Turbidites

Submarine debris flows create turbidity currents, which deposit turbidites. Here, I describe the processes leading to turbidite deposition and the facies deposited.

A good, hour-long lecture on turbidites in the Monterrey Bay submarine canyon can be found at: http://online.wr.usgs.gov/calendar/2010/jun10.html The lecture starts at about 5 minutes.

You can also see my lecture notes on turbidites at http://dawnssedstrat.blogspot.com/2011/01/turbidites-and-stratigraphy.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• sediment
• sedimentology
• geology
• stratigraphy
• science

[hippypotto]

aaaaaaack! so many geological words!!!!

[sumnerd]

@hippypotto Years ago, a colleague counted the number of words an intro geology student learns - It was more than the number of words for introductory French. Geologists (and biologists) tend to name things as a shorthand for the ideas and processes they represent. If I say "turbidite" to a geologist (even one who speaks only French), they immediately know what a dozen properties of the rock I'm talking about. Sometimes, one can avoid terminology, but it is also worth learning.

[shaun365]

It seems to me that in a submarine canyon/fan system, in terms of hydrocarbon exploration, you would want to be looking in the area where the coarse to medium sands exist (probably the unconfined portion of the system?) What sort of net-to-gross and porosity would you expect to find in these areas?

[sumnerd]

@shaun365 You've made some good observations. Turbidite fans are good petroleum systems and sands provide a path for oil/gas to flow from the shale source to traps elsewhere. Unconfined sands in fans are good for transport but not exploiting as a resource because hydrocarbons move through them. For exploration, one wants a trap that is confined above and has a hydrocarbon migration path from a source below. Porosity varies with grain shape and sorting. ≥18% porosity is good for exploration.

[jasonarrowtiling]

Thanks! This was helpful as I am studying for my Sed/Strat final tomorrow, and My professor's exams are brutal!

[17thSaintee]

Helping me through my Earth Science degree in Scotland. Your a life saver - Thank You!!!

[bibilalala]

this actually helps! thanks!

[precisi0n86]

Thank you so much!

[Danekalicious]

Excellent!!!

Thank you very much!!!

[evangelinestarful]

Thank you very much....it was very useful....two years we din have good lecturer...it has been a hard time for student like us to understand due to inexperience and irresponsible lecturer....hope I can still learn more about sedimentalogy from you =)