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Tectonics of the Neogene Cascadia forearc basin: investigations of a deformed late Miocene unconformity

Tectonics of the Neogene Cascadia forearc basin: investigations of a deformed late Miocene unconformity
Tectonics of the Neogene Cascadia forearc basin: investigations of a deformed late Miocene unconformity
The continental shelf and upper slope of the Oregon Cascadia margin are underlain by an elongate late Cenozoic forearc basin, correlative to the Eel River basin of northern California. Basin stratigraphy includes a regional late Miocene unconformity that may coincide with a worldwide hiatus ca. 7.5–6 Ma (NH6). The unconformity is angular and probably subaerially eroded on the inner and middle shelf, whereas the seaward correlative disconformity may have been produced by submarine erosion; alternatively, this horizon may be conformable. Tectonic uplift resulting in subaerial erosion may have been driven by a change in Pacific and Juan de Fuca plate motion. A structure contour map of the deformed unconformity and correlated seaward reflector from seismic reflection data clearly outlines deformation into major synclines and uplifted submarine banks. Regional margin-parallel variations in uplift rates of the shelf unconformity show agreement with coastal geodetic rates.
The shelf basin is bounded to the west by a north-south–trending outer arc high. Rapid uplift and possible eustatic sea-level fall resulted in the formation of the late Miocene unconformity. Basin subsidence and outer arc high uplift effectively trapped sediments within the basin, which resulted in a relatively starved abyssal floor and narrower Pliocene accretionary wedge, particularly during sea-level highstands. During the Pleistocene, the outer arc high was breached, possibly contributing to Astoria Canyon incision, the primary downslope conduit of Columbia River sediments. This event may have caused a change in sediment provenance on the abyssal plain ca. 1.3–1.4 Ma.
accretionary wedges, Cascadia subduction zone, forearc basins, neotectonics, submarine fans, unconformity.
0016-7606
1209-1224
McNeill, L.C.
1fe6a1e0-ca1a-4b6f-8469-309d0f9de0cf
Goldfinger, C.
6d0e65b7-660e-431a-ae9e-d9ea948d1f1c
Kulm, L.D.
3cd2948e-2629-4e15-977d-7b3b89182a12
Yeats, R.S.
f3e2dc87-ad4e-4a99-ab9e-ee7e45f263e6
McNeill, L.C.
1fe6a1e0-ca1a-4b6f-8469-309d0f9de0cf
Goldfinger, C.
6d0e65b7-660e-431a-ae9e-d9ea948d1f1c
Kulm, L.D.
3cd2948e-2629-4e15-977d-7b3b89182a12
Yeats, R.S.
f3e2dc87-ad4e-4a99-ab9e-ee7e45f263e6

McNeill, L.C., Goldfinger, C., Kulm, L.D. and Yeats, R.S. (2000) Tectonics of the Neogene Cascadia forearc basin: investigations of a deformed late Miocene unconformity. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 112 (8), 1209-1224. (doi:10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<1209:TOTNCF>2.3.CO;2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The continental shelf and upper slope of the Oregon Cascadia margin are underlain by an elongate late Cenozoic forearc basin, correlative to the Eel River basin of northern California. Basin stratigraphy includes a regional late Miocene unconformity that may coincide with a worldwide hiatus ca. 7.5–6 Ma (NH6). The unconformity is angular and probably subaerially eroded on the inner and middle shelf, whereas the seaward correlative disconformity may have been produced by submarine erosion; alternatively, this horizon may be conformable. Tectonic uplift resulting in subaerial erosion may have been driven by a change in Pacific and Juan de Fuca plate motion. A structure contour map of the deformed unconformity and correlated seaward reflector from seismic reflection data clearly outlines deformation into major synclines and uplifted submarine banks. Regional margin-parallel variations in uplift rates of the shelf unconformity show agreement with coastal geodetic rates.
The shelf basin is bounded to the west by a north-south–trending outer arc high. Rapid uplift and possible eustatic sea-level fall resulted in the formation of the late Miocene unconformity. Basin subsidence and outer arc high uplift effectively trapped sediments within the basin, which resulted in a relatively starved abyssal floor and narrower Pliocene accretionary wedge, particularly during sea-level highstands. During the Pleistocene, the outer arc high was breached, possibly contributing to Astoria Canyon incision, the primary downslope conduit of Columbia River sediments. This event may have caused a change in sediment provenance on the abyssal plain ca. 1.3–1.4 Ma.

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More information

Published date: 2000
Keywords: accretionary wedges, Cascadia subduction zone, forearc basins, neotectonics, submarine fans, unconformity.

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 1395
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/1395
ISSN: 0016-7606
PURE UUID: 4c1e9e90-1955-4c51-90e4-067413efc699
ORCID for L.C. McNeill: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8689-5882

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Date deposited: 26 Apr 2004
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:20

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Contributors

Author: L.C. McNeill ORCID iD
Author: C. Goldfinger
Author: L.D. Kulm
Author: R.S. Yeats

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