Abstract
An increasing volume of evidence suggests that normal faulting and graben formation associated with salt diapirism may be catastrophic. The evidence includes: 1) removal of solid salt from the diapirs by dissolution, 2) the nature of rock outcrops at the crests of domes, 3) seismic profiles showing recent displacement of the seafloor, and 4) changes in coral growth rates at the East Flower Garden Bank. The possibility of catastrophic movement of the seabed is an engineering constraint that must be addressed prior to emplacing structures such as jack-up rigs and production platforms.
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Rezak, R., Bright, T.J. Seafloor instability at East Flower Garden Bank, northwest Gulf of Mexico. Geo-Marine Letters 1, 97–103 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463325
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463325