Processes and products of turbidity currents entering soft muddy substrates
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New laboratory experiments reveal that cohesionless turbidity currents are able to enter
cohesive soft muddy substrates without losing their shape. These intrabed currents are driven
by bed shear stress exceeding bed cohesive strength, and by flow density exceeding bed den
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sity. The flows produce unique turbidites with internal mud layers, mixed cohesive-nonco
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hesive sediment layers, and flame and load structures. A depositional model for intrabed (I)
turbidites is proposed, comprising, from base to top: I1—sand-bearing mud, with a scoured
base, dispersed mud, and mud clasts; I2—muddy sand from the intrabed portion of the tur
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bidity current; I3—sandy mud with a speckled appearance; and I4—mud-poor sand from
the suprabed portion of the flow. Complete I1–I4 turbidites are inferred to dominate loca
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tions in nature where the currents mix with the bed and deep erosional scours form, filled
with deformed or chaotic sand-mud mixtures. Further downflow, base-missing I2–I4 and I4
sequences signify gradual deceleration, loss of erosivity, and termination of intrabed flow
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 371-374 |
Journal | Geology |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 17 Mar 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2014 |
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