Abstract
Circular to elliptical mounds in the Canary Channel with reliefs of 75 to 375 m and diameters of 4 to 8 km partially surrounded by moats with reliefs of 25 to 75 m, were formed by piercement of the seafloor by Mesozoic evaporites. Several long gullies, < 1km wide, with abrupt terminations and pockmarks associated with these mounds were probably eroded by dense brine and hydrocarbon seeps. The salt brines that eroded the gullies were formed where salt diapirs intersect the seafloor, or in the subsurface by circulating ground water heated by igneous activity along the Canary Ridge. If the brines originated in the subsurface they reached the seafloor along faults. Displacement of the surficial sediments by sliding and creep is probably the result of the expulsion of hydrocarbons and/or vertical motion of the Mesozoic evaporites. Microtopographic features along or near the east flank of the Canary Ridge are the creation of uplift of the ridge, hydrothermal activity, mass wasting processes and turbidity currents.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. Aharon (1994) ArticleTitleGeology and biology of modern and ancient submarine hydrocarbon seeps and vents: an introduction Geo-Mar. Lett. 14 69–73
P. Aharon H.P. Schwarz H.H. Roberts (1997) ArticleTitleRadioelectric dating of submarine hydrocarbon seeps in the Gulf of Mexico Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 109 568–579
J. Acosta A. Muñoz P. Herranz C. Palomo M. Ballesteros M. Vaquero E. Uchupi (2001) ArticleTitlePockmarks in Ibiza Channel and western end of the Balearic Promontory (western Mediterranean) revealed by multibeam mapping Geo-Mar. Lett. 21 123–130
E. Ancochea J.L. Brändle C.R. Cubas F. Hernán M.J. Huertas (1996) ArticleTitleVolcanic complexes in the eastern ridge of the Canary Islands: the Miocene activity of the island of Fuerteventura J. Vol. Geoth. Res. 70 183–204
Arthur MA., Cornford C., McCoy F.W., Sarnthein M. (1979). Evolution and sedimentary history of the Cape Bojador continental margin, northwestern Africa. In: von Rad U. Ryan, W.B.F. et al (ed). Init. Repts, Deep Sea Drill. Prog. College, Station TX, 47: 773–816
J. Baraza G. Ercilla (1996) ArticleTitleGas-charged sediments and large pockmarck-like features on the Gulf of Cadiz slope (SW Spain) Mar. Pet. Geol. 13 253–261
B. Beauchamp M. Savard (1992) ArticleTitleCretaceous chemosynthetic carbonate mounds in the Canadian Arctic Palaios 7,4 434–450
E.W. Behrens (1988) ArticleTitleGeology of a continental oil seep. Northern Gulf of Mexico Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull. 72 105–114
T.J. Bright P.A. La Rock R.D. Lauer J.M. Brooks (1980) ArticleTitleA brine seep at the east Flower Garden Bank, northwestern Gulf of Mexico Int. Rev. Ges. Hydrobiol. 65 IssueID(4 535–549
K.M. Brown (1990) ArticleTitleThe nature and hydrogeologic significance of mud diapirs and diatremes for accretionary wedges J. Geophys. Res. 95 8969–8982
J.P. Cadet K. Kobayashi S. Lallemand L. Jolivet J. Aubouin J. Boulèwgue J. Dubois H. Hotta T. Ishii K. Knishi N. Niitsuma H. Shiamura (1987) ArticleTitleDeep scientific dives in the Japan and Kuril trenches Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 83 313–328
A. Calami P. Ceron (1970) ArticleTitleAir convection within “Montaña del Fuego” (Lanzarote Island, Canary Archipelago) Geothermics Special Issue. 2 611–614
J.C. Carracedo E. Rodríguez Badiola (1993) ArticleTitleEvolución geológica y magmática de la isla de Lanzarote (Islas Canarias) Rev. Acad. Canar. Cienc. V 25–58
J.C. Carracedo S. Day H. Guillou E. Rodríguez J.A. Canas F.J. Pérez (1998) ArticleTitleHotspot volcanism closet o a passive continental margin Geol. Mag. 135 591–604
Catalán, M., Martín-Davila, J. and ZEE Working Group, A magnetic anomaly study offshore Canary archipelago, this issue
J. Coello J.M. Cantagrel F. Hernán J.M. Fúster E. Ibarrola E. Ancochea C. Casquet C. Jamond J.R. Diazde Téran A. Cendredo (1992) ArticleTitleEvolution of the eastern volcanic ridge of the Canary Islands based on new K-Ar data J. Vol. Geoth. Res. 53 251–274
D.F. Coleman R.D. Ballard (2001) ArticleTitleA highly concentrated region of cold hydrocarbon seeps in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea Geo-Mar. Lett. 21 162–167
A. Cramp G. O’Sullivan (1999) ArticleTitleNeogene sapropels in the Mediterranean: a review Mar. Geol. 153 11–28
P.R. Dando M. Hovland. (1992) ArticleTitleEnvironmental effects of submarine seeping natural gas Contl. Shelf. Res. 12 1197–1207
