1887
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Basin Research
  4. Volume 28, Issue 6
  5. Article
Volume 28, Issue 6
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117

Abstract

Abstract

Morphological variations within continental‐margin clinoforms can help improve our understanding of sediment dispersal on, the composition of, and the sediment transport mechanisms occurring along shelf margins. In this study, we combine 2D and 3D seismic reflection and well data to document variations in clinoform morphologies within the Pliocene‐Recent Giant Foresets Formation of the northern Taranaki Basin, offshore western New Zealand. Quantitative analysis of slope geometries, shelf‐edge trajectories and geomorphological patterns allowed for the identification of three major stages of clinoform evolution. These results were combined with the analysis of isochron maps and seismic attribute extractions to determine the temporal and spatial relationship between depositional patterns and tectonic activity. Stage 1 clinoforms (early Pliocene) have gentle and smooth architectures, low‐angle foresets and rising rollover trajectories. During stage 1, the shelf‐edge region was stable and a few slope fans developed. Stage 2 clinoforms (early–late Pliocene) are characterised by concave profiles, increased foreset steepness, mostly flat rollover trajectories and dissected shelf‐edge regions. Slope steepening during Stage 2, which coincided with a relative sea‐level fall, is reflected in an increase in canyon incision and sediment bypass towards the basin. The onset of back‐arc rifting and formation of the Northern Graben during stage 2 caused local changes in basin physiography and focusing of sediment dispersal along the axis of the structure; deep‐water deposits are thus expected in more distal parts of the basin. Stage 3 (late Pliocene‐Recent) clinoforms are characterised by sigmoidal, higher and steeper architectures, rising rollover trajectories and dissected slopes that lack a clear connection to the shelf edge area. Stage 3 conditions were dominated by an increase in sediment supply and accommodation, and the progradation of the system resulted in gradually steeper slope gradients that triggered slope mass‐wasting. This study demonstrates that the systematic description of clinoform architectures can be coupled with process‐oriented interpretations associated with paleoenvironmental and tectonic conditions at the time of deposition to reconstruct basin evolution through time, to predict sediment character in distal portions of the system and to understand the influence of underlying structures on the overall stratigraphic evolution of the system.

Basin Research © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists © 2015 The Authors. Basin Research © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12138
2015-07-23
2024-04-20

