Imaging continental shelf shallow stratigraphy by using different high-resolution seismic sources: an example from the Calabro-Tyrrhenian margin (Mediterranean Sea)

Martorelli, Eleonora; Chiocci, Francesco Latino; Orlando, Luciana

Abstracts

High-resolution seismic reflection profiles of the Calabro-Tyrrhenian continental shelf were collected using different seismic sources (Sub-Bottom Profiler, Uniboom, Sparker 0.5-1-4.5 kJ). Noticeable differences and results were obtained both from a geophysical and geological-interpretative point of view. The availability of different sources permitted the definition of the most suitable seismostratigraphic characterization in terms of resolution, penetration and acoustic facies. Very high resolution stratigraphy was defined through profiles produced by different seismic systems used in parallel. This permitted the application of sequence-stratigraphy concepts with the reconstruction of a thick postglacial depositional sequence, formed by a transgressive and a high-stand systems tract. The thickness distribution of postglacial deposits reveals that the main depocenter (55-65 m) is located offshore of the Coastal Range, along a stretch of coast supplied by several small and seasonal streams ("fiumare") and characterized by the lack of a coastal plain. This suggests the greater efficiency of sediment supply and bypass in this area relatively to sectors located offshore of the main rivers. The transgressive systems tract, usually thin or nearly absent, is particularly well developed (up to 33 m) and is composed of up to three parasequences with a retrogradational stacking pattern. The high-stand systems tract, up to 30 m thick, is made up of two parasequences and has a quite regular geometry and acoustic facies.

Tyrrhenian Sea; Continental shelf; Postglacial deposits; Resolution and penetration; Seismic and sequence stratigraphy

Perfis de reflexão sísmica de alta resolução da plataforma continental tirreniana de Calabro foram obtidos utilizando-se recursos sísmicos diversos (Perfilador de Sub-superfície, Uniboom, Sparker 0.5-1-4.5 kJ). Diferenças evidentes foram encontradas sob o ponto de vista geofísico e geológico-interpretativo. A disponibilidade de diferentes fontes permitiu a definição de uma caracterização sismo-estratigráfica mais acurada em termos de resolução, penetração e facies acústica. Uma estratigrafia de resolução bastante alta pôde ser obtida através de perfis produzidos por diferentes sistemas sísmicos utilizados em paralelo. Este fato possibilitou o emprego de conceitos de sequência-estratigrafia para a reconstrução de uma espessa sequência deposicional pós-glacial formada por um trato de sistemas transgressivo e de nível de base alto. A espessura dos depósitos pós-glaciais revela que o principal centro de deposição (55-65 m) está localizado ao largo da serra costeira, ao longo de uma costa distendida e alimentada por pequenos filetes sazonais ("fiumare"), sendo caracterizado pela falta de uma planície costeira. Os dados sugerem a existência de um suprimento de sedimentos bastante eficiente nessa área, em relação a setores localizados ao largo dos rios principais. O trato de sistemas transgressivo, geralmente estreito ou ausente, é aqui particularmente bem desenvolvido (acima de 33 m) e composto por até três parasequências com padrão de empilhamento retrogradacional. O trato de sistemas de nível de base alto, até 30 m de espessura, é composto por duas parasequências e apresenta geometria e facies acústica extremamente regulares.

Perfis de reflexão sísmica; Caracterização sismo-estratigráfica; Sequência deposicional pós-glacial; Plataforma continental tirreniana de Calabro

