South Texas Continental Shelf and Continental Slope: Late Pleistocene/ Holocene Evolution and Sea-Floor Stability
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SOUTH TEXAS CONTINENTAL SHELF AND CONTINENTAL SLOPE: LATE PLEISTOCENE/ HOLOCENE EVOLUTION AND SEA-FLOOR STABILITY (An outline and notes relative to geologic hazards on the sea floor) U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 78-514 May 1978 Prepared by Henry L. Berryhlll, Jr, assisted by Anita R. Trippet TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 THE STUDY PLAN 3 The systematic and integrated approach : 3 Rationale 3 Geologic components studied : - 3 Methods of study 5 Geologic framework < 5 Sedimentation > 5 Sampling methods and acquisition of data 5 Analytical techniques 5 Synthesis of data and reporting 12 Geologic characteristics of the region based on synthesis of the analytical and interpretative data < 12 Structural framework of the continental terrace 12 Evolution of the continental terrace since middle Pleistocene 15 General depositional history - 15 Holocene deposition 26 Tectonism 49 Relative stability of the sea floor 54 General classification of the shelf and slope - 54 Subarea 1 54 Subarea 2 54 Subarea 3 58 Analysis of the. unstable conditions in Subarea 3 59 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 1. Map showing bathymetry and topography of the South Texas Outer Continental Shelf 6 Figure 2. Map showing location of geophysical track lines, continental shelf - - . - 7 Figure 2A. Map showing location of geophysical track lines, continental slope - 8 Figure 2B. Map showing location of geophysical track lines, continental slope-- 9 Figure 3. Map showing location of bottom grab sample stations 10 Figure 4. Map showing location of core sample stations ^ 11 Figure 5. Map showing location of folds within the continental terrace ^~~ - , __*__ -, . ___-_________ ____________ _,^, , _ j_j Figure 6. Acoustical profile showing tensional faults in typical pattern above the crest of an anticline < 14 Figure 7. Acoustical profile showing tensional faults in typical pattern above the crest of a diapir 16 Figure 8. Acoustical profile showing deep seated rotational gravity faults in typical pattern, outer part of the continental terrace * 17 Figure 9. Acoustical profile showing composite of tensional and gravity faults, upper continental slope 18 Figure 10. Acoustical profile showing shallow seated rotational gravity faults associated with slumping of sediments down the continental slope 19 Figure 11. Map showing principal depositional environments, continental terrace off south Texas 20 Figure 12. Acoustical profile showing progressive growth of the outer part of the continental terrace by sediment buildup and progradation 22 Figure 13. Acoustical profile showing the continental slope seaward of the continental shelf with characteristic huramocky topography and slumped sediments 23 Page Figure 14. Acoustical profile showing the nature and subsurface positions of two paleo surfaces that represent previous low stands of sea level, southern part of continental shelf - 24 Figure 15. Acoustical profile showing the nature and subsurface positions of the two paleo surfaces, reflectors A and B, that represent previous low stands of sea level, central part of continental shelf-r- 25 Figure 16. Map showing location of profiles shown on figures 17 and 18 27 Figure 17. Profiles showing stratigraphic relations of post middle Pleistocene depositional units : - 28 Figure 18. Profiles showing stratigraphic relations of post middle Pleistocene depositional units 29 Figure 19. Map showing configuration of the base of unit 4 (reflector D) 30 Figure 20. Map showing thickness and distribution of unit 4 31 Figure 21. Map showing thickness and distribution of unit 3< 32 Figure 22. Map showing configuration of reflector B, or base of depositional units 1/2 33 Figure 23. Map showing thickness and distribution of unit 2 = 34 Figure 24. Map showing configuration of the base of unit 1 (reflector A) ^ = 35 Figure 25. Map showing thickness and distribution of unit 1 36 Figure 26. Map showing interpretative environmental classifi cation of the types of sediments represented in basal Holocene deposits-- 38 Figure 27. Diagrams of selected cores, northern part of shelf, showing vertical variations in grain size *- 40 Figure 28. Diagrams of selected cores, central sector of shelf, showing vertical variations in grain size rr- 41 Figure 29. Diagrams of selected cores, southern part of shelf, showing vertical variations in grain size 42 Figure 30. Diagrams of selected cores from around an exposed Pleistocene reef showing vertical variations in grain size-^ ' = 43 Page Figure 31. Map showing area of the shelf in which cores indicate Figure 32. Map showing classification and distribution of surf icial sediments by grain size ; 46 Figure 33. Map showing percent sand in surf icial bottom sediments 47 Figure 34. Map showing interpretative contours of rates of sedi mentation in ram per year as determined by 210p^ activity in the sediments-- 43 Figure 35. Acoustical profile showing the subsurface position of reflectors A and B, stratigraphic reference horizons used to determine geographically the extent and intensity of faulting through time 51 Figure 36. Map showing geographic position of faults that cut reflector B but not reflector A 52 Figure 37. Map showing geographic position of faults that cut both reflectors A and B 53 Figure 38. Map showing .interpretative classification of stability, continental terrace 55 Figure 38A. Map showing a general outline of areas where "plumes" suggesting natural gas seepage were recorded on acoustical profiles 56 Figure 39. Map showing fault patterns, inner shelf in southern part of the South Texas OCS 57 Figure 40A. Acoustical profile showing structural and sedimen- tological characteristics of the shelf edge and upper slope off the Rio Grande delta 60 Figure 40B. Acoustical profile showing the slumped and faulted sediments on the continental slope 61 Figure 40C. Acoustical profile showing a combination of the unstable features shown by figures 40A and 40B< < 62 Figure 40D. Acoustical profile showing prograded undisturbed deltaic sediments overlying slumped and diapiric sediments at the junction of the continental shelf and the continental slope and slumped and faulted sediments on the upper part of the slop 3 63 Figure 40E. Acoustical profile showing slumped sediments-- * 64 Page Figure 40F. Acoustical profile showing both slumping and sliding on the continental slope - 65 Figure 40G. Acoustical profile showing slumps and slides on the continental slope 66 Figure 40H. Acoustical profile showing pile up of slumps at the base of the continental slope 67 Figure 41A. Acoustical profile parallel to the shelf edge showing prograded undisturbed deltaic sediments overlying slumped and diapiric sediments - 68 Figure 41B. Acoustical profile showing the continuation of undisturbed sediments above slumped sediments along the edge of the continental shelf - 69 Figure 41C. Acoustical profile showing a continuation of the undisturbed sediments over the slumped and diapiric sediments 70 Figure 42A. Acoustical profile, continental slope off south Texas, showing large scale slumping of sediments to con siderable depth below the sea floor 72 Figure 42B. Acoustical profile showing large scale slumping 73 Figure 42C. Acoustical profile showing large scale slumping - 74 Figure 42D. Acoustical profile showing large scale slumping 75 Figure 42E. Acoustical profile showing large scale slumping 76 Figure 43A. Acoustical profile showing the gentler gradient and deep seated rotational gravity faulting that is characteristic of the continental slope in the central sector of the continental terrace off south Texas 78 Figure 43B. Acoustical profile showing the characteristic gentler gradient and deep seated rotational gravity faults 79 Figure 43C. Acoustical profile showing large domal structure on the lower part of the continental slope caused by diapirism 80 Figure 44A. Acoustical profile showing slumped and deformed older deltaic sediments beneath younger prograded sedi ments and faulting associated with slumping on the continental slope (northeastern sector of continental terrace off south Texas) 81 Page Figure 44B. Acoustical profile showing a rift caused by gravity slumping and pile up of slumped sediments, upper continental slope 82 Figure 44C. Acoustical profile showing characteristic hummocky topography above slumps and slides 84 Figure 44D. Acoustical profile showing characteristic hummocky topography above slumped and diapirically de formed beds 85 Figure 44E. Acoustical profile showing characteristic hummocky topography on the lower part of the continental slope ~ ~~ ________ __ __ _ ___________ yjj Figure 45. Map showing shallow geologic features of the con tinental slope caused by deformational movements within the continental terrace 87 SOUTH TEXAS CONTINENTAL SHELF AND CONTINENTAL SLOPE: LATE PLEISTOCENE/ HOLOCENE EVOLUTION AND SEA-FLOOR STABILITY (An outline and notes relative to geologic hazards on the sea floor) Introduction In an engineering sense, the geologic aspects of the sea floor are hazardous to man's activities when and where structures cannot be designed to withstand the combined stresses of the marine environment. In the most basic sense, geologic "hazards" relate directly to sea-floor stability, or the potential of the sea floor for significant movement that would be damaging to man-made structures placed on the sea floor. Judging the potential for movement requires descriptive details about the geologic conditions plus a quantitative understanding of the geologic and related oceanographic processes that are operative in the region