Sedimentary model for mixed depositional systems along the Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula: decoding the interplay of deep-water processes

Sara Rodrigues, F. J. Hernández-Molina, Robert Larter, Michele Rebesco, Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Renata Lucchi, Francisco J. Rodríguez-Tovar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mixed depositional systems offer potential new findings on the interplay of deep-water processes. An evaluation of their morphological elements and their lateral and spatial distribution is crucial to decode the interplay of depositional processes, involving along-slope bottom currents and down-slope turbidity currents. This work investigates extensive and still active mixed depositional systems developed along the Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula, which comprise large asymmetric mounded drifts, dendritic channel-complex systems and wide trunk channels. These systems offer a unique setting to investigate diverse morphological elements at a high-resolution scale, using multibeam bathymetry and acoustic sub-bottom profiles. Four main seismic units define distinct evolutionary stages for the Pleistocene to present day record: a) 1.3 – 1 Ma, characterized by aggradational mounded drifts built by a dominant along-slope bottom current; b) 1 – 0.6 Ma, built by synchronous interactions between a SW-flowing bottom current and NW-directed turbidity currents; c) 0.6 – 0.2 Ma, characterized by deposition of thick gravitational deposits across the margin under a weak SW-flowing bottom current comprising the Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW); and d) 0.2 Ma – present, when synchronous interactions between the bottom current, characterized by flow speed fluctuations, and ephemeral turbidity currents led to intercalations of turbidites, contourites, reworked turbidite deposits and hemipelagites. Alternations in the stratigraphic stacking pattern suggest cyclic spatial and temporal variations of gravity-driven down-slope processes and along-slope bottom currents, which were responsible for the construction of these modern mixed depositional systems and which themselves were controlled by glacial-interglacial changes. The present results are compared with similar mixed depositional systems to decode the main processes involved in their formation, explore their interactions at short- and long-term time scales, and propose a conceptual sedimentary model.
Original languageEnglish
Article number106754
JournalMarine Geology
Volume445
Early online date17 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • mixed systems
  • turbidite
  • contourite
  • sub-bottom profiles
  • Antarctic Peninsula
  • Quaternary record
  • glacial-interglacial

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