Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Congo Fan Neogene and Quaternary Sedimentation: Interplay of Riverine and Current Induced Deposition

  • Chapter
The South Atlantic in the Late Quaternary

Abstract

The incorporation of information regarding sedimentation rates and lithology from ODP Leg 175 Sites 1075, 1076 and 1077 into the analysis and interpretation of high-resolution seismic reflec-tion data led to the revision and refinement of a depositional model for the upper Congo Fan area presented earlier by Uenzelmann-Neben (1998). For four time slices since the Eocene (Late Oligocene - Miocene/Pliocene, Pliocene - 600 ky, 600 ky - ~160 ky, ~160 ky - Recent) the main sed-iment contributor to the upper fan was determined. Thus we can say that in the Late Paleogene input of sediments from the north dominated the area by either a south setting current or the Kouilou/ Niari River. This situation continued to the period Pliocene - 600 ky when southern sedi-ment sources (the Congo River and upwelling) became dominant with the material being deflected to the north by the Benguela Current. Upwelling as a sediment source on the upper fan became even more important after 600 ky while the main sediment load of the Congo River is guided to the middle and lower fan via the Congo Canyon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson JE, Cartwright J, Drysdall SJ, Vivian N (2000) Controls on turbidite sand deposition during gravity driven extension of a passive margin: Examples from Miocene sediments in Block 4, Angola. Mar Pet Geol 17: 1165–1203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger W, Wefer G, Richter C et al. (1998) Leg 175 preliminary report. Ocean Drilling Program Preliminary Report 175 College Station TX (Ocean Drilling Program)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleil U, Breitzke M, Däumler K, Dittert L, Ewert J, Gohl K, Heesemann B, Heinitz WD, Helmke P, Keil H, Merker T, Pioch B, Potozki F, Rosiak U, Schneider R, Schwenk T, Spiess V, Uenzelmann-Neben G (1994) Report and preliminary results of Sonne cruise SO86 Buenos Aires-Capetown. Ber Fachber Geowiss, Univ Bremen 51, 116 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolli HM, Ryan WBF et al. (1978) Initial Reports of the Deep-sea Drilling Project, 40, Washington (US Govt Printing Office).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brice SE, Cochran MD, Pardo G, Edwards AD (1982) Tectonics and Sedimentation of the South Atlantic Rift Sequence: Cabinda, Angola. In: Watkins, Drake (eds) Studies in Continental Margin Geology. AAPG Mem 34: 5–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramez C, Jackson MPA (2000) Superposed deformation straddling the continental-oceanic transition in deep-water Angola. Mar Pet Geol 17: 1095–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean WE, Hay WW, Sibuet J-C (1984) Geologic evolution, sedimentation, and paleoenvironment of the Angola Basin and adjacent Walvis Ridge: Synthesis of results of Deep-sea Drilling Project Leg 75. In: Hay WW, Sibuet J-C et al. (1984) Init. Rept. DSDP 75: 509–544 Washington (US Govt Printing Office)

    Google Scholar 

  • Droz L, Rigaut F, Cochonat P, Tofani R (1996) Morphology and recent evolution of the ZaireTurbidite System (Gulf of Guinea). Geol Soc Am Bull 108: 253–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dupont LM, Donner B, Schneider R, Wefer G (2001) Mid-Pleistocene environmental change in tropical Africa began as early as 1.05 Ma. Geology 29: 195–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durham EL, Maslin MA, Platzman E, Rosell-Melé A, Marlow JR, Leng M, Lowry D, Burns SJ, ODP Leg 175 Shipboard Scientific Party (2001) Reconstructing the climatic history of the western coast of Africa over the past 1.5 My: A comparison of proxy records from the Congo Basin and the Walvis Ridge and the search for evidence of the Mid-Pleistoce Revolution. In: Wefer G, Berger WH, Richter C (eds) Proc ODP. Sci Results, 175: 1–46 [online]

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery KO, Uchupi E (1984) The Geology of the Atlantic Ocean. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Emery KO, Uchupi E, Phillips J, Bowin C, MascLe J (1975) Continental margin off western Africa: Angolato SierraLeone. AAPG Bull 59: 2209–2265

    Google Scholar 

  • Frostick Le (1997) The East African Rift Basins. In: Selley R (ed) African Basins. Sedimentary Basins of the World. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 187–209

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Frostick L E, Reid I (1989) Is Structure the Main Control of River Drainage and Sedimentation in Rifts? J Afr Earth Sci 8:165–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann DA, Swanson WA, Smith PR, Goulding FJ, Kelly CA (1998) Structural development of the continental margin of Congo and northern Angola. AAPG abstract 370–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoeltvoeth J, Wagner T, Horfield B, Schubert CJ, Wand U (2001) Late-Quaternay supply of terrigenous organic matter to the Congo deap-sea fan (Odp Site 1075): Implications for equatorial African paleoclimate. Geo Mar Lett 21: 23–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen JHF, Giresse P, Moguedet G (1974) Struvtural and sedimentary geology of the Congo and southern Gabon continental shelf; a seismic and acoustic reflection survey. Neth J Sea Res 17: 364–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjarstansson E (1979) Modelling and migration by the monochromatic 45-degree equation. Stanford Exploration Project Report No 15 Stanford University

