Sedimentation in the Chile Trench
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Todd Mark Thornburg for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography presented on December ii, i984 Title: SEDIMENTATION IN THE CHILE TRENCH ABSTRACT APPROVED: Redacted for privacy LAVERNE D. KULM The depositional bodies of the Chile Trench--sheet flow basins, trench fans, axial channels, axial sediment lobes, and ponded basins--combine to form a coherent axial dispersal system along the base of the Andean margin. Several trench fans are severely eroded on the down-gradient lobes, implying that hundreds of meters of fan strata have been flushed into the axial channel and removed to distal environments. The sedimentary fades of the Chile Trench are modeled based on the texture and composition of coarse-grained deposits in 27 cores. The lithofacies (Channel, Levee, Basin-i Basin-2, and Contourite) are used to interpret depositional pro- cesses and to model trench st.ratigraphy. The petrofacles (Basic Magmatic Arc, Acid Magmatic Arc, Metamorphosed Magmatic Arc, and Cratonic Block) yield information on provenance types in the Andean source region and on sediment transport processes across the conti- nental margin and within the trench. The Channel fades reflects high-energy processes within the coarse-grained bedload of' turbidity currents and occurs in fan dis- tributary or trench axial channels. The Levee fades represents deposition beneath a rapidly decelerating current; it is deposited on the channel flanks during spillover. The Basin-i facies is characteristic of ponded deposition and occurs where the trench fill is diminished and the seaward trench wall has significant relief. The Basin-2 facies occurs in a variety of low-energy environments. The Contourite fades is best developed in the starved trench envi- ronment where abyssal currents are accelerated between the trench walls. The Basic Magmatic Arc petrofacies represents the most chemi- cally immature, least differentiated assemblage and is associated strictly with Quaternary arc volcanism of basaltic andesite compo- sition in South Chile. The Acid Magmatic Arc petrofacies represents a more differentiated continental arc assemblage, associated with acid andesite extrusions and granadiorite intrusions of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Andean orogeny. The Metamorphosed Magmatic Arc petro- racies represents a greenschist metamorphic assemblage whose provenance lies in the basal marine section of the Andean eugeosyn- dine and in the Paleozoic basement. The Cratorlic Block petrofacies represents mature sedimentation, late-stage granitic intrusion, and amhpibolite fades metamorphism that are associated with the ancient continental crust of northern Chile. SEDIMENTATION IN THE CHILE TRENCH by Todd Nark Thornburg A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Completed December 11, 198' Commencement June 1985 APPROVED Redacted for privacy r o Oceanography in charge of' major Redacted for privacy Dean of College of Oc Redacted for privacy Dean Date Thesis is presented December 11, 1984 Typed by T.M. Thornburg. ACKN OWLEDGEMENTS A special thanks goes to Vern Kuim, who during my six years at O.S.U. made known to me the depth and breadth of oceanography, from operations at sea with state-of-the-art equipment to the political and economic aspects--the successes and heartbreaks. Vern put within reach undreamed of opportunities that include my active participation on committees that help to determine the course of future oceanographic research, and a chance to observe first-hand the spectacular beauty of the sea floor at 2500 meters. Vern has been generous, willing, and helpful when prompted, yet patient with my academic wanderings when I needed to find the box canyons by myself. Thanks also to my committee members: Drs. Paul Komar, Dick Couch, Harold Enlows, and Rubin Landau for their comments and suggestions on the thesis. Technical assistance was provided by Mary Jo Armbrust, Dave Reinert, and Sally Kuim, whose care, efficiency, and skill in word processing and editing, photographic reproduction, and cartography and layout made my deadlines realizable. Mark 1-fower, Carolyn Peterson, and Andy Ungerer helped with sample processing in the laboratory, mineral separations, X-ray diffraction, and with mechanical-electrical monsters whose final digital read-out is about all I understand. Gracias a mis colegas Chilenos-Esteban Morales for helping with cruise logistics, Eduardo Valenzuela for providing river samples and hospitality while in Santiago, and Chileans everywhere for their warmth and friendliness in a strange and wonderful country. I am grateful to my family--George, Vera, Bob, and my lovely Dallas ladies--for extending open arms and kind thoughts across these thousands of miles, and keeping the home fires burning. Gina gave me cookies, pasta, and understanding when I couldn't tell my brain from a bucket of overcooked cauliflower.Caleb made me feel calm, by comparison, during my most frenetic crises. Dave shared Sunday morning funnies and late nights with T.M. Finally, a toast to all my buddies, near and far, who kept me hiking, skiing, boating, dancing, drumming, gambling, generally enjoying life and, especially, smiling. This research was sponsored by National Science Foundation Grant No. OCE-7919361. