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Volume 23, Issue 6
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Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Quaternary to late Pliocene sedimentary succession along the margin of the South Caspian Basin contains numerous kilometre‐scale submarine slope failures, which were sourced along the basin slope and from the inclined flanks of contemporaneous anticlines. This study uses three‐dimensional (3D) seismic reflection data to visualise the internal structure of 27 mass transport deposits and catalogues the syndepositional structures contained within them. These are used to interpret emplacement processes occurring during submarine slope failure. The deposits consist of three linked structural domains: extensional, translational and compressive, each containing characteristic structures. Novel features are present within the mass transport deposits: (1) a diverging retrogression of the headwall scarp; (2) the absence of a conventional headwall scarp around growth stratal pinch outs; (3) restraining bends in the lateral margin; (4) a downslope increase in the throw of thrust faults. The results of this study shed light on the deformation that occurred during submarine slope failure, and highlight an important geological process in the evolution of the South Caspian Basin margin.

© 2011 The Authors. Basin Research © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
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2024-04-26

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Structure and evolution of mass transport deposits in the South Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan
Basin Research 23, 702 (2011); https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2011.00508.x
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(a) Individual mass transport deposits within a mass transport complex. Amplitude extraction map. Lateral shear zones and deposit frontal lobes are highlighted in dotted white, interpreted material transport directions are shown with white arrows. Amplitude extraction taken from mass transport deposit 6 on Shah Deniz, 30 m above the mass transport deposit basal shear surface, with an extraction window of 25 m. (b) Erosional shadow remnant. Root mean square (RMS) amplitude extraction. The mass transport deposit contains an elongated tail of high amplitude material downslope of a mud volcano edifice located upon the basal shear surface. The amplitude extraction is taken through mass transport deposit 6 on Shah Deniz from 20 m above the basal shear surface with an extraction window of 30 m. Mass transport deposit frontal margin obstructed by a mud volcano crater. Low amplitude, concave downslope pressure ridges are visible in the mass transport deposit. Several more mud volcanoes (low amplitude, circular features) are shown to the bottom right of the image. Arrows show the material transport direction. RMS Amplitude extraction taken from mass transport deposit MTD‐14 on the Shah Deniz fold, 25 m above the basal shear surface with a 25 m extraction window. List of kinematic and palaeo slope direction indicators present in each mass transport deposit and mass transport complex.Please note: Wiley‐Blackwell is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting materials supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing material) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

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