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1111/bre.12138
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Adams, E.W. & Schlager, W. (2000) Basic types of submarine slope curvature. J. Sediment. Res., 70(4), 814–828.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Allen, P.A. & Allen, J.R. (2005) Basin Analysis: Principles and Applications. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 549 pp.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Baur, J.R. (2012) Regional seismic attribute analysis and tectono‐stratigraphy of offshore South‐Western Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. PhD. dissertation, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.
  4. Boyd, R., Ruming, K., Goodwin, I., Sandstrom, M. & Schroder‐Adams, C. (2008) Highstand transport of coastal sand to the deep ocean: a case study from Fraser Island, southeast Australia. Geology, 36, 15–18.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Cardona, P.A. (2009) Depositional history of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand: linking sediment accumulation and subsidence rates to tectonic processes. M.Sc. Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin.
  6. Carvajal, C. & Steel, R.J. (2009) Shelf‐edge architecture and bypass of sand to deepwater: influence of sediment supply, sea level, and shelf‐edge processes. J. Sediment. Res., 79, 652–672.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Crundwell, M.P. (2008) Biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental study of Kanuka‐1 offshore well. Taranaki Basin. GNS Science Consultancy Report 2008/21. 64 pp.
  8. Crundwell, M.P., Scott, G.H. & Strong, C.P. (1992) Biostratigraphy of Arawa‐1 offshore petroleum exploration well, North Taranaki Basin. Contract report 1992/18, DSIR Geology & Geophysics, Lower Hutt, 47 pp.
  9. Crundwell, M.P., Beu, A.G., Morgans, H.E.G., Mildenhall, D.C. & Wilson, G.S. (2004) Chapter 12, Miocene. In: The New Zealand Geological Timescale (Ed. by R.A.Cooper ), Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Monograph, 22, 284.
  10. Funnell, R., Chapman, D., Allis, R. & Armstrong, P. (1996) Thermal state of the Taranaki Basin New Zealand. J. Geophys. Res., 25, 197–215.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Georgiopoulou, A., Benetti, S., Shannon, P.M., Haughton, P.D.W. & Mccarron, S. (2011) Gravity flow deposits in the deep rockfall trough, northeast Atlantic. In: Submarine Mass Movements and their Consequences – 5th International Symposium (Ed. by Y.Yamada , K.Kawamura , Y.Ogawa , R.Urgeles , D.Mosher , J.Chaytor & M.Strasser ), pp. 695–707. Springer, Netherlands.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Giba, M., Nicol, A. & Walsh, J.J. (2010) Evolution of faulting and volcanism in a back‐arc basin and its implications for subduction processes. Tectonics, 29, TC4020, doi:10.1029/2009TC002634.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Giba, M., Walsh, J.J. & Nicol, A. (2012) Segmentation and growth of an obliquely reactivated normal fault. J. Struct. Geol., 39, 253–267.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Hansen, R.J. & Kamp, P.J.J. (2002) Evolution of the Giant Foresets Formation, northern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. New Zealand Petroleum Conference proceedings, pp. 419–435.
  15. Hansen, R.J. & Kamp, P.J.J. (2004) Re‐evaluation of the Late Neogene biostratigraphy of Arawa‐1, Ariki‐1, Kora‐1, and Wainui‐1, and integrated seismic and biostratigraphic correlation of 11 wells, northern Taranaki Basin. Petroleum Report PR2938, Crown Minerals, Ministry of Economic Development, 39 pp.
  16. Haq, B.U., Hardenbol, J. & Vail, P.R. (1987) Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the triassic. Science, 235, 1156–1167.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Helland‐Hansen, W. & Hampson, G.J. (2009) Trajectory analysis: Concepts and applications. Basin Res., 21, 454–483.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Henriksen, S., Hampson, G.J., Helland‐Hansen, W., Johannessen, E.P. & Steel, R.J. (2009) Shelf edge and shoreline trajectories, a dynamic approach to stratigraphic analysis. Basin Res., 21, 445–453.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Hoskins, R.H. & Raine, J.I. (1984) Biostratigraphy of Taimana‐1. New Zealand Geological Survey Report PAL 74, 22 pp.
  20. Hubble, T., Yu, P., Airey, D., Clarke, S., Boyd, R., Keene, J., Exon, N., Gardner, J. & Party, S. (2011) Physical properties and age of continental slope sediments dredged from the eastern Australian continental margin—Implications for timing of slope failure. In: Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences—5th International Symposium (Ed. by Y.Yamada , K.Kawamura , Y.Ogawa , R.Urgeles , D.Mosher , J.Chaytor & M.Strasser ), pp. 43–54. Springer, Netherlands.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Johannessen, E.P. & Steel, R.J. (2005) Shelf‐margin clinoforms and prediction of deepwater sands. Basin Res., 17, 521–550.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Kertznus, V. & Kneller, B. (2009) Clinoform quantification for assessing the effects of external forcing on continental margin development. Basin Res., 21, 738–758.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. King, P.R. & Robinson, P.H. (1988) An overview of Taranaki Region geology, New Zealand. Energy Explor. Exploit., 6, 213–232.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. King, P.R. & Thrasher, G.P. (1992) Post‐Eocene development of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand: convergent overprint of a passive margin. In: Geology and geophysics of continental margins (Ed. by J.S.Watkins , F.Zhiqiang & K.J.McMillen ), American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir, 53, 93–118.
