Late Neogene to Recent seafloor instability on the deep Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

Sediment mass transport in the Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula is strongly influenced by its peculiar tectonic and sedimentary evolution. Analysis of swath bathymetry and multichannel seismic reflection data shows that this setting reflects the passage from an active to a passive margin, and the transition from river- dominated to glacier-dominated sedimentation. Only contouritic sedimentation persisted throughout the late Neogene on the continental rise, while rapid progradation of steep wedges composed of glacial diamicton occurs on the slope. Gravitational instability and mass-transport processes, which occur on the continental rise, appear to relate to physical properties of contourite sediments deposited in this high- latitude setting. Other than minor erosional gullies on the upper slope, there is no evidence of major incisions such as channels, canyons, or slide scars on a steep continental slope (averages 13°). This situation results from high shear strength of the slope-forming diamicton delivered by grounded ice sheets. Short-run-out mass failures were the main sediment transport process to the slope. Turbidity currents, most likely originated by downslope evolution of mass flows, were able to generate large deep-sea channel systems at the base of the continental slope. On the continental rise, relatively good sorting and a high accumulation rate of sediments forming sediment drifts favored slope failure even on gentle slopes. Coalescent headscarps that form the drift crest were produced by undercutting of steeper flanks of drifts. This process formed the walls of turbidity- current channels, flowing in low-relief areas between drifts. Failure along stratal weak layers on the gentle sides of sediment drifts produced either relatively small, concave slide scars in the margin-proximal drift or long, rectilinear scars in distal locations