Abstract
Generation of tsunamis from submarine landslides is sensitive to several parameters such as their volume, failure mechanism and location of failure relative to sea level. These conditions are often difficult to resolve for past events. However, previous studies of turbidites generated from landslides offer insight into the timing, total event volume and failure mechanism. This study confirms the ~ 165 ka Icod landslide originating from the northern flank of Tenerife as a retrogressive multistage landslide. It also shows that the latest volcanic flank collapse from the Canary Islands, the ~ 15 ka El Golfo landslide, is a retrogressive multistage failure. These inferences are developed using high resolution Itrax μXRF bulk geochemistry to better identify and correlate these subunits in a number of core examples of the Icod (seven subunits) and El Golfo (five subunits) event beds. Subunit variations identified through Itrax studies also allow examination of bulk intra-subunit geochemical heterogeneities. These heterogeneities reflect discrete landslides from a single source. A systematic decrease in calcium composition (proxy for carbonate) suggests initial submarine collapses that retrogressively fail the flank leading to an increasing component from subaerial collapses. However, both grain size and density sorting influence bulk geochemical compositions. The geochemistry of volcanic glasses (determined from Eagle III μXRF analyses) from the subunits of the Icod and El Golfo event beds from Agadir Basin demonstrate that these subunits represent discrete separate failures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Abadie SM, Harris JC, Grilli ST, Fabre R (2012) Numerical modeling of tsunami waves generated by the flank collapse of the Cumbre Vieja Volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands): tsunami source and near field effects. J Geophys Res Oceans 117(C5):1978–2012
Acosta J, Uchupi EA, Muñoz PH, Palomo C, Ballesteros M, ZEE Working Group (2003) Geologic evolution of the Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and La Gomera and comparison of the landslides at these islands with those at Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro. Mar Geophys Res 24:1–40
Barkan R, ten Brink US, Lin J (2009) Far field tsunami simulations of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake: implications for tsunami hazard to the U.S. East Coast. Mar Geol 264:109–122
Bryan SE, Marti J, Leosson M (2002) Petrology and geochemistry of the Bandas del Sur Formation, Las Cañadas Edifice, Tenerife (Canary Islands). J Petrol 43:1815–1856
Chaytor JD, ten Brink US, Solow AR, Andrews BD (2009) Size distribution of submarine landslides along the U.S. Atlantic margin. Mar Geol 264:16–27
Croudace IW, Gilligan J (1990) Versatile and accurate trace element determinations in iron-rich and other geological samples using X-ray fluorescence analysis. X-Ray Spectrom 19:117–123
Croudace IW, Williams-Thorpe O (1988) A low dilution, wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence procedure for the analysis of archaeological rock artefacts. Archaeometry 30:227–236
Croudace IW, Rindby A, Rothwell RG (2006) ITRAX: description and evaluation of a new multi-function X-ray scanner. In: Rothwell RG (ed) New techniques in sediment core analysis. Geol Soc Spec Publ 267:51–63
Edgar CJ, Wolff JA, Olin PH, Nichols HJ, Pittari A, Cas RAF, Reiners PW, Spell TL, Marti J (2007) The late Quaternary Diego Hernandez Formation, Tenerife: volcanology of a complex cycle of voluminous explosive phonolitic eruptions. J Volcanol Geoth Res 160:59–85
Ercilla G, Alonso B, Perez-Belzuz F, Estrada F, Baraza J, Farran M, Canals M, Masson DG (1998) Origin, sedimentary processes and depositional evolution of the Agadir turbidite system, central eastern Atlantic. J Geol Soc 155:929–939
Giachetti T, Paris R, Kelfoun K, Pérez-Torrado FJ (2011) Numerical modelling of the tsunami triggered by the Güímar debris avalanche, Tenerife (Canary Islands): comparison with field-based data. Mar Geol 284:189–202
Gisler G, Weaver RP, Gittings ML (2006) SAGE calculations of the tsunami threat from La Palma. Sci Tsunami Hazards 24:288–301
Harbitz CB, Løvholt F, Pedersen G, Masson DG (2006) Mechanisms of tsunami generation by submarine landslides: a short review. Norw J Geol 86:255–264
Haugen KB, Lovholt F, Harbitz CB (2005) Fundamental mechanisms for tsunami generation by submarine flows in idealised geometries. Mar Pet Geol 22:209–217
Hühnerbach V, Masson DG, Partners of the COSTA-Project (2004) Landslides in the North Atlantic and its adjacent seas: an analysis of their morphology, setting and behaviour. Mar Geol 213:343–362
Hunt JE, Wynn RB, Masson DG, Talling PJ, Teagle DAH (2011) Sedimentological and geochemical evidence for multistage failure of volcanic island landslides: a case study from Icod landslide on north Tenerife. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 12 (Q12007):1–36
Hunt JE, Wynn RB, Talling PJ, Masson DG (2013a) Turbidite record of frequency and source of large volume (> 100 km3) Canary Island landslides in the last 1.5 Ma: implications for landslide triggers and geohazards. Geochem Geophys Geosys 14:2100–2123
