Origin of Taiwan Canyon and its effects on deepwater sediment

The continental slope of the Taiwan Shoal, which has cultivated numerous submarine canyons, is located in a passive conti- nental margin environment. However, the trend of the Taiwan Canyon, with its 45° intersection angle, is obviously different from that of the erosion valley downward along the continental slope. A distinct break is present in the lower segment of the Taiwan Canyon, which then extends from west to east parallel to the continental slope until finally joining the Manila Trench. By utilizing multiple-beam water depth data, high-resolution seismic data, and sediment cores, this study describes the topo- graphic characteristics of the Taiwan Canyon and provides a preliminary discussion on the origin of the Taiwan Canyon and its effect on deepwater sediment. The terrain, landform, and sediment of the Taiwan Canyon exhibit segmentation characteristics. The upper segment is characterized primarily by erosion, downward cutting with a V shape, and wide development of sliding, slumping, and other gravity flow types. The middle segment is characterized mostly by U-shaped erosion-sedimentation transi- tion and development of an inner levee. The lower segment is characterized primarily by sedimentation and development of a sediment wave. The bottom current has a significant reworking effect on the interior sediments of the canyon and forms re- worked sands. The formation and evolution of the Taiwan Canyon is closely related to sediment supply, gravity sliding （slumping）, faulting activities, and submarine impaling. Given the sufficient terrigenous clastic supply, the sediments along the continental shelf edge continuously proceed seaward; gliding and slumping in the front edge provide driving forces for the formation of the canyon. Faulting activities result in stratum crushing, and the gravity flow takes priority in eroding the relatively fragile stratum. Thus, the direction of the extension of the canyon crosses the surrounding erosion valley obliquely. Seamounts are formed through submarine impaling. Owing to seamount blocking, the lower segment of the canyon is turned toward the east-west direction. Large amounts of sediments overflow at the turning, formin~ sediment waves.

Architecture of deepwater turbidite lobes: A case study of Carboniferous turbidite outcrop in the Clare Basin, Ireland

Through lithofacies analysis and architecture anatomy of the Carboniferous Ross Sandstone turbidites outcropped at western Ireland,the depositional model of deepwater turbidite lobes is established.Seven types of lithofacies are recognized including goniatites-rich shale,laminated shale,laminated siltstone,massive sandstone,fine-medium sandstone with mud-clast,basal gravel,and chaotic mudstone,which can be subdivided into units of three origins,turbidite lobe,turbidite channel,and slide-slump;and four hierarchical levels,lobe complex,lobe,lobe element and single sandstone layer.The lobes show apparent compensational stacking pattern,lobe elements display typical thickening-upward cycles on vertical profile,and the higher the hierarchical level,the better the preservation of the hierarchical boundary is.In general,turbidite lobe deposits appear as tabular,parallel/sub-parallel sandstone and mudstone interbeds,and change from thick,massive sandstone in the proximal end to thinner sandstone and mudstone interbeds from axis to fringe,with the sand-shale ratio and degree of sandstone amalgamation decreasing.