Barone, A.; Fabbri, A.; Rossi, S.; Sartori, R. Geological structure and evolution of the marine areas adjacent to the Calabrian Arch. Earth Evol. Sc., v. 3, p. 207-223, 1982.
Bellotti, P.; Chiocci, F. L.; Milli, S.; Tortora, P.; Valeri, P. Sequence stratigraphy and depositional setting of the Tiber delta: integration of high-resolution seismics, well logs, and archeological data.. J. Sedim. Res, v. B64, p. 416-432, 1994.
Brizzolari, E. Possibilità d'impiego della prospezione sismica monocanale per la ricerca di sabbie metallifere. L'industria Mineraria v. 1., 1980.
Chiocci, F. L. Depositional response to Quaternary fourth-order sea-level fluctuations on the Latium margin (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). In: HUNT, D.; GAWTHORPE, R. L. (Ed.). Sedimentary responses to forced regressions. Geol. Soc spec. Publ, v. 172, p. 271290, 2000.
Chiocci, F. L.; Orlando, L. Effects of Pleistocene sea-level changes on a highly deforming continental margin, Calabrian shelf, Italy. Boll. Geofis. Teor. appl, v. 37, p. 145, 39-58, 1995.
Chiocci, F. L.; D'angelo, S.; Orlando, L.; Pantaleone, A. Evolution of the Holocene shelf sedimentation defined by high resolution seismic stratigraphy and sequence analysis (Calabro-Tyrrhenian continental shelf). Mem. Soc. Geol. Ital, v. 48, p. 359-380, 1989.
Correggiari, A.; Field, M. E.; Trincardi, F. Late Quaternary transgressive large dunes on the sediment-starved Adriatic Shelf In: DE BATIST, M.; JACOBS, P. (Ed.), Geology of Siliciclastic Shelf Seas. Geol. Soc spec Soc. Publ, v. 117, p. 155169, 1996.
Cosentino, D.; Gliozzi, E. Considerazioni sulle velocità di sollevamento di depositi eutirreniani dell'Italia meridionale e della Sicilia. Mem Soc Geol Ital, v. 41, p. 653-665, 1988.
Gallignani, P. Recent sedimentation processes on the Calabria continental shelf and slope (Tyhrrrenian Sea, Italy). Oceanologica Acta, v. 5, n. 4, p. 493-500, 1982.
Hernandez-Molina, F. J.; Somoza, I.; Lobo, F. Seismic stratigraphy of the Gulf of Cadiz continental shelf: a model for late Quaternary very high resolution sequence stratigraphy and response to sea-level fall. In: HUNT D. E.; GAWTHORPE R. L. (Ed.). Sedimentary responses to forced regressions. Geol. Soc., London, spec. Publ., v. 172, p. 329-362, 2000.
Lericolais, G.; Berné, S.; Féniès, H. Seaward pinching out and internal stratigraphy of the Gironde incised valley on the shelf (Bay of Biscay). Mar. Geol, v. 175, n. 1-4, p. 183-197, 2001.
McGee, T. M. High-resolution seismic profiling on water. Annali Geofis., v. 43, n. 6, p. 1045-1073, 2000.
Mosher, D. C.; Simpkin, P. G. Status and trends of marine high-resolution seismic reflection profiling: data acquisition. Geosci., Can., v. 26, n. 4, p. 174-188, 1999.
Posamentier, H. W.; Vail, P. R. Eustatic controls on clastic deposition II - Sequence and Systems Tract models. SEPM spec Publ, v. 42, p. 28-42, 1988.
Posamentier, H.W.; Allen, G. P.; James, D. P. High-resolution sequence stratigraphy the east Coulee delta. J. sedim. Petrol, v. 62, p. 310-317, 1992.
Swift, D. J. P. Coastal erosion and transgressive stratigraphy. J. Geol, v. 76, p. 444-456, 1968.
Tesson, M.; Allen, G. P.; Ravenne, C. Late Pleistocene shelf-perched lowstand wedges on the Rhone continental shelf. In: POSAMENTIER, H. W.; SUMMERHAYES, C. P.; HAQ, B. U.; ALLEN, G. P. Sequence stratigraphy and facies associations. Int. Ass. Sedimentologists, spec Publ, v. 18, p. 183-196, 1993.
Trabant, P. K. Applied high resolution geophysical methods Boston: Reidel, 1984. 265 p.
Trincardi, F.; Correggiari, A. Quaternary forced regression deposits in the Adriatic basin and the record of composite sea-level cycles. In: HUNT D. E; GAWTHORPE, R. (Ed.) . Sedimentary responses to forced regressions. Geol. Soc., London, special Publ, v. 172, p. 245-269, 2000.
Vail, P. R.; Mitchum Jr; Todd, G. R.; Widmier, J.M.; Thompson, S.; Sangree, J.B. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level. AAPG Mem, v. 26, p. 49-205, 1977.
Van Wagoner, J. C.; Posamentier, H. W.; Mitchum, R. M.; Vail, P. R.; Sarg, J. F.; Loutit, T. S.; Hardenbol, J. An overview of the fundamentals of sequence Stratigraphy and key definitions. In: C. K. Wilgus E. A. et al., (Ed.). Sea-level changes: an integrated approach. SEPM spec. Publ, v. 42, p. 39-46, 1988.
Verbeek, N. H.; McGee, T. M. Characteristics of high-resolution marine reflection profiling sources. J. appl. Geophys, v. 33, p. 251-269, 1995.
Westaway, R. Quaternary uplift of Southern Italy. J. geophys. Res, v. 98, n. B12, p. 21741-21772, 1993.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
23 Aug 2010
Date of issue
2010

History

Received
21 Aug 2009
Reviewed
01 Jan 2010
Accepted
06 May 2010

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] Barone, A.; Fabbri, A.; Rossi, S.; Sartori, R. Geological structure and evolution of the marine areas adjacent to the Calabrian Arch. Earth Evol. Sc., v. 3, p. 207-223, 1982.

[2] Bellotti, P.; Chiocci, F. L.; Milli, S.; Tortora, P.; Valeri, P. Sequence stratigraphy and depositional setting of the Tiber delta: integration of high-resolution seismics, well logs, and archeological data.. J. Sedim. Res, v. B64, p. 416-432, 1994.

[3] Brizzolari, E. Possibilità d'impiego della prospezione sismica monocanale per la ricerca di sabbie metallifere. L'industria Mineraria v. 1., 1980.

[4] Chiocci, F. L. Depositional response to Quaternary fourth-order sea-level fluctuations on the Latium margin (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). In: HUNT, D.; GAWTHORPE, R. L. (Ed.). Sedimentary responses to forced regressions. Geol. Soc spec. Publ, v. 172, p. 271290, 2000.

