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Surface textures of turbidite sand grains, Laurentian Fan and Sohm Abyssal Plain
Author(s) -
WANG YING,
PIPER DAVID J. W.,
VILKS GUSTAVS
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
sedimentology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.494
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1365-3091
pISSN - 0037-0746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1982.tb00077.x
Subject(s) - geology , turbidity current , turbidite , abyssal plain , geomorphology , glacial period , erosion , foraminifera , sediment , geochemistry , oceanography , sedimentary depositional environment , structural basin , benthic zone
Surface textures of quartz grains have been examined from five samples from the Laurentian Fan and Sohm Abyssal Plain, representing varied transport distances and power of the depositing turbidity current. The grains retain their primary irregular shape derived from glacial erosion, and glacial surface textures are preserved in dish‐shaped depressions. These features have been superimposed by a slight rounding of edges and an abundance of collision‐induced markings, particularly mechanical V‐forms. The most intense current modification of this sort occurs in mid‐Wisconsinan or earlier sands that have been transported over 1000 km to the distal Sohm Abyssal Plain by turbidity currents. Collision textures probably develop during grain flow on the steep continental slope: delicate resedimented shelf foraminifera are preserved in the same turbidites and most have been transported exclusively in suspension.