  25. King, P.R. & Thrasher, G.P. (1996) Cretaceous‐Cenozoic geology and petroleum systems of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. Institute of Geological Nuclear Sciences, Monograph, 13, 244.
  26. Kominz, M.A. & Pekar, S.F. (2001) Oligocene eustasy from two‐dimensional sequence stratigraphic backstripping. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 113, 291–304.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Lisiecki, L.E. & Raymo, M.E. (2005) A Pliocene‐Pleistocene stack of 57 globally distributed benthic δ18O records. Paleoceanography, 20, PA1003.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Martinsen, O.J. & Helland‐Hansen, W. (1995) Strike variability of clastic depositional systems: does it matter for sequence‐stratigraphic analysis?Geology, 23(5), 432–442.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Miller, K.G., Kominz, M.A., Browning, J.V., Wright, J.D., Mountain, G.S., Katz, M.E., Sugarman, P.J., Cramer, B.S., Christie‐Blick, N. & Pekar, S.F. (2005) The Phanerozoic record of global sea‐level change. Science, 310, 1293–1298.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Mitchum, R. & Vail, P. (1977) Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level, part 7: seismic stratigraphic interpretation procedure. In: Seismic Stratigraphy Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration (Ed. by C.E.Payton ), American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir, 26, 135–143.
  31. Morgans, H. (1984) Biostratigraphy of Witiora‐1 offshore oil well. New Zealand Geological Survey report PAL 80, Lower Hutt, 33 pp.
  32. Morgans, H. (2006) Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the early Miocene to Pleistocene sequences in Witiora‐1, Taimana‐1, Arawa‐1 and Okoki‐1, GNS Science Report 2006/37, 41 pp.
  33. Moscardelli, L., Wood, L.J. & Dunlap, D.B. (2012) Shelf‐edge deltas along structurally complex margins: a case study from eastern offshore Trinidad. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull., 96(8), 1483–1522.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Muto, T. & Steel, R.J. (2002) In defense of shelf‐edge delta development during falling and lowstand of relative sea level. J. Geol., 110, 421–436.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Naish, T.R. & Wilson, G.S. (2009) Constraints on the Amplitude of mid‐Pliocene (3.6–2.4 Ma) Eustatic sea‐level fluctuations from the New Zealand shallow‐marine sediment record. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A, 367, 169–187.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. O'Grady, D.B. & Syvitski, J.P.M. (2002) Large‐scale morphology of arctic continental slopes: the influence of sediment delivery on slope form. In: Glaciar‐Influenced Sedimentation on High‐Latitude Continental Margin (Ed. by J.A.Dowdeswell & C.O.Cofaigh ), Geological Society of London Spec. Publ., 203, 11–31.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. O'Grady, D.B., Syvitski, J.P.M., Pratson, L.F. & Sarg, J.F. (2000) Categorizing the morphologic variability of siliciclastic passive continental margins. Geology, 28(3), 207–210.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Orton, G.I. & Reading, H.G. (1993) Variability of deltaic processes in terms of sediment supply, with particular emphasis on gain size. Sedimentology, 40, 475–512.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Posamentier, H.W. & Kolla, V. (2003) Seismic geomorphology of depositional elements in deep‐water settings – An(other) image‐heavy paper by the ‘Godfather’ (and his mate) outlining the application of 3D seismic data to the analysis of deep‐water depositional systems. J. Sediment. Res., 73, 7–388.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Salazar, M.B. (2014) The impact of shelf margin geometry and tectonics on shelf‐to‐sink sediment dynamics and resultant basin fill architectures. PhD. Dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
  41. Sanchez, C.M., Fulthorpe, C.S. & Steel, R.J. (2012) Miocene shelf‐edge deltas and their impact on deepwater slope progradation and morphology, Northwest Shelf of Australia. Basin Res., 24, 683–698.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Schlager, W. (1981) The paradox of drowned reefs and carbonate platforms. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 92, 197–211.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Tippett, J.M. & Kamp, P.J.J. (1995) Geomorphic evolution of the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 20, 177–192.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Williams, D.F. (1988) Evidence for and against sea‐level changes from the stable isotopic record of Cenozoic. In: Sea‐level Changes: an Integrated Approach (Ed. by C.K.Wilgus , B.S.Hastings , C.G.St.C.Kendall , H.Posamentier , C.A.Ross & vanWagonerJ. ), Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Spec. Publ., 42, 30–36.
  45. Wolinsky, M.A. & Pratson, F. (2007) Overpressure and slope stability in prograding clinoforms: implications for marine morphodynamics. J. Geophys. Res., 112, F04011.
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12138
Loading
Utilising clinoform architecture to understand the drivers of basin margin evolution: a case study in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand
Basin Research 28, 840 (2016); https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12138
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12138
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12138
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error