Shelf-Slope-Basin
Depositional
Systems of the
Moreira, J.L.P., E.T.C. Abdalla, A.Z.N. Barros, L.F. Rodrigues, Petrobras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A 3rd order
depositional
sequence from the passage of lower to middle Eocene of Santos
basin, southeastern Brazilian continental margin, offers a good opportunity to
understand transport and sedimentation mechanisms on a shelf-slope-basin during
a specific phase of relative sea level cycle. Seismic reflection termination
is the best criterion to identify the key stratigraphic
surfaces in a
depositional
sequence (SB, TS and MFS). RMS seismic amplitude
extractions surrounding these surfaces have shown an extraordinary
illustration of a complete suite of
depositional
systems for each
system
tract.
Shelfbreak evolution is also important to
reconstruct physiography and to recognize shallow and
deep marine siliciclastic
depositional
systems. A
river-dominated shelf characterizes the earlier stages of lowstand
system
tract. Four canyons, developed in successive 4th order sequences, are
responsible for individual episodes of sediment transfer to the basin. The
canyons were created by river discharge onto the slope, from a 4th order eastwardmigrating fluvial-deltaic
system
.
Depositional
system
characteristics of the slope basin regions are: canyon, canyon-confined
lag deposits, a radial unconfined sand-rich basin fan, intra-canyon meandering
channels, and upper-slope sandy deposits fed by linear gullies; on the
coastal-shelf regions, fluvial-deltaic
system
and beach-ridges are observed. A
wave-dominated shelf characterizes both transgressive
and highstand systems tracts. The linearity of
shelf-break, canyons absence, and steep slope are others particularities. The
depositional
system
characteristics of the coastal-shelf regions are fluvial
systems with lateral sand-ridges and lagoons. Slope instability gravity flows
produce chaotic deposits on basinal regions and
comprise mud-matrix para-conglomerates with thinly interbedded shales, siltstones
and fine-grained sandstones.