DELTA-FRONT VALLEYS BORDERING THE MISSISSIPPI DISTRIBUTARIES

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1955 DELTA-FRONT VALLEYS BORDERING THE MISSISSIPPI DISTRIBUTARIES FRANCIS P SHEPARD FRANCIS P SHEPARD SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information FRANCIS P SHEPARD SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Feb 1955 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1955, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1955) 66 (12): 1489–1498. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1955)66[1489:DVBTMD]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 01 Feb 1955 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation FRANCIS P SHEPARD; DELTA-FRONT VALLEYS BORDERING THE MISSISSIPPI DISTRIBUTARIES. GSA Bulletin 1955;; 66 (12): 1489–1498. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1955)66[1489:DVBTMD]2.0.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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Shallow discontinuous valleys crease the upper portion of the continental slopes in the region where the Mississippi Delta has built across the shelf. These valleys attest to the instability of the forward-growing slope despite its average inclination of only 1 per cent. Mass movements probably of the earthflow type appear to be the cause of the valleys rather than turbidity currents because deposits from valley floors show no concentration of sand by currents, and many of the valleys are not located at points where large discharge of sediment-laden water could produce turbidity currents. Furthermore, depressions and hills along the courses of the valleys and their short length differentiate them from the long continuous slightly incised valleys which are outer continuations of submarine canyons and which are generally ascribed to turbidity currents. The delta-front valleys shift position as the slopes are built forward. 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.