Abstract
Failure of the upper slope of the Hikurangi subduction margin resulted in emplacement of ∼30 km3 of debris across ∼250 km2 area of a mid-slope basin. The landslide deposit is well preserved in slope morphology. In this study we use morphometric analysis of Simrad EM300 multibeam data and stratigraphic analysis of multichannel seismic reflection data to assess a possible role for deep-seated bedrock failure in the erosional development of the upper continental slope. We interpret the blocky debris avalanche deposit as resulting from retrogressive polyphase failure. Late stage events are inferred to have impacted earlier debris and caused localised secondary remobilization failure. Morphometric analysis of upper-slope gully development indicates that gully systems become less mature to the north. Among several possible explanations for this pattern of gully development we infer a causal link between large-scale mass failure retrogression and the initiation of slope gully erosion systems.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Barker DHN, Sutherland R, Henrys S et al (2009) Geometry of the Hikurangi subduction thrust and upper plate, North Island, New Zealand. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 10. doi:10.1029/2008GC002153
Beavan J, Tregoning P, Bevis M et al (2002) Motion and rigidity of the Pacific Plate and implications for plate boundary deformation. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 107(B10):2261
Collot J-Y, Delteil J, Lewis KB et al (1996) From oblique subduction to intra-continental transpression; structures of the southern Kermadec-Hikurangi margin from multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar and seismic reflection. Mar Geophys Res 18(2–4):357–381
Field BD, Uruski CI et al (1997) Cretaceous – Cenozoic geology and petroleum systems of the East Coast region, New Zealand. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Monograph, 19, GNS, 301 pp
Howard AD, Dietrich WE, Seidl MA (1994) Modeling fluvial erosion on regional to continental scales. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 99(B7):13971–13986
Lamarche G, Joanne C, Collot J (2008) Successive, large mass-transport deposits in the south Kermadec fore-arc basin, New Zealand: the Matakaoa Submarine Instability Complex. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 9(4). doi:10.1029/2007GC001843
Lastras G, Arzola RG, Masson DG et al (2009) Geomorphology and sedimentary features in the Central Portuguese submarine canyons, Western Iberian margin. Geomorphology 103(3):310–329
Lewis KB, Pettinga JR (1993) The emerging, imbricate frontal wedge of the Hikurangi margin. In: Ballance PF (ed) South Pacific sedimentary basin, vol 2, Sedimentary basins of the world. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 225–250
McKean J, Roering J (2004) Objective landslide detection and surface morphology mapping using high-resolution airborne laser altimetry. Geomorphology 57(3–4):331–351
Micallef A, Mountjoy JJ (2011) A topographic signature of a hydrodynamic origin for submarine gullies. Geology 39(2):115–118
Mountjoy JJ (2009) Development of submarine canyon systems on active margins: Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand. PhD thesis, University of Canterbury, Riccarton
Mountjoy JJ, Barnes PM (2011) Active upper-plate thrust faulting in regions of low plate-interface coupling, repeated slow slip events, and coastal uplift: example from the Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 12(Q01005). doi:10.1029/2010GC003326
Mountjoy JJ, McKean J, Barnes PM et al (2009) Terrestrial-style slow-moving earthflow kinematics in a submarine landslide complex. Mar Geol 267:114–127
Orpin AR (2004) Holocene sediment deposition on the Poverty-slope margin by the muddy Waipaoa River, East Coast New Zealand. Mar Geol 209(1–4):69–90
Pedley KL, Barnes PM, Pettinga JR et al (2010) Seafloor structural geomorphic evolution of the accretionary frontal wedge in response to seamount subduction, Poverty Indentation, New Zealand. Mar Geol 270(1–4):119–138
Pratson LF (2001) A perspective on what is known and not known about seafloor instability in the context of continental margin evolution. Mar Petrol Geol 18(4):499–501
Walsh JP, Alexander CR, Gerber T et al (2007) The demise of a submarine canyon? Evidence for highstand infilling on the Waipaoa River continental margin, New Zealand. Geophys Res Lett 34(L20606). doi:10.1029/2007GL031142
Acknowledgments
We appreciate the data collection effort of Keith Lewis for both Multibeam and MCS. Jarg Pettinga and Phil Barnes are thanked for their input into JJM’s PhD project. Enlightening discussions and a review of an early draft by JP Walsh is appreciated. Reviews by Alan Orpin and Calvin Campbell significantly improved the manuscript. JJM was funded by MSI CEOC program, NIWA capability funding. AM was funded by Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship PIEF-GA-2009-252702 and belongs to CRG on Marine Geosciènces (grant 2009 SGR 1305 by Generalitat de Catalunya). Both benefited from an RSNZ International Mobility Fund.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Mountjoy, J.J., Micallef, A. (2012). Polyphase Emplacement of a 30 km3 Blocky Debris Avalanche and Its Role in Slope-Gully Development. In: Yamada, Y., et al. Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 31. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2162-3_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2162-3_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-2161-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-2162-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)