
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. Masse) P. , Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Drilling Ocean the of Proceedings
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Developments in Sedimentology, in Developments 38. Ed. ( A.R. (1999) Seismic features features Seismic (1999) A.R. . In: . NSELMETTI
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rlig Program Drilling
F.S., M Developments in in Developments - 41.
ELIM (Ed. , 2, 97 2, , ,
L.A. In: b y - ,
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. K K Deep Miocene of Implications Paleoceanographic (1983) J.A. BARRON, & G. KELLER, K J H H H H G G G G O ENTER ENDALL EIGWIN AUG AUG RASMUECK RAMMER RADSTEIN INE INE INSBURG
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Marine Geology Sea Hiatuses. LatePanama Uplift in Neogene Time GreatBahama 121 p. Bank.Miami, Thesis,Master University of Marine Geology margins bank leeward open, along sands carbonate of transport 61, 376 Bahamas. Bank,LittleBahama oceanicfreshwater balance. Atlantic Ocea Florida. of Geophysical Research Letters Straits the of water deep in oceanography and morphology, distribution, vehicle underwater Autonomous (2006) Bahamas. the in foreslopes Marine Geology Quaternary from insight margins: platform carbonate 83 Neogene. and Precambrian to reference special with scale, time geologic Society andMineralogists Paleontologists ofEconomic B the of Results Bank: Bahama In: logs. and Sedimentology , , A.C., W A.C., A.C. & N & A.C.
G.H. & T & G.H. G.H., T G.H., , -
, 100.
, J.A.M. (1990) Carbonate platform flanks: slope angle and sediment fabric. fabric. sediment and angle slope flanks: platform Carbonate (1990) J.A.M.
, L. (1982) Isotopic Paleoceanography of the of Paleoceanography Isotopic (1982) L. , C.G.S.C. & C.G.S.C.
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.. G & G.M. , .. O F.M., -
406. . E M., ILBER IEDEMANN EUMANN IEDEMANN
Subsurface Geology of a Prograding Carbonate Platform Margin, Great Margin, Platform Carbonate Prograding a of Geology Subsurface n thermohaline circulation.n thermohaline Geological SocietyGeological ofAmerica Bulletin , , 37,777 BERLI
GG R.J., B R.J., , 42,327 , 103,125 , 44,181
S , INSBURG
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American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin Geologists Petroleum of Association American , R. & R & R.
.. B A.G., hms rlig Project Drilling ahamas EUMANN - , 29,207 6. .
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backgrou - bank , 94,590 ORENSON , ess osad eoiin on deposition lowstand versus
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K.R. (1981a) Offbank Offbank (1981a) K.R. : Northern Bahamas. Bahamas. Northern : ,
.. 20) new A (2004) L.J. . . Ginsburg) N. R. ,
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OBLET ULNES , -
, 25,891 driven sedimentation patterns on the slope and margin. In: margin. and slope the on patterns sedimentation driven .. W & K.D. - BERLI BERLI building , -
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AcceptedULLINS ULLINS ULLINS ULLINS ULLINS ULLINS ULLINS ArticleULDER ULDER ULDER ITCHUM oceanographic event in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico: implications for seismic seismic for implications Mexico: of Gulf Eastern the in event oceanographic Florida margin. platform carbonate 141 open modern Florida. of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, straits northern in drifts sediment Carbonate oceanographic implications. Geology paleo for model fan Society Course, andMineralogists Paleontologists ofEconomic and Margin Geology Bank. Bahama Great of westernslope the along sedimentaryprocesses morphologyand B J.J.G., P densityand their flowsdeposits. Sedimentary Research Memoir Exploration In: sequences. depositional in patterns reflection seismic of interpretation Stratigraphic 6: part level, sea of changes of America circulation. Stream Current/Gulf Loop and succession stratigraphic RINCIPAUD , , , , , , , , , ,
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This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. W V S S S S S S S S HERIDAN HANMUGAM CHLAGER CHLAGER CHLAGER CHLAGER TEPH PENCE AIL
AcceptedANG Article ,
rnpr, oeta vriiy ad eae dnmcl properties. dynamical related and vorticity, potential transport, E. Payton), In: level. B the Pliocene Central shoaling the American Seaway. of S review. a models: stratigraphic Geology sequence carbonate in significance Geologists Bulletin Bahama data. reflection seismic multichannelfrom Paltform Northern and Straits, Florida Northern Plateau, Blake southern of structure by& A.Camerlenghi), M.Rebesco platforms. Texas, Program OceanDrilling Pro In: Straits. Florida the historyof the and 626 Site and 27, Pilkey), In: Bahamas. Ocean, the of Society ofAmerica Bulletin Specialand Mineralogists Publication Wagoner), Van C. J. & Ross A. C. Posamentier, Atmospheres andOceans , P.R., M P.R., ,
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gram, Scientific Results Scientific gram, 193 .. T & G.H. , , , , ,
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J.N. & H & J.N. IEDEMANN - , ,
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G. (2008) Deep (2008) G. oit of Society OOERS M. & H & M. Seismic Stratigraphy Stratigraphy Seismic Journal of Sedimentary ResearchJournal ofSedimentary American Association ofPetroleum Geologists Association American OURGEOIS
EIJMER HERMAK ROSBY UCKER , ,
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HOMPSON .. 18) tairpy a Stratigraphy (1981) P.L.
