Deep Sea Sedimentation

a. Pelagic sedimentation -red clays -brown clays

b. Biogenic sedimentation -calcareous -siliceous

c. turbidites-coarse material in deep ocean

d. Ice rafting

e. Manganese nodules

From http://www.indiana.edu/~g131/floor3N.html

Bouma sequences: vertical stacking and lateral continuity of facies…http://www.usask.ca/geology/classes/geol243/243notes/243week4b.html

Einstein Channel Seismic Facies Show Distinct Partsof a Leveed Channel That Link to Depositional History

Two Wells Link Sedimentary Character to Seismic Faciesfor the Einstein Channel

Linear Submarine Channel and Lobe System

A. Smith, 1/99

Channel

Lobe

Small Sinuous Channel

Sidescan Sonar Shows Amazon Fan Channels Are Highly Sinuous But Not Actively Meandering (Few Cut-Off Loops or Scrolls)

Youngest Channel Deposits: Massive Turbidite Sands

Contact between Youngest Channel and Older Channel

Beaubouef and Friedmann, 2000

Brazos-Trinity Fan

Beaubouef and Friedmann, 2000

Brazos-Trinity Fan

Congo RiverSubmarine canyon-

Note sinuous patterni-

in 3000m plus waterDepths!!

from Vittori et al 2000

Multiple sinuouschannels on thisdeep sea fan….

from Vittori et al 2000

Popo Channel, Guadalupe Mtns W TexasPopo Channel, Guadalupe Mtns W Texas

What are Manganese Nodules?

• Ferromanganese nodules are small (typically pea to golf ball sized) deposits that exist in the deep ocean

• They were first discovered on the ocean floor in 1803

• They contain a relatively high percentage of the metals manganese, iron nickel, copper, and cobalt

What are Manganese Nodules?

• Mn Nodules are formed in situ from of metals and other minerals that have accumulated around a core

• Common core materials include shark teeth, whale bone or meteorite fragment.

• They grow very slowly (~mm/million years) and can be tens of millions of years old.

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/geology/sionar.html

Composition of Manganese

Nodules

Libes (1992)