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Miocene depositional environments, processes, and depositional elements in the southern Gulf of Mexico
Author(s) -
Gutiérrez Paredes Hilda Clarisa,
Catuneanu Octavian,
Hernández Romano Ulises
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geological journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.721
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1099-1034
pISSN - 0072-1050
DOI - 10.1002/gj.2948
Subject(s) - sedimentary depositional environment , geology , facies , turbidity current , sedimentary rock , paleontology , deposition (geology) , geomorphology , siltstone , sedimentary structures , geochemistry , structural basin
Detailed stratigraphic and facies analyses were conducted and combined with seismic facies and 3D seismic‐derived plan view images to interpret the depositional environments, processes and depositional elements during the Miocene for an area located in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The results showed that deposition during the Miocene mainly occurred in a slope setting, with bathymetric changes associated with highs and mini‐basins related to salt features. From the sedimentological interpretation, 13 sedimentary facies were identified. The abundant lithofacies were structureless (massive) sandstone and massive mudstone. Ripple‐ , parallel and cross‐laminated sandstone and siltstone were found in minor proportions. The main depositional processes were related to turbidity currents, including high‐density and low‐density currents; debris flows (mud flows and grain flows) were of secondary importance, as was deposition from fallout of suspended hemipelagic mud particles. The vertical and lateral distributions of facies revealed seven facies associations linked to depositional environments. These facies associations were the building blocks that were used to characterize the depositional elements recognized on seismic data. The main depositional elements identified were mass‐transport complexes, submarine channels, and frontal splays. Finally, interpretations from different data sets enabled the conclusion that, during the Miocene in this area were submarine fans deposited on an irregular paleotopography, with topographic lows and highs controlled by salt tectonics .