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transition, Tongue transition, . R D., orms. Contourites College Station, Station, College
49
59 Dynamics of of Dynamics ANGREE , 21, 1 , - - Sedimentary 212. EUNING 81.
Geological (Ed. by C. C. by (Ed.
- 25. ,
J.B., J.B., , (Ed.
L., nd nd , This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. rates, sedimentation Figure thebasininto boundaries di to proximal from order wells, 1006 and 1007 1003, 1004, 1005, and platform the on drilled Clino Unda, wells of correlation well and profile seismic the of NE a (Mulder Figure (Ginsburg, 20 Project Drilling Bahamas the of Unda and Clino wells whereas basin, the in and slope the on (Austin 626 wells sedimentological and stratigraphic figures. subsequent in shown lines seismic of locations ( Figure 2005). Straits Florida the in along drifts contourite the of current Ocean). The of (Tongue TOTO Bank), Bahama (Little Bank. Bahama Great the of slope carbonate northwestern Figure FIGURE CAPTIONS W W W Mulder
Accepted ArticleILSON ILSON ILBER - 56. Banks. Bahama implications, and evidence Geology off rapid for mechanism a flows: carbonate a of progradation rapid Bank: Bahama megabank. Great of slope western the on SW transect evolution from the GBB platform to the adjacent basin adjacent the to platform GBB the from evolution transect SW
location and arrows, dashed white by represented are Archipelago Bahamian the in s 4 2 1: 3 , , ,
et al et :
: : R.J., M R.J., t al et
.. R & P.A. .. R & P.A.
Well Bathymetrical map of the study area showing the location of location the showing area study the of map Bathymetrical Regional map of the Bahamas, showing the bathymetr the showing Bahamas, the of map Regional
A) defined in the subsurface of the platform the of subsurface the in defined ., 2012) ., , and depositional bodies are interpreted. 01) and the exploration well01) andexploration GreatIsaac the , 20,713 ., oncin between Connection - to ILLIMAN 201 Geology - et al et seismic tie for establishment of of establishment for tie seismic OBERTS OBERTS 2
lithology, density and Vp log log Vp and density lithology, and the Western Geophysical L Geophysical Western the and ) multichannel seismic reflection lines. Solid black lines mark the the mark lines black Solid lines. reflection seismic multichannel ) - ., 1986), 1003 1986), .,
716. , , 18, 970 , 18,
J.D. & H & J.D. , ,
.. 19) Carbonate (1992) H.H. .. 19) est csaig off cascading; Density (1995) H.H. - correlations for this study. this for correlations 974. ALLEY the the - 1004
- high ak n vertical and bank , -
1005 R.B. (1990) Accumulation of bank of Accumulation (1990) R.B. - eouin esi ln o te C the of line seismic resolution - 1006
Journal of Sedimentary Research Sedimentary of Journal a are marked by grey zones (from Bergman Bergman (from zones grey by marked are chronostratigraphy. Age, bi Age,chronostratigraphy. data -
- ine (E ine
periplatform sedimentation by density density by sedimentation periplatform by Eberli Eberli by - 1 are locatedplatform. onthe1
1007 (Eberli 1007 Note the location of of location the Note
The trajectories of the main ocean main the of trajectories The
n time and
GBB (Great Bahama Bank), LBB Bank), Bahama (Great GBB berli & Ginsburg, 1987 Ginsburg, & berli rnpr o shallow of transport Ocean Drilling Program Drilling Ocean et al et y - stal. The s The stal. - et lw are law depth hl sdmn transport, sediment shelf
et al et of the study area on the the on area study the of . (1997a) . ., 1997a) are located are 1997a) ., th e .
