Abstract
The Eocene-Oligocene stratigraphic succession of the Espírito Santo Basin, SE Brazil, comprises several Mass-Transport Deposits (MTDs), some of which contain individual blocks of strata. The blocks are classified as rafted blocks if transported over a glide plane, or remnant blocks if in situ, showing vertical stratigraphic continuity with underlying strata. A detailed 3D seismic analysis of a mass-transport deposit (MTD-A1) deposited at the base of an Eocene volcaniclastic complex (Abrolhos complex) reveals the presence of various blocks within the masses of failed strata. Blocks occur in the thickest areas of the MTD, along an alignment of salt diapirs and buried salt ridges. Block fragmentation is suggested to be associated to diapir-related faults, especially when these are closely aligned with in-situ blocks. The remnant blocks show low deformation, with sub-horizontal internal reflections, whereas rafted ones range from low to highly deformed blocks. Variations in the blocks’ geometries suggest a lateral remobilisation in the order of 1,000 m, for a maximum of 4,000 m, for MTD-A1. The low remobilisation led to an unusual location of the MTD over the salt structures, contrasting with the typical remobilisation towards peripheral basins. The relation between MTD and salt-related structures can provide indicators to constrain the timing of halokinesis.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to CGG-Veritas for the permission conceded to publish this research paper. Jose Frey-Martínez and Mads Huuse are thanked for their comments on early versions of the manuscript. D. Gamboa thanks the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for the SFRH/BD/38819/2007 Ph.D. grant.
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Gamboa, D., Alves, T., Cartwright, J. (2012). Seismic-Scale Rafted and Remnant Blocks over Salt Ridges in the Espírito Santo Basin, Brazil. In: Yamada, Y., et al. Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 31. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2162-3_56
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2162-3_56
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