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1. SEDIMENTATION IN THE CHILE TRENCH: LITHOFACIES AND STRATIGRAPHY ABSTRACT 5 INTRODUCTION 8 BASEMENT STRUCTURE 114 Nazea Plate 1)4 Outer Trench Wall 15 Trench Segmentation 16 SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS 1 7 Oceanic Plate Environment 19 Trench Axis Environment 22 TRENCH DEPOSIT LONAL BODIES 2 South Chile: Sheet Flow Basins 214 South Chile: Axial Channel 27 South Chile; Trench Fans 28 San Antonio Discontinuity: Axial Sediment Lobe 36 Central and North Chile: Ponded Basins 41 TRENCH LITHOFACIES 143 Channel Facies 145 Levee Fades 51 Basin Fades 53 Contourjte Facies 55 DISTRIBUTION OF TRENCH LITI-IOFACIES 57 South Chile 57 Central Chile 62 North Chile 64 DISCUSSION 66 Depositional Processes 66 Trench Stratigraphy 73 Preservation vs. Destruction of Trench Sediment3 81 Trenches, Fans, and the Ancient Rock Record 85 CONCLUSIONS CHAPTER II. SEDIMENTATION IN THE CHILE TRENCH: PETROFAC]IES AND PROVENANCE 91 ABSTRACT 92 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND 97 GEOLOGIC HISTORY 1O The Hercynian Cycle 105 The Andean Cycle 107 Quaternary Volcanism 110 METHODS 111 RESULTS 113 Light Minerals 113 Heavy Minerals 120 Factor Analysis of Light and Heavy Minerals 128 DISCUSSION 135 Petrofacies Distribution in the Chile Trench 137 Sediment Transport in the Chile Trench 1I9 Modification of Petrofacies Composition-- Provenance to Deposit 151 Diagenesis of Trench Sediments 154 CONCLUSIONS 157 CONCLUSIONS 162 BIBLIOGRAPHY 167 APPENDIX 180 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page CHAPTERI I.'l. Physiography of the Nazca Plate and Andean continental margifl 10 1-2. Axial cross-section of the Chile Trench 11 1-3. ap view of the Chile Trench sediment fill 12 1-14. Trench sedimentary environments 18 1-5. Abyssal plain turbidites 21 1-6. Sheet flow turbidites near 2°S 25 1-1. Bathymet.ry of the Bio Blo and Callecalle fans 29 1-8. Bia Bio fan: transverse seismic reflection profiles across the depositional and erosional fan lobes 32 I-9. Callecalle fan: line interpretations of seismic reflection profiles across the depositional and erosional fan lobes 33 1-10. Axial profiles across Chile Trench fans 3 I-li. San Antonio discontinuity: bathyinetry and seismic reflection of the axial sediment lobe 38 1-12. San Antonio discontinuity: 3-D block diagram 1-13. Ponded basin: line interpretation of a seismic reflection profile across Central Chile 1-14. Ideal lithostratigraphic units 1-15. Chile Trench lithofacies: factor analysis of trench cores described by lithostratigraphic units 146 1-16. Geographic distribution of Chile Trench lithofacies: factor loadings projected onto core locations 58 1-17. Idealized stratigraphic cross-sections through the canyon-mouth and inter-canyon environments 67 1-18. Idealized stratigraphic cross-sections of trench fans in the canyon-mouth environment 78 Figure Page 1-19. Accretion and preservation of trench deposits: stratigraphic control on the positioning of the decollement zone 83 CHAPTERII 11-1. Physiography of the Nazca Plate and Andean continental margin 95 11-2. Map view of the Chile Trench sediment fill 98 II-3. Axial cross-section of the Chile Trench 100 II-. Sheet flow turbidites near 42°S 102 11-5. QFL composition of modern sands from the Andean continental margin 1111 11-6. QFL and QmPk composition of Chile Trench sands: petrologic variations along the strike of the margin 116 11-7. X-ray diffraetograms of Chile Trench heavy mineral separates 121 11-8. Peak height and petrographic count ratios of heavy minerals 127 11-9. Chile Trench petrofacies: factor analysis of petrologic data 130 11-10. Geographic distribution of Chile Trench petro- faoies factor loadings projected onto core locations 138 LIST OF TABLES Table Page CHAPTER I I-i. Chile Trench lithofacies 149 CHAPTER II 11-1. Factor analysis composition model: Estimates of absolute abundances of petrologic components 132 SEDIMENTATIONIN THECHILETRENCH INTRODUCTION The plate tectonics theory of a mobile earth lithosphere revolutionized the perspective of marine geological research. This study details modern sedimentation within the Chile Trench, a con- vergent plate boundary where the Nazca oceanic plate is being subducted and consumed beneath the western margin of the South American continental