wells used in the the in used wells B) Interpretation B) Carambar cruise Carambar eismic sequence sequence eismic
arambar were - ostratigraphy, top sediment sediment top - water fines. fines. water
rm ODP from )
extended , 65, 45 65, , showing showing
(ODP) (ODP) cruise cruise ic s -
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. facies sedimentologic characteristic associated their and Pliocene Late G: Pliocene; present to late Pleistocene H: to Pleistocene; Early F: to Pliocene; Serravallian early D: to Messinian Serravalien; E: to Messinian; Langhien C: Langhian; to Aquitanian B: Aquitanian; 1 Figure Paleogeographic current. contour the evolution ofthe GBB provides and platform from Ginsburg Eberli (1987, 1989). of direction and emplacement the indicate arrows s the gaps. data seismic to correspond areas White Neogene. the through progradation platform the illustrate also maps The Oligocene. Late the Pleistocene)previously H: Pliocene; Late G: Pliocene; Early F: Messinian; E: Serravallian; D: Langhien; C: Aquitanian; 1 Figure (see 1 Figure a basinward direction. location) Figure s Figure a basinward direction. location) Figure ODP well 626 (see Figure etal.,al., (2000). Anselmetti 1997)and from et (Eberli 166 Leg ODP of reports from synthesis and taken were information stratigraphic slope the on carbonates resedimented by basin the to slope upper the from wells ODP 1006 C B) facies. seismic of calibration sedimentological Figure 2012). (Eberli 1007 well Acceptedlope Article Fig. Fig. lope apron, orange continuous arrows show the onlapping contourite drift; and black black and drift; contourite onlapping the show arrows continuous orange apron, lope (see
8 6 9 7 5
0 : 2 1 : : : 2 : 2 illustrating the dip geometries and the termination relationships of seismic facies in in facies seismic of relationships termination the and geometries dip the illustrating in facies seismic of relationships termination the and geometries dip the illustrating
: : :
Fig. A) A) A)
A) A) for location)
A) Uninterpreted seismic line showing the the showing line seismic Uninterpreted A) for location) for A) A) Isochron maps of the eight seismic stratigraphic surfaces (A: Late Oligocene; B: B: Oligocene; Late (A: surfaces stratigraphic seismic eight the of maps Isochron Iso Uninterpreted and B) interpreted N interpreted B) and Uninterpreted Uninterpreted and B) interpreted N interpreted B) and Uninterpreted
Uninterpreted and B) interpreted E interpreted B) and Uninterpreted E interpreted B) and Uninterpreted illustrates chore 2 Uninterpreted and B) interpreted N interpreted B) and Uninterpreted
for location) et al et
maps of maps
.
, 1997). ,
showing seism thedifferent showing the different seismic units through the Neogene strata. The strata. Neogene the through units seismic different the showing correlations between facies. and lithologic seismic described showing the paleo the showing described
showing the different seismic units through units seismic showing theNeogene thedifferent strata. the The s The eight depositional depositional eight eismic - day)
and
documenting the documenting l
ine ine Yellow dashes represent the basinward limit of of limit basinward the represent dashes Yellow contourite drift contourite - is - - - . The stratigraphy of the wells is dominated dominated is wells the of stratigraphy The . S S - W W
- S ic units throughic units theNeogene strata. - from the Carambar cruise (Mulder (Mulder cruise Carambar the from oriented seismic profile seismic oriented oriented seismi oriented described - orrelation - - oriented seismic profile seismic oriented oriented seismic profile seismic oriented oriented seismic profile seismic oriented -
reconstruction of the study area since area study the of reconstruction
through time through position of ODP wells used to the the to used wells ODP of position
deposits in the basin. the in deposits evolution of depositional units depositional of evolution
periods of 1005 of c profile c .
The thickness is given is thickness The ( - A: Late Oligocene to Oligocene Late A: 1004
along the toe the along across the basin basin the across -
along the slope slope the along 1003 (see (see
- Fig. Fig. 1007 and and 1007 Core and Core
et al et 2 2
- of for for for for . - - ,
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. study. 2: Table 1: Table and deposited intothe moat. basin the in drift contourite the of pulse growth evolution. apron deposition apro Bank Bahama Great basin 1 Figure 2004 tables). al. et Berggren and Berggren(1988) and BlowMiller from (1979), (2009). zones provide Planktonic foraminifers δ (2005). al. et Miller and (1988) Haq from Quaternary. andNeogene regional and GBB northwestern Fi Ginsburg(1987, 1989). 2000). al., et (Anselmetti m/s 2600 of velocity average an assuming correlation, displayed the using by in ue 1 gure
Accepted Article two milliseconds wt megabreccia with n
4 Age ofse correlation Summary of p of Summary 3 . :
: : oe Pliocene: Lower C:
Paleogeographic evolution of the GBB platform provides from Eberli and and Eberli from provides platform GBB the of evolution Paleogeographic ocpul model Conceptual
orltos between Correlations
: pe Pliocene: Upper D: - (1995). (1995). way travel way
roperties and interpretation of the seismic facies encountered in this this in encountered facies seismic the of interpretation and roperties
. Global sea Global
: icn soe po dmntd y mud by dominated apron slope Miocene B: through the the through al. et Lourens from provide zones nannofossils Calcareous
E: Pleistocene: ismic horizons. ismic
time illustrating
eeaie fodn o te ltom n so o te slope the of stop and platform the of flooding generalized etnc climatic tectonic, , which is converted to approximate thickness in meters in thickness approximate to converted is which , - level curves in light blue and greenrespectivelyand prov blue light in curves level base ao gravity major Neogene - of the evolution evolution the recoveryapron ofa system. slope
- 18 slope apron configuration characterized by a a by characterized configuration apron slope and and O
o recent to uv (e) rvds rm rmr t al. et Cramer from provides (red) curve , massive oceanic oceanic - lw eois curn aog the along occurring deposits flow
f the of
ie interval time debrites and biologic biologic and northwestern by - passed into canyons canyons into passed A: . events dy
Miocene slope slope Miocene
platform calciturbidite calciturbidite during the the during (GTS -
ide ide to -
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article
This article This isprotected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Article