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Contrasting sedimentary processes along a convergent margin: the Lesser Antilles arc system

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Abstract

Sedimentation processes occurring in an active convergent setting are well illustrated in the Lesser Antilles island arc. The margin is related to westward subduction of the North and/or the South America plates beneath the Caribbean plate. From east to west, the arc can be subdivided into several tectono-sedimentary depositional domains: the accretionary prism, the fore-arc basin, the arc platform and inter-arc basin, and the Grenada back-arc basin. The Grenada back-arc basin, the fore-arc basin (Tobago Trough) and the accretionary prism on the east side of the volcanic arc constitute traps for particles derived from the arc platform and the South American continent. The arc is volcanically active, and provides large volumes of volcaniclastic sediments which accumulate mainly in the Grenada basin by volcaniclastic gravity flows (volcanic debris avalanches, debris flows, turbiditic flows) and minor amounts by fallout. By contrast, the eastern side of the margin is fed by ash fallout and minor volcaniclastic turbidites. In this area, the dominant component of the sediments is pelagic in origin, or derived from South America (siliciclastic turbidites). Insular shelves are the locations of carbonate sedimentation, such as large platforms which develop in the Limestone Caribbees in the northern part of the margin. Reworking of carbonate material by turbidity currents also delivers lesser amounts to eastern basins of the margin. This contrasting sedimentation on both sides of the arc platform along the margin is controlled by several interacting factors including basin morphology, volcanic productivity, wind and deep-sea current patterns, and sea-level changes. Basin morphology appears to be the most dominant factor. The western slopes of the arc platform are steeper than the eastern ones, thus favouring gravity flow processes.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Dr. Christine Deplus (IPG Paris), Chief Scientist of the AGUADOMAR and CARAVAL cruises (R/V L’Atalante, 1998, 2002) for providing the swath bathymetry data. We would like to thank Dominique Poirier, Gérard Chabaud, and Joël Saint-Paul (Université Bordeaux 1) for data processing and technical assistance. We also thank Dr. Jean-Frédéric Lebrun (Université Antilles-Guyane) for information about the sedimentation on the insular shelves. Steve Carey and Tania Marsset provided very useful review comments that helped us to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Université Bordeaux 1, CNRS-UMR 5805 EPOC, Avenue des Facultés, 33405, Talence cedex, France

    Michel Picard & Jean-Luc Schneider

  2. IPG Paris, Observatoires Volcanologiques, 4 Place Jussieu, B.P. 89, 75252, Paris cedex 05, France

    Georges Boudon

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  1. Michel Picard
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Correspondence to Michel Picard.

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Picard, M., Schneider, JL. & Boudon, G. Contrasting sedimentary processes along a convergent margin: the Lesser Antilles arc system. Geo-Mar Lett 26, 397–410 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-006-0046-y

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