P.R. Dando M.C. Austen J. Burke M.A. Kendall M.C. Kennicutt III A.G. Judd D.C. Moore S.C.M. O’Hara R. Schmaljohann A.J. Southward (1991) ArticleTitleEcology of North Sea pockmark with an active methane seep Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 70 49–63
J.J. Dañobeitia J.P. Canales (2000) ArticleTitleMagmatic underplating in the Canary Archipelago J. Volc. and Geotherm. Res. 103 27–41
K.O. Emery E. Uchupi (1984) The Geology of the Atlantic Ocean Springer-Verlag New York. 1050
C. Gaillard M. Rio Y. Rolin (1992) ArticleTitleFossil chemosynthetic communities related to vents or seeps in sedimentary basins: the pseudobioherms of southeastern France compared to other world examples Palaios. 7 451–465
K. Graue (2000) ArticleTitleMud volcanoes in deepwater Nigeria Mar. Pet. Geol. 17 959–974
P. Henry X. Le Pichon S. Lallement J.P. Foucher G. Westbrook M. Hobart (1990) ArticleTitleMud volcano field seaward of the Barbados accretionary complex: a deep-towed side scan sonar survey J. Geophys. Res. 95 8917–8929
Hinz K. (1979). Seismic sequences of Cape Bojador, northwest Africa, in Von Rad, U., Ryan, W. B. F. et al. (eds.). Init. Repts. Deep Sea Drill. Proj. 47: 485–490
K. Hinz H. Dostman M. Frisch (1982) The continental margin of Morocco; seismic sequences, structural elements and geological development U. Von Red K. Heinz M. Earthen E. Seabed (Eds) Geology of the Northwest African Continental Margin. Springer-Verlag New York 34–60
K. Hoernle H.U. Schmincke (1993) ArticleTitleThe role of partial melting in the 15-Ma Agrochemical evolution of Gran Canaries: a blob model for the Canary hotspot J. Petrol. 34 599–626
J.S. Holik P.D. Rabinowitz J.A. Austin (1991) ArticleTitleEffects of Canary hotspot volcanism on structure of oceanic crust off Morocco J. Geophys. Res. 96 12039–12067
M. Hovland (1992) ArticleTitleHydrocarbon seeps in the northern marine waters, their occurrence and effects Palaios. 7 376–382
M. Hovland A.G. Judd (1988) ArticleTitleSeabed seepages. Impact on Geology, Biology and Marine Environment. Graham and Trotman, London. 293 203
M. Hovland P.F. Croker M. Martin (1994) ArticleTitleFault-associated seabed mounds (carbonate knolls ?) off western Ireland and north-west Australia Mar. Pet. Geol. 11 232–246
R.D. Jacobi D.E. Hayes (1992) Northwest African continental rise: effects of near-bottom processes inferred from high-resolution seismic data C.W. Poag Graciansky Particlede (Eds) Geologic Evolution of Atlantic Continental Rises. Van Nostrand Reinhold New York 137–156
M.C. Kennicutt J.M. Brooks (1990) ArticleTitleRecognition of areas affected by petroleum seepages: northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope, Geo-Mar. Lett. 10 221–224
M.C.II Kennicutt J.M. Brooks R.R. Bidigare T.J. MaDonald D.L. Adkinson S.A. Macko (1989) ArticleTitleAn upper slope “cold” seep community, northern California Lim. Oceanog. 34 561–566
L.H. King B. MacLean (1970) ArticleTitlePockmarks on the Scotian Shelf Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 81 3141–3148
L. Kulm E. Suess (1990) ArticleTitleRelationship between carbonate deposits and fluid venting: Oregon accretionary wedge J. Geophys. Res. 96 8899–8915
X. Le Pichon T. Iiyama S. Lallement H. Okada K. Rangin A. Taira T. Urabe S. Uyeda (1987) ArticleTitleNankai Trough and Zenisu Ridge: a deep-sea submersible survey Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 83 285–299
B.T.R. Lewis G.C. Cochrane (1990) ArticleTitleRelationship between location of chemosynthetic benthic communities and geologic structure on the Cascadia subduction zone J. Geophys. Res. 95 8783–8793
I.R. MacDonald (1992) ArticleTitleSea-floor brine pools affect behavior, mortality, and preservation of fishes in the Gulf of Mexico: Lagerstätten in the making Palaios. 7 383–387
I.R. MacDonald J.F. Reilly SuffixII N.L. Guinasso SuffixJr J.M. Brooks R.S. Carney W.A. Bryant T.J. Bright (1990) ArticleTitleChemosynthetic mussels at a brine-filled pockmark in the northern Gulf of Mexico Science. 248 1096–1099
A. Maldonado L. Somoza L. Pallarés (1999) ArticleTitleThe Betic orogen of the Iberian-African boundary in the Gulf of Cádiz; geological evolution (central North Atlantic) Mar. Geol. 155 9–43
W. Martínezdel Olmo J. Buitrago Borrás (2002) ArticleTitleSedimentación y volcanismo al este de las isles de Fuerteventura y Lanzarote (Surco de Fúster Casas) Geogaceta. 32 51–54
T.W. Neurauter W.R. Bryant (1990) ArticleTitleSeismic expression of sedimentary volcanism on the continental slope, northern Gulf of Mexico Geo-Mar. Lett. 10 225–231