[5] Chiocci, F. L.; Orlando, L. Effects of Pleistocene sea-level changes on a highly deforming continental margin, Calabrian shelf, Italy. Boll. Geofis. Teor. appl, v. 37, p. 145, 39-58, 1995.

[6] Chiocci, F. L.; D'angelo, S.; Orlando, L.; Pantaleone, A. Evolution of the Holocene shelf sedimentation defined by high resolution seismic stratigraphy and sequence analysis (Calabro-Tyrrhenian continental shelf). Mem. Soc. Geol. Ital, v. 48, p. 359-380, 1989.

[7] Correggiari, A.; Field, M. E.; Trincardi, F. Late Quaternary transgressive large dunes on the sediment-starved Adriatic Shelf In: DE BATIST, M.; JACOBS, P. (Ed.), Geology of Siliciclastic Shelf Seas. Geol. Soc spec Soc. Publ, v. 117, p. 155169, 1996.

[8] Cosentino, D.; Gliozzi, E. Considerazioni sulle velocità di sollevamento di depositi eutirreniani dell'Italia meridionale e della Sicilia. Mem Soc Geol Ital, v. 41, p. 653-665, 1988.

[9] Gallignani, P. Recent sedimentation processes on the Calabria continental shelf and slope (Tyhrrrenian Sea, Italy). Oceanologica Acta, v. 5, n. 4, p. 493-500, 1982.

[10] Hernandez-Molina, F. J.; Somoza, I.; Lobo, F. Seismic stratigraphy of the Gulf of Cadiz continental shelf: a model for late Quaternary very high resolution sequence stratigraphy and response to sea-level fall. In: HUNT D. E.; GAWTHORPE R. L. (Ed.). Sedimentary responses to forced regressions. Geol. Soc., London, spec. Publ., v. 172, p. 329-362, 2000.

[11] Lericolais, G.; Berné, S.; Féniès, H. Seaward pinching out and internal stratigraphy of the Gironde incised valley on the shelf (Bay of Biscay). Mar. Geol, v. 175, n. 1-4, p. 183-197, 2001.

[12] McGee, T. M. High-resolution seismic profiling on water. Annali Geofis., v. 43, n. 6, p. 1045-1073, 2000.

[13] Mosher, D. C.; Simpkin, P. G. Status and trends of marine high-resolution seismic reflection profiling: data acquisition. Geosci., Can., v. 26, n. 4, p. 174-188, 1999.

[14] Posamentier, H. W.; Vail, P. R. Eustatic controls on clastic deposition II - Sequence and Systems Tract models. SEPM spec Publ, v. 42, p. 28-42, 1988.

[15] Posamentier, H.W.; Allen, G. P.; James, D. P. High-resolution sequence stratigraphy the east Coulee delta. J. sedim. Petrol, v. 62, p. 310-317, 1992.

[16] Swift, D. J. P. Coastal erosion and transgressive stratigraphy. J. Geol, v. 76, p. 444-456, 1968.

[17] Tesson, M.; Allen, G. P.; Ravenne, C. Late Pleistocene shelf-perched lowstand wedges on the Rhone continental shelf. In: POSAMENTIER, H. W.; SUMMERHAYES, C. P.; HAQ, B. U.; ALLEN, G. P. Sequence stratigraphy and facies associations. Int. Ass. Sedimentologists, spec Publ, v. 18, p. 183-196, 1993.

[18] Trabant, P. K. Applied high resolution geophysical methods Boston: Reidel, 1984. 265 p.

[19] Trincardi, F.; Correggiari, A. Quaternary forced regression deposits in the Adriatic basin and the record of composite sea-level cycles. In: HUNT D. E; GAWTHORPE, R. (Ed.) . Sedimentary responses to forced regressions. Geol. Soc., London, special Publ, v. 172, p. 245-269, 2000.

[20] Vail, P. R.; Mitchum Jr; Todd, G. R.; Widmier, J.M.; Thompson, S.; Sangree, J.B. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level. AAPG Mem, v. 26, p. 49-205, 1977.

[21] Van Wagoner, J. C.; Posamentier, H. W.; Mitchum, R. M.; Vail, P. R.; Sarg, J. F.; Loutit, T. S.; Hardenbol, J. An overview of the fundamentals of sequence Stratigraphy and key definitions. In: C. K. Wilgus E. A. et al., (Ed.). Sea-level changes: an integrated approach. SEPM spec. Publ, v. 42, p. 39-46, 1988.

[22] Verbeek, N. H.; McGee, T. M. Characteristics of high-resolution marine reflection profiling sources. J. appl. Geophys, v. 33, p. 251-269, 1995.

[23] Westaway, R. Quaternary uplift of Southern Italy. J. geophys. Res, v. 98, n. B12, p. 21741-21772, 1993.

Brasil

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Imaging continental shelf shallow stratigraphy by using different high-resolution seismic sources: an example from the Calabro-Tyrrhenian margin (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstracts

Publication Dates

History