Highstand fans in the California borderland: The overlooked deep-water depositional systems

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2007 Highstand fans in the California borderland: The overlooked deep-water depositional systems Jacob A. Covault; Jacob A. Covault 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar William R. Normark; William R. Normark 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025-3591, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian W. Romans; Brian W. Romans 3Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephan A. Graham Stephan A. Graham 3Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jacob A. Covault 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA William R. Normark 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025-3591, USA Brian W. Romans 3Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Stephan A. Graham 3Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 14 Feb 2007 Revision Received: 18 Apr 2007 Accepted: 23 Apr 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 The Geological Society of America, Inc. Geology (2007) 35 (9): 783–786. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23800A.1 Article history Received: 14 Feb 2007 Revision Received: 18 Apr 2007 Accepted: 23 Apr 2007 First Online: 09 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 Jacob A. Covault, William R. Normark, Brian W. Romans, Stephan A. Graham; Highstand fans in the California borderland: The overlooked deep-water depositional systems. Geology 2007;; 35 (9): 783–786. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23800A.1 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 Contrary to widely used sequence-stratigraphic models, lowstand fans are only part of the turbidite depositional record; our analysis reveals that a comparable volume of coarse-grained sediment has been deposited in California borderland deep-water basins regardless of sea level. Sedimentation rates and periods of active sediment transport have been determined for deep-water canyon-channel systems contributing to the southeastern Gulf of Santa Catalina and San Diego Trough since 40 ka using an extensive grid of high-resolution and deep-penetration seismic-reflection data. A regional seismic-reflection horizon (40 ka) has been correlated across the study area using radiocarbon age dates from the Mohole borehole and U.S. Geological Survey piston cores. This study focused on the submarine fans fed by the Oceanside, Carlsbad, and La Jolla Canyons, all of which head within the length of the Ocean-side littoral cell. The Oceanside Canyon–channel system was active from 45 to 13 ka, and the Carlsbad system was active from 50 (or earlier) to 10 ka. The La Jolla system was active over two periods, from 50 (or earlier) to 40 ka, and from 13 ka to the present. One or more of these canyon-channel systems have been active regardless of sea level. During sea-level fluctuation, shelf width between the canyon head and the littoral zone is the primary control on canyon-channel system activity. Highstand fan deposition occurs when a majority of the sediment within the Oceanside littoral cell is intercepted by one of the canyon heads, currently La Jolla Canyon. Since 40 ka, the sedimentation rate on the La Jolla highstand fan has been >2 times the combined rates on the Oceanside and Carlsbad lowstand fans. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.