S. Ohta L. Laubier (1987) ArticleTitleDeep biological communities in the subduction zone of Japan from bottom photographs taken during the “nautili” dives in the Kaiko Project Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 83 329–342
C.K. Paull A.C. Neumann (1987) ArticleTitleContinental margin brine seeps: their geological consequences Geology. 15 545–548
C.K. Paull B. Hecker R. Commeau. R.P. Freeman-Lynde A.C. Neumann W.P. Corson S. Golubic J. Hook E. Sikes J. Currray (1984) ArticleTitleBiological communities at Florida Escarpment resemble hydrothermal vent communities Science. 226 965–967
G. Pautot K. Nakamura P. Huchon J. Angelier J. Bourgeois K. Fujioka T. Kanazawa Y. Nakamura. Y. Ogawa M. Séguret A. Takeuchi (1987) ArticleTitleDeep-sea survey in the Sugura and Japan trenches: preliminary results of the 1985 Kaiko Cruise, Leg 2 Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 83 300–312
R.A. Pickrill (1993) ArticleTitleShallow seismic stratigraphy and pockmarks of a hydrothermally influenced lake, Lake Rotoiti, New Zeland Sedimentology. 40 813–828
I. Price (1980) ArticleTitleGravity tectonics on a passive margin.: Deep-Sea Drilling Project site 415 in the light of regional seismic data, in Y Lancelot, E. L. Winterer et al., Init. Repts. Deep Sea Drill. Proj. 50 759–771
H.H. Roberts R. Sassen R. Carney P. Aharon (1989) ArticleTitleCarbonate buildups on the continental slope off Louisiana Proc. Off. Tech. Conf. OTC 5953 655–662
H.H. Roberts P. Aharon R. Carney J. Larkin R. Sassen (1990) ArticleTitleSea floor responses to hydrocarbon seeps, Louisiana continental slope Geo-Mar. Lett. 10 232–243
H.H. Roberts P. Aharon (1994) ArticleTitleHydrocarbon-derived carbonate buildups of northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope: a review of submersible investigations Geo-Mar. Lett. 14 135–148
Sassen R., Grayson P., Cole G., Roberts H.H., Aharon P. (1991). Hydrocarbon seepage and salt-dome related carbonate reservoir rocks of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Trans. Gulf Coast Assoc. Geol. Soc., 570–578
Shipboard Scientific Party, 1995, Site 955, in Schmincke, H.-U., Weaver, P. P. E., Firth, J. V. et al.. Proc. Ocean Drill.Prog. Init. Rep. 157: 433–496
R.F. Shokes P.K. Trabant B.J. Preseley D.F. Reid (1977) ArticleTitleAnoxic, hypersaline basin in the northern Gulf of Mexico Sci. 196 1443–1446
J.M. SomozaL. Gardner V. Diazdel Río J.T. Vázquez L.M. Pinheiro F.J. Hernández-Molina (2002) ArticleTitleNumerous methane gas-related sea floor structures identified in the Gulf of Cádiz EOS. 83 541–549
D.S. Stakes D. Orange J.B. Paduan K.A. Salamy N. Maher (1999) ArticleTitleCold-seeps and authigenic carbonate formation in Monterrey Bay, California Mar. Geol. 159 93–109
C. Steiner A. Hobson P. Favre G.M. Stampfli J. Hernandez (1998) ArticleTitleMesozoic sequence of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands): witness of early Jurassic sea-floor spreading in the central Atlantic Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 110 1304–1317
J. Thomson D. Mercone G.J. De Lange M. VanSanvoort P.J (1999) ArticleTitleReview of recent advances in the interpretation of eastern Mediterranean sapropel S1 from geochemical evidence, Mar Geol. 153 77–89
E. Uchupi K.O. Emery C.O. Bowin J.D. Phillips (1976) ArticleTitleContinental margin off western Africa: Senegal to Portugal Am. Assoc Pet. Geol. Bull. 60 809–878
E. Uchupi S.A. Swift D.A. Ross (1996) ArticleTitleGas venting and late Quaternary sedimentation in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Mar. Geol. 129 237–269
P.H. Von Bitter S.D. Scott P.E. Schenk (1990) ArticleTitleEarly Carboniferous low temperature hydrothermal vent communities from Newfoundland Nature. 344 145–148
U. Von Rad H. Rösh U. Berner M. Geyh V. Marchig H. Schultz (1996) ArticleTitleAuthigenic carbonates derived from oxidized methane vented from the Makran accretionary prism off Pakistan Mar. Geol. 136 55–77
C.Y. Wang Y Shi W.T. Hwang H. Chen (1995) ArticleTitleHydrogeologic processes in the Oregon-Washington accretionary wedge J. Geophys. Res. 95 9009–9023
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Acosta, J., Uchupi, E., Muñoz, A. et al. Salt Diapirs, Salt Brine Seeps, Pockmarks and Surficial Sediment Creep and Slides in the Canary Channel off NW Africa. Mar Geophys Res 24, 41–57 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-004-1161-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-004-1161-7