--> ABSTRACT: Classification and Stratigraphic Succession of Seismic Facies in Intraslope Basins, Deep Water Gulf of Mexico, USA, by Bradford E. Prather, James R. Booth, Gary S. Steffens, Peter A. Craig; #91020 (1995).
[First Hit]

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Classification and Stratigraphic Succession of Previous HitSeismicNext Hit Previous HitFaciesNext Hit in Intraslope Basins, Deep Water Gulf of Mexico, USA

Bradford E. Prather, James R. Booth, Gary S. Steffens, Peter A. Craig

Previous HitSeismicNext Hit Previous HitfaciesNext Hit Previous HitanalysisNext Hit is the primary tool for understanding the stratigraphic evolution of salt-floored intraslope basins in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Previous HitSeismicNext Hit parameters used in this scheme to classify Previous HitseismicNext Hit Previous HitfaciesNext Hit include, (1) bounding surface type, (2) external geometry of surface-bounded Previous HitseismicNext Hit Previous HitfaciesNext Hit, (3) event geometry internal to bounding surfaces, (4) Previous HitseismicNext Hit reflectivity and (5) event continuity.

Previous HitSeismicNext Hit Previous HitfaciesNext Hit Previous HitanalysisNext Hit shows that most of the intraslope basins have undergone a transition from an early laterally confined (ponded) basin-fill to a later less laterally confined (bypass) fill. The assemblage of Previous HitseismicNext Hit Previous HitfaciesNext Hit that characterizes the ponded fill consists of repetitive successions of complete to top-absent convergent-baselapping Previous HitfaciesNext Hit overlain by localized chaotic Previous HitfaciesNext Hit and draping Previous HitfaciesNext Hit. The assemblage of Previous HitseismicNext Hit Previous HitfaciesNext Hit that characterizes the bypass fill consists of repetitive successions of complete to base-absent convergent-baselapping Previous HitfaciesNext Hit overlain by convergent-thinning Previous HitfaciesNext Hit and draping Previous HitfaciesNext Hit with widespread chaotic Previous HitfaciesNext Hit. The transition from "ponded" to "bypass" Previous HitfaciesNext Hit assemblages can be sharp or gradational over hundreds of meters. The majority of tran itions occurred in the Late Pliocene between 2.0 and 1.8 Ma, and in the early Pleistocene between 1.2 and 1.0 Ma.

Upward transition from ponded Previous HitfaciesNext Hit assemblages to bypass Previous HitfaciesTop assemblages suggests that the early ponded basins aggrade to a profile of equilibrium. Nearly synchronous periods of transition throughout GOM upper-slope basins suggest that sediment supply resulting from a low-order sea level fall and onset of North American glaciation is the primary control on development of this large-scale stratigraphic architecture.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995