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Structural Characteristics of Cohesive Gravity-Flow Deposits, And a Sedimentological Approach on Their Flow Mechanisms

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Part of the book series: Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research ((NTHR,volume 19))

Abstract

Abundant mass-transport deposits characterize the seafloor of the northwestern continental slope and rise of Gulf of Mexico. Most of the deposits reveal a cohesive nature, consisting mainly of a silty-clay matrix with dominant to rare mud-clasts. Five types of cohesive gravity-flow deposits have been distinguished, based on their structural characteristics, nature of the mud matrix, and mud-clast percentage. Each type of the cohesive gravity-flow deposits implies different rheological behavior for the flows from which they originate, depending on their viscosity, mud-clast abundance, and external factors (e.g. hydroplaning), thus revealing that these deposits have resulted from a wide range of different types of flows.

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© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Tripsanas, E.K., Bryant, W.R., Prior, D.B. (2003). Structural Characteristics of Cohesive Gravity-Flow Deposits, And a Sedimentological Approach on Their Flow Mechanisms. In: Locat, J., Mienert, J., Boisvert, L. (eds) Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0093-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0093-2_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-3973-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0093-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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