    Google Scholar 

  • Leyden R, Bryan G, Ewing M (1972) Geophysical Reconnaissance on African Shelf: 2. Margin Sediments from Gulf of Guinea to Walvis Ridge. AAPG Bull 56: 682–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Meeuwis JM, Lutjeharms JRE (1990) Surface thermal characteristics of the Angola-Benguela Front. S Afr J Mar Sci 9: 261–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Geophysical Data Center (1988) ETOPO-5 Bathymetry/Topography Data, Data Announce. 88-MGG-02 Natl Oceanic and Atmos Admin, US Dept Comm, Boulder Colorado

    Google Scholar 

  • Pufahl PK, Maslin MA, Anderson L, Büchert V, Jansen F, Lin H, Perez M, Vidal L, Shipboard Scientific Party (1998) Lithostratigraphic summary for Leg 175: Angola-Benguela upwelling system. In: Wefer G, Berger W, Richter C (eds) Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program Initial Report 175: 533–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoye B, Cochonat P, Apprioual R, Bain O, Baltzer A, Bellec V, Beuzart P, Bourillet JF, Cagna R, Cremer M, Crusson A, Dennielou B, Diebler D, Droz L, Ennes JC, Floch G, Guiomar M, Harmegnies F, Kerbrat R, Klein B, Kuhn H, Landuré JY; Lasnier C, Le Drezen E, Le Formal JP, Lopez M, Loubrieu B, Marsset T, Migeon S, Normand A, Nouzé H, Ondréas H, Pelleau P, Saget P, Séranne M, Sibuet JC, Tofani R, Voisset M (2000) Structur and recent evolution of the Zaire deep-sea fan: Preliminary results of the ZaïAngo 1 & 2 cruises (Angola-Congo margin). CR Acad Sci Paris, Earth and Planetary Sciences 331: 211–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Schefuß E, Versteegh GJM, Jansen JHF, Sinninghe Damsté JS (2001) Marine and terrigenous lipids in Southeast Atlantic sediments (Leg 175) as paleoenvironmental indicators: Initial results. In: Wefer G, Berger WH, Richter C (eds) Proc ODP. Sci Results 75: 1–34 [online]

    Google Scholar 

  • Séranne M (1999) Early Oligocene stratigraphic turnover on the west African continental margin: A signature of the Tertiary greenhouse-to-icehouse transition? Terra Nova 11: 135–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Séranne M, Nzé Abeigne C (1999) Oligocene to Holocene sediment drifts and bottom currents on the elope of Gabon continental margin (west Africa) consequences for sedimentation and southeast Atlantic upwelling. Sed Geol 128: 179–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard FP, Emery KO (1973) Congo Submarine Canyon and Fan Valley. AAPG Bull 57: 1679–1691

    Google Scholar 

  • Siesser WG (1978) Leg 40 results in relation to continental shelf and onshore geology. In: Bolli H, Ryan WB et al. (eds) Initial Reports DSDP 40: 965–979 Washington (US Govt Printing Office)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stolt RH (1978) Migration by Fourier Transform. Geophysics 43: 23–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchupi E (1992) Angola Basin: Geohistory and Construction of the Continental Rise. In: Poag and de Graciansky (eds) Geologic Evolution of Atlantic Continental Rifts. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp 77–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Uenzelmann-Neben G (1998) Neogene sedimentation history of the Congo Fan. Mar Pet Geol 15: 635–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uenzelmann-Neben G, Spiess V, Bleil U (1997) A seismic reconnaissance survey of the northern Congo Fan. Mar Geol 140: 283–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uliana E, Lange CB, Donner B, Wefer G (2001) Siliceous phytoplankton productivity fluctuations in the Congo Basin over the past 460,000 years: Marine vs riverine influence, ODP Site 1077. In: Wefer G, Berger WH, Richter C (eds) Proc ODP. Sci Results 175: 1–32 [online]

    Google Scholar 

  • Val Le PJ, Gjelberg JG, Helland-Hansen W (2001) Tectono-stratigraphic development in the eastern Lower Congo Basin, offshore Angola, West Africa. Mar Pet Geol 18: 909–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wefer G, Berger W, Richter C et al. (1998) Leg 175 initial report. Ocean Drilling Program Intitial Report 175 College Station TX (Ocean Drilling Program)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wefer G, Berger WH, Richter C (2001) Proc ODP. Sci Results 175 [online]

    Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz Ö (2001) Seismic data analysis. Soc Explor Geo-phys Invest Geophys 10 Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, 27515, Bremerhaven, Germany

    G. Uenzelmann-Neben & H. Miller

Authors
  1. G. Uenzelmann-Neben
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DFG Research Center Ocean Margins, University of Bremen, Klagenfurter Straße, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Gerold Wefer , Stefan Mulitza  & Volker Ratmeyer ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Uenzelmann-Neben, G., Miller, H. (2003). Congo Fan Neogene and Quaternary Sedimentation: Interplay of Riverine and Current Induced Deposition. In: Wefer, G., Mulitza, S., Ratmeyer, V. (eds) The South Atlantic in the Late Quaternary. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18917-3_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18917-3_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62354-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18917-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation