Submarine landslides, Gulf of Mexico continental slope: insights into transport processes from fabrics and geotechnical data.

Behrmann, Jan H. and Meissl, Sandra (2012) Submarine landslides, Gulf of Mexico continental slope: insights into transport processes from fabrics and geotechnical data. In: Submarine mass movements and their consequences. , ed. by Yamada, Y., Kawamura, K., Ikehara, K., Ogawa, Y., Urgeles, R., Mosher, D., Chaytor, J. and Strasser, M.. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 463-474. ISBN 978-94-007-2161-6

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Abstract

Ursa Basin on the Gulf of Mexico continental slope is a site of extremely fast sedimentation, building thick sequences of underconsolidated and overpressured muds and clays. Frequent sliding created mass transport deposits (MTD). In a study of strength, frictional behaviour, and fabrics of IODP Expedition 308 drillcores we find that mass transport is governed by very low friction coefficients and
peak shear strengths of the sediments. The majority of the samples shows velocity weakening, enabling runaway instabilities in the sediment once deformation has started. While sediments at the bases of MTD seem to strengthen by the sliding, those below the bases remain weak, constraining a hazard for slide reactivation. Submarine sediment sliding leaves a strong and irreversible imprint, changing fabric geometries, and reducing the pore space. This is a transport phenomenon leading to expulsion of large amounts of pore fluids during sliding. MTD transport is probably as cohesive bodies, defining a considerable geohazard potential.

Document Type: Book chapter
Keywords: Geodynamics; Landslide; sediment; strength; fabric; gulf of Mexico; mass transport
Research affiliation: OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-GDY Marine Geodynamics
Publisher: Springer
Projects: Future Ocean
Date Deposited: 22 Dec 2011 11:24
Last Modified: 15 Mar 2018 13:38
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/13129

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