Home >> Marine Georesources and Geotechnology, Volume 22, Number 4

Physical and Geotechnical Properties and Assessment of Sediment Stability on the Continental Slope and Basin of the Bransfield Basin (Antarctica Peninsula)

Authors: Casas, D.1; Ercilla, G.1; Estrada, F.1; Alonso, B.1; Baraza, J.1; Lee, H.2; Kayen, R.2; Chiocci, F.3

Source: Marine Georesources and Geotechnology, Volume 22, Number 4, October-December 2004 , pp. 253-278(26)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Buy & download fulltext article:

OR

Price: $56.94 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Our investigation is centred on the continental slope of the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent basin. Type of sediments, sedimentary stratigraphy, and physical and geotechnical characterization of the sediments have been integrated. Four different types of sediments have been defined: diamictons, silty and muddy turbidites, muddy, silty and muddy matrix embedded clast contourites. There is a close correspondence between the physical properties (density, magnetic susceptibility and p-wave velocity) and the texture and/or fabric as laminations and stratification. From a quantitative point of view, only a few statistical correlations between textural and physical properties have been found. Within the geotechnical properties, only water content is most influenced by texture. This slope, with a maximum gradient observed (20°), is stable, according to the stability under gravitational loading concepts, and the maximum stable slope that would range from 22° to 29°. Nevertheless, different instability features have been observed. Volcanic activity, bottom currents, glacial loading-unloading or earthquakes can be considered as potential mechanisms to induce instability in this area.

Keywords: Antarctica; Bransfield Basin; sedimentology; slope stability

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10641190490900853

Affiliations: 1: Institut de Ciències del Mar. CMIMA, CSIC Barcelona, Spain 2: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Menlo Park, California, USA 3: University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

Publication date: 2004-10-01

More about this publication?
Related content
Marked list

Key

Free Content
Free content
New Content
New content
Open Access Content
Open access content
Subscribed Content
Subscribed content
Free Trial Content
Free trial content

Text size:

A | A | A | A
^ Back to top
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. print icon Print this page