Hunt JE, Wynn RB, Talling PJ, Masson DG (2013b) Multistage collapse of eight western Canary Island landslides in the last 1.5 Ma: Sedimentological and geochemical evidence from subunits in submarine flow deposits. Geochem Geophys Geosys 14:2159–2181
Hunt JE, Wynn RB, Talling PJ, Masson DG (2013c) Frequency and timing of landslide-triggered turbidity currents within the Agadir Basin, offshore NW Africa: are there associations with climate change, sea level change and slope sedimentation rates? Mar Geol 346:274–291
Le Bas TP, Masson DG, Holtom RT (2007) Slope failures of the flanks of the southern Cape Verde Islands. In: Lykousis V, Sakellariou D, Locat J (eds) Submarine mass movements and their consequences, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 337–346
Lee H (2009) Timing of occurrence of large submarine landslides on the Atlantic ocean margin. Mar Geol 264:53–64
Mader CL (2001) Modelling the La Palma landslide tsunami. Sci Tsunami Hazards 19:150–170
Masson DG, Watts AB, Gee MRJ, Urgeles R, Mitchell NC, Le Bas TP, Canals M (2002) Slope failures on the flanks of the western Canary Islands. Earth Sci Rev 57:1–35
Masson DG, Harbitz CB, Wynn RB, Pedersen G, Løvholt F (2006) Submarine landslides: processes, triggers and hazard prediction. Phil Trans R Soc A 364:2009–2039
Masson DG, Le Bas TP, Grevemeyer I, Weinrebe W (2008) Flank collapse and large-scale landsliding in the Cape Verde Islands, off West Africa. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 9:1–16
Middleton GV (1993) Sediment deposition from turbidity currents. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci 21:89–114
Moore JG, Clague DA, Holcomb RT, Lipman PW, Normark WR, Torresan ME (1989) Prodigious submarine landslides on the Hawaiian Ridge. J Geophys Res 94:17,465–17,484
Moore JG, Normark WR, Holcomb RT (1994) Giant Hawaiian landslides. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci 22:119–144. doi:10.1146/annurev.ea.22.050194.001003
Pearce TJ, Jarvis I (1992) Composition and provenance of turbidite sands: late Quaternary, Madeira Abyssal Plain. Mar Geol 109:21–51
Pearce TJ, Jarvis I (1995) High-resolution chemostratigraphy of Quaternary distal turbidites: a case study of new methods for the analysis and correlation of barren sequences: In Dunay RE, Hailwood EA (eds) Non-biostratigraphical methods of dating and correlation. Geol Soc Spec Publ 89:107–143
Pérez-Torrado FJ, Paris R, Cabrera MC, Schneider J-C, Wassmer P, Carracedo J-C, Rodríguez-Santana A, Santana F (2006) Tsunami deposits related to flank collapse in oceanic volcanoes: The Aegate Valley evidence, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. Mar Geol 227:135–149
Rothwell RG, Pearce TJ, Weaver PPE (1992) Late Quaternary evolution of the Madeira Abyssal Plain, NE Atlantic. Basin Res 4:103–131
Ward SN (2001) Landslide tsunami. J Geophys Res 106:11201–11215
Ward SN, Day SJ (2001) Cumbre Vieja volcano: potential collapse and tsunami at La Palma, Canary islands. Geophys Res Lett 28:3397–3400
Watts AB, Masson DG (1995) A giant landslide on the north flank of Tenerife, Canary Islands. J Geophys Res 100:24487–24498. doi:10.1029/95JB02630
Watts AB, Masson DG (2001) New sonar evidence for recent catastrophic collapses of the north flank of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Bull Volcanol 63:8–19
Weaver PPE, Kuijpers A (1983) Climatic control of turbidite deposition on the Madeira Abyssal Plain. Nature 306:360–363
Weaver PPE, Rothwell RG (1987) Sedimentation on the Madeira Abyssal Plain over the last 300,000 years. In: Weaver PPE, Thomson J (eds) Geology and geochemistry of Abyssal Plains. Geol Soc Spec Publ 31:71–86
Weaver PPE, Rothwell RG, Ebbing J, Gunn D, Hunter PM (1992) Correlation, frequency of emplacement and source directions of megaturbidites on the Madeira Abyssal Plain. Mar Geol 109:1–20
Wynn RB, Masson DG (2003) Canary Island landslides and tsunami generation: can we use turbidite deposits to interpret landslide processes. In: Locat J, Mienert J (eds) Submarine mass movements and their consequences, vol 1. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 325–332
Wynn RB, Weaver PPE, Stow DAV, Masson DG (2002) Turbidite depositional architecture across three interconnected deep-water basins on the Northwest African margin. Sedimentology 49:1441–1462
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Appendix
Appendix
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hunt, J., Wynn, R., Croudace, I. (2015). Identification, Correlation and Origin of Multistage Landslide Events in Volcaniclastic Turbidites in the Moroccan Turbidite System. In: Croudace, I., Rothwell, R. (eds) Micro-XRF Studies of Sediment Cores. Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9849-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9849-5_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-017-9848-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-9849-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)