Skip to main content
Log in

Physiography and deposition on a distal deep-sea system: The Valencia Fan (Northwestern Mediterranean)

  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Valencia Fan developed as the distal fill of a deep-sea valley, detached from the continental slope and the main sedimentary source. A survey of side-scan sonar, Sea Beam and reflection seismics shows that the sediment is largely fed through the Valencia Valley. The upper fan comprises large channels with low-relief levees, and the middle fan has sinuous distributary channels. Depositional bedforms predominate on the valley floor and levees, and erosional bedforms are common in the valley walls. A change to slope on the fan apex and the presence of volcanoes on the upper fan are the main factors influencing fan-growth pattern.

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

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Maldonado A, Stanley DJ (1979) Depositional patterns and Late Quaternary evolution of two Mediterranean submarine fans: a comparison. Marine Geology 31:215–250

    Google Scholar 

  2. Aloïsi JC, Bellaiche G, Bouye C, Droz L, Got H, Maldonado A, Mirabile L, Monaco A (1981) L'eventail sous-marin profond du Rhône et les depôts de pente de l'Ebre: essai de comparaison morphologique et structurale. In: Wezel FZ (ed) Sedimentary Basins of Mediterranean Margins. Tecnoprint, Bologna, pp 227–238

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nelson CH, Maldonado A, Couines F, Got H, Monaco A (1983/1984) The Ebro deep-sea fan system. Geo-Marine Letters 3:125–131

    Google Scholar 

  4. Maldonado A, Got H, Monaco A, O'Connell S, Mirabile L (1985) Valencia Fan (Northwestern Mediterranean): distal deposition fan variant. Marine Geology 62:295–319

    Google Scholar 

  5. Stanley DJ, Kelling G, eds. (1978) Sedimentation in Submarine Canyons, Fans and Trenches. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Pa, 395 pp

    Google Scholar 

  6. Normark WR, Matti E, Bouma AH (1983/84) Problems in turbidite research: a need for COMFAN. Geo-Marine Letters 3:53–56

    Google Scholar 

  7. Normark WR, Piper JW (1983/1984) Navy Fan, California Borderland: growth pattern and depositional processes. GeoMarine Letters 3:101–108

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mutti E (1983/1984). The Hecho Eocene submarine fan system, South-Central Pyrenees, Spain. Geo-Marine Letters 3:199–202

    Google Scholar 

  9. Palanques A, Maldonado A (1984) Sedimentología de las turbiditas de los sistemas deposicionales de la Fosa de Valencia. I Congreso Español de Geología, Segovia 1:353–360

    Google Scholar 

  10. Alonso B, Kastens KA, Maldonado A, Malinverno A, Nelson CH, O'Connell S, Palanques A, Ryan WBF (1985) Morphology of the Ebro fan valleys from SeaMARC and Seabeam profiles. Geo-Marine Letters 5:141–148

    Google Scholar 

  11. O'Connell S, Alonso B, Kastens K, Maldonado A, Malinverno A, Nelson CH, Palanques A, Ryan WBF (1985) Morphology and downslope sediment displacement in a deep-sea valley, the Valencia Valley (Northwestern Mediterranean). GeoMarine Letters 5:149–156

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chayes DN (1983) Evolution of Sea MARC I. Third Working Symposium IEE Computer Society Press: 103–108

  13. Renard V, Allenou JP (1979) Seabeam multi-beam echosounding in “Jean-Charcot”, description, evaluation and first results. International Hydrographic Review 56:35–67

    Google Scholar 

  14. Carson MA, LaPointe MF (1983) The inherent asymmetry of river meander planform. Journal of Geology 91:41–56

    Google Scholar 

  15. Prior DB, Adams CE, Coleman JM (1983) Characteristics of a deep-sea channel on the middle Mississippi Fan as revealed by a high-resolution survey. Transactions-Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies 33:389–394

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nelson H, Thor DR, Sandstrom MW, Kvennvolden KA (1979) Modern biogenic gas-generated craters (sea-floor “pockmarks”) on the Bering Shelf, Alaska. Geological Society American Bulletin 90:1144–1152

    Google Scholar 

  17. Damuth JE, Kolla V, Flood RD, Kowsmann RO, Monterio MC, Gorini MA, Palma JJC, Belderson RH (1983) Distributary channel meandering and bifurcation patterns on the Amazon deep-sea fan as revealed by long range side-scan sonar (GLORIA). Geology 11:90–98

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maldonado, A., Palanques, A., Alonso, B. et al. Physiography and deposition on a distal deep-sea system: The Valencia Fan (Northwestern Mediterranean). Geo-Marine Letters 5, 157–164 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02281633

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02281633

Keywords

Navigation