Sea-level –and gas-hydrate–controlled catastrophic sediment failures of the Amazon Fan

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1998 Sea-level –and gas-hydrate–controlled catastrophic sediment failures of the Amazon Fan Mark Maslin; Mark Maslin 1Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Naja Mikkelsen; Naja Mikkelsen 2Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Thoravej 8, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Claudia Vilela; Claudia Vilela 3Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, IGEO/CCMN, Ilha do Fundão, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bilal Haq Bilal Haq 4National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences, Arlington, Virginia 22230 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Mark Maslin 1Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, United Kingdom Naja Mikkelsen 2Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Thoravej 8, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark Claudia Vilela 3Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, IGEO/CCMN, Ilha do Fundão, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Bilal Haq 4National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Sciences, Arlington, Virginia 22230 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1998) 26 (12): 1107–1110. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<1107:SLAGHC>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Mark Maslin, Naja Mikkelsen, Claudia Vilela, Bilal Haq; Sea-level –and gas-hydrate–controlled catastrophic sediment failures of the Amazon Fan. Geology 1998;; 26 (12): 1107–1110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<1107:SLAGHC>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The architecture and Quaternary history of the massive and highly structured Amazon Fan has been reconstructed using sediment recovered by Ocean Drilling Program Leg 155. Huge regional mass-transport deposits make up a significant component of the Amazon Fan. These massive mass-transport deposits each cover an area over 15 000 km2 (approximately the size of Jamaica), reach a maximum thickness of 200 m, and consist of ≈50 000 Gt of sediment. Analysis of both benthic foraminiferal fauna and the sediments indicates that the mass-transport deposits originated at a water depth of between 200 and 600 m on the continental slope, which is at least 200 km lateral to and 1500 m above their present position. Each mass-failure event was formed by the catastrophic failure of the continental slope and has been dated and correlated with climate-induced changes in sea level. Two different mechanisms initiated these catastrophic slumps: (1) Rapid drops in sea level destabilized continental slope gas hydrate reservoirs, causing slope failure and the glacial mass-transport deposits, and (2) deglaciation of the Andes and the consequent flushing of Amazon River sediment to the continental slope caused over-burdening and the deglacial mass-transport deposits. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.